Nother CarGuy

Infiniti’s vision for an electrified future looks a little something like the QX Inspiration concept, unveiled just now at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. Size-wise, the QX Inspiration is described as a mid-size SUV, serving as a precursor to Infiniti’s first fully-electric model. It’s also bold, stylish and has a very clean, yet futuristic interior, guarded by coach doors. As for performance, the automaker claims the concept will lead to a high-performance, high-range EV. “The QX Inspiration marks the beginning of a new generation of Infiniti cars and establishes a direct blueprint for the brand’s first electric vehicle. Based on a new, dedicated electric vehicle architecture and inspired by Infiniti’s Japanese DNA, the SUV concept previews a product portfolio which will offer high performance, ultra-low emissions, and total range confidence,” said Infiniti president, Christian Meunier. The styling of the all-wheel drive QX Inspiration is “enabled by technology”, its form fact...

China’s GAC has returned to the North American International Auto Show to introduce their new Entranze concept. Essentially a futuristic crossover-minivan combo, the Entranze is the first concept created by the company’s new design studio in California. That’s worth noting as the automaker says the model was partially inspired by coastal architecture that “blurs the barriers between indoor and outdoor living.” The coastal inspiration isn’t readily apparent, but the Entranze has “foldable rocker panels” that can transform into a makeshift bench. The van also sports “patio-inspired sliding glass doors” which make entry and egress a breeze. Once drivers enter the cabin, they’re greeted by a bench seat, a unique steering wheel and an assortment of OLED displays. While it’s not uncommon for modern vehicles to have two or three displays, the Entranze appears to have at least eight different displays including a massive screen for the front passenger. When not in use, the la...

Sedans are increasingly threatened by crossovers, so Nissan has decided to combine the two body styles. The result is the IMs concept which has been unveiled in Detroit. Billed as an “elevated sports sedan,” the IMs is a stylish electric crossover with sedan-like proportions. This makes the model relatively unique and it’s far more attractive than previous sedan-crossover mashups such as the Volvo S60 Cross Country. A large part of this is due to clever design as the IMs has a mix of sharp lines and gently flowing surfaces. The front of the concept is dominated by a non-traditional ‘grille’ which is flanked by stylish lighting units and squared off vertical fins. While the front isn’t the concept’s best angle, things get better as you move further back. Aft of the hood is a rakish windscreen and a sporty roof which is somewhat reminiscent of the 2019 Maxima. The concept also has a dynamic greenhouse, stylish bodywork and 22-inch wheels that are wrapped in high-perform...

Unlike some of its rivals, namely Ford and General Motors, the North American Volkswagen Passat isn’t going anywhere – at least not yet. And to further showcase their dedication to family sedans, the Germans uncovered the facelifted version of the Passat at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show. It’s still based on the same platform as its predecessor that’s unrelated to the European market Passat which is underpinned by the MQB. Nonetheless, it gets completely new sheetmetal, including a different profile and a more sloping roofline than the model it replaces. There’s also a more imposing front grille that encompasses standard LED headlights, while at the back, along with newly styled tail-lamps, there’s an Arteon-inspired badging on the boot lid. Base models ride on 17-inch alloy wheels, with 18- and 19-inch rims available on higher trims. Opening the door reveals a more mature cabin, in line with other new products from the German car brand. The upper part of the dashboard ha...

U.S. Subaru buyers have suffered enough for the lack of track-bred WRX STI models such as the S207 and S208. While those two performance versions were exclusive to Japan, the latest of the STI “S-line” models is now available exclusively to U.S. buyers. It’s called the STI S209 and it’s based on the WRX STI sedan. To create the new model, Subaru Tecnica International has tuned various components of the stock WRX STI including engine and chassis, spicing everything up with exclusive exterior and interior parts. For starters, the WRX STI’s EJ25 2.5-liter turbo engine now delivers 341 horsepower courtesy of many modifications headlined by an HKS turbocharger with a larger turbine and compressor, as well as an increased maximum boost pressure of 18.0 psi (16.2 psi for the WRX STI). The four-cylinder flat-four engine also features forged pistons and connecting rods that are both lighter and stronger. The list of extensive upgrades also includes a high-flow intake system wit...

Ever since Ford came out with the Shelby GT350 and the GT350R, fans of hardcore Mustangs knew that the real prize would be the all-new GT500 version, which is here to push the limits of what is street legal with a 5.2-liter V8 that happens to have a giant supercharger bolted to it. Ford didn’t reveal however all the details of the new GT500, saying it produces “over 700hp”, making it capable of 0-60mph in mid-three seconds and a quarter mile score of under 11 seconds. The supercharged 5.2-liter V8 uses the same block with the GT350 but unlike previous reports, it won’t be a flat-plane crank unit. The supercharger attached to it is simply massive, at 2.65 liters of capacity. That’s bigger than the ones found in the Hellcat and Camaro ZL1 and slightly smaller than the one in the Demon. It’s no wonder then why Ford is claiming “the quickest street-legal acceleration and most high-performance technology to date ever offered in a Ford Mustang”. Ford Performance opted ...

Exactly five years after the unveiling of the FT-1 Concept, Toyota has finally introduced an all-new Supra to the world. It was a long gestation period but it’s safe to say the fifth-generation Supra A90 was worth the wait. By now chances are you’re no longer a stranger to the new model’s design in light of the recent leaks so we’ll focus on the performance part. The influences from the FT-1 study are obvious on the outside as the Supra has a very muscular appearance. The interior, however, has a strong BMW vibe about it which is understandable given that the Supra shares the underpinnings with the all-new Z4 roadster. Sure, a cabin inspired by the FT-1 Concept would have been more spectacular but we should be grateful this car exists in the first place. The 2020 Toyota GR Supra debuts with a BMW-sourced 3.0-liter turbocharged inline six-cylinder engine that makes… wait for it, 335 horsepower (340 PS)! That’s 47 ponies less than the U.S.-spec BMW Z4 M40i. The peak tor...