We don’t know what it’ll be called, but it looks like the hottest version of the CT5 will get a stick.
CADILLAC
When Cadillac ditched the 6.2-liter, fire-breathing CTS-V and launched a 3.0-liter, 360-hpCT5-V, the company’s performance sedan lineup suddenly looked a lot less potent. Shortly after that, we learned that there were still “real V” cars coming, with different badges. Now, we know that the CT5-V^2 (or whatever it’ll be called) will offer something the latest CTS-V never did: an honest-to-God manual transmission.
Advertisements
This was rumored before, but new spy shots from The Drive are pretty damning evidence that a three-pedal option is coming. Spy videos featuring the CT5’s top performance trim have also featured distinctive V-8 exhaust sounds, suggesting that—though the Blackwing engine may not fit—the CT5 will offer eight-cylinder power.RELATED STORY Cadillac Has No Current Plans for the V-8
All of this suggests that a V-8, manual, rear-wheel-drive sports sedan will once again be available soon. Considering our love for the BMW E39 M5, the Chevy SS, and the manual second-generation CTS-V, this is great news. And considering that the CT5-V in its current form is already an impressive-to-drive sports sedan, Cadillac may end up making something truly great.
Advertisements
It’s also nice to see the return of this combination for Cadillac. For the better part of the last decade, Cadillac made amazing chassis, good manual sports sedans, and fantastic small-block V-8 powertrains. But, the ATS-V always felt a V-8 away from being one of the all-time greats, while the latest CTS-V felt let down by its mid-pack automatic transmission.
No matter what they call it, it seems like the V-8 CT5 will finally nail the combination.
With a new rear-drive architecture and up to 375 horsepower on tap, it sounds like a fun time.
Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury sub-brand, revealed its all-new mid-size G80 sedan last night. Set to compete against cars like the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, and Audi A6, it brings some stunning looks, a new rear-wheel-drive design, and two turbo powertrains to the table. We’re interested.
Advertisements
The G80’s looks are pure Genesis. It uses the same upside-down pentagon grille and quad-rectangle headlight design as the company’s GV80 SUV. It’s no coincidence the two cars also share the same platform. The car is 249 pounds lighter than before thanks to use of aluminum in the chassis, and comes with a choice of two turbocharged engines: a base 2.5-liter inline-four making 300 horsepower and 311 lb-ft of torque, and an optional twin-turbo 3.3-liter V-6 making 375 horsepower and 291 lb-ft of torque. Overseas, a 2.2-liter turbodiesel inline-four making 210 horsepower and 325 lb-ft of torque will also be available. Sadly, the 5.0-liter V-8 from the last-gen car is no longer an option. Both engine trims coming to the U.S. will send power to the rear wheels via an eight-speed automatic transmission, and can be equipped with all-wheel drive.
Advertisements
The interior is a major step up, with a clean, minimalist design and some upscale materials. The 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is paired to a massive 14.5-inch infotainment touchscreen mounted on top of the dash. Thankfully, there are still some real buttons underneath for the climate control. There’s also a bunch of safety tech onboard, including smart cruise control with “machine learning,” forward collision assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Genesis says the G80 won’t arrive at dealerships until the second half of this year. It hasn’t released pricing for the new G80, though our colleagues at Car and Driver predict a starting price under $50,000 and a fully optioned price around $70,000.
Unfortunately, the GT350R could be on the chopping block.
The Ford Mustang Bullitt is on its way out. While the McQueen-inspired trim was fantastic, it was always planned to be a two-year special edition. The good news is that, based on Ford’s NHTSA VIN decoder filing, it’ll be replaced by the Mustang Mach 1.RELATED STORY2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt: First Drive
Advertisements
Like Bullitt, Mach 1 is a name Ford has used in the past to split the difference between the mass-market GT and the high-performance Shelby Mustang. The NHTSA filing lists the Mach 1 as making its official return, plus Ford will be offering two versions of the 5.0-liter V-8 in the 2021 Mustang.
Ford’s VIN Decoder for the 2021 MustangSCREENSHOT: NHTSA.GOV
Considering the Bullitt used the same basic engine but offered 20 extra horsepower over the GT, it’s safe to assume that the second version of the 5.0 will go in the Mach 1. The Bullitt was offered in manual only and came in just two colors: green and black. There’s no word on color or aesthetic details, but expect a wider color palette with a graphics package that mirrors the 1969 version.
Sadly, this leaked order document does not mention a 2021 version of the Shelby GT350 or Shelby GT350R. There’s only one tune of the 5.2-liter V-8 mentioned and, since the 5.2-powered GT500 is listed on the VIN sheet, it’s like the 760-hp, cross-plane crank GT500 motor. The flat-plane Voodoo engine, also a 5.2, might be on its way out.
The GT350R was Road & Track’s 2016 Performance Car of the Year and is still one of the best cars I’ve ever driven. Dropping it from the Mustang lineup would be a hell of a loss.
Bentley’s surprise for the now-cancelled Geneva Motor Show has finally arrived. Meet the Bacalar, an ultra-limited two-seat convertible with tons of bespoke design touches and a 650-horsepower W-12 engine.
The Bacalar takes much of its design inspiration from the EXP 100 GT, Bentley’s 100th-anniversary concept grand tourer from last year. Each headlight has a strip of light that tapers into the front fender, while the grille has been split into two sections. The rear exudes sportiness, with wide taillights and an integrated lip spoiler. Sporting a true open-air barchetta design—there seems to be no folding roof—Bentley says it shares no body panels with any other model in its lineup. The only exterior part shared with the Continental GT is the door handle, simply because it houses the keyless entry module.
Advertisements
The doors of the Bacalar are made from carbon fiber, while the rear clamshell is aluminum. Bentley says it even used 3D printing to shape some of the exterior pieces. The car’s rear track is 0.79 inches wider than the Continental GT’s, for a more muscular look. Those striking wheels? They’re each 22 inches in diameter.
Inside, occupants will be greeted to a new wrap-around dashboard with a sloped center console. There’s a newly shaped steering wheel, a ton of high-quality materials, and a handful of newly integrated features not seen in any other Bentley. According to the company, the Riverwood on the dash “has been preserved for 5000 years in peat bogs, lakes, and rivers found in the Fenlands of East Anglia, England.”
Under the hood of the Bacalar sits Bentley’s familiar 6.0-liter W-12 engine, which also powers the Continental GT, Flying Spur, and Bentayga. Here, it’s making 650 horsepower and 667 lb-ft of torque. It’s connected to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic driving all four wheels. There’s also a 48-volt mild hybrid system attached to power the adaptive air suspension system.
Bentley is building just 12 Bacalars, and they’ve all already been spoken for. The car is a launching point for the company’s new coach-building division, which will build more ultra-limited bespoke cars like this one, as well as things like the recently-announced Bentley Blower recreation.
If you don’t want to wait for the GT cars to come out, Porsche will sell a more hardcore version of the current top-dog 992.
PORSCHE
Advertisements
While 992-generation Porsche 911s are now on sale, hardcore enthusiasts are still waiting on the more serious models to arrive. Sure, you can get the fantastic Carrera S and will soon be able to order the fire-breathing, 640-hp 911 Turbo S, but those are wicked quick luxury sports cars. Stripped-out track cars like the GT3 and GT2RS aren’t yet available for this generation, so until they are, you might have to settle for a Turbo S with the new Lightweight and Sport packages.RELATED STORY Why the New 911 Turbo S Got Such a Big Power Boost
The Lightweight Package, announced Tuesday in a press release, shaves 66 pounds from the standard Turbo S, with trimmer acoustic glass, lightweight front bucket seats, reduced sound deadening, and a rear-seat delete. It also includes performance options like the PASM Sport Suspension and Sport Exhaust System—two options I’d spec on every 911. In essence, the Lightweight Package is the enthusiast-oriented, sporty option pack for the Turbo S.
I assumed that the “comprehensive Sport Package” Porsche announced would have filled that role, but it’s not quite as performance-focused as the Lightweight Package. Instead, it focuses on adding additional visual flair on top of the already available Sport Design Package. That means that—in addition to the Sport Design side flairs, front fascia, and rear deployable wing—you also get extra gloss black accents, dark silver wheels, and taillights in what Porsche calls “a special design.” No pictures have been released, so I’ll have to withhold judgment on the taillights, wheels, and black trim.
Advertisements
Coupe models with the Sport Package also get a carbon fiber roof, though the package (sans carbon roof) is still available for the cabriolet. The Lightweight Package is coupe only, though.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but Porsche’s weight-saving and design options rarely come cheap. Given that the carbon-fiber roof alone costs nearly $4000, assume both packages’ prices will land well north of that figure.
A good luxury car can improve your daily drive dramatically with more comfort, better performance and an overall higher-quality vehicle compared with something from a volume brand. It’s also not a bad way to show off a little if you’ve reached a point in your life where you have some extra money to spend on a car.
A $50,000 budget can go a long way when shopping for a new luxury vehicle. Here are eight great new luxury cars you can find on Autotrader for less than $50,000 for 2020.
Advertisements
Alfa Romeo Giulia
If you’re looking for something outside the norm of luxury sedans, the Alfa Romeo Giulia has some exotic flair that its competitors don’t. Not only is it a great car to look at, but it has sharp handling, roomy and supportive front seats and a gutsy base engine. The midrange Ti model can be had for less than $50,000 and it includes an upgraded 8.8-in infotainment system over the base trim, plus heated front seats, a heated steering wheel and front parking sensors.
Advertisements
Audi TT
Audis aren’t known for having low sticker prices, but the Audi TT is one of the more affordable options in luxury sports cars. The TT blends style, performance and luxury in a satisfying way. The interior is one of the best in its competitive class, and so is its infotainment system. The excellent handling and stout turbocharged base engine of the TT make it fun in the corners, but this Audi is also a surprisingly comfortable grand touring car. You can get either the coupe or the convertible in the base trim for less than $50,000.
Advertisements
BMW M240i
Even the pickiest BMW purists seem to agree that the current generation of the BMW 2 Series is a venerable return to form as a true driver’s car for BMW. It’s not too big, it’s available as a coupe or a convertible, and it has all of the virtues that people love about classic BMW models, like lively engines, outstanding handling and a simple, driver-focused interior. You can’t get an M2 for less than $50,000, but what you can get in this price range is the next best thing: the M240i. It has a lively twin-turbo inline-6 engine, plus upgraded brakes, an upgraded exhaust and an upgraded suspension. And yes, a manual transmission is available at no extra cost.
Advertisements
Cadillac CT5-V
The Cadillac CT5 is the American luxury brand’s new midsize sedan offering, replacing the outgoing CTS. The CT5 is classy and comfortable, and you can upgrade to the high-performance CT5-V while keeping the price under $50,000. It’s not quite the barn-burner that the CTS-V was, but it’s still a respectable sports sedan with a twin-turbo V6 making 360 horsepower, plus you get GM’s outstanding Magnetic Ride control, a performance suspension and sporty aesthetic upgrades.
Genesis G80
If you’re looking for strong value in midsize luxury sedans, don’t forget to check out the Genesis G80. Formerly known as the Hyundai Genesis, the G80 takes on more established competitors in the luxury car world and impresses with strong performance, a comfortable interior and a generous helping of modern technology. The base model is well equipped with a brawny V6 engine, an excellent infotainment system and a lot of standard safety tech, and you can even upgrade to all-wheel drive while still keeping the price well under $50,000.
Advertisements
Lexus ES 300h
The Lexus ES Hybrid takes one of the most comfortable and practical midsize luxury cars and boosts its fuel economy numbers to an outstanding rating of 43 mpg in the city and 44 mpg on the highway. Upgrading the hybrid won’t cost you too much extra over the nonhybrid model. In fact, you can go all the way up to the Ultra Luxury trim and still keep the price tag under $50,000. The Ultra Luxury model gets you upgraded leather seating, which is heated and ventilated in the front, a hands-free power trunk lid and much more. A generous suite of driver assistance technology comes standard on every Lexus ES Hybrid.
Advertisements
Lincoln Continental
The Lincoln Continental takes the best parts of Lincoln’s heritage and puts it in a thoroughly modern package. This big, comfy cruiser has a style and a presence that only an American luxury sedan can have. It’s not often that a luxury brand’s flagship sedan starts at less than $50,000, but the Continental is a serious value proposition in this segment. You’ll only be able to get the base trim at this price point, but the Standard trim is well equipped with 10-way power adjustable heated front seats, remote start and the excellent SYNC 3 infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
Advertisements
Mercedes-Benz C 300
The Mercedes-Benz C-Class has long been a benchmark in compact luxury cars, and the current W205 generation of the car is no exception. The C 300 is one of the best new luxury cars for its elegant styling inside and out, its long list of standard and available features and its lineup of outstanding engine choices. You can get the sedan or the coupe for less than $50,000, and if you opt for the base C300 sedan, you’ll have some extra room in your budget to add a few option packages and make it your own.
Ford has stopped taking orders for the Edge in the UK after less than 1700 examples were registered last year.
The Skoda Kodiaq rival will be available to buy from dealer stock until the end of the year, according to the firm. The news comes less than six months after the facelifted version arrived in British showrooms. Ford issued a statement to Autocar, below:
“Edge will continue to be sold in seven key European markets, with vehicle availability for customers in all other European markets as long as stocks last. The decision to limit Edge availability to seven key markets is in line with our strategy aimed at strengthening the Ford brand and creating a sustainably profitable business in Europe, including by taking action to improve or exit less profitable vehicle lines.
We are introducing other exciting vehicles soon that will better match customer demand and build on our success in the growing utility segment in Europe. Edge availability will be limited only in Europe and will not impact any other region”.
The Edge has been on sale here since 2016, but was on sale in the US. Even in its first full year in Europe it struggled to replicate to popularity of the smaller Kuga, with 16,000 examples sold compared to 119,000 Kugas. In 2018 the Edge’s sales volume fell below 10,000 Europe-wide. The larger, US-market Explorer will also be sold in some European markets later this year, but not the UK.
With the new Puma joining the brand’s lineup in 2020, there will still be three Ford SUVs on sale, with the new Kuga set to become the flagship in the UK. Ford is seeing significant volume from more compact SUVs, and as part of its European restructure it will prioritise these money-making segments.
We try not to have a myopic view of the car world. It’s easy to think the country that you’re based in is the center of the universe, but the world is round and sales are global. At the same time, models don’t make it to every market but, as we’ll see in this list, the cars in the top ten tend to be sold far and wide. There are a few exceptions though, and that’s not all that makes this list marking the first part of the year so fascinating. The numbers we’ve used here come from the Global Auto Database and from the beginning of the year through May. Something else the numbers show is that the decline in overall automobile sales in 2018 is continuing as a trend. The first quarter of the year showed a decline of 7.4% with 21,009,192 global sales in total. That’s 1,554,680 down over the previous year.
There is some predictability, but there’s also some head-scratching information here if we base what we expect on what we see in our own countries.9
1. Toyota Corolla – 282,637
It’s easy to get caught up in the whole idea of what we see locally with crossovers dominating the market, particularly here in the US where they are king along with trucks. It seems, though, that across the broad spectrum of personal income on a global scale mixed with the practicality of larger vehicles, a humble and small gas-powered car is still a recipe for big success. And now, it’s possible to actually get excited by a Corolla.16
2. Ford F-Series – 252,013
Some people cry foul at the sales success of the F-Series truck, and the argument is solid. After all, there are various models of F-Series trucks and the Super Duty line is built on a different architecture. If Toyota renamed the Camry as the larger Corolla, Toyota would probably dominate global sales by an even larger stretch. They could even go as far as renaming the RAV4 as the Corolla SUV as well and go bragging like Ford does. However, no matter which way you slice it, the F-Series is at number two on the list despite not having an official presence in most of Europe or Asia, and that’s impressive. In 2018, an F-Series truck was sold every 35 seconds on average.15
3. Honda Civic – 203,103
Whether you think of the Civic as Honda’s Corolla or the Corolla as Toyota’s Civic, this was always going to rank highly. What’s interesting is that there’s not a crossover in the top three. Honda’s recipe for the Civic as being economical to run, practical to use, available in useful and sporty configurations, and fun to drive secures its place at the top end of the global market.
5
4. Honda CR-V – 190,319
The best selling crossover worldwide at the moment runs contrary to what we saw here in the United States last year. The Honda CR-V was outsold by both the Toyota RAV4 and the Nissan Rogue in 2018, but for the first quarter of 2019 the CR-V outsold the RAV4 stateside, and both have been outsold by Chevy’s Equinox. The Rogue outsold them all in the US but hasn’t made the top 10 for global sales so far this year.
5. Toyota RAV4 – 190,118
The RAV4 has been around since 1994, and there was an EV version all the way back in 1997 produced for fleets until 2003. The RAV4 also holds the distinction of being the first compact crossover SUV, and that’s something Toyota has built upon over decades now.
9
6. Volkswagen Golf – 177,503
The hatchback hasn’t had the success in the United States as it has in the rest of the world. Lots of space, big roads, and cheap gas negate a lot of the benefits of a small yet practical vehicle. The Golf has been available here, but an upmarket hatch doesn’t sell well. As a result it seems, the next generation won’t be available in the United States. For the rest of the world, the Golf reigns supreme as the premium hatchback.
9
7. Volkswagen Tiguan – 173,058
It shouldn’t be a surprise Volkswagen also has a compact SUV in the list. Part of the Tiguan’s success is down to the Chinese market where it’s been available since 2009. China is a large part of Volkswagen’s overall market with around 40% of the brand’s revenue coming from Asia.
8. Volkswagen Polo – 167,888
Volkswagen’s baby hatchback is now in its sixth generation and post-dates the Golf by just a year. There have been other body styles, and there’s a sedan version built in Brazil for the South American market named the Virtus. However, Volkswagen has yet to find a business case for selling it in the United States.
9. Toyota Camry – 164,158
The Toyota Camry beats out the Honda Accord in worldwide sales and keeps a mid-size sedan presence in the top 10 world sales list. Now in its eighth generation, Toyota’s decision to go with a much more aggressive and sportier style is paying off. Toyota calls the Camry its second “World Car” after the Corolla, and it’s built in Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States.
10. Volkswagen Lavida – 143,686
Commonly known by English speakers as the Lavida, while being the first car designed by VW’s Chinese branch, it’s clearly a no-frills Passat for the Chinese market. It’s also clearly a big deal for VW as it makes the world sales list despite only being made in China. According to figures available from 2018, VW sold 473,564 units in total last year. It also appears to be on track for the biggest jump in ranking for global sales after ending 2018 in 17th place while all the other cars on this list were in the top 10 overall.
Ferrari has also indicated there will be four more new vehicles besides the F8, above, unveiled in 2019.
Alberta’s economy might be in a downturn, however, Ferrari stays certain that arrival to thriving is close and that its deals are to some degree protected from a languid economy. Matteo Torre, CEO of Ferrari North America, was in Calgary for the official opening of Ferrari of Alberta on Friday and called the new business “a significant achievement in the long history of progress Ferrari has had in this piece of the world.” Stressing the significance, the Calgary outlet is the principal vendor in Canada to disclose the new mid-motor F8 Tributo, a twin-turbo 3.9-liter V8 touted as the most dominant V8 the organization has ever constructed.
“Canada is a significant market and it’s becoming quicker than the remainder of the locale,” he stated, calling attention to that his organization’s plan of action is to a great extent shielded from the monetary downturn. As per a commonplace standpoint discharged by the Conference Board of Canada in May, Alberta is confronting gentle subsidence.
A European investigator, Philippe Houthis, has said offers of premium vehicles have most likely topped all around, compromising the plan of action of Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz. Torre does not see something very similar occurring with Ferrari. He said it’s hard to contrast Ferrari with different brands. “I don’t have a clue what the definite system for a volume maker is, yet plainly it is a thick market,” he stated, including that Ferrari’s plan of action “secures us in a downturn.”
Ferrari New Calgary store in face of sluggish Alberta Economy
At Ferrari, generation is driven by interest, he said. He likewise demonstrated there will be four all the more new vehicles other than the F8 uncovered in 2019. “We create the interest first and afterward pursue with generation. That is the reason our lingering worth remains solid and our holding up rundown exceptionally long. We work to create the interest and fulfill that request somewhat. “That is our way of thinking. The remainder of the business is making an alternate showing.” As producers move to more prominent jolt, Ferrari has started a move to crossover control with the simply uncovered SF90 module half breed which uses three electric engines connected to its V8 turbo. A turbo-V6 module half breed has additionally been affirmed. Past that, Torre isn’t discussing the new item other than to state there’s no arrangement for a hydrogen energy unit vehicle and positively no arrangement for a self-governing driving Ferrari.
“The delight and joy of driving our vehicle is a major selling point,” he said. “You receive a feeling in return. You feel the exhibition. It isn’t simply indicated A point B.” Any progressions are execution driven, he said. “We take a gander at each innovation with incredible consideration, however, we are not adherents, we need to be pioneers. Whatever we do, the vehicle is worked around execution. “We make the driving simpler, however, we need a driver behind a directing wheel.”
The Lamborghini Urus is a ground-breaking vehicle. Taking into account that it is an SUV that conveys more power than numerous supercars, it will outrun most games vehicles. In any case, as usual, there are dependably the individuals who figure an officially incredible vehicle can do with a couple of more horses under the cap. Sign the German tuning producer, Abt. The standard Urus pushes out 641 strength (478 kW) and 850 Nm of torque. Be that as it may, when Abt gets their hands on one, the twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V8 produces a sizeable 700 HP (522 kW) and 910 Nm of torque. This is made conceivable gratitude to Abt’s presentation pack and “Abt Engine Control”.
Execution insightful there aren’t any extreme increments. The top speed stays around 305 km/h, yet you will achieve 100 km/h from halt 0.2 seconds faster changing from 3.6 seconds to 3.4. Or maybe strangely for Abt, no extra parts have been added to the Urus’ outside significance just the motor has been fettled with. Be that as it may, we expect some extra carbon-fiber additional items to be made accessible truly soon.
Abt hasn’t discharged any official evaluating to apply this presentation move up to your Urus.
CADILLAC
BENTLEY
PORSCHE
WAGON RIDER 
