Autos
Wazupnaija – Naija Entertainment blogs & Forums – Lifestyle – Autos
Chevy Brings Its Captivating Captiva Crossover to Mexico
It’s probably been a long time since you heard about the Chevrolet Captiva. You may recognize the name from the Captiva Sport, a fleet-only small crossover that was sold in the United States for a brief time in the early part of the prior decade. Today, the Captiva lives on in the form of a midsize SUV for global markets. It strikes a nice middle ground between the aggressively styled Blazer and the tamer Traverse U.S. consumers are familiar with. Unfortunately, the Captiva probably won’t be coming to our neck of the woods. Mexico will receive the stylish SUV in the first half of 2021, however. Chevrolet hasn’t announced engine specs or prices for the Mexico-spec Captiva, but the brand notes it will arrive for the 2022 model year. The new Captiva has already been introduced in South ...
2021 GMC Canyon AT4 Off-Road Performance Edition Steers the Pickup Further Off-Road
The 2021 GMC Canyon AT4 pickup just dropped a few months ago, adopting some of the off-road mojo and unique style of the larger Sierra AT4 truck. (It also replaces the previous Canyon All Terrain model.) Now, GMC is adding a new Off-Road Performance Edition that adds a little more functionality and protection to what’s essentially the same Canyon AT4 package. The tweaks will be useful for anyone who’d actually like to use the midsize Canyon AT4 off-road, but this is more optimization for that purpose than a hardcore off-road package. Before we get into the Off-Road Performance Edition bits, here is a quick refresher of what the standard Canyon AT4 brings to the table: 31-inch Goodyear Wrangler DuraTrac tires, off-road tuned suspension, a hill descent control system, and four-wheel drive wi...
2022 Hyundai Elantra N Prototype First Drive: N It to Win It
Hyundai surprised the world with the Veloster N a couple of years ago. Not only was the hot hatch a hot rod version of the Veloster R-Spec, it was specifically developed by Albert Biermann, the former big boss behind BMW’s M division. As we experienced on the Nürburgring and the Autobahn, the Veloster N is a different type of machine, combining 275 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque, a limited-slip differential, sport-tuned suspension, and larger brakes. The Korean brand is now applying that same formula to a four-door sedan: the Hyundai Elantra N, arriving in the U.S. next year. The Elantra N should not be confused with the N Line. The N serves as the pinnacle of performance in Hyundai’s world, while the N Line is tamer but still sportier than the regular car. Think of the Elantra N Line as the C...
2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 First Look: The Heckcat Wrangler V-8 Is Here!
The last time Jeep shoehorned a V-8 under the hood of its iconic mil-spec Rubicon-runner, it was AMC’s wheezing small-block 304-cubic-inch lump that struggled to produce 150 horsepower and 245 lb-ft of torque in 1972, numbers choked down to 125 and 220 by the time the engine was retired in 1981. But customers have clamored for such a Jeep with a V-8 ever since, creating a cottage industry of engine-swap kits, primarily to jam GM LS or FCA Hemi V-8s under the hood of any CJ or Wrangler YJ/TJ/JK/JL built since Ronald Reagan became president. Now it appears our long wait for a factory Jeep Wrangler V-8 will have been worth it. Presaged by a concept version we drove earlier this year, the 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 is here. <!– –> Wrangler 392: Powerful and Quick Je...
What About a V-8–Powered Gladiator 392 Pickup? Jeep Won’t Commit To It
The V-8-powered 2021 Jeep Wrangler 392 is the latest addition to the off-road-oriented SUV‘s ever-growing model line, which also includes gas-powered four- and six-cylinder engine options, an available turbo-diesel V-6, and the forthcoming gasoline-electric hybrid 4xe. Despite the Wrangler sharing its mechanical bits with the Gladiator pickup, the SUV’s 4xe and 392 powertrains are currently missing from the midsize Jeep truck’s options menu. So the obvious question is: Will the Gladiator lineup add either option in the future? Jeep isn’t ready to kick a possible Gladiator 4xe or 392 to the curb, as brand spokespeople acknowledge the Wrangler 4xe’s 375-hp plug-in hybrid powertrain and 470-hp 6.4-liter V-8 are capable of fitting under the Gladiator’s hood (and, in the case of the...
How to Watch the 2021 Jeep Wrangler 392 V-8 Reveal
Jeep engineers like to have fun. So, the brand’s decision to stuff a big 6.4-liter V-8 engine under the hood of a Wrangler and unveiling it as the Rubicon 392 concept didn’t strike us as much of a surprise. After all, this is the same brand that regularly rolls out wild concept trucks and SUVs it has no plans of mass-producing as part of the Easter Jeep Safari. The Rubicon 392 seemed to us like just another such concept vehicle—an awesome idea that was unlikely to reach production or one left to the aftermarket (which has been providing V-8–powered Wranglers for years). Boy, were we wrong. Jeep formally announced its plans to unveil the salable 2021 Jeep Wrangler 392 on November 17, 2020, at 12:00 p.m. Eastern time. It’s really happening. So, what can we expect from this latest addit...
Mini Vision Urbanaut Concept First Look: Mini Takes on #VanLife
Launched in 1959, the original Mini revolutionized automotive design. With its engine mounted transversely across the front of the car and driving the front wheels, the Mini’s space-efficient mechanical layout became the blueprint for small and medium-size cars the world over. The second-generation Mini, launched in 2001 by BMW, was a digitally remastered homage to the original’s cheeky design that also amped up its fun-to-drive dynamics. BMW’s new Mini Vision Urbanaut concept is less a car than a lounge on disco-lit wheels. Think of the Urbanaut as a small minivan stuffed with a hipster loft interior. According to BMW, it has a “daybed” and a “street balcony” at the front and a “cosy corner” at the rear. Pop a token into one of three slots on the ...
2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class Pros and Cons Review: Properly Appealing
Pro Impressive base model Fun, quality interior AMG engine Con Melty exterior design Some cheap bits Rough ride The democratization of luxury has proven difficult for many premium brands, none more so than Mercedes-Benz. Pilloried for its cynical first attempt at the entry-luxury CLA-Class subcompact sedan, the folks from Stuttgart could have packed it in. Instead, they doubled down, first with the A-Class (a 2020 COTY finalist) but then with the second-gen 2021 Mercedes-Benz CLA, which is nothing short of impressive. So impressive, in fact, that it is also a Car of the Year finalist. View Other 2021 Car Of The Year Contenders And Finalists Here “The previous version always felt built to a price and like it had been finished by Mercedes’ van division,” features editor Christian Seabaugh sa...
2021 Hyundai Sonata Pros and Cons Review: Are All of Its Many Flavors Great?
Pros Fun N Line variant Good value Roomy back seats Cons Unrefined transmission Fishy front-end styling Ride quality The 2021 Hyundai Sonata makes a compelling case to grab our Golden Calipers this year with bold styling and an expanded lineup, which includes a hybrid and a new N Line model powered by a powerful turbo-four engine. With consumers continuing to gravitate to crossovers, will the revived Sonata be enough to slow the trend? And can it rise above the midsize segment’s juggernauts, the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord? View Other 2021 Car Of The Year Contenders And Finalists Here The biggest surprise in the lineup is the new Sonata N Line. Enthusiasts looking for a practical yet fun midsize sedan will likely find a lot to like with this one, including a 2.5-liter turbocharged ...
2020 BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe Pros and Cons Review: The Looks and the Moves
Pros Gorgeous styling Strong inline-six Four-door practicality Cons Pricey Unrefined stop/start system Cramped rear headroom The BMW 8 Series Gran Coupe won’t set any sales charts ablaze, but based on our judges’ notes, it might be the most desirable car in the automaker’s lineup. And why wouldn’t it be? Yes, it’s a sedan version of the very attractive BMW 8 Series coupe, but it manages to be just as gorgeous. The coupe’s most standout styling details—its wide haunches, frameless doors, and long hood—translate well to the Gran Coupe. And the practicality of its rear doors is just icing on the cake. View Other 2021 Car Of The Year Contenders And Finalists Here “The proportions are just stellar,” senior features editor Jonny Lieberman said. “Just how you drew up cars on your Pee-Chee folders...
2020 Nissan Sentra Pros and Cons Review: Competitive Again, It Aims at Honda’s Civic
Pro Surprising style Standard safety tech Features per dollar Con Average fuel economy Poor retained value Lumpy CVT tuning Nissan has done it. After years of wallowing in econobox mediocrity, the compact Sentra sedan matters again. Even without the head-turning two-tone paint of our test car, this Nissan can compete head-on with the Toyota Corolla and almost every other car in the segment. View Other 2021 Car Of The Year Contenders And Finalists Here True, this isn’t a comparison test, but judges found it impossible not to consider the new-for-2020 Nissan Sentra against an aging but still excellent class leader, the Civic. “The Honda Civic looms large,” senior features editor Jonny Lieberman said, “and in terms of engineering excellence, I don’t think the Sentra has that bogey beat.” Stil...
2021 Mercedes E-Class Pros and Cons Review: Business Class Gets an Upgrade
Pro Excellent chassis Great powertrains Premium interior Con Complicated infotainment Gets pricey quickly Climb into a 2021 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, in either sedan, coupe, convertible, or wagon form, and you will understand the true meaning of luxury. For 2021, Mercedes has freshened the E-Class‘s sheetmetal, updated its engines, and upgraded its infotainment system. View Other 2021 Car Of The Year Contenders And Finalists Here From the graining of the dashboard wood to the suppleness of the heated, ventilated, posture-correct leather seats, the E-Class delivers a premium experience. Yet it also is thoroughly modern, from the robust yet efficient responsiveness of its powertrain to the plethora of high-tech features. “The E-Class delivers on every front you can think of—both from a pa...
