Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
Samsung gets back on track with impressive Galaxy S8 smartphone
It’s been a rough year for Samsung in the smartphone world. Sure, they’re still one of the biggest names in the business and sell plenty of product around the world, but controversy over their Galaxy Note 7 phones catching on fire due to poorly made batteries has had them on the world’s radar for the wrong reasons.
In a business as competitive as smartphones, that’s something you need to squash quickly and move on, or you’ll be left behind. Samsung made changes and worked to solve the issues and regain the public’s trust in their phones, and are now fully focused on their next offerings -- primarily the Galaxy S8 and its big brother the Galaxy S8 Plus (which, to clarify, are successors to the S7 line of phones, not the aforementioned Note 7).
I recently spent some time with an S8 Plus from AT&T, and I’m back what a report on how it’s been improved and who should consider upgrading.
2017 Audi S6 combines comfort and luxury with raw power
Welcome to the fun zone.
Audi may have a hoidy-toidy reputation on the whole, but slap an S in any of their model names and things get a bit more loose.
I recently spent some time behind the wheel of a 2017 Audi S6 midsize sedan, and I’m back with the highlights of what you can expect from this hot rod.
1. Uberfast
The simplest way to put it is to say that the Audi S6 is a thoroughly enjoyable ride -- combining all the comfort and smoothness of the A6 with a more performance/sporty edge. It gets up to speed in stunning fashion for its size: You’re hauling you-know-what before you even realize it (“Am I really going that fast?” was a common expression during my time in the S6).
If you want to tone down the speed, get out of dynamic mode (which would be better labeled as beast mode).
New 2017 Volvo S90 sedan is a big upgrade for Swedish automaker
Sometimes you gotta try something new.
Without much fanfare for their previous midsize sedan (the S80), Volvo got in redesign mode and debuted the Volvo S90 for the 2017 model year.
A major improvement on its predecessor, I recently spent some time in an S90 and I’ll let you know how it measures up in the always-competitive luxury sedan segment.
1. LUXURY ABOUNDS
The exterior design of the S90 makes a statement -- this isn’t your dad’s Volvo.
You get a classy design up front that screams luxury (elegantly titled the “Upright Waterfall Front Chrome Grille”), and an overall sharp look that will get you some attention. That’s not often said about a Volvo, but it can be said about the S90. Part of the improvement is a sleek new headlight design (LED lights in an design called “Thor’s Hammer” -- another great bit of language from the Swedish automaker)
Diving inside, even when compared to other midsize luxury sedans, the S90 has a well-appointed and comfy interior. One specific detail I noticed was that the leather steering wheel feels great in hands. It’s also very roomy, even in back.
Genesis lineup scores high on technology
Genesis, Hyundai’s new upscale wing, is a fresh face in the world of high-end rides, but it came in with a bang. The 2017 lineup of the G80 and G90 are top-notch examples of quality luxury vehicles, exceeding what many expected from Hyundai.
For a full take on the Genesis G90, check out my review here (http://bit.ly/2iRolcn). In this review, I’m focusing strictly on the technology portion of the G90, and what it has to offer compared to its luxury rivals. Once you get beyond looks and comfort and overall ride quality, technology can be the decider for many when choosing a luxury ride, so it’s of ever-growing importance.
2018 Toyota Yaris hatchback announced
Toyota has announced manufacturer’s suggested retail prices (MSRP) for the 2018 Yaris hatchback.
The fuel-efficient Yaris is the Toyota brand’s least expensive model, yet it is equipped with many standard safety and convenience features. Among the many standard carryover safety features is Toyota Safety Sense- C™ (TSS-C), a trio of driver assist technologies that help drivers get from point “A” to point “B” with safety assurance. TSS-C technologies include Toyota’s Pre-Collision System, Lane Departure Alert and Automatic High Beams.
Yaris offers both three-door and five-door body styles in two grades, L and LE, in addition to the five-door Sporty SE. Manual transmission is available on the three-door L and the five-door SE.
Euro Styling
Designed and assembled in France, the Yaris builds on its European styling to add a sportier and more dynamic look for 2018. The updates start with both the L and LE grades receiving a new bold front fascia with a new grille and chrome accents. The SE grade will receive a sporty front fascia that features a new piano black mesh pattern grille surrounded with a chrome accent.
The refined new front is complemented by a modern restyled rear to help provide a wider look and stance. The rear design includes wider, horizontal tail lamps that are integrated into the rear door, new rear bumper with styling that is more in harmony with the rear door design, and a new lower bumper garnish with side reflectors to help portray a broader stance.
The SE is topped off with standard 16-inch Machined Alloy Wheels with dark accents.
Inside, the 2018 Yaris receives substantial audio and convenience updates that starts with the L grade upgrading to a standard tilt, three-spoke steering wheel that now includes audio controls. Both the L and LE grades will now receive the same Sport analog instrumentation currently on the SE grade. The sporty IP includes speedometer, tachometer and fuel gauge; LCD display with odometer, tripmeters,
clock, outside temperature, current/average fuel economy, distance to empty, average speed and shift position; ECO-driving indicator and warning messages (automatic transmission only).
The Yaris will be available in eight exterior colors including two new selections: Blue Eclipse (replacing Blue Streak Metallic), and two-tone Blue Eclipse with a Black Sand Pearl Roof (replacing two-tone Crushed Ice with Black Sand Pearl Roof). Carryover colors will include: Super White, Classic Silver Metallic, Magnetic Gray Metallic, Black Sand Pearl, Ruby Flare Pearl, and the two-tone Ruby Flare Pearl with Black Sand Pearl Roof.
The exterior color palette will be complemented with interior fabric choices of combined Black and Gray on L and LE grades, and all-Black on the SE grade.
Staying Entune
Audio upgrades abound with the 2018 Yaris as both the L and LE grades will now be equipped standard with the same Entune™ Audio system available on many other Toyota models. The Entune Multimedia Bundle consists of:
- a 6.1-inch touch-screen display, AM/FM CD player, MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers, auxiliary audio jack, USB 2.0 port with iPod® connectivity and control, advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, and Siri® Eyes Free
The SE grade leaps to the next level as it will come standard with Entune Audio Plus with Connected Navigation App. This upgraded multimedia system consists of:
- a 7.0-inch high resolution touch-screen display, AM/FM tuner, MP3/WMA playback capability, six speakers, auxiliary audio jack, USB 2.0 port with iPod® connectivity and control, advanced voice recognition, hands-free phone capability, phone book access and music streaming via Bluetooth® wireless technology, Connected Navigation Scout® GPS Link App, Siri® Eyes Free, SiriusXM® Satellite Radio with three-month complimentary SiriusXM All Access Trial and Gracenote® album cover art, HD Radio, HD Radio™ traffic and weather in major metro areas
Pricing
The MSRP for the 2018 Yaris hatchback L grades will range from $15,635 for the three-door with a manual transmission to $16,760 for the five-door with an automatic transmission, reflecting an increase of $385.
The Yaris LE grades will receive an MSRP of $17,285 for the three-door with an automatic transmission and $17,660 for the five-door automatic, both prices reflect an increase of $375.
The sporty Yaris SE grades receives an MSRP of $18,260 for the five-door with a manual transmission and $19,060 for the five-door automatic. Both prices reflect an increase of $1,060.
The MSRP’s for the 2018 Yaris Hatchback do not include the delivery, processing, and handling (DPH) fee of $885. The DPH fee for vehicles distributed by Southeast Toyota (SET) and Gulf States Toyota (GST) may vary.
The 2018 Yaris will be reaching Toyota dealerships this summer.
| Model # |
Grade | Doors | Trans- mission |
MSRP 17MY |
MSRP 18MY |
MSRP Chg. ($) |
| 1421 | L | 3 | MT | $15,250 | $15,635 | $385 |
| 1422 | L | 3 | AT | $16,000 | $16,385 | $385 |
| 1424 | LE | 3 | AT | $16,910 | $17,285 | $375 |
| 1462 | L | 5 | AT | $16,375 | $16,760 | $385 |
| 1466 | LE | 5 | AT | $17,285 | $17,660 | $375 |
| 1463 | SE | 5 | MT | $17,200 | $18,260 | $1,060 |
| 1464 | SE | 5 | AT | $18,000 | $19,060 | $1,060 |
-- Press release courtesy of Toyota
2017 Lexus RC 200t is a head-turning luxury coupe
Lexus aims for a home run with their 2017 RC 200t sport coupe. I had a chance to test the RC 200t recently, and I’m back with a report on five things you should know about it, and how many bases they were able to reach.
1. Simply beautiful
I’ll just come right out and say it: This is one of the most attractive sporty cars out there that’s within the financial grasp of mere mortal auto buyers. The front end and its sprawling black grille, along with its uniquely shaped headlights, are downright artistic in design. This model is a perfect fit for Lexus’ efforts to use bolder designs in the grille.
In the rear, there are other highlights on the design that make the car shine, including the notches in the rear that won’t go unnoticed.
The F Sport package gets you an even sportier look inside and out, plus an adaptive sport-tuned suspension.
Special-edition BMW M4 CS announced
BMW announced at the 2017 Auto Shanghai the first-ever BMW M4 CS, an exclusive special-edition model produced by BMW M GmbH. The BMW M4 CS lines-up between the BMW M4 Coupe with Competition Package and the uncompromisingly track-focused BMW M4 GTS. The 3.0-liter high-performance engine raises the output of the BMW M4 Coupe by 29 horsepower, to 454 hp. The state-of-the-art M TwinPower Turbo technology allows the BMW M4 CS to dip below the four-second mark for the 0 to 60 mph sprint, stopping the clock at 3.8 seconds (preliminary) while the standard M Driver’s Package raises the electronically limited top speed to 174 mph.
With its two mono-scroll turbochargers, charge air cooler, High Precision Injection, VALVETRONIC variable valve timing and Double-VANOS fully variable camshaft timing, the inline 6-cylinder engine aims at higher echelons of performance and efficiency. More aggressively styled, the first ever BMW M4 CS continues the decades-long tradition of successful M special editions, which began in 1988 with the E30 BMW M3 Evolution. The first ever BMW M4 CS will be built at the BMW plant in Munich and will be available at U.S. dealerships in 2018 with pricing announced closer to market launch.
Chrysler expands 2017 Pacifica lineup With addition of Touring Plus model
Chrysler has announced the addition of the Touring Plus model to the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica lineup.
“The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica arrived in dealerships a year ago, and in that time, it has both resonated with our current minivan customers and brought new minivan buyers to the brand,” said Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and Fiat, FCA – North America. “The addition of the new Touring Plus model to the Pacifica lineup builds on this success, delivering another option to meet the needs and price point of more customers.”
The Pacifica Touring Plus model includes features like a power liftgate, three-zone automatic temperature control, premium fascia, projector headlamps, LED tail lamps, fog lamps, second- and third-row sunshades and universal garage door opener.
Moon rover Audi lunar quattro featured in “Alien: Covenant”
The Moon rover Audi lunar quattro celebrates its film debut in Ridley Scott’s sci-fi blockbuster “Alien: Covenant” which premieres worldwide this May. Audi experts have developed the Moon rover in cooperation with the German start-up “Part-Time Scientists.” The rover is expected to embark on a future mission to space.
Director Ridley Scott has integrated the Audi lunar quattro into “Alien: Covenant,” a new chapter in his groundbreaking “Alien” franchise. The crew of the colony ship Covenant, bound for a remote planet on the far side of the galaxy, discovers what they think is an uncharted paradise, but is actually a dark, dangerous world. When they uncover a threat beyond their imaginations, they must attempt a harrowing escape. In its film debut, the Audi lunar quattro is an integral part of the Covenant mission and is deployed to help Faris (Amy Seimetz) navigate and assess the challenging, unknown terrain of a new planet.
Incorporating the Audi lunar quattro into the film is part of the collaboration between Twentieth Century Fox and Audi. “The ‘Alien’ franchise is the best way for us to garner suitable attention for the Moon rover developed by Audi, and to showcase Audi’s intelligent technologies in a visionary environment,” explains Giovanni Perosino, Vice President International Marketing Communication at Audi.
Growing up with Dale Earnhardt Jr.
You could argue that Dale Earnhardt Jr. and I grew up together, in a roundabout way.
When fate took that left turn at just the right moment and I got hooked on NASCAR a little over 20 years ago, Dale Jr. was just a kid with blonde hair trying to prove to the fans that he deserved the rides his daddy had given him.
When I attended my first ever live NASCAR event at Michigan Speedway in August of 1997, it happened to be Dale Jr’s fifth career race In the Busch series.
He started 18th, and finished 7th (his best finish in a year where he qualified for 8 races but DNQed in two others – yes, this was back when people DNQed and there weren’t short fields)
With him being roughly the same age as me, I was naturally drawn to Jr. as he made his way up the ranks of NASCAR. The stories of his fun younger days – parties at his house and nightclub, and his rumored affinity for the Budweiser girls – fit well with my narrative as a young man. He seemed like a guy you would want to have a beer with, and that’s not always the case with celebrities/athletes, especially those with a famous name.
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