Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
2017 Lexus ES 300h hybrid is bold outside, green inside
In this age of full-on plug-in EVs with extended range and autonomous cars edging closer to reality, talking about hybrids seems almost old-school. But there was a time when this technology was the one being hotly debated. Think back to when the Prius first came around two decades back and some people wondered if it would survive.
Nowadays, hybrids are accepted with little discussion, and recognized as one more option for the eco-friendly crowd or for those who just don’t like stopping to get gas (or paying for it.).
Most automakers now offer some hybrids, and a few reside in the luxury realm inhabited by Lexus.
That’s where my test vehicle, the 2017 Lexus ES 300h, comes in. This sedan aims to provide not only strong fuel economy but also an enjoyable driving experience. It’s a smaller hybrid sedan, with limited direct competition in the segment, but does it deliver enough to get the attention it seeks?
2017 Subaru Impreza, packing standard AWD, shakes up compact segment
Sales numbers are important in the auto industry, but so are trends. And if you’re searching for a brand with an impressive track record over the past few decades, look no further than Subaru. The smaller brand has, with minor blips, been trending consistently upward -- especially in the past five years, and that’s due to a series of impressively redesigned vehicles and a reputation for safety.
Case in point: The 2017 Subaru Impreza, the brand’s redesigned compact car which comes in both sedan and hatchback models. I recently got to test the hatch, and one thing jumped out at me from the start -- standard All-wheel drive, something you just don’t see in the segment. Add to that the fact that this Impreza is being built in America (in Lafayette, Indiana) for the first time, and people’s ears are already perking up.
But when you are battling the likes of the Civic, Focus, Cruze, Corolla, Forte and more, you need a full package. So how does the Impreza measure up?
2017 Toyota Sienna keeps it old school; remains a reliable minivan option
Let’s be honest: The last time minivans were considered cool, the original “Ghostbusters” movie had just come out in the theater. Since then, their reputation has gone steadily downhill.
That’s why the death of the minivan has been trumpeted for years by naysayers, who claim SUVs are now the better alternative. And on one hand they are somewhat accurate, with minivan sales dwarfed more and more each year by the endless parade of compact, midsize and full-size SUVs flooding the market right now.
On the other hand, while some minivans are dying off (RIP Mazda5 and Nissan Quest), others are proudly continuing to bear the soccer mom-car badge -- including Honda’s Odyssey, Chrysler’s new Pacifica, the Kia Sedona and the vehicle I just tested -- the 2017 Toyota Sienna, which has proudly carried families for the past two decades.
Ford dealership service director wins Motorcraft T-Shirt Contest, trip to Homestead races
Lifelong NASCAR “fanatic” Patty Chemberlin of Imlay City, Mich., service director at the Lasco Ford dealership in Trenton, is the big winner of the T1D, Motorcraft & Me “Customize for a Cause” t-shirt design contest to benefit JDRF. Chemberlin’s winning design features the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion NASCAR racer appearing to drive off the wearer’s chest over the words: “Helping Break Through to Cure Type 1 Diabetes.”
She and three family members will be the guests of Motorcraft/Quick Lane Racing during Ford Championship Weekend for the final race of the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup season at Homestead-Miami Speedway, Nov. 17-19. Her design also will be featured as a decal the side panels of the iconic Wood Brothers Racing No. 21 during that weekend’s Ford EcoBoost 400, which will decide the 2017 series champion.
Truex, Furniture Row team give fans with spinal cord Injuries a day to remember
The giddy smiles said it all after spinal cord injured participants took a 135 mile per hour spin at Dover International Speedway with Martin Truex Jr. in an adaptive race car donated by Furniture Row Racing.
Kelly Brush, a paraplegic and skier from Charlotte, Vt. was one of the 10 participants Thursday, who got to experience the thrill of a few laps around the Monster Mile.
“What an incredible experience to say the least,” beamed Brush after exiting the race car. “What struck me was how loud it was. It was so fast I was pressed up against the side of the door the whole time. It was awesome, a really cool experience. I kept thinking Martin won’t hit the wall because that would be really bad but it felt like he was going to. I now know he was just taking a casual ride. He goes a lot faster in his race car.”
Brush and other spinal cord injured got to drive the car which had special hand controls linked to the accelerator and braking.
“It’s neat to see how Dr. Falci and his team are using technology involving racing and race cars,” said Truex, who is the points leader in the NASCAR Cup driver point standings. “For me honestly it was just fun to take these guys for a ride to show them a little of what we do and giving them a feel for the Monster Mile. I had a great time.”
Volkswagen announces six-year, 72K warranty for most 2018 vehicles
For the 2018 model year, most new Volkswagen vehicles in the United States will come with the People First Warranty, a six-year or 72,000-mile (whichever occurs first) bumper-to-bumper New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which can be transferred to subsequent owners throughout its duration.
“Volkswagen has always been ‘the people’s car,’ and with the People First Warranty, we’re putting our customers first,” said Hinrich J. Woebcken, President and Chief Executive Officer of Volkswagen Group of America. “By bringing the right cars, at the right time and making the offer very competitive, we believe we’re in the position to grow in the US market.”
Toyota will bring first hybrid powertrain production to U.S.
Toyota has announced a $373.8 million investment in five U.S. manufacturing plants that will support production of its first American-made hybrid powertrain and to implement Toyota’s New Global Architecture at its Alabama plant. Each of the projects is scheduled to begin this year and all should be operational by 2020.
The investments will include adding new production of hybrid transaxles (hybrid vehicle transmissions) at the Buffalo, West Virginia, manufacturing facility; expanding 2.5-liter engine capacity at the Georgetown, Kentucky, plant; increasing production of 2.5-liter cylinder heads at Bodine Aluminum’s Troy, Missouri, plant; and modifying the Bodine Jackson, Tennessee, plant to accommodate production of hybrid transaxle cases and housings and 2.5-liter engine blocks. The Huntsville, Alabama, plant will undergo a comprehensive upgrade to enable it to build engines that complement TNGA.
Lexus unveils reimagined LS flagship sedan for 2018
Lexus has unveiled its all-new, fifth-generation LS flagship sedan for 2018. Inside and out, the new LS reflects a strong, uniquely Japanese identity and approach to luxury and offers technology with a human touch. “Not only will the LS symbolize the Lexus brand, it will become the definitive new-generation luxury car embodying Japanese tradition and culture,” said LS Chief Engineer Toshio Asahi. “As such, this global pinnacle must go far beyond what the world expects from a luxury car.”
Longer, Lower, Wider
Longer and lower than the model it replaces, the all-new LS debuts a strikingly sleek and bold design with a coupe-like silhouette punctuated by the unique Lexus design language. A new driver-centric performance feel stems from building the LS on the company’s all-new global architecture for luxury vehicles (GA?L). This premium rear-wheel drive platform, an offers a more dynamic driving experience while further elevating renowned Lexus comfort.
The original Lexus LS won acclaim by anticipating what luxury customers would want, rather than by simply amplifying what established luxury automobile brands offered at the time. In that spirit, the 2018 LS sedan’s spacious cabin, unique appointments, and technology will once again surprise customers by resetting expectations for a global flagship sedan.
“We set previously unheard of targets and resolutely pushed ahead towards these ambitious goals,” said LS Chief Engineer Asahi. “The customers who are going to want to own a Lexus flagship are already surrounded by luxury on a daily basis — people who have a sharp eye for authenticity to begin with. We wouldn’t turn their heads with a conventional premium product.”
Petty, Childress comments on anthem protests give NASCAR a bad image
ACT I: Hurricane Trump
So I set out this past weekend to enjoy some sports -- a little football, a bunch of NASCAR, etc. -- and then Hurricane Trump hit on Friday and turned everything into a political circus.
Now here we are: It’s Tuesday, and all anyone can talk about online and at the water cooler is the stunning comments Trump made about the NFL protesters, how nearly every athlete and team in the country strongly responded against him (including Lebron James calling him a “bum”), and who’s right in this debate.
It’s a lot to unpack, and the reason I’m even talking about it here is that 45 brought NASCAR into the discussion, praising their lack of protests -- and a couple of NASCAR team owners made huge headlines in mainstream media with some pretty outrageous comments that don’t paint the sport in a very good light.
2018 Audi Q5 hits the sweet spot for luxury SUVs
One thing about Audi that no one can deny: No matter what size or shape of luxury vehicle you are seeking, they probably have you covered with a solid option. That’s true not only for the sedans (where the A series runs from the A3 to A8, with multiple models in each number), but also in the SUV lineup, where you can opt for a compact Q3, a full-sized Q7, or the middle child, the Q5 -- which I recently had a chance to test.
In essence, the 2018 Audi Q5 can be described as the Q7 minus a bit of length and the third row, which is a good thing considering how well the Q7 does everything.
LOOKS
Inside, the key question in these midsize SUVs is whether the back seat is actually comfortable. Good news here is both rows of the Q5 are roomy, with impressive legroom for the class. Seating is high-end and comfortable, storage is adequate, and you get attractive wood trim designs up front.
The exterior of my test vehicle was the usual stunning Audi white (Ibis white to be exact), which is a sight to behold and a unique look that instantly identifies the brand. And the design -- while not overly bold -- is supremely classy and elegant. This is a juxtaposition when compared to the more bold and dramatic designs on competitors such as Lexus.
If I had to pick a word to describe the design of the Audi Q5, it would be clean. You can tell a lot of effort went into making sure this vehicle is one that people want to drive and want to have in their driveway.
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