Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
BMW 530e iPerformance takes the 5-series to greener pastures
Across all classes of vehicles, the move toward electrification and automation is on the minds of automakers, as it’s generally accepted that when automation truly gets a foothold, most of those vehicles will be electric.
The world of luxury sedans is no exception. In this elite category, where prices are high and brand loyalty is key, the question each luxury brand faces is how far to go on the electric side while still maintaining the sharpness of the traditional ride.
BMW’s 5-series is annually one of the top-selling luxury sedans, for good reason. A staple in the industry for nearly 50 years, it’s a vehicle that rarely disappoints and has attracted a loyal following for generations as it battles other stalwarts in the class such as the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and Audi A6.
The version of the 5-series I recently tested was a bit different, and it reflects this modern movement to improve the eco-friendly factor of the vehicle. Read on for a full report on what the BMW 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid is trying to accomplish, and how it fits into the 5-series lineup and overall luxury market.
2019 Nissan Altima sharpens blade in sedan battle with a strong redesign
The future of sedans is very much a question mark right now. With SUV and truck fever having taken over most automakers, in addition to a focus on electronic and autonomous vehicles, your old-fashioned four-door sedan is usually lost in the shuffle when individuals and families are choosing a new vehicle.
Some automakers, particularly on the domestic side, are taking drastic steps and essentially eliminating their sedan offerings due to lack of sales and limited profitability. But there’s still some reason for hope among car buyers who like this type of vehicle: The foreign automakers are hanging in there.
Nissan is one of those automakers, and for 2019 the Nissan Altima — its midsize sedan offering — gets some major upgrades as it takes on heavy hitters like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in the battle for market share.
I recently spent some time in a 2019 Altima, and I’m back with a full report on how the improvements boost the Altima’s stature in the segment.
Alex Zanardi's driver changes at 24 Hours of Daytona will be ‘a dance’
BMW driver and brand ambassador Alessandro Zanardi’s start in the BMW M8 GTE at the 24 Hours of Daytona (January 26-27) is not only possible thanks to technical adjustments that BMW M Motorsport engineers made to the car, but also thanks to innovative and creative solutions for procedures during the race. Primarily, the driver changes between Zanardi and his team-mates in the #24 BMW M8 GTE require a sophisticated choreography so that they don’t waste any valuable time during the race. Driver changes between Zanardi and his team-mates John Edwards, Jesse Krohn and Chaz Mostert have been choreographed and practiced down to the last detail. “It is a dance in which the important thing is getting all the steps in exactly the right order and in the limited time that you have available,” explained Zanardi.
“So we can’t give away a single second.” To guarantee this, Zanardi, the other drivers and the entire BMW Team RLL are continually collaborating on the perfect procedure for the pit stops. The team has used the previous test drives intensively for this purpose, and the practice will continue at the race weekend. Success is already becoming apparent. “Naturally, we had to align some procedures with my special requirements, and the other drivers have to do a bit of extra work for me, but it is going very well and is a great deal of fun,” said Zanardi, emphasising: “We are already better than I would ever have thought possible.”
Here is a video illustrating the driver change procedure:
https://youtu.be/S2E8rjcDwOw.
Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and Keith Urban headline 2019 Faster Horses Festival at MIS
Toby Keith, Zac Brown Band and Keith Urban headline Faster Horses Festival at MIS
The 2019 lineup for the Faster Horses Festival on the grounds of Michigan International Speedway has been announced — and Toby Keith, Keith Urban and Zac Brown Band will headline the three-day camping and country music festival taking place in Brooklyn, Mich., July 19-21, 2019.
Daniel Suárez Joins Stewart-Haas Racing, will replace Kurt Busch in 41 car
Stewart-Haas Racing (SHR) has signed Daniel Suárez to its Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series lineup in 2019. The Mexican driver, who turned 27 today, will pilot the team’s No. 41 Ford Mustang with sponsorship from Haas Automation and ARRIS International PLC, joining teammates Kevin Harvick, Aric Almirola and Clint Bowyer.
The 2019 season will mark Suárez’s third year in the elite NASCAR Cup Series, but his first with SHR. Suárez made 72 NASCAR Cup Series starts with Joe Gibbs Racing in 2017-2018 after winning the 2016 NASCAR Xfinity Series championship.
“This is the best birthday present I could ask for,” said Suárez, who was born Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico and now calls Huntersville, North Carolina home. “We’ve all seen how competitive Stewart-Haas Racing is – all of their drivers won last year and all of them advanced deep into the playoffs. This is the opportunity every driver wants, and now I have it. I want to deliver for this team, our partners in Haas Automation, ARRIS and Ford and, ultimately, for me. We have everything we need to be successful.”
Redesigned 2019 Infiniti QX50 makes a huge leap forward
In the packed SUV battlefield, if you’re not keeping up you’re falling behind fast. This is true across the board, including in the realm of luxury SUVs.
Take for example the the Infiniti QX50, a compact luxury SUV that has been in need of an update for a couple years. Prior to the arrival of the redesigned 2019 version, this vehicle had fallen behind most of its rivals.
The good news for Infiniti fans, and car buyers in general, is the second-generation edition of the QX50 has arrived, and immediately moves the vehicle several rungs up the ladder in the battle for supremacy in this tough segment.
Richard Childress, Austin Dillon and Daniel Hemric look ahead to 2019, RCR’s 50th anniversary season
TO KICK OFF RICHARD CHILDRESS RACING’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION IN 2019, TEAM OWNER, RICHARD CHILDRESS, AUSTIN DILLON, NO. 3 DOW CAMARO ZL1, AND DANIEL HEMRIC, NO. 8 CATERPILLAR CAMARO ZL1, met with members of the media at the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Full Transcript:
WINSTON KELLY: “We are here today to publicly kick off Richard Childress Racing’s 50th anniversary celebration that will begin in 2019. You may have seen last week that these cars were unveiled to the shop in Welcome, North Carolina and posted on numerous social media and other channels, but this is kind of the public coming out if you will of the 50th anniversary and also have another exciting announcement to make in just a moment.
WINSTON KELLY: “We are honored on behalf of the NASCAR Hall of Fame to announce today that Richard Childress Racing and Richard himself have invited the NASCAR Hall of Fame to partner with this 50th year celebration and our NASCAR Hall of Fame exhibits team along with the RCR team are going to co-create a special exhibit, ‘RCR 50th Only In America’ that is currently in development that will be unveiled here in May of 2019. We are delighted to be apart of that, delighted to help showcase this incredible history here at the NASCAR Hall of Fame and partnership with Richard Childress Racing.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS VIDEO AND YOU THINK OF 50 YEARS WHAT ARE YOUR EMOTIONS, YOUR THOUGHTS AS WE GO INTO 2019?
RICHARD CHILDRESS: “Well, you’ve got to look at the future always, but the future comes with history and when I look up there and think of all those times and the wins and the people and the employees and drivers and sponsors that have been responsible for RCR to be
around for 50 years, I’m just a very small part of it. I’ve been along for the ride with a lot of folks and 50 years, who would have ever dreamed? I never thought I would be alive 50 years much less celebrating 50.”
Michigan International Speedway 2019 race tickets and campsites are now on sale
Tickets and campsites are now on sale for the two weekends of 2019 racing action at Michigan International Speedway.
Fans can visit www.mispeedway.com or call 888-905-7223 to get the best deals. Grandstand tickets start at $39 and week-long camping starts at $135.
“The 2019 NASCAR season is quickly approaching and we cannot wait to welcome all the fans to Michigan International Speedway,” track President Rick Brenner said. “We continue to create special experiences for our fans and campers for the week as NASCAR’s Most Entertaining Track.”
Mercedes-Benz announces pricing for V8 versions of AMG GT 4-door coupe
Mercedes-Benz has announced pricing for the V8 variants of the highly anticipated new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-Door Coupe. The Mercedes- AMG GT 63, powered by a handcrafted AMG 4.0-liter V8 biturbo that produces 577 hp and 590 lb-ft peak torque, starts at $136,500*.
The more powerful Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S produces 630 hp and 664 lb-ft peak torque and starts at $159,000*.Additional standard equipment for the GT 63 S includes the AMG Performance Exhaust System, the AMG Dynamic Plus Package including Active Engine Mounts, RACE Mode, Drift Mode, and AMG Drive Unit steering wheel controls. The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 and Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S will arrive in U.S. dealers in the first half of 2019. Pricing for the GT 53 variant will be announced at a later date.
BMW will show off Vision iNEXT technology at 2019 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas
At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the BMW Group will showcase the future of driving pleasure and the potential of digital connectivity in a variety of different ways.
From January 8 to 11, visitors to the BMW Pavilion in the Las Vegas Convention Center’s Silver Lot will have their first chance to take a virtual drive in the BMW Vision iNEXT, accompanied by the BMW Personal Assistant.
The BMW Vision iNEXT vehicle will be displayed alongside a sophisticated mixed-reality installation that enables visitors to virtually experience the BMW Vision iNEXT. With virtual reality goggles and a specially-designed spatial concept, visitors are able to immerse themselves in this virtual world – from driving to autonomous riding and more.
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