Motor Trend

2021 Cadillac Escalade Diesel First Drive Review: The Power of Choice

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago
Cadillac Escalade Full Overview

Here’s the good news for full-size luxury SUV buyers: Not only does the 2021 Cadillac Escalade diesel drive nearly identically to the excellent, gasoline-chugging model, it also costs the exact same amount, is just as impressive inside, and gets notably better fuel economy. The bad news? Well, there isn’t any, unless you’re a hardcore V-8 partisan.

Added as part of the Escalade’s wholesale redesign for 2021, the diesel version lacks the gasoline model’s ferocious growl under full-bore acceleration, as well as its mid-range and top-end muscle during freeway-speed passing maneuvers. But the diesel delivers in virtually all other circumstances. In terms of output, here’s how they stack up: The gas V-8 churns out 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, while the Duramax inline six-cylinder turbodiesel is rated for 277 hp and an equal 460 lb-ft.

Striking Similarities

After punching the diesel’s

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Proof a Round Steering Wheel Option Might Exist!

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago

We found some images of the new Model S with a regular steering wheel buried within the source code of Tesla’s website, which suggests to us that even the automaker is hedging that the new wheel shape may go unloved by customers or, more critically, be banished by regulators.

Wait, Can Tesla Even Sell Cars With a Steering “Yoke?”

The law isn’t totally clear on whether or not the new Teslas’ steering yokes are fair game, although, in recently proposed rule changes to primary vehicle controls amidst the rise of self-driving cars, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted it has never fully defined the necessary shape of a steering wheel—i.e., that it must be a complete circle or at least mostly round. It’s only written that the control must satisfy crash standards. In fact, in seeking to clarify definitions of driver controls (and explicitly

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A True Luxury Three-Row SUV?

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago
Acura MDX Full Overview

First and foremost, know that the redesigned 2022 Acura MDX’s interior is a big improvement from the outgoing model. That SUV’s nice-for-a-Honda aesthetic and dual-screen infotainment setup were decidedly 2014. Not so for the new MDX, which takes on a distinctive, modern ambiance with more technology than any Acura before.

2022 Acura MDX: Cargo Area

Let’s start at the back. Pop the powered tailgate to find a 16.3-cubic-foot cargo area, slightly larger than the one in the previous MDX. There’s also a wide underfloor storage bin with a removable, flippable cover. On one side the cover is carpeted; on the other, it’s hard plastic so dirty cargo doesn’t soil the upholstery. Other conveniences include a small deployable bag hook, a 12-volt power outlet, and a one-touch close and lock button.

Cargo capacity increases to 39.1 and 71.4 cubic feet behind the second and first rows, respectively.

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That Time Subaru Built a Flat 12-Cylinder Engine for F1 Racing

By Michael J. Moody 3 weeks ago

Subaru’s racing efforts are renowned by enthusiasts far and wide, as the underdog Japanese brand scored legions of fans—and championships—during the 1990s and 2000s as one of the dominant players in World Rally Championship (WRC) competition. (Its wide lineup in the Gran Turismo PlayStation game series didn’t hurt, either.) In short order, four-wheel drifting glory became a key part of its identity, fostering tons of press and boosting global sales of the company’s all-wheel-drive turbo sedans and wagons.

Far less ink has been spilled about the automaker’s less successful bid to shine in the context of a different motorsports institution. In fact, well before rally ever entered the picture, Subaru was determined to highlight its engineering prowess and turn the heads of enthusiasts who had largely written off the quirky brand—by cracking the ranks of Formula 1.

To get started, all it needed was an engine. Unfortunately, that powerplant turned

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