Mid-Size

When Ford showed off the new Ranger, it showed nothing but potential in terms of utility and everyday usefulness. It had damn near everyone wondering if Ford would go back to its roots and offer the new Ranger as a single-cab, two-door model with a longer bed. The hope was there, but according to a 2019 model year VIN document sent to the NHTSA, the Ranger will only offer four doors in either supercab or supercrew body styles. Both supercab and supercrew models will be available with rear- or all-wheel drive, but supercab models options with “bed delete” will only be offered with rear-wheel drive. That’s right; you’ll be able to turn the new ranger into a flatbed. As expected, the only engine on offer is a 2.3-liter four-banger paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission.

These days, there’s so much emphasis on Nurburgring lap times that it seems we hear about a new record, or a new attempt, at least once a week. There’s no doubt the Chevy was doing its best to make a best lap at the famous track after it was spotted there not that long ago. But, Chevy has more than a lap record in mind when it comes to the most powerful production Vette yet. Chevy drug the ZR1 all the way to Germany to put it through the paces at ATP Automotive Testing Papenburg, one of the largest proving grounds in the world and one that has miles upon miles of straight track looped together with banked curves at the end – the perfect recipe for top speed runs.

To make a qualifying run, a vehicle has to make two passes on the track, one in each direction (against and with the wind, naturally.) Once both runs are complete, the times are averaged out to establish a “true top speed.” As it turns out, that ZR1 is everything we hoped it would be, hitting 214.88 mph on one run and 210.20 on another. The true top speed? 212.20 mph. Not too bad at all, right? Well, check out the video of this awesome run below and let us know what you think!

Purchased by Geely in 2010, Volvo has made a tremendous comeback to the premium market with the latest-generation XC90, the brand-new S90 sedan, and other smaller vehicles. The company’s previous competitor for the Mercedes-Benz E-Class and BMW 5 Series was far from competitive, but the S90 that Volvo launched under Chinese ownership is surprisingly good. Now, the Swedish brand plans to move the S90 even higher on the luxury market with a range of new features. These were introduced at the 2018 Beijing Auto Show in the S90 Ambiance concept.

The Nissan Navara may not be very familiar to U.S. pickup truck enthusiasts, but it’s a popular model in Europe. Redesigned in 2014, it’s also the truck on which the new Mercedes-Benz X-Class is based. While all automotive eyes are set on the Beijing Auto Show, Nissan just unleashed the most capable Navara ever at the Commercial Vehicle Show in Birmingham. It’s called the Navara Off-Roader AT32 and was developed in cooperation with Arctic Trucks; an Icelandic company specialized in building four-wheel-drive vehicles for the world’s harshest environments.

Two months ago, Kia confirmed what many of has have been thinking for quite some time. The Telluride Concept that the automaker showed at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show would be turned into a production model. Building off of that announcement, Kia has now confirmed that the production model will look a lot like the concept version from two years ago. More importantly, the Telluride’s “look” will also shape the design of Kia’s other crossovers and SUVs, including the Soul, Sportage, and Sorento.

When Infiniti rolled out the Q Inspiration Concept at the 2018 Detroit Auto Show, not a lot of people thought that it would be such an important prototype for the company. It turns out; the Q Inspiration Concept isn’t only important in the loosest translation of the word, it’s important enough that Infiniti is using it as the basis for its future electrified vehicle platform. This new platform, according to Infiniti chairman Roland Krueger, will sit at the heart of the automaker’s future electric car lineup, which will include models that will take on Tesla, Mercedes EQ, and all other electric brands that are sprouting up these days.

Mercedes’ highly-anticipated Maybach Ultimate Luxury concept just made its debut ahead of the 2018 Beijing Auto Show, and it looks, well... weird. Believed to preview the Maybach version of the upcoming Mercedes-Benz GLS, the Ultimate Luxury concept combines the styling features of an SUV with those of a notchback sedan. Mercedes says that it combines the most successful body styles in China, but it’s definitely not the best design exercise out there.

With a few teasers and at least a couple of prototypes spotted on public roads, it’s no longer a mystery that a brand-new Shelby GT500 is underway. However, official information about the drivetrain is still slim beyond the rumors. Word has it that the new Shelby GT500 will hit the road with a twin-turbo V-8 under the hood mated to a dual-clutch transmission for extremely fast shifts and sprints to 60 mph, but new spy shots suggest that the muscle car may also get a manual transmission.

Leaked photos of the Mercedes-Maybach Ultimate Luxury SUV spoiled the surprise for a lot of us. But in some ways, we’re actually glad those photos leaked because they would’ve spared us from catastrophic disappointment. The Ultimate Luxury SUV is a sight for sore eyes, and that’s maybe putting it lightly. That hasn’t stopped Mercedes-Maybach, though, from rolling out another teaser of the luxury SUV. Guess it didn’t get the memo that the photos have already been leaked.

The sedan segment has taken some pretty big hits over the last few years, regularly losing ground to the ever-popular SUV and crossover body styles. But while overall sales are down, some automakers are sticking it out with fresh new four-doors in the hopes that customers will once again see the light. Toyota is one such automaker, and the latest 2019 Avalon is a great reason to go against the grain.

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In the race to pack in as many gadgets and features as possible on new vehicles, automakers are gravitating towards adaptive suspension systems as a means to bridge the gap between sporty handling and a comfortable ride. It’s not always an easy balance to find, which means these systems are usually relegated to pricey models from Europe - unless you’re talking about the 2019 Toyota Avalon, that is.

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Ferrari first introduced the 599 for the 2007 model year as a replacement for the 575M Maranello. Sporting elegant curves and high-powered, front mid-engine motivation, this grand tourer checks all the right boxes for a modern Berlinetta from the Prancing Horse. Now, there’s an utterly bespoke version heading to the auction block in Monaco this May.

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It’s official. Lamborghini will replace the Aventador and Huracan supercars with plug-in hybrid successors. The two models are scheduled to arrive sometime in 2020 and 2022, respectively. That should be enough time for Lambo purists and old-school fans alike to come to grips with the future direction of the Italian automaker. Don’t feel too bad, though, because naturally aspirated V-10s and V-12s will remain part of Lamborghini’s powertrain equation. They’ll just get some form of hybrid assistance to help Lamborghini cut back on its emissions output.

Audi debuted the second-gen R8 Coupe for the 2016 model year, but it was more of a dud in terms of generational evolution. To be quite honest, it looked really similar to the mode it replaced. But, it’s a still alternative to anything from Lamborghini or Ferrari and it does look good even if its design is considered too similar to the first-gen model. Either way, if you’re a fan of the R8, then it deserves some screen time on your computer. Go ahead and take our favorite wallpaper or pick one from the handpicked gallery below.

McLaren’s MSO personalization division is arguably the busiest customization unit in the auto industry these days. Proving that there’s no rest for the weary, the British automaker is now offering a series of special edition McLaren 570S Spiders under the Design Edition lineup. A total of five 570S Spider Design Editions are now available, each coming with a unique look that allows for proper differentiation among the five models. If you’re familiar with the past use of the Design Edition name on the 570S Coupe, this new release is all about giving love to its droptop sibling.

The Toyota Avalon brings a lot to the table for its latest fifth-generation changeover, tempting buyers with a premium approach that’s befitting of Toyota’s flagship four-door. Part of the formula is a redesigned interior, and all told, it’s quite the looker.

Continue reading to learn more about the 2019 Toyota Avalon here.