The world of supercars has an array of options for every taste. From big naturally aspirated engines to smaller turbocharged ones, and even the inclusion of electric support or fully electric machines. Regardless of the concept, as long as the supercar provides top-notch performance, it’s worth considering.
If you’re currently in the market for a new supercar or sports car, then this drag race comparison can assist you in your decision-making process. It pits three different supercars against each other. But, before you hit that play button, let’s take a look at the factory numbers of the Ferrari 296 GTB, McLaren 765LT, and Porsche 911 GT2 RS, listed below.
It is no secret that the world has fallen in love with crossovers & SUVs. No matter where you go, the roads are almost guaranteed to be filled with them. From small to big, off-roady or sporty, the SUV has taken every possible form. But is it really the car to have?
If you think about it, the modern SUV is mostly a sacrifice. It performs great at nothing, but it is mediocre at everything. SUVs offer a lot of space, but not the most space. SUVs can be sporty, but they are certainly not the sportiest. You get the point, everything the SUV does has a trade-off. So, in the case of a family vehicle, is the SUV really the best choice? Or should you ditch the cool factor and spend your hard-earned money on a Minivan instead? Let’s have a look.
Crossovers are extremely popular today, this is a fact. However, what is the reason behind this recent boom in high-riding vehicles? You see, these vehicles aren’t the most practical cars, yet people still prefer them suggesting that there is a deeper psychological reason behind this.
We believe that this reason is relatively simple. A higher vehicle gives the driver a sense of superiority. You feel safer, you get a better view of the road, and smaller cars tend to feel lesser than you. Of course, people love this feeling of authority, and this might also be the reason why they love the SUV.
Furthermore, let’s not forget that owning an SUV has also become somewhat of a trend. Trends influence the market drastically no matter the product as most buyers want to fit in. So, if the SUV is the current hot thing, then it is what most people are buying.
Both the sense of authority and the need to fit in can perhaps be linked to the more primitive part of our brains. The ones responsible for our survival in older years were the ones who either needed to have power or needed to fit in. This may sound weird, but if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.
The Pros Of SUVs
Toyota
3/4th Front-view of Toyota Grand Highlander.
As is the case with everything, the SUV has some good and some bad parts about it. The good ones include safety and capability. The higher ride high and heavier weight of the SUV means that in the event of an accident, passengers are less likely to be injured. In many cases, the second vehicle in a crash tends to be lighter than the SUV giving passengers of the taller riding car an advantage.
This is also true in accidents involving stationary objects as the SUV offers a lot of real estate for crumple zones and airbags. In simple words, an SUV typically provides more steel and material around its passengers than something like a Van or more profoundly, a normal sedan.
There is, however, a downside to the SUV’s taller ride high and that downside is its risk of rolling over. Studies have found that passengers are more likely to be injured or killed in the event of an accident solely because the vehicle has a higher chance of ending up on its roof.
Aside from safety, the SUV also offers the benefit of capabilities. Sure, not all SUVs are capable of off-roaders, but some of them are. This means that if you enjoy heading out into nature, you will have choices available featuring proper 4x4s that fit such needs.
The cons of SUVs are that most of them are a sacrifice. Let’s take the BMW X5 as an example. The X5 is useless off-road because it tries to be good on the road. However, it will never be as good as a BMW 5 Series on the tarmac because its ride height is way too tall.
Therefore, we end up with a sacrifice both in off-road abilities and on-road abilities. Inside, it does offers a decent amount of space, but it’s cool design and high floor eat away cargo that can be found in excess in something like a minivan. Oh, and let’s not forget that SUVs tend to come at a price premium when compared to other types of vehicles.
The Pros Of Minivans
Toyota
Front three quarters of 2022 Toyota Sienna Limited AWD White
Minivans are perhaps the most versatile and functional family vehicles one can get. First and foremost, in most cases, they feature much more space than their SUV counterparts. This is mostly because they can have a low floor and a tall roof. Since designers aren’t too concerned with making a cool-looking vehicle, they can solely focus on the functional part of the design.
This is also observed with the sliding doors most vans come equipped with. Sure, they might be geeky, but there is no denying their usefulness. Kids can’t bump them into nearby vehicles, they are extremely easy to use in thigh spaces, and they provide a huge opening that can be used to access the interior easily.
But wait, there is more. In many cases, Minivans use the same engines as SUVs or crossovers meaning that they offer the same power but better economy. This is because the Minivan is more aerodynamic, and it has smaller and light wheels. And let’s not forget that if you need to, some of them can be bought with AWD systems that make them perfect all-season vehicles.
Finally, Minivans are cheaper to insure due to lower theft and accident numbers. No one wants to steal something from inside a van as they will most probably only find baby wipes rather than something valuable.
Front-end action shot of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid
The cons of minivan ownership are mostly just the image associated with them. They are viewed as geeky vehicles boring people tend to buy. This means that mums or even dads that want to be cool don’t tend to buy them as the SUV has a far trendier image associated with it.
Sure, one could argue that they also have less clearance but when compared to most crossovers that isn’t really the case. Crossovers aren’t meant to go off-road. They just have taller floors and cabins that make them feel higher without them offering much more clearance than something like a minivan.
So Which Body-Style Is Better?
Jeep
Front three-quarter shot of the 2023 Jeep Wrangler 4xe Rubicon 20th Anniversary Convertible SUV
Well, the choice here is relatively simple. If you need a taller riding vehicle to use off-road, then the SUV makes perfect sense. Be careful though, we aren’t talking about SUVs that are based on normal sedan platforms. If you want to go off-road, well, you get a proper Off-roader, something along the lines of the Toyota 4Runner, Jeep Wrangler, or Ford Bronco.
If you aren’t planning on off-roading, the Minivan will be more comfortable, more spacious, more practical, more economical, and will also cost less. So, if you can deny the urge to buy what’s currently cool, you can get yourself a better vehicle that will cost you less.
In the world of mid-size SUVs, two brands that come to mind are Honda and Toyota. Both brands competed fiercely to make the superior mid-size SUV over the years. For 2023, Honda has built the Pilot completely new from the ground up and Toyota has revealed a whole new SUV on its own, the Grand Highlander.
Both SUVs are meant to comfortably seat the entire family but they both have a different approach. The Honda Pilot is known for its practicality and build quality whereas the Grand Highlander is a more premium and luxurious SUV with a refined interior and driving experience, especially when you consider that it is a model from a main stream brand like Toyota.
A front shot of the 2023 Honda Pilot TrailSport off-roading.
For 2023, the Honda Pilot comes in six trim levels: LX, Sport, EX-L, Touring, TrailSport, and Elite. The base price starts at $37,645 and comes with only one powertrain. The Pilot comes with the same 3.5 liter V-6 from the previous model but produces more power.
The trim that may stand out the most to buyers is the TrailSport model, which is Honda’s take on an off-road version of the Pilot. Honda has made some notable upgrades to the TrailSport to make it a proper off-roading SUV. Honda added an off-road-tuned suspension, which includes a one-inch lift for additional ground clearance. They also added a skid plate as well as the TrailWatch camera system which uses four exterior cameras to help drivers when they are off the beaten path. All these features and more are exclusive only to the TrailSport.
When it comes to the powertrain, the V-6 produces 285 horsepower and 263 pound-feet of torque as opposed to the previous generation which made 280 horsepower. Front-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is optional. The front-wheel drive model has an estimated EPA of 19 MPG in the city, 27 MPG on the highway, and a combined EPA of 22 MPG. The all-wheel drive model has a slightly worse gas mileage with an EPA estimated of 19 MPG in the city, 25 MPG on the highway, and a combined EPA of 21 MPG.
All models come with a new 10-speed automatic transmission which shifts smoothly. The engine is more responsive than the previous generation and the steering is more precise and refined. In terms of driving, the Pilot has a tight steering circle which makes maneuvering around town much easier than other mid-size SUVs. With all the extra power, the front-wheel drive model can tow up to 3,500 pounds and the all-wheel drive model can tow up to 5,000 pounds.
Stepping inside, all models come standard with a 7.0-inch digital gauge cluster as well as a 7-inch infotainment screen. The TrailSport, Touring, and Elite models come with a larger 9-inch infotainment screen and only the Elite model comes with a larger 10.2-inch digital gauge cluster. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are standard across all trim levels.
The Pilot has one of the most spacious cabins in the segment. All models can seat up to eight passengers but the EX-L trim can be optioned with second-row captain’s chairs which seat seven passengers. The TrailSport comes standard with the captain’s chairs and the Touring and Elite models come with a second-row seat design which can be removed and stored away when not needed. With 39.3 inches of headroom and 32.5 inches of legroom, the third row is spacious enough for children as well as adults.
The Grand Highlander Offers More Powerful and Efficient Powertrains
Toyota
A front shot of the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
The Grand Highlander comes in five trim levels: XLE, Limited, Platinum, MAX Limited, and MAX Platinum. The base price starts at $43,070 which is significantly higher than the Pilot. Toyota offers two engine choices and three powertrains for the Grand Highlander. The gasoline engine makes 265 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque and the base hybrid engine makes 245 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque.
The Hybrid MAX models come with a more powerful hybrid engine which makes 362 horsepower and 400 pound-feet of torque. Front-wheel drive is standard while all-wheel drive is optional. As far as efficiency goes, the gas powertrain offers 24 MPG combined for the XLE front-wheel drive; the hybrid can do 36 MPG combined for the XLE front-wheel drive and the Hybrid MAX can offer upto 27 MPG combined.
The gasoline engine comes with an eight-speed automatic transmission. The smaller hybrid engine comes with a CVT transmission while the more powerful hybrid engine comes with a six-speed automatic transmission. Even though the steering is light, it can still go through corners easily. When it comes to towing, it is the same as the Pilot. The front-wheel drive model can tow 3,500 pounds and the all-wheel drive can tow 5,000 pounds.
The Grand Highlander Is Not Just A Bigger Highlander
Toyota
A shot of the dashboard in a 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander
Toyota has taken a different approach with the Grand Highlander. Unlike most of its other vehicles, the Grand Highlander was built with luxury and comfort in mind and this becomes evidently clear when you step inside the cabin. The interior has a surprisingly premium feel with good materials across the door panels and the dashboard. At first glance, the cabin seems to share some aspects with Toyota’s luxury brand, Lexus.
The overall layout and aesthetics like the steering wheel and the infotainment are very similar to some Lexus vehicles. All of this just proves that Toyota didn’t intend to make the Grand Highlander like the regular Highlander. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, is standard across all models, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
By merely hearing the name, one might think that the Grand Highlander is just a bigger Highlander. Although that is true, the Grand is a completely new vehicle that is not just a bigger version of the Highlander. Not only is the Grand Highlander larger in every way, but it also looks completely different.
The Grand Highlander can seat seven or eight depending on the trim and the seat configurations. The cabin is impressively spacious for the passengers to enjoy the ride. The third row has 37.2 inches of headroom and 33.5 inches of legroom which is more than sufficient for children and adults can also sit comfortably. When it comes to technology, the Grand Highlander comes with a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, as well as a 12.3-inch infotainment screen, which is standard across all models, along with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
In conclusion, the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Grand Highlander are two formidable contenders in the mid-size SUV segment. When it comes to deciding which one to buy, it ultimately comes down to personal preference and priorities The Pilot excels in practicality and overall value. It is also a solid choice for those who are interested in off-roading.
On the other hand, the Grand Highlander offers a far more premium package and better gas mileage. It is undoubtedly one of the most luxurious and refined SUVs Toyota has made in recent history. Regardless of which SUV you choose to buy, they both prioritize safety and comfort for the whole family.
Germany’s Nurburgring is one of the most challenging race circuits in the world, with its bumpy surface, twisty layout, and grueling 12.9-mile (20.8-kilometer) length, which led to its apt nickname, “The Green Hell.”
It’s not for the faint of heart, that’s for sure, and that’s why records set on the North Loop (Nordschleife) part of Nurburgring have a lot of weight to them, compared to other, less feisty tracks, that is.
One such record has been set in April by German car magazine Sport Auto, but the video – embedded above – has only been published a few days ago, with a Ferrari 296 GTB becoming the fastest road-going Ferrari ever on the Nordschleife under the helm of the magazine’s test driver, Christian Gebhardt.
Alpine, the French performance brand under Renault’s umbrella, has been racing in FIA World Endurance Championship’s LMP2 category for the last decade, but the company is finally ready to make a return to WEC’s premier category next year. Alpine’s 2024 LMDh challenger is the A424_β, which makes its official debut today ahead of this year’s 24 Hours of LeMans race.
Let’s start with the name. The firm says it “respects the tradition of Alpine’s winning Endurance cars, 24 echoes the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 2024, and β designates the final phase before its launch.” The automaker also explains the exterior design of the race car features the brand’s future light signature that will be also seen on production vehicles, while its interior is inspired by road-going supercars.
The BMW Motorrad WorldSBK riders showed their fighting spirit during a challenging weekend at the Misano World Circuit Marco Simoncelli. Despite facing adversity, the team managed to deliver impressive results during the fifth round of the FIM Superbike World Championship 2023.
Yellow and red flags interrupted the Superpole qualification on Saturday, but Scott Redding managed to secure 12th place, with Gerloff in 14th, Sykes in 18th, and Baz in 19th. Unfortunately, Baz was later demoted three places for race one due to a penalty incurred during the third practice session. The best result for BMW in the first race on Saturday was delivered by Redding, who finished in 11th place.
In the Superpole race on Sunday morning, Gerloff moved up to ninth place, while Redding was in 11th place and Baz in 13th. Unfortunately, Sykes took a tumble, but he managed to finish the race in 20th place.
During the second main race, Gerloff recorded his best result of the season by finishing in eighth place. Baz started from the back of the field, battled his way up to 12th place, and Sykes crossed the finish line in 13th position. Redding made a great start, moving up from 13th to ninth, but struggled during the race and finished in 14th position.
BMW Motorrad Motorsport Director, Marc Bongers, praised the team’s fighting spirit, but acknowledged that there’s still work to be done. The sixth round of the season in the WorldSBK 2023 will take place from 30th June to 2nd July at Donington Park (GBR).
The BMW riders shared their reactions to the race in Misano:
Garrett Gerloff, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, was reasonably happy with his eighth-place finish and is motivated for the next races at Donington.
Scott Redding, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, acknowledged that the weekend was quite difficult, and the team will keep working to find a solution.
Loris Baz, Bonovo action BMW Racing Team, expressed his disappointment with the bike’s issues but praised the team’s mechanics for fixing it in time for the race. He hopes that their bad luck is finally over.
Tom Sykes, ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team, acknowledged the difficulty in finding a base setting during a race weekend but appreciated the team’s hard work in gathering information to move forward.
DS Automobiles will celebrate its 100th race in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship next Sunday in Jakarta, Indonesia
Participants in Formula E since 2015, DS Automobiles has established itself as the most decorated manufacturer in the all-electric competition as the only two-time double winning team, and has won a record number of titles and podiums
With PENSKE AUTOSPORT, Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne, DS Automobiles is at the forefront of the action in Season 9 Formula E
This weekend marks a significant anniversary for DS Automobiles and the world of Formula E. On Sunday 4 June, at the second race of the Jakarta E-Prix, the French manufacturer will start a Formula E race for the 100th time since its involvement in the 100% electric championship began.
DS Automobiles joined Formula E in 2015 and has made its mark on the history of electric motorsport with three generations of Formula E. Heading into its 100th race, DS Automobiles has racked up four Team and Drivers’ championship titles, 16 race victories, 47 podiums and 22 pole positions to its name.
DS Automobiles has established itself as the most decorated manufacturer in Formula E with a podium from nearly every other race it has taken part in over almost eight years. DS Automobiles is also the only team to win a double title twice (in 2019 with Jean-Eric Vergne and 2020 with Antonio Félix Da Costa).
To celebrate this anniversary, reigning world champion Stoffel Vandoorne and Jean-Eric Vergne – the only two-time champion in the history of the sport – will drive a DS E-TENSE FE23 with a one-off livery to mark the occasion. Jean-Eric Vergne, who is also a DS Automobiles ambassador, will also celebrate 100 races with a bespoke design on his helmet.
The event will be celebrated with a video featuring testimonials from the personalities who have played key a role in the DS Automobiles Formula E adventure on the brand’s social channels. These include Béatrice Foucher, Yves Bonnefont, Alessandro Agag, Jean-Marc Finot, Thomas Chevaucher, Eugenio Franzetti, Jean-Eric Vergne, Stoffel Vandoorne, Antonio Félix Da Costa, Sam Bird and André Lotterer. The video will also include clips of some of the team’s greatest moments including winning the debut title in New York, their second title in Berlin, plus victories in Sanya, Bern, Marrakesh, Monaco, Rome, and Hyderabad.
The story of DS Automobiles continues to unfold, and the two races of the Jakarta E-Prix on 3 and 4 June promise more fine performances from the French team.
Eugenio Franzetti, DS Performance director, said “We’ll be experiencing a historic and moving moment for all of us in Jakarta. First of all, I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who has contributed with such passion and talent to this extraordinary event. Celebrating 100 races in Formula E is truly a milestone, and to do so with the sort of track record that we have accumulated is a source of great pride. A few years ago, DS Automobiles decided to create its DS Performance competition arm, and entered the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. This turned out to be a strategic and winning choice. Thanks to our many victories accumulated over the years, the reputation of DS Automobiles has grown considerably, and we’ve also acquired the technical experience that has helped us to support and accelerate the electrification of the entire brand. These days, the Gen3 single-seaters from DS Performance remain an excellent research laboratory to prepare our next generation of electric road cars. From 2024 in fact, all new cars from DS Automobiles will be 100% electric.”
Key figures since DS Automobiles entered Formula E:
– 98 races
– 4 championship titles
– 16 victories
– 47 podiums
– 22 pole positions
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