2018 Volvo XC40- Here It Is

Shortly after launching its mid-sized XC60, Volvo is here once again with another SUV, its entry-level urban outdoor warrior, the XC40. Built in Belgium, the smallest Swedish SUV will hit the market first with four-cylinder turbocharged gas and diesel engines, but further down the line, it'll also become the first Volvo available with a three-cylinder turbo. Hybrid and pure electric versions will also arrive at a later date. What's more, it is Volvo's first model to come with the ‘Care by Volvo’ subscription service. Volvo claims this national, already-negotiated monthly fee "will make having a car as transparent, easy and hassle free as having a phone, combined with getting a new car every 24 months." If that idea seems familiar, that's because Volvo's parent company Geely is trying to do the very same thing through the recently launched Lynk & Co brand, using a car based on the same shared CMA platform as the Volvo XC40.

2018 Kia Stinger: First Drive

A classic front-engined, rear-drive sedan—all-wheel drive is optional—the Stinger comes in two levels of sting, each with a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. The base model has a 255-hp, 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder. The Stinger GT has a 365-hp, 3.3-liter twin-turbo V6, the same one as in the Genesis G80 Sport. Biermann is at pains to point out that the Stinger is not meant to be a track car, nor a full-blown M rival—just a well-rounded sport sedan that doesn’t feel out of its element if you happen to stumble across 12.9 miles of one-way toll road in Germany’s Eifel Mountains. He’s underselling it. Controlled and agile, with huge reserves of front-end grip from its 19-inch Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tires, the rear-wheel-drive Stinger GT didn’t feel remotely out of its depth at the Ring. Only the worst of the Nordschleife’s horrific dips that cause extreme compression in every car’s suspension system questioned the Stinger’s resolve and body control. The steering feels natural, and the long, 114.4-inch wheelbase, coupled with a rear-driver’s limited-slip differential, makes neat little tail slides easy to hold.

The New TVR Griffith Needs Its Traction Control

At the Goodwood Revival, TVR Chairman Les Edgar told me that the red show car on display, its first complete Griffith prototype, is fully functional, and that he would've loved to take it around the Goodwood Circuit, if only the rules would allow. But of course, it being the Revival, only cars made until 1966 could enter the holy asphalt. Yet, we didn't need to wait long for some confirmation that this thing runs. After leaving Lord March's playground, Edgar took the car back to Gordon Murray Design, only to give us a hint of what that Cosworth-tuned Ford 5.0-liter V8 sounds like through a very short sidepipe at idle. He also made sure to demonstrate that a rear-wheel drive car with 500 horsepower and a dry weight of 2755 lb can be hairy on cold tires. So far, typical TVR stuff. Except for the fact that the Griffith actually has traction control. And that's not there to "take away its soul." It's there to keep you alive on a cold British morning. Win-win in my book.

The Aston Martin Valkyrie Won't Have a Radio

The Aston Martin Valkyrie Won't Have a Radio

The McLaren F1 is famous for its lack of a radio. As the story goes, designer Gordon Murray didn't listen to the radio, so the F1 came only with a six-disc CD changer, designed specifically for the car by Kenwood. The Aston Martin Valkyrie, however, will feature no such luxuries. That was revealed in a Bloomberg Businessweek story all about the the buying process for the Valkyrie. Aston Martin design boss Marek Reichman told Businessweek's Brett Berk that the Valkyrie won't include any sort of audio system—the only thing drivers will be able to listen to is a 6.5-liter V12. That shouldn't be a problem considering the Valkryie's V12 is a naturally aspirated unit developed by Cosworth that revs to 11,000 rpm and features a 12-into-one exhaust. Why is that exhaust setup good for noise? According to the Valkyrie's mastermind, Adrian Newey, it makes the car sound like it's revving twice as high as it is in reality. Given all that, why would you want a radio? The Valkyrie isn't totally devoid of luxuries, however—Reichman told Buisnessweek that it will have air-conditioning. Otherwise, it's pretty bare. Presumably the Valkyrie will have at least one speaker too. Chevrolet engineers famously wanted to sell the Camaro Z/28 without any audio system whatsoever, but they were forced to include one speaker for door chimes and other warning sounds. So if you want a radio in your F1-inspired hypercar, you'll need to buy a Mercedes-AMG Project One.

McLaren 570GT "Luxury" Car Is an Absolute Monster on the Track

 McLaren 570GT "Luxury" Car Is an Absolute Monster on the Track

The McLaren 570GT is supposed to be the softest, most comfortable car in the company's range. It has a more luxurious interior than its 570S counterpart, along with more space, a softer suspension setup, and steel, rather than carbon-ceramic brakes standard. Of course, it's still a McLaren, as Top Gear presenter Chris Harris finds out in his latest video. Harris got the chance to get behind the wheel of the 570GT recently to see if all that softening up took away from the driving experience on track. He finds that even with all that "downgrading" compared to the 570S, the GT is still extremely pleasurable to whip around at and beyond the limit. Remember, the 570GT still has that 562-horsepower twin-turbo V8, as well as that fast-shifting seven-speed dual clutch. But Harris finds that even with the move to GT status, the car keeps its balance as well, and on the road, rides better than ever.