Mercedes-AMG boss Tobias Moers confirmed in a new report from Top Gear that the next-generation AMG E63 will be all-wheel-drive only. Moers said that Mercedes-AMG will introduce a new all-wheel drive system the German automaker has never had before, and notes that it’s the biggest step they’ve made in a single generation of the car.
One of the reasons for the AMG E63 moving exclusively to all-wheel drive is that the majority of previous E63 buyers opted for cars that put their power down through all four wheels. In Germany, Moers told Top Gear that over 90 percent of buyers opted for all-wheel drive in the E63. Regarding the new all-wheel drive system, it’s likely that it will actively distribute torque where it’s needed in the same way the Ford Focus RS does. This means you’ll still have all kinds of drift action and tire smoke in your German sledgehammer of a sports sedan, which more than makes up for the inability to do burnouts. What you won’t find in the next AMG E63, however, is the rear-wheel steering that debuted on the AMG GT R, which Moers notes isn’t needed in the E-Class but will likely find its way into other hardcore AMG models in the near future.
Moers also confirmed to Top Gear that the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 from the AMG C63 and AMG GT will be used on the E63 but with slight changes. While parts such as the block and crankshaft will be similar, the cylinder heads and turbocharger positioning will be revamped, while still maintaining a “hot V” engine setup, where the turbos are placed in between the engine’s cylinder heads. The most powerful version of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 is in the AMG GT R, which makes 577 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. For the E63, on the other hand, Moers hinted that the engine could make around 600 hp. He also hinted that the overall package is the main focus for the E63, meaning the car’s power and chassis must be in line with each other.
The minivan is one of the most universally appreciated yet reviled vehicles on the road. Perennially uncool, the minivan has often been a badge of shame foisted upon families, but it doesn’t have to be. At least if you start thinking about it differently. Here are seven reasons you’ll get over minivan-shame as a parent.
Minivans Make Dollars and Sense
Take two popular people haulers, the 2016 Chevrolet Traverse and the 2016 Honda Odyssey. Both seat up to eight passengers in three rows, both start in the low $30,000 range, and both have a V-6 engine. The Odyssey minivan has the edge in the fuel economy department, however, with an EPA-estimated 19/28 mpg city/highway versus the Traverse’s 15/22 mpg. The Honda’s 462-mile range, when compared to the Chevrolet’s 396 miles, means more time between fill-ups, which is a boon when you’re trying to get home and get little Timmy to bed.
They Have Automatic Sliding Doors
Have you seen the nifty falcon-wing doors of the new Tesla Model X SUV? The front doors open and close without help, too, but in a normal fashion. Only a few other vehicles, such as the Rolls-Royce Dawn and the lowly minivan, go out of their ways to open and close the doors for you. Take it from a parent of an energetic young child—when you drop into the driver’s seat of a minivan, exhausted, and realize you’ve left not only the tailgate wide open but also both rear doors, there’s little that’s as wonderful as reaching an arm up, pressing a button, and having everything close on its own.
They Offer Front-Seat Comfort Features
Once you’re in that front seat, you get to enjoy some wonderful features that aren’t exclusive to minivans, but in conjunction with all of the other features, they will help you get over your minivan shame. We’re talking heated seats, ventilated seats, power adjustments, and individual climate control for the two front passengers separate from the rear passengers. Some like it hot? If you’re already sweating from lugging the kiddos around, you can relax with the ventilated seats on full blast and a nice, cool breeze on your face.
Minivans Aren’t Terribly Slow Anymore
A 2015 Honda Odyssey Elite we tested went 0-60 in just 7.9 seconds and passed a quarter mile in 16.1 seconds at 87.1 mph. Take, for example, a 2014 Lexus IS 250, which by most accounts looks like it should be a sporty car, and it is. The Lexus does 0-60 mph in 7.2 seconds and finishes a quarter mile in 15.6 seconds. Just half a second separates the eight-passenger kid hauler from the sexy four-door luxury sedan.
There’s Room for Regular Humans in All Three Rows
With the exception of the extended-wheelbase Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban (both sip significantly more fuel than any minivan), fitting full-size humans in every row of a vehicle can be a challenge at best. Ever sat in the third row of a Mitsubishi Outlander? Me neither. Couldn’t fit. It seems like they design these things for petulant children in need of a time-out. In minivans, if you do need to fit people in the way back, it’s actually doable. How doable? A 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander has 28.2 inches of legroom in the third row; a 2016 Honda Odyssey’s third row, on the other hand, has 42.4 inches of legroom. You decide.
Fold the Seats Down, and Minivans Are Really Useful
If you’re running errands between dropping the kids off and picking them up, you’ll find that when you fold the seats, a minivan is really useful. In the 2016 Honda Odyssey, when you’ve made the proper moves to fold the second and third row, you’re rewarded with 148.5 cubic feet of cargo space. Could you transport already-inflated pool toys? Probably. Large boxes? Certainly.
Minivans Sweat the Small Stuff
When you drive a minivan, you realize that the designers have taken the time to make sure the little things are there. They know you’re going to be schlepping kids, so they build a trash-bag ring into the center console facing the second row. They know life gets messy sometimes, so the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Pacifica both offer a built-in vacuum cleaner. Need to communicate with the passengers but don’t want to turn your head? The Toyota Sienna has Easy Speak, which is a microphone that projects the driver’s voice through the van’s audio system. It’s details like these that will have you breathing a little bit easier as you get through the daily grind with children. And a not so shameful minivan.
A number of Japanese automakers announced that they’re recalling up to 1.3 million vehicles in their home country due to faulty Takata airbag inflators, according to a report from Automotive News. In addition, some of the automakers that announced a recall also indicate it may add more than 1 million more vehicles sold outside of Japan for the same issue. This new set of recalls is the latest in the Takata airbag inflator scandal that has been linked to over 150 injuries and 14 deaths, most of which occurred in the U.S.
Mazda said it plans to recall 1.57 cars globally including the 490,000 units in Japan. Vehicles affected include the RX-8, the Bongo van, and the Demio, also known as the Mazda2 in markets outside of Japan. The automaker says its recall is for the replacement of the passenger-side airbags for the RX-8 and Demio/Mazda2, and the driver-side airbag for the Bongo van. Demio/Mazda2 recalls will extend overseas to markets such as the U.S. and China but Mazda didn’t give more details, according to AN.
On the other hand, Mitsubishi will recall 520,000 vehicles in Japan, including the Delica MPV and the Pajero SUV to replace the Takata-supplied driver-side airbags. Other vehicles include the eK Wagon, eK Sport, Pajero Mini, and the Toppo, which will have their passenger’s side airbags replaced. 92,000 Delicas and Pajeros sold overseas will also be recalled. Nissan’s Dayz mini car lineup, which is built by Mitsubishi, will also be recalled with the rest of Mitsubishi’s vehicles.
Subaru will recall 290,000 vehicles in its home market, including the Legacy sedan to replace passenger-side airbags. Mercedes-Benz is also recalling 93,000 vehicles in Japan including the C- and E-Class. Another 47,000 trucks will also be recalled by UD Trucks, a subsidiary of Volvo AB.
Takata has been in search of an investor to help it pay for the growing costs of its airbag inflator scandal and overhaul the company. In total, over 100 million airbag inflators made by the Japanese supplier have been declared defective worldwide after a recall expansion was initiated in the U.S. by NHTSA.
Being the social media editor of Motor Trend has its perks, but when an email titled “Toyota RAV4 Media Invite” hit my inbox, I initially shunned it off. I’m a 26-year-old car guy, and RAV4 just isn’t a name that excites me. However, rally is a word that excites me, so I’m glad I eventually opened it.
Three phrases caught my eye: Ryan Millen, race-prepped rally RAV4, and lightly modified rally RAV4, the latter being the most interesting. Was this Toyota’s way to test the waters on a possible RAV4 TRD? Could the RAV4 finally be cool? One week later I had time with all three, an answer to those questions, and a smile so big my cheeks hurt. Below are five reasons why I think Toyota needs a RAV4 TRD (and no, Toyota didn’t officially launch the RAV4 TRD, although this event sure leads me to believe they might).
So I don’t crack a bumper pulling into Starbucks
The lightly modified RAV4 included fully functional custom TRD skidplates to help protect the exhaust from any unwanted bashing. (I learned of the functionality as I slid sideways through a deep dirt rut.) This would come in handy getting to my favorite off-road glamping spot or mountain bike trails, and driveways can get mighty steep here in Los Angeles. Even better: No more worrying about cracked bumpers while I pull into my favorite coffee shop a little faster than I should. #Score
Because rolling on dubs was so 2008
The RAV4 comes stock with great-looking 18-inch wheels, but our lightly modified RAV4s came with 16-inch Sparco wheels wrapped in BFGoodrich All-Terrain tires. They looked great and easily unloaded the mud when we needed a little extra traction off-road. How am I supposed to live up to the #Adventure I use all the time if my wheels don’t at least look like they could handle some off-road action? #AllAboutTheLikes
Being adventurous is cool … on the weekends
I’ll be real with you. If I had a RAV4 TRD, 90 percent of its driving would be on-road. I’d take comfort in the leather seats and enjoy a band you’ve probably never heard of from the Premium JBL Audio system, all while getting an estimated 34 mpg city in the Hybrid model. But on those few lucky weekends, I’d be able to live up to my Tinder profile bio and be adventurous! Our lightly modified RAV4s had stock suspensions, engines, and automatic transmissions and handled the rally course with ease. We simply put them in Sport mode and hit the gas. Yes, I think a RAV4 TRD could tackle any spot I found for the perfect Instagram photo. After all, I can’t wander off-road too far. I NEED cell phone service. #DoItForTheGram
Music festivals are more fun with friends
The RAV4 interior is roomy, both in the front and the back, and the icing on the cake is reclining the rear seats so your friends can get extra comfy after a long weekend at our favorite festival. The RAV4 TRD would not only get you to and from as comfy as possible but also have the light off-road capability to get us the camp spot with the best view. #ChasingSunset
Toyotas have good resale value
Being a millennial is tough sometimes—OK, all the time—and for many of us, sticking to one thing for too long is hard. Luckily, in a couple years when I want the next “cool thing,” Toyotas have great resale value. Although I might not be spending wisely now—nitro cold brew coffee every weekend doesn’t come cheap—it’s nice knowing the RAV4 will still have some value to it in the future. #PennyPinching
You’re probably wondering if my thoughts above are real, and I’ll proudly answer “Yes!” Going into the #RallyRAV4 event, I had my reservations, and to be honest, the base RAV4 still doesn’t float my boat. We’ll be doing a first drive with the RAV4 shortly, so you’ll hear all about the stock variant then. But for this event I was able to bash, slide, and cover a lightly modified RAV4 in mud—a RAV4 that probably wouldn’t look too different than a RAV4 TRD, the exact type of RAV4 I’d be interested in. So I asked, “Would a RAV4 TRD handle the light off-roading most would do? Could it also get people comfortably around the city with decent gas mileage and put a smile on their face off-road?” And for those I’d answer yes.
