Fans can download a 18-by-24-inch high-resolution printable poster featuring a 1967 C10 CST pickup, 1957 Corvette convertible, 2020 Corvette C8.R and 2020 Camaro ZL1. (Chevrolet)
‘Cruisin’ the USA in your Chevrolet’ a tribute to history, iconic vehicles, technological innovations and Chevy experts
BY MARK MAYNARD
While the summer car-show season has been socially distanced to near death, Chevrolet is reimagining shows and cruise nights through a weeklong virtual festival.
Hosted on Chevy’s social media channels from Aug. 10-16, “Cruisin’ the USA in your Chevrolet” will be a tribute more than a century of the brand’s automotive history, technological innovation, design and passion.
Each day of the festival will have a different theme and will highlight historic footage, guest appearances, trivia and more. Chevy experts will provide in-depth looks at some of the brand’s most iconic vehicles in the General Motors Heritage Center — and even some of their own custom builds.
The week will begin with the year 1911, when Chevy was founded by Louis Chevrolet and Billy Durant. The segment will feature rare archival photos and videos from the last 109 years.
Louis Chevrolet at the wheel of a racing car in 1911. (Chevrolet)
And there will be family fare in the form of downloadable coloring pages, puzzles and activities from the Chevy Design School — with unique Chevy themes for young enthusiasts to outfit their “Animal Crossing” world Nintendo game.
Schedule of events:
Aug. 10: The Origins and Innovations of Chevrolet  Aug. 11: Chevy’s Most Iconic Designs Aug. 12: The Proud Truck Tradition Aug. 13: The Peak of Performance Aug. 14: Team Chevy – A Culture of Winning Aug. 15: Chevy’s Heritage – A Fan Celebration Aug. 16: Race Day – Team Chevy at NASCAR and the NHRA Nationals
To gear up for the event, fans can download a collectable 18-by-24-inch high-resolution printable poster featuring a 1967 C10 CST pickup, 1957 Corvette convertible, 2020 Corvette C8.R and 2020 Camaro ZL1.
Follow for festival on Chevy’s social media channels: @Chevrolet on Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest, and @TeamChevy on Race Day.
And enthusiasts are encouraged to share their own fan photos using the hashtag #ChevyLove.
“Classic car events have served as a place for us to honor Chevrolet’s deep automotive history and its influence on our present and future with car enthusiasts from around the world,” said Steve Majoros, vice president of marketing, Chevrolet. “Cruisin’ the USA in your Chevrolet is a way for us to keep that spirit alive.”
SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association, announced Aug. 5 that due to COVID-19 and concerns that event facilities and services will be unavailable — and, therefore, the 2020 SEMA Show will not take place.
While event organizers and industry members have been working to develop the sprawling trade show in Las Vegas, mounting uncertainty has rendered continuing with the event inadvisable.
Recent SEMA Show survey results indicated interest in a possible virtual trade show with related live elements. SEMA will be working with industry members to determine interest levels on specific alternatives.
“The SEMA Show is committed to furthering businesses in the automotive specialty equipment market, and to providing manufacturers and buyers with the best opportunity to connect, promote new products and discover new trends,” said Chris Kersting, SEMA president and CEO. “We appreciate the spirit, hard work and innovation our industry puts into the SEMA Show each year. While we are disappointed circumstances prevent us from hosting the Show in November, we look forward to getting everyone together in 2021 for another outstanding event.”
The SEMA Show is a trade show produced by the Specialty Equipment Market Association a nonprofit trade association founded in 1963. Since the first SEMA Show debuted in 1967, the annual event has served as the leading venue bringing together manufacturers and buyers within the automotive specialty equipment industry. Products featured at the SEMA Show include those that enhance the styling, functionality, comfort, convenience and safety of cars and trucks.
Learn more at www.sema.org;or by calling (909) 396-0289.
Cadillac has one foot on the gas pedal and the other on a power inverter as it transitions to the electric-vehicle division of General Motors. And on this threshold is the release this year the new gasoline-powered CT4 and CT5 sport sedans. Both new models replace two very competent sedans.
The new models are sized, equipped, and priced to conquest new customers in the Compact Luxury segment.
“We don’t consider these vehicles to be direct replacements for the ATS or CTS,” said Cadillac assistant brand manager Stefan Cross in an email. “As good as those vehicles were, we feel that the CT4 and CT5 elevate the drive experience in the areas most important to customers.”
Handcrafted cut-and-sewn leather is standard on the CT5. (Cadillac)
Cadillac CT5 Overview
The new models make a good statement for Cadillac. But they debut amid an industry-wide syndrome known as “It’s not an SUV.”
“Sedans represent a gateway to luxury for many buyers and with this new sedan lineup, we feel poised to draw new customers to the brand — in the U.S. and global markets,” Cross said.
The driver area is smartly designed for driver necessities.
Cadillac does have a varied line of SUVs in its compact XT4, midsize XT5 and three-row XT6 crossover. These models are scheduled for “freshenings” in 2023 and 2024 for the XT6. And then there is the brand-defining Escalade, which was redesigned this year.
It will be the 2022 model year before the debut of the first Cadillac-branded EV, the Lyriq crossover. It will be followed by the Celestiq ultraluxury sedan and a large SUV in 2023. Another extra-large SUV is planned for 2024 and another crossover is possible, according to industry reports.
The front seats are eight-way power adjustable with a manual thigh extender.
Cadillac CT5 Pricing
With so much attention on SUVs today, the Cadillac CT5 deserves recognition. It’s a head-turner with the fast lines and a sloped rear deck of a sport sedan, down to its distinct alloy wheels. The car looks rich and exclusive, especially in the tester’s Raven Black.
And it is priced right. The CT5 is sold in three trim levels with three turbocharged engine choices, in rear- or all-wheel drive. The entry model with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder starts at about $39,000 and the 3.0-liter V-6 starts at about $45,000; add $2,600 for AWD. And the mighty CT5-V, with a 360-horsepower version of the V-6, starts at about $50,000. Pricing includes the $995 freight charge from Lansing, Mich.
CT5 starting prices range from about $39,000 to $45,000.
Premium Luxury
Sizewise, the CT5 has about the same footprint as the CTS sedan. However, the CT5 rides on a longer wheelbase and is shorter by 1.7 inches. It is the same height (57.2 inches) but nearly 2 inches wider. Occupants will appreciate the wide front-seat shoulder room of 56.7 inches. And its curb weight of 3,660 pounds (rear-drive) is 97 pounds lighter.
The tester was well-dressed with the Platinum package ($8,330), and two driver-assist packages, topped out at $56,770. As equipped, it could easily be a car to keep for a decade, with updates to the software.
Cadillac’s new-vehicle warranty is four years or 50,000 miles bumper to bumper with a free first scheduled service (oil change and oil filter, and check-up). The powertrain is covered for six years or 70,000 miles.
At this posting, there was a $1,500 cash-back offer on a lease or $1,000 back on the purchase price. Current offers and incentives are here.
The shift console is a functional space with wireless charging.
Interior Function
The Premium Luxury tester has clean lines of contemporary design and a collection of desirable materials. For example, the standard handcrafted cut-and-sewn leather is applied to the instrument panel, doors, armrests, and seats.
Some of the plastic in the lower areas appears to be more Chevrolet than Cadillac, but the overlay of the Platinum package ($8,330) diminishes the effect. The package adds gorgeous-looking semi-aniline leather upholstery that feels supple but durable, with the potential of aging to a fine patina. The front seats are eight-way power adjustable with a manual thigh extender.
The driver area is smartly designed with good cup holders, charging ports, several areas for small-item storage. The 10-inch infotainment screen is easily viewed and used. The screen also has some exterior buttons and switches for temperature and AC controls, seat heaters and ventilation, and audio volume and tuning.
The front headroom is tall at 39 inches with the two-pane Ultraview roof. And legroom is long at 42.4 inches.
The shift console is a functional space with wireless charging, cup holders, and a controller dial to access infotainment and make touch-screen selections. The center armrest console has dual charging USBs, including a C-type. And a phone slot, which Cadillac calls a “shrine,” has charging cable access.
Sightlines are open at the side mirrors and over the shoulder. Entry height is comfortable and even feels somewhat elevated; at least I wasn’t staring into the taillights of the car ahead in traffic.
Especially useful is the HD 360-degree Multiview camera that gives views of the curb, overhead and forward; the backup view has guidance lines. The 39-foot turning circle is wide but not unwieldy.
18-inch Michelin Primacy all-season tires are self-sealing when punctured, but the tires can feel hard at Interstate speeds.
Cadillac CT5 Powertrains
The twin-turbocharged and direct-injection 3.0-liter V-6 has 335-hp and 400 foot-pounds of torque 2,400-4,400 rpm. The auto stop-start at idle can be switched off, such as in stoplight traffic when it can be annoying.
With 90 percent of the peak torque at 1,800 rpm, acceleration is without hesitation. Sport mode will sharpen the shift points without being overly aggressive. The 10-speed automatic rolls on with measured smoothness.
Official fuel economy ratings are 19 mpg city, 26 highway and 21 mpg combined on the recommended premium fuel. My driving averaged 16 to 30.2 mpg.
A buyer could save $3,500 with the turbocharged 2.0-liter, but it has just a slight fuel-economy advantage: 23/32/26 mpg.
The eBoost braking system has generously sized 12.6-inch rotors at the front, 12.4-inches rear.
The 335-hp V-6 has an eager 400 lb.-ft. torque. (Mark Maynard)
Helpful Technologies
A “trigger” video recorder maintains guard should the car get bumped or worse while driving or when parked. The trigger recording activates all four cameras to record footage to a trunk-mounted SD card that can be later replayed on the CUE infotainment system — or downloaded to an external device for possible police review. And when the recorder is activated when the car is in motion, front and rear cameras also capture footage.
Drivers will stay connected and informed with Amazon Alexa and Apple CarPlay or Android Auto connectivity.
The 10-inch touch screen for the Cadillac User Experience is simple enough to access, but there are tiers of hard buttons for temperature, fan, seat heaters for quick adjustments. (Cadillac)
CT5 Ride and Handling
The cabin benefits from Cadillac’s three-step soundproofing, including acoustic sealing and a sound-canceling audio system. But there is still a little more engine sound that seems necessary at highway speeds with some grainy road texture on concrete surfaces.
The 18-inch Michelin Primacy touring tires (245/45) are self-sealing and have a high (hard) treadwear rating of 540, but their tread life should be relatively long (55,000 miles); there is no spare or inflation system for flats.
Standard driver assistance technologies include Forward Collision Alert, Low-Speed Forward Automatic Emergency Braking, and Front Pedestrian Braking.
The tester included two driver-assist packages that assisted without alarming alerts. Of use was the Following Distance indicator that works with a camera system and measures in seconds how long it would take to stop in an emergency.
The various camera and radar integrations are located behind the windshield, in the front grille, and behind the front and rear fascias. The roof-mounted shark-fin antenna holds the camera used for the digital Rear Camera Mirror.
All lights and lighting inside and out are LED.
The interior is rich in details, including an organic appearance to the wood trim.
Back Seat and Trunk Space
The back seat is one of the nicer spaces in the sedan segment, but its tall center exhaust-transmission tunnel makes it better for 2+2 seating. The sculpted seatback wraps gently toward the door for a bolstering effect. The legroom is relaxed at 37.9 inches.
The seatback can be folded for a modest pass-through opening to the trunk. And there are grab handles with coat hooks and a C-type USB for charging.
Back seat legroom is relaxed at 37.9 inches.
There is a low liftover to the wide opening of the trunk, which looks more spacious than its 11.9 cubic feet. Because there is no spare or inflation system, there is some underfloor storage space.
The CT5 trunk has a wide opening and underfloor storage. (Mark Maynard)
Why Buy the Cadillac CT5?
Enthusiast reviewers lament that the Cadillac CT5 is not the performer that was its predecessor, the CTS. However, the majority of buyers drawn to the sharp styling of this Cadillac will value its luxurious features for a fair price.
Passenger cars are part of the Cadillac DNA, Cross said. “They draw new customers to the brand and allow us to build performance variants and appeal to our enthusiast buyers and fans.”
Cadillac hasn’t announced any EV or hybrid variants of the CT4 or CT5. But with all the new EV crossovers and sedans rolling out over the next few years, learnings from these current sedans will definitely be applied, Cross said.
By the end of the decade, most if not all Cadillac models will be all electric, Cross said. “In the meantime, we do see a prominent market for the CT4, CT4-V, CT5 and CT5-V (as well as their future V-Series Blackwing variants) in the U.S. and across our global markets.”
A long, 116-inch wheelbase and lengthened side glass accentuate the car’s long, low proportion and sweeping fastback profile.
2020 Cadillac CT5 Luxury Specifications
Body style: midsize, 5-passenger rear-drive luxury sedan
Engine: 335-hp, direct-injected and turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 with auto stop-start at idle; 400 lb.-ft. torque from 2,400-4,400 rpm
Standard equipment includes: smart key locking and push-button ignition, 8-way power front seats with lumbar, HD rearview camera mirror, leather-wrapped steering wheel with paddle shifters, LED headlights and taillights, LED interior ambient lighting, LED lighted door handles, heated power-adjustable side mirrors with turn signals, Bluetooth phone and audio streaming, wireless phone charging, 10-inch touch screen Cadillac User Experience, 18-inch painted alloy wheels, rear park assist (tones)
Safety features include: 8 air bags, rear cross-traffic alert, safety alert seat, forward collision alert, lane-change alert with side blind-zone alert, automatic emergency braking, front pedestrian braking
PRICING
Base price: $41,690 including $995 freight charge; price as tested $56,770
Options on test vehicle: Platinum package, $8,330, includes massaging front seat lumbar, front seat manual thigh extension support, adjustable seatback bolsters, Ultraview sunroof, lighting package, semi-aniline leather upholstery, alloy pedals, Tapshift manual shift control, navigation system, and Bose premium audio package, climate package, parking package;
3.0-liter V-6 with auto stop-start at idle $3,500;
Driver-assist and advanced security package, $1,950, includes automatic seat-belt tightening, adaptive cruise control, locking fuel door, door lock and latch shields, locking wheel lug nuts, enhanced automatic emergency braking, reverse automatic braking, leather steering wheel with magnesium paddle shifters;
Driver Awareness-Plus package, $1,300, includes Intellibeam headlights, following distance indicator, 8-inch gauge cluster, lane-keep assist with lane departure warning, heads-up display
Where assembled: Lansing Grand River, Mich.
Warranty: 4-years/50,000-miles bumper to bumper with free first scheduled maintenance; 6-years/70,000-miles powertrain with roadside assistance and courtesy loaner when serviced
Spartan is a global experiential sport and wellness brand with a 10 million-plus community. (Yokohama photo)
Through Sept. 30, the promotion features free 2021 race entry, worth up to a $190 value with the purchase of four eligible tires
BY MARK MAYNARD
As the official tire sponsor for the U.S. Spartan Race Series, Yokohama is offering a summer promotion that highlights the brand’s tough tires and world’s largest obstacle race and endurance brand.
Though the coronavirus has scuttled the 2020 Spartan race season, organizers are focused on 2021. And now through Sept. 30, 2020, Yokohama Tire is giving out free Spartan Race entries to consumers who purchase four eligible tires. The entries — up to a $190 value — are for one Elite, Age Group, morning or afternoon Sprint, Super or Beast races during the 2021 season.
Among the more than 25 tires available in the special promotion are the GEOLANDAR CV G058, the GEOLANDAR X-AT and ADVAN Apex. Details, terms and conditions of the promotion can be found at Sparta promotion.
Spartan is a global experiential sport and wellness brand with a 10 million-plus community. The group’s mission is to create “transformational experiences, products and content to help people, companies and teams to tear down boundaries and expand what they believe to be possible.” In a non-pandemic year, the group stages more than 250 large-scale events across more than 40 countries on six continents. Learn more at spartan.com.
“Spartan’s strong, passionate fan base is the ideal audience for our tires,” Alan Holtschneider, Yokohama’s director of marketing, said in a release.
About Yokohama Tire Corp.
Yokohama Tire Corp. is the North American manufacturing and marketing arm of Tokyo, Japan-based The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., a global manufacturing and sales company of premium tires since 1917. The company’s complete product line includes tires for high-performance, light truck, passenger car, commercial truck and bus, and off-the-road mining and construction applications. For more information, visit Yokohamatire.com, Yokohamatruck.com or Yokohamaotr.com.
Bentley is offering what it calls a ground-breaking three-dimensional wood trim for the rear door panels in the all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan
The open-pore veneer has a 3D surface finish consisting of 150 diamonds. (Photos courtesy of Bentley)
Wood is an organic element that adds natural warmth in an inorganic mode of transportation — but not all wood is equal. The ultraluxury car segment has long been a purveyor of unique wood veneers for vehicle interiors. And the types of wood used by some makers, such as Rolls-Royce, are archived, cataloged, and identified by the vehicle, make and model. When a repair is needed, the core of archived wood can be used to make repairs.
The woods used are often bookmatched so the adjoining surfaces mirror each other, giving the impression of an opened book. To highlight the graining, many makers have sought distinction by offering the patina of aged timber or salvaged lumber from trees that had been submerged. Even the Ram pickup had a wood option that showed damage from barbed wire. Some makers have worked silver powder into the pores as a highlight.
Bentley woodworkers carve the block of wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1mm — less than the thickness of a human hair.
In less-luxurious applications, the wood is sometimes a photograph or plastic representation. But because safety standards for wood trim require it to be so completely treated to avoid splintering in a collision, even the genuine article can look like saturated plastic.
Now, Bentley is offering what it calls a ground-breaking three-dimensional wood trim, designed for the rear door panels. It is a world-first for the automotive sector, Bentley says, and is now available in the all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan.
The diamond-shaped pattern is enhanced with a three-dimensional surface finish machined directly into the wood.
The three-dimensional wood works well in the back seat, Bentley says, because the rear doors have an especially large surface to showcase the level of craftsmanship. And the open-pore veneer would potentially clash with the smooth high-gloss veneer used in the front-seat area.
“Typically, ultra-luxurious and expensive features such as this are most appreciated in the rear cabin, particularly important for those who may choose to be driven rather than drive,” Bentley said.
The new veneer option from the Bentley Mulliner “Collections” is a design statement, “bringing tactility to the natural beauty of wood,” Brett Boydell, Bentley’s head of interior design for the Flying Spur, said in a release.
Each rear door and quarter panel is crafted from a single block of sustainable American Walnut or American Cherry timber, “in a harmonious marriage of traditional skills and modern technology,” Boydell said.
The U.S. option package is $13,270.
The three-dimensional wood works well in the back seat, Bentley says, because the rear doors have an especially large surface to showcase the level of craftsmanship.
Roots of the Wood
The concept for 3D-machined wood was first shown in Bentley’s EXP 10 Speed 6 concept at the Geneva Motor Show in 2015. The design was inspired by the diamond-quilted leather used in the Mulliner Driving Specification interior.
Developing the three-dimensional wood took 18 months by expert technical craftsmen to bring the complex concept to reality.
The organic 3D parts are not made using veneers, as is typically applied to the fascia and waist rails. Instead, each is created from a single block of timber, Boydell said. Operators carve the wood with a multi-axis routing machine to a tolerance of 0.1mm, less than the thickness of a human hair.
The cuts are then hand-finished and an open-pore lacquer is applied to allow the true color and texture of the wood to preserve a refined, natural appearance.
The log’s back or “B surface” is machined to match a die-cast template of the aluminum door panel. The plank of wood is then bonded to the template, and then the assembly is placed back into the machine and the front or “A surface” is cut into its three-dimensional form.
Sustainable Timbers
The American Walnut and American Cherry timber are sustainably sourced from North American hardwood forests, Boydell said. Only logs with no knots or resin inclusions through the depth of the wood are used.
American Walnut is one of the most sought-after species of wood in markets around the world, he said. “It is darker than European Walnut, as well as tough, hard and of medium density. American Cherry is highly prized for furniture and interior joinery — the wood finish varies from rich red to reddish brown.”
The all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan is rich in limousine-style comfort and a benchmark of innovative technologies. It is hand-assembled in Crewe, England, at the world’s first carbon neutral luxury car factory, Boydell said.
New, three-chamber air springs offer a greater range of suspension adjustment between limousine-style ride comfort and sporting levels of body control. It allows the Flying Spur a breadth of capability not seen in the luxury segment before, Bentley says.
At the heart of the Flying Spur is an enhanced version of Bentley’s 626-horsepower, 6.0-liter, twin-turbocharged W-12 engine. Its 664 foot-pounds of torque are channeled through the dual-clutch eight-speed transmission for faster, which was updated for eve smoother gear changes. The new direct-injected engine can launch the 5,400-pound sedan to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds, Bentley says, and has a top speed of 207 mph.
The redesigned 2020 Flying Spur has a starting price of about $215,000.
The 335-hp V-6 has an eager 400 lb.-ft. torque. (Mark Maynard)
Bentley is offering what it calls a ground-breaking three-dimensional wood trim for the rear door panels in the all-new Flying Spur grand-touring sedan
