Quick Spin
Autoweek
Last episode 10 months agoYou love cars. We do, too. Tune into Quick Spin, the short-form podcast that takes you into the car with Autoweek editors as they deliver honest reviews of the best rides in the world from the inside out.
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Episodes (284)
2023 Subaru Ascent: Subie People Mover
Before 2018, Subaru’s three-row efforts hadn’t exactly been noteworthy. In fact, more people talk about the odd rear seats in the bed of the Brat than think about the short-lived Tribeca nameplate. Despite existing for nearly a decade, the Tribeca didn’t help put Subaru’s three-row efforts on the map. Though, in a market dominated by crossovers, it was only a matter of time before Subaru would take another bite at the three-row apple. Well, that time came in 2018 with the release of the 2019 Ascent. The Ascent takes what makes Subaru crossovers successful and stretches it enough to make space for a third row of seats. Naturally, powering this Ascent is a 2.4-liter boxer 4 that sends 260 hp and 277 lb-ft of torque through a CVT and into the standard all-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the ’23 Subaru Ascent to put it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the Subaru Ascent and highlights some of his favorite features. Murphy also takes you along a live drive review of Subaru’s three-row crossover. Alongside these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Subaru Ascent, Subaru’s history with crossovers, and more. The pair also discuss the Subaru Ascent’s position in the perpetually growing crossover space. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the Ascent special.
2023 Cadillac Escalade: Super Cruising in Comfort
Cadillac’s Escalade might not have always carried the weight of legendary models like Brougham or Biarritz. However, after two decades sitting atop luxury SUV sales charts, and becoming a part of popular American culture, the Escalade has easily risen to the heights of Cadillac’s best-known nameplates. With that ascension comes lofty expectations. Entering its fifth generation in 2021, the Escalade adds an independent rear suspension, alongside a host of consumer-facing tech features like a massive media screen. The three-row SUV still rides on a ladder frame and packs a standard 6.2-liter V8 under the hood, or an optional 3.0-liter diesel. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel and puts the 2023 Cadillac Escalade through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the Escalade before taking you along for a live drive review. Adding to the show, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the Escalade, the competition, and more. They also discuss the evolution of the Escalade nameplate, and where it will go in the future. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the 2023 Cadillac Escalade special.
2024 Nissan Z Nismo: Canyon Fun for a Price
The Nissan Z is one of the most important cars in the company’s history. It might not be its best seller, but Nissan’s Z-cars helped put the company on the map over half a century ago. Most recently, the Nissan 350Z and 370Z offered affordable fun performance for over two decades. Trying to build on that success and keep the Z-name alive in a market dominated by crossover SUVs, Nissan brought its Z back without a numerical prefix. Now just named Z, Nissan stuffed a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 under the hood that’s good for 400 hp. Naturally, the Nismo version cranks the performance up a notch and offers more power and a revised suspension. However, this extra power comes with a price hike and no manual transmission. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s West Coast editor Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2024 Nissan Z Nismo and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a tour of the ’24 Nissan Z Nismo and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Vaughn takes you along for a live drive review. Host Wesley Wren chats with Vaughn about the Nissan Z and the lack of a manual transmission. The pair also look at the Nissan Z’s competition and price. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Nissan Z special.
2023 Honda Civic Type R: Something Special
Honda’s Civic Type R was a forbidden fruit among Honda fans and collectors until it was formally added to the U.S. Honda lineup with the introduction of the 2017 Civic Type R. This 10th-generation Civic was a watershed moment for fans, but some didn’t appreciate some styling decisions. Well, with the 11th-generation Civic, Honda brought back the Type R with the major styling change that came with the next-generation car. The latest Civic Type R carries over a lot of the major hardware from the previous car. Under the hood is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that sends 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual transmission. This ’23 Civic Type R also shares the interior updates that came with a new generation but adds red bucket seats for the driver and front passenger. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren puts the ’23 Civic Type R through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Civic Type R and highlights some of his favorite features on a guided tour. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the conversation, Wren chats with Autoweek’s Emmet White about the new Civic Type R, the experience of driving it, and how it stacks up against its Acura Integra Type S counterpart. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Civic special.
2023 Alpina XB7 Review: The Ultimate X7
Alpina has a similar story to that of its rival in Affalterbach. Once known for upgrading BMW products, and even an independent automaker, the company was rolled into BMW in 2022. While Alpina is probably still best known for upgrading BMWs, its role under BMW ownership is basically unchanged. Case and point: the BMW X7 Alpina XB7. Technically still a BMW, and not a remanufactured product released by Alpin, this X7 has all the accouterment you’d expect from the brand. The XB7 squeezes more power out of the 4.4-liter turbocharged V8, bringing it up from 523 hp to 630 hp. The Alpina also sports a posh interior and the classic Alpina spoked wheels -- even though the company has moved away from the hollow-spoke wheel-center inflation. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the Alpina XB7 and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you around the high-riding Alpina and highlights some of his favorite features. Carone also takes you along for a live drive review. Alongside this live commentary, Carone chats about the Alpina XB7 with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about the competitive set, the finer details about the XB7, and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Alpina XB7 special.
2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T : Sacrifices Comfort For Fun
Porsche’s legendary 911 ushered in its eighth-generation sports car just a few years ago in 2019. While the 911’s main layout has carried on effectively unchanged since its inception over half a century ago, it has grown up, added some creature comforts and, controversially, added liquid cooling. Porsche’s latest 992-generation doesn’t buck any major trends and keeps the formula the same: engine in the rear, and available manual transmissions. While the base 911 Carrera might catch some criticisms of not being sporty enough, Porsche adds a dose of lightness with the 911 Carrera T. This model ditches creature comforts like a rear seat, removes some insulation, and adds lightweight glass to help shave weight. In doing so, Porsche turned the 911 Carrera into a more sport-focused machine with the Carrera T. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a guided tour of the ’23 911 T and highlights some of his favorite features. Vaughn also takes you along for a live drive review. Vaughn also chats with host Wesley Wren about this Porsche 911, its price, and where it sits in the pantheon of 911s. Vaughn and Wren also discuss the transmission options for this 911. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this 2023 Porsche 911 Carrera T special.
2023 Bentley Bentayga Review: English Extravagance
Bentley’s Bentayga helped bring Bentley into the modern crossover battles when it surfaced in 2015. Bentley updated its hot-selling Bentayga in 2020 with some styling and tech enhancements to help make it even more competitive in a hotly contested luxury car space. Borrowing the styling direction from the rest of the Bentley lineup, the Bentayga doesn’t look out of place in a Bentley fan’s driveway. Available in standard and long wheel base versions, the Benyaga also packs an array of different powertrains. The top-flight W12 is at home in the Bentayga speed, where it sends 626 hp into an eight-speed automatic. Bentley also offers the Bentayga with its 3.0-liter V6 hybrid and a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8. This Bentayga tester packs the 542 hp V8 under the hood. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Bentley Bentayga Azure and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the Bentley and highlights some of its interesting features. Murphy also takes you along on a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Bentley Bentayga, its competitive set, and if it lives up to the Bentley heritage. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Bentayga special.
2024 Jaguar F-Type R 75 Review: Heritage Hallmark
The Jaguar F-Type is unquestionably one of the most exciting cars to leave Jaguar’s workshop in decades. Maybe dwarfed by the absurd XJ220, the F-Type took inspiration from legendary two-seat Jaguars of yore and brought them into the modern age. Debuting in 2013, Jaguar’s F-Type has had a solid decade in the company’s lineup. Making the F-Type even more interesting, Jaguar made it home to its absurd, supercharged V8. While the F-Type was interesting, and recently saw a styling refresh, it’s going offline after 2024. Celebrating the F-Type, Jaguar gave this model a special 75th-anniversary package dubbed R 75. Formally named the 2024 Jaguar F-Type P575 R 75, you can rightfully decode that this Jag packs the potent 575 hp version of its supercharged V8 under the hood. That power travels through an eight-speed automatic to a four-wheel drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Jaguar F-Type P575 R 75 and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of this F-Type and highlights some of his favorite features. Murphy later takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about this snarling Jaguar. The pair talk about the F-Type’s run, the car’s inspiration, and how it sits in the market amid shrinking competition. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Jaguar special.
2024 Acura Integra Type S Review: Taming the Type R
Honda’s Civic Type R made a big splash when it launched in the late 1990s. The Civic Type R gave sport compact buyers around the world a potent front-wheel drive hatchback and fueled the growing interest in Japanese imports. The only problem: It didn’t come to the United States. No, instead Honda decided to shuffle its sport compact onto U.S. shorelines under the Acura banner. This low-production Integra Type R was obviously popular and now commands a premium as a collector’s piece. Fortunately, in 2017, Honda did bring the Civic Type R to the U.S. and finally gave Honda fans the option to easily and legally own Honda’s hot Civic. When Acura brought back the Integra, it was only a matter of time before the company ushered in its Type R analog, and it’s finally here. The 2024 Acura Integra Type S borrows the powertrain and hard points from Honda’s Civic Type R but gives it a more road-friendly makeover. The Integra Type S doesn’t have the heavily bolstered seats or large rear wing, but it does have more power than its Honda counterpoint. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of Acura’s hopped-up Integra and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Integra Type S and highlights some of his favorite features and what sets it apart from the Civic Type R. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review. Wren chats with Autoweek associate editor Emmet White, who also spent time with the Integra Type S. The pair discuss how the Integra feels compared to the Civic and what they both like about the car. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the Integra Type S special.
2024 Jaguar F-Pace SVR Review: More Sport than Luxury
Jaguar started its big crossover push in 2016 with the launch of its F-Pace. Considering the luxury crossover space is full of brute 'utes, it only makes sense that Jaguar found another home for its 5.0-liter supercharged V8. Even though this Jag made its first appearance nearly a decade ago, the team behind it gave it a serious update for 2021. While the Jaguar F-Type is scheduled to see the end of the line next year, this F-Pace moves along with the 5.0-liter still under its hood. While the supercharged 5.0-liter is the star of the F-Pace’s show, it’s not the only upgrade. The F-Pace SVR also receives a special SVR body kit, quad exhaust tips, and revised suspension tuning to take advantage of the supercharged V8. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Jaguar F-Pace SVR and puts it through its pace. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the F-Pace SVR and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Carone takes you along for a live drive review where he shares his experiences with this Jag in real-time. Carone also chats with host Wesley Wren about the Jaguar F-Pace SVR, where it sits among the competition, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the 2024 Jaguar F-Pace SVR special.
2023 Land Rover Defender 110 Review: Blending Luxury and Legacy
Land Rover’s legendary Defender nameplate made its return to the United States just a few years ago. This off-road legend was barred from the United States since it departed before the turn of the century, and made an even bigger space for its off-road-focused competition. In its return, the Defender might be softer than its Series and Defender predecessors. Its increased ride comfort might make your commute easier, but the Defender still offers plenty of off-roading chops if you find yourself out in the wild. Powering this Defender 110 is a turbocharged 3.0-liter straight-six that works alongside its mild-hybrid system to throw 395 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy puts the ’23 Land Rover Defender 110 through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of this off-road-focused Land Rover and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Murphy takes you along for a live drive review. Adding some context, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the Land Rover Defender’s sales, competition, and more. The pair also discuss the Defender in the greater context of Land Rover’s history. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this Defender special.
2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 Review: Off-Road Fun
The latest generation of Jeeps Wrangler launched as the JL-generation in 2017 for the 2018 model year. Almost immediately, car customizers that specialize in Jeeps were stuffing third-generation Hemi powerplants under the hood of Jeep’s legendary Wrangler. It was only a matter of time before Jeep jumped into the fray and stuffed a Hemi under the Wrangler’s hood from the factory. That call was answered in 2020 with the introduction of the Wrangler Rubicon 392. This flagship off-roader takes the supremely capable Wrangler Rubicon and adds a dose of attitude with 6.4 liters of Hemi under the hood. Most recently, Jeep gave the Wrangler lineup a serious update for ’24 and brought the interior into the modern day. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone climbs behind the wheel of the 2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392 and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the Wrangler Rubicon 392 and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Carone takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to that, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the evolution of the Jeep Wrangler 392, its extremely narrow competitive set, and how the updates affect the Wrangler experience. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Hemi-powered Wrangler special.
2023 VW Arteon Review: Going But Not Gone (Yet)
Volkswagen is cutting bait, and unfortunately, the Arteon is going to end up on the cutting room floor after 2024. Still, the short-lived nameplate showed that VW can churn out stylish sedans. Joining VW dealerships in 2019, the Arteon sat atop the VW hierarchy despite sedans losing ground to luxe crossovers and SUVs. However, after slowing sales, Volkswagen formally announced in 2023 that it would be exiting the portfolio. This 2023 VW Arteon packs a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 under the hood that sends 300 hp and 295 through a seven-speed automatic transmission and into either the front wheels or the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the ’23 VW Arteon and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Arteon and highlights some of his favorite and least favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to those thoughts, Wren chats with Autoweek executive editor Tom Murphy about the Arteon. The pair talk about why VW is discontinuing the Arteon, the car’s sales performance, and the future of sedans in the marketplace. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes the Arteon special.
2023 BMW 760i Review: Mobile Movie Theater
The BMW 7-Series has sat atop BMW’s sedan hierarchy for nearly five decades. This flagship sedan has changed its look over the years to keep up with trends but has always brought its best to the interior. Despite a shift to crossovers and SUVs in the luxe space, BMW hasn’t ignored its luxury icon. The most recent generation of the 7-Series launched just a year ago and brought along some major changes to the nameplate. Gone is the V12, with a turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 and mild hybrid system powering the wheels. The latest 7-Series also is the most tech-friendly interior to date, with no shortage of touch screens to control creature comforts and an available 31-inch monitor that drops down for rear passengers to watch your favorite content. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 BMW 760i xDrive and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the latest 7-Series and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Carone expands on his thoughts while he chats with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about the changing luxury market, the BMW 760i’s features, and more. The two also discuss the battery-electric variant of the latest 7-Series. Closing the show, Carone and Wren break down what makes the 2023 760i special.
2023 Kia EV6 GT: Battery-Powered Rocket
The Kia EV6’s been around for a couple of years, with its debut taking place a couple of years ago. In fact, we’ve already taken the EV6 through the Quick Spin wringer a year ago. Well, if the base-power EV6 doesn’t cut the mustard, Kia’s has a battery-electric hot rod in its stable. Dubbed the Kia EV6 GT, this GT variant does share most of the sheet metal with its more pedestrian sibling but does have different front and rear fascias. More importantly, the EV6 GT sends 577 hp to the wheels with a pair of electric motors. This dual-motor GT comes standard with all-wheel drive because of the front- and rear-mounted electric motors. The EV6 GT shares the battery with its less powerful counterpart, which does affect your real-world range, and offers the least amount of range in the lineup. Though, the brutal acceleration might make up for the lack of range. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of this Kia and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of the EV6 GT and highlights some of his favorite features before taking you along on a live drive review. Adding to that, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren about the 2023 Kia EV6 GT, its performance and its space in the market. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the EV6 GT special.
2023 Audi S6 Review: Road Trip Ruler
Audi’s S6 takes the tried and true formula of taking a normal, commuter-grade vehicle and adding a dose of excitement with extra power. Nearing its 30th birthday, Audi’s S6 is sticking to the original formula of turning the perfectly serviceable A6 into a highway-eating hot rod. While this S6 eschews the previous generation’s V8 and replaces it with a 2.9-liter TFSI V6. This turbocharged six-cylinder sends 444 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic before it travels to all four wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Audi S6 to put it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the Audi S6 and highlights some of his favorite and least favorite features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Wren is joined by Autoweek’s Patrick Carone to chat about the Audi. The pair discuss Wren’s experience with the 2.9-liter V6, the Audi S6’s driving dynamics, and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the S6 special.
2023 Dodge Hornet Review: Steering into the Trend
Dodge’s small-car history goes all the way back to the 1960s with the A-body-based Lancer, which was quickly replaced by the legendary Dart in 1963. Later down the line, Dodge’s compact car portfolio gave us ‘80s icons like the Omni GLHS and the L-body-based Dodge Shelby Charger. There are also noteworthy products like Dodge’s Neon that helped shape the ‘90s. Despite success through the ages, Dodge abandoned the compact car with the demise of its Dart in 2016. Though, Dodge is rentering the small-car field with its compact crossover Hornet. Sharing its platform with the Alfa Romeo Tonale, the Hornet is adding a new entry point for Dodge shoppers, and expanding Dodge’s reach as a company. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Dodge Hornet GT and takes you along for the ride. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the Dodge Hornet and highlights some of his favorite features. Later, Carone takes you on a live drive review of the ’23 Dodge Hornet. In between, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the Hornet. The pair talk about Dodge’s history with compact cars, the Hornet name, and the car’s relation to the Alfa Romeo Tonale. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the Hornet special.
2023 Mini Cooper SE: Electric Motoring
Mini’s latest battery-electric Cooper launched a handful of years ago as the Mini Electric. Though, you might know it better as the Mini Cooper SE if you live outside of the UK. This Mini Cooper SE takes the basic bones of the most recent Cooper Hardtop and stuffs a 32.64 kWh capacity battery under the floor and a single, 181 hp electric motor to power the front wheels. The interior, too, sticks with the broad strokes of Mini’s design ethos and features a large circle in the middle of the dashboard that echoes Mini design of yesteryear but is home to a touchscreen infotainment system. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Mini Cooper SE and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the Cooper SE and highlights some design elements. Later, Murphy takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to the discussion, Murphy chats with host Wesley Wren. Murphy and Wren chat about what sets this Mini’s features, if it still has the Mini’s spirit, and how Mini is doing against the competition. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this Mini Cooper SE special.
2023 BMW M3 Competition xDrive Review: Autobahn Joyrider
The latest generation BMW M3 might be the most controversial shape in the nameplate’s history. Still, even amid the polarizing styling, BMW’s popular performance variant of its even more popular 3-Series sedan packs a hefty punch. BMW’s latest generation M3 sticks with I6 and has enough suspension to make its hefty shell handle well. Powering this generation of M3 is BMW’s S58 engine, which translates to a 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 that sends 473 hp to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual. If you want more, you can opt for the Competition variant, which cranks power up to 503 hp but at the cost of the manual transmission. Then, if you want even more grip, you can add the xDrive all-wheel-drive system on top of that M3 Competition to get what we have here. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2023 BMW M3 Competition xDrive to put it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a tour of the M3 to show off his favorite features before taking you on a live drive review. Adding to that, Murphy chats with hots Wesley Wren about the M3. The pair discuss the M3 Competition’s performance, its position in the market, and its polarizing styling. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this M3 special.
2023 Ford Mustang Mach-E: Competitive and Controversial
The Ford Mustang Mach-E debuted with its polarizing name nearly four years ago. The battery-electric crossover Mustang hit production the following year and made its way to customers as a 2021 model. The battery-electric Mustang sees some jeers from pony car devotees but has been generally well-received by EV fans. Though, since the Mustang Mach-E’s inception, the market for battery-electric vehicles has only become more crowded. With plenty of competition from crosstown rivals at General Motors, Tesla, and others, the Mustang Mach-E is facing fiercer competition than ever. Available with multiple powertrain and battery combinations, the Mustang Mach-E offers plenty of variety and price points to make it a compelling option. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek associate editor Emmet White hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Mustang Mach-E and puts it through its paces. White takes you on a guided tour of Ford’s electric Mustang and highlights some of his favorite exterior and interior features. Later, White takes you along for a live drive review of this Mustang Mach-e. Expanding on his thoughts, White chats with host Wesley Wren about his thoughts and experiences about his time with the car. The pair also discuss Ford’s semi-autonomous Blue Cruise system and touch on the controversy around using the Mustang nameplate. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes this ’23 Mustang Mach-E special.
The 2023 BMW M240i: Reliving the Glory Days
The BMW 2-Series entered its second generation just a few short years ago. Initially debuting in 2014, the 2-Series garnered praise for being the smallish, rear-drive BMW that leans into the company’s sporting heritage. Well, for its second generation, BMW didn’t rock the boat. The current generation grew slightly from the first and is now a couple inches longer and wider, and sports a longer wheelbase. Split down the lines of four-cylinder and six-cylinder power, and all- or rear-wheel drive, the 2-Series can have a few different personalities. Living up to the BMW lore, this ’23 BMW M240i packs a 3.0-liter I6 under its hood, which sends 382 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. That power heads to the rear wheels only but could hit the all-wheel-drive system if optioned with xDrive. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the 2023 BMW M240i and puts it through its paces. Carone guides you around the M240i and highlights some of his favorite features, and takes you along for a live drive review. Carone expands on his thoughts while chatting with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss the merits of the 2-Series, the evolution of BMW’s cars, and how this 2-Series drives. They also talk about this BMW’s price. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the ’23 BMW M240i special.
2023 Toyota Supra Manual Review: Quirky Fun
The Toyota Supra has become a Japanese performance icon since it formally spun off from the similarly iconic Celica in the 1980s. Most notably, the fourth-generation or A80 chassis Toyota Supra has cemented itself as a cultural icon with its starring role in The Fast and the Furious, its inclusion in racing video games, and its success on the race track. The Supra did fall out of the Toyota lineup before the new millennium but was reborn after more than 20 years on the backburner. The reborn Supra launched in 2019 with only an eight-speed automatic behind the BMW-built I6 mill, to the chagrin of manual transmission enthusiasts. Well, Toyota listened to the manual transmission cries and delivered for the 2023 model year. Mated to the 3.0-liter I6 is now a six-speed manual transmission that feeds power exclusively to the rear wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2023 Toyota GR Supra and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of this manual-equipped Supra and highlights some of his favorite parts. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of the Supra. Joining these segments, Wren chats with Patrick Carone about the latest generation Supra, its place in the market, and its spot in history. The two talk about the Supra’s lack of competition in the market, and the joy of adding a manual transmission. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the Supra special.
2023 Honda Accord Hybrid: Volume Mover
Honda is ushering in the 11th generation of its famed Accord with the 2023 model year, and this might be the year when the hybrid finally takes the reins. Honda’s 11th-gen Accord brings a totally restyled exterior that follows the styling direction seen with the new Civic and CR-V, with thin lamps and a more minimalist design. Inside the Accord, you’re met with a similarly redesigned interior, which follows the same clean and wide styling seen, again, on the new Civic. Though, unlike the Civic, under the Accord’s hood is a 2.0-liter Atkinson cycle I4 mill that works with a dual-motor hybrid system. This system is good for 204 hp and 247 lb-ft of torque. Of course, the 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 is also available, which mates to a CVT, if you want to forgo the hybrid system. The turbocharged mill does make less power at 192 hp and 192 lb-ft of torque, though. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the new Accord and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you on a guided tour of the ’23 Accord and highlights some of his favorite exterior and interior features. Later, Wren takes you along for a live drive review of the latest Accord. Patrick Carone joins to chat with Wren about the latest from Honda. The pair talk about the Honda Accord Hybrid’s specs, its competition, and more. Closing the show, the pair breaks down what makes this Honda Accord Hybrid special.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQE Review: Your E-Class EV
Mercedes-Benz isn’t joking with its battery-electric endeavors. The company is rolling out a full line of battery-electric products that are analog to its internal-combustion portfolio. The ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQE and its AMG equivalent fill the battery-electric space for E-Class devotees to make the step toward electric motors and away from internal combustion. Launched last year, the EQE sedan borrows the same styling conventions as the more expensive EQS and follows the established trend of having a hopped-up AMG variant. Starting at the EQE 350+, you’ll get a rear-drive battery-electric E-Class. Moving up to the EQE 4Matic nets you two motors, and the EQE 500 nets you even more power from those motors. Topping the range is the AMG EQE, which throws 617 hp and 738 lb-ft of torque to the wheels and launches you to 60 mph in 3.2 seconds. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s executive editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the ’23 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 4Matic and the ’23 Mercedes-AMG EQE. Murphy takes you on a tour of the EQE 350 and highlights his favorite features. Later, Murphy takes you on a live drive review of this battery-electric ‘Benz. While chatting with host Wesley Wren, Murphy talks about the differences between his experiences with the standard EQE 350 and the Mercedes-AMG EQE. Murphy and Wren also discuss how the cars perform, their respective prices, and more. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes the AMG EQE and the EQE 350 special.
2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe Review: Swapping Utility for Style
The 2024 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe follows the formula the company has laid out with these luxe-performance crossovers that eschew utility for style. Mercedes has updated the GLE 53 for ’24 and brought some fresh sheet metal to the 53 models, with a new front fascia and side intakes. The ’24 GLE 53 also gets new tail lights, the selectable AMG exhaust, and the most recent AMG steering wheel. Mercedes-AMG also squeezes more torque out of the 3.0-liter turbocharged I6 hybrid powertrain, and now shoves 429 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque through the nine-speed automatic transmission. While the horsepower figure is the same as the current GLE 53 model, that torque figure adds another 29 lb-ft to the sheet. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Patrick Carone hops behind the wheel of the ’24 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 Coupe and puts it through its paces. Carone takes you on a guided tour of the AMG GLE 53 and highlights some of his favorite interior and exterior features. Later, Carone takes you along on a live drive review. Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about the GLE 53 drives, his favorite parts, and if it lives up to the AMG badging. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes this ’24 Mercedes-AMG GLE 53 special.