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)
2022 Audi RS 3 Review: The Car That Does It All
Even though Volkswagen and Audi are moving quickly to battery-electric propulsion, it’s not cutting the fun internal combustion machines out of the lineup immediately. One of Audi’s more interesting powertrains sits under the hood of its entry-level sedan: the A3. Well, not exactly the A3. Audi’s RS 3 takes the bones of its entry-level luxury sedan and stuffs a 401 hp five-cylinder engine under the hood. Audi tasks a seven-speed automatic to manage that power and send it to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system. Aggressive bodywork covers the RS 3’s wider track width and helps funnel air to the right places. Despite the push for performance, the RS 3 still offers the luxurious appointments you’d expect from a high-priced Audi. On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Audi RS 3 and brings you along for the ride. Vaughn walks around the RS 3 and highlights its design and features before climbing into the cockpit to take you along for a live drive review. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Audi RS 3, the five-cylinder engine and the RS 3’s competition. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes the Audi RS 3 special.
2022 Hyundai Kona N Review: The Future of Hot Hatchbacks?
Small cars are out. Cladding and ground clearance is in. Small crossovers are chipping away at the once-beloved hatchback market and are shoving some hot hatchbacks out of the US market. Naturally, automakers will look at the changing tides and try to respond. While performance crossovers are far from new, the Hyundai Kona N takes a look at the small crossover and the future of the hot hatchback. Based on Hyundai’s popular Kona, the 2022 Hyundai Kona N takes the pedestrian crossover and turns it into an over-the-top fun machine. Borrowing the performance parts from the Hyundai Veloster N, the Kona N sports a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that sends 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed automatic transmission. That power travels exclusively to the front wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Kona N to put it through its paces. Wren takes you around the hopped-up Hyundai and highlights the features and styling before taking you along for a live-recorded drive review. Adding to this, Wren chats with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn about Hyundai’s Kona, hot hatchbacks and more. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes this Hyundai Kona N special.
2022 Volkswagen Golf R Review: The Ultimate Golf
Volkswagen is looking at the growing demand for electrification, and the shrinking demand for small cars in the United States, and decide to keep the Golf from hitting the U.S. shores. Even though America doesn’t get the Golf, Volkswagen did bring over the eighth-generation VW Golf GTI and Golf R. The latest Golf R doesn’t reset its established formula: it’s still an all-wheel-drive hot hatch with plenty of power on tap. Powering this 2022 VW Golf R is a 2.0-liter turbocharged I4 that makes 315 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. That power travels through either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic before hitting the all-wheel-drive system. In this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Volkswagen Golf R and puts it through its paces. Wren walks you around the VW Golf R to highlight its quirks and features and climbs into the interior to relay the design and ergonomics. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review where he talks about the Golf R’s driving dynamics. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn about the Volkswagen Golf, the Golf R and the Golf R’s steep price. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes the Golf R special.
2022 Toyota GR Supra Review: Everyday Fun
The reborn Toyota Supra faces stiff competition from all sides as the higher-end sport coupe market is only getting fiercer with time. Competition from Nissan with the latest Z, Chevrolet’s Corvette and the machines from BMW might make Toyota’s Supra a harder choice to make for some, but that doesn’t erase that it is fun. The Toyota Supra took a small 20-year hiatus from the production line when its fourth generation wrapped in 1998. During its time offline, the Supra name became synonymous with Toyota performance thanks to movies like The Fast and the Furious, video games like Gran Turismo, and countless ultra-high performance Supra examples in real life. This latest Supra builds on that legacy and sticks with inline-six power. Even though it uses a BMW heart, this 3.0-liter I6 sends 382 hp and 368 lb-ft of torque through an eight-speed transmission and to the rear wheels. On this episode of Quick Spin, West Coast editor Mark Vaughn jumps behind the wheel of the latest Toyota Supra and takes you along for the ride. Vaughn walks around the Supra and explains its features and styling decisions and climbs into the interior to discuss what he’s seeing in the cabin. Afterward, Vaughn takes you along for a real-time drive review. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Toyota Supra’s history, its position in the current sports car space and its BMW bones. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes this 2022 Toyota GR Supra 3.0 special.
2022 Toyota Tundra: Resetting Toyota Trucks
While the Toyota Tacoma dominates the midsize truck world, its full-size stablemate faces stiffer competition. Toyota’s Tundra launched in 2000, with the second-generation kicking off in 2007. Now entering its third generation, it’s not hard to see that the previous-generation Tundra might have been getting old despite some updates along the way. This new Tundra ditches the V8 engine and replaces it with a turbocharged 3.5-liter V6. This turbocharged V6 is also available with an optional hybrid powertrain that adds some extra oomph to the V6. In base trim, the new V6 sends 389 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Those numbers jump to 437 hp and 583 lb-ft of torque in the hybrid trim. Both engines feed a 10-speed automatic transmission, which travels through the four-wheel-drive system before hitting the wheels. In this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Toyota Tundra Capstone to put it through its paces. Wren takes you on a walkaround of the latest Toyota full-size pickup and highlights its styling, features and specs. Wren also takes you along for the ride in a live drive review where he talks about how the 2022 Tundra feels when taking it out on the road. Adding to these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn about the Toyota Tundra, pickup trucks and the luxury truck space. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the new Toyota Tundra special.
Bonus: 2023 Detroit Grand Prix Preview with Renger van der Zande
The Detroit Grand Prix is moving away from Belle Isle and into downtown Detroit in 2023. While some are going to miss the Island-based race, the new circuit layout in Detroit is set up to make for some interesting and compelling racing. Most importantly, it’s racing that will take place in the heart of Detroit proper, which means there’s going to be a freight train of race cars traveling down East Jefferson before traveling through some of the more congested parts of the track. To get the best perspective on the new circuit, we hopped in the passenger seat with the Cadillac wielding Renger Van Der Zande.
2022 Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet Review: Summer Performance
The Porsche 911 has stuck mostly true to its origins over the years: sure, it’s now turbocharged, larger and liquid-cooled, but it’s still hanging the flat-six engine out of its rear and hasn’t departed far from its familiar shape. Most importantly, the 992-generation Porsche 911 is still fun to drive. Adding to that fun, the Porsche 911 GTS adds squeezes some extra performance out of the 3.0-liter flat-six mill and sends 473 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels by way of a seven-speed manual transmission or Porsche’s PDK. The extra oomph joins the 911 GTS’s retuned suspension, 911 Turbo brakes and slight weight savings over a standard Carrera. If you want open-air fun, Porsche also offers its GTS in a cabriolet shell, which lets you enjoy the summer fun. In this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a guided tour of the ’22 Porsche 911 GTS and highlights some of its features and quirks. Vaughn also takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to those segments, Vaughn joins host Wesley Wren in the studio to talk more about the 911 GTS Cabriolet. The pair talk about how the latest-generation Porsche 911 stacks up against its history, the performance specs of this 911 GTS and more. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes the 2022 Porsche 911 GTS Cabriolet special.
2022 Nissan Frontier: Forging Ahead
The Nissan Frontier was old. Nissan squeezed as much life as possible out of its smaller pickup and ran the previous generation of Frontier for a long time. While the last frontier did see updates since its launch, the Frontier gets a true next-generation for 2022 and gives Nissan truck fans a needed breath of fresh air. The latest Frontier sticks with the body-on-frame construction but offers more than just enhanced styling. Ironically, the updated 3.8-liter V6 that debuted in the final year of the previous Frontier is carried over and makes 310 hp and 281 lb-ft of torque. This V6 feeds a nine-speed automatic that drives the rear wheels or all four wheels through the four-wheel-drive system. The ’22 Nissan Frontier’s interior was also totally overhauled and now features a more modern look with a 9.0-inch touchscreen media system. In this episode of Quick Spin, Executive Editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Nissan Frontier and puts it through its paces. Murphy takes you on a guided tour of the new styling and features before taking you along on a live drive review. Murphy adds to these segments by talking about the Frontier with Wesley Wren. The two discuss the new Frontier’s position in the market, how it competes with the competitive set and how it stacks up against its former self. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes the 2022 Nissan Frontier special.
2022 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition: Budgeting Your Fun
The Toyota Tacoma dominates the mid-size truck world, and it’s off-road-ready TRD Pro models likely play a big role in the truck’s appeal. Of course, not everyone wants to, or can, spring for the top-of-the-line off-roading model, but still wants some factory off-road chops. The team at Toyota now off a solution for this discerning customer: the Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition. Based on the SR5 Tacoma, this off-road-focused variant is limited to only 4x4 models. The Trail Edition adds front and rear suspension lifts to give you some extra clearance, standard rear locker and more capable wheels and tires. The wheels are bronze 16-inch units wrapped in Goodyear all-terrain rubber. Powering this Tacoma is a standard 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that sends 278 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque through a standard six-speed transmission. On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Toyota Tacoma Trail Edition and puts it through its paces. Vaughn takes you on a walkaround of the Tacoma to highlight its new features and takes you along for a live drive review to show you how it handles the road. Adding to these segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the Toyota Tacoma, this special Trail Edition and more. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes this Tacoma Trail Edition special.
2022 Lexus LX 600 Review: Luxury Land Bruiser
The Toyota Land Cruiser was ‘Yota’s top-shelf off-roading machine. Sure, the 4Runner is good, but if you’re really trying to go anywhere, especially in style, you’ll want a Land Cruiser. Lexus was part of that game, too, with the LX. Though the Land Cruiser might have overshadowed the LX-Series on the street, the Land Cruiser isn’t hitting American shores. That’s not a problem for the 2022 Lexus LX 600. The new Lexus LX 600 sports many of the same upgrades headed to the Toyota Tundra: a new 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 replaces the outgoing 5.7-liter naturally aspirated V8. While it’s dropped cylinders, the turbocharger compensates and helps this 3.5-liter make 409 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Managing that power is a standard 10-speed automatic transmission, which feeds the standard all-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren climbs behind the wheel of the 2022 Lexus LX 600. Wren walks you around the new Lexus SUV and highlights the vehicle’s styling and its interesting features. Wren also takes you along for a live drive review, which shows off how the vehicle feels in real-time. Adding to these segments, Wren chats about the Lexus LX 600 with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn. The two talk about the Lexus LX’s styling, its purpose and its features. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes the 2022 Lexus LX 600 special. #toyota #lexus #offroad #truck #carreview #carpodcast #car #suv
2022 Honda Civic SI Review: Less Power, Same Fun
The 2022 Honda Civic SI joins the rest of the Civic lineup with its transition to the eleventh-generation platform. This new Civic sees a substantial upgrade in the interior and a distinctly different design direction. While the previous generation of Honda’s beloved Civic might have been excessive to some, the latest Civic takes a more mature approach. The 2022 Civic Si adds some spice with sportier styling. Most importantly, the 2022 Honda Civic Si drops five horsepower compared to the outgoing model, which means its 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 sends 200 hp through the six-speed manual. That power drop doesn’t mean this Civic is any less fun. In this episode of Quick Spin, Executive editor Tom Murphy slides behind the wheel of the 2022 Honda Civic SI and takes you along for the ride. Murphy walks you around this hopped-up Civic while talking about the vehicle’s styling, market position and features. Murphy also takes you along for a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Murphy talks with host Wesley Wren about the ’22 Civic Si. The pair give the Civic some context, and talk about its performance and its position in the marketplace. Closing the show, the two explain what makes this Civic SI special. #honda #hondacivic #carreview #carpodcast
Talkin' Cars With the Boss: Genesis GV70 and Volkswagen Taos
Volkswagen might have been lagging behind the rest of the market in the highly competitive crossover battle, but the company has fleshed out its portfolio to try to solve all of life’s transportation problems. The latest gas-powered crossover to join VW’s ranks is a compact crossover that effectively fills the void left by the departed Golf. Dubbed the VW Taos, this entry-level VW starts just shy of $25,000 and pits it in the middle of the compact-crossover battle. Powering this Taos is a 1.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that sends 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque through either an eight-speed automatic transmission before hitting the front wheels or a seven-speed automatic if equipped with the 4Motion all-wheel-drive system. In a similar place, Genesis is also constantly expanding its crossover options to help sway buyers into the fold. While larger, and more expensive, than the Taos, the Genesis GV70 does a similar amount of heavy lifting for the team at Genesis. At least, the GV70 helpts to expand the Genesis lineup and give prospective buyers all the options that their heart, and the market, demands. Powering the Genesis GV70 is either a 2.5-liter turbocharged I4 or a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. Both transmissions feed an eight-speed automatic that then transfers power to the standard all-wheel-drive system. On this bonus episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek boss Natalie Neff chats with Wesley Wren about her time in the Genesis GV70 and the Volkswagen Taos. The pair also talk about the growing demand for crossovers, the roles that both of these vehicles play for each respective company and more. #car #cars #vw #volkswagen #genesis #carreview
2022 Lexus GX 460 Review: Off-Road V8 Fun
It’s a vicious cycle: brandnew cars are exciting, but fall to the back of the auto show display after a couple of years. After awhile, that once brand-new machine is a few years old and is starting to show its age. Sure, a car might get a mid-cycle update to freshen it up and add some tech, but its bones might still have some age. By the time it’s at the end of its production cycle, the once-loved machine sees jeers for being past its prime. Well, that’s kind of what’s happening with the venerable Lexus GX 460 -- the V8 powered luxury off-roader cousin to the Toyota 4Runner. This Lexus debuted all the way back in President Obama’s first term. Now, Lexus did update the GX 460 in 2019, but it’s still old. Though, instead of bemoaning its aging tech or slightly behind the curve V8’s output, the GX offers you a body-on-frame SUV experience with the hardware to take you anywhere you want to go, which should be appreciated. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Lexus GX 460 and takes you along for the ride. Wren takes you on a guided tour of this Lexus SUV and highlights its styling, features and interior. Wren then climbs behind the wheel and takes you along for a live drive review. Along with these segments, Wren chats with Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn about the Lexus GX, off-roading and the demand for vehicles like the GX 460. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes this Lexus special.
Talkin' Cars With the Boss: Genesis G80 and Volkswagen Arteon
The Genesis G80 sits in the middle of the Genesis sedan lineup: below its top-rung G90 and above the sporty G70. Even though sedans aren’t as popular as the increasingly-in-demand crossover and SUV segments, Genesis gave its G80 a second generation in 2020. This second-gen G80 updates the car’s styling to the current Genesis design language and streamlined the engine options. The G80, in the US, sports either a 2.5-liter turbocharged I4 or a 3.5-liter turbocharged V6. Both engines feed a standard eight-speed automatic. Volkswagen might be thinning its sedan herd, but it’s not bowing out completely. Volkswagen’s Arteon is the company’s flagship sedan, and lives up to the task. Blending the current VW design language with a sleek sedan body, the Arteon looks like the rest of the VW lineup while still etching out its own distinct style. Powering the Arteon is exclusively a 300 hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged I4, which feeds a seven-speed automatic transmission. The Arteon might not have the same luxury cache as, say, an Audi, but the sleek Arteon is far from basic. On this bonus episode of Quick Spin, Natalie Neff talks with Wesley Wren about her time with these two stylish sedans. The two discuss the features of each car and chat about each car’s space in the world. Expanding on these cars, the two dissect the shrinking sedan segment and talk about dire future for sedans.
2022 McLaren 765LT Review: 755 HP of Fury
The McLaren 720S is fantastic. It’s a 710 hp aerodynamic wonder car that looks as futuristic as it does elegant. Well, the team at McLaren didn’t stop with the 720S, and cranked up its 4.0-liter turbocharged V8’s power, stretched the body and changed the name. The 765LT’s name is an homage to the legendary McLaren F1 GTR “long tail” race cars. While it’s designed for public roads, the combination of interesting aerodynamic solutions and the brutal 4.0-liter V8’s power would make it interesting to take out on a track. On this episode of Quick Spin, west coast editor Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of a 2022 McLaren 765LT and takes you along for a ride. Vaughn walks you around the 765LT and highlights some of its exterior features and walks you through its track-focused interior. Vaughn also takes you along for a ride in a live drive review. Expanding on these segments, Vaughn chats about the McLaren with host Wesley Wren. The two talk about the McLaren 765LT, its competition and more. Closing the show, the two break down what makes the 2022 McLaren 765LT special.
Talkin' Cars With the Boss: Toyota Prius Prime and Toyota Sequoia
The Toyota Prius is arguably the most well-known hybrid vehicle in the world, and its Prime-badged plug-in hybrid is right there with it. Launched at the start of the new millennium, the Toyota Prius has helped push hybrid powertrains to the forefront of American consumers. The plug-in Prius Prime joined the Prius nameplate in 2012 and entered its current generation in 2016. Powering the current Prius Prime is a 1.8-liter inline-four-cylinder engine that feeds Toyota’s Electronically controlled continuously variable transmission. Combining the engine with the electric motor, the Prius Prime throws 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Just down from the Prius Prime at your local Toyota dealer is the Toyota Sequoia: a V8-powered, body-on-frame SUV. The Sequoia launched its second-generation effort all the way back in 2007 and hasn’t changed significantly in the last 15 years. While Toyota has announced and shown the next-generation Sequoia, it’s still waiting to head into production. That next-generation Sequoia will ditch the 381 hp and 401 hp 5.7-liter V8 and replace it with a turbocharged V6. Still, the second-generation Sequoia offers off-road capability and bold styling, if you can’t wait for its replacement. On this bonus episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren sits down with Autoweek’s Editor in Chief Natalie Neff to talk about her time with this unlikely pair of Toyotas. They talk about the driving dynamics and experiences with both of these Toyotas and show where both shine and both falter. The pair also break down the constantly changing SUV and small car landscape and the growing new car crisis.
2022 VW Golf GTI Review: Staying True
The Volkswagen Golf is entering its eighth generation. It’s almost hard to believe that Volkswagen’s beloved hatchback is nearing 50 years in production. Still, VW’s Golf is giving hatchback fans a well-sorted and continually confident option. Well, that’s the case at least in the United States with the performance variants of the Golf, which fill the void for the departed base model. The 2022 Golf GTI is the entry point to VW Golfs in the US, and that’s not a bad thing. The latest Volkswagen Golf sticks to the same MQB platform as the outgoing generation, and sports an updated version of the same powertrain. This version of VW’s EA888 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder mill sends 241 hp and 273 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Controlling that power is either a six-speed manual transmission or a seven-speed automatic. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren puts the 2022 Volkswagen Golf GTI through its paces and brings you along for the ride. Wren walks around the latest Golf GTI and highlights its design, features and interior before taking you along for a live-recorded drive review. Along with these segments, Wren chats with Mark Vaughn about the legacy of Volkswagen’s GTI, how it compares with previous models and what they like about the latest model. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes this eighth-generation Golf GTI special.
Talkin' Cars With the Boss: Toyota Avalon and Volkswagen Passat Are Gone but Not Forgotten
Volkswagen’s Passat was one of its most important nameplates and a staple of the Volkswagen portfolio. Entering the United States for the 1974 model year, the Passat has filled the driveways of countless folks over its nearly 50-year span in the ‘States. Though, Volkswagen announced that the Passat was seeing the end of the line after the 2022 model year, and even sent it away with a special final edition. Powering the current generation Passat is a 2.0-liter turbocharged engine that makes 174 hp and 206 lb-ft of torque. Slotted above the even more beloved Jetta, the Passat was in the middle of VW’s sedan lineup, which is a spot in the market that is continually shrinking. Toyota’s Avalon is a similar story. While its run is shorter and was introduced fewer than 30 years ago, the Avalon quickly became a staple of Toyota’s sedan lineup. With five generations under its belt, it was probably hard for folks to see Toyota also discontinue the nameplate in the United States. Available with either a 3.5-liter naturally aspirated V6 that makes 301 hp and 267 lb-ft of torque or a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain that makes 205 hp and 185 lb-ft of torque. Both of these powertrains are surrounded by the same mid-size sheet metal. On this episode of the Quick Spin bonus show Talkin’ Cars With the Boss, host Wesley Wren chats with Autoweek’s Editor in Chief Natalie Neff about her time with both the 2021 Volkswagen Passat and 2021 Toyota Avalon Hybrid. The pair discuss how both cars drive, feel and look while also tackling the greater question of declining space for sedans in the new car marketplace.
2022 Toyota Sienna Review: Swagger Wagon of the Future
If you just look at sales numbers and available models, minivans are dead and are buried under the crushing weight of crossovers and SUVs. While that might be true on the sales charts, it’s not exactly true on the showroom floor. Sure, fewer automakers are churning out these people movers, but minivans are still here to handle your multi-passenger problem. The 2022 Toyota Sienna entered its fourth generation last year and eschewed its traditional internal-combustion-only approach. This latest generation of Toyota minivan is hybrid only, and available with all-wheel-drive if you want the extra traction. The only available powertrain uses a 2.5-liter inline-four that feeds Toyota’s eCVT. Combing the electric motor with the internal combustion engine, this Sienna makes a respectable 245 hp while making 36 mpg city and highway. In this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn puts the 2022 Toyota Sienna through its paces and brings you along for the ride. Vaughn walks you around the ’22 Sienna and highlights its styling and gives context around the minivan world before bringing you inside the Sienna to show off its interior features. Vaughn also brings you along for a live-recorded drive review. Adding to these segments, Vaughn talks about the Sienna and the greater role of minivans in the market with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about the influx of consumer tech in the Sienna, the reason for minivans and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the ’22 Sienna special.
2022 Mercedes-Benz S500: Entry-Level S-Class
Entry-level means different things to different people. For some, an entry-level new vehicle is like Ford’s Maverick or the Mitsubishi Mirage: affordable, reasonable and, generally, plentiful. Though every model from every automaker has an entry point, and some of those or better equipped than others. For the top Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan, it’s the S500: a six-cylinder powered sedan that’s a great platform for the folks at Maybach to work their magic. Well, even the lowly S500 doesn’t skimp on comfort or luxury. Powered by the aforementioned six-cylinder, which displaces 3.0-liters while generating 429 hp. That power travels through a nine-speed automatic before hitting the 4Matic all-wheel-drive system. While the base S500 doesn’t sport the wild hyper screen, the Mercedes S-Class interior is more than posh enough to keep your in-laws happy. In this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren puts the 2022 Mercedes-Benz S500 through its paces. Wren walks you around the S500 while showing off some of its features, and highlights its interior. After that, Wren takes you along for a live drive review. Between those segments, Mark Vaughn joins to share his experience with the latest S-Class, and chat with Wren. Vaughn and Wren discuss some of their favorite and least favorite, parts of the S500. The two also give the lay of the land for the Mercedes-Benz S-Class lineup. Closing the show, the two explain what makes this S500 special.
2022 Ferrari 296 GTB Review: Stepping Into the Electric Future
Six-cylinder supercars historically aren’t that well received. Though, the six-cylinder tides are starting to change with Maserati’s MC20 and the new Ferrari 296 GTB. While it’s fair to argue if this is the first or second V6-powered Ferrari, the 296 GTB is definitely the future of the company and a nod to the current era of Formula 1. If you’re concerned about power from this hybrid V6 powertrain, you shouldn’t be. This combination is good for 818 hp peak power, which can rocket this Ferrari to 60 mph in 2.9-seconds. Even though it has fewer cylinders than previous Ferrari sports cars, it doesn’t seem like it has any less performance. In this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn travels to Spain to test the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTB. Vaughn walks you around the latest Ferrari to talk about its styling while highlighting some of its features. Vaughn also takes you along while he tests Modena’s latest toy. Adding to those segments, Vaughn chats with host Wesley Wren about the new Ferrari. The two talk about this Ferrari’s competitive set, the driving dynamics and more. Closing the show, the two get to what makes this Ferrari special.
2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness: Adventure Mode
Subaru’s latest Forester gets a dash of extra adventure chops with the expansion of Subaru’s Wilderness package. This fifth-generation Forester initially launched in 2018 but has been lightly refreshed for 2022. The main styling updates are upfront with a redesigned fascia and new grille. In addition to some styling updates, Subaru tacked on the Wilderness package. This package adds a revised suspension that nets more travel, Yokohama wrapped 17-inch wheels and larger wheel arch cladding. Joining these outdoor-focused changes, Subaru also revised some exterior and interior styling for the Forester Wilderness, and include a different grille, ladder-type roof rails and water-resistant seat coverings. Powering the 2022 Subaru Forester is a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated boxer mill that makes 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. Mated to that standard engine is exclusively a continuously variable transmission that feeds the standard all-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, Executive Editor Tom Murphy hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness and puts it through its paces. Murphy walks you around the Forester Wilderness while highlighting its features before taking you along on a live-recorded drive review. Murphy expands on these recordings while talking with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss the growing adventure-ready vehicle market, the Forester’s interior features and more. Closing the show the two chat about what makes the 2022 Subaru Forester Wilderness special.
2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Review: Picking Up the Slack
For the North American market, the compact truck is dead. At least, that’s how it looked after the once compact pickups from Ford, Chevrolet and others moved to their current, larger directions. That left folks relying on their aging compact trucks, moving to a larger vehicle or switching out of a truck in general. Well, Hyundai saw a space for compact trucks when it showed off the Santa Cruz concept at the 2015 Detroit auto show. Despite doubts of the truck actually making it to the assembly line, Hyundai pushed forward with the Santa Cruz. The Santa Cruz launched in 2021 as a 2022 model year. Powering the Santa Cruz is either a 2.5-liter naturally aspirated four-cylinder that makes 191 hp and 181 lb-ft of torque, or a turbocharged 2.5-liter I4 that makes 281 hp and 311 lb-ft of torque. This power travels through an eight-speed automatic before hitting the front wheels or all four wheels by way of the all-wheel-drive system. On this episode of Quick Spin, host Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the 2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz and puts it through its paces. Wren guides you around the Hyundai Santa Cruz to highlight its styling and features and then takes you along for a live drive review. Adding to those segments, Wren chats with Mark Vaughn about the Santa Cruz, the market for compact trucks and if the Santa Cruz is a pickup. Closing the show, the two talk about what makes this Hyundai special.
2022 McLaren 720S Spider Review: The CPO Supercar
The McLaren 720S is one of the most interesting supercars on the road largely thanks to its incredible aerodynamic-integrated styling. This potent machine sits near the top of McLaren’s sports car lineup, and slots just below the even wilder McLaren Senna and 765LT cars. That said, this McLaren is far from being a slouch. Powering this supercar is a 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that makes 710 hp and 568 lb-ft of torque. If you’re wondering where the name came from: look at the metric conversion for horsepower. In metric, the McLaren 720S makes a fitting 720 ps. On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn hops behind the wheel of this McLaren 720S and puts it through its paces. Adding even more to the conversation, this McLaren is part of the company’s Certified Pre-Owned program, which gives supercar buyers some extra confidence in buying their previously loved machine. Vaughn takes you on a guided walk around the McLaren 720S and highlights some of its interesting features and design elements inside and out. Vaughn also takes you along for a ride while recording a live drive review of this McLaren. Vaughn elaborates on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren and the two talk about the McLaren CPO program, the car’s features and more.
2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental Review: Look Out Harley
The BMW R 18 is one of the most beautiful engines to ever roll out of a BMW factory. This stylish and simple engine takes pieces of BMW’s horizontally opposed heritage and helps push it forward with 1.8-liters of grunt. With an engine this large, it only makes sense to strap it into an equally big bike and set your eyes on the highway. That’s exactly what BMW did, and more so with its grand touring R 18 Transcontinental. Setting its sights on the best from Harley-Davidson, Indian and Honda, the BMW R 18 Transcontinental is a hefty grand tourer that has no shortage of comfort. The 1.8-liter gasoline-burning boxer twin makes 91 hp at 4750 rpm and 116 lb-ft of torque at 3000 rpm. This power moves through a six-speed transmission before making it to the rear wheel. On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn climbs onto the 2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental and puts it through its paces. Vaughn walks around the 2022 BMW R 18 and highlights some of its features and designs before taking you along on a live-recorded ride review. Between those segments, Vaughn talks with host Wesley Wren about this big BMW. The two talk about the crowded touring motorcycle market, where BMW fits with this R 18 and how it stacks up against its competitive set. Closing the show, the two discuss what makes this 2022 BMW R 18 Transcontinental special.