2023 Toyota Sienna Review Its all about
The 2023 Toyota Sienna’s brawny-for-a-minivan exterior design is an attempt at SUV cosplay, but even a casual glance in its direction reveals it for the minivan that it is. Fine by us. We like the way this minivan behaves on the road, with a quiet cabin and a refined ride. Besides the obvious practicality benefits that come with any minivan, the Sienna’s interior is spacious and nicely equipped—although its second-row seats aren’t removable or stowable as they are in other vans. This fourth generation of the Sienna is offered solely as a hybrid, with front- and all-wheel drive variants sharing the same 245-hp rating, which has proven to be on the poky side in our testing. The Sienna’s fuel efficiency, at 36 mpg combined, is far better than that of the other minivans on the market but we’d much rather be piloting the Chrysler Pacifica, Honda Odyssey, or the Kia Carnival.
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2023 Jeep Gladiator adds Earl gray paint to the palette
We can say we don't always get what we want from Jeep, but we can't say the brand doesn't listen or that it doesn't try. When Jeep showed the Gladiator FarOut Concept to the world as one of the 2020 Easter Jeep Safari one-offs, the world responded, "Hey, I like that color." The hue at issue was called "Earl," as in Earl gray, and America's off-road brand introduced it to the 2023 Wrangler lineup earl-ier this year. Now the color Jeep calls "a bold shade of gray with hints of aquamarine" has been made official for the 2023 Gladiator lineup, joining the small host of other changes for next model year.
The various photos we've seen of it leave us wondering what it looks like on sheetmetal, though. Earl looked like a flat aquamarine on the Gladiator FarOut, it looks like a glossy aquamarine on the Wrangler configurator and in the above photo, whereas an outdoor shot of the Wrangler in the late western sun makes it look plain light gray, and an owner photo on the JL Wrangler Forums on an overcast day makes it look like a clearcoat aquamarine with a hint of gray.
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Our 2022 Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 Is a Love Boat on Wheels
Ah, new love! So fresh, so dizzyingly wonderful. That time when you want to spend every moment with that special other. When their eccentricities and shortcomings seem merely like cute peccadillos. Fun, passion, excitement—it's all there. The days fly by. And that's the way we feel about our new Porsche Cayman GTS 4.0 long-term test car, which we took delivery on—wait. Stop. What? We've had it since February 2022? We've driven it through four seasons and over 20,000 miles already? Huh. It's not new love at all; it just feels like it.
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Subaru Ascent fire risk prompts recall and park outside order
Subaru announced Friday that 2019-2022 Ascent crossovers are being recalled to address a potential fire risk. Owners should park their cars away from structures and avoid leaving them unattended while running until they can be inspected by a dealer. The culprit? A component heater. Per Subaru, the ground terminal of the Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater may not have been properly fastened, which can cause the ground terminal to melt, potentially damaging surrounding components and/or leading to a fire.
"Until the inspection and repair is completed by an authorized Subaru dealer, customers are being advised to park their vehicle away from garages, car ports, or other structures, and to avoid leaving the vehicle unattended while the engine is running," Subaru said. "If an owner notices or smells smoke coming from the dash or driver’s footwell area, they should immediately stop operating the vehicle and turn the ignition switch to the 'off' position. If this occurs, the owner is advised to immediately contact Subaru’s Roadside Assistance program or nearest Subaru retailer for assistance."
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NHTSA opens investigation into Hondas over reported loss of power
Honda could be facing a massive recall if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s inquiry shows a problem. Earlier this week, the NHTSA announced a probe into the automaker after receiving several reports of Honda vehicles losing power at highway speeds.
Reuters reported that the NHTSA investigation involves more than 1.7 million Honda CR-Vs and HR-Vs from between 2018 and 2022. Reports claim that all-wheel drive variants of the SUVs experience rear differential lockups at speed, causing a driveshaft fracture and loss of power. A leaking differential seal has been identified as a potential culprit.
Honda confirmed its awareness of the probe and said it would cooperate with the investigation, providing information as needed. We don’t know how or when the incidents that led to reports occurred, nor do we know how many reports Honda received. The NHTSA process requires automakers to submit reports of these kinds of incidents, and if it determines that a defect exists, a recall could be ordered.
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Mercedes-AMG GT2 is the brand_s most powerful customer race car
Mercedes-AMG's GT is nearly ready to retire, its successor is around the corner, but the model isn't hanging up its helmet yet. The German firm unveiled a new track-only evolution of the coupe designed to compete in GT2 races and powered by a 707-horsepower V8 engine.
AMG proudly points out the GT2 is the most powerful customer race car it has ever developed. Power comes from a twin-turbocharged, 4.0-liter V8 fitted with a flat-plane crankshaft and tuned to develop up to 707 horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque. It spins the rear wheels via a six-speed sequential transaxle with a mechanical locking differential that's linked to a pair of steering wheel-mounted shift paddles.
There's more to the GT2 than a sleek-looking silhouette and an awesome-sounding engine. Aimed at what AMG describes as "gentlemen drivers," the coupe features an adjustable suspension system, a specific body kit that includes a new (and massive) rear wing, and numerous carbon fiber components to keep weight in check. The GT2 weighs about 3,000 pounds including the air conditioning system.
Jeep Grand Wagoneer L All My Earthly Possessions
For Autoblog regulars out there, you're probably already familiar with my ongoing Luggage Test series. Well, this won't be one of those. The new extended-length 2023 Jeep Grand Wagoneer L is so colossal that my usual collection of luggage would be swallowed with virtually no effort behind its third row. Basically, it has the sort of cargo capacity you'd find in a two-row midsize crossover behind a third-row seat big enough to comfortably accommodate people taller than 6 feet.
Luckily, I happened to be moving last week, so having the Grand Wagoneer L fall into my lap at the last minute couldn't have been more opportune. And we're not talking a few odds and ends here. Nope, I was moving office chairs, a desk, a crib, a high chair, wardrobe boxes and other large items I originally moved in an extended-length Toyota Tundra (we moved into my in-laws for four months while our house was being renovated). In short, if you need a bigger SUV, I'm afraid you won't find one. For people or cargo beyond this, your best bet is probably a Mercedes Sprinter.
Just how much bigger is the Grand Wagoneer L? Both it and the non-grand Wagoneer are a full foot longer than the non-L, including 7 more inches of wheelbase. That makes it 226.7 inches long, or nearly 19 feet, which is 1 inch longer than a Chevy Suburban. It's also just about the length of my entire new driveway and a helluva lot longer than a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited (see below).
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