Car and Driver July 2018

DUCK AND COVER You guys are so predictable! When my April issue of C/D arrived, I said to myself that you guys are so into BMW, there is no reason to read the cover article. And I was correct! The only shocker was that the Porsche finished last! —Stark Thompson Kennett Square, PA I HAVE THE POWER I was surprised, after reading your high praise of the Cadillac’s handling and performance, that the CTSV did not score better in the comparo of supersedans [“Power Drunk,” April 2018]. By your own testing, it was clearly the top performer, except from a standing start due to its lack of all-wheel drive. It was the quickest in passing maneuvers (tied with the M5 in the 50–70mph test), with the highest top end by a large margin, and fastest…

Why do you measure braking distances from 70 mph while other outlets measure from 60 mph? —Wallace Deaver Vaughan, ON There are a few reasons that we perform stops from 70 mph. Not only is the higher speed more in line with real-world highway velocities, but it’s also a better test of a braking system’s ability to deal with heat and fade since stopping from 70 requires the brakes to dissipate 1.4 times the kinetic energy of a 60-mph stop. The 70-mph speed also yields distances that better illustrate the differences in braking systems. Stops from 60 typically cluster around 105 to 130 feet. Stopping from 70 increases the distance required to stop, which expands the range between good and bad braking systems. The best brakes will stop a car from 70 in…

This move has been a long time coming, whereas the overwhelming popularity of crossovers is a relatively new and fragile thing; bigger vehicles wouldn’t account for two-thirds of new-car sales if it weren’t for suppressed fuel prices, CAFE loopholes, a heat-retaining economy, and the dynamic improvements to the vehicles themselves. But Ford’s impulse to simplify, to streamline itself into what could essentially become The Mustang and F-150 Company, has roots in the administration of the man widely regarded as Ford’s 21st-century savior. When Alan Mulally took over in 2006, Ford was a drunken giant of a company, with a menagerie of far-flung luxury brands from which it proved incapable of extracting maximum value. Tata has made much better use of Jaguar and Land Rover, and Geely of Volvo, than Ford ever…

THE VISION MERCEDES-MAYBACH Ultimate Luxury concept was built to do three things: preview the future of Mercedes-Benz’s in-car technology, express Mercedes’ intent to grow the Maybach brand, and provide a look at the company’s plans for the EV powertrains that will motivate its upcoming EQ line. Apparently “appeal to American tastes” was not in the brief. Unveiled at the Beijing auto show in April, the Ultimate Luxury was designed specifically for the China market, from the ebony trim throughout the interior (the wood is used in traditional Chinese furniture making) to the tea service in the center console. Beneath the flourishes, however, is a vehicle concept of consequence. Mercedes will eventually release a GLS-based Maybach SUV, the long-term goal being to grow the nascent ultraluxury subbrand into something as strong, globally,…

AS THE GREAT RICKY BOBBY said in Talladega Nights, “If you ain’t first, you’re last.” Which got us thinking: What’s it like to never win—ever? In general, roughly half the drivers on the grid in any major race haven’t won in their current series. Others have never even stood on the podium’s second- or third-place step. But if they’re not at the front of the field, these drivers are still at the top of their game. So don’t pity the guy at the back of the pack—his bank account is probably still winning. THE BIG SHOW Since even top-level racing grids in some series can vary from event to event—particularly in the U.S.—we based our figures on the roster from each series’ most recent marquee race as of press time: 2017 Monaco…

YOUTUBE IS FREE-FORM CHAOS open to anyone with an ax to grind, a crying need for attention, or an obsession that must be shared. The most popular YouTubers, such as Swedish gamer PewDiePie, who currently has 62.5 million subscribers to his channel, can net as much as $15 million per year. Car ’Tubers don’t harvest that level of lettuce, but several now earn their livings posting videos to the Google-owned site. YouTube is a demanding mistress, but success can be predicted. And it’s not about being slick or glamorous, even if that doesn’t necessarily hurt. Herewith, a guide to online-video prosperity: Step 1: Know the Score Make peace with the fact that you will be playing by YouTube’s rules. It’s a massive entity, and it does not care about you. Even if…