Mondays tend to be disorienting, and that’s the case today, what with electrified BMWs, performance Lexus models, the return of Mazda’s rotary, and a less-is-more Porsche 911.
First up, we’ve got a new review for you. After brief stint behind the wheel of the new BMW 5 Series Plug-in Hybrid, also known as the 530e iPerformance, it is clear that the car is every bit a sophisticated luxury hybrid, yet the experience leaves us somewhat perplexed.
Meanwhile, Lexus, which is well known for its hybrid luxury vehicles, is trying to convince everyone that it can build BMW-beating performance cars. We spent a day attending the Lexus Performance Tour Experience in order to get a sense of what the company’s F Sport and F-badged models can do.
Speaking of various kinds of performance, Mazda is rumored to be working on a new rotary engine, Porsche is adding a new member to the 911 family, and the refreshed 2018 Ford F-150 aces an important test.
Read on. You’ll find all the details in this Monday edition of the Daily Drive-Thru.
When it comes to new 5 Series models, the 530e iPerformance is a bargain, especially since it doesn’t cost extra for its plug-in hybrid technology.
(BMW)
Can BMW electrify its lineup without diluting the definition of an Ultimate Driving Machine? Contributor Brian Chee got some wheel time in the new 2018 530e iPerformance plug-in hybrid, and isn’t quite convinced. You might even call him discombobulated.
To get butts in seats and demonstrate how well modern Lexus F and F Sport vehicles perform, Lexus tours the country offering free track time.
(Lexus)
If you think about luxury instead of performance when the subject of Lexus comes up, don’t worry: you’re not alone. This is one reason why the Lexus Performance Driving School (yes, there is one) has taken its show on the road, offering free driving and track time during Lexus Performance Tour and Lexus Performance Track Experience programs.
We sent our new guy, Kevin Barr, to the New York event, and he thinks that if you live in SoCal, you should definitely attend the next school at Fontana.
Mazda is reportedly working on a new rotary engine, but it’s not what you’re expecting, and certainly nothing like this classic Cosmo.
(Mazda)
According to a new report, Mazda is trying to find a way to bring back the rotary engine. Last offered in the 2012 RX-8 sports coupe, rotary engines have a long history with Mazda, having first appeared in the 1967 Cosmo.
Inherently inefficient, the rotary simply cannot deliver the fuel economy and cost effectiveness of, say, Mazda’s own SkyActiv engine technology. But Mazda may have found a way to make rotary engines a part of its future, starting in 2019.
The 2018 Porsche 911 Carrera T is the lightest version of the sports car that you can buy, but its not the least expensive.
(Porsche)
Porsche is no stranger to maximizing performance through lighter weight. However, the results are typically reserved for its stratospherically priced 911 models and not its excessively priced ones. With the arrival of the new 911 Carrera T, which starts just over 100 grand, the company creates the lightest member of the 911 family yet.
No other full-size pickup truck protects you or your family as well as the 2018 Ford F-150.
(Ford Motor Company)
Ford has given the 2018 F-150 a freshening this year, and has added automatic emergency braking as an option for the first time. This new technology, combined with the aluminum-bodied truck’s ability to protect its occupants in a collision, make it the safest full-size, half-ton truck on the road.
Don’t believe us? Well, maybe the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety can convince you.
Check the Daily Drive-Thru every weekday evening to get a roundup of the latest news, reviews, galleries and more from the New York Daily News Autos.
You can find Friday’s edition of the Daily Drive-Thru here and view the rest of our archives here.
