Luxury can be a peculiar commodity – partly perception, bordering on extravagance, but with a whole lot of expensive necessities. The 2023 Volvo S60 T8 Recharge AWD Ultimate Black Edition just might qualify as a perfect example of this. If anything, our week-long test drive of the PHEV convinced us that this five-passenger sedan’s Scandinavian upbringing remains intact in its restrained elegance, explosive performance and impeccable niceties.
We’re not sure that anyone shops for Volvo looking for the ultimate luxury sport sedan. Nevertheless, the S60 T8 Recharge certainly has the power and speed to fit the requirements with its combined gas/electric 455 horsepower launching 4,450+ pounds from zero to 60 in around 4.3 seconds. It falls off the mark a bit when it comes to sport handling, but it more than makes up for this on the luxury side of its curriculum vitae especially if one remembers to kick in the extra $3,200 for the Bowers and Wilkins Premium Sound System to overrule any lapses in serenity. Why have illuminated door handles, a tailored dashboard, air purification and some of the best seats in the business if you’re not going to have superior audio throughout the cabin?
We’ve put together this photo gallery for you to enjoy. It’s a beautiful vehicle. Take a look.
A week with the 2023 Ford Maverick XLT Hybrid proved that sometimes you don’t need a full-size pickup to do work like hauling a bunch of logs out of your yard. RPM News Weekly co-founder Rich Taber made short work of the job as seen in this video.
Sure, the Maverick Hybrid is no monster with its gas/electric hybrid system netting a modest 191 horsepower, but if you’re not into macho chest beating and you don’t have a 30-foot yacht to tow, it’ll do fine. The bed is just right for hauling a pile of wood and it’s easy to load with its low, 30.1-inch lift height. All told, the truck can handle a 1500-pound payload and has a 2000-pound towing capacity.
It’s got some nice safety features, too, including pre-collision assist with automatic emergency braking. Plus, there’s optional Co-Pilot 360 with blind spot detection and cross traffic alert for a bit of extra convenience and safety.
Inside, the toned-down attitude continues. More than sparse and less than extravagant, there’s an old-school look and feel even to the point of using a physical key to start up the vehicle. Even so, Ford didn’t skip the contemporary telematic essentials such as USB A and C connections and phone app integration.
All in all, this is a truck that won’t replace the F-150 but could earn a favored spot in your driveway that used to be reserved for your compact crossover utility vehicle.
Today we feature the gasoline only version of the Ford Escape ST-Line Elite. The combination of a 2-liter Ecoboost engine and 8-speed automatic transmission play significantly into this model’s 23 city / 31 highway / 26 combined fuel economy rating.
We recently produced a video of the Ford Escape Hybrid ST-Line Elite. Other than exterior color, the outward appearances are essentially identical between the two variants. Fuel economy however is much different. Compare the photos of the gasoline-only version featured in the gallery below with the video of the hybrid model that’s underneath the gallery.
Do you remember in those days of youth ever thinking about a car you could see yourself owning once it was a few years out because that would be the only time you might be able to afford it? The 2024 Subaru Impreza RS is that kind of car – potentially affordable and spunky enough to peak one’s burgeoning interest in performance vehicles.
Not that you didn’t ever dream big about owning a Jaguar XKE or a ‘Vette or something with a little more status to it. They were just simply out of reach.
Sure, times have changed and no one seems to worry about taking on too much credit anymore. But if you are one of those folks who doesn’t ever get in over their head, yet you’re not willing to settle for just anything with four wheels, the $29,107-delivered price-tag on a new Impreza RS makes a mighty enticing proposition.
This four-door sedan is feisty, it’s efficient, it’s got five star safety ratings in all categories… oh, and it looks sharp. Flip through the photos in our 2024 Subaru Impreza RS slideshow below and see for yourself.
RPM News Weekly Photos by Rich Taber
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Inspired by Ford Performance Vehicles, The ST-Line Enhances An Already Sporty Package
A Week-Long Test Drive Of The Efficient Hybrid AWD Edition
by Peter Ciani & Rich Taber
The Ford Escape takes a different approach to small SUV styling than its boxy, retro-inspired, platform mate – the Bronco Sport. In our week-long test drive, RPM News Weekly found the 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid ST-Line Elite to be more sleek than boxy, and more comfort-driven than adventure-ready.
For 2023, the Escape underwent several styling updates, including a redesigned front fascia featuring new headlights and a larger, more prominent grille that sits higher than before. An available, all new “coast-to-coast LED light bar” (as Ford describes it) runs along the top of the grille. This feature, commonly found on higher-priced SUVs, adds a touch of sophistication and modernity to the Escape’s exterior. Meanwhile, LED headlights are only found in upper trims such as our test vehicle as seen in the video.
The ST-Line trim, first introduced on the Ford Focus and Fiesta in 2016, finally made its debut on the Escape for the 2023 model year. Inspired by Ford Performance vehicles, the ST-Line enhances what is already a sporty package.
For the Escape, the ST-Line features a black mesh grille pattern, performance-tuned suspension, and a single-wing rear spoiler. There are three available ST-Line grade levels – Standard, Select and Elite. All of them get body colored rocker panel moldings, which give the vehicle a more upscale look.
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Even though the 5-passenger Escape is Ford’s SUV entry-point, it’s not stripped down, plus there are plenty of interior tech and convenience features that can be added depending on trim. For example, sports seats are available in vinyl, ActiveX synthetic leather, or genuine leather trim surfaces. The sport seats in our ST-Line Elite test car came with the heated option in the front row and quilted, leather-trimmed upholstery featuring striking red contrast stitching.
Although the front seats look firm, they’re well-padded and quite comfortable on longer drives. Passengers in the second-row benefit from sliding seats that when moved back offer an additional 5.9 inches of legroom.
Available ST-Line Elite interior features include a Panoramic Vista roof, wireless phone charger, and a Bang & Olufsen 10-speaker sound system. All-trims feature front USB A and C PowerPoints as well as two rear smart USB charging connectors.
Our test-vehicle included a 13.2-inch LCD Capacitive Touchscreen featuring SYNC 4 with connected navigation, Amazon Alexa built-in, and wireless Apple Car Play and Android Auto smartphone compatibility.
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The hybrid version of the Escape that we’re driving comes equipped with a 2.5-liter EcoBoost engine, but Ford offers shoppers a range of powertrains within the full lineup including gasoline-only models with either a 180 horsepower 1.5-liter EcoBoost engine or a 250-horsepower 2-liter one. A plug-in hybrid variant with a 2.5-liter hybrid powertrain provides up to 37 emission-free miles on a full charge.
All-wheel-drive – as in our test vehicle – is available on all except the plug-in hybrid trim. Otherwise, it’s front wheel drive as standard.
The hybrid version is rated to deliver a respectable 42 mpg in the city and a combined 39 city / highway mpg. We didn’t exactly achieve those numbers but fared quite better than the ratings for the gasoline-only models. Over the course of five years, the EPA estimates that with the ST-Line Hybrid you’ll save $2500 in fuel costs compared to the average new vehicle. That’s $2000 better than with the base model.
Pricing for the base Ford Escape starts at $29,495. For this more upmarket, sporty Ford Escape Hybrid ST-Line Elite, total MSRP comes to $43,065 once you add in the Destination & Delivery charges.
All things considered, after a week with the 2023 Ford Escape Hybrid ST-Line Elite, we can comfortably say that if you’re seeking a budget-friendly SUV that’s efficient, and has the sporty styling of pricier vehicles, this model is worth a look.
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If there’s one thing the Genesis GV60 is not, it’s boring. Sure, the interior may seem a bit stark to some, but we would advise a closer look at its neat and studied mindfulness. Likewise, the exterior – it’s sleek and slender, but not malnourished. The design is so tastefully executed that we couldn’t help but imagine the vehicle slipping through the breeze at top speed with little noise or resistance.
This leaves us with the conclusion that owning an automobile of this caliber, not withstanding its contributions to a sustainable future as an all-electric vehicle, is totally transformative. Let your mind, body and soul feel that experience. If you have regrets put them in the comments.
Meanwhile, enjoy our 2024 Genesis GV60 Performance curated slideshow below, and the overview that follows.
RPM News Weekly Photos by Rich Taber
No one buys a car strictly by the numbers. It has to appeal to something more abstract than simply the amount of horsepower or the size of its cargo area. It might be the way the color makes one feel or the prestige the nameplate implies, or some other indefinable attribute either sensed or perceived. Nevertheless, we all typically have some sort of hit list of features that we want met in a vehicle we intend to purchase. With the Genesis GV60 Performance few features are left at the curb, but there is a whole new vocabulary with which buyers will want to familiarize themselves.
Most of us have some understanding of a vehicle’s horsepower figure and what is meant by a 12-volt battery. But how about items such as 160kW front and rear electric motors, or a 774 kWh battery, such as listed on the GV60 fact sheet? Likewise miles/kWh instead of mpg? What do they mean and how does it relate to what we already know about performance and costs?
Well the power in kiloWatts is easy enough to convert. One kiloWatt is equivalent to 1.341 horsepower. So each of those electric motors produces about 215 horsepower. Calculating the comparative cost of fuel takes a few more steps.
The EPA uses MPGe as a way to see relative efficiency of an electrified vehicle (EV, PHEV) compared with gasoline-powered ones. Here the GV60 Performance scores 90 MPGe (select trims score as high as 112 MPGe). But this does little to plainly see what the cost advantages might be. Why? Because electric rates around the country vary considerably more from region to region than gasoline prices do.
So, let’s bring it home by dissecting the cost of our electricity consumption with the GV60 and how that compares with a similar gasoline-powered SUV. (cont. below)
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If you looked closely at the image that depicts the gauge cluster in the above slideshow, you might have noticed that the GV60 was garnering 2.7miles per kWh. Recently, the cost of electricity here in Eastern Massachusetts went up to around 30 cents per kWh (total figure incl. distribution and fees), so that’s about 9 miles per dollar. Meanwhile the cost of gasoline averages around $3.25 per gallon, meaning that for the same amount of money, the GV60 will travel around 29.25 miles where a similar sized gasoline-powered luxury SUV such as the Lexus RX350 manages 24 miles. It gets even better for the GV60 in places where electricity costs around 15 cents per kWh essentially doubling the number of miles for the same amount of money. Then again, if you have solar panels on the roof of your house you may not be paying anything to charge up.
Enough said.
Still, there’s more to owning the GV60 Performance model than a few extra dollars in your pocket. It’s really about the luxurious experience. In this, Genesis does not disappoint. The vehicle looks, feels and behaves like a proper premium-level vehicle. You might expect this when scanning through the features on the Monroney sticker (see below) or better yet easily discern it by taking the GV60 for a rainy day afternoon drive across town, onto the Interstate highway and down a few rural roads. The turns are smooth and firm, the bumps are muted and neutered, and the acceleration is quick and invigorating even with the wet pavement.
Everything else delivers at similar exemplary levels – a no-fuss climate control with heated seats front and rear and a heated steering wheel, a premium Bang & Olufsen audio system, mobile phone app integration, wireless phone charging, a super-easy-to-use console controller for the 12.3-inch infotainment system display, and a splendid bit of eye-candy in the way the spherical shifter rolls into play.
Though beyond such novelties as the flipping shifter, and even the prolific and wonderful driver convenience, crash avoidance and powertrain technologies listed below, there’s a peculiar cathartic potential here. More than it being a superbly refined means of transportation, the Genesis GV60 has the capacity to shift perceptions. Yes, transformative.
