{also piping hot}
Ram goes after the Raptor: The Spy Guy notes that the rough-and-tough Ford Raptor pickup continues to draw imitators looking to capitalize on the latest off-road-style craze. The latest to cash in on this trend is Fiat Chrysler Automobiles’ Ram brand. Word from in-the-know sources has it that a new model based on the Rebel TRX Concept truck will hit the trail by the end of 2017, complete with a supercharged 6.2-litre V-8 (the same engine used in the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, but in detuned form) rated at 575 horsepower. Rebel TRX equipment includes special off-road suspension pieces and 37-inch knobby tires that fit inside widened fenders. Pricing has not yet been confirmed, but somewhere north of $65,000 would be a reasonable guess.
The latest scoop for “Trekies”: There’s good news and not-so-good news for fans of the Subaru Crosstrek, thinks The Sleuth. The good news is that the popular all-wheel-drive model will adopt most of the physical and mechanical changes afforded the 2017 Impreza — upon which it’s based — when the Crosstrek arrives for the 2018 model year. The lifted suspension appears slightly more pronounced than before, although not enough to make entering or exiting the vehicle problematic. There are also numerous interior and dynamic safety upgrades that are installed in a quieter cabin. The not-so-good news is for people hoping for more performance. They will be saddened to hear that the same modest 152-horsepower four-cylinder non-turbo engine used in the Impreza will also be in the Crosstrek.
Ford’s self-drivers are on track for 2021, but only to fleets: According to The Sleuth’s operatives, it seems that the Blue Oval automaker is further along in developing autonomous (self-driving) vehicles that was originally suspected. Within the next five years, Ford will have market-ready models that can be operated without human intervention, although they can still be operated by people, if so desired. None of the vehicles will be available for sale to the public, but rather they will be leased to specific fleets such as taxis and ride-sharing companies. Ford believes this approach is the best way to evaluate the advanced self-driving technologies it’s developing before putting the cars in the hands of the general public. That’s not expected to happen until the mid-2020s, at the earliest.
A sign of the times for Buick’s royal brand: The Sleuthy One notes the further demise of the four-door sedan. This time it’s the Buick Regal’s trunk lid that disappears, replaced instead by an all-new Regal Sportback hatchback (well, it’s sort of sedan-like) and an elongated Regal TourX wagon for the 2018 model year. In particular, the Sneakster is inclined to think that the forthcoming wagon is an attempt by Buick to emulate the Audi Allroad and Volvo V90 square-back models that, although attractive enough, don’t usually sell in significant quantities in North America. The engine used in front-wheeldrive versions is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine that makes 250 horsepower 260 pound-feet of torque. Selecting AWD gets you an extra 35 pound-feet.