2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt review

NO MOTORING-RELATED marketing tie-up — whether it be The Rolling Stones and Acura, Breitling and Bentley, Roland-Garros and Peugeot or even, er, Barbie and a number of car makers — tops Ford’s association with the movie Bullitt.

It is now 50 years since the Ford Mustang as good as stole the show in the Steve McQueen cult movie, and America’s best-known muscle car (10m and counting have been sold) is still just as synonymous with the movie as the god-like film star.

McQueen, a car, motorcycle and motor racing fanatic, did as much of the stunt driving for the world’s most famous car chase scene as Hollywood executives – and their insurers – would permit.

In fact, McQueen’s heart was well and truly captured by the Mustang. So much so that in 1980, not long before his death in November that year, he tracked down the owner of one of the two original Mustangs used during the making of the film. He wrote the man a letter, as good as pleading with him to sell the car. The owner declined.

More than 30 years after the release of Bullitt, Ford rekindled its association with the movie and did a deal with Warner Bros., which owns the film rights, to launch a special edition Bullitt version of the Mustang. Another followed in 2008, and here we are in 2018 with the latest tribute model, which for the first time is being sold in Britain.

The recipe for a Bullitt Mustang is straightforward: use the same Dark Highland Green paint seen on the car that ripped around the hills of San Francisco in the movie; tune the V8 engine; fit some black-painted alloy wheels; beef up the suspension; create a bespoke  interior; and apply a smattering of Bullitt logos about the place.

Now, if you think muscle cars like the Mustang are no more expensive than a Golf, you might be a bit shocked by the price: the flagship of the recently updated Mustang range costs nearly £48,000.

But hold your ponies just a moment. The new Mustang Bullitt has a 5-litre, V8 engine with more than 450bhp. That means this muscle car has more, well, muscle, than a BMW M4. Yet the M4 costs well over ten grand more.

Of course, car snobs will be reading this and shaking their heads, questioning who in their right mind would choose a blue-collar car over a precision instrument from Germany. Probably the clever cookies who know that not only would a Mustang Bullitt turn more heads and be more exclusive, it would leave £12,000 in the bank for super unleaded, trips to drive around Europe’s most famous race tracks and plenty more for a set of tyres or three.

The best bit? The sound. Oh. My. Goodness.

Ah yes, tyres. You will get through a lot if you buy this car. Because the latest Mustang has some bad-to-the-bone features born out of America’s love affair with drag racing.

There’s the usual launch control, found on plenty of cars these days. But added to this is the latest-generation Mustang’s party trick: Line Lock. Like a naughty switch installed by The Stig, it applies only the front brakes, while the back wheels spin as the car’s stationary, for up to fifteen seconds. This creates more smoke than dousing the car with fuel and setting light to it. Childish? Yes. Fun? Heck yeah.

The Bullitt Mustang also has a setting called Drag Strip. With the optional adaptive dampers fitted, the car will squat down at the rear, and use a combination of electronics and witchcraft to reduce the loss of drive between gearshifts, to give a driver the perfect getaway from the lights. At a drag strip, naturally.

And we haven’t got to the best bit, yet: the sound. Oh. My. Goodness. The rumble of the V8 engine and burble of the exhaust transport you to the streets of San Francisco, and you can almost feel yourself scanning the road ahead and checking the rear-view mirror for a black Dodge Charger.

Can you hear something, @ST_Driving? pic.twitter.com/4ZO42oqXcR

— James Mills (@squarejames) October 15, 2018

Ironically, the ratios of the gearbox are engineered to suit the open roads of Arizona rather than the confines of San Francisco. Second gear runs to about 80mph, which is much higher than most cars. But that’s just fine, because the big motor has so much muscle that it can pull away from a walking pace in fifth gear.

Talking of gears, there’s a six-speed manual transmission fitted as standard but the 10-speed automatic isn’t available as an option on the Bullitt. Let’s face it, if you want to play at being Steve McQueen, it could only be the manual, which is topped off with a gear knob shaped like a white cue ball.

As for the rest of the driving experience, it’s a large, heavy thing and not quite as polished in some areas as other sports cars. But unusually, it feels fun at any speed, whereas in European machines you must drive as though your trousers are on fire before they come alive and stand your hair on end. The Mustang will have you grinning from the moment the engine starts.

Okay, you’ll have to look past the slightly crummy design of the interior, forgiving the plastics that feel as though they’re from a second-hand Ford Focus and wondering whether the digital instruments were modelled on Pong-era graphics. But the Recaro seats are excellent and it only takes another blip of the throttle and bellow from the V8 for you to forgive Ford’s bruiser for its faults.

The really bad news? Ford has earmarked 350 Bullitts for the UK next year, and they’ve all sold out. So if you want one, you’ll have to place a deposit and wait until 2020 for it to arrive.

Still, it leaves plenty of time to watch reruns of the movie and make a digital copy of your vinyl edition of Lalo Schifrin’s soundtrack, ready to be played at full volume on every drive.

Rivals go head to head: Ford Mustang Bullitt vs BMW M4 CS

	Ford Mustang Bullitt	BMW M4 CS
Price	£47,545	£63,985
Power	454bhp	448bhp
Top speed	163mph	155mph
Weight	1818kg	1560kg

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The post 2019 Ford Mustang Bullitt review appeared first on Sunday Times Driving.

source https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/first-drive/2019-ford-mustang-bullitt-review/

Press Release: Phoenix AZ Mobile Auto Window Tinting Film Installation Service Announced

Block Harmful UV Rays & Reduce Sun Glare With This Phoenix AZ Auto Window Tinting Specialist

Window Tint (480)233-1529

Specialist Phoenix AZ auto care company, d.i. Auto Care, has announced it can provide local customers with high quality window tinting. It offers mobile window tinting and window glass film installation throughout Phoenix.

Looking for mobile window tinting for your car, truck, SUV or other vehicle? This Phoenix, AZ auto care company can provide high quality tinting for the road, home or office.

An expert Phoenix, Arizona based auto care company has announced it can provide local customers with premium window tinting for their vehicles. Anyone looking for mobile car window tinting, glass tinting for trucks and other vehicles, and window film installation can get in touch.

More information can be found at: https://cardetailingphoenix.com/index.php/window-tint

The site explains that the auto detailing specialist offers mobile window tinting for customers vehicles, along with their home or office. One of the things that separates the company from others in the area is that it offers a lifetime warranty to make sure customers never have problems with their service or experience.

There are a number of benefits to getting windows tinted both in a car or the home. For example, it increases privacy both at home and on the road.

In addition to this, window tinting when done well can reduce the heat inside the car or the home. The tint itself helps to block harmful UV rays, while also giving structural strength to the glass to help it from shattering.

Many customers around Phoenix look for mobile tinting services to improve their privacy. Colored windows limit what people can see, and can prevent people from considering the vehicle. This in turn can help to prevent thieves from breaking into the car.

Research also shows that screen shades in the car can decrease temperature inside the vehicle by up to 70%. This can make for a much more pleasant driving experience, especially in the harsh Arizona sun.

Car window tinting can block up to 99% of the sun’s UV rays, which can protect both the driver and passengers when on the road. This means tinting can be better for health, balancing climate and comfort.

Anyone wanting to get in touch for high quality window tinting in Phoenix AZ can get in touch on (480) 233-1529.

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Press Release: Insurance Approved Auto Glass In Ahwatukee Offered By D.I. Auto Care At No Cost

No cost windshield replacement service has now been made easy for Ahwatukee, Phoenix, Arizona drivers who have full glass insurance coverage. Paul, a spokesperson from D.I. Auto Care explains, “No cost windshield replacement is possible because the insurance company will pay for the replacement of the windshield if the customer has full glass insurance coverage. D.I. Auto Care has the ability to make this happen, saving the customers money as they do not have to pay out of pocket to get the auto glass or windshield replaced.”

Windshield repair or replacement for a car can be costly, but at D.I. Auto Care, customers need not pay out of pocket to get their auto glass or windshields replaced. The insurance company will pay D.I. Auto Care directly, thus the customer is able to some some money. The insurance company actually saves money this way as well, so the process is streamlined to work with D.I. Auto Care’s Windshield Replacement Ahwatukee service.

Replacing and repairing auto glass is simple and cost effective. There are many reasons why people would want to replace the auto glass on their vehicles. Windshields and windows become damaged for various reasons. Damages can occur during collisions, from weather, or from rocks and other debris hitting the glass. These things can cause glass cracks, pits, and scrapes.

“Small defects may seem insignificant but can actually reduce visibility, especially when driving at night or towards the sun during the day,” says Paul. “Visibility is critical at all times, but even more so when driving in rain or snow.”

To add to the convenience of customers, D.I. Auto Care offers a mobile service, which is known as Mobile Glass Ahwatukee service. The repair technician will come to the location of the vehicle and repair or replace the glass on the spot.

Auto glass maintenance is important, as windshields and windows serve many purposes. Windshields, which are angled, streamline the movement of the vehicle. The windshields also contribute to the rigidity of the vehicle. But the glass’s main purpose is to protect the driver and passengers. On a daily basis, auto glass protects people from wind and debris which might fly in and cause injury or discomfort. During an accident, the auto glass can prevent serious wounds and injuries.

Modern windshield glass is tough safety glass installed with an automotive grade urethane that creates a molecular bond between the glass and the vehicle. Safety glass may shatter on impact or force but will stay in one piece in most cases. Auto glass is susceptible to linear cracks, dings, and chips as well as circular bullseyes and star shaped cracks.

Auto glass damage is assessed depending on size, depth, type, and location of the crack or chip. Sometimes the entire windshield or window does not require replacement. In these cases, a chip repair is recommended. This method of repair maintains the integrity of the factory seal around the glass. Technicians at D.I. Auto Care’s Auto Glass Ahwatukee service location can recommend the appropriate repair or replacement.

D.I. Auto Care holds high ratings on Yelp and Google Reviews. Customers appreciate the quality and thoroughness of the company’s service. Following are comments from reviews of D.I. Auto Care. Becky S. said, “Paul was friendly, informative, professional…he made me feel valued.” Katie C. said, “He came right to my office…was very professional and did an incredible job.” D.I. Auto Care also offers other services including auto detailing and window tinting.

Kaci C. said, “I had Paul come out to replace my front windshield and I realized he also does window tinting. I had him put the strip along the top of my windshield and tint the whole car while he was here. Amazing service and excellent quality of work. I was referred from a friend of mine who has been using Paul for over 20 years, I would highly recommend. A+.”

Pope A. said, “I called Paul to see about getting the windshields replaced on two vehicles. He was very professional and the work looked very good. I also scheduled him to tint the glass on my wife’s new car and also have him come out every few months to detail the vehicles. I would highly recommend… A+.”

Based in Phoenix, D.I. Auto Care serves several local communities. Those interested in making an appointment for vehicle glass repair or replacement can phone or text D.I. Auto Care. They can also visit the company’s website.

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Source: https://cardetailingphoenix.com/index.php/2018/10/16/press-release-insurance-approved-auto-glass-in-ahwatukee-offered-by-d-i-auto-care-at-no-cost/

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Press Release: Phoenix Insurance Approved Mobile Windshield Replacement & Chip Repair Launched

Best Ahwatukee Mobile Auto Glass Expert To Call For Windshield Replacement & Repairs

Auto Glass Replacement (480) 233-1529

The popular D.I. Auto Care is offering a mobile, insurance approved auto glass repair and replacement service to anyone in Phoenix who wants their car windows fixed right, quick and completely stress free.

More information is available at https://cardetailingphoenix.com/index.php/auto-glass.

The D.I. Auto Care is the auto shop most in Phoenix and the surrounding areas in the Valley turn to when they want their auto glass repairs, window tinting or detailing done right and at great prices.

To make sure that no one has to risk their safety driving around with a chipped or cracked window ever again, the shop is now offering a mobile auto glass repair and replacement service that is quick and insurance approved.

The service ensures the auto owner can have their windshields, back windows and even the sun roof fixed in the comfort of their own home or at their place of business, anywhere in the Valley.

And then have the team at the D.I. Auto Care handle all the paperwork to bill their insurance company directly and save them a lot of time, money and stress with the claim and other bureaucracies or technicalities.

This rock chip repair and windshield replacement work is done by seasoned, skilled pros who can be at the client’s location in no time and always carry all the parts, tools and replacement glass needed to do it right away.

And all this always with the friendly, courteous attitude and the honest, straightforward approach that has earned them so many 5 star reviews online and their long standing reputation as the ‘go to’ auto glass pros in the Valley.

For added convenience and peace of mind, all their other services, including their quality window tinting and detailing work, are also available on a mobile basis all around the Valley, including Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale, Ahwatukee and Gilbert.

To talk to the team at D.I. Auto Care and book one of their rock chip repairs or windshield replacement services, clients can call or text 480 233-1529 or check their website at the link provided above.

The popular D.I. Auto Care, available at 480 233-1529, is offering a mobile, insurance approved windshield replacement and rock chip repair service in Phoenix and the rest of the Valley.

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2018 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid review

WE’RE USED to “everything” politicians who promise all things to everyone. Now get ready for everything cars that offer a whole range of abilities, all rolled into one model.

The latest is the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid. It’s an eco-car, a luxury limo, an off-roader, a family SUV and a sports car. According to Porsche’s blurb, it can handle anything that you throw at it, including the school run, the daily commute, towing a horsebox, eating up the miles on the autobahn, stuffing a washing machine in the back and having fun on a twisty coast road.

It’s a big, comfortable, high-up, all-wheel-drive five-seater with lots of gadgets for the iGeneration, including an app that allows you to adjust the climate control before your journey, check remotely that you’ve closed the windows and locked the doors, and find the vehicle if you lose it in a multistorey car park or a festival field.

On paper it looks impressive. It’s quicker off the mark than a Porsche 718 Boxster, hitting 62mph in five seconds; it has a similar boot capacity to that of a load-lugging Audi A6 Avant; it has better fuel consumption than some Toyota Priuses; and it has the tactile interior of a Tesla.

You may say you don’t want a £67,000-plus car, or you’d rather have a couple of cheaper ones so you can drive the coast road while someone else does the shopping.

But according to research by car makers, that means you’re a person of advancing years. The new generation of buyers, they say, don’t have space in their lives or on their drives for more than one car, so they take their lead from their smartphones, which, as we know, do everything.

The Cayenne E-Hybrid is a car you switch on, rather than start up. There’s no throaty roar; not even a gentle tickover. The instrument panel lights up to acknowledge it’s ready, and then silently it moves off, with the instant kick that electric motors do best.

It takes a while for the car’s abilities to become apparent, but it gradually reveals itself to be a very clever piece of technology.

If you want to drive it as a pure electric vehicle (EV), you can, and provided you plug it into a charger each night and don’t exceed 27 miles a day (more than the average commute, there and back), you never need stop at a petrol station.

The Sport setting engages the V6 petrol engine if you want to save battery power for, say, when you arrive at an urban destination. Hybrid Auto mode lets the car decide how hard to work the V6 and the electric motor. And if you want to give it the full beans, to demonstrate what an eco-car can do — not just for the hell of it, obviously — there’s Sport Plus, which uses the full strength of the electric motor plus the grunt from all six cylinders.

Provided you plug it into a charger each night and don’t exceed 27 miles a day, you never need stop at a petrol station

This kind of versatility, combined with systems that control how the car behaves when it’s cornering, when it’s in traffic, when it’s off road and so on, is why Porsche claims the E-Hybrid is several cars combined.

The company had a head start in producing everything cars, partly because it transitioned from a sports car manufacturer to one that made most of its money from SUVs, and partly because of its experience with electric hybrid systems for Le Mans, which means that — counterintuitively, given its reputation for red-blooded racers — it’s good at eco-technology too.

It has also learnt from past mistakes. The original hybrid Cayenne, unveiled in 2007, combined the disadvantages of a thirsty petrol engine with a heavy electric motor and battery for no significant gain. This version reverses that, with the best features of electric and combustion propulsion.

The two power sources deliver an impressive 456bhp — less than the top-of-the-range, £99,291 petrol Cayenne Turbo at 542bhp, but enough to blow away the cobwebs on a Sunday-morning runout. If you lean towards driving in EV mode, it’s frugal too, but this is where the data gets a little hazy.

Customers who’ve recently taken delivery of the Cayenne E-Hybrid are exempt from the London congestion charge. But car makers are being forced to recalculate emissions and fuel consumption figures to take account of revised EU rules for new vehicles that came into force earlier this month.

At the time of going to press, Porsche couldn’t provide data for the new Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure (WLTP) or confirm whether E-Hybrids yet to be delivered will be exempt from the congestion charge. When we checked on the Transport for London (TfL) website, it told us there was no information for the car.*

So should you consider buying one? Probably not if you live in a crowded neighbourhood without a driveway. At 2,194mm across, including wing mirrors, it’s too big for many width restrictors. Plus, to use it as an EV you’ll need off-road parking, unless you’re prepared to trail a wire across the pavement, or to charge it at service stations.

The government is taxing lifestyles — not because it’s fair but because they can

If you live anywhere else, and you’re looking for a luxury SUV with bags of power and torque that can also do hair shirt, it’s a good bet. The only serious rivals are the Range Rover PHEV and the Volvo XC90 T8 Momentum — and it has the edge over both in performance.

There’s one drawback, and it is that the government doesn’t like Porsche drivers, or in fact anyone buying pricy cars, so it has rigged the system to remove any advantage you might gain from choosing a green vehicle. The E-Hybrid’s quoted fuel economy under the pre-WLPT system is 88.3mpg, with a CO2 figure of 72g/km; environmentally friendly by any standards and clean enough, you’d think, to qualify for the lowest vehicle tax band. But it doesn’t.

Because the Porsche’s list price is more than £40,000, you get discounted vehicle tax only for the first year, after which it jumps to £440. That’s £300 more annually than the standard second-year rate that applies to many more polluting petrol and diesel cars. Why did the government choose to penalise buyers of a low-emissions vehicle because they’ve paid more than a seemingly arbitrary limit of £40,000? No one seems to know.

Likewise with the government’s much-touted plug-in grant. Buy a plug-in Prius and you get up to a £2,500 discount, courtesy of the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV). Not so the E-Hybrid, because it costs more than £60,000. Why £60,000? No one seems to know.

Porsche drivers won’t be protesting on social media. They would be harangued even for owning a big SUV by those who say cars such as this should be banned altogether from city streets. Maybe so, but that’s not the point. What the Department for Transport, HM Revenue & Customs and quangos such as TfL and Olev are doing at the moment is taxing lifestyles — not because it’s fair but because they can.

If the aim is to tax petrol and diesel use, or exhaust emissions, then fuel duty is the way to do it. If the objective is to tax the purchase of an expensive car, then VAT does this. If the idea is to hit high-earners, use income tax.

The existing bureaucratic system has created absurdities. You can drive around in a smoky MPV and pay no more than £155 in vehicle tax. You can buy a Land Rover 110 County or a hen-party stretch Hummer that does 6mpg and pay no TfL congestion charge because, perversely, cars with nine seats or more are exempt.

If your hobby is coal-fired canal boats, you can own and operate one where you like, tax-free. But buy a clean Porsche and it’ll cost you. There’s no logic to it, but those everything politicians know it won’t lose them enough votes to matter.

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Head to head

Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid vs Volvo XC90 T8 Momentum

	Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid	Volvo XC90 T8 Momentum
Price	£67,128	£62,570
Power	456bhp	401bhp
0-62mph	5.0sec	5.6sec
Top speed	157mph	140mph

 

* Since this review was published in The Sunday Times Magazine, on September 28, 2018, the Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid has been temporarily withdrawn from factory order via the company’s website “due to an upcoming revision of specification”. A Porsche spokesperson told Automotive News Europe: “We will not start taking orders again until the cars are being built, the timing of which has not yet been confirmed.” 

 

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2018 Range Rover P400e PHEV review

Next Volvo XC90 won’t be available with a diesel engine

The post 2018 Porsche Cayenne E-Hybrid review appeared first on Sunday Times Driving.

source https://www.driving.co.uk/car-reviews/2018-porsche-cayenne-e-hybrid-review/