The newly re-released Ford Bronco has many aficionados clamoring over it… and it looks to be  worth all the attention. But another offroader re-release…the Land Rover Defender has captured high acclaim too.  So we figured…let’s put them toe to toe and see how they size up considering overall size, geometry, power train utility and price.  We’ll use the four door version of each for this comparison.

So it’s the Defender 110 against the Bronco four door. The Bronco can vary in size depending on trim. So we’ve picked the bad lens motor with sales watch offer a package. The two SUVs are actually pretty close in size with the Bronco having a wheel base of 116.1 inches, the Defender a bit longer at 119 inches. Overall length, not including that spare tire in the Bronco is a 190.5 inches. The same spec on the Defender is 187.3. Overall width of the Bronco with mirrors folded is 76.3 inches, while the Defender is a bit poor here at 79.1 inches, mirrors folded. Finally the top of the Bronco is 76.3 inches off the ground, while the Defender is a little bit taller at 77.4 inches.

More @CNET

 

To: Our Valued Johnny’s Custom Auto Body Customers

From: Your Johnny’s Custom Auto Body Team

The health and well-being of our customers and team members is our #1 priority. We are closely monitoring the evolution of COVID-19 (coronavirus) and taking guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Some of the measures we have taken to ensure the health and safety of our customers and team members include:

• Reducing the number of people visiting our shop by providing customers with staggered scheduled appointment times and alternatives for dropping off their vehicles.
• Whenever possible, we are limiting contact, including handshakes. We are also completing updates and providing communication to our customers by phone and email. (see Drop & Go)
• Like everyone, we have taken additional precautions and enhanced our cleaning process in our shop and among our Team Members.

We are taking this situation seriously and are committed to providing a safe environment for everyone who visits and works in our locations.

Sincerely,

Johnny Webster

Johnny’s Custom Auto Body

Going the distance: From road trip to race track, the Acura NSX is built for it all – CNET Roadshow

A 1,000-mile journey in an Acura NSX from its birthplace in Ohio to Daytona International Speedway — just in time for the Rolex 24.

STEVEN EWING/ROADSHOW

It all starts in Ohio. There’s a space inside Honda’s Anna Engine Plant that’s so clean and organized, so impeccably lit and equipped with state-of-the-art machinery, you’d think it was an operating room. And in a way, it kind of is.

This is where the Acura NSX gets its heart. Every single 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V6 that’s destined to be mounted amidships in an NSX — no matter if it’s a road car or race car — is hand-assembled in this room. Magazines with NSX cover stories are framed and neatly arranged along the walls. Backlit shelves house spotless engine blocks. Every drawer is labeled. There isn’t a loose nut or washer anywhere.

Talk to the folks who work here and they’ll make it clear that they aren’t just building engines, they’re building NSX engines. It’s a level of pride not unlike what you’ll find in the factories of Affalterbach or Maranello or Sant’Agata Bolognese, prestigious places where world-renowned sports cars are born. “Anna, Ohio” might not have the same ring, but the dedication and attention to detail is every bit as impressive.

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What is the MAJOR change for the 2020 Acura NSX? – Raiti’s Rides

The 2020 NSX is still a show stopper, and still running that hybrid power setup. The 3.5L twin-turbo V6 & electric motors pump out 573 HP & routed through a 9-speed automatic transmission. It’s exterior has been tweaked along with a few other changes. In the review I also get to compare it to a first gen Acura NSX race car. Let me take you around and show you the MAJOR change for the 2020 Acura NSX!

 

2020 Acura NSX – The Car Connection

THE CAR CONNECTION EXPERT REVIEW
Anthony Sophinos – February 28, 2020

LIKES Gorgeous looks Technological powerhouse Excellent performer Daily-driver supercar

DISLIKES Not quite as emotional as the Italian competition Where’s the hybrid gas mileage Supercar cachet isn’t there Price inflates quickly

FEATURES & SPECS

 

Acura NSX – A Supercar you can drive every day – Motormouth

The new Acura NSX is a modern take on the icon that revolutionized the supercar market. The original was comfortable, easy to drive, well made and has turned out to be highly collectable. Acura has brought back the NSX but this time packed it with all kinds of technology to not only make it a fast and powerful supercar but also a car that is easy to drive every day. Powering the all-new Acura NSX is a mid-engine 3.5L V6 matched to an electric motor for 500hp of output. The front wheels also get two independent electric motors that drive each front wheel. These two motors put out 73hp, for a total output of 573hp. The front motors provide power to each wheel but can also create drag on the inside wheel when cornering to help pivot the car through the corner. This is a very quick car and the 9-speed dual clutch automatic matched to the 3.5L twin turbo V6 is very quick. The driver can drive in quiet mode for relaxed city driving but when sport and sport plus setting are activated, this Acura NSX is a real performer. The Acura NSX can be equipped with a carbon appearance package on the outside that includes carbon fibre front spoiler, side skirts and rear defuser. In addition the Acura NSX can be equipped with a carbon roof, rear spoiler and ceramic brakes.

New cars today have an average transaction price of about $37,000.  Seem high?  Many shoppers may opt for the used car option as a result. But  for those hell bent on a NEW vehicle over used… plenty of cheap, affordable new car options exist that are appealing…especially if your preferences are flexible.

Here are today’s most affordable cars grouped in various segments, from hatchbacks to pickups to electric vehicles. Some will catch your eye with a rock-bottom starting price but provide dubious quality or questionable performance. If that’s the case, don’t worry — we’ll warn you. Others have managed to score well in our comprehensive vehicle testing program despite their exceptional affordability. That’s the combination you’re looking for, and you’ve come to the right place to find it.

Notice that our vehicle listings don’t stop at the model’s starting MSRP. Drawing on Edmunds’ peerless automotive data, we also give you the average transaction price for that model, including all trim levels.

For buyers shopping with a strict budget as their first priority…here are today’s cheapest rides, period, based on the starting MSRP.

2020 Chevrolet Spark hatchback

Sure, Spark is tiny, and rear-seat and cargo space suffer accordingly. It’s also slow. But it has it’s high spots. The Spark is easy to maneuver and park, its fuel economy is impressive at 33 mpg combined, and it comes with good tech, including a 7-inch touchscreen, Apple and Android smartphone connectivity, and even a Wi-Fi hotspot.

Starting price, including destination: $14,095
Average transaction price, including destination: $16,888
Fuel economy: 33 mpg combined

2020 Mitsubishi Mirage hatchback

Given that its Chevy competitor is better by nearly every measure and has a lower starting price, it’s hard to make a case for the Mirage. Frankly, it’s hard to make a case for the Mirage no matter what. That said, the Mirage does offer an eye-popping EPA fuel economy rating of 39 mpg combined, while its 10-year/100,000-mile warranty brings peace of mind. It could be a good fit for drivers seeking maximum fuel economy for long commutes, although the profound lack of power turns every passing or merging maneuver into a white-knuckle affair.

Starting price, including destination: $14,790
Average transaction price, including destination (2019 model): $16,768
Fuel economy: 36-39 mpg combined

2020 Nissan Versa sedan

The Versa was once the least expensive car in America. The new model, redesigned for 2020, now costs a little more but is a better car for it. The price increase brings more standard features (including power windows and keyless entry), a slightly more powerful engine that doesn’t sacrifice fuel economy, and more expressive styling. The Versa is also roomier than its hatchback rivals and boasts a sizable trunk.

Starting price, including destination: $15,625
Average transaction price, including destination: $18,393
Fuel economy: 30-35 mpg combined

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The Ford F-650 is one of the largest pickup trucks on the planet.  Almost everyone knows the Ford F-series which is the best-selling vehicle in America.

 

Most people buy the Ford F-150 which is plenty capable for almost all needs.  If you need to tow or haul something specific…maybe you upgrade to the F-250…and if you really want to pull something huge then you get an F-350. And the vast majority of consumers think that that’s where the Ford f-series lineup ends. But it doesn’t because this is an F-650. In fact the Ford f-series lineup goes all the way up to the F-750. But most of these higher numbered trucks are typically commercial vehicles like tow trucks or ambulances or dump trucks.

But not this one. This is just a regular old pickup truck…except massive. Now Ford doesn’t sell it this way. They sell the F-650 with a cab and then just a basic bare stripped chassis they call it. And then this company called super trucks converts it into a pickup with luxury features and a pickup truck bed.

The F-650 weighs 10,000 pounds before that conversion…so this thing really is huge. Fortunately, it has a good engine to handle all that power. It’s got a 6.7 liter power stroke v8 and makes about 330 horsepower and about 750 pound feet of torque.

 

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Being able to generate electricity with water as the byproduct sounds like a great design doesn’t it?  So where are all the hydrogen fuel cell cars?

Hydrogen fuel cell vehicles don’t use fossil fuels and operate on the basis of the reaction between hydrogen stored in a high-pressure tank and the oxygen absorbed from the air outside. This reaction generates energy that feeds the electric motor.

The biggest challenges for the hydrogen fuel cell consumer market is:

1. There is a very limited supply of vehicles, most of which are expensive, and…
2. A barely developed refueling infrastructure. Entire regions in the US still do not have a single hydrogen filling station.

Hyundai Nexo – is the successor to the Hyunday ix35 FCEV, which was the first to be produced in series, but is only present in a few European markets, as well as the US. The fuel cells of the Hyundai Nexo have been in development for four generations, which should result in better storage, lower fuel consumption and higher performance. Its engine has an output of 120 hp, driven by a 40 kW battery. Three hydrogen tanks hold 6.33 kilograms of hydrogen and provide a range of 756 kilometers.  Biggest disadvantage is the price: it starts at $58,300 in the US.

Toyota Mirai – (Mirai means “future” in Japanese) is a four-seater saloon and has a design reminiscent of the Toyota Prius, and a range of 500 km. It has two hydrogen tanks with a total capacity of 5 kilograms…and offers an eight-year or up to 160,000-kilometer warranty.  By 2020, Toyota projects 30,000 units per year to be sold.  Since 2018, the Toyota Mirai has been available at a price starting at $58,500 in the US.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell – One of  3 Honda’s Clarity family members, this hydrogen-only engine option was initially only available in California…but the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is also expected to arrive in Europe in Spring and cost around 60,000 euros. The saloon has an output of 175 hp and a range of 650 kilometers and a fast-filling system for hydrogen gas which only takes between three and five minutes for a full tank.

Mercedes-Benz GLC F-Cell – The first Mercedes-Benz hydrogen-powered SUV, is only available in Germany and exclusively for rent for around 800 euros per month. For the time being, this model is only intended for companies and not for private individuals and is a pilot project by Mercedes. It has an autonomy of 478 kilometers, the charging of its hydrogen deposits takes only three minutes. The GLC is a hydrogen plug-in hybrid.

 

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Almost everyone would agree that Mustang vs Camaro is THE  classic Ford-Chevy muscle-car rivalry.  But from a “hallmark” or “marquee” perspective…it’s the Mustang for Ford…and Corvette for Chevy.  has the Corvette. Particularly on a performance basis…the Stang and the Vette match up fairly well.

 

Here’s some highlights of Mustang and Corvette lineups:

• Mustang — Ford’s iconic “Pony Car” — introduced in 1965 and was an immediate hit.
• The first ‘Stangs had a 200-horsepower V8 engine. The latest Mustang is the Shelby GT500, making 760hp from its V8.
• The Mustang GT’s 5.0-liter V8 cranks 460 horsepower.
• The 2.3-liter, four-cylinder EcoBoost turbocharged motor on the entry level ‘Stang makes 310 horsepower…no longer a V6 Mustang option!

 

• The original roadster Corvette debuted way back in 1953.
• The current Corvette ;monster is the 755-horsepower ZR1…one notch down, the 605-hp Z06
• The Corvette Stingray makes 460 horsepower…less some of the Grand Sport’s performance extras.
• The all-new eighth-generation Vette is the Stingray edition arriving for the 2020 model year with radical new mid-engine design and a 6.2-liter, V8 engine, making 495 horsepower.

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Show & Shine Car Show – Thur. 9/19/19 @ 5:30pm – Johnny’s Custom Auto Body

275 Welburn Ave, Gilroy, CA

Show Your Car? – RSVP (408) 848-2826

 

Johnny Webster invites Gilroy, CA area residents to attend the Show & Shine event on Thur. 9/19/19 @ 5:30pm .

Enjoy an evening of Classic & Cool Cars at the home of Johnny’s Custom Auto Body & Johnny’s Custom Motorsports.

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As Gilroy’s last truly independent auto body & collision repair shop…we advocate for YOU in dealing with insurance companies & claims…whether we repair a minor collision from your daily work commute, or a total auto restoration of your treasured exotic sports car.

Please know that you, as a California driver, have a RIGHT TO CHOOSE whichever auto body repair facility you desire when making a claim through your insurance company, unless it specifies otherwise.