2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Full-Size Luxury SUV with Style!

By Charles Donaldson

For most of us driving in comfort is enough, but sometimes we want to drive in luxury and style. For 2019, Cadillac offers us a choice to fill both the need for coziness, and the desire for indulgence and panache in the shape of the Escalade ESV SUV. The top of the line ESV Platinum has the features of a premium European sedan but with extreme spaciousness!

Pricing and Trims
The 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV is available in four trim levels: Base 2WD ($79,490) and 4WD ($82,490), Luxury 2WD ($85,090) and 4WD ($88,090), Premium Luxury 2WD ($89,490) and 4WD ($92,490), and Platinum 2WD ($98,590) and 4WD ($101,590).

What’s new for 2019?
The 2019 Escalade ESV is mostly a repeat of last year’s model with a few exceptions. Add to the list of features is a hands-free liftgate with Cadillac logo illumination and new exterior colors, including Shadow Metallic and Manhattan Noir Metallic. 


Interior Highpoints
The interior offers comfortable, cushioned seats, that, with a touch of a button begin to massage your back with relaxing bodywork settings. Installed in the instrument panel is the all-new Driver Information Center that measures 8 inches diagonally, with a color touchscreen where embedded navigation and voice recognition are standard.

The system is Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone-projection capable and shared local weather report information. Need a little Wi-Fi? The 2019 Escalade features a 4G LTE Wi-Fi® Hotspot (includes 3GB/three-month data trial). The center arm reset doubles as a wireless device charging station that fits even the extra-large phones. You can also plug into one of the five USB ports. Also, there are the Cadillac Connected Apps and a Teen Driver feature as well.

Sounds which are compliments of a 16-speaker Bose Centerpoint Surround Sound audio system, my car was equipped with 4 rear-video screens as part of the entertainment system with Blu-ray including a 9.0-inch screen for the passengers in the third-row seat. The dash is beautiful with soft leather and suede laid throughout the interior. The inside is crafted and stitched to perfection. Our model also incorporated cooling front-cup-holders and a mini-refrigerator. For me, one of the best features is the 360-degree view when you are parking or backing up allowing for easy parking of such a large vehicle.

Exterior Highlights
The exterior of the 2019 Escalade is bold and beautiful. Sharp, sculptured lines weave the Cadillac design theme throughout the sophisticated profile with a touch of chic. From the rear, the taillights begin above the bumper and make a statement as they continue on the side as they reach out to the top. You can open the full tailgate with the sway of your foot or pop open the glass liftgate with a touch of your remote button. The Escalade rides high on 22-inch wheels on the Platinum trim.  

Performance Specs
The 2019 Cadillac Escalade generates power from a 6.2-liter V8 with 420 horses that spits out 14 mpg city and 23 mpg highway, while being mated to the new 10-speed automatic transmission. The Active Fuel Management shuts off half of the cylinders to conserve the premium gas, which is also standard to help improve fuel economy. The magnetic ride-control technology performs hundreds of road readings each second conveying an amazingly smooth ride.

Cool Features:

·         Automatic parking assist system

·         Extra-large mobile charging pad

·         Multiple USB outlets

·         Wi-Fi hotspot

·         Surround Vision

Safety & Integrity
As you would expect form the Cadillac Escalade, it has a long checklist of safety features for 2019. Starting with air bags: Frontal air bags for driver and front outboard passenger; seat-mounted side-impact for driver and front outboard passenger; driver inboard seat-mounted side-impact; head-curtain for all rows in outboard seating positions; includes front outboard Passenger Sensing System for frontal outboard passenger air bag, Surround Vision is standard on all trims, Rear Camera Mirror on Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum, Driver Awareness Package is standard on Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum. Content includes Safety Alert Seat, Forward Collision Alert, Lane Keep Assist with Lane Departure Warning, Lane Change Alert with Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking and IntelliBeam automatic headlamp control.

In Summary – The 2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV is a work-of-art that is easy on the eyes and heavy on the pocket book. With that said, the Escalade has never been for everyone which is part of what elevates its status and limits its buying pool. It seats 8 and can adjust the seat configuration to carry a sofa! The turning radius is one of the best for such an overgrown rolling beast. You pay a high price for the Escalade, but in return it delivers a world class ride. 

Specifications 

2019 Cadillac Escalade ESV

Base price:	$97,295 as driven: $98,840 (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	6.2-Liter V8
Horsepower:	420 hp @ 5600 RPM
Torque:	460 lb.-ft. @ 4100 RPM
Transmission:	10-speed automatic
Drive:	Two-Wheel Drive
Seating:	8-passenger
Cargo space:	39.1 to 120.9 cubic feet
Curb weight:	5831 pounds
EPA mileage:	City 14/Hwy 23/Comb 17 MPG
Fuel Capacity:	31 gallons
Turning Circle:	43 feet
Wheelbase:	116 inches
Warranty:	4 years/60,000-miles
Also consider:	Ford Expedition Platinum, Infiniti QX80 Limited, Lexus LX 570, Mercedes-Benz GLS 550

2019 Ford Edge

Getting the Edge on the Competition!

By Charles Donaldson

There are many crossovers on the market and the 2019 Ford Edge is about to find more competition with the 2019 Chevrolet Blazer and the Volkswagen Atlas arriving soon. As Ford nears the elimination of most of its “car” lines, their focus has expanded on their SUV/Crossover and Pickup models. The Edge is a large part of their strategy and fits below the Ford Explorer and the Escape, providing two-rows of seats. It debuted in 2006 and was Ford’s first car-based unibody crossover. To date, over 2 million Edge’s have been sold with many more expected as this market continues to expand.

Pricing and Trims
For 2019, Ford Edge is available in four trim levels SE FWD ($29,939) and AWD ($31,864), SEL FWD ($32,598) and AWD ($34,504), Titanium FWD ($38,550) and AWD ($39,716), and ST AWD ($41,446).

What’s new for 2019?
Last redesigned for the 2015 model year, the 2019 Edge receives a refresh that updates the interior and exterior styling adding more standard safety features as well as Ford’s new 8-speed automatic transmission. A new performance-tuned edition, the Edge ST performance model replaces the Sport trim. Also, Edge has a built-in 4G LTE Wi-Fi hotspot that requires a dedicated data plan.

Interior Highpoints
Part of the refresh of the 2019 Ford Edge is the interior. Since it is just a refresh vs. a full design, don’t expect dramatic changes in the cabin. One change - the rotary shift knob, was taken from the Fusion sedan, which allows for a large wireless phone-charging pad. So many cars these days have wireless phone-charging pads that won’t fit the larger smart phones. I had no problem with my phone.

The ST performance trim is equipped with bolstered leather and cloth sport seats. The Titanium models have leather seats with heating and cooling in the front row and there is an option for rear heated seats.  The upper level models come with an 8.0-inch touchscreen and Apple CarPlay/Android Auto compatibility. Amazon Alexa and Waze integration are also available.  The Edge has superior cargo space over its competitors with 39.2 cubic feet that expands to 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded.

Exterior Highlights
The exterior changes are minimal and begin with a wider grille design, a new hood, and new standard LED headlights.  For 2019, four new exterior and three new interior colors have been added. Four new wheel choices including 19-inch aluminum painted wheels on the Titanium. The ST comes in an exclusive “Ford Performance Blue” and has blacked out hexagonal upper and lower grilles compared with the slats on the rest of the Edge trims.

Performance Specs
The 2019 Edge is available in two engines, Ford’s second-generation twin-turbocharged 2.7-liter EcoBoost V-6 is exclusive to the Edge ST. The ST’s new engine generates a powerful 335 horsepower. All other Edges are powered by a turbocharged inline-four 2.0-liter EcoBoost engine with five extra horses bring it to 250. Both engines are mated to the new 8-speed automatic transmission. An auto stop/start system is also standard to help improve fuel economy.

Cool Features:

·         Optional park-assist system

·         Adaptive Cruise Control

·         Multiple USB outlets

·         New Sync Connect adds a Wi-Fi hotspot

Safety Integrity
The 2019 Ford Edge has a long checklist of safety features. Starting with an AdvanceTrac® with RSC® (Roll Stability Control™) and Curve Control, Airbags – Driver’s knee, glovebox-door, integrated knee, front-seat side, and Safety, Canopy® System with side-curtain airbags and rollover sensor. Other features include: Belt-Minder® front safety belt reminder, Brakes – 4-wheel disc with Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), Child-safety rear door locks, Individual Tire Pressure Monitoring, System (TPMS; excludes spare), LATCH – Lower Anchors and Tether Anchors for Children, MyKey®, Personal Safety System™ for driver and front passenger with dual-stage front airbags, and Rear view camera.

In Summary – The 2019 Ford Edge is a beautiful and fun-to-drive crossover. Inside it has plenty of room for passengers and cargo, filled with high-tech features, and comfortable. The performance was confident and powerful, and the handling was a delight. In my opinion it is one of the best-looking crossovers in its class. Go take it out for a test drive and see what YOU think. 

Specifications 

2019 Ford Edge Titanium FWD

Base price:	$38,550 as driven: $44,890 (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	2.0-liter Turbo EcoBoost
Horsepower:	250 hp @ 5500 RPM
Torque:	275 lb.-ft. @ 3000 RPM
Transmission:	8-speed automatic
Drive:	Front-Wheel Drive
Seating:	5-passenger
Cargo space:	39.2 cubic feet
Curb weight:	3,959 pounds
EPA mileage:	City 22/Hwy 29/Comb 25 MPG
Fuel Capacity:	18.4 gallons
Wheelbase:	112.2 inches
Warranty:	3 years/36,000-miles
Also consider:	Chevrolet Blazer, Hyundai Santa Fe, Nissan Murano, and Volkswagen Atlas

2019 Lexus LC 500 Coupe

 Where Style meets Performance!

By Charles Donaldson

So, there are sports cars and then there are Sports Cars. The 2019 Lexus LC 500 coupe falls into the second category. How do I know this? Everyone with whom I have been in conversations with about the vehicle have told me so! My sister-in-law just previewed the San Francisco International Auto Show and on Thanksgiving shared with me that of all the cars she had seen, the only one she would have coveted was the LC 500. She wasn’t the only person who placed the Lexus LC 500 high on their wish list, “People constantly came up to me, and loved the car.”

The 2019 Lexus LC 500 is probably the most recent, exciting car in the Lexus fleet. It isn’t for the faint of heart.  My model was packing 471 horses under the hood and priced with options at $105,345. What’s interesting about the LC is that it makes a statement declaring worth the price with a roar and style confirming it!

Heads turned wherever I drove, eyes grew large and tongues wagged. It is drop-dead gorgeous and an attention grabber! The 5.0-liter V8 rumbles with power hungry to be released. Let me tell you, it was both easy and fun to let the beast out.

Pricing and Trims
For 2019, the Lexus LC 500 is available in two trim levels LC 500 ($93,225) and LC 500h Hybrid ($97,735).

What’s new for 2019?
The 2019, the LC 500 is pretty much unchanged. With that said, Lexus did update the Adaptive Variable Suspension system for a more comfortable ride, altered the programming on the 10-speed transmission to enable smoother shifts, and altered the assist levels in the power steering. Lexus also added a new color – Obsidian. They added, as well, Apple CarPlay compatibility and Amazon Alexa integration, however, decided to hold off on adding Android Auto. 

Interior Highpoints
The interior is plush with standard features including a 12-speaker audio system, SiriusXM ready, leather front 10-way power driver leather seat, NuLuxe rear seats, blue tooth, 10.3-inch LCD TFT multi-information display with mouse-like touch-pad controls, drape-like surface design with ambient illumination of door panels, satin, metallic finish throughout, and aluminum foot pedals. The LC 500 features two USB ports and a 12V socket, Siri® Eyes Free, and SmartAccess keyless entry with push-button start.  An optional ($1,220) Mark Levinson Premium Surround Sound Audio System is available, which sounds amazing. The interior sports a back seat for namesake, but there is zero legroom. The seats are comfortable for short drives but after driving to Carmel and back to the Tri-Valley, my back was a bit sore.

Exterior Highlights
What can I say about the exterior design? It is a work of art! Every swooping angle is crafted with perfection and elegance. The LC 500’s wide hips are masculine and sexy. I wish I could pull that off! The LC sits low and wide and from any approach - looks assertive. The trunk will not hold much cargo, however, manages fine for your day-to-day storage needs. The car is simply gorgeous!

Performance Specs
Let me start by saying the Lexus LC 500 is exciting to drive! Powered by a 471-hp 5.0-liter V8, the LC 500 is much more powerful than its Hybrid brother. The Hybrid, which is going for economy and more nature friendly, generates 295 horses from a 3.5-liter double overhead cam V6 that combines with an electric motor and battery pack to upgrade the status to 354 total horsepower. Now that’s a hybrid! Both power plants are connected to a very smooth 10-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The LC 500 rockets to 60-miles per hour in only 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 168-mph. The fuel economy is what you would expect from a V8 – 16 mpg city and 26 mpg highway. The LC 500 is rear-wheel drive.

Cool Features:

·         The speedometer slides to the right allowing for new info and commands to appear in the dash

·         Rear Pop-up Spoiler

·         Unique Styling

·         Self-revving engine when starting the car

Safety Integrity
The 2019 Lexus LC 500 is well-equipped with safety features including: Automatic Locking Retractor (ALR) and Emergency Locking Retractor (ELR) function for all positions except driver (driver's only equipped with ELR), entry system with lock, two-stage unlock, trunk open and “panic” features, volume-adjustable confirmation tone and rolling code technology, Lexus Enform Service Connect and Safety Connect with Automatic Collision Notification, Stolen Vehicle Location, Emergency Assist Button, and Enhanced Roadside Assistance, vehicle theft-deterrent system.

In Summary – The 2019 Lexus LC 500 is a fabulous “two-seater” with style and grace and a lot of horsepower! It’s a dream to witness, drive and ride in. It’s sporty and sexy at the same time. It turns onlookers’ heads so easily, that if a team of chiropractors should follow you, they would make a million bucks quickly. The LC isn’t for everyone – while you’ll need a lot of cash on hand, it’s not a family car. If you meet the LC’s demographics – go out and have a “joy” ride in the 2019 LC 500 coupe! 

Specifications.

2019 Lexus LC 500 Coupe

Base price:	$92,200 as driven: $105,345 (including destination & optional features)
Engine:	V8, 5.0 Liter DOHC 32-valve
Horsepower:	471 hp @ 7100 RPM
Torque:	398 lb.-ft. @ 4800 RPM
Transmission:	10-speed automatic
Drive:	Rear-Wheel Drive
Seating:	4-passenger
Cargo space:	5.4 cubic feet
Curb weight:	4,280 pounds
EPA mileage:	City 16/Hwy 25/Comb 19 MPG
Fuel Capacity:	21.7 gallons
Turning Circle:	17.7 ft.
Wheelbase:	113 inches
Warranty:	4 years/50,000-miles
Also consider:	Acura NSX, Alfa Romeo 4C, BMW M6, Jaguar F-Type, Porsche 911