Beginning with its 2015 fifth-generation re-design, the Subaru Outback hasn’t been thought of as “rugged” as much as it has been presented as a sport-utility wagon, residing somewhere between a wagon and an SUV, with handling akin to a mid-size sedan. That mix of capabilities merges to make Outback a true crossover.

The Outback ends its fifth generation in 2019, as the Sixth-Gen model is due out for 2020 with a full redesign (though a similar body style, with new taillights similar to the ones on the Forester and upcoming Legacy), an updated, modern interior and several powertrain options that provide more torque and power.
 
Going out in style, the 2019 Outback adds EyeSight Driver Assist Technology as standard on all Outback models. The system includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Pre-Collision Braking and Throttle Management, Vehicle Lane Departure Warning, and Lane Keep Assist. 

The 2019 Outback also features interior enhancements for 2019. The 2.5i base model gains an overhead console shower light and dual front center console USB ports. A high-grade instrument panel combination meter with 5.0-inch LCD is now standard for all models. Outback 2.5i Premium, 2.5i Limited and 3.6R Limited models have a standard auto-dimming rear-view compass mirror with Homelink® featuring a thin-frame design. The most capable Outback ever, 2019 sees 73.3 cu. ft. max. cargo room.

Equipped with standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, Active Torque Vectoring, 8.7-in. ground clearance, X-Mode, Hill Descent Control, Hill Holder and roof rails, Outback conquers soft-road outdoors-oriented activities while exhibiting everyday versatility.

Built at Subaru of Indiana Automotive (SIA) in Lafayette, Indiana, Outback’s sleek, clean and aggressive front-end look includes a raked windshield, sculpted lines, and a front fascia that combines the hexagonal grille and bumper into one smooth piece. An aluminum hood reduces weight over the front wheels, which helps enhance steering response. In the Outback 3.6R Limited I tested, the standard HID low-beam headlights give the car a distinctive nighttime signature. 

Outback measures 189.9 inches in length, 66.1 inches in height and 72.4 inches in width on a 108.1-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 8.7 inches and the 3.6R weighs in with a curbweight of 3624 pounds.

Comfortable inside with seating for five, interior sightlines are unimpeded, and roominess abounds with 40.8 inches of front headroom (38.3 with a moonroof) and 38.9 inches for those in row two; 42.9 inches of first-row legroom and 38.1 inches for second-seaters, and shoulder room of 58.1 and 57.3. Cargo volume is 73.3 cu.ft. with seats folded . 

Soft-touch materials, thick cushioning for armrests and the center console, and sporty instrument panel give Outback a premium cabin feel. The panel is highlighted by two binocular-style gauge pods with a center LCD information display -- 3.5-inches on cars without the EyeSight® driver-assist system and 5-inches on EyeSight® vehicles. An ECO gauge indicates and promotes fuel-efficient driving habits using color bars. The Premium and Limited trim levels feature gauges with elegant blue ring illumination.

The Outback line-up offers two engine choices. The 2.5i model utilizes a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine that provides 175 hp and 174 lbs.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating 25/city, 32/highway and 28/combined mpg. And my 3.6R was powered by a 3.6-liter DOHC 6-cylinder, horizontally opposed BOXER engine with sequential multi-port fuel injection with multi-spray injectors and electronic throttle control system. Mated to a Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission), which features paddle-shift control switches, the system is rated at 256 hp and 247 lbs.-ft. of torque for an EPA rating of 20/27/22 mpg. My week of mixed-use testing yielded an average of 22.9mpg.

Acceleration is smooth for the niche, and passing at speed is predictable. From a stop, my test Outback 3.6R polished off a zero-to-60mph dash in a steady 7.3 seconds and completed the quarter-mile in a solid 15.7 seconds.

Not really an off-roader, Outback is soft-off-road capable and generally drove like a sportwagon with better ground clearance. The relatively low roof height for an SUV and stiff body made for good on-road worthiness and yaw and wobble were respectable.

Outback has been a crash safety and passive safety leader for years and that level is reached again for 2019. Outback is equipped with the EyeSight® crash prevention system now receive Lane Keep Assist, which the driver can activate with a steering wheel mounted switch. In addition to EyeSight®, which includes Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Pre-Collision Braking and Lane Departure and Sway Warning, Subaru’s safety engineering uses the brand’s proven Ring-shaped Reinforcement Frame body structure, which has been shown to excel in all crash tests by Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

The base 2019 Outback 2.5i is priced at $26,345 and runs through four trims, topping at the 2.5i Touring at $36,795. The more powerful 3.6R has two trims: the Limited ($34,995) and Touring ($38,995). My test Outback 3.6R Limited started at $33,395. The 3.6R gets the larger engine and the Lineartronic transmission. In Crystal White Pearl paint with a Slate Black Leather interior, my test ride added the Starlink/Multimedia Navigation package with 8.0-inch screen and more for $2150; Splash Guards added $175 and Destination and Delivery charges added $995, for a sticker-as-tested of $38,295.  

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Corvettes at Carlisle is the cornerstone of all things automotive at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds.  The event, launched in 1982 by the late Chip Miller, honors America’s Sportscar each summer by welcoming over 5,000 Corvettes and 60,000+ guests to central Pennsylvania.  For 2019, Carlisle Events and Corvettes at Carlisle were honored by Team Chevrolet to host and spotlight the all-new mid-engine 2020 Corvette, also known as the C8.

The hype surrounding the car is real and now, instead of just looking at a 2020 C8 at a car show or on a showroom floor (if you can find one), you have a chance to WIN ONE!  The Chip Miller Amyloidosis Foundation is excited to announce that one lucky winner WILL drive home in a 2020 Mid-Engine C8 Z51 Corvette on May 1, 2020. 

Entry for the sweepstakes runs August 24, 2019 through May 1, 2020 and while there are many price points for entry into the sweepstakes, packages begin at $25 (3 tickets) and go as high as $2,500 (375 tickets + 150 bonus tickets).  In between the high- and low-end packages, tickets and bonus options span $50 through $1,500, making this a giveaway/sweepstakes priced for all who may want to own an instant classic!

With such anticipation, now is a great time to enter the sweepstakes; after all, the 2020 C8 Corvette is nearly sold out! Simply make a donation to the CMAF for sweepstakes tickets and a chance to win!  The prize isn’t just a Corvette, it’s a machine powered by the all-new 6.2L LT2 V8 engine with 495 hp, 470 lb.-ft. and a top speed of 194 m.p.h.  It also features continuously Variable Valve Timing which will further improve performance.

“We are extremely excited to work with Valley Chevrolet of Wilkes-Barre, PA to offer this all-new 2020 C8 Corvette as a prize for those who support the CMAF,” noted CMAF President Lance Miller.  “The wife of Valley’s owner was recently diagnosed with amyloidosis and that makes this partnership extra special for me and the foundation,” continued Miller.  “Much like the team at Valley Chevrolet, my father was very passionate about all things Corvette.  Unfortunately, amyloidosis took him from us in March of 2004,” added Miller.  “While it was too late for my dad, our goal since the launch of the CMAF is to help those afflicted with the disease and to raise awareness to offer the knowledge and understanding of amyloidosis for earlier detection.  In turn, we hope to ensure a better quality of life for those afflicted with the disease and to help science find a cure.”

The chance to donate and get tickets as well as details on all events supported by the CMAF can be found online at www.ChipMiller.org or via the CMAF Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AmyloidosisAwarenes.

Cadillac’s legacy of building luxury cars goes to 1902, and by the time General Motors purchased the automaker in 1909, it was already heralded as “Standard of the World.” Over more than a century, Cadillac has been arguably America’s premier luxury car maker. So, what happens when you take that luxury and couple it with Corvette-like power in the form of a 6.2-liter Supercharged V8 that thunders out 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque? The answer is: the 2019 CTS-V, a luxury sedan with an uncompromising driving experience.

Built for performance while pampering with elegant lines, a luxurious interior and state-of-the-art tech and safety, the CTS was named for the vehicle it replaced in the 2002 line-up – Catera -- with the all-initial CTS standing for: Catera Touring Sedan. The “V” in CTS-V is speculated to stand for victory, velocity, or Vette-derivative, but no definitive word on that has come from Cadillac. It could all be moot, however, as next year, CTS will begin its next generation (its fourth) renamed CT5.

New for the third-gen 2019 CTS-V are packaging and cosmetic tweaks such as the debut of the CTS-V Pedestal Edition, a limited-edition model painted Bronze Sand Metallic. This model is distinguished by black exterior trim and wheels, a performance data recorder, and Recaro seats covered in black semi-aniline leather with micro-suede inserts in a Light Wheat color. Additionally, two new colors (Velocity Red and Wave Metallic) are introduced to the CTS-V palette, while Phantom Gray Metallic and Vector Blue Metallic are discontinued. And the Champion Edition carbon fiber and luxury packages have been discontinued. 

The CTS-V represents a modified CTS that comes in only one trim, but promotes supercharged power at the center of its being, along with an 8-speed automatic transmission with magnesium paddle shifters Brembo® performance brakes; Magnetic Ride Control; 19-inch forged premium painted alloy wheels paired with 19-inch Michelin® Pilot®Super Sport summer-only, low-profile tires, and premium infotainment system interface.

The single-trim CTS-V offers numerous packages to uptweak its customization possibilities, and comes loaded with a carbon fiber hood, Launch Control enabling full-throttle acceleration from a stop for maximum performance, driver-focused interface, and driver-selectable driving modes for touring, sport, snow and track.

Constructed with a unitized welded steel body, nearly every exterior panel on the CTS-V is specific to its badge, from the fascias and fenders, to the hood, rear spoiler and rocker moldings – and each was designed to support the car’s capability, contributing to lift reduction, enhanced cooling and improved aero management. The lavishly sculpted CTS-V stands bold and artistic at every angle from its wide fenders, big tires and vented hood to its angled rear, raked rear window and prominent spoiler. Weight-saving construction puts CTS-V at 4141 lbs., while measuring 197.6 inches long, 57.2 inches high and 72.2 inches wide on a 114.6-inch wheelbase.

As for the Corvette-like power, CTS-V’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine provides a throaty exhaust note, and the direct-injection fuel delivery system that discloses those 640 horses is EPA rated at 14mpg/city and 21mpg/highway. I drove my test CTS-V without sparing the horses, and managed to hit an average of 15.0mpg. A manual is not offered, but the paddle-shift eight-speed, electronically controlled, automatic overdrive transmission with a torque converter clutch doesn’t miss a beat. I experience minimal supercharger lag, and on the track, we blew away a zero-60mph dash in 3.9 seconds, and conquered a quarter-mile in 12-flat (hand-timed). In Sport mode the suspension tightened up as the gauges changed to black-on-white, but in Track mode, there was less on-rail tightness, and much more extreme driving fun. 

The performance-focused cabin, imbued with leather, microfiber and carbon-fiber accouterments, was filled with high tech, infotainment, a 12.3-inch instrument panel, and plush comfort. With seating capacity for five, interior accommodations are roomy up front and tight in row two with 40.4 inches of front headroom and 37.5 inches in row two. Legroom is 45.7 inches up front and 35.4 inches behind, and shoulder room is 56.9 and 53.3.

CTS-V safety features include dual-stage driver front air bag, driver and front passenger frontal front seat thorax and pelvic, rear thorax protection for outboard seating positions, side-curtain and driver and front passenger knee airbag and an airbag passenger sensing system.

The 2019 Cadillac CTS-V Sedan starts at $87,990. Crystal White Tricoat premium exterior paint is pictured, and would have added $600, but my test ride was in Velocity Red (a standard color), mated to a Jet Black interior with Jet Black accents. The Luxury Package added $2500 for a rear camera mirror, tri-zone climate control, heated rear outboard seating positions, power rear-window sunshade, manual rear side window sunshades and more.

The $600 Advanced Security Package added a shielded theft-deterrent alarm system with dedicated power source; inclination sensor that activates an alarm during unauthorized jacking and/or towing; steering column lock that prevents steering without the appropriate fob or key; locking wheel lugs to help prevent wheel theft and laminated glass rear door windows to help absorb impact without shattering. A Black Chrome V-Series grille added $495; destination charges added $995 and the Gas Guzzler tax added $1300, for a sticker-as-tested of $92,885, but a cash allowance of $3500 may be available in your area, so check with your dealer.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>

Auction season concludes for Carlisle Auctions October 3-4 as America’s Automotive Hometown auction company hosts over a thousand guests, hundreds of bidders and over 500 consignments as part of its Fall Carlisle auction. The auction, powered by Carlisle Auctions popular FREE UNLESS SOLD guarantee (on consignments 25 years or older), runs in conjunction with Fall Carlisle (October 2-6), and takes place on Thursday and Friday (October 3-4) at the spacious Carlisle Expo Center (2 blocks west of the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds).

Annually this auction sees great success for buyers, sellers and the Carlisle Auctions team. This year expects to be no different with two full days filled with investments that accelerate! Carlisle Auctions anticipates 500+ consignments with a trio of star cars destined to steal the show. Via the Gary Gregory collection, buyers and sellers alike will be in awe of these rides, a 1951 Buick Roadmaster, a 1956 Ford F100 Restomod and a 1962 Ford Galaxie Restomod. These stunning pieces of work will be offered with reserve on Friday evening, October 4th, running consecutively starting at approximately 6 p.m.  

Gregory, a collector and long-time friend of Carlisle Events was eager to team up with Carlisle Auctions.  

“I’ve never met finer people than the staff at Carlisle Auctions,” noted Gregory.  “I have done business at Carlisle for years and that trust and their internationally recognized brand is why I’m happy to work with Carlisle Auctions to sell my three Resto Mods.  They’ll give you one on one service and get the job done,” concluded Gregory.

In addition to the three cars from Gregory, many more consignments come Carlisle Auctions way, including memorabilia and collectibles. Preview day for the auction is Wednesday throughout the day and Thursday morning leading up to the 12 p.m. start time.  Bidder registration is ongoing with consignments being taken daily.

With Carlisle Auctions, you never know what you’ll find crossing the block.  Much like its neighboring automotive flea market event, expect the unexpected with Carlisle Auctions.  The full lot of cars contain many hidden gems and are available at affordable price points.  Sales range from four figures to six and include decades of classics, select charity offerings and even themed blocks of cars.  For Fall 2019, the theme is an all ‘60s era hour.  That theme takes center stage on the 4th as well and its 5 p.m. lead-in is THE perfect appetizer for the Gary Gregory cars entrée.  

The fall auction will be here in no time!  Complete details about this auction, including the run list when available, details on committed consignments, a video link for the live stream and more is available online at www.CarlisleAuctions.com or by calling 717-960-6400.  

About Corvette … OK, the C8 (Eighth-generation) Corvette Stingray is due out in 2020, and it is arguably as exciting a vehicle as America has seen … maybe ever. From its mid-engine 495 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque setup to its vanguard sculpting, driver-centric cockpit, luxury and power … 2020 will be an exciting year for Corvette. And the rumor is, it is nearly sold out in presale.

But it is 2019, and if you are looking for a new Corvette now, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 is a supercar with futuristic sculpting, and is the fastest, most powerful production Corvette ever, at 755 hp, and it may even make next year’s C8 owners drool with envy.

I don’t often use the term “supercar”, as the expression is often over-used, misapplied or part of over-hype. But the 2019 Corvette ZR1 certainly enters the discussion for proper use. Supercars are generally thought of as high-end exotic automobiles that are fast, luxurious and handle like race cars, with extraordinarily stylish looks and price tags that are extraordinarily high. One car that certainly fits the definition in all areas but price, is built in Bowling Green, Kentucky -- the 2019 Corvette ZR1 – and is among the final C7 Corvettes to be built.

With a sticker less than one-third that of many supercars, the ZR1 has the horses, is built with exotic lines from exotic materials, and handles like a car destined for the track, but with street-luxury car smoothness for driver and passenger. 

ZR1 wields its Corvette-power record with a new hand-assembled 6.2L LT5 supercharged small-block V8 engine. A Corvette-touted top track speed of 212 mph makes the 2019 ZR1 the fastest production Corvette ever. Now, I didn’t bring my test vehicle to 212mph in my tests, and I didn’t finish off a zero-to-60mph run in the 2.85 seconds Corvette says it will run, but in a test car that wasn’t race-tuned, and on a surface that wasn’t optimal, I did blaze through a zero-to-60 sprint in 3.3 seconds for an 11.4-second quarter-mile, and I achieved a top track speed of 135mpg when I had to slow – there was MUCH more left in her.

More than just a speed car, the 2019 ZR1 advances Corvette’s performance legacy and also provides the most advanced technology in its production history. Offered in 1ZR and 3ZR trims in coupe and convertible body styles, ZR1’s aggressive appearance is driven by function, with a unique front fascia designed to channel air for propulsion-system and drivetrain cooling, including four new radiators bringing the heat-exchanger total to 13. A special carbon-fiber “halo” hood is open in the middle to clear the LT5 engine’s supercharger/intercooler assembly. Additional features, including aero packages with stanchion-mounted wings, help push the ZR1 harder onto the track for more confident handling and faster lap times

Techwise, the Chevrolet Infotainment system comes with an 8-inch-diagonal color touchscreen and includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility with built-in Wi-Fi® Hotspot. The cockpit gets a standard leather-wrapped flat-bottom steering wheel, keyless open and start, standard head-up display, nine-speaker audio system, dual-zone automatic climate control, and such standard safety features as four air bags (including side-impact air bags), Rear Vision Camera, four-wheel disc brakes with four-channel ABS, Active Handling with electronic stability control, safety belt pretensioners and tire pressure monitoring with run-flat tires.

Looking sci-fi-future sharp and aerodynamically refined, the ZR1 measures a carved 179.8 inches long, a wide-body road-hugging 77.4 inches wide, and a stable 48.7 inches high (for the convertible) on a 106.7-inch wheelbase. And weighing only 3618 lbs for the Convertible, it proudly thunders out Corvette from every angle.

Inside, my ZR1 Convertible cockpit was cozy and secure. With the top down, wind-in-your hair excitement embodies Corvette, and with the top closed, the driver and passenger are surrounded by leather, electronics and comfortable seating, with headroom a comfy 38 inches, legroom a vast 43 inches and shoulder and hip room an indulgent 55 and 54 inches.

The 2019 ZR1 exceeds even supercar expectations and improves upon Corvette’s supercharging heritage as its dual-fuel-injection, LT5 6.2L V-8 engine rockets out 755 hp and 715 lb-ft of torque. Fuel figures are what you might expect from a 755hp racecar – 13/city and 19/highway for the manual. My tire-smoking tests and exhilarating highway cruises achieved an average of 13.9mpg

Racetrack low and stable, my ZR1 hugged the pavement during quick-maneuvers, and its short/long arm (SLA) double wishbone suspension with cast aluminum upper and lower control arms, transverse-mounted composite springs and Magnetic Selective Ride Control was at one with the surface; and the 15-inch Brembo Carbon-Ceramic brakes stuck and stopped like no other vehicle I have tested this year.

The 2019 Corvette lineup starts at $56,995 for the Stingray Coupe, $66,995 for the Grand Sport Coupe and $81,995 for the Z01 Coupe. The 2019 Corvette ZR1 starts at $121,995 for the Coupe and $126,485 for the Convertible. I prefer this baby in Black (at no extra cost), but my test ride in sharp Sebring Orange Tintcoat exterior paint added $995 and mated well with the Jet Black perforated Mulan leather seats. The Satin Black hood stinger stripe added $500. Performance packages could add $3000, but my test vehicle was fine as it was. Destination and freight charges added $1095 and the Gas Guzzler tax added $2100 for a price as tested of $130,090.

You can see the car-enthusiast show debut of the 2020 C8 Corvette, the 2019 Corvette ZR1 and more than 5,000 Corvettes that cross the 66-year history of America’s sports car, at the world’s largest Corvette event – 2019 Corvettes at Carlisle, August 22-25 at the Carlisle (PA) Fairgrounds. The event represents all generations of “America’s Classic Sports Car,” and includes burnouts, autocross competition, a huge swap meet and a parade through downtown Carlisle. And there are fun events lined up for the entire family.


<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>