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Sam Abuelsamid

Photos from the 2018 MAMA Spring Rally

Every May, the Midwest Automotive Media Association (MAMA) hosts a huge drive program for members at Road America in Elkhart Lake, Wisc. This year numerous automakers brought out nearly 90 cars to drive on the track and street. Here are a few of them  

Mazda’s Engine of the Future is Here in 2019 – SkyActiv-X Preview

There is no shortage of people around the world today who seem pretty certain that the days of the internal combustion engine (ICE) as the primary form of propulsion for transportation are effectively over. Mazda North America senior vice president Robert Davis and his colleagues are not among that group. In fact, Mazda staff seem to be pretty certain that humans driving ICE-powered vehicles will be around for some time to come. They even have a brand new engine that they are showing off as evidence, the SkyActiv-X with spark-controlled compression ignition (SPCCI). Read the rest of the article on Forbes

New Mercedes Raises Question: What’s The Right Amount Of Driving Automation Now?

Technological innovation is nothing new to the brand with the three-pointed star. Ever since Karl Benz drove his Patent Motorwagen for the first time more than 130 years ago, Mercedes-Benz has been a technological pioneer. Along with pioneering engine technologies like diesel and direct injection, active safety has been at the heart of the brand. From the debut of the first electronic anti-lock brakes in 1978, the Mercedes-Benz S-class has consistently been the launch platform for these technologies and the 2018 edition takes another step closer to automated driving. After a week in the refreshed S560, I have to ask, is this a step in the right direction? Read the rest of the article over at Forbes.com

Toyota Prius Prime Gets The Plug-in Hybrid Right, Now About That Design

Ok, let’s immediately deal with the elephant in the room. The Toyota Prius Prime is not an attractive vehicle. In fact, to my eyes, it’s quite homely. Now that we have that out of the way, I’ll leave the aesthetic judgements to your own tastes and move on to how Toyota’s sophomore effort at a plug-in version of its icon works. While the first-generation Prius PHV was a bit of a swing and a miss, the functionality this time is in most respects a home run. Read the rest of the review at Sam’s Thoughts

2017 Hyundai Elantra Sport

Dan recently reviewed the Hyundai Elantra Sport sedan with a six-speed manual gearbox for Forbes and after same drove the same car with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, they updated their discussion on episode 39 of the podcast. [portfolio_slideshow]  

2017 Ford F-150 Raptor

In episode 39 of the show, Dan and Sam discuss driving the second-generation Ford F-150 Raptor. Despite its visual presence and powerful engine, Sam was less enamored than Dan with the Ford GT for the off-road set. [portfolio_slideshow]