by Gabrielle DeSantis

It is not unusual to discover that some car owners opt for the same brand when acquiring a new automobile. The reason, in part, is that people tend to fall in love with the first car brand they buy, and it may take time before deciding to switch to a different one. For that reason, automakers like Nissan research and focus on building vehicles that address the needs and demands of clients, and some of their models go to the extent of winning awards.

Once that is done, car manufacturers introduce new car models to the market, which happen at auto shows in most cases. This year at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show, Nissan debuted the Ariya, the Proto Z, and more in a thrilling ‘A to Z’ collection, allowing car buyers to explore the new models as they learn what sets Nissan apart from the rest.

Recent Nissan’s rebranding efforts

The Nissan ‘A to Z’ lineup at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show | Nissan Motor Corporation

Our lives are as much digital as they are physical. That means that strong brands should have effective touchpoints in both realms. That is part of the reasons why Nissan has undergone recent rebranding efforts, starting with its logo. The company’s outgoing logo is a beacon that serves as the driving excitement that Nissan cars provide, an identity, the first greeting between clients, a business card, and a handshake.

Meanwhile, Nissan’s new logo comes alive while pivoting to the future and remaining in touch with its rich heritage and tradition of innovation. The new logo features the company name at its center, which is the case with the previous one. In turn, that communicates an instantly recognizable brand that evokes memories and milestones of the past while conveying evolution at the same time.

As shown at the Chicago Auto Show, the brand’s EVs will feature an exclusive illuminated version of the new logo lit by 20 LEDs. The number of LEDs corresponds to the period between logo redesigns. It also serves as a visual reminder that Nissan is moving toward an electrified future. The new logo will also be incorporated across multiple mediums, including digital advertising, letterheads, dealership signs, and social media.

Note that one of the four iterations will allow the new logo the flexibility to respond to different communication points. The implication here is that the new logo will “come alive” in particular video and digital applications as it pulsates and shifts against various backgrounds. That, in turn, will allow the logo to reflect today’s ever-changing environment and the adaptability that’s necessary to remain intriguing, exciting, and relevant.

The Nissan Chicago Auto Show ‘A to Z’ event

After almost two years of introducing virtual products, Nissan celebrated the opportunity to showcase its new autos on stage in Chicago. The Nissan Ariya and Proto Z were some of the Nissan models displayed at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show.

The Nissan Ariya is the all-new electric crossover poised to compete with Tesla Model Y, the Mustang Mach E, Kia EV6, and Hyundai Ioniq5. The car is a 4-door crossover, and its projected range will be about 300 miles. Also, the Ariya will be available with a free driving system and offers two battery sizes. Additionally, the Ariya has two powertrains with front-drive models that get a 63-kWh battery and a single 215-horsepower electric motor. On the other hand, all-wheel drive models, dubbed e-4ORCE, get an 87-kWh battery and twin motors rated at 389 horsepower.

The Nissan Ariya is capable of DC fast charging and offers ProPilot 2.0. Also, one can drive hands-free on single-lane highways, thanks to this second-generation semi-automated driving system. As much as that is the case, drivers will still need to be attentive on the road. The reason is that sensors disable the system if a driver is distracted. All in all, as shown by its reception at the Chicago Auto Show, the Ariya seems to be a model worth waiting for.

In the case of the Proto Z, the model is a sign of Nissan’s intent to launch the next generation of its legendary sports cars. The vehicle has styling cues that pay homage to 50 years of Nissan Z heritage, making the Proto Z a thoroughly modern two-seat sports car. The Nissan Proto Z is powered by a twin-turbo V6 engine that drives rear wheels through a six-speed manual gearbox. Inside the cabin, you will realize that Proto Z seeks to blend modern technology with vintage Nissan Z touches seamlessly. Also, hints of Nissan’s past are identifiable in the Proto Z’s instrumentation.

The only difference is that the instrumentation in the Nissan Proto Z bears modern interpretation with a 12.3-inch digital display arranged so that a driver can grasp it at a glance. That includes the redline shift point at the 12 o’clock position. Yellow accents feature throughout the Proto Z’s cabin, and its vintage steering wheel offers quick access to controls. Additionally, the car’s seats feature layered material to create depth, and it also comes with special accent piping.

Other new Nissan models at the Chicago Auto Show

Apart from the Ariya and the Proto Z, Nissan’s ‘A to Z’ collection at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show featured other exciting models, according to Nissan News USA. These included the boldly redesigned 2022 Frontier mid-size pickup, the all-new, rugged 2022 Pathfinder eight-passenger SUV, the new 2021 Kicks compact crossover, the new 2021 Armada full-size SUV, and the all-new 2021 Rogue crossover.

RELATED: The Cars You May’ve Missed at the 2021 Chicago Auto Show

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2021 Toyota Highlander and 2021 Dodge Durango are three-row SUVs in a field of solid SUVs. Still, if you’re looking at both the Highlander and the Durango, you’ll find there’s no contest. The 2021 Highlander’s Consumer Reports ratings are so much higher than the Durango’s that there’s really no contest. 

2021 Toyota Highlander | Toyota

The 2021 Toyota Highlander and 2021 Dodge Durango have similar road-test scores, but the Highlander’s overall score is higher   

The 2021 Toyota Highlander gets an 86 for its road-test score, and the 2021 Dodge Durango gets an 83. Yet the Highlander’s overall score is an 84 to the Durango’s 49. So what’s behind those road test scores?

Consumer Reports gives the 2021 Toyota Highlander a 4/5 for its acceleration. It takes 7.3 seconds to go from 0 to 60. The Durango is only slightly slower, at 8.3 seconds, though it also gets a 4/5.

The transmission in the Durango is slightly better, at a 5/5 to the Highlander’s 4/5. While both the Highlander and Durango get a 3/5 for routine handling, the Durango only gets a 2/5 to the Highlander’s 3/5 for emergency handling. 

The Highlander has all the safety features

The 2021 Toyota Highlander comes standard with everything that Consumer Reports recommends. This includes forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking at city and highway speeds, lane-keeping assistance, and lane departure warning. Consumer Reports also says that pedestrian detection, blind-spot warning, and rear cross-traffic warning are important to have. Other features to look for are anti-lock brakes, traction and stability control, and daytime running lights. Rearview cameras are standard in all new cars. 

Both the IIHS and NHTSA have crash-tested the 2021 Toyota Highlander. The IIHS gives it all good ratings. The NHTSA gives it five stars for everything except for the overall frontal-crash, overall frontal-crash on the driver side as well as passenger side, and the rollover rating for both 2WD and 4WD. Each of these gets four stars. 

The Durango’s standard safety features are disappointingly limited

The 2021 Dodge Durango comes with disappointingly few of the safety features that Consumer Reports recommends. Only rear-view camera, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and stability control are standard in the 2021 Dodge Durango. Everything else is optional, with the exception of pedestrian detection, which isn’t available.

Crash-test ratings in the 2021 Dodge Durango aren’t perfect. While the moderate overlap, side crash and roof crush are good, the front small overlap on the driver side is only marginal. There are currently no front small overlap, passenger side ratings, or rear crash ratings. 

The NHTSA gives the 2021 Dodge Durango four stars for overall crash, overall frontal-crash, and overall frontal-crash on the driver and passenger sides four stars. Everything else gets five stars, except for the rollover ratings. The 2WD rollover rating is four stars, while the 4WD rating is just three stars. 

It’s clear that the decision between the 2021 Toyota Highlander and 2021 Dodge Durango is pretty easy. Although the Durango has a decent road test score, its overall rating and lack of standard safety features don’t help it. Some of its safety ratings also aren’t great. If you’re torn between the Highlander and the Durango, the Highlander is the way to go.

RELATED: The Choice Between the 2021 Dodge Durango and 2021 Kia Telluride Is Clear

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

After years of making very rad but very outdated trucks and SUVs, Toyota is finally making some big changes to its lineup. The 2022 Toyota Tundra will see a massive update to its suspension. The Tundra is foregoing its old tractor suspension and moving into something a bit more progressive. 

Toyota Tundra TRD | Toyota

What’s new for the 2022 Toyota Tundra? 

Anyone who has ever spent any time driving off-road knows that suspension is more important than anything else. Between ground clearance and stability, there is little you can do off-road without these two things.

According to CarScoops, Toyota has released photos of the 2022 Toyota Tundra’s all-new suspension. Toyota is keeping most details pretty close to the vest but teased that it’s “turning over a new leaf” as the truck features a reimagined suspension that will “set a new bar for on- and off-road performance.” 

What will this new Tundra suspension look like? 

a veiw of the 2022 Toyota Tundra's suspension
New rear coils for the Tundra | Toyota

Although Toyota is acting opaque, the cute leaf quote is not overly cryptic. It is clear that the 2022 Toyota Tundra will be ditching the rear leaf springs in exchange for coils to match the front. This will make for a much smoother and more comfortable ride for future pickup truck buyers. 

To add to the excitement, the Tundra TRD Pro is also getting a much gnarlier off-road suspension set up with the help of Fox off-road shocks. The new shocks are accompanied by a serious sway bar and a vibrant TRD-branded skid plate. 

The 2022 Toyota Tundra is getting loads of new stuff

inside view of the 2022 Toyota Tundra sunroof at night
2022 Toyota Tundra sun roof | Toyota

We have been seeing, bit by bit, a truly up-to-date Toyota pickup truck coming together with the 2022 Tundra. But before this, we haven’t seen any really significant updates for Tundra in nearly a decade. Needless to say, this overhaul is beyond necessary. 

Aside from this new suspension news, Toyota has been heavily focused on updating the interior of the new Toyota. Once the new Tundra is introduced later this year, we will see a very different cabin. It will feature a new digital instrument cluster, a widescreen infotainment system, and new switchgear. They’ll be joined by a massive moonroof and a rear window that slides down. 

There are even some new engines coming in and one old one going out

View from the new Tundra's driver seat
Toyota Tundra cockpit | Toyota

There are certainly some Tundra fans who were upset to see the classic 5.7-liter V8 dropped from the line. However, that engine has gone unchanged for over 10 years and is simply out of touch with the times. That said, Toyota officials promise a new smaller base engine option that is even more powerful than the old V8.

The going theory is that the Toyota will likely get something like the Land Cruiser’s twin-turbocharged V6 making 409 hp and 479 lb-ft of torque. Further murmurings suggest that Toyota’s statements about electric vehicles might mean there will be a hybrid version of the new Tundra. 

If Toyota can pull all of this off and finally make its biggest asset feel a little better to buy by offering more value for cost, then the Tundra will be hard to top. Hell, it already was, and it had a 10-year-old V8 and a stark cabin. 

RELATED: The 2022 Toyota Tundra Takes Shot at the 2021 Ford F-150 With This New Feature

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by Gabrielle DeSantis

What makes a car fun to drive? What is a “driver’s car”? Expressions like that are often used in sports cars reviews. Especially when talking about cars like the BMW M3 or the Porsche 911. It is a way for the reviewer to complement the driving experience provided by a particular vehicle. But, what does it actually mean?

Asking someone what a “driver’s car” means to them will more than likely elicit words based on feelings like “visceral” and “confident.” There is nothing wrong with those descriptions in general but, what if someone is looking for more quantifiable answers? 

According to the latest episode of “B2B” by Donut Media, the answers are all about communication. 

Communication is the key in a driver’s car

F1 driver’s hand on steering wheel | Peter Fox/Getty Images

Like many things in life, communication is the crux of what makes a car fun to drive. The episode’s host Jeremiah Burton explains that one of the key elements of a driver’s car is the vehicle’s ability to communicate information to the driver. After all, the act of driving is the driver making inputs and then responding to any feedback received from the car.

Another way to explain is that communication is another way to describe how responsive a car is to the driver. In the Donut Media video, Jeremiah describes a few things that can make a vehicle more responsive to a driver and why they work.

It should have a good driver’s seat

A black recaro racing seat in side of a white race car.
Recaro racing seat | Recaro

When the average buyer thinks about the car’s driver’s seat they are most likely considering how comfortable that seat is. Realistically most drivers spend the majority of their driving time on public roads and in traffic rather than on a race track. How can a driver’s seat improve a car’s communication and responsiveness?

The way a seat holds the driver is more important than most might realize. The reason why racing seats and the seats in sportscars are bolstered is to keep the driver as stable as possible during high-speed driving. This is for safety reasons but beyond that, when the driver is stable they worry less about trying to stabilize themselves and focus more on using their hands and feet to feel feedback through the throttle and steering wheel.

A driver’s car has a rigid chassis

A carbon fiber car chassis on a production line.
Carbon fiber race car chassis | Pau Barrena/AFP/Getty Images

When making an input through the steering wheel, the faster the car responds, the better. Unfortunately, there are factors that can slow down steering response and feedback from a car. One culprit is “body flex.” Body flex is when a vehicle’s chassis literally bends or flexes when it is under load from cornering or acceleration. 

Manufacturers solve body flex problems by increasing a chassis torsional rigidity. This is accomplished by adding extra bracing elements in strategic areas of the chassis to reduce any flexing. Though, care has to be taken not to go overboard because the more braces added the more the overall weight will increase.

It should have good throttle response

A close up view of an Edelbrock throttle body.
Throttle Body for Victor LS | Edelbrock

Nothing will dull the driving experience more than nothing happening when the throttle pedal is pushed. We’re exaggerating but there are certainly vehicles on the market that have delayed throttle response. In today’s landscape of throttle-by-wire design, sometimes we have to wait for the computer to decide when to open the throttle no matter how hard we stomp the pedal.

Delayed response can also happen in early model turbocharged cars. Turbochargers can take time to “spool” up and provide boost. That time is referred to as “turbo lag.” Due to turbo lag, supercharged or naturally aspirated cars generally have better throttle responses.

What makes a vehicle a ‘driver’s car’?

What makes a car fun to drive? The quick answer is “responsiveness.” The more responsive a car is to the driver the more that the driver can engage with the car. As explained in the Donut Media YouTube video, when the car and driver are engaging with each other quickly, then it makes for an overall better experience. 

RELATED: 5 Ways to Make an Underpowered Car More Fun to Drive

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