The 2022 Subaru Outback Gets Higher Than Ever

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Ground clearance is becoming more important as a greater number of people decide to head off-road. It’s also nice for anyone who is tired of feeling as if they’re sitting on the ground, and automakers like Subaru are increasing the ground clearance on their more popular models. The Subaru Outback is one of these that is seeing a growth spurt, and the Wilderness trim is getting the greatest boost in height of all.

The 2022 Subaru Outback is better than ever

The Subaru Outback has long been a favorite due to the fact that it is both an SUV and a station wagon. Its tough looks are hard to miss, and yet it makes the perfect family vehicle. Now it appears that the 2022 model may just be the best one yet.

According to Subaru, the base model comes equipped with a 2.5-liter DOHC engine that produces 182 hp and 176 lb-ft of torque. It can tow up to 2,700 lbs, which isn’t class-leading by any means, but it’s enough to tow a lightweight camper or boat.

Other features that make the Subaru stand out include AWD, EyeSight Driver Assist, LED headlights, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and raised roof rails with integrated crossbars and tie-down points. 

Things only get better from there. Higher trim levels like the Touring and the Limited XT offer features like a moonroof, leather-trimmed upholstery, a hands-free power rear gate, heated seats, and a rear-vision camera to name just a few. Most of these trim levels come with a ground clearance height of 8.7 inches, which is very respectable, but the Wilderness trim is getting a boost.

The Subaru Outback is growing taller

According to Ground Clearance, Subaru has been slowly raising the height over the years. The second generation Outback, which lasted from 2000 through 2004, started out with a height of 7.3 inches. 

The third generation (2005 through 2009), got quite the boost. The height increased from 7.3 inches across all trim levels to 8.4 inches. Some trims like the XT Limited got a boost to 8.7 inches.

A height of 8.7 inches became the norm for the fourth generation, which lasted from 2010 to 2014. This remains true for the fifth generation, which ended in 2019.

Now in its sixth generation, the 2022 Subaru Outback Wilderness trim is getting another growth spurt. While the other trim levels come with the same 8.7-inch ground clearance that has defined the Outback for three generations, the 2022 Wilderness trim gets 9.5 inches of ground clearance. This isn’t the highest ground clearance on the market, but it’s enough to make off-road enthusiasts give the 2022 Outback Wilderness a serious look. 

Is sitting higher really a good thing?

When looking at ground clearance, and trying to decide what the best height is for you, there are a few things you should take into consideration before deciding to buy. The biggest question is what you’re going to use your vehicle for.

If you’re going off-roading, the height determines just how far off the beaten trail you can go. Blazing over rocks and powering through streams is going to require greater height than just going over steep hills.

Greater ground clearance is also nice for when driving on the highway. Sitting above other vehicles gives you a superior view of the road. It also gives a sense of safety when a much larger vehicle pulls up next to you.

The major reason to avoid greater ground clearance is the increased risk of rollover. The higher a vehicle is from the ground, the easier it is for it to flip in an accident. It’s also a bit of a pain getting in and out if you’re on the shorter side. 

These are all factors to consider when taking a look at the new 2022 Subaru Outback.

RELATED: ‘Clever’ Subaru Outback Scores a Spot in Consumer Reports’ Top 10 of 2021

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The Most Affordable Vintage Lotus Is Still a Super Cool Vintage European Sports Car

by Gabrielle DeSantis

If you tell someone you just bought a vintage Lotus, they might offer their condolences if they know anything about cars. Still, most people will probably be pretty impressed by your vintage European sports car acquisition. However, you don’t have to have a place in Monico to afford the most affordable vintage Lotus. 

1984 Lotus Excel | Collecting Cars

The most affordable vintage Lotus still screams fancy vintage European sports car

Lotus sounds fancy and exotic. The truth is, while they can be pricey, they are not fancy. Lotus makes true driver cars. There is very little included in them that doesn’t directly add to them being better to drive. Although they are often pretty spartan, they still cost more than most people are willing to spend on something that barely has a radio. 

Some vintage Lotus models get pretty pricey on the collectors market. However, if you want a vintage European sports car but don’t want to shell out big money, the Lotus Excel is the most affordable vintage Lotus in the game. 

What is the most affordable vintage Lotus? 

the engine compartment of a 1984 Lotus
912 lotus engine | Collecting Cars

According to Silodrome, the Lotus Excel debuted in 1982 as a sporting grand tourer with perfect 50/50 weight distribution making it handle exactly as a Lotus should. It even has the legendary 912 Lotus engine designed for the race track. This is a super cool budget sports car. 

This model remains cheap for us Americans because this vintage European sports car was never officially imported here. As a result, it remains a fairly obscure model here, meaning it can often fly under that auction radar. 

As noted by Silodrome, the Lotus Excel was largely inspired by the Lotus Eclat, which was based on the earlier Lotus Type 75 Elite. The Lotus Excel took advantage of the fiberglass craze of the period. Lotus wrapped the lightweight material around a steel frame and steel-reinforced backbone to keep this vintage Lotus light while maintaining rigidity. The Lotus Excel’s body was molded into two parts, an upper and lower halves. 

The Lotus Elan, 2+2, and the Lotus Esprit all share similar underpinnings. That is important as these represent some of the most popular vintage Lotus models ever made. Not only was this construction method a proven winner for Lotus, but it was also inexpensive, meaning the price was lower than other aluminum or steel sports cars from this time. 

What do the Lotus Excel and the Toyota Supra Have in common? 

a red Lotus Excel from 1984. These are an obscure vintage European sports car
1984 Lotus Excel | Collecting Cars

During this time, Toyota was a major shareholder in Lotus and came to the British automaker to ask for some help in the handling department for the Toyota Supra. As a result of this partnership, the Lotus Excel also got some cool bits from the Toyota Supra. The Excel got the W58 manual gearbox, driveshafts, rear differential, alloy wheels, and door handles from the A60 Toyota Supra.

The engine wasn’t a Toyota bit, but Lotus had been known to make a cool engine or two. According to Silodrome, the Excel was powered by the 2.2-liter inline-four-cylinder Lotus Type 912 engine.  This is the same engine that was used in the Lotus Esprit and the Eclat. The 912 was one of the final iterations of the Lotus 900 series, which had been in production since 1972. 

This specific Lotus Excel was a killer deal

This 1984 is one of the most affordable vintage Lotus models on the market. It has left its private collection and was just auctioned on Collecting Cars. The blazing red paint paired with the beige interior screams cool, vintage European sports car. It sold for a tantalizing £6,300 ($8,347.80). 

Next time you think about buying a used Nissan Altima or something else practical and cheap, maybe consider buying a vintage Lotus for the same money. (Actually, don’t do that. It will break.) 

RELATED: Amazing Lotus Esprit Barn Find Just Got Bought for $300

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What Not To Do With Your New C8 Corvette

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Look, we love home-built one-off projects. Some of us at MotorBiscuit have some ourselves. We encourage it. But taking a brand new C8 Corvette and doing this to it isn’t what most of us would suggest you do as your next project. 

What is going on here is “different.” But that doesn’t mean it is a good design or even a good idea. And it certainly doesn’t take a new Corvette to achieve your dream, if this is what you would call a dream. 

This C8 Corvette is more of a nightmare than a dream

C8 Corvette project | Drive

Not to be mean but this is more of a nightmare than a dream. Sorry, we are always honest at MotorBiscuit. The builder could have started with an older Corvette, or something like an older  Lotus or Toyota MR2 if mid-engine was mandatory. 

The mid-engine proportions are found in most mid-engine cars. The C8 Corvette is not the only one with them. But when taking into account a redesign, you must first ask yourself if what you’re designing is better than what you’re starting with. If it isn’t, then what’s the point? 

There is shock value in desecrating a brand new Corvette. But is that what redesigning a vehicle is motivated by? 

“People see it as a Corvette and I’m destroying something they consider beautiful

Plaster model of C8 Corvette project
Plaster model of C8 Corvette project | Drive

The owner and “designer” is Jack Wendel. He told the Drive, “The problem is, people see it as a Corvette and I’m destroying something that they consider beautiful. So from that perspective, you know, I kind of understand it. But they’re not seeing the other perspective: I’m building something and I needed a good platform to start with. What better platform is there than the C8 to start with?”

Well, actually, there are a lot of other good platforms if you consider cost, weight, and ability. What we mean by ability is does Jack have the ability to do modifications worthy of the platform part of the project? He has the inspiration that’s for sure.

He recently purchased Terry Cook’s Deco Rides and Delahaye USA. Terry is notorious for taking coachbuilt designs from the 1930s and applying them to more contemporary cars. If you’re wanting to drive and enjoy your Figoni and Falaschi Delage you can’t in 2021. 

A fiberglass recreation with modern conveniences is the best of both worlds

C8 Corvette coachbuilt project | Drive
C8 Corvette coachbuilt project | Drive

But a fiberglass recreation on a modern chassis with modern conveniences is a no-brainer. That was Terry’s thinking behind his two coachbuilding companies. As an aside, he was also editor of Car Craft and then Hot Rod magazines. So he’s not a purist.

And yet, he appreciates the classic coachbuilt cars of the 1930s like the most persnickety connoisseur of car collecting. He just doesn’t need the price, caution, and drama that goes with them. And we’re sure that is how Jack feels too.

But starting with a new Corvette is not how you start a project like this. Personal expression is what America is about and we applaud it as we do Jack’s daring. But, this isn’t what you should do to a new C8 Corvette.

RELATED: The New Corvette C8 May Not Be As Great As It Seems

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Why U.S. News Calls the 2021 Genesis G70 the Best Luxury Small Car

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Luxury small vehicles are only getting more advanced with the advent of new technology. As a result, the market for such vehicles is highly competitive. Genesis Motor LLC, Hyundai’s luxury vehicle division, was founded in 2015. Hyundai has been manufacturing vehicles since the late ’60s. Recently the Korean automaker decided it was time to bring a grander product to market. In 2017 the Genesis G70 was born.

The original Genesis G70

The 2017 Genesis G70 | Seong Joon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The Genesis G70 is Hyundai’s attempt at a luxury small car that can compete with German automakers like BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The original luxury small car was available with a 3.3-liter twin-turbocharged V6, proving that Genesis isn’t messing around when it comes to power. The twin-turbo V6 makes 365 horsepower, qualifying it to be one of the fastest Hyundai models ever.

The 2017 Genesis G70 was conceptualized with more than just speed in mind. Genesis understood that it had to include high-quality materials to compete in the luxury market, and that’s exactly what the Korean automaker did. The cabin was both stylish and spacious but fell short of the competition. The original G70 was a great entry point for Hyundai into the luxury small car market, but much greater things were in store for the company.

The evolution of the G70

A gray 2021 Genesis G70 luxury sedan.
The 2021 Genesis G70 | Genesis

The Genesis G70 returned to the market in 2018 with strong character lines and short overhangs. It offered the same great powertrain options but focused more on the style and aesthetic of the vehicle, aiming to make it more visually appealing. It was available in 10 different exterior colors with multiple interior styling options. The Korean automaker was catching on to the luxury small car game quickly, and the G70 nameplate began to attract more consumer attention.

In 2019 Genesis made improvements by making an electronic parking brake standard. In addition, an electric power trunk was offered, and both all-wheel-drive and rear-wheel-drive became optional for all trims. It also came with a new sport package offering even more comfort and luxury.

2020 was the year that the Genesis G70 really came into its own. According to Kelley Blue Book, the 2020 Genesis 270 ranks as the third-best small luxury car of 2020. It received a consumer rating of 4.9/5. Drivers praise the 2020 Genesis G70 for its amazing tech (standard Android Auto and Apple CarPlay). It also features a wide array of safety features. The 2020 Genesis G70 is one of the best luxury small cars on the market because it is more affordable than competitors and still offers all the glitz and glamor of a luxury sedan.

2021 Genesis G70: The game-changer

A gray 2021 Genesis G70 luxury sedan.
The 2021 Genesis G70 | Genesis

This year, Genesis has finally got the G70 all the way right. After just a few years on the market, the nameplate has become popular and earned some major praise. The 2021 G70 finally achieves the company’s goal of creating a real competitor in the small luxury car space.

The U.S. News and World Report site declares it the best small luxury car on the market. So why has this particular model year of the Genesis G70 claimed the best small luxury car title? It has finally found the balance between performance and comfort.

The 2021 Genesis G70 is powerful, has great handling, and incorporates premium materials into its cabin. It is also incredibly safe. The G70 began its journey as a great-performing vehicle that lacked the superior comfort and styling that luxury vehicles should supply. However, the Korean automaker has gradually improved on the G70 until finally nailing it with the 2021 model. With a starting price of $36,000, The G70 is a great all-around small luxury car and offers exactly what the brand has been striving for since the nameplate’s creation.

RELATED: 1 of the Best Parts of the 2021 Genesis G70 Is That It’s Insanely Cool

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