Rolls-Royce Secret: The Ghost Is 20% BMW 7

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Rolls-Royce has a secret at the heart of some of its bespoke luxury vehicles. For many years after BMW bought the ultra-luxury brand, a platform was shared between the hand-made super luxury cars and some of BMW’s higher-end offerings. Comparing these two platform siblings highlights exactly what makes a Rolls Royce so special.

Rolls-Royce is the first name in bespoke luxury cars

Rolls-Royce Ghost | National Motor Museum/Heritage Images via Getty Image

Each Rolls-Royce is carefully custom ordered to exact specifications. Real metal, wood veneers, and sumptuous leather, and other materials are hand-selected before every build. Buyers can even choose a headliner that resembles the stars in the night sky.

The 2020 Ghost is powered by a 6.6-L V12 that puts out 563hp. The Ghost uses GPS data to inform the satellite-guided gearbox of upcoming road conditions. The massive engine in the Ghost guzzlers gas. The EPA estimates that it gets 12 mpg city and 18 mpg highway.

Acceleration isn’t lacking in this large sedan. It goes from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. A governor caps its top speed at 155 mph. Technology plays a role in the passenger comforts of the Ghost. The rear-seat theater system features two 9.2-inch screens which allow passengers to control the car’s navigation, radio, and more.

What do a handmade luxury car and a BMW 7 have in common?

The answer is at least 20% of their parts, including the BMW, a shared platform. The 80% pure Rolls-Royce costs bout $200,000 for a multitude of reasons. Each Rolls-Royce is custom-built, taking six months from the day of order until delivery. No less than 60 designers, engineers, and builders invest at least 400 hours per build. Highly customized orders can easily take twice as long to complete.

As of 2020 was the last year that a Rolls-Royce Ghost was built on a BMW platform. The luxury sedan also borrowed the BMW’s controversial iDrive touch controller. The unsightly dial seems out of place in the sumptuous interior of a Rolls-Royce.

The Ghost isn’t the only Rolls Royce built on this platform. The Wraith and Dawn shared it as well. The Ghost moved to a Rolls-Royce platform for the 2021 model year. In 2022 The Wraith will move to the in-house platform as well. The luxury builder announced the Dawn will be discontinued in 2022, replaced with another convertible model that has yet to be announced.

The BMW 7 is a far cry from a Rolls-Royce

The BMW 7 series costs less than 1/3 of the price of a Rolls-Royce Ghost. This attainable luxury sedan starts at $87,445. Critics harped on its interior tech for feeling smarmy. Ironically, some of that same tech is found in the car’s opulent counterpart. Unlike a Rolls-Royce, its interior felt cheaper than it should.

Many felt the 7 failed to stand out from competitors in its class. The M760i is powered by a twin-turbo V12, much like the Ghost. It provides a quiet, smooth and comfortable ride. This model-topping option costs a cool $158,695.

BMW included some creature comforts in this pricey model. Heated front and rear seats are available. A 2021 redesign gave the BMW 7 a larger, more stately front grille, new bumpers, and a flatter hood. The new look adds more character, but the car still feels overpriced.

Where the Rolls-Royce Ghost is a rolling work of handmade art, the BMW feels woefully mass-produced. Both cars share a surprising amount of structure and technology but couldn’t be more different. The striking contrast between the two proves the impact that individual design elements have on the overall quality of a car.

RELATED: Even the ‘Baby’ 2021 Rolls-Royce Ghost Is Still a Rolls

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Kia Telluride Roof Tents Are Proof This SUV Is Great for Camping

by Gabrielle DeSantis

What could be better than getting away on a moment’s notice and having all your accommodations with you? Adding a rooftop tent to your Kia Telluride makes that possible. This is a great way to go camping this summer, and a rooftop tent helps make the Kia Telluride a great option to take camping.

Rooftop camping in the 2020 Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride | Raymond Boyd/Getty Images

Automobile tried out a Roofnest Sparrow rooftop tent on top of a Kia Telluride and had a great experience. The Roofnest Sparrow is built from ABS plastic reinforced with hand-laid fiberglass. It comes in either black or white. Its tent box attaches to the roof of the Telluride using a Thule Rapid Podium Foot Pack with a vehicle-specific Fit Kit. The Roofnest attaches to Thule SquareBar Evo 135 crossbars.

Once at the campsite, it only takes a few minutes to expand the tent. You undo the latches on each side of the roof box, and the tent pops up. A collapsible ladder makes it easy to climb up into the tent. There’s space inside for two adults to sleep.

A thick anti-condensation mat inside the tent lets you sleep pretty comfortably. A cargo net overhead makes it possible to hang up a lantern and store items. It has an interior area of 83-inches long by 49-inches wide with a headroom of 40 inches when open. It can be challenging to collapse the tent when you’re done and ready to drive home though. The Rooftop Sparrow costs $2,995, and the extra pieces from Thule add $339.90.

Business Insider tested out the Rooftop Falcon model of tent with a 2020 Kia Telluride. This wedge-shaped tent is less than seven inches tall when it’s closed. It’s also possible to attach awnings or carry bikes, kayaks, or skis. The Rooftop Falcon includes integrated LED lighting. This style sells for $3,495.

Driving with a rooftop camper

Adding a rooftop camper to the 2020 Kia Telluride doesn’t cause any difficulties in driving. And, once the roof box is attached to the Telluride, you can just pack up and head out to the campsite. Automobile said the Roofnest Sparrow was “barely noticeable on top of the car” on any type of road.

The Telluride has a V6 engine, producing 291 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque, so the added tent is no trouble. The Roofnest Sparrow weighs just 130 pounds, so it doesn’t add much weight to the Telluride. It’s difficult to notice the higher center of gravity when driving.

What’s great about the Kia Telluride

The Kia Telluride launched as a new model for 2020 and became a huge hit. It has great value, offering good driving, an attractive cabin, and plenty of luxury features at a reasonable price.

The Kia Telluride also makes it easy to transport all your gear to the campsite. The Automobile tester says, “Kia’s three-row SUV is so spacious we only needed to flip down the back seats to have oodles of room to spare. It was great not having to stress about using my Tetris skills to get everything to fit.”

The Telluride does have more cargo space than many of its competitors. It provides 21 cubic feet behind the third-row seats, which increases to 46 cubic feet with the third row folded down and 87 cubic feet with the second row also folded down, says U.S. News.

While a rooftop tent is far more expensive than a conventional one, it’s easy to pop up (if not take down) and provides a comfortable, elevated way to camp for the night. The Kia Telluride provides the perfect way to travel to the campsite with all of your gear, and then it’s a great platform while you sleep.

RELATED: The Best SUVs for Camping According to KBB

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What Is the Best Year for the Nissan Altima

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The Nissan Altima has been roving our roads since 1993. After nearly three decades, the Altima has sold over 2.5 million units. Although this popular sedan is a proven winner in the economy sedan world, not all year models were created equal. So, what is the best year for the Nissan Altima? 

2021 Nissan Altima | Nissan Motor Corporation

Is the Altima a good car? 

Usually, a model that has been around for this long and sold this many units is all the proof one needs to know that it is, at minimum, a decently-priced, generally reliable car. I doubt you’ll find many people to argue that the Nissan Altima is a very fun or exciting drive. However, they do work well and are generally affordable. 

According to Olive, we are in the sixth generation of the Nissan Altima. From its debut in 1993-1997 was the first generation. The second-generation only lasted from 1998-2001. Gen three was 2002-2006, while the fourth and fifth generations were 2007-2012 and 2013-2017, respectively. The sixth and current generation started in 2018. 

What’s the best year for the Nissan Altima

The folks at Olive go on to say that the fourth generation seems to be the best years for the Nissan Altima. That brings the hunt down to the year range, 2007-2012. 

Typically, the latter half of the generation of a certain model is better because the automakers have worked out the kinks and recalls with the new model. That being said, 2011-2012 nearly tied for the best year for the Nissan Altima. 

Not only are these two years of the fourth generation the most reliable, but they are also super affordable. On average, Nissan Altimas from this year’s range cost around $5,000-$8,500. Obviously, the mileage and condition of the car strongly affects the values. 

How much is the car maintenance cost for a used Nissan Altima

These models are older, which means they will definitely need some maintenance. However, the price of car maintenance averages lower for a used Nissan Altima than many other comparable models from this time period. 

The fourth Generation Nissan Altimas also benefit from the 2010 update that added a standard Smart Key, Bluetooth availability for cell phone connectivity, and a parking camera. The Nissan Altima also introduced a new look in 2010. These updates add to 2011 and 2012’s claims as being the best years for the Nissan Altima. 

All that being said, Olive finally landed on the 2011 as the best year for the Nissan Altima. At the end of the day, the only real difference between the two model years is the price. The 2012 will cost more on average without offering any significant upgrades or performance benefits. 

There is also another good option for getting a good used Altima

A red 2019 Nissan Altima midsize sedan on display at the New York Autoshow on March 29, 2018, in New York
2019 Nissan Altima | Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Although the 2011 Altima is the best year for a used Nissan Altima if the budget supports a newer model, that can also be a strong option. The older used Altimas are great because they are so plentiful and affordable. However, a used Nissan Altima from the beginning of the current generation is also a solid move. 

The 2018 Nissan Altima is also super reliable and decently affordable. Even though these are only three years old and mostly still under warranty, the cost is still manageable.

RELATED: The 2021 Nissan Altima Is Oddly Larger Than the Supposedly Full-Size Maxima

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2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing Extras Push This Sedan Past $100,000

by Gabrielle DeSantis

The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is set to come out late this year. While it performs well in its class, it’s really built to be more of a luxury vehicle. The price tag on this model is a pretty hefty one, but with the available extras, it could send the final price of the vehicle through the roof. 

According to Car and Driver, some of the extras they chose put it over the $100,000 mark. What did they add on to their tester vehicle and how much did these extras cost? What does the Blackwing trim offer without the extras?

How much could you pay for the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing?

The Cadillac CT5 | Ou Jinwei/VCG via Getty Images

The base model of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing starts at $84,990 and gives you a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 motor that produces 668 hp. Paired with it is a six-speed manual gearbox, which you don’t see all that often anymore. Not bad for the high-end price. 

However, Car and Driver editors managed to drive their tester vehicle well over the base price, reaching the $120,000 range. What made it so expensive? All the extras that they added to it weren’t exactly cheap. 

Kicking off the list of additions is a 10-speed automatic transmission, an upgrade from the manual system, which cost them $2,275. The mid-level and high-level interior trim packages together cost them $8,980. They also opted for the carbon fiber packages and carbon-ceramic brakes, which were an additional $14,230. 

The remaining extras added to their tester vehicle were the Dark Emerald Matte paint and the performance data recorder. Both items cost them $5,525. 

What could you get without the extras?

Besides the V8 engine in the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V, there are plenty of standard features that come with the base model. If the editors at Car and Driver didn’t opt for any extras, they still would’ve had a pretty decent vehicle. Without the carbon-ceramic brakes, it would come with the Brembo high-performance ones for both the front and rear of the vehicle. 

For the interior, according to Cadillac’s website, you would get dual-zone automatic climate control, front and rear carpeted floor mats, head-up display, HD Radio, and heated seats for both the driver and the passenger. 

As far as tech features go, you would get the Driver’s Awareness Plus Package, forward collision alert, following distance indicator, front pedestrian braking, lane-change, and blind-zone alert, lane-keeping assist, and lane departure warning. 

The two colors you can choose for the exterior paint are Black Raven and Summit White. Otherwise, there are several colors you can choose from, but they will cost extra. 

How well does the 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing perform?

The beefy supercharged V8 engine coupled with the 10-speed automatic transmission can get an acceleration time of 3.7 seconds for a 0 to 60 mph run. As far as the top speed of this sedan, you can expect it to reach 200 mph. 

If you compare it to the regular Cadillac CT5-V, you’ll find the Blackwing has a much stiffer suspension. It also comes with a front splitter, rear diffuser, and a rear spoiler as well. 

It hasn’t rolled off the production line as of yet, so we don’t really know how well it will perform on the road. We’ll also have to wait and see where it stands as far as fuel economy goes. 

The 2022 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing is a high-performance vehicle that comes at a spendy price. But, if you want to add a few extra luxurious amenities, you could end up paying over $100,000 by the time you’re done checking the extras box. 

RELATED: Debut Today: New 2022 Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V Blackwing

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