Porsche Just Revealed the Macan Turbo Is Going Through Major Changes

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Porsche’s long-awaited reveal of a Macan update has been made, and it’s a mixed bag. First, the Macan Turbo will be dropped from the 2023 lineup. Instead, the Macan GTS is getting a major facelift, new interior features, an upgrade in power, and rugged new technology to fill the gap.

The 2021 Porsche Macan Turbo

Porsche Macan Turbo on stage during the Porsche Macan Turbo badge | Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg via Getty Images

The 2021 Porsche Macan Turbo luxury SUV starts at $53,450. It offers a V6 twin-turbo that puts out 348 hp. This beast accelerates from zero to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds. Car and Driver dubbed this acceleration “objectively necessary for an SUV,” and it’s hard to disagree. That doesn’t make it less impressive.

The interior has been criticized for not matching the high-end price tag. The rear seat is tight and doesn’t offer much elbow room. The Macan wasn’t built for cargo. The rear storage space is small. The interior is generally light on places to store and organize gear.

Passengers enjoy a smooth and comfortable ride while drivers are treated to a stable and controlled experience. The Epa estimates that the Macan gets 19 mpg city and 23 mpg highway. This isn’t a vehicle buyers chose for fuel economy, but the mileage is better than other Porsche SUVs such as the Urus.

The Turbo is dropped to make room for a more powerful GTS

A blue Porsche Macan Turbo SUV on display
Porsche Macan turbo | VCG/VCG via Getty Images

Rumors of a surprise Macan update have been circulating, and Porsche has not failed to deliver. The automaker has announced it will be dropping the Macan Turbo and releasing a complete redesign for the GTS model. This is only the second redesign the GTS has received since its debut in 2014.

The update will see the GTS powered by the Turbo’s 2.9-liter V-6—rated for 434 horses and 406 lb-ft. In addition, Porsche hinted at some changes under the hood. For example, an optional sport package will offer torque vectoring.

The 2022 Macan GTS will feature an all-new air suspension. It will allow the SUV to be raised by 0.4 inches in sport mode. This mode makes the front springs 10% firmer and the rear 15% firmer. In addition, an upgraded ECU delivers 33.4 psi of boost pressure.

Dramatic new styling gives the GTS

An interior shot of the steering wheel and dashboard of a Porsche Macan
Porsche Macan interior | Sjoerd van der Wal via Getty Images

The Macan is also slated for significant updates to exterior styling and interior features. This significant redesign will give the GTS a more aggressive, sportier look. The front grille got a darker make-over. Front air intakes were redesigned, and the bumper looks new as well.

Inside the Macan, GTS has a new digital instrument cluster. In addition, a 10.9-inch infotainment system replaces the 7.0-inch version in the current GTS model. Unfortunately, the newly redesigned GTS will see a hike in price, starting at $72,100, and will debut in late July.

Dropping the Turbo option from the 2023 Macan lineup is an interesting move, and the GTS is certainly due for a redesign. Will a newly refreshed GTS replace the Macan Turbo, or will buyers miss the lower-priced option? With the popularity of off-road adventure, the sportier new GTS may prove to be the perfect summer release.

RELATED: How Reliable Is the Porsche Macan?

The post Porsche Just Revealed the Macan Turbo Is Going Through Major Changes appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Why Are so Many Taxi Cabs Yellow?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

With the rising popularity of Uber and Lyft over the past few years, the thought of taking a taxi cab is almost obsolete. But taxis are still prevalent in major cities all over the world as some people needing a quick ride may have better access to a taxi than a ride-share car. After all, most taxis are easy to spot as their yellow color is far more detectable than someone else’s silver Toyota Corolla. But have you ever wondered why many taxi cabs are yellow in the first place?

Visibility has something to do taxis being yellow

You may have noticed that many taxi cabs all over the world are painted different colors. Some of them are black, blue, white, or even green. But why are the majority of them yellow? You would think that it mainly has to do with one company making them that way – Yellow Cab – however, there’s one important reason that many taxis are the color of the sun.

According to Science Insider, who produced the video above, researchers tracked over 16,000 different taxis over the course of three months. What they found out was yellow cabs are 5% less likely to be rear-ended during the daytime and 19% less likely at night. That’s not the only reason taxi cabs are yellow. Let’s take a quick look at the past see how the yellow cab began.

Yellow taxi cab history

Taxis pass the Margaritaville Resort Times Square during the opening in New York. | Photographer: Amir Hamja/Bloomberg

In 1908, an inventor and manufacturer named Albert Rockwell opened a taxi company and painted all of its cars yellow and not because that color is more visible. According to Alexandria Yellow Cab, Rockwell painted his taxis yellow because it was his wife’s favorite color. It just so happened that this fleet of yellow cars was more visible in the streets of New York. This also led Rockwell to name his business the “Yellow Taxi Cab Company” in 1915.

Around that same time, in 1915, a car salesman named John Hertz in Chicago started his own cab company based on a surplus of traded-in cars. In order to make his fleet stand out, Hertz turned to a scientific study done at the University of Chicago.

The study revealed that yellow paint with a touch of red stood out the most to the human eye at a distance. Upon learning this, Hertz had all of his taxi painted yellow and established “Hertz’s Chicago Yellow Cab Company.” He later established the better-known Hertz Corporation in 1953 and used the same yellow for the logo.

Eventually, many taxi companies in New York began painting their cars yellow, which led to an official ruling in 1967 that all New York cabs must be painted the same yellow color. Most specifically, “Dupont M6284 or equivalent,” reports The UI Junkie.

Green is actually more visible than yellow

While painting taxi cabs yellow is great for visibility, as the research showed, the interesting part is that it’s not the most visible color. According to the Aiken Standard, newer studies have shown that green is the most visible color to the human eye, but only during the daytime.

At night, the color green can blend in with green surroundings (like trees) and other cars, so it’s not the most optimal color for cabs. Instead, yellow still reigns supreme. So the next time you take an Uber or Lyft, if the car you get into happens to be yellow, you can tell the driver this newfound information about their old-school competition.

RELATED: Here’s New York’s Taxi of Tomorrow: The Nissan NV200

The post Why Are so Many Taxi Cabs Yellow? appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Elvis Presley’s 1976 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Is One of the Most Expensive Motorcycles in the World

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Obviously, there is no need to explain why anything connected to Elvis Presley would be highly coveted. However, a Harley-Davidson that The King rode is clearly one of the coolest objects in the Universe. This 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide sold for nearly $1 million in 2019, making it one of the most expensive motorcycles in the world. 

Elvis Presley’s 1976 Harley Davidson FLH | Pioneer Auto Museum

Elvis Presley had questionable taste, but not with motorcycles

Elvis Presley wasn’t known to be very subtle. In fact, his gaudy taste has become as much of a part of his legacy as anything he ever did with his music career. However, his car and motorcycle taste might have been a touch kingly from time to time, but overall there were some killer choices in the King’s garage. 

Elvis Presley’s Harley-Davidson Electra Glide was the last motorcycle the King ever bought. After over thirty years since his Harley rolled out of the factory, it only accrued 126 miles. That alone would make this a mighty collectible bike, not to mention that it was owned and customized by Elvis Presley. 

How much did Elvis Presley’s Harley-Davidson FLH sell for? 

Elvis Presely sitting on a different Harley
Elvis Presley on another Harley-Davidson | Getty images

According to New Atlas, Elvis Presley’s Harley-Davidson Electra Glide was set to be the most expensive motorcycle in the world, with an estimated value of $1,750,000 and $2,000,000. However, it didn’t end up selling for even half of the high-end estimate. 

When the King’s Harley went to auction in 2019, the hammer fell with the highest bid of $960,000. Before this bike, a Vincent Black Shadow sold for $929,000. [Technically, an Easy Rider Captain America bike sold in 2014 for over a million dollars, but the history of the bike cast doubt on the bike and may have been sold for less after the fact.]

Other legendary, record-breaking motorcycles

The Harley Fat Boy used in Terminator 2: Judgement Day is one of the most expensive motorcycles in the world
Auction images for the Terminator 2 Harley-Davidson | Profiles in History

New Atlas mentions that the reason King’s FLH was expected to blast the record for the most expensive motorcycle in the world was because some other famous motorcycles had recently sold for big bucks. 

In 2015, Mecum auctioned a 1959 Harley Davidson Panhead Duo-Glide for $385,000 previously owned by Jerry Lewis. While the Great Ball of Fire is one of the most famous rock and roll singers of all time, he still pales compared to Elvis Presley. 

Another iconic bike sold for major money was the Harley-Davidson Fat Boy that Arnold Schwarzenegger famously rode in Terminator 2: Judgement Day. The Fat Boy sold for an eye-watering $512,000. 

The list of famous motorcycles goes on and on with examples like Buddy Holly’s 1958 Ariel Cyclone ($450,000), Marlon Brando’s 1970 Harley-Davidson FLH Electra-Glide ($256,000), and Fonzie’s Triumph Trophy 500 from Happy Days ($179,000). 

What is the most expensive motorcycle in the world? 

This record will continue to move for a long time. The Captain America bike has muddied the waters for now and will continue to do so until the other Captain America sells at auction later this month. Until then, the King can rest easy knowing that the world is still willing to pay more for his 1976 Harley-Davidson FLH 1200 Electra Glide than any other celebrity-owned motorcycle. 

RELATED: Which Used Harleys Are the Most Reliable?

The post Elvis Presley’s 1976 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Is One of the Most Expensive Motorcycles in the World appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by

Lease The 2022 Genesis G70 for Less Than You Think

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Genesis is pretty new on the luxury scene. Chances are, you haven’t heard of the Korean brand yet, and you’d be forgiven for it. The manufacturer has been quietly taking on the established German competition for several years now, and with some success. The GV80 is a fantastic SUV option, and the G80 can step up to challenge the Mercedes-Benz S-Class with relative ease. Now, the brand is once again undercutting the market with an attractive lease offer on its G70 sedan.

The Genesis G70 is a bargain luxury ride

2022 G 70 | Genesis

Though some parts of the G70 are more Kia Stinger GT than G70, the new sedan represents a fantastic value. Motors range from a four-cylinder turbo option up to the Stinger’s same 3.3L V6, available in both rear and all-wheel drive, again, just like the Stinger. You’d be forgiven for thinking that all this part sharing is a bad thing for a luxury car, but it’s really not. The parts sharing is what helps keep the G70 competitive in the market by keeping costs for Hyundai, the brand’s parent company, down.

Of course, the interior is bound to be more upscale. That’s certainly where your money goes in the G70. Touchpoints feel fantastic, and the sound system is at least on par with the fantastic unit found in Lexus sedans today. Inside, the leather inside is certainly a step above other vehicles at this price point, too. The exterior styling is another strength, and the sedan looks more unique than most luxury staples on the road. All in all, not a bad contender if you’re looking for a new lease.

Lease deals are getting cheap

The redesigned rear of the G70
2022 G 70 | Genesis

Now, down to brass tacks. 2021 models are readily available, with 2022 G70s coming soon, per CarsDirect. Even better, leases can be had with no money down. You can’t even do that on a new Volkswagen GTI, a much cheaper car. Prices go up from $409 depending on spec. That number nets you the base 4-banger motor and rear-wheel drive, a tried and true formula for fun.

The lease isn’t the only deal here either. The Korean brand will offer you $1,000 to switch to Genesis if you find yourself owning another car. For the money, it’s hard to see why you wouldn’t. The G70 is a premium offering at a bargain price. It also looks like a much more expensive car than it is.

Should you lease?

The cream-colored interior of the Genesis G70
The G70’s luxury interior | SeongJoon Cho via Getty Images

However, if leasing isn’t your jam, Genesis will happily finance you, at 0% APR for 72 months. Use caution, as taking a loan for that long from the people who made your car certainly creates a conflict of interest in the wellbeing of your loan. That said, leasing is a good option given the hectic used and new car markets now, and it’s also one of the only ways to circumvent this recent economic trend. The G70 is a great way to do this too, as the vehicle certainly punches above its weight.

RELATED: Build Your Own Luxury SUV With Genesis’ GV80 Configurator

The post Lease The 2022 Genesis G70 for Less Than You Think appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

/by