Autoblog Video Brunch: Week of 5.18.15

Autoblog Video Brunch: Week of 5.18.152016 Chevrolet Camaro Prototype DriveSenior editor Greg Migliore test drives the 2016 Chevy Camaro prototype hours after the sports car was revealed on Belle Isle in Detroit.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Chevy Camaro Prototype Drive | Autoblog Short CutsSenior editor Greg Migliore shows off the 2016 Chevy Camaro prototype at the first drive of the iconic sports car.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Chevrolet Camaro Interior | Autoblog Short CutsSenior editor Greg Migliore shows off the interior of the 2016 Chevy Camaro.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Chevy Camaro Reveal | Autoblog Short CutsSenior editor Greg Migliore takes you to the reveal of the 2016 Chevy Camaro on Belle Isle in Detroit.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Chevrolet Camaro Mark Reuss Interview | Autoblog Short CutsSenior editor Greg Migliore catches up with General Motors product chief Mark Reuss at the reveal of the 2016 Chevy Camaro.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Autoblog Meetup | Cars & ConeysAutoblog invited Detroit-area Miata fans and owners to meet at Athens Coney Island on Woodward Ave for a sneak peak of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Driving impressions of the next-gen Miata were still under embargo, so Autoblog turned the cameras on our guests to hear what they had to say about the all new MX-5.Video Credit: AOL OnMazda Miata Autoblog Meetup Extras | Cars & ConeysAutoblog invited Detroit-area Miata fans to meet at Athens Coney Island on Woodward Ave for a sneak peak of the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Owners were proud to show off their rides and explain why they love the Miata. Check out these extras from Autoblog’s Miata meetup!Video Credit: AOL On2016 Jaguar F-Type S CoupeSenior Editor Seyth Miersma pilots the 2016 Jaguar F-Type S with a manual transmission through some great driving roads outside of New York.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Toyota Yaris | Daily DriverAutoblogGreen editor Sebastian Blanco get behind the wheel of a 2015 Toyota Yaris. At least it's a manual.Video Credit: AOL OnCleanMPG Northwest Rally | Los Angeles, CA | Car Club USACar Club USA heads to LA for the CleanMPG Northwest Rally. CleanMPG is a group of like-minded hypermiling enthusiasts, founded by Wayne Gerdes, who has challenged Guinness World Record holder Bob Winger and Mike Sefton, "the most fuel efficient driver in all of Canada," to an adventure drive from LA to Bend, OR on one tank of fuel. For the trip, Wayne drives a Volkswagen Golf Sportwagen TDI, Mike taps the Audi A3 TDI, and Bob attempts the trek in a Honda Accord Hybrid. Can they make it?Video Credit: AOL On2015 BMW M4 Convertible wind deflector | Autoblog Short CutsA quick look at the very effective wind deflector in the 2015 BMW M4 Convertible.Video Credit: AOL On2015 BMW M4 Convertible neck warmer | Autoblog Short CutsWe test the climate control neck warmer on the BMW M4 convertible.Video Credit: AOL On2015 BMW M4 Convertible top goes up | Autoblog Short CutsWe show you the top being erected on the 2015 BMW M4 Convertible.Video Credit: AOL On2015 BMW M4 Convertible top goes down automatically | Autoblog Short CutsWatch the retractible hardtop go down remotely, on the BMW M4.Video Credit: AOL On2015 BMW M4 Convertible has a small trunk | Autoblog Short CutsWith the top down, trunk space is at a premium in the 2015 BMW M4 Convertible.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Nissan GT-R Interior | Autoblog Short CutsGreg Migliore shows off the cabin inside the 2016 Nissan GT-R.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Honda Pilot Sirius XM | Autoblog Short CutsAssociate Editor Brandon Turkus shows off a pair of innovative new features on the SiriusXM satellite radio system in the 2016 Honda Pilot.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Honda Pilot Collision Mitigation Braking System | Autoblog Short CutsAssociate Editor Brandon Turkus tests the collision mitigation braking system on the 2016 Honda Pilot Elite.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Ford Explorer Self Parking | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski tests the self-parking capabilities of the 2016 Ford Explorer.Video Credit: AOL OnMore PhotosHottest Cars and Trucks in AmericaMost Popular Cars By StateOur Picks For The Best $5,000 Used CarsCars That Depreciate FastestHistory's 10 Best Selling Cars Of All TimeWard's 10 Best Engines of 2015Greg Migliore

We drove some impressive machines this week at Autoblog, clicking off miles in everything from a 2016 Chevy Camaro prototype to a 2015 BMW M4 convertible. We also drove the family-hauling 2016 Honda Pilot and Ford Explorer SUVs. Plus, there was a new episode of Car Club USA, video of our 2016 Mazda Miata meetup, and plenty of Short Cuts. Now, we know you're busy and might have missed these great flicks, so we're serving them all up in this week's Video Brunch. It's a holiday weekend, so slow down, relax, and have another helping of Autoblog videos.

Here's what we drove this week:2016 Chevy Camaro2015 BMW M4 convertible2016 Ford Explorer2016 Honda Pilot2016 Jaguar F-Type2016 Nissan GT-R2015 Toyota YarisFeatured GalleryAutoblog Video Brunch 5.18.15

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Watch the new Avicii video -- Volvo's XC90 guest stars

It’s not a music video, it’s a film and Volvo hopes to use it to attract younger audiences

You may have heard of the Volvo XC90, but have you ever heard of Avicii? Your answer may say something about your age and demographic. If you haven’t, ask your kids, especially if they’re 18-22.

Avicii is a top electronic dance music (EDM) DJ. Volvo is aware of this and since Avicii is from Sweden, Volvo hired him to participate in a four-minute film introducing both Avicii’s new work and Volvo’s new XC90. The song is a remix/re-recording/re-imagining of a Nina Simone song from 1964 called “Feeling Good,” with the new song featuring Audra May on vocals. The XC90 is a three-row SUV, with the T8 plug-in hybrid version featuring prominently in the film.

“It’s a huge honor to do anything with Volvo,” said the Swedish-born Avicci, also known as Tim Bergling. “That’s about as patriotic as you can get.”

Car News Gallery 2016 Volvo XC90 Excellence

The song is good and the film is good, too -- we saw it last night. If you clicked play above you saw it, too. The song was released two days ago and the film goes live in a commercial in Sweden at 8:50 p.m. Central European Time. After that it goes directly to YouTube.

The collaboration was expensive, but Volvo’s vice president of global marketing Thomas Andersson said that since it’s a global launch as opposed to a number of separate regional launches around the world, it actually costs about 60 percent of what combined regional launches would have. And since Avicii’s hits are measured in hundreds of millions of downloads, it has the potential to be very effective.

But would those with enough money to spend from $50,000 to $60,000 on a big Swedish crossover utility vehicle necessarily listen to EDM?

“The children of our core audience are huge fans,” said Andersson.

Car News $69,095 buys you the new 2016 Volvo XC90 T8 plug-in hybrid SUV

Volvo has priced its range-topping plug-in hybrid XC90 T8 SUV, which is due to go on sale late in 2015. The XC90 T8 in the base Momentum trim will start at $69,095 before any state or federal tax ...

And, just like kids leaning out of the shopping cart seats to try and reach the Chocolate-Frosted Sugar Bombs they saw advertised on Nickelodeon, the kids and young adults who like Avicii’s music might influence their parental units in the purchase of a new crossover SUV. Maybe.

As for Avicii, we asked him if with all his success he has started a car collection yet.

“Yes,” he said immediately. “A Volvo XC90.”

So see? It works!

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Bentley Bentayga interior teased in new video

Bentley Bentayga interior teased in new videoChris Bruce

The Bentley Bentayga is growing ever closer to launch, and we already have a pretty good idea of what the production version looks like. Now, Bentley is giving us a surprisingly detailed tour of the super-luxurious crossover's interior in a new video.

The clip focuses on some of the plush CUV's tech and does so by actually showing it off in the cabin. We get a good view of the center console that includes a gearshift with the Brit brand's emblem on top, two cupholders and a rotary dial to switch between multiple driving modes. There are also some close-up shots of the Bentayga's instrument cluster with large, round dials for the speedometer and tachometer. Between them is a digital display that's teased here for the night vision system and later for the navigation duties. In front of the driver, a head-up display projects the nav and speed info, as well.

For now, this is a pretty good idea of what to expect from the inside of the Bentayga. The crossover will be fully revealed later this year and will go on sale in 2016 with prices for some of them even above the Mulsanne. It'll ride on a platform shared with the latest Audi Q7, but the powertrain lineup will include a W12 at launch. A diesel V8 and plug-in hybrid version will likely join the range later.Related GalleryBentley Bentayga: Almost Naked Spy Shots

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Autoblog Video Brunch: Week of 5.4.15

Autoblog Video Brunch: Week of 5.4.15The List #0691: Drive a LamborghiniThe List's tour of Italy continues as Jessi and Patrick visit Sant’Agata Bolognese, the home of Lamborghini. While a museum and factory tour provide a brief distraction, our hosts are champing at the bit to hop behind the wheel of the 691 horsepower Lamborghini Aventador. Watch as Jessi and Patrick unleash this raging bull on the streets of Italy.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Ford Edge Sport | Daily DriverAutoblog Executive Producer Adam Morath takes a spin in the completely redesigned 2015 Ford Edge. He drives the Sport trim with all-wheel-drive and the new 2.7L Ecoboost V6 engine and comes away impressed with the styling and performance upgrades Ford has made to their Edge crossover.Video Credit: AOL On2015 BMW X6 M | Daily DriverSenior editor Greg Migliore takes a spin in the 2015 BMW X6 M in this Daily Driver. He talks about the twin-turbo V8, cabin layout and interior.Video Credit: AOL On2015 GMC Canyon | Daily DriverSenior Editor Seyth Miersma takes a bare-bones, two-wheel-drive, manual-transmission GMC Canyon for a country drive.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Massaging Seats | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the massaging seats of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Remote Start | Autoblog Short CutsSenior editor Greg Migliore cues up the 707 horses of the 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat with the push of a button.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Head Up Display | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the full-color Head Up Display of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Digital Dash Cluster | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the different modes of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade's digital dash cluster.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Power Third Row | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the power liftgate and power third row of seats in the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Hidden Cubby | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the hidden storage compartment in the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Automatic Steps | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the automatic side steps of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum Console Refrigerator | Autoblog Short CutsAutoblog's Jeremy Korzeniewski demonstrates the center console-mounted refrigerator in the 2015 Cadillac Escalade Platinum.Video Credit: AOL On2015 Honda Accord Sport Six-Speed Manual Transmission | Autoblog Short CutsGreg Migliore outlines the benefits of having a six-speed manual transmission in the 2015 Honda Accord Sport.Video Credit: AOL On2016 Audi A6 Wood Trim | Autoblog Short CutsSenior editor Greg Migliore shows off the wood trim inside the 2016 Audi A6.Video Credit: AOL OnMore PhotosHottest Cars and Trucks in AmericaMost Popular Cars By StateOur Picks For The Best $5,000 Used CarsCars That Depreciate FastestHistory's 10 Best Selling Cars Of All TimeWard's 10 Best Engines of 2015Greg Migliore

We drove a range of things this week, from the BMW X6 M hot-rod crossover to the smooth-riding Audi A6. Naturally, we filmed all of it, but you probably didn't have time to watch all of it. Well, now's the perfect time. Just like the weekend's signature midday meal, Autoblog's Video Brunch returns to fill you up and mellow you out.

There's a new episode of The List, three fresh Daily Drivers, and a batch of Short Cuts. So linger over your laptop with coffee and some tasty Autoblog videos.

Here's a look at what we drove this week:

2016 Audi A62015 Cadillac Escalade Premium2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat2015 Ford Edge Sport2015 Honda Accord Sport
Enjoy your weekend!Featured GalleryAutoblog Video Brunch 5.4.15

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Project CARS Video Game Review [w/video]

Project CARS Video Game Review [w/video]Finally, A Challenger To Forza's CrownImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosImage Credit: Slightly Mad StudiosMore PhotosHottest Cars and Trucks in AmericaMost Popular Cars By StateOur Picks For The Best $5,000 Used CarsCars That Depreciate FastestHistory's 10 Best Selling Cars Of All TimeWard's 10 Best Engines of 2015Brandon Turkus

I've never been a fan of playing racing games with a steering wheel. It's not that I don't understand the point – it's absolutely superior – it's that I just don't take my games seriously enough to warrant the expense of a decent wheel. A controller, especially today's Xbox One controller, is convenient and comfortable, and still allows me to have plenty of fun while racing.

Project CARS is the first game I've ever played where I thought, "Ya know, a Playseat with a Thrustmaster TX probably isn't a bad idea." There are many reasons this $59.99 Xbox One game begets an $800 investment for a quality wheel/pedal/seat setup, and the most important one is this: it is very, very good. In fact, it's the only next-generation title that comes even close to unseating today's king of the segment, the Forza Motorsport series.

Where Forza walks a fine line between arcade-game access and simulation-level challenge, Project CARS leans far more to towards the latter. The physics feel accurate in most cases, with cars exhibiting believable behaviors across the game's tracks. Pitch a car into a turn and you can feel the suspension load up and the body roll through. Bang a curb and the wheel reacts appropriately. Tire degradation feels natural and progressive, and when the rain starts to fall, grip levels respond accordingly. It's all as we'd expect aside from a few strange cases.



For example, almost all of the game's road cars feel ponderous and heavy, regardless of their provenance. It seems like Slightly Mad Studios, the folks behind PC, went a bit too far demonstrating the differences between a set of road tires and suspension tuning and their racing counterparts. Senior Editor Seyth Miersma, who also spent some time with the game, pointed out some wonky weight transfer characteristics, saying, "Why does my vintage Ford Escort occasionally exhibit weight transfer like the engine is behind the driver?"

The physics are easily overshadowed by what both Miersma and I agree is easily the best sounding racing game to ever grace a console. The cars sound absolutely spectacular. Developers dialed back the all-consuming tire screeching of other games and instead focused on delivering deep, visceral engine and exhaust notes. The result is a more believable and realistic auditory experience. Default in-race music? None. Refreshing.

Select the in-car view and you're treated to the whine of straight-cut gears and bumps that are accompanied by realistic suspension noises. Outside, the notes are scarcely any different than what you'd hear watching the American Le Mans Series. Some cars are even louder than others. I actually had to turn down the TV after switching from my 104-horsepower Ginetta G40 Junior and into an Aston Martin Vantage GT3.



And the physics and sound aren't even the' headliners. This game is all about depth. The track roster – 29 locations with 73 track variants – absolutely shames Forza's lamentable lineup. It's almost exclusively real-world locales, too, with the lone standouts being the Sakitto and Azure Circuits, variants of the real-world Suzuka Circuit and Monaco Formula One track. There are also an pair of highway circuits meant to mimic the roads of California's iconic Pacific Coast Highway and the streets leading into Monaco, both of which harken back to Forza's Fujimi Kaido sprint course.

PC is also home to one of the most robust and interesting weather systems we've ever experienced on a racing title. Head into Practice mode and switch over to the event setup and the Conditions menu, and you're treated to a sort of God mode. You can add up to four slots of pre-programed weather, ranging from sunshine, to four different cloud settings (light, medium, heavy, and overcast), four different rain settings (light rain, rain, heavy rain, and thunderstorm), four different fog settings, two of which include rain, and a hazy setting. There's also a Random setting, if you really want to put yourself at the mercy of the meteorological gods.

Career mode is a rather rudimentary offering. Gamers pick a discipline, ranging from the basics of shifter karts and low-powered GT cars to a Formula 1-like Formula A series, LMP1, and even a multi-class Le Mans-style endurance championship. Races take the form of weekends, with one or more Practice, Qualifying, or Race sessions, although there isn't much to it beyond that.



That's no bad thing, though, because the racing is engrossing. The AI, particularly at its more challenging difficulty levels, is cunning, fast, and aggressive. Computer-controlled players are a little bit too willing to trade paint through the turns, which can be annoying, but otherwise they feel almost like competing against a real human. The AI makes mistakes, they run wide, they dice, dance, and jockey for position with each other, and they can outbreak and execute absolutely beautiful overtake maneuvers.

Befitting of its simulation-like character, Project CARS delivers a broad, involving tuning system. While Forza and Gran Turismo allow you to adjust tire pressures, camber angles, ride height, sway bars and dampers, PC lets you make tweaks at all four corners rather than at the two axles. It goes beyond even that level of detail, though. Gamers can adjust brake ducting and the radiator openings to balance cooling demands with aerodynamics. Even steering ratios are adjustable.

The downside is a lack of customizability. You can't upgrade mechanical components and there's no in-game design tool. In fact, there's no economy to speak of. Just like in the real world, your team will supply the car for you. The upside, though, is that you have access to every car in the game from the first time you start it up.

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That'd be dandy if it weren't for the tiny vehicle roster. At just 65 vehicles, four of which are fictional, the pickings are rather slim. For example, there are no Chevrolet Corvettes, racing or otherwise. Ferrari is completely absent as well, as is Jaguar (aside from a single LMP2 prototype). Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are all represented, but the only German DTM car hails from 1991.

The car list will grow, however, so the disappointment might wain as time goes on. The company already offers eight downloadable vehicles, and will dole out the W Motors Lykann Hypersport as a free download. Vehicles will be added on monthly basis, with developers Slightly Mad Studios promising they'll be offered at no cost to gamers.

The other reason I'm shopping for gaming wheels after my time with Project CARS is, well, because the game is hard as hell with a controller. Most console-based racers are compatible with a gaming wheel, but we've never experienced one whose default settings almost demand one. Slightly Mad has developed an advanced force-feedback customization system that forces controller users to dig through the slightly convoluted menus to make gameplay feel smooth. And no, you can't turn off force-feedback entirely, unless you're willing to play without controller vibrations. Fiddle about enough, though, and you'll get steering that feels more or less like Forza.



While Project CARS has me seriously considering a racing rig, there are a few things about it giving me pause. First, it simply isn't as pretty as either of the latest Forza games. The cars lack depth, and don't look as natural in direct light. Their cabins are without the subtle texturing we've come to expect from Turn 10's blockbuster, as well. That said, certain effects really work, like the way the area around the exhaust lights up as the cars spit flames. The scenery is mostly gorgeous, and the weather rendering is top notch, although the solar effects – flaring and what not – are overdone on the highest of their four settings. Truth be told, if you want the staggering good looks that Slightly Mad Studios was showing off while Project CARS was under development (and which are featured in the above gallery), you better plan on shelling out some money for a proper gaming PC.

During our time with it, Project CARS exhibited a number of glitches and issues, as well. The most infuriating, by far, were the game's frame-rate issues. We'd expect this while running a sub-par PC, but on a console? It was most notable when running races at dusk and dawn, and was particularly egregious on our first Career outing in the 125cc Kart class. It was so bad that we abandoned the championship and switched disciplines. And as good as the sound is, it came with its own issues. Sessions would occasionally load with no sound at all, while we routinely found situations where it was like the soundcard was overtaxed, leading to a jumbled mush of noise that sounds like a bad effect from The Matrix. Still, these are small, and most importantly, patchable, problems in an otherwise excellent racing title.

Project CARS is the best racing title to hit the console world since Forza Horizon 2 was released last year. By tossing that series' formula out the window, PC focuses on one, and only one thing: racing. If you're willing to get behind that single-mindedness, you'll certainly want to head to your local game store when Project CARS hits shelves tomorrow. And if you see some guy dropping $800 on a wheel, pedals, and seat, that'll probably be me. Be sure to say hello.Featured GalleryProject CARS

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