Quick Spin

When it comes to automotive opulence, a few choice names come to mind. Fortunately for those that like high riding SUVs, just about every luxury maker is churning out these luxurious ‘utes as quickly as they can make them. The folks at Mercedes-Maybach are not ones to leave their customers wanting and are happy to take the already well-appointed GLS-Class from Mercedes-Benz and make it a rolling living room. Even though you probably won’t hear it, powering this Mercedes-Maybach GLS 600 is the fantastic 4.0-liter turbocharged V8 that feeds 550 hp and 538 lb-ft of torque to the all-wheel-drive system by way of a nine-speed automatic transmission. Your personal driver will use that power to haul you, and a guest, in your reclining rear seats.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Wes Raynal puts the latest Maybach SUV through its paces. Raynal walks you around this 2021 Mercedes-Maybach GLS and shows off its features, looks at the build quality and talks about the styling. Raynal also takes you along for a drive review of this luxury ‘ute. Between those segments, Raynal expands on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. The pair talk about how this Maybach drives, what feels like to experience and what kind of attention it gets from the public. Closing the show, the two breakdown what makes this Maybach special.

The lavish world of luxury vehicles is getting more tech-dense than ever before. To that end, the folks at Mercedes-Benz have pulled out all of the stops when it comes to the latest generation of its S-Class sedan. In S580 trim, the new S-Class moves by way of a turbocharged 4.0-liter V8, mated to a 48-volt mild hybrid system. This not only adds some extra oomph, but also helps smooth out the S580s automatic start/stop system. As you’d expect from the best Mercedes has to offer, the new S-Class is loaded with high-tech accouterments and comfortable, high-end materials throughout the cabin.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Mark Vaughn puts the latest Mercedes-Benz luxe-mobile through its paces. He walks you around the new S580 and points out the design’s highlights and the car’s features before taking you along on a real-time road test. These segments fall in between a conversation with host Wesley Wren where Vaughn expands on his thoughts. The pair discuss the new car’s features, price, and future. Before closing the show, the pair break down what makes the latest addition to the S-Class family special.

For some reason, people don’t think minivans are cool. That means people are flocking to three-row SUVs to handle their family needs, and automakers are happy to build them en masse. Not to miss out on an opportunity to make its customers happy, the folks at Kia rolled out the stylish Telluride concept to the crowd at the Detroit auto show in 2016. The folks at Kia then turned it into a production version for 2020. This 2021 model sports the only available engine: a 3.8-liter naturally-aspirated V6 engine that makes 291 hp. That engine feeds an eight-speed automatic transmission that powers the front or all four wheels depending on the model.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren puts the 2021 Kia Telluride through its paces. Wren walks you around the Telluride and talks about its features, its styling and its details. Wren also brings you along while he does a real-time review of this Kia’s driving performance. Between those segments, Wren talks with Autoweek’s Wes Raynal and expands on his thoughts. The pair discuss the Kia Telluride, where it sits in the market, its price and how it feels. They even solve the age-old question of the Kia Telluride’s ability to haul a couch. Closing the show, the pair breakdown what makes this Kia special.

Let’s face it, Maserati has been in the doldrums for a while. Fortunately for the luxury brand, it has an ace in its sleeve: the MC20. This supercar is looking to put Maserati back on the map, and it seems like it’s going to succeed. With a turbocharged V6 mounted rear midship that sends 621 hp to the rear wheels, this Maserati supercar has the specs to live up to its supercar looks. Controlling that 3.0-liter V6 is an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. While the Maserati has plenty of supercar chops, it also doesn’t skimp on the luxe appointments such as a Sonus Faber stereo and posh materials. That means you won’t have any problems taking this Maserati out to the track in the morning, then taking it out to dinner at night.

In this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone puts this new Maserati through its paces. Carone walks you around the Maserati MC20 and shows off its styling, features, and details. He also shines a light on the MC20’s interesting V6 engine. Carone then takes you and the the MC20 on a quick trip around a race track. Between those segments, he chats with host Wesley Wren about the MC20 and expands on his thoughts from the pre-recorded segments. The pair talk about Maserati’s new car, its position in the marketplace, what it’s like to drive and more. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes this new Maserati special.

The Honda Civic’s 11th generation is finally here, and it’s territory that the Civic hasn’t seen since the SUV craze of the 1990s. Honda’s latest Civic is fighting shrinking attention for compact sedans, and growing trends towards electrification. Fighting those factors, Honda has taken what worked for the exceptional tenth-generation Civic and cranked up the dials. Powering the Civic sedan is the same 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 or a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter four-cylinder as the previous generation. The CVT is also carried over, at least on paper. Wrapping it all is a more mature Honda Civic design with a longer nose, lower beltline and swoopy silhouette.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Host Wesley Wren and Mark Vaughn both put the new Civic to the test and share their thoughts about the new car. Wren takes you along for the first drive of the Civic on rural Michigan roads and walks your around the car to share its features and details. Between segments, the pair discuss the new car, the history of the Civic and talk about how the new car stacks up against its predecessor. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes the new Civic special.

As you’d imagine, Ferrari just keeps making its cars better. Ferrari’s latest supercar, the SF90 Stradale, honors 90 years of Ferrari’s racing works: Scuderia Ferrari. In case you’re still not up to speed, the name is exactly that, the SF90 is literally a celebration of 90 years of Scuderia Ferrari. Ferrari could have just slapped some extra badging on the F8 Tributo and called it a day, but the team responsible for Ferrari’s road cars decided to celebrate the company’s racing pedigree with one of its best road cars to date. Responsible for moving the SF90 is a hybrid drivetrain featuring two motors at the front axle, an electric motor between the engine and transmission and a turbocharged V8 mounted behind the passenger compartment. The combined output? Well, in Italy: 1,000 CV. That number is slightly less impressive when you convert it to SAE horsepower, roughly 986 hp.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn spends an afternoon flogging the 2022 Ferrari SF90 through the hills of Malibu, the location of some of California’s best canyon roads. Before letting you tag along while he reviews the latest Ferrari, he walks you around the car and highlights its styling and its features, then fires up the hybrid powertrain to show you the different sounds that happen during start up. Between these segments, Vaughn expands on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss what this Ferrari is like to drive, how much it costs (hint: a lot) and whether Ferrari will limit its production like the company’s LaFerrari. Closing the show, the Vaughn explains what makes this Ferrari special.

The Lexus LF-LC Concept was one of the most interesting concepts to roll out of the Lexus design studio. Many doubted its continuation into a production variant, at least one not watered down until it was hardly recognizable. But give Lexus credit: Its designers turned the LF-LC into the LC500 with only minor aesthetic changes. This Lexus grand tourer is not the most powerful machine with the 5.0-liter V8 under its long hood sends 471 hp through a 10-speed automatic transmission and to the rear wheels. But the car offers more than its numbers suggest and gives you a visceral experience.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone puts the LC500 Convertible through its paces. Carone walks you around this beauty and highlights its facts and features before taking you along for a live drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Carone chats with host Wesley Wren about this stylish Lexus. Wrapping the show, the pair highlight what makes this Lexus LC500 special.

The world of compact cars and hatchbacks is, ironically, shrinking. The once robust segment is seeing storied nameplates fall to the wayside every new year. Volkswagen added some fuel to that fire with its latest-generation Golf model’s departure from the US Market. When you look at the declining demand for compact cars and hatchbacks in the U.S., it makes sense. Filling the Golf’s void, VW looked saw a perfect place to meet customer demands: small crossovers. The Volkswagen Taos is both a literal and spiritual successor to the Golf’s place in the United States. While literal might be a stretch because of its high-riding seating, the Taos is replacing the Golf’s place in Volkswagen’s Puebla, Mexico factory. Spiritually? It’s following the changing tides of consumer trends. Powering the VW Taos is a 1.5-liter turbocharged I4 making 158 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wesley Wren hops behind the wheel of the latest Volkswagen product and puts it through its paces. Wren takes you through the features of the 2022 Volkswagen Taos while he walks you around the new machine. He also takes you along for the drive review. Between those segments, Wren talks with Patrick Carone and expands on his thoughts. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes the Taos special.

The 2022 Bentley Flying Spur sits atop Bentley’s hierarchy of grand cruisers, meaning it is as posh as it is powerful. Sharing a platform with its two-door Continental GT stablemate, this stretched Bentley has enough space to be hauled around like a luxuriating executive but is fun enough to drive to take the wheel yourself when the time comes. With either a W12 or a V8 under the Flying Spur’s hood, it’s no slouch by any means. Top rung W12 models send 626 hp through the eight-speed transmission and to all four wheels. The V8 makes less power, expectedly, and only sends 542 hp through the same eight-speed transmission. While power is important, it’s not everything about the Flying Spur. Competing with the likes of Maybach and Rolls-Royce, the Bentley Flying Spur’s cabin is nicer than most homes, and is stuffed with leather and other high-end materials.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s Wes Raynal puts Bentley’s Flying Spur through its paces. Raynal walks you around this V8-powered Bentley Flying Spur and shows off its features and details. Raynal also takes you out while he tests the Flying Spur, which gives you a look into a real-time drive review. Expanding on his thoughts, Raynal talks with host Wesley Wren in the studio. The pair discuss this Bentley’s place in the world before breaking it down to the essentials and talking about what makes it special.

Like nearly every other mass-market automaker on the planet, Maserati had to make a crossover to capitalize on the continuing demand for high-riding machines. In regular Maserati fashion, a boring box with wheels wasn’t going to cut it. So, in 2017, the world met Maserati’s Levante: a stylish crossover that helped scratch the itch for SUV-hungry shoppers. As you’d expect with time, the Levante would see performance variants, eventually ending at the Trofeo, which is Italian for trophy. It also means that the Maserati Levante gets some serious upgrades under the hood. Powering the Levante Trofeo is a 3.8-liter Ferrari-based V8 making 580 horsepower. Wrangling that power is an eight-speed automatic transmission and an all-wheel-drive system. That all adds to this Maserati crossover sprinting to 60 mph from a dead stop in only 3.8-seconds, which is as quick as a Ferrari F40.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal puts this Maserati Levante Trofeo through its paces and sees if it lives up to its name. Raynal guides you around this Maserati and highlights some of its most interesting features and gives insight into the crossover’s details. Raynal also brings you along on a live drive review where he asses this Maserati’s performance in real-time. Expanding on those segments, Raynal talks with host Wesley Wren about the Levante, about its position in the market and about what it represents. Closing the show the pair break down the Maserati and talk about what makes it special.