Quick Spin

The McLaren 620R is, for all intents and purposes, a race car. Base on the McLaren 570S GT4 machine, the McLaren 620R takes the bones of a race car without any of the competition regulations. While there are the somewhat particular road-car regulations that McLaren had to deal with on the 620R, there is no balance of performance hindering your performance. Essentially the same bones as the McLaren 570S, it shouldn’t be a surprise that this uses the 3.8-liter twin-turbocharged V8 for power. However, in 620R from this V8 makes 612 horsepower. That power travels to the rear wheels by way of a seven-speed DCT. This combination is good enough to hustle this 3,203-pound supercar to 60 mph from a standing start in 2.8 seconds. Adding to the performance is an aero package that not only looks cool but will actually help you shaving time off your laps by generating real downforce.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Autoweek’s west coast editor Mark Vaughn puts the McLaren 620R through its paces. Vaughn walks you around this road-going McLaren and highlights its interesting interior and exterior features. Vaughn also takes you along for a drive review. Between those segments, Vaughn elaborates on his thoughts when he talks with host Wesley Wren. The pair dive into the McLaren 620R and talk about where it sits in the world of supercars. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes this McLaren 620R so special.

When you think of luxury SUVs, the first that comes to mind is highly likely to be Cadillac’s Escalade, even if cross-town rival Lincoln stepped up its game with the latest Navigator. In response, Cadillac launched its next-generation Escalade with some serious upgrades. The 2021 Escalade puts a stronger focus on fit, finish, and high-quality materials, enough to put it back to the top of the luxe SUV list. The new Escalade also sports some significant shakeups with its powertrain and suspension. New for ’21, the Escalade is available with the 3.0-liter Duramax straight-six diesel under its hood. You can still get the 6.2-liter gas-burning V8, and both are mated to 10-speed automatics. At the rear, the new Escalade is now riding on an independent suspension.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal puts the latest Escalade to the test. He walks you around the new Escalade and assesses its interior’s build quality. He also takes it out on a drive and brings you along for the ride. Between those segments, Raynal talks with host Wesley Wren about the Escalade and elaborates on his thoughts. The pair talk about the Escalade’s improvements and the luxury SUV marketplace. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the new Escalade special.

With sedans and coupes becoming less popular on dealer lots, it’s only a matter of time before every mainstream automaker branches into the new frontier of crossovers. As demand is only rising for high-horsepower, performance-oriented crossovers, it makes sense to see companies like Lamborghini and Porsche throwing their hats in the ring and giving the fans what they want. Well, Aston Martin decided it needed a slice of that pie, too, and launched the aptly named Aston Martin DBX. This 4.0-liter powered Aston Martin might not be as radical as its Vantage stablemate, but it still keeps the beloved Aston Martin aesthetic intact despite its crossover shape. The interior, too, is as luxurious as you’d expect from the folks at Aston.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone puts this Aston Martin family hauler to the test. Carone brings you along while he tests this 542 hp crossover and sees if it lives up to the Aston Martin expectations. Carone gives you his first impressions of climbing into the DBX and then gives you a guided tour of this Aston’s features. He also takes you out for a drive review in the new Aston Martin. Between these segments, Carone talks with host Wesley Wren and elaborates on his thoughts on the DBX. Closing the show, the pair talk about what makes this Aston crossover special.

Something that might have started as a joke in a Dodge meeting has transformed into one of the most interesting series of cars to ever come from the brand. With nothing off the table for potential 6.2-liter supercharged V8 Hellcat treatment, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat was only a matter of time. This ridiculously fun crossover joined the Jeep Grand Cherokee Trackhawk in the greater Chrysler-Jeep family of Hellcat-powered SUVs. With the power of a Dodge Challenger Hellcat, three-rows of seating and an all-wheel-drive system that helps turn that noise into motion, the Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat might be one of the most ridiculous and fun products to ever leave a Dodge factory.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal hops behind the wheel of this 710 hp all-wheel-drive Dodge crossover and brings you along for the ride. He walks you around the Durango Hellcat and shares its main features, inside and out. Raynal also reviews the performance of this high-horsepower crossover. Between those segments, Raynal expands on his thoughts while talking with host Wesley Wren. The pair discuss the dynamics of this Dodge at length. Then they close the show with a quick discussion about what makes this Dodge Durango Hellcat special.

The BMW M3 sits among the pantheon of high-performance enthusiast cars, and while that reputation is well earned, it does come with a hefty expectations whenever a new model rolls along. Thankfully, we can confirm this latest BMW M3 lives up to its nameplate’s promise. This F80-generation M3 uses a turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six-cylinder for power and makes 473 hp in base trim. That number rises to 503 hp with the optional competition package. BMW mates that mill to either a six-speed manual or an eight-speed automatic transmission. The only major drawback for this generation’s M3 is the unique styling of the car’s front.

On this episode of Quick Spin, a person that has wheeled every generation of BMW’s M3 puts the latest example to the test. Mark Vaughn climbs behind the wheel of the F80 M3 and pits it against California’s canyon roads while bringing you along for the ride. He also walks you around the car to highlight its facts and features, before addressing the polarizing styling on the 2021 BMW M3. Between these segments, Vaughn talks with host Wesley Wren and expands on his thoughts. The pair discuss the car’s styling, performance, and legacy. Closing the show, the pair explain what makes this latest generation of M3 special.

The trend towards electrification has not stopped at cars and crossovers. Pickups have become the latest hybridization targets, with manufacturers like Ram, Ford, and General Motors all playing with the idea of electrifying their handy haulers. Ford’s entry takes the hyper-popular F-150 with the 3.5-liter turbocharged V6 and tacks on a hugely useful hybrid system. While this hybrid system is a big benefit to shortening your fuel stops, it’s even more useful as a generator and battery pack for use on the job site. This hybrid also has serious power, with 430 hp and 570 lb-ft of torque coming from the V6 and hybrid system. That impressive torque figure should help you pull a trailer with ease, at least up until the max rating of 12,700 pounds.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Randy Nonnenberg of Bring a Trailer does exactly that. He puts the hybrid Ford F-150 to the test by pulling some vintage iron. He then walks you around the Ford F-150 PowerBoost and explains the features of this new pickup and talks about his experience towing a Lotus Cortina project. Between the segments, Nonnenberg elaborates on his experience with the pickup with host Wesley Wren. The two talk about Nonnenberg’s experience with the truck, his podcast and Bring a Trailer before closing the show with getting to the core of the Ford F-150 PowerBoost.

The Ferrari 812 GTS takes the grand touring bones of the 812 Superfast and opens the cabin to the elements. This retractable hardtop convertible can morph from a closed-up coupe to an open-air cruiser in a matter of seconds with the push of a button. Powering this Ferrari is a 6.5-liter naturally aspirated V12 feeding 789 hp and 530 lb-ft of torque to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. From there, the power travels to the rear wheels, rocketing the car to 62 mph in under three seconds from a standing start—and 124 mph in 8.4 seconds, if the road allows. Not bad for a comfortable grand tourer.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Mark Vaughn slides behind the wheel of the 2021 Ferrari 812 GTS and puts the prancing horse through its paces. He gives you a guided tour of this high-end sports machine and highlights its elaborate styling and features. Vaughn also takes you along while he reviews this Ferrari on the California canyon roads. Between those segments, Vaughn elaborates on his thoughts with host Wesley Wren. Vaughn also talks about the history of front-engine Ferraris and where this 812 GTS fits in the current lineup. Vaughn also compares this grand tourer to the other ultra-luxury GTs you can find today. Closing the show, Vaughn and Wren discuss what makes this Ferrari special.

The Cadillac CT5-V might have disappointed some when it made its debut two years ago. With the V-badge and without a supercharged V8, fans might have thought that wasn’t going to replace the over-the-top CTS-V in their driveway. Well, with the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing finally available, the standard CT5-V starts to shine as a V-Sport replacement. The CT5-V might not have a V8, but it does use a turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 for power that makes 360 hp and 405 lb-ft of torque. That V6 is mated to a ten-speed automatic which feeds either the rear wheels or an all-wheel-drive system. An electronic limited-slip diff at the rear helps manage traction, and the magnetic ride control works to keep the tires on the pavement.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Patrick Carone puts the latest CT5-V through its paces after walking you around the car. Carone lets you ride shotgun while he reviews the car and shares his thoughts and experiences. Between the live review and the walkaround, Carone expands on his thoughts on the CT5-V with host Wesley Wren. The pair also discuss where this CT5-V sits in the market. Closing the show, the pair break down what makes the 2021 CT5-V special.

As electric vehicles become more common, it only follows that automakers would start making them look like normal traditional cars. Volkswagen does exactly that with the ID.4. With traditional crossover styling inside and out, the ID.4 joins a growing group of electric vehicles that don’t broadcast their electric powertrains but simply goes about its business. The VW ID.4 offers drivers 250 miles of range from its 82 kWh battery and 201 hp and 229 lb-ft of torque from its rear-mounted motor. The rear motor, for those wondering, powers the rear wheels.

On this episode of Quick Spin, Wes Raynal climbs behind the wheel of the Volkswagen ID.4 and puts it through its paces. He dives into the Volkswagen’s features while giving you a walk around of the ID.4 before taking you along while he reviews the electric crossover in real-time. He also talks with host Wesley Wren about the new VW and elaborates on his experience. The two discuss the growing footprint of EVs in the US and about the normalization of electric vehicles. Closing the show, the pair discuss what makes the ID.4 special.

The Bugatti Veyron, and its predecessor the EB110, made waves in the car world. Not only was Bugatti back in business, but it was building cars that captured the spirit of the marque: luxurious and brutally fast cars. While the EB110 started Bugatti’s return, the Veyron deserves much of the credit for reinserting the marque into our collective automotive consciousness. After rolling out of Bugatti’s factory for a decade, the Veyron was replaced in 2016 with the Chiron, another wildly powerful luxe coupe that raised the bar yet again. Powered by a 16-cylinder engine equipped with four turbochargers, the Bugatti Chiron makes 1,500 hp. That’s a 300 hp bump over the monster Veyron. Joining the incredible power is a high-tech suspension and a heap of luxury appointments. And while the standard Chiron might be nice enough for your average billionaire, for those looking for something extra, meet the Pur Sport. The Chiron Pur Sport turns a standard Chiron into a more track-friendly machine, with revised gearing, suspension, and styling.

On this episode of Quick Spin, tag along with Mark Vaughn as he puts this $4 million machine through its paces. Vaughn walks you around the Chiron Pur Sport to explain its styling and features, and also takes you along for the ride while he does a live drive review. Between the drive review and the walk around, he talks extensively about the Bugatti with host Wesley Wren. Closing the show, the pair explain what makes the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport special.