Currently the 7th top-selling vehicle in America – the 3rd best-selling crossover – the 2019 Rogue is also Nissan’s top-selling vehicle. Rogue debuted in 2007 for the 2008 model year as Nissan’s entry-level compact sports-ute, and began its second generation in 2013, earning a solid rep among buyers as it climbed the ranks of top-sellers.

Sporty and versatile, the 2019 Rogue follows extensive enhancements last year by adding tech and cosmetics in each trim level. Expanded technology includes standard Lane Departure Warning, Intelligent Lane Intervention, Automatic Emergency Braking, with Pedestrian Detection and High Beam Assist, across all grade levels; Rear Automatic Braking and a Rear Sonar System have been added as standard on SV and SL grades; an Innovative Rear Door Alert was added to all grade levels -- reminds the driver to check the back seat before exiting the vehicle; the SV trim gets a new Premium Package with 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, ProPILOT Assist and available electronic parking brake; and the S trim gets a new Special Edition Package -- 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, heated exterior mirrors with integrated LED turn signals, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, heated driver's and front passenger seat, and chrome exterior and interior door handles and roof rails.

Offered in three well-equipped grade levels, S, SV and SL -- Rogue eliminated its third row of seating a few years back, but it fits the demand for an upscale compact crossover  with dimensions of 184.5 inches in length; 72.4 inches in width and 66.6 inches in height on a 106.5-inch wheelbase. Minimum ground clearance is 8.4 inches (AWD), and curbweight for the AWD in SL trim is 3614 lbs. Assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee, Rogue’s unibody construction utilizes corrosion-resistant and high-strength steel, with a premium look and feel from its signature “V-Motion” grille and headlights to its LED boomerang signature taillights.

Rogue’s refined interior presents a premium look and feel, and is enhanced with a D-shaped steering wheel and leather-booted sport-mode shifter, available heated steering wheel, memory for driver's seats and mirror, and remote engine start. 

Interior sightlines are impeded by thick rear roof pillars, but Rogue’s cabin is roomy for a smaller SUV with 41.6 inches of front headroom and 38.5 inches in row two. Interior legroom is comfortable in front at 43.0 inches and relatively comfy in row two at 37.9 inches. Shoulder room is 56.6 in front and 55.9 and in the rear.

Rogue continues to offer one standard power source, a transverse 2.5-liter inline-4-cylinder DOHC engine that provides 170 horsepower and 175 lb.-ft. of torque. Coupled with an Xtronic CVT® (Continuously Variable Transmission) with standard Sport Mode and Eco switches, Rogue is EPA rated at 25mpg/city, 32mpg/highway and 28mpg/overall, and a week of mixed-use testing averaged of 26.6mpg. From a stop and also at speed, acceleration is uninspired but predictable, and uphill grades and passing at speed require some strategy. Steering seems stiff, and the electric power-assisted power assisted rack-and-pinion steering exhibited understeer during quick maneuvers. Track times were finished off in a 9.3-second zero-to-60mpg sprint and a perceptibly slow 17.4-second quarter-mile. 

The driving experience is smooth for the niche, with firm on-pavement engagement from independent strut front suspension, coil springs and an independent multi-link rear, though Rogue does not appear to be suited for severe off-road challenges.

Earning top marks for safety, Rogue Safety Shield technologies include radar-based Blind Spot Warning and Rear Cross Traffic Alert. Additionally, Rogue is constructed with zone body construction with front and rear crumple zones; energy-absorbing steering column; hood-buckling creases and safety stops; body side reinforcements; shift interlock system; vehicle security system; vehicle dynamic control and traction control system. And you get the Nissan Advanced Air Bag System with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat belt and occupant-classification sensors, driver and front-passenger seat-mounted side-impact supplemental air bags, and roof-mounted curtain supplemental air bags with rollover sensor for outboard occupant head protection for all rows.

The 2019 Nissan Rogue starts at $25,020 for the base S trim in FWD and $26,370 for AWD. The SV trim adds 17-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, Nissan Intelligent Key® with push button ignition, blind spot warning, rear cross traffic alert, dual zone automatic temperature control and a 6-way power driver's seat to the base S, and starts at $26,440 in FWD and $27,990 in AWD. The top trim Rogue SL I tested starts at $31,490 in FWD and $32,840 in AWD and gains Nissan Door to Door Navigation with Premium Traffic, Intelligent Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking with Pedestrian Detection and Leather-appointed seats. Hybrid models start at $27,700 and run to $32,990 before options.

My test 2019 Rogue SL added the SL Premium Package for $1820, which included a power panoramic moonroof and LED headlights. The SL Platinum Reserve Interior Package, for $250, added leather-appointed seats with quilted leather inserts and Piano Black door finisher; roof rail crossbars added $365; four splash guards added $170; and a chrome rear bumper protector was $165. A cool and high-tech 360-degree exterior impact sensor added only $125 and a moonroof wind deflector also added $125. With destination and handling charges of $1045, my 2019 Rogue SL-as-tested came in at $36,905.

Written by Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. 

The GMC Acadia was launched in 2006 for the 2007 model year, and was re-engineered for 2017 as a second-Gen mid-size crossover that is smaller, lighter, and more technically and cosmetically advanced than the original, with hipper styling cues. Offering greater maneuverability than the first-generation model, this second-Gen sports-ute is a sibling to the Chevrolet Traverse and shares the same platform and mechanical components with its midsize sister, but most everything else, from grillework, to interior styling to equipment, differs, as Acadia is more trendy, round and intuitive inside, while Traverse seems to be more pedestrian.

New for 2019 are the Acadia Black Edition that is available on SLT model and includes 20-inch machined aluminum wheels with black accents, black grille insert , black surround, black headlamp and taillamp details, and black mirror caps, roof rails and additional exterior accents. Also new are a 17-inch wheel design and P255/65R17 all-terrain tires available on All Terrain, as well as new exterior colors: Dark Sky Metallic, Pepperdust Metallic, Red Quartz Metallic and Smokey Quartz Metallic. 

Vehicle highlights include: Traction Select that allows driver to adjust vehicle performance for various road conditions; active upper and lower grille shutters; power programmable liftgate; three rows of seating, including second-row captain’s chairs or split-folding bench; tri-zone automatic climate control; standard GMC Infotainment system with 7-inch-diagonal color touchscreen, and an available 8-inch system with navigation. Other Acadia amenities include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto phone projection capability; Teen Driver is standard on all models; Keyless Open and Start is standard on all models and an available Tow Vision Trailering System, which uses the rear-vision camera to help line up the hitch with a trailer.

I tested the upscale Denali, built at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee assembly facility with 65 percent U.S./Canadian parts. With body-frame integral construction, the structure incorporates press-hardened, high-strength steels, which allows thinner components in some areas offering comparable or better crash performance than conventional materials as well as providing reduced curb weight. 

A refined mid-size crossover, Acadia measures 193.6 inches long; 66 inches high and a widebody 75.4 inches wide on a 112.5-inch wheelbase. Ground clearance is 7.2 inches and curbweight comes in at about 3956, though the upscale versions with the 3.6-liter engine should exceed 4000 pounds.

Acadia offers two engine choices: a 2.5-liter Inline-4 engine that provides 193hp and 188 lbs.-ft. of torque and an EPA rating of 21/city and 26/highway; or a 3.6-liter V-6 engine mated to a Hydra-Matic 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission. The system delivers 310 hp and 271 lbs.-ft. of torque, for an EPA rating of 18/city and 25/highway. Mated to a 6T70 six-speed automatic transmission, my 3.6-powered Denali was attentive, responsive and confident, and averaged 21.1 mpg with long stretches of highway cruising making up the largest part of my tests.

Providing a sporty and comfortable driving experience, Acadia’s electric variable-effort power steering with Active Return Assist was predictable, and minimized body roll and understeer in corners, while the MacPherson strut front suspension with direct-acting stabilizer bar worked well with the five-link independent rear with coil springs and stabilizer bar to level highway and city road irregularities. Softroad excursions were fun, but I am not sure Acadia is a true off-roader.

Generous and well-appointed inside, the Acadia cabin provides seating for five, six, or seven passengers depending on model and configuration. My six-passenger Denali offered a roomy 40.3 inches of front headroom without a sunroof (you lose about 1.2 inches with a sunroof), and 39.6 in row two. The third row allows 37.2 inches. Legroom was 41 inches in front and 39.7 in the second row and a child-worthy 31.1 in row three, while shoulder room came in at 59.4, 58.7 and 54.3 Cargo volume was 41.7 cu.ft. behind row two if row three is eliminated.

Safety features include standard head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows and roof-mounted head curtain air bags, Front and Rear Parking Assist, Lane Change Alert,  Front Pedestrian Braking, Low Speed Forward Automatic Braking, Forward Automatic Braking, Following Distance Indicator, IntelliBeam automatic headlamp high-beam control, Surround Vision camera system, Forward Collision Alert and more.

Acadia’s base SL trim starts at $30,195 and runs through six levels to get to the top-of-the-line Denali that I tested – starting at $46,695. In the lesser trims, you pay about $1095 for the upgrade to the larger engine – Denali comes with the larger plant as standard. You also pay from $2000 to $5000 to upgrade from FWD to AWD depending on trim level, the higher the level the less the increase, so with Denali, we were only hiked by $2000 for AWD. Red Quartz Tincoat exterior paint added $495 and the outside was mated to a Jet Black perorated leather interior. The Technology Package that is a “must” for the safety conscious was also included for $1495, consisting of advanced adaptive cruise control with full speed front automatic braking and a surround vision system. The Interior Protection Package for $300 added all-weather floor mats and cargo mats throughout. Rear seat infotainment with DVD player would have added $1995, but my ride was without that option, though we did add Wireless charging for $375. With an additional $1195 for Destination charges, my final sticker-as-tested was at $51,460, but cash allowance incentives of $4250 brought the MSRP to $47,210, so check with your local dealer.

<I> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I>
 

Chrysler weekend at Carlisle – it’s three days on paper, but much longer for those who experience it in person.  Good weather means vendors are setting up days in advance, great weather means show cars are on grounds at least two days prior to the official start date.  Regardless of when someone shows up, the bottom line is that the annual Carlisle Chrysler Nationals is juggernaut within the Dodge/Chrysler/Mopar enthusiast base.  2020’s event should be no different and coming off a record 2,803 Showfield turnout in 2019, Carlisle Events is excited to share what themes and anniversaries will be showcased in America’s Automotive Hometown starting at 7 a.m. daily.

Running July 10-12, 2020 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, displays will offer a diverse snapshot of the brand.  From indoor features within Buildings T and Y to those under a tent on the Showfield, there will be something for everyone.  Can you believe 1970 was 50 years ago?  It’s true…and with that milestone comes some amazing planned displays. 

Though locations are TBD, what is confirmed is the amazing array of history coming to Carlisle.  Chrysler weekend honors 50 years of the following:  50 Years of the Dodge Challenger, 50 Years of the AAR & T/A, 50 Years of the Plymouth Duster, 50 Years of the Superbird and 50 Years of Pro Stock.

The application for featured vehicle consideration is available online today and while every owner/applicant for one of the recognized celebrations won’t be selected, that doesn’t mean their vehicle isn’t welcome.  With such a massive facility and show car layout, registering for the Showfield is very easy and in most cases, available at a discounted rate.  A link to register for the event is available at www.CarlisleEvents.com.  Once on the Chrysler Nationals portion of the page, event hopefuls can either register to show their car OR pick up single day/weekend tickets to enjoy the event as a spectator. 

Seeing these great displays is just one aspect of the fun.  There are product walk-arounds and FREE thrill rides from Dodge, on-site installations from A&A Auto Stores, automotive competitions like autocross, a real street shootout and a burnout contest, plus there’s a massive midway and automotive flea market.  The midway and flea market are must-see/must-do aspects of the show and keep growing annually.  Shopping is made easy at Carlisle! 

To be involved with the 2020 Carlisle Chrysler Nationals as an automotive flea market vendor or midway partner, call 717-243-7855 to inquire about pricing and availability.  Otherwise, to be part of the show as a spectator or by showing a vehicle, visit one of the following web pages to learn more.

General Info:  http://www.carlisleevents.com
Event Info:  https://www.carlisleevents.com/events/events-detail/index?id=chrysler+nationals
Showfield:  https://store.carlisleevents.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=26
Featured Vehicle Consideration:  https://www.carlislefeatures.com
Spectator Tickets/Weekend Passes:  https://www.carlisletickets.com

Fifty years ago, Dodge entered the American “Muscle Car” Wars with the 1970 Challenger, debuting in fall 1969 with a Chrysler “E-body” short-deck, long-hood platform it shared with the Plymouth Barracuda. In those days, 425 horses muscled up Challenger from a 426 c.i. HEMI; and some trims only got you 145hp from a 225 6-cylinder option. Challenger ceased production in 1974 and returned as a retro-luxury-muscle car in 2008. Following a re-design in 2015 that built on the 1970s architecture, Challenger has added a few cosmetic, trim and wheel options each year, and introduced a 707-hp Hellcat in 2017. New for 2019, if 707 hp wasn’t enough, Challenger sets the bar even higher with a new 797-hp SRT Hellcat Redeye model, and other Hellcat models get a 10-hp increase to 717 horses.

Also for 2019, Challenger’s SXT and GT models are available in both RWD and AWD; the GT trim gains a performance hood and front splitter; R/T Scat Pack models come with a new standard power-bulge aluminum hood; Hellcat models now come with a new dual snorkel hood; in R/T models, the rear seats can be deleted at the cost of $1 and have a net weight savings of 55 lb; some cosmetic, wheel, tires and performance items have been added as options and the SRT 392 and limited-edition SRT Demon have been eliminated.

Assembled in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, Challenger comes at you with a 1971-style split grille, projector headlamps with halo light-emitting diode surrounds and LED tail lamps. In the rear are a body-colored rear spoiler and dual-chromed exhaust tips integrated into the lower rear fascia. My test Challenger R/T measured an aerodynamic 197.9 inches in length, 75.7 inches in width and 57.5 inches in height on a 116.2-inch wheelbase, providing running ground clearance of 5.2 inches. My R/T trim weighed in with a curbweight of 4177 lbs. – some Challenger models hit 4500 lbs. 

Challenger power is unparalleled, available with five engine choices and either manual or automatic transmissions. The muscle champion is a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat High Output V-8 that thunders out 797hp and 707 lb-ft of torque -- EPA-rated at 13mpg in the city and 22mpg on the highway. The 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI Hellcat V-8 muscles-up with 717 hp and 656 lb-ft torque, EPA rated at 13mpg/city and 21mpg/highway. The 392 c.i. (6.4 -liter) HEMI V-8 charges out 485hp and 475 lb-ft of torque, EPA rated at 15/city and 25/highway. The 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 and its 372 horses and 400 lb.-ft. of torque that powered my test Challenger R/T,  is EPA-rated at 16/city and 25/highway; and a 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 is also offered, delivering 305 hp / 268 lbs.-ft., rated at 19/city, 30/highway (RWD). 

My Challenger R/T test ride was muscle car quick, both on the highway and on the track. I blazed down the dragstrip in a 5.9-second (hand-timed) zero-to-60-mph dash, and a 14.3-second quarter-mile. For comparison, the top-power, Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye with its 797-hp power plant has been factory tested in a 3-second 0-60mph sprint and a quarter-mile elapsed time of 10.8 seconds.

But my Challenger R/T and its 372-hp 5.7-liter HEMI engine mated to a Tremec 6-speed manual transmission will generate more sales, so I tested it that way and was more than satisfied with its performance. While there is slight hesitation when pedal stomping at speed to pass or overtake a hill on the interstate, it is undeniably powerful and attacks the highway confidently while being smooth and a head-turner around town. 

Gentle for passengers, Challenger’s independent SLA double-wishbone front and five-link independent rear suspension smooth out most irregularities and while there is some float at high speed reminiscent of 1970s road feel, and the steering shows some rear sway in quick turns at speed, the available SRT-tuned suspensions in Sport Mode gives a track-worthy feel.

Inside the 2019 Dodge Challenger is a performance-focused cockpit, featuring refined materials, execution and technology, also inspired by the interior of the 1971 Challenger. The cabin seats five and accommodates with 39.3 inches of front headroom and 37.1 inches in row two; leg room of 42.0 inches in front and 33.1 inches in the rear, and shoulder room of 58.5 and 53.9. 

Challengers run the gamut from a $28,095 base for the SXT trim, to $77,945 for the 797-hpSRT Hellcat Redeye Widebody. While little is more exhilarating to a car guy than a street-legal 797-hp iconic muscle car, I tested the third-trim up in the line, the R/T, as that is the model more purchasers will buy. In RWD configuration the base was $34,545.

In ToRed exterior paint, my test ride eschewed many decal cosmetics that would have been really cool at little or no cost, and it came outfitted with cloth seats, though I would have liked leather available in packages that would have added $5000 or more, so we went cloth and lean. A sunroof would have added $1295, but that was also left off so we went for entertainment and added an Alpine Audio Group with subwoofer for $995 and a UConnect 4C navi system with 8.4-inch display screen for $1095. The Driver Convenience Group added Blind Spot and Rear Cross Path Detection, High Intensity Discharge Headlamps, power multi-function mirrors with manual fold-away Rhombi Illuminated Air Catcher headlamp for $1295. 

My ride had the fun-to-drive 6-speed manual transmission (an automatic 8-speed trans would have added $1595), so we saved money there, and Destination charges of $1495 put my 2019 Challenger R/T at $39,045.

> Visit www.CarlisleEvents.com for more on the automotive hobby.

Mike Blake, former editor of KIT CAR magazine, joined Carlisle Events as senior automotive journalist in 2004. He's been a "car guy" since the 1960s and has been writing professionally for about 30 years. </I> 

It’s quite common for over 3,000 Ford branded vehicles to be showcased at the annual Carlisle Ford Nationals presented by Meguiars.  Following a 2019 event that hosted a record-setting 3,194 vehicles on the National Parts Depot Showfield, 2020 is shaping up to be another stellar offering from Carlisle Events.  Though the 25th anniversary event is still months away, Carlisle Events is excited to share what themes and anniversaries will be showcased in America’s Automotive Hometown starting at 7 a.m. daily.

Running June 5-7, 2020 at the Carlisle PA Fairgrounds, indoor displays will offer a diverse snapshot of Ford’s impeccable production history.  One of the most popular showcase displays is hosted in Building Y.  Home to the annual Carlisle Select display since 2015, this feature positions 12-14 cars that are unique to the history of the Ford brand in front of a captive audience.  Additionally, every participant since year one of the display receives a commemorative plaque and sees their name affixed to a banner that hangs from the Building Y rafters, logging the history of the Ford Nationals Select.

Between Building T (located adjacent to Y) and the remainder of the grounds, additional displays will undoubtedly pack in the enthusiasts eager to see some of the best cars on the planet.  Planned is a 50th Anniversary display of the Grabbers.  There’s also a spotlight on the Ford GT, a Euro Ford Garage which includes the 50th Anniversary of the Capri and 35th Anniversary of the Merkur, a Thunderbird reunion and Starliner reunion too.   

Of course not every owner of one of the recognized celebrations is selected to be featured.  That doesn’t mean their car isn’t welcome at Carlisle.  With such a massive facility and show car layout, registering for the Showfield is very easy and in most cases, available at a discounted rate.  A link to register for the event is available at www.CarlisleEvents.com.  Once on the Ford Nationals portion of the page, event hopefuls can either register to show their car OR pick up single day/weekend tickets to enjoy the event as a spectator.  

Seeing these great displays is just one aspect of the fun.  There are product walk-arounds and FREE test drives from Ford, on-site installations from A&A Auto Stores, automotive competitions like autocross, a real street shootout and a burnout contest, plus there’s a massive midway and automotive flea market.  Shopping is made easy for any Ford lover as vendors and midway partners alike bring the must have and hard to find parts, merchandise and collectibles to Carlisle. 

To be involved with the 2020 Carlisle Ford Nationals as an automotive flea market vendor or midway partner, call 717-243-7855 to inquire about pricing and availability.  Otherwise, to be part of the show as a spectator or by showing a vehicle, visit one of the following web pages to learn more.

General Info:  http://www.carlisleevents.com
Event Info:  https://www.carlisleevents.com/events/events-detail/index?id=ford+nationals
NPD Showfield:  http://store.carlisleevents.com/SearchResults.asp?Cat=24
Featured Vehicle Consideration:  https://www.carlislefeatures.com
Spectator Tickets/Weekend Passes:  https://www.carlisletickets.com