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9 things to know about Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

March 25, 2024 Published by Tarah Chieffi

The Points Guy

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Editor’s note: The writer’s stay at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa was provided free of charge by Disney. All opinions are the writer’s own and were not subject to review by Disney or any other entity.

Disney fans know well that every Disney resort is unique — and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is no exception. As one of Disney World’s Deluxe resorts, you’ll find spacious guest rooms, glimmering swimming pools, a handful of dining options and that special touch of Disney magic around every corner.

Here are the things that make this property stand out from other Disney resorts to help you decide if this is the right resort for your next Disney World vacation.

What is Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa?

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

To this day, Saratoga Springs, New York, is known for its world-class horse racing, grand hotels and serene spas — all of which inspired the equestrian theme and Victorian-era design of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

Along with other Disney Deluxe resorts like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and Disney’s Beach Club Resort, Saratoga Springs is a Disney Vacation Club Resort with deluxe studios and villas. You’ll enjoy more space and amenities when you book a Disney Vacation Club room, like balconies, kitchens, large bathrooms and in-room laundry facilities.

DVC resorts also have more family-focused recreation and activities than other Disney resorts, including bike rentals, tennis and basketball courts, and a Community Hall with movies, video games and daily activities like crafts and games.

You’ll also get the normal perks of staying at a Disney Deluxe resort, such as 30-minute early entry to the parks, purchasing individual Lightning Lanes at 7 a.m. and extended evening theme park hours on select nights.

How to book Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

As with other Disney World hotels, it’s often best to book directly with Disney. You can do this through Disney’s website, over the phone or using an authorized Disney vacation planner. Disney vacation planners are free to use and can help you get the best price by searching for available discounts at the time of booking and up until your trip.

Disney also periodically releases hotel discounts that can help you save 30% or more based on your vacation dates and length of stay.

FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG’S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.

In addition to booking through Disney or a vacation planner, you can also use miles from your Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card or Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card to book through the Capital One Travel portal or pay using your Venture X card and earn up to 10 miles per dollar on your stay when booking through the Capital One Travel portal.

Even though Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa is a DVC resort, you don’t have to be a DVC member to stay here. You can also rent DVC points from a DVC member or a resale site like David’s Vacation Club Rentals. Renting DVC points instead of paying cash for a DVC room through Disney can drastically reduce the cost of staying at a Disney Deluxe resort.

For example, the cash price of a deluxe studio at Saratoga Springs for July 17-18 is $476 plus tax, but you can get the same room by renting DVC points through David’s Vacation Club Rentals for $280, including tax.

Booking link: Rent DVC points via TPG’s partner, David’s Vacation Club Rentals

The resort has an equestrian theme

Saratoga Springs’ equestrian history seamlessly carries over to this Disney hotel, with nods to famous Disney horses throughout the resort. You’ll find paintings of horses from several Disney films in the lobby, framed jockey silks lining the walls that lead to the resort’s table service restaurant and amiable pictures of Disney characters riding horses in the guest rooms.

Entrance to the Turf Club Bar and Grill. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

The resort also has the relaxing feel of a quiet, secluded retreat. No roller coasters are roaring by in the background, just green trees, wooded paths and playful pools.

There are spacious room types for families of all sizes

Rooms at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa range from deluxe studios to three-bedroom villas and even a few Treehouse Villas (more on those in a moment). Deluxe studio rooms have a kitchenette and a balcony or patio, and villas have separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, in-room laundry and a balcony or patio.

I stayed in a one-bedroom villa that had a sofa bed and a fold-down single sleeper in the living room, a separate bedroom, dining table, full kitchen, stackable washer and dryer, furnished balcony, and a multiroom bathroom with a tub and large vanity in one section, a shower and smaller vanity in another and a third section with a toilet.

No matter the size of your party, there is likely a room here that can comfortably accommodate you. The rooms are designed to give families plenty of space to feel at home while providing Disney touches, like artwork and a Mickey-themed Amazon Echo device.

There is a golf course connected to the property

Disney World is home to three 18-hole golf courses and one nine-hole course. Disney’s Lake Buena Vista Golf Course — an 18-hole course that has hosted PGA, LPGA and USGA events — is on the grounds of Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. The pro shop is near the hotel lobby, and the course winds around the resort.

You don’t have to be a hotel guest to play here, but advance tee times are recommended. Rental clubs are available if you don’t want to lug your clubs to Orlando, and private lessons are available.

There are several daily activities for families

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

When I arrived at the resort, Chip ‘n’ Dale were taking photos with guests outside of the lobby. I couldn’t resist stopping for a quick picture. You could take selfies, but a Disney PhotoPass photographer also took photos.

Many of the resort activities are near the main lobby at the Community Hall, which is open daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can pop in to watch a movie, play video games in the air conditioning or choose from various DIY crafts. I chose to color a free souvenir magnet, but there were several crafts you could make for a small fee.

Horsing Around Rentals at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Horsing Around Rentals is around the corner from the Community Hall. This is where you can rent bicycles and surrey bikes that seat up to four riders. You can also borrow complimentary basketballs and tennis equipment here.

Other activities include poolside games, nightly campfires (marshmallows are provided, or you can purchase your own s’mores kit), movies under the stars, animation classes (reservation and additional fee required), cornhole challenges and more.

The resort has 5 pools

There are several Disney resorts with multiple pools, but there is typically one heavily themed “feature pool” with a waterslide, splash area and other fun features, and the rest are “quiet pools” without all the bells and whistles.

Two of the five pools at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are feature pools, and three are quiet or leisure pools. Because the resort is so large, the pools are spread across the property, so you are never far from your next swim.

The High Rock Spring Pool is near the lobby and has a 128-foot-long waterslide, two hot tubs, a splash area for kids with a smaller waterslide, and a poolside bar and grill. The Paddock Pool also has an even taller 146-foot-tall waterslide, a horseshoe-shaped hot tub, a kids splash area with two miniature waterslides and a poolside bar and grill.

The three leisure pools are near the Congress Park area, the Grandstand area and the Treehouse Villas. All three have hot tubs, and the Grandstand pool has a starting gate-themed splash area for young jockeys.

The resort has a storied history

Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. TARAH CHIEFFI/THE POINTS GUY

Before Saratoga Springs was a hotel, it was home to the Disney Institute campus. At the Disney Insitute, people could take classes on everything from cooking to animation, photography and more during their stay on campus. When the Disney Institute opened in 1996, it had many of the same features as the resort today, including a fitness center, spa, golf course, tennis courts, pools and guest rooms.

The Disney Institute was an entirely new way to experience Disney, but it never gained quite enough traction in its original format to become a popular option for vacationers. In 2000, the Disney Institute shifted its focus to professional development for businesses, and it’s still in operation today.

This new venture didn’t require the use of the entire campus, only the instructional spaces, and in 2004, the reimagined resort officially opened as Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

Saratoga Springs Resort is also notable because it is one of the few sites at Disney World where Walt Disney himself ever stepped foot. Of course, he visited Florida multiple times while scouting for the parcels of land that would eventually become Walt Disney World, but he died before the park opened.

After the 1965 press conference in Orlando where Walt Disney announced his secretive “Florida Project,” Walt toured the property where Disney World was to be built, stopping for a picnic lunch at a home that was once located on the property, according to the book “Buying Disney’s World: The Story of How Florida Swampland Became Walt Disney World” by Aaron H. Goldberg.

Saratoga Springs Resort has a variety of dining options

Like other Disney Deluxe resorts, Saratoga Springs has both table-service and quick-service dining options.

In addition to the quick-service poolside bars and grills found at the two main pools, the Artist’s Palette in the lobby is the resort’s main quick-service eatery. The Artist’s Palette is open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, or you can stop in for groceries, bakery items, snacks, cocktails and more.

During my stay, I sampled the plant-based gyro ($10.99) and was impressed by the flavor and serving size. It was more than enough for two meals with the included house-made chips.

The Turf Club Bar and Grill and the Turf Club Lounge are also in the lobby building. The Turf Club Bar and Grill requires advance dining reservations, but you can eat at the lounge without a reservation. My visit coincided with Super Bowl Sunday, so I ate in the lounge and watched some of the game (i.e., the commercials).

The lounge menu differs from the main restaurant’s menu, and I went with the Turf Burger ($22). The burger was topped with bacon, crispy onions, tomato jam and a bourbon glaze and was served alongside seasoned fries. It really hit the spot after a long day of exploring the parks.

You can take a boat to Disney Springs

Only four Disney World resorts offer complimentary boat transportation to Disney Springs: Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — Riverside, Disney’s Port Orleans Resort — French Quarter, Disney’s Old Key West Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

It’s a convenient option because it opens up the shopping and dining experiences at Disney Springs when you want to branch out from what is available at your resort. It only takes about 10 minutes to reach Disney Springs this way. If you were to take a bus, it could take as long as 20 minutes from some Disney hotels.

It’s also a more relaxing way to travel around Disney than on a crowded bus.

You can stay in a Treehouse Villa

Saratoga Springs Resort is also home to 60 secluded Treehouse Villas. These elevated villas have three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a large deck, a charcoal grill, a full kitchen with a dining table, and a living area. The pool here is the smallest at the resort, and there is no restaurant, but you have access to all of the amenities in the main resort area.

You can reach the lobby by bus or boat to enjoy the resort amenities or hop on a second bus to the parks. Each Treehouse Villa has its own parking spot, so you also have the option to drive to the parks if you bring a car (hotel and theme park parking is complimentary for on-site hotel guests).

Treehouse Villa pricing starts at about $1,000 per night, or you can rent DVC points as you would for other DVC properties and may pay slightly less.

Bottom line

Whether Saratoga Springs Resort is the right choice for you depends on how you like to do Disney, but there’s a lot to love about the equestrian theme, guest rooms with all the conveniences of home and the quiet nature of this pretty property.

Note: Senses Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa has not yet reopened since Disney’s COVID-19-related closure in 2020.

If You Get Migraines, RDs Recommend Monitoring Your Consumption of Foods (and Drinks) Rich in Tyramine

March 25, 2024 Published by Michele Ross

Well+Good

Parmesan cheese, salami, cornichons, smoked fish…what do they all have in common? Besides being excellent additions to a cheese and charcuterie board, these delicious foods are high in tyramine. This lesser-known amino acid derivative might not ring any alarm bells for you, and for many folks, it doesn’t need to. But if you have depression, anxiety, and/or migraines—and are on specific medications to treat those conditions—you might want to take a closer look at your tyramine intake, because it might be making your symptoms worse.

To discover what those potential dietary don’ts are—and what tyramine is to begin with—we consulted Dani Lebovitz, MS, RDN, a food education expert and the founder of Kid Food Explorers based in Franklin, Tennessee.

What is tyramine?

“Tyramine, a natural substance in our bodies, helps manage blood pressure and brain signals,” Lebovitz explains. Deriving from the amino acid tyrosine, it’s also found in common foods and drinks. (It’s in the same chemical group as the neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin.)

While tyramine has an important job in your body, things can get risky if you take monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), a class of medications used to treat depression and anxiety. MAOIs help regulate mood by blocking monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that removes neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine (stuff you need for stable mood levels) from your brain. But MAOIs also prevent the breakdown of excess tyramine in the body—because remember, tyramine is related to those neurotransmitters.

Unless you suspect or know for sure that tyramine is a trigger for you, there’s no need to cut high-tyramine foods out of your diet.

Having a surplus of tyramine can lead to headaches, chest pain, and blurred vision, as well as blood pressure spikes that may require immediate medical attention. Those taking MAOIs may avoid certain foods, and same goes for people prone to migraines. And while tyramine intake may be included in that, experts caution against making dietary changes without consulting a trained dietitian or physician. “It’s all about how your body processes tyramine,” she explains. “Cutting back on foods high in it can make a big difference in managing these conditions.” But there are no guarantees, so speak with your healthcare provider about tyramine-rich foods before you forego red wine or ramen without reason.

What foods contain tyramine?

Speaking of which: Lots of foods contain tyramine, but fermented or aged foods and drinks tend to have the most tyramine. That’s because microbes convert tyrosine (the amino acid) into tyramine as the foods age. So the more “aged” or fermented something is, the more likely it is to have lots of tyramine.

Foods high in tyramine

Lebovitz says that the following foods are typically very high in tyramine:

Aged cheese (such as Parmesan, Swiss, Stilton, and Gorgonzola)
Dry-cured meats (like salami or pepperoni)
Pickled foods (like kimchi, sauerkraut, or pickles)
Salt-dried seafood
Liver
Certain beans (like Haricot beans)
Fish sauce
Soybeans, tofu, and other soybean products
Miso

Alcohol is also high in tyramine thanks to its methods of production. “Alcoholic drinks like beer—especially draught and craft beers—along with red wines are known for their high tyramine levels,” Lebovitz says.

If you’re trying to avoid high-tyramine foods and drinks, Lebovitz says you might want to cut back on coffee because the effect of too much caffeine (like headaches and a racing heartbeat) can mimic those of tyramine. “Therefore, individuals sensitive to tyramine may also benefit from moderating their caffeine intake,” she says.

“Alcoholic drinks like beer—especially draught and craft beers—along with red wines are known for their high tyramine levels,” Lebovitz says.

Low-tyramine foods

If you and your healthcare team find that you could benefit from a low-tyramine diet, there’s no shortage of healthy foods to enjoy. Per Lebovitz, they include the following:

Fruits: Apples, pears, strawberries, blueberries, peaches, plums, and bananas that aren’t overripe
Vegetables: Leafy greens, carrots, tomatoes, potato, zucchini, and turnips
Dairy: fresh milk, yogurt, and non-fermented cheeses such as cream cheese, cottage cheese, and ricotta
Protein: fresh meats, fish, poultry, eggs, beans, canned legumes (excluding fava and broad beans)
Whole grains: rice, pasta, and bread

As a general rule of thumb, Lebovitz says you can succeed in following a low-tyramine diet by eating the foods above in a prompt manner and paying attention to how they’re stored and prepared. “For fresh produce, consume it within a couple of days of purchase. For canned or frozen foods, use them soon after opening, too,” she advises. When it comes to fresh animal proteins, she suggests eating or freezing them the same day of purchase.

Should everyone limit tyramine?

No, not everyone needs to stress about tyramine. Some people may need to take extra care to limit their intake of tyramine foods based on their health conditions and medications. Others may be more sensitive to it than others, and some people may process it just fine. Unless you suspect or know for sure that tyramine is a trigger for you, there’s no need to cut high-tyramine foods out of your diet.

It’s always best to consult your health-care provider before making any major changes to your diet—especially if you’re managing medical conditions. “If you think you may have a tyramine sensitivity, keeping a food log can be a helpful tool to identify patterns and potential triggers,” Lebovitz shares. “Meeting with a dietitian [who can] offer personalized guidance may also be helpful.”

Mysterious New VW Sedan Spied With Passat-Inspired Styling

March 13, 2024 Published by Michael Gauthier

Carscoops

Spy photographers have caught a mysterious Volkswagen sedan undergoing cold weather testing.

Spied virtually undisguised, the prototype has a Passat-like appearance as it features a prominent VW emblem that is flanked by slender headlights. The similarities don’t end there as the car has vertical air curtains and a wide grille with horizontal bars.

While the front end is relatively plain, the prototype has a sculpted hood and curvaceous bodywork. They’re joined by a flowing shoulder line and a dynamic greenhouse, which is partially disguised. The model also sports a rakish windscreen and a sweeping roof.

The upscale styling continues out back thanks to eye-catching taillights with three dimensional elements. We can also see an unimaginative rear bumper and a trunk with an integrated spoiler.

One of our spy photographers suggested the prototype could be the next-generation Jetta, but that seems unlikely. Instead, the car seems destined for China.

While that remains unconfirmed, Volkswagen offers a multitude of sedans in the country. If we were to guess, this could potentially be the next Chinese-spec Passat or Phideon.

More: Facelifted VW Phideon Flagship Sedan Revealed In China, Loses V6 And PHEV Powertrains

While everyone knows the Passat, the Phideon is a flagship sedan that starts at ¥343,000 ($47,718) and boasts upscale amenities. Among them are an adaptive air suspension, a refrigerator, and Nappa leather upholstery. The model can also be equipped with rear tray tables and power rear seats.

The current model was introduced in 2016 and updated in 2020, so it’s due for a redesign. However, only time will tell if the prototype is the Phideon or something else entirely.

Baldauf and SH Proshots for CarScoops

Mercedes Shoots World’s First X-Ray Video Of A Crash Test

March 13, 2024 Published by Sebastien Bell

Carscoops

Crash tests have improved a lot over the years, but the engineering folks over at Mercedes-Benz hope their latest innovation will help it make the next leap forward in vehicle safety. The automaker has become the first to successfully shoot an X-ray of a crash test.

Mercedes says it has been working on this technology for years, but that recording clear images of a crash test has proven difficult. The average exposure time for a standard X-ray is around a second, and a lot happens in that amount of time during a car crash, leading to blurry, useless images.

To speed the process up, Mercedes worked with Fraunhofer-Institute for High-Speed Dynamics and the Ernst Mach Institute in Freiburg, and together they developed a camera that can shoot up to 1,000 images per second. That allows researchers to create slo-mo X-ray videos of a crash.

Read: Mercedes Crashes Two EVs Into Each Other To Prove They’re Safe In The Real World

“The world’s first X-ray crash shows that X-ray technology can provide revealing new insights. We learn what happens inside a vehicle and to the dummies during an accident,” said Dr. Paul Dick, Mercedes’ director of vehicle safety. “The X-ray images also offer the opportunity to further improve the model quality of the digital prototypes.”

The breakthrough that allowed Mercedes shoot this impressive video was the use of a powerful radiation source. The automaker says that its 1 kHz linear accelerator has up to nine megaelectrons volts of photon energy and can shoot X-ray pulses that last just a few microseconds.

The energy passes through the vehicle to a flat detector on the ground, under the vehicle. It serves as a digital image receiver, and each pixel becomes more or less gray depending on how much radiation passes through the vehicle, creating an image that can be used by safety researchers.

Surrounded by 15-inch thick concrete walls

To ensure that those researchers don’t get a dose of radiation, the crash test facility is surrounded by 40-centimeter-thick (15-inch) concrete walls, and a 45-tonne door. However, Mercedes claims that the radiation doesn’t bother its other analysis tools, meaning that it can gather all the information it would in a non-X-ray crash test while shooting this video.

In the footage you’re seeing here, the automaker says it was running a side-impact crash test. The images help visualize the internal deformations occurring inside the vehicle and the dummy, that might not have been apparent previously.

“The Mercedes-Benz X-ray crash sets a milestone in the development tools of the future,” said Markus Schaefer, Mercedes’ chief technology officer. “With a direct view into the hidden interior, it can help to draw important conclusions for the further improvement of vehicle safety. Mercedes-Benz thus confirms its role as a safety pioneer in automotive engineering.”

Hyatt’s Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership officially ends next month — but it’s not too late too book

March 13, 2024 Published by Tanner Saunders

The Points Guy

In early February, it was announced that Small Luxury Hotels of the World was ending its partnership with World of Hyatt. This dealt a heavy blow to World of Hyatt loyalists, considering the partnership allowed members to earn or use points and take advantage of elite Hyatt benefits at boutique hotels around the world.

It was also announced that SLH would instead join forces with Hilton and the Hilton Honors program.

Now, Hyatt has confirmed that the SLH partnership will officially end May 15, 2024 — but that doesn’t mean it’s over quite yet.

Existing and new reservations with a check-in date on or before May 15 will be treated as they were before. Those stays will still earn base and bonus points, tier qualifying nights and credit toward earning Milestone Rewards, a Hyatt spokesperson told TPG.

Stays that start on or after May 16, 2024, will still be honored but without World of Hyatt elite status benefits, including free breakfast and the ability to earn points and tier-qualifying nights.

Not all is lost, though. Similar to how you still have a few days to book Hyatt properties that are moving up in category because of Hyatt’s annual category shifts, World of Hyatt members can still book SLH properties (and take advantage of elite benefits) for stays between now and May 15. (To help you decide what’s smart to book now, we’ve pulled together a list of some of our favorite Hyatt properties participating in SLH to book ASAP.)

People who hold World of Hyatt credit cards will earn 4 bonus points for every eligible dollar spent at participating SLH properties through Aug. 31, 2024.

A full explanation of the changes can be found on the World of Hyatt and Small Luxury Hotels of the World partnership page.

The loss of SLH is just another blow to Hyatt. It already saw the end of its partnership with MGM Resorts, which traded in Hyatt for a new partnership with Marriott Bonvoy that’s now officially live.

Hyatt is quick to point out that there’s still hope for Hyatt loyalists who love a great boutique hotel: Hyatt is currently in the process of integrating Mr & Mrs Smith hotels — another collection of independent, boutique hotels — into the World of Hyatt ecosystem. But by when? That’s the million-dollar question.

Hyatt’s loss is Hilton’s treasure

Details about the SLH and Hilton partnership are still sparse. However, we can expect it to work similarly to the setup with World of Hyatt, where not all SLH hotels participate but members can earn and use points at the ones that do.

“We’re thrilled to begin this win-win relationship with Hilton as it brings exciting possibilities for both brands,” Shaun Leleu, chairman of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, previously said in a statement. “Hilton customers, including Hilton Honors members, gain access to our unrivaled collection of exceptional boutique hotels, while our properties enjoy amplified reach to a loyal and discerning audience. It’s a game changer for independently owned hotels on a global scale.”

We’ll keep you updated as we learn more key details on the new partnership.

Here’s How To Jump The Cybertruck Line And Get Early Delivery

March 13, 2024 Published by Stephen Rivers

Carscoops

Love it or hate it, many people want to own the Cybertruck. They’ll pay way over sticker to get it faster and now there’s a new option to take delivery soon. Tesla just started a new program specifically for TSLA stockholders, and boy does it present some interesting hoops to jump through.

Under a new page on its homepage, Tesla touts its “Early Cybertruck Delivery for Long-Term TSLA Shareholders.” For just over the next week, folks who qualify for this program can skip the Cybetruck line and get priority delivery. It’s what they have to do to qualify that makes this interesting.

First, they must already have a reservation as of March 1st, 2024. In addition, they can’t already have a Cybertruck. Third, they must prove with brokerage statements that they owned TSLA shares on February 28th, 2021. At that time it was trading for just north of $225.

More: Cybertruck Owner Claims Tesla Blacklisted Them For Listing EV For Sale

On top of those hurdles, to qualify, one also needs to own at least 500 shares as of February 29th, 2024. Since TSLA is currently trading for about $177, that’s approximately $88,500 worth of the stock today.

That same day marks the time when they must also have owned at least 50% of the shares they had back in 2021. Finally, all of that must be confirmable via brokerage statements.

To sum it up, Tesla is essentially rewarding its loyal shareholders who have a Cybertruck order already in the works. At the same time, it’s incentivizing holding the stock for the future too and that appears to be the main play here. This deal doesn’t help Tesla sell any more Cybertrucks and it doesn’t offer a discount to buyers either.

Instead, it builds a bit more loyalty for a brand that is already top of the class when it comes to the subject. The move could even influence some who have considered selling TSLA stock to hold off in hopes that they too are rewarded down the line.

Citi transfer partners: Maximize your ThankYou points with these loyalty programs

March 13, 2024 Published by Katie Genter

The Points Guy

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information. Citi is a TPG advertising partner.

Many Citi cardholders redeem their Citi ThankYou Rewards points for gift cards or bookings through the Citi travel portal. But if you have a premium Citi ThankYou card, you may get greater value from your points by utilizing the Citi transfer partners.

In this guide, we’ll discuss how to earn Citi ThankYou points you can redeem with the Citi transfer partners.

Earning points you can use with Citi transfer partners

You can earn Citi ThankYou points through some Citi credit cards, including:

Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Best for supermarkets, gas stations, restaurants and air travel
Citi Rewards+® Card (see rates and fees): Best for earning rewards with no annual fee
Citi Double Cash® Card (see rates and fees; via a linked ThankYou account): Best for everyday purchases
Citi Custom Cash® Card (see rates and fees; via a linked ThankYou account): Best for flexible earning

Keep in mind, though, that not all ThankYou points have the same value. To transfer Citi ThankYou points to most partners described in this guide, you must hold a premium Citi ThankYou card such as the Citi Prestige® Card (no longer available to applications) or the Citi Premier.

If you only have the Citi Rewards+ Card, you’ll earn more limited ThankYou points that you can transfer to JetBlue TrueBlue, Choice Privileges and Wyndham Rewards. If you only have the Citi Double Cash Card or the Citi Custom Cash Card, you earn cash back as “basic” ThankYou points that you can’t transfer to partner programs.

However, if you also hold the Citi Prestige or the Citi Premier, you can combine your limited and basic ThankYou points with those from your Citi Prestige or Citi Premier account. Then, you can transfer your combined rewards to any Citi ThankYou transfer partners.

The information for the Citi Prestige card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

Citi transfer partner overview

The Citi ThankYou Rewards program currently has 19 transfer partners: 14 airline loyalty programs, four hotel loyalty programs and one retail loyalty program.

Here’s an overview of the Citi transfer partners and the ratios at which you can transfer ThankYou points:

Accor Live Limitless: 2:1 transfer ratio
Aeromexico Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio
Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 1:1 transfer ratio
Avianca LifeMiles: 1:1 transfer ratio
Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: 1:1 transfer ratio
Choice Privileges: 1:2 transfer ratio (2:3 transfer ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points)
Emirates Skywards: 1:1 transfer ratio
Etihad Guest: 1:1 transfer ratio
EVA Air Infinity MileageLands: 1:1 transfer ratio
JetBlue TrueBlue: 1:1 transfer ratio (5:4 transfer ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points)
Leaders Club: 5:1 transfer ratio
Qantas Frequent Flyer: 1:1 transfer ratio
Qatar Airways Privilege Club: 1:1 transfer ratio
Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: 1:1 transfer ratio
Shop Your Way: 1:10 transfer ratio
Thai Royal Orchid Plus: 1:1 transfer ratio
Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: 1:1 transfer ratio
Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: 1:1 transfer ratio
Wyndham Rewards: 1:1 transfer ratio (5:4 transfer ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points)

Occasionally, you may be able to transfer Citi points to select partners at a higher ratio during a transfer bonus.

To transfer Citi ThankYou points, go to thankyou.com and sign in to your account. You may need to select the ThankYou account you want to use. Then, click “Travel” on the top navigation bar and select “Points transfer.” Each transfer must be at least 1,000 ThankYou points but no more than 500,000. ThankYou points can only be transferred in increments of 1,000.

Some partners recognize transfers from Citi ThankYou Rewards quicker than others. Citi says transfers can take up to 14 days to process, but our tests on how long Citi ThankYou points take to transfer show most transfers occur much quicker.

In the remainder of this guide, we’ll discuss each Citi transfer partner and whether they’ll likely provide good value if you transfer Citi points.

Accor Live Limitless

Accor Live Limitless has 53 brands, including popular names like Sotifel, Fairmont, Raffles and Movenpick. Its redemptions are simple — 2,000 points are worth 40 euros (around $44, based on current exchange rates). That means each Accor point is worth around 2.2 cents.

Transferring Citi points to Accor at a 2:1 ratio means you’ll get just over 1 cent per Citi point (significantly lower than TPG’s valuation of Citi points at 1.8 cents each). That said, if you have a limited number of Citi points, Accor Live Limitless could be a compelling transfer partner that will offer slightly more value than redeeming your points for travel through the Citi travel portal.

Aeromexico Rewards

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

While Aeromexico Rewards has an award chart for limited-availability classic award tickets, it uses dynamic pricing for most award tickets operated by Aeromexico, Delta, KLM and Air France. This dynamic pricing varies depending on demand, availability, destination and your class of service — but the rates usually aren’t compelling. Even if you book your award online, you’ll still need to pay an award booking fee of 365 Mexican pesos (about $22).

You may get good value from Aeromexico if you use your points in the right situations, but generally, Aeromexico Rewards isn’t one of the most valuable Citi transfer partners.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

Air France-KLM Flying Blue is a popular program that some might argue is one of the best Citi transfer partners. However, Flying Blue uses dynamic award pricing and adds fuel surcharges that can be hefty on some routes.

Flying Blue standardized prices of saver-level redemptions to Europe in late 2023, and you can find great value through the monthly Flying Blue Promo Rewards and Flying Blue stopovers. You can also use Flying Blue’s calendar search tool to find cheaper award tickets.

Avianca LifeMiles

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

With its mixed cabin ticketing and low taxes and fees, Avianca LifeMiles is a popular currency for booking flights on Star Alliance carriers. Unlike some frequent flyer programs, LifeMiles doesn’t pass along carrier surcharges on award tickets.

Although Avianca LifeMiles raised award costs to Asia in late 2022, two of our favorite sweet spots remain:

Lufthansa business class one-way to Europe for 63,000 miles
One-way economy domestic awards on United Airlines for as few as 6,500 miles

You’ll also often find inexpensive Avianca-operated award flights within the Americas.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles uses distance-based award charts for flights on its own metal and Oneworld partner awards. Long-haul flights, such as those between the U.S. and Hong Kong, can be expensive. Specifically, you can book one-way “ultra-long” Cathay Pacific flights of 7,501 miles or longer for 160,000 Asia Miles in first class, 110,000 miles in business, 75,000 miles in premium economy and 38,000 miles in economy.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles passes on fees and surcharges from other carriers and often charges significant fees on its own tickets. But, even after Cathay increased most Asia Miles award rates in late 2023, you’ll still occasionally find award flights where booking through Asia Miles is the best option.

Choice Privileges

CAMBRIA HOTEL COPPER MOUNTAIN/CHOICEHOTELS.COM

Choice integrated Radisson Rewards Americas into its loyalty program in mid-2023. Now you can book Choice hotels, including legacy Radisson Rewards Americas brands, through Choice Privileges. Award nights at most properties worldwide range from 6,000 to 35,000 points per night.

You can transfer Citi points to Choice at a 1:2 ratio (2:3 ratio for cards that earn limited ThankYou points), which makes it easier to get good value. Check out our stories on Choice Hotels Sweet Spot Rewards and unique ways to redeem Choice points to learn how to maximize Choice points.

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards is perhaps most useful for booking Emirates business-class or first-class award tickets, but its award prices are high. For example, a business-class one-way flight from New York to Dubai costs 138,000 miles and $839 in taxes and fees.

EMIRATES.COM

A more viable option is to look at one of the carrier’s fifth-freedom routes between the U.S. and Europe. For example, you can book a one-way business-class award from New York to Milan for 87,000 miles plus $106 in taxes and fees, but if you can find round-trip, saver-level awards, your total price for the New York-to-Milan fifth-freedom route drops to 108,000 miles plus $248.

Etihad Guest

Etihad Guest used to be a fantastic program for maximizing partner redemptions. Unfortunately, Etihad slashed its sweet spots and increased award rates by over 300% on some routes in 2023.

Etihad is making more loyalty program changes this year, including reduced GuestSeat award prices and the ability to redeem miles to upgrade to the Residence on some A380 flights. However, Etihad Guest award rates tend to be high, and the award charts you’ll find only list introductory rates, so the rates you’ll find when you go to book will often be significantly higher.

EVA Air Infinity MileageLands

EVA Air Infinity MileageLands generally won’t be your program of choice. After all, it is often beaten by other programs and is rather difficult to understand. But there are a few notable cases in which you might want to use Infinity MileageLands.

One particular area to consider is intra-region round-trip itineraries. You’re allowed up to two stopovers, up to six segments and one open jaw on round-trip Star Alliance awards — and some regions are very broad. For example, the “North Asia” region consists of “Guam, Japan, Micronesia, Palau, Russian Far East, South Korea, Marshall Islands, Mongolia, Saipan.” So, you could piece together a nice island hopper for just 30,000 miles round trip in economy or 55,000 miles in business class. Likewise, the “South West Pacific” and “South America” regions also look appealing.

Check out the award chart for Star Alliance awards and the award chart for EVA Air awards.

JetBlue TrueBlue

JORDAN WALLER/THE POINTS GUY

Redeeming JetBlue TrueBlue points for the carrier’s flights is simple: The more a flight costs in cash, the more it will require in points. According to TPG’s valuations, you can expect to get roughly 1.4 cents of value for every TrueBlue point you redeem, but some flights may yield slightly better or worse value.

Another option is to redeem JetBlue points for travel on Hawaiian Airlines. You can usually book nonstop, one-way intra-Hawaii economy flights for 7,500 points plus $5.60. However, this isn’t as good of a deal as it sounds since paid flights are often inexpensive on these routes.

Leaders Club

The newest Citi transfer partner is Leaders Club, the loyalty program of The Leading Hotels of the World. Leaders Club uses dynamic award pricing, but you’ll usually get between 6 and 8 cents per point. Given that you can transfer Citi points to Leaders Club at a 5:1 ratio, you’ll usually get between 1.2 and 1.6 cents per Citi point (lower than TPG’s 1.8 cents per ThankYou point valuation).

Suppose you want to redeem Citi points for a stay at a LHW property. In that case, you’ll usually be better off transferring points to Leaders Club instead of redeeming points when booking through the Citi travel portal, but it’s worth doing the math for your specific booking.

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas Frequent Flyer generally isn’t the most lucrative loyalty program with its high fuel surcharges and lackluster award charts. You’ll find multiple distance-based award charts for the program, so you must select the correct award chart based on the airlines you plan to fly.

There are some sweet spots to be found, including short Qantas-operated flights, around-the-world Oneworld tickets, transatlantic business-class awards operated by American Airlines and short-haul American Airlines flights.

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

Qatar Qsuite. KATIE GENTER/THE POINTS GUY

Qatar Airways Privilege Club isn’t the most popular program, but it’s worth caring about since it switched to Avios as its currency in 2022. Now, it is the only Avios-accruing program to partner with Citi ThankYou Rewards.

Since you can combine your Avios across the loyalty programs that use Avios, you can transfer Citi points to Qatar and then book sweet spots in the British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus loyalty programs.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer is usually your best bet if you’re looking to book Singapore Airlines first-class Suites with points and miles. You’ll usually only find Advantage space for 243,000 miles one-way in first class on the nonstop flight from New York to Singapore. But, if you want to fly in business class on this flight, Advantage awards cost 143,500 miles, and Saver awards cost 111,500 miles. If there isn’t an award available when you book, you can join the waitlist.

If those business- and first-class award rates seem a bit high, you can also find value in the monthly KrisFlyer Spontaneous Escapes program.

Shop Your Way

Shop Your Way is a shopping rewards program. You can’t see your redemption options until you have enough Shop Your Way points. However, according to an article on the Shop Your Way website, 1,000 points are worth $1 toward a gift card.

Citi points transfer to Shop Your Way at a 1:10 transfer ratio, which means you’d get about 1 cent per Citi point if you transfer to Shop Your Way. Considering you can get 1 cent per point when redeeming Citi points for a statement credit or check, there’s little reason to transfer your points to Shop Your Way.

Thai Airways Royal Orchid Plus

Despite some decent intra-region award pricing, you won’t find much value in Thai Royal Orchid Plus. You can find the Thai award chart for originating in Bangkok here, the Thai award chart for connecting in Bangkok here and the Star Alliance partner award chart here.

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

ZACH GRIFF/THE POINTS GUY

The Turkish Miles&Smiles program has been a favorite among award travelers in recent years. However, Turkish Airlines devalued its award charts last month. Although this devaluation certainly dropped some of the program’s appeal, there’s still some value to be found.

You’ll still get the most value when you use your miles to book Turkish- or Star Alliance-operated flights. Based on the Miles&Smiles region-based award charts, one-way awards are bookable for half the price of a round-trip award. However, fuel surcharges are high on some Miles&Smiles redemptions.

One of the best ways to redeem Turkish miles is on domestic flights operated by one of the Turkish Miles&Smiles partners. This sweet spot works in many countries with partner hubs, but you’ll pay 10,000 miles one-way in economy and 15,000 in business class on United flights within the U.S., including Hawaii.

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club has been a favorite of award travelers, but the program has removed many of its sweet spots over the last few years. In 2021, Virgin Atlantic axed many of its Delta sweet spots. In 2023, Virgin Atlantic increased ANA first-class redemptions and devalued the award chart for many Delta flights outside Europe and the United Kingdom.

There are still ways to find value, especially when you consider the Virgin Atlantic Flying Club partners. For example, Delta Main Cabin flights between the U.S. and the U.K. on standard season dates start at 15,000 Virgin points each way. You can sometimes get good value by booking discounted award flights through Virgin Atlantic Promo Rewards.

Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards has a simple award chart: Each award night costs 7,500, 15,000 or 30,000 points, depending on the property you choose. Not all properties are a good deal, but you can sometimes find bargains in expensive cities, at high-end properties or during peak travel dates.

You can also redeem Wyndham points for stays at Wyndham vacation club resorts, Caesars Rewards properties and Vacasa vacation rentals.

Bottom line

As you can see, there are plenty of Citi transfer partners. As such, it can make sense to earn Citi ThankYou points even if you don’t know exactly how you’ll want to spend them. Once you know where you want to go, you can determine which transfer partners provide the best options and value for your trip.

Review: 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten With Inline-Six Turbo Sets A New High Bar

February 23, 2024 Published by Carscoops

The 2025 Ram 1500 isn’t entirely redesigned, but it signifies a significant change for the brand. Gone is the exposed steel on the bumper and last year’s HEMI V8 engine. Instead, you’ll find a sleeker body design with a cleaner looking plastic fascia and a twin-turbocharged inline-six 3.0-liter engine that offers both increased power and improved fuel efficiency. Inside, the cabin features upgraded materials, enhanced technology, and increased attention to detail.

Of course, with all of these improvements, the facelifted 1500 is now more expensive than ever before with a starting price of $40,275. In fact, there’s an all-new range-topping trim dubbed the Tungsten that starts at $87,155. Those figures are before destination and handling ($1,995) too.

While we’ve known about many of the features on paper since November, this was our first chance to get up close and personal with the pickup. Our testing consisted of piloting the new Tungsten both in the dense urban jungle of Austin, Texas, but also out in the rural areas like Dripping Springs, Bee Cave, and Bear Creek. Here’s what we learned about the Ram’s new flagship pickup truck.

Our 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten came fully loaded with an as-tested price of $90,535 before delivery fees. Part of that price is the standard High-Output version of the Hurricane 3.0-liter straight-six twin-turbo engine under the hood. It develops 540 hp (403 kW) and 521 lb-ft (706 Nm) of torque and sends it to all four wheels via an eight-speed Torqueflite 8HP75 automatic gearbox.

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More: 2025 Ram 1500 Debuts As A Twin-Turbo City Slicker With Fancy Tungsten Trim

Photos Stephen Rivers/Carscoops, Stellantis

That drivetrain package also includes a two-speed transfer case and multiple operating modes such as 4WD Auto, 4WD High, 4WD Low, neutral, and locked. Ram also offers three different axle ratios including 3.21, 3.55, and 3.92 so that buyers can select the best one for their intended usage. Notably, only the 3.92 is available on the Tungsten.

Interestingly, it hasn’t released details on exactly how the High-Output Hurricane engine performs in terms of fuel economy. Ram does say that the base 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine should get 24 mpg on the highway, so we expect the H/O Hurricane to get less than that. The normal SST version of the Hurricane engine might end up near that 24 mpg mark though. When properly equipped the Ram 1500 can tow up to 11,580 pounds.

Luxury All Around

Review: 2025 Ram 1500 Tungsten With Inline-Six Turbo Sets A New High Bar

Where the Tungsten really intends to stand out is in the cabin. Ram made a big point about that name too. Tungsten, known for its rarity and strength, is the strongest metal globally with the highest melting point. It’s often used in drill bits and Ram used that as inspiration for some of the interior design. The same knurling pattern one would find on a tungsten carbide bit is littered throughout the cabin.

More: What Do You Want To Know About The Ram 1500 Tungsten?

You’ll find it on the VIN plate sitting proudly in the middle of the center armrest, on the plastic gear selector, on the plastic trim of the steering wheel, on the badges in the floor mats, on the door cards, on the center console, and in other places. We wish it were made of real metal instead of cheap plastic but at least it adds some flair the same way Chevrolet did in the Trax we drove last year.

What’s unquestionably high class though is the seating in the Tungsten. Up front you’ll find 24-way adjustable heated, ventilated, and massaging seats with luxurious leather upholstery. They’re nearly identical to the ones found in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and they truly elevate the Ram into flagship territory.

The rear seats are comfortable and luxurious as well, though they lack some of the flashy tech found in the front buckets. Rear occupants even benefit from rear-facing speakers integrated into the back of the front seats. All passengers will enjoy the expansive panoramic sunroof that comes standard on the Tungsten.

In addition, the Tungsten comes standard with a 14.5-inch portrait-oriented infotainment system rocking Uconnect 5. It’s paired with a 10.5-inch infotainment system for the front passenger and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. A full-color heads-up display is also available.

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As a package, it’s unbeatable in the segment. Not only is Uconnect 5 incredibly fast and feature-rich, but it also comes equipped with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay for those who prefer them. The gauge cluster is highly configurable as well, allowing owners to prioritize and place their preferred data almost anywhere on the screen.

A 23-speaker Klipsch Reference sound system is standard on the Tungsten too. It’s capable of a very wide range, but lacked some of the bass that I expect in such a confined cabin. The McIntosh package in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer offered a much more crisp and fuller sound by comparison.

Cargo space is a huge part of any truck purchase and the Ram delivers there too. The center console is positively cavernous and comes with handy little baked-in details too. Mathematical equations for those on a job site sit on the underside of the armrest and a little easter egg showing former Ram generations sits at the bottom of the console.

The Ram Boxes on each side of the bed offer exterior lockable storage and even a hidden power outlet. Under the rear seats is another space for storage in a pinch and the bed can accommodate up to 2,300 pounds of payload capacity and 53.8 cubic feet of storage.

Grabbing The Ram By The Horns

Gone are the days of a truck feeling like a bucket of bolts roughly assaulting its occupants as they drive down the road. Today’s pickups are all about offering the comfort of a sedan or SUV without giving up the capability that those who absolutely need a truck require.

Ram attacked that problem a few years back with its double-wishbone front suspension paired with a five-link rear suspension mated to a solid rear axle. That was a unique setup and it’s proven to be one of the best handling full-size trucks on the market since.

For 2025, Ram revised that suspension package with new tuning and four-corner air suspension. On the road, those refinements show up in terms of how smooth the ride quality is. The steering is quite numb on center and the sheer mass of this pickup is evident in the way that it changes direction and comes to a stop. It’s better to drive on-road than the largely similar Ram Rebel but if you don’t need a truck we’d suggest looking for something that’ll provide a more engaging driving experience.

The drivetrain is a mostly positive experience too. Mashing the go pedal is met with a noticeable lag while the gearbox picks the right cog and the low-inertia turbochargers spool up, but once that’s done the 540 hp Tungsten is legitimately quick. We didn’t have anywhere safe to test things like 0-60 times, but expect this thing to be in the 5-second range if not better.

Passing power on the highway is equally ample but again, there’s a little bit of lag, even in sport mode where the truck gears down and gets going. Sure, some of the eagerness of the old HEMI V8 is gone but ultimately the Hurricane inline-six offers more power and evidently what will be better fuel economy.

Where the Ram 1500 Tungsten was most impressive was on the highway. Not only was it big-SUV comfortable but its available driver aids made the journey less taxing. It comes standard with Ram’s Active Driving Assist, a Level 2 semi-autonomous system that we found works very well in everyday traffic. Not only is it natural but it offers easy stop-and-go usage without having to intervene to keep the truck moving.

New for 2025 is a new Hands-Free Active Driving Assist program that works just like Ford’s Bluecruise or GM’s Supercruise meaning that it’s geo-locked onto pre-programmed highways. Once on one of those, the system can do all of the steering, accelerating, and braking without constant interaction from the driver.

2025 Ram 1500 Pricing

Final Thoughts

There’s little question that this is the most luxurious and most advanced Ram truck ever built. It’s unquestionably capable, legitimately posh, and full of some of the best tech available today. We’ll have to wait to drive the Ram Ramcharger and the Ram Rev to know if the entire 2025 Ram 1500 lineup keeps up with Ford and General Motors, but the Tungsten gives us enough information to compare the top trims.

To that end, we’d say that it’s a worthy rival to the GMC Sierra Denali Ultimate and the Ford F-150 Platinum Plus. In fact, it might be just a touch above those rivals as a complete package. They all sport the same three-year limited warranty and five-year powertrain coverage. Which one you’ll prefer will likely come down to very specific usage cases and personal preferences.

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Surely There’s No Space To Park There? Audi Driver Says Hold My Beer

February 22, 2024 Published by Carscoops

A Massachusetts driver has discovered an innovative way to find a parking spot close to the door of a grocery store

February 20, 2024 at 21:01

The driver of an Audi A4 in Wellesley, Massachusetts, has discovered an innovative new way to secure a parking spot close to the door of a grocery store, even when it appears that none are available: by parking sideways between two other vehicles

Few details are available relating to this incident, but Wellesley Police shared images and videos of the aftermath of the A4’s monster truck-like exploits on X, formerly Twitter. While one person was hurt, their injuries were only minor.

The incident occurred outside the Roche Brothers supermarket, and based on the images, it would appear that the Audi jumped up over a curbed green space dividing two rows of parking spots, and onto the hood of a BMW X5, before coming to a rest between it and a Chevrolet Equinox.

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Read: Silly Nissan Z And GT-R Owners Trigger Needless Pile-Up While Running Red Light

Wellesley Police

The images indicate that the impact was significant enough to deploy the airbags in the Audi, and the vehicle’s position made it impossible for the driver to exit. Consequently, they required assistance from the Wellesley Fire Department for rescue. Subsequently, they were transported to the hospital in an ambulance for further medical attention.

An overhead view of the incident reveals that the green space between the two parked vehicles (and behind the Audi) contained a sidewalk in the middle. It’s incredibly fortunate that no pedestrians were on it at the time of the incident.

Additionally, the same shot of the area also shows that there wasn’t much space behind the Audi for it to build up speed before this accident, making it impressive that it was able to make its way over the BMW’s hood. Whether this was a case of pedal confusion or something else remains to be clarified, but it’s another testament to the impressive forces cars experience.

In order to clean up this crash site, authorities used ropes attached to a tow truck to pull the A4 further onto its side, allowing the X5 to back away from it. The Audi was then lowered back onto its wheels and trailered away.

Video from the unusual crash at 184 Linden Street today. One person had minor injuries. Crash is under investigation. pic.twitter.com/NT8NfGZFpg

— Wellesley Police (@WellesleyPolice) February 19, 2024

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Zagato AGTZ Twin Tail Is A $700,000 Alpine A110 With A Removable Rear End

February 21, 2024 Published by Sebastien Bell

Carscoops

Italian coachbuilder Zagato has unveiled its latest project, a modified version of the Renault group’s Alpine A110 sports cars that is inspired by one of the brand’s oft-forgotten racecars from the 1960s. Limited to just 19 examples, the AGTZ Twin Tail cashes in on the recent obsession with long-tail supercars, while adding its own twist that is inspired by history.

From the picture above, it’s easy to see why the new car is called the “Twin Tail.” The model is sold with a removable carbon fiber appendage that the owner can install to give it a dramatic long-tail silhouette, or they can leave it in their garage if they want to make parking easier.

Read: Alfa Romeo Giulia SWB Zagato Is A Manual V6-Powered One-Off Special

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The unique feature is more than just an aesthetic complication, though. Zagato says it is inspired by the Alpine A220, a long-tail racecar that was designed with a view to winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans. However, it never achieved its lofty goal and, in an effort to earn some silverware, Alpine cut the tail off one example (chassis 1731) and sent it out to compete in hill climbs and other competition, which ended up allowing the car to earn some podium positions.

While the majority of the attention belongs to the unique rear end, Zagato has, of course, modified other parts of the car, too. The standard Alpine A110’s grille and headlights have been reworked, and a new inlet has been added at the rear haunches. The side window also features an upturned lower edge, a bit like the Aston Martin Vanquish Zagato, and the roof has been reworked to give it a subtle double-bubble shape.

Unfortunately, Zagato has not yet shared performance specifications, nor has it revealed if the Alpine A110’s 1.8-liter engine will be modified. However, the standard model produces 252 hp (188 kW/255 PS), while the top-of-the-line A110 R generates 297 hp (221 kW/301 PS). Although delivering exciting performance will certainly be a focus, CEO Andrea Zagato emphasizes that, like the coachbuilder’s other vehicles, the AGTZ Twin Tail is intended to be a grand tourer, not a racecar like its inspirational predecessor.

The Alpine A220 from the late 1960s

“Zagato was always a Grand Touring coachbuilder, producing cars capable of racing but which you could use every day on the road or grace a Concours of Elegance lawn with,” he said. “This is the reason behind the name ‘AGTZ’ and the mission of our project.”

Limited to just 19 examples, Zagato says that the order books for the AGTZ Twin Tail are filling up fast despite its loft price tag of €650,000 (around US$703,200 at current exchange rates). The new Zagato model will make its physical debut in May, in Lake Como, Italy, and deliveries are expected to begin in October 2024.