There’s something epic about Top Gear. Absorbing a huge budget and sending three hapless English petrolheads around the world on increasingly ridiculous quests, the programme has been keeping its viewers extremely entertained since its relaunch in 2002. It’s a global phenomenon and should be recognised as such. But through all … Read more
The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner has been revealed, a midsize sport utility vehicle with standard seating for five or optional seating for seven. Like each model built to date, the all-new Toyota 4Runner features body-on-frame construction, an arrangement that makes it possible for the optional 44 model to handle off-road … Read more
Buick just cannot lose the Riviera model name. No surprise there as the Buick Riviera is one of the most heralded appellations in the Buick brand’s 110-year history. Auto Shanghai 2013 At Auto Shanghai 2013, Buick took the wraps off of the latest iteration of a Riviera concept, what Buick … Read more
Getting in a car accident is a hassle enough, but when your auto insurer fights you over its claim payout, it can be just like getting injured all over again. Claim Payout Dispute As a consumer, you have every right to question your claim payout, but you to exercise both … Read more
Chinese cars began to arrive in the United States a few years ago and below nearly everyone’s radar. CODA Automotive, a privately-held electric vehicle manufacturer based in California, was one of the first companies to sell Chinese cars in America, sourcing knock down kits and electric batteries from China and … Read more
The global auto industry is collaborating as never before. This week, GM and Ford announced that they are once again teaming up to develop transmissions. Toyota and BMW are building fuel cells together. Ford and Toyota are working on hybrid systems for large vehicles including pickup trucks. Collaboration on special … Read more
This fall, Chevrolet will introduce the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, the latest variant of this popular compact sedan. The five-passenger front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Cruze has been a hit for the bow-tie brand, but GM has been wanting to extend its appeal to reach car shoppers that are putting a premium on … Read more
If you are in the market for a new car for the first time, your feelings of uncertainty and fear should not be discounted. After all, you are beginning to undertake an important process, one that can have widespread ramifications. The first time car buyer should do his research, shop … Read more
Toyota Hybrid Sales Pass a Milestone Say what you want about hybrid electric vehicles, but there is one thing you cannot deny: Toyota’s leadership in this emerging segment. Indeed, Toyota sells more hybrids than all other competitors combined, just this week passing the 5 million HEV mark. Of those, nearly … Read more
In a driver’s search for improved gas mileage and more value, the hidden benefits of a manual transmission often get overlooked. Through extensive research, automotive technologists and experts have found that a stick shift can improve gas mileage by a notable two to five miles per gallon compared to an … Read more
That Kia would even consider reentering the premium sedan segment a few years ago shows just how far this Korean car manufacturer has progressed in recent years. Until about 2005, most of Kia’s models were considered basic transportation, sometimes of dubious quality and certainly not what diehard automotive enthusiasts would … Read more
The seventh generation Volkswagen Golf will be larger, more spacious and lighter than the current model, coming in as a more fuel efficient one too. It will be based on Volkswagen’s modular transverse matrix, best known as MQB, a platform that will enable the German car manufacturer to build a … Read more
New four-cylinder EcoBoost engine to power 2014 Ford Fusion. EcoBoost® is a registered trademark for Ford’s line of turbocharged, direct fuel injection and variable valve timing engines, a family of powerplants that pack a lot of punch from a small footprint. EcoBoost Family The first EcoBoost engine for North American … Read more
All-new Chevrolet Impala rolls out. You know that you have a problem on your hands when the chief shoppers of your product are fleet buyers. In the auto industry, “fleet” typically translates into “rental car” companies, not consumers. The latter group is what car manufacturers should prefer, as consumers are … Read more
GM’s Opel subsidiary has been a money loser, costing its parent company billions of dollars over the past decade. But, unlike other money losing brands, GM plans to stick with its German unit, this week announcing a 4 billion euros (US$5.2 billion) investment through 2016. Overcoming Obstacles GM’s Board of … Read more
Niche 2014 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor introduced. The Ford F-150 is the best selling pickup truck on the planet, harnessing volume sales to keep ahead of the competition. But, it isn’t the volume models that define this truck for many buyers, rather the many and varied sub-models that have been … Read more
Fisker Automotive, builder of the Fisker Karma luxury sedan has been in the news lately, but certainly not for good reasons. The struggling plug-in hybrid electric vehicle producer appears headed for bankruptcy, making news again last week when it laid off more than three-quarters of its workers at its Anaheim, … Read more
The Spring 2013 edition of the Food Lion AutoFair at the Charlotte Motor Speedway officially comes to a close today. The past few days have been beautiful and comfortable, with Carolina blue sunny skies and temperatures in the mid-60s. That’s a far cry from the 40-degree temperatures on opening day … Read more
At the Charlotte Food Lion AutoFair this weekend, you can take in hundreds of classic cars, including many that are available for immediate purchase. Some are sold directly by the owners to private buyers, serious individuals that will slap down cash on the spot, while still others are hawked at … Read more
Chevy, Ford pickup truck battle. From the 1950s through the 2000s Chevy vs. Ford was the brand battle for the ages. The two best-selling makes for General Motors and the Ford Motor Company have long fought for the top position among car brands, with Toyota jumping in more recently in … Read more
Dodge Durango Dodge’s midsize crossover utility vehicle. A number of traditional body-on-frame sport utility vehicles have made the transition to a unibody chassis including the Ford Explorer and more recently the Nissan Pathfinder. Although off-roading capabilities are typically limited, these crossover SUVs are more rigid, quieter and provide improved fuel … Read more
Subaru is a late arrival to the hybrid market, one of the last car manufacturers to serve up a gas-electric vehicle. Its lateness should not be a reflection of a lack of innovative capabilities as Subaru is a leader in both all-wheel-drive and gasoline four cylinder engine technologies. The 2014 … Read more