What’s new at the 2014 Moscow International Auto Salon. An ordinary BMW X5 does not offer the protection of a security-enhanced model. It is a dangerous world out there. Drive-by shootings, carjackings and war zone weaponry can put you and your passengers at risk. For these reasons BMW provides a … Read more
What’s new at the 2014 Moscow International Auto Salon. Take a look at the current Chevrolet utility vehicle line and you will find traditional Suburban and Tahoe SUV models at the top followed by the Traverse and Equinox crossovers. What the bow-tie brand has been lacking until now is a … Read more
What’s new at the 2014 Moscow International Auto Salon. The last time that the Moscow International Auto Salon (MIAS) was held the Datsun brand was a historical footnote in the annals of the automotive industry. That was 2012 — since then, Nissan revived the Datsun brand and is now selling … Read more
Jam, Glam & Slam to the US? Last week, Auto Trends looked at Buick’s expanding line up, particularly its connection to Opel that will likely yield at least two new models. A third model is also planned, one based on the not-yet-released Envision crossover for the Chinese market. Opel Adam … Read more
And the show goes on. Moscow plays host to an important automotive event this month, the biennial Moscow International Automobile Salon (MIAS). This auto show is held on even numbered years and is slated to begin on August 29 and run through September 7, 2014. This year’s show will take … Read more
The modern minivan movement began in 1983 when the Chrysler Corporation brought the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan to the market. Those early models were based on the automaker’s K-Car platform, a compact car line that spawned numerous other Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth models. The earliest minivans lived up to … Read more
Report offers support for an emerging infrastructure. A new study from the Institute of Transportation Studies at the University of California, Davis, sees tremendous promise in hydrogen vehicles. The study says that fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) may be just a few years, not decades behind conventional electric vehicles, as … Read more
Projecting the near-term future of GM’s premium marque. This Opel Cascada may someday become a Buick. GM’s Buick marque finds itself in a unique position among premium brands. Its two closest domestic competitors for years were Mercury and Chrysler, but the former brand is now defunct and the latter brand … Read more
Toyota is saying “good-bye” to its FJ Cruiser in a big way. To mark the end of this utility vehicle’s 8-year model run, it launched a special “Ultimate” edition in Jan. Instead of the usual solid color body with a white roof, this edition features a white grille and Heritage … Read more
Chrysler lays claim to the world’s fastest sedan. Just weeks after introducing the 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, the Chrysler Group has unveiled a 2015 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat. The new model shares the same supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI V-8 engine found in the Challenger SRT Hellcat, making 707 horsepower and … Read more
The 2015 Cadillac Escalade marks the start of this luxury SUV’s fourth generation and remains the largest and most expensive model in the brand’s lineup. As always, the Escalade rests on the platform that underpins GM’s pickup trucks and other large SUVs, and is sold in rear- and four-wheel drive … Read more
The Tesla Model S is a pure electric vehicle that needs no introduction. Although its overall sales are small compared to the brand wide sales of Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and BMW, the Model S has enabled Tesla Motors to make significant in-roads against Europe’s elites including the Audi A7 and the … Read more
Latest edition Toyota Avalon hits all the right marks. After three consecutive weeks of driving hybrid electric vehicles, little did I know that the best one would be saved for last. While the Toyota Prius and the Lexus CT 200h both have a place among hybrids — the Prius for … Read more
From time to time I am asked about the manufacturing status of a particular make/model. No, not whether the vehicle is still being made rather where it is being assembled. Some people make a big stink about where a car is built, then quickly realize that a model from a … Read more
Specifications of a Chevrolet police pursuit vehicle. The Impala is one of three pursuit vehicles offered by Chevrolet. All three US-based car manufacturers compete in the police pursuit vehicle segment. Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet are well represented as each automaker offers two or more models. As has long been the … Read more
Lexus has taken its own approach to the premium/luxury segment. Its model line is composed mostly of a variety of sedans and utility vehicles, each powered by a gasoline engine. There is nary a diesel found in its North American lineup. Instead, Lexus serves up five hybrid models to demonstrate … Read more