Petersen Automotive Museum expands its collection of Hollywood rides. Think “Hollywood Icons” and names such as Greta Garbo, James Stewart, and Meryl Streep come to mind. But these decidedly human professionals have automotive counterparts or at least vehicles we recognize immediately. And even if we do not recall their precise … Read more
The hidden gem of the Toyota Experience Center. Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the largest automotive manufacturers in the world. It also has a strong presence in North America, a market that outsells its Japanese home market, 2-to-1. Comprised chiefly of the Toyota and Lexus brands, the company has … Read more
It is no secret that tech giant Sony desires to build automobiles. The company showcased a pair of EV concepts earlier this year, intending to find a partner to bring these models to the market. After a brief search, Sony is tapping Honda to bring its dreams to fruition. The … Read more
The Tesla Cybertruck remains but a dream for this EV maker. Elon Musk is well known for his grand pronouncements, but at least his usual hoopla eventually becomes true. We waited ages for the first Telsa SUV and eventually got two models. A pair of sedans complete the product line. … Read more
A pending recall for the Ford Mustang Mach-E. This week, the Ford Motor Company ordered dealers to stop selling the Ford Mustang Mach-E electric vehicle. The order follows the recognition that a safety defect might make cars immobile. Currently, 49,000 vehicles are covered and will likely face a recall. Mach-E … Read more
If you’re a builder of an electric vehicle, one of the selling points is a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 available to most buyers. The credit saves customers money on their taxes, effectively reducing their ownership costs. Plug-In Electric Drive Vehicle Credit Available for applicable vehicles purchased after … Read more
The upcoming Rivian R1S is delayed; investors write down losses. Rivian was the darling of the electric pickup truck market, that is until the Ford F-150 Lightning arrived. The Normal, Illinois-based manufacturer of all-electric vehicles enjoys financial backing from Amazon, Ford, and T. Rowe Price. But the company is bleeding … Read more
My, how much things have changed! Ten years ago, the midsize pickup truck market was seeing a steady decline. For instance, Ford ended the production of the Ranger for the US market, while GM abandoned the segment where it had previously offered two models. Even the Ram Dakota would only … Read more
You’re forgiven if you don’t remember that the Chrysler brand still markets a full-size sedan. We will also forgive you if you did not realize that the Chrysler brand itself was still around. Such is life for the marque that once comprised the top-tier models for the Chrysler Corporation. Now … Read more
You’re driving down the road, paying attention to your surroundings, and out of nowhere, a car clips your right rear fender. Somehow, you maintain control of the vehicle and manage to make your way off to the side of the road to assess the situation. Fortunately, everyone is okay, but … Read more
Tesla is an early pioneer of Level 2 autonomous driving thanks to its so-called Autopilot technology. The equipment, though, is far from automatic as it still requires the driver to sit behind the wheel and intervene when necessary. Autopilot: SAE Level 2 Since its rollout in 2014, Autopilot has received … Read more
Editor’s Note: The world is on the cusp of autonomous driving, a technology that has been under development for decades. From time to time, Auto Trends Magazine has covered the topic, but we haven’t dissected the language involved. This article is the first of an occasional series of stories covering … Read more
Aerodynamics is a point of great concern to every automaker out there. It is a major component of fuel economy, even if some people and manufacturers still utilize it as a soft form of advertising. Each builder loves showcasing how small their drag coefficient is, but the question is, what … Read more
Tip over test reveals a persistent safety concern for the Jeep Wrangler. The nonprofit Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently put the 2022 Jeep Wrangler through its crash test paces, but once again the Wrangler failed the driver-side small overlap crash test. That test was initially conducted on the … Read more
Ford fans love their Raptors, with high-performance F-150 and Ranger models to play. A third model, the 2022 Bronco Raptor arrives this summer, pushing the off-road antics ever higher. Of the three, we expect that the Bronco Raptor will be the top pick for trail crunching. See Also – 2020 … Read more
If you’re an off-road enthusiast, then you’re familiar with the Toyota 4 Runner. This midsize, traditional body-on-frame SUV is an uncommon model in a segment dominated by crossovers. Yet, like the Jeep Wrangler and the revived Ford Bronco, its fandom remains strong some 40 years after it was introduced. Toyota … Read more
There are millions of cars entering the market every year. Aside from new vehicles, many people also buy used or second-hand cars. Some companies buy damaged or scrap vehicles called cash for cars. What Are Cash For Cars? Cash for cars or damaged car removals companies pay instant cash for … Read more
Is your vehicle on the recall list? We haven’t covered specific recalls here for some time, choosing instead to alert people on how to respond to them. Recalls seem commonplace and they are. After all, when models come with as many as thousands of moving parts, problems happen. But the … Read more
The Cadillac Lyriq adds 76 miles of driving range in 10 minutes with DC fast charging. On May 19, Cadillac’s first-ever all-electric vehicle went on sale at 9 a.m. By 1 p.m., the 2023 Lyriq sold out, leaving some customers waiting for the 2024s. Cadillac did not say how many … Read more
Hyundai, Kia and the sedans that we love. The age of the sedan is fading away. In recent years, Ford, Dodge, Chrysler, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen, and Mazda have dropped one or more models. Demand for utility vehicles is one reason, but something else may be hastening the decline: the transition to … Read more
Here we are in 2022, and it’s probably not much of a surprise to most Americans that the average age of vehicles on the road continues to rise. After all, high prices for new vehicles, a tight market for reliable used models, along with a looming economic recession combine to … Read more
We’ve been conditioned to believe two things about new cars that are not entirely true. At least not now as fuel prices continue to push ever higher. The first one involves depreciation. Specifically, the loss of a car’s value once it is driven off the dealer’s lot. Bankrate.com indicates a … Read more
Do you remember the Mitsubishi i-MiEV? If you do not, you are in solid company. That diminutive EV city car was initially offered by Mitsubishi more than a decade ago. It represented the first batch of modern EVs, but it was cheap and forgettable. Especially for its 62-mile range. A … Read more
From toilet paper to a gallon of milk, it seems like just about everything got more expensive during the pandemic. Not car insurance, though; those prices actually fell for a while. Now that things are returning to normal, however, auto insurance agencies are introducing price hikes all over the place. … Read more
Following a prolonged hiatus, the Nissan Z Series is nearing its return, and the pricing details are now known. This summer, the first of the 2023 Z models roll out, launching a new generation with two trims: Z Coupe Sport ($39,990) and Z Coupe Performance ($49,990). Add $1,025 for the … Read more
Auto Trends Magazine is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the producers of the weekly “The Motor Mouths” car talk show to supply a regular segment. Beginning May 14, 2022, Matt Keegan will contribute his “Top 3” segment of automotive news stories. In addition, Keegan will be available … Read more
Subaru Legacy is refreshed for 2023. Hooray for sedans! No, that isn’t an exclamation heard often, but it is the sentiment for some, including this writer. There is something about four doors, hugging the road, and a reasonable price that appeals to yours truly. Sedans, like minivans, are disappearing across … Read more
We haven’t seen a Scout model since 1980, but that may soon change. Volkswagen is an oddity amongst foreign automakers present in the U.S. market. The German company beat nearly every other overseas manufacturer to the market when the Beetle appeared in the 1950s. Later, the automaker expanded its product … Read more
EVs and mobility seem right for Europe. For nine decades, the General Motors Company was a significant player in the European market. In 2017, the company sold its money-losing Opel and Vauxhall brands to Peugeot Citroen, which are now under the Stellantis umbrella. Along with winding down sales of Chevrolet, … Read more
Guaranteed Asset Protection or GAP coverage involves the difference between what you owe on a vehicle and what your insurer pays out when it is a total loss. It is a type of coverage easily neglected, but something every single new vehicle owner should have. With GAP insurance in place, … Read more