Why the Honda Insight Failed the First Time

2013 Honda Insight

  Note: The Honda Insight returned for the 2019 model year. For the second time in its brief history the Honda Insight is being pulled from the US market. And this time it may be gone for good. The Insight, like the Toyota Prius, is a dedicated hybrid. That means … Read more

Mitsubishi: We’re Staying

Following on the heels of Suzuki’s announced exit from the U.S. market, speculation has turned to the fortunes of Mitsubishi, another Japanese automaker that has been experiencing declining sales. Like Suzuki, Mitsubishi is a shell of its former self, but unlike its competitor it has vowed to stay in the … Read more

Road Machine: Custom Jeep Wrangler JK Rig for Heroes

Jeep Wrangler

Jeep Heroes Jeeps are a lot like heroes. Tony Stark builds advanced armored suits and flies around in them fighting evil, when not roaming the concrete jungle in high-powered sports cars. James Bond is kind of like that. Except instead of donning armored suits, he wears bespoke Italian dinner jackets. … Read more

How Can I Tell If My Car is Flex-Fuel Capable?

flex fuel

Cars that are flex fuel capable are vehicles that can run on either straight gasoline or an ethanol blend. An ethanol blend is fuel that consists of up to 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, or what most of us know as E85 fuel. Not all cars are flex … Read more

When Should You Tune Your Car?

Most car owners leave the engine diagnosis to the pros.   Today’s cars are sophisticated pieces of machinery that make use of such advanced technologies as direct injection, electronic ignitions, onboard computers and numerous sensors. Vehicles from the 1970s and earlier routinely required a tune up once every two years … Read more

Replace Your Timing Belt, Avoid Engine Damage

replace timing belt

A destroyed engine will cost you thousands of dollars to replace. One of the most significant wear items on your car is its timing belt. When this rubber-toothed belt is working properly, your engine is operating as designed, but If your timing belt suddenly breaks your car will stop. Moreover, … Read more

GM Invests $35 Million For Cadillac ELR Plant

The Chevrolet Volt will soon be joined by an upscale cousin. The Cadillac ELR, a svelte coupe that is based on the Cadillac Converj concept, will go into production in late 2013. This car will be built at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant in Michigan, a manufacturing facility that will receive a $35 … Read more

Concept Jeeps: The Crawl of the Future

A concept Jeep J-12 with heritage good looks. Reviewing this year’s Jeep Safari Moab concepts, we turn our lens towards the J-12 Concept from Mopar, a pickup truck that may also answer the consumer call for diesel-powered models.  The Jeep  J-12 Concept strikes a rare balance of classic and avant-garde … Read more

How to Buy New Tires for Your Car

tire code

Save money by shopping carefully for new tires. You have been driving your car for three or four years and have noticed that your tires are showing signs of wear. Regular rotations and the occasional realignment have kept your tires in fairly good shape, but the miles have piled up … Read more

The Average Salary of Automotive Body Technicians

car crash

Information updated January 22, 2019. What automotive body technicians earn. By Charles K. Green Automotive body technicians are tasked with repairing and refinishing automotive vehicle bodies. They may also straighten vehicle frames. Such professionals report to a supervisor to find out which parts are to be restored or replaced. Technicians … Read more

Tesla Motors Unveils Supercharger Network

EV maker seeks to eliminate range-anxiety completely. The problems with electric vehicles go beyond high prices and basically boil down to two significant issues: restricted range and long charging intervals. For commuters, an electric vehicle is an ideal option, but for everyone else EVs can be a major inconvenience. If … Read more

How to Change Your Car’s Oil

Our local 10-minute oil change store finally has gotten it right: you don’t have to change your oil every three months or 3,000 miles unless you drive your car hard. As in taxi fleet hard. These days, shops have realigned their businesses to perform oil changes per manufacturer recommendations. That … Read more

Behind the Wheel of a 2012 CODA Sedan

Updated October 3, 2012. Compact CODA Sedan joins the EV fray. If you never heard of CODA Automotive before, you are in good company. This Los Angeles-based automaker has launched its first model, a 5-passenger all-electric compact sedan. This past week I had the opportunity to drive one of the … Read more

The Average Salary of Automotive Engineering Technicians

multimeter

What automotive engineering technicians earn. Information updated October 2021. Automotive engineering technicians work with engineers, examining proposed vehicle designs and changes, and conducting tests. Such tests are performed to gauge an automotive component or system, to measure its performance, efficiency, and durability. Notably, these professionals are part of the broader … Read more

2014 Ford F-150 Will Feature An Aluminum Body

2014 Ford F-150

Popular pickup truck to replace steel with lightweight aluminum. The next generation Ford F-150 pickup truck will debut next year, but if Ford has its way it’ll come in as much as 700 pounds lighter than the current truck. That’s because Ford plans to make user of lighter weight materials … Read more

Essential Tools to Keep in Your Car

essential tools in car trunk

You understand the importance of assembling a tool kit for your home, but do you have a tool kit for your car? With a brand new car, it is easy to overlook the need for such tools, but if you’re in an accident something as simple as duct tape or … Read more

5 Ways to Celebrate the 4th With Your Car

Friends, family, food and fireworks. There is something special about the 4th of July, a date marking America’s independence from Britain. I have fond memories of the holiday dating back to the 1960s as a boy growing up in New Jersey. Our town kicked off the celebration with a parade … Read more

2013 Toyota Venza: The Camry Wagon You Wanted

Beefy wagon offers utility and three trim levels. Toyota hasn’t offered a Camry wagon since the 1990s, a small loss for most consumers as the Toyota Sienna minivan and a host of SUVs have made up for the lost utility. Still, Toyota knows that consumers may want something a bit … Read more

You Can Put Together a Car Emergency Kit

How to assembly a do-it-yourself kit for you car. Retail stores including auto parts retailers sell car emergency kits that contain many of the essentials you need in the event of a breakdown. Some new cars come equipped with these kits or they can be ordered as a special, but … Read more

IIHS Outlines 5 Components For Safer Teen Driving

teenage driver

Teens and cars can be a recipe for disaster. Or at least teenagers that are not subject to various Graduated Driving Licensing laws in their respective states. GDL is a trend that is spreading, one where states put restrictions on novice drivers in a bid to reduce accidents and lower … Read more

2013 Cadillac XTS Overview and Dimensions

2013 Cadillac XTS

The newest model in the Cadillac arsenal is its XTS sedan, a larger five-passenger vehicle powered by its front wheels. All-wheel-drive is optional. New for the 2013 model year, the Cadillac XTS replaces a pair of discontinued sedans: the STS and the DTS, formerly known as the Seville and the … Read more

How to Find a College Grad Car Deal

They’re out there. And you may have heard some buzz about them. What am I talking about? New car deals for college grads. It is true that car manufacturers are interested in getting the business of recent college grads. Grads typically are just launching their careers and some are shopping for their … Read more

2013 Chevrolet Traverse Overview and Specs

2013 Chevrolet Traverse

GM likes to call its Chevrolet Traverse a midsize model, but this vehicle offers a cavernous interior and room for up to eight people. Yes, it is smaller than the bulky Tahoe, but when it comes to offering the best blend of room, utility and fuel efficiency, the Traverse should … Read more

7 Car Brands You Won’t See in the USA Anytime Soon

car brands not in US

Tough market and competition keeps some automakers away. The U.S. auto industry is the second-largest in the world, having been bypassed by China in 2009. China’s ascendancy came as the U.S. market tanked, but its recovery is in progress and promises to be a good one. Car manufacturers the world … Read more

LEGO Fans Rock the Super Car Models

Lego cars

Bringing the wonder of LEGO to super car design. Update: May 23, 2012 — The developer of the Vampire GT Supercar would like LEGO to take his idea and make it into a supported product. He can’t do this without your support, however. If you like Paul Boratko’s work, then … Read more