If you’re thinking about upgrading your diesel truck, you might want to take another look at your exhaust pipe. The tailpipe controls the flow of exhaust coming out of your vehicle. The faster the exhaust flow, the more power your truck will produce, but lots of trucks aren’t designed to … Read more
The 2022 Dacia Duster is a subcompact crossover SUV that is also sold as the Renault Duster in some parts of the world. It is now in its second generation, with a facelift as of 2021 reflecting some of Dacia’s new design philosophy. There are multiple engine choices, two gearbox … Read more
A new midsize Ford Ranger drops cover. We now know what the next-generation Ford Ranger will look like and this one seems like a winner. Introduced by Ford Europe, the fifth-generation Ranger features improved exterior styling, a fresh interior, and a wide-ranging assortment of engine choices. But the new V6 … Read more
One in a series of articles examining makes and/or models not sold in the U.S. market. The Kia Picanto is a small hatchback that was introduced in 2004. The Korean brand brought it to the market as a viable and practical city car that would appeal to buyers looking for … Read more
You would be hard-pressed to find another vehicle with a model name as well known or as even as old as the Volkswagen Beetle. Years before it showed up on our shores, the Beetle design was established, the work of Ferdinand Porsche. In 2014, Volkswagen marked the 65th anniversary of … Read more
Have you been to a service station lately? Unless you are part of the small cohort of electric vehicle devotees, then you are making regular visits to the fuel pump and shelling out a lot of cash in the process. While visiting the pump, you will find several grades of … Read more
British automaker Jaguar supplied a 2017 XE for my review recently, providing me with a second opportunity to examine this all-new compact luxury sedan up close and personal. As before, I remain intrigued by this entry-level model, the smallest and least costly vehicle offered by Jaguar. 2017 Jaguar XE The … Read more
A robust mid-product-cycle update for Ford’s big pickup truck. For 40 consecutive years, the Ford F-150 has been the best-selling pickup truck in America. Indeed, it has also been the best-selling passenger vehicle for most of that time too, a streak that goes back 35 years. Last overhauled in 2015, … Read more
Chevy’s small car is big on efficiency. Car sales are getting clobbered in a market where SUVs and pickup truck growth continues to expand. Even as we finish yet another strong sales year, manufacturers are shifting production capacity away from cars in favor of the vehicle types consumers want. Yet, … Read more
An all-new 2017 Ford F-450 Super Duty at work. In an absolutely expected move, the Ford Motor Company is dressing the 2017 Ford Super Duty with an aluminum body. Soon, all models bearing the F-Series name will use this lightweight material, with the heavy-duty truck coming in up to … Read more
A Volkswagen Group TDI supplied to Audi. Over the weekend, news that the Volkswagen Group had cheated on EPA emissions testing began to spread across the Internet. By late Sunday afternoon, the extent of the scandal became fully known. On Monday, the commercial markets reacted and dropped the automaker’s worth … Read more
Infiniti introduces the first model from its alliance with Mercedes-Benz. The Frankfurt Motor Show is now in progress and the Infiniti Q30 is one of several notable models making its global debut. The newest model from Nissan’s luxury brand has a crossover look, but it is very much a compact … Read more
June 25, 2015: Corrected to include accurate details about the body styles the Cruze’s competitors offer in the US market. An earlier Cruze hatchback will set the stage for a new model. The Chevrolet Cruze may be the best compact car General Motors has ever built even though its sales … Read more
Green Car of the Year award now in its eleventh year. The Audi A3 is a Green Car of the Year finalist. Think “green car” and your thoughts might turn to a variety of battery electric vehicles, including the Tesla Model S, the Ford Focus Electric and the Nissan Leaf. … Read more
The original Porsche Cayenne changed the way that we look at Porsche as well as at sport-utility vehicles in general. Where Jeep and Land Rover paved the way for the earliest off-road vehicles, Porsche came to the party late, but with its guns a-blazing. Porsche’s First Sport Utility Vehicle The … Read more
Audi diesel delivers excellent fuel economy and performance. My first and only diesel vehicle was a used 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit, a model with a single, overarching positive attribute: it got 50 miles per gallon. Beyond that, the Rabbit diesel was as slow as molasses to the point where my palms … Read more
The current Volkswagen Passat, introduced in 2012, is far different from previous models. Now in its fourth generation, this midsize five-passenger front-wheel drive sedan was designed for the American market exclusively. Built at Volkswagen’s manufacturing plant in Chattanooga, Tenn., the 2014 Volkswagen Passat offers a variety of engine choices including … 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
First ever diesel hybrid showcased by VW. Since the late 1990s, we have seen a slew of hybrid vehicles enter the market with Honda and Toyota leading the way. Other manufacturers including Ford, GM, Chrysler, Hyundai and Kia have jumped in, while the German companies have chosen to stay out … Read more