James Raia

Articles by James Raia

Oscars: Honda, Ford, Toyota teased in Hyundai Elantra ad

Among the nine commercial slots Hyundai has purchased for the Academy Awards, seven will be broadcast during the Oscars telecast, four with the voice over of Arrested Development star Jason Bateman. Three of the ads “Drawing Board,” “Childhood,” and “Deprogramming” all showcase the Hyundai Elantra. The commercial “Drawing Board,” is a straight-forward, none hi-tech 30 seconds during which Hyundai quotes car reviews in various praises of the 40 mpg 2011 Elantra. Toyota, Honda and Ford all take understated, perfectly timed criticism, while one car site is quoted as saying the Elantra has hit a home run in the compact car segment. The commercial ends with Bateman posing the question: “Anybody got a drawing board?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glAJWPE0xQg James RaiaA sports, travel and

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Academy Awards: Hyundai offers free iPad with Equus

Hyundai is arguably the current most talked about manufacturer in the auto industry, and now there’s another reason. The South Korean carmaker promoted during the Academy Awards commercials its unique top-of-the-line Equus feature — a free 16GB WiFi Apple iPad. Hyundai, the exclusive auto advertiser during the Oscars telecast, says in promotional copy for the new offer: “There’s nothing worse than buying a new luxury car only to sit down and have to learn about it through a boring owner’s manual.” “Thankfully, every Equus comes with a 16GB WiFi Apple iPad, and instead of the boring owner’s manual, the Equus Owner’s Experience app teaches you everything you need to know through demonstration videos, interactive product and safety demonstrations via a

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Academy Awards: Hyundai again in auto ad driver's seat

For the third straight year, Hyundai will be the exclusive automotive sponsor of the Academy Awards, with nine ads from the Korean manufacturer set for broadcast throughout the Sunday, February 27 pre-show and telecast on ABC. In accordance with Academy rules, and to ensure that Hyundai‘s long-time “voice” gets to enjoy the spotlight for his second consecutive Oscar nomination, Hyundai has cast a guest star Jason Bateman to provides the voiceover for four ads surrounding the “Best Actor” award category presentation in which official voice Jeff Bridges in nominated Hyundai‘s lineup includes spots for Sonata, Sonata Turbo, Sonata Hybrid, Elantra, Genesis and Equus. The two red carpet ads include “Good Things Come in Threes” featuring Sonata’s three distinct powertrains, and

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Toyota recall: 2.2 million added to faulty floormat list

Toyota has announced another in its continuing series of recalls, this time nearly 2.2 million vehicles, including RAV4, 4Runner, Highlander and Lexus models dating from current models to 2003. The recall widens the same problem that began in 2009 via the risk the driver’s floormat could come loose and trap the accelerator pedal. The RAV4 crossovers have the largest percent of the recall, some 761,000 vehicles for model years 2006 to 2010. The other vehicles included in the recall: 4Runner (603,000) for the model years 2003 through 2009 and Lexus LX 570 (17,000) vehicles for the model years 2008 through 2011. Toyota has also recalled several hundred thousand Lexus, including the RX330, RX  350 and RX 400H models as well

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Hyundai celebrates 25 years in U.S., Excel to Equus

Since its United States debut 25 years ago with the Excel, Hyundai North America has grown into a full-line manufacturers of cars and crossovers — the Accent to Equus, Tucson to Veracruz. Now celebrating its 25th anniversary, Americans have purchased 6,608,208 Hyundai vehicles, with more than 4.35 million still on the road. In 2010, Hyundai sales topped 538,000, making Hyundai the sixth best-selling brand in the United States, behind Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet. Production capacity of Hyundai has grown to more than 400,000 units of Sonata, Elantra and Santa Fe models produced in assembly plants in Alabama and Georgia. Every Hyundai sold since the 1999 model year comes with what remains the industry’s best warranty – a 10-year,

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Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, 2009 car review

You may not be able to afford a Rolls-Royce Phantom Coupe, or even want one, for that matter. But you owe it to yourself to drive one before you pass on. If all you drive are cars such as Toyotas and Chevys, you’ll never get the full picture. The 2009 Phantom Coupe ($400,000) is large, heavy and luxurious. That’s the way Rolls-Royces have always been, so why break tradition? But the car also is powerful, fast and agile on twisting mountain roads near this city, I discovered while driving it at a recent media preview, And that’s not the way Rolls-Royces have always been. The 2009 Coupe should not be mistaken for a Rolls built before Germany’s BMW Group took

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Hyundai Genesis, 2011 car review

The Hyundai Genesis coupe debuted two years ago as a 2009 model, and its styling, acceleration and fair price gave the Korean manufacturer a good, positive jolt in the auto industry. But Hyundai has extended itself with the 2011 edition options, including the 3.8 liter, V6-powered R-Spec. Previously only available on the smaller-engined 2.0T, the R-Spec model combines 306 horsepower with a six-speed manual transmission. The R-Spec also showcases 19-inch wheels with a gunmetal finish, Brembo brake package with ventilated front rotors, stiffer suspension and sportier trim. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Normal, around-town driving and a few local freeway treks during a week’s test drive are sufficient. But on more than two dozen occasions since 2003, I’ve taken test

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Honda Civic 2012 debuts, two models with 40-plus mpg

Featuring the widest array of engine choices available in its class, the 2012 Honda Civic is designed to better meet the needs of the compact-vehicle buyers when it debuts in the spring of 2011. The redesigned ninth-generation Civic lineup will become more fuel efficient with two models — the all-new Honda Civic HF and the Civic Hybrid — each delivering fuel economy estimates of more than 40 mpg on the highway. Built on the tradition of Honda fuel efficiency, the economical Honda Civic HF model will be the most fuel-efficient gasoline-only powered Civic in the lineup. Equipped with a 1.8-liter i-VTEC engine, the Honda Civic HF is targeted to earn EPA-estimated fuel economy of 41 mpg on the highway. The

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1963-64 Studebaker Avanti Car Review

The rakish 1963-64 Studebaker Avanti was among the most daring 1960s American cars, a modern masterpiece with totally unique American styling that even top exotic Italian auto stylists wouldn’t attempt to do. The Avanti had advanced safety features, when no U.S. automaker particularly gave a darn about safety. Such features included a built-in roll bar, padded interior and door latches that became structural body members when closed. Performance? An Avanti with a supercharged V-8 was one of the fastest 1960s autos. A supercharged model hit 168 mph, while a modified version reached 196 mph — a staggering speed for a 1960s production street car. Some 29 Bonneville speed records were smashed by a supercharged Avanti. Safety? The Avanti (Italian for

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Toyota defines hybrid terms: one is Prius, two is Prii

If the opinions of nearly two millions voters interested car names count, which apparently they do for Toyota, the proper plural word for automaker’s popular Prius hybrid is Prii. And it’s correctly pronounced PRE-EYE. Toyota allowed the public to decide the answer to grammatically puzzling question when it launched its “Prius goes plural” ad campaign earlier this year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Japanese manufacturer reported 25 percent of the more than 1.8 million votes cast selected Prii. Finishing second was Prius with 24 percent, followed by Priuses (20 percent), Prien (18 percent) and Prium (13 percent). The word Prius means “beforehand” in Latin, and it’s not supposed to be pluralized. But linguistics experts report

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BMW announces new green sub brand, i3, i8 set for 2013

BMW has unveiled the sub-brand BMW i, which will feature two green vehicles expected in the marketplace by 2013. The BMW i3, previously known as the Megacity Vehicle, will be the BMW Group’s first series-produced car for urban areas driven by electric power alone. The BMW i8 is a plug-in hybrid. Both models are based on a construction concept known as LifeDrive architecture. An aluminium chassis houses the powertrain, and the passenger cell consists of high-strength but lightweight carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Like the BMW i3, the BMW i8 will also be manufactured at BMW’s Leipzig, Germany, plant. An additional range of mobility services — which can also be used independently of the cars — will be an integral component

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Formula One season-opener in troubled Bahrain canceled

The government of Bahrain, in the midst political unrest resulting in several deaths and many injuries to protestors, has canceled the March 13 season-opening Formula One race. Crown Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa said in a statement that it’s “important for the country to focus on immediate issues of national interest.” Pro-democracy activists’ uprisings that have resulted in the ouster of leaders in Tunisia and Egypt have spread to Bahrain, Libya and Algeria. “It is obviously disappointing for everyone involved in the organization of the event, but it is clear that to race in Bahrain at this time would be inappropriate given the current circumstances,” Adam Parr, chairman of the Williams F-1 team, said in a media release. “We

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Jaguar gets J.D Power cross industry service honor

Jaguar North America has been recognized by J.D. Power and Associates as one of only 40 companies in 2011 selected as a Customer Service Champion. To qualify, companies must excel within their own industries and stand out among leading brands in 20 major industries. Among the five key customer “touch points” measured, including people, presentation, process, product, and price, Jaguar was noted for standing out by satisfying customers with the new-vehicle sales experience. J.D. Power evaluated more than 800 brands. Companies were identified based on customer feedback, opinions, and perceptions gathered primarily from J.D. Power’s syndicated research as well as additional, supplemental research. The 40 selectees represent the highest-performing companies that deliver service excellence to U.S. customers — both within

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Nissan Versa leads top-10 cheapest new cars to own

The 2011 Nissan Versa is the least expensive car in the United States to own and operate for five years, according to a new report on the website of the business publication, Kiplinger. The five-year cost of ownership assessment, published on Kiglinger.com, includes the purchase price, down payment, interest on the car loan, insurance, depreciation, taxes and fees, fuel, service and repairs. The Versa and the other cars on the list are all compacts or subcompacts because, according to the report, “They tend to have the lowest market price, the best fuel economy, and reasonable insurance rates since premiums tend to rise with horsepower.” The Nissan Versa averages 26 mpg (city) and 34 mpg (highway), has six airbags standard, but

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Geneva Motor Show: Rolls-Royce will debut electric Phantom

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars is developing the 102EX, a one-off, fully electric powered Phantom to debut at the Geneva Motor Show on March 1, 2011. The car will tour during 2011, serving as a test bed to gather a bank of research data which will be crucial in informing future decisions on alternative drive-trains for Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. “We have engineered the world’s first battery electric vehicle for the ultra-luxury segment,” said CEO Torsten Muller-Otvos, speaking from the company’s headquarters in Goodwood. “With this vehicle, we begin an exploration into alternative drive-trains, seeking clarity on which alternative technologies may be suitable to drive Rolls-Royce motor cars of the future.” With 102EX, also known as the Phantom Experimental Electric (EE), it’s the

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McLaren MP4-12C, 2012: world's best sports car?

Dan Neil, the long-time automotive columnist whose feature Rumble Seat appears in the Saturday edition of the Wall Street Journal, has something to say. He believes the 2012 McLaren MP4-12C is the best sports car in the world. The reason: “(It’s) an era-defining work of technical intelligence and jet-fighter performance that will — be warned — make you look look at the other cars in your garage like they were lawn mowers.” Neil bases his opinion on a variety of factors, most notably: the new McLaren accelerates from 0-60 mph in 3.0 seconds and can complete a quarter-mile in 10.9 seconds. The C12 has a 32-valve, 3.8-liter twin turbo V8 with 592 horsepower and a seven-speed dual clutch gearbox. Neil

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