James Raia

Articles by James Raia

GM recalls 300,000 Chevy Impalas for faulty seat belts

For the second time in two years, General Motors has investigated faulty seat belts in Chevrolet Impalas and this time the examination has resulted in a recall of more than 300,000 of the longstanding vehicle. The automaker said that in 2009 and 2010 Impalas, the front safety belt straps may not be not secured to the lap belt anchor pretensioner that is mounted on the side of the doors. Thus, passengers may not be properly protected. GM also said straps can separate from the anchor in a crash, no longer restraining the passenger. No injuries or deaths have been reported, GM said. Introduced in 1958 as Chevrolet‘s most expensive car, the Impala is named as southern African antelope. Competing and

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Chevy Silverado 2500 HD, 2011: Roman Mica’s video review

Heavy duty pick-up trucks were once the work horses of the Chevrolet fleet. They were brawny trucks used by brawny men to do brawny jobs. But that’s changing fast as more recreational buyers are opting for vehicles like the Silverado 2500 HD to haul campers, horses and boats. Chevrolet redesigned the Silverado 2500 HD in 2011 to make it even more brawny with a sturdier frame for more towing capacity. Roman Mica, contributing editor of TheWeeklyDriver.com, recently test drove the new Chevy truck. And as a sell-admitted non-truck-kind of guy, he was both surprised and not-so surprised with the Silverado 2500 HD — as the video below details. To read more of Roman Mica’s car reviews, visit: www.TFLcar.com. James RaiaA

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Automotive history celebration for 100th Indy 500 anniversary

The event will celebrate the significance of vehicular transportation and competition to Indianapolis and be a centerpiece of the numerous festivities planned to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Indianapolis 500 on May 29. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars The 100th Anniversary Indy 500 Celebration of Automobiles will feature two divisions of automobiles manufactured between 1911-’61, the first 50 years of the Indianapolis 500. Cars representing the 24 manufacturers that competed in the first Indianapolis 500 in 1911: Alco, Amplex, Apperson, Benz, Buick, Case, Cole, Cutting, Fiat, Inter-State, Jackson, Knox, Lozier, Marmon, McFarlan, Mercedes, Mercer, National, Pope-Hartford, Simplex, Stutz, Velie, Westcott., as well as other great classic cars produced between

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Ten top deals on 2010 cars, Ford to Mitsubishi, BMW to Nissan

With 2011 car models now infiltrating and in some instances already saturating the market, now is a good time for a bargain on a new 2010 vehicle. Hybrids to pick-up trucks, Ford to Mitsubishi, there are at least 10 good buys on the markets, according to the web site, TheStreet.com.Dealer incentives, low interest rates and discounted sticker prices to move last year’s models are three of primary reasons substantial discounts. And in some cases, unpopular models are available for even deeper discounts. The web site TheStreet.com has a comprehensive list of 10 vehicles, all 2010 models, it believes are great bargains. The list begins surprisingly with the Ford F-150 pick-up truck, for years among the top-selling vehicles in the United

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New hot rod photography exhibit, book gets Jay Leno video praise

Harholdt’s photographs of builders, known as sculptors with sheet metal, magicians with motors, paragons of paint, reveal their stories and passion for automobiles as works of art. In addition to the photographs, local hot rod enthusiasts have contributed to The Art of the Hot Rod. Ray Bracey of Calvert County has loaned a Richard Petty stand up/ cut out in addition to other memorabilia and parts; Jon Edwards of Town Creek Shop has contributed a 1931 Ford Model A left front fender as well as antique fittings and other hot rod souvenirs.  J.W. Langley has loaned his 1970 Triumph TR-6 and Howard Pouncey has loaned his 1934 restored Ford Pick-up for the exhibition. The Art of the Hot Rod, on

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Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, 2011: It's Superman

And in one early passage, Neil, whose column is titled Rumble Seat, writes: “The Super Sport can accelerate from highway speeds to more than 200 mph in the time it takes you to read this sentence out loud. Literally.” “And then, just when other hypercars—Lambos, Ferraris, Paganis and even rarer isotopes—run out of steam, the Super Sport accelerates harder. This experience quickly exhausts one’s supply of Old Norse oaths and curses and one is reduced to childish wows and holy cows.” “At full throttle in the Super Sport, the world comes at you in one ferocious, howling, soul-shaking, Newtonian sneeze.” Here are some facts and figures about the 2011 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport: Price: $2.8 million (estimated) Horsepower: 1,200

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Tips to help keep cars' engines clean, environment, wallets green

To help keep car owners “green” their auto repair and maintenance, AutoMD.com’s mechanics identified common repair and maintenance activities and applied a simple formula, the “Four R’s”: Recycle, Repair, Re-use and Be Resource-Friendly. A. OIL After re-filling with new oil, simply pour the used oil into the empty container and return it to your local parts/repair shop store. B. ANTIFREEZE Most repair shops will also take your recycled antifreeze. Dumping antifreeze is not only illegal, it can cause serious water quality problems. C. PARTS If you can’t rebuild or repair a failing part (such as a starter or alternator), recycle it at your local repair shop. Typically, you pay a “core” charge when purchasing a new or rebuilt part, but

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Google driving hard into the future with artificial intelligence cars

Early in the article, sub-titled “Smarter Than You Think,” Markoff writes: “The car is a project of Google, which has been working in secret but in plain view on vehicles that can drive themselves, using artificial-intelligence software that can sense anything near the car and mimic the decisions made by a human driver.” “With someone behind the wheel to take control if something goes awry and a technician in the passenger seat to monitor the navigation system, seven test cars have driven 1,000 miles without human intervention and more than 140,000 miles with only occasional human control.” “One even drove itself down Lombard Street in San Francisco, one of the steepest and curviest streets in the nation. The only accident,

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Toyota announces plans to debut two Prius siblings by 2013

According to a dispatch in the Wall Street Journal from the recent National Dealer Conference in Las Vegas, one of the new hybrids will be smaller and one larger than the current Prius, the country’s largest-selling hybrid. According to the newspaper, Toyota executives briefed dealers about the new vehicles, including size details. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars The pending smaller hybrid will comparable to the Toyota Yaris. The larger new hybrid will offer about 50 percent more interior space and storage than the Prius. Toyota also announced a milestone for the Prius at the same dealers’ meeting. Since its debut in 1997, Prius sales worldwide recently surpassed two million units.

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Kia Sportage, 2011: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

No, make that the Sportage is the best-looking car in its class. With chiseled features, a bad-boy-on-the-block lowered roof line and “look at me know” sparkling LED accents, the Sportage is youthful and refined. Yet, four small details hold the Sportage back from perfection. 1. The seats are Amish hard; 2. The ride suffers from too much wooden roller coaster personality; 3. My tester had a persistent, annoying squeak that drove me batty; 4. The engine is anemic. Let’s start with the squeak. It used to be, especially back in the bad old car ’70s and ’80s, that almost all cars, especially those built in Detroit, came factory equipped with complimentary squeaks, rattles and rolls. But Japanese manufacturers raised the

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GM, Tesla, Aston Martin announce recalls for potential fire hazards

Tesla Motors is recalling 439 of its electric sports cars because of a possible fire hazard involving the 12-volt electrical system is its 2010 Roadster 2.0 and Roadster 2.5 with “a 12-volt auxiliary cable.” AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars Tesla discovered the 12-volt cable may have been improperly routed, allowing it to be pinched or abraded. One Tesla customer reported a complained of smoke and fire in the auxiliary system but the problem was resolved without injury. And Aston Martin is recalling almost 1,100 of its 2007 and 2008 DB9, DBS and V8 advantage models because a suspension failure could cause steering problems and increase the chance of a crash,

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GM confirms first compact car in two decades with 2012 Buick Verano

GM, the largest U.S. automaker, said the Verano will be built alongside the Chevrolet Aveo at the factory in Orion Township, Michigan. The Verano, which means “summer” in Spanish, will be based on the recently launched 2011 Chevrolet Cruze, and will be the first compact Buick since the Skylark was discontinued 12 years ago. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES AND INFORMATION Auto Shipping Quote–Car Financing–Car Insurance Quotes–Car Loans–Online Car Insurance–Rental Cars–Used Cars The Verano, which will debut as a 2012 model, is expected to feature a turbocharged four-cylinder engine, while hybrid versions are pending. The Verano will expand GM’s lineup of fuel-efficient vehicles, which includes the 2012 Aveo and Spark. The Verano’s assembly plant, about 30 miles north of Detroit-based GM’s headquarters, previously

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Silver is more popular than gold or any car color — for 10th straight year

Paint maker PPG Industries, which begin tabulating car color total 20 years ago, reported via a press release: “In North America, the silver, gray and charcoal category saw a dramatic rise in popularity to 31 percent this year. The color accounted for 25 percent in 2009 and 20 percent in 2008.” Ironically, Green, the most popular 16 years ago, was the least popular with four percent. “There’s clearly been a significant strengthening of silver’s popularity in recent years,” Jane Harrington, PPG manager of color styling and automotive coatings,” told USA Today. “And, with more than two-thirds of cars in North America being black, silver or white, one might be inclined to believe that vibrant colors don’t exist in automobiles anymore.

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Honda Odyssey, 2011: Innovative redesign for best-selling minivan

“The all-new Odyssey is set to once again redefine the minivan segment as the ultimate family vehicle,” said Erik Berkman, vice president of Corporate Planning and Logistics for American Honda. “Never before has so much space, functionality and comfort been combined with this much style, technology and fuel economy.” Significant enhancements to the interior include a new “3-mode” second-row seat design to enhance center passengers’ comfort (Odyssey EX and above). The 2011 Odyssey is equipped with a total of five LATCH attachment points (four in the Odyssey LX), the most of any vehicle currently available on the market. The one-motion, 60/40 split 3rd-row Magic Seat®, one of the Odyssey’s original concepts and most versatile features, is positioned for more legroom

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BMW, Hyundai get only 5-star grades in new NTHSA ratings system

The upgraded ratings system will now evaluate side pole crash testing and crash prevention-technologies. Also, for the first time, it will utilize a petite female crash test dummy to simulate crash scenarios involving female vehicle occupants. Ratings for 33 of the 55 vehicles to be tested under the new system this year were announced, with the BMW 5 Series 4 DR RWD and the Hyundai Sonata as the only vehicles receiving a 5-star overall rating score under the new ratings system. Twenty-eight other vehicles received a 4-star overall rating score. The full list of newly rated vehicles as well as safe driving statistics, vehicle defects, safety recalls and passenger safety, are available at the official website for the federal government’s

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Honda, Toyota lead Yahoo Autos top-100 'green' car list

The Green Rating was developed by Yahoo! Autos in consultation with Environmental Defense, a nonprofit organization that finds practical ways to protect the planet. The Green Rating covers all the major environmental costs of a motor vehicle, including: Unhealthy smog that comes from tailpipes; Emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming; The fuel a vehicle consumes; Pollution from manufacturing the vehicle and its components. The Green Rating measures a vehicle’s environmental friendliness on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher a vehicle’s Green Rating, the “greener” it is and the lower its harm to human health and the health of the planet. Here’s the list of Yahoo Auto’s top-10 (with ties) green cars: 1. 2010 Honda Civic Hybrid

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