James Raia

Articles by James Raia

#198, Colton Herta, IndyCar racing champion

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:31 — 43.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More Colton Herta is 21 years old and he’s been behind one steering or another since he was age six. Go-karts to Indy cars and several racing classes between, Herta is now competing at his best as the NTT IndyCar Series concludes this week in Long Beach, California. Herta (Andretti-Autosport), the youngest driver to win an IndyCar race, successfully defended the Grand Prix of Monterey title he won two years ago on Sept. 19. He completed the 212.61-mile race at WeatherTech Laguna Seca Raceway in 2 hours, 2 minutes and 32 seconds and at an average speed of 104.114 miles per hour. Herta’s season

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2022 Acura RDX (Special Edition)

The 2022 Acura RDX, marketed with “refined exterior and interior styling, a dramatically quieter cabin and a retuned suspension,” will debut Sept. 26 at the Acura Grand Prix of Long Beach (California). A hand-crafted, limited-production 2022 RDX PMC Edition will be available at launch. Each 2022 RDX PMC Edition will be adorned in Long Beach Blue Pearl paint with Orchid Milano leather interior, both colors shared with the electrified 600-horsepower NSX Type S supercar. With production limited to just 200 units, it will be Acura‘s most exclusive PMC Edition yet. Each of the vehicles will be individually numbered with a serial plaque on the center console denoting the special edition. According to the carmaker, the standard technology will include wireless

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2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross: Better but not good enough

After seven straight years of increased annual sales, Mitsubishi followed the industry trend in 2020 and stumbled nearly 28 percent, 12 percent more than the industry average. It was a mighty fall for the underdog manufacturer. It annually has the county’s lowest sales among major carmakers. But just when Mitsubishi‘s misfortunes in 2020 (about 88,000 yearly sales nationwide) seemed likely to further dim the brand’s reputation, good fortune arrived. The vehicle didn’t have a 2021 edition, but the 2022 Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross has provided hope. A modernized exterior design, including a streamlined one-window liftgate and bold new lettering (Range Rover-like) have eliminated the staid look of yesteryear. The revamped exterior look includes an increased length by 5.5 inches (including 4

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#197, CarInsurance.com picks cheapest, best companies

Ashlee Tilford is the managing editor of QuinStreet.com, the marketing and search engine service company. It recently released a consumer-based post detailing a new study by CarInsurance.com — the cheapest and best car insurance companies. Tilford is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Tilford the CarInsurance.com, one of QuinStreet.com’s companies, compiled the resource guide. While considering what’s available in major and small auto insurance companies, the report includes information vetted by experts in several categories, including driver’s age, location and driving habits. “We compared rates among 35 different insurance providers,” Tilford explains. “But before we did that, we created 11 different driver profiles because almost anybody is going to

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GM changes priorities, announces more powerful Silverado

Just when it looked like General Motors was accelerating its electric pickup truck lineup as quickly as possible, a new priority has emerged — another Silverado. The automaker has unveiled the 2022 Silverado ZR2. It’s expected to go on sale in the spring of 2022. Three electric pickup trucks, including a Silverado, were previously announced. With the announcement of the off-road leading Silverado ZR2, the pending electric trucks from GM, may, if only briefly, have taken a backseat. New Chevy Silverado: New safety, convenience stuff “We are getting ready and coming very soon,” said Kelly MacDonald, director of Chevrolet truck marketing. “We will be releasing more information. It’s a tremendous product and we can’t wait to share it with you.”

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#196, Bruce buys a truck, letters and buy us a cup of coffee

Driving a new car is generally enjoyable; the process of acquiring it? Not so much. Bruce Aldrich, the co-host of The Weekly Driver Podcast, hadn’t purchased a new vehicle in more than a decade. His Subaru Outback will soon approach 200,000 miles, and it’s doing fine. But Bruce and his wife, Alene, decided a new Ford F-250 pickup truck is the vehicle to get. It’ll tow an RV just fine, which is a good thing since the couple is planning to do more traveling with friends who are also RVers and who also own a pickup truck. Bruce “built” his new truck online from the Ford website, and now he’ll wait for the truck to arrive. Delivery could take months.

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#195, Acclaimed auto writer chronicles Jaguar at 100

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:53 — 53.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreGiles Chapman is a prolific automotive journalist whose book topics have ranged from the importance of car badges to the history of Land Rover. His latest title is “Jaguar Century: 100 Years of Automotive Excellence.” Jaguar Century chronicles the company and its remarkable vehicles. It covers the manufacturer’s start in 1922 by William Lyons and William Walmsley, and it reports on the current F-Type sports cars to the F-Pace SUV. Chapman, who began his career in 1984 in automotive consultancy, is our guest on episode #195 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. New Jaguar book: Aches, pains at 100 Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia

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2021 Honda Ridgeline updated, future seems grim

Seventeen years ago, Honda introduced the Ridgeline to challenge the mainstream pickup truck empire. The Ridgeline was something. It had the industry’s first lockable in-bed storage trunk. It had a fully independent suspension. The truck’s dual-action tailgate could be opened to the side or down. The 2006 Honda Ridgeline (made in Canada beginning in March 2005) also had an unusual exterior design, a unibody frame. It had a 3.5-liter V6 transverse-mounted engine a five-speed automatic transmission and 247 horsepower. Its towing capacity was (and remains) 5,000 pounds. Accolades arrived quickly, including the Ridgeline’s selection as Motor Trend’s 2006 Truck of the Year. It was also named Car and Driver’s top mid-size truck for 2006. The Ridgeline combined truck capabilities with

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Bigger trucks carry more weight including safety risks

Bigger trucks keep getting  bigger. The increased size also means increased dangers. That’s the assessment of Consumer Reports. The publication’s analysts detailed that from 2000 to 2018 (the most recent study) trucks are 11 percent tall and 24 percent heavier. As a result, big trucks have poorer front sight lines and bigger blindspots that can prevent viewing a small vehicle or a pedestrian. Bigger Trucks doesn’t mean better trucks “Because of their height and long hoods, some trucks have front blind spots 11 feet longer than some sedans and 7 feet longer than many popular SUVs, which increases the risk of the driver running over someone in front of them they can’t see,” said Keith Barry, Consumer Reports Auto Editor.

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2021 Mercedes-AMG A35: a worthy double life

The 2021 Mercedes-AMG A35 4MATIC, a compact luxury sedan, is positioned in a wickedly competitive segment. It defines automotive industry rivalry at its best. Several BMW and Audi models are top German counterpart competitors. The Cadillac CT4, Infiniti Q50, Lexus IS and Volvo S60 are also long-time stalwarts. More recent additions include the Kia Stinger, Genesis G70 and Volkswagen Arteon, expanding the all-worthy list to more than a dozen choices. Pick one and rejoice in your good choice. The AMG (Aufrecht Melcher Großaspach) lineup showcases Mercedes at its best. The manufacturer customizes its vehicles with improved performance and more features. The A35 is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 302 horsepower and a seven-speed, dual-clutch automatic transmission. The

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Aston Martin, James Bond: No Time To Die

What would a James Bond movie be without iconic cars doing the impossible? OK, there’s espionage, guns, chase scenes, adventures in exotic places, tuxedos, pretty women in slinky dresses, villains and a martini or two (shaken, not stirred). But other than that, fans of the 24 films (and soon to be 25 movies) in the franchise need to see cars, notably various Aston Martin vehicles. Aston Martin needs the James Bond movies. The James Bond movies need Aston Martin. In the final preview before the nationwide debut of No Time To Die on Oct. 8, cars are in the mix, including a homage to yesteryear with protruding automatic weapons all the rage. James Bond: Retired? Not So Much The premise

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Charlie Watts: A man and his cars and clothes but no driving

Some rock & roll stars collect women. Charlie Watts preferred one, Shirley Ann Shephard, his wife of 57 years. Instead, the deceased Rolling Stones drummer fancied fancy clothes and vintage cars. He often coordinated his style hobbies as package deals. Watts, who died at age 80 on Aug. 24, didn’t enjoy driving his rare vehicles. He’d opt for proper attire for the occasion to sit in one of the cars and enjoy the combined craftsmanship of his suits and his vehicles. His meticulous attention to detail – be it in fashion, automobiles, or even daily rituals – mirrored the same dedication seen in services that prize quality over flash, like the WritePaper writing service, known for its precision and reliability.

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#194, Lawyer, engineering expert questions Tesla’s AutoPilot

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 50:45 — 69.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreTesla isn’t new to controversy and nor is the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and both are back in the news. The NHTSA, previously critical of the electric vehicle manufacturer, recently said its conducting a preliminary evaluation into the carmaker’s self-titled “Autopilot” systems after 11 crashes in nine states. The concern, the agency reported, is how the driver assistance technology works to “monitor, assist, and enforce the driver’s engagement with driving while Autopilot is in use.” Bryant Walker Smith, an associate professor in the School of Law and the School of Engineering at the University of South Carolina, discusses the Tesla situation on

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VW Basis-Transporter: Rare, odd collectible pickup truck

In the Philippines, it was known as a “country truck” or “Trakbayan.” In Indonesia, its name was “Mitra,” meaning partner. By any name, the Volkswagen Basis-Transporter was among the carmaker’s oddest creations. The two-door, boxy work truck, manufactured in German and in Mexico, were made between 1975 and 1979 only 6,200 were built. It was called the Hormiga or “Ant.” As a basic utility vehicle, the Basis-Transporter was primarily shipped to Mexico, Turkey and Pakistan. It had a 1.6-liter, 50-horsepower engine and a maximum speed of 48 miles per hour. Its bed had a maximum payload of 2,205 pounds. VW Basis-Transporter: Odd, Rare The utilitarian vehicle founds some success during its short tenure because of high fuel prices and a

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Another GM shock: All Chevy Bolts have been recalled

Every Chevy Bolt ever made dating to 2017 has now been recalled after 73,000 vehicles were added to the list because of potentially defective battery modules. The latest recall includes 73,000 vehicles in the U.S. and Canada from 2019 through 2022 model years, including the recently launched larger version called the Bolt EUV. With the previous recall involving about 69,000 cars globally, including nearly 51,000 in the U.S., the recall expansion is expected to cost the automaker an additional $1 billion. It brings the recall’s total to $1.8 billion. Both issues are related to the same two potential battery defects, stemming from reports of fires when Bolt EV vehicles had been plugged in and or recently charged to full. The

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New Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider unveiled and unavailable

The 2022 Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider, unveiled during the just concluded Monterey Auto Week, is a new hypercar. Its stunning looks and impressive specs are equaled by its unannounced price speculated at more than $3.5 million. It’s also an unattainable vehicle unless you’re a current Aston Martin owner who was afforded the opportunity to buy one of the 85 examples manufactured. And good luck with that. They’re all sold. By the numbers, the Valkyrie Spider has the same 6.5-liter Cosworth V-12 as the regular Valkyrie. Combined with its hybrid system, the new Aston Martin has a total output of 1,139 horsepower. The Spider’s engine is mounted directly to the car’s carbon-fiber tub without an insulating subframe. Aston Martin Valkyrie Spider:

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