James Raia

Articles by James Raia

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Ferrari, Corvette and Tata Nano share in demand premium price status — really?

That’s a far higher percentage than premiums for Ferrari, Corvette and likely any other car. Several top-of-the-industry publications’ web sites, including Motor Trend and Drive are reporting the alarming statistics. The demand for the Nano, which costs an estimated $2,500 (depending upon the exchange of the rupee) is due to simple supply and demand — and greed. India had a lottery system for the first 100,000 Tata Nanos distributed to dealers, not all of which will be delivered to customers until the end of 2010. Estimates vary, but there were at least 100,000 willing potential buyers for the first allotment of the car. But Arif Fazulbhoy, a car salesman in Mumbai, India, said in an article in Drive that wealthy

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Chrysler, other automakers on the offensive with return to Super Bowl

In addition to Chrysler, Hyundai, Bridgestone GoDaddy.com, Anheuser-Busch, Cars.com, Honda and Audi have all purchased commercial time during the Feb. 7 game schedule in Miami, Fla. Chrysler will showcase its Dodge brand in a 60-second ad in the first half of the game. Chrysler spokeswoman Dianna Gutierrez said the company wants to let Americans know it has emerged from bankruptcy protection. Italian automaker Fiat took control of Chrysler after it emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization in June. Chrysler LLC received about $15.5 billion in U.S. government aid. The government owns nearly 10 percent of the company. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since

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China zooms past U.S. in yearly auto sales in 2009, an industry first

China’s target sales for 2009 was 1o million units. The 2009 annual sales in United States was 10.4 million cars and light trucks. It was in lowest level in the U.S. in 27 years. The Chinese tally also included 650,000 in large trucks sales. According to automotive analysts in China, demand is so high, many buyers having to wait at least several weeks to get their purchases. The top-10 selling cars in China in 2009: 1. Buick Excelle; 2. New Hyundai Elantra; 3. Volkswagen Jetta; 4. BYD F3; 5. Volkswagen Santana; 6. Old Hyundia Elantra; 7. Chery QQ; 8. Xia Li; 9. Honda Accord; 10. Toyota Camry. Top-10 selling in the United States in 2009: 1. Ford F-Series; 2. Toyota

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BMW diesel tops list of most efficient luxury cars

The No. 1 car on the list is the 2009 BMW 335d. Lots of reviewers like the new diesel not only because its gets great gas mileage with averages of 23 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway but it’s a performance diesel. Cars.com says of the 335d: “There are other luxury cars with higher fuel economy estimates, but the 335d represents the best combination of efficiency and driving enjoyment.” Here are the 2010 models and one 2009 model on Cars.com’s list of the top-10 luxury cars that average at least 25 mpg on the highway, plus a comment from the reviewers: AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance,

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General Motors to Tiger Woods: No more free Buicks

Woods’ endorsement contract with GM’s Buick brand ended in 2008. But the manufacturer extended its relationship with golfer via several free loaner vehicles. Woods specifically touted the Buick Enclave, a sport utility vehicle, during his contract with GM.  Buick was also a long-time sponsor of the Buick Invitational, a PGA Tour event at held in San Diego, California. The sponsorship ended following the 2009 event Buick assumed title sponsorship of the event in 1991 and its contract ended at the end of 2009. Now called the San Diego Open, the tournament will held beginning January 25 at Torrey Pines. Woods won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines in 2008. Woods has lost a host of endorsement contracts since his car

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Women of the North American International Auto Show

The women normally aren’t experts, and they may actually know little about the companies they’re representing. But they do well when cameras click and video cameras roll. Of course, that’s their jobs. The North American International Auto Show in Detroit was no different. Roman Mica, owner and editor of the automotive site TFL.com, attended the show and he took a healthy supply of  images, including of pictures of pretty healthy-looking women. To read more about the North American International Auto Show as well as a vast offering of other automotive content, visit: www.tflcar.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition

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MINI debuts concept car Beachcomber at North American International Auto Show

Here’s Mica’s dispatch and video on the new MINI: “Fun in the sun was the theme of the new MINI Beachcomber concept car which debuted rat the 2010 North American International Detroit Auto Show (NAIAS). “There’s nothing like a bunch of beach-going, dancing, half-naked surfer guys and gals to introduce a new car concept to the world, right? “Will the MINI Beachcomber be coming to a beach near your house? It depends how much you like it. So here’s how the gang at the beach in Detroit helped debut the MINI Beachcomber.” To read and view more of Roman Mica’s perspective on the automotive scene, visit: www.TFLcar.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James

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Edmunds.com unveils recommended cars, trucks for 2010

The guide contains Edmunds.com’s Top Recommended Vehicles — shopping lists for consumers interested in any market segment. Another section of the guide, What You Should Know before Buying, provides valuable segment-specific guidance no car shopper should miss. “You’re ready to buy a new vehicle, but how do you go about narrowing down the choices?” Karl Brauer, Editor in Chief of Edmunds.com asked. “Consumers can really use a friend in this overwhelming process; our buying guides give them the benefit of our extensive experience testing and researching every car on the market.” Here are Edmunds.com top recommended vehicles for 2010: Sedans Under $15,000 —- Honda Fit, Hyundai Elantra Under $20,000 —- Mazda MAZDA3, Suzuki Kizashi, Ford Fusion Under $25,000 —- Honda

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Audi R8, Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Volkswagen GTI among Market Watch cars of the year

Ron Amadon, an auto writer and morning news anchor on the MarketWatch Radio Network based in Washington, D.C., has just published his best-of-the-end-of-the-decade list. Details of how he selected his list aren’t provided, except the reviews are for the calendar year, not model year. Fun to drive is also a high priority. Best sports car: Audi R8. Simply the best Audi ever. Biggest surprise: Kia Soul, Nissan Cube. Auto styling goes cubist. Cars of the year: Hyundai Genesis Coupe and Volkswagen GTI. Best sedan: Hyundai Genesis. Smooth and solid at a good price. Best family value: Volvo XC60. Nowhere will you find a smoother, more refined ride. Best gas sipper: VW Jetta TDI. You will never know it is a

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Chevrolet, GM showcase Spark, Cruze, Volt at Detroit Auto Show (Video)

Lutz describes each car in the video below produced by The Weekly Driver’s contributing editor Roman Mica. He’ll be reporting throughout the show, one of the car industry’s most important yearly auto industry gatherings. To read more of Mica’s car reviews and to view his videos from the Detroit Auto Show, visit his web site: www.TFLcar.com James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine

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Ford will join BMW, Chrysler, GM with improved WiFi in 2010 models

That will be the case this year. The manufacturer has announced some of Ford‘s 2010 models will have WiFi capability. Passengers will be able to browse the Internet, read emails, talk with friends and family and even shop. Chrysler, BMW and GM have already announced Internet connectivity in some vehicles, but the Ford system seems to be innovative. Ford is extending SYNC features to include WiFi. SYNC, an integrated communication system found only in Ford cars, allows the operation of MP3 players, blue-tooth enabled phones and USB drives via voice command. With the new added feature, you can plug in your USB mobile modem to connect to Verizon or Sprint and the entire car will have WiFi. Current Autonet WiFi

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Ford sweeps Detroit Auto Show honors with Ford Fusion Hybrid and Transit Connect

The double victory for Ford on Monday marked only the third time in the history of the award an automaker swept the competition. The honors are voted on by a panel of about 50 U.S. and Canadian automotive journalists. The Ford Fusion Hybrid, the gasoline-electric hybrid that debuted in the U.S. market in March 2009, has gas mileage ratings of 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg highway. It was honored over the Buick LaCrosse and the Volkswagen Golf/GTI. A utilitarian truck shorter than the Fusion, the Transit Connect defeated the Chevrolet Equinox and Subaru Outback for the truck title. Introduced in 2002, the Transit Connect is a leisure activity vehicle that replaced the Ford Escort van line. “A

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Land Rover HSE Sport, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

Here are the specs for the 2010 Land Rover Sport HSE and  a three-minute video of the vehicle in Colorado snow conditions: Price as Tested: 70,845.00; Engine: 5.0L Aluminum Alloy V-8; Transmission: 6-speed automatic transmission with CommandShift; Horsepower: 375; G-Tac Test Data test: 5430 feet above sea level; 15.55 seconds at 96 mph; 0-60 mph: 7.35 seconds; 60-0: 101 ft; 061 g’s; EPA Fuel Economy Estimates: City, 17 mpg; Highway, 17 mpg; Combined: 14 mpg; As tested: 13.9 mpg; CO2 per year: 15,651 lbs. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a

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Mercedes-Benz E550, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

It isn’t often (OK, maybe never) the price of a luxury car gets reduced by several thousand dollars. But that’s what Mercedes-Benz did with 2010 models, including the E550. But Mercedes-Benz not only lowered it prices, it did so with a re-designed vehicle, not the staid offerings of yesteryear. The E550 five-passenger sedan is the prime example of how the German manufacturer is attempting to retrieve former Mercedes owners who may have opted for more trendy and less expensive luxury sedans in recent years. The Weekly Driver Test Drive In a perfect world, my weekly test drive would have been, let’s say, to drive across Germany on the Autoban. But a week of everyday driving was just fine, too. There’s

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Range Rover Sport HSE, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

With the Range Rover’s drive-train in snow mode the Brit seemed almost unstoppable even with fat non-winter tires. And you got to love any car that has not 1, not 2, not 3, not 4, but 5 on board cameras giving you a 360 degree view of the surrounding road and traffic as you head down the road. We’re sure that this is a pretty useful off-road feature perhaps used to provide up close and personal views of potentially deadly drop-offs, but it’s also a lot of fun just driving to the grocery store. As of yet we have not been able to figure out how to get to the combined MPG readout to get an “as tested” mileage number

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Nissan announces sponsorship with Lance Armstrong's new Radio Shack team

Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) has announced an agreement with Lance Armstrong, seven-time winner of the Tour de France and founder of the LIVESTRONG Charitable Foundation, to sponsor his new Team RadioShack team. The multi-year partnership includes the use of various Nissan products as the official vehicle of the team. Jaguar is the official sponsor of the new Sky Team based in England. Skoda is the official vehicle of the Tour de France. Team RadioShack features 25 riders, including Armstrong,  from numerous countries.  The squad will debut Jan. 17 at the Tour Down Under and will compete in major events throughout the season, including Tour of California in May and the Tour de France in July. Nissan has a strong

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