James Raia

Articles by James Raia

The Weekly Driver On The Road: Cheap Gas Prices In Georgia, Not!

Five days into the Tour de Georgia, I’ve finally driven the roads that remind me why I appreciate bicycle racing. The route for stage 5 took the field from Suwanee to Dahlonega, and at 133 miles, it was the longest day of the weeklong race. The alternate route from Lake Lanier Island (where the entourage stayed after stage 4) to the finish was much shorter — only a 90-minute drive. I took the roads less traveled. The freeway ended after 35 miles with a sudden left-hand turn onto Duncan Bridge Rd. Farmlands with twisting single-lane roads featured ideal scenery — abandoned, weather-beaten  barns, rusted farm equipment, country stores advertising boiled peanuts. This week, I’m driving a Kia Optima, the Korean

Read more
,

Toyota, Tata Motors Named Among World's Most Innovative Companies

[ad#post] In its list of the world’s 50 most innovated companies, Toyota and Tata Motors of India are both in the top-10 list. Apple, which debuted the iPhone and the MacBook Air in the past year, was named the world’s most innovative company. Here’s the top-10: 1. Apple; 2;.Google; 3. Toyota; 4. General Electric; 5. Microsoft;  6. Tata Motors; 7. Nintendo; 8. Proctor & Gamble; 9. Sony; 10. Nokia.

Read more

The Weekly Driver On The Road: Small Roads, Big Sights On The Way To Monterey

One of my favorite car review testing routes is the estimated 200-mile drive from Sacramento to the Monterey Peninsula. I’ve mentioned the high-speed trek along the congested city stretches, open agricultural farmlands and rolling fields along Interstate 5 . And I’ve written about how in Gilroy, the road changes for a short stretch onto highway 101 and then onto two mall connecting 152 and 156 routes as the peninsula and Pacific Ocean appear on the horizon. Last week, I drove a 2008 Hyundai Veracruz along the route, and unlike some sport utility vehicles, the Hyundai had little difficulty accelerating or descending tight corners. I maneuvered along the technical sections almost carlike. And on two briefs occasions, I also drove the

Read more
,

Honda Civic (Hybrid), 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

[ad#post] Like I experienced when I first test drove the Civic hybrid in 2004, the current version in exceedingly quiet.  During stops, for example, it seems the vehicle’s engine has stopped. Instead, it’s the engine operating solely on electric power. The hybrid Civic is equipped with a 110-horsepower, 1.3-liter engine with two relatively new features largely known by acronyms, IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) and CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). A five-speed manual transmission was previously available, but now the hybrid is only offered with an automatic transmission. The IMA, as previously mentioned, allows a vehicle to operate solely on electric power in certain situations. The CVT feature replaces conventional gears with a belt-and-pully system that continuously and automatically adjusts to provide

Read more

Hybrid Sales Continue To Climb In United States

[ad#post] The total sale of all hybrids in U.S last month was the second-highest ever, falling only behind the May 2007 total. The total pushed hybrid to a total sales share of 2.8 percent. Toyota reported 20,635 sales of the Prius in March 2008, an increase of eight percent over March 2007 and the model’s second-best month’s results to date. The Camry Hybrid sold 6,930 units, up 35 percent, and representing 17.1 per cent of all Camry sales. The Highlander Hybrid sold 2,239 units, down 10 per cent from March 2007, and representing 20.7 per cent of all Highlanders sold. The Lexus RX400h sold 1,570 units, up seven percent, and representing 20.3 percent of all RX models sold. The GS450h

Read more

Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2008: The Weekly Driver Car Review

[ad#post] My weekly drive was the Grand Vitara X-sport. It had a 2.7-liter V6 engine, 185 horsepower and a five-speed automatic transmission. With its two-wheel drive and sunroof additions, it’s one of eight configuration of the vehicle positioned in the class featuring more heavily marketed and more expensive competitors like the Honda CR-V, Ford Escape, Toyota Rav4, Mercury Mariner and Jeep Liberty. Despite varying marketing campaigns, many compact SUVs seem remarkably similar. None are touted as speed burners or comfort machines. But as utilitarian vehicles for outdoors enthusiasts and families, the Grand Vitara stands out among its competitors in a few areas. The Vitara has good overall vision, a spacious cabin, and straightforward controls. Its side-hinged, rear cargo door provides

Read more
,

OnStar, MapQuest Union: Nirvana For Marriages And Directionally Challenged?

[ad#post] The new service, OnStar eNav, will enable subscribers to have directions sent from their computers to specially-equipped vehicles. Once the directions have been sent to the user’s car, they can then be accessed via voice-guided commands. In 2009, under the terms of the agreement, eNav users will be able to download directions directly to their vehicle’s screen-based navigation system. OnStar has also announced a new service, Destination Download, where subscribers with screen-based navigation systems can press a button and be connected to an advisor. This advisor will then find the driver’s location, send it to the system and an icon will pop up on the car’s screen prompting the driver to input where he/she wants to go. Once the

Read more
,

Consumer Reports Selects Most Overlooked Cars For 2008

[ad#post] But the Consumer Report list that impressed me recently is Consumer Reports list of Most Overlooked Cars. It’s a short list for 2008 — four vehicles. Tthe foursome includes a car and a manufacturer I’ve been touting for several years, Hyundai. Consumer Reports has a lot of nice things to says about Hyundai’s top-of-the-line sedan, the Azera. And it’s hard to disagree. Here’s the list of Consumer Reports’ most overlooked cars for 2008 and a brief comment on each vehicle: According the publication’s online site: “These models prove that a car doesn’t have to be a top seller or a top scorer to be a sensible choice and a good value. “All have performed well in our testing, and

Read more
,

Acura RL, 2008: Weidel on Wheels

[ad#post] With that in mind, it’s no surprise I thoroughly enjoyed a week behind the wheel of the Accord’s more sophisticated cousin, the 2008 Acura RL. As Honda’s luxury division, it’s no surprise Acura shares similar views as its parent company and has a good idea of what attracts car buyers and keeps them coming back. Just like the Accord, there is a lot of value in the RL, Acura’s flagship sedan. Although there are no significant changes from the 2007 model, does there really need to be? There’s a simple reason for the lack of any new features — the 2008 Acura RL is already considered one of the finest sedans in the premium mid-size category. This year’s RL

Read more
, ,

Safety Institute Determines 2007 Buick Rendezvous Most Dangerous Car In Crashes

[ad#post] The IIHS evaluates automobile safety via front and side-impact protection, stability control and rollover risk. The four-door Rendezvous had an abysmal three-star (out of five) NHTSA frontal impact rating. The 2008 Buick Enclave, a crossover SUV with a full roster of standard safety equipment, replaced it. Here’s the list of the most dangerous cars to be in during a car crash in 2007, according to IIHS. It’s an organization that represents the interests of the insurance industry. 1. Buick Rendezvous SUV 2. Ford Ranger/Mazda B-Series 3. Nissan Frontier 4. Ford Escape/Mercury Mariner 5. Toyota Yaris 6. Hyundai Accent 7. Toyota Matrix/Pontiac Vibe 8. Kia Rio 9. Chevrolet Aveo 10. Suzuki Reno/Forenza 11. Ford Focus 12. Jeep Liberty 13. Dodge

Read more
, ,

Volvo Awarded International Safety Honor

Volvo, the Swedish manufacturer known its durable and safety-oriented vehicles, has received an international award for its commitment to preventing accidents. Volvo’s in-house developed technology for avoiding low-speed collisions has been awarded the American “Traffic Safety Achievement Award” at this year’s World Traffic Safety Symposium in New York Volvo will be the first manufacturer to install its low-speed safety technology, called City Safety, as standard equipment in a vehicle. It will be available later this year in the XC60, the first Volvo with the feature. According to Volvo, approximately 75 percent of all collisions are at speeds less than 18 mph. In 50 percent of these collisions, drivers do not brake before the collision because of insufficient concentration. If the

Read more
,

Ratan Tata: Profile Of India’s Tata Motors’ Chairman

[ad#post] Born Dec. 28, 1937, Tata’s dream was to manufacture a car costing 100,000 rupees (the Indian currency) which converts to about $2,500. He realized his dream by launching three models of The Nano at the New Delhi Auto Expo on Jan. 10, 2008. On March 26, 2008, Tata Motors announced it had purchased Jaguar & Land Rover from Ford Motor Company for $2.3 billion. Raised in the famous Tata family of Mumbai, Ratan Tata is the son of Soonoo and Naval Hormusji Tata, a Gujarati-speaking Parsi family. Ratan is the great grandson of Tata group founder Jamsedji Tata. Ratan’s childhood was troubled. His parents separated when he was seven years old and his younger brother Jimmy was five. His

Read more
,

Tata Motors Of India Buys Jaguar, Land Rover From Ford Motor Co.

[ad#post] The price is about one-third of what Ford paid for the two brands. According to the Associated Press, the transaction will “expand the Indian carmaker’s reach around the globe and give Jaguar and Land Rover capital to update and expand their product lines.” The sale had been in the works for months as Ford sought money to fund its turnaround plan. Tata will pay $2.3 billion for the British brands, but Ford will pay about $600 million into the Jaguar-Land Rover pension fund when the deal closes, Tata’s statement said. Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion in 1989 and Land Rover for $2.7 billion in 2000. Tata said it expects no significant changes in the terms of employment for

Read more
, ,

Consumer Reports Selects Its Worst-10 Vehicles For 2008

[ad#post] Here’s the list of 10-worst (actually 11) vehicles. That is, the vehicles with the 11 lowest scores (out of 100 points) and Consumer Report testers’ highs and lows comments: 1. Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Score: 17; Highs: Off-road ability; Lows: Ride, handling, braking, noise, fuel economy, fit and finish, visibility, front seat comfort, access, reliability. 2. Hummer H3 (5 Cylinder) Score: 27; Highs: Off-road ability, turning circle; Lows: Acceleration, fuel economy, access, visibility, ride, heavy tailgate, emergency handling, reliability. 3. Jeep Liberty Sport, Score: 27; Highs: Off-road ability; Lows: Fuel economy, noise, agility, fit and finish. 4. Chevrolet Aveo5, Score: 32; Highs: Front access, turning circle, hatchback; Lows: Acceleration, handling. 5. Dodge Nitro SLT, Score: 33; Highs: None; Lows: Ride,

Read more
, ,

Audi Gets Two World Car Of The Year Honors

[ad#post] When naming the Audi R8 as the 2008 World Performance Car, the jurors observed it has “solid credentials on paper thanks to its mid-mounted 420 horsepower V8 engine and aluminum construction. But where it excels is in the exceptional balance, refinement and control that grant the driver the confidence to push to the limit. It has astonishing precision for a car of its size category.” Last year, the Audi RS 4 collected the World Performance Car award, so this makes it two in a row in the performance category for the brand with the four rings. This year there were two representatives from Audi in the final stages of voting, as the Audi S5 was also one of the

Read more

What's In A Car Name? For The Thunderbird, Try A New Suit

AOL reports a great new name for a car nowadays may cost a c manufacturer $50,000. Those in the business of thinking up car names can earn $5,000 to $10,000 per letter — a hefty sum in any writing world. Known as “naming consultants,” the current-day car namers of add a letter or two to proposed names like XT, XL or ZZ, into the deal. “In their extreme form, the results can look like untidy snippets of mutant gene code or meaningless debris from some Martian game of Scrabble,” writes the AOL author. Examples: Cadillac STS, the Pontiac G6, the Honda Civic Si Coupe, the BMW X3 SAV, Taurus X, Nissan Xterra. It’s as though consumers “are going to go

Read more
Previous Next