James Raia

Articles by James Raia

Ram charges ahead, unveils two new 2022 pickup trucks

Continuing its recent expansion of trucks, Ram has announced two new 2022 pickup trucks, the 1500 Laramie G/T and 1500 Rebel G/T. The models offer customized performance features standard including a cold-end exhaust, cold-air intake, performance pages, paddle shifters and a console-mounted performance floor shifter. The 1500 G/T models feature a sport performance hood and G/T decals to distinguish them from the rest of the Rebel and Laramie offerings. A factory-installed cold-end exhaust and cold-air intake, available through Mopar, are also standard. Two new trucks: New app tools Performance pages are included on the 2022 1500 G/T as standard equipment and give drivers the tools necessary to become familiar with their vehicle’s performance. The app provides access to real-time vehicle

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NEW TRUCK PREVIEW: GMC Canyon tries again in 2023

What can GMC do to improve the country’s worst-selling midsized pickup truck? The 2023 Canyon, the debut of the truck’s third generation, will feature a new exterior and interior. A more modern, stylized exterior including a new fascia, will highlight the exterior; the interior will be based on an improved offer of the current GMT 31XX platform. The Canyon is also distinguishable by its massive grille, projector-beam headlights and LED running lights. The same powertrain as the current model will be offered on the 2023 GMC Canyon and with three engine options. Standard features will include additional equipment, although details haven’t been announced. The base engine is a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder with 200 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque. It is

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#190, Collector Part Exchange: new global online swap meet

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 32:09 — 44.2MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreChris Bright is a vintage car enthusiast with an empathetic ear toward other automotive fanciers who can have difficulty finding parts for their unique vehicles. Or maybe they have a garage full of parts and don’t know what to do with the load. To help, Bright recently debuted CollectorPartExchange.com. It’s a modern-day swap meet. As the site is promoted it’s “Open 24/7/365 and spans the globe. Oh, and the weather is always perfect.” Bright, a competitive age-group cyclist who lives in Portland, Oregon, is our guest on Episode #190 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Bright the

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2021 BMW M3 Competition: worthy showoff, fat wallet needed

A guy in a gas station parking lot with a stern look that quickly turned to a big smile asked if we could switch cars. Another onlooker boasted he had the best BMW ever made but that mine looked pretty good. Unsolicited commenters hated the matted exterior color and split “kidney grilles.” Other onlookers couldn’t offer superlatives fast enough. Key Takeaways Sixth-generation M3 debuts with 503 hp and 479 lb-ft: A turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six paired with an eight-speed automatic and rear-wheel drive delivers a 3.5-second 0-60 mph run. Price escalates from $73,795 base to $104,245 as-tested: Carbon ceramic brakes alone add $8,150, with the M Carbon Exterior Package another $4,700 and the M Driver’s top-speed increase $2,500. Polarizing design draws

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NEW TRUCK PREVIEW: Fresh look for 2023 Nissan Frontier

Highlighted by a modernized exterior and interior and a more powerful engine, the 2023 Nissan Frontier will arrive next year as the debut of the midsized pickup truck’s third generation. Nissan reports the new Frontier will feature a 310-horsepower V6 and it will be propelled by a nine-speed automatic transmission and rear or four-wheel drive. The Frontier’s new exterior, according to several truck websites, will feature a new body inspired by the classic Nissan Hardbody Desert Runner, its predecessor. It will feature a massive grille. 2023 Nissan Frontier: New Inside, Outside A new instrument will be unveiled and will include a standard 8-inch touchscreen and a 9-inch screen on upper-level trims. Technology will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration,

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Farewell to the Ford F-150 diesel; We hardly knew you

After only a four-year run, the Ford F-150 diesel pickup truck has been discontinued. The move continues the automaker’s recent lineup tweaks. Unveiled as a 2018 model and carrying the Power Stroke badge, Ford stopped the diesel option because the manufacturer debuted the F-150 Hybrid called the PowerBoost. Ford also recently added the fully electric 2022 Ford F-150 Lightning and a fleet-focused F-150 Lightning Pro. The Power Stroke can be ordered on the F-150 until July 16. Deliveries will continue through the end of the the year. Ford F-150 diesel ends short run The F-150 Hybrid can tow up to 12,700 pounds in 4×2 versions. The F-150 diesel is rated at 12,100 pounds. The Hybrid can also operate in generator

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Chevrolet SSR: Odd, defunct truck, passionate owners

(As a contributor to RVTravel.com, I recently posted the following article about the Chevrolet SSR to the RV industry’s largest site. It attracted a lot of attention from readers, most of it from SSR owners. A few letter writers sent “nasty grams.” The remaining letters were from SSR owners, who forwarded opinions, suggestions and general praise for writing about the vehicle they enjoy. The audiences of RVTravel.com and TheWeeklyDriver.com are different, thus the reason for the re-posting. I’ve also posted two comments from readers, and, of course, readers’ comments are always welcomed.)                                                                                        *** The Chevrolet Super Sport Roadster (SSR) may be the weirdest pickup ever made. The carmaker had elaborate marketing plans and anticipated success for the retro-styled machine.

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Toyota shifts gears, pulls Summer Olympics TV ads in Japan

Financial commitments from television networks, international sponsors and other revenue sources were the biggest hurdle against those calling for the cancellation of the Summer Olympics because of the coronavirus. Now one of the biggest sponsors, Toyota, has decided to withdraw all of its Olympics-related television commercials during the Summer Games — in Japan. Japanese media out reports the decision was made because the car manufacturer fears association already-turbulent Summer Games. The automaker believes aligning its brand with an event the vast majority of the Japanese public is against, could be detrimental to the carmaker’s reputation. Toyota Says No To Summer Olympics Ads in Japan According to media reports, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and other senior executives will not be attending

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#189, Sandra Button: Queen of the Pebble Beach Concours

Sandra Button has judged thousands of cars, Bentley to Bugatti, Maserati to Mercedes-Benz. But a masterpiece from yesteryear can still give the chairwoman of the Pebble Beach Concours a jolt. It happens early Sunday mornings when 200 cars emerge at Pebble Beach Golf Links for the annual homage to automotive beauty and tradition. “I have seen cars drive onto the field from the mist and thought, ‘that’s the one; that’s got a run for the roses,’ “said Button. Sometimes, I’m right and sometimes I’m not. Sometimes, they don’t even make it out of their class. “But I’ve been surprised many, many times seeing a car come around the corner onto the field and saying, ‘wow, what is that?’ It didn’t

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#188, Broadcaster John Kraman talks Mecum Auctions

John Kraman spends his work career immersed in automotive auctions. He’s the lead TV commentator and analyst for NBCSN during Mecum Auction broadcasts. He can barely curb his enthusiasm. There’s no doubt the broadcaster is ready for the return of the three-day Mecum Auction during Classic Car Week beginning Aug. 12. Kraman is my guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is on vacation, so Kraman and I discuss the upcoming Mecum Auction during Monterey Auto Week. “This pandemic really hasn’t slowed us down,” said Kraman. “We have been on the go. Our foot has been on the gas pedal, making adjustments to scheduling and having some safety issues we’ve had to deal with at

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2021 Toyota RAV4 expands SUV lead with EV boost

For several years, the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V have paced the keen competition at the front of the small, versatile sport utility vehicle pack. Toyota has further expanded its current lead with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE. A plug-in hybrid option of the standard five-passenger, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is a small SUV offered in SE and XSE trims. Its 4-cylinder engine combines with a more powerful lithium-ion battery pack and three motors to produce 302 horsepower. Key Takeaways 302-hp plug-in hybrid is the quickest RAV4 ever: The Prime pairs a 2.5-liter four with three motors and a larger lithium-ion battery to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. 42-mile all-electric range is genuinely usable: Too many

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Rivian electric truck closer to debut via test drives

The much-anticipated, pending electric truck Rivian will begin its introduction to the public this summer when customers who have preordered the R1T model will be invited to test drive it. With its national tour, the carmaker seeks to educate its buyers about the pickup truck’s major features. Tour dates will be announced soon. Rivian has detailed its truck, rated with an 11,000-pound towing capacity, will be positioned between a mid-size and full-size truck and will comfortably seat five adults. A trailer hitch is located behind a cover and is accessible by removing two screws. According to the manufacturer, the R1T is 18 feet, 1 inch long and 7 feet, 3 inches long with side mirrors out. A standard cab Ford

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Toyota Tacoma legacy: No. 1 million set for Mecum Auctions

Well into its mid-20s, it’s time for a Toyota Tacoma celebration. One truck fan may get the biggest gift — the one-millionth unit of the iconic small pickup truck. It was assembled Oct. 4, 2019, in San Antonio, Texas, and has been driven only 158 miles. The truck, which may reach a value of $100,000, will be for sale during Mecum Auctions‘ three-day presence at Monterey Auto Week, Aug. 12-14. A 1995 Toyota Tacoma cost between $17,000 and $19,000 new. Carrying lot #R285, the Army Green TRD Pro model will come with a letter from Toyota verifying its production number. That should help to solidify its value, as will the fact that this thing is nearly factory fresh. Toyota Tacoma:

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Electric truck wars: 9 manufacturers ready to charge

Changing nearly as fast as gas prices, there’s seemingly constant news in the electric truck market. More manufacturers are debuting EV pickups while others have plans to do so in the not-too-distant future. At least nine manufacturers are in the electric truck business, led by Tesla and Rivian. Here’s a synopsis of arguably the top-two most anticipated EV trucks and a list of the manufacturers currently in the market. Telsa has plans to offer Cybertruck. Company founder and CEO Elon Musk changes his mind often. But the pending slate currently includes a tri-motor with all-wheel drive, a dual-motor AWD model and a single-motor, rear-wheel-drive. Electric trucks ready to charge Prices were announced starting at just under $40,000. The tri-motor option

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Used truck, car prices climb nearly 30 percent in one year

Statistics tell stories, with some of the best storytellers by numbers the numbers calculators at the U.S. Department of Labor who prepare the Consumer Price Index. Used truck and car prices represent the most dramatic example. According to the latest Consumer Price Index and Manheim, Inc., the world’s largest wholesale auto auction, the overall inflation from May 2020 to May 2021 was 5 percentage. Combined, the inflation rate of used cars and trucks increased nearly 30 percent in the same time. Used vehicles comprise one-third of the entire inflation increase. The automotive industry’s surge, similar to other industries, began at the start of the pandemic. Dealerships in most areas were forced to close in-person locations. Consumer demand tanked, with a

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Future of U.S. mail delivery going postal again

Electric vehicle startup Workhorse, the only company among three finalists to submit an all-electric mail delivery proposal, has filed an official protest after losing the bid to make the U.S. Postal Service’s next-generation vehicle. The USPS instead gave the contract in February to defense contractor Oshkosh. It said its new postal truck is designed to run on gas and electric drivetrains. The contract could be worth $6 billion. The Ohio-based company filed a sealed bid protest in the US Court of Federal Claims. The result of the high-profile court fight could have an impact on how and when those vehicles switch over to electric power. President Joe Biden said he wants electric vehicles throughout the federal fleet. Mail delivery future

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