James Raia

Articles by James Raia

#169, Hagerty expert talks strong new 2021 auctions

Auto auctions are back! Live, that is. Online auctions have continued during the pandemic, but January sales are a key indicator for collector car sales. And what a January it was. Brian Rabold, Vice President of Valuation Services at Hagerty, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia talk with Rabold about the new year, the return of live auctions and some of the surprising prices paid for vehicles. According to Hagerty, January 2021 auto auctions generated $181.9 million. The impressive tally doesn’t include sales from the launch of the Barrett-Jackson campaign. It’s been postponed until March. “For us at Hagerty and others in the collector car market, January is a

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2021 Honda Odyssey makes minivans proud

The Honda Odyssey, the former standout and industry wonder, is now 27 years and stagnant. But it’s not the minivan’s fault. Sales of sport utility vehicles, crossovers and pickup trucks continue to increase, dominating the industry. Minivans’ success, like the fate of sedans, have floundered. In 1996, a year after it debuted in the United States, the Odyssey had its best sales year, just shy of 178,000. In 2109, the versatile family hauler, which has the same top reputation as the rest of the Honda lineup, fell to 99,000. It was the minivan’s first sales year under the six-figure plateau. Last year, in the business malaise of the coronavirus, Odyssey sales fell another 16 percent to 83,000, about 47 percent

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Auction set: 2021 Ford Bronco, Mustang Mach 1

The first 2021 Ford Bronco 2-door (VIN 001) and first 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 (VIN 001), two highly coveted vehicles, will be auctioned for charity by Ford Motor Company and Barrett-Jackson at the Scottsdale Auction at WestWorld of Scottsdale, March 20-27, 2021. One-hundred percent of the winning from the Ford Bronco VIN 001 will benefit National Forest Foundation and Outward Bound. Both are part of the new Bronco Wild Fund mission to connect people to the outdoors. The total sale price of the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 VIN 001 will benefit JDRF, the non-profit organization’s efforts against type 1 diabetes. Auto Icons: Ford Bronco, Ford Mustang “The 2021 Ford Bronco 2-door VIN 001 and 2021 Mustang Mach 1

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Tesla fights but agrees to $250 million recall

Tesla, despite resisting a previous request by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), is recalling 135,000 vehicles made during a seven-year span because the cars’ touch screens can potentially fail. According to the NHTSA report, vehicles’ touch screens could fail when their memory chip is full. If a failure occurs, the vehicle’s backup cameras, defrosters and turn signals could malfunction. The recall includes some Model S luxury sedans built between 2012 and 2018 and Model X SUVs built between 2016 and 2018. In the previous its previous request, NHTSA said the issue could affect 159,000 vehicles. The carmaker said it agrees to the recall but disagrees with NHTSA’s determination. The electric vehicle manufacturer reported it was not feasible for

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#168, Hershey’s world class auto museum reopens

Its official name is the Antique Automobile Club of America Museum, but it’s almost always called the AACA Museum or the Hershey Auto Museum. By any name, the museum in Pennsylvania is among the country’s most active facilities honoring the history of automobiles — and it’s reopened. Jeffrey Bliemeister, the museum’s Executive Director, is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Bliemeister the status of auto museums around the country during the coronavirus pandemic. Specifically, we talk about the AACA Museum and its approach to presenting the ever-fascinating world of vintage vehicles. The museum’s vast digital experiences — tours,  ride-alongs and collection chronicles — are all highlighted on

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2021 Lexus UX 200: little SUV big on value

Unveiled at the 2018 Geneva Motor Show, the Lexus UX 200 is the upscale Toyota brand’s newest sport utility vehicle. It’s a subcompact crossover smaller than its NX sibling. The 2021 edition receives a few minor upgrades and tweaks. Small even by sub-compact SUV standards, the Lexus UX 200 is available in Base, Luxury and F-Sport trims. It has a close relative in the UX 250 hybrid. Key Takeaways Smallest Lexus SUV punches above its size: The UX 200 feels bigger than its subcompact profile suggests, with athletic handling and precise steering through mountain roads and city traffic. Sluggish acceleration is the biggest weakness: At 8.9 seconds 0-60 mph with just 169 hp, the UX 200 struggles noticeably on steady

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NEW TRUCK PREVIEW: 2022 Ram 1500

Among the lightweight truck’s “Big Three”, the pending 2022 Ram 1500 will feature mid-generation upgrades and include a hybrid powertrain for the first time. The hybrid option will join current gasoline and diesel powertrain options. An all-electric powertrain is on the horizon but won’t be available for at least two years. While not confirmed, the 2022 Ram 1500 will feature the next-generation Uconnect5 infotainment system. Prices haven’t been released and a slight increase is likely for the new Ram. It will likely be released this summer. The 2022 Ram 1500 will have the grille and current slimmer headlamps halogen, LED and adaptive LED lighting setups. 2022 Ram 1500: Three Powertrain Options The current Ram’s 3.6-liter, 305 horsepower engine will again

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2021 Toyota Tacoma: enduring pickup gets edgy

By James Raia It’s been nearly 27 years since the Toyota Tacoma debuted in the United States, and it’s among the most enduring pickup trucks available. For 2021, the versatile daily driver and work truck has a new optional look. Joining six other Toyota cars, vans and trucks, the Tacoma is available in a Nightshade Edition. It’s an edgy look that features a lot of black — alloy wheels, front lower grille, rear spoiler, outside mirrors, door handles, side rocker panels and shark-fin antenna. There’s a single exhaust with dual black diffusers and black Toyota emblem and badges. Available in two-and four-wheel-drive variants with a spacious Double Cab body style, the new Tacoma features a 3.5-liter V6 with 278-horsepower. It

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2020 Genesis G70: finally a rival for German sport sedans

Now is the time. Brand anxiety? Brand sensitivity? Let the terms vanish from any discussion including vehicles made by Genesis. The luxury division of Hyundai was founded in 2015. Its first vehicle debuted in 2017 and late last year J.D. Power named Genesis the most dependable automotive brand in North America. Launched with the large sedan G90, the brand now has three sedans and a sport utility vehicle, all moving into 2021 editions. Last year’s models are still available including the Genesis G70. In its debut two years ago the smallest of the company’s three sedans was named North American Car of the Year by the national automotive media industry. The 2020 Genesis G70 offers the same combination — a

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3 key factors when buying a used car for a teen

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Despite how much you may enjoy it, it may not be possible to drop off and pick your teenager from school every day. Your younger family members may also travel afar and driving them may not be possible. The solution may be to get them a car. Teenagers being teenagers, purchasing the right car is important, particularly if your child is driving for the first time. Buying a used car can also be problematic unless it’s properly maintained and driven carefully. Still, if your budget doesn’t allow you to purchased a new vehicle, good quality used cars are available and worthy of purchase. Here are some key guidelines to follow: Make sure your child is driver trained Many

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2021 Maserati MC20: Super car debuts, needs new name

Italian carmakers’ lyrical names define what automotive art on four wheels should be called. Is there a better-named vehicle in the supercar stratosphere than the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo? So isn’t it ironic? The first supercar in 16 years presented by the manufacturer that began in Bologna, Italy, more than a century ago has a ho-hum name. Meet the 2021 Maserati MC20. The MC20 designation stands for Maserati Corse 2020 and celebrates the brand’s return to racing. A mid-engine supercar, the new Maserati succeeds the MC12. But the two relatives share little beyond the carmaker’s name and a mid-engine design. Maserati hasn’t debuted a new supercar since 2005, with the MC20 the fourth mid-engine production vehicle in the carmaker’s 107-year history.

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2021 Mazda CX-5: new, gains on small SUV leaders

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is the 10th year of the small sport utility vehicle. Except for the business-curtailed 2020 pandemic year, the versatile family hauler’s popularity has increased annually. With seven trim levels and the brand’s top-rated reliability designation from Consumer Reports, the CX-5 and several of its stablemates have catapulted Mazda far way from its doldrum years. It joined Alfa Romeo and Volvo as the only manufacturers with increased sales in 2020 from 2019. The CX-5 was the country’s 21st best-selling vehicle in 2020 with 146,420 units sold. The Signature trim covers all modernized areas of the Japanese carmaker once maligned for its rotary engines. There’s nothing fancy or unique about the unassuming SUV, unless value, comfort and consistency

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R will mark the return of the manufacturer’s top-performance model after a three-year hiatus. While similar to its predecessor, the new VW Golf R will have its differences. The upgraded 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder will deliver 315 horsepower, an increase of 27 horsepower from the previous edition. The new Golf R will be propelled by a six-speed manual transmission or an automated seven-speed, dual-clutch direct-shift gearbox. According to the manufacturer, the new Golf will advance from zero to 62 miles per hour (100km) in 4.7 seconds. The top speed is 155 miles per hour. New, lighter 14.1-inch disc brakes will be featured as will a new ABS braking system and an improved pedal feel. 2022 Volkswagen Golf

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#166 EV expert Steve Birkett discusses growing industry

Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle expert who embraces the automotive technology of sustainable choices. Birkett, who lives and works in Boston, Mass., has owned several electric vehicles. He provides his expertise in the field and his advocacy of the industry on the website findthebestcarprice.com and other industry publications. And he’s our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Birkett the industry at-large. We ask Birkett about his family experiences with EVs. (He drives to visit relatives in Ohio on occasion in addition to daily car use). Bruce and I chat with our guest about how the alternative fuel industry has changed. EV industry rapidly changing And, of course, we

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2022 Honda Civic boldly new

With a redesigned exterior, the 2022 Honda Civic will mark the debut of the vehicle’s 11th generation. The new model will continue the legacy of the car unveiled in 1972 and perennially among the country’s top-selling vehicles. The new generation Civic was revealed as a prototype in mid-November 2020. It’s scheduled for release in North America in the spring of 2021. While many details haven’t been released, the versatile little machine is expected to include a hatchback, Si and Type R trim levels. 2022 Honda Civic Gets Makeover From early reports, the Civic will be one-inch longer than 2021 offering also appears wider and touting a lower riding profile. A manual transmission will be available on the hatchback, according to

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NEW TRUCK PREVIEW: 2022 Ford Maverick or Courier?

Ford will return to the United States compact pickup truck market with the 2022 Ford Maverick. Or could it be called the 2022 Ford Courier? By any given name, the base model will use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, according to several automotive website reports. The engine is also featured in the Transit Connect model and generates 162 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. Slotted below the Ford Ranger, the Maverick or Courier (or another name) will have unibody construction, with a similar look to the Honda Ridgeline. It will be a four-door-only vehicle, according to several automotive sites. A 1.5-liter three-cylinder turbo engine will be optional, with 181 horsepower and 190 lb-ft of torque and with all-wheel optional. Some reports

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