James Raia

Articles by James Raia

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Truck wars: Chevy, Ford, Ram push towing capacity max

Truck wars are nothing new. But with lightweight trucks sales growing at an increasingly fast rate, competition has become more intense. The latest battle involves increased towing capacities for the top-three sellers, Chevrolet, Ford and Ram. Chevrolet recently announced an increase of 500 pounds for the 2021 Chevrolet 2500/3500, pushing the maximum to 36,000 pounds. The boost occurred after engineers made changes to the suspension and available wheel packages. The improvement to the Chevy places it 1,000 pounds less than the Ford Super Duty (37,000) and 900 pounds more than the Ram HD (35,100). Chevy’s 36,000-pound maximum is available only on the regular-cab Silverado 3500 Work Truck with dual rear wheels and rear-wheel drive. The 445-horsepower, 6.6-liter Duramax diesel making

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2020 Genesis G90: Luxury for far less than German rivals

The 2020 Genesis G90 marks the fourth model year of the flagship sedan. It’s the South Korean challenger, still young, unheralded and a worthy underdog to its well-heeled front runners from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz. If its stalwart German rivals haven’t noticed it yet, they should. As the subsidiary luxury brand of Hyundai, Genesis has risen quickly among the automotive watchdogs. Car and Driver to J.D. Power and Motor Trend to Kelley Blue Book annually simultaneously bestow automotive honors while touting themselves. Genesis, with its G70, G80 and G90 models, has been the star for a few years. The G70, the value-priced sedan, is leading the clan in the accolades tally. The Genesis G90 is the limo-like cruiser offered as

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Mazda MX-5 Miata still reigns at age 32

There’s little room, the trunk is tiny, body and cargo space minimal. It’s difficult to enter and exit, and it’s loud. Welcome another edition of the Mazda MX-5 Miata, nearly everyone’s favorite 32-year-old lightweight roadster. For 2020, the best-selling sports car in history is a continuation of the fourth generation introduced in 2016. It’s stayed much the same, with a few refreshes along the way. The two-seater is available in Sport, Club and Grand Touring trims, all propelled by 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engines with 181 horsepower. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on all models and a six-speed automatic transmission is optional. The standard transmission option shifts smoothly and propels the sports car from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 5.7 seconds.

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#152, Jonathan Pierce of Harman gives good sound advice

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 34:16 — 47.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe next time you hear the quality of the auto system in your vehicle, it’s likely Johnathan Pierce of Harman had something to do with it. Pierce, Senior Manager of Global Experiential R&D for Car Audio at Harman, leads a team of scientist and engineer colleagues. They “apply research and robust measurement techniques to further understand the relationship between an artist’s intent and listener preference.” In other words, Pierce oversees a Harman team that ensures you get what you pay for when you invest in an expensive sound system. Harman expert helps Cadillac, Lincoln Pierce has most notably has been responsible for the 3D

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2020 Lexus LS 500: luxury sedans still matter

The transportation saturation of SUVs and pickup trucks is ever-increasing. But the 2020 Lexus LS 500, the showcase vehicle in Toyota’s upscale division, is a fine reason why consumers should still consider sedans. Completely redesigned two years ago with a fifth generation, the 2020 LS 500 retains the full-size luxury sedan’s finer attributes. It combines an uber-quiet, comfortable ride, an interior designer’s finest skill and top-line technology. Key Takeaways 416-hp twin-turbo V6 pairs with a 10-speed automatic: The fifth-generation LS 500 reaches 60 mph from a standstill in 4.9 seconds while averaging 19 mpg city and 30 mpg highway on premium fuel. One trim level keeps configuration simple: Rear-wheel drive is standard, all-wheel drive is optional, and a hybrid version

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#151, Interstate 80 museum honors military history

About halfway between Sacramento and San Francisco, travelers on Interstate 80 can visit an iconic brewery, renowned confectionery or an indoor-outdoor homage to military transportation within minutes. But a full day’s visit to one or any combination of the attractions is warranted. The setting is a trio of museums all located within a few-mile radius on farmland off frontage roads in Fairfield, an agricultural hub in Solano County. The Anheuser-Busch facility doesn’t have much in common with Jelly Belly or the American Armory Museum. But the latter two destinations share much. Geoff Lippman, the military museum’s general manager and curator, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Lippman discusses the history of the museum, its ever-expanding collection

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Michael Schumacher vegetative, recovery unlikely

Michael Schumacher, the legendary Formula 1 driver who has been in a coma since a 2013 skiing accident, is in a “vegetative state” and has a minimal possibility of returning. The report came from renowned neurosurgeon Erich Riederer during a documentary on French television station TMC. Riederer said Schumacher, 51, is awake but is not responding. The seven-time World Champion is breathing and his heart is beating, but the physician believes the legendary driver’s condition is “the maximum for him.” Schumacher was in a medically induced coma for six months after the head injury suffered in the Swiss Alps. He returned home 254 days later and he primarily remained there since. Michael Schumacher: Another surgery set? Schumacher’s condition has remained

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New Hummer EV cruises tough terrain in ‘Crab Mode’

Could the revitalized Hummer EV get more unique than the original? Yes. How about a feature called “Crab Mode?” The soon-to-debut, all-electric Hummer EV truck will include a feature allowing the vehicle to move terrain diagonally like a sand-dwelling crustacean. Crab Mode will be enabled by the electric pickup truck’s four-wheel steering capability. Its functionality is “tailor-made for off-roading customers,” the manufacturer said. Planned for a May debut, the anticipated return of the Hummer was delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Hummer EV has a military heritage The odd-looking, testosterone-loaded Hummer was first marketed when AM General began selling a civilian version of the M998 Humvee. The brand endured different owners and hiatus production time frames. GM announced earlier this

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Splurging? How about a motorhome for a $1 million

If you’re in the motorhome market and have at least a million dollars to spend, consider the Perfect 1200 Platinum. Variomobil’s newest monster motorhome features a massive living space with three electro-hydraulic slide-outs. It has a symphony hall-grade audio system. It has intelligent lighting, top-line appliances. It has zero towing capacity because it can “swallow” a vehicle as large a Mercedes-AMG GT. The Perfect 1200 Platinum is manufactured by a family-owned business in Osnabrück, Germany specializing in opulent motorhomes. The new model is 39 feet long and weighs 52,000 pounds. Available furnishings and equipment include a touchscreen-controlled induction cooktop, 190-L refrigerator, dishwasher, full bathroom with mineral stone sink, LED TV with satellite, Bose audio system, washer/dryer, leather upholstery, real wood

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Ford announces next F-150 plus first EV truck

With several pickup trucks, including the much-touted all-electric options, competition is increasing. The Ford F-150 still rules, but the manufacturer isn’t resting on its success. As such, the production of the next generation of the popular F-150 pickup trucks series has started. The trucks will be made in the company’s Dearborn, Michigan, plant. They’re expected to go on sale in November. The launch of the country’s top-selling vehicle is “on time and on track,” said new company CEO Jim Farley. Ford will debut electric truck in 2022 The manufacturer also simultaneously announced it will join the highly competitive electric truck market in mid-2022. It’s when a battery-electric version is expected to debut. According to the manufacturer, the battery-electric version of

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Go take a hike driving a new Winnebago

Winnebago has a new camper trailer with an unusual but appropriate name — The Hike. It’s designed for a more active consumer with an emphasis on accommodating lots of varied gear. The manufacturer is promoting The Hike as ideal for attaching to a 4×4 and with hauling kayak and bikes and heading off-road. It’s available in 20.6-foot single-axle models and 25-foot double-axle versions. An integrated rack system for bikes, paddleboards, kayaks and other recreational gear is a keen exterior feature. Gear is attached directly to the rack with ratchet straps and bungee cords. Winnebago Hike has five floor plans The slide-out kitchen is another innovation. Included on several trailer floor plans, the dual-burner stove and sink pull out of a

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2020 Honda Civic Si: Drive it for the fun of it

Vehicles available with manual transmissions are far removed from their dominant heydays. But consumers who still appreciate driving a stick shift shouldn’t despair. The 2020 Honda Civic Si is among 41 of 325 new models offered with a gearbox and clutch. A decade ago, 37 percent of new cars had manual transmission options. It’s now about 13 percent, including the exceedingly fun-to-drive 2020 Honda Civic Si. The 2020 Honda Civic Si is only available with a six-speed manual transmission. Images © Gretchen Gaither/2020. The Civic Si is the performance-oriented option of one of the best-selling cars in history. Available as a sedan or coupe, the Si is offered in a single, well-equipped trim. 2020 Honda Civic Si: It’s for drivers

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Most studly truck? 15-year-old Dodge Ram SRT10

One thing pickup truck owners universally like is power. The power to tow an RV, haul stuff, advance uphill and downhill, trek off-road. It’s what a 2006 Dodge Ram SRT10 does best. But what are the top choices for the most powerful trucks? The website hotcars.com has compiled a list and provides facts, figures and reasoning. The No. 1 vehicle on the list is the 2004-2006 Dodge Ram SRT10. It’s equipped with an 8.3-liter V10 with 500 horsepower. It accelerates from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 4.9 seconds. The regular cab version of the SRT10 has a top speed on 106 mph. The SRT10 can tow 7,500 pounds. Dodge Ram SRT10 reigns Here in reverse order and in

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Supercar designer Gordon Murray: McLaren F1 to GMA T.50

Gordon Murray isn’t employed as a mathematician or bariatrician. But no one in the automotive industry knows more about numbers and weight and how to make more less and less more. If less weight means more car, Murray will re-design the aluminum brake and clutch pedals and titanium gas pedal in his newest vehicle, the 2021 GMA T.50, with lattice artwork. It reduces the weight of a solid pedal design by 10.5 ounces. The T.50 name reflects more is less on several levels. The recently revealed supercar is the 50th road or racing vehicle Murray has designed. It celebrates the legendary South African-born British craftsman’s 50th year as a car designer. Nearly 30 years ago, Murray develop the lightweight and

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#149, #150: The Weekly Driver Podcast celebrates 3 years (Part 2)

The Weekly Driver Podcast debuted in September 2017. Bruce Aldrich and I had already collaborated on automotive YouTube videos and attending car shows together for several years. A podcast seemed like an ideal new creative outlet. We’re now 3-years-old and 150 episodes into our show. To celebrate the milestone, Bruce and I independently picked our five favorites episodes. And we discuss them in a double presentation on Episodes #149 and #150. The Weekly Driver Podcast Celebrates 3 Years Bruce actually picked six episodes. And among our combined 11 favorites, only one overlapped. We both selected artist Chris Miller. An article posted in the creative newsletter Atlas Obscura about Miller’s first stone truck creation many years ago led to email contact

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#149, #150: The Weekly Driver Podcast celebrates 3 years (Part 1)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:24 — 37.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Weekly Driver Podcast debuted in September 2017. Bruce Aldrich and I had already been working together on automotive YouTube videos and attending car shows together for several years. A podcast seemed like an ideal new creative outlet. We’re now 3-years-old and 150 episodes into our show. To celebrate the milestone, Bruce and I independently picked our five favorites episodes. And we discuss them in a double presentation on Episodes #149 and #150. The Weekly Driver Podcast Celebrates 3 Years Bruce actually picked six episodes. And among our combined 11 favorites, only one overlapped. We both selected artist Chris Miller. An article posted in

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