James Raia

Articles by James Raia

Travel author Jessica Dunham: The Open Road is her passion

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:11 — 76.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJessica Dunham is a veteran journalist whose passion as a travel writer is the open road. She knows the well-traveled roads along Route 66 and Interstate 5. And she knows the less-visited locales, like the night sky over Marfa, Texas, which includes mysterious blinking lights. Dunham, the author of “The Open Road: 50 Road Trips in the USA” is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I interview Dunham about her latest book (it’s an updated edition) and also about the pleasures of traveling — on good days and bad days. She discusses how the many places she’s

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2023 Lucid Air Pure: fledgling, worthy luxury sedan

It’s difficult to consider the 2023 Lucid Air Pure the entry-level vehicle of the young carmaker’s five trims. It’s the brand’s least expensive and least powerful sedan. But it would be many manufacturers’ flagship offering. The 2023 Lucid Air Pure is a continuation of the car’s debut in late 2021 as a 2022 model. Its starting price is $77,400, with Lucid‘s latest, the top-line Sapphire, priced at $249,000 (no options). Performance is the key for all trims, a “meager” 430 horsepower to the highest in the mainstream car industry, the Sapphire’s 1,234 horsepower. With its single-motor, rear-wheel drive layout, the Air Pure is exemplary for daily driving requirements. If it were the only trim, Lucid enthusiasts would be satisfied. But

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Driver’s dozen provides new car review challenge, South Korean EVs take honors

Automotive journalists often drive new vehicles for a week and then write reviews about their experiences. It’s rare one vehicle in a manufacturer’s lineup can be quickly compared to a more modest or a higher-end trim of the same car. Also unusual is promptly testing two diverse cars or trucks from the same carmaker. The novel approach was one idea presented at the recent Best of the Bay, a 2 1/2-day gathering of the Western Auto Journalists (WAJ). It’s the 30-year-old Bay Area community of automotive content creators and industry representatives. Nine manufacturers showcased 13 cars at Vintner’s Resort in Santa Rosa for testing, including two from Genesis, Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. Acura, Honda, Lexus, Mazda and Mercedes-Benz (AMG) presented

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#273, Car talk with Car Talk’s enduring executive producer, Doug Berman

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:31 — 72.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreDoug Berman is the unofficial third brother of the admired comedy team and automotive soothsayer duo of Thomas Louis Magliozzi and Raymond Francis Magliozzi. They were more well-known as “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers.” They were co-hosts of Car Talk, the NPR radio show, for 25 years. Thinly disguised as a weekly program about automobile repair, the program was more about the banter between the brothers and an endearing relationship with their call-in audience. The former mechanics diagnosed engine problems, but they also provided advice, notably about relationships. Comedy reigned. Behind the scenes, Berman has coordinated the show since its early days. A

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#272, Genesis: not the band, not the Bible but the fast-growing South Korean carmaker

Jarred Pellat is the senior manager public relations and communications of Genesis Motor North America. It’s the eight-year-old luxury vehicle division of the South Korean vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company. A native of Canada who lived in South Korea for several years, Pellat is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich was on assignment, so John Berg, a new automotive columnist and photographer for The Weekly Driver, joined me for our interview during Best of the West. Pellat, the fourth employee of the Genesis, was a guest during a two-day gathering of the Western Automotive Journalists (WAJ), the San Francisco Bay Area organization of automotive media professionals and industry influencers. During the two-day gathering,

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2024 Ford Mustang honors its iconic muscle car elder

Only a few new cars have debuted in half-year models, and it hasn’t occurred in more than 30 years. The most well-known example of a fractured name is the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang, the iconic muscle car known by a mid-year moniker but never marketed as such by the manufacturer. The carmaker’s longest-tenure vehicle debuted at the New York World’s Fair as a 1965 model in April 1964. A few months later, the manufacturer made modifications but the updated cars were still 1965 models. The changes eventually prompted experts to designate the differences with the earlier model acquiring the half-year qualifier. The 2024 Mustang, available since the summer of 2023, marks the first year of the car’s seventh generation. Date

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2023 BMW M2: Big little coupe respects drivers who enjoy the art of driving

Electric and continuously variable transmissions are increasingly refined. So much so, dismissing the once-dominant manual transmission makes sense for new car buyers. Why bother with all that three-pedal fuss? Still, while the industry is always in flux, one prominent publication recently reported 17 mainstream manufacturers offer 31 cars in 2023 models with manual transmissions. BMW also still understands drivers with a preference for shifting. The stalwart German manufacturer is among a few carmakers with several lineup choices offering manual transmissions. BMW’s selections are all performance-focused, the M2, M3 and M4. The newly redesigned 2023 BMW M2 is a high-performance version of the luxury automaker’s entry-level 2 Series coupe. The rear-wheel drive, two-door features a 3.0-liter six-cylinder engine with 453 horsepower.

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#271, Industry expert John Vincent talks lingering UAW strike, updates EVs

John Vincent, senior editor and automotive correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, has more than 25 years of experience covering the auto industry. In addition to reviewing vehicles, he has vast expertise in auto financing, leasing and buying. He’s also an expert observer and commentator regarding the current United Auto World strike. As the strike approaches its one-month duration, Vincent is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with the veteran writer the current status of the strike and what it means to the automakers and union members. How have the communities throughout the Detroit area been affected? Has the strike changed the industry for consumers? Does Vincent see

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2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 defines EV performance sedan luxury

The 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 is among a small group of luxury electric sedans with good intentions and still trying to appeal to a not-yet-convinced consumer majority. Matched primarily against the Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model S, the i7, like its competitors, is a compelling choice for many reasons. It’s electric, fast off the line and further impressive accelerating at highway speeds. It’s plush and spacious and built with top-line material and innovative features. The 7-Series has long been BMW‘s full-sized flagship. The i7 was introduced in April 2022 as a 2023 model to coincide with the nameplate’s 45th anniversary. The i7 xDrive60 and M70 have dual electronic motors and all-wheel drive. The i7 has a single-speed transmission,

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#270, Chicago-based business provides automotive Xtreme Xperiences

Adam Olalde is the founder and CEO of Xtreme Xperience. The Chicago-based company provides unique driving experiences in luxury cars mixed with racetrack and lifestyle experiences. Olalde, who began his business after working for a luxury car rental service, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Olalde the fascination consumers have in exotic and high-performance vehicles — from Lamborghini to Porsche to Rolls-Royce. The business began with Olalde renting vehicles for one-hour test drives throughout Chicago. The idea expanded to test drives at a nearby racetrack. Since the company’s debut in 2012, the company reports it has helped more than 300,000 people cross ‘drive an exotic car’ off their

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2023 Cadillac Escalade V fueled by power, money

There was a time when the epitome of success for many automobile consumers was ownership of a Cadillac Eldorado or a Cadillac DeVille. The former was a personal luxury coupe and lasted 50 years and 12 generations from its 1952 debut. The DeVille, a full-size luxury sedan, lasted 46 years and eight generations until its 2005 demise. The brand has evolved with smaller, non-land-yacht offerings except for the 2023 Cadillac Escalade V. The 2024 model marks the monstrous sport utility vehicle’s 25th year. The auto industry is steadily addressing environmental concerns. Projected sales of electric vehicles in the United States this year may reach one million for the first time. It’s still a small percentage of total sales, with one

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#269, Renowned automotive journalist talks future of car-sharing

Michael Coates has done it all as an automotive journalist, from writer and editor to publishing and broadcast analysis. He’s currently the editor and publisher of Clean Fleet Report, a well-respected automotive website focusing on automotive environmental issues. Coates, who also serves as Automotive Editor at Innovation & Tech Today magazine and writes for Autoweek magazine, is our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast. A recently updated post on Clean Fleet Report discussing the evolving and revolving companies involved in shared mobility piqued our interest. The article begins: “Car sharing has changed dramatically since Clean Fleet Report first reported on it almost two decades ago. While it was picking up steam at that point, in the years since

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2023 Ford F-150 Raptor R too much pickup truck

Owners of pickup trucks, station wagons and electric vehicles sometimes get stereotyped as having specific political beliefs and varying lifestyles. It’s a ridiculous notion. What’s intriguing is to consider why a neighbor, co-worker or passerby would purchase a 2023 Ford F-150 Raptor for $118,000 or a 2023 Mitsubishi Mirage for $18,000. A potential buyer of one of the most expensive pickup trucks on the market would likely never consider purchasing the cheapest available new vehicle in the United States. The reverse buying scenario is also likely true. Both vehicles are on the bookends of the auto industry and both have worthy consumer interest. Neither option is a vehicle for the masses. But the Ford F-150 Raptor R is far more

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2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country ideally modernizes station wagons of yesteryear

Nearly 55 years after the original popularity of station wagons began to wane, modern styles — the 2023 Volvo V60 Cross Country to the new Porsche Taycan — are still respected. They’re automotive sentinels to yesteryear when families traveled in three-row chariots with folding bench seats and visited train stations with packed trundle suitcases About 10 manufacturers still make wagons (they’re rarely called station wagons), and like Audi and Mercedes-Benz, Volvo believes in the versatility of the segment. But a lot has changed. The 2023 Volvo V6 Cross Country isn’t a new generation, but it’s been updated. A mild-hybrid is now standard and there’s a new powertrain, the B5. It has 247 horsepower, slightly less than last year’s model. It

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2023 Toyota Crown debuts as a bold family hybrid sedan with SUV persona

Nine of the top 10 best-selling vehicles in the United States in 2022 were pickup trucks or sport utility vehicles. Once the top seller for American families, sedans continue to find fewer buyers. Toyota decided not to embrace automotive conformity with its new 2023 Crown. It’s a large family sedan with SUV tendencies. It replaces the Toyota Avalon, which debuted as a 1995 model. It had a 27-year run until four straight years of diminished sales prompted its demise. The 2023 Toyota Crown, loosely defined as a combination of a Toyota Camry and Toyota 4Runner, is available in XLE, Limited and Premium trims. All models feature a hybrid powertrain, with the XLE and Limited models including 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engines with

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2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante honors owner icon

Englishman David Brown was a machinist’s apprentice and he was knighted. He raced motorcycles, built tractors, played polo and bred racehorses. He also bought Aston Martin in 1947 and thus began the British automaker’s use of the initials “DB” on its vehicles. Brown died 30 years ago, around the same time of year this year the periodically struggling niche manufacturer unveiled the 2024 Aston Martin DB12 Volante. The industrialist orchestrated models through the James Bond movie heydays when the sports car‘s image was at its apex. It’s also had its share of automotive doldrums when the company’s debts ballooned and a buyer couldn’t be found. Still, brand purists likely wonder how Brown might have assessed more recent models, including the

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