James Raia

Articles by James Raia

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PRESS RELEASE: 2020 Infiniti QX50 rules as luxury SUV

PRESS RELEASE The 2020 Infiniti QX50 was completely redesigned for the 2019 model year, becoming arguably the most compelling Infiniti to date with world-first technologies, standout design, enhanced interior space and an entirely new platform. For 2020, the QX50 continues to provide the highest level of versatility, efficiency and performance in luxury mid-size crossovers. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 luxury mid-size crossover is now offered in five well-equipped grade levels and in a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 Pure comes equipped with standard features and equipment including the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine, paddle shifters, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, LED headlamps and LED signature Daytime Running Lights, leatherette seats, Intelligent Key, power liftgate, Infiniti InTouch dual display system,

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The Weekly Driver letters: Used trucks, Lexus, Sonata PHEV

The Weekly Driver is a companion website to the weekly Autopia column I contribute to the San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times. Some of my automotive content also appears on RVtravel.com and in Gulfshore Business in Florida. It’s also distributed by Motor Matters, a syndicate in Delaware. With that variety of outlets, sometimes I receive letters from readers. It’s great. With permission from the letter writers, I’m posting a recent batch of comments. Some editing for style, clarity and brevity has occurred. Thank you for reading my content and for taking the time to email. Stay in touch. Cheers, James Raia (The Weekly Driver.) LEXUS SUV FAN WITH REASON Stephen Comstock, Eau Claire, Michigan, writes: I have just read

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Coronavirus hasn’t halted 2020 Classic Car Week

Monterey Auto Week, the varied collection of pricey rarities, vintage race cars and coveted relics, is scheduled as planned on the Monterey Peninsula in August. But the uncertainty of the coronavirus virus restrictions could still halt the annual celebration of automobiles. Beginning with the Monterey Kick-Off Cruise-In on Alvarado Street in Monterey and continuing through the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 16, the international gathering including more than 30 attractions. “We care deeply about the entrants, judges and guests of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and we want to act wisely in regard to this new challenge that we are all now facing,” organizers posted on the event’s website. “Our event is several months into the future, and we

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The Weekly Driver Podcast: encore bests during COVID-19

Like many small businesses, The Weekly Driver Podcast remains on hiatus this week during the coronavirus crisis. Bruce Aldrich and I miss our weekly chats with auto industry experts and enthusiasts. It’s an analyst on one episode, a car collector on the next, and it’s all great fun. How about a 30-minute interview with a guy who turned an old firetruck into a mobile pub? How about a half-hour show with a guy from Sacramento who’s as passionate about his vintage Studebaker as any new car owner is about their flashy red, over-the-top, technology overloaded SUV? Or what’s up with all those cars in bike races? We take a several-hour drive on the opening day of training camp with the

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Geely keeps it clean, drone delivers new car keys

Buy a car from Geely, the Chinese automaker and parent company of Lotus and Volvo, and it will be delivered disinfected. It may also be equipped with a N95-rated filtration system to combat the coronavirus. And to complete the non-contact buying process, a drone will deliver the car keys. According to a report on carandriver.com, Geely began its online car-buying system in February. The manufacturer reported it has delivered 10,000 cars in China with the new service. In February, Geely announced its Icon electric sport utility with be sold with an in-car filtration system. “The new system will now use drones in select locations to pass new car keys to consumers by delivering directly to their door or balcony, furthering

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2020 Hyundai Sonata: new look, best sedan value

With the dominating presence of trucks and recreational vehicles, a pleasant, efficient drive in a fair-priced sedan is still appealing. The 2020 Hyundai Sonata comes to mind. Chasing the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Nissan Altima, the segment sales leaders for years, the Sonata begins its eighth generation. It’s a much-changed midsize sedan inside and outside. The South Korean manufacturer’s marketing slogan for the new vehicle is “Sensuous Sportiness.” Sportiness works; sensuous is a stretch. Key Takeaways Eighth-generation Sonata drops the conservative look: The fastback roofline, driving lights extending into the hood, and wide C-shaped taillights replace the staid midsize-sedan styling of prior generations. Prices run $23,400 to $33,300 across four trims: The top Limited checks in at $34,365 with

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Gas station pumps pose severe coronavirus concerns

Gas stations across the United States are considered essential and remain open during the coronavirus crisis. But gas pumps and keypads like other public use areas — escalator rails, shopping carts, mailboxes and ATM machines — often have high levels of contamination. According to a report by the maker of Kleenex, Kimberly-Clark, 71 percent of gas pump handles have high levels of contamination. The study was done in 2011, but the coronavirus has quickly rekindled concerns. But are the concerns warranted? While viruses and bacteria are not the same, virus contamination on public surfaces is a problem in a pandemic. John Eichberger, executive director of the nonprofit Fuels Institute, says gas station owners and operators are doing what they can

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Toyota Land Cruiser, Honda Ridgeline top 200K list

The Honda Ridgeline is arguably the most unusually designed truck on the road. It has a large fan base and detractors. But one area in which there’s no disagreement, the Ridgeline has the best longevity of any of its competitors. Although the Toyota Land Cruiser has the top ranking, the Ridgeline is among the three trucks in the top-15 vehicles reaching 20,000 miles, according to iseecars.com. The result of the survey makes a good case for consumers considering buying a used vehicle instead of purchasing a new car or truck. The iSeeCars.com site is a comprehensive platform for all car buyers. It calculated data from more than one million vehicles to determine the models and manufacturers with the highest percentage

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Uber, Lyft suspend group rideshares nationwide

Uber and Lyft, the country’s two largest rideshare companies, have both suspended their group rideshare services in response to increasing coronavirus concerns. “Our goal is to help flatten the curve of community spread in the cities we serve,” said Andrew Macdonald, an Uber executive. “We remain in close contact with local leaders and will continue to work with them to discourage nonessential travel.” Uber and Lyft will continue to offer single-passenger rides. Via has suspended shared rides in New York City, but will offer individual rides in line with the Mayor’s mandate at 20 percent off. In other cities, Via  has reduced the total passenger count of our shared rides to provide for proper social distancing in line with CDC

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The Weekly Driver Podcast takes coronavirus break

For more than two years, Bruce Aldrich and I have broadcast The Weekly Driver podcast. We’ve interviewed manufacturer CEOs, vintage car owners and the world’s most well-known mountain climber who spent many years living a van. We’ve attended automotive shows and auctions. We’ve interviewed authors, industry analysts and icons from the worlds of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Bruce has done a solo show or two and I’ve done the same. Vacations and other minor life circumstances have altered a few interviews. As everyone knows, the coronavirus is another matter. We’re going to take a break for at least two weeks, but we’ll be back. We’re enthusiastic about the podcast and we have fun. We can’t wait to have fun again.

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#126 podcast: Couple embraces home tech business

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:52 — 38.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More#126: Couple embraces home tech business | RSS.com Valerie Antkowiak and Mark Pallone are retired Intel engineers, but they’re still involved in their careers via a home-based business about home technology. The husband-wife team, who lives in El Dorado Hills, California, publishes the website AppMyHome.com. The site and their home is the testing ground for all things in the extended home technology field. Antkowiak is our guest on episode No. 126 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss talk with Antowiak about the couple’s history with the site and their process for testing home technology equipment. The couple’s home

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2020 Toyota Sienna: old school minivan still worthy

It seems like a sports car should be named after a city in Italy, not a minivan. But Toyota‘s adult-aged family hauler has grown into being worthy of its namesake, the medieval city in Tuscany. Siena is known for its sturdy, gothic brick buildings and historic districts. The 23-year-old Sienna is ancient by minivan standards and is holding up well despite declining sales and the dominance of lights truck and sport utility vehicles. The 2020 Toyota Sienna is a comfortable people hauler. It’s quick for its size, comfortable and versatile with several seat configuration options. The Sienna is also the only minivan available with all-wheel drive. A few refinements advance this year’s model from the 2019 offering, but the Sienna

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Why not tow your RV with a Tesla Cybertruck?

The design resembled a vehicle is a Sci-Fi movie, and the flashy, carnival-like debut of the electric Tesla Cybertruck was everything Elon Musk desired. If nothing else the flash unveiling last November at the Los Angeles Auto Show was polarizing. The truck drew cheers and jeers. Officially, it’s “an all-electric, battery-powered, light commercial vehicle. Three models have been announced, with range estimates of 250–500 miles and an estimated 0–60 mph time of 2.9–6.5 seconds, depending on the model.” Is it possibly a precursor to more utilitarian vehicle creations or was Tesla owner Elon Musk pranking the industry? For RV enthusiasts, the prevailing question was, is it really a truck and, if so, can it tow an RV or trailer? Tesla

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#125, Drive Toward A Parkinson’s Disease Cure

#125 Drive Toward A Parkinson’s Disease Cure | RSS.com Deb Pollack has been involved in the automotive industry for decades. She’s worked for small and large companies and several manufacturers, Ferrari to Maserati and General Motors to Mitsubishi Pollack’s work in public relations, which the Los Angeles-based businesswoman describes as the “blending of cars and camaraderie,” has also resulted in her national philanthropic efforts with the organization she founded, Drive Toward A Cure (www.drivetowardacure.org). In addition to currently working as the publicist for the boutique restoration house Singer Vehicle Design, Pollack advocates the ability to team cars and camaraderie to raise funds to benefit the battle against Parkinson’s Disease. Pollack is our guest on Episode #125 of The Weekly Driver

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