James Raia

Articles by James Raia

, ,

2020 Lexus ES 300 hybrid a luxury sedan showcase

An open-road, long-haul cruise in a luxury sedan is a driving devotee’s joy. But making the trip efficiently can be perplexing. Lexus realized the dilemma a decade ago and debuted hybrid models, including the current seventh generation of its ES series. The 2020 Lexus ES 300h, largely a holdover from the 2019 model, is among only a few luxury sedans combining upscale comfort with economic travel. It’s rated at 43 miles per gallon in city driving and 44 mpg on the highway. They’re segment-best ratings. Lexus also decided variety is important. As a midsize, five-passenger sedan, the ES 300h is available in Base, Luxury and Ultra Luxury models. All trims are equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine matched with an

Read more
,

2020 Hyundai Ioniq: Underdog defines value, economy

The 2020 Hyundai Ioniq, the fourth year of the South Korean liftback hybrid and all-electric, maintains the brand’s status as the country’s most fuel-efficient vehicle. Its top-line trim costs several thousand dollars less than the average price of a new vehicle in the United States. The combination of price and economy warrants consideration. What can a new car buyer expect from a vehicle that costs $32,000 and gets at least an estimated 55 miles per gallon? Key Takeaways 55 to 58 mpg combined makes the Ioniq America’s most fuel-efficient non-EV: The Blue trim hits 58 mpg combined; other hybrid trims deliver 55 mpg combined from a 1.6-liter gas engine paired with a 32-kW electric motor. Top-line Limited is priced around

Read more

#120, Author Patrick Foster celebrates 80 years of Jeep

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:38 — 43.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreAuthor Patrick Foster knows as much as anyone about automaker Jeep. With more than 30 years in the automotive industry, Foster is a prolific journalist, particularly when writing about the long history of the utilitarian, four-wheel-drive vehicles. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia interview Foster in episode #120 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Foster’s latest book is JEEP: EIGHT DECADES FROM WILLYS TO WRANGLER (Motorbooks $32.99.) Accompanied by more than 200 photographs, the 192-page paperback is described as “the definitive book on the greatest four-wheel-drive vehicle ever.” During our 30-minute interview, Foster details his passion for Jeep and gives an insightful account of the

Read more

#119, Pro cycling teams rely on team cars’ assistance

Professional road cyclists were once self-sustaining athletes. Vehicle support wasn’t allowed in races like the Tour de France unless via unscrupulous means. Catching a rider getting assistance from a car meant disqualification. Much has changed. With various other company relationships for bicycles, helmets, sunglasses and energy food, vehicle sponsorship is as much part of a team as its riders. Race organizers rely on manufacturer vehicles to keep the race intact and safe as it progresses along country roads and into mountain ranges. Andrew Bajadali, a former pro cycling and director with the Rally Cycling Team, is our guest this week on Episode #119 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We discuss how pro cycling teams rely on team vehicles to assist

Read more

#118, Alex Guberman: YouTube electric vehicle expert

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 41:45 — 57.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreAlex Guberman is a force in the electric vehicle industry. A recent new resident in Sacramento, Guberman publishes the increasingly popular YouTube Channel, E For Electric. A native of Moscow, Russia, the former resident of the Silicon Valley, is also a former Tesla owner. But he’s also passionate about Byton, for which he’s worked as an ambassador, and other prominent and pending electric vehicle manufacturers. Guberman is our guest on Episode #118 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Guberman, who moved to the United States in 1992, the current status of the electric vehicle industry and what

Read more
,

2020 Cadillac XT6 worthy newbie, won’t alter buying trends

Cadillac entered the sport utility vehicle segment 21 years ago to compete with several luxury rivals new in the family mover revolution. It’s now further expanding its presence in a saturated SUV segment with the 2020 Cadillac XT6. It’s the manufacturer’s first three-row crossover, joining the stately, apartment-sized Cadillac Escalade. It has three rows of seating as a truck-based SUV about weight 1,200 pounds more than its new sedan-like smaller sibling. Cadillac’s debut in the class — the Audi Q7, Acura MDX, Lincoln Navigator, Mercedes-Benz GLE and Volvo XC90 are main rivals — is presented refreshingly. It has only two trim levels. Who needs to make a car purchase based on too many confusing choices with only nuances as differences?

Read more

Tow truck driver Ray Elliott pans 2019 Chrysler Pacifica, GM Sierra

Ray Elliott is a veteran tow truck driver in the San Francisco Bay Area who also publishes the website idiotsontheinterstate.com. In addition to his vast expertise helping motorists, he posts commentaries and videos that ideally define his online platform’s name. Elliott has twice been a guest on The Weekly Driver Podcast and the subject of a column I wrote several months ago for the San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times. He knows the industry from a unique perspective. It’s when vehicles aren’t running properly after breakdowns or involvement in accidents. For the past several years, I’ve written end-of-the-year articles, selecting the top vehicle of the year. To view the list, visit: 2019  Best Cars and Trucks. Elliott disagrees with

Read more

#117, New decade auto predictions from Cars.com

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:12 — 45.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe automotive industry is ever-changing. Advancement in technology, autonomous driving and alternative fuels, keep manufacturers moving quickly. Joe Wiesenfelder, executive editor of Cars.com and a 25-year automotive expert, knows the industry trends as well as anyone. He’s our guest on episode #117 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Wiesenfelder discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia the top five trends in the industry that will shape the automotive future for the next decade. The prominent automotive website believes increasing consumer expectations, connected technology, rising loan prices, a pivotal presidential election, and an infatuation with electric and autonomous vehicles will shape the automotive future. As

Read more
,

2020 Nissan Versa: Still cheap, worthy and vastly improved

Nissan worked hard for more than a decade for an unusual honor. Its Versa, named after an acronym for versatile space, was the cheapest new car available in the United States. Not many years ago, the subcompact’s base price was just under $10,000. The Versa’s designation was via price only, not a rap on its quality. It was likely the best new car a buyer on a tight budget could purchase, and served its clientele well.  Key Takeaways Third-generation redesign ends the Versa’s cheapest-in-America title: The $15,625 base price now sits behind the Chevrolet Spark and Mitsubishi Mirage, but the Versa arguably delivers the most substance at the bottom of the new-car market. 122-hp 1.6-liter four-cylinder gains 13 hp over

Read more
,

Consumer Telematics Show 2020 offers auto tech immersion

SPONSORED CONTENT TU-Automotive has powered B2B automotive technology events for over 20 years. Having recently combined with WardsAuto and Wards Intelligence, we are able to offer much more top industry-led expert content through conferences, exhibitions, reports, digital media and more. Join us in 2020 for the first in our series of events, Consumer Telematics Show 2020. Join us on January 6 and immerse yourself in the future of automotive technology. Automakers are no longer just focused on the exterior. Increasingly, the consumer is being swayed by the in-vehicle experience. To stay competitive, automakers are adopting new consumer-centric technology that seamlessly brings our creature comforts into the car. CTS 2020 talking points include: • Entertainment: Will the future car be seen

Read more

#116, The Weekly Driver Podcast’s 2019 Best Cars, Trucks

The Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 to the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid and the Kia K900 to the Toyota Camry. These four diverse vehicles are on the list of the 2019 Best Cars and Trucks of the Year, announced by The Weekly Driver Podcast. Podcast co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the list on episode #116 of the weekly program that reports on all things automotive. As is our logical way, we wait until the end of the year to name our selections. As in previous years, the 2019 choices were selected only from the list of 35-40 cars and trucks manufacturers provided for weekly reviews for my weekly syndicated automotive column. It’s published by Bay Area News Group in San Jose,

Read more
, ,

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLC 300 paces luxury SUVs

Mercedes-Benz may be the most diverse vehicle manufacturer. It introduced gull-wing race cars and station wagons in the 1950s, about 30 years after the brand debuted. The enduring carmaker’s modern-day sedans still define automotive maturity. The marque also made a hybrid in 1906 and it customized sedans in the 1930s with bullet-proof windows for the WWII German regime. With the 2020 GLC 300, one of its nine sport utility vehicle options, Mercedes-Benz is also at the forefront of the luxury people mover market. It’s the carmaker’s youngest segment; SUVs have been part of the brand since 1997. As a five-passenger, compact SUV, the GLC 300 receives a half-dozen upgrades as the carmaker’s most affordable utilitarian vehicle. But it’s well-disguised as

Read more
,

TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2019 Best Cars, Trucks

Welcome to the 13th annual Best Cars and Trucks of the Year list, selected by TheWeeklyDriver.com. As is our logical way, we wait until the end of the year to name our selections. As in previous years, the 2019 choices were selected only from the list of 35-40 cars and trucks manufacturers provided for weekly reviews. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I will discuss the list on The Weekly Driver Podcast. The 10 vehicles on the 2019 Best Cars, Trucks list include manufacturers from the United States, South Korea and Japan. The Weekly Driver has been writing about our main automotive vent for years. How do prestigious industry publications determine their vehicles-of-the-year selections before the calendar year starts? Selecting a list

Read more

#115, Charity sweepstakes starts for 36 rare Corvettes

It’s difficult to imagine a more impressive integration of charity, automotive history and philanthropic generosity than “The Lost Corvettes” sweepstakes. The group called Corvette Heroes has launched a national sweepstakes in which 36 classic Corvettes will be the prizes. The collection includes one vehicle from 1953, the year the iconic car was introduced, through a 1989 model. Chris Mazzilli of the Gotham (New York) Comedy Club and a renowned Corvette expert as the owner of Dream Car Restorations on Long Island, N.Y., is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Mazzilli, who’s among the group of New York real estate and parking garage professionals who comprise the Corvette Heroes, talks with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia

Read more

#114, Indianapolis Motor Speedway set for driverless race

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 31:48 — 43.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Indianapolis Motor Speedway has been the home to many of motorsports’ greatest drivers and races. In less than two years, the renowned racetrack will host another iconic racing event — without drivers. The speedway (IMS) and Energy Systems Network (ESN) recently announced a two-year, $1 million prize competition that will culminate in a head-to-head, high-speed autonomous vehicle race Oct. 23, 2021, around the Speedway’s famed 2.5-mile oval. Matt Peak, director of mobility at Energy Systems Network, is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Peak talks with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia about the pending event, The Indy Autonomous

Read more

North Dakota, California have best, worst highways

Lousy newspaper delivery, telecommunication company hassles and increasing utility costs are constant common public annoyances. But poor highways may be the leading frustration. The Reason Foundation embraces the issue. Among other public issues it investigates, the Los Angeles-based Libertarian think tank recently released is 24th Annual Highway Report. It analyzes via a varied list of considerations, the best-performing and most-efficient highways systems state-by-state and the worst. The report details what drivers may think seems obvious. After years of improvement, overall the nation’s highway systems are deteriorating. California ranks 43rd in performance and cost-effectiveness, one position worse than the previous report. One-third of the nation’s urban Interstate mileage in poor condition is concentrated in five states: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Louisiana and

Read more
Previous Next