James Raia

Articles by James Raia

2015 Toyota Prius: great efficiency, but rivals challenging

Now a mainstay in the car industry, the Toyota Prius family is ever expanding. It includes five trims of the original hatchback as well as the compact Prius C and Prius V wagon, the largest offering in the hybrid clan. The Persona Series is new for 2015 and adds a half-dozen cosmetic items to the lengthy list of standard features. But overall, the 2015 Prius lineup has only one major change. A rearview camera is now standard on all hatchback models. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Toyota Prius, including my weekly driver Five trim, is a five-passenger hatchback hybrid. It debuted in the United States in 2001, quickly gained national attention and moved to the top of the

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1957 T-Bird, 2012 Ferrari 458 in rare cars auction

Several rare cars, including a 1957 Thunderbird and a 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia, will be among the diverse group of automobiles and art auctioned June 28 on Invaluable.com, the Boston-based online marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles and estate sales. Here’s a synopsis of the cars in the auction: 1957 THUNDERBIRD E-CODE. Estimated Price: $80,000–$95,000 This extremely rare 57 E-Code Thunderbird was formerly owned by the renowned collector, Grant Miller. A true E-Code with the numbers matching 312cid/270hp V8 with factory Dual 4bbls and automatic transmission. This car was undergone a full no expense spared, 100 point, Nut and Bolt Rotisserie restoration. The restoration was overseen by a master judge and is to true AACA and CTCI standards.

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2016 Hyundai Elantra GT: Refreshed, roomy, rough ride

Joining a competitive segment, the five-door Hyundai Elantra GT debuted four years ago. The 2016 edition has a few upgrades, including bolder exterior and interior styling, re-tuned power steering and an expanded optional technology package. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Seeking its place in the increasingly popular compact hatchback segment, the 2016 Hyundai Elantra GT is one offered with one trim. It’s a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder with 173 horsepower and six-speed manual transmission. Its new styling includes a more aggressive grille and a streamlined roof. My weekly driver featured the optional six-speed automatic transmission and a lengthy list of standard features that positions the Elantra GT well against top competitors like the top-selling Volkswagen Golf, Mazda3, Ford Focus and Kia Forte.

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Fourteen rare cars, trucks set for online auction

Fourteen rare cars, trucks and a motorcyle, a 1927 Ford Model T Roadster to a 1994 Argo Conquest Amphibious 8×8, all located in Auburn Airpark in Auburn, California, will be auctioned beginning June 16 through the online site, www.GovLiquidation.com. According to the auctioneers, the vehicles are all in working condition. Bidding on each vehicle starts at $25. Here’s the list of vehicles: 1948 Lincoln Continental 2-Door Hard Top Coupe; 1960 Willys 4×4 Wagon; 1944 Studebaker M29-C Weasel; 1929 Ford Model A Rumble Seat Sport Coupe; 1994 Argo Conquest Amphibious 8×8; 1980 Ford Model A Shay Roadster; 1965 Ford Mustang Coupe; 1957 Chevy 2-Door Hot Rod; 1966 Ford F100; 1949 Cadillac 4-Door Sedan; 1927 Ford Model T Roadster Hemi Hot Rod;

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2016 Acura ILX: Strong drive, good luxury value

The 2016 Acura ILX is the fourth year of the first generation of the upscale brand’s midsize, entry level luxury sedan. It has been refreshed this year with several interior and exterior updates, including a larger engine and additional safety features. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The updated base 2016 Acura ILX is available in six equipment levels, all with oddly cumbersome names. My weekly driver was officially called the 2016 Acura ILX Tech Plus A-Spec, a sport-oriented trim. For 2016, the Acura ILX updates include the dispatching of the previous standard 2.0-liter for a four-cylinder, 2.4-liter offering. It was previously optional. It’s matched with a 201 horsepower engine that provides 180 pound-feet of torque. Now also standard is an

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2016 Mazda 6: Watch out Honda Accord, Toyota Camry

It’s hard to believe the 2016 Mazda 6 marks the 14th year since the manufacturer replaced the Mazda 626 with its current midsize sedan. The current third generation debuted in 2013, and the new offering is packed with considerable improvements — particularly in the highest-level trim. The Weekly Driver Test Drive A five-passenger sedan, the Mazda 6 is offered in Sport, Touring and top-line Grand Touring trims, and my weekly driver was the latter. It has so many changes, how could it not be a new generation? For 2016, the Mazda 6 features revised front and rear styling, making it appreciably more handsome. The previous xenon headlights have been replaced with LED headlights and there’s a larger (7-inch) touchscreen interface

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2015 Honda Civic EX-L Navi: Most versatile new car?

The Honda Civic has been near or at the top of compact sedan segment for so long, maybe one day an upgraded trim or a new generation of the now 46-year-old vehicle will debut that just doesn’t hold up. But it’s not the 2015 edition. New competitors — Mazda3, Ford Focus and Kia Forte — offer increasing competition. But Honda keeps tweaking the Civic lineup, including this year’s addition of the mid-range SE trim. Now in the fourth year of its ninth generation, the Civic remains among the most successful automobiles in history. It’s is available as a coupe and sedan. And it’s offered in nearly a dozen trims and in three fuel choices — gas, hybrid and natural gas.

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Driving the Tour of California in a Lexus SUV #3

With two days remaining in the nine-day Amgen Tour of California bicycle race, I stopped for my third refuel of the trip. The 2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport had taken me from Sacramento to Santa Clarita, and the new luxury sport utility had done well for itself. The weather in the previous week included predicted warm and windy conditions and also a two-hour trek in a nasty rainstorm near Los Angeles. The inclement conditions were only outdone by the nastiness of the mess called the Southern California freeway system. And exactly why is it that some drivers speed up when there’s standing water on the freeway and a steady cross wind? My third fill-up 12.89 gallons was priced at

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2016 Volvo XC90: Style, safety in new luxury SUV

The first generation Volvo XC90 SUV was introduced in 2002. Worth the wait 13 years later is the second generation 2016 Volvo XC90. It offers a new level of sophistication and utility. The 2016 XC90 is new from badge to backup camera. It’s the first plug-in hybrid SUV offering three rows of seating for seven. Our drive with Volvo‘s mid-size SUV introduced us to a memorable luxury experience, a suite of modern safety features and superior efficiency in a package that dresses to impress. Driving Impressions Volvo is offering two versions of the redesigned 2016 XC90: the T6 and T8. The T6 AWD, on sale now, delivers 316 horsepower from a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with a supercharger and turbocharger. Power

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2015 Honda Accord Hybrid: Iconic sedan gets better

After a seven-year hiatus, the Honda Accord Hybrid was reintroduced for the 2014 model year and has no major changes for 2015. The hybrid trim further adds to the versatility of the already iconic sedan, a perennial top-10 seller for decades. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Honda Accord is available in three trims in gas and hybrid offerings. My weekly driver was the hybrid with the Touring trim. It’s chocked-packed with features. It includes all of the equipment of the hybrid EX and EX-L models. The EX trim equipment: 17-inch alloy wheels, heated side mirrors, automatic headlights, dual-zone automatic climate control, full power accessories, cruise control, keyless ignition and entry, an 8-inch video display, Bluetooth phone and audio

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2015 Mazda CX-9: Power, comfort, fair price

A full-sized crossover sport utility vehicle, the Mazda CX-9 debuted in 2006 as a 2007 model. It’s been refreshed and tweaked along the way. But the original generation of the three-row, seven-passenger sport utility vehicle for 2015 remains largely unchanged from last year. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Mazda CX-9 is offered in Sport, Touring and Grand Touring trims, and my weekly driver was the top-line Grand Touring option with front-wheel drive. It’s available with all-wheel drive and a towing package. Like all Mazdas, the CX-9 has a long list of standard features. The Sport model’s equipment includes: 18-inch alloy wheels, cruise control, three-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping leather-wrapped steering wheel, a height-adjustable driver seat, cloth upholstery,

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Driving the Tour of California in a Lexus SUV, #2

Navigation systems vary greatly. During 10 years of writing The Weekly Driver column, the best I’ve used is the system Hyundai vehicles called BlueLink. The overriding reason is its simplicity. The navigation system utilized by Lexus is also commendable. Lexus calls its navigation and technology integration package EnForm. It’s the system installed in my 2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport, my vehicle during the Amgen Tour of California. The navigation has kept my good company since last Sunday. I’ve driven more than 650 miles so far and my appreciation for a GPS companion literally came into sharp focus last night. After stage 5 end in Santa Clarita, the media hotel was in Ontario. It’s  only about 70 miles, but in

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Driving the Tour of California in a Lexus SUV, #1

After driving the first three stages of the Amgen Tour of California in my weekly driver, a 2015 Lexus NX 200t F Sport, I stopped for my first refuel of the race’s 10th edition. Lexus is a sponsor of the event and it has provided vehicles for staff and media members. The Lexus NX 200t is a five-passenger, compact luxury crossover new for this year. The sport model I’m driving for 10 days embellishes the standard equipment with a half-dozen items to make the vehicle, well . . . more sporty. The upgraded features includes 18-inch wheels (instead of standard 17s) as well as summer tires, a sport-tuned suspension, transmission paddle shifter, performance gauges, upgraded interior trim and a sportier

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2015 Toyota Corolla: Steady, enduring sedan

Following a complete redesign last year, the 2015 Toyota Corolla remains the same as its one year older sibling with a few minor exceptions. The new edition of the best-selling car in history now has a fold-down real center armrest in all trims except the base L model. The Toyota Corolla for years has had a lengthy list of standard features, and it’s now even better. The upper level trims for 2015 get the Driver Convenience package as standard equipment. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The S trim premium was my weekly test drive, and it’s most equipped of the four Toyota Corolla trims, which also include L, LE and LE Eco. All models have a four-cylinder engine. A manual

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2015 Hyundai Sonata: Luxury attitude, value price

The last generation Hyundai Sonata solidified the midsize sedan’s place into the industry mainstream. The new and expanded 2015 Hyundai Sonata lineup further positions the Korean manufacturer as a strong competitor against the Honda and Toyota monoliths. The new Sonata design, which features a more refined exterior and larger cabin, is offered in five trims and as a hybrid model. An Eco trim with a 1.6-liter turbocharged, four-cylinder engine is among other changes for 2015. The Weekly Driver Test Drive After recently reviewing the Eco trim Hyundai Sonata, I knew mostly what to expect from the  Sport 2.0T trim. It combines many of the features on less costly trims with a substantial list of upgrades. Here’s the rundown: Standard equipment on

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2015 Scion tC: Practical liftback with limitations

The Scion tC was unveiled by Toyota 11 years ago as a 2005 model to cater to the millennial market. It’s a thrifty, five-passenger, three-door liftback with a lot of standard features and a few available option packages. The 2015 model brings the car into its second decade as an unheralded compact with a sporty flair and a sub-$25,000 price. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Now in the second year of its third generation, the 2015 Scion tC (Touring Coupe) is offered in one trim level. Its standard equipment includes: 17-inch alloy wheels, air-conditioning, cruise control, full power accessories, a panoramic sunroof, a height-adjustable driver seat, a leather-trimmed tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, reclining and folding 60/40-split rear seats, Bluetooth phone and

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