James Raia

Articles by James Raia

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Rare Tesla Roadster owned by George Clooney set for Monterey Auto Week auction

It won't be the first nor likely the last celebrity car sold during Monterey Auto Week. But George Clooney's rare 2008 Tesla Roadster is expected to attract its share of attention during annual collectipn pf vintage and exotic car show and auctions. Clooney owns a Tesla Roadster "Signature 100" model. According to Inside Line, the website property of Edmunds.com, the car has only 1,700 miles on its odometer. The Obsidian Black Metallic Roadster, number 0008 from the run of 100 special editions, will be auctioned by Gooding & Company on Aug. 19. The car features a two-tone leather interior and is predicted to sell for an estimated $125,000. The purchase amount will go toward the Satellite Sentinel Project, an organization

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Fisker announce equity marriage for plug-in hybrid

Leonardo DiCaprio, the three-time Oscar nominated actor and celebrity environmentalist, has become an equity investor and brand ambassador for Fisker Automotive, the manufacturer of the Karma plug-in hybrid. The timing of DiCaprio's involement is curious since the California-based carmaker recently expanded its recall of its $103,000 Karma because of the incorrectly positioned hose clamps. The recall represents more than 25 percent of the estimated number of Karma's sold. "DiCaprio will work closely with marketing and promotional initiatives to bring attention to sustainability and environmental issues around the world,” Fisker Automotive said in a press release. “In turn, Fisker will support the work of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.” Fisker Automotive didn't specify how much DiCaprio invested in the company, nor how

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Suzuki Grand Vitara, 2012: Unheralded SUV offers truck strength, street savvy

The 2012 Suzuki Grand Vitara has the structural integrity of the Brooklyn Bridge with its ladder-frame-reinforced unibody, and that helps make it a solid off-roader with its available four-wheel-drive system. This compact, fairly handsome, reasonably priced SUV has much standard equipment—including a navigation system. Numerous safety features include all-disc anti-lock brakes with a brake-assist feature, electronic stability control, traction control and lots of air bags. The Grand Vitara is often overlooked because Suzuki lacks the dealer network and advertising firepower of rivals, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. It has a more trucklike-feel than most competitors, with an upright windshield, high seating position and a firmer ride. But that’s not to say the Grand Vitara isn’t refined. Its

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Hyundai Sonata, 2012 2.0T: Spacious, better gas mileage for stylish sedan

Now in the second year of its sixth generation, the Hyundai Sonata is a midsize family sedan. It has steadily advanced in its highly competitive segment and is no longer a fringe alternative to the automotive mainstream represented by the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. With its redesign in 2011, the Sonata had its most successful year (225,961 units sold). It was the first time a Hyundai model sold more than 200,000 units in a year, and the stellar year vaulted the Sonata into 11th on the season-end, best-selling list where Honda, Ford, Nissan and Toyota all had sedan entries. The 2012 Hyundai Sonata, therefore, largely remains the same as last year (why tinker with success?) with only a few

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Kia Rio 2012: New style, stellar gas mileage for handsome subcompact

The 2012 Kia Rio, now in its third generation, is a subcompact available as 4-door sedan or 5-door hatchback and featuring either a 5 or 6-speed manual and 6-speed automatic matched with a 138-horsepower, 4-cylinder engine. Available in three levels — the base LX trim, the midlevel EX, and top-line SX, Rios have electric power steering, air conditioning and satellite radio as standard equipment. Surprisingly, the Rio LX and Rio SX are priced lower in 2012 than the previous year's models. The 2011 Rio lineup was not nearly the same quality, largely because of a staid exterior and interior design. Standard safety features include four-wheel ABS brakes, Hill Start Assist Control, and Electronic Stability and Vehicle Stability Control systems. The

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MotoGP fans can save money with new Corkscrew Passport app available at Laguna Seca

When the country's most prestigious motorcycle racing event returns to Mazda Raceway Laguna this weekend fans with hearty appetites and a wont to save money will be fortunate. The Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, featuring the MotoGP World Championship, scheduled July 27-29, is the first of the three remaining motorsports events this season at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif. in with attendance can utilize the aptly named Corkscrew Passport application. Available as a free download on iTunes, several restaurants on the Monterey Peninsula are offering dining discounts during the three events. The new app allows users to make reservations at participating partner restaurants, get directions and post to the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca fan wall. “Our fans come

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Hyundai Sonata 2012: Value-priced, performance-oriented family sedan

The mid-size Hyundai Sonata is the automaker’s top-selling car with swoopy styling, a roomy interior and muscular performance from the turbocharged version. The front-drive Sonata sedan is sold with either a 198-horsepower (200 with dual exhausts) 2.4 liter four-cylinder engine or a 274-horsepower turbocharged 2-liter four-cylinder in the 2.0T. A 206-horsepower gas-electric hybrid version also is offered. The 2011 Sonata set the large, generally conservative and cut-throat mid-size car segment on its head with new, head-turning styling, roominess, good fuel economy and upscale nature. Not to mention Hyundai’s 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Turbocharged Family Car Keeping everything up to date, power was transmitted through a new six-speed automatic transmission replacing a five-speed automatic. A six-speed manual was—and is—still offered, but only

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Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, 2012: Overlooked, sporty SUV warrants attention

“Mitsubishi” and “often-overlooked” long have belonged in the same sentence. The automaker lacks the advertising firepower, dealer number and model-loaded product line of better-known nameplates in America. But Mitsubishi has come up with innovative models, and so what if its vehicles aren’t on everyone’s shopping list? Some folks don’t want to drive the same vehicles they see al the time, which include Outlander Sport rivals Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. Don’t confuse the aggressively styled Outlander Sport with the larger Mitsubishi Outlander. For instance, compared to the Outlander, it’s more than a foot shorter and doesn’t have a third-row seat. However, they share the same 105.1-inch wheelbase. At approximately 3,000 pounds, the Outlander Sport is one of the lightest vehicles

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Jerry Seinfeld's back taking funny friends to coffee in vintage car show about nothing

It's no secret Jerry Seinfeld is a car collector. But beginning July 19, he's mixing his comedic talents and passion for vintage cars and he's sharing both with friends as they take the cars to coffee shops — or at least that's how it's being promoted. The show is appropriately called "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. It's scheduled to debut at 9 p.m. Thursday July 19 on Crackle. In the promo for the show, Seinfeld drives around in brief snippets with Michael Richards, Ricky Gervais, Larry David, and Alec Baldwin, among others. According to its web site, www.crackle.com: "Crackle is the place to experience pure entertainment: full-length movies, TV shows, and original series from genres that embody cool — all

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Acura TSX, 2012: luxury sport wagon provides strong BMW competition

The Acura TSX Sport Wagon joined Honda's luxury segment last year as a limited offering with only 4,000 units available in North America. The idea was to offer a less expensive alternative to BMW and Audi. The 2012 edition is more readily available and the changes aren't significant, with the exception of additional cargo-area storage space via a new compact tire repair kit. The standard Sport Wagon is equipped with the 201-horsepower, 2.4-liter inline 4-cylinder engine and a five-speed automatic transmission. Unfortunately, the 3.5-liter V6 is only available in the TSX sedan. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Acura is known for its expansive laundry list of standard features and the TSX wagon is no exception: 17-inch alloy wheels, automatic xenon

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Honda Ridgeline, 2012: Innovative pickup now available in sport model

Introduced in spring 2005 as a 2006 model, the Honda Ridgeline was the automaker's debut in the North American pickup truck market. Seven years later, the Ridgeline retains most of its original, space-age appearance. The original Ridgeline, with its innovative look and practical, efficient use of interior space and bed design, was noticed quickly, and it was named Motor Trend's Truck of the Year for 2006. The Honda Ridgeline still gets stares via its unique design, but it's now a standard fixture in the pickup fraternity. The 2012 offering comes in four trims: RT, Sport, RTS and RTL and all feature a newly designed grille design and improved fuel economy. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Sport trim, my Weekly

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Audi allroad, 2013: Smooth, versatile crossover returns to United States

The German Audi allroad returns to the United States for the first time since 2005 as a roomy car-like crossover vehicle. Or call it an oversized station wagon, if you like. Despite its German engineering, I found during a media preview of the allroad near Denver that this vehicle has a very American feel. For instance, while precise, the electromechanical steering almost feels a little too light. Some may like that feel, but those looking for a firmer “German feel” may look elsewhere—although the nicely built allroad is plenty solid, in the best German tradition. The allroad may look much like an off-road vehicle, but isn’t. Still, it easily tackles rough roads with its supple, all-independent suspension and Audi’s superior

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Tour de France, 2012: Citroen exhibit showcases iconic French carmaker

Bugatti, Citroën, Peugeot and Renault are the current major French automakers. With the exception of Bugatti, French highways and country roads are often crowded with many models, new and old, from the other three carmakers. And also with the exception of Bugatti, I've driven new models of Citroën, Peugeot and Renault as rental cars in different years since I began attending the Tour de France in 1997. French cars, like other countries' cars, have strengths and weaknesses, Yet, French cars often get criticized unfairly. While none of the carmakers' vehicles I've driven could be described as performance cars, all three got me through three weeks and about 4,000 miles of driving, including some treacherous ordeals in the Pyrenees and the

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Hyundai Veloster, 2013: turbocharged, faster, fun

The Hyundai Veloster was new for 2012 and immediately drew attention with its unique three-door design. The new 2013 turbocharged version makes the car much faster and lots more fun. Rivals for the turbocharged front-wheel-drive Veloster include the Volkswagen GTI, Civic Si, Mini Cooper/Clubman S, Beetle Turbo and Fiat 500 Abarth. Hyundai notes the Veloster, with such things as its three doors, is “purposefully differentiated from other core vehicles in Hyundai’s lineup, with unique style and function and advanced technologies.” Hyundai experiment means success Hyundai hasn’t become a major sales success without taking chances. The turbocharger is the big news for the latest version of the Veloster. This turbo has a twin-scroll design for quicker response and more low-end torque.

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Chevrolet Cruze recalled as GM fixes potential flammage liquid issue

General Motors is recalling nearly a half-million Chevrolet Cruze compacts sedans from 2011 and 2012 to modify the under-engine shield so flammable liquids are not trapped in the engine compartment. The recall covers 2011 and 2012 Cruze sedans built at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant from September 2010 through May 2012. The recall affects 413,418 vehicles sold in the United States, 61,299 in Canada and 701 in Israel. The engine shield on the models affected has the potential to trap engine fluids and raise the risk of a fire, GM said. Cruze models sold around the world made at plants other than in Lordstown, Ohio, do not have the same design and are not believed to have the same issue, a

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Tesla delivers new Model S with high hopes for luxury electric sedan

The Tesla Model S, which the controversial carmaker calls "the world's first premium electric sedan," has arrived to its initial customers with a starting price of just under $50,000 after federal tax incentives. The "affordable" sedan is about half the price of its older, svelte sibling, the two-door Roadster. With its vast array of options, the new Tesla's price can reach nearly $100,000. "It's certainly not mass market by General Motors or Toyota standards," Edmunds.com senior analyst Michelle Krebs told NPR Morning Edition co-host Renee Montagne. "Tesla says they're going to make 5,000 of these this year, and then increase the production next year. So it still really is a niche vehicle." According to Tesla, the performance version of the

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