Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

Fiat-Chrysler woes continue with Jeep, Dodge recall

Several types of Jeep sport utility vehicles as well as a Dodge Durango model totaling 570,000 units from 2011 and 2012 have been recalled for fire risks in two campaigns linked to problems with vanity mirror wiring and a low-pressure hose. The two brands’ problems are another dubious occurrence for Fiat Chrysler. Earlier this month, the manufacturer agreed to pay another $70 million in fines for failing to report vehicle crash deaths and injuries since 2003.   The recall includes: 477,000 2011-2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango SUVs after the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened an investigation in May to determine if vehicles serviced in a prior related recall were at risk for fires. Fiat Chrysler said

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Ford recalls 318,000 new trucks and old sedans

If you own a 2016 Ford truck or a 13-year-old Ford Crown Victoria it could be among the 318,000 varying vehicles the manufacturer has recalled for a host of reasons. Headlight failure linked to 11 crashes is the reason Ford has recalled 313,000 Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis units from 2003 to 2005. The light module’s solder joints could crack and interrupt power to the headlights and thus increase the risk of crash at night. The Ford Crown Victoria was often used as a police vehicle or taxis before the automaker phased it out in 2011. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration opened a new investigation of more than 500,000 Ford Crown Victoria and Mercury Grand Marquis cars

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Google, Ford new driving force in driverless cars?

The ever-advancing quest to be at the front of the pack in the self-driving car industry has taken another intriguing turn with the report Google and Ford are establishing a partnership. According to a report on Yahoo Autos, the two iconic companies’ partnership will be announced at the Consumer Electronic Show, scheduled January 6-9, 2016 in Las Vegas. Google has been experimenting with driverless cars for several years. Dozens of the pod-shaped vehicles are commonly seen on on public roads in Mountain View, California, and in Austin, Texas. The two cities are Google hotbeds, the former location is the technology giant’s hometown. Ford is among many carmakers, including Tesla, Volvo, Nissan and Mercedes-Benz that have been working on self-driving car

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Honda CR-V has new motto: In for the long haul

If the popularity of vehicles made by Toyota and Honda need any additional proof, look no further than the latest longevity study by bankrate.com. Six vehicles manufactured by Toyota and four made by Honda comprised the top-10 of car owners keep at least 10 years. The site’s study looked at vehicles new in 2015 and sold between January 1 2015 to July 15, 2015. Honda CR-V versatility equals its longevity The Honda CR-V, a perennial top-10 selling vehicle, earned the top mark. While just edging the Toyota Prius, Honda CR-V models purchased in 2005 are still owned by 28.6 percent of their original owners. The Toyota Prius, which has dominated the hybrid market since its debut, was second in the

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IIHS safety rankings for 2016: American cars shunned

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently released its annual list of automotive safety awards. Japanese carmakers dominated the top picks while only one American vehicle received the top rating in the 2016 ratings. Among 48 vehicles that received the IIHS “Top Safety Pick Plus” rating, 23 were from Toyota, Honda and Subaru. Toyota and Honda, including their subsidiaries Scion, Lexus and Acura, were the top two automakers, overall. Volkswagen came in third with seven VW and Audi models on the list. The Chrysler 200 was the only vehicle from a domestic brand to get the top safety rating. To be a “Top Safety Pick Plus,” vehicles must get the top score in all five of the group’s crash

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Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche fetches $1.76 million

The 1964 Porsche 356 C1600 SC Cabriolet owned and used as a daily driver by rock and roll star Janis Joplin sold Dec. 10 in New York for $1.76 million at the RM Sotheby’s auction and far exceeded the expected selling price. The announced price in the auction title “Driven By Disruption” was prompted by aggressive bidding among seven collectors in the room in the New York auction house and via telephone. The sale of the wildly painted Porsche set a record amount for any Porsche 356 sold at public auction, according to Sotheby’s. Joplin’s car was expected to fetch around $400,000. Purchased from a used car lot in 1968, Joplin engaged Dave Richards, a friend and roadie with her

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2016 Car of the Year? Chevrolet, Honda, Mazda?

The Chevrolet Malibu, Honda Civic and Mazda MX-5 Miata, three longstanding vehicles with loyal followings in vastly different new and used car markets, have been named finalists for 2016 North American Car of the Year. The Honda Pilot, Nissan Titan XD and Volvo XC90 were name finalists for Truck of the Year in the recent announcement the Automotive Press Association in Detroit. The 2016 North American Car and Truck of the Year will be announced in January at the Detroit Auto Show. The finalists were chosen from short lists of 10 cars and 12 pickups and SUVs created by a jury of 53 automotive journalists. Chevrolet Has Two Cars Considered For Car of the Year The BMW 7 series, Cadillac

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Top-10 most important safety features when buying a car

If you’re considering a new or used car, style, color, economy and versatility are important. But getting the best safety features should be the top priority of your investment. Here are the top-10 car safety features to consider when buying a car. 1. Air bags. The front air bags inflate in order to prevent passengers from hitting the car’s dashboard, the windshield, as well as the steering wheel. (depends on the impact, speed as well as the hardness of the struck object). Side air bags lessen the risk for occupants to hit the objects or their door during a crash. A cars’ dash will indicate if there is an issue with the airbags, familiarize yourself with these warnings. 2. Antilock

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2016 Chevrolet Volt named Green Car of the Year

Five years after it won for the first time, the Chevrolet Volt has been named the Green Car of the Year for the second time. The 2016 edition was honored at the Los Angeles Auto Show in the 10th edition of the award presented by the Green Car Journal.The Chevrolet Volt was given the award in recognition of improvements to every aspect of the extended-range hybrid that debut in 2011. In presenting the award, judges note the Chevrolet Volt for its: “sleek and sporty design, more energy-dense batteries, new electric motors, and quicker acceleration.” The Chevrolet Volt has a more efficient 1.5-liter engine-generator that creates onboard electricity to power the Volt’s motors for a total 420 miles.The Volt beat a field of finalists

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Top-10 tips for safe winter driving

E-Book PDF: Open in New Window | Download (610.1KB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWinter driving means different potential problems to different drivers in different parts of the country. But many commonsense practices remain universal, whether you’re driving in the snow in the Sierra Nevada or in strong winds and torrential rain in Florida. Most importantly, if you drive in winter weather, make sure to use your vehicle’s headlights — even during daylight hours. During bright day days, precipitation can add to the difficulty of seeing other vehicles on the road. It also means other drivers will have difficulty viewing your car or truck. During these situations, using headlights helps drivers see other vehicles. Be careful about using your high

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PREVIEW: 2017 Kia Cadenza gets sporty

The Kia Cadenza, the most luxurious and expensive are in the Korean carmaker’s lineup, will have a new look for 2017 with hopes of improving slumping sales. Launched in 2013, the Cadenza has attracted a niche audience among car buyer seeking an alternative to costly sporty sedans an with a great warranty. Called the K7 in South Korea, the 2017 Kia Cadenza will have a more angular and sportier design. The new edition will a more prominent in the dip in Kia’s “tiger nose” grille as well as substantially new appearance in front and rear end designs. “The next-generation Cadenza maintains the progressive, contemporary image of the current model, and the sharper more defined lines and wider, lower stance give

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Volvo unveils new car-buying reality in cool car videos

Volvo has just released two videos that have moved to forefront of the auto industry. Volvo cars are marketed as the safest cars on the market. The carmaker’s design also reflects the clean, sleek characteristics of Swedish design. The two new car videos personify that image. The first video is a six-month-old project Volvo has introduced in conjunction with Microsoft. The HoloLens (hologram) allows customers to wear a device to configure vehicles in a new way, via visualization. The video shows how shoppers can view useful features often overlooked in car manuals via three-dimensional glasses device. The result is  “augmented reality.” Although not yet available to the public, early demonstrations showed potential customers confirming details. Volvo customers are wearing the

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More VW, Audi Porsche diesels affected by emissions issues

The continuing saga of the emissions scam affecting Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen has again expanded with the announcement of the problem affecting 85,000 vehicles with 3.0-liter diesel V6 engines dating to 2009. The engine software is allegedly designed to foil emissions tests, according to the EPA. The California Air Resources Board and the EPA “will continue to investigate and will take all appropriate action,” the federal agency said in its statement. Previously, the EPA said the software was found on 2014-16 models with the Audi-developed 3.0-liter diesel, including SUVs from all three brands and larger sedans from Audi. The EPA made its initial allegations on the 3.0-liter engines on Nov. 2. An EPA spokeswoman said the additional model years covered

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Honda, Mazda, Tesla among 2016 Best Cars of the Year

The perennial best-selling Honda Accord, the innovative Tesla Model S 70 and the iconic Ford Mustang are among the 10 Best Cars for 2016, according to Car and Driver. And there’s a surprise: Mazda is the only manufacturer with two cars on the list. The authoritative automotive magazine announced its annual list Nov. 18 on the eve of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The list features a diverse group of vehicles, all priced between $18,000 and $80,000, the maximum price in the publication’s guidelines. Eddie Alderman, the publication’s editor-in chief, said “10 Best involves more than drawing up lists of our sub-$80,000 favorites. Every year we enter our weeklong evaluation looking for new and improved combinations of virtues: value and

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Elio Motors set for live debut of $6,800 car at LA Auto Show

The latest prototype of the $6,800, three-wheel vehicle Elio Motors has promoted for several years but has yet to deliver to the public despite a substantial public online reservation investment, will be unveiled in a live video broadcast Nov. 19 at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The Arizona-based experimental vehicle maker’s prototypes have generated polarizing interest. Its fifth generation vehicle will be introduced at the 10 a.m. press conference. To view the unveiling, visit: ELIO MOTORS/L.A. AUTO SHOW The vehicle’s CAD renderings detail a similar but update version of the car’s previous concepts. The company, building what it’s touting as the cheapest car in the United States in a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, has collected different levels

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Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz, Cadillac among least reliable. Really?

Infiniti, Mercedes and Cadillac aren’t the vehicles likely expected on “Least Reliable List.” But that’s exactly the case. The three automakers are on the soon-to-be released dubious “awards” list published by Consumer Reports. The study detailed in publication’s December 2015 issue reveals Fiat Chrysler has fared the worst. It has five cars on the “Worst 10” list — the Chrysler 300, Dodge Challenger, Dodge Ram 2500, Jeep Cherokee and Fiat 500L. The latter was named the least reliable vehicle overall. Fiat unsurprisingly earned the title for least reliable auto brand. “The transmission won’t shift gears,” one reader said of his 500L, according to a Consumer Reports video. “Had to be towed five times,” said another frustrated Fiat 500L owner. Consumer

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