Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

60 Minutes calls Lamborghini: ‘Irrational Romance’

It isn’t often 60 Minutes reports on the auto industry, but the longstanding program’s segment on Lamborghini was varied and a comprehensive look at the high-end carmaker. The segment celebrated the 50th anniversary of the Italian automaker. Its cars the program reported cost as much as $4 million. The segment included the description of the design of the car as one continuous line. It was interesting to hear the history of the car, dating to its tractor days, and the original owner’s fondness for Ferrari. There was one exception: he didn’t like the clutch. Ferrari told Lamborghini to stick to making tractors and thus Lamborghini was born. One of the highlights of the segment was the look and the description

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BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz: good riddance O’Reilly

Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Hyundai and Allstate Insurance Co., major long-time advertisers from the automotive industry, have removed their advertising campaigns from the controversial Fox political show “The O’Reilly Factor.” The abrupt reaction, which also includes several additional advertisers from various industries, has occurred over several days after the New York Times reported Fox and show host Bill O’Reilly paid five women to settle claims he sexually harassed them. According to a Reuters report, French pharmaceutical company Sanofi SA, direct marketer Constant Contact, men’s clothing company Untuckit, as well as T. Rowe Price are also no longer advertising on the show. “In light of the disturbing allegations, we instructed our media buyer this morning to reallocate our ad dollars to other shows

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Chicago’s new dubious honor, longest average car commute

How much would workforce efficiency improve if commuters didn’t have to commute or at least not spend as much time commuting? How long does it take you to get to work in the morning? No doubt you’ve been asked this question. Swapping stories about traffic, rush hour and secret shortcuts is as common as commenting on the weather at many workplaces. The commuting dilemma also often provides lunchtime competition. Who has the most grueling drive? While many co-workers are likely traveling through many of the same congested streets and highways, have you ever wondered how your commute compares to problem in other parts of the country? Auto Accessories Garage took the most recent data available from the US Census Bureau

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2017 Geneva International Motor Show: New cars galore

As arguably the most important international auto show, the Geneva International Motor Show will this year offer its usual complement of debuts and concepts in the ever-changing automotive industry. The year’s show, scheduled March 9-19, will be held in its traditional neutral location, the Palexpo in Geneva next to the international airport. Here’s a list of some of the manufacturers’ offerings in alphabetical order: Audi — The 400-horsepower RS3 Sportback debuts. Dendrobium — It’s a new hypercar from Singapore. Ferrari — The Superfast, with its 800 horsepower V112, will debut with plenty of fanfare. Kia — Say hello to tiniest Kia, the Picanto. McLaren — The Super Series is the replacement of the 650S lineup. Seat — The Ibiza supermini

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Cars3: The future is now, but has Paul Newman returned?

The release of Cars3 is less than four months away, but the marketing of the third film in the increasingly popular series has begun in earnest. The movie was announced months ago, but the trailer for the film debuted appropriately during the recent telecast of the Dayton 500. The theme is the future. It’s not about future cars, but the future of Lightning McQueen. The movies’ main character is trying to make a comeback after a crash and while up against a slew of new, young talent. Plenty of rumors think the main voice in the trailer is Paul Newman’s. The iconic actor and race car driver the films have emulated, died in 2008. Modern technology is certainly capable of

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Consumer Reports: Best New Cars of 2017

Consumer Reports picks lots of best lists. Arguably the most popular list is the publication’s annual best car list. For 2017, like in previous years, the Consumer Reports’ list of best new cars, was selected because the vehicles are outstanding all-around performers — reliable, safe and satisfying. According to Consumer Reports, “That means they have scored high in our stringent track tests and extensive owner surveys. They have won our admiration, and we recommend them with confidence.” Here’s the synopsis breakdown of the Consumer Reports’ criteria breakdown, followed by the list best new car list for 2017. Cars with hyperlinks have been reviewed by TheWeeklyDriver.com via their 2017 models or in a recent year. Overall Score: A consolidation of findings

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Lexus, Porsche top J.D. Power reliability survey

Lexus and Porsche are the most dependable car brands after three years of ownership, according to the 28th annual survey conducted J.D. Power, the global marketing research company. It is the sixth consecutive year that Lexus topped J.D. Power’s annual U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study. The streak puts Lexus halfway to tying its record of 12 consecutive titles for most dependable brand between from 1997 to 2008. Toyota, Buick and Mercedes-Benz rounded out the top five brands overall. Mercedes, Hyundai (No. 6), BMW (No. 7) and Jaguar (No. 10) were newcomers to the Top 10 this year, while GMC, Acura, Ram and Lincoln dropped out. The industry averaged 156 problems per 100 vehicles in the latest dependability study, up by four

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Watch Car of the Year pick live from Geneva Motor Show

The Geneva International Motor Show is arguably the most important car event of the year. In addition to new model debuts, the Car of the Year is selected. This year marks the 54th year of the honor. The announcement will be made Monday, March 6 at 3 p.m. local time in Switzerland. Among 29 original candidates, seven finalists were selected last November after a week of testing in Denmark. The finalists for the sixth Car of the Year celebration during the Geneva International Motor Show include: Alfa Romeo Giulia, Citroën C3, Mercedes E-Class, Nissan Micra, Peugeot 3008, Toyota C-HR and Volvo S90/V90. The finalists were tested again in Denmark. The Car of the Year honor is organized by seven of

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Mercedes-Benz gets dubious meanest ‘honors’

The Mercedes-Benz AMG G65 has received plenty of praise, but it now also has a dubious honor — for the second straight year. A performance-oriented luxury SUV, the Mercedes-AMG G65 is the “meanest” car, according to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. It’s the most environmentally dirty 2017 car on the road. In a repeat of 2016, Mercedes-Benz again dominates the ACEEE’s worst polluters list. The German manufacturer has five of the 12 lowest-scoring models, although three if the selections are close siblings. Toyota, which accounted for three of the 12 greenest cars, is also represented on the “meanest” list with three entries, two full-size SUVs – a Toyota and a Lexus – and the hefty Toyota Tundra pickup

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2017 Hyundai Ioniq Electric greenest of green cars

The unheralded Hyundai Ioniq, the new midsize sedan with the unusual name, has the smallest environmental footprint among 2017 vehicles, according to American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE). The 20th annual environmental ratings, available on greenercars.org, is a comprehensive list of the year’s Greenest, Meanest, Greener Choices, and best-in-class vehicles. “Anyone buying a new car now has plenty of options for making an environmentally smart decision,” said Eric Junga, Transportation Research Analyst at ACEEE. “Whether you are looking to purchase the greenest car available, or the greenest vehicle for your needs such as a minivan, or simply stay away from the bottom of the list, greenercars.org can help you.” The following vehicles comprise the Greenest List for 2017. Each car is given a

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New Ferrari 812 Superfast: Italian carmaker’s finest?

Ferrari may have outdone itself. The iconic Italian automaker will debut the Ferrari 812 Superfast, “the most powerful and fastest Ferrari” in the manufacturer’s history at the 2017 Geneva Auto Show. Th 87th Geneva Auto Show will be held March 9-19. According to Ferrari, the 812 Superfast will be brand’s last naturally aspirated V12. It’s powered by a 6.5-liter V12 that outputs about 789 horsepower, 8,500 rpm and 525 pound-feet of torque at 7,000 rpm. The 812 Superfast, which is front-mid mounted, is matched to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. It’s the first Ferrari to use electric power steering. Four-wheel steering has been added to increase low-speed maneuverability as well as high-speed stability and responsiveness. The V12’s acceleration is 0-100 kph in 2.9

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Buying a car with flood damage can be trouble

The nationwide flood damage this year has affected many industries, including the automotive market. Tens of thousands of cars have been submerged, leading to potentially significant damage. According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB.org), unwitting consumers are at risk of buying a flood-damaged car if they don’t adhere to guidelines. Unknowingly buying a vehicle with flood damage may put you and your family in physical and financial danger. A vehicle’s electronic systems are often destroyed from prolonged exposure to water rendering many of its safety features inoperable. Experts from a leading pre-insurance auto inspection company note that while misrepresenting a vehicle with flood damage is illegal, it happens often. “If a deal looks too good, be careful,” said James

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Keep your car love alive with Valentine’s Day gifts

SPONSORED CONTENT Everyone loves their car when they buy it, but after the honeymoon phase is over, it’s sometimes hard to keep that love going strong. 3M Auto, Prestone, Meguiar’s and Royal Purple have come up with five easy solutions to fall back in love with your car just in time for Valentine’s Day. 1. Take Years Off the Look – Yellow and hazed headlight lenses don’t just make your car look old, they’re also a safety hazard and can decrease visibility. 3M Quick Headlight Renewal provides an easy-to-use headlight restoration solution to help increase visibility and remove minor haze from headlights in a matter of minutes. Your headlights will look like years younger in no time. 2. Keep the

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Super Bowl: Melissa McCarthy saves the planet in a Kia

Kia takes chances with its Super Bowl commercials. Who would have thought a pack of talking hamsters would be successful promoting the Kia Soul? But it’s been a hit for years. The Kia commercial last year featuring Christopher Walken, the “Walken Closet,” and beige and colorful sock puppets is arguably on the top-10 all-time Super Bowl commercials list. It brilliantly promoted the Kia Optima. And now comes along Melissa McCarthy, the comedic actress who while driving a 2017 Kia Niro has the task of saving the planet. She tries to save whales, trees, the polar ice cap and the rhinoceros kingdom. While promoting the 2017 Kia Niro, McCarthy meets catastrophe in each of her attempts to be an eco-warrior. The

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Winter car care can help ensure safe driving

Proper winter car care can mean the difference between safe driving and catastrophe. From exterior washing to paint preservation to ice prevention, using the diligent precautionary practices can eliminate potential inclement weather issues and ensure as much as possible efficient, problem-free travel. Michael Kahn on his lifestyle website www.mklibrary.com provides a detailed, step-by-step checklist to take proper measures when you travel in cold weather or other climate issues — hail, frost, snow and rain — or a mixture of several problematic elements. In one example, Kahn describes the best way to persevere your vehicle includes spraying your car’s exterior as well as its undercarriage. There are also sections on tidying up the interior to many recommended products for getting the

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Fiat Chrysler cheated on emissions tests, says EPA

One day after Volkswagen was slapped with a multi-billion dollar fine for its emissions scandal involving 11 million vehicles, Fiat Chrysler has been accused of the same wrongdoing in its Jeep Grand Cherokees and Dodge Ram 1500 pickup trucks by the Environmental Protection Agency. The EPA said Fiat Chrysler used software the allowed about 104,000 of its 3.0-liter diesel vehicles made from 2014 to 2016 to cheat on the test. The Dodge Ram pickup was the third best-selling vehicle in the United States in 2016. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was the country’s 19th best-selling vehicle. Janet McCabe, head of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation, said “no immediate actions are necessary” for owners of the vehicles targeted. She assured owners

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