Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

Ford F-Series trucks, siblings dominate 2016 sales

The number is staggering — 17.4 million new cars and trucks were purchased in the United States in 2016, dominated by sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. The Ford F-Series again paced the industry surpassing 800,000 in sales and about 250,000 more than the runner-up Chevrolet Silverado. Twelve of the top-20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2016 were either SUVs or pickup trucks. The reason: a combination of versatility and lowering gas prices. The sale of pickups has increased for years. Only six manufacturers are represented in the marketplace, but the combined sales were more than 2.2 million. The 2016 car market had two surprising results. Compact-car sales fell 6.1 percent in 2016 and midsize vehicle sales fell 11.2

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2018 FORD F-150: Diesel, 10-speed transmission debut

The 2018 Ford F-150, the debuting edition of the iconic pickup and the best-selling vehicle in the United States, will feature two major firsts. It will offer a new diesel engine and a 10-speed transmission. Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2018 Ford F-150 will include a new 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel engine. A 3.3-liter engine also replaces the current 3.5-liter V6, both offering the same 282 horsepower engine. The second-generation 2.7L EcoBoost also gets tweaked for better efficiency, more output, and better durability. It will feature the new 10-speed transmission. The 5.0L V8 trim also gets upgraded for higher output and will also have the new 10-speed transmission. Ford also confirmed a hybrid F-150 will be offered

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Coming soon: Ford F-150, Mustang icons as hybrids

The Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang, respectively the country’s best-selling vehicle and its most iconic sports car, will break from tradition and join the expanding hybrid segment of the automotive industry. The new trims, expected to be unveiled in 2020, will be part of the manufacturer’s addition of 13 global electric and hybrid vehicles in the next five years. The new vehicles are also expected to include a plug-in Ford Transit van and fully electric small sport utility vehicle. Electric police vehicles are also in Ford’s plans, according to autoguide.com. The SUV will have a 300-mile range and will be sold in North America, Europe and Asia. The hybrid Mustang will apparently only be available in North America, while the

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2018 Honda Odyssey gets hip

The worldwide debut of the 2018 Honda Odyssey, the fifth generation of the enduring minivan, will be unveiled January 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. According to several automotive sites and the manufacturer, the new Odyssey will be completely redesigned. It will feature: “New powertrain technology, sophisticated styling and showcase a new suite of innovative features, making it the ultimate in family-friendly design and packaging,” according to The Detroit News. The basics of the Odyssey, according to Automotive News, will remain the same. It will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It will be built on Honda’s light-truck platform which underpins the Pilot large crossover and the Ridgeline midsize truck. The 2016 Honda Odyssey was

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2017 PREVIEW: Biggest obstacles to buying cars online?

What will be the biggest obstacle to buying cars online in 2017? The automotive industry had a tremendous year in 2016. The great news included: automakers seeing a third consecutive year of record sales at 17.4 million vehicles, the self-driving car making an amazing leap forward, Elon Musk becoming a superstar and the spectacular rise in venture capital funding for automotive tech startups. The bad news included: Apple’s failed attempt to get in the game and the potential Trump tariffs and consumers potentially piling on way too much debt for new cars. The ugly news included: car hacking, the Takata fiasco and the Volkswagen emissions scandal. But here at vinadvisor, 2016 will be remembered for the strides made by car

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Chevrolet, Mazda top Car and Driver best of 2017 list

Car and Driver, the largest-selling automotive publication in the United States, has announced its annual best cars list. The 2017 honorees include three Chevrolet models and two Mazda vehicles. The 34th annual is selected based on a car’s ability to “execute its mission at the highest level and deliver a driving experience somewhere between sublime and messianic.” Contending vehicles also must cost $80,000 or less, be on sale by January of the year of the honors and be available for the experts at Car and Driver to test during the past September. Additionally, nominees on the Car and Driver list consist of all new cars, 2016 10 Best winners, cars not available for the 2016 competition, and those with significant

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Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 4: On The Road

With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy condition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s the fourth of a four-part series on Winter Driving Safety Tips: Stay Alert • Keep your gas tank close to full, even with a hybrid-electric vehicle. If you get stuck in a traffic jam or snow, you might need more fuel than you anticipated to get home or to keep warm. • If road conditions are hazardous,

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Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 3: Safety First

Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy conditions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 3 of a four-part series on winter driving safety tips: Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones • Always wear your seatbelt and ensure every on else in your vehicle is buckled-up in age-and-size-appropriate restraints. • Remember that all children underage13 should always ride properly restrained in the back seat. • Make sure car seats and booster

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Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 2: Safety Checklist

Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are integral components of following the best winter driving safety tips. It’s the best solution for keeping your car or truck safe in severe rain. It’s the best solution for keeping your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy condition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 2 of a four-part series on winter driving safety tips: Battery When the temperature drops, so does battery power. For gasoline and diesel engines, it takes more battery power to start your vehicle in cold weather. For electric and hybrid-electric vehicles, the driving range is reduced when the battery is cold, and battery systems work better after they warm

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Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 1: Car Service

With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in severe rain, snow, and icy conditions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 1 of a four-part series of winter driving safety tips: Get Your Car Serviced No one wants their car to break down in any season, but especially not in cold, icy or snowy winter weather. Start the season off right by ensuring your vehicle is in optimal condition. • Visit your mechanic for a tune-up and

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2017 NEW CAR PREVIEW: BMW to unveil lineup in Detroit

BMW will offer a varied new selection of vehicles, including the world debut of the 2017 5 Series sedan as well as the M Performance and plug-in hybrid electric iPerformance variants January 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The BMW X2 Concept, a compact Sports Activity Vehicle first unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in September, will make its North American debut. With the introduction of the 530e iPerformance, BMW now offers a family of plug-in electric hybrid vehicles including the 330e iPerformance, the 740e xDrive iPerformance,  X5 xDrive40e iPerformance as well as the i3 and i8. The world debut of the 5 Series sedan will be represented in Detroit by the 2017 540i, and the

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VW pays more for pollution scandal (all cars listed here)

Another chapter in the long saga of Volkswagen and its scheme to hide emission levels in some of its vehicles has resulted in the manufacturer offering to buy back more tainted diesel cars and spend an additional $1 billion to settle the air pollution scandal. The German automaker agreed to buy back tainted 3.0-liter engine vehicles sold between 2009 and 2012. The company will fix newer 3.0-liter cars. Volkswagen will pay $225 million into a “national mitigation fund” to address air pollution effects from its tainted 3.0-liter engine vehicles. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) said $66 million would go to California, according to a report in the Sacramento Bee and on several automotive websites. Volkswagen previous agreed to spend

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EVgo expands profile with country’s fastest charging station

Construction of the first high-power public charging station in the United States has begun in Baker, California. It’s under the auspices of EVgo, the nation’s nation’s largest network of public electric vehicle (EV) fast-charging stations. The new station’s chargers will be capable of charging at a rate of up to 350kW. The rate is seven times faster than any fast chargers currently available and represents a new level of convenience for EV charging. When completed, EVgo’s High-Power charging station at the site of World’s Tallest Thermometer will link Southern California to Las Vegas, furthering EVgo’s position as the leading national fast charging provider. The High-Power Charger complements EVgo’s existing fast charging stations throughout California and the U.S., allowing EV drivers

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Bugatti As Kinetic Art? Rare Pedal Cars Honor Iconic Brand

Bugatti is often considered the world’s most prestigious automobile. The French car company was founded in 1909 by Ettore Bugatti. Throughout its more its now nearly 108-year history, the craftsmanship of its vehicles is unmatched. Despite the beauty and legend of Bugatti, the exclusive company has endured its pitfalls like nearly every other high-end manufacturer. Ettore Bugatti died in 1947 and was preceded in death by his son Jean. The elder’s passing marked the beginning of the demise of the original company. The company was in such financial disarray in the early 1960s, its inventory was sold for use as airplane parts. The company was sold to Hispano-Suiza in 1963, and the Bugatti name was sold to its current owner

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2018 Toyota Camry: Watch the debut live from Detroit

When you sell more than 400,000 units of a car in a year, you get to have bravado. That’s how and why the 2018 Toyota Camry is just a tease — for now. The carmaker has announced the new edition of the best-selling car in the United States for many years will be unveiled in January at the 2017 North American International Auto Show, often called the Detroit Auto Show. Toyota’s only preview image of the new Camry is a close-cropped, three-quarter low-angle rear view. Sure, it’s a partial view. But it appears the usually conservatively styled sedan has been modernized. While the Toyota Camry had a long reign in its top-selling perch, its sales have decreased more than nine

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Cars3 trailer: Big crash shatters film series’ theme

Six years after its predecessor, Cars3, the computer-animated film starring Lightning McQueen (voice of Owen Wilson), will be released on June 16, 2017 in 2D 3D and IMAX 3D formats. And, man, will there be a surprise. The third installment in the popular series will have a more serious theme. McQueen is suddenly dispatched from racing after a crash. And to return to to the sport, he needs the assistance of a young race technician, Cruz Ramirez. But she has her own ideas and plans to win. And there’s another twist: Guidance from the late Fabulous Hudson Hornet as well as a few other figurative and literal tumultuous racetrack corners to negotiate. The heavy tone from the teaser has garnered

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