Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

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Bubba Watson and his controversial drive, a 1969 Dodge Charger

Bubba Watson, a golfer of emotion and a non-purist’s swing, won The Masters for the second time in three years Sunday on the storied layout at August National in Georgia. Watson’s second victory at the event showcased his aggressive style of play. But the golfer’s first win at The Masters also included a slight controversy. But how did a nearly 45-year-old Dodge Charger put a damper on Watson’s first victory? Watson’s skills and personality were captivating. But his choice of cars, a 1969 Dodge Charger named The General Lee that once “starred” in the Dukes of Hazard television program, isn’t exactly an image appreciated by NASCAR and likely not the PGA Tour, either. The General Lee was driven by Luke

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Michael Schumacher has moments of improvement

Michael Schumacher, the Formula One driver hospitalized in Grenoble since last December after a skiing accident in France, has “moments of consciousness and awakening,” according to his agent. Sabine Kehm, the racer’s long-time representative, said occasions are the most positive message to emerge since the accident. The statement reads, “Michael is making progress on his way. He shows moments of consciousness and awakening. We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident. “We would like to thank you all for the continuous sympathies. At the same time, we again ask for understanding that we do not intend to disclose details. This is necessary to

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PREVIEW: 2015 Hyundai Genesis: Elegant, powerful

The 2015 Hyundai Genesis, which will debut at dealerships in late April, has been redesigned and will start at $38,000 for the 3.8L V6 and $51,500 for the 5.0L V8 model. Hyundai is touting the upscale sedan as the “the combination of bold design, superb driving dynamics, unmatched standard technology and attractive pricing positions.” 2015 GENESIS PRICE STRUCTURE Model     Engine     Transmission     MSRP 3.8L RWD     3.8L V6     8-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC     $38,000 3.8L AWD     3.8L V6     8-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC     $40,500 5.0L RWD     5.0L V8     8-Speed A/T w/ SHIFTRONIC     $51,500 Freight charges for the 2015 Genesis are $950 and not included in the prices above. The 2015 Genesis includes

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Lexus, Mazda shine in 2014 Best Family Car list

A family car once meant a station wagon or a lackluster, underpowered box-like sedan. No more. For 2014, U.S. News & World Report has selected performance cars and family oriented cars that are perfectly capable for single drivers. The magazine (and its corresponding online edition) has selected the best vehicles for families in 19 categories, compact cars to minivans, hatchback to luxury cars. The 2014 Mazda6, the Best Midsize Car for Families, and the 2014 Mazda3, the Best Compact Car for Families, both have performance that car reviewers love. That performance comes in addition to available high-tech safety features, like forward collision warning and lane departure warning, as well as spacious cabins most car critics agree feel upscale. The Honda

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Tesla, Elon Musk get massive 60 Minutes recharge

Elon Musk and his empire at Tesla Motors is not new to 60 Minutes. But each time the entrepreneur appears on the enduringly popular Sunday night news program — an old, new or updated segment — there’s something to discover. The interview of Musk on March 30 by Steve Kroft covered familiar ground, the passion Musk has for his high speed, high-technology electric car and the passion for the SpaceX spaceship he hopes will be the first to take human passengers to Mars. What was new, at least for me, was the interview with his mother and brother and Musk’s nearly carefree look back at the near collapse of his company. The segment also briefly discussed Musk’s five sons and

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3-wheel Elio interest soars, 3,000 more reserved

It’s still a year away from its projected public debut, but interest in the Elio Motors’ three-wheel vehicle continues to flourish — at least according to the manufacturer’s website. In early February, the website announced reservations for 84 mpg, 55-horsepower machine had reached 10,000. Six weeks later, the reservation total is approaching 13,000. Deposits from $100 to $1,000 are accepted with different levels of “bang for your buck” if and when the Elio becomes available. Refundable and non-refundable options are available. A non-refundable reservation provides customers with an additional discount worth 50 percent of the initial deposit (a $1,000 deposit would receive an additional $500 toward the price of a vehicle at the time of purchase). Although refundable deposits can

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Tesla, Toyota Prius among most fuel-thrifty 2014 cars

It’s easy to list the most fuel-efficient cars and truck simply by miles per gallon. But listing the most fuel-sipping vehicles in categories is more comprehensive. Kelley Blue Book assembles a lot of car lists each year, but its most efficient car list for 2014 is arguably its most informative. The list ranges from cars under $20,000 to truck-based SUVs and electric cars to sports cars. Here’s what Kelley Blue Book wrote about the Toyota Prius c One, the most fuel efficient car in the United States with a sticker price of less than $20,000: “The littlest Prius has a strong family resemblance to the full-size Prius and a name that has earned green cred over the years. Delivering 50

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Rare Barn Find Ford Mustang Shelby Set For Auction

Barn finds in the automotive world are still out there. The latest discovery is a varied collection of cars and trucks from an estate in Pennsylvania that includes a 1969 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 Cobra Jet. The car, owned Larry A. Brown, a now-deceased car and truck collector,  is the expected highlight of more than a dozen vehicles set for auction April 25 at Ron Gilligan Auctioneering in Spruce Creek, Pa. The Mustang features a 428-cubic-inch Cobra Jet engine mated to a four-speed manual transmission, which has only 8,500 miles in total. The spark plugs, belts, fan and hoses are all original. The tires are the only equipment not from 1968. According to a report on Yahoo News, the car

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Road Rage Revenge: How Sweet It Is (Video)

Road rage torments many. Maybe we’ve been the victim of road rage. Or maybe we’ve initiated an issue on a bad day or on a lot of bad days. Driving just often brings out the worst in people. Road rage revenge, however, is another matter. How sweet it is. In this instance, earlier this week a woman driver in Tampa, Fla., was the victim of road rage. But she recorded the situation on her smartphone and she had video of the outcome when the perpetrator spun out of control in wet weather and crashed on a median. The woman who made the video posted it on YouTube. She recorded the guy’s anger. She had the guy flipping her off. She

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PREVIEW: 2015 Ford Mustang: Sleek new convertible

The 2015 Ford Mustang fastback and convertible is available with a variety of engines, a newly designed, more efficient convertible top system, more connectivity options and a new exterior and interior design. The new engine type includes a new turbocharged EcoBoost 2.3-liter and an upgraded 5.0-liter V8 with more than 420 horsepower and manual or automatic six-speed transmissions. The convertible roof uses a new electromechanical drive and single-handle center latch to lower in half the time of the current car. Roof features a standard fabric outer layer and is fully lined and insulated for a quieter ride. More compact roof and independent suspension contribute to segment-leading trunk space that can hold two golf bags – even with the premium audio

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PREVIEW: Honda Fit, 2015: Quicker, better mpg

The Honda Fit, which debuted in 2006 as a 2007 model, has been heavily praised as among the best bargains in the automotive industry. The Fit has also been recalled more than once and has been criticized for Honda’s inability to produce better gas mileage averages for the fun-to-driver, spacious subcompact. Honda is aware, and according to a report in the CarConnection.com, the Japanese carmaker plans to introduce a new line of more efficient, and thus, fuel-savings engines and transmissions in its cars. The project, called Earth Dreams, will include, according to the site, a new generation of direct-injection engines, plus Continuously Variable Transmissions (CVT) for fuel efficiency and dual-clutch automated gearboxes for hybrids and sporty models. The new Fit,

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Breaking Bad honors Pontiac Aztek as worst car ever

Best and worst cars lists are always subjective. More often than not the Pontiac Aztek tops the worst car list. And the Jaguar XKE is often listed at the top of the best car list. In one of the most recent worst lists, the Aztek was again at the top (bottom?) of the list, but this time with renewed vigor. The Aztek, the original SUV, was driven by Walter White, the chemistry teacher with terminal cancer and the lead character in the immensely popular television show “Breaking Bad.” White became a homicidal meth dealer during the five seasons in which “Breaking Bad” aired. The original run ended in 2013, but the program remains a huge hit on Netflix and via

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Toyota facing $1 billion fine to end safety probe

Toyota could pay as much as $1 billion in a pending settlement with the Justice Department that wound end a four-year probe into accusations the carmaker made misleading statements about its safety problems. The issues relate to allegations of unintended acceleration in Toyota and its upscale brand Lexus in the late 2000s. In 2009, an off-duty California Highway Patrolman and his family were killed when their borrowed Lexus careened off the highway at around 120 mph. The recording of a passenger’s last minute 911 call captured the driver’s frantic efforts to stop the vehicle. If the settlement is finalized, it would be among the largest fines ever levied against an automaker. It would also allow Toyota to avoid criminal charges.

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PREVIEW: 2015 Hyundai Genesis: More tech, more room

The newly designed 2015 Hyundai Genesis is the first year of the second generation of the premium sedan. It will debut this spring with optional all-wheel drive for the first time as well as encompass available HID headlamps, LED indicators and fog lamps. The Genesis profile is more expressive, with fluid lines and blended surfaces, with a C-pillar helping to emphasize the sporty styling. The rear of the all-new Genesis benefits from a sculptural aesthetic with jeweled, full-LED tail lamps. Total interior volume is an 123.0 cubic feet, the best in class. Hyundai interior design principles – safety, intuitiveness and simplicity – guided the Genesis design team in redesigning all primary controls to deliver maximum ease of use. The steering

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God is good, but it’s no name for the Elio three-wheeler

Elio Motors is named after Paul Elio, an engineer who’s now the CEO of the company that makes the three-wheel vehicle. He has extraordinary plans for the high-mileage, low-cost machine as well as expectations for a superior safety rating. The $6,800 vehicle is scheduled for public availability in 2015. One potential issue (but a good issue to have) is what it will be called. Perhaps Elio and company insiders already know the name. And maybe some of the 11,700 interested buyers of the “autocycle” who have made deposits ranging from $100 to $1,000 to own the three three-wheel wonder, know the pending name. But certainly the name isn’t public yet. And thus, what about a campaign? It seems unlikely the

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Three-wheel vehicles like Elio: Who makes the rules?

With all the recent news of the pending debut of Elio Motors’ three-wheeler, the rules and other considerations governing three-wheel vehicles of all types has also been rekindled. Are three-wheelers legal? How are they registered and titled? What kind of license is required to operate a three-wheeler? Who makes the rules? Do they have airbags? Can they be operated on the freeway? Last November, the American Association of Motor Vehicles Administrators (AAMVA), a national authority on best policy for all state DMVs and Licensing Bureaus, recommended the Elio be driven with a standard driver’s license. In that regard, The AAMVA released their new “Best Practices” policy on licensing and registration of three-wheel vehicles certified as motorcycles by the National Highway

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