Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

Fast & Furious 7: rare car demolition derby

The completion of Fast & Furious 7 was an homage to Paul Walker, the co-lead in the just-released action movie about cars, speed and bravado. Walker died in November 2014 in a single-car crash after only portions of the movie had been filmed. And while the film pays its respects to the actor, it also continues the enduring series’ emphasis on over-the-top joy rides among 340 cars, some rare, some extraordinarily rare. The vehicles were catapulted off ramps and out of planes and smashed together at every angle imaginable. The seventh installment of the movie includes a renewed emphasis on real stunts. Only 10 percent of the action sequences are computer generated. Still, 230 of the 240 cars used in

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Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao, pistachios and cars

The upcoming Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao bout may be the most anticipated fight in boxing history. As such, exposure of both athletes has expanded beyond the boxing circles — and in far different ways. Pacquiao has a television commercial promoting pistachios. Mayweather is more flamboyant. He’s taken to social media to showcase his empire, including his vast collection of iconic cars. As a car collector, Mayweather isn’t in the same league as entertainers like Jay Leno and Jerry Seinfeld. But his choices are impressive, and certainly expensive, and easily attainable for anyone who happened to make $105 million in 2014. Mayweather likes to flaunt his cars and the other extravagant means of his life. In a recent Twitter image,

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Lincoln Continental is back, but can Ford icon rule again?

The Lincoln Continental, the once iconic luxury car owned by hot rod racers and a brand to movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor, is back. Ford has announced the sedan will be unveiled with a new look and minus its recent MKS name as a concept vehicle at the New York Auto Show. The show begins April 3. The Continental, which will likely be available to the public 2016, will have a new 3-liter twin-turbocharged V6 engine. The manufacturer’s suggested retail price has not been announced. Lincoln, which debuted as a manufacturer in 1915, was once the dominant luxury brand. But that hasn’t been the case in many years with auto industry experts wondering if the Lincoln name would survive. The

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Jeremy Clarkson driven to anger, gets fired from Top Gear

Jeremy Clarkson, the irreverent host of Top Gear, the immensely popular BBC automotive review program, has been fired for hitting a colleague while filming the show on location earlier in March. Tony Hall, the general director of the BBC, which produces the show, made the announcement. Hall, who said he’s a fan of Clarkson, detailed the decision was made after an investigation of the confrontation between Clarkson and the producer. Clarkson was originally suspended, but the BBC subsequently Clarkson’s contract will not be renewed. It was scheduled to expire at the end of March. Ken MacQuarrie, a BBC official, confirmed Clarkson hit producer Oisin Tymon and used “derogatory and abusive language.” MacQuarrie added the BBC needs “distinctive and different voices, but

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Playboy, Playmates and their hot (and not so hot) cars

Playmates of the Year get a lot of attention. Playboy, the magazine selecting the honored women since 1964, promotes the models and, among other accolades, gives each winner a new car. For the first 12 years of the award, all of the new cars awarded were pink. But once the odd color selection ended, another more curious occurrence happened — the sometimes bizarre choices of the cars selected. In some instances, the Playmate of the Year received what has become an iconic car, including several Jaguar and Porsche models. In other years, the cars awarded are now nearly worthless. The Playmates of the Year through the years have also on occasion been rewarded with a motorcycle or boat. The women are

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Watch out for driverless Audi in control, New York bound

Watch out for an Audi SQ5 near you. It’s driverless and it’s now making its way from San Francisco to New York utilizing Delphi autonomous car technology. Jump-starting the long-planned and heavily promoted claims by Tesla one of its electric cars will also be driven across the country on autonomous technology, Audi hopes its experiment will prove successful in time for the New York Auto Show. The Audi‘s trek, which began March 22, is planned for about 3,500 miles. In addition to the vehicle, the Audi voyage began with a few engineers and a “driver.” Stints of six-to-eight hours are planned with the driver in the car. The SQ5 is one of four vehicles Delphi has modified for autonomous driving

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Apple Watch: car tech craze or auto disaster?

The announcement of the Apple Watch was long anticipated. And if April’s release date materializes it will be interesting to observe the effects the Dick Tracy-like contraption to various industries — particularly the automotive world. The possibilities are vast. Will the media frenzy about the watch reflect an equal excitement about Apple stock? How will the new watch and its myriad functions change industry, the mainstream watch world to the ever-advancing infotainment systems and driving habits in the auto industry? Tim Cook, the Apple CEO said, among other features, the Apple Watch would soon feature Car Play. It’s the application Cook said every major car manufacturer has committed to use. It will allow the watch features to function via iOS

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Top 5 Underrated Dealership Offerings

Presented by Toyota Cars have come a long way since their inception, from impressive new technologies to crazy efficient MPG. Nonetheless, there isn’t a vehicle on the road that doesn’t need to be maintained and cared for to ensure it operates safely and efficiently.While car manufacturers generally supply a maintenance schedule for new vehicles, it’s always good to know some of the underrated services that can help keep older (and newer) cars working and functioning to the best of their ability. While car manufacturers generally supply a maintenance schedule for new vehicles, it’s always good to know some of the underrated services that can help keep older (and newer) cars working and functioning to the best of their ability. Here

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Lexus again rules J.D. Power dependability study

Lexus has built its reputation on quality craftsmanship, styling and dependability. For the fourth straight year, the luxury carmaker’s dependability has been recognized by automotive industry research experts, J.D. Power. The California-based global research company ranked Lexus highest in its recently released 26th annual Vehicle Dependability Study. According to the company’s compilation, Lexus had 89 problems per 100 vehicles. It was the lowest among all manufacturers. Buick (110) finished second in the study. Toyota (111) was third. The study evaluates overall dependability of cars and trucks by examining the problems owners experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of 2012 model-year vehicles. Driving experience, features, controls and other considerations are included. The 2015 survey found issues with Bluetooth

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Google speeds ahead, launches car insurance business

Google has confirmed a longstanding rumor. It has entered the car insurance business with the launch of Google Compare for Auto Insurance. The comparison-shopping sites allow consumers to compare rates from different insurance providers. If a consumer searches Google for “car insurance the comparison of rates will appear. The new service will debut initially for California residents only. But Google said other states will soon be added to the service. According to USA Today, Consumers who enter in this search query will see a small, gray questionnaire appear, asking for their zip code, and other information about their vehicle. If they choose to fill that out, Google will return a comparison unit listing insurance premiums, provided by its insurance advertiser

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Range Anxiety? No need to worry

Not too many years ago, the term range anxiety might pertain to a golfer who’s nervous on a driving range or rancher uncertain about spending time on an open range. But with an increasing number of auto manufacturers offering electric options, range anxiety is a major reason why car buyers have been wary of switching from gas-powered vehicles. It’s the fear of running out of power and stuck miles from the nearest charging station. According to a survey conducted by the Consumer Electronics Association, the industry trade organization in Arlington, Va., 71 percent of respondents said range anxiety is a concern when considering purchasing an electric vehicle. And it’s warranted. With more than a dozen mainstream manufacturers offering electric-only vehicles,

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Elio sputters again, production now in 2016?

The future of Elio Motors and its founder’s vision for a gas-thrifty, inexpensive three-wheel vehicle has taken another detour. And this time, even a diehard believer in the product is uncertain of its future According to KSLA, a television station in Shreveport, La., where the pending car’s manufacturing plant is located, Paul Elio says the company is $240 million short of the funding necessary to begin production. Elio believes the company can now begin production in the first half of 2016. But he could not predict a date. The television station has an interview with Eddie Chavez, a retired General Motors employee who spoke with Elio and then expressed his combined disappointed and remaining hope with the television station. The

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Cheapest 2015 Car in the United States? Smart ForTwo

The Smart ForTwo is the cheapest new 2015 car sold in the United States, just edging out the Nissan Versa and leading the only four new vehicles in the country this year priced at less than $15,000. The Smart ForTwo has a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of of $14,020, about $300 less the Nissan Versa, the cheapest new car available in 2014. The vehicle’s manufacturer says of the Smart ForTwo Pure Coupe: “The pure coupe is everything you need and nothing you don’t — it’s smart in its purest form. You get the best of both worlds: 5-speed smart shift transmission with automatic mode (for fun), hill start assist, and it’s packed with lots of safety features such as eight

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GM ready to jolt Tesla with new Bolt

Pull over, Tesla. The Chevrolet Bolt wants to pass. At least General Motors hopes that’s the case with its all-electric Bolt concept car debuting at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Bolt, the sibling of the Chevrolet Volt, has a 200-mile range as a pure electric car, according to GM, and it ould be available to the public in 2017. The Volt is “an extended-range electric,” meaning it also has a backup gas engine. The second-generation 2016 Volt will also be shown at the North American International Auto Show. According to a report last week in the Wall Street Journal, the Bolt will be priced in the $30,000 to $35,000 range after incentives, including a $7,500 federal

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Elio Motors’ woes continue with hometown doubts

Even some of the hometown crowd in Louisiana is beginning to doubt the future of the much-touted and much-maligned Elio. According to a report on the website of KSLA, a television station in Shreveport, La., where the Elio manufacturing plant is located, at least one former proponent of the three-wheel vehicle is now skeptical. Elio Motors initially announced in early 2013 it would build their 3-wheeled cars in Shreveport. Local government officials approved a massive allocation of funds to support the project. But delays, not progress, have been the norm. The company was expected to start production in summer of 2014. Now, the production start date has been pushed to the end of 2015. According to the station’s report, 38,177

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Air bags woes prompt expanded Honda recall

Seven months after it began as a regional issue, pressure by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has expanded a current regional Honda recall nationally because of faulty driver’s side airbags. According to the NHTSA, the air bags, made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp., can explode with too much force. As a result: metal shrapnel be can forced into the passenger compartment. The Honda recall list was posted on the NHTSA ate last month. It includes: 2001 – 2007 Honda Accord; 2001 – 2005 Honda Civic; 2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V; 2003 – 2011 Honda Element; 2002 – 2004 Honda Odyssey; 2003 – 2007 Honda Pilot; 2006 – Honda Ridgeline; 2003 – 2006 Acura MDX; 2002 – 2003 Acura TL/CL;

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