Matthew Wilde

Articles by Matthew Wilde

Scion FR-S, Ford Fiesta Coolest Cars For Under $25,000

The Scion FR-S has for the second straight year top the list of 10 Coolest New Cars Under $25,000, according to editors of Kelley Blue Book. “Many of us aren’t in the position to run out and purchase a Porsche or Lamborghini, which is why we’ve crafted a list of affordable but fun cars, like two-time winner Scion FR-S,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s KBB.com. “Truly a driver’s car, the FR-S features a stylish looking exterior and modern updates on the interior.” As in previous years, for 2014 KBB.com editors look for the ever-subjective “cool factor” when rounding up candidates for the annual list, building a lineup of cars that

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Look up in the air! It’s a $94,000 Maverick flying car

The Maverick LSA design, touted with its logo, “Maverick: The Flying Car That Does,” has been developed as an easy-to-operate air and land craft. According, Beyond LLC, which has granted the manufacturing rights, it’s intuitive, safe to fly, drive and easily maintained.  Beyond Roads LLC will facilitate the development of a commercial market for multi-medium transportation vehicle. Here are some basics: Base price $94,000.00. FAA Certified S-LSA (Special – Light Sport Aircraft), E-LSA (Experimental – Light Sport Aircraft or E-AB (Experimental Amateur-Built) 190 horsepower, injected, 2.5-liter Subaru engine Dual Drive – transaxle/propeller. Public road licensable. Robust suspension for “off-roading.” Highway Speed range, 0 to 100 mph. Flies like a car with integrated controls. Airspeed: 40 mph. Wing deployment system. MODEL

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Peugeot unveils hybrid air engine with 125 mpg

It’s not the first time the idea of a modern car running on compressed air has emerged.  But it’s a recent first and this time it’s Peugeot. The french automaker has introduced a concept car that features a new Hybrid Air engine system which combines both a traditional petrol engine with compressed air. The new engine system is capable of running only on air for 80 percent of its driving time. As a result, fuel economy is estimated at 125 miles per gallon. The Hybrid Air system is expected to be installed into some existing models like the Peugeot 208 and Citroen C3, available only in Europe. According to a Peugeot press release, this is how the compressed air system

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Apple in your navigation system? Call it CarPlay

Apple has introduced CarPlay, which the manufacturer claims is an “incredibly intuitive way for iPhone users to make calls, use Maps, listen to music and access messages with just a word or a touch.” CarPlay allows users to easily control the car’s native interface or push-and-hold the voice control button on the steering wheel to activate the Siri voice command without distraction. Ferrari, Mercedes-Benz and Volvo will premiere CarPlay to their drivers this week. BMW Group, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company, Jaguar Land Rover, Kia Motors, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan Motor Company, PSA Peugeot Citroën, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota Motor Corp., will also feature CarPlay soon. Once iPhone is connected to a vehicle with CarPlay integration, Siri will allow

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First Corvette swallowed by sinkhole emerges, drives

The first of eight Corvettes swallowed by a sinkhole in the National Corvette Museum has been removed by construction crews and was driven about 20 feet after its emergence. With visitors, staff, media at the museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and an international audience watching via a live stream, the 2009 “Blue Devil” ZR1 was rescued. The car was in good shape and started after a few attempts. “It’s wonderful… just seven more to go,” said Mike Murphy, construction manager for the project. “That’s a GM product for you. They take a licking and keep on ticking.” The crews have been working six days a week since the Feb. 12 sinkhole incident that swallowed eight Corvettes in the National Corvette

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The $6,800 Elio 3-wheeler will have a hitch — a traveler

The anticipated arrival of the Elio three-wheel vehicle with a nearly 700-mile range and an estimated 84 mpg, has created vast public interest. With a top speed of more than 100 mph and its innovative styling, it’s no wonder why more than 10,000 pending buyers have placed deposits ranging from $100 to $1,500. According to the manufacturer, Elio Motors, based in Phoenix, Ariz., the Elio will feature an eight-gallon gas tank and will be made with 95 percent American parts and by an American labor force. Interest in vehicle has resulted various pending owners’ websites and forums. One of the most discussed topics of Elio forums is the availability of a trailer hitch. Several options are in discussion, including the

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Coming soon, 3-wheel Elio: $6,800, 84 mpg, 100 mph

If Paul Elio’s plans materialize, his company, Elio Motors, will introduce in early 2015 a three-wheel vehicle, the Elio. It will cost $6,800 and achieve 84 mpg. The vehicle (it’s not a car) will feature an eight-gallon gas tank that will take the vehicle 672 miles and have a top speed of more than 100 mph. The company plans to use 95 percent American parts and American labor. The Elio will be built in the abandoned Shreveport Louisiana assembly plant. It will be sold at specialized retail centers in the top 60 markets across the United States and will be available in eight colors. Elio standard equipment will include: a reinforced roll cage and airbags for safety, radio, air conditioning

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2014 Tesla Model S innovation detailed in video

The 2014 Tesla Model S and its older siblings have been bombarded with awards. In its latest honor, The Tesla was Consumer Reports’ top pick overall among 10 categories of cars, light trucks, and SUVs. The top-10 list was selected from more than 260 vehicles the organization has recently tested. The magazine considers the Model S a “technological tour de force, while pricey, is brimming with innovation.” Consumer Reports rated the Model S with a score of 99 out of 100, becoming the magazine’s best car ever tested. “If it (the Tesla) could recharge in any gas station in three minutes, this car would score about 110,” said Jake Fisher, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. Fisher called the

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General Motors recall lapse could cost carmaker millions

General Motors could face millions of dollars in civil penalties as the aftermath of publicly apologizing for responding quickly enough to a safety issue linked to 13 deaths and 31 accidents. The financial ramifications could occur if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) determines the automaker neglected to inform regulators. The NHTSA is also facing criticism for not demanding GM act more quickly to recall more than 1.6 million vehicles, according to a report in the Los Angeles Times. The recall is linked to the cars’ ignition switches, which GM says can be accidentally turned from the “run” position to the “accessory” position while the car is being driven. When this happens, the engine shuts off and safety systems

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PERK Vent Wraps make your car smell good

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PERK for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine. PERK Vent Wrap air fresheners are a novel idea. The approximately two-inch wrap fits discreetly on automobile and truck air vents — or anywhere else — and provides a fresh scent for 60 days. With the sub-title “Wake Up Your Space,” the wrap grips the vent tightly with a slight push. And unless you know it’s there, you’d never know it was there. If truth in advertising counts, the PERK Vent Wrap vent air freshener marketing folks are spot-on. The wraps are advertised with the statements: “Fragrance you’ll notice, an air freshener you won’t,” and “It’s virtually invisible and won’t block

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gluttonous sink hole eats eight rare Corvettes

Mother Nature has caused a lot of havoc, and her strange ways now include swallowing eight rare Chevrolet Corvettes formerly showcased peacefully in an automobile museum. The National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., where the sports cars are manufactured, has reported a sink hole 40 feet across and as deep as 30 feet deep has caused what could a total loss of the cars. According to a museum spokesperson, here’s what happened: “We received a call at 5:44 a.m. from our security company alerting us of our motion detectors going off in our Skydome area of the museum. Upon arrival it was discovered that a sinkhole had collapsed within the museum. “No one was in or around the museum

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Toyota woes again: 1.9 million Prius models recalled

Toyota’s massive problem with recalls dating to 2009 has continued. The Japanese manufacturer is recalling 1.9 million hybrid Prius cars globally for a software issue that could cause the vehicle to stall. Toyota Motor Corp. said 997,000 Prius cars in Japan, 713,000 in North America, another 130,000 in Europe and the rest in other regions are being recalled for a problem in the software to control the hybrid system. No accidents or injuries have been reported related to the problem. The software could cause transistors to become damaged, causing warnings lights to go off, driving power to be reduced or the car to stop. The recalled vehicles were manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014. Toyota has recalled more than

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Toyota on hot seat, shuts down production

Toyota sold more cars than any other carmaker worldwide in 2013. But the Japanese manufacturer’s vehicles also had the most problems in 2013. For 2014, it’s worse. Because of a potential fire hazard in seats via seat heaters, Toyota has stopped sales of nearly all of its new cars and trucks. Included in the stoppage: Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra vehicles equipped with seat heaters. According to Toyota, in some the carmaker’s best-selling cars a portion of the seats were not manufactured with materials that met flame-retardant standards. Toyota said that a small portion of the seat assembly failed to meet a provision of U.S. motor vehicle safety standards requiring materials to retard flame

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Carmen Electra does Wayne Chung in VW Super Bowl commercial

The mix of actress, model and personality Carmen Electra and English new wave band Wayne Chung might seem  odd. But Volkswagen thinks it works in the manufacturer’s teaser for its 2014 Super Bowl commercial. Puppies, a rooster, babies, confetti, an annoying car alarm and some cheap jokes are in the mix, too. It’s all accompanied by the tune, “Everybody Have Fun Tonight.” It’s of five Top 40 hits Wayne Chung had and it reached No 2 in 1986. The spot shows two Volkswagen engineers developing an algorithm to create the ultimate Game Day commercial. Things quickly go awry. And the one-minute tease ends with one of the VW engineers saying, “I don’t like that.” I don’t like it, either. Matthew

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Michael Schumacher slowly being taken out of coma

Retired Formula 1 race car Michael Schumacher is gradually being brought out of his month-long coma “to allow the start of the waking up process,” his manager has reported to international media outlets, including the French newspaper, L’Equipe. Schumacher, 45, suffered a severe head injury Dec. 29 when he fell and hit a rock while skiing in the French Alps. Surgeons performed two operations to remove blood clots around his brain. The coma was induced to help reduce and control swelling in the brain. The process of reducing sedation and bringing Schumacher out of the coma “may take a long time,” his manager said. The French newspaper quoted doctors who said there have been “encouraging signs” from recent neurological tests.

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Ford Series trucks again top-selling vehicles for 2013

The Ford Series trucks, paced by the F-150, have been the best-selling vehicles in the United States for more than three decades. And they’ve been the country’s best-selling trucks for more than four decades. In 2013, the trucks’ top-ranking remained in the end-of-the-year sales totals. But the pick-up trucks’  numbers were even more impressive. The entire F-Series sold 763,402 units in 2013, an 18 percent increase from 2012. The Chevrolet Silverado and Ram Pickup were also among the top-five sellers on the top-10 list. The Ram was fifth on the list and had a 21.1 percent increase in sales from one year ago, the largest increase in the top-10. Remaining changes on the 2013 top-sellers list weren’t dramatic different from

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