Automotive News

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Monterey Auto Week returned to glory with cars galore

Monterey Auto Week has a problem, and it’s about as good as it gets. After a two-year hiatus because of COVID-19, the return edition ended Sunday, August 15 with the 70th anniversary of the Concours d’Elegance. It was the grand finale to a now 10-day occasion of about 30 events. And therein the issue for automotive enthusiasts gathering on the Monterey Peninsula: Where do we go and what do we all do first? How do we prioritize? Isn’t it great to have choices? Bruce Aldrich and I have represented The Weekly Driver website and podcast at Monterey Auto Week for several years. I’ve attended various auto shows, racing, auctions and related events on the peninsula since 1987 while contributing content

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Aston Martin world debut: Hypercar Valkyrie Spider

The Valkyrie Spider, marketed as one of the world’s most extreme hypercars, was unveiled August 11 by Aston Martin at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance during Monterey Auto Week. With off-roof driving and described by the manufacturer as “the most comparable experience to that of an F-1 car not limited to the track,” the Valkyrie Spider will feature a 6.5-liter V12 with revving to more than 11,000 RPM. While the Aston Martin Valkyrie’s unique 1155PS hybrid V12 powertrain remains unchanged, the Valkyrie Spider has received revisions to its carbon-fiber structure. Plus, Aston Martin has announced a “precise recalibration of both the active aerodynamic and active chassis systems.” Aston Martin Hypercar Debuts With its ultra-lightweight construction and high downforce aerodynamics package,

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Rare Steve McQueen Husqvarna could fetch fortune in Monterey

Steve McQueen, the iconic actor known as the King of Cool, rode many motorcycles in his movies and for recreation. Several vintage bikes from the actor’s estate have sold. But the first Husqvarna dirt bike McQueen owned is particularly revered. And the machine of legend could several hundred thousand dollars when it’s auctioned during RM Sotheby’s sale Aug. 12-14 during Monterey Auto Week. McQueen’s coveted two-wheeler is a classic 1968 Husqvarna Viking 360. It’s believed he first saw the high-octane Husky tear up the track during a series of races in Southern California in 1968. Steve McQueen: Motorcycle Icon After watching acclaimed motocross rider Bengt Åberg in the saddle, McQueen bought the bike from Swedish rider after the third race.

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Monterey Auto Week: sensory overload for all things cars

Monterey Auto Week is the umbrella name for all things automotive collectively presented for 10 days during mid-August. It all began with the Pebble Beach Road Race in 1950. The races were called “The Del Monte Trophy” and were held on the twisty, leafy and narrow Pebble Beach roads. The series lasted until 1956. The Concours d’Elegance, now the world-renowned finale to international collections of races, rallies, auctions, memorabilia and car debuts, began as an afterthought. Now, Monterey Auto Week attendees have to make decisions. Where does a visitor go first? How many events can be taken in on any given day? Here’s a calendar of events for the 2021 edition of Monterey Auto Week. For details of events, click

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Bobby Rahal set to celebrate Indy Cars at Rolex Reunion

Bobby Rahal, the three-time Indy 500 winner who also won three consecutive Indy Car races at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca beginning in 1985 will have a feature role at the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion. Rahal will be part of the celebration of a historic Indy Car group that originally competed between 1963 and 1978. It will be run for the first time in an exhibition August 12-15 during Monterey Auto Week. The introduction of rear-engine Indy Cars, starting at the Indianapolis 500 in 1963, changed the sport. A front-engine car and its driver would never win the Indy 500 again after 1965. Rahal, who has Rahal Straight at the Laguna Seca racetrack named for him, will debut his recently restored

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2021 Jeep Wrangler (hybrid!) still best off-road

The 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe, the new hybrid trim, is available as a four-door in three high-end offerings: the premium Sahara, more premium High Altitude, and Rubicon, geared toward off-road excursions. The 4xe (pronounced “four by E”), engine combines a 270 horsepower turbocharged inline-four-cylinder with a 44-horsepower motor connected through a front-end accessory belt. A 134-horsepower motor replaces the transmission’s back-end torque converter. The motors draw power from a 14.0-kWh lithium-ion battery located under the rear seats. Whether the 4xe is in electric mode or running as a hybrid, torque is routed to the wheels through an eight-speed automatic transmission. A transfer case offers rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive (4WD Auto), and high-or low-range four-wheel drive for off-road use. In its

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PREVIEW: 2022 Kia EV6 channels Tesla

The 2022 Kia EV6 crossover arrives as the carmaker’s first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV). The introduction of EV6 signals the U.S. launch of Kia’s ‘Plan S’ strategy. It will deliver 11 all-new electrified models globally by 2026. Starting with the EV6, Kia’s EV lineup will carry a unique naming convention. The “EV” designation will be followed by a number indicating the car’s position in the lineup. The EV6 can be configured with rear-or all-wheel drive and is available with a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle or an electric motor on both axles. While all all-wheel-drive models have the larger battery pack and either 313 or 576 total horsepower, the base rear-drive example has a smaller battery

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Cheapest of the cheap cars? 2021 Chevrolet Spark LS

The average price of a new car in the United States is now more than $40,000. But it wasn’t too many years ago when $30,000 was the entry-level for a luxury car and $20,000 was enough to buy various new cars. It’s now what cheap cars cost. As recent as a decade ago, one new car could be purchased for $10,000. It was the Hyundai Accent 3-door and it was the last year a new vehicle in the U.S., without government rebates, had a base price of less than $10,000. A lot has changed in 10 years. Five years ago, the Accent reached its peak in yearly U.S. sales at 79,766. In 2020, the lowly Hyundai’s sales stumble to 15,975.

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2021 Volvo XC90: Safe, handsome, EV oddity

Volvo makes cars that encompass the compelling characteristics of Scandinavian design — simplicity, minimalism and functionality. The 2021 Volvo XC90 Recharge T8 Inscription oozes with automotive modernism. A three-row, midsized luxury SUV offered for two decades, the XC90 is available in T5, T6 or Recharge (T8) options. The powertrains are mated to trim levels with marketing wizards’ think session wordplay. Momentum (called Inscription Expression for the Recharge powertrain), R-Design and Inscription. The 2021 offerings are largely carryovers from last year, with a few keen changes, for the second edition that debuted in 2016. The T8 plug-in hybrid model is now known as Recharge. The standard features list throughout the lineup is further extensive. Every Volvo model now had front parking

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Rivian debut delayed again, Covid ‘cascading impact’ blamed

Rivian has delayed the official public delivery of its R1T electric pickup truck for the second time, pushing the release date to September. RJ Scaringe, the company’s CEO, announced the delay and also sent a letter to reservations holders. Similar to many other companies’ woes, Rivian said the “cascading impact of the pandemic” has greatly affected the production of the innovative truck. Rivian Postponement Complicated “Everything from facility construction to equipment installation, to vehicle component supply (especially semiconductors), has been impacted by the pandemic,” Scaringe said. “Beyond these unforeseen challenges, launching three new vehicles while setting up a multi-vehicle manufacturing plant is a complex orchestra of coordinated and interlinked activities where small issues can translate into ramp delays.” Scaringe said

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Kaiser Darrin, 1954: Best Of Show At Concours On The Avenue

It was one of the first cars I noticed, and after looking at an estimated 200 other vehicles, the 1954 Kaiser Darrin was still my favorite at the recently concluded Monterey Auto Week. The Concours on the Avenue in Carmel was only presented for the second year in 2008. But it has come into its own, particularly with cars like the Darrin Owner John Nirenstein of Tiburon, California, showcased it on Tuesday, Aug. 12, the second day of the event. Kaiser Darrin: Art Decco on wheels Nirenstein, participating in the event for the first time. He bought the car 10 years ago and took 22 months to restore it. While soft jazz played in the background, the car got plenty

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Chevrolet SSR: Odd, defunct truck, passionate owners

(As a contributor to RVTravel.com, I recently posted the following article about the Chevrolet SSR to the RV industry’s largest site. It attracted a lot of attention from readers, most of it from SSR owners. A few letter writers sent “nasty grams.” The remaining letters were from SSR owners, who forwarded opinions, suggestions and general praise for writing about the vehicle they enjoy. The audiences of RVTravel.com and TheWeeklyDriver.com are different, thus the reason for the re-posting. I’ve also posted two comments from readers, and, of course, readers’ comments are always welcomed.)                                                                                        *** The Chevrolet Super Sport Roadster (SSR) may be the weirdest pickup ever made. The carmaker had elaborate marketing plans and anticipated success for the retro-styled machine.

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Toyota shifts gears, pulls Summer Olympics TV ads in Japan

Financial commitments from television networks, international sponsors and other revenue sources were the biggest hurdle against those calling for the cancellation of the Summer Olympics because of the coronavirus. Now one of the biggest sponsors, Toyota, has decided to withdraw all of its Olympics-related television commercials during the Summer Games — in Japan. Japanese media out reports the decision was made because the car manufacturer fears association already-turbulent Summer Games. The automaker believes aligning its brand with an event the vast majority of the Japanese public is against, could be detrimental to the carmaker’s reputation. Toyota Says No To Summer Olympics Ads in Japan According to media reports, Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda and other senior executives will not be attending

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22 ways to update and customize a car if you want to

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT One great thing about owning a vehicle is you can customize it.  If you decide to do so, lots of choices are available for many parts of the vehicle. Here’s a list of areas to consider: Tires Choosing high-performance tires can improve the car’s grip on the roar and reduce fuel costs. Big Brake Kits Car owners who opt for bigger or modified wheels are increasingly installing bigger brake kits. Often, bigger brake kits are more attractive. More important, larger options improving stopping efficiency, withstand higher road temperatures and keep brakes cool longer. Wheels Aftermarket wheels are a great way to customize your car. if combined with a new, larger brake it and higher-end performance and tires, and

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2021 Toyota RAV4 expands SUV lead with EV boost

For several years, the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V have paced the keen competition at the front of the small, versatile sport utility vehicle pack. Toyota has further expanded its current lead with the 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE. A plug-in hybrid option of the standard five-passenger, the Toyota RAV4 Prime is a small SUV offered in SE and XSE trims. Its 4-cylinder engine combines with a more powerful lithium-ion battery pack and three motors to produce 302 horsepower. Key Takeaways 302-hp plug-in hybrid is the quickest RAV4 ever: The Prime pairs a 2.5-liter four with three motors and a larger lithium-ion battery to accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.7 seconds. 42-mile all-electric range is genuinely usable: Too many

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Rivian electric truck closer to debut via test drives

The much-anticipated, pending electric truck Rivian will begin its introduction to the public this summer when customers who have preordered the R1T model will be invited to test drive it. With its national tour, the carmaker seeks to educate its buyers about the pickup truck’s major features. Tour dates will be announced soon. Rivian has detailed its truck, rated with an 11,000-pound towing capacity, will be positioned between a mid-size and full-size truck and will comfortably seat five adults. A trailer hitch is located behind a cover and is accessible by removing two screws. According to the manufacturer, the R1T is 18 feet, 1 inch long and 7 feet, 3 inches long with side mirrors out. A standard cab Ford

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