Automotive News

,

PRESS RELEASE: 2020 Infiniti QX50 rules as luxury SUV

PRESS RELEASE The 2020 Infiniti QX50 was completely redesigned for the 2019 model year, becoming arguably the most compelling Infiniti to date with world-first technologies, standout design, enhanced interior space and an entirely new platform. For 2020, the QX50 continues to provide the highest level of versatility, efficiency and performance in luxury mid-size crossovers. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 luxury mid-size crossover is now offered in five well-equipped grade levels and in a choice of front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive. The 2020 Infiniti QX50 Pure comes equipped with standard features and equipment including the 2.0-liter VC-Turbo engine, paddle shifters, 19-inch aluminum-alloy wheels, LED headlamps and LED signature Daytime Running Lights, leatherette seats, Intelligent Key, power liftgate, Infiniti InTouch dual display system,

Read more

PRESS RELEASE: 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250

PRESS RELEASE The 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB  250 is the highly anticipated all-new addition to the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup. A durable and practical SUV with powerful proportions yet compact dimensions, the GLB provides a generous amount of space for up to seven passengers with an optional third-row — a first from Mercedes-Benz in the compact segment. The all-new GLB is equipped with the latest safety technology and the intuitive new MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) infotainment system. Arriving in U.S. dealerships by late 2019, the 2020 GLB 250 will start from $36,600 and the GLB 250 4MATIC is priced from $38,600. The all-new 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLB 250 offers an attractive new entry option to the Mercedes-Benz SUV lineup, while also expanding the

Read more
,

The Weekly Driver letters: Used trucks, Lexus, Sonata PHEV

The Weekly Driver is a companion website to the weekly Autopia column I contribute to the San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times. Some of my automotive content also appears on RVtravel.com and in Gulfshore Business in Florida. It’s also distributed by Motor Matters, a syndicate in Delaware. With that variety of outlets, sometimes I receive letters from readers. It’s great. With permission from the letter writers, I’m posting a recent batch of comments. Some editing for style, clarity and brevity has occurred. Thank you for reading my content and for taking the time to email. Stay in touch. Cheers, James Raia (The Weekly Driver.) LEXUS SUV FAN WITH REASON Stephen Comstock, Eau Claire, Michigan, writes: I have just read

Read more
,

Coronavirus hasn’t halted 2020 Classic Car Week

Monterey Auto Week, the varied collection of pricey rarities, vintage race cars and coveted relics, is scheduled as planned on the Monterey Peninsula in August. But the uncertainty of the coronavirus virus restrictions could still halt the annual celebration of automobiles. Beginning with the Monterey Kick-Off Cruise-In on Alvarado Street in Monterey and continuing through the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance on August 16, the international gathering including more than 30 attractions. “We care deeply about the entrants, judges and guests of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, and we want to act wisely in regard to this new challenge that we are all now facing,” organizers posted on the event’s website. “Our event is several months into the future, and we

Read more

Geely keeps it clean, drone delivers new car keys

Buy a car from Geely, the Chinese automaker and parent company of Lotus and Volvo, and it will be delivered disinfected. It may also be equipped with a N95-rated filtration system to combat the coronavirus. And to complete the non-contact buying process, a drone will deliver the car keys. According to a report on carandriver.com, Geely began its online car-buying system in February. The manufacturer reported it has delivered 10,000 cars in China with the new service. In February, Geely announced its Icon electric sport utility with be sold with an in-car filtration system. “The new system will now use drones in select locations to pass new car keys to consumers by delivering directly to their door or balcony, furthering

Read more

Gas station pumps pose severe coronavirus concerns

Gas stations across the United States are considered essential and remain open during the coronavirus crisis. But gas pumps and keypads like other public use areas — escalator rails, shopping carts, mailboxes and ATM machines — often have high levels of contamination. According to a report by the maker of Kleenex, Kimberly-Clark, 71 percent of gas pump handles have high levels of contamination. The study was done in 2011, but the coronavirus has quickly rekindled concerns. But are the concerns warranted? While viruses and bacteria are not the same, virus contamination on public surfaces is a problem in a pandemic. John Eichberger, executive director of the nonprofit Fuels Institute, says gas station owners and operators are doing what they can

Read more
,

Ford rules best used trucks for $10,000

With its dominance in new truck sales, it only seems logical the Ford has the same good reputation used truck sales. It does, and it’s good news for truck buyers with a budget of $10,000 whether in the market for a work truck or a vehicle to tow an RV or boat. Chris Ford, a writer for HotCars.com, has compiled an interesting list featuring used trucks from 1999 to 2018 — all in the affordable $10,000 price range. As the best-selling vehicles in the United States for more than 40 years, Ford has five trucks on the list, dating from 1999 to 2014. Chevrolet has three vehicles on the list, dating from 2004 to 2014. Toyota is represented by two

Read more
,

Toyota Land Cruiser, Honda Ridgeline top 200K list

The Honda Ridgeline is arguably the most unusually designed truck on the road. It has a large fan base and detractors. But one area in which there’s no disagreement, the Ridgeline has the best longevity of any of its competitors. Although the Toyota Land Cruiser has the top ranking, the Ridgeline is among the three trucks in the top-15 vehicles reaching 20,000 miles, according to iseecars.com. The result of the survey makes a good case for consumers considering buying a used vehicle instead of purchasing a new car or truck. The iSeeCars.com site is a comprehensive platform for all car buyers. It calculated data from more than one million vehicles to determine the models and manufacturers with the highest percentage

Read more

Uber, Lyft suspend group rideshares nationwide

Uber and Lyft, the country’s two largest rideshare companies, have both suspended their group rideshare services in response to increasing coronavirus concerns. “Our goal is to help flatten the curve of community spread in the cities we serve,” said Andrew Macdonald, an Uber executive. “We remain in close contact with local leaders and will continue to work with them to discourage nonessential travel.” Uber and Lyft will continue to offer single-passenger rides. Via has suspended shared rides in New York City, but will offer individual rides in line with the Mayor’s mandate at 20 percent off. In other cities, Via  has reduced the total passenger count of our shared rides to provide for proper social distancing in line with CDC

Read more
, ,

GM adds to new corps of pending electric trucks

General Motors has joined several other manufacturers and will debut a Chevrolet electric pickup by 2025. It’s another boost to the truck industry as buyers continue to abandon sedans for trucks and sport utility vehicles. The manufacturer, which revealed concept sketches of the pending vehicles to Car and Driver, reports the electric truck won’t be identical to the recent announcement of the electric GMC Hummer. The Ford F-150 electric, Tesla Cybertruck, Rivian R1T, Bollinger B2, the Lordstown Motors Endurance are all predicted to debut within the next few years. The Hummer EV SUT will debut in the fall of 2021. While the Hummer is being billed as a lifestyle vehicle, the new Chevy truck is expected to more resemble a

Read more
, ,

Is Ford soon announcing a new pickup truck for 20K?

It may be called the Courier or the Ranchero. It currently has the codename 758. For now, it’s wait and see as Ford is likely to officially announce a new, small pickup truck with a base cost of less than $20,000. The unnamed vehicle, according to various industry publications, will debut in late 2021 with perhaps a return to the new of two former iconic vehicles. Ford has used the Courier nameplate on several cars and trucks, dating to the early 1950s and ending less than a decade ago in Brazil. Ranchero was the name of the coupe utility vehicle made by Ford from 1957 to 1979. The new truck, which has been discussed for several years, will continue Ford’s

Read more

Why not tow your RV with a Tesla Cybertruck?

The design resembled a vehicle is a Sci-Fi movie, and the flashy, carnival-like debut of the electric Tesla Cybertruck was everything Elon Musk desired. If nothing else the flash unveiling last November at the Los Angeles Auto Show was polarizing. The truck drew cheers and jeers. Officially, it’s “an all-electric, battery-powered, light commercial vehicle. Three models have been announced, with range estimates of 250–500 miles and an estimated 0–60 mph time of 2.9–6.5 seconds, depending on the model.” Is it possibly a precursor to more utilitarian vehicle creations or was Tesla owner Elon Musk pranking the industry? For RV enthusiasts, the prevailing question was, is it really a truck and, if so, can it tow an RV or trailer? Tesla

Read more
,

$2 million Bentley made from ancient wood sold out

Even by Bentley standards, the British automaker known for its rare combination of elegance and performance, the just-unveiled Mulliner Bacalar reeks of pretentiousness. The $2 million open-topped cars will feature an interior made from 5,000-year-old trees and be powered with 650 horsepower, a 12-cylinder engine, with all-wheel-drive and an eight-speed automatic transmission. The small production vehicle — only 12 will be made — was scheduled for its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The annual prestigious event was scheduled to begin March 5, but it was canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. Like many other manufacturers that altered plans, the new Bentley was unveiled online. All 12 Bacalar cars have already been pre-sold to customers, who will work with

Read more
,

Nvidia GTC GTU Tech Conference set (virtually only)

Danny Shapiro, Senior Director of Automotive at Nvidia Corporation in Santa Clara, is as knowledgeable as anyone in the autonomous automotive segment. It’s a good thing because the industry is accelerating as quickly as a Tesla. The autonomous driving future is among the more recent challenges for Nvidia, which started in the gaming industry. But the technology company is at the forefront of delivering solutions to automakers for self-driving cars, infotainment, digital instrument clusters, rear-seat entertainment and advanced driver assistance systems. Not much of the ever-changing automotive technology world won’t be examined in Nvidia’s GTC GTU Technology Conference. It’s just that this year, it will be a virtual conference. Conference organizers, citing the uncertainty of the coronavirus, have changed the

Read more

Coronavirus seriously stalling global auto industry

Like it has in many other industries, the coronavirus is affecting the global automotive industry, and the repercussions are fluid. Here’s a round-up of some of the issues in the car industry as COVID-19 spreads throughout the world, with its reach to more than 50 countries: * The Geneva Auto Show, scheduled to begin March 2 for the media and March 5-15 for the public, has been canceled due to concerns about the coronavirus. Annually among the most important car shows, the event was canceled because the Swiss government has banned gatherings of more than 1,000 people to prevent the spread of the virus. The show will not be rescheduled for this year. Switzerland has tested hundreds of people and

Read more
Previous Next