Automotive News

Tesla debuts super fast $130,000 gullwing SUV

After nearly two years of delays, Tesla has unveiled its $130,000 sport utility vehicle Model X with the electric carmaker’s owner claiming it’s the “safest, fastest and most capable sport utility vehicle in history.” Elon Musk, founder and CEO of Tesla, debuted the vehicle at the company’s factory in Fremont, California, and also gave keys to a handful of new customers. According to the Tesla website, the Model X can seat seven adults and accelerate from zero to 60 miles per hour in 3.8 seconds. There’s also an option for the standard 0-60 mph test in 3.2 seconds with Tesla’s “Ludicrous Speed Upgrade.” The new Tesla is equipped with a 90 kilowatt-hour battery, with the manufacturer stating the SUV can

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Ford recalls 375,000 cars, trucks, including F-150

Ford Motor Company has issued five safety recalls and one safety compliance recall in North America on a diverse group of vehicles dating to 1998 and totaling about 375,000 vehicles. The recalled vehicles range from 18-year-old from Ford Windstar vans to some models of the 2016 Ford Fusion. Here are the details: 1998-2003 Ford Windstar — About 340,000 units have been recalled for rear axle inspection for a potential issue with a previous safety recall repair. The risk is the combined effects of corrosion and stress that can lead to cracks and fracture. The previous recall repair involved installing a rear axle reinforcement bracket to mitigate the safety risk in the event of an axle fracture. A bracket incorrectly installed

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Buying a new or used car? Buyer beware

Buying a car for the first time can be intimidating. From the disreputable reputations of salespeople to the realities of financing fine print, how does a buyer know if they’re making the right choice? There’s plenty of advice available. Many industry experts are wise, cultivating years of data from buyers’ experiences. But other “experts” may lead a buyer toward a vehicle with their own financial gain as the top priority. Used cars have more potential issues, but first-time new car buyers should take note. The auto industry continues to collectively improve its products. There’s more competition, so carmakers have improved their respective vehicles to keep up with each other. Still, the car-buying process should begin with three areas of consideration.

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Pope Francis goes climate big in small way with Fiat 500

The frugality of Pope Francis is not a new topic. But when the pontiff disembarked the plane at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sept. 22 he showed the world audience another example of his preferred lifestyle. He chose a black Fiat 500L in which to ride from the airport into Washington, D.C. The Fiat 500L, which has a base price of just under $20,000, was dwarfed by numerous blacked-out SUVs in the Pope’s motorcade. But for his first visit to the United States, Pope Francis was simply continuing his preferred method of travel. During his papacy, Pope Francis has used modified Toyotas, Kias, Hyundais and Land Rovers among others. When he is in Rome, he often opts for either

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Volkswagen CEO Winterkorn quits in emissions scandal

Martin Winterkorn, the CEO of Volkswagen, resigned Sept. 23, one day after the manufacturer acknowledged 11 million Volkswagen-made cars have software that dupes official emissions tests. “I am shocked by the events of the past few days,” Winterkorn said in a statement. “Above all, I am stunned misconduct on such a scale was possible in the Volkswagen Group.” The announcement came less than one week after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said the car company put software in diesel cars that turns emissions control systems off when the car isn’t undergoing official tests. Volkswagen is faced with several fallouts, investors punished its stock to the chance that the U.S. government will levy billions of dollars in fines. There’s also the

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Volkswagen emissions scandal affects 11 million cars globally

The software Volkswagen used to cheat on official diesel engine emissions tests affects 11 million cars globally dating to 2009, the carmaker and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have announced. The EPA, which unveiled its findings on Sept. 18, reported it found wide variations in emissions from VW cars that use a “defeat device” to fool emissions tests. The EPA also announced it’s ordering VW to issue a recall for about 482,000 VW and Audi cars that have 4-cylinder turbo diesel engines. The cars being recalled are equipped with software that detects when an official emissions test begins — and when the cars aren’t being tested, they “emit up to 40 times more pollution” than allowed under U.S. standards, according

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Janis Joplin’s psychedelic Porsche set for Sotheby’s auction

The 1965 Porsche 356C 1600 Cabriolet that Janis Joplin drove as a daily driver throughout California will be part of the RM Sotheby’s exclusive “Driven by Disruption” sale in New York City on December 10. The vintage sports car is described by an auction representative as, “without question one of the most important Porsches of all time.” Joplin purchased the Porsche in September 1968, but she decided the original Pearl White finish was slightly too conservative. She engaged Dave Richards, a friend and roadie with her band, Big Brother and the Holding Company, to customize the car with a kaleidoscopic mural. Described by Richards to represent ‘The History of the Universe’, the dramatic artwork included such graphics as butterflies and

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Porsche goes electric to chase Tesla dominance

Porsche, the sports car manufacturer well-established in performance and craftsmanship, is now seeking to establish a market to counter the dominance of Tesla in the luxury electric car segment. Porsche recently unveiled its first electric concept, the Mission E, at the Frankfurt Auto Show. Observers commented it looked like a futuristic version of a Porsche 911. The German carmaker said the four-door Mission E will be able to drive approximately 310 miles on a single charge. Porsche said the model should take 15 minutes to charge to about 80 percent of its capacity. The Tesla currently requires about 30 minutes to reach the same level of charge. With an 80 percent capacity charge, the Porsche Mission E is predicted to

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2016 Honda Civic gets sporty

Honda has introduced, via YouTube, the 2016 Honda Civic sedan, the 10th generation of the enduring compact car. The sedan trim is among several new Civic models that will debut in the fall of 2105. The coupe, high-performance Si models, a 5-door hatchback and the first Civic Type-R model for the U.S. market will also be unveiled later this year as part of the new chapter in the Civic’s 43-year history. The 2016 Honda Civic will feature two all-new engines – including the first application of Honda turbo engine technology in the U.S. These powerful and fuel-efficient new engines combine with a sophisticated new body and chassis design to deliver incredibly responsive and sporty performance with a higher level of

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2016 Acura MDX: More technology, comfort for luxury SUV

Although it’s not a new generation, the 2016 Acura MDX has several updates from its one-year-older predecessor. The new edition of the luxury sport utility vehicle has a nine-speed, push-button automatic transmission and a revised all-wheel drive system. A frameless rearview mirror and several technology features are also new. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The three-row, seven-passenger Acura MDX feature a 3.5-liter, 290-horsepower with the aforementioned nine-speed automatic transmission. Front-wheel drive is standard, but my weekly driver featured the optional all-wheel drive. There’s a lot of competition in luxury SUVs and buyers can make diverse choices. With the Acura MDX, the choice is an abundance of comfort and and technology instead of less in those areas and more in performance

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VW made $600 car for China, but did world’s cheapest car vanish?

A new cheap single-seat car, introduced several years via a prototype, was scheduled for release recently China and would have made the Tata Nano, the not-too-long ago world’s cheapest car, seem expensive. Made in Hamburg, Germany, and shown only to Volkswagen stockholders in secrecy, the unnamed vehicle was said to 4,000 Yuan or the equivalent of $600. That’s about one-third of the cost of the original Tata Nano, the India-made vehicle that debuted via much publicity in 2009. (But has anyone heard anything further about arguably one of oddest-looking vehicles in history?) The new vehicle, built in Germany, was predicted to travel 100 kilometers (62 miles) on one liter (28 ounces) of fuel, also making it the world’s most economical

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Carsquare.com: the easiest, best way to buy or lease a car

Carsquare.com is a new website that provides something previously absent from the online car-buying experience. Whether a consumer is looking to purchase a new car in a specific price range or interested in reading used car reviews, Carsquare.com features a diverse offering — from the best used car tools to educating yourself about buying a new car to generating a specific vehicle’s used car history check. The Carsquare.com platform aggregates information from the best automotive industry companies available on the Internet and has developed relationships with Carfax, eBay Motors, CarsDirect, Usedcars.com, MyCarMatch, LotLinx, Swapalease.com, and others. The new portal provides all the tools to help make a consumer’s search simple, precise and ongoing, whether looking for new or used, to

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2015 Honda CR-V: Best crossover SUV gets better

In its 21st year, the Honda CR-V is mature, a standard bearer in the sport utility market. The 2015 edition further defines the top-selling people mover. The 2015 edition isn’t a new generation, but there’s plenty new. For starters, the 2.4-liter, 185-horsepower engine is now the same as the Accord’s direct-injection, four-cylinder with a continuously variable transmission. The exterior styling has been refreshed. And, so, too has the interior. New are a front console armrest, rear climate vents, a 7-inch touchscreen linked to the LaneWatch blind spot monitoring system on the higher-level trim. The Touring trim also has upgraded safety technologies. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Honda CR-V is a five-passenger crossover sport utility vehicle. It’s available in

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Model-T still reigns among best Ford cars ever made

The Ford Motor Company has celebrated numerous milestones. Its current achievement is the 2015 Mustang, now 50 years old. The iconic sports car’s success at its half-century mark brings to mind many other Fords. More specifically, since Ford‘s debut in 1903, the manufacturer has made so many automotive industry revered vehicles, it’s hard to pick the carmakers’ best. It’s a subjective choice, certainly. The Best Car Ever Made in History Choosing the best car ever made in history is a complex and subjective endeavor, as it involves weighing a myriad of factors that span technological innovation, design, impact on the automotive industry, and cultural significance. This article aims to explore these criteria and provide insight into how one might approach

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Tesla Model S sets record as best-testing car in history

Consumer Reports has announced what other automotive publications have also determined in other models of the high-end Tesla. The electric vehicle has tested better than any car in history of the magazine’s respected ratings systems. Specifically, the all-wheel drive the 2015 Model S P85D sedan tallied 103 points in the magazine’s system that by definition doesn’t surpass 100 points. Consumer Reports’ staff reported: “The P85D is brutally quick, with instant acceleration. The car’s thrust is forceful and immediate. Its near-instant g-forces can otherwise be achieved only by leaping off a building—literally.” “That this electric car accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds without an engine’s roar makes it frighteningly eerie in its silent velocity. It’s so explosively quick

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Rare Bugatti Veyrons at auction, rare pedal car an option

The first and last hardtop Bugatti Veyron supercars made, numbers #001 and #300, went up for aution in RM Sotheby’s auction Thursday night, Aug. 13 during Monterey Auto Week. It will be nteresting to note what prices the two rare cars attract as well as the difference between the selling points the two iconic vehicles. The three-day auction, which began with a preview Aug. 12, is being held at the Portola Hotel and Spa in Monterey. The original Bugatti, a 2006, Bugatti Veyron 16.4, is predicted to sell for $1.8-$2.4 million. The second Bugatti, a 2012 Veyron 16.4 Super Sports, is predicted to sell for about $1 million. Bugatti enthusiasts can also take note: If you didn’t make the highest

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