Automotive News

Chrysler has new car industry issue, remote hacking

If you own a Jeep Cherokee, Chrysler 200, Dodge Ram or one of several other Chrysler vehicles made in the last three years and something goes seriously wrong while you’re driving, you could have been hacked — remotely. The problem? Hackers can control the vehicles over the Internet and cut the brakes, shut down the engine, drive the car off the road or short the electric system. The issue can only occur in Chrysler products equipped with Uconnect, a wireless system that connects the vehicles on the Sprint cellphone network. The flaw was discovered by researchers, Charlie Miller and Chris Valasek. The duo first demonstrated the hack to Wired Magazine by remotely hijacking a Jeep Cherokee driven by a news

Read more

The 2016 Ford F-150 could cost $70,000. Really?

The country’s best-selling vehicle may now cost more than $70,000. The high-end sticker price belongs to a limited edition of the soon-to-debut 2016 Ford F-150 pickup. Ford has announced the F-150 Limited will be available in late 2015 as a 2016 model. The manufacturer has not announced price details, but the new offering will start at about $60,000 and will likely surpass $70,000 with all of its options. The new edition will feature include 22-inch polished aluminum wheels, Mojave leather seats and interior accents made of aluminum and fiddleback eucalyptus. Each truck’s production number will be laser-engraved in a VIN plate on the center console lid. “The F-150 Limited sets a new bar for what discerning customers should expect in

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2016 Toyota Corolla gets sport edition

The current 11th generation Toyota Corolla, the best-selling car in history, debuted in 2014. The 2016 Toyota Corolla will further add to the iconic brand with a Special Edition. It will feature increased sportiness with a variety of standard additions. Straightforwardly known as the 2016 Toyota Corolla Special Edition, the new edition will feature steering wheel paddle shifters, rear disc brakes and a Sport Driving mode among a lengthy list of additional standard equipment. The limited edition will be manufactured from August 2015 to January 2016 and will comprise 8,000 units. The 2016 Toyota Corolla Special Edition will have an MSRP of $20,635. Based on the sporty Corolla S Plus grade, the 2016 Corolla Special Edition standard features will also

Read more

Tesla gets another (obvious) honor: quickest electric car

The Tesla Model S and Chevy Volt have little in common beyond their respective segment shares in the electric vehicle industry. The Volt is a wise choice in the entry-level electric car segment. It may the slowest among the top-17 electric vehicles in the standard 0-60 mph acceleration test. But it offers a good balance between performance, comfort and price. The Tesla Model S is a wise choice in the high-end electric segment. It’s the fastest vehicle currently available in the mainstream automobile market and it’s among the fastest cars, electric or gas, street legal or not. Motor Trend recently named the Tesla Model S as one of the top-10 American cars in history. The Tesla has also been designated

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2016 MAZDA CX-3

With its release about a month away, Mazda has announced the price of the 2016 Mazda CX-3 subcompact crossover will start at $19,6000. As a $1,250 upgrade, buyers can select CX-3 Sport with Mazda’s predictive i-Activ all-wheel drive that takes temperature, road conditions, steering-angle and weather into account. It will also help optimize to which wheels engine power is routed for maximum performance and stability. “We wanted to send a strong statement that new buyers, early adopters, empty-nesters and right-sizers can get everything they want in a crossover that fits their needs,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. “CX-3 offers the same technologies and thrilling driving experience seen across the rest of Mazda’s award-winning lineup that we believe will

Read more

2015 Ford F-150 sales slump prompts $10,000 discount

The Ford F-150, the biggest-selling vehicle in the United States for more than three decades, is in a sales slump. But Ford Motor Co., is hoping to reverse the trend by offering discounts of more than $10,000 on the new aluminum-bodied edition. The company’s website offers “up to $10,029 in total savings” on a 2015 F-150 XLT SuperCab 4X4 with the luxury chrome or sport package in some U.S. regions. That model comes with a discount of $7,050 in other areas, according to Ford.com. Sales fell 8.9 percent in June for Ford’s F-Series pickups, its top-selling line and most profitable vehicles. Ford blamed tight inventory caused by the conversion of two plants to build the trucks, the first mass-market vehicles

Read more

Ford set to auction Apollo-themed 2015 Mustang

For the eighth straight year, Ford Motor Company has created an aviation-inspired 2015 Ford Mustang and will feature it as the premier item auctioned live at the Experimental Aircraft Association benefit at the Gathering of Eagles charity event July 23. The EAA AirVenture Oshkosh — the World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration — will be held July 20-26 at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. For is the exclusive automobile sponsor of the event. All proceeds from the sale of the car will benefit EAA youth education programs, including the Young Eagles, which has provided free introductory flights to more than 1.9 million young people since 1992, helping grow the next generation of aviators. “The Apollo program delivered astonishing innovations in technology

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2016 Hyundai Tucson redesigned

The redesigned 2016 Hyundai Tucson, available in August, will feature a more modern design, enhanced driving dynamics, increased utility and additional safety and entertainment technology features. The compact sport utility vehicle will be available in four trims and will be priced starting at $22,700. The trim levels will include: * SE: Well-equipped, price-leading model including popular options. * Eco: Affordable turbo model that delivers more power and improved fuel economy. * Sport: Features sporty cues and driving dynamics. * Limited: Luxury model with leather, advanced technology and other premium features. “The all-new Tucson hits the sweet spot of what consumers are looking for in a compact crossover with competitive pricing advantages at every trim level,” said Scott Margason, director, Product

Read more

Toyota Mirai, 312-mile range hydrogen car, gets info site

The Toyota Mirai, the hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicle that uses no gasoline and emits only water vapor, will be available in its “request” phase beginning July 20. Potential buyers will then be able to request the only electric vehicle with an EPA estimated driving range of more than 300 miles. The EPA has given the Mirai a range rating of 312 miles and an EPA estimated 67 mpge in combined city and highway driving. The, $57,5000 sedan will be available only at eight California dealerships. Only California residents can buy the car. It will include an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on “key fuel cell vehicle components” and three years — or $15,000, whichever comes first — of fuel. Toyota reported the Mirai won’t debut

Read more

Volkswagen camper set to make return as electric van?

The Volkswagen camper, the iconic niche vehicle fancied by surfers, Grateful Dead fans and camping families, may soon be available in the United States after a decade hiatus. Volkswagen has officially discounted the prevalent rumor of the return of the Westfalia Camper edition. But Heinz-Jakob Neusser, the head of production of VW has reportedly said the bus will be back in a surprising way — as an electric vehicle. Neusser, as reported on the web site, inhabit.com, has that detailed the camper will have a small electronic motor to power the front wheels. The battery pack will be under the floor. The VW camper will include three design features reminiscent of the former bus: a wide, solid D-piller, the boxy

Read more

2015 Subaru BRZ: handsome, fun, not so fast

Now in its third year, the 2015 Subaru BRZ, a four-seat compact coupe, has a few updates and the new limited “Series.Blue” edition. The BRZ acronym name means: “B” for boxer engine. “R” for rear-wheel drive. And “Z” for zenith. It remains the Japanese manufacturer’s only model without the brand’s well-received symmetrical all-wheel drive system. Beyond the new trim, updates for 2015 Subaru BRZ include a retuned suspension, new exhaust tips, a “shark fin” antenna and a higher quality interior. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Like all of the carmaker’s models, the 2015 Subaru BRZ has vast list of standard features. The Premium comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, summer tires, a limited-slip rear differential, automatic bi-xenon headlights, LED running

Read more

California country’s worst state for stolen cars

From the Sierra Nevada to the Pacific Ocean, California has plenty to offer. But it has dubious qualities, too. It’s once again the worst state in the country for stolen cars. According to a report issued by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) in Des Plaines, Ill., seven of the country’s worst cities for stolen cars for 2014 are located in California. The combined Bay Areas cities of San Francisco, Oakland and Hayward (the Bay Are corridor) had by far the most care thefts reports in the with 29,093. The number substantially higher than any other metropolitan area in the country. The California cities also among the top-10 worst for car theft in 2014 included: Bakersfield, Stockton-Lodi, Modesto, Vallejo-Fairfield, Fresno

Read more
,

Bugatti barn find in France sells for record $951,216

A 1925 Bugatti Brescia, which remained covered in a small French barn for 40 years, has just sold for a record $951,216 in a Paris auction. The rare Bugatti, one of only 12 remaining, had not been touched in that past four decades. It sold for more than four times its prediced price at the Artcurial Motorcars’ Automobiles sur les Champs sale. The Brescia chassis 2628 was originally purchased by French Bugatti enthusiast Bernard Terrillon, and wears bodywork hand crafted by coachbuilder Maron Pot et Cie from Levallois-Perret. The purchase price was a record to the Brescia model Bugatti. Its legacy dates to the first car Ettore Bugatti made in his Molscheim factory, the Type 13. Bugatti cars, advanced for

Read more

10 cars To Drive 200,000 miles? Meet Toyota, Honda

Since the average price of a new car in the United States hovers at around $30,000, it’s safe to assume more consumers are considering keeping their current cars longer. It’s probably a good idea, too, since Consumer Reports has released a list of 10 vehicles likely to drive at least 200,000 miles. The list has some obvious and some surprising choices and it’s lead by a sure bet — the Toyota Prius. It’s the top-selling hybrid, of course, and the Prius family of cars is expansive. The Prius C is the smallest Prius offered and the lineup extends through several editions of the Prius hatchback and continues to the largest in the family, the Prius V. The Consumer Reports’ list

Read more

1957 T-Bird, 2012 Ferrari 458 in rare cars auction

Several rare cars, including a 1957 Thunderbird and a 2012 Ferrari 458 Italia, will be among the diverse group of automobiles and art auctioned June 28 on Invaluable.com, the Boston-based online marketplace of fine and decorative arts, antiques, collectibles and estate sales. Here’s a synopsis of the cars in the auction: 1957 THUNDERBIRD E-CODE. Estimated Price: $80,000–$95,000 This extremely rare 57 E-Code Thunderbird was formerly owned by the renowned collector, Grant Miller. A true E-Code with the numbers matching 312cid/270hp V8 with factory Dual 4bbls and automatic transmission. This car was undergone a full no expense spared, 100 point, Nut and Bolt Rotisserie restoration. The restoration was overseen by a master judge and is to true AACA and CTCI standards.

Read more

Mazda CX-5 named Car and Driver’s best compact SUV

Car and Driver is among the most well-known automotive publications. Its web site thrives on lists and photo galleries, including the recent naming of the 2015 Mazda CX-5 as the top choice for best compact crossover sport utility vehicle. The web site’s editors don’t elaborate on the criteria used to select their best and worst choices. But the Mazda CX-5 surprisingly gets the top choice over the always-popular Honda CR-V and top-selling Ford Escape. The Mitsubishi Outlander was the lowest-rated compact crossover SUV among 16 vehicles listed. Here’s what Car and Driver said about the 2015 Mazda CX-5: “The apex-loving CX-5 is the sports car of crossovers, with an athleticism you have to experience to believe. A 155-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder

Read more
Previous Next