Automotive News

2014 FIat 500: Proud little Italian subcompact

Since the FIAT 500 returned to the United States four years ago for the first time in about 30 years, I’ve driven at least a half-dozen of the little cars. They’re fun to drive and they have a refreshing amount of attitude as little engines that can. The FIAT acronym stands for Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino, with Fiat as the largest automobile manufacturer in Italy and ninth largest globally. The FIAT acronym does not stand for “Fix It Again, Tony,” the infamous, harsh definition. Owners of FIATs seemingly love to complain about their cars, but they often buy more than one. Not everyone is enamored with FIAT. But in its short return tenure in the U.S., the peppy, fun-to-drive machines

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PREVIEW, 2015 Toyota Camry: New design, more tech

The 2015 Toyota Camry and 2015 Toyota Camry Hybrid, featuring new exterior and interior designs as well as increased safety and performance features, will be available in four models beginning in September. The 2015 Camry will be offered in the value-driven LE, the sporty SE, the new XSE and the premium XLE. The XSE builds on the success of the SE and will have an edgier appearance and is being touted as the “sportiest Camry yet.” All Camry gas models will be powered by the standard 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine producing 178 horsepower and 170 lb.-ft. of peak torque. It’s teamed with a standard six-speed automatic transmission with the combination offering EPA-estimated 25 MPG city/ 35 MPG highway/ 28 MPG combined

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Route66 Cruisin’ Reunion: Mustang, GT0 homage

Thousands of vintage automobiles, highlighted by 50th anniversary celebrations for the Ford Mustang and Pontiac GTO, will be instrumental in the global gathering of the Route 66 Cruisin’ Reunion, scheduled Sept. 19-21 in Ontario, California. Plenty of vendors and three days of food, live music and additional entertainment are scheduled in addition to the more than 2,000 classic cars. Beyond the world’s largest nighttime neon light cruise featuring a dazzling “moving light show on wheels” for which some participants have spent years producing specially lit vehicles, other highlights of this year’s event include: Show-n-Shines; 50th Anniversary Celebrations of the Mustang and GTO; Poker Run traveling along historic Route 66; Model Car Contests; Von Hot Rod’s Shindig including pin-striping Circus and

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2015 Volkswagen e-Golf set for November U.S. debut

Volkswagen has announced the 2015 e-Golf, the carmaker’s fully electric vehicle, will be priced starting at $35,445 for the SEL Premium edition and will be available to the public in November. The zero tailpipe emissions vehicle will join the Golf family of sport hatchbacks. Built on the Modular Transverse Matrix (MQB) platform, the new Golf will be powered by a compact electric motor and lithium-ion battery Volkswagen has announced a collaboration with 3Degrees, a renewable energy services provider, to invest in carbon reduction projects to help offset the emissions created from production, distribution and charging of the e-Golf for up to approximately 36,000 miles of driving. Charging solutions from Bosch and Chargepoint along with a new Roadside Assistance program and

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Hardtop convertibles unheralded but more worthy

The term hardtop convertible could be construed as an oxymoron. It’s not. By any name or derivative — removable hardtop to retractable hardtop — hardtop convertibles are an deal solution to their prevalent ragtop siblings. But for nearly the past decade, following a New York Times article touting the benefits of retractable hardtops, more car manufacturers have introduce and further promoted their hardtop trims. Still, hardtop convertibles often unheralded. The obvious reason is that with the top up, it’s difficult to know if the vehicle is a convertible. Several-dozen hardtop convertibles are currently available, many in the United States, including the 2014 Lexus IS 350. It’s the vehicle I’m driving this week during the USA Pro Challenge, the 525-mile professional

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PREVIEW: 2015 Hyundai Tucson: More tech, new price

The 2015 Hyundai Tucson, which will feature an improve optional package, has a starting price of $21,500 is available now at dealerships nationwide. A Popular Equipment Package is now available on the 2015 Tucson GLS trim. It adds a rearview camera, 4.3-inch color touchscreen audio display, 8-way power driver seat with power lumbar support, leatherette seat bolsters with cloth insets and automatic headlight control for only $750. Tucson Limited models for 2015 now come with standard LED taillights. Hyundai added a choice of 2.0- and 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder engines in 2014 and these options will also be available in 2015.   A six-speed automatic transmission remains standard and both engines are available with front-wheel driver or all-wheel drive. The 2015

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2014 Lexus IS 350C: Day 4 driving the USA Pro Challenge

The third stage of the USA Pro Challenge, my fourth day driving a 2014 Lexus IS 350C, took me from Mt. Crested Butte to Monarch, Colo. What a day for a drive. After a few-mile descent from Mt. Crest Butte (Elevation, 9,898 feet), Hwy. 135 South progressed through long stretches of rolling terrain. A canvas of large rock formations, broken down ranch buildings, and a bright blue ski dotted with pillow-like clouds took me 27 mile to Gunnison, the start of stage 3. The 96-mile stage, the race’s only mountaintop finish, began at 7,793 feet. From Gunnison, it was 50 miles to Monarch Ski Resort, elevation 10,790 feet. The 2014 Lexus IS 350C has 306 horsepower, at it was apparent

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2014 Lexus IS 350C: Day 3 driving the USA Pro Challenge

The navigation system in the 2014 Lexus IS 350C, my test vehicle during the USA Pro Challenge in Colorado, offered three options for driving from Aspen to Mt. Crested Butte during stage 2 of the weeklong pro bike race. The shortest route, about four hours, first took me about eight miles to Aspen, the start of stage 2 and the location of the finish of stage 1. Navigation system quality varies greatly, but the main priorities are intuitive, accurate directions, a crisp viewing screen, easy of getting instructions and prompt re-routing directions. Bike races often require closed roads in starting and finishing cities, and that’s what occurred approaching Aspen. The downtown section was blocked off in a multiple-block radius. The

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Oldest Indy 500 car set to race at Monterey Historics

Forty years after it debuted as a gathering of old friends in old cars, the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion will again offer its yearly reverence to racing i n the Monterey Historics. This year’s edition, the fourth year with its new sanction and title sponsor, will likely feature the enduring event’s most diverse field. About 550 cars from nine countries and spanning 81 production years will participate April 14-17. Cars from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Germany, Italy, South Africa, United Kingdom and the United States are entered. Vehicles are accepted based on the car’s authenticity, race provenance and period correctness. Brian Blain’s 1911 National 40 is the oldest registered car. The 100-horsepower machine was driven by Charlie Merz in the

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Jaguar global scoop: Project 7 spy photos

The much-touted F-Type Project 7, the fastest and most powerful car ever manufactured by Jaguar Land Rover, is debuting this week, but The Weekly Driver caught an early glimpse. One day before its launch during, we noted the 575-horsepower, supercharged five-liter V8 with a eight-speed automatic. It was the subject of test shoot along the Pacific Ocean in Pacific Grove. A film crew from Long Beach, California, and Great Britain equipped with a video drone, filmed the Project 7 on repeat loops on the curved back roads of the quaint town. The backdrop was ideal: blue skies, no wind and the pristine ocean painting a deep horizon. According to several reports, Jaguar will build only 250 units of the roadster

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Tony Stewart accident: Manslaughter or mistake?

The death of Kevin Ward, Jr., on Saturday night Aug. 9 at Canandaigua Motorsports Park in upstate New York immediately brought further attention to the increasing tension involving the aggressive habits and tempers of drivers like Tony Stewart. Ward, 20, was fatally injured when he was struck by a sprint car driven by Stewart. The incident occurred after the cars of Stewart and Ward cars collided on the track. Ward spun out into the outer wall of the track, but within seconds he climbed out of his car and looked for Stewart’s car to express anger.  The race had continued under a yellow flag and after three cars pass, Stewart’s car struck Ward and it dragged him along the track.

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PREVIEW: 2015 Aston Martin Vantage S Roadster

Aston Martin will globally debut its 2015 V12 Vantage S Roadster and the carmaker’s Design Prototype 100 (DP-100) will make its North American debut during the Pebble Beach Automotive Week beginning August 14. The V12 Vantage S Roadster is equipped with the latest 565 horsepower Aston Martin AM28 6.0-liter V12 engine. It features state-of-the-art Bosch engine management, which allows the car to reach 201 mph and accelerate 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds. When it arrives in markets around the world later this year the new sports car will become the luxury British marque’s most potent, fastest and fastest-accelerating series production roadster to date. Developed in-house by the Design team at Aston Martin, DP-100 Vision Gran Turismo is a new, virtual-only

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Never mind Tesla, Prius, Elio. Buy the Flatula Backfire

Forget the Tesla. Forget the pending Elio. Don’t even consider a Toyota Prius. The most efficient, least expensive and environmentally ideal car is the new Flatula Backfire. The Flatula Backfire runs on natural gas, much like the Honda Civic CNG. But it runs on the natural gas its passengers provide. The manufacturers are marketing the car with catchy slogans that make a lot of sense. “It runs like the wind, but it is your wind,” is clever. But more cleaver is the closing line of the video make to debut the cat to the world: “It’s not just a SmartCar, it’s a FartCar.” The Flatula Backfire has a good range as long as its passengers provide enough gas. But the

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Lexus signs on as USA Pro Challenge official vehicle

Automobile manufacturers have long been associated with bicycle racing sponsorship. The latest carmaker to join list is Lexus. The luxury brand has been named as the official vehicle of the USA Pro Challenge. The two-year arrangement with the fourth-year race will include several components. Through the Lexus Champion Giveaway, the brand will provide the overall race winner with a three-year lease for a CT 200h hybrid. Additionally, Lexus will be the presenting partner for the Sprint Jersey, which has been worn by some of the top sprinters in the world, including Cannondale’s Peter Sagan. The USA Pro Challenge, August 18-24, and will travel 550 miles from Aspen to Denver, making stops in 10 Colorado host cities. Lexus will 125 cars

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Live from the 2013 LA Auto: New cars, concepts, pretty women

Live video footage from the 2013 Los Angeles Auto Show. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver Podcast from 2017 to 2024.

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2015 Toyota Yaris debuts as Euro-styled entry level sedan

The 2015 Toyota Yaris has debuted with a new European-themed design, several new additional interior and exterior features and a manufacturer’s suggested retail price range from $14,485 to $17,620. The price range extends from three-door L with a manual transmission ($14,485) to the five-door SE with a four-speed automatic ($17,620). Like like the previous-generations, the 2015 Toyota Yaris comes in 3-door and 5-door liftback configurations. It features an aggressive new look with a horizontal chrome grill treatment that appears to continue into the headlamp. The 1.5-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder DOHC engine equipped with variable valve timing with intelligence (VVT-i) produces 106 horsepower. A five-speed manual transmission, made smoother by an improved hydraulic clutch, is standard. Also available is a four-speed electronically

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