Automotive Reviews

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Celebrity cars, big money in Monterey Auto Week

Michael Schumacher, the retired seven-time Formula One world titlist, hasn’t been in public for nearly a decade. He suffered major head injuries in a skiing accident in 2013 and was placed into a medically induced coma. But Schumacher’s unmatched career legacy remains, in keen focus via his son Mick, a current F1 competitor. Among the cars the elder Schumacher drove is a Ferrari F300, Chassis No. 187. It was driven by the German champion in his four victories during his 1998 World Championship season. Equipped with a 3.0-liter V-10 engine, a maximum engine speed of 17,500 rpm and producing 800 horsepower, the supercar will be among several celebrity vehicles offered for auction in August during Monterey Auto Week. Like real

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2022 Ford Lightning bolts quickly into fame

Not quite with the quickness of its name, the 2022 Ford Lightning arrived a year after it was announced. There was much fanfare, an avalanche of deposits and now there’s an estimated three-year backlog for delivery. First teased at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show, Ford beat all the others — Tesla to GMC, Chevrolet to Rivian — to the streets to further add to manufacturer’s truck legacy. The industry’s best-seller for decades, hadn’t Ford already offered every conceivable truck necessary to maintain its sales advantage? The Lightning boldly adds to the mix. It’s a luxury-oriented, full-size electric pickup truck with top-level performance and a 300-plus mile range. Available in Pro, XLT, Lariat and Platinum trims, the F-150 Lightning splits its

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2022 Toyota Tundra improved but glory days long gone

The Toyota Tundra debuted in its third generation this year as among the most varied available pickup trucks but with a diminishing legacy. The Japanese manufacturer assembles the truck in San Antonio, Texas, a hub for ranchers and RVers and their utilitarian vehicles. Despite the substantial niche market, the Tundra is struggling. Nearly 197,000 sold in 2007, the full-size truck’s best year. Just under 82,000 were purchased in 2021. Serious competition from an omnipresent truck foursome remains, and the Tundra’s smaller, thriving pickup, the Tacoma, has thwarted the big truck’s sales. The Ford F-Series, Ram, Chevrolet Silverado and GMC are perennially among the country’s top-selling vehicles. The half-ton Toyota Tacoma had sales of more than 252,000 in 2021, about a

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Volkswagen Amarok pickup truck on its way to USA — maybe

The Volkswagen Amarok, a mid-size pickup truck sold internationally since 2010 (but not in the United States) will be revealed July 7 for its potential availability in this country. Sharing a platform with the upcoming Ford Ranger, the Amarok has been “teased” recently on various automotive outlets as well as from the manufacturer. Its exterior includes newly styled headlights and a rugged-looking rear end. Volkswagen Amarok Set for US Sales? The truck’s highlights include a vertically-aligned 12-inch touchscreen display, the same as the Ranger’s touchscreen. the VW Amarok also appears to have toggle switches for the hazard lights, parking sensors, an on-screen climate control menu and drive modes. There’s also a physical volume knob. According to the carmaker, the Volkswagen

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Toyota Tundra sales plummet, few changes planned for 2023

The Toyota Tundra full-size pickup truck had its peak annual sales 15 years ago when the 2007 year-end tally was just under 197,000. With increased competition, the truck’s selling success has never been anywhere close. Since 2018, sales of the Tundra have drastically dipped from 118,258 in 2018 to 81,959 in 2021. It was the poorest sales tally for the Tundra since 2009. In 2020, the Tundra was sharply criticized, including by U.S. News & Report. It wrote: “It’s been 13 years since this Toyota got a complete redesign. Most full-size rivals have more comfortable interiors, smoother rides, better composure, and higher-end cabins. Though the Tundra comes standard with a powerful V8 engine, it still can’t tow or haul as

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Electric vehicles aren’t new, just new again after 200 years

Approaching 200 years ago, a few smart, innovators with big dreams began experimenting with vehicles propelled by electricity, the original Electric Vehicles. Two Scotsmen respectively introduced an electric carriage and locomotive with galvanic cells with limited lives. The contraptions quickly gained notoriety. They were revolutionary for the early 1830s, but are best remembered as pre-historic precursors to the current electric vehicle surge. All major and niche car manufacturers — Chevrolet to Ford, Tesla to Lucid —have electric cars and trucks or are preparing an alternative fuel or electric vehicle. The automotive future is now, accelerated in California by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s executive order announced in September 2020. The state will require by 2035 that all new car and passenger trucks

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2022 Lexus NX 350h: Improved SUV drives well, looks ugly

The 2022 Lexus NX 350h is an automotive dichotomy. Now in its second generation and eight years removed from its debut, the futuristic-looking sport utility vehicle is categorized as a subcompact luxury crossover. The description is contradictory and inaccurate. Luxury in vehicles was once determined by spaciousness, top-end construction, top-line materials and a handsome, confident and powerful presence powering along the highway. The NX 350 is none of that. Lexus remains the luxury brand of Toyota. Its upscale offerings were vaulted to the top of the J.D Power & Associates in 1991, the car maker’s third model year. More than 30 years later, the brand’s SUV lineup gets similar industry ratings. But as represented to an extreme by the NX

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2022 Toyota Highlander: maturing SUV remains worthy

The Toyota Highlander turned age 22 in 2022 and it retains its status as a respected midsize sport utility vehicle. Its consistency and versatility have provided long-haul clout. Last year, the Highlander had its best sales year since the three-row family hauler’s debut. Key Takeaways Highlander posts record sales year in a crowded segment: Now in its fourth generation, Toyota’s three-row SUV delivered its best annual total since its 2000 debut despite strong rivals in the Telluride, Pilot, Pathfinder, Ascent, Atlas, and Traverse. 295-hp V6 with eight-speed automatic powers all six trims: Every Highlander gets the 3.5-liter V6, plus Eco, Normal, Sport, and Snow drive modes standard. Price range stretches from $35,205 to over $50,000: The front-drive L trim opens

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2022 Genesis G80 defines the best of luxury sedans

The guy standing next to his parked Mercedes-Benz sedan was three spots away from my ride in the far reaches of a Home Depot parking lot. He stared at the 2022 Genesis G80 and said, “Nice lines. What kind of car is it?” The entire Genesis lineup gets plenty of similar reactions. Praised by critics and inundated with awards, the South Korean carmaker debuted as a stand-alone luxury brand from Hyundai in 2016. But it remains unheralded. Further confusing, Hyundai offered a Genesis as its top-line sedan beginning in 2009. Now Genesis manufacturers the G70 sports sedan, G80 mid-size sedan, G90 full-size sedan, GV80 mid-size SUV, and for 2023, the GV60 electric SUV. 2022 Genesis G80: Only One Dealership The

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2022 Ford Maverick reigns in pickup gas mileage rivalry

The 2022 Ford Maverick has proven a success, although many buyers who placed orders for the new offering in the manufacturer’s extensive of lightweight trucks haven’t received their vehicle and likely won’t soon. The Maverick combines affordability and fuel efficiency, and it’s also backlogged with many other cars and trucks and many other products within the supply chain fiasco. With a starting price of $21,490 and a combined fuel economy of 37 miles per gallon, the Ford Maverick tops the list of the country’s most fuel efficient trucks. Ford Maverick: Best MPG Among Trucks Here’s a “baker’s dozen” list of the lightweight trucks in the United States with the best combined gas mileage averages. Each 2022 model truck listed with

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2022 Hyundai Tucson: new, bold, worthy

The 2022 Hyundai Tucson, the debut of the small sport utility’s fourth generation, is the South Korean manufacturer’s finest effort to compete against the Honda CR-V and Toyota RAV4. It’s a worthy challenger. Unheralded and 13th in small SUV sales in 2021, this year’s Tucson has been redesigned with a sculptor’s bold ideas. It has squared wheel arches, sharp bodywork creases, a radical headlight design and a snarky-looking front grille. More important, the Tucson for the first time is available in three powertrains, a gasoline engine, a standard hybrid and a plug-in hybrid. The latter has a maximum 28-mile electric-only range; the standard hybrid is rated at 37 miles per gallon in city driving, 36 mpg on the highway. Seven

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Volkswagen hints toward new electric pickup truck

Nearly 40 years after Volkswagen stopped selling pickup trucks in the United States, it will do so again. At least that’s what VW of America CEO Scott Keogh suggested recently during an interview with Business Insider. “I think it’s the chance of a lifetime in this segment because electrification gives you a reset moment,” Keogh said. “It gives you a chance to bring some, let’s say, alternatives and some new ideas into this great segment.” VW leaning toward pickup truck return Keogh said an electric pickup is something VW is “actively investigating.” Volkswagen has twice suggested it would re-enter the U.S. market. Its previous pickup was last offered in 1983. In 2018, the automaker unveiled at Atlas Tanoak concept which

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2022 Toyota Supra matches sports car rivals, costs less

More than two dozen cars debuted in 1979. They varied from long-gone oddities like the Datsun Bluebird and Ford Durango to icons with legions of followers, the Volkswagen Jetta and Toyota Supra. As a compact two-seater, four-seater and wagon, the Jetta is an all-time top seller as a durable, reliable and affordable family car. The Supra was a near-instant hit as a high-performing, handsome sports car eventually gaining starring movie roles. It had nearly a 20-year hiatus beginning in 1998, but it’s been back for a few years. And it’s much to the joy of long-time enthusiasts who thrive on the coupe’s adept turning, quick acceleration and overall fun. Toyota Supra: Fast & Furious For 2022, not much is different

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2022 Honda Civic: Still reigns as top compact sedan at age 50

Technology overload and extraneous warning lights and sounds. Mood lighting and champagne flutes in mini back-seat refrigerators. Paddle shifters standard in family sedans with continuously variable transmissions? Where will it all end? How about with a 2022 Honda Civic? It’s not a return to automotive simplicity with roll-up windows and cigarette lighters. Rather, it’s an iconic car, now in its 11th generation. It’s 50 years old, with 12 million sold. It cost less than $31,000 for the top-line model, about two-thirds of the average price of a new car in the United States. With its new mature appearance inside and outside, the 2022 Honda Civic moves higher on the list, maybe to the top of the list, of the industry’s

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2022 BMW 240i drives big as small luxury coupe

Just when every niche in the automotive industry appears filled, another arises. The 2022 BMW 2 Series coupe 240i is a leader in the small luxury car fraternity. It’s a small group, which includes country rivals from Audi and Mercedes-Benz. Following the discontinuation of the convertible offering, the redesigned 2022 BMW 2 Series coupe is available in two trims, 230i and the reviewed M240i xDrive. The base 230i features a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 255 horsepower. The M240i xDrive more defines many BMW drivers’ common enjoyment — performance rules. It includes a 3-liter, 24-valve, 6-cylinder, 382 horsepower engine matched with an eight-speed transmission. A manual transmission is not available. The all-wheel-drive engine also has a stability control system. It provides

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Vintage cars are great fun, need care, quickly empty wallets

Vintage cars are often neither fuel-effective nor budget-friendly. But they look, feel great and drive beautifully. Sit or drive a classic vehicle and the experience can be a coolness and freeing feeling, not too dissimilar to what Sean Connery must have felt like when he driving an Aston Martin in a James Bond film. If you attend a classic event in your area, such as the Monterey Auto Week, it’s the perfect opportunity to get to know more about your favorite cars and how owners preserve them. Classic vehicles require a lot of care and repair to remain on the road — even if the vehicle is only sporadically driven. Vintage Cars Greatly Vary If driving a classic vehicle on

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