Automotive Reviews

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LeBron James, Kia team up for three new K900 ads

LeBron James has continued his relationship with Kia with three new advertisements. The 11-time NBA All-Star and the South Korean carmaker hope the campaign showcase the brand’s top-of-the-line K900 is “Fit For A King.” The three spots with James as the ambassador for Kia‘s luxury sedan are titled ”Ten Mil,” “1000%” and “Spaceship.” In the campaign, James assembles a team of experts in his garage command post to help prove he drives a Kia K900 by responding to the following real tweets: * “I’ll bet anyone $10,000,000 that LeBron doesn’t roll up to the games in a Kia.” * “There’s a thousand percent chance that there’s a zero percent chance that LeBron drives a Kia.” * “LeBron drives a Kia

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2016 Chevrolet Volt named Green Car of the Year

Five years after it won for the first time, the Chevrolet Volt has been named the Green Car of the Year for the second time. The 2016 edition was honored at the Los Angeles Auto Show in the 10th edition of the award presented by the Green Car Journal.The Chevrolet Volt was given the award in recognition of improvements to every aspect of the extended-range hybrid that debut in 2011. In presenting the award, judges note the Chevrolet Volt for its: “sleek and sporty design, more energy-dense batteries, new electric motors, and quicker acceleration.” The Chevrolet Volt has a more efficient 1.5-liter engine-generator that creates onboard electricity to power the Volt’s motors for a total 420 miles.The Volt beat a field of finalists

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2015 Ford C-Max: Underdog hybrid still chasing Prius (VIDEO)

Ford isn’t the only manufacturer attempting to infiltrate the hybrid segment dominance of the Toyota Prius. But three years ago it started its best effort, the highly touted Ford C-Max hybrid-only line-up. Ford’s marketing plan included a motto directly pointed at Toyota. It promoted the debut 2013 C-Max as “a hybrid that drives and looks like a real car.” Like previous years’ models, the 2015 Ford C-Max is true to the carmaker’s claim. It looks and drives like a non-hybrid. It’s available as a gas-electric hybrid as the Energi, a plug-in hybrid. The Ford C-Max hasn’t significantly dented the Toyota Prius market share, but it’s like its main competitor in two respects. It’s not available in a gas-only model, much

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Elio Motors will display cheapest car concept at LA Auto Show

Elio Motors, the Arizona-based experimental vehicle maker whose three-wheel, futuristic-looking prototypes have generated polarizing interest, will introduce its fifth generation vehicle at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show. The vehicle’s CAD renderings detail a similar but update version of the car’s previous concepts. The company, building what it’s touting as the cheapest car in the United States in a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, has collected different levels of reservation deposits online for several years. But Elio Motors and its founder, Paul Elio, have suffered many setbacks and have changed public delivery dates several times. The Elio project has been as controversial as an in the auto industry, with the exception of the the current Volkswagen diesel scandal.

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James Bond cars, Sunbeam Alpine to Aston Martin DB10

The cars featured in the 24 James Bond movies are arguably as famous as the actors who have played secret agent 007. Those actors, Sean Connery to Daniel Craig, have varying personalities in the films. And so do the cars they’ve driven, a Sunbeam Alpine II to an Aston Martin DB 10. In the the soon-to-be released movie Spectre, Aston Martin created 10 Aston Martin DB 10 models. The villain’s car is Jaguar’s hybrid supercar, the C-X75. According the several newspaper articles, filmmakers destroyed $36 million worth of cars, including seven DB10 models, during filming. In the original James Bond film, Dr. No, made in 1962, producers failed to obtain a free Sunbeam Alpine from the carmaker, so they had

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2016 Scion iA: A new small package with attitude

The Scion iA and its sibling, the iM, are new vehicles for 2016. The iA is a sporty entry level sedan; the iM is a five-door hatchback. The duo is manufactured to appeal to millennials. But there’s a surprise for consumers in the sub-compact market. Scion models are usually the less expensive offerings from parent company Toyota. The iA is actually a rebadged Mazda2. It’s offered in the United States since the Mazda2 isn’t. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Scion iA is a four-cylinder, 106 horsepower four-door subcompact with a six-speed manual or automatic transmission. My weekly driver was the manual transmission option. 2015 SCION TC: PRACTICAL LIFTBACK WITH LMITATIONS Like its sibling, the iA has a substantial standard

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Tesla oddity: Safest car ever tested but unreliable? (VIDEO)

Telsa has revolutionized the automotive industry, but the super luxury electric car has just received its first major dubious honor. Consumer Reports has described $127,000 Tesla Model S has “worse than average” in reliability. The unexpected rating is odd considering the prestigious publication in recent months selected the Tesla as the safest car ever made. It’s also rated as the publication’s best performing car. According to the publication, results from the 1,400 responses from consumers detailed a long list of “maladies with the drivetrain, charging equipment, big-screen center console and evidence of a poorly-built vehicle with squeaks, rattles and leaks.” Tesla Model S sets record as safest car in history As a result, a Consumer Reports’ representative commented, “We are no longer

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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander: Underdog SUV improved

Thirteen years since its North American debut as the replacement for the Montero Sport, the Mitsubishi Outlander is vastly updated from its predecessor. Most notably, there’s improved fuel mileage, more attractive exterior and interior designs and a standard third-row seat that translates into seating for seven. Still, Mitsubishi has long been an automotive underdog. And with the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander, the Japanese carmaker is making a further attempt to gain a slice of the ever-popular SUV market. The heavily revised Outlander now includes what Mitsubishi calls “Dynamic Shield.” The standard improvements include: a steering wheel headliner, rear folding seats, door controls, increased sound insulation, reinforced door glass, dynamic suspension and thicker weatherstripping. The Weekly Driver Test Drive It’s been two

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Volkswagen can’t sell 2016 diesels in the U.S.

Volkswagen of American won’t be able to sell 2016 diesel 2.0-liter engine models in the United States, and the carmaker has withdrawn its application for EPA certification. If the manufacturer complies with U.S. emissions standards, it can again begin selling its vehicles currently in violation of emissions policies. Volkswagen had been awaiting EPA approval for the 2016 diesels, but withdrew its request as part of ongoing discussions with U.S. regulators following emissions violations. Volkswagen of America CEO Michael Horn disclosed the decision in written testimony he delivered at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce committee. In his testimony, Horn said part of VW’s emissions control strategy included a “software feature” that should be “disclosed to and approved by”

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700 Horsepower Ford Mustang too good to be true

Neiman Marcus, in its famed annual Christmas catalog, is offering 100 examples of the most unique Ford Mustang ever manufactured. It will be a supercharged 700 horsepower, 195 mph Mustang convertible. Powered by a specially tuned supercharged V8, the vehicle is rated at 60 mph in 3.5 seconds. The exotic Mustang is further enhanced with unique chassis and suspension tuning, a dual exhaust system, lightweight forged 20-inch wheels, and body panels and aesthetic modifications specific to the Neiman car. The Neiman Marcus catalog lists the vehicle as having all-wheel drive. Several automotive website outlets are reporting that description was erroneous. Several other features of the limited Mustang have also been questioned by national automotive writers, but Neiman Marcus hasn’t yet

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2016 Kia Sorento: Underdog SUV gains on Toyota, Hyundai

With increasing competition among sport utility vehicles, the 2016 Kia Sorento is nearly all new to keep up with the pace. It’s been re-styled inside and outside. It’s slightly bigger in most dimensions and there are lots of new high-tech options. And there’s also versatility with three different engine options. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in five trims and in five and seven-seat configurations, the 2016 Kia Sorento is arguably the most versatile midsize SUV in the marketplace. My test vehicle was the topline SXL or Limited. It’s among the V6-powered Sorentos with seven-passenger only seating in three rows. Smaller L trim models equipped with a midrange turbocharged engine are five-passenger only. While vying for a market share with

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60 Minutes, Mercedes-Benz steer driverless cars

In its segment on driverless cars, 60 Minutes showcased the latest technology being hotly pursued by numerous automakers, most notably Mercedes-Benz and Audi. With Bill Whitaker as the segment host and Mercedes-Benz engineer Alex Hilliger von Thile as the “driver” the duo took a spin in a Mercedes F015. It’s the futuristic-looking prototype the German carmaker is testing as car that does the driving — on a pre-programmed course. The sleek Mercedes-Benz had a lot newfangled equipment: As the segment detailed: * Any passenger can control the car from any seat, two of which can face forward or backward; * The no-button dashboard pops up with the swipe of a hand and responds to both eye movements and hand gestures;

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2016 Mazda CX-5: Versatile, sporty, fuel efficient

The Mazda CX-5 replaced the Mazda Tribute and Mazda CX-7 in 2012 as a 2013 model, and it has succeeded quickly in the popular compact SUV segment. For 2016, the Mazda CX-5 has been refreshed with minor interior and exterior upgrades, including improved materials quality, additional insulation and an improved technology interface. There’s also improved and additional equipment in option packages. Some former options, including Bluetooth and audio connectivity, are now standard to keep up with improved compact SUV offerings from other manufacturers. The Weekly Driver Test Drive With its new features and options and its availability in three trims with either all-wheel drive or front-wheel drive, it’s likely the Mazda CX-5 will continue is impressive upward sales trend. The

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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 Nissan Murano: Driving the USA Pro Challenge #2

The USA Pro Challenge, the fifth-year professional cycling event in Colorado, takes the riders throughout cities large and small. In the past few days, I’ve driven the 2015 Nissan Murano from Frisco to Copper Mountain to Aspen to Breckenridge. The route has primarily been along winding and hilly Interstate 70 that advance through wondrous rock formations. I also drove on a several state routes along flowing rivers and on a few frontage roads and on city streets in Frisco and to the top of Snowmass. My guide was the touchscreen navigation system. I liked the clarity of the seven-inch screen and its functionality via  straightforward features. When I was getting low on fuel, I quickly found the closest gas station

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