Automotive Reviews

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Smart car? How about Smart truck? New Daimler concept set for Detroit Auto Show

Pickup trucks are all the rage, with a new offering of alternative fuel selections on the market as well as one of the most unique vehicles, a Smart For-us concept pickup, set to debut at that Detroit Auto Show in January. A Daimler division product, the Smart For-us will be the biggest of the tiny Smart cars, currently represented only the Smart ForTwo The Smart For-us concept is 140 inches long (11 feet, 6 inches), about six feet shorter than a Ford F-150 pickup, the United States' best-selling passenger vehicle "In a tongue-in-cheek manner, the For-us signals that this is the right car for the young-at-heart with active lives who attach importance to low emissions and taking up minimum road

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Toyota Aqua debuts in Japan with unknown: Can new tiny hybrid sell well?

Toyota's smallest hybrid car, named the Aqua in Japan and the Prius C in the United States, went on sale December 26 in Japan with its native country's manufacturer hoping to attract young buyers to the entry level, fuel efficient market. Priced with a U.S. dollar-converted $21,770, Toyota hopes to sell 12,000 Aquas per month in Japan as part of its global goal of selling 20 percent more hybrid vehicles in 2012 than it's expected to sell in final 2011 totals. "The Aqua shows Toyota is increasing efforts to boost sales in the domestic market," said Mamoru Kato, an auto analyst at Tokai Tokyo Research Center in Nagoya, Japan. "Toyota raised the price of the Prius to a more profitable

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Via Motors joins small, growing fraternity with 100 mpg pick-up truck

Via Motors will debut, with an introduction by Bob Lutz, former GM vice president, the Via eREV, an electric-powered full-size pickup truck, 4×4 SUV and cargo van at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit on Jan. 10. The powertrain in the new Via eREV (Extended-Range Electric Vehicle) will work similarly to the Chevy Volt. Lithium-ion batteries power the wheels for a full electric range of around 40 miles. When batteries are low, a small onboard gas engine will provide extended-range capability for the batteries, up to 400 miles using the onboard generator, averaging up to 100 mpg. The system can be charged from either a 120-volt household outlet or from a more powerful (and quicker) 240-volt charging

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Ford, Honda steadily advancing in green car market

Ferrari and Rolls Royce are even entering the alternative fuel vehicle segment. But green cars still represent a small, controversial and slow-growing percentage of country's yearly auto sales. The Toyota Prius hybrid earlier this year surpassed one million sales in the United States since its debut in 2001. But in 2011, through sales ending in October, the Prius was only the 12th best-selling car in the United States with about 120,000 units purchased. Regardless of the slow adoption rate, industry enthusiasm remains. In mid-December, Exxon Mobile, in its annual energy outlook prognosis, predicted half of new cars by 2040 would come equipped with some form of alternative propulsion system — hybrid to electric, fuel cell to natural gas. The energy

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Lexus keeps current price despite redesign, upgrades in 2013 GS 350

The 2013 Lexus GS 350, introduced recently in regional and national car show without a price, now has one with the manufacturer announcing a "zero increase" for the newly designed vehicle. Scheduled to arrive a dealerships next February, the base price for the 2013 GS 350 will be priced $46,900 for the real-wheel model. The all-wheel drive model will have a base price MSRP of $49,450. The configurations are available as F SPORT models or can be equipped with the available Premium or Luxury packages for greater personalization. The GS 350 powertrains have been elevated for 2013 to provide better fuel economy and more responsive performance. The GS 350 is powered by an advanced 3.5-liter V6, four cams, and four

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Lexus will debut concept coupe at Detroit Auto Show

Lexus has already many of its newly designed 2013 lineup, but the Toyota luxury brand has announced plans for another new vehicle — at least as a concept — the LF-LC 2+2 sport coupe. According a Lexus press release, the concept coupe will be unveiled Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “Crafted from a clean sheet of paper at the request of Lexus headquarters in Japan, the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “The clean lines of the vehicle emphasize motion, creating a distinctive look for this futuristic sport coupe.” Conceived as a design exercise to

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Dodge Charger, 2012: Fast, powerful, high-performance bargain

Iconic muscle cars are making a comeback — as much-improved models. The 1960s Dodge Charger with Chrysler’s awesome Hemi V-8 is one of the most legendary muscle cars of the high-octane 1960s. The 2012 Charger SRT8 with a Hemi V-8 is more than comparable to that old Charger. In fact, the new $45,795 Charger SRT8 from Chrysler’s high-performance SRT group is a flat-out high-performance-car bargain that might be considered by some to be too hot for the street with its 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. While well-mannered, unlike the 1960s 425-horsepower Hemi, the new Hemi V-8 provides 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of torque. That gives the car a 0-60 mph time of about 4.5 seconds, although it‘s a big 120-inch-wheelbase sedan

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Toyota Prius C, 2012: New city car could get 60 mpg

As the smallest, least expensive and most fuel efficient hybrid in the expanding Toyota fleet, the Prius c will make its North American debut January 10 at 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Oringinally unveiled in January as the Aqua at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota said the Prius C will get more than 50 mpg in the city, the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle. Some reviewers believe the vehicle will average more than 60 mpg. The Prius C will be equipped with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder Hybrid Synergy Drive engine. Toyota hasn't announce the price of its small hybrid. But it's expected the Prius c will be significantly less than any current Prius and may be

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Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012: Dyno Test Video

On a chilly December morning in Northern California, I brought a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 to TPS Motorsports in Campbell, California for a couple of dyno runs on their Dynojet chassis dynometer. Truth was in the numbers as we dyno tested the Chrysler 300 SRT8 that claims 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque from Chrysler’s 6.4L HEMI powerplant. Power was measured at the wheels and the numbers were SAE corrected. Video and power output charts below document the results of our dyno test. After two test runs, maximum horsepower measured at the wheels was 411 horsepower. Maximum torque was 400 lb.-ft. with 80 percent of max torque being available at 55 mph. Generally, there is an 18 – 20

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Hyundai Veloster, 2012: honors begin for 40 mpg, 3-door coupe

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the three-door coupe that joins siblings Accent, Elantra and Sonata Hybrid by achieving 40 mpg on the highway, has begun to generate end-of-the-year honor including Best Economy Car in Bloomberg's recent "Best Drives of 2011." The Veloster also features Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, Pandora internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display and a new 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine that can be mated to either Hyundai’s first EcoShift dual-clutch transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. Bloomberg praised the Veloster for “amenities like touch-screen navigation, automatic everything, Bluetooth and a rear-view camera.” “Hyundai has four models which hit the 40 mpg mark, only one a hybrid. That’s progress for the people,” said Jason Harper, Bloomberg’s auto critic. “Most

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Toyota Prius 2012: Prices announced for five models

The Toyota Prius has increasing competition in the hybrid car segment. But as the most successful green car in history, Toyota has now announced pricing for the 2012 Prius liftback while the MSRP for three new Prius family members, the Prius v, Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Prius c, are still pending. The Prius Liftback will be priced from $24,000 (Prius Two) to $29,805 (Prius Five), reflecting a price increase ranging from 2.0 percent to 4.3 percent. The 2012 model year Prius receives a refreshed front fascia, revised tail lamps, newly styled 15-inch wheel covers and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL) with on/off feature. The 2012 Prius interior is updated to include a standard 6.1-inch Display Audio system with USB for

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Toyota RAV4: Prices set for Sport Utility Vehicle's three 2012 models

The 2012 Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle, offered in RAV4 grade, Sport and Limited editions, will have a price price from $22,650 to $28,650 and will begin arriving a dealerships Dec. 20, the carmaker announced. With its three grades, the RAV4 is available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 269 horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Each engine can be teamed with either front-wheel drive or electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive. The roomy RAV4 offers optional third-row seating on RAV4 and Limited grade models. The 2012 RAV4 receives an overall price increase of $100, or 0.4 percent, with some models receiving a price decrease. The base MSRP will range from $22,650 for the RAV4 four-cylinder 2WD model with a four-speed automatic transmission to $28,650

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2012 Acura TSX Review: Slick, quick worthy foe for BMW, Audi

The 2012 Acura TSX is a difficult car to categorize. It's often cited as an entry level luxury sedan. But with its new option, a peppy six-speed manual transmission, and a Special Edition package, it's also a sports car. Luxury sedan and sports car? That's an oxymoron in the automotive industry. But with Special Edition package, even if only offered on the four-cylinder Acura TSX, it's also an ideal description. The base TSX sedan and TSX Sport Wagon feature a long list of standard features: Automatic xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheel, foglights, heated outside mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry, dual-zone automatic climate control, a tilt-and-telescoping steering column, an eight-way power driver seat with memory, a four-way power passenger seat, leather

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Ford Ranger soon to join expanding deceased ranks

Another longstanding American vehicle is about to end its legacy. Ford has announced it will stop producing the Ranger this month — marking the end of the manufacturer's small line of pick-up trucks. The last Ford Ranger for the U.S. market is expected to roll off the line by Dec. 19. It's estimated about 800 Rangers are still in circulation and that more than 6.6 million sold in the truck's 29-year tenure. Ford will abandon a segment it led for 18 years until 2005, when it fell behind the Toyota Tacoma. "We've got a tremendous heritage and history with Ranger," said Doug Scott, Ford's truck marketing manager. "The product has been very good and was true to the Built Ford

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Lexus to soon unveil sexy, sportier 2013 lineup

Lexus is shooting for a sportier image with models such as the new GS350 gas-engine sedan and GS450h. The former goes on sale in February as a 2013 model, the latter hybrid sedan will follow. The two models represent, as Lexus puts it, a “new signature design philosophy.” Lexus is well known for its posh, comfortable, upscale cars, but they aren’t much fun. There’s a trend toward sportier luxury autos that provide more driving kicks. Hence, Lexus says it’s developed the GS to compete with such autos as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E350. Lexus hopes to annually sell 20,000 to 25,000 of the new GS models. Previous GS models haven’t done well in sales or in

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Ford recalls Fusion, Milan models with potential faulty wheel woes

Ford has recalled about 129,000 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from model years 2010 and 2011 and equipped with 17-wheels because the vehichles' whel studs could fracture and potentially fall off. The issue, as reported by Ford and on the website of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (HHTSA) may be caused by steel wheel mounting pads or rear brake discs that have been incorrectly built and can't properly support the wheel. In cases through September, one car's front wheel fell off and five cars' rear wheel dropped off, according to Ford and likely because of the stud issue. The recalled vehicles were built at the Hermosillo stamping and assembly plant in Mexico from April 2009 and from

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