Automotive Reviews

Bugatti Veyron: So long, farewell as last of 300 sold

Bye-bye Bugatti, the Veyron and Super Sport, that is. The last of the 300 $2 million exclusive, fast, record-setting supercar and its sibling Super Sport, has been ordered in Europe. The Bugatti Veyron set numerous records, including fastest convertible at 223 mph (top up) and 253 mph (top down). The Super Sport version is the fastest road-legal car in the world, with a top speed of 267.85 mph. Designed and developed by the German Volkswagen Group and produced by Bugatti Automobiles SAS at their headquarters in Château St. Jean in Molsheim, France, the Veyron’s chief designer was Hartmut Warkuss. The exterior was designed by Jozef Kabaň of Volkswagen. The car is named after French racing driver Pierre Veyron, who won

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Custom Lexus hybrid chosen for Prince Albert's wedding

A Lexus full hybrid LS 600h L Landaulet featuring a one-piece, transparent polycarbonate roof will serve as the official Royal Wedding car on the occasion of the marriage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco to Ms. Charlene Wittstock on July 2, 2011. Equipped with Lexus Hybrid Drive, Prince Albert’s LS 600h L, the Lexus flagship, generates significantly lower CO2, NOx and particulate emissions than any comparable car. The more than 2,000-hour conversion project was a collaboration between Belgian coachbuilders Carat Duchatelet and Lexus engineers based in Brussels. The objective was to ensure the original LS 600h L safety and performance levels were maintained. The conversion process began with computer-aided design calculations, simulations and 3-D modelling. The reinforcement

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Hyundai Sonata Hybrid, 2011: car review

Its lithium polymer battery technology was first showcased at the Los Angeles Auto Show three years ago. And the result is the 2011 Hyundai Sonata, the South Korean manufacturer’s first hybrid. The Sonata Hybrid, which debuted in February, features a 2.4-liter engine with six-speed automatic transmission, a 30kw electric motor and lightweight lithium polymer batteries. Like many of its siblings, the Sonata Hybrid had an impressive arrival. With its new sloping design and other innovations, the Sonata was among five finalists for the 2011 Green Car of the Year. Yet, despite gaining substantial acclaim from publications ranging from the New York Times to Edmunds.com, the Sonata Hybrid’s first five months have been unheralded. Reasons are two-fold: the Nissan Leaf and

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Lexus reveals $73,000 price for flagship LS460 sedan

The 2011 Lexus LS 460 Touring Edition, the flagship sedan of the luxury division of Toyota, will be priced at $73,000 (rear wheel drive) and will be available at dealerships in late June or early July, the manufacturer announced. “The Touring Edition adds excitement to our flagship sedan,” said Mark Templin, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. “The package on this car enhances styling and comfort, allowing us to attract younger buyers to the LS line-up.” The 2011 LS 460 Touring Edition will be available on both the LS 460 Rear Wheel Drive and All-Wheel Drive models. It will be distinguished from other LS models by a Smoky Granite Mica exterior, and following equipment: 19-inch five-spoke alloy wheels

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Hyundai, Honda lead new decree: 40 mpg the new 30 mpg

If 40 mpg is the new 30 mpg in the automotive world, then more manufacturers —  Hyundai to Volkswagen, Honda to Toyota — have reached the new milestone as car buyers seek more economical options. Hyundai is at the forefront of the influx of 40 mpg with newly designed 2011 Hyundai Elantra. With its base price of $14,830 and fuel economy of 29 in city driving and 40 mpg on the the highway, it costs an estimated $51 for a tank of gas (at $4 per gallon) and will travel an estimated 538 miles per tank. The 2011 Hyundia Sonata (hybrid) is also listed at 40 mpg in highway driving. Here are several other 2011 models averaging at least 40

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Mazda recalls half-million Mazda3 models for faulty wipers

Mazda is recalling nearly a half-million Mazda3 (the Mazda Axela in some countries) globally to fix an electronic malfunction that could prevent the windshield wipers from working properly. Mazda said no accidents were reported, but 29 failure complaints were received by the manufacturer. The recall covers cars and knock-down parts for the Mazda3 that were shipped between Jan. 2008 and Jul. 2010. It affects 157,700 units in North America, 91,600 in Europe, 84,000 in China and about 20,000 in Japan. The Mazda3 was introduced in 2004 and the second generation was announced for the 2010 model year. The same problem plagues the Mazda3 and Mazda3 MPS models produced between January 7, 2008 and December 22, 2008. According to the company

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It's a natural gas: Honda's greenest car goes national soon

After more than a decade of sporadic available to the retail public, Honda Motor Co. (HMC) will offer its natural-gas-powered Civic GX throughout the United States beginning in the fall of 2011. A recent report in The Nikkei, the business publication in Japan, said the manufacturer’s decision to go nationwide reflects the increased nterest in environmental cars in the U.S. Natural-gas-propelled cars are often considered greener than all-electric vehicles, because the latter charge their batteries using electricity often generated by fossil-fuel-fired power plants. Honda first released the Civic GX in the state of California in 1998 and currently offers the car in four states. Honda initially marketed the car to government agencies and commercial users, but starting in 2005 it

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2011 Hyundai Elantra Review: Sleek, handsomely sculptured

Introduced at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show, the newly designed 2011 Hyundai Elantra has attracted as much attention during its first six months in circulation as any car in the country. There was little wrong with the previous version of the Elantra other than its staid appearance. But all the criticism of the previous styling is likely gone now with the car’s fifth edition. Previous editions of the Elantra were often described as frumpy. But the new design is sleek and handsomely sculptured. The new Elantra has a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine matched to a choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions. The gas mileage averages have been tweaked, allowing the Elantra to join the select, small group of vehicles

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Hyundai Sonata, 2012: Better mpg, more standard features

Hyundai, the hottest-selling manufacturer in the United States, has further intensified the midsize sedan segment by increasing gas mileage and including Blue Link as a standard feature on the 2012 Sonata. Blue Link® from Hyundai provides up-to-the-minute traffic and weather information and is a lifeline to emergency services and roadside assistance. Synched to a smart phone, Blue Link will let the owner know where their Sonata is in a crowded baseball stadium parking lot or shopping center. In addition to Blue Link, the 2012 Sonata will feature more safety, technology and convenience offerings including, HD Radio Technology and new seven-inch touch-screen navigation. Source: hyundaiusa.com. Facts & Figures: 2012 Hyundai Sonata Specification Details Engine 2.0L Turbo 4-cylinder Transmission Automatic 6-spd Drivetrain

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Volkswagen announces models, pricing for 2012 Beetle

Twelve years after it re-introduced the Beetle, Volkswagen has announced pricing for the third-generation of its classic “people’s car.” The new 2012 “21st Century” Beetle will start $18,995, offering a more muscular design that honors the Beetle’s past with revisions that offer a stronger, more powerful coupe. Unlike the other options in its segment, few vehicles offer consumers the heritage and character of the Volkswagen Beetle. “Cross shoppers might consider the Mini Cooper or Fiat 500,” said Jesse Toprak, VP of Industry Trends and Insights at TrueCar.com, but “most consumers looking to purchase the Beetle are already determined to buy it.” Traditionally, the Volkswagen Beetle has appealed to a primarily female audience.  The Volkswagen New Beetle was in 20101 the

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Toyota Tacoma, 2011 truck review

As an ultimate utilitarian vehicle, it’s hard to find fault with the Toyota Tacoma. It’s the best selling truck in the United States in its class, and the 2011 edition is a recommended buy of Consumer Reports. Two months ago, the Tacoma also was named top truck in its category in J.D. Power and Associates’ 2011 Dependability Study. It’s another reason why despite peaks and valleys, Toyota Tacoma sales have exceeded 145,000 annually since the compact truck’s debut in 1995. Now 17 years old and a few generations into its tenure, I test drove for a week the 4×4 edition, one of several configurations available in 2011. The Weekly Driver Test Drive It’s not often an urban driver needs a

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Dealers begin taking orders for 2012 Chevy Volt

Chevrolet dealers in every state can begin taking orders for the 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The starting price of the new model is more than $1,000 less than the 2011 edition, the manufacturer announced. The suggested retail price for Volt will start at $39,995 (or $32,495 assuming a full federal tax credit of $7,500, which is subject to the customer’s eligibility). The price includes an $850 destination freight charge but excludes tax, title and license fees. The lower base price is possible in part because of a wider range of options and configurations that come with the expansion of Volt production for sale nationally. The 2011 model was available in just seven states and the District of Columbia. For 2012, consumers

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Legendary rare Hollywood Ferrari set for Monterey auction

RM Auctions, the collector car auction house, will return Aug. 19-12 to  Monterey, California, for its annual sale held during the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance weekend. This year’s sale will feature a vast selection of vehicles, including the matching-numbers, race-winning 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spider, s/n 0492M. It had a starring role in the film On the Beach, featuring Gregory Peck, Ava Gardner and Fred Astaire. The 1955 Ferrari 750 Monza Scaglietti Spider, s/n 0492M will be among 20 Ferraris auctioned. The eighth of 35 built, 0492M began its career on the Ferrari stand at the Brussels Motor Show in January 1955. One of the first cars with the improved coil spring front suspension, it was delivered to importer

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Toyota Corolla, 2011 car review

With its unparalleled legacy via sheer numbers, the Toyota Corolla stands alone in the automotive industry. Now well into its 40s, the Corolla is the biggest selling car in history (approaching 40 million), with one new Corolla sold somewhere in world about every 40 seconds. Now in its 10th edition, the car that received its name for the Latin word for crown may have reached its saturation point. Manufactured in 15 countries (but not the United States), the Corolla is facing increasingly difficult competition from several manufacturers thriving in the subcompact and compact car categories. They offer faster, more efficient and better equipment vehicles. Still, the Corolla nameplate, now around since 1966 globally and since 1968 in the United States,

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Mercedes-Benz 2011 (CL550) car review

The Mercedes-Benz 2011 four-passenger CL550 coupe I tested from the automaker’s CL-Class line is a throwback to the grand Mercedes coupes of decades ago. That was when Mercedes engineers were given a pretty free hand to design the automaker’s large sedan and coupe models, complete with thick double-pane side glass. Those big powerful cars thus were superlative and majestic. Although heavy, they were fast and had no serious competition in America, where they were overqualified for most U.S. driving — and for most U.S. drivers, who were accustomed to soft U.S. luxury cars. The new CL550 coupe is the entry model in Mercedes’ CL-Class coupe line. It’s a two-door version of the sumptuous Mercedes S-Class sedan and thus has all

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It's A (Natural) Gas, Honda To Offer Civic GX nationwide

Honda will offer the Civic GX, the Japanese manufacturer’s natural-gas-powered car, in the United States to retail delears beginning in the fall of 2011, according to a report in Japan’s business-oriented newspaper, Nikkei. The Civic GX is available nationwide to fleet sales, but it’s available for retail sales only in California, New York, Utah, Nevada and Oklahoma. Honda announced it will sell the vehicle nationwide because of the country’s increased interest in “green car” technology. The Civic GX has been rated first in the “Greenest Vehicle of the Year” list presented American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy for the past eight years. Natural-gas-propelled cars are viewed as greener than all-electric vehicles, which charge their batteries using electricity often generated by

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