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Volkswagen Jetta TDI (Diesel), 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

After a two-year absence because of stricter emissions requirements, the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta lineup, for the second straight year, includes TDI versions of the sedan or wagon. It features a turbocharged, clean-diesel engine and superior fuel mileage. It’s like Volkswagen figured out all reasons why the Jetta and its siblings are so popular in Europe are the same reasons the diesel and the car’s other industry-leading standards would likely be successful in the United States. Electronic stability control and a cold weather package with heated front seats and steering wheel, for example, are standard on all 2010 models. The standard stability control system comes two years ahead of a federal mandate requiring all vehicles sold in the U.S. to have

Electric and Hybrid

Lance Armstrong debuts in new Nissan Leaf commercial

The Leaf, which will be available for lease or purchase for the first time in December in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, is the carmaker’s first mass produced all-electric vehicle. Correspondingly, Nissan is shifting its focus to a new theme: “Innovation for All.” The initial distribution states for the Leaf were chosen because of their participation in the EV Project. It’s partnership with ECOtality that has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to create the nation’s largest electric vehicle infrastructure The Nissan Leaf will be available to customers in Texas and Hawaii in January, 2011 and to consumers in North Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, South Carolina, and Alabama in April 2011. Nissan will expand

Specialty cars

Kansas City high school kids build 307 mpg equivalent electric car

Working in the Automobile Design Studio at DeLaSalle School, the students believe they have the ultimate in efficiency. Testing on the 7.7 mile oval of Bridgestone’s Texas Proving Ground the newfangled car tested at the equivalent of 307 miles per gallon equivalent. According to the site, greenautoblog.com, the students, instructor Steve Rees and other collaborators, began the project with a 2000 Lola Indy Car chassis. They developed an electric drivetrain, covered the racer in a clear shell and outfitted it with a set of low rolling resistance Bridgestone Ecopia EP100 tires. The Guinness Book of Records editors have been asked to assess the car’s impressive efficiency and potential record-setting numbers. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than

Electric and Hybrid

Kia will unveil radically designed, zero-emission concept car at Paris auto show

“The car is equipped with gogglelike oval side windows, shaped something like drug capsules,” writes Phil Patton. “Its wheels wear a central cross pattern, like an oversize Phillips screw head.” “The three-seat configuration has become popular in recent city car designs. It’s one of several seating configurations offered in Gordon Murray Design’s recently unveiled T.25 city car. Kia’s designers appear to be contemplating installing parents in front and a single child in a back seat.” Kia has been a design innovator in recent years, considering, for example, the Soul compact S.U.V. 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

Used Cars

Best used cars under $3,000: Mazda Miata, BMW 3 Series, VW Rabbit On Popular Mechanics’ list

The Mazda Miata is the gold-standard, fun-to-drive used car — at least according to Popular Mechanics. The general-interest “umbrella” magazine for all things mechanical has published a list of cars it considers the best used cars available for $3,000 or less.The Miata, the best-selling sports car ever made tops the list. The publication offers: “For three grand, you’re probably looking at a first-generation edition (1989–1994) with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Mazda built tens of thousands of them, and many folks who bought them barely drove them, so plenty of low-mileage examples exist.” “They’re enormously fun, with a lithe feel, telepathic steering, raspy engine note and one of crispest gearboxes in the industry. They’re tough, too, as evidenced by the number plying

Sedans, Sport Utility Vehicles

Honda Crosstour, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review

Today’s modern soccer moms and dads wear Crocs and Reefs, not Birkenstocks and flip-flops. They drive Crossovers, not station wagons. Minivans are uncool and SUVs are so yesterday. So what’s the next big thing? It’s not a station wagon — Volvo can’t seem to sell the XC 70. The only “station wagon” that sells substantially is the Subaru Outback. And Subaru has gone out of its way to re-brand it as a crossover. Enter the Honda Crosstour and the 2010 Toyota Venza. Both cars partially fill the elusive domain of the American station wagon. Think of the Crosstour as the next MUV (Modern Utility Vehicle). With a 271 HP 3.5L V6 engine, real time all-wheel drive, and tons of space,

Sport Utility Vehicles

BMW, Ford, Honda, Volvo, Toyota among cars gone to the dogs

More precisely, the AAA has selected its newest list of 11 cars in six lifestyle categories that dog owners prefer when transporting their pets. According to the AAA, 45 million households in the United States have a dog and more than 80 percent of dog owners take their best friend with them when they run errands or drive their cars for leisure. “There several vehicles with features that can help keep pets safe, comfortable and easy to clean-up after while also addressing other driver desires such as sportiness, adventure or luxury,” said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair and Buying Services. The AAA’s experts drove and reviewed hundreds of vehicles and compiled a list of their top car

Sport Utility Vehicles

GM recalls nearly 250,000 recent SUVs for potential safety belt issues

The automaker and regulators said most of the vehicles were shipped within the United States. Several thousand others were exported to Canada, Mexico, China, Saudi Arabia, among other countries. Potential damage to the second-row safety belts could result in the latch seemingly appear it was secure when it wasn’t. No accidents or injuries have been reported as a result of the issue. The problem was discovered during warranty returns and sustained damage was cosmetic in most cases. General Motors will detail dealership repair procedures to owners via letter. 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

Electric and Hybrid

Toyota Prius will soon lose carpool lane status in California

The Sacramento Bee is reporting that drivers of new electric vehicles like the Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and even plug-in edition of the Prius will have the highest privileges in carpool lanes. Current Prius hybrid editions, about 85,000 in California, will no longer have carpool access after June 2011. The new program involves a revised series of color-coded stickers, the brainchild of San Francisco Sen. Leland Yee’ and his Senate Bill 535. It’s now on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s desk. The pending new policies for California carpool lanes are detailed in the newspaper’s weekly column, Back Seat Driver. Here’s the link: Toyota Prius James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car

Luxury cars, Sedans

Great 1980s cars time's forgotten, Audi to Toyota, BMW to Ferrari

Neither age makes the respective car ancient. Nevertheless, article offers unique insight and states that the 1980s was a far superior decade for cars than the 1970s. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars The article’s premise is that the 1980s was great decade for prominent, groundbreaking cars—the BMW 5 Series, Honda Civic CRX and Ferrari F40. Writer John Pearley Huffman also offers: “A few machines have somehow faded from our collective consciousness. They’re essentially unappreciated, but their innovations or performance mean they deserve more prominence.” In his description of the 1983 BMW 5 Series, Huffman writes: “Luxury machines like the 1983 BMW 5 Series changed what the

Specialty cars

Tata Motors has new luxury plans for Jaguar, Land Rover

Tata Motors is planning to introduce new fuel efficient cars and hybrid vehicles in emerging markets and is seeking to raise sales of luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover in China and India. The company plans to launch in India, a new cross-over vehicle, two new passenger vehicles and a new range of heavy trucks, according to Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Tata said the company is also considering widening the range of Jaguar cars by introducing a station wagon, a new entry-level Jaguar, and a new roadster. China’s demand for cars has fueled a rise in bottom lines of many

Luxury cars

Rare Bugatti could fetch record price at Monterey Auto Week auction

The Bugatti, boasting its original bodywork, engine and gearbox, is predicted to sell for $4.5 million, which would be the highest price ever paid for a grand prix racing Bugatti. The car is being sold by the British private collector who paid the current world record sum for a Type 35 Bugatti two years ago. Bugatti historian David Sewell said the latest sale, 1931-built chassis 51132, is “a remarkably complete and original car and there is no doubt to its authenticity. It ranks among the finest survivors of the highly desirable Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix.” The last time a Bugatti Type 51 came to auction, nearly ten years ago in 2001, it sold for more than $1.5 million. Dan

Sport Utility Vehicles

Nissan Cube (KROM), 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

Few cars have received such polarizing reviews. The Los Angeles Times called The Cube an “air-hating box ugly.” The New York Times critic wrote: “The Cube is undiluted Tokyo chic, from its asymmetrical rear window to its shag-carpet dashboard pad to the bungee cords on the doors.” Regardless of opinion, the current edition Cube is arguably the most uniquely designed new vehicle on the road. It won the 2010 Automobile Design of the Year Award. Nissan engineers say the circular-dominated interior is inspired by the enveloping curves of a Jacuzzi. There’s a ripple motif in the ceiling, seat covers and cup holders. There are appliqués for air vents and window switches, utility hooks and elastic bands and variable color LED

Automotive News, Sedans

Honda recall: Nearly 400,000 older Accord, Civic, Element models in U.S. can 'roll away'

The recall includes 197,000 Accord and 117,000 Civic sedans from the 2003 model year and about 69,000 Element vehicles from the 2003 and 2004 model years. The manufacturer announced in a statement that if the ignition interlock mechanism becomes worn out or damaged, the ignition key could be removed while the vehicle is not in park, allowing the car to roll away and possibly crash. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and reported on CNNMoney.com, Honda reported received 16 complaints alleging failure of the ignition interlock mechanism on the recently recalled vehicles. The agency said 11 of those complaints involved a rollaway crash, including one in which the owner claimed that she was nearly run over by

Pickup Trucks

Subaru Outback, 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

It’s hard to imagine any other vehicle as versatile as the Subaru Outback. It’s the all-purpose car. It’s ideal as a family wagon. It’s a workhorse for a small businessperson. It’s as safe as any car on the road in inclement weather. Introduced in 1995, the Outback has gone through several editions, including a redesign and a new lineup of models with more than 40 trim configurations for 2010. The Outback has a new 6-cylinder engine and it’s about 3 inches wider and longer in wheelbase than the 2009 Outback. Two engines and six models are offered, all with horizontally opposed engines. Subaru is also now well into its second decade of offering only all-wheel drive as a standard feature

Luxury cars

Acura ZDX, 2010: Roman Mica Reports (Text and Video)

Roman Mica, contributing editor to TheWeeklyDriver.com, compares the new offering to a BMW. But he also questions the vehicle’s practicality while simultaneously appreciating its performance. Here’s Mica’s text and video review: Perhaps the closest competitor to the ZDX is BMW‘s X6. BMW took the DNA of a SUV/Crossover and spliced it together with a 4-door coupe to create the X6 and a new kind of car. Acura has done basically the same thing, but the approach is much subtle. While the BMW engineers took a sledge hammer approach to performance, Acura takes a scalpel with its super handling all-wheel-drive. And while the X6 screams “Get the hell out of of my way” on a twisty stretch of road the ZDX

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