Automotive Reviews

Dodge Caravan, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

The 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan is one of the most useful and roomy minivans available, but is it also fun to drive? Let’s face it: fun and utility are usually on the opposite ends of the spectrum. Roman Mica, contributing editor at The Weekly Driver.com, spent a week assessing the 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan. Here’s his first-impression video review: 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 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business,

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Hyundai Sonata on pace to outsell Honda Accord for the first time

But Hyundai has been closing the gap, with Sonata sales increasing to 17,836 units in July, just 5,100 less than the Accord. Part of the reason the Accord is losing its edge as it ages. The current model was introduced three years ago, while the latest Sonata debuted in the U.S. early this year. Sales of the Accord have slid from 39,726 units in August last year to 23,032 in July and 22,506 in August this year. The increase in Sonata sales has resulted in a delivery backlog. Hyundai is boosting output at its plant in Alabama where the Sonata is produced alongside the Santa Fe crossover SUV. Production of the Santa Fe is being moved to Kia Motors’ plant

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Rare Mercedes Benz, purchased new by Elvis Presley, set for Bonham's auction

The article details that Presley kept the car for two years before giving it to a friend, James Leroy Robertson. The car also had another owner but was auctioned at the Important Motor Cars and Fine Automobilia sale at Mercedes-Benz World in Surrey, England, last December. The restored Mercedes has an estimated value of $230-$300,000, and is among only a handful of vehicles Presley registered in his name. 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 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif.,

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Nissan Leaf update: Who needs Lance Armstrong when a polar bear will do?

And, sure, this is a well-trained polar bear, groomed and majestic. But a “green” polar? Sure, why not? The commercial works. Even Armstrong thinks so — I think. He recently Tweeted: “Is this what I have to look forward to when I get my new Leaf?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BNeEVkhTutY 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 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many

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Ferrari 458 recalled after Italian sports car redefines too hot to handle

A Ferrari spokesman said the source of the problem is a wheel-arch heat shield that comes too close to an exhaust pipe. The adhesive that secures the shield can smoke or catch fire due to excessive heat. Dealers have contacted Ferrari 458 owners, the spokesman said, and have asked them to bring their cars in as soon as possible for modification. The Daily Mail newspaper in England reported five Ferrari 458 Italias have caught fire as a result of the flaw. The Ferrari spokesman confirmed that “four or five” fires had been reported in 458 models but added that only one had occurred in the United States. He said that the destroyed vehicles would be replaced at no charge to

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Nissan keeps Lance Armstrong as Leaf spokesman despite doping claims

Armstrong is featured in the first television commercial for the Leaf, and Nissan is sticking with the seven-time Tour de France titlist as its official spokesperson depsite the current controversy. In a recent interview with Ad Age, Jon Brancheau, Nissan‘s new marketing chief, said the manufacturer will support the cyclist while continuing to monitor the situation. Ad Age asked Brancheau: “Nissan has made a pretty big bet on Lance Armstrong . . he was featured in the first Leaf commercial, is displayed prominently on your website and you even sponsor one of his cycling teams. Now, there’s a ton of scrutiny around him with regards to doping claims. Does that worry you? Brancheau responded: “This is something we’ll continue to

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Bloom Energy (Redeux): Could it replace current electric and other alternative fuel cars?

“The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” Since its debut broadcast, more than 100 additional companies have signed up as customers for Bloom’s energy, including PG&E. Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Bloom Energy has operated for the past eight years. According to the 60 Minutes report, it has raised about $400 million from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and its early clients include Google, eBay and Walmart. Additional investors in Bloom Energy are diverse and its business relationships are posted on the company’s web site. But what was conspicuously absent from the 60 Minutes report was if the fuel

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Mercedes-Benz plans debut of electric sedan at Paris auto show

Blog author Jim Motavalli said the electric Mercedes will be available early in 2011. According to a manufacturer spokesman, the E-Cell will have a range of 124 miles and produce 214 pound-feet of torque. To read the complete article, visit: New York Times/Mercedes 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 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online

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Toyota recall redeux: 1.13 millon Corolla sedans, Matrix hatchbacks could stop suddenly

According to the Associated Press, federal regulators have been investigating the possibility of stalling engines in the Corolla and Matrix models since December. The probe was intensified earlier this week. “Our goal is to help ensure that Toyota drivers are completely confident in the safety and reliability of their vehicles,” Steve St. Angelo, Toyota’s chief qualify officer for North America, said in the statement. 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 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review

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Toyota Prius owners will soon have option to make some noise

Toyota said the device was intended to help indicate the vehicle’s proximity and movement, and “aimed to alert but not to annoy.” Toyota’s announcement to offer synthetic noise for its top-selling hybrid is the outcome from safety risks since an increased amount hybrid and electric cars are nearly silent at low speeds. A study by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) last year found that hybrids were twice as likely to be involved in a pedestrian crash than conventional cars when slowing, stopping, backing up, or entering or leaving a parking space. Nissan, which will begin selling its electric Leaf in the United States and Japan later this year and in Europe from early 2011, will equip the cars with

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,

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