Sports Cars

Mazda MX-5, 2011 review

Since its debut in 1989, The Mazda MX-5, still often known to purists as the Miata, has maintained a strong reputation as among the leading small two-seat convertible sports cars in the United States. Substantially refreshed for 2009 and updated for 2010, the Mazda MX-5 is unchanged for 2011, keeping its same fun factor and value pricing from previous years. Change isn’t always a good anyway, and it must present a dilemma for Mazda. With the Mazda MX-5, appropriate updates have been warranted through the years. Then again, since 850,000 Mazda MX-5/Miatas have sold (the most of any sports car in history) why mess too much with a good thing? The Weekly Driver Test Drive My test vehicle for the

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Rare Porsche models honored for automaker’s 60th anniversary

As part of its 60th anniversary celebration, Porsche Cars North America embarked on a quest to find the oldest Porsche sold in America via The Porsche Classic Search. It encouraged individuals to submit documentation their Porsche was one of the earliest in its category sold in the United States. With awards and bragging rights at stake, the entries are an impressive collection of finalists, including the oldest U.S.-retailed model found, a restored 1952 Strawberry Red 356 Cabriolet. Among the hundreds of submissions from Porsche owners across the country since last August was a rare 1952 356 Cabriolet owned by Dr. Robert Wilson of Oklahoma City, Okla. Wilson’s car was imported in November of 1952 by Austrian businessman Max Hoffman, in

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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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Rare Bugatti sold to California museum for record $30-40 million

A blog report by the newspaper detailed that in late May, the estate of Dr. Peter D. Williamson sold the late car collector’s prized vehicle to the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California. If the sale price is accurate, it would shatter the previous record, the $12.2 million paid in May 2009 at public auction in Maranello, Italy, for a 1957 Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars The Bugatti sale was brokered by Gooding & Company, the automotive auction house based in Santa Monica, Ca., and has reportedly been in progress for a while. The 57SC Atlantic was based on the Aerolithe Electron

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Chevrolet Camaro, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

More than 40 years after it debuted as a muscle car competitor to the Ford Mustang, the Chevrolet Camaro re-emerged in the spring of 2009 as a 2010 model after a several-year hiatus from the manufacturer’s lineup. The Camaro is available with V6 or V8 engines and in five trims, all of which attract immediate attention. The rejuvenated, fifth-generation Camaro resembles the Mustang in design. But it simultaneously brings the long-standing coupe a new, modern identity and retains the good and bad traits from its now middle-aged history and reputation. The Weekly Driver Test Drive East Coast folks laugh at us when we say “winter weather’s arrived.” In Sacramento, that usually means mid-30s, rain and sometimes fog. But there was

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Tesla Roadster price slashed to $1,658 (per monthly lease payment)

The Tesla retails, depending upon options, for $104,000-$111.000. But a three-year, 30,000-mile lease is now available for as little as $1,158 per month, or about $55 per day. There’s small type, too: the leasing customer needs to provide $12,453 due at signing, which includes a $9,900 down payment and $895 acquisition fee but not taxes, title, license, registration, and “locally applied” fees. The Tesla Roadster has two seats, 248 horsepower and powers from 0-60 mph in less than four seconds. Such performance, of course, likely means expensive insurance premiums. They’re not included in the monthly lease payment. Like other leases, those leasing the Tesla Roadster can purchase the car after the contract expires or turn the car back in with

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Corvette ZHZ (2008) in auction for Haiti and children's music charity

Proceeds from the sale of the Corvette will benefit two charities: OxFam International and the Music for America Project. OxFam International works in more than 100 countries to overcome poverty and injustice (currently a part of our Heal Haiti Auction). The Music for America Project  provides avenues for children to achieve their musical dreams. Additional details: Estimated value, $45,000; Current bid (increments of $2,500), $27,500.01; Mileage 24,717; Model Year, 2008; Location Orlando, Fla.; Warranty,  Limited for first 60 Days or 2,000 Miles. For additional information or to bid, visit: CharityBuzz/Corvette 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

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Danica Patrick unhurt as NASCAR debut ends in smoky crash

Patrick had moved from 27th to 21st when Josh Wise banged into rookie Colin Braun, starting a chain reaction of wrecks in turn four of the 69th lap. Patrick, She boxed in traffic, couldn’t see because of surrounding smoke and ricocheted off Wise’s car. Patrick then kidded across the grass and settled into a stop with heavy damage to the right-front fender of her GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. “I literally couldn’t see a thing,” Patrick told reporters. “That’s the problem. If we could figure out how to have the tires make no smoke, there would be a lot less crashed race cars, but unfortunately that’s the inevitable of what’s going to happen here. “It’s also the product of racing so close together.

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Super Bowl commercials: Audi A3 TDI 'Green Police' funny or gratuitous violence?

It’s all about the Green Police, tracking down “violators” and arresting them for eco rules mistakes. The commercial’s controversial nature, including gratuitous violence, will likely get a lot more attention. But it may also join the fraternity of commercials that get remembered more for the nature of the commercial rather than the product it’s touting. For more new car reviews, videos and other automotive content, visit: dev.theweeklydriver.com. 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

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Toyota Prius update: Brake complaints continue, U.S. government considers sanctions

The turbulent times for Toyota Motor Corp. now include problems with the most world’s most popular hybrid — the Toyota Prius. Toyota has received more than 100 complaints in the U.S. and Japan about brake problems with the popular Prius hybrid. Less than two weeks ago, the Toyota Camry and Toyota Corolla, the carmaker’s top-selling vehicles, were among eight Toyota models involved in a recall of more several  millions vehicles with potentially faulty accelerator pedal. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received about 100 complaints involving the brakes of the Prius new model. Two involved crashes resulting in injuries. The new Prius gas-electric hybrid, which went on sale in Japan and the U.S. in May 2009, is not

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Hyundai Genesis Coupe, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Yet the Genesis sedan and Genesis coupe couldn’t be two more different vehicles. Introduced at the 2008 New York International Auto Show, the 2010 coupe shares its sibling’s sedan chassis. And, of course, the two cars have the same name. But that’s where the similarities stop. Are the Genesis sedan and couple actually made by the same manufacturer? They just couldn’t be more different. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The Genesis coupe is the manufacturer’s first rear-wheel sports car and it appears Hyundai has gone directly after the strong Infiniti G37 market niche. I would have liked to have taken the car on a longer haul, but maybe it was best my test week ended just prior to a week

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Ferrari confirms its hybrid will debut at Geneva Auto Show in March

Luca di Montezemolo, the automaker’s chairman confirmed at the presentation of the race team’s 2010 Formula One car. Montezemolo said the prototype 599 hybrid will be unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show. The Italian magazine Quattroruote has reported the Ferrari hybrid new system will use lithium batteries and an electric motor to cut the fuel requirements of the 599’s V12 by 35 percent. Montezemolo said he wants Ferrari to lead F1 in the transfer of race technology to road cars. Experts report the Ferrari hybrid system is derived from the KERS (kinetic energy recovery system) used in 2009 F1 racing season. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review

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Ferrari set to unveil new F1 car, team live via team's webcast

Alonso, the former two-time world titlist, is switching this season to Ferrari from Renault. The presentation is scheduled for 9:30 (GMT). Alonso will be joined by Felipe Massa, Luca Badoer and Giancarlo Fischella and other key personnel are part of the naming of the new vehicle. If weather is cooperative at the Ferrari Fiorano test track, the new team hopes to use the new car for a promotional video. Ferrari has launched its new car online every year since 1996. The webcast lauch will available in Italian, English and Japanese, according to web site information. To view the Ferrari launch, visit: Ferrari.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car

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AMC Pacer gets dubious honor: ugliest car ever built

What’s the ugliest car ever made? It’s all subjective, of course. But more than 2,000 specialty car collectors were recently asked to select the choices for the dubious honor. And the winner (loser?), at least according to one national poll, is the AMC Pacer. Hagerty Insurance, located in Traverse City, Mich., conducted the survey. It tallied nearly 2,500 votes and the Pacer, a small hatchback that was introduced in 1975, was one of three AMC vehicles on the list. The Pacer only lasted until 1980, but it’s not alone among AMC vehicles receiving ugly awards. The AMC Gremlin and Matador station wagon also made the ugliest list. According to the survey, one respondent said: “AMC’s only conceivable excuse for this

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Ferrari, Corvette and Tata Nano share in demand premium price status — really?

That’s a far higher percentage than premiums for Ferrari, Corvette and likely any other car. Several top-of-the-industry publications’ web sites, including Motor Trend and Drive are reporting the alarming statistics. The demand for the Nano, which costs an estimated $2,500 (depending upon the exchange of the rupee) is due to simple supply and demand — and greed. India had a lottery system for the first 100,000 Tata Nanos distributed to dealers, not all of which will be delivered to customers until the end of 2010. Estimates vary, but there were at least 100,000 willing potential buyers for the first allotment of the car. But Arif Fazulbhoy, a car salesman in Mumbai, India, said in an article in Drive that wealthy

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BMW diesel tops list of most efficient luxury cars

The No. 1 car on the list is the 2009 BMW 335d. Lots of reviewers like the new diesel not only because its gets great gas mileage with averages of 23 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway but it’s a performance diesel. Cars.com says of the 335d: “There are other luxury cars with higher fuel economy estimates, but the 335d represents the best combination of efficiency and driving enjoyment.” Here are the 2010 models and one 2009 model on Cars.com’s list of the top-10 luxury cars that average at least 25 mpg on the highway, plus a comment from the reviewers: AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance,

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