Ford F-Series trucks, siblings dominate 2016 sales

The number is staggering — 17.4 million new cars and trucks were purchased in the United States in 2016, dominated by sport utility vehicles and pick-up trucks. The Ford F-Series again paced the industry surpassing 800,000 in sales and about 250,000 more than the runner-up Chevrolet Silverado. Twelve of the top-20 best-selling vehicles in the U.S. in 2016 were either SUVs or pickup trucks. The reason: a combination of versatility and lowering gas prices. The sale of pickups has increased for years. Only six manufacturers are represented in the marketplace, but the combined sales were more than 2.2 million. The

Read more

So long, farewell to these cars after 2016 models

While some cars’ legacies continue for decades, through many generations and fluctuating sales years, other cars have short tenures and disappear as new models quickly in the ever-crowded marketplace. It was no different at the end of 2016. Some highly reviewed cars and some not-so-well reviewed vehicles won’t be available as 2017 models. As such, we say goodbye and farewell to at least 10 vehicles with 2016 as their final years. Will any of them become collectors’ items? Or, will they simply fade into an automotive graveyard somewhere and resurface as “barn finds” decades from now. Either way, here’s a

Read more

2018 FORD F-150: Diesel, 10-speed transmission debut

The 2018 Ford F-150, the debuting edition of the iconic pickup and the best-selling vehicle in the United States, will feature two major firsts. It will offer a new diesel engine and a 10-speed transmission. Unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, the 2018 Ford F-150 will include a new 3.0-liter Power Stroke turbo diesel engine. A 3.3-liter engine also replaces the current 3.5-liter V6, both offering the same 282 horsepower engine. The second-generation 2.7L EcoBoost also gets tweaked for better efficiency, more output, and better durability. It will feature the new 10-speed transmission. The 5.0L V8 trim also gets upgraded

Read more

Monterey Peninsula: a mecca for all things automotive

Monterey Car Week is a misnomer. The yearly congregation of nearly all things automotive lasts 10 days. The car shows, auctions, tours, exhibits, forums and memorabilia sales presented in August are also held in cities throughout the Monterey Peninsula. The 2017 diverse motoring collective (www.whatsupmonterey.com) will be held Aug. 11-20. The automotive sensory overload will begin with a classic car show of 30 vintage race cars and their drivers in downtown Monterey from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 11. The Concours d’Elegance, the country’s most esteemed competition among elegant vintage rarities, is always the finale. It’s scheduled 10:30 a.m.

Read more

2017 Kia Soul: Wacky debut SUV finds maturity

When it joined the car-in-a-box lineup in 2010, the Kia Soul was a novelty. Its unique styling garnered a lot of attention, not all of it good. But the 2017 Kia Soul is now a mature sport utility vehicle, a less expensive option against top-selling new rivals from Ford and Mazda. Its former new breed counterparts, the Honda Element, Nissan Cube and Scion Xb, are defunct. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Now in the fourth year of its second generation, the 2017 Kia Soul is in a segment of its own — if it can be classified. Is it a

Read more

Coming soon: Ford F-150, Mustang icons as hybrids

The Ford F-150 and Ford Mustang, respectively the country’s best-selling vehicle and its most iconic sports car, will break from tradition and join the expanding hybrid segment of the automotive industry. The new trims, expected to be unveiled in 2020, will be part of the manufacturer’s addition of 13 global electric and hybrid vehicles in the next five years. The new vehicles are also expected to include a plug-in Ford Transit van and fully electric small sport utility vehicle. Electric police vehicles are also in Ford’s plans, according to autoguide.com. The SUV will have a 300-mile range and will be

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2018 Honda Odyssey gets hip

The worldwide debut of the 2018 Honda Odyssey, the fifth generation of the enduring minivan, will be unveiled January 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. According to several automotive sites and the manufacturer, the new Odyssey will be completely redesigned. It will feature: “New powertrain technology, sophisticated styling and showcase a new suite of innovative features, making it the ultimate in family-friendly design and packaging,” according to The Detroit News. The basics of the Odyssey, according to Automotive News, will remain the same. It will be powered by a 3.5-liter V-6 engine. It will be built

Read more

Honda Orders Massive Recall of Honda Odyssey minivan

A recall and a stop-sale order has been issued for the Honda Odyssey minivan for two separate issues by American Honda. The recall affects 641,302 vehicles built between Aug. 17, 2010 and Oct. 24, 2016. The majority of the recall, covering 633,753 minivans built between Aug. 17, 2010 and Oct. 1, 2015, involves a faulty seat mechanism. In a statement, the automaker said one of the recalls involves a mechanism that “allows the outboard second row seats to tilt and slide forward for access to the third row seating area may not properly lock the seat into place when the

Read more

2017 PREVIEW: Biggest obstacles to buying cars online?

What will be the biggest obstacle to buying cars online in 2017? The automotive industry had a tremendous year in 2016. The great news included: automakers seeing a third consecutive year of record sales at 17.4 million vehicles, the self-driving car making an amazing leap forward, Elon Musk becoming a superstar and the spectacular rise in venture capital funding for automotive tech startups. The bad news included: Apple’s failed attempt to get in the game and the potential Trump tariffs and consumers potentially piling on way too much debt for new cars. The ugly news included: car hacking, the Takata

Read more

Chevrolet, Mazda top Car and Driver best of 2017 list

Car and Driver, the largest-selling automotive publication in the United States, has announced its annual best cars list. The 2017 honorees include three Chevrolet models and two Mazda vehicles. The 34th annual is selected based on a car’s ability to “execute its mission at the highest level and deliver a driving experience somewhere between sublime and messianic.” Contending vehicles also must cost $80,000 or less, be on sale by January of the year of the honors and be available for the experts at Car and Driver to test during the past September. Additionally, nominees on the Car and Driver list

Read more

Honda dominates TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2016 Best Cars List

For the 10th straight year, TheWeeklyDriver.com is selecting its top vehicles of the year. In 2015, we included 12 vehicles instead of 10 on the end-of-the-year list. And we’re doing the same this year. Honda has four cars on the list, the Honda Accord, Honda Civic, Honda Fit and Honda Odyssey. Toyota is represented by the Toyota Avalon Hybrid and Toyota Sienna. Lexus also has two cars on the list, the Lexus IS 200t and the Lexus RC-F. Kia, Lincoln, Mazda and Scion are also represented. As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I reviewed 38 cars and trucks

Read more

2017 Mazda6: Major family sedan rival for Honda, Toyota

As the best-selling vehicle in the manufacturer’s lineup, the Mazda6 is part of arguably the most competitive car segment — family sedans. For 2017, the 16th year of the vehicle, the Mazda6 continues its strong market position. It’s a performance-oriented option among iconic more tradition rivals like the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Nissan Altima. The Weekly Driver Text Drive Equipped with a 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine with 184 horsepower, the 2017 Mazda6 has a six-speed automatic transmission. Acceleration seems peppier than the car’s specs, largely because of the sport-oriented tuning and responsive steering. While technically a family sedan,

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 4: On The Road

With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy condition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s the fourth of a four-part series on Winter Driving Safety Tips: Stay Alert • Keep your gas tank close to full, even with a hybrid-electric vehicle. If you get stuck in a traffic jam or snow, you

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 3: Safety First

Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy conditions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 3 of a four-part series on winter driving safety tips: Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones • Always wear your seatbelt and ensure every on else in your vehicle is buckled-up in age-and-size-appropriate restraints. • Remember

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 2: Safety Checklist

Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are integral components of following the best winter driving safety tips. It’s the best solution for keeping your car or truck safe in severe rain. It’s the best solution for keeping your car or truck safe in heavy rain, snow and icy condition, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 2 of a four-part series on winter driving safety tips: Battery When the temperature drops, so does battery power. For gasoline and diesel engines, it takes more battery power to start your vehicle in cold weather. For electric and

Read more

Winter Driving Safety Tips, Part 1: Car Service

With the arrival and dominance of inclement weather is your vehicle prepared for the season of winter driving conditions? Are you following the best winter driving safety tips? Planning and continuing preventative and ongoing maintenance are the best solutions to keep your car or truck safe in severe rain, snow, and icy conditions, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Here’s part 1 of a four-part series of winter driving safety tips: Get Your Car Serviced No one wants their car to break down in any season, but especially not in cold, icy or snowy winter weather. Start

Read more