2014 BMW 4-Series: New name, more luxury, keen price

How do you top a long-successful car? Just ask BMW, which is offering a successor to its highly popular 3-Series coupe and convertible. The new 2014 BMW 4-Series coupe just may be the best reasonably priced sports coupe. It’s longer, lower and more stylish than its predecessor and is more luxurious. Indeed, the new 4-Series has more than enough pizzazz, performance and comfort to back up its rakish new body. The 4-Series coupe replaces the 3-Series coupe. It shares mechanical components with the outgoing 3-Series coupe, but is superior in many respects. The 3-Series BMW long has dominated the “Best

Read more

Mercedes-Benz, Kia drop Clippers, Donald Sterling

At least six companies involved in the automotive industry, including Mercedes-Benz and Kia Motors, have removed advertising budgets from the Los Angeles Clippers and their now banned and fined owner, Donald Sterling. The exodus occurred prior to the announcement of the NBA’s decision to reprimand Sterling after the 80-year-old billionaire’s racially insensitive remarks. (Editor’s Note: The WeeklyDriver.com has decided not to print the remarks attributed to Sterling.) In addition to Kia and Mercedes-Benz, CarMax, State Farm Insurance, Red Bull and Yokohama have ended their relationships with the team. Several other major sponsors have also ended their relationships with the Clippers

Read more

2025 Subaru Forester Limited Review Along Northern California’s Back Roads

,

The 2025 Subaru Forester Limited, finished in Autumn Green Metallic, pulled into the parking lot of a Dry Creek Valley tasting room on a Friday afternoon. Early June in Northern California’s wine country arrives with warm afternoons and lingering daylight stretching late into the evening. For the last week. this compact SUV became my partner for exploring the roads most wine tourists never discover. Narrow mountain passes leading to small-production wineries, then deeper into Mendocino and Sierra National Forests where old logging roads climb toward views worth the dust and effort. Each drive confirmed what drivers who explore beyond interstate

Read more

2022 Toyota Supra matches sports car rivals, costs less

More than two dozen cars debuted in 1979. They varied from long-gone oddities like the Datsun Bluebird and Ford Durango to icons with legions of followers, the Volkswagen Jetta and Toyota Supra. As a compact two-seater, four-seater and wagon, the Jetta is an all-time top seller as a durable, reliable and affordable family car. The Supra was a near-instant hit as a high-performing, handsome sports car eventually gaining starring movie roles. It had nearly a 20-year hiatus beginning in 1998, but it’s been back for a few years. And it’s much to the joy of long-time enthusiasts who thrive on

Read more

Truck wars: Chevy, Ford, Ram push towing capacity max

,

Truck wars are nothing new. But with lightweight trucks sales growing at an increasingly fast rate, competition has become more intense. The latest battle involves increased towing capacities for the top-three sellers, Chevrolet, Ford and Ram. Chevrolet recently announced an increase of 500 pounds for the 2021 Chevrolet 2500/3500, pushing the maximum to 36,000 pounds. The boost occurred after engineers made changes to the suspension and available wheel packages. The improvement to the Chevy places it 1,000 pounds less than the Ford Super Duty (37,000) and 900 pounds more than the Ram HD (35,100). Chevy’s 36,000-pound maximum is available only

Read more

Bubba Watson and his controversial drive, a 1969 Dodge Charger

,

Bubba Watson, a golfer of emotion and a non-purist’s swing, won The Masters for the second time in three years Sunday on the storied layout at August National in Georgia. Watson’s second victory at the event showcased his aggressive style of play. But the golfer’s first win at The Masters also included a slight controversy. But how did a nearly 45-year-old Dodge Charger put a damper on Watson’s first victory? Watson’s skills and personality were captivating. But his choice of cars, a 1969 Dodge Charger named The General Lee that once “starred” in the Dukes of Hazard television program, isn’t

Read more

2024 Lexus RX 450h+: versatile, luxurious SUV debuts in stellar lineup

The Lexus RX, the first and enduring luxury sport utility vehicle, has reached its mid-20s. It debuted as a compact crossover but is now considered midsized. It’s as versatile as any vehicle in the carmaker’s expanding SUV lineup. Lexus has three distinct SUVs, with the RX flanked by the smaller NX and the larger three-row LX and new TX models. The RX series has several options, including gasoline and hybrid systems. The 2024 Lexus RX 450h+, a plug-in hybrid, is new this year. It’s the upgraded version of the 350h and has 304 horsepower and a larger battery. Lexus estimates

Read more

Chrysler strange, powerful bedfellows, Eminem, Clint Eastwood, Iggy Popp

, ,

Saad Chehab, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Brand and Chrysler Group LLC, recently spoke to a group of automotive journalists at The Candy Store auto museum in Burlingame, California. Chebab’s talk and question and answer follow-up concluded a late afternoon, early evening test-drive opportunity of the 2013 Chrysler 200 and Chrysler 300, including the John Varvatos special edition, the limited production editon bearing the signature of the menswear designer from Detroit. Chebab covered a lot of topics in his presentation, not the least of which was Chrysler‘s vision and choice of unique spokesmen for the brand. The

Read more

Audi A7, 2012: New luxury sports sedan tops best 2012 car list

Since its debut in the United States 10 months ago, the 2012 Audi A7 has received wide acclaim. It's been named Car of the Year by at least one publication (Playboy), and it's also on numerous top-10 lists. The Weekly Driver reviewed the Audi A7 a few months ago, but it's also now featured again as the first in the alphabetical listing of the general consensus choicea of 2012 Cars of the Year among several automotive web sites and print publications. The A7 marked Audi's return to the executive hatchback market since the 1970 three-door Audi 100 Coupe of 1970

Read more

Electrum and Nissan Launch NISSAN ENERGY Marketplace to Simplify EV and Solar Installations for Homeowners

Electrum, the home electrification marketplace behind platforms for major automakers, has partnered with Nissan to launch the NISSAN ENERGY Marketplace nationwide. The timing is critical: federal EV charger incentives expire September 30, 2025, and solar tax credits end December 31, 2025, a tightening deadline for homeowners nationwide. In an exclusive interview with Michael Kahn, publisher of The Weekly Driver, Electrum CEO Max Aram explained in-depth how the company’s new partnership with Nissan will help homeowners, and Nissan EV owners, simplify home electrification. “We are thrilled to bring our home electrification expertise to Nissan and support their EV owners on the

Read more

Volkswagen and ORNL Break New Ground with 270 kW Wireless Charging for EVs

Volkswagen, in collaboration with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), has taken a significant step forward in the evolution of electric vehicle (EV) technology by achieving the first-ever 270 kW wireless power transfer. This landmark development represents a leap in wireless charging capabilities, setting the stage for faster and more efficient EV charging without the need for cumbersome plug-in systems. For drivers and the industry alike, this advancement could be a game-changer in how electric vehicles are charged, bringing us closer to a future where EVs can charge rapidly and seamlessly. The Breakthrough in Wireless Charging The 270 kW wireless

Read more

2018 Infiniti QX60: Luxury SUV with class, comfort

The sport utility vehicle segment, small crossovers to three-row, boat-sized gas guzzlers, continues to appeal to the public in record numbers. Several manufacturers’ offerings have seemingly meshed into one universal vehicle. So how does a buyer make a choice? If luxury, versatility and a quiet ride are key buying attributes, consider the 2018 Infiniti QX60. It stands out among the horde of SUVs barreling down the freeway and lined up row after row in shopping malls and grocery store parking lots. Introduced as a concept at the 2011 Concours d’Elegance in Pebble Beach, the QX60 debuted as a seven-passenger, mid-size

Read more

2027 Chevrolet Bolt Returns: America’s Most Affordable Electric Vehicle Gets Complete Overhaul

General Motors has announced the return of the Chevrolet Bolt for the 2027 model year, bringing significant improvements to what was already America’s most affordable long-range electric vehicle. The new Bolt combines updated Ultium technology with the proven formula that made its predecessor one of the industry’s most popular electric vehicles. The 2027 Bolt will begin production in late 2025 at GM’s Fairfax Assembly plant in Kansas City, Kansas, with customer deliveries starting in early 2026. GM describes this as a “limited run model,” though the company has not specified what this designation means in terms of production numbers or

Read more

From Autonomous Drifting to Space Rockets: Akio Toyoda Expands Vision for Toyota at CES 2025

,

At the CES 2025 press conference, Toyota unveiled a series of ambitious projects and initiatives, showcasing its transformation from a traditional automaker to a comprehensive mobility company. The presentation, led by Chairman Akio Toyoda, highlighted advancements in autonomous technology, urban development, and even space exploration. While specific details were limited, Toyoda said while he initially found autonomous driving, boring, the technology behind autonomous drifting instilled new excitement in his interests. The presentation went on to show a video of two cars drifting together. This suggests a focus on developing vehicles capable of handling extreme driving conditions without human intervention. The

Read more

Dodge Viper blazes to record lap at famed Nurburgring

The Dodge Viper and the Nurburgring Nordschleife track in Germany share iconic but unrelated speed status in the automotive world. Now the famed racetrack and the fastest factory built street legal race car share more. The Dodge Viper SRT10, with its 600HP V10 engine, recently set the record lap time of 7 minutes, 12.13 seconds on the famed 12.9-mile track. ViperExchange sent two new Viper ACR cars from Tomball Dodge in Tomball, Texas to Germany where one was piloted by GT class driver Dominik Farnbacher to the record. The Viper ACR held the record on the track previously with a

Read more

Andy Warhol famed Mercedes Benz silkscreen for $16 million?

A famous silkscreen of a Mercedes Benz, made by And Warhol in 1986, is expected to sell for as much as $16 million when it’s auctioned Nov. 12 by Christie’s in New York. “Mercedes-Benz W 196 R Grand Prix Car (Streamlined Version, 1954)” is being offered by the Daimler art collection. The collection was established 30 years ago by Daimler-Benz, the German luxury manufacturer. The 14-foot-high work shows the automobile repeated 12 times on the canvas. It was created for the centennial of the modern automobile. Warhol did numerous Mercedes Benz renditions. The model was the Mercedes Benz Formula One

Read more