2016 Lexus GS-F: Luxury sedan, sports car attitude

The 2016 Lexus GS-F is a new vehicle. It joined the upscale carmaker’s lineup as a luxury sedan hopeful of providing competition for well-entrenched, performance-oriented stalwarts like the Mercedes-Benz AMG, BMW “M” division and Audi RS models. Marketed as four-door, five-seat sedan, the new Lexus leans more toward an awkward term (at least for purists) of four-door sports car. It’s designed and performs like a roadster, but it’s a luxury sedan and it’s all that defines the segment — a plush, well-designed interior and a refined, handsome exterior. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As a five-passenger sedan offered only with

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Win a free Ford Mustang, Ford Raptor in sweepstakes

AmericanMuscle.com, a premier aftermarket supplier, has announced a sweepstakes to celebrate 10 years of providing parts to Ford Mustang and For F-150 owners. It’s giving away $100,000 in prizes, including a 2017 Ford Raptor, a 2015 (850-plus  horsepower) S550 Mustang GT fand a stocked custom race trailer. An 850+ HP Mustang built by the AmericanMuscle crew is impressive with $30,000 in custom modifications: a Whipple Supercharger, full MMD styling package, all wrapped in an eye popping Tangerine Orange paint job, an ode to a factory color only ever used on 829 Mustangs. The yet-to-be-released 2017 Ford Raptor is an attention

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Pirelli announces new plant in Mexico, production soars

Mexico has gone to tires — and that’s good news for both the economy of the country and the expanding needs of Pirelli. The Italian manufacturer is well positioned in Mexico already. It manufactured an estimated 3 million tires in Silao, in the state of Guanajuato in 2015, according to the tire maker’s press release. But Pirelli is now set to build another car tire place in Mexico. The new facility will cost an estimated $200 million and will have the capability of manufacturing 2.5 million tires a year by 2019. The new plant, also located in Silao, will push

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Mercedes-Benz debuts AA battery-powered sedan (video)

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The ever-evolving electric car industry is ripe with impressive innovative. Tesla is leading the way with its industry-changing sports cars and Elon Musk’s imagination and bravado. The recently announced reservation plan for Tesla’s $35,000 new model, envisioned for delivery in late 2017, has nearly one-half million reservation deposits of $1,000 each. The new Tesla, if delivered to the public at large, could change the automotive industry. Mercedes-Benz charges industry The Toyota Prius family is the most successful “green” vehicle to date since its debut in the United States in 2000. But its plug-in electric option is far from a big

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2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport: Improved underdog

It’s been 13 years since the Mitsubishi Outlander joined the sport utility vehicle segment. Different trims joined the lineup in three generations, but nothing has drastically changed, including in the 2016 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport. Tte Outlander replaced the Montero and the former has improved with each generation and trim. Mitsubishi has diligently attempted to penetrate the stronghold Honda, Mazda, Toyota and Ford have in the segment. But the Outlander, despite some good features, remains an underdog. The Weekly Driver Test Drive It’s been two years since I last drove a Mitsubishi Outlander and now I’ve driven two within a few

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VW, EPA reach deal but emissions scandal looms

After months of offers, counter offers and legal maneuvering, Volkswagen has reached an agreement with U.S. authorities to offer nearly 500,000 owners of 2.0-liter diesel VW and Audi vehicles in the United States viable options to address the the company’s admitted wrongdoing to mask excess emissions. The agreed upon deal includes offering affected Volkswagen owners several options — a buyback, lease cancellation and — pending additional government testing and approval — the option to have their vehicles modified. The deal will also include “substantial compensation” for the affected owners, U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer said in a report in the

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2017 Kia Sportage: New SUV design stuns, shines

After years of acceptance as an unheralded compact sport utility vehicle against the monoliths in the segment, the 2017 Kia Sportage has emerged as a worthy competitor. It’s been boldly redesigned inside and outside for the debut of its fourth generation. The Weekly Driver Test Drive In addition to a new exterior design Kia says was inspired by modern fighter jets (Doesn’t Saab say the same thing?), the 2017 Kia Sportage is offered in new trims. My test vehicle was SX Turbo model with front-wheel drive. Like the base model LX and EX modeles, the SX model has a long

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2016 Honda Pilot: New inside, out for top-level SUV

Now in its 14th year, the Honda Pilot has finally come of age. It’s always been Honda’s largest sport utility vehicle, with the word utility translating into big, boxy and boring. With Toyota, Hyundai and others offering increasingly strong competition, the 2016 Honda Pilot is in the first year of its third generation. It’s sleeker, lighter, more attractive inside and outside and has an array of new standard and optional features. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As a three-row SUV, the 2016 Honda Pilot is available in five trims, including my weekly driver, the top-line Elite. It’s the only trim

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2016 Toyota Highlander (Hybrid) poised, pricey

The Toyota Highlander hybrid debuted in the United States in 2005, five years after the gas model. The idea was to help ease a major concern among potential sport utility vehicle owners — lousy gas mileage. It worked. As a holdover from last year’s top-rated offering, the 2016 Toyota Highlander hybrid is a three-row, midsize SUV. It’s powered by a 3.5-liter V6 and three electric motors that combine for 280 horsepower. It features a continuously variable transmission and is standard with all-wheel drive. Seven-passenger seating is standard, too, with two captain’s chairs in the second row and a 60/40-split bench

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Tesla Model 3 unveiling, reservations streamed live

The Tesla Model 3, the first “green car” that will make a substantial impact on the automotive industry’s interest in a cleaner environment, will be available to reserve live at 7:30 p.m. PT on March 31. The live streaming of the unveiling will begin at 8:30 p.m. The reservation process and debut of the vehicle, anticipated for months, will be available HERE. Tesla suggests trying to log-in at least 15 before the debut time. A reservation can be made online for $1,000. It can be refunded in the event of cancellation — or applied instead to the purchase of a

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2016 Chevrolet Malibu: Still riding the sedan wave well

Now in the fourth year of its eighth generation, the Chevrolet Malibu dates to 1964. And like other vehicles with long histories, the Malibu has come a long way since it was named after the surfing-oriented city along the California coastline. The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, however, is much the same as last year’s model, but it’s without a few items. The 2.0-liter turbocharged engine is no longer available and xenon headlights and a few other more minor equipment features have been discontinued. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The midsize sedan segment is among the most competitive in the industry, dominated

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New $35,000 Tesla Model 3 reservations begin March 31

Reservations for the Tesla Model 3, the car that could change the automobile industry, will begin March 31 with a lot of fanfare and bravado from Elon Musk, the carmaker’s CEO. The reason it could alter the automobile industry is that the high performance and extraordinarily safe electric car will now be affordable to the middle class. The current and previous Tesla models don’t need re-introductions. But while Musk has already achieved a lot with his current vehicles, the introduction of the Model 3 will rectify Tesla’s major downfall. The electric sports car is the safest car ever tested by

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2016 Yukon Denali: Big, badass, defies logic

The 2016 Yukon Denali includes a host of new technology, safety and convenience upgrades, further embellishing the already massive and plush sport utility vehicle. The GMC Denali lineup debuted in 1999 as full-sized SUVs to compete against the Lincoln Navigator unveiled one year earlier. The addition of the top-line Yukon badge began in 2001. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Where do you start with a 6.2-liter, 420-horsepower V8 with 20-inch wheels, an onyx-colored exterior, an equally dark interior and dark-tinted side windows? The 2016 GMC Yukon (XL) resembles a hearse on steroids. More importantly, the Denali not only looks menacing,

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How the Move Over Law protects towing drivers

Roadside accidents are tragic. In a brief moment, individuals may be permanently injured or killed. Rules of safe driving are designed to help prevent accidents, but they still happen. Too often, accidents occur because of drivers’ unfamiliarity with safety laws. Many drivers, for example, are not familiar with the Move Over Law. But by following the Move Over Law, drivers can protect emergency response personnel, towing drivers and stranded motorists from injury or death while they’re on the side of the road. The Move Over Law The Move Over Law is a law about drivers’ safety. In more than 40

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What else is new? Elio again delays futuristic car debut

Elio Motors has announced another delay. If you’re among the 50,000 people who reserved one of the three-wheel, futuristic-looking machines touted to cost $6,800 and get 84 mph, it won’t arrive until an undisclosed date in 2017. The latest setback seemed eminent since the company’s recent announcement of what appeared to be an appeasement. Elio said it was going to sell 100 of its pre-production models. The press release announcing the sale didn’t include to whom the vehicles would be sold. But the company subsequently said it would sell the vehicle to “fleet customers.” Still, the real model, called the

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The Benefits of Professional HID Headlight Installation

One of the biggest purchases many people will make in their lifetime is a new car, and making sure it stays properly maintained should be a top priority. At some point, every car owner will have have their vehicle repaired. And while car owners think they can save money by repairing their own vehicle, it’s often not the case. Most car owners do not know how to install an hid kit, which is why hiring a professional is best. Here are the reasons why hiring a professional for this type of job is important. Experience is a Factor One of

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