PREVIEW: 2017 Hyundai Elantra defines when more is less

The Hyundai Elantra, the South Korean manufacturer’s best-selling car, will begin its sixth generation in 2017 with a starting price $100 less than the 2016 model. The 2017 Hyundai Elantra will be available in SE, Eco and Limited trims. The SE comes standard with a 2.0-liter, 4-cylinder engine with a 6-speed manual transmission or a six-speed automatic transition. The MSRP is $17,150 for the manual transmission option and $18,150 for the automatic transmission. The Limited trim, which features leather upholstery as well as additional safety and technology features, has an MSRP of $22,350. The Eco trim pricing has not been

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Mercedes Boss Toto Wolff Agrees: Formula 1 Too Predictable

The most watched sporting league in the world, the Barclays Premier League, is arguably as popular as Formula 1 because of its guaranteed entertainment and sheer unpredictability. Unfortunately, the same traits are not currently associated with the Formula 1 worlds. Since rule changes in 2014, competition has been limited and even boss Bernie Ecclestone has labeled the sport he runs as “crap”. Periods of domination aren’t always boring in Formula 1. Michael Schumacher’s years on dominance brought relentless excitement. But the late 1990’s were full of competitive races and podiums with new names. A the Mercedes domination at the top

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Ford, Toyota dominate 2015 U.S. car, truck sales — again

As has occurred yearly since nearly the invention the the automobile, the Ford F-Series was the best-selling vehicle in the United States in 2015. The iconic pick-up truck, manufactured since 1948, had a 3.5 percent increase in sales last year from 2014. The Ford F-Series was the country’s best-selling vehicle for the 34th straight year. It sold 780,354 units in 2015, and it also led a top-three sweep of trucks as the top sellers in the country. The Chevrolet Silverado was the country’s second-highest seller with 600,544 units sold, followed by the Ram Pickup, with 451,116 units sold. The Chevrolet

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2016 Mazda CX-3 debuts well in tough small SUV field

Among the newer car industry segments, the subcompact crossover is chock full of worthy vehicles, including the new 2016 Mazda CX-3. It’s the younger stablemate of the still-toddler CX-5 and it joined an expanding, diverse field that also features the new Honda HR-V, Fiat 500X and Jeep Renegade. The 2016 Mazda CX-3 ideally helped define the segment. It featured the maneuverability of a hatchback with the expanded (but not too large) size of a crossover SUV. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As per the manufacturer’s lineup-wide signature, the 2016 Mazda CX-3 has a long list of standard features, all offered

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Christopher Walken lends pipes, pitches Kia in Super Bowl 50

Christopher Walken may or may not drive a Kia. But like Blake Griffin, his predecessor as a celebrity spokesman for the South Korean manufacturer, Walken is anything but basic and boring. He doesn’t blend in. That’s the catch in the carmaker’s in three new commercials touting 2016 Kia Optima. Walken, the Academy Award-winning actor, narrates but does not appear in the already airing spots titled “Middle C.” He also does the narration only in the yet-to-be broadcast “Cookie Cutter” commercial. But fans be ready. Walken will appear in a another new Kia commercial set for broadcast during Super Bowl 50

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Volkswagen plan to fix diesel emission issue rejected

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has rejected Volkswagen‘s plan to fix its pollution-spewing 2.0-liter diesel cars. The vehicles are equipped with software that allows them to emit up to 40 times legalll allowable pollution. The CARB said VW’s proposed fix was not adequate or fast enough, according to a report from Reuters and several other media organizations. The agency said it would continue its investigation as well further discuss with VW new potential solution. Only the proposal to fix 2.0-liter diesel engines, the most common affected, was rejected. The proposal for fixing the 3.0-liter diesel engines also affected, is

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Good Housekeeping debuts Best New Cars list

Good Housekeeping, the magazine whose testing institute has evaluated products and presented the Good Housekeeping Seal of approval since 1909, has unveiled its inaugural “Best New Cars” for 2016. The new list was compiled in conjunction with Car and Driver, the renowned automobile publication. The two publications’ collaboration narrowed 160 vehicles to 41 across four categories; eight winners: Compact, Sedan, Eco and Crossover. Then, the engineers from the Good Housekeeping Institute logged 2,000-plus miles on real roads, assessing performance, safety features, family friendliness, price, infotainment systems, usability, storage and intuitive design. Here are the winners, announced January 11, 2016 at

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Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Dodge get dubious honors

Owning a Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan or a Dodge Charger muscle car might be a dream vehicle of your choice. Both automobiles have long been popular to different buying groups. But both vehicles are also expected to be among the worst depreciating cars in 2016. According to a new report on Forbes.com and compiled from statistics from the used-vehicle website Carlypso.com, the Nissan Leaf is expected to be with the worst anticipated depreciating in 2016. The Leaf will likely be worth only 52 percent of its original MSRP after one year. The Forbes’ article states depreciation values are “essentially educated guesses.”

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2016 Honda Civic gets Car of the Year honors in Detroit

The perennially best-selling Honda Civic, manufactured since 1972 and in its 10th generation, was named 2016 North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The Volvo XC90 took top truck honors. Both models are repeat winners. The Honda Civic won the best car award in 2006. The Volvo XC90 claimed Truck of the Year in 2003. Repeat Honor For Honda Civic It was the third time since the awards were launched in 1993 domestic automakers were shut out Honda swept the awards with the Civic and Ridgeline winning in 2006. Land Rover and

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2017 Preview: Honda Ridgeline Longer, wider, innovative

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The 2017 Honda Ridgeline was unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit with the pickup’s versatility, capability and comfort emphasized. Designed, developed and manufactured in America, the Ridgeline will be available to he public on a yet-to-be announced date in the first half of 2016. Honda is promoting the midsize pickup as having the “largest, most versatile cabin.” It’s touted as the “only 4-foot-wide flat bed space in the midsize pickup segment, along with payload capacity rivaling top competitors.” Powered by a 3.5-liter, direct-injected i-VTEC™ V-6 engine mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the Honda Ridgeline will

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Elio Motors counters NHTSA rule with spirited retort

Elio Motors reacted quickly to Internet reports that a pending legislation from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) could further delay the production of the highly marketed and often delayed debut of its three-wheel, 84 mpg vehicle. According to the accounts, the NHTSA has introduced a proposal to change its regulations related to three-wheeled vehicles. If enacted, Elio could face increased costs and further be delayed in its latest debut prediction of the unique-looking vehicle. Via Elio’s spokesman, Paul Elio, the company’s founder and CEO, released the following statement: “Elio Motors remains committed to engineering our vehicle to the

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Could pending NHTSA rule mean Elio Motors is doomed?

Elio Motors has faced many obstacles, financing to missed deadlines. But it could now be faced with its toughest adversary — the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Elio has touted is three-wheeled, two-seat car and its projected 84 mpg for a few years. But if the NHTSA prevails, the futuristic-looking vehicle won’t be able to be classified as a motorcycle and thus will not circumvent the stricter safety and efficiency regulations that govern cars. As such, Elio would face increased costs and could further delay the expect the first production the vehicle until 2017 — if not indefinitely. Elio

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Volkswagen may buy back your dirty diesel

If you own a Volkswagen with a diesel engine affected by the recent emission scandal, the German carmaker may buy back your car. A German newspaper has reported Volkswagen Group “assumes it will have to buy back about 115,000 cars in the United States,” according to Reuters. Volkswagen officials have been working with U.S. regulators to come to an agreement about how best to fix the nearly 600,000 diesel vehicles in the U.S. discovered to illegally include software that misrepresents the emissions levels. The devices helped some of Volkswagen Group’s cars pass emissions tests in a lab but allowed the cars

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Gas Mileage Averages Climb But New Rules Loom

It’s still a decade away, but the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and federal government a few years ago mandated a pending regulation. By 2025, new vehicles sold in the United States will be required to attain a combined 54.5 mpg. The automotive industry is improving, with a few surprising improved gas mileage averages in performance-oriented cars. But there are also disappointing mpg results, particularly among expensive sedans and sports cars. In one recent tally, the EPA reported new cars sold in 2013 averaged 24.1 mpg. That was more than 5 mpg more than new cars sold in 1995 averaged. Consider

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2016 Honda HR-V: Compact SUV adds to brand’s legacy

The 2016 Honda HR-V, the newest and smallest of the manufacturer’s successful lineup of sport utility vehicles, debuted last year. It joined the increasingly competitive subcompact SUV segment that includes newly en vogue vehicles like the Nissan Juke, Mazda CX-3 and Fiat 500X. The Honda HR-V (Hi-rider Revolutionary Vehicle) also joined the Honda CR-V (Compact Recreational Vehicle), and the Honda Pilot in the manufacturer’s SUV lineup. The Honda Element, a fourth SUV option, ceased production a few years ago. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Available in three trims, my weekly driver was the top-line EX-L. Like all Honda vehicles it

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President Obama smooth, Seinfeld sputters in Corvette

Congratulations to Jerry Seinfeld for cruising around the White House driveway with President Obama in a 1963 Corvette Stingray. It was the opening episode of the seventh season of the clever program “Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee.” It only could have gone worse if the car didn’t start. Like Seinfeld’s comedy act and his longstanding television program, the mini-series on the Crackle network is about nothing except if you like vintage cars, comedians, coffee and the relationship Seinfeld has with his comedian friends. It’s often brilliant, but it wasn’t this time. President Obama may like Seinfeld, but he doesn’t appear

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