Subaru Outback, 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

It’s hard to imagine any other vehicle as versatile as the Subaru Outback. It’s the all-purpose car. It’s ideal as a family wagon. It’s a workhorse for a small businessperson. It’s as safe as any car on the road in inclement weather. Introduced in 1995, the Outback has gone through several editions, including a redesign and a new lineup of models with more than 40 trim configurations for 2010. The Outback has a new 6-cylinder engine and it’s about 3 inches wider and longer in wheelbase than the 2009 Outback. Two engines and six models are offered, all with horizontally

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Rare Bugatti could fetch record price at Monterey Auto Week auction

The Bugatti, boasting its original bodywork, engine and gearbox, is predicted to sell for $4.5 million, which would be the highest price ever paid for a grand prix racing Bugatti. The car is being sold by the British private collector who paid the current world record sum for a Type 35 Bugatti two years ago. Bugatti historian David Sewell said the latest sale, 1931-built chassis 51132, is “a remarkably complete and original car and there is no doubt to its authenticity. It ranks among the finest survivors of the highly desirable Bugatti Type 51 Grand Prix.” The last time a

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Tata Motors has new luxury plans for Jaguar, Land Rover

Tata Motors is planning to introduce new fuel efficient cars and hybrid vehicles in emerging markets and is seeking to raise sales of luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover in China and India. The company plans to launch in India, a new cross-over vehicle, two new passenger vehicles and a new range of heavy trucks, according to Tata Motors Chairman Ratan Tata. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Tata said the company is also considering widening the range of Jaguar cars by introducing a station wagon, a

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Hyundai predicts its new U.S. cars will average 50 mpg in 2025

The improved average would be about a 60 percent increase from Hyundai‘s current average, 30.9 mpg — the nation’s highest. Honda (30.1 mpg) has the second-highest mpg, followed by Toyota (29 mpg). AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Hyundai Motor America’s chief executive, John Krafcik said the goal was a stretch, but said he was “very confident” the company could reach it. “We don’t know precisely how to get there right now,” he said. “We do have a road map.” According to Krafcik, Hyundai expects to mostly

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Volkswagen hopes transparency means sales for luxury Phaeton (video)

The Phaeton is hand-assembled in an eco-friendly factory with a glass exterior, the Transparent Factory in Dresden, Germany called Gläserne Manufaktur. The same factory assembled Bentley Continental Flying Spur vehicles destined for the European market until October 2006, when all assembly of the Bentley products was transferred to Crewe, England. The Phaeton body is fabricated and painted at the large Volkswagen works at Zwickau, Germany, and the completed bodies are then transported about 60 miles by special road transport vehicles to the Transparent Factory. Most Phaeton engines, the W12 being the notable exception, are built at the VW/Porsche/Audi engine plant

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Bugatti, new and vintage, rule at Monterey Auto Week

The Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Super Sport, the latest model to join the Veyron lineup, debuted at the Concours d’Elegance. The new model includes a 1,200 horsepower engine and a limited speed 257 mph (in order to protect the tires). Bugatti was also the marque for the Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Vintage Bugatti vintage machines competed in various divisions during the three-day event and were also featured in a parade at The Quail: A Motorsports Gathering at Quail Lodge. A one-hour Speed TV special on the 2010 Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion, including Buggati footage, is scheduled

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Monterey Auto Week records: 16 cars, Ferrari to Jaguar, auctioned for at least $1 million, $67M in total sales

Sixteen vehicles were sold for more than $1 million, the most recorded by any single auction house during this year’s Monterey auto week. The 1933 Delage D8S de Villars Roadster, owned by The Patterson Collection in Louisville, Kentucky, and restored by RM Auto Restoration, was named ‘Best of Show’ at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. RM Auctions’ 2010 ‘Sports & Classics of Monterey’ Million-Dollar-Plus Sales: 1938 Talbot-Lago T150-C Lago Speciale Teardrop Coupe, $4,620,000 1954 Ferrari 375 MM Berlinetta, $4,620,000 1949 Delahaye Type 175 S Roadster by Saoutchik, $3,300,000 1959 Ferrari 250 GT LWB California Spyder, $2,612,500 1955 Jaguar D-Type, $2,090,000

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Mazda recall: 300,000 Mazda3, Mazda5, vans with power-steering issues

Mazda said the vehicles could have a sudden loss of power-steering assist, making it difficult for the driver to steer and increasing the risk of a crash. Mazda says the vehicles could have a sudden loss of power-steering assist, making it more difficult for the driver to steer the vehicle. The government originally began an investigation into steering problems in the vehicles in June. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTHSA) had received 33 complaints alleging steering problems, including three crashes. According to the NYHSA web site, Mazda will begin notifying owners of the 2007-2009 models about the recall in

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Best used cars under $3,000: Mazda Miata, BMW 3 Series, VW Rabbit On Popular Mechanics’ list

The Mazda Miata is the gold-standard, fun-to-drive used car — at least according to Popular Mechanics. The general-interest “umbrella” magazine for all things mechanical has published a list of cars it considers the best used cars available for $3,000 or less.The Miata, the best-selling sports car ever made tops the list. The publication offers: “For three grand, you’re probably looking at a first-generation edition (1989–1994) with the 1.6-liter four-cylinder. Mazda built tens of thousands of them, and many folks who bought them barely drove them, so plenty of low-mileage examples exist.” “They’re enormously fun, with a lithe feel, telepathic steering,

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Kia will unveil radically designed, zero-emission concept car at Paris auto show

“The car is equipped with gogglelike oval side windows, shaped something like drug capsules,” writes Phil Patton. “Its wheels wear a central cross pattern, like an oversize Phillips screw head.” “The three-seat configuration has become popular in recent city car designs. It’s one of several seating configurations offered in Gordon Murray Design’s recently unveiled T.25 city car. Kia’s designers appear to be contemplating installing parents in front and a single child in a back seat.” Kia has been a design innovator in recent years, considering, for example, the Soul compact S.U.V. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more

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Lance Armstrong debuts in new Nissan Leaf commercial

The Leaf, which will be available for lease or purchase for the first time in December in Arizona, California, Oregon, Tennessee, and Washington, is the carmaker’s first mass produced all-electric vehicle. Correspondingly, Nissan is shifting its focus to a new theme: “Innovation for All.” The initial distribution states for the Leaf were chosen because of their participation in the EV Project. It’s partnership with ECOtality that has received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to create the nation’s largest electric vehicle infrastructure The Nissan Leaf will be available to customers in Texas and Hawaii in January, 2011 and to

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Volkswagen Jetta TDI (Diesel), 2010: The Weekly Driver car review

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After a two-year absence because of stricter emissions requirements, the 2010 Volkswagen Jetta lineup, for the second straight year, includes TDI versions of the sedan or wagon. It features a turbocharged, clean-diesel engine and superior fuel mileage. It’s like Volkswagen figured out all reasons why the Jetta and its siblings are so popular in Europe are the same reasons the diesel and the car’s other industry-leading standards would likely be successful in the United States. Electronic stability control and a cold weather package with heated front seats and steering wheel, for example, are standard on all 2010 models. The standard

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Driving Miss Rachel (age 92): Jay Leno talks cars with Mercury queen

The original video that detailed the purchase of her car and the-now 600,000 miles she’s driven it, has been viewed more than six million times. One of Veitch’s recent media appearances was as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the late-night talk show host and car-collecting mogul. Veitch, who calls her car “Chariot,” bought the Mercury new on Feb. 17, 1964. She and her husband sought cheaper transportation than their 1959 Cadillac Coupe DeVille. Veitch settled on a four-door Caliente model with tan interior, a 164-horsepower/260-cubic-inch V-8, automatic transmission, air conditioning, power steering and every other available

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Nissan keeps Lance Armstrong as Leaf spokesman despite doping claims

Armstrong is featured in the first television commercial for the Leaf, and Nissan is sticking with the seven-time Tour de France titlist as its official spokesperson depsite the current controversy. In a recent interview with Ad Age, Jon Brancheau, Nissan‘s new marketing chief, said the manufacturer will support the cyclist while continuing to monitor the situation. Ad Age asked Brancheau: “Nissan has made a pretty big bet on Lance Armstrong . . he was featured in the first Leaf commercial, is displayed prominently on your website and you even sponsor one of his cycling teams. Now, there’s a ton of

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Ferrari 458 recalled after Italian sports car redefines too hot to handle

A Ferrari spokesman said the source of the problem is a wheel-arch heat shield that comes too close to an exhaust pipe. The adhesive that secures the shield can smoke or catch fire due to excessive heat. Dealers have contacted Ferrari 458 owners, the spokesman said, and have asked them to bring their cars in as soon as possible for modification. The Daily Mail newspaper in England reported five Ferrari 458 Italias have caught fire as a result of the flaw. The Ferrari spokesman confirmed that “four or five” fires had been reported in 458 models but added that only

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Tim Allen: Santa Claus, car buff and new voice of Chevrolet Cruze

In addition his status a Detroit-area native, Allen is owner of a 1996 LT5 Impala SS among several other cars. “Tim Allen brings the right combination of a recognizable voice with the credibility, likeability and humor that will connect with viewers,” said Joel Ewanick, GM’s CMO. “His passion for all things cars makes him the perfect match for the Chevrolet brand.” Allen’s voice is first heard in the new Chevy Cruze campaign. The carmaker plans to utilize Allen in additional but undetermined advertising campaigns. Chevrolet will have an advertising presence during the Super Bowl television broadcast for the first time

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