2015 Lexus ES 350: Luxury sustained, value priced

The Lexus Elegant Sedan (ES) model debuted in 1989. Through its more than quarter century of upgrades, various trims and six generations it remains the standard in the entry level luxury sedan segment. The 2015 ES 350, first offered as a 2007 model, is now in the fourth year of its current generation. It features new upgraded upholstery, a standard touchscreen “Display Audio” tech interface and some optional technology upgrades. The Weekly Driver Test Drive Powered by a 3.5-liter, 24-valve V6 with 268 horsepower, the 2015 Lexus ES 350 is a midsize, five-seat luxury sedan. It’s front-wheel drive and has

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VW Jetta TDI tops TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2014 top 10

For the eighth straight year, TheWeeklyDriver.com has selected its top-10 cars of the year. Honda again leads the list with the three selections, followed by Chevrolet and Ford, each with two selections. The Honda Accord is the only vehicle to make the list every year. This is the first year we’ve picked a single automobile to top the list. It’s the 2014 Volkswagen Jetta TDI. It’s the most economical, best priced, best designed and best- performing car available in the United States for $25,000. As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I drove 49 cars this year to consider

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2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Green Car of the Year

Now in its fifth year and second generation, the Ford Fusion Hybrid debuted with its twin, the Mercury Milan Hybrid, in March 2009. The Mercury Milan hybrid has been defunct since 2010. But the Ford Fusion Hybrid continues to improve and build larger audiences as a top choice in the gasoline-electric hybrid segment. The 2014 Ford Fusion Hybrid includes small changes, but in major areas, the three trim levels remain the same as the inaugural second generation unveiled in 2013. The Weekly Driver Test Drive My weekly test vehicle was the top-line Titanium trim. It includes all of the features

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2015 Lexus RX 350: Best in class SUV

How does an automaker come up with a best-selling vehicle? The four-door Lexus RX 350 five-seater is arguably the first midsize luxury crossover SUV and long has been the top-selling Lexus vehicle. The 2015 RX 350 comes in various forms, including the hybrid gas/electric RX 450h, but we’re concerned only with the RX 350 here. Lexus figures main rivals to the RX are the formidable Acura RDX, Audi Q5, BMW X3, Cadillac SRX, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Infiniti QX70, Lincoln MKX and Mercedes-Benz M-Class. A “crossover SUV?” Yes, indeed, because most hardware for the RX 350 comes from the Toyota Camry

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2014 Ford Fiesta: Sporty, limited subcompact

Now in its seventh generation, the Ford Fiesta subcompact debuted in 1976 and is third all-time in the carmaker’s sales behind F-Series pick-up trucks and the Ford Escort. In the 2014 edition, the Fiesta is available in two body styles: a four-door sedan and a four-door hatchback. Both are available in S, SE and Titanium trim levels. The high-performance ST model, new for 2014, is available only as a hatchback. The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive Unveiled at 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show, the Fiesta ST, a five-door hatchback — my weekly driver — is available only in North America. It

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2015 Subaru Outback: Safe, rugged, versatile

Now in its sixth generation, the newly designed 2015 Subaru Outback further blurs the segment distinction between wagon and crossover sport utility vehicle. By any category name, the Subaru Outback is alone in the auto industry. No other car looks similar and there are no direct competitors to the family-oriented, all-wheel drive vehicle and its special consideration to those who travel with their pets. The Audi Allroad and Volvo XC70 also offer all-wheel drive, turbo-charged power and superior interiors to the Outback, but both have substantially higher starting prices. The 2015 top-line Outback 3.6R Limited begins at $32,995, while the

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2014 LA Auto Show: Tech madness; Youthful colors rock

As the first major international automotive industry gathering of the year, the LA Auto Show annually attracts a full spectrum of carmakers and automotive enthusiasts. The 2014 LA Auto Show, which recently ended at the Los Angeles Convention Center, offered the usual collection of entry level cars from Ford, Chevrolet, Mitsubishi and the like. And there were high-end automobiles from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, Porsche and Bentley. There were several themes in this year’s show, most notably connectivity and a retro approach to bright paint colors. Dozens of cars had global or North American debuts. And what’s an auto show without ambassadors

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Air bags woes prompt expanded Honda recall

Seven months after it began as a regional issue, pressure by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, has expanded a current regional Honda recall nationally because of faulty driver’s side airbags. According to the NHTSA, the air bags, made by Japanese supplier Takata Corp., can explode with too much force. As a result: metal shrapnel be can forced into the passenger compartment. The Honda recall list was posted on the NHTSA ate last month. It includes: 2001 – 2007 Honda Accord; 2001 – 2005 Honda Civic; 2002 – 2006 Honda CR-V; 2003 – 2011 Honda Element; 2002 – 2004 Honda

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2015 Chrysler 200: Watch out Honda Accord

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The 2015 Chrysler 200 marks the inauguration of the midsize sedan’s second generation. Introduced in late 2010 as a replacement for the much-maligned Sebring, the Chrysler 200 was named via a keen marketing idea as the smaller and younger sibling of the Chrysler 300. While the new model features a host of new features, 2015 also marks the demise of the previous generation’s convertible option. Like the Sebring, the Chrysler 200 Convertible has now been relegated to used car lots and in leftover fleet purchases for rental agencies. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The 2015 Chrysler 200 was my second

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2015 Mazda CX-9: Sporty SUV for seven shines

Vehicles with a sporty nature need not be coupes or convertibles. Mazda has been injecting its vehicles with a decidedly sporty nature for years. The 2015 CX-9 crossover is no exception. The four-door hatchback CX-9 drives much like a worthy large sedan, with nicely weighted and accurate power steering, agile handling, supple ride and friendly acting brake pedal. It’s enjoyable to drive. Helping keeping things safe and stable are anti-lock brakes with electronic brake force distribution and brake assist, besides Dynamic Stability Control, Traction Control System and Roll-Stability Control. Blind Spot Monitoring, Rear-Cross Traffic Alert, backup sensors and a rearview

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2015 Kia K900: luxury, value and car of the year?

The 2015 Kia K900 is the first rear-wheel drive, five-passenger sedan — and most expensive car — ever offered by the South Korean manufacturer. It debuted in 2012 in South Korea and just about everywhere else in June 2013 as the K9 and Opirus. But about 1 1/2 years into its tenure it’s just beginning to attract attention as the K900 in the U.S. market outside of auto shows and expensive television commercials. The Weekly Driver’s Test Drive With its addition of the oddly named K900, Kia is attempting to infiltrate the tough, luxury sedan market chocker-block full well-heeled machines:

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Wild and crazy car colors at the 2014 LA Auto Show

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Most car buyers play it safe when it comes to car colors. White is the most popular exterior color, followed by black, silver and gray. Boring, right? But many manufacturers, seeking to appeal to young buyers, also offer limited edition to full-fledged models with wild color patterns — Plasma Purple to Tangerine Scream and Bronze Fire to Sun Fusion. The new wild and wacky cars colors have been inspired for several reasons, according to several manufacturers’ brand representatives at the2014 Los Angeles Auto Show. “The new colors appeal to younger buyers and those young at heart,” extolled a young man

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Women of the LA Auto Show: Sexy, smart, fun

The tradition of car show product  specialists, including the women of the LA Auto Show, dates to the 1930s. The attractive young women do what they do while standings in front of new model cars. Books have been written about the tradition and a feature about the young women was featured as a segment on National Public Radio. The practice of hiring attractive young women has also been criticized, but the women of LA Auto Show seemingly thoroughly enjoy what they do. The tradition during the recent media days for the event was healthy and well. Toyota to Porsche to

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Michael Schumacher paralyzed, can’t speak, friend says

Philippe Streiff, a former race car driver who has been paralyzed for 25 years following a 1989 crash, said his friend Michael Schumacher is in the same situation and is unable to speak. Schumacher, the legendary Formula One driver, is at home recovering from a head injury suffered in a skiing fall last December in France. Streiff, speaking recently on a French radio station, said: “He (Schumacher) is getting better but everything is relative. It’s very difficult.” According to a report in the Daily Mirror newspaper in England, Schumacher’s family is still confident about the former champion’s future. But the

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2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata: rough, tough roadster endures

Now beginning its second quarter century, the 2015 Mazda MX-5 Miata retains its long-time status as fairly priced, fun-to-drive, two-seat sports car. The formula has worked so well, it’s the best-selling roadster in history. The Miata had its top sales year in 2006 (nearly 17,000) with subsequent sales in some years falling drastically. Beyond trim “tweaks,” most notably in 2013, the just-announced 2016 edition is the first new generation in a decade. The car is approaching one million units sold. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The rear-wheel drive MX-5 Miata is equipped with a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine with 167 horsepower.

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2016 Madza lineup set for livestream debut

Mazda North American will livestream its product reveals, including the much-touted, all-new 2016 Mazda CX-3 compact crossover utility vehicle, on YouTube ad Ustream, the night before the vehicles’ debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The offsite event at 8 p.m. PST Tuesday (Nov. 18) will also include refreshed versions of the 2016 Mazda6 midsize sedan, the 2016 CX-5 crossover and the 2016 MX-5. All of the new Mazda vehicles – with the addition of Mazda3, Mazda5 and CX-9 – will be on display throughout the run of the 2014 Los Angeles Auto Show.   Additionally, Mazda will show the

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