2014 Toyota 4Runner: Trail tough with comfort, connectivity

By Bruce Aldrich The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner is worth a look if you need a capable off-road and snow-going vehicle. The 2014 4Runner has a wicked-looking front-end with added comfort and convenience features. The 4Runner is the last mid-size SUV with Body-on-Frame construction. The 4Runner comes in three grades, SR5, Trail, and Limited. Each model has a 4-liter V6 with 270 horsepower and a five-speed automatic transmission. I recently drove the three models and I like them all. The SR5 is the “value” model, offered in a two-wheel drive version or 4X4. My favorite is the Trail grade model,

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500 rare Chevrolets in Nebraska redefine barn finds for auction

About 500 Chevrolet cars and trucks, untouched for decades and some with fewer than 20 miles on their odometers, will go on sale via auction in September and will bring international attention for a few days to a small city in Nebraska. The auction will feature the vehicles owned by Ray Lambrecht who 17 years ago closed his Chevrolet dealership in Pierce, Nebraska, population 1,800. Lambrecht kept the vehicles that didn’t sell when new in warehouses at his farm and in other locations near where he worked for 50 years. He opened the downtown Chevrolet dealership with his uncle in

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2014 Toyota 4Runner: New design, same praises

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The redesigned 2014 Toyota 4Runner, a long-established favorite among off-road sport utility vehicle enthusiasts, features a rugged new exterior and interior updates that offer increased comfort and convenience. Previewed in a mid-August manufacturer’s media presentation in Cle Elum, Wa., the fifth generation 4Runner is available in three grades: a value-driven SR5; top-of-the-line Limited, and a Trail grade for maximum off-road capability. With the optional third-row seat in the SR5 and Limited editions, the 4Runner seats as many seven occupants. Versatility is a 4Runner strong suit. New model year owner have choices: a rear wheel 4×2, part-time 4×4 or a full-time

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #3: Wide open spaces in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

For the past two days, I’ve driven the 2013 Nissan Rogue on the scenic and often wide open and hilly state routes of Colorado during the USA Pro Challenge. Yesterday, I drove from Breckenridge to Steamboat Springs for stage 3. And today, for stage 4, I drove from Steamboat Springs on most of the same route in the reverse direction before diverting in the final sections to US 6, then Interstate 70 to Avon and then the uphill stretch to Beaver Creek Resort. The state highway system in Colorado offers stunning views and often undulating roads through small towns, ranches,

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2013 Infiniti QX56: Big, plush, capable

The 2013 Infiniti QX56 is a fast, luxurious full-size SUV that feels as if it could tow just about anything short of the London Bridge. The imposing looking QX56 is in the third year of its current-generation design. It has a 5.6-liter direct-injected, 32-valve V-8 with 400 horsepower and 413 pound-feet of torque for quick acceleration and a towing capacity of 8,500 pounds. The V-8 is hooked to a smooth 7-speed automatic transmission with a manual shift mode. The 4WD version has a computer-controlled transfer case with settings in Automatic, 4L and 4H. A console dial controls snow, tow or

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Best Used Cars: 2012 Honda Odyssey

The Honda Odyssey is arguably best car available currently in the United States when considering its versatility. The 2013 model is the vehicle’s 20th model year. But last year’s edition, which debuted at the 2012 Chicago Auto Show, is a good value as two-year–old model. Despite is “van” status, the Odyssey is a powerful and performance oriented for its class. It features a 24-valve, 248-horsepower engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Its has 0-60 mph acceleration in 7.9 seconds and comfortable seating for seven adults. The Weekly Driver Test Drive I drove the five-door Touring Elite, the most expensive of

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Tesla Model S electrifies NHTSA, gets best safety rating ever

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The Tesla Model S and the carmaker’s owner Elon Musk haven’t needed much publicity lately. The electric sports car and its innovative inventor are at the forefront of the auto industry. But the performance-oriented, expensive car is now getting another accolade. It’s been awarded an extraordinary, five-star overall rating — the highest rating ever determined  — by National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The Tesla Model S was given an overall 5-star safety rating and the same rating in every subcategory. The independent NHTSA does not publish a star rating above 5, however safety levels better than 5 stars are captured

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Driving the USA Pro Challenge, #2: Navigating the mountains in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

A good navigation system is a welcomed companion, particularly on long solo trips like the journey I’m taking through the heart of Colorado in a 2013 Nissan Rogue during the third USA Pro Challenge. After flying from Sacramento to Denver, I drove to Snowmass in the Rogue following the navigation system instructions, which ideally detailed the 215-mile route. The 5-inch screen in the Rogue is small and it’s not positioned in the best location. It sits low on the center dash. But for its small size, the system has some keen features. Many of its functions, for example, are available

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Driving the 2013 USA Pro Challenge, #1: Mixed Bag debut in a 2013 Nissan Rogue

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The third edition of the USA Pro Challenge begins Monday, Aug. 19 and it will take a field of 128 pro cyclists from 16 teams around Colorado for a week. I’m making the trip in a 2013 Nissan Rogue. The compact crossover debuted in 2008 and the 2013 edition is the last year of the car’s first generation. The manufacturer announced recently a second generation will debut with the 2014 edition. I drove from the Denver International Airport to Snowmass in about 5 hours, including a lunch stop and two five-minute stops for phone calls. As a compact crossover, first

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Rare Ferrari sells for record $27.5 million in Monterey auction

A 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB 4*S N.A.R.T. Spider sold for $27.5 million Saturday at the RM Auction during Monterey Auto week, designating it as most expensive road car, most expensive Ferrari and second most expensive car ever sold at public auction. In all, 16 cars sold more at more than $1 million, including a 1928 Mercedes-Benz 680S Torpedo Road for $8.25 million. The auction marked numerous new world records established for individual marques and models. The 275 GTB/4*S N.A.R.T Spider is one of the world’s rarest cars, with only 10 cars having been built in the 1960s, commissioned by Ferrari’s

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2014 Ford Mustang: Nostalgic, sizzling performance

The 2014 Ford Mustang GT convertible is the last of the fast retro-classic Mustangs. It will be replaced with a significantly new Mustang next year. “This latest Mustang design is very respectful of its heritage while continuing to look forward with a more powerful and modern look,” said Darrell Behmer, Mustang chief designer. The original Mustang debuted on April 17, 1964, although Ford called it an ”early 1965” model. (Many call it a “1964 ½” model.) When the redesigned Mustang comes out next year as a 2015 model, Ford will officially celebrate the car’s 50th anniversary—although the 2014 Mustang is

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Best Used Car Reviews: 2006 Honda Civic Si

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The Honda Civic is the best-selling compact car in the United States, and the Japanese automaker didn’t arrive at this industry-leading plateau by happenstance. Yet, instead of playing it safe and leaving good enough alone, Honda redesigned the Civic for 2006. As such, with primary competitors Ford, Mazda, Toyota and Volkswagen all also improving their respective offerings, the compact category is among the industry’s most competitive. Honda also knows well that plenty of choices in a leading line can’t help but be a good thing, even if it has gone slightly overboard. The Accord, for example, is available in 30

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2014 Toyota Tundra: Spacious new workhorse

Redesigned for the first time in seven years, the 2014 Toyota Tundra features an integrated hood, tightened surfaces and new overall lines to further enhance the full-size pick-up’s pulling power and wide stance. The 2014 Tundra will be offered in a new five-grade strategy: the hard-working SR, volume-leading SR5, the well-appointed Limited, and two premium grades: Platinum and “1794 Edition.” Three cab styles, two-door Regular Cab, four-door Double Cab and four-door CrewMax, all available in 4×2 and 4×4. Each grade is well-equipped with key standard features. Showcased at a recent regional media gathering at Cle Elum, Wa., the 2014 Toyota

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Barrett-Jackson Joins the Party at Hot August Nights

By Dan Clarke Apparently, you can make a good thing better. Reno’s Hot August Nights has been a success since its 1986 debut. Barrett-Jackson traces its history to the 1960s and has also done well. Its auctions in Scottsdale, Palm Beach and Las Vegas are a familiar presence on cable television’s Speed Channel. The company initiated the inaugural Reno auction during the week of Hot August Nights and immediately ingratiated itself by creating the Barrett-Jackson Cup. In addition to providing the trophy, Barrett-Jackson donated $20,000 in prize money to Hot August Nights’ Show-n-Shine competition. The winning entry also received a

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Honda Civic proves small is huge in IIHS safety tests

Honda has long been known for its efficiency, reliability and resale values. And its stellar safety reputation isn’t too bad, either considering the Honda Civic just received  auto industry top honors among compact and sub-compact cars. Many of its competitors didn’t fare so well. The two-door and four-door Honda Civic have received “good ratings” front-end crash tests performed by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Half of the 12 compact and subcompact cars IIHS tested fared poorly and six performed well. Safety is critical in the fast-growing small-car market, with many buyers downsizing from larger vehicles. In addition to

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2014 Kia Sorento, new look, better ride for underdog SUV

Introduced in 2002 into an increasingly crowded market, the Kia Sorento is an unheralded mid-size sport utility vehicle now in its third generation. The 2014 model has been designated with a “facelift” status. But the manufacturer lists more than 30 new additions, including increased horsepower and new interior and exterior styling. As an underdog, Kia competes for a market share by offering a lot of variety in its vehicles. For 2014, the Kia Sorento is available with 2.4-liter GDI (LX, EX) and 3.3-liter GDI V6 (optional in LX, EX; standard in SX and SX Limited). It’s the diverse trims that

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