Ford Flex, 2013: New minivan standard for saddle shoes on wheels

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Now in its fourth year, the Ford Flex has undergone substantial changes for 2013. While its long, flat roofline remains, the front and rear grille, tailgate and insignias have all been changed. The interior of the Flex has also been substantially amended. The new Ford signature SYNC/MyFord Touch electronic dashboard and driver interface, already in siblings Focus, Edge and Explorer, has been added. Additionally, horsepower has been increased from a base of 262 to 285. Manual-shifting capabilities for the six-speed automatic have been added and there’s a more modern three-spoke steering wheel. There’s also the EcoBoost edition with 365 horsepower

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Scion FR-S 2013 quickly gets best sports car for the money honor

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It only took a year for the once unheralded but promising Scion FR-S to gain national recognition via its lauded combination of performance and value. Introduced in 2012, the 2013 FR-S has been named Best Sports Car for the Money by U.S. News & World Report. The annual award recognizes value, quality and critical acclaim across 21 vehicle categories. To evaluate the FR-S, U.S. News & World Report judges looked at the sports coupe’s safety record, reliability and opinion from industry experts. Additionally, the expected five-year total cost of ownership and average vehicle price at the time of publication contributed

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Car Review: 2013 Volvo S60 T5 is a four-door coupe with a sports car feel

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It’s hard to keep track of Volvo. The Swedish manufacturerwhose emblem dates to the country’s early iron industry history, was sold to Ford in 1999. The American company, in turn, sold Volvo to China-based Geely. Buy a Volvo today, like the 2013 S60 T5, and you’re still getting a vehicle with engine parts originating from Sweden. But parts from Belgium, Germany and Japan are also in the mix. Volvo still also has its solid feel and sturdy construction demeanor, but long gone is its heavy box-on-wheels reputation. The S60 sedan is now well into its second decade and second generation

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2013 Mazda3: Spirited, fuel conscious, bang for buck

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The compact front-drive 2013 Mazda3 four-door sedan or hatchback provides driving kicks and decent roominess. The 2013 Mazda3 has a good number of minor upgrades and updates from its predecessor. The 2012 model got more-aggressive styling and a new, fuel-saving 155-horsepower 2-liter fuel-stingy (and oddly named) “Skyactiv” (no “e”) engine. That four-cylinder engine delivers an estimated 28 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on highways with a six-speed automatic transmission. Figures are virtually the same (27 and 39) with a six-speed manual gearbox. The Mazda3 also comes with a 2-liter, 148-horsepower four-cylinder and a 2.5-liter “four” that kicks

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Some weird autos become legends, other cars just fade away

Some automakers have long lives. General Motors, Aston Martin and Alfa Romeo all recently became centenarians. And there are plenty of infamous manufacturers. Some, like the DeLorean have attained cult status, while others like the Bricklin have largely faded away as complete failures. The Bricklin was shortlived. One of the early investors in Subaru, Malcolm Bricklin manufactured the Bricklin from 1974-76, and were touted as safety cars were made in the odd colors Safety Orange, Safety Green and Safety White. The gullwing doors trapped occupants and overall poor constructions prompted low sales. Bricklin’s misfortune had only just begun. He later

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Ford Edge SE overtakes minivan dominance, tops lowest annual insurance rates

Minivans, once the go-to car for family versatility and insurance friendliness, have been overtaken in 2013 by crossovers and SUVs, including models from Ford, Jeep, Kia and Hyundai, according to a report by Insure.com. In its recently announced findings, the insurance website noted the Ford Edge SE has the country’s lowest annual insurance rate. “The SUV is the new minivan,” said Russ Rader, spokesperson for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which performs crash tests on vehicles. “These are vehicles used largely by families. They’re going to the mall, taking kids to school and driving to sports practices on the

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Kelley Blue Book: 2013 Scion iQ Cheapest U.S. car to own for five-year tenure

Kelley Blue Book, like many other automotive sites, likes car lists. Arguably the enduring site’s most popular list is its annual compilation of the cheapest cars to own. The new list covers 22 categories for 2013 models. The new list is collaboration with Forbes.com and winners of the Kelley Blue Book Total Cost of Ownership Awards. The list considers many factors: depreciation, fuel, insurance costs, registration fees and maintenance. Add up all the factors and the amount is the cost of the vehicle over five years. Here’s the list in 22 categories with the segment vehicle name, Base, MSRP, 5-year

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Volkswagen Beetle, 2013: New Turbo diesel has sports car tendencies

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The slogan for the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle is “Still turns heads. Just Faster.” Automaker slogans often don’t mean much. But in the instance of the 2013 Volkswagen Beetle TDI, which debuted this year, the words work. The Beetle TDI’s 2.0-liter turbodiesel delivers 140 horsepower, 236 lb-ft of torque and is offered with either a six-speed manual or Tiptronic automatic transmission. Those are foreign numbers when compared to the specs of the original introduced in 1938, and they should be. And yet, after 75 years, the VW Beetle in many ways is still a Bug. The Weekly Driver Test Drive As

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Super Bowl commercials: Kate Upton shunned for Willem Dafoe, Usher in Mercedes Benz devil spot

Kate Upton is all the rage in her controversial Super Bowl commercial when she gives a few young guys a tip or two about washing a new Mercedes Benz. But the German automaker surprisingly leaves Upton with only a bit part in another, longer Super Bowl commercial. The top billing in this spot goes to Willem Dafoe, Usher and a classic Rolling Stones tunes. It’s a clever commercial. More of Kate Upton would have made it better.  

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2013 Ford Flex: Crossover adds power, styling, alternative fuel

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The 2013 Ford Flex looks distinctive, but its boxy styling clearly signifies this is mainly a conservative family vehicle. But owners can stare when others try stuffing lots of people and cargo into a less-roomy vehicle. The Flex, which has front- or all-wheel drive, features three seating rows and can handle seven people when all seats are in an upright position. The Flex has a long 117.9-inch wheelbase, which helps the ride, and weighs from 4,471 to 4,839 pounds, which takes away some of its nimbleness. Still, it feels like a typical carlike crossover vehicle. Rivals include the Buick Enclave,

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Volkswagen Bug, 1965: A video review

Bill is the weekend butcher at Compton’s Market in East Sacramento. And just lik any passionate Volkswagen owner, he loves his 1965 VW Bug. He’s owned the car for 18 years and drives it to work 16-miles each way. Bill’s VW Bug has a long and varied history. The car’s been stolen and returned and it’s had a tree branch crush the hood. Bill parks the car in the front corner of the market, and it gets plenty of attention. Yet, the now 48-year-old Bug looks fine, so much so it’s won Best-in-Class three straight years at the Bug-o-Rama. While

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Dodge Grand Caravan, 2013: Still leads the minivan pack

Although its glory days are gone, thanks to smaller SUVs and crossover vehicles, the minivan is still much alive. And Chrysler’s Dodge Grand Caravan was the top-selling such vehicle in America in 2012. Moreover, the base Grand Caravan—the APV (American Value Package) model gets a $1,000 price cut for 2013. That makes it the most affordable seven-passenger vehicle in the United States. Introduced in 1983 as a 1984 model and as simply the Dodge Caravan, this minivan met the needs of many baby boomers who were starting families. It has been continually improved to keep up with the times—and to

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2013 Buick Verano: Turbo sedan blends luxury, performance

Things sure are changing. For instance, here we have the new compact, turbocharged 2013 Buick Verano sedan with an available six-speed manual transmission. Buick is after a younger crowd with the front-drive Verano Turbo, which also comes with a six-speed automatic transmission at no extra charge. It reached for a younger group with its 1960s muscle cars and 1980s Grand National models. In fact, the 1987 Grand National GNX Coupe could blow off a 1987 Chevy Corvette. But those cars, including Buick’s 1980s-1990s Reatta two-seater, just weren’t quite right for the times. Now, anything goes. And so we have the

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How to buy the best used electric vehicle

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It’s been about 15 years since hybrid and electric cars first entered mainstream global automotive market. Which means, led by the Toyota Prius, car buyers in the market for second- electric cars now have an expanding versatile selection. Toyota introduced the Prius in 1997 and its global sales have now surpassed four million, far exceeding all hybrid and electric sales combined. As a result, used Prius models, which now also include the Prius Liftback, Prius C, Prius V and Prius Plug-In Electric, are plentiful and logically a best choice among shoppers seeking a used electric car. There are plenty of

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Honda Accord, 2013: Family sedan turned luxury car

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Now approaching middle age, the Honda Accord has been among the top-selling cars in the United States for nearly 25 years. The first generation was launched on May 7, 1976 as a three-door hatchback with 68 horsepower, a 93.7-inch wheelbase and weighing about 2,000 pounds. For 2013, after several manufacturers began to match the Accord’s quality and offer better warranties, Honda acquiesced and debuted a complete redesign. Among a vast array of other attributes, the Accord now has a 109.4-inch wheelbase and weighs 3,559 pounds. The Accord, available in more than a dozen configurations and as a coupe and sedan,

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Lexus ES350: A Weekly Driver 2012 Top 10

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The Lexus ES 350 is in the wondrous midsize luxury class. It features tough competition among well-heeled vehicles ranging from the Buick LaCrosse to the Volvo S60 and the Acura TL to the Hyundai Genesis. For 2012, the Lexus ES 350 remains largely unchanged from the 2011 model, with one available trim. It’s a 3.5-liter V6 that produces 268 horsepower, 248 pound-feet of torque and has a standard six-speed automatic transmission. Without changes, Lexus must be confident in the Lexus ES 350, the high-brow sibling of a Toyota Camry. There was plenty of evidence for that theory during my weekly

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