News feed - Page 170 of 254 - The Weekly Driver

Hyundai fighting recall of Sonata Hybrid for seatbelt issue

Hyundai continues its increasingly strong position among carmakers, and it now believes it can do well against a more powerful industry leader — the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hyundai has been ordered to recall and replace center rear seat belts in 14,728 Sonata hybrids from model years 2011 and 2012. But the automaker is seeking a review of the recall and is filing for an exemption. The Korean automaker has fixed the issue believed to be a safety concern for 1,633 Sonata Hybrids in its possession. But Hyundai believes there's no further risk for slightly more than 13,000 other

Buick LaCrosse, 2012: supple ride, precise steering for new look in old brand

The full-size Buicks sedans of the 1950s through the early 1970s were stylish, comfortable and had powerful V-8s. They were well-suited to older drivers who bought most of them and mainly drove them on America’s ruler-straight roads. The 2012 LaCrosse sedan is now the largest Buick, although it’s smaller and lighter than those old gas-thirsty Buick land yachts. It comes with front-or all-wheel drive, whereas the old large Buicks had rear-wheel drive. Prices for the new LaCrosse range from $29,960 to $38,270, with all-wheel-drive models starting at $34,070. Even the base LaCrosse is fairly well equipped with comfort, convenience and

GMC Terrain Denali, 2013: Makeover shines in and out for crossover

Text/Images By Megan Green The 2013 GMC Terrain Denali, introduced recently in New York (its biggest market), is the smallest of the GMC crossovers and features an updated grille, new headlight and tail lamp configurations and additional interior comforts associated with the Denali trim level. Powertrain Options Two direct injection cast aluminum engines are available — the standard Ecotec 2.4 liter dual overhead cam inline 4-cylinder engine and a new comparatively lighter 3.6 liter V6 with a composite intake and an integrated cylinder head/exhaust manifold. Front wheel drive is standard, and all-wheel drive is available with either engine choice. The

Fiat 500 Abarth, 2012: Scorpi0n edition adds to brand's savvy hot model marketing (video)

Since its return last fall after nearly a four-decade absence, the Fiat 500 continues to find a steady, niche new market in the United States via its new relationship with Chrysler and several massively popular television commercials. In addition to the three models, Pop, Lounge and Sport, Fiat has several specialty editions, including the recently released Abarth and Gucci, and some further specialized offerings for 2013 currently featured at the Geneva Auto Show. In the Gucci trim, a two-tone style and high-styled badging is offered to reflect the famed designer. And with the much-anticipated Abarth, Fiat is hopeful of vast

Infiniti M Hybrid, 2012: World’s fastest full hybrid combines performance, economy

According to Infiniti, the 2012 M Hybrid luxury sedan features the performance of a V8 engine with the fuel economy of a 4-cylinder. If this sounds too good to be true, consider the numbers: Infiniti claims 0 to 60 in well under six seconds, and up to 32 mpg. Could the M Hybrid be the automotive equivalent of having your cake and eating it, too? The M Hybrid, or M35h, utilizes Infiniti’s new Direct Response Hybrid system, the first hybrid system developed fully in-house by Nissan/Infiniti. The system combines a 302 hp 3.5-liter V6 engine, a 7-speed automatic transmission, and

Historic Ferrari racing returning to Laguna Seca Raceway

Historic Ferraris and their modern-day relatives will take to the race track May 18-20 for Ferrari Racing Days at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. Ferrari 458s will compete alongside their predecessor the F430s in the Ferrari Challenge as well as separate 599XX, FXX and Shell Historic races. “We had a tremendous response to this event last year,” said Gill Campbell, CEO/raceway general manager. “Ferrari’s have such a loyal following and we had participants and spectators from around the world turn out to see these cars in their natural environment – the race track.” The single marque racing series

Toyota Venza, 2013: Revised grille, more technology for New York Auto Show debut

The 2013 Toyota Venza crossover, which will feature a restyled exterior design, will make its North American debut as part of the Toyota display at the 2012 New York Auto Show, April 6-15 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York In addition to enhanced exterior styling, added value through several new standard convenience features and updated option packages that include the Entune™ multi-media system for 2013 model year. Venza’s aerodynamic shape has been modified with a new upper and lower grille, fog lamps and rear taillights. The updated styling is complemented by a new 19-inch wheel design

Toyota recalls more than 681,000 Camry, Venza and Tacoma trucks

Toyota is recalling more than 681,000 Camry, Venza and Tacoma vehicles from 2005 to 2011 because of faulty warning lamps, faulty steering cables and the inability of some cars to start. Approximately 495,000 Toyota Tacoma trucks from 2005 to early 2009 will be recalled to replace the steering wheel spiral cable assembly. A combined total of 186,500 Camry (2009) and Venza (2009 and 2011) are also being recalled because of faulty stop lamp switches. Due to the combination of steering wheel spiral cable design and characteristics unique to the Tacoma chassis, friction between the spiral cable and the retainer in

Bugatti auctioning ride and drive of Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport

Bugatti Automobiles will auction the opportunity to drive a Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport during the RM Auctions’ 14th annual Amelia Island sale on March 10. The winner will get a ride and drive in the Grand Sport with Bugatti’s official test pilot on either the East or West Coast on roads such as Pacific Coast Highway or the Blue Ridge Mountain Parkway. When the roof is closed, the Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport, which has a price of $1.8 million, can reach 253 mph. RM Auctions is the official auction house of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. The

Automotive advertisers drive away from Rush Limbaugh program

Four companies with automotive-related products or services are among the more than two dozen advertisers who have exited the Rush Limbaugh radio program since the syndicated broadcaster made unflattering remarks on his February 29 show. GEICO, AOL, All-State and Sears have all withdrawn sponsorship of the program after its host unloaded on Sandra Fluke. The Georgetown University law student spoke to Congress last month in favor of President Barack Obama's policy requiring insurers to offer contraceptives to women. Limbaugh's use of the words "slut" and "prostitute" drew immediate reaction, with a rapidly increasing number of program sponsors quickly exiting. AOL

Hyundai Accent, 2012: More powerful, better gas mileage, best subcompact economy

The new Hyundai Accent promises to make this automaker even more popular. The Accent has been Hyundai's lowest-cost model and always has been cheap to buy and run. The revamped, longer fourth-generation 2012 model remains inexpensive and cheap to run, but it's sleeker with its “Fluidic Sculpture” design and more powerful with improved fuel economy. You can say one thing for Hyundai — it never stands still. The new front-wheel-drive Accent comes as a sedan or four-door hatchback. It has best-in-class fuel economy of an estimated 30 miles per gallon in the city and 40 on highways with either its

Chevy Volt's love-hate relationship: Image issues remain for car of the year

A few days after its production temporarily stopped because of low sales, the Toyota Prius plug-in hybrid has been named the 2012 European Car of the Year at the Geneva Auto Show. It shares the award with Opel Ampera, its European sibling. The Volt won North American Car of the Year in 2011 among several other accolades. But the Volt has also been a controversial newcomer to the green car market. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigated the vehicle after several odd batteries fires. And although the NHTSA reported the Volt wasn’t defective, sales have not improved. General

Jaguar Land Rover, Chery propose joint venture to make cars in China

Jaguar Land Rover and Chery Automobile Company hope to gain approval for a nearly $3 billion joint automotive venture in eastern China, according to a two-source report by Reuters. If the deal is approved, it would be located in Shanghai in Changshu City and the facility would first manufacture Land Rover SUVs, followed by Jaguars. Jaguar Land Rover, controlled by Tata Motors of India, had previously attempted joint venture deals with other Chinese partners, but negotiations stalled. Last year, Jaguar Land Rover sold about 42,000 cars in China, while German stronghold Audi sold approximately 313,000 vehicles. Approval for automotive manufacturers

Chevy Volt hybrid unplugged by GM for five weeks via low sales

The Chevrolet Volt, the plug-in hybrid highly touted by General Motors but not overwhelmingly accepted by the car-buying public, has fallen short of GM’s anticipated sales predictions and thus will not be made for five weeks beginning March 19. According to the carmaker, production will stop through April 23 at its Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit. The plant had increased its production to full speed in Feb. 6. from March 19 until April 23. Sales of the Volt in February more than tripled from a year earlier to 1,023. But sales are below what’s needed to meet Chief Executive Officer

2012 Toyota Prius C gets vast praise as economic hybrid with surprising performance

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (0.0KB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThe Toyota Prius C, the fourth model in the Prius family, is the shortest, narrowest, lightest and thus most fuel efficient of the hugely successful carmaker's hybrid lineup. The gasoline engine in the Prius has been reduced from 1.8 liters of displacement in the original Prius to 1.5 liters, and its dual electric motors are also smaller. Combined, there's only 99 horsepower in the Prius C, while the original Prius has 135 horsepower. The C in the Prius C, according to Toyota, translates to "city," and it's

Toyota Prius C, 2012: Lightweight city hatchback expands hybrid line

Toyota is expanding its hot Prius hybrid car line with a new, smaller urban-based model. The sporty 2012 Toyota Prius C (for “city”) gas/electric four-door hatchback is aimed at young urban couples. It’s expected to be the “gateway” car to larger, costlier members of the Prius family. The compact Prius C could have been partially inspired by the late British genius car designer Colin Chapman, who won international race championships by making his Lotus cars as light as possible. So it is with the Prius C, based on the Toyota Yaris platform. Automakers are happy to chop just 50 pounds