Chrysler 200, 2012: Quiet, comfortable cruiser built for moderate speed

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Chrysler significantly redid its aged Sebring model for 2011 and renamed it the “200.” The 2012 version with the optional hardtop and strong V-6 make it a pleasant cruising convertible, and it’s virtually unchanged for 2013. The front-drive, two-door Chrysler 200 convertible with its cloth power top starts at $26,995, but you get far more than open-air driving with it. Standard items include a six-speed automatic transmission instead of the dated entry level 200’s four-speed automatic, power driver seat, climate and cruise controls, adjustable wheel with audio controls, keyless entry and power windows and mirrors. The 200 convertible is offered

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Hennessey unveils 2013 VR1200, most powerful four-seat car in U.S.

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Hennessey Performance has debuted what it’s describing as the most powerful four-seat car available — the 2013 Hennessey VR1200 Twin Turbo Coupe. Based on the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, the team at HPE removes the 556 bhp factory supercharged V8 and replaces it with a de-tuned version of their Venom GT supercar engine. The VR1200’s 7.0L twin turbo V8 engine produces 1,224 bhp. The 2013 Hennessey VR1200 Twin Turbo comes is priced at $295,000 plus shipping costs. This includes the cost of the base Cadillac CTS-V. HPE plans to build only 12 vehicles for the 2013 model year. The VR1200 Twin

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Range Rover, 2013: Lighter, powerful, fast, eco-friendly

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Land Rover has introduced the 2013 Range Rover, with the fourth edition as the industry’s first sport utility vehicle with an all-aluminum structure. As the lightest SUV in its class, the new Range Rover is an indication of Jaguar Land Rover’s intentions to strive toward efficiency and sustainability in a carbon-conscious world. The new model features a lightweight all-aluminum body structure resulting in a 20 percent weight saving over outgoing models and delivering improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions. In the United States, engine options are a 5.0-liter V8 with 375 horsepower and supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 510 horsepower. The

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Volvo truck debuts with Faith Dickey's daredevil wired walk of faith

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Volvo is no different than other carmakers with clever marketing. By the time new Volvo FH truck was launched Sept. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden, it had already received vast considerable attention via a YouTube video called Ballerina Stunt. In the 3 1/2-minute footage high-liner world record holder Faith Dickey walks on a wire strung between two new FH trucks driving at 50 mph as it approaches a tunnel. The stunt was set up to show the precise handling of the new Volvo FH. It was filmed on an unopened highway in Croatia in cooperation with Hollywood stunt director Peter Pedrero

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California motorists encouraged to re-think oil change practices

Should motorists change their vehicle’s oil every 3,000 miles? Not necessarily, according to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). With its “Check Your Number” campaign, CalRecyle encourages drivers to rethink their current habits and only change motor oil as needed. “With significant advances in auto technology, it’s important for drivers to understand that changing motor oil every 3,000 miles is an old default that may not be relevant for their vehicle,” said CalRecycle Director Caroll Mortensen. “Frequent oil changes do not necessarily mean better performance or longer engine life. By following the manufacturer’s recommendations, you will not only

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Jay Leno interviews Lamborghini president, gets tour of sexy concept cars

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Breaking the tradition of Jay Leno’s Garage, the comedian, talk show host and car collector recently intervierwed Lamborghini CEO Stephan Winkelmann at the Concours d’Elegance during Monterey Auto Week in Pebble Beach, California. Leno and Winklemann walk around the Urus and Sesto Elemento concepts, and discuss the Italian manufacturer’s plans for the marque’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2013. The automotive gala will be a Grand Tour of Italy with more than 300 Lamborghini vehicle invited from around the world. Winkelmann provides details about the Urus concept and and SUV production version. Leno mentions his Lamborghini (of course) and the two

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Kaiser-Darrin, 1954: Sports car the world has been waiting for

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The stunning 1954 Kaiser-Darrin DKF-161 sports car is a rare auto that doesn’t look like anything else. It has a long, sleek hood, a small and exquisite “pursed-lips” grille, sliding doors and three-position folding top. The beautifully proportioned two-seater also has tapering rear fenders and large teardrop taillights that smoothly blended with its lines. The grille looks like it “wants to give you a kiss,” one car designer quipped. Laudau irons let the folding soft top be locked in an intermediate position, leaving the rear section erect for open-air driving without rear drafts. The Kaiser-Darrin’s picture was put on U.S.

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Acura ILX, 2013: Luxury, performance, strong value for new sedan

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A new model for Honda’s upscale brand, the 2013 Acura ILX is the carmaker’s smallest offering as an entry level luxury vehicle. It’s only been available in the United States since May, 2012. Six models are offered: a base five-speed automatic, five-speed auto with premium package, five-speed auto with technology package, six-speed manual with premium package, a base hybrid and a hybrid with a technology package. The hybrid models are Acura‘s first and feature a 1.5-liter four-cylinder with a gas/electric powertrain. The 2013 ILX in one respect made an inauspicious debut: Combined with its distant 2012 Honda CR-V sibling, the

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Mini Cooper (John Cooper Works) Coupe, 2012: Fast, handsome, expensive

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Introduced to the Mini Cooper lineup in 2009, the John Cooper Works (JCW) model is named after the deceased famous racing car guru who founded the Cooper Car Company in 1946. For 2012, the JCW edition of the Mini, now owned and marketed by BMW, retains its place as a niche compact driving machine. It features a 208-horsepower, turbocharged engine and six-speed manual transmission with larger, now standard 17-inch wheels. In addition to its more powerful engine (87 more horsepower than the standard Mini), The John Cooper Works includes upgraded Brembo brakes and options such as a leather upholstery package

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Subaru Legacy, 2013: Overlooked sedan offers good value, great safety

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Many mid-size sedan buyers act like lemmings, continually buying the same make of vehicle year after year. Otherwise, a lot more Subaru Legacy mid-size sedans would be bought. Rivals to the Legacy — essentially an overlooked gem — include the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. Most receive far more advertising and have a considerably larger owner body. Not that Subaru hasn’t been around for decades. It began to get its feet as a small, cramped front-wheel drive model that nevertheless was rugged. It became a favorite for rough New England winters, and for years was known as a “New England”

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Hyundai Elantra GT, 2013: Versatile new hatchback offers value, vast features

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The 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT joins the Korean manufacturer’s lineup replacing the Elantra Touring in the increasingly popular stable of small, versatile hatchbacks. With a shorter wheelbase and a six-inch shorter overall length than its predecessor, the Elantra GT is Hyundai‘s entry as a lighter (2,750 pounds) and more fuel-efficient offering in the popular segment. The Ford Focus, Mazda 3 Subaru Impreza and VW Golf are its primary competitors. The 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT offers an impressive list of standard features that include heated front seats, a 10-way power driver seat, a cooled glovebox, dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker sound

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Jaguar XKR-S, 2012: Stylish, fastest model of iconic sports car

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The 2012 Jaguar XKR-S is likely the last, extremely fast model that retains much of the automaker’s traditional “E-Type” sports car styling. The sensational race-bred Jaguar E-Type sports car arrived for 1961 with a potent inline six-cylinder engine. It was sold as a coupe or convertible and was known to most Americans as simply the “XK-E.” Many still feel that it’s the most beautiful sports car ever built. But the E-Type began to lose some of its luster when government regulations forced it to detune its engine and add such items as clumsier bumpers and smoothly faired plastic covers over

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Nissan Murano, 2012: Quick, sporty SUV fares well in tight market

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The Nissan Murano debuted in 2003, but updates have kept it sharp and competitive with other mid-size SUV/crossover vehicles. It’s luxurious enough to wear a badge from Nissan’s upscale Infiniti division. Sculpted body lines and chromed exhaust pipe tips help give the Murano a sporty look, and it has definite sporty performance. The Murano was overhauled for 2009 and updated a bit for 2011, so the 2012 model has small trim changes and the addition of a new Platinum Edition equipped with such things as 20-inch aluminum alloy wheels. There are minor changes for the 2013 Murano. The 2012 Murano,

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Concours on the Avenue, Carmel, 2012: Jaguar to Muscle Cars, Maserati to Mercedes-Benz

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Concours on the Avenue is an ideal way to begin Monterey Auto Week. It’s low-key with a great mix of automobiles parked on Ocean Ave., and adjoining side streets for a one-day, judged show. The beauty of the show, this year, held Aug. 14, is the combination of the cars and their  engaging owners eager to discuss their vehicles w — Bugatti to Buick, Ferrari to Ford Pinto — with the public. And it’s hard to go wrong with a car show stationed in Carmel. The weather was in the mid-60s and the sunshine, as per Monterey Peninsula tradition and

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Mazda 5 CX-5, 2013: Comfort, convenience in new crossover

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Mazda long has been known for sporty vehicles, and its all-new 2013 CX-5 compact crossover is no exception, with swoopy styling and carlike handling. However, the CX-5 has just average acceleration because it only has a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine with 155-horsepower and weighs approximately 3,500 pounds. It’s no slug, but is designed more for comfort and convenience than 0-60 mph times. For instance, the automatic transmission shifts smoothly, but with no great urgency. It’s tuned more for the best fuel economy—rather than outright performance. The CX-5 is in a tough compact crossover league, with rivals such as the Toyota RAV4,

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Monterey Auto Week showcases all things cars, Ferrari to Ford, Bugatti to Bentley

Monterey Auto Week is the unofficial name of all things automotive on the Monterey Peninsula during the month of August. The name doesn’t make sense because combined the car-related activities last for about two weeks. The Concours d’Elegance, of course, is the most well-known event during Monterey Auto Week, but my favorite celebration of cars for the last few years has been the Concours on the Avenue. It’s a free, full-day gathering on Ocean Ave. and several side streets in Carmel where a vast collection of automobiles — Bentley to Volkswagen, Ferrari to Porsche — are on display and judged.

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