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Pontiac Aztek (again), Ferrari, Aston Martin Among 100 Worst Cars In History

It's not often a Ferrari 612 Scaglietti and Pontiac Aztec get mentioned in the same review. Or, when was the last time you've read a comparison between a Hyundai Excel and a Rolls Royce? How about when all the above are named to the list of 100 worst cars in history? Good or bad, cheap or pricey, fast or slow, underpowered or unsafe, car lists are subjective and fun. Which is why InsideLine.com, the sibling site of Edmunds.com, recently published its choices for the 100 best and worst cars is history. In reverse order on the all-time worst list, the

Lexus keeps current price despite redesign, upgrades in 2013 GS 350

The 2013 Lexus GS 350, introduced recently in regional and national car show without a price, now has one with the manufacturer announcing a "zero increase" for the newly designed vehicle. Scheduled to arrive a dealerships next February, the base price for the 2013 GS 350 will be priced $46,900 for the real-wheel model. The all-wheel drive model will have a base price MSRP of $49,450. The configurations are available as F SPORT models or can be equipped with the available Premium or Luxury packages for greater personalization. The GS 350 powertrains have been elevated for 2013 to provide better

Lexus will debut concept coupe at Detroit Auto Show

Lexus has already many of its newly designed 2013 lineup, but the Toyota luxury brand has announced plans for another new vehicle — at least as a concept — the LF-LC 2+2 sport coupe. According a Lexus press release, the concept coupe will be unveiled Jan. 9 at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. “Crafted from a clean sheet of paper at the request of Lexus headquarters in Japan, the LF-LC blends both high technology and organic shapes to connect the driver to the machine,” said Mark Templin, Lexus group vice president and general manager. “The clean lines

Dodge Charger, 2012: Fast, powerful, high-performance bargain

Iconic muscle cars are making a comeback — as much-improved models. The 1960s Dodge Charger with Chrysler’s awesome Hemi V-8 is one of the most legendary muscle cars of the high-octane 1960s. The 2012 Charger SRT8 with a Hemi V-8 is more than comparable to that old Charger. In fact, the new $45,795 Charger SRT8 from Chrysler’s high-performance SRT group is a flat-out high-performance-car bargain that might be considered by some to be too hot for the street with its 6.4-liter Hemi V-8. While well-mannered, unlike the 1960s 425-horsepower Hemi, the new Hemi V-8 provides 470 horsepower and 470 pound-feet of

Chevy, Ford, Buick, BMW among automakers with cars driving into the sunset

So long, Ford Ranger, Buick Lucerne, Dodge Dakota and Mazda Rx-8. Farewell, BMW Active Hybrid 6, Cadillac DTS and Chevrolet HHR. Nice to know you, Mitsubishi Eclipse, Nissan Altima Hybrid and Volvo S40 and V50. Take care Ford Crown Victoria, Mazda Tribute, Cadillac STS, Honda Element, Lotus Elise and California-based electric car start-up, Aptera. As for Saab and Maybach, both are joining the manufacturers' graveyard. In automotive year when perennial best sellers like the Ford F150, Toyota Camry and Honda Civic maintained their dominance, the ever-evolving auto industry experienced its share of change in 2011 — and losses of friends.

Sears goes Green with electric charging system for Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf

For more than a century, Sears has built its brand recognition on its appliances and tools. Now the iconic retailer is entering the green car business in a joint arrangement with Evatran to offer consumers reliable installation of Plugless Power electric vehicle charging systems. Plugless power systems recharge electric vehicles (EVs) as quickly as traditional corded options and require the same electrical installation inside a customer's home. Product offerings will initially focus on Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf models but will quickly expand to include additional electric vehicles. Installation will be offered with the sale of each Plugless Power system

Toyota Prius C, 2012: New city car could get 60 mpg

As the smallest, least expensive and most fuel efficient hybrid in the expanding Toyota fleet, the Prius c will make its North American debut January 10 at 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Oringinally unveiled in January as the Aqua at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota said the Prius C will get more than 50 mpg in the city, the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle. Some reviewers believe the vehicle will average more than 60 mpg. The Prius C will be equipped with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder Hybrid Synergy Drive engine. Toyota hasn't announce the price of

Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012: Dyno Test Video

On a chilly December morning in Northern California, I brought a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 to TPS Motorsports in Campbell, California for a couple of dyno runs on their Dynojet chassis dynometer. Truth was in the numbers as we dyno tested the Chrysler 300 SRT8 that claims 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque from Chrysler’s 6.4L HEMI powerplant. Power was measured at the wheels and the numbers were SAE corrected. Video and power output charts below document the results of our dyno test. After two test runs, maximum horsepower measured at the wheels was 411 horsepower. Maximum torque was

Hyundai Veloster, 2012: honors begin for 40 mpg, 3-door coupe

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the three-door coupe that joins siblings Accent, Elantra and Sonata Hybrid by achieving 40 mpg on the highway, has begun to generate end-of-the-year honor including Best Economy Car in Bloomberg's recent "Best Drives of 2011." The Veloster also features Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, Pandora internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display and a new 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine that can be mated to either Hyundai’s first EcoShift dual-clutch transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. Bloomberg praised the Veloster for “amenities like touch-screen navigation, automatic everything, Bluetooth and a rear-view camera.” “Hyundai has four models which hit

Saab wings clipped, files for bankruptcy after 65-year lifespan

Saab, the 65-year-old carmaker whose motto was “made from jets,” has now been jettisoned into bankruptcy courts, ending a two-year quest to save the troubled Swedish manufacturer. The decision was made, according to a report in the Irish Times newspaper other media outlets, after its former owner General Motors blocked the latest takeover attempts by Chinese investors. Saab had been in discussions with several potential investors over the last two years. But the deals have fell through. Chinese suitor, Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile had its proposal rejected late last week. Saab chief executive Victor Muller, who handed in the bankruptcy

Toyota Prius 2012: Prices announced for five models

The Toyota Prius has increasing competition in the hybrid car segment. But as the most successful green car in history, Toyota has now announced pricing for the 2012 Prius liftback while the MSRP for three new Prius family members, the Prius v, Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Prius c, are still pending. The Prius Liftback will be priced from $24,000 (Prius Two) to $29,805 (Prius Five), reflecting a price increase ranging from 2.0 percent to 4.3 percent. The 2012 model year Prius receives a refreshed front fascia, revised tail lamps, newly styled 15-inch wheel covers and LED Daytime Running Lights

Toyota RAV4: Prices set for Sport Utility Vehicle's three 2012 models

The 2012 Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle, offered in RAV4 grade, Sport and Limited editions, will have a price price from $22,650 to $28,650 and will begin arriving a dealerships Dec. 20, the carmaker announced. With its three grades, the RAV4 is available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 269 horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Each engine can be teamed with either front-wheel drive or electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive. The roomy RAV4 offers optional third-row seating on RAV4 and Limited grade models. The 2012 RAV4 receives an overall price increase of $100, or 0.4 percent, with some models receiving a price

Fiat 500 receives low NHTSA crash safety rating

The 2012 Fiat 500, the rekindled iconic Italian sub-compact that reappeared in the U.S. market earlier this year, has been shunned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with only a three-star rating for crash safety — a rare low mark. The little two-door Fiat 500 scored four stars in both the frontal and rollover crash tests, but its lowly mark occurred in the side impact crash test. After faring well in the side barrier rating part of the side crash test, scoring five stars, the Fiat 500’s limited rear protection was only two stars out of a possible

National Transportation Safety Board decree: ban cellphones, texting while driving

The annoying, unsafe and rampant use of cellphones and text messaging among drivers could finally become illegal with the exception of emergency situations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), via its group of accident investigators, has called for a nationwide ban on any non-emergency mobile phone calls texting while driving. The use of texting while driving is nearly exponentially increasing, with some surveys detailing that half of all young drivers text while driving. The NTSB in the past decade has increasingly proposed to limit the use of portable devices among drivers. Its latest recommendation is its most far-reaching proposal. In

Acura TSX, 2012: slick, quick worthy foe for BMW, Audi

The 2012 Acura TSX is a difficult car to categorize. It's often cited as an entry level luxury sedan. But with its new option, a peppy six-speed manual transmission, and a Special Edition package, it's also a sports car. Luxury sedan and sports car? That's an oxymoron in the automotive industry. But with Special Edition package, even if only offered on the four-cylinder Acura TSX, it's also an ideal description. The base TSX sedan and TSX Sport Wagon feature a long list of standard features: Automatic xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheel, foglights, heated outside mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry, dual-zone

Ford Ranger soon to join expanding deceased ranks

Another longstanding American vehicle is about to end its legacy. Ford has announced it will stop producing the Ranger this month — marking the end of the manufacturer's small line of pick-up trucks. The last Ford Ranger for the U.S. market is expected to roll off the line by Dec. 19. It's estimated about 800 Rangers are still in circulation and that more than 6.6 million sold in the truck's 29-year tenure. Ford will abandon a segment it led for 18 years until 2005, when it fell behind the Toyota Tacoma. "We've got a tremendous heritage and history with Ranger,"