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Honda Civic, 2012: It’s a natural gas and it’s nationwide

The 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (formerly the Civic GX), the only dedicated natural gas-powered passenger vehicle manufactured and sold in the U.S., debuted Oct. 18, marking the first time in the vehicle’s 14-year history it’s been available at dealerships throughout the country. Until its current model, the Honda Civic natural gas model was available only in California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma. To support growing consumer interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, American Honda expanded its U.S. distribution to 200 dealers in 35 states. As an alternative-fuel vehicle with extremely low smog-forming emissions, the Civic Natural Gas currently qualifies for a

Honda Fit EV, 2013: Another new car joins green car parade

The 2013 Honda Fit EV will debut at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, one year after it was unveiled in its concept version at the same auto show and with hopes Honda can infiltrate the Toyota dominance in the alternative fuel and electric vehicle market. The electric Fit will look similar to its the gas-powered sibling, but will feature a high-density coaxial motor and a lithium-ion battery park. The concept has a top speed of 90 mph and has 70-100 miles of driving range per charge. The new Fit will also join Honda’s expanding Honda’s alternative-fuel offerings, include the

Dodge Charger, Aston Martin battle: Best car in a movie

Top-10 convertibles. Top-10 Green Cars. Top-10 sedans, coupes and luxury cars. They're all worthwhile lists and fun to agree with or make fun of as worthless. But for a car list to be pertinent it has to include passion, and thus Edmunds.com, site InsideLine took on the task of creating the most important list of cars — in movies. Cars old and new are in most movies, sometimes witth subtle but important roles like the gangster cars in The Godfather trilogy. And cars are importnat in small films, too, like in the art house film of a few years ago,

Andy Rooney takes on gadgets, green cars and Ford technology in new rant

Andy Rooney, age 92, and part of 60 Minutes on CBS since 1978, offered his latest rant on the second week of the new season of the longstanding program on Oct. 3. The essay was about his dislike of gadgets, particularly in the automobile industry and including Ford's latest smartphone application.

Andy Rooney: A 'love affair' with Lexus and the used car industry

In his iconic career with CBS, Andy Rooney gave opinions about politicians and personalities and even used cars, including the history and affection for his one-time Lexus sport utility vehicle. In the commentary, Rooney traced his former Lexus SUV's life after he sold it. It transitioned from wholesaler to wholesaler to used car lots to car auctions to the suburban family who bought the car. As was his style, Rooney expressed his opinion, noting that the only company who didn't speak with him was the company "that probably made the most on the car." Even in his three-minute commentarty, Rooney

Andy Rooney: Bumper-to-bumper rant on car repairs

With this rant by Andy Rooney on car bumpers, the logical assumption is that the CBS commentator, who retired Oct. 2 from with his regular end-of-the-show segment on 60 Minutes, must have had some fender benders along the way that were his fault. Rooney doesn't make mention of any accidents in his two-minute routine. But he rails against car manufacturers as clips of all kinds of vehicles backing in the same post are featured with his monologue. Rooney explains how bumpers, once extensions of cars, are now built as a part of cars. He says the only way to have

Tesla debuting three new retail stores to unveil Model S

Tesla Motors, which next year will introduce Tesla Model S, the newest offering from the California-based, high-end electric sports car manufacturer, is opening three more retail stores in North America. Tesla Bellevue Square at the plush shopping center in Bellevue, Washington, opens today (November 5, 2011). It will be followed by Tesla store opening in Chicago's Oakbrook Center (Nov. 12) and a store at Fashion Island in Newport Beach, California (Nov. 19). The Bellevue Square store will feature a display of a Model S Beta prototype and drivetrain components. All of the new stores, like the current Tesla sales areas,

Bugatti plans plug-in electric Galibier for 2012

The rumor has been around for a while, but Bugatti has confirmed it will soon a offer a plug-in hybrid. Wolfgang Durheimer, the Bugatti CEO said the luxury automaker will debut, likely in 2012, a 1.4 million super car based on the 16 C Galibier concept that debuted in 2009. The four-seat sports sedan will feature 16-cyclinder engine, with the plug-in hybrid option possessing a 25-mile radius in electric-only driving. Durheimer didn't report if Bugatti hybrid engine will be downsized, but he commmented Bugatti hopes to sell around 1,500 units during car's yet-to-be determined tenure.

Toyota Camry SE, 2012: New look, more car (video review)

During a recent Toyota media launch at the Sonoma Mission Inn in Northern California, videographer Bruce Aldrich and I drove, among a caravan of other journalists, to Infineon Raceway for a full day of comparison driving — 2011 Toyota Camry models versus 2012 Toyota Camry models. With the 2012 models of the best-selling Camry, Toyota has resigned the sedan throughout the four-trim line-up. The improvements are immediately noticeable. Despite its popularity, Toyota has obviously prepared as other top-selling sedans, particularly the Hyundai Sonota, are making serious efforts to grab larger shares of the mid-size sedan marketplace. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGTN86mKoXo

Arnold Schwarzenegger's Ferrari 360 an eBay no-sale but still for sale at Sacramento Maserati dealership

Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's 10-year Ferrari 360 didn't sell during its recent auction on eBay, but the pristine high-powered machine is still for sale. According to Andrew Lyon of Sacramento Maserati, the 2002 vehicle formerly owned by the former Governor of California attracted some international attention, but there were no potential buyers on eBay from the United States. The listing for the car on eBay ended Nov. 1. Schwarzenegger had listed the Ferrari 360 Spider, via the dealership and eBay Motors for $92,450. The convertiable Ferrari features a 3.6-liter, eight-cylinder, 400-horsepower and has silver exterior and black interior. The vehicle

Charlie Sheen ponies up rare 1966 Ford Mustang for charity

Charlie Sheen has a new television role and apparently a renewed appreciation for charity. His restored 1966 Ford Mustang is being auctioned by the celebrity charitable outfit charitybuzz.com to raise fund for C5LA. The auction will continue through Nov. 17 Sheen restored the Mustang to complete Nascar specifications in 2006 and added his signature on the dashboard. This one-of-a-kind vehicle would cost approximately $300,000 to duplicate. Net proceeds benefit C5LA, a five-year youth leadership development program that begins with eighth graders and is designed to inspire high-potential, at-risk youth from under-resources environments in Los Angeles to obtain higher education and

Chevrolet at 100: iconic cars, Dinah Shore and American Pie

From its iconic models — Corvette to Impala, Bel Air to Camaro — and its inclusion in pop songs sung by Dinah Shore, Don McLean and Bob Seger, Chevrolet has been in public consciousness for exactly a century. Which means, of course, the automaker, co-founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant on Nov. 3, 2011, is celebrating its 100th birthday today (Nov. 3, 2011). Nearly everyone or someone in nearly everyone's family in the United States has a story to tell about a Chevrolet — a first date to family vacations. Beyond memories of driving experiences, the brand and

Scion iQ, 2012: Brainy microcar with a lot of room to roam

Three years to the month after it made its debut in Japan, the Scion iQ arrived in the United States in October 2011 as the country's second "city car." And, of course, it's the immediate rival of the Smart ForTwo, the now nearly teenage microcar. Like its rival, the Scion iQ mini-car is innovative, controversial and immediately attracts attention with its petite presence. Like the Smart ForTwo, the Scion iQ also has an odd name. Toyota, the Scion parent company, explains the "i" means "individuality," "innovation," and "intelligence." And the "Q" stands for "quality." The Weekly Driver Test Drive During

Hyundai sets record yearly sales mark in 10 months

Hyundai, capitalizing on the increasing popularity of its Sonata, Elantra and new Veloster models, has eclipsed its previous yearly sales record after the first 10 months of 2011. Hyundai sold 538,228 vehicles in the United States in 2010, but through October this year has sold 545,316 vehicles — an increase of 27 percent from October, 2010. Year to date, Hyundai sales are up 21 percent versus the 2010 in total, and up 31 percent at retail. Sales to fleet accounts represent 11 percent of the total sales year-to-date and eight percent for the month of October. Thirty-seven percent of Hyundai

Honda CR-V, 2012: New edition images leaked on Japan site

Like several other manufacturers, Honda was planning to debut the new edition e of its most successful vehicles, the CR-V sport utility vehicle, at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Instead, the 2012 edition was unveiled accidentally or accidentally on purse in automaker's Japanese-language website. Images of the 2012 CR-V crossover are not-too-different from the photos of concept of the car unveiled in September. If the images are correct, the new CR-V features a more prominent grille and more pointed windows and more steeply angled rear lines. The CR-V will also reportedly features a new platform with more interior

Hybrid market expands in 2012, Toyota Prius v to BMW

Citing impressive statistics, the Auto Channel on MSN.com has a comprehensive listing of 2012 hybrids, from the industry standard Toyota Prius to its new sibling, the Prius v, as well as debuting high-end offerings from Porsche and Mercedes-Benz. MSN.com states as many as 50 hybrids could be on the market by 2015 and that ghe overall hybrid market share has nearly doubled in 2011 to about two percent. Here, for example. is what MSN.com said about the 2012 Hyundai Sonata Hybrid and Toyota Prius v: Hyundai Sonata: "This impressive hybrid entry is fast gaining converts, and it's not hard to