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Honor Dan Wheldon, watch SENNA, film homage to racing

The death of Dan Wheldon during final IndyCar series finale Oct. 16 occurred ironically during the current release of the documentary SENNA, the biography of Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver who like Wheldon was revered and a racing hero to their respective countryman and global fans. Wheldon, 33, the Great Britain native and two-time Indy 500 winner, died in a 15-car accident early in the race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Senna, 34, of Brazil, a three-time F1 world titlist, died May, 1994 in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix. Wheldon called Senna his racing

Toyota 4Runner, 2012: New prices, audio upgrades

The Toyota 4Runner sport utility vehicle, now in its 27th year, will feature audio and connectivity upgrades and automatic running board and will be priced from $31,090 to $40,630 in 2012 editions. The base MSRP for the 2012 4Runner SR5 models are $31,090 for the 4×2 and $32,830 for the 4×4, an increase of $785, or 2.6 percent for 4×2 and 2.5 percent for 4×4. The base MSRP for the 4Runner 4×4 Trail grade is $36,755, reflecting an increase of $200, or 0.5 percent. Prices for the premium Limited models are $38,595 for the 4×2 and $40,630 for the 4×4,

White supremacy returns for car buyers, silver now second

After a decade of silver leading the pack as the world's most popular car color, white is now No. 1 with 20 percent of all cars painted white, according to PPG Industries in Detroit. The color trends data company recently announced that white now has one percent lead over silver globally. But while white is also the leading color in North America, geographically color preferences are drastically different. In Europe, black is the favorite color among car buyers. Among North American car buyers, here are the percentages: white (20 percent), silver (19), black (18), gray (15), red (9), blue (9).

Hyundai debuts cheapest car, but Eon's only for India

Hyundai has introduced in New Delhi, India, the Eon, the smallest car the South Korean manufacturer has ever made. It hopes the three-cylinder, four-door, five-seat hatchback will strongly challenge Maruti Suzuki, the country's best-selling carmaker. The Eon, priced at 2.7 lakh (approximately $5,500) is a few inches shorter than Hyundai's i10, Hyundia's previous smallest car made in India. The Eon is same length as the Maruti Alto, the top-selling car in India, and it's slightly longer than the Tata Motor. The Eon will be available in six trims — D-Lite, D-Lite (O), Era, Magna, Eon D-Lite Magna (O) and Eon

Audi A7, 2012: Return to the future with style and speed

Launched at the 2010 Paris Auto Show and then to the United States market in April at the New York Auto Show, the 2012 Audi A7 marks the manufacturer's return to the luxury hatchback segment. The three-door Audi 100 (1970) and the five-door Avant (1977) were Audi's previous upscale hatchbacks — and a lot has changed in 37 years. The Weekly Driver Test Drive A friend says the 2012 Audi A7 is at the forefront of a new car segment — or at least a new segment en vogue for the first time in 40 years. He calls the new

Chevy Spark EV set for U.S., global debut in 2013

The Chevrolet Spark EV mini-car will join the manufacturer's expanding fraternity of electric vehicles and beginning in 2013 will be sold in California among other select markets in limited qualities in the United States and globally. "The Spark EV offers customers living in urban areas who have predictable driving patterns or short commutes an all-electric option," said Jim Federico, global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles at Chevrolet. "It complements Chevrolet’s growing range of electrified vehicles, including the Volt extended-range EV and the 2013 Malibu Eco with eAssist technology." Feedback from participants in Chevrolet’s electric vehicle demonstration fleets in Shanghai

2012 Kia Soul and Rio seek more sales with more car

Positioned among the underdogs in two of the most competitive automotive segments — subcompacts and sport utility vehicles — Kia has unveiled in a national media launch its 2012 Kia Rio and Kia Soul. Held at Travaasa, the woodsy luxury resort on the outskirts of Austin, Texas, Oct. 10-11, the lower-priced Kia and iconic Soul, were presented as two of the main reasons why Kia has generated a vast increase in popularity in the past three years. Tom Loveless, vice president of sales for Kia Motors of America, one of several Kia speakers during a 90-minute presentation, offered the following

Kia Rio, 2012: New features, new style, lower starting price

The redesigned 2012 Kia Rio ($13,600) and Kia Rio5 ($14,700), priced lower than 2011 models, are available in three trim levels — the base LX trim, the midlevel EX, and the top of the line SX. The SX starts at just under $18,000, which includes additional features such as 17 inch alloy wheels, twin chrome exhausts, a sport tuned suspension, and LED accents for the head and taillamps. Regardless of which model is selected, all three Rio trim levels will have electric power steering, air conditioning, and satellite radio as standard equipment along with standard safety features such as four

Formula 1 on right track at Circuit of The Americas in Texas

About 13 months before Formula 1 racing returns to the United States for the first time since 2007, construction of the Circuit of The Americas is steadily progressing toward the Nov. 18, 2012 debut in Austin, Texas, of a 10-year contract for the world's most viewed sport. According to literature distributed during a media tour held as a preamble to the national unveiling of the 2012 Kia Rio and Kia Soul, the Circuit of The Americas is the "first purpose racetrack and F1 Grand Prix facility." The 3.4-mile circuit is located on an approximately 970-acre site in southeast Austin along

BMW X3, 2011: Larger, longer, quicker, lighter

The redesigned second-generation BMW X3 is larger and roomier, providing fast acceleration and nearly sports-sedan handling and good utility. There are only minor trim changes for 2012. This 2011 model is larger and looks much like a “baby” BMW X5. It’s 3.4 inches longer, 1.1 inch wider and half an inch taller than its predecessor. It also has a slightly longer wheelbase and a little more ground clearance. Yet it weighs less than its predecessor. The $36,750 four-door X3 xDrive 28i model, which I tested, comes with a 3-liter, six-cylinder engine generating 240 horsepower. Although down from the 2010 version’s

LA Auto Show, 2011: BMW i8 Concept to Toyota Prius Plug-in

Fuel Efficiency and Green will be among automakers' key topics at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show — from entry level brands to high performance machines. As the first major North American auto show of the season, the 2011 L.A. Auto Show is scheduled Nov. 18-27 and will host some of the industry's most important new vehicle debuts. New entries into this fuel-efficient category include the Hyundai Veloster, the 2012 Kia Rio and the 2012 Mazda3 with SKYACTIV technology. Mazda's new SKYACTIV powertrain and chassis technologies will also be featured in the North American Debut of its all-new CX-5 crossover.

World's oldest running car sells for record $4.62 million

A 1884 De Dion Bouton et Trepardoux Dos-a-Dos Steam Runabout, the world's oldest running car, attracted twice its predicted value and sold for $4.62 million Oct. 7 before a packed house at RM Auctions in Hershey, Pa. The sale price is a world record for an early motor car sold at auction. Commissioned by French entrepreneur, Count de Dion and named ‘La Marquise’ after his mother, the 127-year-old vehicle drew a standing ovation from the audience as it drove onto RM’s Hershey auction stage. Attracting a starting bid of $500,000 and immediately jumping to $1,000,000, bidding moved swiftly to

Danica Patrick: Out with the old (Indy), in with the new (KC)

While the end is near for Danica Patrick in one facet of her racing career, she's also facing a new challenge while continuing another career chapter. Patrick has raced six times on the Kansas Track in the IndyCar Series, including a pole (2005) and four top-10 finishes. But the 29-year-old driver is make her ninth Nationwide start this season on Oct. 8, and it's her first in Kansas City. In August, Patrick announced she was leaving the IndyCar series to join Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s JR Motorsports’ Nationwide team fulltime in 2012. She'll conclude her IndyCar career Oct. 15 at Las

Toyota 4Runner, 2012: New technology, same dependability

The 2012 Toyota 4Runner, the fifth generation Sport Utility Vehicle named last year as "Most Dependable Midsize Crossover/SUV” by J.D. Power & Associates," features new audio and connectivity upgrades as well as new automatic running boards. The newest 4Runner in SR5 and Limited grades offer automatic running boards, while the 4Runner SR5 and Trail models come with standard SiriusXM Satellite Radio capability with a 90-day trial subscription included, USB port with iPod connectivity and hands-free phone capability and music streaming via Bluetooth wireless technology. Standard for the Limited grade, and optional for all other 4Runner models, a new display-type audio

Toyota Avalon, 2012: New year, no changes from 2011

One year after its redesign, the 2012 Toyota Avalon arrives unchanged with a 268-horsepower V6 engine, a six-speed automatic transmission and an EPA highway estimate of 29 miles per gallon Avalon’s 106.9 cubic feet of passenger space and 14.4-cubic foot trunk put it in the EPA’s "large car” category and it's about nine inches longer than the Toyota Camry, Ford Fusion and Hyundai Sonata. The 2012 Avalon is available in two grades, Avalon and Avalon Limited. Both are equipped with leather-trimmed interior, eight-way power driver’s seat, back-up camera, dual zone automatic climate control with air filtration, moonroof and 17-inch alloy

Toyota Sienna, 2012: More gadgets, options, space

The Toyota Sienna, which in 2011 debuted in its third generation with more versatility and a four-cylinder engine option, has added in 2012 in its XLE grade a standard power passenger seat and auto on/off headlights. The 2012 Sienna is available with a 3.5-liter V6 or 2.7-liter four-cylinder engine. Both DOHC engines offer Dual Variable Valve Timing with intelligence (VVT-i), roller rocker arms and an Acoustically Controlled Induction System (ACIS) that changes the intake tract length to optimize torque. The 3.5-liter V6 generates 266 horsepower at 6,200 rpm, with EPA-estimated mileage ratings of 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway (16 mpg