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Scion xD, 2012: More hi-tech, still low-priced sub-compact

The 2012 Scion xD five-door urban subcompact vehicle, which will come standard with several Bluetooth features and HD Radio, will have a MSRP of $15,345 and $16,145 for the five-speed manual and the four-speed automatic transmissions respectively. The xD truly focuses on youth with its all-new standard AM/FM/CD/HD/USB 160-watt maximum output Pioneer audio system. New standard features for 2012 include HD Radio technology and Bluetooth connectivity that allows hands-free phone connection and streaming audio capability. Streaming audio allows compatible phone or personal media devices to pair with the audio system and listen to music through the vehicles sound system. The

John Travolta’s vintage Mercedes-Benz stolen in California

John Travolta is as passionate about vintage transportation as any aficionado. He’s driven vintage cars in films and he’s a pilot who owns a Boeing 707. But the veteran actor is now also a victim of the vast world of auto theft. Travolta’s 1970 Mercedes-Benz 280SL has been stolen. Then incident occurred quickly on Sept. 18 in Santa Monica, Calif., when Travolta stopped for 10 minutes at a Jaguar dealership. The actor’s vintage Mercedes was gone when he returned from the dealership. Travolta then re-visited the dealership and waited for law enforcement officers to file a crime report. According to

Lexus GS 450h, 2013: Faster, greener, better mpg

Lexus, which now has five vehicles in its hybrid lineup, has debuted the 2013 GS 450h. It’s the first premium performance sedan equipped with a V6 Atkinson cycle gas engine and two-motor hybrid system in a front engine, rear-wheel drive vehicle. The hybrid version of the 2013 GS 450 incorporates improvements to its hybrid powertrain and is equipped with a second generation Lexus Hybrid Drive system. With a total system power output of 338 hp, the GS 450h will accelerate from 0-60 mph in 5.6 seconds. Conversely, fuel consumption is expected to be improved by more than 30 percent. The

2012 Porsche 911 Carrera ready for North American debut

The 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera, the redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon, will make its North American debut October 14 at Rennsport Reunion IV at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California. The new 911 will be shown alongside the world’s most noteworthy Porsche race cars for three days. The three-day occasion will be highlighted by on-track competition featuring hundreds of treasured vintage and current Porsche race cars. Every chapter of Porsche’s motorsports history will take to the track, from the nimble 550 Spyder of the mid-50s through the legendary 917 and 956/962 of the 70s and 80s to the GT3

2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited: Best Jeep Ever?

Sport Utility Vehicles, Automotive Reviews

Try a Coke. Better yet, try out the 2012 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited. Few things are more American than a bottle of Coca-Cola or a Jeep. Jeep wisely decided to expand its line with the addition of its larger, more comfortable four-door Wrangler Unlimited in 2007. The two-door Wrangler model continued, but the Unlimited soon became — and is — the only Jeep for serious sustained road travel. The Unlimited also became the first four-door convertible with a soft or removable hard top. It retained Jeep’s traditional features, which include a seven-slot grille and round headlights. The Unlimited doesn’t look as

2012 Toyota Prius v: Car of the Year front runner

The recently debuted Toyota Prius v is touted by the manufacturer as having attributes that will “meet the needs of growing families with active lifestyles.” After driving the Prius v at the Green Drive Expo, a media launch in Richmond, Calif., and speaking with Wayne Gerdes, owner of the site, www.cleanmpg.com, and my test drive colleague, I had four quick reactions: 1. The Prius v, like Gerdes espoused several times, is the most fairly priced model in Toyota’s green fleet; 2. The Prius v logically should prove so popular, Toyota may find it has two Prius models competing against each

Toyota Prius, 2012: Plug-in hybrid debuts, 87 MPGe

Toyota has introduced the Prius Plug-in hybrid, joining the third-generation Prius Liftback and the new Prius v and Prius c models, the latter of which is set to debut in 2012. The Prius Plug-in combines the benefits of the standard Prius model’s hybrid vehicle operation with extended electric vehicle (EV) driving. Marketed as seating five, the 2012 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is expected to achieve a manufacturer-estimated 87 MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent) in combined driving and 49 MPG in hybrid mode. The recent introduction of the larger Prius v and the Prius Plug-in Hybrid gives Toyota four eco-focused vehicles, including

Audi A6, 2012 gets top safety award selection

The 2012 Audi A6 has been selected as a large luxury sedan Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) after a good performance in all four of the IIHS’s safety evaluations (front, side, rollover and rear crash tests). In the IIHS evaluation of roof strength, the A6 withstood a force equal to 4.9 times the car’s weight. The roof strength test evaluates how well the occupant compartment holds up in a rollover crash. Vehicles that have a strength-to-weight ratio of 4 or higher earn a “good” rating. Electronic stability control (ESC), previously a requirement to earn

Volkswagen Beetle, 2012: High fives and hand claps

Volkswagen isn't the first manufacturer to make clever television commercials. But the new spot for the 2012 Beetle is among the best. It's simultaneously hip and ideally deals a recent prevailing trend that Beetle are only purchased by women. The video features a male driver driving in various situations around town. No matter where he drives, people want to "high five" or do "knuckles." The commercial is shot to the ""The Clapping Song." It was originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965, shortly after she hit it big with a similar song, "The Name Game". The Clapping Song song made

Subaru recalls 400,000 cars, rust issues

Subaru is recalling more than 400,000 vehicles, including Impreza, Forester, Legacy and Outback models sold or registered in 20 states to replace potentially rusty brackets on the underside of the vehicles. The recall covers the 2002-2007 Impreza and 2003-2008 Forester because of front lower control arms broken at hanger brackets due to corrosion caused by road salt. The second recall covers 195,000 2010-2011 Legacy and Outback to replace the windshield wiper bottom cover, which could catch fire or stop working. Subaru said it received a complaint of smoke from a wiper motor in January and began an investigation. Owners will

Honda Pilot recalled for seatbelt quality issue

Honda is recalling 310,773 Pilot SUVs from the years 2009-2011 because driver and passenger seat belts whose anchor webbing may not have been properly completed and could detach. Honda said the first claim occurred in May 2010 of a seat belt anchor detaching and a second claim was made in July, prompting an investigation and recall. Honda will notify owners starting next month and dealers will replace the seat belts if necessary. No injuries or deaths have been reported, but the latest recall adds to Honda's woes. Last week, Honda announced a global recall of about 800,00 vehicles, including about

Toyota Camry 2012 set for early dealer debut

Two weeks earlier than expected, the Toyota Camry 2012 is expected to arrive at dealerships in mid-September, according to the manufacturer. The Japanese manufacturer with a new plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, said the advance sales of the top-selling Camry is feasible because the "sell-down of the 2011 Camry is going extremely well." In its monthly sales meeting, Toyota reported selling 30,185 2011 Camry models in August compared with 30,764 in August 2010, a drop of 5.7 percent. Jeff Bracken, vice president of sales for Toyota's U.S. division, said North American production of Toyota models will return to normal levels in

Infiniti M, 2012 car review

Want something different than, say, a BMW, Mercedes or Cadillac sports sedan? Check out the 20121 Infiniti M. The Infiniti flagship sedan is comparable to handsome, upscale sports sedans from any country. The “M” never sold as well as Nissan’s upscale Infiniti division felt it should have. So the 2011 model was blessed with superior styling, more-powerful engines, advanced safety equipment and a more attractive interior. Sales quickly improved. Changes were so major for 2011 there are few enhancements for 2012. They include a new 18-inch wheel package, combining the previous M56 Sport and Sport Touring packages into a single

MINI Countryman, 2011 car review

With the debut in 2011 of the Countryman, MINI tried to address the major drawback since the manufacturer's arrival in 1959. But is a four-door MINI, which arrives 11 years after new owner BMW rebranded Mini as MINI, an oxymoron? Or can the MINI ilegitimately be considered a family car? The new offering is one foot longer and six inches wider than the standard MINI. The Countryman (Mini actually had a coupe called the Countryman in the 1960s) also has an all-wheel drive option — another manufacturer's first. Likewise, the Countryman has 41.3 cubic feet of cargo space with the

Jeff Gordon edges Jimmie Johnson in Atlanta NASCAR

News Service

Delayed two days by inclement weather, Jeff Gordon claimed the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway over teammate Jimmie Johnson on Tuesday (Aug. 6) by about a half-second. Despite continued poor weather conditions — the event was red flagged for weather with 115 laps to go and laps were ran under caution a couple of other times because of a light mist — Gordon talllied his 85th-career win to assume sole possession of third on the all-time win list. Tony Stewart was third, Kurt Busch fourth and Carl Edwards fifth. Gordon took the lead on

Nissan signs on as cycling title sponsor for 2012

Automobile manufacturers involved in cycling are nothing new. But Nissan will be first and currenly only carmaker title sponsor among the top-level World Tour team in 2012 with the announcement Monday that the Japanese carmaker will be part of the newly named RadioShack-Nissan-Trek Professional Cycling Team. The squad represents the merger of the current Leopard-Trek squad and the Team RadioShack squad. The latter is partially owned by Lance Armstrong, the seven-time Tour de France winner who competed for the squad in 2010 and for one race this season before retiring in January at the Tour Down Under in Australia. The