Historic J.F. Kennedy Cadillac hearse set for Arizona auction

,

The 1964 Cadillac Hearse used to transport President John F. Kennedy’s body to Air Force One following his assassination in Dallas, Texas in 1963, will be auctioned Jan. at the 41st Annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale Auction, Jan. 15-22 in Arizona. The sale of hearse follows the 2011 sale of an ambulance used to transport John. F. Kennedy’s body from Air Force One to the Bethesda Naval Hospital. The ambulance sold amid worldwide attention, despite unproven claims the ambulance was another naval ambulance. The hearse was built by the Miller-Meteor Company in time for display at the National Funeral Home Directors Association

Read more

NAIAS 2012: 2013 Cadillac ATS, 2013 BMW 3-Series, 2013 Ford Fusion

, ,

By Megan Green Cadillac ATS Cadillac kicked off the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan with the much-anticipated launch of the 2013 ATS. Revealed in the rooms that once were Harley Earl's legendary 1950's design studio, Cadillac's lightweight, rear-wheel drive compact sedan challenges the European stronghold on the luxury segment. Weighing in at less than 3,400 pounds, the ATS structure uses high-strength steels (HSS) and ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) for crash protection, with a broad use of aluminum in the powertrain and suspension systems, as well as an aluminum hood and magnesium engine mount brackets. The ATS

Read more

Kia Sorento, 2012: More horsepower adds clout to unheralded SUV

, ,

Manufactured since 2002 and refreshed last year to begin its second decade, the Kia Sorento is a midsize crossover Sport Utility Vehicle continuing to find its niche market in the crowded SUV segment. It offers the unique combination of third row of seating, nimble handling and impressive fuel economy for its segment, and it's among the few SUVs with more than a 30 mpg freeway mileage average. Available in base, LX, EX and SX models, the 2012 Kia Sorento offers a first — an optional direct-injection 2.4-liter four-cylinder that adds 16 more horsepower. It's a keen addition that boosts the

Read more

Cadillac ATS, 2013: Agile, lightweight, hi-tech, luxurious (video)

, ,

Hoping to compete in the increasingly popular trend of small luxury cars, the 2013 Cadillac ATS, a compact sports sedan and the smallest vehicle in the 107-year-old carmaker's history, has debuted at the North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit. The Cadillac ATS, which will be available in dealerships nationwide in the summer of 2012, is being marketed as the most agile and lightweight Cadillac. It weights less than 3,400 pounds. The ATS will be available in two four-cylinder engines and as a V-6. They new sedan will range from 200 to about 320 horsepower, and will be available

Read more

Hyundai Elantra 2012 takes another honor — North American Car of the Year

, ,

Another day, another award for Hyundai. And this time, it's among the most prestigious honors. The Hyundai Elantra defeated the Volkswagen Passat and Ford Focus and was selected as 2012 North American Car of the Year. A jury of 50 independent North American automotive journalists evaluated each of the new cars introduced last year and chose the 2012 Hyundai Elantra at a news conference at the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The honor marks Hyundai’s second win. The Hyundai Genesis was named North American Car of the Year in 2009. “Elantra speaks to the success of our

Read more

Rolls-Royce still rolling strong, sets all-time sales record in 2011

, ,

Rolls-Royce, the ultraluxury centenarian automaker, sold more cars in 2011 than it has in any year in its 107-year history, its owner BMW AG has announced. While breaking a sales record that stood for 33 years, Rolls0-Royce sold 3,538 cars last year, most notably via the Ghost Extended Wheelbase model, which debuted in April 2011. The new sales figures marked a 31 percent increase from Rolls Royce sales in 2010. Rolls-Royce‘s previous annual sales record dates to 1978, when it sold 3,347 cars. “We had an outstanding year,” Rolls-Royce brand chief Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes said in a statement. “We’re expanding our

Read more

BMW 3-Series, 2012: Sixth generation sedan will match sibings' technology

, , ,

Now 37 years old, the BMW 3 series in its sixth generation will debut at the 2012 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and for the first time will include the technology currently available in its 5 and 7 series siblings. That technology currently includes lane-departure warning system, night vision, a system to prevent the driver from falling asleep, and radar-based adaptive cruise control with collision-mitigating automatic braking. The 2012 3 Series is expected to be powered by a new family of aluminum four-cylinder petrol engines ranging from 135 to 245 horsepower. These will include new technologies such as variable

Read more

GM debuting smallest, lightest Cadillac in history at Detroit Auto Show

, ,

General Motors will unveil the 2013 Cadillac ATS, the smallest and lightest car in the the storied brand's history, when the North American International Auto Show begins Janauary 9 in Detroit. The yet-to-be-priced sedan will go into production in a few months at the General Motors factory in Lansing, Mich. The ATS will be available in two four-cylinder engines and as a V-6. They new sedan will range from 200 to about 320 horsepower, and will be available in rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and with a six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission. With an expected beginning price between $33-$35,000, the

Read more

Audi A7, 2012: New luxury sports sedan tops best 2012 car list

, , ,

Since its debut in the United States 10 months ago, the 2012 Audi A7 has received wide acclaim. It's been named Car of the Year by at least one publication (Playboy), and it's also on numerous top-10 lists. The Weekly Driver reviewed the Audi A7 a few months ago, but it's also now featured again as the first in the alphabetical listing of the general consensus choicea of 2012 Cars of the Year among several automotive web sites and print publications. The A7 marked Audi's return to the executive hatchback market since the 1970 three-door Audi 100 Coupe of 1970

Read more

Flying car makes roof landing, felon driver called Santa (video)

,

Many details are still unknown, but a flying car described as Santa's sleigh by some onlookers and as a miracle by other observers, landed on an apartment rooftop in Fresno, California, without incident or injury in the early morning hours on January 6. According to witness accounts and a law enforcement officer's opinion on a Northern California television broadcast, the driver of the car likely took a corner at a high rate of speed. Somehow, the vehicle was catapulted into the air and landed on the roof of the apartment building in a suburban neighborhood. The driver of the car

Read more

Range Rover Evoque, 2012: Radical, sleek new SUV from Land Rover

, , ,

The new 2012 Range Rover Evoque compact sport-utility from England’s Land Rover is a good combination of styling, comfort, practicality and off-road prowess. It represents a radical change from other Land Rover vehicles. Among primary selling features of this smaller, more fuel-efficient, all-wheel-drive Range Rover are racy styling, prestige and off-road prowess — although few owners likely will drive off-road. Main rivals include the Audi Q5, BMW X3 and Mercedes-Benz GLK. Ah, but they lack the prestigious Range Rover name The full-time all-wheel-drive Evoque likely will attract more younger customers to the Land Rover brand. It comes as a $43,145

Read more

Toyota Land Cruiser: Iconic SUV now age 60 with facelifts for 2013

, ,

Now well into middle age, the 2013 Toyota Land Cruiser will receive exterior and interior styling enhancements as well as safety and convenience improvements as standard equipment. Among the many popular features that were formerly available as options, but are now standard, are rear-seat DVD entertainment system, color-keyed rear spoiler, rain-sensing windshield wipers, center-console cooler box, headlamp cleaners, leather-trimmed steering wheel, multi-information display, voice and Bluetooth® hands-free controls, leather-trimmed shift lever and heated second row seats. Toyota’s Premium Hard Disk Drive (HDD) Navigation with Entune multi-media system and JBL® audio is also standard. Exterior Design The 2013 Land Cruiser receives

Read more

Honda Civic 2012 gets dubious most disliked car honor

,

Picking the best cars of the year is rather pedestrian. Plenty of automobiles qualify because competition among manufacturers just keeps getting better. But the worst cars of 2012? That's more difficult. Are there really 10 horrible new cars? CNN.Money.com thinks so. It stops short of calling the selectees to its dubious honors list the worst cars. Rather Alex Taylor III, an at-large senior editor, lumps models from Honda, Nissan, BMW, Chevrolet, Fiat, Jaguar, Infiniti on his 2012 Most Disliked Cars list. For example, here's how the Taylor in part describes the Honda Civic, his pick as the most disliked of

Read more

GM makes high-voltage move, calls back all Volts for potential battery fires

Arguably biggest setback for hybrid and electric cars has been announced with General Motors’ revelation that it’s “calling back” all Chevrolet Volts sold in the United States as a precaution against battery pack fires. The call back involves about 8,000 vehicles, with the carmaker detailing it needs to “toughen the protection around the battery pack and make other changes to prevent fires following a crash.” Sales of the Chevy Volt began U.S. markets in mid-December 2010. GM executives said while the changes came following a federal probe into three fires in Volt battery packs after crash tests, they had seen

Read more

Auto Shows, 2012: Sexy women Detroit to Tokyo and new cars, too

, ,

Auto shows give the media time to preview manufacturers' new models and they give the public several days to ponders at least two things. They can further study the new car they're about to purchase or have a wont to buy. Or, they can dream about and stare at cars they'll never own. Cars shows in the United Sates as well throughout North America, Europe and Asia are also are also well-known for the tradition of having sexy models, present the cars and represent the brands as ambassadors. There are regional car shows and national events. Carmakers take diverse approaches,

Read more

Ford pickups reign again as country's best-selling vehicles in 2011

, ,

Pick-up trucks continue to rule the automotive industry with the Ford F-Series and Chevy Silverado again claiming the top and runner-up places among the top-10 best-selling vehicles of 2011. The Ford F-Series (F-150 and F-250) now in their 12th generation and perennially the country's best-sellers, combined as the only vehicles in the United States with more than 500,000 units sold in 2011. The F-150 F-250 combined had a 10.7 percent sales increase in 2011 from 2010. The Chevy Silverado had a 12.2 percent increase in the past year. The Toyota Camry remained the best-selling car in the country in 2011,

Read more