Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
Friends sometimes ask why The Weekly Driver (that’s me) doesn’t just review Ferrari or Lamborghini or Maserati. The answer: They’re all fine automobiles, but not too many people buy them. The Weekly Driver is all about “The Every Driver.”
Read moreIs the Lexus GS 350 a sports sedan or a luxury sedan? Was Lexus able to combine oil and water or (in automotive terms) sports and luxury? Traditionally all the characteristics that make for a great sports car make for a lousy luxury car, and of course all of the characteristics that make a great luxury car make for a poor sports car. So is the Lexus GS 350 sporty or posh?
Read moreThe 2010 Jetta Sportwagen is not as well known as the Toyota Prius. But the two vehicles have been compared. The Prius is the much talked about, industry-leading hybrid. The Jetta TDI is the increasingly popular and peppy diesel. The Prius made many of 2010 Best-of-the-Year lists and even topped some of the compilations. But the Jetta and its surprising value and impressive gas mileage ratings weren’t too far behind. In short, the Prius revolutionized the hybrid industry in the United States and the Jetta may well do the same for cleaning-burning diesel engines. The Weekly Driver Test Drive
Read moreThe original Honda Insight, sold from 2000 to 2006, was odd-looking. But as the first mass-produced hybrid available in the United States, its unique status and strange looks made it cool. When the Insight departed, the Toyota Prius took over hybrid dominance, and Honda hasn’t been happy since. The Insight returned in 2009 as a 2010 model and Honda is ready to go head-to-head with the Prius by offering its new base model Insight for less than $20,000 — the country’s least expense hybrid. Toyota has responded with new Prius. It’s more expensive and in its recent tenure, several times
Read moreAutomotive web sites are big on lists. Cars of the year, best bargains, most efficient, biggest gas guzzlers, best resale, etc. Cars.com has new fun list — worst car names. Editors make certain to mention the list doesn’t reflect a vehicles’ the merit or lack of merit. Rather, it’s a top-10 list citing the absurdity of some car names.
Read moreThe Bugatti Grand Prix will be one of the featured races, the centerpiece for the American Bugatti Club’s 50th anniversary and a highlight of the 2010 Monterey Historic Automobile Races at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, California.
Read moreSince the announcement of the first production plans for the Tata Nano, the auto industry has remained abuzz about the minimalist vehicle known as the world’s cheapest car. After months of controversy and delivery delays, the Nano is now being sold in India and Tata has plans to export the $2,000 car to other countries.
Read moreA hybrid sport utility vehicle? About six years ago, the idea still seemed outrageous. But then the Ford Escape hybrid debuted. Skeptics sneered. But now SUV hybrids are plentiful from several manufacturers. In other words, there’s competition for the Ford Escape, even if some of the competition remains from Ford via the very similar Mercury Mariner and Mazda Tribute.
Read moreDesigned in California and made in South Korea for a global market, the Kia Soul joins the expanding, economical box-style segment manufacturers call mini MPVs (multi passenger vehicles). Competitors are the Scion xB and Nissan Cube.
Read moreThe widening palette of electric vehicles entering the United States marketplace will expand again soon when Think Global AS announces the location of the U.S. production plant for its model, The City. Think Global AS, which exited bankruptcy protection in August, has already started production of the battery-powered vehicle in Uusikaupunki, Finland.
Read moreAudi has forged its engineering through grueling competition at the world’s most demanding motorsports venue – Le Mans. With five Le Mans victories and multiple podium finishes, the company understands performance.
Read moreHonda has come a long way since its original eco-friendly car, the first generation Insight. Its latest effort is the concept car, the Honda Native. It can change colors. Designed by Tudoran Liviu, the Honda Native concept comprises an electric engine powered by a heavy-duty lithium-ion battery pack and can house three passengers including the driver.
Read moreTata Motors has garnered global attention via the Nano, the world's cheapest car. It could be awhile, but Tata could surpass its current high plateau of notoriety if it follows up on a recent announcement the Indian manufacturer will produced the world's cheapest hybrid vehicle.
Read moreAmong all the flashing lights and flamboyant unveilings of new cars, no vehicle attracted any greater curiosity at the recent Los Angeles Auto Show than the Honda P-NUT. The acronym stands for Personal-Neo Urban Transport (P-NUT). It’s a vehicle design Honda touts as: “A futuristic concept for an ultra-compact and sophisticated city coupe.”
Read moreWhen Honda came out with the Pilot six years ago the Japanese automaker quickly had another hit. The Pilot became one of the forerunners in the eight-passenger midsize crossover segment. It’s a sport utility vehicle whose car-like qualities and hauling capabilities were lauded. Despite the accolades, one aspect of the Pilot got exposed – third-row seating was lacking. It wasn’t accommodating and the guess is in many Pilots the third row lay flat and it was left unused. The weakness remained, but the popularity of the Pilot grew with sales rising more to than 152,000 by 2006. But one year
Read moreAccording to Consumer Guide, the 2007 BMW Z4 convertible and coupe are Best Buys in the premium/sporty car category. The car is racetrack able, yet also reasonably practical as a daily driver. The American-built two seaters have incline 6-cylinder engines. The base 3.0i convertible has 215 horsepower, 3.0i model has 255 horsepower and the high-performance M version has 330 horsepower. The Z4 gets a perfect 10 score from Consumer Guide in steering and handling and 9 marks in acceleration. On the contrary, the BMW gets scores of 0, 2 and 3 respectively in rear seat comfort, cargo room and ride
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