Automotive News, Car Reviews, and Podcast
A 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 moreThe 2010 Ford Fusion has been named MOTOR TREND’s 2010 Car of the Year, the 60th anniversary selection for the automotive industry publication’s award. Despite the economic turmoil, the industry still delivered a large field of 23 new or significantly improved vehicles launched in the U.S., all of which were evaluated by MOTOR TREND editors.
Read moreFerrari may have outdone itself. Not with a new car, but with a spectacular new facility in Abu Dhabi to house all things Ferrari. The Italian automotive manufacturer in collaboration with real estate developer Aldar Properties plan on rivaling Disneyland with their new Ferrari themed amusement park. Its estimated cost is $624 million.
Read moreNow entering its third year as a rare luxury sport sedan hybrid, the 2009 Lexus GS 450h is a desirable automobile that just happens to be a hybrid. There’s little, if any, consolation to its “green status” in any area of the car — acceleration to braking, handling to design. It’s a hybrid alright, with its small hybrid nameplate is so subtly positioned, how would anyone really know?
Read moreSubaru, long-known for its industry standard all-wheel-drive system, has received another safety honor. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has honored Subaru as the only car maker to have top picks in all four classes in which it competes. Subaru won five top awards overall for 2010.
Read morePopular Mechanics magazine has announced winners of the 2010 Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards. Chosen by the magazine’s expert editorial team, the awards recognize the best in automotive design, execution and technology for 2010 model year vehicles in 10 categories.
Read moreIn its yearly report on automobile reliability, Consumer Reports has released its 2009 model calculations. Asian automakers dominated the top results, Chrysler suffered a sharp decline and Ford overshadowed its Detroit rivals. Toyota’s Scion xD was named as the most reliable car, followed closely by Honda Motor Co.’s Acura and Honda Toyota and its luxury brand, Lexus, were next.
Read moreThe guy next to me in the supermarket parking lot caught my attention and said in a deep European accent: “Is that the BMW diesel? I didn’t know you could get it in the States?” He was right — until now. The 2009 335d is BMW’s first 50-state-legal diesel. Imagine that — a diesel sports sedan.
Read moreLike the Volkswagen Beetle and the Ford Model T, Toyota considers the Prius an iconic car. Is Toyota correct? Unlike any other car made in the last 100 years, the Prius has brought back electricity as a viable way to power a car. It opened the door for the Chevy Volt, the Tesla, and hundreds of other cars that will soon join the Hybrid and EV car craze.
Read moreThe 2010 Lincoln MKT EcoBoost ia unique car. It’s as luxurious as a . . . well, as a Lincoln. And it’s as fast as a Mustang — if a Mustang came with all-wheel drive. The MKT is equipped with about every modern convenience, including adaptive headlamps and cruise control, self parking, blind spot indicator, and duel sunroofs, to name a few. The Lincoln also comes with a 255 HP V-6 twin turbo that produces 0-60 mph in about 6 seconds. That’s as fast as the 385 HP Jaguar I recently drove. So does all of this luxury work in
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