Danica Patrick unhurt as NASCAR debut ends in smoky crash

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Patrick had moved from 27th to 21st when Josh Wise banged into rookie Colin Braun, starting a chain reaction of wrecks in turn four of the 69th lap. Patrick, She boxed in traffic, couldn’t see because of surrounding smoke and ricocheted off Wise’s car. Patrick then kidded across the grass and settled into a stop with heavy damage to the right-front fender of her GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. “I literally couldn’t see a thing,” Patrick told reporters. “That’s the problem. If we could figure out how to have the tires make no smoke, there would be a lot less crashed race cars,

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Lexus RX, 450h, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

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The RX 450h no longer attracts a “wow-factor” response because it initiated a new vehicle segment. Instead, it garners attention for the same reasons as its siblings — class. In short, it deserves the manufacturer’s luxury brand high praise reputation. The Weekly Driver’s Ratings Acceleration (5) An increase of 27 horsepower to 295 is one of the numerous changes this year. The vehicle is also 400 pounds heavier. The new statistics don’t make a lot of acceleration difference. The hybrid won’t win a drag race off the line. But when a powerful, steady burst is necessary, the 450h is quicker

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Chicago Auto Show, 2010: New models, concept cars from Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Kia

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The new Ford Edge, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Avalon, Silverado HD and of futuristic KIA Ray, were all also included. The show continues through Feb. 21. Check out Mica’s highlights from the Chicago Auto Show in the video below: James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business,

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Hertz plans to introduce Nissan Leaf into rental car fleet

The Leaf can seat five adults and is designed to travel up to 100 miles on a single charge. It will be available at select Hertz rental sites, though the company did not specify where. Nissan expects to begin selling the Leaf in the United States later this year. The Japanese company also plans to use its partnership with French automakers Renault to mass market electric vehicles worldwide in 2012. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this

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Winter Olympics: Organizers embrace 'green' automotive technology with cell fuel and GM vehicles

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Twenty fuel cell buses are being operated by BC Transit in Whistler, site of many Olympic events. The buses are built by New Flyer Industries of Winnipeg and operate on fuel cells provided by Ballard Power Systems, with hydrogen storage provided by Dynetek Industries in Calgary. The hybrid drive system came from ISE Corp. in San Diego, California. Each low floor bus can carry 60 people and has a top speed of about 55 mph. The buses are twice as efficient as diesel powered counterparts and have zero tailpipe emissions. B.C. Transit’s new $89.5 million Whistler Transit Centre offers the

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Kia Forte, 2010: Roman Mica's Rambling Review (Video)

Some Korean car manufactures have blatantly copied luxury competitors like the Mercedes Benz or Jaguar. But the Forte only takes the better design cues from the Civic and builds on them with a unique, original and sexy spin on the standard Civic. So does the new Kia Forte SX offer dependability, comfort, style, and safety at an MSRP that won’t bust the typical budget? Facts & Figures: 2010 Kia Forte SX Price as Tested: $20,490.00; Engine, Transmission:  2.4 16-Valve DOHC CVVT 4-Cylinder engine with 4-speed automatic transmission; Horsepower: 173; G-Tac as tested Data at 5420 feet above sea level; 1/4

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Chevy Suburban celebrates 75th anniversary with 2010 limited edition

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No other nameplate has been around longer without at least some time off. The idea for the Suburban was born out of a need for a heavier-duty, truck-based wagon. Through the early 1930s, most manufacturers offered car-based wagons for professional use. Open models with windows and rear seating were known as depot hacks, and were used to ferry passengers and their cargo around train stations and boat docks. Enclosed models, typically without rear seats, were known as sedan deliveries. Chevrolet began experimenting with an all-steel wagon body mounted on a commercial chassis in the mid-1930s, and the Suburban Carryall was

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California car magnate buys vintage Ferrari fleet in Dutch bankruptcy deal; will sell 20, keep 1

Buying and selling luxury cars is nothing knew for Tom Price. That’s what Price does for a living in the San  Francisco Bay Area. But when the purchase is a Ferrari collection of 21 vintage cars, that’s a different matter. Price, a car magnate in Belvedere, California, who owns several luxury car dealerships, purchased the collection of undisclosed Ferrari models on Feb. 2 from bankrupt Dutch vehicle-distributor Kroymans, according to a report in the Marin Independent Journal newspaper. Price declined specify the amount he paid for the vehicles, but the newspaper speculated the price at $30 million. The transaction was

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Colorado 2007 Prius owner: Toyota recall overblown, car safe

Crosser’s Prius is scheduled to be recalled due to the possibility of the floormat becoming entrapped under the accelerator possibly causing the car to accelerate out of control. Nevertheless, Crosser believes the recall dilemma is overblown. For more unique car reviews, videos and other automotive content, visit: www.tflcar.com James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif.,

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Honda Accord Crosstour, 2010: The Weekly Driver Car Review

Available only in the United States, Canada and Mexico, the Crosstour has generated as much industry buzz in its short tenure as any new car. Not all of the Crosstour comments have been good. In fact, there’s seemingly little neutral turf. The Crosstour has been simultaneously praised as innovative and criticized for its unique styling. The Weekly Driver Test Drive The round-trip trek from Sacramento to the East Bay area of San Francisco is 180 miles. Do it as often and I have during the past 35 years, it’s not nearly as boring as a “daily commute.” Few things stand

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Honda recall: Nearly 400,000 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and Acura TL models may have faulty airbags

The newest recalls applies to 2001 and 2002 model-year Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, and 2002 Acura TL vehicles. The move expands a recall first announced in November 2008 for less than 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans due to faulty airbag inflators. The initial recall was expanded in July 2009 to cover an additional 440,000 vehicles. The company said it was not aware of any new incidents after the airbag recall was first broadened in July 2009. “However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at

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Toyota's rise to recall crisis: Reuters details carmaker's woes in timeline

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Reuters was the first to report the recall of the top-selling Prius this week and the news service has been on the competitive edge of the ever-fluctuating automotive industry story since 2000. With Toyota‘s recall now of nine of its vehicles, Camry to Corolla, Lexus to Prius, Reuters has posted a piece its calling: “Timeline: Toyota‘s rise and run-up to its recall crisis.” It begins in 2000 when it reports Toyota launched program known as “Construction of Cost Competitiveness for the 21st Century.” Its aim was to cut costs of 180 key car parts by 30 percent, saving nearly $10

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Audi 'Green Police' video chosen best Super Bowl car commercial by Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog

It’s obviously a subjective list, but Cars.com, and its perfectly named blog, Kicking Tires, just picked its top-10 cars commercials from the Super Bowl. The Audi Green Police commercial was picked as Cars.com’s favorite. The WeeklyDriver.com gave the top commercial nod to 10 Years Strong, the commercial featuring Brett Favre. We found the Green Police video annoying. The WeeklyDriver.com a difference of opinion with other commercials on Cars.com’s but we like the site’s succinct way of presenting its list. So, here it is: Nevertheless, here’s the Cars.com list, with a synopsis of its top pick. 1. Audi: Green Police The

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Toyota update: 436,000 Prius, Lexus, other models in global recall

The international news agency has obtained a document that details 223,068 cars in Japan across four hybrid models — the newest Prius model, the Prius PHV (plug-in hybrid), the SAI and the Lexus HS250h — will be recalled for the braking problems first reported last week. The Prius, the world’s largest selling hybrid, accounts for 199,666 vehicles recalled. Toyota will also recall about 213,000 other hybrid cars, including about 150,000 in North America, according to the document. Reuters is also reporting Japan’s transport ministry said Toyota President Akio Toyoda has a pending meeting with Minister Seiji Maehara when he’s expected

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Super Bowl commercials: Audi A3 TDI 'Green Police' funny or gratuitous violence?

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It’s all about the Green Police, tracking down “violators” and arresting them for eco rules mistakes. The commercial’s controversial nature, including gratuitous violence, will likely get a lot more attention. But it may also join the fraternity of commercials that get remembered more for the nature of the commercial rather than the product it’s touting. For more new car reviews, videos and other automotive content, visit: dev.theweeklydriver.com. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004,

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Ferrari initiates two-year certified used car Power Warranty

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So, in an attempt to help ease the fear of owners of some of its older models, Ferrari has announced a new 24-month warranty program. The 24-month Power Warranty will only apply on certified used cars purchased through the official Ferrari dealer network. To qualify for the program, the vehicle must pass a 190-point inspection at an official Ferrari dealer or approved service center. The inspection includes a service history check to make sure the car has had its annual inspection and has been properly maintained. The warranty remains with the vehicle and has a duration of 24 months from

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