Driver’s dozen provides new car review challenge, South Korean EVs take honors

Automotive journalists often drive new vehicles for a week and then write reviews about their experiences. It’s rare one vehicle in a manufacturer’s lineup can be quickly compared to a more modest or a higher-end trim of the same car. Also unusual is promptly testing two diverse cars or trucks from the same carmaker. The novel approach was one idea presented at the recent Best of the Bay, a 2 1/2-day gathering of the Western Auto Journalists (WAJ). It’s the 30-year-old Bay Area community of automotive content creators and industry representatives. Nine manufacturers showcased 13 cars at Vintner’s Resort in

Read more

Understanding No-Fault vs At-Fault Insurance Systems in Car Accident Cases

Car accidents can be a stressful and overwhelming experience, and understanding the intricacies of insurance systems can add to the confusion. Two primary insurance systems in the United States, the “No-Fault” and “At-Fault” systems, dictate how compensation is handled after a car accident. This article aims to provide a comprehensive explanation of both systems, their differences, and how they impact individuals involved in car accidents. No-Fault Insurance System: In the United States, several states operate under a no-fault insurance system, including Florida, New York, and Michigan. Here’s an in-depth look at how the no-fault system functions: In a no-fault system,

Read more

A Buyer’s Guide to Truck Bed Accessories

Truck bed accessories play a crucial role in enhancing the functionality, protection, and organization of your pickup truck’s bed. Whether you use your truck for work, play, or a combination of both, a wide array of accessories are available to cater to your needs. In this buyer’s guide, we’ll explore various truck bed accessories available in the market. We’ll discuss their purposes and benefits and provide valuable insights on choosing the right accessories to optimize your truck’s utility. Tonneau Covers Tonneau covers are one of the most popular truck bed accessories, and for good reason. They offer protection, security, and

Read more

Determining Liability in Truck Accident Claims

There were 523,796 large truck accidents in the United States in 2021, a more common occurrence than might be expected. Results can be devastating, from severe injuries to fatalities. Personal injury law allows those injured in truck accidents to receive damages compensation for medical expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. To ensure a fair settlement, it’s essential to accurately determine who was at fault for causing the accident and who should be responsible for the injured party’s losses. How is liability determined? It’s advisable to consult an experienced legal professional like this truck accident attorney in Dallas to understand

Read more

5 Important Things to Think About Before Hiring a Car Accident Lawyer

If you have missed work or incurred medical bills due to a car accident, you will need an experienced attorney to help you recover compensation. When choosing an attorney, there are key factors to consider. Please find out how available your lawyer is throughout the process and how they communicate with you. They should be easily reachable and promptly respond to your inquiries. REPUTATION Car accidents are traumatic experiences, and they can also be financially devastating. A good car accident lawyer can help victims get the compensation they deserve. Your pain and suffering, medical costs, missed pay, and property damage can all

Read more

#273, Car talk with Car Talk’s enduring executive producer, Doug Berman

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 40:31 — 72.0MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreDoug Berman is the unofficial third brother of the admired comedy team and automotive soothsayer duo of Thomas Louis Magliozzi and Raymond Francis Magliozzi. They were more well-known as “Click and Clack, the Tappet Brothers.” They were co-hosts of Car Talk, the NPR radio show, for 25 years. Thinly disguised as a weekly program about automobile repair, the program was more about the banter between the brothers and an endearing relationship with their call-in audience. The former mechanics diagnosed engine problems, but they also

Read more

#272, Genesis: not the band, not the Bible but the fast-growing South Korean carmaker

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:16 — 61.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJarred Pellat is the senior manager public relations and communications of Genesis Motor North America. It’s the eight-year-old luxury vehicle division of the South Korean vehicle manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company. A native of Canada who lived in South Korea for several years, Pellat is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-host Bruce Aldrich was on assignment, so John Berg, a new automotive columnist and photographer for The Weekly Driver, joined me for our interview during Best of the West. Pellat,

Read more

2024 Ford Mustang honors its iconic muscle car elder

Only a few new cars have debuted in half-year models, and it hasn’t occurred in more than 30 years. The most well-known example of a fractured name is the 1964 1/2 Ford Mustang, the iconic muscle car known by a mid-year moniker but never marketed as such by the manufacturer. The carmaker’s longest-tenure vehicle debuted at the New York World’s Fair as a 1965 model in April 1964. A few months later, the manufacturer made modifications but the updated cars were still 1965 models. The changes eventually prompted experts to designate the differences with the earlier model acquiring the half-year

Read more

Day in the Life of a CDL Driver

The trucking job imposes excellent challenges but also opens a new perspective. Truck drivers operate vehicles on domestic and international routes taking them to various destinations. A truck driver’s job is never monotonous. If you’re considering applying for a CDL driver job and want to know about the day in the life of a driver, here are some highlights, obstacles and recommendations. Planning An average workday includes thorough planning, navigating the roads and maintaining safety. The day starts with planning the route to meet the requirements. Drivers usually have booked time slots with the warehouse to take the cargo. Also,

Read more

Beyond Aesthetics: How Ultrabrightlightz’s Flasher Modules Revolutionize Vehicle Lighting

Introduction Vehicle lighting has long played a crucial role in illuminating roads and keeping drivers safe, yet for decades was limited to basic on/off functionality until Ultrabrightlightz’s revolutionary Flasher Modules. Though vehicle bulbs evolved from acetylene flames to halogen, HID, and LED, they remained constrained to simple signals and static beams. But over the past decade, Ultrabrightlightz pioneered versatile programmable modules that enabled endless customization possibilities. Vehicles could now display animated patterns, switch colors, and synchronize across lights at the push of a button. Moving beyond mere illumination, lighting became an avenue for automotive personalization and safety. At the core

Read more

2023 BMW M2: Big little coupe respects drivers who enjoy the art of driving

Electric and continuously variable transmissions are increasingly refined. So much so, dismissing the once-dominant manual transmission makes sense for new car buyers. Why bother with all that three-pedal fuss? Still, while the industry is always in flux, one prominent publication recently reported 17 mainstream manufacturers offer 31 cars in 2023 models with manual transmissions. BMW also still understands drivers with a preference for shifting. The stalwart German manufacturer is among a few carmakers with several lineup choices offering manual transmissions. BMW’s selections are all performance-focused, the M2, M3 and M4. The newly redesigned 2023 BMW M2 is a high-performance version

Read more

Can I Receive Compensation For Lane Change Accident Expenses?

While driving, you’ll need to change lanes on your journey to make left or right-hand turns. As you change lanes, you need to check your path to ensure it’s clear and available for you to move into the adjacent lane. Many of today’s newer vehicles come equipped with alerts that let you know when an obstruction is in your blind spot. However, many vehicles don’t have this technology. Regardless, it’s up to all drivers to check for clearance before changing lanes. If another driver crashes into your car because they failed to make a proper lane change, you may be

Read more

Halloween Safe Driving Tips: Staying Safe Throughout the Spooky Season

October is a month of fall foliage, cozy sweaters, and the anticipation of Halloween. This holiday brings with it a sense of enchantment, but it also requires us to be extra vigilant, especially when we’re behind the wheel. As we prepare for Halloween night and all its festivities, we must prioritize safety to ensure that this time of year remains a joyful celebration rather than a haunting tragedy. In this blog post, we’ll delve deeper into essential safe driving tips to help you navigate the roads responsibly and ensure a spooktacular Halloween without any accidents lurking in the shadows. Stay

Read more

#271, Industry expert John Vincent talks lingering UAW strike, updates EVs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 29:07 — 55.6MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJohn Vincent, senior editor and automotive correspondent for U.S. News & World Report, has more than 25 years of experience covering the auto industry. In addition to reviewing vehicles, he has vast expertise in auto financing, leasing and buying. He’s also an expert observer and commentator regarding the current United Auto World strike. As the strike approaches its one-month duration, Vincent is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with the veteran writer the

Read more

Voice-Control Your Smart Home with the Latest Mercedes MBUX Update

Mercedes-Benz has announced a sophisticated enhancement to its MBUX Voice Assistant—a seamless integration with smart home technologies. Effective immediately, this advanced feature facilitates users to orchestrate their domestic appliances and security apparatus via vocal commands from their vehicles. This refined iteration of the MBUX Voice Assistant is now congruent with an array of esteemed smart home brands, encompassing Philips Hue, Samsung SmartThings, TP-Link, and myQ by Chamberlain Group. The suite of controllable devices extends from intricate lighting systems and intelligent plugs to state-of-the-art thermostats, motion detection mechanisms, and automated garage doors. The system proffers a real-time diagnostic of various home

Read more

2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 defines EV performance sedan luxury

The 2023 BMW i7 xDrive60 is among a small group of luxury electric sedans with good intentions and still trying to appeal to a not-yet-convinced consumer majority. Matched primarily against the Lucid Air, Mercedes-Benz EQS and Tesla Model S, the i7, like its competitors, is a compelling choice for many reasons. It’s electric, fast off the line and further impressive accelerating at highway speeds. It’s plush and spacious and built with top-line material and innovative features. The 7-Series has long been BMW’s full-sized flagship. The i7 was introduced in April 2022 as a 2023 model to coincide with the nameplate’s

Read more