#205, 2021 LA Auto Show back with electric vibe

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 37:04 — 50.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreAfter one delay and one cancellation, the LA Auto Show is back for the first time in two years. Like many businesses, the automotive industry has suffered. But its first major auto show since the Covid-19 pandemic began will be held Nov. 19-28 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. David Fortin, Head of Consumer Marketing for the event, is our guest on Episode #205 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Fortin the pending show and the expected

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4 Vital Steps To Take After A Car Accident

It’s common for drivers to be distracted when using their cellphones or listening to music. Inclement weather and poor road conditions also contribute to car accidents. If you’re involved in an accident, stay calm. First, determine if you and your passengers are safe before thinking about calling anyone or exchanging information with other drivers. When an accident occurs, here are four priorities: Exchange Information With The Other Party Car accidents can be stressful and confusing. It’s vital you take a few minutes to reduce your stress level. If the severity of the accident warrants, call your car accident lawyer, and

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#203, PitStopConnect.com helps predict, prevent auto tragedy

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:39 — 28.4MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreBen Auslander, vice president of sales and marketing for PitStopConnect.com, is enthusiastic about all things related to predictive analytics in automobiles. And he has been for a long time. Auslander, our guest this week on The Weekly Driver Podcast, worked on the GM Onstar program for more than 12 years. He helped launch VW’s connected car program in North America. He also worked for Charge Point as its Automotive Director. Pitstopconnect.com sees the driving future “It’s allowed me to see and understand a broader

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Start a Car Rental Business in 2021: Beginner Model Car Kit

The Kit Car rental business is popular worldwide. The tourism sector is slowly picking up after the pandemic. Commute restrictions have also been loosened. People are more likely to start taking leisure road trips or commuting to work. This is the right time to invest in this profitable start-up. The global car rental market size was valued at $98.14 billion in 2020 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.6 percent between 2021 and 2028. Make the most of this predicted industry growth to help your business flourish. But you need to take careful and calculated steps to

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2022 Mini Cooper: Lots of driving fun, logic removed

Twenty-two years ago, several years after it acquired the naming rights, BMW reintroduced the Mini. It was different but with a heritage still affixed to the original two-door compact city unveiled by British Motor Corporation in 1969. The traditional Mini became an icon of British automotive culture. It’s the best-selling British sports car in history. It’s had starring automotive roles in movies and a successful racing career. Its sporting cuteness and unabashed driving fun defined its popularity. The 2022 Mini Cooper is mechanically nearly the same as recent years’ models. Its variety of styles is its appeal as a niche

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2023 Corvette Z06 a power broker

Not too many years ago, even purists began to wonder. What was up with their beloved Chevrolet Corvette Stingray? The styling was off, a conspicuous look like General Motors’ designers ran out of time. Was the Corvette’s label as “America’s Sports Car” no longer valid? Could the many-time Indianapolis 500 pace car have become an also-ran? 2023 Corvette Z06: More power, better style Annual sales were down for several years, dipping below 20,000 for the first time in 2018. Ah, but just in time, the mid-engine C8 arrived in 2020 after years of planning. The brand was revived. Automotive industry

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#202, Joe Wiesenfelder of Cars.com talks future of EVs

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 38:39 — 53.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreJoe Wiesenfelder is the executive editor of Cars.com and he’s immersed in the future of EVs — electric vehicles. According to the website’s recent data, about one-third of car buyers are actively looking to purchase their first electric vehicle. But many questions remain with the anticipated growth. Wiesenfelder and his colleagues are counting on it. Wiesenfelder is our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. EVs: Marketplace will expand Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I discuss with the long-time journalist the future of

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2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid: country’s best new car value?

Car buyers often maintain their brand and style preferences for decades. It’s among the reasons hybrid and all-electric vehicle sales have increased slowly. As an example, the Toyota Prius is now 21 years old. As the first mass-produced hybrid in the United States, it once dominated the country’s alternative fuel vehicle annual sales. But that still represented less than four percent of all auto sales. 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid Offer Great Value The Prius’ popularity has waned, but Toyota still maintains its dominance in the hybrid segment. The Toyota RAV4 now reigns with 28 percent of the market share. Still,

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2023 Kia Sportage gets rugged

The 2023 Kia Sportage, beginning its fifth generation, has debuted and features a larger and more varied lineup of subcompact sport utility vehicles including new off-road trims. Under the manufacturer’s umbrella slogan “Movement That Matters, the new Kia Sportage lineup will include LX, EX, SX, SX-Prestige and X-Line and the new Sportage X-Pro and X-Pro Prestige trims geared toward off-road travel with all-terrain tires and other features. 2023 Kia Sportage: New Exterior, Interior Designs New features for the 2023 Sportage Sportage firsts include an available dual panoramic curved digital display Most Sportage trims will now be assembled in the U.S.,

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Auto Safety Technology That Will Change Driving in 2022

According to an investigation by US DOT (United States Department of Transportation), approximately 94 percent of all car accidents are caused by human error. The remaining two percent occur as a result of mechanical failure.  Improved auto safety helps. This means a considerable number of all driving-related deaths and most traffic accidents are preventable. Fortunately, vehicles have become much safer. Lane departure, forward collision, rear cross traffic and blind spot warning, together with automatic emergency braking, are features currently used, as reported by the NHTSA. Some emerging vehicle safety technologies under development or improvement: 1. Connected Vehicles technology – cars

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Top 10 tips for winter driving

As the weather continues to get colder, the impending snowfall can exciting. But winter driving in inclement weather can create significant road hazards. If you drive in the snow, important safety tips should be followed? Here are some top safety tips and considering for winter driving: Do Not Drive in the Winter Weather Unless You Must Although hailstorms are more common during spring and summer, blocks of ice and snow during winter can still cause damage to your car’s exterior. Whichever season you may be driving in, though, it pays to be more careful. Once the hailstorm starts damaging your

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Mazda 6 bids farewell at its best

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Say goodbye to the Mazda 6. The highly rated family sedan has been discontinued after the current 2021 model, and it’s a shame when many undesirables remain. The issue for the Mazda is two-fold. Its current generation debuted in 2016 and the competition is increasingly wicked. Matched against the Honda Accord, Hyundai Sonata, Nissan Altima and Toyota Camry, the Mazda 6 could barely infiltrate the brigade of perennial top-sellers. How could it? Honda and Toyota have armor-solid reputations and the industry’s best resale pedigrees. For its last appearance as a new vehicle, the 2021 Mazda 6 has a few upgrades.

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Versatile 2021 Ford F-150 has PowerBoost hybrid engine option

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The 3.5-liter PowerBoost hybrid engine is offered as an option in the 2021 Ford F-150 and changes the game for V-6 engines in pickup trucks. The combination of a V-6 and a pickup truck was once relegated to use as service vehicles and for supervisors to drive. Ford’s creation of the hybrid PowerBoost has raised the V-6 to a new level of functionality and usefulness. The PowerBoost performs at the level of a V-8, uses less gasoline, and takes advantage of proven technology to handle wear and tear once reserved for V-8 engines. An Overview of the Ford 3.5-liter PowerBoost

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How to properly read tires of all shapes, sizes

Learning how to read tires is a valuable skill to have many reasons. Whether you are in the market for new tires, checking their recommended tire pressure, or making sure they aren’t expired, there are many numbers and codes to know. Reading the Date Code on Tires Even if your tires don’t have high mileage on them or still have tread it is still a good idea to monitor their age. After seven years, many companies will no longer rotate and balance tires because of the degradation of rubber becoming a safety issue. Most tire manufacturer warranties cover the brand’s

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2022 Honda Civic: Best got better at age 50

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Fifty years ago, the Honda Civic was introduced as a two-door or four-door subcompact sedan, a three-door or five-door hatchback and a five-door station wagon. It had starting cost of about $1,400 and weighed 1,411 pounds. Simultaneously, not much and everything has changed. The debut Civic’s four-cylinder, 61-horsepower engine, was propelled by a four-speed manual transmission. It advanced from 0-to-60 miles per hour in 10.5 seconds and it had a top speed of 90 mph. The new Civic had a spacious interior, and it quickly built a reputation as environmentally friendly, fuel-efficient and reliable. The 2022 Honda Civic, the debut

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#201, Al Unser Jr. talks drugs, driving in new book

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 36:47 — 50.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreAs co-hosts of The Weekly Driver Podcast, Bruce Aldrich and I sometimes have a guest cancel at the last minute. Two-time Indy 500 winner Al Unser Jr. was our scheduled guest. With his non-appearance, we decided to talk about him. Specifically, we discuss Unser’s new book, “A Checkered Past.” The 302-hardcover offering includes a foreword by Roger Penske, the team owner who once employed “Little Al” and who is now the owner of the Indianapolis Speedway. The book is written “As Told To Jade

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