2021 Maserati MC20: Super car debuts, needs new name

Italian carmakers’ lyrical names define what automotive art on four wheels should be called. Is there a better-named vehicle in the supercar stratosphere than the Maserati Quattroporte Trofeo? So isn’t it ironic? The first supercar in 16 years presented by the manufacturer that began in Bologna, Italy, more than a century ago has a ho-hum name. Meet the 2021 Maserati MC20. The MC20 designation stands for Maserati Corse 2020 and celebrates the brand’s return to racing. A mid-engine supercar, the new Maserati succeeds the MC12. But the two relatives share little beyond the carmaker’s name and a mid-engine design. Maserati

Read more

Looking for a New Car? 5 Things You Have to Consider

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT It’s a great experience to own a new car, whether it’s your dream vehicle or not. The freedom to go where you want on your schedule and no to having to rely on public transportation is convenient, especially for a first-time car owner. Owning a car can be a difficult decision, and it’s beneficial to make precise decisions. To get the best deal that matches your budget, develop a priority checklist. It should include a “must-have” features section and a non-essential features list. Here are five things you should consider when looking for a new car: Financing The

Read more

2021 Mazda CX-5: new, gains on small SUV leaders

The 2021 Mazda CX-5 is the 10th year of the small sport utility vehicle. Except for the business-curtailed 2020 pandemic year, the versatile family hauler’s popularity has increased annually. With seven trim levels and the brand’s top-rated reliability designation from Consumer Reports, the CX-5 and several of its stablemates have catapulted Mazda far way from its doldrum years. It joined Alfa Romeo and Volvo as the only manufacturers with increased sales in 2020 from 2019. The CX-5 was the country’s 21st best-selling vehicle in 2020 with 146,420 units sold. The Signature trim covers all modernized areas of the Japanese carmaker

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2022 Volkswagen Golf R

The 2022 Volkswagen Golf R will mark the return of the manufacturer’s top-performance model after a three-year hiatus. While similar to its predecessor, the new VW Golf R will have its differences. The upgraded 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder will deliver 315 horsepower, an increase of 27 horsepower from the previous edition. The new Golf R will be propelled by a six-speed manual transmission or an automated seven-speed, dual-clutch direct-shift gearbox. According to the manufacturer, the new Golf will advance from zero to 62 miles per hour (100km) in 4.7 seconds. The top speed is 155 miles per hour. New, lighter 14.1-inch

Read more

Best New Year Gifts for Car Enthusiasts

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Car enthusiasts are easy to impress. Keep your discussions about, and if you’re going to send them a 2021 New Year gift, make sure it’s at least remotely related to automobiles. Here are five gift ideas to surprise your auto-loving friend or family member. Make sure to understand their needs and preferences. Check what they don’t have, so you can buy a gift that will be appreciated. Purchase A Car Has your spouse, parent, child, or good, good friend been “mooning” over a car you can afford? The festive season is the perfect time to put it in

Read more

#166 EV expert Steve Birkett discusses growing industry

Steve Birkett is an electric vehicle expert who embraces the automotive technology of sustainable choices. Birkett, who lives and works in Boston, Mass., has owned several electric vehicles. He provides his expertise in the field and his advocacy of the industry on the website findthebestcarprice.com and other industry publications. And he’s our guest on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Birkett the industry at-large. We ask Birkett about his family experiences with EVs. (He drives to visit relatives in Ohio on occasion in addition to daily car use). Bruce and I

Read more

NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2022 Honda Civic boldly new

,

With a redesigned exterior, the 2022 Honda Civic will mark the debut of the vehicle’s 11th generation. The new model will continue the legacy of the car unveiled in 1972 and perennially among the country’s top-selling vehicles. The new generation Civic was revealed as a prototype in mid-November 2020. It’s scheduled for release in North America in the spring of 2021. While many details haven’t been released, the versatile little machine is expected to include a hatchback, Si and Type R trim levels. 2022 Honda Civic Gets Makeover From early reports, the Civic will be one-inch longer than 2021 offering

Read more

Don’t let the Covid-19 pandemic ruin car-buying dreams

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Vehicle ownership is one of the most significant financial plunges any of us are likely to make. Second only to homeownership,  car-buying can be a massive commitment and often essential to our work, recreation and other lifestyle demand. But ownership dreams have come to a halt during the last year because of the global coronavirus. If you thought of upgrading or buying your vehicle, odds are your plans were delayed or perhaps canceled. With jobs, family and other components of life at risk. After nearly a year of COVID-19, not much has improved. While vaccines are now available

Read more

2021 Ram 1500 TRX: Massive power, performance, prestige

,

The 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, the latest of the brand’s four straight years of Truck of the Year honors by MotorTrend, is in production at the manufacturer’s facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan. It’s now also available to consumers. Powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged HEMI V-8 engine, the top speed for the 2021 Ram 1500 TRX, the industry’s most performance-oriented, half-ton pickup truck, is 118 mph. It has 702 horsepower, 650 lb.-ft. of torque and 0-60 miles per hour performance in 4.5 seconds. The Ram 1500 won the prestigious truck title in 2018 and 2019. The Ram Heavy Duty took top

Read more

Fighting A Speeding Ticket in New York? What You Need To Know

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Attending traffic court can be frustrating and annoying. The experience of getting a speeding ticket or another kind of citation isn’t pleasant.  The anxiety of going to court. The disappointment of paying the fine. It can be time-consuming and stressful, particularly for someone traditionally employed. A significant problem is those getting speeding tickets often don’t have the proper information to resolve the matter. For example, there are ways to challenge a traffic ticket before going to court. Point To Be Noted When you get a traffic ticket, make sure you address it on time. You can pay your

Read more

NEW TRUCK PREVIEW: 2022 Ford Maverick or Courier?

Ford will return to the United States compact pickup truck market with the 2022 Ford Maverick. Or could it be called the 2022 Ford Courier? By any given name, the base model will use a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, according to several automotive website reports. The engine is also featured in the Transit Connect model and generates 162 hp and 144 lb-ft of torque. Slotted below the Ford Ranger, the Maverick or Courier (or another name) will have unibody construction, with a similar look to the Honda Ridgeline. It will be a four-door-only vehicle, according to several automotive sites. A 1.5-liter

Read more

GM recall woes: 624,000 trucks, SUVs

, ,

Faulty seat belt brackets have prompted a recall of 624,000 pickup trucks and SUVs from the current and past two years General Motors’ brands. The issue affects model-year 2019-21 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 pickup trucks as well as model-year 2020-21 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 pickups. GM recall woes: faulty belt bracket The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL SUVs are also being recalled. Vehicles affected have 40/20/40 split-folding front bench seats. Vehicles with front bucket seats are not being recalled. The issue: The seat belt bracket may not be secured to

Read more

2022 TRUCK PREVIEW: All new Toyota Tundra

With a more aggressive-looking front bumper and cutaways underneath the headlights, the all-new 2022 Toyota Tundra is expected to follow the path of the modern-looking Toyota TRD Pro models. The Tundra has had minor upgrades for years. But the 2022 edition will be all-new with a bigger payload, larger towing capacities and different interior and exterior looks. The new mid-size truck is expected to feature the manufacturer’s latest truck chassis, which will include high-strength steel and other lighter-weight materials. Current 1,730-pound payload and 10,200-pound towing figures will be improved upon. 2022 Toyota Tundra: No More V8 According to internet reports,

Read more

#165, 2020 in car news: COVID-19, new Corvette, recalls

,

There’s never a dull moment in the automotive industry. Car news never stops. Competition is intense. The emerging electric vehicle market continues to emerge but with its future unknown. Recalls aren’t going away anytime soon. And how consumers buy and sell vehicles is further transitioning from in-person sales to the online marketplace. The COVID-19 pandemic has changed everything. Overall, the automotive industry, just like most businesses, endured a turbulent 2020. Car News Abounds The Weekly Driver reported on much of the car news . . .  recalls to bogus speed records, an iconic sports car’s mid-engine revelation to a record

Read more

2020 Toyota Highlander improved, rivals abound

The 2020 Toyota Highlander celebrates the mid-sized crossover sport utility vehicle’s 20th birthday. The occasion also marks the family hauler’s continuing spree of prime sales years. Beginning in 2017, the Highlander has had three straight years surpassing 200,000 units sold globally. A fourth consecutive year of 200K sales will likely occur when yearly tallies are calculated in January. It won’t be surprising since the 2020 model was redesigned with worthy updates. The Highlander is now a further family favorite. A three-row crossover with seating up to eight, the 2020 Highlander is available in five trim levels: L, LE, XLE, Limited

Read more

2020 Lexus RC F: Strong luxury sedan, rivals stronger

,

Introduced in 2015, the Lexus RC F is the third vehicle in the Toyota luxury brand’s performance-oriented lineup. Like its sedan, SUV and speed-geared siblings, it has plenty to offer. The Lexus RC F has aggressive styling, 19-inch wheels, quad exhaust tips and a carbon-fiber roof panel. The engine is a naturally aspirated 472-horsepower 5.0-liter V8. It has Brembo brakes, improved and more aggressive suspension tuning and is rear-wheel drive. My test vehicle, which had a base price of $64,900, also had more than $15,000 in options and taxes, including Navigation ($2,725) and Premium ($5,350) packages. While expensive, the optional

Read more