2019 Infiniti QX50: New generation, no more malaise

Less than 20 years ago, the term compact luxury sport utility vehicle wasn’t part of the automotive lexicon. Now, it’s the most popular top-line segment of the industry with about 600,000 new people movers selling in 2018. It’s also among the most competitive markets in the industry with the new generation Infiniti QX50 joined by Acura, Audi, BMW, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo and others for 2019. Total sales in the segment increased by about 20 percent last year from 2017. Key Takeaways Industry-first Variable Compression Turbo engine: The 2.0-liter four-cylinder VC-Turbo adjusts its compression ratio on the fly, delivering 268 horsepower

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Ford calls another massive recall in F-150, Super Duty trucks

For the second time in three months, Ford is recalling large quantities of the best-selling F-150 vehicles in North America over a several-year time frame for fire risks. The manufacturer has just recalled 900,000 F-150 and Super Duty trucks to replace an engine block heater cable to due to the risk of fire. The recall involves more than 410,000 vehicles sold in the U.S. and nearly 464,000 in Canada. Affected models include: * 2015-19 F-150 vehicles built at Ford’s Dearborn, Michigan, truck plant between March 18, 2014, and Nov. 17, 2018, and at its Kansas City plant between Aug. 21,

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NEW CAR PREVIEW: 2020 models aplenty set for debuts

Some 2019 car models haven’t arrived in dealerships, yet many 2020 new cars and trucks are on the near horizon. More sport utility vehicles, an electric version of a luxury sedan and an enduring compact sedan have been announced. Here’s a look at three 2020 vehicles set for release soon and a list of others with new editions or with multiple upgrades. Mercedes-Benz EQC 400 — The manufacturer’s first full-electric vehicle, the EQC is a crossover and another addition to the ever-increasing popularity of SUVs. The EQC, positioned between the GLC-Class and GLC-Class SUVs, features two electric motors, one for

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Genesis shines in 2018 Cars of the Year honors

The end of 2018 designates my 15th anniversary as an automotive journalist. It’s an ideal time to be part of an industry. Safety innovations, alternative fuels, ride-sharing platforms, autonomous driving and a rekindled appreciation for vintage vehicles all share in the whirlwind of change. Not everything is right. More manufacturers are making more alternative fuel vehicles. But the public still hasn’t embraced the idea nearly 20 years after the Toyota Prius launched the segment. Carmakers continue to make vehicles safer, but there’s so much technology, innovation arguably causes as much anxiety as peace of mind behind the wheel. Most industry

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Opinion: Driving is a privilege; it’s not your right

Driving in the State of California is not a right; it is a privilege, revocable at any time. Operating a motor vehicle is not just an act. it is a way of life. Each of us has our own styles of driving; some bad, some good. Most of us obey laws as we interpret them. I for one interpret the basic speed law as; travel at a speed that is safe for current conditions. The Basic Speed Law in fact states: (CVC 22350)  “No person shall drive a motor vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable

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#65, GOFAR driving data, holiday driving hazards

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 35:52 — 49.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to the latest episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. We have a two-part broadcast with an entrepreneur from Australia and a discussion with an insurance industry analyst about driving hazards during holiday travel. Our first guest is Ian Davidson, the co-founder of GOFAR. It’s a telematics device that connects vehicles to the cloud. Named one of the “Top 10 Coolest things in the world” by GQ magazine, we reach Davidson in Sydney. He discusses with co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia how the

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2019 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid worthy despite issues

Subaru, well-respected for its symmetrical all-wheel drive, sturdiness and belief in human and animal safety in its vehicles, now has additional versatility. The 2019 Subaru Crosstrek plug-in hybrid is the manufacturer’s debut in the segment. The Crosstrek Hybrid is offered in 2.0i, 2.0i Premium and 2.0i Limited trims, all powered by 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engines producing 148 horsepower and featuring all-wheel drive. A six-speed manual transmission is standard on the two 2.0i and 2.0i premiums. A continuously variable transmission is offered on the Limited trim, my test vehicle. Read Now: 2024 Subaru Crosstrek The top-line Crossback Hybrid is equipped with features

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#64, LA Auto Show, holiday driving habits

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 33:01 — 45.3MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to another episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. In this week’s two-part presentation, we recap the recently concluded LA Auto Show and we discuss drivers’ habits during the holidays with Laura Adams of DriversEd.com. As the first major auto show of the year, the LA Auto Show is always chock-full of innovation. This year was no different. Two concept vehicles, Byton and Rivian, both soon scheduled for their public debuts, attracted a lot of attention. The Rivian concept is an all-electric SUV with

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Commentary: Elon Musk unhinged on 60 Minutes?

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During the mid-1980s, comedian Martin Short had a recurring character on Saturday Night Live named Nathan Thurm, an always-defensive defensive attorney. I couldn’t help but think of the character while watching Elon Musk being interviewed Sunday night by Lesley Stahl on 60 Minutes. Like the Short’s character, who always appeared jittery while chain-smoking and making nervous facial expressions, Musk often looked uncomfortable during the opening segment of the perennially popular news program. Musk called out the Securities and Exchange Commission, which recently charged the founder of Tesla with fraud when he used Twitter to announce the possibility of taking electric

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Elon Musk unplugged set for 60 Minutes interview

There’s no one more innovative, controversial and eccentric in the automotive industry than Elon Musk. The founder of Tesla and SpaceX will be a guest on 60 Minutes on Sunday, December 9. Veteran broadcaster Lesley Stahl will interview the billionaire and discuss his business projects and his recent unusual behavior. “I am somewhat impulsive,” Musk tells Lesley Stahl in a clip the pending program. “I don’t really want to try to adhere to some CEO template.” Stahl asks Musk about his strong opinions, actions and penchant for his flare-ups on Twitter. The interview, according to a preview released by CBS,

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Ballerina Misty Copeland defines beauty in Pirelli calendar

For decades, the Pirelli calendar, the annual calendar published by the famed tire manufacturer, has featured famous female models scantily dressed, topless or naked. Not this year. The new Pirelli calendar, which features Misty Copeland, Julia Garner, Gigi Hadid and Laetitia Casta photographed by Albert Watson, highlight the models, actresses and athletes pursuing their dreams. The 40 prints of the models, shot in New York and Miami, each mounted on black, unfold one by one to tell the stories. On the back, dates are scribbled in white, as if in a diary. Copeland, a principal dancer at the American Ballet

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2019 Hyundai Veloster: odd compact hatchback gets it right

The 2019 Hyundai Veloster marks the sports-oriented compact’s second-generation debut, and it remains a one-of-a-kind hatchback. A sharper-edged new exterior design is immediately appealing. But the symmetrical configuration is still a signature feature, with one longer driver’s side door and two shorter front and rear passenger doors. The three-door scheme is not available on any other vehicle. Key Takeaways Still the only three-door hatchback on the market: One long driver’s door, two shorter passenger doors, and a hatch remain the Veloster’s signature configuration. No other vehicle copies the asymmetric layout. 201-hp 1.6-liter turbo in the Turbo Ultimate: Paired with a

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Episode 63, LA Auto Show, Day 3: Genesis, Rivian

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 18:49 — 25.9MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreDay 3 of the LA Auto Show was the last of the Media Days. The public show opened its 10-day run today (Nov. 30) and will continue through Dec. 9. A handful of vehicles attracted a vast amount of attention, and representatives of two of those companies are our guests on Episode #63 of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Bruce Aldrich produced the show remotely from interviews I had from the show. Our guests are Kevin Smith, a Senior Group Manager of Public Relations and

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#62, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Cadillac SUV, Baja 1000, Prestone

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 28:59 — 39.8MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to Day 2 of The Weekly Driver Podcast’s special coverage of AutoMobility LA and the LA Auto Show. Today (Nov. 28) was the opening day for media previews of new car debuts, and it didn’t disappoint. While co-host Bruce Aldrich produced Episode No. 62 remotely, James Raia (your other co-host) was reporting from the showroom halls of the Los Angeles Convention Center. We have three guests. Phil Zak is the exterior designer for Cadillac. He explains the enduring brand’s continuing transition into the

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#61, LA Auto Show, Day 1: Byton concept, new Airstream

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 22:20 — 30.7MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreWelcome to our special podcast episodes from AutoMobility LA and the Los Angeles Auto Show. For the past few years, AutoMobility LA has showcased the ever-advancing technology in the automotive world. Our first episode is direct from the technology tent on the eve of the opening day of the traditional show. Co-host Bruce Aldrich is producing the show remotely, but James Raia (that’s me) will be reporting live from the showroom floor for three days. We’ll start with two diverse guests, Florian Bauer from

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Byton concept set to challenge Tesla but with China debut

Byton, the much-touted electric concept SUV and sedan with Chinese financing and projected as a challenger to Tesla, is getting closer to its production launch. Company representatives showcased the M-Byte crossover and K-Byte sedan and spoke about the company’s plan at AutoMobility LA, the precursor days of the LA Auto Show, Nov. 30-Dec. 9. The M-Byte will be on display throughout the show. If projections materialize, the vehicle will be available in China at the end of 2019 and six months later will be available in the U.S. market. With an advertised base price of $45,000, the Byton is marketed

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