TheWeeklyDriver.com’s 2017 Best Cars of the Year

TheWeeklyDriver.com presents its 11th annual best cars of the year list. For the past two years, we selected 12 vehicles instead of 10 because we couldn’t decide what cars to leave off the lists. The selection was more clear-cut this year, so we’ve again chosen 10 vehicles. Volvo is the only manufacturer with two vehicles on the 2017 best cars list. Bentley, Genesis, Honda, Kia, Lincoln, Mazda, Volkswagen and Toyota are also represented. As editor and publisher of TheWeeklyDriver.com since 2004, I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2017 model years for at least a week. Most of the vehicles

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Episode 17, The Weekly Driver Podcast’s Best Cars of 2017

The Weekly Driver Podcast presents its 2017 best cars of year. It’s the 11th annual compilation, previously published only on the TheWeeklyDriver.com. I reviewed 38 cars and trucks in 2017, and we choose the vehicles of the year based on value, safety, fuel efficiency, versatility and comfort. We only select cars or trucks we’ve driven. Co-host Bruce Aldrich and I hash it out in episode 17.

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Redspace concept: the new ugliest car never made — yet

Like all major auto shows, the LA Auto Show annually showcases a few dozen world debuts and a handful of concept cars. This year, the wildest was Reds, the short name for the Redspace Project. It’s arguably the ugliest vehicle never made. At least, not yet. The all-electric vehicle wasn’t designed in a high school auto shop class, although it might be an insult to those young entrepreneurs. Rather, the prototype is the design of Chris Bangle. He’s well-known in the auto industry and was the lead designer for 17 years at BMW. He also designed cars for Fiat and

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Episode 16, LA Auto Show Day 3: Tips for the public, Volvo, meet Blinker

Rod Buscher was in the car dealership business for 30 years. Now, he’s the CEO of Blinker, the application that simplifies the car-buying and car-selling process. In Episode 16, we interview Buscher during the LA Auto Show. Also, we provide an overview of the show for its public viewing days, Dec. 1-10. And we discuss the fly-and-buy program offered by Volvo.

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2018 Hyundai Elantra GT: Watch out Honda, Volkswagen

Compact hatchbacks often deserve more credit. They’re positioned in an unglamorous car segment, but they’re difficult to beat considering their combination of durability, economy, performance, space and style. New for 2018, the Hyundai Elantra GT expands the South Korean manufacturer’s lineup to further compete with hatchback stalwarts like the Chevrolet Cruze, Honda Civic, Mazda 3, Subaru Impreza and Volkswagen Golf. The standard Elantra sedan includes a four-cylinder 147-horsepower engine. There’s also a four-cycling turbo-charged option with 128 horsepower. The GT, my test vehicle, adds further variety with 2.0-liter, 161 horsepower configuration matched to the same four-cylinder engine. The sport model

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Episode 15, LA Auto Show, Day 2: Honda Goes More Green, Wacky Concept

Honda has invested a lot of money into its green cars effort, including the Clarity. It’s the carmaker’s entree into hydrogen cars. In Episode 14, we discuss the Clarity with a Honda representative. We explore the other sights and sounds during our second day of visiting the 2017 LA Auto Show, including a look at a wacky concept called Red Square.

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Episode 14, LA Auto Show, Day 1: Electric Bikes, Trucks and Amazon Mayhem

The first day of the LA Auto Show was the debut of AutoMobilty — all things tech orientd in the automotive industry. In this episode, The Weekly Driver interviews Jenninfer Parke, co-founder of the start-up app, Fair, where a certified used vehicle takes 10 minutes to negotiate. We also interview Jeff Holland from Bollinger Motors, an all-electric truck company; We discuss the new season of The Grand Tour om Amazon Prime; and we chat with John King, owner of the electric bike company, Phantom Bikes.

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Does keyless entry make your car more secure?

SPONSORED CONTENT I recently purchased a new car, and I’m usually a pretty straightforward, base-model shopper. But there was an intriguing difference between base and upgraded models — keyless entry doors. I decided to investigate. I’m not an auto expert, nor a locksmith, so I went to a local car locksmith in Los Angeles to get what I hoped would be expert advice on keyless entry doors. This is what he shared: Of course, I knew convenience was supposed to be a big thing. I had seen the commercials of the woman struggling to dig through her purse to locate

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Best buying practices make best used car purchases

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The used car market is booming. According to industry analysts, about 40 million used cars get new owners each year in the United States. It’s nearly 2 1/2 times the amount of new cars sold in the United States each year. Used car superstores, private-party sellers, online sellers, specialty auctions, lease returns and combination new and used car dealerships flourish. But with so many used cars available, what’s the best way to find a used car? And what are best practices for buying a used car? And what manufacturers have the best reputations? Before selecting a vehicle, used car experts

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Episode 13, Tesla’s Woes, Farewell Danica Patrick

Elon Musk recently announced two new off-the-hook vehicles despite Tesla’s massive debt and abrupt company layoffs. What’s up with that? And Danica Patrick had an emotional announcement that she’s retiring after the 2018 Daytona 500 and Indianapolis 500. We give our opinions on the polarizing luminaries.

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Honda Odyssey woes return with second massive recall

The Honda Odyssey is among the most versatile vehicles in the automotive industry. Now, about 800,000 units of the popular mini-van in the United States dating to 2011 are being recalled because of a second-row seating issue The voluntary recall covers Odysseys from 2011-17 model years. The issue: A release lever for repositioning the outer second-row seats may not latch properly, causing the seats to slide forward or backward without warning. The company will notify owners of affected minivans. Dealers will install additional brackets and springs to resolve the problem for free. Customers can call Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138

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Commentary: Is Elon Musk masking Tesla’s troubles?

Is there a better mastermind in the automotive business than Elon Musk? Whenever he talks, people listen. No more so than recently when he held court in fron of VIPs and the media to announce Tesla’s new electric truck and the second generation of its supercar roadster. To Musk’s credit, he’s changed the car industry. Tesla is the first electric supercar. Its innovation and “green” technology have rocked the automotive world. The Tesla has been tested by some industry publications as the safest car ever made. But Musk has also realized Tesla will never matter to the public at large

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Danica Patrick: ‘Daytona 500, Indy 500, then I’m done’

Danica Patrick, the fiery and vastly popular race car driver, will retire in 2018 after competing in motorsports‘ two biggest races, the Daytona 500 in February and Indianapolis 500 in May. “I am done after May,” Patrick said on the eve of her last race this season. “Everyone needs to put their mind there. My plan is to be at Indy and then I’m done.” Patrick currently competes full-time in the Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series, driving the No. 10 Ford Fusion for Stewart-Haas Racing. Patrick’s contract will end Sunday after the season-ending Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series race at

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Telsa announces rocket roadster with wicked specs

Elon Musk is a master promoter for his array of high-end electric vehicles. He’s just announced two new products, including what he’s marketing as the fastest street-legal roadster ever made. In addition to revealing plans for an electric semi-truck, Musk surprisingly announced the reboot of the roadster that launched his company. But it’s a far superior vehicle than debuted in 2008. According to Musk, the new generation of the roadster via prototype track testing will accelerate from 0-60 miles per hour in 1.9 seconds. It’s predicted to have a top speed of more than 250 miles per hour. And it

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Expanding electrical vehicle charging networks coming soon

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If car industry analysts are correct, sales of electric vehicles will soon increase dramatically. With manufacturers offering more models of plug-in hybrids and battery-electric vehicles as well increasing gas-electric hybrids, some industry insiders believe “green cars” could account for as much as one-third of new car sales by 2025. The increase in battery-electric and plug-in hybrids could be even greater if states ban internal combustion engines. California is considering the ban, for example, and just think how the car industry would be affected if ban proposal occurred. Regardless of the severity of the increase, major questions loom: Where will the

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Henry Giselle Roberson born to be a drag racer

Drag racer Henry Giselle Roberson takes after his father. He likes to drive fast cars in a straight line for a quarter-mile alongside other racers doing the same. The elder Roberson, also Henry, and still competing at age 75, began on the streets of San Francisco. The younger Roberson, 31, has been drag racer for more than half of his life. He competes on tracks from Arizona to Oregon. Roberson the younger, who lives in North Highlands, will compete this season through November. About a month afterward, the 2018 season will begin January 1 at Sacramento Raceway. He competes in bracket racing,

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