News Service

MotoGP: Fast, furious, fantastic at Laguna Seca (video)

MotoGP is motorcycle racing’s most prestigious circuit. It’s still early in the 2013 season, but the series’ annual stop at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca — the halfway point of the season — is just around the next corner. In fact, hospitality and VIP suites tickets are now available for the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, featuring the MotoGP World Championship, scheduled July 19-21, at the famed the Monterey Peninsula facility. What’s MotoGP all about? Friend Mike Kahn, owner of the Sacramento internet consulting firm Frog Stone Media, www.frogstonemedia.com, attended the event in 2012 and made the video below. Riders representing Yamaha, Honda and Ducati, among other manufacturers, will be among the international field this year negotiating the undulating, 11-turn, circuit 

Read more
,

Five top gas mileage, wallet-friendly cars for 2013

Once limited to niche brands, odd designs and ill-conceived marketing, carmakers in recent years have integrated hybrid, alternative fuel vehicles into the automotive mainstream lineup. Now, nearly every major manufacturer offers at least one hybrid and another alternative fuel car in its fleet. Combined with higher mileage gas-engine cars, the auto industry flush with improved fuel efficiency. Hybrid anxiety is passé. Alternative fuel cars formerly designed and operated as if related to moon vehicles or military craft now largely look and drive the same as their gas-only siblings. The “greening” of the automotive industry occurred primarily for three specific reasons: increased influence from the environmental movement, pending federal regulation for improved gas mileage and wishful collective public desire for less

Read more
,

Toyota announces special editions for 2013 Corolla

The enduring Toyota Corolla, which debuted in 1966 and as it approaches its 50th birthday remains the best-selling car in history, will soon be offered in two 2013 model special editions. Toyota has announced the two 2013 Corolla Special Editions will offer standard features in two grade levels, LE and S. The LE Special Edition will offer 16-inch alloy wheels, Display Audio with Navigation and Entune™ (three-year subscription), Power and heated Beige leather-trimmed seats, Special Edition floor mats and exterior badging, and a unique Black Currant Metallic exterior color. The Corolla S Special Edition will provide new styling along with 17-inch alloy wheels, Display Audio with Navigation and Entune™, Sport fabric seats coordinated with a unique Hot Lava exterior color

Read more
, ,

Freddie Mercury’s 1974 Rolls-Royce Sells At Auction For $118,000

More than 20 years after his death, the flamboyant legend of Freddie Mercury, the frontman for the seminal rock band Queen, endures including via his former choice of automobiles — a 1974 Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow. Mercury died in 1991, but his Rolls-Royce, originally purchased by the musician’s production company and hardly driven in the past two decades, sold earlier this year for 7,700 British Sterling or about $118,000. It was purchased via a telephone bid  from a Russian businessman at the Coys auction at Autosport International in the United Kingdom. The classic Rolls-Royce had a list used value of $13,000 to $18,000. But the attachment of Mercury as it former obviously substantially increased the car’s value. Mercury’s Silver Shadow has

Read more
, ,

Scion FR-S 2013 quickly gets best sports car for the money honor

It only took a year for the once unheralded but promising Scion FR-S to gain national recognition via its lauded combination of performance and value. Introduced in 2012, the 2013 FR-S has been named Best Sports Car for the Money by U.S. News & World Report. The annual award recognizes value, quality and critical acclaim across 21 vehicle categories. To evaluate the FR-S, U.S. News & World Report judges looked at the sports coupe’s safety record, reliability and opinion from industry experts. Additionally, the expected five-year total cost of ownership and average vehicle price at the time of publication contributed to overall scores. The FR-S costs $25,255 MSRP with a six-speed manual transmission or $26,355 MSRP with a six-speed automatic

Read more

Super Bowl commercials: Kate Upton shunned for Willem Dafoe, Usher in Mercedes Benz devil spot

Kate Upton is all the rage in her controversial Super Bowl commercial when she gives a few young guys a tip or two about washing a new Mercedes Benz. But the German automaker surprisingly leaves Upton with only a bit part in another, longer Super Bowl commercial. The top billing in this spot goes to Willem Dafoe, Usher and a classic Rolling Stones tunes. It’s a clever commercial. More of Kate Upton would have made it better. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose

Read more
,

How to buy the best used electric vehicle

It’s been about 15 years since hybrid and electric cars first entered mainstream global automotive market. Which means, led by the Toyota Prius, car buyers in the market for second- electric cars now have an expanding versatile selection. Toyota introduced the Prius in 1997 and its global sales have now surpassed four million, far exceeding all hybrid and electric sales combined. As a result, used Prius models, which now also include the Prius Liftback, Prius C, Prius V and Prius Plug-In Electric, are plentiful and logically a best choice among shoppers seeking a used electric car. There are plenty of parts and plenty of mechanics who know Toyota intimately. Of course, there are other choices. In 2011 more than 30

Read more

Toyota faces $1.1 billion settlement in runaway car lawsuit

The strange, twisting and lingering litigation against Toyota has been settled with the Japanese automaker agreeing to pay more than $1 billion to settle U.S. litigation via claims its vehicles suddenly and unintentionally accelerated. According to court documents the deal, pending California federal judge approval, includes direct payments to customers as well as installation of a brake override system in about 3.25 million vehicles. The terms include a $250 million fund for former Toyota owners who sold who sold or turned in their leased vehicles between September 2009 and December 2010 at reduced prices because of bad publicity. And there’s also a separate $250 million fund for owners not eligible for the brake override system. Plaintiff attorneys are slated to

Read more
, ,

1970 Chevy Chevelle SS shares Hollywood spotlight with Tom Cruise in Jack Reacher

Iconic cars have long played central roles in movies. Add the 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS to the list in the just released movie Jack Reacher starring Tom Cruise. Cruise plays the former cop turned turned vigilante. He a crime-fighter who messes with people after arriving and then departing confrontations in the ’70 Chevelle SS. There are many action scenes and the car eventually gets thrashed. But the official trailer offers a solid glimpse what happens throughout with the now 43-year-old car throughout the film shot entirely in Pittsburgh, Pa. Will the car scenes joins other iconic cars in movies like the French Connection, Bullitt or the legacy of the James Bond films? Or will the Chevelle role attain the status

Read more
,

Nissan withdraws cycling sponsorship from RadioShack team

Nissan wasn’t the first carmaker to sponsor a cycling team, but it has just joined the increasing list of major companies withdrawing sponsoring from the highest level of the sport presumably in the expanding wake of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal. According to a report in the Luxembourg newspaper Le Quotidien and confirmed by officials at the manufacturer’s North American division on prominent cycling websites, the Nissan name will not appear on the jerseys or bikes the RadioShack team for the 2013 season. Nissan, which became a full-time sponsor of the squad that features prominent riders Andy Schleck, Chris Horner and Fabian Cancellara, will also no longer supply sponsor and staff vehicles to the team. Nissan has also been a

Read more
,

Three Jeep, two Nissan models among 10 cars to avoid at all costs

Forbes.com can’t stay away from car lists. Best compacts to worst gas mileage, the varied online publication is more well known for its business trends than its automotive expertise. But with its automotive coverage, Forbes.com doesn’t shy away from controversy. It praises manufacturers for innovation and craftsmanship and criticizes carmakers for lousy visibility and underpowered engines. In its latest automotive list, Forbes.com selects the 10 new cars to avoid. In its assessment, Forbes.com used the facts and figures of several automotive expert organizations, including Consumer Reports, J.D. Power and Associates, the Highway Loss Data Institute, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Here’s the list of 10 cars Forbes.com suggests consumers avoid as well reasons for each vehicle: Dodge Journey

Read more

Toyota dominates new ALG top resale value rankings

Toyota and its automotive Lexus and Scion families combined for nine top spots among 22 vehicle categories in the annual list of highest projected resale values offered by ALG, Inc. The Southern California source for automotive residual values provides the list for buying or leasing consumers. The reason: Depreciation is the largest percentage of overall vehicle ownership costs. Among mainstream brands, Honda was top-ranked for resale value, followed by Hyundai and Scion. Among premium brands, Acura was top-ranked followed by Infiniti and Audi. Toyota, however, had the most vehicles chosen at the top of their category Category Rankings Sub Compact, Honda Fit; Compact, Hyundai Elantra; Midsize, Honda Accord; Fullsize, Hyundai Azera; Sports Car, Scion FR-S; Alt-Fuel Vehicle, Toyota Prius c;

Read more
, , ,

Tesla raises prices, offers new warranties for 2013

Tesla, the high-performance, all-electric sports car manufacturer, will increase prices of the four versions of its 2013 Model S luxury sedan by $2,500 beginning January 1, 2013. New prices are $59,900 for the base version with a 40-kilowatt-hour battery pack, $69,900 for the mid-range 60-kWh model, $79,900 for the top-end 85-kWh level and $94,900 for the Performance model, which also uses the 85-kWh pack. Tesla buyers who make a deposit after January 1 will get a premium – 12-way adjustable heated front seats — without charge. Extended warranties, maintenance Telsa has also announced prices for its replacement battery packs and a new warranty program. Replacement battery costs: 40 kWh ($8,000), 60 kWh ($10,000) and 85 kWh ($12,000). New warranty option

Read more
, ,

Chevy Spark all-electric version scheduled for summer 2013 debut

An all-electric version of the Chevrolet Spark, which has 130 horsepower and is powered by an electric motor and a 20 kWh lithium ion battery, will go sale next summer in California, Oregon, Canada and in South Korea, where it’s manufactured. General Motors didn’t disclose the range of the electric Spark, but said the electric version of the popular entry level car, will accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than eight seconds. The price of the Spark also hasn’t been released, but it will be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit. The gas-operated Spark starts at $12,245, while the electric could cost nearly double the amount of its sibling. According to the Chevrolet, which is showcasing the Spark at

Read more
, ,

2014 Honda Accord plug-in hybrid rated at 115 mpg(e)

The Honda Accord plug-in hybrid, which will debut January 15 at dealerships in California and New York, will be priced from $39,780 and is expected to compete with the Toyota Prius, Chevy Volt and just released Ford Energi. The Ford Fusion is priced ($39,495), while the Volt is priced at $39,145. The Toyota Prius begins at $32,000. According to information released at the Los Angeles Auto Show, which continues through January 9 at the LA Convention Center, the EPA rates the new Honda at 115 MPGe in electric mode. The Chevy Volt is rated at 98 MPGe, and the Prius Plug-in at 95 MPGe. Ford has promoted the Fusion Energi at “over 100 MPGe.” The new Accord Plug-In will achieve

Read more
,

LA Auto Show: Sexy models just wanna have fun at automakers' debuts

On the second day Media Day of the Los Angeles Auto Show, the Green Car of the Year (Ford Fusion Hybrid) was the morning highlight. But with the emphasis on alternative fuel and engine technology, the women who work as models at auto shows around the country seemingly didn’t have much to do. There was a dance troop promoting different decades of Volkswagen. And there were two women who were having fun at the Buick unveilings. No one was around when I stepped to take their pictures and the taller of the two models said: “Doesn’t she look like my personal “mini-me?,” a reference to the character in the Austin Powers movies. And yes, she did. I asked one model

Read more
Previous Next