News Service

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Honda announces average $300 price increase on 2013 Accord models

Honda has revealed prices for the entire 2013 Accord lineup with the average MSRP about $300 more than in 2012 and with the manufacturer maintaining its current 3-year, 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper, 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/unlimited mileage corrosion warranty on all models. Prices for the 2013 Honda Accord sedan begin at $21,680 for the Accord LX with a 6-speed manual and extend to $33,430 for Accord Touring V6 with a 6-speed automatic — the top-of-the-line Accord. Prices for the 2013 Honda Accord Coupe start at $23,350 for the Accord LX-S 4-cylinder and top out at $32,350 for the Accord EX-L Navi V6. Standard equipment on all Accords now includes: alloy wheels rearview camera, an expanded view driver’s mirror,  Bluetooth handsfreelink, USB/iPod integration,

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Hennessey unveils 2013 VR1200, most powerful four-seat car in U.S.

Hennessey Performance has debuted what it’s describing as the most powerful four-seat car available — the 2013 Hennessey VR1200 Twin Turbo Coupe. Based on the Cadillac CTS-V Coupe, the team at HPE removes the 556 bhp factory supercharged V8 and replaces it with a de-tuned version of their Venom GT supercar engine. The VR1200’s 7.0L twin turbo V8 engine produces 1,224 bhp. The 2013 Hennessey VR1200 Twin Turbo comes is priced at $295,000 plus shipping costs. This includes the cost of the base Cadillac CTS-V. HPE plans to build only 12 vehicles for the 2013 model year. The VR1200 Twin Turbo is available as a 2-door Coupe or 4-door sedan as well as the ultra exclusive Sport Wagon. Three of

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Range Rover, 2013: Lighter, powerful, fast, eco-friendly

Land Rover has introduced the 2013 Range Rover, with the fourth edition as the industry’s first sport utility vehicle with an all-aluminum structure. As the lightest SUV in its class, the new Range Rover is an indication of Jaguar Land Rover’s intentions to strive toward efficiency and sustainability in a carbon-conscious world. The new model features a lightweight all-aluminum body structure resulting in a 20 percent weight saving over outgoing models and delivering improved fuel economy and CO2 emissions. In the United States, engine options are a 5.0-liter V8 with 375 horsepower and supercharged 5.0-liter V8 with 510 horsepower. The naturally-aspirated model reaches 0-60 mph in 6.5 seconds, while the supercharged Range Rover will accelerated 0-60 mph in 5.1 seconds.

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Volvo truck debuts with Faith Dickey's daredevil wired walk of faith

Volvo is no different than other carmakers with clever marketing. By the time new Volvo FH truck was launched Sept. 5 in Gothenburg, Sweden, it had already received vast considerable attention via a YouTube video called Ballerina Stunt. In the 3 1/2-minute footage high-liner world record holder Faith Dickey walks on a wire strung between two new FH trucks driving at 50 mph as it approaches a tunnel. The stunt was set up to show the precise handling of the new Volvo FH. It was filmed on an unopened highway in Croatia in cooperation with Hollywood stunt director Peter Pedrero (James Bond, Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean.) The video, which has 5  1/2-million views, was directed by Academy Award

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California motorists encouraged to re-think oil change practices

Should motorists change their vehicle’s oil every 3,000 miles? Not necessarily, according to the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). With its “Check Your Number” campaign, CalRecyle encourages drivers to rethink their current habits and only change motor oil as needed. “With significant advances in auto technology, it’s important for drivers to understand that changing motor oil every 3,000 miles is an old default that may not be relevant for their vehicle,” said CalRecycle Director Caroll Mortensen. “Frequent oil changes do not necessarily mean better performance or longer engine life. By following the manufacturer’s recommendations, you will not only do right by your ride, but you’ll also benefit the environment by using fewer resources.” A recent survey by CalRecycle

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Hyundai Elantra GT, 2013: Versatile new hatchback offers value, vast features

The 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT joins the Korean manufacturer’s lineup replacing the Elantra Touring in the increasingly popular stable of small, versatile hatchbacks. With a shorter wheelbase and a six-inch shorter overall length than its predecessor, the Elantra GT is Hyundai‘s entry as a lighter (2,750 pounds) and more fuel-efficient offering in the popular segment. The Ford Focus, Mazda 3 Subaru Impreza and VW Golf are its primary competitors. The 2013 Hyundai Elantra GT offers an impressive list of standard features that include heated front seats, a 10-way power driver seat, a cooled glovebox, dual-zone climate control, a six-speaker sound system with an USB/iPod interface, Bluetooth and seven airbags, including a driver knee bag. Two options packages are available, the

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Concours on the Avenue, Carmel, 2012: Jaguar to Muscle Cars, Maserati to Mercedes-Benz

Concours on the Avenue is an ideal way to begin Monterey Auto Week. It’s low-key with a great mix of automobiles parked on Ocean Ave., and adjoining side streets for a one-day, judged show. The beauty of the show, this year, held Aug. 14, is the combination of the cars and their  engaging owners eager to discuss their vehicles w — Bugatti to Buick, Ferrari to Ford Pinto — with the public. And it’s hard to go wrong with a car show stationed in Carmel. The weather was in the mid-60s and the sunshine, as per Monterey Peninsula tradition and right on time, arrived in late morning. Bruce Aldrich publisher of I’mTahoeLive,com, filmed and edited the video below. James Raia,

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Mazda 5 CX-5, 2013: Comfort, convenience in new crossover

Mazda long has been known for sporty vehicles, and its all-new 2013 CX-5 compact crossover is no exception, with swoopy styling and carlike handling. However, the CX-5 has just average acceleration because it only has a 2-liter, four-cylinder engine with 155-horsepower and weighs approximately 3,500 pounds. It’s no slug, but is designed more for comfort and convenience than 0-60 mph times. For instance, the automatic transmission shifts smoothly, but with no great urgency. It’s tuned more for the best fuel economy—rather than outright performance. The CX-5 is in a tough compact crossover league, with rivals such as the Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V and Ford Escape. But, although its vehicles are less promoted than those of competitors, Mazda has been around

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Ferrari F12 quickly moves to the front as most powerful street car

No other auto manufacturer attracts more attention than Ferrari, and when the Italian carmaker is touting its newest offering as the most powerful street-legal car it’s likely to attract further attention. But if you get Dan Neil, the Pulitzer Prize-winnning journalist, to write about the new Ferrari, then sit down in your favorite chair with a beverage of choice and go along for a journalistic ride with the wondrous wordsmith. Neil’s review the F12 appears in the Aug. 4 edition of the newspaper is his weekly column titled Rumble Seat. In an early review paragraph, Neil writes: “Ferrari says the F12 is its quickest, most powerful and most dynamic street car to date: 740 horsepower, a top speed of 212

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Barnfinds.com: Auto site for owners and dreamers, Bugatti to Buick

Amid all of the fine automotive sites, Edmunds to Car and Driver, Kelley Blue Book to Motortrend, one new unheralded site has joined best-of-the-best car sites list. It's only slightly more than one-year-old, but it's developed a strong following. It doesn't give tips to find the best prices for a new car or tips for negotiating with salesmen or getting the best insurance prices. Barnfinds.com is the site for anyone who has the same fantasy as car enthusiasts everywhere — finding a classic. Its sub-title is perfect, "Barn Finds, Survivors and Unique Collector Cars For Sale." According the site, based in Wyoming: "Every auto enthusiast knows what a barn find is and we all dream about finding one. Not every

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MINI Cooper takes on human flight launch in outrageous commercial

MINI takes chances with its videos, which means the iconic brand and its BMW ownership are successful whether the commercials are raging hits or fall flat. But to attempt human flight with John Cooper Works Countryman edition? That takes the carmaker's efforts to an entirely new horizon on the desert? Is the whole thing rigged? Is it real? And could the flying man in the wing suit possibly land on the car? It's up to the viewer's imagination, right? And isn't that one more reason why MINI commercials work so well? 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

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Car technology 101: Anatomy of a dashboard

The icon of a human figure with a ball in its chest? A triangle with an exclamation point in the middle? Under the category technology overland, the website carinsurance.org has introduced an instructional infograph to define all of the functions on the dashboard — odometer to warning signs designated with bizarre icons. The website has title the infograph as “What Are All Those Light on My Dashboard?” What are all those lights on my dashboard? So, to define the icons: The human figure in a seated position with ball shape near its chest indicates there’s an electrical problem the car’s airbag system. The trangle with an exclamation point is the master warning light and in general terms designates something is wrong

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Leonardo DiCaprio, Fisker announce equity marriage for plug-in hybrid

Leonardo DiCaprio, the three-time Oscar nominated actor and celebrity environmentalist, has become an equity investor and brand ambassador for Fisker Automotive, the manufacturer of the Karma plug-in hybrid. The timing of DiCaprio's involement is curious since the California-based carmaker recently expanded its recall of its $103,000 Karma because of the incorrectly positioned hose clamps. The recall represents more than 25 percent of the estimated number of Karma's sold. "DiCaprio will work closely with marketing and promotional initiatives to bring attention to sustainability and environmental issues around the world,” Fisker Automotive said in a press release. “In turn, Fisker will support the work of the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation.” Fisker Automotive didn't specify how much DiCaprio invested in the company, nor how

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Jerry Seinfeld's back taking funny friends to coffee in vintage car show about nothing

It's no secret Jerry Seinfeld is a car collector. But beginning July 19, he's mixing his comedic talents and passion for vintage cars and he's sharing both with friends as they take the cars to coffee shops — or at least that's how it's being promoted. The show is appropriately called "Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. It's scheduled to debut at 9 p.m. Thursday July 19 on Crackle. In the promo for the show, Seinfeld drives around in brief snippets with Michael Richards, Ricky Gervais, Larry David, and Alec Baldwin, among others. According to its web site, www.crackle.com: "Crackle is the place to experience pure entertainment: full-length movies, TV shows, and original series from genres that embody cool — all

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Chevrolet Cruze recalled as GM fixes potential flammage liquid issue

General Motors is recalling nearly a half-million Chevrolet Cruze compacts sedans from 2011 and 2012 to modify the under-engine shield so flammable liquids are not trapped in the engine compartment. The recall covers 2011 and 2012 Cruze sedans built at GM's Lordstown, Ohio plant from September 2010 through May 2012. The recall affects 413,418 vehicles sold in the United States, 61,299 in Canada and 701 in Israel. The engine shield on the models affected has the potential to trap engine fluids and raise the risk of a fire, GM said. Cruze models sold around the world made at plants other than in Lordstown, Ohio, do not have the same design and are not believed to have the same issue, a

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Fiat 500 Abarth, 2012: Italian, sexy mini car has Ferrari relatives

The sexiest cars arguably long have come from Italy, and the new Abarth version of the 2012 Fiat 500 is such a car. The 500 Abarth follows the colorful tradition of the very small, low-volume race-winning “Double Bubble” Fiat Abarths of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Those cars are valued at $135,000—if you can find one that wasn’t thrashed in races. (They had nifty twin roof humps—or “bubbles”—to clear race driver helmets.) The early Abarths were standard Fiats cleverly modified by Karl Abarth, who made a fortune selling hot rod exhaust systems, mainly for sports cars. If you wanted the greatest sports car sound around and higher performance, it seemed mandatory that you get an Abarth catalog-available exhaust system.

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