News Service

Honda Civic, 2012: It’s a natural gas and it’s nationwide

The 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas (formerly the Civic GX), the only dedicated natural gas-powered passenger vehicle manufactured and sold in the U.S., debuted Oct. 18, marking the first time in the vehicle’s 14-year history it’s been available at dealerships throughout the country. Until its current model, the Honda Civic natural gas model was available only in California, New York, Utah and Oklahoma. To support growing consumer interest in alternative-fuel vehicles, American Honda expanded its U.S. distribution to 200 dealers in 35 states. As an alternative-fuel vehicle with extremely low smog-forming emissions, the Civic Natural Gas currently qualifies for a state-issued decal allowing single-occupant access to High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) “carpool” lanes in California and several other states. The Civic Natural

Andy Rooney takes on gadgets, green cars and Ford technology in new rant

Andy Rooney, age 92, and part of 60 Minutes on CBS since 1978, offered his latest rant on the second week of the new season of the longstanding program on Oct. 3. The essay was about his dislike of gadgets, particularly in the automobile industry and including Ford's latest smartphone application. Here's the transcript and video of the segment: "I have a lot of gadgets here in my office. I don't really like gadgets. I don't even like the word 'gadget.' " "I read though where automakers have plans to install even more electronic gadgets in their cars soon. Do we really need more of them? I knew I'm out of the loop when I read recently that the Ford

Andy Rooney: Bumper-to-bumper rant on car repairs

With this rant by Andy Rooney on car bumpers, the logical assumption is that the CBS commentator, who retired Oct. 2 from with his regular end-of-the-show segment on 60 Minutes, must have had some fender benders along the way that were his fault. Rooney doesn't make mention of any accidents in his two-minute routine. But he rails against car manufacturers as clips of all kinds of vehicles backing in the same post are featured with his monologue. Rooney explains how bumpers, once extensions of cars, are now built as a part of cars. He says the only way to have fewer one-sided bumper accidents is to have cars in which all bumpers are the same height. It all makes for

Toyota Camry SE, 2012: New look, more car (video review)

During a recent Toyota media launch at the Sonoma Mission Inn in Northern California, videographer Bruce Aldrich and I drove, among a caravan of other journalists, to Infineon Raceway for a full day of comparison driving — 2011 Toyota Camry models versus 2012 Toyota Camry models. With the 2012 models of the best-selling Camry, Toyota has resigned the sedan throughout the four-trim line-up. The improvements are immediately noticeable. Despite its popularity, Toyota has obviously prepared as other top-selling sedans, particularly the Hyundai Sonota, are making serious efforts to grab larger shares of the mid-size sedan marketplace. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since

Chevrolet at 100: iconic cars, Dinah Shore and American Pie

From its iconic models — Corvette to Impala, Bel Air to Camaro — and its inclusion in pop songs sung by Dinah Shore, Don McLean and Bob Seger, Chevrolet has been in public consciousness for exactly a century. Which means, of course, the automaker, co-founded by Louis Chevrolet and William C. Durant on Nov. 3, 2011, is celebrating its 100th birthday today (Nov. 3, 2011). Nearly everyone or someone in nearly everyone's family in the United States has a story to tell about a Chevrolet — a first date to family vacations. Beyond memories of driving experiences, the brand and its importance in popular culture has been absorbed into society with at least three massively popular songs. In 1956 The

Hyundai sets record yearly sales mark in 10 months

Hyundai, capitalizing on the increasing popularity of its Sonata, Elantra and new Veloster models, has eclipsed its previous yearly sales record after the first 10 months of 2011. Hyundai sold 538,228 vehicles in the United States in 2010, but through October this year has sold 545,316 vehicles — an increase of 27 percent from October, 2010. Year to date, Hyundai sales are up 21 percent versus the 2010 in total, and up 31 percent at retail. Sales to fleet accounts represent 11 percent of the total sales year-to-date and eight percent for the month of October. Thirty-seven percent of Hyundai vehicles sold in October achieved 40 MPG fuel economy ratings. Santa Fe and Tucson, Hyundai’s crossover line-up, registered sales increases

Hyundai Genesis, 2012: The most feared car in the world?

The 2012 Hyundai Genesis is one of the most feared cars in the auto industry. For a base price of $34,000 you get all of the luxury that once was the sole domain of car companies like Lexus and Mercedes-Benz. You also get a 333 HP engine that pulls like a steam locomotive. You also get all of the features usually associated with luxury cars including lane departure warning, adaptive cruise control, heated and cooled driver's seat, as well as heated passenger and rear seats. You also get soft leather over almost every surface with traditional French stitching. Roman Mica, contributing editor to TheWeeklyDriver.com and publisher of the The Fast Lane Car, www.tflcar.com, shares his opinion about the impressive 2012

Another Saab story: Chinese buy ailing Swedish carmaker

Chinese distributor Pang Da Automobile Trade and auto manufacturer Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile have purchased Saab, the struggling 62-year-old Swedish automaker who proudly once marketed itself as "Built From Jets," for $142 million. If the transaction is completed by Nov. 15, it will designate the second time Saab has been purchased in the past two years. General Motors sold Saab to Swedish Automotive in early 2010 as part of its bankruptcy reorganization. Swedish Automotive is a Dutch company then known as Spyker, a high-end brand of hand-made sports cars. But Saab continued to struggle under the new ownership. China has become the largest market in the world for auto sales. Ford Motor sold its Swedish Volvo unit to Chinese automaker

Ron Howard set to direct F1 film on Nikki Lauda, Ferrari

Ron Howard, whose long acting, directing and producing career have included auto-related movies Grand Theft Auto and American Graffiti, is in pre-production for another auto-themed film, Rush. The film, in which Ferrari will likely be consulting, depicts legendary Ferrari race driver Niki Lauda’s perilous quest in 1976 to repeat as Formula One Champion. Howard was recently in Italy and met with Lauda and Ferrari Chairman Luca di Montezemolo, who was in charge of the Ferrari race team Howard was given a tour of the Ferrari factory and nearby locations in a Ferrari — and with Lauda driving. Rumored for a 2013 release, Rush currently may include actors Olivia Wilde, Chris Hemsworth and Russell Crowe. James RaiaA sports, travel and business

Scion tops Japan's reliability dominance in Consumer Reports annual survey; Ford stumbles

Scion lead the dominance of nine Japanese car manufacturers among the top 10, while Ford dramatically stumbled in the annual most reliable survey conducted by Consumer Reports magazine. The best and worst-performing brands is based on feedback from 1.3 million subscribers to the United States-based publication. The Scion xD was identified as the best model, followed by Lexus (CT 200h) as the next highest-rated model. Acura came in third place, followed by Mazda, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti, Subaru and Nissan. Volvo was the best-performing non-Japanese brand in 10th place. Hyundai and Kia, both of South Korea, took the next two spots, with Jeep in 13th place, was the top U.S. brand. Ford fell from 10th to 20th place. Among 27 brands

Eyecare professionals offer tips for improved night driving

As days get shorter, night driving increases. As a result, statistics tell problematic a story. Nearly one in three drivers have more difficulty seeing while driving at night. Twentypercent of all drivers have difficulty seeing signs or exits while driving at night. And 20 percent of all drivers have difficulty seeing animals, viewing pedestrians and judging distances at night. On the new edition of Healthy Vision, host Dr. Val Jones discusses changes to vision in the dark and advice is offered by optometrist Dr. Cristina Schnider and John Ulczyski, Vice President of the National Safety Council, for improved eye care and safer driving at night. Here are some key statistics: * Beginning at age 20, the amount of light needed

Record price expected for 117-year-old steam motorcycle

A historic 1894 Roper Steam Motorcycle is expected to establish a new world record for a motorcycle sold at auction when more than 400 motorcycles are offered Jan. 12-14 at Auctions America in RM’s debut at the Rio All-Suite Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas. The second of only two steam-powered motorcycles built by Sylvester Roper of Roxbury, Massachusetts, arguably one of America’s first auto manufacturers, the 117-year-old motorcycle is regarded as one of the world’s oldest, predating early examples produced by Orient, Indian and Harley-Davidson. The current world record for a motorcycle sold at auction is held by a 1915 Cyclone Board Track Racer OHC, which sold for $520,000 USD in 2008. Based on the frame of a Columbia

Toxic cars sold in Japan seven months after nuclear meltdown

Seven months after the nuclear meltdown in Japan that occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, vehicles contaminated by the radiation in the area have received new registrations and license plates and sold as used cars. Vehicles from the area around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which suffered a series of meltdowns March 11, were scheduled to be destroyed. But dealers have been selling them, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Dealers have traditionally bought used vehicles in Japan and exported them to Russia and Southeast Asia, according to the Telegraph. In June, Russian police turned back a half-dozen used cars from Japan after finding they were contaminated with radioactove isotopes. Authorities in South America, Australia and

Cars 2 driving across global boundaries, now online in China

Cars 2, the popular animated movie with myriad American movie stars, including Owne Wilson and Michael Caine, providing voiceover roles, now has a mainland China counterparts in the debut of the film online via the website, Tuduo.com. The availability of Cars 2 online, which began Oct. 24 and is between Tudou Holdings Limited and The Walt Disney Company, marks the first time that a full-length film from Disney's Pixar Animation Studios has been made available through an online video website in Mainland China. Cars 2 is available for on-demand viewing on Tudou's website for a fee. Viewers can choose among Mandarin, Cantonese or English language versions. Chinese actors and actresses provided the voiceovers. The release of Cars 2 through Tudou's

Manny Pacquiao adds to car fleet, buys new Ferrari 458

Like many famous athletes, Manny Pacquiao is fond of cars. The Filipino boxing star recently purchased a new $225,000 Ferrari 458 Italia. The Italian-made Ferrari has a 570-horsepower 4.5-liter V8 engine and can achieve 0-60 mph speed in 3.4 seconds Pacquiao, 32, who will fight Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, owns or is often escorted in numerous cars, including a Cadillac Escalade and several other sport utility vehicles. Pacquiao also has a Porsche Cayenne, Mitsubishi Pajero, Lincoln Navigator, Honda CR-and a Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition and a Toyota Landcruiser given to the boxer by a dealership last year. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years,

World Series, 2011: Patriotism, Chevys and Ray Charles

Chevrolet will celebrate its 100th birthday November 3, and what better time to promote the occasion than two weeks early during the World Series. During the opening game between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals and throughout the World Series, viewers on FOX will see "Then and Now.' The one-minute spot features Ray Charles' singing a live version of America the Beautiful. The voiceover at the end of the commercial is handled by long-time actor-spokesman Tim Allen. Footage shows vintages photos from Chevy's archives, fans, employees and Flickr. The "Chevy Runs Deep" tagline is included, and following a shortened rendition of Ray Charles singing America The Beautiful, Allen concludes the commercial with the words: "For the first 100 years