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Shelby Mustang GT500 selected as greatest muscle car

Muscle car fanciers are as passionate about automobiles as any group of car enthusiasts. One recent example is an article in the automotive section of MSN.com in which the 1967 Shelby Mustang GT500 was chosen as the greatest muscle car in history. The Mustang was selected by site readers who cast more 6,000 votes or 17 percent of the total votes cast for the famous car. The writer of the article, explained: “The GT500 was basically a factory-authorized tuner Mustang created by Carroll Shelby. Introduced in 1967, the GT500 joined the GT350 on showroom floors and offered a 428-cubic-inch Police Interceptor engine with a conservatively rated 355 horsepower.” “Despite the larger engine, it was actually designed to be a more

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Volvo S60 2012 gets top IIHS safety award

The 2012 Volvo S60 has been designated as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its good performance for front, side, rollover, and rear crash protection, plus standard electronic stability control (ESC). The previous generation of the S60 earned good ratings in the Institute’s front and rear evaluations, but for 2005-09 it was rated acceptable in the side impact test. The previous model wasn’t evaluated for roof strength in rollover crashes. The new model improves to good in the side impact test, and earns a good rating in the roof strength test. The roof of the S60 withstood a force equal to 4.95 times the car’s weight. By comparison, the current federal standard is 1.5

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New green, lots of green, Porsche hybrid will debut in 2013

Porsche has announced its 918 Spyder hybrid sports car, the carmaker’s most expensive model ever, will be priced at $845,000 in North America and will be available to buyers in November 2013. The vehicle, which will be priced at $1.09 million in Europe, will have appropriate production number, 918. The two-seat Porsche plug-in hybrid will accelerate to 62 mph in 3.2 seconds. It features a 500-horsepower V8 engine and 218-horsepower electric drive system. The car’s lithium-ion battery can be recharged in three hours. 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

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Mazda3 2011 awarded IIHS top safety pick rating

The 2011 Mazda 3 sedan/hatchback, after earning the top rating of good for roof strength in rollover crashes, qualifies as a Top Safety Pick among small cars by the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). The Mazda3, which previously earned good ratings for front, side, and rear crash protection, is the manufacturer’s first car designated as a Top Safety Pick since the Institute made the criteria more strict by including a requirement for a good rating in the roof strength test. Two tests were conducted in order to rate the 4-door sedan and hatchback versions. The sedan’s roof withstood a force equal to 5.32 times the car’s weight. The hatchback’s roof withstood a force equal to 5.09 times its weight.

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GM halts Louisiana plant in Japan tragedy aftermath

General Motors is the first automotive industry company to stop production at a United States-based factory due to shortage of materials in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. The carmaker hasn’t released what parts are in short supply, but its plant in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the only North American plant to stop production because of the tragedy in Japan. GM manufactures the GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado pick-up trucks in its Louisiana plant, which employs 800 workers. Japanese firms Toyota and Subaru have slowed but not stopped production in their U.S plants to conserve the parts stocks. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column

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Steve McQueen's Porsche from LeMans set for Monterey sale

The 1970 Porsche 911S once owned by Steve McQueen and featured in his movie Le Mans will be auctioned August 19-20 at Monterey Auto Week by RM Auctions. Built to 1970 specification, complete with air conditioning and a full complement of factory options, the Slate Grey 911S stars in the film’s opening sequence. McQueen’s character, Michael Delaney, drives through the French countryside, reflecting on life, death, and racing. The Porsche 911S was also used as McQueen’s personal transport during the movie’s production, later joining his own stable of motor cars in California. The collection included a Jaguar XK-SS, multiple Ferraris, Porsches, airplanes and motorcycles. “There is no more iconic racing film than “Le Mans” and no more charismatic owner of

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Hyundai recalls 285,000 Elantras for airbag, electrical issues

Hyundai, the South Korean manufacturer with a near meteoric popularity increase in recent years, is recalling about 285,000 Elantras for various airbag and electrical issues,  according to documents filed this week with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The airbag issue in 2007-2008 models, is due to what the automaker described as an undisclosed electronic noise. The noise, which might be an issue in 96,000 vehicles, might cause the driver-side air bag to inflate with full force when not required. The second Hyundai recall covers about 189,000 Elantras from 2007 through 2009. The automaker reported liquid spilled in the front-console cup holder could leak through and cause an electrical problem and the cause trigger the deployment of the passenger

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Nissan, other car makers assess disaster impact (video)

The global effect to the auto industry following the earthquake and tsunami in Japan is still be assessed. But Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mazda have all stopped production, thousands of cars have been destroyed or damaged and the available of some models in the United States and other key sales countries has yet to be determined. Nissan, Japan’s second-largest car maker, reports 2,300 vehicles were burned or crumpled in the disaster, including nearly 1,300 Infiniti M, EX and FX models ready for transport to the United States. Additionally, some Z models, among other Nissan offerings, were destroyed. Correspondingly, six Nissan production plants suffered structural damage. Insurance analysts estimate the Japan disaster may cost the global automotive industry as much as

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Japan Economy: Toyota, Honda, Nissan cease production

Toyota, Nissan and Honda have all suspended production of cars and trucks in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami that has devastated northeastern Japan. Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, reported it has ceased manufacturing at its 12 plants until March 16, according to Reuters. Two of the closed factories have  a combined annual capacity of 420,000 small cars built mainly for exported sales. Toyota manufactured 234,045 vehicles (38 percent of its global production) in January in Japan. Nissan has halted output at four plants in northeast Japan and will remain closed without a scheduled re-opening date. Two Nissan employees at a plant in Tochigi prefecture were slightly injured by the earthquake, according to new agencies. The carmaker also reported 1,300

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Jeep Wrangler worst ranked in Consumer Reports’ 2011 list

Consumer Reports buys the vehicles it tests, and through the years, the publication’s editors and testers have refined their assessment approach. It’s arguably the most detailed and respected evaluation of new cars and trucks in the automotive industry. As the publication’s editors like to say: “Not all cars are created equal, and we have the data to prove it.” Lexus has been at or near the top of the list of best cars for years, and like Jeep has been been in the dubious position among the lowest scoring vehicles. Vehicle are rated in categories — family cars to sports cars — and there’s an overall list based on 100 points and via more than 50 testing areas. Here’s the

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Lexus LS 460L tops Consumer Reports' 2011 best cars list

Consumer Reports buys the cars it tests, and the publication arguably provides the most detailed and respected evaluation of new cars and trucks in the automotive industry. As the publication’s editors like to say: “Not all cars are created equal, and we have the data to prove it.” Vehicle are rated in categories — family cars to sports cars — and there’s an overall list based on 100 points and via more than 50 testing areas. Here’s the Consumer Reports list of the top 10 best overall 2011 cars (with points totals) as published in the magazine’s April print and online editions: Lexus LS 460L, 99 BMW 135i (manual), 97 Porsche 911 Carrera S (manual), 96 Mazda5 Grand Touring, 95

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Jaguar E-Type celebrates 50 years as greatest car ever made

The Jaguar E-Type debuted at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961, and throughout its 50-year tenure often tops industry enthusiasts most beautiful cars ever made lists. Phil Patton, the esteemed freelance contributor to numerous magazines and author of many books about cars and the auto industry, pays homage to the 50th birthday of the Jaguar E-Type in a recent article in the New York Times. Patton details, for example, that “the Museum of Modern Art in New York ratified the E-Type’s significance in 1996, adding a blue roadster to its permanent design collection. It was only the second road car so honored, following a 1946 Cisitalia 202 GT.” Indeed, the Jaguar E-Type is now ripe with a legacy of accolades.

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Toyota shines in Consumer Reports' 2011 Top Picks list

The Ford Mustang (Sporty Cars) and Kia Sorento (Family SUV) are among six new models named to the Consumer Reports annual Top Picks car list for 2011. The diverse selections include eight brands from six manufactures, with Toyota models claiming three categories. The redesigned Hyundai Elantra, which now comes standard with Electronic Stability Control (ESC), also tops the list in the Small Car category. The previous Hyundai Elantra SE was Top Pick for Small Sedan for the past three years. The Honda Fit, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna and Chevrolet Avalanche are new additions to the list. The Infiniti G37, Toyota Prius and Nissan Altima are returning selections from the 2010 list. Consumer Reports’ Top Picks are the best all-around models

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Mercedes-Benz, Liam Neeson battle black SUV in Unknown

Epic cars scenes in movies range from Gene Hackman in the French Connection to Steve McQueen in Bullitt and the classic Mini Cooper scene in the Italian Job to high energy catapult across the country by Barry Newman in his 1970 Dodge Challenger in Vanishing Point. Selecting best car scenes in movies is subjective. But Liam Neeson’s car chase scene in Unknown, the current No. 1 movie in the United States, is memorable. It fits in well with the flow of film and while not in the caliber of some of the best cars scenes of all-time, it’s edge-of-your-seat footage. In the scene, Neeson is the driver of a Mercedes-Benz sedan tax. With passenger Diane Kruger, the twosome, like in

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Academy Awards: Hyundai again in auto ad driver's seat

For the third straight year, Hyundai will be the exclusive automotive sponsor of the Academy Awards, with nine ads from the Korean manufacturer set for broadcast throughout the Sunday, February 27 pre-show and telecast on ABC. In accordance with Academy rules, and to ensure that Hyundai‘s long-time “voice” gets to enjoy the spotlight for his second consecutive Oscar nomination, Hyundai has cast a guest star Jason Bateman to provides the voiceover for four ads surrounding the “Best Actor” award category presentation in which official voice Jeff Bridges in nominated Hyundai‘s lineup includes spots for Sonata, Sonata Turbo, Sonata Hybrid, Elantra, Genesis and Equus. The two red carpet ads include “Good Things Come in Threes” featuring Sonata’s three distinct powertrains, and

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Toyota recall: 2.2 million added to faulty floormat list

Toyota has announced another in its continuing series of recalls, this time nearly 2.2 million vehicles, including RAV4, 4Runner, Highlander and Lexus models dating from current models to 2003. The recall widens the same problem that began in 2009 via the risk the driver’s floormat could come loose and trap the accelerator pedal. The RAV4 crossovers have the largest percent of the recall, some 761,000 vehicles for model years 2006 to 2010. The other vehicles included in the recall: 4Runner (603,000) for the model years 2003 through 2009 and Lexus LX 570 (17,000) vehicles for the model years 2008 through 2011. Toyota has also recalled several hundred thousand Lexus, including the RX330, RX  350 and RX 400H models as well

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