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Sears goes Green with electric charging system for Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf

For more than a century, Sears has built its brand recognition on its appliances and tools. Now the iconic retailer is entering the green car business in a joint arrangement with Evatran to offer consumers reliable installation of Plugless Power electric vehicle charging systems. Plugless power systems recharge electric vehicles (EVs) as quickly as traditional corded options and require the same electrical installation inside a customer's home. Product offerings will initially focus on Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf models but will quickly expand to include additional electric vehicles. Installation will be offered with the sale of each Plugless Power system

Toyota Prius C, 2012: New city car could get 60 mpg

As the smallest, least expensive and most fuel efficient hybrid in the expanding Toyota fleet, the Prius c will make its North American debut January 10 at 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. Oringinally unveiled in January as the Aqua at the Tokyo Motor Show, Toyota said the Prius C will get more than 50 mpg in the city, the highest city mpg of any non-plug-in vehicle. Some reviewers believe the vehicle will average more than 60 mpg. The Prius C will be equipped with a 1.5-liter, four-cylinder Hybrid Synergy Drive engine. Toyota hasn't announce the price of

Chrysler 300 SRT8, 2012: Dyno Test Video

On a chilly December morning in Northern California, I brought a 2012 Chrysler 300 SRT8 to TPS Motorsports in Campbell, California for a couple of dyno runs on their Dynojet chassis dynometer. Truth was in the numbers as we dyno tested the Chrysler 300 SRT8 that claims 470 horsepower and 470 lb.-ft. of torque from Chrysler’s 6.4L HEMI powerplant. Power was measured at the wheels and the numbers were SAE corrected. Video and power output charts below document the results of our dyno test. After two test runs, maximum horsepower measured at the wheels was 411 horsepower. Maximum torque was

Hyundai Veloster, 2012: honors begin for 40 mpg, 3-door coupe

The 2012 Hyundai Veloster, the three-door coupe that joins siblings Accent, Elantra and Sonata Hybrid by achieving 40 mpg on the highway, has begun to generate end-of-the-year honor including Best Economy Car in Bloomberg's recent "Best Drives of 2011." The Veloster also features Hyundai’s Blue Link telematics system, Pandora internet radio with seven-inch touch-screen display and a new 1.6-liter direct-injected four-cylinder engine that can be mated to either Hyundai’s first EcoShift dual-clutch transmission or a six-speed manual transmission. Bloomberg praised the Veloster for “amenities like touch-screen navigation, automatic everything, Bluetooth and a rear-view camera.” “Hyundai has four models which hit

Saab wings clipped, files for bankruptcy after 65-year lifespan

Saab, the 65-year-old carmaker whose motto was “made from jets,” has now been jettisoned into bankruptcy courts, ending a two-year quest to save the troubled Swedish manufacturer. The decision was made, according to a report in the Irish Times newspaper other media outlets, after its former owner General Motors blocked the latest takeover attempts by Chinese investors. Saab had been in discussions with several potential investors over the last two years. But the deals have fell through. Chinese suitor, Zhejiang Youngman Lotus Automobile had its proposal rejected late last week. Saab chief executive Victor Muller, who handed in the bankruptcy

Toyota Prius 2012: Prices announced for five models

The Toyota Prius has increasing competition in the hybrid car segment. But as the most successful green car in history, Toyota has now announced pricing for the 2012 Prius liftback while the MSRP for three new Prius family members, the Prius v, Prius Plug-in Hybrid and Prius c, are still pending. The Prius Liftback will be priced from $24,000 (Prius Two) to $29,805 (Prius Five), reflecting a price increase ranging from 2.0 percent to 4.3 percent. The 2012 model year Prius receives a refreshed front fascia, revised tail lamps, newly styled 15-inch wheel covers and LED Daytime Running Lights (DRL)

Toyota RAV4: Prices set for Sport Utility Vehicle's three 2012 models

The 2012 Toyota RAV4 sport utility vehicle, offered in RAV4 grade, Sport and Limited editions, will have a price price from $22,650 to $28,650 and will begin arriving a dealerships Dec. 20, the carmaker announced. With its three grades, the RAV4 is available with a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine or a 269 horsepower 3.5-liter V6. Each engine can be teamed with either front-wheel drive or electronic on-demand four-wheel-drive. The roomy RAV4 offers optional third-row seating on RAV4 and Limited grade models. The 2012 RAV4 receives an overall price increase of $100, or 0.4 percent, with some models receiving a price decrease.

Fiat 500 receives low NHTSA crash safety rating

The 2012 Fiat 500, the rekindled iconic Italian sub-compact that reappeared in the U.S. market earlier this year, has been shunned by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) with only a three-star rating for crash safety — a rare low mark. The little two-door Fiat 500 scored four stars in both the frontal and rollover crash tests, but its lowly mark occurred in the side impact crash test. After faring well in the side barrier rating part of the side crash test, scoring five stars, the Fiat 500’s limited rear protection was only two stars out of a possible

National Transportation Safety Board decree: ban cellphones, texting while driving

The annoying, unsafe and rampant use of cellphones and text messaging among drivers could finally become illegal with the exception of emergency situations. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), via its group of accident investigators, has called for a nationwide ban on any non-emergency mobile phone calls texting while driving. The use of texting while driving is nearly exponentially increasing, with some surveys detailing that half of all young drivers text while driving. The NTSB in the past decade has increasingly proposed to limit the use of portable devices among drivers. Its latest recommendation is its most far-reaching proposal. In

Acura TSX, 2012: slick, quick worthy foe for BMW, Audi

Automotive Reviews, Sedans, Sports Cars

The 2012 Acura TSX is a difficult car to categorize. It's often cited as an entry level luxury sedan. But with its new option, a peppy six-speed manual transmission, and a Special Edition package, it's also a sports car. Luxury sedan and sports car? That's an oxymoron in the automotive industry. But with Special Edition package, even if only offered on the four-cylinder Acura TSX, it's also an ideal description. The base TSX sedan and TSX Sport Wagon feature a long list of standard features: Automatic xenon headlights, 17-inch alloy wheel, foglights, heated outside mirrors, a sunroof, keyless entry, dual-zone

Ford Ranger soon to join expanding deceased ranks

Another longstanding American vehicle is about to end its legacy. Ford has announced it will stop producing the Ranger this month — marking the end of the manufacturer's small line of pick-up trucks. The last Ford Ranger for the U.S. market is expected to roll off the line by Dec. 19. It's estimated about 800 Rangers are still in circulation and that more than 6.6 million sold in the truck's 29-year tenure. Ford will abandon a segment it led for 18 years until 2005, when it fell behind the Toyota Tacoma. "We've got a tremendous heritage and history with Ranger,"

Pirelli Calender 2012 amazes again with world's best topless models

Pirelli, founded by Giovanni Battista Pirelli in 1872 in Milan, Italy, is among the world’s most well-known tire companies. But the Pirelli Calendar, which began in 1964, is at least as equally famous as the tires because of its annually published images of topless models and actresses. The recently released 2012 edition further adds to the calendar's legacy by featuring some of the world's most beautiful models photographed. The 2012 calender, which features the work of photographer Mario Sorrenti, includes images of Kate Moss, Lara Stone, Milla Jovovich, Malgosia Bela, Isabeli Fontana, Natasha Poly, Saskia de Brauw (above), Joan Smalls,

Lexus to soon unveil sexy, sportier 2013 lineup

Lexus is shooting for a sportier image with models such as the new GS350 gas-engine sedan and GS450h. The former goes on sale in February as a 2013 model, the latter hybrid sedan will follow. The two models represent, as Lexus puts it, a “new signature design philosophy.” Lexus is well known for its posh, comfortable, upscale cars, but they aren’t much fun. There’s a trend toward sportier luxury autos that provide more driving kicks. Hence, Lexus says it’s developed the GS to compete with such autos as the Audi A6, BMW 5 Series and Mercedes-Benz E350. Lexus hopes to

Ford recalls Fusion, Milan models with potential faulty wheel woes

Ford has recalled about 129,000 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan sedans from model years 2010 and 2011 and equipped with 17-wheels because the vehichles' whel studs could fracture and potentially fall off. The issue, as reported by Ford and on the website of the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (HHTSA) may be caused by steel wheel mounting pads or rear brake discs that have been incorrectly built and can't properly support the wheel. In cases through September, one car's front wheel fell off and five cars' rear wheel dropped off, according to Ford and likely because of the stud

Bugatti Veyron remains world’s most expensive car in 2012

The Bugatti Veyron Supersport, the exclusive and elusive French-made supercar, remains the world’s most expensive car in 2012, according to the new report on Forbes.com. The mid-engined grand touring car is the fastest road-legal production car in the world, with a top speed 268 mph. Bugatti is designed and developed by Volkswagen Group (based on the Bentley Hunaudieres concept) and produced by Bugatti Automobiles SAS in Château Saint Jean in Molsheim, France). Here are some facts & figures about the Bugatti Veyron Supersport: Manufacturer: Bugatti Automobiles and Volkswagen Group (parent company); Production: 2010-present (Super Sport); Assembly: Molsheim, France; Body style

Hyundai soars again with 2011 North American record sales for brand, Elantra

The near-exponential growth of Hyundai has become even more impressive as the South Korean manufacturer has reached 600,000 annual sales for the first time, while its most popular style, the Elantra, has also sold in record numbers. According to the carmaker, 261,331 Elantras have been sold in North American in 2011, compared to 151,735 in 2010 — a 43 percent increase. Hyundai has achieved sales year-over-year gains for 35 consecutive months. “Elantra has been an absolute phenomenon in the compact car segment,” says John Krafcik, Hyundai Motors America President and CEO. “In November, Elantra retail sales were up 37 percent,