Volkswagen pranks car industry; April Fools’ joke backfires

Sometimes, car manufacturers try too hard. The latest example is the Volkswagen non-announcement-turned-announcement-turned prank. A day after a pending name change was unveiled by USA Today and later confirmed by the manufacturer, the German automaker Volkswagen said it will not be changing the name of its U.S. operations to “Voltswagen of America.” As many automotive publications speculated, the March 29 missive was thought to be a premature April Fools’ Day joke to raise awareness about the company’s all-electric ID.4. Volkswagen confirmed to publications the report was legitimate. Volkswagen will get hurt by its own prank But The Wall Street Journal

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Volkswagen to Voltswagen? Badge remains the same

(This post has been updated here. It’s an April Fools’ joke gone bad.) Volkswagen will soon be Voltswagen, at least in the German automaker’s expanding lineup of electric vehicles. And it’s no joke. First reported by USA Today when one of the publication’s reporters noted the pending change was briefly posted on the manufacturer’s website, the unusual move was immediately perceived as an early April Fool’s joke. As the news reached other media outlets, Volkswagen removed the website post dated April 29 but was published March 29. Volkswagen to Voltswagen? Really? But VW has since confirmed the report, although details

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#175, 2021 LA Auto Show virtual media preview

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 46:42 — 64.1MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | More After a postponement and cancellation because of the COVID-19 pandemic, LA AutoMobility and the LA Auto Show will be back later this year at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Collectively, the automotive industry can’t wait. Plenty of other auto shows didn’t occur last year and won’t until later this year. But organizers of the Los Angeles show, the first major industry event of the season, decided to offer a glimpse into the future. A virtual media gathering with representatives from many carmakers was

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Six safety and convenience driving features to consider

Driving can be liberating. It’s a form of freedom. You can go where you want when you want, and you’re in control. Driving a car can be more than just a way to get from one location to another. While in transit, there’s a lot to enjoy. Driving can be comforting and entertaining, and the experience can be better because of extra safety considerations. While not always essential, the car’s safety features complement the overall enjoyment of getting behind the wheel. Infotainment Systems A vehicle with a navigation system installed is ideal and it has a lot of different features.

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2021 Kia Niro PHEV: worthy but not royalty

Unveiled by the South Korean manufacturer five years ago, the Kia Niro debuted in the United States in 2018. The five-door subcompact joins the list of unheralded vehicles offered as gas-powered crossovers, hybrid plug-in electric vehicles (PHEV) and electric-only options. Many of the little SUVs seem much the same. The 2021 Niro has the identical platform as close automotive relatives, the Kia Seltos and Hyundai Ioniq. (Hyundai owns about one-third of Kia.) The Niro revisits last year’s model with a few updates. The front grille has a new diamond shape. The headlamps are also new and the wheels have been

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They’re back: New Hummer EVs still have swagger

Previously known for its outrageous design and as a favorite vehicle of actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, the new GMC Hummer EV will look significantly different. And, finally, more details are now available for its pending debut. Its engine and many other features will also different than its extinct predecessor. The new Hummer will be an all-electric, full-size luxury pickup with a long driving range. Here are some new attributes: Crabwalk. In low-speed situations, the front and rear wheels can turn the same way for a “crabbing” type maneuver. The rear wheels can also turn opposite the

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America’s freeways: the land of spilled milk and money

Freeways full of bees spilled milk, frozen pizza and money? Who knew? They could have been scenes from comedy movies or low-level horror films. And since no one was seriously hurt, a little humor seems just fine when discussing some of the unusual cargo that’s fallen or spilled off trucks traveling the country’s freeways. The industry site freightwaves.com has documented odd circumstances when something’s gone wrong — 14 million bees in on the I-5 median at the I-405 interchange near Lynwood, Washington to the hundreds of pizzas spilled on the intersection of two freeways in Little Rock, Arkansas on I-30,

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New Ford Super Duty Trucks: big, bad, ready soon

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The pending 2022 Ford Super Duty Trucks define the brawn and bravado of pickup trucks. The models — F-250, F-350 and F-450 — have impressive statistics for the mammoth segment, specifically in areas important for RVers. Powered by gasoline and diesel engine options, the 2022 model beasts have options: The 7.3-liter gasoline V-8 produces 430 horsepower and 475 lb-ft of torque; Ford Super Duty Trucks: Big, Bad The turbodiesel 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 churns includes 475 horsepower ad and 1,050 lb-ft of torque; A gasoline 6.2-liter V-8 also remains available. Current max towing and hauling numbers are also massive: 37,000

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Carvana offers good slot odds in Las Vegas on used cars

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A vending machine isn’t a slot machine. But almost anything goes in Las Vegas, so why not spend thousands of dollars in a vending machine in Sin City? You can buy a used car. Less than a month ago, Carvana, the online used auto company opened another of its e-commerce locations, its first in Nevada. It’s the newest location for the company’s “vending machine” approach. Via its location in an 11-story glass tower, located at 3720 Morgan Cashman’s Way, off I-15 south between Spring Mountain and Flamingo Blvd., customers can observe various vehicles for sale. If a customer decides to

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#174, iseecars.com: Ford tops new, used 2020 sales

Karl Brauer has an extensive history in the automotive industry, including his current position as the executive analyst for iseecars.com. The website, an automotive research firm and data-driven car search engine, helps shoppers find the right car at the right price. It also develops and shares powerful studies and market analyses that have been featured in over 2,000 media outlets. Brauer is our guest on this week’s episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. iseecars.com is a top auto search engine Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss with Brauer several areas of the automotive industry, including the research firm’s recent

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2021 Aston Martin Vantage: stunning, fast, flawed

There’s no way around it. Something’s not right with the 2021 Aston Martin Vantage. And what would James Bond have to say about it? Sean Connery as Agent 007 was often portrayed escaping from criminals and saving the world while driving an Aston Martin. But how could anything but perfection be the vehicle of choice for the epitome of espionage elegance? Bond film aficionados know the secret agent often drove an Aston Martin DB5 in films, although the tuxedo-wearing purveyor of cool drove other models, including the Vantage. 2021 Aston Martin Vantage: Pricey Options As awkward as it may read,

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Toyota seeks to revive Yaris interest with Cross SUV

COLLABORATIVE CONTENT Following other manufacturers, Toyota is looking to revive interest in the declining Yaris brand by launching an SUV model of one of its best-known models. The Toyota Yaris Cross is a small SUV that looks way more stylish than any other Yaris to date. They’ve usually been as exciting as a new pair of socks. The Urban Cruiser, Toyota‘s last foray into the small SUV market, was discontinued in 2012 after only three years on the market. But the manufacturer has repeatedly demonstrated its automotive foresight. As with other Toyota vehicles, the Yaris Cross comes with the manufacturer’s

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The legacy of BMW includes 2 funky pickup trucks

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BMW makes vehicles admired by many performance-car enthusiasts. The automaker’s reputation, like other German automakers’ pedigrees, is well-heeled and varied. The carmaker makes comfortable sedans that power along the open road like sports cars. What’s less known is BMW’s foray into pickup trucks. It made the E30 M3 and the E92 M3. The E30 M3 debut in 1986. It had a 2.3 liter engine with 200 horsepower and it was a soft top convertible. The pickup wasn’t a success but it lasted for 26 years — as a transport vehicle for the manufacturer. BMW pickup trucks didn’t sell well The

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It’s not a canoe. It’s a Canoo, a new electric pickup truck

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There’s another new electric truck on the horizon, the oddly named Canoo. formerly known as Evelozcity, Canoo is an American manufacturer headquartered in Torrance, California. While specs and pricing weren’t announced, the start-up announced it will debut its trucks in 2023. The trucks will be offered with single-motor and dual-motor all-wheel-drive options. The latter version is touted to produce 600 horsepower and 550 foot-pounds of torque. Canoo said its trucks will have 1,800-pound payload capacitors and a 200-mile range. The Canoo will be built on the same modular platform as Canoo’s other vehicles. The company announced last December a lineup

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2021 Mercedes-AMG, Maybach SUVs boast opulence

How far will manufacturers extend their obsessions with sport utility vehicles to possibly find an untapped market niche? Mercedes seems to know its plans. With its various higher luxury brand relationships, the German-American stalwart is all in. Who knew the combination of upscale, utility and performance was a thing? And who knew any manufacturer offering more than one $100,000-plus SUV was necessary? Mercedes-Benz offers eight 2021 models SUVs. The high-performance subsidiary of Mercedes-Benz, AMG, has a fleet of SUVs, including the GLE 63. And now Maybach, the ultra-luxurious subsidiary of Mercedes, is back. Its ostentatious new beast is the 2021

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#172, Tiger Woods, Rolls-Royce, New Corvette C8 book

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:08 — 34.5MB)Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | MoreThere’s always a lot happening in the auto industry. But it’s been a particularly wild ride lately. Tiger Woods crashed a new 2021 Genesis GV70. I test drove a 2022 Rolls-Royce Ghost for four days. And a new coffee table-sized book on the new mid-engine Corvette C8 has been published. Co-hosts Bruce Aldrich and James Raia discuss the three topics and more on this episode of The Weekly Driver Podcast. Woods sustained multiple leg injuries early February 23 when he was involved in a

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