Auto Shows/Museums

Ford, Mazda, Dodge, Toyota named Green Car of the Year finalists

The Dodge Dart Aero, Ford C-Max and Fusion, Mazda CX-5 and Toyota Prius C are finalists for the Green Car of the Year, the yearly honor selected by editors and guest judges of the Green Car Journal and announced at the L.A. Auto Show. The finalists list runs the gamut of fuel-efficient powertrains: hybrids and plug-ins to high-mileage gas burners. The two Fords, for example, make the list in part because they come in both hybrids and plug-in hybrid flavors. Past Green Car of the Year winners include the Honda Civic Natural Gas (2012), Chevrolet Volt (2011), Audi A3 TDI (2010), Volkswagen Jetta TDI (2009) and Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid (2008). The 2013 winner will be announced Nov. 29 at the

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Chevrolet Corvette, 2014: Out with the old, in with the new in January 2013

The seventh generation Chevrolet Corvette will be introduced Jan. 13 in Detroit, a few days prior to the North America International Auto Show, and will feature little from previous editions of the iconic sports car that debuted in 1953. The new Corvette will have only two parts from the sixth-generation Corvette — a cabin air filter and the rear latch for the removable roof panel. The current generation Corvette, or C6, was introduced as a 2005 model. As as tease to the 2014 Corvette, the automaker revealed the vehicle’s new crossed flags logo. The new logo was selected from more than 100 logo candidates. General Motors said production of the 2014 Corvette will begin in the third quarter of 2013.

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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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Monterey Auto Week showcases all things cars, Ferrari to Ford, Bugatti to Bentley

Monterey Auto Week is the unofficial name of all things automotive on the Monterey Peninsula during the month of August. The name doesn’t make sense because combined the car-related activities last for about two weeks. The Concours d’Elegance, of course, is the most well-known event during Monterey Auto Week, but my favorite celebration of cars for the last few years has been the Concours on the Avenue. It’s a free, full-day gathering on Ocean Ave. and several side streets in Carmel where a vast collection of automobiles, Bentley to Volkswagen, Ferrari to Porsche, are on display and judged. The beauty of the event is that unlike some of the other events during Monterey Auto Week, the cars are parked at

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Rare Tesla Roadster owned by George Clooney set for Monterey Auto Week auction

It won’t be the first nor likely the last celebrity car sold during Monterey Auto Week. But George Clooney‘s rare 2008 Tesla Roadster is expected to attract its share of attention during annual collection of vintage and exotic car show and auctions. Clooney owns a Tesla Roadster “Signature 100” model. According to Inside Line, the website property of Edmunds.com, the car has only 1,700 miles on its odometer. The Obsidian Black Metallic Roadster, number 0008 from the run of 100 special editions, will be auctioned by Gooding & Company on Aug. 19. The car features a two-tone leather interior and is predicted to sell for an estimated $125,000. The purchase amount will go toward the Satellite Sentinel Project, an organization

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Tour de France, 2012: Citroen exhibit showcases iconic French carmaker

Bugatti, Citroën, Peugeot and Renault are the current major French automakers. With the exception of Bugatti, French highways and country roads are often crowded with many models, new and old, from the other three carmakers. And also with the exception of Bugatti, I’ve driven new models of Citroën, Peugeot and Renault as rental cars in different years since I began attending the Tour de France in 1997. French cars, like other countries’ cars, have strengths and weaknesses, Yet, French cars often get criticized unfairly. While none of the carmakers’ vehicles I’ve driven could be described as performance cars, all three got me through three weeks and about 4,000 miles of driving, including some treacherous ordeals in the Pyrenees and the

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2012 Volvo XC60 Review: New style dispels rocky SUV crossover reputation

The boxy Volvos of the 1980s almost seem like classics, and few would have guessed  then the automaker would make a premium, sporty crossover such as the 2012 Volvo XC60. Although large and heavy, the mid-sized XC60 has shapely sculpted styling, with sexy chromed exhaust outlets, and drives much like a smaller sports sedan. In fact, it’s based on Volvo’s athletic S60 sedan architecture. The firm steering is quick, handling inspires confidence during hard driving, backed by stability and traction control systems. The ride is a bit firm, but supple. Powerful anti-lock brakes have a nice pedal action. Key Takeaways Engines: a 240-horsepower non-turbocharged 3.2-liter six-cylinder, or a turbocharged 3-liter six with 300 or 325 horsepower, all with a six-speed

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Dick Clark: rock & roll icon, purveyor of 1957 classic car museum

Dick Clark was synonymous with rock & roll. But like many celebrities, the host of American Bandstand who died April 17 of a heart attack at age 82, was an avid automobile collector. Of course, 1957 was an iconic year for the music, the man and the cars, most notably the ’57 Chevy. Clark had many cars in his collection, including the iconic ’57 Chevy Larkspur Blue drop top with a dual-barrel 283 V8 with a Continental kit. Clark’s collection was located in a museum called the 57 Heaven Museum in Branson, Missouri. It was part of one of Clark’s many businesses, the American Bandstand restaurant chain. The 57 Heaven Museum closed in 2009, and the cars were sold by

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Rhode Island, Chicago, Baltimore among February car show locations

Five major car shows are scheduled in North America in February beginning with the Northeast International Auto Show scheduled Feb 2-5 at the Rhode Island Convention in Providence, R.I. Automotive shows are also scheduled in Baltimore, Chicago, Iowa in Toronto during February. Dates, locations and websites of February car shows are listed below: February 2-5 Northeast Int’l Auto Show Rhode Island Convention Center Providence, R.I. www.ProvidenceAutoShow.com February 9-12 Motor Trend International Auto Show / Baltimore Baltimore Convention Center Baltimore, MD www.AutoShowBaltimore.com February 10-19 Chicago Auto Show McCormick Place, Chicago, Ill. www.chicagoautoshow.com February 10-12 Iowa-Illinois Regional Auto Show River Center Convention Center Davenport, IA www.quadcityautoshow.com February 17-26 Canadian International Auto Show Metro Toronto Convention Centre and Rogers Centre, Toronto, CANADA www.autoshow.ca

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NAIAS 2012: Honda Accord Coupe 2013, Scion FR-S 2013, Toyota Prius C 2013

Honda Accord Coupe Concept Honda unveiled the Accord Coupe Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, providing the first official glimpse of the athletic styling direction, as well as revealing new technologies for the ninth-generation 2013 model. It’s set to go on-sale this fall. The 2013 Accord will feature three new powertrains, including the first U.S. application of both a 2.4-liter direct-injected engine and two-motor plug-in hybrid system from Honda’s suite of next-generation Earth Dreams powertrain technologies. In addition, the V-6 Accord will be the first Honda sedan to feature a six-speed automatic transmission. The Accord Sedan and the Accord Coupe models are expected to achieve class-leading fuel economy ratings and will be available many new safety

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NAIAS 2012: Acura NSX, Acura ILX, Hyundai Veloster Turbo, Hyundai Genesis Coupe

By Megan Green Acura ILX Concept As the Acura brand enters its second 25 years as Honda’s premium luxury-performance automobile brand, a concept version of the Acura ILX luxury compact sedan and a prototype of the 2013 RDX crossover sports utility vehicle were also unveiled. Acura has big plans for the 2013 ILX Concept, a luxury compact sedan, to attract a new generation of buyers to the brand. The aerodynamic, fluid lines and understated Acura design cues might just be inviting enough to achieve this goal. Acura introduces its first ever gas-electric hybrid in the 2013 ILX with a 1.5-liter gasoline-electric hybrid powertrain; two standard gasoline powertrain options will also be available – the base model will have a 2.0-liter

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NAIAS 2012: 2013 Cadillac ATS, 2013 BMW 3-Series, 2013 Ford Fusion

By Megan Green Cadillac ATS Cadillac kicked off the 2012 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan with the much-anticipated launch of the 2013 ATS. Revealed in the rooms that once were Harley Earl’s legendary 1950’s design studio, Cadillac’s lightweight, rear-wheel drive compact sedan challenges the European stronghold on the luxury segment. Weighing in at less than 3,400 pounds, the ATS structure uses high-strength steels (HSS) and ultra-high strength steel (UHSS) for crash protection, with a broad use of aluminum in the powertrain and suspension systems, as well as an aluminum hood and magnesium engine mount brackets. The ATS claims an almost 50/50 weight balance with the weight of the engine and transmission complemented by a mostly steel rear

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Auto Shows, 2012: Sexy women Detroit to Tokyo and new cars, too

Auto shows give the media time to preview manufacturers’ new models and they give the public several days to ponders at least two things. They can further study the new car they’re about to purchase or have a wont to buy. Or, they can dream about and stare at cars they’ll never own. Cars shows in the United States as well throughout North America, Europe and Asia are also are also well-known for the tradition of having sexy models, present the cars and represent the brands as ambassadors. There are regional car shows and national events. Carmakers take diverse approaches, some subtle, others with elaborate displays. Automakers also try to outdo each other the debuting car descriptions and there are

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Porsche Reunion 2011 at Laguna Seca gets Speed TV slots

The Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV, held Oct. 14-16 at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca and presented for the first time on the West Coast, will be broadcast on Speed TV five times beginning at noon (PST) Nov. 13. More than 350 of the rarest Porsches competed in the famed track on the Monterey Peninsula with more than 1,300-plus Porsches staged in the traditional car corral area. Here’s the schedule (all times are PST): Sunday, Nov. 13, noon; Monday, Nov. 14, midnight; Saturday, Nov. 19, 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Nov. 30, 11 p.m; Thursday, Dec., 1 a.m. Porsche Rennsport Reunion IV was the final event of the race season for Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, which also included Ferrari Racing Days; Continental Tire Sports

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Best of the Women of the Frankfurt Auto Show, 2011

The Frankfurt Auto Show, one of the oldest and largest in the car industry, concluded Sunday with another varied display of vehicles: entry level to luxury, concept to electric. Production cars in the biennial show that began in 1897 ranged from the Abarth 695 to the Volkswagen Up! and concept offerings ranged from the Alfa Romeo 4C to the Volvo You. Like many auto shows in recent years, luxury cars and electric cars garnered a good share of attention. But like any decent auto show, the beauty of the showcased vehicles was only outdone by the beauty of the women who showcased the cars. Here are the Best of the Women of the Frankfurt Auto Show, 2011.

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New Porsche 911 set to debut at 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show

The new Porsche 911 is set to be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Porsche 911 is an enigmatic vehicle which has a presence of its own, not to mention the breath taking power it holds in the rear engine. It’s the latest offering by the German auto manufacturer, well known for the fleet of Carreras and Cabriolets. The new 911 will likely stand out among its automotive siblings. Above image is a “leaked” image of the automobile, although its specifications won’t be released until the Frankfurt Motor Show. Porsche has kept the designed as promised, without major changes. But the new 911 have slimmer tail lights, downward mirrors and an electric parking brake.

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