Of the dozens of new models and concepts shining on the floor of the L.A. Auto Show, only one offers three seats, scissor doors and all-electric range in a body that looks fresh from bouncing turtles in a Japanese video game.
Wednesday, November 30, 2011
LA Auto Show 2011 Three-seat Croatian electric racer, anyone?
Of the dozens of new models and concepts shining on the floor of the L.A. Auto Show, only one offers three seats, scissor doors and all-electric range in a body that looks fresh from bouncing turtles in a Japanese video game.
Ford C-Max
Good Karma vs Bad European body gives Fisker Karma 112 mpg rating, EPA only 52
Recent reports from the European certification agency Technicher Üeberwachungs Verein (TÜV) revealed that the Fisker Karma EV has received an official rating of 112 mpg. That rating, while excellent, is in stark contrast to what the EPA had earlier given the SoCal startup’s extended-range electric vehicle – a respectable, but vastly different, 52 mpg.
Dirtiest Vehicles
Nobody wants to be known as the dirtiest, at least not when it comes to air pollution.
The good news is that since 1975, overall new passenger car emissions of greenhouse gasses have decreased, and fuel efficiency has increased. The trends seem likely to continue, based partly on technological innovation, partly on more stringent government regulation, and partly on consumer interest and demand.
Mercedes-Benz to kill Maybach in 2013
Riding in the lap of luxury is about to get a little more cramped: Mercedes will reportedly kill its super-high-end Maybach brand in 2013, according to company insiders who spoke with AutoWeek. The gold-colored void will be filled with a new, higher-end S-class.
Siri goes Knight Rider with a new car control hack
At the top of the list of things everyone’s favorite iPhone assistant can do is now the ability to start your car. All that’s needed is the Viper SmartStart System, a homebrew proxy server, a plugin and of course an iPhone with Siri.
2012 Chevy Volt Review
We’re kidding. Actually, they may have added a few more charging stations in California.
The reality is that the 2012 Chevy Volt is still a great in-between car that runs for about 35 miles on an electric charge, and then starts re-charging itself using a normal gas engine. Chevy engineers still claim that the gas engine does not directly propel the car, but to the average commuter, the point is immaterial. There is a gas engine, and you have to buy gas regularly. In fact, after testing the Volt for a two-week loan (a bit unusual for most car tests) where we ran on EV only for a week and then on gas for a week, we discovered some hidden surprises about what it means to drive the Volt every day to work.
Danish supercar Zenvo ST1 price at $1.8 with limited run of 15 cars
Creating an original, exclusive, and luxury sports car is no easy task, especially ones made lovingly from hand, but that is what Zenvo’s Troels Vollertsen and Jasper Jensen set out to do. Under the carbon fiber hood, we find a 7-liter V8 engine that produces an astonishing 1250 horsepower and rockets the Zenvo ST1 from 0 to 62 mph in less than three seconds. Unfortunately, or maybe it’s for the best, but the top speed of the Zenvo is electronically controlled and limited to 233 mph. Of course, the Zenvo is more than merely a powerful engine.
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
used cars more expensive than the new
The economy shows no sign of picking up anytime soon. Still, life goes on. Bills need to be paid, groceries need to be purchased. and worn out but necessary possessions need to be replaced. Sometimes the replacement has little impact on the wallet, but then there are purchases that can’t be put off — whether you can afford them or not.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Hybrids safer than other cars
Hybrid vehicles protect their occupants better in crashes than their regular gasoline counterparts, according to a report released by an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
Research by the Highway Loss Data Institute shows that drivers and passengers in a hybrid are 25% less likely to be injured than those in the same model with a standard gasoline engine. And the death rate for drivers in hybrid crashes also was lower.
The hybrid advantage is all about weight, it turns out. "Hybrids on average are 10% heavier than their standard counterparts," says Matt Moore, HLDI vice president and author of the report. "This extra mass gives them an advantage in crashes." When cars collide, the heavier vehicle tends to push the lighter one backwards, exerting greater force on the lighter vehicle and its occupants.
To take an example, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV (pictured above) weighs 4,500 pounds -- about 330 pounds more than the gasoline Highlander. The hybrid's battery pack and other components account for the added weight.
Research by the Highway Loss Data Institute shows that drivers and passengers in a hybrid are 25% less likely to be injured than those in the same model with a standard gasoline engine. And the death rate for drivers in hybrid crashes also was lower.
To take an example, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid SUV (pictured above) weighs 4,500 pounds -- about 330 pounds more than the gasoline Highlander. The hybrid's battery pack and other components account for the added weight.
Map of U.S. motor vehicle fatalities from 2001-2010
Transportation information experts at ITO World used OpenStreetMap along with NHTSA's data from the U.S. Department of Transportation to create the following interactive map, which details "virtually every fatality that occurred on roads in the United States as a result of a collision involving a motor vehicle between between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2009. For each incident you will be able to see the person's age, sex and the year in which the crash took place."
Every dot represents a life (color coded to represent vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians). This holiday season, it's a vivid reminder to buckle up, don't drink and drive, put down the cell phone, and drive safe.
Every dot represents a life (color coded to represent vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, cyclists, and pedestrians). This holiday season, it's a vivid reminder to buckle up, don't drink and drive, put down the cell phone, and drive safe.
Why Black Friday is the best day of the to buy a car
If you are in the market for a car, head to an auto dealer on Black Friday. That's the best day of the year to buy a car, according to calculations by automotive web site TrueCar.
Porsche-designed condo lifts owners and cars to high-rise homes
The big problem for builders of luxury homes in the cities where wealthy people choose to live is the sheer lack of space, especially for parking a small fleet of vehicles. Which is why one Miami Beach condo developer plans to build a new skyscraper with a robotic parking deck built in.
Friday, November 25, 2011
Chevy Volt faces defect after two new battery fire
Federal auto safety regulators launched their first defect probe into the Chevrolet Volt on Friday after two Volt battery packs caught fire following simulated crash tests.
Ford defends Mustang shifter
Earlier this year, federal auto safety regulators launched a defect probe into nearly 30,000 Ford Mustangs after dozens of complaints about their manual 6-speed transmissions. Now Ford’s provided its official reply: There’s no defect here, we’ve fixed what was wrong, and many of the problems are the owners’ fault.Ford’s detailed response to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration filed last month doesn't disclose a specific number of complaints, but does suggest roughly 900 reports to the automaker from 29,807 2011 and 2012 model year Ford Mustangs sold with the MT82 manual transmission. While Ford does face two lemon-law suits to buy back defective ‘Stangs, none of the reports blame the shifter for any crashes or injuries.
Range Anxiety Reducer AAA Unveils Mobile EV Charging Trucks
The roadside-assistance trucks will be equipped with the capability to provide Level 2 and Level 3 charging for auto club members when their EV's batteries become discharged. The trucks will be able to provide 10 to 15 minutes of charge time, which should provide enough juice for the EVs to travel three to 15 miles to a charging station to top off the charge, according to AAA.
Classic Car Heaven
Big as it is, Canepa Design is easy to miss. The discreet boxy building sits just off a busy street in the quiet northern California town of Scotts Valley, just up the winding highway from Santa Cruz. But for car lovers, this place beams like St. Peter’s, an inviting treasure chest stuffed with classic automobiles worthy of pilgrimage.
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Best Car Deals April 2011
March weather is known for coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb, but new car sales for March didn't quite follow that pattern. While sales remained strong for the entire month, demand for small, fuel-efficient cars meant car makers didn't need to offer impressive incentives to attract shoppers. As a result, overall incentives were down and analysts expect the trend to continue. If you're looking for a great deal on a new car, April may not be your month.
| More from U.S. News & World Report » Best Used Car Deals for April » Best Lease Deals for April |
Complicating your chances of getting a good deal is the ongoing crisis in Japan. Because of the complex global supply chain most automakers use, the Japan catastrophe has had a ripple effect throughout the industry. Even domestic car makers have cut back on production as they try to conserve important parts. For consumers, this means that the supply of new cars could run short, making it tough to find the model and options you want, especially if you're shopping small cars. Adding to the squeeze on small cars is high demand as consumers go for more fuel-efficient models in the face of rising gas prices. High demand and limited supply for small cars means that automakers don't have to offer incentives.
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Gas Prices Cheapest (& Priciest) Cars to Drive Now
With higher gas prices prompting Americans to seek better gas mileage, high-MPG cars are surging in sales: Small cars made up about 25% of sales in March. But amid all the mileage talk, very few drivers know the real answer to: What is my fuel bill going to be?
Car-shopping site Edmunds.com has done the math on monthly costs at recent gas prices; it recently ranked wallet-busters and super-savers in different categories of 2011 models. The range of costs was startling: Within the same size class, the thirstiest can run up a gas bill two to three times that of the best gas sippers.
Edmunds assumed you drove a typical 1,250 miles a month (15,000 a year). Its analysts did these rankings after the national average price of gas calculated by AAA rose above $3.50; it is now nearly $3.70 (and above $4.00 in California). Obviously, monthly costs change as gas prices do.
Car-shopping site Edmunds.com has done the math on monthly costs at recent gas prices; it recently ranked wallet-busters and super-savers in different categories of 2011 models. The range of costs was startling: Within the same size class, the thirstiest can run up a gas bill two to three times that of the best gas sippers.
Edmunds assumed you drove a typical 1,250 miles a month (15,000 a year). Its analysts did these rankings after the national average price of gas calculated by AAA rose above $3.50; it is now nearly $3.70 (and above $4.00 in California). Obviously, monthly costs change as gas prices do.
Ford automobiles will read text messages aloud with SYNC upgrade
Announced yesterday, Ford is rolling out a software update to Ford’s SYNC software that will allow text messages to be read aloud while driving the vehicle. While the system requires a compatible smartphone, users will likely hear the messages through the speakers in the car. The smartphone communicates with the software through a Bluetooth connection. This upgrade to version 3.2.2 of the software will be able to be applied to all SYNC Generation 1 2011 and 2012 vehicles as Ford is planning to retrofit Bluetooth MAP support into those Generation 1 vehicles.. Users with incompatible smartphones or older cell phones will have to upgrade their phone in order to take advantage of the new feature.
EPA rates Fisker Karma at only 20 mpg
This week the 2012 Fisker Karma ($96,895 base price) cleared its last hurdle for sale in the U.S., having finally received emission certification and fuel economy ratings from the EPA and thus allowing dealers to begin selling the car.
Racing Ferraris in the Rain
There’s something already inherently nerve-shredding about taking someone else’s quarter-million-dollar supercar and letting it all hang out on a race track. Add heavy rain and you’re tempting a mental meltdown. And so it was on a recent gray day at Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, Calif., when Ferrari of San Francisco organized an event driving Ferrari 458 Italias for a few dozen clients, would-be clients and one fortunate journalist. The result? Thanks to that rain, one of the most memorable driving days ever.
Audi A6 Review
It happened again. Last winter, driving the Audi A8 on a snowy day, a bus unexpectedly came rumbling up a dirt road. Most cars would have fish-tailed like a dog sled in the Iditarod, but the A8 responded to a sudden nudge to the steering by almost magically swerving smoothly to the side, sweeping with a brush of silver onto the shoulder, through deep snow, and back onto the road again. We panicked; the car swerved.
Cars that catch girls' eyes
The auto industry is a man's world, one in which office chitchat is a constant, spirited discussion of cars, cars, some sports, and more cars, and Motor Trend would be no different — except that there is a handful of women on staff as well. Since not all vehicles that excite our male colleagues have the same effect on us, I polled my fellow females and compiled a list of the vehicles we find strikingly sexy, ranging from real-world practical cars to fantasy rides. While in the end, the guy behind the wheel is what ultimately attracts us, driving the right piece of hot metal definitely makes a guy even hotter.
The DeLorean comes back for 2013 production, gets electric motor
The iconic gull-winged DeLorean DMC-12, which you all remember as Marty McFly’s stylish time machine from the Back to the Future series, will be coming back in 2013. The DeLorean Motor Company of Texas is teaming up with a startup named Epic EV to put the DMC-12 back into production—with a few improvements.
Pictures Ferrari Celeritas concept
This two-seater convertible with sleek and sexy lines incorporates twin spoilers that move independently of one another to increase and decrease downforce . The concept Ferrari also features a low profile with sweeping wheel arches and a visible engine block in the rear. And of course, it’s extremely easy on the eyes.
The creation of designer Aldo Schurmann, the Celeritas concept certainly gives new meaning to the term “dream car,” as it most likely will never exist other than on paper. Let’s just hope the folks over in Maranello are paying attention.
BMW creates a way for cars to talk to other cars
While BMW ConnectedDrive has been tying technology like mobile phones or GPS navigation into the driving experience for over a decade, BMW is taking a new step toward a future where vehicles can communicate with other vehicles to provide assistance to the driver. Aptly called Car-to-X communication, the new technology from BMW is designed to provide a safer driving experience. For instance, a driver that starts signaling for a left turn on a busy road will continue to see vehicle alerts on the dashboard until the left side of the road is clear to make the turn. This can be invaluable in situations where there is limited visibility due to a hairpin curve or a large building obscuring the view.
Consumer Reports Names Most Reliable Cars of 2011
In recent years, Ford has been a model of American reliability. The brand ranked 10th in our predicted-reliability ranking last year and competed well with Japanese makes. This year, however, the Ford brand has slipped 10 spots, to 20th out of 28 makes. That was the biggest drop for any major nameplate, according to Consumer Reports' 2011 Annual Auto Survey, which is based on subscribers' experiences with 1.3 million vehicles.
Hacker develops rear window LED to send messages to other drivers
Hacker Gagandeep Singh has developed a do-it-yourself project for designing a grid of LED lights on the rear window of a vehicle without obstructing the view from the rear-view mirror. Singh is interested in providing feedback to drivers that don’t pay attention to the rules of the road. Using his Volkswagon Polo as the guinea pig for the project, Singh created plans for a 40 x 16 LED matrix display with LED lights that allowed two centimeters of space in between each LED in order to still see out the rear window. He then used a strip of wood to accurately measure out the distance between the LED lights and spent the next two days soldering the lights into the full matrix display
2012 Motor Trend SUV of the Year Land Rover Range Rover Evoque
In the enthusiast's dream, all sports cars have manual transmissions and all SUVs are body-on-frame. But as so often is the case, reality does not intersect with our fantasies. Ferraris — save for one — no longer have manual transmissions, and car-based crossovers are rapidly pushing traditional SUVs to the brink of extinction. In a world that appears increasingly hostile to an all-SUV brand like Land Rover, adaptation is the only option. Some adaptations are failures. Others are Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year winners. The Range Rover Evoque is most certainly the latter.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
10 Most Common Car Repairs
Anyone who’s ever had their own set of wheels knows that car repairs aren’t cheap. According to CarMD, which manufactures an automotive diagnostic tool and software for car repair and maintenance, the total average repair cost in the U.S. is $305.56, including $202.28 for parts and $103.27 for labor.
Hottest New Small Cars
The web site AutoTrader.com reports that some of the biggest recent gains in consumer interest have been around new 2012 small-car models from Chevrolet, Hyundai and Fiat — as well as the redesigned Volkswagen Beetle.
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Mille Miglia North America
As with almost anything these days with a modicum of tradition and history, what was once an event has become a brand. Such is the case with Italy’s storied Mille Miglia (say, MEE-lay MEE-lee-uh), a 1,000-mile loop around Italy that from 1927 to 1957 was a preeminent four-wheeled road race that helped make the names of drivers such as Tazio Nuvolari and Stirling Moss.
Pictures Nissan Juke-R
The Juke-R packs a host of features not expected from a smaller crossover vehicle, namely its drivetrain, which is pulled right from the top-of-the-line GTR – as well as its advanced all-wheel-drive system, twin-clutch transmission, and 3.8-liter twin-turbo 480-horsepower V6.
The Juke-R will be available for various regions with both left and right-hand drive versions available.
New augmented reality system shows 3D GPS navigation through your windshield
A new type augmented reality system, which just won the top prize at the European Satellite Navigation Competition in Munich, Germany, promises to turn the entire world into a giant GPS navigation display.
Latest Steve Jobs Mystery Revealed: How He Drove Without License Plates?
The multitude of mysteries revealed following the death of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs' death now includes one that puzzled car enthusiasts for years: How did Jobs get away with driving without a license plate? It was common knowledge that Jobs would park his Mercedes SL55 AMG in a handicapped spot at Apple's Cupertino, Calif., headquarters, with nothing to identify his vehicle other than the tiny barcode that usually rests behind the rear license plate.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG Review 2012
Legal to drive on the street. That’s the best specification on the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, a vehicle that has more engineering smarts just in its brakes than other cars have bumper to bumper. As you drive one, you feel as though you’ve gone from a traditional car into some super-futuristic transport pod, one that has many of the same characteristics as a Formula 1 racer.
Pictures 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG
For a more in-depth look at the 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG check out our full review.
Ford reintroduces the 1965 Mustang
Ford Motor Co. will soon sell brand-new 1965 Ford Mustangs for just $15,000 each. The only hitch: There's some assembly required.
First Drive Mazda3 Skyactiv-G
With the government imposing strict Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) fuel economy standards and electric cars getting all the eco-friendly fanfare, conventional gasoline engines — especially the naturally aspirated variety — seem all but passé. Hybrids get all the hype. But Mazda refuses to jump on the alternative energy bandwagon (at least in the immediate future), thinking more can be squeezed out of a dino-fueled powerplant. Enter its next-generation engine technology, dubbed Skyactiv. Eager to bring the new engine and transmission tech to market, Mazda has added new Skyactiv-equipped i Touring and i Grand Touring trims for the 2012 Mazda3. And we were invited along with other journalists to take them through the twisty mountain roads of the Los Angeles Basin.
Porsche stolen 23 years ago snagged by U.S. customs agents
On Nov. 24, 1988, thieves in Las Vegas stole this rare 1976 Porsche 930. On Tuesday, U.S. customs officers found it -- just as it was being smuggled out of the country, headed for the Netherlands.
Travelogue 2013 Audi S8
The Audi S8, 2013 edition, moved around the track smoothly and efficiently, like a knife cutting into an oozing wedge of farm-fresh cheese. It steered without hitch, taking the turns with flawless deliberation. Inside the luxurious leather-stitched cabin, Audi’s unique sonic-reduction technology masked the skidding tires until they were nothing more than the delightful squealing of a litter of acorn-fed piglets. Outside, the Spanish sky was stark and cloudy, the hills around the track wheat-yellow. The car braked quickly and parked on a diagonal dime, with maximum grace.
Ferrari’s New Customization Program Offers Cashmere Seats, Gold Paint
Are you in the market for a new Ferrari and a massive fan of cashmere sweaters? Then it’s time to call your local Ferrari dealer and inquire about the automaker’s newest customization program.
Chevy Volt sales falling short
When General Motors launched the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid last December, it aimed to sell not just a car but a new image of the company as a tech leader. The technology has proven itself; many owners report going 100 miles on a gallon of gasoline, and no major defects have emerged. The trouble for GM is there's far fewer Volt owners than it expected.
BMW recalls 32,000 vehicles because they could set on fire
Would your rather have your Toyota uncontrollably accelerate or your BMW set on fire? It’s a choice you could have unknowingly made in the past few years. The NY Times is reporting that BMW plans to recall 32,000 vehicles because of a fire hazard. BMW has informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a number of its cars have a faulty electronic circuit board that could fail, leading to a “smoldering of the water pump,” which is needed to help cool the engine’s turbocharger. In other words: your car could set on fire.
R.I.P. 14 cars and trucks for 2012
As 2011 runs out, so does the life of these 14 cars and trucks, victims of changing tastes, corporate indifference. While a few never had much of a following, several were popular in their peak, and a couple were movie stars and mainstays of American freeways for decades. But with more than 300 models of new vehicles available to American car buyers, not even the favorite of the fast and furious crowd can just coast. Here's the roll call:
2012 Fiat 500 Abarth makes its way stateside
The souped-up version of the 500 will reportedly feature a new 1.4 liter MultiAir Turbo, an Abarth-tuned brake and suspension system, and
Unveils new 2012 Mini Roadster
Size isn’t everything — and who knows more about that than longtime automaker Mini? If we have learned anything from Mini throughout the years it’s the old adage that big things do come in small packages and the new Mini Roadster is a testament to that.
Batman gets flat tires in his Lamborghini
Halloween can pose a lot of challenges for America's brave police departments; ensuring pedestrian safety at dusk, keeping egg-slinging hooligans in check, and as one Maryland police department discovered, helping Batman when his Lamborghini leaves him stranded.
ips winter Car Maintenance
Perhaps the first frosts have already coated your windshield, forcing you to dig out the scraper. As you adjust to the coming chill, give a thought to your ride, and check out these nine tips that will keep your car rolling smoothly through winter’s challenges.
We’re assuming you've covered the basics (such as the scraper!) and are up-to-date on your car’s regular scheduled service. Don't postpone that — an annoyance in summer can be a hazard that strands you in the winter.
Don't Make Compost in Your Car
As you tackle fall's bounty on your lawn, leave some energy for removing the leaves that find their way into your vehicle.
Leaves, twigs and other organic matter can cause havoc with gutters on your house — and the equivalent on your car. When debris builds up in areas of your car where water is supposed to flow out, you can get leaks or corrosion.
The air plenum near the windshield is a classic spot where this can happen.
We’re assuming you've covered the basics (such as the scraper!) and are up-to-date on your car’s regular scheduled service. Don't postpone that — an annoyance in summer can be a hazard that strands you in the winter.
Don't Make Compost in Your Car
Leaves, twigs and other organic matter can cause havoc with gutters on your house — and the equivalent on your car. When debris builds up in areas of your car where water is supposed to flow out, you can get leaks or corrosion.
The air plenum near the windshield is a classic spot where this can happen.
The best selling cars and trucks of 2011
New car sales in October recovered from a summertime lull, fueled by pent-up demand for new models and a better selection of Japanese brand cars following last spring’s devastating earthquake. If the rebound continues, car makers will finish the year with their best sales since 2008.
Monday, November 21, 2011
America's 1% occupy Ferrari
