Month: April 2017

by tgriffith

Lucid Motors Going Head-to-Head With Tesla

Tesla is going to have to share the road.

The electric automaker could be credited with the mainstream acceptance of EVs and has inspired many new electric cars from other automakers. (Think the Bolt would be here if Tesla wasn’t?)

New automakers ranging from Faraday Future to Lucid Motors also have Tesla to thank for paving the way. Faraday Future has been in the automotive blog-o-sphere for a while now, but you might have never heard of Lucid Motors. It’s probably time to start paying attention to them.

The California automaker has showcased the Lucid Air, an electric sedan with a starting price of $52,500 (after tax credits) and enough technology to make the Model S look like a Model T.

But how likely is Lucid to actually produce cars and challenge Elon Musk and company? Continue reading >>>

by Matt Smith

The Most Mouth-Watering Cars of the 2017 New York International Auto Show

58% of the New York International Auto Show’s attendees plan to shop for a car within 12 months. From practical options like the new Buick Regal Sportback and TourX to fan favorites like Subaru’s redesigned Outback and Crosstrek, auto shows provide an unparalleled opportunity to comparison shop. Even if you’re in the market for something a bit more exciting, such as the new Honda Civic Si or an Alfa Romeo Stelvio, the show in New York will provide an early look for interested shoppers. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Cadillac’s Super Cruise: Self-Driving Done Right?

Self-driving technology continues to develop faster than auto writers can report on it.

Tesla’s AutoPilot has paved the way for autonomous driving, but it may have an Achilles’ heel: Drivers tend to get lazy and forget that they need to continue keeping an eye on the road. If the system fails, which has happened at least a few times, drivers get caught off guard and unable to quickly respond.

Cadillac began working on an autonomous driving system called “Super Cruise” about five years ago and finally has it ready to debut on the upcoming CT6 sedan.

Will GM’s system show Tesla how autonomy is done? Continue reading >>>

by Steve Halloran

Change and Sameness at the 2017 NYIAS

2017 New York International Auto Show

Auto shows provide strong evidence to support the following proverb: “The more things change, the more they stay the same.” Gearheads from around the world arrive at the Javits Convention Center with eyes alight every Spring to get a look at and learn about the latest and greatest cars available for sale at the New York International Auto Show. The cars change from year to year, of course, but many other things stay pretty much the same. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Dodge’s Plan to Prevent Demon Markups

If you’ve ever purchased an in-demand or limited edition new car, you’re familiar with dealer markups. The extra costs are added onto the MSRP and disguised as a “market adjustment,” “convenience fee,” or any other creative wording the dealer chooses.

Markups above and beyond MSRP are pure profit for a dealer and, for the right car, customers will begrudgingly pay it.

This recently happened with the Dodge Hellcats, which saw dealer markups of up to $25,000 beyond MSRP. Markups are legal and, some say, just a reflection of a vehicle’s true value based on demand. After all, a car is worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it.

The new Dodge Challenger Demon is set to hit dealer floors this summer, and FCA has a fancy way of discouraging dealers from gouging Demon customers. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Here’s the Best-Selling Non-Pickup in America

The list of best-selling vehicles in the United States is always topped with the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado. Beyond those two constants, there’s a consistent flow of Toyotas and Hondas that typically round out the top 10.

One car that hasn’t spent much time on the best-selling list is the Nissan Rogue. Its name suggests that the car is a lone ranger, a scoundrel driven away from the rest of the herd and left to operate on its own. This is a vehicle that might be more comfortable slinking around in the dark than basking in the limelight of a top-sellers list.

It’s ironic then, that the once-mediocre and formerly unpleasant Nissan Rogue has evolved into the best-selling non-pickup in America.

Continue reading >>>

by Matt Smith

NYIAS Preview: The Most Exciting Models Debuting at the New York Auto Show

The New York International Auto Show’s press preview is less than 24 hours away, and CarGurus will once again be in attendance, delivering updates and footage of the show’s most exciting and noteworthy debuts. As we prepare for two whirlwind days of coffee (courtesy of Volvo), jokes (courtesy of Dr. Z), and discarded laundry (courtesy of every automaker pulling sheets off their cars), here are the debuting models we’re excited to see. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Concern Rises Over U.S. Auto Market While Mexico’s Thrives

GMC Terrain: Production moving to Mexico

Mexico isn’t known for its thriving economy or world-class production facilities. A week spent there earlier this month showed me that it’s a country filled with delightful people, gorgeous beaches, and a rich and colorful culture—but is also rife with political turmoil, poverty, and violent crime.

Mexico is still classified as a developing country but has potential to overcome its problems and compete in the world economy.

The auto industry has become one of Mexico’s bright spots and continues to shine, even as the market in the United States begins to tighten up and shrink.

Continue reading >>>

by Steve Halloran

Springing Into Another List of Convertibles

Ragtops in a row

Repetition inspires varied emotions here in New England. Pats fans nearly lost their minds in February, when Tom Brady and company managed to mount an insane comeback to win another Super Bowl. But we were much less happy about the blizzard last Saturday, exactly 20 years after an even bigger April Fools’ Day snowstorm and one brief year after Snowmageddon. Happily, our forecast calls for 60 degrees and sunshine on Tuesday, when we’ll head to the Javits Convention Center in NYC to cover the New York International Auto Show.

We visited the Detroit Auto Show in January, so have already seen some fantastic 2018s, but we can’t wait to meet the new Dodge Demon, Buick Regal, Volvo XC60, Subaru Crosstrek, and Audi RS3, among others. We’ll spare ourselves hours of traffic on I-95 by taking the train to get there and back, but if that weather forecast proves accurate, I know my team and I will be looking forward to top-down driving from the Acela. Continue reading >>>