Domestic Cars

by tgriffith

Lincoln and Mazda Next Up to Electrify Everything

Here’s another one to file in the “all cars are going electric” folder.

In the not-so-distant future, we’ll look back on that folder and fondly remember the steps automakers took to wean the driving public away from gas and ease them into the new world of electric driving.

We’ve written, pretty extensively, about upcoming new electric vehicles and even plans by entire countries to phase out gasoline and diesel-powered cars. An electric future is approaching fast, and two more automakers are now committing to doing their part to usher in this new world. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

One-Inch Crack Totals 2017 Chevy Corvette

In 2005 I had a 6-month-old Honda Pilot. That vehicle was parked overnight in a driveway next to a large RV, and the RV caught fire.

The RV burned to a crisp, leaving nothing but a blackened frame and a smoking pile of debris. The Pilot, which was parked not 12 inches from the RV, didn’t catch fire, but did suffer massive damage from the heat. The windows burst, leather melted, paint bubbled, plastic exterior and interior trim melted, tires burst, and wheels warped.

The driver’s side of that car was destroyed. The insurance company deemed the damage repairable, and three months and $12,000 later, I got my car back, but it never felt “good as new.”

Contrast that story with this one: Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Will the Tesla Model 3 Kill Off the BMW 3 Series?

Tesla has very high hopes for its midsize Model 3 sedan.

It doesn’t just hope to survive and sell enough copies to make the investment worth it—the electric carmaker plans to revolutionize the auto business by selling a hundred thousand or so every year.

That’s a lofty goal. All of those sales would have to come from somewhere… and the BMW 3 Series could be the sacrificial lamb. In fact, one investor believes sales of the 3 Series could “go to zero.” Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Ford Raptor Not Macho Enough? Try the Shelby Edition

The Ford F-150 Raptor is about as extreme as trucks get. Built for flying across sand, traversing dunes, and descending hillsides like a mountain goat, the Raptor is one of very few trucks that can compete in the Baja 1000, then drive home like it made a leisurely trip visiting the in-laws.

The truck comes stock with a 450-horsepower 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6, which offers plenty of punch to get out ahead of traffic or even leave most cars in the dust. It’s massive, too. The Raptor is 6.4 inches wider than the already huge F-150 and 1.3 inches taller. At 78.5 inches high, good luck getting this thing into your garage at home or into many urban parking garages.

In fact, good luck even finding a large enough space at the grocery store.

This truck isn’t made for parking, though. It’s for mountain men (suburban dads) who need a macho desert-runner (grocery-getter) to stand out from the crowd.

However, for some folks, the stock Raptor just isn’t macho enough. Enter the Shelby Raptor. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

When’s the Last Time a Car Took Your Breath Away?

Some cars just take your breath away at first glance. Sometimes because they’re expensive supercars, sometimes because they’re rare and beautiful luxury cars, and sometimes because they’re old classics that stand out in a Walmart parking lot full of crossovers.

The last time a car left me in a state of awe was in Deland, Florida (I hope all is well over there, friends), when a passing Bugatti Veyron in the quaint downtown took me by surprise.

Before that it was a 1962 Jaguar E-Type, parked in the valet section of a luxury hotel.

It takes a lot to impress me with cars these days, and even the standard-fare Ferrari and Lamborghini typically get nothing more than a passing glance.

So why did I point out a 1987 vehicle this weekend with the excitement of teen girl at a Beatles concert? Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Chevy Blazer: The Legend (Sort of) Returns

We all know that the Ford Bronco is coming back, probably as the rugged off-roader that we all hoped it would be. That’s certainly good news for the hardcore Bronco fanbase but a little off-putting to the people who prefer their off-roaders to wear a bow tie.

Chevy’s Bronco-buster, the Blazer, slowly morphed into the TrailBlazer and then the Traverse, which rendered it mostly useless on the trails where the Blazer once roamed.

Last week, news started circulating that the Blazer would return for 2019. Exciting, right?

Not so much. Get ready to find out what disappointment feels like, Blazer fans. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Which FCA Brand Does China Want Most?

Last week we brought you news that FCA, the company born out of the Fiat/Chrysler merger, may be sold to a Chinese automaker.

That would turn the once-iconic American Chrysler brand into a wholly foreign-owned corporation while giving a Chinese automaker entry into the coveted American car market.

This is a sale that could actually happen, but it may affect only one brand, leaving the rest of the FCA stable with a questionable future. Which brand looks most appealing to the Chinese? Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Fiat Chrysler Could Be Sold to a Chinese Automaker

Chinese-owned Chrysler.

Those are words you might need to get used to hearing, as the possibility of a sale of Chrysler’s parent to a Chinese automaker has become very real.

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of FCA, has made it clear he’s looking to partner with another automaker. General Motors and Ford have both denied him, and now the auto exec is taking suitors from overseas. In fact, he has reportedly received and rejected one bid from a Chinese automaker, but that has opened the door to the possibility of receiving an acceptable offer for an outright takeover. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Will New Lineup Return Cadillac to Glory?

Cadillac currently offers four sedans, and it’s getting ready to axe three of them.

By 2019, the Cadillac ATS, CTS, and XTS will be history, leaving just the CT6 and two new replacements to handle sedan duty at Caddy dealerships. Not surprisingly, Cadillac is joining the masses in whittling down its sedan offerings to make room for SUVs and crossovers.

Sales for the sedans have been falling, and Cadillac CEO Johan de Nysschen is ready to take action to make sure Caddy remains a relevant and compelling brand. Continue reading >>>

by tgriffith

Toyota Turns to Mazda for Help with Tacoma

The Toyota Tacoma is losing market share to the Chevy Colorado and Honda Ridgeline. This isn’t happening because people are losing interest in the venerable Toyota, but because Toyota can’t build them fast enough.

There’s a shortage of Tacomas at dealerships around the country, and buyers are turning to some very worthy competition instead of waiting for Toyota to catch up and deliver more trucks. This is a problem that’s new to Toyota, as decent competition in the midsize truck market hasn’t been a concern since… well… ever.

What’s Toyota’s plan to prevent more buyers from crossing over to competing brands?

Ask Mazda for help. Continue reading >>>