Luxury trucks are gaining popularity, and fast. And now that the world of pickup trucks includes options that can cost nearly six figures, automakers are lining up to deliver even more luxurious examples. Continue reading >>>
New Cars
Will INFINITI’s New Engine Lure Buyers From the Competition?
The 2019 INFINITI QX50, which debuted at the LA Auto Show, is not only a stunner, it’s a technological marvel that will be surprisingly affordable when it hits the U.S. market next year.
In addition to coming equipped with a semi-autonomous driving system, the new luxury crossover will have the world’s first variable compression engine. What is that exactly?
We’ll get to that.
Let’s talk about the luxury crossover segment first. It’s red-hot right now, and entrants from Infiniti, Lexus, Jaguar, and more are stepping up the competition. Will Infiniti’s new engine make the choice easier for car buyers? Continue reading >>>
Volkswagen “Crozzes” Over to World of EVs
Volkswagen knows a thing or two about branding.
VW’s first hit the U.S. market in 1949. The Type 1 Beetle was a car with a deep military history, earning it its nickname “The Victory Wagon.” In 1959, the company stepped away from its military history with its “Think Small” campaign. It set its sights on a decidedly different audience with a new campaign with the goal of attracting a younger consumer eager to find an affordable car that was also fuel efficient.
The oil crises of the 1970s led VW to make a major pivot: It invested in diesel engines. And for decades, the company could, literally, go the distance with diesel.
But oh, how the times have changed. Nowadays, consumers want fuel-efficient cars that are also environmentally friendly.
Based on what we saw at the LA Auto Show, VW is up to the task.
Enter the Volkswagen I.D. Crozz.
Kia Optima Offers Infiniti-Level Style
Thanksgiving weekend in Southern California. More specifically, a car rental parking lot at LAX.
To my left was a dark gray 2017 Kia Optima, a 178-horsepower 4-door midsize sedan with knockout good looks and impressive highway fuel economy.
On the right was a blue 2017 Toyota Camry, promising plenty of comfort and reliability.
In the middle was a silver 2017 Ford Fusion, a car with sleek design and a high-quality interior.
If you had free access to the keys of each of these cars for a long weekend in Southern California, which would you take?
The Kia was my choice. How does the Infiniti work into this story? Read on, dear friends. Continue reading >>>
The Off-Road-Only Roxor May Hit U.S. In 2018
Image Courtesy of DC-Design
Cars sold in the U.S. come from all corners of the globe, and there are very few differences in quality, regardless of a vehicle’s country of origin.
The first Japanese import came in 1958, when the Toyopet Crown debuted here to very little fanfare. Few would have guessed that the little Japanese company, which we now know as Toyota, would have massive manufacturing facilities in this country and change the face of the U.S. and world auto industry.
It would be nearly thirty years before Hyundai, made in Korea, launched a car for the U.S. market. Now, the automaker is a household name.
We’ll see if Americans will learn to love a new import – this time, from India. Continue reading >>>
Corvette ZR1 to Challenge Porsche 911 for Fastest Time Around the ‘Ring
Does it get any more American than that? Sure, we could include the cliché baseball and apple pie, but it’s the Corvette that might best define what it means to be an American.
Like many Americans, the Corvette tries really hard to be good looking, could probably stand to lose a few pounds, and can’t quite keep up with its fancy European peers.
The new Corvette ZR1, however, might finally be the car to outshine its European counterparts.
Well, maybe not all of them. Continue reading >>>
BMW and Chevrolet Double Down on Electric SUVs
BMW X7 iPerformance Concept
BMW and Chevrolet are changing the world of transportation, but not in the way we might have thought they would.
Both companies are driving us toward an electric future, and both have just taken epic steps to help solidify their choice of EVs as the cars of the very near future.
More specifically, both have selected SUVs and crossovers as the electric cars of the future. Continue reading >>>
Could a Pickup Spark the Comeback of Mitsubishi?
America must have a soft spot in its collective heart for Mitsubishi.
Theoretically, the company should have gone the way of Suzuki years ago, yet it still hangs on in the U.S. market and has proven itself as a scrappy little brand that is liked by just enough people to keep it running. As you may remember, Nissan purchased a 34 percent stake in Mitsubishi last year, and a U.S. rebirth for the brand would fit with CEO Carlos Ghosn’s goal to turn that alliance into one of the top three automakers in the world.
Could the addition of a few more vehicles bring the small Japanese automaker back to glory? Continue reading >>>
Tesla Becomes an “Enormous Burden” on Porsche
When Tesla started selling cars, CEO Elon Musk probably didn’t think his little company would eventually cause Porsche to completely restructure itself.
But it’s starting to happen.
As demand for Tesla cars continues to grow, other automakers are wondering how they can grab a piece of the action and divert some of the dollars from that demand into their own bank accounts. Continue reading >>>
New Toyota Supra Won’t Be a Toyota
The new Toyota Supra may be the most highly anticipated car since the return of the Chevy Camaro.
Theories regarding what it will look like and what will power it have captivated the Internet for a good 18 months. Maybe even since the Supra was discontinued all the way back in 2002. We now know it’s coming back, but will it be co-developed with BMW? Will it be a hybrid? Gas only? Electric only?
Will it be a Z4 with Toyota badging?
All we’ve really known for sure is that the new Supra will, 100 percent, no-doubt-about-it, have a Toyota badge. Because it’s a Supra.
The Supra is a Toyota legend and was, for many years, the top-performing car in the Toyota stable. It has Toyota blood flowing through its arteries. The Supra coming back as a Toyota is as safe a bet as the Camaro was to return wearing its bowtie.
But, as it turns out, there are no guarantees in life. Continue reading >>>