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Daily coverage of the world of cars.

Car Minded

Volkswagen “Crozzes” Over to World of EVs


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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.

Continue reading >>>

Kia Optima Offers Infiniti-Level Style


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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


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Image Courtesy of DC-Design
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


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Chevrolet Corvette.

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


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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 >>>