Day one of the 2013 North American International Auto Show has come to a close, and it is time for a quick rest before day two gets fired up with another round of rollouts, debuts, and premieres. Here is a gallery of the bedazzlement that the opening day offered from automakers such as Jeep, Chevrolet, Lincoln, Volkswagen, Hyundai, MINI, Bentley, Honda, Audi, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Toyota, Infiniti, and Maserati.
Kicking things off on the first day of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit were the announcements of Car and Truck of the Year. This year’s honors went to the Ram 1500 for top truck/utility, and the Cadillac ATS was named North American Car of the Year for 2013. The winners were selected by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from the US and Canada, and the awards were handed out during opening ceremonies at the auto show earlier today. To be eligible, vehicles must be all new or substantially changed for the model year being voted on….
Big news coming out of Detroit a day ahead of the auto show with a couple real head turners making early appearances to get the juices flowing. The biggest is the return of the Corvette Stingray as Chevrolet releases the 2014 Corvette to the world, paying homage to a true classic. In other news, the new Lincoln Motor Company has released images and information on a new entry luxury crossover concept dubbed MKC. 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray The new car will feature the most powerful standard Corvette engine yet at some 450hp and 450 lb. ft. of torque. Chevy says…
Autonomous – or driverless – cars have been making headlines over the past couple of years as we saw Google demonstrate a self-driving Prius and then Audi race autonomously at Pikes Peak last year. At CES this week, Lexus is demonstrating a modified 2013 LS 600h hybrid sedan that features many technologies the automaker is testing and says may someday advance transportation to a driverless platform. “In our pursuit of developing more advanced automated technologies, we believe the driver must be fully engaged,” said Mark Templin, Toyota group vice president and general manger of the Lexus Division. “For Toyota and…
Lexus created the luxury crossover segment when it debuted its RX some 14 years ago. For 2013, RX gets a makeover, including the addition of the new “face” of Lexus and a sport model. The new signature spindle grille leads a list of revisions for the RX lineup for 2013, which also sees fresher, sportier styling along with upgraded interiors. The RX is offered in gas-only RX 350 and hybrid RX 450h models. The hybrid version now offers a sport mode, which includes: revised steering effort, throttle mapping, and gear shifting (should drivers become a little bored with the ECO…
Ford is getting into the open-developer game at CES this week in addition to GM as they too announce a developer program to enhance future vehicles. Utilizing the SYNC connectivity system and AppLink application programming interface, Ford is launching an open developer program enabling software developers to directly interface with the vehicle and create apps that will enhance the driving experience. “The Ford Developer Program marks a dramatic shift in how we will innovate new features and add value to our vehicles throughout the ownership period,” said Hau Thai-Tang, vice president of Engineering, Ford Global Product Development. “Opening the car…
In addition to the news that future Chevrolet Spark and Sonic subcompact models will offer greatly enhanced infotainment options, General Motors has announced this week at CES in Las Vegas it will offer a new flexible application framework allowing drivers to add apps and features to their vehicles after the initial purchase. Debuting in select 2014 models, system framework will include a catalog that will allow owners to choose from a menu of available infotainment-based apps specifically designed for the in-vehicle experience and this framework will also allow developers to create a new category of vehicle apps. “There will be…
Over the course of the next two weeks there will be a plethora of news coming from foreign and domestic automakers and affiliated partners (in addition to all the other news we are releasing here). Two of the largest shows of the year are getting underway in the form of the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas that begins this week and the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next week. By now you know Gear Diary has a team on the ground covering CES all week, and a couple of us head to Motor City next week for…
“Out with the old, in with the new…” How many times have we heard that saying this week? In the test garage it is no different, as we say goodbye to the outgoing 2013 GMC Sierra Denali pickup on the heels of the automaker announcing the next-generation coming this year. Overall, GM light-duty (half-ton) pickups have changed little in recent years and continue to sell well, very well in fact as they are at the top of sales charts for respective divisions. One thing that eludes the General though is segment leadership as Ford continually outsells the Silverado and Sierra…
When looking back on cars I have driven this year there are a few that resonate driving enjoyment and would be nameplates I would like to see in my own driveway permanently. One of the biggest surprises was a Volvo – yes, I said Volvo. The S60 sedan, delivered to me in funky Rebel Blue R-Design form, stood out enough to best the likes of BMW 3-series’ and Infiniti G. And while delivering one of the best-looking products in quite a long time, safety does not take a back seat with the new model. As Volvo has slowly evolved its…
Machines fascinate a great deal of us and many love to “get your hands dirty” by tinkering and performing our own repair and maintenance work. For decades this meant utilizing some form of hazardous fluid for cleaning and parts washing. ChemFree Corporation offers a safe and “green” alternative with its new BenchtopPRO bioremediating bench-top parts washing system that is designed for the home garage or small repair shop. The BenchtopPRO system utilizes a pH neutral mixture of emulsifiers and surfactants to offers a safe and healthy approach to parts cleaning. It contains none of the solvents mechanics have come to…
Most vehicles I have tested do little for my visual senses while sitting behind the wheel. Sure, many of them are appealing to my eye as I walk up to them, but once behind the wheel there is little more. The idea is to keep your eyes on the road, right? Well, Infiniti has this “Essence” design influence that finds its way into production vehicles, and the latest FX luxury crossover is no exception. After climbing behind the wheel of the FX37 we recently tested, my eyes were immediately drawn to the hoodlines laid out before me; to be perfectly…
This past summer I reviewed the new Chevrolet Malibu Eco with the e-Assist start/stop technology. While I liked what the automaker did with the new Malibu overall I was not impressed with my experience with that powertrain. Fast forward to the release of the new Turbo model Malibu and all that changes. I love this new turbocharged direct-injected Ecotec 2.0-liter four-cylinder powerplant and all of its enjoyable 259 horsepower and 260 lb. ft. of torque. That’s quite a punch for a four in a midsize sedan and the new Malibu feels like it is at the top end of the…
In June of 2011 I reviewed the multi-lens combo kit from USBFever.com for the iPhone4. Then I said that while the kit will not replace your D-SLR and a case full of lenses it is very useful and perfect for the consummate iPhoneographer. I just finished testing the new iPhone5 combo lens kit and I reaffirm those findings with additional good news. In my previous review I recommended throwing away the 8x lens once you receive your kit. Seems someone was listening as that piece has now been replaced with a 9x telephoto lens attachment that is on par with…
Our recent trip to California with Nissan was a two-part launch program. The first I already brought you in the form of the all-new, unibody-once-again, three-row Pathfinder. The second is the 2013 Sentra compact sedan. Nissan wants to be your sedan destination and part of that, a big part, is this seventh-generation model. The compact segment is now second in total vehicle sales overall, growing to more than 2 million units per year with much of the competition already launching new units or rolling them out soon. Nissan has sold more than 4.3 million Sentras over the past 30 years,…
The good thing about MINI cars is they don’t pretend to be anything they are not. The great thing about MINI cars is they deliver everything they promise. And the new MINI Cooper Coupe – specifically the MINI John Cooper Works Coupe – promises to be one of the funnest driving experiences on the road. One thing about MINI Coopers is they are deceptively roomy inside, but with this new Coupe — while seating area is aplenty — headroom is somewhat scarce; but what do you expect from an adult’s version of a go-kart? The Coupe is a two-seater version…
Forget for a second (if that’s possible) that this is one of the most opulent sport utes we’ve tested in a while, what with its Designo interior and host of Mercedes goodies. At the heart and soul of the 2013 Mercedes-Benz GL350, BlueTec is a solid, proven platform offering a well-controlled, confident on-road experience, and it was recently named SUV of the Year by Motor Trend.
Lighter, faster, more agile, and, as if it really matters, more fuel-efficient. That is how Porsche describes its next-generation Boxster convertible sports car. The Boxster was a hit from the start and since initial launch Porsche has sought to improve on the initial package while not confusing the car with its bread-and-butter 911 line. The Boxster is a mid-engine two-seater and for 2013 is almost totally madeover. The new design has a longer wheelbase and wider tracks front and rear for better balance. It is surprisingly athletic and this car feels oh-so-good on the road. This is a car that…
Those of you disappointed with how long it takes to recharge your new electric or plug-in vehicle, relief may be right around the corner. The Volvo Car Corporation has announced it is testing a new “fast-charger” for electric cars that will significantly cut recharging times to a stunning 1.5 hours, some six times faster than units currently in use in EVs on the road today. The new charger is going to be installed and tested on a number of Volvo C30 electrics and utilizes a three-phase outlet with 32A to charge fully in the 90 minutes or deliver 80 km…
Crossover utility vehicles are to the new millennium what minivans were to the late ‘80s and early ‘90s – all the rage. It seems, however, that many of their designs blend together, especially when friends get together and try to describe one they don’t know the name or brand of. “It’s that one with the round face and kind of rounded roofline, you know, the one that looks like an over-inflated sport hatchback…” or something like that. GMC’s latest – the Terrain – sought to step apart from that confusing landscape. The GMC Terrain is another core ingredient to GM’s…
Nissan has followed ranks of the likes of Ford and the Chrysler Group taking a risky move away from frame-based architecture to underpin its newest of sport utes, specifically Pathfinder from the Nissan folks. Nissan is taking Pathfinder back to a unibody chassis as it did for the second-generation vehicle in model year 1996. And, like then, Nissan is outfitting the truck with a 3.5-liter V-6. Unlike its predecessor, this fourth-gen vehicle has slimmed down while increasing in size and operates primarily in front-wheel drive with the rear wheels throwing in their two cents when driving conditions get a bit…