I have driven all different sorts of vehicles in my life both privately and in public service, but I had never driven a taxi. I can now cross that one off the list, as Nissan recently sent me its Taxi of Tomorrow in the form of a New York City cab on the NV200 compact commercial van platform.
My car is a 2008 Yukon Denali XL, and while it has tons of bells and whistles, it doesn’t have a hands-free bluetooth hookup for calls or audio. I figured I’d have to wait until we eventually upgraded vehicles (not any time soon!) before I had that feature, but with the $45 Kinivo Bluetooth Car Kit, there is no need. Setting up the device is as simple as plugging the BTC455 directly into the auxiliary port on your stereo (assuming that your car stereo has at least that) and then plugging it into the volt outlet. Once that’s done, you’ll have hands-free streaming through your…
It’s hard to believe but some umpteen years after Prius landed on Plymouth Rock, there are automakers just now coming into the hybrid vehicle arena. Subaru is one such nameplate, recently launching its first hybrid gasoline/electric, and it arrives on one of the brand’s newest lines that is also becoming one of Subaru’s most popular models – the XV Crosstrek.
For the few of you who still may not know, the Jeep Cherokee is back. Jeep brought the familiar nameplate back to the midsize SUV segment to replace the Liberty model they are showing the door. The 2014 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk rides on Fiat Chrysler Automobiles globally-sourced architecture and features some of the most polarizing design in any new vehicle.
The 2014 Go Further with Ford Trend Conference featured discussion sessions and panels consisting of forward thinking and creative individuals, many of whom are not involved in the automotive industry. That is one thing that has perplexed me about this conference is, if Ford’s primary objective is building and selling cars, why bother going to such lengths?
I am home from the fourth annual Go Further with Ford Trend Conference where the automaker invited some 250 or so members involved in social media of one sort or another. I am going to break down the event into several segments and present them to you in portions that hopefully will be easier to digest.
The midsize S60 sedan from Volvo has become one of my favorite new vehicles over the past few years. Bolstering this middle segment from the Swedish automaker was also sibling crossover XC60. For 2015 Volvo V60 T5 brings a new sport wagon to the center of its lineup in the form of the V60 and it is quickly gaining favor.
As we step into the first full week of summer, it’s time once again for the annual Trend Conference hosted by Ford Motor Company. This is the fourth such event that takes a deeper look into key global trends and issues influencing consumers – all consumers. Gear Diary will once again be covering the event that runs June 24-26.
It was only a few months ago when I reviewed the 2014 Volkswagen Passat midsize sedan. This past week, I’ve found another VW Passat in the test driveway; this review model outfitted with the TDI diesel engine backed by manual gearbox, so this review is pretty much just going to be an update for the powertrain variation.
I was going to bring readers yet another review this morning, but instead wanted to update information presented in a recent piece about some Ford vehicles we tested. Apparently Ford has had to revise EPA mileage ratings for some of its vehicles again — including 2014 model year Fiestas and 2013 and 2014 model year hybrids and plug-in hybrids.
It has hardly been a year since I last reviewed the Ram Heavy Duty pickup models, and at that time I spoke of the never-ending competition between the big three truck makers. This year nothing has changed as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Ram have upped the ante yet again with the 2014 Ram lineup of 2500 and 3500 Heavy Duty pickups.
While many automakers have chosen to remove the frame from underneath their midsize SUVs lately, Toyota takes a different approach by delivering two medium-bodied sport utes – one with a frame and one without. We’ve already looked at the latest unibody Highlander, and now we’ll spend quality time with the 2014 Toyota 4Runner frame-based SUV we first saw last fall.
It has been a few years since I last reviewed the hip boxmobile from Kia. That was the first-generation Soul and it arrived a bit late to the party segment that includes the likes of Scion xB and Nissan Cube. No worries though because not only did Kia bring a good vehicle but a fun marketing campaign along with it.
The Une Bobine from Fuse Chicken offers a flexible yet durable iPhone 5 accessory cable with a USB at one end and a special port at the other that fits most phones with cases on them. Une Bobine features a “virtually indestructible”, yet bendable metal-wrapped cord and provides flexible, convenient options as a tactical, creative stand/tripod.
Got 20 seconds? That’s all it takes to transform the 2014 Lexus IS 350C from coupe to convertible, offering consumers the best of both worlds. Lexus first debuted luxury hardtop convertible architecture on the SC model line, and in 2009 brought that technology to its IS sport sedan lineup, shaving two doors but offering it in 250 and 350 form.
During a recent (and very short) schedule with Ford press vehicles, I was able to revisit two vehicles first reviewed here last summer, specifically the Ford Fiesta and Ford Fusion Energi. As I had already become familiar with these models, would a week behind the wheel of each still prove them to my liking?
Just wanted to say a quick “Howdy” to all of my friends at Toyota that will be heading here to North Texas in the next few years. Yes, the company has announced it is consolidating its three manufacturing, sales and marketing operations in one location in Plano, Texas, which is a northern suburb of Dallas.
One in every six vehicles sold in North America is a midsize sedan, so it goes without saying that automakers have to remain very competitive in this segment. Chrysler, while making a presence, has failed to deliver a compelling vehicle consumers have been drawn to. All that is about to change with the 2015 Chrysler 200.
Happy Birthday, Ford Mustang! The venerable icon Pony car turns 50 today and there has certainly been plenty of hoopla surrounding the event including placing an all-new 2015 Mustang atop the observation deck of the Empire State Building in New York City. Ford also announced a special edition Mustang at the New York Auto Show this week.
I have a favorite new sport sedan and its the 2014 Chevy SS. This is Chevrolet’s first rear-drive performance sedan in nearly two decades and that last one had a nickname of “Shamu.” The Chevrolet SS sedan utilizes GM’s global rear-wheel-drive architecture that also underpins the Camaro but the new SS is more than merely a four-door Camaro, much more.
These days, remote start and keyless entry systems for cars are pretty standard, whether they’re standard features offered by the manufacturer or dealer, or something added with aftermarket accessories. Viper has taken that convenience one step further. Their new SmartKey VSK100 allows your iOS smartphone to be your car key, no app launch or passcode entry required.