Cars

My Day at the 2014 Toyota Tundra and 4Runner Preview Event

As I mentioned in a brief post the other day, last week I had the opportunity to travel to south-western Pennsylvania to stay at the Nemocolin Woodlands Resort and see, and drive, the 2014 Toyota Tundra and 2014 Toyota 4Runner. The resort was amazing and served as a terrific backdrop for getting to know the new Tundra and 4Runner. What follows is a brief description of our day along with some details on two lines of trucks that — spoiler alert — impressed the heck out of me. A bit of background. On farms throughout America, pickup trucks are like a member…

Vehicles & Gear

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT One Sweet Ride

A year ago, we tested the world’s most expensive Jeep in the form of the Grand Cherokee SRT8, a vehicle I stated was apparently intended for those with plenty of disposable income and pay little attention to fuel prices. For the 2014 model year little has changed, save for the fact that gas prices have inched up a bit along with the sticker price of the new model while its badging shaves a character. Plus the new ride gets some new styling and a new gearbox. Jeep has given the entire Grand Cherokee lineup all-new styling for the 2014 models…

Events, News & Features, Outdoors, Vehicles & Gear

Down and Dirty with the 2014 Toyota 4Runner

During this week’s Press Preview of the 2014 Toyota Tundra and 2014 Toyota 4Runner, we had a chance to spend some “quality time” in different models of each truck. And while we spent some time with the trucks on nicely paved roads, we also had a chance to go off-road with both vehicles. The event took place on the grounds of the Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, PA, a gorgeous resort set on 2,000 wooded acres in the Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Here’s a small taste of what it was like off-road in the 4Runner. Toyota had a series…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Kia Optima Hybrid Update Shows What a Difference a Year Can Make

I see it has been a year since our Carly Z reviewed the Optima Hybrid midsize sedan from Kia. She raved about its styling and onroad characteristics. Fast forward one year, and Kia has delivered an updated 2013 model that features upgrades to the hybrid powertrain component, an area I was critical of in the commonly outfitted Sonata Hybrid from sibling Hyundai when it launched just prior to the Kia. I will say I echo nearly every comment Carly made concerning the 2012 Optima she tested save for the powertrain. That first-generation technology from the Korean duo was exactly that…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport an ‘Odd Duck’

An “odd duck” of sorts showed up in my driveway recently courtesy Mitsubishi media fleet – a 2013 Outlander Sport crossover utility vehicle. Odd as the automaker has already released an all-new 2014 Outlander but apparently the Sport variant will live on in the previous form for a while longer. We last looked at the Mitsubishi crossover in 2011 when we took delivery of the GT model during a freak winter storm here in North Texas. This time around for our time in the Outlander we got the exact opposite from Mother Nature – Texas heatwave. I have to say…

Vehicles & Gear

Globally Green 2013 Ford C-MAX Energi

The Ford C-MAX is a global vehicle that only recently arrived on US soil and is a bit of an anomaly. One might even relate it to the foreign exchange student you remember from high school, the one that was a really nice kid, loaded with international charm, but looked and sounded a bit different when thrown into the mix of teenage Americana. C-MAX arrives here as Ford’s first North American MAV, which presumably stands for multi-activity vehicle as the press release really doesn’t expand any further on the acronym. And for its 2013 model year debut it arrives only…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Ram 1500 SLT Crew Cab 4×4

No doubt model year 2013 was very good for the Ram 1500, as it collected enough hardware to fill the cargo box: Motor Trend Truck of the Year, North American Truck of the Year, AOL Truck of the Year, Four Wheeler Magazine Pickup Truck of the Year, Consumer Guide Best Buy, Decisive Magazine Urban Truck of the Year, Automobile Magazine All-Star and Ward’s 10Best Interiors, just to name a few. It all started one frigid January morning in downtown Detroit outside the North American International Auto Show in 2008. Anticipation was in the air (along with our frozen breath), as…

News & Features

NHTSA Release New Traffic Safety Facebook Game

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) wants you to stay safe this holiday weekend and looks to reach a wide audience with their traffic safety messages through their new Memory-type game “Buzzed. Busted. Broke.” now on Facebook. Players choose a difficulty (easy, medium, or hard), then click panels on a board to match pairs and win. The game is a new twist on the familiar photo match game — except in this version, all the images are related to buzzed driving, which gets players thinking about possible scenarios involving alcohol intoxication and drunk driving. THe NHTSA collaborated with Play…

Vehicles & Gear

Ford’s 2014 Product Preview

Design is still the leading factor when purchasing a new vehicle according to Ford Motor Company. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker opened its 2014 product preview for journalists with a “talk show” format presentation in which Ford president of the Americas Joe Hinrichs and global product development group vice president Raj Nair answered prepared questions about Ford’s present and future. Hinrichs explained Ford’s recent gains in market share are driven by their product and they are committed to continuing aggressive introduction of new products throughout the showroom. Perhaps testimony to that is with a corresponding introduction of an all-new sport truck…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Buick Encore is the new ‘Cute-Ute’ on the Block

Buick is celebrating its 110th birthday. A quick trip down memory lane brings back such iconic models as Century, Roadmaster, Skylark, Riviera and Regal. The new era of Buick features a new Regal as well as a LaCrosse, an Enclave, and now – an Encore. Yes, Buick’s newest member of the fold is also its smallest, entering the staid brand into the subcompact crossover market with a new American entry with global DNA. The 2013 Buick Encore is built in GM’s Korean theater but is designed to appeal to consumers who may still be hesitant to venture over to “that…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Hyundai Azera Is Just So ‘Buicky’

While large sedans are not garnering the most sales in automobile showrooms these days they are a segment sought after by a very loyal and respected buying demographic. And automakers are working harder than ever to not only address the needs of repeat customers but attract new wallets and pocketbooks into their showrooms by freshening these model lines. Case in point is the new Azera from Hyundai. Azera has been around for a few years, but the automaker gave it a complete makeover last year and now boasts it has the shortest lifespan on dealer’s lots of all its competitors…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid Offers Best of All Worlds

I’d been looking forward to driving the new Ford Fusion since attending its global launch event in Detroit at the 2012 Auto Show there. Ford was taking a huge leap of faith in completely making over a vehicle that was already well received and fairly popular with consumers. Enter the 2013 Ford Fusion and its myriad powertrain offerings and modern styling, not to mention sales figures, and it is clear the gamble is paying off.

Vehicles & Gear

Spirit of Driving Alive and Well with the 2014 Lexus IS Models

Just when you thought you had your mind made up on which entry luxury sport sedan to purchase, Lexus has to go and make over its IS model line and this upcoming 2014 might just have consumers putting the brakes on as they head to their favorite Bavarian auto dealer. The 2014 IS is the third generation of the youthful yet elegant little luxo-sedan from Lexus, the first arriving as a 2001. While the new model features an all-new chassis, styling and interior, powertrains are a holdover from the current line – almost.

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Infiniti JX35 Has Beauty, Style, and Grace — and Soon, a New Name

In recognizing its behemoth QX fullsize SUV is not for every family, Infiniti has delivered a more of a “right-sized” crossover to meet the needs of families who, in their words, recognize the need to grow up without growing old. Enter the 2013 Infiniti JX35. Cross-developed with the new Pathfinder seven-passenger from Nissan, JX delivers interior flexibility and roominess, safety, three-row seating, performance and a host of hospitality features in something of a familiar package to its customers. Inside and out, JX exudes Infiniti design, style and content while benefitting from corporate research and development along with dipping into shared…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Dodge Charger Pays Homage to Past and Present

Dodge recently redesigned its fullsize Charger sedan, giving it bodylines and other styling cues that pay homage to the iconic car’s heritage. Keeping it current and marketable, the automaker loads the vehicles with a host of modern powertrains and interiors (and safety equipment). Under the hood of our first recent Charger tester – an R/T – was the latest 5.7-liter V-8 HEMI with Fuel Saver cylinder deactivation technology that offers 25 mpg on the highway but still delivers a very healthy 370hp when prompted. The R/T came with a five-speed automatic but adds new die-cast zinc steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Cadillac ATS Premium Turbo

Cadillac has a new compact car. It is called the ATS and it is almost enough to forgive the luxury division at GM for that horrible first foray into the compact segment dubbed Cimarron, the turtle-like Chevy Citation knock-off of the 80s. Almost. ATS arrives as an all-new, lightweight entry luxury sedan in rear-wheel drive architecture offering a trio of powertrain options – two four-cylinder models and a V-6.

Vehicles & Gear

Say Hello to My (New) Little Friend, the 2013 Ford Focus ST

As I sat around lamenting the departure of the fun little Volvo C30 hatchback from US soil, my friends at Ford assured me they had a new car that would make me forget all about the saucy Swedish runabout, and they were right. Goodbye C30 – hello Focus ST! Yes, Ford’s global Sport Technologies medical staff delivered the perfect prescription for my hot hatch blues by rolling in here with the new five-door Focus ST boasting 252 horsepower, 270 lb. ft. of torque and a top speed of 154 mph – all the while delivering more than 30 mpg on…

Game Diary, Gear Bits

Buy GRID 2: Mono Edition – The Most Expensive Video Game Ever

NOTE: This collaborative article was co-written with our special correspondent Wayne Beck. Got $190,000 laying around? Then you can make history and purchase GRID 2: Mono Edition, which includes an actual 170mph BAC Mono supercar in exclusive GRID 2 livery, BAC factory tour, branded racing helmet and race suit, and a PlayStation 3 console. Note: Terms and conditions apply. The standard edition of GRID 2 will release on Tuesday, May 28. This one lucky buyer will appear in the next Guinness World Records Gamer’s Edition as the “Most Expensive Video Game Commercially Available – Special Edition”. The GRID 2: Mono…

Reviews

Fast & Furious 6 Film Review

The ‘bigger is better’ filmmaking mantra works as this monstrous action-racing film series keeps upgrading with Fast & Furious 6 (a.k.a. Furious 6). The featured film gear this time is a special device called the “Nightshade”, which can disable power in a large area. Other featured gear in the film include special electronic discs (relating to the “Nightshade” technology), specially customized F1-style “flip cars”, modified cable guns, BMW M5s, a Navistar MXT truck, a rare 1973 Jensen Interceptor, and a custom-made Dodge Daytona for Vin Diesel…the perfect acting name for this successful film series. In this sixth film installment, Dominic…

Vehicles & Gear

2013 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT All About Value and Functionality

An automotive anniversary is quietly approaching, but I doubt anyone will notice. Of course I am not talking about the 50th anniversary of Mustang – no, I am speaking of the 30th anniversary of the minivan. Yes, that once-ubiquitous soccer-mom vehicle is still rolling off the assembly lines despite being outpaced over the last two decades by SUVs and CUVs. While the number of models available are about half what they were 20 years ago, the granddaddy of them all – the Caravan from Dodge – is getting ready to hit the big 3-0. Now offered only in Grand Caravan…

Events, Travel, Vehicles & Gear

2014 Kia Cadenza Stylishly Conquers the Pacific Coast

Last week I was invited to test drive the 2014 Kia Cadenza along with a small group of other bloggers and auto journalists. The location Kia chose couldn’t have been more beautiful; we arrived in San Diego on Wednesday afternoon and took a short ride 20 miles north to Del Mar, an oceanside resort town. We stayed at the L’Auberge Del Mar, a 120 room boutique hotel on a hill overlooking the ocean. Our views were spectacular. I heard repeated apologies from Southern Californians for the “May Gray” (overcast skies) we were experiencing, which made me laugh; I was steps from…

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