Category Archives: new vehicle

Fresh Colors for 2017 Ford Shelby GT350 Mustang

Posted on 6 April 2016 by Ken Zino

Ford Performance is adding more standard features to the new Shelby GT350 Mustang that goes on sale this June. Continue reading →

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2017 Honda Civic Hatchback Defies Detroit 3 Dogma

Posted on 30 March 2016 by Ken Zino

The 10th generation Civic is as formidable a compact car that exists in showrooms now, albeit Toyota Corolla and Nissan Sentra are contenders. Continue reading →

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Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV Debuts in US After 3 Year Lag

Posted on 25 March 2016 by Ken Zino

The Outlander PHEV move follows the introduction of the Outlander last year in the U.S. after it was on sale for almost three years elsewhere. Even though SUV sales account for 40% of the U.S. market, poor Mitsubishi U.S. sales and the Great Recession that started in 2008 roughing up all automakers precluded plugging it in here. Continue reading →

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Mazda MX-5 RF Debuts at New York Auto Show

Posted on 23 March 2016 by AutoCrat

With strong contrast between light and shadow and a high-density finish, Machine Grey allegedly gives the impression that the vehicle’s body has been sculpted from a solid steel ingot. Continue reading →

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Buick Encore ‘Encore’ is Actually a Mild Redo

Posted on 22 March 2016 by Ken Zino

Introduced in 2013, the Encore surprisingly was a winner by offering premium features typically associated with larger luxury cars and trucks – a well-known strategy at German carmakers. Encore rose to the head of the fast-growing small SUV market – an ongoing global trend – topping it in 2014 and 2015. Continue reading →

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Bentley Bentayga SUV Deliveries Start

Posted on 22 March 2016 by Ken Zino

Guests at the event in Crewe were given access to Bentley’s factory to see the Bentayga’s assembly process. Continue reading →

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Alfa Romeo Giulia Line Debuts at the New York Auto Show

Posted on 18 March 2016 by Ken Zino

The Germans – notably Audi, BMW and Mercedes Benz – dominate the market. To a smaller degree Japanese brands – Acura, Infiniti and Lexus – also are active. Alfa and Jeep are the key elements in FCA’s planned global expansion. The Jeep line appears to be a relatively easy global play; Alfa is a much more difficult proposition. Continue reading →

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Driving the 2016 Nissan Sentra – Substantial Upgrades in Equipment, Electronics & Safety Systems  

Posted on 10 March 2016 by Ken Zino

In the golden days for automakers the so-called mid-cycle freshening of a platform such as the Nissan Sentra was fast and dirty – headlights, taillights, new colors and the like – cheap and cheerful between major revisions every eight years or so. Continue reading →

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Chicago Finishes its 108th Auto Show

Posted on 23 February 2016 by Ken Zino

It was a good start in 2016 for what is billed as the “consumer auto show,” with some justification because Monroney sticker prices are on each vehicle, as opposed to automaker self-celebrations at other international shows. Continue reading →

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Mazda Begins Production of CX-9 in Hiroshima

Posted on 15 February 2016 by Ken Zino

This three-row seat CX-9 is long overdue for a major overhaul in an ultra-competitive field, but Mazda’s fragile financial position (net income -25% in Q1 of Japanese FY 2016) saw it mildly freshening the Ford Edge-based platform since its 2007 introduction. That’s a long time in car life years. Such vehicles turn into, well, dogs. Continue reading →

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Mercedes-Benz Tuscaloosa Starts GLS Production

Posted on 12 February 2016 by Ken Zino

During 2015, Mercedes-Benz renewed almost its entire range of SUVs. The new models are successful – sales of the GLC, the updated GLE and the new addition to the SUV portfolio, the GLE Coupé, are at record levels. Continue reading →

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Sprinter Extreme Concept – Strong, Work Ready

Posted on 11 February 2016 by Ken Zino

Take the heavy-duty Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Cab Chassis, hire long-time Benz customer RENNtech, and present the Sprinter Extreme as the ultimate work machine concept. That’s what Mercedes-Benz did today in Chicago. Stretching more than 20 feet from bumper-to-bumper, it’s over 95″ tall. Hauling 6400 pounds of payload and a towing capacity of 7500 pounds, it’s an impressive heavy-duty truck that looks like it came from Jurassic Park.

“Unlike most concepts, the foundation for the Sprinter Extreme can be ordered at a Mercedes or Freightliner dealership today with the help of our MasterUpfitter program.” says Bernie Glaser, Vice President of Mercedes-Benz Vans USA. Continue reading →

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New 2017 Ram Power Wagon – Ultimate Off Roader?

Posted on 11 February 2016 by Ken Zino

Ram Truck says at the Chicago Auto Show today that it continues to build the best pickups, which may come as news for Ford F-Series and Chevrolet Silverado fans. Continue reading →

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Buick Cascada Ads Digital Only for Now

Posted on 28 January 2016 by Ken Zino

The Cascada, Buick’s first convertible in 25 years, arrives in dealerships if all goes well during February. Continue reading →

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BMW X4 M40i Unveiled at NAIAS

Posted on 11 January 2016 by AutoCrat

The 2016 BMW X4 M40i will be available at certified BMW dealers in February 2016 starting at $57,800 plus Destination and Handling. Continue reading →

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