Tuesday, March 16, 2010

The Car Connection

The Car Connection

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With Incentives, Toyota Taking Back Its Market Share

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 01:20 PM PDT

The aggressive incentives offered by Toyota (NYSE:TM) appear to be working, bringing shoppers back to Toyota dealerships—and the automaker back from a recall-related sales slump. For the first half of March (through 3/14), Toyota has more than 14 percent of the market, according to the pricing and market-analysis firm TrueCar, which supplies...


Report: U.S.-Spec Fiat 500 To Get Upgraded Platform

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 11:43 AM PDT

Construction of the Fiat 500 in North America is expected to get underway in mid-December at the Toluca, Mexico plant that's being upgraded for the task. Part of the upgrades include the use of the new Fiat Panda platform, according to a new report. The updated Fiat Panda platform will provide a quieter, lower-vibration ride as well as lighter...


The Strange Saga of Sikes and His Suddenly Accelerating Prius

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 11:42 AM PDT

As we've noted before, so-called sudden acceleration is a confusing, messy, and very uncertain subject. Now a certain San Diego citizen seems to be caught in the cross-hairs of media scrutiny over what is and isn't technically possible in a Toyota Prius--let alone smart to do--if the driver claims the car is accelerating out of control. Welcome to...


Brake Issue Prompts Recall Of 2007-2008 Honda Odyssey, Element

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 11:30 AM PDT

Honda is recalling about 412,000 vehicles—2007 and 2008 model-year Odyssey minivans and Element utility vehicles—for an issue in the braking system that can lead to an overly soft brake pedal. Fortunately, the issue is gradual and couldn't cause a sudden loss of braking. According to Honda, the design or operation of the VSA (vehicle stability...


Video: Nielsen Announces Nominees for 2010 Automotive Ad Awards

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 09:27 AM PDT

Hollywood celebutantes and big-shot producers aren't the only folks enjoying awards shows these days: auto industry types (and their ad agencies) are also getting in on the fun with Nielsen's annual Automotive Ad Awards. Nielsen has just announced its slate of nominees for the 2010 awards, which will be doled out at a breakfast on March 31 at the...


Ouch, My Wallet: 2010's 10 Most Expensive Cars To Insure

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 08:51 AM PDT

None of us want to think about getting our mechanical mistresses (or masters) in situations that require insurance intervention, but we all have to pay it just in case we do--but some of us pay more, a lot more, than others. This year's 10 most expensive production cars to insure could just about pay for a third car with their premiums. The most...


Fuel Efficient Fours Gain Ground on V-6s, V-8s In New Cars

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 08:25 AM PDT

At December's Los Angeles Auto Show, Hyundai made a big splash by saying it would no longer offer V-6 engines in its Sonata midsize car or its Tucson compact crossover. Instead, it replaced them with higher-performance, more fuel-efficient four-cylinder motors. But Hyundai's just one of many makers boosting the four-cylinder into prominence. Data...


Driven: 2010 VW Golf TDI

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 08:00 AM PDT

When I recently submitted an entry about VW's GTI being "The Greenest Hot Hatch", a few commenters to the post suggested that the real sleeper in VW's lineup was the diesel golf, the TDI. True, like the $23,890 GTI, the $23,090 TDI can be had with a slick, six-speed DSG clutchless manual ($1,100 option). And you get other goodies, too, like an...


Hyundai Hits #1 In Customer Loyalty, Toyota Slips To #3

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 07:27 AM PDT

Looking to buy a Hyundai? You're not alone. Over the past year, the Korean automaker has become a darling of the press, and according to one new study, Hyundai owners are now the most brand-loyal kids on the block. That, in turn, has helped keep Hyundai resale values high, which has made owners even happier, which has boosted customer loyalty, and...


Zombie HUMMER H3, Saturn Outlook Rise From the Dead, Briefly

Posted: 16 Mar 2010 05:49 AM PDT

Sometimes the dead just won't stay dead. If you see some slightly ghoulish looking HUMMER H3s or Saturn Outlooks haunting your neighborhood, it's because each one has risen from the grave and re-entered production ... briefly. Though Saturn production ended last October, General Motors actually built just over 1,000 final Saturn Outlook crossovers...


Driven: 2010 Suzuki SX4 Sportback

Posted: 15 Mar 2010 05:58 PM PDT

It's quite easy to find a small car that makes sense on paper—one that's cheap, fuel-efficient, fits in a small footprint, and maneuvers easily—but it's relatively hard to find one that just feels right, in most of the ways that people who like to drive appreciate a car. The 2010 Suzuki SX4 Sportback is one of that latter group. Although it comes...


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