The design of the current Toyota Supra hasn't won everyone over. Avante Design decided to add a dose of aggression to the Japanese sports car by dreaming up a bodykit, which only exists in renders, at least for now.
Though nostalgia fuels many vintage vehicle purchases, and though I have more than my share of vintage vehicles, I've never re-bought a car identical to one I or a family member owned in my youth. Until now.
Last month, I purchased a pristine, 61,000-mile, Nice Blue Metallic 1977 Honda Accord five–speed hatchback that is an exact replica of the 1980 Accord I owned throughout college. That car was a replacement for the 1973 BMW 2002 I drove in high school, which had, at that point, recently been rear–ended and totaled.
Buyers looking for a small crossover or sport utility vehicle are spoiled with choices, whether they are looking to buy new or lightly used. Every major automaker doing business in America has at least one little 'ute on the market, and in many cases, more than one. And it's easy to understand why: they just keep selling.
One of the most popular vehicles in the rapidly expanding subcompact crossover segment is the Subaru Crosstrek. It first went on sale in the United States for the 2013 model year, originally carrying an XV prefix to its name. There was an update in 2015 that added desirable upgrades like a better infotainment system, a backup camera and Subaru's EyeSight-based safety equipment. The first-generation Crosstrek ran through the 2017 model year. We'd suggest looking for a 2015-2017 model if it fits within your budget.
Acura's True Touchpad infotainment system is a hot topic at Autoblog HQ. Some of us utterly detest its functionality. Others, myself included, will plead its case as a worthy alternative to normal infotainment systems. "It's not that bad," I'll say over and over. I had to eat my words to a certain extent when our long term 2021 Acura TLX's infotainment system broke recently due to bad wire connectors, but now that it's up and running again, it's time to give it a proper shake.
The screen in this TLX is a high-resolution, 10.2-inch monitor that sits far from the driver on the car's dash top. It's oriented horizontally in a widescreen format. The controversial bit I mentioned at the beginning is all to do with how you navigate the user interface using Acura's unique touchpad. It uses something Acura calls ultimate positioning technology, meaning that where your finger is on the touchpad corresponds to the same spot on the screen, allowing you to select whatever is in that location. Press down on the top right corner of the touchpad, and the square located in the top right corner of the screen is selected — no need to "swipe" over to it.
DETROIT — Subaru is recalling nearly 875,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. because the engines can stall or a rear suspension part can fall off.
The stalling recall covers more than 466,000 Crosstrek SUVs from 2018 and 2019 and Impreza cars from 2017 through 2019. The company says in government documents that a computer can power the ignition coil after the car is shut off. That can cause a short circuit.
TOKYO — Japanese automaker Subaru Corp said on Tuesday that it was suspending production at its plant in Indiana through the end of April due to a global shortage of semiconductors.
Automakers from Ford Motor to Nissan Motor have cut production due to the shortage of chips, used extensively in new cars for automatic windows, parking assistance and entertainment systems.
Mazda has quietly introduced its latest electric vehicle at the Shanghai Auto Show dubbed the CX-30 EV.
Pricing details are out for the 2022 Subaru Outback and Legacy, and the big news is the price for the newly introduced Wilderness trim. It rings in at $38,120, which is partly because it comes standard with the turbocharged 2.4-liter four-cylinder instead of the naturally aspirated 2.5-liter one. The package includes retuned suspension that brings ground clearance up to 9.5 inches, the X-Mode off-road traction setting, full-size spare tire, front-facing camera, chunkier styling and power hatchback.
The Wilderness is actually the second cheapest turbo Outback, but it's a bit pricey compared to other off-road-oriented crossovers. The Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk starts at $37,045, and the smaller Ford Bronco Sport Badlands starts at $34,315.
Honda has revealed a new concept at the Shanghai Auto Show, currently under way. Its rather uncreative and strangely punctuated name, Honda SUV e:prototype, describes exactly what it is — an all-electric sport utility vehicle.
With the Honda e electric city hatchback receiving good reviews, it only makes sense that Honda would follow up with a similar concept in a crossover form factor. It's called an SUV, but in Asia the term encompasses both crossovers and ladder-frame truck-based vehicles (if you're talking specifically about the latter, you'd say 4x4 or 4WD). And yes, SUVs are overtaking the market in China too.
TOKYO — Japan's Toyota Motor Corp signaled a shift in its climate change stance on Monday, saying it would review its lobbying and be more transparent on what steps it is taking as it faces increased activist and investor pressure.
The carmaker came under scrutiny after siding with the Trump administration in 2019 in a bid to bar the state of California from setting its own fuel efficiency rules.
Mitsubishi has resurrected the Airtrek name for a new SUV that should be in showrooms by the end of this year. The Airtrek badge was previously used in the early 2000s on the first generation of an SUV that would morph into the Outlander, the car that pioneered the idea of a plug-in SUV.
The 2021 Nissan Leaf is one of the longest-running electric car nameplates on the market, which partly explains why it's the bestselling electric car in the world. As for why you might be interested in one now, much of its appeal is its wide range of trims and, well, ranges. Its more affordable base models have a less-powerful motor and will go about 150 miles on a charge. But if you need to travel longer distances, or would appreciate some extra peace of mind, the available Leaf Plus can go 226 miles. Either way, you get a rather spacious hatchback with a comfortable ride and refined powertrain. All of these features make it well worth considering against similar offerings such as the Chevy Bolt EV, Hyundai Kona Electric, Kia Niro EV and entry-level Tesla Model 3.
For 2021, the Nissan Leaf is unchanged. But it's worth noting that last year Nissan added more equipment to more of the range. All models received front and rear automatic emergency braking, rear-cross traffic alert, blind-spot monitoring, automatic high-beam headlights and lane-keep assist. Other safety features added include knee airbags and seat-mounted rear side airbags. The base trim levels also picked up a standard 8-inch infotainment screen and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
