by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 3, 2015
What if you launch a revolution and nobody comes? Nothing short of automotive insurgency was what Daimler-Benz and its partner, Swiss watch company Swatch, had in mind when they originally conceived the idea of Smart in 1994. Their goal was to launch a small car brand...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 3, 2015
For embattled Japanese supplier Takata, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has both good news and bad. U.S. safety regulators earlier this week announced that the recall linked to potentially deadly frontal airbags will be smaller than originally...
by Michael Strong | Sep 3, 2015
Any time Elon Musk starts tweeting, Tesla aficionados scramble to see if there’s news or even hints about what’s to come and in a recent string of tweets, he didn’t disappoint. Musk, the company’s founder, took to social media to talk about both of the...
by Joseph Szczesny | Sep 3, 2015
With the Labor Day holiday looming, the price of oil continues to bounce around on global markets. However, the price of gasoline continued to drop across the country and most drivers should find themselves paying the lowest Labor Day weekend gas prices since 2004....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 2, 2015
The rock and gravel path seems to vanish as we approach the edge of the cliff. But we’re determined not to give up. So, tapping a few buttons on the center console , we press on – and over, the big SUV maintaining complete control all the way down. A moment later, we...
by Michael Strong | Sep 2, 2015
Lost in all the fanfare surrounding Consumer Reports awarding a perfect score to the Tesla Model S in its recent listing of best vehicles is the fact that there is a bottom of the list and the cellar dwellers may be surprising. The four worst vehicles for 2015 are:...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 2, 2015
After a long debate that put thousands of jobs at risk, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has decided to retain production of the next-generation Jeep Wrangler in Toledo, Ohio. And CEO Sergio Marchionne confirmed that the maker will add a long-rumored, Wrangler-based pickup...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 2, 2015
Federal regulators have sharply reduced the number of U.S. vehicles that will be covered by the recall of potentially deadly Takata airbags – but the total is still expected to be more than 19 million. The Japanese supplier has been linked to a defect that can cause...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 2, 2015
“Keep your eyes on the road, your hands upon the wheel,” Doors frontman Jim Morrison sang in Roadhouse Blues. But that traditionally healthy line of advice soon may no longer be necessary. With the debut of the 2016 BMW 750i, motorists will be able to take their hands...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 2, 2015
After offering up a few teaser images, Mercedes-Benz is finally revealing the new ragtop version of the big S-Class, the fourth variant of its flagship line set to make its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in barely two weeks’ time. The launch of the 2016 S-Class...
by Joseph Szczesny | Sep 1, 2015
Despite Wall Street’s shake-up, China’s sliding economy – and a fluke of the calendar – the U.S. auto industry did a bit better than anticipated in August, with far less of a downturn than some had predicted and a number of manufacturers managing to eke out strong...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Sep 1, 2015
Fiat will bring an old name back to life next year when it launches an all-new version of its once-popular 124 Spider. But it has gotten a helping hand from an unusual ally. The little two-seater will share platforms with the recently redesigned Mazda Miata, and both...
