2008 BMW X6 Review

Cars.com's Mike Hanley takes a look at the BMW X6. It competes with the Infiniti FX and the Mercedes-Benz M-Class.

2008 Land Rover Range Rover Review

Cars.com's Kelsey Mays takes a look at the 2008 Land Rover Range Rover.

2009 Infiniti FX50S Review

RoadFly.com reviews the brand new 2009 Infiniti FX50S filmed in San Diego California.

2008 Saturn Astra Review

The Saturn Astra is the latest example of what happens when a General Motors domestic division goes shopping for new models in the European market.

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution vs 2008 Subaru WRX STi

Cars.com's Joe Wiesenfelder compares the 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and the 2008 Subaru WRX STi.

2008 Lotus Elise SC Review

Edmunds.com reviews the 2008 Lotus Elise SC.

2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS vs HHR SS

Cars.com's Joe Bruzek compares the 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt SS and the HHR SS. They compete with the Dodge Caliber SRT4 and Volkswagen GTI.

2008 Fuel Economy Comparison: Prius vs Jetta vs Focus vs Smart

These days there are a lot of small cars pounding their chests and claiming they get the best gas mileage around. Well, Edmunds.com got tired of the talk and decided to settle the score. Right here, right now!

Edmunds.com picked three cars from our long-term fleet known for squeezing extra miles out of every gallon of gas: the spunky 2008 Smart Fortwo with a 1.0-liter, three-cylinder engine, the thrifty 2008 Ford Focus SES coupe with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and a 2005 Volkswagen Jetta TDI, with its legendary 1.9-liter "TDI" diesel engine. Then we added a heavily favored gasoline-electric hybrid to the mix: a 2008 Toyota Prius.

2009 Pontiac Vibe Review

Cars.com's Mike Hanley takes a look at the 2009 Pontiac Vibe. It competes with the Toyota Matrix and Dodge Caliber.

2008 Lexus IS F Review

Kelley Blue Book reviews the 2008 Lexus IS F.

2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS vs 2008 Nissan Sentra Spec V

Cars.com's Kelsey Mays compares the 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS and the 2008 Nissan Sentra Sentra SE-R Spec V. They compete with the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla.

Zenn Electric Vehicle

Kelley Blue Book takes a look at the Zenn electric vehicle.

2008 Scion xD Review

Kelley Blue Book reviews the 2008 Scion xD.

2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 Review

Look at me. Don't touch. Chase me. That's enough. Good-bye. Like the biggest tease you've ever met, a Lamborghini has stunning lines that irresistibly attract your attention, yet it's expressly designed to run away from just about anyone and anything in a heartbeat.

And so it remains with the 2009 Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4, only more so. Cruise slowly, troll the cityscape, be seen, sneer at the gawkers and pretend you don't love it. This is a car that displays a raging V10 engine under a hatch that's inset with glass, and yet it can get away from the rabble at a top speed of 202 mph.

2008 Saturn Astra Hatchback Review

Cars.com's Mike Hanley walks you through the 2008 Saturn Astra Hatchback.

2008 Nissan Titan Review

Kelley Blue Book reviews the 2008 Nissan Titan.

2009 BMW X6 xDrive 50i Review

RoadFly.com reviews the brand new 2009 BMW X6 xDrive 50i.

2009 Infiniti FX Review

The Infitii FX has some new styling cues, more powerful engines and some new technology to show off for the 2009 model. Nissan Sport Mag's David Muramoto joined Bumper2Bumpertv for a day of driving to see what is really the deal.

2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Review

Kelley Blue Book reviews the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

2008 Hybrid Mileage Challenge

The Cars.com staff takes a series of Hybrid cars around Chicago to test their real-world gas mileage.

2008 Honda S2000 CR Review

Kelley Blue Book reviews the 2008 Honda S2000 CR.

2008 Suzuki SX4 Review

A small wagon with All Wheel Drive, Four wheel disc brakes and interior space for real sized people. Something to seriously consider as fuel prices rise.

Battle of the Bimmers: BMW M3 v BMW 135i v BMW 335i

What's better than a BMW 335i? Maybe another BMW. Edmunds.com puts the 335i up against the 135i and the M3.

Car Maintenance Tips for Summer Driving Conditions

With the weather warm and the sun shining, the open road is begging for travelers to get out and enjoy summer. Now is the perfect time for you to get your tires and vehicle ready for long road trips.

When was the last time you checked the air pressure in your tires? Most people have never checked it, says Larry Wolf, an automotive technology program instructor at WyoTech in Fremont, Calif. He explains that most drivers are not aware of how often they need to be checking their tires. "The need for regular oil changes and annual tune-ups is pretty common knowledge. But consumer knowledge about tire safety unfortunately remains low,” Wolf comments.

The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) found that 29 million drivers believe that tires require no regular maintenance. Wolf stresses that drivers should be checking their tire pressure regularly, approximately once a month. "Driving around on under-inflated tires or worn tires can have serious consequences on your ability to control your car, especially in bad weather," he says. Unfortunately, the RMA also found that only 11 percent of drivers are correctly checking their tire pressure once a month.

"Essentially, under-inflated tires concentrate the weight of the car on the tread under the sidewalls, instead of evenly distributing the car's weight throughout the tire," says Wolf. "What that means is that the sidewall is continuously being squished, and becomes very hot, posing additional risks to the car and driver. Eventually, a tire that is significantly under-inflated can blow out from the stress and heat that builds up”.

Currently, a tire under-inflated by 30 percent is the government's minimum safety standard, under which vehicles are not considered safe to drive.

Over-inflation can be similarly dangerous, according to Steven Fernandez, an automotive technology program instructor at WyoTech. According to Fernandez, over-inflated tires prevent the car from maximizing tread contact with the road.

He suggests that in addition to a monthly check on tire pressure, you also give your tires a monthly 'glance over' to look for other telltale signs of damage. Drivers should look for uneven wear patterns and examine tire sidewalls for cuts or bulging. "Uneven wear patterns could mean you are having alignment problems and may need to realign your steering wheel or replace suspension parts," Fernandez says. "Bulging or cuts in sidewalls are also potentially dangerous, as they could lead to a tire blowout."

You should also be checking the tread depth of your tires each month. "There are a number of easy ways to check tire tread, including inexpensive gauges or even just a ruler," says Fernandez. The legal limit is set at 2/32-inches, but automobile experts universally agree that driving around on anything less than 3/32 inches is unsafe, especially in rainy conditions.

Aquaplaning, or hydroplaning as it is also called, is many drivers' worst nightmare and it is a big concern during summer travel months. It happens when a car loses contact with the road due to pockets of water. Fernandez explains that the chance of hydroplaning is much more likely when tire tread is low. "Tire treads are grooves in the tire that help to disperse water and increase traction on the road. When they wear down, they aren't able to redirect water nearly as effectively." Too often, when drivers find themselves at the mercy of slippery weather conditions, it's because their tires are not up to par.

Summer often means long road trips -- with the whole family, pets and lots of gear loaded into the vehicle. Drivers should always check their tire pressure before long trips with fully loaded vehicles. "A little tire maintenance now can help ensure a safe vacation down the road," says Wolf.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

2009 Mitsubishi Galant Review

Cars.com's Mike Hanley takes you through the 2009 Mitsubishi Galant. It competes with the Hyundai Sonata and Toyota Camry.

2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman Review

Cars.com's Joe Wiesenfelder takes you through the 2008 Mini Cooper S Clubman. It competes with the Volkswagen GTI and MazdaSpeed3.

Ford F-250, F-350 2008 Pick Up Trucks Recall

Ford is recalling 64,754 MY 2008 F-250 and F-350 single rear wheel, 4x4, 156 inch wheel base pick up trucks equipped with a two piece drive shaft for failing to conform to the fuel spillage requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 301, "Fuel system integrity." During a 30 mph frontal impact into a rigid barrier, the fuel tank can move forward and contact a frame cross member, potentially causing damage to the fuel delivery module which can result in fuel spillage. Fuel spillage, in the presence of an ignition source, could result in a fire.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

2008 BMW M3 Review

Cars.com's Dave Thomas takes a look at the 2008 BMW M3.

Happy Birthday Wolfgang Porsche!

Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Shareholder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE, as well as Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, is celebrating his 65th birthday on May 10, 2008. Ferdinand (‘Ferry’) Porsche’s youngest son, who was born in Stuttgart, has been a member of the Supervisory Board of the sports car manufacturer since 1978. He has also been family spokesman since the death of his father Ferry in 1998.

Wolfgang Porsche has always seen it as his primary duty to continue to drive forward the company in the same spirit that his father Ferry and grandfather Ferdinand intended when they founded and built up the firm, in close collaboration with the members of the Porsche and Piëch families. As a result of this fundamental stance, he contributed significantly to the increase in capital that occurred in 1992 to ensure the continued independence of the family-owned company, and has also influenced all further important business decisions. This particularly includes decisions relating to the expansion of the product portfolio to include the Roadster Boxster, the Cayenne sports utility vehicle, and the four-seater Gran Turismo Panamera, as well as the building of the Leipzig plant, and last but not least, the stake of Porsche AG in the Volkswagen Group in 2005.

As Dr. Wendelin Wiedeking, CEO of Porsche SE, notes: “Throughout the past 16 years, Wolfgang Porsche has tirelessly supported us as an approachable and competent advisor, both on everyday questions as well as on the various strategic decisions we have faced to position the company in the best way. This advice has always been open and frank, and he has served as an essential bridge between company and shareholders. In all decisions, the Porsche Managing Board could always count on his integrity and his support, and for this we are extremely thankful”.

Wolfgang Porsche was born on May 10, 1943, the youngest son of Dorothea and Ferry Porsche, the founder of the sports car icon. He spent the first 6 ½ years of his life at the so called ‘Schüttgut’ in Zell am See, Austria, to which his parents and grandparents had retreated during the final years of the war. The family returned to Stuttgart in 1950. At first, Wolfgang went to the Waldorf School in Stuttgart, before moving over to the Odenwald School in Heppenheim. It was here that he obtained his Abitur (higher school-leaving certificate) in 1965, and at the same time abandoned his training as an apprentice locksmith. Following this, he obtained his degree in Business Administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration. He received his doctorate in International Business in 1973.

After completing his studies, Wolfgang Porsche went into business, and became an importer for Yamaha motorbikes in Austria, a trade that he pursued successfully for 27 years. He returned to Stuttgart in 1976, and worked at the then Daimler-Benz AG as a manager in several different areas of domestic and foreign sales. In 1978 he was appointed a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche AG, taking over the position of Chairman in January 2007. He was also appointed Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Automobil Holding SE at its incorporation in June 2007. In addition, he has been a member of the Supervisory Board of Porsche Holding Ges.m.b.H. in Salzburg, the largest Austrian trading company, since 1983. Furthermore, he is Chairman of the Advisory Board of the Swiss watch manufacturer Eterna S.A. in Grenchen, and, since April 24, 2008, a member of the Supervisory Board of Volkswagen AG, Wolfsburg.

On the death of his father Ferry in 1998, he was selected as spokesman by the Porsche family. As such, Wolfgang Porsche considers his main role to be that of an intermediary and consensus-builder between the individual family members to ensure that the shared goal of the independence and financial stability of the Porsche company isnever compromised. His calm, objective style, as well as his wit and humor, are his chief assets. In this regard, Wolfgang Porsche has even described himself as a ‘Swabian Austrian’, for whom level-headedness, reliability and tradition are all important. The father-of-four lives alternately in Munich, Stuttgart, and at the paternal ‘Schüttgut’ in Zell am See, which he has inherited. A keen hunter, he has always maintained his special affinity with the sports car icon that is still ‘made in Zuffenhausen’, both to its past and its present.

Wolfgang Porsche has received numerous honors for his services to business. In 2005 he was awarded the ‘Great Golden Medal for Services to the Republic of Austria’ by the Prime Minister of Austria, the highest award granted by the country of his birth.

Source: porsche.com

Toyota Highlander, Highlander Hybrid 2008 Passenger Vehicles Recall

Toyota is recalling 90,189 MY 2008 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid passenger vehicles equipped with a third row seat. These vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant crash protection." The non-driver designated seating positions (DSP) on these vehicles is equipped with seat belt assemblies that have a feature that converts the retractor from an emergency locking retractor (ELR) to an automatic locking retractor (ALR). The belts convert to the alr mode after the webbing has been fully withdrawn from the retractor. The system is designed so that as the belt is released into the retractor, the system remains in the alr mode so that a child restraint system (CRS) can be tightly secured. However, for the two third row DSP's on these vehicles, the alr mode deactivates before the webbing is fully retracted, so that it will not lock when certain rear-facing CRS's that have a short seat belt routing path are installed in the vehicle. This can allow the seat belt webbing to spool out during normal driving maneuvers, which could affect the stability of a child restraint installed at those seating positions. As such, this could discourage the use of a child restraint and in the event of a crash, the child may not be adequately protected possibly resulting in injury.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

2008 Dodge Dakota Review

Kelley Blue Book reviews the 2008 Dodge Dakota.

Cleaning Tips for Your Car

For most Americans, their car is the second biggest investment they will make in their lifetimes. The average price of a light vehicle is $28,715, according to the Comerica Index. It makes sense to have an annual cleaning ritual to help preserve and maintain your car, just as you undertake regular cleaning to care for your home.

"Aesthetic maintenance is important to preserving a vehicle’s integrity and value,” says Ron Fausnight, Shell Car Care technical expert. “Routine maintenance, including washing and waxing your vehicle, can be viewed as preventative maintenance that helps to preserve a vehicle’s paint from the elements while restoring a polished, new look.”

Tires and wheels are often overlooked when washing a car, but they are two areas that take the most abuse throughout the year. Road grime, salt and brake dust can quickly collect on wheels, and without proper removal, can lead to discoloration of aluminum alloys and corrosion and pitting of steel alloys used. When removing the debris, use a cleaner that is pH-balanced to avoid any potential damage to the composition and finish of wheels. A pH-balanced product such as the Black Magic Titanium Wheel Cleaner is as gentle as soap and water, but contains stronger cleansing and shine agents that are safe to use on all wheel types.

"While all preventative maintenance is important, maintaining a vehicle’s safety features should be an even higher priority,” Fausnight says. “Roadway safety needs a multifaceted car care approach, and taking steps to ensure visibility is important.”

Changing wiper blades at least once a year, combined with using a hydrophobic windshield repellent such as Rain-X Original Treatment, can dramatically clear a driver’s vision. The treatment seals the microscopic pores of glass, causing any precipitation to bead up and roll off the windshield. In fact, in tests conducted by a major university, the increased visibility provided by Rain-X improved driving response time up to a full second or more.

“Regular maintenance for your vehicle does not necessarily only relate to the exterior. With gas prices climbing higher than ever, many people are looking for ways to clean the inside of an engine to maintain a vehicle’s performance and fuel economy,” Fausnight says.

In some cases, cheaper gasoline can be a low-quality fuel that meets the minimum requirement of detergency by the EPA, but may allow deposits of gunk to form in a fuel system. One way to help remove this gunk is by using a fuel additive to clear deposits from fuel injectors, intake valves and combustion chambers.

One such product is the new Shell V-Power Complete Fuel System Cleaner that contains more than three times the required cleansing agents by government standards for premium gasoline. The fuel treatment actively cleans all components of the fuel system restoring optimum performance and fuel economy while also protecting from future deposit build-up. When used regularly, a product like Shell V-Power Complete Fuel System Cleaner can actually reduce carbon monoxide emissions and help the engine run cleaner.

Incorporating these tips into an annual cleaning routine, and performing regular maintenance, are important steps to preventing the deterioration of a vehicle and may help to save money in the long run.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Nissan Armada, Quest, Titan 2008 Vehicles Recall

Nissan is recalling 1,126 MY 2008 Quest, Titan and Armada vehicles equipped with manual adjustment front seats. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 207, "Seating systems." The seat track assembly may have been manufactured out of specification. This may result in the manual seat pawl not fully engaging increasing the risk of personal injuries in the event of a crash.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

Dodge Challenger: Interior Styling

Jeff Gale, the son of famous Chrysler design executive Tom Gale, explains how they took a big step forward on the interior design of the 2009 Dodge Challenger. Chrysler has been roundly criticized on the interior designs of its recent vehicles and on the Challenger it went out of its way to show that it's improving its interiors. Jeff Gale points out the use of different materials on the interior, and how they used certain design elements to tie it all together.

Volkswagen New Beetle, New Beetle Convertible 2003-2005 Vehicles Recall

Volkswagen is recalling 76,900 MY 2004-2005 New Beetle and MY 2003-2005 New Beetle Convertibles equipped with an advanced (dual-stage) air bag system. This system may have air bag frontal crash sensors that contain a solder joint on the circuit board that may crack under certain high temperature conditions. If this occurs, the air bag indicator light will illuminate and the fallback algorithm will ensure that the front air bags always deploy in a frontal crash in which the vehicle's deceleration is high enough to activate the frontal air bags. In low-severity frontal impacts, the front air bags may deploy more forcefully than designed, increasing the possibility of injury to out-of-position front seat occupants.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

Dodge Challenger: Performance

Eric Heuschele is the Supervisor of Vehicle Dynamics for the SRT Engineering group at Chrysler. In this interview, he explains why the 2009 Dodge Challenger handles so well, drawing an interesting analogy to the Porsche 911. He also describes Chrysler’s use of “knock-back mitigation” on the Challenger. It’s a problem common to high-performance cars with big brake rotors, and Chrysler owns the patents on how to cure this problem.

Get Hybrid Fuel Economy without Buying a New Car

Fuel prices show no signs of dropping and hybrid automobiles are often hyped as the answer to improve fuel economy. That fact is, there are simple ways to get better fuel economy from your current car or truck and avoid the expense of buying a hybrid.

Here are a few easy ways to get hybrid-like fuel economy without buying a new car or changing your lifestyle.

* Simply follow the maintenance recommendations in your owner’s manual. An out-of-tune engine can increase fuel consumption by as much as 15 percent. Always follow your car manufacturer’s suggested tune-up schedule.

* Upgrade your motor oil. You can save gas and improve performance by switching to high performance synthetic motor oil. According to independent tests, upgrading to Royal Purple motor oil improved fuel economy by as much as five percent and produced notable increases in horsepower and torque. The company’s Web site, www.royalpurple.com, has a ‘fuel-savings calculator’ that can show you how much money you can save annually by upgrading lubricants.

* Regularly replace your air filter. A clogged air filter can increase fuel consumption by as much as 10 percent. Air filters keep impurities from damaging the interior of the engine, so replacing dirty filters will save gas and protect your engine.

* Keep the tires of your vehicle properly inflated. The U.S. Department of Energy reports that under-inflated tires can increase fuel consumption by up to six percent. One study estimates that 50 to 80 percent of the tires rolling on U.S. roads are under inflated. Astonishingly, we could save up to two billion gallons of gas each year simply by properly inflating our tires.

* Keep your gas cap on. About 17 percent of the vehicles on the road have gas caps that are either damaged, loose or are missing altogether, causing 147 million gallons of gas to vaporize every year according to “Auto Service Operator” magazine. A quick visual inspection of your gas cap every time you fill up is an easy, painless way to make sure your fuel is not vanishing into thin air.

To learn more, visit the following websites:

www.royalpurple.com
Web site of high performance lubricant manufacturer Royal Purple.


www.fueleconomy.gov
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Web site dedicated to issues related to fuel economy.


www.gaspricewatch.com
A Web site that helps consumers find the lowest gas prices in there area.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

BMW X5 2008 Vehicles Recall

BMW is recalling 55 MY 2008 X5 sport utility vehicles for problems with the rear axle stabilizer (anti-sway bar). These vehicles were equipped with a sports-suspension stabilizer rather than a standard suspension stabilizer on the rear axle. In certain driving conditions, such as fast lane changes at high speed, the vehicle could experience an 'over-steer' behavior affecting vehicle handling and control, which could increase the risk of a crash.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

Dodge Challenger: Styling

Jeff Gale is the chief exterior designer for the 2009 Dodge Challenger. In this interview at the media preview for the car at Willow Springs race track in California, he explained to me how they tuned the car for better aerodynamics and how they used a few styling “tricks” to enhance the proportions of the design.

Honda Accord 2003 Vehicles Recall

Honda is recalling an undetermined quantity of MY 2003 Accord vehicles. If water enters the windshield wiper motor breather port, which is designed to allow the motor to vent warm air during normal operation, it can result in corrosion inside the motor housing. This can cause a failure of the electrical circuit breaker inside the motor housing. If the circuit breaker fails, it will cause the windshield wiper motor to become inoperative, which can increase the likelihood of a crash in certain conditions.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

Dodge Challenger: Interview with Director of the Dodge Brand

Mike Acavitti is the Director of the Dodge Brand and SRT Marketing Communications. In this interview, he talks about how the 2009 Dodge Challenger will attract new buyers to the Dodge brand. And he talks about who will buy this kind of car, especially in light of soaring gas prices.

How To Change An Air Filter

WatchMojo.com looks at how to properly remove and replace the air filter in your automobile.

Pontiac Vibe; Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix 2003-2004 Vehicles Recall

Toyota is recalling 662,178 MY 2003-2004 Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Pontiac Vibe vehicles equipped with power windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts may loosen and come off, causing the door glass to separate from the window regulator. Due to the components becoming loose and possibly rattling, an abnormal noise may be heard from the driver and /or front passenger door when operating the power windows. The door glass may separate from the window regulator, bind and shatter during operation of the power windows, causing driver distraction and/or injury.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.

2009 VW Jetta Sportwagen Review

The Jetta line finally has a new wagon to match the sedan. With some new features like a panoramic moonroof it is bringing European style to the American market in a fuel efficient platform.

2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Review

The 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a muscle car, right? An American muscle car. So naturally, the first thing I want to do when I jump behind the wheel is a big American smoky burnout.

Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator 2008 Vehicles Recall

Ford is recalling 158 MY 2008 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and the limo builders package for failing to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 138, "Tire pressure monitoring systems." The tire pressure was increased from 35 PSI to 40 PSI without a commensurate update to the TPMS calibrations. The TPMS indicator light will not illuminate when a tire pressure is is 25% below the 40 PSI value stated on the tire placard label occurs.

For more information, visit the NHTSA web site.