http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips Sat, 28 Nov 2009 21:07:19 -0500 Tips and Advice -- find out how to maintain, service, insure, wash and wax, and change the oil in your car with tips from TheCarConnection.com. Lifestyle/Fashion http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/tcc-feed.jpg http://www.thecarconnection.com/tips http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034805_2010-dodge-caliber-better-interior-fewer-engines-more-mpg http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034805_2010-dodge-caliber-better-interior-fewer-engines-more-mpg Tue, 01 Sep 2009 10:34:00 -0400 For 2010, Chrysler has slimmed down the choices on its Dodge Caliber hatchback and spiffed up the interior, to make the car more competitive with the best of its class. It now offers just two engines and two transmissions, slightly improving the gas mileage. We've never rated the Caliber particularly high among compact cars, due to its ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034719_five-questions-ford-evp-mark-fields http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1034719_five-questions-ford-evp-mark-fields Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:40:00 -0400 Ford is in by far the best shape of the Detroit Three right now. Their sales are up compared to GM and Toyota, and their 2009 Ford Focus and 2009 Ford Escape were two of the top-selling cars bought using Cash-for-Clunkers credits. TheCarConnection.com was lucky enough to attend a Ford social event in New York City last night, part of a ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020855_dog-and-pony-shows-continue-gm-trots-out-new-fuel-saving-tech-for-2016-camaro http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020855_dog-and-pony-shows-continue-gm-trots-out-new-fuel-saving-tech-for-2016-camaro Wed, 20 May 2009 12:40:00 -0400 Because of the new rules regarding EPA fuel economy regulations, it only stands to reason that General Motor's PR department had a press release ready on a new fuel-saving technology to put in front of anybody in Washington, D.C. who would pay attention ... especially those responsible for voting on continuing support for the automaker. Will ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020822_so-what-will-those-42-mpg-cars-actually-look-like-hint-not-golf-carts http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020822_so-what-will-those-42-mpg-cars-actually-look-like-hint-not-golf-carts Tue, 19 May 2009 16:50:00 -0400 No, we won't all be driving golf carts. We won't all have to drive a truncated 2009 Toyota Yaris either. Relax and chill, folks. Let's do a little reality-based projecting on what 2016 might look like. In 2016, the new mileage and emissions rules announced today by the Obama administration require cars to average 42 mpg and trucks to achieve ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020745_engines-will-shrink-for-fuel-efficiency-but-youll-pay-more-for-less http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020745_engines-will-shrink-for-fuel-efficiency-but-youll-pay-more-for-less Fri, 15 May 2009 12:38:00 -0400 It's long been tradition that big cars have big engines. But fuel-economy standards (in the US) and carbon emissions limits (in Europe) mean that even the big cars of tomorrow will have to use far less gasoline than they do today. One way they'll get there is by radically downsizing the engines. Yes, diesel, hybrid, and electric powertrains ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020514_rip-rip-snorting-audi-r8-v12-tdi-diesel http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020514_rip-rip-snorting-audi-r8-v12-tdi-diesel Thu, 07 May 2009 12:16:00 -0400 TDI, we hardly knew ye. Dispensed before birth, now merely a dream of the clean, high-mileage supercar, how should we mourn the death of the Audi R8 V12 TDI diesel--which Audi now says it won't build after all? First revealed at the 2008 Detroit auto show as the Audi R8 TDI Concept, then updated as the 2009 Audi R8 Le Mans Concept at last ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020286_bmw-mercedes-consider-stepping-down http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1020286_bmw-mercedes-consider-stepping-down Mon, 27 Apr 2009 09:43:00 -0400 Given today's economic climate, most companies are thinking about downsizing (some more than others). BMW and Mercedes-Benz aren't immune to that pressure--though they're thinking less about staff and more about powertrains. Here in the U.S., BMW and Mercedes engines are pretty robust things that start with six cylinders and move rapidly up ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019980_subaru-gives-2010-outback-world-premiere-at-nyc-show http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019980_subaru-gives-2010-outback-world-premiere-at-nyc-show Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:17:00 -0400 Subaru's one of the few automakers who enjoyed sales increases for 2008. Today at the New York International Auto Show they introduced their new 2010 Outback, which is based on the completely redesigned 2010 Legacy chassis. It's fitting Subaru chose the U.S. for the 2010 Outback's release; many of the Outback's exceedingly loyal, go-anwhere ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019960_porsche-shows-off-2010-911-gt3-at-new-york-auto-show http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019960_porsche-shows-off-2010-911-gt3-at-new-york-auto-show Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:20:00 -0400 Today at the New York Auto Show, Porsche showed its new 2010 911 GT3 for the second time since its debut at the Geneva Motor Show. The U.K.'s AutoCar calls the GT3 "the hardest ever 911." A bigger flat-six spits out more power, and a host of electronic chassis aids help the driver play hero in this tail-heavy GT. The new 3.8-liter flat ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019878_hugely-changed-2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-debuts-in-nyc http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019878_hugely-changed-2011-jeep-grand-cherokee-debuts-in-nyc Wed, 08 Apr 2009 12:48:00 -0400 Jeep just rolled out the brand new (and we mean brand spanking new) 2011 Grand Cherokee at the New York Auto Show. Based on Mercedes' ML-platform (wow, the old DaimlerChrysler relationship continues to pay dividends), the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee promises massive leaps forward in refinement, quality, interior volume, drivability, and ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019880_2010-gmc-terrain-bows-in-new-york-with-class-leading-mpg http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019880_2010-gmc-terrain-bows-in-new-york-with-class-leading-mpg Sun, 05 Apr 2009 00:16:00 -0400 Today GMC announces the arrival of its new small crossover, the 2010 Terrain, which is debuting this week at the New York Auto Show. Using a platform shared with the 2010 Chevrolet Equinox, the Terrain is set to slot into GMC's lineup as the little brother to the successful Acadia full-size crossover when it goes on sale late this summer. That ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019841_2010-chevrolet-equinox-1800-less-than-2009-model http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019841_2010-chevrolet-equinox-1800-less-than-2009-model Thu, 02 Apr 2009 15:48:00 -0400 In a statement today, Ed Peper of Chevrolet announced that the all-new 2010 Chevrolet Equinox small SUV will retail for $1,800 less than the outgoing 2009 model it replaces. The vehicle will begin at $23,185 when it goes on sale this June. But the new model is far from de-contented; mechanically, it's far superior to the outgoing unit and ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019836_bmw-introduces-x6-m-sports-activity-coupe-in-new-york http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019836_bmw-introduces-x6-m-sports-activity-coupe-in-new-york Thu, 02 Apr 2009 13:03:00 -0400 BMW's M, or Motorsports, division will introduce "the next milestone in its illustrious history," the BMW X6 M, at the New York Auto Show next week. It's an even more aggressive version of the already over-the-top Sports Activity Coupe that's been polarizing opinions in the automotive world. They promise several new engine, drivetrain, and ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019816_driven-2009-volkswagen-cc-vr6-4motion http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019816_driven-2009-volkswagen-cc-vr6-4motion Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:53:00 -0400 We recently had the honor of spending a few days in Volkswagen's second attempt at the luxury sedan market, the 2009 Volkswagen CC. Last time around, the big Audi-based Phaeton proved a sales disaster; VW learned its lesson and built a beauty on top of its tried-and-true Passat platform. This keeps prices within range of The People, while ..]]> http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019813_ford-and-chevy-unite-for-joint-duramax-diesel-project http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1019813_ford-and-chevy-unite-for-joint-duramax-diesel-project Wed, 01 Apr 2009 14:44:00 -0400 Proving that the threat of bankruptcy proceedings makes for the unlikeliest of bedfellows, we found out from folks at PickupTrucks.com that the Blue Oval and the Bow Tie are getting together to make a diesel love-child. Yup, the 4.5-liter Baby Duramax that site Chevrolet Reports recently reported was a victim of GM's critical ailments is going ..]]>