2001

Over the past several years, around the U.S., Kia has really started hitting its stride. And while simply getting into any of its new vehicles—like the redesigned 2011 Kia Optima—will point out that it's no longer strictly a compromised, bargain-basement brand, nowhere is this more...Read More»

One of Suzuki's most intriguing new models—the all-new Swift hatchback—isn't arriving to U.S. dealerships this year after all. According to Automotive News, citing American Suzuki's head of product development and business Steve Younan, the product plans for the Swift were put on hold...Read More»

Toyota has announced that it will provide an extended warranty on 2001-2003 model-year Toyota RAV4 models, according to the New York Times Wheels Blog, for an issue with the automatic transmission and electronic control module. The issue, which affects around 235,500 vehicles, can lead to a...Read More»

The Ford Mustang is one of a handful of cars rightfully called icons. Since its first spin on a car-show turntable at the World's Fair in 1964, it's been the auto industry's standard measure of overnight success. And for at least some of its wild youth, it was the cautionary tale of what happens...Read More»

The next-generation version of the Suzuki Swift, due out next year, isn't quite a sure thing for the U.S. market; but we've been told it's been engineered this time with federal regulations in mind. If the 2011 Suzuki Swift does come to these shores, it would take on the growing segment of sporty...Read More»

On Friday, the Center for Auto Safety petitioned NHTSA to initiate a defect investigation that could potentially cover hundreds of thousands of Jeep Grand Cherokee SUVs from model years 1993 through 2004. According to the group, on these older Grand Cherokee models, the plastic fuel tank actually...Read More»

Suzuki’s lineup in the U.S. is looking a little thin now that its partnership with Daewoo is well and truly over, however, the Japanese automaker is planning a raft of new models in coming years, starting with the recently revealed 2010 SX4 SportBack set for launch later this year. In the next...Read More»

If you own a Honda Accord—and there are plenty of you out there, it being a longtime mid-size sedan favorite—there’s a small chance that your airbag might detonate with an unpleasant bonus: some shrapnel. In some isolated incidents in specific Hondas and Acuras made earlier this decade...Read More»

Record-breaking couple John and Helen Taylor just added a new Guinness world fuel economy record to their impressive list of 36. Their new record is for average fuel economy while driving across the 48 contiguous United States, which they achieved by averaging 58.8 mpg in an '09 Volkswagen Jetta...Read More»

Making even its recent V-6, aluminum block diesel (E320 BlueTEC, ML 320 BlueTEC, GL320 BlueTEC, and R320 BlueTEC) a thing of the past, Mercedes-Benz is set to rattle the diesel world with its new generation of oil burners this fall. The first engine in the family to be released is a four-cylinder...Read More»

Piggybacking the announcement of its Gen VI Golf (Rabbit here in the states), VW installed its 1.6-liter common-rail diesel into a version of that vehicle to achieve 74.3 mpg on the European cycle (that equates to roughly 62 mpg in U.S. terms). A bit smaller than the 2.0 TDI in its newest U.S...Read More»

Australians John and Helen Taylor are one frugal couple. In 2006, they set a Guinness World Record by driving around the world using 24 tanks of fuel in a Volkswagen Golf. They hope to best the current U.S. cross-country miles-per-gallon record on a drive across America with one of VW's newly...Read More»

Ralph Gilles, the stylist credited with the blingy Chrysler 300 sedan, is the company's new head of design. Gilles replaces Trevor Creed, a 23-year veteran of Chrysler design, who's retiring effective August 31. "Trevor has led a distinguished automotive design career," said Chrysler LLC Chairman...Read More»

Last week we told you the Volkswagen Jetta diesels were eligible for a federal tax credit because they get such good fuel-economy ratings. This morning it's Mercedes-Benz that has good green news to share, as its diesel lineup is also eligible for similar credits. The VW and Benz vehicles...Read More»

The 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI comes standard with a lot of things--among them, a $1,300 tax credit that pays financial homage to its high fuel economy. Volkswagen says the new TDI models, Jetta and SportWagen, are both eligible for the IRS' Advanced Lean Burn Technology Motor Vehicle income tax...Read More»

We won't do a full test drive of the new 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI CleanDiesel until mid-September. But how to deal with the diesel itch? How about driving one at a showroom, where testers are available like the"free" bottles of cologne over at Macy's? VW has a monumental task ahead of it...Read More»

Last week when GM vice chairman Bob Lutz spoke with TheCarConnection.com about the Saturn Aura, he explained that the plan had been to "short-cycle" the current Aura and bring this new Opel Insignia to the States as a Saturn. Now with Saturn being re-evaluated--could it be all small cars once...Read More»

Your diesel love will come cheap from Volkswagen, according to a press release today from cosmopolitan Herndon, Virginia. Volkswagen of America says the new diesel versions of the Jetta sedan and Sportwagen will be priced in the low to mid-$20,000 range. The Jetta's new diesel engine is a 2.0-liter...Read More»