News archive

July 2016

Bay watching the 2016 Mazda CX-9

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By Russ Heaps
Clanging Bell

(July 12, 2016) SAN FRANCISCO — I'm not the kind of guy who looks a gift horse in the mouth. (For you children out there, the term “looking a gift horse in the mouth” came from a time when horse buying and trading was as common among the public as the commerce in used cars is today. One element of the process for the potential horse buyer was to attempt to gauge the steed's health by inspecting its teeth and gums. Back then, it was considered bad form, when given a horse as a gift, to check its mouth.)

Monterey auction in August to feature array of supercars

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(July 11, 2016) WALWORTH, Wis. —The Mecum daytime auction in Monterey on Aug. 18-20 will be headlined by a spectacular array of supercars and sports cars from makers such as Ferrari, Porsche, Lamborghini, McLaren, Ford, Bugatti and Aston Martin. Classics from such renowned automotive marques as Duesenberg, Packard and Peugeot will also highlight the sale, while a select array of superbly turned out racing cars will be sprinkled throughout.

Mazda3 Grand Touring — A very competitive entry in compact segment

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By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(July 10, 2016) The first thing that comes to mind after sitting down to write this is that, if you’ve driven one Mazda, you’ve pretty much driven them all. The same could be said of any modern BMW, Audi, Mercedes or, for that matter, VW or Ford. All come from companies that have a pretty good idea of what they stand for, and how that translates into ride, handling, steering feel, etc.

Out of the past — McCormick-Deering

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The McCormick-Deering was a tractor built by the International Harvester Company from the mid-20s until the Deering name was dropped some time in 1948 or 1949 when the tractor became the McCormick. This tractor, probably from the '40s, was found in retirement in Hosmer, S.D., next to a vintage gas pump and travel trailer. (Photos by Jim Meachen)

Day 16 on Route 66 — We made it!

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman
MotorwayAmerica

(July 9, 2016) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — We headed down Santa Monica Boulevard Friday morning, took a slight jog and then drove onto the famous Santa Monica pier. Our 2,400-mile Route 66 trip was a success. We reached our destination on July 8 after starting in downtown Chicago on Thursday, June 23. A monumental drive that duplicated those of millions of motorists from 1927 until the early '70s.

Nissan debuts refreshed 2017 Pathfinder; horsepower upped by 24

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(July 8, 2016) DALLAS — Pathfinder, one of Nissan's best known and most popular nameplates in its nearly 60-year history in the United States, has been "reborn" for the 2017 model year with more adventure capability, a freshened exterior look and enhanced offering of safety and technology features.

Day 15 on Route 66 — Rolling into Pasadena after museum visit

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By Jim Meachen and Ted Biederman
MotorwayAmerica

(July 8, 2016) As we drove the crowded streets into Pasadena on Colorado Boulevard down old Route 66 we couldn't help but think this is the same route the famed Rose Bowl parade takes every year. The Rose parade has survived for more than a century, but Route 66 has been deceased for many years, even as nostalgia for the Mother Road has grown sharply as more people make it a summer "destination."

Jaguar Land Rover opens Special Vehicle Operations technical center

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(July 7, 2016) COVENTRY, England — Jaguar Land Rover Special Vehicle Operations (SVO) this week officially opened its new Technical Center in the heart of the British Midlands. The innovative new £20m ($26 million) facility near Coventry will be the headquarters of SVO and will house manufacturing, paint, technical and customer commissioning and presentation zones inside the 20,000 square meter (64,000 square foot) facility.

GM sets June and first-half sales record in China — 1.8 million vehicles sold

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(July 7, 2016) SHANGHAI — General Motors and its joint ventures had record June deliveries in China of 273,563 units, which was up 11.2 percent on an annual basis. The Buick, Cadillac and Baojun brands had their best June ever.

Its strong performance in June enabled GM to set a first half record for deliveries in China. Demand was up 5.3 percent from the first six months of 2015 to 1,810,476 units.

Ford's first half sales in China up 6 percent

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(July 7, 2016) Ford continued its strong performance in China with vehicle sales in the first half for Ford, Lincoln and its joint ventures reaching 577,097 vehicles, a 6 percent increase compared to the same time last year.

Vehicle sales for Ford and its joint ventures in the first half were up 5 percent over last year to 564,647, with June accounting for 85,105 units sold. June results were 3 percent higher than June 2015.