October 2016

Buick in a barn



The 1963 Buick Skylark and Special was a "compact" car (193 inches long) sharing the same chassis, engines and basic sheet metal with the Pontiac Tempest and Oldsmobile F-85. Engine choices included a 3.2-liter V-6 and a 3.5-liter V-8. Transmission choices were a three on the tree manual, a four-speed floor-shifted manual and a two-speed "Dual Path Turbine Drive" automatic. This copy was found in a barn in eastern North Carolina. (Photo by Jim Meachen)

Mazda sets starting price for MX-5 Miata RF at $32,390

(October 5, 2016) RVINE, Calif. — Coming standard with exotic looks and an engaging driving experience, presale orders for the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF began last week with great fanfare for loyal Mazda customers and this week to the general public with the Launch Edition model.

This week Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announced full pricing for the 2017 MX-5 RF this past weekend at "Miatas at Mazda Raceway," the largest MX-5 owners event in North America. Starting price for the 2017 model will be $32,390 including an $835 destination charge.

Is your favorite car a tractor? Mecum Auctions has got something for you

(October 5, 2016) Mecum Auctions’ Gone Farmin’ will hold its 2016 auction finale with the Iowa Premier at the Mississippi Valley Fair Center in Davenport, Iowa, Nov. 10-12. A collector’s and enthusiast’s dream, the event is set to offer more than 300 tractors, 400 signs and farm relics and 400 vintage toys.

Honda overhauls legendary CBR1000RP SP for 2017

(October 4, 2016) TORRANCE, Calif. — American Honda announced today that the legendary CBR1000RR SP has undergone a major overhaul for the 2017 model year, with a 33-pound weight reduction and 10 horsepower increase resulting in a 14% improvement in power-to-weight ratio.

First introduced overseas in 1992 (and in the U.S. shortly thereafter), Honda's largest CBR has continuously reset expectations of what an open-class sport bike should be, with a holistic "Total Control" design approach that focuses on cornering, acceleration and braking.

Honda touts its manual transmission offerings in the 2017 Civic

(October 4, 2016) Arriving in showrooms starting today, the Honda Civic Sedan and Civic Coupe aim to retain their position as members of the best-selling compact car nameplate in America with the expanded application of manual transmissions for the 2017 model year.

Building on the fun-to-drive character of the 10th-generation Civic lineup, the 2017 Civic offers customers more choice with a 6-speed manual transmission as standard equipment on the turbocharged Civic Sedan and Coupe in EX-T trims. The 2017 Honda Civic starts at  $18,7401 for the sedan and $19,1501 for the coupe.

Audi continues to set sales records in U.S.

(October 4, 2016) While the Volkswagen brand continues to struggle in the wake of the diesel emission scandal, the company's premium Audi brand continues to show sales growth. Sales for September increased 1.6 percent to 17,617 vehicles, the brand’s best sales for the month in its U.S. history, surpassing the previous record of 17,340 vehicles set last year. The Q3, Q7 and A4 led the volume gains.

Mission-ready Chevrolet Colorado ZH2 fuel cell vehicle revealed

(October 4, 2016) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The physically imposing Chevrolet Colorado ZH2, the most extreme off-road-capable fuel-cell-powered electric vehicle ever from General Motors, was revealed Monday at the fall meeting of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA). Standing more than 6½ feet tall and more than seven feet wide, the Colorado ZH2 was built on a stretched midsize pickup chassis. Reinforced inside and out, the ZH2 rides on 37-inch tires and a specially modified suspension that helps the vehicle climb over and descend all manner of terrain.