November 2018

Watching the passing Route 66 parade



This post-World War II Chevrolet wrecker watches the passing parade on old Route 66 in Carterville, Mo. First available in June 1947, the "Advanced Design" trucks were sold with various minor changes over the years until March 1955.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)

New Hyundai Palisade SUV offers seating for up to eight people

(November 30, 2018) LOS ANGELES — Hyundai this week introduced its new flagship premium three-row Palisade SUV at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2020 Palisade rides on an all-new SUV chassis with exceptional second- and third-row roominess coupled with generous cargo area and reconfiguration flexibility. The Palisade will be produced in Ulsan, Korea, and will be available at dealerships across the U.S. this summer.

Nissan reveals refreshed 2019 Maxima and Murano in Los Angeles

(November 30, 2018) LOS ANGELES – Sixty years ago this month, Nissan had the first public showing of its vehicles in the U.S. at the 1958 Los Angeles Auto Show. Little did the company know that the simple display of three cars and a tiny truck would six decades later lead to Nissan becoming a major player in the U.S. market with 22,000 employees and annual sales of 1.5 million vehicles.

Long-awaited Jeep Gladiator pickup arrives

(November 30, 2018) LOS ANGELES — The all-new 2020 Jeep Gladiator builds on a rich heritage of tough, dependable Jeep trucks with an unmatched combination of rugged utility, authentic Jeep design, open-air freedom, clever functionality and versatility, best-in-class towing and 4x4 payload, advanced fuel-efficient powertrains, superior on- and off-road dynamics and a host of innovative safety and advanced technology features.

All-new Kia Niro EV crossover utility makes North American debut

(November 29, 2018) LOS ANGELES — The new Kia Niro EV opens a world of new possibilities for consumers who love crossover characteristics but also want all the benefits electric vehicles have to offer. Not only can they have all the functionality of a traditional crossover, but they can have it while driving past filling stations.

Energy and power for Niro EV comes from a state-of-the-art, liquid-cooled 64kWh lithium ion polymer battery that is packaged under the floor of the vehicle to allow for minimal passenger space intrusion.

280-horsepower 2019 Honda Passport SUV makes world debut

(November 29, 2018) LOS ANGELES — The all-new 2019 Honda Passport 5-passenger V6-powered SUV made its world debut this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. Going on sale early next year, Passport provides a unique combination of on-road driving refinement and off-road adventure capability along with best-in-class interior space. The all-new Honda Passport will slot between the compact CR-V and three-row Pilot in Honda's SUV lineup.

Kia shows its redesigned 2020 Soul in L.A.

(November 29, 2018) LOS ANGELES — Kia has introduced the 2020 Soul, a completely new yet familiar version of Kia’s beloved and award-winning urban runabout. Taking everything that helped popularize the quirky, unconventionally styled subcompact, Kia Motors poured more of its soul into nearly every inch of the vehicle, resulting in a third-generation that continues to transcend style, peppy performance, new technology, and urban practicality.

Mazda reveals redesigned next-generation Mazda3

(November 29, 2018) HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda unveiled the all-new Mazda3 this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The fully redesigned model will be rolled out to global markets starting from North America in early 2019.

The all-new Mazda3 adopts a matured Kodo design language that attempts to embody the essence of Japanese aesthetics. While the overall form presents a simple, single motion, subtle undulations bring the design to life through shifting light and reflections that glide over the body surface.

All-new Toyota Corolla Hybrid expected to get at least 50 mpg

(November 29, 2018) LOS ANGELES — With its bumper-to-bumper, wheels-to-roof transformation, the 2020 Toyota Corolla was already big news in sedans for 2019. And now comes the ultimate “But wait, there’s more!” bonus: a new hybrid model that achieves at least 50 mpg combined fuel economy (projected). That makes the 2020 Corolla Hybrid the most fuel-efficient model to ever wear the model name that debuted more than a half-century ago.