July 2020

First Aston Martin DB5 in more than 50 years rolls off assembly line

(July 6, 2020)NEWPORT PAGNELL, UK — Many of the UK’s most talented craftspeople and engineers put the finishing touches to the first in a new but very familiar series of Aston Martin sports cars, as the first customer car in the DB5 Goldfinger Continuation program left the production line last week.

The Job 1 DB5 represents not only another significant design and engineering success, but also becomes the first new DB5 to be built by Aston Martin in more than half a century as the British luxury sports car maker’s Continuation program once again makes history.

Toyota RAV4 Prime will be quickest, most fuel efficient RAV4 ever

(July 5, 2020) PLANO, Texas — The 2021 Toyota RAV4 Prime will break ground as the most powerful and quickest RAV4 ever, hitting dealerships this summer with a starting price of $39,220 including a $1,120 destination charge. The RAV4’s first-ever plug-in model has up to 302 horsepower with an ability to do 0-60 mph in a projected 5.7 seconds, which makes it the quickest four-door model in the Toyota lineup.

Cat out of hell — 2021 Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat

(July 4, 2020) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — A  SUV for muscle car people with families, the Dodge Durango joins the Challenger and Charger in SRT Hellcat form as the most powerful SUV ever. Powered by the proven supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat V-8 engine delivering 710 horsepower and 645 lb.-ft. of torque, the Durango SRT Hellcat runs 0-60 miles per hour in 3.5 seconds, has a National Hot Rod Association (NHRA) –certified quarter-mile elapsed time of 11.5, a top speed of 180 mph and runs 1.5 seconds faster than the SRT 392 on a 2.1-mile road course, equal to nine car lengths after one lap.

The ultimate beach cruiser — 1974 Volkswagen Acapulco Thing

(July 3, 2020) The Volkswagen Type 181 — commonly referred to as “The Thing”— has always been a fun summer classic for drivers who enjoy a cool and wildly original type of ride. The removable doors, retractable soft top and folding windshield provided a driving experience unlike any other Volkswagen. The 181 has also spawned one of the more unusual models ever to wear the Volkswagen badge — the Acapulco Thing.  

Four-door muscle — 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye — 797 HP

(July 3, 2020) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — Dodge, America’s performance brand, continues to push the limits of the world’s only four-door muscle car, introducing the new 797-horsepower 2021 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye — the most powerful sedan and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world. To put that nearly 800 horsepower to the pavement, the new Charger SRT Hellcat Redeye boasts a Widebody exterior with integrated fender flares that add 3.5 inches of body width.

I’ll have to check with my manager…

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DRIVER'S SIDE DIATRIBE
By Al Vinikour 

Let’s say you’ve packed the family into the old truckster and you’re headed down to a car dealer to buy a new vehicle. What should be a happy adventure generally ends up requiring tranquilizers and/or adult beverages. Granted, most of those occurrences – though far from urban legend – are things of the past…mostly because the economy and the customer has demanded it. But for those of us who are a certain age the memories are loud and clear.

Volkswagen Tiguan crossover gets a comprehensive update

(July 3, 2020) HERNDON, Va.  — In 2019, the Tiguan was the most successful model for both the Volkswagen brand and Volkswagen Group, with more than 910,000 units produced. Over its lifetime, more than six million have been produced, and the stage is set for Tiguan to receive a comprehensive update, including new interior and exterior styling, and innovative driver-assistance and comfort features.

A used up Chevy Blazer



The remains of this early 1990s Chevy Blazer S-10 two-door apparently served as a parts car and has been reduced to a skeleton ready for the scrapyard. The Blazer S-10 came with two versions of the 4.3-liter V-6, the base engine making 170 horsepower and an high-output engine making 200 horsepower, neither of which has survived in this wreckage.
(Photo by Jim Meachen)