Top Story

Gas price decline slows, but it likely won’t stop

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AAA photo

AAA reports 14 states now
show average price below $3

(September 20, 2024) WASHINGTON, D.C. —The national average for a gallon of gas dipped a mere two cents since last week to $3.22. Gas prices had been falling by more than twice as much recently, but the arrival of Hurricane Francine to the Gulf Coast created some temporary issues for nearby oil production and refining.

First Drive

2024 Mercedes CLE 450

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INDIANAPOLIS — Mercedes-Benz makes its money on crossovers and sedans, but its soul is defined by coupes.  Sharing the basic chassis and powertrains with their more conservative siblings, coupes sit a little lower, slope a little sweeter, and cosset more personally.  If sedans get kids to school and aspiring executives to work, then coupes encourage a little more fun.  And, so it is with the 2024 Mercedes-Benz CLE 450 4MATIC Coupe.

2025 Subaru Forester

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PHOENIX — It's true, the Subaru brand has a cult-like following with legendary standard all-wheel drive, a reputation for steadfast reliability and excellent resale values. Competing in the largest and most competitive compact-crossover class with varsity and best selling brands like Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V, the Forester, Subaru's middle child being larger than the Crosstrek and smaller than the Outback, is now in its 27th year and just completed a thorough refreshing for the 2025 model year. 

2024 Ford F-150 Tremor

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INDIANAPOLIS — Last year, I drove the Ford Maverick Tremor and thought it was very cool with its gold accents, black wheels, and enhanced off-road capability.  But, let’s be honest, the Maverick is essentially a compact crossover with a bed that’s better suited to light lawn duty than heavy hauling.  For that, we step up to the 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor that’s just as stylish, but far more capable.

Vehicle of the Week

2024 Lincoln Nautilus — Blinding you with tech

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MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica.com

(September 15, 2024) Lincoln's goal is to wow you with tech — enter the new world of the 2024 Nautilus mid-sized two-row luxury SUV and you are sure to have a jaw dropping experience. Meet the new wrap-around 48-inch display screen that can be loaded up with information to suit any driver. The four-foot screen sits just under the windshield and doubles as a head-up display that can be programmed to include GPS navigation, today's weather information, SiriusXM display, miles driven — and, oh yeah, a digital speedometer. And add other features to suit your taste.

Here's the Thing

Bentley Blower Jnr — Accurate 85 percent scale model on sale

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By David Boldt
MyCarData

(September 18, 2024) As you know, replication of time-honored automotive shapes is a "thing," and has been popular (and litigious) for almost as long as there have been shapes to replicate. Carroll Shelby’s Cobra is — in all likelihood — the most popular in the 60-some years since its birth. And if I were to win the Big One, around $250K of those winnings would go to the Bugatti Type 35 recreation built by Pur Sang in Argentina.

Drivers quickly learn to skirt limits set by partial automation systems

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New IIHS research finds drivers
distracted using partial automation

(September 18, 2024) Drivers are more likely to multitask when using partial automation, and some manage to do so even while playing by the rules of the systems’ attention requirements, new research from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

Prius Sets Guinness World Record for best MPG on coast-to-coast drive

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(September 16, 2024) PLANO, Texas — The Toyota Prius continues to impress and has recently achieved a new high bar for efficiency. Hypermiler, Wayne Gerdes has been awarded the Guinness World Record title for lowest fuel consumption driving across the U.S. from the west coast to east coast. Earlier this summer, Gerdes drove from Los Angeles City Hall all the way to New York City Hall in a Prius LE and achieved a staggering fuel economy average for the entire trip of 93.158 MPG combined. This smashed the previous record which was in the mid-70s MPG combined.

More "Here's The Thing" Inside

Inside the Industry

BMW and Redwood team up to recycle lithium-ion batteries

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(September 20, 2024) BMW of North America and Redwood Materials have announced a partnership to recycle lithium-ion batteries from all electric, plug-in hybrid-electric, and mild hybrid BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce, and BMW Motorrad vehicles in the U.S. The partnership demonstrates a shared commitment to sustainability, and is the next step towards creating a closed-loop circular value chain for lithium-ion batteries in the U.S.



VW halts production of ID4 electric vehicles over door handle issue

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(September 19, 2024) Volkswagen is issuing a stop-sale on its ID4 electric compact crossover and will halt production in Chattanooga as the brand searches for a remedy to fix faulty door handles, according to Automotive News. The automaker is recalling 98,806 ID4s because of defective door handles that offer insufficient water protection. The glitch can lead to printed circuit board malfunctions if water seeps through and causes an "open command" to the door lock while the vehicle is moving.

Jeep announces 2025 price repositioning for Gladiator midsize pickup

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(September 19, 2024) AUBURN HILLS, Mich. — The industry's only open-air pickup truck, the midsize Jeep Gladiator, is folding back its roof to reveal revised 2025 model-year pricing for the U.S. market, including a repositioned, all-in starting price under $40,000.

More "Inside The Industry" Inside

Abandoned Car of the Week

Chevy work truck in retirement

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This circa 1956 Chevrolet work truck was found in retirement in an Arizona salvage yard. A Chevrolet ad proclaimed "each 1956 Task-Force truck has the distinctive styling that is best suited to its proportions and the work it is designed to do."  (Photo by Jim Prueter)