Top Story

2024 Nissan Kicks SV — Buying what you need

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Photo by David Boldt

By David Boldt
MyCarData

(October 7, 2024) As a panelist on Roosevelt Gist’s AutoNetwork Reports, the webcast-podcast will often address vehicle affordability — or lack thereof. And the consensus among those of us with a seasoned perspective is simple enough: Buy only what you need, given that what you want could represent a monthly payment well north of what — at one time — was your rent check..

First Drive

2025 Volvo S90

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PHOENIX — Just three years ago Volvo announced a goal to build and sell only 100% fully electric vehicles by 2030 while phasing out all of its internal combustion engine models including hybrids. Since that time and just last month — September 2024 — Volvo had a change in plans and announced it was walking back its 100% EV agenda and now pledges a 90 to 100% goal that includes EVs and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs). By 2025, Volvo expects 50 to 60% of sales to be electrified.

2024 Land Rover Evoque

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MIAMI — The 2024 Range Rover Evoque is the “little brother” in the Land Rover fleet and shares its siblings’ off-roading capabilities, but its smaller size, numerous features, and sporty styling make it more appropriate for urban environments. Perhaps there's a clue to what makes the Evoque a bit different.

2025 Ford Explorer ST

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PHOENIX — Having debuted some 35 years ago, Ford's Explorer — the all-time best-selling SUV in America — receives its first major refreshing since 2019 and is now offered in just four trim levels: Active, ST-Line, Premium, and ST, our tested version. Ford discontinued the Base, Limited, King Ranch and Timberline editions for 2025. Top to bottom there is about a $20,000 price variance in trim levels.

Vehicle of the Week

2025 Mazda CX-50 — It doesn't get much better than this

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MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica.com

(October 6, 2024) The Mazda CX-50 entered showrooms more than two years ago as a 2023 model, the first vehicle to come off the  Huntsville, Ala., assembly line at a new manufacturing plant shared with Toyota. Built on a new platform, the CX-50 is aimed at such heavyweights as the Hyundai Tucson, Nissan Rogue and Toyota RAV4. It portrays a more rugged persona than the near-same-size CX-5, a trait that has suddenly become popular inside the industry.

Here's the Thing

One million kilometers later, a 2008 Elantra gets a new start

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Restoration of fourth gen Elantra
tribute to Hyundai's N division

(October 4, 2024) BROSSARD, QC — A 2008 Hyundai Elantra that has covered more than a million kilometers (621,300 miles) was the subject of an exhaustive restoration project, thanks to a partnership between Hyundai Canada and the team from the show Roulez au Suivant.

Pump prices resume falling, but for how long?

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(October 4, 2024) Despite literal and figurative storm clouds here and abroad,  the national average for a gallon of gas still fell by three cents from last week to $3.19. The devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene did little to impact gasoline supply, but it crushed demand in affected areas by destroying infrastructure and causing power outages.

'Unrelenting' auto financing conditions squeeze new-vehicle buyers

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Analysts say uptick in 84-month
auto loans is troubling sign

(October 3, 2024) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Trends apparent from Q3 auto finance data reveal unrelenting financing conditions for new-vehicle buyers, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds.

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Inside the Industry

Hyundai and Waymo enter multi-year strategic partnership

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(October 7, 2024) Hyundai Motor Company and Waymo have announced they have entered into a multi-year, strategic partnership. In the first phase of this partnership, the companies will integrate Waymo’s sixth-generation fully autonomous technology — the Waymo Driver — into Hyundai’s all-electric Ioniq 5 SUV, which will be added to the Waymo One fleet over time.

Sudden brake loss in the 2015-2017 Ford Edge investigated

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(October 7, 2024) The National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) is launching a probe into Ford Edge vehicles after receiving 36 reports of sudden braking loss because of a rear brake hose failure. The recall is expected to affect 368,309 vehicles from the 2015-2017 model years, according to Automotive News.

Bridgestone Winter Driving School to feature Toyota performance cars

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(October 7, 2024) STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Col. — Since 1983, the Bridgestone Winter Driving School has been the longest continually running winter driver education program anywhere in the world. For 2025, the school’s performance education classes are being recast with an exclusive fleet of Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) vehicles — the turbocharged GR Supra, the boxer engine GR86, and the 3-cylinder, turbocharged all-wheel drive GR Corolla.

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Abandoned Car of the Week

Abandoned but not forgotten

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One of the most famous abandoned cars in the U.S. sits along Old Route 66 in the Painted Desert area of Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. The rusted hulk of a 1932 Studebaker depicts the remains of transportation along the old east-west highway in the 30s and 40s. The Studebaker, reportedly donated by Frank and Rhonda Dobell of Holbrook, Ariz., is probably the most photographed abandoned car in the country. (Photo by Ted Biederman)