Here's the Thing

2025 Mercedes CLE 300 4MATIC



Mercedes' newest coupe is silky
smooth and easy on the eyes


By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(September 22, 2024) Perhaps the traditional two-door coupe is nearing the end of its existence. The obsolescence trend of the two-door automobile started when German automakers (I'm talking about BMW, Mercedes and Porsche) started marketing four-door models as coupes. That apocryphal and lukewarm fashion exists alongside an atonement reparation for coupe enthusiasts with the newly minted Mercedes' CLE-Class two-door, an amalgamation of the brand's two-door C- and E-Class that attempts to replace both Coupe lines in one hit.

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


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.

Luftgekühlt 10 celebrates 50-year Porsche Turbo anniversary



(September 20, 2024) As the original Porsche icon, the 911 Turbo has become shorthand for high-performance and cutting edge technology. The cars have graced the bedroom wall of thousands of children around the world who grew up idolizing the signature flared fenders and Whale Tail spoiler. Fifty years later, the 930 model, introduced at the Paris Motor Show on October 3, 1974, not only established the 911 Turbo as a legendary vehicle but inserted its name into the vernacular.

Bentley Blower Jnr — Accurate 85 percent scale model on sale



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



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



(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.

Impact of rising prices reflected in vehicles such as Jeep Wrangler X 4xe



2024 Rubicon X 4xe offers
22 miles all-electric range


By David Boldt
MyCarData

(September 16, 2024) We hear all the time about inflation, even as that inflation perceptibly cools. If you need additional proof of the impact of rising prices look no further than the MSRP of the current Jeep Wrangler, whose history began at the U.S. Army’s development center in the months leading up to World War II.

2024 BMW X5 M Competition — If you have the need for speed


Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(September 15, 2024) Just a guess here, but I’m thinking that few people in the market for a luxury SUV are putting sub 4.0-second zero-to-60 mph times high on their list of desired attributes for their new vehicle. But if you are one who who seeks speed at all costs and have the budget to handle it, the 2024 BMW X5 M Competition just may be your dream vehicle.

Eight more vehicles qualify for IIHS awards


Electrified Genesis GV70

(September 14, 2024) Eight vehicles from five manufacturers earn accolades in the latest batch of ratings issued by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. The 2024 Genesis Electrified GV70, 2025 Genesis GV70, 2025 Honda Civic sedan, 2024 Subaru Solterra and 2025 Toyota Camry earn the higher-tier Top Safety Pick+ award, while the 2025 Honda Civic hatchback, 2025 Mini Countryman and 2024 Subaru WRX earn the lower-tier Top Safety Pick.

Gas prices are in a free fall



(September 13, 2024) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average for a gallon of gas kept up its torrid pace of decline, sinking six cents since last week to $3.24. The primary culprits behind the dip are low demand and falling oil costs.