TheCarConnection

J.D. Power Ranks Most Reliable Vehicles

Who makes the most reliable cars on the road? And whose products are likely to leave you stranded on the side of the road? The results are in from J.D. Power’s latest Vehicle Dependability Study, and Paul Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has the story.

Alfa-Romeo readies its U.S. return with the exotic 8C

After a more than decade-long absence, Alfa-Romeo is ready to make its return. The Italian automaker has pulled the wraps off its 8C Competizione, TheCarConnection.com reports, the limited-edition coupe that will herald the brand’s U.S. revival. Paul Eisenstein has the complete story.

Gibbs Aquada: Whatever floats your amphibious boat

Whatever floats your boat…or in the case of Gibbs Technologies, whatever floats your amphibious automobile. After some earlier setbacks, the company is getting ready to build its Aquada, a three-seat combination boat and sports car. Through two spin-off companies, the partners plan to launch a land/sea combination of all-terrain vehicle and personal water craft, dubbed the Quadski, as well as an amphibious military vehicle. Paul Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has the story.

Big suprises in auto industry quality report card

Quality matters. You either have it or you don’t, and there are some big surprises in the latest J.D. Power Initial Quality Study. Honda, Ford and Mercedes-Benz are up — big. Toyota, Lexus and Hyundai are down. Find out more in this report from TheCarConnection.com.

Trouble at Toyota?

With the spotlight on it, giant Toyota exposes a series of nagging problems, including quality snags, recalls, rising incentives and cost overruns. Aberrations or signs of things to come? Paul Eisenstein, publisher of TheCarConnection.com takes a closer look.

Letters to the Editor - May 17, 2007

PODCAST: Letters to the Editor – May 17, 2007 Obama’s misstep, Volt or Blue Devil, and a TCC oddfellow. What’s going on in Detroit on fuel economy? What’s the best General Motors publicity campaign on wheels? And why are the French suddenly our favorite people in the world again? Listen up to the latest podcast of TheCarConnection.com’s letters to the editor, where this week, we’ll talk about the Obama machine’s misstep on fuel economy, the rise in gas prices and what America should be doing about them, and whether Chevrolet’s Volt or the Blue Devil corvette is the GM halo car. Our readers will tell us why the editor’s a “dysfunctional Bushie,” why we all need to “stop panicking,” and lastly, why we all need to “get off our Viagra and Cialis” and stop driving while drunk—that’s courtesy TCC’s newest and certainly oddest reader.

Motorists Rave for GM’s Minicar “Triplets”

GM executives may be stunned, but it’s no surprise to anyone else that the automaker has scored a big hit with the three minicars it unveiled at the New York Auto Show, last month, the Chevrolet Beat, Groove and Trax. So, will the automaker actually get it right this time and, with fuel prices soaring, give the go to put one or more of the “triplets” into production?

Conspiracy at the Pump?

It doesn’t take an Oliver Stone to question whether there’s a conspiracy to keep nudging gasoline prices higher and higher. We’re made as hell, but we’re likely to keep taking it, too, as the petro-giants keep testing the limit’s of the American market’s elasticity. Paul A. Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has this report.

Letters to the Editor - April 29, 2007

Global warming, Chrysler’s chronicles, and the cosmic implications of our editor’s writing - it’s all on the table this week as TheCarConnection.com sifts through its mailbox and answers your questions on the big car news of the day.

Shaking Things Up at the Shanghai Motor Show

Forget the Mao suits and rickshaws. If you want to see some of the sexiest couture draped over the latest cars and concept vehicles, head to China. Paul Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, was on hand for the press preview at this year’s Shanghai Motor Show, and files this report on the debut of some hot new products, including the BMW CS, Audi Cross Coupe quattro, Mazda2 and Buick Riviera Concept — as well as some breakthrough offerings from Chinese makers.

Gaywheels on XM

gaywheels talks about gay cars on XM.

PODCAST: Letters to the Editor

Saving Buick, Ford flexes at the auto show, and Imus feedback.

Can Buick be saved? If Ford ready to Flex more muscles through a hip-hop DJ? Was Don Imus fired for good reason? And where the hell is Knight Rider’s KITT car? TheCarConnection.com takes its letters to the airwaves this week with a podcast of letters sent in by our readers. Listen in as editor Marty Padgett and fellow TCCer Mollie Platt cover ground with Buick’s Chinese Riviera and Park Avenue, a scoop on the Funked-up version of the Flex, why gay cars and Don Imus titillate our readers—and how KITT can be yours for about $149,000, blinking red light included.

Hyundai Rewrites Genesis

In the beginning, there was BMW and Mercedes. And then came Lexus. Now Hyundai is about to weigh in with its Concept Genesis luxury car. Hyundai? Aren’t those the guys who make cheap and cheerful little econoboxes? Once upon a time, maybe, but now Hyundai is moving up-market and is eyeing the luxury segment with this soon-to-be-in-production sedan that will cost barely half as much as its European and Japanese competition. Find out more in this report from Paul A. Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com.

GM Makes Trax - and Groove, Beat - for New York

Small cars are “the fastest-growing segment of the automotive market,” notes Dave Lyons, who heads Asian design operations for General Motors. On a global scale, minicars now account for about 5 percent of total sales, but by some estimates, Lyons notes, that could triple over the next decade. So it’s no surprise that General Motors has chosen to unveil three promising minicar concepts at this year’s New York International Auto Show, prototypes primarily developed at the former Daewoo operations, in Inchon, South Korea, but with the assistance of GM designers and engineers from around the world. Hear more about the Trax, Groove and Beat with publisher Paul A. Eisenstein.

Commuter Lane Access Worth Thousands on Used Prius

Those little “Access OK” stickers you see on some Toyota Priuses, out in California, could be worth $4,000 or more when an owner goes to trade in, a new study reports. That’s because commuters are willing to spend thousands extra to get instand access to the HOV commuter lanes that can save them an hour a day in driving time. Paul A. Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has this report.

New Honda Plant: Another Nail in Detroit’s Coffin?

Be careful what you ask for. As the newest Honda assembly plant shows, Detroit’s Big Three probably shouldn’t have pushed the Japanese automakers to set up production in the U.S. Is the $550 million Honda plant, in Greensburg, Indiana, another nail in Detroit’s coffin? Paul Eisenstein, Publisher of TheCarConnection.com, has more.

Automakers Push the Envelope at Geneva Motor Show

It’s one of the year’s most important industry gatherings, with dozens of manufacturers from all over the world coming together to display their latest products at the Geneva Motor Show. And this year is no exception, with products ranging from the new Audi Coupe to the Rolls-Royce Drophead; in all almost four dozen different concept and production vehicles are making their world debut at Geneva’s PALExpo center, and this report from TheCarConnection.com looks at some of the most important, including BMW’s next-generation M3, the striking Opel GTC Concept, Ford’s Mondeo, the Dodge Demon roadster, Toyota’s alternative to the Prius, the Hybrid X, Maserati’s elegant GranTurismo and more.

BRP Can-Am Spyder: Breakthrough or Another Segway?

At first glance, the BRP Can-Am Spyder looks like another motorcycle, but get a bit closer and you’ll notice its unusual, Y-shaped layout, with two wheels up front and one in the rear. That’s mean to enhance stability — and lure in nervous Baby Boomers who’d love to relive their Easy Rider days. Developed by Bombardier, the company that ave us the Ski-doo and Sea-doo, Spyder goes on sale later this year around the world. Will it create a huge new market — or sink like the Segway? Find out in this review from TheCarConnection.com.

Jay Leno’s Ecojet Spotlights Alternative Fuels

Does an environmentally-friendly automobile HAVE to look like the Toyota Prius? Not to Jay Leno. The talk show host and car collector teamed up with General Motors to secretly design and develop the Ecojet supercar. Sure, it’ll deliver Autobahn speeds, but it also runs on bio-diesel, which can be produced with anything from soybeans to used French fry oil. Ecojet puts the spotlight on alternative fuels, like biodiesel and ethanol, as TheCarConnection.com reports.

Crisis at Chrysler

A year ago, it was being hailed as the most successful of America’s Big Three US automakers. Today, however, Chrysler is in crisis, losing market share and losing money, with its German parent, DaimlerChrysler AG, ready to sell the American automaker off. Will General Motors buy it? Hyundai? Perhaps a Chinese automaker? But can Chrysler survive, whomever owns it? Find out some answers from TheCarConnection.com