en Latest news, reviews, and more from around the High Gear Media network of sites http://static.thecarconnection.com/website/logo-hgm.gif http://www.thecarconnection.com Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:53:00 -0400 High Gear Media http://www.thecarconnection.com We're now in the second half of our 30 days with the 2013 Audi Allroad, and we've covered a lot of ground already--we've taken the Allroad off-road, connected to the Internet while on the go, performed a gas-mileage run and worked out the cost of ownership. But what about the ultimate version? What does a fully optioned Allroad cost, and what's...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 17:53:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084928_the-ultimate-build-30-days-of-the-2013-audi-allroad http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084928_the-ultimate-build-30-days-of-the-2013-audi-allroad feedback@highgearmedia.com (Joel Feder) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084928_the-ultimate-build-30-days-of-the-2013-audi-allroad#comments Joel Feder We're now in the second half of our 30 days with the 2013 Audi Allroad, and we've covered a lot of ground already--we've taken the Allroad off-road, connected to the Internet while on the go, performed a gas-mileage run and worked out the cost of ownership. But what about the ultimate version? What does a fully optioned Allroad cost, and what's...]]> Yesterday, something unusual happened. In the wee hours of the morning, Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla would conduct a live battery-swap on the Model S this Thursday night (i.e. tomorrow) at 8pm Pacific Time. Why is that unusual? Because a high-profile start-up called Better Place built an entire business around the notion of battery-swapping, and...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:49:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084910_tesla-promises-battery-swapping-for-model-s-because-that-worked-so-well-for-better-place http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084910_tesla-promises-battery-swapping-for-model-s-because-that-worked-so-well-for-better-place feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084910_tesla-promises-battery-swapping-for-model-s-because-that-worked-so-well-for-better-place#comments Richard Read Yesterday, something unusual happened. In the wee hours of the morning, Elon Musk tweeted that Tesla would conduct a live battery-swap on the Model S this Thursday night (i.e. tomorrow) at 8pm Pacific Time. Why is that unusual? Because a high-profile start-up called Better Place built an entire business around the notion of battery-swapping, and...]]> Honda is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2006 model year Acura RSX cars and 2006 and 2007 Honda S2000 sports cars to fix a potential brake defect. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website puts the number of vehicles potentially affected by the recall in the U.S. at 18,352. Affected 2006 Acura...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 11:33:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084921_2006-acura-rsx-2006-2007-honda-s2000-recalled-for-brake-defect http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084921_2006-acura-rsx-2006-2007-honda-s2000-recalled-for-brake-defect feedback@highgearmedia.com (Suzanne Kane) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084921_2006-acura-rsx-2006-2007-honda-s2000-recalled-for-brake-defect#comments Suzanne Kane Honda is conducting a voluntary safety recall of certain 2006 model year Acura RSX cars and 2006 and 2007 Honda S2000 sports cars to fix a potential brake defect. A notice on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) website puts the number of vehicles potentially affected by the recall in the U.S. at 18,352. Affected 2006 Acura...]]> Today at The Car Connection, we made car research and shopping easier with new tools, and Aston Martin revealed the new 2014 Vanquish Volante. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were rated at 18 mpg in the city, and Tesla recalled the Model S electric car. All this and more in today's car news, right here on The Car Connection. Is it...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:56:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084917_2014-buick-lacrosse-priced-2014-aston-martin-vanquish-volante-revealed-car-news-headlines http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084917_2014-buick-lacrosse-priced-2014-aston-martin-vanquish-volante-revealed-car-news-headlines feedback@highgearmedia.com (Joel Feder) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084917_2014-buick-lacrosse-priced-2014-aston-martin-vanquish-volante-revealed-car-news-headlines#comments Joel Feder Today at The Car Connection, we made car research and shopping easier with new tools, and Aston Martin revealed the new 2014 Vanquish Volante. The 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra were rated at 18 mpg in the city, and Tesla recalled the Model S electric car. All this and more in today's car news, right here on The Car Connection. Is it...]]> Suzuki may have left the building, but thousands of its automobiles still litter America's roadways. According to AutoNews, 205,000 of those vehicles are now being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for malfunctioning warning lights. The vehicles in question are the 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and the 2007-2011...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:52:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084914_2006-2011-suzuki-grand-vitara-2007-2011-suzuki-sx4-under-investigation http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084914_2006-2011-suzuki-grand-vitara-2007-2011-suzuki-sx4-under-investigation feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084914_2006-2011-suzuki-grand-vitara-2007-2011-suzuki-sx4-under-investigation#comments Richard Read Suzuki may have left the building, but thousands of its automobiles still litter America's roadways. According to AutoNews, 205,000 of those vehicles are now being investigated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for malfunctioning warning lights. The vehicles in question are the 2006-2011 Suzuki Grand Vitara and the 2007-2011...]]> The Car Connection brings you the latest automotive news and reviews every day, something we've been doing for the past 14 years. We've also developed some of the most user-friendly car-research tools on the Web. Now, they're even a little easier to use. New TCC Rating As we enter peak car-buying season, we've relaunched our reviews section with a...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084900_the-car-connection-makes-car-research-simpler-faster-with-new-tools http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084900_the-car-connection-makes-car-research-simpler-faster-with-new-tools feedback@highgearmedia.com (Joel Feder) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084900_the-car-connection-makes-car-research-simpler-faster-with-new-tools#comments Joel Feder The Car Connection brings you the latest automotive news and reviews every day, something we've been doing for the past 14 years. We've also developed some of the most user-friendly car-research tools on the Web. Now, they're even a little easier to use. New TCC Rating As we enter peak car-buying season, we've relaunched our reviews section with a...]]> 2 Since our first drives of the 2014 GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, we've been waiting for GM to release fuel-economy figures for its excellent new V-6 engine. They're out today, and in some official EPA ratings, they rival Chrysler's Ram 1500 and its high-economy special editions. The 4.3-liter V-6 in both the Silverado and Sierra will be rated at...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:00:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084905_2014-chevy-silverado-gmc-sierra-v-6-gas-mileage-official-at-18-mpg-city http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084905_2014-chevy-silverado-gmc-sierra-v-6-gas-mileage-official-at-18-mpg-city feedback@highgearmedia.com (Marty Padgett) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084905_2014-chevy-silverado-gmc-sierra-v-6-gas-mileage-official-at-18-mpg-city#comments Marty Padgett Since our first drives of the 2014 GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado, we've been waiting for GM to release fuel-economy figures for its excellent new V-6 engine. They're out today, and in some official EPA ratings, they rival Chrysler's Ram 1500 and its high-economy special editions. The 4.3-liter V-6 in both the Silverado and Sierra will be rated at...]]> The Ford Escape, last year, escaped from its boxy SUV-influenced past—becoming a rakish, sporty, more carlike crossover with crisp handling, potent engines, and even a little more passenger space. It carries into 2014 with only a few changes to features, and Ford drops the mid-range SEL trim level. And there's certainly no need for any...]]> Wed, 19 Jun 2013 07:47:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/ford_escape_2014 http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/ford_escape_2014 feedback@highgearmedia.com (Marty Padgett) http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/ford_escape_2014#comments Marty Padgett The Ford Escape, last year, escaped from its boxy SUV-influenced past—becoming a rakish, sporty, more carlike crossover with crisp handling, potent engines, and even a little more passenger space. It carries into 2014 with only a few changes to features, and Ford drops the mid-range SEL trim level. And there's certainly no need for any...]]> The 2014 Buick LaCrosse is ready to start rolling out into showrooms, and those interested can finally start putting down a number on the check they'll have to write. General Motors has announced pricing for the updated machine, and it's set to start at $34,060. That price includes the $925 destination and handling charge as well as a handful of...]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:31:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084893_2014-buick-lacrosse-priced-below-35000 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084893_2014-buick-lacrosse-priced-below-35000 feedback@highgearmedia.com (Jeff Glucker) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084893_2014-buick-lacrosse-priced-below-35000#comments Jeff Glucker The 2014 Buick LaCrosse is ready to start rolling out into showrooms, and those interested can finally start putting down a number on the check they'll have to write. General Motors has announced pricing for the updated machine, and it's set to start at $34,060. That price includes the $925 destination and handling charge as well as a handful of...]]> 1 UPDATE: Chrysler and the NHTSA have just announced a resolution to the proposed Jeep Grand Cherokee recall. Per the release, Chrysler says it will inspect the involved vehicles, and will, "if necessary, provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle to better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts." The scope and cost of that action...]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:18:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084814_jeep-refuses-nhtsa-recall-tumbles-to-four-year-low-with-consumers http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084814_jeep-refuses-nhtsa-recall-tumbles-to-four-year-low-with-consumers feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084814_jeep-refuses-nhtsa-recall-tumbles-to-four-year-low-with-consumers#comments Richard Read UPDATE: Chrysler and the NHTSA have just announced a resolution to the proposed Jeep Grand Cherokee recall. Per the release, Chrysler says it will inspect the involved vehicles, and will, "if necessary, provide an upgrade to the rear structure of the vehicle to better manage crash forces in low-speed impacts." The scope and cost of that action...]]> 10 Hybrid cars can cost thousands of dollars more than their conventional equivalents. The Toyota Camry Hybrid, for example, is priced about $4,000 over its gas-powered twin, and the Ford Fusion Hybrid starts more than $5,000 above the regular Fusion. Are they worth the extra dough? According to a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, the answer...]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:45:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084884_study-hybrid-cars-are-worth-the-extra-cash-for-city-dwellers-anyway http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084884_study-hybrid-cars-are-worth-the-extra-cash-for-city-dwellers-anyway feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084884_study-hybrid-cars-are-worth-the-extra-cash-for-city-dwellers-anyway#comments Richard Read Hybrid cars can cost thousands of dollars more than their conventional equivalents. The Toyota Camry Hybrid, for example, is priced about $4,000 over its gas-powered twin, and the Ford Fusion Hybrid starts more than $5,000 above the regular Fusion. Are they worth the extra dough? According to a new study from Carnegie Mellon University, the answer...]]> 2 Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that, beginning in 2014, all cars sold in the U.S. will be required to have rearview cameras. The goal of NHTSA's new regulation is to reduce the number of deaths caused by backovers -- the kind that often occur when children are playing directly behind parked vehicles. Around...]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:06:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084882_nhtsa-says-if-youre-waiting-for-mandatory-back-up-cameras-keep-waiting http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084882_nhtsa-says-if-youre-waiting-for-mandatory-back-up-cameras-keep-waiting feedback@highgearmedia.com (Richard Read) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084882_nhtsa-says-if-youre-waiting-for-mandatory-back-up-cameras-keep-waiting#comments Richard Read Last year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that, beginning in 2014, all cars sold in the U.S. will be required to have rearview cameras. The goal of NHTSA's new regulation is to reduce the number of deaths caused by backovers -- the kind that often occur when children are playing directly behind parked vehicles. Around...]]> 1 Today at The Car Connection, we launched our new app for Android devices and also learned that car production in the country is likely to top 16 million units this year. We also came across the first spy shots of prototypes for Lamborghini’s replacement for the Gallardo and took a close look at what’s happening at Fisker. All this and...]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:40:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084886_try-our-new-android-app-auto-production-tops-16m-gallardo-replacement-todays-car-news http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084886_try-our-new-android-app-auto-production-tops-16m-gallardo-replacement-todays-car-news feedback@highgearmedia.com (Viknesh Vijayenthiran) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084886_try-our-new-android-app-auto-production-tops-16m-gallardo-replacement-todays-car-news#comments Viknesh Vijayenthiran Today at The Car Connection, we launched our new app for Android devices and also learned that car production in the country is likely to top 16 million units this year. We also came across the first spy shots of prototypes for Lamborghini’s replacement for the Gallardo and took a close look at what’s happening at Fisker. All this and...]]> Timing isn't everything, but in the case of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA, it's one more big tactical advantage. The company's first compact four-door luxury sedan--its first front-drive car in America, ever--the grippy and gripping CLA goes on sale this fall at least a half-year before its German rivals can summon up a true four-door competitor...]]> Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:48:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/mercedes-benz_cla_2014 http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/mercedes-benz_cla_2014 feedback@highgearmedia.com (Marty Padgett) http://www.thecarconnection.com/overview/mercedes-benz_cla_2014#comments Marty Padgett Timing isn't everything, but in the case of the 2014 Mercedes-Benz CLA, it's one more big tactical advantage. The company's first compact four-door luxury sedan--its first front-drive car in America, ever--the grippy and gripping CLA goes on sale this fall at least a half-year before its German rivals can summon up a true four-door competitor...]]> As you might have gathered through our extended coverage of the 2013 Audi Allroad, we're quite charmed by this rugged, luxurious wagon. It's sensibly sized, very versatile, perky performing, and surprisingly fuel-efficient. And it has us wondering: What if we actually owned this wagon, over the course of several years? How much would it cost? We...]]> Mon, 17 Jun 2013 16:29:00 -0400 http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084869_30-days-of-audi-allroad-whats-it-cost-to-own http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084869_30-days-of-audi-allroad-whats-it-cost-to-own feedback@highgearmedia.com (Bengt Halvorson) http://www.thecarconnection.com/news/1084869_30-days-of-audi-allroad-whats-it-cost-to-own#comments Bengt Halvorson As you might have gathered through our extended coverage of the 2013 Audi Allroad, we're quite charmed by this rugged, luxurious wagon. It's sensibly sized, very versatile, perky performing, and surprisingly fuel-efficient. And it has us wondering: What if we actually owned this wagon, over the course of several years? How much would it cost? We...]]>