A Lotus Exige S, A Boxer And A Whole Lot Of Peyote
September 30, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Filed under Automotive, Lotus, Video
We’ll be straight with you: none of us at Automotive Addicts are big into artsy concept videos. We have no idea what the latest video ad from Lotus, which features the new Exige S, a boxer and a whole lot of tire smoke, is supposed to mean. Is the Lotus nimble enough to dance around a pro boxer? Is the Lotus beefy enough to go round after round with the toughest competitors? Is the Lotus Exige S a good choice when you want to run over a guy who’s probably six foot three and 240 pounds? We don’t have answers to the first two questions, but we’re pretty sure the answer to the last one is “no.” Read more…
Will Tire Tread Scanners Keep Roads Safer?
September 30, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Filed under Automotive, Technical
A few months back, Malcolm and I were headed north on I-95 after a Southern Automotive Media Association meeting in Miami. We were driving at around 75 miles per hour, in a steady rain and moderate traffic, when the minivan next to us spun.
The whole thing happened too fast to be puckering; one minute, the van was alongside us, and the next the driver was looking out his windshield at the side of my car. No one was hurt, and the van suffered only minor damage. Traffic was slowing ahead, and the minivan driver most likely tapped his brakes. What caused the spin? My guess is bald tires on a wet road. Read more…
Report: North Street Capital To Buy Spyker Cars
September 29, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Filed under Automotive, News, Spyker
Image: Spyker Cars
When GM spun off Saab in the dark days of 2009-10, it was exotic car builder Spyker that stepped up to the plate to buy the Swedish automaker. Spyker, backed by cash from Russian billionaire Vladimir Antonov, seemed capable of turning Saab from a struggling division of GM into a profitable boutique automaker, but that never happened. Saab’s current struggles with bankruptcy and reorganization are well documented, and now both Reuters and Left Lane News are reporting the potential sale of Spyker to a U.S. investment group, North Street Capital. Read more…
Top Gear USA Gets More Episodes For Season 2
September 29, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Filed under Automotive, Top Gear
Top Gear USA's cast of characters. Image: The History Channel
When Top Gear USA debuted in 2010, many Top Gear fans slammed the U.S. take on the popular British docudrama. Top Gear USA struggled for ratings in its first season, thanks in part to an odd dynamic between the show’s hosts. There was Tanner Foust, a pro driver with (seemingly) little sense of humor; Adam Ferrara, a genuinely funny guy with little ability to drive a car at speed; and Rutledge Wood, whose biggest claim to fame appeared to be the world’s most extensive flannel collection. How could these three guys compete with the likes of Clarkson, May and Hammond? Read more…
2011 Subaru Outback 3.6R Limited Review & Test Drive
September 29, 2011 by Malcolm Hogan
Filed under Automotive, Featured, Subaru, Test Drives
Over the better part of two decades, Subaru has managed to have a vehicle that breaks away from the traditional wagon and SUV segment. Today, the all-new 2011 Outback continues that conventional trail, even on the rugged off-road path.
2012 Chevrolet Traverse LTZ Review & Test Drive
September 28, 2011 by Harvey Schwartz
Filed under Automotive, Chevrolet, Featured, SUV, Test Drives
‘FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY’
As the Chevy Traverse enters its fourth year in the market, it continues to be one of the most popular large crossovers, thanks to its balance of efficiency, versatility, spaciousness and safety. Sales were up more than 23% for the first four months of 2011, with an annual sales rate of more than 108,000 units.
Cadillac Kills Plans For Drop-Top ATS
September 28, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Filed under Automotive, Cadillac, News
Cadillac's teaser image of the ATS. Image: © GM Corp.
Cadillac wants to pitch its upcoming ATS series against the BMW 3 Series and the Mercedes C-Class. Original plans for the ATS called for a sedan, a coupe, a wagon and a convertible, which would have given Cadillac a counterpoint to every one of BMW’s offerings. It also would have given Cadillac a far broader range than Mercedes-Benz currently offers with the C-Class. Read more…
About Face: OnStar Cancels Planned Changes To Terms And Conditions
September 28, 2011 by Kurt Ernst
Filed under Automotive, GM, News
Image: © GM Corp.
What an eventful few weeks it’s been for OnStar. Last week, a story broke that the telematics service would continue collecting customer data even after the service was cancelled by the user. Worse, OnStar was requesting the right to sell that data (in anonymous, aggregate form) to third party companies, which prompted a public outcry. New York Senator Chuck Schumer even got involved, asking the FTC to probe the legality of OnStar’s data harvesting. Read more…
