News Opinion (Page 107)

Honda is reportedly ready to reintroduce a name that hasn't been in the lineup for 16 years, the Passport, as a two-row crossover. The first Passport, introduced in 1994, was honestly a proof of concept, as the automaker wanted to see the public's reaction to a Honda SUV. They borrowed a vehicle made by Isuzu, the Rodeo, and rebadged it as a Honda and sold it for eight years. It served its purpose quite well.

According to a report in the New York Times, Volkswagen, Daimler, and BMW funded a study to determine if diesel fumes were carcinogenic. The study was seeking an answer to World Health Organization claims that diesel emissions did cause cancer. The automakers backed away from the report.

Sources talking with Auto Express said that when the Eighth Generation Golf makes its appearance 2021 the e-Golf will go away as the automaker readies the I.D. series for their debuts.

Audi has been selling illegal luxury models in Germany a report in the tabloid newspaper Bild says. According to the story, the automaker has continued to sell the turbodiesels even though it has known the vehicles are illegal and they were selling them and continued to market the vehicles even as the Dieselgate scandal was breaking.

With highway fatalities spiking, officials are seeking the reason. Why are they seeking it? It is because fatalities and injuries were trending down for more than half a century and suddenly they have spiked up. Is this a trend or is it just a short-lived phenomenon?

Volkswagen had a great 2017 and probably hopes to continue its sales success in 2018. Last year, the automaker sold a total of 10.74 million vehicles as it set a new record for sales.

Lamborghini is investing lots of capital and hoping that its Urus, an unknown quantity, meets its expectations. Urus is Lambo's 189-mph luxury performance SUV. The automaker apparently hopes it will tap an untapped market in high-performance luxury SUVs. Will it and will it be worthy of the investment Lambo has made? No one knows the answer.

This was a hard piece to write because it is so senseless. The question is simple: why would anyone key a Lamborghini Huracan Avio so badly that it hurts to view if you are a car enthusiast?

Clearly, the authorities in Clearfield, Utah, have way too much time on their hands. After all, why would officials declare a piece of art to be a nuisance and then demand it be taken down? The artwork in question is a tree-borne VW named Lucy and her owner can't figure out why all the fuss. The whole issue was initiated by an unknown complainant, too. Perhaps, they should get new lives and leave Janis Zettel, alone.

If you listen to all of the tire ads on right now, you probably think the best tires for all-weather driving in the cold and snow are the ones on your tires. It's not true. The best tires are a good set of winter tires backed up by chains.

As 2017 lurches to a close with all of the upheaval that has gone on in the political sphere and some in the automotive space, you have to wonder about something: why is VW considering a two-row Atlas-based crossover? If it couldn't sell Touareg effectively in a blazing hot market for crossovers, then why would the automaker think it could take the Atlas and stuff it into the same role as the Touareg?

Although you may not know it, there is a unique problem that could end up killing or maiming victims of Takata airbag inflators that involves scrapyard salvage and scrapped inflators.

Volkswagen, whose Atlas SUV has been a strong seller in its first seven months on the market, may be expanding the line. The automaker has trademarked a couple of interesting name and there have been hints that a sporty five-seat version in the offing, as well as an off-roading version.

A few months ago, we asked VW why the Amarok isn't offered here. Aside from its diesel power, the automaker told us that it didn't make sense given its marketing strategy. Well, now the pickup was named European Pickup of the Year, 2018 and sales are up as customers are excited. Don't you think that if it was offered in a gasoline version, it might not do well on this side of the ocean? We think so, but, we're not VW.

In October and November, Torque News gained some seat time in Chevy Bolt, Honda Clarity, and Hyundai Ionic. These compact 5-door electric hatchbacks are viable everyday drivers by any measure. Yet, there’s a factor or two keeping Bolt and other segment breaching EVs from going mainstream.

There's an original Santler that is scheduled to be auctioned next week that may not be all there. The model, an 1894, is said to be the oldest car manufacturered in the U.K. Though its authenticity, down to the manufacture date, has been determined, it may not be a total original. Santlers were either steam-powered or powered by rather weak compressed coal gas engines. Instead, this one has a one-cylinder gasoline-powered Benz powerplant, dropped in when it was restored half-a-century ago.

If you think that Audi's engine designators can be a bit confusing, just wait. If you live outside the U.S., starting in 2019, the A8 will introduce the automaker's new 30 to 70 designator scheme that is supposed to spell out an engine's power level. It would be good if it all wasn't relatively relative.

In the halls of Honda, you get what you pay for. From where I sit, a lower MSRP Civic Type-R will generate less performance hatchback for the money.

Perhaps I’m just being a worrywart, but I’m a little concerned about where Honda’s luxury brand stands. With such an impressive, new lineup, Honda seems to be getting its mojo back while Acura seems overshadowed as of late. This makes me wonder: How relevant is Acura?

As V8 engine power becomes as rare as full benefit long-term high paying jobs, Lexus holds out for yet another year with the 3-row body on frame Lexus GX 460, a rare V8 powered mega SUV drive and ride experience. Is there a place for this well-refined beast on the streets of America?

Alright, I’ll admit it. At its base core, rests great motoring potential waiting for an injection of horsepower and torque. 2018 Corolla iM hatchback looks cool, is comfortable enough, and comes standard with some advanced active safety features. Quick, it's not.

At a time in the auto industry where all major manufacturers including Honda load up sub premium offerings with what was considered recently as premium features, 2017 Civic Type-R holds on to a lot of “old-school” technology for their compact hot hatch.

Skytrac engine technologies take 2017 Mazda CX-5 Grand Touring crossover to the intersection of utility meets measurable sport driving performance. Pushing CX-5 to the limit, I was reminded of the driving goodness that is "zoom, zoom," yet I felt safe and comfortable behind the steering wheel.

Searching the internet one would be hard pressed to find a negative review written on Acura’s electrified 3-row SUV. Is it that good, or simply different?

Honda’s reinvented vacuum equipped minivan brings an exceptional blend of near intuitive vehicle command connectivity and measurable road performance to the ever evolving minivan vehicle segment. Yet there remains an option yet explored for 2018 Honda Odyssey, the Executive Rolling Office. We’ve heard a rumor or two.

With 278 second generation Acura NSX Hybrid supercars sold in the United States to date, you may never encounter one running the roads and freeways of your home turf. Nonetheless, Honda’s ultimate halo car has reignited the regeneration of the Acura brand.

I hold myself fortunate as one of the few journalist that’s experienced the third generation 2017 Honda Clarity FCV behind the wheel. Initially sold to select markets in Japan and California, Great Britain's “The Engine Room,” introduces the most dynamic fuel cell vehicle in the world to the U.K. and beyond.

With Honda embracing a well connected, safe and fuel efficient future, 2018 Honda Accord takes a design cue or two from the 10th generation Civic and Honda Clarity.

Back in December of 2015, Torque News reader David Malone purchased one of the first 10th generation Honda Civics to roll off the assembly line. 59,378 miles later, he has a pretty good since of long term engine reliability and fuel efficiency.

Honda’s latest family oriented T.V. ad drives home kid-focused hands-on connectivity available in 2018 Honda Odyssey. New features help “keep the peace” between the younger family members occupying rows 2&3.