Auto Lovers Land

For years, news of a hurricane swirling through the Gulf of Mexico has been more than enough to spike gas prices. Gas prices have remained flat this summer, and they are expected to remain so heading into the holiday weekend. But the swift passage of Hurricane Idalia over the Florida peninsula and through Georgia and the Carolinas appears to have had only limited impact at the pump, according to AAA. Gas prices remain stable AAA described pump prices “neutral,” with the national average for a gallon of gas falling by a penny since last week to $3.82 as the nation’s motorists head into the final weekend of the summer and the post Labor Day return to school. Today’s national average of $3.82 is 7 cents more than a month ago but 2 cents less than a year ago. Oil prices did rise at midweek amid ongoing concerns the hurricane could interrupt fuel supply in the Southeast. However, some fuel terminals have resumed operations, and more are expected in the coming days as storms subsid...

2022 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody Hellcat? How about Hell to keep? The Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat is more than 60 times more likely to be stolen than the average 2020-22 model year vehicle, according to a new study by the Highway Loss Data Institute. The HLDI says that the model experienced 6,128 thefts, far higher than the second place Dodge Charger Hemi, which had 2,197 thefts during the same period. The agency noted that 17 of the 20 vehicles with the highest theft claims had overall losses that were more than twice the average passenger vehicle of $45,058. Notably, the perennial most-stolen vehicle, the Honda Accord, still ranks in top 20, while four Kia models make the grade, thanks to a TikTok video that revealed to thieves how easy the vehicles were to steal. When it comes to least-stolen models, six are built by GM and five by Tesla, while Land Rover models made both lists. In fact, No General Motors model appeared on the list of most-stolen vehicles. The stud...

In the early days of the automobile, cars were meant for the wealthy and luxury was opulent — at least by the standards of an era when even air conditioning wasn’t a thing — and Mercedes-Benz was there for it.  Mercedes-Benz is still delivering state-of-the-art vehicles with opulent luxury, and the EQS 580 all-electric SUV is a perfect example. Today, Mercedes-Benz is still delivering state-of-the-art vehicles with opulent luxury, and the EQS 580 all-electric SUV is a perfect example.  Overview The 2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS 580 is the all-electric version of the GLS SUV. You get two rows of seating for five or three rows for seven passengers, 285 miles of range, and 536 horsepower to play with.  The interior treatment of the EQS 580 is all opulent luxury and the ride is cloud-soft. Everyone’s got their own entertainment screen, and the Mercedes driver assistance tech is getting better all the time. The future is officially here.  Exterior From the outside, th...

In the SUV-crazed U.S. automotive market, sedans have become little more than an afterthought for many manufacturers — but not for Hyundai. And the South Korean carmaker made that perfectly clear on Wednesday, rolling out significant updates of its midsize Sonata and compact Elantra models for the upcoming model year. Hyundai’s revealed the updated 2024 Hyundai Sonata, left, and Elantra — showing faith in the sedan market. The changes coming in 2024 go well beyond the tweaks manufacturers usually make midcycle. There are notable revisions to the exterior and designs of both sedans. And the Sonata gets all-wheel drive for the first time, something Hyundai officials hope will help draw back some previous owners who’ve migrated to SUVs. Several manufacturers, including Ford, have completely abandoned sedans, while others have pared back sharply. Not Hyundai, which “remains committed to sedans as part of our mix,” said Jose Munoz, who serves as both the company’s global chief operat...

The limited-edition 2024 Volkswagen Golf GTI 380, offered in all three GTI trim levels. Oh, it was bound to happen, even if we don’t have to like it. It seems pre-ordained that the governments of the world, ours included, are dictating we all drive electric vehicles (or EVs) powered by fussy, flammable batteries. Since they have one forward gear, the manual transmission, which is already chosen by fewer and fewer new car buyers, is slowly disappearing as EVs overtake the market. Yet EVs are pricey, which when combined with the fact that most of us have no place to recharge them, their sales appear to be slowing despite Uncle Sam’s wishes. But market forces don’t always acquiesce to legislation, setting up what could become a showdown between the two opposing forces. And what few cars are left are increasingly offered as gas-electric hybrids, where electronic driveline management matters more than driving fun, the manual transmission, already on its last legs, is being shuttled ...

If you own a pickup truck, you probably know the drill. “Hey, I was wondering if I could borrow your truck for a few hours to run an errand.”  The 2022 Ford Maverick boasts up to 1,500 pounds of cargo capacity, which will encourage friend to ask to borrow it. That’s usually followed by, “And if you’re not busy, I could use a hand.” If you don’t have a pickup truck, chances are you know someone who does, and you’ve been on the other end of the conversation.  Most people don’t think about renting pickups as an alternative to borrowing. Sure, we’ll rent a box truck from U-Haul for really big jobs, but if it’s just a load of garden mulch or moving a refrigerator, we don’t think about renting. But there are ample and convenient sources for renting a truck, and unlike rental cars they tend to be flexible enough to rent for hours instead of days or weeks.  A new study from east coast car subscription service  FINN   notes the most affordable trucks currently on...

Long laggards when it comes to quality, the Ram and Dodge delivered a shock when they landed at the top of the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study two years ago, displacing longtime leaders like Lexus and Toyota, as well as the South Korean carmakers, Hyundai, Kia and Genesis, that have topped the charts in more recent years. A couple of years ago Dodge claimed the top spot in both the JD Power IQS and APEAL studies. To some observers, it seemed like a statistical fluke, but the two U.S. brands landed on top once again this year, along with Alfa Romeo, the Italian arm of Stellantis. While the Euro-American automaker still its weak links, notably the Chrysler brand, it marks a big turnaround and one that Bill Kendell says has been long in the making. “We’re taking every problem seriously,” no matter how small it might appear, said Kendell, who has spent most of his time in the auto industry with what was known as Chrysler Corp. when he started out 36 years ago. Much of that career h...

Porsche is adding a new variant to the model line following the launch of the third generation Cayenne earlier this year: the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV and Coupe. The most potent Cayenne for 2024 is propelled by a plug-in hybrid powertrain, just as the previous model generation, along with a number of other updates that keep it in the forefront of luxury performance SUVs. Porsche is adding a new variant to the new Cayenne model line: the 2024 Porsche Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid SUV and Coupe. Powerhouse performance Porsche has greatly increased the electric range and power on the new Cayenne Turbo E-Hybrid, which enhances both usability and performance in daily driving. The heavily modified 4.0-liter V-8 twin-turbo engine, which produces 591 horsepower, is supported by an electric motor with 174 hp. The system’s combined output is 729 hp and 700 pound-feet of torque. That’s enough to generate performance that maintains Porsche’s efforts to maintain the Cayenne’s re...

Rising prices have transformed the auto industry in the past three years, transforming mainstream cars, cross over and SUVs into luxury vehicles. Manufacturers, to justify the price increases, also have moved to add features and technology to mainstream vehicles with new trim packages. The 2023 Toyota Highlander gets an updated trim level in with the Platinum edition. Overview The Toyota Highlander is one of the most popular utility vehicles sold in the U.S. these days, offering plenty of features as well as the automaker’s reputation for quality and durability. It is also versatile and comes with modern safety features.  But to justify the $54,000 price tag for the Platinum version of the Highlander I drove, it now comes with flourishes such as 20-inch wheels, puddle lights and a panoramic moonroof. The extra features help move the Highlander into a more expensive segment even for consumers, who might consider themselves too practical and too thrifty to purchase a luxury v...