Monthly Archives: January 2016


Believe it or not, Panoz is still pressing ahead with the unique

Believe it or not, Panoz is still pressing ahead with the unique #Deltawing concept and actually making progress. The DWC13 turned the fastest lap so far in the final practice session for the 24 Hours of Daytona today and has consistently run strong all week. If the team can keep it running for 24 hours it may have a serious shot at its first victory.

 

While the +

While the +Android Auto and Apple Carplay interfaces are much better than most OEM designs, it's the cloud-based voice recognition that automakers need to implement to beat back the upstarts.

If Automakers Don’t Like Android Auto, They Need To Do Better
VideoThe Android Auto home screen in a 2016 Kia Optima (photo credit: Sam Abuelsamid In early 2014, Apple and Google announced their plans to take over the automobile dashboard just as they had effectively taken over the mobile phone business in the preceding half dozen years. At the time, the logos […]


I like a lot about small crossovers but so far none had the right combination…

I like a lot about small crossovers but so far none had the right combination of packaging, performance and style, does the Mazda CX-3?

2016 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring – Has It Hit That “Just Right” Mix Yet? – Sam’s Thoughts
The sub-compact crossover utility has been one of the fastest growing market segments in the industry over the past few years. As of the time I sit to write this in January 2016, there are 10 entries available in the American market with several more to come in the next few years including Ford, Hyundai …


2016 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring – Has It Hit That “Just Right” Mix Yet?

2016 Mazda CX-3 Grand Touring - 3 of 25The sub-compact crossover utility has been one of the fastest growing market segments in the industry over the past few years. As of the time I sit to write this in January 2016, there are 10 entries available in the American market with several more to come in the next few years including Ford, Hyundai and probably GMC. Of the examples I’ve driven in the past year including the Chevrolet Trax, Nissan Juke and Honda HR-V, each has elements to recommend it, but like Goldilocks looking for a place to nap they were each too hard or soft in some respect. Did Mazda get it “just right” with the CX-3?

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Eight years ago today I was in Las Vegas for the first time and took my first ride in an autonomous vehicle, the +

Eight years ago today I was in Las Vegas for the first time and took my first ride in an autonomous vehicle, the +Chevrolet Taheo known as "Boss" for GM's first R&D chief, Charles "Boss" Kettering. This year I'm not in Vegas but the technology for the self-driving car has come a long way. Eight years from now, we may well see autonomous vehicles in limited service in the real world.

      

In Album 1/7/16