R.L. Polk Releases Sales of U.S. Pickups

R.L. Polk, a provider of automotive information, recently released their latest figures on 2012 U.S. sales of midsize pickup trucks.  The figures are a bit surprising. Ever since Ford discontinued the Ranger and Dodge discontinued the Dakota, there has been a hole in the compact/midsize pickup lineup.  That hole may be filled in the coming…

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The 2013 VW Jetta Hybrid

So you have to ask yourselves why Volkswagen would even bother making a Jetta Hybrid?  It’s not like the original Jetta isn’t a good car, because it is an exceptional car with a diesel engine.  So what’s up with the Hybrid? Simply stated, VW is on a mission to become the largest car manufacturer in…

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The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer

The 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer is a classic tale of an innovative design that was left alone, only to be overcome by the competition.  When the Lancer was first introduced, it far outpaced the rest of the economy sedan class with its driving excitement and aggressive styling.  Now, the competition, which includes the Chevrolet Cruze, Ford…

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The Side Mirror Provides Safety

The under-appreciated side mirror, also known as the fender mirror, door mirror, or wing mirror, has been around literally before the automobile.  The first recorded side mirror was actually on a horse and buggy to be able to monitor what was happening behind the driver and to the side of the driver to avoid accidents. …

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Soft Tops On A Summer’s Day

I was thinking of a song by Jim Croce where he talks about some guy driving a “drop down Cadillac.”  He was, of course, talking about a convertible and the drop down roof or top, and that is the subject of our article this morning. The convertible roof is known by several names:  drop-head coupe,…

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