08/20/2008

Car Talk: Slight variation of tire width can be OK
Dear Tom and Ray:

Criuse Calendar Aug. 20

Test Drive: Mercury Sable: Smooth ride, solid workmanship
Defining a Mercury vehicle is difficult. The brand has long been the redheaded stepchild of the Ford Motor Co. Not as luxurious as a Lincoln or as value-conscious as a Ford, its image is hard to pin down.

R.I. has low number of teen deaths
While Rhode Island ranks worst on its drinking and driving laws and only fair on its seat belt laws, it ranks among the highest for its graduated driver license program, according to a “Warning: Teen Drivers,” special report on teenage drivers conducted by Reader’s Digest and printed in its August issue.

08/16/2008

Focus on finishes gives David Ragan shot at joining Chase
ATLANTA –– Back in January, David Ragan laid out a simple plan for making the Chase for the Sprint Cup, NASCAR’s season-ending, 10-race, 12-driver championship format. To some, it might have seemed presumptuous because the year before he had been known better for wrecking than running for a title.

Talladega Superspeedway has a big economic impact
A study by the Washington Economics Group Inc. reports that Talladega Superspeedway generates an annual economic impact of $407 million for the region and the state of Alabama.

RACING SCHEDULES
SEEKONK SPEEDWAY 2008 SCHEDULE

GM unveils new Volt design
General Motors Corp., the largest U.S. automaker, unveiled a production version of its Volt electric car, featuring better aerodynamics that will improve fuel efficiency by up to seven miles per gallon.

Fisher plans to build efficient diesel-electric transit bus
DETROIT — Some of the descendants of the family that founded Fisher Body Co. are returning to their roots with Fisher Coachworks LLC, a company formed earlier this year to become a manufacturer of electric-drive buses.

New dreamers’ passion for cars will keep the cruise going
“Now some guys, they just give up living

ON THE CIRCUIT
All Times EDT

08/17/2008

Investigating plug-in hybrids
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Forgive attendees of Plug-in 2008, the first-ever conference on plug-in hybrids, held last month in San Jose, for being enthusiastic, even ecstatic.

Test Drive: The Toyota Matrix arrives just in time
The 2009 Toyota Matrix XRS compact wagon arrived a year later than most people expected, but at the perfect time.

08/16/2008

A real hand-built hot rod
NORTH SMITHFIELD Tim Sunn knows in his heart what makes the world go round and is equally sure that his chopped 1932 Ford 3-window coupe with a 400 horsepower Corvette engine is a pure hot rod.

08/17/2008

Route 295 bridges are slated for repaving
Q. I am a frequent traveler of Route 295 from Warwick north to the Massachusetts line. In my travels I must drive over a number of bridges both in the northbound and southbound lanes. The bridge pavement appears to be breaking up. When can we expect to see improvements made to the decking of these bridges?

Car Calendar for Aug. 17
August

DOT TRAFFIC REPORT
All RIDOT construction and maintenance activities are conducted as weather allows.

Toyota extends production of Solara convertible
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Toyota Motor Corp. has decided to extend production of its Solara convertible for up to two more years, the automaker’s North American manufacturing chief announced last week.

08/16/2008

High gasoline prices have thrown car leases into financial turmoil
SAN FRANCISCO — Leasing a car used to be an easy road to travel, but $4-a-gallon gasoline has put that option — along with the entire U.S. auto industry — into an oil-slicked skid.

08/17/2008

Ford to expand Fiesta production
Ford Motor Co., the world’s third-largest automaker, began building the new Fiesta small car as part of its plan to sell the same models in more countries.

The Zero X dirt bike is electric and on the market
When the Zero X wheeled onto the dirt track the Colgate-white motocross bike looked positively virginal next to the belching, candy-colored models that leaped from mound to mound around it.

08/16/2008

Chrysler in talks to build Fiats in U.S.
Chrysler LLC, the third-largest U.S. automaker, has held preliminary talks with Fiat SpA about building vehicles in North America for the Italian carmaker.

08/17/2008

Tough time for auto industry is good news for savvy buyers
When it comes to shopping for new cars, it’s a buyer’s market.

Classic bids at Concours d’Elegance
Since 1950, the Monterey Peninsula of California has provided the setting for a series of events that are the collector-car equivalent of the Cannes Film Festival, the New York Mercantile Exchange and the Westminster Kennel Club dog show combined.

GM’s Motorama rolls into Pebble Beach
Golf carts will give way to scores of classic automobiles today, when the fairway of what may be America’s most picturesque 18th hole becomes the backdrop for the annual Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.

08/16/2008

Tell the dealer to check his service bulletin
Q. Recently I took my 2003 Toyota Camry to the local dealer because the “check engine” light was on for a couple of days. They replaced a sensor at a whopping cost of $550. I was told that if I did not replace this sensor ASAP that my catalytic converter could be damaged. During that visit the service advisor informed me that I also needed to replace the “intermediate steering shaft” at a cost of over $500. My question to you is, how will I know when this part wears out? Will I be able to steer the car? How important is it that I change this part? Currently I do hear a slight noise when making turns. My car has 45,000 miles on it.

China hikes sales tax on big cars
SHANGHAI, China — China is raising its sales tax on big cars to as high as 40 percent, and drastically cutting taxes on small cars, in its latest attempt to combat emissions that contribute to heavy blankets of smog over most of its cities.

08/13/2008

Escalade Hybrid brings green to bling
BIRMINGHAM, Mich. — General Motors Corp. will test the market for a full-size luxury hybrid SUV when it releases the industry’s first vehicle in that category — the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid — next month.

Putting a premium on classic cars
Collecting antique and classic cars is increasingly popular, and car values are zooming. Now, agencies that specialize in insuring these vehicles are watching as other insurers try to grab the wheel. That means more options for collectors shopping for coverage.

Pontiac’s roadworthy G8 is right car at the wrong time

Cruise calendar for Aug. 13.

High-end dealers across the pond maintain stiff upper lip amid sales decline
British car brands such as Jaguar and Aston Martin, the slick-looking car often featured in James Bond movies, have a celebrated following in their home country. But these iconic vehicles are losing some of their appeal with affluent British consumers amid shaky economic conditions.

Automakers focus on factory flexibility as market shifts
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Even with high gasoline prices, U.S. consumers still want high-quality vehicles that haul a lot of people and perform well, and that is forcing automakers to make radical changes in the way they manufacture vehicles, panelists at an industry conference said Monday.

Capless fuel system so easy anyone –– well, almost anyone –– can use it
I stopped traffic — but not in a good way — the first time I had to refuel a car with Ford’s nifty new capless gas filler.

EPA fuel-economy numbers are more realistic for 2008
Dear Tom and Ray:

When design was king: Scale-model prototypes come from Detroit’s golden age
BOSTON Is there a connection between General Motors’ current problems and the demise of a nationwide “Dream Car” design competition that GM sponsored for teenagers between 1937 and 1968?

08/09/2008

Bentley Squires was born to race bikes
MIDDLETOWN Bentley Squires remembers clocking 193 miles per hour on his 2006 Suzuki GSX R1000, but he says he does not have time to feel scared when he’s racing at such speeds.

Town and Country, Caravan offer the ultimate family room
The minivan is the Rodney Dangerfield of the automotive world. Respect? Nope.

The Jeep brand is still strong as Chrysler continues to slump
Jeep. It’s the original sport-utility vehicle, known around the world for its durability and rough off-road capabilities. From its rugged World War II military provenance to its 21st-century line of clothing, outdoor gear and other consumer goods, Jeep is one of the strongest American brands.

08/10/2008

State is responsible for traffic signs on state roads only
Q. In Rhode Island, what street signs (parking, stop, speed, handicapped, etc.) are legal and what are not? How can you tell? In surrounding states these signs are “autographed” (lower right corner) by the enforcing town or department. None or very few in Rhode Island have that. These signs are available for purchase over the Internet and can be placed anywhere. Look at the variety of signs. Who put them up and are they enforceable? How about the stop, one way, speed and handicap signs in parking lots?

08/09/2008

Most NASCAR drivers have adapted well to road racing
It has been 20 years since NASCAR returned to Watkins Glen International, a road course the stock car boys briefly sampled in the 1950s and ’60s.

08/10/2008

DOT TRAFFIC REPORT
 All RIDOT construction and

08/09/2008

ON THE CIRCUIT
NASCAR SPRINT CUP

Back in the ’40s, automobiles did run on wood
Q. I saw an article in the projoCars section about a truck that ran on wood chips. Back in 1945, I drove a truck that ran on wood. I remember starting the truck on gas, and then pulling a knob on the dash to have it run on wood. I believe the city was Steyr, Austria, and the technology was there 65 years ago. So what happened?

08/10/2008

Gas prices right at $4 a gallon is actually just what we need
LOS ANGELES — Politicians and pundits would be wise to forgo celebration of recent declines in crude oil prices. They would be wiser still to support federal legislation that would keep pump prices at a minimum of $4 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline.

Car calendar for Aug. 10
August

Lincoln MKS lifts Ford image
Any resemblance you see between the sophisticated and luxurious 2009 Lincoln MKS and the stultifying sedans Ford’s luxury brand has sold for the last 20 years is not coincidence.

Nissan sold on electric cars, not hybrids
YOKOSUKA, Japan –– Nissan won’t be coming out with a model available only as a hybrid, opting instead to focus on electric vehicles for its green strategy, according to a senior executive.

08/06/2008

Classic designs, Italian-style
BROOKLINE, Mass. Some 6,000 people attended the Tutto Italiano lawn event at the Larz Anderson Auto Museum Sunday where more than 260 Italian cars representing such classic marques as Alfa Romeo, Ferrari, Maserati, and Lamborghini lined the roadway around the museum and filled three grassy fields.

Kyle Busch will likely keep pushing for more wins
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Kyle Busch can’t win everywhere, proven by two horrendous races this season at Pocono Raceway.

Tony Stewart happy with second place at Pocono
LONG POND, Pa. — Tony Stewart’s second-place finish in Sunday’s NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Pocono Raceway was a big step in a winless 2008 season.

weekly cruise nights

The least expensive Lexus is no stripped-down model
Lexus positions the IS series as a BMW 3-Series fighter, and while it certainly is on paper, it doesn’t quite make that point in person. At least until this year, when Lexus introduced the V-8-powered, 416-horsepower IS F, the first time this model has had a genuine performance version to rally around.

Shifting into neutral at 60 mph was a bad idea
Dear Tom and Ray:

Toyota trims jobs at Highlander plant
Toyota, Japan’s largest automaker, eliminated 800 jobs at a domestic subsidiary that makes Highlander sport-utility vehicles due to falling demand in the U.S.

08/02/2008

On track in a Pontiac
PORTSMOUTH The bright yellow 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari station wagon is a restored beauty.

08/03/2008

Unless prohibited, you may stop and turn right on a red light in R.I.
Q. Recently in Arctic, West Warwick, Main Street was converted to a two-way road. At the intersection where the pavilion is (across from the DMV), there are two lanes heading outbound from West Warwick Town Hall, one of which is a signed and striped right-turn-only lane. I have waited in traffic queues, waiting for traffic to turn right. As far as I know, it is perfectly legal to turn right on red as long as there is no sign prohibiting it. Would it be possible to put up a sign to reaffirm that at this intersection?

Study foresees gas-free cars by 2050
WASHINGTON — As the cost of filling up skyrockets, a government-backed study released recently says America could nearly eliminate its need for gasoline for cars, pickup trucks and SUVs by 2050 if the government helps build a market for hydrogen fuel cells and other technologies.

DOT TRAFFIC REPORT
All RIDOT construction and maintenance activities are conducted as weather allows.

08/02/2008

On track in a Pontiac
PORTSMOUTH The bright yellow 1957 Pontiac Chieftain Safari station wagon is a restored beauty.

BMW’s M3 fuels racing fantasies
Talk about love affairs gone bad. A number of guys I know — and they were all guys — were infatuated with BMW’s previous-generation M3, the more passionate version of the already saucy 3 Series coupe. Of those who got involved, one clumsy driver burned up a succession of clutches; a second let it languish in the shop after several fender-benders; and a third never got it over 85 miles per hour, claiming he was “still breaking in the engine.”

The iconic Senna name is close to returning to F1 grid
MADRID, Spain — He has the looks, the attitude and the name. Most importantly, Bruno Senna appears to have the talent.

LIME ROCK ROAD RACING CENTER ’08 SCHEDULE
LIME ROCK ROAD RACING CENTER ’08 SCHEDULE

NASCAR apology falls short with Ryan Newman
PITTSFORD, N.Y. — NASCAR’s apology went only so far with driver Ryan Newman, who held the governing body responsible for the tire fiasco that ruined the race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway last weekend.

ON THE CIRCUIT

Tacoma scores high in crash tests
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for the first time tested small pickups. The Toyota Tacoma was the only one of five small pickup trucks, all 2008 models, to earn the highest rating of good for occupant protection in recent side crash tests conducted by the institute.

08/03/2008

Car calendar for Aug. 3.
August

New A4 keeps Audi out front
In 1995, Audi was hanging by a burning thread in the U.S. Thanks to some spectacularly bad cars and a meta-scandal concerning mysterious “unintended acceleration,” U.S. sales of VW’s luxury division had spiraled down to around 7,000 cars, and it was no feat to imagine Audi exiting the American scene with its Teutonic tail between its legs. The subsequent turnaround — all those sexy and beautiful cars like the TT and the R8, the foundational leaps in technology such as direct injection, the eight wins at Le Mans, the toe-to-toeing with Mercedes and BMW, all of that — began with the release of the Audi A4.

08/02/2008

Leave car for winter with clean oil
Q. I will be leaving my 2007 Honda Accord in my garage for more than three months this winter when I go to Florida with my girlfriend in her car. What should I do to ensure that my car starts and runs properly when I return?

08/03/2008

Truck driving contestants
John Libucha, of Woonsocket, Mike Pace, of East Providence, and Selvin Ramirez, of Providence, are participating in the National Truck Driving Championships in Houston, Texas, for Con-way Freight. They will compete for the title of Best Truck Driver in America.

07/30/2008

’08 Bullitt would do Steve McQueen proud
MELVILLE, N.Y. — The newest “Bullitt” version of the Ford Mustang is testament, in highland green clearcoat, to what a good job Ford has done over the years in maintaining the goodwill of its pony car.

Fuel prices hamper diesel-cars push
European automakers’ efforts to persuade more Americans to buy cars with diesel engines are turning into an uphill battle due to rising prices at the pumps.

Once, Ford saved Mazda; now the table is turning
Ford Motor Co. Chief Executive Officer Alan Mulally’s crisis is Mazda Motor Corp. CEO Hisakazu Imaki’s opportunity.

Auto Biography: ’79 Porsche is heavily modified
HARRISVILLE Rhode Islander Frank Inocencio moved to Florida in 1995, worked there for about a year, but then got homesick and returned to the Ocean State.

Police urge Fla. bikers to wear brighter colors
BROOKSVILLE, Fla. — Perched on a stool at Crossroads Bar & Grill, Larry Obonnon stroked his handlebar mustache and looked over several fliers for a state campaign encouraging motorcyclists to wear brighter colors.

DOT on the move
The Ask projoCars: DOT Answers column will now appear on Sundays.

Start-stop technology set to get wide use
DETROIT — A key piece of technology from gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles will become almost universal in new cars within 5 to 10 years, top environmental executives from Chrysler, Ford and General Motors predicted last week.

Remember to shift into neutral if engine races unaccountably
Dear Tom and Ray,

weekly cruise nights
SUNDAYS

07/26/2008

A Bimmer for Big Sister
Herb Chambers, owner of Herb Chambers Cadillac, located in Providence, recently provided a vehicle for the Big Sister Association charity fundraiser, the Big Sister’s 20th annual BMW raffle.

Many buyers swap SUVs for Smart cars
WASHINGTON — Elizabeth Szewczyk saw a tiny picture of the Smart Fortwo in a car magazine, and knew it was her next ride. She already owned her ideal car — a bright yellow 2005 Jeep Wrangler — but the gas mileage was horrible. She remembers watching the fuel gauge drop as she drove down the highway and realizing it was time to trade in her childhood dream.

System makes best ‘guess’ about tire pressure
Q. My 2005 Lexus LS 430 is a great car but has an annoying problem. The low tire pressure warning keeps coming on. I have had the dealer take a look; they checked the tire pressure then reset the system. Do you know a way to find out which wheel is setting off the warning or a way to fix for it?

Richmond shop restores the rarest rides on wheels
RICHMOND Sean Brayton’s Red Star Auto Works may be tucked away along a leafy lane deep in South County, but he restores some of the oldest and rarest cars around for some very distinguished clients.

RACING SCHEDULE
THOMPSON SPEEDWAY 2008 SCHEDULE

Norwegian automaker poised to bring electric cars to U.S.

07/27/2008

DOT TRAFFIC REPORT
All RIDOT construction and maintenance activities are conducted as weather allows.

07/26/2008

ON THE CIRCUIT
All Times EDT

Economy is hurting sponsorship
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — About a week after becoming a former Sprint Cup driver when his team was shut down, Dario Franchitti was asked how things were going.

New rule limits power in Toyotas
INDIANAPOLIS — Mike Wallace was carrying a sheaf of papers with him Thursday as he walked the infield at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. As he paged through the sheaf, discontent spread across his face.

Championing horsepower, habitat with the Green Car Journal
WASHINGTON — Ron Cogan’s friends were worried. Was he flipping out, taking one of life’s curves a little too fast? He was a California-based automotive journalist, a car guy gone environmental.

The Smart choice for good gas mileage
Forget the Lamborghinis and Bentleys. The hot car of the moment? The one that has people shouting at you on the street, asking about price and top speed? The 9-foot-long Smart.

07/27/2008

Tiguan: Fun to drive, hard to pronounce
Millions of dollars are spent every year by auto marketing departments to determine the best name for a vehicle.

Tiguan: Fun to drive, hard to pronounce
Millions of dollars are spent every year by auto marketing departments to determine the best name for a vehicle.

07/26/2008

GM researches high-tech windshields to aid vision for the elderly
WARREN, Mich. — When Coke-bottle glasses just won’t cut it for safe driving, a futuristic windshield might do the trick.

07/27/2008

Mini ready to go electric
DETROIT — The U.S. car market may be moving toward Mini’s kind of small, fashionable and fuel-efficient vehicles, and the British brand will be ready as it prepares to launch its first electric vehicles in the United States in 2009 and a small crossover-utility vehicle not long after.

Utility companies prepare for plug-ins
SAN JOSE, Calif. — Which draws more juice from the electric grid, a big-screen plasma television or recharging a plug-in hybrid car?

Car calendar for July 27
July

07/23/2008

Racing for the love of the sport
SEEKONK, Mass. It was not Sparky Arsenault’s night at the Francis Farm Mid-Season Championships at the Seekonk Speedway on Saturday.

Racing for the love of the sport
SEEKONK, Mass. It was not Sparky Arsenault’s night at the Francis Farm Mid-Season Championships at the Seekonk Speedway on Saturday.

Cruise calendar for July 23.

Evaluating your mechanic
Auto Repairs for Smart Customers, a class on evaluating your auto mechanic and shop, will be held Thursday, July 31, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Riverside Branch Library, 475 Bullocks Point Ave. Learn how to get a fair price for legitimate car repairs. Discover specific questions to ask, how to get a valid second opinion, examine your own tires, and get the most out of your warranty.

Tread lightly on angry mechanic
Dear Tom and Ray:

A high caliber compact hatchback from Chrysler

18-year-old could replace Stewart
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The biggest domino in NASCAR’s free agency season fell when Tony Stewart decided to bolt from Joe Gibbs Racing at the end of the year. It opened up a seat in the coveted No. 20, a ride loaded with a two-time championship winning team that will stay behind crew chief Greg Zipadelli.