Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
2015 Audi A3 TDI, with its stellar mileage, offers luxurious alternative to hybrids
Diesel engines are a path most automakers in the U.S. car market tend to avoid.
Sure, there are some diesel options, but the vast majority of automakers steer clear other than an occasional model -- with one notable exception. The very European lineups at Volkswagen and Audi have no fear of the diesel; and offer a large number of vehicles with diesel options here in the U.S.
I recently tested one of those optoins, the 2015 Audi A3 TDI, and I’m back with a full report on my experience.
NASCAR VIEW: Kyle Busch is back, but don't expect him to win quickly
"I'm back," Kyle Busch posted this morning (Tuesday, May 12) on Twitter.
And with that, one of NASCAR's few remaining villains has returned, ready to compete in the All-Star race this weekend.
Watch Indianapolis 500 Qualifying on ABC, ESPN3
For racing fans who want to see how the Indy 500 grid shpes up, two days of qualifying action for the “Greatest Spectacle in Racing” will be shown live this weekend on ABC and ESPN3, ESPN’s live, multi-screen sports network, on Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17 from Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Verizon IndyCar Series drivers will be deciding the 33-car starting grid for the May 24 Indianapolis 500, which also will air live on ABC. The schedule:
Saturday, May 16:
11 a.m. -3 p.m.
ESPN3, WatchESPN
4-6 p.m., ABC
Audi announces pricing for the all-new TT model line
Audi today announced pricing for the all-new 2016 Audi TT model line. The iconic vehicle boasts an exciting new design characterized by the use of innovative technologies and driver-focused performance. The TT will be available in dealerships in July 2015.
2015 Mercedes-Benz C-class sedan gets a refined redesign
Owning a Mercedes is a goal of many upwardly bound car buyers; the name has a certain buzz around it and it’s associated with elegance and quality.
But is that buzz justified or just hype?
I spent some time recently in a 2015 Mercedes C-class sedan, which underwent a major redesign for this model year, and I’m back with a full report on whether this Mercedes offering lives up to its brand’s lofty name.
NASCAR VIEW: There will never be another like Dale Earnhardt Sr.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. would have been 64 years old today.
He's a legend, perhaps the most beloved driver in NASCAR's long history.
Why? Because as tough as he was, he was just likeable. He was charming. Sure he acted like a jerk on track sometimes, but you could forgive him for it because of that charm.
None of today's drivers who have their share of haters -- Kyle Busch, Kurt Busch, Jimmie Johnson, Jeff Gordon, etc. -- can claim the type of charm Earnhardt had. So fans are less forgiving of them.
And none of them can claim his level of competitiveness either.
Earnhardt cared only about winning. If he didn't he wasn't happy. It didn't matter how much money he made or how many titles he won, he wanted to win every week, and would wreck his buddy to do it (ask Terry Labonte if you don't believe me).
Then he'd take you hunting in the offseason (and no, I don't believe Terry every took a shot at him, even after Bristol).
I was lucky enough to catch the end of Dale Sr.'s career -- the magic moments at Atlanta (75th win) and Talladega (76th and final win after an amazing run to the front on the bumper of Kenny Wallace over a stunning final two laps). I saw him win at Daytona after 20 years of trying. I saw his temper, as fiesty as ever, when he flipped off Kurt Busch in the early laps of the 2001 Daytona 500. I saw him race hard each and every week, until the end, and race with pride in his final race as his teammate and friend Michael Waltrip headed toward his first win.
Dale Earnhardt Sr. was who he was -- a great driver, a kind man to the fans (I've heard so many stories of how well he treated the people who rooted him on), and that's part of the reason his son is so popular; they see some of his dad's best traits in him and it lets them carry on rooting for the guy they thought would live forever.
I was at Daytona the day Earnhardt passed in 2001, writing sad words into a computer about how he had left this Earth.
But the reality is that he never really left the sport and his influence still lingers -- both in the safety measures he inspired and the driving styles of some of today's toughest competitors, who are no doubt channeling the Intimidator.
It's been 14 years since Dale left us, and there hasn't been another like him, nor will there be.
Matt Myftiu can be reached on Twitter @MattMyftiu. Follow AutoTechReviews on Twitter at @AutoTechReview.
2015 Range Rover Evoque features elegant design, solid tech options
The Land Rover/Range Rover nameplate, a British import to this side of the pond, most often is associated with rugged performance and the ability to go where other vehicles can’t. But it also has its domestic wing -- namely in the Range Rover Evoque, its smallest SUV, which is aimed more at city/suburban life than challenging the back roads.
I recently spent some a week driving a Range Rover Evoque and I’m here to let you all know what this vehicle has to offer to those in the market for a compact luxury SUV.
2015 Nissan Murano: Attractive design and strong mpg, but engine disappoints
Nissan’s usually a bit of an underdog in the race for market share, regardless of segment, but they are making strong statements in many areas of the automotive landscape.
One such statement is the 2015 Nissan Murano, its entry in the mid-size SUV category that has been turning some heads with its redesign for the current model year.
There’s a ton of quality cars in this segment -- from the Ford Edge to the Hyundai Santa Fe to the Toyota Highlander -- so the Murano has to come strong to have a chance at competing. I spent some time in one recently and I’m back with a full report on how it measures up.
NASCAR VIEW: Enough with the Chase waivers, make the rules and stick to them
Normally I'm a defender of issues relating to NASCAR's Chase format.
As the old-fashioned crowd continue to scream, "Bring back the old points system, the Chase is garbage," ignoring the fact that championships were often sealed weeks in advance in boring fashion in past decades, I defend the Chase because it does provide a more exciting battle for the crown in the Cup series.
I love the "win and you're in" setup because it encourages drivers to battle harder during the regular season, and the four-man battle at Homestead is edge-of-the-seat exciting.
But I've finally found my area where I'm tired of NASCAR's tinkering, and that's with the Chase waivers.
Please stop, Brian France.
2015 Audi A8 L sedan delivers five-star luxury and performance
Luxury vehicles come in all shapes and sizes, from speedy little 2-seat sports cars to rare ultra-luxe imports that only sultans and kings can afford.
Toward the upper end of what I’d consider vehicles the average affluent person can afford is the full-size luxury sedan category -- These vehicles have starting prices in the $60K to $80K range, and with added packages some of them can jump over the $100,000 mark.
But for that price, what are you getting?
I recently drove one of the strongest entries in this category -- a diesel-powered version of the 2015 Audi A8 L sedan -- and I’m back with a full report. Quick hint: There’s a lot to like.
News Categories
Popular Tags
Search Reviews by Make
AutoTechReviews is your home for In-depth reviews of the latest cars, trucks, and SUVs; information on all the emerging vehicle technology; and breaking news from the world of NASCAR and other motorsports.