Matt M. Myftiu
Matt Myftiu has been a journalist for two decades with a focus on technology, NASCAR and autos.
RAM 1500’s fuel economy boosted by EcoDiesel option
The domestic pickup truck battlefield is not an easy one, but Fiat Chrysler’s RAM brand has a trick up its sleeve -- and it’s called diesel. While the competition might focus more on new materials being used to lighten the vehicle, or towing, or overall ride and drive quality, RAM is standing out from its competitors by offering an EcoDiesel engine and the higher fuel mileage that comes with it.
I spent some time testing a 2016 RAM 1500 Limited Crew Cab with an EcoDiesel engine, and I’m back with a full report.
LOOKS
A pickup truck should be tough and sturdy, and also look that way. RAM has you covered there, and this vehicle is fully equipped to handle your workload either at or near the level of its competitors (if you’re actually going to use it for work and not just take it to the grocery store, that is).
Volkswagen unveils I.D. concept car in Paris
At the Paris Motor Show, Volkswagen has debuted I.D., a highly automated electric car that will be able to cover a distance of 249 to 373 miles on a single battery charge. The production version of the I.D. is due to be launched in 2020 at a price on a par with comparably powerful and well-equipped Golf models. Volkswagen is looking even further ahead with this concept car: in “I.D. Pilot” mode, it is capable of fully automated driving, a technology that should be ready for series production in 2025. Volkswagen has also set itself the goal of selling a million electric cars a year by 2025 and the production version of the I.D. will make a decisive contribution towards this ramp-up of e-mobility.
Volkswagen has made electric mobility and fully automated driving conspicuous with its innovative exterior design language and with the interior, too: the conventional driving environment has been transformed into the interactive center of a mobile lounge, or a supremely versatile Open Space. The spaciousness of this area and the intuitive, clear functionality allow you to experience mobility in a completely new way.
The I.D. represents the world “the day after tomorrow”. But the latest generation of the e-Golf, with a zero-emissions range of up to 186 miles (on the European cycle) and new gesture control, will be on the road “tomorrow”. The world of “today” is also visible in state-of-the-art Volkswagens like the new Tiguan, which launched interior digitalization with its Active Info Display and head-up display. The Tiguan, the e-Golf and the I.D. concept car together point the way from the present to the future on the Volkswagen booth.
2017 Cadillac XT5 offers significant upgrades from SRX
A crossover by any other name is … not the same?
That’s the question at hand as Cadillac introduces the brand new 2017 XT5 crossover, which is the replacement for their top-selling model, the SRX. The goal, of course, is that the updated model in this category will perform even better than its predecessor.
Being a Cadillac, the XT5 is going have a get some respect right off the bat on name alone. But it still has to deliver the goods, as the luxury crossover market is extremely competitive right now.
I recently spent some time driving an XT5 and I’m back with a full report on how it fits into Cadillac’s lineup and the luxury market.
CHASE PREDICTIONS: And your 2016 Sprint Cup champion will be ...
NASCAR VIEW: Ryan Newman's potshots at Tony Stewart won't be forgotten
NASCAR drivers are known to spout off from time to time. It's in the nature of their job to be mad when they just got put in the wall. Many, many things have been said in these high-emotion moments over the years, and no one expects drivers to be happy they got wrecked.
But there is a line you must not cross if you want to have the respect of your competitors on track every week. And Ryan Newman went way over that line Saturday night at Richmond.
After tangling with Stewart late in the race, the two wrecked (along with a half-dozen other drivers), and Newman's Chase hopes were dashed. The two had battled hard on track all race, getting into each other multiple times. In the end, they pushed it too far and Richmond's version of "The Big One" ensued.
Purple Reign: 2016 Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack is powerful, unique
I recently read an article about how most people choose white, black or silver cars -- in part because it helps with resale value.
Thankfully, the vehicle I will be reviewing here -- a “Plum Crazy” colored Dodge Charger R/T Scat Pack -- does not fit in that category; I’m glad these kind of vehicles still exist, even if it is in limited numbers.
From the moment this purple rocket pulled up to my driveway, it was a blast to look at and even more of a blast to drive. It probably drew more stares and comments than any other vehicle I have driven this year, and is among the best looking in my opinion.
Here’s a full report on this unique sedan from Fiat Chrysler’s power-centric Dodge division.
2016 Buick Cascada: Can this convertible convert you?
For the past quarter-century, the words Buick and convertible weren’t to be found in the same sentence. It had been since the early 1990s (the Buick Reatta) that a convertible was produced by the brand, and it was not expected that would change considering how the brand has positioned itself in recent years as more focused on SUVs/crossovers.
Then came word of the pending arrival of the Buick Cascada, a brand-new convertible birthed out of GM’s European division, and everyone took notice. How would Buick do in their U.S. return to the world of convertibles -- big hit or bust?
I spent some time this summer behind the wheel of a Cascada, and I’m back with a full report on my experience and what you can expect from this unique offering.
Upgraded 2016 Infiniti QX60 remains strong luxury SUV option
The luxury vehicle class, more so than more pedestrian cars, is very much about brand loyalty. So anyone trying to make inroads needs to constantly be updating and improving their vehicles in order to stay relevant.
Such is the case with Infiniti, Nissan’s luxury brand, which continues to search for that magic bullet that will catapult it up toward the sales realms that the more well-known luxury brands can claim.
While I’ve have mixed experiences driving Infiniti sedans over the years, I’m a longtime fan of their SUV lineup. Several years ago, before all the name switching to the QX coding, I was an instant supporter of their brand-new three-row JX SUV, and recently drove the latest version of this vehicle -- the 2016 Infiniti QX60.
With exterior upgrades, plus a quieter and more insulated ride and a generally sportier feel to the ride, the changes are noticeable, but is it good enough to draw customers from the luxury competition?
Toyota Camry tops Cars.com's American-Made list
The best-selling car in America for 14 consecutive years is on another streak that recognizes its American symbolism: another award from Cars.com for most American-made. For the second year in a row and sixth time overall, the Toyota Camry claims the top position on Cars.com’s American-Made Index.
The Cars.com American-Made Index rates vehicles built and bought in the U.S. Factors include the percentage of parts considered domestic under federal regulations, whether the car is assembled in the U.S. and U.S. sales. Models with a domestic parts content rating below 75 percent are disqualified along with models built exclusively outside the U.S. or models soon to be discontinued without a U.S.-built successor. According to NHTSA, the U.S.-sold domestic content for Camry is 75 percent.
Volkswagen Golf Alltrack earns 5-star safety rating
Volkswagen of America, Inc. announced recently that the 2017 Golf Alltrack has earned a 5-star overall safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The addition of the Alltrack, which hits showrooms this fall, will complete the Golf family of vehicles which includes the Golf, Golf GTI, Golf R and Golf SportWagen.
The 2017 Golf Alltrack joins the Golf family as well as the Passat, Jetta, and Beetle coupe as 2017 Volkswagen models that have an overall 5-Star Rating.
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