Motor News
MotorWeek tracks auto industry news, focusing on crash tests, safety ratings, new advances in technology and the latest from auto shows around the world.
Vehicle Quality and Satisfaction 7.10.2014
Outstanding vehicle quality and owner satisfaction are key metrics that all automakers are striving for. And, this week we have two separate surveys that give us a good read on how the industry is fairing in both of these areas. J.D. Power has released their much anticipated Initial Quality Study for 2014 vehicles. It captures the feedback from 86,000 drivers on… Read More
Automatic Braking System 6.19.2014
Automatic braking is one of the newer safety nets for cars and trucks. As such, The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has come up with a new test to measure its effectiveness--so drivers won’t have to find out the hard way. The test is pretty straight forward. The vehicle drives directly at a stationary object; once, at 12 miles per hour, and then again at 25… Read More
Back Up Cameras 5.29.2014
For many years, the rear view backup camera was a feature only found on luxury cars, but now it’s becoming more commonplace on new cars and trucks. And soon it will be standard equipment on nearly every one of them… In a ruling from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Department of Transportation- all new vehicles under 10,000 pounds will… Read More
Hybrid Fuel Tips 5.15.2014
With their popularity at an all-time high--hybrids and plug-ins are slowly becoming the “family road trip” vehicles of choice. And while they already achieve more miles per gallon, the Department of Energy has published a few tips on how to stretch those savings even more. And one of those tips includes using the designated economy, or “Eco” mode. It provides the… Read More
New York International Auto Show 5.01.2014
Though many are still thawing from a brutal winter, including us, things were heating up at the 2014 New York International Auto Show. And for families in the market for a new car, there was a lot to be excited about this year. So come along, and you can see what we saw, in the Big Apple. Rounding out the Auto Show season, 2014 at New York’s Javits Center… Read More
Hankook Tires 4.17.2014
South Korean-based Hankook Tire may be well known in motorsports, but they are far from a household name in the conventional car world. Well, that’s about to change…as the company recently invited us to burn some rubber-as well as check out their latest lineup. Hankook’s big news includes a new partnership with BMW and Mercedes-Benz. The company will join both… Read More
Geneva Motor Show 4.03.2014
The 2014 Geneva Motor Show just wrapped up, and--as you might expect--it generated some big headlines. So let’s take an in-depth look at some of these gems from Geneva. Perhaps the biggest news came from one of the smaller vehicles at the show: the subcompact 2015 Jeep Renegade. Designed to make Jeep “hip” globally, the Fiat 500L-based Renegade will be a fully… Read More
Volvo E Powertrains 3.20.2014
Though sales are down, Volvo has slowly been grabbing headlines of late. Thanks to investments by Chinese owner Geely, the Swedish carmaker is poised for a major comeback. And MotorWeek was on hand to check out the latest buzz. Alongside some impressive concept vehicles and the brand’s safety heritage, high efficiency will be one of Volvo’s pillars going forward.… Read More
Cold Weather and Fuel Economy 3.13.2014
If you’ve stopped at the gas station more than usual this winter-you’re not alone. Our friends at the Department of Energy have an explanation for that-and a few tips as well. Obvious culprits like letting your car idle until it warms up, and driving around with low tire pressure result in wasted gas. But some unavoidable conditions also occur-like the higher… Read More
Chicago Auto Show 2.20.2014
JOHN DAVIS: The Windy City is suffering through a nasty winter with record low temperatures. Still, things were “all systems go” for the 2014 Chicago Auto Show. YOLANDA VAZQUEZ: Subaru unveiled the 2015 Legacy sedan. More conservative than the LA concept- the look has evolved. Slightly larger, it loses its manual transmission. The CVT auto still works with flat… Read More