News By Topic: Larry Nutson

2012 Mitsubishi i-MiEv An Electrifying Review By Larry Nutson +VIDEO

May 9, 2012

2012 Mitsubishi Mitsubishi i-MiEv Never visit a gas station again! By Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel IMG-3314) The scheduling f test drives in manufacturer’s press cars is done weeks in advance. I was more than thrilled when Mitsubishi’s car-handler in Chicago called to say they c ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (April 30-May 6 ) Automotive NewsI In Case You Were Sleeping

May 6, 2012

* April came to a close with auto sales easing and rising just 2.3% to 1.2 million. The annual selling rate of 14.4 million remained unchanged from March. There are some ups and some downs. Chrysler is +20.4%, GM -8.2%, and Ford -5.1%. VW a whopping +27.3%, Toyota fully recovered at +11.6%, Kia +1.0%, Hyundai +0.8%, Ho ... Continue reading

Florida Fun and 40MPG With 2012 Kia Rio and Optima Hybrid +VIDEO

May 2, 2012

By Larry Nutson Senior Editor Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel (IMG_3401) April 2012 From Miami Beach to Key West is about 170 miles. Kia Motors America invited 28 auto writers to test their hypermiling skills making the drive down U.S. Highway 1 behind the wheels of the 2012 Kia Optima Hybrid, Rio sedan and Rio 5-door. ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (April 23-29 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Apr 29, 2012

* The Society of Automotive Engineers met for the annual World Congress in Detroit this week. While the exhibit space at the downtown Cobo Center seems to host fewer and fewer vendors each year the organizers insist that the quality of those remaining gets better. Behind the scenes many of the conference rooms were fil ... Continue reading

He Said - 2012 Hyundai Accent Drive and Review By Larry Nutson

Apr 25, 2012

2012 Hyundai Accent 40mpg and more! By Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel (IMG_3301) Fifty is the new thirty in human age terms today. And in the auto fuel economy arena here in the U.S., 40mpg is the new 30mpg. A quick look at my local Chicago Tribune automotive section and I see lots of green ... Continue reading

2012 Buick Verano Review By Larry Nutson

Apr 20, 2012

2012 Buick Verano by Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel (IMG_3305) Buick is working hard to attract new and younger customers. The Verano went on sale in December 2011 and sales have trended upward with March 2012 having been their best month. Top Verano markets are urban, namely, New York, Phi ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (April 9- April 15 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Apr 15, 2012

* According to Polk, most hybrid owners don't replace their vehicle with another hybrid. The loyalty rate was 35.2% in 2008, 39.6% in 2009 and 38.9% in 2010. Toyota Prius owners are the most loyal, and if they are excluded the loyalty rate is 22%. However, hybrids do attract new owners to a brand. The biggest challenge ... Continue reading

2012 Mazda3 i Skyactiv Sedan Ride and Review By Larry Nutson

Apr 9, 2012

MAZDA3 i Grand Touring 4-Door, 2012 Mazda3 i Skyactiv - “No Buttons” by Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel Yes, no buttons! What, you ask. No buttons is a good way to define Mazda’s approach to vehicle design. There is no button to push for the ECO-mode. No dial to rotate for the ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (April 1- April 7 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Apr 8, 2012

* We always love the automotive headlines that appear on April 1st. How about a future 4-door Ford Mustang courtesy of Road & Track or from MINI itself, the Cooper Yachtsman with its amphibious capability? And then there is the Minibago motor home, a MINI-based camper courtesy of Consumer Guide Automotive. And from NAS ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (March 26-31, 2012 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Apr 1, 2012

* Fisker Automotive will replace potentially defective batteries in its Karma plug-in hybrid due to a manufacturing problem discovered by supplier A123. The battery problem arose a few weeks ago when a Fisker Karma being tested by Consumer Reports quit and wouldn't start. The recall of potentially defective lithium-ion ... Continue reading

2012 Toyota Yaris Review By Larry Nutson

Mar 30, 2012

2012 Toyota Yaris - A Good Looking Fuel-Sipper>/b> By Larry Nutson Senior Editor Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel (IMG_3214) These days the oft-posed question is: What car do I buy that will get good fuel economy and reduce the amount of money spent at the gas pumps? And the second question that follows is: How much do ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (March 18-25 2012 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Mar 25, 2012

* It's getting very competitive in the police car business. For the first time, Dodge will offer a law enforcement version of its Durango SUV. The Durango joins a redesigned Dodge Charger Pursuit introduced last year and a Ram 1500 Special Service truck. GM brought back the Chevrolet Caprice police car and Ford will of ... Continue reading

2012 Kia Sorento EX Review By Larry Nutson

Mar 21, 2012

2012 Kia Sorento EX Good looks and more. by Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel (IMG_3204) The Sorento is the first vehicle built at Kia Motors Manufacturing Georgia (KMMG) auto assembly plant in West Point, Georgia. The Sorento is also Kia’s first vehicle to surpass sales of 100,000 units ... Continue reading

2012 Toyota Prius c Ride and Review By Larry Nutson +Video

Mar 12, 2012

“c” for city! By Larry Nutson Senior Editor, Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel Delray Beach, Florida, February 2012 – Notwithstanding the mild winter Chicago has enjoyed, a visit to Florida in the later part of February is always welcome. Toyota gathered journalists in this oceanfront town to acquaint us w ... Continue reading

Nutson's Nuggets: Last Week's (March 5-10, 2012 ) Automotive News In Case You Were Sleeping

Mar 11, 2012

* Lots of news and a few "first evers" in the auto world from the Geneva Auto Show. The first ever Range Rover Evoque convertible concept, the first ever VW GTI convertible and the first ever Bentley luxury SUV made their debuts. Also, a bigger Fiat 500…the 4-door 500L, a new Lexus RX crossover and a new Porsche B ... Continue reading