Vehicle History News - VehicleHistory.com Blog

The four tire stores in the Washington, D.C., area that Goodyear opened on Monday share little other than the smell of fresh rubber with typical greasy auto repair shops. The new Roll by Goodyear stores aren't just different looking, with their minimalist, Apple...

Lyft expands monthly ride-hail subscription service nationwide

Ride-hailing giant Lyft said Monday that its monthly subscription service is now available nationwide. For $299 per month, "All-Access Pass" subscribers get 30 rides costing up to $15 apiece. Anything over $15 is charged directly to the rider's credit card through the...

Thieves are stealing Honda airbags and reselling them on the black market

In the past, car thieves have gone for unattended items, radio head units, and even the car itself. Now they’re going for airbags. According to a report by USA Today, there has been a recent spike in airbag thefts in many major markets around the country. The airbags,...

Group calls on Hyundai, Kia to recall 2.9 million vehicles for fire risk

The nonprofit Center for Auto Safety called on Hyundai and Kia on Friday to recall 2.9 million cars and SUVs in the U.S. for fire risk due to reported consumer concerns. The group noted there have been more than 220 complains to the NHTSA about fires since 2010 and...

The ultimate guide to compact crossover SUVs

Shopping for a compact crossover SUV is like looking through the menu at most popular chain restaurants: choices abound. The most popular crossover SUVs come in a few flavors that aren’t always easy to directly compare. To help out, we’ve put our shopping shoes on and...

2019 Toyota C-HR recalled over wheel loss risk

Toyota on Thursday said that it will recall its subcompact crossover SUV over concerns that their rear wheels could come off due to improperly tightened bolts. The recall covers just a handful of 2019 Toyota C-HR vehicles—about 700, Toyota said in a statement. MORE:...

Fire risk prompts BMW to recall 3,500 electrified cars

BMW announced Friday that it will recall about 3,500 electrified models to inspect charging cables that may lead to shocks or fires. The recall covers a wide range of plug-in hybrid and fully electric 2018 and 2019 BMW and Mini models. In government filings, BMW said...

French automaker returns to US with car-sharing Chevrolets, not Peugeots and Citroëns

When French automaker PSA, the maker of Peugeot and Citroën, returns to the U.S. market after decades away later this month, all will not be as it seems. PSA has ambitions to become a world leader in car-sharing and will launch a program in Washington, D.C., at the...

2019 Hyundai Kona adds active safety tech, sees modest price hike

The 2019 Hyundai Kona will cost $20,970, about $500 more than last year's model, thanks to a suite of newly standard active safety tech. Automatic emergency braking, active lane control, and a driver attention monitoring system were previously grouped in costly option...

2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback does well in latest crash tests

The redesigned hatchback version of Toyota's compact car has earned a Top Safety Pick award from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The 2019 Toyota Corolla hatchback, which shares a name but little else with the Corolla sedan, missed out on the Top...

Study: Half of U.S. Uber drivers make less than $10 per hour

A publication focused on the ride-sharing industry found that median hourly wage for nearly half of the Uber drivers in the U.S. is just $9.73 after driving costs. While average hourly pay was $14.73 after tip, nearly $5 in vehicle costs per hour for things like gas,...

Unsafe at any speed: Houston, Dallas top worst cities in US for traffic deaths

If you feel like news stories of traffic-related deaths have been everywhere recently, it’s not all in your head. In 2016, 37,461 people were killed in crashes on U.S. roads, an increase of 5.6 percent over 2015, which had seen its own increase of 10.5 percent from...

Unsafe at any speed: Houston, Dallas top worst cities in US for traffic deaths

Honda recalls 232,000 cars with faulty rearview cameras

A rearview camera system installed on nearly a quarter of a million Honda sedans might not do what it's supposed to—and so the automaker is recalling them. The recall applies to 2018 Honda Accord sedans and 2019 Honda Insight hybrid sedans. Both models offer the...

More powerful 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata priced at $26,625

The 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata will cost about $450 more than last year's model. But that price bump is accompanied by something that may help overcome the trudge of inflation: more power. The 2019 Miata is rated at 181 horsepower, a 26 hp increase over the 2018. The...

Google Maps update adds ‘commute’ functionality and music controls to app

For those with a commute that can vary wildly in terms of traffic, Google’s got a new solution in its immensely popular Maps app. The company announced Monday that it would be rolling out an update this week featuring a “Commute” tab that allows users to check what...

Pair of Volvos earn Top Safety Pick award

The 2019 Volvo XC90 crossover SUV and 2018 Volvo S90 sedan earned the IIHS' top marks, the insurance industry-funded group said last week. Both vehicles performed well in the IIHS' barrage of crash tests. Neither model was tested in the demanding small-overlap front...

1.4 million Honda, Acura vehicles added to Takata airbag recall

Honda said last week that about 1.4 million more of its cars, crossover SUVs, and pickup trucks contain faulty airbag inflators made by automotive supplier Takata. This latest round of recalls bumps the number of vehicles equipped with dangerous Takata airbag...

2019 Nissan Titan adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto: Your move, Toyota

The 2019 Nissan Titan pickup truck will come with a new 7.0-inch touchscreen for infotainment with standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility when it goes on sale later this year, the truckmaker said last week. The announcement leaves the 2019 Toyota Tundra...

NAFTA replacement USMCA could make Mexico-built cars more expensive

An 11th-hour agreement Sunday night between the U.S. and Canada sealed a new trade deal between the three primary North American economies that could increase the cost of building cars in Mexico. The new deal—the United States-Mexico-Canada-Agreement—replaces the...

MotorAuthority on Vehicle History

Next-gen Mazda 3 with spark-less engine tech to debut in November

1,000-hp Yenko/SC package adds $66,995 to 2019 Chevy Camaro SS 1LE

2019 Chevrolet Camaro gains new Shock yellow color option

The 2019 Chevrolet Camaro color palette is in for a bright new addition. On Tuesday, the brand introduced the Shock yellow exterior color for the pony car, as part of a new Camaro concept heading to the 2018 SEMA show. If the hue looks familiar, that's because it will...

2019 BMW X7 3-row SUV debuts: The bling comes standard

BMW on Tuesday unveiled its entry into the highly competitive full-size luxury SUV segment: the 2019 X7. Due for delivery next March, BMW brings the fight with a generous list of features included as standard within the X7's $74,895 starting price. The price nets you...

First Jaguar I-Pace delivered in US

Ahead of retail sales next month, Jaguar has delivered the first of its I-Pace electric crossovers in North America. Mark and Holly Pascarella of Lakewood Ranch, Florida are the first owners of the electric Jaguar, and a fitting family they are. Mark Pascarella told...

4 features the 2019 Audi A8 won’t get, at least for now

The creamy-smooth 2019 Audi A8 full-size luxury sedan goes on sale in November in the U.S., but several slices of its very elaborate technical pie will arrive later. Some of the features may not hit U.S. shores at all, but that die is not yet cast. Chock full of tech...

Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s settlement with SEC approved by judge

Tesla and its CEO Elon Musk's settlement with the Securities and Exchange Commission has cleared its final hurdle. The settlement has been approved by U.S. District Judge Alison Nathan in Manhattan. Bloomberg reported the agreement was made final in Manhattan on...

Meet the new sweet spot: 2019 Porsche Panamera GTS debuts

Porsche on Monday unveiled the new GTS version of its second-generation Panamera. Available with either the standard hatch or Sport Turismo wagon body styles, the GTS enhances the Panamera with an extra helping of sportiness but without blowing up the price. The extra...

US to finally allow modern, self-dimming adaptive headlights

While automakers have implemented advanced headlight technology in other markets for years, outdated regulations in the United States have kept advances from the market. That will soon change as the U.S. will soon allow self-dimming adaptive headlight technology. The...

Ford proposes a future without traffic lights

Vehicle-to-everything communications technology, more commonly referred to as V2X, is poised to change the way cars operate in the very near future. Numerous automakers are working on V2X systems, some of which are already available. Among those automakers is Ford...

Could Jaguar turn into an EV brand?

Jaguar offers an impressive lineup of powerful and elegantly styled sport sedans and SUVs, but the vehicles have failed to stand out in what no doubt is a crowded playing field. It's why management is considering a radical plan to turn Jaguar into a premium electric...

Scott Keogh named new head of Volkswagen Group America

Volkswagen Group has named Scott Keogh its new Volkswagen Group of America head. He takes on the roles of president and CEO of Volkswagen Group of America and head of the Volkswagen brand for the North American region. The executive was formerly head of Audi America...

Fisker likely to launch crossover after EMotion sedan

Fisker has yet to launch its six-figure EMotion electric sedan, but the company's CEO and namesake Henrik Fisker is already talking about what will come after the first car is in customers' hands. Unlike the $130,000 EMotion, Fisker said his next car will be...

Mazda CX-5 gets punchy 2.5-liter turbo, GVC Plus handling

Mazda has introduced a round of updates for its CX-5 small crossover SUV including the addition of a 2.5-liter turbocharged inline-4. The updates were announced Thursday for the Japanese market and should be announced for more markets shortly. Mazda's 2.5-liter...

Audi e-tron FE05 electric racer revealed for 2018/2019 Formula E season

Audi on Thursday revealed its new race car developed for the 2018/2019 Formula E Championship, the fifth season of the electric car series whose first race is scheduled for December 15 in Ad Diriyah, Saudi Arabia. The car is the Audi e-tron FE05, which will be fielded...

VW targets 150,000 EV sales by 2020, over 1 million by 2025

Volkswagen has set some ambitious sales targets for its future electric-car portfolio. In 2020, the German automaker expects to sell 150,000 electric cars globally. Five years later? One million electric cars. On Thursday, VW said it's working to accelerate its...

New Ford Explorer Interceptor Utility quickest police vehicle in America

Baddies beware because Ford has a new Police Interceptor on the way, and it happens to be the quickest cop car in America. On Thursday Ford revealed that Michigan State Police have concluded testing for the 2020 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility and found it to...

BMW wants a hybrid supercar, and a redesigned i8 might be the ticket

BMW is keen to bring a new supercar into the fold to serve as the brand's halo model. It's something we've been hearing for a while but know the automaker's R&D chief, Klaus Fröhlich, has revealed he's working very hard to make a supercar happen. Drive reported on...

BMW 3-Series GT: A niche too far?

BMW was one of the first automakers of the modern era to start exploring new niches when it launched vehicles like the original X6 and 5-Series Gran Turismo. While some of those niches have proven popular with buyers, others haven't fared so well. One in particular...

Hummer maker AM General reportedly up for sale, GM and FCA interested

AM General, best known for bringing the Hummer brand into the world, has reportedly hung up a "for sale" sign. The company is allegedly seeking potential bidders, which may include both General Motors and Fiat-Chrysler Automobiles. Reuters reported Monday the list of...

Green Car Reports on Vehicle History

Google Maps adds electric-car charging locations

Teslas to get new self-driving, Autopilot chip in spring 2019

Documents: 60-kwh Nissan Leaf pricing aligned with Chevy Bolt EV

Even before the second-generation Leaf was introduced last year, it was an open secret that Nissan planned an extended-range, 60-kwh version of the Leaf. Now our friends CarsDirect have found some documents—U.S. order guides that dealerships plan their orders and...

Jaguar delivers first I-Pace electric crossover in North America

Jaguar confirmed its first retail delivery of the I-Pace electric crossover Monday, a few weeks ahead of the company’s early November target for retail sales. The I-Pace isn’t late, but a vehicle like it has been a long time coming. It’s the first of what we can...

2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE plug-in hybrid to have 60 miles of electric range?

Mercedes's new line of more capable plug-in hybrids will start with the 2020 Mercedes-Benz GLE plug-in hybrid that the company says has more electric driving range than previous efforts. It will arrive late next year and will be based on a redesigned version of the...

2017-2018 Kia Niro hybrid recall concerns extra heat in the back seat

Drive a 2017 Kia Niro (or a 2018) and find your back seat becoming a hot seat? It might be a good idea to stop driving it and call your dealership. In 2017 and some 2018 Kia Niro models, a main relay, within what’s called the power relay assembly, may not have...

British company resurrects classic MGB and Jaguar XKSS as electrics

First, it was the Porsche 911, then the Jaguar E-Type. Now it's the MGB. Converting classic old cars into electrics has become the rage across Europe. The latest comes from RBW Classic Electric Cars in the UK, which isn't taking classic MGBs and modifying them, but...

BMW recalls chargers for 2018, 2019 plug-in models

BMW issued a recall for the charge cords of virtually all the 2018 and 2019 plug-in vehicles it has built for sale in the U.S. According to the recall notice on the NHTSA's website, capacitors in the charge cords could fail, resulting in a shock hazard or a fire....

Tesla sets Monday deadline for full tax credit

Tesla has given buyers a deadline of Monday to order a car if they want the full $7,500 federal tax credit. That's 2-1/2 months before the credit officially expires, but since most Teslas are built to order, the company needs some lead time for orders. A notice on...

Best deals on green cars for October 2018

One of the best ways to get people to buy green cars is the same way automakers get consumers to buy any car—by making deals. Looking at October sales, among plug in cars other than Teslas, the bestsellers were those that offer the best deals from month to month. This...

Does Faraday have a Future? Latest financing disrupted—again

Faraday's Future has hit another snag, in a dispute with the company's latest investors. The development of the luxury electric Faraday Future FF91, has been a roller-coaster ride of winning financing, running into disputes, delaying the car, and finding new...

Mercedes-Benz plans to expand lineup of more capable plug-in hybrids

Mercedes-Benz announced plans Wednesday improve the range and capability of its plug-in hybrids and to bring the flexible powertrain to more models. It also introduced a new brand name to designate its plug-in hybrid models: EQ Power. The EQ Power designation will...

Electrify America lays out plans for second round of chargers in California

Midway through building its first installments of electric-car chargers, Electrify America sketched out plans for its second $200-million round of investments in California on Wednesday. These installations will add more California cities, target charging networks for...

Is the Tesla Model 3 the top-selling car from an American brand?

Earlier this week we reported the Model 3 is possibly the fifth best-selling car in the U.S., based on Tesla’s update on deliveries. These Model 3 numbers released Tuesday are likely an anomaly; they’re based on a coordinated surge in U.S. deliveries in September. But...

New electric-car ads to hit the other half of California drivers

One problem with electric cars is that they may be invisible. Despite proliferating charging stations, multiplying car models, and extended range for many new electric cars, fewer than half of California drivers are even aware they exist, says Mary Nichols, head of...

Algae blooms could be a boon for eco-diesel under DOE-funded project

Algae-based biodiesel has been hyped in the past as a renewable fuel that can be produced here in the U.S., lowering greenhouse-gas emissions without displacing food crops or taxing water supplies. And yet it still hasn’t arrived in any significant way. There’s no...

UCS report shows electric cars get even cleaner in 2018

Electric cars keep getting cleaner, despite efforts by the EPA and NHTSA to roll back pollution standards on cars and powerplants. That's the conclusion of the latest report from the Union of Concerned Scientists which annually measures the environmental impact of...

Chinese automaker Borgward built gasoline vehicles in order to sell EVs in America

Borgward is unorthodox even among the rapidly evolving cast of 21st-century automakers. It’s a Chinese company, with German heritage, that now wants to bring electric cars to the U.S. Already in the gas-powered SUV market in China, it has sold more than 100,000 units...

2019 Honda Insight recalled for rearview camera failure

The 2019 Honda Insight hybrid hasn't been on sale for long; and yet Honda is already recalling more than 6,000 of them for a rearview camera failure. The problem affects another 226,000 vehicles—2018 Accord models, possibly including some Accord Hybrids. The screen...

California overrules EPA emissions freeze for cars sold in the state