Author: Tabitha
Aligning your tow vehicle’s receiver to your trailer’s tongue can be tricky, especially if there’s no one around to act as a guide. The Swift Hitch SH02 by Toren Partners, LLC, simplifies this process so that both experts and neophytes alike should have no problem hooking up. The product consists of a night-vision-capable camera with a magnetic base that attaches to the trunk, liftgate or tailgate of your vehicle. The camera’s image is then transmitted to a hand-held, high-resolution 2.5-inch color display screen that shows you exactly when your hitch is in the correct spot. Prices start at $220 for…
Whether you or someone you know has attended a race at the Daytona, Beach, Fla. super speedway, you’ll appreciate Fathead’s high-definition mural-sized, full-color photos of the venue from the company’s wall graphic collection. The wide-angle vinyl murals measure a full six feet tall by four feet wide, making them ideal to hang in an office, den, studio or garage. But the best part is that it can be displayed using a special “low-tac” adhesive that won’t damage walls and allows for easy relocation whenever you want. As well as track murals, Fathead also has a line of giant-size vehicle images…
According to The Sleuth, Subaru is preparing to more aggressively market the STI brand in North America. For years the name has been associated with the Impreza-based WRX STI, but soon it will be applied to a special version of the BRZ sport coupe. Unfortunately, that won’t mean that the WRX’s turbocharged 305-horsepower engine will find its way between the BRZ’s fenders. Rather, a tuned-up non-turbo powerplant is more likely. Also, special STI suspension and brake components plus body pieces (such as a giant rear wing) will be available either from the factory or as dealer-supplied add-ons. The end game…
That’s a big-time yes, based on the Civic coupe concept that was revealed at the 2015 New York International Auto Show. The Trenchcoated One sees a bolder design that at last stands apart from the crowd. As well, Civic sedans and coupes get a turbocharged 1.5-liter four-cylinder engine option as an alternative to the base non-turbo engine. A hatchback version will join the Civic ranks and a 305-horsepower Type R hatch will also be part of the invasion (hatchbacks are built at Honda’s factory in England). The Type R’s arrival here is partly due to the efforts of Civic fans…
Three new automakers have joined Go Ultra Low, which is the European campaign to raise awareness of ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs). Audi, Mitsubishi and Volkswagen have joined BMW, Nissan, Renault and Toyota to work with governments in raising awareness of the benefits of ULEVs, which include low running costs and government purchase incentives. Between them, the seven Go Ultra Low members boast 15 ULEVs across a variety of model sizes and performance attributes, from family cars and vans, to tall wagons and high-performance sports cars. According to figures from Britain’s Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, 2014 ULEV registrations in…
Oil giant Shell, in conjunction with race- and road-car design legend Gordon Murray and engine specialist Osamu Goto, will co-engineer an ultra-compact efficient car for city use based around the internal combustion engine. The “Shell car” is intended to be a simple, practical global city car, incorporating the most innovative aspects of light-weight engineering, streamlining and driveline efficiency. The concept is intended to inspire thinking about maximizing personal mobility while minimizing energy use in the world’s ever-more-congested cities where by 2050, it is estimated that up to three-quarters of the world’s (by then) nine billion people will live. “Project M”…
You don’t want to put just any floor mats inside your expensive vehicle or classic car. Not when there’s a wide assortment of genuine leather mats available from Inpelle Auto Accessories. The company makes seat coverings for BMW, Porsche and Audi and now offers custom-fitted floor mats for a variety of other makes. The leather has been given a special waterproof finish that is claimed to resist all sorts of dirt and grime. They’re also claimed to fit just like original-equipment mats so they won’t slip. Each set of front and rear mats (available in four colors and two different…
People on the go no longer have to wait in line at an overpriced specialty coffee emporium for their favorite cup of espresso. Handpresso of France makes this portable 140-watt espresso machine that fits in your vehicle’s cupholder and plugs into any 12-volt receptacle, such as a lighter socket. The Handpresso Auto version, which sells in the $200 range, accepts most E.S.E (Easy Serving Espresso) coffee pods and brews up the contents in about two minutes (the Handpresso beeps three times once the process is completed). Get all the details about it and the available accessories at www.handpresso.com, but your…
The Sleuth drove one of the first Honda CR-Zs to be brought to North America, which left him with lukewarm feelings about the car. In short, the CR-Z’s cool and sporty looks weren’t backed up by anything approaching scintillating performance. That wasn’t a huge surprise, considering the CR-Z’s gas-electric propulsion system was borrowed from Honda’s tame and now-retired Insight hybrid. Now word has leaked out that a second-generation CR-Z is in the works for a 2017 launch that will run with Honda’s upcoming turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine and will be assisted by an electric motor. The expected output is to…
The Sleuth’s sources were bang-on a few weeks back when they emphatically stated that Ford’s upscale branch would affix a Continental logo to an upcoming luxury sedan. Sure enough, Lincoln recently revealed a concept “Conti” at the 2015 New York Auto Show. Ford also confirms that the Continental, a nameplate that was phased out after the 2002 model year, will replace the MKS sedan for 2016. The prototype version confirms that Lincoln is abandoning its split-wing grille design that never caught on in a big way with prospective buyers. The new look is much more subtle and definitely more attractive.…