Author: Tabitha
Cyberoptix TieLab produces neckties and bowties that display a variety of interests, including automotive. For example, the gearshift motif lets everyone know you’re into manual transmissions. Other tie styles depict racetrack layouts, racing stripes, vintage auto brands and auto parts, etc. Prices vary depending on the product and material. The gearshift tie sells for $30 for the microfiber version, and up to $56 each for those made from fair-trade silk. You can also add a wood gift box for an additional $10. Check out all of the designs and order at www.cyberoptix.com.
That’s the latest intel from The Sleuth’s sources, who first heard rumors a few months ago of Hummer’s rebirth. Now comes word that the Hummer handle will be part of General Motors’ GMC division. It will also arrive as an all-electric four-door pickup and is to be built on a dedicated BT1 platform alongside an electric Chevrolet Silverado. However the Hummer model is expected to be smaller than the previous size-huge H1 and H2 vehicles. Both pickups, plus a planned electric Cadillac utility vehicle, will be built at a dedicated plant near Detroit, Mich. All three vehicles are expected to…
The hot rumor on the street is that the automaker recently registered “4Active” for an upcoming compact utility vehicle with off-road capabilities. Speculation is that it will be based on the California-designed FT-4X concept that was unveiled with great fanfare at the 2017 New York International Auto Show. The funky and chunky all-wheel-drive vehicle — smaller than a Toyota RAV4 — features all sorts of clever gizmos, such as a mostly smoked glass hatch that opens upward, but can also be split in half with each side opening clam-shell-style. Then there’s the cargo floor that can slide outward for easy…
The original Land Rover Defender, which hasn’t been sold in North America in more than two decades (a new model arrives for 2020), remains a sought-after off-roader. Himalaya, a company that specializes in restoring and repurposing older Land Rovers and similar classic utility vehicles, has added the four-door Defender 110-series to its offerings. Using original body panels and frames, Himalaya installs 525-horsepower 6.3-liter V-8 engines and six-speed automatic transmissions. Also included are modern disc brakes, air conditioning and custom interiors. The $250,000 price tag for the Defender 110 includes a two-year/24,000-mile powertrain warranty. Complete details are available at www.drivehimalaya.com.
If your vehicle didn’t come with a wireless charging pad, you can add one. iOttie makes The Easy One Touch 2 wireless charger system that also doubles as a cell-phone mount. The company sells three different versions: A dash and windshield mount; an air-vent mount; and a slot mount that you insert into a CD player. The iOttie plugs into your vehicle’s USB port and can be pivoted for the best viewing angle. The product also works with most smart phones of varying sizes, including Samsung, LG, Sony and other Android models, as well as Apple iPhone 8 or newer.…
The annual CES event in Las Vegas, Nev., which recently wrapped up, is where automotive- and auto-related exhibitors (among many others) demonstrate their latest high-tech hardware and software. Among them was Sony, which unveiled its Vision-S electric concept sedan, leaving the The Sleuth gob-smacked. That’s because it’s a real car made by independent vehicle-and-component manufacturer Magna Steyr of Austria. The Toyota Camry-sized Vision-S’s two electric motors combine to produce 268 horsepower and can launch the car to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.8 seconds. Among the Sony-develop content is the 360 Reality Audio system with speakers embedded in the seats.…
The Sleuth is hearing that the upcoming GV80 tall wagon will launch later this year as a 2021 model. Visually, the up-to-seven-passenger model’s V-shaped grille is similar what’s found on the redesigned Genesis G90 flagship sedan, although a bit more subdued. The ultra-modern interior comes with an extra-wide touchscreen along with a few knobs for the audio, ventilation and drive modes. The GV80’s sheetmetal is attached to a new rear-wheel-drive platform. All-wheel-drive is available. The base engine is rumored to be the twin-turbocharged 3.3-liter V-6 used in other Genesis vehicles, while a plug-in hybrid drivetrain will be added to the…
The urban runabout was designed primarily for the youth market, but has wound up in the driveways of wider swath of buyers since its 2010-model-year launch. The Soul’s attention-getting bodywork was updated four years later and for the 2020 model year the vehicle receives a complete overhaul, including a new structure, updated content and revised powertrain choices.
The second-generation CLA is a desirable piece of eye candy and is also one of the more affordable vehicles in the Mercedes-Benz lineup. Before diving in, however, there are certain practicalities that should be considered. You see, the CLA is a bit of a head scratcher. For most buyers/lessors, the four-door car likely makes more sense than selecting some two-door model. However, the head- and leg-room-deficient rear seat in the low-slung sedan — that Mercedes-Benz insists on calling it a coupe — isn’t suitable for taller occupants.
The new 12th-generation Corolla sedan, which joins the new-for-2019 Corolla Hatchback, might not be the sharpest-looking sled on the block, or the quickest, but it’s special for other reasons. The Corolla is ideal for people who don’t want to think about how the car works, but believe it will work faithfully and safely well past the powertrain warranty stage and/or the monthly loan or lease commitment.