Author: Tabitha

Convertibles are mostly about fun in the sun, but not so much when your hair is constantly blowing in your face or you’re forced to wear a ball cap. Then there’s the wind-gust buffeting that forces you to shout at your driving partner and/or crank up the turn audio-system volume. One solution is to install a wind deflector, such as one from Love the Drive. The company makes them for a variety of current and older-model drop-tops, including the Ford Mustang from 1964, Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac Firebird from 1967, Chrysler Sebring/200 plus several import-based brands. Love the Drive deflectors…

If your car doesn’t have a modern blind-spot warning system — available on most new vehicles — the Allview Mirror System (AMS) is a compelling substitute. The manufacturer states that the AMS is unlike an image-distorting convex mirror (the one with the phrase “Objects in Mirror Are Closer Than They Appear”). The flat, panoramic surface on the AMS increases your rearward field of vision without any distortion to a point where you’re able to observe multiple lanes of traffic without turning your head to check the outside mirrors. In turn, this allows you to more safely merge and change lanes.…

Electrification is “the key” to maintaining the Dodge brand’s ongoing performance image, and for the future of all performance cars, says the head of passenger cars for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles. New high-priced supercars from Honda, Ferrari and Porsche have enjoyed electrification to date virtually unchallenged, Tim Kuniskis told industry publication Automotive News. However, electrification of Dodge brand names such as Charger SRT Hellcat and Scat Pack is the “absolute future” for all such cars. “That’s not necessarily bad,” he said; it could be battery-electric, plug-in hybrid, e-axles or “any one of the number of electric technologies.” Kuniskis said modern supercars…

The automaker has explored only “the tip of the iceberg” with its new carbon-fiber pickup box for the GMC Sierra, reports industry watchdog Automotive News. Future uses for the lighter and structurally superior material by GM are expected to become more widespread, apparent and accessible. The Sierra’s sibling Chevrolet Silverado is the next obvious platform for carbon-fiber use, the publication reports, followed by GM’s next-generation midsize and heavy-duty pickups. As structural material, “logically, you could deduce that if we make it [from] steel, we could make it out of carbon,” said Mark Voss, engineering group manager for GM’s pickup boxes.…

You can outfit your vehicle with a variety of emergency gear, but consider the CarAIDE Multi-Tool 3S that provides nearly everything you need in one package. The heart of the product is a tough water- and shock-resistant flashlight, an extra-loud alarm and strobing SOS flasher with a 755-foot range. It also functions as a 12-volt battery charger and in a pinch can be used to break glass and cut seat-belt fabric. You can also use it to charge your phone, tablet, or other electronic devices. Last but not least, the CarAIDE is magnetized so it will stick to your vehicle’s…

Most dog owners recognize the need to properly secure their pooches while riding in the car. One solution is the Vehicle Safety Harness from Rochester, N.Y.-based Mighty Paw. The company claims the product is made using heavy-duty materials, including the metal attachments and the waterproof harness itself. The harness can be detached from the seat belt and then combined with a leash (which avoids removal from the dog). You can choose from small, medium, large and XL for $26 each. For an extra $15, you can also add the matching safety belt. Visit www.mightypaw.com.

Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) says it has mastered the task of vehicle-air purification, ensuring that occupants breath the most odor-free, clean air possible. The Smart Air Purification system constantly monitors and filters in-cabin air and sports an automatic filtering system that ensures “excellent” air quality status, a press release said. Combined with advanced filtering, the system is claimed to remove fine particulates and almost instantly purifies the inside air automatically. Its filters “enhance the collection of fine particles from 94 percent to 99 percent,” HMG said. A charcoal-based deodorization function will automatically close windows to assist the purification process whenever…

It was only a matter of time in the age of electronics until motorcycle helmets became more than crash protection. A case in point is Forcite’s “smart” motorcycle helmet, packing Bluetooth communication, a chin-mounted camera with image stabilization, and performance-tracking sensors, all wrapped in a lightweight carbon-fiber shell. A suite of built-in sensors includes an altimeter, barometer, global positioning system (GPS) and gyroscope for automatic ride analysis on the road and especially the track. The built-in battery is an inert lithium pack that Forcite says can withstand bending, cutting, high impacts and piercing, without exploding. Connect via Bluetooth to a…

Not an automaker to shy away from a niche, Hyundai’s Kia division should find more running room as it prepares to launch an updated version of one of its big sedans for 2020. The Cadenza — sized between the Optima and the larger K900 four-door models — faces reduced competition with the cancellation of the Chevrolet Impala, Buick LaCrosse and Ford Taurus. In its size bracket (and with a low- to mid-$30,000 base price), there’s only the Toyota Avalon, Nissan Maxima, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger. For the coming model year, the Cadenza gets a larger concave grille, sleeker LED…

The Sleuth’s sources are abuzz with whisperings that Ford’s muscular off-road pickup might get a new engine option. Currently, a 450-horsepower twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-6 is the Raptor’s mainstay, but rumors persist that the same supercharged 5.2-liter V-8 that will power the Mustang-based 2020 Shelby GT500 will also be available. That would mean a huge output bump to 760 horsepower along with 625 pound-feet of torque. What’s not expected is the GT500’s seven-speed paddle-shifted transmission. Instead, the V-6’s 10-speed automatic would also handle the shifting duties. With the new engine option, the muscled-up Raptor will more than hold its own against…