Automotive Trends

Quite honestly I've been pretty happy with the current state of the industry when it comes to driving assistance technology and "lane keep assist" type features that are available from most manufacturers today. They all have different names but fundamentally those technologies depend on a camera and some other sensors that help keep your car between the lanes. This is a huge benefit when it comes to long road trips. However, it wasn't until last week at a General Motors test track outside of Detroit that I started to realize just how awesome Super Cruise can be.

Feeling comfortable in a car could come in two ways. As a passenger, you want to be transported away from the bumps and twists in the road. As a driver, you want to feel everything possible. But, in newer cars, the technology is such that there’s not a lot of feedback. In more ‘analog’ cars you could feel the road through the tires and into your feet. You can feel the chassis slipping around on the road through your rear and hips. You could feel the moaning and stressful conditions the tires are experiencing through your hands. What happened to all of that? It's largely due to a lack of driver-focused setups in cars, but thankfully, the aftermarket is full of choices.

At this point, most of us realize just how hard it is to sanitize all the surfaces of your house and car. No matter how well you scrub, getting every piece clean is near impossible with spray and wipes. Plus that just takes a ton of time so Ford developed a solution. They have designed a new heated software enhancement to pilot with its Police Interceptor Utility – one that law enforcement agencies across the country can utilize to help reduce the footprint of the COVID-19 virus.

My dilemma was that I needed to take my daughter and all of her dorm room stuff to school after break. As the trip was a double-digit drive, in hours, I needed something compact, economical, and by all means as spacious as possible.

Getting a driver's license is one of the first rights of passage for American teenagers and frankly those from around the world as well. It's a sign that you have proven to be mature enough to control a giant machine. It is also a child's first opportunity to have real freedom. For parents though, it can be nerve-racking. Let's take a look at some tips to help make the process of learning to drive a bit easier for kids.

Getting your teen prepared to drive is a challenge that is also an exciting right of passage for many families. It's a tough time where you are simultaneously needing to train them on an important skill but also providing them with freedom beyond the boundaries of your home and local community. Quite literally this is an important situation that is a matter of life and death so it's critical that you make the right choices. Here's some advice to help make things easier for both of you.

There’s nothing quite like the feeling of owning a car. These machines are a prime example of what we’re capable of building and that in itself is incredibly manly. Imagine driving across the country with the top down and the sun in your face, a feeling of utter freedom as you feel the engine vibrations intensify with every bit of pressure you add to the accelerator pedal.

In the past several years, a lot of exciting tech has found its way onto new cars of all price points. Even base models today are packed with technology that makes driving more enjoyable. Whether it's meant to improve driving safety or just make vehicles more fun to drive, the new technology is now much more available to the average driver than it once was. In the past, many of these features were only found in six-figure automobiles. Today though, you can find versions of these in most new cars, but they come together nicely in the Cadillac CT6 Platinum.

For some jobs it is worth paying a premium for new, genuine OEM parts for your car... and other times you can do with second hand options. I know a lot of you guys have "project cars" or off-road trucks that are cobbled together piece by piece and spend as much time in the shop as they do on the road. Most of us that have learned how to hunt through a salvage yard were lucky to find a friend to show them. Here's how you can get started picking through the junkyard for the right piece... or one that is close enough.

Buick is a car brand that has almost universal name recognition in the United States (and likely much of the world). Unfortunately it suffers from a perception problem that it is "and old man's car" and they've even embraced that with the "That's a Buick!?" marketing campaign. I'll be fank - when I was invited to Palm Springs earlier this week, there wasn't a single car in their lineup that I was excited to drive. However, I accepted the invite because I really love working with GM and the company has treated me VERY WELL over the past couple years. What I discovered after spending some time listening, feeling, and driving a few different vehicles was that this is a brand that is worth considering if you are looking for what they describe as, "Attainable Luxury."

The LA Auto Show (now called Automobility) is usually a showcase of green cars and talk of transportation alternatives. This year, though, the last auto show of 2018 was a lot more focused on trucks and sport utilities. A clear marker of where the automotive market is going in North America.

I'm back from the annual SEMA show and that means lots of shop talk about what the future might bring for the automotive industry. Unlike the regional auto shows though, this one is about flashy things and concepts that are designed simply to show what "Might Be". One such example was the ridiculous - but super cool Toyota Tundra PIE truck that was designed to be zero emissions since it uses a hydrogen fuel cell. It's undeniably cool... but while the promise of hydrogen is vast, the reality is that hydrogen is far from the perfect fuel for cars of the future.

The day your teenager gets their driving licence is a roller coaster of emotions. They’re excited, and perhaps a little nervous, and you’re proud but absolutely terrified. Watching your child get behind the wheel of a car for the very first time is a wonderful experience, but it’s one that reminds you just how dangerous cars can be. After all, car accidents are the leading cause of death among teens. Because of this, it’s absolutely vital that your child knows what they’re doing. Here are some tips to ensure that your teen stays safe on the road.

Nissan has a history of building somewhat rebellious small vehicles, like the Juke and the asymmetrical Cube. While the new 2018 Nissan Kicks sounds like stylish shoes you picked up at the mall, it’s actually a sporty compact crossover with the name that gives a nod to Brazilian kicking sports. This portrays the vehicle perfectly. It’s hip, but only rebellious when it comes to its competition.

At this year’s 110th edition of the Chicago Auto Show, the buzz was all about trucks and SUVs as they continue to rack up record sales. Alternatively, almost every automaker touched on their autonomous vehicle programs, but no one will discuss when day zero will happen, or how autonomous vehicles will affect sales.

Virtually every man I know has an appreciation - if not an outright love of cars. While some are simply dull practical machines to get back and forth, many of them are in fact works of mechanical and artistic triumph that deserve to be celebrated. That's one of the reasons why I love the annual Fabulous Fords Forever show. It's more than just an exotic car show, but rather it's a celebration of passion for one of my favorite automotive brands - Ford Motor Company. 

In the recent past the Chicago Auto Show was ironically considered a “truck show” show by the world’s vehicle manufacturers. These automakers chose the show to introduce important pickup and SUV vehicles to the media and the nation’s largest public auto show audience. Well, for the recently concluded 2016 Chicago Auto Show trucks took the show back. This year there were numerous production truck intros and special vehicles on display at the show. Here are the ones you need to know about.

I'm lucky - not a month goes by where I don't get a chance to hop in an awesome new car and take it for a spin. While many of my friends get jealous when I talk about jetting off to Aspen or some other exotic locale, the reality is that you can have a similar experience even closer to home by visiting your local auto show and checking out the Kia Ride & Drive.

In this episode of Men Who Blog, Colby and James check out the all new 2016 Ford Explorer at the Chicago Auto Show and talk with Lead Engineer, Arie Groeneveld while sitting inside the SUV. 

Made in Chicago, it's only fair that they would bring it there to show off. Along with the consumer version of the SUV, we also had the chance to check out the Police Interceptor version .. which btw you probably don't want to get in the back seat of, so mind those speed limits and always obey the law!