2016
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Remember the gas-guzzler tax allowance, nicknamed the "HUMMER deduction" because it allowed small-business owners to buy massive, heavy, fuel-sucking SUVs and deduct a large piece of the cost from their taxes? The HUMMER brand went away as a result of the 2009 GM bankruptcy and government-backed restructuring. But the Section 179 tax credit has had more lives than a TV zombie. Now, in a delicious twist of fate, it turns out that the Tesla Model X all-electric luxury SUV is eligible for the very same tax break. DON'T MISS: Gas Guzzler Tax Deduction Restored To $500K For 2014 By Budget Bill...
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More Than 1,000 People Want 2016 Toyota Mirai Hydrogen Fuel Cell Vehicles
Toyota says it's received 1,900 requests for the 1,000 2016 Mirai build slots.
Stephen Edelstein -
Kia Soul EV Sales Expand Again, To Four Northeast States
The 2016 Kia Soul EV will be offered in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and Maryland.
Stephen Edelstein -
Should The Tesla Model X Be Called An SUV? Crossover? Wagon? Hatchback?
The Tesla Model X electric luxury vehicle has widely been referred to as an SUV or a crossover utility vehicle by the media, the company, and buyers. And indeed, it's taller and somewhat boxier than the sleek Model S "sedan," which is actually a hatchback. But we've had some energetic discussions...
John Voelcker -
2016 Chevrolet Volt Ads: Attacking Prius, Leaf...And Bolt EV?
The 2016 Chevrolet Volt, for which deliveries began just this week, is going into attack mode against the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius in a set of new ads. But in one of those ads, it almost feels as if GM is attacking its own (upcoming) product. They build on focus-group-themed ads that Chevy has...
Bengt Halvorson -
GM Will Make Autonomous Versions Of The 2017 Chevrolet Volt
Beginning in late fall 2016, if you’re lucky enough to visit the Warren Technical Center campus of General Motors [NYSE:GM], in Michigan, you might find your shuttle quite intriguing: a 2017 Chevrolet Volt, driving itself. The automaker plans to deploy a fleet of Volt extended range electric...
Bengt Halvorson -
The Toyota Mirai's chief engineer proposes a Prius-like "family" or fuel-cell models.
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Tesla Model X: The New Safest SUV?
The Tesla Motors [NSDQ: TSLA] Model X SUV has been revealed in production form; and while the packaging and performance of this new electric SUV are mostly as expected, there were plenty of surprises. One of the surprises was how well the trick double-hinged falcon doors are designed—with a...
Bengt Halvorson -
2016 Nissan Leaf: How Does It Compare To 2012 Model On Price, Equipment, Range?
How has the Nissan Leaf changed over the years?
Stephen Edelstein -
2016 Toyota Prius: Leaked Technical Details Confirm e-AWD Option On Higher Models
A leaked staff manual indicates the 2016 Toyota Prius will be offered with all-wheel drive.
Stephen Edelstein -
2016 Chevrolet Cruze Will Add Hatchback As Well As Sedan, Following Ford, Honda
The next-generation Chevrolet Cruze will be offered as a hatchback, a GM executive said recently.
Stephen Edelstein -
2016 Toyota Prius: Official Auto Show Debut At Frankfurt Motor Show
It was actually introduced to the world last week, but the 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid made its official auto-show debut yesterday at the huge Frankfurt Motor Show. A large crowd of journalists from around the world crowded around the covered car, eager to see in person what so far they'd only seen in...
John Voelcker -
Suppose you could buy a new 2016 Nissan Leaf rated not at 107 miles but 155 miles. That would be a far more desirable car, wouldn't it? Well, you can--but only in Europe. The punchline is that the two cars are identical. What differs is the rating procedure used to calculate the range of an electric car. DON'T MISS: Nissan Gripz Concept: 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show Live Photos & Video In a press conference yesterday at the Frankfurt Motor Show for its GripZ concept--a highly stylized small crossover about the size of today's Nissan Juke--Nissan's European arm noted that the 2016 Leaf would...
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2016 Toyota Prius Preview Video
One of the most important new cars of the 2016 model year isn’t some 600-horsepower sports car, or a big crossover wagon. It’s the hybrid that started it all, or at least made hybrids what they are today. Recently in Las Vegas, and also at the 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, Toyota gave the...
Martin Padgett -
2016 Honda HR-V Small Crossover Utility Gets Highest Safety Scores
The 2016 Honda HR-V received a "5-Star Overall Vehicle Score" from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Stephen Edelstein -
2016 Volvo XC90: Gas Mileage Review Of Luxury Seven-Seat SUV
For green-car fans, the all-new Volvo XC90 seven-seat luxury crossover is most notable for its upcoming plug-in hybrid model. But that version will be just a small part of its sales, of which a majority in North America will have the company's supercharged and turbocharged Drive-E engine. The...
John Voelcker -
2016 Chevy Volt: Limited Markets Only, Nationwide Rollout In Spring For 2017 Volt
The second-generation Chevrolet Volt won't become available nationwide until next year.
Stephen Edelstein -
2016 Nissan Leaf Offers 107-Mile Range With 30-kWh Battery; Leaf S Unchanged
The 2016 Nissan Leaf electric car will offer a choice of two different battery sizes, with a new larger 30-kilowatt-hour pack giving an EPA-rated range of 107 miles on the mid-level SV model and the top SL trim level. The new 107-mile Leaf models will cost $35,050 for the Leaf SV (up from $32,950...
John Voelcker -
The Lexus RX luxury crossover—and particularly the RX 450h hybrid version—has always been an image vehicle. But now, for 2016, the RX lineup finally gets an image that says something other than pragmatic, fiscally responsible luxury. It’s no surprise why this vehicle is the longtime best-selling luxury crossover of its class (think BMW X5, Acura MDX, and Lincoln MKX, among many) for upscale realtors, business people, and empty-nesters, as its combination of interior comfort, a high seating point (for easy entry and exit), and fuel-efficient powertrains—plus the Lexus...
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2016 Toyota Prius: Few Details At Global Launch Of 55-MPG Hybrid (Photos)
The new 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid made its debut in Las Vegas Tuesday evening, where 350 guests watched the latest model of the world's most popular hybrid car raised into the night sky at an elaborate event to mark its global launch. But "it's not just about MPG any more," according to the press...
John Voelcker -
2016 Scion iM: First Drive Of New Compact Hatchback
The 2016 Scion iM compact hatchback is the second two of new Scion models for 2016, joining the iA subcompact sedan. It's part of a much-needed new lineup that takes Toyota's youth brand away from funky "tall box" cars or 10-foot-long urban cars and gives it a product that competes in the heart of...
John Voelcker -
2016 Scion iA: First Drive Of 37-MPG Subcompact Sedan
The 2016 Scion iA is a four-door subcompact sedan that's Scion's first new vehicle since the ill-fated and now departed iQ minicar. One of two new vehicles for what tends to be termed "Toyota's beleaguered Scion brand," it's a fresh new entry with stellar fuel economy. It also happens to be great...
John Voelcker -
2016 Toyota Prius: What We Want To Know About All-New Hybrid
Next Tuesday evening, the 2016 Toyota Prius hybrid will make its world debut in Las Vegas, kicking off what its maker calls "the next era of an icon." "We’re pulling out all of the stops for this exclusive event to celebrate the future of Prius in a truly spectacular way that will be anything...
John Voelcker -
2016 Chevrolet Volt First Drive: Plug-In Hybrid Home Run
The all-new 2016 Chevrolet Volt is just about here, and it builds on all of its predecessor's virtues while resolving most of that car's vices. It's got a lot more electric range--53 miles--and at 42 miles per gallon, it's more fuel-efficient on those rare occasions when the range-extending engine...
John Voelcker