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ADVERTORIAL — You're walking down a street lined with cars. You glance over, and without intending to, notice the contents of one of them. What stands between you and the items in the car? Is it really nothing more than a glass window? Unfortunately, yes. Luckily, you'd never do anything like that.

Theft of objects from a car
The good news is that most people, like you, are not thieves. You'd never think of breaking into a car, and neither would they, and that keeps everything in balance. Except...

Stealing objects out of a car is easier and more tempting than stealing the car itself. Successfully stealing a car requires a certain amount of hard-to-come-by technical knowledge, and a fair amount of time. But to steal the contents of a car, all you need is a way to break the window then to reach your arm in and take off with the stolen object a few seconds later.

Car insurance
The theft of items other than equipment and accessories that are part of the car itself is not covered by car insurance. Whether it's your golf bag, your laptop, your portable GPS, a purse or a tablet, you're only covered through your home insurance. Even then, you'll be left with a broken window to replace...

In this situation, the broken window is considered attempted theft and is generally covered, if you've opted for one of the following protections: Section B1 - “All risks,” Section B3 - “All perils other than collision and upset” or Section B4 “Specific perils.” Be warned, in addition to having the right coverage, some insurers also require that you report the incident to the authorities within 24 hours. In almost all cases you are responsible for paying the deductible (there's one exception that we'll look at later), and hoping that the cost to repair the damage is less than that amount!

Home insurance
It's summertime, and your golf clubs are sorely missed. You call your insurer to place a claim, police report and proof of purchase in-hand. Now all you need to do is pay the deductible and all this will be a thing of the past.

Really? Not quite.

The impact on your insurance
With car insurance, theft generally has less of an impact on your premiums at the time of renewal than if you had an accident where you were at fault. You should emerge relatively unscathed. The most important factor is frequency. One theft in 20 years? No problem -- it's looked at as a chance occurrence. However, what do the next six years have in store for you? Could you be unlucky again? The more claims you file, the bigger the impact on your premiums.

With home insurance, the impact on your premiums is generally felt right away, upon your next renewal. It's not a guarantee, but it's rare to see otherwise.

The important thing is to understand that insurance is there to help you pay for losses that you can't afford to cover yourself. Don't refrain from making a claim just because you're afraid of higher premiums. You pay those premiums for a reason. If the loss is covered and the deductible is lower than the amount of the claim, you can exercise your right to make a claim.

Combined insurance
Fortunately, if you've combined your insurance, you only have to pay one deductible if there's an incident that touches on both your car and home insurance (the higher of the two). The incident will appear in both files, and could have an impact on both, but at least you won't have two insurers to contact or two deductibles to pay.

Still, better not to be robbed at all
We've been talking about worst-case scenarios here, but really the best thing is to avoid leaving valuables in your car altogether. If you have no choice at least leave them in the trunk. The best way to avoid theft is to avoid temptation.

A team of drivers representing Edmunds.com has just completed a cross-country trip from California to New York in 67 hours and 21 minutes with a Tesla Model S. They beat the previous record of 76 hours and 5 minutes set by Tesla staffers.

Edmunds.com Director of Vehicle Testing Dan Edmunds and Photo Editor Kurt Niebuhr achieved the feat in less than three days while stopping at 23 Tesla Supercharger stations along the way. They drove all alone, with no support team to back them up in the event of a technical problem or accident.

"The key to breaking the record wasn't to drive fast; we had to drive smart," said Dan Edmunds. "Fast, aggressive driving will only succeed in sucking down an EV's battery. We had to drive responsibly to make sure we had enough juice to get from one charging station to the next. And we saved time by charging only a little more than what we figured was necessary to get to the next Supercharger."

Edmunds and Niebuhr travelled 5,362 kilometres at an average speed of 101.7 km/h. They actually drove for 52 hours and 41 minutes, and spent the remaining 14 hours and 40 minutes at Supercharger stations to charge the battery. They made no other stops.

The 1.06 Megawatt-hours of electricity consumed by the Model S didn't cost them a thing since those Superchargers are free of charge for all Tesla owners.

Amazingly, the duo returned home the day after arriving in the Big Apple, and completed the round-trip adventure in less than a week — 6 days, 23 hours and 4 minutes, to be exact.

Source : Edmunds.com

Canadian Patrick Carpentier will come out of retirement August 7 and 8 as he will contest the Trois-Rivieres round of the 2014 FIA World Rallycross Championship.

The former IndyCar and NASCAR racer will be behind the wheel of a Marklund Motorsport Volkswagen Polo Supercar.

This will be Carpentier's first experience in a 600-bhp, four-wheel driver rallycross car on a mixed tarmac/dirt road course.

Carpentier's VW Polo Supercar. (Photo: Facebook)

“As a TV commentator, I feel I've learnt a whole bunch about the series, especially how much more competitive it is than I first thought. It's fast, adrenaline pumping, high energy and what I like the most is that the short races are unpredictable,” said Carpentier to the official FIA Rallycross web site.

“I have also been training very hard physically because of the lack of testing. However, nothing comes even come close to sitting in the car and driving”, Carpentier added.


The former ChampCar race winner said he thinks rallycross represents the future of car racing.

“Sinply because it has everything a young modern sports fan wants. The attention span for watching a sport has shortened quite a lot in the last few years. Long races, a lack of action and knowing what the result will be midway through the race will not attract the up and coming crowds anymore. The rallycross show is about two hours, including many bursts of energy, action and drama - it's what will thrive in racing,” he explained.

Carpentier set himself realistic targets at Trois-Rivieres.

“If I make it to the semi-final, everything else is a bonus. My intentions are to do so but we'll find out once we are on the track,” he declared.

A few years ago, Carpentier did some ice racing and also drove a buggy.

“I've raced at the Supercross Stadium in all-wheel drive buggy and it went quite well. We were running third in the final, until the car broke but I had a blast, jumping, pushing and all!” he laughed.

Does Carpentier plan to do more rallycross races this season?

“I would certainly love to. We'll see how this one goes but this is truly the kind of racing I would love to pursue. In today's sports, rallycross is for me,” he concluded.

Chrysler is recalling 792,300 SUVs in North America, including about 29,000 in Canada, after discovering that some 2006-2007 Jeep Commanders and 2005-2006 Jeep Grand Cherokees may suffer from a faulty ignition switch.

It's the same part that doomed General Motors and forced the recall of millions of vehicles since the start of 2014.

The ignition switch may inadvertently be turned off by the driver's knee, which could stall the engine and kill steering assist. Also, the airbags and other safety systems may become disabled and not deploy in the event of a crash.

According to Chrysler, a single accident has been reported so far, but no one has been injured. The company has received a ''relatively limited number'' of complaints, and insists all affected owners will be notified by mid-September.

It's the second large-scale recall announced by Chrysler in just a few months. They also recalled 870,000 SUVs in North America (42,380 in Canada) due to a corrosion problem that could compromise the effectiveness of the braking system.

Source : ici.radio-canada.ca

Renault Sport F1 and Total engineers were asked if it would be a smart idea to put Formula 1 lubricant into an everyday car. He is their answer.

“You would have to regularly change the oil of the engine!” they said in a Renault press release.

“An F1 lubricant is in fact too elite for regular, everyday usage as it is designed to protect an engine for just 3,000km. Some detergents used to clean parts or dispersants designed to keep foreign bodies in suspension are absent or much too low grade in an F1 lubricant to ensure proper protection of the engine in the traditional interval between oil changes on a standard vehicle.

“In addition, F1 cars are always run in very hot temperatures, while the Clio must start in all weather. The lubricant therefore needs special ‘cold' properties that an F1 version does not need.

“The overall objective is however the same between the two universes. They share similar viscosity grades, whether 0W30 or 5W20, with comparable values under high shear at 150°C”.

From Australian V8 Supercar series

Tim Cindric, president of Penske Racing, has conceded a presence on the V8 Supercars grid in 2015 is now “difficult but not impossible”.

Penske's investment in truck distribution in Australia and New Zealand is the catalyst for its examination of involvement in V8 Supercars.

Cindric reaffirmed the operation's desire to race V8 Supercars and also confirmed an alliance with Dick Johnson Racing remains its preferred option.

The entry of the American team, which races in both NASCAR and Verizon IndyCar and is owned by motor racing legend Roger Penske, has been widely anticipated for 2015 since Cindric visited the 2013 Sydney 500 and news broke of negotiations with DJR.

“Is it (2015) realistic or not? We have had a lot shorter timelines on other programs,” Cindric told v8supercars.com.au.

“It's difficult but not impossible.”

Start of the Melbourne race. (Photo: V8 Supercars)

Cindric said there was no “defined deadline” for a decision on 2015 Penske presence on the V8 Supercars grid.

Roger Penske and Tim Cindric visited DJR in June, met almost the entire team.

Cindric made it clear the recent departure of DJR sporting director Campbell Little, who he has formed a strong friendship with, was not relevant to any potential Penske-DJR deal.

From GMM

Bernie Ecclestone has moved to dismiss doubts about this year's inaugural Russian grand prix.

In the wake of the Malaysia Airlines MH17 atrocity, pressure is falling on formula one to cancel its scheduled event at Sochi in October.

The Daily Mail said Mercedes, whose Malaysian sponsor Petronas has set up a fund for the families of the 298 victims, is privately 'uneasy' about attending an event so closely associated with Vladimir Putin.

But Bernie Ecclestone, who earlier this year revealed his "great admiration" for the controversial Russian president, insists: "I don't see any problem with going.

"We are not involved in politics. We have a contract with them. We'll respect it 100 per cent and so will Mr Putin, I'm sure. He's been very supportive," the F1 chief executive added.

The Daily Mail quoted a FIA spokesman as saying that while the Paris federation is "awake to the situation", it did not want to "mix politics and sport".

From GMM

Romain Grosjean could still be looking at a Lotus future beyond 2014.

At Hockenheim, the Enstone based team confirmed that Pastor Maldonado, backed by the powerful Venezuelan sponsor PDVSA, is staying put next year.

Frenchman Grosjean's prospects, however, looked less sure, as his manager Eric Boullier is now the boss at McLaren, and his backers Renault and Total could make way at Lotus for a new Mercedes partnership for 2015.

But Lotus deputy chief Federico Gastaldi said Romain Grosjean, 28, might still be staying in black and gold for 2015.

"Let's be honest," he said. "Romain as a top, top driver is not happy with the 2014 season and this is mirrored by everyone at the team of course.

"We cannot confirm anything just yet as the timing will be right when we are both comfortable to announce something. All I can say is that it's certainly the intention for Romain to stay at Enstone and continue what has been a great partnership and working relationship," Federico Gastaldi added.

Romain Grosjean, Lotus E22-Renault. (Photo: WRi2)

There's no denying it, the Mazda CX-5 is a great little crossover. From the way it drives to the way it looks on the outside, its appeal is apparent. As our long-term tester made the rounds in the office, we've had some good feedback in terms of driveability and fuel economy, but this time we wanted to take a look at the inside only.


So, here it is: the good, the bad, and the ugly.

The Good

Comfortable: Yup, this is one comfortable CUV. Up front, the driver's seat is both supportive and comfy. While we pointed out the fact that the passenger doesn't have the luxury of multiple seat settings in our first update, the driver does. That means, no matter what your size or driving style, the CX-5 will be a perfect fit.

Traversing bumpy country roads behind the wheel of the 2015 Mazda CX-5 proved not only that the suspension was quite good, but also that the seats are, as well.

Rear-seat space: With a large Britax child seat installed, the back of the Mazda CX-5 is still quite spacious. While I wouldn't recommend two adults sitting back there with my son, one will be just fine. And installation of the baby seat was a breeze thanks to the height of the vehicle (no need to bend over to click LATCH system in or to get my son into his seat).

Rear-seat armrest: I really appreciate cars that offer a fold-down armrest with cup holders in the bench seat in the back. That means my son has a place to put his drink, snacks, and toys. His car seat doesn't have a built-in cup holder, so having a car that has its own is mint. And the CX-5's is at just the right height for him and his seat. Perfect.

The Bad

Sticky stalk: Maybe it was just me, but I found myself getting so annoyed with the turn-signal stalk. It was so sticky and tough to click quickly. I couldn't just use one finger to push it up or down and hold it for a few seconds to do a Euro three-flash turn signal. I had to actually grip the stalk with my left hand and place it up or down -- same to disengage. Something like that will make people not want to use it, and we definitely don't need that!

The Ugly

Surviving Mommy-brain: I considered not bringing this up, but since the CX-5 faired so well, why the hell not? This is only “ugly” because it could have been so much more. Upon returning from a week-long trip, I drove the Mazda CX-5 home with all windows open, including the sunroof, but only tilted up, not entirely open (thankfully). That night it rained, and heavily. I left the sunroof tilted open.

Upon entering the car it was clear that something was a bit off. However, the car was by no means soaked. In fact, the rain had only dowsed the seats, and only on the sides. A bit of paper towel later and all the water was gone. I was impressed with the CX-5's ability to overcome my lack of smarts and keep the little CUV from drowning.

It's a shame cars don't come with sunroof sensors to remind you that one has been left open, just as they would a door or hatchback. Just a thought...



Continuing its winning streak
There's a really good reason we chose the Mazda CX-5 as our long-term vehicle: because we know how good it can be. And as we encroach on the 8,000km mark of distance travelled behind the wheel, we can't help but continue to find primarily only good things to say about it.

General Motors has announced that its 2015 Chevrolet and GMC SUVs and pickup trucks will come standard with an 8-speed automatic transmission. More specifically, we're talking about the Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali models equipped with the 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 engine.

No word on the Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, however.

The GM-developed Hydra-Matic 8L90 8-speed transmission is approximately the same size and weight as the Hydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed unit. Its 7.0 overall gear ratio spread is wider than GM's 6-speed automatic transmissions, providing a numerically higher first gear ratio to help drivers start off more confidently with a heavy load or when trailering. The 8L90 also enables numerically lower rear axle ratios, which reduce engine rpm on the highway.

This comes more than a year after GM and Ford entered a partnership to develop an all-new generation of advanced, 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions for cars, crossovers, SUVs, and trucks. The new 8-speed could be a stepping stone between these and the current 6-speed box.

The 6.2L EcoTec3 V8 delivers 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, allowing a maximum trailer rating of 5,443 kilos (12,000 lbs). As with other EcoTec3 engines, it seamlessly switches to 4-cylinder operation under lighter loads to improve fuel economy.

Source: General Motors

Photo: Chevrolet

Make-A-Wish Canada, which brings hope, strength and joy to children with life-threatening medical conditions, received more than $62,000 in support at the Honda Indy Toronto held recently.

This is the result of generous race fans in Toronto, the Ontario Honda Dealers Association, and Honda Canada Inc.

Photo: Honda

“On behalf of everyone at Make-A-Wish, I'd like to express our sincere thanks to Honda Canada, its dealers and, of course, the fans,” said Jennifer Ritter, CEO, Make-A-Wish Canada. “This level of commitment and support is a huge part of how we can continue to grant wishes and bring happiness and strength to the lives of children with life-threatening medical conditions.”

During the fifth annual Fan Friday, rather than pay admission, attendees were encouraged to make a contribution to Make-A-Wish. Donations were also accepted for games and activities.

All contributions over the weekend were matched dollar-for-dollar by Honda Canada.

Make-A-Wish Canada grants approximately 500 wishes a year through eight regional chapters across the country. Once again, Auto123.com is proud to participate in the annual 48-Hour Ride and raise funds to help kids get their wish.

We invite you to support our team of riders at cause2give.unxvision.com

Source : Honda Canada

British motorsport publication Autosport has learned that the FIA has the firm intention of giving a huge boost to the World Rally Championship with ground breaking technical rules.

Autosport wrote that WRC Commission president Carlos Barbosa admitted that the FIA is determined to reinvigorate the sport's spectacle with the next generation of WRC cars in 2017.

Barbosa said the new rules would need to be written before the end of 2014.

He added that the current WRC cars all look the same and major changes are needed.

Sources have suggested there will be significant change in 2017 both in the size of cars - potentially moving from the current segment-B cars up to segment-D.

The engine would also be changed, with the rules centred on controlling fuel flow to allow manufacturers to, within reason, run whatever engine they prefer.

Remember that in March Toyota's TMG tested a hybrid powered Yaris.

From GMM

Future F1 calendars could once again host two grands prix in Germany within a single season.

Recently, as it emerged the Nurburgring was close to a new deal with Bernie Ecclestone, it was said Hockenheim's F1 foray could end altogether.

Currently, the two German hosts alternate a single annual calendar spot.

Hockenheim reacted to the news of an annual Nurburgring deal with outrage, insisting it has a watertight contract for the alternating scheme through 2018.

Robertino Wild, chief of the Nurburgring's new owners Capricorn, has now responded by suggesting that Hockenheim's alternating scheme may need to be respected.

"Bernie Ecclestone and I want to complete the deal in the next few months which confirms formula one for the long-term at the Nurburgring," he told Auto Bild.

"This will be done taking into account the existing obligations, including with regard to the Hockenheimring," Robertino Wild added.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG, in Germany. (Photo: WRi2)

From GMM

Niki Lauda has swiftly hit reverse, after using an expletive to describe the cars fielded in 2014 by Mercedes' grandee rivals McLaren and Ferrari.

"McLaren has the same engine as us and the car is sh*t," Mercedes' F1 chairman had told the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

"The same with Ferrari -- another sh*t car," the former Ferrari champion added.

After the publication of his blunt assessment, Lauda has now apologised privately and publicly to Ferrari.

"I apologise to Ferrari, to Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, and to the Italian fans. I should not have used that word," the great Austrian told Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I was wrong and I do not make excuses. I called the president to explain my dismay," Niki Lauda added. "I have not seen the interview in the Spanish daily, but I was too heavy with my words -- forgive me."

Ferrari F14 T. (Photo: WR2i)

Niki Lauda also told the German newspaper Bild: "I explained to him (Montezemolo) and he understood. We have known each other for so long.

"I was asked a question about the difference between Mercedes and McLaren and Ferrari. I explained that Mercedes is simply the best combination of good car with the best engine, that McLaren also has the best engine but the car is not so good. And Ferrari has weaknesses on both sides," he added.

But Lauda made a point of saying Mercedes continues to regard Ferrari as a worthy opponent, particularly ahead of this weekend's Hungarian grand prix.

"I am even worried about the Ferraris in Budapest," he said, "because they have come much closer to us in the last races.

"Also Red Bull, who have a perfect car and only problems with the engine. But at the right moment also Ferrari can catch us on the wrong foot, as they are more dangerous than we thought before," Lauda insisted.

Also in the pages of La Gazzetta, Lauda made clear he actually does not regard Ferrari as having produced merely a "sh*t car".

"I have noticed at Hockenheim a Ferrari in progress," he said, "and I'm amused to see Fernando Alonso in the duels he has been in. I hope Kimi Raikkonen can recover, as he is a champion in a position that he does not belong."

As for Mercedes, Niki Lauda sees the outcome of the 2014 championship as a straight fight between teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

"Lewis was unlucky at Hockenheim but drove a great race anyway, while Nico had obviously an easier time and won. The championship will be decided by the alternating fortunes and misfortunes of our two drivers. But the others are approaching and I understand that Ferrari will soon be very dangerous for everyone, starting with us," he added.

Although he was not taking part in the Tour de France, Mercedes AMG F1 Team chairman Toto Wolff was injured Tuesday in a cycling accident.

The news was released via the team's official Twitter account: “A bit of a carambolage during yesterday's bike ride resulted in a fractured shoulder, collar bone, elbow and wrist...”

Wolff, now nicknamed #Totonator (because of the metal plates et screws now in his arm), added: “We've decided to leave it to the pros now. Lewis & Nico are better wheel to wheel at 300 km/h than we are at 30 km/h!"

Wednesday morning, his wife, Williams' development driver Susie Wolff, posted this photo and wrote: “My husband the hero! As we know, boys will be boys... Looks like I am on nurse duty for the next few weeks!”

Toto Wolff (#totonator) (Photo: Susie Wolff)

St-John's, NFLD -- I cannot, nor will I ever, find fault in the station wagon. I can see, in my mind's eye, Subaru people shaking their heads at the fact that I began my review of their new Outback with the words “station wagon.” From where I stand, it will always be a long-roof, however, never has the Outback looked more like a CUV than it does now.

I've been a fan of the Outback from the very beginning. A highly capable, versatile AWD wagon with an available manual transmission it's a combination bred from an automotive journalist's moist dream. Then, in 2005, it got better with the introduction of the turbocharged XT version. Although it died only a few short years later, I submit that this was the best Outback ever.

The only item the new car needs is a real engine: a turbocharged 4-cylinder. Simply put, everything else about the 2015 Outback is nearly perfect.


What is a Subaru Outback?
A trendsetter. The Outback could be credited with being the spark that set off today's most popular segment: the crossover utility vehicle.

It was first introduced in 1994 as a MY1995, blurring the lines between the car and the SUV. It's popularity skyrocketed in the following few years and never have more Outbacks been sold than with the previous generation car (2010-‘14).

The Subaru Outback celebrates 20 years and five generations with the arrival of its most refined, most capable, and fuel-efficient CUV alternative ever. This car is truly created around the needs of active people. Surveys have proved that few other cars/utility vehicles ignite the active outdoorsy person like the Outback.

2015 Subaru Outback Price and Specs
One of the very many attractive attributes of the 2015 Subaru Outback is its pricing. This is a substantial car and its base price is only $27,995. This price point gets you a 2.5i with a 6-speed manual box (unique to Canada). Throwing in the optional CVT transmission tacks on $1,300.

A Touring 3.6R, offered only with the CVT, retails for $35,495 or $3,500 more than the equivalent 2.5i Touring. The Tech Package (with EyeSight and smart key) can be had on most trims for an extra $1,200.

Engines are carry-overs from the previous generation, albeit both are on the receiving end of a vast number of improvements. The 2.5L flat-4, which represents 75% of all Outback sales, features new intake and exhaust components and lower friction internals. It generates 175 horsepower and 174 lb-ft of torque. The 3.6L H6 puts out 256 horsepower and 247 lb-ft of torque.

As always and forever, the Outback is equipped with Subbie's Symmetrical AWD system as well as an X-MODE traction assist system with Hill Descent Control.

Driving the 2015 Subaru Outback
The 2015 Subaru Outback has fully matured in many ways. The previous generation took refinement to a level that was initially rare for Subaru, but this time around, the gang at Fuji Heavy Industries have raised the bar, on par or better, than a number of Japanese counterparts.

This is the highlight of the new 2015 Subaru Outback. Through numerous tweaks, including a 59% stiffer structure, handling and ride comfort have improved dramatically. The same goes for NVH and the overall quality feel of the car thanks to liquid-filled engine mounts and thicker high-strength steel body panels.

Steering response is now more immediate which weighs in heavily in the upgraded driving experience. Let's not forget that the Outback is a truly capable off-roader. It features 8.7" of ground clearance, which is greater than many so-called utility vehicles, as well as X-MODE. Its job is to optimize engine control, AWD, and braking -- it works flawlessly.

On the tarmac, standard torque vectoring helps keep the Outback pointed in the right direction. As far as road manners are concerned, the 2015 Subaru Outback is nearly perfect. The choice of engines is what hurts this otherwise excellent car. The CVT ‘box is an actual asset in this case.

Subaru's FB25 flat-4 has all the will in the world to get the 1,635+ kg (3,600+ lb) going, but the fact is that with the CVT the car requires nearly 10 seconds to reach 100 km/hr. Although smooth and capable of maintaining momentum and (on paper) relatively fuel-efficient I can't imagine the struggle or what the real-world fuel consumption would be with a trailer, gear, and four passengers onboard.

The optional flat-6 is far more torque-y, however, the downside is that I observed a more than 30% fuel consumption reading than the indicated combined 10.5L/100km.

Inside and Out of the 2015 Subaru Outback
As a station wagon, the Outback is once more faultless. Of all the car's iterations, this 5th generation Outback looks more like a CUV than ever -- I guess I can deal with that.

The 2015 Outback has received a dose of modern masculinity with the proper nips and tucks. Visibility is enhanced thanks to the "A" pillars moving forward giving a sharper rake. The presence of the large heritage fog lights and black lower rocker panels make the 2015 Outback instantly recognizable.

The positioning of the “A” pillars also gives the interior a larger more comfortable feel. These same adjectives go for the new seats. The cabin features new soft-touch materials, and a handsome steering wheel. The dash design is fresh and modern, a growing trend for Subaru that was never quite up to the task where interiors were concerned.

The 2015 Subaru Outback maintains one of its key features which is its large trunk, now a little over 1,000 litres with the second row up. The rear seat has grown slightly and gained optional heating. Among other niceties are the standard 6.2” display and available power rear tailgate.

Comparing the 2015 Subaru Outback
The Outback is essentially in a class all its own, but competition is fierce and comes in many shapes and sizes. The Honda Crosstour is closest in vocation, however, its days are numbered.

The Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota Venza, and Ford Edge are options but there's no way to beat the Outback at its own game. Now, if Subaru would just drop the WRX's 2.0L turbo under the bonnet, I could add a 3rd Subbie to my family fleet.

Kia is in talks with Mexico to open a new auto assembly plant worth at least $1.5 billion, officials from Nuevo Leon's state government told Reuters.

GM plans to invest $800 million in Michigan as part of plans to renovate facilities throughout the state to support future vehicle platforms and programs.

Chrysler Group will recall as many as 792,300 2006-07 Jeep Commanders and 2005-06 Jeep Grand Cherokees globally to fix ignition switches that could be knocked out of the 'on' position, causing a stall and possible loss of power to the...

Ford's new aluminum-bodied 2015 F-150 pickup coming this fall might not be able to beat Chrysler Group's Ram 1500 and claim best-in-class fuel economy.