Blog Posts by: Benson Kong  

Tesla is preparing to deliver its first Model S electric sedans to customers next month, but in the spirit of full disclosure, has outlined why it anticipates its 300-mile version will be rated by the EPA for 265 miles. The Model S’ drawn-out unveiling has ingrained three ...    Read more

Project-X isn’t some secret government project (that we know of), but it is the name of a Mercedes-Benz Vito with a hefty sound system from the United Kingdom. Project-X started life as a Vito 122CDI Sport-X Dualiner, a commercial van that isn’t sold in the United States. With an aspiration to ...    Read more

It appears telling Hyundai’s designers to go crazy on the unconventional Veloster has paid off, as the three-door “coupe” has been named a Good Design Award winner by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design. The annual Good Design Awards are sanctioned by the Chicago Athenaeum in conjunction ...    Read more

The year 2012 is almost over, which means one thing for Nissan GT-R enthusiasts: the 2013 supercar model is almost here. In celebration, we’ll take a look back at how much the GT-R has changed over its short tenure here in the United States. 2009 ...    Read more

The 2013 Chevrolet Colorado, after facing some uncertainty over whether it’d be brought to the United States, has landed on the brand’s short list of important trucks. The Colorado will further a long truck legacy, and in advance of its arrival, Chevy has shared a list and video ...    Read more

It takes cojones to make a serious pass at an established performance icon, especially if you don’t have any sort of real performance pedigree. In this particular case, a recent report has attached the BMW M5 as a rival to a possible high-performance iteration of the ...    Read more

The global validation experts at the Technischer Üeberwachungs Verein have weighed in on the lavish, plug-in Fisker Karma, and the fuel economy numbers may surprise you: 51.6 miles of all-electric driving, 26 combined mpg in range-extending mode, and a total of 112 combined mpg. If the Environmental Protection ...    Read more

Every year, the video game community looks forward to the Electronic Entertainment Expo, aka E3. We’re fans of racing games here, so we had to ogle “Forza Motorsport 4.” In the car community, being a so-called ‘armchair expert’ isn’t the most flattering title to receive. But in the video gaming ...    Read more

The devastating March earthquake and tsunami in Japan is still fresh in our minds, and there’s still a lot of work to be done as the rebuilding continues. But where debris and images of the disastrous event may weigh on minds and hearts, signs of hope have sprung ...    Read more

If you’re a big vehicle safety buff, you’ll presumably be happy to learn American drivers have collectively managed to lower the number of traffic fatalities in 2010. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is constantly collecting all types of traffic-related data for the United States, and annual fatalities are a big ...    Read more

To the doubters who don’t believe the American auto industry can build a competitive compact car, General Motors has something to say. Though final March sales figures are due tomorrow, GM was eager to share the expected success of the Chevrolet Cruze. Through February of this year, Chevy has ...    Read more

After a recent Web column said Tesla was a “prime acquisition target,” CEO Elon Musk has fired back a response. For as long as Tesla has been doing business, there have been deathwatches and critical analyses of the Palo Alto-based automaker. Recently, the Business Insider Web site hosted a column titled, ...    Read more

AC Schnitzer is a well-recognized tuner in the European aftermarket scene, and its efforts continue today with its 99d concept. Based on the current BMW Z4, the 99d is all about balancing performance with eco-friendliness. AC Schnitzer started with the Z4 roadster and swapped in the diesel four-cylinder from ...    Read more

In an effort to make its vehicles more affordable and accessible to the buying public, Volkswagen radically simplified its sixth-generation Jetta for the United States market.  Unfortunately, the all-new Jetta is the victim of a recall for a wiring glitch. 2011 Volkswagen Jetta The Problem: According to Volkswagen, ...    Read more

Kia has been upping its game lately, and consumers have noticed, as evidenced by the automaker passing the 10 million global exports mark. Vehicle number 10 million is a Snow White Pearl-colored Optima destined for the United States. Shipped from Pyeongtaek Port in South Korea, it’s almost appropriate that ...    Read more

All is not well in Canada for Chrysler and General Motors, who  are dealing with a shipping dispute that is keeping their new vehicles grounded. GM and Chrysler’s plants in Canada continue to churn out product but their shipper, Allied Systems Holding, hasn’t been able to fulfill their duties over a ...    Read more

When Mansory comes a-knockin' at our e-mail inbox, we just have to look. And the latest effort this go-around is for the current-generation BMW 7 Series. With new looks said to deliver “vibrant elegance,” Mansory is offering an all-new body kit for both the standard- and long-wheelbase ...    Read more

Walter Röhrl and Porsche 904 GTS, together at the same time? Sounds like a recipe for greatness. If you're looking for a lesson from Röhrl himself, the video has it all. Just watch his eyes, his footwork, his hand placement on the steering wheel, and how he holds the 904 GTS ...    Read more

The Porsche Cajun officially has a home: Leipzig, Germany. Back in January, it appeared China was a viable location for the Cajun but Leipzig hadn't been left out of the mix. Leipzig, located in the eastern Saxony region, currently handles the Cayenne and Panamera. Adding the Cajun ...    Read more

For quite some time, Volkswagen has been hot on scooping up Alfa Romeo. Though it's never gone much beyond speculation, we've received word that the German powerhouse has already planned for the Italian marque to take on a new Porsche engine if it ever makes it to the sale phase. Though ...    Read more

We wouldn't say the Volkswagen-Suzuki partnership has gone completely as planned, considering that neither side reportedly has much to show after over more than a year. The Financial Times reports the German and Japanese automakers have made little progress since joining forces in late 2009, and cultural differences are ...    Read more

Buying a new car shouldn't be a decision made lightly move made rashly, so TrueCar has put together a list detailing the vehicles stingiest with gas for today's economy. 10 Most Fuel-Efficient Hybrids Vehicle - EPA combined fuel economy 1. Toyota Prius - 49.6 mpg 2. Lexus CT 200h - 41.6 mpg 3. Honda Insight ...    Read more

If you get a great sense of satisfaction when paying for car insurance, you'll feel perfectly at home in Automobile's home state of Michigan, which has the priciest rates in the United States. This year, the national annual auto insurance average grew $131.74 to $1561. The numbers were crunched for a ...    Read more

For all the attention the Ford Mustang Boss 302 has received recently, the 302S has understandably enjoyed less. Now, you can get your 302S fix here. Slotted above the Laguna Seca, the 302S is well-prepared for the motorsport business, as the six-point roll cage, six-point harness, and ...    Read more

McLaren has been absent from sports car racing for many years but the MP4-12C GT3 is nearly ready to break that streak. As we've previously explored, the MP4-12C is an automotive engineer's dream car but formal racing required some changes. To start, the base MP4-12C ditches its ...    Read more