April 23: Bob Burman set the world speed record in the Blitzen Benz on this date in 1911

April 23: Bob Burman set the world speed record in the Blitzen Benz on this date in 1911

One hundred and two years ago today -- April 23, 1911 -- Bob Burman set the world speed record of 225.65 kmh (140.21 mph) in Daytona Beach, Fla. behind the wheel of the Blitzen Benz. The 200-hp car was twice as fast as aircraft of its time, and Burman's record would stand for eight years. The above photo comes from the Library of Congress' Flickr photostream. Check out the video below of the guys from the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center starting the car's engine at the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance:

The pleasure of an all-original 1963 Jaguar XKE with Jay Leno

The pleasure of an all-original 1963 Jaguar XKE with Jay Leno

Jay Leno and his garage gang shoot so many videos it can be hard to keep up, but after watching these for several years I think I can tell when something drives in that he's particularly enthused about. This 1963 Jaguar XKE coupe that Leno bought from its original owner scratches an itch he's clearly had for years, and Leno provides a master class in the difference between restoration and preservation, and what a classic is for. When someone can get this excited about two-bladed fans and gas filler neck corrosion, you know they're an elite breed of enthusiast.

Smart to build a Fortwo with wings, for cool kids only

Smart to build a Fortwo with wings, for cool kids only

Daimler, the parent of Mercedes-Benz and Smart, traces its heritage to the very invention of the gasoline-powered car and an empire built over a century around engineering excellence and designs of beauty. On the other hand, Smart will now build you a tiny two-seat car with fake wings, for about $43,000.

First shown at the Los Angeles auto show last year, the Smart forjeremy concept was a joint project with fashion designer Jeremy Scott, who operates in that rarefied air where he can be both hailed as a creative genius while appearing to trick wealthy people into paying top dollar for ugly clothes. Since the wing is his trademark symbol, Scott modified a Smart ForTwo by sticking a pair on its haunch, along with swaddling the interior in leather.

The production version — and once again, let me emphasize that the world's oldest and most successful automaker will actually sell this thing for use on public roads – can be bought with either the regular Smart 102-hp engine or one of two electric drivetrains for European customers at an additional charge; there's no indication it will fly across the Atlantic. While it keeps the leather-trimmed interior of the concept, unlike the original the wings do not also act as brake lights.
Said Scott: "I wanted to design something out of the ordinary, something that expressed my dreams and fantasies and that transferred my fashion ideas to automotive design. I see myself driving this car and can well imagine my friends and cool people all over the world loving the unique design of this Smart.” We would have also accepted "I'm really keen to kickstart that Zoolander sequel."

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Energi, the hybrids you actually want

2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Energi, the hybrids you actually want: Motoramic Drives

Hybrids largely come in two categories: the oxymoronic performance cars like the underwhelming Honda CR-Z, or pragmatic fuel-sippers with the allure of a Whirlpool dishwasher, like a Toyota Prius C. So it’s a delightful surprise that the 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid and Fusion Energi not only satisfy behind the wheel, but also live up to its EPA figures (unlike Ford’s C-Max Hybrid).

Part of the obvious appeal is style: in a sea of midsize Ed O'Neills, the new Ford Fusion is a Sophia Vergara of grocery pushers. And those dreamy curves don’t come with exorbitant maintenance bills like an Italian exotic, or an unattainable price tag.

Moreover, the Hybrid and plug-in Energi are the most desirable of the Fusion line-up. Sure the 231-hp Titanium AWD trim has more immediate acceleration, but in city driving the gasoline turbo gets the mpg of a Mitsubushi Evo. Plus, the Fusion hybrid has one of the more rewarding fuel economy displays on the market. Unlike the hackneyed, touchy-feely user interface of its competitors like the Kia Optima Hybrid, which shows a plant blooming with frilly flowers when you’re saving gas, Ford just tells you the percentage of energy returned from regenerative braking, or your average fuel economy per trip.

Even without resorting to self-aggrandizing metaphors of saving a tree through your driving (imagery lost on me since I have a black thumb with plants), it feels like a video game when trying to maximize efficiency. The no-nonsense UI and tactile feedback clearly communicate how the hybrid system works, providing a sense of connection to the car. For example, you get a subtle tug when the brakes transitions to the conventional disc brakes. Conventional wisdom says it should be seamless, but because you feel the switch over, the car subconsciously teaches you to be soft on the left pedal to get the energy back.


And that’s behavioral patterning I haven’t embraced with any other hybrid. I found myself driving 60 mph in the slow lane for my daily commute, as opposed to barreling down the left lane — and enjoying it. The steering provides decent feedback, and although the batteries to the rear crimp on trunk space (especially the Energi, which barely fits a set of golf clubs), it provides better weight balance while still retaining a sporting character around the bends. If you need to romp on it, the combined 188 hp from the gasoline and electric motor is more than enough for passing on freeways, though I was content to keep it running in the electric mode whenever possible.

Choosing between the hybrid and plug-in comes down to daily driving habit: the hybrid is ideal for city driving, where it’s easy to hit 50 mpg even in snarled stop-and-go traffic. But on the interstate that efficiency can quickly dwindle to 35-40 mpg, especially when getting to speeds above 70 mph, or driving in cold weather. Whereas it’s easy to hit the EPA-rated figure (47/47 city/hwy mpg) around town, on the freeway it’s impossible to hit that number when going above 65 mph — mostly because the Fusion won’t use much of the electric motor. Hence the Energi is better suited for longer, higher-speed jaunts with its 21-mile electric range, and the higher throttle threshold for the gasoline motor to kick in means it feels more like a full-fledged electric car. That said, the additional 300 lbs. of weight in the plug-in does slightly dampen acceleration and the responsiveness through the corners.

Starting at $38,700 the Energi trim lands in luxury car territory, but it benefits from a $3,750 Federal tax credit, and for the Prius-loving Californians, an additional $1,500 CARB credit as well as the coveted HOV lane sticker. The hybrid starts at $27,200 which is a strong deal considering its combination of style, fuel efficiency and crisp dynamics. But you can’t go wrong with either — an engaging drive is a rarity in the appliance-minded segment of midsize cars.

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The hot, and merely lukewarm, models of the Shanghai auto show

The hot, and merely lukewarm, models of the Shanghai auto show

In the late 1980s, there were only 176 cars registered to private individuals in the entire nation of China. Those stats did not include the cavalcades of outmoded Hongqi limousines used to ferry about key Party members, which likely brought the total beyond the three-digit range. Still, contrast this with 2012 when, in what is now the world’s largest automotive market, nearly 20 million vehicles were sold.

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10 cars that can last for 250,000 miles (or more)

Whether by necessity or choice, U.S. motorists are holding onto their cars for longer than ever, with the age of the average vehicle on the road at a record-high 10.8 years, according to the research company R.L. Polk in Southfield Mich. By comparison, the average life expectancy of a new car in 1930 was a scant 6.75 years.

“Owners who keep their vehicles beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period are able to have greater peace of mind that vehicles are becoming increasingly more dependable,” says David Sargent, vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates.

How long can a typical car or truck last these days? We recently checked the used car classifieds at AutoTrader.com and uncovered a long list of creampuffs in all vehicle classes that were not only pushing the limits of longevity, but had enough left in the tank to be seeking new owners. These included a 1993 Honda Civic coupe with 355,720 miles, a 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser SUV with 332,357 miles, a Nissan 300ZX convertible with 330,000 miles and a Ford F-150 regular cab pickup that’s clocked 290,000 miles.

“Today’s cars are built to last as long as 250,000 miles or more with simple routine care,” says ASE-certified Master Automobile Technician and Chicago Tribune auto-service columnist Bob Weber.

At that, some models are easier to keep running than others. An owner is more likely to hold onto a vehicle for an extended length of time if it doesn’t suffer from chronic breakdowns and isn’t overtly costly to maintain or repair. With those criteria in mind we assembled a list of 10 model-year 2013 vehicles that can reasonably be expected to keep up with traffic for at least 250,000 miles.

For starters, all of the cars and trucks on our list received above average scores for both initial quality and mechanical reliability over the first three years of ownership from J.D. Power and Associates. What’s more, each is predicted to deliver better- or much-better-than-average long-term dependability based on ownership experiences surveyed by Consumer Reports. We also consulted maintenance and repair-cost predictions from Intellichoice.com to ensure that any of the cars and trucks among our recommendations would not become unduly costly to keep running.

Admittedly, this methodology favors time-tested models that have clocked at least a modest ownership history and tends to exclude both promising newcomers like the Chevrolet Spark and Dodge Dart, as well as cars that recently received extensive mechanical redesigns like the Ford Fusion and Escape. What’s more, we left several otherwise amenable and reliable hybrid cars off our 250,000-mile list, including the extended-range electric Chevrolet Volt, because of what could be prohibitive costs to replace their batteries at some time during a prolonged ownership period.

Acura RDX

Like all the model-year 2013 cars and trucks we’re predicting to last for 250,000 miles with proper care, the RDX gets high marks from J.D. Power and Associates for both initial quality and mechanical reliability over the initial three-year ownership period, received better-than-average ratings for durability from Consumer Reports and is expected to be reasonably inexpensive to maintain and repair, according to data compiled by Intellichoice.com. The agile RDX was upgraded for 2013 with the Honda Accord’s powerful and proven V6 engine and assorted improvements that include a smoother ride and reduced levels of noise, vibration and harshness. 

Chevrolet Avalanche

This versatile cross between a full-size SUV and pickup truck continues for what is its final model year before being discontinued. Powered by a robust V8 engine, the Avalanche remains the only four-door pickup with the ability to carry eight-foot-long objects thanks to a “midgate” door that opens up the cargo bed into the rear passenger cabin. 

Honda Ridgeline

Though it’s largely shunned by pickup purists, the car-based V6-powered Ridgeline is ideal for light-duty hauling and/or for active families who prefer to tote their recreational gear in a small pickup bed rather than soil the interiors of their SUVs. The cargo bed comes with what is essentially a lockable trunk and a novel tailgate that can either flip down or swing open like a car door.

Lexus RX 350

This popular midsize luxury crossover SUV is refreshed for 2013 with modest styling changes that include Lexus’ new signature “spindle shaped” front grille. It remains roomy, comfortable and capable, offers a full range of high-tech and upscale features and comes powered by one of the best V6 engines in the industry.

Mazda MX-5 Miata

This diminutive low-slung roadster continues to deliver lively acceleration and entertaining go-kart-like handling prowess that makes a top-down jaunt over a winding road on a sunny day a truly singular experience.






Scion xB

Though looking a bit dated and lacking the latest technology, this boxy looking tall compact wagon is a good overall performer and affords maximum flexibility as both a basic people mover and light-duty transport vehicle with a sizeable cargo capacity. 





Scion xD

The subcompact xD hatchback is boxier and more muscular looking than the typical small car to help give it a more urban-hip look; fortunately it also contributes to a reasonably roomy interior and flexible cargo-carrying abilities.





Toyota 4Runner

Toyota’s midsize truck-based SUV continues as a truly rugged alternative to more-passive crossovers for active families. Powered by a stalwart V6 engine, it's adept at traversing rocks and blazing trails with authority when properly equipped, yet still rides reasonably well on paved roads.

Toyota RAV4

The compact Toyota RAV4 crossover SUV receives myriad improvements and fresh styling for 2013 that features a conventional lift-up tailgate instead of the side-hinged refrigerator-door style hatch it’s featured since the vehicle’s inception. It remains both durable and family friendly.


Toyota Yaris

This workman-like subcompact comes in two- and four-door hatchback versions, with the former being more stylish looking on the outside and the latter offering more in the way of cargo-carrying flexibility. It’s small, slow and simple but has a history of reliability, and fewer gadgets mean less components to break down over time.

Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, dies on this date in 1933

April 22: Sir Henry Royce, co-founder of Rolls-Royce, dies on this date in 1933

One of the most famous engineers in automotive history rarely set foot in the factory with his name on it. After launching the Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost in 1905, and building the factory in 1908, doctors told Henry Royce he was near death from overwork in 1911, and barred him from the premises. For the next 22 years, Royce worked from estates, often hiring designers and engineers to draft his plans and help him flyspeck problems. Working from home, Royce not only built up Rolls-Royce but designed aircraft engines that defended Britain in two world wars. Today, the aeronautical and automotive businesses that still bear his name have long been separated, but both can rightly claim his mantle. Here's a glimpse of Royce at work: