After Two Decades, The Iconic Honda Returns In 2025

 

Honda Preludes future and past. (Photo Credit: Honda)

After being absent from the Honda lineup for over two decades, the iconic Prelude returns in late 2025. Unlike the previous Prelude, this model will only be available in a fuel-efficient hybrid powertrain. 

Honda says the coupe with debut with an innovative new drive mode. They're claiming the vehicle will provide an engaging driving experience. 

As of now, these are all the details we know. 

  

Its Shop Times Mondays: Honda And Acura Are Recalling 1.7 Million Cars For Steering Concerns

 

Difficulty Steering from Steering Gearbox Damage

Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.

NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V744000

Manufacturer Honda (American Honda Motor Co.)

Components STEERING

Potential Number of Units Affected 1,693,199

J.D. Power Releases 2024 Models 90-Day Customer Quality Study: Smartphone Connections And EV Start Ups Drag Down Scores

In its inaugural year incorporating franchise dealership repair visits with the Voice of the Customer (VOC) data to create a more expansive metric for problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), released today, the industry average is 195 PP100. Mass market brands, with a combined average of 181 PP100, outperform the industry average. Meanwhile, premium brands—often including more complicated systems and thus more reliance on connectivity—average 232 PP100. A lower score reflects higher vehicle quality.

Insurance Institute For Highway Safety Releases Latest Frontal Avoidance Crash Results On Compact SUVs/Crossovers (Video)

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) just released its latest frontal avoidance crash results, using the latest safety driving aids available on many of today's the small crossover/SUV segment. For more information on all of IIHS studies, click here. 

 

J.D. Power Talks About The Latest 2023 Model Year Quality Drop And More With 'Auto Trends'

J.D. Power's Frank Hanley (photo credit: JDP)

 

JD Power's Frank Hanley, the senior director of automotive benchmarking, joins Auto Trends with JeffCars.com, talking about the latest quality study, analyzing the 2023 model year vehicles. 

We'll discuss some of the winners, losers and what's driving the rise in problems. Moreover, we'll reveal how EVs compared to traditional internal combustion engines. With the average transaction price of a new vehicle, nearing a record-breaking $50,000, car buyers are expecting their automobiles to be problem free. However, Hanley reveals that's just not the case. In fact, this year models quality slid backwards, when compared to the 2022 model year vehicles.

'Auto Trends' Talks To Minority Automotive Dealer Historian Damon Lester (Two Shows)

As Auto Trends with JeffCars.com wraps up Black History Month, Damon Lester, the current owner of the Maryland-based Nissan of Bowie and the former president of the National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers (NAMAD), joins us over the next two weeks to discuss the highs and lows he encountered during his 16-year tenure at the helm the organization. 

Since its founding in 1980, NAMAD has collaborated with policy makers and auto manufacturers to establish fair and sustainable business practices for minority dealers in America.

Currently, ethnic dealers account for approximately 8 percent of total U.S. dealerships. When Lester became president of the dealer advocacy organization in 2006, the total minority dealership count was just short of its an all-time high at 1,756, according to NAMAD data stats. However, when the subprime mortgage crisis crippled the economy a few years later, 54 percent of the ethnic dealerships were forced to close their doors, bottoming out in 2010 with only 811 stores still standing.

'Auto Trends' Talks New Car Tech Usability Study And More With J. D. Power

 
Kathleen Rizk, J D Power's New Car Tech Analyst (Photo Credit: JDP)

The Infotainment Center Of A 2022 Mercedes-Benz C-Class (Photo Credit: Jeffcars.com)

Experian's Melinda Zabritski Talks Car Payments, Lease Payments And More On 'Auto Trends'

 

Melinda Zabritski (Photo Credit: Experian Automotive)

Tune in Friday, May 14 thru Monday, May 19 on our FM outlets too, click here.

2022 Hyundai Santa Cruz Limited AWD: The Brand’s First Lifestyle Truck

 

Highlight: This is Hyundai’s answer to Honda’s Ridgeline.

Test Vehicle's MSRP: $41,100 (Base SE Model: $25,385)

Seating Capacity: 5

Standard Safety Features: airbags; ABS; a tire pressure monitoring system; automatic headlights; automatic high beam assist headlights; a hillstart assist system; rear view camera; a lane keep assist system; a lane following assist system; leading vehicle departure alert; and a driver warning assist system; a LED roof mounted cargo lamp; and a temporary spare tire

'Auto Trends' Airs 4th Annual Auto Show Preview (Two Shows)

 

Auto Trends with JeffCars.com kicks off its fourth annual virtual new car radio preview with two of the Motor City's trusted automotive gurus. Stephanie Brinley, a principal auto analyst, and Richard Truett, a seasoned automotive news reporter, will guide the two shows, while sharing their industry insights. Unlike the typical new car auto show, this virtual program will allow listeners to tune in via a number of media outlets over the next two weeks in a covid-free environment. 

Show 1 of 2 will air from Saturday, January 22 thru Thursday, January 27

Show 2 of 2 will air from Saturday, January 29 thru Thursday, February 3

To access the air dates and times to listen free via one of our FM radio outlets or SiriusXM, click here.

Car Shoppers Beware: Several Ways To Navigate The Covid-19 Price Increases

 

Its not uncommon these days to see virtually empty car lots. This is as a result of  auto manufacturing plants closing last spring, at the request of the government to combat Covid-19. Ironically, almost a year later, the auto industry is still reeling from the closures in both the new and used car markets. Thus, this has led to a historic price surge in both the new and used car markets. In some cases a market adjustment have been applied to some vehicles for dealers to literally capitalize upon the inventory imbalance.

Moreover, throughout the pandemic, the government has doled out billions in financial incentives to stimulate the economy to business owners, gig workers, parents with young kids under 18 and to most taxpayers, in order to steer clear of another Great Recession. While there is a segment of the population that has been impacted by the hardest hit areas of the economy: travel, hospitality and the restaurant industry, there is a segment of society, who hasn’t missed a beat, in terms of their income, with the ability to work from home all while taking care of their kids. With this being the case, according to J.D. Power Insights, the sales of new vehicles in the U.S. priced above $80,000 more than doubled in the first five month of 2021, when compared to the same period in 2019.

JD Power Talks Quality And Reliability With 'Auto Trends'

 

VW Extends New-Vehicle Warranty For 2018

As a measure to win the confidence of American car buyers, as a result of their diesel scandal, they are extending the warranties on all of their 2018 models. Automakers usually offer such measures, when the question of quality arises.

How One Female Paparazzi Is Causing the Industry to Switch Gears

While this is obviously a male dominated industry, there is one woman who is turning the industry upside down. Meet the female paparazzi responsible for getting the auto industry buffs a first look at future rides.

By the way, if you're having problems figuring out the camouflaged vehicles in the photo - its a pair of 2010 Mazda3 hatchbacks. This spy shot was taken out on the open roads. Look for our review of a four-door Mazda3 soon.

To view a fascinating video of the female paparazzi and how she gets her photos, click here. You'll be amazed at what she does to get her photos. Would you rather chase metal taking photos or real people? Which job is less evasive? Go figure.

Lexus Expands Brand, Adding Another Convertible And Hybrid

As Toyota's luxury brand - Lexus - continues to expand its lineup, they've added another convertible to compliment the SC. However, this time they're going head-to-head with the popular BMW 3-Series convertible, with an all-new 2010 IS C retractable hardtop. Like the Bimmer, the vehicle is available as an automatic or manual transmission and can easily accommodate four occupants. The IS C is available with a 6-cylinder 2.5-liter engine or a 3.5-liter engine.

Pricing for Lexus' newest entry level convertible starts off at around $39,000. While Lexus officials allowed us to take the vehicle on a short test drive, we look forward to an extensive review of the new convertible in the very near future. Just based on first impressions, we believe the pricing and design flair of the IS C should attract younger, affluent buyers to the brand. The vehicle is on sale now. To check out the pricing and features refer to our new-vehicle pricing guide, which is located on the left side of the page.

And Lexus' all-new dedicated luxury hybrid will be added to the lineup later on this fall. Unlike the RX, GS and LS, which all offer hybrid alternatives, too, there isn't a non-hybrid version of the HS 250h. By the way, the lowercase h, after the numbers, designates the vehicle as being a hybrid. For those who are familiar with the Lexus brand, the HS 250h will be positioned between the IS and ES. The all-new HS 250h is loaded with the latest technology and luxury features we've come to expect in a Lexus.

More importantly, this is Lexus' first 4-cylinder vehicle. The luxury hybrid is expected to achieve a combined fuel economy of 35 mph. The HS 250h, which is available in automatic only, has more of a conventional look than the bubble shape Toyota Prius and the all-new Honda Insight, which is also a hybrid and a spin-off of the Prius. However, the interior layout of the vehicle can easily put you in the mind of something from the once popular futuristic cartoon, The Jetsons, with the joy stick designed to control a number of the features on the space-aged styled floating center stack instrument panel. The all-new 2010 HS 250h starts out at around $34,000. Look for our comprehensive review of the HS 250h later on this year.

Five Hot Rides: What Consumers Are Paying

Model/ February's Average Transaction Price

1. Mercedes-Benz GLK Class/$41,983
2. smart fortwo/$16,735
3. Dodge Challenger/$32,341
4. Toyota Prius/$24,371
5. Honda Fit/$17,255

While new car sales tumbled again last month and gas prices remained below $2.00 a gallon, there are still a few rides, which are flying off the lots of dealers. If you're in the market for one of the vehicles listed above, this is what you should budget for.

Source: Power Information Network

Last Month's Five Hottest Selling Small Rides

Model/ January's Average Selling Price

1. smart fortwo/$16,664

2. Honda Fit/$17,184

3. Toyota Prius/$25,194

4. Mini Cooper/$25,194

While new car sales tumbled again last month and gas prices remained below $2.00 a gallon, there are still a few small rides, which are flying off the lots of dealers.

source: Power Information Network

Two Brothers Brought Sexy Back to Station Wagons

Caddy's CTS Wagon (above)

Dodge's Magnum (below)


As Dodge discontinues their large wagon this year, Cadillac is expected to launch its first wagon in the U. S. next spring. The new wagon will be based off of Caddy's stylish CTS sedan. Cadillac is hoping to capture consumers looking to downsize from their gas-guzzling SUVs. From the looks of it, I believe Cadillac has a winner on its hand. With this new offering, Cadillac is obviously competing with BMW's 3-Series wagon and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class wagon. For the first time in history, both GM and Chrysler design teams will be led by brothers - Edward T. Wilburn, who is the vice president of Global Design for GM, and Ralph Gilles of Chrysler , lead designer for the once popular 300 will assume the vice president of Design title in September. Both Welburn and Gilles influenced the design cues of the wagons featured in this blog. Now that both of these designers are at the wheel, we should expect more vehicles with a lot of attitude and flair. As you know, a standout design, above average quality and fuel-efficiency are the three components needed to drive sales - returning the American automakers to the black again. Welburn and Gilles are charged with the awesome responsibility of bringing buyers back to the two American automotive icons.

The Borrego; Kia's First 7-Passenger SUV

To

Timing couldn't be worse for automakers to launch a new SUV or truck in the U. S. With gas prices hovering just over $4 a gallon nationally, the housing market sinking and inflated food prices, who could have planned this perfect storm? This isn't what Kia executives envisioned several years ago, when they were planning for their first 7-passenger SUV. Like an unplanned pregnancy or "Tax Day" on April 15, there was no way for Kia executives to scrap this product now. It was coming whether they wanted it or not. Kia, known for its thrifty economy cars, is looking to boost its image, introducing its most expensive vehicle to date. Just as GM, Ford and Chrysler are looking to offer products similar to Kia's fuel-efficient line up, this Asian automaker is adding its first 8-cylinder SUV, the Borrego.

The all-new Borrego, which sounds similar to Dodge's Durrango, is expected to start out of the gate at around $27,000, climbing to $40,000, when fully-equipped. Kia executives are touting the Borrego as a luxury SUV. And, Kia is pitching the Borrego as being one of the most fuel-efficient 8-cylinder 4x2 SUVs in its class, achieving a combined EPA rating of 18 miles per gallon with a 6-cylinder or 8-cylinder engine. Opting for a 4x4 with the gutsier 8-cylinder engine will earn you less than 1 mile per gallon, when compared to the 6-cylinder. So, a 6-cylinder Borrego, producing 276 horsepower costs $26,996, whereas an 8-cylinder Borrego, producing 337 horsepower will cost you $31, 745. If you don't mind paying several thousand dollars more for the extra horses and towing power, you'll still achieve roughly the same gas mileage.

Although this isn't a standout vehicle, as far as design, the Borrego looks like a dressed-up, slightly oversized Nissan Xterra. Being that Nissan is a well-respected automaker, that's not bad company to keep. As you know, Kia is related to its sister brand - Hyundai. Like with Hyundai, Kia's quality has improved immensely. Unlike Kia's luxury tag line for the Borrego, this vehicle has a truck-like ride comparable to most SUVs and trucks with a body on frame design. However, the overall fit and finish is on par with many of its Asian competitors.

Furthermore, Kia offers a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty - one of the best warranties in the industry. The Borrego is also making every attempt to be competitive, offering a number of Kia firsts in this vehicle - Bluetooth technology, an in-dash voice activated navigational system, chrome wheels, push-button start keyless system, rear back up camera and a wide-screen rear seat entertainment system. If you're not ready for a crossover or minivan, or if you're looking to scale down from a large SUV, this could be the vehicle for you. Although incentives aren't being offered yet, expect for Kia to remain competitive in this segment, too. Kia dealers are known for pricing their vehicles below the competition. To check out more car reviews, click here.