Car Nation

Reports are starting to filter out about some of the possible powertrain strategies GM might use for the next-generation Chevy and GMC half-ton pickups, due out next year.

According to Automotive News, GM engineers are saying they will continue to use the existing (though improved) cylinder-deactivation technology, called Active Fuel Management, currently used on certain V-8 options for the...

Toyota leads a new study with the fewest reported problems per vehicle, but Volkswagen has the best overall quality, according to Strategic Vision. The San Diego-based consulting firm said just 17 percent of Toyota owners reported problems with their cars, but Strategic Vision says its holistic quality index gauges how well a car matches the driver's "explicit desires." In that regard,...

Q. Does the Ford Mustang or Nissan 370Z have a nicer interior?

A. We think the Mustang and 370Z are pretty equal in terms of interior quality, materials and design, but the Mustang does a better job of isolating occupants from road and wind noise.

If you're thinking of buying one or the other, the more important question is, which car do you think has the better interior because you're...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1989 Porsche 911 Carrera cabriolet Silver Anniversary Edition owned by Ray McCutcheon WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING “In 1989, to commemorate the 25th year of the 911 series, Porsche manufactured a limited edition of the 911 -- making 240 coupes and 160 cabriolets -- of which only 40 cabriolets were black,” McCutcheon says. “This car is one of the 40 cabriolets. These cars came...

As the auto industry stays cautiously optimistic and pickup truck sales incrementally march on a soft upward trajectory, there are some obvious bright spots, not the least of which is the strong sales climb Ford's SVT Raptor.

Through July, sales for the all-terrain power truck are up 26 percent compared with last year, and for the month, Raptor is up 36 percent. This puts year-end Raptor sales,...

2012 is a big year for Lexus. The Japanese luxury carmaker is getting nine new or refreshed models during it. In fact, it's such a big year that Bob Carter, senior vice president of Toyota, has dubbed 2012 "The Year of Lexus." Big entries include the new Lexus ES and ES Hybrid, Lexus GS and GS Hybrid and the refreshed Lexus LX.

That leaves a few more models to be unveiled, and one...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1988 BMW M6 coupe owned by David N. Millman WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING The 6-series BMW coupes built from 1973 to 1989 are highly prized for their svelte design and Autobahn-level performance, especially the “M” sports models sold during the last six years of production. “I considered the M6 and a variety of its competitors over a time period of many months before I decided...

THE CAR AND ITS OWNER 1977 Ford Pinto wagon owned by Dominick Speziale WHAT MAKES IT INTERESTING The subcompact Pinto -- built in sedan, hatchback and wagon versions for model years 1971 through 1980 -- managed to suffer through a gas tank fire controversy and a subsequent recall to sell over two million copies during its lifetime. Speziale’s white ‘77 pushes the buttons of two current collecting...

This is a strange development to say the least. The somewhat popular but short-lived second-generation Saturn Vue is coming back to the United States as the 2012 Chevrolet Captiva Sport.

You'll see it on the streets, but you won't be able to buy one new, and you'll probably see it at used-car dealerships over time. That's because the Captiva Sport is coming for the sole purpose of fulfilling...

As we've expected for a few months, Honda will update its Civic for 2013, just one model year after redesigning the popular compact. It's a response to criticisms, including ours, over the car's lackluster handling and cheap interior, though we still recommend the Civic for its roomy cabin and comfortable seats.

The criticism fell on receptive ears. John Mendel, head of American Honda, acknowledged...