car accidents Archives

Car insurance is one of those annoying things that you both need… Whether you’ve slid into a ditch because of slippery conditions or swerved… Now that March is here again, daylight savings time returns to move your… The act of buckling your seat belt should be the biggest no… When you’re involved in a car accident,…

Categories Uncategorized

[VIDEO] IIHS Reveals Crash Footage & Safety Rating for 2017 Hyundai Elantra

2017 Hyundai Elantra crash test video results Photo: IIHS via YouTube For the 2017 model year, the popular Hyundai Elantra underwent a drastic redesign, recently earning a International Design Excellence award. But a new exterior look for this compact sedan isn’t the only update it received; improvements have been made inside, too. The Insurance Institute…

Categories Uncategorized

How Tough is Carbon Fiber, Really?

Photo: GMC We’ve talked about the GMC CarbonPro truck bed — and how it can shrug off water-filled steel drums and a running, studded-track snowmobile revved at full throttle. At the same time, you’ve probably seen carbon fiber race car pieces crunch and shatter during a crash. What’s the deal with carbon fiber’s durability? Simply…

Cinema’s Goofiest Car Chases: “Godzilla vs. Megalon”

Imagine this little VW driving straight down a flight of stairs while being pursued by secret agents… Photo: nakhon100 via CC For almost as long as movies have existed, there has also existed that most beloved of cinematic cliches: the car chase. The weird and wonderful world of motion pictures has no shortage of them,…

Categories Uncategorized

Road Trip Pit Stops: 4 Unique Hotels in South Carolina

The plethora of beaches, gardens, and historical sites in the Palmetto State make it a popular destination for road-trippers. If you prefer a hotel with personality, check out one of these four accommodations in South Carolina.  Sophisticated and Spacious: Meet the 2020 Cadillac XT6 King Charles Inn Head to the heart of downtown Charleston to experience…

Categories Uncategorized

10 Great Gearhead Shows on Netflix for Car Lovers

Watch the latest Netflix shows about cars, trucking, and motorsports racing Photo: Netflix No matter what your interests are, you can no doubt find something on Netflix to suit your fancy; the variety of shows and movies in the streaming service’s library abounds. Car-lovers and gearheads have a lineup of shows available to them that deliver…

Car-Sploitation Movie Spotlight: ‘Speedtrap' (1977)

Joe Don Baker is back. And this time, he’s driving considerably faster… Photo: dave_7 via CC A while back on The News Wheel, I penned an article discussing the lethargic chase scene from the movie Mitchell. In that film, the title character is played by character actor Joe Don Baker, a veteran of films both…

Categories Uncategorized

Six Honda Cars Get IIHS Top Safety Pick Ratings

Photo: Honda Six Honda cars have so far earned a Top Safety Pick rating or better from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, establishing them as among the safest cars on the roads today. Three of the six earned the basic TPS rating. These were the Civic hatchback, Civic sedan, and CR-V SUV. Three others…

Dice Drivin' Review: Press Your Luck in This Fast-Paced, 8-Bit Car Racing Game

Good board games don’t just come from America and Germany; these days, they’re being made all over the world. Thanks to the popularity of tabletop gaming–and the possibilities of crowd-funding–all kinds of creative gaming titles are being released. Last year, Vorpalia Games in Spain created and released Dice Drivin’, a street racing card game inspired…

Categories Uncategorized

Final “Cars 3” Trailer Provides Feels on Wheels [VIDEO]

Cars are supposed to move you around, not move you to tears! For the most part, Pixar is famous for creating films that tug on the heartstrings. After all, very few audience members can sit through the first few minutes of Up with dry eyes. Still, of the franchises under Pixar’s belt, the Cars series…

Categories Uncategorized

Why You Should Reconsider Buying Your Teen a Used Car

One of the big milestones in your life as a parent will be the moment you realize that your teenager is old enough to drive. While your mind whirls with concerns for their safety and your bank account, you’ll eventually have to consider, “What car should they drive?“ You may intend to hand down your…

Categories Uncategorized

IIHS Reports Roundabouts Reduce Crashes in Indiana City

Photo: Pexels Double-teardrop roundabouts in Carmel, Indiana, have not only helped the city earn the nickname “Roundabout City,” but have also significantly contributed to traffic safety. According to a report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the unique roundabouts have reduced injury crashes by 84 percent. It also revealed that all crashes have been…

toy cars Archives

Countless children first became interested in automotive culture and mechanical engineering through… Today, Hot Wheels are practically synonymous with the idea of small toys… The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon is an instantly recognizable vehicle thanks to its… The LEGO Movie 2: The Second Part arrives at movie theaters nationwide… It is a truth universally acknowledged that…

Categories Uncategorized

Do Speed Bumps and Rumble Strips Damage Cars?

Speed bumps and rumble strips are two forms of “traffic calming devices” you’ll commonly encounter on the road. As a driver, it’s a scary feeling when your car jolts, bumps, shakes, or scrapes when passing over these. Your reaction is probably to cringe and wonder, “I hope that didn’t damage my car!” But could these…

Categories Uncategorized

Study: Driver’s Education Lowers Teen Tickets and Crashes

In the early 1980s, many studies conducted suggested that driver’s education classes made no difference in teen traffic accidents and tickets. As state school budgets shrank, stats from those studies were used as justification to cut driver’s ed classes from the curriculum in high schools around the country. Some insurance companies have even stopped giving…

Categories Uncategorized

Is Buying a Used Car Safe for My Family?

Photo: The News Wheel Buying a brand-new vehicle ensures that no one else has used and abused it. But, many parents don’t have the funds to afford a new car for their family when they’re also paying for many other expenses. Is it safe for families to buy a used car that someone else already…

Categories Uncategorized

Chevy SS Pace Car Catches Fire at Daytona 500

NASCAR is an interesting sport that is watched by two main groups of people.  The first are diehards that root for their favorite driver, and the second are the thrill-seekers that like to see a good crash.  Every safety precaution possible has been taken in NASCAR, but explosive, fiery crashes are inherent to the nature…

Carbon Cleaning: What Is It? Does My Car Need One?

Photo: The News Wheel Do you drive a car with a GDI? Are you aware of the maintenance needs and common problems that GDI engines face? When was the last time it had a carbon cleaning? Do you even know what GDI means? These were all questions that I recently faced regarding my Hyundai Veloster…

Categories Uncategorized

4 Hyundai Vehicles Among 2021's Best New Cars for Teens

The 2021 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid Photo: Hyundai U.S. News & World Report has named four Hyundai vehicles to its list of 2021 Best New Cars for Teens. The Elantra Hybrid, Kona, Ioniq Hybrid, and Santa Fe Hybrid each stood out with a mix of high-tech safety, parent-friendly connectivity, and efficient dependability. Elantra vs. Corolla: Find…

Categories Uncategorized

Toyota Mirai Wins 2016 What Car? Technology Award

Toyota GB president Paul Van der Burgh with the Mirai’s award Toyota was mighty proud when it released its first ever mass-produced hydrogen fuel cell sedan last October. Despite a bit of a rocky start due to a lack of refueling infrastructure, the Mirai has proven to be quite popular in its new markets in…

Categories Uncategorized

Autonomous car Archives

Whether you believe it or not, women and men are different in… While residents of California, Washington D.C., Arizona, and Texas have all seen… Cruise Automation, General Motors’ self-driving technology subsidiary, already has a major presence… After safely completing thousands of deliveries in Scottsdale, Arizona, Nuro and Kroger… As part of a new billion-euro mobility…

Categories Uncategorized

cars in film Archives

“Nomadland” is a cripplingly honest depiction of a unique community of disenfranchised Americans who need to treat their cars as homes.… There are tons of great quotes about cars or driving in film, but some of my favorites come from movies that aren’t about cars or driving.… By drawing inspiration from so-called walking simulator games…

Categories Uncategorized

15 Factors that Impact Your Car Insurance Rates

Photo: CheapFullCoverageAutoInsurance.com In many states, car insurance is required by law. Since it’s a necessary expense for drivers, here’s a look at just 15 of many factors that impact your car insurance rates. Get a Head Start: Tips for buying your first car Photo: Chevrolet Since foreign cars may have hard-to-find parts and fewer qualified…

Categories Uncategorized

3 Cars Nab 2019 Top Safety Pick+ Awards for Mercedes-Benz

2019 Mercedes-Benz at the 2018 Paris Motor Show Photo: Matti Blume under CC BY-SA 4.0 Luxury and safety make for great companions on the roadways. This shows as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety announced three 2019 Top Safety Pick+ awards for Mercedes-Benz models, including the GLC, GLE-Class, and E-Class 4-door sedan. Learn More: About the…

Review of Tummy Shield: Pregnancy Car Seat Belt Positioner

Purchase the Tummy Shield on Amazon While I’ve not carried a child in my womb, many of my close friends and coworkers have; the majority of them have confessed that they gave little thought to how driving a car changes when pregnant. That unintentional disregard is apparently common across the entire nation. Because standard vehicle seatbelts…

Categories Uncategorized

Toyota Launches Helpful New Car Seat App

Photo: Toyota Child seats come in all shapes and sizes. According to Toyota, even its own engineers experience difficulty installing different child seats across different vehicles. So now, there’s an app for that. Available on ToyotaOwners.com and as part of the Toyota Owners App, the new app is currently limited to car seat installation on…

US Names Chevy Sonic One of the 25 Safest Small Cars of 2019

2019 Sonic hatchback in Shock Photo: Chevrolet The 2019 Chevy Sonic secured a spot on U.S. News and World Report’s list of the 25 Safest Small Cars of 2019 thanks to its high safety ratings and advanced driver assist technologies. Learn More: Reasons to wash your car regularly “A five-star overall rating from the NHTSA…

Categories Uncategorized

Exclusive: The Cars and Drivers of 'Death Race 2050'

Death Race 2050, the reboot of Roger Corman’s cult classic Death Race 2000, hits Blu-ray and VOD this Tuesday. Starring Malcom McDowell (A Clockwork Orange), Manu Bennett (Arrow), Marci Miller (Days of Our Lives), and Yancy Butler (Witchblade), Death Race 2050 modernizes the original’s premise of a dystopian future where the highest form of entertainment…

Categories Uncategorized

Honda Strong on ‘Carb Day’ As It Seeks 13th Indy 500 Win

Photo: Honda Seven Honda drivers made up seven of the top 10 in the traditional “Carb Day” final practice session leading up to Sunday’s Indianapolis 500. Santino Ferrucci was quickest among Honda drivers with an average speed of 225.486 mph, just shy of Tony Kanaan’s timesheet-topping 225.517 mph. Just behind Ferrucci was former Indy 500…

'Thrash-Car' Board Game Review: A Riotous, Reckless Racing Game

When can you win a racing board game without crossing the finish line? When you’re playing Thrash-Car! For those who thought that tabletop versions of racetrack competitions were too tame, uncompetitive, or commercialized, this wild game pits players against each other in aggressive automotive attacks. Whether you side with the hippies, rednecks, old folks, or…

You searched for self-driving cars

While excitement has been gradually growing in anticipation of self-driving cars’ debut, you may be disappointed to learn that these vehicles won’t necessarily make roads much safer. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has found that self-driving cars may still be unable to avoid an astounding two-thirds of vehicle crashes. Innovative and Efficient: Mitsubishi Outlander…

Categories Uncategorized

What’s Going On With Used Car Prices?

Photo: The News Wheel For various reasons including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war, and a global shortage of superconductor parts, new car availability plummeted in 2020. This pushed shoppers to the pre-owned markets and drove used car prices way up. Since then, the market hasn’t recovered — and it’s not showing signs of getting…

Improved Hazard Lights for Cars Are on the Way

ESS’s new hazard light design will help prevent disabled vehicle-related collisions Hazard lights were first invented more than 60 years ago, which means this car part is long overdue for an update. A new company, Emergency Safety Solutions, is seeking to improve hazard lights to help prevent injuries and fatalities related to disabled vehicle incidents….

Categories Uncategorized

Moments in Car History: The First Drive-Thru

This one is a big no-no. In the 1940s, America’s fastest food option was the drive-in. Like you see in various nostalgic movies, these restaurants had customers drive up and park, and then brought the food to them on a platter that clipped onto car windows. However, by the late ’40s, this system had been in…

Categories Uncategorized