car of the year

Search results for car of the year

 The News Wheel

Kia Reintroduces, Remakes its Famous Hamsters for 2014 Soul VMA Ad

Kia Reintroduces, Remakes its Famous Hamsters for 2014 Soul VMA Ad

Not all of the talk coming out of the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards was about a bunch of giant, disquietingly dour teddy bears (so very fluffy, so very sad): there was quite a bit of focus on the return of Kia’s much-beloved hamsters. Kia aired the fifth installment in its dancing-hamster commercial series during […]

 The News Wheel

Toyota in the 70s: A Decade to Remember

Toyota in the 70s: A Decade to Remember

Most of us would probably like to forget any and all participation we had in the great decade that was the 1970s.  We’ve struck the pictures from history and told those closest to us that no, we never once tried to squeeze into bellbottoms and chartreuse crushed velvet shirt or had an enormous afro.  Toyota, […]

 Timothy Moore

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is Très Chic

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is Très Chic

Until a couple years ago, I thought that it was perfectly acceptable to wear brown and black together and owned nothing but tee shirts and cargo shorts. In fact, I wore a graphic Dr. Pepper tee in my senior pictures. (Mom was thrilled.) Needless to say, I am no expert on fashion. Luckily, Mercedes-Benz has quite a […]

 The News Wheel

Toyota in the 80s: A Decade of Decadence

Toyota in the 80s: A Decade of Decadence

Let’s take a stroll back to the decade of big hair, Dayglow, and Reganomics.  Where the Berlin Wall fell, MTV was king, and the people of Wall Street were all about me, me, me!  Actually, that last bit sounds pretty contemporary, but I digress.  The 1980s was a bad decade for denim, a decent decade […]

 The News Wheel

5 Reasons to Drive the 2014 Chevy Spark

5 Reasons to Drive the 2014 Chevy Spark

Including a love for a compact, economic car with a lot of punch.

The 2014 Chevy Spark is more than just another city car.  Driving the Chevy Spark makes a statement.  Driving a Spark says that you don’t mind being a trendsetter and that you do not compromise.  Driving a Spark says that you care about the environment and are absolutely unopposed.  Perfect for driving in the city […]

 The News Wheel

3 Good Reasons to Buy the 2014 Corolla

3 Good Reasons to Buy the 2014 Corolla

What’s the first thought that comes to your mind when we say the name, “Toyota Corolla?” The answer was probably somewhere along the lines of dependable. Possibly loyal. Maybe a constant source of comfort. Since its introduction to the auto world 40 years ago, the Corolla has answered consumers’ call for a reliable, efficient vehicle, […]

 The News Wheel

A Look at the Luxury of the 2014 Buick LaCrosse

A Look at the Luxury of the 2014 Buick LaCrosse

Buick is a brand that is defined by luxury, and the automaker is looking to take it a step further with its 2014 lineup, including the newly-updated LaCrosse.  So how does Buick intend to improve upon a year that saw the 2013 LaCrosse named both Consumers Digest and Consumer Guide Automotive’s Best Buy and Buick […]

 The News Wheel

Chevy Targeting Younger Buyers with 2014 Corvette Stingray

Chevy Targeting Younger Buyers with 2014 Corvette Stingray

Try remembering the last time you saw someone driving a Corvette that didn’t have some gray in their hair.  It’s hard to do.  The Corvette is an American classic, an icon even, but Chevy has had trouble conveying that idea to younger car-buyers in recent years. The average age of the Corvette-buyer has been growing […]

 The News Wheel

Toyota Discontinues the Matrix

Toyota Discontinues the Matrix

The Matrix makes an exit with no plans to revive the compact model.

Toyota doesn’t have the authority to discontinue the Keanu Reeves flick that saw its third and final installment in 2003, but it does hold the power to do so with its sporty hatchback that shares the same name: The Matrix. The Japanese automaker announced last week that it will discontinue the Toyota Matrix for the […]

 The News Wheel

Toyota Earns “Gold Level” Certification for Reforestation Efforts

Toyota Earns “Gold Level” Certification for Reforestation Efforts

Toyota is an automaker that is undoubtedly committed to improving the environment: their groundbreaking Prius hybrid vehicle recently passed 3 million sold worldwide, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office issued more green tech patents to Toyota than any other auto manufacturer.  What may come as a relative surprise, however, is that Toyota recently announced […]

 Kyle Johnson

Robot Roll Call: Our MST3K Salute to Kirobo

Robot Roll Call: Our MST3K Salute to Kirobo

The News Wheel staff writer, Kyle Johnson, sings us a ditty about Kirobo, and other science facts.

The Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency’s (JAXA) HTV-4, which launched on Saturday, August 4, arrived at the International Space Station (ISS) this past Friday with over three-and-a-half tons of supplies, equipment, and various goods to benefit the six-person crew. Among the food, gear, and spare parts was a piece of equipment intended for future ISS crew […]

 The News Wheel

Buick Unveils Enhanced 2014 LaCrosse

Buick Unveils Enhanced 2014 LaCrosse

For years now, Buick has been making a concerted effort to attract younger buyers and shake the “old people’s car” stigma.  The Detroit automaker took a big step toward that with its MKZ, and now we are seeing its popularly refreshed styling make its way into Buick’s other vehicles, including the new 2014 LaCrosse. “We […]

 The News Wheel

Kia Makes Great Back-to-School Gifts

Kia Makes Great Back-to-School Gifts

Ah, it’s that time of year again. Your little boy or girl is getting ready to head back to school. We know how trying it can be to watch your little one trot out the door, bag slung heavily over their shoulders and filled with all of those Lisa Frank trapper keepers and Crayola crayons […]

 The News Wheel

Buick Achievers Program Offers $4.2 Million in Aid to STEM Students

Buick Achievers Program Offers $4.2 Million in Aid to STEM Students

The Buick Achievers Scholarship Program has announced that it will reward 1,100 students seeking careers in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) with scholarships.  This contribution will ultimately total around $4.2 million, which can be construed as an investment in the future of the automotive industry itself. According to studies, STEM jobs […]

 The News Wheel

Ford to Use Recycled Materials in 2014 F-150 Trucks

Ford to Use Recycled Materials in 2014 F-150 Trucks

Keeping with Ford’s efforts to reduce their environmental impact, the Ford Motor Co. has announced that it intends to use various recycled materials in producing its 2014 Ford F-150 pickup, which is being built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Mo. According to the Kansas City Business Journal, The 2014 F-150 will utilize […]

 Sarah Mahan

Pros and Cons of Built-In Booster Seats

Pros and Cons of Built-In Booster Seats

The advantages and disadvantages of integrated booster seats.

For parents looking for car seat alternatives, there are a few new cars available with built-in booster seats.But are they really a good idea? Let’s look at the pros and cons of built-in booster seats. Pros of Built-In Booster Seats: Built-in boosters offer the convenience of simply folding out a seat when needed, and then […]

 The News Wheel

2014 Volt Price Reduced by $5,000 to Reinvigorate Sales

2014 Volt Price Reduced by $5,000 to Reinvigorate Sales

In an effort to provide a jump to its premier plug-in, the 2014 Volt price was reduced by $5,000 starting with the 2014 model year. The move would lower the 2014 Volt’s price to $34,995 with shipping, which is a 12.5% decrease from last year’s model.  The move comes after Volt sales dropped by 3.3% […]

 The News Wheel

2014 Nissan Versa: A Study in Modesty

2014 Nissan Versa: A Study in Modesty

Hunting for the perfect car can be trickier than finding your soul mate. The options can be overwhelming and if you don’t know what you specifically want, the final decision will always be difficult. If you’re looking for a reliable, roomy car to get around in though, your decision is simple—look no further than the […]