Riffs on Rides
Riffs on Rides

fuel efficient

2011 Nissan Juke!

2011 Nissan Juke gives new looks to a cross-over

By • Sep 7, 2010

“Our goal is to become one of the most trusted car companies in the US,” Mike Drongowski, Senior Product Planner for Nissan, explained at a recent event for the Juke in Vancouver, BC. “Juke is a segment buster — it’s something between a sports coupe and a crossover.” That wasn’t all Nissan marketing speak. The [...]



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Road Trip in a Buick Enclave- beats flying!

By • Aug 24, 2010

Even though I drive cars for a living, when it comes to a vacation I like to fly. But all that changed last week after we drove 10 hours to our lake-front rental. The road trip was a game-changer for me. I have come to the conclusion that driving is the way to travel. OK, [...]



2011-harley-davidson-superlow

A Harley-Davidson built for comfort

By • Aug 6, 2010

I’ve been reporting so much on EV (Electric Vehicles) and hybrids, I thought it was time to inject a bit of motorcycle copy. Think about it– small footprint, low on gas, energy efficient and easy to park. Not that I ride one (yet) but I thought that the 2011 Harley-Davidson SuperLow deserved a look. What [...]



Oli Scarf/ Getty Images

Paris to kick-off EV car sharing program!

By • Aug 3, 2010

The wildly popular Velib, Paris’ rental system for bicycles, is expanding. But, I’m not talking about two-wheelers. The city plans to launch the world’s largest electric car access scheme in September of next year. The program, Autolib ( auto liberty), has the goal of cutting down on car ownership, traffic and pollution. With the Veil [...]



Tesla Electric Roadster!

Tesla Motors all-electric cars opens non-traditional dealerships

By • Jul 28, 2010

Tesla Motors’ is not your ordinary car company. Just for starters, the Tesla Roadster Sport has a 0-60 of 3.7 seconds and a range of 240 miles. And it’s 100% electric. So, when it comes to dealerships, Tesla isn’t taking the traditional route. Like Apple, Tesla will own and operate its own shops. With only [...]



2011 Kia Sportage

2011 Kia Sportage hits San Francisco streets in style!

By • Jul 22, 2010

The 2011 Kia Sportage has the kind of style that will make it a stand-out. I just returned from driving it in San Francisco. Here’s the scoop: Heads up: The Sportage is a 5-passenger CUV, otherwise known as a crossover utility vehicle. Kia claims the young single guy as their target audience. Thus, the raked [...]



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Car of Light is driven by the sun

By • Jul 16, 2010

The Car of Light concept from designer Jong Won Lee is driven by the sun. A solar panel on top of the car powers the electric motor. The exterior design takes cues from the motion of waves on a river surface. On the inside it’s lit by a purple haze…



_smart fortwo gets customized

smart fortwo Gets Customized!

By • Jul 9, 2010

smart USA is hip to what makes car owners feel special. This week the company launched a vehicle customization program called “smart Expressions”. The idea is that customers can choose from an unlimited palette of paint colors and a variety of body wrap designs to make their wheels a work of art. “The smart fortwo’s [...]



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Love Affair With A smartfortwo

By • Jun 15, 2010


Michelin launched Tires for Tomorrow @ Challenge Bibendum - #4

Michelin brings on tires that will change the world

By • Jun 9, 2010

Here’s the facts: With an estimated 900 million vehicles on the road world wide and an expected 1.5 billion on the road worldwide by 2030, In addition road transport accounts for 18% of all carbon emissions, while all forms of transportation account for 24% of the total. To respond to this environmental challenge, MICHELIN employs [...]



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