cars

With summer months approaching, now is the time to get your vehicle ready to handle the heat. Below are three things you can do:

If cars had parties, Lexus and Mercedes would take selfies, Dodge and Chevrolet would challenge each other to a push-up contest, and Hyundai would sit in the corner, in a beige sweater vest, petting the dog.

For some luxury automakers, the design of a <$35k crossover necessitates many sacrifices and frustrating omissions. Smaller cabins, plastic-like interiors and piddling powertrains often test the “luxury” description of some low-end haulers.

My history with Hyundais has taught me that South Korean creations are comfortable, economical and as thrilling to operate as a toaster. This has always irked me, because while competitors have sprinkled sportiness into their lineup to great effect, Hyundai has curiously held back the fun factor.

It’s hard to believe this bubbly, cartoonish off-roader shares heritage with the legendary Willy’s Jeep that absorbed Nazi gunfire in WWII. Is the cutesy Renegade worthy of the badge?

Muscle cars like the Mustang, Challenger and Camaro are the dumb jocks of the automotive world – loud, fast and unrefined, with 10 times more horsepower than IQ. Recently though they’ve begun attending class, and the ‘16 Camaro made the Dean’s List.

To most automakers, “crossover” means combining the comfort and practicality of an SUV with the sportiness and drivability of a sedan. While obscenely popular, the CUV isn’t particulary great at anything unless you consider six-figure offerings from Porsche or BMW.

While the automotive world buzzes with hype over the Tesla Model 3, an affordable alternative has already hit dealerships. Is the newly refined Chevy Volt any good?

With aging powertrains, antiquated electronics and clunky single-clutch transmissions, Aston Martin’s offerings haven’t aged as well as the Bond actors who’ve piloted them. But that all changes with their breathtaking new grand tourer, the DB11.

Extra battery packs provide peace of mind on long flights and campsites, allowing us to resurrect multiple devices without an outlet. But most battery packs are limited to charging small devices, and when not in use become unhandy junk.

Hall Capital, the Oklahoma City-based, family-owned investment company recently announced that its automotive affiliate, The Fred Jones Companies, acquired assets held by California-based Tracy Industries, a parts distribution company servicing Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) dealers.

The BBC’s Top Gear is less a mere motoring show than a worldwide phenomenon. After the Beeb sacked lead host Jeremy Clarkson for punching his producer last year, 350 million viewers eagerly await his return.