Of all the engineering and technology-centric advances made in automotive technology, none might be more universally appreciable than the evolution of safety features. Cliched sentiment aside, our vehicles really do carry our the most precious of cargo, be it our loved ones, or our very own lives. But it’s not the automakers that […]
Author: Jason Cook
Coming from a long line of mechanics and truck drivers, it was inevitable that Jason would find his own way into the auto industry. A childhood spent at car shows, teen years spent doing demolition derby, and a foray into drag racing would leave him with an enduring love of classic muscle cars that he’s never been able to shake off.
Mazda 3 Meets the ‘Soul of Motion’
With some of the revelations from last month’s LA auto show still making their way around current auto news, we’d be remiss if we didn’t talk about one of our personal favorites (at least in terms of accessibly priced reveals). And that favorite comes in the form of the restyled Mazda 3, bolstered […]
Are We Looking Too Far Forward?
Audi recently unveiled its concept of the ‘Pop.up.Next’, a fusion of self-driving electric car and passenger drone which they expect to have on the market within the next decade. Partnering with Airbus, this next wave of on-demand metropolitan taxi is being tests in Europe and South America, confirming that its a viable avenue […]
Chevy Wipes the Slate Clean
Today on AutoInfluence, we explore Chevy’s decision to wipe their slate, at least partially clean… At this point, where we find ourselves edging towards 2019, few people remain unaware of Ford’s announcement, from earlier this year, confirming that they’d be phasing out their line of sedans to refine their focus on crossovers. Now…we […]
Genesis G70 is the 2019 MotorTrend Car of the Year
Today on AutoInfluence, we take a look at MotorTrends’s 2019 Car of the Year, the Genesis G70. Unbiased, it’s hard not to give Hyundai the credit that they deserve in terms of refining their image over the past three decades. For those of us old enough to remember the puzzling automotive landscape of […]
11 Things You Need to Know about Ford & GM’s 10-Speed Transmission
The desire to increase efficiency out of drivetrains is hardly limited to the design and re-engineering of engine builds, with many transmissions being modified to include additional gearing. And the introduction of the long-awaited Ford/GM 10-Speed Transmission might just be the best depiction of that intent. First announced back in 2013, the partnership between Ford […]
GMC Trucks: Appreciating the Underappreciated
Statistically speaking, you could make your way through (pretty much) any summary of truck sales (across nearly every demographic) and you’d see similar trends. The apex is likely to be the centennial trinity of Ford, Chevy and RAM, with the remainder of the proverbial pie being ever redistributed among such upstart offerings from Toyota, Nissan […]
2019 GMC Yukon: A 2nd Look
Considering the ease with which so many car-buyers have overlooked GMC’s lineup over the years, isn’t it about time that we give credit where it’s due? Take the 2019 GMC Yukon, for example. Even without the advantage of the Denali nameplate, the Yukon is a well-qualified and able competitor against the likes of the Infiniti […]
Introducing the 2020 Jeep Gladiator
Last month’s introduction of the 2020 Jeep Gladiator was the culmination of years worth of buzz, and decades worth of patience on the part of Jeep loyalists. Developed under the resurrected ‘Scrambler’ moniker, the biggest shock might have been the early release of the ‘Gladiator’ nameplate. And while the readiness of information on the internet, […]
Are You Getting the Most out of Your Car-Buying Experience?
So, you’re ready to buy a new car, crossover or truck. While it may be tempting to just pull the trigger and head down to your local GMC dealer, Buick store, or used car lot, you might want to pump the breaks a bit. There’s nothing wrong with a little enthusiasm, but you definitely want to […]
And the Hits Keep Coming for the Chevy Silverado
Today on AutoInfluence, we take a look at the 2019 Chevy Silverado, an offering which some are calling the greatest Silverado every made (while others might disagree vehemently). Unless you’ve been living under a rock, the redesigned and re-engineered 2019 Silverado is enjoying a widely-celebrated reception. With praise levied at its exterior design, […]
Volkswagen Targets 2025 for New Benchmark in Electric Vehicle Sales
When it comes to the creation of attention-grabbing automotive technologies, today’s headlines usually fall into one of the three categories. First, the continuing partnership between automakers and tech giants to transition humanity into the use of autonomous vehicles. Second (and infinitely more tangible) is the recent resurgence of high-powered cars, trucks and SUVs geared […]
The Double-Edged Sword of Toyota’s Hybrid Legacy
It’s been just under a year since Toyota announced their intention of making half of their global sales hybrid or electric by 2030. Considering the automaker’s pedigree as a pioneer in hybrid technology, there was little surprise that they would be among the leaders in this strategy. This is especially true since Toyota’s contention […]
Will the 2019 Chevy Silverado Live Up to Every Expectation?
Within the super-competitive truck segment, none may have bigger expectations to meet than the 2019 Chevy Silverado. Ever the runner-up (to Ford’s iconic F-Series) Chevy approached 2019 with an appreciable mix of gusto and trepidation. Sure, Ford had offered up a notable weight reduction that was met with applause, but it received plenty of criticism […]
5 Reasons RAM Trucks Do It Better
For those seeking out a RAM dealership, truck buyers either count themselves among RAM enthusiasts or among those who have recognized RAM’s prevailing value, so often overshadowed by Ford and Chevy’s constant one-upmanship. Counting myself among the former, I recently found myself engaged in a conversation where a number of us were talking about what […]
Is Mark Wahlberg the New Face of Diversification?
Today on AutoInfluence, we discuss an unexpected case of automotive cross-marketing. While there’s no shortage of actual automotive headlines in any sampling of current auto news, one of the more stand-out headlines of the past year had less to do with the cars themselves, and more to do with the dealerships that sell them. […]
Are You Driving One of the Most Popular Ford Vehicles in Illinois?
If you’re one of the eight-and-a-half million licensed drivers in the state of Illinois you represent one of the most focused concentrations of domestic vehicles in the continental United States. Call it a bi-product of the being part of the nation’s heartland, but there’s a surprising concentration of showings from Toyota, Honda and Nissan (among […]
How Buying Certified Pre-Owned Cars Might Mean You’re a Smarter Car-Buyer
Yesterday, I was driving in the car with my daughter…my incredibly goal-oriented, financially-savvy twelve-year-old as she regaled me with her equivalent of a fifteen-year plan. Bear with me here, and I promise I won’t go into her plans of getting accepted to the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and having a custom-built ‘tiny home’. […]
Land Rover’s Reassuring Strategy for Autonomous Driving
With autonomous driving representing the next quantum leap in automotive technologies, it’s easy to appreciate why it’s the subject of so many headlines on a daily basis. From discussion of visionary collaborations and their aggressive timelines for integration, to the more somber side of things in the form of injuries and fatalities caused by […]
5 Ways, the Nissan Titan, is Worth (a STRONG) Consideration
For those seeking out a Nissan dealer, drivers are more-than-likely to find one or more vehicles deserving of their attention. And if you happen to be in the market for a new truck, the simple truth is that Nissan’s full-size Titan continues to gain footing and market-share, courtesy with its combination of iconic styling, confident […]