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Autoweek Daily Drive

Wednesday, October 30, 2019

SEMA Show

Ram goes off the grid and old school with pickups at SEMA

Mopar is going truck wild at SEMA this year with two pickup concepts, one a modern overlanding example and the other a classic boulevard cruiser. Your choice as to which one you’d take first. For us, it’d be the Mopar Lowliner Concept ... as much as we’d like to get OTG (off the grid).

Car News

Fiat Chrysler/PSA merger talks appear to be real this time: Here's what it means

Citroen Town & Country anyone? Following rumors Oct. 29, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot/Citroen parent PSA Group confirmed they are talking about a possible merger, a move that would create, as an FCA statement pointed out, “one of the world’s leading mobility groups.”

But Wait There's More

Mystery 'Vette stolen nearly 40 years ago turns up abandoned in a Detroit suburb

"It's been under the radar for a while," Detective Anthony Hall of the Livonia Police Department told Fox 2 Detroit in the understatement of the day.

Technology

Ford's Sync 4 brings bigger screens and over-the-air updates

Since Ford’s Sync infotainment system debuted in 2007, it’s gone through serious changes to make it more effective at playing your favorite podcasts while guiding you to the nearest Taco Bell. Now Ford’s rolling out the biggest change yet: Sync 4. Here's what to expect.

Car News

Is the next Kia Optima getting a much-needed dash of flash?

Kia’s next-generation Optima should arrive in showrooms next year as a 2021, and it looks like the company is heading in a dramatic new direction, akin to sister company Hyundai's swoopy new Sonata.

Classic Cars

A quick history of the original Shelby GT500

The GT500 was not the first Mustang modified by Shelby's operation: that honor goes to the 1965 GT350. The GT500 that debuted for 1967 was a different beast from the earlier models. For one thing, it was powered by a 428 CID (7.0-liter) engine with two 600-CFM Holley carburetors, rated at 355 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque.

Car News

Finally: Google Maps gets Waze speed trap avoidance features

Google Maps users hadn’t seen a ton of benefit from the near-$1 billion deal with the Waze navigation app until last week when Google Maps added features Wazers have been using for years, including the kicker: the option to note speed traps and police locations for other drivers.

Technology

Hyundai's HDC-6 Neptune hydrogen semi-truck looks like a Daft Punk helmet

Over the past couple of decades, we've seen a few automakers place bets big and small on hydrogen-powered cars, but we haven't seen a semi-truck until now -- that's what Hyundai brought to the North American Commercial Vehicle Show in Atlanta this week.

Shop

Skip the floating balls and check your coolant properly with this handy tool

Forgetting to check your car’s antifreeze before winter can lead to a variety of cooling system problems, all the way to a trashed block, heads and more if you’re incredibly unlucky. This tool will give you exact antifreeze concentrations in seconds.

Junkyard Treasures

Junkyard Treasure: 1976 International Harvester Scout Terra

Since I live in Colorado, I see plenty of discarded Scouts as I roam the wrecking yards of the Front Range. What I don't see often is examples of the Scout Terra, the pickup version of the Scout built between 1976 and 1980. Here's the first junked Terra I've seen in at least 20 years.

Born for Adventure: Kia’s 2020 Telluride

Looking for a sport-utility vehicle able to take everything Mother Nature hurls at you, shaking it off and taking it all in stride? The Kia Telluride’s ruggedness is designed to inspire confidence and provide peace of mind, thanks to its advanced, available electronic all-wheel drive system, plus a whole bunch of smart technology.

Racing

Motorsports Hall of Fame of America president Ron Watson dies at 72

Watson was set to retire in April of next year with plans to travel during his retirement years with his wife, Donna, and spend more time with his children and grandchildren.

Monster Energy NASCAR Cup

Matt Tifft to miss remainder of NASCAR Cup season after suffering seizure at Martinsville

The 23-year-old driver of the Front Row Motorsports No. 36 was replaced over the weekend by two-time Truck Series champion Matt Crafton. John Hunter Nemechek will make his Cup Series debut this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway and complete the remaining races at Phoenix and Homestead.

Formula One

Proposed 2021 F1 race for Miami hits a political snag

A public hearing is now scheduled for Dec. 10 before the Infrastructure & Capital Improvements Committee to discuss the proposed Formula 1 race weekend currently set for 2021 at the Hard Rock Stadium area in Miami.