Q: Purchased a new 2020 Audi A4. Salesperson wanted me to buy a maintenance plan that would cover oil changes for four years. Can my local mechanic handle the changes? Is there a reason I would need to use the dealer?

L.S., Davie, Fla.

A: Your warranty will not be voided if you chose to have oil changes, or any routine service, done by your ...Read more

DETROIT — General Motors is changing course and will no longer back President Donald Trump's effort to stop California from setting its own emissions rules in an ongoing court fight.

GM CEO Mary Barra said GM is withdrawing from the pre-emption litigation between California, the Trump Administration and other non-government groups.

The move ...Read more

DETROIT — General Motors Co. is abandoning a legal battle between the Trump administration and California over the state's right to set its own standards for greenhouse gas emissions and fuel economy rules, the automaker said Monday, and urging other automakers to do the same.

The move signals a recognition by GM that its electrification and ...Read more

It is billed as the fastest and most powerful street-legal Ford vehicle of all time. It has the most power-dense supercharged engine in the world. The 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 pumps out a staggering 760 horsepower, and roars to 60 mpg in just a few rapid heartbeats — or 3.3 seconds.

Grown men, veteran car guys, drive this iconic speed freak ...Read more

Ford raises the bar for America's favorite vehicle and cranks up the pressure on Chevy and Ram with the 2021 F-150 pickup, a package full of surprises arriving in dealerships just in time for the holidays.

New from the ground up, the F-150 offers more safety features, improved ride and handling and a hybrid that saves fuel on the road and can ...Read more

DALLAS — How hungry are you?

It might be an apt question given that the redesigned 2021 Ford F-150 has an onboard generator that can power 28 refrigerators. Not starving? Perhaps you need to keep your family and friends happy instead. The 2021 Ford F-150 can facilitate the ultimate tailgate party with enough juice to run a grill, a smoker, a ...Read more

2020 Ford Edge ST AWD: A Mustang but taller?

Price: $52,540 as tested. The ST Performance Brake Package added $2,695; Cold Weather Package added heated steering wheel and more for $495. More below.

Conventional wisdom: "No quicker than the old Sport model," says Car and Driver.

Marketer's pitch: "Top IIHS safety pick." Wow. Exciting.

Reality...Read more

If the last generation Ford F-150 concentrated on brawn, then the 2021 F-series is about brains.

America's best-selling pickup is back for its 14th generation, and it's one clever cookie. Think fully digital displays, over-the-air-updates, wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, a stowable shifter and a hybrid powertrain that acts as an onboard ...Read more

DETROIT — General Motors is expanding the number of electric vehicles it will bring to market by 2025.

At the Barclays Global Automotive Conference on Thursday, GM CEO Mary Barra said the automaker will bring to market 30 all-electric models globally by mid-decade.

GM had previously said it would bring 20 electric models to market by 2023.

...Read more

DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. was hit with more bad news Thursday, thanks to the problematic launch of its Ford Explorer.

Ford's namesake Blue Oval brand placed 22nd in the latest Annual Auto Reliability Survey from Consumer Reports, down six spots from last year. The luxury Lincoln brand placed last at 26th, down 11 spots.

The 2020 Auto ...Read more

Robotaxi operators will be allowed to charge fares for driverless rides in California under a plan approved by the state Public Utilities Commission on Thursday.

But don't expect to hail a robotaxi right away: The CPUC fare plan lays down a lengthy government approval process for each robotaxi operator that could take months or years.

...Read more

In another example of California encouraging drivers to buy zero- or low-emissions vehicles, the California Air Resources Board and the state's utilities have teamed up to launch a program offering a discount of up to $1,500 on the purchase or lease of new electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids.

Called the California Clean Fuel Reward, the ...Read more

DETROIT — General Motors has its eye south of the border as the coronavirus pandemic spreads, restricting the output of parts from some of its suppliers in Mexico.

That, in turn, could further impact GM's vehicle production at its U.S. factories.

GM has had to either cancel some overtime shifts or run partial shifts at its important ...Read more

Shareholders for Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot-maker PSA Group are to meet in January to decide whether to approve the proposed merger between the two companies.

The companies announced Wednesday they would hold general meetings for their respective shareholders on Jan. 4 "in order to approve the merger of their companies to allow the ...Read more

The stock of both Nikola Corp. and General Motors spiked Wednesday on rumors the two had finally signed a deal where GM would make the Nikola Badger heavy-duty electric pickup using its Ultium battery technology and be the exclusive supplier of Hydrotec fuel cells for the truck.

In return, GM would get an equity stake in Nikola and other ...Read more

Q: My spouse and I have Subarus and take our cars to the dealership for service. Every time I take my car in for an oil change, they seem to find something else wrong. This multi-point inspection labels all parts/systems as green, yellow or red and encourages you to fix or replace when in the yellow range. Once they marked my battery green and a...Read more

Jeep's concept of powering its flagship Wrangler SUV with a V-8 engine for the first time in nearly 40 years just became a reality.

The Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV brand said Tuesday it will produce the four-door 2021 Wrangler Rubicon 392 for sale with the 6.4-liter V-8 engine after teasing the possible product in July just hours ahead of Ford...Read more

DETROIT — Jamie Standring, the chief engineer for performance SUVs at Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, has a description that Jeep fans will appreciate for the new 2021 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 392.

He calls it an "unmistakable badass on the road."

That's what you get when you drop a 6.4-liter V8 engine into a Wrangler, the first time a V8 has been ...Read more

General Motors and the UAW met with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on Monday to talk about the economy and the rise of COVID-19 cases sweeping the nation.

The UAW told the incoming administration that there is a need for an immediate economic package to help people hard hit by the pandemic.

The Biden ...Read more