AFFORDABLE BATTERY ELECTRIC VEHICLES By Barbara & Bill Schaffer Each year members of the Northwest Automotive Press Association meet to evaluate some of the latest and greatest environmentally friendly vehicles available to U.S. consumers. This year the competition was held at the Pearson Air Museum located on the grounds of the Fort Vancouver Historic Reserve…
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer According to Wikipedia the definition of a sports cars is “a small, usually two-seater, two-door automobile designed for spirited performance and nimble handling. Sports cars may be spartan or luxurious, but high maneuverability and light weight are requisite. Sports cars are usually aerodynamically shaped (since the 1950s) and have a low center…
“2017 Fiat 124 Spider” Nearly 50 Year hiatus ends for Iconic Italian Roadster The first Fiat 124 Spider first bowed at the 1966 Turin Auto Show, with the first of its kind to be sold in the U.S. marketplace in 1968. It was produced exclusively for the U.S. market from 1975 and renamed the Spider…
“2016 Fiat 500 Abarth” An affordable Lilliputian Italian performance car In the case of Fiat, the Abarth moniker, with its iconic scorpion logo, is a highly recognizable symbol not only in Italian performance circles, but worldwide. What’s in a name? The name comes from Karl Abarth – a man, a brand, and a name that…
By Bill Schaffer Carlsbad, Calif. – The 2017 Fiat Spider — it’s like déjà vu, only better. Growing up in small-town Montana, I was enamored by the sexy Fiat 124. However, as a 15-year-old driver in a family who was in to cars, American cars were what we drove. Plus, the only time we saw…
By Barbara & Bill Schaffer Shelton, Wash. – One of our favorite events each year is the annual Northwest Automotive Press Association’s (NWAPA) Mudfest. We were involved in the creation of the annual SUV evaluation and have participated in a majority of the programs during the event’s 22-year history. Mudfest has evolved through the years…
By Bill Schaffer Photos by Doug Berger / NWAPA Portland, Ore. – There is a revolution on the U.S. highways. It started in 1999 when Honda introduced the first hybrid electric car, the Honda Insight. A year later, Toyota started selling the Prius and expanded the hybrids to other models and by the end of 2014…
By Bill Schaffer Beverly Hills – There is big news at Fiat this summer — literally — as Fiat rolls out the 500X adding a seventh model to the Italian/American brand in a new larger size. The 2016 Fiat 500X is also the first Fiat crossover adding a whole new dimension to the brand’s lineup….
“2016 Fiat 500X” A new family member with available All-Wheel Drive Beverly Hills, CA – Just as MINI has done by introducing several different models and body formats, Fiat is expanding their portfolio of vehicles to provide a broader choice of body styles serving a variety of purposes. The latest entry into the Fiat family…
By Bill Schaffer Photos by Doug Berger Portland, Oregon – Each year one of the automotive writer’s groups I belong to, the Northwest Automotive Press Association (NWAPA), has an event we call “Run to the Sun.” This year the members who organized the program out-did themselves by signing up 25 outstanding cars, with a total…
