Sensational San Diego

Atlanta Auto Examiner recently ventured to San Diego to take in some beautiful scenery and pleasant weather.

San Diego's Gaslamp district offers many options for dining and entertainment.

San Diego and the Pacific Ocean make for a pleasant pairing to relax and enjoy life.

San Francisco - Bay Area beauty

Atlanta Auto Examiner recently enjoyed time in beautiful San Francisco. Pictured is the famous TransAmerica building.

San Francisco offers dramatic hills as part of its distinctive landscape.

The famous Alcatraz Prison landmark is one of San Francisco's best known attractions.

New 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe on Display

Atlanta-area auto journalists got a sneak peek at the new 2019 Hyundai Santa Fe small crossover this week. The Santa Fe seats up to five and offers a surprisingly roomy interior. Pricing starts at around $26,000 and ranges close to $40,000.

Toronto: A North American Jewel

Toronto is a jewel of a North American city, rich with culture, history and natural and created beauty. Our recent visit included a tour about an hour and a half outside the city to Niagara Falls. We also got to take in part of a ball game at the Rogers Centre, featuring Major League Baseball's Blue Jays, playing the rival New York Yankees.

2018 Atlanta Concours d'Elegance Coming in September

The 2018 Atlanta Concours d'Elegance A Concours d’Elegance is not a run-of-the-mill car show. It is best described by its 17th Century origins when French aristocrats paraded horse-drawn carriages in Paris parks during summer weekends and holidays. Carriages became automobiles, and these affairs became ‘competitions of elegance’ where judges reviewed entrants to select the 'Best of Show' winner. The Atlanta Concours d’Elegance is a full weekend of activities amongst the elegant splendor of Château Élan Winery and Resort; priceless, rare, seldom seen, and beautiful rolling works of art; and enthusiasts adorned in period fashion. September 2018 29-30 Need media or photographer credentials? Click here. REGISTER

WHAT ELSE: More than 180 museum-quality 1900 to 1968 automobiles, including over 75 pre-war and brass era examples on the Sunday Concours show field that embody the ‘art of the car.’ Rare examples from national museums and collections such as Evergreen Historic Automobiles, Stahls Automotive Foundation, the Gilmore Car Museum, the Elliott Museum, and the Lane Auto Museum. “The Magnificent Seven” – Seven exceptional cars from Saturday’s “Classics & Coffee at the Chateau” exhibition field selected for Sunday’s Concours competition. Manufacturers Row featuring the latest from Mercedes-Benz, Bentley,  Ferrari, Maserati, Panoz, Lexus, Lamborghini, Cadillac, Aston Martin, Karma and Porsche, with several brands offering test drives. Automobile Artists Market, Best of Atlanta food trucks, and Shepherd Center showcase of innovative mobility solutions for the disabled. WHERE: Château Élan Winery and Resort The stunningly beautiful 3,500-acre French country style estate just northeast of Metro Atlanta (I-85 North, Exit 126). 100 Rue Charlemagne Braselton, Georgia 30517 WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 29 – 9 am to 2 pm Sunday, Sept 30 – 9 am to 4 pm HOW: Purchase tickets here: http://atlantaconcours.org/event-tickets/. Full weekend admission starts at only $65! Entering a vehicle? Register here: http://atlantaconcours.org/go/registration/  Want to be an Atlanta Concours d"Elegance sponsor? Contact Bill Wallet, 770-321-7028, wwallet@gmail.com.

2018 Nissan Versa: Good Value and Fuel Efficiency

EL PASO, Texas -- With seating for five, the 2018 Nissan Versa is a subcompact sedan that gets good fuel economy and provides a solid value. 
The Versa comes in four trim levels: the S, S+, SV, and SL.
We test drove the Versa in beautiful El Paso, Texas, where we zipped around town efficiently and saw the sites along the USA-Mexico border. 
The Versa features a standard 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine that makes 109 horsepower and, in the S trim level, is linked to a five-speed manual transmission or four-speed automatic. The other trim levels use a Xtronic continuously variable transmission.
Fuel economy is rated at 27 mpg city, 36 highway in the S trim, and 31 and 39 in the other trims.
The interior is cozy, as you might expect in a subcompact, but it does not lack for comfort. Seating is pleasant and there is good head room. 
The affordable Versa starts at around $14,000 and ranges to about $18,000.

Chevy Shows off Latest Versions of Three Crossovers

Atlanta area automotive media members got a look at three popular crossover vehicles from Chevrolet recently. The Chevy Traverse (top) has been restyled to give it a sleeker look, and with its attractive interior, it should draw shoppers looking for a family vehicle.
The Chevy Equinox (middle) is a midsize vehicle that offers versatility.
The Chevy Trax (bottom) is a compact vehicle that does well with fuel efficiency.
Chevrolet touts the technology features offered in each vehicle. One such feature is the rear mirror camera, which allows the driver to have a view similar to what would be given from the rear view mirror, even if the back cargo area is loaded up with goods.