VinCheckUp Vehicle History

  For decades, car shoppers and enthusiasts associated power with   engine size —massive   V8 engines   were seen as the ultimate way to achieve power and performance. But in recent years, automakers have been steadily phasing out larger engines in favor of smaller, more efficient turbocharged motors. This shift is not just about keeping up with the times; it’s a direct response to tightening federal fuel economy mandates, rising consumer demand for efficiency, and competition from   electric vehicles .   turbocharged gasoline engines     The good news for all of us petrol heads is the fact that the   modern 4-cylinder engine   is very different than the one from even a decade ago. Most manufacturers are now adding   turbocharging , allowing smaller engines to generate more power than their naturally aspirated counterparts. Turbocharging is a form of forced air induction that uses a turbine powered by the engine’s exhaust gases to f...

  For more than a century, driving a car meant being mechanically connected to it. Turning the steering wheel rotated a physical column linked directly to the front wheels. Pressing the gas pedal pulled a throttle cable. Stepping on the brakes engaged a hydraulic system that you could feel through your foot. This mechanical connection gave drivers not just control but also a sense of feedback, what enthusiasts often call “road feel.” But in recent years, much of that tactile link has been replaced by something known as   fly-by-wire technology   and the changes it’s bringing to the driving experience are profound.     Fly-By-Wire Technology   What “Fly-By-Wire” Means   The term “ fly-by-wire ” originated in aviation. Instead of the pilot’s controls directly moving the plane’s rudder, ailerons or elevators, sensors detect the inputs and computers translate them into electronic signals that control actuators through electric motors and hydraulic systems....

  As EVs solidify their place in today’s highly competitive car market,   Honda   and their premium brand Acura find themselves seriously behind on in-house EV development. This is the precise reason why they have chosen to partner up with other companies on developing fully   electric vehicles .   Honda     In March of 2024 Honda unveiled a fully electric crossover called the   Honda Prologue . The issue with this new model was not so much that it was not well received; it has more to do with the fact that it was not much of a Honda underneath the Honda badge. Just like the   Acura ZDX   released in the same year, the Prologue was built on   General Motors’ Ultium platform . This is the same foundation behind the   Cadillac Lyriq   and   Chevrolet Blazer EV . The issue arose when people started to notice that the Prologue and the ZDX shared far more than just the electric drivetrain with GM models. They shared compon...

To understand the overall impact that tariffs have on the   US car market , it is important to take into account that all mass-produced vehicles today rely on a global supply chain. This means that even if your vehicle was assembled in the US, it is very likely to have a lot of parts made all over the world. For example, most airbags are made by Autoliv, a Swedish company that manufactures their airbags in China, Mexico and the US. Similarly, Bosch the leading producer of alternators found in a lot of new vehicles, is a German company that sources materials and assembles most of their products overseas. So just because the car is assembled in the US does not make it immune to new   tariffs   placed on goods exported from foreign countries.     US Automakers     On   March 26, 2025,   the Trump administration announced a   25% tariff   on imported vehicles and auto parts, effective April 3. While the   United States-Mexico-Canad...