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Auto News For Tuesday, July 7, 2015 – The Average New Car Costs $33,340

2015 Subaru Outback

Here are the seven must-read, must-watch auto news stories, reviews and videos for Tuesday, July 7, 2015.

INSIDE THE AUTO INDUSTRY
Honda wants to return to more exciting products. Hopefully that means more cars like the Civic Type R and fewer cars like the supposedly exciting CR-Z. New Honda Motor Company CEO Takahiro Hachigo says, “I plan to create a new Honda.” 

INSIDE THE AVERAGE CAR
Americans are spending an average of $33,340 on new car purchases and leases. What does $33,340 buy you? How ‘bout a Ford Mustang GT? 

INSIDE THE AUTO REPAIR BUSINESS
The headline accurately depicts the story: “Why did mechanics in New York’s worst neighborhood go on hunger strike?” Michael Ballaban explores the topic for Jalopnik

TTAC
In honour of the July 4 weekend just past, these are the 15, no 20, best-selling American vehicles in America so far this year, from the Ford F-Series to the Chevrolet Impala. 

INSIDE SUBARU
Can a brand new Subaru Outback be sufficiently modified to make it surprisingly offroadable but still a reasonable daily driver? Apparently. 

RECALL
Volkswagen is recalling 62 Passats (model year 2015) because, “The affected vehicles have a brake line at the left rear wheel that may not have been properly tightened.” 

WATCH 
Think of parkour, or freerunning, as the human-only equivalent to a Ken Block gymkhana. Young Robbie Griffith, a 14-year-old from Scotland, is thus a Ken Block equivalent himself.