Monthly Archives: July 2011

Nevada governor takes a ride in self-driving Prius

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Search engine giant Google is in the process of testing self-driving cars, and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval recently got the opportunity to try it out for himself. The Associated Press reports that he took a self-driving Toyota Prius through Carson City, becoming the first governor in the country to get in such a vehicle.

It's not surprising that Sandoval was allowed to try out it, especially after Nevada passed a law earlier this year, which made it legal for the self-driven cars to be allowed on the state's roadways.

The innovative device, which is placed on the roof of the car, navigates by a laser range finder, radar and sensors. After Sandoval's 10-miles trip, he had nothing but praise for the engineers at Google, and hopes that his state can be at the forefront of the new technology.

"I think it's important for Nevada to be first on this," Sandoval told the AP. "This is going to be part of the future, and Nevada has always been a very progressive state."

Though the self-driving technology is still years from being open to the general public, drivers can get behind the wheel of technologically advanced cars like the Toyota Prius by checking out New Jersey Auto Auction.

Electric Toyota RAV4 to make its way to the general public

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Toyota

Ever since debuting the Prius, Toyota has been at the forefront of energy-efficient cars, and it looks like the company is set to expand the program into one of its most popular SUVs. Toyota announced that the new RAV4 will be available to the general public starting some time next year.

The announcement comes after there were rumors about whether or not the RAV4 would only be sold to fleet and car sharing programs – much like Toyota's other 2012 electric options the Scion iQ. Toyota made the declaration in an effort to clear up any misconceptions.

"We’d like to set the record straight," Toyota said on its website. "The 2012 RAV4 EV will definitely be sold to the general public. We anticipate robust public interest in the RAV4 EV and are keen to inform consumers that their future vehicle options include a battery electric Toyota."

Motorists looking to get behind the wheel of a used Toyota, whether it be a Prius or a Corolla, will want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of models at affordable prices.

Kate Middleton’s former car up for auction

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

Those who can't get enough of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may now have the opportunity to get closer to them than ever before. Fox News reports that Kate Middleton's former car is up for sale on eBay, and may fetch as much as £30,000 (around $48,000).

The price tag is not too shabby given that Kate purchased the car, a Volkswagen Golf, back in 2001 for about $17,000. She put on about 60,000 miles before it was sold to Sonny Brazil, the son of a used car dealer in Reading.

According to the U.K.'s Daily Mail, Brazil has not put many more miles on the vehicle (only about 2,500 miles), and he admitted to becoming especially protective over the royal blue car.

"I became quite precious about it and wouldn't let anyone else drive it, even parking it in a locked garage away from the house in case anyone tried to nick it," he told the news source.

Of course, not everyone can get behind the wheel of such a regal car, but if one is looking for a different used Volkswagen at an affordable price, New Jersey Auto Auction offers plenty of options. 

Volvo accident prevention system shows promising results

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Posted in General Auto News

To many drivers, the addition of automatic braking systems may seem unnecessary, but a new study might change their tune. The researchers found that such features prevent one in four rear-end collisions.

The study focused on Volvo XC60 midsize crossover SUV, and its results speak volumes about the potential of such innovative features. Researchers looked at insurance claims involving the vehicle, and determined that drivers with the system in an XC60 were 27 percent less likely to be involved in a low-speed, rear-end accident than drivers without it.

"This is our first real-world look at an advanced crash avoidance technology, and the findings are encouraging," Adrian Lund, president of HLDI, said in a press release. "City Safety is helping XC60 drivers avoid the kinds of front-to-rear, low-speed crashes that frequently happen on congested roads."

Volvo is often on the cutting edge of safety technology, and drivers looking to get behind the wheel of one may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices. 

Banks more willing to issue loans in 2011

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

Drivers who may be looking to get a new or used vehicle were recently given a bit of good news. Despite still being in the wake of the recession, auto loans are much more accessible now for even the most credit-challenged consumers.

The reason for the increase in confidence among banks is that lenders have more money than in recent years, and also have more to work with in terms of financing options. Additionally, there is more competition between financial institutions for new customers, something which can only be good for prospective car buyers.

"This is very good news, it is so important for most of us to have a car or truck we can depend on," said industry insider Jeremy Franklin. "People really need their vehicles to be reliable so they can get to work and get the kids to school and activities."

Of course, experts warn that just because banks may be more willing to issue loans, that does not mean consumers can ignore maintaining their credit level. By keeping their credit scores at a high level, it boosts the number of financing options and advantages they have.

American-made SUVs enjoy solid June

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Chevrolet, Ford

Although gas prices are still high, that hasn't deterred drivers from getting behind the wheel of a new American-made SUV. According to USA Today, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler all saw strong June sales of their SUVs.

Surprisingly, the sales of SUVs even outpaced that of all U.S. automobiles. Specifically, the cars jumped 28 percen since 2010, compared to just a 7 percent rise in sales of other cars. Additionally, American-made utility vehicles sold better than international models as well, as Japanese-made cars actually had a 1 percent drop.

The best-selling model among SUVs in June was the Ford Escape. Thanks, in large part, to its smaller size, this compact vehicle enjoyed a 43 percent sales jump compared to June sales last year. The Ford Explorer and Ford Edge also performed reasonably well, the news source reports.

In addition to Ford, Chrysler group's Jeep Wrangler remained one of the most popular American sport utility vehicles.

Whether one is looking for a more compact Ford Escape or rugged Wranlger, New Jersey Auto Auction carries plenty of SUVs at affordable prices.

Demand for used cars continues to rise

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Posted in General Auto News

Although growth in the new car market remains slow, the same cannot be said for the sales of pre-owned vehicles. According to Tulsa World, demand for used cars has been so high in recent months that the average selling price is up 5.7 percent compared to last year, much to the delight of proprietors across the country.

With gas prices still high, it comes as no surprise that most consumers are looking to get behind the wheel of a more fuel-efficient used vehicle. Even still, larger cars like SUVs and used trucks are still selling relatively well, a sign of the high demand.

Though the need for used cars is a good thing for some businesses, other dealerships are finding it hard to get enough vehicles.

"We probably sell five used cars for every new car, so this is big business for us," Mike Frizell, who operates a Chevrolet dealership in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, told the news source.

Consumers who are looking to pick up a used car of their own may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers everything from fuel-efficient sedans to spacious SUVs to powerful trucks at affordable prices.

Camry experiencing a challenge from Sonata

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Hyundai, Toyota

The Toyota Camry has long been the best-selling car inside the United States, and while that may very well be the case again this year, the popular vehicle has lost substantial ground to the upstart Hyundai Sonata, and according to Bloomberg is looking to separate itself once again.

Coupled with the earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck Japan, Toyota has seen sales of the Camry dip 31 percent compared to its best year ever – 2007. Comparatively, the Sonata has experienced a 35 percent jump after a revamp in its design last year.

"Sonata became a very honorable contender in the market,"’ Yoshimi Inaba, Toyota’s North American chairman, told the news source. "We do have good respect for the model, and the sales figures show it’s increasing quite a bit."

Perhaps the biggest reason for the boost in sales has to do with the fact that Hyundai has been making a push to boost fuel economy. The news provider reports that the Sonata gets 35 miles per gallon compared to the Camry's 32.

Muscle cars see growth in June

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Chevrolet, Ford

Hearkening back to the glory days of muscle cars, Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge are all offering powerful classic rides that not only appeal to a new generation of drivers but will certainly grab at baby boomers who lusted after the original versions of these iconic vehicles.

According to The Wall Street Journal, sales of all of the cars – the Ford Mustang, Chevy Camaro, and Dodge Challenger – are on the way up. They are in fact outpacing the June growth of more family-friendly passenger cars that the big three automakers are most well-known for.

The trio, all of which bare a striking resemblance to their forebears, are not only nice to look at but pack a serious punch. The news source reports that the 2012 Mustang Boss 302 boasts 444 horsepower, while the 2012 Camaro ZLA offers 550 horsepower.

Executives say that most of the cars are being purchased either by 20 to 30-year-olds or 45 to 55-year-olds.

"We definitely see more than a baby boomer audience," Chevy marketing executive John Fitzpatrick told the Journal.

Muscle car enthusiasts looking for a powerful used vehicle may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which has plenty of models at affordable prices.

Pick-up conversion kit unveiled for Jeep

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Posted in Auto Brands News

Fans of Jeep have been without a pick-up truck option since the manufacturer discontinued the Comanche in 1992. Now, thanks to a move by Chrysler's Mopar parts brand, consumers will now have the option to convert their Wranglers into a pick-up.

The kit, dubbed the JK-8 Independence, will cost drivers a little under $5,500 and features everything form side panels to a steel floor bed to a fiberglass hardtop, according to USA Today. The company debuted the conversion kit earlier this year to drum up interest, and it appears to have worked.

"Wrangler is already one of our most accessorized vehicles," Pietro Gorlier, CEO of Mopar, told the news source. "There is a lot of interest and enthusiasts who are looking for a Jeep pickup."

This isn't the first conversion kit that Mopar has released this year, either. In May, they unveiled the Ram Runner which allowed a Ram pick-up to be turned into an off-road truck.

Whether looking for a pick-up truck or just simply a Jeep Wrangler, New Jersey Auto Auction has plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.