Monthly Archives: August 2011

Ford, Toyota partner to create new line of hybrids

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Ford, Toyota

On the surface, Ford and Toyota may seem like competitors, but the two respected car manufacturers recently teamed up in an effort to provide motorists with more fuel-efficient options. The companies announced that they will collaborate to create an advanced hybrid system for light truck and SUV drivers.

The duo are expected to come to a formal agreement sometime next year, but the announcement ends years of the two working separately toward the same goal. By working together, both Ford and Toyota believe they will be able to create the next system faster than if they continued independently.

"Ford achieved a breakthrough with the Ford Fusion Hybrid, and we intend to do this again for a new group of truck and SUV buyers – customers we know very well," said Derrick Kuzak, Ford group vice president, Global Product Development.

Specifically, the system will be focused on implementing hybrid features in a rear-wheel drive capacity. Both manufacturers are expected to implement the system in different ways.

Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a Ford Fusion or Toyota Prius may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of models at affordable prices.

Infiniti set to debut latest addition to its line up

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Posted in Auto Brands News

Infiniti has been a leader in affordable luxury cars for quite some time, and the manufacturer is set to unveil the latest addition to its line up. USA Today reports that the JX Concept, a crossover SUV, will join the Infiniti fleet sometime next year.

The sleek car, which features three rows and enough seating for seven passengers, will make its first appearance at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in California, but already it is making waves within the auto industry.

Among the numerous features included in the JX Concept is a collision avoidance system that works in reverse that alerts drivers of objects in their path when they're backing up. Additionally, its third row is more spacious and less confining than other similar vehicles.

"The third row isn't the typical penalty box either, with adult-sized room for all occupants and 5.5 inches of second-row forward-back adjustability," Ben Poore told the news source.

Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of used crossover vehicle will want to stop by New Jersey Auto Auction, which provides consumers with a wide variety of makes and models at affordable prices.

Portland State University launches ‘electric avenue’

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Posted in General Auto News

Electric cars are starting to make their way onto the highways, and one school in Oregon is helping spread the appeal of the cars by offering the country's first electric avenue. Portland State University recently opened the street, which features seven electric vehicle (EV) charging stations from six different manufacturers.

The project, a joint effort between the school, Portland General Electric and the city of Portland, is being used as a two year research and development program, but it also offers numerous benefits to the community. Among the most useful features is a quick-charge station, which can be used by anybody to charge everything from trucks to bicycles.

The avenue is just one of many eco-friendly initiatives that the school, city and company hope to start over the next several years.

"As we implement new, green technologies, it is critical that we research how best to use them," school president Wim Wiewel said. "PSU is at the forefront nationally and internationally in understanding what it takes to develop sustainable transportation systems."

Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a fuel-efficient used car may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of affordable models.

Used car values on the rise

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Anybody looking to sell their used car, or trade it in for a different model, is certainly in luck. The Buffalo News reports that used car values have been steadily rising over the past several years, and are currently at some of their highest.

When it comes to Kelly Blue Book's valuation, prices are up an average of between 39 and 45 percent. It's not too hard to understand why, either. At the lowest part of the economic downturn, manufacturers reduced production, and the Cash for Clunkers program removed a large number of potential used cars from the market – and now drivers are reaping the benefits.

The rise in value has been especially helpful to consumers looking to trade in their current vehicle for a new or used model. In fact, for some drivers like West Seneca, New York, resident John Ehrig the increase in value convinced him to trade in his 2003 SLS Seville Cadillac for a 2005 Chrysler 300c in the first place.

"That's the only reason it worked out: They were willing to give me more than it was worth," Ehrig told the news source. "It was the car that had everything that I wanted."

To fully illustrate the point, the news source highlights the fact that in 2008, a three-year-old Honda Accord would have only brought the driver about $11,000 in trade in value. Today, a three-year-old Accord would get more than $16,000.

Still, there are some cars that have proven to be better trade in options than others. Specifically, CNN Money reports that Kia and Hyundai are excellent choices because they have the lowest ownership costs among sedans, making their resale value especially high.

While the market may be good for used cars right now, there are still some ways that car owners get the highest possible trade in value out of their car. One of the most important things that consumers should remember when shopping around for a trade in is to be aware of how much their car is worth, that way they can be sure whether or not they are getting a fair shake.

"The key to doing well in a transaction with a dealer is to be knowledgeable," market analyst Jack Nerad told bankrate.com.

Furthermore, the website recommends not being tied down to one dealer since going to multiple lots wlll give prospective buyers more options. 

BMW app lets drivers share favorite routes

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Posted in Auto Brands News, BMW

The United States is replete with scenic roads, but sometimes motorists may not know which routes to take. BMW is looking to change all that as it recently launched a free iPhone app that will allow drivers to share and rate some of the most picturesque stretches of road the country has to offer, according to Reuters.

Dubbed The Ultimate Drive, the app provides drivers with a number of features. In addition to giving them the option to share a drive of their own, it also gives them the opportunity to find paths in certain locations. Since it launched last week, BMW says that 600 routes have been added.

"There are plenty of sites that will show you the top roads to drive", Pawan Murthy, of BMW Group Financial Services, told the news source. "The roads that are filtering up [in the app] include others that very few people have ever heard of, and that's what makes it so exciting."

Motorists looking to get in a used car to check out some of the best roads may want to look to New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.

Ford launches contest to find most fuel-conscious F-150 driver

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Ford

Ford shocked some of its longtime customers by unveiling the EcoBoost model of the F-150, but so far the experiment has proven to be popular among drivers. Now, the manufacturer is giving motorists in eight cities across the country the opportunity to show how fuel efficient they can be.

On Tuesday, Ford launched the F-150 EcoBoost Challenge, in which drivers from eight cities will be competing to see who can get the best mileage rates in one week.

The winner will receive free Shell Nitrogen Enriched Gasoline for a year, and the residents of the winning city will be given the opportunity to get free gas for two hours and 22 minutes on September 2 in honor of the trucks 22 miles per gallon fuel-efficiency.

"This challenge is a great way to highlight the capacities of the F-150 EcoBoost – a truck specially engineered to deliver the capability people need and the fuel efficiency they really want," said Raj Sarkar, F-150 marketing manager.

Motorists looking to get behind the wheel of a used Ford will want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices. 

Mazda dealerships being outfitted with iPads

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Posted in Auto Brands News

The advent of Apple's iPad has made things easier in many areas of life, and car dealerships are about to get in on the action. USA Today reports that Mazda is close to equipping their dealers with the popular tablets so that they can instantly access pertinent information when talking to potential customers.

The initiative has made its way to 50 dealerships across the country, but the company hopes that it will be present in all of them at some point. By outfitting dealers with iPads, Mazda hopes it will provide more transparency and allow them to showcase the benefits of the models. Additionally, it will give dealers the opportunity to back up their claims.

"Customers who are skeptical about a sales claim can get proof, right there on the tablet," sales consultant Wayne Xides told the news source. "We can pull it up instantaneously."

Drivers who want to get behind the wheel of a used Mazda, may want to head to New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.

Best used cars for carpooling

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Posted in Auto Brands News

As the school year rapidly approaches, many families will be faced with having to bring kids from activity to activity. This can be especially tough if parents are involved in carpools and will need a bigger car to accommodate all the children. Luckily, used SUVs have dropped in price since January, and there are certain models that stand out above the rest.

According to a study conducted by CarGurus, the most cost-effective used SUV for families is the 2008 GMC Acadia. This spacious vehicle can seat eight passengers, making it a good fit for parents who have to take lots of kids from place to place. Additionally, it gets an efficient 24 miles per gallon on the highway, all for under $25,000.

As for crossover models, the 2008 Honda Pilot is an excellent pick, experts say. It can fit eight children as well, while costing drivers under $20,000.

"If you are looking to upsize your car and save money, now is a good time to be shopping for used cars and specifically for SUVs, crossovers, and minivans, which have not seen the dramatic price increases of many compact models," CarGurus CEO Langley Steinert said.

V-6 Ford F-150 a surprise hit

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Ford

Many people were shocked when Ford announced that it would start selling an F-150 with a turbocharged EcoBoost V-6 engine. Now, five years later, it appears as though the bold move has paid off as sales of F-150s with the V-6 have bested those with the V-8, Automotive News reports.

The reason for the success is due in large part to the fact that the the turbocharged V-6 offers both improved gas mileage (22 mile per gallon on the highway) as well as a boost in horsepower and torque – something invaluable to truck owners.

"We knew 'there's no replacement for displacement,'" Doug Scott, manager of Ford's truck marketing group, told the news source. "That's a very popular saying among full-sized pickup customers – which just shows their love for the V-8 engine. We knew we had a marketing challenge."

Drivers looking to get behind the wheel of a Ford pick-up truck may want to check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of models at affordable prices.

Analysts: Do research before heading to the dealership

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

Many car dealers often attract prospective buyers with discounts and other incentives, but sometimes they may not be as good as they seem. However, that does not mean that consumers can't get the most out of these deals. Experts say they just need to do their proper research beforehand.

According to the Lansing State Journal, the most important thing for buyers to have in mind is how much other dealers are asking for the particular car that they're looking for. Industry analyst Scott Watkins says that doing so will signal to salespeople that the customer has done their research, and may remove the necessity of the usual negations.

"It's possible for the customer to go in and get a good deal if they know what the dealer is paying for the car and if they know what dealers in that area have been selling the car for recently," Watkins told the news source.

Reading the fine print on certain discount plans is also crucial as well as many customers walk into a dealership thinking they qualify, only to find out they'll have to pay much more.

Drivers looking to get the best deals on a used car should check out New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.