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Lincoln tops JD Power dependability study as industry gains overall

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Lincoln

JD Power has released the result of its annual dependability survey, and in a somewhat surprising turn of events, Ford's luxury Lincoln brand ended up on top.

Lincoln has never topped the survey over the 21 years its been run, but the marquee was able to edge past Lexus. JD Power reported that Lincoln owners tallied an average of 101 maintenance problems per 100 3-year-old vehicles, while Lexus had an average of 109.

Jaguar and Porsche grabbed third and fourth place, respectively. Toyota was rated as the most dependable non-luxury brand, with an average of 122 problems per 100 vehicles.

Overall, the industry turned in its best year ever for the survey, with automakers averaging 151 problems for every 100 vehicles. That was down from recent totals of 155 in 2010 and 167 in 2009.

"Automakers, as a whole, have made significant improvements in reducing traditional problems" the past several years, claims David Sargent, vice president of auto research for JD Power.

Still, while the industry is doing well, some companies were not up to par. The Chrysler group fared particularly poorly, with Ram trucks at 173 problems and Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep all over 200.

Those looking for a dependable vehicle at an affordable price may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a variety of cars for sale at affordable prices. 

2013 Shelby Mustang could top 600 hp

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News

There's a reason the Ford Mustang is named after a horse: it's packing plenty of ponies under the hood.

Whether its the Mustang or its chief rival the Chevrolet Camaro, drivers can bet that they'll be getting lots of horsepower out of the massive engines that these cars pack. That goes double for the special editions – with the recently revealed Camaro ZL1 producing a reported 550 horsepower.

Not to be outdone, Ford's next version of the Mustang's Shelby GT500 special edition may be upping the ante even more, according to unidentified insider sources that spoke to Car and Driver. The entire Mustang line is due for an overhaul for the 2013 model year, and the new Shelby will reportedly be coming with a 5.8-liter turbocharged V8 engine that could go as high as 620 horsepower.

The news source believes the price will approach the $60,000 mark, which would make it one expensive Mustang, considering that the V6 editions currently retail for less than $30,000. In addition, the bodywork will likely be restyled to be less retro and more modern.

Drivers interested in a Mustang may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, where they can find an affordable used model. They'll likely need to start saving some green now if they plan on upgrading to the new Shelby in a few years. 

New Hyundai Elantra GLS could threaten Honda’s Civic dominance

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Posted in General Auto News, Hyundai

The Honda Civic has long been the reigning king of small sedans, in both sales and critical acclaim. Yet South Korean automaker Hyundai has been making waves in recent months with its well-designed vehicles that often come in much cheaper than the competition.

According to CNET, the Civic "should definitely be afraid" of the new Elantra GLS. The news provider was able to get some one-on-one time with the new vehicle, and they came away thoroughly impressed.

Hyundai markets the new Elantra as "the compact car other compact car makers don't want you to know about," and it seems like there's something to the hype. In terms of performance, CNET only preferred the Honda's handling to the Hyundai. The Elantra beats its Japanese counterpart in both pure power and fuel economy. Plus, it comes with a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty, which is the best in the industry.

The interiors of the two vehicles are pretty similar, although the Elantra does have an option for a rearview camera, which isn't offered by Honda.

As tested, CNET reports that the Elantra GLS would have ran them about $20,230 – approximately $3,000 less than a similarly-equipped Civic. There's no doubt that the new Elantra will give drivers great value, but those interested in the vehicle may want to wait until it hits the used car market before committing to a purchase so that they can save even more.
 

BMW pairs 650i coupe and convertible

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Posted in BMW

BMW has revealed that its new 650i convertible will soon be followed by a hardtop version later this year.

The 650i convertible has already been unveiled, but those who don't like the feel of the wind in their hair (or the premium that they have to pay for the privilege) were likely disappointed that there was no mention of a hardtop option. Now, the German automaker has announced that the 650i coupe will be hitting showrooms this fall. The convertible model is slated for a late spring release, just in time for drivers to take full advantage of the car's strengths during the summer.

Both versions of the 650i will be using BMW's twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8, a monster of an engine that produces 400 horsepower and 450 lb-ft of torque. That kind of power means the cars can go from zero to 60 in less than 5 seconds – a time when drivers may appreciate the shelter of the coupe edition as opposed to the whipping wind felt in the convertible.

No official price point has been unveiled, but MotorTrend puts the ballpark figure at around $90,000. Those interested in the vehicle might want to wait for a price drop when the vehicle hits the used car market. 

Japanese automakers assess earthquake damage

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

The massive earthquake that struck Japan on Friday has forced the country's major automakers to suspend all production at their manufacturing plants indefinitely, as the companies take stock of the damage caused by the natural disaster.

Japan was rocked by an 9.0-magnitude earthquake, which also triggered a subsequent tsunami. Many of the factories for Toyota, Honda and Nissan are located in the central part of the main island, which only suffered minor damage from the earthquake and avoided the tsunami completely. However, the Tohoku region, just north of Tokyo, was hit particularly bad, and the three companies suffered damage to more than a dozen plants in the area.

In addition, the status of the part suppliers used by the companies is unknown at this time.

"Our first priority on Friday was, are our people OK?" Nissan communications and marketing director Simon Sproule told the Detroit News. "What's uncertain now is the extent of the damage to suppliers, particularly small suppliers in remote areas. That's what we're looking at now."

All three automakers have released statements that reveal they are still trying to determine the extent of the damage. In terms of vehicles sold in the U.S., most are made at plants located within North America. However, some select models, like the Scion xD and xB, Acura RL, Honda CR-Z and Toyota Yaris are made exclusively in Japan and are imported. There is currently no timetable for when production will resume.

Ford regains top spot on Kelley’s “most considered” list

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Ford

The latest data from Kelley Blue Book's quarterly "most considered" study has revealed that Ford is currently on the highest percentage of buyer's shopping lists when in the market for a new vehicle.

Kelley Blue Book runs a poll every quarter in which they ask new car buyers for a list of brands they're currently considering, with the title of "most considered" being highly coveted among automakers. Ford took first place by a wide margin, appearing on 29 percent of the lists. Chevrolet and Toyota were tied for second with 22 percent apiece.

Toyota dominated the list for many years, but the economic downturn coupled with the recall scandal meant that Ford usurped the top spot for the period between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the second quarter of 2010. The Japanese automaker regained the lead in the third quarter, but the most recent data shows that Ford was once again on top.

"Ford's revamped product offering, strong business strategy and clever marketing have helped to lead it back to a position of prominence in the minds of new-car shoppers," said Jack Nerad, executive market analyst for Kelley.

Drivers in the market for a Ford or any other vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of cars for sale at well below their Kelley Blue Book value.

Mazda recall weaves a tangled web

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Hyundai

Arachnophobes beware: Mazda is recalling 52,000 Mazda6 sedans for problem related to the eight-legged crawlers.

Apparently, a certain species of spider, the yellow sac, is attracted to the evaporative canister vent line. The problem is that these creatures will infest the vent and begin to spin webs, which will in turn block the necessary vapor from traveling through the line, possibly leading to leaks or stalling in the engine. Mazda plans to insert a spring into the vent to prevent spiders from nesting in there.

It's certainly a first to recall a car for a spider problem, but the Mazda6 isn't the only vehicle suffering from the issue. Honda issued a technical service bulletin (TSB) in 2009 for the same problem in 2008-2009 Accords. The TSB is a step down from a full recall because the issue won't effect vehicle performance in the Accord – although it may cause the "check engine" light to come on.

Hyundai similarly issued a TSB for the same vent line, saying that problems with it could be caused by debris or possibly spiders. Again, the Hyundai vehicles don't appear to have any serious ramifications like the Mazdas do.

Drivers who shop at New Jersey State Auto Auction will be able to choose from a wide range of vehicles, which is a good thing – because arachnophobes will probably want to steer clear of these vehicles. 

Gas-powered models beginning to surpass hybrids for fuel economy

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Posted in General Auto News

With gas prices sky-high, many drivers in the market for a new or used vehicle are looking for fuel economy above all else. The conventional wisdom might say to buy a hybrid or perhaps even one of the new all electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt. However, many of the new gas-powered models on the road are actually achieving EPA-rated miles per gallon (MPG) that surpass even their hybrid counterparts.

The Washington Post uses the new Chevrolet Cruze Eco as a prime example of automakers attempting to stretch every last MPG out of a gas-powered vehicle. At 42 miles per gallon, the Cruze Eco actually beats many hybrids, although it falls shy of the 60 mpgs that its brandmate, the Volt, is rated at while running on the combined power of gas and electricity. Still, the Cruze Eco's gas engine is much more appetizing to the American public than worrying about the range limits of the Volt.

"The buzz has been all about electric vehicles and hybrids, but to me, the real buzz should be about the old internal combustion engine," Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com, told the news source. "It ain't dead yet."

Other gas-powered models, like the Ford Focus SFE and Hyundai Elantra, have also been able to crack the 40 mpg milestone, largely because automakers have reduced weight and increased aerodynamics.

Drivers who want to switch to a vehicle with more miles per gallon may want to shop New Jersey State Auto Auction, where they can save money on a car that will in turn save them money at the pump.

Car loans contribute to credit growth in January

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

The Federal Reserve is reporting that consumer credit rose by $5 billion in January, the fourth straight month of an increases, signalling a strong shift in the availability of credit for buyers.

Monthly reports from the government agency track both revolving (money charged to credit cards) and non-revolving (money tied up in loans) lines of credit. While revolving credit actually fell by $4.25 billion in January as compared to the prior month, non-revolving credit rebounded in a big way, with an increase of $9.26 billion.

With the spike in loans coinciding with a strong surge in car sales, many analysts believe that auto loans are driving the movement forward.

"Auto sales have been doing well and today’s report is a reflection of that," Neil Dutta, an economist at Bank of America Merrill Lynch in New York, told Bloomberg. "Credit standards remain tight – we’re seeing that with credit cards – but at the margin we’re seeing some loosening, such as auto finance."

With so many drivers seeking out car loans and lenders being more willing to offer them, it's a great time to be in the market for a new vehicle. Drivers who shop at New Jersey State Auto Auction can select from a wide range of cars for sale and a variety of auto finance options to get in the vehicle of their dreams.

Audi reveals green initiatives for next two years

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Posted in Audi

Audi has detailed some of its plans for diesel engines and electric hybrids over the next few years, promising diesel engines for U.S. models and an all-electric car by 2013.

Johan de Nysschen, president of Audi's American division, said today that the Audi A8, A6 and Q5 will all be getting diesel options within the next 24 to 30 months, according to Car and Driver. Nysschen did not elaborate on the specific engines that would be offered, but Car and Driver believes the A8 and A6 will be getting the diesel V6 from the Q7 TDI while the Q5 will source a four-cylinder from the Volkswagen Golf TDI.

When asked about the Audi A4, Nysschen said that the current iteration of the car was unfortunately not designed with a diesel engine in mind. Fans of smaller sedans with diesel engines will have to wait until the car undergoes a redesign, which is scheduled for 2014 or 2015.

In addition, the company announced that it will have its first electric vehicle on the market by 2013 as well. Audi did not provide any specifics as to what type of car it will be going with for its first foray into electric vehicle technology.

Drivers in the market for an Audi may want to shop New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a number of luxury cars for sale at affordable prices.