Toyota Corolla remains as popular as ever

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Toyota

It may not be as flashy as some of its counterparts, but the Toyota Corolla certainly has staying power. Since 1966 it has been the best selling car in the world, with more than 32 million units sold, besting its closest competitor, the Ford F-series pick-up truck, by 2 million, Yahoo! Autos reports.

The Corolla likely owes its success to both its simplicity and affordability. The highest-end models come in at well under $20,000 and are also equipped with fuel-efficient engines that offer around 34 miles per gallon on the highway. Additionally, it has the distinction of being especially safe.

"It might seem like a basic car, but it packs a lot of features that you don’t really notice but certainly appreciate," Toyota salesperson Luis Duran told the website. "It's not going to be a vehicle with a lot of bells and whistles, but it’s certainly packed with safety features."

Toyota is expected to unveil a redesigned look for the Corolla for 2013 to help keep up with the competitive compact car market, including popular cars like the Honda Civic.

Kia to add start-stop option to the Rio

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Posted in Auto Brands News

There has been a growing number of luxury and hybrid cars that offer so-called "start-stop" technology, which shuts off a car's engine every time it idles for more than just a few seconds. However, while the feature was once available only in a few models, Kia is taking steps to make it much more prevalent, USA Today reports.

The 2012 Kio Rio subcompact will become available to the general public sometime next month, and at a modest price tag of just under $15,000 it will be the most affordable car to offer the start-stop technology. Currently, Porsche and BMW are the only manufacturers that offer the feature.

Not only does the start-stop feature reduce the considerable noise caused by the idling engine, it also can save drivers a significant amount of money on gas over the long haul.

"It's going to be very popular," Edmunds.com senior editor John O'Dell told the publication. "It's a fairly inexpensive way to get a 3 percent to 5 percent fuel-economy increase."

Drivers who are interested in getting a new fuel-efficient car may want to look into New Jersey Auto Auction, which has plenty of makes and models at affordable prices.

December is the best month for buying a car

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Posted in General Auto News

The holiday season is a great time to score deals on many different items, and it seems like it's also the right time to get a new car as well. Experts say that December often has the greatest discounts because many dealers are feeling pressure to get rid of their current year's cars to make room for the newer models, ABC News reports.

The evidence seems to stack up in favor of buying in December when analysts point out specifics. In particular, the average discount offered when consumers buy a car in December is about 6.5 percent compared to 4.5 percent during the rest of the year.

Even if you can't buy a car in December, waiting until the end of the month to make a purchase could turn out to be a wise decision, according to the news source. Industry insiders say that some salesmen have incentives to sell a certain amount of cars each month and may be more willing to offer a discount as crunch time approaches.

Drivers hoping to get behind the wheel of a new or used car may want to turn to New Jersey Auto Auction as well, which offers many makes and models at affordable prices.

Chrysler Town and Country tops list of most affordable insurance

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Although many people are quick to look at the price-tag of a car when considering whether or not they can afford it, the costs that come afterward are often just as important. This is especially true when it comes to insurance, and Forbes recently provided consumers its list of which cars are the most and least expensive to insure.

There are a number of factors that went into compiling their list and it also came with a few surprises. Perhaps most interesting was that cars that appeal to young drivers, while they may be cheap up front, have surprisingly high insurance. In fact, the Kia Rio's annual premium of $1,522 is not much cheaper than a Corvette's, which is about $1,740.

"An inexpensive car can be relatively costly to insure if it appeals to younger, less-experienced drivers who tend to get into more accidents," Insure.com spokesman Emmet Pierce told the publication.

The least expensive car to insure, according to Forbes, is the Chrysler Town and Country. The minivan comes in at just under $1,100 annually, and is followed by three more minivans on the list including Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey.

As for the most expensive, Forbes reports that the Mercedes SL65 tops the list with a whopping $3,543 a year premium

Chevy puts final touches on updated Colorado

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Chevrolet

Chevrolet is inching closer to unveiling the latest version of the popular Chevrolet Colorado. The pick-up, which includes a slew of new features, will first be offered in Thailand before going for sale in Asia Pacific, Africa and South America.

The world has already gotten a glimpse of the new model, with Chevy unveiling the vehicle in concept form at auto shows in places such as Argentina, Germany and Australia. The company has gone to great lengths to make the Colorado especially durable and reliable to help cement its place in the highly-competitive Thai truck market.

"We know customers of this type of vehicle want a workhorse and a daily-use vehicle all in one, so our product has to deliver. We have benchmarked the toughest, most flexible vehicles around the world," said the truck's chief engineer Roberto Rempel. "When you combine that approach with our detailed consideration of global expectations, we are confident the new Colorado will be a winner."

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

Consider road test, vehicle history when buying a used car

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Posted in How To

Although many people turn to used cars to save money, that does not mean the purchasing process should be any less thorough. Still, some experts say a surprising amount of consumers may not be as careful when buying a used car and there are number of steps you should take before making a decision.

One of the most crucial aspects of buying a car, whether new or used, is the road test. However, many people may not know what exactly to look for when they take their prospective purchase out for a drive.

According to Auto123, you should always take the car for a drive around town and on the highway. This way you'll be able to easily see how well it accelerates and merges into traffic. Similarly, if you can mix up the surface you're driving on, be it potholes, gravel or sand, it will give you an idea of how well the vehicle can stand up to tough tests.

Furthermore, AOL Autos suggests finding out about the detailed history of the car before driving it off the lot. While it might seem difficult, it is not too hard to do thanks to websites like Carfax.com, which only requires a vehicle identification number to see its auto history report.

2012 models feature impressive technology

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Posted in General Auto News

Cars have added numerous technological advancements over the last several years, and 2012 should be no different. CBS Money Watch recently previewed some of the most-anticipated additions to be unveiled in the coming months.

Perhaps the most impressive way with which cars have been using technology is to improve safety. This will be at the front and center of some 2012 models, which have added accident avoidance systems. The Chevrolet Equinox, for one, has a lane departure warning, which alerts drivers if they are drifting, and a collision warning features that automatically puts on the brakes.

"We expect these new systems to be [available] on many mainstream models within a few years," Russ Rader of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety told the news source.

There are also advancements being made that will improve the overall driving experience. A number of cars, including the Dodge Charger, have been outfitted with innovative eight-speed transmissions that significantly boost the cars' gas mileage.

Drivers looking to take advantage of some of the recent technology in used cars may want to head to New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of makes and models at affordable prices. 

German scientists showcase self-driving car

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Posted in General Auto News

Scientists at Germany's Free University have created one of the first self-driving cars in the world. Using a specially outfitted Volkswagen Passat, the team has been testing the car in the streets of Berlin all summer long, and according to the Associated Press the results have been impressive.

The process certainly hasn't been an easy one. The research team has been working on the project for around four years and put in about $550,000 worth of special devices on board the Passat including computers, electronics and a precision satellite navigation system.

"The vehicle can recognize other cars on the road, pedestrians, buildings and trees up to 70 meters around it, and even see if the traffic lights ahead are red or green and react accordingly," the head of the research team Raul Rojas told the AP and other reporters at a presentation.

The team was allowed to test the car in real traffic as long as there was a safety driver behind the wheel – even if he or she was not touching anything. It was also allowed to be tested in special areas without the safety net.

The car is similar to one Google has been testing in the street of Nevada, though the company has been very secretive about its successes thus far.

J. Lo, Fiat appear to be a perfect match

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Posted in Auto Brands News

In an effort to broaden the appeal of the Fiat 500, the popular European manufacturer recently unveiled its new ad campaign featuring none other than Jennifer Lopez. The shot spot debuted on September 12 during Monday Night Football, and it has been met with a very positive reception in the early going, USA Today reports.

Much of the praise has been in response to the sleek direction and style that seems to match perfectly with J. Lo's persona. The ad features her newest single "Papi" as well as the singer behind the wheel of one of the compact cars.

"Jennifer fits perfectly with the brand not because of who she is but because of what she is – authentic, passionate, modern and a fighter determined to stand out from the rest," Olivier Francois, Chrysler Group chief marketing officer said in a statement.

This isn't the first ad from Fiat, which owns Chrylser, to feature a popular musician. In February, the company unveiled its retooled Chrysler 300 during the Super Bowl with an ad featuring Eminem and touting the car's connection to Detorit.

Toyota expects to see sales bounce back this fall

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Toyota

Toyota's sales in the United States were severely hurt in the wake of the devastating earthquake that struck Japan in May, but its officials say the company is back on track to reverse the tide by October.

The boost in sales comes from the fact that Toyota unveiled its eagerly-awaited, redesigned Camry, Bloomberg reports. Additionally, orders for Toyotas are back to normal and the company's vehicle inventory is on the rise.

In the wake of the earthquake, Toyota shut down all production, including North American. However, it since restored full operation in North America and analysts believe there will be a stark change in the fourth quarter of this year compared to the rest of 2011.

"The fourth quarter is definitely going to be the best quarter for them so far this year," analyst Jesse Toprak told the website. "They will have the supply problem mostly solved and some new products."

Early reviews of the 2012 Camry paint it as one of the best mid-sized sedans available. Drivers looking to take advantage of the reliable manufacturer may want to consider looking at New Jersey Auto Auction, which offers plenty of models at affordable prices.