Nissan Leaf to enter Pikes Peak competition

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Posted in Nissan

The Nissan Leaf has become famous for its all-electric capabilities – but how does it handle a professional race environment?

The world is about to find out, as the Japanese automaker has announced that the Nissan Leaf will be entered into the upcoming Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. This isn't the previously unveiled Nissan Leaf NISMO RC, a racing-inspired Leaf outfitted with a special carbon-fiber body. The challenge of scaling the hill will be left to a regular production model with no modifications.

Piloted by off-road racing champ Chad Hord, the automaker believes that the Leaf has a pretty good shot in the competition, as it will be competing against other electric vehicles. The automaker also believes that the car's electric motor will ultimately come in handy in the competition.

"The instant torque available from the electric motor makes the LEAF a fun car to drive and the abundance of corners on the hill climb will give Chad a chance to take advantage of that torque," said Ron Stukenberg, senior manager of marketing communications.

There's no doubt that the Leaf is an interesting car, but drivers may not want to take the plunge just yet. A smart play might be to wait for electric vehicles to hit the used car market, then snag one at a discount.

Buyers opt for F-150 V6 over V8

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Posted in Ford

The Ford F-150 is the best-selling model in the country, and that seems to be true no matter what the economic conditions are. Even with gas prices hovering around $4 per gallon, one thing remains true: Americans love their pickup trucks.

Still, the F-150 isn't completely immune to shifts in the market, as recently demonstrated by the May sales totals. Ford reported that "for the first time in decades," the V6 engine option on the F-150 outsold the V8, USA Today reports.

One might assume that drivers were simply trying to save money – but that's not entirely true. The most popular V6 engine was actually the turbocharged EcoBoost, which is $2,000 more expensive than the base V6. However, the EcoBoost has the highest fuel economy of any engine Ford offers on the vehicle, something that buyer's have been going for lately. The EcoBoost also has higher horsepower and torque than the base V6, which justifies the cost to many buyers.

"That's a premium engine that almost always comes with premium content," Ford VP of sales Ken Czubay told the news source.

The V8 isn't going anywhere soon – it still made up 45 percent of all sales. But at least for May, it appears that the V6 was king.

Drivers looking for a vehicle with excellent fuel economy may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers both new and used cars for sale.

Ford to reintroduce three-cylinder engine to U.S.

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Posted in Ford

Automakers are pulling out all the stops in an effort to raise fuel economy, but Ford may be taking the most drastic step yet – introducing a three-cylinder engine.

Ford isn't the first automaker to offer a three-cylinder engine – they were last seen on Suzuki Swifts and Chevrolet Metros in the 1990s. However, the planned reintroduction of the engine in the U.S., likely set for next year, will come as a shock to many, as most accepted that an automaker wouldn't go lower then four cylinders in a mass production vehicle again.

The three cylinders will allow Ford to achieve a higher MPG rating. In fact, it may allow the automaker to get 50 miles per gallon – unheard of for a gas-powered car.

"Consumers are telling us they want to buy affordable vehicles that get many more miles per gallon," said Derrick Kuzak, global product development chief. "Our new 1-liter EcoBoost engine will give consumers looking for hybrid-like fuel economy a new, more affordable choice."

Ford has been mum with the details, but it's likely that the compact Fiesta will be the recipient of the smaller engine.

Drivers interested in a high-MPG vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of cars for sale at affordable prices.
 

Ford shows off “smart car” sensors in San Francisco

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Posted in Ford

Ford recently took to the streets of San Francisco to demonstrate new "smart cars" that can send information to each other.

The new safety improvement works by utilizing GPS and wireless technology to constantly send updates between vehicles about the location of cars. The feature only works in a limited range, but it could prove useful in preventing accidents.

Ford is just one of many automakers working on the project, which includes General Motors, Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Audi, Mercedes, Hyundai and more. They say it will be at least five years before the feature is available on mass-produced vehicles. However, the cooperation between automakers is a good sign early on.

"Next year, we're doing a model deployment in a city where there will be thousands of equipped vehicles and trucks and buses all sending out these messages, and then the goal in 2013 is to start a regulation that will require this on all vehicles," Ford technical director Mike Shulman told PC Magazine. "Then, maybe consumer electronics companies would start designing products that could be retrofitted onto existing cars, because everyone sees the potential."

The technology is still years away, so in the meantime drivers might want to consider buying a used car from New Jersey State Auto Auction. Whether it's a used Ford or any other vehicle, there are a wide range of cars for sale at affordable prices.

Toyota issues two recalls

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Posted in Toyota

Toyota has announced two recalls of popular vehicles for separate issues, one of which will affect more than 100,000 models and another that is restricted to just 50.

The big recall centers around used Toyota Priuses, specifically models from 2001 through 2003. Toyota has found that some versions of the popular hybrid may eventually lose their steering capability due to some screw in the steering column. Apparently, if a driver routinely makes hard left turns, the screws can become undone and it can be very difficult to turn the vehicle.

The degradation of steering ability comes over time, so it's not something sudden that will catch drivers unaware. Toyota says the recall affects 106,000 Priuses worldwide, including 52,000 in the U.S. Dealers will replace the screws affected by the issue with stronger screws that will eliminate the flaw. The repair is expected to take four hours.

In a separate recall, a very small portion of 2011 Venzas and Siennas are being called back for an issue related to the driveshaft. Toyota is going to look at 34 Venzas and 11 Siennas, but expects to just find 38 instances of the issue.

Drivers should keep up to date on recalls if they plan on shopping for a used car, and should be sure that the model they are considering purchasing has had all the proper maintenance work. 

Electric vehicle tax credit to become instant rebate?

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Posted in Chevrolet

Electric vehicles like the Chevrolet Volt and Nissan Leaf are brand new, and recent technology naturally costs more than the materials everyone's been using for years. That means that the two vehicles are quite pricey given their size, which is why the government decided to step in and help out with a $7,500 federal tax rebate for all drivers who purchased an EV.

A $7,500 discount on a vehicle sound pretty good no matter what the starting price is, but drivers may be a bit dismayed to know that this is something they can only claim come tax time. Given that the federal filing deadline for the year has already passed, that means a full year before that money is in a driver's pocket.

Now, The Associated Press reports that the Obama administration is hoping to make that tax rebate instant for drivers. The plan has not yet come to fruition, but the government believes that this is a better way of encouraging drivers to buy EVs than promising the money a year down the road.

"We'd like for people to get a $7,500 rebate on the day they buy the Leaf," LaHood said during a tour of a Nissan facility. The Transportation Secretary hoped that an instant rebate would motivate drivers in the same way that the immediate cash of the successful "Cash for Clunkers" program drove people to dealers.

Drivers interested in an electric vehicle or possibly a cheaper hybrid may want to visit New Jersey State Auto Auction when they're ready to buy.

U.S. Toyota execs to get developmental authority

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Posted in Toyota

In the automotive industry, the phrase "buy American" has been a hot topic for many years. With GM, Ford and Chrysler providing millions of jobs and economic stimulus for the U.S. economy, many citizens feel its their right to buy American cars and keep the country healthy. Yet in recent years, with major foreign automakers building factories in the U.S. and essentially creating new companies in America, the definition of what exactly is an "American car" has gotten quite muddled.

Toyota is one such manufacturer that has built plants in the U.S., and the Japan-based company also has several U.S.-only models that aren't available anywhere else. Now, Automotive News reports that Toyota is looking to give further development responsibilities to its U.S. branch, essentially making it a stand-alone company.

Marketing executives and other higher-ups in Toyota's U.S. branch will soon have the authority to design and approve new U.S.-only cars, without going back to Japan for approval. The new autonomy will hopefully further distinguish the Toyota brand in America from its Japanese parent company.

U.S. executives told the news source that having to run every change by Japanese officials ultimately hindered development on some models, like the Sienna, Tacoma and Avalon.

Drivers interested in "buying American" – or an import car – might want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide variety of cars for sale.

Honda and Toyota expected to bounce back after earthquake sooner than anticipated

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Posted in Toyota

When the Japanese earthquake first hit, many analysts believed that the major automakers in Japan – Honda, Toyota and Nissan – wouldn't be back to full production levels until the end of the year. That was seemingly confirmed by the automakers themselves in their projections.

However, it's now been revealed that Honda and Toyota may be back to normal levels in the near future. Originally targeting the end of the year as their return to full production, the automakers have been ramping up manufacturing as of late and appear to be well ahead of schedule. That's definitely true at Nissan, which has said that it doesn't anticipate the earthquake to have any lingering effects on the brand.

"April is likely to be the bottom and we might see back-to-normal production levels in July or August," Yoshihiko Tabei, chief analyst at Kazaka Securities, told Reuters. "Some parts suppliers say they are resuming full production in June in time for automakers' summer operations. And the widely anticipated disruption in power supply during summer is not likely to have a big impact on production."

This is good news for car buyers, as less production means higher prices on Japan-only models. Drivers looking for a discount on a new or used car should consider New Jersey State Auto Auction which offers a wide range of both domestics and imports.

High gas prices make auto financing an attractive option

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Posted in Auto Loans & Financing News

With gas prices high right now, drivers may not have a ton of money to spend on a new vehicle. Yet even if you don't have lots of cash at the moment, that doesn't mean you can't opt for a new car.

Technology has advanced considerably in recent years, and many models now come with high EPA fuel economy ratings. That's great news for drivers who are currently stuck driving around a gas guzzler. It seems like every automaker has come out with a high-MPG vehicle in recent years, and best of all is that they're not too expensive. In fact, if you can find them on the used car market the savings can really start to add up.

A recent survey by the Consumer Federation of America found that the average family will spend $3,100 on fuel this year, up from $2,000 in 2009. That's a significant chunk of change to set aside in a recovering economy. The reality is that many drivers can't purchase a car outright. So instead, they opt for financing – which can be a great move when times are tight.

The important thing to keep in mind when doing this is to keep your car loan what's known as "rightside up." An "upside-down" loan is when you ultimately owe more on the car than the vehicle is actually worth. This creates a sticky situation for drivers, as they can't sell off the car to pay the loan.

When you're buying a vehicle for a specific purpose – like its miles per gallon rating – this is an important consideration. That hatchback may look attractive now with gas prices hovering around $4 per gallon, but if prices drop then you might be feeling a bit cramped in a year or two, or starving for a bit more horsepower. The great thing about auto financing is that you don't ultimately have to stick with the vehicle – as long as you remain rightside up, you can always sell it off and put the equity toward a new car.

Drivers should also keep in mind that high gas prices may be a good reason to look into refinancing as well. Refinancing is typically a term reserved for the mortgage industry, but it applies for car loans as well. Those who already have a loan can restructure the terms and lower their monthly payments. This can be a good way to offset the increased price you're paying for fuel by lowering the amount you're putting toward the loan. Just be careful here, as paying too little toward the loan can have the aforementioned effect of making the loan go upside-down.
 

Report: BMW plans new 3-Series for 2012

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Posted in BMW

BMW has recently overhauled its sedan lineup, with redesigns to the 5-Series and 7-Series being generally well-received. However, the aging 3-Series has been in need of a change for some time, and it appears that update will be sooner rather than later.

According to a report from BMW Blog, the German automaker plans to end production of the current 3-Series in October, in preparation for a Spring 2012 launch of the new sedan. The report hasn't yet seen an official comment from BMW, but all signs point to it being true. Spy shots have already captured several test models of the new 3-Series, and the spring launch window would give BMW a chance to debut the model at the Frankfurt Auto Show on its home turf.

In addition, the automaker tends to overhaul its models seven years after their introduction, with rare exceptions – and the current generation of the 3-Series turns seven next spring.

Drivers interested in purchasing a BMW 3-Series may want to hold off for the time being, as it appears the next model is just over the horizon. On the other hand, the introduction of a new generation always leads to an influx of used BMWs, where smart shoppers can score some great savings if they don't mind a few clicks on the odometer.