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.
 

Edmunds: Sales expected to be down for May

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Posted in Auto Industry News

Automakers are primed to report their May sales in the coming days, and the early estimates aren't showing favorably for the major brands.

Car sales were hot to start the year, partly due to the recovering economy and a wave of incentives offered by automakers. Since then, the high price of fuel and production slowdowns have conspired to keep sales low, USA Today reports. While April's sales figures were generally average, it appears that dealership lots weren't very crowded in the month of May, according to early projections from the car website Edmunds.

Specifically, Honda is reported to be set to report their worst May since 1997. Its Japanese rival, Toyota, is also poised for a bad month, set to lose 3 percent of its markets share to other automakers.

Despite the slowdown in sales, Edmunds auto analyst Michelle Krebs told the news source that small cars continue to be a big hit with consumers.

"Even though gas prices have moderated slightly from recent weeks, small cars continue to fly off dealer lots at a pace not seen since the gasoline-price run-up in the summer of 2008," said Krebs.

Drivers interested in a small car or any other vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide range of cars for sale at affordable prices.
 

NHTSA to investigate Wrangler, Altima

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Posted in Nissan

Two popular models have come under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for unrelated safety issues that could potentially injure drivers.

While no accidents or serious injuries have been reported yet, used models of the Nissan Altima and Jeep Wrangler both apparently have flaws that drivers need to be aware of.

On the Altima, the issue is related to the brake master cylinder. Apparently, this part can wear down over time and begin to leak. While these leaks will trigger a sensor and warning light, the onus is on the driver to heed this light and bring the car into the shop. If the light is ignored, it could potentially lead to a loss in braking fluid. The NHTSA is looking at approximately 440,000 vehicles made between 2007 and 2008 for this specific issue.

The Wrangler issue is also restricted to 2007 and 2008, although the problem is limited to 220,000 units. In rare cases, an electrical shortage can cause the airbag to not deploy properly, which could prove problematic in a collision.

Drivers interested in purchasing a used car should do some research on any recent recalls to make sure that the model they're considering isn't on the list for a safety issue. Once ready to buy, drivers can visit New Jersey State Auto Auction to shop a wide range of models at affordable prices.