Toyota expanding Prius offerings

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

The Prius has been the top selling hybrid of the last decade, and whether an eco-conscious buyer is shopping for a new or used car, it's likely near the top of the list. So it should come as no surprise that Toyota is looking to parlay its successful model into an entire range of offerings.

At the recent North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, the Japanese automaker announced the new "Prius family" consisting of the existing Prius and three brand new models, one of which is still in the concept stage. The company hopes that the varied offerings will appeal to a broader customer base than the existing sedan Prius can.

First up is the new Prius v, which the company says stands for "versatile." This hybrid wagon is designed to compete with crossovers, SUVs and vehicles aimed at families.

Going in the opposite direction in terms of size is the Prius c, the compact Prius. Although still just a concept, Toyota hopes that this version of the Prius will be able to take on smaller hybrids, like the Honda Fit, and provide an affordable option for eco-conscious consumers.

Finally, the company also unveiled the new Prius Plug-in, which is expected to go toe-to-toe with the Chevrolet Volt, Nissan Leaf and other EVs rumored to be in the works by other automakers.

The Prius can be a bit expensive, so drivers looking for a hybrid option now may want to check out the used car market for some slightly more affordable options.
 

Volt, Explorer, named Car and Truck of the Year

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Chevrolet

The North American International Auto Show will see the debut of a number of new cars, but all eyes were on the awards podium as two of the most important honors of the year were announced.

The North American Car and Truck of the Year Awards are significant bragging points for automakers, as the results are tabulated by the votes of 50 automotive journalists from a number of publications, rather than one source. The finalists have been known for awhile, with the Chevy Volt, its electric nemesis the Nissan Leaf and the Hyundai Sonata competing for the title. In the end, the much-hyped Chevy Volt was the winner, a significant victory for the once-beleaguered General Motors.

Meanwhile, another domestic automaker took home Truck of the Year when the Ford Explorer beat out Chrysler's Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee for the honor.

While the Explorer is a somewhat traditional pick for the automotive press, the Volt and Leaf were two unconventional choices to say the least. Not only were the models the first electric vehicles to be given the honor, but the Volt and Leaf have a tiny number of sales compared to more established vehicles. The Associated Press reported that the Volt had moved just 350 units in December, while the Leaf sold only 10 models – though the numbers are expected to rise as the cars are rolled out nationwide. 

Used car dealership draws fire for Vick ads

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

Many new and used car dealerships use local celebrities as a way of drawing attention to their business, but one New Jersey used Nissan dealership took a bit of a risk by inviting a controversial superstar into their showroom.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick has electrified the NFL with his top-tier play this season, but more than a few have yet to forgive him for his dogfighting conviction, which caused the superstar to spend some time in jail. Regardless, WPVI 6 in Philadelphia reports that Woodbury Nissan, just across state lines in New Jersey, was willing to give Vick a second chance in a promotional campaign.

"We actually said if he's not humble, if he doesn't show remorse and if he thinks he didn't do anything wrong, we weren't going to go ahead with it," executive manager Tom McMenamin told the news source.

The dealership has aired a TV spot where Vick appears in the showroom, working with the sales team to highlight some of the cars for sale. According to McMenamin, most of the local response has been positive, with the manager claiming a 90 percent approval rating for the TV spot.

Still, not everybody was pleased with the commercial. More than 1,000 people have joined a Facebook group entitled "Boycott Woodbury Nissan – Vick is No Role Model," pledging not to purchase vehicles from the company as long as the quarterback is their spokesperson.

Survey: Used car sales may rise in 2011

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Posted in General Auto News

A new survey by Consumer Reports has revealed that more American are interested in buying a used car in 2011.

As part of the Brand Perception Survey, the consumer guide asked respondents about their likelihood to consider a used car for their next vehicle purchase. In total, 71 percent of respondents said that they would be more likely to consider a used vehicle for their next car than they would have been several years ago. Forty-seven percent of that total further stipulated that they would "very likely" make a used car their next vehicle purchase.

The survey further broke down the data by revealing that 75 percent of men were considering a used car, compared to 67 percent of women surveyed.

The guide cites several advantages to buying used over new. In addition to being obviously cheaper than new cars, drivers who buy a used car avoid the rapid depreciation that occurs as soon as they drive a vehicle off of a lot. And with the lifespan of vehicles extended greatly by new technology, there isn't too much of a difference maintenance-wise in buying a used vehicle, especially if its a certified pre-owned car backed by a manufacturer's warranty.

OnStar coming to non-GM vehicles

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Posted in Chevrolet, General Auto News

Drivers who are sticking with their used vehicles rather than upgrading to one of the many new cars for sale might feel left out of the latest technological upgrades, like OnStar. The popular safety product has proven to be a major selling point for General Motors vehicles, but drivers who had outdated or non-GM cars have been unable to utilize the service.

That's about to change, as GM has announced plans to offer a standalone retail OnStar product in 2011 – for a price. Through an exclusive partnership with Best Buy, the company will offer a $299 OnStar mirror, designed to replace driver's current rear-view mirror and allow the driver to control the system.

In addition to the money for the mirror, drivers will also have to pay an installation fee ($75 to $100), although there may be a self-install option. Finally, activating the service requires a subscription, with plans starting at $18.95 per month.

"For years, thousands of drivers have asked us to get OnStar in vehicles that didn't feature it as standard," said OnStar President Chris Preuss. "It represents a quantum leap forward in our plans to grow our business and provide a strong new revenue base for GM and OnStar from which we can further develop our core offerings in the factory-equipped market."

Consumer Reports reveals Brand Perception study

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Posted in How To, Toyota

With so many new and used car brands to pick from, drivers in the market for a vehicle need to consider several important factors in choosing the right car for them. But even once they've narrowed it down to a particular type of vehicle, like an SUV, they'll still need to choose among the various vehicles within that segment, many of which will be competitively priced and boast similar features.

This is where brand perception comes into play. What sets a Volvo SUV apart from one made by Nissan? While these vehicles might have similar performance characteristics, most drivers will identify Volvo as a brand that focuses on safety, while Nissan has a reputation for innovation and technology.

In an effort to track how customers feel about certain automakers, Consumer Reports introduced the Car Brand Perception Survey. This study talks to 1,700 drivers about the different characteristics of the major brands, asking them to rate brands on value, safety, environmental friendliness, performance, style, innovation and quality. Respondents are given points, which they assign to each automaker based on their strengths. The points are then totaled and aggregated into an overall score.

In past years, Toyota has dominated the survey, with a lead massive lead over other automakers in years past. Yet thanks to the recent recall scandal, the brand's perception has suffered, and the automaker has fallen 46 points in 2 years, according to the company.

That opened the door for Ford, which has had a fantastic turnaround in the past few years. The company gained 35 points during the same period that Toyota fell, and while it was unable to overtake the Japanese giant this year, it fell shy by just 3 points. Ford ended up with 144, good for second place beyond Toyota's 147.

However, Consumer Reports noted that Toyota's victory came largely because of a victory in the "green" environmental category, a factor that the company has found consumers actually care less and less about. Only 28 percent of respondents cited environmental friendliness as factoring into their vehicle purchase. Thanks to its Prius hybrid, Toyota scored a 46 in that category, dominating Ford in second place with 18. Yet Ford beat Toyota in categories like safety, value, performance and style.

Other brands posted strong showings as well. Honda came in third with 121 points and was cited as better than Ford and Toyota in terms of quality. However, the brand has lost 28 points over the past two years. Chevrolet was in fourth, although it lost 22 points in the past two years as well.

BMW posted a strong showing as usual, in fifth place with 93 points and the overall winner of the performance and styling categories. Its German rival Mercedes-Benz was close behind with 90 points and was also considered the most innovative.

Finally, the survey also released the names of some brands that finished particularly poorly. Isuzu only managed an overall score of two, with Suzuki and Mitsubishi coming out with a five and eight, respectively.

Consumer Reports reveals top searches for 2010

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Posted in General Auto News, Toyota

Before purchasing a new or used car, most drivers engage in a significant amount of research. Thanks to the power of the internet, it's now possible for websites to track that data and see which cars buyers were most interested in.

Consumer Reports is one of the more popular websites, as the guide puts a focus on safety, reliability and value. The company has built a database of new and used car info that gives registered users the lowdown on each vehicle via "model overview pages." In order to detail some of the more popular vehicles for 2010, the company released data on which of these pages got the most hits throughout the year.

In terms of used cars, Honda vehicles were by far the most popular. The Honda Accord, Civic, CR-V and Pilot occupied the top four spots on the list, possibly suggesting that the brand has supplanted Toyota as one of the top used car choices in the wake of this year's recall scandal.

However, Toyota wasn't completely left off the list. The Camry and Highlander came in at #9 and #10 on the used car list, respectively, while the RAV-4 placed eighth on the new listing.

The used BMW 3 Series continues to be a year-in and year-out top seller for the German automaker, earning one of the rare sedan spots on the list. The vast majority of the spots were awarded to SUVs and crossovers, many of which were seen on both lists. The Acura MDX and Hyundai Santa Fe appear on both, with Hyundai's Sonata also placing eighth on the new car list.

There was also a correlation between the website's own "top picks" and which cars got the most clicks. The Subaru Forester, for instance, was the top-rated new car and also had quite a few people searching for new models after it was recommended by the guide in April.

Interestingly, all of the cars on the used list were foreign, while domestic automakers posted a stronger showing for new cars. The Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Traverse each made the new car list, with cars from Chrysler noticeably absent.

Drivers considering purchasing a vehicle should be sure to do comprehensive research ahead of time in order to make an informed decision. They should also keep in mind that by shopping used cars for sale, they can save significantly off new ones.
 

Last minute recalls for 2010

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Posted in Ford, General Auto News

In a year that has seen more than 19 million recalls, the highest total since 2004, it makes perfect sense that the last day of the year would have several automakers throwing in some last minute safety notices.

Ford issued a minor recall this morning for issues with the new 2011 models of the Ford Edge, Ford F-150 and Lincoln MKX. Turns out that particular versions of these models have an issue with the body control module, which affects the car's electrical system. If these models were to short circuit, the entire electrical system could potentially overheat and cause a fire, according to the company. The recall is pretty small, with less than 15,000 vehicles affected, but the consequences could be disastrous.

Meanwhile, Chrysler's problems affect nearly 150,000 new and used vehicles in total, although they're not quite as serious. A problem with the rear axle on the Ram 1500 requires an extra 20 ounces of lube to be added, which drivers can do either on their own or for free at the dealer. On the Ram 4500 and 5500, a side ball stud on the tie rod could possibly fracture, requiring a replacement to be installed. Finally, the 2009 Dodge Journey has a problem with door-mounted wiring that could ultimately lead to the disabling of the side-impact sensor. That means side-curtain airbags may not deploy in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Cool cars on a budget

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Posted in Ford, How To

Drivers can compare vehicle specifications and performance as much as they like, but ultimately one of the biggest motivating factors that drive vehicle purchase is simply how "cool" a car is – a highly subjective but nevertheless important quality for cars to have.

In a recent survey by J.D. Power and Associates, the company found that one of the reasons that customers will stay loyal to an automaker is if the vehicles are particularly fun to drive. Rather than focusing on practical reasons like fuel economy or horsepower, the driver was instead looking for an emotional response.

So which cars are cool? That's entirely up to the driver, but there are some cars that nearly everyone agrees on. The vast majority of drivers won't turn down the chance to get behind the wheel of a Mustang, and "lame" isn't often heard to describe James Bond's lineup of Aston Martins.

Yet while many of these no-brainer cool cars are in the luxury or supercar segment, automakers have also been a bit more aggressive with their styling as of late. Kelley Blue Book recently profiled ten cool cars that can all be had for less than $18,000. Drivers should keep in mind that if they instead opt for a used car, they can probably afford a cooler one as well – as long as they don't mind a few miles on it.

One of the prime examples of a cheap but cool car is the recently-launched Ford Fiesta. Ford started the marketing buzz on this machine with a cutting-edge social media movement, and it was reflected in the sales. With a highly-personalized exterior and an eye-catching shape, the Fiesta will turn a few heads without breaking the bank.

For those who want a car that breaks the traditional rules, the Nissan Cube is another affordable option. This box-shaped compact looks like something out of a science-fiction movie and features unorthodox styling, like a wraparound rear window.

Yet a car doesn't need to be unconventional to be considered cool. The Hyundai Elantra Touring edition sticks pretty closely to the established station wagon archetype. Where it really diverts is in the bevy of features that come standard. Drivers will be safe and secure with eight airbags as they rock out to a 172-watt sound system that features MP3 playback and iPod integration.

The common sedan might not be the first thing that drivers think of when they hear the word "cool car" but the news source cites the Honda Civic as a notable exception. The Civic is reliable and practical, with good performance and a reputation for reliability, but it also offers drivers styling that's reminiscent of the cars of the future. Inside, options for Bluetooth, a navigation system and all-leather seating can turn the Civic into a truly cool car.

Ultimately, getting a cool car on a budget will come down to what the driver is looking for, but the wide variety of cars for sale in recent years gives them more options than ever in creating their own cool ride.
 

Honda dealing with recalls, hackers

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Posted in General Auto News

Honda has announced that it will be recalling a large number of new and late-model used Honda Accords and Pilots due to an issue with the suspension system.

Rather than a flaw in the design of the vehicle, the problem stems from a piece of critical machinery at the Japanese automaker's Alabama manufacturing plant. A machine that was supposed to tighten the bolts on the vehicle's suspension may have been calibrated incorrectly, leading to the possibility that the pieces connecting the suspension to the front axle could come loose. The flaw was caught by workers at the plant.

The recall notice applies to 10,800 Accords and Pilots manufactured at the plant since 2010. Affected owners have already been notified.

In a separate incident, the company also sent out a notice to nearly 2.2 million customers who had registered with the company on their website. A group of hackers were apparently able to steal a list of email addresses and passwords from the company, along with vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Although sensitive information like social security numbers were not obtained, users who use the same password for every website could potentially be exposed to further attacks.