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AAA survey: Fear of self-driving cars persists

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Industry faces an uncertain future
after recent self-driving incidents


(March 18, 2024) ORLANDO, Fla. — According to AAA’s latest survey on autonomous vehicles, most U.S. drivers either express fear (66%) or uncertainty (25%) about fully self-driving vehicles — a fear that has not decreased since spiking last year. However, interest in semi-autonomous technologies such as Reverse Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) and Lane Keeping Assistance remains high.

2024 Kia EV9



MIAMI — Its name may bring back memories of old 1950s era science fiction movies, but the Kia EV9 (Plan EV9 from Outer Space staring Vampira, Bela Lugosi, and Tor Johnson and directed by Ed Wood) is much more than just a badly stretched punch line.
New for 2024, the Kia EV9 is spacious electric crossover SUV offering three rows of seating capable of accommodating six or seven passengers.cepts.

2024 Ford F-150 Tremor



INDIANAPOLIS — Last year, I drove the Ford Maverick Tremor and thought it was very cool with its gold accents, black wheels, and enhanced off-road capability.  But, let’s be honest, the Maverick is essentially a compact crossover with a bed that’s better suited to light lawn duty than heavy hauling.  For that, we step up to the 2024 Ford F-150 Tremor that’s just as stylish, but far more capable.

2024 Audi Q8 e-tron



PHOENIX — Along with Tesla's quirky Model X and Jaguar iPace, the Audi e-tron were among the first fully electric SUVs introduced to the buying public with e-tron first arriving in the spring of 2019. Fast forward five years and these early pioneers are now surrounded with market competitors including the BMW iX, Cadillac Lyric, Mercedes EQE SUV and others.

Vehicle of the Week

2024 Mazda3 — Excellent compact in either sedan or hatchback


MotorwayAmerica.com

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica.com

(March 17, 2024) The 2024 Mazda3 compact vehicle, which is part of the fourth generation introduced in 2019, comes in sedan and hatchback body styles with a choice of two 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines—one a spunky turbo. Hatchbacks with the base four-cylinder and front-wheel drive can be had with a six-speed manual gearbox, and all-wheel drive is available across the lineup—but only with a six-speed automatic.

Here's the Thing

2024 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro — A hybrid powered off-road brute



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(March 17, 2024) When Toyota finally came up with an all new Tundra full-size pickup for the 2022 model year after a long 14 years since the last model debuted, we knew an all-new Sequoia that pairs with the Tundra truck couldn't be far behind. The aging and long-neglected Sequoia barely hung in there for 2022 and 2023 saw the debut of an all-new Sequoia grabbing the best of the Tacoma pickup's style, brawn, platform and capable architecture.

Survey finds need for fast chargers across the country



(March 16, 2024) FLO, a North American electric vehicle (EV) charging company and a smart charging solutions provider, found that a majority of EV drivers rely on DC fast chargers for extended trips according to a recent customer survey. The results, gathered from almost 40,000 EV drivers in the U.S. and Canada, provided insight into EV drivers' charging habits and the activities they regularly engage in while charging.

Negative equity trade-ins pick up steam as used car values dwindle



Edmunds' analysts say average amount
owed on upside-down car loans soars


(March 15, 2024) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A growing number of consumers are finding themselves upside down on their car loans as the used vehicle market continues to stabilize and used values dwindle. "A storm is brewing in the used market as incentives and inventory continue to trickle back into the new vehicle market," said Ivan Drury, Edmunds' director of insights. "With demand for near-new vehicles on the decline, used car values are depreciating similarly to the way they did before the pandemic, and negative equity is rearing its ugly head."

Inside the Industry

Batur introduces light sculpture — A first step in digital personalization



(March 18, 2024) The new Bentley Batur — the handcrafted, coach-built coupe from Mulliner — showcases a new technology that delivers welcome animation sequences projected to the ground from the door. Bentley Motors has spent the last 100 years providing customers with exceptional luxury cars formed in metal, wood and leather. Looking to the future, light will be the fourth material that will play a significant part in Bentley’s design language, as originally demonstrated by the 2019 concept car EXP100 GT with its illuminated front grille.

Mecum Glendale 2024 collector car auction exceeds $54 million in sales



942 vehicles sold during
5-Day Arizona auction event

(March 18, 2024) Mecum Auctions’ most recent event at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., saw overall sales totals eclipse $54 million as 942 classic and collector vehicles hammered sold throughout the five-day auction event. Headlined by the $1.815 million sale of a highly awarded L88 Corvette top sales results at the auction included a variety of American-built favorites from Chevrolet, Ford, Dodge and Cadillac.

Ed Ruscha and Andy Warhol art featured at Petersen Automotive Museum



'Eyes on the Road' showcases

work of iconic artists, designers

(March 15, 2024) LOS ANGELES — The Petersen Automotive Museum will debut its newest exhibit, “Eyes on the Road: Art of the Automotive Landscape,” on March 30. The display, which explores the intersection of art, the motoring environment and automotive innovation, will feature a curated selection of concept cars and artwork from iconic artists, including Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and David Hockney. 

Abandoned Car of the Week

A '52 Dodge reaches the end of the road



This 1952 Dodge was found serving its final years in an Arizona salvage yard. The 1952 model could be purchased with a semi-automatic transmission that reduced (but did not eliminate) the need to shift gears. In 1953, Dodge got its first V-8 engine featuring the famous hemispherical combustion chambers and 140 horsepower.
(Photo by Jim Prueter)