(May 15, 2013) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are more popular than ever, according to a new report from Edmunds.com. The report, which evaluates the landscape of America’s used car market through the first quarter of 2013, found that CPO sales this year are up 6.2 percent over the first three months of 2012, and that the segment’s 21 percent share of all used car sales by franchise dealers in first quarter 2013 was the highest it has ever been.

(May 15, 2013) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar has announced that fuel economy numbers from April light vehicle auto sales indicate TrueMPG have steadied at 23.7 mpg, remaining at record levels although ending a three-month rise in industry fuel economy. Year-over-year, average fuel economy saw a 0.4 mpg increase.

(May 14, 2013) MCLEAN, Va. — Auction prices for full-size pickup trucks are up nearly 7 percent through the first four months of 2013, says the NADA Used Car Guide in its May edition of Guidelines .

"The recovery of home values and increased residential construction, stabilizing gasoline prices and a decline in late-model supply have resulted in higher trade-in values for full-size pickups," said Jonathan Banks, executive automotive analyst with the NADA Used Car Guide.

(May 14, 2013) SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — ALG is forecasting a slight decrease in 36-month residual values for automobiles of -0.5 percentage points (ppt), which compares favorably to historical norms that expected a -0.9 ppt drop, according to the latest ALG Industry Report.

(May 9, 2013) YONKERS, N.Y. — The Tesla Model S, an all-electric luxury sports car, has earned the highest score in Consumer Reports' ratings: a 99 out of 100. The $89,650 EV, built by a small automaker in Palo Alto, California, performed better, or just as well overall, as any other vehicle — of any kind — ever tested by Consumer Reports.

(May 9, 2013) IRVINE, Calif. — Subaru steadily climbed in kbb.com shopper loyalty for Q1 2013 to the No. 3 position, residing among the top three brands for the first time since fourth quarter 2009, according to Kelley Blue Book.

"As current Subaru owners prepare to off-load their current vehicle, it is easy to reconsider the brand as it offers a diverse lineup, including models that not only appeal to the everyday shopper like the all-new 2014 Forester, but also a sportier option like the BRZ," said Akshay Anand, Kelley Blue Book Insights analyst.

(May 7, 2013) MONTVALE, N.J. — The diesel engine has come a long way since compression ignition was first demonstrated by German engineer Rudolf Diesel in 1893. And no other manufacturer has played a greater role in its development for automotive applications than Mercedes-Benz.

Modern diesel engines are clean, smooth-running, and above all, highly efficient. In Europe, around 50 percent of passenger cars run on diesel engines, and calculations indicate that if just one-third of American cars ran on diesel, the country could massively reduce its dependence on foreign oil.

(May 4, 2013) SANTA MONICA, Calif. —Every wheelchair-accessible van should be equipped with a ramp to help users get in and out of the vehicle as efficiently as possible. But a conversion on a new van can cost upwards of $20,000, which makes it crucial for buyers to pinpoint the right ramp for them.

(May 2, 2013) MCLEAN, Va. — New-car and -truck buyers ranked fuel Economy, ownership costs, brand perception, safety and vehicle design as the five most important attributes considered when shopping for a vehicle, according to a recent survey by NADAguides.com. Factors were scored on a scale from 0 to 100, with a higher score indicating greater importance.

(May 1, 2013) WASHINGTON — Nine in 10 older drivers buckle up when they get behind the wheel and more than a third have taken driver improvement courses, according to data surveying more than 7,000 seniors. Survey findings, collected by AAA, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and AARP also reveal that twice the number of women attended driver safety courses despite the fact that older men drove more often than older women by 12 percent.