(April 19, 2016) LONDON — New statistics from NFU Mutual reveal that thefts of the recently discontinued Land Rover Defenders have increased by a staggering 75 percent, as gangs of thieves target rural areas to swipe vehicles.  The Defender ceased production in January, which has led to a significant rise in demand for the car and its parts. 

(April 18, 2016) SKOKIE, Ill. — With summer gas prices projected to remain lower than in years past, Rand McNally today released the 93rd edition of its best-selling Road Atlas. Rand McNally also released updates to its Road Atlas iOS app.

Rand McNally offers a variety of printed Road Atlases in addition to its classic 11 x 15 ½" oversized book, including one with large scale maps for easier readability and several in smaller trim sizes for packing into tighter spaces.

(April 15, 2016) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Twenty-four new car models took home top prizes in the sixth annual Edmunds.com Best Retained Value Awards, which recognize the 2016 model year vehicles that have the highest projected residual values after five years. Acura and Toyota, meanwhile, won brand-level awards in the luxury and non-luxury categories, respectively.

Toyota won more model-level categories than any other automaker with  five awards, followed by Honda, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz with three each.

(April 14, 2016) IRVINE, Calif. — Distracted driving is defined as any activity that could divert a person's attention away from the primary task of driving. While nearly every state in the U.S., as well as Washington D.C., has laws prohibiting the use of mobile phones while driving, a new survey by Kelley Blue Book reveals that 61 percent of drivers continue to multi-task from behind the wheel.

(April 13, 2016) HOUSTON — To celebrate every car’s distinct personality, ExxonMobil is launching Mobil 1 “Loved Cars Have Names,” a two-month promotion accompanied by an online name generator that appropriately names cars to reflect the role they play in peoples’ lives.

(April 12, 2016) WASHINGTON — The national average price of gas declined on the week for the first time in nearly two months, though the drop was only about one cent, according to AAA. Gas prices have moved higher for 28 of the past 35 days, and motorists are paying 13 cents more per gallon on the month.

Today’s average of $2.04 per gallon is the lowest for this day since 2009 and average prices are about 35 cents per gallon cheaper than a year ago.

(April 11, 2016) SAN RAMON, Calif. — Toyota is celebrating Earth Week this year across the Bay Area with two events honoring the fourth-generation 2016 Prius. The first event, Prius Pick Me Up, will take place April 20-21 and offers commuters free rides to-and-from the East Bay and San Francisco in a 2016 Prius.

(April 7, 2016) DEARBORN, Mich. — Women are driving demand for Lincoln’s newest vehicles — particularly its SUV offerings — according to a recent analysis of IHS Automotive vehicle registration data. In the last decade, Lincoln registrations among women have increased 45 percent.

Women buyers grew at more than 11 times the rate of the Lincoln brand in the last 10 years twice that of the overall luxury segment.

(April 6, 2016) LOS ANGELES — Transportation Network Company (TNC) drivers — those who drive for Uber, Lyft and Sidecar — get to be their own bosses. They determine the length of their shifts, the hours during which they want to work and the communities they want to serve.