Here's the Thing

Study finds road to new vehicle purchase often bumpier for women

(October 16, 2014) IRVINE, Calif. — When it comes to car shopping, women are driven by features — engaging in extensive research to find the best fit — while from the outset many men are revved about a particular car brand, according to a study just released by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com.

One-in-five men know the exact vehicle he wants, while women are twice as likely to be undecided about what vehicle they desire, the study revealed.

Mazda2 wins Japan Car of the Year

(October 15, 2014) TOKYO — Typhoon Vongfong, this year’s fiercest storm, might have weakened when it made landfall on the Japanese archipelago on Sunday, but a storm of different proportions was brewing inside the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation on Tokyo Bay.

2015 Ford F-150 voted Truck of Texas at TAWA Truck Rodeo

By Jim Meachen
Editor, MotorwayAmerica

(October 13, 2014) SAN ANTONIO, Texas — Ford Won the coveted Truck of Texas title here Friday at the annual Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) Truck Rodeo for its all-new 2015 aluminum bodied F-150. Ford also won Truck Line of Texas and CUV of Texas for the all-new 2015 Lincoln MKC, capturing three of the four major awards.

J.D. Power finds smartphone users likely to share auto website experience

(October 14, 2014) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.— Auto shoppers using a smartphone are more likely to share vehicle information on social media when they have a satisfying online experience with an automotive manufacturer or third-party automotive site, according to the J.D. Power 2014 Automotive Mobile Site Study.

The study, now in its third year, has been redesigned to capture details on content and tool usage while measuring what content is most effective on OEM and third-party automotive websites on a smartphone during the vehicle-shopping process.

Winter is rapidly arriving and as temperature drops, so does tire inflation

(October 14, 2014) AKRON, Ohio — Fading is the heat of summer, replaced by cool nights and mornings. Eventually, many areas of the country will be faced with consistently chilly, even sub-freezing temperatures.

This time of year serves as a reminder that a drop in tire inflation pressures corresponds with the falling thermometer readings. Goodyear experts explain that air pressure in a tire typically goes down 1-2 pounds for every 10 degrees of temperature change.

Buick Verano’s refined ride starts where the rubber meets the road

(October 13, 2014) DETROIT — The refined ride quality and quiet cabin in the 2015 Buick Verano start closer to the ground than extensive insulation and a well-tuned chassis. Down where the rubber meets the road, engineers tuned and refined the Verano’s tires for reduced noise and a comfortable ride.

Kelley names 10 best car deals for October

(October 10, 2014) IRVINE, Calif. — The experts from Kelley Blue Book kbb.com have assembled their list of the 10 best lease, financing and cash back deals available in October from a variety of auto manufacturers.

While Kelley Blue Book's expert vehicle advisors typically recommend against buying a vehicle in its last model year before a full redesign, right now the deals might just be too hard to resist. Market forces and production imperatives have driven manufacturer incentives that lower the net price of several outgoing models that have good reputations, and thus qualify as great deals.

Kia's brand value skyrockets 480 percent since 2007

(October 9, 2014) Since declaring design management as a core driver of the company's future growth and the hiring of President & Chief Design Officer Peter Schreyer in 2007, Kia Motors Corporation's brand value has skyrocketed by 480 percent from $929 million to $5.4 billion, according to Interbrand's exclusive list of 100 'Best Global Brands 2014, which was released today.

This rise in brand value far outpaces the average growth rate over the same period of all 11 other automakers on this year's list.

Chevrolet offers tips for traveling with a pet

(October 7, 2014) DETROIT — Michael Morgan of Seattle has a very simple rule when it comes to travel: If his dog Myles, a 25-pound Puggle, isn’t welcome, neither is he. The 35-year-old real estate investment executive is among the 62 percent of Americans who own at least one pet, according to the Humane Society of the United States, and thanks to the collective $50 billion they spend annually on their four-legged family members, destinations once off limits now welcome well-behaved pets.

Infiniti Q70 gets Top Safety Pick+ award; Lincoln MKS, BMW 5 series fall short

(October 2, 2014) ARLINGTON, Va. — Results for three large luxury cars put through the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's small overlap front test for the first time are a mixed bag, with the Infiniti Q70 achieving a good rating, the Lincoln MKS earning a poor rating, and the BMW 5 series earning a marginal.

The MKS and 5 series are the worst performers out of seven large luxury cars tested so far for small overlap protection.