Here's the Thing

The holidays bring gift of falling gas prices



(December 20, 2022) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Holiday shoppers may have a little more jingle in their pockets this year thanks to plummeting gas prices. The national average pump price slid 12 cents since last week to $3.14. There are now about 20 states with averages below $3 per gallon.

2023 GMC Sierra offers myriad of choices for outfitting a pickup


Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 18, 2022) Imports pretty much have taken over the sedan, SUV/crossover, and coupe markets, but there is one automotive segment that U.S. products still dominate. We Americans love our pickup trucks. Not only do domestic products — i.e., Ford F Series, Ram, and Chevrolet Silverado — dominate their segment, they also were 1-2-3 in U.S. sales of all vehicles through the third quarter of this year.

As luxury share grows, new-vehicle prices hit record high



(December 16, 2022) ATLANTA — Although new-vehicle inventory levels are improving, prices remain elevated. According to data released by Kelley Blue Book the average transaction price (ATP) for a new vehicle in the United States in November  hit a new record high of $48,681. November prices rose 0.9% ($422) month over month from October 2022 and were up 4.4% ($2,250) from year-earlier levels.

AAA expects nearly 113 million Americans will travel to end 2022


AAA

(December 14, 2022) WASHINGTON, DC — ’Tis the season to travel, and AAA estimates 112.7 million people will journey 50 miles or more away from home from Dec. 23 to Jan. 2. That’s an increase of 3.6 million people over last year and closing in on pre-pandemic numbers. 2022 is expected to be the third busiest year for holiday travel since AAA began tracking in 2000.

Gas prices keep falling as the holidays approach



(December 13, 2022) WASHINGTON, D.C. — The national average pump price plunged 14 cents since last week to $3.26, six cents less than a year ago. There are now approximately 34 states with averages lower than last year, according to the weekly report by AAA.
Prius.

Want a seven-seat electric vehicle? Say hello to 2022 Mercedes-Benz EQB



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(December 12, 2022) One of the main sticking points and objections consumers have when considering the move to an all-electric vehicle has been among others the cost of the vehicle. For Mercedes-Benz’s electrification product offerings in the U.S., it’s been a six-figure decision with EQS Sedans and EQS SUV starting north of six-figures until now. However, with the introduction of the EQB SUV, pricing starts a little more than half that amount at $54,500 (plus $1050 destination and delivery). That’s also before a $7,500 U.S. federal tax incentive for electric vehicles.

Still favor a sedan? Need AWD for wintery weather? Toyota has answers



(December 12, 2022) When it comes to navigating snowy roads, drivers sometimes depend on all-wheel-drive (AWD) vehicles to help navigate their journeys safely. And AWD conjures up thoughts of crossover SUVs. But what if your proclivities favor a sedan over a hatchback crossover? For Toyota drivers, options are in abundance and in fact, the company’s expanded all-wheel-drive lineup for the 2023 model year includes some legendary Toyota sedans — Camry, Crown and Prius.

There's a supercar hiding within Volvo C40 Recharge EV



By Casey Williams
MyCarData


(December 11, 2022) Take a look at the Volvo C40 Recharge.  It’s extra handsome with its substantial crossover coupe styling, but there’s a world-class supercar hiding within.  “Recharge” means its all-electric, and while it won’t outrun the fastest Teslas or even the quickest gas-powered Corvette, it would have 30 years ago.  That’s how far we’ve come and how impressive is this super safe Volvo.

Four major EV trends to watch in 2023


Hyundai Ioniq 5

By Jessica Caldwell
Edmunds.com

(December 9, 2022) As the auto industry continues to forge its path toward an electrified and autonomous future, the stakes are higher than ever. But an interesting upside has emerged: Early data shows that EVs are giving automakers the opportunity to redefine their brands in the eyes of consumers, which ordinarily would require a hefty investment over years, if not decades. Here's how three legacy automakers are capitalizing on this once-in-a-lifetime moment.

To create a safe transportation system, we need to target speed



By David Harkey

President, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
Highway Loss Data Institute

(December 8, 2022) The most recent annual tally of carnage on our roads is sobering: an estimated 43,000 people killed in 2021. That’s more than the year before, which was more than the year before that.