April 2011

New study pinpoints what happens just before teen crashes

(April 11, 2011) PHILADELPHIA (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — A recent study by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm Insurance Companies hones in on the most common errors teen drivers make that lead to a serious crash. Teen drivers are involved in fatal crashes at four times the rate of adults. The findings were published in the journal Accident Analysis and Prevention.

Consumer Reports: New Volkswagen Jetta disappoints

(April 10, 2011) YONKERS, N.Y. (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — The newly redesigned Volkswagen Jetta now ranks last among the 11 small sedans that have been tested by Consumer Reports magazine. Engineers found fault with its agility, cornering grip, coarse engine, braking, interior fit and finish, and so-so fuel economy.

Shock poll — 16 percent of drivers say they had at one point no insurance

(April 9, 2011) AUSTIN, Texas (PRNewswire) — Sixteen percent of American drivers have driven a car without auto insurance, with nearly half of them saying they couldn't afford the insurance premiums, according to an InsuranceQuotes.com poll conducted online by Harris Interactive.

Honda, Lexus tops in Edmunds' Best Retained Value Awards

(April 9, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Honda and Lexus took home the top prizes in Edmunds.com's inaugural Best Retained Value Awards, which recognize the brands and new car models that have the highest projected residual value after five years, expressed as a percentage of their True Market Value.

Invoice price tool developed by zAutos

(April 8, 2011) IRVINE, Calif. (PRNewswire) — zAutos.com, a consumer car research website, has announced the addition of its new research feature — the Invoice Price Tool.

Consumers can now view the invoice price and Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of a particular vehicle along with each of its optional features and packages while shopping at the dealership.

Buy your car now, typical summer deals probably won't be there

(April 8, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The threat of supply shortages and ensuing price increases in the next few months should motivate car shoppers to buy or lease their next new car now rather than waiting for typical summertime deals, says Edmunds.com.

"Any production disruptions caused by the devastation in Japan have yet to be felt directly, but savvy consumers realize that it makes sense to buy sooner than later," said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com.

Propane industry says new bill excludes propane-driven vehicles

(April 8, 2011) WASHINGTON (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — Noting the introduction of the New Alternative Transportation to Give Americans Solutions (NATGAS) Act of 2011, NPGA President Richard Roldan urged Congress to think twice about enacting any bill that removes consumer choice from purchasing decisions on alternative fuel vehicles.

Study finds men go for performance and brawn, women for practicality

(April  7, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. (PRNewswire) — TrueCar.com has released a refreshed demographic study based on car-buying behavior in 2010, examining gender differences in auto buying. TrueCar.com's study was based on over eight million retail purchases in 2010.

Toyota, Honda pace 37% first-quarter sales growth of hybrid and electric vehicles

(April 6, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Sales of new hybrid and electric cars climbed 37 percent in the first quarter of 2011, according to new data released by Edmunds.com. The growth outpaced sales of traditional gasoline-powered cars and trucks whose first quarter sales improved 20 percent over the same period in 2010.

Study finds children, adolescents suffer disproportionate percentage of ATV-related injuries

(April 6, 2011) ROSEMONT, Ill. (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) were introduced in this country in the 1970s. Currently, there are approximately 9.5 million ATVs in use and more than 150,000 reported ATV-related injuries annually.

The rapid rise in ATV-related injuries is due to increased use and also to the production of larger, faster, and more powerful vehicles, according to a review article that was recently published in the April issue of the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (JAAOS).