June 2011

Incentive spending shows Toyota and Honda on road to recovery

(June 30, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Increased incentive spending in June by Toyota and Honda indicate that the two Japanese automakers are turning a corner with their respective production issues, reports Edmunds.com.

Edmunds.com's report on the True Cost of Incentives (TCI) found that incentive spending by Toyota increased 30.5 percent to $1,631 per vehicle from May to June.

Drivers in Western U.S. paid most for car repairs in 2010

(June 30, 2011) FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif. (PRNewswire) — In 2010, drivers in Arizona paid the most in the nation for car repairs at an average cost of $421.49, according to CarMD.com Corporation, which analyzed roughly 80,000 repairs made on vehicles with "check engine" light problems in 2010.

Car enthusiasts vote for their 'most wanted' vehicles

(June 30, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds' InsideLine.com has announced the winners of its 2011 Readers' Most Wanted Awards, which recognizes vehicles in 12 categories that received the most votes from car enthusiasts in a recent online survey.

As gas prices rise, drivers in UK change driving habits

(June 29, 2011) Eighty per cent of drivers in the UK have changed their driving behavior to save fuel, according to the IAM’s latest opinion poll. Of the 2,500 people polled, half said they had changed to a more eco-friendly driving style.

Pothole warning sign created

(June 29, 2011) Confused.com, one of the UK’s biggest and most popular insurance price comparison services, has unveiled the first ever warning sign for potholes and has launched a petition for its use on roads nationwide in the UK.

It seems the sign might be helpful to drivers in the U.S. as well.

New Smartphone app can keep drivers from falling asleep behind the wheel

(June 29, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A new iPhone and iPad app could be well worth the $20 download to keep you awake — and alive — behind the wheel, reports Edmunds' InsideLine.com.

The Anti Sleep Pilot (ASP) app was developed in collaboration with sleep scientists and uses a patented algorithm to track real-time fatigue level based on 26 parameters such as driving duration, time of day and reaction times.

Edmunds reveals top new and used car deals ahead of 4th of July weekend

(June 28, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Consumers looking to find a good deal on a new car this Fourth of July weekend have a number to choose from, reports Edmunds.com.

The best new car incentives available this weekend include:

'Green' tires can get you farther down the road

(June 28, 2011) PITTSBURGH, (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — As Americans across the country hit the road for the Fourth of July weekend, many families are struggling to deal with the burden of high fuel prices. One key tip is often left off fuel-saving checklists — buying the right tires can significantly improve a car's fuel efficiency.

Even with sluggish June sales, SAAR will be 12.9 million, Edmunds predicts

(June 27, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An estimated 1,093,000 new car sales (including fleet sales) are expected this month, accounting for an 11.2 percent increase over June 2010 and a three percent increase over last month, according to Edmunds.com.

Fiat 500 named coolest new car of the year by Kelley Blue Book

(June 24, 2011) IRVINE, Calif., (PRNewswire) — The editors from Kelley Blue Book's www.kbb.com today named the 2011 Top 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000. In a new twist on an annual list published by kbb.com, the editors ranked their top choices from 10 to 1, naming the 2012 Fiat 500 as this year's No. 1 affordable "Cool Car."