December 2011

Put a cork in the real cost of a DUI

(December 30, 2011) WASHINGTON — As Americans pop the cork on New Year's Eve celebrations this weekend, AAA cautions partygoers against getting behind the wheel after the champagne toast. According to a recent analysis conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, during the last decade, the years' highest number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities occur on New Year's Day.

Sun sets on Lincoln Town Car; what will the dawn bring?

(December 30, 2011) LOS ANGELES — For the luxury transportation industry, the discontinuation of the Lincoln Town Car marks the end of an era. Since the 1990s, the Lincoln Town Car has been the flagship of limousine companies' fleets.

In 2010, however, Lincoln announced it would cease production of the Town Car series, leaving the luxury transportation industry high and dry without a clear successor.

Kelley Blue Book names its top 10 winter driving vehicles

(December 28, 2011) IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com has announced its Top 10 Winter Driving Vehicles for 2012

The days are short, the nights are cold and the chances of encountering rain, snow, sleet or some other form of weather-related treachery during the course of any daily drive are at their peak. It just may be time for consumers to consider upgrading their current rides for vehicles more befitting the season. 

New car sales to hit 12.8 million in 2011, TrueCar projects

(December 27, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar.comtoday released its December 2011 sales and incentives forecast. The forecast shows the following:

New Yer's Eve big day for teens — drinking and driving

(December 27, 2011) BOSTON — While New Year's Eve may conjure images of a celebratory toast, it's also traditionally one of the worst days of the year for alcohol related car crashes and deaths for young drivers. And new data from a 2011 teen driving study by Liberty Mutual Insurance and SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) reveals an interesting yet cautionary anomaly: teens believe New Year's Eve is the most dangerous time of year to drive, yet it also is the holiday or event when teens most frequently drive under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.

Industry ends year on a note of caution, Edmunds says

(December 26, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An estimated 1,230,099 new cars will be sold in December, for a projected Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 13.4 million units, forecasts Edmunds.com. The sales pace is a slight dip from the 13.6 million SAAR recorded last month. Edmunds.com projects that 2011 will close at 12.8 million sales, which would be about a 10 percent increase over last year's 11.6 million sales.

Forecast: 2011 new-vehicle retail sales will end with strong performance

(December 23, 2011) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Consistent with their performance in November, new-vehicle retail sales continue to show strength, according to a monthly sales forecast developed by J.D. Power and Associates Power Information Network and LMC Automotive.

Ford asks Santa to retire reindeer, use new EcoBoost-powered sleigh

(December 25, 2011) LAPLAND, Finland — Ford is offering to make it a greener Christmas with a concept sleigh that would dramatically downsize Santa’s carbon footprint.

Santa’s new ride, packed with cutting-edge Ford technology, would allow Rudolph and friends to enjoy a well-deserved retirement while Santa makes his annual deliveries with style in an environmentally friendly new sleigh.

Ford F-150, Honda Accord earn top sales crowns in 2011

(December 24, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The Ford F-150 is the top-selling new vehicle of 2011, while the Honda Accord is the best selling used car of the year, reports Edmunds.com. Edmunds.com's review of 2011 car sales also found that the Nissan Leaf flew off dealer lots faster than any other vehicle this year, and that Saab offered the best discounts to consumers in 2011, even as the brand fought to delay its inevitable demise.

Kia Sorento, Chevy Equinox most researched vehicles at NADAGuides

(December 22, 2011) COSTA MESA — The Kia Sorento and Chevrolet Equinox were the most researched cars on the NADAguides.com Web site's Consumer Market Interest Report for the third quarter of 2011.

This indicates a continued trend of interest gain for Korean and American models. The 2012 Sorento showed an increase of 215 percent in consumer interest in the third quarter  relative to the second quarter, placing it in the top spot.