January 2012

Kelley says Chevy Sonic, Honda CR-V to get big boosts from Super Bowl ads

(January 31, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book today reports its predictions for automaker ad supremacy during this year's Super Bowl. On game day Sunday, Kelley Blue Book anticipates that the 2012 Chevrolet Sonic will receive the greatest lift with a nearly 250 percent increase in traffic share on kbb.com. 

The model is relatively new, so it stands to benefit from increased national exposure.  It also competes in the subcompact sedan segment, which is in high demand for its fuel economy and affordability. 

Analysts see Chrysler up 35 percent over January 2011

(January 27, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — An estimated 866,655 new cars will be sold in January, for a projected Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 13.4 million units, forecasts Edmunds.com. This sales pace is relatively flat from the 13.5 million SAAR recorded last month, but up from the 12.6 million SAAR from January 2011.

Study finds many new-car buyers base decision on 'preconceived notions'

(January 27, 2012) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — More than 40 percent of new-vehicle buyers who avoided a particular model due to quality or reliability concerns say they based their opinions on conventional wisdom or common knowledge rather than personal experience, reviews, ratings or recommendations, according to the newest J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Avoider Study.

Consumer Reports puts a 'not recommended' label on popular Evoque

(January 26, 2012) Never mind that the stylish Land Rover Range Rover Evoque has won more than 50 awards around the world, the last being the North American "Truck of the Year" announced at the Detroit Auto Show earlier this month. In recent testing, the Evoque failed to gain "recommended" status by Consumer Reports magazine.

And Consumer Reports says the equally new BMW X3, a finalist for North American Truck of the Year, handily outpointed its European rivals in a head-to-head match up.

January new-vehicle sales show continued strength, J.D. Power says

(January 26, 2012) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — New-vehicle retail sales performance in January is abating fears of any reversal from the strong close to 2011, according to a monthly sales forecast developed by J.D. Power and Associates Power Information Network (PIN) and LMC Automotive.

Warning: Your new car may not carry a spare tire

(January 25, 2012) ORLANDO, Fla. — Buying a car can be a stressful experience. One thing buyers could depend upon was that the new vehicle they were about to purchase included a spare tire. That may not always be the case.

To meet new government fuel efficiency standards some vehicle manufactures are omitting heavy spare tires and equipping new vehicles with an emergency sealant and inflator kit or tires that if damaged can run reasonable distances without air. 

Teen passengers — The 'other distraction' for teen drivers

(January 24, 2012) PHILADELPHIA — A pair of studies by The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and State Farm identify factors that may lead teens to drive with several teen-age passengers and, then, how those passengers may affect their driver's behavior just before a serious crash. The studies were published today in the Journal of Adolescent Health .

Experts have long known that peer passengers increase teen driver crash risk. What hasn't been well understood was how they increase crash risk.

The 28th best day to buy a car in January, TrueCar says

(January 24, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — TrueCar, Inc. has found the best new car deals on vehicles including cash, finance and lease deals available nationwide, and is forecasting that Saturday, Jan. 28 will be the best day of the month to purchase a vehicle with an average discount of 8.19 percent, according to data from its January TrueTrends Report.

Kelley predicts January sales down from December, up year-over-year

(January 23, 2012) IRVINE, Calif. — Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com projects January new-vehicle sales at 30 percent below the December high, coming in at approximately 900,000 units for the month or a 13.2 million Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (SAAR).  At 900,000 units overall, sales would be up nearly 10 percent year-over-year. 

Jeep and Chrysler pace new-car registration growth in 2011

(January 20, 2012) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — New car registrations grew 12 percent last year, according to an analysis by Edmunds.com, and Edmunds' research found that the growth was paced by a Detroit "renaissance," with some of the biggest increases coming from Jeep and Chrysler, whose registrations grew 55 percent and 48 percent, respectively, in 2011.