November 2020

Kelley Blue Book names best Black Friday car deals for 2020



(November 18, 2020) IRVINE, Calif. — While this year's holiday season may look vastly different than years past, Black Friday is still considered to be the biggest shopping day of the year. From 0% financing to "Employee Pricing," this year's car deals can save you thousands of dollars on a new vehicle. Whether you are shopping online or staying socially distant at your local dealership, this year's Black Friday deals are shaping up to last into the first weeks of 2021.

Increase in gas demand pushes state averages more expensive



(November 17, 2020) Motorists are paying more to fill up than last Monday in nearly 30 states with the vast majority paying just a few pennies more. On the week, South Carolina (+8 cents) saw the largest increase followed by these states who each had a six cent increase: Michigan, New Mexico, Indiana, Delaware, and Minnesota.

2021 Lamborghini Urus SUV — Irresistibly posh – incredibly fast



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica

(November 17, 2020) Riding the wave of an SUV explosion, Lamborghini — the maker of some of the world’s most extravagant supercars — brings the Urus, a large five-door family car with legitimate off-road capability to go along with credentials as one of the world’s fastest SUVs.

Dealership auto finance faces permanent challenge from digital, study finds



(November 16, 2020) That meeting with the auto dealership’s finance department — the one in which vehicle buyers are presented with the dealer’s recommended financing options and offered add-ons — is evolving to more of a digital experience and is being dictated by consumer demand. According to the J.D. Power 2020 U.S. Consumer Financing Satisfaction Study more vehicle buyers than ever have turned to digital channels when it comes to pre-transaction research and lining up financing options for a new vehicle.

AAA: Fewer Americans traveling this Thanksgiving amid pandemic



(November 14, 2020) ORLANDO, Fla.  — Thanksgiving will be on the lighter side when it comes to the typical number of travelers on the roads and at airports. According to AAA Travel, effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, including health concerns and high unemployment, are impacting Americans’ decisions to travel for the Thanksgiving holiday. With health and government officials stressing that staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others from getting sick, AAA anticipates at least a 10% drop in travel  — the largest one-year decrease since the Great Recession in 2008.

Used car values finally cooling down after a red hot summer



(November 13, 2020) SANTA MONICA, Calif.. — Used vehicle trade-in values are returning to normal levels after skyrocketing during the summer months, according to the car shopping experts at Edmunds. Edmunds data reveals that the average value for all vehicles traded in during the month of October dropped to $15,874, a 3.3% decrease compared to $16,411 in September. The average value for 3-year-old vehicles also dipped in October to $20,401, a 1.7% decline compared to $20,747 in September.

New dashboard-mounted display uses smartphone integration



(November 11, 2020) NEW YORK — Car and Driver and The Fesco Group, a leading manufacturer of branded consumer technology solutions, have announced the launch of the Intellidash+, a dashboard-mounted smart display with an IPS touchscreen. The Intellidash+ allows drivers to integrate their smartphone within the DIY-installation smart display, upgrading their car to include CarPlay/Android Auto without the expensive installation.

2021 Cadillac CT4 — All-new CT4 is good but missing the 'wow factor'



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 10, 2020) With Cadillac launching its all-new CT4 sedans to replace the ATS and CTS, it’s once again overhauling the brand’s commitment to competing in the luxury sport sedan segment along with a stated goal of attracting the “new generation” (Cadillac speak for youthful) of Cadillac customers. This is of course on the heels of the company’s recent move back to Detroit from its New York City headquarters, and the reveal of its new Celestiq and Lyriq all-electric vehicles expected to arrive by 2022. Further, there’s the announcement of the all-out high-performance Blackwing sports sedans, set to replace the CTS-V moniker.

Demand weakens as motorists continue to see cheaper pump prices



(November 10, 2020) The national gas price average pushed a penny cheaper on the week to $2.11 following an increase in gasoline stocks and a dip in demand. Stocks added 1.5 million bbl to total 227.6 million barrels in the Energy Information Administration’s latest report, while demand decreased to 8.3 million barrels a day.

2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris cargo van all about work, work, work



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 9, 2020) MIAMI — After spending a week in the 2020 Mercedes-Benz Metris van, I have a new respect for drivers of commercial vehicles with enclosed rear cargo areas, and I intend to give them plenty of room when driving. How they manage with just side mirrors letting them know what is going on behind them is beyond me. I never did get comfortable in the Metris without the typical interior mirror mounted above the windshield.