July 2023

Heat wave lowering EV driving range by up to 31%



(July 21, 2023) Recent extreme heat across much of the Southern and Western U.S. is highlighting a problem with electric vehicles — their range wilts as the temperature climbs into the stratosphere, Automotive News reported Thursday.

Pump prices up three cents over a week ago



(July 21, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Despite another week of lackluster demand for gasoline, pump prices rose three cents since last Thursday to $3.58. The primary culprit is a higher oil price, which has recently increased to the mid-$70s per barrel.

Latest driver death rates highlight dangers of small cars and muscle cars



(July 17, 2023) American muscle cars with high horsepower and a hot rod image rank among the deadliest vehicles on the road, both for their own drivers and for people in other vehicles, recent calculations by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show.

Range Rover Sport eases into third generation with 2023 model



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(July 19, 2023) Offered in four trims including the limited production First Edition model, the 2023 Land Rover Range Rover Sport is a slightly smaller version of the company’s flagship Range Rover full-size SUV with a slightly more economical price tag. And it still has that sophisticated British air that gives you a feeling of driving not just a fully off-road capable SUV but a piece of history as well as an urge to stop in somewhere for a cuppa and scones.

Higher cost of oil nudges pump prices up



(July 14, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. —Despite a notable cratering in gas demand in the days since the July 4th holiday, pump prices crept higher over the past week by three cents to reach $3.55. The main culprit is a higher price for oil, which moved from the upper $60s per barrel recently to the mid-$70s.

AAA says prioritize roadway safety before raising speed limits



By Andrew Gross
Manager, AAA Public Relations

(July 14, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Drivers desiring faster commutes might view a higher speed limit as a boon, but is it always the safest choice? And what about the safety needs of pedestrians, cyclists, and others?  A new study by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety finds that raising posted speed limits may do little to save time and increase traffic flow but could lead to more crashes, injuries, and deaths.

June new-vehicle transaction price rise smallest in four years



(July 13, 2023) ATLANTA — The average price Americans paid for a new vehicle in June was 1.6% higher than one year ago, the smallest year-over-year price increase since the start of the global pandemic. According to Kelley Blue Book the average transaction price (ATP) of a new vehicle in June was $48,808, a month-over-month increase of 0.3% ($150) from an upwardly revised May reading of $48,658.

General Motors solidifying its lead in U.S. sales



(July 10, 2023) General Motors is showing that the end of its nine-decade reign as the U.S. sales leader was just a one-year blip, not a groundbreaking shift in the industry's pecking order. For a second consecutive year since, GM is solidly No. 1 at the halfway point. And the automaker is widening its lead over second-place Toyota amid signs that the market is strengthening, according to Automotive News.

Subaru ups Crosstrek's off-roading capability for 2024 model



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(July 8, 2023) The Subaru Crosstrek moves into its third generation with a new trim added to 2024 models to boost its off-roading capabilities. At 9.3 inches, the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness sits a little more than a half-inch higher than the 8.7-inch ground clearance for other Crosstrek trims, and the continuously variable transmission has been revised to give it a little more climbing capability.

2024 Chevrolet Trax — Dazzling new style with more room at lower price



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(July 9, 2023) All-new for 2024 the Chevrolet Trax — the brand's new entry-level model now that the Spark has been discontinued — is larger, much better looking inside and out, less expensive and surprisingly a bit larger than the Trailblazer, Chevy's other small compact SUV. The previous Trax ended production after the 2022 model year, and there is no 2023 Trax model rather just jumping to 2024 for the Korean built sub-compact crossover.