Here's the Thing

Chevrolet Silverado holds second spot in pickup sales ahead of Ram


Photos by Paul Borden

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 26, 2023) It you have ever taken a moment to look around you when idling at a busy intersection, it should come as no surprise to you that pickup trucks rate among the most popular vehicles on the road today. In fact, putting together numbers supplied by Car & Driver magazine, the top three vehicles in sales last year were pickup trucks with the Ford F-Series leading the way and the Chevrolet Silverado reclaiming the No. 2 spot from Ram, which checked in at No. 3.

Lexus (luxury), Honda (mass market) lead in residual value



Lexus tops J.D. Power Residual
Value Awards for 4th straight year


(November 24, 2023) TROY, Mich. — As new- and used-vehicle prices continue to rise, the resale (or residual) value of those vehicles has never been more important to consumers, according to the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards.  For a fourth consecutive year, Lexus received the brandaward for best premium brand, while Honda received the award for best mass market brand for a third consecutive year. Three marques — Honda, Lexus and Toyota — were each recognized with four model segment winners.

2024 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4xe



Refreshed Wrangler gets
new plug-In hybrid option

By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 23, 2023) It has been more than 20 years since the iconic Jeep Wrangler first launched the "Rubicon" edition on what is essentially a factory-built off-road specialty vehicle. The Rubicon is named after the Rubicon river trail located in California's historic gold rush territory west of Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada's.

Gas prices fall to lowest level since February fueling holiday travel



(November 22, 2023) GasBuddy, a leading fuel savings platform, has released the results of its annual Thanksgiving Travel Survey, revealing that more Americans plan to hit the road for the holiday. Forty-one percent of respondents said they plan to take a road trip this year, an 8% increase from 2022. Additionally, the national average price of gas is projected to drop to $3.25 per gallon, saving Americans nearly $1.2 billion during holiday travel compared to last year.

Hyundai, Kia and Porsche lead the charge in Edmunds EV charging tests



Pioneering new test sets industry
standard, challenges auto claims


(November 21, 2023) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The car shopping experts at Edmunds have unveiled the Edmunds EV Charging Test, a rigorous, independent evaluation of electric vehicle fast-charging speeds that provides consumers with crucial information about the time required to add range to a vehicle's battery.

55.4 million Americans expected to travel this week



This year’s holiday forecast
a 2.3% increase over last year


(November 21, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C.  — AAA projects 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more from home over the Thanksgiving holiday travel period. This year’s Thanksgiving forecast is an increase of 2.3% over last year and marks the third-highest Thanksgiving forecast since AAA began tracking holiday travel in 2000. The top two years were 2005 and 2019, respectively.

Sales heat up for refreshed 2023 Lincoln Corsair compact SUV



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(November 20, 2023) The Corsair may be the smallest entry in the Lincoln’s all-SUV fleet, but latest sales figures show that it is punching well above its weight class. According to figures reported by fordauthority.com, the 2023 Lincoln Corsair jumped 28 percent for the third quarter with its 7,852 units sold, finishing second to the Lexus NX, which led the compact sales segment with a whopping 17,647 sold from July through September.

Toyota Prius named 2024 MotorTrend Car of the Year



(November 17, 2023) MotorTrend has named the 2024 Toyota Prius as the 2024 Car of the Year. This marks the second time that the Prius has won the award — the first being in 2004.

Time to talk turkey and lower gas prices



(November 17, 2023) WASHINGTON, D.C. — With Thanksgiving fast approaching, the national average for a gallon of gas is steadily declining.  Since last week, pump prices have fallen six cents to $3.34.  Since the price peak for 2023, the national average has either fallen or remained flat for 60 straight days.

Used car market undergoing transition from volatility to stability



(November 16, 2023) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — The used vehicle market is experiencing a course correction after years of pricing volatility and other disruptions caused by early COVID-19-era supply chain setbacks. As highlighted in the most recent Edmunds Used Vehicle Report, the car shopping experts at Edmunds are witnessing encouraging signs of market stability, including a 5.5% year-over-year drop in used-vehicle average transaction prices, near-new used cars once again transacting at prices notably below brand-new, and new-car discounting trickling down to used cars of all ages.