(May 10, 2011) BETHESDA, Md. (PRNewswire-USNewswire) — It's bound to happen — that moment when you enter into the "cone zone," road construction where you will likely hit a bump or two, or come across loose stones and other hazards.

These rough road conditions can be tough on a vehicle's steering and suspension system and can throw out the alignment, while loose stones have the potential to damage the vehicle's exterior or windshield, according to the Car Care Council.

(May 9, 2011) ATLANTA (PRNewswire) — Research released today by AutoTrader.com shows that dealers who merchandise their new car inventory online by adding actual photos of each new car and real prices garner significantly more traffic to their online vehicle detail pages (VDPs) and generate more interaction with their listings than dealers who do not include this information. 

(May 9, 2011) IRVINE, Calif. (PRNewswire) Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com today reports that used vehicles are more expensive than ever, as covered in the company's Blue Book Market Report for May 2011.

So far this year, fuel-efficient segments have increased far more aggressively than they have during the past two years.  Today, values are up nearly 20 percent since January, a far cry from the steady depreciation of 2009 and 2010.  At the segment level, values are up around $1,500-$2,500, with some models surpassing their respective segment average.

(May 7, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — For certain premium luxury brands, William and Kate's highly publicized wedding may have been a regal product placement opportunity, according to Edmunds.com.

Bentley site traffic increased by 185 percent on Edmunds.com the day of the royal wedding (April 29), compared to the average "consideration" levels for the brand over the previous four Fridays.

(May 6, 2011) KANSAS CITY, Mo. (PRNewswire) — As the price of gasoline pushes toward $4 per gallon, many American motorists think those rising costs ultimately will limit their ability to drive.

In a sign of the times, a new America THINKS survey from HNTB Corporation shows 3 in 5 (63 percent) American drivers think that gas will get so pricey that they won't be able to drive their car as often as they do now. In fact, nearly 1 in 4 (22 percent) are extremely confident this will happen.

(May 5, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — As gas prices threaten to tick past $4 per gallon, Edmunds.com debunks popular gas price myths and offers some reasonable steps every driver can take to ease the pain at the pump in a new report.

"People can't avoid taking note of rising gas prices and that generates a lot of stress, both in thinking about the expense and in considering options to manage the situation," says Edmunds.com senior consumer advice editor Phil Reed.

(May 4, 2011) IRVINE, Calif. (PRNewswire) — Increasing gas prices are changing vehicle consideration criteria, according to a survey by Kelley Blue Book.

According to the latest Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com Market Intelligence survey conducted in April the vast majority of car shoppers — 84 percent —  said that gas prices have influenced vehicle considerations, revealing a steady increase in the role fuel prices have played in purchase decisions since January. 

(May 3, 2011) SANTA MONICA — Edmunds.com estimated today that the average True Cost of Incentives (TCI) of automotive manufacturers was $2,118 per new car sold in April 2011, down $250, or 10.6 percent, from March 2011, and down $515, or 19.6 percent, from April 2010.

(May 3, 2011) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Getting a fair deal on auto body work starts with choosing the right shop, according to the latest installment in Edmunds.com's "Confessions Series" titled "Confessions from the Auto Body Shop."

"Of every 10 body shops, three of them are unethical and five of them do mediocre work at best," said "Neal," one of three anonymous auto body business veterans who agreed to give Edmunds.com an insider's look at some of the shady practices carried out across the industry.

April 28, 2011) SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (PRNewswire) — Toyota led all automotive brands among new vehicle purchases by African-Americans in 2010, according to Polk, retaining the position it held in 2009.