Here's the Thing

2024 Mercedes-Benz EQE 350 — Essentially a smaller version of the EQS



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(May 12, 2024) Mercedes-Benz was one of the early automakers to start assembling a portfolio of battery-electric vehicles. Now offering nearly 20 battery electric vehicles, the all-new mid-sized EQE sedan is one of the most recent to join the fleet. While SUVs are winning the consumer sales popularity race, we need only to turn our attention to the phenomenal sales success of the Tesla Model S and Model 3, both sedans.

For pump prices, no news is good news



(May 10, 2024) Gas prices posted a quiet week, with the national average drifting lower by three cents to $3.64 since last Thursday. Tepid pre-Memorial Day domestic demand and oil costs below $80 a barrel are the likely culprits. 

2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter — The ultimate urban delivery solution



By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(May 10, 2024) For 2024 Mercedes-Benz has introduced an all-electric version of its iconic Sprinter van for the US market and other than a small identifying eSprinter logo affixed to either front fender, appearance wise it is identical to its gasoline-powered counterpart and capable of outfitting and optioning all the same accessory components. Its also assembled in the same Charleston, S.C., facility and at launch is only available as a 170-inch wheelbase cargo van with a high roof powered by a 113 kWh battery good for an estimated 273 mile driving range.

Jeep 4x4s stretch for 10 miles during annual Jeep beach parade



More than 10,000 Jeeps take part
on the sand at Daytona Beach


(May 7, 2024) DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The Jeep brand joined owners and fans from across the nation to celebrate the 21st anniversary of Jeep Beach at Daytona Beach, April 19-28, for a week of unparalleled open-air freedom and fun in the sun. The event's attendance surpassed last year's event and saw approximately 40,000-plus Jeep 4x4s join the highly anticipated annual 10-day event.

New AAA research exposes the crash danger of spillover speeding



(May 6, 2024) WASHINGTON — Raising speed limits on highways could lead to more crashes on nearby roads, according to new research by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. This “spillover effect” creates unintended safety hazards for local communities that might not be involved in the decision-making process to raise the posted speed limit on a nearby highway.  According to NHTSA, speeding is a significant safety concern, contributing to almost one-third of road fatalities in the past 20 years.

2024 Ford Maverick Hybrid — Standard engine swapped



Ecoboost engine is now standard,
hybrid drivetrain optional for 2024


By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(May 6, 2024) The 2024 Ford Maverick is pretty much the same compact pickup that Ford brought to market for 2022, but the company did make one somewhat unusual change. The first two Mavericks were offered with a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain as standard and a 2.0-liter turbo 4-cylinder as an option. The 2024 Ford Maverick switches those, making the 2.0L Ecoboost the standard and the gas-electric hybrid an option.

When it comes to gas prices — Pre Memorial Day funk



(May 3, 2024) The national average for a gallon of gas waffled up and down over the past week before settling higher by two cents at $3.67.  The slight increase in pump prices happened despite a lull in domestic gasoline demand and falling oil prices.

Explosion of e-commerce calls for safety features that deliver



(May 1, 2024) Equipping the light vans that fulfill America’s online orders with four safety features could prevent or mitigate close to 4 out of 10 fatal crashes involving such vehicles, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

New-vehicle retail sales increase in April, but fleet sales decline



(April 30, 2024) Total new-vehicle sales for April, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,304,600 units, a 0.9% decrease from April 2023 on a selling day adjusted basis, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData. April 2024 has 25 selling days, one fewer than April 2023.

2024 Nissan Z NISMO — Return of the samurai



By David Boldt
MyCarData

(April 28, 2024) It was some 20 years ago when Nissan invited me (and many, many others) to its Nissan 360 press event, which brought together — in and around San Francisco — Nissan’s global fleet for, if you will, a fleet meet-and-greet. There were dozens of highlights, including the chance to both see and drive many of the Nissan models not available in these United States. But my personal best was driving a NISMO-modified 350Z on a winding route into Northern California’s Marin County.