July 2014

Edmunds says auto sales to reach highest July mark in eight years

(July 31, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Edmunds.com forecasts that 1,461,290 new cars and trucks will be sold in the U.S. in July, for an estimated Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) of 16.8 million. This would be the highest July sales since the auto industry delivered 1.49 million new car sales in July 2006.

Study finds market for connected cars growing rapidly

(July 30, 2014) NEW YORK — The market for connected cars is growing rapidly, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 41.2% between 2013 and 2018, and mobile network operators (MNOs) are jumping on the opportunity for new revenue streams and enhancement of customer loyalty that comes with this growth, according to the latest report from Heavy Reading Inside.

Kelley Blue Book finds World Cup advertisers get big bump

(July 30, 2014) IRVINE, Calif. — Riding the wave of soccer fever that swept the nation, automotive companies that advertised during the World Cup 2014 experienced twice as much growth in consumer interest on KBB.com compared to automakers that did not advertise during the event, according to Kelley Blue Book kbb.com.

The greatest traffic surge occurred the week the U.S. Men's National Soccer team competed against Portugal and Germany, as many Americans tuned in to the high-profile games.

2015 Volkswagen GTI wins 'Cheap Speed Challenge'

(July 28, 2014) CHICAGO — Cars.com has named the 2015 Volkswagen GTI the winner of its first-ever "Cheap Speed Challenge." The challenge focused on compact coupes, sedans and hatchbacks that cost less than $30,000 and come with features popular among drivers looking for performance in a new car.

Challenge contenders were the 2014 Fiat 500 Abarth, 2014 Ford Fiesta ST, 2014 Hyundai Veloster Turbo, 2014 Kia Forte SX, 2014 Nissan Juke NISMO, 2014 Scion FR-S, 2014 Subaru WRX and the 2015 Volkswagen GTI.

TrueCar says new vehicle sales continue to sizzle in July

(July 25, 2014) SANTA MONICA — TrueCar, Inc. today released its July 2014 sales and incentives forecast, which shows that new light vehicle sales in the U.S. (including fleet) are expected to reach 1,444,000 units, up 9.9 percent from July 2013 and up 1.8 percent from June 2014.
   
TrueCar predicts the highest July sales since 2006 with a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate ("SAAR") of 16.7 million new vehicle sales, up 6.8 percent from July 2013.

AAA's tests reveal real-world benefits of automatic stop-start

(July 24, 2014) ORLANDO, Fla. — New research from AAA shows that automatic stop-start automotive technology delivers a significant fuel economy benefit. Test results indicated that automatic stop-start systems provide a five percent to seven percent improvement in fuel economy and reduction in carbon dioxide emissions compared with tests conducted on the same vehicle with the automatic stop-start system disabled.

Porsche, Hyundai rank highest in J.D. Power annual APEAL study

(July 23, 2014) WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif. — Porsche is the highest-ranked nameplate in APEAL for the 10th consecutive year, and Hyundai ranks highest among non-premium brands in the J.D. Power 2014 U.S. Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study released today. Hyundai is also the highest-ranked non-premium brand in the J.D. Power 2014 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS), marking the first time a nameplate has ranked highest among non-premium brands in both APEAL and IQS in the same year.

Edmunds Tesla drivers set cross-country record in electric vehicle

(July 22, 2014) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — A team from Edmunds.com  shattered the cross-country speed record in an electric vehicle when driving from Redondo Beach, Calif. to New York City in a 2013 Tesla Model S in 67 hours and 21 minutes. The record-setting drive erased the previous record of 76 hours and 5 minutes set by a team of Tesla staffers.

2014 Mitsubishi Mirage named 'Most Affordable Vehicle' by Cars.com

(July 21, 2014) CHICAGO — Cars.com has named the 2014 Mitsubishi Mirage the most affordable vehicle car shoppers can buy. Cars.com editors considered cars of all types and sizes. Minimum requirements included power windows and door locks as well as Bluetooth capability and USB port(s).

In addition to the cost of each car plus destination fee, editors calculated five-year gas cost for each contender to help shoppers understand the true cost of each vehicle beyond sticker price.

Rand McNally publishes 2015 line of atlases for commercial drivers

(July 21, 2014) SKOKIE, Ill. — Rand McNally today released the 2015 edition of the Motor Carriers' Road Atlas, the #1-selling trucker's print atlas line. The printed trucking atlas, in its 34th edition, continues to be the trusted guide for over-the-road and other large-vehicle drivers.