March 2017

What consumers look for in choosing new tires

(March 23, 2017) NASHVILLE, Tenn. — As National Car Care month approaches, April is a popular time for Americans to focus on vehicle maintenance and replace worn out tires. Choosing the right tires for your vehicle can be strenuous and difficult, but making an informed decision promotes safety, performance and fuel economy.

According to the Hankook Tire Gauge Index, there are several factors that influence a driver's choice of tires as 38% of Americans purchase the same tires that were already on the vehicle, while the remaining 62% of Americans are evenly split on choosing the best price (31%) and the dealer recommended product (31%).

Despite quality issues Tesla owners love their cars, J.D. Power finds

(March 22, 2017) COSTA MESA, Calif. — Problems associated with Tesla Model S and Model X have little influence on the overt affection owners have for these cars and the brand, according to a J.D. Power report released today titled "Tesla: Beyond the Hype."

Texas-based designer Kim Lewis runs business with 'Pearl,' a 1977 Ford F-150

(March 22, 2017) AUSTIN, Texas — Texas-based designer Kim Lewis, no stranger to the spotlight, has come to appreciate the value of iconic design. As a production designer on “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” Lewis helped design and renovate more than 120 homes across America over the course of six years.

Why the used car market tanked in February

(March 22, 2017) MCLEAN, Va., —February 2017 will go down in U.S. used vehicle market history as an underperforming month analysts didn't see coming. So, why were prices surprisingly down last month, when normally during the second month each year they start to bounce back?

Ford Super Duty wins three-quarter truck challenge at Cars.com

(March 21, 2017) CHICAGO — Experts from Cars.com and PickupTrucks.com put the current lineup of three-quarter-ton work trucks to the test to determine the ultimate best. Contenders in the 2017 3/4-Ton Work Truck Challenge included the 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 2017 Ford Super Duty F-250, 2017 Nissan Titan XD and the 2017 Ram 2500.

Spring begins with average gas prices holding steady

(March 21, 2017) Pump prices remain relatively stable, with the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline holding at $2.29 per gallon. This week's average price is down by fractions of a penny compared to one week ago, but has moved one cent higher compared to last month. Drivers are paying 31 cents more per gallon at the pump compared to this same date last year, according to AAA's weekly report.

Drive hard and eat dust: One woman’s recipe for adventure

By Betty Newman
FCA Blog

(March 20, 2017) March is National Women’s History Month, 31 days set aside each year to call attention to the accomplishments of women past and present who chose to step outside what many consider ‘traditional’ gender zones to follow the road less travelled.

When the Ram Truck brand recently held off-road capability testing of the 2017 Ram Power Wagon in Las Vegas, they looked to a team of seasoned off-road experts to help guide them through the demanding course.

Lexus, Buick rank highest in quality of automotive service by J.D. Power

(March 17, 2017) COSTA MESA, Calif. — Quality of automotive service continues to show significant improvement and is driving an increase in overall customer satisfaction, according to the J.D. Power 2017 U.S. Customer Service Index (CSI) Study, released March 16.

Lexus ranked highest in satisfaction with dealer service among luxury brands, with a score of 874. Following in the luxury ranking are Audi (869); Lincoln (868); Porsche (867); and Cadillac (865).

2017 Nissan Rogue SL comes packed with luxury-style features

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(March 16, 2017) The line between entry level luxury cars and well-equipped so-called “affordable” vehicles seems to get more blurred every year as what were once exclusive features in the more expensive segment trickle down the line.

Oh, you may not get all the styling tweaks, and the cachet a luxury logo give you may be missing, but if that doesn't bother you, you may be able to save some bucks by going with the top-of-the-line offering from an “affordable” brand over the luxury choice.

Fuel manufacturers back decision to reopen 2022-2025 mileage standards

(March 16, 2017) WASHINGTON — American Fuel & Petrochemical Manufacturers (AFPM) President and CEO Chet Thompson on Wednesday applauded President Donald Trump's decision to reopen the current evaluation of auto efficiency standards for 2022-2025 light-duty vehicles.

"AFPM is encouraged by President Trump's announcement that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will reopen its midterm review of Model Year 2022-2025 greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for light-duty vehicles.