June 2018

Ford gets it right with Mustang mid-cycle refreshening for 2018

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 9, 2018) Having moved it into its sixth generation with a makeover for 2015 that carried over the retro design theme first revealed a decade earlier, Ford has given the iconic Mustang a mid-cycle refreshing for 2018.

Nissan 370Z earns top honors at SAMA's Topless In Miami event

(June 7, 2018) KEY BISCAYNE, Fla. — Nissan’s popular 370Z roadster was selected as the Topless Vehicle of the Year at the eighth annual Topless in Miami Presented by Haartz competition conducted by the Southern Automotive Media Association (SAMA) at the Ritz Carlton Resort.

The 2019 Sport Touring model also was voted tops in its class, Compact/Sporty, for a second consecutive year and third time overall.

Edmunds finds car shoppers still buying big vehicles despite gas prices

(June 7, 2018) SANTA MONICA, Calif.  — Following a three-year period of relative stability, gas prices reached their highest point in four years in May, with a gallon costing motorists an average of $2.90. According to a new trend report released by Edmunds, car shoppers aren't letting these rising costs deter them from buying the cars they want — notably, trucks and SUVs.

"On the surface it may seem as though rising gas prices could be the catalyst to flip the market from SUVs back to passenger cars, like we saw in 2008," said Jeremy Acevedo, Edmunds manager of industry analysis.

GasBuddy urges motorists to prepare for above average hurricane season

(June 6, 2018) BOSTON — GasBuddy, a smartphone app connecting drivers with their Perfect Pit Stop, offers ways to prepare for the anticipated “above-average” Atlantic hurricane season, in order to avoid panic, fuel-shortages, and over-spending, based on findings from last year’s hurricane efforts.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts a 75 percent chance that the 2018 Atlantic hurricane season will be near- or above-normal, with 5 to 9 hurricanes, of which 1 to 4 will be major, classified as category 3 or higher.

Edmunds and Parents Magazine name '10 Best Family Cars of 2018'

(June 6, 2018) NEW YORK — Parents magazine and the car shoppers from Edmunds have revealed their 2018 list of the 10 Best Family Cars, a resource for families considering a new car purchase. For the 11th consecutive year, the parenting and car experts from both organizations partnered to evaluate more than 300 vehicles, narrowing down the list to the 10 models that offer the best value, safety features, driving performance, and family-friendly elements on the road.

IT security for the car of the future subject of joint project

(June 5, 2018) MUNICH, Germany — The more electronics steer, accelerate and decelerate cars, the more important it is to protect them against cyber-attacks. That is why 15 partners from industry and academia will work together over the next three years on new approaches to IT security in self-driving cars.

The joint project goes by the name Security For Connected, Autonomous Cars (SecForCARs) and has funding of EUR 7.2 million from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Infineon is leading the project.

Auto loan interests rates at nine-year high, Edmunds reports

(June 4, 2018) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — Auto loan interest rates are expected to hit record highs not seen since 2009, according to Edmunds. The annual percentage rate (APR) on new financed vehicles averaged 5.75 percent in May, compared to 5.04 percent in May 2017 and 4.17 percent in May 2013.

While it may seem counterintuitive, Edmunds analysts say this spike in auto loan interest rates is having a positive influence on the automotive market — at least for now.

Pickup trucks help drive average transaction price higher

(June 1, 2018) IRVINE, Calif. — The analysts at Kelley Blue Book today reported the estimated average transaction price for light vehicles in the United States was $35,635 in May. New-vehicle prices increased by $1,187 (up 3.4 percent) from May 2017, while falling $145 (down 0.4 percent) from last month.

"Average transaction prices rose a healthy 3 percent this month and remain strong even as new-vehicle demand is expected to falter in 2018," said Tim Fleming, analyst for Kelley Blue Book.