June 2018

Volvo poll finds Americans demand less clutter in their cars and homes

(June 29, 2018) ROCKLEIGH, N.J. — An overwhelming number (85%) of Americans are seeking to declutter their lives and spaces, with 91% of Americans feeling better when their homes and vehicles are decluttered and simplified, according to a new survey of Americans conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of Volvo Cars.

Ford, VW examine potential vehicle opportunities

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 28, 2018) The announcement that Ford and VW were looking at opportunities in the commercial vehicle market came as a surprise. Prior to the announcement, there were no indications the two OEMs were talking, much less that they had identified an area of mutual interest.

Edmunds: Strong economy masks auto market challenges

(June 28, 2018) SANTA MONICA, Calif. — So far 2018 has been a strong but inconsistent year for the auto industry, and according to a new in-depth report from Edmunds, the market could be nearing a tipping point.

"The strength of the economy is creating a very thick forcefield for automakers now, but once that starts to weaken, there are a lot of market factors bubbling just below the surface that could really start to slow down sales," said Jeremy Acevedo, manager of industry analysis at Edmunds.

Chevy's number two seller Equinox sheds a few pounds in 2018 redesign

By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 28, 2018) Chevrolet has managed to do with the Equinox what I wish someone, or something, would do for me in 2018, which is reduce my weight by 10 percent. Not that I need to shed 400 pounds, which is what Chevy did in getting the Equinox down to just over 3,300 pounds, but 10 percent of that would get me down to my weight in college. (Quit laughing. I’ll accept 5 percent.)

McLaren CEO calls for new 'weight race' in lightweight technology

(June 26, 2018) Britain can become a world leader in lightweight materials that could help create more efficient future vehicles, Mike Flewitt, the CEO of luxury British sports car and supercar maker McLaren Automotive has said today.

Delivering his keynote speech to automotive leaders and policy makers at the SMMT industry summit in Central London, Flewitt called for a future “weight race” to replace the more traditional “power race”.

National gas price average 12-cents cheaper than Memorial Day

(June 26, 2018) At $2.85, the national gas price average is five cents cheaper than a week ago, 12-cents less than a month ago, but 58-cents more than a year ago. Gas prices have consistently been declining since Memorial Day. On the week, 49 states saw pump prices drop with and motorists in Indiana and Michigan saw double-digit declines, according to weekly statistics by AAA.

Ford's purchase seems smart, but what about underlying problems?

By Christopher A. Sawyer
The Virtual Driver

(June 25, 2018) On the surface, it looks like a smart move. Not only does Ford’s purchase of the Michigan Central Station resurrect a dilapidated eyesore and promise to its former architectural glory, it continues the resurrection of Detroit (“America’s Comeback City” to use the local tagline), and creates a skunkworks for Ford’s “New Mobility” efforts away from the Old Think in Dearborn.

2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn Sport — Winning the pickup war

By Jim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(June 23, 2018) At dealer showrooms now, the 2019 Ram 1500 half-ton pickup has been completely redesigned and is nothing short of spectacular.

A few months ago, we drove the new Ram at its media launch in Scottsdale, Ariz. While we were only able to get driver’s seat time for a few hours at that event, I recently spent an entire week driving the 2019 Ram 1500 Big Horn Sport Crew cab 4X4 for a more comprehensive review.

AAA predicts new Independence Day holiday travel record

(June 22, 2018) ORLANDO, Fla. — A record-breaking 46.9 million Americans will travel 50 miles or more away from home this Independence Day holiday, an increase of more than 5 percent compared with last year and the highest number since AAA started tracking 18 years ago. For the 39.7 million Americans planning a Fourth of July road trip, INRIX, a global transportation analytics company, predicts travel times in the most congested cities in the U.S. could be twice as long than the normal trip, with Tuesday being the busiest day.

GasBuddy finds 70 percent of vehicles on road have at least two recalls

(June 21, 2018) BOSTON — GasBuddy has revealed that 70 percent of vehicles on the road have at least two recalls based on the evaluation of registered Car Profile vehicles in the GasBuddy app. As the country enters National Safety Month’s Driving Week, GasBuddy stresses the importance of checking your vehicle’s recall status to prevent hazardous road conditions.