Category Archives: General Auto News

AAA’s TripTik app reveals nearby gas savings

By
Posted in General Auto News

AAA has announced the release of a new app designed to help drivers take advantage of low fuel prices, as the program reveals the closest gas stations and displays their pricing information.

The company's new TripTik Mobile app is aimed at consumers looking to save every penny possible as some gas prices skyrocket to more than $4 per gallon. Users with an iPhone will be able to download the app for free and use its GPS-integrated capabilities to locate nearby gas stations. The pricing information effectively allows consumers to comparison shop without stopping to check the signs at every station. Additional features allow users to sort by fuel grade and distance.

Also included in the app is support for nearby hotels and restaurants. The program will identify local points of interest and use AAA's nationwide "Diamond Ratings" system to display info about each place.

AAA has released two previous mobile apps in the past – one which showed locations that accepted the AAA discount card and another that integrated with the company's roadside assistance program. Unlike those apps, however, TripTik users don't need to be a AAA member to take advantage.

The new program should help drivers save some money at the pump, but if they want to really save on automotive costs, they may want to make their next purchase at New Jersey State Auto Auction.

Nissan Murano mixes convertible with crossover

By
Posted in General Auto News, Nissan

Some of the more popular models that luxury automakers offer include convertibles and crossovers. Yet Nissan is perhaps the first company to ask "why not both?"

The upcoming Nissan Murano CrossCabriolet, set to debut next month, continues the Japanese automaker's recent trend of thinking outside the box. Whether it's the fully-electric Leaf, boxy Cube or unorthodox Juke, it's safe to say Nissan's recent efforts haven't been lacking in the "bold" department.

Yet the new Murano takes the cake. Upon first glance it might appear to be another luxury crossover, designed to compete with the Lexus RX and BMW 3 Series – and it is. But it's also a convertible, featuring a drop top normally reserved for sporty two-seaters.

"We continue to challenge what people think about what they drive and why they drive what they do," Mike Drongowski, Nissan senior manager of product planning, told Automotive News. "It might not be a typical choice for a product, but it's consistent with who we are as a brand and our history of innovation."

It remains to be seen if the strategy will pay off for Nissan, but the company is pricing the model at $47,300 – so it clearly feels drivers will be willing to shell out for this one.

Drivers interested in a new or used Nissan may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a wide variety of models from the manufacturer and other brands.

Mercedes to open driving school in U.S.

By
Posted in General Auto News, Mercedes-Benz

Mercedes-Benz has announced plans to open a new driving school in the U.S., citing high accident rates among teen drivers as its primary concern.

The automaker previously launched a driving education program for the U.K. in 2009, which was by all accounts successful. Mercedes claims that drivers enrolled in their school passed their driving test on the first try at nearly double the rate of those who did not.

Now, the company is looking to bring the program to the U.S., with the aim of decreasing the rate of teen accidents and thus increasing auto safety. The company believes 90 percent of accidents are due to human error, and points to studies that say teen drivers are four times as likely to die in an accident than adults.

"Despite the dramatic changes in vehicles, highways, and the driving environment over the past 60 years, driver education remains relatively unchanged in the U.S.," said Alexander Hobbach, Senior Manager, Daimler AG. "The skills required to simply get a license do not fully prepare young drivers to meet the demands of the road. Mercedes-Benz recognizes this issue and as a result is creating an educational program for the U.S. that is based on the best teaching methods and tools available."

Drivers interested in a Mercedes or any other vehicle may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, which offers a variety of new and used cars for sale at affordable prices.

AAP revises car seat recommendations

By
Posted in General Auto News

When a couple learns that they're going to be parents for the first time, they'll be suddenly faced with a whole range of new concerns and considerations. One of the more important ones is transportation – new families typically want larger vehicles that offer good safety protection.

While selecting a safe model is important, choosing the right type of car seat is equally critical. Many go by the American Association of Pediatrics' (AAP) recommendations on car seats, and which types are appropriate for certain age groups.

For several years, the AAP said that rear-facing seats were best for children up to one year old. Now, the group is revising that statement, advising parents to keep their children in rear-facing seats up until the age of two, at which time it's fine to switch to a front-facing sit-up model.

The group says that new studies were able to demonstrate how rear-facing seats better protect children by distributing the impact evenly over their body, lessening the chance for serious injury in critical areas like the neck, head or spine.

New couples in the market for a vehicle may want to consider New Jersey State Auto Auction, which features a wide range of safe and well-reviewed models at prices that won't break the bank.

2013 Shelby Mustang could top 600 hp

By
Posted in Ford, General Auto News

There's a reason the Ford Mustang is named after a horse: it's packing plenty of ponies under the hood.

Whether its the Mustang or its chief rival the Chevrolet Camaro, drivers can bet that they'll be getting lots of horsepower out of the massive engines that these cars pack. That goes double for the special editions – with the recently revealed Camaro ZL1 producing a reported 550 horsepower.

Not to be outdone, Ford's next version of the Mustang's Shelby GT500 special edition may be upping the ante even more, according to unidentified insider sources that spoke to Car and Driver. The entire Mustang line is due for an overhaul for the 2013 model year, and the new Shelby will reportedly be coming with a 5.8-liter turbocharged V8 engine that could go as high as 620 horsepower.

The news source believes the price will approach the $60,000 mark, which would make it one expensive Mustang, considering that the V6 editions currently retail for less than $30,000. In addition, the bodywork will likely be restyled to be less retro and more modern.

Drivers interested in a Mustang may want to check out New Jersey State Auto Auction, where they can find an affordable used model. They'll likely need to start saving some green now if they plan on upgrading to the new Shelby in a few years. 

New Hyundai Elantra GLS could threaten Honda’s Civic dominance

By
Posted in General Auto News, Hyundai

The Honda Civic has long been the reigning king of small sedans, in both sales and critical acclaim. Yet South Korean automaker Hyundai has been making waves in recent months with its well-designed vehicles that often come in much cheaper than the competition.

According to CNET, the Civic "should definitely be afraid" of the new Elantra GLS. The news provider was able to get some one-on-one time with the new vehicle, and they came away thoroughly impressed.

Hyundai markets the new Elantra as "the compact car other compact car makers don't want you to know about," and it seems like there's something to the hype. In terms of performance, CNET only preferred the Honda's handling to the Hyundai. The Elantra beats its Japanese counterpart in both pure power and fuel economy. Plus, it comes with a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty, which is the best in the industry.

The interiors of the two vehicles are pretty similar, although the Elantra does have an option for a rearview camera, which isn't offered by Honda.

As tested, CNET reports that the Elantra GLS would have ran them about $20,230 – approximately $3,000 less than a similarly-equipped Civic. There's no doubt that the new Elantra will give drivers great value, but those interested in the vehicle may want to wait until it hits the used car market before committing to a purchase so that they can save even more.
 

Gas-powered models beginning to surpass hybrids for fuel economy

By
Posted in General Auto News

With gas prices sky-high, many drivers in the market for a new or used vehicle are looking for fuel economy above all else. The conventional wisdom might say to buy a hybrid or perhaps even one of the new all electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf or Chevrolet Volt. However, many of the new gas-powered models on the road are actually achieving EPA-rated miles per gallon (MPG) that surpass even their hybrid counterparts.

The Washington Post uses the new Chevrolet Cruze Eco as a prime example of automakers attempting to stretch every last MPG out of a gas-powered vehicle. At 42 miles per gallon, the Cruze Eco actually beats many hybrids, although it falls shy of the 60 mpgs that its brandmate, the Volt, is rated at while running on the combined power of gas and electricity. Still, the Cruze Eco's gas engine is much more appetizing to the American public than worrying about the range limits of the Volt.

"The buzz has been all about electric vehicles and hybrids, but to me, the real buzz should be about the old internal combustion engine," Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com, told the news source. "It ain't dead yet."

Other gas-powered models, like the Ford Focus SFE and Hyundai Elantra, have also been able to crack the 40 mpg milestone, largely because automakers have reduced weight and increased aerodynamics.

Drivers who want to switch to a vehicle with more miles per gallon may want to shop New Jersey State Auto Auction, where they can save money on a car that will in turn save them money at the pump.

GM to unveil new Colorado in Thailand

By
Posted in Chevrolet, General Auto News

General Motors has unveiled the first teaser image of its new Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck, but it may be some time before U.S. audiences get to drive it.

While Chevy's marketing tends to play up the American aspects of its vehicles, the new pickup won't be debuting in North America first – that honor goes to Thailand. The truck will make its world debut at the Bangkok International Motor Show on March 25th.

"Thailand was chosen as the site of the global debut because of the popularity of pickup trucks and the growing importance of the Thai market to Chevrolet," a GM press release says. "In 2010, the pickup truck segment alone accounted for 43 percent of vehicles sold in Thailand. The new Colorado will go on sale in Thailand later this year."

In fact, the truck hasn't even been officially confirmed that it will appear in American showrooms at all, although PickupTrucks.com previously reported that both the Colorado and a new version of the GMC Canyon are on the way.

The new Colorado appears to retain the medium size of its predecessor while also taking some design cues from the Chevy Equinox SUV, which has been a big hit for GM.

Drivers in the market for a pickup truck may want to head down to New Jersey State Auto Auction, which has a wide variety of makes and models available for purchase.
 

AAA highlights top technological upgrades

By
Posted in Ford, General Auto News

AAA has announced its biennial picks for the best new technologies in the auto industry, highlighting some of the improvements that manufacturers have made over the past two years.

"Every model year, automakers find new ways to employ technology in their vehicles to enhance the driving experience," said John Nielsen, AAA National Director of Auto Repair and Buying Services. "While many of the innovations continue to focus on safety and performance, we're also seeing more new technologies that address the environmental impact of the vehicles we drive, which is evident in this year's list."

Some of the top models that the company highlighted on the environmental front included all-electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and plug-in hybrids like the Chevrolet Volt. Other companies making strides in envrionmental technology included Volkswagen and Mercedes-Benz' clean diesel engines and Mazda's start-stop technology.

In terms of safety, the group praised the inflatable rear seatbelts soon to debut on Ford and Mercedes vehicles. It also liked the new "curve control" on the Ford Explorer, which can sense when the SUV is about to rollover and limit the damage.

Although new technology can make driving safer and more enjoyable, it can carry a hefty price tag. Budget-conscious drivers may want to wait till the new features hit the used car market, then snag them for a discount at New Jersey State Auto Auction.

Consumer Reports releases Automakers Report Card

By
Posted in Ford, General Auto News

Consumer Reports has revealed the results of its Annual Automakers Report Card, and while the top and bottom spots remained the same, there was a bit of a shuffle in the middle.

Honda once again topped the list, with the automaker scoring an overall rating of 74. The ratings are compiled after the magazine tests each vehicle at nearly 50 different data points. The scores for each vehicle are then averaged across the entire fleet, giving a ranking for the automaker as a whole.

Despite not nearly generating the sales interest that the major brands do, Subaru was able to earn second place with a score of 73. That beat out the largest automaker in the world, Toyota, which scored a 71 overall.

The most improved automaker was Ford, with the company noting that the brand had made some major jumps in reliability. The manufacturer scored a 67, good enough for fifth place on the report.

Other domestic automakers didn't fare so well. Chrysler was once again in last place with a score of 43, while General Motors was next-to-last at 56. Despite this, the guide did have a few encouraging words, noting that many of the companies' new models were promising, but the older cars dragged their average down.

Drivers interested in any of these brands may want to pay a visit to New Jersey State Auto Auction, where they'll find a wide range of both new and used cars for sale at affordable prices.