autoMedia Auto News Blog : Government

Toyota Announces Unintended Acceleration Fix

admin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 01:28:00 GMT

In a safety drama that has unfolded since summer, when a high-profile case of unintended acceleration brought floor mat issues to national prominence, Toyota has been the latest automaker in damage control mode. Today, Toyota made a significant step forward in addressing the acceleration complaints with a detailed plan for reducing the risks in eight Toyota and Lexus vehicles. In late September, Toyota issued a safety advisory to warn owners of specific models to remove their floor mats, pending further investigation and the development of corrective measures. In the interim, some dealers have been zip-tying mats in place. In early 2010, dealers will be trained how to reshape the accelerator pedal to reduce the risk of floor mat entrapment. For the ES350, Camry, and Avalon models involved, the shape of the floor surface underneath will also be reconfigured to increase the space between the accelerator pedal and the floor. Any factory all-weather floor mats in recalled vehicles will be replaced by a new design to further reduce entrapment risks. The floor mat advisory involves: 2007 to 2010 Toyota Camry, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Avalon, 2004 to 2009 Toyota Prius, 2005 to 2010 Toyota Tacoma...(read more)

All-new Ford Police Interceptor Coming in 2011

admin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:22:00 GMT

Ford has announced a replacement for venerable Crown Victoria full-sized sedan will see service in 2011 as a police interceptor. Though details are slim, Ford has declared that it will have a purpose-built car ready for duty when Crown Vic production ends in late 2011. Ford has owned the police cruiser market for years, commanding 75 percent of the U.S. business. Chevrolet and Dodge have sold cars in spurts, but both the Impala and Charger have compromises compared to the roomy, rear-drive Crown Vic. Each year, Ford sells approximately 45,000 police vehicles, plus even more taxis. In developing the new car, Ford engineers have prioritized key vehicle attributes, such as safety, performance, durability, driver convenience, and comfort. The final shape and specs will be revealed next year, in ample time to court municipal business and allow for third-party outfitters to develop the essential gear to equip the sedans. This will also provide highway hooligans a chance to commit a new grille to memory. In the meantime, read " Drive Lika a Cop, Save Driving Tips ." See our last Ford Crown Victoria review ....(read more)

NHTSA Sets Record Straight; Toyota Investigation Not Over

admin — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:32:00 GMT

Toyota Motor Sales seems to have been too enthusiastic in its response to a recent National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) report when it issued a press release Monday stating “No defect exists in vehicles with properly installed floor mats.” Toyota had claimed that NHTSA had completed its investigation into unintended acceleration with certain models, finding that " ... the only defect trend related to vehicle speed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become trapped near the floor by out-of-position or inappropriate floor mat installations." (See our post “ NHTSA Says No Defect In Recalled Toyota, Lexus Vehicles .”) NHTSA has come out with a strong rebuke, calling the Toyota release “inaccurate and misleading.” In its own statement, the government safety organization said: “NHTSA has told Toyota and consumers that removing the recalled floor mats is the most immediate way to address the safety risk and avoid the possibility of the accelerator becoming stuck. But it is simply an interim measure. This remedy does not correct the underlying defect in the vehicles involving the potential for entrapment of the accelerator...(read more)

NHTSA Says No Defect In Recalled Toyota, Lexus Vehicles

admin — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 03:29:00 GMT

Toyota was strapped in the national hot-seat after a tragic accident in August involving a Lexus ES 350 was blamed on sudden, unintended acceleration. A floor mat from a Lexus RX 400h SUV was wrongly fitted to the sedan and suspected as being a key factor in that incident. Toyota Motor Sales has begun mailing letters to owners of certain Toyota and Lexus models regarding the potential for an unsecured or incompatible driver's floor mat to interfere with the accelerator pedal and cause it to get stuck in the wide-open position. (Read " Toyota, Lexus Recalling 3.8 Million Vehicles to Inspect Floor Mats .") More significantly, Toyota reports that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ( NHTSA ) has completed its investigation and found that no defect exists in vehicles in which the driver's floor mat is compatible with the vehicle and properly secured. After conducting an extensive technical review of the issue, including interviews with consumers who had complained of unwanted acceleration, NHTSA concluded that " ... the only defect trend related to vehicle speed control in the subject vehicles involved the potential for accelerator pedals to become...(read more)

August Auto Sales Show Shopping Success

Brandy Schaffels — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 23:40:00 GMT

By all the reports we've seen from the Department of Transportation and other automotive blogs, the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program was "wildly successful" at driving consumers towards dealerships. With nearly 700,000 vehicle transactions utilizing "Cash for Clunkers" trade-ins, not to mention standard purchases that didn't include the government-subsidized rebates, it's clear that manufacturers benefited from a giant sales infusion during the month of August.

When comparing sales figures for August 2009 against August 2008, Ford was the most successful American manufacturer with an increase of 16.99 percent (182,149 units sold) for all of Ford Motor Company and a 21.25-percent jump for just the Ford brand itself. Toyota Motor Company and American Honda were up 6.41 (225,088) and 9.93 (161,439) percent respectively. Unfortunately, even with the incentives, some manufacturers still sold fewer cars than they did a year ago, notably Nissan North America was down 2.93 percent (105,312 units sold), Chrysler was down 15.43 percent (93,222), and General Motors was down 20.19 percent (246,479) from a year ago. (Many thanks to John Neff at AutoBlog for his monthly sales report, from which these figures are derived.)

However, if you compare these figures to the sales reports from last month or even the month before, the impact of the CARS program becomes much more apparent (see chart below). Even though the percentages of sales only look good for a few of the manufacturers when comparing July 2008 to July 2009, watch what happens when you compare August 2009 to July 2009 and June 2009: Everybody wins with sales increases ranging from 17.37 percent for Ford, 36.50 percent for Chrysler, and 39.59 percent for General Motors all the way up to an increase of 60.76 percent for Honda, 70.97 percent for Toyota, and a whopping 80.64 percent for Nissan from over two months ago.

Ironically, while DOT Cash for Clunker reports make it look as if the imports were the biggest winners in the C4C transactions, a report at AutoBlog says that "Ford came out as the clear winner in the Top Ten list," based on additional analysis by Edmunds.com. According to their story, "Ford captured three of the top four positions. The Toyota Corolla, which is at the top of the government's list, falls to number five on Edmunds' list behind the F-150, which didn't even make the government's Top Ten. The Chevy Silverado didn't make the government's Top Ten either, but it's number eight with Edmunds."

As far as getting a clear cut answer from all of this, Mark Twain summed it up well when he said: "There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics." A skilled analyst can make a list of numbers demonstrate anything he wants it to show, but one thing is certainly clear: auto sales for all manufacturers have shown a definite trend upwards in the past few months, and as a result of the additional demand, many manufacturers have increased their production schedules and have brought back some employees who had been laid off in recent months.

It will be interesting to see what the next few months show!

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com Contributing Editor

Brand	August 2008	August 2009	Increased Volume % over one year ago	July 2009	Increased Volume % over one month ago	June 2009	Increased Volume % over two months ago
American Honda	146,855	161,439	9.93	114,690	40.76	100,420	60.76
Chrysler Group LLC	110,235	93,222	-15.43	88,900	4.86	68,297	36.50
Ford Motor Company	155,690	182,149	16.99	165,279	10.21	155,195	17.37
General Motors	308,817	246,479	-20.19	189,443	30.11	176,571	39.59
Hyundai	41,130	60,467	47.01	45,553	32.74	37,943	59.36
Kia	25,065	40,198	60.38	29,345	36.98	26,845	49.74
Nissan North America	108,493	105,312	-2.93	71,847	46.58	58,298	80.64
Subaru	18,932	28,683	51.51	21,839	31.34	18,620	54.04
Toyota Mo Co	211,533	225,088	6.41	174,872	28.72	131,654	70.97

Driving While InTEXTicated: Put Down Your Device & Drive!

Brandy Schaffels — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 04:15:00 GMT

Just a year ago, there was very little legislation regulating hands-free and text-free use while driving. At the time, most of the legislation limiting the use of handheld devices while driving was limited to novice drivers, or bus drivers, and only a handful of states deemed it a ticketable offense.

Currently, according to http://handsfreeinfo.com/ only a handful of states require hands-free cellphone use, but more than a dozen states have taken action against driving and text messaging, some in conjunction with handheld cell phone bans. On January 1, 2009, California was the first to enact a no-texting law; Tennessee, Utah, and Virginia enacted texting laws in July 2009, and now 14 states restrict texting while driving. Recently, Utah and New Hampshire also adopted new limits on distracted driving. Additionally, more than 20 states restrict minor or novice drivers from using handheld devices while driving.

In the meantime, if common sense isn't enough to make you put your device down and drive, here's a British public service video that's graphic enough to encourage you to just leave the device at home before you even get into your car. Remember those "Red Asphalt" films that used to be shown as part of driver's education? This is the modern-day version, meant simply to demonstrate how dangerous it is to text while driving.

Not for the squeamish, it starts with a carefree carload of teenage girls chattering and doing what young girls do best: flirting with boys. The driver is texting, and within moments disaster strikes in gruesome glass-shattering, bone-breaking, blood-spattering, drama. The video is more than four minutes long, and agonizing to watch.

Some ask if the ad's graphic imagery goes too far? Screaming teens and blood spatter? Dead parents? Lifeless babies? Jaws of life and emergency helicopters? As the parent of a 16-year-old who hopes to be driving soon, I encourage all parents to watch it with their young drivers. In fact, anybody who has ever sent a tweet or sms while moving should also watch it.

Plain and simple: I'd rather watch it on YouTube, than see it unfold in traffic lanes around me.

Brandy Schaffels, contributing editor

autoMedia CARnival 8/28/09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:25:00 GMT

It's the week ending August 28, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each.

Once again, the biggest news involves the end of the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program AKA "Cash for Clunker" rebates, culminating in 690,114 transactions valued at $2.88 billion, with stories galore on its "wildly successful" outcome. LeftLaneNews reports on some of the downfalls of the program, saying the clunkers' Web site crashed several times, resulting in a bottleneck of applications. Moreover, only about a third of dealers have received their first clunkers check, leaving many dealerships with cash flow problems. Consumer Reports shares the environmental impact, saying the average new car bought with the rebates got 9.2 mpg more than the average clunker traded in, for an annual average fuel savings per driver of 277 gallons of fuel or about $720.

Pizza magnate Papa John Schnatter has finally been reunited with his Camaro. In celebration, he gave away nearly 36,000 free pizzas. Click here to read the detailed story of how Jalopnik helped make it happen -- and if you want, you can even browse the gallery of photos snapped by Camaro owners when they used their car as the ultimate coupon.

You wake up in the morning and suddenly everyone is driving on the "wrong" side of the road. Sound freaky? Well, that is exactly what is going to happen in Samoa on September 7th of this year. All Cars All The Time predicts this move will be an epic fail. The Wall Street Journal seems to agree. We suggest travelers stay away until they get their drivers retrained.

Are we there yet? Jaime Case and Chris Hodges hopped into a Fusion sedan provided by Ford, and took off on a six-week pre-wedding road trip around the country to see friends and family prior to signing their marriage certificate. Well, they've finally tied the knot, apparently the road trip is nearly over, and to celebrate the couple plans to change their names.... to Ford. Jeez, I hope Ford lets them keep the car after all that!

Get this: AutoBlogGreen.com suggests watermelon juice could be the next great automotive fuel, saying there's enough watermelon juice available to brew 2.5 million gallons of ethanol, which would displace up to 15 percent of corn or molasses, cut down on water usage, and supply needed nitrogen to the mix. Seems like the perfect use for the 360,000 tons of watermelons left to rot and spoil each year!

Chrysler and Nissan have decided to part ways, scrapping three joint-vehicle programs originally intended to fill yawning gaps in their respective line-ups. With Nissan officials recently telling TheDetroitBureau.com they were still open to working with their Detroit counterpart, it appears that the announcement was heavily influenced by Chrysler's new parent, the Italian automaker Fiat. It also appears Nissan is the loser in the latest developments. A separate agreement calling on Nissan and Chrysler to share transmission remains unchanged.

AutomotiveTraveler.com has snagged spypix of the upcoming 2011 Ford Fiesta -- only not the little Euro hatchback version we've seen so many Fiesta Agents driving! This article features several remarkably clear road shots of the four-door sedan version destined to arrive in American dealerships in the second quarter of 2010. I'd like one in magenta, please?

We all hate sitting in traffic, and in the Los Angeles area, it's notoriously bad. AutoBlog.com shares the results of a study that demonstrates having a GPS system with real-time traffic can save drivers four days per year and reduce emissions by 21%!

If you're writing a research paper on the history of electric vehicles, then look no further than cleancartalk.com which shares everything you ever wanted to know -- but were afraid to ask -- about the electric car. With detailed info from its origins in the 1830s to modern-day options, this article is good reading for green gearheads.

Mark Tapscott may very well be THE founder of the Carnival of Cars concept, and he had the wisdom to include ME in one of his first editions, nearly three years ago! If you want to keep up with Tapscott's current content, favorite him at Examiner.com

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

CARS Program Declared 'Wildly Successful'

Brandy Schaffels — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:00:00 GMT

Barely a month after The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program was first enacted, the second leg of the pivotal program also known as "cash for clunkers," wrapped up boasting nearly 700,000 car sales and improved fuel efficiency.

In a statement released by U.S. Department of Transportation, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood declared the program "wildly successful" citing not just the number of vehicles sold, but also good news for the environment. The average fuel economy of the vehicles traded in was 15.8 miles per gallon and the average fuel economy of vehicles purchased was 24.9 mpg - a 58 percent improvement helped by the fact that 84 percent of consumers traded in trucks and 59 percent purchased passenger cars.

According to the report released today, cars purchased under the program were, on average, 19% above the average fuel economy of all new cars currently available, and 59% above the average fuel economy of cars that were traded in. This means the program raised the average fuel economy of the fleet, while getting the dirtiest and most polluting vehicles off the road.

All in all, it appears the program has served its purpose, as according to a preliminary analysis by the White House Council of Economic Advisers, the CARS program will:

Boost economic growth in the third quarter of 2009 by 0.3-0.4 percentage points at an annual rate thanks to increased auto sales in July and August.
Will sustain the increase in GDP in the fourth quarter because of increased auto production to replace depleted inventories.
Will create or save 42,000 jobs in the second half of 2009. Those jobs are expected to remain well after the program's close.

"This is a win for the economy, a win for the environment and a win for American consumers," said Secretary LaHood. The dollar value of the 690,114 vehicle transactions presents a total dollar value of $2,877.9 million! Broken down, the ten states to benefit the most from these purchases are (based on dealer voucher requests):

California..............$326,822,000
Texas....................$183,776,500
New York .............$156,292,000
Florida..................$146,565,000
Illinois...................$143,613,000
Pennsylvania........$138,651,500
Ohio .....................$136,267,000
Michigan...............$132,407,500
New Jersey...........$103,375,500
Virginia.................$98,523,500

After the stampede of sales ends, the Department of Transportation is now augmenting a 2000-person team to process dealer rebate applications.

See our previous reports on "Top 10 Trade-Ins and Purchases" and "What Automaker Sold the Most Cars?"

Learn even more from "Cashing in on Clunkers."

By Brandy Schaffels, autoMedia.com contributing editor

Cash for Clunkers – What Automaker Sold the Most Cars?

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:41:00 GMT

The Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program, known as “cash for clunkers,” has ended. Both government and industry are struggling to emerge from the paper trail left behind by the sales frenzy that saw $3 billion in federal incentives vaporize in just a few weeks. Preliminary figures released this week show that 84 percent of trade-ins under the program are trucks, and 59 percent of new vehicle purchases are cars.

Consumers were drawn to fuel-efficient models, averaging a 9.2 mpg improvement from the clunker to the new vehicle. Looking at the top 10 most popular purchases, the list is dominated by thrifty, compact sedans such as the Toyota Corolla, Honda Civic, and Ford Focus. Further, hybrid vehicles accounted for 4.5 percent of new vehicles purchased under the program compared to 3 percent of all new vehicle sales in June 2009. Interestingly, more than ¾ of those buying a hybrid were replacing an SUV or truck.

But the key question is, what automakers most benefited from the sales? While the Department of Transportation points out that 54 percent of the top 10 vehicles sold were manufactured in the United States, the sales breakdown shows that that import companies Toyota and Honda captured a significant portion of clunkers business, with General Motors leading the domestic brands.

Cash for clunkers new-vehicle sales share

19.2% Toyota
17.7% General Motors
15.0% Ford
13.2% Honda
8.3% Chrysler
7.8% Nissan
6.8% Hyundai
3.8% Kia
2.4% Subaru
2.3% Mazda
1.9% Volkswagen
0.5% Suzuki
0.4% Mitsubishi
0.4% Mini
0.2% Smart
0.1% Volvo
<0.1% All other

See our previous report on the Top 10 Trade-Ins and Purchases.

Learn even more from “Cashing in on Clunkers.”

Hot Wheels: The Most Stolen Vehicles of 2008

admin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 02:13:00 GMT

The National Insurance Crime Bureau's (NICB) has released its annual “hot wheels” report on the most stolen vehicles, revealing a list of older, high-volume models. Certain models of older cars and trucks are popular with thieves because of the value of their parts. In addition, older models are less likely to have factory security systems, such as an engine immobilizer, that could deter theft. (Read “Car Theft Prevention Tips - Keep your Vehicle from being Stolen.”)

The preliminary 2008 FBI Uniform Crime Report (UCR) shows that vehicle theft is on pace to record a decrease of 13.1 percent from 2007 numbers. That would make 2008 the fifth consecutive year of declining vehicle thefts. Moreover, if the preliminary figures hold total thefts for 2008 would be below 1 million vehicles--the lowest annual total in over 20 years.

The most-stolen cars of 2008

1994 Honda Accord
1995 Honda Civic
1989 Toyota Camry
1997 Ford F-150 Pickup
2004 Dodge Ram Pickup
2000 Dodge Caravan
1996 Jeep Cherokee/Grand Cherokee
1994 Acura Integra
1999 Ford Taurus
2002 Ford Explorer

To prevent theft, NICB recommends:

Locking your car. Sounds simple, but it is a deterrent. Thieves prize convenience, stealth, and speed—none of which a locked car provides.
Warning device. A security system with a visible and/or audible warning is effective. Best bet is a system with a blinking light, so thieves don’t bother your car.
Immobilizer. "Kill" switches, fuel cut-offs, and smart keys are extremely effective.
Tracker. A GPS-based tracking system that is monitored by the police, such as LoJack or a telematics system like Onstar can hasten vehicle recovery.

Attn Shoppers: Cash for Clunkers Ends Monday

admin — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:53:00 GMT

All good things must end. The first phase for Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) saw $1 billion in federal car-sales stimulus drained in less than two weeks. Congress quickly approved $2 billion to keep the momentum going, with Obama signing into law on August 9th. Now, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced the cash for clunkers program will come to a close on Monday, August 24th at 8 p.m. EDT.

“This program has been a lifeline to the automobile industry, jump starting a major sector of the economy and putting people back to work,” Secretary LaHood said. “At the same time, we’ve been able to take old, polluting cars off the road and help consumers purchase fuel efficient vehicles.”

As of today, the CARS program has recorded more than 457,000 dealer transactions worth $1.9 billion in rebates.

John McEleney, chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), issued the following statement:

“Today, the Administration announced the submission deadline for all ‘cash for clunkers’ applications. Regardless of when the transaction is consummated, the application must be submitted before the deadline to be considered for funding.

“However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has advised NADA that any applications submitted prior to the deadline and then rejected may still be funded if the applications are subsequently corrected (even if the corrections are submitted after the deadline). This opportunity to cure the application is an essential element of the wind-down of the program.”

Dealership inventory is quick thinning many towns, even as factories ramp up overtime to deliver small, fuel-efficient vehicles in before the funds run out. There is a definite race against the clock for all involved to take full advantage of this unique program, and car shoppers shouldn’t delay.

Learn about the so-called “cash for clunkers” program from our guide. And research year-end clearance models in our new car buyer’s guide and reviews.

Use the free autoMedia dealer quote tool to have dealers compete for your business.

Cash for Clunkers: Obama Formalizes $2 Billion Extension

admin — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 01:24:00 GMT

President Obama has signed into law H.R. 3435, a bill that extends the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) with $2 billion more in funding. This bill doubles the original $1 billion in funding that sparked a new car sales wave. Late Friday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) announced that 245,384 CARS credits had been requested, totaling $1.03 billion. The extension came just in time to continue the offer through the weekend. (See: “Cash for Clunkers: Senate Approves $2 Billion Extension.”)

Obama said, “Now, more American consumers will have the chance to purchase newer, more fuel-efficient cars and the American economy will continue to get a much-needed boost. ‘Cash for clunkers’ has been a proven success: the initial transactions are generating a more than 50 percent increase in fuel economy; they are generating $700 to $1000 in annual savings for consumers in reduced gas costs alone; and they are getting the oldest, dirtiest and most air-polluting trucks and SUVs off the road for good. Businesses across the country – from small auto dealerships and suppliers to large auto manufacturers – are putting people back to work as a result of this program.”

From the initial sales rush, dealer lots have seen the inventory of their most fuel-efficent cars sold down. For those late-comers to the program, there will be fewer choices of year-end models. (Read: "Cash for Clunkers – Top 10 Trade Ins, Purchases.") It is important for shoppers to not only research their selections, but work to get their first-choice model, rather than compromise. After all, it somewhat defeats the purpose if you don’t buy the four-cylinder you wanted and go with the V-6, instead. Remember, dealers can search regional inventory and have a car transported to their shop. Consider using either a car-locator feature on the manufacturer site or cast a wide net in seeking dealer quotes online to ensure you find the car you want.

Still can’t find what you want? In some cases, the 2010 models are coming later this month, such as several Toyota models.

Research new vehicles in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide. Use the free autoMedia dealer quote tool to have dealers compete for your business.

autoMedia CARnival 8/7/09: This week in the auto blogs

Brandy Schaffels — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 17:00:00 GMT

It's the week ending August 7, and we've browsed our favorite automotive blogs all week long to gather a collection of what we feel is the highlight from each. The biggest news this week continues to be discussion of Obama's Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) program, as websites discussed the outcome of the program's first week, as well as plans for its next installment.

Thanks to AutoBlogGreen for the latest update clarifying the mysterious status of the Car Allowance Rebate System legislation, telling us it looks set to continue for at least another month. Apparently, the Senate confirmed the House's $2 billion funding of the incredibly popular program yesterday in a 60-37 vote, Obama is expected to sign it into law soon, and the money should last through Labor Day. Note: If you're considering making a purchase based on CARS rebates, don't delay, as it's not expected to be extended again.

A report at Edmunds Auto Observer, which was heavily based on information obtained from a Hyundai press release, states that these new purchases could result in a 59-percent fuel economy improvement between the new and old vehicle of the early clunker trades. In fact, according to their report, Hyundai estimates individual fuel consumption will decrease by 275 gallons per year, reducing fuel costs by nearly $680 annually at current gas prices. According to Hyundai's calculations, this first round of trade-ins could potentially decrease annual fuel consumption across the U.S. by 69 million gallons, reducing spending by a total of nearly $170 million on gasoline and cutting CO2 emissions by more than 600,000 metric tons.

A deluge of car shoppers purchased nearly 185,000 vehicles within the first week of activity: Consumer Reports shared data showing what participating consumers were trading in and then buying with their rebate dollars. As expected, the vehicles most often cashed in are popular SUVs and pickup trucks, with small and midsized sedans dominating the new-car purchases. They also include lists of the top vehicles purchased (Toyota Corolla was the number one most purchased car) and the top ten vehicles traded in (Ford Explorer 4WD wins that dubious honor).

With nearly all gas-electric hybrid cars qualifying for the Cash for Clunkers vouchers, hybrid sales in July grew to 3.55 percent of the new car market--its largest market share ever. According to HybrdCars.com, new car dealers sold 35,429 hybrids, with more than half of the sales coming from the Toyota Prius. Hybrid sales jumped by 35 percent in July compared with last month and a year ago--while sales of conventional new vehicles rose 15.4 percent for the month and were down 13 percent from July 2008.

Finally, there's been lots of greenwashing on this subject, but Bill Basore over at AutomotiveTraveler has the courage to explain, in painful detail, all the reasons why the Cash for Clunkers program is bad. While many consumer and industry insiders may quietly agree with him, nobody has written anything that so clearly explains why it's so clearly bad. Plus, all the videos demonstrating how they disable what appear to be perfectly reliable cars are just tragically sad.

Sick of Cash for Clunkers news? Okay, let's move along....
We already know those snarky guys over at Jalopnik love cars. They love movies, too. Would it surprise you to hear they also love movies about cars? Well, we all know there are some really great car flicks out there, as well as some really pathetic car flicks. Click this link to view Jalopnik's list of 12 of the greatest car flicks of all time. Or click this link to view their list of 12 of the worst.

If you're one of those folks who's always on the move, check out this article at The Detroit Bureau explaining a new generation of wireless technology that provides Internet access via cellular data networks for devices in a moving vehicle. With in-car internet service like this, your kids may soon start asking, "Already?" rather than, "Are we there yet."

Automotive journalists drive a lot of cars. And since most of that time is spent sitting in the driver's seat, certain things tend to annoy them more than others. AutoBlog has compiled a slideshow of interior annoyances, gripes, and grievances. Not everyone will agree with all the choices, but some of them are especially problematic. What do you think?

I hate to report it myself, so I'll let the folks at MotorTrend.com say it: The Chevy Camaro got a 4-star crash test rating in front driver and passenger tests. :( Now that the NHTSA put the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro through four crash tests, the Mustang has another minor selling point over its main rival: Compared to the Mustang coupe's five stars all around, the Camaro only received five stars for the side driver and rollover tests. According to the article, the Camaro continues to outsell the Mustang, and in July, 7113 Camaros were sold to 6686 Mustangs.

The 15th Annual Woodward Avenue Dream Cruise is taking place next weekend! Are you going? Whether you'll be there or not, you'll want to check out this collection of billboards that Chevrolet has commissioned to be displayed in the Detroit area as part of the festivities. Happy Cruising!

Thanks for joining us for this week's autoMedia.com CARnival! Have you got something of interest you want us to include in a future carnival? Then fill out our online form so we can be notified of your interesting entry to our weekly blog CAR-nival. Check back next week for another installment--until then, have a great weekend!

Brandy Schaffels, Contributing Editor

Cash for Clunkers: Senate Approves $2 Billion Extension

admin — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 01:49:00 GMT

In a last-minute vote before August recess, the U.S. Senate approved H.R. 3435, a bill that extends the Car Allowance Rebate System (CARS) with $2 billion more in funding. The bill was passed with 60 yeas and 37 nays. It now goes to President Obama for signing into law.

Obama has been a strong proponent of the cash for clunkers extension, and it is expected that he will swiftly put pen to paper. Government officials had forecasted that the initial CARS funds would have run dry this Friday. It is estimated that upwards of 500,000 clunkers could be traded in and replaced with more fuel-efficient, and likely safer, vehicles as a result of this continuation.

The original program has exceeded expectations, fueling a massive sales rush over the past few days. Buyers have been exchanging older, worn-out SUVs and pickup trucks for fuel-efficient small and midsized cars. Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors have claimed 45 percent of the CARS sales during this period. (See “Cash for Clunkers – Top 10 Trade Ins, Purchases.”)

"Our customers and dealers appreciate Congress' help in keeping the program's momentum going and providing the stimulus to put more clean, fuel-efficient vehicles on the road. CARS is one program that has given consumers, the economy and a vital industry a much needed boost," said GM Sales Vice President Mark LaNeve.

Car shoppers may find dealerships have a dwindling supply of the choicest models, as the auto industry transitions to the 2010 model year. Many new models will be shipped to dealers this month for those who can wait, or are willing to reserve a vehicle in advance. It is important for consumers to research their purchase. History shows these buyers tend to hold on to a vehicle for a long time – best to make sure it is one that will serve their needs for many years to come.

Research new vehicles in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide.

Cash for Clunkers – Top 10 Trade Ins, Purchases

admin — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:14:00 GMT

The CAR Allowance Rebate System (CARS), popularly known as “cash for clunkers,” is widely regarded as a success, and now we have further proof. In “Cars for Clunkers Works, Time for a Sequel?” we chronicled the July sales that were buoyed from the program. We now have more detailed information on what vehicles were purchased, with refined figures by brand.

Thus far, 83% of trade-ins under the program are trucks, and 59% of new vehicle purchases are cars. Nearly half of new vehicles purchased under the program were from the Big 3. Detroit’s share in this program (45%) is equivalent to their overall share in the auto market (about 45%) – a couple points less than indicated in published reports yesterday.

Looking at the product mix, the trade ins are all traditional, high-volume models from domestic brands. The popular purchases are from several brands, skewing toward the imports. On average, the new models boast 63% better fuel economy than the models turned in.

A whopping 184,304 vehicles have been exchanged through this program, with car buyers benefiting from $775.2 million in credits. The program is still in effect, with some money remaining. The Senate is expected to pass a $2 billion extension to the program, and automakers and their suppliers are ramping up in anticipating.

So what are people buying? Below are the cash for clunker Top 10s.

Top 10 Trade-in Vehicles

Ford Explorer 4WD
Ford F150 Pickup 2WD
Jeep Grand Cherokee 4WD
Jeep Cherokee 4WD
Dodge Caravan/Grand Caravan
Ford Explorer 2WD
Chevrolet Blazer 4WD
Ford F150 Pickup 4WD
Chevrolet C1500 Pickup 2WD
Ford Windstar

Top 10 New Vehicles Purchased

Toyota Corolla
Ford Focus
Honda Civic
Toyota Prius
Toyota Camry
Hyundai Elantra
Ford Escape FWD
Dodge Caliber
Honda Fit
Chevrolet Cobalt

New Vehicles Manufacturers

18.7% - General Motors
17.9% - Toyota
16.0% - Ford
11.6% - Honda
10.6% - Chrysler
7.0% - Nissan
6.6% - Hyundai
3.8% - Kia
2.3% - Mazda
2.2% - Subaru
1.9% - Volkswagen
0.4% - Suzuki
0.3% - Mini
0.3% - Mitsubishi
0.2% - Smart
0.1% - Volvo
0.1% - All others

Research new vehicles in the 2009 new car buyer’s guide. Learn even more from “Cashing in on Clunkers.”