Trends

There are almost as many different approaches to the future of automotive fuel and energy supply as there are carmakers, with hydrogen combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells, ethanol, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and a number of permutations of these all in development. Ford thinks they are all just...

A survey conducted by the University of Michigan to determine customer satisfaction levels among the major automotive brands has revealed that the Detroit 3 have slipped slightly after last year’s record result, while Japanese manufacturers Toyota, Lexus and Honda all remained in the top...

High oil prices are causing people to drive less, and many are quick to point out the emissions saved as a result, but the latest traffic figures reported by the NHTSA indicate another savings may be taking place as well - 1,600 fewer road deaths occurred in 2007 than in 2006. Whether it's the...

Carmakers are struggling and the global economy is straining under the weight of high oil prices, but cars haven't been this affordable in nearly 30 years. Calculated by relating the number of weeks it takes for the median family's income to pay for the average new-vehicle price, the quarterly...

A survey conducted by esure car insurance has revealed that almost three-quarters (71%) of British motorists would consider driving an electric car to help combat ‘green’ issues. The survey revealed the differing opinions between younger and older motorists, with those aged under 25 the...

Finding proof of the effect of rising fuel prices on the average American requires little more than a trip to your local used car lot, freshly filled with SUVs and pickups while subcompacts see significant markups. But more evidence of the impact of the rising price of fuel has come in the form of...

After testing a group of compacts and subcompacts, Consumer Reports has judged the Hyundai Elantra SE the best in segment with an ‘Excellent’ rating in the overall road test score. Three other compact cars, the Subaru Impreza, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus, also achieved ‘Very...

The Luxury Institute is a New York-based research firm that traditionally compiles data based on the opinions of America’s wealthy, solely the top 10% of highest earners. The Institute’s latest study, based on the responses of 1,642 wealthy American consumers with an average income of...

The past decade hasn't been a success story for any of the Big Three American automakers, and the past year has been particularly tough. But as new, more fuel-efficient models and revised union contracts come into play starting in 2010, Detroit thinks it has a future worth looking forward to. Sales...

Although fuel prices in the U.S. are low by global standards, recent price rises have brought the cost per gallon up by nearly 25%, precipitating strong change in the vehicle preferences of many Americans. In a pattern that intensified sharply in the past two months, buyers have been moving away...

A new consumer-opinion based awards list has been created that picks the top vehicle from eight different categories, with the decision making based on the input received from new car buyers on an online rating system run by Edmunds. Categories include Coupes, Convertibles, Sedans, Wagons, SUVs...

Despite widespread safety campaigns and harsher penalties for not abiding to seatbelt laws, a new study has found that more than two thirds of all teenagers killed in vehicle accidents at night were not wearing a seatbelt. Though seatbelt use in the U.S. is rising slowly – 82% last year, up...

With no end in sight to rising fuel prices, Americans more than ever are switching from fuel-heavy SUVs and sporty V8s to economical four-cylinder sedans and compacts. Fuel economy has quickly become the top priority for new car buyers and according to a new survey nearly eight in ten Americans...

Road taxes have come under increasing scrutiny these days, what with congestion charges, speeding fines and average-speed cameras all annoying motorists to no end. It's especially bad for people who drive little but must still pay the same taxes as those who drive long distances every day - they...

Update: Despite passing a City Council vote earlier this month, New York’s proposed $8 congestion charged has been axed after it was voted against by state legislators yesterday. Assembly speaker Sheldon Silver in Albany announced the plan wouldn’t be taken up because it was deemed an...

Influential auto resource Kelley Blue Book (KBB) and its marketing research team have compiled a list of vehicles based its consumer perception data. Researchers look at carmaker’s achievements in creating and maintaining brand attributes that consumers look for when buying a new car, and is...

If you asked someone whether they would be willing to help the environment, more often than not they would give you a resounding yes as their answer. Ask them if they would be willing to pay extra for fuel to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and nearly half would say no. That’s the...

It seems that these days your driving skills tend to follow a parabolic curve - for those of you who aren't mathematically inclined it means you have next-to-zero skills when you’re in your teens, gradually get better during mid-life and then the skills fade away as you approach the twilight...

A recent survey of 1,350 drivers has found that male drivers are more likely to get distracted while driving than their female counterparts. Respondents were given a list of common distractions and were asked to admit which of the occurrences on the list they were guilty of. The biggest overall...

Last week we were treated with Consumer Reports list of the worst 11 cars of the year plus its annual Top Picks list. Today the influential magazine has released its Top Picks of American autos and as expected GM has once again dominated the field although there were a few surprises as well as some...