AutoSmarts

Winter 2007-08

*Hybrid Sales by State:
1. CA: 62,733
2. FL: 12,736
3. NY: 12,137
4. TX: 11,971
5. WA: 9,107
6. IL: 8,970

Hybrid vehicles bring with them Federal tax credit ranging from $250 to $3,000 each. Year-do-date 274,019 hybrid/electric vehicles have sold, and the demand is rising.
(Polk Center for Automotive Studies, Chicago Tribune)

*General Motors introduced new 2 hybrids at the Los Angeles Show : 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe, named the Green Car Journal’s 2008 Green Car of the Year (V8, 21 mpg., 8,200 lbs. towing capacity; 2009 Chevrolet Silverado.

*THE Sacramento Auto Show in November featured hundreds of new models from 36 manufacturers, making the show the largest new car event in Sacramento history. Some of the highlights included the new Equinox Sport compact SUV from Chevrolet, new Malibu and Tahoe hybrids, Audi R8, new Mercedes-Benz C-class, among others. Going green Sacramento included the Toyota “Highway to the Future” Mobile Hybrid Experience, the fastest fuel cell vehicle in the world the Ford Fusion 999 which tops out at 207 mph. For the first time ever the Sac Auto Show introduced its Classic Car and Hot Rod Sale with pre-1973 cars, trucks and cruiser-style motorcycles. Horseless carriages from 1908-1915were also present.

*According to The Truth About Cars web site the 10 Worst automobiles for 2007are: Dodge Nitro, Chevrolet Uplander, Chevrolet Aveo, Chrysler Sebring, Hummer H3, Hummer H2, Chrysler Aspen, Saturn ION, Chrysler TrailBlazer/GMC Envoy/Isuzu Ascender/Saab 9-7X

*The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety has named the following Top Safety Picks: Toyota Tundra (first pickup to earn this award), Audi A3, Honda Odyssey, Subaru Impreza with ESP (only small car)Honda Accord, Honda Element, Hyundai Veracruz, BMW X5, Saturn Vue, 2008 Volvo, BMW X3, Acura RDX, Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX, Honda Pilot, Hyundai Santa Fe, Mercedes M-Class, Volvo XC90, Volvo C70, Saab 9-3 Convertible and Kia Sedona, Subaru Forester with ESP, Honda CRV and Toyota Highlander.

*The most stolen vehicles for 2006: 1. 1995 Honda Civic, 2. 1991 Honda Accord, 3. 1989 Toyota Camry, 4. 1997 Ford F-150 Series, 5. 2005 Dodge Ram, 6. 1994 Chevy C/K1500, 7. 1994 Nissan Sentra, 8. 1994 Dodge Caravan, 9. 1994 Saturn SL, 10. 1990 Acura Integra (“Hot Wheels,” National Insurance Crime Bureau, www. Nicb.org). According to NCIC (National Crime Information Center) for 2006, the total number of vehicles reported stolen in the US were nearly 1.2 million for an estimated value of nearly $8 billion.

*Kelley Blue Book lists five brands for 2008 with the best overall predicted resale values: Volkswagen, BMW, Honda/Acura and Porsche. Rounding out the top 10 are Subaru, Lexus, Infiniti, Audi and Toyota. On the other hand, Detroit-made vehicles made up eight of KBB’s 10 worst resale picks for 2008 models.
*Damage to luxury vehicles carries the highest repair bills; even just for a fender-bender. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, many bumpers do not absorb the energy of a crash, leading to damage to a grille, hood or headlights. The Institute conducted four low-speed crashes on 11 2007 luxury vehicles and found that Infiniti G35 (nearly $14,000) had the highest repair bill. The Acura TL, Mercedes C-class also were high (at more than $11,000), and Lexus IS cost more than $9,500. Only three vehicles sustained less than $6,000 in damage: Saab 9-3, Audi A4 and Lincoln MKZ.

*Tracking color statistics for more than 55 years, DuPont covers trends in color preference in automobiles. After seven years in first place, silver is butting heads this year with white/white pearl. White overcame silver in Japan and is the leader in Mexico, more than doubling the popularity of gray. DuPont anticipates the new black metallic and other color effects will show an increase in popularity over time. Red also continues to gain ground. Customers are looking for “niche” colors and effects, including matte finishes and warm neutrals, says Karen Surcina, color marketing and technology manager at DuPont Automotive Systems. Following the trend of home furnishings and fashion, automobile colors make a fashion statement. In China, the race between silver and black is close; South Korea prefers silver, with white/white pearl close behind. In Europe, black is still the most popular color, with silver close behind. In Brazil, silver is in the lead, with black a close second.

*In 1962 when the first Baby Boomers turned 16, there were 78 million cars and trucks on the road. Today there are 237 million, a three-fold increase, according to the U.S. Highway6 Administration. Cars now outnumber licensed drivers in American households. One in five houses today is built with a 3-car garage.

*Back in the picture for troubled times is the Peace sign. A new product to bring back a popular sign of pop culture, the peace sign is now available from PEACEMAGZ Magnets. Aiming to “Give Peace a Hand,” the magnets are 7-inchs in size, have a hand displaying the two-fingered peace sign. ‘Putting peace back to work,” say the creators, the peace magnets can be found at www.peacemagz.com and sell for $5.

*J.D. Power & Associates announced the results of its most recent Customer Service Index Study and Jaguar came out on top. Based on a 1,000 point scale, Jaguar pulled in 925 points, followed by Buick (918), Cadillac (913), Lexus (913), Mercury (912), Saturn (908), MINI (902), Lincoln (901), Pontiac (900) and Infiniti (899. Industry average was 876.

*The redesigned Cadillac CTS beat out the BMW 328i and Mercedes-Benz C300 in Consumer Reports’ test of upscale sports sedans. Receiving an “Excellent” overall score, CTS now competes with the best German and Japanese sport sedans.

*Toyota Camry wins Autobytel/MyRide.com’s 2008 Consumer Choice Award for the most requested vehicle. Joining Camry in the winning circle are Toyota’s Corolla, Prius and RAV4. Announced at this year’s NADA Convention in San Francisco, Camry pushes Honda Accord and Civic out of first place where they have taken the honors for four years in a row. Autobytel/MyRide.com’s 2007 Consumer Choice Awards Winners included Honda Civic, Honda Accord, Mini Cooper, Nissan Altima, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V, and BMW 3-Series.

*The results of Consumer Reports’ Annual Car Owner Satisfaction Survey has rated the following cars the most satisfying:

Small Cars: Honda Fit, VW Rabbit
Family Cars: Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry Hybrid, Ford Fusion V6 (AWD), Saturn Aura
Large Cars: Hyundai Azera, Toyota Avalon
Upscale/Luxury Cars: Lexus LS 460, Acura TL Type-S, BMW 330i/335i sedan, Infiniti M35 RWD, Lincoln MKZ (AWD)
Sports Cars/Roadsters: Porsche Boxster, Porsche Cayman, Chevrolet Corvette, Mini Cooper S (hatchback), Honda S2000, Porsche 911 Carrera, Mazda MX5 Miata, Audi S4, Mini Cooper (Convertible), Ford Mustang (V8), VW GTI, Mini Cooper (hatchback)
Coupes/Convertibles: BMW 335i (RWD), VW EOS
Wagons/Hatchbacks: Mazdaspeed3
Minivans: Toyota Sienna, Honda Odyssey
SUV’s: Lexus RX350, Ford Edge, Toyota Land Cruiser, Chrysler Aspen (4WD), Hyundai Santa Fe, Toyota RAV4 (V6), Toyota 4Runner (V6)
Pickup Trucks: Honda Ridgeline, Toyota Tundra (V8)

Least Satisfying:

Small Cars: Chevrolet Cobalt (coupe, non turbo), Saturn Ion (sedan), Chevrolet Cobalt Sedan, Chevrolet Aveo sedan
Minivans: Ford Freestar, Buick Terraza, Chevrolet Uplander, Saturn Relay
SUV’s: Chevrolet Trail Blazer (V6 RWD), GMC Envoy (V6 RWD), Suzuki Grand Vitara, Jeep Commander (V6), Chevrolet Equinox, Jeep Grand Cherokee (V6, gas)
Pickup Trucks: Dodge Dakota, Chevrolet Colorado (5 cyl), GMC Envoy (5-cyl), GMC Canyon (4-cyl), Ford Ranger, Mazda B-Series, Chevrolet Colorado (4-cyl), GMC Canyon (4-cyl)