It’s becoming more apparent that the fuel economy estimates on new-car windows are often very rough estimates. But the knowledge that these numbers are inflated may not necessarily hurt sales.
Oil
Why Gas Prices Aren’t Soaring
American drivers have come to expect that strife in the Middle East equates to a spike in gas prices at home. It looks like we’re about to bomb Syria. And yet gas prices haven’t jumped — and analysts say they probably won’t. In fact, all signs indicate that prices at the pump will plummet, perhaps by more than 20%, in the months ahead.
2014 May Turn Out to Be the Year of the Diesel Engine
Some auto insiders are saying that 2014 is shaping up as the Year of the Diesel, with the number of diesel-fueled cars sold in the U.S. set to double over the next 12 months or so, and even more growth expected down the road.
Increasingly, the Prototypical ‘Cop Car’ Today Is an SUV
When Ford decided in 2011 to discontinue the boat-like Crown Victoria—long the standard for police cruisers and taxi cabs alike—police departments were forced to go shopping for a new model to take on patrol. And more and more nowadays, police say that the most useful and sensible “car” for them is actually an SUV.
‘Your Mileage May Vary’: Truer Than Ever with Today’s Hybrid Cars
For months, owners of Ford’s C-Max Hybrid have complained that they weren’t getting anywhere near the 47 MPH promised on the car’s window. This week, the automaker said that these customers just may have been onto something.
Falling Electric Car Prices Are Saving — Or Destroying — the EV Market
Ford is the latest automaker to drop prices on its electric cars, slicing $4,000 off the 2014 Focus EV. The move will undoubtedly succeed in getting more drivers to take a second look at the car. But how long can Ford—and other automakers slashing EV prices—keep on losing money with each electric car sold?
Gas Prices Forecast to Soar During Peak Summer Vacation Period
Analysts are saying that it will soon cost nearly 10% more to fill up your gas tank. And wouldn’t you know it: The predicted spike in gas prices will coincide with the vacations of millions of Americans.
Let’s Hope You’re Not Trying to Sell an Electric Car Anytime Soon
In May 2012, the average trade-in value for a 2011 Nissan Leaf was around $25,000. A year later, that same car’s value had fallen to roughly $15,000.
All of a Sudden, There Aren’t Enough Electric Cars to Keep Up with Demand
Electric vehicles like the Nissan Leaf and Honda Fit EV used to languish on dealership lots for months. A pricing war with aggressive incentives and cheap lease deals has changed all that.
MPG Rising: When Regulations Drive Up Prices—And Consumers Don’t Mind
If there’s one thing Americans would seem to hate more than regulations, it’s regulations that directly result in them spending more money out of pocket. So why are so many consumers fans of new government-mandated automobile …
Is the Price of Gold Signaling an Economic Slowdown?
Gold and other commodities seem to be signaling that the U.S. economy is sluggish and will get weaker still.
2013 Gas Prices: Even Less Predictable Than Usual
What can drivers expect going forward in terms of gas prices? Probably more of the same—meaning more unpredictability, not necessarily more price drops.