Mazda in Japan says it has found a way to store energy from hybrid regenerative braking in a capacitor. Regenerative braking systems use an electric motor or alternator to generate electricity as the vehicle decelerates. Mazda's new i-Eloop system can be fully charged in seconds and is expected to save about 10% on gas.
Edmunds.com thinks the November's SAAR numbers will increase over October to reach 13.6 million. Thanksgiving weekend brought higher sales than initially expected, driven by bargain-hunting consumers looking for OEM incentives and used-car deals, bringing sale-savvy customers out to the lots.
A J.D. Powers study found that many owners are not happy with their vehicle's built-in navigation system. Most disliked are systems that try to combine navigation with audio, climate control and other features. Owners emphasize the importance of ease of use.
LeaseTrader.com has discovered to its surprise that significantly more people are closing deals through their website without ever test driving their new vehicles. In fact, they say the number of people skipping the test drive has more than doubled since 2007. According to LeaseTrader.com spokesman John Sternal, "I think a lot of people feel the shorter-term commitment that comes with assuming the remainder of someone else's lease kind of limits the downside risk."
Every year people are injured or killed because they are unprepared or overconfident on snowy, icy roads. Rules to remember for safe driving in winter weather include having proper equipment, driving slower, and do not tailgate or use cruise control. If weather conditions are too bad, pull over to a safe spot or stay home.