After a long absence, the Fiat 500 has returned to test the American market for A-sized microcars, often referred to as City Cars. The question is whether American motorists are ready for this sized vehicle. Sales are not booming for the smallest cars but are better for the larger B-sized cars such as Honda Fit and Ford Fiesta.
The 2012 Ford Focus Electric has been named as a finalist in the prestigious Green Car of the Year awards although it won't be offered for sale until December. Other finalists include the 2012 Honda Civic Natural Gas, 2012 Mitsubishi i, 2012 Toyota Prius v, and 2012 Volkswagen Passat TDI. The award has become sought after as the automotive industry shifts to more environmentally-friendly powertrain technology.
As states look for relief from financial crunches, exemptions and credits aimed at putting car buyers in hybrids and high-mileage automobiles are becoming harder to find. Some states still offer incentives for pure electric and alternative-fuel vehicles, but tax exemptions and credits for fuel-efficient cars and hybrids have expired in others. J.D. Power reports hybrids account for about 2.5% of market share this year.
Ford received top honors at the recent Texas Truck Rodeo sponsored by the Texas Auto Writers Association. None of the Detroit-3 introduced a totally new truck this year. The auto writers named Ford's EcoBoost turbocharged engine the "Outstanding Feature of Texas."
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia now have anti-texting laws. Most drivers support those laws, but, despite increased awareness about the dangers of texting while driving, some still text and drive. AAA is pushing for all 50 states to adopt texting bans but says public education and enforcement are key in making them work.