NADAguides.com has redesigned its Certified Pre-Owned Car Center and the New and Used Car Reviews Center. Visitors to the sites can get updates on incentives and rebates for certified vehicles. They can also find pros and cons of different vehicles more quickly in the review section.
The SmartDrive Safety program used in-vehicle recorders to capture video, audio and vehicle telematics data. Events like sudden stops, swerves and crashes trigger recording and experts evaluate the data to determine causes and recommend corrective actions. This data is published quarterly and shows disturbing proof that various distracted driving behaviors lead to many crashes.
Ford's global electrification plan depends on optimizing its lithium-ion batteries. It is doing so by testing them in the lab and in a test fleet which it monitors and reprograms via a secure wireless network.
The heavy-duty pickup market has heated up again with work truck sales and major improvements by Ford, GM and Dodge. PickupTrucks.com compared 3/4- and 1-ton models in rigorous tests and recommends the 2011 Ford F250 with gasoline engine, 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500HD with diesel engine, and GMC Sierra Denali 3500HD with diesel engine.
Used vehicle sales are expected to have gone up about 5 percent in August over August 2009, says CNW Research, and mainly among independent dealers. Franchise stores could see a decrease of around 1.2 percent.