Debate Over NHTSA Safety Plans Heating Up

For nearly three decades, automakers and regulators concentrated on how to make crashes more survivable. The result is even low-priced compact cars have as many as 10 air bags, full complements of three-point seat belts, and body structures designed to dissipate crash forces. Highway fatalities in the U.S. have fallen to the lowest level in six decades. NHTSA is looking for the next crash-avoidance technology that is ready to be pushed into all cars.

 

Study Finds Diesels Better Value Despite Higher Price Tag

A Carnegie Mellon study says diesel models enjoy better values than their gas counterparts, even with higher sticker price. Diesels have lower operating costs and higher resale values over time.

 

January Used-Vehicle Sales Close In on 2 Million Units

TrueCar.com projects January used-vehicle sales will come close to 2 million units, which is 5% up over January 2010 but a 30% dip from December. On the new-vehicle side, sales are expected to jump 18% year over year.

Compact Cars Could Become Next Midsize in America

While compact cars are the largest selling car segment in the global marketplace, in America they?ve constantly followed behind midsize cars. That?s starting to change as automakers bring domestic versions of hot cars in other markets to the US ? including the Ford Focus, Chevrolet Cruze, Hyundai Elantra, and 11th generation Honda Civic.

 

Slower Than Expected Launch for Nissan Leaf

While 20,000 people have placed preliminary orders for the anticipated Nissan Leaf, U.S. deliveries have only been in the hundreds, and getting up to normal production won't happen until April. The challenge for Nissan is that it is working with all-new product platform and an entirely new powertrain technology - one that has never been put into truly high-volume production before.