Here's the Thing

Explosion of e-commerce calls for safety features that deliver



(May 1, 2024) Equipping the light vans that fulfill America’s online orders with four safety features could prevent or mitigate close to 4 out of 10 fatal crashes involving such vehicles, a new study from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety shows.

New-vehicle retail sales increase in April, but fleet sales decline



(April 30, 2024) Total new-vehicle sales for April, including retail and non-retail transactions, are projected to reach 1,304,600 units, a 0.9% decrease from April 2023 on a selling day adjusted basis, according to a joint forecast from J.D. Power and GlobalData. April 2024 has 25 selling days, one fewer than April 2023.

2024 Nissan Z NISMO — Return of the samurai



By David Boldt
MyCarData

(April 28, 2024) It was some 20 years ago when Nissan invited me (and many, many others) to its Nissan 360 press event, which brought together — in and around San Francisco — Nissan’s global fleet for, if you will, a fleet meet-and-greet. There were dozens of highlights, including the chance to both see and drive many of the Nissan models not available in these United States. But my personal best was driving a NISMO-modified 350Z on a winding route into Northern California’s Marin County.

Hyundai Tucson gets major power boost with hybrid drivetrain



By Paul Borden
MotorwayAmerica.com

(April 27, 2024) Hyundai continues to add to the top-selling vehicle in its fleet by putting a gas-electric hybrid drivetrain in the N Line trim of the 2024 Tucson. The HEV setup gives the Tucson a significant boost in power over gasoline-powered models while eliminating the need to plug it in for charging. Sure, you don’t get the 33 miles or so of all-electric driving that the PHEV offers, but that is a small price to pay for not having to dilly-dally around with charging sessions.

Small SUVs struggle with new IIHS front crash prevention test



(April 26, 2024) The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety is updating its vehicle-to-vehicle front crash prevention test to address crashes that occur at higher speeds and those in which the struck vehicle is a motorcycle or large truck. Only one of the first 10 small SUVs evaluated earns a good rating.

National average gas price dips two cents



(April 26, 2024) With domestic gasoline demand decidedly in the doldrums and the cost of oil retreating, the national average dipped two cents since last week to $3.65.

2024 Mercedes-Benz GLS 580 — The joy of Mercedes performance



ByJim Prueter
MotorwayAmerica.com

(April 26, 2024) The enormous and exquisite luxury Mercedes GLS 580 checks all the boxes of what you crave in an SUV answering the concerns of high-net-worth consumer's automotive trappings. With three spacious rows of seats, the cabin is a tour de force of advanced technological wonderment, an interior that looks stately with gorgeous materials and fine craftsman fit and finish and a drive quality where road noise and turbulence is difficult to recall and rather nothing more than a rumor.

Washington state auto loan delinquency increasing fastest



WalletHub study identifies
how states rank in delinquency

By Adam McCann
WalletHub financial writer

(April 25, 2024) Falling behind on debt payments can cause long-term credit score damage and cost you a lot of money. You'll rack up costly late fees even as your interest continues to build up. When it comes to auto loan debt, delinquency also has another dire consequence — after a long enough period of time, your car may even be repossessed.

Cox Automotive's five least expensive EVs in the first quarter



(April 24, 2024) Big discounts to move electric vehicles off dealership lots means consumers have a selection of vehicles priced below $41,000, according to data compiled by Cox Automotive. Automakers and retailers offered huge incentives — sometimes five-digit discounts — to sell EVs that lingered on dealership lots for more than 100 days in the first quarter of 2024.

Beat the heat with Hyundai's innovative Nano Cooling Film



Film blocks external heat energy
emitting internal heat to the outside


(April 23, 2024) SEOUL — Hyundai has launched the world’s first application of Nano Cooling Film, a revolutionary vehicle window tint that offers a significant improvement in interior cooling performance compared to conventional tint films. Nano Cooling Film maximizes heat dissipation by incorporating a nanostructure with excellent heat transfer characteristics. The innovative transparent film is expected to be more effective in hot and dry climates, as the cooling effect is optimized at higher outdoor temperatures.