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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: SUVs

SUVs stories: 16 news summaries
ANALYSIS

 Death Traps 
 Vs. Gas Guzzlers 
 Split Automakers 

Are there any good choices for consumers in the car size debate?

Apr 21, 09 11:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - In the push to curb America’s fuel intake, consumers must often make a choice between safety and fuel economy, Joseph White writes in the Wall Street Journal. The real problem, though, may be that small cars have to share the road with SUVs. “A much bigger issue is... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fuel efficiency • Smart Car • SUVs • road safety • Insurance Institute of Highway Safety

(Newser) - Despite predictions of its demise, the SUV is alive and well at the New York auto show this year, Dan Carney writes for MSNBC. Sure, more fuel-efficient models of classic 4x4s make up the majority of the cars on display, but reports that the gas guzzler is passé, emanating from... More »

MORE ABOUT:
General Motors • fuel efficiency • Land Rover • Mercedes Benz • crossover • hybrid car • SUVs • New York International Auto Show • Subaru • off road vehicles • sport utility vehicle

SUV, Pickup Sales Rebound as Price of Gas Drops

But big trucks are becoming scarce as automakers retool for fuel efficient models

Nov 3, 08 9:08 AM CST
(Newser) - Gas prices are down and the sales of SUVs and pickup trucks are accelerating, albeit only into second gear, reports the Wall Street Journal. As gas edges closer to $2, buyers are picking up bargains on the big gas guzzlers dealers couldn’t give away couple of months ago.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fuel efficiency • auto industry • car dealers • SUVs • pickup trucks

 Top Cars We Should Scrap 

Coming soon to a compactor near you

Oct 26, 08 4:59 AM CDT
(Newser) - The possibility that one of Detroit's Big Three automakers is headed for the scrap heap left US News and World Report wondering which cars Americans could live without. Here are some top candidates:
  • Jeep Commander: This boxy model gets 16 mpg and it shows: sales are down 55%.
... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fuel efficiency • auto industry • SUVs • US automakers • cars • automobile

 Smart Car Scores Big on Cute 

Tiny rides now trendy, even for big car people

Jul 18, 08 9:45 AM CDT
(Newser) - Mercedes’ Smart cars are selling brilliantly—the US waiting list is 30,000 long—and the tiny two-seater's performance at the gas pump isn't the whole story. Yes, they’re the most fuel-efficient non-hybrids around, but only barely—some Hondas and Toyotas almost match their 33mpg. There's also the cute... More »

MORE ABOUT:
fuel efficiency • Mercedes Benz • auto industry • Smart Car • SUVs

 Sinking SUV Values Slap Drivers 

Resale values plummet as gas price goes up

Jul 2, 08 10:19 AM CDT
(Newser) - The end of America's love affair with the SUV is turning into an expensive divorce, the Washington Post reports. Drivers wanting to get rid of the gas-guzzlers as pump prices hit $4 a gallon are losing a lot of money on the sales—if they can even find buyers. Some... More »

MORE ABOUT:
vehicles • SUV • auto sales • SUVs • used cars

Chinese Embrace SUVs, Hummers as Status Symbols

Gas-guzzlers are popular in Beijing, if not in the West

Jun 18, 08 7:00 PM CDT
(Newser) - Demand for gas-guzzling SUVs keeps growing in China, where the vehicles have become status symbols. Even Hummers are selling fast, despite sky-high oil prices, the Financial Times reports. "There are plenty of other sources of pollution than cars, and life is short so we should enjoy ourselves anyway,"... More »

MORE ABOUT:
China • SUVs • Hummer

ANALYSIS

 High Gas Prices
 Are Good for Detroit 

Demand rising for electric alternatives, so makers, legislators must seize moment

Jun 9, 08 12:25 PM CDT
(Newser) - Sky-high gas prices are finally pushing top US auto-makers to turn out fuel-efficient vehicles, and both Detroit and Washington should keep the pedal down to make a permanent change in how, and what, Americans drive, the US top car salesman tells the Wall Street Journal. "You have to tell... More »

MORE ABOUT:
energy • gas • General Motors • Honda • Nissan • auto industry • electric • hybrid car • SUVs • fuel costs • cars • AutoNation

Gas Tops $4 per Gallon
After Stable Week

Prices had stabilized—until last week

Jun 8, 08 7:15 PM CDT
(Newser) - Americans are paying more than $4 a gallon for gas for the first time, Reuters reports. The national average reached $4.005 per gallon today, up from $3.67 last month and $3.10 last year. Prices had stabilized last week, until crude oil futures jumped to record levels. In... More »

MORE ABOUT:
driving • gas prices • AAA • crude oil • SUVs

SUVs Plunge in Value as Drivers Turn to Smaller Cars

Downsizing is in as pump prices start to pinch drivers

May 24, 08 8:21 AM CDT
(Newser) - SUVs are falling out of fashion fast as gas prices go through the roof, CNN reports. As drivers downsize to more fuel-efficient vehicles, gas-guzzlers are filling up used-car lots—but there aren't many buyers. The biggest SUVs—like the Cadillac Escalade, Ford Expedition, and Chevy Suburban—are dropping in value... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Ford • SUV • gas prices • auto industry • vehicle • SUVs • drivers • pickup trucks

 GM's SUVs May Get Smaller 

Firm considers switch to car chassis

May 9, 08 2:55 PM CDT
(Newser) - General Motors has long used truck chassis as the foundation of its largest SUVs: the Escalades, Tahoes, and Yukons. But with fuel costs going nowhere but up and stricter fuel standards on the horizon, GM is considering switching those models to lighter car-sized underpinnings when they come up for redesign... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • General Motors • fuel efficiency • SUV • SUVs • cars

 Small Is the New Big 

Automakers turn attention to the subcompact, abroad and at home

Mar 20, 08 2:36 PM CDT
(Newser) - Ever-increasing gas prices, environmental concerns and demand in developing countries are leading worldwide small-car sales past those of larger counterparts, Newsweek reports. With cars like India’s Tata Nano set to overhaul the auto industry by offering new mobility to millions, US automakers are scrambling to retool their businesses to... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Chrysler • India • General Motors • Detroit • fuel efficiency • Ford • SUVs • Tata Motors • small cars • Tata Nano

Are Car Roofs Tough Enough?

US regulators consider stricter strength-to-weight standard

Mar 3, 08 2:55 PM CST
(Newser) - Three-quarters of vehicles on the road today would fail a proposed tougher standard for automobile roof strength, reports the Wall Street Journal. The current standard, unchanged since 1973, requires that car roofs withstand a force equivalent to 1.5 times the vehicle’s weight, but it exempts those more than... More »

MORE ABOUT:
car crash • auto industry • car safety • SUVs • car roof strength • rollover • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration • roof crush • cars

Nissan Murano Top Pick
for Safety Among SUVs

Hummer's H3 does not fare well in industry tests

Feb 26, 08 2:20 PM CST
(Newser) - The 2009 Nissan Murano snagged the best safety rating out of 10 midsize SUVs in industry-run crash tests, the Detroit Free Press reports. The Murano was the only one to receive the top "good" rating in front, side, and rear crashes. The Mazda CX-7 and CX-9, and the Mitsubishi... More »

MORE ABOUT:
General Motors • Nissan • Kia • car safety • SUVs • Hummer • Murano • whiplash • cars

Isuzu Says Sayonara to America

Japanese automaker bailing as passenger sales fall to nearly nothing

Jan 31, 08 1:14 PM CST
(Newser) - Japanese automaker Isuzu, which brought the US such treasures as the SUV and fictional car salesman Joe Isuzu, is closing up shop in the US, thanks to its nearly non-existent sales. Of the 16.1 million cars sold last year, just 7,098 were Isuzus. Said actor David Leisure, who... More »

MORE ABOUT:
auto industry • SUVs • Isuzu • Joe Isuzu

Calif. Sues EPA Over Emissions

15 states join fight to limit greenhouse gases from cars and trucks

Jan 2, 08 2:21 PM CST
(Newser) - California, joined by 15 other states, filed suit today against the Environmental Protection Agency for rejecting its plan to limit greenhouse gases on cars, trucks, and SUVs. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said the Bush administration is "ignoring the will of millions" by ruling that Congress' recent boost in fuel-efficiency standards... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Congress • California • greenhouse gases • Arnold Schwarzenegger • Clean Air Act • vehicle emissions • Environmental Protection Agency • trucks • Federal government • SUVs • carbon emissions • cars

16 Stories


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