The rate at which people file insurance claims for theft is highest for versions of the 2007-09 Cadillac Escalade, a luxury SUV, followed by the Ford F-250 crew pickup, Infiniti G37 luxury car, and Dodge Charger with a HEMI engine. Theft rates for these vehicles are 3 to 5 times as high as the average for all vehicles. These are the latest theft loss results for passenger vehicles 1 to 3 years old published by the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI), an affiliate of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The Dodge brand is upping the ante in the fast-growing full-size sport-utility vehicle (SUV) and crossover segments by introducing the new 2014 Dodge Durango at the 2013 New York International Auto Show. This new SUV is built on the Dodge brand’s pillars of performance, style and innovation, delivering a new standard state-of-the-art class-exclusive eight-speed automatic transmission. That powertrain improves fuel economy up to 9 percent, the Chrysler Group’s award-winning. The 2014 Durango also features Uconnect Access easy-to-use touchscreen technologies and the Dodge brand’s signature racetrack LED tail lamps to driving enthusiasts in the market for a three-row family performance SUV.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/60823-new-2014-dodge-durango-ultimate-no-compromise-suv
Just in time for the holiday gift-giving season, the Ram Truck brand is launching a new photography book with National Geographic titled, “The Farmer in All of Us: An American Portrait.” The book is available for purchase now for $45 at www.ramtrucks.com/outfitter and will be in retail stores beginning late spring 2014.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64038-ram-truck-national-geographic-year-of-the-farmer-book-photography
Six of 13 small cars recently evaluated by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety earn the TOP SAFETY PICK award, and none earn a poor rating in any of 4 tests. This is a turnaround from a few years ago when small cars struggled to earn top safety ratings. The new tests include hybrids and gasoline-only models that are among the most fuel-efficient vehicles available in the U.S. market.
The ratings are based on performance in front, side, rollover, and rear impact evaluations. Cars that earn the top rating of good in each test and have available electronic stability control (ESC) qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK. Winners are the 2012 Ford Focus and Honda Civic, along with the 2011 Hyundai Elantra, Lexus CT 200h hybrid, Nissan Juke, and Toyota Prius hybrid. The Civic, CT 200h, Elantra, Focus, and Prius have at least one version with a government fuel economy rating of at least 40 miles per gallon on the highway. The Dodge Caliber, Honda CR-Z and Insight hybrids, Nissan Sentra and Versa, Scion xD, and Suzuki SX4 also were rated but didn’t earn TOP SAFETY PICK.
The latest small overlap front crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) reveal a range of performance among many of the best-selling small cars in the U.S. market. Of the 12 models evaluated, half earn a good or acceptable rating and qualify for the IIHS TOP SAFETY PICK+ award.
The 2-door and 4-door models of the Honda Civic are the only small cars to earn the top rating of good in the test. IIHS evaluated the Civics earlier this year and released the results in March. The Dodge Dart, Ford Focus, Hyundai Elantra and 2014 model Scion tC earn acceptable ratings.
Think “muscle car” performance, and images of speed and power are more likely to come to mind than crash tests and safety ratings. Because no one buys a sports car to drive in the slow lane, the best all-¬ around occupant crash protection is crucial. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) recently put a trio of iconic sports coupes through their paces, and unlike more sedate sedans, none earns the scores needed to clinch a TOP SAFETY PICK award.
IIHS evaluated 2016 models of the Chevrolet Camaro, Dodge Challenger and Ford Mustang in the full battery of crashworthiness evaluations. The Mustang comes closest to earning TOP SAFETY PICK, while the Camaro falls shortin one category and lacks an available front crash prevention system. The Challenger is most in need of improvement.
To qualify for TOP SAFETY PICK, vehicles must earn good ratings in the small overlap front, moderate overlap front, side, roof strength and head restraint evaluations and have a basic-¬rated front crash prevention system. To qualify for the Institute’s highest award, TOP SAFETY PICK+, vehicles must earn good ratings in the five crashworthiness tests and an advanced or superior rating for front crash prevention.
A group of four minivans recently tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for protection in small overlap front crashes shows some of the worst possible outcomes for this type of crash, with only one vehicle performing acceptably.
The Nissan Quest, the Chrysler Town & Country and its twin, the Dodge Grand Caravan, all earn poor ratings. The exception to the disappointing pattern is the 2015 Toyota Sienna, which earns an acceptable rating. It joins the Honda Odyssey, which last year earned a good rating in the test, in the ranks of TOP SAFETY PICK+ winners.
The expert editors from Kelley Blue Book’s www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today name the 10 Coolest New Cars Under $18,000 (http://www.kbb.com/car-reviews-and-news/top-10/10-coolest-cars-under-18000-2012/). In this annual list published by Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com, the editors ranked their top choices and named the 2013 Dodge Dart as this year’s No. 1 affordable new ‘Cool Car.’
The economy is at a near-standstill and gas prices are through the roof, but regardless of financial constraints or economic hardships, the simple fact remains that car shoppers want their new ride to be cool. That is why now, more than ever, kbb.com’s annual list of the 10 Coolest Cars under $18,000 is in tune with the times, providing a great selection of cars that are not only affordable, but also fun.
To view Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/56270-kelly-blue-book-kbb-com-10-coolest-new-cars-under-18000-2012
The Dodge brand is targeting multicultural millennials1 with a Spanish/English ad campaign for the 2013 Dodge Dart featuring global music sensation Pitbull. The rapper, who utters his signature “¡Dale!” (“Let’s do this!”) phrase in the spots, also composed original instrumental music called “Drop 2 the Bottom” for the commercials: “How to Change Cars Forever” and “How to Break Through and Succeed.” The campaign reflects the Dodge brand’s focus on targeting multicultural millennials for the compact car segment.
To view the Multimedia News Release, go to http://www.multivu.com/mnr/62466-dodge-targets-multicultural-millennials-2013-dodge-dart-campaign-pitbull
