Category Archives: prices

Tokyo Based Fujikura Guilty of Auto Parts Price Fixing

Posted on 23 April 2012 by Ken Zino

To date, including Fujikura, eight executives and five companies have been charged and have pled guilty in the department’s ongoing antitrust investigation into the auto parts industry. Three of the companies have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to pay criminal fines totaling more than $748 million. Seven of the executives have pleaded guilty and have been sentenced to serve a total of more than 122 months in jail. Continue reading →

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Acura 2013 ILX Compact Starts at $26,795 this May

Posted on 20 April 2012 by Ken Zino

The hot selling Civic costs several thousand dollars less, but if you think this car is cool then you will fork over the extra money for what Acura hopes will be perceived as “smart luxury.” Continue reading →

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U.S. Fuel Consumption Drops in Q1 as High Prices Hurt

Posted on 10 April 2012 by Ken Zino

Total U.S. liquid fuels consumption fell by an estimated 850,000 bbl/d (4.5%) in the first quarter of 2012 from the same period last year, the Energy Information Agency announced this afternoon. However, hard-pressed consumers did not see that drop in demand reflected in the price of fuel since the energy markets do not always follow academic economic theory.
Continue reading →

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Have Gasoline Prices Peaked in the U.S.?

Posted on 9 April 2012 by Ken Zino

With the official short-term energy outlook due tomorrow from the federal government, some are predicting that gasoline prices in the U.S. have already peaked and will be heading back down again. Continue reading →

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Gasoline Prices not Shifting Buyers to Small Cars

Posted on 9 April 2012 by Ken Zino

With U.S. gasoline prices up more than 25 cents compared to a year ago to a national average of $3.94 a gallon, a new survey claims that SUVs remain the first choice among potential buyers as their vehicle replacement choice. Continue reading →

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Ford Fusion Start-Stop System is Optional at $295

Posted on 2 April 2012 by Ken Zino

The Fusion and the smaller Focus are aimed right at the heart of the passenger car market long dominated by the Japanese Three – Toyota, Nissan and Honda – whose compact and mid-size models – Camry, Corolla, Accord, Civic, Altima -historically provide a lower cost of ownership. Recently Hyundai has made large inroads in the same so-called D- and C-car segments by under pricing major competitors by $1,000 or more. Continue reading →

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TBC Begins Tender Offer for Shares of Midas at $11.50

Posted on 29 March 2012 by Ken Zino

The offer appears positive for Midas shareholders since share prices have ranged from a recent 52-week high of, well, $11.50 – raising the distinct possibility of insider trading – to a 52-week low of $5.08. Currently Midas is trading at $11.47. Midas made $0.28 per share during 2011 or $4 million on revenue of $184 million. For this dismal performance, its top executives were compensated $1.7 million, which left no money to pay a dividend to shareholders. Directors and officers of Midas own more than 10% of the stock, which could result in a challenge to the takeover. Continue reading →

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Toyota Prius Plug-In Gets California and Federal Subsidies

Posted on 27 February 2012 by Ken Zino

Prius Plug-in is Toyota’s first application using a lithium-ion battery pack, which it claims increases its overall fuel economy and has charging times of only 2.5 to 3 hours using a standard 120-volt outlet or 1.5 hours using 240v, which would cost at least $1,000 for a home installation.

The largest Japanese automaker, and hybrid technology leader, resisted using lithium ion batteries for years. However, political and marketing pressure, as well as government regulations favoring the controversial technology, has forced Toyota to embrace the plug-in concept, which is years or more from practical use unless you use the new “green math” to justify its steep price. Continue reading →

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2012 Toyota Prius C Hybrid Priced from $19,610 to $25,140

Posted on 13 February 2012 by Ken Zino

Though relatively high prices for a sub-compact car in the U.S., Toyota is betting that the hatchback with an EPA-estimated 53/46/50 city/highway/combined mpg along with Toyota’s unquestioned leadership in hybrid vehicles will be sufficient to make the car a success. Notably, the highway rating leads all cars except plug-in hybrids, which benefit in the ratings from credits when they run on electricity. Even the base Prius C model is loaded with equipment as an added incentive to spur sales. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Volt Hybrids for China arrive at Shanghai

Posted on 30 December 2011 by Ken Zino

Due to a combination of tariffs and incentives for locally-produced Chinese vehicles – at the core of China’s job creating industrial policy – the Michigan built Volt (more than $40,000 in the U.S. without government incentives) will be at about a $19,000 per hybrid disadvantage, not good news for UAW employees who build the Volt in Hamtramck. Continue reading →

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Happy New Year – BMW Ups U.S. Prices and Delivery Fees

Posted on 23 November 2011 by Ken Zino

Year-to-date, U.S. sales of the BMW brand are up 12.9% at 199,552 compared to 176,736 sold in the first ten months of 2010. BMW is on track to displace Lexus as the number one Luxury brand in the U.S. because of Toyota’s earthquake induced production disruptions. Continue reading →

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Camaro ZL1 Coupe Priced at $54,995 for 2012 Model

Posted on 15 November 2011 by Ken Zino

The Camaro pony car is capable of speeds up to 184 mph and can traverse the pavement from a rolling start to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds, according to Chevrolet. As such, the Camaro ZL1 coupe presents strong competition not only for the performance versions of the Shelby Mustang, GT 500, but also the Cadillac CTS-V coupe (rated at 556 horsepower or 415 kW), which makes the coupe just as fast, arguably roomier and starts at $64,090. For the record, Camaro has consistently outsold the Mustang since its introduction Continue reading →

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Ford Taking Orders for 2012 Focus Electric at $39,995

Posted on 3 November 2011 by Ken Zino

No lease is available, so a typical payment to buy – with $4,000 down for 48 months – is almost $800 per month at Ford’s 7% interest rate. The gasoline Focus starts at just over $17,000. This means that the sales volume of the EV will likely be limited to a few enthusiasts. And Focus Electric also faces tough competition from the Nissan Leaf, which can be leased for about $400 a month. Continue reading →

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California Institutes $15,000 EV Subsidy from Taxpayers

Posted on 31 October 2011 by Ken Zino

This light commercial EV subsidy is part of a larger program – or folly, according to critics – which will it’s hoped speed the adaptation of commercial electric vehicles. Heretofore, fleet operators who keep stringent track of costs have not been willing to invest in EVs because of their absurdly high costs and limited range – in the EV Transit’s case, ~$50,000 and 50 miles. Continue reading →

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2012 Honda Insight Hybrid Ups Fuel Economy at Under $20,000

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Honda’s latest attempt to catch Toyota Prius, the undisputed hybrid sales leader, results in an updated 2012 Insight hybrid with revised exterior and interior styling, as well as an improved EPA fuel economy rating of 1 mpg. The new Insight’s city/highway/combined EPA fuel economy rating of 41/44/42 mpg, is up from 40/43/41 on the outgoing Insight hybrid model.

More significant is the price as Insights are just now arriving in dealerships. Honda continues to offer the highest EPA fuel economy rating of any new vehicle currently available with a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) starting under $20,000, which is really $19,120 for the base Insight delivered, plus state and local taxes. Continue reading →

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