As gas prices around the US continue to average less than $2.50/gallon, a new survey suggests most consumers expect the price to quickly jump back up.
Respondents to the Consumer Federation of America survey (PDF) expect prices at the pump to reach $3.20 in in the next two years — a 50-percent rise over current prices — and skyrocket to $3.90 by 2020.

The report also suggests many buyers are factoring their gasoline price predictions into their next vehicle purchase, with the vast majority noting that mileage will be “important” in their next purchase. More than half say the mpg rating will be “very important” in deciding which model to buy.

“There’s a good reason why today’s car buyers still believe fuel efficiency is important — they understand that gas prices always go back up,” said CFA director of public affairs, Jack Gillis.

Despite the promising outlook, some automakers appear to be shifting their pricing strategy to woo the segment of buyers who are more concerned with today’s gas prices. Ford has reportedly slashed the prices of its Fusion Hybrid and Energi packages by approximately $900, according to CarsDirect, though the adjustment could be related to last year’s efficiency revision that cut 6 mpg from the Fusion Hybrid’s highway rating.

“Clearly consumers want and are buying more fuel efficient vehicles,” Gillis added. “Those manufacturers who stay on the road to 54.5 mpg by 2025 will be the best-positioned to take advantage of this consumer demand. Manufacturers who fall short of the standard, or push back during the mid-course review, do so at their own peril.”

Texas may be the next state to approve Tesla’s direct-sales model.
The company is currently barred from selling directly to consumers in the Lone Star State, however separate bills in the state house and senate would allow the California-based automaker to bypass independent dealerships.

Following in line with compromise legislation that has passed in other states, the company would be limited to just 12 showrooms. Other similarly situated automakers would also be allowed to implement direct sales, but only if they have never sold cars through franchise networks.

Tesla already has several showrooms in Texas, however customers must go through formal Tesla stores in another state to actually purchase the car and arrange delivery.

“Free market principles are the foundation of our strong Texas economy,” said Senate Bill 639 sponsor Senator Kelly Hancock, as quoted by The Texas Tribune. “SB 639 helps sustain a competitive marketplace and gives consumers more choices.”

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry last year criticized the state’s “antiquated” anti-Tesla laws, arguing that such regulations only served the dealers rather than consumers. The comments were clearly related to Texas’ bid to become Tesla’s Gigafactory site, which was lost to Nevada, however the latest report suggests the company still has broad support despite taking its factory jobs elsewhere.

The three fastest athletes at the NFL Combine will have to purchase their own high-end sports cars after a contractual conflict with General Motors has forced Adidas to scrap a plan to giveaway three Porsche 911 Carreras.
As part of a marketing campaign to promote its latest Uncaged adizero 5-star running cleats, Adidas announced earlier this month that it would giveaway Porsche 911s (complete with cheetah graphics) to the three NFL-hopefuls that posted the fastest 40-yard-dash times of the Combine. The only catch was that an athlete must wear Adidas’ cleats (which also sport a cheetah graphic) to qualify for the Porsche giveaway.

However, according to Tony Pauline of Draft Insider, the NFL — or perhaps more specifically, GM — has put the kibosh on Adidas’ Porsche giveaway. You see, GM’s GMC brand spends millions of dollars each year to maintain its title of “Official Vehicle of the NFL,” and it doesn’t want Porsche stealing any of its pro-football limelight.

Although a free Porsche is off the table, the three fastest athletes won’t walk away empty handed. ESPN‘s Darren Rovell says Adidas will instead hand out $100,000 checks to the Combine’s fastest sprinters. And given the 911′s estimated value of about $88,285, that seems like a fair compromise.

Pictures courtesy of Adidas.

The General Motors ignition-switch victim fund has stopped accepting new applications, but the claim approvals have continued to slowly grow.
Administrators have 56 death claims, up from 51 at the beginning of the month. The total is now more than four times higher than GM’s own official count of 13 deaths.

The program has received a total of more than 4300 claims, including 478 applications associated with fatal accidents. The death tally will likely rise as 165 claims are still under review, while 184 have been deemed ineligible or deficient.

Each of the approved death claims is said to receive at least $1 million in compensation, depending on the circumstances and the individual. The company previously estimated that it would have to pay between $400 million and $600 million, however the payouts to date have only totaled less than $100 million.

Despite the deadline, some claimants still have an opportunity to provide more supporting documentation to be considered for approval.

The 2016 Kia Sorento has received a Top Safety Pick rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
The outgoing model already earned top honors in most of the IIHS crashworthiness categories, except for the small-overlap test. The driver’s space in the 2014 model was seriously compromised after hitting the small-overlap barrier at 40 mph, with as much as 11 inches of intrusion.

“The side curtain airbag didn’t deploy, and the dummy’s head barely contacted the front airbag before sliding off the left side, as the steering column moved to the right,” the IIHS wrote in its report. “Measures from the dummy indicated a high likelihood of injuries to the left lower leg and possible injuries to the left thigh and knee in a crash of this severity.”

Results from the 2016 model were markedly different. Maximum intrusion was measured at just four inches, while the dummy’s movement was well controlled. Dummy measurements consequently indicate a low risk of significant injuries in similar real-world crash scenarios.

Segment rivals that have also received the Top Safety Pick rating include the Toyota Highlander, Chevrolet Equinox, GMC Terrain and Nissan Pathfinder. The 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ford Explorer and Toyota 4Runner earned only marginal scores in the small-overlap test, while the 2015 Honda Pilot received a poor rating in the trial.

Apple looks to be moving headlong into the auto business, but former General Motors CEO Dan Aversion says the tech company should reconsider jumping into the industry.
Rumored for months, a recent report from The Wall Street Journal, as well as a lawsuit filed by battery maker A123 Systems, has all but confirmed that Apple is preparing to enter the electric car market. However, Akerson, who lead GM following its bankruptcy filing, says that would be a poor move on Apple’s part.

“I think somebody is kind of trying to cough up a hairball here,” Akerson told Bloomberg. “If I were an Apple shareholder, I wouldn’t be very happy. I would be highly suspect of the long-term prospect of getting into a low-margin, heavy-manufacturing” business.

Akerson added that cracking the automobile industry is a lot harder than it appears. “A lot of people who don’t ever operate in it don’t understand and have a tendency to underestimate,” he said, referring to the regulatory hurdles required to bring a car to market.

Although Akerson believes Apple should steer clear of building its own car, the former GM executive doesn’t think the company should totally abandon the segment. Akerson sees a bright future for Apple in the in-car electronics business, even admitting that he would have turned GM’s entire infotainment division over to the Cupertino, California-based company.

“I would’ve signed it over” to Apple, he said of his days as GM’s CEO. “I’d have turned over the infotainment and interconnectivity of every GM car.”

Honda has submitted a trademark registration application for the the term ‘CDX,’ fueling speculation that Acura is finally ready to enter the mini crossover segment.
The trademark filing, first spotted by AutoGuide, was registered for “automobiles and their structural parts,” suggesting it will be used as a model name. Looking at Acura’s existing crossovers, the MDX and RDX, leaves little to the imagination.

Speculation naturally points to the Honda HR-V as the likely candidate for an upscale Acura counterpart. Rumors circulating early last year pointed to the Concept SUV-X as another potential build, bringing bolder styling and a longer profile than the HR-V.

Many automakers are scrambling to enter the segment, likely inspired by seemingly explosive growth of the Buick Encore. An Acura-badged HR-V would also likely be aimed at slightly larger crossovers, such as the Audi Q3 and BMW X1, along with the upcoming Infiniti QX30.

Acura’s SUV-X is scheduled to arrive in China by 2016. It is unclear if it will be beat to the market by a mini crossover bound for the US market.

Audi has released a teaser video showing its redesigned R8 on the test track.
The prototype 2017 R8 is put through its paces by Audi works driver Frank Stippler

“We have brought together racing experience from the first generation and automotive experience from the entire company,” says Quattro managing director Heinz Hollerweger, as translated in a subtitled version of the video posted by Worldcarfans. “I think that’s what’s unique about this new car.”

Speaking from behind the wheel, Stippler notes that the range-topping V10′s 610 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque provides “certainly enough power” for any situation.

“No engine is better suited to this car than the 10 cylinder naturally aspirated engine,” adds Hollerweger. “Sporty, emotion-packed and superior in every situation.”

The camouflage will be pulled off Audi’s new flagship sports car at the Geneva Motor Show.

Volvo has detailed a pilot program, known as Drive Me, that will put self-driving cars into the hands of Gothenburg residents.
Autonomous Volvo vehicles have already begun testing, but the company aims to significantly expand the program and invite the public to come along for the ride. A fleet of at least 100 cars will be autonomously operating on select roads in Volvo’s home city by 2017.

The automaker is continuing to develop its sensor systems, combining multiple radar and sonar systems, trifocal cameras and multi-beam laser scanners to determine exact positioning and a complete view of the vehicle’s surroundings.

The technology is claimed to be capable of spotting pedestrians that run in front of the vehicle, along with other unexpected road hazards, but Volvo warns that human drivers will still be required to take over in certain weather conditions or when the vehicle is off its known route.

In most situations, Volvo suggests the computer will be faster than a human driver in reaction speed. Creating redundant systems has taken a higher priority to prevent accidents due to technical glitches, as the system cannot assume that a driver is ready to suddenly intervene in a critical situation.

“Here, we have a similar approach to that of the aircraft industry,” says Volvo technical specialist Erik Coelingh. “Our fail-operational architecture includes backup systems that will ensure that Autopilot will continue to function safely also if an element of the system were to become disabled.”

The company has not yet outlined an expected time-frame for a full-scale launch of its autonomous technology.