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WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 27, 2019) – Americans spend an additional 20 minutes driving each week compared to 2014, according to new research from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. Over the course of the year, Americans collectively spent 70 billion hours behind the wheel- an eight percent increase since 2014. Each week, drivers travel more than 220 miles. Add it up and Americans drive an average of 11,498 miles each year- the equivalent of making two roundtrip drives from San Francisco to Washington, D.C.

“The more time drivers spend behind the wheel, the greater their exposure to risks on the roadway” said Dr. David Yang, executive director for the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “Longer time behind the wheel could lead to issues such as fatigue, distraction, and impatience for drivers, which are all contributing factors for vehicle crashes. Drivers need to stay alert and focused on the key task at hand, driving. This can save your life and the lives of your passengers and people with whom you share the road.”

The AAA Foundation’s American Driving Survey shows that on average, U.S. drivers spend nearly an hour behind the wheel each day and travel 31.5 miles- a five percent increase from 2014.

H&I Automotive is Celebrating 10 Years of Serving their East Valley Neighbors!

H&I Gilbert is also celebrating their 1st anniversary!

Join them for Cars 2 Show We Care!

There will be vendors, a 50/50 raffle, prize raffles, demonstrations, bounce house for the kiddos, refreshments available for purchase - and of course the cars!

All proceeds will go to support Military Assistance Mission. Don't miss out on this momentous occasion!

When:
Saturday March 2nd from 10 AM - 2 PM

Where:
4550 S Higley Rd Gilbert, AZ 85297

Trophy Categories:

• Best Car
• Best Truck
• Best Modern
• Best Hot Rod
• Best Import
• Best Paint

H&I Automotive in Gilbert recently hosted 'Cars 2 Show We Care'. There were vendors, a 50/50 raffle, prize raffles, demonstrations, bounce house for the kiddos, - and of course the cars!

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All proceeds went to support Military Assistance Mission. It was quite a momentous occasion!

- All-New Dynamic Design

- TNGA Platform for Outstanding Agility and Comfort

- First-Ever Corolla Hybrid in U.S.

- 52 MPG Combined Fuel Economy on Hybrid

- Available New 169 Horsepower, 2.0-liter Dynamic Force Engine

- Available Dynamic-Shift CVT or Six-Speed Manual Transmission

- Standard Toyota Safety Sense 2.0

- Standard Audio with Wi-Fi Connect, Amazon Alexa, and Apple CarPlay Compatibility

- Starting MSRP of $19,500

- On Sale in March 2019

SAVANNAH, Ga., Feb. 26, 2019 -- With more than 46 million Toyota Corollas sold globally since its introduction in 1966, it would be difficult to find a driver who did not recognize the name. Everyone, it seems, has a Corolla story. Many, though, are going to be doing double takes when they see the re-imagined and reconfigured 2020 Toyota Corolla sedan. And that's exactly the point.

The 12th-generation Toyota Corolla made its arrival in three chapters: the all-new Corolla hatchback arrived last summer, and then came the current best-selling Corolla body style, the sedan, in two waves – a reveal of the new gas model in Carmel and then the introduction of the U.S.' first Corolla Hybrid at the Los Angeles Auto Show. All three are based on the Toyota New Global Architecture (TNGA), which is far more than a new body structure, bringing together new approaches to engineering, design, assembly, and materials. Now, there really is a Corolla for everyone.

TNGA transforms Corolla styles into drivers' delights while also bolstering the model's renowned value and reliability. They draw from the same DNA. It's no surprise, then, that the 2020 Corolla sedan dramatically elevates this model's focus on comfort and refinement while also infusing it with the Corolla hatchback's feisty personality.

The Corolla sedan's bold new look is a perfect reflection of the bumper-to-bumper, wheels-to-roof transformation that has taken place. The TNGA platform means an available engine that produces more power than its predecessor yet delivers better fuel efficiency. TNGA imbues the Corolla sedan with greater agility, yet also with its smoothest, quietest ride. TNGA also means an elevated feeling of quality in every surface, switch and control the driver sees and touches. And, critically, TNGA delivers on Toyota's commitment to driver and passenger safety with the Toyota Safety Sense 2.0 suite of active safety systems – standard on every Corolla sedan model.

The GoodGuys 10th Spring Nationals is a giant three-day American hot-rodding festival featuring over 2,500 hot rods, customs, classics, street rods, muscle cars & trick trucks through 1987 vintage. It is the ultimate gathering of cool cars, cool people and good times.

Dates:

Friday – Sunday, March 15-17

Location:

WestWorld of Scottsdale
16601 N. Pima Rd., Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Highlights:

   • Vendor midway featuring commercial exhibits and a tractor trailer midway
   • GoodGuys AutoCross featuring the Spring Shootout
   • Builder’s Choice Awards selected by All Ways Hot Rods
   • Burn out Competition
   • Model Car show
   • Giant used auto parts swap meet and cars-for-sale area
   • Saturday specialty parking areas, including Mighty Muscle, Homebuilt Heaven, Air Cooled Corral, Lowrider Showcase, Camaro Corral and more!
   • Nitro Thunderfest dragster exhibition —nitro in the air!
   • Kids’ zone—coloring contest, games, arts & crafts and lots of fun for the entire family!
   • Spectre Performance All American Sunday—March 17; open to all years American made and powered vehicles.
   • Awards ceremony on Sunday at 2:22 pm

- Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM) rated "Superior" for Pedestrian Detection and Crash Prevention

- Previous IIHS testing rates CR-V with Honda Sensing "Superior" for Crash Avoidance and Mitigation

TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 21, 2019 -- The Honda CR-V for the 2018 and 2019 model years has earned the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety's (IIHS) highest pedestrian detection and crash prevention rating of "Superior" based on new testing of CR-V's available Honda Sensing® suite of safety and driver-assistive technologies, which includes the award-winning Collision Mitigation Braking SystemTM (CMBSTM). In previous tests by the IIHS, the CR-V's CMBS was also rated "Superior" for Crash Avoidance and Mitigation.

"IIHS' pedestrian crash avoidance tests can be unnerving to watch, since they are set up to look like an impending collision with a pedestrian. The tests highlight the need to consider the safety of all road users when designing advanced safety systems like those included in Honda Sensing®," said Jay Joseph, assistant vice president of product planning for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. "We have sold nearly 1.8 million Honda vehicles equipped with Honda Sensing in the United States, underscoring our leadership and commitment to the widespread application of these important technologies."

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 20, 2019 --

• The new 2019 Fiat 500L Urbana Edition adds new standard features for further customization and style on top of contemporary Italian design.

• The new 2019 Fiat 500L Urbana Edition adds new standard features for further customization and style on top of contemporary Italian design.

• Fiat 500L Urbana Edition offers new standard features for the 2019 model year

• Available on Trekking models, 500L Urbana Edition offers a unique blackout appearance with standard 17-inch gloss black aluminum wheels plus Miron-black accents on door handles, body-side moldings, fog lamps, side mirrors and fascias

• Interior features include black leather seats with copper stitching plus a unique dashboard with an ingrained copper 500 logo

• Available in five exterior paint colors: Black, Bronzo Metallizato (bronze), Bianco (white), Grigio Scuro (gray) and Verde Bosco (green); four of which are available with an optional contrasting black roof

• With a starting U.S. MSRP of $21,910, Fiat 500L is available in three models – Pop, Trekking, Lounge

• Urbana Edition is available for $595 MSRP on the well-equipped Trekking model, which has a starting MSRP of $23,325

• 2019 Fiat 500L Urbana Edition arrives in FIAT studios this spring

The Fiat brand announced today the return of the popular Urbana Edition for the Fiat 500L with new standard features for 2019 that add further customization choices and style on top of contemporary Italian design.

"Our Italian-designed, fun-to-drive Fiat 500L offers best-in-class standard horsepower and torque along with the ultimate in seating and storage configurations," said Steve Beahm, Head of Passenger Car Brands – Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and FIAT, FCA – North America. "The Fiat 500L Urbana Edition goes further with new standard features that add even more personalization options for a standout appearance."

The brake system in your car needs to be in 100% working condition at all times.

Why? Because the last thing you want to face when driving downhill or navigating tight turns is any kind of brake trouble. 

Most car owners tend to take their car brake systems for granted. They ignore the number one rule when it comes to maintaining the health of your car’s brake system – routine maintenance.

Routine maintenance is essential if you want to keep the brakes working properly and avoid any big repair and replacement costs in the long run.

Maintenance Aspects of your Car’s Brake System

Seventh Annual Drive for Design Contest Challenges High School Students to Draw the Ultimate Status Vehicle

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 19, 2019 --

• Drive for Design contest is open to U.S. high school students in grades 10-12

• Three winners selected from the entries

• Prizes include an exclusive, behind-the-scenes tour and mentoring time with leading designers at the FCA US Product Design studios, a scholarship to attend College for Creative Studies' Summer Experience Transportation Design program and serving as Junior Judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design Car Show

• Entries due by April 27, 2019, via www.FCAdrivefordesign.com

• Writer and Artist Josh Welton joins this year's judging panel as special guest

• FCA Design Heads Mark Trostle (Dodge/Performance) and Mark Allen (Jeep®) take your questions in an "Ask Me Anything" Facebook Live event on February 20 at 7 p.m. Eastern

• Follow Drive for Design via social media: Drive for Design Facebook page, the FCA US Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram using #DriveForDesign

Without a nudge from an art teacher, a visit to an art school or just plain luck, some of the world's top automotive designers may never have made their mark on history.

Mark Trostle, Head of Performance, Passenger Car and Utility Vehicle Design for FCA – North America, wants to change that. Seven years ago, he revived a contest he won as a high school student that helped drive him to where he is today, leading the design efforts for some of the most desired vehicles on the road.

The 2019 Drive for Design contest challenges U.S. high school students in grades 10-12 to design the ultimate status vehicle using any FCA brand. Just like in the professional world, there is a level of urgency – entries are due by April 27, 2019. Three students will be named winners from all valid entries received.

On the week, 28 states saw gas price averages increase by at least a nickel, pushing the national gas price average up six-cents to land at $2.33. That is the largest one-week increase seen at the national level this year. Today’s gas price average is nine-cents more expensive than last month, but 19-cents cheaper than a year ago.

“Motorists are seeing more expensive gas prices as a result of ongoing refinery problems coupled with crude oil prices hitting their highest level so far this year as global crude inventories tighten,” said Jeanette Casselano, AAA spokesperson. “Inventories are likely to continue to tighten and keep gas prices higher through the end of the month.”

The latest Energy Information Administration (EIA) weekly report details demand dropping for a second week, to total at 8.6 million b/d. Frigid and severe winter weather has been a driving factor for declining demand and this week’s approaching storm from the Plains to the Northeast has the potential to drop demand further. Refinery problems and increasing exports have kept inventories at minimal builds. For the week ending Feb. 8, inventories increased only 408,000 bbl to total 258.3 million bbl.

Quick Stats

The nation’s top 10 least expensive markets are: Alabama ($2.04), Mississippi ($2.04), Missouri ($2.07), Arkansas ($2.07), Louisiana ($2.07), South Carolina ($2.08), Texas ($2.09), Colorado ($2.09), Kansas ($2.11) and Virginia ($2.11).
The nation’s top 10 largest weekly increases are: Michigan (+16 cents), Oklahoma (+12 cents), Minnesota (+11 cents), Texas (+11 cents), Kansas (+10 cents), Arkansas (+10 cents), Delaware (+10 cents), Maryland (+9 cents), Iowa (+9 cents) and Kentucky (+9 cents).