AutoTrader.com, the ultimate automotive marketplace, has launched an enhanced mobile site for the over one million consumers who access the site each month from a mobile device. With more advanced searching, sorting and viewing features, the revamped mobile site delivers an improved experience and helps shoppers perform the tasks they need the most when they’re on the go.

“There’s a new generation of shoppers among us, and their use of mobile devices is growing quickly,” said Jose Puente, director of mobile products at AutoTrader.com. “Mobile shoppers have different needs and expectations when they’re using their smart phones than when they’re using a computer, and the significant enhancements we made for the new mobile site were designed with those needs and expectations in mind.”

Site statistics from AutoTrader.com indicate that mobile usage for car shopping increases on the weekends, when people are less likely to be in front of a computer. These shoppers are further along in the car shopping process, so they are primarily focused on finding specific vehicles and dealers or private sellers near them. Therefore, several of the enhancements to the mobile site centered on improving the search functionality and integrating location-based and map features, among others.

New and improved functionality in the mobile site includes:

• More Search Options. The mobile site now includes more search options, enabling shoppers to include preferences on engine, transmission, seller type, drive, doors, fuel, mileage, exterior color, body style, features and keywords.
• New Sort Options. Now shoppers will be able to sort their search results by a variety of criteria, including price, distance, mileage, year and make/model.
• Location-Based Features. Leveraging the GPS feature inherent in many of today’s smart phones, the new mobile site enables shoppers to use their current location rather than entering their zip code for each search. They can also take advantage of a default search radius that adapts to their location.
• Map View for Search Results. Shoppers using their mobile phones can view results in a map layout, so they can easily see which dealers or vehicles are closest to them.
• Access Recent Searches. Shoppers can now easily access their previous searches, as well as vehicles they’ve recently viewed.
• Share Listings on Facebook. The new mobile site makes it easier than ever for shoppers to share vehicle listings with their friends on Facebook.
• Improved Photo Viewer. Great vehicle pictures help create an emotional connection between shoppers and vehicles they’re considering, and with the mobile site’s enhanced photo display, great pictures will look even better.

The number of unique visitors accessing AutoTrader.com from a mobile device has increased substantially year-over-year, pointing to the growing trend of increased mobile usage in the car shopping process.  Additionally, AutoTrader.com’s mobile site has topped one million unique visitors every month since October 2010.

“We’re proud of the growth that we’ve seen in the usage of our mobile site,” Puente continued. “For the millions of shoppers who access AutoTrader.com from mobile devices each year, these new features should be a welcomed addition to their car shopping experiences.”

AutoTrader.com launched its first mobile site in April 2010 and followed that launch with the development of two mobile apps: an iPhone app in June 2011 and an Android app in October 2011. Each mobile property has continued to be improved to accommodate the increasing needs of shoppers on the go.

Source AutoTrader.com

BOOKITOUT.com offers car shoppers an enormous selection – over one million vehicles from more than 5,300 dealerships.  BOOKITOUT.com launched in September 2011 under the leadership of Jonathan Hedy, a 23-year old entrepreneur; it started from nothing, and is currently the fastest growing automotive marketplace.  Hedy is no stranger to the car business; his family owns the largest dealer management software company in the industry.  “I attribute BOOKITOUT’s profound success to our business model and user experience.  Dealerships and private sellers utilize our service, which provides car shoppers one of the largest and friendliest marketplaces available anywhere online,” says Hedy.  In fact, no other automotive marketplace has experienced such rapid growth prior to turning ten months old.

BOOKITOUT.com allows dealerships to list an unlimited number of vehicles for sale, for $295 per month (or $300 per sale with no monthly fees).  By charging dealers to list inventory, BOOKITOUT does not charge private sellers to list vehicles for sale and does not display obtrusive advertisements on the site.  This approach, which focuses entirely on design and affordability, is responsible for BOOKITOUT’s rapid growth and top ratings by independent consumer reviews.  For instance, BOOKITOUT’s search resembles one of the Internet’s most popular websites, Pinterest, and is preferred by 9 out of 10 users when compared to other automotive marketplaces.  ”We set out to make car shopping fun again,” states Hedy.  “BOOKITOUT.com brings car shopping into the 21^st Century, and we promise to continually evolve with the needs of shoppers.”  BOOKITOUT’s elastic cloud platform ensures continued growth will not result in bottlenecks or increased fees.When asked about the success of dealerships, Hedy cited several examples, including a small, used-car startup that sold three cars during its opening month on BOOKITOUT.com.  Similar success stories, coupled with huge savings in online advertising, have made BOOKITOUT the buzz amongst dealerships.  According to dealer analysis, BOOKITOUT’s conversion rate is higher than any other listing service.  “We appreciate the dealerships’ trust in our program, and are happy to increase their bottom line,” proclaims Hedy.  Successful sales do not end with dealers.  Unlike other sites that charge private sellers to list a vehicle for sale, BOOKITOUT.com not only allows individuals to list vehicles free of charge, but also guarantees a cash offer within 24 hours.  This ensures private sellers can sell their car quickly and easily.  Low prices and superior design have driven buyers and sellers to BOOKITOUT.com in record time; aggressive SEO and advertising campaigns promise to continue this trend.

About BookItOut, Inc:

Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, BOOKITOUT is a privately held company with over 10,000 customers (dealerships, finance companies, insurance carriers) across North America.  BOOKITOUT began by providing vehicle valuations and market analytics to dealerships and finance companies.  The newest addition to its Dealer Services, BOOKITOUT’s Automotive Marketplace promotes its dealerships’ inventory to consumers, while also helping consumers sell their vehicle, attain financing, and more.  BOOKITOUT.com is one of the leading automotive services in North America with over one million vehicles listed for sale and the industry’s only true-cost vehicle value (offered exclusively to its Dealer Services subscribers).  Launched by a 23-year old entrepreneur, BOOKITOUT.com received an award for Boldest Company of 2011, currently serves the largest Automotive Groups in North America, and leverages cloud computing as it redefines car shopping and the auto industry.

Source BookItOut, Inc.

The award-winning Honda Fit returns for 2013 with a new exterior color and a host of awards and accolades that reinforce its leadership position in the competitive subcompact-car segment. After receiving extensive updates for 2012 – including an upgraded interior and additional new standard and available features – for 2013 the Fit returns with the introduction of the vibrant new Midnight Plum Pearl exterior paint, replacing the previous Orange Burst Metallic. On sale tomorrow and starting at only $15,325(1), pricing for the Honda Fit is unchanged for 2013.

A multiple award-winner due to its class-leading safety scores, fuel economy, versatility, residual value and overall excellence, the Honda Fit has built a loyal following over six years and two generations. Now it enters the 2013 model year with more honors, including winning the “$16,000 Subcompact Shootout” competition by Cars.com, USA Today and MotorWeek that evaluated gas mileage, practicality, and user features and comfort.

The 2012 Honda Fit also earned a TOP SAFETY PICK rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), received a 2012 Residual Value Award from ALG, topped J.D. Power and Associates’ Initial Quality Study(SM) (IQS) for 2011 in its segment, and is a six-time Car and Driver magazine “10Best Cars” award winner.

Powertrain
The 1.5-liter, i-VTEC® four-cylinder engine produces 117 horsepower at 6,600 rpm and 106 lb-ft. of torque at 4,800 rpm, and is tuned to deliver an engaging combination of responsiveness and fuel efficiency. A five-speed manual transmission is standard and a five-speed automatic transmission is available. Steering-wheel mounted paddle shifters on Fit Sport models equipped with the available automatic transmission allow for manual gear selection.

When equipped with the available automatic transmission, the Fit has an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 28/35/31 miles per gallon(2). The Fit Sport with the available automatic transmission has an EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 27/33/30 miles per gallon(2). All manual transmission-equipped models have an EPA city/highway/combined fuel economy rating of 27/33/29 miles per gallon(2).

Body
A windswept body design, body-color exterior mirrors and racy five-spoke wheel covers (Fit) or 16-inch alloy wheels (Fit Sport) give the Fit an upscale appearance. But it is the Fit’s compact size and tight turning diameter (34.4 feet, curb-to-curb) that help it conveniently navigate space-confined urban areas and fit in small parking spaces.

Chassis
A sporty, refined and dynamic driving experience is provided by the front MacPherson strut suspension and an H-shaped torsion beam rear suspension. Fifteen- and 16-inch wheels (Fit and Fit Sport, respectively) feature 175/65 R15 84S (Fit) and 185/55 R16 83H (Fit Sport) tires. The standard anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Distribution (EBD) uses 10.3-inch ventilated discs in the front and 7.9-inch drums in the rear.

Interior
Though the Fit has an overall exterior length of just 161.6 inches, a surprisingly roomy and versatile interior provides an impressive 90.8 cubic feet of passenger volume. There’s comfortable seating for up to five passengers, and behind the rear seats, there’s 20.6 cubic feet of storage space – much more than you’d find in a typical sedan.

For enhanced versatility, the exclusive 60/40 split rear Magic Seat® offers multiple seating and cargo-carrying configurations. With its one-motion dive-down functionality, it can fold flat into the floor to provide a maximum 57.3 cu-ft. of rear cargo volume. Compared to any other vehicle in the subcompact class, the five-passenger Fit provides the lowest, flattest cargo floor and the most cargo volume. The Fit’s interior thus can easily be converted to tall-object mode or long-object mode based on the shape of the cargo.

Standard comfort and convenience features include air conditioning, cruise control, remote entry, a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with four speakers, a USB audio interface(3), an auxiliary audio input jack, MP3/WMA playback capability, Radio Data System (RDS), power windows, power mirrors, power door locks, and a security system.

Safety
All Fit models are equipped with a wide range of standard safety equipment including Vehicle Stability Assist™ (VSA®), the Advanced Compatibility Engineering™ (ACE™) body structure, anti-lock brakes and more. Dual-stage, multiple-threshold front airbags, front-side airbags with passenger-side Occupant Position Detection System (OPDS), and side-curtain airbags are also standard equipment for 2013.

Fit Sport
The top-of-the-line Fit Sport adds a host of useful features and amenities, including fog lights, “machined surface” 16-inch alloy wheels, a body-colored underbody kit and rear roofline spoiler, and a chromed exhaust finisher for a high-energy look. A rear stabilizer bar and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters (on automatic transmission-equipped models) widen the performance envelope, while a 160-watt AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers and illuminated steering wheel-mounted audio controls get the tunes pumping. Other Fit Sport interior enhancements include upgraded seat fabric, dark metallic dashboard components, chrome accents around the instrument displays, console ambient lighting and floor mats.

The Fit Sport is also available with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition(4), which features a 6.5-inch screen, more than seven-million points of interest and 16 GB of flash memory. Like other Honda navigation systems, this system allows simple, intuitive operation and has an extensive on-board database. When equipped with the Honda Satellite-Linked Navigation System™ with Voice Recognition, the Fit Sport also includes Bluetooth®(5) HandsFreeLink® to help make hands-free telephone calls more convenient. The Navigation System also features Bluetooth® Audio capability with compatible phones and devices.

Manufacturing and Warranty
The Fit is manufactured at Honda’s plant in Suzuka, Japan. It is covered by a 3-year/36,000-mile Limited Vehicle Warranty, a 5-year/60,000-mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, and a 5-year/unlimited-mile Corrosion Limited Warranty.

(1) MSRP excluding tax, license, registration, $790.00 destination charge and options. Dealer prices may vary.

(2) Based on 2012 EPA mileage estimates. Use for comparison purposes only. Do not compare to models before 2008. Your actual mileage will vary depending on how you drive and maintain your vehicle.

(3) The USB Audio Interface is used for direct connection to and control of some current digital audio players and other USB devices that contain MP3, WMA or AAC music files. Some USB devices with security software and digital rights-protected files may not work. Please see your dealer for details on compatibility.

(4) Certain functions that rely on a satellite signal will not work correctly in Hawaii and Alaska. These functions include, but are not limited to, automatic clock updates and time zone adjustments. RDS not available on navigation models.

(5) The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are owned by the Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and any use of such marks by Honda Motor Co., Ltd., is under license.

Source American Honda Motor Co., Inc.

The Los Angeles Auto Show announced today that more than 40 vehicles are anticipated to debut at the Show during the 2012 Press Days, held Nov. 28-29.  With four and a half months until the Show, it is noteworthy that at least 20 world debuts have already been confirmed by automakers.  This breaking news, as well as other automotive trends, will be unveiled to a global audience consisting of media from more than 50 countries.

The debut lineup this year also promises a compelling mix of the hottest trends and cutting-edge innovations driving today’s resurgent automotive industry, including world firsts from Chevrolet as well as European automakers such as BMW, Fiat and Volkswagen. Show-goers will also see global unveilings of new designs from Asian brands, including models from Acura, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Toyota.

Green and alternative fuel technologies, such as hybrids and all-electric vehicles, will be featured in several world debuts at the Show.  There also will be an increasing number of high-mileage internal combustion vehicles, including clean diesel, on display.  Additionally, several automakers will preview emerging technologies that are dramatically changing the modern driving experience and making it safer.

These technology-laden vehicles will share the media spotlight with a well-represented line-up of luxury and performance models underscoring the LA region’s status as the largest market for these segments in the country.  Of the 40 debuts slated, at least a dozen will come from these two categories, including unveilings from the likes of Acura, Bentley, BMW, Jaguar, Land Rover and Porsche.

“As the first major North American show of the season, LA sets the tone for 2013 and we expect that automakers will pull out all the stops to excite new-car buyers.  In virtually every category from the greenest electric vehicle to high-horsepower performance models, the technological advancements we are seeing today eclipse all previous automotive eras,” said Andy Fuzesi, general manager, LA Auto Show.

With California established as a global center for alternative fuel and advanced technology innovations, it should come as no surprise that the LA Auto Show will be a prime venue for breaking news on all the latest developments. The entirely new Automotive Technology Showcase, presented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, is a Press Days expo designed to connect automotive technology companies with automakers, media, analysts, and other potential customers and partners. It will serve as a one-stop dedicated showcase covering advancements such as digital speech recognition, accident avoidance technology, navigation systems, real-time traffic data and solutions designed to mitigate distracted driving concerns.

Supporting the Automotive Technology Showcase will be an expanded Ride and Drive called the Green & Advanced Technology Ride and Drive. This Press Days event will include both “green” vehicles as well as those featuring in-car advancements such as automatic park assist, radar-based object detection systems and driver assist technologies.  The Show’s “green” credibility is further sustained with the Green Car Journal’s annual Green Car of the Year® and Nielsen Automotive Green Marketer of the Year awards.

Source Los Angeles Auto Show

With summer in full swing and hotter temps than normal in many areas, it’s important to consider your vehicle and its parts.

This summer’s extreme temperatures can destroy a vehicle’s battery. The Car Care Council advises vehicle owners to have their cars’ batteries tested periodically and replaced, if necessary, to avoid being stranded.

Excessive heat and overcharging shortens the life of a battery. Heat causes battery fluid to evaporate, which then damages the internal structure of the battery. A malfunctioning component in the charging system, usually the voltage regulator, allows too high a charging rate, which will eventually destroy a battery.

“When most motorists think of dead batteries that cause starting failure, they think of severe winter weather, but summer heat is the real culprit,” said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council. “Many battery problems start long before the temperatures drop. A few simple steps now can help you avoid the cost and inconvenience of a breakdown later.”

To get the most life out of a battery, the Car Care Council suggests the following:

• Be sure the electrical system is charging at the correct rate; overcharging can damage a battery as quickly as undercharging.
• If your battery is the type that needs to be topped off, check it regularly, especially in hot weather. Add distilled water when necessary.
• Always replace a battery with one that’s rated at least as high as the one originally specified.
• Keep the top of the battery clean. Dirt becomes a conductor, which drains battery power. Further, as corrosion accumulates on battery terminals it becomes an insulator, inhibiting current flow.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the “Be Car Care Aware” consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers. For a copy of the council’s Car Care Guide or for more information, visit www.carcare.org.

Source Car Care Council