Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger Outsold the Chevy Camaro by Double

by Gabrielle DeSantis

2021 has been off to a good start with new car sales, except for the Chevy Camaro. In the first quarter of 2021, the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger outsold the Camaro more than two to one. What’s going on with the Camaro and why are buyers overlooking it for other similar options?

How many Ford Mustang, Dodge Challengers, and Chevy Camaro have sold?

The Chevy Camaro has had only half the sales of the Ford Mustang and Dodge Challenger so far in 2021 | Harry How/Getty Images

According to Good Car Bad Car, the Ford Mustang has sold 17,244 units so far in 2021. The Challenger sold 15,097 units, and the Camaro sold 7,088. Car Scoops says the Challenger sales have jumped 24% in the first quarter of the year.

Ford Mustang sales dropped about 4.4% over last year, but it is now the best-selling car in Ford’s lineup. For the Chevy Camaro, sales dropped 1.3%.

The Corvette sold 6,611 units so far this year compared to 21,627 units in 2020. That separates the two by only 478 cars sold.

Pickup trucks and small cars are having a moment, in addition to electric vehicles. Reliability seems to be overcoming the need for speed, if you will.

Why the decline for the Camaro?

RELATED: How Reliable Is the Ford Mustang?

The decline for the Camaro has been steep in the past few years. The highest sales year for the Camaro was back in 2012 when Chevy sold 91,314 units. In 2018, that dropped to 50,963 units, and in 2020 it was 29,777 cars sold. But the 7,088 number for 2021 so far is pretty dismal.

Drivers seem to generally agree that the visibility for the Camaro is a huge drawback. The interior is dark and low to the ground, with many blind spots. This makes it harder to drive safely.

It has been rumored that the Camaro is at the end of the road. GM already announced they were killing off the Camaro once but took it back. The company also announced the end of gas-powered vehicles in 2035. With the push for electric cars, drivers have different priorities.

There is also a lot of competition in the sports car arena. Many drivers who might be interested in the Camaro probably go for the Mustang or Challenger instead. It seems the Camaro has been pushed out of the competition altogether.

Mustang and Challenger sales also dropped

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As noted previously, sales for the Dodge Challenger are at 15,097 for the first quarter of 2021. In 2020, the sales were at 52,955. A high for the Challenger was in 2018 with 66,716 units and has been falling since then.

The Mustang had its best years back in 2006 when it sold 166,530 units. In 2015, Ford had another high with 122,349 units sold. Since then, it has been on a decline. In 2017, the sales slowed to 81,866, and that was down to 61,090 in 2020.

So the decline isn’t just with the Camaro. All similar muscle cars are declining in sales while drivers move to different vehicles entirely. Perhaps there are plans to totally revamp the Camaro into an electric car to really capture the current market.

If that’s the case, Chevy might be onto something. Since there is a huge push for brands to have an all-electric fleet, it would make sense that Chevy is working hard on something behind the scenes.

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Consumer Reports Predicts the Volkswagen Taos Won’t Be Reliable

by Gabrielle DeSantis

As sales trends continue to shift toward crossovers and SUVs, some vehicle manufacturers are making deliberate strides to answer the increased demand for larger vehicles. Volkswagen is known for making cars like the VW Golf and the VW Jetta, but in order to stay competitive, the company saw the need to add a small crossover to their lineup. In response, VW added the 2022 Volkswagen Taos, and it looks to be an impressive vehicle that will be sure to excite small SUV enthusiasts everywhere. 

What is the 2022 Volkswagen Taos?

The first impression the 2022 Volkswagen Taos gives is an excellent one, thanks to its stunning exterior. Many of the sample VW Taos models displayed in articles online show the crossover in a striking electric blue that contrasts beautifully with black detailing toward the bottom fourth of the SUV. The V-shaped details on the wheels are also particularly eye-catching, and it’s hard to deny that this is one gorgeous SUV on the outside. 

The inside of the VW Taos is also lovely to look at, thanks to the two-tone cloth on the seats. The interior feels familiar, as it is quite similar to other VW vehicles, but it still feels modern and stylish.

According to U.S. News, the Volkswagen Taos comes standard with a 6.5-inch touchscreen infotainment system, push-button start, and automatic headlights. Other features like automatic climate control, heated front seats, or a 10-color ambient lighting setting will cost extra. 

As far as performance goes, the VW Taos will come equipped with a 1.5-liter turbo engine that can produce 158 hp, and you can opt to purchase a Taos with all-wheel drive. 

Consumer Reports gave the VW Taos a low predicted reliability rating

RELATED: Does the 2022 Volkswagen Taos Have a Panoramic Sunroof?

When Consumer Reports assigns a predicted reliability rating to vehicles, they usually use data from past model years of the vehicle to calculate how well they predict it will hold up. Since it’s the first year the Volkswagen Taos is available, how did they come to the conclusion that it deserves a measly two out of five on predicted reliability?

Consumer Reports hasn’t even had the chance to test the VW Taos yet, so they have no ratings for a road test, but they do predict a high owner satisfaction rate.

When it comes to assigning the VW Taos a two out of five, chances are good that CR looked at how reliable they deemed the VW Tiguan, which is a slightly larger SUV from VW. The 2021 VW Tiguan also got a two out of five for predicted reliability, though this score is based on years of data from the Tiguan. 

It’s hard to say for sure why CR gave the VW Taos the poor predicted reliability score it did for its first year, but CR will be able to improve upon that predicted reliability score as users purchase the Taos and report on problems they have had with it if any. 

When will the 2022 Volkswagen Taos go on sale?

The 2022 Volkswagen Taos | Volkswagen

Those who are anxiously awaiting the arrival of the 2022 VW Taos don’t have to hold on too much longer. The VW Taos is set to go on sale in June of 2021, though the pricing of the base model can differ depending upon where you look. 

Consumer Reports, for example, has the 2022 VW Taos listed with an MSRP of $22,995-$33,045. MotorTrend and Car and Driver both have the base price listed at $24,190 all the way up to $35,000 for a top-of-the-line VW Taos. Prices frequently vary a bit for new vehicles, but you can expect to pay around $25,000 for a new VW Taos S (the base trim) if you decide to take the plunge later this year. 

The post Consumer Reports Predicts the Volkswagen Taos Won’t Be Reliable appeared first on MotorBiscuit.

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Are Higher Speed Limits Safer?

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Speed limits. We all know what they are. We also know that we’re supposed to follow them every time that we get behind the wheel. But how are speed limits actually calculated and are higher speed limits safer? Let’s find out.

How are speed limits calculated?

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According to Interesting Engineering, speed limits are calculated by a public authority that has gathered recommendations from traffic engineers. The public is often asked for their opinion too. Local law enforcement is then responsible for enforcing the speed limits. 

Overall, you can expect speed limits to vary based on their location. While most city streets have a 25 mph limit, country roads often have limits of 50 mph. Meanwhile, highways typically have limits of 60 mph. Specific speed limits are typically set at a state level but can be changed at the discretion of local authorities, reports Interesting Engineering.

The argument for raising speed limits

Speed limit sign. | FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images

Over the years, many states have increased speed limits. As you might have guessed, this begs the question of why speed limits need to be raised. In many cases, it all comes down to convenience and traffic flow. Who wants to drive on a straightaway at 55 mph when you could, presumably, drive safer at a much higher level of speed?

Unfortunately, AAA reports that even small speed increases can have dire consequences. Not only do higher rates of speed render certain safety features useless, but the faster a car is moving, the more likely it is to sustain significant damage. Fast-moving crashes can result in more significant injuries too.   

Are higher speed limits responsible for more deaths?

RELATED: There’s 1 State You Never Want To Get a Speeding Ticket In

There’s no denying that speeding carries its risks. In fact, according to the NHTSA, in 2018, speeding was responsible for killing 9,378 people. While that figure does represent a 6% drop when compared to previous years, it’s still pretty frightening.

It might even have you asking if higher speed limits are responsible for more deaths. Sadly, the IIHS reports that they might be. In fact, a study from the IIHS showed that rising speed limits over the past 25 years have attributed to nearly 37,000 deaths. 

RELATED: You Can Avoid a Speeding Ticket by Saying This

More specifically, the IIHS’s study found that a 5 mph increase in the maximum speed limit was associated with an 8% increase in interstate and freeway fatalities. Higher limits were also responsible for a 3% increase in fatalities on other roads.

“About 10,000 people a year die in speed-related crashes,” IIHS President David Harkey said. “We can reduce this toll through effective, high-visibility enforcement and traffic engineering measures. Reasonable speed limits also have a crucial role to play, as our new study demonstrates.”

The case against going faster is a strong one

Higher speed limits may be more convenient but, as it turns out, they aren’t necessarily safer. To keep you and your family safe on the road, we recommend traveling at a safe speed and obeying all traffic laws.

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Remember That Dumb “Voltswagen” Joke? Now There’s a Lawsuit Against Volkswagen

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Volkswagen was expecting everyone would find its dumb “Voltswagen” April Fools’ joke about changing its name funny. We’re sure it didn’t expect a class-action lawsuit over their silly joke. Unfortunately, nobody thought it was funny. But some obviously thought it was worth a lawsuit. Now there is one over the poor judgment. of Volkswagen. 

The plaintiff Gerald M Montag says he purchased securities once he heard about the Voltswagen change. He says the securities were artificially inflated because of the name change news. Montag also felt it worth suing Volkswagen Chief Executive Officer Scott Keough and Acting Head of Communication Mark Gilles. 

The lawsuit alleges Volkswagen made false and/or misleading statements

Volkswagen “Voltswagen” ha ha joke

The lawsuit wraps in any “persons or entities who purchased or otherwise acquired publicly traded Volkswagen Securities between March 29, 2021; and March 30, 2021.” It alleges that Volkswagen made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose the “Voltswagen” change was a “joke.” “We might be changing out our K for a T, but what we aren’t changing is this brand’s commitment to making best-in-class vehicles for drivers and people everywhere,” is how Keogh phrased it.

Here’s a typical story from CNBC explaining the change: “Volkswagen accidentally posted a press release on its website a month early on Monday announcing a new name for its U.S. operations, Voltswagen of America, emphasizing the German automaker’s electric vehicle efforts. A person familiar with the company’s plans confirmed the authenticity of the release to CNBC. They asked to remain anonymous because the plans were not meant to be public yet.”

Volkswagen even went further according to carcomplaints. It claimed it planned to keep the dark blue on its logo for gas-powered vehicles but go with light blue for “the new EV-centric branding.” Then it went on parsing the use of the name as an “operating unit of Volkswagen Group of America.”

The CEO of Volkswagen even got into the “Voltswagen” act

A Volkswagen ID.4 sitting in a factory
Charging your new Volkswagen ID.4 electric vehicle | Liesa Johannssen-Koppitz/Bloomberg via Getty Images

RELATED: The Volkswagen ID.4 is an Electric Beetle With Problems

The CEO of Volkswagen even got into the act. Here’s a quick statement he released earlier in the debacle, “We might be changing out our K for a T, but what we aren’t changing is this brand’s commitment to making best-in-class vehicles for drivers and people everywhere.” Ha, ha!

After the Associated Press announced the phony change it had to rebut the story with a statement. It read, “The Associated Press was repeatedly assured by Volkswagen that its U.S. subsidiary planned a name change, and reported that information, which we now know to be false. We have corrected our story and published a new one based on the company’s admission. This and any deliberate release of false information hurts accurate journalism and the public good.”

Volkswagen officially says it saw no influence on the stock market

New electric vehicles ID.4 and ID.3 from Volkswagen stand loaded on trains at the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau| Hendrik Schmidt/picture alliance via Getty Images

The Volkswagen class-action lawsuit says the damage came from when ADRs fell $2.14 per ADR. That fall is more than 5% over the next two full trading days. It closed at $35.58 per share on April 1, 2020, allegedly damaging investors. Volkswagen’s response to the lawsuit is that it couldn’t “see any influence on the stock market price as a result of the advertising campaign.”

The lawsuit was filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California titled, “Gerald M Montag Vs. Volkswagen AG, et al. 

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