Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Hyundai's $1.49 fuel promo causing traffic jams at gas stations across the country?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/01/hyundais-1-49-fuel-promo-causing-traffic-jams-at-gas-stations/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/01/hyundais-1-49-fuel-promo-causing-traffic-jams-at-gas-stations/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/07/01/hyundais-1-49-fuel-promo-causing-traffic-jams-at-gas-stations/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Hyundai gas promotion traffic - Click above for high-res image gallery

Well, imagine that. People like cheap gas. Enough, in fact, that they're willing to line up in droves just for the privilege of filling up their tanks. As if you needed further proof of this unfailing truth, here are the pictures to prove it. As part of its new Hyundai Assurance Gas Lock promotion, the Korean automaker ran an unannounced campaign in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles where consumers could purchase gas for just $1.49 per gallon.

The catch? There was just one location in each cities where the program was in effect and the location was kept secret until an hour before the promotion began. In a nod to modern social media users, Hyundai sent the information to its Twitter followers (@hyundainews) just before local radio stations announced the promotion city-wide about an hour before it started. Predictably, a mad rush to each location ensued. Nice little PR stunt, no?

Click past the break for the press release and check out the images of the madness shot on location at the Horace Harding BP gas station in New York. Similar scenes were reported in Chicago and LA.


Gallery: Hyundai gas promotion traffic

Continue reading Hyundai's $1.49 fuel promo causing traffic jams at gas stations across the country?

Hyundai's $1.49 fuel promo causing traffic jams at gas stations across the country? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap gasCheapGashyundaihyundai assurancehyundai assurance gas lockhyundai cheap gashyundai gas lockHyundaiAssuranceHyundaiAssuranceGasLockHyundaiCheapGasHyundaiGasLockWed, 01 Jul 2009 18:58:00 EST<![CDATA[Holden begins 99¢/liter fuel incentive for two years]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/02/holden-begins-99-liter-fuel-incentive-for-two-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/02/holden-begins-99-liter-fuel-incentive-for-two-years/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/09/02/holden-begins-99-liter-fuel-incentive-for-two-years/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


Click image for a hi-res gallery of the Holden Commodore SS-V

Despite the fact that capping the cost of gas didn't work out so well for Chrysler in the U.S., General Motors' Australian arm, Holden, is launching a new incentive that guarantees gas will be 99¢/liter for two years after your vehicle's original date of purchase. The system works much like the one Chrysler used: buyers get a debit card that they use when filling up their tanks. That debit card will be tied to the purchasers bank account, which will be debited a few days later for the reduced rate, regardless of how much the fuel had actually cost. If all of this sounds a bit confusing, click here for the details from Holden. We've also pasted GM's official press release after the break.

As we mentioned, a similar promotion wasn't too successful for Chrysler. There are a few differences, though. Chrysler's vehicles aren't quite class-competitive while Holden's generally are. There were also more fuel efficient vehicles to choose from in the U.S., thereby making the gas card savings a bit irrelevant. In Australia where the V8 is still king, that's not really the case. Will this new scheme make Holden's V8-powered, rear-wheel-drive vehicles sell quicker? We don't know... but we're positive that a similar deal could go a long way towards putting an Pontiac G8 GT in our own personal garages.

Gallery: Holden VE Commodore SS-V


[Source: Holden, Australian Car Advice]

Continue reading Holden begins 99¢/liter fuel incentive for two years

Holden begins 99¢/liter fuel incentive for two years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 02 Sep 2008 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap fuelcheap gasCheapFuelCheapGasholdenholden fuel incentiveholden fuel offerholden gasholden gas cardholden gas dealholden gas incentiveholden incentiveHoldenFuelIncentiveHoldenFuelOfferHoldenGasHoldenGasCardHoldenGasDealHoldenGasIncentiveHoldenIncentiveTue, 02 Sep 2008 13:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Looking for cheap gas? Head to Mexico, amigo!]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/looking-for-cheap-gas-head-to-mexico-amigo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/looking-for-cheap-gas-head-to-mexico-amigo/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/17/looking-for-cheap-gas-head-to-mexico-amigo/#commentsFiled under:

In San Diego, drivers are paying an average of $4.61 a gallon for the cheap stuff. And like the rest of the country, most of them aren't too happy about it.

But a 17-mile drive south will save them more than a $2 per gallon. Gas war? Some radio station's wacky promotional stunt? No, Mexican government subsidies that allow filling stations to sell gas for as little as $2.54 a gallon, even less if you have a pocket full of pesos.

Diesel burners have an even greater incentive to make the drive. Diesel prices in San Diego average $5.04. In Tijuana? Only $2.20.

Downside? Of course! Even if you live near enough to the Mexican border, the wait coming back into the States is supposedly terrible, sometimes as long as a two hours. Leave your HUMMER idling that long, and you'll be filling up in Chula Vista.

[Source: The Associated Press via Placeropolis]

Looking for cheap gas? Head to Mexico, amigo! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap gascheapest gasCheapestGasCheapGasgas pricesGasPricesmexican gasMexicanGasmexico gasMexicoGasTue, 17 Jun 2008 14:27:00 EST<![CDATA[Only 5-10% of customers choose Chrysler's $2.99 gas guarantee]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/only-5-10-of-customers-choose-chryslers-2-99-gas-guarantee/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/only-5-10-of-customers-choose-chryslers-2-99-gas-guarantee/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/10/only-5-10-of-customers-choose-chryslers-2-99-gas-guarantee/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



It looks like car shoppers have been smart enough to see past Chrysler's cheap gas guarantee. Despite Chrysler's extension of the offer for an extra month, a very small percentage of actual consumers have actually chosen the gas guarantee over the old fashioned cash back options. As we've reported in the past, the incentive wasn't really as good as it seemed once the math was done. As was pointed out by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a 3 mpg bump in efficiency would be equal to the savings Chrysler was offering. Additionally, Chrysler not only has the worst fleet in terms of fuel efficiency, but many of its products haven't exactly set the world on fire based solely on their own merit. The performance of the incentive deal suggests that in today's world average consumers may not want to be seen driving gas guzzling vehicles, regardless of what they're paying for fuel. Good products are still the only real way to guarantee sales, though cash back incentives still have an impact. Perhaps Chrysler should have offered firearms.

[Source: Auto Observer]

Only 5-10% of customers choose Chrysler's $2.99 gas guarantee originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2.992.99 a gallon2.99 gas2.99-a-gallon2.99AGallon2.99gascheap gasCheapGaschryslerincentiveincentivesTue, 10 Jun 2008 13:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Incentive Roundup: Chrysler adds more cash to free gas, Ford mum on Employee Pricing]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/05/incentive-roundup-chrysler-adds-more-cash-to-free-gas-ford-mum/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/05/incentive-roundup-chrysler-adds-more-cash-to-free-gas-ford-mum/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/05/incentive-roundup-chrysler-adds-more-cash-to-free-gas-ford-mum/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

Times are tough in Detroit these days as each of the Big 3 saw drastic drops in sales for the month of May. It's not surprising, then, to see that Chrysler, Dodge and Ford have increased incentives in an effort to get those cars off its dealer's lots. For instance, prospective buyers for the Hemi-powered Chrysler 300C can now choose either $4,000 cash back or $2,000 plus Chrysler's $2.99 gas promotion, known as Let's Refuel America. Choosing Chrysler's full-size SUV, the Aspen, will net you $4,500 cash back or $1,000 in cash, plus the Let's Refuel deal. Dodge too is heavy into the incentives game, especially on fuel-gulping SUV's and trucks. The largest savings come with the 2008 Ram truck, which gets you $5,000 in cash or $3,000 plus the cheap gas card.

Realizing the sorry state that sales of the F-Series are in, Ford has chosen to offer employee pricing for its full-sizers, although they aren't telling you what how much you'll save without a trip to the dealer. Cars.com has been able to extract a few figures from Ford's web site and have figured out that nearly three-grand will be shed from the sticker of a mid-grade XLT model. After looking these rebates over, it seems clear that the few consumers still in the market for a large, V8 powered vehicle will be looking to get a great deal for the foreseeable future.

[Source: Kicking Tires]

Incentive Roundup: Chrysler adds more cash to free gas, Ford mum on Employee Pricing originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Jun 2008 17:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap gasCheapGaschrysler incentivesChryslerIncentivesdodge incentivesDodgeIncentivesemployee pricingEmployeePricingford incentivesFordIncentivesThu, 05 Jun 2008 17:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Hurricane season may bring $6-a-gallon gas]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/hurricane-season-may-bring-6-a-gallon-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/hurricane-season-may-bring-6-a-gallon-gas/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/06/02/hurricane-season-may-bring-6-a-gallon-gas/#commentsFiled under: ,



Don't like the weather? Just wait, it'll change. Don't like gas prices? Just wait, they'll change, too. But if the weather brings a hurricane, some experts say gas prices could hit as high as $6 a gallon.

NOAA has predicted as many as nine named storms this season, with five of those possibly reaching major status. One expert in a CNN story says that a typical hurricane will shut down an off-shore oil rig and interrupt supply lines for as long as two weeks. If even one of those damages Gulf of Mexico drilling rigs, you can bet the crude markets will go nuts, and today's black gold and $4/gallon gas will seem like a bargain.

The good news? Hurricane season ends Nov. 30. If we make it to December with no major hurricanes, we might see oil and gas prices fall. Maybe.

[Sources: CNN, NOAA]

Hurricane season may bring $6-a-gallon gas originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 Jun 2008 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap gasCheapGaseconomizerexpensive gasExpensiveGasgas pricesgasolinegasoline pricesGasolinePricesGasPriceshurricanes gas pricesHurricanesGasPricesoil pricesOilPricesMon, 02 Jun 2008 09:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Cheap cars in India = expensive gas in the States]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/cheap-cars-in-india-expensive-gas-in-the-states/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/cheap-cars-in-india-expensive-gas-in-the-states/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/04/cheap-cars-in-india-expensive-gas-in-the-states/#commentsFiled under: , ,


click above to view more images of the Tata Nano

A report at CNN kinda states the obvious, that if the $2,500 Tata Nano proves as popular in India as most people think it will be, there will be a huge increase in demand for gasoline there. And if worldwide demand for oil goes up, the price of gasoline here will go up. Basic economics, right? Well, CNN looks a little deeper, and gets into why we're likely to see higher pump prices soon.

The target market for the Nano in India is people who do not currently own cars. That means droves of fuel-efficient scooter drivers will trade two wheels for four. And even though the Nano gets 54 mpg, that's still not as good as most of the scooters sold there.

And the second reason is that Tata sees the Nano as a "gateway" car. Get 'em addicted to the cheap stuff, then move 'em up to bigger, more profitable, less fuel-efficient cars later.

Combine these two reasons with the fact that the Nano will likely be sold in China as well, and you potentially have hundreds of millions of newly licensed drivers in line at the pump. The CNN story quotes one oil analyst who says we're likely to see gas prices near $4 or $5 well before 2015.

[Source: CNN]

Gallery: Tata Nano

Cheap cars in India = expensive gas in the States originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 04 Feb 2008 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cheap gasCheapGasfuel efficiencyFuelEfficiencygas pricegas pricesgasoline pricesGasolinePricesGasPriceGasPricesindia car salesIndiaCarSalesmpgtatatata gas pricestata nanoTataGasPricesTataNanoMon, 04 Feb 2008 18:21:00 EST