Autobytel Inc.'s Automotive Information Center (AIC) division today released data from its upcoming research report, the Q3 2005 AIC Quarterly QuickView, which features updated industry statistics on vehicle equipment and new vehicle models. The updated data in this Q3 report reveals significant trends in fuel economy, pricing and new vehicle technologies.

Fuel Economy Increases in SUVs

With fuel prices continuing to rise, fuel efficiency is an ongoing concern for new vehicle purchasers. While SUV owners are feeling considerable heat at the gas pump, there is good news to report. AIC analysts studied the effects of SUV curb weight and horsepower on miles per gallon in recent years.

The study revealed that decreasing curb weight and increasing horsepower, in addition to other technology advances, have resulted in greater fuel efficiency in SUVs. From 2003 to 2006, average curb weight declined 2.7%, while average horsepower increased 6.7%. Based on these changes, as well as other vehicle factors, SUV fuel efficiency has increased 10.5%, from 19 miles per gallon in 2003 to 21 miles per gallon among the current crop of 2006 models.

SUV Pricing Drops

While AIC analysts uncovered fuel economy increases, the data also showed that SUV pricing dropped year over year from 2005 to 2006, bringing SUV owners more good news. Based on AIC research, the average SUV MSRP declined $36 from 2005 to 2006.

However, among individual makes, the top three price reductions from 2005 to 2006 for available SUVs were significant:

    *  Mercury Mountaineer -- down $2446 (average of eight trims)
    *  Ford Explorer -- down $2281 (average of 14 trims)
    *  Lincoln Navigator -- down $1345 (average of four trims)

   New Technology Represents High Growth Area

According to the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) more than 152 million Americans -- about 70% of the total U.S. adult population -- own portable entertainment devices.(4) This rapid adoption of entertainment devices is supported by a recent Autobytel online survey in which 81% of respondents said they, or someone in their family, owns an iPod. Carmakers are already responding to this trend, as AIC analysts are seeing a significant increase in MP3-capable vehicles with either full or partial integration options. From 2003 to 2006, the MP3 capability increased by 12 times as a standard feature, appearing on 25 vehicles in 2003 and appearing on more than 320 vehicles in the 2006 model year. In total for 2006, 598 vehicles listed

the MP3 player capability as either a standard or optional feature, versus just 65 vehicles including it in 2003.

Also growing in popularity is the availability of vehicles equipped with backup cameras, which are systems designed to detect obstacles that may be encountered when a vehicle is backing up. AIC found the number of backup cameras available on all models and trims has grown 860 percent in the past four years, from appearing as either a standard or optional feature in five trims in 2003 to appearing as a standard or optional feature on 48 trims in the 2006 model year. These numbers support a continuing trend toward safety concerns in vehicles.