According to a recent J.D. Power and Associates study, the internet has surpassed all other shopping methods as the source for locating the vehicle a late-model used car buyer will ultimately purchase.

The 2007 ‘Used Autoshopper.com Study was released yesterday alongside information showing that internet vehicle locators like Text4Cars.com, Autotrader.com, CarMax.com and eBay Motors are working harder than ever, leading one in four shoppers to the vehicle that they actually decide to purchase. That’s a 44 percent increase over last year, the study says.

“This is just one indication that use of the Internet is now perhaps the most efficient source for shopping for and purchasing late-model used vehicles,” said Jon Osborn, research director at J.D. Power and Associates. “In the past, the majority of used-vehicle automotive Internet users relied on the traditional method of driving around to dealer lots to find the vehicle they ultimately bought.”

Another interesting trend discovered by the study deals with Consumer Generated Content, or CGC. Many owners are offering their own experiences and opinions on makes, models and dealerships, consumer reviews and ratings are the most common form of CGC.

J.D. Power says that over 70% of new and used car shoppers use CGC to some extent during their shopping and purchasing process.

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The bar for automotive safety has been raised significantly for 2007, as The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, an American non-profit organization funded by auto insurers, set rigorous new standards for their annual awards. According to CTV.ca, all 13 cars awarded featured electronic stability control (ESC), a relatively new feature that allows drivers to have more control of their vehicle while going through an emergency maneuver.

The institute’s research showed significant reductions in single-vehicle crashes for both cars and SUVs with ESC, with fatal crashes down 40% and fatal rollovers down 80%. The Institute made the addition of ESC mandatory for car manufacturers to qualify for the awards.

“The idea of tightening the criteria for the award is to encourage more vehicle safety improvements,” Institute president Adrian Lund said in a written statement.

“Last year a car could win with an acceptable rating in the rear test instead of the highest rating of good, and ESC wasn’t considered. Now it’s tougher to win, and some of the 2006 winners don’t meet the criteria for this year’s award because the manufacturers haven’t improved the head restraints from acceptable to good or don’t offer ESC.”

The Institute’s List:

Large car

Audi A6 (manufactured in December 2006 and later)

Midsize cars

Audi A4

Saab 9-3

Subaru Legacy (equipped with optional electronic stability control)

Minivans

Hyundai Entourage

Kia Sedona

Luxury SUVs

Mercedes M class

Volvo XC90

Midsize SUVs

Acura RDX

Honda Pilot

Subaru B9 Tribeca

Small SUVs

Honda CR-V

Subaru Forester (equipped with optional electronic stability control)

Following the Institute’s awards, several top manufacturers, including Ford, Hyundai, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors and Toyota, made press releases regarding the standardization of ESC, most speculating the addition of the technology for all 2008 and 2009 models.

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