New Bing Automotive Search Launched for Detroit Auto Show 2011

Bing, the search engine from Microsoft that is attempting to take on Google, may see its automotive searches jump significantly with the new technology that should see wide use during the Detroit Auto Show. Just type in the make and model of the vehicle you are interested in and Bing will assemble all of the important information (price, fuel economy, user rating, listings in your area) as well as quick links to additional information right within the search result.

To make it work, head over to Bing.com, type in a year, make and model, and then hit the search icon. Once on the search results page, click on the auto tab and it brings up a lot of information including specifications and reviews. Important information included are competitors and safety information in addition to that listed above.

Apparently, the Bing automotive search function works best with cars currently on the market. A search of Hyundai Veloster, for example, did not engage the auto tab, which makes sense because the new coupe was only announced five days ago. Type in 2011 Hyundai Sonata and useful information you want at your fingertips, like MSRP and dealer invoice, are there as well as reviews from owners and experts courtesy of MSN Auto. The site could benefit from more than just MSN Auto reviews.

UPDATE: Mark Phelan from the Detroit Free Press pointed out to TorqueNews.com that the system doesn't always pop up the Auto tab. It's hit and miss as we discovered with some further research of our own. It has bugs that need worked out as content is being built.

What are the downsides to the Bing auto information? None are popping out after a little inspection. It’s a good site that will get a lot of use by new car shoppers, as well as lazy automotive journalists who may not want to wade through an Edmunds or KBB.com, which provides used car pricing information on older models.