Hagerty predicts this year’s future classics
Filed under: Car Buying, Classics, Etc., Audi, Buick, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Jeep, Nissan, Porsche, Volkswagen
The world would be considerably less entertaining if we could all predict the future. Even so, the classic car gurus at Hagerty Insurance have cast a few chicken bones in an attempt to figure out which vehicles produced today might eventually turn collectible.
The company restricted entrants to hardware with a price tag of less than $100,000, so the list isn't populated with too many wild exotics. While vehicles like the Nissan GT-R Black Edition, Ford Mustang Boss 302 Laguna Seca Edition, Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 and Porsche 911 are low-hanging fruit, the list also featured a few surprises.
For starters, it begins with none other than the mighty Buick Regal GS. Hagerty says the vehicle is a win because it's the first Buick with a manual transmission since the fall of the Holy Roman Empire. The Fiat 500 Abarth also makes an appearance alongside an even hotter hatch, the Volkswagen Golf R. Of course, we're simply thrilled to see the sinister Audi TT RS make a showing. Hit the jump for the full list or view each vehicle in our gallery above.
Continue reading Hagerty predicts this year's future classics
Hagerty predicts this year's future classics originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 30 Jan 2012 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCar and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video]
Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Hatchback, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Porsche, Volkswagen
Every year, the scribes at Car and Driver go through every new vehicle on sale and pick the ten best cars currently on sale here in the United States. And while some major automotive awards are only shelled out to vehicles that are all-new or significantly updated for a certain model year, C/D's approach is to look at the full scope of vehicles on sale. After all, there are some cars that are simply perennial favorites, even if they haven't changed year over year.
For 2012, the Chevrolet Volt and Hyundai Sonata have fallen off the list to make room for the Audi A7 and Ford Focus. The other eight vehicles that round out the 10Best list have carried over from the 2011 winners, but we can't say we're surprised. These ten cars indeed represent some of the best vehicles on sale today.
The 2012 Car and Driver 10Best winners are:
- Audi A7
- BMW 3 Series / M3
- Cadillac CTS-V
- Ford Focus
- Ford Mustang GT / Boss 302
- Honda Accord
- Honda Fit
- Mazda MX-5
- Porsche Boxster / Cayman
- Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Continue reading Car and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video]
Car and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsCar and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video]
Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Hatchback, Audi, BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Porsche, Volkswagen
Each year, the scribes at Car and Driver go through every new vehicle on sale and pick the ten best cars available here in the United States. And while some major automotive awards are only shelled out to vehicles that are all-new or significantly updated for a certain model year, C/D's approach is to look at the full scope of cars currently on sale. After all, there are some cars that are simply perennial favorites, even if they haven't changed year over year.
For 2012, the Chevrolet Volt and Hyundai Sonata have fallen off the list to make room for the Audi A6/A7 and Ford Focus. The other eight vehicles that round out the 10Best list have carried over from the 2011 winners, but we can't say we're surprised. These ten cars indeed represent some of the best vehicles on sale today.
The 2012 Car and Driver 10Best winners are:
- Audi A6/A7
- BMW 3 Series / M3
- Cadillac CTS-V
- Ford Focus
- Ford Mustang GT / Boss 302
- Honda Accord
- Honda Fit
- Mazda MX-5
- Porsche Boxster / Cayman
- Volkswagen Golf / GTI
Continue reading Car and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video]
Car and Driver reveals its 2012 10Best cars [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 06 Dec 2011 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentseBay Motors launches World’s Fastest Car Show with Justin Bell
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, Ford, Celebrities
Justin Bell and eBay Motors have teamed up for a new web-based car show called, fittingly enough, "The World's Fastest Car Show." The premise is pretty straight-forward, with Bell taking to the wheel of some piece of drool-worthy metal in the first half of the show before heading off to an event in the latter half. The inaugural episode features a stint in the delicious Ford Mustang Boss 302 on Mulholland Drive as well as a stop in at Pebble Beach for a peak at the concept lawn.
Bell spends some time with a variety of concepts before deciding that the electrified Porsche 918 RSR is the belle of that particular ball. Race fans will likely recognize Bell as the same champion race driver who has campaigned at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the FIA GT series. "The World's Fastest Car Show" will debut a new episode each week. Hit the jump to check out the first episode for yourself.
Continue reading eBay Motors launches World's Fastest Car Show with Justin Bell
eBay Motors launches World's Fastest Car Show with Justin Bell originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Sep 2011 19:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink | Email this | CommentsConsumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are… reliable
Filed under: Acura, Audi, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, GM, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Porsche, Scion, Subaru, Toyota, Volvo
Consumer Reports has released its annual reliability scores for the automotive industry. The 2010 edition reads like the 2009 report... which reads like the 2008 publication, which reminds us of the 2007 version that was similar to the 2006 release. Asia is once again at the head of the class while America has reportedly made great strides and Germany is a mixed bag.
Even with a recent rash of recalls, Toyota (along with Scion and Lexus) is still near near the top of CR's reliability chart. Honda and Acura are also listed as producing highly reliable vehicles, with only the four-cylinder Accord and TSX receiving average ratings. Nissan had a strong showing despite the fact that its Cube, in the first year it has appeared in this report, received a below average score. The Nissan Titan was also hit as being below average. The rest of the lineup however, was rated average or better, including the entire Infiniti model line. Subaru, Hyundai and Kia all had good scores as well, with only Subie's WRX falling below average.
The U.S. automakers made major improvements for 2010. Eighty-three percent of the Chevrolet lineup received scores of average or better. In total, nearly 70 percent of the entire General Motors family is rated at average or better. Ford is the top domestic manufacturer on the list though, with 90 percent of its lineup being given ratings of at least average. That figure is inclusive of the Lincoln brand. It's not all good news in the states unfortunately as none of the Chrysler products were able to receive a rating higher than average.
Reliability for European cars has always been an journey filled with ups and downs. The 2010 reliability scores are no exception. Porsche and Volvo are near the top of the industry while Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Audi are among the worst. BMW was certainly not helped by its N54 engine, Mercedes has six of 13 models receiving below average ratings and Audi got the same ratings for 75 percent of its lineup. On the flip side, the Porsche Boxster has the highest rated reliability in the entirety of the report.
Check out the full press release after the jump.
[Source: Consumer Reports]
Consumer Reports: 2010 Reliability scores as predictable as Asian cars are... reliable originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
Read | Permalink | Email this | CommentsJ.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports
Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Plants/Manufacturing, Marketing/Advertising, Acura, Ford, Lexus, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota
Click above for a gallery of graphtastic images from J.D. Power and Associates
J.D. Power and Associates has released its 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS) and Porsche has earned back the top spot that was occupied by Lexus in last year's study. The annual J.D. Power study measures IQS based on problems reported per 100 vehicles (PP100) - a lower score means a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.
Domestic brands, as a whole, demonstrated higher initial quality than import brands for the first time in an IQS (impressive, as the company has been conducting the study for 24 years). "Domestic automakers have made impressive strides in steadily improving vehicle quality, particularly since 2007," said David Sargent, vice president of global vehicle research at J.D. Power and Associates. "This year may mark a key turning point for U.S. brands as they continue to fight the battle against lingering negative perceptions of their quality." According to J.D. Power, the industry average for initial quality is 109 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2010 (that is a slight increase from 108 PP100 in 2009). However, initial quality for domestic brands as a whole has improved to an average of 108 PP100, slightly better than the initial quality of import brands, which average 109 PP100 in 2010.
Acura made an impressive improvement in the 2010 study. The automaker climbed from 111 PP100 in 2009 to just 86 PP100 in 2010, earning second spot just under Porsche (83 PP100). Mercedes-Benz (87 PP100) earned third position with Lexus (88 PP100) immediately following. Ford (93 PP100) and Lincoln (106 PP100) also earned Top 10 positions. Interestingly enough, Toyota (117 PP100) fell from its seventh position in 2009 to 21st in the 2010 study. The complete J.D. Power press release and charts can be found after the jump and in the gallery below.
[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]
J.D. Power 2010 Initial Quality Study released, first time ever domestics lead imports originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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