Ford’s drop from 10th to 20th place among 28 carmakers

Consumer Reports has published its 2011 annual auto survey in which the main point of interest, as the report states, is a sharp decline in Ford’s so far “solid reliability record”: the Detroit carmaker dropped 10 places in the overall reliability ranks.

According to CR's survey, which is based on responses from 1.3 million vehicles owners, Ford’s drop from 10th to 20th place among 28 carmakers can be attributed to two main factors. The first is that all three of Ford’s new models, i.e. the Explorer, Fiesta and Focus, scored below average in reliability in their first year on the market.

“We have often found that new or revamped models have more problems in their first year than in subsequent model years”, commented the senior director of Consumer Reports’ Automotive Test Center, David Champion. “Ford’s problems illustrate why we recommend to our subscribers to hold off buying a first-year model.”

The second factor that contributed to Ford’s decline is problems with new technologies, such as the MyfFord Touch infotainment system and the new PowerShift semi-automatic gearbox used in the Focus and Fiesta. The similar MyLincoln Touch system’s problems even affected Lincoln’s MKX, even though the brand was ranked above Ford. On the positive side, the Fusion Hybrid scored very well, and its other versions were above average.

Contrary to Ford, Chrysler has seen its reliability record improve significantly: Jeep is now the most reliable domestic brand in the U.S., having risen from 20th to 13th place. Dodge and Chrysler did not do badly either, moving up 12 and 3 places respectively.

Predictably, it is the Japanese that continue to dominate the reliability survey, securing the top nine positions of the scoreboard since of the 91 models that CR had sufficient data, 87 ranked average or better and 24 cars earned top marks. Scion (with two models ranked) led the pack, followed by Lexus, Acura, Mazda, Honda and Toyota.

Despite Chrysler’s improvement, the Detroit Big Three still haven’t caught up with their rivals, ranking not only below the Japanese but also the two Korean brands, Hyundai and Kia. GM’s Buick and Cadillac did worse than in 2010, with the LaCrosse, Enclave AWD and SRX scoring lower than last year and losing the “recommended” tag.

General Motors' best result was the Chevrolet Volt that was the group’s most reliable car, even though the sample was barely larger than the 100-unit minimum required by the survey and the cars were owned for only a few months.

European carmakers were, as always, a mixed lot: the highest-ranking brand was Volvo, at 10th spot, while VW retained its 16th place, and both BMW and Mercedes-Benz improved, though their line-up reliability was inconsistent.

The biggest loser was Porsche: in 2010 it was second best but this year it is second worst, due to only two models being ranked one of which, the second-generation Cayenne SUV, suffered many reliability problems.

Not surprisingly, given its record of accomplishment and decades-old bad reputation, Jaguar finished dead last as its XF and XJ luxury sedans were the two least reliable models in the entire survey.

Land Rover Scores 54% of the Vote in MSN Cars’ Poll of Best 4x4 Brands

In a recent online poll, MSN Cars asked its readers a simple question: “Which firm makes the best '4x4' type cars?” The winner, with an astonishing 54% of the 39,663 votes is Indian British automaker Land Rover.

The brand’s winning combination of aggressive yet attractive styling, “go anywhere” off-road ability, ruggedness and comfort have made Land Rover the powerhouse brand it is today – and a deserved winner. Land Rover UK managing director Colin Green is understandably over the moon:

“We are thrilled that MSN users have voted Land Rover their favourite 4x4 brand. We know that Land Rover has some of the best brand loyalty figures in the industry and this poll is testament to that. Taking over half the votes is a great achievement and goes to prove that Land Rover really does make the world's most authentic 4x4s. Thank you to everyone who voted for us!”

Second place was snatched by Toyota (9%) and Audi took a surprising third (8%). Jeep claimed an equally surprising sixth (3%), bested by the likes of BMW (6%), Mitsubishi (5%) and Subaru (4%). Mercedes-Benz shared 7th place with Jeep while Lexus, Volkswagen and Volvo scored 2% a piece.

With a history stretching back 63 years, there have been many noteworthy Land Rovers. It seems every model the company has released – from the Range Rover of the 1970s to the Discovery and Freelander models of the ‘90s – has ignited the public’s imagination and fuelled much debate.

So tell us, readers: what is your favourite Land Rover? Do you go with the traditionalist Series I of the ‘40s, the radical Evoque or the flawed yet brilliant Range Rover? You tell us.

By Tristan Hankins

Story source: MSN Cars

Caddy’s big SUV, the Escalade is $16,882

For years, Caddy’s big SUV, the Escalade is the number one target of thieves in the States and this hasn't changed in the latest study from the Highway Loss Data Institute (HLDI).

According to the latest data for 2008-10 models from HLDI, the Escalade is more than six times as likely to be stolen by thieves compared to the average vehicle.

This time, four versions of the Escalade appear at the top spot with the pickup-bed EXT model being the most “popular” amongst thieves, with more than 14 claims per 1,000 insured vehicles annually – or more than eight times those of the average vehicle.

Large SUVs and pickup trucks, like Ford’s F-250 Series and F450 also appear in the top 10, with the first passenger car being the Chrysler 300 with 7.1 claims per 1,000 vehicles. Strangely enough, thieves appear to prefer American models, as the top 10 list is comprised only cars and trucks from U.S. brands.

Half of the vehicles with the lowest claim rates are either European or Japanese. Audi’s A6 is at the bottom of the list with just 0.5 claims per 1,000 cars.

But there is another factor to be taken into consideration: according to the data, the average payment per claim for the A6 is $16,882, whereas for the Escalade much lower, at $10,555. Before you jump to a conclusion, though, consider that the much higher number of claims for Caddy’s SUV results in overall theft losses of $114 per insured vehicle, whereas Audi’s mid-size sedan figure costs the insurance companies only eight bucks a year.

So what can be done to make owners feel more secure? “Immobilizers are a good deterrent against joy-riding teenagers, but professional thieves can easily haul away an SUV on a flatbed truck,” says HLDI’s senior vice president Kim Hazelbaker.

Carmakers are working to find a solution. GM offers two optional sensors for the 2012 Escalade, an inclination sensor that will sound an alarm if someone tries to load it in a flatbed, and a shock sensor that activates when a glass is shattered.

Chrysler’s Vince Muniga responded that “we ‘ve beefed up the security of our interior components like navigation systems to stay one step ahead of the thieves”, while Ford’s spokesman, Wes Sherwood, noted that the company is offering transponder immobilization systems to F-250, 350 and 450 trucks since 2007.

Porsche 929

Julliana Cho’s Porsche 929 concept study builds on this tradition while also weaving aerodynamic styling, the brand’s design heritage and an innovating car sharing program into the mix.
The 929’s theoretical dimensions make it smaller than the Porsche Panamera but larger than the 911. Aside from the design itself, what makes the 929 stands out from the pack is Cho’s imaginative (though possibly impractical and expensive) car sharing scheme.
Interested parties join the Porsche Car Sharing club and receive a smart key in the mail. They then activate their smart key and finalise their personal details online before moving on to the next step.

Here, club members can specify everything from body shape to interior configuration as well as wheel design, exterior paint and material options. Once these details have been saved, club members locate their nearest charging station where their car is quite literally assembled before their eyes. When finished, the cars are returned to the charging station and disassembled ready for the next customer.
At least, that’s what I gathered from the young female designer's illustrations. I may be wrong, and welcome any corrections Cho or our readers care to provide. 

U.S. automotive sales Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have all made it, and 2011 is expected to be Hyundai’s year.

In the realm of U.S. automotive sales, 8% is a magic number. When an automaker hits 8%, they know they’ve become one of the big guns. Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, Dodge and Nissan have all made it, and 2011 is expected to be Hyundai’s year.

So sayeth market research firm Polk, and I’m tempted to agree. Hyundai and its partner-brand / internal rival Kia have steadily been evolving into truly world-class carmakers. They’re keenly priced, inoffensive to look at and comprehensively covered quality-wise – everything the vast majority of new car buyers want in this day and age.

Add to that the Little Automaker That Could is experiencing faster market growth than any other offshore-based company selling vehicles in the U.S.; topping the likes of Honda, Toyota and Nissan.

According to Polk, the biggest hurdles facing the South Korean carmaker are the need to add a pickup / ute to its range (see the Toyota Tundra and Honda Ridgeline for more on why this could be a problem) and a lack of focus in its brand image. After all, how does one derive a singular vision out of a range that includes at one end the US$12,445 Accent and at the other the US$58,900 Equus? It’s just not possible.

Still, it’ll be interesting to see how Hyundai’s market share will evolve in the future. With the U.S. automakers finally cleaning up their game and a dearth of low-cost imports on the horizon from China, there’s sure to be some exciting years ahead.

Source: Polk

Ward's Auto Announces the 10 Best Car Interiors of 2011

Like every year, Ward's AutoWorld magazine picks the best interiors the automotive industry has to offer. For 2011, the publication chose 10 the ten best interiors the offer after editors analyzed 51 vehicles that were all-new or featured significantly upgraded interior. Ward's Auto picked the 10 winners from all segments, with the finalists including three luxury brands, three economy cars, a sport sedan, a minivan, an SUV and a family sedan.

If you’re still with us, the top 10 winners for 2011, in alphabetical order, are:

Audi A8
BMW X3 xDrive35i
Chevrolet Cruze 2LT RS
Dodge Charger Rallye Plus
Ford Focus Titanium
Honda Odyssey Elite
Hyundai Elantra Limited
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
Kia Optima EX
Volvo S60

These cars were chosen after editors completed score sheets for each one based on materials, ergonomics, safety, the human-machine interface, comfort, fit-and-finish, overall value and aesthetics.

“Auto makers are so focused on the smallest details that it’s hard to find a bad interior these days. Still, some are better than others, and we’re recognizing the best of the best,” says Ward’s AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

Scroll down to watch Ward's Auto editors reviewing four of the ten cars' interiors and check them all out in the picture gallery.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Ward's Auto Announces the 10 Best Car Interiors of 2011

Like every year, Ward's AutoWorld magazine picks the best interiors the automotive industry has to offer. For 2011, the publication chose 10 the ten best interiors the offer after editors analyzed 51 vehicles that were all-new or featured significantly upgraded interior. Ward's Auto picked the 10 winners from all segments, with the finalists including three luxury brands, three economy cars, a sport sedan, a minivan, an SUV and a family sedan.

If you’re still with us, the top 10 winners for 2011, in alphabetical order, are:

Audi A8
BMW X3 xDrive35i
Chevrolet Cruze 2LT RS
Dodge Charger Rallye Plus
Ford Focus Titanium
Honda Odyssey Elite
Hyundai Elantra Limited
Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Summit
Kia Optima EX
Volvo S60

These cars were chosen after editors completed score sheets for each one based on materials, ergonomics, safety, the human-machine interface, comfort, fit-and-finish, overall value and aesthetics.

“Auto makers are so focused on the smallest details that it’s hard to find a bad interior these days. Still, some are better than others, and we’re recognizing the best of the best,” says Ward’s AutoWorld Editor-in-Chief Drew Winter.

Scroll down to watch Ward's Auto editors reviewing four of the ten cars' interiors and check them all out in the picture gallery.

By Dan Mihalascu

PHOTO GALLERY

Of those 81%, 52% use their mobile phones to make calls, 44% use them to send text messages, 31% use them to check their email and 24%

A UK website called GoodMobilePhones has polled some 1,859 visitors and found that 81% of respondents admit to using a mobile phone without a hands-free device while driving, despite the fact it’s been illegal to do so in Britain for over seven years.

Of those 81%, 52% use their mobile phones to make calls, 44% use them to send text messages, 31% use them to check their email and 24% use them to look at social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. Of all the respondents, only 12% said they’d never make a phone call while driving without a hands free kit and just 3% said they’d never use their phone at all while on the road.

More disturbing, 62% were not aware of the punishments that could be incurred for such behaviour, and 11% were unsure. Only 27% claimed to be fully aware and used their mobile phones regardless.

Mark Owen, the founder of GoodMobilePhones had this to say about the survey:

“It’s surprising to see how many people still take or make calls without a hands-free kit whilst driving, particularly given how aware we all are of the dangers. While we all may be guilty of checking the odd text or Facebook status when in a traffic jam, this is nevertheless illegal, not to mention hazardous to both yourself and other drivers. It’s amazing to think that the law banning mobile phones whilst driving is just over seven years old, yet the majority of people are still using their mobile phone whilst operating a vehicle.”

It’s a sad state of affairs, though somewhat inevitable in our highly networked world. The good old days of work ending when we leave the office are long behind us, and with social networking rapidly replacing the tried-and-true methods of interpersonal communication, this problem is only going to get worse in the future.

Add to that increasing traffic congestion and road rage incidents and it would seem the British are in for a lot more than they bargained for.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: TheTelegraph