Tag: making

Report: Auto leasing making a strong comeback

Filed under: Car Buying

Back in 1999, about one in four new vehicles purchased were leases. That number dropped throughout the last decade until the Great Recession put leasing on the endangered species list. Automakers were losing money due to poorer-than-expected residual rates. At the same time, customers weren’t in the mood to spend money on a new car or truck. As a result, Chrysler stopped leasing altogether in 2008, and General Motors limited leasing to its most popular models.

Wards Automotive reports that while leasing has taken a considerable beating, the two- and three-year vehicle rental is now on the comeback trail. GM and Chrysler are back in the leasing business, and according to Wards, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Kia are pushing hard to increase lease transactions. Are automakers rolling the dice in an effort to move more metal? Maybe not.

With vehicle inventories in check, there’s less chance residuals will take a dive, and at the same time the certified used car programs get a shot in the arm with low-mile, warranty-equipped cars and trucks. We probably won’t see 25-percent lease rates anytime soon, but Automotive Lease Guide Inc sees the practice jumping to a 20-percent take rate by 2015.

[Source: Wards Automotive sub. req. | Image: Caitlin Regan / Flickr via CC BY 2.0 ]

Report: Auto leasing making a strong comeback originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 08 Jan 2011 18:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Study: Making roads safer has led to bored, risk-taking drivers

Filed under: Etc., Safety, Australia

Bored driver in traffic

A new study from researchers in Australia may have dug up one of the reasons why drivers exceed the speed limit on their way to work. According to the Toronto Sun, a new study has found that drivers who are bored behind the wheel are more likely to put the right pedal to the floor. Researchers at Newcastle University asked drivers to answer a few questions about their driving habits and found that 31 percent of those behind the wheel are inattentive and dangerous. More surprisingly, 35 percent of those polled were classified as enthusiastic and attentive. These are the motorists that enjoy driving, but go faster when their stimulus levels decrease. The study also found that 21 percent of those polled dislike driving and move slower, while members of the smallest group, just 13 percent of the total respondents, were branded slow and safe.

Interestingly, researchers concluded that the influx of devices designed to make driving easier has led to the impression that operating a vehicle is akin to a chore. Rather than making drivers safer, the gadgets have actually led to increased inattentiveness. Basically, the perception of safety has increased the likelihood of risk taking.

Sounds like it’s high time that vehicles made drivers fear for their lives once again. In all seriousness, the researchers have apparently recommended adding more turns to roads and incorporating shared space to force drivers to pay attention, among other actions.

[Source: The Toronto Sun | Image: Alexander F. Yuan/AP]

Study: Making roads safer has led to bored, risk-taking drivers originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Porsche making its return to Detroit show with ‘spectacular’ supercar

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Porsche, Luxury

Porsche 918 Model – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s been nearly four years since Porsche pulled out of the Detroit Auto Show, but next month the German automaker is coming back to Motor City and will mark its return with an all-new concept.

Porsche spokesperson Hans-Gerd Bode told Bloomberg in a recent interview that the automaker will “have something spectacular to show,” but failed to go into detail.

Early reports indicate the automaker will debut a supercar concept, possibly a new iteration of the 918 Spyder that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show this past March. The concept could be based on a more production-ready version of the 918’s platform and possibly pack a conventional powertrain rather than the hybrid drivetrain fitted to the original concept.

Porsche’s return to Detroit comes amidst the Volkswagen Group’s expanded marketing push in the States, with the sports car maker joining VAG’s other brands, including Audi and Bentley.

Gallery: Porsche 918 Spyder concept

[Sources: Bloomberg, Autocar]

Report: Porsche making its return to Detroit show with ‘spectacular’ supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 05 Dec 2010 19:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught making the rounds

Filed under: Coupe, Videos, Volkswagen

2012 Volkswagen Beetle

2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught unmasked in the wild – Click above to watch video after the jump

Before the keys land in the hands of the Oprah faithful, the 2012 Volkswagen Beetle still has to make its world debut. Until then, we have to rely on spy photographers for glimpses of der neue New Beetle. The latest clip gives us a good view of the redesigned VW as it hits the street on one of its innumerable test drives. Hit the jump to see for yourselves. Thanks for the tip, Vicken!

[Source: YouTube via SecretNewCars.com]

Continue reading Video: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught making the rounds

Video: 2012 Volkswagen Beetle caught making the rounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 04 Dec 2010 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spy Shots: Hyundai HED-5 making the rounds

Filed under: Concept Cars, Spy Photos, Minivan/Van, Wagon, Crossover, Hyundai, Design/Style


Hyundai HED-5 prototype captured by Rich Truesdell of Automotive Traveler

Our buddy Rich Truesdell over at Automotive Traveler was out at one of his favorite spy shot locales and came across some Hyundai prototypes under wraps. Among them was a hatchback that Rich initially figured was the new Accent. It turns out it’s more likely the production version of the Hyundai HED-5 undergoing testing.

The Elantra-based competitor for the Mazda5 and the forthcoming Ford Grand C-Max – was first shown as a concept at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2008, and then again in Los Angeles where Hyundai quickly confirmed it for production. Things got a bit quiet after that until February of this year when an alert reader sent us pics of a cloaked version of the production microvan undergoing testing in Scandinavia.

The three-row space wagon shows signs that it will be blessed with Hyundai’s new Fluidic Sculpture styling, a design language that we are finding very appealing, despite the kooky name. We’re not sure what’s under the hood, but Hyundai did mention its new 286-hp, 2.0-liter Theta Turbo GDI engine as a possibility when the concept was on the stand in Los Angeles back in ’08. That would certainly shake things up in this increasingly popular class, but such a powerful motor doesn’t seem likely. However, were it to recceive the force-fed motor, who knows? It could singlehandedly force a business case for a Mazdaspeed5 as well. Hmmm.

Click on over to Automotive Traveler for more pics of the cloaked Hyundai HED-5.

Gallery: Spy Shots: Hyundai HED-5

Gallery: Hyundai i-Mode concept

[Source: Automotive Traveler]

Spy Shots: Hyundai HED-5 making the rounds originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 27 Aug 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: No (invisible) monkeys were harmed in the making of this Dodge commercial

Filed under: Marketing/Advertising, Videos, Dodge, Humor

Dodge’s monkey… now you see it, now you don’t – Click above to watch the video after the break

Ah yes. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. We here at Autoblog happen to be all for the ethical treatment of animals. And we’re people… allegedly. But we’re certainly not all fully in tune with the fine men and women that make up PETA. And we also happen to think that PETA sometimes goes a wee bit too far in their efforts to make man equal to beast… or is that the other way around?

In any case, PETA was apparently none too pleased by a recent commercial from Dodge touting a new promotion that included a chimpanzee named Suzie and a purposefully deadpan narrative from Michael C. Hall. In response to pressure from PETA, Dodge digitally altered its advertisement. Interestingly enough, it got way funnier in the process. Kudos, Dodge.

You’re going to want to click on past the break to see the before and after videos… trust us. You’ll also find the official letter from PETA asking Dodge to discontinue all the *ahem* monkey business. Sorry, couldn’t help ourselves.

[Source: LA Times via Jalopnik]

Continue reading Video: No (invisible) monkeys were harmed in the making of this Dodge commercial

Video: No (invisible) monkeys were harmed in the making of this Dodge commercial originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 19:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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