Ben “The Stig” Collins names the five worst cars he’s ever driven

Filed under: Etc.

Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione

The five worst cars Ben Collins has ever driven – Click above for high-res image gallery

Over the course of his years donning the white suit and helmet for Top Gear, pro driver Ben Collins has had the chance to drive an enviably wide array of cars. Their track times all went up on the power lap board, but there are better ways of evaluating how a car handles under pressure – like asking the guy who drove them. That’s what Australian car site Drive did, and got the former Stig to jot down some notes. They weren’t in Morse Code, but while his list of the worst five cars he’d ever driven includes some obvious choices, a couple may surprise.

First up on Ben’s hit list: the Alfa Romeo 8C Competizione. When we drove it, we found its dynamics were lightyears behind its looks, and His (deposed) Stiginess apparently agrees. At the end of Collins’ list is another supercar – the TVR Sagaris – which he feels was horribly emblematic of the company that produced it, while pointing to the fact that Jeremy Clarkson loved it as evidence enough of its dubious distinction.

In between these two European supercars on Collins’ list comes the Fiat Multipla, whose horrid styling was surpassed only by its dismal performance, and the Cadillac Escalade, which the Englishman found to be all show and no go – particularly off road. Finally, the previous-generation Dodge Charger drew the Stig’s ire for its gross weight and lamentable slushbox. If for America’s sake alone, we can only hope that, heavier still though it is, Collins might take a crack at the new model.

Gallery: Ben Collin’s Five Worst Cars

Fiat MultiplaCadillac EscaladeDodge ChargerTVR Sagaris

Ben “The Stig” Collins names the five worst cars he’s ever driven originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 02 May 2011 14:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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JD Power’s 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study names Lincoln best brand, Toyota wins most segments

Filed under: Car Buying

JD Power 2011 Dependability Study

J.D. Power and Associates has released its annual Vehicle Dependability Study for 2011, and there are a few surprises in store for those who religiously keep track of who outperforms who on the automotive reliability front. For the first time ever, Lincoln, with 101 problems per 100 vehicles, leads the chart, followed by Lexus with a score of 109.

Number three on the list is also something of a surprise: Jaguar, who’s score of 112 problems per 100 vehicles seemingly proves not all leaping kitties leave unwanted presents outside the confines of their litter boxes. Porsche (114) and Toyota (122) round out the top five. The industry average comes in at 151 problems per 100 vehicles, which of course means that some brands perform rather poorly in J.D. Power’s rankings.

Bringing up the rear in this year’s study is Mini, with 221 problems per 100 vehicles. That’s not good. BMW’s smallest brand is followed by Jeep (214), Land Rover (212), Dodge (206) and Chrysler (202). The study also ranks individual models in each category, and Toyota’s seven individual segment victories gives the Japanese automaker more individual victories than any other brand.

A brief explanation of how this particular study is compiled: J.D. Power polled 43,700 original owners on problems experienced during the past 12 months on 2008 model-year vehicles after three years of ownership. As such, this study is not ranking the latest vehicles by any given manufacturer, but is instead intended to help consumers predict the durability of a potential automobile purchase.

There’s lots more detail in the press release and graphs found after the break, so click here and put your number-crunching hats on.

[Source: J.D. Power and Associates]

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JD Power’s 2011 Vehicle Dependability Study names Lincoln best brand, Toyota wins most segments originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 Mar 2011 16:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pininfarina names Renault’s Fabio Filippini as design director

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Design/Style

Fabio Filippini

Independent design studios and coachbuilders – the famous Italian ones especially – are still facing tough times, with business waning and designers switching positions like a proverbial game of musical chairs. Pininfarina is among the most storied of them all, and has reportedly named a new design director to lead its activities.

According to reports, the latest man in the hot seat is Fabio Filippini. The Italian graduate of the Milan Politecnico comes to Pininfarina from Renault, where he has served as Vice President of Interior Design since 2008. Over the course of his tenure at the French automaker, Filippini oversaw the design of the latest Megane, was founding director of the satellite Renault Design Paris studio and has lived in France, Japan and Spain.

In his new capacity at Pininfarina, Filippini takes over from Lowie Vermeersch, who left the company late last year, and will report directly to Pininfarina’s CEO Silvio Pietro Angori.

[Source: Car Body Design]

Pininfarina names Renault’s Fabio Filippini as design director originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Automobile Magazine names 2011 All-Stars

Filed under: Etc., BMW, Cadillac, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Jaguar, Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo



Automobile has compiled a list of the 2011 model year vehicles deserving of all-star recognition. To show off each choice, the buff book has enlisted illustrator Daniel Stolle to turn each vehicle into a child’s toy. The list of 2011 Automobile All-Stars features:

  • BMW 3 Series
  • Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon
  • Dodge Ram 1500
  • Ford Mustang
  • Honda Odyssey
  • Hyundai Sonata
  • Jaguar XJ
  • Porsche Boxster/Cayman
  • Volkswagen GTI
  • Volvo S60

It’s hard to argue with that rundown and you can head over to Automobile for more insight into how and why the pub’s editors picked this group to be honored.

Gallery: Automobile Magazine Names Its 2011 All-Stars

2011 Jaguar XJ2011 BMW 3 Series2011 Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon2011 Ford Mustang2011 Honda Odyssey

[Source: Automobile]

Automobile Magazine names 2011 All-Stars originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Follow-up: Kia names new vice chairman

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Kia, South Korea

Kia Badge

Kia has named its next vice chairman. Lee Hyoung-Keun, the company’s chief of overseas operations, will step up into the automaker’s highest leadership role to fill the void left by Jeong Sung-Eun, who stepped down from the position of vice chairman after a global recall sent many of the company’s vehicles in for repairs. Lee, who is also known as Hank Lee, will continue to perform the duties of his old role in the company while taking on the responsibilities of the vice chairman at the same time.

The Detroit News states that Hyundai Motor Chairman Chung Mong-Koo was originally responsible for asking Jeong to step down, though Hyundai has not officially confirmed this report. Kia recalled a total of 104,047 vehicles worldwide, with 35,185 of those in the United States. The recall primarily concerned a faulty wiring harness that could eventually cause a fire if left unchecked.

[Source: The Detroit News]

Follow-up: Kia names new vice chairman originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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