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Ford, Honda lead latest J.D. Power owner loyalty survey

Filed under: Car Buying, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Toyota

J.D. Power 2010 Customer Retention Study

Customer loyalty is incredibly important to automakers and something earned by providing both good products and service. J.D. Power has just put out its 2010 Customer Retention Study to show how well each automaker is doing at keeping existing car buyers coming back for more. Leading the way are Ford and Honda who tie each other with a 62 percent rate of customer retention. Hyundai, Lexus and Toyota are right on their heels however with a rate of 60 percent each.

Overall, import manufacturers have the edge on the domestics but that gap has slimmed down due to customers realizing that American automakers are producing a greater number of good products. Of the top 10 automakers in the study, nine are imports.

One of those imports is Kia, which has climbed the most compared to the 2009 study. Rising 21 percentage points, the Korean automaker now sees a rate of retention of 58 percent. That’s 10 points above the industry average.

Be sure to click past the jump to take a look at the full press release for more information on this study.

[Source: J.D. Power]

Continue reading Ford, Honda lead latest J.D. Power owner loyalty survey

Ford, Honda lead latest J.D. Power owner loyalty survey originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Dec 2010 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Renault-Nissan engines to power future Mercedes, Smart models

Filed under: Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, Smart, Renault

The door metaphorically adjoining the offices of Msr. Ghosn and Dr. Zetsche swings both ways. The two executives – heads of Daimler and the Renault-Nissan Alliance respectively – signed a deal that would see the two auto groups collaborating on future products. So far all the reports appear to be benefiting Nissan – including the latest on AMG engines in Infiniti Performance Line models – but the latest indicate a measure of reciprocation.

According to the wire coming in from across the pond, the next generation of Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class hatchbacks will be powered by Renault-Nissan’s new 128-hp 1.6-liter turbodiesel four. Beyond that, the two auto groups will reportedly begin developing a new range of small engines, similar to the engine program between BMW and PSA Peugeot-Citroën.

Their displacements will, according to reports, range from 1.2 liters to 1.8, cylinder counts from three to four and coming in both gasoline and diesel formats, to be used in a broad range of small cars bearing Mercedes, Smart, Nissan and Renault badges.

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Renault-Nissan engines to power future Mercedes, Smart models originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA 2010: 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid brings electric power to the luxury sport segment

Filed under: LA Auto Show, Hybrid, Sedan, Infiniti

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid – Click above for high-res image gallery

Making its public debut here at the LA Auto Show is the first production hybrid sedan from Infiniti, the M35h. Set to hit dealerships in the spring of 2011, the M Hybrid uses a parallel hybrid system combined with a seven-speed automatic transmission and rear-wheel drive.

When paired with a 50-kilowatt electric motor, the M35h’s 3.5-liter V6 is estimated to produce a stout 360 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque. What’s more, the electric motor produces an additional 199 lb-ft of twist off the line for acceleration, and we’re told that the sedan can travel up to 62 miles per hour on electric power alone.

Official fuel economy figures are not available as of this writing, but Infiniti expects the M Hybrid to achieve 25 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway (27 combined). Sure, that might sound impressive, but for the sake of comparison, we’d like to direct your attention to the new 5.0-liter direct-injected V8 from Hyundai, which is estimated to net 26 mpg highway with a whopping 429 hp on tap. Just sayin’.

The M Hybrid does come standard with a laundry list of technological features, such as Active Noise Control and an audible pedestrian warning system for times when the car is silently cruising in electric mode. On top of that, the usual host of functions like navigation, Bluetooth and satellite radio are all on hand – this is a top-tier Infiniti, after all.

Follow the jump for the full details in the automaker’s press release, and click through our galleries of live and stock shots to see the new M Hybrid from all angles.

Gallery: LA 2010: Infiniti M Hybrid

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

Gallery: 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

2012 Infiniti M Hybrid

[Source: Infiniti]

Continue reading LA 2010: 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid brings electric power to the luxury sport segment

LA 2010: 2012 Infiniti M Hybrid brings electric power to the luxury sport segment originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 15:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rossin-Bertin Vorax guns for entry into supercar club with BMW V10 power

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Performance, BMW, Misc. Auto Shows, South America

Rossin-Bertin Vorax

Rossin-Bertin Vorax – Click above for image gallery

Wiesmann may have been forced to switch from V10 power to the new twin-turbo V8 for their top-of-the-line MF5, but a Brazilian upstart apparently thinks it can secure an adequate supply of ten-cylinder BMW engines even after they’re discontinued. That’s what’s powering the vehicle you see here.

The Rossin-Bertin Vorax is set to debut at the São Paulo Auto Show later this month. It features a carbon fiber body over an aluminum chassis, cradling the Bavarian ten-pot in two states of trim: naturally aspirated with 570 horsepower, or supercharged with 750. The former is said to be good for a 3.8-second 0-62 mph time and a 205 mph top end. The latter marginally improves the acceleration time to 3.6 despite its 180-horse boost, but supposedly raises the top end to 231 mph. Of course, those figures are likely theoretical, as the vehicle appears to exist only in renderings at the moment.

Bankrolled by meat industry scion Natolino Bertin, Jr. and realized by former General Motors designer Fharys Rossin, the Vorax coupe is targeted to hit the market late 2011 or early 2012. A convertible version is slated to follow a year later, with overall production targeted at 500-1000 units in all and prices hovering around $400k.

Gallery: Rossin-Bertin Vorax

[Sources: Argentina Auto Blog, Carscoop]

Rossin-Bertin Vorax guns for entry into supercar club with BMW V10 power originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Shelby releases final specs on GT350 Mustang, power output ranges from fast to furious

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford

2011 Shelby GT350

2011 Shelby GT350 – Click above for high-res image gallery

Shelby American has finally released the specs on its 2011 Shelby GT350. Starting with a 2011 Ford Mustang GT, Shelby utilizes Ford’s 5.0-liter V8 engine but ups the ante a bit. The base GT350 is rated at 430 horsepower (the stock GT musters 412 hp). On the standard GT350, a Whipple supercharger can be added to boost power output to 525 hp – enough to propel the modified Mustang from 0-60 miles per hour in 3.7 seconds. If that’s not enough, the R tune version produces a monstrous 624 horses.

All 2011 Shelby GT350s are fitted with a long list of performance-aiding parts which include upgrades to the brakes, suspension and tires. As you can see above, they also wear unique Shelby aero and trim bits, a GT350 45th anniversary badge and a serialized Shelby GT350 dash plate.

Pricing for the naturally-aspirated Shelby GT350 conversion is set at $26,995 and the base supercharged car runs $33,995. Due to the 99-pony jump with the R tune, you would expect that package to cost close to $40,000, but it doesn’t. It’s just 750 bucks over the price of the standard supercharged kit. All of these prices, however, fail to include the cost of the donor Mustang GT. A full parts list and more performance stats are available in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Shelby GT350

2011 Shelby GT350

[Source: Shelby]

Continue reading Shelby releases final specs on GT350 Mustang, power output ranges from fast to furious

Shelby releases final specs on GT350 Mustang, power output ranges from fast to furious originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 16:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2010 Cadillac SRX recalled over power steering lines

Filed under: China, Recalls, Safety, Crossover, Cadillac, Luxury

General Motors has announced a voluntary recall of the 2010 Cadillac SRX luxury CUV over concerns of possible damaged power steering lines. The recall affects 3,996 units, and of those GM believes only two or three are actually affected by this issue. If the power steering lines in question are damaged, they could leak steering fluid onto the engine and start a fire, which has actually happened in at least one case. GM’s official statement after the jump. [Source: General Motors]

Continue reading 2010 Cadillac SRX recalled over power steering lines

2010 Cadillac SRX recalled over power steering lines originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 07 Oct 2010 12:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: More power + less weight = more speed

Filed under: Motorcycle

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R – Click above for high-res image gallery

Kawasaki has just officially pulled the wraps off its 2011 ZX-10R literbike, and the specifications are impressive. According to the Japanese company, the 2011 ZX10R will put out 197 horsepower (207 with ram air in full effect) and weigh just 436 pounds. That means it just barely has a better power-to-weight ratio than the previously all-conquering BMW S 1000 RR, which makes 193 horses and weighs about 450 pounds. Sadly, the American version of the bike, while still impressive, is expected to put out roughly 10 fewer ponies… dang the EPA!

Equally as important as those raw figures are the high-tech components and electronic bits and pieces that are intended to keep everything in line when the going gets tough. First on that list are an Ohlins steering damper and Showa’s Big Piston Forks up front. At the aft end, a new horizontally mounted rear shock is said to improve mass-centralization and smooth out damper’s rear action. As with most modern bikes, there are three power modes (Full, Middle and Low) intended to match horsepower requirements with riding condition realities.

On the gee-whiz front, Sport Kawasaki TRaction Control, or S-KTRC, is standard on the $13,799 2011 ZX-10R and promises to make the bike both faster and safer by monitoring both the front and rear ends every five milliseconds and allowing some amount of tire slippage and even power-on wheelies. If that weren’t enough, there will also be an optional Kawasaki Intelligent anti-lock Brake System (KIBS, seriously, for an extra $1,000) that keeps the tires from locking and also minimizes the rear wheel’s tendency to lift off the pavement.

Now that all the techy bits are covered, take a look at the new Ninja’s styling. Naturally, everything is painted up in Kawasaki’s trademark neon green and black motif, but the overall look is sharper and more aggressive than before. Note the pointy snout with ram-air duct and integrated LED light that matches the new LED-equipped mirror/turn signal assemblies. It’s a pretty slick looking package, we’d say.

See for yourself in our high-res image gallery below and be sure to check out the full press release after the break.

Gallery: 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R

Continue reading 2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: More power + less weight = more speed

2011 Kawasaki ZX-10R: More power + less weight = more speed originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 05 Oct 2010 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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2011 Ford F-150 with Ecoboost puts down the power

Filed under: Performance, Truck, Work, Ford

2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost smokes its tires – Click above for high-res image gallery

We’re still a few days away from being able to share driving impressions of the 2011 Ford F-150 pickup and, more specifically, the Blue Oval’s four new heavy-hauling powerplants for the ’11 season. What we can share, however, are some pictures we snapped while Ford showed off what its truck was capable of.

We’re especially impressed with the latest application of Ford’s EcoBoost technology. As you’re already aware, the 3.5-liter twin-turbo powerplant puts down 365 horsepower and a more-than-ample 420 pound-feet of torque. What those black-and-white figures don’t tell you, though, is how smartly the EcoBoost engine moves the full-size F-150 down the road, even when hooked up to a suitably large trailer.

While we’ll stop short of calling the EcoBoost-powered F-Series a muscle truck, but here’s some pictorial evidence that it’s more than capable of frying the tires off its aluminum wheels. And we’re not just talking about gratuitous burnout photos either. Check the chart.

So… if that’s the Boost part of the package, what about the Eco? Well, we’re going to have to wait for Ford and the EPA to get an official rating published, but Ford fully expects the turbo mill to post class-leading fuel efficiency figures. Speaking of which, Ford let slip a projection indicating that its base 3.7-liter V6 engine will manage 23 miles per gallon on the highway – matching the figure of General Motors’ hybrid pickup twins.

The number crunchers amongst you will find plenty of interesting (and impressive) little tidbits perusing our high-res image gallery below. Here’s a hint: Click on the image to the right and pay special attention to the relative figures posted by both Ford’s base 3.7-liter V6 and 3.5-liter EcoBoost as compared to their competitors. What are you waiting for?

Gallery: 2011 Ford F-150 EcoBoost

2011 Ford F-150 with Ecoboost puts down the power originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 19:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ford Power Stroke wins Ward’s diesel shootout

Filed under: Car Buying, Truck, Work, Dodge, Ford, GMC

2011 Ford Super Duty

2011 Ford Super Duty – Click above for high-res image gallery

Wards Auto has crowned its king of the 2011 diesel pickup engine crowd. The editors pitted the mills in the 2011 Dodge Ram HD, Ford Super Duty and the GMC Sierra Denali HD against each other in one epic battle royale at the Robert Bosch LLC test track, and while each of the three oil-burners did a smart job of hauling payloads and the like, Wards clearly favored one above the rest. The publication said that the powerhouse 6.7-liter turbocharged V8 in the Super Duty was the clear winner, despite being the most expensive of the three engines.

The editors chose the Ford over its competitors because of its ridiculous 800 pound-feet of torque, quietness and effortless towing, even though the 6.6-liter turbocharged Duramax V8 in the GMC produced faster 0-60 times in tests. Interestingly enough, Pickuptrucks.com skipped the Powerstroke in the Super Duty in favor of the Duramax Sierra. Given the obsessively thorough testing by Mike Levine and the rest of the Pickuptrucks.com crew, we’re a little more inclined to agree with those results. Still, you know what they say about opinions and elbows.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Ford F-Series Super Duty

[Source: Wards Auto]

Ford Power Stroke wins Ward’s diesel shootout originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Sep 2010 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche 918 Spyder to get more power when it reaches production?

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Hybrid, Performance, Porsche

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

What could be better than a mid-engine Porsche with a 500-horsepower 3.4-liter V8 and an additional 218 ponies courtesy of a pair of electric motors? More power, obviously. And that’s exactly what a report from Autocar alleges is going to take place for the upcoming 918 Spyder. According to the report, Porsche is said to be enlarging the displacement of the gas-swilling engine in order to extract more grunt from the mill.

The Brit pubs goes on to posit that the production 918 Spyder, which was first seen moving under its own power at Pebble Beach, will sport both soft and hard tops along with a somewhat beefier front end in order to provide adequate crash resistance. Also, somewhat predictably, the concept’s 22-inch wheels are very likely to be downsized and the side exhausts may be rerouted to the rear when the hybrid supercar hits the market.

Assuming all goes according to schedule, Porsche is said to be planning a run of about 1,200 918 Spyders, each costing over $625,000 (£400,000) when it finally goes on sale sometime around 2014.

Gallery: Monterey 2010: Porsche 918 Spyder at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance

Porsche 918 Spyder concept in Monterey

Porsche 918 Spyder to get more power when it reaches production? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 19 Aug 2010 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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