McLaren Bringing Track-Focused 650S to Geneva |
- McLaren Bringing Track-Focused 650S to Geneva
- Audi TTQ Crossover Coming in 2017
- NHTSA Promotes New Auto-Braking Systems
- Subaru, Lexus Take Best Resale Value Awards
- Independent Shops Outscore Dealers in Satisfaction Survey
- Chevy Silverado Midnight Edition Heading for Chicago Debut
| McLaren Bringing Track-Focused 650S to Geneva Posted: Share this Article The rumors are true. McLaren is preparing a track-focused 650S model for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. The British automaker released what it's calling a "teaser today of the new track-focused development of its 650S" that is making its debut alongside the McLaren P1 GTR in Geneva this year. Earlier this week, rumors surfaced that a more hardcore 650S GTR was in the works and this is our first official look at it. SEE ALSO: McLaren 650S GTR Rumored for Geneva Debut Sporting plenty of camouflage that is actually the outline of a McLaren race car, the 650S variant is looking more like a model that will pay homage to the 1997 F1 GTR "Long Tail" considering the prototype is concealing an elongated rear end. Rumor also has it that it will actually be named the 675 LT as its 3.8-liter twin-turbo V8 engine will increase its performance to 675 hp and will be around 220 lbs lighter than the standard production 650S. Discuss this story at our McLaren 650S forum  |
| Audi TTQ Crossover Coming in 2017 Posted: Share this Article Audi is bringing a new crossover to market based on the TT, but its name won't follow standard Audi convention. It will be called the TTQ rather than the Q4 because Fiat Chrysler owns the rights to that alpha-numeric badge. Audi tried to trademark every badge from Q1 to Q9, but found that FCA owns both Q2 and Q4, and isn't willing to part with them. The TTQ will take its inspiration from the TT Offroad Concept, which shares its footprint size with both the TT and Q3, but jacks up the ground clearance. Audi has rolled out three different TT concepts in the recent past, but chose to closely mirror the TT Off-Road concept because of its spacious head room and leg room along with a nicely sized trunk. SEE ALSO: Audi Off-Road Concept Might Become Reality To differentiate this crossover from the Q3, it will have a lower roofline and coupe styling to make it the more stylish of the two. Volkswagen's MQB platform will underpin the TTQ which is likely to get its power from a five-cylinder engine. It will also use a mostly aluminum body just like the TT coupe and convertible.
[Source: Car] Discuss this story at our Audi forum |
| NHTSA Promotes New Auto-Braking Systems Posted: Share this Article The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has added two automatic-braking systems to its list of recommended safety features as part of the New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Both crash imminent braking (CIB) and dynamic brake support (DBS) are now NHTSA recommended technologies, a move that the organization hopes will spur automakers into widespread inclusion of these systems. "I want this Department, the entire automotive industry, and other innovators to keep raising the bar on safety like we are doing now," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx. Crash-test scoring and a car's star rating will not be affected by whether or not it has these auto-braking features. Rather, NHTSA provides a checklist to consumers of safety systems that have demonstrated themselves as effective and these systems have been added. Currently, NHTSA recommends forward collision warning, lane departure warning and rearview video systems. SEE ALSO: Toyota Introducing New Safety Systems Both of these auto-braking systems offer support to drivers by intervening with the brakes when a collision is sensed. CIB will automatically apply the brakes when an imminent crash is detected while DBS supplements the driver's braking efforts to at least make the crash less severe. One-third of all police-reported crashes in 2013 involved a rear-end collision, a statistic that NHTSA is hoping to curb by recommending these new technologies. This is the first step for NHTSA in updating the NCAP program so that it "encourages both consumers and automakers to develop and adopt advanced vehicle safety technologies," said the agency. |
| Subaru, Lexus Take Best Resale Value Awards Posted: Share this Article Two Japanese automakers, Subaru and Lexus, both took top honors in the Kelley Blue Book (KBB) 2015 best resale value awards. Subaru won the "best brand" category while Lexus took home top honors for "best luxury brand," when it comes to resale value. To win these awards, KBB looks at current vehicle data, sales data, market conditions for each vehicle, competition within vehicle segments, expectations of the future economy and combines them all to come up with which vehicles will best retain their value over five years (60 months).
Lexus brought home the win in the entry-level luxury car segment with the RC 350, beating out two of its counterparts, the second-place Lexus GS and third-place Lexus IS. Best overall luxury car when it comes to resale value is the Lexus GS 350, while the Audi A5 and A7 finished second and third. Finally, the high-end luxury segment was won by the Lexus LS 460. Lexus crossovers and SUVs scored very well, with the GX460, LX570 and RX450h all being named winners in their classes. Outside of the best brand awards, KBB chooses the top 10 best 2015 vehicles with the best resale values. The top 10 best vehicles for resale value are:
Discuss this story at our Lexus and Subaru Forums |
| Independent Shops Outscore Dealers in Satisfaction Survey Posted: Share this Article A new survey has found that, on average, customers looking for vehicle repairs are happier when they use an independent garage rather than a new-car dealership. The survey, conducted by Consumer Reports, polled its subscribers about their satisfaction with repairs on more than 121,000 vehicles. Of those, 80,000 were fixed in a franchised dealership while about 41,000 were taken to independent shops. Overall, the survey found that independent shops outscored dealers in customer satisfaction, price, quality, courteousness of staff and work being completed on time. There were a few exceptions, but the independent mechanics outscored the dealers in almost every case. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Safest Family Sedans Having a strong service department is very important for dealerships to turn a profit. "As far as the profitability is concerned, NADA data show that service/part department business is responsible for approximately 40% of total dealership gross profits (new and used sales account for between 24 – 28%)," said Laurence Dixon, Senior Automotive Analyst for NADA. Not all was bad with the dealer service though, as most respondents said they were satisfied overall with repairs completed. Even RAM owners, who reported the lowest overall satisfaction with their dealers, gave a score of 76, representing a"fairly well-satisfied" customer base. Tesla was the one automaker that outscored the independent shops. The company is praised for its on-time repairs, courtesy, price, quality and overall satisfaction, though Consumer Reports notes that the high score may have to do with the small number of customers the new-to-the-market company has to service. SEE ALSO: Tips from a Salesman On How to Buy a New Car High prices were also listed as a major issue at Jaguar, MINI and Mercedes-Benz dealerships, where most respondents say they paid less for repairs at independent shops. On the other hand, BMW, Porsche and Volkswagen owners report paying roughly the same prices at independent shops and dealers. Only 19 percent of respondents say they haggled over the price of their repair, but of those that did, 60 to 82 percent say that saved some money at a dealership. An even better 71 to 84 percent say they got the price lowered at independent shops. "Generally, there is a cost discrepancy when a consumer chooses a genuine factory part compared to an aftermarket part," said Dixon. "Consumers must determine the "true cost" of a repair when choosing a new-car dealership or an independent repair shop. What may seem cheaper at first may not be at all if a faulty or an inferior part causes a repair failure." |
| Chevy Silverado Midnight Edition Heading for Chicago Debut Posted: Share this Article Chevrolet has made its first Midnight Edition model official. Making its official public debut at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, the 2015 Silverado Midnight Edition builds off a standard black Silverado Z71, adding an all-black front end with body-matched grille, bumper, headlights bezels, tow hooks and fog lamps. In addition, the pickup gets black side moldings and beltline moldings as well as 18-inch black wheels paired to Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac tires. Of course there's special Z71 badges on the doors while finishing touches include a black spray-in bedliner and black Chevrolet bowties in the front and rear. SEE ALSO: 2015 Chevrolet Silverado Update to Improve MPGs The American automaker will offer the Silverado Midnight Edition in either 1500 double-cab or crew-cab models and up to 5,000 special editions will be produced for the 2015 model year. Package prices will be $1,595 to $1,995 depending on the model. "The Midnight special edition, like our recently announced Custom Sport Silverado, lets our dealers offer a custom look right from the factory," said Sandor Piszar, Silverado marketing director. "Customers can get a monochrome exterior, black alloy wheels and other uplevel touches, while maintaining all of the dependability Chevy trucks are famous for along with full factory warranty coverage."
Discuss this story at our Chevrolet Silverado forum |
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