Acura, Porsche Drop Ranks in Annual Reliability Survey

Acura, Porsche Drop Ranks in Annual Reliability Survey
Bentley Mulsanne Spied Testing on the Nurburgring
10 Great Performance Engines We Will Miss
Watch This Excellent, Growly, Drifty Footage of the New BMW M4 GTS
Redesigned Volvo V90 Leaked Through Scale Models Again
Hyundai Tucson ‘Adventuremobile’ Coming to SEMA

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Brands that have built a reputation on reliability are starting to see a decline, according to Consumer Reports' Annual Auto Reliability Survey.

Numerous automakers saw significant drops in ranking this year with Acura and Cadillac both falling seven spots to 18th place and 25th place, respectively. Attributing to Acura's issues were in-car electronics and transmissions in the newest RLX and TLX models, while Cadillac owners were not pleased with the CUE infotainment system as well as platform issues with the Escalade SUV. View the complete list of automakers and how they ranked in the Annual Auto Reliability Survey below.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Most Reliable Car Brands

1) Lexus

Lexus continues to lead the way in reliability, earning an average score of 64 percent with seven models in its lineup. The company's ranking on the Annual Auto Reliability survey remains unchanged compared to last year.

2) Toyota

With a dozen cars in its lineup, Toyota stayed steady as well at second place with an average score of 56 percent.

3) Audi

The top German automaker when it comes to reliability, Audi rose two spots to third place with eight models in its lineup and an average score of 41 percent.

4) Mazda

The third of four Japanese brands in the top five this year, Mazda dropped one spot to fourth place with an average score of 35 percent across four models.

5) Subaru

Subaru rose two spots to fifth place with seven models in its lineup and an average score of 28 percent.

6) Kia

Korean automaker Kia saw one of the biggest jumps, climbing from 10th place to 6th place. The company has six models and received an average score of 27 percent.

7) Buick

Buick technically tied Kia with a score of 27 percent with five models in the American automaker's lineup. Compared to last year, Buick dropped one spot, although that could be argued since Kia had the same reliability score albeit with one more model in its lineup.

8) Honda

Thanks to infotainment glitches in its redesigned and freshened vehicles, Honda saw a surprising drop of four spots down to eighth place. The company had four models ranked with an average score of 13 percent.

9) Hyundai

Hyundai is also on the rise, jumping four spots to ninth place this year with an average score of six percent across 10 models.

10) MINI

British automaker MINI didn't make any moves this year, sticking to its 10th place with an average score of one percent for two models.

11) BMW

Although BMW got an average score of zero percent, it rose three positions to 11th place with seven models ranked.

12) Volvo

Volvo was another brand that stayed steady for the year sticking to 12th place with an average score of -3 percent. The Swedish automaker had four models ranked for this year's Auto Reliability Survey.

13) Volkswagen

Perceived reliability with Volkswagen could change now that the diesel scandal has broke, but the company managed to climb four spots to 13th place with an average score of -7 percent across eight models.

14) Porsche

Another automaker that saw a sharp decline in reliability, Porsche fell five spots to 14th place, netting an average score of -8 percent on five models. The publication attributed Porsche's woes to a decline with the Cayman, while the Macan had a "below-average debut."

15) Nissan

Nissan managed to rise one spot to 15th place with an average score of -18 percent with nine models.

16) Lincoln

Falling into the "Least Reliable" category, Lincoln dropped one spot to 16th place with an average score of -27 percent across three models.

17) Ford

American automaker Ford jumped six spots but reliability remains a concern for the company. It had an average score of -28 percent on 13 models but moved up thanks to strong performance by the redesigned F-150 and Expedition SUV models.

18) Acura

Acura suffered significantly this year in reliability as we mentioned before, plummeting seven spots to 18th place. It had an average score of -28 percent on four models and the company will have to focus on fine-tuning its RLX and TLX models in order to improve.

19) GMC

GMC didn't move compared to last year's survey, sticking to the 19th spot with a score of -46 percent across eight models.

20) Chevrolet

Chevrolet saw a slight improvement, going up one spot to 20th place. Still, the American automaker has an average score of -48 percent on 11 models.

21) Mercedes-Benz

The lowest of the three major luxury German automakers, Mercedes-Benz did climb three spots to 21th place but still has an average score of -49 percent with six models.

22) Chrysler

Chrysler also didn't change for the year, staying at 22nd place with an average score of -49 percent across three models.

23) Dodge

Sister brand Dodge saw an improvement of two places, rising to 23rd place. It's not all good news for the American automaker however, since it has an average score of -52 percent across six models.

24) Infiniti

Unlike Nissan that saw an improvement, luxury arm Infiniti fell four spots to 24th place with an average score of -55 across three models.

25) Cadillac

Like Acura, Cadillac fell seven spots to 25th place with an average score of -91 percent on five models.

26) Ram

Sitting at the bottom of the list are three brands that have built a reputation on poor reliability. Ram remained in 26th place with an average score of -95 percent with two models.

27) Jeep

Jeep came second to last with an average score of -97 percent across four models.

28) Fiat

Lastly, Fiat continues to struggle in reliability rankings, sticking to 28th place with an average score of -177 percent – significantly worse than Jeep.

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Bentley Mulsanne Spied Testing on the Nurburgring

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The Bentley Mulsanne has been caught testing on the Nurburgring by spy photographers.

The luxury sedan is getting a facelift and previously, AutoGuide.com's spy photographers caught the long-wheelbase model testing. The camouflage is hiding the basic components of a facelift, including the updated front end with new headlights and outer lights that are in a different, lower position than the current model. The grille has gotten some minor changes while the front bumper is a bit sportier.

The rear isn't as telling, and it's unclear whether the British automaker is making any changes. It is likely that the tail lights will get updated with new graphics. As for under the hood, expect Bentley to tweak the engine just a tad to give it a bit more power and better fuel economy. Also, don't be surprised if there are minor changes to the interior with an updated infotainment system and new advanced safety features.

Discuss this story on our Luxury Lifestyle Forum

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10 Great Performance Engines We Will Miss

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Each year, engines come and go as automakers find better ways to get more performance while also improving fuel economy.

We're now entering an era where there is a replacement for displacement, and that's in the form of forced induction. There was a time when turbocharged and supercharged engines were hard to come across, especially from the factory, but now they're everywhere, powering anything from an entry-level Mercedes-Benz CLA250 to an exotic Ferrari 488 GTB.

SEE ALSO: Top 10 Best Sounding V8 Engines

AutoGuide.com took a look at 10 great performance engines we'll miss and are wondering whether or not their replacements are truly better.

BMW E90 / E92 M3 V8 Engine

Introduced in the BMW E90 and E92 generation M3 models, the 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine turned out 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque when it was first introduced in 2007. In 2010, BMW tweaked the S65 engine to a 4.4-liter V8 that provided 444 hp and 320 lb-ft of torque that was used in the 2010-2011 BMW M3 GTS coupe and 2011 BMW M3 CRT sedan. The powerplant was derived from the BMW V10 found in the M5 and M6 and featured an aluminum construction. The engine went on to capture the International Engine of the Year awards for the 3.0- to 4.0-liter category in 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Since then, the German automaker has replaced the engine with a 3.0-liter turbocharged V6 engine with 425 hp and 406 lb-ft of torque. Some say the M3 and M4 just aren't the same without a V8 under the hood, while others are more than happy with a turbocharged mill lurking in the engine bay.

Buick Grand National Turbo V6 Engine

In the late 1980s, Buick produced a 3.8-liter turbocharged V6 engine packing 245 hp and 335 lb-ft of torque that was used in the Grand National. To bid farewell to the Grand National model, Buick produced 500 limited edition GNX models that saw its performance improved to 300 hp and 420 lb-ft of torque. We're talking about a coupe that went zero to 60 in 5.4 seconds in the late 1980s, turning in a quarter mile time of 13.4 seconds.

Unfortunately, those days are long gone, and the most popular Buick turbo engine you'll find these days are lurking under the hood of a Regal in the form of a 2.0-liter unit with 259 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque.

Dodge Neon SRT-4 Turbo Engine

Some say the Dodge Neon SRT-4 was ahead of its time, while others are glad it was only manufactured from 2003-2005. When it was first introduced, the SRT-4 was powered by a 2.4-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 215 hp and 245 lb-ft of torque, but a year later, the American automaker increased that to 230 hp and 250 lb-ft of torque, thanks to larger fuel injectors and an updated ECU. The Neon SRT-4 reportedly went zero to 60 in 5.3 seconds with the more powerful setup while clocking a quarter mile time of 13.9 seconds.

Nowadays, Dodge's definition of an exciting turbocharged engine in a sport compact is a 1.4-liter mill with 160 hp and 184 lb-ft of torque found in the Dodge Dart.

Honda / Acura Integra Type-R Engine

If you're a Honda or Acura fan, this engine needs no introduction. The famous B18C5 was used in the Acura Integra Type-R as a 1.8-liter four-cylinder with 195 hp and 130 lb-ft of torque. Not amazing numbers by any imagination, especially compared to today, but it had a redline of 8,400 rpm and it screamed once VTEC kicked in. The focus of the Integra Type R was to minimize weight while increasing rigidity, something nearly all automakers pay attention to now to improve fuel economy and performance. Less than 4,000 units were ever produced in the U.S. and back then, the B18C5 set the record for most power-per-liter from a naturally aspirated engine in the U.S. That record was broken with the S2000's 2.0-liter engine that made 120 hp per liter.

Mazda RX-7 Rotary Engine

There's a reason why everyone is clamoring for Mazda to revive the rotary engine. The twin-turbo 13B-REW engine was used in the last-generation RX-7 and provided 280 hp in its final iteration. As a twin-turbo version of the 13B engine, its total displacement was 1.3 liters, but it had a pair of sequential turbochargers to help eliminate turbo lag. Sadly, Mazda replaced the RX-7 with the RX-8 that featured the naturally aspirated 1.3-liter two-rotary engine that peaked with 232 hp and 159 lb-ft of torque.

Mercedes-Benz 5.4L Supercharged Engine

There was a time when Mercedes-Benz turned to superchargers for increased performance and one of its greatest was the M113 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine. It was used in numerous models across the 55 AMG lineup, including the CL55, S55, SL55, E55, G55 and CLS55 from model years 2002-2009. Performance ranged from 469 hp to 510 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque to 531 lb-ft of torque.

Since then, Mercedes has fallen in love with Biturbo engines for its 63 lineup powered by a 4.0-liter V8 mill handcrafted from AMG. In the new C63 AMG, it churns out 469 hp, while the C63 S AMG gets 503 hp. The German automaker also uses a 5.5-liter Biturbo V8 found in the E63 S that pumps out 577 hp.

Mitsubishi Evolution 4G63 Engine

One of the few engines that has truly lasted for decades is the Mitsubishi 4G63, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine that is most well known for its turbocharged variant found in the Lancer Evolution models. The same mill was also used in the Eclipse and Eagle Talon turbo models as well as numerous race cars. It has also been a favorite among tuners worldwide, having the capability of producing some insane performance when built and equipped with an upgraded turbo and fuel system. Sadly, we are bidding farewell to the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution this year, exiting with 291 hp, although the automaker replaced the 4G63 in 2007.

Nissan Skyline RB26DETT Engine

It's not even an engine that was ever available in the U.S., but it was still sought after like no other. Used in the R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R, the RB26DETT may have been rated at 276 hp and 289 lb-ft of torque, but much of that was due to a "gentleman's agreement" between Japanese automakers to limit the horsepower advertised. Enthusiasts in the U.S. have imported the engine and it has found its way into various other vehicles such as the Nissan 240SX, with tuners having reached the 1,000-hp mark numerous times. The RB26DETT was a 2.6-liter inline-six twin-turbo engine.

Nissan went on to replace the RB26DETT with what's found in the current GT-R today, a 3.8-liter twin-turbo V6 engine with up to 600 hp in the GT-R NISMO model.

Toyota Supra 2JZ-GTE Engine

No performance engine list would be complete without what is arguably the king of sadly discontinued engines: the Toyota Supra's 2JZ-GTE. To this day, tuners are pushing them to the limits well more than 1,000 hp and can be seen under the hood of quarter-mile specialists worldwide. The 2JZ-GTE was developed as a response to Nissan's successful RB26DETT engine, so it's no surprise that it's also an inline-six engine, albeit with 3.0 liters of displacement. From the factory, it produced 320 hp, but performance figures can hit more than 500 with just bolt-on turbo upgrades. In fact, many tuners have safely pushed power to the 700-hp mark without even cracking open the bottom end.

Volkswagen "Clean" Diesel Engines

It's probably a bit premature to say we'll miss Volkswagen's "clean" diesel engines, but in light of the massive dieselgate scandal, we couldn't help ourselves. It's still unclear as to what will happen with Volkswagen and its diesel engine that has been caught cheating on EPA diesel emissions tests, but the German automaker is working on a fix and a recall for current owners. The big question is whether shoppers will consider Volkswagen diesel models in the future and whether or not Volkswagen will continue to invest into developing diesel engines, especially when hybrids and electric vehicles are taking hold of the market. For now, they'll continue to exist, but the 2016 models won't even be sold for quite some time as Volkswagen has withdrawn its EPA application for those vehicles.

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Watch This Excellent, Growly, Drifty Footage of the New BMW M4 GTS

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BMW has released some awesome footage of its new M4 GTS, and it's our first chance to see and hear BMW's fastest production model in action.

Put through its paces at the Anglesey Circuit in the U.K., the hardcore BMW M4 GTS looks in its natural element, easily drifting through tight turns and rocketing through straightaways.

Powered by a turbo 3.0-liter inline six with 493 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque, the M4 GTS blasts to 62 mph in just 3.8 seconds.

ALSO SEE: 2016 BMW M4 GTS Announced With Power Boosting Water Injection System

Only 700 2016 BMW M4 GTS models will be made worldwide, with just 300 of those heading to the U.S.

Watch the video below:

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Redesigned Volvo V90 Leaked Through Scale Models Again

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Another design for an upcoming Volvo has been leaked with photos of a scale model of the 2016 Volvo V90 surfacing on a Chinese car site.

Heavily influenced by the Estate Concept Car that debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last year, the V90 scale model hints that the car modernizes the classic wagon lines by adopting Volvo's stylish new corporate grille. The tail lights also take on a swanky new shape.

ALSO SEE: 2017 Volvo S90 Leaked in Model Car Photos

Twin chrome tailpipes, a dual sunroof, and roof rails can also be seen on the model car, along with Volvo's now signature T-shaped LED headlights.

The car will be built on the Swedish automaker's SPA platform and will likely have the same engine choices as the XC90, meaning a "twin-charged" 2.0L turbocharged/supercharged four-cylinder with 316 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, as well as a plug-in hybrid model.

The actual Volvo V90 is expected to be officially revealed next year.

[Source: CarNews China]

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Hyundai Tucson ‘Adventuremobile’ Coming to SEMA

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Another modified Hyundai Tucson project is heading to the 2015 SEMA Show.

Dubbed the "Adventuremobile," this Tucson will be built by John Pangilinan and blends the crossover platform with a passion for the great outdoors, making it the ideal vehicle for a weekend getaway. Most prevalent of the modifications is a Treeline Tamarack roof-top tent, allowing room to sleep two campers while Goal Zero solar panels help power all the accessories. The car's exterior is more outdoors friendly as well, thanks to an Aries bull bar and side steps and Rigid Industries LED lighting. The exterior of the Tucson will be covered in a BASF army green paint scheme by Strasse Sport.

For greater ground clearance, the Tucson has been lifted 1.5 inches while Rays Gram Lights 57DR wheels have been outfitted on each corner, paired to Toyo Open Country A/T II tires. Engine performance upgrades are kept at a minimal, but the Tucson does get a slight boost with an AEM intake and charge pipe kit as well as a Magnaflow exhaust system.

On the inside, Pangilinan has equipped the Tucson with Katzkin custom leather upholstery and a Truck Vault Storage with Trekpak system. The audio system has been thoroughly upgraded with products from Clarion and Scosche.

"Designed with the weekend adventurer in mind, the Tucson was the perfect platform for an 'Adventuremobile,'" said John Pangilinan. "The build blends performance with the excitement of the great outdoors, without sacrificing daily usability. The vehicle promotes exploration, making it ideal for the daily commute, weekend excursions, and the occasional road trip."

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Tuesday, 20 October 2015