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  • J.D. Power APEAL: Porsche tops rankings for 5th year straight

    J.D. Power APEAL: Porsche tops rankings for 5th year straight July 16th, 2009 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, July 16th, 2009 Kenneth Hall 1 Comment

    J.D. Power APEAL: Porsche tops rankings for 5th year straight Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - APEAL - is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For the fifth year running Porsche took top honors, but several trends in the market show a wide range of improvements.

    First up: American carmakers have closed the gap on their import counterparts. In 2007, domestics fell 27 points short of imports, while in 2008 that shrunk to 15 points. This year there's just 5 points between domestics and imports, reflecting the huge improvement in design and build quality of American vehicles.

    “Consumers have a great array of appealing... Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout - APEAL - is how J.D. Power measures the 'gratification' a car owner experiences with each new model on the market. For the fifth year running Porsche took top honors, but several trends in the market show a wide range of improvements. First up: American carmakers have closed the gap on their import counterparts. In 2007, domestics fell 27 points short of imports, while in 2008 that shrunk to 15 points. This year there's just 5 points between domestics and imports, reflecting the huge improvement in design and build quality of American vehicles. “Consumers have a great array of appealing vehicles to choose from by both domestic and import brands,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. Underscoring the improvement of the American brands is the overall industry improvement. The average score across all models in 2009 is up 9 points from 2008 to 779. A large part of that increase is attributed to a boost in owner satisfaction with fuel economy, according to Sargent. “Although lower fuel prices and the switch to smaller vehicles have undoubtedly helped, there are also many individual vehicles that have made strong improvements in fuel economy ratings,” said Sargent. “For example, the Ford F-150, Cadillac Escalade, Volkswagen Jetta and redesigned Dodge Ram have all made major strides in owner satisfaction with fuel economy through the introduction of more efficient powertrains.” The Germans also did well - as usual - in the APEAL rankings for 2009. Beyond Porsche's first-place finish, Volkswagen took home four category awards for the CC, GTI, Passat and Tiguan. Mercedes-Benz nabbed two of its own for the S-Class and SLK-Class. The APEAL results are built on owner evaluations of more than 90 vehicle attributes, with responses gathered between February and May 2009 from more than 80,900 purchasers and lessees of new 2009 model-year cars and trucks who were surveyed after the first 90 days of ownership. Read More

  • Diesel sales surge in U.S.

    Diesel sales surge in U.S. June 22nd, 2009 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, June 22nd, 2009 Nelson Ireson 10 Comments

    Diesel sales surge in U.S. It wasn't so long ago that the superior fuel efficiency of diesel-powered vehicles could be rationalized away due to the higher per-gallon price of the fuel compared to gasoline. Now, however, a dip in the price of diesel has pushed it below gas, and lit sales on fire in the process.

    The price difference is significant, especially when taken in light of the stronger fuel efficiency of most diesel engines. According to the Department of Energy, the average price for a gallon diesel as of June 22 is $2.61, while the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.69. If your car requires premium, that'll be another $0.25 or so -... It wasn't so long ago that the superior fuel efficiency of diesel-powered vehicles could be rationalized away due to the higher per-gallon price of the fuel compared to gasoline. Now, however, a dip in the price of diesel has pushed it below gas, and lit sales on fire in the process. The price difference is significant, especially when taken in light of the stronger fuel efficiency of most diesel engines. According to the Department of Energy, the average price for a gallon diesel as of June 22 is $2.61, while the average price for a gallon of regular unleaded gasoline is $2.69. If your car requires premium, that'll be another $0.25 or so - but you already knew that. So now that it's not just more efficient, but also cheaper, to drive a diesel, it's no surprise that Americans are flocking to the few carmakers that offer them. In fact, Volkswagen saw a rise of 71% in sales of the Jetta TDI between April and May, reports AutoWeek. They are expecting to do just as well or better in June. Mercedes-Benz is also benefiting hugely from the sales trend, in part because it offers both the M-Class and GL-Class SUVs with diesel powertrains, in addition to the R-Class crossover. Between the three, Mercedes has sold about 15,000 diesels so far this year in the U.S. BMW could also see some benefit from the lower fuel prices thanks to its offering of the 335d and X5 xDrive 35d. Those vehicles, along with the Volkswagen and Mercedes models, are also eligible for a tax break of between $900 and $1,800 under a provision of the Lean Burn bill. Read More

  • Volkswagen launches 'truth & dare' site to dispel diesel myths

    Volkswagen launches 'truth & dare' site to dispel diesel myths May 4th, 2009 ByAlex Kaufmann Alex Kaufmann, Author, May 4th, 2009 Alex Kaufmann 0 Comments

    Volkswagen launches 'truth & dare' site to dispel diesel myths Americans don't know what to think about diesel, and when they do, they usually think it's a clattery, foul-smelling solution best left to freight-movers and trains. But the reality of today's diesel-powered cars is much different, and Volkswagen is out to inform the public through a new site called 'TDI Truth & Dare'.

    Focusing on racing accomplishments, green credentials, tax credits and comparative benefits over hybrids, the new VW site aims to fun-wash the already green-washed clean diesel technology in its Jetta and Touareg vehicles.

    For a taste of just what the Germans are doing to make the Jetta TDI seem like a better buy than a ... Americans don't know what to think about diesel, and when they do, they usually think it's a clattery, foul-smelling solution best left to freight-movers and trains. But the reality of today's diesel-powered cars is much different, and Volkswagen is out to inform the public through a new site called 'TDI Truth & Dare'. Focusing on racing accomplishments, green credentials, tax credits and comparative benefits over hybrids, the new VW site aims to fun-wash the already green-washed clean diesel technology in its Jetta and Touareg vehicles. For a taste of just what the Germans are doing to make the Jetta TDI seem like a better buy than a hybrid or other alternative, check out this Jetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius video from the site below.2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDIJetta TDI vs. Toyota Prius - fun and efficiency Read More

  • Volkswagen predicting diesel growth spurt for U.S.

    Volkswagen predicting diesel growth spurt for U.S. April 13th, 2009 ByJeremy Weber Jeremy Weber, Author, April 13th, 2009 Jeremy Weber 4 Comments

    Volkswagen predicting diesel growth spurt for U.S. For years carmakers considered diesel models as strictly Europe's domain, with low demand and a poor reputation in the U.S. doing little to help the cause. This attitude, however, is set to change according to Volkswagen, which is predicting more diesel sales this year with the release of the new MkVI Golf.

    In fact, VW is banking on about 30% of sales for its new Golf to be a diesel based on high demand seen for current Jetta diesel. Currently, VW is selling around half of its wagon Jettas as diesel models, while around 30% of the sedan variants sold are diesels - far greater than initial expectations for the U.S. market.

    But not all... For years carmakers considered diesel models as strictly Europe's domain, with low demand and a poor reputation in the U.S. doing little to help the cause. This attitude, however, is set to change according to Volkswagen, which is predicting more diesel sales this year with the release of the new MkVI Golf. In fact, VW is banking on about 30% of sales for its new Golf to be a diesel based on high demand seen for current Jetta diesel. Currently, VW is selling around half of its wagon Jettas as diesel models, while around 30% of the sedan variants sold are diesels - far greater than initial expectations for the U.S. market. But not all diesels are equal, according to market statistics. While VW isn't strictly an economy car brand, its vehicles are certainly placed below major luxury carmakers such as BMW, Mercedes Benz and Audi. It is these luxury brands that are failing to convince the market to swap their petrol engines for diesel engines, reports Automotive News. BMW diesels are struggling to shine in the market, mostly from a combination of lack of advertising and an unreceptive market. Mercedes Benz is facing similar problems, with sales for its diesel E-class sedan and diesel SUVs struggling to reach double-figures. Audi, meanwhile, is expecting around 25% of sales for its new Q7 to be diesel models, but whether or not this statistic turns out to be too optimistic remains to be seen. It will be on the back of the diesel Q7 sales that Audi will decide on whether to bring more diesels to the U.S. market or not.VW Golf Mark VI official photos Read More

  • 2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced

    2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced December 18th, 2008 By Nelson Ireson Nelson Ireson, Author, December 18th, 2008 Nelson Ireson 1 Comment

    2009 North American Car and Truck of the Year finalists announced The North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards are among the most prestigious in the industry, recognizing the vehicles that capture the votes of 50 top automotive journalists. This year's finalists, announced today at the Cobo Center in Detroit, are split about like the U.S. car industry - half domestic, half import.

    Detroit's three finalists include the Ford Flex in the car category and the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram in the pickup truck division. The remaining contenders in the car ranks are Hyundai's Genesis sedan and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The only non-U.S. entry in the truck awards list is the Mercedes-Benz ML320... The North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) awards are among the most prestigious in the industry, recognizing the vehicles that capture the votes of 50 top automotive journalists. This year's finalists, announced today at the Cobo Center in Detroit, are split about like the U.S. car industry - half domestic, half import. Detroit's three finalists include the Ford Flex in the car category and the Ford F-150 and Dodge Ram in the pickup truck division. The remaining contenders in the car ranks are Hyundai's Genesis sedan and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI. The only non-U.S. entry in the truck awards list is the Mercedes-Benz ML320 Bluetec diesel. The finalists in each category were announced back in September, and these six finalists were chosen from the ranks of those 14 cars and 12 trucks. The winners of the overall awards in each category will be announced during the 2009 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) in Detroit next month.Hyundai Genesis Sedan2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Read More

  • Spy shots: Next-generation Volkswagen Jetta test-mule

    Spy shots: Next-generation Volkswagen Jetta test-mule December 16th, 2008 ByKenneth Hall Kenneth Hall, Author, December 16th, 2008 Kenneth Hall 3 Comments

    Spy shots: Next-generation Volkswagen Jetta test-mule A test-mule for the next-generation Volkswagen Jetta sedan has been spotted undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden, suggesting that the launch of the new model is still several years away. The car seen here features the body of the current Jetta but a slightly longer wheelbase - revealed by the thin strip running down the middle of the car - as well as a slighter wider track and ill-fitting front bumper.

    The Jetta is essentially a sedan variant of the Golf. It features the same front-end styling as the hatch but a unique sedan trunk at the rear. Expect to see the same design cues on the next Jetta, with the new Mark VI Golf front-end... A test-mule for the next-generation Volkswagen Jetta sedan has been spotted undergoing cold weather testing in Sweden, suggesting that the launch of the new model is still several years away. The car seen here features the body of the current Jetta but a slightly longer wheelbase - revealed by the thin strip running down the middle of the car - as well as a slighter wider track and ill-fitting front bumper. The Jetta is essentially a sedan variant of the Golf. It features the same front-end styling as the hatch but a unique sedan trunk at the rear. Expect to see the same design cues on the next Jetta, with the new Mark VI Golf front-end appearing mostly unchanged on the upcoming compact sedan. Likewise, the engine lineup should be similar to the Golf range, which means several petrol engines ranging from 80hp (60kW) up to 160hp (118kW). Diesel fans will be treated with several engine options, including two 2.0L units developing 110hp (81kW) and 140hp (103kW) respectively. With the exception of the entry-level versions, all petrol and diesel engines can be paired with a DSG transmission. Depending on the engine torque, either a 6-speed or 7-speed DSG will be used. Since the current Mark V Jetta was only launched in 2005, the next-generation Mark VI is likely to arrive in the United States sometime in 2011, possibly as a 2012 model.VW Golf Mark VI official photos2012 Volkswagen Jetta test-mule spy shots Read More

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