Car Blog

Chevy Equinox and Camaro, Ford Fusion, Lexus RX 350 Jump into 2009′s Top 20 Most-Researched New Cars

Kelley Blue Book, the leading provider of new and used car information, today announces the most-researched new vehicles of 2009 on the company’s top-rated Web site, www.kbb.com. In addition, Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com reveals the top five brands with the greatest share of market interest for 2009.

This year marks the fourth consecutive year that Kelley Blue Book saw increased visitation to its Web site, with nearly 180 million visits to kbb.com in 2009. Because kbb.com is one of the most-trafficked automotive research sites, visitation to specific vehicles has become a leading indicator of sales patterns for manufacturers.

Kbb.com’s Top 20 Most-Researched New Vehicles of 2009
1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Toyota Corolla
6. Toyota RAV4
7. Toyota Highlander
8. Toyota Prius
9. Nissan Altima
10. Honda Pilot
11. Ford Escape
12. Chevrolet Camaro
13. Honda Odyssey
14. Ford Fusion
15. Mazda3
16. Ford Mustang
17. Volkswagen Jetta
18. Toyota Sienna
19. Lexus RX 350
20. Chevrolet Equinox

The Honda Civic, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry (in varying orders each year) have been the top three most-researched new-vehicles on kbb.com each year since 2004. However, many vehicles made noteworthy jumps into the top 20 most-researched new-vehicles for 2009 that were not on the list in 2008. Chevrolet’s all-new redesigned Equinox and Camaro models both grace this year’s list for the first time. Also new to this year’s top 20 are the recently revamped Lexus RX 350 and the popular, fast-selling Ford Fusion.

The stabilization in gas prices for 2009 has indicated a trend away from smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles over the past year, and thus some popular small cars that were among the most-researched in 2008 have fallen off the list for 2009. Subcompact cars like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit, along with the compact MINI Cooper, were among the most-researched new cars last year, but do not hold court among the most-researched models this year. In addition, Chevy’s Malibu, redesigned for the 2008 model-year and featured on last year’s ‘most-researched’ list, has seen some of its popularity fade over the past year, no longer listing among the top 20 most-researched new cars of 2009.

“The site traffic on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com demonstrates what is on the minds of today’s new-car shoppers, especially when examining the most-researched new-vehicles of 2009,” said James Bell, executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com. “Declined interest in smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased popularity in attractive, recently redesigned models is an accurate reflection of the marketplace in 2009. We also see that consumers are reacting well to new models and redesigns from domestic manufacturers like Chevy and Ford, which bodes well for their future sales numbers.”

Top Five Brands with Greatest Share of Market Interest on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com for 2009

1. Toyota
2. Honda
3. Ford
4. Chevrolet
5. Nissan

Toyota, Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan (respectively) are the top five brands with the highest share of market interest — defined as the percent of new-car shopper activity for a particular brand — on Kelley Blue Book’s kbb.com for 2009. Of those brands, Ford saw the most growth throughout the course of the year, with its share rising steadily in the first half of the year and peaking during the summer months, benefitting as the only domestic manufacturer that did not require a bailout or undergo bankruptcy. Ford also benefitted from the “Cash-for-Clunkers” program during the summer of 2009, due to its aggressive promotion of the program.

Source: Kelley Blue Book

Reddy Ice Holdings, headquartered in Dallas, Texas, is the largest manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice in the United States. One of the company’s products is the Ice Factory, a stand-alone machine that dispenses packaged ice.

Looking for a “greener,” more affordable van to replace some of the vehicles currently in its fleet, including Dodge Sprinters and Chevrolet HHRs, Ready Ice opted for the Ford Transit Connect. The company’s technicians will now drive Transit Connects to service and maintain the thousands of Ice Factory machines throughout the country.

Reddy Ice Holdings, the largest manufacturer and distributor of packaged ice in the United States, employs more than 2,000 people year-round. The company sells its products primarily under the widely known Reddy Ice brand to a variety of customers in 32 states and the District of Columbia.

One of the company’s products is the Ice Factory ice-dispensing machine. There are several thousand machines at various locations throughout the country that need to be serviced and maintained on a regular basis.

The Ice Factory service fleet consists of 250 vehicles, most of them traditional cargo vans. According to Lee Hatch, Reddy Ice corporate fleet manager, Ice Factory service technicians rack up between 25,000 and 50,000 miles annually on each vehicle, and he needed to find a vehicle that could begin to replace some of the large, gas-guzzling vans in the fleet.

Hatch says he spent a great deal of time researching vehicles. His primary criteria were environmental impact, fuel efficiency, cargo-carrying space and vehicle cost.

He chose the Ford Transit Connect because it provides ample cargo-carrying capacity in a compact vehicle. It also offers much better fuel economy and is more environmentally friendly than traditional cargo vans.

Hatch says he also appreciates the Transit Connect’s compact size, which makes the vehicle easier for drivers to maneuver and park. And the price is affordable. Hatch says that in many instances, he can buy two Transit Connects for the same price as one traditional cargo van.

Hatch upfitted his 17 Transit Connects with storage bins for parts and tools. Some of the vehicles have accommodations for refrigeration tanks and equipment.

The response from Ice Factory service technicians driving the Transit Connect has been positive. And future plans are to continue to expand the number of Transit Connects in the Ice Factory fleet.

Ford’s Transit Connect enjoys a global reputation for durability and toughness dating back to its 2003 launch, when an expert jury of European commercial vehicle journalists dubbed it International Van of the Year.

Ford’s Transit Connect is powered by a 2.0-liter I-4 engine with a four-speed automatic overdrive transmission. The vehicle offers double the fuel economy of full-size vans with a rating of 22 mpg city and 25 highway.

The versatile Transit Connect is a global Ford product that can be adapted to multiple commercial business applications. It has more than double the cargo-carrying space of the Chevrolet HHR Panel, and it offers users a cargo payload of up to 1,600 pounds, which means that it can carry a larger payload than the full-size Dodge Ram 1500 standard-cab short-box pickup truck.

The Transit Connect is available now at Ford dealerships throughout the country.

Source: Ford Motor Company

2010 show to Launch Massive Showcase of Advanced Technology

America’s greenest “tier-one” auto show just got greener. The Washington Auto Show®, which houses more green cars than any major U.S. auto show, is redoubling its efforts in 2010 with a 65,000-square foot display known as the “Advanced Technology SuperHighway.”

“We are, literally, putting innovation front and center,” said Charles Stringfellow, CEO of Brown’s Automotive and chairman of the 2010 Washington Auto Show, which is known for its mass appeal as well as its emphasis on public policy. “The concept of the SuperHighway is to provide a central meeting place for policy makers, industry officials, consumers and the media to survey the tremendous advances in the industry.”

The Advanced Technology SuperHighway will be sectioned by advancements in electric, diesel, natural gas, advanced petroleum, biofuels, ethanol, hydrogen and safety technologies. The most ambitious effort to support and promote progressive innovations for the automotive industry, this special exhibit is produced in coordination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Energy and Department of Transportation and is a testament to the theme of this year’s show; “Change Happens Here.”

Currently, the companies slated to display are:

Audi, AutoPort, BMW, BorgWarner, Bosch, Boulder Electric Vehicle, Bright Automotive, Chrysler, Columbia ParCar, Electric Drive Transportation Association, Enova Systems, Evolve-it, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, Magna International, Mercedes, Nissan, Novozymes, OnStar, Phoenix Motorcars, Quantum Technologies, Scuderi Engine, Smith Electric Vehicles, THINK, Toyota, UQM Technologies, U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Transportation, Volkswagen, Volvo and Wheego.

The Washington Auto Show, the address where the automotive industry meets public policy, joins key administrative and legislative officials with automotive industry leaders. It is both the largest public show in Washington as well as a niche event: the stage to exchange ideas and information with those shaping the future of the automobile. Building on this platform for collaboration, the 2010 Washington Auto Show is partnering with SAE International and the Electric Drive Transportation Association (EDTA), both of which will co-locate conferences with the Washington Auto Show.

The Washington Auto Show, “Change Happens Here,” is scheduled for January 27-31, at The Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

Source: www.washingtonautoshow.com

Leaping into the world of virtual engineering, Ford Motor Company now employs the same type of motion-capture technology used to create films like “Avatar,” “Lord of the Rings” and “Shrek” to design vehicles that are more comfortable and enjoyable to drive.

Motion-capture, a technology that digitally captures movement, is used by Hollywood computer animators and video game designers to make nonhuman characters appear more lifelike. Ford uses the technology to create realistic digital humans that engineers use to test vehicles in the virtual world. Ford is the only automaker to use motion-capture software in this way for vehicle design.

“Just like in the movies, we hook people up with sensors to understand exactly how they move when they are interacting with their vehicles,” said Gary Strumolo, manager, Ford research and engineering. “Once we have all that motion captured, we create virtual humans that we can use to run thousands of tests that help us understand how people of all sizes and shapes interact with all kinds of vehicle designs. It’s an incredibly efficient way of engineering tomorrow’s vehicles.”

Capturing motion in movies and cars

One of the newest ways Ford is using motion-capture technology is through a system called Human Occupant Package Simulator (HOPS), which combines motion-capture software with a special test vehicle to measure and evaluate body motion.

A human test subject is outfitted with up to 50 motion-capture sensors. The test subject performs a series of movements, such as swinging a leg outside of the vehicle or reaching for the seat belt. The markers record trajectories of the test subject’s movements. The recordings are then loaded into a database to create digital human models.

Ford engineers use the digital human models to evaluate movement using different virtual vehicle design proposals from a small car to a full-size pickup truck. The system also can be reconfigured to represent the driver and the front, second or even third-row passenger compartments.

The HOPS motion-capture technology allows engineers to apply a more scientific approach to understanding how people interact with vehicles.

“Comfort or discomfort is inherently a subjective measure,” said Nanxin Wang, Ford technical leader. “For a given vehicle, some people will say it’s comfortable to get in, while others may say just the opposite. The challenge is to find out why people feel that way and how we can change the design to improve the perception.

“Before HOPS, the only way to evaluate a given design was to have people get into a vehicle and tell us how they liked it,” Wang continued. “This took lots of time and guesswork. Now we can couple this subjective appraisal with objective measurements of their arms, legs and head movements, along with muscular efforts to quantify movement mathematically. Our design teams use the data as a guide for developing a variety of vehicle platforms that provide optimal comfort, regardless of a person’s size or shape.”

Creating a holistic experience

Ford also is applying motion-capture animation software to improve real-life driving situations before the first prototype is even built. In Ford’s Immersive Virtual Evaluation (iVE) lab, engineers create virtual vehicles complete with exterior views with buildings, intersections and pedestrians.

“This technology enables us to evaluate many vehicle exterior and interior alternatives in a virtual environment from any location – in the driver’s seat or hundreds of feet away from the vehicle – with animated characters and vehicles,” said Elizabeth Baron, a technical specialist in Virtual Reality and Advanced Visualization at Ford.

Two specialized tools used in the iVE lab are the Cave Automated Virtual Environment (CAVE) and the Programmable Vehicle Model (PVM).

“The CAVE is a room where images are projected in stereo onto three walls and the ceiling to generate real-time, virtual vehicle interiors and exteriors at actual scale,” explained Baron. “When you look around, you can see virtually everything inside and outside of a vehicle that is still only a design in a computer.”

The PVM, an adjustable physical device that can be scaled to the actual dimensions of a car or truck, provides an even greater realistic experience by adding the element of touch.

“We set up key dimensions – steering wheel, gas, brake, center stack, etc. – and then we put the virtual world around that physical model,” said Baron. “Instead of being in a room, you’re actually sitting in a representation of the vehicle. You can touch and feel most everything, but what you’re looking at is digital.”

Both virtual design tools help Ford improve the design aesthetics, engineering and ergonomics of its cars and trucks. They also enable the company to bring products to market faster and more cost effectively.

Source: Ford Motor Company

The 2010 Ford Flex and the award-winning 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid have been named 2010 All-Stars by AUTOMOBILE Magazine, one of America’s leading automotive lifestyle publications.

This year marks the second consecutive win for the Ford Flex. Last year, AUTOMOBILE Magazine described the 2009 model as a “class act among people movers.”

“For 2010, Ford has equipped the Flex with its much-anticipated EcoBoost(TM) engine, thereby addressing the Flex’s only weakness – power – and effectively transforming it from a well-rounded family hauler into a large sport wagon,” said Jean Jennings, president and editor-in-chief of AUTOMOBILE Magazine. “The Flex is unique in a market brimming with compromised, look-alike utility vehicles and is one of the best-handling full-size crossovers on the market.”

Jason Mase, Ford crossover marketing manager, says it is the design and features available with the Ford Flex that make the vehicle stand out.

“We’re delighted that AUTOMOBILE Magazine has named Flex an All-Star two years running,” he said. “The AUTOMOBILE editors recognize Flex stands apart from the rest of the crossover crowd with unmatched style, tremendous passenger comfort and space, and leading technology features like the available EcoBoost engine, Active Park Assist, Ford SYNC® and a refrigerated second-row console.”

Jennings says what makes the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid special is that it doesn’t drive like a hybrid.

“Its very ordinariness is what makes the Fusion Hybrid an AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Star,” said Jennings. “The Fusion Hybrid is not a performance machine, but neither does it feel hobbled or inadequate for daily driving. Perhaps the best thing about it is that, apart from the LCD color screens, you might never know you’re driving a hybrid.”

The recognition from AUTOMOBILE Magazine is the latest in a string of prestigious awards for the Fusion Hybrid.

“Third parties are now endorsing what we have known for quite a while,” said Greg Scott, Fusion marketing manager. “The Fusion Hybrid is a great car.”

The AUTOMOBILE Magazine All-Stars are chosen by the AUTOMOBILE Magazine staff, its worldwide bureau chiefs and its contributors, following an intensive test drive of the year’s most innovative and important new cars. Winners are selected based on design, value and performance, driving enjoyment and the vehicle’s ability to redefine an existing category or create a new market segment.

“The level of excellence found during our annual All-Stars competition was at an all-time high and the competition was strong, despite the auto industry coming off its worst year in recent history,” said Jennings. “We whittled down a list of 39 finalists to the 10 All-Stars, and the end results produced a list of true standouts.”

The 2010 Ford Flex: Turning heads today and tomorrow

In addition to being named one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars, the 2010 Ford Flex was recently singled out for the 2009 “Collectible Vehicle of the Future” award from the Friends of the National Automotive History Collection (NAHC). Members of the organization, which supports the world-famous automotive collection at the Detroit Public Library, predict Flex will be the vehicle most likely to turn heads at the Woodward Dream Cruise of 2034. Ford’s unique crossover has been turning heads since its introduction in 2007.

For 2010, the Flex offers outstanding fuel economy in the full-size crossover segment with 17 mpg city/24 highway and an unsurpassed 20 mpg combined. It also offers a twin-turbocharged, direct-injected 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 engine, an auto-fold 60/40 second-row split bench seat, a tilt/telescoping steering wheel and the Ford-exclusive MyKey(TM) technology, which allows owners to program a maximum top speed – and radio volume – to encourage safe operation by teen drivers.

Banner year for 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid

2009 has been a banner year for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. In addition to being named one of AUTOMOBILE Magazine’s 2010 All-Stars, America’s most fuel-efficient midsize sedan was honored as one of CAR and DRIVER magazine’s “10Best” cars for 2010, and the entire Fusion lineup captured the prestigious MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award. The Fusion Hybrid also is a finalist for North American Car of the Year.

Despite the slump in overall industry sales, Fusion sales are at an all-time high for 2009, with the Fusion Hybrid accounting for almost 20 percent of total Fusion retail sales. And more than 60 percent of Fusion sales have been to customers coming from import brands – mostly Toyota and Honda.

Additional awards and accolades for the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid include:
– “Top Safety Pick” rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
– 2009 Ward’s Interior of the Year Special Achievement Award for Best Graphic Display for SmartGauge(TM) with EcoGuide digital instrument cluster
– Great Car for the Long-haul Salesman by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
– Named one of America’s Top 40 New Cars by MOTOR TREND magazine
– Rated the No. 1 Hybrid Family Sedan by CAR and DRIVER in a recent comparison test by the magazine
– Named 2009 Editors Choice for Fuel Sipper by CAR and DRIVER
– Named Best Hybrid for the Money in the Midsize Car segment by cars.com
– Named one of 2009 Top 10 Green Cars by Kelley Blue Book kbb.com
– Earned The Detroit News Readers’ Choice Award for “Best Value”

Source: Ford Motor Company

The Audi S5 provides the best residual values to its owners, more than other luxury sports cars, according to ALG. The Audi brand also ranks among the top 3 luxury brands for predicted residual value for the second consecutive year, the highest amongst German luxury competitors.

ALG’s 11th annual Residual Value Awards, for the 2010 model year, honored the vehicles in each industry segment that ALG predicts will retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period.

ALG determines the award winners after carefully studying the competition in each segment, historical vehicle residual value performance and industry trends. Vehicle quality, production levels relative to demand, and pricing strategies are among the key factors that affect ALG’s residual value forecasts.

“Audi residual values rank amongst the highest in the luxury segment,” said Johan de Nysschen, President, Audi of America. “The recognition from ALG further confirms that owning an Audi is worthwhile for our customers in many ways.”

“We believe Residual Value remains the best metric for evaluating the overall strength of an automotive brand, and we congratulate Audi for the proven success of their brand and S5 model,” said James Clark, General Manager of ALG. “The ALG Residual Value Awards are recognized throughout the industry and by consumers as the mark of a healthy brand; winning this award is a testament to an exceptionally strong product and all of us at ALG are pleased to recognize that accomplishment.”

Source: Audi