Hyundai Genesis

NACOTY and NATOTY awards

At LotPro.com, we normally have to wait for the short list of candidates to be released by Automotive News. This year, Marty Padgett of The Car Connection (and also a juror) was kind enough to reveal the list just a bit early.

Patterned after the European “Car of the Year” award, the North American awards were first given in 1994. The jury is composed of no more than 50 journalists from the United States and Canada. In order to be eligible for consideration, a vehicle must be “substantially changed” from the previous model and be on sale shortly after the announcement of the award in early January. In addition:

•    Cars must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 5,000 vehicles.
•    Trucks must have reasonably foreseeable annual sales in North America of 2,000 vehicles.

Ford F-150

From the short list of vehicles you see here, the three finalists in each category are announced in December and the winners are unveiled at a press conference at the beginning of the North American International Auto Show in Detroit (although the show does not sponsor the awards in any way).

Award trivia: During the sixteen years of the car award, hybrids have been honored 4 times. Domestic automakers have garnered eight awards, Japanese automakers have won the award three times and European automakers have received the award four times (for Car of the Year), while 2009 marked the first year a Korean automaker was honored (the Hyundai Genesis for Car of the Year). In the Truck of the Year competition, domestic automakers have taken the award home 10 times (including the 2009 winner, the Ford F-150), Japanese automakers have won 4 times, while European automakers have won twice.

This year’s short list is comprised of the following vehicles:

Ford Taurus SHO

Car of the Year

BMW 335d
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion/Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus
Honda Insight
Kia Soul
Mazda3/MazdaSpeed3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/GTI

Cadillac SRX

Truck of the Year

Acura ZDX
Audi Q5
Cadillac SRX
Chevrolet Equinox
Ford Transit Connect
Honda Crosstour
Land Rover LR4
Lincoln MKT
Subaru Outback
Volvo XC60

Cadillac and Hyundai biggest winners

Here at LotPro.com, we see where AutoPacific today released its 13th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) based on the results of a national survey of over 25,000 new vehicle owners and lessees.

Hyundai Genesis

Noting that the current survey was conducted “in the most challenging auto sales market in years,” the company also announced that “even with the turmoil surrounding General Motors,” Cadillac, for the second year in a row, ranked highest with new car owners and took the Highest Satisfaction Brand award.

Another bright spot in the survey was Hyundai, which climbed 11 places in the overall standings, more than any other manufacturer in the survey, earning itself the Rising Star award for 2009. Not only did the company score more points in 40 of 48 rating categories over last year’s results, two of the Korean manufacturer’s models garnered VSA awards this year in their respective categories – the Genesis for Aspirational Luxury Car and the Sonata in the Premium Mid-size car category.

“These are difficult times, with news of automaker bankruptcies, companies restructuring and dealer closures a daily occurrence,” says George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. “Clearly, the dynamics surrounding the Vehicle Satisfaction Award in 2009 are far different from anything we’ve seen in many years. Winners needed to overachieve to earn their awards.”

Honda Fit Sport

Award Winners

The survey focused on buyers of new vehicles that either purchased or leased them during the fourth quarter of 2008 – just as the economic downturn was pummeling the auto industry.

Although the complete list of winners is listed below, it should also be noted that the vehicle that registered the highest overall satisfaction for the reporting period was the Lexus LS – scoring 99 points above the industry average. The highest scoring truck, the Cadillac Escalade, also contributed mightily to that brand’s overall win.

2010 Ford Fusion

Multiple award winners included Toyota with 6 (including 2 for Lexus and 1 for Scion), Ford with 4, (including 1 for the Lincoln brand), Hyundai/Kia with 3 (2 for Hyundai, 1 for Kia) , Chrysler with 2 (1 for the Dodge brand and 1 for its Jeep division) and General Motors with 2 (1 for Cadillac and 1 for its Chevrolet brand).

Other manufacturers on the list are Honda, Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Porsche and VW.

2009 Dodge Ram

Highest Satisfaction as a Brand: Cadillac

2009 Rising Star: Hyundai

Passenger Car Categories and Winners:

Premium Luxury Car               Lexus LS
Aspirational Luxury Car          Hyundai Genesis
Luxury Large Car                     Lincoln Town Car
Luxury Mid-Size Car                Lexus ES
Premium Mid-Size Car             Hyundai Sonata
Mid-Size Car                              Ford Fusion
Image Compact Car                  Toyota Prius
Compact Car                               Mitsubishi Lancer
Economy Car                              Honda Fit
Sports Car                                   Porsche 911
Sporty Car                                   Scion tC

Light Truck Categories and Winners:

Large Pickup                                     Dodge Ram 1500
Compact Pickup                                Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Luxury Sport Utility                        Cadillac Escalade
Large Sport Utility                           Chevrolet Tahoe
Premium Mid-Size Sport Utility    Ford Explorer
Mid-Size Sport Utility                      Jeep Liberty
Luxury Crossover SUV                    Land Rover LR2
Large Crossover SUV                       Mazda CX-9
Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV Toyota Venza
Mid-Size Crossover SUV                  Volkswagen Tiguan
Compact Crossover SUV                  Kia Sportage
Minivan                                               Toyota Sienna

2009 Nissan Cube

Even Detroit’s auto show can’t catch a break

Things are tough in Detroit – no question about it. Just ask the organizers of the North American International Auto Show. Porsche, a brand that wasn’t there last year, made the decision to skip the show again this year. Land Rover, Rolls-Royce and Ferrari felt the Detroit market was too small for their brands and backed out and both Mitsubishi and Suzuki took a pass as well. Then just last week, Nissan (along with premium brand Infiniti) announced that it was pulling the plug on both Detroit and Chicago.

At least with Nissan, the NAIAS had the consolation of knowing that it was not alone. But just as quickly, it now appears that Nissan will return to the Windy City.

2009 Nissan 370Z

Back in the game

Nissan Vice President of Corporate Communications, Alan Buddendeck, explained Nissan’s original position by stating that the company had already reached its intended audience at the unveiling of the 370Z roadster and the new Cube at the L.A. Auto Show in November.

So what caused the company to change its mind? According to Buddendeck:” Given the extraordinary economic and industry climate, all well-managed companies have a fiduciary responsibility to review strategies and tactics for going to market. As everyone knows, the automotive industry is facing severe and prolonged headwinds in North America and around the world. It’s a climate that demands decisions that are often difficult and even controversial.”

“At the national level, Nissan North America decided to withdraw from both the Chicago and Detroit shows. After a careful review of this decision with our North Central Region management and our Chicago dealers, we have found a way to maintain a presence at the Chicago show through our dealers, while still demonstrating the fiscal responsibility required by these challenging times. The decision outlined for Chicago does not affect our decision to withdraw from the 2009 North American International Auto Show.”

Chicago Auto Show Co-Chairman John Phelan put it this way, “To be sure, talking about our current economic conditions isn’t going to turn our industry around. But showing and talking about great new products, technology and breaking automotive news will help turn it around—and we want to help.”

BYD F3R

Chinese go upstairs and join the party

Meanwhile, back in Motown, all that extra floor space means it has to be filled by someone. So after two years spent in the basement as the red-headed stepchild, the Chinese automakers (so far, BYD and Brilliant) finally get their chance to join in the big dance on the main floor. Who knows, if anyone else drops out, even the boys from DUB magazine may get their big break. This could get interesting.

How about a DUB Rolls-Royce?

Mazda Mazda3

New study reflects quality, value and “green” issues

In the ever-expanding portfolio of consumer-based automotive studies, you can add yet another: Strategic Vision’s “SmartGreen Index.” This latest study is said to meld consumer attitudes towards the perceived quality of a vehicle into a mix that includes such eco-friendly issues such as fuel economy and environmental “friendliness” (a rather broad term, to say the least).

In any case, for your edification, here is the complete press release:

San Diego – Strategic Vision unveils the new SmartGreen Index℠ (SGI℠) which reflects the relationships between perceived quality plus overall value (Smart) and “green” issues such as fuel economy and environmental friendliness (Green). SGI℠ is based on actual customer experiences and is weighted according to those aspects which best predict customer advocacy, overall satisfaction, future brand choices and loyalty, which ultimately result in increased model and brand sales.

Being a hybrid vehicle alone is not enough to guarantee top SmartGreen℠ marks. Industry-wide, some hybrids place at or below segment average in SGI℠ when factors such as interior quality cues or overall perceived value are rated below their competition. While the Toyota Prius may be the obvious SmartGreen℠ leader because of its fuel economy, it is easy to forget that the Prius also offers innovative interior styling which adds to making the Prius the SmartGreen℠ choice and among hybrid models, highest in sales. “Even when fuel prices are highest, people will want more than a little box with good fuel economy,” says Chris Chaney, V.P. of Special Projects at Strategic Vision. “For example, the Mazda3 leads in its segment ahead of the hybrids, offering superior styling, innovation, performance and affordability coupled with good fuel economy, offering more than competitive hybrids.”

Kia Amanti

Chevrolet had the most segment leaders among the domestic corporations with the Tahoe, Avalanche (tie) and Corvette Convertible leading their respective segments. The Tahoe scored high in perceived quality, as did its competition; however, the Tahoe was rated exceptionally higher than the competition in environmentally friendliness and fuel efficiency. “Even SUV buyers are sensitive to Green issues. Flex-fuel and hybrid options provide Green choices to Tahoe owners which increase customer advocacy, retention and bring new buyers into the brand, even if the vehicle they finally purchase is not always the greenest option,” states Alexander Edwards.

The MINI Cooper Clubman and Convertible were leaders in their segments due to terrific performance, overall value and Green-related issues. The MINI Cooper Hatchback scored just below the MINI Cooper Clubman, with both vehicles taking the top places in Specialty Coupes. The BMW 3-Series Coupe was also a leader in its segment.

MINI

Other best in class SGI℠ leaders were the Kia Amanti, Nissan Murano (tie), Audi Q7 and Mercedes S-Class for their excellence in quality, styling, performance and greenness. Buyers rated the following vehicles tops in their segments:

According to Dr. Edwards, in addition to the SGI℠ segment leaders, many manufacturers are “getting it right” with their model lineup. Included in Strategic Vision’s SmartGreen℠ Report are vehicle Five and Four Star SmartGreen℠ ratings, that are provided to manufacturers to better understand which of today’s vehicles are paving the way to help make their brand and their lineup the leaders of tomorrow.

For example, Five and Four Star vehicles are those like the Suzuki SX4 Sedan which offer fun and excitement through strong vehicle performance and styling in a fuel efficient package. These attributes and vehicle imagery are what can lead to increased awareness and potential consideration of the SX4 and other Suzuki models.

Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid

In addition to its segment-leading Amanti, Kia also has five other vehicles that scored highly in their respective segments: Spectra4, Rondo, Sedona, Sorrento and Sportage. Hyundai also placed well with four of their models — Azera, Entourage, Elantra and Santa Fe — demonstrating that thoughtfulness, value and overall economics all work together toward Hyundai’s future success.