1958 Thunderbird

COTY award

In 1949, Motor Trend became the first U.S. magazine to offer a Car of the Year award. For the next 50 years, it was handed out to domestic vehicles only (an Import Car of the Year category was established in 1970 and the two were combined for the 2000 award year).

As hindsight is inevitably 20/20, it’s easy to knock some of the past recipients, such as the 1971 Chevrolet Vega (with its engine block design that led to a history of head gasket failures), the 1980 Chevrolet Citation (that set a new standard in fwd-induced torque steer) and the 1983 AMC/Renault Alliance (which has been universally acknowledged to have been perhaps the magazine’s greatest faux pas).

But that being said, the Motor Trend Car of the Year award has also been bestowed on many of the most historically significant vehicles to grace our roads, including the 1958 Ford Thunderbird, the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado, the 1968 Pontiac GTO, the 1985 Volkswagen GTI, the 1998 Chevrolet Corvette and the 2005 Chrysler 300.

2010 nominees

For 2010, there were 23 contenders for the Motor Trend COTY award. As usual, vehicle eligibility is determined by a totally new or substantial redesign and all vehicles must have been available for sale between now and November 1st of the previous year. The list for 2010 was comprised of the following vehicles:

BMW 7 Series
BMW Z4
Buick LaCrosse
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Mustang
Ford Fusion
Ford Taurus /SHO
Honda Insight
Hyundai Genesis Coupe
Kia Forte Koup
Kia Soul
Lexus HS 250h
Mazda3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Sedan
Nissan 370Z
Nissan Cube
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf /GTI
Volkswagen Routan

2010 Ford Fusion

In a first-ever live webcast event, Motor Trend announced this afternoon that the entire 2010 Ford Fusion model line had taken the honors for the 2010 Motor Trend Car of the Year.

“Ford has proven its resilience in these tough times by delivering to market a car with broad appeal to a broad range of consumers,” said Angus MacKenzie, MOTOR TREND editor-in-chief. “The Fusion range has matured into a competitive roster of midsize sedans, able to compete with sales juggernauts such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. It is no surprise the Fusion now ranks in the top 10 best-selling cars in America.”

Mark Fields, Angus MacKenzie, Derrick Kuzak

There to receive the award for Ford Motor Company was a plethora of executives from the company, including Mark Fields, executive vice president of the company and president, The Americas.

“The MOTOR TREND Car of the Year award is another testament of our commitment to delivering a world-class car lineup,” said Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Ford Global Product Development, who accepted the golden calipers on behalf of the Ford team. “Whether it is the best-in-class fuel economy or quality unsurpassed by Toyota or Honda, the Fusion and Fusion Hybrid are clear evidence that Ford is serious about our car lineup.”

It’s Friday!

It’s Friday afternoon at LotPro.com and that can mean only one thing: it’s time to mention two events in the automotive world that would normally be relegated to the footnotes of history.

Kroming up the Rogue

The first of these is Nissan’s introduction of a new trim level to its Rogue model, the Krom edition. Truth be told, this isn’t Nissan’s first foray into the realm of  Krom. That distinction belongs to the top of the heap Nissan Cube Krom which was introduced at this year’s Chicago Auto Show.

Created for those who roll to a different drummer, the Krom fills a perceived void between the S and SL variants where the Krom eschews the high-tech gadgetry of the SL while favoring the “in your face” style of a DUB makeover.

Upgrades from the base S include 17” polished alloy wheels sporting P225/60R Continental Conti 4×4 Contact skins. Unique front and rear fascias house an aggressive double bar grille and oversize lower air intake and a center-exit exhaust, respectively. A body-colored rear spoiler and power outside mirrors, rear privacy glass a “Krom” (undoubtedly, chrome) emblem and steering wheel-mounted audio controls complete the package.

Don’t-mess-with-me colors are limited to Venom Red, Wicked Black and Gotham Gray (and we thought Batman was only partial to black).

You’ll get a charge out of this one

At the opposite end of the aggression scale is the too-cute Mitsubishi i-MiEV which this week garnered Japan Automotive Hall of Fame’s “Car Technology of the Year” award for its “MiEV OS” vehicle control system. Yes, that’s right – vehicles have advanced to the point where they’re give awards for their operating systems.

According to the Hall of Fame, the award was given to this particular operating system for the following reasons:

1. Integrated control technology for a mass-produced electric vehicle
2. 3-way charging system for the lithium-ion drive battery
3. Development of the compact, lightweight, and high-efficiency motor
4. Microsoft didn’t design it, so the vehicle is less likely to “crash”

Just kidding about the last one (hey, it’s Friday).

From what we can tell here at LotPro.com, Nissan isn’t playing the hybrid game like its two Japanese rivals, Honda and Toyota. Where both those brands are major players, Nissan has yet to join in on much of the fun. Even now, Nissan seems in no hurry to expand its offerings which have been, to say the least, paltry.

The Altima Hybrid, Nissan’s only entry to date, was introduced in 2007 and auto buffs will be forgiven if they are unfamiliar with the model, since it is available in only 8 states (California, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island, Maine and New Jersey).

Earlier this year, Nissan announced that it would be producing the Nissan Leaf, a hybrid vehicle a bit larger than the Versa, for the 2011 model year.

Today, the company made it known that its Infiniti brand would join in the hybrid endeavor with the 2012 M35 hybrid.

2012 M35 Hybrid

Calling its latest vehicle “the cleanest and most economical car in Infiniti’s history”, the brand’s latest hybrid system will diverge from that found on the Altima in that it will be engineered and developed by Nissan (the current Altima uses a system licensed from Toyota).

Using a single electric motor and twin clutch arrangement with the first clutch installed between the engine (the company’s 3.5-liter V-6) and the electric motor, the setup will, according to Nissan, result in a more consistent driving “feel” between the various operating modes as well as improved “linear performance”.

As a pure hybrid, the M35 will be able to operate in all-electric mode (no figures have been given as to its all-electric range), “power assist” mode (for maximum acceleration) and gas-only mode with the electric motor acting both as a propulsion unit and as a generator for the new “laminated” lithium-ion battery pack.

Coming to an Infiniti dealer near you

The new 2010 Infiniti M35 is due to hit dealer showrooms in the spring of 2010, while the hybrid version will appear as a 2012 model a year later.

Images courtesy of Nissan

The obvious and not so obvious

Here at LotPro.com, we realize that it doesn’t take a genius to conclude that it’s going to cost you a bundle to insure a sports car like the Nissan GT-R, Dodge Viper or Audi R8. All three are very expensive, very fast, and attract traffic cops in much the same way that Brad and Angelina attract the paparazzi – you can’t miss them and they’re usually good for a money shot (using a radar with the former and a camera with the latter).

What is surprising is the inclusion of the Cobalt SS in the top 20, while Chevy’s big gun, the Corvette, is MIA (demographics may have something to do with it, since Cobalt buyers are younger and more prone to “mashing the foot feed”, as it were). BMW is well represented with the four models (M6, M5, M3 and X6), the most from any single manufacturer. Of the top 20, 14 are sports cars (we take exception to the Mercedes-Benz SL-Class being classified as a “passenger car” and have included it in this category), 4 are large SUV’s, the Cadillac Escalade EXT is the lone truck and, sans the aforementioned SL, the Audi S8 is the lone passenger car.

The results

Insure.com lists the Nissan GT-R at the top of the list, noting that “Owners of the GT-R buy it for power and speed, and their driving habits are often reflected in frequent and expensive insurance claims (insert here the Japanese word for ‘obviously’).” Not far behind is the Dodge Viper, followed by the BMW M6, Ford Shelby GT 500 and, rounding out the top 5, the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Here is the complete list of the most expensive 20:

The bottom 20 for the rest of us

Lacking a payment and insurance budget that might equal the GDP of a small third world country, the rest of us can always aim for the top least expensive vehicles to  insure.

Again, it doesn’t take a Mensa candidate to realize that this list will be populated, for the most part, by small and mid-size passenger vehicles equipped with 4 and 6-cylinder engines. Indeed, the top 5 vehicles are all Korean, with 3 Kia models and 2 from sister company Hyundai. Most of this list is comprised of various and sundry forms of family haulers with minivans (6), passenger cars (6, but really 7 if you include the Rio5 which is a hatchback) and  SUVs (5) accounting for most of the listed vehicles. The remaining two include the Scion xB (almost a minivan) and the list’s only truck, a Mazda (we’re assuming the B-Series).

The list’s biggest surprise, in more ways than one, was the venerable Lincoln Town Car, parked at number 17.

Here is the complete list of the least expensive 20:

How to save more green

Insure.com also had a number of other tips to help you save on your car insurance bill:

•    Trade higher deductibles for lower premiums – but make sure you can afford your deductible in case you crash your car

2009 Edition

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger

Last year’s road tour that focused on the automotive application of the chemical element with the atomic number of 1 played out across the amber waves from Portland, Maine to Los Angeles, California. This year, at LotPro.com, we’ve noticed that the tour has been pushed up from August to May and June, and plays itself out on the west coast of North America – beginning in the land of the Governator and finishing up in the host city for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

vehicle refueling

The tour started in Los Angeles on May 26th by fueling up at the first 700 bar hydrogen fueling station to be sited in the United States at the University of California, Irvine. This year’s tour, organized by the California Air Resources Board, California Fuel Cell Partnership (CaFCP), Powertech Labs (on behalf of British Columbia), National Hydrogen Association (NHA) and the U.S. Fuel Cell Council, is focusing its efforts on those communities “where hydrogen technologies, such as passenger vehicles, transit buses and hydrogen stations, will likely enter the market first.”

“The Tour will show how capable today’s hydrogen fuel cell electric vehicles are by providing performance, environmental responsibility, a reduction of fuel imports and a pleasant driving experience for anyone who gets behind the wheel,” said Jeff Serfass, President of the National Hydrogen Association.

Tour vehicles

Participating in this year’s tour will be hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles from Daimler, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Nissan, Toyota and Volkswagen. In addition to veterans from the 2008 Hydrogen Road Tour, several new rookies will take part in the tour this year, as well as fuel cell transit buses which will participate at several of the stops (Vancouver, the tour’s terminus, will operate a fleet of 20 fuel cell buses for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games).

Here are this year’s participants:

 Daimler F-Cell

Chevrolet Equinox fuel cell vehicle

Honda FCX Clarity

Hyundai Tucson FCEV

Kia Borrego FCEV

Nissan x-trail FCV

Toyota FCHV

Volkswagen Tiguan HyMotion

Where do you spend most of your time

Here at LotPro.com, we’re, we’re as much of a sucker as the next person when it comes to beautiful automobile designs. But while a vehicle’s exterior usually generates the most excitement, it’s actually the interior of those same cars where most of us spend our time – which is precisely why Wards AutoWorld created these awards.

“There are certain aspects we look at closely in the Interior of the Year competition, and value is just as important to us as fit-and-finish, styling, comfort and safety,” says Drew Winter, editor-in-chief of Ward’s AutoWorld magazine.

“An interior doesn’t have to be expensive to be good,” Winter says. “But it does have to convey a sense of high-quality craftsmanship and have pleasing textures and low-gloss surfaces. Electronic systems have to be intuitive and easy to use and not just focus on offering a high number of features and functions. Consumers are becoming a lot savvier about what they want inside their vehicles.”

Eleven categories

This year, 35 vehicles were nominated for the four car categories (economy-priced, popular-priced, premium-priced and sports car) and two truck categories (popular-priced and premium-priced) as well as special-achievement awards in five other areas (grooviest interior, best redesign, best graphic display, design harmony and best brand expression).

And the winners are…

Honda Fit Sport (Economy-priced car)

According to the judges, “With its ingenious second-row flexibility, ample headroom and premium materials, Honda proves an inexpensive car need not feel cheap.”

Volkswagen CC (Popular-priced car)

The judges had this to say about the CC, “In the popular-priced car category, the Volkswagen CC springs from the well-regarded Passat architecture and adds a beautifully executed interior that puts this $28,225 4-door coupe in serious competition with more expensive luxury cars.”

Acura TL (Premium-priced car)

“The all-new Acura TL, at $42, 995,” according to Wards, “delivers creamy caramel-tone leather and sporty luxury in a breathtaking combination that instantly raises Acura’s stature among upscale buyers.

Nissan 370Z Touring (Sports car)

Nissan received kudos for designing an interior that is both modern and retro: “If price is an object, the 2-seat Nissan 370Z Touring pairs a potent 332 hp with a purposeful passenger compartment that manages to be both spacious and sporty, while paying homage to famous Z cars of the past, all for $36,865.“

Dodge Ram (Popular-priced truck)

Wards felt that the new Dodge Ram was a great value for the money and that it “trumps its rival, the new Ford F-150, with a spacious, well-conceived interior that fits as well on the job site as at the soccer field.”

Ford Flex (Premium-priced truck)

“The Flex demonstrates marvelous flexibility (their pun, not ours) in a 6-passenger seating configuration that employs high-quality materials and a supremely nifty power folding function for second-row seats, allowing easy access to the third row.”

Kia Soul (Grooviest Interior)

The judges really liked the Soul’s red interior. “Priced at $18,345, the 5-passenger Soul Sport reaches out to youthful buyers with an ideal mix of comfort, quality and funkiness, with lighted door speakers that flash to the beat of the music.”

Audi A4 (Best Redesign)

Reflecting on the A4’s relationship with the rest of the Audi lineup, the panel of experts had this to say, “The all-new Audi A4 secures the German auto maker’s sterling reputation for benchmark interiors. Priced at $40,825, the new A4 exudes understated but unmistakable elegance.”

Ford Fusion Hybrid (Best Graphic Display)

The editors of the magazine “marveled at the amount of information Ford engineers managed to fit into the Fusion Hybrid’s relatively small instrument cluster above the steering wheel, all the while encouraging fuel-efficient driving with a digitally projected vine that sprouts leaves as mileage grows.”

Lexus RX 450h (Design Harmony)

According to Wards, “The RX, with its riveting asymmetrical center stack, tasteful wood steering wheel and luscious color palette, is recognized with a special-achievement award for Design Harmony.”

Cadillac CTS-V (Best Brand Expression)

Finally, the Cadillac CTS-V, “with its intoxicating styling and angular instrument panel, wins a special-achievement award for Brand Expression. Priced at $68,135 with a dizzying array of electronic gadgets, the 556-hp CTS-V is for the serious driver who craves equal amounts of performance and style.”

World Car, Green Car, Performance Car and Car Design of the Year

Established just six years ago, the World Car of the Year awards are announced at the awards press conference hosted by the New York International Auto Show every year. In addition to the overall World Car of the Year winner, three other categories are also included: World Performance Car, World Green Car and Car Design of the year.

Here are this year’s winners (remember, these vehicles do not necessarily have to be available or for sale in the North American market):

2009 World Car – Volkswagen Golf VI

Chosen from an initial entry list of fifty-one vehicles, the judges had this to say, “The new Golf VI employs Scirocco (a model we have yet to see here in the U.S.) styled grille and headlights and larger tail lights. However, it also feels more expensive than other family hatches, thanks to its solid build and high quality cabin. Customers get a choice of nothing less than six engines (editor’s note: these engines are all available in Europe, not necessarily the U.S.), including the punchy and efficient 158hp 1.4-litre TSI unit that features both a turbo and supercharger. The Golf is also available with the firm’s new 2.0-litre common-rail diesel motor with either 108 or 138hp. It goes without saying that choosing between the slick 6-speed manual and superb DSG twin-clutch gearbox can be difficult. Sitting on an outstanding chassis, the VW is more refined than its rivals, especially when highway cruising. Wind, road and engine noise are kept to a minimum, making the Golf a relaxing long distance companion.”

2009 World Performance Car – Nissan GT-R

The performance car must, according to the rules, “demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation.” Vehicles in this category also must meet a minimum annual production rate of 500. The jurors felt that, “The Nissan GT-R stole the headlines in the sports car world in 2008. This GT-R – the R35 – throws even former GT-Rs into the weeds via an all-new 3.6-liter bi-turbo V-8 providing 480 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque. The drive of the GT-R, especially on a track, reveals an incredibly flexible all-wheel-drive chassis that lays down the rubber whenever you request it. Acceleration to 60 mph from a stop takes just 3.5 seconds, or a tick behind fellow Performance finalist the Corvette ZR1. This is a complete effort put forth by the normally conservative Nissan and the pleasure is in doing laps of a favorite circuit and feeling the sheer capabilities of the car. For $77,000 it may be the world’s best enthusiast car.”

2009 World Green Car – Honda FCX Clarity

Unlike the other categories, vehicles in this category only needed to be available in one major market in 2008. The Clarity was chosen because, “”The FCX Clarity is an utterly real, hydrogen-fuelled luxury sedan that provides the amenities people expect in a premium car with 430 km range, fuel consumption of about 3.3 litres/100 km (72 mpg US) equivalent and zero tailpipe emissions. While there is only so much the automotive industry can do when it comes to this technology – governments need to come onboard to help create a true refueling infrastructure – Honda must be credited for taking a bold step in leasing FCX Clarity to customers in California for US$600 per month. There’s still a long way to go before fuel-cell cars will become a commercial success, but hats off to Honda for continuing to advance this expensive technology during a time when every cent counts.”

2009 World Car Design of the Year – Fiat 500

“Icon is an overused word in the automotive world, but the Fiat 500 dating from 1957 genuinely deserves the sobriquet. Revived by Fiat last year, the new Cinquecento is larger than its predecessor but still smaller than a Mini. Cheerful and cheeky, it does a brilliant job of capturing the visual appeal of the original version while meeting modern design and engineering standards. Design consultant Robert Cumberford says the new 500 “pushes the emotional hot buttons of several generations of people who might never have driven one of the early models, but who admired them on European streets. Built on the Panda platform, the 500 keeps the original’s charm, adding two more seats and all contemporary safety, anti-pollution and driving aids.” In Tom Matano’s opinion the Fiat possesses “heart-warming style. It is genuine, straightforward, without gimmicks. It is a welcome addition to a car world full of non-humanistic designs.”

Winners to be announced at the New York Auto Show

The WCOTY competition was established just six years ago and marks the culmination of the big auto shows held in the U.S. The World Car Awards are different than most of the other awards that are bestowed on manufacturers at the other shows. Unlike those given out at, for example, the North American show in Detroit, World Car nominees aren’t required to be marketed in North America. As such, many of the vehicles that appear on the list of finalists will be, if you pardon the expression, “foreign” to many U.S. enthusiasts (as well as to a few here at LotPro.com).

2009 award nominees fall into four categories: 2009 World Car, 2009 World Performance Car, 2009 World Green Car and 2009 World Car Design of the Year. Here’s how they shake out:

Ford Fiesta

2009 World Car. In order to qualify for the overall award, the vehicle had to be in production as well as available for sale on at least two continents during 2008. It also must “excel in a broad range of attributes.” The three finalists for this award are:

Ford Fiesta
Toyota iQ
Volkswagen Golf VI

Nissan GT-R

2009 World Performance Car. Unlike the overall award, the performance car must “demonstrate a specific and overt sports/performance orientation” while still satisfying the criteria of model production and availability. Vehicles in this category also must satisfy a minimum annual production rate of 500. The three finalists for this category are:

Corvette ZR1
Nissan GT-R
Porsche 911 Carrera

Honda FCX Clarity

2009 World Green Car. Unlike the other two categories, vehicles in this category only needed to be available in one major market in 2008. In addition to production models, prototypes were allowed as long as at least ten or more were released for individual or press fleet evaluations during the year. Emissions, fuel consumption and powertrain technology aimed at increasing a vehicle’s “environmental responsibility” were all taken into account during the selection process. This year’s candidates are:

Honda FCX Clarity
Mitsubishi iMiEV
Toyota iQ

Fiat 500

2009 World Car Design of the Year. Taken from the broad list of World Car candidates, a panel of four judges that included Silvia Faruffaldi, Robert Cumberford, Akira Fujimoto and Tom Matano recommended a short list to jurors who then voted on the three finalists, which are:

Citroen C5 Sedan/C5 Tourer
Fiat 500
Jaguar XF

Stay tuned, as the awards will be announced on Thursday, April 9th.

Originally established as Hendricks Field, an Army airfield during World War II, the racetrack at Sebring, Florida hosted its first race on December 31, 1950. Since that time, the track has seen the likes of Mario Andretti, Phil Hill, Dan Gurney, Jim Hall, Sir Stirling Moss, Juan Manuel Fangio, John Surtees, Hurley Haywood, Peter Gregg and Geoff Brabham (just to name a few).

Penske Racing Porsche RS Spyder

Manufacturers that have competed and claimed victory in the 12 hour endurance race include Cunningham, Jaguar, Ferrari, Maserati, Ford, BMW, Nissan, Audi and current overall defending champion, Porsche. Audi, in particular, has recently dominated the series, winning the LM1 class from 2000 until 2008, while Penske racing captured the overall top spot last year in the Porsche RS Spyder.

Classes

Entrants in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) are currently divided up into four classes consisting of two prototype classes (LMP1 and LMP2) as well as two Grand Touring (modified production sports car) classes (GT1 and GT2). The LMP1 class generally included manufacturers while the LMP2 class is intended for privateers. GT1 cars are production-based highly modified cars such as the Aston Martin DB9, Ferrari 550 and Saleen S7R with horsepower ratings in the 550-600 range while GT2 cars are production-based and only slightly modified such as Porsche and the Ferrari Modena 360. Horsepower capacities of these vehicles can exceed 450.

Acura ARX-02a

2009

This year’s race will begin on Saturday March 21st at 10:30 am. The LMP1 pole position was won on Thursday by Scott Dixon, who will drive alongside team owner Gil de Ferran and Simon Pagenaud in the first race for the new Acura ARX-02a. Second place is occupied by the new Audi R15 TDI, set to make its racing debut (Kristensen/McNish/Capello) as well, while Peugeot was in third place with its 908 HDi (Klein/Minassian/Lamay).

Meanwhile, LMP2 qualifying saw Adrian Fernandez in the new Acura ARX-01b take the fastest time while Guy Smith, in a Mazda-powered Lola B09/86 coupe qualified just behind the Acura.

Rahal/Letterman BMW M3

GT1 saw a pair of Corvette C6’s in the top two spots, while in GT2, a Porsche 911 GT3 RSR driven by Patrick Long took the top spot. Meanwhile, newcomer BMW and the Rahal/Letterman Racing M3 placed in the top half of the GT2 class for the team’s debut race.

It’s that time again. By that, I mean that those of us here at LotPro.com as well as the vehicle manufacturers and dealers all look forward to the annual J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study. In fact, we look forward to all of the stiudies that emanate out of Westlake Village, California. That because, unlike some survey results (aka Consumer Reports), auto manufacturers and dealers can advertise the heck out of a top finish.

The Vehicle Dependability Study is important for another reason: unlike Power’s other famous survey that measures initial quality, this study is based on a three year ownership experience – after the excitement of a new car has worn off and owners have dealt with living with the same vehicle day in and day out for three long (for some) years. In human terms, it’s like comparing the honeymoon to the actual marriage – things can change.

Vehicle ownership time grows

In the current economy, the Dependability Study takes on added significance as car owners are putting off buying a new vehicle and either purchasing used or deciding to hold on to their current vehicle for a little bit longer.

Here is the press release:

Buick LaCrosse

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 19 March 2009 — Buick and Jaguar each rank highest in vehicle dependability in a tie, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) released today.  Buick improves from a sixth-place ranking in 2008, while Jaguar improves from 10th place. Following in the top five rankings this year are Lexus, Toyota and Mercury.

Toyota garners five segment awards—more than any other nameplate in 2009—for the Highlander, Prius, Sequoia, Solara and Tundra. Lexus follows with four segment awards for the ES 330 (in a tie with the Acura RL), GX 470, LS 430 and SC 430. Lincoln captures two awards for the Mark LT and Zephyr. Models by Acura, Buick, Dodge, Ford, Honda, Mazda, Mercury, Nissan and Scion each rank highest in one segment.

“Buick has ranked among the top 10 nameplates each year since the study was last redesigned in 2003, while Jaguar has moved rapidly up the rankings,” said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. “Lexus remains a very strong competitor in long-term quality.  In particular, the Lexus LS 430 sets the industry standard for dependability, with fewer problems reported than any other model in the study.”

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of three-year-old (2006 model year) vehicles, has been redesigned to include 202 different problem symptoms across all areas of the vehicle.  Overall dependability is determined by the level of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. The study is used extensively by vehicle manufacturers worldwide to help design and build better vehicles—which typically retain higher resale values—and by consumers to help them make more-informed choices for both new and used vehicles.

Acura RL

“In the current economic climate, consumers are delaying new-vehicle purchases and keeping their vehicles longer—the average age of a vehicle at trade-in has increased to 73 months in 2009 from 65 months in 2006,” said Sargent. “This makes vehicle dependability even more critical. Automakers have improved long-term dependability by an average of 10 percent each year since the inception of the study, which is a testament to the industry’s commitment to continuously improve and sustain quality, especially long-term quality. Making improvements in long-term quality not only satisfies customers who are holding onto their vehicles longer, but it will also influence their decisions when they return to the new-vehicle market or are seeking to purchase a pre-owned vehicle.”