Volkswagen, Ford tops in vehicle quality survey

NEW YORK (AP) -- Volkswagen took the most awards in an annual U.S. automobile quality survey by a California research company, but Ford's Focus also proved to be a favorite, rising to the top of the survey's small car category.

Volkswagen of America, which includes Audi, came out on top in six of the 17 market segments in the results released Monday by San Diego-based Strategic Vision Inc. General Motors Corp. vehicles won four categories and Nissan models took three.

Volkswagen and Ford Motor Co. were the top scorers among automakers that offer a full line of products in the U.S. The survey looked at 20,101 buyers who bought 2008 and 2009 models between September and December of last year.

"Volkswagen is building vehicles that people are falling in love with," said Strategic Vision President Alexander Edwards. "They're focused on interesting, sporty vehicles and those sporty cues also add to the safety perception of consumers."

The New Beetle was the German automaker's top model, scoring 924 points out of a possible 1,000 to win the survey's small specialty coupe division.

The Volkswagen CC and Audi A4 sedans tied for first place in the survey's near-luxury car division with total quality index scores of 923 and 922, respectively.
Volkswagen's Tiguan won the entry utility division with 914 points, while the Rabbit scored 889 points to take the small multifunction division and the Jetta won the medium car division with 891 points.

Read article at: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/VW-Ford-tops-in-vehicle-apf-3121865650.html?x=0&.v=1

Subaru Legacy sedan grows bigger, roomier for 2010

A car for every purse and purpose was once a famous mantra of General Motors, and on a much smaller scale, Subaru is adopting that principle with its redesign of the 2010 Legacy.
The sedan is bigger, roomier, has an updated engine lineup and looks a bit sharper than its predecessor. And it's got a little something for everyone: a base model with solid fuel economy, a turbo for enthusiasts and a bigger displacement six-cylinder unit that’s paired with an automatic transmission for ease of driving.
The goal is to make the Legacy more mainstream and more of an option for consumers outside of its historic base--which despite being avid, is relatively small. The redesign is significant because it positions the Legacy to better compete with sedans from Mazda, Nissan, Volkswagen and to a lesser extent, Toyota and Honda.

Read the entire article at: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20090626/CARREVIEWS/906279997

2010 Kia Forte.........IS HERE NOW!

STOP IN TODAY AND TEST DRIVE IT FOR YOURSELF!!!!

While other automakers are mired in the muck of one of the worst auto slumps in history, Kia is busy going about the business of reinventing itself. Flush with confidence after the recent successful launch of its all-new Soul, Kia has reloaded and is firing another shot across the bow of its competition with the 2010 Kia Forte, its new bread-and-butter car that replaces the Spectra.

Read the entire article on MotorTrend.com at: http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/sedans/112_0909_2010_kia_forte_review/index.html

2010 Subaru Legacy Gets Best-In-Class Fuel Economy

The 2009 Subaru Legacy remains one of TheCarConnection.com's favorite all-weather sedans, despite a few issues that keep its overall review rating to 7.4 out of 10. Depending if it's equipped with the base flat-four, the more exciting turbocharged four, or the smooth flat-six, it can take on a wide range of personalities, from frugal and basic to sporty or even a bit luxurious.
With fuel economy ratings that don't get any better than 20-mpg city, 27 highway, the 20 Subaru Legacy isn't the best on gas in any of its versions. Stepping up to the top 3.0-liter six and five-speed automatic earns a so-so 17/24 rating. Admittedly, the additional driveline drag of all-wheel drive typically saps a mile or two out of every gallon, but c'mon, Subaru can do better, right?
Well, they have. The all-new 2010 Subaru Legacy achieves 23 mpg city, 31 highway in base 2.5i trim with the available CVT automatic transmission, while both the 2.5GT, with its turbocharged engine and the 3.6R with its smooth flat-six go up 1 mpg, to 18/25. The only exception to this trend is the base six-speed-manual model, which gets 1 mpg less than before in the city, at 19/27.
All said, Subaru points out that the new 2.5i CVT model gets better fuel economy than the front-wheel-drive Honda Accord, Mazda6i, Volkswagen Passat, and Hyundai Sonata—and that it's the highest-rated mid-size all-wheel-drive sedan for 2010, when you look at the EPA combined figures.
The new 2010 Subaru Legacy has grown in nearly every dimension, and is slightly heavier than the last-generation car, so the mileage boost is quite a feat. The Legacy gets a new platform, a new double-wishbone rear suspension, a host of upgraded safety and interior features, and a completely different look that—like the Impeza family introduced two years ago—does away with the frameless windows.
Yet the Legacy's base price will start at a bargain $19,995. There's a lot to talk about, but we'll save some of it as we'll be driving the new 2010 Legacy in just a few days. Stay tuned.
Read more at: http://blogs.thecarconnection.com/marty-blog/1021596_2010-subaru-legacy-gets-best-in-class-fuel-economy

Volkswagen CC earns Top Safety Pick award

The 2009 Volkswagen CC, a midsize moderately priced car, is the Institute's newest 2009 Top Safety Pick award winner. To qualify for Top Safety Pick, a vehicle must earn the highest rating of good in the Institute's front, side, and rear tests and be equipped with electronic stability control. Criteria to win are tough because the award is intended to drive continued safety improvements such as top crash test ratings and the rapid addition of electronic stability control, which is standard on the CC.
"Recognizing vehicles at the head of the class for safety helps consumers distinguish the best overall choices without having to sort through multiple test results," says Institute president Adrian Lund. Read more at: www.iihs.org

Bmw X1 caught almost undisguised

As you may know already, Bmw teased us last week with some photos of the upcoming X1 but now we can show you how the production version of the future car will look like.
The new vehicle was recently caught with a very light camouflage and as you can see from the photos the design is almost the same found on the X1 Concept showcased at last year’s Paris Motor Show. The new Bmw X1 will be built at the Leipzig factory and the German manufacturer hopes to see 7,800 units by the end of the year and more than 47,000 in 2010.
See more at:
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/bmw-x1-caught-almost-undisguised/

2009 Infiniti G37 vs. BMW 328i, Audi A4 2.0T, Acura TL SH-AWD

See why BMW is still the king of the road!!

For executives undergoing painful downsizing, may we suggest something in the $40,000 range, smart yet modest in posture compared with the usual CEO barge. Something in a sports sedan would keep the mood casual. Just in time, we have two new international choices: the bravely chiseled Acura TL and the softly molded Audi A4. The Acura, apart from its polarizing, sharply creased style, brings Honda’s Super Handling All-Wheel Drive to the middleweight sports class. The A4 brings variable lift on the exhaust valves of the 2.0-liter turbo four, upping output 11 horses to 211.
They join two other old favorites that have been smartly upgraded for 2009: BMW’s ever-popular 328i gets new headlights and hood in front; new wheels, mirrors, and sills in the side view; new taillights, decklid, and bumper in back; and of course, an increment of $900 on the bottom line. The Infiniti G35 of last year is now vitamin fortified and rechristened G37 to reflect the V-6 upsizing to 3.7 liters from 3.5. The previous 306-horse version romped all comers at the drag strip. They should expect even less mercy now.

Read the entire article at: http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/comparison_test/sedans/2009_infiniti_g37_vs_bmw_328i_audi_a4_2_0t_acura_tl_sh_awd_comparison_test/(page)/1