Category Archives: awards

China Sales Satisfaction Down. Audi, Nissan, Hyundai Lead

Posted on 17 August 2012 by Ken Zino

There is a decline in customer satisfaction in China as experienced salespeople are in short supply as auto dealerships continue to expand. Coupled with the slow down in Chinese vehicle sales this year, there is a “notable deterioration” in overall sales satisfaction among new-vehicle owners in China. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet and Prince Fielder Give Kids a Pro Baseball Field

Posted on 3 May 2012 by Ken Zino

Prince, of course, benefited from the Tiger’s family-friendly policy of playing on the Tigers field and taking batting practice and coaching as a kid when his father, Cecil, was tearing the cover off the ball in Detroit. Sort of takes some of the fear out of it when a pitcher is trying to stare you down, if as a kid you’ve been in the cage in a big league park looking at fastballs curves, sliders and brushbacks. Continue reading →

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Ampera and Volt Voted European ‘Car of the Year 2012’

Posted on 6 March 2012 by Ken Zino

The Volt and the Ampera have won many international awards including the “World Green Car of the Year 2011” and the “North American Car of the Year 2011” award. Volt and Ampera also received the maximum 5-star Euro NCAP award. While awards are good for promotional purposes, journalists are notoriously out of touch with real car buying trends. The award comes as GM is preparing to close its Detroit Hmatrmack assembly plant for five weeks where the Volt and its Ampera identical twin are assembled because of slow sales – 1,626 Volts so far this in 2011. Continue reading →

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IIHS Posts a Record 115 Winners for 2012 Top Safety Pick

Posted on 27 December 2011 by Ken Zino

The independent Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s Top Safety Pick has a record number of choices – 115 – among 2012 models. The best vehicles are those in IIHS’s view that do the best job of protecting people in front, side, rollover, and rear crashes. Continue reading →

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Finalists in for 2012 North American Car and Truck of the Year

Posted on 15 December 2011 by Ken Zino

Cars selected were the 2012 Ford Focus, 2012 Hyundai Elantra and the 2012 Volkswagen Passat. Last year the Chevrolet Volt was the car winner. In the misleadingly named ‘truck’ category, the 2012 BMW X3, 2012 Honda CR-V and the 2012 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque made the final cut. Continue reading →

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New EPA Grants Go to Universities for Black Carbon Research

Posted on 18 October 2011 by Ken Zino

Black carbon – including diesel powered vehicle emissions – can affect the climate in the near term, and as with other types of fine particles, can cause serious health effects such as cardiovascular and respiratory ailments. Fine particles have also been strongly linked to lung cancer. Continue reading →

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World Record for Tailfins as 298 Cadillacs Parade in Vermont?

Posted on 18 August 2011 by Ken Zino

The previous record of 102 Cadillacs on parade was set on Aug. 18, 2002, in Leimuiderbrug, the Netherlands of all places. Continue reading →

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Quality Drops Drastically as Automakers Introduce New Models

Posted on 23 June 2011 by Ken Zino

After a four year run of improving quality, the trend has reversed itself as the initial quality of 2011 new vehicle launches has declined considerably in the latest study. Overall initial quality improved to an average of 107 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2011 from 109 PP100 in 2010. However, launch models – vehicles that are all-new or have had major redesigns – saw ratings drop by 10% to an average of 122 PP100 in 2011 from 111 PP100 in 2010. Continue reading →

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Vehicle Dependability at Record, but Electronic Problems Grow

Posted on 17 March 2011 by Ken Zino

Overall vehicle dependability has slightly improved from 2010, but automakers are having difficulty overcoming problems with newer technologies and features, according to the J.D. Power and Associates. The study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners … Continue reading →

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Toyota Tops in Quality in Germany Says TÜV

Posted on 28 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Germany’s leading technical inspection association, TÜV, says the Toyota Prius ranks in first place for quality for vehicles aged two to three years. TÜV reports only 2.2% of the Prius hybrids inspected showed signs of a defect.

Toyota’s Auris was a close second in the same category at just 2.3% compared with an average of 5.5%. Furthermore, vehicles across Toyota’s product line performed well in the annual report – including the Avensis, Corolla Verso, RAV4 and Yaris models. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet Volt Hybrid Available Nationwide By End of 2011

Posted on 27 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Chevrolet said today that it is moving up the national rollout of the Volt hybrid to the end of this year instead of 2011. The latest development for the increasingly popular four-seat car comes closely after General Motors decided to increase Volt production for at least the second time in four months. Continue reading →

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