 |
Consumer Reports regularly ranks cars on factors like reliability and bang for the buck. The company recently crunched all the data collected on 2012 models, and now it’s announced a list of ten Top Picks for the year.
In compiling its rankings, Consumer Reports looked at three factors: reliability, safety, and a road test. To keep things fair, each data set came from a different source. Reliability was based on surveys of over 1,000,000 vehicles, provided by the magazine’s subscribers. Safety data came from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and government sources. And of course, Consumer Reports conducted extensive studies of its own to determine road test scores.
Each year, thousands of consumers answer surveys about cars and the people who sell them. Those studies — like the ones we recently mentioned about brand loyalty and the shopping habits of men and women – can tell us a lot about buyers, but for an insider’s look at the auto industry, you need to chat with folks on the other side of the counter: the dealers. A new study from the National Automobile Dealers Association says its members are happiest in the company of Asian marques like Hyundai, Subaru, and Lexus.
Hot on the heels of yesterday’s reveal of the new Toyota GT 86, or Scion FR-S as it’s expected to be called in the U.S., Subaru has unveiled its version of the new jointly developed rear-wheel drive sports car, the BRZ.
While it’s scheduled to make its official world debut alongside its Toyota sibling tomorrow at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show, almost everything there is to know about the BRZ has already been revealed although there are a few new interesting tidbits.
‘Tis the season for year-end deals, but for folks in search of something different — and philanthropic — Subaru is offering shoppers a chance to get a new car and make a gift to charity, all in one fell swoop.
The deal is part of Subaru of America’s annual “Share the Love” promotion, running now through January 3, 2012. For every new car leased or sold during the promotional period, Subaru will make a donation of $250 to one of five outstanding charities (previously announced at Social Car News): American Forests, the ASPCA, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Meals On Wheels Association of America, or the Special Olympics. Shoppers choose which of the five will receive Subaru’s gift.
Subaru’s long-awaited rear-drive sports coupe is nearing its final stages before entering production, with the BRZ STI Concept at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show all but revealing the car that’ll be menacing streets near you in just a few months. These live images show the car up close and personal, as it sits on the Subaru stand right now.
While we already have a fairly good idea as to what the long-awaited Toyota FT-86 sports car will look like in production trim, thanks mostly to a series of high-profile leaks last week, its Subaru sibling largely remains a mystery still.
While the automaker recently gave us a clue with the release of several images of its BRZ Concept STI destined to debut next week at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, the production version due just two weeks later at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show is expected to look somewhat different.
November 30 is the day the covers finally come off the long-awaited production versions of the respective Toyota FT-86 and Subaru BRZ concept cars, but in the lead up to the unveilings more and more details about the cars continue to emerge.
While both will share most of their body panels, a common rear-wheel drive platform, and a 2.0-liter horizontally opposed ‘boxer’ engine, it appears there will still be some major differences between two to help differentiate them in the market place.
For 2012, the Subaru Outback Sport model has been retired, replaced by a new Impreza Sport model that combines a specific set of options.
But MotorAuthority has learned that for 2013, the Subaru XV model unveiled two weeks ago at the Frankfurt Motor Show will come to the States–although not under that name.
In discussions last night with Michael McHale, director of corporate communications for Subaru of America, he revealed that the company will add the XV to the Impreza lineup for the 2013 model year.
Toyota’s long-awaited rear-wheel drive sports car that it’s developing together with Subaru has been confirmed for launch in 2012 and at this week’s 2011 Geneva Motor Show the Japanese auto giant has unveiled a new concept car previewing it.
Dubbed the FT-86 II, the new concept is based on the original FT-86 from 2009 and looks a lot more like a production model. Toyota admits that it is the strongest indication yet of how the production model will look and that it has clearly been inspired by Toyota’s sports cars of the past, such as the legendary 2000 GT of the 1960s.
If you’re thinking of getting a new Subaru, here’s one more pro to put on the list: some of the strongest resale values in the business.
ALG, a respected authority for residual values and depreciation data, and the leader for establishing the residuals that are used to determine new-car leasing rates, has named Subaru its top-rated brand for 2011.
That’s great news for Subaru and Subaru shoppers, as quiet simply, the better a vehicle rates in residual value, the less it will cost to lease, and even if you buy, ownership costs are likely to be lower over the long run, as you’ll get more money on trade.
| Older Entries » |