Toyota and Honda top automotive brands in consumer perception

Automakers spend billions of dollars to promote their vehicles and build brand awareness. Yet, marketing alone does not shape consumer perception without a clear connection to the vehicles in the showroom. In the latest Auto Pulse survey conducted by the Consumer Reports National Research Center, Toyota and Honda brands ranked first and second, respectively, by dominant margins over all others. Likewise, the vehicles from those brands have consistently performed well in our testing, often ranking among the best in their classes, and have been mostly at the top of our reliability ratings over the years. Lets your journey with world car brand.............

Sunday, August 23, 2009

BMW

2010 BMW X4 Preview
A Coupe SUV is something everyone is expecting. Land Rover has already announced the LRX Concept for the Detroit Auto Show; so it was about time for the best German maker to start working on a coupe SUV. The upcoming model will be based on the X3 SUV; actually will be a shrinked X3 with two-doors. BMW will launch a concept version sometime this year; while the production version will follow in 2009 and sales will begin in 2010.
The X-Series is a real success for BMW. For example the new X5 was sold out in Germany a month before it really went on sale and the X3 is selling very well, despite its high price. The X6 launched in December turned out to be a real success among the press. This is a very good reason for BMW to start working on a more compact version of the X-Series. It will be called X4 and like the X6 was inspired by X5, it will be based on the X3.
The X4 will be a pure road car, with sporty design elements: it will feature narrow roof pillars and frameless windows. It is expected to be around 10 cm thinner than the X3 and also 5 cm shorter.
2010 BMW M3 Edition Models
As it comes from the factory with its carbon fiber roof, 19 inch wheels and high revving 4.0 Liter V8; the BMW M3 coupe is a very desirable machine. The problem the Bavarian automakers are facing is how to improve upon a good thing. They have solved this dilemma by announcing the production of the M3 Edition. This limited production M3 coupe is powered by the same great 420 HP V8 as the standard model, except both the interior and exterior are adorned with upgrades and accents that make the Edition models very unique BMWs.
The M3 Edition models take the outstanding features of the M3 and dress them up with a new layer of style. Starting with four new individualized colors like Alpine White, Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue; the BMW design team also added a few exterior modifications, like a blacked out treatment for the grill, side mirrors, tailpipes and even the light weight alloys. The chassis has also been lowered by about 0.4 inches not only set these M3s apart from the rest of the field, but also improves handling.
On the inside, the Edition M3s are set apart from the crowd with Carbon Structure Leather trim and soft black Novillo Leather covering the seats. The piping and stitching is made to match the vehicle’s exterior color. With a production run limited to just six months, the BMW M3 Edition is the perfect option for the driver who never wants to see another car like their’s on the road.
2009 BMW M3 Convertible
The BMW M3 model family is being upgraded by yet another fascinating player: The new BMW M3 Convertible, the third body version of BMW’s high-performance sports car following the Coupé and Saloon, offers new possibilities to experience uncompromising driving dynamics
Beneath the engine compartment lid lurks the V8 power unit displacing 4.0 litres and with all the features of a high-speed engine developed brand-new from the ground up for the
BMW M3. Above the heads of the driver and passengers is either the three-piece hardtop opening and disappearing completely into the rear roof compartment at the touch of a button in just 22 seconds or of course the blue sky and the thrill of open air.
2009 BMW X3 Edition Exclusive
BMW added two new X3 special edition for the 2009 MY: the Editions Lifestyle and Exclusive. Starting autumn 2008 the BMW X3 will be available with no less than six different engines ranging from 150 hp all the way to 286 hp.
The 2.0-litre gasoline entry-level model will now be designated “BMW X3 xDrive20i”, and the most powerful diesel model driven by BMW’s 3.0-litre straight-six with Variable Twin Turbo will now bear the name “BMW X3 xDrive35d”.
The Edition Lifestyle highlights in particular the modern flair and sporting agility of the BMW X3. The vehicle comes with a wide range of paintwork colours made up of new Space Grey metallic and eight further colours. Additional highlights accentuating the impressive look of the Lifestyle model are 18-inch light-alloy rims in double-spoke design on the BMW X3 xDrive35d and, respectively, 17-inch V-spoke wheels on all other model variants.

2009 BMM 3-Series Performance
Its athletic design and its superior driving dynamics make the new BMW 3-Series to be one of the best in its segment. And with the new accessories from the BMW Performance, this unique characters is taken even further. The new 3-Series Performance will go on sale from late March / early April 2009.
This special options, for drive, chassis, aerodynamics and cockpit are part of the original BMW accessories program. The BMW Performance components transferrers the "know-how from" motorsport on the road and allow the driver to express his enthusiasm for technical excellence individually.
The BMW Performance Aerodynamics Kit for the new BMW 3 Series sedan and the new BMW 3 Series Touring includes a striking front apron with an expressive BMW kidney in black glossy appearance and dynamically contoured side sills. Also to improve the aerodynamics of the car many of the accessories are made out of carbon fiber.
2009 BMW Sauber F1.09
Over the last week we’ve seen Ferrari, McLaren and Renault sounding off about their new F1 cars, and now BMW is chiming in with its 2009 racer.
BMW Sauber F1 Team revealed today the F1.09 Formula 1 car today in Valencia, Spain. For those who think all F1 cars look alike, the 2009 car has implicated a few changes including a higher nose, three-part front wing and a slimmer rear wing. The racer also has add-ons, such as air deflectors and cooling air exits. Other eye-catching features include the sidepods, which are now higher at the front.
Like the rest of the 2009 F1 cars, the F1.09 has integrated the kinetic energy recovery system (KERS) for added power. Let’s just hope it was perfected
from when it was tested this summer.
2009 BMW 730Ld
BMW UK added a new model to the 7-series line-up: the 730Ld, the long-wheelbase version of the 730d that adds 14cms of legroom for rear seat passengers. The prices will start from £56,790.
The new BMW 730Ld is powered by an all-aluminium 2,993cc straight-six cylinder diesel engine that produces 245hp at 4,000rpm. A peak torque figure of 540Nm is attained from 1,750rpm through to 3,000rpm and this results in a zero to 62mph time of 7.3 seconds and a 153mph top speed. Its 194g/km emission figure is class-leading for conventionally powered luxury cars, as is its 38.7mpg combined consumption figure. The BMW 730Ld comes with a six-speed automatic gearbox as standard.
2009 BMW Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo
BMW released today the first details on the Concept 5 Series Gran Turismo, the preview version of the future Progressive Activity Sedan (PAS). World debut will be made in just a few weeks at the Geneva Motor Show.
The sound you hear right now is the collective sigh of relief from the automotive world. BMW is trying to build a vehicle designed for multiple purposes, which meant it was possibly going to be a hodge-podge of automotive elements that could make this GT the next Frankenstein. Instead the 5-Series GT is a tasteful mixture of BMW’s X6 and 7-Series. If you’re a fan of outgoing designer Chris Bangle, then the GT may be a wet dream.
Function is the largest purpose of this car. BMW emphasized this in its
teaser video. The 5-Series GT has an interior that designed to move to maximize cargo space or maximize interior space.
2009 BMW 7-Series Individual
We first saw the 2009 BMW 7-Series Individual as a limited model in the 2008 Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. But just like the limited edition Z3 from the 1995 book, BMW couldn’t keep the special car just to the mail order crowd. So now at the Geneva Auto Show in two weeks BMW will show off a 7-Series Individual designed for the showroom.
The Neiman Marcus car was only available in a color called "Diopside Black", but on this one the car can be ordered in Anthracite, Silk Grey, Champagne, Amaro Brown and Platinum. Also the "Champagne Merino" mandatory color on the inside has bee replaced by the choice of leather in Graphite, Silk Grey, Champagne, Amaro Brown, Cohiba Brown, or Platinum. The 7-Series Individual is also offered with 20-inch light-alloy wheels in V-spoke design.
2009 BMW X3 Limited Sport Edition
BMW may be working on an actual M edition for the X5 and X6, but their little brother, the X3, doesn’t want to be left out. Like a good mother, BMW is going to make sure the little one gets to play along too, but it also knows the small X3 is just to little to handle the power of a big engine. That’s why the X3 gets to look like a Motorsport car.
It’s called the X3 Limited Sport Edition, and it includes 19-inch M alloy wheels, M leather steering wheel, sport seats and xenon headlights. This X3 also features M aerodynamic bodywork and a retuned suspension. The package is available across the X3 line for 2009. Starting at €7,250 for the X3 with 150 hp gas engine and topping out at €7,900 for the X3 xDrive35d (diesel).
BMW also knows better than to let its little one play too far from home, so the X3 Limited Sport Edition will likely be limited to Europe.
2009 BMW X3 Rescue Vehicle
BMW will come to the Geneva Motor Show with the X3 xDrive20d emergency rescue vehicle. Powered by a 177 bhp engine, the X3 Rescue vehicle is the perfect choice in any medical rescue situations.
The exterior of the BMW X3 is in plain white, with contrasting reflective red film and red stripes on the sides and boot lid, and double strips on the bonnet, to render the vehicle’s special function visible even at a distance. To further increase its visibility, the car’s contour markings have integrated reflective gaps on the sides and at the bottom of the boot lid.
Naturally, like any emergency rescue vehicle, it is also fitted with a special roof-mounted alarm system, including a blue light, an electronic siren, and an LED display with the word NOTARZT ("emergency doctor").

2009 BMW M3 GT4
BMW doesn’t want the Maserati GranTurismo MC to get all the spotlight at the 24-hour race on the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife this year. The May 23rd race will be the premiere run of BMW’s M3 GT4 car.
BMW is importing Augusto Farfus, Jorg Muller and Andy Priaulx from the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) to give the M3 GT4 a workout. While BMW has been a dominate force of the WTCC circuit, it has an uphill battle in the GT4 class. It’s been won by an American car, the Ford Mustang FR500C, for the last two years (the driver was German.)