Autoblog

click to view more high-res images of the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

Next Monday is Memorial Day, which many think of as the official start of the summer driving season. That means it's time to pack your families and all their associated gear in the family truckster family sedan and head out to see the relatives. We've already seen one set of choices for the best vehicle with which to hit the open road, and now Kelley Blue Book has decided to throw its hat in the ring as well. They cover all the bases, so regardless of the size of your clan, you'll be sure to find a recommendation that suits you. Some of their choices, like the Grand Caravan sitting at number five, seem pretty obvious and would likely make for a smooth trip. If smoothness isn't really your thing, perhaps the Bugatti Veyron, number two on KBB's list, would be a better choice. Too fuel thirsty for your pocketbook? Consider the Prius at number nine. Take a look at their full list here.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Automakers work very hard at the branding process, which takes years and years of effort to achieve. For instance, when a consumer hears Porsche, he or she likely sthink of sports cars and iconic design principles -- despite the fact that the German brand sells plenty of SUVs, too. And when a brand starts to get a negative image, it can take years to overcome that bad stigma -- just ask Ford. So, with all of this in mind, Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of its 2008 Brand Image Awards, which are based on consumer perception studies of which KBB keeps track.

The big winners this year are Toyota for "Best Overall Interior Design", BMW for "Best Overall Exterior Design" and Mercedes-Benz for "Best Overall Prestige Brand". We would have expected Audi to do well in the interior design category, but these awards are not based on reality, but perception instead. For a complete run-down of the awards, we've included the press release after the break.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

This being January, we are getting a lot of end of year lists. Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) has just released its list of the Top 20 Most Researched Vehicles of 2006. They had more than 140 million visitors to their website last year, and the vehicle that those people wanted to know about more than any other was the Honda Civic. Perhaps your silence at hearing this shows that the announcement is as revolutionary as MT picking the Camry as COTY, but these kinds of lists are useful in letting the industry know what cars are hot and which ones are not.

The list has been dominated by Toyota and Honda for the past couple of years and 2006 was no exception. The top nine cars were from those two manufacturers. And if you include Acura in the total, they accounted for 13 of the top 20. Although Honda had the number one spot, Toyota placed seven vehicles on the list to beat Honda's five listings. Six if you include the Acura TL, which finished at number 13. The Mustang was the highest placed domestic at number ten.

Check out the full list after the jump.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

It's the oldest criticism of buying new versus used – drive that fresh-from-the-factory 2007 model off the dealer lot and instantly chuck 5 - 10% of your investment right out the window. The minute its front wheels touch Main Street USA your brand new car becomes used. This is why resale value is so important, as most vehicles only retain about 35% of their value after five years according to Kelley Blue Book.

KBB has just announced the winners of its 2007 Best Resale Value Awards, which should help shoppers make a more informed decision when looking for a car that will hold its value. Keep in mind, however, that these awards are given to 2007 models, the value of which over time is just being projected by KBB, so there are no guarantees.

Follow the jump to learn which models age with the most grace and remain highly valued.

[Source: KBB.com]

In a bit of creative (if liberally stretched) cross-brand marketing, Kelley Blue Book, the folks responsible for helping consumers evaluate the value of all things four-wheeled, have teamed up with Walt Disney and Pixar to offer assessments of how much the animated stars in CARS are worth.

The upcoming film, slated to hit theatres June 9 will star Lightning McQueen, a 200-mph racer KBB believes is worth $1.5 million, the most expensive valuation in the guide's history. KBB executive editorial director and market analyst Jack R. Nerad also reports that this marks the first time that his company has attached a value to a tow truck: "'Tow-Mater, as this specific tow truck likes to be called, was difficult to place a value on without a pink slip or any appropriate badging, but its value has been enhanced due to its low-volume, hard-to-find model status.'" Uh-huh.

Check out the press release at the link.

[Source: Auto Racing Daily; Pixar Animation Studios]

 

Kelley Blue Book has assembled a new top ten list for budget-minded car buyers - the coolest vehicles under $18,000. (Drumroll...) And this year's coolest new vehicles under $18,000 are:

• 2007 Toyota Yaris (pictured)
  
• 2006 Scion xB
• 2007 Dodge Caliber
• 2006 Kia Sportage
• 2006 Chevrolet HHR
• 2006 Ford Fusion
• 2006 Nissan Frontier King Cab
• 2006 Mazda3
• 2006 Honda Civic
• 2006 Scion tC

In case you were wondering, the list is ranked from least- to most-expensive, with the Yaris' Blue Book value coming in at only $14,630. The Top Ten were selected based on price, design, style and performance. More info here.

[Source: KBB.com]

Here's an odd one of dubious merit: Kelley Blue Book's marketing research division has partnered with Taco Bell under the guise of studying the effects of in-car eating on vehicle residuals. Yes, that probably bears re-reading.

The car valuation guide experts have teamed up with fast food's Gordita gurus on the thinnest wisp of a study-- to determine the depreciation costs that sloppy 'dashboard dining' has on a vehicle's resale value.

Their findings? According to a KBB official, "Our research highlights a huge misperception among consumers: that the interior condition of a car has less importance than the exterior in terms of residual value." Fair enough. But the fact that the press release then goes on to praise "Innovative companies like Taco Bell" for "...creating solutions for diners on the go with mess-free products like the Crunchwrap Supreme™" sort of takes the intellectual sheen off this one, doesn't it?

Besides, crediting Taco Bell with creating "mess-free products" is a remarkable example of selective retention. After all, there's nothing tidy about a Chalupa, kids. Not before, not during, and certainly not after.

(Thanks to Nick @ Slashfood for the tip)

[Source: KBB.com]