Autoblog

Ford honored most by 2012 KBB Brand Image Awards

Chris Tutor — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW, Cadillac, Ford, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche

Kelley Blue Book has issued its 2012 Brand Image Awards and Ford took home four of the 12 honors.

The Blue Oval was recognized as the Most Family-Friendly Brand, Best interior Design Brand, Non-Luxury, Best Exterior Design Brand, Non-Luxury, and Most Rugged Truck Brand. Cadillac was the only other U.S. marque to win awards. It took the Best Interior Design Brand, Luxury and Best Comfort Brand.

The usually dominant Japanese brands were scarce, with Honda the only representative. Honda took the Most Trusted Brand and Best Value Brand.

The remaining four categories all went to Germany. BMW took Best Exterior Design Brand (somewhere Chris Bangle is smiling), Porsche took Coolest Brand and Best Performance Brand. Mercedes-Benz, for the fifth year in a row, was named the Most Prestigious Brand.

Ford honored most by 2012 KBB Brand Image Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB hands out inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awards to Kia, Audi

Zach Bowman — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:35:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Audi, Kia

Kia has taken home the first ever Kelley Blue Book award for Total Cost of Ownership among consumer brands. As you might expect, the award goes to brands and vehicles with the lowest projected ownership costs. KBB examines depreciation, fuel costs, fees associated with finance and insurance, maintenance costs and state fees. Both the Optima sedan and Sportage CUV helped Kia cinch the win this award's inaugural year.

Kelley Blue Book also examined the cost of ownership among luxury brands, and Audi took the top nod in this category. KBB specifically pointed to the German automaker's low depreciation and good average fuel economy as reasons for the brand's win. The A3, A4 and Q5 all helped the automaker in the total cost of ownership evaluation.

The award is also broken up by individual vehicle categories, and there were some surprises among the winners. The Honda Insight took the Hybrid Car award while the Chevrolet Volt nabbed the Electric Car win. We would have expected to see the Toyota Prius and Nissan Leaf take those categories, respectively. Follow the jump for the full press release that reveals individual winners in each model category.

Continue reading KBB hands out inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awards to Kia, Audi

KBB hands out inaugural Total Cost of Ownership awards to Kia, Audi originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Infographic: KBB looks at 2011 in the rearview mirror

John Neff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Boy, that 2011 was a doozy, no? Earthquakes, tsunamis and floods; Arab Spring uprisings; Occupy protests, or as the highly respected yet entirely fictional Dr. Peter Venkman once said, "Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!"

This year has indeed been one to remember for the world at large, and the auto industry was anything but immune to what was happening to the world's populace.

Kelley Blue Book has put together a nifty color-coded infographic to take us back through 2011. It quickly reminds us how much of an upswing the industry as a whole was in for before the devastating earthquakes and tsunamis hit Japan in February. After that, the entire playing field shifted, largely in favor of the already surging U.S. domestic automakers, the Korean brands and Nissan, which had the good fortune of not having nearly as much of its production interrupted as Toyota and Honda.

As 2011 closes, it would seem that the auto industry is once again approaching equilibrium, where all manufacturers are competing on just the merit of their wares, though as this past year has taught us, nature can change that in an instant.

Follow the jump to scan the entire infographic for yourself and let us know what automotive moments of the past year you'll remember most by leaving a comment.

Continue reading Infographic: KBB looks at 2011 in the rearview mirror

Infographic: KBB looks at 2011 in the rearview mirror originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Dec 2011 15:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB 2012 Best Resale Value awards dominated by Toyota

Zach Bowman — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:13:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Audi, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Ford, Honda, Jeep, Lexus, Toyota

Kelley Blue Book has announced the company's 2012 Best Resale Value Awards. The honors are handed out based on projections crafted by the KBB staff of automotive analysts for cars and trucks expected to retain the largest percentage of their original list price after five years.

For 2012, KBB has named Toyota as the best resale brand with Lexus taking the top honor in the luxury brand category. There aren't any surprises there, and the list of individual winners isn't likely to shake anyone's tree either. Toyota brands earned five category awards, while Honda alone took four categories, including sub-compact car, compact car, hybrid and van.

The Ford F-150, meanwhile, took home the full-size pickup nod and the only award for the Blue Ovals brands, while the Chevrolet Camaro V6 and SS snagged the sports car and high-performance car categories, respectively. There were a few surprises in the mix, however. The Jeep Wrangler brought home the only win in the compact SUV category and the only nod for Chrysler this year. The Audi A5 snagged the gold in the luxury car category and the Chevy Volt beat out the Nissan Leaf in the electric car category.

Kelly Blue Book says that residual value should be at the top of car buyers concerns when it comes time to bringing home a new model as depreciation represents the largest potential new-car expense. Hit the jump for the full press release.

Continue reading KBB 2012 Best Resale Value awards dominated by Toyota

KBB 2012 Best Resale Value awards dominated by Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list by KBB has some curious picks

Jeff Glucker — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

Having a car in high school can immediately vault you several rungs on the cool-kid class meter. However, choose the wrong car and you can actually lose points, sending your popularity down faster than the Dow Jones Industrial Average. Kelley Blue Book has put together a list of vehicles that it believes will appeal to the kids out there with driver's licenses, and we're not entirely sold on all of the choices.

Here is a quick breakdown of KBB's choices for both new and used vehicles:

New:
5. 2011 Chevrolet Cruze
4. 2011 Fiat 500
3. 2012 Ford Focus
2. 2011 Honda Fit
1. 2012 Hyundai Accent

Used:
5. 2007 Nissan Sentra
4. 2007 Ford F-150
3. 2007 Kia Sedona
2. 2008 Chevrolet HHR
1. 2007 Suzuki SX4

The new choices all make sense, since the vehicles are affordable, efficient and attractive enough not to make our inner teens cringe in shame. Something tells us the little Fiat might really score much higher on the desirability list.

The used car choices, however, have at least one eyebrow raiser in their midst. While we've grown to fully appreciate the utility of a minivan, there isn't a teenager in the entire country that wants to be seen driving one. Sure, they'd be able to pack all their friends inside, but teens aren't known for making sensible decisions.

We're also a bit curious about the F-150. Yes, it's best-selling vehicle in America and arguably the leader of its class, but it's hardly fuel efficient. Not quite an obvious choice in our minds.

Still, it's hard to say no to any car at that age, which explains why our first cars are far from our dream rides. We're curious: What was your first car? Feel free to sound off in the comments.

Top 10 Back-to-School Cars list by KBB has some curious picks originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 10 Aug 2011 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Hyundai bumps Toyota, Honda from top of owner loyalty charts

Zach Bowman — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Hyundai

Hyundai is continuing its climb to the top. Kelley Blue Book has declared that the Korean manufacturer has beat out Honda, Toyota, Ford and Subaru in customer loyalty. According to data gathered from online sales at its KBB.com website, a total of 52.3 percent of Hyundai owners researched another Hyundai vehicle as they shopped during the first quarter of this year. Honda, meanwhile, saw 49.7 percent of its owners do the same, and 47.7 percent of Toyota buyers shopped for another of the company's vehicles during the same period. The KBB.com study indicated that 45.4 percent of Ford buyers researched another vehicle in that stable while 44.8 Subaru owners clicked through information on the Japanese automaker's other hardware.

Clearly, vehicle research doesn't exactly translate to owner loyalty, but the fact that so many current Hyundai owners are even willing to take a look at the rest of the company's arsenal is a good bellwether as to whether or not consumers will return to the brand in the future. Hit the jump for the full report.

Continue reading Hyundai bumps Toyota, Honda from top of owner loyalty charts

Hyundai bumps Toyota, Honda from top of owner loyalty charts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Jul 2011 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kelley Blue Book has a new look

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 26 May 2011 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

Kelley Blue Book's new look - Click above for high-res image gallery

A Kleenex, a Band-Aid, a Thermos. Sometimes, one product in a segment becomes so ubiquitous that it becomes a brand-name ambassador for the entire genre. Say "pass me a Kleenex" and you will receive a tissue, regardless of what the side of the box it's plucked from reads. If you need a Band-Aid, someone will find you an adhesive dressing. Thermos? Same deal.

Kelley Blue Book is one such brand name.

In 1926, Les Kelley published his first Blue Book. Originally a packet of pages filled with his valuations for used cars, the Blue Book expanded to include new cars in 1966. As our world became increasingly digital, Kelley Blue Book extended its footprint to the Internet in 1993, and the Kelley Blue Book soon began to enter the lexicon of the car buying consumer in a new way.

Now, in 2011, KBB stands as the largest automotive valuation company. That's 85 years in business and 18 years on the web, and now, like the Orange County neighbors that surround KBB HQ, the brand is ready for a facelift.

Continue reading Kelley Blue Book has a new look

Kelley Blue Book has a new look originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 26 May 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Chevy Volt may be worth only $17,000 after 36 months

Autoblog Staff — Tue, 17 May 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Chevrolet, Electric

2011 Chevrolet Volt - Click above for high-res image gallery

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt will have a resale value of a tick over $17,000 after 36 months, the length of an average lease, according to Kelley Blue Book. That's only 42 percent of the plug-in hybrid's $41,000 MSRP. KBB's projection assumes that the going rate for a gallon of gas will hold steady at $4/gallon 36 months from now.

Eric Ibara, director of residual value consulting at Kelley, told Automotive News that the Volt's projected residual value may seem to be on the low side. But, as Ibara points out, the first 200,000 Volts sold qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit, effectively slashing its sticker price down to $33,500 (well, maybe not).

Using that $33,500 number, KBB's projection means the Volt will hold onto 51 percent of its value. That compares to 46 percent for the 2011 Toyota Prius and 37.5 percent for the 2011 Ford Focus. As we see it, factoring in the $7,500 tax credit is crazy, but we'll let you guys and gals debate that.

KBB expects to set residuals for the ~~$25,280~~ $32,780 Nissan Leaf, which also qualifies for the $7,500 federal tax credit, later this year. Hat tip to Frank!

Chevy Volt may be worth only $17,000 after 36 months originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 17 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cadillac cleans up with three KBB Brand Image Awards

Jeff Glucker — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Cadillac, Ford, GM, Honda, Mercedes-Benz, Toyota

2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe - Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelley Blue Book has announced the winners of its 2011 Brand Image awards, which are given out based on KBB data culled from a survey taken by over 12,000 in-market shoppers. Cadillac's image must be rather strong with said shoppers, because it took home KBB hardware in three out of the 10 award categories.

Constantly citing the CTS family of vehicles, KBB handed Cadillac the awards for Best Exterior Design, Best Comfort and Best Interior Design. Mercedes-Benz, Ford, Honda, Toyota and BMW snagged the rest of the 2011 Brand Image trophies. BMW and Ford received two nods apiece, but Caddy is still king of this particular hill for 2011. Click past the jump to read the full list of categories and winners.

Gallery: 2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe: Review

Photos copyright (C)2011 Drew Phillips / AOL

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading Cadillac cleans up with three KBB Brand Image Awards

Cadillac cleans up with three KBB Brand Image Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB looks back at a year in the life of Toyota

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Recalls, Toyota

Toyota had a very interesting 2010. It was seemingly filled with an endless series of negative articles and shifting consumer perceptions. But has the automotive-buying public really been swayed? Kelley Blue Book decided to take a look back at Toyota's tough 2010 in a special report titled Toyota: One Year Later.

The answer to the question regarding consumer perception is a tricky one and can be answered with both a yes and a no. New car sales were flat compared to the rest of the automotive industry, which saw sales improve in the aftermath of the economic meltdown of 2008 and 2009. However, the values on used Toyota vehicles has held strong.

New car shoppers are reportedly very aware of Toyota's recent recall woes and feel the brand has been tarnished as a result. Yet 40 percent of those polled also believe the automaker has responded properly and fixed its various issues.

KBB has broken down Toyota's trying 2010 with valuable data garnered from its in-market shopping site and used car valuation analysis. Consumers have also been surveyed and all the information has been packaged into a report that's definitely worth a read, especially if you're considering buying a Toyota.

Click here (Warning: PDF link) to read it yourself.

[Source: KBB]

Continue reading KBB looks back at a year in the life of Toyota

KBB looks back at a year in the life of Toyota originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 20 Jan 2011 10:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

Jeff Glucker — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

KBB.com names its 20 Most-Researched vehicles for 2010 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Kelly Blue Book has compiled a list of the most researched new vehicles for 2010, as well as brands that hold the greatest market share of interest. The Honda Accord, Civic and Toyota Camry claim the top three spots -- not a surprise if you've been reading this list the last few years. Since 2004, the same three vehicles have garnered the most attention at KBB.com.

While it's not a surprise to see those three, it's a nice change of pace for a few newcomers to the list. The Hyundai Sonata was 29th overall last year, but has risen 24 spots to claim the title of fifth most-researched vehicle for 2010. Not everyone rose this year, of course. Two notable vehicles, the Toyota Prius and Corolla, dropped a few spots compared to 2009.

It's not all bad news for Toyota, however, because KBB.com also takes a look at each brand's market share of interest among new car buyers. Toyota leads the way at 13.4 percent, with Honda, Ford, Chevrolet and Nissan rounding out the top five in that order.

Here's how the Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010 breaks down:

1. Honda Accord
2. Honda Civic
3. Toyota Camry
4. Honda CR-V
5. Hyundai Sonata
6. Nissan Altima
7. Honda Pilot
8. Ford Mustang
9. Toyota Highlander
10. Toyota RAV4
11. Toyota Sienna
12. Honda Odyssey
13. Chevrolet Equinox
14. Toyota Corolla
15. Ford Fusion
16. Ford Escape
17. Toyota Prius
18. BMW 3 Series
19. Chevrolet Camaro
20. Volkswagen Jetta

Be sure to click past the jump to read the full release from Kelley Blue Book.

Gallery: Kelley Blue Book's Top 20 Most-Researched Vehicles for 2010

[Source: KBB.com]

Continue reading KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010

KBB reveals 20 most researched cars of 2010 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 26 Dec 2010 17:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Study: More new car shoppers avoiding Toyota, but brand still near top of consideration lists

Zach Bowman — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Toyota

According to Automotive News, new car shoppers are beginning to shy away from Toyota thanks to the company's less-than spotless quality and safety reputation as of late. A new study by J.D. Power and Associates has revealed that around 19 percent of new car buyers surveyed said that they had steered clear of Toyota because of the company's sullied reputation. Last year, that number was a mere 3 percent. Even worse for the Japanese manufacturer, around 15 percent of those in the study said that they'd personally had a bad experience with the automaker and another 15 percent said that they were concerned about the future of Toyota. Those numbers mark a 12 and an 11 percent increase over last year's figures, respectively.

Even so, according to the J.D. Power and Associates study, Toyota is still the third most considered automaker out there, falling just behind BMW and Honda. In a separate study, Kelley Blue Book found that Toyota is still the number-one most considered automaker, even in spite of the company's rash of recalls and safety woes.

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req.]

Study: More new car shoppers avoiding Toyota, but brand still near top of consideration lists originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 20 Dec 2010 15:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

AutoTrader buys Kelley Blue Book for undisclosed sum

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:01:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Earnings/Financials

Consumer car search website AutoTrader.com is now the owner of a brand new (to them) Kelley Blue Book and KBB's CDM Data and CDM Dealer Services. The amount of the transaction hasn't been divulged, but at least on the face of it, it makes perfect sense: once integrated, Kelley's valuation tools will practically be stuck to the pixelated windows of all those used cars of suspect value. KBB will continue as a subsidiary of Auto Trader and remain based in Irvine, California.

Those interested in all the nitty-gritty details can click past the break for the complete press release.

[Source: AutoTrader.com via Ward's Auto]

Continue reading AutoTrader buys Kelley Blue Book for undisclosed sum

AutoTrader buys Kelley Blue Book for undisclosed sum originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Oct 2010 09:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Kelley Blue Book on the auction block?

Chris Shunk — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Kelley Blue Book has been arming car buyers and sellers with vehicle pricing information since 1926, but the Financial Times claims that the privately owned company is looking to sell, with wo sources familiar with the matter saying KBB has hired a bank to handle the sale.

Interested in buying? Plan to have somewhere in the neighborhood of $500 million to $1 billion on hand. You'll also likely have to bid against some of the industry's heaviest hitters. One of the news-leaking bankers tabs AutoTrader as the lead bidder, with both eBay and Google likely to be in the fold. Since nobody from KBB is commenting on the record, we don't know why the company is selling, but the KBB.com website has experienced a decline in traffic from nine million visits per month to about seven million over the past three years. KBB is family owned, though no members of the Kelley family currently work in executive management at the company.

[Source: Financial Times]

Kelley Blue Book on the auction block? originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Videos: KBB awards $10,000 to winning reader car reviews [w/poll]

Chris Shunk — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Videos, Subaru, Toyota, Volkswagen, Humor

KBB reader-submitted auto reviews - Click above to watch the videos after the jump

We've seen a lot of consumer-grade video in our day (we've made a few, too), and the quality can be less than astounding. So when we got wind of the fact that Kelley Blue Book was hosting a contest awarding $10,000 to the best consumer car review video, we were skeptical of the quality of product we were expecting to see. Good news. We were wrong, and the top videos are pretty darn good.

The top prize has been awarded to Clark Olson for a very funny critique of the 2000 Corolla with actual production-quality video work. In second place was Joel Moss Levinson, who managed to crack us up with a very clever rap featuring a somewhat problematic 2001 Volkswagen Passat. Seriously, it's pretty hilarious and is jam-packed with actual insight. In third place was an also entertaining take on the 2004 Subaru Forester by Patrick Latimer. Latimer sounded like a full-on auto enthusiast with 0-60 times and a very valid mention of the value of rowing one's own gears.

The winner was rewarded with $10,000 in cold, hard cash and a trip to sunny California for a video shoot with the KBB video crew. Second prize netted $5,000 and the third place winner received $1,000. Nicely done fellas. Hit the jump to watch the videos for yourself, and chime in via the post-jump poll to tell us if KBB correctly numbered the top three.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading Videos: KBB awards $10,000 to winning reader car reviews [w/poll]

Videos: KBB awards $10,000 to winning reader car reviews [w/poll] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Jul 2010 15:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB names coolest cars under $18k... do you agree?

Zach Bowman — Mon, 24 May 2010 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Budget, Sedan, Crossover, Hatchback, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Mitsubishi, Suzuki

Kelley Blue Book Top 10 Cars for under $18k - Click above for high-res image gallery

Being in the market for a cheap new car used to mean resigning yourself to time bombs like the Chevrolet Citation or windups like the Geo Metro or Ford Aspire, but the times, they are a-changin', and the good folk at Kelley Blue Book have worked up their very own top 10 list of cool cars for under $18,000.

Not surprisingly, the 2011 Ford Fiesta nabbed a mention thanks to its 28 mpg city, 40 mpg highway EPA rating and mile-long standard feature list. Likewise, the new 2010 Hyundai Elantra Touring received a spot on the list. The Korean automaker's new long roof manages 23 city and 30 ~~mph~~ mpg highway thanks to its 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine.

The base Mitsubishi Lancer also made the cut - another 2.0-liter bruiser, the baby brother of the Evolution nabs 22 mpg city and 31 mpg highway. Suzuki also got some love on the KBB list with its SX4. When optioned with the five-speed gearbox, the car walks away with 23 mpg city and 33 mpg highway. Rounding out the list is the ever lovable 2010 Honda Fit. Just like the Suzuki, if you want a few more miles per tank, you'll need to opt for the manual transmission. Thusly equipped, the little Honda can 28 mpg city and up to 35 mpg highway.

Want to see what else made the list? Hit the jump or visit KBB for the whole list.

Gallery: Kelly Blue Book Top 10 Cool Cars

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading KBB names coolest cars under $18k... do you agree?

KBB names coolest cars under $18k... do you agree? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 24 May 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB launches free iPhone app and Seller's Toolkit

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

Although it will probably remain a stress-inducing experience, Kelley Blue Book has introduced a smartphone app and a Seller's Toolkit to make buying a car slightly less stress-inducing. The app ties your iPhone directly into the KBB database, so you can pull up the appropriate KBB values on the fly when that one-owner steal looks more like it's been stolen from five or six owners. It'll also clue you in to dealer locations and provide 360-degree views and reviews of any car you have questions about. It's a free download in the App Store.

On the other hand, if you're a seller who's trying to unload that one-owner steal, you'll want to take advantage of Kelley Blue Book's Seller's Toolkit. AutoTrader won't be happy to hear about it, but the KBB software helps you create a professional-looking listing for posting on Craigslist, Facebook, Twitter, or in your e-mail or blog. Check a few boxes and you've got a digital window sticker, Facebook application, widget, dynamic images and a direct link to your selling page.

On top of that, all of the tools provide quick links to KBB for buyers to research your car. The window sticker comes with a QR code that calls up KBB's LiveValue function, the LiveValue ID can respond via SMS, the widget is built to fit into Wordpress and Blogger, Direct Link provides a shortened URL for Twitter, or a potential buyer can even make a voice call to KBB to get more information. Like we said, it might not make things less stressful, but it could make everyone more informed, and that's got to be good for something.

Check out the galleries below for screenshots of the new iPhone app (we loaded it and poked around) and of the KBB Seller's Toolkit features.

Gallery: Kelley Blue Book iPhone App

Gallery: Kelley Blue Book Seller's Tool Kit screenshots

[Source: KBB]

KBB launches free iPhone app and Seller's Toolkit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 18 Apr 2010 16:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:27:00 EST

Filed under: Truck, Videos, Ford, Off-Road

KBB spends time aloft in the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor - Click above to watch video after the jump

Do we even need to say again that we love the Ford F-150 SVT Raptor? No? All right. But we do. Anyway, if we can't be actually driving the thing, what we'll take after that is someone else properly driving it and getting high-def video, especially if said footage involves jumps.

The folks at Kelley Blue Book have filmed just such a video, in which it offers nine suggestions of the things you should definitely do in one, and while our favorite is jumping, we wouldn't mind trying out Tip #6: Drive it like we're being chased by murderous robots. Since that one will probably come true. Rather soon. And we could use some practice. Follow the jump for the vid.

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor

Video: KBB gets down, dirty and airborn with the Ford Raptor originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 16 Apr 2010 12:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Porsche a big winner in KBB's Brand Awards

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:39:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford, Lexus, Porsche

Kelley Blue Book has compiled and collated the data from its year-long Brand Watch Study, which, based on "consumer perception data, [shows] which brands best communicated certain features of their vehicles." Of the nine categories tabbed, Porsche took three: best performance brand, best exterior design in the luxury segment, and coolest brand. Double victories went to Ford for most rugged truck brand and most family-friendly brand, and Lexus for best comfort and best interior design.

This list makes a lot more sense on the face of it than AAA's commuter picks released a couple of days ago, and Porsche makes excellent cases for winning all three categories - the 918 Spyder concept alone might be good enough to garner two of them. We do get a chuckle, though, from the KBB description of Porsche's most recent offering: "The new four-door Panamera only adds to the mystique." Indeed.

Shout-outs to all the winners, including Chevy for best exterior design in the non-luxury segment and Mercedes-Benz for three-peating as best prestige brand. You'll find KBB's full presser with methodology and reasoning after the jump.

Gallery: 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Porsche Panamera

[Source: KBB]

Continue reading Porsche a big winner in KBB's Brand Awards

Porsche a big winner in KBB's Brand Awards originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 27 Mar 2010 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Study: Hyundai customer loyalty upends Toyota, Honda, takes #1

Steven J. Ewing — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Honda, Hyundai, Toyota

2011 Hyundai Sonata - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's no secret that Hyundai has been enjoying a healthy dose of praise lately, especially with fresh new products like the Genesis, Tucson and Sonata garnering a lot of media attention. But it isn't just the press that thinks Hyundai is on a roll - Kelley Blue Book now reports that the automaker now holds the Number One spot in brand loyalty, with 56.3 percent of Hyundai owners looking within the brand for new car purchases. Honda continues to hold the second place rank at 55.8 percent, and Toyota, in light of its recent recall woes, is down 4.4 percentage points to 53.3 percent, putting it in the third place spot.

Furthermore, the Sonata is now KBB's fifth most-researched new vehicle, mostly due to the hype surrounding the stylish new 2011 model. The only vehicles ahead of it on the list are perennial mainstays, such as the Honda Civic, Accord, CR-V and Toyota Camry.

KBB market analysts believe that Hyundai should continue to promote its attractive new products, competitive price points and great warranty program in order to keep the momentum going (duh). These analysts also suggest that domestic automakers (Ford and GM, specifically) will prove to be Hyundai's biggest competition in the near future, as these brands are set to roll out a host of new products to win over consumers. Follow the jump to read the full details in KBB's press release.

Gallery: First Drive: 2011 Hyundai Sonata

[Source: Kelley Blue Book]

Continue reading Study: Hyundai customer loyalty upends Toyota, Honda, takes #1

Study: Hyundai customer loyalty upends Toyota, Honda, takes #1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 15 Mar 2010 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments