Autoblog

Kelley Blue Book has a new look

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

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

KBB Best Resale Value awards announced, Subaru and BMW named best brands

Zach Bowman — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:27:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc.

Well, color us embarrassed. Never you mind the earlier post we ran about last year's Kelly Blue Book resale value awards. As it turns out, KBB very wisely hands out those nods for the upcoming model year based on their projected resale values five years from now. For 2011, Subaru walked away with the title of Best Resale Value Brand while BMW took the nod for Best Resale Value Luxury Brand. The two dethroned Toyota and Lexus, respectively, despite the Japanese automaker's products holding four slots on the top 10 list.

Both the X5 and Outback are returning champs, as those models held spots on last year's best resale value list for their respective categories. Check out the full list of the top 10 winners below, and be sure to check out the press release after the jump.

[Source: Kelly Blue Book]

Continue reading KBB Best Resale Value awards announced, Subaru and BMW named best brands

KBB Best Resale Value awards announced, Subaru and BMW named best brands originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Nov 2010 11:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

KBB: Ford most considered car brand, Hyundai makes big jump

Zach Bowman — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Hyundai, Nissan

Hyundai was one of just a few companies to come through the automotive meltdown of 2009 relatively unscathed. The Korean automaker managed to keep sales up while others faltered thanks to a quality, inexpensive product lineup backed with a stout warranty. Now it looks like those very factors are beginning impact the number of car shoppers who would consider hopping into a Hyundai. According to the Kelly Blue Book Market Intelligence Brand Watch study, the company has risen to the fifth most non-luxury brand considered by car shoppers. The move effectively kicked Nissan out of the top five for the first time in years.

Hyundai's rise was precipitated by the fact that the company is scoring well in the non-luxury coupe/sedan/hatchback segment. In that area, the carmaker is bested only by Ford, Honda and Toyota.

Interestingly enough, Ford is the most considered car brand at the moment, thanks in part to Toyota's newly tarnished image. The Japanese automaker fell eight percentage points in the study compared to this time last year thanks largely to its recall problems. Hit the jump for a look at the KBB press release.

Gallery: Review: 2009 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 Track

Photos by Sam Abuelsamid / Copyright (C)2009 AOL

[Source: Kelly Blue Book]

Continue reading KBB: Ford most considered car brand, Hyundai makes big jump

KBB: Ford most considered car brand, Hyundai makes big jump originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 Aug 2010 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: KBB, KTLA get amusing parking tickets on live broadcast

Chris Shunk — Thu, 27 May 2010 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Etc., Government/Legal, Videos, Humor

Click above to watch the video after the jump

Kelley Blue Book ace and Autoblog pal James Bell and his team brought a slew of vehicles to Santa Monica, California for some analysis on KTLA channel five's morning show. The aim was to showcase 10 great road trip vehicles, but instead, one of the nation's largest local TV audiences received a lesson in parking law from a particularly dedicated meter maid.

While Bell and KTLA reported Gayle Anderson were live on the air, the Santa Monica parking enforcement began rifling off $50 tickets for each vehicle on display. In the footage, Anderson asserts live on air that the parking spots have been paid for, adding that she has receipts, but that's apparently not enough to stop Santa Monica's finest from making with the carbon copies. Bell's comment? "If we can afford the Porsche (Panamera), you can afford the ticket." Unless, of course, that Porsche is a press car. Pretty funny stuff. Hit the jump to watch first-hand video of KBB and KTLA's amusing $500 parking faux pas.

[Source: KTLA via YouTube]

Continue reading Video: KBB, KTLA get amusing parking tickets on live broadcast

Video: KBB, KTLA get amusing parking tickets on live broadcast originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 May 2010 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Book Value: KBB lists Top 10 under $18k for 2008

Noah Joseph — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:31:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying

While it may seem that the coolest cars are only available to those with means, the industry continues to compete most heavily in their largest volume segments. The result is that there is a wealth of "cool cars" available for less than $18,000, and Kelly Blue Book has compiled a list of their top ten for 2008.

The list - composed mainly of domestics and Japanese automobiles - includes the Ford Focus, Honda Fit, Jeep Patriot, Mazda3, Mitsubishi Lancer, Pontiac Vibe, Scion xB, Subaru Impreza, Suzuki SX4 and Volkswagen Rabbit. Several of the cars stayed on the list from last year, however some are newcomers to the Blue Book ranking. Among the factors KBB included in their decision were safety, fuel economy, interior size, comfort, technology, fun-to-drive and the intangible "cool" factor. KBB also notes that many of the vehicles on the list are packed with features like sat-nav, music drives, iPod and Bluetooth connectivity, push-button start and leather seating. While many of those features - like the push-button ignition and iPod connector - cost close to nothing for carmakers to include, many of the features were only available on top-of-the-line luxury automobiles just a few years ago.

Follow the jump for the press release or the link to KBB.com for more information on the top ten coolest cars on a budget.

[Source: Kelly Blue Book]

Continue reading Book Value: KBB lists Top 10 under $18k for 2008

Book Value: KBB lists Top 10 under $18k for 2008 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Apr 2008 20:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Harris poll ranks the top "buzz-worthy" vehicles from 2005

Eric Bryant — Wed, 31 May 2006 14:04:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Hummer

Of the vehicles released in 2005, the Chevrolet Cobalt generated the most "buzz" among Generation Y buyers, with the Hummer H3 attracting the most attention from grunge-era Gen Xers. Baby-boomers flocked to Dodge's retro-esque Charger, and the grey-haired set went bonkers for the Ford Five Hundred. The Charger was the only vehicle to get a top-5 mention by both Gen Y and pre-boomers, which makes us wonder if the Buick Lucerne will be able achieve the same generation crossover feat in next year's survey.

The survey doesn't appear biased towards domestics, so the near-shutout of foreign nameplates that appear on the survey (only the Lexus RX400h and Mercedes CLS managed to move the buzz-meter) has got to be encouraging for US manufacturers - if indeed it's not simply a single year aberration or a result of some hidden statistical slant.

A large "WTF?" goes to buyers in the Hybrid/Alternative Fuel category, who apparently got all abuzz over the Dodge Charger. Oh, yeah, we forgot - there is indeed the highly popular Charger Hybrid. And don't ask us why the Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 appears in this survey, as it's a MY2007 introduction that was not available during the period of the survey.

A tip o' the hat goes to GM's FYI Blog.

[Source: Harris Interactive; the full press release is posted after the jump]

Continue reading Harris poll ranks the top "buzz-worthy" vehicles from 2005

Harris poll ranks the top "buzz-worthy" vehicles from 2005 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 31 May 2006 14:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments