Autoblog

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4.

Lamborghini is in the process of developing its own certified pre-owned program that should launch by the end of the year. According to Stephan Winkelmann, CEO of Lamborghini, the program will be rolled out worldwide, beginning with dealers in the U.S. and Europe. Details about how a used Lambo will be inspected or certified haven't been released yet, but sales will only be allowed through authorized Lamborghini dealers. Ferrari has been dealing in certified pre-owned vehicles since 2003, and just announced a program that would include a 190-point certification process of seven models going all the way back to 1998.


[Source: Brandweek]

While repeatedly denying the existence of an upcoming entry-level Ferrari, company executives have stated that the real entry-level Ferrari is a used Ferrari. To back that up, the company's outfit in the UK has established the Ferrari Approved program to certify second-hand Prancing Horses.

The program covers the 360, 430, 465M, 612, 550, 575 and 599 models, in all their derivations, with the oldest stretching back no earlier than 1998. As part of the process, factory-trained technicians put the cars through a 190-point inspection, replacing or repairing defective parts; an independent investigation is conducted into the car's history ensuring there are no outstanding debts on the car; and the service record is verified. Only non-modified cars, dealer-serviced throughout, are eligible for the program, and once the cars come out, they're backed by a 12-month factory warranty and 12 months of roadside assistance.

Although Ferrari North America offers a pre-owned vehicle program, it does not appear to be nearly as extensive in its certification process as the one Ferrari GB Ltd has just launched. Maybe the British program will serve as a pilot before it comes stateside.

[Source: Ferrari GB]

Looking to replace your rusted out Zastava? Buying brand new is a hard pill to swallow when you start to run the numbers. Given the durability of modern powertrains, pretty much any car will make it to 150,000 miles without so much as a whimper, provided you maintain it. Taking that longevity into account, buying used, *ahem* pre-owned, is a great way to stretch what you can get for your budget. We're all aware of the cracks about used car salesmen being shifty-eyed greaseballs upholstered in horrid plaid sportcoats. We've met a few of those, but the current fashion for pre-loved cars is factory-backed programs that pluck the plums from the rotten apples, gives them a thorough once-over and placing them just across the lot from the brand new ones.

Among all of the certified used vehicle initiatives, Volkswagen and Volvo come out on top, according to Intellichoice.com. This is the fourth year in a row that Volkswagen has been ranked the best in the non-luxury category. Volvo beat out last year's winner, Cadillac, on the strength of its compliance program. Intellichoice ranks the programs based on the warranty length, rigor of the inspections, roadside assistance, and return and exchange policies, as well as how well the standards of the programs are actually enforced. Among the top finishers are previous toppers Cadillac and Jaguar, along with MINI and Hyundai. Hyundai went from the bottom of the list last year to a third place finish by changing financing deals and applying it's crushingly good 10 year warranty to used vehicles, as well. Among those aforementioned brands, we think you'll be able to find something you'll like almost as much as that Zastava.

[Source: Auto News - sub req]

Sales of new Chrysler vehicles are down between 1 and 8 percent, depending on which brand you're looking at, but sales of the Pentastar rides referred to as Brand Spankin' Used are the best ever. Five-Star Chrysler dealers moved 10,204 Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles in August, a 5 percent increase over 2006. Particularly popular choices are the Chrysler Pacifica and the Dodge Magnum, those models seeing increases of 24 and 26 percent, respectively. CPO cars from any manufacturer are often a good bet, as they're typically a maximum of 5 years old and must undergo a more rigorous inspection than they might at another sales outlet. Chrysler's comprehensive 8 year, 80,000 mile warranty doesn't hurt, either. How could you deny the allure of a 300C that's delivered its depreciation hit to someone else, comes in cherry condition (Five-Star dealers typically wholesale anything that's not approaching pristine), and has a better warranty than many new cars? Now all Chrysler has to do is build more compelling cars that people will be clamoring for, even used.

Press release after the jump

[Source: Chrysler, LLC]

Getting back in the groove, we bring you Autoblog Podcast #68. Starting us off is the battle of the inside sources, where we debate which GM mole is correct about the CTS-V. One rumor has the hottest little Caddy getting the Blue Devil's 600-horsepower 6.0L V8. The competing theory is that there'll be a 6.2L V8 with mid-500 horsepower, not the Blue Devil's mill. Either way, it will add up to M5 punch in an M3-sized wrapper. GM has more RWD goodies for us, as word of its Alpha platform replacing Epsilon cars like the G6, and Cadillac BLS replacement, which may come here, has us all atwitter. Our last bit of GM fodder is the passing of the Cobalt SS Supercharged. It was an entertaining car; but even though the supercharged Cobalt goes away, the un-muscled SS remains. We hope that GM's pledge to reinvigorate the SS badge so that it actually means something will get in gear soon.

We move on from GM to Chrysler and the Cerberus sale. Wolfgang Berhnardt is said to be an integral consultant to the deal, and he's looking for a homestead in the Detroit area as well as poking around the offices and design studio. Seems like Bernhardt is waiting for his noncompete with VW to expire while quietly orchestrating a turn of the Pentastar vessel. We detour into how fitting a Star Wars-themed Chrysler press conference would be (c'mon, you wouldn't really be surprised, would you?) before wrapping up with Hyundai's confidence-inspiring extension of its 10-year/100,000 mile warranty to Certified Pre Owned Vehicles up to five years old. They must feel pretty certain that their cars will hold up, as the warranty means they could possibly cover some powertrains for 15 years. That's it – 37 minutes of heaven!

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The Chrysler Group's "Brand Spakin' Used" certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are flying off dealership lots, if a recent press release sent out by Chrysler is any indication. The automaker reports that March was a record for selling CPO vehicles, with dealers reporting sales 14-percent higher than March of '05 and 29-percent higher than February of 2006 at 12,029 units. The quarter rounded out at 29,783 units total, also a record at 7-percent higher than first quarter last year.

We're curious to know if any readers out there are proud owners of pre-owned vehicles. Has the dealership experience been up to par with a new car purchase? Have you noticed more initial problems with the vehicle than with new cars you've purchased in the past?