Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Remember how luxury crossovers were "The Next Big Thing?" Yeah, not so much.]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/remember-how-luxury-crossovers-were-the-next-big-thing-yeah/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/remember-how-luxury-crossovers-were-the-next-big-thing-yeah/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/10/29/remember-how-luxury-crossovers-were-the-next-big-thing-yeah/#commentsFiled under: ,



According to Cadillac's general sales manage Ed Peper, mid-size luxury crossovers like the SRX, Audi Q5, and Land Rover LR3 "are like 26 percent of the luxury market." Perhaps he should have phrased that "are still 26%," because an Edmunds chart reveals that the crossover luxury segment has taken a beating over the past two years, dropping 25% in overall volume among major models.

The BMW X3 has fared the worst, with a 77.7 percent sales drop from 2007 to 2009, but the segment rewards freshness and the X3 is due to be replaced late next year. More telling is that only one of the six models listed escaped with less than a 40 percent decline over 24 months: the Lexus RX 350. The crossover that started the luxury CUV trend, or at least popularized it, has been impervious to substantial changes over its life cycle.

The real question is where are sales of the vehicles going? There is no consensus, with various reps citing model mixes, value, the economy, and what's coming as yet-to-be-determined factors in where that market goes. Some even mentioned the fact that the definition of a "luxury crossover" is still being decided -- are an SRX and ZDX the same thing? No matter. We're putting our money on humpbacked wagons. Make the jump to check out the release.

[Source: Edmunds]

Continue reading Remember how luxury crossovers were "The Next Big Thing?" Yeah, not so much.

Remember how luxury crossovers were "The Next Big Thing?" Yeah, not so much. originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crossoverdataluxuryluxury crossoverLuxuryCrossoversalesstatisticsThu, 29 Oct 2009 17:33:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19213960/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2009/10/29/remember-how-luxury-crossovers-were-the-next-big-thing-yeah/19213960/article-detail.xml 19213960 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lux_cross_drop_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/10/lux_cross_drop.jpg <![CDATA[Surprise, surprise: U.S. ranks 42nd out of 48 countries in deaths per capita]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/surprise-surprise-u-s-ranks-42nd-out-of-48-countries-in-death/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/surprise-surprise-u-s-ranks-42nd-out-of-48-countries-in-death/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/07/23/surprise-surprise-u-s-ranks-42nd-out-of-48-countries-in-death/#commentsFiled under: ,

When you hear that the US is 42nd out of 48 countries when it comes to number of deaths per capita, it might sound like a good thing. Until you find out that the rankings go from lowest to highest -- which means, yes, that of the measured countries, there are only six places where driving is more deadly than the Land of the Free. (Tip: you might want to avoid driving in Russia and Lithuania for a few more years.)

The posited reasons are varied and numerous, and include the brevity of driver training, lax laws, weak enforcement, no emphasis on public transport, little public awareness, and a lack of Federal legislation. Regardless of the causes, the effect is that it's riskier to get behind the wheel here than it is in the Poland or Estonia. This is despite the fact that cars have gotten exponentially safer, and the US leads the world in the adoption of electronic stability control, said to be "the greatest life-saving technology since the seat belt."

If there's any consolation, it's that the US does considerably better in the number of fatalities per mile driven, where the US comes in at number 11. Before you celebrate, in 1970 the US was number one. Which country has the lowest number of fatalities per capita? Malta.

[Source: New York Times]

Surprise, surprise: U.S. ranks 42nd out of 48 countries in deaths per capita originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Jul 2007 09:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accidentsdeathsfatalitiesrankingsstatisticstrafficMon, 23 Jul 2007 09:25:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/945983/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/07/23/surprise-surprise-u-s-ranks-42nd-out-of-48-countries-in-death/945983/article-detail.xml 945983 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/us_road_fatality_ranking_07_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/07/us_road_fatality_ranking_07.jpg <![CDATA[Whoa, Doggies - Toyota reckons growth will slow]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/01/whoa-doggies-toyota-reckons-growth-will-slow/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/01/whoa-doggies-toyota-reckons-growth-will-slow/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/05/01/whoa-doggies-toyota-reckons-growth-will-slow/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



Toyota is quite conscious of its target status, which has been amplified by their topping everyone else in the first quarter of 2007. Sales goals were consistently surpassed as all of the company's offerings got a boost from the Prius phenomenon. Toyota's Jim Press is predicting that they're about to lose their front-runner advantage as the competition comes on line with their own fuel efficient wares. Countless mentions of the Prius as a panacea to high fuel prices continue to abound in newscasts, magazine articles, and utter forth from the obviously well-informed and trustworthy mouths of broadcast personalities, lending a marketing boost as the news looks for things to cover. The Hybrid Synergy Drive technology has spread to other 'Yotas, so there's now hybrid Lexi and Camrys to go along with the billboard-like statement of green that is the Prius.

With the vast success of Toyota's technology and strategy, other manufacturers have been toiling away. While there's no prediction of when the numbers will slow their upward climb, they can't continue indefinitely. It will be interesting to watch what happens as we go into the driving season, with fuel prices forecast to go much higher. There's no denying the high fuel efficency of the Prius -- even if it doesn't fully measure up to its EPA numbers -- and if fuel nudges $4 per gallon, we predict that Hybrid sales of all stripes will jump again. The leap in sales would benefit all automakers with Hybrids on offer, a growing number. Keeping dealer organizations happy will keep sales rolling as well. By holding the number of dealerships steady, Toyota is helping its store owners maximize profits. Happy salespeople are likely far more effective at moving wares, and by making healthy profits, customers can be coddled better. It's the little things, and Toyota sweats the details obsessively. So, while Toyota's making noises that they expect things to cool off, we're not expecting that prediction to come true any time soon.

[Source: Automotive News - Sub Req.]

Whoa, Doggies - Toyota reckons growth will slow originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 01 May 2007 10:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>camrygrowthhybridjimjim pressJimPresspresspriussalesstatisticstoyotaTue, 01 May 2007 10:03:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/885961/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/05/01/whoa-doggies-toyota-reckons-growth-will-slow/885961/article-detail.xml 885961 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/toyota_camry_hybrid_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/04/toyota_camry_hybrid.jpg <![CDATA[Mercedes tops reliability report]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/mercedes-tops-reliability-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/mercedes-tops-reliability-report/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/05/mercedes-tops-reliability-report/#commentsFiled under: , ,

According to the German automotive association ADAC, Mercedes-Benz vehicles are the most reliable among the German brands. The C-Class, CLK-Class, E-Class, M-Class, S-Class, and the SLK-Class all took top spots in the association's latest report, more than any other German automaker. The ADAC was especially impressed with the C-Class (pictured). This is particularly surprising considering the quality troubles Mercedes-Benz has had to deal with the last few years.

[Source: Canadian Driver]

Mercedes tops reliability report originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 05 May 2006 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ADACC-ClassReliabilitystatisticsFri, 05 May 2006 12:24:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/615154/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/05/mercedes-tops-reliability-report/615154/article-detail.xml 615154 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/2006-mb-c-class_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/2006-mb-c-class.jpg <![CDATA[Data finds driving while white dangerous]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/25/data-finds-driving-while-white-dangerous/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/25/data-finds-driving-while-white-dangerous/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/03/25/data-finds-driving-while-white-dangerous/#commentsFiled under: ,

In one of the more... odd... reports Autoblog has come across, Dr. Justin S. Cummins and his team have discovered that white drivers and their passengers have a 50 percent greater risk in vehicle collision fatalities and severe injuries compared to non-white drivers and passengers. The statistical oddity came up during a study on seat belt and airbag safety.

"The study wasn't designed to answer the question," said Dr. Cummins, an orthopedic surgeon at the Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New Hampshire, U.S. "It is only speculative to try to come up with an answer, but it could be a difference in driving patterns."

Analysts speculate reasons range from driving habits to road use to a simple statistical fluke.

More details can be found at the link.

[Source: Forbes.com]

Data finds driving while white dangerous originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Mar 2006 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Driving patternsstatisticsSat, 25 Mar 2006 13:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/602598/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/03/25/data-finds-driving-while-white-dangerous/602598/article-detail.xml 602598 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/03/men-car-tape_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/03/men-car-tape.jpg -1 2