Archive for the ‘Mini’ Category
Chevy delivers a surprise in J.D. Power 2019 Vehicle Dependability Study.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Feb.13, 2019
The Prius is one of the vehicles that helped Toyota lead the latest J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study.
Toyota and its luxury arm Lexus captured the top spots among mainstream and premium brands in the latest J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, but the 2019 VDS also delivered more than a few surprises when it comes to how three-year-old vehicles are holding up.
The study placed Lexus at the top of the charts, followed by Porsche and then Toyota, but Chevrolet nabbed the fourth spot, a significant turnaround for a brand struggling to convince potential buyers it has overcome the quality and reliability issues of the past.
News Now!
The new Power VDS shows that Japanese automakers no longer have a lock on vehicle dependability. Tellingly, only Toyota and Lexus landed in the top 10 this year, while the list also included two American brands, four from Germany and both of the South Korean carmakers operating in the U.S.: Hyundai and Kia. (more…)
Tags: J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Study, J.D. Power news, Japan out of vehicle dependability, Lexus and Toyota top vehicle dependability, Lexus leads Power VDS, bingdb.info., auto news, paul a. eisenstein, power vds, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Executives, Hyundai, Lexus, Markets, Mini, Personalities, Porsche, Quality and Reliability, Sales, Toyota, U.S./North America | No Comments »
Fun brand also showing off four new customized models.
by Michael Strong on Nov.20, 2018
The new Mini John Cooper Works Knights Edition will make its debut at the L.A. Auto Show.
With the recent focus on “hot hatches,” it would be fair to assume that ever-popular Mini would be among the leaders in the segment. Not only is it fair, but also it’s correct with the brand’s John Cooper Works edition vehicles.
At this year’s Los Angeles International Auto Show next week, Mini’s going to roll out a series of new vehicles looking to generate some excitement, especially within the “need for speed” crowd.
Product News!
Starting with the Mini John Cooper Works Knights Edition, which will make its North American premiere starting Nov. 28. Joining that is the Mini John Cooper Works GP – first shown as a concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show last year – ready for launch in 2020. (more…)
Tags: Mini John Cooper Works Knights Edition, Mini Knights edition, Mini Los Angeles International Auto Show, Mini reveals custom accessories, bingdb.info., l.a. auto show, michael strong, mini news, new Mini, new sporty Mini, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, China, Concept Cars, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Events, Executives, Los Angeles, Markets, Mini, NAFTA, Personalities, Product Reveals, Sales, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Survey shows that dealers who text secure more deals.
by Michael Strong on Nov.14, 2018
Porsche took first place in JD Power's 2018 Sales Satisfaction Index, ahead of Infiniti and Lexus.
New car customers rated Porsche as the top brand in J.D. Power released its annual Sales Satisfaction Index (SSI) Study today and Porsche took top honors overall while Mini was the leader in the “mass market” category while Porsche is considered a luxury car.
The study reviews the sales process, such as how the customer and the dealer interact. The average score was an 823. The big take away from this year’s study? Despite recent claims that people want to haggle face-to-face, Power’s results reveal that customers prefer to be ed via digital communications such as text message, but it happens less often than desired.
Subscribe Now!
“These aren’t apples to apples comparisons by any means, but the scores are clear indicators of where shoppers and buyers are going, especially as the consumer base gains a larger mix of younger customers,” said Chris Sutton, Vice President of the Automotive Retail Practice at J.D. Power. (more…)
Tags: 2018 JD Power Sales Satisfaction Index, JD Power honor, JD Power news, Mini takes Power's mass market crown, Porsche Power winner, Porsche tops 2018 Power SSI, bingdb.info., auto news, michael strong, mini news, porsche news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Advocates, Automakers, Automobiles, Chevrolet, Executives, GMC, Infiniti, Lexus, Luxury Vehicles, Markets, Mini, Personalities, Porsche, Sales, Sports Cars, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Domestic brands struggled in this year's survey.
by Joseph Szczesny on Oct.25, 2018
Toyota and its luxury sibling topped this year's Consumer Reports reliability survey of 29 brands.
Toyota and Lexus came out on top in Consumer Reports annual reliability survey thanks in large part to a cautious approach to adapting to new technology.
However, the Toyota Tundra, the automaker’s entry into the full-size truck segment, slipped off Consumer Reports list of recommended vehicles, Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports director of automotive testing, disclosed during a meeting of Detroit’s Automotive Press Association.
News You Can Trust!
Fisher said overall it was a difficult year for domestic brands as Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac and Chrysler were among the brands that dropped in the Consumer Report’s new car reliability survey. Honda, which performed well in earlier years, also has slipped, he said. (more…)
Tags: APA Detroit, Automotive Press Association, CR reports Toyota and Lexus most reliability, Consumer Reports news, Consumer Reports reliability survey, bingdb.info., auto news, domestic automaker reliability down, joseph szczesny, new vehicle reliability, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Audi, Automakers, BMW, Buick, Business, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Crossovers/CUVs, Dodge, FCA, Ford, GM, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infotainment, Jeep, Kia, Lexus, Lincoln, Markets, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Minivans, Nissan, Pickups, Porsche, Quality and Reliability, Ram, SUVs, Sedans, Technology, Tesla, Toyota, U.S./North America, Volkswagen, Volvo | Comments Off
Sixteen auto brands make Top 100 — GM and FCA brands not on the list.
by Michael Strong on Oct.11, 2018
Toyota was the top automotive brand in this year's Best Global Brands Top 100 list, taking seventh overall.
A quick poll of people asking what automaker is the best might net several folks saying “Tesla!” and while it does have a massive market cap, they’d be wrong. The best brand? Toyota.
According to Interbrand’s 2018 Best Global Brands report, Apple was the top company on the list with a valuation of $214 billion. Toyota was seventh on the list at $53 billion, which was up 6% over last year’s result.
Insight!
Overall, 15 automotive brands made the Top 100 list and while there aren’t really any surprises about what ones are on the list, those that are not on the list may be reason to take pause. None of the General Motors brands made this year’s list. The aforementioned Tesla did not make the list either. Nor did any of Fiat Chrysler’s brands. (more…)
Tags: 16 auto brands make Top 100, 2018 Best Global Brands, GM brands not on brand list, bingdb.info., Toyota top auto brand, auto news, automotive brands, interbrand, michael strong, thedetroitbureau, top 100 brands
Posted in Asia Pacific, Audi, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, China, Europe, Ferrari, Ford, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Land Rover, Markets, Mercedes, Mini, NAFTA, Nissan, Porsche, Quality and Reliability, Safety, Sales, South America, Subaru, Technology, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen | Comments Off
Overall, consumers slightly happier with ownership experience.
by Michael Strong on Aug.30, 2018
Volvo tied with Lexus for the top brand honors in the latest ACSI survey, receiving its highest score ever.
Vehicle owners in the U.S. are slightly happier with their ownership experience this year than last year, according to the latest American Customer Satisfaction Index.
The index, which is the result of surveys of car owners on their overall service and product experience with specific auto brands, creates a score between 1 to 100. According to the latest edition, the industry-wide score for 2018 is 82, up from 81 in 2017.
News You Can Trust!
“Car owners are often highly satisfied—they’ve kicked the tires enough times that they’re happy with their decision when they buy,” said David VanAmburg, managing director at ACSI. (more…)
Tags: 2018 ACSI, 2018 American Consumer Satisfaction Index, Chrysler lowest ranked brand, bingdb.info., Volvo and Lexus top auto brands, auto brand rankings, auto news, favorite auto brand rankings, michael strong, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Acura, Audi, Automakers, Automobiles, BMW, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, FCA, Fiat, Ford, GM, GMC, Honda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Lexus, Lincoln, Markets, Mazda, Mercedes, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Quality and Reliability, Ram, Safety, Sales, Subaru, Toyota, Trends, U.S./North America, Volkswagen, Volvo | Comments Off
Concept is the base for the new Mini EV coming fall of 2019.
by Joseph Szczesny on Jul.17, 2018
Mini's Electric Concept was on display at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
During England’s annual Goodwood Festival of Speed, Mini presented the Mini Electric Concept, which offers an early look at both of Mini’s first fully electric model scheduled for release in 2019.
The first fully electric model from the history-rich British brand builds on the Mini brand’s DNA that has made the city its natural habitat and urban mobility a large part of its appeal.
EV News!
The new model fits the Mini template by turning electric mobility into an emotionally engaging experience brimming with driving fun, style and individuality. (more…)
Tags: Mini Electric Concept, Mini Goodwood EV debut, Mini at Goodwood Festival, Mini battery-electric, Mini electric vehicle, bingdb.info., auto news, ev news, joseph szczesny, mini news, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, Automobiles, China, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Europe, Markets, Mini, NAFTA, Sales, South America, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Strong car sales offset by miserable motorcycle results.
by Joseph Szczesny on May.07, 2018
BMW CEO Harald Krueger said the company's recent financial results were impacted negatively by poor motorcycle sales.
The BMW Group’s profits dropped slightly during the first quarter as the company’s motorcycle business took a beating during the first three months of the year offsetting a solid gain by the company’s automotive business.
Harald Krueger, chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, said the group is “confident” it can reach projected targets for the current financial year since the international automobile markets will continue their generally upward trend.
Global News!
However, the favorable factors are offset by extremely high levels of upfront expenditure for new technologies, fierce competition and rising personnel expenses. The global political and economic environment is expected to remain volatile. (more…)
Tags: BMW car profits rise 3%, BMW earnings news, BMW financial news, BMW motorcycle business falls, BMW profits down, bingdb.info., auto news, bmw earnings, bmw news, joseph szczesny, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Asia Pacific, Automakers, BMW, Business, China, Earnings, Europe, Financials, Markets, Mini, Rolls Royce, Sales, South America, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Forget the NYIAS concept; check out this show car from Frankfurt.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.28, 2018
Look beyond the retro Mini Electric Concept and you'll see what the British marque's first all-electric car really will look like come late 2019.
It took a little prodding and plenty of cajoling, but we’re now able to fill in some more of the blanks when it comes to the all-electric model that Mini will add to its line-up late in 2019.
As we reported Tuesday evening, the British automaker offered us a look at a retro-futuristic concept model specifically created for this year’s New York International Auto Show. But if you really want to see what the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle, or BEV, will look like you need to think back to the show car crafted for the 2017 Frankfurt Motor Show.
Electrifying!
Crafting a concept based on one of the very first, ’60s-era Minis actually makes some sense if, as Senior Vice President Sebastian Mackensen suggested, you believe that, “If Alex Issigonis, (the marques legendary founder) had invented Mini today, it would have been an electric brand.”
(more…)
Tags: Mini Electric Concept, Mini NYIAS, bingdb.info., auto news, bmw i3, bmw news, electric vehicle news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Concept Cars, EVs, Electrified Vehicles, Markets, Mini, New York, Technology, U.S./North America | Comments Off
Production version - based on a modern Mini - to debut in 2019.
by Paul A. Eisenstein on Mar.27, 2018
With one axle in the past and one in the present, this Mini concept is all about the company's electrified future products.
At this year’s New York International Auto Show, Mini has one axle in the past, the other in the future as it rolls out its retro-styled Electric Concept.
At first glance, you might think you were looking at a ’60s-era micro-car. But a closer look reveals the charging plug used to power up the concept’s all-electric drivetrain. The NYIAS show car is meant to “pave the way,” the British maker suggests, for Mini’s first all-electric production vehicle, which it plans to roll out next year.
Stay Plugged In!
The brand has been tinkering with electric propulsion for more than a decade, first plugging in with the 2008 Mini E. Based on the last-generation Mini 3-door, only 600 copies were produced for a field test of the drivetrain and to gauge consumer response. It served as the foundation for the development of parent BMW’s own all-electric i3 city car. (more…)
Tags: Mini Electric Concept, Mini NYIAS, bingdb.info., auto news, bmw i3, bmw news, electric vehicle news, paul a. eisenstein, thedetroitbureau
Posted in Auto Shows, Automakers, Automobiles, Mini, New York | Comments Off
