According to Gaywheels.com founder Joe LaMurgalia, Gay Men tend to look for stylish brands while Lesbians are more interested in fuel economy. This may explain why the efficient and stylish Rabbit tops the list. The one stand-out vehicle on the list is the Maserati Quattroporte, which is larger and more expensive than anything on the list by a wide margain.

VW Rabbit Protects Its Burrow, Volvo C30 Moves Up to Third Among Gaywheels Most Researched Vehicles

Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles for 1st Quarter 2009

River Edge, NJ – Gays and lesbians continue to do their homework when it comes to buying cars and the Volkswagen Rabbit and Eos remain at the top of their list when searching on Gaywheels.com, the sole source of information specifically targeted to and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) car-shoppers. Today, Gaywheels.com announced its list of the Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles during the first quarter of 2009:

Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles -1st Quarter 2009

"The latest Top 10 Most Researched list supports the results of our recent LGBT Auto Owner's survey," said Gaywheels.com founder Joe LaMuraglia. "Volkswagen and Audi are two brands that are over-represented by Gay Men in the study and those brands represent 40% of the Top 10 list."

Other brand positions further supported the recent survey results; the Saab 9-3 has consistently been on the most-researched list and that brand is the most over-indexed for both Gay Men and Lesbians.

"All the vehicles on the most-researched list are expressive, stylish vehicles and with the sole exception of the Maserati GranTurismo, all are fuel efficient and come from gay-friendly manufacturers," added LaMuraglia. "This is also in line with the purchase reasons from the study. The top purchase reason for Gay Men is styling and for Lesbians is fuel economy."

The Top 10 Most Researched list is based on website statistics gathered from January 1, 2009 – March 31, 2009 from Gaywheels.com's New Car section. Gaywheels.com publishes its Most-Researched list quarterly.

Let this be a warning to you Michael Phelps, do not pick up Miss California in an A3.

Toyota Yaris Holds Top Spot; Infiniti Debuts

ATLANTA, GA - Gaywheels.com, the sole source of information specifically targeted to and about lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) car-shoppers, today announced its list of the Top 10 Most-Researched Vehicles during the second quarter of 2007. For the fourth straight quarter, the entry-level Toyota Yaris maintained the top position, while for the first time ever, a Nissan product, the Infiniti-branded FX sport-utility vehicle, joined the list.

Gaywheels.com Top 10 Most Researched Vehicles -April - June, 2007

1. Toyota Yaris
2. Saab 9-3 (sedan and convertible)
3. Mazda MX-5
4. Volkswagen Jetta
5. VW EOS
6. Dodge Caliber
7. Toyota Camry
8. Audi A3
9. VW Rabbit
10. Infiniti FX

When Volkswagen sent its "Moonraker" project team to a Malibu beach house to suss out how to hook the American car market, it came up with the GX3 three-wheeler, which was subsequently kaboshed by the company's lawyers (likely after a good deal of awkward laughter in the general counsel's office). They also came up with a couple of aftermarket-tuned boy-racer concepts for the SEMA show, and now — right before the Eos cabrio launches in the states, the Eos "Highway 1" concept. Volkswagen unveiled the concept, fittingly, at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, which isn't far from the Pacific Coast Highway after which the prototype special edition is named. The model's got a lowered, aftermarket suspension 20" Mille Miglia alloys a rear spoiler and fat meats courtesy of Continental. Powered by the Eos's top-line engine offering, V-dub's 3.2-liter V6, the Highway 1 has a custom, two-tone interior and piano-black lacquer accents. No doubt the legal team is just fine with this one, though VW has announced no plans to offer it as a package.

Related:
More on the Volkswagen Eos [internal]

The car company of the folks just announced pricing for its new Eos convertible. As expected, it's coming in under 30 large, or $27,990 at base — that'd be with the 200hp 2.0 liter turbo four — though with VW's more potent, narrow-angle V6, the MSRP rises to a more princely $36,850. Premium-package options include six-speed DSG auto box with Tiptronic, leather wrapped steering wheel, shift knob and brake handle, automatic headlights, dual-zone climate control, 12-way power driver seat, heated front seats and washer nozzles, windblocker, center armrest and trip computer, for $31,065. The VR6 model includes wood trim, all-season tires, multifunction steering wheel, HomeLink, rain-sensing wipers and satellite radio. Not enough options? Try a 600-watt Dynaudio sound system with ten-channel amplifier and ten speakers, bi-Xenon "theft bait" headlights with dynamic and static cornering lights, DVD nav system, park distance control and 18-inch alloys. Goddess of the Dawn sold separately.

Related:
More on the Vokswagen Eos [internal]

Had Volkswagen not fixed a nagging wind noise issue on its new Eos convertible, drivers may have spent their top-down time wondering if they were going mad. Pre-production models were plagued by a kind of whispering sound (faster, faster) that's reportedly been fixed by Webasto, maker of the car''s retractable hardtop — making way for the car's release this May. Now, the only voice the little princesses behind the wheel will hear is that of their personal shopper at Neiman Marcus, coming in loud and clear on the Bluetooth phone.

Quieter Car [AutoWeek]

Related:
Volkswagen to Delay launch of Eos Convertible [internal]

We checked out the VW Eos' snazzy convertible top gymastics while making Transformers noises with Bumbeck. Without sounding melodramatic, the transformation's truly something to behold. And it's way smoother than Optimus Prime. Is it as sexy as Megatron? Depends on your kinks, we suppose. After the jump: more shots from our far-too-slow point-and-shoot digicam!

Related:

The People s Elbow Car Company is investigating the possibility of producing its new Golf-based sportster on the Iberian Peninsula at its Autoeuropa plant in Setubal, Portugal. The plant currently builds the Ford Galaxy, VW Sharan and Seat Alhambra. Galaxy production ends next month, and Volkswagen's not sure about the future of the Sharan and Alhambra, leaving the plant open to build what the German automaker classifies as niche vehicles, including the '08 Scirocco redux and the Eos droptop, which is already slated to go into production at Autoeuropa to the tune of 45-50k vehicles a year.

GERMANY: VW Portugal plant may make niche cars [Just-Auto]

Related:
Autobild Rocks the Scirocco Photos [Internal]

Uh oh, what now? Volkswagen is reportedly delaying the launch of its new Eos hardtop-convertible to buy enough time to hunt down and eradicate technical gremlins plaguing production (it isn't those Karmann boys again, is it?). An alternate version says there may be tooling issues at the company's Portugal plant where the Eos will be built. The new target is summer '06, up from February.

Launch of Volkswagen s Eos convertible pushed back [Left Lane News]

Related:
Pontiac G6 Convertible Top Trouble [internal]

Volkswagen unveiled its new convertible coup-ay, the Eos, this morning, to a near insatiable crowd (see below) of sharp-elbowed auto reporters. The retractible hardtop is pretty slick, with more angles than the pattern on Charlie Brown's shirt. The glass/sliding/tilting roof, the company says, lets in light, air and good humour (honest to god). The single-version Eos — which will get a range of engines, including a TDI diesel, on up to a 250hp V6 — will launch in Europe in spring 2006, with "the other continents" coming later the same year. The pictures are courtesy of our Frankurt partners in crime, the boys of Autoblog.it.

Related:
It s Official: New Volkswagen Cabrio to Be Called EOS [internal]

Volkswagen: The Goddess of Dawn. According to Greek mythology, the goddess Eos rose with her chariot from the depths of the sea to bring the people daylight every morning, along with some really soggy croissants — that last part according to Geek mythology. But enough about your mother (zing!). We're talking about Volkswagen here, and its new retractable-roof Cabrio, which the company announced will be annointed EOS, as likely for its easy, phonetic pronunciation (from Gstaad to County Cork to Littleton) as its semantics. More details await at the Frankfurt show.

Related:
VW Provides New Info on Concept C Convertible [internal]