The Vehicle Launch Index ranks how well new vehicle models — including new entries to the market and all-new and redesigned models — perform during the first eight months after launch. The Genesis blew the rest of the pack of 27 new models out of the water, with a score of 689 on a 1,000-point scale. Following the Hyundai Genesis in the rankings are the 2009 Ford F-150 (673) and 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (663).

It's the third major award for the Hyundai Genesis. Consumer Reports rated it the top new upscale sedan, besting the Lexus ES 350. The Genesis also won the 2009 North American Car & Truck Of The Year award.

On the lower end of JD Power's scale were the 2009 Dodge Journey (513), 2009 Pontiac Vibe (504), 2009 Dodge Ram (459) and the Vibe's platform brother-in-arms, the 2009 Toyota Matrix (439).

Full press release below and the full chart of all 27 newly-launched vehicles are above. Click the graphic to enlarge the list to something more legible.

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: Hyundai Genesis Ranks Highest in Inaugural Vehicle Launch Index

Getting New Vehicles Right from the Start is Critical, as Automakers Will Pour $50 Billion Into U.S. Launches During the Next Four Years

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 22 July 2009 - The 2009 Hyundai Genesis ranks highest in launch performance among vehicle models introduced during the first ten months of 2008, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Vehicle Launch Index SM (VLI) released today.

The inaugural Vehicle Launch Index quantifies how well new vehicle models-including new entries to the market and all-new and redesigned models-perform during the first eight months after launch. The VLI examines various factors that are critical to the financial success of a launch, including turn rate, vehicle revenue, dealer gross profit, incentive spend, credit quality and residual value. In addition, VLI includes the key factors of vehicle quality and design, based on the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study SM (IQS) and Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) Study.SM

The Vehicle Launch Index is an independent measure designed to help automakers plan and execute successful vehicle launches in order to maximize revenue and profits, minimize incentive spending and maintain high residual values during a model's lifecycle.

"Launching new vehicles successfully is critical to the financial success of every automaker," said Gary Dilts, senior vice president of global automotive at J.D. Power and Associates. "Given lower consumer demand, vehicle proliferation and the financial pressures on the auto industry, every manufacturer must get it ‘right' from the start. By carefully analyzing more than 90 vehicle launches that have been executed in the United States, we have determined the key factors for launch success."

The 2009 Hyundai Genesis is the leading example of initial launch success and ranks highest among the 27 models examined in the 2009 VLI, with a score of 689 on a 1,000-point scale. Following the Hyundai Genesis in the rankings are the 2009 Ford F-150 (673) and 2009 Volkswagen Tiguan (663).

J.D. Power and Associates forecasts that automakers will conduct 205 new-model launches in the U.S. between 2009 and 2012 and will invest approximately $50 billion in the process. Of the 205 new models, 80 will be new entries to the market, 52 will be all-new models, and 73 will be major redesigns.

"With so much at stake, it is more critical than ever for manufacturers to launch new models that meet their financial targets, as well as product quality and consumer appeal benchmarks," said Dilts. "While some domestic manufacturers are facing tight scrutiny from the federal government and taxpayers, every automaker across the globe is being closely monitored both by governments and shareholders. Strong showings by new models are vital to the economic security of the automakers and will be instrumental in rebuilding Americans' confidence in the auto industry."

The VLI has identified the following key elements that drive the success of newly-launched models:

* Optimal vehicle price and volume levels are established prior to launch;
* Manufacturers sustain the proper product mix and incentive support;
* Automakers and dealers effectively manage inventory levels and turn rates;
* The model is attractively designed and provides high levels of consumer appeal in terms of styling, performance, functionality and ease of operation;
* The model launches with high initial quality, enhancing the automaker's image and supporting residual values.

Conversely, the following conditions lead to less-successful model launches:

* Unrealistic expectations regarding pricing and sales volumes;
* Poor balance of supply and demand, leading to excessive inventory levels;
* Inadequate vehicle appeal and poor initial quality leading to low consumer acceptance and a tarnished brand image.

The 2009 Vehicle Launch Index includes 2008 and 2009 model-year vehicles first sold between January and October 2008. Vehicles must be all-new or major redesigns and must sell at least 5,000 units during the first eight months to be included. The index is based on proprietary information collected through the Power Information Network and J.D. Power and Associates' consumer research.

The Vehicle Launch Index is part of J.D. Power and Associates' 10-module Launch Assurance Program designed to provide automakers with immediate and actionable insights about their vehicle models from initial concept and product development through manufacturing and distribution to the initial ownership experience.

About J.D. Power and Associates
Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies
Founded in 1888, The McGraw-Hill Companies (NYSE: MHP) is a leading global information services provider meeting worldwide needs in the financial services, education and business information markets through leading brands such as Standard & Poor's, McGraw-Hill Education, BusinessWeek and J.D. Power and Associates. The Corporation has more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Sales in 2008 were $6.4 billion. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

J.D. Power And Associates ranks brands by the number of problems per 100 cars sold. The industry average is 108 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), down from 118 the previous year. The best performers were Lexus (84 PP100), Porshce (90 PP100), Cadillac (91 PP100), Hyundai (95 PP100) and Honda (99 PP100). Domestic automakers Ford, Chevy and Mercury were all above the industry average, with Chrysler way down near the bottom at 136 PP100. The worst performance came from Mini, with a whopping 165 PP100. Full results below.

J.D. Power and Associates Reports:
Embattled U.S. Automakers Make Substantial Gains in Initial Quality,
Outpacing Industry-Wide Improvement

While Quality Gap Continues to Narrow, Import Nameplates Capture 15 of 22 Segment Awards

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 22 June 2009 - New vehicles sold by Chrysler, Ford and GM's domestic brands have improved in initial quality by an average of 10 percent, compared with 2008, surpassing the 8-percent rate of improvement by the industry overall, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2009 Initial Quality StudySM (IQS) released today.

Overall, the industry average for initial quality is 108 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) in 2009, down from 118 PP100 in 2008. Initial quality for domestic brands has improved to an average of 112 PP100 in 2009 from 124 PP100 in 2008. Lower PP100 scores indicate a lower rate of problem incidences and higher quality.

"Even in the face of unprecedented challenges, the Detroit automakers are keeping their focus on designing and building high-quality vehicles, which is a precondition for long-term success," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "High quality generally translates into reduced re-engineering costs and lower warranty expenses during a vehicle's life cycle. High quality also enhances an automaker's reputation for reliability, which is a critical purchase consideration for many consumers."

In addition to the marked improvement by domestic automakers, many import brands continued to perform well in 2009. Lexus leads the overall nameplate rankings, averaging 84 PP100. Following in the rankings are Porsche, Cadillac (which moves from 10th rank position in 2008 to third in 2009), Hyundai (improves from 13th rank position in 2008 to fourth in 2009) and Honda, rounding out the top five. Suzuki posts the largest improvement in ranking, moving from 32nd place in 2008 to ninth in 2009.

The study finds that initial quality for newly launched and redesigned models in 2009 has improved compared with previous years. Historically, all-new models have typically launched with below-average levels of initial quality. However, several all-new models in 2009, including the Hyundai Genesis, Kia Borrego, Toyota Venza and Volkswagen CC, perform considerably better than their respective segment averages. Many redesigned models in 2009 also show notable improvement from the previous generation-particularly the Acura TL, Ford F-150, Honda Pilot and Nissan Z.

"Achieving high levels of initial quality in all-new models is one of the greatest challenges for manufacturers," said Sargent. "Now that more manufacturers are getting their launch quality right straight out of the gate, consumers can expect the quality of new vehicles to continue to rise."

The Initial Quality Study serves as the industry benchmark for new-vehicle quality measured at 90 days of ownership. The study is used extensively by manufacturers worldwide to help them design and build better vehicles and by consumers to help them in their vehicle purchase decisions. Initial quality has been shown over the years to be an excellent predictor of long-term durability, which can significantly impact consumer purchase decisions. The study captures problems experienced by owners in two distinct categories-design-related problems and defects and malfunctions.

2008 Nameplate VDS Ranking
Problems Per 100 Vehicles
Lexus 120
Mercury 151
Cadillac 155
Toyota 159
Acura 160
Buick 163
BMW 164
Lincoln 165
Honda 177
Jaguar 178
Porsche 193
Mitsubishi 197
Hyundai 200
Ford 204
Infiniti 204
Industry Average 206
Audi 207
Mercedes-Benz 215
Nissan 224
Pontiac 225
GMC 226
Mazda 228
Subaru 228
Chrysler 229
Dodge 230
MINI 233
Chevrolet 239
HUMMER 241
Scion 243
Volvo 244
Saturn 250
Jeep 253
Volkswagen 253
SAAB 254
Isuzu 274
Kia 278
Suzuki 302
Land Rover 344

Jalopnik Snap Judgment: We commend the industry as a whole for taking big steps toward improving quality. We're just not sure how well this study reflects reality, though: After all, it weighs all problems equally, and the top five complaints include such trivialities as wind noise, excessive windshield fogging and noisy brakes. Granted, those things are irritating, but they're not the same as having your transaxle turn to dust after 10,000 miles. We'd like to see this study show where manufacturers rank on truly debilitating problems — things that render the vehicle inoperative or dangerous to drive. In the meantime, these rankings show how good cars, and car companies, have gotten on the quality front. And for everyone who isn't Lexus: Keep chasing after that brass ring, kids.

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 7 August 2008 — Deterioration in vehicle quality during the first three years of ownership—determined by comparing long-term dependability rates to initial quality problem rates—strongly affects overall customer satisfaction as well as customer willingness to recommend their vehicle model, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Vehicle Dependability StudySM (VDS) released today.

The study, which measures problems experienced by original owners of 3-year-old (2005 model year) vehicles, finds that, on average, customers report experiencing 75 percent more problems in the third year of ownership than during the first 90 days. Those models with the largest increase in problem levels show the most pronounced declines in satisfaction and the likelihood of owners to recommend their vehicle model. In addition, while no model has fewer reported problems in the third year of ownership compared with the first three months, those models that average less than 35 percent problem growth actually demonstrate improvement in overall satisfaction during the three-year period.

"Understanding and minimizing quality deterioration is critical for manufacturers, as it is a key driver of owner satisfaction and word of mouth recommendations," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "It is imperative that manufacturers design models that not only achieve high levels of initial quality but also attain high levels of longer-term dependability. Vehicle models that stand the test of time will help automaker profitability through superior owner satisfaction and recommendation rates."

The study also finds that five of the top 10 problems reported industry-wide in the 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study were also among the top 10 most frequently reported problems in the 2005 Initial Quality Study, suggesting that the problems are identified by owners during the initial ownership period, but have not been rectified by automakers during the three-year ownership period.

The problems include:

1. Excessive wind noise
2. Noisy brakes
3. Vehicle pulling to the left or right
4. Issues with the instrument panel/dashboard
5. Excessive window fogging

"Although automakers have achieved tremendous gains in initial quality and dependability in recent years by specifically addressing customer concerns, these particular problems still prove challenging for manufacturers," said Sargent. "The fact that these problems have endured throughout the industry for many years suggests that additional focus on these issues prior to vehicle launch would benefit not only consumers, but also automakers through increased customer satisfaction."

For a 14th consecutive year, Lexus ranks highest in vehicle dependability, improving by 25 problems per 100 vehicles since 2007 to achieve a score of 120 PP100. Following in the top five rankings are Mercury, Cadillac, Toyota and Acura, respectively.

In addition, Lexus garners six segment awards—the most of any nameplate in 2008—for the ES 330, GX 470, IS 300, LS 430, LX 470 and SC 430. Toyota follows with five segment awards for the Highlander, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, and Tundra. Ford and Honda each capture two awards. Ford models receiving awards are the Crown Victoria and Ranger, while Honda earns awards for the Element and S2000. Models by Buick, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Mazda and Mercury each rank highest in one segment.

SAAB is the most improved brand in the study, although it continues to rank below the industry average. SAAB improves by 65 PP100 since 2007.

The study finds that long-term vehicle quality has improved by 5 percent industry-wide in 2008—with an overall decrease of 10 problems per 100 vehicles—compared with 2007. More than 60 percent of the 38 nameplates included in the study improve in 2008, compared with 2007. Among the 19 segments included in the study, the midsize premium MAV segment demonstrates the most improvement in 2008—36 PP100 fewer than in 2007. The compact car and midsize car segments also have much lower problem levels in 2008 than in 2007, and together account for more than one-half of the overall industry improvement.

"The gains in dependability for compact and midsize vehicles are good news for consumers who are downsizing their vehicles due to increasing fuel prices," said Sargent. "Consumers who purchase these smaller vehicles benefit not only from immediate gains in fuel economy, but also from improvements in long-term dependability, compared with previous years."

The 2008 Vehicle Dependability Study is based on responses from more than 52,000 original owners of 2005 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded from January through April 2008.

Find more detailed findings on vehicle dependability as well as model photos and specs by reading an article and reviewing brand and segment dependability ratings at JDPower.com.

10.) Honda
9.) BMW
8.) Infiniti
7.) Acura
6.) Mercury
5.) Lincoln
4.) Lexus
3.) Buick
2.) Cadillac
1.) Jaguar

Jalopnik Snap Judgement: In this less-than-profitable auto market, dealerships are working harder to maintain ties with customers by offering a better service department experience. Makes sense to us.

Full press release below:

Overall Satisfaction with Dealer Service Increases

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif.: 17 July 2008 — Overall customer satisfaction with dealer service improves considerably in 2008—with more than two-thirds of the 37 ranked brands demonstrating gains—according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Customer Service Index (CSI) StudySM released today.

The study, now in its 28th year, measures satisfaction among vehicle owners who visit the dealer service department for maintenance or repair work during the first three years of ownership, which typically represent the majority of the vehicle warranty period.

After remaining relatively flat since 2005, overall satisfaction with dealer service increases to 882 on a 1,000-point scale in 2008—an improvement of 6 points from 2007. The improvement is primarily due to a combination of an increase in the proportion of maintenance work performed and improvements in satisfaction with repair work. Customers who visit the dealer for routine maintenance tend to be more satisfied (894), on average, than are repair customers (862). The proportion of customers bringing their vehicles to the dealer for repair work has declined to a historic low in 2008, averaging 35 percent. Customer satisfaction with repair work increases notably—improving by 9 points since 2007—with gains made by both premium and non-premium brands. However, satisfaction with maintenance work increases only slightly in 2008.

"Improved levels of vehicle quality have led to a decline in the need for vehicle repairs during the first three years of ownership," said David Sargent, vice president of automotive research at J.D. Power and Associates. "Despite the fact that the majority of service visits—65 percent—are for maintenance work, dealers are very focused on the need to satisfy their repair customers. Given today's market conditions—where dealers are finding it extremely difficult to achieve profitability—it is vital that they not overlook the importance of ensuring their service customers are satisfied. Not only does meeting and exceeding the expectations of customers through after-sales service result in increased likelihood that those customers will return for service, but it also results in increased likelihood that those customers will stay loyal to the brand when they are next in the market for a vehicle."

For a second consecutive year, Jaguar ranks highest in customer satisfaction with dealer service. Jaguar achieves an overall CSI score of 923 and is closely followed in the rankings by Cadillac (922) and Buick (919).

"Jaguar dealers receive very high satisfaction scores among repair customers, particularly in the service initiation, service advisor and user-friendly service measures," said Sargent. "Cadillac improves by one rank position in 2008. This is also attributable to its particularly high levels of satisfaction among repair customers. Buick has strong performance among non-premium brands, and its continuing efforts to improve quality have resulted in a decreasing incidence of repair visits among the brand's customers."

The study also finds that communicating with customers after service work has been completed has a notably strong impact on satisfaction particularly through increasing customer perceptions of fairness of charges and the value of service received. For customers that receive an explanation of work performed or an explanation of charges, satisfaction is approximately 100 points higher, on average, than if no explanations were provided. Approximately 82 percent of customers report that they received explanations of the work performed on their vehicle, while 58 percent say they received an explanation of charges, when necessary.

"Many times, it is the quality of communication provided by service personnel that makes the difference between a satisfied customer and a true advocate," said Sargent. "When customers are provided with clear explanations as to why the work performed on their vehicle was necessary, as well as the reasoning behind the charges, it improves satisfaction with the value of the work performed, as well as perceptions of the fairness and honesty of the dealer. Consistently following these relatively simple steps helps to foster trust among customers, which is critical to building loyalty for future service work as well as future sales. For example, 78 percent of customers who rate the fairness of charges as 'outstanding' say that they will return to the dealership for routine maintenance after the warranty expires, while only 49 percent of customers who provide 'average' fairness ratings say the same."

The study also finds the following key patterns:

* While 5 percent of customers say that they would prefer to schedule their service visit with the dealer via the Internet, only 1 percent of customers actually do so. The vast majority of customers—74 percent—call the dealership to schedule an appointment, while 25 percent of customers just drop in.
* When vehicles are returned to the customer cleaner than they were when received by the dealer, satisfaction scores average 48 points higher than scores provided by customers whose vehicles showed no difference in cleanliness. However, there is a particularly large decline in satisfaction—202 points, on average—if vehicles are returned less clean than when they were received.
* Among customers who report speaking to a service advisor immediately upon arriving at the dealership, satisfaction scores average 927—224 points higher than among customers who say they waited more than 5 minutes to speak to a service advisor.

The 2008 CSI Study is based on responses from 87,302 owners and lessees of 2005 to 2007 model-year vehicles. The study was fielded between January and April 2008. J.D. Power and Associates measures dealer service in various countries around the world, including Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and the UK.

[Source: JD Power]

For those of you keeping score, that's 30 awards the new Bowtie has racked up since launch, and someone seems to be paying attention: A local dealer friend of ours here in the D says he can't get enough Malibus to sell. Whadda ya want? Ya want 'em quick, or you want 'em right?

[J.D. Power and Associates] (with h/t to Knoblich)

The powers that be J.D.Power say FoMoCo's breached the top three in its Initial Quality study, and Mercedes is the most improved automaker of all. The study is fielded each year to determine which cars record the fewest problems in the first 90 days of ownership. Ford large's Lincoln brand reached all the way up to third, while Mercury moved up eight points from 2006 to eighth and Ford is up five spots to 10th. Mercedes jumped from 25th in 2006 to fifth in 2007. Bruce continues to elude Porsche, which again ranked highest among nameplates with 91 problems per 100 vehicles. Click through to check out what's likely pinned to every Ford Motor bulletin board today. – Mike Spinelli

Model Segment Awards, J.D.Power Initial Quality Survey

· Subcompact car: Kia Rio/Rio5
Runners-up: Honda Fit, Hyundai Accent

· Compact car: Honda Civic
Runners-up: Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Elantra sedan

· Compact sporty car: Mazda MX-5 Miata
Runners-up: Scion tC, Subaru Impreza

· Compact premium sporty car: Porsche Boxster
Runners-up: Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class, Mercedes-Benz SLK-Class

· Entry premium car: Lincoln MKZ
Runners-up: Acura TSX, Cadillac CTS

· Midsize premium car: Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Runners-up: Lexus GS 350/GS 430/GS 450H; Infiniti M-Series, Volvo S80 (tie)

· Large premium car: Audi A8, Mercedes-Benz S-Class (tie)
Runner-up: Lexus LS 460

· Premium sporty car: Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
Runners-up: Porsche 911, Lexus SC 430

· Midsize sporty car: Ford Mustang
Runners-up: Toyota Solara, Chevrolet Monte Carlo

· Midsize car: Mercury Milan
Runners-up: Honda Accord; Ford Fusion, Mitsubishi Galant (tie)

· Large car: Pontiac Grand Prix
Runners-up: Toyota Avalon; Ford Five Hundred, Mercury Montego (tie)

· Compact SUV: Honda CR-V
Runner-up: Nissan Xterra, Hyundai Tucson

· Midsize SUV: Toyota 4Runner
Runners-up: Toyota Highlander, Mercury Mountaineer

· Large SUV: Toyota Sequoia
Runners-up: Chevrolet Suburban, GMC Yukon

· Midsize premium SUV: Lexus RX 350/RX 400h
Runners-up: Lincoln MKX, Lexus GX 470

· Large premium SUV: Lincoln Mark LT
Runners-up: Lincoln Navigator, Hummer H2

· Large pickup: Chevrolet Silverado Classic HD
Runners-up: Ford F-150 LD, GMC Sierra LD

· Midsize pickup: Toyota Tacoma
Runners-up: Honda Ridgeline, Dodge Dakota

· Van: Chevrolet Express
Runners-up: Kia Sedona, Ford E-Series

Source: J.D. Power and Associates

Ford grabs most awards in 2007 vehicle quality rankings [USA Today]

Related:
Even JD Power Hates BMW's iDrive [internal]

We once put a ring on the finger of a woman whose career to date had been customer service. And when she got bad service herself, she was more than willing to complain about it. Rather loudly, we might add. We've also been in customer service. Or cotomer sevis, if you will. We understand when peons are hamstrung by corporate policy, and politely ask to speak to a superior. And then, when all devolves into a mess of dumbassery, we get vicious. Lately, we've dropped the AOL cancellation story to get our way.

But the point is this, based on our entirely unempirical evidence, men are more likely to let things slide than women. This is not always the case. We've known a few men, who on principle, will bitch down to the last overcooked pomme frite. In that case, we just don't go back to the offending place and don't recommend it to friends. Last night, while standing out in front of the bodega talking to a guy with a fairly-fresh Hachi with a killer set of Panasports, we watched some dude in an '80s Accord coupe mercilessly go off on a panhandler. We thought to ourselves, "Wow man, you wasted a portion of your life making somebody feel bad, when the time would've been better spent worrying about the badness of your haircut."

Which make the results of J.D. Power survey that Paukert hipped us to not exactly surprising. Apparently, given a compilation of fifteen-thousand polled, women are less satisfied with their cars than men, but only by a small margin. The numbers? 78.3 percent of women were satisfied with their vehicles, versus 79.6 for the XY types among us. The 1.3% differential isn't enough to write off our wives and girlfriends as loony by virtue of statistics, but it does speak to our own little theory that if a car goes, handles and brakes well, little inconveniences are more trivial for men.

On the other hand, women tend to be more concerned with things that simply work the way things are supposed to.

And on that note, in hard numbers, you have the explanation for the pansexual popularity of both the Mini and the Camry. – Davey G. Johnson

Battle of the Sexes [Evecars via Winding Road]

Related:
You Should See What Happens When She Shifts Into Second Gear! [Internal]

Top 10 Most Appealing Vehicles
(according to JD Power & Associates)

1. 2006 Porsche Cayman
2. 2006 BMW 7 Series
3. 2006 Mercedes-Benz SL-Class
4. 2006 Lexus IS 250/IS 350
5. 2006 Infiniti QX56
6. 2006 Nissan Armada
7. 2006 Scion tC
8. 2006 Mini Cooper
9. 2006 Lexus GX 470
10. 2006 Infiniti M-Series

Most Appealing Vehicles [ForbesAuto.com]

Related:
ForbesAutos On the Sopranos' Coolest Cars [internal]

"On average, consumers considering a hybrid expect to pay approximately $5,250 more for the powertrain option. Acknowledging the increased vehicle price, these consumers expect an average fuel economy improvement of 28 miles per gallon compared to a similar vehicle powered by a gasoline internal combustion engine..."

Well, that's certainly a high bar to meet — now let's see what consumers found once they bought the vehicle:

"...in reality...the additional price premiums associated with hybrid vehicles, which can run from $3,000 to $10,000 more than a comparable non-hybrid vehicle...hybrid owners report getting an average improvement of just 9 mpg."

But wait — what were the numbers on the other options — diesel and flexible fuel?

Consumers considering a diesel expect to pay approximately $2,800 more for the option and expect an average fuel economy improvement of 21 mpg, while diesel owners report getting a 12 mpg improvement on average. Those considering an E85 vehicle are unsure whether to expect to pay more for the option or see an improvement in fuel economy, but instead hope the use of the ethanol-based fuel blend will help reduce U.S. dependency on foreign fuels.

That makes sense, as it will cost slightly more to buy a diesel variation of a chosen vehicle — and although the average fuel economy expectations are still out of whack, it's nowhere near as whacked-out as the differential seen with hybrids. And as far as E85 is concerned, since fuel economy's like 5% lower, but emissions are like 25% lower — it's at least being marketed in a truthful manner — that is that although it may not increase your fuel economy, it will keep us able to provide for much of our energy needs from sources here in the US of A.

Now, that's not to say that the makers of hybrids are marketing them in a dishonest way, but they sure as hell aren't falling all over themselves to correct that misperception. That's one of the reasons we dug the the Today Show being called out for the comparison of one hybrid owner's old 15 mpg Toyota pickup apple to his new Toyota Prius orange. It's almost as if hybrid owners continue the hysterical love for the 'lectric n' gas engines as a way to justify in their own minds the extra $3,000 to $10,000 they've dropped on a hybrid and that they've made the right decision. Kind of like what happens when you smell your own fart.

While More Than One-Half of Consumers Are Considering a Hybrid Vehicle, Many Traditional Vehicles Provide Consumers With Similar Environmental Performance [PR NewsWire]

Related:
Live For Today, Unless You're The Big Three — Now With Video!; NBC's Hybrid Mania, Courtesy Chrysler [internal]

Mercury, Buick and Cadillac placed second, third and fourth, respectively, behind Lexus in the JD Power dependability survey, which tracks new vehicles over the first three years of ownership. Land Rover, on the other hand, finished last. Porsche, which took the number-two sport last year, dropped twenty places. And when the was the last time a Buick beat a Porsche in anything?

J.D. Power Announces the Most Dependable Cars [BusinessWeek]

Related:
Power to the Pontiac: Grand Prix Tops Quality Survey [Internal]

What? You've got a problem with our leading with a GM win in the latest JD Power quality survey? After all, the Japanese and Koreans (and a couple of Germans) absolutely wiped the floor with American carmakers. But this is a man-bites-octopus business we're in, dammit, and we're always looking for an angle. And here it is:

Large Car
1. Pontiac Grand Prix

There it is. Now go buy a couple, would you please?

Asians Dominate Quality Rankings [The Detroit News]

Related:
More on JD Power [internal]

Britons are chuffed that four of the top ten most satisfying cars available in Blighty are built by British hands. The cars? The Honda Civic, Toyota Avensis, Toyota Corolla and Jaguar S-type. And let's see, Honda and Toyota are Japanese, while Jaguar's owned by Ford. Yet What Car? editor David Motton has the gall to say, "The British motor industry is still building great cars." All right there, Davo. Keep them rose-colored glasses well-Windexed, boyo! And keep meaning it, maaaaan!

Britain's favourite cars revealed [This is Money]

Related:
Nanjing's MG Rover Deal: The Art of War with Shanghai Auto [Internal]

PIN: Compacts Continue Retained Value Run [Auto Remarketing]

Related:
The New JD Power Survey: Scantron And #2 Pencil Not Included [internal]

J.D. Power overhauls car quality survey [Freep]

Related:
Jaguar Ranks Highest in JD Power Sales Satisfaction Study [internal]

Let this be a lesson to you, dealerships: Boot licking and a nice cappuccino go an awfully long way toward satisfying your upmarket clientele. And if not, at least they'll distract those customers from remembering how the trogs in service couldn't tell a coolant level sensor from a jalapeno popper — at least when it comes time to take a "dealership experience" survey. And speaking of surveys, Jaguar topped JD Power's 2005 Sales Satisfaction Index Study released today. That means Jag does well on salesperson and finance process factors. Following are Lexus, Buick (you don't say?) and Porsche. Scion was noted for "most improved," an award normally reserved for stoners whose moms worked in the High School's administrative office.

Related:
Jaguar Stunner: High Marks on JD Power Survey [internal]