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/.

Just one year and seven months after its official debut, the Pontiac Vibe has been put on the chopping blocks, dead after a very short life. Previously the Vibe was to be the only car available to the public in the 2010 model year, now the only product seems to be the 2010 model year G6 for sale to fleets only. So if you want a Pontiac, you better get one this year.

On the other hand, GM clearly wants to continue its production setup with Toyota and is in "active discussions" to find some other way to continue production at NUMMI. Can you say Chevy Tacoma?

General Motors Statement Regarding Discontinuation of Pontiac Vibe Production at NUMMI Facility

As part of its long-term viability plan and recent decision to phase out the Pontiac brand, General Motors has decided to discontinue production of the Pontiac Vibe by the end of August 2009. The Vibe is produced at the New United Motor Manufacturing Incorporated (NUMMI) facility jointly operated by GM and Toyota in Fremont, California. While no replacement for Vibe production has been determined, GM and Toyota remain in active discussions regarding potential future production at NUMMI.

[Source: GM]

The fact that the 2010 Pontiac Vibe is surviving until 2010 may have something to do with the join production deal GM has with Toyota to build the vehicle, along with its twin the Toyota Matrix, at the joint NUMMI production facility in Fremont, California. Every other vehicle will end at the 2009 MY with the exception of the fleet-only 2010 Pontiac G6, which may or may not become a strange collector's item for those willing to search the Alamo Rent-A-Car sales lot. [GM Product Guide, Carscoop]

What, exactly, GM will do with NUMMI, their cooperative manufacturing effort with Toyota, remains unclear, but Fritz definitely claims they'll have to talk to Toyota and come up with something to do with the plant. Our guess is Toyota will just ask GM to continue making the Toyota Matrix (made on the same line as the Pontiac Vibe, by the same UAW workers) and just increase production numbers on it or, since Matrix production was moved to Canada last fall, maybe they'll just shut the whole place down.

Why the Matrix always sold so much better than the Vibe, we'll never understand. Wait a second, we remember — the picture to the left just jogged our memory. Eeeew. OK, now we know why the Matrix sold better.

We're a bit curious if they're also going to adjust the G5's price given that it'll only be $300 cheaper. Compared to the rebadged Cobalt, the Vibe is a great deal at that price and comes standard with stability control, ABS and OnStar. An AWD Vibe will come in at a base price of $19,495 and the GT version tops out at $19,895. [Source: GM]

Press Release:

2009 Pontiac Vibe
All-new, but still retaining the original's blend of style performance and versatility, the 2009 Pontiac Vibe also signals the return of the popular all-wheel drive and performance-oriented GT models. The 2009 Vibe will make its public debut at the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show and will be available at Pontiac dealerships in early 2008.

In 2002, GM happened to own a 20% stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent of Subaru. In 2001, Subaru introduced a car Stateside to mondo acclaim. Automobile named it their Car of the Year. Car & Driver stuck it on their 10 Best List. Consumer Reports named it a Best Buy. I bought one. Yup folks, we're talking 'bout the Subaru WRX. Now pretend you're a Pontiac brand manager for a moment. Your car czar has called your division, "Damaged." You are aware that Pontiac occupies a chamber of every true pistonhead's heart because you invented the muscle car. Wouldn't you at least raise your hand during a marketing meeting and make a case for building the Vibe off the WRX chassis? Yes, $25,000 is a lot of scratch for a small wagon. But exactly like sibling Saab did when they got the WRX platform and badged it as a 9-2X, why not sell both a normally aspirated version? The less-powerful guy can sticker for around $17,000 (essentially what the Vibe costs) and the more expensive a turbo iteration is for the enthusiasts. Makes sense, right?

Saab's 9-2X, of course, was an utter flop and discontinued after just three years. And why not? Did the the 9-2X offer a single meaningful improvement over the WRX upon which it was based? No. Did it make any sense whatsoever as a Saab? Of course not. Put it this way, when a friend's 9-2X lease was up (they were practically giving 'em away) he bought a WRX, not a Saab. Oh, and the wizards at GM decided to slide the Saabaru's base price up by $2,500. And that was for the turbo-charged Aero model. The non-turbo Linear 9-2x sold for a whopping $5,500 over the Imprezza wagon. Which was simply, fatally insane. The irony is that GM sold a large chuck of its shares in Fuji Heavy Industries to none other than Toyota.

Out grabbing coffee today I saw a baby-blue Vibe and hung my head in shame. Could you imagine what a sales success a WRX-based Pontiac turbo AWD wagon would a have been? Especially compared to the duller than dirt Vibe? Oh, my friend Peter the photographer I mentioned above, bought a Matrix instead of the Vibe because he thought the Pontiac looked like the Aztek, the Toyota cost less and, in his words, "It's a Toyota." Sigh... You?

"...aint no way this is a Pontiac...it has toyota camo...more likely this is the matrix. It doesn't have certain things a GM proto would have, plus that's the exact same [camo material] toyota uses. It sounds silly, but the camo tells me all I need to know."

So, what is it? Is it the 2008 Pontiac Vibe? Is it the 2008 Toyota Matrix? Who the hell knows — we can't see shit — it looks like a shoe wrapped in a plastic bag to us. – Ray Wert

FV Report: 2008 Pontiac Vibe spy photos [Edmunds Straightline]

Related:
Spec It Up! Toyota Matrix M-Theory [internal]

We got a strange e-mail filled with unsubstantiated yet plausable conjecture regarding the Pontiac Vibe. Of course we're going to publish it in its entirety for you, dear readers, to consider (or poop on). Taken one way, it's some good old GM bashing at its cattiest; taken another, it's an indication of how petty GM's armchair critics have gotten — messing with the poor Vibe. Here goes:

Pontiac has asked a major magazine to pull back its glowing review and rating it "America's best built car!" Seems Pontiac doesn't want any press about the car for two reasons.

1. They don't want people to say, "The only reason the Vibe is #1 is because Pontiac didn't build it."

2. They want to bury the Vibe by 2007 and any press about how good it is will be wasted marketing. People (stockholders) will wonder why they are axing "America's best built car!" They don't want to answer "ego."

The Pontiac's Vibe's ad agency wanted to start advertising the great mileage (30/35) and were told not to and let the campaigns wind down. Once again they didn't want a comparison to Toyota who makes better cars with better economy. Seems any Vibe ad now will also include Pontiac's other vehicles.

In GM's defense, the Vibe is the last GM-badged car to be built at the joint GM-Toyota NUMMI plant in California, which also produces the Corolla and Tacoma. It's also Toyota's only UAW-staffed factory. (No word on what happens post-Vibe). Other than that, Pontiac's on its own with this one.

Related:
Pontiac's Wagon Versions to Go Vibe-bye; What of NUMMI? [internal]

According to AutoWeek, Pontiac is scaling back its Vibe line, discontinuing the GT and all-wheel-drive versions after the 2006 model year due to poor sales and changes in U.S. emissions standards. The Vibe, also sold as the Toyota Matrix, is the product of NUMMI, a joint-venture between GM and Toyota based in Fremont, California. The Vibe, reported to be sticking around through 2007, would be the last GM product produced at NUMMI, which also handles the Corolla, Tacoma pickup, Matrix (and its Japan-only counterpart, the Voltz), barring a new model set for the plant. Could the world's number-one and number-two be planning to go their separate ways after years of carmaker-on-carmaker love? If there's a divorce, maybe GM will get the market share. California's a community-property state, no?

Related:
EDAG to Show Pontiac Solstice "Wagon" Concept in Detroit; Kiss and Say Sayonara: GM, Toyota Tech Alliance to End [internal]