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European Luxury and Performance on America’s Roads

October 25th, 2009

What car delivers the elegance and technology of a luxury car but leaves the price tag over in Europe? The Acura by Honda has filled this role. First introduced in the United States in 1986, the Acura is a part of the Honda Corporation. The American consumer was immediately attracted by not only the beauty of the car and all of its features, but the name Honda backing it. Honda had already become associated with quality automobiles in the United States and this was their newly created luxury branch.

When the Acura was first introduced in the U.S. it consisted of two models, there was the Legend Sedan and the Integra Sport Coupe and Sedan. The cars were an immediate success here and the American consumer was hungry for more. Over the next few decades the Acura name became associated with high performance, low maintenance, top notch technology and affordability, when compared, as it often is, to the European luxury cars. Over the next few decades Acura has introduced a number of models some with more success than others, though records show American consumers love this automobile. It is interesting to note that the Acura was specifically developed for the North American market and is still not sold in Japan or in Europe.

The Acura has changed with the times. They are still developing plans for new models and still have a fan club in the American market. Some of the models introduced since the beginning of the new millennium are:
The MDX which is an SUV first marketed in the U.S. in 2001
The Acura RSX Sports Coupe which was the successor of The Integra
The TSX a sports sedan which was introduced in 2004.
In 2004 and 2005 Acura improved upon the midsize TL Sedan and The RL Luxury Sedan both with great success.

Consumers have had an extremely positive reaction to the Acura since its introduction in 1986. That matched with the very high reviews by top automobile raters, has created an avenue for still further development and extensions of this car. In 2009 and 2010 Acura will add to its already impressive base of driving machines. Future Acura models will include The 2010 ZDX and the 2011 Acura RL.

In its relatively short history, Honda’s Acura has left a huge impression on its targeted market and there is no reason to think it will be slowing down. As long as the American consumer is looking for performance, style, and technology at a price that allows for all of these aspects at a cost far less than other luxury models, Acura will remain in the American driveways and on our highways for some time to come.

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A used Lexus engine is Toyota Plus Luxury

June 23rd, 2009

Toyota Motor Corporation launched the Lexus luxury vehicle division in 1989 but the project began in 1983. The Chairmen of the Toyota Motor Corporation at that time was Ejji Toyoda and he envisioned developing a line of automobiles that could compete with other luxury brands. Toyota gathered together his top executives and asked a simple question. He wanted to know if Toyota was capable of producing a luxury vehicle that could challenge the best luxury vehicles in the market. The project was to be developed under complete secrecy and was given the code name F1 (Flagship + Number one vehicle).

The project took approximately five years to complete and appears to have been a resounding success. The first of the new luxury line up to be introduced was the LS 400 with Lexus engine the finest in its large sedan class. Introduced for the 1989 model year, the LS 400 led the way in making Lexus the highest selling make of luxury automobile in the world. Toyota has introduced Lexus into 68 countries and territories around the world. Oddly enough, Toyota did not introduce Lexus into the Japanese market until 2005, although Lexus vehicles were made there entirely until 2003 when the assembly plant for the Lexus RX 300 opened in Ontario, Canada.

Since the release of the LS 400 sedan in 1989, Lexus has further expanded the line of popular vehicles to include another sedan, a coupe, a convertible and SUV models. By 2005, a hybrid line up was introduced into the Lexus fold.

Thought and attention to detail went into planning every phase of the new Toyota division and an image-consulting firm, Lippincott & Margulies was brought in to cultivate a possible list of names for the new line. The first proposal from the firm included a list of 219 potential monikers. Among the top choices included the names: Alexis, Calibre, Chaparel, Vectre and Verone. Alexis was the front-runner but was modified to Lexus as a combination of the words “luxury” and “elegance”.

Because the American market would be the primary launching platform for the new luxury line up, a team of designers made the decision to observe its target audience up close to determine what would be most appealing in a luxury vehicle. To do this, several F1 designers rented a house in Laguna Beach California to observe firsthand the lifestyle and tastes of upper middle class car-buyers. This research led Toyota to the conclusion that a completely separate line distinct from the Toyota name would be best in introducing the new luxury line up to the market. A different division, complete with new exclusive Lexus dealerships, was developed for the United States Market.

In January 1989, the new Lexus LS 400 was introduced at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan. By September of the same year, the new luxury car went on sale for the first time.

A success from the very beginning, the Lexus LS400 sold 63,594 new models its first year. By 1991, Toyota had achieved their goal and new Lexus line claimed the title as the best selling luxury vehicle in the United States.

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Infiniti Engines – The top of the line Nissan

June 19th, 2009

Infiniti was first introduced to the American public in November of 1989. The Luxury car division of Nissan has dealers in various countries around the world and has more than 230 dealers.

Surprisingly, in the beginning, the Infiniti brand was poorly received in the United States. That may be due in part to an unusual advertising approach. The initial marketing idea was to rely on a Zen influenced advertising concept. All the commercials produced showed beautiful nature themes that focused on tranquility. As relaxing as the commercials may have been, they were all missing one crucial thing: photos of the vehicles. This proved to be not a good idea when trying to introduce a brand new car line up to the American populace. It is rather difficult to build brand recognition when no brand is being shown. The spots were finally pulled and replaced with commercials that actually showed the vehicles. This combined with several award-winning models finally put Infiniti on the map in the luxury automobile division.

The Q45 lead the way for Infiniti. The vehicle had many desirable features and a top of the line engine at the time. Some of the award winning features included the 278 hp V8 engine, four wheel steering and interior luxury options.

For a while, it seemed that Infiniti would have no problem competing against the likes of Acura, Lexus, BMW or Audi. However, the M30, introduced in 1990, was never able to keep up. There were many reasons for this however some of this most prominent include the lake of various in its engine and transmission. There was only one engine offered with the vehicle which was the 162 horsepower Nissan VG30E V6 3000 and only one transmission, the Nissan RE 4R01A 4 speed automatic. Marketed as a sporty two-door coupe, this engine and transmission combination did not offer near the power that the consumers in this market were looking for. The M30 was never a success and Infiniti discontinued it after just 3 years.

The biggest success for Infiniti during the nineties was the introduction of its Luxury SUV, the QX4. Virtually no one else in the market, besides Land Rover, had anything like the QX4, which for the first time, left Acura and other Luxury automakers scrambling to catch up. The QX4 was built on a truck platform and offered the ability to traverse road conditions in relative luxury.

By the year 2000, Infiniti was losing a lot of ground to the competition and it teetered on the edge of extinction. The company was able to redefine its goals and finally come up with a winner. It was introduction of the G35 that finally took Infiniti back to the top. The sporty sedan was very well received and was named Motor Trend Car of the Year in 2003. Its American version the FX35/45 crossover was as equally successful. Finally, Infiniti had hit upon a winning combination: the handling of a sports car with all terrain capability.

With its redefined goals and focus on what a consumers want in a luxury vehicle, Infiniti appears to have a bright future ahead.

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A little history about Hyundai and their engines

June 18th, 2009

Hyundai first arrived on the shores of the United States in 1986; however, the company itself has been around much longer. Originally founded in 1947 by Chung Ju-Yung as the Hyundai Engineering and Construction Company, Hyundai Motor Corporation was established in 1967. Hyundai released its first car the Cortina in 1968 and even then, it was associated with a United States company, Ford Motors.

By 1986, Hyundai was ready for America. Hyundai started gradually with a single model that year, the Excel. Offered with a variety of options and trim models at a very attractive price, the Excel set a record with the most automobiles sold for a company in its first year. Although the Excel got off to a good start, it was plagued by various flaws. From serious engine failures to malfunctions in window regulators and door handles, word soon got out and sales took a nosedive.

Hyundai’s true interests lie in creating a new image for itself. Hyundai wanted to compete on higher level than it had previously so in 1998 Hyundai’s parent company, Hyundai Motors took a direct interest in pushing Hyundai to the front in as world class brand. Chung Ju-Yung, the founder of the company, handed the reins to his son Chung Mong Koo and an aggressive marketing campaign began.

Hyundai went back to the drawing board and proceeded to invest more in quality and manufacturing. It added a 10 year 100,000 mile power train warranty, something still rare in the auto world today, and by 2004 was able to turn around its negative image. Sales rose and in 2004 Hyundai tied with Honda for initial brand quality in a survey from J.D. Power and Associates.

Hyundai has invested heavily in its American market, building Hyundai America Technical Center in California City, California in 2004. This is a 4,300-acre complex located in the Mojave Desert. Hyundai has construed a 6.4-mile oval test track, a Vehicle Dynamics Area and a series of special surface roads for the testing of prototype vehicles. California is not the only place Hyundai maintains a United States presence. In May of 2005, an assembly plant was opened just outside Montgomery, Alabama. The plant employs 2,000 workers. Although this is Hyundai’s second attempt to produce cars in North America, the first was a Canadian plant that was closed in 1993, the future is brighter for the venture this time as Hyundai continues to gain quality rankings and sales continue to increase.

By 2006, Hyundai had managed to rank third in J.D. Powers and Associates quality ranking which was just behind Porsche and Lexus. In fact, Hyundai has improved in all categories and resale value continues to improve as well. 2006 was also the year that the Hyundai Entourage was chosen as the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety “Gold Top Safety Pick”. This distinction makes the Hyundai Entourage the safest minivan ever tested. The same year Hyundai was also awarded ‘Top-rated 2006 Ideal Vehicle’ by AutoPacific.

Hyundai continues to invest heavily in long-term research and quality continues to improve. It has set its sights on toppling Toyota from its long held top spot in the United States Market. If things continue as they have been, this goal might actually be in sight.

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Cash for Clunkers is BAD for consumers wanting to replace an engine

June 17th, 2009

June 17, 2009 – House & Senate reach tenative agreement on $106 Billion wartime spending bill which includes $1 billion for Cash for Clunkers bill. This is the third major hurdle that the program has cleared and a vote will be taken on the wartime spending bill any day. The program looks like it is heading forward with a green light. Vote expected tomorrow.

If the Senate approves the CFC program, the measure will go to President Barack Obama for his signature. The President has already said that he would sign the bill. Then the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will have 30 days to put regulations in place for the program.

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