GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda - Winners of 2007 Ward's Interior of the Year

GM, Ford, DaimlerChrysler, Honda - Winners of 2007 Ward's Interior of the Year by Zeke Gervis
The 2007 Ward's "Interior of the Year" awards are done and over with models from General Motors, Ford, DaimlerChrysler and Honda sweeping the top honors.
Thirty-four vehicles from 11 manufacturers all competed to bag the prestigious "Interior of the Year" award in the annual competition sponsored by Ward's AutoWorld magazine. The awards program is part of the annual Ward's Auto Interiors Show this week at Detroit's Cobo Center.
Winners were selected in two ways: one, the editorial staff of Ward's conducted a two-month review and analysis of the 34 nominated vehicles and selected the winners based on eight evaluation categories such as comfort, safety and design harmony. And two, members of the auto industry at-large were encouraged to participate in a popular vote online at http://www.autointeriors.com/ to see how they would evaluate the nominees vis-à-vis the Ward's judges. More than 1,400 popular votes were cast.
So who were this year's winners?
Award Category: Economy-Priced Car
Ward's Editors' Choice: Honda Fit Industry At-Large Vote: Dodge Caliber
Award Category: Popular-Priced Car
Ward's Editors' Choice: Saturn Aura Industry At-Large Vote: Saturn Aura
Award Category: Premium-Priced Car
Ward's Editors' Choice: Volvo S80 Industry At-Large Vote: Lincoln MKZ
Award Category: Popular-Priced CUV
Ward's Editors' Choice: Honda CRV Industry At-Large Vote: Saturn Outlook
Award Category: Premium-Priced CUV
Ward's Editors' Choice: Cadillac SRX Industry At-Large Vote: Cadillac SRX
Award Category: Popular-Priced Truck
Ward's Editors' Choice: Chevy Silverado Industry At-Large Vote: Chevy Silverado
Award Category: Premium-Priced Truck
Ward's Editors' Choice: Lincoln Navigator Industry At-Large Vote: Cadillac Escalade
In addition to the vehicle awards recognizing overall interiors, Ward's editors also had Special Achievement Awards which included Best Brand Expression, Best Interior Trim, Best Overall Comfort and even Best Cup Holder.
Winner of the Best Brand Expression award is the Jeep Wrangler; for Best Interior Trim is the Infiniti G35; Best Cup Holder goes to the Chrysler Sebring; and Best Overall Comfort is awarded to the Lexus LS 460L.
The awards mark how consumers are placing huge importance of interiors when purchasing a vehicle. Because of the high value being placed by customers on automotive interiors (and not just engine parts like GM oxygen sensor for example), automakers are now more than ever placing an increased emphasis on their vehicles' interiors. In fact, according to CSM Worldwide, OEM spending on interior materials alone is projected to reach $10 billion by 2009.
A recent J.D. Power study also revealed that interior comfort is the second most important factor in choosing a vehicle, ranking ahead of exterior styling and just behind reliability and durability. This is the reason why automakers are all are too willing and jostle amongst themselves to win recognition such as Ward's Interior of the Year award.
Winning awards such as one from Ward's is being used by automakers to their full advantage. In fact last year, many of the winning manufacturers showcased their awards in new vehicle brochures and in national advertising to help attract consumers to their dealer showrooms.
Because of the growing attention being paid to their Interior of the Year Awards, Ward's decided to make three fundamental changes this year. First, Ward's editors developed a quantitative selection process that evaluated vehicle interiors based on eight criteria to ensure the integrity, transparency and objectivity of the competition. Vehicle interiors were scored on each of the eight criteria which included material selection; ergonomics; driver information; safety; overall value; comfort; fit and finish; and aesthetics and design harmony.
The new category (second) -- Economy-Priced Cars under $17,000, was added in consideration to the rising fuel prices which urged consumers to shift to more economical vehicles.
Third, Ward's instituted a process for recognizing outstanding features and design choices instituted in new vehicles or vehicle interiors. These awards are designated "Special Achievements" and focus on areas deemed worthy of honor by a consensus of the Ward's judges.
About the Auto Interiors Show Now in its 14th year, The Auto Interiors Show is presented by Ward's Automotive Group and is the industry's leading trade show and conference for vehicle interiors. Focusing on the latest innovations in vehicle technology and design to help suppliers respond to increasing OEM demands and changing consumer preferences, the Show features exhibits of leading suppliers who showcase trend setting products and materials with a view to the future of vehicle interiors. For complete information on the annual Ward's Auto Interiors Show,

Honda's Diesel-Powered Accord can match Hybrids

Honda's Diesel-Powered Accord can match Hybrids by Evander Klum
It's not so long ago when everybody wants to own a hybrid vehicle because of its claimed benefits like better fuel economy and lower emission of harmful gases. But surprisingly the new results of the J.D. Power survey reveal that most car owners now prefer diesel cars over hybrids.
Sales of hybrids are observed to be declining reaching an overall drop in sales by almost 7 percent however for buyers with age ranging from 16 to 25 the drop is much higher at 13 percent.
With the turn of events it seems like the whole point of shifting to using hybrid vehicles seems to be fading without us noticing it. This is quite sad especially for the environment which is the main reason why buying hybrid vehicles was advocated. It seems like consumers now refused to pay the additional $2,396 for a hybrid version vehicle especially when it takes a while before the promised savings on fuel offset the high price tag of their purchased hybrids.
And speaking of diesel, in the past diesel was considered a notorious type of fuel ask an environmentalist if you don't believe. Diesel was then used in big trucks that are known for spewing really black and toxic smoke that pollutes the air. This is also one of the reasons why diesel was not very popular in the American market.
But after years of being ignored diesel is springing back with better performance and power boosted by newly developed engine and fuel technologies. Honda the producer of quality Acura catalytic converter is one of the automakers that have been working to develop better diesel engines that are as eco-friendly as the next hybrid vehicle in the market.
Japan's second largest automaker, Honda has developed a diesel-powered Accord which it plans to offer in the United States by the year 2010. The new highly fuel efficient Accord gets 63 miles per gallon or 62.8 mpg to be exact. And unlike hybrids the new diesel-powered Accord does not sacrifice power.
Details on the diesel-powered Accord (sourced from http://www.hondauk-media.co.uk)
Drivetrain
* 2204 cc 4-cylinder all-aluminium engine * Constructed using pioneering semi-solid casting techniques * Second generation common rail injection * Variable nozzle turbocharger with intercooler * Euro IV compliant * Second order balancer shaft and offset cylinders * 140 PS @ 4,000 rpm / 340 Nm @ 2,000 rpm * Combined cycle fuel consumption 52.3 / 48.7 mpg, saloon/Tourer * 5-speed manual transmission
Chassis
* Double wishbone front suspension * 5-link double wishbone rear suspension (saloon) * Trailing arm rear suspension (Tourer) * Revised geometry for greater stability and precision * Performance enhanced by aerodynamic efficiency and dynamic stiffness of bodyshell * Sharpened rack and pinion steering * Executive models equipped with VSA for exceptional security (optional on Sport models) * ABS, EBD and brake assist standard

Toyota and GM Big Winners of the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards

Toyota and GM Big Winners of the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards by Hailey KerrPRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice.com together with AutoPacific has recently announced the results of their annual Motorist Choice Awards for model year 2007. Toyota and General Motors were the big winners for the said awarding. The Japanese automaker has scored winners for eight segment of which include the overall winner Lexus LS while GM was able to have five segment winners including the GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac DTS.The Motorist Choice Awards were given to vehicles that offer the highest customer satisfaction and the lowest cost of ownership. To come up with the winners, the data gathered from the new car and truck buyers by AutoPacific were combined with IntelliChoice's rating methodology resulting to a new kind of award that reflects both the heart and what the pockets of buyers can afford.According to James Bell, the publisher of IntelliChoice.com, the winners for this year's award were recognized for quality and value. Toyota was able to obtain majority of the 25 vehicle segments but GM with its 2007 Cadillac DTS top the large luxury car segment.George Peterson, President of AutoPacific further added that any vehicle scoring more than 700 in the Motorist Choice Awards might just as well be considered in the top rank of the highly desirable cars or trucks. He said that there were at least 25 vehicles that were able to obtain 700+ score however some of these vehicles didn't make the list because they lost out to other high-scoring vehicles in their segment. BMW the producer of quality BMW 328ic parts have two models that failed to make the list: 5-Series and 7 Series. The other models that failed to make the top 25 include: Lexus GS, Chevrolet Tahoe, Lincoln Town Car, Chevrolet Suburban, Acura RL, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz GL450, Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota 4Runner, Lexus RX and Hyundai Azera.The 2007 Winners of the 25 individual segment awards:SEGMENT - Winner Aspirational Luxury Car - Lexus IS Compact Car - Mazda3 Compact Crossover SUV - Chevrolet HHR Compact Pickup - Toyota Tacoma Compact Sport Utility/ORV - Toyota Tacoma Economy Car - Honda Fit Image Compact Car - Volkswagen GTi Large Car - Toyota Avalon Large Heavy Duty Pickup - Chevrolet Silverado HD Large Light Duty Pickup - Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Large Luxury Car - Cadillac DTS Large Sport Utility - GMC Yukon XL Luxury Crossover SUV - Acura MDX Luxury Mid-Size Car - Nissan Maxima Luxury Sport Utility - Land Rover Range Rover Sport Mid-Size Car - Volkswagen Jetta Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Honda CR-V Mid-Size Sport Utility - Toyota 4Runner Minivan - Honda Odyssey Premium Luxury Car - Lexus LS Premium Mid-Size Car - Nissan Altima Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Nissan Murano Premium Sports Car - Lexus SC Sports Car - Porsche Boxster Sporty Car - Scion tC

2008 Acura MDX, Acura Future Cars

So what will 2008 Acura MDX future car will have in offering. Well, speculations are already high with Acura fans for this future car. The new 2008 Acura MDX will for sure have super handling all wheel drive with a V-6 engine. There will not be a lot of changes but long awaited changes like HID headlight, LED Taillights and 20 inch 5 spoke alloy wheels could not be ruled out.The car first got full public view at 2006 New York Auto Show. The current model preliminary pictures are already available with the dealers but with very minor details. 2008 Acura MDX is likely to resemble Acura RDX in a big way. The wheels of the car look a bit bigger in the new version.Rear doors of the car also look bigger which is going to give a better access to the people at 3rd row. Though V6 engine is going to be there in the car, in my opinion V8 would have been better as most of the cars in this category have them.

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Ferrari Dino Ferrari Dino

Presenting Ferrari Dino Concept Design;
Ferrari Dino Concept design is the modernized version of the successful Ferrari Dino produced by Ferrari. The goal was to create a car that feels stylish, modern, dynamic and organic while staying true to the original design language of the Ferrari Dino and Ferrari brand in general. The main characteristic of the Dino Concept design is the way it looks similar to the original Dino. With very round styling elements around the wheelbases and its cockpit, it looks retro and modern at the same time. With the right proportions combined, the car looks very dynamic and stylish. It stays true to its original with the design of the rear and the front being rounded and avoiding the hard edges as much as possible. Also the rear window opening is a striking feature originating from the original Ferrari Dino. The air intakes scoops however are very different compared to the original Dino, they look very organic and visually add a very organic feel to the car.