Category: Car Reviews (Page 41 of 43)

J.D. Power study releases a few surprises

Find out which brands have the most customer-friendly dealerships and which brands bombed in this J.D. Power study. Each year they churn out what is known as the Customer Service Index. We were somewhat surprised with a few of the findings.

Editorial News.com:

In extolling the wonders of new cars, we sometimes forget about the importance of the role the dealership can play after the sale. Getting a quick service appointment, having the work done right and on time, with as little stress and as few surprises as possible — all are the hallmarks of a dealer worth keeping.

Every year, J.D. Power and Associates surveys owners about how happy they are with their dealership, and the results become the Customer Service Index. And in the 2010 survey, which polled 114,000 owners between October and December of last year, some bad news for dealers was sandwiched into the usual reports for owners: The big drop in new-car sales almost surely means fewer service visits to dealers, and service operations are even more the lifeblood of such operations when sales go bad. J.D. Power projects that parts-and-service revenues at dealers will fall 20 percent, bottoming out in 2013.

Read the full article here.


Photo from fOTOGLIF

Abarth 500C, Punto Evo Set to Debut

If Fiat plans to bring the Punto Abarth 500C to the states, get ready for some real fun in the small car segment. We can only hope Sergio includes this little beast as part of his North American plan for Fiat/Chrysler.

From AutoGuide.com:

Fiat’s performance-minded Abarth brand will unveil two new models, based off of Fiat products that were introduced last year. Up first is the Abarth 500C, an upgraded version of the Fiat 500C (the C, standing for convertible). The car isn’t technically a convertible, but rather features a retractable cloth top and retains the roof rails. Power comes from Fiat’s turbocharged 1.4-liter 4-cylinder with 140-hp, allowing for a 0-62 mph time of 7.9 seconds. Also included are upgraded wheels, brakes, a new suspension setup, aero kit and stylish two-tone paint scheme. There’s no official word, but we’re likely to see this model join Fiat’s lineup in North America in the next several years – after the standard 500 and 500C are introduced.

Read the full article here.

Geneva Preview: Novitec Rosso Ferrari 599 GTB

This Ferrari is beyond incredible for all of you fans out there. Geneva preview of the Novitec Rosso Ferrari 599 GTB.

Novitec Rosso has struck once again with an even more powerful version of the Ferrari 599 GTB. Thanks to some new turbine blades on the superchargers, some modified piping and a retuned ECU, the twin-supercharged V12 engine has been bumped from the last 808-hp tuning phase all the way up to 848-hp. Novitec claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.4 seconds and a top speed of 214 mph.

Painted in matte white and black and including all of the Novitec goodies, like a special aero kit, 20 and 21-inch wheels with a massive brake upgrade and a height adjustable suspension, Novitec will build just three 848 Race models.

Read the full article at AutoGuide.com.

Alfa Romeo to return to North America by 2012

Looks like the big Alpha will be rolling again in the US and Canada in 2012. This is really big news for Chrysler/Fiat and the dealers that get to sell these attractive cars. Look for sleek styling and hopefully top notch quality that could bring in buyers who want the right pricing with as much style as they can afford. Good to see Alpha Romeo coming back to the states!

From AutoGuide.com:

According to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, his company’s stylish Alfa Romeo brand will return to North America in the next 24 months, meaning that models should be on sale in 2012. “I’m a lot more confident now that Alfa Romeo will reconstitute a product offering that is acceptable globally, and more in particular in the United States and Canada,” said Marchionne to Automotive News.

Read the full article here.

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