7 Cars get top marks in the high-tech security check

NEW YORK: seven medium-sized vehicles earned the top score in a test of the insurance industry in the high-tech security features, to prevent the front end collisions.

The Cadillac ATS and SRX, Subaru legacy and Outback, Mercedes c-class and Volvo S60 and XC60 won "superior" ratings in tests Insurance Institute for highway safety.

The Institute tested 74 medium-sized cars and SUVs from model years 2013 and 2014th those who are equipped with front collision warning and automatic braking systems typically better. The systems can alert either the driver or the car automatically to stop when they detect a possible collision.

The Institute of IIHS, a non-profit research group of insurance companies has pushed funded, Federal agencies and automakers require or offer new safety systems such as antilock brakes as an option. The Group urges auto manufacturers to strengthen front end crash resistance.

Since the frontal-crash systems offer car manufacturers more and more models as the price of the technology falls. The systems use radar, cameras, Ultrasonic sensors and computer local objects before cars and determine whether a collision is possible. The system applies the brakes themselves, or a driver can be warned to take action.

The IIHS said that its data Institute usually are not found that the devices help to avoid crashes, but even so, drivers auto insurance companies offer discounts for people who buy them.

Insurance companies say, how the systems in certain models of more popular insurance claims will go back. These models will eventually see a reduced price.

In the tests, six other cars received second-best 'Advanced' reviews, while 25 'basic' get reviews. A further 36 received no rating because they had not the systems or their systems not the Institute standards.

The Institute says that the tests will help people who decide, what features to buy and to encourage car manufacturers to adopt the new technology faster.

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GM tops j.d power quality survey for the first time

After years of imports has lagged General has from engine to the top of the charts J.D.. power quality first-time tour, the most influential measure of vehicle quality in the first months in the 2013 rose the showroom lot.

The new study also shows that overall the quality of this year's cars, trucks and crossovers, even a little dropped from 2012 - a decline in largely the result of design problems that cannot be resolved for the most part at the dealership. Issued related to the latest infotainment systems and other high-tech devices are the largest single source of these headaches buyers according to J.D. power.

On the positive side "Manufacturer much do better when it comes, chassis, engines and other mechanical systems", explains Dave Sargent, Director of automotive research for California-based J.D. power and associates.. "Most people now reported problems involved are the latest technology."

Two of every three problems were reported by 83,000 owners and tenants who have participated in the latest study tech-based. While that includes such electro-mechanical devices such as electronic suspensions and cruise control systems, explains most of the complaints involved systems like Ford's much maligned MyFordTouch system, Sargent, pointing out that owners of were particularly frustrated:
User interfaces, which made it difficult to do even the simplest tasks, such as changing the temperature or tuning the radio;
Voice control systems, the commands could not understand or run incorrectly.
Systems that would not associate with a car phone.

Such issues are especially problematic for owners and automakers, as "only a few can be resolved," Sargent said no major Upgrades from the factory.
Problems with electronic systems have in recent years was fast, overtaking of excess wind and road noise than the single biggest complaint of the IQS study. Its makes completely revised survey form for 2013 accounts for this shift - and so consumers can provide more information, which could ultimately help manufacturers to tackle these problems.

The market research company undertook steps make it possible to compare the 2013 IQS results with those from past years and according to Sargent, the rate of complaints - counted as problems per 100 vehicles Surved by more than 10%. The industry average was 102 PP100 in 2012. This time increased on a customized 113 problems per 100.

Between the individual nameplates German sports car manufacturer Porsche the poll topped an average of 80 PP100. In a major surprise, came General Motors truck brand GMC in the second, 90 problems per 100, poked past chart tip Lexus, which had a score of 94 PP100 resistant. Infiniti on place 4, at 95 PP100, followed by Chevrolet, 97 problems.

The five have routinely made of luxury brands, and it was rare that all domestic manufacturers of this elite club to crack. GM, has above all never come near, which do well. And at the automakers, instead of comparing individual brands, which was Detroit-maker rating in 2013 IQS, a statement analyst of described Sargent as "phenomenal."

GM was actually the only manufacturer on average less than 100 PP100, well before Japanese rivals such as Toyota and Honda, the manufacturer, the traditional landing was regarded as quality benchmarks.

"GM has (even) more individual model awards than anyone else by a wide margin," Sargent noticed "eight out of 26 if no one else more than three."

To do so, they were the addition of Buick, a small crossover and the large Chevrolet Avalanche and GMC Sierra pickups - bound. The Chevrolet division alone topped five separate vehicles, also the muscle car Camaro and the full-size Impala sedan.

Other winners are get Honda, KIA, Mazda and Porsche, two awards. Acura, Hyundai, Chrysler, Ford, Nissan, Infiniti, Mercedes-Benz and Toyota model also won awards.

Toyota's high-line Lexus crowned not only premium luxury segment with its large LS, but the sedan scored a record-low 59 problems per 100.

But the continuing difficulties with electronic technologies a dark shadow on the 2013 quality initial survey, suggesting that the industry has some serious challenges ahead.

"Desire, and in some cases more content in their new vehicles, are demanding it, are trying above all technology-related functions, and automakers offer", Sargent said. "While he said" "those who frustrated are the majority of the owners having no problems."

While the real consumers like headache with cooperative Smartphones or tablet computers, they are probably in a relatively short time to replace, said Sargent. But most American drivers keep a new vehicle for at least five years and if there a problem "you are pretty much stuck with it for the lifetime of the vehicle."

Copyright © 2009-2013, the Detroit Bureau

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Mercedes to replace BMW as a top luxury brand

Alex Domanski / Reuters

Daimler AG of CEO Dieter Zetsche enters a new Mercedes a-Klasse car at the Mercedes plant in Rastatt, Germany.

By Paul A. Eisenstein, NBCNews-Le
It is one of the most bitter battles on the American automobile market, and it pits two of Germany's luxury automakers in a grab for the brass ring. But in this Jahr Mercedes-Benz is betting that it can topple rival BMW to the best selling automotive luxury brand in the world's largest end market.

But Mercedes volume alone is not the measure of success, said top American Executive. The producer is looking for a significant increase in which she hopes in the future it also as leader on the gross margins will position.

And key to the growth, Mercedes-Benz said U.S. Chief Executive Steve Cannon, a wave of new products, which cover not only is existing market segments, but also some "white space" ranges, where the luxury manufacturers currently do not take part.

"The breadth and depth our positioning one of our strategic advantage", said cannon.

The Executive has much of the week in Santa Fe, spent where their first drive in the second generation GL sport utility vehicle will be Mercedes automotive journalists. He joins an array new updated models such as the larger G cars, smaller GLK and the brand best selling truck, the ML.

If the latter model was introduced a little more than ten years, skeptics scoffed. But it was not the first time Mercedes conventional wisdom had set boundaries, entering a new segment. It took several years of debate before it launched the compact c-class in the 1980s in the life. This model is now one of the strongest offerings of the German manufacturer.

Meanwhile, the U.S. sales of Mercedes is now almost 45 percent the ML, GL and the rest of the SUV lineup. And sales Alabama, United States even higher, Cannon claimed there would be no capacity bottlenecks in the Assembly plant of in nearby Tuscaloosa by the automaker, would be. The industry average of 60 to 65 days a 26-day supply of the ml dealers currently have on the one hand – less than half.

Dieter Zetsche, Leiter Mercedes-Benz cars, explains whether Mercedes US production will increase. It also checks how Europe its debt crisis is management.

Some people surprised, might the strong demand for Mercedes crossover/SUV models because in the run-up of in fuel prices this year. As the numbers on the pump over $4 per gallon in some markets forecasts would put - with some analysts the numbers eventually nudge $5 and even $6 - total light truck sales shortly fulled. However, since prices in early April reached, demand has largely.

This is not to say that Mercedes ignored the possible disruption may have a different oil tip. Still the hard they can the impact of new emissions and mileage standards will be adopted to discard in major markets such as the United States, Europe, Japan and China.

"they need smaller cars," says Cannon, a West point graduate and former artillery officer.

The automaker recently has a hint of what the store at the lower end of the market is, where he completely updated its smallest model, the a-class. And, significantly, at least a version - the coupelike CLA sedan - provided for the first time of one of the a-class models in the United States come to the US market

Such models are not supposed to just to satisfy the demands of the authorities but meets the needs of a new generation of buyers, the smaller search - and decidedly high-tech products. Mercedes has traditionally positioned leader in technology as, and it invested billions to the brand image to get. The new GL, leads, for example, features such as collision avoidance and crosswind stabilisation. The former can a driver, to a potential crash of the latter, the great crossover in his eyes even in the harshest storm helps keep warn.

But what can appeal more Gen-X and millennial luxury first-time buyers is the mBrace2-Infotainment system, the couple can use Smartphone apps with a driver such as Pandora through the car sound system to play - and even voice commands for SMS.

While new products and technologies for Mercedes growth plans of crucial importance will be Cannon conceded that the manufacturer of the way treated, must improve in customers the Bay of showroom and service. "When we look in the mirror and to be honest we have to admit that we do not do well enough," he said.

The manufacturer has a series of meetings with dealers the country staging were to improve the sales processing. Traders who have in turn approximately 1.50 billion $ to more than 90 percent of U.S. showrooms to update. The results seem paid be.

"Mercedes is setting standards," said Fran O' Hagan, the Pied Piper bypass prospective study used to measure thousands of so-called "mystery shoppers", such as manufacturers of the sales and service of process. Mercedes released its brave competitors such as BMW, Lexus and Audi in results this month.

And that has apparently helped to win it a leg up on BMW. It held a 2,000-unit ahead of the Bavarian automaker in the first half of 2012 after almost losing the U.S. luxury sales Crown 2011. Anything can happen especially when rival BMW or Lexus ramp up incentives to admit issues, Mercedes officials. But it is clear that they are ready, pull the big guns, the ring this time access.

Ironically, Cannon given to this being no 1 probably "no longer a car for the brand sell" Although Americans like to assign winners. All the more important, the Executive said, is to ensure maximum margins, by to protect the image of the vaunted Mercedes Tri-Star badge.

"Profitability is more important in any case," agreed analyst Aaron land Bragman, IHS consulting, even though he thinks Mercedes 'probable' hilltop luxury this year.

And the key to maintain, he said, is to ensure that new products such as CLA - and updated offers such as the next-generation S-class and updated E-class next year are available - to beat expectations of customers.

CNBC's Phil LeBeau has the story on two luxury auto brands racing for the number one spot this year.

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