Welcher der Automobilhersteller hat die meisten Fans auf Facebook und erreicht damit pro “tweet” die meisten Menschen? Ferrari liegt mit über 700.000 Fans vor Porsche und deutlich vor den Volumenherstellern. Mit weniger als 470.000 Fans folgen BMW und Audi und mit nur ca. 220.00 liegt Mercedes-Benz auf dem 5. Platz.
1. Platz Ferrari 719.140
2. Platz Porsche 570.181
3. Platz BMW 464.457
4. Platz Audi 429.242
5. Platz Mercedes-Benz 223.695
6. Platz Rolls-Royce 74.463
7. Platz Ford 67.539
8. Platz Toyota US 67.255
9. Platz Jaguar 60.527
10. Platz Volkswagen 17.613
11. Platz Opel 7.852
In einem Jahr werde ich die Auswertung wiederholen. Mal sehen, wie die Strategie der einzelnen Hersteller ist und ob die Vorhersagen “Facebook wird die zentrale Seite des Internets” aufgehen.
Alexa.com liefert für die Top 5 Hersteller Homepages einen davon abweichenden Traffic. Hier liegt in den letzten 3 Monaten Porsche vor BMW (von ein paar Peaks abgesehen):
Germany’s reputable car industry has long been seen by Germans and foreigners alike as the ultimate symbol of the country’s efficiency. BMW, Mercedes, Volkswagen and Audi market many different kinds of car. But the emphasis on efficiency and reliability is one thing that they have in common.
Audi builds more than half a million cars in 2009 and in the Bavarian town of Ingolstadt, they have built a state of the art car factory, which is the size of a small town. Audi is by far the biggest local employer and as there is such a high demand for manufacturing skills Audi employ’s only the best workers and in return offers some very complex apprenticeship schemes.
All over Germany, companies undergo work experience placements for school leavers and teach them how they want their products to be made. These apprenticeship schemes can be quite expensive, but Audi, who take on around 700 new applicants a year, believe the advantages are clear. The system will remain in place for the future. However the past successes of the German economy are being increasingly questioned in a competitive, globalised world.
Prices are much higher in Germany than in other countries, with a whole range of social benefits that would seem unthinkable in Britain or elsewhere in Europe. Manufacturers in England also offer a wide and exciting range of career opportunities for exceptional young people; however Audi has taken their enviable position in an ever changing automotive world and made it their objective to breed the best engineers, designers and business gurus and so on.
I knew a friend who is on a training scheme at Audi in Devon’s dealership. Needless to say it’s hard work but has opened many windows and doors for a very promising and colourful future. Germany have the right idea and only hope we can follow in its footsteps.
Any car I’ve had that treated me well has had a name, from the beginning. Those that treated me poorly (present Audi) haven’t. Maybe there’s a connection… In any even, I was thinking of naming him Hans, after the guy who showed us (me) the car, but only after making us wait until he was finished with his very long lunch. But Hans didn’t seem like a strong enough name for this new rig. Sven? Better. Sleek yet strong. Maybe even reliable.
But where is Sven? Not here. Still In Sweden, not even on a boat.
Since I’ve been home, and even before, people have been asking the obvious question: Do I have the car yet? And if not, when do I get it? And the answer is a little embarrassing (theme here?). “Ummm, I’m not exactly sure.” They said 6-8 weeks, which in itself is semi-vague, but 6-8 weeks from when? From picking the car up? Hans told me that the “ship date” for my car was Jan 21. Whoawhoawhoa. What?
Ship date? I was a little surprised. No one had mentioned anything about a ship date previously, and I guess I had just imagined that I’d hand the keys off, and someone else would get in, and away it would go to the port, to get on the next ship with the general destination of USA.
In my surprise and barf-covered clothes, I neglected to ask if how long it’d be after the ship date… another 6-8 weeks? I guess I could ask the dealer, but somehow, I’d rather just have it be another surprise at this point. Kind of like waiting until birth to find out the sex of your child. Which I didn’t do.
So, here I wait. Still driving my hexed Audi Allroad, which brings me so much more pain than joy. Of course, I can’t complain, I’m getting a sweet new car, I have a home, job, healthy family, and plenty of clean water whenever I need it. And, I don’t live in Haiti.
If you haven’t already, please consider giving to your favorite disaster relief organization. You can find a list of the top-rated relief organizations helping with the Haiti disaster here. Please give generously.
Thanks again for reading! I’ll be updating a few more times in the “6-8 weeks” until I get the XC60, and maybe even a couple times after that.
Well, it’s mid-January again, and all you car nuts out there know exactly what that means – it’s Detroit Auto Show time! Because as the Detroit Tourism Board will tell you, there’s no better time to venture to America’s home-grown Thunderdome than when it’s cold enough to freeze mercury.
Still, so long as the heat in the Cobo Center works, journalists from across the globe will cram their North Face parkas and .357 Magnum Colt Pythons into overnight bags and journey to Motor City for one of the largest auto shows in the world. This year was a bittersweet one for the three home-team automakers: bitter for GM, who saw four divisions exorcised from its corporate ranks after tossing all its self-respect into Lake Michigan by declaring bankruptcy and taking federal bailout money; but sweet for Ford, who managed to avoid Chapter 11 and saw its first profitable quarter in nearly two years.
And Chrysler? Well, they’re owned by Fiat now. Actually, do they even count as one of the Big Three anymore?
Regardless of whether Chrysler considers their home in The Boot of Italy or The Mitten of Michigan, in the minds of most people, they still count as a good ol’ American boys. Unfortunately, Chrysler/Fiat considered new model revelations and press conferences excessive expenditures this year, and simply left their models out on the floor for perusal. (At least they showed up, unlike Porsche and Nissan. Uncool, guys.) Luckily, though, plenty of other new models and concepts came into the light at the show. Here are the best.
Audi e-tron concept
Astute readers of this blog may be thinking, “Didn’t I already see the e-tron?” And the short answer is, yes, you did. But not this one. Audi has, somewhat inexplicably, decided to use the exact same name for this smaller electric sports car concept as they used for their larger, R8-based version. The difference, you see, is that the R8-based original is just called “e-tron,” while this new concept is…the “e-tron.” Come on, Audi! You’re German – Germans make up new words all the time by smashing them together. Couldn’t you call it the “Smallersilverelectricsportscar?”
Regardless of what you call it, the baby e-tron will reportedly run from 0-60 in 5.9 seconds with a top speed of 124 mph, thanks to a pair of electric motors with a combined output of 204 horsepower. Of course, since the baby e-tron is just a concept, this could be entirely hypothetical; the show car may well be powered by a hamster on a wheel for all we know.
More importantly for car fans, the e-tron 2-seater’s design may be a preview of Audi’s rumored upcoming R4 sports car. There’s no way to know for sure, but Audi could do a lot worse than pattern the R4 on this aggressive-looking concept. Slap the S4’s 333-hp supercharged V6 in there and stack it up against the Porsche Cayman (Whoops! VW owns Porsche now) – er, BMW Z4, and they could have a winner on their hands.
2011 BMW 740i/740Li
This isn’t the first time BMW has sold a 740i in the States – two generations of 7-series ago, it was the mainstay of the lineup – but it is the first time since 1992 that Americans can order a six-cylinder engine in the car. The last version, the 735i, made do with a mere 208 horsepower; the new 740i packs BMW’s sublime turbocharged 3.0 liter inline six making 315 horsepower.
The 740i looks pretty much like any other 7, so feast your eyes on the 500-hp BMW Alpina B7.
Presumably, Bimmer is bringing the six-cylinder 7 our way in order to improve its fuel-economy standings; odds are, if you can afford the $71,025 base price, you’re probably not too concerned with saving cash at the pumps, and if you really wanted to be green, you’d buy a loaded Prius and pocket the extra $40,000. Still, for the handful of high-powered executives who don’t care about power (Do I see one standing in the back? No? Okay.), the 740 offers pretty much all the luxury features of its pricier brethren for a nice discount.
Buick Regal GS Concept
From the land of seemingly oxymoronical concepts comes this high-performance Buick. Okay, “high-performance” is a bit of an exaggeration – the all-wheel-drive GS runs with a turbocharged 2.0 liter four-cylinder making 260 horsepower, a mere 40 more than the current top-of-the-line Regal. But the GS has a six-speed stick shift! I don’t think there’s been a manual Buick since Clint Eastwood was a sex symbol.
Buick promises the GS achieves 60 in less than 6 seconds, which probably means 5.9. What they haven’t promised is a production version; however, it seems pretty likely, as it would give Buick a strong card to play against Acura and Lexus. Buick has made impressive strides in the last few years in making their cars more attractive and elevating their quality towards the levels of other luxury makes; adding high(er) performance models would be a logical next step. It’s probably safe to expect the GS in the showrooms by spring 2011.
2011 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe
It wasn’t long ago that the idea of a high-performance Caddy would have seemed just as paradoxical as a fun-to-drive Buick; however, since the first-generation CTS and the introduction of the V-Series line of kickass Caddies, the idea has managed to latch onto the car enthusiast population like an alien face-hugger.
U.S.A.! U.S.A.! U.S.A.!
And the new CTS-V Coupe is probably the sweetest Cadillac yet.
Everything you love about the regular CTS-V, just in a sleeker two-door package. Same 556 horsepower supercharged V8, same choice of six-speed stick or auto – just two fewer doors. Sure, there’s less room in the back, but come on – how often do you use those rear doors anyway? Besides, chicks dig coupes. Just ask Batman.
Pricing will probably be a few grand more than the CTS-V sedan, so figure a base one will set you back around $67,000 when they land in showrooms this summer – a few grand more than its main competitor, the BMW M3. But the Caddy has 142 more horses. And, like George Thorogood, it’s American Made. So give it a little love.
Cadillac XTS Platinum Concept
The last ten years or so have been lean times for folks interested in full-sized American luxury cars. Mafia dons, Fortune 500 executives, and your Grandpa Larry have watched with sadness as their beloved Town Cars, Park Avenues and DeVilles drifted off into the ether, leaving them with a difficult choice – buy European (I ain’t buying no Nazi car!), downsize (I don’t feel safe in this thing!) or move into a luxury mega-SUV (I can’t see my grandson behind me in the driveway!).
Luckily, it looks like CEOs and coots alike will be able to breathe a sigh of relief soon. While technically a concept, the XTS is likely a very strong indicator of Cadillac’s upcoming full-sized sedan, slated to replace the STS and the DTS – both of which, remarkably, are still available at your local Caddy dealership.
In concept form, the XTS is powered by Cadillac’s 3.6 liter V6 direct injection V6 coupled to a plug-in hybrid system; combined, the car puts out 350 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed auto. It’s unclear from the press release how the electric and gasoline powertrains interact exactly, but we’d bet both can be used to drive the wheels – unlike the Chevy Volt, where the gas engine is used simply as a generator for the batteries and electric motor.
Hopefully, any production version of the XTS won’t differ significantly from the show car’s sleek lines, which (in our eyes) meld the CTS with the Mercedes-Benz S-class. Plan on a choice of V6 and V8 powerplants upon launch, with a hybrid option soon afterwards. As for when it lands in dealerships – summer or fall 2011 seems like a safe bet.
And on a side note, GM’s vice-chairman and Main Car Bro Bob Lutz announced Cadillac will indeed be producing its own version of the Chevrolet Volt, based on the Converj. It won’t be hitting the streets until sometime after 2012 (assuming we’re still alive by then! DUM DE DUM!), and will probably be pretty faithful to the concept – two doors and edgy styling over the Volt’s four doors and slightly bland looks. And it’ll probably cost more than $50,000. But I’d still buy one.
Mmm...eco-friendly.
Chevrolet Aveo RS Concept
Like the looks of this Aveo RS? Then you’ll probably like the regular Aveo when it hits the ground next year. Just strip off the spoilers, the ground effects, and throw on some more conventional headlamps. With its sights locked squarely on the Honda Fit, the Aveo will take the bottom rung in Chevy’s lineup.
The concept has a turbocharged 1.4 liter inline four-cylinder engine under the hood pumping out 138 horsepower, and routing it to the front wheels through a six-speed manual. If they’re smart, Chevy will actually produce a high-performance version of the Aveo; we’ve been wishing Honda would do a Fit Si for years, and if the Chevy is anywhere near as fun to drive as the Fit, they could sell a boatload. Hell, we’d probably buy one.
2012 Ford Focus
Not to be outdone in the small-car department by their arch-foes at GM, Ford unveiled the next-generation Focus in Detroit – and as Peter Griffin would say, it seems freakin’ sweet. For the first time, the Focus sold here in the States will be nearly identical to the version sold in Europe, which should mean European-style (i.e. better) handling and materials when it lands here early next year.
Equipped with a 2.0 liter inline four-cylinder making 155 horsepower and 145 lb-ft of torque, the Focus comes with your choice of six-speed transmissions – manual or “dry-clutch automatic,” which is just a fancy term for the sort of dual-clutch gearbox found in everything from the Ferrari 458 Italia to the Volkswagen Golf. Ford also announced a electric-powered version, which should be coming our way in later 2011.
Coming in both five-door hatchback and four-door sedan forms, the new Focus boasts a bevy of cool features most people probably wouldn’t expect on a compact car, from an assisted parallel-parking system (complete with rearview camera) and an eight-inch dash-mounted touch screen. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but expect it to be pretty much in line with its competitors – the Honda Civic, Toyota Corolla, Nissan Sentra, and upcoming Chevy Cruze.
2011 Ford Mustang GT
Hot on the heels of upgrading the V6-powered Mustang to 315 horsepower, Ford is throwing a new 5.0 liter V8 under the hood of the ‘Stang GT, bumping power up to 412 horses. While still down a few ponies to the Camaro SS and Challenger SRT8, the revised ‘Stang should be lighter than its fellow muscle cars, giving it an edge in the curves (and probably on the straights too).
Pricing is still unknown, but since the installation of the new V6 didn’t jack up the base Mustang’s price very much, expect to pay around the same amount for the 5.0 as the old 4.6 liter V8. (Anal-retentives, please not the emphasis placed on the word around. There, did it once more just to ensure you understood.)
GMC Granite Concept
As the first American entrant into the “funky box”category of small cars pioneered here by the Scion xB, the Granite raises the style bar a few notches higher. Up ’til now, the small boxes like the xB, Kia Soul and Nissan Cube had convenience in spades, but good looks weren’t part of the deal.
But the Granite manages to make boxy look badass. Running the same engine as the Aveo RS Concept in a more utilitarian package, performance isn’t really the name of the game here – 138 horses is adequate, nothing more, nothing less.
However, GMC insisted on extolling the Granite as a “flexible, functional social space…equally at home at the cabin or the club.” News flash, PR flaks – any place with more than one person is a social space.
2011 Honda CR-Z
Though we’ve already seen it in leaked brochure photos, it was nice to finally see Honda’s new sporty hybrid coupe in the metal for the first time at the show. Looking pretty much like what you’d expect the Insight to be had it remained a coupe, the tiny Honda promises to be a pretty fun drive.
While we're not entirely sure this image isn't a computer graphic, rest assured, the real CR-Z is probably solid.
With a 1.5 liter inline four under the hood connected to Honda’s “Integrated Motor Assist” hybrid bits, the CR-Z (the “Crazy?”) puts down 122 horsepower and either 128 or 123 lb-ft of torque, depending on whether you choose the six-speed manual or the CVT. (The manual has the higher torque figure, because manuals are awesome that way.) Fuel economy is estimated at 31 mpg city/37 mpg highway for the stick, and 36/38 mpg for the CVT – so if you do a lot of city driving, it might be worth it to go auto. Maybe.
The CRaZy will go on sale here in the latter part of 2010, in two forms – base and EX. The base model will hardly be a stripper, as it will reportedly feature a six-speaker CD/USB stereo, automatic climate control, stability control, power everything, keyless entry and cruise control. Should you feel compelled to move to the EX, you’ll add a 360-watt seven-speaker stereo, xenon headlights, and Bluetooth, among other features. The base sounds pretty good to us, honestly. No details on price yet, but our fingers are crossed for the base model to land under $20,000.
2012 (?) Mercedes-Benz CLS
Sadly, the next-generation of Mercedes’s four-door “coupe” wasn’t really at the show. However, M-B did have a model showing off the basic shape of the new CLS. From the looks of it, it seems Mercedes was trying to replicate the shape of the car under a sheet; however, the guys at egmCarTech thought it looked more like Robert Patrick’s liquid-metal T-1000 oozing into the shape of a car, and quite frankly, we have to agree. But if the car is as pretty as the display implies, it won’t need to shape-shift to snare people’s attention.
Image courtesy Omar Rana - egmCarTech
Mini Beachcomber Concept
Do you miss the Mini Moke? (Hell, do you even know what the Mini Moke is?) Well, for those of you with a fondness for the old pseudo-off-roader still found carving up beaches on St. Barts, Mini has just the car for you.
Well, you can’t actually buy the Beachcomber. It’s more of a concept version of Mini’s upcoming small SUV, which will probably be called the “Countryman.” (We’re still pulling for the “Countrymouse,” but only if they rename the Cooper the “Citymouse.”) When the actual Mini-SUV hits the dirt roads, don’t expect to see the Beachcomber’s removable doors or spare-tire-like “backpack;” do expect the elevated ride-height, knobbier tires and available all-wheel-drive. Hopefully we’ll be seeing the production version sometime this year.
Volkswagen New Compact Coupe Hybrid Concept
No, we didn’t add the “new” to the name – Volkswagen did. Frankly, we’re not sure why, since so far as we remember, there wasn’t an Old Compact Coupe Hybrid Concept. But whatever they call it, we’re grateful, because the NCCHC promises to be a pretty sweet little ride.
Coming across like a Honda CR-Z Plus, the NCCHC packs a 1.5 liter turbocharged and supercharged inline four connected to enough hybrid pieces to provide a combined 177 horsepower and 45 miles per gallon. I believe the technical term for that is “win/win.”
While the car may be called a concept, it looks pretty damn production ready to us. Of course, VW’s thrown us curveballs before – remember the Nardo supercar concept? – but there’s a world of difference between producing a quarter-million-dollar supercar and an inexpensive hybrid sports car. Hell, just ask Honda – who canned the new NSX most of the way through its production cycle. Luckily, rumor has it the NCCHC will be heading stateside as a coupe version of the new Jetta – hopefully with hybrid powertrain intact.
All in all, it wasn’t a huge year for the Detroit show. No show-stopping concepts, no earth-shaking revelations – just a whole bunch of pretty exciting new cars. And to be frank, we’re okay with that. Given the last couple years in the automotive world, a little piece and quiet seems rather nice, doesn’t it?
When my sister-in-law rushed my brother Grant to the hospital in October of 2008, he had trouble catching enough breath to even make it to the car. I arrived at the hospital shortly after to find him already intubated and in intensive care. A mechanical machine was breathing for him, and his lungs were filled with a horrible pink fluid. He died just a few hours later.
The official autopsy referred to a Strep A infection that overwhelmed all the organs of his body; however, questions about Swine Flu have recently surfaced, his symptoms being eerily similar. Regardless of the cause, though, I have experienced what the families of 35 million Americans are at risk for as they battle chronic lung diseases.
It has been a little over a year since my brother passed, and my family is still reeling from his loss, but I am finding I can now at least write about it, especially if it can serve a good purpose. So, when I heard about the American Lung Association of Florida’s Cars for the Cure event, I knew I had to be involved.
Cars for the Cure is described as the biggest charitable car show in the Southeastern United States, showcasing 200 cars and drawing 20,000 spectators. Rob Hodgson, CEO of Granny Nannies, a home health care agency headquartered in Longwood, Florida came up with the idea for the charity car show after a co-worker died from lung disease. “It’s free, it’s fun, and it’s a great way to give back,” Hodgson explained.
Sunil Prakash of Classic Audi , the auto show’s presenting sponsor for the third consecutive year, agrees with Hodgson: “People return to this show because of its superior location, superior cars, and a superior cause.”
The American Lung Association of Florida itself is quite impressive, being the state’s leader in working to prevent lung disease and promoting lung health. After researching the association, I knew this was an organization I wanted the Top 5 to support.
This year’s show (6th Annual) will be on February 6 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Colonial TownPark in Lake Mary. I will be there with my family, enjoying the display of incredible cars, ranging from vintage to luxury. I will also have my brother’s memory close to my heart that day.
Shortly after my brother’s passing, I discovered this song by James Blunt. I found comfort in it. If you are dealing with such an issue in your life, hopefully you will find some small measure of comfort, too.
I try to make going to the gym part of my lifestyle. About fifteen years ago, I had a super athlete friend tell me that it was like eating. That is, he had to do it everyday. Eventually, that’s the concept I remember everyday. I try to workout everyday, but in the end I only get to the gym about four to six times a week. However, everyday is my goal. I’m not quite fit yet because of my questionable eating habits. I am working on finding an insight for that though so I can rediscover the willpower inside of me to eat even more healthy, and the right portions.
This brings me to a fellow I met at the gym who seemed to embody the idea of whole working out and eating right. I don’t see very many fit people at this age, but he’s got the mindset. We’ve become gym friends over the past year, and it turns out he is also a model for commercial work in need of photographs. We grabbed a couple of bikes and golf clubs and headed out to the Santa Monica Mountains with Rick on a Sunday afternoon. Here are the photos (see “Rick” link below):
Rick Photos January 10, 2010 – Santa Monica Mountains
Audis will be crashing everywhere this year as Google and Intel develop technology to transform car dashboards into smartphones. Along with GPS and 3-D maps, the 10-inch screens will include web pages, HD video, and other accident-inducing distractions.
I can only imagine how many people will be driving while watching porn. You can even plug in your keyboard with this thing. Technology experts and car safety advocates are criticizing the “infotainment systems” for increasing the risk of car accidents, some say exponentially.
To cover their backs, the Audi system includes a pop-up warning saying, “Please only use the online services when traffic conditions allow you to do so safely.” In spite of the disclaimer that their system will restrict certain functions while the car is in motion, you’ll still be able to view restaurant reviews, search engines, and photos.
The user’s safety will depend on their common sense and general intelligence, and knowing how stupid people are, I don’t think this will turn out well. So sit back and relax as the car wrecks and lawsuits abound! : )
2011 Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet vs 2010 Audi A5 Cabriolet
Coupes/Convertibles
www.autorivals.net
The recently redesigned Mercedes-Benz E-Class will expand its line-up further for the 2011 model year with the introduction of the E-Class Cabriolet. The competition is relatively small with the greatest rival coming from Audi with its A5 Cabriolet. Both bring a high level of luxury, refinement, and of course, design.
