Hottest Colors For Cars

In the auto manufacturing palette, silver continues its dominance. According to surveys, about 20% of all 2006 vehicles were silver. This year is the 7th consecutive that the color has taken the top spot.There’s good reason for that, says Chris Webb, the exterior color and trend designer for General Motors North America. “There’s no question that silver on a vehicle looks incredible,” he says. “When the light hits it and refracts, it shows off the vehicle’s architectural form beautifully.”

Silver got a bump in the late 1990s as a result of a growing interest in technology, the future and Y2K, says Karen Surcina, color marketing and technology manager at DuPont. “Metallic finishes, whether on cars, cell phones or stainless steel kitchens, really took off,” she says. “And now that it’s stayed a top color for so long, it’s become a safe color.”Still, there are signs that silver’s popularity has peaked. “Silver is a cold color, and people are beginning to look for more warm and inviting surroundings,” says Teresa Wong, a color designer at Mitsubishi Motors. “Silver isn’t going to go away, but it might be declining.”

White, gray and black take the second, third and fourth spots on the list, respectively. While the colors may be popular, they don’t necessarily represent what buyers actually want, says Barb Parker, a color designer for JDSU Flex Products. “In the United States, most cars are bought off the lot,” she says. “Dealers pick gray and silver and black because they’re safe.”

“A lot of vehicles go into the rental car fleets, if you look around at rental cars, you’ll see that they’re silver or other neutral colors,” says Parker.

But shoppers are realizing the advantage of brighter, bolder colors on their vehicles. “People are willing to go further with color,” says Webb. “Lifestyles are becoming about extremes now — for example, we’re seeing a lot of extreme reality TV shows — and the same thing is happening to color.”

While color trends may suggest what’s popular for many, Parker recommends buying a color that you love, not one that everyone else does. “Don’t just buy whatever’s on the lot,” she says. “Order the color you want, because you’re going to look at it every day for years. Let it express who you are.”

Color Popularity Survey
The numbers reflect the percentage of vehicles manufactured during the 2006 model year in North America, as compiled by DuPont.

No. Color %
1. Silver 19
2. White 16
3. Gray 13
4. Black 13
5. Blue 11
6. Red 11
7. Light Brown 7
8. Green 4
9. White Pearl 3
10. Yellow/Gold 3

credit: Bankrate.com

Buying Supercar For Less

You can actually drop 6 figures or more on buying a new supercar! Would you believe it?

But you need not spend that much just to acquire a supercar. Some supercars cost more than a million we know that. However, you need not shell out a million to make your car look like a million!

Some cars really do cost more than $1 million, but you don’t have to spend a million to look like a million.One way to avoid ultra-expensive car is to purchase an entry-level car built by a dependable automaker. Take Porsche Boxter. The legendary Porsche performance is in it. The styling is unmistakably Porsche’s.
As a fact, Porsches of today are not far from their counterparts from the yesteryears. Even if the mechanical components and interiors have changed, we can’t deny the distinctive aura and performance of Porsches.

Another strategy is to purchase a used car from supercar manufacturers. “We call this ‘look rich for cheap,’” jokes Keith Martin, publisher of Sports Car Market.

Sports Car Market, based in Portland, Ore., publishes pricing guides and shopping advice for car collectors. One of the company’s most widely used products is a database of auction results for collector cars, ranging from a 1962 Ferrari 330 priced at $9.3 million in May to a 1972 Ford Mustang for $5,599.

“We tell people to buy the best example you can, within your budget,” says Martin. “Buy the best Jaguar XJ6 you can for $30,000, and not a mediocre Rolls-Royce that’s got a few dings and dents in it, and it’s all chewed up. Because if you start out already having to explain to people what a good deal it was, then you already look like a loser, right?”

Another reason to buy used is that few things depreciate as fast as a new car. The average new car depreciates 40% the instant you drive it off the lot, or 55% at the end of three years, said Automotive Lease Guide in Santa Barbara, Calif.

“That’s a pretty good motivation to look at collector cars,” says Jack Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book. Nerad’s personal favorite is a 1962 Corvette he’s had for many years. “I can be pretty sure that any money I put into it, I’ll get it back when I sell it, and maybe more. There are people who have done a lot better [investing in] cars than they have in similar attempts in the stock market.”

Kit cars offer a third way to step up to supercar looks without breaking the bank. Kit cars have an unsavory reputation in the auto industry, thanks to companies like the one that grafted fake Rolls-Royce grilles onto old Volkswagen Beetles, for the reverse snob appeal.

Martin says the best advice for the casual collector who does not intend to spend a lot of money on restoration is to buy the best car that you can afford and that you love, and then drive it, instead of merely hanging onto it: “At least that way, you’ve enjoyed it for a few years.”

Credit: BusinessWeek

Car Shoppers Spend Less This Holiday

Are you done with your last-minute holiday shopping? Me, I’m just starting with my holiday rush. I sure find a lot of stores jammed with shoppers. Yeah, we shop a lot. But a survey defies my observation…

According to a recent Kelly Blue Book marketing research, shoppers spend less this holiday season because of high gasoline prices. They tend to spend less on self so as to spend more on other stuffs, the research continued.

The December 2007 results found that 44% of in-market new-vehicle shoppers are looking at cars they normally would not have considered due to the pain at the pump. An example of this is a notable shift in vehicle segment consideration from just a couple of months earlier, with increased interest in less expensive and more fuel-efficient transportation including crossovers, sedans and hatchbacks, and declines in sport utility vehicle interest, Auto Spectator reported.

With a gallon of unleaded gasoline presently hanging at over $3 in most parts of the United States, 67% of those in the market for a new vehicle indicate they will not spend less on holiday gifts this year due to the rising cost of gas. However, more than 40% of consumers do say they are eating out less often and nearly 50% of consumers say they are doing less shopping of non-essential retail items such as clothes and shoes; further examples of consumers cutting back on self-spending. According to new-car shoppers, the largest shift in personal spending includes delaying the purchase of a new home, which more than doubled from October to December, the report continued.

“While gas prices are clearly influencing the way consumers plan to spend money on themselves, such as going out to eat and delaying the purchase of a new home, it appears most people will not let the price of gas affect their holiday spirit and giving to others,” said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and executive market analyst for KBB. “Based on our monthly study, shoppers are willing to sacrifice in order to still give to others, and it even extends to their next new-vehicle purchase. We are seeing more and more new-vehicle shoppers looking at smaller and more fuel-efficient cars than in the past.”

Asked how gas prices have affected which vehicles they are considering, more than half of shoppers said they would seriously consider a vehicle with higher fuel efficiency if gas prices were to increase as little as 50 cents per gallon. Among those looking to buy a new hybrid vehicle, shoppers say they are most interested in the Toyota Camry hybrid and the Honda Civic hybrid.

“Determining how gas prices affect consumer shopping provides tremendous insight into shifts in the economy, and tracking their opinions of alternative fuel solutions sheds light on the possible adoption and acceptance rates of alternate fuel systems in the future,” said Rick Wainschel, vice president of marketing research and brand communications for KBB.

“Timely, in-market vehicle shopper feedback can provide invaluable information to automotive manufacturers and marketers, allowing them to tailor their messages and strategies more toward what car shoppers actually think and how they plan to spend their money,” he added.

To learn more about the study, visit http://www.kbb.com.

Top Cars This 2008

The US’ famous magazine U.S. News & World Report just recently released the 2008 rankings of the best cars and trucks in 11 different classes. Among all the cars in the US, Honda was the able to get five of the categories presented. Three other categories were won by Japanese car makers as well. Here are the winners of the “The Top Cars This 2008”:

• Best Economy Car: Honda Fit
• Best Midsize Car: Honda Accord
• Best Upscale Small Car: Volkswagen GTI
• Best Upscale Midsize Car: BMW 3-Series
• Best Luxury Car: BMW 5-Series
• Best Compact SUV: Honda CR-V
• Best Midsize SUV: Honda Pilot
• Best Large SUV: Chevrolet Tahoe
• Best Luxury Midsize SUV: Lexus RX 350
• Best Full Size Pickup: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Best Affordable Sports Car: Honda S2000, Mazda MX-5, Mazda Speed3 (three-way tie)

Lists similar to this one are always open for debate for many seem to have been created simply to spark arguments. Still, a list like this, assembled by a more respectable news source, seems a tad more reliable than an award from J.D. Power and Associates.

This time, U.S. News & World Report did not use their editorial staff to determine which cars would take home awards. They asked some experts to choose which cars are fit to win each category. These experts thoughts on different vehicles, their safety, and reliability are all considered, and were used to rank the vehicles.

• Economy Cars: Honda Fit
• Midsize Cars: Honda Accord
• Upscale Small Cars: Volkswagen GTI
• Upscale Midsize Cars: BMW 3-Series
• Luxury Cars: BMW 5-Series
• Compact SUVs: Honda CR-V
• Midsize SUVs: Honda Pilot
• Large SUVs: Chevrolet Tahoe
• Luxury Midsize SUVs: Lexus RX 350
• Full Size Pickups: Chevrolet Silverado 1500
• Affordable Sports Cars: Mazda MX-5, Honda S2000, Mazda Speed3 (tied)

What Will New LRX Concept Look Like?

Well, wait until the North American International Auto Show opens as Land Rover will reveal the most gorgeous and the most thrilling car concept to show up in 2008. I am certainly talking about the Land Rover LRX Concept which will be debuting at the Detroit Auto Show also known as NAIAS.

Phil Popham, Land Rover’s managing director, said, “The LRX concept delivers the powerful message that we are as serious about sustainability as we are confident about the continuing relevance and desirability of our vehicles. LRX is in every respect a Land Rover, but it’s a very different Land Rover.”

Land Rover shall reveal a slightly retuned LRX which crosses between a coupe and a cross over vehicle. The new LRX will be smaller and converted into a premium car. For those who are into 4×4s, this one is for you.

“LRX has unmistakable Land Rover design and the breadth of capability that you’d expect from our vehicles. But it carries those essentials into a segment where the brand has never been before, and with a proposed level of efficiency that would make it one of the cleanest vehicles in its class,” Popham commented.

He continued, “It is Land Rover’s way of affirming the brand’s responsible approach to future product development. At this stage, LRX is purely a concept, designed to help us develop our thinking as well as gauge customer reaction – but this feels like a hugely exciting direction to take.”

Excited about the new Land Rover LRX car concept? Well, we all have to wait for the NAIAS to open. As of now, let’s enjoy looking at some its pictures on the net.

Volkswagen Offers New Winter Care!

Great news for all Volkswagen owners! To keep your vehicle functioning accordingly and help maintain your van’s working order this cold season, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles is offering two suitable and good quality value service offers. It’s the Express Visual Check and a Warm-up package! These services are accessible from any of Volkswagen’s national network of committed Van Centres and authorized repairers.

Warm-Up Package

Volkswagen’s new Warm-Up package will be available from January until the end of April and for a fixed price of £39.99, it includes the following:

• Express Visual Check
• top up of oil and fluids
• Winter care kit (including de-icer and scraper)
• Battery condition check
• Wash and vac
• One litre Castrol oil and ‘check it kit’
• 10 per cent discount voucher against any service or parts purchase
• 10 per cent discount voucher against any accessory purchase
• Entry into a prize draw to win £1,500 to spend at their Volkswagen Van Centre

Five Stars For Seven Chrysler Vehicles

It seems as if Chrysler is slowly regaining its reputation in the auto industry for delivering quality vehicles. The past months have not been good for the automaker as sales continue to slide. But recently, it seems as if Chrysler has found its groove.

The revived Dodge SRT8 is drawing a lot of attention that the automaker is reportedly increasing production of the limited coupe just to meet the demand. And apart from that, The Auto Channel reported that five 2008 model year Chrysler vehicles have received five stars in crash tests conducted by government agencies.

According to the report: “The 2008 Jeep Liberty, 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee, 2008 Dodge Nitro, 2008 Dodge Caliber, 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, 2008 Chrysler Pacifica and the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country received the U. S. government’s highest safety ratings for frontal and side-impact crash protection from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.”

Obviously, Chrysler is very proud of their achievement. Frank Klegon, executive vice president for product development at Chrysler said: “Through a broad range of engineering technologies, Chrysler is offering its customers the safety they expect and deserve. Both passive and active safety systems enhance the inherent stability and safety we design into all of our Chrysler, Jeep and Dodge vehicles.”

Earlier this year, Daimler let Chrysler go as the American brand saw sales sliding and market share slipping. After the sale of Chrysler to Cerberus, it has taken drastic measures to make sure that its turnaround plan will work. That includes poaching Jim Press from Toyota and cutting non-productive models. Hopefully for the Detroit automaker, the five star safety rating given to its vehicles by the NHTSA is enough to bring back consumers to Chrysler dealerships.

Marc J. Rauch Says Something About Leno Speaking For The Hydrogen 7

Marc J. Rauch, the Exec. Vice President & Co-Publisher of The Auto Channel, speaks for Leno talking about the Hydrogen 7 on a certain video on the net. He said, “But we have, and in short, it’s this: Internal combustion engines are still the way to go, but not gasoline or diesel-powered.”

He also said, “For the near-term, car companies should be building compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles (mandated by legislation, if necessary). Currently, of all the large car makers, only Honda is producing CNG cars (Civic) in the U.S. CNG is in plentiful supply, right here and right now in America; it’s cheaper than gasoline and provides more power per gallon than gasoline (corn ethanol, by comparison, produces less power per gallon than gasoline); and it doesn’t cause the air pollution problems that gasoline or diesel do. CNG distribution should be mandated immediately. Every filling station should be required to have at least one CNG pump. States like California had no trouble forcing oil companies and gas stations to produce and sell that poison MTBE gasoline, so they owe us, the public, to do something correct. This would be a good first effort.”

Moreover, he also pointed out the importance of the new hydrogen system in the car market. He stated, “Also, for the near, but more important longer-term, we believe, like Jay Leno, that the hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine is the ultimate solution. Hydrogen-powered internal combustion engine technology is here, right now – BMW has proven this. As compared to hydrogen fuel-cell engines or stored-electric engines, it doesn’t have to wait for battery technology to improve to give us the driving characteristics that we are used to (speed and driving range). And, like hydrogen fuel-cell engines, the internal combustion hydrogen engine does not pollute. The base ingredient is water, and the end result is water.”

He closes the letter saying, “We’ve yet to hear good, rational reasons why the hydrogen fuel-cell alternative is better than hydrogen internal combustion. If you know of any, please share it with us and our audience.”

Jay Leno had a video that speaks of the Hydrogen 7. He is only one among the fellow celebrities who support the first ever hydrogen luxury car. The video was also posted on The Auto Channel’s official website.

White/Pearl White Most Popular Car Color in North America

I was never surprised to read about this early this morning because personally I would definitely choose a white exterior over any colors.

Silver spent seven straight years being the most popular car paint and now it’s the time for white cars to shine. North American car drivers now choose white or pearl white color instead of any color in the US car market.

“It follows a global trend in home furnishings, fashion, consumer products and industrial design where we’re seeing a return to white as a clarifying agent for change, a color of purity and minimalism,” the executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and author of “Color: Messages and Meanings” said in press release issued by DuPont Leatrice Eiseman said.

Most popular colors for new cars in North America:
1. White/white pearl: 19 percent
2. Silver: 18 percent
3. Black/black effect: 16 percent
4. Red: 13 percent
5. Gray: 12 percent
6. Blue: 12 percent
7. Beige/brown: 5 percent
8. Yellow/gold: 3 percent
9. Green: 2 percent
10. All others: less than 1 percent

Personally, I’d like to choose the color white for safety reasons. I have experienced driving with my black car years back and I had to do lots of changes after getting hit in a parking lot or after getting bumped because it was not seen on the dark road.