Luxury SUV Shoppers Want Comfort and Performance, While Non-Luxury SUV Considerers Look for Fuel Efficiency and Reliability

Kelley Blue Book (www.kbb.com) and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research’s latest report series, Brand Watch, which reveals key decision factors among consumers in the purchase consideration process, shows the two most important factors of luxury SUV shoppers are driving comfort and driving performance, whereas the non-luxury SUV shopper considers fuel efficiency and durability/reliability the two most important factors in considering an SUV. Falling in the middle of the top five consideration factors for both of these groups is safety. Among luxury SUV shoppers Lexus ranked No. 1 for driving comfort, their top consideration factor. Among non-luxury SUV considerers, Toyota ranked No. 1 for fuel efficiency, durability/reliability and safety, the segment’s top three consideration factors.

Brand Watch asked both luxury and non-luxury SUV intenders their opinions and perceptions regarding up to 17 different attributes associated specifically with SUVs. New-vehicle shoppers were asked to not only rank these attributes in importance, but to also rate each manufacturer on those important factors. The price-point difference between luxury and non-luxury SUV considerers leads the top five attributes among these two consideration groups to be nearly opposites.

Shoppers who can afford a luxury vehicle can also afford gas at $3.50 a gallon and are much more concerned with driving performance and driving comfort than fuel efficiency and reliability. Those concerned with fuel efficiency and reliability are much more cost-conscious overall and less likely to consider a luxury vehicle.

In the luxury SUV shoppers group, GMC’s luxury Denali line topped the rankings for seating-capacity, towing and being family-friendly, but tied for last place with Saab among considerers when it comes to prestige and brand status. In the prestige and brand status category, consumers ranked Mercedes-Benz at the top. For brand cachet and perception among consumers, HUMMER and Cadillac came in close behind Mercedes-Benz among luxury SUV shoppers. And while Hummer placed high for brand and prestige, the military-style vehicle ranked last for luxuriousness and sophistication, where again Mercedes-Benz garnered the top slot.

Perceptions of vehicle brands in the non-luxury shopping group placed Toyota and Honda high for the majority of attribute categories including comfort, reliability and safety, but when it comes to stylishness, layout/design and versatility/flexibility, non-luxury SUV intenders rate Ford highest for those attributes.

In-market shoppers’ make/model choices are clearly influenced by brand perceptions and brand-level campaigns. It appears that the branding campaigns executed by some of the domestic luxury SUV brands are paying off.

Available to vehicle manufacturers and auto industry professionals, Brand Watch taps into more than 12,000 active and in-market shoppers annually to determine their perception of vehicle makes within specific automotive segments. Brand Watch further delves into how each manufacturer’s brand equity differs across vehicle segments, compares the relative standing of each make vs. competitive makes, and the decision factors of shoppers within each make and segment. Detailed demographic and psychographic information is also collected, reported and detailed throughout Brand Watch’s comprehensive study available quarterly from Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research.

Week of High Profile LoJack Recoveries Underscores System’s Benefits to Society

LoJack System Recovers Assets and Helps Police Crack Major Organized Crime Rings, Get Violent Criminals Off our Streets

WESTWOOD, Mass. — In the past week, LoJack Corporation’s (NASDAQ:LOJN) Stolen Vehicle Recovery System has been instrumental in helping police arrest criminals involved in carjacking, kidnapping and other criminal activities and has again led police to major organized crime rings. The events of the past week underscore LoJack’s effectiveness in recovering stolen mobile assets, and in helping police to apprehend the violent criminals behind these and other more serious crimes.

These recent recoveries are ideal examples of how our time-tested System continues to benefit society - recovery after recovery - by helping police not only track and recover stolen assets, but also to arrest the thieves behind these crimes. These recoveries highlight the unmatched effectiveness of our Radio Frequency technology, which for example, enabled police to quickly track and recover a stolen motorcycle housed in a metal building. They also continue to validate the importance of LoJack’s direct integration with law enforcement who use our tracking computers to pinpoint the location of stolen assets.

About the Recoveries:

Recovery Involves Carjacking, Kidnapping, Robbery, Sexual Assault

In this California recovery, a couple was carjacked, kidnapped, robbed and the female was sexually assaulted. The couple, who each had a vehicle at the scene, was sitting in one of their cars when two suspects approached the vehicle, robbed the male of his wallet and keys, and stole both the car they were in and their second vehicle. The suspects sexually assaulted the female and dumped the victims on the shoulder of a freeway. The victims flagged down a car, called 911 and reported the crime. Police activated the LoJack unit in one of the stolen vehicles, which led California Highway Patrol flying in a fixed-wing aircraft to locate it. Police arrested two suspects and are currently pursuing three others. The second stolen vehicle was also recovered by authorities.

Police Bust Major Chop Shop Involving Construction Equipment, Cars, Trucks, Motorcycles

On March 6, Washington State Police uncovered the second of two related major chop shops, recovering more than $300,000 in stolen construction equipment, trucks, cars and motorcycles. The investigation began when a LoJack-equipped dump truck was reported stolen and tracked and recovered by police in less than four hours after activation. Police discovered the first chop shop at a Battle Ground, WA location and, during the investigation, identified another suspicious location in Ridgefield, WA, which was found to be a second chop shop. Two suspects were arrested and the investigation continues.

Police Discover Motorcycle Chop Shop by Recovering Bike in Metal Building

In this recovery, a stolen LoJack-equipped 2006 Yamaha motorcycle was recovered by Fort Worth, TX police in an industrial park. The LoJack System’s proprietary Radio Frequency technology was able to penetrate the metal building and led police to the stolen motorcycle within an hour and 12 minutes after activation. Upon securing a search warrant, police entered the premise, recovered the stolen bike and also discovered a Suzuki and Kawasaki that had been stolen earlier in the day. Three suspects were arrested.

LoJack-Equipped Vehicle Leads Police to Suspect with Violent Past; Two Massachusetts Schools Forced into Lockdown

In this recovery, a Massachusetts State Trooper began tracking the LoJack signal from a vehicle, which had been stolen about an hour earlier in Boston. The police gave chase, and the suspect abandoned the vehicle and ran on foot to the Marshfield Middle School. The Marshfield Middle School and High School were immediately put into lockdown by alert staff. The Marshfield Police Department arrived on the scene, while the suspect attempted to open a number of locked doors to the middle school. The suspect, who according to local authorities had a “long record of violent acts,” was subsequently arrested at the high school.

Move to Daylight Savings Time Increases Risk of Drowsy Driving

More than a third of drivers admit to falling asleep at wheel; National Road Safety Foundation offers tips to stay awake on the road

NEW YORK — As clocks spring ahead for the start of daylight savings time this weekend, roads and highways throughout the nation become a bit more dangerous, according to the National Road Safety Foundation, Inc., a non-profit group that provides free driver safety programs for schools and other organizations.

The change throws off our internal clock, and it can take as long as two weeks for our bodies to adjust.

Drowsiness is a condition most drivers fail to recognize, and it can be as dangerous as drinking and driving. Studies show 60 percent of us have driven while feeling fatigued, and more than a third admit to having fallen asleep at the wheel in the past year. Drowsiness is a factor in a substantial number of traffic crashes.

Experts list several signs that should warn a driver to stop and rest:

— Difficulty focusing, with frequent blinking
— Daydreaming or not remembering the last few miles driven
— Head nodding
— Repeated yawning or rubbing eyes
— Drifting out of your lane, tailgating or hitting shoulder rumble strips

If you experience any of these warning signs, pull over at the next exit or a safe rest area and take a break or a 20-minute nap. Have a cup or two of coffee or caffeinated snacks and allow 30 minutes for the caffeine to enter your bloodstream. Don’t drink alcohol or take medication.

Sleep-induced crashes are often very serious, since the driver does not take evasive or corrective action as the vehicle loses control.

Over the past 40 years, the National Road Safety Foundation has produced films and teaching materials that have been used to train millions of young drivers about the dangers of drinking and driving, speeding and aggressive driving. The Foundation’s newest program, “Almost Home,” deals with drowsy driving. For information on “Almost Home” and other free driver education programs, call 1-800-SAFEPATH or visit www.nationalroadsafety.org.

Well, I’m sure this won’t help SUVs get a better name, as it smacks of self-servitude in a big way. Still, there is a point in this info - mainly, that most of today’s cars lack the good to tow even modest amounts of cargo.

This has, the group says, had an impact on lifestyle choices folks have had to make with impacts felt in other industries and sectors…

That’s all well and good. Give me a Jeep Commander with a diesel option and I’ll happily tow my home around - just because I could and it’s be affordable to do so. Until then, perhaps this group should get it’s act together and work on ways to get more than 11 mpg out of the rigs that can tow things…

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99% of Car Towing Capacity Lost Since 1970s

In addition to the towing guide on http://www.suvoa.com/, there are a number of web sites to help consumers make informed purchase decisions to meet their towing needs.

Excellent preview of the hottest Audi in…well, ever.

ORANGE, Calif., Jan. 19 /PRNewswire/ — The Action Pursuit Group (APG), an operating company of Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC, today announced the re- launch of www.driveonline.com, a fully interactive digital extension of APG’s Drive! magazine.

Established over 20 years ago in 1986, Drive! magazine is the nation’s most comprehensive resource for automotive events and is annually distributed to over 4,500 automotive specialty shops and stores and at over 400 events. Automobile enthusiasts who share a passion for rodding, racing, building, buying and restoring collector cars and trucks will find the newly remodeled website to be a resourceful and exciting extension of Drive! magazine.

Craig Nickerson, CEO of APG, said, “We are very excited about the re- launch of the Drive! website, which will enable us to better promote the magazine while serving the needs of automotive enthusiasts across all segments.” “The legacy site had been generating strong traffic for quite some time,” added Nickerson, “but we believe the enhancements to the new site will provide us and our advertising partners significant growth opportunities for years to come.”

For more information about the Action Pursuit Group, please contact Craig Nickerson at 714-939-9991 or craig.nickerson@apg-media.com.

The Action Pursuit Group

The Action Pursuit Group (APG) is an operating company of Apprise Enthusiast Media LLC. APG, which is based in Orange County, California, operates publications including Drag Racer, Drifting, Diesel World, Drive! and StreetTrucks in the automotive segment; Bow & Arrow Hunting, Gun World and Knives Illustrated in the outdoor sports segment; Victorian Homes, Cottages & Bungalows and Romantic Homes in the shelter segment; and Action Pursuit Games, Ultimate Grappling and Inside Kung-Fu in the action enthusiast segment. Apprise Enthusiast Media is a strategic platform of Apprise Media LLC (www.apprisemedia.com), a leading investor in niche media.

Source: The Action Pursuit Group

CONTACT: Joanne Lessner, MarketcomPR, +1-203-622-1353,
jlessner@marketcomPR.com

Web site: http://www.driveonline.com/

Just to be clear, a friend of mine originally wrote this review for his magazine - it’s good reading if you want to learn about the real-world on & off-road capabilities packed into the FJ Cruiser.

Sure, some things are hokey - WTF is with that gauge pod on the dash? How do you say, “Put down the bong” in Japanese? I mean, I know why I put one in my old Cherokee (lifted 4″, MTRs, armoured, etc.) and it was useful - but let’s be real - it looks like an after-thought in the FJ and an attempt to “grab some trail-cred”.

Haven’t seen that level of obvious “trying” since GM let loose the H3 and said IT was almost as capable off-road as the original H1 - still laughing at that.

That said, other than some styling WTFs, it appears this is another in the long line of very capable off-roaders from Toyota.

Legendary is a word that aptly describes the Toyota Land Cruiser. While not the oldest of the down-sized 4×4 brands, it is probably the most recognized worldwide. The Land Cruiser started life in 1951 as the BJ, though mass production of this model didn�t start until 1953. The BJ enjoyed a solid five-year run through the �50s. Its replacement in 1958 is the vehicle we�re all familiar with � the FJ Series, starting with the FJ 25. The venerable FJ40 is certainly one of the most long-lived designs of the Toyota 4×4 brand in its history, running for over 25 years. It is interesting to see the historical demand for the Land Cruiser brand. It took from 1958 to 1980 to sell the first 1 million Land Cruisers (22 years). In the span of the next 10 years they sold another 1 million Land Cruisers. Then from 1990 to 2003, a span of only 13 years, Toyota sold 2 million additional Land Cruisers! This matches the previous 32 years of production.

It�s no wonder then that Toyota would like to parlay its experience and tradition to come up with a truly modern, capable and affordable four-wheeler.

Read the full review at can4×4.com.

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Chrysler Group to Add Third Shift to Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant

Two New Shifts, Three New Vehicles for Illinois Plant

* Third shift adds approximately 1,000 new jobs in July
* New workplace organization fosters creativity, empowers assembly line operators
* New employees will add to the $188 million in annual wages in the state

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 10, 2006 -

The Chrysler Group today announced that manufacturing operations at its Belvidere (Ill.) Assembly Plant will be expanded to include a third work shift beginning in July 2006. The new shift will add approximately 1,000 new jobs to the 2,650-employee facility. While some of the jobs will be filled with current Chrysler Group employees from other facilities, a majority of the jobs are expected to be filled with new hires.

The Belvidere plant started building the all-new 2007 Dodge Caliber in January 2006 and will begin production of the all-new Jeep� Compass this month. Production of the all-new 2007 Jeep Patriot will begin later this year. The plant is flexible enough to vary the production mix between the three products anywhere from 0 to 100 percent of each model.

“We have seen a very positive initial consumer response to the Dodge Caliber and we anticipate a similar reception for the Jeep Compass and Patriot,” said Tom LaSorda, President and Chief Executive Officer � Chrysler Group. “We have already demonstrated how a flexible, highly productive workforce producing high-quality vehicles can bring consumers more of the vehicles they desire in today’s competitive market. That same formula is working at Belvidere.”

Belvidere, the former Dodge Neon plant, added its second shift in March. The employees are working under a new organizational model designed to foster greater creativity and innovation by providing greater support and authority to assembly line operators. The plant was retooled to build the three new models with a $419 million investment in late 2005.

“It is quite a challenge to launch three new models and two new shifts but the Belvidere team is taking on that challenge,” said Kurt Kavajecz, Plant Manager � Belvidere Assembly Plant. “We are honored to have been selected to implement many new manufacturing processes and to be the home of these great products.”

The Chrysler Group is the city of Belvidere’s largest employer and has a significant impact on the community with 2,885 employees throughout Illinois who generate $188 million in annual wages. The 3.6 million square-foot Belvidere plant currently has 2,650 employees represented by UAW Locals 1268 and 1761. The plant was the productivity leader in its segment according to the Harbour Report North America 2005.

Editor’s Note: Job candidates interested in working at the Belvidere Assembly Plants should apply electronically at www.dcchourlyjobs.com. Applicants are asked not to go to the plant in person or call the plant directly. To be considered, applicants must have a high school diploma or equivalent (GED). Candidates will be required to complete a multi-step qualification process and will be contacted after they have applied online.

Well, the 2006 Engine of the Year winners have been announced. Let’s just say, “Ze Germans are coming!”

Notably absent is anything from North America. Though I’m struggling to suggest a motor that fits a category below and tops what’s already there. I mean, it IS hard to top the BMW V-10.

List is below:

Best New Engine 2006
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Golf)

Best Fuel Economy
Toyota 1.5-liter Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius)

Best Performance Engine
BMW 5-liter V10 (M5, M6)

Sub 1-liter
Honda 1-liter IMA (Insight)

1-liter to 1.4-liter
Volkswagen 1.4-liter TSI Twincharger (Golf)

1.4-liter to 1.8-liter
Toyota 1.5-liter Hybrid Synergy Drive (Prius)

1.8-liter to 2-liter
Volkswagen 2-liter Turbo (Golf, Audi A3, A6, SEAT Leon, Skoda Octavia)

2-liter to 2.5-liter
Subaru 2.5-liter Turbo (Impreza, Forester, Saab 9-2X)

2.5-liter to 3-liter
BMW 3-liter Twin-Turbo Diesel (535d)

3-liter to 4-liter
BMW 3.2-liter (M3, Z4 M)

Above 4-liter
BMW 5-liter V10 (M5, M6)

International Engine of the Year 2006
BMW 5-liter V10 (M5, M6)

Check out Edmunds for the full scoop and more links & pics.

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