J.D. Power has just released its Vehicle Dependability (VDS) Study for 2010, giving the top spot to Porsche, followed closely by Lincoln and Buick. Only one of the three, Buick, was on the podium last year, but has dropped from first to third. Also of significance is the continued slide by Lexus, which finds itself in fourth place this year. Last year Lexus placed third, marking the first time in 14 years the luxury Japanese automaker didn’t take first. That’s nothing compared to Jaguar, however, which dropped a total of 21 spots from second last year to 22nd for 2010.

Other big movers include Ford, moving up six spots to 8th overall.

Included in this year’s results, J.D. Power thought to mention several automakers that placed highly, but which aren’t generally considered by consumers due to poor brand perception about reliability. These include Cadillac, Ford, Hyundai, Lincoln and Mercury. No doubt these brands will all see improved brand perception and sales in the years to come.

Despite its recall woes this year, Toyota continues to perform highly, placing sixth overall and taking home the most vehicle segment awards, for models such as the Highlander, Prius, Sequoia and Tundra. Honda, in seventh place overall, took home three for the CR-V, Fit and Ridgeline.

Overall, J.D. Power found that vehicle dependability has improved by 7 percent.

The 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study was based on responses by more than 52,000 vehicle owners with three-year-old (2007) models. Scores are based on the number of problems per 10p vehicles, with lower scores indicating a higher quality.

GALLERY: J.D. Power 2010 Vehicle Dependability Study

Official release after the jump:

In 2008, Iron Man came out with Robert Downey Jr. playing the fitting role of Tony Stark. Previews and trailers have been swarming all over the Internet for Iron Man 2 where Downey will once again assume the role of Iron Man with new friends and villains at his side. One of the trailers show Stark passing time racing in an open-wheel car and taking a hot lap before Whiplash spoilers his fun on the track. It seems as if this scene has sparked some interest with Royal Purple, manufacturer of synthetic oils, to team up with Marvel Studios and cross promote on the new movie. The result is The Stark Motor Racing Team, a brilliant marketing program that now ties a comic book to a movie to reality.

The team is comprised of five different racers from five different demographics, all campaigning Royal Purple, Stark Motor Racing and Iron Man 2 sponsorship decals on their weapons of choice while on the track. Chris Prey will be leading the way in Grand AM Road Racing in his Porsche Boxster 986, while Stephen Verdier will be campaigning his 2008 Subaru STI sideways in the Formula DRIFT series. Speed isn’t reserved for just things with four wheels however, as David Hope and Melissa Paris will be campaigning their motorcycles in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycles and AMA Road Racing, respectively. Last but not least, Joey Stathas Jr. will have his hands full in Monster Trucks in his 2009 Chevy. All of these racers will be seen nationwide for 2010 all racing under the Stark Motor Racing Team program. We’ve also spotted Iron Man 2 branding on Royal Purple products.

Hopefully these type of sponsorships will lead to bigger and better things for all forms of motorsports. We feel that this was a real cool opportunity with the movie-makers taking a comic book to the big screen and now marketing gurus taking the movie into reality. Who would have ever thought Stark Motor Racing Team would be a reality?

[Source: Stark Motor Racing Team]

Gallery: Stark Motor Racing Team

Receiving its world premiere at the Geneva Auto Show just a few weeks ago, Porsche will unveil the high-performance 911 Turbo S model at the New York Auto Show for the first time in the U.S. on March 31st.

With the current Turbo having been around for a few years and having just received a mid-cycle update it was only time before a top-level S model arrived. In keeping with tradition, the S debuts with more power, pushing the twin-turbo flat-six to 530-hp – the very same amount produced by the GT2. Torque has also been upped to 516 ft-lbs enabling an alarmingly fast 0-62 mph time of just 3.3 seconds and a top speed of 196-mph. Power is transmitted to the ground with all four wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters.

Other highlights include launch control, the Sport Chrono Package, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and 19-inch center-locking RS Spyder style wheels (yummy). As expected, both a coupe and cabriolet model will be offered

Pricing for the car in North American is likely to be announced at the NY Auto Show debut.

Unfortunately, some other important Geneva show cars, like the GT3 R Hybrid race car and 918 Spyder, will not be on display in NY.

GALLERY: 2011 Porsche  911 Turbo S

When Porsche unveiled the 918 Spyder concept at the Geneva Auto Show last week, the automaker no doubt had hopes of a positive reception, leading to a potential production car. And that’s exactly what seems to have happened.

According to a report by AutoCar, Porsche boss Michael Macht says the company is committed to building the hybrid sports car. “There is no one inside Porsche who doesn’t want to build the 918,” he said. “The response has been marvellous.” He even went so far as to say that Porsche will look for letters of intent from prospective buyers.

Macht was enthusiastic about the car, commenting that this model proves high-performance cars like the Carrera GT are still possible in a world where fuel economy is a big concern. He did, however, say that such a vehicle would have to be profitable.

In concept form, the 918 Spyder is a plug-in hybrid that uses two electric motors, a lithium-ion battery pack and one of Porsche’s RS Spyder 3.4-liter V8 ALMS race car engines to produce a total of 718-hp. Porsche claims a 0-62 mph time of 3.2 seconds, a top speed of 198-mph and that the car can even lap Germany’s famous Nürburgring race track in under 7:30 – quicker than the Carrera GT. And at the same time, the Spyder can get as much as 78 mpg.

Porsche has equipped the car with four driving modes, ranging from the most efficient at saving fuel, to the most efficient at saving gas. A pure electric E-Drive mode delivers 16 miles of emissions free driving, while a Hybrid model operates like a traditional Prius-type two-mode hybrid. Next up is a Sport Hybrid setting, where the electric power is used more as a boost to assist the gasoline engine. Finally, a Race Hybrid mode delivers maximum gasoline and electric power, along with an added boost of electric power after hard braking (much like a Formula One KERS-equipped car).

If a production model is built, don’t expect it to arrive for at least five years.

GALLERY: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept

[Source: AutoCar]

Overshadowed by the launch of the 918 Spyder Concept, Porsche’s Geneva Auto Show press conference also marked the debut of the all-new 2011 Cayenne and Cayenne Hybrid. The redesign is a big improvement, giving the capable SUV a more sporty crossover look in keeping with the trend these days. It does, however, retain full SUV capability (not that anyone will use it though).

With the 918 Spyder being a hybrid, and the GT3 R being a hybrid race car, it was only fitting that the new Cayenne was also the hybrid version – the first production hybrid by Porsche.

The 2011 Cayenne S Hybrid is powered by a 3.o-liter V6 engine that supercharged and mated to a 47-hp electric motor for a total of 380-hp and 427 ft-lbs of torque. Porsche claims the Cayenne S Hybrid can travel up to 40 mph on just electric power and can cruise on pure electric power at speeds of up to 97 mph.

As for the rest of the 2011 Cayenne lineup, the standard model is powered by a new 300-hp V6 with an eight-speed automatic transmission, while Cayenne S models get the same 4.8-liter V8 with power upped to 400-hp. (Acceleration in the Cayenne S should be drastically improved thanks to an overall curb weight that has been reduced by 400 lbs). As for the Turbo, it makes 500-hp from a twin-turbo version of the 4.8-liter V8.

Thanks to new technology and significantly reduced curb weights, call Cayenne models get improvements in fuel economy, most by 20 percent or more. While no specific numbers for the Cayenne S hybrid are available, Porsche says it (along with the Diesel and standard V6 Cayenne) achieves better than 23.5 mpg in the European Test Cycle.

We expect Porsche to announce Pricing in the coming weeks.

GALLERY: 2011 Porsche Cayenne

We knew it was only time before Porsche decided to introduce an “S” version of its incredible 911 Turbo and here it is. Debuting at the Geneva Auto Show, the higher-powered Turbo was joined on stage by a long list of new Porsches including the 2011 Cayenne, GT3 R Hybrid race car and 918 Spyder plug-in hybrid Concept.

In keeping with tradition, the S debuts with more power, pushing the twin-turbo flat-six to 530-hp – the very same amount produced by the GT2. Torque has also been upped to 516 ft-lbs enabling an alarmingly fast 0-62 mph time of just 3.3 seconds. Top speed is rated at an impressive 196-mph. Power is transmitted to the ground with all four wheels via Porsche’s seven-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission with paddle shifters.

Other highlights include launch control, the Sport Chrono Package, Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes (PCCB) and 19-inch center-locking RS Spyder style wheels. As expected, both a coupe and cabriolet model will be offered

Pricing for the car in North American has not yet been set, but in Europe it is set at €145,400 for the coupe and €154,900 for the cabriolet, plus tax, with U.S. pricing expected shortly.

GALLERY: 2011 Porsche 911 Turbo S

While Porsche’s new 918 Spyder hybrid concept is little more than a show-piece, the German automaker also used the Geneva Auto Show to officially debut the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car. Set to compete on the track in the near future, it is based on the GT3 chassis and is powered by a traditional 4.0-liter flat-six engine making 480-hp at the rear wheels. In addition, two electric motors will be used to power the front wheels, with 60 kW of power going to each axle. The driver will be able to call up this extra power on-demand, giving the GT3 R a temporary all-wheel drive setup as well. The power surge is expected to last between 6 and 8 seconds.

Power for the electric motors comes via a flywheel generator that operates as a regenerative braking system, powering-up the on-board battery under braking.

Porsche will compete with the GT3 R Hybrid at the 24 Hours of the Nürburgring race, which runs from May 15th to 16th.

GALLERY: Porsche GT3 R Hybrid

Porsche has just unveiled a stunning new concept, that in true Porsche fashion is even more technologically advanced that it is impressive to behold. Called the 918 Spyder concept, it’s a plug-in hybrid that the automaker claims can achieve 78 mpg in one mode, while being able to run a Nürburgring lap time in under 7 minutes, 30 seconds. Yup, faster than a Carrera GT.

The hybrid drivetrain works somewhat like a traditional two-mode hybrid, using a gasoline engine, electric motors (two of them) and a lithium-ion battery pack. What makes it so special, however, is that the gasoline engine is a 3.4-liter 500-hp V8 derived from the Porsche RS Spyder race cars and the electric motors (one of each rear wheel) make a combined 218-hp. The gasoline engine powers the rear wheels, while the electric motors work on the front two wheels. Porsche claims a 0-62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 198-mph. Possibly more amazing, however, is this concept’s capability to achieve 78 mpg.

With all those electronics weighing quite a bit, the 918 Spyder uses extreme measures to keep weight to a minimum. As a result, the car gets a carbon fiber monocoque and extensive use of aluminum and titanium, for a total weight of 3,285 lbs.

Porsche has equipped the car with four driving modes, ranging from the most efficient at saving fuel, to the most efficient at saving gas. A pure electric E-Drive mode delivers 16 miles of emissions free driving, while a Hybrid model operates like a traditional Prius-type two-mode hybrid. Next up is a Sport Hybrid setting, where the electric power is used more as a boost to assist the gasoline engine. Finally, a Race Hybrid mode delivers maximum gasoline and electric power, along with an added boost of electric power after hard braking (much like a Formula One KERS-equipped car).  It is in this final mode that Porsche claims the 918 Spyder Concept can out-pace the famed Carrera GT on the Nürburgring.

GALLERY: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept

Tomorrow Porsche will unveil what it calls the 918 Spyder Concept, a plug-in hybrid that gets 78 mpg and can lap Germany’s famed Nürburgring in less that 7 minutes and 30 seconds. Yup, faster than a Carrera GT. This info is, of course, theoretical.

The 918 Spyder concept is a plug-in hybrid and in priciple works like a traditional two-mode hybrid, using a gasoline engine, electric motors (two of them) and a lithium-ion battery pack. What makes it so special, however, is that the gasoline engine is a 3.4-liter 500-hp V8 derived from the Porsche RS Spyder race cars and the electric motors (one of each rear wheel) make a combined 218-hp. The gasoline engine powers the rear wheels, while the electric motors work on the front two wheels. Porsche claims a 0-62 mph time of just 3.2 seconds with a top speed of 198-mph. Possibly more amazing, however, is this concept’s capability to achieve 78 mpg.

With all those electronics weighing quite a bit, the 918 Spyder uses extreme measures to keep weight to a minimum. As a result, the car gets a carbon fiber monocoque and extensive use of aluminum and titanium, for a total weight of 3,285 lbs.

Porsche has equipped the car with four driving modes, ranging from the most efficient at saving fuel, to the most efficient at saving gas. A pure electric E-Drive mode delivers 16 miles of emissions free driving, while a Hybrid model operates like a traditional Prius-type two-mode hybrid. Next up is a Sport Hybrid setting, where the electric power is used more as a boost to assist the gasoline engine. Finally, a Race Hybrid mode delivers maximum gasoline and electric power, along with an added boost of electric power after hard braking (much like a Formula One KERS-equipped car).  It is in this final mode that Porsche claims the 918 Spyder Concept can out-pace the famed Carrera GT on the Nürburgring.

Oh… and did we mention it looks amazing!

We’ll be sure to bring you plenty of live photos after the official reveal tomorrow, March 2nd.

GALLERY: Porsche 918 Spyder Concept

Official release after the jump:

With most of the German tuning companies in attendance at the Geneva Auto Show, we were able to get a good look at most of their creations before the show officially kicks off tomorrow (March 2nd). Along with the more typically-TechArt GT Street R, it was interesting to look at the Porsche tuner’s Panamera-based Concept One.

Looking just like a manufacturer concept car (minus the Lambo doors of course), the Concept One has an extremely unique interior with funky materials and designs. The entire cabin is all black and white, except for some minor lime-green detailing. There’s even a 10.2-inch LCD screen in the rear. Outside, the car gets plenty of unique options, like 22-inch wheels and a widebody kit. The purpose of the Concept One is to highlight TechArt’s individualization program, which it offers to clients. And as much as this looks like a concept, TechArt isn’t the sort of company to toss it’s money around needlessly and so you can be sure that as wild as the Concept One looks, it likely belongs to a customer who actually intends to drive it.

We also managed to snag quite a few photos of the GT Street R, a significantly modified version of the new 2010 911 Turbo, with 660-hp and 635 ft-lbs of torque. This model is more in line with TechArt’s usual creations, delivering incredible amounts of power in a show car package. We particularly like all the dry carbon body parts and the massive (and adjustable) rear spoiler. Much like the Concept One, the interior of the GTStreet R is also a work of art, but on a more realistic level with bountiful amounts of carbon fiber, black leather and red stitching.

Importantly, the GTStreet R, it is intended to be a serious performance machine (on the street or the track), delivering a 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed o 214 mph – autobahn anyone?

GALLERY: TechArt Concept One

GALLERY: TechArt GTStreet R