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Dodge, Hyundai crowdsourced-funding sites deemed successes

What's not to love about crowdsourcing? This idea, after all, has given us Kickstarter as well Local Motors, but automakers are starting to use the social platform to sell more cars (or just drum up a little PR). Both Dodge and Hyundai have used "crowd-funding" recently, and while Automotive News is reporting that neither has racked up big sales with this gimmick, both automakers are pleased with the attention.
For Hyundai, it teamed up with website Motozuma.com to help customers crowdsource money for a down payment, and the automaker matched this amount up to $500. Last year, this helped Hyundai sell an extra 1,600 units, a fraction of its total 2012 sales. That figure is far larger than Dodge fared with the Dodge Dart Registry - it netted only two sales and a small number of individual options. This registry did help University of Southern California fraternity crowdsource $18,000 to buy a Dart for a local Meals on Wheels, however. Despite the low sales figures, Dodge and Hyundai are considering their crowdsourcing programs a success since it helped them connect with younger buyers.

High-performance 2018 Dodge Durango SRT spied

Dodge is working diligently on revamping its lineup with new and refreshed models, including the high-performance Durango SRT due in 2017. Spy shooters captured a Durango with an aggressive front end that appears to fit the SRT bill, though it could just be a refreshed Durango. This Citadel-badged prototype is nearly identical to the current three-row SUV. The front fascia, which is being held in place by tape and has numerous rough edges, features a massive vent at the bottom and a distinct, three-holed air intake system just below the grille. The grille is also lacking the Durango's cross-like design. The front end appears to have gaping holes on both sides, with the right side being covered up by tin foil. The extra vents could be there for aerodynamic purposes, for cooling purposes, or just a pair of fog lights that Dodge doesn't want people to see. The high-performance SUV is expected to get a full makeover on the outside, which includes sportier wheels, a more aggressive hood, athletic body panels, and some aerodynamic components. The meat of the SUV, the engine, is still a mystery. While the Hellcat brothers feature a 707-horsepower, 6.2-liter supercharged V8, a previous report by Automotive News claims the upcoming Durango SRT will be powered by a 6.4-liter V8 engine. The 475-horsepower motor is currently in the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT. Regardless of what type of engine the Durango will have, it looks like Dodge really is working on a high-performance SUV to enter the continually-growing segment. Related Video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. Featured Gallery 2018 Dodge Durango SRT Spy Shots News Source: Automotive NewsImage Credit: Chris Doane Automotive Spy Photos Dodge SUV Future Vehicles Performance

2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study shows there's less quality than last year

Vehicle inventory, vehicle pricing, and the supply chain are finally showing improvement. Vehicle quality, on the other hand, is still going the wrong way. That's the takeaway from the 2023 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study that found overall problems exceeded last year's record high. The study surveyed owners of 2022-model-year vehicles to assess the average rate of problems per 100 vehicles (PP100) during the first 90 days of ownership. The average figure for the 32 ranked manufacturers in 2020 was about 166 problems per 100 vehicles. In the 2021 IQS, that dropped to an average of 162. For 2022, the average jumped to 180 problems. For 2023, the PP100 is up to an industry average of 192 — an increase of 30 problems per 100 vehicles in just two years. Let's get to the good news first: Dodge reclaimed the crown of having the lowest number of problems per 100 vehicles at 140. Buick won last year with 139 PP100, falling to third this year. Dodge was the first American automaker to top the IQS in 2021. Its return as the least problematic gives parent company Stellantis three wins in four years after Ram was crowned in 2021. It also gives U.S. brands a four-peat after Buick topped the chart in 2022 by having owners report the fewest problems. This year's top 10 is Dodge, Ram, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Chevrolet, GMC, Porsche, Cadillac, Kia, and Lexus. Stellantis gathered a few feathers for its cap, in fact. Maserati showed the largest improvement year-on-year, followed by Alfa Romeo, and Alfa Romeo posted the lowest PP100 among the premium class, beating Porsche and Cadillac. Alfa Romeo has been vocal about working to improve quality, mentioning Lexus as a target. Last year the Japanese brand finished sixth, the Italians finished near the bottom, between Jaguar and Mitsubishi. This year Alfa jumped to third, Lexus dropped to tenth. Ram was the third-best on the list of improvers from 2022 to 2023.   The individual model with the lowest PP100 is the Nissan Maxima. Now for the troublesome bits. In the words of Frank Hanley, senior director of auto benchmarking at J.D. Power, "The industry is at a major crossroad and the path each manufacturer chooses is paramount for its future.