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Ram and Alfa Romeo top J.D. Power study of best automaker websites

Imagining a new car can be terrific fun, especially if the new car is an Alfa Romeo. So say the fantasy engineers at the J.D. Power agency, who’ve found that Alfa and Ram, sister brands under the Stellantis umbrella, offer potential buyers the most attractive consumer websites, which are often their first viable encounter with those vehicles. Power found that those marques lead the mass market and premium categories in its twice annual Manufacturer Website Evaluation Study. In the premium segment, Alfa Romeo led with 755 points, up six points over BMW, 10 points ahead of Infiniti, 14 points past of Jaguar, and 18 points up on Porsche. By contrast, Volvo and Audi trail the pack with 689 points, and are behind Genesis (699 points), Tesla (720), and Cadillac (721), all of which perform worse than the premium segment average of 724 points. The summerÂ’s study showed that in the mass market segment, Ram leads with an impressive 735 points, which puts it six points ahead of GMC, seven points atop its stablemate Jeep, eight points beyond Subaru, and 22 points ahead of the industry average. Volkswagen finished dead last among mass market names, but only one point behind Ford, 684 to 683 out of a possible 1,000. Segment average, as noted, was 713 points. “Website satisfaction can be volatile, and automotive websites are not immune to changing preferences,” said Jon Sundberg, director of digital solutions at J.D. Power. “However, manufacturers have shown to be very agile when it comes to website design and ensuring their sites meet modern standards, more so than many other industries, as exemplified through the study data.” Marketing/Advertising Alfa Romeo Audi BMW Ford Volkswagen

Alpina introduces new B5 Biturbo with 600 horsepower

If the BMW M5 is not enough for you, Alpina created the new B5 Biturbo. Where the factory M5 packs 560 horsepower, the B5 has 600. But even more impressive is the B5 Biturbo bests the M5's 500 pound-feet of torque with 590 of its own. That beats the 15-hp boost from the M5's Competition Package and matches the power of the limited 30 Yahre edition - but with more torque. All that muscle and twist is produced by Alpina's own version of BMW's 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission instead of a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox. The result is a 0-62 time quoted at 4.2 seconds, besting the M5 by a tenth. The top speed is also unlocked from 155 miles per hour to 204 – which may be entirely hypothetical for most of us, but could make all the difference for those who regularly commute along the Autobahn. Of course Alpina didn't tinker with the engine and leave it at that. It also customized the suspension, rolling stock, aero kit, and interior, and fitted a mechanical limited-slip differential built by Drexler Motor Sport. But perhaps the best part of all is that the Alpina B5 is also available as a wagon. That makes this modified Bimmer one of the best have-your-cake/eat-it-too propositions we could ever ask for. Featured Gallery 2016 BMW Alpina B5 Biturbo News Source: Alpina Aftermarket BMW Wagon Luxury Performance Sedan alpina alpina b5 biturbo

Car Hacking 101: Here's what motorists should know [w/video]

Cars are nothing more than computers on wheels. As such, they're vulnerable to hackers. Most people who work within the auto industry have understood this for years, but for the broader American public not paying as close attention, three storylines emerged recently that underscored this new vehicular reality. First, German researchers found a flaw in BMWs remote-services system that allowed them to access the telematics units in vehicles. Then, a 60 Minutes report demonstrated that researchers could remotely infiltrate a Chevy Impala and override critical functions, like acceleration and braking. Finally, a US Senator released a critical report (see video above) that found almost all automakers are unprepared to handle real-time hacks of their vehicles. Those reports come on the heels of two previous instances in recent months when researchers demonstrated the capability to hack cars. All this news can be disconcerting. If you're late to the concept of car-hacking and wondering how this is possible, we've got you covered. Here's your quick primer on what you need to know. 1. How Did My Car Become A Computer? On the outside, cars haven't changed all that much over the past couple of decades years. On the inside, however, the amount of electronics and software has dramatically increased. Most new cars contain more than 50 microprocessors known as electronic control units. These ECUs control everything from airbag deployment and navigation systems to throttle control and braking, and they're usually connected to each other on an internal network called the CAN bus. 2. What Exactly Is Car Hacking? Depends who you ask. Automakers might consider anything that alters the car from its state of manufacture as a 'hack.' For example, if you're chipping the engine – re-calibrating those ECUs to increase your horsepower – some people might consider that a hack. But in the context of the recent news reports, security experts are focused on unwanted, unauthorized cyber intrusions into a vehicle. Once inside your car, prospective attacks could range from minor things like eavesdropping on conversations via an infotainment system and unlocking car doors to major concerns, like overriding driver inputs and controlling braking, steering and acceleration. 3. How Is This All Possible? Any part of the car that communicates with the outside world, either via a remote or direct connection, is a potential entry point for hackers.