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Porsche, Jaguar continue dominance in 2015 JD Power APEAL study

The top of JD Power's 2015 APEAL Study has not changed much in the last year. Porsche remains No. 1 with Jaguar nipping at its heels, although both premium brands saw their overall score fall compared to 2014. For those that need a refresher, the APEAL Study looks at how "gratifying" a vehicle is to own and drive, rating cars and brands on a 1,000-point scale. The industry average for 2015 has increased from 794 to 798, while the total number of automakers that finished above the curve increased from 16 to 20. While Porsche and Jaguar finished at the top, their scores dropped eight and seven points, respectively, to 874 and 855. The top "non-premium" brand was Mini, which scored an impressive 825, up from 795. If the BMW-owned British marque is still a bit too premium for your tastes, last year's non-premium winner, Hyundai, did climb five points and is this year's runner up. At the opposite end of the scale, Smart sits at the very bottom of the rankings, with a score of 683 (it didn't appear on the 2014 rankings). Fiat also dropped, from fourth worst in 2014 to second worst in 2015, despite the 500 being named most appealing city car. Subaru made an impressive climb, from third worst to seventh, falling just 10 points shy of the industry average and two points south of the non-premium average. In the individual vehicle segments, eight brands earned multiple awards, with Ford, Chevrolet, and Porsche earning three apiece. Surprise segment victories included the new Ford Expedition, which beat out Chevy's popular Suburban. The Infiniti QX80 bested the likes of the Cadillac Escalade and Range Rover for best large luxury SUV, and the Dodge Challenger beat its muscle car rivals from Ford and Chevy. Most of the victories, though, were quite predictable. The Mazda6 and CX-5 took wins for the midsize sedan and compact SUV categories respectively, while the Volkswagen Golf captured the compact car win. The Ford F-150 won the large pickup category, while the Porsche Cayman was named most appealing compact premium sporty car. Check out the official release on the 2015 APEAL Study, available below, from JD Power. 2015 U.S. APEAL Study Results The latest safety-related technologies are among the drivers of customer satisfaction with new vehicles, according to the J.D. Power 2015 U.S.

Lister Knobbly returning to limited production for 60th anniversary

Lister Cars was one of the pedigree names of British racing from its founding in 1954 and then on and off until the early 2000s. The company combined its own lightweight chassis with engines from other manufacturers, many of them British (and especially from Jaguar). Last year, the name and the intellectual property were sold to a new company that planned to revive the brand. For Lister's 60th anniversary, it is building a new version of one of its most famous racecars, the 1958 Lister-Jaguar Knobbly. The 2014 Listers are built to the exact specifications of the original cars, and the aluminum bodies are hand-formed on the original jigs. It is offered in racing trim starting at 249,000 pounds ($409,618) and is certified for FIA historic racing. There's also a road-legal version starting at 259,000 pounds ($426,060), if you don't intend to race but do intend to drive. There are two engines available, just like in the original car. A reproduction Jaguar D-Type 3.8-liter inline-six with dry-sump lubrication pumps out 330 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque with a four-speed Jaguar gearbox. The other option is a 4.6-liter Chevy V8 with 315 hp and 290 lb-ft with a four-speed manual transmission. The Chevy-engined version also gets a slightly altered body with a higher hood to clear the engine. The first 2014 Listers will be delivered in the UK this April. Unlike many of these boutique sportscars, the racing version will be available to US buyers, but Lister won't federalize the road version due to the high cost. Scroll down to get all of the details about the revived racer. LISTER MOTOR COMPANY LAUNCHES NEW 60th ANNIVERSARY BROCHURE AS THE ORDER BOOKS BEGIN TO FILL New 60th Anniversary Lister Jaguar brochure now available 50 per cent of 2014 production already sold First cars to be delivered in April, 2014 Road-going variant to be offered at GBP259,000 + tax Race-going version to be GBP249,000 + tax. Following the recently announced purchase of the Lister Motor Company in May 2013, the company is delighted to announce that it has now published its 60thAnniversary Lister Jaguar brochure, which fully outlines the specifications for its fantastic recreation of the iconic Lister Jaguar 'Knobbly' racing car.

Motor Trend first to compare Jaguar XE and BMW 3 Series

How many automakers have loaded up how much ammo and taken how many shots at the BMW 3 Series? Yet here we are, decades on and at least a decade away from the 3 Series' halcyon days, waiting for someone to give the sport sedan something beyond a flesh wound. In this most recent episode of Head 2 Head, Johnny Lieberman goes to Spain to figure out if the Jaguar XE is the sedan to do it. Here the champion wears the guise of the 335i M Sport, powered by a 3.0-liter, turbocharged, inline-six with a square 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque run through a ZF eight-speed transmission. After a short time behind the wheel Lieberman quotes from a familiar hagiography, saying it's evident "just how great this car is and why it defines the segment." The all-aluminum challenger from Jaguar comes in XES trim, meaning a 3.0-liter, supercharged V6 with 340 hp and 332 lb-ft. It uses the same eight-speed transmission as the BMW, but with different programming. According to the specs in the video, some of which are manufacturer estimates, the Jaguar is heavier, more expensive, and much thirstier at the pump. Away from the spreadsheet, Lieberman holds that the XE looks better and feels more special inside. In case you're wondering, the comparo was done before MT could get its mitts on the 320-hp BMW 340i. Lieberman says the English company spent its money on the XE suspension and it shows, but there have been other efforts from other automakers with excellent dynamic chops that weren't enough to threaten the BMW. His final assessment is that one of the two cars is awesome, and one is quite a bit better. Watch the video to find out which is which. Related Gallery 2016 Jaguar XE View 74 Photos Related Gallery 2016 BMW 3 Series Refresh View 57 Photos News Source: Motor Trend Channel via Carscoops, YouTube BMW Jaguar Luxury Performance Sedan motor trend jaguar xe head 2 head