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J.D. Power study sees new car dependability problems increase for first time since 1998

For the first time since 1998, J.D. Power and Associates says its data shows that the average number of problems per 100 cars has increased. The finding is the result of the firm's much-touted annual Vehicle Dependability Study, which charts incidents of problems in new vehicle purchases over three years from 41,000 respondents.
Looking at first-owner cars from the 2011 model year, the study found an average of 133 problems per 100 cars (PP100, for short), up 6 percent from 126 PP100 in last year's study, which covered 2010 model-year vehicles. Disturbingly, the bulk of the increase is being attributed to engine and transmission problems, with a 6 PP100 boost.
Interestingly, JDP notes that "the decline in quality is particularly acute for vehicles with four-cylinder engines, where problem levels increase by nearly 10 PP100." Its findings also noticed that large diesel engines also tended to be more problematic than most five- and six-cylinder engines.

New Lexus ES will debut at Shanghai Motor Show

Lexus will debut a new version of its ES sedan at the Shanghai Motor Show later this month. Don't expect it to be a total redesign, however – with the sixth-generation ES having just gone on sale in late 2012, we only anticipate a mid-cycle refresh. That's the impression we get from the teaser image above, too. The most prominent change is the reshaping of the headlamps with an LED swoosh, the overall shape of the fascia is very similar to that of the current car. The grille looks to be a bit more angular and pronounced, perhaps indicating the inclusion of an F Sport trim – something the ES currently does not have. The ES holds a unique position in the Lexus lineup. It's the only of the automaker's sedans not to be based on rear-wheel-drive architecture – the ES uses a version of the fullsize Toyota Avalon platform. That said, the ES is hugely important, with some 1.7 million examples being sold globally over the past 25 years. We'll know more when the ES officially bows in the not-too-distant future. Related Video: THE NEW LEXUS ES TO MAKE ITS GLOBAL DEBUT AT AUTO SHANGHAI 2015 BEIJING – April 10, 2015 - The new Lexus ES luxury sedan will make its global debut at Auto Shanghai 2015 on April 20, 2015. The Lexus ES established a unique and important position in the luxury sedan segment with its elegant styling, extraordinary quality, and Lexus' best-in-class service when it was introduced in 1989. More than 1.7 million units have been sold globally over the past 25 years. The new Lexus ES maintains its classical elegance while conveying a more dynamic experience and luxurious craftsmanship. The ES will be on display April 22-29, 2015 at the Lexus booth in Hall 7.1 at the National Exhibition and Convention Center at Auto Shanghai 2015.

Next-gen Toyota Tacoma to debut at Detroit Auto Show

Toyota's confirmation comes on the heels of General Motors' successful launch of its own midsize pickups. The next generation of the Toyota Tacoma pickup truck will be revealed in January at the Detroit Auto Show, a top executive confirmed Thursday. Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota, offered no other details, but the new version of the pickup is expected to have significant upgrades compared with the aging model on sale now. Our spy shooters caught a prototype testing this summer, and rumors of the new generation have been swirling for months. We've also previously reported that Toyota is planning to ramp up production next April at a factory in Mexico that builds the Tacoma. Toyota's confirmation comes on the heels of General Motors' successful launch of its own midsize pickups, the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon, which have garnered awards, positive reviews and solid sales since they arrived in showrooms this fall. It's unclear how large the new Tacoma will be, especially considering that the Canyon and Colorado flirt with fullsize territory. The Tacoma was last updated in 2012, and the segment has changed dramatically since then with the addition of the GM trucks. Another Tacoma competitor, Honda's aging Ridgeline, is also expected to re-launch in 2015, which would leave the Nissan Frontier as the oldest truck in the field. Tacoma sales have slipped 4.1 percent to 140,757 units this year, though they posted a 3.3-percent gain in November. Meanwhile, Carter also said Lexus will reveal two performance vehicles, though he didn't elaborate. "I'll leave it at that, but I promise you'll enjoy it," he said coyly. Lexus just showed the LF-C2 convertible concept at the Los Angeles Auto Show.