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Ford tumbles to second worst in Consumer Reports reliability survey, list dominated by Japanese [w/video]

It's no secret that MyFord Touch has had its share of problems since being introduced, but the most recent reliability survey from Consumer Reports shows just how much this infotainment system has affected Ford. Just two years ago, the automaker was in the top 10 for the institute's reliability rankings, but since then, it has tumbled to the second-lowest rung just above dead-last Jaguar. In addition to MyFord Touch, CR also attributes a handful of new products that have had issues right out of the gate.
Compiled from 1.2 million subscriber surveys, this year's auto reliability survey heavily favors Japanese automakers, with eight of the 10 spots hailing from Japan. Toyota brands grabbed the top three spots (Scion, Toyota and Lexus - in that order) with Mazda, Subaru, Honda and Acura filling the next four spots. The only non-Asian automaker cracking the top 10 was Audi at number eight.
Audi climbed a total of 18 spots from last year, and Cadillac and GMC round out this year's top gainers breaking into the top 15. Helping Cadillac's upward movement, the CTS Coupe was named the most reliable domestic car. Lincoln, Volvo and Chrysler join Ford on this year's biggest loser list.

The 2017 Subaru BRZ Series.Yellow is, wait for it, yellow

Scion is fading fast, but it seems Subaru learned a thing or two from the Toyota offshoot during their short time together. This new BRZ, with its oddly punctuated and not very subtle name, continues a line of special-edition Subarus that pair special paint and interior trim with black accents. It's called the Series.Yellow, and Subaru will build 500 of them for 2017. The Series.Yellow starts with the mildly updated 2017 BRZ and stacks the new Performance Package ( Brembo brakes, Sachs dampers, black 17-inch wheels) on top of the Limited trim. The Series.Yellow will come with the six-speed manual only, as it's required to get the Performance Pack. That also means it has the new 205-hp boxer four and a different final-drive ratio to go along with it. Aside from the yellow paint, exterior differences include black Subaru and BRZ badging, and a black surface for the rear spoiler. The interior gets it some yellow as well, with stitching on the seats, door panels, dash, steering wheel, floor mats, and shifter and e-brake boots. The interior grab handles are yellow-ized, and there are yellow patches at the top of the seat bolsters. Oh, and the seats have Alcantara inserts, but those aren't yellow. As the second in the Series series, it follows in the footsteps of the BRZ Series.HyperBlue from 2016. There's also precedent for special yellow Subarus, as 1,000 XV Crosstrek Special Editions from 2015 got yellow paint and black cladding. Yellow! Related Video: Featured Gallery 2017 Subaru BRZ Series.Yellow Related Gallery 2017 Subaru BRZ Image Credit: Subaru Subaru Coupe Lightweight Vehicles Performance

Watch a Subaru BRZ nail world-record tightest 360 spin

How much space do you need to execute a full 360? Less than two car lengths, as it turns out. But you'd need to be someone like Alastair Moffatt to pull it off. The British stunt driver added another Guinness-certified world record at the Autosport International show in Birmingham, England, the other day when he executed a complete 360-degree turn in just 21.3 feet. 14 of those feet were taken by the Subaru BRZ he drove to accomplish the feat – naturally with the ABS and traction control disengaged. That left just 7.4 feet (2.25 meters) of clearance to flip the car all the way around, which bagged him the record for the world's tightest 360-degree spin that previously stood at 8.2 feet (2.5 meters). He didn't manage the feat just once: after extensive practicing, Moffatt performed the stunt in front of a cheering crowd, and then repeated it under tightly controlled conditions for the record adjudicators. This isn't the first such world-record stunt that Moffatt has pulled off, either. He previously scored the records for the tightest parallel parking job and for the same in reverse. Watch him accomplish his latest in the video above. SUBARU BRZ GETS IN A SPIN FOR GUINNESS WORLD RECORD - Rear-wheel drive Subaru BRZ sets new world record for tightest 360° spin - Stunt driver Alastair Moffatt secures record at 2016 Autosport Show Subaru has again demonstrated the agility and precision handling prowess of its rear-wheel drive BRZ sportscar by securing the Guinness World Record for the 'Tightest 360° spin'. The record was secured at the Autosport International Show over the weekend, with the BRZ in capable hands of former world record holder Alastair Moffat. Stunt-driver ace Alastair Moffatt broke the previous 2.5-metre Guinness World Record, which was achieved in 2014, by flicking the BRZ into a 360° spin between two obstacles in Autosport International's Live Action Arena. Moffatt has previous experience setting daring Guinness World Records, including 'Tightest Reverse Parallel Park' and 'Tightest Parallel Park', the latter established at the 2015 Autosport show. The 4.24-metre-long Subaru BRZ is renowned for its low centre of gravity – lower than many high-end supercars – and naturally-aspirated 2.0-litre 'Boxer' engine, making the BRZ one of the most exciting and engaging cars on the road In order for Alastair to have maximise control over the car throughout the manoeuvre, the traction control was switched off and ABS disengaged.