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BMW, Hyundai score big in JD Power's first Tech Experience Index

While automakers are quick to brag about winning a JD Power Initial Quality Study award, the reality, as we've pointed out before, is that these ratings are somewhat misleading, since IQS doesn't necessarily distinguish genuine quality issues. JD Power's new Tech Experience Index aims to solve that problem. The new metric takes the same 90-day approach as IQS but focuses exclusively on technology – collision protection, comfort and convenience, driving assistance, entertainment and connectivity, navigation, and smartphone mirroring. It splits the industry up into just seven segments, based loosely on size, which is why the Chevrolet Camaro is in the same division (mid-size) as Kia Sorento and the Mercedes-Benz GLE-Class is in the same segment as the Hyundai Genesis (mid-size premium). It makes for some screwy bedfellows, to be sure. Still, splitting tech experience away from initial quality should allow customers to make more informed and intelligent decisions when buying new vehicles. In the inaugural study, respondents listed BMW and Hyundai as the big winners, with two segment awards – the 2 Series for small premium and the 4 Series for compact premium, and the Genesis for mid-size premium and Tucson for small segment. The Chevrolet Camaro (midsize), Kia Forte (compact), and Nissan Maxima (large) scored individual wins. Ford also had a surprising hit with the Lincoln MKC, which ranked third in the compact premium segment behind the 4 Series and Lexus IS. This is a coup for the Blue Oval, whose woeful MyFord Touch systems made the brand a victim of the IQS' flaws in the early 2010s. But Ford and other automakers might not want to celebrate just yet. According to JD Power, there's still a lot of room for improvement – navigation systems were the lowest-rated piece of tech in the study. Instead, customers repeatedly saluted collision-avoidance and safety systems, giving the category the best marks of the study and listing blind-spot monitoring and backup cameras as two must-have features – 96 percent of respondents said they wanted those two systems in their next vehicle. But this isn't really a surprise. Implementation of safety systems from brand to brand is similar, and they don't require any input from users, unlike navigation and infotainment systems which are frustratingly deep.

Hyundai, Kia looking to cut costs

Hyundai and Kia are off to roaring starts in the United States this year, underscored by Kia's best sales month ever in May. But globally the situation for the South Korean siblings hasn't been nearly so positive. Recently, they reported their fourth consecutive quarter of decreasing operating profits worldwide, and now they're "making efforts to cut costs," according to a statement in a joint email obtained by Bloomberg. However, the companies aren't detailing where they would make the cuts or how much they want to save. The amount could be significant, though. An unnamed Hyundai senior executive reportedly told a South Korean newspaper that the business might be aiming for up to 30 percent in reductions. According to Bloomberg, Hyundai and Kia are facing falling total sales worldwide. Making the situation worse is that the strong Korean won versus the weaker Japanese yen gives competitors an advantage. The automakers also angered investors enough last year to prompt a stock buyback after paying $10 billion for the land for a future headquarters. The prognosis doesn't look utterly dire, though, and new products are on the way. For example, the Hyundai Santa Fe is being refreshed in South Korea, and the next-gen Elantra debuts at this year's Los Angeles Auto Show. There's also the Creta on the way for foreign markets. Additionally, several models are still awaiting the green light, including a Hyundai Genesis-based luxury crossover, a compact CUV, and the Santa Cruz unibody pickup. Meanwhile, the Kia GT is reportedly close to production, too. Related Video:

Vegas dealer sets world record with 218-Hyundai parade

How many Hyundais would you need to gather in one parade to set a world record? 218, it turns out. That's how many of the Korean automobiles gathered for a recent procession which has now been certified by Guinness as a world record. The event was orchestrated by Henderson Hyundai just outside of Las Vegas, NV, raising $4,000 for the STOP DUI campaign. Though the parade was actually held back in December as part of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month, it was just verified by Guinness now, with each of the 218 motorists to receive a certificate of participation at a celebratory event at the dealership this coming Saturday. The record had been previously set by Lithuanian business consulting firm UAB SDG. Of course that's just the record for Hyundais specifically. Guinness also keeps records of other brands and vehicle types as well. Ram, for example, set the record for the most pickups in a parade this past April at 451, while a procession of 964 Ferraris set another record at Silverstone in 2012. Henderson Hyundai Superstore In Nevada Sets A New Guinness World Record For The Largest Parade Of Hyundai Cars LAS VEGAS, June 22, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Henderson Hyundai Superstore, the number one rated Nevada Hyundai dealer three years in a row by DealerRater, announced today that it has been awarded a Guinness World Record for coordinating the largest parade of Hyundai cars ever. In honor of National Impaired Driving Prevention Month last December, Henderson Hyundai Superstore called on local Hyundai owners to participate in its attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the world's largest parade of Hyundai cars and pledged to make a donation for each participating vehicle to STOP DUI, a local organization dedicated to bringing awareness to the consequences of intoxicated driving. With a total of 218 Hyundai cars participating in the parade and a donation of $4,000 to STOP DUI, they officially set the world record previously held by UAB SDG, a business consulting firm based in Kaunas, Lithuania. "Our goal was to give our clients and community members an opportunity to actively participate in bringing awareness to a problem that is devastating families in our area," said Frank Maione, owner of Henderson Hyundai Superstore.