(The Associated Press)
Corvette buyers can build their own engines
Corvette owners could soon be revving up an engine they built with their own hands. General Motors recently announced that buyers who order a 2011 Corvette Z06 or ZR1 (shown above) can help assemble their cars' high-performance LS7 and LS9 engines at its plant in Wixom, Mich. The automaker believes the program is the first of its kind in the industry. It will take buyers about six hours to assemble, adjust and clean their engines with the parts provided. A suggested program charge of $5,800 doesn't include air transportation but does include one night of lodging.
--The Associated Press
The Ford Fusion was the top midsize car. (Ford)
APEAL study puts U.S. brands on top
Among mass-market vehicles, the domestic automakers are the top dogs in vehicle looks and appeal, J.D. Power and Associates announced last week in its annual Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) study. U.S. domestic brands averaged 787 on a 1,000-point scale -- 13 points higher than the score for automakers headquartered in Europe or the Asian Pacific, J.D. Power said. Among mass-market brands, Buick, Volkswagen and Ford scored the best. Among luxury makes, Porsche, Jaguar and BMW logged the highest scores.
Top scoring models included the Ford Fusion in the midsize-car segment and the Chevrolet Camaro and the Dodge Challenger in the midsize-sporty-car category. The GMC Terrain topped the crossover/SUV segment, and the Chevrolet Avalanche had the highest score for a large pickup truck. The BMW 3 Series topped the entry-level premium-car segment and the Mercedes-Benz S-Class was ranked highest for a large premium car.
--The Associated Press
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