Kelley Blue Book: 2015 Brand Image Awards: Best Overall Brand

About the Brand Image Awards

From laundry detergent to designer handbags, a strong brand is a powerful thing. And it's truer in the car market than almost any other.

So every year the Kelley Blue Book Market Intelligence team tracks consumers' brand perceptions with its Brand Watch study. And every year we leverage the results of that study in presenting the Kelley Blue Book Brand Image Awards, highlighting the standout brands in a variety of categories including Most Trusted Brand, Best Performance Brand and more. More accurate than a moment-in-time survey, this year the ongoing Brand Watch study tapped the sentiments of more than 12,000 in-market new-vehicle shoppers doing their research at KBB.com.

Best Brands

The Brand Image Awards comprise 13 winners across seven categories, recognizing automakers' outstanding achievements in creating and maintaining brands that engender enthusiasm among new-vehicle buyers. The trophies are presented to the winning automakers on the floor of the New York Auto Show.
And with that, let's meet the Brand Image Award winners of 2015, starting strong with the two Best Overall Brand awards.

This is the third year in a row that Honda has claimed the title of Best Overall Brand, thanks in large part to many of the same reasons it also took home this year's Best Value Brand trophy. It's familiar territory for Honda, which has built a reputation for quality and reliability by providing buyers with well-built, hassle-free transportation for decades. Honda owners are more loyal than most and recommend the cars more often, and that's exactly why and how a great brand is built.

• Honda Accord
• Honda Accord Hybrid
• Honda Civic
• Honda Crosstour
• Honda CR-V
• Honda CR-Z
• Honda Fit
• Honda Odyssey
• Honda Pilot

From the storied Porsche 911 to the new-for-2015 Macan SUV, the Porsche lineup benefits from one of the purest brands in the world. The automaker's dedication to driving remains, but today's expanded Porsche portfolio offers several 4-door options and some of the richest interiors on the road. Expanding a brand's appeal while maintaining its integrity is not an easy thing to do, but Porsche has done it masterfully.

• Porsche 911
• Porsche 918 Spyder
• Porsche Boxster
• Porsche Cayenne
• Porsche Cayman
• Porsche Macan
• Porsche Panamera

Source;
http://www.kbb.com/new-cars/brand-image-awards/best-overall-brand/

Autoevolution.com: Crocodile Leather and Gold Porsche Panamera Interior by TopCar [Photo Gallery]

by Mihnea Radu of www.autoevolution.com 


We know we made this joke before, but the Porsche Panamera by TopCar is another awesomely ostentatious vehicle that matches the "opulence, I has it" mantra.

TopCar are Russian tuning specialists who make their own carbon fiber body kits and custom interiors. Their clientele comes from among the richest people in the country, folks who are more than will to pay as much for unique parts as for the whole car.

With rubles no object, the Porsche Panamera Turbo S was totally transformed from the inside out. Its interior is covered in a combination of purple leathers of different types, including crocodile, purple carbon fiber and gold trim for the air vents.

If you've never seen gold-colored pedals and cup holders (we haven't), the Panamara Stingray GTR by TopCar is a thing to behold.

Source (with more pictures);
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/crocodile-leather-and-gold-porsche-panamera-interior-by-topcar-photo-gallery-75438.html

Porsche 918 Spyder Leaked in Patent Application

Wow....

According to leaked photos, Porsche has applied for a patent on the 918 Spyder in China, revealing the first visuals of the production model.


If these patent images indeed reveal the production model 918 Spyder, then the German automaker hasn’t changed too much from the concept version that’s been spotted lapping the ‘Ring. The 918 Spyder seen here features door handles, mirrors, turn signals, seat belts and a slightly redesigned front bumper with different air intakes.

The production 918 Spyder is expected to debut next fall and will be priced near $1,000,000. Featuring 795 hp and 495 lb-ft of torque thanks to a 4.6-liter V8 mated to a powerful electric motor, the Porsche 918 Spyder will be the first real hybrid super car.

Source;

http://www.autoguide.com/auto-news/2012/12/porsche-918-spyder-leaked-in-patent-application.html 

Porsche tuner Gemballa murdered

Uwe Gemballa, the CEO of the Porsche tuning company that bears his name, has been found murdered near Pretoria, South Africa.

The tuning company, Gemballa Automobiletechnik, is known for creating Porsche performance conversions and customers have included Arab royalty and movie stars.

Gemballa was found shot in the head with his hands tied and his body wrapped in cellophane.

The German businessman had been missing since 8 February after travelling to the country for a business trip.

At the time, police said there was little evidence to suggest kidnapping. Local forces have not commented on any of the surrounding circumstances of Gemballa's death.

Vishnu Naidoo, a South African police spokesman said: “We have found the body of Gemballa and we're now investigating the circumstances around his death. A murder docket has been opened.”

No arrests have yet been made, but two German police officers are in South Africa to assist with the investigation.

Andrew Papworth

Source;
http://www.autocar.co.uk/News/NewsArticle/AllCars/253130/