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Automakers need love, not just quality, Strategic Vision study shows

Strategic Vision, a company that studies how and why consumers make decisions, released its yearly Total Quality Index on July 12, and the results might be surprising. The study found that love--how much or what part of a car that people like--is more important than the number of problems a car has when choosing a vehicle. For example Ford, which was a quality leader in the study, received a number of complaints about its Sync system.

Volkswagen plans 4 million cars from one platform

Volkswagen is pushing the global-platform concept to a level unprecedented in the auto industry, introducing a modular platform this summer that eventually will be the basis of microcars, sedans, crossovers and SUVs for its four largest brands. While automakers now share platforms across brands and sometimes even segments, the VW initiative that starts this summer is far more ambitious than anything seen so far. By 2017, some analysts estimate, the MQB platform that debuts with the Audi A3 eventually will be used in 4 million units a year--close to half of VW's annual production.

Nurburgring redesign plans unveiled

By Ben Barry Motor Shows 13 November 2008 09:19 Anyone who’s been to the Nurburgring recently will have seen building work on a massive scale. So what’s going on? It’s all part of a €215 million investment that’ll see Europe’s most famous race track build on its uber track day reputation to become what marketing boss Stephan Cimbal describes as a motorsport theme park that’s open 365 days a year.