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Get closer to Jaguar XF

Cardesignnews - With the XF, which replaced the S-type last year, Jaguar aims to change that stogy perception of the brand, and the company is taking a new strategy; one that rejects Jaguar classicism and creates a new meaning of ‘Jaguarness’.

Competitor, but not a classic Jaguar

We showed our black XF on its 20-inch wheels to many people, and universally their first impression was that the XF is a seriously svelte ‘executive’ car: a new competitor to the Audi A6, BMW 5 series, Lexus GS and even the Mercedes CLS. Interestingly, no-one took issue with the car not being more like other Jaguars or the S-type it replaces.

Svelte, but slightly generic

The most critical response to the XF that we consistently heard was slight but significant; that it made rather a quiet statement. This stemmed mostly from its generic proportions (several designers mentioned the Lexus GS as having a similar profile) and, to a lesser extent, from its calm surfacing and lack of adornment.

Assured except for its expression

With a high shoulder, long DLO and cleverly managed rocker area to reduce its visual depth in elevation - and on our car’s massive wheels that literally knobbled its ride - the Jaguar is effortlessly sleek and assured; except at the front. Its headlamps look slightly too tall (although this is perhaps because we can’t forget its concept precursor, the C-XF) and look cheap up close. Fundamentally they have a ‘Roger Moore raised eyebrow’ graphic, a quizzical or surprised expression at odds with the rest of the car.

Without a hint of retro-design

The first medium-sized Jaguar was the MK1 of 1955, which ushered in new dynamic proportions for a luxury sedan. The 1998 S-type that the XF replaces borrowed heavily from the Mk1 née Mk2-based 1963 S-type in its aesthetic. But the XF emphatically does not reference old Jaguar designs. Instead it embraces the spirit of its 50 year old ancestor in having a progressive yet essentially Jaguar aesthetic.

Event quality, not total quality

Get in, push the gently pulsing starter button and the stumpy cylinder gear selector raises up from being flush with the center console to stand proud. At the same time the air vents roll open like eyes opening. Passengers new to the car are wowed by the way it wakes up.

At night, the cool blue illumination also emphasizes the handsome graphics of the controls on the center console and bathes the door recess in blue. This, however, then highlights how the door-mounted switches are inconsistent with those on the console.

The design of the main instrumentation area is also inconsistent with the center console, as well as being rather bare - particularly when compared to an A6. Slightly puckering leather at joins on the steering wheel, a few cheap feeling plastics, poorly fitting lids to the center console storage and the ‘growler’ logo mark on the steering wheel also knock the corners off the quality perception of the XF.

Step-ahead and stepping-stone

Without any doubt the XF is a huge step forward for Jaguar. Compared to its sibling sedans - the X-type and XJ6/8 - the XF is science fiction. But outside of Coventry, its audience sees it as a contemporary alternative to the German establishment, not an avant-garde design or a trend setter. Though it is a ’step-ahead’ for Jaguar, perhaps it is also a ’stepping-stone’ to future Jaguars, which are perceived as step-ahead designs that further progress the XF’s new meaning of ‘Jaguarness’.

Instrument Binnacles

We first saw this recurring trend on Ford’s Verve concept at Frankfurt last year. This was the car that was a precursor to the new Fiesta, which features the same dashboard theme. Now we see it on the latest Ford Ka too, although here the hood appears as an added layer over the pale plastic surround to the dials. We also spotted it on the new Seat Ibiza this year.

So what’s the reason behind this rash of similar-looking instrument binnacles? Well, there’s a genuine advantage in that it allows a larger diameter of dial to be seen through the steering wheel rim. Likewise, it’s more sporty and informal looking compared to traditional dials contained within a hooded binnacle that’s integrated as part of the main IP molding.

Designers also constantly look for ways to modify the basic sculpture and volumes of the IP, to add a new motif that moves the game onwards. And this is the real driver behind this latest trend. We see a similar trend with headlamps: previously, the headlamp can used to be buried within the housing, but gradually it has become more prominent as the headlamp perimeter has been peeled back around the corner of the car. The E31 BMW 3 series of 1991 was the first car to do that, with cans that were grooved to look like pistons. Now the headlamps themselves have started to burst from the surfaces.

Porsche’s Boxster concept from 1993 might also be said to have sown the seeds for this current trend in instrument dials. That car took the 911’s ‘five instruments in a line’ and turned them into separate ‘cans’ that slightly burst out of the surrounding IP. The binnacle hood was a minimal bikini of leather that barely covered them. That idea, albeit in diluted form, carried over to the production Boxster too, although with just three rather than five dials.

So the separated dials idea has a certain aura of ’sportiness’ behind it emphasized by the fact that sports goods are a popular source of reference for designers. According to Ford interior designer Ernst Reim, the Verve/Fiesta took its inspiration from ski wear, with the cans slightly elongated and linked together, like a nice pair of Oakley goggles. The Seat Ibiza takes this a step further: the top lip of the hood is finished in a silver plastic finish to match the edges of the dials. It’s an undoubtedly sporty look, even if the quality of the plastic materials on the Seat is not especially high.

GM is at it too. The new Insignia for Europe and the new Chevrolet Cruze both feature this cutaway theme for the instrument binnacle. The Cruze has a separate binnacle hood, while the Insignia keeps an integrated round binnacle, cut quite high up so that the edges of the big outer dials peep out. It’s a richer, more luxurious approach than the Ibiza or Fiesta, and more in keeping with its higher market segment.

This treatment is not restricted to European brands either. At last year’s Tokyo Show we noticed the Daihatsu OFC1, where the binnacle hood is stripped away even further, leaving the sides and top of the dials exposed. The new Honda Fit (Jazz) model, launched at the show, also develops this idea, although in a more sculptural way. The three dials are mounted in an inverted heart-shaped form, with a little beak of a hood bridging across the two outer dials. It’s a complex theme that is certainly different from most competitors in this segment. Then again, Honda has a tradition of housing dials under a small, sporty binnacle hood that stretches back to the first Civic in 1972, so the latest Jazz is simply an extension of that heritage.

If Porsche inspired this current trend then maybe we’d better look to them for the next step too. The latest Boxster RS60 Spyder has no hood at all, just a line of bare dials. Expect to see this on your production car in a few years time then.

Are You Can Cut Out Maintenance?

Data released by the U.S. Department of Transportation shows that, since November of 2007, Americans have driven over 62 billion fewer miles than they did over the same period a year earlier-exceeding the 1970s’ total decline of nearly 50 billion miles.

However, even when driving less, there are a few things car owners should do to ensure their best mpg and trouble-free driving.

“If you are driving less and you are deferring maintenance, there are some basic items that you need to give attention to. Without a doubt, the top two are cleaning battery terminals-and generally making sure the battery is in good shape-and making sure tires are properly inflated,” said Robert Sinclair, spokesperson for AAA of New York.

The experts at Goodwrench recommend the following four maintenance tips to help keep your vehicle in top condition-no matter how much you drive.

1. Tires-According to the U.S. Department of Energy, underinflated tires can reduce fuel economy by up to 3.3 percent.

That’s because underinflated tires can increase rolling resistance and fuel consumption, so make sure tires are inflated according to manufacturer’s recommendations.

Here are a few simple tire maintenance tips that can improve fuel economy and identify problems before replacement is needed:

• Conduct a visual inspection of the tires periodically and check for uneven wear or excessive tread wear.

• Check inflation pressure at least once per month and adjust as necessary.

• Properly rotate tires at recommended intervals and align and balance, if necessary.

• Keep manufacturer-recommended tires on your vehicle.

2. Batteries-Check battery life, replace or charge your current battery and make sure battery cables are corrosion-free.

Driving less or parking a vehicle for an extended period of time can negatively affect battery life and efficiency, especially if a vehicle has a digital display/clock or security system that’s always on. When a car is being driven regularly, the alternator recharges the battery, but when stationary, these electronic systems simply serve as a slow drain on the battery.

3. Fluid levels-Fluids such as engine coolant, transmission and power steering fluid, engine oil and even wiper fluid may leak or deteriorate whether a vehicle is being driven consistently or not.

Check all fluid levels before going on any extended trip or if a vehicle has been sitting for a long period of time. Drivers can get a more accurate dipstick reading by waiting a few minutes after turning off the engine and making sure the vehicle is on level ground.

4. Exterior conditions-In colder weather, it is especially important to check exterior conditions of a vehicle if it’s sitting outside. Don’t let leaves or snow pile on top of a vehicle. Leaves can clog air intakes, and piles of snow increase drag and decrease gas mileage. Also, scan the ground under the vehicle where it’s been parked to see if any fluids have leaked, creating a puddle.

Experts recommend that drivers do not delay critical repairs or replacements needed by any system in your car.

Goodwrench has expert Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified technicians and advanced GM technologies, such as OnStar Vehicle Diagnostics, Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS), GM’s Oil Life System, Goodwrench Remote Diagnostics and Simplified Maintenance Schedules, which help GM owners take the guesswork out when critical services need to be performed.

New spray-gun cleaner

For non-life businesses is the new Herkules Aqua Rinse on the market. Met dit gereedschap kunnen spuitpistolen met een wegwerpbeker snel worden schoongemaakt. With this tool can spray guns with a disposable cup quickly cleaned. Het pistool wordt doorgespoeld, uitgeblazen en gedroogd door middel van perslucht. The gun is rinsed, dried and blown out through compressed air. De Aqua Rinse is compact zodat hij goed in spuitcabines kan worden geïnstalleerd. Rinse the Aqua is so compact it fits in spray booths can be installed.
Het apparaat wordt geleverd met een trechter om het pistool in leeg te blazen, een borstel om luchtkappen schoon te maken, een blaaspistool om te drogen, en een membraanpomp met spoelvloeistof-reservoir. The device comes with a funnel to the gun in empty bladders, a brush to clean air hoods, a blow gun to dry, and rinse with a membrane pump fluid reservoir.
De afmetingen van de Aqua Rinse zijn 64 bij 26 bij 52 centimeter, en hij weegt 12,5 kilo. The dimensions of the Aqua Rinse are 64 to 26 to 52 centimeters, and he weighs 12.5 pounds. Hij wordt geimporteerd door CAP Automotive. It is imported by CAP Automotive.

Bigger Contributor to the pollution

Motor oil leaked from individual vehicles—or outright dumped by homeowners and commercial garages—constitutes a significant chunk of storm water runoff, the fallen precipitation that runs off of roads and parking lots and inevitably finds its way into local water bodies.

These pollutants include not only leaked motor oil—which may contain toxic substances like lead, benzene, zinc or magnesium—but also fertilizers, insecticides, plastic debris, cigarette butts, paints, solvents, sediments and other hazardous waste. Topsoil and natural vegetation would ordinarily filter many of these pollutants out, but the impermeable pavement that covers much of the surface where these pollutants originate carries it right into storm drains and into streams, rivers, lakes and the ocean where it can poison marine life—which we might eat—as well as entire riparian or coastal ecosystems.

This pollution also finds its way into underground aquifers that supply our drinking water, so reducing it is a human health measure and could also save municipalities millions of dollars a year in drinking water treatment facilities and operational expenses.

While government agencies try to craft and implement development and zoning standards to help reduce storm water runoff problems caused by commercial and industrial entities, there is still much that individuals can do to reduce their impact as well. Indeed, upwards of 40 percent of oil pollution in the U.S. comes from the improper disposal of used motor oil by individuals.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends keeping on top of automotive maintenance to prevent and repair leaks, and disposing of used motor oil and other automotive fluids and batteries at designated drop-offs or recycling locations (consult Earth911.org to find one near you). Also, it is preferable to wash your car at a commercial car wash instead of in your driveway. By law, car washes must treat their wastewater before disposing of it.

Besides handling and discarding your motor oil and other automotive fluids responsibly, cutting back on or eliminating fertilizers and pesticides from your lawn or garden will also reduce your negative impact. Also, don’t over-water your lawn, as that can create extra run-off as well. And if you are embarking on a residential landscaping project, try to incorporate permeable pavement (which allows run-off through it into the soils below) as well as rain barrels to collect water, and rain gardens, grassy swales and driveway-side vegetative strips—all planted with region-appropriate native plants of course—to help filter contaminants out before they hit the storm sewers.

Outdoor Car Covers

A custom-fit Car Covers is specially tailored to the lines of your vehicle. No detail is left unturned. Custom-fit car covers hug every contour of your vehicle and feature sewn-in mirror pockets, plus grommet holes for antennas.

Protection you need, Quality you can afford

Sunlight, salt air, trees and insects, and neighboring children all pose their own, unique dangers to your car.

If you are reading this, you know that already. You are just looking to see what value you are getting and the type you need to buy.

Car Covers Superguard  focuses on maximum protection in all weather conditions. If you live in mild weather areas, such as southern California, then you may not require this level of protection.

Our Outdoor Superguard , made with Kimberly-Clark’s Evolution® 4-layer non-woven polypropylene fabric, provide maximum protection in all weather conditions. Often imitated, but never equaled, our Outdoor Superguard
U.S. made Evolution fabric covers are used by millions of satisfied car enthusiasts around the world. Available in Blue, Gray, Tan

All of our Outdoor Superguard have improved performance for 2003 with a stronger outer layer and softer inner layer gentle protection for fine paint finishes

• Naturally Moisture Resistant - Acid rain, industrial pollutants, tree sap and bird droppings will not harm the fabric.
• Our Outdoor Superguard dries Easily - Moisture is not absorbed by the fabric fibers.
• Breathable - Allows air to circulate through the fabric.
• Dust / Pollution Barrier - The two middle layers of melt-blown fabric act as a filtration barrier against most airborne pollutants.
• Our Outdoor Superguard.. Absorption - 4-layer thickness absorbs impacts better than any other vehicle cover fabric to help protect the finish from nicks, dings, dents and scratches.

If you need high quality, maximum protection from your car cover, then there is no better product in design or material than the Superguard Car Cover.

Closer to Volvo C30

Start with one of Volvo’s popular S40 compact sedans. Eliminate the rear doors, lop off several inches in the car’s length, slim the car down by a couple of hundred pounds, add a hatchback at the rear and you have the C30. It’s a three-door hatchback runabout that’s similar — kinda, sorta — to an Audi A3, Mini Cooper or Volkswagen GTI.
The C30’s styling is both distinctive and attractive. The front end is pure S40 sedan. But the C30’s roofline flows nicely into a steeply reverse-sloped rear end that’s unlike that of any current Volvo. Muscular rear shoulders give the car a hunkered-down look. And when viewed from above, the car has a teardrop shape that’s probably good for aerodynamic efficiency.

The C30’s styling is also a little bit retro. The rear lids of hatchbacks typically consist of a metal frame with a glass window. But the unusual all-glass hatchback lid of the C30 is reminiscent of Volvo’s P1800ES sport wagon from the 1970s — still a favorite design of Volvo aficionados.
Inside, the C30’s styling is very Volvo — which is to say, simple and clean in good Scandinavian fashion. Volvo’s trademark interior feature, a slim waterfall-like center stack with controls for the audio and climate systems, highlights the cabin. The Volvo’s controls and switchgear are logically arranged and easy to find. Plenty of glass area means that the visibility from the driver’s seat is generally unobstructed and the interior feels especially open and airy for a coupe.

Volvo ( www.volvocars.com) offers the C30 in two trim levels: Versions 1.0 and 2.0. My test car was the former. It’s the least expensive C30 edition — and in fact, the least expensive model of any Volvo — with a base price of $23,695, including destination charges. The 2.0 costs about $3,000 more and adds several body, suspension and interior enhancements, including upgraded wheels and sound system.
Volvo also offers something called “Custom Build” if you wish to trick out your C30 with unusual paint schemes or such accessories as keyless start or bi-xenon headlights. One problem, however: Going Custom Build will tack on a one-time $300 fee to the car’s price, even if you just want to add cruise control or a trip computer. That seems chintzy to me.

So did the battleship gray interior of my test car. Though the car’s fit and overall finish was well done, large expanses of boring gray plastic looked low rent. But I liked the comfortable and supportive seats, covered in Volvo’s good-looking T-Tek fabric upholstery.

Both Versions 1.0 and 2.0 come with plenty of standard equipment, including air conditioning, tilt-and-telescoping steering column, keyless remote entry and — as expected of any Volvo — a complete set of safety features. Both versions also share the same drive train, a 227-horsepower turbocharged five-cylinder engine connected to either a six-speed manual or five-speed automatic transmission.

According to www.fueleconomy.gov, fuel economy is 23 mpg combined city/highway driving for the manual gearbox (22 mpg combined for the automatic transmission). That’s not an impressive rating for a compact car. And Volvo recommends premium grade gasoline, though the owner’s manual says regular grade gas won’t damage the engine.

The five-cylinder Volvo engine was smooth, quiet and pulled strong. The six-speed manual transmission, as fitted to my test car, was slick shifting and pleasant to operate. The steering too, was nicely weighted and gave good feedback. And the brakes were powerful.

But despite the C30’s sporty looks, the car doesn’t deliver the sporty driving dynamics of a Mini Cooper or VW GTI. For hard driving on a twisty road, I’d pick the latter two cars over the Volvo any day. Instead, the Volvo is the more comfy highway cruiser, with a quieter interior and a less jittery ride.

To be sure, styling sells cars. But there’s a practical price to pay for the C30’s handsome lines. The rear seat is best described as “for occasional use,” as both reaching it and sitting in it for long periods are challenging undertakings. The rear seatbacks fold down to increase the cargo area, but a fairly narrow hatch opening makes loading and unloading cargo something of a chore.

Which brings me to this right-brain/left-brain question: If the C30 drives much like the S40 sedan from which it is derived, why not just buy the sedan with its useful rear doors and extra passenger room? The S40 costs only a little more than the C30 but is far more practical.

Ah, but that’s left-brain thinking. Beauty has its own rewards and so does the C30.

Steps How to Save your Gas Bill

Green Car.com - After dismissing the thought of boycotting your local gas stations – a pleasant thought, but a move that won’t get the kids to school or you to work – you’re faced with thinking over some real options. We think of these, too … and here are some that come to mind. None of these involve dumping your car and getting a new one. We know that’s not always possible, especially if you’re in the middle of a lease with nowhere to go. Plus, if your vehicle is a larger model like an SUV that gets marginal fuel economy, its present sale or trade-in value probably leaves a lot to be desired. So, if you need to keep driving your everyday ride but just have to do something about the high gas costs that are wrecking your budget, then give these tips a shot.

• Start here: Don’t drive as much. Really, this isn’t as painful as it sounds. We’ve grown accustomed to our cars providing mobility on demand, which is a good thing when it isn’t hurting our wallets or contributing to growing oil dependency. It’s not so good when the reverse is true, which is the situation today. So plan ahead. Consolidating your day’s errands into sequential trips one after another is a great strategy that will save gas. It will also cut tailpipe emissions by eliminating unnecessary cold-starts when your car’s emissions control system is least effective.
• Ease off on the pedal, Speed Racer. Okay, maybe you’re not really hot rodding your way down the street, but chances are pretty good you’re not thinking about taking it easy from one traffic light to the next. Light accelerator pressure and a conscious effort to avoid quick starts and stops do make a difference in fuel economy, sometimes a pretty big one. Give it a try. While you’re at it, smooth out your pedal pressure at highway speeds as well by using your cruise control whenever appropriate.
• Feeling the need for speed? Let it go. It’s easy to creep past posted speed limits without thinking about it, especially on urban highways where traffic often tends to move well beyond 65 mph. Some freeways in Southern California regularly flow at 80 mph and sometimes more. The problem is that fuel efficiency diminishes rapidly above 60 mph. In fact, the EPA says that each 5 mph driven above that speed has the net effect of costing you about 20 cents more per gallon of gas.
• If you’re filling up on mid-grade or premium fuel, check to see if you really need to do this. Some high-compression engines do require higher octane fuel to run properly, and in fact serious engine damage could result from using a lower grade fuel than is specified in your owner’s manual. But if you don’t need premium fuel you shouldn’t be filling up with it. Premium fuel costs about 20 to 40 cents more per gallon but doesn’t provide better performance in engines designed to run on regular … so you’re essentially pumping cash out your tailpipe. Not a pleasant thought, is it?
• Check your tire pressure weekly and keep your tires aired up to the recommended psi. This is so simple you’d assume everyone does this regularly. Not so. And that’s too bad since tires with low pressure create greater rolling resistance that can cost you up to 3 percent in fuel efficiency. Tires heat up while you drive and checking them while hot will give an artificially high reading. Make a habit of checking tire pressure before driving when your tires are cold. You might also consider buying low rolling resistance tires the next time your car is ready for new treads.

Most Popular Car Body Style

The sedan is the most popular car body style, and offers interior space and access through two doors on each side (or more rarely one) and luggage security because of a locking, covered luggage compartment separate from the passenger compartment.

Sedans come in all sizes. Small examples include the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Midsize sedans are the best-selling, with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord leading. And large sedans, once the staple of the American industry in the 1950s and 1960s, refuse to die, keeping limo drivers happy in their Lincoln Town Cars, and police officers in their Ford Crown Victorias.

With over 100 sedan models to choose from it is important for potential buyers to “know before they try and buy”

If you want to know more (and we suggest that you do), The New Car Buyers Guide’s exclusive Rank By Specs tool allows consumers to become experts and rank and then compare every sedan sold in North America by every spec, dimension, capacity and performance criteria. CLICK HERE

Women Favourite Car

“Women are more complicated than skirts, purses and nails,” says Brigid O’Kane, a design professor and coordinator of the Transportation Design Track program at the University of Cincinnati. Even so, ease of entry and useful interior storage, including space for a purse, are elements that make vehicles especially attractive to women, she says.

To find out which vehicles women prefer, we compiled two lists. One looks at luxury vehicles most driven by women, and the other ranks the overall top 10 vehicles most driven by women, regardless of whether they are luxury or non-luxury.

Women generally demand more from their vehicles than men do and are more particular about a broader range of criteria. “There is a significant amount of overlap between what women and men want in car design,” says Tim Greig, interior design manager for General Motors Global Design. “What I’ve noticed in our market research, however, is that women tend to not only see the big picture but pay close attention to the details as well.”

That’s why companies are starting to use “transparent” marketing as a way to attract women buyers without alienating men. This approach is based on the premise that women tend to have a longer list of shopping criteria than men, even though they might share some top priorities. Therefore, companies can attract both male and female buyers by focusing on the priorities of most women.

For example, if a man and woman each have a list of five desired attributes they consider when shopping for a car, the woman may have five additional desires that are lower in priority but still important.

“If you can understand numbers six through 10, then you can attract women and over- deliver to men,” says Lisa Johnson, president of marketing firm ReachWomen and author of the book “Don’t Think Pink.”

What Matters Most

Safety, comfort, practicality and value are top priorities for women car buyers, experts say. Styling, design and performance are also important, but not necessarily more so than practicality.

Our all-inclusive list of vehicles with the highest percentage of female primary drivers includes some of the smallest, least expensive cars available, such as the Honda Fit, Kia Spectra and Toyota Yaris. The Fit tops our list encompassing both luxury and non-luxury vehicles, with 80.46 percent driven primarily by women. Go to the accompanying slideshow for the full list.

In general, women tend to be more open-minded toward smaller vehicles than men. Many mothers on a tight budget will choose a smaller or more basic vehicle if it means having more money to send kids to college, O’Kane says.

To put into perspective women’s focus on finding the best value, consider that three models on our list that includes luxury and non-luxury vehicles with the highest percentage of female primary drivers are among the least expensive to own. The fifth- ranked Nissan Versa (60.58 percent of which have primarily female drivers), the fourth-ranked Toyota Yaris (61.86 percent), and the top-ranked Honda Fit (80.46 percent) all made our separate ranking of the Top 10 Least Expensive Vehicles to Own.

Show Me Practicality

Women might be more inclined than men to buy smaller vehicles, but many prefer large models. Three sport utility vehicles made our list that takes into account both luxury and non-luxury vehicles: The Honda Pilot in seventh place (with 60.28 percent female primary drivers), the Mazda’s CX-7 in eighth (60.19 percent), and the wagon-like Chrysler Pacifica in 10th (59.81 percent).

“Women are looking for practicality and versatility,” says Alexander Edwards, automotive division president at consulting firm Strategic Vision.

In a recent survey by the San Diego-based research firm, 40 percent of women respondents said they prefer vehicles that provide the most comfortable ride, compared to 25 percent of men. “Most women look for comfort, but after that they look for something that is either capable, fun or both,” Edwards says.

Our other list of only luxury vehicles includes two SUVs: The Acura MDX in eighth place, with 51.23 percent driven primarily by women, and the Cadillac SRX in 10th place with 51.18 percent.

The SUVs with highest percentage of female primary drivers include convenience features that affect seating for children and occupant safety, which O’Kane says are top priorities for most women.

Value-Minded Luxury

When looking only at luxury vehicles, it’s clear that even wealthy women focus on price more than do affluent men. Many of the luxury vehicles with the highest percentage of female primary drivers are among the most affordable premium models on the market.

Among the most affordable models on our second list, which is limited to luxury or premium models, are the second-place $25,930 Audi A3, with 54.85 percent female primary drivers, and the third-ranked $24,365 Volvo S40 with 53.69 percent.

By contrast, the luxury vehicles with the highest percentage of male drivers are among the priciest, fastest and flashiest around. Marketers predict that in coming years, male Baby Boomers will snap up ultra-luxury vehicles and sports cars in record numbers.

But their female counterparts won’t, necessarily. Even though female Boomers, like the men in their generation, seek ways to invest in themselves “to put an exclamation point on their life,” says ReachWomen’s Johnson, that doesn’t always mean spending a lot on a lavish or attention-getting vehicle.

Women aren’t immune to the idea of regarding their vehicle as a status symbol, sources say. They just typically aren’t as overt as men about expressing their status when it comes to the vehicle they drive.

“When you’re purchasing a car, you’re often purchasing an identity … so sometimes there are women who want the attention, but it’s more subtle,” O’Kane says. “Women want the experience in the vehicle” more than they want its projected image, while for men it’s often the opposite, she says.

Despite being more value-oriented than men, the amount of money women spend on new cars has risen at twice the national average this decade, says Art Spinella, president of CNW Marketing Research, the source for the data used in our rankings. “More women in two- and three-car households are driving a luxury brand.”

The Form Factor

The BMW Z4 is the only model to make both of our lists of vehicles with the highest percentage of female primary drivers. With 60.31 percent driven primarily by women, BMW’s sleek Z4 two-seater sports car tops our luxury-only list and ranks sixth on the all- encompassing list.

It has the kind of styling women gravitate toward, says Imre Molnar, dean of Detroit’s College for Creative Studies, home to one of the country’s top automotive design programs. The BMW Z4 has a “complex and sophisticated compound form that’s very feminine,” he says, adding that some women are attracted to so-called “masculine” designs, but most gravitate toward vehicles with softer curves.

Cars from Asian automakers tend to have styling that’s “much gentler, less aggressive,” Molnar says. Eight of the 10 models on our all-encompassing list of vehicles driven primarily by women are from Asian manufacturers.

Our lists include the top 10 vehicles with the highest percentage of female primary drivers based on CNW Marketing Research survey data. The lists do not account for yearly vehicle sales volumes. Rather, they measure which vehicles have the highest percentage of female drivers based on the number of survey respondents who said they were the primary driver of a particular model. The surveys were conducted in 2007. We excluded models that have been discontinued for 2008.

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