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"New Models Score Well in Crash Tests    Three new vehicles performed well in a recent series of frontal offset crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, which is funded by the insurance industry.   The institute&amp;#039;s tests exceed the requirements mandated by the federal government and consist of impacting each vehicle with a driver&amp;#039;s side barrier at 40 mph. The highest rating of good means a driver wearing a seat belt probably could walk away from a similar crash with minor injuries.   Two cars, the and , earned overall ratings of good, according to an institute press release.   A new large pickup, the Nissan Titan, also earned a good rating.   All three of these vehicles earned the designation of &amp;quot;best pick&amp;quot; for frontal crash protection. The (twin: ), a small SUV modified by Ford to improve offset crash performance, went from a marginal rating to acceptable, the institute said.   &amp;quot;Most new vehicles now are earning good ratings in the Institute&amp;#039;s frontal offset test,&amp;quot; says Institute chief operating officer Adrian Lund. &amp;quot;Of the vehicles we&amp;#039;ve tested so far this year, eight are rated good and two are acceptable. This means most new vehicle designs are offering much better protection than older designs for occupants in serious frontal crashes.&amp;quot;   The institute says that its tests and the government&amp;#039;s crash tests complement each other: The Institute&amp;#039;s crashworthiness evaluations are based on results of frontal offset crash tests at 40 mph. Each vehicle&amp;#039;s overall evaluation is based on three aspects of performance \u2014 measurements of intrusion into the occupant compartment, injury measures from a Hybrid III dummy positioned in the driver seat, and analysis of slow-motion film to assess how well the restraint system controlled dummy movement during the test.   The federal government has been testing new passenger vehicles in 35 mph full-front crash tests since 1978.   The Institute&amp;#039;s offset tests, conducted since 1995, involve 40 percent of a vehicle&amp;#039;s front end hitting a deformable barrier at 40 mph.   This test, the institute says, complements the federal test involving the full width of the front end hitting a rigid barrier.   The same 40 mph offset crash test is used to evaluate new cars by the European Union in cooperation with motor clubs, by an Australian consortium of state governments and motor clubs, and by a government-affiliated organization in Japan, according to the institute.   Ford and GM Top Polk&amp;#039;s Consumer Loyalty Rankings   Owners of Ford Motor Company and General Motors Corporation vehicles are leading the industry in remaining loyal to their chosen brands, according to mid-year consumer loyalty rankings by R. L. Polk &amp;amp;amp; Co., a respected industry research firm.   Since 2000, General Motors has rated the highest in manufacturer loyalty, Polk said in a press release.   The first six months of the 2004 model year also show GM in the lead with 65.7 percent of its customers returning to the automaker when they make future purchases.   &amp;quot;GM&amp;#039;s high loyalty rates are partially driven by a wide range of vehicles available among its seven makes,&amp;quot; said Melissa Travers, manager of Polk&amp;#039;s Loyalty Solutions team.   At the make level, Ford continues to retain the highest percentage of its consumers with 57.5 percent of its buyers remaining loyal. Ford has enjoyed the top seed in the make category since 1996.   Eight of the 2003 winners in Polk&amp;#039;s segment loyalty categories did not make it into the 2004 mid-year findings. Notably, GM nameplates surged to replace Ford Motor Company vehicles in four segments. At the halfway point, Saturn Ion replaced the Ford Focus in Small Car, Buick Century replaced Mercury Sable in Midsize Car, Buick LeSabre replaced Mercury Grand Marquis in Large Car, and Cadillac DeVille replaced Lincoln Town Car in the Luxury Car segment.   However, three Ford Motor Company light trucks maintained their leads in the Compact Pickup (Ford Ranger), Full Size Pickup (Ford F-Series), and Full Size SUV (Expedition) segments.   &amp;quot;Some of the &amp;#039;new&amp;#039; leaders in model loyalty may not have won in 2003, but have in the not-too-distant past,&amp;quot; said Travers. &amp;quot;In many cases, Polk has found that models can briefly surge to the top of loyalty rankings due to attractive redesigns and particularly enticing incentive offers.&amp;quot;   The Buick LeSabre, leading the Large Car segment halfway into 2004, won for three consecutive years before being ousted by the Mercury Grand Marquis in 2003. Current leader Cadillac DeVille had the highest model loyalty in the Luxury Car segment from 2000 to 2002, before bowing to the Lincoln Town Car in last year&amp;#039;s annual results. Lexus LS430 grabbed top honors in the Prestige Luxury Car segment in 2001 and 2002, was overtaken in 2003 by the BMW 7-series, but is now leading again at 2004&amp;#039;s midpoint.   Entirely new to the loyalty race this year is the Range Rover in the Prestige SUV segment and the Ford Mustang in the Sports Car segment. Meanwhile, the Saturn Ion has dislodged the formidable Ford Focus \u2014 winner for four consecutive years \u2014 from the top spot of the Small Car segment.   &amp;quot;Reflecting the fluid nature of the automotive business, there are both relatively new models leading segment categories, as well as models returning to the top spot after briefly slipping out of the lead,&amp;quot; said Travers. &amp;quot;The last half of the 2004 model year is going to be interesting to see if the new leaders can retain their edge, and if the array of Ford trucks and General Motors cars will remain strong.&amp;quot;   2004 Model Year Mid-Year Loyalty Rankings    Manufacturer Loyalty \u2014 General Motors Make Loyalty \u2014 Ford Division   Segment Categories:   Small Car \u2014 Saturn Ion Midsize Car \u2014 Buick Century Large Car \u2014 Buick LeSabre Luxury Car \u2014 Cadillac DeVille Prestige Luxury Car \u2014 Lexus LS430 Sports Car \u2014 Ford Mustang Prestige Sports Car \u2014 Mercedes-Benz SL-class Minivan \u2014 Chrysler Town &amp;amp;amp; Country Compact Pickup Truck \u2014 Ford Ranger Fullsize Pickup Truck \u2014 Ford F-series Compact SUV \u2014 Subaru Forester Midsize SUV \u2014 Mercury Mountaineer Fullsize SUV \u2014 Ford Expedition Prestige SUV \u2014 Land Rover Range Rover  SOURCE: R. L. Polk &amp;amp;amp; Co.    Audi Posts 2005 A8 Prices    Audi announced the price for its expanded for the 2005 model year.   Available in mid-June, the &amp;quot;normal&amp;quot; wheelbase A8 4.2 quattro will join the model line alongside the long wheelbase, A8 L. The A8 has a manufacturer&amp;#039;s suggested retail price of $66,590. A8 L models have a suggested retail price of $69,900.   New standalone options for 2005 include: adaptive cruise control ($2,100); choice of XM or Sirius Satellite Radio ($550+installation); and three-spoke multifunction wood steering wheel ($480). "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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