May 11, 200619 yr Demographic Groups Rank Most Buzz-Worthy New Vehicles Domestic Launches Creating Most Buzz, Mercedes-Benz CLS Universally Viewed as Sophisticated IRVINE, Calif., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- New-vehicle launches creating the most buzz differ greatly by demographic and vehicle consideration groups, according to the 2006 AutoVIBES Demographics reports, now available from online research leaders Harris Interactive® and Kelley Blue Book Marketing Research. The annual AutoVIBES Demographics series of reports provide significant insight into the diverse vehicle shopping preferences and opinions of different age groups, ethnicities and segment consideration groups. Most Buzz-Worthy New Nameplates Among Demographic/Vehicle Consideration Groups Demographic New-Vehicle Nameplate Seen as Having the Most Buzz Generation Y (Born from 1977-1986) Chevrolet Cobalt Generation X (Born from 1965-1976) Hummer H3 Baby Boomers (Born from 1946-1964) Dodge Charger Pre-Boomers (Born 1945 and earlier) Ford Five Hundred Hispanic Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 Asian Lexus 400h African-American Dodge Charger Luxury Considerers Mercedes-Benz CLS Minivan Considerers Ford Freestyle Truck Considerers Dodge Charger SUV Considerers Hummer H3 Sporty Car Considerers Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 Sedan Considerers Ford Five Hundred Hybrid/Alternative Fuel Considerers Dodge Charger AutoVIBES examined 49 new-nameplate launches in 2005, 25 of which were domestics. Car-buyers in 14 demographic/vehicle consideration groups rated 12 domestics and only two imports as being the most buzz-worthy. "Domestic manufacturers have recently introduced some exciting new products that are catching the eye of many consumers," said Jack R. Nerad, executive editorial director and market analyst for Kelley Blue Book and kbb.com. "The highly-anticipated Dodge Charger is making waves among buyers in many different demographics." The new AutoVIBES study also shows vehicle shoppers of all generations see domestic vehicles as the most buzz-worthy, although each generation rates a different domestic vehicle in the top spot. The youngest age-group surveyed, Generation Y, and the oldest age-group surveyed, Pre-Boomers, had only one vehicle in common on their top five buzz list: Dodge Charger. Different Generations Weigh In: The Top Five New-Vehicle Nameplates with the Most Buzz Rank Generation Y Pre-Boomers (Born from 1977-1986) (Born 1945 and earlier) 1 Chevrolet Cobalt Ford Five Hundred 2 Dodge Charger Buick LaCrosse 3 Ford Shelby Cobra GT 500 Cadillac DTS 4 Hummer H3 Ford Freestyle 5 Pontiac G6 Dodge Charger While different groups chose a variety of vehicles as most buzz-worthy, there was universal agreement among all that the Mercedes-Benz CLS was the most "sophisticated." In addition, the Pontiac Solstice was rated high by all groups for being "exciting," "youthful" and "imaginative."
May 11, 200619 yr Is this done by the same researching group that said a Hummer H3 is more eco-friendly than a Civic?
May 11, 200619 yr Apparently I'm a Gen Y-er...never knew. so if thats a gen y-er and then 86 to whatever is Z.... then do they go back to A? so confused....
May 11, 200619 yr I find it strange that in a survey where half the products are import brands, only 2 import-brand vehicles showed up as top picks. I'm not trying to put down the domestics by any means...but the Dodge Charger is the top pick among "Hybrid/Alternative Fuel Considerers?" Really? And Generation Y is really hoping for a Chevrolet Cobalt? Doesn't this sound like one of the Big3 paid for the survey?
May 11, 200619 yr I find it hard to believe anyone is really anticipating the Lexus "400h", especially Asians, especially with a Skyline coming down the pike.
May 12, 200619 yr Obviously 'Charger' is a misprint in the hybrid/alternative fuel catagory since it offers neither. 'Charger' also appears next to 'truck considerers'... Still, I don't see much buzz coming from these vehicles' competitors...
May 12, 200619 yr Author These are not "top picks" in the sense that they are the first choice as a purchase, merely what people are talking about, just as Letterman, Leno and co. are always talking about Bush.
May 12, 200619 yr Nice to see younger generations giving the domestics credit were credit is due, unlike the baby boomers who currently run all the magazines that slam the domestics.
May 12, 200619 yr Not sure I've ever met anyone, my age or not, who actually aspires to a Cobalt. Cobalt SS
May 13, 200619 yr sciguy: The Freestyle, according to this survey, is the most "buzz worthy" among that demographic. The Freestyle isn't even a minivan...but apparently the group of people who are leaning toward buying a minivan...aw, geez...I can't even FAKE that I trust this survey.
May 13, 200619 yr Oh, I get it: http://www.weblogsinc.com/common/images/75...943106345108120 I was just thinking about that ad when I saw your post! I hear Dodge dealers actually got phone calls about if they had a Charger Hybrid...just goes to show you how stupid some people are (I could throw a Toyota joke in their but I'll take the high road...this time )
May 16, 200619 yr If GM offered it in a hunter green (like the Sky's) then I would really like the Cobalt. I have driven them, and though "aspire" is a strong word, I would appreciate the ownership of one. I aspire more for an Alfa Romeo 159/Brera, or a Saturn Astra GTC!
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