What characterizes a successful launch of a new or redesigned vehicle? Well, according to the top minds at Edmunds.com (parent company of Inside Line), you want to see high profit margins, low incentives, low days to turn (i.e., minimal time sitting on the lot waiting for buyers), strong sales performance versus segment rivals (i.e., market share), a high level of web buzz, and strong (predicted) residual value.
Using a total of 18 factors, Edmunds' data analysts scored all the vehicle launches during the 2009 calendar year as part of the first annual Edmunds.com Launch Breakthrough Awards. A total of 54 vehicles were eligible for the 2010 award. To be eligible, an all-new or totally redesigned vehicle had to be launched between January 1 and December 1, 2009 and had to sell at a rate of at least 100 vehicles per month.
The Chevrolet Camaro took the win, obviously, but click through the jump to see the top 10 scoring vehicles. Hint 1: Seven of the 10 are from traditional domestic brands. Hint 2: There's a Porsche in the mix.
1. Chevrolet Camaro
2. Porsche Panamera
3. Chevrolet Equinox
4. Ford Fusion Hybrid
5. Cadillac SRX
6. Lexus RX 350
7. Buick LaCrosse
8. Toyota Prius
9. Mercury Milan Hybrid
10. GMC Terrain
firstwagon says:
08:52 AM, 07/10/10
What were the bottom 10?
tra2883 says:
09:35 AM, 07/10/10
I agree - it would be really interesting to hear what the bottom 10 were!
stovt001 says:
11:14 AM, 07/10/10
I third the call for a bottom 10. These top 10 weren't all that surprising, except for the people who were convinced GM should have been able to sell the Camaro a day after the concept appeared at the Auto Show and couldn't understand why GM took the time to, you know, actually develop a production model.
firstwagon says:
01:32 PM, 07/10/10
I'd also like to see a `where are they now?" redo of the list a year from now.
See who is a flash in the pan and who has real staying power.
ne1butu2 says:
03:21 PM, 07/10/10
Why would they even bother to put the Mercury Milan on the list? The resale value has to be horrible.
1487 says:
06:15 AM, 07/11/10
you cant see out of Camaro. Didn't the people who purchased the car realize that? Judging by 75% of the comments on this site the car needs and immediate redesign ASAP because its a design failure.
cindyskov says:
03:23 PM, 07/11/10
When will they be making that new camero in a convertable?
dougtheeng says:
07:53 PM, 07/11/10
The best past about 1487 is when he continues his crusade even when edmunds is being positive and no negative comments have yet been posted. Internet heroics at it's finest.
In other news, good top 10 but I too would like to see the rest of the list.
1487 says:
06:29 AM, 07/12/10
doug:
This award is based on objective data as explained above. They didn't pick the Camaro because it was their favorite- it came out on top due to its performance in the market. The point is the success of the vehicle contradicts their dim view of the vehicle. See if that makes sense.
dougtheeng says:
08:23 AM, 07/12/10
1487: makes perfect sense to me; I'm just encouraging you to curb your sarcasm. I know this may seem crazy, but you're actually better and expressing your viewpoint when you aren't going out of your way to be a smart-ass.
greenpony says:
09:58 AM, 07/12/10
Uh.. "camero"? Is that a Shevy product?
canddmeyer says:
07:45 PM, 07/13/10
Camar0 = ugliest car on the road today. Sorry GM, but you'll never catch me in one of these.
sugarlandtx says:
07:57 AM, 09/ 9/10
After reading all the comments on the Camero, I still don't know which new car I want to buy, a Mustang, Camero or Challenger.
rags1989 says:
02:07 PM, 11/20/10
Great one greenpony.... Why can't people spell CAMARO correctly? I knew a guy in school that had a personalized tag that said CAMERO... He thought that was the correct spelling. Come on.... it even says CAMARO on your car dumbass!!! What is a convertable??? I know we should be talking about cars.... but please people... learn to spell!!! Especially when the correct spelling is in the comment before yours!!!