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Lakeland Automall's automotive expertise is a product of our sustained interest in industry trends and characteristics. We are privileged to share the latest news, promotions and events with you and hope the information will enhance your shopping experience. As you know, there are many new cars from which to choose, and we believe an informed customer is the best customer.

Ford brand now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands

  • Ford brand now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands, according to J.D. Power's closely watched Initial Quality Study
  • Ford rose to fifth place from last year's eighth place. This is the highest rank position Ford has achieved in the IQS since ranking 23rd in 2004
  • Three Ford models rank highest within their respective segments: Ford Focus, Mustang and Taurus
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Hyundai Accent Tops the 2010 J.D. Power IQS Ratings!

J.D. Power and Associates announced today that the Hyundai Accent topped the sub-compact segment in its 2010 Initial Quality Study (IQS). Owners of the economical and fun-to-drive 2010 Accent reported the fewest problems per 100 vehicles in its segment.  Elantra also finished in the top three in the compact car segment.

 

Overall, Hyundai finished third among non-premium brands in the 2010 Initial Quality Study, holding a top-three position for the second consecutive year, well below the industry average for reported problems per 100 vehicles.


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Mazda Tribute is Least Expensive SUV to Insure

As Insure.com initially reported, the Mazda Tribute I SUV is the least-expensive vehicle to insure in the U.S. today when configured with a four-cylinder engine a FWD only. All told, it will cost you an average of $1070.25 to insure annually, just $25.01 than the runner-up Honda Odyssey LX. Splurging on AWD won't hurt you much either, as the four-cylinder Tribute I with AWD is just $1103.29 per year on average and ranks third. Interestingly enough, the top 20 least-expensive vehicles to insure are all vans and SUVs.

Naturally, the Tribute also earns the distinction of being the least-expensive SUV to insure as well as the least-expensive vehicle to insure overall.

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12 Ford Models Top 2010 IQS Rankings!

Ford Motor has improved steadily in recent years and in the 2010 IQS rankings of individual models by vehicle type, placed 12 models in the top three in their categories, more than any maker.
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Hyundai Genesis and Sonata Named to Edmunds 2010 Dark Horse List

Edmunds.com named both the 2010 Hyundai Genesis and 2011 Hyundai Sonata to its Top 10 Best Dark-Horse Cars of 2010 list.  Edmunds.com, a premier online resource for automotive information, put together this list to showcase vehicles worthy of more serious consideration by car shoppers.

 

"The all-new Sonata is a smart buy with modern style, top-tier quality and outstanding residual value.  Couple that with a four-cylinder engine producing class-leading fuel economy and the power of a larger V6, and the Sonata should definitely be on consumer shopping lists in the mid-size sedan segment," said Scott Margason, director of product planning, Hyundai Motor America.  "Additionally, the North American Car of the Year-winning Genesis continues to be an extremely disruptive force in the large sedan and near-luxury segments."


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Top Mainstream Residual? Look to Mazda.

Mazda has quietly risen to the top of the residual-value heap among mainstream brands, edging out Subaru and Honda.

According to Automotive News, Automotive Lease Guide projects that 2010 Mazda cars and trucks will retain an average of 54.1 percent of their sticker price after 36 months, up 10 percentage points from the 2005 projection. 

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Ford Leads Surge in Quality

Domestic brands, as a group, closed the quality gap with foreign brands for the first time since J.D. Power and Associates began tracking the initial quality of new vehicles 24 years ago. Quality is a big selling point for consumers shopping for new cars.

Excluding luxury makes, Ford was the No. 1 brand in this year's study, which measured 228 potential problems during the first three months of ownership of 2010 model-year vehicles. Ford, including Volvo, had 12 models rank in the top three in their segments -- more than other automakers.
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2010 Hyundai Tucson Named Best New Crossover by Kiplinger's Personal Finance

Hyundai's sleek, new 2010 Tucson crossover was named a "Best New Crossover" in the "Small Crossovers" category by Kiplinger's Personal Finance. The magazine named the top new models in eleven categories, and the Tucson topped competitors such as the Volvo XC60 and Mitsubishi Outlander.

"Hyundai's new Tucson was clearly the best new model in its category," said Jessica Anderson, associate editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance. "Hyundai's smallest crossover got a significant redesign this year. Sharply creased sheet metal and a more aggressive stance turn heads, a bigger engine gives it more oomph, and more-generous proportions increase both cargo space and passenger room, especially in the second row."

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Motortrend Names Mazda MX-5 Miata Best Drop Top Under $30K

Every convertible should bring a smile to its owner's face. With the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata, that smile will be wider and last longer. Now in the second half of its third generation, Mazda's Miata may have grown a bit larger and more powerful (not to mention safer), but it still begs to be thrown around curves.

"The MX-5 has an unbelievable sense of balance and control," MotorTrend said in a test of the 2010 convertible.

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Ford Expects to be 25% Electrified by 2020

Ford predicts the electrification of America's auto fleet to happen a lot faster than most have expected.

Nancy Gioia, Ford's director of global electrification, told our colleague Jewel Gopwani at the Detroit Free Press that Ford expects 10% to 25% of its sales by 2020 will be vehicles that in some way run on batteries, up from about 2% now.

Of those electrified vehicles, 70% will be hybrids, 20% to 25% plug-in hybrids, the rest pure electrics.

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News and Events

Ford brand now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands
Ford brand now has the highest initial quality among all non-luxury brands, according to J.D. ...
Hyundai Accent Tops the 2010 J.D. Power IQS Ratings!
J.D. Power and Associates announced today that the Hyundai Accent topped the sub-compact segment in ...
Mazda Tribute is Least Expensive SUV to Insure
As Insure.com initially reported, the Mazda Tribute I SUV is the least-expensive vehicle to insure ...
12 Ford Models Top 2010 IQS Rankings!
Ford Motor has improved steadily in recent years and in the 2010 IQS rankings of individual models ...
Hyundai Genesis and Sonata Named to Edmunds 2010 Dark Horse List
Edmunds.com named both the 2010 Hyundai Genesis and 2011 Hyundai Sonata to its Top 10 Best Dark-Horse ...
Top Mainstream Residual? Look to Mazda.
Mazda has quietly risen to the top of the residual-value heap among mainstream brands, edging out ...
Ford Leads Surge in Quality
Domestic brands, as a group, closed the quality gap with foreign brands for the first time since J.D. ...
2010 Hyundai Tucson Named Best New Crossover by Kiplinger's Personal Finance
Hyundai's sleek, new 2010 Tucson crossover was named a "Best New Crossover" in the "Small Crossovers" ...
Motortrend Names Mazda MX-5 Miata Best Drop Top Under $30K
Every convertible should bring a smile to its owner's face. With the 2010 Mazda MX-5 Miata, that smile ...
Ford Expects to be 25% Electrified by 2020
Ford predicts the electrification of America's auto fleet to happen a lot faster than most have expected.Nancy ...