Forget integrated voice-activated onboard computers and cars that can park themselves; Ford and General Motors are returning to the basics to help boost their Lincoln and Cadillac brands with a simple little feature known as AWD.
That's right, all-wheel drive is the “accessory” catching consumer's eyes. And according to Cadillac's global marketing director, approximately 50% of the CTS models sold are equipped with AWD, and that number is set to grow. And Lincoln offers AWD on every single model in its lineup.
More and more consumers are equating all-wheel drive not just with safety and reliability, but with performance and sophistication – which is precisely why Ford and GM are jumping on the AWD bandwagon (that's sure to stay the course thanks to traction stability).
While the option of AWD often boosts the overall price of a vehicle and drops the EPA fuel rating by an average of 1 MPG, an IHS Automotive consultant reported that 30% of vehicles sold in America will have AWD by 2015. I say that's just fantastic.
For companies like Audi and Subaru (who must be chuckling at this “revelation”), the idea of AWD is second-nature, and it's nice to see that trend is seeping into other class segments and manufacturers. And when it comes to luxury vehicles, AWD offers performance and handling like a FWD could never achieve, so why wouldn't you pay the “premium” for such a feature?
Kudos to Ford and General Motors for realizing that AWD is no longer the dirty word of drivetrains and is instead the mark of advanced technology on the road.
Source: Detroit Free Press
That's right, all-wheel drive is the “accessory” catching consumer's eyes. And according to Cadillac's global marketing director, approximately 50% of the CTS models sold are equipped with AWD, and that number is set to grow. And Lincoln offers AWD on every single model in its lineup.
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| Photo: Philippe Champoux/Auto123.com |
More and more consumers are equating all-wheel drive not just with safety and reliability, but with performance and sophistication – which is precisely why Ford and GM are jumping on the AWD bandwagon (that's sure to stay the course thanks to traction stability).
While the option of AWD often boosts the overall price of a vehicle and drops the EPA fuel rating by an average of 1 MPG, an IHS Automotive consultant reported that 30% of vehicles sold in America will have AWD by 2015. I say that's just fantastic.
For companies like Audi and Subaru (who must be chuckling at this “revelation”), the idea of AWD is second-nature, and it's nice to see that trend is seeping into other class segments and manufacturers. And when it comes to luxury vehicles, AWD offers performance and handling like a FWD could never achieve, so why wouldn't you pay the “premium” for such a feature?
Kudos to Ford and General Motors for realizing that AWD is no longer the dirty word of drivetrains and is instead the mark of advanced technology on the road.
Source: Detroit Free Press