Mercedes-Benz Tops Secret Shopper Study of U.S. Dealers

Mercedes-Benz dealers were number one for customer treatment in the US according to an independent study by survey company Pied Piper. The California-based company hired 3,524 “secret shoppers” and sent them to US dealerships in order to determine how their salesmen were performing in anything from explaining a car’s features to closing a deal.

This is the third year in a row that Mercedes-Benz, which looks set to top the sales charts this year in the luxury segment, has topped Pied Piper’s study.

The German firm was followed by Jaguar and Lexus dealers, who tied in second place. According to the survey, Toyota and Chrysler’s Ram sales representatives were ranked the best among mass-market carmakers, while Mitsubishi and Suzuki finished at the bottom, as did Lincoln in the luxury segment.

According to CEO of Pied Piper, Fran O’Hagen, in general the brands that scored the poorest were those with the worst sales per dealership. O’Hagen added that’s easy to explain, as these brands cannot retain competent salesmen for a long time.

He also commented that reduced staff has had a negative impact in customer satisfaction now that sales are on the rise again and dealers don’t have the necessary staff to cover their needs.

However, as O’Hagen pointed out, the secret of success in this particular business is not really a secret at all. Good dealerships focus on a customer’s needs, get to know them and ask a few questions about their driving habits – and that takes skill and time.

The “secret”, according to O'Hagen, is to "think not like a salesman, but as a customer".

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2013 Lincoln MKZ Facing Delays. Again !!!

Ford is hard at wοrk prepping its all-new CD4 platfοrm cars – the Ford Fusion alsο Lincoln MKZ here in the United States, and the Fοrd Mondeo οverseas. The triο are expected tο launch in the first quarter of 2012, but nοw, a report frοm Ford Inside News suggests that the Lincοln counterpart cοuld be delayed until the second half οf next year.

The reasοn? Styling issues. Currently, the Fusion and MKZ are nοt exactly identical twins, but it is not all that hard tο tell them apart. Furthermοre, it's said that Ford is hoping tο better differentiate the MKZ Hybrid frοm the standard sedan.

We are not talking abοut huge design leaps here; expect the gas versus hybrid styling differences tο be similar tο what Hyundai does with its Sonata.

Speaking οf the MKZ Hybrid, Ford Inside News repοrts that the Fusion Hybrid's updated pοwertrain is expected tο achieve around 47 miles per gallοn in the city. Since Lincοln will use the same setup under the hood οf the MKZ, this means the mοre upscale of the Blue Oval fuel-sippers will easily best οther luxury hybrids, including the Lexus HS 250h.

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Lincoln Presents MKT Town Car and Limousine Editions

For the past 30 years, Lincoln's panther platform-based Town Car has offered its services to a great number of limousine and chauffer operators throughout the country and abroad, but production of the current model will finally come to an end this fall leaving a gap in the company's range.
But FoMoCo isn't about to let go of this financially prosperous niche segment. At the 2011 International LCT (Limousine, Charter, and Tour) show in Las Vegas, Lincoln unveiled the car's successors in the form of the chauffeur-dedicated and MKT-based Town Car Livery and Limousine editions.
“Livery operators are looking for a leading livery solution that is reliable and stylish, and the new Lincoln livery and limousine solutions fit the bill in every capacity,” said Mark Fields, Ford president of The Americas. “The new MKT Town Car will be the best available in the livery industry, working off a solid base as the perfect way to achieve the versatility needed for executive transportation or a night out on the town.”

The company said that the Lincoln MKT Town Car Livery version uses a standard MKT chassis and is available in both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive configurations, while the heavy-duty Limousine chassis will feature standard all-wheel drive for stretched wheelbase limousine conversion of up to an additional 120 inches (10 feet).
Notable changes on the MKT Town Car Livery include the redesigned rear seating that been moved rearward by 1.5 inches for additional legroom and improved comfort, while there's also a switch on the rear passenger side door that allows a rear seat passenger to control the front passenger seat ahead. Key features include a USB charging port, a 110-volt power socket in the rear seat center console, and Wi-Fi hotspot capability for mobile tablets, laptops and other devices.
Lincoln said that the MKT Town Car Limousine chassis incorporates several heavy-duty components, such as upgraded suspension, electric power-assisted steering system (EPAS) and transmission, plus unique wheels, tires and wheel bearings and an upsized brake system. The Limousine also has the standard MKT's third seating row removed, and comes equipped with a full-size spare tire.
Both variants of the MKT Town Car will be manufactured at Oakville Assembly Complex with production set to begin next spring.

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