Lamborghini is an exotic supercar brand based in Sant'Agata Bolognese, Italy. The company was founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini, who ran a tractor and heater business prior. Driven into bankruptcy by the energy crisis in the early '70s, Lamborghini was sold and has since been owned by a number of companies, including Chrysler and current owner Audi AG, which itself is owned by the Volkswagen Group.
Kia is one of two brands sold in the U.S. by the Hyundai Kia Automotive Group, the other being Hyundai. The South Korean company has recorded consecutive sales growth in the U.S. ever year since it began selling its first car, the Sephia, back in 1994.
Jeep is the off-road brand of Chrysler Group LLC, which emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in June 2009. The heritage of Jeep begins with an off-road vehicle designed and built by the Willys-Overland company for the U.S. military during World War II. Willys-Overland evolved into the Jeep marque, which has been owned by several automakers and expanded its lineup to include SUVs, CUVs and even performance models. Jeeps are known for being "Trail Rated" and their iconic grilles with seven vertical slots.
Jaguar is a British luxury automaker located in Coventry, England. Founded in 1922 as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars, the companies subsequent car designs like the XK120 and E-Type and considered some of the most beautiful in automotive history. Jaguar is currently part of Jaguar Land Rover, which was purchased by Tata Motors from Ford Motor Company in January 2008.
Infiniti is the luxury automotive brand of Nissan and was launched in November 1989 exclusively for the North American market. It has since expanded to 15 countries including most of Europe. All Infiniti models are based on Nissan's FM platform, except for the QX56 full-size SUV, which is based on the F-Alpha truck platform. The brand's logo is an artistic interpretation of Japan's famous Mount Fuji.
Hyundai is one of two automotive brands owned and operated by the Hyundai Motor Company that operates in the U.S., the other being Kia. The Korean company entered the U.S. market in 1986 with the Excel, which sold well but established a poor reputation for quality. Quality concerns were addressed with the introduction of the industry's longest powertrain warranty. Hyundai has also expanded its lineup to include larger cars, luxury vehicles, sports cars, CUVs and SUVs.
Honda is a Japanese automaker offering a full lineup of vehicles in the U.S., including the Acura brand of luxury vehicles. Established in 1946 by Soichiro Honda, the company produced only motorcycles in its early days. Honda began operations in the U.S. back in 1959, though didn't sell cars here until the fuel-efficient Civic arrived in 1973 at the outset of this country's first energy crisis. Well known as a leader in engineering, Honda also still produces a full line of motorcycles, as well as power equipment like lawnmowers and generators.
