Automakers: Page


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    Toyota Sees Tundra Sales Climbing to 130,000 Next Year

    The auto maker's heavily refreshed large pickup truck should help 2014 sales bounce back to levels not seen since 2008.

    Feb. 8, 2013
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    Ford Mum on Specifics of Lincoln MKZ Delay

    Ford employee online forums indicate Lincoln MKZ post-production quality inspections were spurred by leaky panoramic sunroofs.

    By Byron Pope • Feb. 8, 2013
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    Trendline

    Top 5 stories from WardsAuto

    Automakers are evaluating their long-term strategies, revisiting their product mix, and approach to both retail and manufacturing approach along the way.

    By WardsAuto staff
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    Fiat to Field at Least Nine Models in U.S. by 2015

    The 500L 4-door sedan will go on sale by the end of June, but North American brand chief Tim Kuniskis won’t say whether any of the newcomers will be derivatives of the 500 2-door coupe.

    By Jim Mateja • Feb. 8, 2013
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    Kia Unveils Cross GT Concept, New Forte Hatchback and Superman-Inspired Optima Hybrid

    While the GT’s lines were penned in Frankfurt, the Cross GT hails from the Kia Design Center America in Irvine, CA, the house that breathed life into the Track’ster, KV7 and Soul’ster concepts, and most recently the ’14 Forte sedan.

    By Jim Mateja • Feb. 7, 2013
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    Nissan Debuts Production NV200 Cargo Van, Nismo Performance Models, in Chicago

    The auto maker says there are 20 interior mounting points inside the van for customization purposes, and six D-ring tie-down points in the floor of the SV grade.

    Feb. 7, 2013
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    VW Unwraps Special Editions of Beetle, GTI in Chicago

    The new Beetle GSR wears the same black-and-yellow color scheme of the original car but in a more modern way, VW says.

    Feb. 7, 2013
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    Cadillac ELR Won’t Be Sharing Technical Advances With Volt

    The ELR extended-range coupe will have a national roll out next year, not a regional debut in selected markets, chief engineer Chris Thomason says.

    By Jim Mateja • Feb. 7, 2013
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    New Ram ProMaster Result of Fine-Tuned Chrysler-Fiat Collaboration

    While the van borrows its architecture from the Fiat Ducato, several interior and exterior modifications make the vehicles different.

    By Aaron Foley • Feb. 7, 2013
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    Sollers-Bussan Launches Toyota Land Cruiser Assembly

    The SUV is being assembled in Vladivostok because of Russia’s high duties on CBU imports.

    By Peter Homola • Feb. 6, 2013
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    Mazda Set to Rebound, North America Chief Says

    Jim O’Sullivan is upbeat as the auto maker launches new products and technologies this year, including the ’14 Mazda6 midsize sedan, a 2.2L diesel engine and larger 2.5L gasoline 4-cyl.

    By Byron Pope • Feb. 5, 2013
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    Honda Unclear on Element, Ridgeline Replacements

    The Japanese auto maker’s top U.S. sales official says an upcoming subcompact CUV may fill the Element’s void for some of the boxy vehicle’s fans.

    Feb. 4, 2013
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    VW’s California Design Studio Gets More Work

    Good designs are simple yet complicated, says Walter De Silva, head of Volkswagen Group Design.

    By Feb. 4, 2013
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    Toyota Aims to Remain Dominant in U.S. Hybrid Market

    Toyota says collaborations with other auto makers like the one recently announced with BMW could speed its ability to meet government fuel-economy and emissions standards.

    By Herb Shuldiner 1 • Feb. 1, 2013
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    Audi of America Chief Predicts Brand Sales Record for 2013

    The plan for growth includes building pricing power. The current inventory is down to a mere 37 days, Scott Keogh reveals. He has no intention of importing a mass of cars and pushing them on dealers, a move that would cause prices to plummet.

    By Herb Shuldiner 1 • Feb. 1, 2013
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    Mazda to Build Transmission Plant in Thailand

    The auto maker says the facility will help it meet its goal of 1.7 million annual global sales by 2016.

    By WardsAuto Staff • Jan. 30, 2013
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    Volkswagen’s Next Task: Change Way Americans Picture Brand

    The auto maker put the spotlight on a potentially growing stable of CUVs at the auto show in Detroit, a segment it will have to penetrate in bigger numbers in order to hit its 2018 volume target.

    By David Zoia Editor • Jan. 30, 2013
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    Ford Posts $8 Billion 2012 Profit on Strength of North America

    The auto maker expects U.S. momentum to continue in 2013 with profits about equal to last year, largely due to adequate supplies of the new Ford Fusion midsize sedan and Escape CUV that reside in the two largest segments.

    By Byron Pope • Jan. 29, 2013
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    Kia to Unveil Sporty Coupe, Hatchback in Geneva

    Sales of the new models, designed under the leadership of newly appointed Kia President of Design Peter Schreyer, launch in June in European markets.

    By Vince Courtenay • Jan. 29, 2013
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    Chevy Corvette Stingray Building Block for Future GM Cars, Trucks

    The new small-block V-8 debuts with one of the industry’s most-advanced combustion systems. Research on the system used up more than 6 million of the 10 million hours of the engine’s computational analysis.

    By James M. Amend • Jan. 29, 2013
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    GM to Invest $600 Million to Upgrade Kansas Assembly Plant

    The investment at Fairfax represents a key milestone in GM’s turnaround from its 2009 bankruptcy, helping unclog a pipeline of new and redesigned vehicles meant to solidify its comeback.

    By James M. Amend • Jan. 28, 2013
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    Volvo Strategy Built Around Flexible Platform, Chinese Sourcing

    The auto maker’s new top executive sees a shift from European to Chinese parts supply and increased ties to Geely Automobile as keys to competing more effectively in the dollar zone.

    By David Zoia Editor • Jan. 28, 2013
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    New Junior Jeep Not Fiat Fake, CEO Says

    The B-segment, Italian-built CUV comes to market in two years and won’t dilute the brand’s image, insists Mike Manley.

    By Aaron Foley • Jan. 28, 2013
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    Opel, PSA Push Ahead With Plans to Share New Platform

    PSA’s EMP2 can be made with five different wheelbases that could add up to 8.7 ins. to the shortest version, and four different track widths. It can handle larger wheels and shorter front and rear overhangs.

    By William Diem • Jan. 25, 2013
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    Toyota, BMW to Collaborate on Lithium-Air Battery

    Lithium-air batteries, or Li-air, are seen as the next step in electric-vehicle battery technology, as they portend greater distances on a single charge than today’s Li-ions.

    Jan. 24, 2013
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    GM Holden, Toyota May Seek Additional Government Aid

    The auto makers’ plans for revamping their engine plants and building new local models could see them seeking financial help from the federal government as well as the South Australian and Victorian state governments.

    By Alan Harman • Jan. 24, 2013