Automakers: Page 278
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Hyundai Elantra Coupe, Hatch Debut in Chicago
Both models get the Elantra sedan’s 148-hp 1.8L 4-cyl., but the coupe has a sport-tuned suspension and the 5-door adds driver-selectable steering modes.
Feb. 8, 2012 -
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Honda Civic Owner’s Court Win Could Change MPG Testing
The ruling on its hybrid, which Honda plans to appeal, is spurring calls for the federal government to rein in the way the industry assigns fuel-economy estimates on the window stickers of new cars and trucks.
By Erik Derr 1 • Feb. 7, 2012 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Kia Corporation
TrendlineArtificial Intelligence
Automakers and dealers alike are increasingly seeing the use case for AI within their operations. Explore some use cases in this trendline.
By WardsAuto staff -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lincoln Wants Dealers to Think Small
The auto maker says small-town dealers can teach their metro counterparts a thing or two about personalized service.
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 6, 2012 -
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Rocha Returns to Korea to Head GM Operations
Rocha served as vice president-product planning and program management for GM Korea from 2006-2008 when the auto maker, operating then as GM Daewoo, was in the advanced stages of developing the Chevrolet Cruze.
By Vince Courtenay • Feb. 6, 2012 -
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Lincoln Designer Forging New Path for Luxury Marque
Lincoln design director Max Wolff says he’s “not much of an automotive historian” and would rather look forward.
By Byron Pope • Feb. 6, 2012 -
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Most Chrysler Dealers Upbeat
The auto maker’s improved state is reflected in the mood of dealers at the NADA convention.
By Steve Finlay • Feb. 5, 2012 -
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Honda Flexes Muscle as Asian OEMs Mount Share Gain in Canada
Asian brands claimed a 45% market share in January, 4.2 points greater than like-2011, as only low-volume Isuzu and Suzuki were in negative sales territory.
By Eric Mayne 1 • Feb. 3, 2012 -
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U.S. Fiat Dealers Four-Square Behind 500L
The U.S.-market introduction of the 500L is part of a strategy to diversify Fiat’s showroom in a bid to boost sales volume in the wake of a disappointing 2011.
By Eric Mayne 1 • Feb. 2, 2012 -
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Ford’s Successful Bank Heist
Some designers at competitors snarkily point out Ford is borrowing liberally from ultra-luxury auto maker Aston Martin, but Ford deserves kudos, not criticism for its execution of the Fusion.
Feb. 2, 2012 -
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Camry Drives Toyota’s January Sales Gain
The Camry will get a further boost as the featured vehicle in two new TV ads to run during Sunday’s Super Bowl, marking the first time in three years the auto maker has advertised in the event that typically draws 110 million viewers.
By Byron Pope • Feb. 1, 2012 -
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Newer Ford Models Cannibalizing Sales of Older Siblings
The Focus B-car and Explorer SUV both debuted more recently than the Fiesta small car and Edge CUV and have been outselling their counter parts since their debut.
By Byron Pope • Feb. 1, 2012 -
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Marchionne Tells Fiat Stakeholders to ‘Get Off Their Butts’
Fiat’s full-year and fourth-quarter 2011 trading profit would be negative if not for its ownership stake in Chrysler, says Sergio Marchionne, who heads both auto makers.
By Eric Mayne 1 • Feb. 1, 2012 -
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Toyota Upgrades Prius Plug-In Ahead of March Debut
The PHEV’s new Li-ion battery pack weighs 176 lbs., compared with the prototype’s heftier 351 lbs., giving the car a better electric driving range.
Feb. 1, 2012 -
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Ford Silicon Valley Lab to ‘Push Thinking,’ Fields Says
The lab also will continue Ford’s efforts to identify future global consumer trends and how to address the growing number of drivers by developing new business models to help avoid gridlock.
By Byron Pope • Feb. 1, 2012 -
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Honda Hoping to Score With Acura Super Bowl Ad
“Acura as a brand for the past few years has fallen off people’s radar screens,” Honda’s U.S. marketing chief says. “People aren’t even thinking about us, so our mission No.1 is to get Acura noticed.”
Feb. 1, 2012 -
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Toyota, Honda Vanish From List of North America’s Top-Volume Plants
Volkswagen’s site in Puebla, Mexico, was the No.1 producer in 2011. The plant’s 510,041-unit output represents a gain of 75,356 on prior-year and a huge margin over second-place Nissan’s Aguascalientes, Mexico, operations.
By Eric Mayne 1 • Jan. 31, 2012 -
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Subaru Focuses on Improving Dealer Service; Most Models to See Sales Gains
The auto maker’s plan to increase deliveries to as much as 320,000 this year and refrain from opening many new sales outlets should boost dealer profitability and allow for added investment in service departments, a top U.S. executive says.
Jan. 31, 2012 -
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CEO Says Honda Not Falling Behind in Technology
Honda CEO Takanobu Ito says the auto maker has been producing fully competitive powertrains all along and is rolling out new technology in a carefully timed cadence with the introduction of new models.
Jan. 30, 2012 -
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Mercedes AMG Shedding U.S. Gas-Guzzler Tax Burden
Contrary to common belief, affluent consumers do care about the tax, which ranges from $1,000-$7,700, says Thomas Rappel, AMG’s chief of product management and planning.
By Byron Pope • Jan. 30, 2012 -
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Chevy Volt Success for GM, Reuss Declares
Hitting a sales target is not the point. “I’m very patient,” Reuss says, noting GM has invested billions in the Volt. But he rejects the notion it was developed with government bailout funds. “This car doesn’t have any taxpayer money in it.”
By Herb Shuldiner 1 • Jan. 27, 2012 -
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Back Off Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf Criticism, Washington Insiders Say
“I think it is insane to judge the (electric vehicle) market by one year of sales,” says Roland Hwang, director-transportation program at the NRDC.
By James M. Amend • Jan. 26, 2012 -
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Nissan Says Mexico Employment to Reach 13,500 With New Plant
The new factory will produce 175,000 units annually at full strength, in its first phase.
Jan. 25, 2012 -
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Infiniti Says JX Should Become Second Best Seller; Supercar Closer?
The new 3-row CUV from the Japanese luxury brand should be “right behind” Infiniti’s G in annual sales, a top company official predicts.
Jan. 24, 2012 -
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GM International Chief Sees Remedy for European Ops as Sales Soar Elsewhere
Adam Opel long has been a drag on GM’s stock price, pulling shares down 26% since the U.S. auto maker returned to trading in 2010 and has shown solid profitability otherwise.
By James M. Amend • Jan. 24, 2012 -
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Chrysler: Refining Work Stations With Motion Capture
Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.
Jan. 24, 2012
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