Automakers: Page
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Mercedes Following Positive Financials With Aggressive Product Push
On the heels of 2011’s record earnings and sales, six all-new or upgraded vehicles are set to launch in 2012, while 10 additional models are planned by 2015.
By Eric Mayne 1 • Feb. 9, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Judge Performance Cars by Handling, Not Just Speed, GM Exec Says
“We still build performance cars because there are some people who have gas in their veins, and love cars and love driving them," says Russ Clark, GM global marketing director-Chevrolet Corvette and Camaro.
By Jim Mateja • Feb. 9, 2012 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Toyota Motor North America
TrendlineTop 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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Princeton Plant Expanding for Additional Toyota Highlander Output
The Indiana facility has built non-hybrid Highlander CUVs since 2009. Hybrid versions have been sourced for the U.S. from Kyushu, Japan, but a Toyota executive told WardsAuto nearly four years ago of plans to localize hybrid production here.
Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat Counting on Abarth to Pull in Male Buyers
Ads starring Jennifer Lopez worked to draw women to the brand, says Fiat’s chief marketing officer. Now it’s the performance-minded Abarth’s turn to work some magic with men.
By Jim Mateja • Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Reveals NV200 in Chicago
The small van has been lengthened for the North American market, giving it an edge on competitor Ford’s Transit Connect.
Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia Explores New Track With Concept
The Track’ster is meant to “change people’s conceptions of what a sporty Kia could be,” Kia Motors America design chief Tom Kearns says.
Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Acura NSX Ad Logs 16 Million Views, and Counting
Some 11 million people viewed the commercial featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno before the game, and 5 million more people had watched it as of Tuesday.
Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Prius C Fun, Affordable Gas Sipper
The smallest Prius is the most fun-to-drive version of the industry’s best-selling hybrid. Just keep it on glass-smooth asphalt.
Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Shows Freshened GMC Acadia CUV in Chicago
Some of the more prominent changes include a more upright design to the Acadia’s grille, diffused LED running lamps and new taillamp details.
By James M. Amend • Feb. 8, 2012 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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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