Automakers: Page 298
-
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2010 Year in Review: General Motors
Highlights of the year’s major events affecting General Motors.
By Eric Mayne • Oct. 20, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2010 Year in Review: Ford Motor Co.
Highlights of the year’s major events affecting Ford Motor Co.
By Byron Pope • Oct. 20, 2010 -
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
Initial Reviews Positive for Citroen C-Zero Electric Car
Citroen says some 600 C-Zeros have been ordered in the first few weeks of advance sales, with the majority of early demand coming from fleets.
By William Diem • Oct. 15, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai’s Krafcik: Segmentation Shifts Necessary to Achieve 62 MPG
More consumers will need to be convinced to move down in vehicle size if the government’s most aggressive fuel-economy target is to work, says the auto maker’s top U.S. executive.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 14, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford EV Charging Handle Study in Ergonomics
“We thought about what people are interacting with on a daily basis,” engineer Cary Diehl says. “Ergonomics is something you typically don’t notice unless it’s done badly.”
By Byron Pope • Oct. 13, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Citroen Goes Mainstream With New C4 Model
Where the previous-generation C4 had a silhouette easily identified on the road, with a near-vertical rear window, the new one has a classic 5-door shape.
By William Diem • Oct. 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Plastics Supplier Expanding in Mississippi
Hyundai and Mercedes-Benz are among auto makers in the U.S. currently using Sabic polymers and composites in production at their vehicle assembly plants in Alabama.
By Drew Winter • Oct. 6, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealers Gung-Ho Over Wheego
Wheego CEO Mike McQuary calls the firm’s new model the “most affordable” of the new crop of EVs and hybrid vehicles hitting the market
By Mac Gordon • Oct. 5, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Citroen Show Cars Offer Style, New Technology
“Creative Technology,” the slogan Citroen adopted in early 2009, drives all the product decisions at the brand. The C4, for example, has a blind-spot detection system and a customizable instrument panel.
By William Diem • Oct. 4, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Faces Slew of Dealer Lawsuits
“I do not know of one dealer who won arbitration or that was offered reinstatement who is back to selling new vehicles with Chrysler,” says dealer Jack Haigh.
By Lillie Guyer • Oct. 4, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
States Need Detroit 3’s Medicine
Detroit's Big Three got there first. They were brought to their knees by management that was either unwilling or unable to make painful decisions. Now almost every state, municipality and school system in the U.S. is about to go through the same kind of crisis. General Motors, Ford and Chrysler got in trouble because they were incapable of keeping a lid on their pension costs. They lacked the discipline
By John McElroy • Oct. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes Offers New F&I Package
Since the with Chrysler Financial three years ago, Mercedes-Benz Financial has been working on a package of branded protection plans offered through Mercedes dealerships. The project now is complete and includes guaranteed auto protection as well as interior, exterior, windshield, wheel and tire protection plans sold through finance and insurance offices. Another F&I offering, a first for a luxury
Oct. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Greening-Up Toyota’s Latest Hybrids
Toyota Motor Corp.'s two newest hybrid cars, the Sai and Lexus HS 250h, have turned decidedly green in their use of eco-friendly materials. The auto maker's main interior supplier, Toyota Boshoku Corp., outfitted each model with more than 10 lbs. (22 kg) of components made from plant-based composites mainly kenaf, a fiber indigenous to Southeast Asia, mixed with polypropylene, a widely used thermoplastic.
By Roger Schreffler • Oct. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan: We’ll Do Things Right Way With Next Titan
Nissan North America Inc. promises to right the wrongs of its first-generation Titan fullsize pickup truck to ensure the second-generation model is a success. "We're going to do things the right way the right way of marketing, the right way of product quality to make sure we don't have any of the hiccups of the first generation," Larry Dominique, NNA's chief product planner tells Ward's at a media
By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
They’re Fine with Subprime
When General Motors Co. announced it was buying AmeriCredit Corp. as its subprime captive finance arm, some savvy dealers issued a resounding vote of approval. The AmeriCredit deal could give GM the major tools it needs to counterpunch domestic rivals by pulling in low-end and high-end buyers, dealers say. It will also return leasing to the GM portfolio, a market the auto maker had backed away from.
By Lillie Guyer • Oct. 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New ’12 Ford Focus ‘Upscale and Aspirational’
The ’12 Ford Focus equipped with special-edition Super-Fuel Economy package will get roughly 40 mpg on the highway.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 29, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Ruthless Pursuit of Perfection
At Hyundai, there is no watchful waiting and hoping to see if conditions will improve. Executives and vehicles prove themselves immediately, or they are gone.
By Drew Winter • Sept. 29, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Workers Take High Road; Critics Take Low
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.A Fox TV probe that showed Chrysler workers quaffing liquid lunches (some spiced with herb) and then returning to the assembly line has done...
Sept. 24, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Power Stroke Triumphs With Technology
The minimal-lag turbocharger and reverse-flow cylinder heads help explain why the Ford engine’s power delivery felt and sounded more linear and effortless during our tests.
By Drew Winter • Sept. 20, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ram Cummins Wins Maintenance Battle
Chrysler’s 6.7L turbodiesel placed last in the competition in acceleration times behind Ford and GM but nabs the top spot outright in terms of lower maintenance lifecycle costs.
By Sean Kilcarr • Sept. 20, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Perception Trumps Reality in Acceleration Duel
The GMC Sierra’s Duramax diesel beats the competition on paper, but would its higher ratings prove out head-to-head on the test track? Yes and no.
By David E. Zoia • Sept. 20, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Bentley Making Cheaper, Stronger Carbon-Fiber Parts
So far, production applications remain few. But the luxury auto maker did leverage the process for a carbon-fiber wheel well on its all-new Mulsanne flagship sedan.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sebring Renamed 200 for ’11; New Chrysler Badge Unveiled
The announcement ends months of speculation about the influence of Fiat, which assumed management control of the auto maker after it emerged from bankruptcy.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 14, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
A123 Systems Building Stake in Auto Sector
Programs include development projects with GM and Chrysler, on top of supply agreements with BMW, Daimler, Fisker Automotive, Eaton, Navistar and China’s SAIC.
By James M. Amend • Sept. 14, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Targets Gen X, Y With New Odyssey Minivan
The auto maker says Odyssey buyers are better educated, and more affluent than Chrysler minivan customers.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 10, 2010
Previous
