Automakers: Page 299
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealer’s Dad Taught Him Well
Mike Sullivan recalls his father’s decision to sell his VW store to him in the mid-1990s. “It was such a concession for him, it was so final.”
By Lillie Guyer • Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Tau V-8 Continues to Improve
IT'S HARD TO MAKE IT ONTO WARD'S 10 BEST ENGINES LIST, AND with powertrain technology advancing at a breakneck pace, it is harder still to maintain a spot multiple years in a row. But Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd.'s Tau V-8 has managed to stay on the list for a third year thanks to major technological advancements and improvements in specific output. For the '11 model year, Hyundai won over the judges by
By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 2011 -
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
Audi’s 3.0L TFSI Supercharged DOHC V-6: Massive Torque
Creating a V-6 worthy of replacing Audi AG's superb 4.2L V-8 represents an especially tough challenge. That's because consumers say they want better fuel economy, but performance-car buyers are notoriously fickle. They like to talk about efficiency, but if it results in a tad less low-end torque or an exhaust note that lacks gusto, many walk away. That's why Audi's 3.0L V-6 makes Ward's list for the
Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
General Motors’s 1.4L DOHC I-4/111kW Drive Motor: Game Changer
Timing, as they say in the watch business, is everything. In the case of this year's Ward's 10 Best Engines testing, the Chevrolet Volt had the good fortune of arriving at our offices in mid-November, the day after we finished evaluating the Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. Don't get the wrong impression. Our time with the Leaf was uplifting. But some of us had limited exposure to the strange new world
Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler’s 3.6L Pentastar DOHC V-6: Refinement Champ
Occasionally, a nominee finds itself in the running for a Ward's 10 Best Engines award for reasons that extend well beyond the spec sheet. If the competition simply were a horsepower race, then several other high-output engines would have made the list. The must make sense from a cost and manufacturing perspective, and extra points are awarded if an engine turns an auto maker's powertrain strategy
Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Dealership Staffers Learn How to Sell, Service Leaf EV
Nissan North America Inc. has put dealer personnel selling and servicing the Leaf electric vehicle through intense training. The Leaf initially will be available in five U.S. markets: California, Tennessee, Oregon, Washington and Arizona, with Texas and Hawaii coming online in January. So far, about 250 Nissan dealers in those markets have opted to sell the EV. Because of the new technology, you have
By Christie Schweinsberg • Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
How to Lower Staff Turnover
Ford Motor Co. a few years ago added a section to its financial statement that allows dealers to track the tenure of their sales personnel and service advisors. Using this information, I tracked the Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealers I worked with and detected an implied correlation between such tenure and dealership profitability. Carrying this research a step further, I concluded dealers with a lower
By Tony Noland • Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Marchionne Succession Plan Unclear
Sergio Marchionne is one amazing guy. First, he takes over the old Fix It Again Tony car company and straightens it out in record time. Then they give him a basket case called Chrysler and he pulls another rabbit out of his hat. Unlike other top executives who regale in the pomp and circumstance their heady status affords them, Marchionne likes to saunter into meetings wearing his trademark sweater
By John McElroy • Feb. 1, 2011 -
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BMW’s 3.0L N55 Turbocharged DOHC I-6: Ridiculously Efficient
The temptation may have been great for BMW AG to rest on its laurels and feel confident its inline 6-cyl. engines had secured their place in the pantheon of powertrain excellence over the past 40 years. After all, the Bavarians have amassed more Ward's 10 Best Engines honors than any auto maker on the planet 25, and counting, since the competition began in 1995. And 20 of the awards were for I-6 gasoline
Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GMT900 Retains Platform Crown
General Motors Co.'s GMT900 again was the top-producing light-vehicle platform in North America for 2010, a year where major gains were seen from a recessionary 2009. GM's fullsize truck and SUV platform, which underpins 10 models including the Chevrolet Silverado, accounted for 974,017 vehicles in 2010, up from 673,307 in 2009, according to Ward's data. From 2009 to 2010, the GMT900 more than doubled
By Christie Schweinsberg • Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo’s 3.0L Turbocharged DOHC I-6: For Real
Safety and Scandinavian design have been hallmarks of the Volvo brand for decades. Now, powertrain excellence can be added to that list. The auto maker's 3.0L Turbocharged I-6 in the all-new S60 sedan truly is deserving, with its meaty mid-range power band, minimal turbo lag, expressive exhaust note and outstanding NVH characteristics. The all-aluminum I-6, internally known as the B6304T, features
Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mendel Sees Need for Honda Sports Car; Defends CR-Z, Civic
Any replacement for the S2000 would have to be consistent with the auto maker’s corporate strategy, a top company official says.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Feb. 1, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan to Sell Version of Mazda5 in Japan
The two auto makers announced the deal today, an expansion of an existing relationship that already has Nissan receiving Mazda’s Bongo van and truck and Mazda getting the Nissan AD/AD Expert van.
By Ward's Staff • Jan. 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai’s Tau V-8 Continues to Improve
Hyundai Vice Chairman H.S. Lee says increasing the volume of GDI systems should bring down the cost.
By Drew Winter • Jan. 28, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Diminutive 500 Thin Edge of Fiat Wedge
Dealers tapped to sell the Fiat 500 are expected to form the backbone of an Alfa Romeo network, says Fiat North America’s top executive, Laura Soave.
By Eric Mayne • Jan. 28, 2011 -
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GM Mexico Chief Pushes New Strategies, Sees Better Days Ahead
Grace Lieblein says she plans to continue working with the government to spur sales, perhaps taking a page from GM Brazil’s successful playbook.
By James M. Amend • Jan. 24, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Auto Dealer’s Dad Taught Him Well
Mike Sullivan recalls his father’s decision to sell his VW store to him in the mid-1990s. “It was such a concession for him, it was so final.”
By Lillie Guyer • Jan. 21, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Names Mary Barra to Lead Global Product Development
As GM’s newest car czar, Barra will lead design, engineering and quality for the auto maker’s 11 brands around the world.
By Ward's Staff • Jan. 20, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Daewoo Bowing Out as Brand, Company Name in Korea
Most Koreans prefer Chevrolet to Daewoo, the auto maker’s research shows. About half of Daewoo Lacetti Premiere customers are paying $200 to $400 to change the compact car’s badging to Chevrolet Cruze.
By Vince Courtenay • Jan. 20, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Audi Gears Up for Next Phase in U.S. Market Push
Audi is rolling out more high-end models, reconsidering the Q3 CUV for the U.S. market and expanding availability of diesel engines in North America as it looks to build on a record 2010.
By David E. Zoia • Jan. 19, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Now THAT’s Italian!
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.SAN DIEGO – Chrysler Group LLC is hosting test-drives of the Fiat 500 here this week. In the interest of fairness, the auto maker has embarg...
Jan. 18, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Infiniti Officials Debate High-Priced Halo Car, Mull Entry-Level Model
Despite last year’s 27.5% jump in sales, to be a credible Tier-1 luxury marque, Infiniti needs a “high-priced, halo flagship model,” Brian Carolin, Nissan North America vice president-sales, tells Ward’s.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 18, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Daihatsu to Exit European Market
A strong yen and the cost associated with meeting tougher CO2 standards are driving the move out of the region.
By Peter Homola • Jan. 14, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
More-Expensive Toyota Scion? Count on It, Brand Chief Says
Scion could add higher-priced models to its lineup, in addition to its three sub-$20,000 cars, and still draw younger buyers to its showroom, Jack Hollis tell Ward’s.
By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 13, 2011 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia Thinks Inside the Box
With the KV7 concept, Kia wants to spur an “inter-van-tion” for the socially active. Why else would a vehicle have a mini-lounge area with swivel seats?
By Steve Finlay • Jan. 13, 2011
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