Automakers: Page 302
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Cutting Ties With PAG Sharpening Design Focus at Ford
Ford’s renewed focus on its core DNA resulted in a common design language for the auto maker’s global portfolio.
By Byron Pope • May 21, 2010 -
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SRG Develops Louvered Grille for GM Trucks
The prototype grille is part of an effort by SRG to gain new business in the relatively stagnant U.S. new-vehicle market with products it says not only are fashionable but functional.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 18, 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
Bentley Overhauls 6.75L V-8 for New Mulsanne Flagship
In total, 300 of the V-8’s 700 individual parts were either redesigned or replaced.
By James M. Amend • May 17, 2010 -
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Venerable West Coast Car Dealership Family Expands to Florida
The family, which became Northern California’s first Volkswagen distributor in 1953, has much faith in Audi, VW AG’s luxury brand.
By Steve Finlay • May 13, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Considers Elantra Production for U.S.
The U.S.-built Elantra reportedly would use Hyundai’s newly developed Nu 2.0 CVVL engine, which would be exported from one of Hyundai’s engine plants in China’s Shandong province.
By Vince Courtenay • May 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mazda Chairman to Step Down
Hisakazu Imaki, who formerly served as president and CEO before stepping down in November 2008, will be named Supreme Executive Advisor.
By Ward's Staff • May 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Launches Fiesta Production in Mexico
To accommodate production of the Fiesta, Ford invested about $1 billion in the facility, creating 2,000 jobs and at least 6,000 indirect positions, the auto maker says.
By Ward's Staff • May 11, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Who’s In Charge of GM’s Brands?
In the next two years, GM will announce another reorganization. That’s when it will name the new executives in charge of Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac and GMC.
By John McElroy • May 11, 2010 -
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Ford to Build C-Max Hybrid, Plug-in at Valencia Plant
The auto maker is expected to invest up to $36 million to accommodate production of the new hybrids that will sold in Europe and exported to North America.
By Byron Pope • May 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Bentley’s Assembly Plant Hums With Addition of Mulsanne
Twenty-first century automation combines with Bentley’s old-world hand craftsmanship to build bodies for the new flagship.
By James M. Amend • May 10, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Comes Out Swinging With ’11 Mustang
The V-8 GT comes with a more robust suspension than the V-6, although one could argue the lighter base Mustang is the sportier of the two. Both engines deliver a potent 1-2 combo.
By Byron Pope • May 6, 2010 -
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Car Dealership Ghost Town
For decades, Kilmarnock, VA, boasted General Motors, Ford and Chrysler dealerships. Now there are none.
By David C. Smith • May 5, 2010 -
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Gubbey Named Head of Opel LCV, International Operations
Chris Gubbey, who began overseeing commercial vehicles and international operations May 1, will be responsible for the Opel/Vauxhall LCV activities in Europe, as well as sales of all Opel vehicles outside of Europe.
By Peter Homola • May 4, 2010 -
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Lexus HS Underperforming Sales Target; Toyota Sees 24.4% Uptick in April
Lexus’ U.S. chief is upbeat about HS volume and says the car bolsters the luxury brand’s sedan lineup.
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 3, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chevy Is Fabric of America To Ed Bozarth
LAS VEGAS, NV Ed Bozarth is a megadealer with five Chevrolet stores who is making money on less volume in markets such as Las Vegas, Topeka, Grand Junction, CO, and Aurora, CO, a suburb of Denver. The five Bozarth stores sold 8,561 new and used units last year, keeping the group on the Ward's Megadealer 100 with $204.9 million in total revenues. Although its new- and used-vehicle sales were flat in
By Mac Gordon • May 1, 2010 -
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Gordon Stewart’s Dealership Group Small, But Noteworthy
HARPER WOODS, MI A small but noteworthy member of the Ward's Megadealer 100 is the Stewart Management Group. The group is based in this northeast Detroit suburb, but sells a lot of cars in three southern states where all but one of its outlets are located. It consists of four Chevrolet stores and a Toyota dealership. The group totaled sales of 8,254 new and used-vehicle units in 2009, owing largely
By Mac Gordon • May 1, 2010 -
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Fiat-Chrysler’s Marchionne: It Takes a Team
One man can't do it all, insists Sergio Marchionne, a non-believer in business personality cults but firmly in place as CEO of Fiat Automobiles SpA and now head of Chrysler Group LLC, observing its first anniversary after bankruptcy. At the National Automobile Dealers Assn./IHS Global Insight conference in conjunction with the New York International Auto Show, Marchionne is introduced as an auto executive
By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hybrid Car: Lexus HS 250H
A car with a powertrain arguably should come with an eco-friendly interior as well. The Lexus HS 250h fits the bill. It features what Lexus calls a proactive adoption of plant-based, carbon-neutral ecological plastics in about 30% of the interior trim and luggage area. That includes cowl-side accents, door scuff plates and a package tray behind the rear seats. The bioplastics emit about 20% less carbon
By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Taps Aerospace for HUD
General Motors Co. scientists are working on an enhanced vision system building off current head-up display technology that could greatly improve safety, especially in the area of distracted or inattentive driving. It is unlikely the technology will make it into production anytime before 2017. The system uses expensive night vision, navigation and camera sensors rarely found outside research and development
By James M. Amend • May 1, 2010 -
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Genuinely Dealer-Focused
Editor's Note: An April Ward's Dealer Business column mentioning Lee Iacocca inspired Mike Nicoloff of the Starr Automotive Group in Glendale, CA, to share these memories. Coming from a Chrysler dealership family, I was fortunate to have had personal experience with Mr. Iacocca on many occasions. My father in law, Joe Boccalero, was our dealer and I accompanied him to every corporate meeting, gathering
May 1, 2010 -
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Design Breakthrough: Acura ZDX
Between the unusual mocha leather and futuristic styling cues, the interior of the all-new Acura ZDX leaves Ward's editors pleasantly surprised and hopeful that future Acuras will carry on the ZDX's interior DNA. Replete with unusual and visionary touches, including leather-wrapped concave instrument-panel trim and shield-shaped center stack that is convex, rising to a peak at its middle, the overall
By Christie Schweinsberg • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Brand Expression: Mazdaspeed3
The Mazdaspeed3 occupies an awkward even unenviable place in Mazda Motor Corp.'s North American product lineup. The 5-door sporty car shares most of its underpinnings with the entry-level, front-wheel-drive Mazda3 subcompact, which is all new for the '10 model year. But the Mazdaspeed3 must deliver something more for enthusiast buyers who like a taut ride, plenty of thrust and edgy styling. The 263-hp
By Byron Pope • May 1, 2010 -
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Super Duty Super Capable
Ford Motor Co. engineers must take some sadistic pleasure in cooking up new ideas to torture test the auto maker's line of F-Series Super Duty pickups. During a recent test drive of the upcoming '11 Super Duty lineup, this maniacal practice is all too evident. Can a diesel-equipped Super Duty pull a 85,000-lb. (38,556-kg) Caterpillar front loader despite the fact its maximum tow-rating, when fitted
By Byron Pope • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Popular-Priced Car: Subaru Outback
Ask average consumers to define key attributes of the Subaru brand, and all-wheel drive most likely will come to mind. A few might mention Subaru's legacy in rally racing. If Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. continues to launch interiors as user-friendly and well-appointed as that in the all-new Subaru Outback, then great interiors soon will top the list. Among popular-priced cars in this year's competition,
By Tom Murphy • May 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dealers May Benefit from Chase, Mazda Getting Closer
Chase and Mazda North American Operations have expanded their relationship by signing a multi-year private-label agreement under which Chase will be the exclusive U.S. auto finance provider for Mazda. The Mazda Capital Services brand will roll out to Mazda dealers and consumers later year. Since we began our relationship a little more than a year ago, both our dealers and our customers have been extremely
May 1, 2010
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