Automakers: Page 303
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lexus Hybrid Includes Bioplastics – and Lots of Leather
The HS 250h includes what Lexus calls a “proactive adoption” of plant-based, carbon-neutral “ecological plastics” in about 30% of the interior trim and luggage area.
By Steve Finlay • April 26, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Taking Hard Line on Quality
Proposed solutions that were just short of unacceptable “used to be good ideas,” Chrysler quality guru Doug Betts says. “Now, they’re stupid ideas.”
By Eric Mayne • April 23, 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
Lexus Carbon-Fiber Use Leads to Less-Expensive Application
Using thermoplastic resins for the LFA’s body, instead of thermoset resins, likely will lead to greater use of carbon fiber in mass-produced cars, says Nobuya Kawamura, project manager.
By William Diem • April 21, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford BEV Strategy to Depend on Volume
Ford predicts most of the growth in electrified vehicles will come from hybrid-electric vehicles, and to a lesser degree, plug-in HEVs.
By Byron Pope • April 14, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Launches Web Forum to Solicit Consumer Ideas
Ford invites consumers to “submit, share and suggest” ideas through its new web portal.
By Ward's Staff • April 13, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Announces Team to Investigate Acceleration Complaints
Drawing from 200 technical employees working for Toyota in North America, SMART will “attempt to contact customers within 24 hours” of unintended acceleration complaints.
By Ward's Staff • April 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford to Invest $250 Million in Argentina Plant to Build All-New Vehicle
The investment will be used to prepare the plant to build an all-new vehicle “currently not in production in any part of the world,” Ford says.
By Ward's Staff • April 8, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
So Why Not Chrysler?
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.Call it a case of a lesson learned, or maybe it’s an indicator of a new level of desperation, but there’s a tinge of irony in the collaborat...
By David Zoia • April 7, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
AeroVironment Takes on Home Charging for Nissan Leaf
The charger also will be compatible with other EVs, including the upcoming Chevy Volt and Ford Focus.
By Christie Schweinsberg • April 7, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
From Driving Dump Trucks To Running Rolls-Royce
The very rich buy different cars for different uses. “When you have six, seven or eight cars, you buy them with a purity of purpose,” says Rolls-Royce’s Paul Ferraiolo.
By Steve Finlay • April 6, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kia Optima Undergoes Metamorphosis
Styling highlights include a sweeping chrome arc that flows from the A- through C-pillars. It is a design motif that visually lowers the car and enhances its proportions, Kia says.
By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Why Dealers Cry Liar, Liar
Many dealers are saying, Show me the money when it comes to General Motors Co.'s and Chrysler Group LLC's claims that dealerships slated for closure cost them billion of dollars to maintain. GM brass testified to Congress it would save about $2.3 billion plus $415 million in support costs by closing 1,350 targeted dealerships. GM went so far as to include in their figures money saved by not paying
By Lillie Guyer • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Sudden Acceleration Decelerating
In the 1983 Stephen King horror novel a car with supernatural powers drives around by itself and murders people. Despite the efforts of trial lawyers and a few members of the media, Toyotas possessed by demon electronics so far remain safely in the realm of fiction. It still may be proven that hidden software defects, cosmic radiation or Al Qaeda members with death rays are causing sudden unintended
By Drew Winter • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
One-Stop Dave Smith Motors Stays High on Ward’s e-100 List
KELLOGG, ID Dave Smith Motors, a century-old dealership in this northern Idaho town of 2,400, once again is high atop the Ward's e-Dealer 100. On the list since the beginning 10 years ago, it is No.2 this year. How the General Motors Co.-Chrysler Group LLC dealer has managed to become such an Internet champion, in what CEO Ken Smith calls Nowheresville USA, is a story steeped in auto history. His
By Mac Gordon • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Closed Dealerships Convert to Meineke, Maaco Stores
Some auto dealers, who lost their new-car franchises because of industry retail cutbacks, are converting their facilities into car-care service centers. Charlotte, NC-based Driven Brands, parent company to Meineke Car Care Centers and Maaco, is offering franchises to dealers affected by the dealership closings. The first converted dealership, formerly the country's oldest Jeep dealership, reopened
April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota’s Bubble Bursts
For the past decade, Toyota dealerships have been the operations to own in any market. These dealerships have been at the very top of the list for any dealer or group looking to expand. A few years back, Toyota dealerships would routinely command a 10-times Blue Sky multiple. Even throughout last year's economic turmoil, Toyota stores continued to command Blue Sky values that on average were 30%-40%
By Phil Villegas • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Battle Over Batteries
Toyota Motor Corp. and Ford Motor Co. intend to migrate away from nickel-metal hydride battery technology to range-extending lithium-ion chemistries in their future electric vehicles, the auto maker's leading engineers say. But the changeover from NiMH-assisted hybrids will not happen overnight, says Scott Ankeney, an engineer at Toyota's Ann Arbor, MI-based Toyota Motor Engineering & Mfg. North America
By James M. Amend • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Muscle, MPG and Mom
Infiniti's new '11 M sedan presents a great mix of ridiculous power, astonishing fuel economy and parental-like controls sure to please, and perhaps perplex, buyers. The M's new 5.6L V-8 cranks out a whopping 420 hp and 417 lb.-ft. (565 Nm) of torque. But thanks to direct injection and other fuel-sipping features, we were able to average an astonishing 28.2 mpg (8.3 L/100 km) on one test route through
By Christie Schweinsberg • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Leveraging Social Media for Super Duty Launch
Social media marketing techniques don't just apply to 20-something urbanites who covet small cars. Ford Motor Co. says convoys of diehard truckers are jamming the information superhighway to get up to speed on the latest diesel technology. The membership of the top 10 Super Duty enthusiast sites is more than twice that of the top 10 (Ford) Mustang sites, says Brian Rathsburg, marketing manager for
By Byron Pope • April 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Cadillac Not Sweating Lincoln MKZ Hybrid
“We don’t want to do a hybrid just to do a hybrid,” Cadillac marketing boss Don Butler says.
By James M. Amend • March 31, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Infiniti QX Changes Shape But Retains Truck Platform
The design of the QX is heavily changed, with a lower-slung shape and boxier corners.
By Christie Schweinsberg • March 31, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Welcomes Government Sudden-Acceleration Probe
At a cost of $3 million, the U.S. Department of Transportation is asking the National Academy of Sciences to study a range of sudden-acceleration issues, including driver error.
By Steve Finlay • March 30, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Marchionne Predicts Chrysler to Make Good on Second Chance
The Chrysler chief reveals the auto maker will break even this year and eventually pay back every penny the firm has borrowed over five years. It’s possible Chrysler may even show a profit in 2010.
By Herb Shuldiner • March 30, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM’s HiPer Strut Rethinks MacPherson Suspension
The goal of HiPer Strut was to make a McPherson-strut design work like the short long-arm setups of rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
By James M. Amend • March 30, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon Readied for New York Reveal
The uber-wagon is seen as a shot across the bow of German auto makers, sending a signal ahead of GM’s re-launch of the Cadillac brand in Europe.
By James M. Amend • March 29, 2010
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