Automakers: Page
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Mercury’s 71-Year Run Coming to End
Ford says it will halt Mercury output in the fourth-quarter to concentrate more resources on its Lincoln luxury marque, which will benefit from an exclusive engine.
By Byron Pope • June 2, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM China to Provide Blueprint for Future Transportation
By 2025, 60% of the world’s 8 billion people will live in cities, requiring “new ways of organizing and managing transportation,” one analyst says.
By Vince Courtenay • June 2, 2010 -
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
The Qvales Expand to Florida
The Qvale family, a West Coast dealership institution of sorts, has expanded its business to Florida with the purchase of what had been one of the largest Audi dealers in the country. The Qvale Auto Group acquired Champion Audi in Coral Springs, FL, and renamed it Audi Coral Springs. The group plans to relocate Champion Audi's Pompano outlet to Fort Lauderdale. With three Audi stores already under
June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
And Then There Were None
For 55 years, the Dalgleish family sold Cadillacs in Detroit, three blocks away from the former General Motors Corp.'s old world headquarters building. But Dalgleish Cadillac is no more, a victim of the new General Motors Co.'s plan to reduce its dealership ranks. The shutdown admittedly was a bitter pill for family members Charley Dalgleish Jr., 84, his younger brother, Douglas Dalgleish, Sr., and
By Mac Gordon • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Outlook Cloudy for Chrysler
The Dodge Challenger has stirred up more excitement around me than any other car in years. Strangers came up to touch it. They didn't ask whether Chrysler was going to survive, they just loved the car. This was an arrest-me red model, with hood scoops and wide black stripes down the center with a $28,980 sticker. I was driving it for a weekend in New York. Manhattan could not get enough of the car.
By Jerry Flint • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Prius Improves Both Power, Efficiency
Everyone knows Toyota Motor Corp.'s first Prius was no picnic to drive. But the Echo subcompact-based hybrid-electric vehicle did deliver very good fuel economy. That was the point. The second-generation U.S. Prius on an all-new dedicated compact platform was a lot better in every way. Hardly a sport sedan, it could at least get out of its own way and save a bunch of gas in the process. Who knew there
By Gary Witzenburg • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
It’s a Dealership Ghost Town
KILMARNOCK, VA This small city 50 miles (80 km) northeast of the state capital of Richmond is a car dealership ghost town, haunted by the recession, domestic auto makers' drives to reduce dealer count and rapidly changing demographics. For decades, Kilmarnock boasted General Motors Co., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group LLC dealerships. Now there are none. Some just up and closed. Two now are used-car
By David C. Smith • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Recession Affects Design in Many Ways
The recession has taken a financial toll on the automotive industry, but from a design perspective it serves as inspiration, OEM panelists say. It's been tough over the past few years at (General Motors Co.), but at the design center we managed to stay focused, and I witnessed some of the best work ever, Crystal Windham, director-North American passenger car design, says during a panel on Designing
By Byron Pope • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford to Push Residual Value Message
Ford Motor Co. will trumpet the rising residual value of its vehicles with an aggressive marketing campaign. Resale value is absolutely central to explaining to customers that Ford represents the best value in the market, and we expect to leverage (that message) extensively, says Jim Farley, group vice president-global marketing. According to the Automotive Lease Guide's latest Perceived Quality Score
By Byron Pope • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Sticking With BP Relationship
The long-standing relationship between Ford Motor Co. and BP plc does not appear to be in jeopardy, despite the energy company's massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. But marketing experts say the disaster could negatively impact the environmentally conscious auto maker. I hope (Ford) takes a look at (the partnership), says University of Detroit-Mercy marketing professor Mike Bernacchi. If they're
By Byron Pope • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Rethinks MacPherson Strut
General Motors Co. adds a new front suspension to the redesigned-for-'10 Buick LaCrosse, virtually eliminating the torque steer inherent to front-wheel-drive vehicles and improving overall drivability. Called High-Performance Strut, or HiPer Strut as GM has branded it, the new setup comes as standard equipment on top-of-range LaCrosse CXS models. The rollout of HiPer Strut coincides with the launch
By James M. Amend • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Why Mess With 5-Series Success?
Clearly, BMW was happy with the previous-generation 5-Series and saw little need for a clean-sheet redesign. The sheet already was pretty clean to begin with.
By Tom Murphy • June 1, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Buick Regal Sales, Inventory Build Under Way; Lucerne’s Future Dim
The cars arrive in batches of 500 to 1,000, depending upon the vessel, to Newark, NJ; Brunswick, GA; and Port of Hueneme, CA.
By James M. Amend • May 28, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
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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