Automakers: Page
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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
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 -
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
My Somewhat Begrudging Apology To Ford Pinto
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. I never thought I’d offer an apology to the Ford Pinto, but I guess I owe it one. I had a Pinto in the 1970s. Actually, my wife bought it...
By Steve Finlay 2 • March 26, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat Breathing Easy With MultiAir
Newly launched MultiAir technology, arriving in the U.S. later this year, redefines variable valve timing. Will it become the norm for gasoline engines worldwide?
By Tom Murphy • March 26, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Takes Second Stab at Personal-Transportation Electric Vehicle
As with the PUMA, the EN-V leverages Segway’s dynamic stabilization technology to balance on two wheels.
By James M. Amend • March 24, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chevrolet Taking No Prisoners in Building Global Brand Recognition
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.General Motors is leveraging its global operations to further promote the Chevrolet brand worldwide, and this is both good and bad news for ...
By Barbara McClellan 2 • March 22, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Devereux to Lead GM Holden
GM International Operations President Tim Lee says Mike Devereux’s diverse, global experience and passion for cars makes him ideally suited to lead GM Holden in Australia and New Zealand.
By Alan Harman • March 22, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota Examines Prius Cruise Control Complaints
More than half of the ’10 Toyota Prius cruise-control complaints filed with NHTSA cite difficulty deactivating the system when the car’s brake pedal is depressed.
By Christie Schweinsberg • March 22, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM California Dealers Fret Over Stalled Economy, Lack of New Product
Not everything is glum. El Camino Real Chevrolet in Monterey Park, the top-selling dealership in the Los Angeles market, reports an estimated 6% rise in sales for the year’s first two months.
By Erik Derr • March 17, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM to Build All-New Chevy Sedan in Uzbekistan, Brazil for Emerging Markets
“It will have a 4-door body, and we will look at variants later on, depending on how market requirements develop,” Michael Arcamone tells Ward’s.
By Peter Homola • March 16, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon Finishes What Sedan Starts
We can’t get enough of the razor-sharp creases, high beltline, raked silhouette and tasteful flashes of chrome that make today’s Cadillacs stand out from the crowd.
By James M. Amend • March 15, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Baby Brother Camaro Bites into Corvette’s Popularity
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.The new Chevrolet Camaro makes the Chevy Corvette look bad. At least in sales-column tallies. Corvette sales plunged last year. OK, virtua...
By Steve Finlay 2 • March 13, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mercedes Design Names Lee to Replace Piaskowski
Hubert Lee, already an employee of Mercedes-Benz, reportedly designed the F800 Style concept car unveiled at the recent Geneva auto show.
By Ward's Staff • March 12, 2010 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Fiat Keen to Exploit European Cachet
Lorenzo Ramaciotti, Fiat’s vice president-style, says the Italian auto maker wants to export more vehicles to the U.S. More information on the strategy is expected April 21.
By Tom Murphy • March 12, 2010
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