Automakers: Page
-
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BMW Paint Shop Breaks New Ground
The South Carolina plant is getting an advanced new paint shop as part of an expansion project that takes annual capacity from 150,000 to 200,000 units.
By Tom Murphy • Aug. 4, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
The Perfect Boomer Drop-top
After Nearly Four Years on the market, Toyota Motor Corp.'s Lexus IS sport sedan has garnered much attention for the brand from consumers and reviewers alike, including Ward's, which has honored the car's 306-hp 3.5L V-6 as a 10 Best Engine for four years running. But sales of 49,432 vehicles last year still lag those of Lexus' luxury arch-nemesis, BMW AG, and its 3-Series, which sold 112,464 units
By Christie Schweinsberg • Aug. 1, 2009 -
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
Chrysler: Rough Ride Over
While the Road Ahead Remains bumpy for Chrysler Group LLC, customers can expect a smoother ride from the '10 Dodge Ram heavy-duty pickup than from the outgoing model. The Ram 2500 and 3500, available for the first time in crew-cab configuration, features the auto maker's inaugural application of fluid-filled body mounts. Positioned under the C-pillar, the glycol-filled mounts are supplied by Cooper
By Eric Mayne • Aug. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Everybody’s Battle
Kudos to the Virginia Automotive Dealers Assn. (there may be others) whose board of directors recently voted unanimously to fight for dealers eliminated by Chrysler and General Motors. And if your state association voted to stay in the fight, kudos to you also. On the other hand, there are some state associations that voted to stay on the sidelines and not support their brethren. (I won't name names,
By Cliff Banks • Aug. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chief Pontiac on the Warpath
Editor's Note: Ward's David C. Smith channels the long-dead Indian chief who has an ill-fated General Motors division named after him, and finds him spinning in his grave. I'll smoke no peace pipes with General Motors Corp. For 83 years GM took advantage of my name by putting it on millions of cars without sending a single royalty check. Now they're killing my namesake division off, and it looks like
By David C. Smith • Aug. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turbo, GDI I-4 Epitomizes Future
The History of Audi AG's Mighty Mite I-4 Goes Back to the early '90s with development of the 1.8L turbo-four (dubbed 1.8T) that arrived on U.S. shores in 1996 in the '97 A4 compact sedan. According to Mark Trahan, Audi of America's director-aftersales and technical service, the engine was designed in Ingolstadt, Germany, by a relatively small engineering team and intended to be shared across a variety
By Gary Witzenburg • Aug. 1, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM to Take Over Some Delphi Plants
GM intends to maintain its control of the component operations but indicates it could seek a buyer for the steering business in the future.
By Ward's Staff • July 31, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Says Six More VPs to Go
Among those leaving are OnStar head Chet Huber, pickup-truck engineer Gary White and global-engineering boss Jim Queen.
By Ward's Staff • July 30, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
LaCrosse Breathes Life Into Buick
The new entry-luxury sedan offers two fine direct-injection gasoline V-6s, as well as a firm ride your grandfather won’t recognize. The LaCrosse proves Buick still has a pulse.
By Tom Murphy • July 28, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
CEO’s Retirement to Leave Big Shoes to Fill at GM Daewoo
Michael Grimaldi is well respected by employees at GM’s Korean subsidiary and has been instrumental in furthering management-union relations in his brief three years at the helm.
By Vince Courtenay • July 28, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Aims to Slash Hybrid-Development Costs 30%
The cost reduction is in addition to the 30% already taken out since Ford launched its first HEV, the Ford Escape Hybrid, in 2004 as a ’05 model.
By Byron Pope • July 24, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM to Name Brent Dewar Head of Chevrolet
Dewar’s return stateside, confirmed by a person familiar with the plan, also marks a return for the executive to the Chevy brand, which he took over in 2003.
By Ward's Staff • July 23, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
EC Approves €112 Million in Aid to Daimler for New Hungarian Plant
The facility initially will produce next-generation Mercedes-Benz A- and B-Class models.
By Keith Nuthall • July 20, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Begins to Thin Ranks
GM says longtime public-relations chief Steve Harris, 63, will retire for the second time after rejoining the auto maker in 2006.
By Ward's Staff • July 15, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Shell Launches Hydrogen Station Cluster in Support of GM Project
GM has spent more than $1.5 billion over the last 14 years on hydrogen and FCV research.
By Herb Shuldiner • July 15, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Duramax Ready Whenever Market Is, GM’s Stephens Says
“Direct injection, variable valve timing, as well as turbocharging, will be used on vehicles ongoing at GM,” Vice Chairman Tom Stephens says. “There’s absolutely zero doubt about that.”
By Christie Schweinsberg • July 15, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Taub to Succeed Burns as GM R&D Chief
Burns expects second-generation GM fuel-cell vehicles to be launched in the 2014-2015 timeframe, when they may be produced in the tens of thousands.
By Herb Shuldiner • July 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turbocharged, Direct-Injected Audi 4-cyl. Epitomizes Industry’s Future
The strategy of downsizing and ‘downspeeding’ – moving the torque curve lower in the rev range and using longer gear ratios to let the engine rev lower at a given vehicle speed – will be seen more and more.
By Gary Witzenburg • July 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM Right Sizes Cadillac SRX
Like a forcefully driven stiletto heel, this luxury CUV has the potential to dig painfully deep into Lexus’ longtime dominance.
By James M. Amend • July 14, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Aabar Picks Up Share of Daimler Investment in Tesla
Daimler says the investment allows it and Aabar to “leverage their shared interest in the development of low carbon-dioxide drive systems.”
By Ward's Staff • July 13, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM, eBay Team Up to Auction Cars Online
The goal is to make car shopping and buying easier for customers and allow them to do it “on their time and terms,” says GM CEO Fritz Henderson.
By Steve Finlay • July 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Reorganized GM Promises Fundamental Change
Potential casualties of GM’s reorganization are sales chief Mark LaNeve and GM North America President Troy Clarke. Meanwhile, the auto maker renews its relationship with Bob Lutz, who had planned to retire.
By Byron Pope • July 10, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Oprah Endorsement Money in the Bank? Not So Fast
A previous VW Routan campaign featuring celebrity Brooke Shields was deemed a failure because viewers recalled its comedic premise but not the vehicle.
By Eric Mayne • July 9, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan to Create Dedicated Social Community for Its Global EV Buyers
The system means Big Brother will know where the car is at all times and how it is being driven, but owners concerned about privacy can opt out.
By William Diem • July 9, 2009 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Honda Jazz Introduces Premium Small-Car Segment to India
Priced between $14,850 and $15,600, the Jazz’s three variants are the most expensive among India’s current crop of small cars.
By Sudhakar Shah • July 7, 2009
Previous
