Ford In-Sourcing ACH Component Work

Ford Motor Co. is leveraging the resources of its Automotive Components Holdings LLC subsidiary for an ongoing plan to in-source assembly of certain components, the auto maker's director of manufacturing says. And the move to bring parts operations in-house may not stop with ACH, as the auto maker says it may in-source additional work on future vehicle programs as existing contracts with outside suppliers

By Byron Pope • April 1, 2008

Job Market for Designers Shrinking

Chrysler LLC's decision to close its California-based Pacifica design studio is the latest indicator demand for design jobs in North America is dwindling, an industry insider says. The market is shrinking dramatically, says Bill Barranco, principal of Autovision Inc., an executive recruitment firm that serves automotive designers and design studios. Ford (Motor Co.'s) not hiring anybody. (General

By Eric Mayne • April 1, 2008

Explore the Trendline➔

Artificial 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

No Down Year for Paragon

Don't laugh when you read what Brian Benstock did a couple of years ago because most of you have been burned making similar moves. The question is, did you learn from them? Benstock, vice president and part owner of Paragon Honda and Acura in Queens, New York, took what he learned and propelled Paragon Honda to the brand's Certified Dealer of the Year spot. He thought he was being slick when he bought

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2008

Unusual Scion for All the Young Dudes

Toyota Motor Corp.'s Scion Hako Coupe Concept car unveiled at the New York auto show is a box-shaped coupe targeting young men between the ages of 18 and 35. In introducing the unusually shaped car, Scion Vice President Jack Hollis characterizes it as a sporty version of a box, noting hako means box in Japanese. Among the Hako Coupe's exterior features are strong flared fenders and a vertical windshield,

By Roger Schreffler • April 1, 2008

Subaru’s Sherpa-Like Forester

At Catalina Island's Airport In the Sky which consists of a 3,200-ft. (975-m) strip of asphalt, a stubby terracotta-roofed control tower and a single white-washed, World War II-era hangar planes don't land so much as they drop from the sky with a thud and wailing rubber, flaps fully extended in what seems an all-out bid to stop before plunging off the green mountaintop into the Pacific Ocean. It's

By James M. Amend • April 1, 2008

By Popular Demand, Honda Fit Is Bigger

Many consumers who bought the Honda Fit because of its diminutive dimensions ironically ended up telling American Honda Motor Co. Inc. that the car was, well, a tad too small. That's one reason the '09 Fit introduced here at the New York International Auto Show is bigger than the first-generation model, says Richard Colliver, American Honda's executive vice president-automobile sales. It wasn't dissatisfaction,

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2008

Dealer Wins Award in Ford Credit Suit

An independent auto dealer has won a $165,000 judgment against Ford Credit in connection with a Federal Court suit in Columbia, SC. Dealer Maron Isom, who owns United Auto Sales in the South Carolina capital, was awarded the sum after the court decided the Ford Motor Co. captive lender misrepresented the terms of his bid for a closed Ford dealership in Cheraw, SC. Isom charged that Ford Credit had

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2008

Building Eco-Friendly Facilities

Ask Pat Lobb of Pat Lobb Toyota, what's one of his proudest possession at the year-old dealership in McKinney, TX, and he'll say a 8,660-gallon (32,781-L) cistern. On hot summer days, it collects 500 gallons (1,892 L) of water from drip pans below the air conditioning ducts. Micro switches and servos send water underground to irrigate the native Texas plants that deposit moisture into the parched

By Maureen McDonald • April 1, 2008

Anti-Gay Group Lifts Ford Boycott; Effectiveness Disputed

The American Family Assn. has ended its 2-year boycott of Ford Motor Co., saying its grievances have been resolved, The Tupelo, MS-based AFA had been boycotting Ford products since 2005 in protest of the auto maker's support for several gay and lesbian events and the advertising it places in gay-directed publications. In a statement, Ford says, The AFA has made its decision and is ready to move on.

By Byron Pope • April 1, 2008

Web’s Ugly Side

If you're not paying attention, the Internet can reach up and bite you without warning. The Husker Automotive Group learned this lesson recently when an auction it held on eBay Motors for a new BMW E90 M3 sedan turned ugly. There was no reserve set, but the vehicle had a Buy It Now price of $67,800. Ken Tanisaka, who lives in California, placed an initial bid of $60,000. It ultimately was the winning,

By Cliff Banks • April 1, 2008

Veering Comfortably Into Middle Age

Honda Motor Co. Ltd.'s Acura TSX sedan is reflective of so many Americans today. Once a lithe little number with snap reflexes, it now is moving into middle age. Its seats are a bit wider, and it doesn't jerk its passengers around quite so much. Yes, like so many other midsize sports sedans that have grown up, the more civilized TSX isn't quite as much fun as it used to be. But don't fault Honda and

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 1, 2008

In Big Apple, Cars Are Stars

Pickup trucks are about as out-of-place in New York City as Chicago-style pizza, so it makes perfect sense that the Big Apple's annual international auto show celebrated the car in its fundamental 4-door form. Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., laying claim to creating the first modern sport sedan, unveils its 8th-generation '09 Maxima. Nissan puts Maxima back in contention with the SR version that offers a 290-hp

By Ward's Staff • April 1, 2008

Citroen Plans Greener C5 by Year-End

PSA Peugeot Citroen engineers are working hard to prepare a more environmentally friendly version of the new Citroen C5 large car before year's end. The goal is to emit no more than 139 g/km of carbon-dioxide tailpipe emissions, which is 10 g/km less than the car's most-efficient version that will be launched in March. The 10 g/km-CO2 reduction is enormous. Engineers hope to get 5 g/km or more from

By William Diem • April 1, 2008

Subaru Ascends With Sherpa-Like Forester

While Subaru made some excellent changes to update the previous generation’s dowdy exterior, the interior lacks design harmony and the 4-speed automatic has to work too hard.

By James M. Amend • April 1, 2008

GM JV in China Adds 300,000 Units of Capacity

The Qindao-based plant initially will produce a new mini-commercial vehicle powered by a 1.2L DOHC gasoline engine.

By Ward's Staff • March 31, 2008

Mercedes-AMG’s Drop Top With Attitude

Highlighting Mercedes-Benz’s new ’09 SL lineup, the 518-hp SL63 AMG brings the luxury roadster’s performance within a fender of true everyday supercars.

By Mike Sutton • March 27, 2008

Ford Virtual Manufacturing Technology Driving Quality Gains

Ford says the process helped improve quality 11% last year in the U.S., far outpacing the industry average of 2%.

By Byron Pope • March 27, 2008

Ford Hydrogen ICE Program Hits Regulation Snag

The lack of hydrogen regulations has put kinks in Ford’s bus dispersal plan, which centers on placing the units in a variety of climates.

By Byron Pope • March 26, 2008

Purves Nears Final Bow as BMW U.S. Chief

In his nine years at the helm, BMWNA CEO Tom Purves saw group U.S. sales more than double to 335,000 vehicles annually.

By Herb Shuldiner • March 25, 2008

Audi to Launch 7-Speed, High-Torque DCT

The new 7-Speed S-tronic transmission will be introduced on several mid-range and sporty models with longitudinally mounted engines beginning later this year.

By Mike Sutton • March 24, 2008

Scion Hako Coupe Concept Could Enter Market After 2010

If management gives the green light, Toyota has the capability to engineer the car from design freeze to production in less than 12 months, project leader Tadao Mori says.

By Roger Schreffler • March 20, 2008

Kia Optimistic for Koup Green Light

The Koup answers critics that have bashed Kia as an economy-car and SUV producer with a vanilla lineup that lacks styling punch.

By Tom Murphy • March 20, 2008

Hyundai Rolls Out Genesis Coupe in Big Apple

The Genesis Coupe offers two engine choices, including a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cyl. with dual continuously variable valve timing, a Hyundai first in the U.S.

By Christie Schweinsberg • March 19, 2008

Ford’s Warranty Costs Dropping as Quality Improves

Warranty cost as a percent of revenue last year was slightly more than 2%, a level that bests the auto maker’s domestic competitors and is closing in on top Asian competitors.

By Byron Pope • March 19, 2008

Mitsubishi Shows Minicar Trio at NY Auto Show

The i-MiEV Sport concept uses a rigid, lightweight-aluminum frame for improved range and leverages the electric vehicle’s instant torque for increased performance.

By Byron Pope • March 19, 2008