Automakers: Page

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    Ford, GM, Nissan to Supply Hybrid Taxis in New York

    New York already has 1,286 hybrid taxis, about 10% of the 13,227 cabs that cruise the city daily.

    By Herb Shuldiner • July 16, 2008
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    ’09 SL65 AMG Black Series Tops Mercedes Lineup

    The new V-12 coupe gets a track-focused diet of carbon fiber and a boost in power to make it one of the most aggressive Mercedes vehicles to date.

    By Mike Sutton • July 15, 2008
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    Trendline

    Top 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
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    Volkswagen Research Underscores Positive Impact of Electronic Stability Control

    VW’s database includes information from more than 10,000 crashes.

    By James M. Amend • July 14, 2008
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    Toyota to Build Prius in Mississippi, Shifting All Tundra Output to Texas

    The midsize car will become the second HEV to be built in the U.S., following the Camry Hybrid in Georgetown, KY.

    By Ward's Staff • July 10, 2008
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    GM Denies Reports Saturn Faces Elimination in New Restructuring Round

    Saturn sales last month fell 1.9% and deliveries so far this year are off 18.6%, according to Ward’s data.

    By James M. Amend • July 7, 2008
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    Audi Unveils Supercharged 3.0L TFSI V-6

    The belt-driven, roots-type compressor allows the premium V-6 to make 290 hp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque, while also improving throttle response and packaging.

    By Mike Sutton • July 7, 2008
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    Chrysler Realigns Human Resources Staff

    Nancy Rae will lead the integration of the auto maker’s human resources, employee relations and communications functions.

    By Ward's Staff • July 3, 2008
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    Audi Sets September Launch for New A4

    Audi predicts 80% of the A4s sold will be equipped with the 4-cyl. engine, which generates 211 hp and 258 lb.-ft. of torque.

    By Herb Shuldiner • July 3, 2008
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    VW Minivan Plans Unhindered by Chrysler Production Move

    Chrysler dominated the U.S. minivan market in 2007 with 315,000 deliveries, falling just short of the combined totals of Toyota and Honda.

    By James M. Amend • July 1, 2008
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    Selling Luxury to Slacker Set

    Washington Remember Generation X as an angst-ridden bunch, derided as the slacker set? Maybe they didn't turn out so bad after all. Why else would auto companies now be pitching luxury cars to them? Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln Mercury Div. is taking demographic aim at Gen Xers in marketing its all-new '09 Lincoln MKS flagship sedan, touted for elegant design and high technology. In going after the Gen

    By • July 1, 2008
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    Form Over Function

    Introduced in 2003, the Infiniti FX was an industry first as a fast and sleek cross/utility vehicle that emphasized sport over utility. It was a breakthrough; there was nothing else like it at the time in that segment, says John Weiner, director-product planning for Nissan North America Inc.'s Infiniti luxury division. The FX was fast. And as a style statement featuring curvy lines, it looked more

    By • July 1, 2008
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    GM Says More Trucks Could Go Unibody

    General Motors Corp. Brings to market this fall a fourth midsize cross/utility vehicle to meet a shift in consumer demand away from body-on-frame SUVs, and company executives say the auto maker could migrate more trucks to unibody construction. Don Butler, marketing director for GM trucks, shies away from discussing future product plans but says market demand ultimately will decide. You can count

    By James M. Amend • July 1, 2008
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    Dealership Concentrates on Selling 3 Key F&I Offerings

    Reducing the number of product offerings, increasing managerial training and focusing on customer comfort zones are ingredients in Big Two Toyota-Scion's finance and insurance success, says Wally Henkel, general manager. The dealership, based in Chandler, AZ, ranks 146th on the inaugural Ward's F&I 150, a listing of the top 150 F&I revenue-generating stores based on the Ward's Dealer 500 list. Big

    By Derek Stark • July 1, 2008
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    Cadillac/Kia Dealer Adds a Hyundai Showplace in Ohio

    A new 37,000-sq.-ft. Hyundai dealership is open for business in Ohio near owner Stephen Taylor's high-volume Kia store and adjacent Cadillac showroom. Taylor is the only Cadillac-only dealer with both Korean franchises. The Hyundai store is located in Perrysburg, and the Cadillac and Kia dealerships in Toledo, where Jeep Liberty SUVs are built. We added the Kia franchise seven years ago, says Taylor,

    By Bt Mac Gordon • July 1, 2008
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    One Ford Strategy Streamlines Purchasing Operations

    Ford Motor Co.'s One Ford strategy, implemented by CEO Alan Mulally to better align the auto maker's global resources, has had profound impact on the company's purchasing operations and its suppliers, two top-level managers say. Key to the strategy is the formation of the system, which teams product-development personnel with those from purchasing. In the case of vehicle interiors, Mike Taylor, director-global

    By Byron Pope • July 1, 2008
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    Ford Advances Global Purchasing Strategy

    Ford Motor Co.'s Purchasing Operations are Being transformed under CEO Alan Mulally's One Ford strategy, which calls for all divisions of the auto maker to operate on a collaborative global basis. To align North American purchasing with the rest of the world, Ford last year called on Paul Stokes, former head of European purchasing. Stokes succeeds Andrew Hinkly, who has left the company, and reports

    By Byron Pope • July 1, 2008
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    Mercedes Study Finds Auto-Braking Slows Collision Rate

    The auto maker’s analysis of accidents in Germany shows Distronic Plus and Brake Assist Plus systems significantly reduce the occurrence and severity of rear-end collisions.

    By Alan Harman • June 24, 2008
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    GM Reshapes Production Schedule

    Bucking the trend is GM’s van plant in Wentzville, MO. The auto maker has scheduled overtime there.

    By Ward's Staff • June 23, 2008
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    Audi’s Downsized Dynamo

    Audi’s 2.0L TFSI turbo-4 represents an outstanding balance of performance and fuel economy in a compact, efficient package.

    By Gary Witzenburg • June 23, 2008
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    Ford Upgrades Sync, Navigation System as Microsoft Deal Expires

    The auto maker now is hoping to build on its momentum from Sync with the addition of Travel Link to its new navigation/entertainment system.

    By Byron Pope • June 20, 2008
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    GM Says 18,657 Workers Take Latest Round of Buyout Offers

    Nearly half the departures come from GM sites in Michigan, including some 2,000 workers from truck-centric assembly plants in Flint and Pontiac.

    By Ward's Staff • June 19, 2008
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    Ford to Idle Wayne Truck Plant

    The shutdown, from June 23-Aug. 25, will affect some 1,400 workers at the plant.

    By Ward's Staff • June 17, 2008
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    Ford of Europe to Launch New Focus RS

    The new ’09 RS will benefit from engineering knowledge gleaned from Ford’s various motorsport programs, most notably the Focus World Rally Car.

    By Ward's Staff • June 17, 2008
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    New ’09 Maxima Upholds Nissan Flagship Title

    Nissan’s venerable 7th-generation flagship sedan has great performance characteristics, but will the large car scare off gas-conscious buyers?

    By • June 17, 2008
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    Hyundai, Kia Workers Vote to Join Strike

    The strike is in protest to the importation of U.S. beef under the pending Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, as well as other policies of the government under President Lee Myung-bak.

    By Vince Courtenay • June 16, 2008