Lexus Scores With Philadelphia Parking Deal

Two prime parking areas near the Wachovia Center now are dedicated to Lexus models. Combined, they account for about 300 spaces.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 17, 2007

Acura NSX to Arrive in 2010

The U.S. may be the first to see the new supercar, American Honda’s highest-ranking executive hints.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 17, 2007

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

Nissan’s Bosley Retiring

Bill Bosley joined Nissan in 1981 and has held various positions, including managing director of Nissan Motors Ltd. in the U.K. immediately prior to his current NNA position.

By Ward's Staff • Dec. 14, 2007

Ford Opens Doors to New Training Center

Ford engineers and plant workers currently are gearing up for next fall’s launch of the ’09 F-150 by evaluating 18,000 design elements using production simulation tools.

By Byron Pope • Dec. 14, 2007

Ford’s Hinrichs Appointed to Global Position

Joe Hinrichs will have global responsibility for the auto maker’s material, planning and logistics, production system and manufacturing business office organizations.

By Ward's Staff • Dec. 13, 2007

Ssangyong New Luxury Sedan to Feature Mercedes V-8

Both the engine and 7-speed automatic transmission will be imported from Mercedes-Benz in Germany, Ward's is told.

By Vince Courtenay • Dec. 12, 2007

Mazda Debuting Freshened RX-8, Concept at Detroit Auto Show

Also on the Mazda stand in Detroit will be the Furai concept car, a road racer meant to run on E100 ethanol, the auto maker says.

By Ward's Staff • Dec. 12, 2007

Chrysler to Idle Jefferson North, Windsor

The No.3 U.S. auto maker tells workers the Jefferson North plant will lose its second shift in February.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • Dec. 12, 2007

Nissan ‘Murano-ness’ Safe and Sound

Receiving its first major revision since its debut nearly six years ago, one of the original car-based utility vehicles softens the sport but ups the luxury factor.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 12, 2007

Toyota Matrix Ho-Hum Hatch

Eye-catching new sheetmetal but a ho-hum powertrain borrowed from the Camry family sedan make the new compact 5-door a mixed offering.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 11, 2007

Ford Readies for Production of Duratec 37

The 3.7L will first land in the upcoming ’09 Lincoln MKS, and going forward it will serve as the basis for Ford’s direct-injection, turbo-charged engine family.

By Byron Pope • Dec. 7, 2007

Brisk Demand Spurs Malibu Production at Orion

The new Malibu drove a 15.0% increase in Chevrolet passenger-car sales in November – its first full sales month.

By James M. Amend • Dec. 6, 2007

Toyota Takes Another Shot at Drawing Younger Buyers With Matrix

Toyota is hoping the new Matrix will lower the Corolla lineup’s average median age in line with the Mazda3, currently the segment leader with younger buyers.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 6, 2007

BMW Welt Expands Delivery Experience

BMW expects 45,000 customers annually to take advantage of the new delivery program.

By Byron Pope • Dec. 4, 2007

An Unusual Dealership Dualing

Dealer John M. Leese heads an unusual dualing a Cadillac store (one of the nation's oldest) and a Lexus dealership. That's a rare combination of luxury-brand rivals. But he's made it work in Grand Rapids, MI. Leese is the fourth owner of Harvey Cadillac, which got its franchise in 1901. Ward's interviewed him at Harvey Lexus next door. Ward's: How did you come to own Harvey Cadillac? Leese: I started

By Mac Gordon • Dec. 1, 2007

Amazing What You Can Do

As a rookie salesman at an auto dealership, Chad Hubler remembers hearing the sales manager talking about Internet vehicle sales and marketing. I thought, What's that? Today, Hubler is general manager of Courtesy Chevrolet, a San Diego store with an ambitious Internet department. The dealership is one of several Courtesy outlets owned by the Gruwell family that has embraced new technologies to sell

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2007

And a Fiesty Auto Website Lists Its Worst Cars for 2007

The Truth About Cars website has named its 10 Worst Cars for 2007 and they are all General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC products. Detroit makes some great cars, trucks and SUVs, Publisher Robert Farago says. Long live those. But here (accompanied by TTAC's barbed comments in the second-annual judging) are cars he claims deserve a dignified and immediate death: Saturn ION The lame-duck ION waddles

Dec. 1, 2007

Former All-American Heads Toyota Region

Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc., has named Clyde Dyson as general manager of its Cincinnati region. He is responsible for vehicle sales and service, business management, market representation, marketing and parts sales for the auto maker's dealer network in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan. He joined Toyota in 1988. He has held company positions of district manager, business management manager,

Dec. 1, 2007

Benz Store Uses Radio Frequency ID to Track Its Inventory

A new Mercedes-Benz dealership, RBM of Atlanta North in Alpharetta, GA, is using radio frequency identification (RFID) to track inventory. It is among the first dealerships to do so. Microchips put on dealership vehicles beam signals so staffers can quickly determine where any vehicle is located. The tracking technology is seeing a growing number of uses. It has been exciting to see the reaction of

Dec. 1, 2007

I Blame the Middle Managers

Chrysler's new owners are trying to deal straight up with the reality of market forces, rather than give in to historical excuses about what went wrong. From all appearances the people at Cerberus stand ready to shed themselves of products, dealers, plants, unions and middle staff, if it might mean a quicker or better profit. From a dealer's perspective, the two most important things that might correct

By Peter Brandow • Dec. 1, 2007

Toyota Hopes Dynamic Suspension Boosts Land Cruiser

Debuting on the new '08 Land Cruiser SUV is a suspension system that Toyota Motor Corp. hopes will give the new off-roader an edge over the competition. Designing the vehicle to be both manageable and predictable in on-road conditions and a good performer off paved roads was a challenge, says Dave Lee, senior product education and development administrator for the University of Toyota. Stabilizer

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 1, 2007

Audi Quells Understeer With Differential

In a bid to alleviate the understeering inherent in most of its nose-heavy all-wheel-drive cars, Audi AG introduces a new active sport differential to its trademark quattro AWD system. Known as torque-vectoring and popularized by Honda Motor Co. Ltd.'s recent introduction of its Super Handling-All-Wheel Drive (SH-AWD) system, the new Audi technology incorporates an active rear differential, which

By Mike Sutton • Dec. 1, 2007

Nissan Expects Sales to Exceed 1 Million Units Again

Nissan north america inc. is entering an era of promise, says its newly appointed sales chief. Multiple product launches in 2007, piggybacked on the momentum of late-year debuts in 2006, point toward success in 2008, says Mark McNabb. We'll continue to see the growth that we're at today, McNabb says of Nissan's 5.5% January-October U.S. sales increase to 898,194 units. Nissan expects to surpass 1

By Christie Schweinsberg • Dec. 1, 2007

Smart Motors Is Building a 100,000-sq.-ft Toyota Dealership

Smart Motors is building a 100,000-sq.-ft. facility in Madison, WI. It will be the largest Toyota dealership in the Chicago region, a sprawling market that includes portions of four states. Impressive vehicle sales led to the decision to build the new facility and demolish the old one, says Smart Motors President and CEO J.R. Smart. Our sales began to increase to the point were we could no longer

Dec. 1, 2007

Captive Firms Buying Deeper

David Jones used to warn customers that if they failed to make their car payments, they'd no longer get credit. That's not true today, says Jones, vice president-consumer credit, operations support and plans for General Motors Acceptance Corp. Consumers with blemished credit histories that once precluded them from further financing can get credit somewhere today, he says. They're a growing breed.

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2007