Automakers: Page 349

How to Get Price of a Car Up to $1 Million

NEW YORK Bentley Motors Inc. hand-builds and customizes its ultra-luxury cars to buyer specifications that sometimes are incredibly exacting, says Stuart McCullough, a Bentley board member.

By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2007

It’s a 1st-Class Used-Car Act

For years, Phil Smart Jr. was frustrated in his efforts to get his pre-owned department to perform to the levels he thought possible. His store, Phil Smart Mercedes-Benz on Pike St. in Seattle, had no used-vehicle lot to speak of.

By Bob Kamm • May 1, 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

Chevrolet Corvette Tops List, But Honda Dominates It

The Chevrolet Corvette followed by the Toyota Camry and Audi A4 top a list of vehicles asked about by consumers on a lease website.

May 1, 2007

And He Threw In Floor Mats

When word got around that Ford Motor CEO Alan Mulally had tried his hand selling cars at a couple of dealerships recently, people from the Greater New York Automobile Dealers Assn. had a question. What was your closing ratio and your gross?

By Steve Finlay • May 1, 2007

Flagship Reborn

Volvo Cars has set its sights high for its new flagship sedan, the '07 S80. Squarely aimed at established luxury sedans such as the BMW 5-Series and Lexus GS, the new S80 has heavy lifting ahead.

By Byron Pope • May 1, 2007

Toyota’s Press Gives Detroit Pep Talk

Chin up, Detroit. That's the message from Toyota Motor North America Inc. President Jim Press, who says better days are ahead for the U.S. auto industry. Calling this the year of turmoil because of plant closings, job cuts and wrangling over health-care at General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler Group, Press says Detroit still is and will remain the industry's This is a brief moment in history

By David E. Zoia • May 1, 2007

Ford’s Game Changer

Ford Motor Co. officially takes the wraps off the much-anticipated production version of its Fairlane cross/utility vehicle concept at the recent New York auto show.

By Christie Schweinsberg • May 1, 2007

GM’s Global Vue

New compact CUV and Holden-led rear-wheel-drive cars leverage GM's strategy to create global architectures.

By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 2007

Riviera Concept Next Step in Buick Design Revolution

The 2-seat coupe was designed with the help of GM’s Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center joint venture in China.

By Ward's Staff • April 20, 2007

Volvo Gets Safety Award for Child Booster Seat System

Farmington Hills, MI-based Microheat also wins in the supplier category for its HotShot fluid de-icing system.

By Herb Shuldiner • April 20, 2007

Ford Expanding China Operations

Ford and Changan Ford Mazda say first-quarter sales totaled 38,908 units, a 40.8% increase over year-ago.

By Ward's Staff • April 19, 2007

Toyota Promotes Press to Senior Managing Director

The promotion, expected to take effect in June, makes Press the first non-Japanese executive to sit on the company’s board of directors.

By Ward's Staff • April 12, 2007

Ukraine’s KrASZ Launches Geely Assembly

Plans call for the assembly of about 2,000 Geely CK sedans this year.

By Peter Homola • April 12, 2007

GM’s Move to Shelve RWD Cars Signals Industry Sea Change

Automotive is not the only industry to create CO2 emissions, and America is far from the only country at fault.

By Barbara McClellan • April 12, 2007

Subaru Shows Refreshed ’08 Tribeca

Set to go on sale early this summer, the new CUV loses the previous-generation’s Italian-inspired nose.

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 5, 2007

Infiniti EX35 CUV Due Later This Year

The new EX, to be built on the same platform as the G37 coupe, will be powered by Nissan’s VQ 3.5L V-6 engine.

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 4, 2007

Volvo C30 Pricing Announced

The Volvo C30 will be powered by a turbocharged 5-cyl. engine producing 227 hp.

By Ward's Staff • April 4, 2007

LX 570 Offers More HP, Adjustable Suspension for ’08

The segment-leading Cadillac Escalade is larger overall, but the new Lexus SUV pulls ahead in towing capability.

By Christie Schweinsberg • April 4, 2007

Ford Sells First ACH Facility

Ford also enters into a memorandum of understanding with the supplier Neapco to sell its plant in Monroe, MI.

By Byron Pope • April 3, 2007

Better Dealers Drive Mazda Sales Growth in Thailand

Thailand’s year-to-date sales are down 20.8% after two months to 82,249 units, but Mazda deliveries are up 17.9% to 2,684 units.

By Alan Harman • April 2, 2007

Rise and Fall of Jennings Ford

As a veteran automotive writer, I've always been fascinated by the countless examples of multi-generational families in the automotive business.

By Mike Davis • April 1, 2007

GM Dealers Get Lead-Ranking System

General Motors Corp. will begin using a lead-ranking system from retail consultant Urban Science.

April 1, 2007

From One Struggling Dealership to Another

In metro Dallas, Charlie Nixon, former general manager of struggling Prestige Ford, has bought struggling Bankston Dodge.

April 1, 2007

How About Some Respect?

Brian McVeigh says he doesn't have the best job at General Motors Corp., but to him it is the most enjoyable.

By Steve Finlay • April 1, 2007

Erhard BMW Offers Size, Glitz

Nothing is too lavish, or beyond reach, for what is possibly the nation's largest BMW dealership especially the often-neglected area of customer satisfaction. We're growing in volume on a steady basis, advises Alan D. Graham, general manager of the 180,000-sq.-ft. Erhard BMW dealership in metro Detroit, but the sales leadership is not as important as our No.1 rating in customer satisfaction. Graham,

By Mac Gordon • April 1, 2007