Ford CEO: No Product Tie-Ins With Toyota

Ford Motor Co. President and CEO Alan Mulally says his widely publicized meeting with Toyota Motor Corp. Chairman Fujio Cho in December will not result in collaborative product development, at least for now.

Feb. 1, 2007

ZF’s DCT Fighter

BorgWarner Automotive struck pay dirt in 2003 when its dual-clutch transmission (DCT) arrived in a few Volkswagen AG models and changed forever the face of the gearbox market.

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 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

Tesla Plans Michigan R&D Center

Tesla Motors Inc., a specialty electric-vehicle maker based in San Carlos, CA, plans to invest $47.7 million to establish a new research and development center in Rochester Hills, MI.

By Mike Sutton • Feb. 1, 2007

Zephyr Dusted

The Lincoln Zephyr had just hit its stride when Ford Motor Co. brass decided to pull the plug, replacing it with a very similar yet sportier and more powerful midsize sedan.

By Byron Pope • Feb. 1, 2007

Not a Sensible Shoe

General Motors Corp. learned many painful lessons from its billion-dollar misadventure with its first electric car, the EV-1.Among them: Consumers won't buy an electric car if it has limited range and limited room and runs out of juice suddenly after climbing a hill or turning on the air conditioning.Designers learned a hard lesson, too: No matter how environmentally friendly a vehicle is, if it looks weird, people won't buy it.

By Drew Winter • Feb. 1, 2007

After 55 Years, Dealer Sells Out

Harvey McAllister was a teenager back in 1952 when his dad, Chris McAllister, decided to buy a dealership on West Main Street in Chillicothe, OH and name it McAllister Chevrolet.

Feb. 1, 2007

Chrysler Works to Get Darned Inventory Monkey Off Its Back

Chrysler Group is attempting to get the inventory monkey off its back, and is revealing for the first time since a stash of unsold vehicles was exposed by Ward's in October a ballpark-number report on its efforts.

By Eric Mayne • Feb. 1, 2007

Nano Growth

Although General Motors Corp. and North America, in general, have highlighted the development of nanocomposites for automotive applications, the European industry is hoping to catch up with an emphasis on nanotubes of carbon and silicon.

By William Diem • Feb. 1, 2007

Maserati Gets Into Financing

DETROIT Maserati North America Inc. now has its own finance firm created to offer auto loans, stimulate sales and increase lease rates for customers of the ultra-luxury brand

By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2007

Bidding for Aston Martin Heats Up

Ford reportedly expects to fetch between $884.1 million and $876 million for the luxury sports car unit.

By Ward's Staff From Wires • Jan. 31, 2007

Mazda ESC Strategy Depends on Ford

With global vehicle production of about 1.1 million units, the auto maker often must wait for its larger U.S. partner to give the go-ahead.

By Roger Schreffler • Jan. 31, 2007

Small Size Dictates Technology Development at Subaru

Subaru intends to stay at the forefront of AWD technology, but its unique engines and relatively small size limit development partnerships with other auto makers.

By Roger Schreffler • Jan. 30, 2007

Nissan Seeks Value in Advanced ESC Systems

Cost is a top concern as the auto maker looks to adopt some of the latest advances in AWD-based vehicle stability control technologies.

By Roger Schreffler • Jan. 29, 2007

Toyota Global Production Up in 2006

The auto maker’s total global production was up 9.5% to 9.02 million units, approaching the 9.18 million General Motors built in 2006.

By Ward's Staff • Jan. 26, 2007

Kia Rondo Targets Range of Buyers

The MPV is expected to appeal to young married couples, young couples with one child, families with older children and empty nesters.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 26, 2007

Toyota Focuses on Safety With Advanced ESC Technology

Toyota’s VDIM stability control system will remain core to the auto maker’s strategy of improving vehicle safety.

By Roger Schreffler • Jan. 25, 2007

Debate Over; Lutz Has Made Mark at GM

Need evidence of Lutz’s impact at GM? Just compare today’s Chevy Malibu with the ’08 model unveiled this month.

By David E. Zoia • Jan. 24, 2007

Mitsubishi Fully in Game With New Lancer

Mitsubishi needs the new Lancer to be successful in the hot subcompact-car segment.

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 24, 2007

Trail Rating for New Jeep Patriot Presents Challenges

Jeep engineers persevere when a water-fording test proved difficult for the small-car based Patriot.

By Eric Mayne • Jan. 24, 2007

Kia Agrees to Increase Year-End Bonuses

The Kia bonus payment is not conditioned on making up lost production, unlike sister company Hyundai’s agreement with workers.

By Vince Courtenay • Jan. 23, 2007

PSA, BMW Collaboration Grows

The new 1.4L engine will be produced at PSA’s Douvrin, France, plant, bringing total output of the joint 4-cyls. there to 1 million units per year.

By Wards Staff From Wires • Jan. 19, 2007

Tesla to Build Research Center in Michigan

The high-end electric-vehicle maker’s new R&D center will take advantage of the advanced engineering talent pool in southeast Michigan.

By Mike Sutton • Jan. 19, 2007

One Car, Two Faces

The new C-Class gives buyers a choice of where they want to position Mercedes’ iconic star emblem.

By Ward's Staff • Jan. 19, 2007

Ford’s Codina Out to Change Perceptions

Privately, many Ford executives admit past quality wasn’t up to snuff. But that’s changed, they say.

By Byron Pope • Jan. 18, 2007

Audi Goes More American in New Ad Campaign

The new campaign will do away with the German auto maker’s “Never Follow” advertising tag line.

By Scott Anderson • Jan. 18, 2007