Automakers: Page 362
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Chrysler’s Retro Dilemma
Insiders are debating how big the next-generation model should be – and likely exactly how the retro-styled hatchback should look.
By David E. Zoia • June 7, 2006 -
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Buick, Pontiac Embrace Future With Nod to Past
Buick expects the 'Lucerne and '08 Enclave to reclaim its heritage as an upscale brand. Pontiac is counting on sporty models such as the Solstice to rebuild sales.
By Scott Anderson • June 7, 2006 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Kia Corporation
TrendlineArtificial 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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Michigan Waits to Hear Back From Honda
The state has submitted a proposal for a new vehicle assembly plant, but the auto maker likely will pass on the offer if history is any indication.
By Christie Schweinsberg • June 6, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Critical Differences
Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.In what has become a true horse-race among North American auto makers, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. won by a nose to become the No.1 ranked produce...
By Drew Winter • June 2, 2006 -
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GM Launches Child-Seat Campaign
GM's child-seat campaign is kicked off by CEO Rick Wagoner at the auto maker's first dealership in Harlem in more than 40 years.
By Herb Shuldiner • June 2, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Selection Near
Geely U.S.A. Inc., the North American unit of China's Geely Automobile Co., has narrowed its search for a headquarters' site to the Detroit-area or southeastern U.S. The auto maker is considering locations between Memphis and Atlanta, as it expects to have a port of entry in either Florida or Georgia. A decision on the port location should come in the next 30-60 days, John Harmer, vice president and
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Frees Up Design
Ford Motor Co. is taking off the kid gloves and giving its designers carte blanche to create what they see fit for the North American market. The auto maker recently shook up its design ranks by appointing Moray Callum, formerly Mazda Motor Corp.'s manager-design division, to director-North American car design. It also moved Patrick Schiavone to design director-trucks from design director-cars. Peter
By Byron Pope • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
A Novel Idea Back Then
Lexus really has changed the way dealers treat their customers, says California's top Lexus salesperson, Tim Mitchell of Vista Lexus in Woodland Hills, a Los Angeles suburb. He ticks off the innovations the Toyota luxury brand brought to the industry since its 1989 debut. Lexus raised the bar, says Mitchell, 42, a graduate of the University of Hawaii who joined Vista Lexus (one of the franchise's
By Mac Gordon • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Wanted: Latino Auto Technicians
In the first such partnership in the industry, BMW of North America has teamed up with the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation to reach out to Latinos in the Miami, FL, area interested in pursuing a career in automotive technical service. Modeled after BMW's successful Service Technician Education Program (STEP), MetroSTEP aims to encourage more Latinos to pursue careers in automotive services
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Lexus Buys Ad in Gay Pub
Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.'s Lexus luxury brand has placed its first ad in a publication targeted at gay consumers, The Advocate, a Lexus spokesman tells Ward's. Brian Bolain, Lexus national advertising and marketing manager, declined to be interviewed. But he told the website commercialcloset.org the proclivity toward luxury purchases by gay buyers led Lexus to place the ad. Being gay myself,
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
This Service Dept. Is Backbone, Not Back Door
Fixed operations departments should be the backbone of the dealership, not the back door, says Stan Rodia, director of service for a Mercedes-Benz dealership in Arlington, VA. Even the no-nonsense name of his dealership, American Service Center, reflects that philosophy. Its service department, with $15.8 million in revenue, ranks seventh among all dealership service departments on the Ward's 500.
By Cliff Banks • June 1, 2006 -
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Audi Unsure of DSG Growth
The Direct Shift Gearbox, developed by Audi parent Volkswagen AG and supplier BorgWarner Inc., has enjoyed almost universal acclaim in both Europe and the U.S., where it is deployed in a variety of VW Group products. But despite rave reviews for the dual-clutch automated manual transmission, Audi officials say technical considerations mean they cannot determine when or even if DSG availability will
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Anna Nicole, That Mustang Is So You
Move over Real World, Surreal Life, Top Chef et al. Ford Motor Co. may be getting into the reality TV show business. The auto maker wants to produce a TV competition pairing contestants with Ford designers to produce a dream car, according to published reports. Ford plans to shop the project around in the hope of finding an interested TV network. The idea for the show was unveiled to Ford dealers
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
VW R32 Highlights Lean Product Year
Volkswagen AG plans to begin selling its sizzling 250-hp Golf R32 in the U.S. by July 2007, Ward's learns. The flagship hatchback, the fastest Golf ever with a top speed of 155 mph (250 km/h) is highly coveted by U.S. enthusiasts but currently is available only in Europe. VW last year said there were no plans to bring the R32 to the U.S. Powered by a 24-valve 3.2L V-6 that generates peak torque of
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
SVT Fusion, Edge?
Ford Motor Co. is considering the new Fusion sedan and Edge cross/utility vehicle as possible additions to its high-performance vehicle lineup, a company spokeswoman tells Ward's. The move is part of an emphasis Ford is placing on performance vehicles as it looks for ways to boost sagging sales. Mark Fields, president-The Americas, in April said the auto maker planned to invest in new products through
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
V Is For Volatile
General Motors Corp.'s Cadillac luxury division moves a step closer to matching the high-performance luxury image of its German rivals with the introduction of the new '06 V-Series STS sedan and XLR roadster. Aimed squarely at niche vehicles produced by the in-house tuning efforts of Audi AG (Quattro GmbH), BMW AG (M GmbH) and Mercedes-Benz (AMG GmbH), the new V-Series cars return an element of performance,
By Mike Sutton • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Riding Sedona’s Success
The words and rarely are uttered in the same sentence, unless the conversation is about the sector, rather than the vehicles themselves. The minivan segment has seen massive shifts in recent years. A decade ago, models from Detroit's Big Three dominated U.S. sales. Today, only the Chrysler Group maintains its hold on the top position. Meanwhile, the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna are bearing down
By Tom Murphy • June 1, 2006 -
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Jumpin’ Curt Hughes, It’s a Gas, Gas, Gas
Curt Hughes Kia of Modesto (CA) advertising includes this come on: Ask About Our Free-Gas-For-A-Year Program. Here's the catch: In exchange for the free fuel, customers agree to have their new or used Kias wrapped with advertising that pitches the dealership. There have been about 35 takers, dealership salesman Aaron Mahr tells local TV station KXTV. Friends have it, he says. At first, they're hesitant.
June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Turn On F&I Cameras
Don't ever accuse me of being consistent. I've had so many positions on the question of whether it's a good idea to videotape finance and insurance sessions with customers, that you'd need a GPS device to keep track of me. About 10 years ago, when I learned that some dealers in Alabama were beginning to audiotape, then videotape, their F&I sessions with customers, I was intrigued. I knew why those
By THOMAS B. HUDSON • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Most Productive North American Producer
Detroit and Japanese producers are closer to parity than ever in productivity, but critical differences remain.
By Drew Winter • June 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Group: You Don’t Know the Dealers without a Scorecard
Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group is using a new online system called Dealer Scorecard that measures, tracks and evaluates North American ...
May 31, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Georgia Offers Nearly $90,000 for Each Kia Job
Although Kia Motors Corp. expects to hire about 2,500 people at its new plant under construction in West Point, GA, the state of Georgia's incentive package amounts to $258.3 million for 2,893 jobs, or $89,550 per job.
By David C. Smith • May 31, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Volvo YCC Concept Receives Design Award
The concept car, which bowed at the 2004 Geneva auto show, was created entirely by a team of women.
By Ward's Staff • May 31, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Rotary Was Flash Point in Mazda Comeback Strategies
Mazda needed something to distinguish itself from other car makers, Kenichi Yamamoto, its former president, says of the rotary engine.
By Roger Schreffler • May 31, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mazda’s Journey Back From the Brink
Mazda went from building cars its engineers dreamed about to building vehicles that pleased its customers, says a former executive involved with the turnaround.
By Roger Schreffler • May 31, 2006
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