Automakers: Page
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Mulls Pathfinder Platform
As consumers continue moving away from traditional body-on-frame SUVs, a Nissan North America Inc. official says the auto maker is mulling the future direction of its Pathfinder model. The midsize Pathfinder originally rode on a body-on-frame architecture and moved to a unibody, or monobody, platform in its second generation. In '05, it went back to being truck-based, employing the F-Alpha platform
Oct. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Active In Deactivation
A new day is dawning for cylinder deactivation. The technology that idles unneeded cylinders in V-6s and V-8s during light-load driving cycles had been shelved after General Motors Corp. engines so equipped in the 1980s performed miserably. But over the past several years, as the popularity of big engines collides with volatile fuel prices, cylinder deactivation has become increasingly attractive
By Tom Murphy • Oct. 1, 2006 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Toyota Motor North America
TrendlineTop 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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Improved, But Dull
Sans badging, casual observers would be hard-pressed to guess the car being test-driven in California in mid-August hails from Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. Isn't this the auto maker that clawed its way back to profitability and acclaim with bold, eye-catching styling, evident on the current-generation Altima and Infiniti G35? Shiro Nakamura, Nissan's global design chief who has risen to rock-star status
By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Horsepower No Longer Rules the Day
Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp. and the Chrysler Group are launching a rash of new models, and that's generally good news. Trouble is, the lion's share happen to be trucks and SUVs. Now, all you have to do is predict whether the “newness” of these out-of-sync '07s can offset the alarmingly rapid customer shift to more fuel-efficient alternatives and away from the trucks and SUVs that have made you a fortune in the last decade (you have made a fortune, right?).
By Bill Visnic • Oct. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford OKs Fairlane, Keeps Town Car
Deep in the throes of massive restructuring, Ford Motor Co. charts the Way Forward with new products soon to launch. The auto maker says 70% of Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles will be new or significantly upgraded between now and 2008, including a completely redesigned Ford F-150 pickup. The Ford Fairlane CUV will go on sale in 2008 and be built at Ford's Oakville, Ont., Canada, assembly plant,
Oct. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Belt Driven
Ford Motor Co. says it is making passenger safety an even greater priority starting with its '07 lineup. The auto maker will make standard a bevy of safety features and currently is working on cutting-edge technology, such as 4-point and inflatable seatbelts. Side airbags, as well as side curtain airbags, will be standard equipment on 14 '07 models, including the upcoming Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX
By Byron Pope • Oct. 1, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Unveils ’08 F-Series Super Duty Lineup
The F-450 rides on its own unique chassis and incorporates a new rear leaf spring and radius-arm suspension from the F-450 chassis cab.
By Byron Pope • Sept. 29, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toyota, GM to Invest in NUMMI
Toyota denies the investment in the northern California plant is a way to strengthen its relationship with General Motors.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 29, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Credit to Restructure, Cut Staff
Changes at Ford's finance arm include about 2,000 job cuts and the consolidation of 59 U.S. branches into six existing service centers.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 29, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
GM to Build RWD Cars in Numerous Countries
The program can yield high, low, medium, long and sporty cars from the same chassis and structural supports, giving it enormous breadth.
By Alisa Priddle • Sept. 29, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Mondeo Debut Boosts Genk
Mondeo production will push capacity utilization to more than 100% at Ford's Belgium plant.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 29, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
International Team Creates GM’s Most Global Concept Ever
The way in which the world-touring car took shape is indicative of Chevrolet's international alignment and intentions as a brand.
By Alan Harman • Sept. 28, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Nissan Smyrna Begins ’07 Altima Production
Since June 1992 Nissan's Smyrna plant has built 2.4 million Altima sedans.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 27, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
DC, Tiriac Holdings to Establish Import JV in Romania
The newly formed DaimlerChrysler Automotive Romania will take over sales of all DC brands effective Jan. 1.
By Peter Homola • Sept. 27, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Sebring: Another Scrappy New Domestic Midsize Sedan
The '07 Sebring is the best application to date of Chrysler's 4-cyl. World Engine.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 27, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
’07 Volvo C30 Hatchback to Debut in Paris
The entry-level C30, which goes on sale in the U.S. in mid-2007, is designed to attract new buyers to the Swedish luxury brand, officials say.
By Herb Shuldiner • Sept. 26, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Chrysler Ponders V-6 for European Sebring
The '07 Sebring is Chrysler's first car to comply with European pedestrian impact regulations.
By Eric Mayne • Sept. 26, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Showing Arnejs Compact Concept in Paris
The Arnejs shares a platform with sister company Kia Motors Corp.'s new Cee'd hatchback, also being shown in Paris.
By Ward's Staff From Wires • Sept. 25, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Kalbfell Steps Down as Maserati CEO
Maserati’s new chief also will retain responsibility for Fiat’s fleet car sales.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Corsa Transforms to Corsavan in Paris
The concept van features black side panels in place of the Corsa’s side windows, but maintains coupe-like exterior lines, Opel notes.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 22, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Ford Sets Deadline on Salaried Buyout Packages
Ford will offer a choice of three buyout packages to its U.S. white-collar workforce in an effort to trim an additional 10,000 jobs as part of its accelerated Way Forward North American restructuring strategy announced Sept. 15. If less than 10,000 employees agree to the buyouts, the auto maker has the option to begin firing workers.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 20, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Toughest Moves Yet to Come for Ford Brass
Ford begins the big test among job cuts and plant closings. What remains for the auto maker is a no-excuses future in which success or failure comes down to how well Bill Ford's team can gauge the market.
By David E. Zoia • Sept. 20, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Suzuki SX4 Heats Up Small Car Wars
The Suzuki SX4 starts at $14,999, which should make it the most affordable AWD vehicle in the U.S. for '07.
By Alisa Priddle • Sept. 19, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Hyundai Motor America Names Kim Group VP
Kim, who most recently served as senior executive vice president-International Div., Hyundai Motor Business Group, will oversee all of Hyundai's North American operations.
By Ward's Staff • Sept. 18, 2006 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Reilly Bids Final Farewell to GM Daewoo Workers
GM Asia/Pacific President Nick Reilly turned over leadership of GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co. (GMDAT) to Michael Grimaldi, who will serve as president and CEO. Among the 400 employees attending the ceremony were new CEO Michael Grimaldi and key Bupyeong managers and union representatives.
By Vince Courtenay • Sept. 18, 2006
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