Audi FSI 3.2L DOHC V-6

Audi AG’s direct gasoline injection (DGI) system is the first volume-oriented application of the fuel-saving, power-enhancing direct-injection technology to be used in North America. It may be the start of something big. We’re aware BMW, Rolls-Royce and even Isuzu already are in the U.S. market with DGI engines. None, really, are representative of the mainstream; only one, Isuzu’s DGI-wielding 3.5L

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 2005

Acura 3.5L DOHC V-6

A decade ago, a normally aspirated 6-cyl. engine developing 300 hp would have stopped the industry in its tracks. Suddenly, that genus is flourishing, and Honda Motor Co. Ltd.’s new Acura 3.5L DOHC V-6 is at the top of the food chain. For its all-new ’05 RL flagship, Acura threw out the longitudinal 90-degree 3.5L V-6 from the old 3.5RL and replaced it with this first-time 10 Best Engines winner,

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 2005

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

Whe-e-e-e-e-e-e-e!

Perhaps this should begin with a disclaimer written by a lawyer. It might go something like this: In the presentation that follows and in related comments by General Motors Corp. management, the use of words and are intended to identify forward-looking statements. While these statements represent GM's current outlook which the auto maker believes to be reasonable actual results may differ materially

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 1, 2005

Honda Eyes 80 Million Kids

The growth in U.S. automotive sales may have slowed in 2004, but there is no black crepe hanging in Honda showrooms. Short term, the U.S. market may be somewhat saturated, says American Honda Motor Co. Inc. Executive Vice President Tom Elliott. But not long term. Elliott, who's retiring this year after working for Honda since hiring on in 1970 as a young sales assistant, adds: Seventy-five to 80 million

By Mack Chrysler • Jan. 1, 2005

Nissan CEO To Get Auto Hall of Fame Award

The Automotive Hall of Fame's Industry Leader of the Year is Carlos Ghosn, president and CEO of Nissan Motor Co. Ltd., who's credited with the auto maker's turnaround. He'll be honored at a Jan. 30 awards luncheon in conjunction with the 2005 National Automobile Dealers Assn. convention in New Orleans. The well-documented turnaround of Nissan, led by Carlos Ghosn, has become one of the auto industry's

Jan. 1, 2005

Chrysler Considers Stretched 300

Chrysler Group says it is looking at providing de-contented versions of its popular Chrysler 300 sedan to coach-builders for conversion into long-wheelbase (LWB) models. Chrysler does not expect a final decision soon because retail demand for the car remains strong, a top executive says. Talk of a LWB 300 started when Accubilt Inc. and Quality Metalcraft Inc. approached Chrysler with a version of

Jan. 1, 2005

VW Dealers Were Roaring

Volkswagen and its luxury Audi brand, which saw sales slow in 2004, are poised to rebound in the U.S. this year and next, thanks to new products on tap, says retiring VW of America Inc. President and CEO Gerd Klauss. The sales (declines) were not just all our fault, he says. We couldn't get product from Germany; we had some quality issues; we had exchange rate issues. We will show growth, I am telling

Jan. 1, 2005

Horticulture and Hemis

Dealer A. William Golling III resists the temptation of daily walking about the building site of his impending Golling Chrysler Jeep Dodge superstore to see how work is progressing. I drive by it every day, he says. But I only stop in about once a week. I don't want to get in the way. Golling succumbed to temptation by giving a visitor a tour of the project site, pointing out what will go where and

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 1, 2005

Spending More Time with Dealers

Following an interview at company headquarters in Auburn Hills, MI, Chrysler Group Chief Operating Officer Tom LaSorda was off to Chicago to visit dealers and attend a Jeep dealership Premiere Night showcasing new vehicles. He says he's been spending more time with dealers since becoming the No.2 executive at Chrysler six months ago. What are dealers telling him? They want more of everything we can't

Jan. 1, 2005

Sweet Smell of Success

Automobiles Citroen's introduction in France of a factory-installed air freshener in its new C4 is a story of risk-taking. Not only did the marque introduce a feature previously the domain of the aftermarket, it also took a chance with a tiny company of 24 people and 7.2 million ($9.7 million) in annual sales. It was scary for them to work with us, says Gregory Mager, the managing director of Parfum

By William Diem • Jan. 1, 2005

Volvo Service Techs To Make House Calls

Consumers dislike visiting dealerships for vehicle service and repairs and they really hate taking time off of work waiting for their cars to be fixed. As a result, Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA) has come up with a program called Mobile Tech. Volvo owners still must visit the dealership for major work. But if they get a recall notice and need an inspection, or they need a headlamp, wiper blade,

By Jim Mateja • Jan. 1, 2005

New Mercedes M-Class: Longer, Wider, More Car-Like

The next-generation Mercedes-Benz M-Class SUV is 5.9 inches longer, 2.8 inches wider and 0.4 inches lower to the road than its predecessor. Its aerodynamic exterior design includes an aggressive wedge shape, sweeping front fenders, sleek shoulder lines and an angular windshield. The interior is completely redesigned, too. But it's the car-like ride characteristics that Mercedes-Benz USA President

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 1, 2005

General Motors’ Dealer Relations Have Come a Long, Long Way

William Lovejoy retired from General Motors Corp. two years ago but the former vice president of sales and marketing is still remembered at corporate headquarters as the guy who fixed the auto maker's banged-up relationship with its dealers. Our dealer relations have come a long, long way in the last few years, says Gary Cowger, GM's president of North American operations. Bill Lovejoy did a great

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 1, 2005

Fire Douses Mazda Plant In Japan

Vehicle production at two Mazda Motor Corp. facilities in Japan was stopped temporarily due to a fire Dec. 15 at its Ujina No.1 plant in Hiroshima. The fire started near a painting line and burned for about seven hours before being extinguished, reports Reuters. No injuries resulted. The shutdown cost production of some 472 vehicles, Reuters says. Ujina No.1 produces 1,000 vehicles per day, including

Jan. 1, 2005

Volvo Trumps Ferrari at L.A. Show

The car company best known for keeping drivers safe will push the performance envelop to the limit with a supercar-like cross/utility vehicle slated to bow as a concept at next week’s Greater L.A. Auto Show. Volvo Car Corp. will unleash a supercharged version of its V-8-powered XC90, which a spokesman says is capable of 600 hp. The XC90 is dressed in a specialized body kit that is painted yellow and

By John D. Stoll • Dec. 29, 2004

Hyundai NTT or “Entity” Concept Drawing Unveiled

Hyundai Motor America releases a sketch of its NTT or “Entity” concept, which is part of the Design Los Angeles creative competition, to be held in conjunction with next month’s Los Angeles auto show Jan. 6. Hyundai says the drawing shows a vehicle that is “part surfboard, skateboard and boombox, and embodies the ultimate street cruiser.” Hyundai NTT concept A built-in surfboard in the vehicle’s roofline

By Ward's Staff • Dec. 22, 2004

Acura to Show RD-X Concept at Detroit Show

American Honda Motor Co. Inc.’s Acura luxury division will show the RD-X concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. The RD-X is the concept version of Acura’s entry-level small cross/utility vehicle, set to launch in 2006 in the U.S. and be slotted beneath the current MDX CUV. Acura says the vehicle is aimed at “active urban professionals” and combines sports car

By Ward's Staff • Dec. 17, 2004

Mercedes Debuts ’06 M-Class

Mercedes-Benz USA releases the first official photos of its much-anticipated all-new ’06 M-Class SUV. The auto maker will debut the vehicle at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month, with sales starting in spring 2005. Since hitting the market seven years ago, the M-Class has been one of Mercedes’ most important models. While sales of the SUV are down 12% through the first

By Kevin Kelly • Dec. 8, 2004

Champion Group Gets New VP

Bob Carmendy, former general manager of Desert Toyota in Las Vegas, is the new vice president of Champion Automotive Group, with dealerships in Colorado, Kansas and Indiana. Bob and I started at Tempe Toyota 18 years ago and I'm thrilled to welcome him as an equity partner, says Champion President John Chamberlain. In the last year, Windsor, CO-based Champion has added a Chrysler Jeep Dodge store

Dec. 1, 2004

More Stores and More Minority Dealers for Volvo

Volvo plans a more ethnically diverse dealership network to resemble the cultural makeup of its marketplaces, says Walt Langley, vice president-product marketing for Volvo Cars of North America (VCNA). The idea is to augment, not replace, he says of the initiative. There now are 350 Volvo stores in North America. VCNA wants to add more points, but in a controlled and limited manner as the company

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2004

Honda Plans $100M GA Tranny Plant

American Honda Motor Co. Inc. will build a $100 million plant in Tallapoosa, GA, to produce automatic transmissions for its North American-built vehicles. The plant, to be located some 40 miles (64 km) west of Atlanta, will begin production in fall 2006, with expected output of 300,000 transmissions annually. It will employ 400 workers at full capacity. The plant is part of a larger, $270 million

Dec. 1, 2004

Motor City West?

When Ford Motor Co. moved its North American Premier Automotive Group to California's up-and-coming city of Irvine in 2000, people took to calling the community Motor City West and began forecasting the day Detroit would be dubbed Irvine East. While eight auto makers and a handful of firms that service the industry, such as Kelly Blue Book, have located in Irvine in some capacity, the Orange County

By John D. Stoll • Dec. 1, 2004

Lucky Golfer, Lucky Dealer

Sun State Ford in Orlando, FL, is a beneficiary of pro golfer Craig Parry getting a new Ford GT for a Ford Championship win at Doral Golf Resort in Miami. His playoff victory came from holing out with an amazing 176-yard eagle shot. He accepted the super car in the winner's circle in March, but his travel schedule prevents him from taking actual delivery until February. So he's having Sun State keep

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2004

Chrysler Firepower

Chrysler Group takes aim at some of America's most treasured sports coupes with the Firepower, one of two promising concept vehicles that will debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit next month. Derived from the Dodge Viper platform, the Firepower (a working name that could be replaced) steals cues from the radical ME Four-Twelve concept car and Crossfire coupe/roadster. Chrysler

Dec. 1, 2004

Focus Droptop

The Ford Focus small-car lineup will get a coupe with a retractable hardtop in about two years in certain markets. Ford Motor Co. will partner with Italian coachbuilder Pininfarina SpA to build a car similar to the Ford Focus Vignale concept shown in September at the Paris auto show. Ford says the decision to make a convertible Focus was based on public reaction following the one-off's Parisian debut.

Dec. 1, 2004