Viagra or Starbucks?

The '05 Buick LaCrosse races down a quiet road in Petoskey, MI, known as the Tunnel of Trees. A scenic route with tight turns, the sedan slithers past slower traffic and hugs the road. Leaves, blazing with color, tumble down as the LaCrosse speeds past. This will show my age, but I've never driven a Buick like this. It's downright fun, which is surprising considering the car's platform is old enough

By Brian Corbett • Dec. 1, 2004

Old Ford Blue Oval Isn’t What It Used to Be

In renewing its Ford dealer Blue Oval awards program, Ford will avoid the two-tier issue that riled many dealers in 2000 when the certification initiative got under way. The new program, effective next April, will reward all Ford dealers certified or uncertified with sales volume-related bonuses. The existing program pays only certified dealers about $330 per vehicle, or 1% of base sticker price per

Dec. 1, 2004

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

Coming on Strong

We've got car nuts in China just like in the States 50 years ago really superb product guys who are so focused on product excellence they could easily have a future outside China. Bob Lutz, General Motors Corp. vice chairman and product development chief. Bob Lutz may have had James Shyr, director of design at the GM China Group, in mind when he made that observation. Asked what he thinks of the Cadillac

By David C. Smith • Dec. 1, 2004

No Stowable 2nd Row For Odyssey

Although it revolutionized stowable seating in minivans with the third row in the first-generation Odyssey in 1995, and improved it with the 1998 redesign, Honda Motor Co. Ltd. says it saw no need to follow the lead of Chrysler Group's Stow 'n Go minivan seating for the new-generation Odyssey. The Odyssey, which set a benchmark with its Magic Seat, does not have the same second-row stowable seating

Dec. 1, 2004

From Orlando to Orient

Frank Rodriguez is a pioneer as an American new-car dealer who now owns a Ford dealership in China. Although analysts predict the world's most populous country with 1.3 billion people is on the verge of becoming the largest automotive market, opening a dealership in a country where capitalism still is in its infancy is a gamble. Rodriguez, president of Greenway Ford and Greenway Dodge Chrysler Jeep

By Cliff Banks • Dec. 1, 2004

Working Those Residuals Pays Off for Volvo

Two years ago, Volvo Cars finished dead last in a ranking of premium car brands' residual values. Today, the Volvo XC90 crossover/utility is tied for first with the Mini Cooper as a vehicle that's expected to retain the highest percentage (52%) of their new-car prices by 2010. It's not a coincidence that Volvo residuals went from the bottom of one list to the top of another. Before the XC90 hit the

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2004

Saturn Shows Sky Roadster

General Motors Corp. releases the first visual rendering of its upcoming Saturn roadster, and announces the 2-seat sportscar will be called the Sky. The rear-wheel drive small car will debut in Detroit at the North American International Auto Show in January. It will arrive at Saturn retailers in early 2006. (See related story: H3 Due in ’05; Curve Due By ’07) Sketch of the Saturn Sky. “The new design

By Brian Corbett • Nov. 29, 2004

VW Chief Departing U.S. Post

Volkswagen of America Inc. President and CEO Gerd Klauss will leave his post Jan. 1, capping a 30-year career. Named to replace Klauss is Frank Witter, who will become CEO of VWA but not assume the title of president, a spot VWA says will remain vacant for now. Witter currently is chief financial officer of VWA. Klauss began his automotive career at Mercedes-Benz, where he served for 14 years in various

Nov. 1, 2004

Reinventing the Wheel

It was assumed, when the Michelin Group unveiled its revolutionary Pax run-flat tires in 1998 that the first U.S. application would be a sexy, high-priced sports car. Four years later, Pax arrives on its first production vehicle for the U.S. market, but the application is the antithesis of a high-visibility sports car. The all-new '05 Honda Odyssey Touring model, which sells for about $35,000, comes

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2004

500,000th Mini Goes to a California Car Nut

Southern Californian Dan Cowdrey purchased the 500,000th Mini made since BMW took over production in 2001. California is one of Mini's largest markets with 18% of worldwide sales, more than many European nations. Mini production and sales are about two years sales ahead of schedule because of consumer demand. Last year, about 174,000 units were sold worldwide. More than 111,000 were sold in the first

Nov. 1, 2004

Still Too Exotic

Mercedes-Benz might have a carbon-fiber body for its McLaren SLR, but it is a long way from using the material in cars with volumes higher than a few hundred units per year. The problem is the carbon fiber industry isn't oriented to the needs of the auto industry, says Patrick Kim, the Mercedes engineer in charge of composites. Just looking at past successes and trying to optimize existing solutions

By William Diem • Nov. 1, 2004

FULL COURT PRESS

The evening's coda for a perfect fall day in southern France is a glimpse at forthcoming products from General Motors Corp. Rick Wagoner, GM chairman and CEO, walks down the slope of a meticulously manicured golf course toward a fairway dotted with 20 or so vehicles the auto maker plans to put into production in coming years. The products are among the reasons Wagoner says GM's future is as bright

By Brian Corbett • Nov. 1, 2004

Supplier Mission

DaimlerChrysler AG is turning to its U.S.-based Chrysler Group to help grow the company's supply base in South Africa. A plan by the South African government calls for auto makers to include 30% local content in vehicles produced in the country to qualify for government fleet sales. DC views U.S. minority suppliers as a crucial link in meeting this goal. DC has a key interest in South Africa. The

Nov. 1, 2004

V-8 Extends Beyond XC90?

Volvo Cars will launch its foray into the world of V-8 engines with its popular XC90 cross/utility vehicle next year and likely won't end there. The XC90's 4.4L V-8, supplied by Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd., has potential for Volvo passenger cars, Volvo Cars of North America CEO Victor Doolan tells Ward's. It's a great engine and it can obviously find a place in our cars, in the proper range, he says in

Nov. 1, 2004

Take A Seat

Faurecia Group may have only a toehold on the North American automotive seating market, but the French supplier has an ambitious strategy to grow its share in the region. Faurecia now has just one seating program in North America, but it's a biggie: General Motors Corp.'s Epsilon architecture, which launched last year in the U.S. with the all-new Chevy Malibu. The supplier opened a facility in Riverside,

By Tom Murphy • Nov. 1, 2004

Let Dealers Do What They Do Best: Sell Cars

Here's an opposing opinion to Mac Gordon's October, 2004 Ward's Dealer Business column (This One's a No-Brainer) advocating changes in laws so dealerships can sell vehicle insurance: As a fleet manager (for seven years) with a Ford dealer, and with a background in property and liability insurance (for over 23 years), I found the column interesting but thin on the realities of offering auto and truck

By John Steere, Commercial and Fleet Manager Duthler Ford Sales, Grand Rapids, MI • Nov. 1, 2004

CAMI Readies for Torrent Launch

ANAHEIM, CA The ’06 Pontiac Torrent cross/utility vehicle, which sources inside General Motors Corp. confirm here at the California International Auto Show, will begin production at CAMI Automotive Inc. in June, Ward’s learns. GM is not saying where the Torrent will be built but likely will provide more details when it unveils the CUV in January at the Los Angeles auto show. “The Torrent represents

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 27, 2004

Second GXP Model From Pontiac

ANAHEIM, CA The second GXP performance model from Pontiac will provide the ’05 Grand Prix sedan with its first V-8 engine since 1987, General Motors Corp. reveals here at the California International Auto Show. The Grand Prix GXP, which follows the V-8-powered Bonneville GXP in Pontiac’s lineup, offers a sport-tuned suspension, new all-aluminum 5.3L V-8 engine producing an estimated 290 hp and a 4-speed

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 27, 2004

Hummer H1 Adds Performance Model

ANAHEIM, CA Hummer joins General Motors Corp. Performance Div.’s efforts with the ’06 H1 Alpha, rolled out here at the California International Auto Show. Featuring GM’s Duramax 6.6L diesel engine, the H1 Alpha packs a 300-hp punch, a 46% increase vs. previous H1s equipped with the 6.5L turbodiesel powerplant. Arriving in dealerships in early 2005, the H1 Alpha is fitted with an Allison 1000 5-speed

By Brian Corbett • Oct. 27, 2004

GM to Join Autosar

DETROIT In a move that advances the global cause of standardized electrical architectures, General Motors Corp. announces it will adopt the Automotive Open System Architecture, otherwise known as Autosar. Formed in 2003, the partnership aims to establish a standard upon which future vehicle applications will be implemented. The platform is an attempt to standardize non-competitive software in vehicles.

By Tom Murphy • Oct. 19, 2004

Family Affair

Pity the poor Nissan Pathfinder. It gets no respect. When the midsize Pathfinder debuted in the U.S. in the mid-1980s, the Big Three had a few SUV offerings, most notably the Jeep brand, but importers had yet to launch their invasion. Today, with myriad SUV and cross/utility vehicle offerings on the market, the Pathfinder has been lost in the crowd. To make matters worse, parent Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.

By Christie Schweinsberg • Oct. 1, 2004

Hold the Holding Costs

Last month, we discussed turn, as it relates to your used-vehicle inventory, and the flexibility a good turn affords you in terms of liquid capital. This month, let's expand on used- vehicle management by discussing holding cost. A reminder: holding cost (a.k.a. carrying cost) and turn are elements that apply to all inventories, not just used vehicles, although used will be our focus here. You will

By Tony Noland • Oct. 1, 2004

Jag to Shutter Plant

Ford Motor Co. reveals its Jaguar Cars restructuring plan as weak sales, a suspect product mix and an increasingly competitive luxury-vehicle segment have led the British brand into a sea of red ink. Jaguar lost $360 million in the second quarter, inspiring Ford's earlier announcement of intentions to restructure the British luxury unit, one of four brands operating in Ford's Premier Automotive Group.

Oct. 1, 2004

A Very Strange Campaign

Oh, for a return to the days of Bill Clinton's presidential administration. Nearly lamenting that is Robert G. Liberatore, DaimlerChrysler AG's group senior vice president for external affairs and public policy. The Clinton administration was surprisingly good to the auto industry, Washington-based Liberatore tells the Automotive Press Assn. in Detroit. You could argue that the eight years under Clinton

By Steve Finlay • Oct. 1, 2004

On the Sunny Side of the Street

Capitol Honda in San Jose, CA now sits on the sunny side of the street at least in terms of environmental awareness and responsibility. The Capitol Expressway Auto Mall dealership recently covered its entire roof with more than 900 solar panels, taking advantage of a Pacific Gas & Electric Co. program for customers investing in solar power. Capitol Honda became the first car dealership in PG&E's service

Oct. 1, 2004