Automakers: Page

Virtually Done

Ford Motor Co. shows off the fruit of its 3-year-old North American virtual build program with the introduction of three sedans spawned from the new CD3 (Mazda6-derived) architecture slated for '06. The vehicles Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr are Ford's first cars to be completely developed in a North American-based data-driven virtual environment in which manufacturing and product-development

By John D. Stoll • Feb. 1, 2005

Jeep Merchandise Mania

If your Jeep customers aren't shopping for shirts, baby strollers and shockproof flashlights while they await maintenance on their vehicle, you could be missing an innovative revenue stream. Rodney Plack, general manager of Landers Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep in Benton, AR, reckons his new 72,000-sq.-ft. store will do $500 a month business in wearable, carry-along merchandise alone in an area set aside for

By Maureen McDonald • Feb. 1, 2005

Explore the Trendline➔

Top 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

Chrysler Boosts Hemi Output Again

To meet demand for the Hemi 5.7L V-8, Chrysler Group will invest another $70 million at its Saltillo, Mexico, engine plant. It should help boost output from approximately 480,000 units to 520,000 units once the investment is completed in 2006. Plans also call for Chrysler to boost output of Hemis equipped with the Multi-Displacement (cylinder-deactivation) System from 20% to as much as 80%, depending

Feb. 1, 2005

VW Pioneers Free Insurance

Buy a car, get collision insurance free. That idea hits the sales stage in a trial run by Volkswagen of America at its 44 Illinois and Wisconsin dealerships. The concept of connecting dealers with vehicle insurance has been turned into a sales incentive for the first time by VW's In the Car initiative. General Manager Tony Scala of Autobarn Volkswagen, Evanston, IL, estimate the plan is tantamount

By Mac Gordon • Feb. 1, 2005

Opel Makes 3

General Motors Corp.'s Opel/Vauxhall brands by 2007 will import into Europe a version of the Saturn Sky roadster from the Wilmington, DE, assembly plant. In addition, GM Europe President Carl Peter Forster tells Ward's Adam Opel AG will look at various opportunities within GM's North American manufacturing base for product sourcing in the future. He says the Sky-based vehicle will be the test case

Feb. 1, 2005

Cho: Toyota Needs to Become ‘100% American Company’

DETROIT – In a continuing effort to win over the hearts and car-buying dollars of American consumers, Toyota Motor Corp. President Fujio Cho says the auto maker must strive to create more jobs here in the U.S. “We still have to make further efforts to become a true American company,” says Cho, speaking through an interpreter in an interview here at the North American International Auto Show. “The

By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 12, 2005

Press: Toyota’s FJ Cruiser Not Bare Bones SUV

DETROIT – Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.’s rugged and retro FJ Cruiser SUV concept, which is rumored to be debuting at the Chicago auto show next month as a production vehicle, will not be a bare bones truck along the lines of its inspiration, the original FJ-40 Toyota Land Cruiser of the 1950s. FJ Cruiser Concept shown in 2003. The FJ Cruiser is “not just basic. There’s some comfort and convenience

By Drew Winter • Jan. 12, 2005

Unusual Kuraza Concept Catches Onlookers Off Guard

DETROIT – Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s Infiniti division says its offbeat Kuraza concept is a look at “the future of luxury.” Many onlookers, meanwhile, breathe a quiet hope that the car is a pure concept – with no production intent. Auto show veterans here are accustomed to sometimes shocking concept cars, but the Kuraza’s unveiling here left many speechless as they considered the car’s outrageous greenhouse/sheetmetal

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 11, 2005

Volvo Confirms Small-Car Program for 2006

DETROIT – Volvo Car Corp. is developing a “C-minus” segment car for global release in 2006 spawned off an abbreviated version of its S40 sedan’s C1 architecture, Ford Motor Co. Chief Technical Officer Richard Parry-Jones tells Ward’s at the North American International Auto Show here. He says the new vehicle comes as a result of efficiencies found during the development of vehicles off the same architecture

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 11, 2005

Toyota’s New Target: Aging Boomers

DETROIT – For the past half-dozen years, Toyota Motor Corp. has been highly focused on appealing to younger buyers, going as far as creating a whole new division – Scion – aimed exclusively at attracting Generation Y consumers, the youngest car-buying demographic. But on Monday, the company made it clear it isn’t going to forget about the demographic that made it the global powerhouse it is today:

By Drew Winter • Jan. 11, 2005

GM Details New Hybrid Transmission

General Motors Corp. is providing details about the new hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) drivetrain innovation, whose development program with DaimlerChrysler AG surprised the auto sector when announced last month. The two companies, which have been criticized for slow adoption of HEV technology for production vehicles, say the Advanced Hybrid System 2 (AHS2) will be on the road in about three years

By Bob Brooks • Jan. 11, 2005

Rolls-Royce Spins Slow Phantom Sales

DETROIT – Rolls-Royce Motor Cars had its best sales year of strictly Rolls-Royce branded cars in 14 years, and sales of its redesigned Phantom that debuted at the auto show here two years ago are up 164% compared with last year, the company’s sales and marketing director says. That’s true, but like a privileged son brought up to be CEO who only has made vice president, the Phantom, so far, has been

By Drew Winter • Jan. 11, 2005

Kia Debuts Rio, Large SUV Concept

DETROIT – Once a marginal auto maker from South Korea, Kia Motors America is finding its way in the fierce U.S. market with attractive warranties, low-priced vehicles and, now, new product that promises to make the company even more competitive. At this week’s North American International Auto Show, Kia unveils the all-new Rio sedan. The current-generation Rio may be best known as the lowest-priced

By Tom Murphy • Jan. 11, 2005

Lexus Gets Hybrid GS; Exotic Concept Shown

DETROIT – Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc.’s Lexus brand officially announces a hybrid version of its next-generation GS 430 here at the North American International Auto Show. The GS 430h will follow the planned rollout of the first Lexus hybrid SUV, the RX 400h in March. Denny Clements, Lexus group vice president and general manager, says more information will come at the New York auto show in March

By Christie Schweinsberg • Jan. 10, 2005

New Corvette Z06 Has Power to Spare

DETROIT – Blame it on steroids, a steady diet of Popeye’s spinach or some General Motors Corp. engineers gone mad, the ’06 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 is freakishly powerful. Introduced here at the 2005 North American International Auto Show, the ’06 Z06 features a 500-hp 7L OHV V-8 engine that achieves 0-60 (97 km/h) in less than 4 seconds, GM says. Wait, there is more. The ’06 Z06 is expected to deliver

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 10, 2005

New Dodge Charger Stirs Controversy

When is a Charger not really a Charger? After a 30-plus year hiatus, Chrysler Group’s Dodge brand is resurrecting its Charger nameplate and creating some controversy over the results. At a sneak media preview, Chrysler Chief Designer Trevor Creed says the auto maker’s California-based designers originally came up with a 2-door coupe, fastback model to add to the Dodge lineup, but that later was deemed

By Kevin Kelly • Jan. 10, 2005

GMDAT, Chery Legal Battle Could Enter U.S.

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. would consider legal action if entrepreneur Malcolm Bricklin decides to import the China-built Chery QQ car to the U.S. GM owns a 42.1% stake in South Korea-based GM Daewoo Auto & Technology Co., which has filed a lawsuit in China against Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. due to the “extreme similarities” between the Chery QQ model and the Daewoo Matiz-based Chevrolet Spark.

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 10, 2005

Higher Interest Rates Could Affect GMAC

DETRIOT – Rising interest rates will make it difficult for General Motors Acceptance Corp. to hit profit targets this year, General Motors Corp.’s top executive says here at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. GMAC has been vital to GM’s earnings during recent years, accounting for $2.8 billion of the auto maker’s $3.8 billion profit in 2003. GM will release its 2004 fourth quarter financial

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 9, 2005

Michelin Gains PAX Customers in N. America

DETROIT – Michelin Group says its PAX tire/wheel system is gaining traction in North America, where two new vehicles will offer the device later this year. PAX, which debuted in North America on the ’05 Honda Odyssey minivan, will launch on the two vehicles from non-Big Three auto makers this year, and it is in development for an additional two or three vehicles, says Erwin Wall, executive vice president-Michelin

By David E. Zoia • Jan. 9, 2005

Fusion Looks to Weather Summer Waiting Period

DETROIT – Ford Motor Co.’s North American International Auto Show headliner introduction of the Fusion sedan could be followed by a significant summer lull if the auto maker fails to play its cards right. “There’s a huge spike in awareness for a product when it’s shown at an auto show,” Marty Collins, Ford Div. general marketing managing, tells Ward’s. “And there is a huge spike in traffic on the

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 9, 2005

Ford Pulls Mercury Hybrid Ahead; Plans Additional Models

Ford Motor Co.’s Lincoln Mercury Div. will get its hybrid sooner than expected as part of the auto maker’s push toward having at least five hybrid nameplates on the road by 2008, Ward’s learns. The auto maker is pulling forward the launch of the planned hybrid version of the Mariner cross/utility vehicle to later this year, moving the vehicle up from the initial ’07 model-year debut, Mary Ann Wright,

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 9, 2005

Chrysler, Ford Win Car, Truck Awards

DETROIT – In a signal that Detroit-based auto makers may be injecting more competitive energy into their latest models, domestically made models from the Chrysler Group and Ford Motor Co. respectively win the North American Car and Truck of the Year honors. Chrysler’s 300 Series sedan wins the 2005 North American Car of the Year award, adding the NACOTY crown to a string of industry accolades won

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 9, 2005

Ford Aims to Top 900,000 F-Series Trucks

DETROIT – Ford Motor Co. plans to maintain its leadership in fullsize pickup sales in 2005, following a record year in F-Series sales in 2004. “We said we’d like to do at least 900,000 in the coming year,” Ford Div. President Steve Lyons says during a press conference here following the company’s North American International Auto Show press conference. The auto maker sold 939,511 units in 2004, topping

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 9, 2005

Lutz Guarantees HHR’s Success

LOS ANGELES – Call it a Chrysler PT Cruiser clone, call it late to the party, just don’t call it a guaranteed flop. As media comparisons between General Motors Corp.’s new HHR and Chrysler Group’s successful PT Cruiser begin surfacing, top GM executives answer the criticism during the Greater L.A. Auto Show, where the HHR was unveiled. (See related story: Chevy Unveils HHR in LA) “I would only say

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 7, 2005

Saturn Shoots for the Sky

DETROIT – It just might turn out to be this year’s showstopper. General Motors Corp. plans to take the wraps off its ’07 Saturn Sky roadster – a galactically styled sonic land speeder that obliterates the division’s humdrum design reputation – here Jan. 9 at the 2005 North American International Auto Show. While it is named after a less dramatic Saturn roadster concept from 2002, the Sky is inspired

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 7, 2005