Nissan Dealers Ask: Where Are Our Titans?

Problems that Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. had with the launch of its much-hyped '04 Titan fullsize pickup truck are being fixed, according to Jed Connelly, Nissan senior vice president-sales and marketing. He says the truck's rollout, by design, front-loaded dealers with seven to 10 vehicles on Dec. 3 in 17 key markets, including Phoenix, Atlanta and Miami leaving other markets with none. Nissan aimed for

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Feb. 1, 2004

Dysfunctional Darling

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. became the darling of the automotive world when it not only achieved an extraordinary financial turnaround but did so with some head-turning new vehicles, including the 350Z and Murano. But Carlos Ghosn, while not ignoring the accomplishments he orchestrated, doesn't believe the hype. Dysfunctions are everywhere, says the Nissan president and CEO during a roundtable interview

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Feb. 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

Lexus Shows Hybrid RX, New GS Sedan

Lexus promises the hybrid-powered version of its RX 330 cross/utility vehicle and the '06 GS sports sedan, both unveiled at the Detroit auto show, will take the brand in a new direction. Whether it needs a new direction is open for debate: Toyota Motor Corp.'s luxury division earned the title of top luxury brand in 2003 for the fourth-straight year with annual sales of 259,755 units an 11% increase

Feb. 1, 2004

Canada-Only Cars, Trucks On The Way

Small, budget-priced and vehicles seem poised for a dramatic comeback in the Great White North. In recent years, Canadian showrooms and highways have seen few such vehicles. But recently, a wave of them has been launched or previewed by Toyota Motor Corp., General Motors Corp. and Suzuki Motor Corp. Five additional Canada-only vehicles were launched at the recent Montreal auto show, including new

Feb. 1, 2004

Mustang at Age 40 Gets New Life, Look

The 05 Ford Mustang sheds its 1970s-era Fox platform for an all-new, purpose-built architecture to usher in the fifth generation of an American icon, unveiled here. Ford Motor Co. is confident it has spawned a pair of winners with the choice of the base Mustang with a 202-hp SOHC V-6 engine or the Mustang GT offering up 300 horses with a 24-valve MOD V-8. The latest version will build on 40 years

By Alisa Priddle • Feb. 1, 2004

Lost, He Found His Way

Almost until the end when Bob Crevier died at age 86 he suited up and went in to work. Although he got in a round of golf here and there, most days he was in coat and tie working from his promontory office at the spacious Crevier BMW in the Santa Ana, CA. Now the largest-volume BMW dealership in the nation, Crevier BMW had humble beginnings. So did Mr. Crevier. Those were recalled by family and friends

Feb. 1, 2004

Detroit’s Auto Show Glitzy, But Less Sexy

DETROIT Chrysler Group CEO Dieter Zetsche didn't break into a soft-shoe, but came close to it in the company of dancing girls singing any way you want it, you're going to get it in praise of new minivan seats. It was at a performance billed as a press conference. Zetsche, wearing a floppy fedora (at least it wasn't a straw hat), ended the act before a tightly packed audience by plopping down with

By Steve Finlay • Feb. 1, 2004

Composite Box Rebirth

The composite pickup box experiment may have failed for General Motors Corp., but that doesn't mean the concept is dead. To the contrary, Asian auto makers eagerly are pursuing the technology and appear ready to replace conventional stamped-steel cargo beds with composites in small pickups in the near future, sources say. Toyota Motor Corp.'s next-generation Tacoma pickup, arriving in 2006, will have

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2004

The End of the Experts?

Two auto industry experts sparked controversies. For dealers, it was J.D. Power III and his infamous Wall Street Journal column. For automakers, it was auto writer Micheline Maynard and her new book The End of Detroit. In the end, the two controversies came together to signify little. J.D. Power III's prediction of automotive retailing's future shows he doesn't understand the industry that made him

By CHRIS LEMLEY • Feb. 1, 2004

Toyota Model for Kia America, CEO Says; Pickup Tops Wish List

DETROIT – CEO Peter Butterfield says he wants Kia Motors America to “be like Toyota and Honda when it grows up.” And he says Kia will need a pickup truck if it is to become a big player in the U.S. Peter Butterfield Speaking to reporters at the introduction here of the all-new Spectra small car, Butterfield says Kia is modeling its business plan on Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. and American Honda

By David E. Zoia • Jan. 7, 2004

The Beat Goes On

DETROIT Chrysler Group CEO Dieter Zetsche didn’t break into a soft-shoe, but came close to it in the company of dancing girls singing “anyway you want it, you’re going to get it” in praise of new minivan seats. It was at a performance billed as a “press conference.” Zetsche, wearing a stylish fedora (at least it wasn’t a straw hat), ended the little act before a tightly packed audience by plopping

By Steve Finlay • Jan. 6, 2004

Nissan Titan Launch Now on Track, Quest Remains Off Target

Any problems Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. had with the launch of its much-hyped ’04 Titan fullsize pickup truck now are being fixed, says Jed Connelly, Nissan senior vice president-sales and marketing. Connelly says the truck’s rollout, by design, front-loaded dealers with seven to 10 vehicles on Dec. 3 in 17 key markets, including Phoenix, Atlanta and Miami leaving other, less-vital markets with none. Nissan,

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Jan. 6, 2004

Honda Launching Hybrid Accord

DETROIT Honda Motor Co. Ltd. must be causing the Big Three to break a sweat yet again. The Japanese auto maker dropped a bombshell here at the North American International Auto Show by announcing a Honda Accord with a hybrid drivetrain that includes a cylinder-deactivation equipped V-6 gasoline engine will be on sale in the U.S. by the end of this year as an ’04 model. In addition, Honda’s all-new

By Tom Murphy • Jan. 5, 2004

Scion Surprises with Conservative TC Coupe

DETROIT The quirky, funky style that has come to define Scion in its mere seven months on the market is conspicuously absent from the third vehicle Toyota Motor Corp.’s new youth brand has launched. The tC sport coupe, unveiled here at the North American International Auto Show, more resembles a small version of the BMW 3-Series than Scion’s popular, boxy xB or quirky xA hatchback. Scion Vice President

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Jan. 5, 2004

Mitsubishi Follows Hyundai Formula

DETROIT With Hyundai Motor America’s former top executive, Finbarr O’Neill, now at its helm, Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. borrows some tried-and-true survival strategies from its South Korean competitor. Mitsubishi’s new sales and marketing strategy includes the 10-year, 100,000-mile (160,000 km) powertrain warranty O’Neill employed to resuscitate a flagging Hyundai in the late 1990s. Mitsubishi

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Jan. 5, 2004

Audi A8L 6.0 is New Flagship Sedan

DETROIT – Audi AG uses the North American International Auto Show to stage the world premiere of its A8L 6.0 quattro. Audi introduces A8L 6.0 quattro. The sedan features a 6L 12-cyl. engine under the hood and a new front fascia that becomes a central styling cue for future Audis. The A8L 6.0 features corporate parent Volkswagen AG’s W12 engine, which produces 450 hp and 428 lb.-ft. (580 Nm) of torque,

By Kevin Kelly • Jan. 5, 2004

C6 Corvette: Shorter, Narrower, Faster

DETROIT It’s faster, shorter and narrower. It’s the sixth-generation Chevrolet Corvette, unveiled here at the North American International Auto Show. “Our goal is to thrill Corvette loyalists and capture new enthusiasts,” says Dave Hill, Corvette chief engineer. The ’05 Corvette thrills and captures the attention of the media attending the car’s debut. Chevy shows only the coupe, which will go into

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 4, 2004

Toyota, Ford Win North American Car, Truck of Year

DETROIT – Hybrid-electric vehicle (HEV) technology wins another important endorsement with Toyota Motor Corp.’s Prius winning the prestigious North American Car of the Year award at the North American International Auto Show here. Ford F-150 wins 2004 North American Truck of Year, Toyota Prius (below) named American Car of Year.   The all-new 2004 Prius – the second generation of Toyota’s groundbreaking

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 2004

GM to Invest $100 Million in Wilmington Plant

DETROIT – General Motors Corp. will spend about $100 million to renovate its Wilmington, DE, assembly plant to prepare the facility for ’06 Pontiac Solstice production next year. Pontiac Solstice will be built at Wilmington, DE, plant. The plant also plans to add jobs when more new vehicles are assigned to Wilmington. Mark Hogan, GM’s product development chief, tells Ward’s here at the North American

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 4, 2004

Infiniti Comes Out Swinging with QX56

DETROIT – Like a batter coming out of a slump, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.’s Infiniti luxury division has been swinging for the fence as of late. Standard features are generous on Infiniti QX56. And in the case of the G35 sedan and coupe and FX35/FX45 cross/utility vehicles, Infiniti has at least a few homeruns under its belt. Its newest product, the QX56 fullsize luxury SUV, just now is approaching the

By Tom Murphy • Jan. 4, 2004

Mustang Gains New Life, Look From New Platform

DETROIT The ’05 Ford Mustang sheds its 1970s-era Fox platform for an all-new, purpose-built architecture to usher in the fifth generation of an American icon, unveiled here at the North American International Auto Show. The latest pony car grew from a clean sheet of paper and rides on a modern body structure and chassis that can be had for under $20,000. Ford Motor Co. is confident it has spawned

By Alisa Priddle • Jan. 4, 2004

Stow ‘n Go

Chrysler Group spent $400 million to accommodate a 2-row, fold-in-the-floor seating system for its '05 family of minivans, updating a platform that will continue to serve as the underpinnings for its next minivan, due out within the next two years. The massive changes to the underbody structure technically do not constitute a new platform, says Wolfgang Bernhard, Chrysler chief operating officer.

By Kevin Kelly and Alisa Priddle • Jan. 1, 2004

Carving a Niche

The '04 Chevrolet SSR roadster pickup has been on the road barely four months. But already, Paul Wilbur, president and CEO of ASC Inc. of Southgate, MI, declares the vehicle program a success on many fronts: It secured union jobs and brightened the future of General Motors Corp.'s Lansing, MI, Craft Centre; program costs are lower because ASC shouldered about 70% of the development and ships 42 separate

By Tom Murphy • Jan. 1, 2004

Smart Renames Models

The original Smart cars built at DaimlerChrysler AG's Hambach plant in France will be renamed Fortwo on Jan. 1, which the auto maker says will help bring brand awareness to the Forfour models that go into production in the Netherlands next year for delivery starting in April. The original CityCoupe becomes the Smart Fortwo coupe, and the CityCoupe cabrio becomes the Smart Fortwo cabrio. The Smart

Jan. 1, 2004

Ford to Consolidate Focus Output

Ford Motor Co. will consolidate production of its Focus compact car in North America, moving assembly of all Focus models to its Wayne, MI, Stamping and Assembly plant by 2006. Currently, the 3- and 5-door Focus body styles are built at Ford's Hermosillo (Mexico) assembly plant. Jim Padilla, Ford executive vice president and president of the Americas, says the production shift is accompanied by a

Jan. 1, 2004