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Mercedes Turbo Wagon Coming to U.S.

LOS ANGELES – Mercedes-Benz USA unveils a 469-hp station wagon here at the Greater L.A. Auto Show, intended for sale in the U.S. in low volumes. The importer, known for offering seemingly infinite performance versions of its vehicles – many under the AMG moniker – will add the E55 AMG Estate to the stable this year. The vehicle joins the $80,220 E55 sedan in Mercedes’ U.S. midsize car lineup. In addition

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 6, 2005

Drop-Top Joins Mustang Stable

LOS ANGELES – For many, a convertible is simply a car with a folding top. However, for the majority of people who own them, a convertible is the equivalent of motorized Elvis Presley – plenty of shake, rattle and roll to go along with the sex appeal. Ford Motor Co. looks to leave the Elvis principle behind with its latest drop top – the ’05 Mustang convertible, unveiled at the Greater L.A. Auto Show

By John D. Stoll • Jan. 6, 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

Dodge Magnum Gets More Power

Chrysler Group’s Dodge brand takes center stage at the Greater Los Angeles International Auto Show with the introduction of its performance-oriented ’06 Magnum SRT8. While sharing its overall shape with other members of the Magnum family, the SRT8 has some distinguishing features, including a unique front and rear fascia, larger exhaust tips, 20-in. wheels and tires and a body-colored spoiler. Designers

By Kevin Kelly • Jan. 5, 2005

Pontiac Torrent Appears in the Flesh at LA

After showing a sketch and providing scant official details at the California International Auto Show in Anaheim, CA, in October, General Motors Corp. takes the wraps off its ’06 Pontiac Torrent cross/utility vehicle at the 2005 Greater L.A. Auto Show. “The Torrent broadens Pontiac’s performance parameters by taking them in a whole new direction,” says Jim Bunnell, Pontiac-GMC general manager. “It

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 5, 2005

HHR Concept Debuts at LA Show

Wasting no time suggesting it will become a favorite of aftermarket aficionados, the ’06 Chevrolet HHR crossover’s debut at the 2005 Greater L.A. Auto Show is joined by a souped-up concept version built by West Coast Customs. “We are lucky to work on all kinds of cool rides, and add the WCC touch in a variety of ways,” says Ryan Friedlinghaus, WCC owner. “The HHR is one of those vehicles that allows

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 5, 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

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

Ford 4.6L SOHC V-8

Engineers sometimes say developing a contemporary muscle-car engine is a challenge like no other. Everybody – most importantly, the buyer – expects it to be powerful. But how far should you go with refinement? Muscle-car “authenticity” is crucial – particularly for a V-8 powering the latest incarnation of a fabled Detroit ponycar – yet customers will not accept any ’60s-era unruliness today, even

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 2005

General Motors Vortec 4.2L DOHC I-6

The industry’s population of inline 6-cyl. engines is dwindling, their chief environment – rear-wheel-drive platforms with yards of hood length to accommodate their typical north/south orientation – disappearing at a rate akin to that of tropical rain forests. The one application for which the I-6 layout – renowned for its smoothness and perfect internal balance – seems perfect: light trucks. Yet

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 2005

Honda 3L SOHC V-6/IMA Hybrid

Back in the day, hybrid-electric vehicles were quirky research projects that seemed to have some powertrain engineers unduly distracted. The first prototype HEV drivelines were whiny, sniveling, evil things, bucking and wheezing and constantly laboring. Honda Motor Co. Ltd. smacks down that image forever with the all-new Accord Hybrid. Its 3L SOHC V-6 already was a 10 Best Engines winner on its own

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 2005

Mazda 1.3L Renesis Rotary

Wanna know what Mazda’s 1.3L Renesis rotary is? It’s the powertrain sector’s intriguing little indie movie, bobbing about in a vast ocean made up of “Spiderman” and “Independence Day.” Just a couple of gearshifts at that glorious 9,000-rpm redline would make Henry Ford himself admit there’s plenty that’s special – necessary, if you will – in what Mazda Motor Corp. has done with its new-age rotary.

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 4, 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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