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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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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