Infiniti axes QX4 SUV

Nissan Motor Co. Ltd.'s Infiniti luxury division has quietly dropped its QX4 SUV. Production of the luxury truck stopped in November 2002, and the last units currently are being sold down. Instead of replacing the midsize luxury QX4, which sold just under 17,000 units last year, Infiniti will offer the FX45 and FX35 cross/utility vehicles (see story, p.58), which go on sale in the U.S. early this

March 1, 2003

GM Plans 6-Speed

General Motors Corp. will build an advanced 6-speed automatic transmission at a former WWII bomber plant in Willow Run, MI, preserving nearly 600 jobs. The plant employs roughly 4,000 hourly and 400 salaried workers. The investment will cost GM $300 million. The new Hydra-Matic 6-speed automatic, says Homi Patel, vice president of GM Powertrain, is earmarked for up-level rear-wheel-drive cars and

By Bill Visnic • March 1, 2003

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

The Other Side

Carlos Mazzorin is not the first Big Three purchasing czar to cross over to the other side by joining a major supplier with whom he previously sat across the table negotiating contracts. Thomas Stallkamp, now chairman of MSX International, headed Chrysler Corp.'s purchasing during the 1990s before rising to president and then departed soon after the merger that created DaimlerChrysler AG in late 1998.

By David C. Smith • March 1, 2003

Soccer-Mom Nirvana

PALM SPRINGS, CA Toyota Motor Corp. hopes to set a new benchmark for the minivan segment when its all-new '04 Sienna arrives in showrooms in mid-March. With its trademark attention to quality and detail, an additional trim level, optional all-wheel drive, a laundry list of additional features and a pledge to price it $1,000 less than the outgoing model, it is entirely possible Toyota can establish

By Alisa Priddle • March 1, 2003

Enthralled

SPECIFICATION 2003 Infiniti G35 Engine: 3.5L (3,498 cc) 60-deg. DOHC V-6; aluminum block/aluminum heads Horsepower (SAE net): 260 @ 6,000 rpm Torque: 260 lb.-ft. (353 Nm) @ 4,850 rpm Compression ratio: 10.3:1 Specific output: 74 hp/L Date delivered: 4-11-02 Total miles/miles covered in this report: 30,313/9,666 Overall fuel economy: 22.7 mpg (10.4L/100 km) Total maintenance cost: $274.16 Non-scheduled

By Bill Visnic • Feb. 1, 2003

Jewel of a Jaguar Store to Open in Pennsylvania

A&L Motors, a Jaguar and BMW auto dealership in Monroeville, PA, is nearing the final phase of constructing a new 25,000 sq. ft., state-of-the-art Jaguar showroom and office complex. Upon completion, A&L Motors, which celebrates its 55th year in business in 2003, will move to the next generation of service with a total focus on customer satisfaction. We're excited about this new facility, dedicated

Feb. 1, 2003

Flex Time

LANSING, MI General Motors Corp.'s Lordstown, OH, and Orion Township, MI, assembly facilities will be the next to be retooled with a manufacturing technology new to GM that saves money and factory floor space while increasing production flexibility. GM has been using the programmable body shop tooling, called C-Flex, at its plants in Moraine, OH, and Oklahoma City. GM's Lansing Grand River plant here

By Brian Corbett • Feb. 1, 2003

Temic Pays Off

Ctontinental AG's top executive says the decision two years to acquire a controlling interest in the Temic GmbH electronics division of DaimlerChrysler AG has exceeded all expectations. Electronic content in vehicles is steadily rising, which translates into solid growth potential in both the near-term and long-term business plans for Temic. But the chipmaker, with annual sales of $960 million (E1

By Tom Murphy • Feb. 1, 2003

AWD All Around

On the heels of winning the North American Truck of the Year honors with its XC90 SUV, Ford Motor Co. reveals Volvo will source all-wheel-drive systems to the parent company as the technology proliferates across its lineup. Richard Parry-Jones, group vice president-global product development and chief technical officer, tells Ward's AWD will become available on a wider array of Ford and Ford-owned

Feb. 1, 2003

Good Samaritan Dealer Volunteers to Help the Dying

Dave Hines, co-owner of Snethkamp Chrysler-Jeep in Redford, MI, volunteers in his spare time at the Hospice of Michigan, doing what he can to ease the strain and pain of the dying. Typically, he spends about four hours each week with the person to whom he's assigned. You get close to people and when they die, says Hines, 56, a 30-year veteran of the automotive retail industry. He got involved with

Feb. 1, 2003

Flagship Maxima

SPECIFICATION 2004 Nissan Maxima SE Vehicle type: Front-engine, front-wheel drive, 5-passenger 4-door sedan Engine: 3.5L (3,498 cc) DOHC V-6, aluminum block/aluminum heads Power (SAE net): 265 hp @ 5,800 rpm Torque: 255 lb.-ft. (346 Nm) @ 4,400 rpm Compression ratio: 10.3:1 Bore Stroke (mm): 95.5 81.4 Transmission: 5-speed automatic/6-speed manual Wheelbase: 111.2 ins. (282 cm) Overall length: 193.5

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Feb. 1, 2003

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em

Carlos Mazzorin, Ford Motor Co.'s former group vice president of global purchasing who was vilified for his penny-pinching ways by supplier execs, will find out how the other half live. The 61-year-old Mazzorin comes out of retirement to become chairman and CEO of Magna Donnelly, the Holland, MI, subsidiary of Magna International Inc. that produces mirrors, windows, door handles and electronics. Oh,

Feb. 1, 2003

What’s It Worth Now?

Dealerships in Georgia say it may be too soon to fully gauge the impact on body shops of a recent Georgia Supreme Court ruling that State Farm mustpay its auto policyholders for diminished value. It really hasn't hit us full force, but long term I know it will affect us, says Scott Porter, body shop manager for Curry Honda in Chamblee, GA. The ruling, and State Farm's subsequent $250 million settlement,

By John Yoswick • Feb. 1, 2003

CTS Exports to Begin in ‘03

General Motors Corp. will finalize plans by mid 2003 to ship its Cadillac CTS to Europe and Japan, officials say. It won't be a big, full-scale assault. We'll kind of ease them in, says Cadillac Marketing General Manager Mark LaNeve. There also is serious interest in the CTS from the Middle East, China, Taiwan and South Korea, LaNeve tells Ward's. Before CTS went on sale in '01, Cadillac planned to

Jan. 1, 2003

Saturn’s Mission: Lassoing those Young ‘Uns

DETROIT The Saturn division of General Motors Corp. wants to sell 500,000 vehicles annually by 2005 in large part by introducing fresh products with youth appeal, says Jill Lajdziak, Saturn vice president-sales, service and marketing. Saturn currently is losing money, and Lajdziak won't say if it will become profitable by increasing its sales to 500,000 within three years. The whole key is to run

By Brian Corbett • Jan. 1, 2003

Prescription for Success

LA JOLLA, CA Toyota Motor Corp. created the luxury cross/utility (CUV) segment in 1998 with the Camry-based Lexus RX 300. Now, even though the market niche is overrun with top-flight competitors such as the Acura MDX, BMW X5, and Volvo XC90, the aging RX still is holding its own, selling strongly even while Lexus gets set to introduce its successor, the RX 330, this spring. If only we all could age

By Drew Winter • Jan. 1, 2003

He’s Hoodwinked, Then Honored by the Dealer Boss

SAN ANTONIO Herman Ford, COO of Red McCombs Automotive, walked into a staff meeting he'd organized for his boss, Red McCombs. It seemed a little odd that among the group were some people who wouldn't ordinarily attend a breakfast meeting such as this. When McCombs opened the meeting, Ford knew he'd been had. We're here today for one purpose only, said McCombs. To celebrate Herman Ford's 30 years of

Jan. 1, 2003

Blow In My Ear And I’ll Follow You Anywhere

I'm sorry, Katherine. And I'm ready to admit the truth: You are insightful, while I am shortsighted. Civic Hybrid is a technological tour de force and Honda deserves my never-ending admiration for advancing the cause of cleaner combustion. By the closest of margins, its gas-electric powerplant finished just short of my personal Best Engines list. I don't know what came over me. I've never disputed

By Eric Mayne • Jan. 1, 2003

Tale of the Tape

An ugly secret is causing Ford Thunderbird owners to blow their tops, Ward's has learned. About 90% of the more than 20,000 '02 Thunderbirds sold by Ford feature a removable hardtop. But when deployed, the bottom edge which is trimmed with a gasket rubs against the painted surface of the rear deck lid. As a result, disgruntled owners say, paint gets smudged, scuffed and even scratched. Mark Scanlon

Jan. 1, 2003

Big Changes in the Works for Lincoln Dealers

Lincoln dealers can expect some wholesale changes in the retailing of their vehicles. We are looking at the entire culture of the Lincoln retail environment, says Darryl Hazel, president of Ford Motor Co.'s Lincoln Mercury division. We need to have a better program for our dealers and consumers. He told dealers we should be embarrassed about the 2% market share Lincoln Mercury holds. We need to retail

By Cliff Banks • Jan. 1, 2003

A New Endeavor

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. chose the name for its new cross/utility vehicle because lots of Fords start with an jokes Pierre Gagnon, Mitsubishi Motors North America Inc. president and CEO. But besides sporting a name that easily could slot into Ford Motor Co.'s dominating SUV lineup, the Endeavor is less an Explorer pretender than something designed to combat the Toyota Highlander and Honda Pilot. Now

By KATHERINE ZACHARY • Jan. 1, 2003

Lutz Chides Media for Import Bias

With General Motors Corp.'s product offerings and quality improving, Bob Lutz says the biggest challenge he faces during his remaining tenure is changing the public's perception of the company's cars and trucks. We simply have to work very hard to change public opinion, Lutz says at the Detroit Science Center during a preview of GM vehicles that will appear at auto shows next year. While acknowledging

Jan. 1, 2003

Scion Banks on Long-Term Profits

Toyota Motor Corp.'s new Scion line of priced-to-sell, youth-oriented vehicles may not be a sure-fire money-making venture for the auto maker. Define says Jim Farley, who was promoted to vice president of Toyota's new Scion division last month. Farley confirms Scion will cover Toyota's initial investment which he declines to disclose. We can do it. But Scion, which launches in California in June 2003

Jan. 1, 2003

Customer Service A-to-Z

It's no longer a competitive advantage to provide good customer service; it's a prerequisite. Here then is my A-to-Z on exemplary customer service and how to achieve it in easy, practical ways: Acknowledge: Acknowledge everyone who walks in. High-volume Prestige Ford in Garland, TX, has a 10-foot rule. Someone meets and greets guests within 10 feet of their entering the dealership. Be there: Even

By DAVID SKROBOT • Jan. 1, 2003

Collector Calls it Quits

Ford Motor Co.'s Robert Rewey was bleary-eyed tired as he flew on a company jet from Cleveland back to Detroit through late-night stormy weather in 1997. As lightning crackled outside, Rewey put down the pinkish pages of the Financial Times he was reading, and spoke to a fellow passenger about H. Wayne Huizenga, an aggressive entrepreneur down in Fort Lauderdale, FL, who had started buying auto dealerships

By Steve Finlay • Dec. 1, 2002