Automakers: Page 400

GM tries to get dealers to sign off on Oldsmobile

Most of the dealers who sell General Motors Corp.'s dying Oldsmobile brand came to the national auto dealers' convention hoping GM would offer some new financial help for them, or even reverse course and decide to keep Oldsmobile going. But GM executives, in meetings with dealers, reiterated plans to kill the century-old brand by 2004, and said they saw no changes in the buyout offers. GM has mostly

March 1, 2002

FORD TO BUILD GT40; BILL FORD JR. APPEARS IN NEW ADS

Ford Motor Co. will build the GT40 a modern version of an historic two-seat supercar and CEO William Clay Ford Jr., despite some initial reluctance, is appearing in a series of new ads. Ford Div. President James O'Con-nor and a GT40 that shared the stage with him got a standing ovation from Ford employees and several dealers in the crowd as he announced that the car will be built to celebrate the

By Steve Finlay • March 1, 2002

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

Chicago Auto Show

CHICAGO Ford Motor Co. had plenty of news to make here at the Chicago Auto Show in February, what with the arrival of the new SVT Mustang Cobra and the announcement that the auto maker's plant here in the Windy City will assemble the CrossTrainer in 2004 (see story, p.23). But the No. 2 auto maker gave equal billing to a year-old story: the propping up of Mercury. It was a year ago at Chicago that

By TOM MURPHY and KEVIN KELLY with Eric Mayne and Brian Corbett • March 1, 2002

CAN’T GET NO (COMPLETE) SATISFACTION

PAT LIND SUGGESTS REVAMPING CUSTOMER satisfaction surveys. Critics claim they're misleading. Lind cites the woes of a GM dealer who said here in January that most of his customers give his dealership a very satisfied score, but GM nevertheless wants more than that. The automaker wants completely satisfied scoring. The GM dealer says the automaker unfairly claims he has a customer satisfaction problem.

By Steve Finlay • March 1, 2002

How 2 Hands Can Turn 4 Wheels

So far, General Motors Corp. is using its Quadrasteer 4-wheel steering (4WS) system exclusively on fullsize trucks, but supplier Delphi Automotive Systems predicts the chassis technology will be applied to more than just long wheelbase vehicles by 2007. A Delphi official sees Quad-rasteer expanding into minivans within five years, and possibly commercial trucks and cars. GM is so confident that 4WS

March 1, 2002

SUPER STAR MEL FARR AND FORD PART WAYS

Mel Farr is trying to keep a positive attitude about the closing of his two Ford dealerships in Waterford and Oak Park, MI, suburbs of Detroit. Farr, once a top megadealer, now plans to pursue a dream of opening a used-car superstore and new-car stores in Detroit, says his spokeswoman Charlene Mitchell. Mitchell confirms that Farr will be making a complete break from Ford, and will soon sell his minority

By Christie Schweinsberg • March 1, 2002

Paramount opens $10 million dealership

Paramount Automotive Group opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Hickory, NC. At a cost of over $10 million, the new facility is over 70,000 square feet and features separate showrooms and service for Porsche, Volkswagen, Volvo, Cadillac and Oldsmobile. Each showroom depicts the individual personality of the carline in its styling and decor and features a separate service and customer waiting

March 1, 2002

Ford, Jag, Volvo develop 6-speed

Ford Motor Co.'s Ford, Jaguar and Volvo engineers are developing a new 6-speed manual transmission to meet the need for a front-wheel-drive transaxle to handle higher horsepower for increased performance in FWD cars, WAW is told. Mazda Motor Corp. also is expected to join the 3-way venture. The transmission, which has received corporate approval, likely will be built in Europe at a Ford or supplier

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE REPORTS • March 1, 2002

John Z

John Z. DeLorean never will be ranked with such General Motors Corp. luminaries as founder William C. Durant, financial genius Alfred P. Sloan Jr. or engineering wizard Charles F. Kettering but he's had his moments. It has been nearly 30 years since DeLorean and GM parted company, yet his name still evokes instant recognition as one of the most famous and flamboyant auto executives ever. In an era

By AL Rothenberg • March 1, 2002

Tennis anyone?

Tennis star Lindsay Davenport (second from left) takes delivery of a new CLK AMG Cabriolet from Mercedes-Benz of Laguna Niguel (CA). With her (from left) are Sales Rep Keith LaRue, General Manager Pat Bolter and General Sales Manager Steve McCarthy.

March 1, 2002

Bonneville G/XP: Bob likes this one

General Motors Corp.'s Pontiac Div. will produce the Bonneville G/XP show car unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show. The G/XP was developed by Pontiac's design team within the last four months, and plans call for sales of between 5,000 and 15,000 units annually when it goes on sale in early '03. It will be marketed as a limited-production high-performance version of Pontiac's fullsize Bonneville sedan,

By Compiled by the staff of: WARD'S AUTOMOTIVE REPORTS • March 1, 2002

Rotary Redux

HIROSHIMA, Japan When Mazda Motor Corp. launches the RX-8 sports car in spring 2003, consumers can thank a cross-functional team of powertrain and production engineers for making the car and its hallmark rotary engine an affordable reality. Mazda's previous-generation rotary powered RX-7 was last sold in the U.S. in 1996. It was an acclaimed enthusiasts' sports car, but its price ballooned such that

By Roger Schreffler • March 1, 2002

Hyundai: Move Over Fahrvergnugen

There's one big psychological barrier standing between Hyundai Motor America and its goal of becoming a U.S. import heavy hitter: Volks-wagen of America Inc. Though the Korean auto maker has not explicitly set its sites on passing import-darling VW during this calendar year, executives are fairly confident it can be done. They readily admit outpacing VWA which sold 355,648 cars in the U.S. for 2001

March 1, 2002

Hyundai Motor to invest in Chinese venture

Hyundai Motor to invest in Chinese venture Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. signed a memorandum of understanding last month with Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co. to establish a joint venture operation in Beijing. A Hyundai spokesman says the JV will focus on developing a unique Chinese car especially for the local market. While neither Hyundai nor Beijing Auto would comment, the move has a direct link

By Compiled by Senior International Editor Barb McClellan [email protected] • March 1, 2002

HAIL TO GENERAL MOTORS’ NEW GENERAL

NOT SINCE THE DAYS OF JOHN DELOREAN HAS General Motors seen such excitement over the possibility of a charismatic leader. Of course Delorean's persona and personal lifestyle ultimately destroyed any possibility of him leading an institution such as GM. Now there's another car guy in the upper echelons of GM Bob Lutz, the new chairman of North American operations. GM CEO Richard Wagoner, in a gutsy

By Nat Shulman • March 1, 2002

Delphi loads up Peugeot 206 concept

Thanks to a technology partnership announced in 1999, Delphi Automotive Systems and French auto maker PSA Peugeot Citroen unveil a Peugeot 206 concept car equipped with seven advanced technologies from Delphi, most of which are ready for production. The 206 Environmental Technologies Demonstrator has Delphi's Energen 5 start-stop system, E-Steer electric power steering, non-thermal plasma exhaust

By Compiled by Senior Editor Tom Murphy [email protected] • March 1, 2002

Ford Credit is focusing on the basics

Greg Smith, new president and COO of Ford Financial, says the captive finance company takes a different approach to the Back to basics theme being preached at Ford Motor Co. in recent weeks. He explains, For us, we like to say, focus on the basics. That represents a change in strategy for Ford Credit. The finance company for the past seven years had sought to become a worldwide automotive financing

By Cliff Banks • March 1, 2002

Dealers like new Ford Credit chief

Dealers give high marks to Greg Smith, who replaces Don Winkler as the head of Ford Credit. It's great news, says Texas dealer Jerry Reynolds, former chairman of the Ford National Dealer Council. Greg is one of the sharpest and brightest guys I've ever met. Reynolds adds, Don Winkler is a real motivator. But he didn't know the nuts and bolts whereas Greg grew up in the business, rising through the

Feb. 1, 2002

F-350 Tonka: Hydraulic Regenerative Braking

DETROIT What appears to be a practical, low-tech method to recover braking energy in 8,000-lb. to 11,000-lb. (3,600-kg to 5,000-kg) GVW vehicles in urban stop/start application was introduced by Ford Motor Co. at the recent Detroit International Auto Show here. The system, jointly developed with Eaton Corp., captures braking energy through a hydraulic pump-motor unit, where it is stored in dual accumulators

By Bob Brooks • Feb. 1, 2002

BLUE OVAL BLUES

We previously asked dealers if they were satisfied with Ford's controversial Blue Oval dealer certification program. Of the respondents, 42 said no, 3 yes. Here's what they had to say: What choice do we have? No! Ford execs have made it plain that they don't want to hear any negatives about Blue Oval; that they're committed to it without regard to dealer opinions. They tell us to shut up and be happy.

Feb. 1, 2002

FORD PLANS NEW CROSSOVER UTILITY VEHICLE

Ford Motor Co. will further penetrate the cross/utility vehicle (CUV) segment in 2004, Ward's has learned. Sources say the vehicle resembling a fusion of beefy wagon and streamlined SUV will roll off the line at Ford's Chicago Assembly Plant. Chris Theodore, Ford's vice president-North American product, confirms the No.2 auto maker has a CUV in its pipeline, having previously stated are under development.

Feb. 1, 2002

Nissan Turns a 180

Just as Ford Motor Co. dives into massive restructuring, Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. CEO Carlos Ghosn tells an automotive conference in Dearborn, MI, that the second phase is under way for Japan's once-ailing No. 3 auto maker. With a year remaining in the Nissan Revival Plan, Ghosn refers to the sequel as Nissan 180, which sets future growth targets from which the 180 figure is derived: 1 million more units

Feb. 1, 2002

Better Handling, Refined Package for ‘03 Expedition

DETROIT Ford Motor Co. hopes silence is indeed golden, having pulled out all the stops to reduce NVH in its refreshed '03 Expedition. Along with more packaging refinement and a couple of genuine surprise-and-delight features the all-new Expedition thankfully tilts towards a higher dynamic standard with fully independent rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering. It remains, however, a body-on-frame

By BILL VISNIC and ERIC MAYNE • Feb. 1, 2002

Toyota spending $700M with minority businesses

Minority-owned suppliers will get at least $600 million worth of business from Toyota Motor Corp. this year. Toyota also will buy at least $100 million worth of services from other minority-owned businesses. Toshiaki Taguchi, president of Toyota North America Inc., revealed the investment figures at a press conference in New York, where he announced the formation of a North American diversity advisory

By Compiled by Senior Editor Tom Murphy [email protected] • Feb. 1, 2002

Tall Wagons

Call them tall wagons, cross-utility vehicles, segment busters, sports tourers, sport wagons, crossovers, cross-trainers, or just plain station wagons. Whatever they''re named, they were the most obvious new design trend at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last month. Although today''s “crossover” vehicles like the Toyota Highlander, BMW X5 or Buick Rendezvous straddle the line

By DREW WINTER with Brian Corbett and Eric Mayne • Feb. 1, 2002