Automakers: Page 431
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Courtesy of WardsAuto
LucasVarity Lands GM Brake Business
LucasVarity plc has secured a major contract to supply General Motors Corp. with antilock braking systems, traction control and vehicle stability systems for future cars to be sold in global markets. Based in Livonia, MI, LucasVarity's Light Vehicle Braking Systems already supplies GM light trucks and SUVs with ABS and will soon begin production at its Heerlen, The Netherlands, plant to supply ABS
May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
C43: Everyday Supercar
PHOENIX - A practical supercar?The folks over at Mercedes say yes, but it'll take a quick $52,750 out of your bank account."This is not something to be admired and put in a garage," says Mike Jackson, president of Mercedes-Benz North America. "It's an everyday supercar."Mercedes' latest offering, which hit showrooms in April, wears the envelope of a sensible C-Class with a modified engine, body and
By Andrea Wielgat • May 1, 1998 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Courtesy of Kia Corporation
TrendlineArtificial 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 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Edsel Ford Retires Early: ‘A Self-Generated Idea’
This is one way to end speculation about which Ford scion next will lead the family business.Edsel B. Ford II has stepped down as president of Ford Credit to consult on issues relating to Ford Motor Co.'s 10,500 dealers. He retains his seat on the board of directors and its finance committee. He joins the board's organizational review and nominating committee, where he will have some voice in determining
May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
China
While China may have difficulty achieving its economic growth target of 8% this year, with 5% to 6% the more likely rate, the world's most populated nation is having no trouble attracting foreign automakers and suppliers. China built 1.58 million vehicles in 1997, selling 1.56 million, up 6.4% from 1996 despite a soft year. But the potential sales in a country of 1.2 billion people is the real lure.But
By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Moving Into the Sweet Spot
AB Volvo has a near-perfect highline convertible in the new C70, but delays in ramping up production at its Uddavella assembly plant in Sweden mean the handsome '99 C70 convertible hits the U.S. market nearly a year behind its originally projected launch date. Which in turn means Volvo now must sell the drop-roof C70 nearly head-to-head with Mercedes-Benz's newest convertible, the chop-top version
By Bill Visnic • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Daewoo U.S. Debut to Favor Students
SEOUL - There's not a Korean involved in the automotive industry that doesn't recall with great chagrin South Korea's efforts to break into the U.S. car market a decade ago. It didn't work because quality was, well, cheesy.While Hyundai Motor Co. Ltd. and Kia Motors Corp. have made low-key re-entries with higher-quality products that have achieved so-so results, Daewoo Motor Co. Ltd. is cautiously
By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
BeetleMania in Santa Barbara: Their Parents Would Be Proud
How's this for deja vu?Twenty-five sorority girls from University of California at Santa Barbara managed to cram into a new Beetle at the local Santa Barbara Mazda-Volkswagen dealership. They also succeeded in raising $1,500 for charity while beating the old Guinness Book of Records mark by one person.But there should be an asterisk next to the listing.Unlike previous Beetle-stuffing records, the
May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Just a Temporary Lull, Or Is Toyota in Trouble?
It doesn't draw the type of scrutiny General Motors Corp. faces when its market share falls below 30% for a month, but Toyota Motor Corp.'s core U.S. sales division is off to a surprisingly slow start in 1998.At first blush it appears to be nothing more than a mild hangover from pulling Camry sales ahead to capture last year's best-selling car crown from Ford's Taurus. But through the first quarter
May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Into the Mosh Pit
Not every Mercury fan is a septuagenarian looking to buy a boat-like Grand Marquis, but it's probably safe to say not many current customers prefer moshing to golfing - at least not yet.In what may be a first in automotive marketing, Lincoln Mercury officials are flagrantly courting the young nose-ring and tattoo crowd for the '99 Mercury Cougar, and they aren't afraid to admit it. Forget about wholesome-faced
By Drew Winter • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
1997 Buick Riviera
Men are from Mars, women are from Venus, according to the popular book. In the Ward's offices there is a similar polarity about Buick's supercharged Riviera.Our tech editor thinks the styling is stunning, flatly pronouncing, "I can't believe there's an automaker out there that wouldn't be proud to say they came up with this shape." Others editors are patently offended by its profile and proportions.Styling
May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Olds Cranks It Up with New Northstar
NEW YORK - Making bold moves to revive what many believe is a dying franchise, General Motors Corp.'s Oldsmobile Div. will get the long-discussed, Northstar-derived 3.5L DOHC V-6 for its Intrigue at the start of 1999 production. The new all-aluminum V-6 - dubbed "Shortstar" by GM insiders - only will be available in the Intrigue GLS at first, but it will become standard by the end of the calendar
By HERB SHULDINER and BILL VISNIC • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Think Forever
In 1963 Chrysler Corp. surprised the industry by coming out with a revolutionary 5-year/50,000-mile (80,000 km) warranty. It covered all engine and transmission parts.At the time, other carmakers had to scramble to duplicate Chrysler's warranty. Now all carmakers offer more or less the same deal. Today's warranty, however, now covers just about all parts of the car - including paint and corrosion.Before
By STEPHAN SHARF • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Microsoft and GM Engage in a Battle of Wits
At a recent conference, Bill Gates extolled the breathtaking innovation of the computer industry to the auto industry by saying, "If GM had kept up with technology like the computer industry has, we would all be driving $25 cars that got 1,000 miles per gallon."Whoops. Be careful whom you pick on Mr. Smarty Pants.General Motors quickly issued a release, responding, "Yes, but would you want your car
May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Thailand
It's hard to imagine that Thailand, the market that a year ago was a beacon of opportunity for global automakers, could spark such a rapid economic spiral throughout Southeast Asia. But it was the loss of confidence in the Thai baht last summer that led to high inflation, mass bankruptcy and a halt to new construction. That forced virtually every manufacturer in the nation to try to find ways to export
By Barbara McClellan • May 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
2000 Lincoln LS6 and LS8 Can these new-century Lincolns really cut in onBMW’s turf?
Scan Robert F. Widmer's business card and it sinks in: with this all-new platform - the long-discussed DEW98 Ford Motor Co. and its Lincoln and Jaguar divisions are deadly serious.In Mr. Widmer's title, the first word is "performance." Performance/luxury vehicle line director-large/luxury car vehicle center. "Performance" as the primary ingredient for a Lincoln?Mr. Widmer, along with Helmuth Schrader,
By DAVID C. SMITH and BILL VISNIC • April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
UAW to target Mercedes, BMW plants
Having written off more than a decade of futile efforts to organize workers at non-union Japanese automobile assembly plants in the United States, the United Auto Workers union will try to organize workers at the two newest plants operated by German automakers Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The effort is expected to begin after the UAW's annual convention in June. BMW has about 2,000 workers at its plant
April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
German magazine threatens to sue Ford over use of Focus name
Focus magazine, one of Germany's largest weekly news magazines, wants Ford to change the name of its new subcompact model (see photo p.62) and is ready to go to court if it does not. "We are very serious about this," says Helmut Markwort, chief editor of the magazine. Ford's response: "We have registered the name with the German patent office," says spokesman Bernd Meier.
April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Big Six? Big Seven? U-M study says transplants now ‘fully integrated’
Transplant automakers, tired of being treated as second-class citizens in the U.S., say they deserve to be considered on a par with the Big Three. And now they have a study to prove it.The University of Michigan's Office for the Study of Automotive Transportation (OSAT) releases a report that casts favorable light on the economic impact made by foreign automakers with manufacturing plants in the U.S.
By David E. Zoia • April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Yo, NHTSA! We dare ya to slam this sucker into a Honda Accord
So crude oil prices are falling toward $10 a barrel. You're outgrowing that Navigator. The neighbors have just bought a new Hummer. The obvious solution: the Kenworth Pilgrimage. This fictional Satirical Utility Vehicle can be found on the Ultimate Poseur Sport Utility page on the Internet. It's the ultimate move-up vehicle. It fits under most bridge underpasses; is the first SUV to be rated in gallons
April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Heart attacks claim Chrysler Canada, Kia chiefs
Two notable auto executives, Chrysler Canada President Yves Landry and Kia Motors America CEO Greg Warner, died of heart attacks in mid-March. Mr. Landry, 60, an outspoken critic of the Quebec separatist movement and Chrysler's top executive in Canada since 1990, died March 15 of a heart attack while vacationing in St. Petersburg, FL. He was 60. He worked 29 years for Chrysler and regularly appeared
April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Eaton sells leaf spring business to Oxford Automotive
Eaton Corp. exits the leaf spring business and agrees to sell it to Oxford Automotive Inc. for an undisclosed price. It is an all-cash deal and government approvals already have been obtained. The unit, based in Southfield, MI, has 1,126 employees and last year accounted for $126 million in sales, or about 2% of Eaton's total revenue of $7.6 billion.
April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Shining at the Big Apple---Luxury car intros lead the parade
Ford Motor Co.'s all-new Lincoln LS6 and LS8 models (see story p.59) head the guest list at this year's New York Auto Show (April 11-19). But stepping out from those shadows at the exhibition - dominated by luxury car debuts - are the all-new Infiniti G20 and Volvo S40/V40 sedans and wagons.The G20 is the U.S. version of the European-market Nissan Primera, which has been on sale there in its current
By David E. Zoia • April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Little Cars Go Upscale at Geneva---Ford’s Escort replacement is show headliner
GENEVA - Small is "big" in Europe. In a trend diametrically opposed to the U.S. and its ever-larger, ever-thirstier light trucks and sport/utility vehicles (SUVs), Europe is hungry for efficiently sized, efficiently powered passenger cars - so automakers are raising the bar on small cars.Historically low-tech affairs that swapped high-tech options for fuel savings, small cars are now being built with
By SAID DEEP and PETER ROBINSON • April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
New Beetle: Expressive, And a Tad Expensive
ATLANTA - Cute. Cliched as that description is, it fairly well sums up Volkswagen AG's New Beetle (that's the official name, too): Plenty of style and a surprisingly equal amount of substance, despite lacking both the sound and the bargain price of the original.Despite its cartoonish looks, the new Beetle is no toy. VW has done its homework, and it shows. From its rounded fenders and silhouette, the
By SAID DEEP • April 1, 1998 -
Courtesy of WardsAuto
Dollars Outnumber Deals Buyout Funds Eager to Invest in Automotive
In 1995, Butler Metal Group was a small stamping plant with a good reputation and excellent engineering.But the Canadian supplier was finding itself short of the capital it needed to keep up with competitors. Maintenance and operations were slipping.Enter Oxford Investment Group Inc., a buyout firm looking to build a new automotive stamping group. The firm bought Butler for an undisclosed amount and
By JEFF GREEN and TOM MURPHY • April 1, 1998
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