Automakers: Page 439

NAIAS ‘96: everybody’s got an SUV

If you can say SUV, you can sum up this year's North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It's easier these days to name which automakers aren't promoting some sort of new sport/utility vehicle. Almost everyone and their brother is jostling for elbow space in a segment already clogged with a SUV aimed at every demographic imaginable.Topping the list of "new" SUVs at the record-breaking Detroit

By Bill Visnic • Feb. 1, 1996

The Russians are coming

Russian automaker Avto VAZ Inc., in an unprecedented move, will soon begin assembling small cars in Uruguay and Colombia -- mainly for export to Mercosur and Andean Pact nations. The company will begin early this year by manufacturing 300 units a month in Cali, Colombia, through a joint venture, says Rafael Anssens, sales manager for Motores Internacionales SA in Panama, which has exclusive Lada distribution

Feb. 1, 1996

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

Toyota recycles ASR

Toyota Motor Corp. says it has developed the world's first technology to sort and extract polyurethane foam and fabric granules from automotive shredder residue (ASR). The sorted material is used to mass-produce automotive soundproofing products in the form of a mat lining. ASR, usually disposed of in landfills, is a mixture of ground-up plastics, rubber, fabrics and dirt remaining after a vehicle

Feb. 1, 1996

Straight talk in teamland

Team development has been deemed the holy grail, the organizational wonder drug that is transforming the U.S. automotive industry into a competitive powerhouse.But it's not "an immaculate conception," says G. Glenn Gardner, who led Chrysler Corp.'s full-size LH platform team from start-up in 1988 until the cars moved into production during 1992.Mr. Gardner retired in 1994 as general manager of Chrysler's

By McCann, Hugh • Feb. 1, 1996

Tinkerers be damned

Ford's F-series full-size pickups have been the best-selling pickups in the U.S. over the last 19 years. In 1995, Ford sold 662,410 F-trucks, only slightly less than the 675,000 General Motors Corp.'s Chevrolet and GMC0 divisions sold combined. Tinkering with success should not be taken lightly, as witness the slow start for Ford's radically re-designed 1996 Taurus and Sable models. In developing

By David Smith, Stoddard, Haig, Neff, Natalie • Feb. 1, 1996

Cashing in on Korea: Delphi reaping rewards on Asian investments

SEOUL -- As Asian hot spots go, South Korea is No. 1 for General Motors Corp.'s Delphi Automotive Systems Div. Even China, where Delphi sales are projected to reach $1 billion by 2000, pales in comparison."Our sales in Korea could easily reach $2 billion by 2000 with good activity with other companies," says William A. Ebbert, Delphi's regional president.Asia/Pacific is expected to account for $3

By David E. Zoia • Jan. 1, 1996

Trotman forecasts 2.5% sales growth in ‘96.(Ford Motor Co. CEO Alex Trotman)(Auto Talk)

Automotive sales should gradually improve in 1996 in the U.S. and most markets worldwide, even though the 1995 final tally will be lower than was predicted a year ago, says Ford Chairman and CEO Alex Trotman."The effect of last year's interest rate increases in the U.S. by the Federal Reserve was stronger than anticipated," he says, adding that tax increases in Europe and the aftermath of the Mexican

Jan. 1, 1996

Cadillac recall to cost GM $45 million

It'll cost GM $45 million in fines and repairs to fix cars that emit too much carbon monoxide. Some 470,000 Cadillacs are being recalled due to a computer chip the automaker added to the engine control module to correct a low-speed stalling problem with air conditioning systems running. GM, however, refutes claims by the U.S. Attorney General's office that the automaker added the chip knowing that

Jan. 1, 1996

Prowler may not make it in the NBA. (Chrysler Corp’s 2-seat Plymouth Prowler sports car)(Auto Talk)(Brief Article)

Who'll buy Plymouth's Prowler, the high-tech open-wheel hot rod that goes into production a year from now (see Auto Show feature, p.48)? Probably not too many full-size athletes. During a special preview, Prowler Team Executive Engineer Craig Love takes reporters on a detailed "walk-around" of a prototype at the Chrysler Technical Center in Aurburn Hills, Ml. Underscoring its technical features, he

Jan. 1, 1996

The mother of all changeovers: switch to new-generation Ford F-150 dwarfs others.

NORFOLK, VA -- It may be just another new truck to some, but to Ford Motor Co. the launch of the 1997 F-150 full-size pickups is a massive undertaking, one of the most comprehensive in its history. Straight-time production capacity also is scheduled to jump from 700,000 to a whopping 900,000 units.It is the first major new-model changeover for the F-150 -- the highest-volume vehicle in the U.S. --

By Drew Winter • Jan. 1, 1996

What’s next for GM’s board?

Now that John F. (Jack) Smith Jr. has been elevated to chairman of General Motors Corp. (see Editorial p.7), what's next for GM's board of directors? Mr. Smith had been management's sole representative on the 15-person board for more than a year following Executive Vice President William G. Hoglund's 1994 retirement from both the corporation and the board. That management seat now is taken by Harry

Jan. 1, 1996

Ford joins recall party with several models

Ford is recalling 51,700 '95 Crown Victoria and Grand Marquis vehicles (of which 21,100 are in Canada) to inspect and reposition improperly installed circuit breakers that could lead to a short or overload, causing the headlamps to shut off unexpectedly. Ford also is pulling over 62,800 '93-'94 Crown Victoria police vehicles to inspect and tighten the control arm attachments and repair any cracked

Jan. 1, 1996

Buick’s all-new Century debuts

Ronald Reagan's first term in the White House was barely a year old when Buick introduced the midsize A-body front-drive Century in 1982.Somewhat updated and refined over the years, the old war horse still will be around until the end of the '96 model year.Waiting in the wings is an all-new Century built on General Motors Corp.'s new W-body platform that this year also will spawn new-generation Pontiac

By David C. Smith • Jan. 1, 1996

Ford, GM war over pickup door

Rejecting for a moment the notion that imitation is the highest form of flattery, a high-level Ford Motor Co. engineer says General Motors Corp. engineers infringed on at least one Ford patent when they designed the new third door on Chevrolet and GMC extended-cab pickups.A Chevy spokesman claims it's not true, and says Ford is just mad that Chevy has beat them to the punch in the marketplace. Chevy's

Jan. 1, 1996

Delphi: $30 billion in ‘96? GM’s big components group continues to globalize, expand horizons

Most football teams, when forced to punt, try to pin the opposition deep in its own territory, thereby improving their own field position. That's a strategy General Motors Corp.'s Delphi Automotive Systems Div. knows something about.Faced with significant losses in 1991, Delphi (then GM's Automotive Components Group) decided to kick away its businesses that were not "core" and those that not No. 1

By Tim Keenan • Jan. 1, 1996

A remake going global

After six years in the market with the current model, Ford Motor Co. is ready with new replacements for the Escort/Tracer. But hang with us here, because it's a complicated deal.The new models will roll out of Ford's assembly plants in Wayne, MI, and Hermasillo, Mexico, just as do the outgoing Escort/Tracer. Production begins in March for the new cars, which continue to be based on the current cars'

By Bill Visnic • Jan. 1, 1996

Chrysler takes Lido to court over Kerkorian

Now that Lee A. lacocca seemingly has his divorce behind him, he looks forward to another legal battle - this one with the company he rescued from oblivion. Chrysler files a lawsuit in Oakland County Circuit Court in Michigan against its former chairman for "breach of fiduciary duty, breach of contract and an accounting for profits." The 34-page suit seeks a declaration that Mr. lacocca is not entitled

Jan. 1, 1996

New tire recycling process

Dow Chemical Co. and DuPont Co. form a joint venture? BASF Corp. and GE Plastics do joint research? Ha! Why, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler Corp. would form a joint venture first!Well, that's exactly what happened. New Venture Gear, a transmission and transfer case manufacturing joint venture between GM (36%) and Chrysler (64%) will be wrapping up its sixth year of operation next month. Formed

Jan. 1, 1996

The kid from Framingham; young Jack Smith was not anxious to join GM in New York

Retired General Motors Corp. Chairman Roger B. Smith often tells the story of how he persuaded another Smith, John F. (Jack) Jr., who assumed GM's top spot on Jan. 1, to join its financial staff.It was during the early 1960s shortly after Jack had joined GM as a payroll auditor at a GM plant in Framingham, MA, near his hometown of Worchester."I'd heard great things about him," says Roger Smith, who

By David C. Smith • Jan. 1, 1996

Don’t look for quick end to Chrysler saga

It looks like the battle between Kirk Kerkorian and Robert J. Eaton, for control of Chrysler Corp. will climax at the company's annual shareholders meeting this May.In a revised proxy statement field with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Mr. Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. restates his demands for representation -- as many as three seats on an expanded board of directors -- and calls again for the

Jan. 1, 1996

Ford unveils Synergy 2010 concept

Ford Motor Co.'s Synergy 2010 concept car explores futuristic alternatives that could offer triple the fuel efficiency of a typical family sedan.Ford Chairman and CEO Alex Trotman shows off the vehicle at the company's year-end news conference. It will be on display at the Detroit auto show in January. "This is very much a stretch exercise, especially when it comes to making this advanced technology

Jan. 1, 1996

Target shooting: ACD focuses on supporting Ford worldwide

While his counterpart at General Motors Corp. is establishing a global supply empire that would make Caesar proud, Frank Macher, general manager of Ford Motor Co.'s Automotive Components Div. (ACD), is content with his orders to focus chiefly on supporting Ford's worldwide efforts.Unlike GM's Delphi Automotive Systems, which is trying to get half of its sales outside the corporation's North American

By Tim Keenan, David Zoia • Jan. 1, 1996

Haggling about the losers is half the fun

Selecting among Ward's 30 candidates for the Ten Best Engines of 1996 proved to be a tough call. Simply put, all of the powerplants we tested generally had attributes that made them winners. Some I especially liked that didn't make the cut were Ford's 3L Duratec V-6 in the all-new Taurus/Sable; GM's 2.4L Twin Cam I-4 in Cavalier and Sunfire -- spunky little performers in their segment; and Chrysler's

By Drew Winter, Bill Visnic, Mike Arnholt, David C. Smith, McCann, Karey, Daivd E. Zoia • Jan. 1, 1996

More than meets the eye with new Sebring ragtop

Chrysler answered a lot of questions last month in Palm Springs, CA, the site it chose for the press introduction of its Sebring Convertible. Some of the company's responses were candid, but others were between-the-line nuances that illuminate future product plans.The Sebring is a nicely styled vehicle that can comfortably accommodate four full-sized adults. It comes in two models, the JX and JXi.

Dec. 1, 1995

Mazda: no longer a ‘niche player.’

Mazda Motor Corp.'s role in Ford Motor Co. Ford 2000 product globalization scheme has yet to be fully defined, but one thing is certain: Its tradition as a developer of specialized vehicles with unique engineering is ending."We became a niche player, but that doesn't bring home the bacon anymore," concedes Henry D.G. Wallace, Mazda executive vice president and Ford's lead executive at the troubled

Dec. 1, 1995