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    Smart Brand Brushes Off Critics, Sharpens Focus

    The 2-seat minicars have been derided by industry onlookers, but increasing sales point to a new kind of loyal customer, the auto maker says.

    By Aaron Foley • Aug. 14, 2013
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    Canada Truck Sales Tumble 11.7%

    Class 8 suffered the biggest decline, down 16.3%, due to losses at most of the group’s manufacturers.

    Aug. 13, 2013
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    Automotive Manufacturing

    Production strategies are changing rapidly as tariffs and shifts in consumer buying patterns affect the industry.

    By WardsAuto staff
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    Jag F-Type Coupe Rumored for Frankfurt Show

    The unveiling will mark a return to the birthplace of Jaguar’s compact sports car, which made its debut at the same exhibition two years ago in the form of the crowd-stopping C-X16 concept.

    By Giancarlo Perini • Aug. 9, 2013
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    ZF: 9-Speed Transmissions to ‘Dominate’ U.S. Market

    With an expansive portfolio of drivetrain and steering technologies, the German manufacturer looks to topple its rivals while redefining automotive habits.

    By Aaron Foley • Aug. 9, 2013
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    Record Fuel Economy for U.S. Light Vehicles in July

    Light-truck market share grew in the month, but any downward effect on miles per gallon was offset by record FEI scores for both cars and trucks.

    By Erin Sunde • Aug. 9, 2013
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    Novelis Rolling Out Aluminum Investment

    In two or three years, automotive will replace cans as the major aluminum customer of the Oswego, NY, facility, at about 850 million lbs.

    By William Diem • Aug. 7, 2013
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    Scrappage Rate Hits Historic High, Bodes Well for Future

    R.L. Polk analyst is optimistic about future sales as buyers eventually replace a growing number of aging vehicles.

    By David C. Smith • Aug. 7, 2013
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    Traffic on Road to Automated Driving May Be Heavy

    A consumer survey shows traditional auto makers are the overall preferred developers of autonomous vehicles, but younger respondents choose high-tech companies.

    By William Diem • Aug. 7, 2013
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    Lots to Like About Automated Cars, But Hurdles Ahead

    “If driver error isn’t there, lanes become narrower, merge distances become shorter, curves are more compact, because the (automated) cars know how to drive them,” says the director of MDOT.

    By William Diem • Aug. 6, 2013
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    Reporter Notebook: Give ’Em What They Want

    WardsAuto writers pass along the buzz at this week’s annual CAR Management Briefing Seminars in Traverse City, MI.

    By WardsAuto Staff • Aug. 6, 2013
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    Cisco Seeks to Set Standard for Connected Cars

    The idea is for the car to have its own IP address and to communicate to the cloud using improved cellphone technology. But it also would use Wi-Fi whenever available.

    By William Diem • Aug. 6, 2013
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    Asia to Drive Growth in Oil Demand Through 2035, Analyst Says

    Rising worldwide vehicle ownership, forecast togrow to 1.9 billion units, will continue to heighten competition for energy resources, the IEEJ says.

    By Roger Schreffler • Aug. 6, 2013
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    Denso: Unskilled Workforce Threatens Industry Expansion

    Denso executive says North American companies should follow Japan’s lead, which recruits people in junior high school for manufacturing jobs.

    By Byron Pope • Aug. 5, 2013
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    ‘Unobtainium’ Coming Soon

    Traditional barriers to new materials, such as specific, established manufacturing processes, are being broken down, GM’s Mike Regiec says.

    Aug. 5, 2013
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    Dick Dauch Remembered

    Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Dick Dauch’s handshake was a bone crusher – not meant to do bodily harm, but merely reflecting his zest for life. Oh, and pity the guy he’d ...

    By David Smith 1 • Aug. 5, 2013
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    ZF Launches Energy-Saving Initiative

    The German supplier is taking action now as it anticipates rising energy prices and more-stringent environmental regulations.

    By Byron Pope • Aug. 5, 2013
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    Clemson Students Show ‘Next Big Thing’ Concept Car at MBS

    BMW is the sponsor of next year’s project, a derivative of the X3 that will be displayed at SEMA. GM is next in line, with students working on a small urban car that Gen Z (those born in the 1990s) would want in 2020.

    By William Diem • Aug. 5, 2013
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    Camera Technology Monitors Where Driver is Looking

    By remembering the contours of the driver’s face, the camera-based system could adjust the car’s seats, lighting and preferences for adaptive-cruise-control settings.

    By William Diem • Aug. 5, 2013
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    WardsAuto Wins National Awards

    WardsAuto has won 95 national and regional ASBPE awards since 1991, across a wide array of categories.

    By WardsAuto Staff • Aug. 2, 2013
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    What Do Customers Know?

    Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Ask car shoppers how a dealership salesperson should act, and they’ll tell you this and that. Trouble is, they might not really know what ma...

    By Steve Finlay 2 • Aug. 1, 2013
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    ‘14 Chevy Impala Intake Valve Lift Control

    Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.

    July 31, 2013
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    Growing Dodge Customer Base One Model at a Time

    Delayed buildouts suggest Chrysler is looking for a way to keep Dodge showrooms filled until fresher product arrives or perhaps ease the transition to a smaller lineup. Not every brand has to cover every segment, a key executive says.

    By Aaron Foley • July 31, 2013
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    Feds Step Up Advertising Scrutiny

    Dealers should not assume their advertising agencies know all the rules.

    By Michael Charapp • July 29, 2013
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    WardsAuto Flashback – July 2013

    Mystery ship builder eyes auto business, gas-shortage prompts "charcoal-burning" vehicles, Mercedes imports market's only diesel-burning car and more news from the WardsAuto archives.

    By Al Binder • July 26, 2013
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    Ram 3500: The Right Tool

    Editor's note: This story is part of the WardsAuto digital archive, which may include content that was first published in print, or in different web layouts.Is there anything better in life than facing a truly difficult task and then finding the right tool that makes the job easy?I came upon this...

    By Tom Murphy • July 24, 2013