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    WardsAuto Flashback – April 2013

    Bel Air in short supply; future of automatic transmissions debated; union compared to racketeers - and more April news from the WardsAuto archives.

    By Al Binder • April 22, 2013
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    Torino Design Behind New Chery QQ

    The studio took its inspiration from cartoon characters, creating a smiling front end surrounded by smooth and rounded features for the second-generation car.

    By Giancarlo Perini • April 18, 2013
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    Trendline

    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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    Steel Makers Ready for 54.5 MPG and Beyond

    Steel continues to thrive because critics and competitors underestimate the material’s and steel industry’s ability to evolve, an executive says.

    April 17, 2013
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    Stop-Start Technology Faces Uphill Battle in North America

    Americans are slow to embrace the fuel-saving technology because of perceived noise, vibration and harshness issues and the fact that systems originally designed for Europe shut down the air conditioner during stops.

    By Byron Pope • April 16, 2013
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    Execs Say Predicting Customer Needs a Challenge

    Auto makers differ on techniques to anticipate buyers' needs, but agree technology and exterior design are keys to winning and keeping their attention.

    By Aaron Foley • April 16, 2013
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    In Race for Lighter Cars, Consumers and Environment Win

    The fact is, aluminum, steel, plastics and magnesium not only need to co-exist, they need to work together in vehicle design, because all of them are here to stay.

    By Roland Harings • April 16, 2013
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    Slippery Slope: Production Cars Making Jaw-Dropping Aerodynamic Gains

    A new trend sweeping the industry is aerodynamic vehicles that look fashionable, rather than like science projects.

    April 9, 2013
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    Plush Viper GTS Sales Surprise for SRT

    Orders for the upscale model, which pays closer attention to interior detail than the base version, are exceeding expectations for Chrysler’s high-performance brand.

    By Aaron Foley • April 9, 2013
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    WardsAuto e-Dealer 100 Sales Keep Growing

    Internet-savvy dealers are honing their skills, as evidenced by this year’s industry ranking.

    By Tom Beaman • April 8, 2013
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    Lean U.S. Inventory Could Mean More Production in Second Quarter

    March ended with a 62 days’ supply of domestic vehicles, well below the 70 days’ best for this time of year and considering the current pace of market growth.

    By Haig Stoddard • April 5, 2013
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    Large Trucks Spur March U.S. Sales to 31st Consecutive Gain

    Large CUVs doubled year-ago’s volume on major gains from GM’s refreshed trio of the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia, plus demand for the Mazda CX-9 and redesigned Nissan Pathfinder.

    By Haig Stoddard • April 2, 2013
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    In Race for Lighter Cars, Steel Wins

    In 2025, with a 54.5 mpg fleet, a steel car will offer a smaller carbon footprint than a car made of an alternative material, such as aluminum or carbon fiber, thanks to steel production being less energy intensive than other materials.

    By Mike Rippey • April 2, 2013
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    Refresh of Scion tC Seen Boosting Flat Sales

    The tC accounted for 22,666 sales last year, up 1% from 2011, according to WardsAuto data. In 2006, the tC had its best year ever at 79,125 deliveries.

    By James M. Amend • March 28, 2013
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    Scion Unwraps Refreshed tC, Limited-Edition Anniversary Models in New York

    The Toyota brand looked to its new rear-wheel-drive sports car, the FR-S, for design cues found in the ’14 tC.

    March 28, 2013
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    ’14 Dodge Durango Gets Premium Refresh

    New functions for the 3-row SUV include an 8-speed transmission, rotary shifter with paddles and a new Limited trim option.

    By Aaron Foley • March 28, 2013
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    Researchers Create Space-Saving, Lightweight CNG Tanks

    The tank will fit more readily into a vehicle than traditional cylinders and, because it is so conformable, it can fit under the floor of a car.

    By Herb Shuldiner 1 • March 25, 2013
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    What We Can Learn From Guy in Chicken Suit

    Behind flamboyant curbside marketing is a driving desire to succeed.

    By Lee Harkins • March 20, 2013
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    Thai Minister Defends First-Time Car Buyer Program

    The government says two groups of people have returned their cars, one that failed to qualify for tax rebates and another that was unable to make the monthly payments.

    By Alan Harman • March 20, 2013
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    Chevy’s Find New Roads Anthem

    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. Chevy Malibu television advertising to build upon brand's Find New Roads anthem. (Related story: '14 Chevy Impala Joins New Breed of Combac...

    March 19, 2013
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    ’14 Chevy Impala Joins New Breed of Comeback-Poised Large Cars

    In addition to the new Impala, GM plans to refresh its Chevy Malibu midsize sedan, which has not met sales expectations since the redesigned model launched early last year.

    By James M. Amend • March 19, 2013
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    WardsAuto Flashback – March 2013

    Industry builds 34 cars a minute; Willys and Kaiser come together; Ward's pushes for "Jalopie Jamboree"; Fiero finished - and more March news from the WardsAuto archives.

    By Al Binder • March 15, 2013
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    Global Takeover: Emerging Economies to Dominate World Production, Sales

    A WardsAuto/AutomotiveCompass forecast calls for a combination of developing and emerging markets to produce more than half the world light-vehicle volume for the first time in 2013.

    By Haig Stoddard • March 15, 2013
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    Mexico-Born Supercar to Break Cover

    The lightweight supercar is the brainchild of design agency, Etxe. Its body will be made in Canada, but final assembly will take place in Mexico City.

    By Giancarlo Perini • March 15, 2013
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    Canada Big-Truck Sales Run Cold Again in February

    The segment has not posted a year-over-year gain in sales since September 2012, although last year the big-truck sector did manage to eke out a 1.2% annual increase vs. full-year 2011.

    By James M. Amend • March 14, 2013
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    U.K. Auto Plant Prepares to Celebrate Centennial

    Plant Oxford employs 3,700 workers who build up to 900 Mini subcompacts a day, and a big expansion project is under way.

    By Alan Harman • March 14, 2013