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    Reporter Notebook: Shine a Light

    WardsAuto writers pass along the buzz at the 2012 WardsAuto Interiors Conference in Dearborn, MI.

    By Barbara McClellan 1 • May 17, 2012
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    Holden Commodore Coming to U.S. as Chevy SS Performance Sedan

    GM’s first production car to offer an SS option was the ’61 Impala. Only 453 units were built with upgrades including a modified chassis and suspension, power brakes, steering column-mounted tachometer and unique wheels.

    By Alan Harman • May 17, 2012
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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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    Xiaoran Yao - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Sunghoon Shinn - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Kisun Shin - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Brian Malczewski - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Soochan Lee - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Marty Coons - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Dexter Carrie - WardsAuto Student Design Competition

    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.

    May 16, 2012
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    Kanto Says Plant Throughput Nearly Perfect

    Suppliers positioned inside the plant provide door trim, steering wheels, seats, headliners and fuel tanks. To date, output has topped 1.4 million units.

    By Roger Schreffler • May 16, 2012
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    Automotive Legend Carroll Shelby Dies

    Shelby considered his greatest achievement the Carroll Shelby Foundation, a charity dedicated to providing medical assistance for children, and educational opportunities for young people through training programs.

    May 11, 2012
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    Canada Big-Truck Sales Climb 38.1% in April

    All Class 8 manufacturers posted double-digit gains for the month. Standouts included Peterbilt, up 119.4%, and volume-leader Kenworth, up 81.8%.

    By Byron Pope • May 11, 2012
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    U.S. Truck Market Posts Biggest Gain of Year

    The April performance, the 28th straight month of year-over-year gains, kept the big-truck market 29.9% ahead of like-2011 for the year.

    By David Zoia Editor • May 11, 2012
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    How to Handle ‘Just Looking’

    When car shoppers tell a dealership salesperson they are just looking, it’s a defense mechanism. Even sales staffers say that when they shop.

    By Darin George • May 10, 2012
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    Ram C/V Ready for Rock’n’Road

    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.A year ago this month, I wrote about Nissan’s new commercial vehicle, the NV, based on its ability to haul the colossal gear of a 7-piece ro...

    By Tom Murphy • May 9, 2012
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    North American Plant Utilization Soars With Boosts to Output, Capacity

    This year’s first-quarter capacity utilization, including medium- and heavy-duty trucks, soared to 86.1% compared with 72.3% year-ago, the most output for the quarter since WardsAuto began tracking production utilization in 2005.

    By Haig Stoddard • May 2, 2012
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    Competition Highlights Democratization of Luxury

    A few taps on the calculator reveal the average sticker price of this year’s 10 winners is $36,547. Most Americans buying luxury vehicles spend considerably more.

    April 30, 2012
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    Chevy Sonic Scores With Gauge Cluster, Authenticity

    The all-new Chevy Sonic represents a great example of the upscale small-car trend now gripping the entry-point of the market.

    By James M. Amend • April 30, 2012
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    Dodge Dart: From Circus Act to Class Act

    Chrysler brings back the Dart as a ’13 model, and it seems as though designers performed tricks in creating such an impressive interior.

    By April 30, 2012
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    Azera Brings Ultra-Luxury Flavor to Family Car

    The Azera interior is so inviting and comfortable you don’t want any trip to end.

    April 30, 2012
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    Great Materials, Design, Features Make JX a Winner

    The Infiniti CUV’s wood trim, flowing design language and clamshell-style folding second-row seat checks all our boxes.

    April 30, 2012
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    Materials, Attention to Detail Distinguish CX-5

    The overall look of Mazda CX-5’s cabin is sparse, but there are impressive touches, including a ridged, hard-plastic trim piece surrounding the window controls on the front doors.

    April 30, 2012
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    World Vehicle Sales Reach Record High

    The ongoing recovery in the U.S., combined with steady sales in China, propelled March deliveries to nearly 8.25 million units, the highest monthly total on record.

    By John Sousanis • April 27, 2012
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    Ringing Up Car Sales Music to Dealer’s Ears

    For a Nashville BMW-Mini dealership, country-music celebrities may be shopping in the showroom, kicking the tires on the lot and sending playfully worded thank-you notes.

    By Tom Beaman • April 26, 2012
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    Scion Expects Up to 20,000 FR-S Sales Annually

    Scion is optimistic it can sell relatively high numbers of the sports car, because of its no-haggle pricing philosophy and large dealer network that provides good market coverage throughout the northern and southern U.S.

    April 26, 2012