by John DeCicco | Feb 6, 2009
Auto sales are one way we take the economy’s temperature. Hot sales mean hot activity overall while an economic chill sends the sales-volume mercury plunging. But is putting a flame to the thermometer — subsidizing car sales in particular — a good...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 6, 2009
Recession or not, the auto industry, or at least elements of it, are setting course for a greener future. Ricardo Inc. of Van Buren, Mi., the American arm of the British engineering firm Ricardo plc, has announced it has developed technology that optimizes...
by Marty Bernstein | Feb 6, 2009
Business stinks. From the biggest, AutoNation, to a one brand domestic or import store, there have been a30 percent-plus drops for the last four months running. There’s no solace knowing China sold more cars in January than the U.S. for the first time in history. The...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 5, 2009
With sales of new cars and trucks dropping 37 percent in January, carmakers and legislators are looking at ways to boost sales, perhaps by offering consumers tax breaks to purchase new cars or trucks. Though most analysts were discouraged by January’s dismal numbers,...
by Henny Hemmes | Feb 5, 2009
Have you ever been involved in a collision when driving in the city? If not, you undoubtedly know someone who was. The surveys suggest more than 75 percent of all accidents occur at speeds below 18 mph, usually on city streets. No wonder Volvo got a lot of attention...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 5, 2009
Though Japanese makers suffered a smaller decline in January sales than their Big Three rivals, they’re still feeling the impact of the collapsing economy – and struggling to stay ahead of the situation by slashing costs and, as needed, eliminating jobs. It doesn’t...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 5, 2009
He seemed the most likely heir to the coveted PR throne at General Motors Corp., but instead, 46-year-old Tony Cervone is decamping from Detroit and heading over to Chicago, where he’ll become chief communications officer and senior vice president of UAL Corp., the...
by Brenda Priddy | Feb 5, 2009
When we saw this 2010 Mercedes-Benz S-Class with new front and rear fascias, we immediately thought of the Ocean Drive Concept. From the slightly V-shaped grille, to the LEDs surrounding the headlamps, to the clean and smooth rear bumper – designers are following the...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 4, 2009
Word leaking out of Washington D.C. is that the Obama administration is moving towards naming a car czar. Or maybe not. It appears that the big sales drop in January, which once again left General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC perilously close to insolvency, put some...
by Brenda Priddy | Feb 4, 2009
Even with camouflage, these are the clearest shots yet of the second generation Mercedes CLS. Hidden under heavy black disguise, the new four-door coupé peeks through the headlights, rear lights, side mirrors, roof line. The CLS was the original 2+2 four-door “coupé”...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 4, 2009
How about one more for the road? The folks at the Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. has an interesting alternative to those who hate to see our corn crops turned into bio-fuel. Working with California-based E-Fuel, which developed the world’s first home ethanol production...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 4, 2009
With January numbers taking a deep dive – the fourth month in a row with an automotive sales downturn greater than 30 percent – domestic and import automakers alike are struggling. But the biggest impact is arguably being felt off the assembly line. A growing number...
