by Ken Zino | Apr 14, 2009
While some consumer attitudes toward diesel engines are becoming more favorable, roughly two-thirds of potential buyers still will not consider the expensive engines for their next vehicle. According to the Morpace Powertrain Acceptance & Consumer Engagement...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 14, 2009
It’s hard to believe that it was just last summer that former General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner was grumbling because his company’s shares had slipped below the $10 mark. A mid-July restructuring plan briefly buoyed GM shares, but it’s been largely a...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 14, 2009
It’s been a Winter of discontent, as Shakespeare might say, in Michigan, as the state’s automotive economy steadily vaporizes. With sales plunging and two of Detroit’s Big Three threatened with extinction, the only real business opportunity, these...
by Henny Hemmes | Apr 13, 2009
Earlier this year, Volvo admitted that its European model range was not green enough. But now, with the new DRIVe versions, 80% of all Volvo models offered are green by the Swedish automaker’s own self definition of lowest CO2 emissions in the segment. This has...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 13, 2009
She may have one of the toughest jobs at General Motors. As the new vice president of the BPG Group, Susan Docherty has to find a way to take three troubled brands, Buick, Pontiac and GMC truck, and stitch them into a cohesive – and profitable –...
by Ken Zino | Apr 13, 2009
The weakest March auto sales in 34 years has the industry hoping against all available data that things will soon turn up. The news was particularly grim for the three domestic automakers, who continue losing share in spite of all-out efforts to improve their...
by Jim Henry | Apr 13, 2009
The 2010 LR4 made its first appearance at the New York auto show on April 8. It replaces the LR3, formerly known as the Discovery as the smallest sport utility in the line. The LR4 is essentially an LR3 with a thorough facelift inside and out. Changes to the Range...
by Ken Zino | Apr 11, 2009
It takes a certain confidence to use the word “momentum” if you’re an automaker these days. However, that’s precisely what Stefan Jacoby, CEO of VW of America, did as he introduced the Golf, aka Rabbit, aka Golf, aka Rabbit, in New York. In his...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 10, 2009
With the introduction of a new, inline-four engine for its 2010 CX-7 crossover, Mazda takes a big step closer to its goal of offering “affordable” fuel economy to buyers around the world, the company’s chief executive declared, during a preview at...
by Ken Zino | Apr 10, 2009
When the next version of the Outlander crossover vehicle arrives it will have more performance, higher fuel economy and a new exterior design that in my view moves it back towards a tall station wagon look. The styling of the prototype unveiled at the New York...
by Joseph Szczesny | Apr 10, 2009
For years, Daimler executives have dreaded the day of the company’s annual shareholders meeting. Not only is it long and tedious, but it’s also the one day of the year when the company’s executives really aren’t in control of every detail in...
by Ken Zino | Apr 10, 2009
Eleven and counting. That’s how Hyundai bills its Nuvis concept that debuted at the 2009 New York International Auto Show. That is, Nuvis is the eleventh concept vehicle that was designed at the company’s California Design Center in Irvine. While the...
