by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 16, 2011
As if to underscore the increasing power of what was once derided as the “Third World,” and de-emphasize more established markets like the U.S., global auto sales will hit an all-time record this year, forecasts J.D. Power and Associates. A total of 76.5 million...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 16, 2011
Hoping to capitalize on the unexpectedly warm reception given its “Imported from Detroit” tagline, which anchored a Super Bowl commercial featuring rap star Eminim, Chrysler will let consumers help spread the message. But it won’t be cheap, Chrysler planning to charge...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 16, 2011
The first Saab 9-4X crossover scheduled for retail sale has rolled off the assembly line at a General Motors plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico. Saab Automobile chief executive officer and president Jan-Ake Jonsson was on hand to see regular production begin, just three...
by Bryan Laviolette | Feb 15, 2011
So you thought the Town Car was dead. Think again. While Ford will end production of the Lincoln Town Car – and its platform mate the Ford Crown Victoria – at the end of the year, the automaker isn’t ready to let go of the Town Car name. Lincoln...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 15, 2011
In the wake of a year of crisis that saw the Japanese giant pay record fines to the U.S. government, recall 11 million vehicles and face the wrath of Congress, Toyota is reportedly planning a major shake-up in its senior management roles. The maker to reduce the size...
by Tim Healey | Feb 15, 2011
As pundits write endlessly about the resurgence of Chrysler, they talk mostly about the influx of new product at the company’s Dodge and Chrysler brands. But the troubled U.S. maker’s turnaround will also rely on its off-road brand, Jeep. Despite being the first one...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 15, 2011
Slow to embrace battery-electric vehicles, Toyota is struggling to make up for lost time, and will introduce another electric car concept at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. The iQ EV prototype is a lithium-ion-powered version of the little iQ microcar – a...
by Joseph Szczesny | Feb 15, 2011
Days after officials from the Penske Automotive Group expressed their commitment to stand by the struggling Smart brand, they’ve been given their walking paper by Daimler AG, which produces the minicars. Operation of the franchise, which has seen its sales in the U.S....
by Bryan Laviolette | Feb 15, 2011
Infiniti has released images of a small concept that seems to defy categorization. The concept will debut at the Geneva Auto Show in March. Infiniti’s ETHEREA concept is fairly small – just barely longer than a Nissan Versa – and has elements of a...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 14, 2011
General Motors CEO Dan Akerson has a big Valentine’s Day card coming in the mail for 45,000 workers. Though they’ll still have to wait a bit for delivery, they can anticipate a profit-sharing bonus of at least $4,000 apiece, the executive announced today. That’s more...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Feb 14, 2011
While General Motors may be ready to move up the 50-state rollout of its new Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, a new study suggests that California and a handful of other states will dominate demand for battery cars. In 2015, demand for advanced propulsion vehicles –...
by Denise McCluggage | Feb 14, 2011
Numbers have a specificity that is irresistible to our embattled minds. That’s why cops give you a ticket for 87 mph in a 75 mph zone and not to someone else for “unimaginably idiotic attempts to maneuver an automobile in the presence of others.” The...
