by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 19, 2011
After initially agreeing it erred, but failing to fall on its sword, the Detroit News has issued a full apology to both its readers and the writer whose review was altered to satisfy an angry advertiser. Presenting a reviewer’s “unvarnished opinion,”...
by Detroit Bureau | Mar 18, 2011
The Detroit News has issued a corporate “mea culpa,” if not an outright apology, for editing out some of the harsh criticisms included in a review of the Chrysler 200 – a move that led the paper’s automotive critic to resign. Part of the problem for the paper was that...
by Marty Bernstein | Mar 18, 2011
Sartorial Salute from IFD Don’t recognize the IFD brand name? It’s the new Chrysler label, Imported from Detroit, a line of inexpensive sportswear that is based on the now-famous Chrysler Super Bowl commercial’s tag line. There are eight different items listed at the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 18, 2011
Say the name, “Porsche,” and sleek sports cars like the 911, Boxster and Cayman quickly come to mind for most folks. But for the German maker’s management – and investors – the models that matter are Cayenne and Panamera. While purists might bristle at the idea of...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 18, 2011
If you’ve got your eye on a new Japanese car, truck or crossover, you may need to stretch your budget a bit more than you anticipated. A number of online services that track automotive pricing report that Asian makers and their dealers are already beginning to curb...
by Bryan Laviolette | Mar 18, 2011
Two German luxury sedans will face off against the world’s first mass-produced electric vehicle for World Car of the Year honors. The winner will be announced April 21, prior to the opening of the New York International Auto Show. The Germans are the Audi A8 and BMW 5...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 17, 2011
A chill breeze whips through the pre-dawn darkness, an out-of-tune generator noisily providing the power for the sole spotlight marking the start of the “Dawn Patrol.” Passing cups of coffee and sharing old war stories, folks like Hans Wurl and Jeff Orwig wait for...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 17, 2011
You’ll soon be able to buy the Audi R8 in three flavors: fast, faster and, “Oh, my god.” But getting close to the 200-mph mark will nudge you ever closer to a $200,000 price tag. When the slick 2-seater came out, a few years back, critics found little to, well,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Mar 17, 2011
Lincoln, the Ford Motor Co. luxury brand, has snatched the reliability crown away from long-time automotive reliability leader Lexus, underscoring Detroit’s significant improvements in the closely-watched J.D. Power Vehicle Dependability Survey. While Japanese...
by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 17, 2011
As the United Auto Workers prepares to talk about future strategy, the UAW’s course may have already been staked out during the union’s recent negotiations with Caterpillar Tractor Co., in Peoria, Illinois. While Detroit workers may be hoping to get back...
by Joseph Szczesny | Mar 17, 2011
Chrysler is asking a federal court to block a Motown clothing distributor from using “Imported from Detroit” tagline the automaker introduced as part of its widely-discussed commercial presence in the Super Bowl. The lawsuit claims Moda Group LLC, which operates the...
by Bryan Laviolette | Mar 17, 2011
Remember the brouhaha last summer when General Motors was apparently trying to kill the Chevy nickname? Well, that plan seems to have been forgotten. GM’s U.S. vice president for Chevrolet, Rick Scheidt, used the nickname in a press release bragging about the...
