by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 21, 2011
The incredibly popular Kia hamsters scored big in the 2011 Nielsen Automotive Advertising Award. The automaker’s latest campaign, which put the soul in the Kia Soul, was named Ad of the Year at a New York Auto Show news conference. Spending on automotive advertising...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 21, 2011
Fiat will invest $1.27 billion to increase its stake in its U.S. ally Chrysler to 46%. The Italians could yet push their holdings to 51% if they meet one last target set as part of Chrysler’s 2009 emergence from bankruptcy. The latest move not only increases the...
by Tim Healey | Apr 21, 2011
A sure sign of the automotive industry’s recovery is the return of the pointless car. The pointless car—or SUV—is a vehicle that is built to excess, just because the automaker can. Generally high on fun and low on practicality, the pointless car/truck/SUV exists so...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 21, 2011
Mercedes-Benz will roll out “at least” four new high-performance AMG models this coming year, the maker reported, giving the first of these a send-up at the 2011 New York Auto Show. The new C63 AMG becomes the most powerful version of Mercedes’ “entry-level” model...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 21, 2011
Nissan will sharply expand the use of locally-produced parts at its North American assembly plants, said Carlos Tavares, president of Nissan Americas. That move will come at the same time the second-largest Japanese maker shifts production of more of its vehicles,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 21, 2011
Scion has put an indefinite hold on plans to launch the new iQ minicar, putting the blame on the ongoing shortage of Japanese-made parts. The iQ, sold in Europe under the Toyota brand, will be one of the smallest products on U.S. roads once it finally reaches...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 20, 2011
While Hyundai’s claim to being the most fuel-efficient brand in America might be open to challenge, there’s no question the make is riding a wave as more and more U.S. buyers shift to high-mileage products – like the Elantra, the most popular non-hybrid product on the...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 20, 2011
There’s no denying Scion General Manager Jack Hollis is one very enthusiastic executive, so it took the corporate legal beagles from letting him write the press release explaining the logic behind the name of the maker’s new FRS-86 Concept. “Friggin’ Really Sweet,”...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 20, 2011
After giving its new small car a Shanghai send-off, Mercedes-Benz rolled out a second version of its A-Class Concept for the New York Auto Show, today. But what you see – at least in the U.S. – may not be what you get, a senior official confiding that the hatchback...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 20, 2011
There will be plenty of reasons to celebrate on the Jaguar stand at the New York Auto Show, this year. The maker will not only mark the 50th anniversary of the launch of its classic E-Type sports car but will also roll out a significant update of its current midsize...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 20, 2011
Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Or in Nissan’s case, the hatchback or the sedan? The maker has set off a bit of confusion by splitting the launch of its updated subcompact line-up between the Shanghai Motor Show, earlier this week, and a separate Wednesday...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Apr 20, 2011
There’ll be plenty of products rolling out over the next few days at the New York Auto Show – on top of the scores of introductions in Shanghai, earlier this week. So, maybe it makes sense that Infiniti is only offering up a tease to whet our appetite for its...
