by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 27, 2012
What economic downturn? While economists – and politicians – continue to debate the health of the U.S. economy, auto dealers continue to ring up strong sales. Preliminary data suggest that August is on track to deliver a 16% increase over year-ago levels, maintaining...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 27, 2012
As noisome as the presidential campaign has already become, you can expect to hear even more in the weeks before November’s election. But don’t expect to see any General Motors plants serve as backdrop for campaign stump speeches. The automaker, hoping to downplay...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 24, 2012
Little Mazda Motors has long been known for doing things its own way, sticking with the rotary engine, for one thing, decades after other manufacturers gave up on the fuel-inefficient technology. And the step the maker is expected to take today again runs counter to...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 24, 2012
Starting a new job is never easy. You have to find your parking spot, deal with all those employment forms, learn where the coffee machine and rest room are. And there’s the challenge of figuring out the corporate culture. But there are some other basic rules that...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 24, 2012
Full-size truck buyers are a tough yet loyal lot. They seldom switch brands but when they do it’s traditional because of factors like horsepower, payload or towing capacity. But Chrysler’s Ram division is betting there’s another reason why some folks will be willing...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 24, 2012
With its sales down 15% for the year and the situation likely to get worse, General Motors’ floundering Opel brand will slash production at two of its key German plants. Several thousand workers will be idled for at least 20 days through the end of the year, the maker...
by Bryan Laviolette | Aug 24, 2012
You just couldn’t do this in a regular Toyota Prius. Toyota’s new Prius v, a larger version of Toyota’s hyper-mileage halo car, showed up during moving week, as we moved 20 miles west to be closer to work and school. We repeatedly stuffed the v – essentially a wagon...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 23, 2012
It’s been one of the world’s best-selling nameplates and a massive factor in Chevrolet’s recent performance. So there’s little surprise that General Motors plans to amp up the next-generation Chevy Cruze model. The maker today confirmed plans to produce the next...
by Joseph Szczesny | Aug 23, 2012
The financial burden of escalating fuel and insurance costs on motorists in Great Britain has led to one in five cutting back on their summer holiday and days out with the family, while almost a third are now making less journeys to see family and friends....
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 23, 2012
Land Rover’s mid-range mainstay undergoes a major, nose-to-tail update for 2013 and the British maker is offering a first look. Complementing the more exclusive Range Rover Evoque, the LR2 moves a bit up-market with a more refined interior and added comfort and...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 23, 2012
In the scheme of things, Wolfgang Durheimer wasn’t at Bentley all that long but he will be leaving a legacy that will see the ultra-luxury maker continue to undergo major changes for years to come. That includes its controversial entry into the SUV segment. Now,...
by Paul A. Eisenstein | Aug 23, 2012
There’s little doubt automakers take Consumer Reports magazine quite seriously. Seriously enough, in fact, that Nissan has hired David Champion, the non-profit organization’s top automotive tester. In his newly created post as executive advisor for competitive...
