Automotive News articles from January 2007

Automotive News archives from January 2007

Something to talk about; 10 things we'll still be chewing over in 2007.(News)
January 1, 2007... 1. Fallout at VW: What will become of Wolfgang Bernhard, pictured at right? 2. Restructuring of the Detroit 3 3. Fuel prices 4. Detroit 3 contract negotiations with the UAW 5. New powertrains: diesels, hybrids, fuel cell...

Ford Interceptor to be interpreter of styling cues.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson The Ford Interceptor concept aims to translate the styling cues of last year's Super Chief pickup concept into a rear-drive sedan. The four-door Interceptor is built on a stretched Mustang platform and is powered by...

'08 Malibu sedan gets a new face, longer body, better handling.(News)(Chevrolet Motor Co.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Jamie LaReau The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu sedan debuts with new proportions in a stylish package. In addition to new sheet metal, the Malibu has been re-engineered to provide more comfort and better handling. The wheelbase is...

Blunders; A sampling of industry lowlights, flops and outright blunders in 2006.(Chrysler Corp.'s Joe Eberhardt resigning)(Kirk Kerkorian investments in General Motors Corp.)(Hyundai Corp.'s Chung Mong Koo accused for bribing government)
January 1, 2007... 1. Propping up production Despite soaring inventories and complaining dealers, Chrysler built a sales bank of unsold vehicles and pressured dealers to buy them. In the process, relations with its retailers were trashed. Ultimately, Joe...

10 innovative dealers; Here are 10 fresh ideas we noted in dealerships in 2006.(News)
January 1, 2007... 1. 24/5: When Courtesy Ford in Syracuse, N.Y., outgrew its service area seven years ago, the store's managers decided to keep the dealership open around the clock weekdays. Service orders rose sharply. 2. Moving billboard: Instead of...

Look for surprises in Chrysler minivans.(News)(Chrysler Corp.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle Detroit will be the stage for the world debut of the Chrysler group's most critical new products - the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan. The restyled, re-engineered minivans will...

10 investors.(News)(automotive industry)
January 1, 2007... Looking for bargains, private investors descended on the auto industry in 2007 Ron Burkle, Yucaipa Cos. LLC The powerful friend of former President Clinton stepped into the messy Chapter 11 reorganization of auto hauler Allied Holdings...

Nissan will show small crossover.(News)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Nissan will unwrap a new small crossover, the 2008 Rogue, at next week's Detroit auto show, less than a year before its sales debut. The sporty vehicle arrives in showrooms this fall. It will fit into Nissan's...

The star in Detroit: Detroit: Part 1 of 2; New Chrysler minivans among significant debuts.(News)
January 1, 2007... While previous Detroit auto shows generally have featured a long list of significant world debuts by Asian and European automakers, this year the Detroit 3 will make the biggest splash. The Chrysler group will unveil arguably its most...

LINCOLN DESIGN THEMES.(Lincoln MKR Concept)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Lincoln studied its heritage cars to come up with design cues for its next-generation vehicles. The design team put together the following slides to illustrate how the past will influence the brand's future. * * * Lincoln MKR concept...

Memorable quotations.(News)
January 1, 2007... "We will sell the furniture if it helps fund new products.'' Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas "We benchmarked against Toyota. They are arguably the finest manufacturing company in the world. I've been a student of the...

Efficiency.(News)
January 1, 2007... These are the 10 most efficient vehicle assembly plants in North America based on hours per vehicle in 2005.

10 people to watch.(News)(automotive industry appointments)
January 1, 2007... Chung Eui Sun, 36 President, Kia Motors A veil of silence dropped over Kia when Chung was named president in 2005. The son of Hyundai Motor Co. Chairman Chung Mong Koo was too new to discuss strategies publicly. But he could begin to...

Top 10 offerings on autonews.com in 2006.(News)
January 1, 2007... 1. 2006 Market Data Book, May 22: 17,306 page views 2. Dodge unveils Challenger, Jan. 4: 15,044 3. Pontiac will drop the GTO this year, Feb. 21: 14,014 4. 2006 Global Market Data Book, June 26: 13,107 5. Comment: Chrysler...

Chrysler dealers cry all the way to the sales bank.(News)(Chrysler Corp.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Lee Iacocca warned against creating a sales bank a quarter of a century ago, but current Chrysler group management failed to heed his advice. Cocky after the success of the Chrysler 300 and its siblings, the decision-makers in Auburn...

Wagoner fends off Kerkorian, Ghosn.(News)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner proved this year that he might just have the mettle to turn GM around after all. Amid growing opposition to his leadership, Wagoner systematically checkmated his enemies in 2006. GM had lost $10.6 billion in...

Departures.(News)(auto executive left their jobs in 2006)
January 1, 2007... Some left for greener pastures, some for personal reasons. And some were nudged toward the door. Here are 10 auto execs who left their jobs in 2006. Michelle Cervantez Vice president of marketing, Hyundai Motor America When a new...

10 hot features.(News)(automobiles)
January 1, 2007... 1. Retractable hard tops Automakers have figured out how to offer two cars at once - a coupe when the retractable hard top is up and a convertible when it is down. You'll find the feature on the Mazda MX-5, Volvo C70, Pontiac G6 and...

Late News.(contracts)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Bradford Wernle China car is coming to the Chrysler group Some Chrysler group dealers will get a new small car under a letter of intent signed by CEO Tom LaSorda with Chinese automaker Chery Automobile Co. The agreement...

Detroit seeks comeback.
January 1, 2007... For the struggling Detroit 3, it's good riddance to 2006 - and on to 2007 with fresh products. At the North American International Auto Show next week, Chrysler will unveil restyled minivans. Ford will show a restyled Focus. GM will have a...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 1, 2007... The first minivan? Try the Greenbrier To the Editor: I enjoyed Rick Kranz's Dec. 4 column on reinventing the minivan, perhaps with a different door configuration. I would like to make a comment, however, on the design and door...

And for 2007, I do solemnly resolve to ...(Opinion)
January 1, 2007... Resolutions we may - or may not - hear for 2007. Bernd Pischetsrieder, Volkswagen ex-chairman: Next time I'll be more careful about choosing my boss. Wilbur Ross, supplier investor: Look for a pony in there among all that manure. ...

10 executives' favorite golf courses.(News)
January 1, 2007... Earl Hesterberg, president, Group 1 Automotive Pebble Beach; California Handicap: low 20s Len Hunt, COO, Kia Motors America Nevis C.C.; St. Kitts and Nevis islands Handicap: "My driver.'' Tom LaSorda, CEO, Chrysler...

Car bosses aren't top White House priority.(News)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Here are 10 people with whom President Bush met at the White House before he met with the Detroit 3 CEOs on Nov. 14 and after their first scheduled meeting May 18 was canceled. 1. Farooq Muhammad, a paramedic with the New York City Fire...

Fleets prop up minivan sales; Detroit 3 retail numbers crumble as segment shrinks.
January 1, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz Simply put, Detroit 3 minivan sales are even worse than you thought. The Detroit 3 are relying on fleet customers - both corporate customers and daily rental companies, such as Hertz - to prevent a minivan sales...

Lincoln's last stand; MKR concept showcases new Lincoln design theme as the struggling brand tries for a comeback.
January 1, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson With the MKR concept, Lincoln revisits a proud heritage, hints at its design future and kicks off what could be a final effort to survive in the increasingly tough luxury market. Ford Motor Co. is counting on North...

10 marketing gambits.(automobile industry and marketing techniques)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... 1. Chevrolet courts controversy by including images of 9/11, Vietnam and civil rights turmoil in flag-waving TV spot for Silverado pickup. 2. Chrysler group image-ad campaign casts DaimlerChrysler CEO Dieter Zetsche as "Dr. Z.''...

10 top concept cars.(News)(Industry ranking)
January 1, 2007... 1. Scion Fuse: This sinister-looking package is the vision for an entry-level coupe. Cool features include LED turn indicators built into the spokes of the 20-inch wheels, a tailgate that converts into a bench and a detachable drink cooler. ...

Newsmakers.(News)
January 1, 2007... Bill Ford Six years after appropriating the Ford Motor CEO title from Jacques Nasser, Bill Ford decided he'd had enough. With the Way Forward restructuring plan bogged down, Ford replaced himself with Alan Mulally and became executive...

It's going to be an interesting year.(Column)
January 1, 2007... Byline: KEITH CRAIN It seems as if we say that every year. Each year seems to be the one that has the most change or the most significance. Well, they all have their particular significance, and 2007 will not be any different. ...

Special events, clubs boost parts sales to enthusiasts.(Service & Parts)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Laura Clark Geist Auto dealers whose stores sell lots of accessories offer this advice: Make friends with enthusiasts. Avondale Toyota in Avondale, Ariz., hosts three meetings a year of the Scionetics Club of Phoenix, whose...

Mercedes store offers service on the go.(Service & Parts)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Kim Scherer Can't bring the E class in for service? Beck Imports will bring the service to you. The Mercedes-Benz dealership in Charlotte, N.C., now offers mobile maintenance and repair. Two Sprinter vans, each carrying $30,000...

Lincoln concentrates on cars, crossovers.(News)(Ford Motor Co., Lincoln-Mercury Div.)
January 1, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Lincoln will replenish its lineup with a focus on cars and crossovers, says Ford Motor Co.'s Americas boss, Mark Fields. A production version of the rear-drive MKR concept could juice that lineup, but Ford Motor...

10 executives' first cars; and what they remember about them.(Takeo Fukui, Earl Hesterberg and Len Hunt speak about their automobiles)
January 1, 2007... 1. Takeo Fukui, Honda Motor Co. CEO: white 1969 Honda N600. Already a rally driver, Fukui immediately customized the car. "I painted the hood a matte-finish navy blue'' and added a Honda logo to the fender, he recalls. Fukui entered the car...

Favorite colors.(automotive colors)(Brief article)
January 1, 2007... Most popular vehicle colors in North America in 2006 COLOR: % of vehicles 1. Silver: 19 2. White: 16 3. Gray: 13 4. Black: 13 5. Blue: 11 6. Red: 11 7. Light brown: 7 8. Green: 4 9. White pearl: 3...

The big story: Turmoil in Detroit: Part 1 of 2.(automobile industry)
January 1, 2007... Awful. Desperate. Vindicated. Simply great. A bummer. Those words describe the top five selections by the Automotive News editorial staff in the 54th annual Story of the Year poll. AWFUL: The story of the year was the horrible performance...

A fond farewell.(J. Paul Bergmoser, Nate Gooden and Dave Hermance)(Obituary)
January 1, 2007... The industry said goodbye to a number of luminaries in 2006. We remember some of those who died. * J. Paul Bergmoser, 89, former president of Chrysler Corp., died March 20. He entered the auto industry in 1946 with Ford Motor Co. and...

The star in Detroit: Detroit: Part 2 of 2; New Chrysler minivans among significant debuts.(News)(Product/service evaluation)
January 1, 2007... LINCOLN The MKR concept will showcase the new design direction for Ford's sagging luxury brand. The MKR, built on a stretched Mustang platform, explores what a rear-wheel-drive Lincoln could be. The concept is powered by a...

The big story: Turmoil in Detroit: Part 2 of 2.(News)(Volkswagen AG chief executive officer Bernd Pischetsrieder resigned)(Ford Motor Co. to cut down dealerships)(reorganization of Delphi Corp.)
January 1, 2007... 7. Piech fires Pischetsrieder as Volkswagen CEO The drama at Volkswagen AG is still unfolding. On Nov. 7, CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder resigned unexpectedly, losing a power struggle with supervisory board Chairman Ferdinand Piech. Audi CEO...

Here come the Chinese.(Chrysler group plans to import cars from Chery Automobile Co., China)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... The Chrysler group's plan to import small vehicles built by Chery Automobile Co. proves that the era of Chinese cars being sold in North America is about to begin. It was an inevitable development that is best viewed as an opportunity, not a...

Letters to the Editor.(Letter to the editor)
January 8, 2007... Ford's Fields is sending the wrong message To the Editor: Williams Jeanes' Dec. 18 column regarding Mark Fields is right on the money ("The first rule of leadership: Be there''). Everything you say and do sends a message. I believe...

Supply Line.(Industrial Opportunities Partners acquires Center Manufacturing Inc.)(Meridian Automotive Systems Inc. emerges from banruptcy protection)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Equity firm buys supplier CHICAGO - Industrial Opportunities Partners has acquired the assets of Center Manufacturing Inc. Center Manufacturing, of Grand Rapids, Mich., will retain its president and CEO. In a press release, Industrial...

Annual congress kicks off next week.(Automotive News World Congress)
January 8, 2007... Two executives who understand supply-chain productivity will speak at next week's Automotive News World Congress in Dearborn, Mich. Peter Marks, CEO of Robert Bosch Corp., joined the supplier 30 years ago and has been a member of the...

Falling sales to GM hit Delphi in Nov. Supplier posts $226 million loss.(Suppliers)
January 8, 2007... Byline: David Barkholz A dramatic drop in sales to General Motors caused Delphi Corp. earnings and revenue to plunge in November. The parts giant, which is considering purchase offers from two investment groups, posted a net loss of...

VW wants to be green, and seen; Automaker seeks to show consumers its technology.(Volkswagen AG)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Except for electronic fuel injection in the late 1960s, Volkswagen has not often been an industry leader in introducing new technology. But that could change if the concept cars shown here make it to production....

Kuzak: Global Fords will share sheet metal.(Ford Motor Co.'s global car Czar)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Under Ford Motor Co.'s new global product strategy, future Ford-brand vehicles will share sheet metal and interiors across the world. Ford's global car czar, Derrick Kuzak, said last week that the B-segment car in...

Toyota: How high is up? Global dominance, sure - but on GM's home turf, too?
January 8, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz To some it's unthinkable. But it may be inevitable. Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. last year shot past DaimlerChrysler in U.S. sales. In 2007 it is likely to surpass Ford Motor Co. in the United States and General Motors...

To the reader: Write us a letter; save us a call.(News)
January 8, 2007... To the Reader: One of our New Year's resolutions is to print our letters to the editor faster. Here's what we need from you: * If you write a letter to Automotive News and want it considered as a letter to the editor, please include a...

Obituaries.(Bob Atwater, Jim Alexander and E. Robert Breech Jr.)(Obituary)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Jim Alexander DETROIT - Jim Alexander, a retired stylist for American Motors, died here Nov. 10. He was 77. Bob Atwater BURLINGTON, N.C. - Bob Atwater, retired owner of Atwater Motor Co. in Burlington, died here Oct. 5. He was 92....

Electric cars make comeback.
January 8, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Maybe it's too early to write off the electric car. At the Detroit auto show, General Motors and Ford Motor Co. are unveiling two hybrid-powered vehicles - the Chevrolet Volt and Ford Airstream - that can be...

Late News.(changes in government crash tests)(Chrysler group signs deal with Hughes Telematics Inc.)(Toyota and Ford ranked strongest vehicle brands)
January 8, 2007... Feds plan crash-test update WASHINGTON - Federal safety officials today will present plans for changes in government crash tests for new vehicles. U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters is expected to make an announcement at the Detroit...

Toyota deal: Here comes the sludge judge.(Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc settles engine oil sludge case )
January 8, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. has quietly settled a class-action lawsuit that covers about 3.5 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that may have been damaged by engine oil sludge. Details of the settlement, which...

Nissan combines communications, marketing jobs.(Nissan Motor Co.)(Simon Sproule entrusted charge of global marketing also)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: James B. Treece Nissan Motor Co.'s head of global corporate communications is taking charge of global marketing as well. It is another sign of the increasingly blurred lines between advertising and public relations. Simon...

VW goes downscale, lowers prices.(Volkswagen of America Inc.)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Reeling from unsuccessful attempts to move upmarket, Volkswagen of America Inc. is lowering prices to reposition the brand. In the 2007 model year, VW will have three vehicles priced below $18,000. Last year,...

Management at Toyota becomes more diverse.(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: James B. Treece Toyota Motor Corp.'s glass ceiling has a tiny crack in it. The automaker has promoted its first non-Japanese and its first Japanese female to the equivalent of department general manager in Japan. Toyota...

Bernhard soap opera continues.(Wolfgang Bernhard, Volkswagen)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... The career plans of Volkswagen brand chief Wolfgang Bernhard may become a little clearer this week. Bernhard will announce whether he is leaving Europe's largest carmaker after a supervisory board meeting Wednesday, Jan. 10, Reuters...

Open-air Camaro.(Chevrolet Camaro)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Chevrolet continues to build buzz for the upcoming Camaro with the introduction of a convertible concept. The striking concept is clad in orange pearl tri-coat paint with twin gunmetal gray sport stripes, a color scheme that debuted on the 1969...

Ford won't offer diesels in N.A. cars.(North America)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett Ford Motor Co. can't make money selling cars with diesel engines in the United States. So it will use diesels only in trucks in North America. Ford's powertrain plans became clearer at a pre-Detroit auto show...

$412K Rolls: Droptop, drop jaw.(new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko With a sticker price that starts at $412,000 - including $2,000 shipping and a $3,000 gas-guzzler tax - the new Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe is one of the costliest two-door convertibles on the market. ...

BMW 3-series convertible.(News)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Vehicle type: Luxury convertible Seats: 4 Base engine: 3.0-liter, 200-hp in-line 6-cylinder On sale: Late March What's cool: Features first hard top - 3 pieces that fold up tightly for usable luggage capacity. All-new,...

Nissan to give birth to a baby Murano.(Nissan North America Inc. to launch new crossover Rogue)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Pleased with the results of its Murano crossover, Nissan North America Inc. plans to add to its crossover family next year. The new crossover, the Rogue, bears an unmistakable resemblance to the Murano,...

Personnel.(Bill Swislow, Cars.com)(Mike Dolan, CarMax)(John Vernile, Hyundai Auto Canada)
January 8, 2007... CARS.COM - Bill Swislow to senior vice president for product, a new position. Swislow had been executive site producer. Cars.com, of Chicago, is an online classified service. CARMAX INC. - Mike Dolan to executive vice president and...

Corrections.(Correction notice)
January 8, 2007... * An interview with Toyota Motor Corp. President Katsuaki Watanabe on Page 26 of the Dec. 18 issue had the wrong name for a Toyota unit near Cincinnati. It is Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc., or TEMA. * A Late...

Mulally effect: Agitating for change; CEO gets under the hood to prod sluggish culture.(Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Co.)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Amy Wilson Alan Mulally is putting his mark on Dearborn. The former Boeing Co. executive, trying to save one of America's most iconic companies, may not have the industry depth of a Dieter Zetsche or Bob Lutz. But as an...

Letters to the Editor.(Letter to the editor)
January 8, 2007... Story was 'slanted, poorly researched' To the Editor: The Dec. 4 story "Dealerships turn the page on local newspapers'' was extremely slanted and poorly researched. It began by telling of a dealer in Weimer, Texas, who ran an ad in...

Toyota joins rights effort.(Toyota Motor endorses human rights initiatives)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... After a public chiding from a shareholder group, Toyota has endorsed an industrywide human rights initiative aimed at eliminating suppliers' abusive employment practices. Boston Common Asset Management, a U.S. investment group that owns...

Ford upgrades Five Hundred.(News)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Rick Kranz The Ford Five Hundred receives styling, safety and powertrain upgrades for the 2008 model year, an effort to create a more competitive mid-sized sedan. The Five Hundred's sales have failed to live up to expectations...

New Tundra: Power counts more than mpg; Execs think that's how buyers of big pickups like it.(Toyota Tundra)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota is doing a very un-Toyota thing with its redesigned 2007 Tundra pickup. It is not aiming to be the segment leader in fuel economy. Instead, Toyota is putting torque and horsepower first. Executives think...

Pickup's chief engineer weighed development choices.(Yuichiro Obu, )(Interview)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin A big truck meant for Americans, designed by Americans, built and sold only in America. So the chief engineer is... Japanese? In fact, it would be hard to find someone with more pickup truck experience than...

Tundra offers - count 'em - 31 build configurations for truck.(Toyota Tundra 2007)(Product/service evaluation)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota's full-sized pickup is finally here. After a foul tip with the T100 of the mid-1990s and a scratch single with the original Tundra, Toyota is swinging for the fences with a bigger, badder 2007 Tundra. The...

Automakers must get real about auto show cars.(Opinion)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Automakers tend to get carried away at auto shows when they flaunt the biggest, baddest engines they can shoehorn into a vehicle. That tradition of one-upmanship is something the industry can live without. This week, the Detroit auto show...

How the Trailhawk took flight.
January 8, 2007... Turn to Page 26 for the inside story of the Jeep Trailhawk's arduous journey from sketch to finished product. The Trailhawk concept shows how the iconic Wrangler might evolve into a family of trucks. CAPTION(S): The Jeep Trailhawk...

Credit unions nab bigger share of auto loans.(J.D. Power and Associates' 2006 Consumer Financing Satisfaction Study)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Donna Harris Credit unions are competing more aggressively with other lenders to form finance partnerships with auto dealerships, a new study concludes. Nearly 10 percent of new-vehicle loans arranged through dealerships last...

F&I certification plan wins support.(JM and A Group offers training to finance & insurance managers)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Donna Harris A major provider of dealership finance and insurance services offers a program of legal training and certification for F&I managers. It is earning endorsements from state dealer associations and automakers. JM&A...

Washington welcome is a bit chilly.(Vern Buchanan, Buchanan Auto Group joins the house of representatives)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Auto dealer Vern Buchanan took his seat in the House of Representatives last week. But Democrats warned him, politely, against getting too comfortable. Buchanan, a Florida Republican, is chairman of Buchanan Auto Group, which operates 16...

Flex-N-Gate flexes muscle in the South.(News)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: April Wortham While it prepares to digest a former Visteon Corp. plant that supplies Ford Motor Co., Flex-N-Gate Corp. is gaining ground with import brands in the Southeast. In June, the privately held metal-stamping and...

Volvo will offer compact crossover.(Volvo North America Corp's XC60)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Better late than never. Some luxury automakers will have already sold an entire generation of small crossovers by the time Volvo's XC60 arrives in early 2009. But Volvo's engineering resources were strained...

Airstream shows Ford's plug-in technology.(Ford Motor Co., Airstream concept crossover vehicle)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Richard Truett No one knows whether there's much of a market for plug-in hybrids, which qualify for niche-within-a-niche status. No plug-in hybrids are on the market yet. But eco-geeks who want more pure electric power from...

Jaguar concept portends life after S-Type.(Jaguar C-XF)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Mark Rechtin Just another concept car? Hardly. It's only Jaguar's survival that's at stake. In unveiling its C-XF concept sedan at the Detroit auto show, Jaguar Cars previews the replacement for the S-Type, whose dismal sales...

Getting ready for the spotlight.(Metalcrafters, Fountain Valley, CA, designs Trailhawk Jeep for Chrysler Group)
January 8, 2007... Metalcrafters operates out of a small industrial strip in Fountain Valley, a short drive from Disneyland. Using the sketchbooks and other data as a guide, more than 20 departments work together to produce a concept. Representatives from...

From drawings to clay to a full-sized model.(Chrysler Group's Trailhawk)
January 8, 2007... With the Conceptual Data Development data in hand, they were ready to make a full-sized clay model. A massive pile of clay sat ready. It looked like a mud-covered behemoth in the middle of the studio. Beneath this pile lay an armature of...

Metamorphosis of a sketch: Gathering the design team.(Chrysler Group's Trailhawk jeep)
January 8, 2007... They had the platform, and they had the chassis. Now it was time to build a team. Unlike a production vehicle, they didn't have two or three years to work with. This would have to be done in a matter of months. The team Advanced...

ADESA buyout boosts its salvage auction business.(News)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Arlena Sawyers ADESA Inc., the No. 2 U.S. vehicle-auction company, says its decision to go private will increase greatly its presence in salvage auctions. Customers and industry analysts say they expect no major changes in the...

GM slices $1,000 from per-vehicle incentive cost.(General Motors)(Brief article)
January 8, 2007... Byline: Lindsay Chappell Factory incentives dropped an average of 2.6 percent in 2006, as General Motors lopped nearly $1,000 from its per-vehicle average. GM's incentive cost per vehicle in December was its lowest since April 2002,...