Automotive News articles from January 2008

Automotive News archives from January 2008

Late News.(Ford Motor Co.)(Flex sport wagon)(F-150 pickup)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... GPS will track fuel price Ford Motor Co.'s next-generation navigation systems will help drivers find cheaper gasoline. Beginning with the 2009 Ford Flex sport wagon and F-150 pickup, Ford will offer Sirius Travel Link, which provides...

Ford dumps volume targets for dealer bonuses.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is dropping the volume requirement from its dealership bonus program in 2008. The move is among several in the works aimed at boosting dealership profits. The changes to the program are designed to...

Who's No. 1? Time for an official review.(Final assembly)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Edward Lapham Isn't this a wonderful time of year? Although the holidays are over and spring is still a long way off, there's a natural exuberance in the air. It's bowl time. And even though the Bowl Championship Series...

Letters to the Editor.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
January 7, 2008... GM ad policy shift is good for dealers To the Editor: General Motors' decision to give control of advertising spending back to dealer groups in April will get us back to the days (before 2000) when we had control ("GM dealer groups get...

What an exciting way to start 2008.(Column)
January 7, 2008... Byline: KEITH CRAIN This year is shaping up to be one of the most challenging in recent memory. So many storms are approaching that it's tough to predict how things will turn out. But at least the year will start on a high note. ...

Saturn's Lajdziak: GM is 'where I wanted to be'.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau Jill Lajdziak's General Motors roots run deep. The head of GM's Saturn brand grew up working in her father's Chevrolet-Oldsmobile dealership. She even told other potential employers of her desire to work for the...

Solstice outguns Miata - again.(Final assembly)
January 7, 2008... For the second straight year, the Pontiac Solstice roadster is America's favorite moderately priced sports car. The Solstice took the checkered flag over the Mazda MX-5 Miata in the 2007 U.S. sales race, outselling the Miata in a photo...

Study: Indirect loan delinquencies soar.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Donna Harris Delinquencies on vehicle loans made through auto dealerships hit a 16-year high in the third quarter of 2007, a new study says. The trend is likely to continue, the American Bankers Association said last week. ...

Ford goes global in styling its B-cars.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson After toying with a number of design concepts for subcompact cars, Ford appears to be settled on a plan: a global B-segment vehicle shared largely across its European, North American and Asian units. Ford is teasing...

The theme: Green and mean; Fuel sippers and gas guzzlers share the spotlight.(News)
January 7, 2008... Talk about contrasts. Next week's Detroit auto show features fuel-sipping hybrids, zero-emissions fuel cells and a healthy dose of gasoline-sucking, rubber-burning, performance cars. Five Chinese companies will set up shop in Detroit's...

Who has 1st Mustang - and what's it worth?(Final assembly)
January 7, 2008... Classicmusclecars.com, a Wauconda, Ill., outfit, is offering for a cool $5.5 million a car that it claims is the very first regular-production Ford Mustang built and sold to the general public. The company has the original bill of sale, which...

Waning interest.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Interest rates on new-car loans obtained at dealerships are down a little. Here is the average annual percentage rate on 72-month loans for new-vehicle transactions in November and December compared with the same period in 2004-06. By the way,...

Rethinking retail: A hot topic at World Congress.(News)
January 7, 2008... Issues affecting dealers in the evolving automotive retail market will be the subject of a panel discussion at the Automotive News World Congress on Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 22. The speakers are: * Walter Czarnecki, executive vice...

Ford, Microsoft to offer 911 service in Sync.(News)(Microsoft Corp.)(Ford Motor Co.)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Leslie J. Allen Microsoft Corp. and Ford Motor Co. plan to enhance the Sync system, taking aim at a key feature of General Motors' OnStar - automatic accident notification. On Sunday, Jan. 6, Microsoft's Robbie Bach was...

Lifan is the latest Chinese wannabe.(Final assembly)
January 7, 2008... Another small Chinese automaker is talking about selling cars in the United States. Lifan Auto, which sells only one model - the small 520 sedan - is talking with a U.S. distributor, says Yin Mingshan, president of Lifan's parent,...

This year's U.S. sales forecast: Gloomy.(Sales)
January 7, 2008... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Now that the industry has wrapped up its U.S. sales reports for 2007, it's time to look ahead and back. Neither picture is especially pretty. For 2008, it's hard to see more than 15.7 million to 15.8 million...

Supply line.(Briefs)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... BorgWarner turbocharges V-8 DETROIT - BorgWarner Inc. will supply two turbocharger systems to International Engine Group's 6.4-liter V-8 PowerStroke diesel engine. Ford uses the engine in its F-series heavy-duty pickups. International...

Showtime in Detroit.(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Pickups and SUVs - once predictable and conservative - are getting a styling makeover. At next week's Detroit auto show, Toyota will introduce the A-BAT concept pickup, left. Ford will unveil the Explorer America concept, below, which shows the...

Denso expands hybrid plant.(Suppliers)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Hans Greimel Denso Corp. plans a 25 percent expansion of a plant that makes hybrid vehicle components and other parts. The Japanese supplier will spend about [yen]6 billion ($53.9 million) for an additional 1.2 million square...

CAFE will put new entrees on auto show menu.(Opinion)(Corporate average fuel economy)
January 7, 2008... Big auto shows are changing - and the corporate average fuel economy legislation signed last month by President Bush will speed the transformation. The evolution of auto shows toward displays of more practical and fuel-efficient vehicles...

Some pay raise: To $8.3 million from $1; For top Delphi execs, Chapter 11 has happy ending.(Suppliers)
January 7, 2008... Byline: David Barkholz Delphi Corp.'s two top executives, Steve Miller and Rodney O'Neal, stand to earn $13.6 million in combined cash bonuses as part of the supplier's impending emergence from Chapter 11 protection. Miller, 68, a...

Calendar.(International Auto Show)(Calendar)
January 7, 2008... AUTO SHOWS Jan. 10-13 - Silicon Valley International Auto Show, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, Calif., 717-671-4300, www.motortrendautoshows.com Jan. 18-20 - South Carolina International Auto Show, Palmetto Expo Center,...

BMW adds jobs to boost S.C. output.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: April Wortham BMW AG may be cutting 8,000 jobs worldwide this year as part of its plan to boost profits, but it's hiring in South Carolina. The German automaker's Spartanburg factory will add up to 200 jobs in the first quarter...

Gasoline-diesel combo moves closer to reality.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Wim Oude Weernink Powertrain designers have long sought to combine the advantages of gasoline and diesel internal combustion engines into a single unit. Despite research that can be traced back almost to the birth of the auto...

Soft market threatens Tundra sales goal.(News)(Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky Inc.)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Mark Rechtin Toyota executives say they couldn't care less that the Tundra full-sized pickup fell 3,445 units short of their 200,000-unit sales goal. But what should have them concerned is whether Tundra sales can grow enough...

Gas prices boost Nissan car sales as trucks tank.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Lindsay Chappell High gasoline prices rippled through showrooms at Nissan and Infiniti last year. Two fuel-efficient vehicles, the Nissan Versa and Rogue, helped Nissan North America Inc. post a strong sales gain in 2007. ...

Brose buys Siemens motor unit as step toward N.A. growth.(Suppliers)
January 7, 2008... Byline: April Wortham Germany's Brose Group hopes to use the first spoils from Continental AG's takeover of Siemens VDO Automotive AG to propel its own growth spurt in North America. On Dec. 20, Brose agreed to purchase the electric...

Dodge Ram gets interior upgrade.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Bradford Wernle Dodge hopes to shake up the pickup market by offering some 2009 Ram models with a coil spring rear suspension in place of the traditional leaf spring suspension. Chrysler LLC engineers hope to set their pickup apart...

Personnel.(People)
January 7, 2008... AUTOMOTIVE TRADE POLICY COUNCIL - Raphael Goodstein, 27, to manager of trade and legislative affairs. He had been regional field director for the Arizona Democratic Party. The Automotive Trade Policy Council is a Washington nonprofit...

JAPAN TRIUMPHANT; After a big 2007, Toyota Division is about to become #1 in the U.S.
January 7, 2008... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. Get ready for a new leader in U.S. sales of cars and light trucks. And it won't be an American brand. In a remarkable 2007, the Toyota brand passed the Ford brand in sales and was No. 2 behind Chevrolet. Not...

Expanding Meridian sees bright future.(Suppliers)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Rhoda Miel Meridian Automotive Systems Inc. has made it through a tough year in the auto industry, and although conditions look even bleaker for 2008, it is expanding. Meridian will open a plant in Hermosillo, Mexico, by...

Detroit show gets back on a global track; Rising gasoline prices reverse trend toward big-truck parochialism.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: James B. Treece This month, the Detroit auto show celebrates its 20th year as an international exposition. The same forces that are making the Tokyo show more parochial are converging to restore Detroit - which itself was heading...

Lexus SUV luxury will grow on you; LX 570 packs on 4 inches and 400 hp, stays at 12 mpg/city.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Mark Rechtin Just when you thought luxury SUVs couldn't get any bigger, Lexus has increased the length of the redesigned LX 570 by 4 inches and widened it by more than an inch. Evidently, when you buy a luxury SUV that tops...

Personnel.(People)
January 7, 2008... AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING HOLDINGS INC. - Yogendra Rahangdale to vice chairman, a nonboard position. He had been president and COO. David Dauch to executive vice president, COO and chairman of the operating committee. He had been...

On the Web...
January 7, 2008... This week at www.autonews.com * Today: Get live coverage of auto-related news from the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. * Tuesday: GM CEO Rick Wagoner speaks at the International Consumer Electronics Show. *...

Dealers.(People)
January 7, 2008... Milestones Joanne Helphenstine and Brett Helphenstine of Palm Automall in Punta Gorda, Fla., received a 25-year award for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep from Chrysler LLC. CAPTION(S): 25 with Chevrolet: Elmer Beene Jr., left, of Beene...

An industry turns green - let's talk.(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... The sharp rise in oil prices - now around $100 a barrel - has tossed an economic hand grenade into the debate over global warming. To reduce carbon dioxide emissions, automakers must achieve big improvements in fuel economy. And now,...

Things are looking up (and down) for MG.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... There's good news and bad news for long-suffering fans of the MG marque who have been waiting since 1980 to buy a new sports car with the famous octagon logo. First the good: With the merger of Nanjing Automobile and SAIC Motor, the MG...

New Chrysler purchasing chief looks to Asia.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Robert Sherefkin, David Barkholz John Campi, the architect of Bob Nardelli's purchasing strategy at Home Depot, will direct Chrysler LLC's $40 billion annual purchase of parts and services. Campi's appointment last week as...

Concept offers a peek at Explorer's likely successor.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford will unveil its crossover of the future - and the likely successor to the Explorer SUV - at the Detroit show. The Explorer America concept hints at Ford's plans for its larger vehicles. The unibody vehicle also...

Ford doubles regional promo money; Budget shift gives local execs more options in 1st qtr.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. will double its regional promotions budget for Ford-brand vehicles in the first quarter. Dollar figures aren't available, but dealers say the budget increase is designed to give Ford's regional units...

BMW's 1-series coupe gets a soft-top counterpart.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko The second two-door model in BMW's new 1-series range will debut in Detroit. The 2008 128i convertible will go on sale in late spring, about a month after the coupe. The 128i will be powered by a 3.0-liter...

Forum concept is a clubhouse on wheels.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Lindsay Chappell For two years, Nissan's planners have been talking about a "different approach'' for the brand's next minivan, in light of the dismal sales reception for the Nissan Quest. The Forum concept shows they weren't...

Simple safety: Green, amber, red; Color-coded inspection forms help dealerships build business.(Service & Parts)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Donna Harris Dealers and automakers are promoting vehicle safety checks - and building service business - with color-coded inspection forms. The forms are part of an industry push to simplify inspections, improve customer...

Continental layoffs follow production cuts at Chrysler.(Suppliers)
January 7, 2008... Byline: April Wortham Continental AG will slash more than 200 jobs at its newly acquired automotive electronics plant in Huntsville, Ala., as it copes with fewer orders from its largest customer, Chrysler LLC. Continental announced the...

Once more into the legal fray?(Final assembly)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... The auto industry's track record in court fights over regulation of greenhouse gases wasn't so hot in 2007. The Miami Dolphins, at 1-15, had a better year. So it was understandable that automaker associations were cautious last week about...

Chinese automakers increase their presence.(News)(Report)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Alysha Webb Chinese automakers will have their largest presence at the Detroit show. The companies expect to gain valuable insight into the U.S. market and stake a small claim on the minds of U.S. dealers and consumers. If...

A digital Automotive News.(News)
January 7, 2008... Byline: DAVID SEDGWICK Starting today, subscribers can read complete issues of Automotive News online, page by page. If you are a subscriber, you will have access to all articles, photos, charts, special sections, data and ads that...

No more peekaboo for Camaro.(News)
January 7, 2008... In an apparent effort to get ahead of spy photographers, Chevrolet released the first official photo of the 2009 Chevrolet Camaro last week. Chevy plans to test the car on public roads before it goes on sale in the fall. CAPTION(S): ...

Visteon: 'We're leaner and smaller'; Supplier cuts salaried jobs in restructuring.(Suppliers)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Robert Sherefkin Visteon Corp. plans to eliminate 400 more white-collar jobs by mid-2008 and fix, close or sell as many as 10 more plants by year end as it narrows its product line. Employees of the parts supplier were told in...

Correction.(Correction notice)
January 7, 2008... * A list of 2007's 10 least expensive vehicles on Page 21 of the Dec. 31 issue showed the wrong photo for the Toyota Yaris. Here is a photo of the 2007 Yaris.

Caddy V-8 is endangered species.
January 7, 2008... Byline: Jamie LaReau, Richard Truett The big, powerful V-8 engines that have been a mainstay of Cadillac's big sedans since the late 1930s are fading away, victims of the move to fuel efficiency. Cadillac's trademark V-8 engine will...

CAFE fines may yield meager grants.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Harry Stoffer When Congress and President Bush enacted a law last month that raises fuel economy standards 40 percent by 2020, they made what sounded like a big concession to automakers. The law earmarks half of all fuel...

Auto News digest.(Briefs)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Ford: Tata is lead bidder for 2 brands LONDON - Ford Motor Co. last week told Jaguar and Land Rover workers it is negotiating to sell both brands to Tata Motors of India. It was the first time Ford publicly identified potential buyers...

Chrysler eye candy includes green jelly bean.(News)(Brief article)
January 7, 2008... Byline: Bradford Wernle Chrysler LLC, which has the industry's worst corporate average fuel economy, will showcase its green credentials with a trio of concept vehicles in Detroit. The three distinct choices of powertrains and designs...

Group 1 buys luxury, imports.(News)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene Group 1 Automotive Inc. says its growth plan for 2008 includes the acquisition of import-brand and luxury dealerships. Last year the public dealership group acquired 14 luxury and import franchises in the United...

RV shipments rebound 1.8% in October.(News)(recreational vehicles)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene Wholesale October shipments of towable recreational vehicles and motor homes to retailers rose 1.8 percent to 28,400 compared with the year-earlier month, according to the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association. ...

Auto News digest.(Briefs)(Kia Motor Finance Co. opens a service center)(Daimler Financial Services Americas L.L.C.)(Universal Warranty Corp.)
January 14, 2008... SouthwestRe offers GAP coverage ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - SouthwestRe, a vendor of finance and insurance products, now offers guaranteed automotive protection insurance. GAP coverage makes up the difference between the balance on a vehicle...

Study: More car buyers choose to get financing on the Internet.(Finance & insurance)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene The share of new-vehicle buyers who study financing options on the Internet is declining, a new study says. But the percentage of customers who apply for loans online after they do such research is rising, the study...

Late News.
January 14, 2008... Nissan-Chrysler team up Chrysler LLC and Nissan Motor Co. on Friday signed a deal for Nissan to supply Chrysler with a small car based on the Nissan Versa sedan to be sold in South America in 2009. Under the plan, Nissan will supply...

VW said to set sights on site in South.(Volkswagen AG)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: April Wortham Volkswagen AG is closing in on the South as the location of a second North American factory, according to sources familiar with the project. The Carolinas and Georgia are leading candidates to produce vehicles...

Verve is Ford's global small-car.(News)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson In the Alan Mulally era, the Verve concept is Ford Motor Co.'s first stab at leveraging global design resources to create a U.S. vehicle. Under CEO Mulally, Ford tapped European engineers and designers to craft a...

Mexico sales fall 4.5% in Nov.(Sales)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Ryan Beene Sales of new cars and light trucks in Mexico slipped 4.5 percent in November from a year earlier to 97,671 vehicles. Through the first 11 months of 2007, sales in Mexico dropped 2.7 percent to 973,502 vehicles. ...

Big-buck trucks defy sales trend; Pickups sag, but top-end models get pricier, stay popular.
January 14, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. executives, who are rolling out the Platinum series F-150 at the Detroit auto show, say they don't know where the ceiling is for luxury pickups. The F-150 Platinum, which was scheduled to be unveiled...

On the Web.(Calendar)
January 14, 2008... This week at www.autonews.com: * Monday: U.S. dealers can take part in Automotive News' annual dealer attitude survey at autonews.com/08dealersurvey. * Monday: Live coverage of Detroit auto show press conferences, including Lincoln,...

Despite sage advice, Detroit 3 kept on truckin' in 2007.(Sales)
January 14, 2008... Byline: John K. Teahen Jr. I guess I must be showing my age. I can remember when cars, not trucks, were the kings of the American road. Actually, it wasn't all that long ago: 2001. It just seems longer. The truck supremacy...

Service contract vendor leaves dealers on the hook.(Finance & insurance)(Ultimate Warranty Corp.)(Extended Auto Warranty)(Warrantech Automotive Inc.)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Donna Harris Ultimate Warranty Corp., a vendor of vehicle service plans, has stopped honoring thousands of contracts. As a result, more than 1,800 U.S. auto dealerships could be forced to assume $48 million in customers' repair...

Kia Borrego.(News)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Vehicle type: Mid-sized SUV Seats: 7 Base engine: 3.8-liter V-6 On sale: Summer 2009 Base price: Estimated $25,000 What's cool: The Borrego offers Kia's first 6-speed automatic transmission and first V-8 engine.

Mitsubishi Concept-RA.(News)
January 14, 2008... Vehicle type: Sports coupe concept Engine: 2.2-liter 4-cylinder turbocharged diesel Who designed it: Gary Ragle What's cool: Front end, similar to Lancer Evo X Will it be built: Yes. Next-generation Eclipse.

Suppliers: Chrysler hasn't talked with us.(News)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Bradford Wernle Component suppliers say they have had little or no communication with Chrysler LLC since Cerberus Capital Management bought the automaker last summer, an e-mail supplier survey reveals. Only 22 percent of the 90...

Ram's balancing act: Get civilized, but stay tough.(News)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Bradford Wernle Dodge designers set themselves a lofty target for the 2009 Ram pickup: Rev up the truck's mainstream appeal by loading it with class-leading features, without compromising the signature aggressive design. ...

Hyundai's evolution: The Genesis.(News)(Hyundai Corp. will introduce rear drive and v-8 vehicles)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Kathy Jackson Hyundai will introduce its first U.S. rear-drive and V-8 vehicle when the 2009 Genesis sedan arrives on dealer lots this spring. Hyundai was scheduled to show the production model of the Genesis at the Detroit...

Welburn: Calm down, Camaro complainers.(Final assembly)(General Motors Corp.)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... General Motors design chief Ed Welburn has a message for folks fuming and fretting on the Internet that the 2009 Chevy Camaro will have a cheesy interior: Chill out. "It's a great interior. I'm not worried about it. The comments upset...

Hybrids higher, diesels dip.(Final assembly)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Hybrid vehicles took a larger share of the market in 2007. Diesel share was down a little because of soft sales of large pickups and reduced supplies from Volkswagen. Here is how the retail market last year was divided by fuel type. ...

There's a new No. 1 plant: Georgetown.(News)(Toyota Motor Corp.)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Toyota's sprawling Georgetown factory in Kentucky horse country has taken over as the top-producing vehicle assembly plant in North America. For eight consecutive years, that honor went to General Motors' Oshawa car plant in Ontario. ...

Lincoln MKT concept points to a large crossover.(News)(Ford Motor Co.)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Amy Wilson Ford Motor Co. is showcasing its intention to build a large luxury crossover with the Lincoln MKT concept debuting today, Jan. 14, at the Detroit auto show. The MKT concept comes with a highly stylized and richly...

Suddenly, all the pols care deeply about autos.(Final assembly)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Edward Lapham It's odd to hear national political commentators in the media discussing the tough economic issues facing Michigan. It's like watching your own autopsy being performed by a hacksaw salesman instead of a doctor. ...

2007's sales champ? It's a GM-Toyota nailbiter.(Final assembly )(comparitive analysis between General Motors Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp.)(Financial report)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... So who was the global Big Dog in 2007, General Motors or Toyota? All the numbers aren't in - but Toyota exceeded its sales forecast, increasing the pressure on GM, which has yet to announce final figures. Toyota's global sales climbed...

GPS that shares tips, and other show gizmos.(News)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Leslie J. Allen Facebook comes to the car. Social-networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace have been the hottest thing on the Internet for the past few years. Now the concept is moving into the vehicle with a pair of...

Industry and its allies dig in against state CO2 rules.(News)(impact of greenhouse gases on auomobile industry)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Harry Stoffer Despite big courtroom losses in their fight against state-by-state greenhouse gas rules, automakers and their allies are staying in the legal game. * Car companies and dealers kept alive their lawsuit arguing that...

GM invests in a cellulosic ethanol startup.(News)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Leslie J. Allen General Motors is investing in an Illinois startup that's aiming to make ethanol from wood chips and other waste products. The fuel, called cellulosic ethanol, is the Holy Grail of biofuels. The amount of GM's...

Output drops 3% in 2007.(Production)(automotive industry)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Debi Domby * North American automakers produced 15,468,212 vehicles last year. That's a drop of 470,994 units or 3.0 percent from 2006. Nearly half of the unit loss was in Class 4-8 trucks. * Of the Detroit 3, only Chrysler LLC...

Forester loses tall-wagon styling.(News )(design and construction of Forester by Subaru Canada Inc.)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko As it tries to boost sales, Subaru is shedding the quirky styling and image that sustained the brand for decades. The latest vehicle to be transformed is the 2009 Forester crossover, which looks more like a...

VW goes upscale with Passat CC - cautiously.(News )(introduction of Volkswagen Passat by Volkswagen AG)(Brief article)
January 14, 2008... Byline: Diana T. Kurylko Trying to give its vehicle range some luxury appeal without repeating past mistakes of aiming too high, Volkswagen is introducing a four-door with coupe styling. The Passat CC, which was scheduled to be shown...