Category: News (Page 19 of 87)

Toyota takes another one on the chin!

January 27, 2011 / Staff

Toyota takes another one on the chin with a massive worldwide recall! These headlines keep opening the door wider for other auto companies to garner market share from a once Unstoppable Juggernaut. Times change fast and if your Toyota you can’t like what you see in the rearview mirror especially if they are new Chrysler’s, Ford’s, Nissan’s and BMW’s!!!

From AutoNews.com:

TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp., struggling to restore its reputation for top quality, today recalled nearly 1.7 million vehicles globally for a variety of fuel system related problems, including 245,000 Lexus IS and Lexus GS sedans in the United States.

The North American vehicles are being called back to inspect for possibly faulty installation of fuel pressure sensors. In cases where the sensor is not fastened tightly enough, fuel can leak between the gasket that connects the sensor to the fuel delivery pipes, Toyota said.

Lexus dealers in the United States will inspect vehicles for fuel leaks. If none is found, they will tighten the sensor. If leaks are confirmed, the gasket will be replaced and the sensor tightened.

Read the full article.

News, Toyota

Toyota recall

Chrysler/Dodge transforms into Fiat for Europe!

January 26, 2011 / Staff

Fiat has started to take advantage of strong Chrysler products and will start selling a Dodge Journey based Fiat Freemont for the European market. Moves like these will expand the Fiat / Chrysler reach worldwide as we fully expect Mr. Marchionne to rebadge a few Fiats in North America with a Chrysler or Dodge nameplate. Sales for both companies can take off if done properly and we get Alfa Romeo’s for sale in the U.S. Alfa’s are beautiful cars and just watch what happens if they drop on the U.S. and Canadian markets!

From Car and Driver:

At the Geneva auto show in March, Fiat will unveil the Freemont, a rebadged Dodge Journey for the European market. It will appear alongside another American export, the Lancia-labeled Chrysler 200, which is expected to be called the Flavia.

Other than the Freemont’s front fascia—which features three quarters of the Dodge’s crosshair grille—the differences are nominal. Most significant, the Freemont’s powertrain lineup adds two diesel options, which are sure to make up the overwhelming majority of sales in Europe. Shoppers will be able to choose from a 2.0-liter turbo-diesel with either 140 or 170 hp. Although Fiat hasn’t yet released full specs, in other applications these engines make a respective 236 or 266 lb-ft of torque. The diesels will be available only with manual transmissions and front-wheel drive. The range-topping Freemont will come with Chrysler’s powerful 3.6-liter V-6, a six-speed autobox, and all-wheel drive as the only configuration.

Read the full article.

Chrysler, New Cars, News

Chrysler Fiat Freemont Freemont

Let the good times roll at Ford Motor!

January 25, 2011 / Staff

Let the good times roll at Ford Motor! It’s amazing how this company turned around in the four years since CEO Alan Mulally took over the top spot from Bill Ford. It won’t be easy to keep the market share gains Ford has seen in the past few years with GM and Chrysler experiencing their own comebacks. In the meantime you know the Blue Oval Crew isn’t sitting back but rather they are getting ready for another round of new product launches in 2011.

From the Detroit Free Press:

Ford is about to happily wave good-bye to 10 years of turnaround plans.

The Dearborn automaker, which plans to announce year-end financial results Friday, is poised to report a profit for 2010 of about $8 billion excluding onetime charges — the automaker’s biggest annual profit in a decade.

Ford usually announces how much annual profit-sharing checks will be that day. The checks, expected in March, could give the local economy a $240-million boost, said David Sowerby, economist and chief portfolio manager for Loomis Sayles. Bernie Ricke, president of UAW Local 600, said the checks will be “fairly significant and more than we’ve seen in several years.”

Read the full article.

Ford, News

Alan Mulally Ford sales

Questions swirling around future of Lincoln!

January 20, 2011 / Staff

This is a very good write up on what the future holds for Ford’s Lincoln luxury brand. We weren’t at the dinner mentioned in the piece but it appears there weren’t many answers to the reporters questions.

My advice to the Bigs at the Blue Oval is “Go Young”. Take the time to establish Lincoln as a sleek luxury brand for style-conscious young professionals. (sound familiar?) It’s not a new formula but one that takes patience and top notch product priced right. As they climb the latter they will stick with Lincoln if their offerings can move up the ladder with the customer.

From Auto News.com:

It’s a week after the Detroit auto show opened to the press, and I have no clearer idea of how Ford Motor Co.’s going to rebuild Lincoln than I did before.

While Ford division occupied a large space at Cobo Center, the Lincoln stand was small and shoved into a back corner. You couldn’t miss it as you made your way to the restrooms.

Ford executives offered a wait-and-see response when asked about specific Lincoln product plans. The underlying message? It appears to be: “Trust us. Look what we’ve done with the Ford division. Just trust us.”

And even the competition won’t jar Lincoln.

Ford’s head of Asia-Pacific and Africa, Joe Hinrichs, told me at dinner that Buick’s compact car offering — the Verano — doesn’t put pressure on Lincoln.

Read the full article.

Ford, News

Here comes the Camaro Z28

January 14, 2011 / Staff

More good news for Camaro fans. The Z28 is back January 2012!

From Auto Guide.com:

With only 352 days to go before the Chevrolet Camaro Z28 goes into production, you still have ample time to take up chewing tobacco and get acquainted with the music of Whitesnake.

The information comes from a dealer who just attended a national dealer meeting where Chevrolet officials described the product in detail. The name “Z28″ was never officially mentioned, and the car was instead called the “HP Edition”. Equipment for the car in question includes a supercharged 6.2L V8, magnetic shock absorbers, massive tires front and rear (285 width up front and 330 in the rear) and some cosmetic alterations to the bodywork.