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Clint’s 'Halftime': A hit with just a hint of Chrysler

Posted 10:27 am U.S. ET, Feb. 11
blogs Dave Guilford is enterprise editor of Automotive News.
 
DETROIT -- As the furor over the Chrysler Group “Halftime in America” commercial tapers off -- it is tapering off, isn’t it? -- three thoughts stick with me about the annual Super Bowl advertising fest.
The first: Chrysler certainly scored the biggest celebrity with Clint Eastwood. But it’s axiomatic that th ...
     Continue reading "Clint’s 'Halftime': A hit with just a hint of Chrysler" » Feb 11, 2012 10:27 am U.S. ET
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Hyundai, Kia flex their muscles in Chicago

Posted 2:18 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 10
blogs
The Track'ster's power comes from a 250-hp turbo inline four-cylinder engine channeled via all-wheel drive. The 2.0-liter engine is paired with a short-throw, six-speed manual transmission.
RICK KRANZ:  CHICAGO -- The big story out of the Chicago Auto Show is Korea.
As I look back at the last few days in the Windy City, the clear message is that both Hyundai and Kia are flexing their muscles. Each wants a bigger piece of the U.S. market.
Hyundai is expanding the popular Elantra line, adding a coupe and a five- ...
     Continue reading "Hyundai, Kia flex their muscles in Chicago" » Feb 10, 2012 2:18 pm U.S. ET
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It's Chrysler vs. Chevy in the battle for post-Super Bowl buzz

Posted 1:13 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 10
blogs Mike Colias covers General Motors for Automotive News.
 
Chrysler Group once again grabbed a disproportionate share of the post-Super Bowl buzz this year with its national pep-talk commercial delivered by Clint Eastwood. (Count me among those scratching their heads at the "controversy.")
But was it the buzziest?
Not according to Continue reading "It's Chrysler vs. Chevy in the battle for post-Super Bowl buzz" » Feb 10, 2012 1:13 pm U.S. ET
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At Kia, the toaster car takes on special meaning

Posted 3:23 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 9
blogs
Kia's freshened 2012 Soul hatchback... One of the latest in toaster cars. (KIA)
RICK KRANZ:  CHICAGO -- Here's a new term for your automotive vocabulary.
Have you ever seen a "toaster car?"
You have, hundreds of times. Kia and Scion have been making toaster cars for years. In fact, nearly every automaker probably has offered a toaster car at some point in its model lines.
...
     Continue reading "At Kia, the toaster car takes on special meaning" » Feb 9, 2012 3:23 pm U.S. ET
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Karl Rove's calculator is out of whack

Posted 12:03 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 8
blogs Larry Vellequette covers Chrysler Group for Automotive News
 
Let us make one thing clear amid the maelstrom of sound and fury over Chrysler Group's "Halftime in America" Super Bowl Ad:
Chrysler Group LLC, as it exists today, owes the U.S. government, the Canadian government and the Ontario provincial government its eternal gratitude for helping it emerge from bankruptcy in 2009 -- but it owes them not one th ...
     Continue reading "Karl Rove's calculator is out of whack" » Feb 8, 2012 12:03 pm U.S. ET
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Acura says Seinfeld/Leno commercial did the job

Posted 12:05 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 8
blogs
The NSX concept debuted last month at the Detroit auto show and created quite a buzz.
RICK KRANZ:  CHICAGO -- Is Acura happy with the response to the Super Bowl commercial featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Jay Leno vying for the upcoming NSX sports car?
You betcha.
Moments after the Super Bowl ended, Acura's Web site crashed.
Mike Accavitti, American Honda's chief marketing o ...
     Continue reading "Acura says Seinfeld/Leno commercial did the job" » Feb 8, 2012 12:05 pm U.S. ET
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Will leasing's rise spell sleepless nights?

Posted 12:01 am U.S. ET, Feb. 8
blogs Jim Henry is a special correspondent for Automotive News
 
There can be too much of a good thing, and that includes leasing.
Several dealers at last week's American Financial Services Association Vehicle Finance Conference in Las Vegas said they would like a bigger comeback for leases.
But some lenders at the same conference said they're leery of leasing and don't want ...
     Continue reading "Will leasing's rise spell sleepless nights?" » Feb 8, 2012 12:01 am U.S. ET
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Rising used-car prices shouldn't hurt F&I

Posted 7:27 am U.S. ET, Feb. 8
blogs Jamie LaReau covers auto dealers for Automotive News
 
The cost of used cars will keep rising this year. But that doesn't mean customers won't have the funds to buy those pricey F&I products on the back end.
The National Automobile Dealers Association expects the used-car supply to remain tight, keeping prices up. In some vehicle segments, such as minivans and near-luxury vehicles, prices could increas ...
     Continue reading "Rising used-car prices shouldn't hurt F&I" » Feb 8, 2012 7:27 am U.S. ET
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Chevy Sonic morphs into a one-car band under OK Go's baton

Posted 2:55 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 7
blogs

DAVEY G. JOHNSON:  Meme-hunting, retweeting, tumbling aficionados of cyberculture need no introduction to OK Go, the musical ensemble famed for its ludicrously inventive, charmingly elaborate yet lo-fi videos.
Aware of the band's tendency to rack up page views, General Motors supplied the band with a Chevrolet Sonic for its latest and perhaps most ambitious undertaki ...
     Continue reading "Chevy Sonic morphs into a one-car band under OK Go's baton " » Feb 7, 2012 2:55 pm U.S. ET
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How the Buick Regal GS became a collectible so soon

Posted 2:19 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 7
blogs
Hagerty Insurance has put the 2012 Buick Regal GS on its annual Hot List as a future collectible, along with 9 other Buicks dating back to 1932. (HAGERTY INSURANCE)
RICK KRANZ:  What are the 10 most collectible Buicks from the past and present?
Hagerty Insurance lists the 2012 Buick Regal GS on its annual Hot List as a future collectible along with nine other Buicks dating back to 1932. The company specializes in insuring collectible and classic vehicles.
Why the Regal GS?
...
     Continue reading "How the Buick Regal GS became a collectible so soon" » Feb 7, 2012 2:19 pm U.S. ET
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Mercedes likely to steer clear of U.S. compact van market

Posted 2:14 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 6
blogs
The name Citan is a combination of the words “city” and “titan,” Mercedes says.
RICK KRANZ:  While the U.S. compact van market is in its infancy, the European market has grown to 700,000 annual sales.
Mercedes-Benz plans to target the European market with the Citan, a new front-wheel-drive commercial van based on the successor to the compact Renault Kangoo.
Mercedes-Benz USA says there are no plans to ...
     Continue reading "Mercedes likely to steer clear of U.S. compact van market" » Feb 6, 2012 2:14 pm U.S. ET
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Chrysler, Dirty Harry draw heated blitz from the right

Posted 6:38 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 6
blogs Christina Rogers covers the Volkswagen Group, and regulatory and legislative issues for Automotive News
 
Talk about political football.
Chrysler Group's two-minute Super Bowl ad is taking the heat from conservative commentators who claim the commercial is a veiled endorsement for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign.
The spot aired during halftime and features Dirty Harry himself talking up the Motor City ...
     Continue reading "Chrysler, Dirty Harry draw heated blitz from the right" » Feb 6, 2012 6:38 pm U.S. ET
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Clint and Sergio: Can-do Chrysler's brand builders

Posted 3:08 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 6
blogs Peter Brown is publisher and editorial director of Automotive News.
 
Clint Eastwood and Sergio Marchionne. Not, at first glance, an obvious pairing. But the two gentlemen combined for an unlikely branding value over the weekend.
Eastwood's evocative "Halftime in America" spot on the Super Bowl lit up the Internet just a day after Chrysler CEO Marchionne told America's car dealers that Chrysler and the industry would ...
     Continue reading "Clint and Sergio: Can-do Chrysler's brand builders" » Feb 6, 2012 3:08 pm U.S. ET
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Lithia's DeBoer to Republicans: Give Obama some credit

Posted 1:20 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 6
blogs Bradford Wernle covers Ford Motor Co. for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Sid DeBoer recently stood up in front of a Rotary Club meeting in Medford, Ore., and thanked the man he believes should get a big share of the credit for the current prosperity of his Lithia Motors Inc.
His audience wasn’t fully prepared for the name of the person DeBoer wanted to thank -- a controversial figure in the auto deale ...
     Continue reading "Lithia's DeBoer to Republicans: Give Obama some credit " » Feb 6, 2012 1:20 pm U.S. ET
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Why the pool of repos is skimpy, too

Posted 1:08 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 6
blogs Arlena Sawyers covers remarketing for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Just about anybody who cares about used vehicles knows that off-lease volume will be tight again this year as a result of fewer vehicles being leased during the recession.
What you may not know is that the pool of repossessed vehicles, another source of used-car inventory, will be skimpy, too, at least for now.
...
     Continue reading "Why the pool of repos is skimpy, too" » Feb 6, 2012 1:08 pm U.S. ET
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Land Rover dealers want more Evoques

Posted 9:25 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 5
blogs Diana T. Kurylko covers various U.S. import brands for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- It has been years since Land Rover North America had a hot, pricey product in short supply.
That's why dealers are pleading for more of the new compact Evoque three- and five-door SUV, which has an entry price with transportation of $43,995 for the five-door model and $44,995 for the three-door.
W ...
     Continue reading "Land Rover dealers want more Evoques" » Feb 5, 2012 9:25 pm U.S. ET
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Dealers scour Craigslist, roadsides to feed used-car hunger

Posted 7:44 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 5
blogs Amy Wilson covers auto dealer issues for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- On Friday morning, an employee at Vince Whibbs Automotive Group in Pensacola, Fla., headed out to pick up the retailer’s latest used-car acquisition -- in Atlanta, a six-hour drive away.
How did the dealership group find the car? Craigslist. The online classified service has been a growing source of used cars for the last six mon ...
     Continue reading "Dealers scour Craigslist, roadsides to feed used-car hunger" » Feb 5, 2012 7:44 pm U.S. ET
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What about low interest rates for high mpg?

Posted 5:47 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 5
blogs Jamie LaReau covers auto dealers for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Imagine if buying a vehicle that gets extremely good fuel economy meant getting a lower interest rate on a loan.
Lenders consider a lot of factors when granting consumers retail vehicle loans. But might lenders smile on buyers of highly fuel efficient vehicles, such as the Chevrolet Volt or Toyota Prius sedans?
...
     Continue reading "What about low interest rates for high mpg?" » Feb 5, 2012 5:47 pm U.S. ET
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Wanna win stuff? Check out the exhibit floor at NADA

Posted 3:28 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 5
blogs Arlena Sawyers covers remarketing for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Who doesn’t like winning stuff? Or getting it free when you buy a product or service that you need or were going to purchase anyway?
Electronic gadgets, gift cards, a giant toolbox, even a motorcycle are among the cool prizes up for grabs if you’re a dealer walking the exhibit floor at the NADA convention.
Continue reading "Wanna win stuff? Check out the exhibit floor at NADA" » Feb 5, 2012 3:28 pm U.S. ET
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Dealers get creative in building used-car inventories

Posted 8:45 am U.S. ET, Feb. 5
blogs Christina Rogers covers VW and regulatory/legislative issues for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Dealers, strapped for used cars, are getting more creative in how they go about finding them.
Jonathan Banks, an industry analyst with the NADA Used Car Guide, said some dealers have gotten so desperate they’ve left checks under the windshield wiper blades of vehicles brought in for service. Dealers were hoping to show owners how ...
     Continue reading "Dealers get creative in building used-car inventories" » Feb 5, 2012 8:45 am U.S. ET
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How BMW jumped into the Super Bowl

Posted 8:31 am U.S. ET, Feb. 5
blogs Diana T. Kurylko covers various U.S. import brands for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- BMW of North America’s commercials during the Super Bowl weren’t planned. It happened quickly and it wasn’t a corporate decision.
Dan Creed, vice president of marketing, said BMW created six digital spots to run on the Internet as part of its major advertising campaign for the new generation 3-series sedan. The car go ...
     Continue reading "How BMW jumped into the Super Bowl" » Feb 5, 2012 8:31 am U.S. ET
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Is GM’s image program fair? Depends who you ask

Posted 8:23 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 4
blogs Mike Colias covers General Motors for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- In the battle between dealers and automakers over facility image programs, General Motors has taken the most shrapnel.
That’s mainly because GM has the most dealers -- about 4,500 -- and its image program is perhaps the industry’s most far-reaching.
Because I cover GM, I’ve talked ...
     Continue reading "Is GM’s image program fair? Depends who you ask" » Feb 4, 2012 8:23 pm U.S. ET
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Cuba still lives in Florida Ford dealer's heart

Posted 6:33 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 4
blogs Bradford Wernle covers Ford Motor Co. for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Florida Ford dealer Gus Machado hasn't set foot in his native Cuba since January 1960.
Machado, who had first moved to the United States in 1949 to go to military school in North Carolina, had returned often to the country during the 1950s to visit his family and to sell a few used cars he took over by ferry from Key West. But the youn ...
     Continue reading "Cuba still lives in Florida Ford dealer's heart" » Feb 4, 2012 6:33 pm U.S. ET
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Dealers on facilities: It's about the money

Posted 4:42 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 4
blogs Amy Wilson covers auto dealer issues for Automotive News.
 
LAS VEGAS -- Describing the retail community's interest in the outcome of NADA's dealership facility study as intense might not do it justice.
In a strange turn for journalists, lots of dealers and dealer advisers -- I spotted at least one building contractor and a lawyer, for instance -- showed up this morning at NADA's press conference releasing ...
     Continue reading "Dealers on facilities: It's about the money " » Feb 4, 2012 4:42 pm U.S. ET
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GM’s tone-deaf jargon

Posted 12:25 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 4
blogs Mark Rechtin is West Coast editor of Automotive News..
 
LAS VEGAS -- General Motors needs to put its marketing jargon in the 1990s parking lot where it belongs.
I refer to the descriptive used by GM execs in discussing how the automaker’s brands need to stay in their respective “swim lanes.”
The phrase was first used by newly installed chief market ...
     Continue reading "GM’s tone-deaf jargon" » Feb 4, 2012 12:25 pm U.S. ET
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