GM rediscovers the value of planned obsolescence
Posted 2:51 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 13CHICAGO -- General Motors' current managers view styling changes and product enhancements as a better bet to maintain sales than marketing dated vehicles with huge rebates.
This sounds like a step back to the days of "planned obsolescence," doesn't it?
In GM's heyday, the 1930s to the 1970s, capped by remarkable achievement in the 1950s, a good portion of the automaker's success was attributable to planned obsolescence.
Car styling was changed annually to lure buyers back to the showroom to purchase the newest Chevrolet, Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Buick or Cadillac. It worked.
GM's post-bankruptcy managers have a slightly different sp ...
Continue reading "GM rediscovers the value of planned obsolescence" » Feb 13, 2012 2:51 pm U.S. ET
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Hyundai, Kia flex their muscles in Chicago
Posted 2:18 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 10
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-door hatchback. Both announcements were made here Wednesday. The U.S. Elantra plant in Alabama can't keep up with sedan demand so the two new models will be imported from Korea. Sales begin in the next few months.
Both products are attractive, well-equipped. No ...
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At Kia, the toaster car takes on special meaning
Posted 3:23 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 9
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.
Former GM product czar Bob Lutz once used "angry toasters" to describe some of the automaker's most recent concept vehicles.
What's a toaster car today?
It's a reference to boxy cars like the Kia Soul and Scion xB -- ...
Continue reading "At Kia, the toaster car takes on special meaning" » Feb 9, 2012 3:23 pm U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
Acura says Seinfeld/Leno commercial did the job
Posted 12:05 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 8
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 officer, estimates that the Web site was down for about 10 minutes because of a 3,000 percent increase in traffic.
Accavitti said the ad on Acura's Web site received 16 million views from Jan. 3 ...
Continue reading "Acura says Seinfeld/Leno commercial did the job" » Feb 8, 2012 12:05 pm U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
How the Buick Regal GS became a collectible so soon
Posted 2:19 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 7
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?
"In order to be included on the annual Hagerty Hot List, the vehicle must be geared toward the driving enthusiast beyond just being a form of transportation," the insurance company says. "Like the other Buick classics listed here, the 2012 Regal GS will be remembered ...
Continue reading "How the Buick Regal GS became a collectible so soon" » Feb 7, 2012 2:19 pm U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
Mercedes likely to steer clear of U.S. compact van market
Posted 2:14 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 6
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 sell the Citan here -- and probably with good reason.
The German automaker released drawings of the Citan. The vehicle debut takes place at the IAA Commercial Vehicles show in September in Hannover, Germany. Sales begin this fall.
Continue reading "Mercedes likely to steer clear of U.S. compact van market" » Feb 6, 2012 2:14 pm U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
At Chicago Auto Show, you can ride, drive, not just look
Posted 3:01 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 3
The Chicago Auto Show offers a crowd pleaser that attracts tens of thousands of people each year.
And this activity gives automakers an opportunity to establish a relationship with a potential customer.
I'm talking about the car, SUV and pickup rides offered to show-goers inside Chicago's McCormick Place. The show opens to the public on Friday, Feb. 10.
While many auto shows are space constrained, the size of Chicago's show dwarfs most. Automakers have loads of floor space to exhibit as many cars and trucks as they wish. Even so, the auto show does not use every squar ...
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B-Max: Cute and innovative, but not for U.S.
Posted 2:24 pm U.S. ET, Feb. 2
DETROIT -- The Ford B-Max is cute and functional, but it won't be sold in the United States.
That has one reader looking for loopholes in the law.
The B-Max is Ford's newest subcompact developed off the global Fiesta platform. An unveiling is planned next month at the Geneva auto show.
Is the B-Max a five-door hatchback or a mini-minivan? Ford simply calls it an innovative small car.
The standout feature? Sliding rear doors, a la minivan. Additionally, Ford engineered the B-Max without a B-pillar to make the vehicle easier to ente ...
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Kia Soul performance model? Meet the Track'ster concept
Posted 9:00 am U.S. ET, Feb. 2
DETROIT -- The Kia Soul is among this country's 25 hottest brands.
So it's no surprise that the Korean automaker wants to share its Soul with a wider range of buyers.
As it looks at ways to slice and dice the Soul nameplate, Kia is thinking about a potential performance model.
Performance?
Although "Kia performance model" may sound like an oxymoron, don't underestimate Kia. After all, the automaker sold 485,492 vehicles last year in the United States, a 36 percent increase in a market that rose 10 percent. Kia is on a roll.
...
Continue reading "Kia Soul performance model? Meet the Track'ster concept" » Feb 2, 2012 9:00 am U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
Could GM resurrect the Saab 9-4X under a different badge?
Posted 4:02 pm U.S. ET, Jan. 31
DETROIT -- General Motors has a perfectly good crossover that's waiting to be produced.
Actually it was produced -- several hundred were assembled before production was halted. I'm talking about the Saab 9-4X.
I wonder if there's a market for this crossover?
The 9-4X was developed by GM when it owned the Swedish company. The car debuted last spring under Saab's new owners, Saab Automobile AB. Production started last summer at GM's assembly plant in Ramos Arizpe, Mexico.
Under the skin, the car shares a platform and mechan ...
Continue reading "Could GM resurrect the Saab 9-4X under a different badge? " » Jan 31, 2012 4:02 pm U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
Wintertime test drives chill dealer's hopes for EV sales
Posted 3:42 pm U.S. ET, Jan. 30
Pity the poor Midwestern Chevrolet dealer trying to sell a Volt.
Ditto for Nissan dealers with Leafs on their lots.
Batteries hate cold as well as extreme heat -- each has a big impact on range. My advice to those dealers: Do your test drives and special events in spring, summer and fall.
About two months ago, I had a conversation with a Chevy dealer in the Midwest. He was excited. Arrangements had been made for members of a big law firm, as well as several doctors at nearby clinics, to test drive the Volt.
Even with their busy sc ...
Continue reading "Wintertime test drives chill dealer's hopes for EV sales" » Jan 30, 2012 3:42 pm U.S. ET Post Comment | Permalink
