Everyone's trying to figure out exactly what Fiat stands to gain
from a no-money-down, one-third acquistion of Chrysler
, other than loan money backed by U.S. taxpayers. A story in today's Inside Line
news suggests Fiat might be very interested in Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which currently builds the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Journey.
The PT will be going out of production in summer 2009, freeing up production capacity that could be used to build small Fiats for markets throughout the western hemisphere.
Fiat already has a major presence in Brazil, but it's not much of a player in Mexico. And undoubtedly it would like to be. We'd bet that buyers in Mexico are apt to be much more receptive to subcompact Fiat 500s, Pandas and Grande Puntos than, say, U.S. consumers. In addition, meeting crash and emission standards is also likely to be a much simpler proposition in Mexico than the U.S.
Inside Line News: New Chrysler Link Could Bring Fiat Cars to U.S. via Mexico
Categories: Auto Industry,Chrysler,Fiat
Mere hours after Audi released a "making of" teaser for its Super Bowl XLIII commercial featuring the Audi A6 and its supercharged V6, the actual commercial, titled "Chase," landed on YouTube. And you can of course watch Audi's 2009 Super Bowl ad (and Jason Stratham) right here.
Inside Line News: Audi Offers Sneak Peek at Supercharged Super Bowl Ad
Categories: Audi,Auto Industry
Ford announced today that it has reduced worldwide warranty repair costs by $1.2 billion over the last two years. This is impressive to read, though without seeing some kind of elaborate spreadsheet, it's impossible to know whether the reduction is primarily on the strength of the U.S. market or other markets around the globe.
Ford notes further that it's making almost 50 percent fewer warranty repairs to U.S.-market Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles today as it was in 2004 -- and that according to the latest U.S. Global Quality Research System study, "initial quality is now in a virtual tie with Honda-Acura and Toyota-Lexus-Scion for the 2008 model year."
Also in this survey, says Ford, the F-Series Super Duty, Lincoln Mark LT (RIP) and Shelby GT500 ranked at the top of their respective classes for "fewest things gone wrong (TGW)." In addition, Ford reports that the Focus pulled even with the Toyota Corolla in the TGW count.
We're not sure how many conclusions can be drawn from this announcement, but given yesterday's report that Ford lost $14.6 billion in 2008, any savings on warranty repairs has to be considered a plus.
Categories: Auto Industry,Ford
In his book What Would Google Do?,
blogger and CUNY journalism professor Jeff Jarvis asks the Detroit automakers to build him a Googlemobile. Google, he argues, has been so brutally effective at anticipating and responding to our desires in the online world, that the next step must surely be to create cars based on its open-source-platform philosophy of design.
BusinessWeek has published a large excerpt of the book in its current issue, and in it Jarvis says all sorts of things guaranteed to incite controversy if you have any passion at all for the cars in your garage and driving in general. Read it and tell us what you think.
Here's an example, with a few more after the jump:
Excerpt: Google listens to us and trusts us when it releases unfinished products as "betas" so we can tell them what to do next... Google wants us involved in the creative process; Detroit doesn't... What if just one model from one brand were opened up to collaborative design? I don't suggest that design should be a democracy. But shouldn't design at least be a conversation? Designers can put their ideas on the Web. Customers can make suggestions and discuss them. Designers can take the best ideas and adapt them, giving credit where it is due. I don't imagine customers would collaborate on transmission design--though a few might have good suggestions if given a chance. But they would have a lot to contribute on the passenger compartment, the look of the car, the features, and the options. They could even get involved in economic decisions: Would you be willing to give up power windows if it got you a lower price or a nicer radio? This collaboration would invest customers in the product. It would build excitement. It would get the product talked about on the Web and linked to and boost its popularity in Google searches. The approach could change the relationship of customers to the brand and that would change the brand itself. Imagine that, the collaborative community car: our car.
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Categories: Auto Industry,Automaker Feedback
Mitsubishi's U.S. baby got Sportback. It's true. Despite the U.S. market's historic disinterest in five-door hatchbacks, Mitsubishi will begin importing the Sportback this summer as a 2010 model.
It'll be available in commuter-car GTS and sporty Ralliart flavors. Either way, it'll offer a maximum of 52.7 cubic feet of cargo space.
Lest there be any confusion, the production Lancer Sportback is on the right in the above photo.
Read Inside Line's take on the 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback
Categories: Hatchbacks,Mitsubishi
Hey, hotshoe. Think you're good at matching revs when you're downshifting? The 2009 Nissan 370Z's SynchroRev Match can do it better.
And if you're one of those drivers that has wondered why all this "heel-toe" business requires your two feet to do three things simultaneously, then you, too, can benefit from SynchroRev Match.
SynchroRev Match is a feature that automatically "blips" the throttle when the driver initiates a downshift in manual transmission-equipped 370s. If you depress the clutch, lift off the throttle and move the gearchange lever to a lower gear, SynchroRev Match zips the engine up to precisely the right speed for that gear.
The result? Perfectly smooth rev-matched downshifts every single time, and drivers that look like heroes.
Rev-matching is common among automatic- and automated-manual transmissions, but the 2009 Z-car marks the debut of such a feature in conjunction with a real-life, stick-in-the-palm manual gearbox.
Now, come with us to the other side of the jump to learn how it works.
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Categories: Car Tech,Coupes,Hatchbacks,Nissan,Sports Cars
Today's episode of automaker teaser video is brought to you by the word, cutesy.
BMW has been working for some time on a wagon-esque, minivan-like, crossover-type vehicle that it likes to call PAS for progressive activity sedan. And now it's released on the web this adorable cartoon of a vehicle that we fear will be something less than adorable. It's a sort of tall wagon thing with adjustable rear seats and a cargo hold that can be accessed via a full-sized hatchback or through a smaller hatch within a hatch should the weather be too cold to expose passengers to a momentary blast of the outside. We're imagining the end result of all this passenger and cargo packaging rethinking (the video points out BMW has thought about this quite a lot) will end up looking a bit like a bloodless X6. But we'll see at March's Geneva auto show, where we expect to see the concept in person.
Until then, sit back and enjoy this silly interlude, because as '90's girly band Veruca Salt once observed, "Can't fight the teaser."
Categories: BMW,Concept Vehicles,Coupes,Future Vehicles,Geneva Motor Show,Hatchbacks,Minivans,SUVs,Wagons
It was one thing when manufacturers started teasing upcoming auto-show reveals with dark and moody photos of one detail of a future car. Now Audi has taken the teasing to a whole new level by releasing this two-and-a-half-minute detailing the making of its Super Bowl advertisement. It's called building excitement, kids.
Yes, that means the tease is two-and-a-half times longer than the actual ad will be. Called "Chase," the ad is an opportunity for Audi to poke at its competitors with a small stick and also to highlight some questionable hair and sartorial choices of the last 30 years.
So why do we care? Well, we reckon the ladies in the office will find the ad's star, Brit actor Jason Statham, to be super-dreamy and, for the guys, there's the fishtailing '70's Trans-Am.
Categories: Audi,Auto Industry
Five Hyundai Super Bowl XLIII ads found their way to YouTube today, and by far the highlight is the one featuring Rhys Millen drifting a 2010 Hyundai Genesis Coupe. We've posted all five of Hyundai's 2009 Super Bowl commercials here. View them all by following the jump.
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Categories: Coupes,Hyundai,Sedans
One of the promises of the merger between former satellite radio rivals Sirius and XM was that fanatical listeners would one day be able to tune in every channel offered by both services on a single device. The cleverly named Sirius XM MiRGE, the newly formed company's first interoperable receiver, will deliver on it when the portable device becomes available in early spring of 2009 for $249.99.
Now you won't need two sat radio receivers to enjoy the Sirius Everything plus XM Everything package that will be available for $19.99 a month.
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Categories: Car Tech
After months of seeing one claim after another about the Nissan GT-R's transmission issues, Inside Line finally got some real numbers. According to Nissan officials, less than 1 percent of the 1,750-to-1,800 GT-Rs in the garages of U.S. enthusiasts experienced transmission failures.
Yep, that means we're talking about no more than 16-to-19 cars total. You might have thought the number was a little higher, way higher. But that's not the whole story. We dug a little deeper to find out even more about this ongoing situation and have compiled a full report.
Read Inside Line's full story on the saga of the lunched GT-R transmissions.
Image from NAGTROC.org.
Categories: Car Tech,Coupes,Nissan,Sports Cars
We always thought Bob Nardelli and Rick Wagoner were a little envious of Alan Mulally while the three of them sat before the Senate Subcommittee on Public Floggings. Mulally got to say, in effect, we don't really need public money unless something horrible happens with the companies of my tablemates.
Well, Mulally is still saying that the company doesn't need public assistance in the form of bridge loans, but Ford's financial report was uglier than most expected. The low-lights: The company lost $14.6 billion in 2008. And the fourth quarter of 2008 was particularly ugly. Ford lost $5.9 for that period. It's leading many automotive analysts to speculate that Ford might end up having to ask for money after all.
Head over to AutoObserver for the full run-down and analysis on Ford's 2008 finances.
Categories: Auto Industry,Ford
Call it the anti-iDrive. Audi's Multi Media Interface (MMI) uses a similar center-console controller as a command center for much of the car's cockpit tech, but it's much more intuitive and fluid than BMW's complex iDrive, which has gotten better over the years.
The last-gen version of Audi's MMI, which will debut stateside on the 2009 Q5, gets even better with the addition of a joystick to the controller, a high-capacity hard disk for navigation functions and music storage and a hi-res 7-inch display that provides 3D map displays.
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Categories: Audi,Car Tech
In a bulletin sent out to dealers today, Nissan outlined its plan for transmission changes in all unsold 2009 GT-Rs as well as the upcoming 2010 GT-R. The changes are the first official response to reports of transaxle failure as a result of using the much-hyped launch control system.
We sifted through all the official wording and it boils down to this:
- There are no hardware changes.
- Dealers will reprogram the car's ECU to alter the transmission characteristics during hard launches.
- Launch Control remains, but the maximum allowable engine speed with the VDC system switched off will be reduced from the current 4,500 rpm to between 3,000 and 3,500 rpm. The clutch engagement program will also change to reduce driveline stress, e.g., less abrupt engagement on launch.
- When launching with the VDC on, the new programming will allow for higher engine speeds and a more aggressive clutch engagement than the current setup.
- Nissan reiterated that launching the GT-R with the VDC off is not covered by the warranty.
- A revised customer disclosure form will be issued and required for GT-R sales going forward.
- All GT-Rs worldwide will receive the revised programming.
Text of the dealer bulletin after the jump.
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Categories: 2009 Nissan GT-R Road Trip,Coupes,Nissan,Sports Cars
Volvo has announced pricing for the small XC60 crossover sport-ute that will go on sale in March as a 2010 model.
The little ute, powered by a 281-hp 3.0-liter turbocharged six, starts at $38,025 (including $825 destination charge). That is not inexpensive. However, all XC60s come with leather seats, power driver's seat and Bluetooth connectivity and, oh yeah, all-wheel drive. It also comes with Volvo's recently announced three-year/36,000-mile complimentry factory-scheduled maintenance. Still, that's closer in price to a BMW X3 than to an Infiniti EX35.
A few choice options include the Collision Avoidance Package, which includes adaptive cruise control, collision warning with automatic braking, driver alert control and lane-departure warning for $1,695. The Technology package which includes an upgrade Dynaudio surround-sound audio system, navigation system and rear park assist goes for $2,700. This being a Volvo, it's also offered with built-in child booster seats for $495. Nordic Light Oak inlays will set you back $295. And the not-entirely-attractive-sounding Lime Grass Green Pearl paint is an extra $525.
Read Inside Line's First Drive story on the 2010 Volvo XC60.
Categories: SUVs,Volvo
Trying to buy a 2009 Saturn Astra hatchback? No? Oh, just play along, would you? Well, even if you were, now you can't. That's because there will be no 2009 Saturn Astra.
Saturn is skipping the '09 model year and jumping directly to the 2010 model. Officially, the company is holding off bringing any more of the sharp-looking but slow-selling hatchbacks because, well, dealers have more than enough '08s already on their lots to get them through until the 2010 model arrives in the fall of 2009.
But the secret reason for the skipped year was revealed to us in an exchange yesterday with a Saturn official, who admitted, "I did it for personal gain. One day I'll be on Jeopardy and will totally nail that question... (In what year did Saturn not produce an Astra...?)."
It's a master stroke of reason and good sense to be sure. But given that the response of our source would not be in the form of a question, it's ultimately futile. Foiled again, Saturn. Foiled again.
Categories: General Motors,Hatchbacks,Saturn
Audi has released more details on the U.S. market version of the upcoming Q5 small crossover vehicle. The highlights? The Q5 will be powered by a 270-hp 3.2-liter direct-injection V6 which will be mated to a six-speed automatic. Naturally, it will also come with Quattro all-wheel drive. Audi will launch an updated version of its MMI entertainment and information control system in the Q5.
The company still hasn't announced pricing for the Q5 which will go on sale in March. Audi estimates that the Q5 will return 18/23 mpg city/highway, but the EPA hasn't yet posted official figures.
In related news, Audi will introduce a hybrid gas-electric version of the Q5 sometime around 2011. The company has cancelled earlier plans to produce a hybrid version of the larger Q7 crossover.
Read Inside Line's news story on the Audi Q5.
Categories: Audi,Hybrids,SUVs
Looks like the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro is going to pace the 2009 Daytona 500 next month. Don't believe us? Well then just head on over to Chevrolet's unofficial spokes-site www.camaro5.com.
There you'll find everything you ever wanted to know about the upcoming retro coupe. There are photos galore, up-to-the-minute news updates, and if you're lucky you might even catch one of the Camaro program engineers just hanging out in the forums!
And it's all brought to you by the collective enthusiasm of Camaro lovers from all across the country, with no corporate suits from Chevrolet to get in the way. Isn't the internet great?
Camaro5 via Jalopnik
Categories: Chevrolet,Classic Cars,Convertibles,Coupes
Half of our average day at the office is spent staring longingly at a huge, framed picture of a Kermit-green 2007 Porsche GT3 RS (shot by our crack staff photographer, Scott Jacobs).
We're afraid we might have to soon re-decorate the joint. Or we will once we get our sweaty hands on the car pictured here, the 2010 Porsche GT3. Porsche will unveil the car at the Geneva auto show in March. Join us after the jump for the details.
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Categories: Geneva Motor Show,Porsche,Sports Cars
Remember the Jaguar XJ? Yes, it still exists. In fact, Jaguar sold 2,455 of them last year. Not bad considering that it has a design that looked dated the day it went on sale in 2003.
The 2011 Jaguar XJ shouldn't have that problem. Underneath all that camouflage, the new XJ appears to have a much different and more unique looking design. You can see a few elements of the new XF in there, but the car is obviously stretched out a little longer which should keep it from looking like a Lexus. Video after the jump.
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Categories: Future Vehicles,Jaguar,Sedans,Spy Photos
Everyone's trying to figure out exactly what Fiat stands to gain
from a no-money-down, one-third acquistion of Chrysler
, other than loan money backed by U.S. taxpayers. A story in today's Inside Line
news suggests Fiat might be very interested in Chrysler's Toluca, Mexico plant, which currently builds the Chrysler PT Cruiser and Dodge Journey. 
