Manufacturers Straightline Archives

There's nothing quite like walking out to the curb and finding a Jaguar XKR-S waiting for you. It kind of brightens up your whole day.

We knew something was up the night before when our host from Jaguar started talking about the Nurburgring Nordschleife and told us about the new development center that Jaguar had recently established there. Then he began talking about the way the XKR-S steers into a corner and took that pose as if he were holding an imaginary steering wheel with his fingertips, which is the posture that racers everywhere adopt when they talk about cars.

So when we fired up the supercharged V8 of the 2012 Jaguar XKR-S there in the hotel portico and the navigation system laid in the route from San Francisco to Monterey, we knew the day would turn out pretty good.

Continue reading...

Categories: Classic Cars,Jaguar,Manufacturers

The future is stranger than you think. Fifty years from now, Honda won't be simply an automaker. It'll be an energy provider -- or at least some kind of utility manager. The company has lofty goals, and the introduction of the Honda Fit EV and a plug-in hybrid architecture at the Los Angeles auto show are merely the first steps in a new-energy order.

In some dark corner of office blocs, at some unmarked Honda skunkworks in Japan, men with the 100-year view sketch the advance of the Honda Mobility Network. It's an ambitious plan that integrates cutting-edge, enviro-friendly vehicles, home energy management systems, even solar panels and "micro-cogeneration" technology. Your home, wired by Honda.

"We want to go from less petroleum to zero petroleum," says Honda Global President Takanobu Ito. "Fewer emissions to zero emissions."

Continue reading...

Categories: Honda,Manufacturers

If you've been following keywords like "consumer confidence" and "durable goods orders" in the news, you won't be exactly shocked to see the vehicle sales numbers for July 2010. Indeed, the increases were very modest, though most automakers did better than last month, and any year-over-year comparison to July 2009 makes the domestic automakers look good. In addition, Toyota has closed the gap on Ford after running more than 30,000 units behind its American rival in May and June.

Get extended analysis on July 2010 sales from our Auto Observer blog.

Other trivia from the month:

--> GM sold 5,723 Cadillac SRXs in July 2010, by far the crossover SUV's best sales month ever, surpassing its previous high of 4,986 in December 2009.

--> Ford sold 3,349 Fiestas in the subcompact car's 2nd sales month. Honda sold 6,471 Fits.

--> Toyota sold just 165 units of the Lexus HS 250h in July. This was down 73 percent from June 2010 and marked the hybrid sedan's worth sales month ever. It was trailed only by the aged Lexus SC (36 units).

--> Nissan sales were up significantly, but the automaker recorded its highest ever True Cost of Incentives (based on Edmunds.com's data analysts' number crunching) at $2,839. (For perspective, though, GM is still spending over $4,000 on incentives per vehicle sold.) Leases accounted for 1/3 of all Nissans sold in July, and 46 percent of sales were fleet.

GM
199,342 units
+6.2 percent from July 2009
+2.7 percent from June 2010

Ford
170,208 units
+6.8 percent from July 2009
-0.3 percent from June 2010

See the sales totals and percentage changes for the rest of the top 7 U.S. automakers after the jump.

Continue reading...

Categories: Chrysler,Ford,General Motors,Honda,Hyundai,Manufacturers,Nissan,Toyota

Although June 2010 U.S. vehicle sales were up across the board compared to a very dismal June 2009, they were down 10 percent from May 2010 with about 983,000 vehicles sold. The industry is now on an 11.2-million-unit pace for the year..

Hyundai (51,205) and Subaru (18,993) both recorded their best June sales month ever, but otherwise there aren't a lot of bright spots. Ford (175,895), for instance, was up 13 percent year-over-year, but fleet sales carried 42 percent of the load. The manufacturers also acknowledged consumers' purchasing habits varied widely by region -- residents of the Gulf States hit hard economically by the ongoing BP oil spill simply aren't buying cars.

Perhaps most telling is that even Hyundai Motor America CEO John Krafcik put a check on the enthusiasm when talking about sales.

"We think the industry is on track for about 11.3 million units in 2010, roughly half a million short of earlier analyst projections," Krafcik said. "That represents less than a million units of growth from 2009, with higher industry fleet sales accounting for the majority of that increase."

As always, Auto Observer is the place to go if you want to see all the numbers and more analysis.

Design of Graphic: Bob Holland for Auto Observer

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,Hyundai,Manufacturers,Subaru

Edmunds.com's top industry minds, Karl Brauer, Michelle Krebs and Jessica Caldwell, reflect on first-half 2010 sales, which after a sluggish June, look to be settling at a 11.2-11.3-million-unit pace for the year. They point to glimmers of hope, though, including the Hyundai success story and the resurgence of Ford, which has eclipsed Toyota as the No. 2 automaker in sales for 2010. Meanwhile, darker times could be ahead for BMW, Chrysler and Honda.

As always, you can get more analysis on the Auto Observer blog. And let us know what you think of our recent video news pieces -- too short, too long, just right? Interesting or ho-hum? Would you rather watch a 5-minute video or read a 500-word article on the same topic.

Categories: Auto Industry,Manufacturers

This is the 24th year J.D. Power has conducted its Initial Quality Study, which tracks problems in vehicles over the first 90 days of ownership. The big revelation this year is that traditional U.S. domestic brands averaged 108 problems per 100 vehicles versus 109 problems per 100 vehicles for import brands. This is the first time in all 24 years that domestic brands have been rated better for initial quality.

You can see the full chart of how the automakers stack up in problems per 100 vehicles after the jump. You can also see which vehicle models have the highest initial quality ratings in each class.

2010 J.D. Power Initial Quality Study

Auto Observer -- J.D. Power: Domestics Lead Imports in Quality for First Time 

Continue reading...

Categories: Auto Industry,Manufacturers,Porsche

Vehicle sales were at a 11.6-million-unit annual pace in May, which is exactly where the automakers have been predicting they'd be at this point. Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl and Senior Analysts Jessica Caldwell and Karl Brauer give you the 5-minute take on the month. Is this the great recovery the manufacturers say it is? And is this pace sustainable for the rest of the year?

For detailed analysis of May 2010 sales, check out this in-depth piece on Auto Observer.

Categories: Auto Industry,Manufacturers

There's still time to cast a ballot in the 2010 edition of the Inside Line Readers' Most Wanted Awards. This is your opportunity to agree with us by voting for the cars we like -- or take us to task by voting for cars you feel we've given short shrift.

There are eight categories separated out by genre (Speed, Family, Hauling, Concept, etc.) and price (under $30,000 and over $30,000), and a list of candidates (uh, cars) in each. You can actually do a write-in if for some reason you're burning to vote for a nameplate that isn't listed. But keep in mind, a vehicle has to be on sale by June 2010 to be eligible.

Full rules at the survey link below. We'll publish the winners and runners-up in June.

2010 Inside Line Readers' Most Wanted Awards

Categories: Automaker Feedback,Manufacturers

Allowing oil companies to increase the ethanol content in gasoline from 10 percent to 15 percent puts cars at risk, the auto industry told the New York Times this week.

Last year the EPA announced it would issue the new rule, which would make it easier for oil companies to meet the agency's renewable fuels quotas. The Alliance for Automotive Manufacturers (the body representing the automakers) has always opposed it but didn't have test data to back up its opposition. Now the automakers say they do.

The EPA is expected to make the rule change effective in the next few weeks, but the industry is pushing for a delay until after 2011 -- giving manufacturers time to do more complete testing.

Automakers say they have evidence the increased ethanol concentration will confuse oxygen sensors and cause the engine to run on undesirably lean fuel mixtures -- damaging catalytic converters and potentially the engine itself. Some vehicle owners "will be walking" when their cars suffer damage, C. Coleman Jones, the biofuel implementation manager at General Motors, speaking on behalf of the Alliance, told the Times.

Green Car Advisor, New York Times

Categories: Auto Industry,Green Tech,Manufacturers

Auto manufacturers released their April 2010 sales numbers today. Just about everybody saw a year-over-year increase compared to a dismal April 2009. But at 981,659, total sales were down from March 2010. That puts us on a 11.2-unit pace (Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate or SAAR) for the 2010 calendar year, which falls a little short of the 11.5- to 12.5-million pace the automakers are predicting.

So what does this mean for the auto industry -- and the average joe buying a car? And will incentives, which mostly dipped in April, stay down in May or will the car companies have to raise them again? And what's the prognosis for all the small cars like the Ford Fiesta and Mazda 2 that will enter the market in a few short months?

The best analytical mindsat Edmunds.com try to answer those questions in our inaugural Auto Observer news program. Listen as Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl; Senior Analysts and Editors at Large Michelle Krebs and Karl Brauer; and Director of Pricing & Industry Analysis Jessica Caldwell take you through these issues. And let us know what you think of the program in the comments.

Auto Observer: April Car Sales Dip from March As U.S. Industry's Overall Picture Steadies

Auto Observer: April's Shower of Incentives Losing Effectiveness, Edmunds.com Reports

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,General Motors,Manufacturers

Apparently this is some kind of product planning problem. Audi of America, Inc., can't decide whether to bring the Audi TT RS to the U.S. or not. It's looking for some advice.

But right now we're looking for Turn 8. As the Audi TT RS rolls off the hill and down the straight, the ripping exhaust note from the turbocharged, 340-hp, 2.5-liter inline-5 grows more insistent and the real problem is whether we'll make the big right-hand sweeper into Turn 8 or simply fly off across the desert, through that trailer park, past the old Basque road house and into the main reading room of the new Kern County library. Paul Gerrard, the director of the Audi Drive Experience at Infineon Raceway, says he's seen 137 mph on the speedometer right about here, but we're a little too busy right now to look.

After our drive at Willow Springs International Raceway, we can report that the TT RS drives like a sports car, but you can see Audi's problem. People aren't exactly lining up to buy small sports cars these days. Audi wants to position the TT RS against the Mercedes-Benz SLK55 and Porsche Cayman S, and during 2009, exactly 173 SLK55s and 977 Cayman Ss were sold.

Continue reading...

Categories: Audi,Coupes,Manufacturers,Sports Cars

We have it on good authority that an incomprehensibly large nuclear reactor hangs in the sky over California. Apparently, the rays of energy cast by this "sun" bombard parked vehicles with such furious heat-energy that natives of the region regularly cook whole hams in their vehicles. Sometimes, drivers of these vehicles require the use of a dedicated in-car "air-conditioning" system.

To prevent the usage of such wasteful systems, the always-sensible California Air Resources Board has been working on a set of rules known colloquially as "cool cars." Cute, huh?

Anyway, the state gave initial approval of the new rules, which include the use window glazing to keep car interiors cool, last year. The Detroit News reports today that the California Police Chiefs Association, California State Sheriffs Association and the Crime Victims United of California have a bit of a bone to pick with the new rules. Namely, that the glazing could degrade the signals put off by ankle monitoring bracelets (anklets?) worn by felons. Oh right, that. Further, there are concerns about cell-phone signal degradation too, which wouldn't be such a bad thing except if someone needs to call 911.

According to the News, the rules will likely be amended in the coming weeks before a final version is issued. The final rules must be in place by May 7. The regulations will begin to be phased in by 2012 and by 2016 are intended to reduce the amount of energy from the sun entering the car by 60 percent. Or residents could simply move to Detroit.

The Detroit News

Categories: Auto Industry,Green Tech,Manufacturers

Geneva Auto Show coverage has delayed our usual monthly sales briefing, but we can't let Ford's 45.6-percent year-over-year sales increase pass without mention. The Ford, Lincoln, Volvo and Mercury brands sold a total of 142,285 vehicles, outpacing 2nd-place General Motors by less than 1,000 units (141,535).

Of course, Ford executives haven't wanted to talk about the impact of fleet sales (40 percent of the total) or Toyota's misfortunes, instead pointing to the Fusion which recorded a 116.5-percent increase in sales landing at 16,459 for February.

Amid all the recall uproar, Toyota saw an expected dip in February but appears to be weathering the storm for now. Its sales numbered 100,027.

Nissan was the other gigantic gainer in February, as it sold 70,189 units compared with just 54,249 a year earlier. The Infiniti brand, which was a drag on the automaker for much of 2009, saw its sales edge up 11 percent, on the strength of the G37 line.

The two sales success stories of 2009 -- Hyundai and Subaru -- continued their climb last month. Hyundai sold 34,004 cars, while Subaru managed 18,098 -- a 38-percent year-over-year increase.

For more analysis, check out Auto Observer: Even Blizzards Can't Obscure This: Ford Tops GM in February Sales.

Categories: Auto Industry,Ford,General Motors,Hyundai,Manufacturers,Nissan,Subaru,Toyota

Yes, indeed the 2010 Geneva Auto Show has gone high-tech: If you're up late (or up really early), you can watch every single press conference live on one of two official video feeds from the show floor on March 2.

It's a big schedule, with conferences stacked back-to-back starting with the Chinese automaker BYD at 8 a.m. Tuesday (that's 2 a.m. EST on 3/2, and 11 p.m. PDT on 3/1) and culminating with Chrysler at 6 p.m. (12 noon EST on 3/2, 9 a.m. PDT).

Live Video Feed #1

Live Video Feed #2

Get the full press conference schedule here. This list also shows you which conferences are on which feed. The only potential drawback? Some conferences will be given in German or French, and there won't be translation.

Categories: Geneva Motor Show,Manufacturers

The granddaddy of all car auctions, Barrett-Jackson, runs next week from Tues. Jan. 19 to Sun. Jan. 24. Already a Hemi 'Cuda re-creation has been struck from the car list because the VIN on the car didn't match the title. Turns out the car was reported stolen in 1976.

Shelby American is the official sponsor of the opening night, invitation-only gala on the 18th. Carroll Shelby and his empire are celebrating the 45th anniversary of the GT350 Mustang and the 427 Cobra. So if you don't like Mustangs and Cobras, stay away from Scottsdale.

As usual, pre-1970s American nameplates account for the vast majority of lots at Barrett-Jackson, among them the 1930 Ford Model A used by the famous gangster John Dillinger. During a run from the law in 1934, "Dillinger, it is said, smashed the Ford's rear window with his Thompson [submachine gun] and sprayed his pursuers with bullets," reads a Barrett-Jackson statement.

The most expensive car ever sold at a Scottsdale auction is the 1966 Shelby Cobra Super Snake Roadster that went for $5.5 million at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson auctions, according to Sports Car Market.

There are a few newer cars on offer, too, and the newest of the new will be the first, full-production 2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe. The winning bidder will get to specify the drivetrain and options on the car. The proceeds, over and above the market value of the CTS coupe, will benefit the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

Other curiosities include this tiny Honda 600, the first mass-market Honda automobile and a 1952 Watson Roadster customized with a front-mounted 29-liter V12 tank engine by Blastolene. The 270-inch-long tank car has a 160-inch wheelbase and weighs 8,400 pounds. There's a video of it after the jump.

Speed will broadcast live from the auction Tuesday to Sunday. You can view the TV schedule here.

Barrett-Jackson car list

Autoweek

Sports Car Market

IL News: John Dillinger's 1930 Ford Model A To Cross Barrett-Jackson Auction Block

Continue reading...

Categories: Cadillac,Car Auctions,Ford,Honda,Manufacturers,Plymouth

Enough of all the monthly year-over-year increases and decreases and SAAR predictions. Here's how many vehicles each major manufacturer sold in the United States in 2009. And here's the percentage increase or decrease compared to 2008.

And by the way, Lexus sales are rolled into Toyota, Acura sales are rolled into Honda, Infiniti sales are rolled into Nissan, and Mini sales are rolled into BMW. But Volkswagen and Audi are separate. If that bugs you, make the jump to see a full brand-by-brand sales chart.

For more analysis of the numbers, visit our Auto Observer blog.

Data Source: Edmunds Inc.

Continue reading...

Categories: Manufacturers

Data Source: Edmunds Inc.

Categories: Auto Industry,Chevrolet,Ford,Honda,Manufacturers,Nissan,Toyota

Toyota recalled nearly 4.9 million vehicles in 2009 -- the most of any automaker in the U.S., the Detroit Free Press reports. This is the first time Toyota has ever led in annual recalls, and of course this milestone is the result of the floor mat debacle during which 4.3 million vehicles were recalled.

Free Press writers crunched the numbers on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Web site. Ford came up second with 4.5 million recalled vehicles -- most of them covered by recalls for cruise control switches that can catch fire, a chronic defect in older Fords.

Next up was GM was 2.2 million recalled vehicles, followed by Hyundai with just over 1 million and Nissan with 700,000+. Chrysler rounded out the top five with 590,000.

You can see the full list in the Free Press article.

Categories: Buick,Cadillac,Chevrolet,Chrysler,Dodge,Ford,GMC,General Motors,Hyundai,Infiniti,Jeep,Kia,Lexus,Lincoln,Manufacturers,Mercury,Nissan,Toyota

Last Saturday, Chevrolet chauffeured 17 L.A. food bloggers around the city to four top cupcake stores and treated them to cupcakes as part of its grassroots effort to reach out to the community. Just the week before the carmaker was at the University of Southern California campus during finals to shuttle 500 students in nine Equinoxes and Camaros to local fast-food restaurants, buying them "study-food" for a study break.

"Chevrolet Best of Tours is all about helping local residents discover the best that their city has to offer with fun rides to top hot spots in cool new Chevrolet vehicles, starting with cupcakes and expanding to other eateries, stores and activities," said Dave Barthmuss, General Motors Company group manager of Western Region, Environment & Energy Communications. "These tours will help to introduce Chevy products to local residents and influencers and provide them with a chance to experience our vehicles in a unique way."

When you're not selling cars to people, something must be done to make people like you. Chevrolet figures the thing to do is change people's minds one at a time, so like many other carmakers, it's using social media to do it, as you'll see on the "Best of Tours'" Twitter page and its Facebook profile.

For the "Best of Tours" L.A. cupcake tour, Chevy brought out four Equinoxes and one Transformer edition Camaro. But there weren't any presentations or hard sells about the cars, not even during the ride to the cupcake stores. Our chauffeurs weren't marketing people but rather those in charge of the press fleet, i.e. who deliver test cars to car journalists. The only time the car came up was at the end of the tour during the ride back when the driver demonstrated OnStar's turn-by-turn feature.

After the tour, we were each given gift bags. Again, the only shout-out to General Motors in the bag was a silver Tiffany keychain embossed with the GM logo.

We asked about the possibility of a cocktail tour as that would be the perfect way to make use of a designated driver and surprisingly Barthmuss seemed open to it so stay tuned.

Pictures of cupcakes after the jump.

Continue reading...

Categories: Chevrolet,Manufacturers

These are the 2010 North American Car of the Year finalists decided upon by 49 grizzled but wise, veteran journalists (among them Inside Line's Editor in Chief, Scott Oldham). The North American Truck of the Year hopefuls are after the jump. As always, the winner in each category will be announced at the Detroit Auto Show, in this case, January 11, 2010.

Which car and truck (after the jump) would get your vote?

2010 North American Car of the Year Nominees
 
BMW 335d
Buick LaCrosse
Cadillac CTS wagon
Chevrolet Camaro
Ford Fusion
Ford Fusion Hybrid
Ford Taurus/Taurus SHO
Honda Insight
Kia Soul
Mazda3/Mazdaspeed3
Mercedes-Benz E-Class
Porsche Panamera
Subaru Legacy
Suzuki Kizashi
Toyota Prius
Volkswagen Golf/GTI/TDI

More about the awards on Auto Observer

Continue reading...

Categories: Auto Industry,Detroit Auto Show,Manufacturers