Honda News - Same old song: Honda, Toyota to See Double Digit Growth in January
January 31, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment
In the ‘this is not news’ department, Honda and Toyota are going to steal market share from General Motors and Ford. The only part of the story that changes is the date. This time the headline holds true for January 2007. Gas prices hit $2 per gallon in January, about 50% lower than in January 2006. That, combined with winter weather, would usually mean a spike in sales of SUVs and trucks, but at this point the American public seems to know better. The shift has been made, and fuel efficiency is winning the day for now in the grand old USA.
The main reason GM and Ford aren’t selling at 2006 levels is that both companies are trying to rely less and less on fleet and mega-discount sales. Ford has cut production for the first half of 2007, which can largely be attributed to less fleets since both the Taurus and Freestar minivans have been canceled. The new Edge and MKX should ease some of the burden, but it’ll take months before dealer lots are properly stocked with the hot new crossover. GM, meanwhile, is ramping up Silverado production as fast as it possibly can, but it will take a few months before all cab configurations are available.
With Americans pining for crossovers and smaller sedans, Honda and Toyota simply offer more choices. If you’re looking for a small entry-level sedan from Ford, you have your choice of Focus. Toyota, on the other hand, has the Yaris, Corolla, and pick your Scion. Honda has the Civic and Fit. GM does have the Cobalt and Aveo, but neither vehicle approaches the sales volumes of the Asian counterparts. We think we’ll see plenty of these headlines in 2007, so if you’re tied to the domestic automakers in any way, you’ve been forewarned.
[Source: Detroit News]
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Source: www.autoblog.com
[tags]honda cars, honda news, honda models, honda[/tags]
Ford News - Live like a king in Bill Ford’s ex-residence
January 31, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment
, Ford
Are you looking for a unique property with plenty of land, 5,900 sq. ft. of living space and a beautiful view of a lake Huron? Not sure? What if we told you the house belongs to Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford? Well, if you have $3.95 Million and a desire to live in Ann Arbor, then this very well may be your dream home. The Fords moved down the street, so your children may even go to the same school. They’ll be the kids with the full-time security detail and access to a corporate jet.
Mr. Ford’s house has five bedrooms, a tennis court, in-ground pool, and a view that is remarkably like the one at the Henry Ford Estate in Dearborn. The house sits on 17.1 acres and has an amazing 650 feet of lake-frontage. The $3.95 Million selling price seems very firm, but since it’s a Ford you can probably negotiate 0% financing.
Check out the house listing here.
[Source: Detroit Free Press via Jalopnik]
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Source: www.autoblog.com
[tags]ford cars, ford news, ford models, ford[/tags]
Volvo News - Volvo developing C30 series hybrid concept
January 31, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment
Filed under: Hybrids/Alternative, Green, Volvo
Volvo has long tried to be good environmental stewards. Even before its revolutionary Lambda-Sond system in the late 1970s, the Gothenburg-based automaker had been making efforts to tread lightly. Now comes word that Volvo has developed a hybrid version of the C30 hatchback. The drive system is reportedly a series hybrid, with the batteries being charged on the go by a diesel powerplant. There’s plug-in charging capabilities, as well. The batteries alone can provide motive power for about 45 miles before the generator awakes. The electrified C30 will be part of the Michelin Challenge Bibendum, where engineers will presumably be trying to break stuff so that any production version has well-vetted hardware. No details are available about whether the hybrid hardware was developed in-house by Volvo or bequeathed by parent Ford, which developed a similar series hybrid drivetrain with a hydrogen fuel-cell generator for the Airstream Concept that debuted at the Detroit Auto Show this year.
[Source: Autobild - in German]
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
[tags]volvo cars, volvo models, volvo reviews, volvo[/tags]
Chevrolet News - Disagree with the judges? You pick America’s Most Beautiful Roadster
January 31, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment
, Contests, Etc., Chevrolet, Ford, Misc. Auto Shows
Click on the above image to view a high-res gallery of all the AMBR contenders
As with any beauty contest, there are differing opinions on the selection of Kevin & Karen Alstott’s 1935 Ford as America’s Most Beautiful Roadster. The Ridler Award winner was not my first choice, either. But then again, I preferred Betty over Veronica, Mary Ann over Ginger, Jan over Marcia and Janet over Chrissy, so what do I know? Perhaps Autoblog readers would like to view the leading contenders and make their own selection.
My favorite was Dennis DeCamp’s ‘32 roadster (shown) with its Jon Barrett-built alloy 427 Ford engine and hand-formed aluminum body by Marcel. Gabe’s Custom Interiors did the stitching and Speed Shop squirted the paint. Barry’s Speed Shop handled all the construction. Nicknamed F-32, the car features a unique push-rod suspension front and rear that locates the shocks inboard, ala Indy Car. There’s also a Ferrari influence with the hood scoop, nifty tear-drop exhaust outlets and a clever sprint-car cue with the push-bar license-plate frame. In my humble opinion, this ‘32 says a lot about innovation, performance, craftsmanship and just plain hot-rodding. I’m an engine guy, and little details — like the cantilevered engine mounts and the headers that seamlessly morph from square port to round tube — are impressive.
Following the jump are brief capsules on nine other contenders. There’s also a link to a gallery with more than 70 photos of the 10 vehicles that didn’t win. Don’t forget to check out the winner again and make your own choice.
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Continue reading Disagree with the judges? You pick America’s Most Beautiful Roadster
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Source: www.autoblog.com
[tags]chevrolet cars, chevolet news, chevrolet models[/tags]
Pontiac News - Sneak Peek! Wagoner lifts cover on Pontiac G8
January 30, 2007 by tsikot · Leave a Comment
, Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, Pontiac
As we reported earlier today, Charles Gibson is in Detroit this week doing World News Tonight from Motown. Avid Autoblog reader Arthur just tipped us off to this sneak peak of the show in which Rick Wagoner escorts Gibson into the Pontiac design studio and lifts the cover off the front end of the Pontiac G8 that will debut early next month at the Chicago Auto Show. Our inside sources tell us the G8 is officially listed as a concept, but we’re obviously pretty certain that Pontiac’s going to get a rear-wheel drive sedan based on Holden’s Zeta platform and that what you see here isn’t far from production at all. Click here to watch the video clip.
Thanks for the tip, Arthur!
[Source: ABC News]
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BOLD MOVES: THE FUTURE OF FORD A new documentary series. Be part of the transformation as it happens in real-time
Source: www.autoblog.com
[tags]pontiac cars, pontiac news, pontiac models[/tags]
