General Motors has been taking a beating for over a year now due to sales dips, make/model image problems, and labor and legacy issues. Truly, if there was a better time to jumpstart the company, I don’t know what it would be. Fortunately, someone in GM’s walnut-trimmed boardroom is getting the message: build what we want and we will buy it. The Buick Enclave, a luxury SUV making the rounds of the U.S. auto shows, appears to be one such winner.
I realize that I am in the minority of car critics, but I think that Buick is on the right track. The Lucerne, a full sized car based on the Cadillac DTS, is a beauty and Buick’s next newest model, the mid sized Lacrosse, is another attractive looking car. Still, Buick’s remaining fleet has been scaled back with only two SUVs and one crossover vehicle, the Terraza, left. At times it isn’t clear what plans GM has for its “near luxury” division, but if the Enclave is one example, then Buick has a promising future.
Ford is planning on ramping up production on their mini-SUV escape models and GM has announced producing flex fuel models, which can also run on either gasoline or E85. If the major US Automakers can agree on E85 and make cars, trucks and SUVs to run on E85, then we can bring it from Midwest US Ethanol Refineries to East Coast via rail and CA to be used. These markets have many environmentally conscious folks who would partake in a change for the common good. Is it possible with the tremendous infrastructure requirements to get all this E85 to market? Will we have enough?
We must also allow for pre-established fuel dealers to offer it; that is to say those fuel cards locations, Sunoco, BP and Travel Centers with incentives as pre-described in Lance Winslow’s report:
Currently the price of fuel for automobiles is quite high, indeed it is not as high as it was before, but it is too high for the average US family who is squeaking by on a modest budget. Do you want a more fuel efficient Car, light truck or SUV, yet you notice that all the hybrids are completely sold out, cost about $15,000 more than a normal car and there are waiting lists at all the Dealerships of the brand and type of car you have considered?
Meanwhile Daimler Chrysler and other automakers are giving heavy discounting to those who buy cars now, some of which include free maintenance and fuel for 2 years? Well, that sure sounds good; a new car and a 2-year free fuel credit card. Of course there is a catch, these programs only exist with larger gas-guzzler SUVs. So once the two-years has done passed you buy you are going to be stuck with a non-fuel efficient vehicle aren’t you? Some deal that is, if you are trying to cut costs and save fuel now?
I mentioned in a related article that the first batch of Chinese built cars to be imported to the U.S. is only a few years away. In that article, I discussed Chery Automobiles and how the company has its designs on the American market, particularly in the entry level category. Well, now a second manufacturer – Geely Automotive Company – is also planning on bringing at least one model to the U.S. by 2008. Changes are in the wind, but lest you think that Detroit is the only one quivering don’t be fooled: Japan’s automakers and Korea’s automakers all must take notice of what is about to happen.
For certain, the U.S. automobile market is the most lucrative one in the world. It is also the largest with more than 17 million new vehicles sold annually. All automakers know that if you have a piece of the American market, you have a piece of big profits as long as what you are selling is what consumers want [Ford and GM, take notice].
Posted in Vehicles | Also tagged BMW, Chery, Chinese Cars, Chrysler, Ford, Geely, honda, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, Subaru, Toyota, VW |
We are seeing longterm loans of up to 8 years on new cars. Generally the Financing Department of a Car Dealership makes as much money as the sales department. After 0/0 deals have come and gone, the new car sales markets are looking for ways to continue the high sales. By offering lower payments of $50-100.00 per month less, car buyers who could not afford the car they wanted will now be able to fit it within their budgets since so many Americans are underemployed, in other words working at Home Depot even though they have two advanced degrees.
The telecom job they may have had at $60-88K per year has turned into a $36K per year cash strapped job. These consumers are still being targeted by the dealerships even with these current issues. The real problem comes down the road similar to those which hurt the Leases where the people were upside down in their values upon the time when most turn in their cars; average is three years.
When Saturn exited the midsize car market a few years ago they left with a promise: we’ll be back. After several years of lackluster sales, GM’s Saturn division dropped the unpopular L Series in 2004 with no immediate replacement waiting. Thanks in part to the company’s German division, Opel, Saturn has a new car to capture the imagination of sedan enthusiasts everywhere. The AURA, a five passenger Euro style sedan, is now on display at your local Saturn dealership. Please read on to see what the AURA has in store for buyers just like you.
The L Series wasn’t a bad car, it just got lost in a sea of competition dominated by popular Camrys, versatile Accords, and dependable Taurus’s. Bland styling didn’t help matters either as the car never approached General Motors’ expectations, therefore the automaker decided to drop the model from Saturn’s then spartan line up.
Toyota’s latest model is the subcompact Yaris, a replacement for the Echo and the newest entry level car for the division. Retailing for just under $11,000 the Yaris may impact the sales of another, slightly larger Toyota model. Is it the Corolla? No. How about the Matrix? No. The model I am thinking about is the Prius, Toyota’s compact hybrid hauler.
The whole idea of buying a hybrid car is to conserve fuel and save money, right? In part, that is a true statement. However, the price of a vehicle must also be factored in and the Yaris will be retailing for $10,000 less than the Prius. In addition, the Yaris is a real gas sipping car. EPA figures are showing that the Yaris will deliver 34 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. This compares to the 60 mpg city and 51 mpg highway for the Prius…and we all know that hybrid fuel economy figures are being widely attacked from all quarters for being vastly overstated.
Posted in Vehicles | Also tagged Buick, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, General Motors, hybrid cars, Jeep, Pontiac, prius, Toyota, Yaris |
Ford was the first of the Big Three American car makers to introduce a car that would bring them back to a time when they were one of the leaders in the automotive world. Chrysler has announced that they plan to be the next and GM has unveiled plans for a retro vehicle as well. Ford had initially done this retro thing via the Ford Thunderbird but that was not considered a “muscle car” back in the muscle car era. Chrysler has brought back the Charger name but it looks nothing like the Dodge Charger of the late 60’s and early 70’s. GM brought back the GTO name but once again, it looked nothing like the previous GTO’s.
Ford was the first to bring a car back that actually looks like a past model in the Mustang. The new Mustangs resemble a pervious Mustang from the muscle car era. Chrysler followed suit with their announcement of bringing back the Challenger, which in my opinion looks more like the Challenger than the Mustang does. Not wanting to be left out, GM has announced they plan to bring back the Camaro. Their Camaro very much resembles the 69 Camaro which was and still is a very popular body style amongst Camaro enthusiasts. I still think the Challenger most resembles its intended target.
Kia is planning to bring to the American market a new type of vehicle – a seven passenger crossover – that will compete against the likes of the Toyota Matrix and the Dodge Caliper. The Kia Carens will be sold later this year in Europe and will likely make it to the U.S. market as the Kia Rondo at about the same time. Demand for crossovers continues to rise as the market adjusts to this relatively new type of vehicle. Will the Rondo succeed? If early press reports are any indication then the answer is yes.
Kia’s aggressive surge on the world scene is being made evident through new or proposed factories in Europe and in Georgia, USA. As a subsidiary of the mighty Hyundai group, Kia has long stood for being the budget Korean brand while Hyundai is the company’s value brand. The proposed Rondo will continue Kia’s tradition of providing decent quality small vehicles for prices that are thousands of dollars less than the competition.
Posted in Vehicles | Also tagged APC, avtorentacar auto parts, car parts, Chery, Dodge, Hella, Hyundai, Kia Carnens, Kia Rondo, PIAA, Plymouth |
If you were to examine the new Mitsubishi Raider, your eyes would behold the unmistakable triad logo centered in the middle of its beefy looking grille. However, as you let your eyes run the full length of the truck’s body and take a look at its styling cues, you would see something different, yet very familiar. Indeed, apart from some fascia, body, and cabin changes, the Raider is without a doubt a Dodge Dakota. Yes, the tables have been reversed and Mitsubishi’s pick up truck is now a Dodge instead of the other way around. Beyond the obvious similarities there are some differences between the models that gives the Raider a uniqueness all of its own.
Back during the 1970s and 1980s when Chrysler needed small cars and trucks to fill out its limited line up, the company tapped its business relationship with Mitsubishi to supply what it needed. Included in the mix was a small pick up truck, most recently the D50. When Chrysler developed the midsized Dakota during the late 1980s, the need for the small Mitsubishi truck decreased and by the early 1990s the D50 was no more.
What could be more appealing to the auto market than innovations, inventions, tips, and technologies that could help car drivers and owners save much on the high priced gas. And to make sure that the market gets such, General Motors Corporation, or much known as GM or GMC, has recently upgraded the OnStar concierge system so as to assist drivers in saving on gas and cutting down on fuel expenses.
The new and upgraded OnStar service would actually lend a hand to drivers by reminding them of any maintenance that needs to be done. Of course, these maintenance duties are those that could make them save much on expenses on fuel for these could and would improve any vehicle’s fuel economy. These reminders also make sure that the GM vehicle would be making total use and extending the life of the genuine GM parts. Any unnecessary changes of the oil would also be another added advantage that the OnStar system could give to drivers and car owners.
Placing a new air deflector on your car is a wise decision. Bugs, road debris, and rocks can all macerate your hood or even break your windshield. Within moments your trip upstate has come to a screeching halt because of what was tossed up in the air by the vehicle in front of you while you were cruising down the highway. An air deflector might have sent that stone harmlessly to the side or up and over the roof of your car. Instead, your windshield took a direct hit. Let’s take a look at all of the advantages of an air deflector and how installing one is a cost effective solution.
An air deflector doesn’t have to cost you a bunch of money and when you consider what you save in replacement glass, it pays for itself right away.
Gas prices topping $3 a gallon has many motorists in a tizzy. We’ve been accustomed to cheap fuel for so many years, so much so that the recent run up in prices has many people worried and wondering how they can save on fuel. Prices aren’t likely to drop anytime soon, so short of trading in your current set of wheels for a hybrid or a diesel, you need some sensible answers on how to save money. Let’s take a look at several ways you can squeeze better gas mileage out of your vehicle.
Inflate Your Tires – If you don’t regularly check your tires, you could be spending more on gas than what is necessary. Keep your tires properly inflated and you could reverse a drop in fuel economy of 5-15%.
General Motors’ Saturn division is hard at work on building a replacement for its small SUV, the Saturn VUE. Currently based strictly on U.S. technology, the 2008 VUE is expected to be heavily based on Opel technology: Opel is General Motors’ principal European brand. This is good news for those who were concerned that GM would ditch the Saturn VUE. Instead, the SUV will get new life and additional support via its new relationship with Opel. While it is too early to know all the details about the upcoming Saturn VUE makeover, there are some things we do know about this revamped model.
Ever since Saturn released the first “S Series” models back in 1990, the company has struggled to maintain a unique identity. Neglected by parent GM, the upstart Saturn brand had to wait nearly a decade before additional vehicles were added to its line including the Saturn VUE SUV. Along with the “L Series” midsize cars, the three vehicle lines [ION having replace the S Series] fully comprised the Saturn line for several years. Unfortunately, none of the three models were stand out performers, so the brand suffered accordingly.
Auto analysts are sure painting a terrible future for General Motors, indeed the recent Delphi bankruptcy is certainly bad news, but Alfred Sloan might have some things to say about all this. After all General Motors is certainly not the tight net-centric type company today that he built back then. Instead they have adopted the “core business” theories of modern MBA academia. Alfred Sloan would have never allowed the Unions to become so un-reality based in their demands and would have never allowed the under funded pension situation to get so far out of hand.
Originally General Motors was a company of many different divisions surrounded around its military manufacturing operations. They really did not start financing all their cars until after 1923. It was then that they came up with the plan to allow financing on easy terms, “make a hit with the whole family” the ads read. Back in 1923 General Motors financed most of the cars it sold. In fact installment selling became very popular with its growing dealer networks and get this the salesmen even brought cars to you home to review. Heck, why can’t we have a little Alfred Sloan style back at General Motors?