| Jim Wangers Productions | January 24, 2012
|
|
Jim Wangers announces Auto Recap subscription service
As an avid automotive enthusiast or automotive marketer, you can't get enough noteworthy automotive information: new products, car reviews, and the latest happenings in the automotive world. No doubt, your friends call upon you frequently for your automotive opinion.
Just launched, Jim Wangers Auto Recap captures the latest auto industry news in one easy-to-read email newsletter. For the next few weeks you will be receiving Jim Wangers Auto Recap on a complimentary trial basis.
As a paid subscriber you will receive 2-3 email newsletter per week for the low price of $10 per month. Jim is also offering a greater savings if you purchase an annual subscription. Click here to subscribe today.
We know you will agree...the Jim Wangers Auto Recap makes it easy for you to be a well-informed automotive authority!
|
2012 Buick Regal GS: Review notes
A Buick we can actually get excited about
What looked somewhat like a patronizing effort to "Be nice to Buick" Autoweek editors actually went out of their way to praise the new Regal GS Buick equipped with their "very new" 6-speed manual transmission. Other than a few nit-picking faults, the 4 editors who actually spent time driving the car came away almost enthusiastic with their praise.
As an objective automotive observer, I come away from this positive Buick rhetoric, wishing that there was indeed a real nicely styled coupe in the Buick Regal stable. Remember the Coupe? somehow they seem to have forgotten it in Detroit, allowing the Japanese and the Germans to dominate the market. By model name Coupe, I don;t mean the sporty, difficult to enter, low roofline sporty coupe like the Mustang, Camaro and Challenger. I mean a Honda Civic et al. JW
 AutoWeek | January 24, 2012So I got an early Christmas present last year: a turbo Regal in the driveway--a 2012 Buick Regal GS, no less--with a six-speed stick shift. Being a bit of a Buick geek (former 1963 Riviera and 1972 Skylark owner), I sat there for a minute marveling that such a creature actually existed today. Really, who among us could have predicted a nearly 300-hp six-speed Regal would exist 10 or even five short years ago? Read more... |
Test Drive: Toyota Venza nice but interior needs work
Not his normal choice to review new models, powerful "opinion-maker" Jim Healey chooses the 4 year old Toyota Venza to be the subject of his latest USA Today Test Drive. As you might expect, he still likes it with the usual list of personal and sometimes overly-critical negatives. In my automotive opinion, I think the Venza is "mis-represented by it's parent Toyota in an attempt to call it either a crossover or even a SUV. It's a Station Wagon and there certainly is nothing wrong either being a good looking , practical, roomy, comfortable and even fun to drive Toyota Camry Station Wagon. Call it Venza, none of are too old to remember the highly successful Ford Country Squire. Certainly, I am not recommending that Toyota slap wood side panels on it's Camry Station Wagon but there's nothing wrong with being a Camry Station Wagon called a Venza. JW
USA Today | January 27, 2012
 If there were marketing justice, we'd all drive Toyota Venzas to salute the automaker for those wonderful ads making fun of Internet-addicted, self-centered young folk.
We'd also be chuckling smugly because the ads focus on mature people adventuring in their Venzas. That's far from the young urbanites Toyota identified as its target buyers when Venza launched in December 2008 as a 2009 model. Read more...
|
Ford quarterly profit slips to $1.1 billion on Europe, Asia losses
On It's way to post it's biggest profit since 1998 (due to a US deferred tax benefit) FoMoCo is forced to compromise that claim due to widening losses from Europe and Asia.
The European losses can be accepted because of the pullback in the entire market, while the losses in the Asia Pacific Africa region are the result of a late start. The decision to delay their aggressive effort in this arena came about during CEO Alan Mulally's reign. While some of the blame for failure in Asia can be attributed to weather setbacks, that does not justify the fact that they are significantly outsold in the area by both GM and VW.
 Sorta, takes a little 'Bloom" of the Rose. JW
Automotive News | January 27, 2012
DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. said its pretax operating earnings in the fourth quarter fell 15 percent to $1.1 billion, in part due to widening losses in Europe, as the company posted its third straight annual net profit. Read more...
|
Hyundai, Subaru, Lexus top NADA dealership satisfaction survey
Successful new models and higher gross profits make for "happy " new car dealers. This fact is certainly verified by the results of a recent NADA (National Automobile Dealers Association) survey. the numbers speak for themselves as the list is dominated by the most successful and fastest growing Korean Japanese and European dealers. It is also worth noting That Germany's arrogant BMW is absent from the top 10 list, and that Cadillac was the only domestic nameplate mentioned. JWAutomotive News | January 27, 2012Hyundai, Subaru and Lexus have the most satisfied dealers, a National Association of Automobile Dealers survey released today shows. For the third consecutive survey period, Hyundai finished in the top overall spot while its Kia affiliate finished fourth. Subaru took second place, marking its fifth consecutive finish in the top three, NADA said in a statement. Lexus rounded out the top three, dropping from a second-place finish on the previous survey.The bi-annual survey measures franchised new-car dealers' satisfaction with their respective auto manufacturers. Today's results come from the summer 2011 survey, taken in July and August. Read more...
|
GM seen accelerating Opel restructuring as sales plunge
Although it's becoming a little "tired news" GM continues to publicly share the personnel efforts with the World. In a "much-needed" effort to revive it's Opel unit in Europe. Already naming U.S. vice-chairman Steve Girsky to become Chairman of the Supervisory board , they have now added Senior VP for global product planning Mary Barra to the board.
As you may know, the Opel supervisory board is made up of members of both corporate management and Union representation. The German based IG Metall is a very powerful force on the Board. Plans to sell the Opel/ Vauxhall operations in Europe were abandoned last year with most of the credit for that decision going to new GM CEO Dan Akerson. Conditions have worsened for GM in the much-troubled European market which brings about the absolute need for immediate change. GM's highly respected success in the Asian marketplace brings about a thorough investigation of the "reasons for failure" in Europe. remember, the difference between success and failure is measured by the SHARE of the market, regardless of the existing financial situation. JW
Automotive News | January 27, 2012
SOUTHFIELD, Michigan -- The financial crisis in Europe is adding new urgency to General Motors' attempt to turn around its money-burning Opel unit. GM, which has already trimmed its European work force by 5,800, is considering a variety of additional steps Read more... |
California looks to tighten pollution limits
As you may already know, California has already adopted new clean air standards. To quote, the program project average annual fuel costs will be reduced by 25%, while greenhouse gases will be cut by 34%. Additionally CARB "hopes" that The new rules will add jobs to the state's depressed economy.
Their unsupported promise also predicts zero emission or plug in hybrid vehicles will account for 1 in 7 new cars sold 2025. They also promise that "owning and operating" an electric vehicle will be much easier for the States consumers. Their executive office statement further promises that "driving innovation, new patents and new technology will generate thousands of jobs".
As mentioned before these are unsupported promises, which really do not give any serious consideration to the PRICE of these new vehicles. Several industry sources (unnamed) have predicted that these new "rules" will increase the average price of a new vehicle about $5000. JW AutoWeek | January 26, 2012The California Air Resources Board is scheduled to vote on Thursday on whether to adopt stricter clean-air standards for the state proposed by the Advanced Clean Car program. The program's proposal combines the control of soot, smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse-gas emissions into a package that may be required for model years 2017 through 2025. According to the program, the rules aim to clean up conventionally powered cars, deliver more zero-emissions cars and ensure that a fueling infrastructure is available. Read more... |
Policy, green cars take center stage at Washington auto show
I am a little entertained by the "overdone" public display by the nations automakers presented at the preview of the Washington DC Auto show. To quote directly from GM North American President Mark Reuss he said." These days we know our customers are very interested in this information".Certainly it is no surprise that all the automakers were putting their best foot forward to impress Government Officials. While there was really nothing new from products already announced at other shows it is almost a deliberate intent by the manufacturers to focus less on sheet metal and more on impressing the Nations Lawmakers. JW
 AutoWeek | January 26, 2012Policy, green cars take center stage at Washington auto show
Public policy and the ultimate impact it has on consumers' cars was the hot topic on Thursday at the Washington auto show, as companies vied to show off and explain their latest fuel-efficient technologies under the watchful eyes of regulators and government officials. Notably, Chevrolet announced plans to roll out an "Ecologic" environmental label on the 2012 Sonic, with other vehicles to follow. Read more... |
|
