| Jim Wangers Productions | February 1, 2012
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Mopar Magic: Chrysler celebrates 75 years with custom cars for Chicago auto show
We used to call these Decal GT's, but they worked. Using their newly strengthened SRT efforts and marketing them under the Mopar nameplate, Fiat/Chrysler brings several new limited production "specials" to the upcoming Chicago Auto Show.
You'll notice that there are no changes to the engines or drivelines, as the customizing efforts are restricted to cosmetic efforts only. This is good marketing and takes advantage of many available options to create what looks like a "new" vehicle. JW
 AutoWeek | January 31, 2012
Mopar celebrated 75 years of supplying parts and power to Chrysler cars with the reveal of a quartet of customized vehicles on Tuesday that showcase the brand's heritage and future potential.
The Mopar '12 Chrysler 300, Dodge Dart GTS 210 Tribute, Fiat 500 Stinger and Jeep Compass True North get a range of cosmetic and performance upgrades, and they will be on display in February at the Chicago auto show. Read more... |
VW board to discuss Porsche deal on Feb. 14, report says
Would you pay over 10-billion dollars for complete control of Porsche? That's what it's going to cost VW. JW Automotive News Europe | January 29, 2012FRANKFURT -- Volkswagen's supervisory board will discuss plans to acquire the remaining 50.1 percent of Porsche Automobile Holding SE's sports car business at a meeting on February 14, a magazine reported. Read more...
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Don't sneer at Wuling's microvans -- they should count as GM sales
This chest pounding race for sales leadership between VW and GM has really become silliness.
However, news of the very existence of GM's "other" Chinese partner Wuling is the big news. GM now has positioned Buick as their up-market premium nameplate, Chevrolet as their mass-market popular-price brand, and Wuling as their new entry-level brand. Along with their other Chinese partner SAIC, GM now takes a major position covering all the market segments in China and Southeast Asia. Although they have been quite successful with the Buick nameplate, it appears that GM is now planning to add the Cadillac nameplate to this fleet. JW
Automotive News Europe | January 31, 2012
So which company is the world's largest automaker -- Volkswagen or General Motors?
A deceptively simple question. Two weeks ago, GM announced that it had sold 9.03 million vehicles in 2011, while Volkswagen says it sold 8.16 million units. Read more...
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Is Chevrolet set to race the Malibu in NASCAR next year?
NASCAR seems to be most anxious to tell us about auto makers competition for their 2013 Sprint Cup series, where both the Ford Fusion and the Chevrolet Malibu will boast new sheet metal.
While all of this is interesting and will build fan interest, they seem to be forgetting that there is a full 2012 season on hand. While we have already learned that 2012 will usher in the use of fuel injection and increased ethanol use, the cars themselves will be virtual carry-over's. It appears that the return to individual model exclusivity will have to wait till the 2013 season. Both the 2013 Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu will be restricted to 4-cyl. engines. I wonder what NASCAR plans to do about that.
Chrysler's Charger and the Toyota Camry will remain the same for 2013 and it is highly unlikely that NASCAR will approve the new smaller Dodge Dart for Sprint Cup competition. JW
 AutoWeek | January 30, 2012
Your Honor: No, we don't have a tacit admission from the party involved, Chevrolet, but we think you will find the circumstantial evidence rather compelling. It suggests that Chevy will race the Malibu instead of the Impala for the 2013 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series season, up against the 2013 Fusion that Ford revealed last week during the NASCAR Media Tour at Charlotte Motor Speedway. Read more... |
Why Lincoln can be a luxury player without rwd
The RWD stranglehold on the Luxury-car image seems to be compromising. Both GM with their new Cadillac XTS and FoMoCo with their much heralded "new" Lincoln MKZ are certainly hoping that will be true. Both are scheduled to be FWD with All-Wheel-Drive options, leaving European competitors MB, BMW, Porsche, along with Asian efforts from Toyota, Nissan and Hyundai as the vast of the true RWD competitors. While RWD certainly is not a fading future it appears that the domestic carmakers are restricting it to their sporty, more performance oriented vehicles ie: Camaro, Mustang, Challenger and the Cadillac CTS and ATS entries. Chrysler's 300 and Dodge Charger models not withstanding, are dated. Germany's popular Audi models have already embraced AWD design. JW
Automotive News -- January 30, 2012
Have enthusiast magazines brainwashed luxury-car buyers? For decades buyers have been reminded repeatedly that a true prestige-class car is defined by a rear-wheel-drive configuration. Read more...
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U.S. automakers seen losing market share amid 2012 growth
Most industry observers are predicting that the Domestic car makers will lose share in the 2012 market. These conjectures are based on increased strength from the Japanese carmakers as they show evidence of recovery from their disaster-related short comings of the 2011 model year.
I'm not ready to confirm that belief as I'm conscious of the fact that both the new Honda Accord and Nissan Altima models will be at best, mid-year releases. Assuming that they will be "big-hits" in the US marketplace, production limitations will compromise their 2012 sales success.
While only the Chevrolet Sonic and Fiat/Chrysler's Dodge Dart are all-new domestic entries, it is my feeling that earned momentum from existing successful models will keep the Domestic carmakers at their same competitive pace. We all know that "new-sheet metal" leads to increased traffic and sales resulting in slow starts for both Honda and Nissan during the final months of the 2012 model year. JW
 Automotive News | January 28, 2012DETROIT (Bloomberg) -- U.S. automakers led by General Motors Co. may lose share in their home market this year, a setback that might be assuaged by holding onto some of their gains against disaster-stricken Japanese rivals in 2011. Read more...
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Grand-Am: A. J. Allmendinger helps Michael Shank Racing take top spot at 50th Rolex 24
For those of you who may have missed it, the 2012 racing season started last Sunday (1/29) with the Rolex 24 at the Daytona International Speedway. Somehow it seemed to be under promoted and "under the radar" to all but the most enthusiastic auto-racing fans. Most significant among the results was that Ford powered cars appeared to dominate the race, grabbing the top three spots in the Prototype Class as did Porsche in the GT class.
While Chevrolet appeared competitive with their new Corvette DP entry, their efforts were forted by mechanical and racetrack incident problems. The same was true for the new Audi R8. JW
 AutoWeek | January 29, 2012
Daytona Prototype team owner Michael Shank has come close in the last seven years, but he has never been able to close the deal for a Rolex 24 at Daytona victory. But Shank, who is also starting an Izod IndyCar Series team this season, and his four drivers managed to win the historic 50th-anniversary version of the Rolex 24. Read more...
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2012 Ford Focus SE 5-door: Review notes
After several failed efforts, FoMoCo has apparently finally broken through the US resistance to the Hatchback. Sales already will support that premise, as the new 2012 Focus 5-dr. is gaining acceptance. Ford is also marketing a conventional 4dr. notchback sedan, but it appears that the 5-dr. has attracted more interest. AutoWeek editors will confirm as they present a very positive driving experience of this new Focus. JW
AutoWeek | January 31, 2012
 ART DIRECTOR TARA KLEIN: As soon as I got the keys, I was itching to hop into this 2012 Ford Focus SE 5-door. Not only am I a huge fan of the redesign, but my husband has been eyeing one of these to replace his falling-apart SUV. I saw my weekend as a perfect opportunity to realistically determine whether the new Focus was a good fit for him. Read more...
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