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A Postitive News Story, About Ford No LessBy Robert Farago  The Black Dog of has been growling at my door. I'm not sure if it's the constant site crashes. Or TrueDelta extraction (a misplaced cure). Or the page view counter getting stuck. Or the RSS feeder developing anorexic. Or the enormous discrepancy between where we are and where TTAC could be. Needs to be. Yes, there is that; drugs or no, OCD is a cruel taskmaster. As is my passionate belief in this website's mission. I know I should just kick back and cash my paycheck and not give a shit. But that's not my nature. I didn't start TTAC to make money. And I'm not going to give up on it for money, either. So I'm fighting for our right to party. All I ask is your patronage and patience. Come Hell or high water, I will not let you-- or myself-- down. Meanwhile, I want to thank Ford for lifting my spirits. I've always said Ford will be the last man standing in the Detroit cage match. Even though FoMoCo's business plan and bumbling bureaucracy is just as fucked-up as their cross-town rivals, I've always found them the most open-minded, enthusiastic and honest of The Big 2.8. I like to think that counts for something (especially with an outsider at the helm). To wit: I applaud Ford Motor Credit's decision to allow its tornado-ravaged customers to get a couple of months grace from their car payments. I could say something cynical about this, but I won't. Sometimes, you've gotta count your blessings and let it be. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
[The Truth About Cars] A Postitive News Story, About Ford No Less
[The Truth About Cars] Question of the Day: How Many Passengers On Board?
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Question of the Day: How Many Passengers On Board?By Robert Farago
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[The Truth About Cars] TTAC Called It: GM Restructuring Plan on Same Day as Sales Drop
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TTAC Called It: GM Restructuring Plan on Same Day as Sales DropBy Robert Farago
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[The Truth About Cars] "The $75 [gas] limit ensures merchants and customers are protected from fraud"
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"The $75 [gas] limit ensures merchants and customers are protected from fraud"By Robert Farago
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Friday, May 30, 2008
[The Truth About Cars] Paris Preview: Mini Crossman Cute Ute
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Paris Preview: Mini Crossman Cute UteBy Edward Niedermeyer  MINI's forthcoming Crossman cute ute is set to debut later this year at the Paris Auto Show, but spy images and details are already making the rounds on the autoblogosphere. Channel Four tells us that the Crossman is based on the next-generation generation of MINI platforms, which will be a more flexible platform to accommodate larger variants like the Crossman. And as a result, the MINI Ute is larger, riding about 80mm higher than a standard MINI and will be over 12 feet long. The Crossman will offer BMW X-Drive AWD, although front wheel drive will most likely be the base configuration. An optional Efficient Dynamics start-stop system should help keep fuel efficiency reasonable. The Crossman will be closely related to BMW's forthcoming X1 baby ute (cannibalism much?), and both vehicles will be built in Austria by Magna Steyr. With a planned annual production of 80k units, there should be plenty of Crossmen available for those urban sophisticates who are willing to pay considerably more for a MINI that looks like it could handle a forest service road. The Crossman will be available stateside some time in 2010.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] GM To Debut HCCI Technology on Opel Insignia
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GM To Debut HCCI Technology on Opel InsigniaBy Edward Niedermeyer  As Katie Puckrik has pointed out, GM is not the only automaker working on HCCI technology. But, as Auto Express reports, GM could be the first company to outfit a production model with the sparkless technology. GM lent Auto Express a Vauxhall Vectra fitted with a 2.2 HCCI four-banger for a first drive, and in the process let slip that the engine would eventually find its way to the Opel/Vauxhall Insignia. There is no indication as to exactly when the engine will debut, but the engine needs refinement and Auto Express guestimates that it's a good two years awawy from production. This news jives with what we've been hearing about GM taking Opel upmarket, and "democratizing technology" in the process. If GM takes the time to iron out the engines reported awkward transitions between normal and HCCI modes, the 43mpg promised by this 2.2 engine could make it a popular choice. Of course, we'll have to see if it is even offered in the US-market Saturn Aura. And check the pricing. And the reliability. And the real-world mileage. And, and, and.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Question of the Day: When Was the Last Time You Enjoyed Driving?
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Question of the Day: When Was the Last Time You Enjoyed Driving?By Jonny Lieberman  Looking through today's headlines, and man is there a lot of doom and gloom. Gas up. Strike here. Jobs cut there. Mexican Fords even further over there. One comment in particular stuck in my mind. Talking about the Dacia Logan review Salokj said, "Renault has done a great job at marketing this car and even some car guys I know tell me 'What's the point of buying anything more, you can't go over 130km/h anymore.'" And 130km/h is bang on about 80 mph. Fast, but really more freeway cruising speed. Or if you live in Britain, the speed at which cops shoot. Anyhow, it all got me thinking -- is driving fun anymore? Traffic, tickets, the price of gas, modern cars are too numb, too fat and much too safe. But still, and maybe I'm just wired different, but despite everything I just listed, every time I climb behind a wheel I simply love it. Doesn't matter the car, doesn't matter the location nor the weather. Strap me in and I love it -- on some level at least. Even last night, stuck in traffic with a heavy clutch, was completely enjoyable. To me. What about you?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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Cars: Toyota Matrix is fun to drive but weird to look at
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ALERT: Ford adds hatchback to Fiesta lineup for U.S.
AutoWeek Daily Drive — Friday, May 30, 2008
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[The Truth About Cars] GM Buyouts, Pt. 2: New UAW Contract Saves $2.1b p.a.
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GM Buyouts, Pt. 2: New UAW Contract Saves $2.1b p.a.By John Horner  Last February, GM offered buyouts to all 74k of its remaining US hourly workers. We now know Some 19k GM union members are so out of here. J.P. Morgan analyst Himanushu Patel predicts GM won't replace up to 15k of the departing union members, for total annual savings of $2.1 billion. For mortals, $2.1B is big bucks. But for cash-burning GM 'tis nuth'n. For years now, GM has been reporting record-setting cost reductions and record-setting losses. Talk about saving your way to nothing! The boogiemen on Wall Street bid the stock to a 26-year low of $17.38 at yesterday's bell. AP reports via Yahoo! Business that the General is thinking about moving workers off the truck assembly lines and onto building the cars which are actually selling. GM eliminated shifts at two truck plants in Michigan. Laid-off workers could be moved to a car assembly factory in nearby Orion Township, where GM is negotiating with the UAW to add a third shift. Negotiations? "We haven't got anything final," says Mike Dunn, bargaining chairman of UAW Local 5960. "We're always looking to bring work in. We're hoping before the year's out that we can accomplish this goal." Hey, what's the rush?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Toyota Might Just Build Prius in California
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Toyota Might Just Build Prius in CaliforniaBy Jonny Lieberman  Everyone's familiar with New United Motor Manufacturing, Inc., right? Also known as NUMMI, the plant is a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota. Why would the number one and number one two car makers team up? The old answer was that GM wanted to learn about Japanese "lean" manufacturing techniques and Toyota wanted to use the plant as a beachhead to establish North American production. The new answer? We'll leave it to the historians. That said, ToMoCo is thinking about maybe building their hot selling hybrid at NUMMI. Motor Authority is reporting that as American demand for the Prius remains high, the potential move is making a lot of sense to (some) Toyota suits. Like all of their corporate decisions, Toyota will be thinking long on hard on this one. Not mentioned in the article is that due to the weakness of the dollar, American workers can now be paid in chicken feed, or the equivalent there of. Hey, it's not all bad news. Maybe GM can learn a thing or two about what makes a Prius before the 2010 "launch" of the Chevy Volt.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Chrysler Decides Hybrid Cars Might Be Worth Looking Into
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Chrysler Decides Hybrid Cars Might Be Worth Looking IntoBy Edward Niedermeyer
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[The Truth About Cars] E85 Boondoggle of the Day: No Surrender for Federal Subsidies!
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E85 Boondoggle of the Day: No Surrender for Federal Subsidies!By Robert Farago  "Agriculture Secretary Edward T. Schafer is preparing to walk into a buzzsaw of criticism over American biofuels policy when he meets with world leaders to discuss the global food crisis next week." Ouch! Clearly, The New York Times is through pulling is punches on America's cord-fed bio-fuel bonanza. The majority of their article "Food Report Criticizes Biofuel Policies" is dedicated to a report criticizing biofuel policies (strangely enough), But before the knife is twisted ("The Agriculture Department's own longtime chief economist, Keith Collins, who retired in January, said that ethanol was the 'foot on the accelerator' of corn demand), Secretary Schafer wants his constituents (corn growers) to know he's got their back. By his department's reckoning, biofuel production accounts for "only" two to three percent of the increase in global food prices, while reducing crude oil consumption by a million (a million!) barrels a day."We think that policy-wise in the United States of America — and certainly in the rest of the world — as we see the price of oil and petroleum escalate dramatically beyond anyone's imagination, that one of the ways to deal with that is to produce biofuels which are renewables, better for the environment and help lower that cost." So E85 reduces gas use (although it increases gas use) and helps the environment (although it hurts the environment). Let the price supports begin! Oh wait...View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] GM Buyouts Entice 19k From Sinking Ship, Pt. 1
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GM Buyouts Entice 19k From Sinking Ship, Pt. 1By Edward Niedermeyer  GM has been trying to realize savings from its two-tier wage agreement with the UAW by offering veteran hourly workers (who are locked in at old wages) cash buyouts to walk from their jobs. Well, the offer has expired and the Detroit News reports that some 19k UAW workers, or nearly a quarter of the General's North American work force, has taken the money and run. Although GM hadn't set a public goal for the buyouts, the 19k number was at the high end of UAW President Ron Gettelfinger's 5k to 20k estimate, and far exceeded Ford and Chrysler's most recent buyout takes. About 4,200 workers took Ford's latest buyout offer, about half of what the blue oval wanted. Chrysler's recently bought out about 7k workers, bringing it to nearly 80 percent of its hourly headcount reduction goal. But GM had to work hard to convince so many of its 46k workers who are eligible for retirement to walk away. The General offered $62,500 to each retirement-eligible worker, who then had the choice of receiving cash upfront or rolling payments into an IRA account, on top of full pension and retirement benefits. And while the carrots for leaving GM were good, the sticks are still looming for those left behind. Ominous reports from Automotive News (sub) tell of GM's "top managers working on additional restructuring measures to deal with a declining U.S. auto market." An anonymous source tells AN that GM plans to cut shifts at truck and SUV plants, cut about 2k salaried jobs through involuntary firings (sound familiar?), and is considering "other actions." Gee, retirement is starting to sound pretty nice, eh?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] EU Regulators Go For Gadgets
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EU Regulators Go For GadgetsBy Martin Schwoerer View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Ford Motor Credit Hits the Wall
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Ford Motor Credit Hits the WallBy John Horner  Even though Ford Motor Credit avoided the mortgage madness haunting GMAC, the credit crisis is taking its toll. Today's Wall Street Journal reports that FMC's delinquencies are up. Upside-down car and truck owners are giving up and giving back. With resale values falling through the floor, the bankers are stuck with monster truck-sized losses on repossessed vehicles. Even clean lease returns are a problem. Contemplating their ailing credit ops and DOA truck market, The Blue Oval Boyz have pushed out it's profitability date from 2009 to... someday. "Ford started the year expecting its credit arm to match the $1.2 billion in pretax profit it earned last year, but now has a much dimmer outlook. In the first quarter, Ford Credit earned just $36 million, $257 million less than in the year-earlier period." Unlike GM's sell-off of GMAC, Ford continues to say it "has reviewed the option of selling the unit many times over the years but has always come to the conclusion that Ford Credit is a strategic asset for the auto maker." Which is lucky; who'd buy it? Never one to miss the obvious, Ford share stalker Kirk Kerkorian's go-to guy Jerome York fingers Ford Credit as "an area of weakness." Ya think?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] TTAC Photochop: Sixth Generation Maserati Quattroporte
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TTAC Photochop: Sixth Generation Maserati QuattroporteBy Andrei Avarvarii
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[The Truth About Cars] Crude Down, Gas Up
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Crude Down, Gas UpBy Robert Farago  CNNMoney reports that the price of crude oil may finally have spiked-- you know, if you look at it that way. "Crude oil prices retreated into the $126-a-barrel range Wednesday after dropping almost $5 a barrel from intraday highs to settle at $128.85 on Tuesday." While CNN is almost happy to make the link between dropping crude prices and "relief at the pump," it's worth noting, uh, what they note. "Gas prices have been pushed to record levels in the past year on the back of record oil prices. As the price of crude oil has more than doubled, gas prices have increased by almost a quarter." Anyone see an ominous disconnect there? Anyway and meanwhile, gas prices hit record highs for the 21st day in a row. "The nationwide average for a gallon of regular unleaded rose to $3.944, up 0.7 cent from $3.937 Tuesday." Detroit shouldn't pop the cork on those SUV-shaped champagne bottles just yet. Most analysts reckon that increased demand worldwide will prevent the price of crude from returning to last year's levels. Ever.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Ford Snubs UAW, Will Build New Fiesta in Mexico
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Ford Snubs UAW, Will Build New Fiesta in MexicoBy John Horner  Ford is bringing the Fiesta back to the US of A (AP via Yahoo!). But like the Fusion, this American car will be Central American, as in Hecho en Mexico. Looks like UAW President Big Ron Gettlefinger didn't get far with his argument that Ford's U.S. plants are "competitive enough that the automaker could make money building its smallest cars in the U.S." Somehow I don't think the recent "independent" strike actions at multiple UAW factories bolstered his argument much. The last time Ford sold Fiestas in the homeland they were made in Germany, imported from 1978 through 1980. Almost nobody bought them, in part because Ford dealers didn't have a clue about selling the silly little things. Although a flop at home, worldwide the Fiesta has been a perennial best selling sub-compact. This latest version will go on sale in Europe, China and other markets before making it's way back home. Assuming gas prices stay high, the new Fiesta should find a strong welcome at your local Blue Oval dealer. The question is, what is taking so long? Why is China in on the initial roll out while the world's largest car market (yes that's still us) has to wait another two years?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] 2008 Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 dCi Review
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2008 Dacia Logan MCV 1.5 dCi ReviewBy Martin Schwoerer
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[The Truth About Cars] Restaurant Grease Thefts Soar
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Restaurant Grease Thefts SoarBy Robert Farago  When fans of bio-diesel first claimed they were running their [former] oil burners on "free" fuel-- restaurant's abandoned cooking oil and grease-- we predicted the fat bubble would burst. And so it has. The New York Times reports that "yellow grease" has risen from 7.6 cents per pound (2000) to 33 cents a pound, or almost $2.50 a gallon. And so we delve into the murky-- or is that cloudy?-- world of grease theft. The Old Gray Lady weaves a strange tale of late night Burger King raids, private dicks working for grease collection and rendering companies, shady environmentalists, and (as always) befuddled cops. Oh, and a lawyer who specializes in defending the "grease rustlers." "Once you put something in the trash, it's abandoned property,” said Jon A. Jaworski, a lawyer in Houston who represents accused grease thieves. “A lot of times, it's not theft.” And a lot of times it is. The unsolved 2,500-gallon Burger King heist chronicled at the outset was worth more than $6,000 on the black (yellow) market. There's only two elements missing from this tale of low life and high fat: the drivers who buy the stuff that "fell off the back of a dumpster" and government intervention. How long before the liquid gold is regulated and taxed? Take our word for it: not long at all. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] New Euro-Ford CUV Scores Highest for Safety
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New Euro-Ford CUV Scores Highest for SafetyBy Martin Schwoerer  Ford new-in-Europe Kuga compact crossover has achieved the best combination of crash test star ratings, placing the car at the top of the Euro NCAP small SUV group. The Euro-Focus-based Kuga scored the maximum five stars for adult occupant protection, four stars for child occupant protection and three stars for pedestrian protection. (Only a few other SUVs have been deemed relatively pedestrian-friendly. The BMW X3 for instance scored only one star). And no other SUV, large or small, has achieved a total of so many stars in the various categories. How did they do it? Technical gobbledygook alert... The credit goes to Ford's intelligent protection system (IPS) which "combin(es) a body structure optimised for strength and crashworthiness with restraint equipment," and high strength steels "for a very rigid, yet lightweight passenger safety cell." The high pedestrian protection score was achieved through the use of soft bumper material, a special energy absorber between the bumper and the front panel and radiator, breakaway headlights, front wings manufactured from recycled plastic and a carefully shaped hood. Best of all: the Kuga is reported to be a pretty good drive. Review to follow.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Americans Downsizing, Statistical Methodology Notwithstanding
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Americans Downsizing, Statistical Methodology NotwithstandingBy Edward Niedermeyer  Like us, Edmunds.com keeps an eye on monthly car sales. And by God they have noticed a trend! Or, a "Seismic Shift," as they demurely put it. Yes folks, its true: Americans are *gasp* buying fewer trucks and SUV's in favor of *gasp* more fuel efficient crossovers and compact cars. But don't ask the year-to-date sales numbers or blame four dollar gas, because Edmunds has analysis. "The (seismic) shift" writes Edmunds scribe Dale Buss "has occurred both in actual transactions and in shopping trends measured on the Edmunds.com site. Until March, this pattern of segment migration had been accelerating markedly but rather gradually. But a 10 percent increase in U.S. gasoline prices in March and April alone, to an average of $3.44 a gallon, appears to have provided the catalyst for a shift that is bigger and faster than any ever tracked by Edmunds.com." Wait, did he just say "shopping trends on the Edmunds.com website"? To be fair, you could learn a thing or two from Edmunds. Take their insistence on categorizing the Honda Accord and Chevy Malibu as "compact" cars. Sure, the EPA calls the Accord a "large car" and the Malibu a "midsize"... but they only base that off of the actual interior volume. Jamming these cars into the "compact" category and then calling it a statistical "seismic shift" is a pretty laughable ploy. Ultimately, the facts of auto sales trends speak pretty well for themselves. And yes, by facts I do mean actual transactions.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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Thursday, May 29, 2008
[The Truth About Cars] American Axle CEO Wins
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American Axle CEO WinsBy Edward Niedermeyer  American Axle CEO Dick Dauch hung tough against the United Auto Workers (UAW) for 87 days. As the smoke clears, it's clear Dick Dastardly came out on top. The new union contract cuts the company's average hourly labor costs from $73 to about $40. The Detroit News reports that DD also sliced some 2k workers from AA's 3,650-member North American workforce. All in all, the parts maker will realize some $300m in annual savings. To help show these workers the door, AA secured some $215m worth of OPM from GM. That's roughly half the $450 to $500m tab. Meanwhile, AA shed some $370m in lost sales. Put those numbers against each other, and it looks like AA recovers its strike expenses in less than a year (excluding lost sales), and powers on from there. Meanwhile, Automotive News (sub) reports that AA has a $1.4b in backlogged orders to be filled between now and 2013. Mr Dauch celebrated the good news today by promoting his son, David Dauch, to the position of President.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] New Honda Freed Heading Stateside?
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New Honda Freed Heading Stateside?By Richard Chen  Yeah, I know: car hacks always say that shit. But seriously, this one could hop the Pacific. It's Honda's Fit-based Freed, a Lilliputian van for the Japanese market named for the word yelled by occupants upon exit. Just kidding. The mini-minivan shares the Fit's 1.5-liter engine, which attempts (however fitfully) to move a maximum of eight passengers. Thanks to creative gas tank placement (shades of Toyota Previa), the Freed boasts a low loading floor and-- get this-- standard dual power sliding doors. Way-hey! The $16k Freed competes against the way cooler Nissan Cube3 and the Toyota Sienta. With gas prices eliminating SUVs as the stateside schleppers' wheels of choice, it's only a matter of time before one of these micro people carriers (or is that carriers of micro-people?) make it across the Pacific. But which one? And when will that vanning thing start anyway?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Tata Stock Tanks On Fears Of Overextension
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Tata Stock Tanks On Fears Of OverextensionBy Edward Niedermeyer  Even before Tata Motors bought Jaguar and Land Rover from Ford, the Indian automaker's investors were not well pleased at the prospect. A dropping share price reflected their central worry: $3b or so in debt. These worries are proving well founded. Tata has announced a $1.86b equity share offering. The stock offering amounts to a 30 to 35 percent increase in equity capital; investors are heading for the hills rather than watch their shares take the hit. "The magnitude of this offering is unexpected and could adversely affect short to medium-term stock performance," Citi analyst Jamshid Dadabhoy tells the Detroit News. Amit Agarwal of Kotak Securities tells Market Watch that servicing all the extra debt could cost Tata 19 to 22 percent of its earnings per share. Meanwhile, Jaguar and Land Rover need considerable investment to develop the products needed for profitability, and Tata has yet to build its much-vaunted Nano. Tough times.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] New VW "Robust" Pickup Spied
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New VW "Robust" Pickup SpiedBy Edward Niedermeyer View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Snapper Chris Doane Previews 350hp AWD Turbo Taurus
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Snapper Chris Doane Previews 350hp AWD Turbo TaurusBy Justin Berkowitz  You read that right. Ford's 350hp turbocharged 3.5-liter Ford V6 (a.k.a. "EcoBoost") will appear under the hood of the 2010 Taurus. Scoop snapper Chris Doane (formerly of Brenda Priddy now of LeftLaneNews) provides the inside dope on the dope Taurus. The new model will put the power to the ground with all wheel-drive with appropriately upgraded suspension and wheels. Ford reckons that this special "SHO" or "STI" trim level will account for 12 to 15 percent of Taurii sales. So call it five percent. The heavy performance-oriented Mondeo will go head-to-head with such jewels as the Chevy Impala SS and maybe the Chrysler 300. While a blown Mondeo might be an exciting sounding car for domestic-leaning pistonheads who like affordable stealth speed, G8. Meanwhile, most civilians shopping for big family cars want good mileage and just enough power not to have to think about it. You can bet your mortgage money that the blown six will appear in an upcoming Lincoln or three, where it belongs. Yes, even the D472 (Lincoln Flex). View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Question of the Day: Are You Ready To Buy Small?
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Question of the Day: Are You Ready To Buy Small?By Jonny Lieberman  Just paid $4.37 per gallon this morning for premium. Oy. While patiently waiting for (another) $60 to leave my wallet a lady pulled up in a Smart Roadster. I haven't driven a Smart yet, but from I'm told, it blows. However, it really doesn't weigh very much. A few days ago, a dear friend called me and asked if she and her one-year-old should buy a used Audi. Let me rephrase that: she wanted to buy a used A4. I tried explaining that when new, the A4 sold for three times what a Mazda Protege went for. Today the Mazda is worth more. She wasn't hearing it. I then touched on the fact that she could well be paying $400 a month in bizzaro repair bills, like CV joints and a new electrical system. And the (relatively) poor mileage. "But Jonny, it's so cute! My friend has one-- I love it" I finally talked her out of it by mentioning that the auto-dimming rearview mirror will eventually leak mercury all over her infant. That worked. Long story short, she's got about $15k to spend. I told her to get a Honda Fit. "Oh no! My friend says they're death traps." Based on what? Her friend-- a TV actor-- test drove one and thought it was a death trap. From the test drive. Long story short, even though she wants a clean, high mileage car, she ain't going small. Because of her baby. You?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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AutoWeek Daily Drive — Thursday, May 29, 2008
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[The Truth About Cars] Hybrids are OK, as Long as GMC Makes Them
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Hybrids are OK, as Long as GMC Makes ThemBy Frank Williams  Apparently the View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] E85 Boondoggle of the Day: Alabama Buys More, Pays More
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E85 Boondoggle of the Day: Alabama Buys More, Pays MoreBy Robert Farago  The Alabama Press-Register's headline: "State invests in ethanol, but results mixed." Invests? Mixed? You guessed it. "State agencies have doubled purchases this year of E85, an ethanol-gasoline mixture, citing its production from domestic sources and ever higher costs of conventional gasoline... the state Department of Transportation paid more per gallon for E85 than it did for gasoline in five of the 10 months between May 2007 and March of 2008." So how much is this boondoggle costing Yellowhammer State taxpayers? "In March, E85 cost the department $2.64 a gallon, while gasoline cost $2.46. Despite the higher price, state records show DOT bought an additional 4,224 gallons of the mixture that month, an increase of nearly 40 percent." Even without the 40 percent increase, that's a $10k E85 surcharge for five months' corn juice. The executive director of the Alabama Clean Fuels Coalition blames... gas prices. "In order to get any product anywhere in this country, it takes a truck or engines," said Mark Bentley. "And currently, those engines are fueled by petrodiesel, which is currently tied to price of gasoline." Mr. Bentley called for Alabama-based E85 plants. So far, only one company has so proposed.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Assembly Line 'Bot Sales Unplugged
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Assembly Line 'Bot Sales UnpluggedBy Frank Williams GM's suicidal robot may be joined by his unemployed brothers before long. The automotive sales slump is not only affecting flesh and blood workers, but also those of the cybernetic persuasion. Automotive News [sub] reports that North American orders for production robots dropped 34 percent in the first quarter of this year compared with the same time last year. While the auto industry normally places about two-thirds of the total orders for industrial robots, sales this year only amount to a little over half. Ake Lindqvist, VP at ABB Robotics takes a "don't worry, be happy" view of the downturn. "We know Chrysler's new management has held back on previous planned investments until they have sorted out internal things, but it will come." He also expects Ford, BMW and Hyundai to make "major robotics investments" toward the end of the year and into next year. The latter two I can see, as they're building new plants or expanding existing ones, but Ford? And Chrysler? Somehow it doesn't seem that companies that are selling off assets, stiffing their suppliers, firing thousands of workers or drastically cutting production will be investing millions in new equipment they may never use. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index A Joke
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Strategic Vision's Total Quality Index A JokeBy Robert Farago
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[The Truth About Cars] GM Cash Burn: $1b Per Month
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GM Cash Burn: $1b Per MonthBy Robert Farago  The Wall Street Journal [sub] has been busy reporting CEO Rick Wagoner new new turnaround plan, which looks an awful lot like his last turnaround plan, which is based on the principle "Yes, you CAN cut your way to prosperity." Set to for unveiling njext Tuesday (June 3), "New restructuring actions could include the elimination of some slow-selling models. Mr. Wagoner also will unveil plans to boost revenue." For this you buy a subscription? Obviously not. At the bottom of the report, we get the money shot: "Some analysts, however, fear GM may be headed for rougher waters given its dwindling cash position. As of March 31, GM reported $24 billion, or $6 billion less than what was on hand September 31." Holy cash conflagration Batman! I make that a $1b per month cash burn. Do the math. Or hear this: "Mr. Gilbert [a fixed income analyst at Principal Global Investors] said that if GM doesn't figure out a solution, it may be headed down the same road as the airline industry, which saw several carriers file for bankruptcy protection in recent years. 'Liquidity is the one thing that always separated the two (industries)... If that goes away, the two will look a lot more similar.'"View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Hyundai Releases Pricing Info on Genesis Lux Sedan
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Hyundai Releases Pricing Info on Genesis Lux SedanBy Justin Berkowitz  The rear wheel-drive Genesis sedan is Hyundai's first foray into the luxury car market. We brought you in-person pictures back in March at the NY Auto Show. Now, Hyundai has released the pricing info. For $33k you can get yourself a V6 model with a very healthy 290 horses and six speed autobox packing the usual luxury toys like dual climate control and heated leather seats (ahem, BMW, leatherette). Jumping to the big boy 4.6-liter V8 will cost you another $5k. In addition to the 375 horsepower monster up front, you get a better six speed autobox (ZF this time around), "ultra-premium" leather seats, leather all over the dash, a higher end sound system, and more useless but marketing-necessary toys. Three ways to look at these prices: first, the V6 model is right on point with cars like the Infiniti G35, although you can guarantee they will drive 100 percent differently. And we can't leave out the $32k completely unluxury Pontiac G8 GT. Alternatively, consider the value of the Genesis over a BMW 5-Series, whose 230 hp 528i starts at over $44k. Finally, just for kicks, let's look at things in historical perspective: in 1990, the Lexus LS400 had a sticker of $35k. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Lexus LX570 in Short Supply
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Lexus LX570 in Short SupplyBy Richard Chen  Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog reports a low supply the View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] GM Board of Directors Hearts CEO Rick Wagoner
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GM Board of Directors Hearts CEO Rick WagonerBy Robert Farago
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[The Truth About Cars] Honda Risks Disaster for Live UK Advert
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Honda Risks Disaster for Live UK AdvertBy Robert Farago  What's the downside? Seems no one at Honda asked that question when the automaker decided to hire a team of 19 skydivers to form the word "Honda" in mid-air. In three minutes and 20 seconds. Live. On British national TV. The spot falls under (so to speak) Honda's new ad campaign: "If it's difficult, it's worth doing." If something goes seriously wrong, the Honda ad will test the limits of another, showbiz-oriented strapline "There's no such thing as bad publicity." The Guardian makes no mention of the ad's central lure-- the possibility of death. It does, however, reports that Honda's already tested the concept. (So that's alright, then.) "The stunt is a means of gaining publicity for Honda's new multi-million pound ad campaign, which features 45 skydivers promoting the Honda Accord by creating a series of shapes over the Mojave desert to reflect new features on the car." i-VTEC® this! So why risk risking lives to do it live? ""We wanted to create something unmissable and what better way to produce something 'must see' than to stage the first live ad event on TV," Channel 4's sales director, Andy Barnes revealed. "It's about creating talkability on a big scale, managing the risk and being seen as pioneers for it." Let's hope "managing the risk" doesn't turn into paying off someone's widow. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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Wednesday, May 28, 2008
[The Truth About Cars] Wild Ass Rumor of the Day: Deadbeat Chrysler?
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Wild Ass Rumor of the Day: Deadbeat Chrysler?By Robert Farago  TTAC has confirmation from three trusted, independent sources that Chrysler is delaying payments to its suppliers-- to the point where certain suppliers have refused to ship parts until the embattled American automaker settles its bill. Even so, we are filing this report as Wild Ass Rumor because none of these sources will go on record. (Hardly surprising consider the economic self-interest involved.) It is equally true that there's no way for TTAC to accurately gauge the full extent of Chrysler's delayed payment situation. IF, as we suspect, Chrysler's owner Cerberus is readying to file for C11 during its company-wide summer holiday, or, as some suggest, preparing for the long-delayed "strip and flip," delayed payments would indicate, at best, ChryCo cash flow problems. We invite both Chrysler and its suppliers (guaranteed anonymity) to use the comments section below or contact us via email to clarify this issue.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Ford Slashes Jobs, Volvo Turns On Consultants and Suppliers
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Ford Slashes Jobs, Volvo Turns On Consultants and SuppliersBy Edward Niedermeyer View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Ferrari Reclaiming Coachbuilt Heritage
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Ferrari Reclaiming Coachbuilt HeritageBy Edward Niedermeyer  Exclusivity is as integral to Ferrari's branding strategy as blistering performance. Since the 1950's Ferrari has turned its cars over to a number of coachbuilders who have wrapped the Scuderia's finest in unique, emotive designs. Over the years, the relationship between Ferrari and its coachbuilders has evolved, and the design of recent factory Ferraris has been handled by traditional partner firms like Pininfarina. Recently limited-edition coachbuilt Ferraris have been making a comeback, as evidenced by such offerings as Pininfarina's $4m Enzo-based 612 P4/5 and 612K, and the Vandenbrink Design 599 GTO Mugello. But Motor Authority reports that Ferrari doesn't want to be left out of the tiny market of folks with the View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Question of the Day: What Makes Ugly?
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Question of the Day: What Makes Ugly?By Jonny Lieberman  Reading through the comments in the post about Alfa/Fiat returning to the US I was shocked to see our own William C. Montgomery say the following in regard to the Fiat 500's looks, "...or out-ugly the Aztek." Now, I'm picking on William because I can. But, what?!? Ugly? Fiat? Maybe the Panda, the car the new 500 is based on, but... Huh? Of course, it's not just William. My girlfriend for instance doesn't think very much of the Audi A5, while I think it's the most stunning car I've seen in months. And she knows good looking cars when she sees them (usually), as she's still fawning over the Maserati GranTurismo. Then of course, there's me. Most people look at the R8 and schwing! When I went to see Iron Man they had Tony Stark's R8 parked out front of the theater and the people just loved it. Yet when I look at one, I see a porpoise with thalidomide poisoning. Why? Mid-engine cars (almost) always have odd proportions, and Germans can't do sexy. They just can't. But I'm asking you -- what makes a car ugly in your eyes?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] More Toyobaru Details Emerge
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More Toyobaru Details EmergeBy Edward Niedermeyer  Can you tell we're a little excited about the planned Toyota-Subaru joint RWD sports coupe? Well, the more we learn, the more we want to know, and luckily Edmunds Inside Line has some new info on the project. The coupe's RWD platform will be developed from Subaru's existing AWD architecture, and will be powered by "a revised version of (Subaru's) naturally aspirated boxer 2.0-liter unit generating around 220hp." We're guessing that Subies 2.0 won't make that many ponies without a turbo, so maybe Edmunds got the "naturally aspirated" part wrong. Since the Integra Type R is identified the project's performance benchmark, expect a 0-60 time of about 6 seconds. With 220hp pushing only 2.866 lbs. using an STI-sourced six-speed manual, it sounds like the Toyobaru is going to be up to task. And maybe it's time to stop calling it a Toyobaru. The coupe will be based on Subaru kit and built at Subaru's Gunma factory, while Toyota's main contributions will be in the areas of planning and quality control. In fact, the Toyota version (little more than revised exterior styling) won't even be offered outside of Japan. Then again, if you could buy a sub-3k pound, 220 hp RWD coupe from Subaru with ToMoCo quality control, why on earth would you be tempted by the same thing with a Toyota badge?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] 2008 Lexus LS600hL Review - Take Two
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2008 Lexus LS600hL Review - Take TwoBy Jonny Lieberman
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[The Truth About Cars] Gas Prices Hit the Tipping Point: Americans Driving Less
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Gas Prices Hit the Tipping Point: Americans Driving LessBy John Horner  CNN declares that "compared with March a year earlier, Americans drove an estimated 4.3 percent less-- that's 11 billion fewer miles." The Federal Highway Administration called it "the sharpest yearly drop for any month... since 1942" (when they started keeping records). At the same time, public transportation ridership has hit the highest level in 50 years. The AAA pegs average regular gas prices at $3.936/gallon this Memorial Day, compared to $3.23 last year. Now a sixty cent increase over a year really isn't very much in the grand scheme of things, but the magic number of $4 per gallon seems to have hit the nation's collective panic button. One thing doesn't add up. The Energy Information Center says fuel use is down only 0.6 percent for the first three months of the year. The D.O.T. says March miles traveled are down 4.3 percent. Those two numbers don't seem to jive, but who says government agency numbers ever make sense? Pick whichever numbers you like, the trend is clear: $4+ per gallon gasoline is curtailing the world's most mobile nation's mobility.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] General Motors Death Watch 178: Failure is Possible
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General Motors Death Watch 178: Failure is PossibleBy Robert Farago
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[The Truth About Cars] Alfa Romeo and Fiat Are Coming to US in 2010. Maybe 2011. Definitely Not 2009
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Alfa Romeo and Fiat Are Coming to US in 2010. Maybe 2011. Definitely Not 2009By Jonny Lieberman  Just yesterday I was talking with a petrolhead buddy of mine. I mentioned the only new car on the horizon that I'm personally excited about: the new Fiat 500. And the Ford Flex, but that's another story. Then our conversation bogged down into the usual "Do you like oil on your driveway," "I don't have a driveway," "Hope you have a good mechanic," "What could possibly go wrong?" Italian car conversation. Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne is putting my mind at ease. Or not. That's right friends, he could make a decision on when and whether to re-launch Alfa Romeo in the States within the next six months. Part of the confusion is due to our incredible shrinking dollar; to make Alfa work in the US, some of the cars must be built here. And Fiat is in negotiations with various North American companies. The really wonderful news is that Marchionne thinks the 500 will be a "smash hit" here in America. And they'll either build it here, or at one of the existing Fiat plants in South America. Eventually.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Subaru Wants You to Dump Your Car in the Wilderness
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Subaru Wants You to Dump Your Car in the WildernessBy Frank Williams In their latest commercials Subaru tells us that dumping a junk car in the wilderness or driving a car you can't see out of equate to some strange form of love. The first shows some environmentally-challenged dufus driving two days to take his old Forester to "Subaru heaven," which consists of a spot somewhere in an otherwise pristine wilderness area where other Subaru owners have abandoned their worn-out rides. There, apparently, they sit until they rust to pieces, releasing their various petrochemical-based fluids and toxic metals into the environment instead of being responsibly recycled and reused. The other shows someone who must come from the same genetic pool as that guy because he refuses to wash his Outback, claiming it's a "badge of honor" and that he'll "let the universe take care of it." He'd better hope the universe is taking car of him when he pulls out in front of that bus or runs over that motorcycle in the lane next to him because his windows are so nasty he can't see what's around him. And this comes from a company that not long ago bragged about how their factory is a wildlife preserve and how safe their cars are. Maybe they just don't expect their customers to share their "values." View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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AutoWeek Daily Drive — Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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[The Truth About Cars] Prince of Darkness Smites Jag XF. Again.
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Prince of Darkness Smites Jag XF. Again.By Mike Solowiow  In our previous edition, the Jaguar XF headlights ceased to work, only to be restored with donor parts from a new, still-on-the-lot XF. This morning, while driving to base to take part in my official USAF fitness test, I received a peculiar indication in the center (centre?) computer display: "Performance Reduction." I'd witnessed this message before, when driving quickly through a very high mountain pass. The computer limits the engine output by about 20 percent. Stopping and restarting the car seems to take care of the problem. However, why would it reduce performance while going no more than 45mph in stop-n-go traffic? I can only surmise I angered the spirits of Castle Bromwich. Maybe I should hold a seance over the "power bulge" hood to exorcise the rest of the demons lurking in the convoluted wiring of my Jag, which we have named, "Lady Margaret," or Maggie.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Get Good Grades and Dad Will Get You a Cobra Kit
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Get Good Grades and Dad Will Get You a Cobra KitBy John Horner
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[The Truth About Cars] Ford Flex "World's first trouser- and dress-friendly vehicle"
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Ford Flex "World's first trouser- and dress-friendly vehicle"By Frank Williams  Our Man Berkowitz loved the Ford Flex. He waxed eloquent about the interior, the looks, how it rides and way (he's heard) it drives. However, as Ford points out in their latest press release, there's one major feature he overlooked: "It's the world's first trouser- and dress-friendly vehicle." Yes, dry cleaners across the country are dreading the debut of the Flex because "the Flex team engineered into Ford's newest crossover a concealed rocker panel" that "minimizes your clothes' exposure to the elements." And since "some dry cleaners charg(e) as much as $10 to launder a pair of slacks," owners reap "immediate and tangible benefit" from driving this $30k "alternative people mover." Justin, I'm so disappointed in you for not bringing this ground-breaking design element to our attention. Must. Do. Better.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Ford: We're Number Three! We're Number Three!
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Ford: We're Number Three! We're Number Three!By Frank Williams  As has been pointed out here many times, there are lies, damn lies and statistics. And depending on which statistics you're looking at, they can be used to support whatever you want to say. For example, Ford is number three in sales. Or Honda, depending on which statistic you're looking at. As far as total sales year to date are concerned, FoMoCo (781,791) is still solidly in third place, after GM (1,058,014) and Toyota (789,447) while Chrysler's staked out forth place (601,622) and Honda's trailing in fifth (487,642). However, Automotive News reports that if you factor out low-profit fleet sales, Honda moves to third and Ford drops to fourth. That's because retail sales make up only 65 percent of Ford's total sales and Honda's fleet sales are negligible. So Honda's retail number remains unchanged while Ford's drops to approximately 421k. So who's really number three? We report, you decide.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Sympathy for The Big 2.8 Diminishing?
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Sympathy for The Big 2.8 Diminishing?By Robert Farago
[TTAC has heard of new GM ads touting the company's contribution to the U.S. economy. Has anyone seen one?] View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Autocar: UK Gov is Killing Car Industry
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Autocar: UK Gov is Killing Car IndustryBy Robert Farago  Autocar magazine has suddenly woke-up to threat to UK jobs posed by the Government's new CO2-based car taxes. And boy are they slightly peeved! After listing the auto industry's contribution to the island nation's economy-- 800k employees, £200b turnover-- scribe Julian Rendell lets 'em have it with half a barrel: "And yet the government's policies could be putting that business, and those jobs, in increasing jeopardy." [emphasis added]. Ya think? CO2- belching Bentley, Land Rover, Jaguar, Aston Martin and Lotus all call Britain home. Anyway, instead of bringing out the big guns to attack the gov's anti-car jihad-- union leaders, car makers' reps, opposition politicians, analysts-- Autocar picks up the cudgel on behalf of the working stiff. "Those who govern our country are making cars prohibitively costly to buy and to own, and by doing so they've giving the ordinary people who make, sell, service and repair those vehicles real concern for their jobs and their futures." That said, the guys on the line really know their onions. “I feel the government's policies are clearly anti-car,” said Craig Caves, line manager at Ford of Britain's Dagenham Diesel Centre. “On a daily basis they are producing an anti-car mentality that can only threaten jobs in the car industry. And it's not just us at risk; it's all the people supplying us and the people local to the plant.” News flash: the time to bring-up this issue was five years ago. At least. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Russia's Putin Says NYET to Foreign Imports
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Russia's Putin Says NYET to Foreign ImportsBy Robert Farago  Is great to be leader of glorious Russian Federation. Of course, we can always be more glorious. And glory be to the Russian car industry. Make world's greatest automobiles for world's greatest people. Is natural we want to build cars inside Russian Federation, to help our economy grow and prosper, like wonderful garden. So it is no wonder we are placing new tariffs on used car older than five years old. Is simple economics. Russian-made cars are only 40 percent of the market, including foreign brands. This is all because the Russian car industry has receded from its position quite seriously. I am thinking about 80 percent of cars sold in Russia should be made in our country. New import tariffs rates will increase demand for wonderful, clean new cars. Pravda, which means truth, says "Russian car manufacturers may not derive profit from it at all." But who knows what they mean and that is before I make phone call. I am saying goodbye. Goodbye. View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Honda Designer: New Pilot Will Grow On You
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Honda Designer: New Pilot Will Grow On YouBy Robert Farago  Like fungus? Anyway, Honda R&D Americas Inc. Chief Designer felt compelled to both explain (it wazzunt me) and defend (try it, you'll like it) the new Pilot. Wardsauto.com cornered Dave Marek to extract the mea culpa. "The (controversial) grille was a case of taking something that was on something else... and kind of massaging it to fit,” he kind of asserts. “On the mockup, (it) looks good. When you actually manufacture it, oops! That's actually what happened. It's hard to foresee. (But) I think when (the '09) is out on the road, people will appreciate it.” Why is this man prevaricating? The new Honda Pilot is a hit. Perhaps Marek is embarked on some kind of bizarre career seppuka. It sure sounds that way. "That kind of success makes it easier for designers to be heard, Marek says. “I can stand up at a board of directors meeting and say, 'Are you people stupid?' And nobody goes, 'Get him out of here.' They'll say, 'What are we doing wrong?'" Either that or "you're fired." View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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Tuesday, May 27, 2008
[The Truth About Cars] Lord Lucas Still Haunts Jaguar XF
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Lord Lucas Still Haunts Jaguar XFBy Mike Solowiow View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Chrysler Thinks Ram Truck Can Gain Share
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Chrysler Thinks Ram Truck Can Gain ShareBy John Horner
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[The Truth About Cars] Chrysler Mystery Shoppers Something of A Mystery
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Chrysler Mystery Shoppers Something of A MysteryBy Robert Farago  Automotive News [AN, sub] reveals that ChryCo's been running the "Chrysler Multi-Million Dollar Mystery Shop Challenge" since May 12 (way to stay on top of a story AN). From that fabled date until the end of the year "the automaker will conduct more than 20,000 mystery shopper visits, roughly one for every sales consultant at every dealership." Salespeople who pass the test with "flying colors" are entered into a draw for $1k. Woo-hoo! AN forgets to ask how many C-notes will be awarded. Anyway, are they checking the honesty and integrity of their dealers' sales staff? You know: making sure there's no bullying or misrepresentation? Are they Hell. "Chrysler hopes the program will get the sales force focused on the attributes of its vehicles." Someone thinks so. "Chrysler claims the program can be a motivational tool and can focus its sales force on promoting the virtues of its vehicles, rather than deals." As churlish as this sounds, is that really a good idea?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] LeMons Update: Mad Cow Cops a ThunderChicken
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LeMons Update: Mad Cow Cops a ThunderChickenBy Sajeev Mehta  If there's two things a LeMons racing team needs, it's a catchy (but stupid) name and a valuable parts car. Thanks to Troy Hogan, our crew's chief lunatic, team "Mad Cow Motorsportz" has a Thunderbird Turbo snagged from the lonely pages of Craigslist. Just what we need-- another hunk of shit Fox body, right? Not! This $250 purchase paid for itself immediately, since the Miami Vice-ish Enkeis and rear discs are wet dream material for 5.0 Mustangers in Members Only jackets. And someone else wants the low-mile turbo'd mill for their four-banger Ranger. So yes, what was once a C/D 10 Best winner still has the juice. And its coil springs, sway bars and manual transmission goodies help the Hot Rod Lincoln come to life in grand style. Yet I pity the turbo-chicken; its first owner thinks his pride and joy deserves a full restoration. No dice, but now we know that one man's trash can also be his treasure.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Question of the Day: Should the US Government Subsidize Cars?
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Question of the Day: Should the US Government Subsidize Cars?By Jonny Lieberman  We spoke earlier about GM trying to wrangle a $7k tax credit out of Uncle Sam so that (supposed? purported?) Volt buyers won't have to cough up so much green-- about $40K at last count. If we look at the problem from General Motors' perspective, nothing could make more sense. But what about the other perspectives? Some will argue that the Japanese government pitched-in some research dollars for Prius R&D and all's fair in love, war and cars. Others will argue that the government has no business interfering with business, period. Still others will point out that the last time the Feds got involved with an automaker we wound up selling Jeep to the Germans. And then there are those who say, "What's the difference? Ever since we went off the gold standard everything (including money) is worthless." My opinion? We're spending a billion dollars a day in Iraq-- what's the difference? You?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] GM Buys Bloggers
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GM Buys BloggersBy Robert Farago  As we've chronicled here umpteen times, dozens of automotive websites and publications pull their punches on GM product reviews to maintain good relations (i.e. ad bucks, press cars and junkets) with The General. It's an understandable-- if entirely lamentable-- phenomena. But who'd a thunk the non-automotive blogosphere could be bought so easily? Actually, us. You may recall that Justin and I infiltrated a roomful of GM junketeers-- including a manic mommy from manicmommies.com-- at the last New York Auto Show, after slipping past GM's "director of global communications technology. Automotive News [AN, sub] reveals that Christopher Barger's black bag ops are hard at it with five full-time employees working View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Surprise! Small Cars Still More Dangerous Than Big Ones
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Surprise! Small Cars Still More Dangerous Than Big OnesBy John Horner  As fuel prices hit historic highs, small car safety once again takes center stage. Quoted in the Wall Street Journal, the Insurance Institute's president gets straight to the nub of the matter. "The tradeoff is still there," says Adrian Lund. "Large cars and small cars are both much better designed to protect occupants than 20 years ago, or 10 years ago. But if you look at the fatality rates today, we see the risk doubles for the smallest cars compared to a very large one." The WSJ's Joseph B. White points out that "small cars [that] are a lot safer than they used to be-- as safe, by one measure, as midsize cars were a decade ago." Yes, well, a 20-year-old Honda beats the fuel economy pants off a brand new microcar. Which one is safer, and does it matter? (I wouldn't send my wife or daughter out on the mean streets in either.) Anyway, the scribe reprises the old argument that small cars can avoid crashes: "It's reasonable to think that a good driver in a small car could steer out of a situation that would cause a crash for someone in a slower-handling, heavier vehicle with a long stopping distance. But note the qualifier: a good driver." View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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AutoWeek Daily Drive — Tuesday, May 27, 2008
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[The Truth About Cars] Rockefellers Back Exxon Shareholders Demand Alt Fuel Future
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Rockefellers Back Exxon Shareholders Demand Alt Fuel FutureBy Robert Farago  You'd think that Exxon shareholders would be pretty damn happy about rising gas prices (in terms of the company's alt. fuel investments) and the fact that the energy giant booked $117b worth of profits in the first financial quarter of the year. That should go double for the Rockefeller family, whose unimaginable lifestyle is supported by their Exxon stock. But nooooooooo. The New York Times reports that the Rockefeller family have thrown their weight behind a "shareholder rebellion" aimed at pushing Exxon further and faster towards an alt fuel future. "The resolutions ask Exxon to take the threat of global warming more seriously and look for alternatives to spewing [sic] greenhouse gases into the air. One resolution would urge the company to study the impact of global warming on poor countries, another would encourage Exxon to reduce its emissions and a third would encourage it to do more research on renewable energy sources like solar panels and wind turbines." Yes, “Exxon Mobil needs to reconnect with the forward-looking and entrepreneurial vision of my great-grandfather,” Neva Rockefeller Goodwin announced in a statement. “The truth is that Exxon Mobil is profiting in the short term from investments and decisions made many years ago, and by focusing on a narrow path that ignores the rapidly shifting energy landscape around the world." View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Sweden Can't Get its Shit Together on Biogas
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Sweden Can't Get its Shit Together on BiogasBy Richard Chen  Several years back, before ethanol as a motor fuel additive became all the rage, Sweden started a program to produce biogas. They envisioned a methane-based fuel made from sewage (with the aid of some bacteria) powering cars, trucks and buses. According to ever-hopeful engineers, with the right process, the average Swede craps out enough yearly to drive 75 miles. Unfortunately for FordonsGas, Dong Energy and other curiously named companies, the usual, uh, teething problems with new technology and a distinct lack of biogas pumps, hasn't made the alt fuel a runaway success. Volvo stopped making biogas powered vehicles a couple of years ago due to lack of demand. But The International Herald Tribune reports that biogas boosters remain undaunted, hopeful of the process' long-term adoption. "When you're in the bathroom in the morning and you can see something good come of that, it's easy to be taken in by the idea - it's like a utopia," quoth a consultant. If you say so...View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Why Trucks are WAY Better Than Hybrids
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Why Trucks are WAY Better Than HybridsBy Frank Williams
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[The Truth About Cars] The Truth About You
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The Truth About YouBy Michael Martineck
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[The Truth About Cars] E85 Boosters Switch Gears: Corn-Juice Reduces Lung Cancer
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E85 Boosters Switch Gears: Corn-Juice Reduces Lung CancerBy Robert Farago  Intellectually, U.S. corn-based E85 is on the run. Critics (hands up) have rounded on America's food-into-fuel industry for inflating world grain prices, hijacking arable land from other crops, draining precious aquifers and sucking-up tax dollars-- amongst other things. The industry has re-opened a new front in the war on the war on E85: lung cancer. The Dunn County News reports that ethanol boosters have re-energized their alliance with the American Lung Association. "From food to fuel, corn serves many purposes these days," scribe Bruce Dybvik writes. "When processed as ethanol and added to our gasoline, it seems to benefit our breathing, too. According to Bob Moffitt, communications director of the American Lung Association, 'Every flex-fuel vehicle that uses E85 instead of gasoline for a year saves four tons of air pollutants from going into the air, including a lot of greenhouse gasses. Here in Wisconsin, one of the leading sources of air pollution is tail pipe emissions.'" The reduced greenhouse gas claim is the most obvious obfuscation, as E85 gets less mpg than normal gas. But the idea that E85 is "cleaner" than garden-variety (or not) unleaded needs some serious debunking. In 2007, Environmental Science & Technology [via Scientific American] offered one such an analysis by Stanford University's Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. "Due to its ozone effects, future E85 may be a greater overall public health risk than gasoline," Mark Jacobson's study stated. "It can be concluded with confidence only that E85 is unlikely to improve air quality over future gasoline vehicles." View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Volt Birth Watch 52: Wagoner's $30k Promise an "Unfortunate Misunderstanding"
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Volt Birth Watch 52: Wagoner's $30k Promise an "Unfortunate Misunderstanding"By Frank Williams "I now have official confirmation [from] GM spokesperson David Darovitz that 'there was an unfortunate misunderstanding that resulted in inaccurate information published.' He also went on to say 'we are not in the position to speculate on the retail pricing of the Chevrolet Volt.'" View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] "Most truckers are one major breakdown â a broken axle or a damaged engine â away from bankruptcy"
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"Most truckers are one major breakdown — a broken axle or a damaged engine — away from bankruptcy"By Robert Farago  The price of a gallon of diesel has risen two bucks in a year, from $2.50 to $4.50. The escalation threatens to decimate the U.S. trucking industry. The New York Times tells the tale: "More than 45,000 vehicles, or 3 percent of the tractor fleet, have disappeared from the highways since early last year, according to America's Commercial Transportation Research in Columbus, Ind." And we're not just talking about the small, independents, neither. "In the first quarter, 935 of these larger operators [five trucks or more] shut down, the American Trucking Association reports, up from 385 a year earlier and the highest quarterly failure rate since the 2001 recession." The knock-on effect: the used truck market is glutted with abandoned rigs. "There are so many used trucks in dealer lots now that some of the larger dealers have stopped buying them,” said salesman James McCormack of www.truckertotrucker.com. “From what dealers tell me, exports have become their best outlet, particularly to Russia.” High diesel prices, a weak dollar and thousands of U.S. trucks are shipped to our former Communist enemy. Ain't capitalism grand?View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] Lamborghini Will Never Meet Emissions Standards. Sorry
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Lamborghini Will Never Meet Emissions Standards. SorryBy Jonny Lieberman
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[The Truth About Cars] Volt Birth Watch 51: Your Tax Money Hard at Work-- for GM
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Volt Birth Watch 51: Your Tax Money Hard at Work-- for GMBy Jonny Lieberman
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[The Truth About Cars] TTAC Photochop: Alfa CX-over
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TTAC Photochop: Alfa CX-overBy Andrei Avarvarii
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[The Truth About Cars] 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS Gets More Power, Displacement
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2009 Mitsubishi Lancer GTS Gets More Power, DisplacementBy Justin Berkowitz  The Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X just got a 5-star rating from Mr. Michael Karesh. The regular Lancer ES "earned" a whopping 2 stars when this writer reviewed it last year. All versions of the Lancer look great on the outside, but the engine, transmission, and suspension make all the differences in the world (or at least in the 7-11 parking lot). So what about the space between the extremes? We're still waiting on an announcement from Mitsubishi about a 220-horse, Ralliart badged, turbocharged, AWD version of the Lancer, meant to go head-to-head with the Subaru WRX. Meanwhile, the 2009 Lancer GTS will replace its 2.0-liter lump of crap with a 2.4-liter 168 hp engine from the Galant. The GTS redux gains 16 horses and 21 ft.-lbs. of twist, and loses a single mpg. You're looking a not quite wallet-thrilling 21 city/27 highway (with life-sucking CVT transmission), significantly less when driven hard and put away wet. Look for a full road test of the new 2009 GTS on TTAC soon.View the full article: You received this e-mail because you asked to be notified when new updates are posted. Click here to unsubscribe: http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/subscribe.php |
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[The Truth About Cars] GM Terminates Excitement with Pontiac G3
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GM Terminates Excitement with Pontiac G3By Justin Berkowitz  "Pontiac is ... car." And car is rebadging. Ipso facto. The Pontiac Torrent, G5, and G8 are blatant dirty rebadges. The Solstice and G6 are a bit more unique looking, but same deal. And now... the Chevy Aveo! I mean Pontiac G3! The 2009 Pontiac G3 is listed on the fed's fueleconomy.gov site. Judging from its 1.6-liter engine, four-speed automatic, interior dimensions and 25/34 mpg, a rose by any other name will smell vaguely Korean (you might also say like dog, but I couldn't possibly comment). In Canada, the Pontiac version of the Aveo is called the Wave. but we're getting the G3-- which raises a [relatively insignificant] question as to whether Pontiac is pursuing odd numbers or even numbers for its alphanumeric model names. Yes, this new model rounds out Pontiac's car collection as G3, G5, G6, and G8. Are we getting a G4 or G7? If I said yes, would you be interested? Meanwhile, the former excitement division will offer the G3 in sedan and hatchback versions. So is it going to suck? Why yes, thank you for asking. View the full artic |