News archive

May 2010

Volvo XC60 wins 2010 International Truck of the Year award

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(December 3, 2009) LOS ANGELES  — The Volvo XC60 was named 2010 International Truck of the Year by the International Car of the Year (ICOTY) jury. The award was given to Doug Speck, President and CEO of Volvo Cars of North America, at the Volvo display at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. The XC60 was chosen over 10 new crossovers, SUVs and trucks by a distinguished panel of top automotive journalists.

Henderson out as CEO at General Motors

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(December 2, 2009) The General Motors board and CEO Fritz Henderson parted ways Tuesday, the board upset that the automaker's turnaround wasn't moving more swiftly and Henderson frustrated with second-guessing, two people close to the former CEO said.

Board Chairman Ed Whitacre Jr., the former head of AT&T Inc., will take over as CEO while a global search is conducted.

It was becoming clearer today that Henderson did not make the first move, but was asked to step down. The surprise resignation, which came just hours before Henderson was to be the high-profile keynote speaker at the Los Angeles Auto Show. At a hastily called news conference at General Motors Co.'s downtown Detroit headquarters, Whitacre would not answer questions, but said the board and Henderson agreed that he should step down.

Feeding Frenzy, the story behind the Ford-Firestone crisis — a book review

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(December 2, 2009) FEEDING FRENZY — By Jon Harmon, published by Eloquent Books

By Al Vinikor
MotorwayAmerica.com

Throughout history every major battle has produced books detailing everything from its cause, to its outcome — and the inevitable lessons learned. Not every hostility is military in nature, however, as proven in a new book called Feeding Frenzy — Inside the Ford-Firestone Crisis, by Jon Harmon.

The book chronicles the life-and-death struggle between Ford Motor Company and Firestone, which was the biggest business story during 2000-2001. The public fight raged over the 270 lives lost in the United States (and 100 more in Venezuela and other hot-climate countries) caused by the deadly and mysterious rollovers of the Ford Explorer equipped with failing Firestone tires.

November auto sales beat analysts' estimates even as they remain flat

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(November 2, 2009) General Motors, Toyota, Ford, and Chrysler posted November U.S. auto sales that beat analysts' estimates as the economy stabilized and shoppers began trickling back to showrooms.

U.S. consumers bought 746,928 cars and trucks last month, about the same as last year.

Sales were down 1.8 percent for GM, up 0.1 percent for Ford and down 25.5 percent for Chrysler.

Toyota, the world's largest automaker, reported a 2.6 percent increase. Honda (down 3 percent) and Nissan (up 21 percent) also topped estimates.

Acura wins Automotive Lease Guide Award for Best Luxury Brand

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(December 2, 2009) TORRANCE, Calif. — Acura announced today that for the second consecutive year it received the Automotive Lease Guide (ALG) 2010 Residual Value Award for Best Luxury Brand. According to ALG, Acura's line of luxury performance vehicles is expected to retain the highest percentage of their original price after a three-year period. Acura beat out other luxury brands such as Audi, BMW, Lexus and Mercedes-Benz for the highly coveted award.

Honda continues to be Car and Driver favorite

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Honda has been a favorite of Car and Driver magazine and nothing has changed this year. Among the magazine's 10 best winners for 2010 are two Honda models.

In a rare setback, Hyundai will pull out of Japan because of dismal business

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(December 1, 2009) Hyundai Motor Co. may be growing globally despite the recession, but business in Japan is so bad the carmaker has decided to pull out after just eight years in the country, according to Automotive News.

Today Hyundai will notify its 46 dealers in Japan about its intention to halt sales here, company spokesman Oles Gadacz said today.

“If you're not a Gucci or a BMW, there are very few who prosper there,” Gadacz said. “Mass-market players have it very tough.”

Recycled cardboard helps keep LaCrosse quieter

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(December 1, 2009) Recycling cardboard from GM’s stamping plant in Marion, Ind., is helping take the 2010 Buick LaCrosse to the next level of quietness.

“A lot of people don’t understand that recycled materials can add quality,” said Lora Herron, a materials engineer on the LaCrosse team. “It can add superior performance depending on where you use it and how you use it.”

Cadillac unveils 2011 CTS Coupe

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(November 30, 2009) LOS ANGELES — Cadillac today unveiled the 2011 CTS Coupe, the latest and most dramatic of the brand’s series of new designs to reach production. Slated to arrive in Cadillac showrooms in the spring of 2010, the CTS Coupe is a new luxury sports coupe designed to become the centerpiece of the brand’s revised lineup.

New Hyundai 4-cylinder engine will develop 200 horsepower, get 35 mpg

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(November 30, 2009) A new four-cylinder engine will help power Hyundai’s drive towards becoming the fuel economy leader when it launches in the company’s most popular car, the 2011 Sonata, Hyundai says.

Hyundai unveiled the engine, which is built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing of Alabama, at its Hyundai America Technical Center in Superior Township, Michigan, where it engineers, designs, tests and certifies vehicles sold in the U.S.