Inside the Industry

Towing capacity wars — Ford says Super Duty back on top

(February 7, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — Production begins this week on Ford F-Series Super Duty trucks with upgraded towing capacity. The beefed-up frame and hitch return the industry's best-selling heavy-duty truck to the head of the pack in conventional trailer towing.

Ford F-350 and F-450 Super Duty trucks with the 6.7-liter Power Stroke V-8 diesel engine and dual rear wheels now can tow an industry-best 17,500 pounds.

Get your 2012 Porsche Boxster S in black and get 10 more horsepower

(February 6, 2011) ATLANTA — Following on the heels of the recently announced 911 Black Edition, Porsche introduces a new, luxurious and limited edition Boxster S this spring. The 2012 Boxster S Black Edition features a 10-horsepower boost and a long list of standard equipment at an attractive price.

Sorento leads record Kia sales

(February 6, 2011) Following an historic year in 2010 that included important milestones such as the company's best-ever full-year sales, a 16th consecutive year of market share growth, and the launch of the company's first U.S.-built vehicle, Kia Motors posted record January sales of 27,789 units.

Audi continues to set sales records in January

(February 5, 2011) Audi on Tuesday reported January U.S. sales of 7,812 Audi cars and SUVs, which accounted for a 20 percent overall increase from January 2010. The previous January sales record for Audi in the U.S. was the 6,510 vehicles sold in 2010.

Production of Mitsubishi Outlander Sport will move to Illinois

(February 5, 2011) Mitsubishi announced Friday it will invest $100 million to build the Outlander Sport crossover at its Normal, Ill., plant starting in mid 2012.

Mitsubishi expects annual output of 50,000 units, with half dedicated to North America and the rest for export to Russia, Latin America and the Middle East.

Mazda MX-5 Miata reaches 900,000 units since 1989 debut

(February 5, 2011) IRVINE, Calif.  — The world’s best-selling two-seat roadster, the iconic Mazda MX-5 Miata, continues to set the bar even higher for the competition today, reaching a new milestone of 900,000 units produced.  Nearly 45 percent — more than 388,000 units — of those were sold in the United States since the car launched in 1989.

Ford's interactive road race goes to Super Bowl pre-game

(February 5, 2011) DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford is taking its groundbreaking interactive road rally — Focus Rally: America, launching today in Miami — to one of the biggest stages in the world Sunday on the “Focus Rally: America Pre-Kick” at 6 p.m. EST on FOX, immediately preceding Super Bowl XLV.
 
 “Raising consumer awareness about the new 2012 Focus via Focus Rally: America is our top priority right now,” said Matt VanDyke, Ford’s director of U.S. Marketing Communications.

QX56, G25 help Infiniti to solid January sales month

(February 4, 2011) Led by the QX56 full-sized SUV and the newest version of the G, the G25, Infiniti reported January sales of 7,405 units, an increase of 10.3 percent versus 6,711 units a year earlier.

Highlights of Infiniti’s sales performance:

Lexus to show a bit of its wild side with 'aggressive' hybrid at Chicago Auto Show

(February 4, 2011) CHICAGO, Ill. — While luxury is at the heart of Lexus, the automaker will be showing off a bit of its wild side at the 2011 Chicago Auto Show later this month.
 
Lexus will be packing plenty of performance in its 20,000-square-foot exhibit with displays dedicated to sporty accessorization and sheer, unbridled horsepower.

Chevrolet top selling brand in U.S. in January

(February 4, 2011) DETROIT — Chevrolet sold 125,389 vehicles in January and claimed the spot as the top selling brand in the United States. That includes 33 percent increase in retail sales, as customer demand remained strong across the brand’s lineup.