Archives: December 2006

With 10 Days to Go, Embargoes Up In Smoke

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 29

You've got to love the blogs. Over the past two weeks, the precious embargoes extended to journalists by auto manufacturers to keep quiet upcoming introductions have been violated left...

A Greener BMW?

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 28

Alt fuels -- everybody's doing 'em! BMW made headlines (in the auto press at least) by showing its Hydrogen 7 version of the 7 Series which runs, you guessed...

White Knight Syndrome

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 28

Looks like the gabbing over last week's high-intrigue meeting between top Ford and Toyota executives has subsided going into New Year's. Of course, the splash was big enough to register...

Will Ford's Milk Shake Bring Anybody to the Yard?

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 21

As part of Ford's reportedly $80 million marketing push for the new Edge crossover, the company has inked a deal with hip hop singer Kelis to star in the...

AN's Jeanes Out To Lunch Over Mark Fields' Travel

Posted by: David Kiley on December 18

Talk about focusing on the trees so much you lose sight of the forest...Okay, the forest is on fire...okay....enough with the metaphors.... I was just reading William Jeanes' rant in...

Toyota edges closer

Posted by: Ian Rowley on December 17

On Friday Toyota will announce production plans for 2007 and give a firm indication that it will likely pass GM as the world's number one automaker. If reports in the...

The Trouble with the Opel Saturns

Posted by: David Welch on December 15

The good news from General Motors is that the company finally woke up and realized it’s time to stop building a handful of compact cars to go after the...

BMW Still No. 1

Posted by: Gail Edmondson on December 14

Tallying the scores through the end of November, it looks like BMW will defend its title as the world's No. 1 premium automaker against Mercedes for another year running. For...

It Was Only A Matter of Time. Now BBDO is on Firing Line for Chrysler's Problems.

Posted by: David Kiley on December 12

Automotive News reports that Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda said late last week that he is unhappy with some of the advertising created by the automaker's ad agency, BBDO...

World Biggest Auto Market?

Posted by: Dexter Roberts on December 12

Now just one day after the fifth anniversary of China’s entry into the World Trade Organization, People’s Daily Online (the paper version is the official mouthpiece of the government) is...

The Challenge of Changing GM

Posted by: David Welch on December 11

Even the most gung-ho General Motors executive will admit that one of the company’s most vexing problems is changing the image of its brands with many consumers, especially those...

Ward’s 10 Best Engines Reviewed (Mostly)

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 07

Ward’s just announced its winners for the 10 Best Engines of 2007. Obviously this list is less broadly informative to new car buyers than, say, something penned by Consumer Reports...

Next Up at Mazda Design: Nagare

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 07

Mazda has turned itself into the de facto purveyor of inexpensive but quintessentially sporty imports. Arguably, it’s produced some of the most compelling new products at lower price points...

Betting on Bernhard's Next Move

Posted by: Gail Edmondson on December 05

The endgame is near. Volkswagen's board meets Dec. 6 and will approve a series of top management appointments in the wake of CEO Bernd Pischetsrieder's departure Dec. 31. Will Bernhard...

Reply to Mad in Malibu

Posted by: Gail Edmondson on December 05

We could fill a digital universe with the complaints about Mercedes' quality. So I do understand the fury of "Mad in Malibu." But 2001 was a peak year for quality...

VW GTI Love You

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 04

Due to a slight backlog in our test drive schedule, I won’t be fully reviewing Volkswagen’s new four-door GTI for several weeks. But, I couldn’t help jotting down a...

New Hotness From....Saturn

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 02

Talk to General Motors executives and they’ll tell you that, while it may be the hobgoblin of little literary minds, consistency is without a doubt the key to reversing...

Chrysler's Sebring, Topless in LA

Posted by: Matthew Vella on December 01

A la Nikki and Paris Hilton, Chrysler’s Sebring sedan definitely lives in the shadow of its considerably racier, less-clothed sibling. Even when Chrysler debuted the new sedan earlier this...

Will the US go diesel?

Posted by: Gail Edmondson on December 01

This year's Los Angeles Auto show is like a debutante's ball for automakers eager to display the charms of their new green technologies. Mercedes, Volkswagen and Honda are all betting...