Archives: August 2008

Ford's "Dimensioning"??

Posted by: David Kiley on August 29

I have heard alot of industry-speak, but I'm not sure what to make of this, as reported in Automotive News: DENVER -- Ford Motor Co. executives are telling lawmakers and...

Taking Crud for LaCrosse Comment

Posted by: David Kiley on August 27

Okay...I'm taking a lot of crud for my LaCrosse comments. www.Jalopnik.com offers this link to the image of the whole car, apparently previewed for media in July, though I was...

Mahindra Delay: No News

Posted by: David Kiley on August 27

Automotive News this week reported that Indian auto/truck maker Mahindra and Mahindra is delaying launch by six months to the fourth quarter of 2009. This, in fact, was known...

Are SUVs a Symbol of Super Power?

Posted by: David Kiley on August 27

I caught a few minutes of Rush Limbaugh's radio show today. God help me. Rush, who is no fan of promoting the purchase of more fuel efficient cars, was blathering...

Is Tata's Nano the new Austin Mini?

Posted by: Ian Rowley on August 27

Earlier this week, I wrote a story for BusinessWeek.com about the protests enveloping the plant which is slated to soon commence production of the $2,500 Tata Nano, the world's...

The Buick LaCrosse Refresh: Are You Kidding?

Posted by: David Kiley on August 25

I'm having a snarky Dennis Miller moment. The Democratic Convention kicks off today. The China Olympics concluded last night. A new NFL season is almost upon us. Baseball playoff...

The Hummer Bummer

Posted by: David Welch on August 22

At a media event in Lordstown, Ohio, earlier this week, General Motors Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner told reporters that the Hummer brand has some interested suitors. GM said...

Hyundai Genesis Going For The Moon

Posted by: David Kiley on August 20

Hyundai Motor Co. executives boldly say they expect to sell up to 50,000 of its new premium Genesis model in the U.S. market when both the sedan and coupe...

2009 Honda Fit: Zippy and Fuel Sipping

Posted by: David Kiley on August 19

I'll have a review of the new 2009 Honda Fit later this week when the pesky embargo lifts. But in the meantime, I can't help but gush on the...

The Future of Hummer Is In Foreign Hands

Posted by: David Kiley on August 17

The iconic Hummer brand could soon be in the hands of Eastern Europeans. Reuters is reporting that General Motors, which markets civilian vehicles under the Hummer brand has been...

Chrysler's 4 cylinder Cars Lagging Market

Posted by: David Kiley on August 13

There is a rush for smaller vehicles with four-cylinder engines. And Chrysler should be racking up big gains. Bt when you look at July sales, the Dodge Caliber was down...

McCain Agrees With Obama on Tires....Finally

Posted by: David Kiley on August 11

A couple of fact-checks before you watch this video. Barack Obama never suggested that proper inflation of tires would make the U.S. energy independent, just that it would be smart...

Chrysler Nissan Deal: One More Step To Oblivion For Chrysler?

Posted by: David Kiley on August 07

The Wall Street Journal today published a story stating, according to un-named sources, that Chrysler is in talks with Japanese automaker Nissan to essentially supply the Auburn Hills, MI...

Uh guys, about those company cars

Posted by: David Welch on August 06

As General Motors scrimps and scratches to save cash, some white-collar perks are coming under close scrutiny. The latest: company cars for managers. Right now, GM’s top 9,600 managers,...

Wagoner out? No, not yet.

Posted by: David Welch on August 06

There has been a lot of media speculation about the fate of General Motors Corp. Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, much of it saying that he is under the...

Toyota's Terrible Horrible Awful Quarter

Posted by: David Kiley on August 06

Looking ahead to tomorrow's quarterly earnings report from Toyota, the estimate is that the automaker's operating earnings will PLUNGE 40%. But that would be a PLUNGE to about $3.6 billion,...

Nissan shows off its electric car and new hybrid

Posted by: Ian Rowley on August 06

I just got back from first drives of Nissan's much-hyped new electric car and hybrid. The event, held in soaring heat at an advanced technology showcase 90 minutes outside...

Old Ads Remind Us How Little MPG Progress We Have Made

Posted by: David Kiley on August 04

I unpacked a box that was stuffed with newspaper. The ad, a Ford ad, advertised "79 Ford Pacesetters." That was a year in which we were, like today, very conscious...

Tire Inflation--Take Two

Posted by: David Kiley on August 04

The McCain campaign, incredibly, has actually doubled down on its incredibly wrong lampooning of Barack Obama for making the entirely correct point on the stump this week that a majority...

Basic Tire Inflation and Maintenance Saves Big Dollars Now, Not Later.

Posted by: David Kiley on August 01

I know I am a frequent basher of Fox News's Sean Hannity. But it's so easy to point out this nitwit's stupidity and hubris. Today, Hannity rants against Barack Obama...