Your Source For Finding Free Articles On All Your Favorite Topics. / en Sat, 7 Nov 2009 14:34:50 GMT /Article/GMC_Terrain_builds_on_Equinox_s_success_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5865 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:59 GMT You can choose your job, you can choose your name, but you can't choose your siblings. Laurie, Mark and Lisa -- the other members of Burgess Generation 5.0 -- remind me of this often. And I wouldn't have it any other way. General Motors Co., however, has had problems with family relationships in the past. Some of its cars and trucks shared a little too much in common, as if the gene pool was a half dozen chromosomes short of a double helix. Some called it cloning. Carmakers called it rebadging, and... f4fdde1bdf97c1c39b285b76d223ddd0 /Article/GM_hourly_workers_face_permanent_layoffs_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5864 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:58 GMT -- While General Motors Co. does not plan any deep job cuts, the automaker still has too many hourly workers and could permanently eliminate some of the 6,000 to 7,000 workers currently on layoff. Some of the workers are temporarily or indefinitely laid off and while GM is adding shifts at a few plants to boost output, some of the workers not called back could lose their jobs, CEO Fritz Henderson said Thursday at the Renaissance Center. "If it turns out after a period of time, that those people aren't... 913febe6ea65ba9b3d5261dc21a1c3c0 /Article/Inflatable_seatbelts_coming_to_Ford_Explorers_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5862 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:57 GMT --For Srini Sundararajan, the new inflatable seat belt system that Ford Motor Co. debuted Thursday represents the culmination of a decade of work and the realization of his dream to make automobile transportation safer. The 47-year-old biomedical engineer has spent nearly half of his 21-year career at Ford working on the first-ever system, which will debut on the new Ford Explorer next year and promises to provide unprecedented protection for back seat passengers -- particularly for children and the... 1ec8aa3e3a057cdc4a19cf8d2340d78b /Article/Industry_experts_unsure_Chrysler_can_reach_market_share_projections_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5863 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:57 GMT Chrysler Group LLC's now-public five-year plan hinges on some targets that analysts say are unrealistic. The plan, unveiled Wednesday during an eight-hour session in Auburn Hills, may be a fair representation of what Chrysler needs to do to thrive and repay its loans, but some of the benchmarks, such as the projection of a 4 percent market share increase, are stopping many cold. "Is the plan outlandish or merely wildly ambitious?" said analyst Michelle Krebs of Edmunds.com, who described the overall... 669eb836f0546b5a4e5165922dfbd741 /Article/Chrysler_is_in_a_race_that_already_started_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5861 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:55 GMT Time is not on the side of Chrysler Group LLC. I say this not because CEO Sergio Marchionne doesn't have a track record of turning around businesses, because he does. Nor because the men and women of Chrysler can't deliver the upgraded cars and trucks promised at Wednesday's marathon confab. They can. Time is not on Chrysler's side because the clock clearly favors crosstown rivals Ford Motor Co. and, yes, General Motors Co. -- both of which have killer products in showrooms, right now, that deliver on... 432e3fc054abab8b3f4bafc8485760ca /Article/Honda_Accord_Crosstour_looks_better_than_its_picture_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5858 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:53 GMT Don't look at the picture. The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour looks much better than any camera can capture. Even Honda executives can't explain why this all-new crossover, arriving at dealerships now, is so un-photogenic. Whether digital or old-school 35 mm, images just don't accurately represent this truck/wagon-esque vehicle built on the popular Honda Accord platform. In person, the Accord Crosstour looks downright stylish. It's the second most stylish vehicle in Honda's lineup, next to the S2000... 5f6987913bed2f06bcb52a429ad4b274 /Article/Mazdaspeed3_may_look_ugly_but_what_fun_on_the_road_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5859 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:53 GMT Look, the world needs some good news. Wars, the economy, swine flu. My God, Andrew Lloyd Webber is making a sequel to "Phantom of the Opera." So now comes the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 -- which is the best-in-class compact-hatch Mazda3 stuffed with horsepower foie gras -- and that, oppressed citizens, is an occasion for good cheer. Here's a car with room for four adults and one magical halfling; a car with excellent rear cargo storage and good fuel economy; a car with a sticker price $23,945 base MSRP within... e48c514738b7ed7f295d034115ca6f65 /Article/Jeep_ads_to_tout_new_look_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5860 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:53 GMT Chrysler Group LLC has launched a new national advertising campaign for Jeep, its most recognizable nameplate. It is one of the first actions by the company that on Wednesday broke a five-month silence to outline its five-year business plan and says it will be much more vocal about its initiatives and products. There are ambitious plans to increase Jeep brand sales to 800,000 globally by 2014 from less than 500,000 in 2008. The first of three phases of a U.S. Jeep campaign, created by GlobalHue of... 0960e33b59b0c7a12f5336984d878e08 /Article/GM_s_European_CEO_resigns_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5857 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:52 GMT -- Carl-Peter Forster, chief executive of General Motors Co.'s European operations, will leave the company, the automaker said Friday. Forster's departure is not surprising, and the move is not expected to further disrupt Opel's operations, already strained by months of sales negotiations. Nick Reilly, executive vice president in charge of GM's international operations, will fill in for Forster on an interim basis, sources said. According to several published reports, GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz will be... cfd84ad7167c9389e80c0e1266d25faa /Article/GM_considers_former_AT_amp_T_exec_for_top_financial_post_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5856 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:51 GMT General Motors Co. is considering a former vice chairman of AT&T among roughly seven candidates to replace Chief Financial Officer Ray Young, according to two sources familiar with the search. Charles Noski, a member of Microsoft Corp.'s board of directors, has the mix of financial acumen and executive experience that could also be essential if the GM board eventually replaces President and CEO Fritz Henderson, a source said. Noski was AT&T's senior executive vice president and chief financial officer... 1c1da1bfc63f663c9ee22e11cff8eb5f /Article/Mazdaspeed3_may_look_ugly_but_what_fun_on_the_road_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5855 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:48 GMT Look, the world needs some good news. Wars, the economy, swine flu. My God, Andrew Lloyd Webber is making a sequel to "Phantom of the Opera." So now comes the 2010 Mazdaspeed3 -- which is the best-in-class compact-hatch Mazda3 stuffed with horsepower foie gras -- and that, oppressed citizens, is an occasion for good cheer. Here's a car with room for four adults and one magical halfling; a car with excellent rear cargo storage and good fuel economy; a car with a sticker price $23,945 base MSRP within... d73e0636ac74df842efa2c58ab8cb85f /Article/Honda_Accord_Crosstour_looks_better_than_its_picture_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5854 Sat, 7 Nov 2009 12:21:45 GMT Don't look at the picture. The 2010 Honda Accord Crosstour looks much better than any camera can capture. Even Honda executives can't explain why this all-new crossover, arriving at dealerships now, is so un-photogenic. Whether digital or old-school 35 mm, images just don't accurately represent this truck/wagon-esque vehicle built on the popular Honda Accord platform. In person, the Accord Crosstour looks downright stylish. It's the second most stylish vehicle in Honda's lineup, next to the S2000... 5592e424e59c9907721a1ebcf7806bcc /Article/Peugeot_Unveils_Its_Innovative_New_Concept_The_BB1_â_Mobility_For_The_Future/5853 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:49:25 GMT Last night saw the unveiling of Peugeot's innovative new concept, the BB1 at The Hospital Club in London.With its BB1 concept, Peugeot has created a totally new solution to the current and future needs of urban mobility. The BB1 concept is the first ever full electric vehicle that can seat up to four adults in a space of just 2.5m. This compact vehicle is a fusion between car and scooter, whilst offering passengers a safer, more comfortable and weatherproof environment. Other advantages of this... 3961281371653ebd72403b11e02c7487 /Article/2009_SEMA_Auto_Show_Chrysler_Gives_TV_to_its_Passengers/5852 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:26 GMT If you forgot your DVDs at home and have nothing to do in a long trip, you can still watch some TV shows, says Chrysler. The auto manufacturer is offering 20 channels such popular ones as CNBC, Comedy Central, Fox News, MSNBC, MTV, and Nickelodeon. The new feature is going to be presented at the 2009 SEMA Auto Show. It will be available on several 2008-2010 models: two minivans Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan; numerous SUV’s Jeep Commander, Jeep Grand Cherokee, Dodge Journey, and... f5e596374afa8b8ac1c1e4b63ab3770a /Article/GMC_Terrain_builds_on_Equinox_s_success_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5849 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:25 GMT You can choose your job, you can choose your name, but you can't choose your siblings. Laurie, Mark and Lisa -- the other members of Burgess Generation 5.0 -- remind me of this often. And I wouldn't have it any other way. General Motors Co., however, has had problems with family relationships in the past. Some of its cars and trucks shared a little too much in common, as if the gene pool was a half dozen chromosomes short of a double helix. Some called it cloning. Carmakers called it rebadging, and... 448a04ad0fc7c2d4f4d5cb24ef822160 /Article/U_S_criticizes_Toyota_for_misleading_public_in_recall_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5850 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:25 GMT -- The government sharply criticized Toyota Motor Corp. Wednesday for its "inaccurate and misleading" suggestion that sudden acceleration in some vehicles bound for recall may be due only to improperly fitting floor mats. The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration's criticism of Toyota's statement is the latest hit to the automaker's reputation from what will be the largest safety recall in its history: 3.8 million vehicles. NHTSA said Toyota inaccurately suggested in a press release this... d35caf79d92d10fb357af1c2b0c5335d /Article/The_Rumors_about_Ram_Separation_Are_True/5851 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:25 GMT It has been announced before that Ram would separate from Dodge and function as an individual brand which makes commercial vehicles. Fiat is already planning and expansion of the Ram vehicles for 2012. This spring Italian automaker has purchased Chrysler which owns several brands including Dodge. A lot of changes in the American company have been made since then; one of them is that Fiat thinks Ram is so popular that it should become a separate brand which specializes on commercial autos such as pickup... 6938d87a2066aea9e3c37dbd2064b3ac /Article/Chrysler_focused_on_boosting_quality_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5846 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:24 GMT -- Chrysler Group LLC officials know quality sells, and they've set on an aggressive path to improve vehicle reliability to boost sales. To that end, they have instituted sweeping changes within the company to catch problems early and correct them faster than in the past. "We have one quality plan with specific goals," Doug Betts, Chrysler senior vice president for quality said Wednesday. He added that while Chrysler execs are unhappy finishing at or near the bottom of recent reliability studies, those... 67ad0745ecc62d0684c1b0ee7e30fc84 /Article/Chrysler_gives_cause_for_hope_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5847 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:24 GMT Detroit's auto CEOs have their own style. Ford Motor Co.'s Alan Mulally never wears a suit. A sport coat and tie, but not a suit. Not even when he's meeting the president. General Motors Co.'s Fritz Henderson is almost always in a suit. He's a financial guy. Chrysler Group LLC's new CEO Sergio Marchionne is a sweater and slacks guy, which held true Wednesday when he and his team unveiled the company's business plan here to analysts, media and the world. The atmosphere was hectic, even frantic at times... 39fc6492ad159dbd98ead14d55b5a50f /Article/Chrysler_eyes_2011_for_profit_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5848 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:24 GMT Fiat's retooling of Chrysler foresees the littlest of Detroit's Big Three making profits by 2011 and paying off its bailout loans by 2014, officials said during Wednesday's daylong debut of what a post-bankruptcy Chrysler will look like. The profit forecasts are based on big cuts in expenses that already are under way; economies of scale from sharing parts and vehicle platforms; and a volume increase that calls for doubling U.S. and worldwide sales in five years. It will be a big gain from the... 717062e07b262766c372e1a4fb65d67b /Article/GM_will_cut_jobs_in_Opel_strategy_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5844 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:22 GMT -- General Motors Co. said Wednesday some 10,000 European jobs will be sacrificed at its money-losing Adam Opel GmbH unit, which the automaker decided this week to keep, rather than sell to Canada's Magna International Inc. and its Russian partner, Sberbank. The job loss, about 20 percent of the unit's 50,000 European workers, is comparable to the number that Magna would have cut as part of a 30 percent structural cost reduction at Opel. John Smith, GM's group vice president for corporate planning and... d55b3237edcc300cdfab9c5b877bc749 /Article/Chrysler_brands_to_aim_appeal_at_specific_lifestyles_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5845 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:22 GMT Chrysler Group LLC outlined new strategies for its four vehicle brands Wednesday, aimed at recapturing lost market share by bringing new buyers into showrooms. Dodge, which remains the nation's No. 3 brand by sales, will see its bad-boy image toned down, and its big trucks sold under a new standalone Ram brand. Dodge will get a "more mature" logo, and vehicles will focus on the "physics of fun," not macho design. The Ram brand will inherit the old Dodge logo and much of its swagger, but will concentrate... 95542b923431fe24fb650eb07f6f5126 /Article/Chrysler_lays_out_lofty_revival_plan_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5843 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:21 GMT -- Chrysler Group LLC Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne laid out an ambitious, detailed plan Wednesday to revive the struggling Auburn Hills automaker by replenishing its lineup with high-quality and attractive models to more than double sales within five years and start generating profit in 2011. His bold program for Chrysler, which resembles his turnaround plan for Fiat SpA's Fiat Auto a few years ago, focuses on rebuilding Chrysler's bruised brands. By offering Chrysler immediate and unfettered... 6f9b027b6704488e9d17f84cc16a28f1 /Article/Fresh_approach_excites_UAW_dealers_cautious_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5842 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:20 GMT Throughout Metro Detroit and across the nation, workers, politicians and dealers waited and watched Wednesday as Chrysler made its pitch to turn the company around with new products and a fresh approach to manufacturing and marketing. Union leaders representing Chrysler workers in the United States and Canada hailed the promise of overhauling plant operations. The "world class manufacturing" concept is intended to eliminate waste, increase safety and encourage teamwork. It also eliminates a layer of... 403869cf1aee6d3a01eff67114dddbc2 /Article/Dodge_Jeep_Chrysler_get_makeover_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5841 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:19 GMT Chrysler Group LLC wants to hit the restart button on its entire lineup, refreshing, redesigning or replacing every car and truck, swapping out engines and creating vehicles people want. By 2012, Chrysler will have overhauled or replaced its entire lineup. Good luck. Right now, Chrysler is dangling off a cliff. The automaker is growing smaller every month and sits at the bottom of most quality ratings. There may be reasons behind the poor quality of its vehicles, but consumers see them as excuses, and... fb1aba83548c7234e6429df485fa7ecf /Article/Aftermarket_auto_ware_there_for_the_long_haul_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5840 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:18 GMT Next week, Las Vegas turns into aftermarket heaven. Roll out the rally cars, billion-horsepower engines and every conceivable electronic device -- and some you couldn't imagine -- replica rattlesnake seat covers, bamboo floor mats and more rims than a junkyard and you'll begin to picture SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association trade show. Anything and everything that can be affixed, attached, screwed on or bolted down to a car or truck is on display at the private show, which begins Tuesday and... 78a9201f80537126e17aa258c2de5316 /Article/Sneak_peek_Opel_Antara_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5838 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:15 GMT If you thought the end of the Saturn brand would affect only car buyers in America, think again. The Opel Antara on the roads today has shared a body and interior with the Saturn Vue. Now that the Vue is going away, the Antara needs a new body double. Judging from our spy photos, it appears GM will give Opel a version of the Chevy Captiva. The new Opel grill is easy to see through the camouflage on this prototype, along with some impressive looking projector headlights. A chrome-ringed, lower grill... 8d33de6976c0acd8bf0f81f7becd1dc2 /Article/Dodge_Ram_pickups_show_big_improvements_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5839 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:15 GMT The Dodge Ram 2500 and 3500 pickups are all business, serious business. They are the pair of Dodges that feel more like trucks and less like pickups. But for the 2010 model year, these big rigs -- in all five trim levels -- finally offer interiors and exteriors that are executive worthy, though the truck has blue collar roots. But now architects can finally arrive on job sites in the same vehicle the crews they hire use. Following the successful launch of the 2009 Dodge Ram 1500, it was only a matter of... f1f6296f8513d20b66bd44af0aceae72 /Article/Best_be_prepared_for_rough_weather_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5837 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:14 GMT These simple tips from the National Safety Council can help drive down the risk of accident, even in bad weather: • Floor mats. Something as simple as floor mats can have a major impact on driving safety. But the days of one-size-fits-all floor mats are gone. Most mats, even aftermarket mats, are now designed for specific vehicles, and drivers should be sure to use only a mat designed for their vehicle. Many vehicles these days also have anchors or clips to secure mats. You should always check to... b6bb61b46fc61a34fa142af86ec44d28 /Article/Michelin_cables_aim_for_safer_jump_starts_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5836 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:13 GMT Winter's coming. That means stocking up on de-icer fluid for the windshield washer reservoir and digging out the old snow scraper and jumper cables. Or you might want to buy a new set of jumper cables because the technology has just taken a big leap forward. It used to be you had to be very careful to connect the positive and negative terminals of your vehicle's battery to those of the car that you're jumping or that was jumping you. But with Michelin's new Smart Jumper Cables, there's no such... 4ac5070f3bb6e1e8159c94340cefc2d5 /Article/Ariz_shop_revives_vintage_cars_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5835 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:12 GMT -- Tucson's classic cars are the keys to success for the Saguaro Automotive Group. The business is geared toward breathing new life into vintage automobiles through repair and restoration. Its 6,000-square-foot facility buzzed with activity on a recent weekday afternoon. A 1966 Corvette in the showroom awaited minor upgrades to raise its technical inspection score with the National Corvette Restorers Society. Another Corvette, a 1979 model, sat parked at a work station for a custom paint job and full... 79282865644d55a9299715de5098560b /Article/Detroit_area_car_shops_ramp_it_up_at_SEMA_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5834 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:10 GMT By now, most Detroiters are getting their hot rods, exotics, and muscle cars bundled up for a long winter's nap. But in Las Vegas, this week's SEMA convention is supercharging enthusiasts from across the globe. This industry-only trade show lays out an unrivaled smorgasbord of custom vehicles and hardware. Organized by the Specialty Equipment Market Association, the event features about 2,000 booths -- in 2 million square feet of the Las Vegas Convention Center -- hawking everything from complete cars... 180b3b931ed17dbdb4e0701bcb67dde4 /Article/GMC_Terrain_builds_on_Equinox_s_success_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5833 Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:37:06 GMT You can choose your job, you can choose your name, but you can't choose your siblings. Laurie, Mark and Lisa -- the other members of Burgess Generation 5.0 -- remind me of this often. And I wouldn't have it any other way. General Motors Co., however, has had problems with family relationships in the past. Some of its cars and trucks shared a little too much in common, as if the gene pool was a half dozen chromosomes short of a double helix. Some called it cloning. Carmakers called it rebadging, and... 114d6efd1031e6b27530446c22067003 /Article/Nissan_Recalls_2008_09_Rogue/5832 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:26 GMT National Highway Traffic Safety Administration requested a recall on 2008-09 Nissan Rogue because of the possible loss of steering control. During tests it has been discovered that "a screw in the steering gear housing cover may loosen over time and could fall out." If the screw comes out, the steering system will be out of control in case of large input on the steering which would lead to an accident. Nissan says that there have not been any problems reported on this matter. However, the... 2c9a1af8f89fbe11a5baa9c16cb600c1 /Article/Federal_auto_czar_in_Detroit_today_to_discuss_stimulus_grant_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5829 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:25 GMT -- The White House auto recovery czar will meet in Detroit with energy workers and political leaders to discuss a local $83 million federal stimulus grant that's part of a $3.4 billion effort to modernize the U.S. power grid. Ed Montgomery, head of the White House Council on Auto Communities and Workers, is scheduled to visit DTE Energy Co.'s headquarters Thursday. He and others will outline the grant to DTE Energy, which the utility is matching so it can install a network of 660,000 advanced electric... c5ed1a7dca55414c33a9d5ff570e4b8f /Article/Reliability_pays_off_in_long_run_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5830 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:25 GMT Without Uncle Sam's largesse, you're not likely to get a decent price on a trade-in today. That car that grandma only drove to church on Sunday with low miles and all the extras that you got and now want to use to get something a bit more hip? Chances are you'll be offered far below the book value from a dealer. Sell it on your own instead. Especially if you've got a Toyota, Honda or Ford, the top brands for reliability, according to the 2009 Annual Car Reliability Survey from Consumer Reports magazine... bb96a0bb428b8a0a718c1a35ed9ee4a9 /Article/Launch_of_GM_s_Cruze_delayed_3_months_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5831 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:25 GMT General Motors Co. said it has delayed the launch of its Chevrolet Cruze small car about three months until the third quarter of 2010 to ensure a flawless launch. The delay also will give GM time to produce all variations of Cruze models, the automaker said Wednesday. It was not related to any problems associated with earlier Cruze launches in Europe or China, GM spokesman Klaus-Peter Martin said. Industry analyst Erich Merkle of Autoconomy.com has not heard of any problems associated with the Cruze... 70aa4e0a497c43c9802c5d6dac5cf161 /Article/GM_extends_money_back_guarantee_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5827 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:23 GMT General Motors Co., trying to boost market share and vehicle sales after emerging from bankruptcy, has extended its money-back guarantee until Jan. 4 and will launch a second round of advertisements featuring hood-to-hood comparisons with competitors' vehicles. The comparison campaign, scheduled to start in December, is the second phase of a national advertising barrage initiated last month that offers buyers a 60-day, money-back guarantee. Under the campaign, GM has sold approximately 142,000 vehicles... 61c3ce16514d39139b6ba3daaaede397 /Article/Senate_committee_calls_Delphi_s_salaried_pensions_devastating_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5828 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:23 GMT -- A Senate committee criticized the disparate treatment of the pensions of Delphi Automotive LLP's hourly and salaried retirees and demanded more information on how the decisions were made by the Obama administration. Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, noted at a hearing Thursday that the Troy-based auto supplier had terminated its pension plans covering 70,000 workers -- the fourth-largest ever takeover in terms of people covered. In July... 7a54e7110c4ac872a712f50bdc5a90b1 /Article/GM_targets_Asia_China_with_headquarters_in_Shanghai_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5825 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:22 GMT One of the hallmarks of the new General Motors Co. is swift decision-making, and the decision where to base the international operations was made fast. "It didn't take us more than about a minute to decide where it should be," said Nick Reilly, GM executive vice president and new head of international operations. He and CEO Fritz Henderson agreed on Shanghai during a phone call. Reilly was already stationed there as director of GM's Asia Pacific operations. But the choice primarily reflects the U.S... 0b918095589a64871adb2519a27e2e82 /Article/White_House_Edmunds_in_war_of_words_over_clunkers_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5826 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:22 GMT -- The White House said the influential automotive news Web site Edmunds.com's harsh analysis of the impact of "cash for clunkers" was "faulty" and "implausible." Edmunds CEO Jeremy Anwyl shot back that the White House was "shooting the messenger." Edmunds said cash for clunkers cost taxpayers $24,000 per vehicle sold. Nearly 690,000 vehicles were sold during the $3 billion cash for clunkers program that offered up to $4,500 rebates, officially known as the Car Allowance Rebate System, but Edmunds.com... 8797bc30f67d92be32aecb68e9fc0283 /Article/Senate_panel_seeks_Delphi_answers_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5824 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:21 GMT -- A Senate committee, distressed by the different treatment of Delphi Automotive LLP's salaried and hourly retirees, wants to know how the decisions were made by the Obama administration. In July, Delphi saddled the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corp. with responsibility for the pension plans of 70,000 Delphi workers and retirees. That move was estimated to cost the PBGC, the government's pension insurer, about $6.25 billion. Recent estimates put it as high as $6.7 billion. Under agreements with Delphi's... 63e9963bca7daecc195f3ee479f2d677 /Article/Reilly_s_world_is_growing_larger_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5823 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:20 GMT Nick Reilly, executive vice president of General Motors Co., works out of a skyscraper in Shanghai, a Chinese port city halfway across the globe from the company's Detroit headquarters. Most of his senior-level GM colleagues are asleep when he's working, and they arrive at their offices as he's preparing to go home. Even though Reilly is far away, he is emerging as GM's second most important executive after CEO Fritz Henderson. As the new head of GM's international operations, the British executive runs... 84f7f00e994e4f3dedce3de562430e35 /Article/Sneak_Peek_Audi_Clubsport_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5821 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:19 GMT Audi appears to be progressing with the Clubsport model because there are some obvious changes to this prototype since the last time we saw it. While the last test car had oval, RS-style exhaust outlets, this car is sporting even larger, circular outlets. This is also the first time we've seen vents just behind the rear wheels. We assume that is to help cool what appears to be a carbon-ceramic brake package. On the front, we can see a slightly different splitter and some new aerodynamic winglets on the... 499525b6a54428aad8905045111fe36e /Article/Sterling_Heights_Ford_UAW_local_may_ask_for_revote_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5822 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:19 GMT Ford Motor Co. could shift work promised to its Sterling Heights axle factory as part of a tentative agreement with the United Auto Workers to a German supplier after the local union voted overwhelmingly against the deal, according to a union source. Now, some workers there are organizing a petition urging UAW President Ron Gettelfinger to call for a revote. Spurred on by union dissidents who say the time for concessions is over, rank-and-file members at plants across the country have cast their ballots... 6eb7a14709fd6b978fe25f65adaad953 /Article/Fesler_Moss_revives_vintage_Camaro_package_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5820 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:18 GMT Sometimes you have to turn back the clock to go fast forward. First, we turn back four decades, to the birth of the Chevrolet Camaro and that very special souped-up version known as the COPO, that string of letters representing the abbreviation for how to work the order form to get what amounted to a factory-built hot rod. Next, we turn back just a few years, to when automotive engineer Jon Moss was head of what amounted to General Motors' toy shop, the specialty vehicles group that did things such as... 28f4ea9f0f0f7fe547b4f57791228e5e /Article/Backlog_of_clunkers_still_await_recycling_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5819 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:16 GMT -- Cash for Clunkers may be history for car shoppers, but the program's largesse lives on in recycling yards around the country. A torrent of traded-in clunkers have arrived at auto recyclers in the past two months and are still waiting to be drained of fluids, stripped of valuable parts and eventually flattened for scrap. At some disposal facilities, Ford Explorers, Chevy Blazers, Chrysler Town & Country minivans and other popular clunkers are parked bumper to bumper on several acres, many marked "C4C"... dc3981135f28bff8578eb6595d3c498e /Article/Recovery_will_stem_from_fresh_designs_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5818 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:13 GMT Some of the auto industry's biggest hits have roots in a company's darkest days, demographic shifts or a defining moment in history. The strongest and most creative regroups -- even going as far as betting the ranch -- have delivered a triple or a home run in the form of the bubbly Taurus or the minivan. It's unclear when and how bright the light at the end of the current dark tunnel will shine, but the seeds of a sustained recovery will have their roots in the styling studio. Development begins... 9b4640ed36ad1ad500ae515d57be48d7 /Article/The_Infiniti_G_Brains_and_beauty_detnews_com_The_Detroit_News/5817 Fri, 30 Oct 2009 06:56:09 GMT The addition of the hardtop has transformed convertibles from Sunday summer strollers to everyday drivers. For the most part, they look like regular cars, drive like regular cars and generally feel like them. But then touch a single button and the three-piece roof folds up smartly into the trunk, and all of sudden everything ordinary becomes better. For those who want it all, hardtop convertibles make it possible. Earlier this year, Infiniti introduced the 2009 G convertible. The word "ordinary" and... 7b968372f08a429a479fc9a6b78b93f1 /Article/Nationwide_Autocentres_improves_customer_service_with_the_Confirmit_platform/5816 Thu, 29 Oct 2009 15:09:46 GMT ...Confirmit helps to halve costs and increase revenue….New York, NY and Oslo, Norway – Oct 29, 2009: Nationwide Autocentres, the leading UK MOT and car service specialist, has today announced that it has implemented a technology solution from Confirmit, the on-demand, multi-mode platform for customer feedback, employee feedback and market research.  The Confirmit customer feedback system has had an impact on speed, efficiency and clarity of the Nationwide Autocentres customer service... f1bb6f736345467ab0165b8ccb06cd69