xcel
11-30-2006, 06:09 PM
Ford says U.S. auto sales will dip next year. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061130/AUTO04/611300353/1148/AUTO01)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2006_LA_Auto_Show.jpgDetroit News - Nov. 30, 2006
Despite Ford Motor Co.'s struggles, sales chief Cisco Codina is keeping himself upbeat, focusing on promoting three new vehicles Ford will introduce in early 2007 that he's confident will boost sales.
"That is a marketing manager's dream," he told reporters Wednesday at the L.A. auto show.
Ford plans to introduce an all-new Escape SUV early next year, plus the Super Duty line of larger pickup trucks. Also, the new Edge crossover vehicle will hit showrooms next month.
Still, Codina predicted U.S. auto sales overall will be down a little next year, given the uncertainty in the housing industry, gas prices and interest rates.
Marketing vehicles for the MP3 Generation
Carmakers are beginning to adjust their planning to the next generation of car buyers: The MP3 Generation.
John Mendel, Honda Motor Co.'s senior vice president for automobile operations in the U.S, used the term before unveiling two concept vehicles Wednesday, aimed directly at the young, hip buyers.
Certainly other carmakers agree, finding ways to make their vehicles more appealing to the newest car-buying generation. Many now offer some sort of connecting mechanism to a vehicle's stereo to permit the owner to connect his MP3 player to it and continue driving to his own tunes.
Best resale value brand: Honda, Acura
With the world's automotive press at its disposal during the L.A. Auto Show, California-based Kelley Blue Book announced winners of its 2007 Best Resale Value Awards.
Honda tied with its own luxury brand, Acura, as the 2007 Best Resale Value Brand, with each brand retaining 56 percent of its value five years after it was sold.
The top ten 2007 models include: Acura TSX, BMW 5 Series, Honda Civic, Lexus IS, Mini Cooper, Pontiac Solstice, Scion tC, Toyota Prius and the Volkswagan GTI and Eos.
Chrysler Group to expand diesel lineup
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group plans to bring at least four vehicles to market with new clean-burning diesel technology in the next four years, the company said Wednesday.
The vehicles, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee, will be equipped with DaimlerChrysler's "Bluetec" engine, which the company said has technology that triple-cleans exhaust, reducing soot and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Diesel engines offer a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy over conventional gasoline engines, the company said.
Chrysler already offers diesels in its Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee models as well as the Dodge Ram pickup and Sprinter van models.
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/2006_LA_Auto_Show.jpgDetroit News - Nov. 30, 2006
Despite Ford Motor Co.'s struggles, sales chief Cisco Codina is keeping himself upbeat, focusing on promoting three new vehicles Ford will introduce in early 2007 that he's confident will boost sales.
"That is a marketing manager's dream," he told reporters Wednesday at the L.A. auto show.
Ford plans to introduce an all-new Escape SUV early next year, plus the Super Duty line of larger pickup trucks. Also, the new Edge crossover vehicle will hit showrooms next month.
Still, Codina predicted U.S. auto sales overall will be down a little next year, given the uncertainty in the housing industry, gas prices and interest rates.
Marketing vehicles for the MP3 Generation
Carmakers are beginning to adjust their planning to the next generation of car buyers: The MP3 Generation.
John Mendel, Honda Motor Co.'s senior vice president for automobile operations in the U.S, used the term before unveiling two concept vehicles Wednesday, aimed directly at the young, hip buyers.
Certainly other carmakers agree, finding ways to make their vehicles more appealing to the newest car-buying generation. Many now offer some sort of connecting mechanism to a vehicle's stereo to permit the owner to connect his MP3 player to it and continue driving to his own tunes.
Best resale value brand: Honda, Acura
With the world's automotive press at its disposal during the L.A. Auto Show, California-based Kelley Blue Book announced winners of its 2007 Best Resale Value Awards.
Honda tied with its own luxury brand, Acura, as the 2007 Best Resale Value Brand, with each brand retaining 56 percent of its value five years after it was sold.
The top ten 2007 models include: Acura TSX, BMW 5 Series, Honda Civic, Lexus IS, Mini Cooper, Pontiac Solstice, Scion tC, Toyota Prius and the Volkswagan GTI and Eos.
Chrysler Group to expand diesel lineup
DaimlerChrysler AG's Chrysler Group plans to bring at least four vehicles to market with new clean-burning diesel technology in the next four years, the company said Wednesday.
The vehicles, including a Jeep Grand Cherokee, will be equipped with DaimlerChrysler's "Bluetec" engine, which the company said has technology that triple-cleans exhaust, reducing soot and nitrogen oxide emissions.
Diesel engines offer a 30 percent improvement in fuel economy over conventional gasoline engines, the company said.
Chrysler already offers diesels in its Jeep Liberty and Grand Cherokee models as well as the Dodge Ram pickup and Sprinter van models.