When news came back in May that GM would encourage Chevy dealers to have a Camry on hand for customers to compare directly to the forthcoming Malibu, we lauded the company for walking the walk. Similarly confident in the Saturn Aura, the General ran a program earlier this summer in which Aura shoppers were offered comparison drives in both the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. According to GM, the Saturn program was a success, and Aura sales rose during the promotion. Despite that, the Malibu vs. Camry deathmatch is now officially DOA.
No specific reason has been given for the change of heart. A GM spokesperson says only that “it’s been off the table for quite some time” and that “it wasn’t the best approach” for the Malibu. The (undoubtedly significant) costs associated placing comparison vehicles in the 4,000+ Chevy dealers was said to not be a factor in the decision.
[Source: CNNMoney]
Gallery: 2008 Chevy Malibu
Continue reading GM backs off in-store Malibu vs. Camry comparos
Winding Road is reporting that the next-generation Honda Stream mini-MPV may be sold in the U.S. Having just been redesigned last year, the next Stream won’t arrive until 2009, and even then we doubt it will receive anything more than a refreshening. Nevertheless, Honda appears intent to make some money off of this MPV that’s based on the same platform as the Civic and CR-V. It’s reportedly been a big hit in Japan since it debuted in 2000, though the recent redesign has met with mixed reviews. Though the JDM version can seat up to seven or eight people, Winding Road reports the U.S. version will probably get only two rows of seats. In Japan, the Stream is available with either a R18A 1.8L i-VTEC engine and five-speed auto or an R20A 2.0L i-VTEC engine mated to a CVT transmission. Whether those engines will be offered in the U.S. in unknown, though we would expect at least the larger of the two motors to make the journey to our shores.
Considering Honda’s success with the Odyssey in the minivan segment, the Stream may do very well in the U.S. It appears smaller than a minivan, but larger than, say, a Mazda5. The current trend of segment-bending tall wagons and CUVs could carry the Stream right along.
[Source: Winding Road]
In a bid to slow a loss of sales and market share, GM is reportedly giving dealers $250 cash awards for every vehicle sold through the end of the month. According to an internal memo reported by Bloomberg News today, GM has seen more than a 9 percent drop in domestic sales this year. The $250 is good on any vehicle sold between August 23 and August 31 and it will be up to the dealers to determine how to use it. They can use the money as customer incentives or as spiffs for salesmen. GM already raised incentives and began offering 0% financing on large trucks earlier this month to counter a 22 percent drop in July sales. Production was also reduced at six North American truck plants as a result of the slide. Although the products are getting more competitive than ever, people are apparently still expecting GM to drop its pants offer deep discounts before they’ll step into one of its dealerships with checkbook in hand.
[Source: The Detroit News]
Being the auto-obsessive types that you are, we’re sure you can recount endless conversations with potential car buyers about the variety of body styles on the market, and how several of the CUVs and wagons currently available are, at times, far superior to their overblown SUV counterparts. The reasons behind the current boom in hatchbacks and crossovers are obvious: better fuel economy, more car-like handling and ride, all with many of the same attributes of an SUV.
USA Today ran a piece that details some of the offerings that are either making a splash in the marketplace already, or that are pegged to be winners as the movement away from big ‘utes continues. Much of the discussion centers on some of the new high-end crossovers that are currently in the works, specifically the BMW X6 and Infiniti EX35, which offer a bit more luxury over outright utilitarianism.
The real crux of the article is that American consumers have put to rest the moribund offerings of the 70s, like the Ford Pinto and Chevy Vega, and are finally warming up to the sloping rooflines of modern five-door designs.
[Source: USA Today via Winding Road]
Gallery: 2008 Infiniti EX35
Published August 28, 2007
in Maintenance, Pontiac, Buick, Cadillac, Lexus, GMC, Saturn, auto, Car Buying, Etc., GM and Automotive.
The General’s chief product guru, Bob Lutz, responded to questions regarding GM’s reliability in the company’s FastLane Blog’s most recent video Q&A chapter. According to Lutz, who cites comparisons to company “H” and company “T” as being perpetual reliability yardsticks, GM has aimed at making every component throughout the automaker’s brands “bulletproof,” including the engines, transmissions and every mechanical part imaginable.
The move began about four or five years ago, and despite high ratings in J.D. Power and Associates initial quality reports, Lutz explains that all the money spent was in an effort to “shoot for infinite life,” as opposed to what Lutz calls, “100,000-mile bogies.”
Lutz goes on to recount his aim of making Buick the American equivalent of Lexus, which was just confirmed with the recent release of J.D. Power and Associates long-term reliability ratings. Buick sat pretty, right next to Lexus. Mission accomplished Bob. Congrats.
[Source: GM FastLane Blog]
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click image above for high-res gallery
Despite unveiling the 2009 XF just yesterday, Jaguar has announced that it’s new saloon will start at 33,900 in the U.K. For those who think conversions can be helpful, that’s $68,267 USD. That kind of poundage will get the Brits their choice of either the 2.7L V6 diesel or 3.0L V6 engines, neither of which will be available in the U.S. Stepping up to the naturally aspirated 4.2L AJ V8 that produces 300 hp will raise the price to 44,500, or $89,614 USD. The top of the line SV8 model with the supercharged 4.2L V8 producing 420 hp will start at 54,900, or $110,557 USD. Keep in mind that these conversion to USD don’t necessarily indicate what the 2009 Jaguar XF will be priced at in the U.S. The car hasn’t been given an MSRP in the States, but we expect some fiscal clarity on this matter by November.
[Source: Jaguar via Jalopnik]
Gallery: 2009 Jaguar XF
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Most people that purchase a brand-new car from the dealer lot have heard about the forthcoming customer satisfaction survey that will be mailed to their home. While some dealers will ask you to fairly assess their performance, others will try to manipulate scores with overt suggestions and even begging. A recent study by automotive research firm TrueDelta of 1,700 survey takers showed that nearly half of all dealerships tried to manipulate satisfaction scores, and one in four were asked to provide perfect scores by dealer employees. In the end, all the cajoling worked, as one in eight admitted to inflating their scores at the behest of the dealership. The study also pinpointed which OEM dealers were the worst offenders, and BMW, Hyundai, and Nissan comprised the axis of manipulation.
As the scribes at Automotive News point out, satisfaction scores are big business, and everything from ad support to additional franchise opportunities are rewards for dealerships that score above average in customer satisfaction. Poor scores can result in the cold shoulder from the OEM to the Grim Reaper taking away the right to sell cars. Even when we actually buy a five-figure vehicle off the lot, most dealerships keep the pressure on with additional insurance or warranty coverage, inflated interest rates, and even the satisfaction survey we take months later. It’s a wonder buying cars on the Internet isn’t more popular.
[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req.]
While most of us haven’t even thought about the big rear-drive Ford sedans much lately (unless one was wearing taxi or limo livery), those cars have received a lot of attention internally at Ford. The Lincoln Town Car, Mercury Grand Marquis and Ford Crown Victoria have moved from active duty to scheduled for deletion to back into semi-production over the past year or so. The antiquated Panther platform was actually in production throughout 2007, but most people probably hadn’t noticed. For 2008, that trend will continue.
Fleet sales will continue to take up a bigger portion of production, with dealers no longer ordering Crown Vics for customers. Town Car production was shifted from Ford’s Wixom, Mich. assembly plant to its St. Thomas, Ontario, plant, but dealers will have a very limited set of option packages available, with the vast majority of production going to limo duty. The Mercury Grand Marquis, on the other hand, will continue to sell 45/55 private/fleet. Although Ford moved nearly 160,000 of these vehicles in 2006, production should be down to about 100,000 by ‘09.
[Source: Automotive News, sub. req.]
When the Pontiac Solstice hit the market last year, there was enough electricity surrounding the new model in GM’s “Excitement” division to power a small mid-western town. That buzz has apparently dropped off in quick order. Whereas before, dealers were tacking on huge markups, there are now reports of $1,000 being thrown on the hood of Pontiac’s beautiful, bulbous roadster.
An article in the New York Times outlines a number of reasons for the recent sales slump, which include sales of the Saturn Sky rallying, Pontiac’s brand perception waning and fashion victims, whose tastes change quicker than their Platinum card balance, losing interest in a vehicle that is becoming more commonplace.
Historically, highly stylized sports cars and convertibles have a short shelf life and that, coupled with the introduction of the GXP variant of the Solstice, may be the biggest culprits in the recent sales decline.
[Source: New York Times via Winding Road]
click above image to view high-res gallery of the 2008 Pontiac G6 GXP
Do you love it or hate it? Either way, you’ll need to fork over some extra cash if stepping up to the new top model in Pontiac’s G6 line up, the G6 GXP. The 2008 Pontiac GXP Coupe will start at $26,595 and the sedan version will base at $26,795. Both prices include a delivery fee of $650.
If you’re really daring, you can hand the dealer another $990 for the Street Edition Package that violates all manner of civilized taste. Included in the Street package is a “hammerhead” spoiler that could easily seat two for lunch, as well as all sorts of “scoops and bezels” on the hood. As far as we can tell the G6 GXP comes with that garish nose regardless of whether you choose the Street Edition Package.
The front-wheel drive G6 GXP comes with GM’s 3.6L V6 producing 252 horsepower and 251 ft-lbs of torque and a six-speed automatic transmission. That should be enough to squirt the car past that chuckling mob of onlookers, although push it too hard and torque steer might drive you right into them. The car’s also feature a performance-tuned suspension and 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels. If you can’t tell, we’re not big fans of the G6 GXP’s styling, but otherwise it’s got some decent hardware to back up being labeled a GXP car.
[Source: Inside Line]
