Archive for the ‘Product News’ Category
Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
The fact that this study came as news to a lot of people in the general media speaks volumes about the quality of their automotive reporting and their concern for public safety, but at least they're finally getting around to reporting this story. Take particular care to note that none ...
Posted in Accidents, Buying Tips, Insurance, Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Program For Change, Safety, Warnings | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
New cars were on the menu, of course, but so was the potential of a Chrysler tie-up with Fiat and its small car expertise. It's all being done in the hopes of getting consumers to think about cars.
Posted in Advertising, Driving Matters, Incentives, Product News, Technology | No Comments »
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
Nothing's guaranteed yet, but if there's enough interest in the machine GM and Segway hope they can put a two-seat transportation device on the market one day. It's not the answer to all of our transportation issues, but it could help a lot of people.
Posted in Design, Driving Matters, Gadgets, Green, Product News, Technology | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
It's complicated and probably won't make everyone happy, but the U.S. government has a plan to back new car warranties in the event of a financial crisis at the company that made the car. This NY Times story sheds some light on what it might mean.
Posted in Advice, Buying Tips, Driving Matters, Product News, Program For Change | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
In an effort to get its sales moving again, Ford has brought forward a plan to make the ownership experience better for its customers. The best way to see what the Detroit firm has in mind is to consider the press release on the matter:
Posted in Advertising, Buying Tips, Dealerships, Financing, Incentives, Marketing, Pricing, Product News, Save Money | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 31st, 2009
In an effort to get ahead of the pack on the customer service front (and get its sales moving again), GM has announced an impressive set of non-price incentives for new car buyers. The best way to see what the US firm is offering is to consider the original statement ...
Posted in Advertising, Buying Tips, Dealerships, Incentives, Marketing, Product News, Sales, Save Money | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
People who love driving and worship cars regularly trot this theory out, and there's certainly something to be said for some of their points. But it's worth remembering that many more people died when cars were a lot more dangerous and the roads weren't as well-designed. There are some tips ...
Posted in Accidents, Advice, Is There A Lesson Here?, Law Enforcement, Product News, Safety, Warnings | No Comments »
Thursday, March 19th, 2009
All you folks who've closed your minds to the possibility that Detroit can do anything good with four wheels and an engine should read this story. It will show you how wrong you've been for some years, but does not point out that you're probably spending more money on Japanese ...
Posted in Advice, Buying Tips, Is There A Lesson Here?, Marketing, Product News | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
Deals keep getting better on new cars, as auto companies struggle to find the right level of incentives to get buyers back onto their lots. The customers who decide to buy should get a better deal than ever.
Posted in Advice, Buying Tips, Dealerships, Financing, Incentives, Marketing, Product News | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
There's supposed to be something resembling free trade between Korea and the U.S. regarding cars, but the truth is that it's pretty much a one-way market (we buy theirs, but they block ours) and now the Obama administration and the Congress may do something about it. It's costs thousands of ...
Posted in Employment, Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Program For Change, Sales, Warnings | No Comments »
Tuesday, March 17th, 2009
The cars that so many experts were telling the car companies to make more of are now sitting around on new car lots everywhere, mostly because they make less fiscal sense than ever with gasoline prices so low. Even with various discounts currently on offer, it's very hard to recover ...
Posted in Advertising, Buying Tips, Dealerships, Gas Issues, Green, Incentives, Is There A Lesson Here?, Pricing, Product News, Technology | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
The large crossover from General Motors' truck division has been judged the most pet-friendly new vehicle on the road today, thanks in no small part to its OnStar emergency notification system and other features.
Posted in Accidents, Buying Tips, Pets, Product News, Technology | No Comments »
Sunday, February 22nd, 2009
It's not really a bad idea to buy a Sky from Saturn or a Solstice from Pontiac if you're looking for a sporty two-seat roadster, since GM will supply parts and honor the warranty no matter what.
Posted in Advice, Buying Tips, Dealerships, Driving Matters, Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News | No Comments »
Friday, February 20th, 2009
Either because fewer people can afford them, or because more people no longer want to appear too ostentatious, or maybe even because more people realize they're really not worth the extra money, "premium" cars are not selling the way they used to. The boss of Audi of America says: "This ...
Posted in Buying Tips, Dealerships, Is There A Lesson Here?, Pricing, Product News | No Comments »
Friday, February 20th, 2009
In an effort to get some buzz going for its sub-compact Fiesta model from Europe, Ford is looking for 100 people in the U.S. to test the car for several months. There's a website you have to visit, and of course you'll be required to post something on YouTube.
Posted in Marketing, Product News | No Comments »
Thursday, February 19th, 2009
This is extremely bad news for people who want to escape the hassle and haggling of a traditional new car dealership to buy excellent new products (Aura, Astra, Vue), but General Motors says it has to be this way if the company will survive.
Posted in Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Program For Change, Sad stories | No Comments »
Wednesday, February 18th, 2009
The global economic problems that have forced much of the auto industry into crisis are probably going to result in the death of some iconic brands, and the many people who love Saab are afraid their favorite marque will be one of them. Right now, it doesn't look good.
Posted in Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Program For Change | No Comments »
Friday, February 13th, 2009
Not being able to buy a new car online costs most consumers money, consumer groups believe, so there's a push to change the way auto purchasing works as part of the overall restructuring of the industry.
Posted in Buying Tips, Financing, Is There A Lesson Here?, Marketing, Pricing, Product News, Program For Change | No Comments »
Saturday, February 7th, 2009
After getting all those enthusiastic press reports for promising a hybrid to America for less than $20,000, Honda now looks to be planning a much higher price for the compact four-door when it arrives on this continent. What a surprise.
Posted in Green, Pricing, Product News, Technology | No Comments »
Saturday, February 7th, 2009
The third version of the popular RL crossover model will go on sale soon, with a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $36,800 for the front-drive model and $38,200 for the all-wheel-drive. There's also a handling fee of $825, which you do not have to pay, though the company and the ...
Posted in Buying Tips, Dealerships, Design, Marketing, Pricing, Product News | No Comments »
Saturday, February 7th, 2009
The next big deal in the ongoing fire sale at Ford will likely be Volvo, the Swedish firm that the Detroit firm was so thrilled to get only a decade ago, and for a lot less than the $6.8 billion it paid at that time. Just recently Ford sold Jaguar ...
Posted in Product News, Program For Change | No Comments »
Friday, February 6th, 2009
If you're in the market for a pickup truck this year, you need to know that Ford has upgraded the smaller of its two models -- the Ranger -- with some interesting safety features. There are side airbags and, most importantly, an electronic system that reduces the chance the truck ...
Posted in Accidents, Driving Matters, Gas Issues, Product News, Save Money, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, February 5th, 2009
By using the Microsoft-designed Sync system, Ford says, drivers can do more of the multi-tasking with voice controls, leaving their hands free to steer. Check out Ford's press release below for the full details.
Posted in Accidents, Buying Tips, Driving Matters, Gadgets, Parts, Product News, Technology | No Comments »
Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009
An electric vehicle with a range of only 30 miles may not seem like much, but it's probably enough to get most people going for a day. That means these upcoming Fords can be recharged at night or while you're at work and keep you off gasoline most of the ...
Posted in Buying Tips, Driving Matters, Gas Issues, Green, Product News | No Comments »
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
This should be an important consideration if you're trying to save money on fuel by going to a smaller vehicle. It means you're putting yourself at greater risk and not saving any money.
Posted in Accidents, Advice, Buying Tips, Driving Matters, Gas Issues, Insurance, Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Save Money, Warnings | No Comments »
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Several methods of getting consumers back into the new car market are being considered in Washington, which should be good news for people who decide to take the plunge.
Posted in Buying Tips, Dealerships, Driving Matters, Pricing, Product News | No Comments »
Thursday, January 29th, 2009
Since outward signs of enjoyment and financial well-being seem more offensive lately than they have in a long time, it's probably not surprising that a pair of "life's-a-banquet-and-I'm-filling-my-plate" cars will be phased out.
Posted in Driving Matters, Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Program For Change, Sad stories | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 28th, 2009
The craziest auto writer in the English-speaking world is back recommending a Volvo smart shoppers should avoid and suggesting that attractive cars should get preferential treatment. We think it's supposed to be a joke, but who knows?
Posted in Buying Tips, Children, Driving Matters, Is There A Lesson Here?, Law Enforcement, Product News, Warnings | No Comments »
Monday, January 26th, 2009
The Italian company's recent allegiance with Detroit's Chrysler could mean as many as seven new vehicles, mostly of the small, fuel-efficient kind, three bearing the Fiat or Alfa-Romeo logos and four with the Chrysler badge. It will take a while before they're all on sale.
Posted in Dealerships, Marketing, Product News | No Comments »
Saturday, January 24th, 2009
In principle, the idea of switching from gas to electricity to power cars has a lot of appeal, but there are a lot of challenges on the road to this utopia, including the infrastructure required to supply the electricity. This NY Times story gives a reasonably accurate perspective of the ...
Posted in Driving Matters, Green, Is There A Lesson Here?, Product News, Program For Change, Technology | No Comments »
Thursday, January 22nd, 2009
It's a little unfair to say that what the children of Baby Boomers want is not on many car companies' menus at present, but it is true that many changes will have to be made if they want to attract younger buyers in large volumes.
Posted in Advertising, Children, Marketing, Product News, Program For Change | No Comments »
Wednesday, January 21st, 2009
Right now they're not really making much of a difference in the struggle to reduce the use of oil, but every new technology has to start somewhere (ask the owners of Apple Newtons) and solar panels have made their debut on a couple of production cars.
Posted in Green, Product News, Program For Change, Technology | No Comments »
Tuesday, January 20th, 2009
The woman in charge of leading the development of hybrid vehicles for Ford is enthusiastic about the opportunity, even in such parlous economic times.
Posted in Driving Matters, Green, Product News, Program For Change, Technology | No Comments »
Monday, January 19th, 2009
When the PT Cruiser came out in 2000 it was a huge hit and took an early lead in what we might now call the mini-crossover market, but the struggling company was not able to keep up development on the retro-looking wagon and it slipped off most people's shopping lists. ...
Posted in Product News, Sad stories | No Comments »
Monday, January 19th, 2009
If anything comes of the discussions that Chrysler and Italy's Fiat are supposedly having right now, it might mean that Fiat would at long last find the production and distribution resources in North America that it needs to bring its cars back to Canada and the U.S. That is for ...
Posted in Dealerships, Green, Product News, Program For Change | No Comments »
