Super Bowl ad brawl has already begun for automakers

Marty Bernstein , The Detroit Bureau

The hype has begun. Super Bowl XLVII is less than a week away, but the mega-million-buck auto ad brawl is already underway as three of the eight deep-pocket car advertisers pre-launch their new commercials to NFL fans. The reason? Economics. And a numbers game.

At between $2.4 million and $4 million per 30-second commercial, this amounts to a huge expenditure for just one airing. But there’s an even bigger number, with more than 115 million Americans predicted to watch the game Feb. 3.

Until recently, Super Bowl advertising has been nothing more than putting up the game-day spot and hoping, maybe, that it will trigger some Monday-morning quarterbacking around the water cooler — with polls and research adding some arguable, additional value. That was then.

What’s become apparent is that a fairly large percentage of viewers are more interested in the commercials than the game itself. So, how to take advantage of that and extend the payback beyond just a game-day airing that is over in 30 seconds, whether a viewer was sitting in front of the TV or off grabbing something from the refrigerator?

Now, with the various social media, like Facebook and Twitter as well as YouTube, along with special contests, promotions and PR hype, the shelf life for a good commercial can be dramatically extended to weeks, even months, resulting in additional views extending well into the millions – even among consumers who – gasp – might not have tuned in on Super Bowl Sunday.

Result? The return on investment is as measurable as any ad investment might be. And, of course, makers get to battle it out all over for bragging rights as to who was number one.

“(An) early release extends the life of the commercial, builds consumer interest, and most importantly brings early customers into our dealers," said Steve Shannon, vice president of marketing at Hyundai Motor America.

The latter reason, arguably, is the most important for buying the commercial in the first place. With that in mind, here are the early commercial entries into this year’s auto ad brawl:

Mercedes-Benz
During the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Bernie Glaser, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz, said the company has an enviable role in XLVII. The game will be played in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The ad plan was to pre-release a teaser, but in fact two advance spots were released earlier this week. One sexy little tease spotlighted actress Kate Upton and has already received over 3.4 million hits on YouTube – but also generated a fury of negative comments from critics for being overly sexy. The other is a cinematic mystery tease of what is coming Feb. 3, shot in the Big Easy with some great music.

Hyundai
Like every NFL game, it all begins with the coin toss, and in Super Bowl XLVII, Hyundai has the primo commercial position – a 60-second spot for the new seven-passenger Santa Fe prior to the heads-or-tails call. Check out the not-so-sneak preview.

There are two in game spots, including another for Santa Fe and one for the turbo Sonata. Hyundai also has bought a couple pre-game ads – featuring the Genesis R-Spec and Santa Fe. Obviously, the new family-size SUV is getting the most play. The six commercials pre-game and during the game makes Hyundai the biggest car-vertiser in the big show.

Audi
More than a tease, the rising luxury car marquee is asking consumers to vote for the favorite end of their sixth Super Bowl commercial. Viewers of the commercial on YouTube were given 24 hours to pick their favorite from three possibilities. The most popular will be added in post-production and will air in advance of the game -- and in the enviable commercial position of the first break after kick-off.

Lincoln Motor Company and Chevrolet
The newest entry in the auto ad brawl in Super Bowl XLVII is the reborn, revitalized, redesigned, re-engineered Lincoln brand from the renamed Lincoln Motor Company. All previous car companies except Chevrolet have re-upped. Chevy is instead involved in the half-time show with Beyonce. As TheDetroitBureau.com previously reported, the pop phenom is expected to receive a new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, a special version of the C7 built just for her.

Copyright 2013 The Detroit Bureau

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Luxury cars buy into the downsizing trend

Paul A. Eisenstein , The Detroit Bureau

For those attending the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month, Mercedes-Benz has rolled out an all-new version of its big E-Class line-up. But for reporters who came into the Motor City early for the show’s media preview, Mercedes offered a sneak peek at the new CLA model it will formally introduce later this year.

Sharing a similar silhouette with the current CLS coupe-like sedan, the CLA will be the smallest model the German maker has ever sold in the United States, representing a significant shift not only for Mercedes but for the rest of the luxury car market.

A quick survey of high-line manufacturers including Lincoln, Land Rover, BMW and Audi shows they’re all taking aim at downsized segments. That reflects some significant trends in the luxury market as buyers come to grips not only with rising fuel prices but increasingly crowded urban environments, analysts and industry planners suggest.

“If we want to grow and don’t want to lose our customers, we have to downsize,” contends Dieter Zetsche, Chairman of Daimler AG and chief of its Mercedes-Benz brand.

It’s not the first time the maker has pushed down-market. Mercedes made waves when it introduced its original C-Class “Baby Benz” more than three decades ago. And in the ‘90s, it tried pushing even lower with the stripped down C-Coupe. The C-Class is now one of the maker’s most popular products, though the smaller, lower-priced Coupe proved a flop and was quickly pulled from the lineup.

Buyers were equally uninspired by the smaller, stripped-down version of the classic BMW 3-Series, the 318 Coupe.

Whether buyers will welcome even smaller models today remains to be seen, especially in the U.S. where “it has always been bigger is better,” and buyers have measured luxury – and the concurrent price tag – by the inch and pound, said George Peterson, of consulting firm AutoPacific, Inc.

The C-Coupe and the BMW 318 were little more than econoboxes bearing luxury badges. The new Mercedes CLA, however, will offer much more traditional luxury accoutrements, including leather seats, wood trim and the latest high-tech safety and infotainment systems, the maker promises.

That’s already a formula that works in Europe, said Peterson. “The idea that you make a statement by having the biggest car around isn’t quite the case anymore. Now it’s more about the technology and features of the car.”

European makers have all added new downsized models, such as the BMW 1-Series and the Audi A2. The trend is apparent even in the luxury crossover segment where downsizing might once have seemed an oxymoron. BMW has had a hit with its X3 and now is offering the even smaller X1.

Buick dealers are just taking delivery of the maker’s new Korean-made compact crossover, the Encore, which the General Motors mid-luxury brand hopes will help it attract an entirely new cohort of young, hip and increasingly affluent buyers.

Lincoln has the same idea in mind for the new MKC, one of four new models it is planning to bring out between now and 2014. The broader compact crossover segment has grown 200 percent over the past five years, including a 60 percent spurt in 2012 alone, notes Matt VanDyke, Lincoln’s new global marketing chief. Yet while they account for a solid 11percent of the overall American automotive market, they’ve now jumped to an even more impressive 25 percent of the luxury segment.

While young, first-time buyers make up much of the market for compact CUVs and other downsized luxury products, VanDyke says it is equally significant that customers are also “coming from other premium segment vehicles,” trading in larger, more traditional luxury products.

So, as with the CLA, the new Lincoln MKC will be offered with the sort of up-market features that normally wouldn’t be found on something nearly that small. In fact, the concept vehicle unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show featured a more lavishly appointed interior than Lincoln’s larger MKZ sedan, which made its debut late last year.

While it will help to load up these new products with plenty of luxury accoutrements, industry stylists are also working to give these downsized products more upscale designs. Murat Gueler, who oversaw the exterior work on the MKC, and Soo Kang, who focused on the interior, put a particular focus on making the compact crossover look a lot larger than it really is.

Particularly for the next generation of luxury customers, the idea of downsizing is not something they naturally shy away from. If anything, they’re used to paying more for compact smartphones and tablet computers.

And the industry is hoping that they’ll feel the same way about the latest generation of small luxury cars. The key, said analyst Peterson, will be to deliver all the features they’d traditionally expect on a bigger vehicle “so they don’t feel like they have to sacrifice.”

Copyright 2013 The Detroit Bureau

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Chicken entrails, lard is Mazda's cars fuel pump

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

Mazda hopes take a tankful of chicken courage, beef tallow and pork lard to the victory in the grueling Rolex 24 race at Daytona this weekend.

No, not the manufacturer of the local butcher is sponsored. It is switched off its new Mazda6 cars with a customized fuel mix, which starts with shreds of Tyson Foods. This organic Glop was converted into a special bio-fuel, which clean will stir up diesel engine the new SkyActiv D this will to the makes Mazda entry in the new Grand am-GX class at the 24-hour race.

"It's meat packing residue," explains John Doonan, Director of Mazda's ambitious Motorsports operation. And the ultimate mix in other diesel-powered race car so clean, the Mazda6 used cars particulate filter or one of the other devices, not required.

Mazda is not the only manufacturer that has changed the power the diesel on the way from petrol or ethanol. Audi has the race track in Le Mans Endurance for much in the past decade in fact, dominated with a number of drivers, which routinely let competitors struggling to keep.

That has helped the spotlight on the German manufacturer's focus on diesel technology, is to put it on the road. At the Los Angeles Auto Show announced in November last year of the producer that it would add soon four new diesel models to its US-line-up.

European car buyers are aware of benefits of diesel - fuel consumption and far more power than gas-electric powertrains, it delivers close to hybrid levels. Are Americans, but just absorb. It is so Mazda, which must now to convey the message as it prepares to introduce an own new diesel engine to the US market.

In fact, started the engine, which will turn on the Mazda6 at the Daytona track is as one of the first production of the diesel of the manufacturers back in Japan last year mounted.

The new Mazda6 SkyActiv-D racing cars have to fill some big tire tracks, RX-8 success model of the manufacturer replaced. Mazda is also two new teams, starting with the 2013 Rolex 24 hours of Daytona field. It loses its two previous teams, including Dempsey racing, which was owned by actor and Motorsport fanatic Patrick Dempsey.The manufacturer his racing team, said Doonan, "to use as many production components as possible. The only things we have changed are the crankshaft, pistons and connecting rods." And with good reason considering the track-tuned SkyActiv D churning will be from 400 HP and 450 lb-ft of torque--make double what a road-registered 2014 diesel-powered Mazda6 will be when it goes on sale this year.

It is a risky, to start a new car with drivers and new teams, but Mazda is hoping it will pay off and back the brand to the fore this year.

The manufacturer has many changes are everywhere, you are looking for. It has largely wound is and is a decades-long relationship with Ford Motor Co. and ceased producing the Mazda6 in a work that the two makers in Detroit suburb operated jointly.

Mazda, has established several new - if more limited - alliances with Toyota and Fiat. The Italian manufacturer Alfa Romeo Department plans to work with Mazda a new sports car to develop, both companies can sell. Mazda, Ford it serves as a replacement for its aging Miata 2-seater. Meanwhile, Toyota, will be based as a replacement for its Yaris subcompact Mazda3 platform. And some of the new models produce Mazda for Toyota from a plant that is currently set it in Mexico.

More alliances could follow according to Mazda CEO Takashi Yamanouchi. That might help to reduce the small Japanese automaker hefty costs of developing new products. Not that Mazda is waiting to help. It has a range of new models, as CX-5 roles was the highly acclaimed crossover.

It has introduced a new concept, GER. SkyActiv that she claimed hybrid can compete products with the performance of rivals. At its heart, SkyActiv is a new concept for power train technology, but it means also the steps for improving the overall efficiency of the manufacturer's vehicles, up on the search for ways to reduce the weight of the Lugnuts on the wheels of the new Mazda6 Mazda engineers take a.

The brand new version of the sedan will be with both the new SkyActiv petrol and diesel drives offered.

Unfortunately they will have for those who could opt for the SkyActiv D, probably a hard time used Mazda at the circuit to find the synthetic diesel. The renewable mix was developed by dynamic fuels a 50/50 joint venture by Tyson Foods and Syntroleum, and there is a $150 million refinery near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, opened two years ago.

Why Tyson? Because the manufacturer had ways to find, over 1.5 million pounds of chicken, pork and beef products have every day. Now it can avoid the cost of dumping, offal and potential some money from him. The refinery produces annually about 75 million litres of synthetic diesel and ramp up could offer even more.

A number of refineries work come with bio-fuels. Ethanol blends are the most readily available. You have been controversial, because so far most stocks have used foods like corn - although so-called cellulose newer production methods to create the alcohol fuel from waste.

Many of the new bio-diesel use blends waste products - although a number of petrol stations in the vicinity of San Francisco offers created recently started a mixture of algae.

Dynamic fuels ultimately hopes to begin selling some of its synthetic fuel for the public and for a $5, a price tag turning Mazda's U.S. CEO Jim O'Sullivan gallon notes.

Some shuttle buses from Alamo and national car rental are operated already test on the road. And the United States Navy uses the bio-diesel mixture on some of his ships.

Those who buy the new Mazda6 with SkyActiv D must settle for conventional, petroleum-based diesel fuel. But the manufacturer hopes that with a 14.5 gallon tank distilled courage Department will dominate under its hood, the Mazda6 cars, when the flag at Daytona on Saturday.

Copyright 2013 the Detroit Bureau

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Lead foot Hey! Money you're throwing away.

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

Studies show that fuel economy has become the number one concern among the American car buyer – but drivers have higher top speeds, which greatly reduced the mileage Gets a car was pressure.

While the common sense might seem, a new study clearly quantifies the impact of putting the pedal to the metal. And it is that it amazingly few differences between vehicles, whether brick-like SUVs or sleek, wind was sports.

"People like rules of thumb, and if you have increased your speed of 50 to 60 miles per hour, we find the largest number of vehicles, which is about 12 percent, fuel consumption will go," said Brian H. West, a researcher at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in Knoxville, Tennessee, where the study was conducted.

You see a little faster, press you fall 14 percent go from 60 to 70 mph, while the fuel consumption further 16 per cent will fall when you move the speedometer up to 80 kilometres.

While West says he was "surprised" by the overall results of the new study, he and the rest of the research team to make an unexpected discovery. You were expecting to see some types of vehicles do better than others, but the decline in fuel economy showed consistency across all vehicle classes even the heaviest, and boxiest SUVs, with only a one or two percent deviations from the least efficient models.

Hybrid vehicles, which are to the stop-and-go city traffic, where their batteries recharged constantly, really are included. At highway speeds, there is little opportunity for them to energy to regenerate, which serves the gasoline they compensate for consumers. And in fact, many hybrids have actually lower highway mileage reviews than what the EPA that they get in the traffic estimates.

Because West refused to discuss the political consequences of increased fuel consumption – and opponents of higher speeds could be used the new study by proponents. A vehicle that might get 40 miles per gallon to 50 miles per hour would see something closer to 25 mpg at 80 km/h.

Speeds lifted first passed federal restrictions increased significantly since Congress, during the energy crises of the 1970s, which at one point the US speed limit to 50 mph lowered and then raised it to 55, the infamous "double-nickel."

Late last year, opened Texas of country quickest route, a toll road route in the vicinity of Austin with a top speed of 85 mph.

The increase of speed created chaos for both the EPA by Congress on automotive fuel economy standards and test, and the automaker is charged depending on the monitor after EPA results.

The tests, which determine the numbers that were so-called "Munroney sticker" several times in the past four decades, last with the beginning of the model year 2012 revised the label for a new vehicle window. The latest procedures include a short burst at 80 miles per hour, but in general the results reflect slow ride, which means much less aggressive, that a large percentage of American motorists lower fuel consumption than is specified.

And the faster they go, the new Oak Ridge study confirms, the faster the gap grows.

Copyright 2013 the Detroit Bureau

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Boeing suffer battery could short circuit electric cars

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

At 4: 05 pm ET updated: The ongoing investigations of faulty lithium-ion power packs on the new 787 Dreamliner would have implications far beyond the aviation and aerospace industry, some observers to worry that Boeing battery could the emerging market for plug-in, hybrid and other electrified automobile short circuit.

Investigators in the United States and Japan have a spotlight on the lithium used to link the emergency power supply systems on the new Boeing Jet, parked the technology with several recent cases, including a fire at one of the Dreamliner at a gate at Boston Logan field. Some observers point to a series of fires involving Volt and the Fisker Karma uses the batteries in various electric vehicles, including the Chevrolet.

With Boeing history, getting a lot of airplay, "This is definitely a problem," Joe Phillippi, AutoTrends consulting said. "This could be especially bad timing," warned analysts given the push-to-battery-based vehicles to increase in the coming years.

All 50 new jets, which Boeing had so far delivered have been grounded and investigators yesterday visited GS Yuasa, the Japanese manufacturer of lithium batteries on the 787. While some aircraft have used the technology before, Boeing is the most advanced and comprehensive. One of the latest incidents in Dreamliner involved two batteries shows signs of having overwhelmed was, although the others do not, according to investigators.

"We are in the middle of the collection of information, so that if a problem or does not exist has not yet been determined" said Tatsuyuki Shimazu, engineer the Chief worthiness Japan Civil Aviation Bureau Aviation Safety Department.

In connection with lithium-ion batteries in automotive applications, fire involved several investigations were conducted. These include a fire, which destroyed a Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid parked in a garage, Texas last year, and another with Fisker's last year were caught in the water during the Superstorm Sandy in the autumn. Several other battery based vehicles, including a Toyota Prius, also much storage in a port outside Newark (New Jersey) caught fire and it seems their electrical systems shorted salt water.

The Chevrolet Volt, the plug-in hybrid if the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that a battery pack was caught weeks fire, after a volt crash was also a target of the investigators tested in 2011. A second battery later started smoking after it has been tested.

Finally completed, investigators, the Volt problem was mainly the result of the NHTSA test procedure. Yet made General Motors then substantial changes, the likelihood that problems continue to reduce after a crash.

Separately, Fisker announced changes to its battery system design after a fire in connection with a fan cooling system. And the California startup had to recall of the early versions of karma as a design battery supplier A123 was discovered.

Fisker has clearly knocked off initial expectations to contend with revenues. Chevy, suffered the first report of the fire a short-term decline, however, after a test center for NHTSA. Demand soon recovered, however. Sales of the plug-in the last year compared with the level of 2011 - more than tripled, but was still barely half of the GM 45,000 initial target for the American market.

«No questions, such headlines (around the Boeing batteries) do not want to help, battery vehicle sales» for Analyst main source River and others.

Even without such concerns, the auto industry has struggled to increase the demand for high performance technology. Also Nissan or BEV, last week announced that it would introduce below the price tag of the 2012 model coming in $6,000 to a new version of fight to the expectations for the battery-electric vehicle leaf. With various State and federal incentives of the manufacturer announces the blade for less than $20,000 could purchase some buyers.

As for the Volt, consist company which is currently the best-selling "extended drive" vehicle to the American market, officials, that they are satisfied with the way that record sales. Fight against the skeptics, mark Reuss, GM's President of North American operations told reporters "The electric car is not dead."

He is not the only hope is the case. From different manufacturers have begun to roll-out new electrified products from conventional hybrids on the full battery-electric offerings. This includes the new Ford Fusion Energi, the Toyota RAV4-EV, and a plug-in version of the Honda Accord.

The two Japanese makers prefer previously less advanced nickel-metal hydride batteries, officials express concerns about possible problems with lithium technology use. The problem of the Boeing highlights such concerns, although the battery-technology advocates hope that the problem will soon be solved.

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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Detroit has the discipline to stay on top?

Paul A. Eisenstein, NBC News contribution

"We're back. And now the world knows it, "treated a gathering of industry insiders and traders who celebrate North American International Auto Show this week on the back of the Detroit Cobo Hall, the debut of 2013 had gathered proclaimed local Detroit talk show host Paul W. Smith as he.

Only a few years earlier, many of the same people had joined together in the same room, to their wounds with whiskey and cigars nurse and ignore the desperate mood at a ground where it was not clear what automakers could survive the US automotive market worse downturn since the great depression.

But this year is clearly in favor of the industry dynamics. Turnover rose to 14.5 million in 2012, had ends with a burst of exhibition activity few expected. But a small minority of manufacturers, particularly Toyota, predict that 2013 is relatively flat, most are experts quickly ratcheting their number upwards, General Motors CEO Dan Akerson this week predicting that demand could reach 15.5 million. That would be the best tally since the industry reached its final peak.

Ironically, which some in the industry can provide.

"The disease", sent two of the Detroit big three automakers into bankruptcy and that almost destroyed the third "was terrible and caused by ourselves," emphasizes the blunt talking CEO of Chrysler and the Italian Fiat partner, Sergio Marchionne.

Automakers had way too much capacity, which he says to meet sales levels, added necessary - or - if the industry was actually responding to the demand of the consumer would have been impossible. Companies such as General Motors and Chrysler - as well as many of their foreign competitors - had to attract massive incentives in the market for buyers in showrooms generous meant. The great irony is that in the boom years during the middle of the last decade, the industry was already in serious trouble. The 2005 U.S. record of 17.5 million vehicles was an "artificial" high, senior industry analyst Tom Libby, the tracking company r.l. Polk agrees.

Laurel Hess, a Detroit TV presenter, remembers hardly leasing minivan Chrysler Town & country for only $120 per month, half of what it should have gone for.

The higher turnover was ironically, the more lost some companies. GM was already running to billions of dollars in red ink, even if the industry reached their all-time peak. And since the market collapsed, it was becoming increasingly clear that huge manufacturer - would together with rival Chrysler - bankrupt, finally survive only with the help of a massive rescue by the U.S. to overthrow Government.

The third domestic manufacturer, Ford Motor Co. alone could Squeak, but only because it tens of billions of dollars in loans lined up before such lifelines by the banking sector were cut off even disaster. And even then, Ford had, all of their works to the familiar blue Ford oval logo to pledge.

Ford's North American operations 11% profit margin generate today after the latest financial report of the manufacturer. And it would be doing better, overall there were not because the losses run worst sales report in Europe, where the automotive industry is expected this year its in almost two decades.

Through the downturn coming, radically redesigned Ford's then-new CEO Alan Mulally the manufacturers who combine typically autonomous international offices in a more cohesive global operation. Home radically its production capacity on it according to the demand probably bring more cutting of the manufacturer.

GM and Chrysler have similar steps to acknowledge that she would be smaller companies with lower sales and market share in the downturn.

All in all perhaps 100 Assembly, component and support were plants closed, a movement that resulted in the painful removal of 10s of thousands of jobs. But it also radically reduces the industry's costs, as it is based on a more demand than supply shifted the business model.

As Detroit Hess back went her Chrysler minivan to replace recently, laughed the trader when she asked whether she could do one for $120. The price he quoted was"not even close."

Industry incentives, total has fallen strongly could plunge compared to the previous year, according to firm TrueCar.com, tracking, and even further in 2013.

If anything, are some manufacturers eat that they can not meet the demand this year in the position. "Our biggest problem is that we may not have enough capacity," says Mark fields, Ford's new chief operating officer.

Ford has more product from existing plants looking for ways to squeeze-out, rather than add more bricks and mortar. So you have their domestic competitors. Chrysler has added third changes in a number of plants, including the extensive Jeep factory near Detroit River. General Motors officials noted this week that they have added more than 26,000 jobs, since incurred prior to the bankruptcy, to meet much of the demand increases.

However, despite the high among industry insiders, there is still a certain feeling of fear that often follows, so that it is through a disaster. And therefore the word "Discipline" one car, much in the media preview days at the Detroit show.

"I hope that we learned a lot" from the bankruptcy process, says Mark Reuss, GM President for North American operations. "It is tempting," he says, "to do some bad things" to try again revenues and audience share the ability to the company in the past, overbuilding and then offer profit-busting incentives has.

"If we are greedy and try the industry, bubbles, which is to be a dangerous place" suggests the Reuss River.

So, it could mean, missing a few sales as the industry rebounds. But by the close coupling to request production, the industry should find reflect reality see prices and that is all but certain that the increase of in margins. Most analysts expect the industry to post record earnings in the next few years without having to close the sales record of the past come.

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Honda recalls 750,000 vehicles for airbag defects

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

After having the second-highest number of callbacks for all manufacturers in the US market, Honda that it almost three-quarters of the 1 million vehicles will remember exit to a difficult start for 2013, this time announcing, because missing rivets not correctly provide their driving side airbags in the event of a crash could fall.

The latest safety issue is 748.000 of the manufacturer's popular pilot crossover Odyssey minivan models. A further 29,000 vehicles in Canada distributed are also discussed.

The latest recall covers Honda Pilot models during the 2009 to 2013 model years and Odyssey minivans from 2011 to 2013?? customers will be prompted the vehicles to their dealers for the inspection of the airbag driver side and, if necessary, for Reparaturen.Es is the latest in a series of problems that had Honda airbags now resulted in the recall of several million vehicles in the last few years. Include a problem in over-aggressively, airbags could inflate shrapnel into the passenger cabin fire caused.

According to Honda "driver-side airbags in these vehicles may be without some of the rivets, the plastic cover of the airbags protect the assembled. If the studs are not present, which can provide airbag not properly, increase the risk of injury in a crash. No crashes or injuries reported in connection with this issue."

The manufacturer says that no crashes or injuries have been reported due to the problem.

Will owners of mid-February, notify the company by dialing owner while 800-999-1009 and select option 4 or www.recalls.honda.com to contact.

Honda has problems that the manufacturer with more vehicles recalled led repairs than any other manufacturer for security in 2011 compared to an ongoing series of topics, including airbag and vehicle fire. Last year, it came in the second, with 3.9 million vehicles safety campaigns, behind only Toyota, which even involved recalled 5.3 million cars, trucks and crossovers.

The automotive industry suffered a total an increase of recalls last year with a total of 16.2 million vehicles, 4.5% after a preliminary data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Toyota and Honda, stamps have usually identified with high quality and reliability, in the callback list for the past four years led.

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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Holy hot rods! TV's Batmobile can pick up $5 million.

Robert Frank

Maybe it was the dual bubble windshields, the heads of Adam West and Burt Ward perfect frame, as it's Gotham City raced to the scene of the crime. Or maybe it was the issued bat wings, Orange edges. Or maybe it was the ultimate jet exhaust, which like a dragon as the caped Crusaders flamed drove out of the bat cave.

Whatever reason, the original Batmobile after remains one of the most revered cars in America. And now the Batmobile - Yes, the same used in the 1960s Adam West TV show - is among the more than 1,400 vehicles auctioned the 42nd be expected annual Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event weekend.

Price: up to $5 million.

Scottsdale is car to collect the car-a-Palooza. And auctioneers say the good economy this year, growing interest by investors of collectibles and rare offerings such as the Batmobile and a Mercedes once owned by Clark Gable, could push sales total to all-time highs.

The market for collectors not only back. It would be bigger than ever before.

Craig Jackson, said the CEO of Barrett-Jackson-the auto auction company, the event in 1971 in life called - the year's total sales of the company's all-time record of 108 million $ can set up in the year 2007.

"My goal is to beat this year," he said. It looks like we have a good chance."

A good sign: the credit lines for buyers have topped $700 million. Jackson said that any potential bidder ask a letter from a bank or lender, which guarantee that a certain amount of cash to purchase is available. He said, the total is $1 billion expected to be $700 million in credit lines-meaning buyers met to spend a war chest of up to $1 billion this weekend.

Scottsdale is above all a muscle car scene with many American hot rods and Hemis. But there are also a smattering of Italian exotics, Celebrity Cruises, and cars through Hollywood famous.

The Batmobile is, hands down, the star of the show. Of course, there are also other Batmobiles there. But all the others were copies of the original, that life in 1955 as Lincoln began Futura concept car, the screen in the film "It started with a Kiss" with Debbie Reynolds 1959 debuts. Legendary Customizer George Barris car then turned into the Batmobile for the TV series. The car was used in the original series as also the movie with Adam West.

Jackson said that all other Batmobiles made fiberglass copies of this original.

"This is the real deal," he said.

Barrett Jackson will auction off the car Saturday. Jackson said that the car probably for will sell $4 million or more, and could easily $5 million above. He said, "Veteran" is probably the most buyer-perhaps a museum or movie companies in connection with the Batman franchise.

"It's one of those wild cards, because we don't really know what it for sale could," he said.

Another headliner at Scottsdale include Clark Gable 1955 Mercedes Gullwing, which could sell for millions. A 1958 could Ferrari 250 GT LWB California spider by Gooding & co. auction is up to $7 million, brought during a 1960 Ferrari 250GT SWB Berlinetta auctioned by RM auctions in $8 could bring millions.

Another piece of Hollywood up for auction is the Dukes of Hazzard trick car that was used in the popular TV series of the 1980s. "General Lee"-1969 Dodge Charger - was more than $60,000 when picked up by the Bonham auctioned.

Also on the block by Bonhams: the car in the infamous Tollbooth scene in "The godfather" in the Sonny Corleone shot is used. He did not survive, but the car has. James Caan at the tollbooth in this car pulled up, but there are bullet holes. Another car was riddled with bullets. There is no estimate how much the 1941 could bring Coupe Lincoln Continental.

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Alfa Romeos in the United States until the end of the year will be sold again

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

In an apparent turnaround from comments he made just this week, Fiat/Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne revealed that Alfa Romeo brand finally launches his long-awaited return to the United States make to the end of the year with the 4 c's new sports car.

The Executive also revealed that Fiat with Mazda has signed a contract, the them a new 2-seat sports car of the Japanese manufacturer factory from 2015 to produce. It serves as a complement to the Alfa line up and a replacement for the ageing Mazda Miata.

"We the car are now completed," said CEO Marchionne about the new Alfa 4 c, "so it here (should be in the United States) by the end of the year."

The message will resonate is expected also in some circles. Alfa Romeo was once one sells the most popular Italian brand in this country, but it abandoned the U.S. market due to a variety of problems, including poor quality two decades ago. It has since then repeatedly tries, but until now no such efforts were able to gain traction.

Marchionne made the revival of the brand Alfa one of his main points during a day-long Conference in November 2009 its plans to things at Chrysler, turning to break the control of the parent who had emerged to Alfa, Fiat SpA from bankruptcy.

But while the turnaround plan has been the most according to plan, a Media Roundtable has instead schedule dropped back, and while Alfa return, while the North American International Auto show was released on Monday, Marchionne is still be signaled a further delay. It shows that the work on the small 4 C sports car was not yet consent meet card and that he not ready to sign "out of reach" in his debut in the United States as the first new American Alfa model.

"This commitment to bring back Alfa is a one shot deal," he cautioned. "Are we not twice."

Very close to the hearts he hinted was the Powertrain, which he stressed had the right feeling and have assigned the correct sound, long last Alfas. Commment Marchionne known become often politically incorrect in the butt, he explained that it had a "Wop"-engine, one usually negatively on something or someone of Italian descent.

But even after warning system reporter, Marchionne came to the conclusion, "Alfa Romeo comes. «»"No one doubts there.»

It is unclear, the practical Executive allow what has happened in the past four days, a relatively specific timetable for the return to announce. But in his commentary today to an industry breakfast, the Marchionne, note that discussions about Alfa 4 c drive train not completed during the choice of the basic vehicle architecture is and the models in the United States are apparently locked in place.

The 4 C is the sports car, the Fiat is one of the most, as it struggles to revive the once vibrant Alfa, but it start only one of nine models that the manufacturer is confirmed, that it plans, by the year 2016. Alfa, Marchionne said, be a list, including Jeep - one of a group of selected brands of Fiat and Chrysler, the transatlantic alliance will take place globally in the coming years.

Most of these products are to be installed in Italy, but the manufacturer now a rear-wheel drive, small sports car in Japan wants to produce. It is the result of a joint development with Mazda, and it on one of the manufacturer's Japanese plants to be produced.

The project is similar, that Toyota and Subaru, the former producer the sports Coupe in the United States as the Scion FR-S, Subaru his version here under the name plate BR-Z bring together marketing. As part of the new joint venture, which is Mazda to replace the aging Miata sports car. There's no word what Alfa will call his model.

It is clear that Marchionne hopes that the news about Alfa future eventually will end speculation about the ailing brand.

In the last few months have the top officials with German rival Volkswagen AG, Fiat should they sell Alfa repeatedly suggested. Marchionne has repeatedly called, Alfa Romeo is not for sale, and on Monday frustrated told reporters, "I have come up with a German version of 'No'" I think they are called 'No'. "

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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Volkswagen presents CrossBlue mid-sized SUV concept

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

Volkswagen has promised to double the range of SUVs and crossovers, which currently offered - and is an important addition to the line-up, his first appearance at the Detroit Auto Show this week. CrossBlue called, the mid-sized SUV concept was developed specifically for the North American market.

Clearly, the prototype on display at the North American International Auto Show 2013 offers drive VW the new diesel electric plug-in hybrid, manufacturers provide a technology prides itself on a mix of performance, range and fuel economy segment-leading.

Remains to be seen whether the diesel-hybrid technology is actually offered in the US market, but a production version of the concept of CrossBlue is expected to reach showrooms in the near future. Company officials say that it is important, when they hope that a record sales on the American market reach their destination the setting before the end of the Decade.

"The concept of CrossBlue is exactly the right kind of vehicle for the US market," said Jonathan Browning, President and CEO, Volkswagen Group of America. "It combines a truly versatile interior with superior design of Volkswagen, give a unique and extremely stylish offering in this segment." In addition, the vehicle shows our innovative German Powertrain engineering and the bandwidth of the new architecture of the MQB."

While in Germany design Chief Walter developed, under the leadership of VW because Silva CrossBlue will two distinctive American niche, equilibrium mixture which describes the manufacturer as "the masculine character of an SUV with the space..." and the flexibility of the minivan

In fact it seems designed to be to serve as an alternative to the long-awaited and ultimately abandoned replacement for the legendary Volkswagen Microvan. The manufacturer has tried repeatedly, a modern version - such as the unfortunate concept of Bulli come - but it has repeatedly failed to find a design, the both would correspond to modern safety standards, while you on with American car buyers also.

Remains to be seen whether the production version of the CrossBlue would serve as a replacement for the bad Routan, which produces VW emblem of Chrysler minivan.

The concept of CrossBlue has six individual seats and security advanced 12 airbags, as well as a variety of other features. The hut is both spacious and well equipped, with the use of wood, leather and chrome trimming more in line with an Audi model as the vehicle of Volkswagen.

The high-tech focus can be seen in almost all details of the CrossBlue of LED rear lights, which form the letter "E" the integrated Infotainment package, which includes a Fender audio system and video players, to see the rear passengers provide their own programming.

The instrument cluster shows now easily the modes go, eco sport in shown red with a blue background.

But it is the diesel plug-in hybrid drive, which generate probably too much of the excitement about the concept of the VW CrossBlue. They pair a compact, clean 190 HP diesel with two electric motors, one on the front axle, the other on the back, an all-wheel electric drive system to create that VW has called "Cardan shaft wire."

All in all can generate the package, is enough, 305 HP and 516 lb-ft torque, and that to start mid-sized crossover from 0 to 60 in 7.2 seconds. Nevertheless it is also provisionally hybrid mpg than conventional 35 and rated 89 MPGe in plug in mode.

Range is estimated at 14 miles with only the CrossBlue of the lithium-ion battery, and 661 km, if a tank full of diesel draw.

Several manufacturers now offer something also, VW and Volvo are considering a diesel-hybrid option in Europe, but the idea that things is the next step with a plugin system.The challenge is probably one of the costs. A premium, which add several much price tag of the vehicle into the thousands of dollars and plugins are elementary hybrids. Diesel, cause now a significant price disadvantage.

While one could make more economic sense in Europe, where motorists currently pay more than $9 per gallon gasoline, it would be a much harder sell in the United States during the CrossBlue concept is expected here with a conventional drive, launch industry analysts point out, that is the diesel plug-in system more likely to make in the production on the other side of the Atlantic.

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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GM predicts profit growth modestly in the year 2013.

The associated press, staff

General Motors expects only a modest increase in pre-tax profit this year as it rolls out several new cars and trucks worldwide.

The company thinks also, that modest grow global auto sales this year European car sales will fall worn by the United States and China, while.

The company told analysts at a German bank industry conference in Detroit Tuesday that the pre-tax profit margin in North America should rise in the next three or four years by 8 to 10 per cent. Profit margin is a measure of how much the company earns after costs of doing business.

GM began the presentation at the Conference, after the stock markets closed. Its shares fell $30,36 after hours trading 24 cents.

The automaker posted net income in the first nine months of last year, including almost 1.5 billion $ in the third quarter nearly 4 billion $. By FactSet surveyed analysts expect $5.35 billion net profit or 3.24 GM $ per share, when it posts the result in a couple of weeks in 2012. EBIT is expected to be $6.58 billion.

Chief Financial Officer Dan Ammann said before the Conference that GM at any time in the history of the company, is more new vehicles worldwide as roles for the two largest markets, the United States and China. GM started its last round of new products in the past year. 70 Per cent of global products update planned end of 2013.

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Proposed FTC rule uses a lemon car, critics claim

Herb white tree, NBC News contribution

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is in the process of updating their car rule used - and some prominent consumer advocates are not happy with the proposed changes.

"The FTC really, it blew", said Rosemary Shahan, founder and President of consumers for auto reliability and safety (cars). "That has not addressed a real problem and the proposed rule changes to do in this industry."

Shahan and other consumer advocates want to require the FTC to learn more about the buying must be offered on every used cars for sale.

Right this window must tell now sticker potential buyers if the vehicle with a warranty or sold "as" is. It also advises potential buyers have the car by an independent mechanic before you buy, and even lists the major mechanical systems that are checked to be checked.

Under rules proposed the revisions of buying would also purchaser of the vehicle history through a federal database check and show the address of a FTC Web site (not yet created), which report history information about the vehicle had rates.

Consumer groups and law enforcement agencies in many States ask for more. They want the used car rule require dealers significant vehicle history disclose information if they have it.

Mentioned in comments to the FTC on behalf of the Attorney General in 40 States, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) current buying "archaic" and "limited value" for the used car buyers.

"We think that this is a lost opportunity," said the NAAG Bill broke. "When it comes to a used vehicle, nothing is more important for a consumer as its history know." It was previously destroyed, flooded, or a Lemon Law repurchase? "

Dealer and the FTC agree
Car dealers against buying add more information. They say it's designed to do one thing: they make it clear whether the retailer offers any kind of warranty on the vehicle.

"(Es war, SEHR EFFEKTIV, denn er Hat Informationen, dass 1) (a used car is important in the buying decision of the consumer and 2) the dealer knows and controls," said Bill Underriner, Chairman of the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA), in a statement to NBC News.

NADA says, information about the history of the vehicle, which traders have is often incomplete, out of date or inaccurate. For this reason Underriner wrote, "it helps not consumer demand to reveal dealer about a vehicle, which may not be available dealer or may not display properly."

In its opinion on the Commission said that requirement to report damages, defects or title history would be costly national independent Automobile Dealers Association (which represents used car dealers) and "cause chaos in the industry."

Traders say the issue may be confusing being referred to when it comes to a vehicle of the past as "Title branding" - information about title of the vehicle, if the fraud law was bought back by an insurance company or by the manufacturer after a lemon.

States use not all of the same language, if you title brands. Alaska, for example, only the term "Reconstructed," "Rescue" during Maryland used has "Reconditioned" "Reconstruction" and "Conversion".

The FTC is a siding at this time with the dealers. Told Commission staff members who wrote the proposed new language, she don't think that with vehicle information history on the buyer's Guide is practical or necessary.

"It sounds really simple in concept. If they know a serious problem, say, you people. But if you try, a regulation, can indicate what they say, and under what circumstances, it is not as easy as it sounds, '' said Steve Baker, Director of the Midwest Regional Office of the FTC.

Baker said that the Commission believes, that its task is "not a traders leave early promoting car buyers" but do their own homework and have inspected the car before they buy it.

Critics believe that the Federal Trade Commission is short-sighted position.

"The FTC could one to take big step forward, to used car sales more transparent and fair, form," said John van Alst, a lawyer with the national consumer law Center. "The best dealer as usual, continuation of the activity can all too often to car dealers consumer fraud leads."

The FTC is the comments on the proposed amendments to the used car rule until Feb. 11 Acceptance.

The bottom line:
No matter how much disclosure is given or needed it will always remain to protect. It is your responsibility to look for before you buy any used vehicle for hidden damage and possible problems.

You need to 1) check the history of the car and 2) let it by an independent expert before you sign the contract. No matter from what the friendly seller says don't assume, that you can bring this vehicle back, if there is a problem. Oral representations do not count.

Check the national motor vehicle title information system. NMVTIS has reports of cars with branded titles. It is still not completed, but it is a good resource. You should check also a commercial service such as CarFax and AutoCheck.

Keep in mind: these databases have not always on the up to date or complete information about a particular vehicle.

That's why the independent audit is crucial. Mechanics find problems that will not show up in even the best vehicle history report, such as worn brakes or lack of maintenance. They may be hidden signs of flood damage or crash site, that make this vehicle and reduce their value.

If you are shopping online and the vehicle away, consider services such as InspectMyRide and Carchex.

Remember that hundreds of thousands of vehicles in Superstorm Sandy were flooded. Some make it to the market for used cars. The auto editors of consumer reports warn that car flooded "inherently insecure and unreliable" even if it seems to be OK.

As a consumer reporter, I hear much complaints about used cars. In almost all cases, the buyer is char, because he or she don't take the time to check the history and make a small amount of money, the vehicle before you have to spend such a significant purchase. Make sure that you do not buy problems someone else.

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Honda offers insight into the new small SUV

Bryan Laviolette, the Detroit Bureau

What, did you expect an element redux?

Two years after the end of production of the boxy intentionally ugly duckling element, Honda showed the urban concept SUV, a thinly veiled look at a new small crossover, which will show in the slot below the CR-V in the Honda lineup at the Detroit car. Competitors are the quirky Nissan Juke and the Fiat 500 L, an XXL version of the tiny Fiat 500.

During the Trucklet of profile small crossover is similar to many others - including big brother CR-V - a unique upswept character line, the speed recommended. The as-still-unnamed production version of Honda's global compact series platform, the same as the Honda fit is built. Honda builds also on the same assembly line in Mexico as the fit.

As the industry moves to smaller vehicles with better fuel economy, are probably small transitions into the Urbans multiply class. And Honda will sell a lot of them. "It is expected to help double production worldwide to give urban vehicles on the platform of the global compact series more than 1.5 million units."

No one has more success with small cars as Honda had this urban SUV concept creates a new value in the growing small-SUV segment,"said John Mendel, executive Vice President of sales at American Honda. "With the further expansion of our North American manufacturing operations, we expect more fuel-efficient and fun-to-drive"small"cars play a key role in meeting the needs of our customers in the United States"

The North American International Auto show is expected to be dominated by small cars and compact SUVs and crossovers. Click to discover here, to read about some of the other small Utes break on this year's fair.

Concept measures 169.3 cm long, nine centimeters shorter than the CR-V, Honda says it makes it ideal for "navigation in crowded streets both open roads."

Honda said that its Earth dreams technology urban use for increased fuel efficiency. Inside it is can be similar to a layout function, which is like the fit, including his trick MagicSeat configured for a wide variety of passenger and cargo options. Honda does not show the Interior of the vehicle, but you said it modern and feature the latest telematics technology.

Urban latest North American plant near Celaya, Mexico, is produced along with the fit expected opened Hondas in the spring of 2014. While the new SUV in the US market, it will sell Honda in many other markets around the world.

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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Cadillac ATS named car of the year at the auto show

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

Detroit manufacturer dominates as the Detroit show 2013 opened car with the annual North American International Auto and truck of the year awards.

Cadillac claimed that introduced the coveted car of the year, with its new 2013 ATS compact luxury sedan. The new RAM was honored in the category of truck/utility 1500 pickup.

"I need someone who come up here and pinch myself to make sure that really happened," said Fred Diaz, CEO of the RAM, as he climbed the stage to collect the trophy. The price was all the sweeter, he proclaimed, this parent Chrysler was considering bankruptcy and written way dead, many, just a few years ago.

But the same could be said for General Motors, which, like Chrysler, Chapter 11 mid-2009 only with the help of a rescue operation emerged from, to produce the still controversial. That GM officials said, that is why it is so important, third-party endorsements for vehicles such as the ATS.

"When you consider that Cadillac endeavour, even as the restore standard of the world, this is an important moment," explains Dave Leone, Chief Engineer of the ATS project.

The TDB continuous coverage of the Detroit Auto Show

This is the first time in the 20 years of the voted that Cadillac has won, even though it was already nominated. RAM won once, before for the collection of 1500 - or more precisely, the truck took honors for the Dodge Division before RAM abgespaltenen independently.

The truck failed two crossovers in the first year the category officially both conventional trucks and commercial vehicles, the Mazda CX-5 and the Ford C-Max contain.

The car had against the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord squared CTS out.

A total of 49 judges from the United States and Canada increased the potential bias in the polls - a group, covering a wide range of voices, avoid other prices face. (Full disclosure, TheDetroitBureau.com Publisher Paul A. Eisenstein is member of the jury of voted.)

More than 50 different vehicles Board, a list as part of the process were initially at the voted, that contain back slowly trimmed a grueling shootout between the competitors in the appropriately named hell, Michigan.

Over the years, Detroit manufacturer 11 taken car of the year award, with Japanese makers to win three, two Europeans and Koreans twice.

On the side of the truck domestic workers have won 13 times, from today Japanese makers four times and Europeans have captured three awards.

Bear in mind that placed in the voted awards, industry observers expect strong Cadillac and RAM their victories in their marketing campaigns promote the credibility to start almost immediately.

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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Slitting Nissan price on new sheet

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

Nissan the price on a new version of its battery-electric vehicle leaf to 18 percent or around $6,000 will fall, the manufacturer announced during a press conference North American International Auto show.

The Nissan leaf S trim level now starts at $28,800, according to Executive Carlos Munoz, who noted that the $7,500 federal tax credit on qualified electric vehicles and various state incentives in added buyer in some parts of the country now a sheet for can buy as little as $18,000.

"We are confident that represent this a turning point," in relation to the demand driving the leaf, the first mainstream battery-electric vehicle from a major manufacturer in nearly two decades, said Munoz.

Nissan has the hand the strong headlines, but weak consumer demand late in the year 2010. On a global basis of the manufacturer has sold so far about 50,000, but while his goal was that global demand to boost Nissan achieved only a 22 percent increase in sales in the last year "it was a disappointment for us," said the manufacturer's CEO Carlos Ghosn.

The decision on the leaf drop price - other versions see even a small price reduction - comes as Nissan battery on a new production line in Smyrna, Tennessee will begin production of the car until now the car and his 24-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery in Japan have produced.

This meant a significant penalty for Nissan because the currently uneven dollar-Yen exchange rate. Carlos Ghosn noted the manufacturer's original business plan for the leaf expected an exchange rate of 100 yen to the dollar, but that has dipped to less than 80.

Carlos Ghosn said that the manufacturers realized that the price for the original sheet models a problem after listening to "much customer feedback."

Moving of the vehicle in the United States helps to trim production costs but Nissan has taken further steps to improve the production efficiency and lower component costs - especially for the battery, the single most expensive part of an electric vehicle leaf.

But there are other issues to address, he noted how the lack of an easily accessible charging network. Analysts call routinely per charge also limited range, with the sheet between 80 and 100 miles.

Nissan is certainly not the only manufacturer that has recognized the problems with the pricing on battery-based vehicles. Chevrolet has the Chevrolet Volt in recent months a relocation discount been sales triple it last year - helped, even though the demand after as before just as the half reached 45,000 in total, the hybrid had predicted for the plug in on the US market for 2012.

How Carlos Ghosn said General Motors President Mark Reuss TheDetroitBureau.com there are a number of ways to stimulate demand. Sale of the Volt swing after California regulators the use of the vehicle in the State coveted HOV lanes with only one person on Board approved.

"We go to watch and see what happens" as Nissan launches production of the model S lower price, leaf, Reu? said. "they have an effect, no question," said the GM Executive, though he would not commit on a similar strategy for the Chevy Volt.

Copyright © 2009-2012, the Detroit Bureau

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The Stingray is: Chevy presents Corvette C7

Paul A. Eisenstein, The Detroit Bureau

They were the darkest of days, all the more so in the design studios at General Motors where a small team had been assembled and given the less than humble task of building the world’s best sports car.

True, the Chevrolet Corvette has always been an icon of American design, but this time, Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter and design director Tom Peters had to take things the next step, producing a vehicle that could challenge and beat the best the Germans and Italians could throw at it.

There was only a few problems: the U.S. economy was in meltdown, the automotive market was facing its worst downturn in more than half a century and General Motors was rapidly running out of cash and seemed all but certain to declare bankruptcy. And when it did in June 1, 2009, the lights went out. Even with the likelihood of a federal bailout, it was anything but certain the long-awaited C7 Corvette would ever make it to market.

But on Sunday night, at a well-attended ceremony at an old warehouse in a run-down section of Detroit, Juechter and Peters will get the honor of pulling the wraps off a 2014 Chevy Corvette that is already being hailed as the best American sports car of the past half century, perhaps the best ever.

And as the car that has always served as a showcase of GM’s capabilities, the new ‘Vette could put a much-needed halo around a company whose critics still tend to dismiss it as “Government Motors.”

TheDetroitBureau.com has spent a significant amount of time in recent months talking to the various members of the Corvette development team – and getting a rare look at what is known to aficionados as the C7, shorthand for only the seventh-generation model since the first fiberglass-bodied ‘Vette rolled off the assembly line in 1953.

The original C1 was a project of the legendary Harley Earl, the man usually credited with creating the very concept of automotive design. It debuted at GM’s private annual auto show, Motorama, in 1953 and the response was so intense 300 hand-built convertibles, all in polo white, were produced for the 1953 model-year.

The original car was primitive, with a solid rear axle and a grossly underpowered V-6 engine. But there was nothing like it in the U.S. market, certainly nothing coming from Detroit.

Soon, the Corvette was to become a symbol of American prowess. It was the real star of the TV series, Route 66. The Mercury 7 astronauts each drove one, Corvettes often appearing in official NASA photos alongside mockups of the Lunar Excursion Module or Lunar Rover – the latter also developed by GM.

But over the decades, even as each successive generation was given more power and better performance, the Corvette continued to slip further behind competitors like Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini. By the time work began on the C7, there was no more room for excuses unless GM was ready to acknowledge it really couldn’t create a truly world-class sports car.

“There wasn’t going to be a Corvette if we couldn’t do better,” recalls Juechter.

But, starting in late 2007, there didn’t look like there was going to be a Corvette anyway. The project was halted for about six months that year because of GM’s financial problems. “Then we stopped again in (late) 2008 as we were going into bankruptcy.”

Even when the project got going again, following GM’s rescue, the maker had turned gunshy and it seemed to some that top management might back off on its promise to build the best sports car possible.

For styling chief Peters, the frustration was tangible when he was told to go with an evolutionary design not much different than the outgoing C6 that had been around since 2005. It was the best Corvette ever in terms of pure performance and had roughly the same footprint as a Porsche 911. But it wasn’t going to really change the game, the design director complained.

“Ed was willing to listen,” Peters says, referring to GM’s corporate design czar Ed Welburn. “He told me to go back, keep working on the design I wanted and prove I was right.” Given the chance – and actually benefiting from the project’s delay during the GM bankruptcy, Peters finally found the right formula and got the go-ahead for the design he desperately wanted.

Those familiar with the current Corvette will recognize the new model, whether spotting it front or back. There’s the long nose, the steeply raked windshield that flows into a fast hatchback cabin. Quad tail lamps and exhaust pipes anchor the rear.

But the distinctive new LED accent lights give the nose a more modern and refined look, with a mean-looking grille below the bumper split by a sleek chromed bar. The louvers on the hood are now functional, as are the ports behind the bulging front wheel wells. A crisp accent line darts rearward from the front wheels and leaves a spectator with the sense the car is constantly in motion.

There are new rear quarter windows, something the Corvette hasn’t featured in decades. And the tail is crisp and precise with a higher belt line and deck that seems poised to pounce on the nearest Ferrari.

As striking as the body may be, team members agree that perhaps the most significant change comes inside. GM global design director Ed Welburn tells TheDetroitBureau.com that it was his personal mission to transform the traditionally clumsy and unrefined Corvette interior into a modern showpiece.

The new design features an 8-inch reconfigurable display that can rapidly be shifted to read out critical data in the mode a driver wants. There’s a second large screen for operating infotainment and other vehicle functions – though interior design team members point out they maintained a few buttons for commonly used features, such as tuning and volume control.

“For the first time,” says Juechter, “we decided to spend the money to design two different seats,” so those who want to spend time on the track don’t have to compromise with those who’ll never drive much harder than they would when blasting off from a stoplight.

There’s one thing the new Corvette does reach into the past for. A closer inspection will reveal the word, “Stingray” on the fenders. That designation has been reserved for only the most powerful and exclusive Corvettes ever produced. And it’s back for the first time since 1967.

In some ways, team members will tell you, it may have worked out perfectly to have the C7 Corvette postponed until now. While it will bear a 2014 designation it actually will reach market almost precisely 60 years after Harley Earl’s original debuted.

And, adds Juechter, “There’s some truth that the longer you wait the better technology you have available.” The C7 is the showpiece “gearheads” long had to turn to foreign makers for.

Ultra-light, super-strong carbon fiber accounts for a significant portion of the new model’s body panels, though there’s still plenty of fiberglass, as there has been since the original ‘Vette debuted.

There had long been rumors that the new sports car would mimic its European rivals and migrate from the classic Corvette small-block V-8 to a turbo or super-charged V-6. In the end, GM stuck with a large eight-banger, though the newly designated LT1 features all the latest technologies, such as Direct Injection, variable valve timing and displacement on demand.

By shutting off half of its cylinders when demand for power is light, the engine essentially becomes a 3.1-liter V-4 and, asserts Juechter, “We wind up getting better mileage than if we had gone for one of those smaller powerplants.”

At the same time, the 2014 C7 Corvette will deliver an estimated 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, which will make it the most powerful “base” model ever – and the fastest, with 0 to 60 times expected to come in at or under 4.0 seconds.

And that’s just the beginning. There are other versions of the ‘Vette quietly under development, likely to include the step-up Z06 and the next-generation ZR1, which likely will reach well beyond 600 horsepower.

Pricing won't be announced until close to launch, later this year but, hints Juechter, "Our business case was based on the idea if you can afford the current Corvette you can afford this one."

Chevrolet officials have kept an unusually tight lid on the 2014 Corvette and it’s likely to be a while before they’re ready to give out the first rides for reviewers. Production won’t begin until mid-year, though a largely hand-built model is reportedly going to be featured during the upcoming Super Bowl – and then given to halftime superstar performer Beyonce.


But if initial reactions are any indication, the C7 could be the vehicle Chevy and GM desperately have needed, a sports car that truly pushes the proverbial envelope and threatens to leave even the most vaunted European competitors worrying when they see one racing up in their rearview mirrors.

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Detroit Auto show the cool design, high-tech highlight

Paul A. Eisenstein, NBC News contribution

Detroit is your goal not typical winter - but you might have problems, get a flight in the Motor City, or set up downtown a hotel room somewhere nearby in the next few days. More than 10,000 journalists and media are likely to automotive to flood the engine for the annual Detroit show in the city.

Formally known as the North American international show 2013 car, the annual meeting is one of most important and closely observed the industry event, and viewed with good reason. According to the sponsors, even to a media grilling undergo as many as 60 new cars, trucks, concepts and transitions many of the top leaders of the industry are revealed in the coming days, which could reveal automotive trends and strategies for the rest of the Decade.

"The market is more competitive than ever, and this is a show that will give us a good insight in how the industry changed," explains Rod Alberts, executive Director of the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association, organizer of the show.

Ford, is now rumored prepared a sneak peek at its upcoming truck F-series, in the hope that a little steam from the Silverado take "reveal". While the second largest of the domestic manufacturers confirm this speculation will not recognize plans to show, MKC, a compact crossover, which decisively for the long-term viability of its Lincoln luxury brand could be.As one might expect, domestic manufacturers have Chevrolet Corvette - C7 Insider and expert - much revelation to show and tell during the NAIAS Media days eagerly awaited the 2014 on Sunday night. Chevy delivers also the first public demonstration of its new Pickup Silverado.

Such as the replacement for the compact compass and Patriot models, as well as an update of the popular Grand Cherokee has an assortment of products from the barrel, including an array of Jeep, Chrysler, now.

The fact that it is the larger Jeep flagship optimizations underscores one of the major trends transformation in the automotive industry. Over the past decades could makers anywhere from five to eight years before significant changes to the typical model gone. The competition is so fierce, industry analysts, who has a strong-selling product even as the Grand Cherokee have frequent updates to emphasize.

And while design changes still are, more and more talk about what decision makers at a car show as Detroit focuses on the technology. Some of the most important messages will make the industry this month, are not announced in fact in Detroit, but rather in Las Vegas, on the consumer electronics show, where automakers showed her more than a dozen latest infotainment systems and even a few prototypes of autonomous vehicles that can control largely on their own.

"Our focus is to improve the driving experience" technology, which can also be the security increase, explains Julius Marchwicki, senior manager at Ford's sync Infotainment System.

Detroit Cobo Center may be less than half a mile from General Motors Renaissance Center Central, NAIAS worked hard organizers to make sure that it remains a truly global car show, as there we assume the designation "International" twenty years ago.

In fact, the most important debut this year was the introduction of two new Japanese luxury brands, Toyota Lexus and Nissan Infiniti. And both will be back and hope to make important news this year. The former brand show its redesigned entry-Lux sedan, the 2014 Lexus IS and Infiniti not only roll out the replacement for the G-Series Sedan, but a completely new alphanumeric naming strategy 2014 model known as to introduce the new G50 buyer.

Industry watchers say that big auto shows like Detroit a direct impact on the potential buyers near and far have. And with the U.S. auto industry is finally recovering after the worst depression, which has suffered in more than half a century, a Flash of the new product could provide consulting some welcome momentum, according to Joe Phillippi, AutoTrends.

Of course, this is something the car shows targeted have to deliver, because the first one was held in New York City more than a century ago. At that time the map-goers received a variety of Powertrain options, about a third of the vehicles on display, powered by steam, a third of batteries and the rest by gasoline. The abundance of oil eventually led gas makes dominated, but as the NAIAS will make 2013 clearly, things are in the air again.

There will be many alternative models, the debut, including the Cadillac ELR, the luxury spin-off of the more mainstream Chevrolet Volt plug-in. Meanwhile, Nissan plans to pull the covers from his resonance concept, a crossover hybrid powered.

The response shows a more significant trend that you can spot in Detroit's Cobo Center next week. Since the legendary General Motors design, that Chief Harley Earl Buick Y-job - General as the first real show car hand - 1938 concept vehicles are an integral part of the fascination of the map become car.

Longtime Showgoers is probably some of the wild and crazy concept cars of the past, which recall former Ford Design Director, who like to call Jack Telnack "Fantasies in chrome."

These days, however, weakened the fantasies and become much more a case of "you get, what you see." Although the competition is harder more likely than ever automakers, are to concept cars as a way to signal, what really matters - and measure the public's reaction.

The Nissan response will disappear for one, with relatively minor changes in 2014 as the next generation Murano CUV.

A challenge for the organizers of the big auto shows like the NAIAS is to keep them relevant. Detroit event now includes a special restricted access Assembly called the Gallery, where some of the most exclusive products, such as the new Bentley Continental GT speed display provided.

The 1-day Gala is AmEx Centurion - or "black card" - and Platinum customers and a select group of other invitees is limited, "People who can afford easily buy everything on display," according to the DADA ash Caza.

Another important addition which show Detroit is the latest battery cars and plug-in hybrids for 2013 the map audience the opportunity to test drive back. But given the extreme weather possible for mid-January in Detroit, organizers have found a new way to the worst mother to circumvent nature could deliver, that the test drives in the massive basement of Cobo Center.

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Add 2,200 salaried jobs Ford

Joseph Szczesny, the Detroit Bureau

Ford Motor Company plant 2,200 workers in the United States this year, the biggest increase to hire new workers in more than a decade.

This step comes a day after the market announced that it would double the quarterly dividend in recognition of its improved financial situation.

The manufacturer has more than 11% profit margin for the first nine months results in its core North American operations.

After years of deep cuts, the automotive industry was the most aggressive involves sectors of the economy adding jobs in recent years, Ford's announcement coming a day after Honda both General Motors significant recruit more blue and white-collar workers announced their own.

Joe Hinrichs, Ford of President America said the new employees are recruited to support the continued aggressive pace Ford's new product launches. The planned setting drive is in addition to the more than 8,100 combined hourly and employees added Jobs Ford in the United States in the year 2012, as the company increased production capacity and engineering, production and other operations, the increasing demand for its products advanced.

Were around 1,000 positions filled in 2012 hourly jobs in other locations, including supplier brought back operations in Japan and Mexico to Ford plants in the United States.

On the blue-collar side, the company is now more than half of the 12,000 new jobs in the United States, who committed it, until the year 2015 within the framework of its 2011 contract with deliver United Auto workers.

"" Our plan a Ford to create profitable growth and our recruitment is a direct result of our plan is working, "said Hinrichs, who took over last month, President Ford's America to the manufacturer replaces mark fields, the new chief operating officer was promoted."

As we expand our product range of fuel-efficient vehicles, we need more people in critical areas - such as in a series of engineering activities, automotive, computer software and other IT functions - to ensure we deliver vehicles people want to and '' he said value.

Hinrichs, said that United States rent Ford also help to support the global dynamics of the company. Ford commits, customers around the world with a full family offer the best in quality, fuel economy, safety, smart design and value, he said.

In the framework of the campaign for new talent for the company win builds Ford his use of social media, new, technology-savvy workers, including such sites like Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn to reach.

The company intensified efforts also setting to reach veterans.New COO Fields also last month said moving was considering the automaker some jobs in the city of Detroit, to attract younger employees who are interested in living and working in an urban setting. But most of the new workers are located on Ford's sprawling technical campus in Dearborn, Michigan.

Ford is not the only manufacturer, the increase of wage costs. General announced Thursday motor it 1,000 workers on a new IT Center would adjust, suburb of Roswell established it in Atlanta. The the new third page, because GM is announced in the past year, sourcing information technology work. A fourth side is still complete is.

Ultimately, said Chief Technology Officer Randy Mott, the manufacturer would have around 10,000 IT professionals in the United States, "90% GM emblem."

It employs currently only 2.200.(fuer mehr bei gm plant, hier klicken.)Honda is planning also to expand, add 50 new jobs to its plant in Marysville, to handle limousine Ohio this year to the production of a new hybrid version of the manufacturer of this latest generation of accord. "The project will cost $23 million, Honda said, and the oldest ones increase the footprint of their North American plants of 95,000 square meters."

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Automaker offers curb drowsy driving

Paul A. Eisenstein, the Detroit Bureau

You've ever even behind the wheel nodded caught? It would be not alone. More than a third of all drivers admit they have done this at some time or another and drowsy driving begins to blame for at least 100,000 crashes and more than 1,500 deaths per year in the United States.

Notes a new study by the Centers for disease control, that while driving at least once during the previous month - tell each 24 adults in the United States, have fallen asleep, and experts believe this number that "Micro sleep." is low, because drivers often do not recognize if she had one or two seconds

Sleep even a moment can be disastrous, when you consider that at only 60 miles per hour, that such a vehicle is 88 ft travel, or about four to five car lengths.

"If I'm on the road, I would be a little worried about the other drivers" after reading the results of the study, said lead author Anne Wheaton of the CDC.

The telephone survey stretched 147.076 adults in 19 States and the District of Columbia, making it the largest survey of its kind. It found that 4 percent of respondents said she've been nodded at least once during the previous month way.

100,000 Crashes a year
Even more cause for concern were carried earlier studies, such as one by the National Sleep Foundation in 2005. The NSF reported that 60 percent of adults sleepy drove driver of a vehicle during at least once during the previous year, while 37 percent, that she are actually out nodded. And those that sleep recognized, 13 percent indicated that that they routinely acts, at least once in the month.

The Foundation's sleep study also showed that 4 per cent recorded the survey pool, either an accident or an accident near because they were drowsy or asleep at the wheel.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration an estimated 100,000 crashes a year caused by sleepy drivers - what an estimated 40,000 injuries and 1,550 deaths each year.

The latest research findings, the CDC found that men tend to doze off behind the wheel, as drivers in the ages between 25 and 34, and those who get regularly less than six hours of sleep per night. An earlier Gallup survey found that men twice as often as women to drive sleepy.

The challenge for researchers is to get accurate results, how all sleepy drive differently defined and have can be from often unaware that she actually nodded for a second or two motorists.

Kfz-Technik
A study by the Virginia Tech transportation Institute used cameras and other sensors in 100 vehicles to see what happens on the road. Although the numbers were small, allowed the one-year study researchers project, the sleepiness to a certain degree, 20 percent of all crashes contributed. You appreciate that a driver is drowsy four to six times more likely to be a collision as involved, which is wide awake.

It may be difficult for the police to identify a drowsy driver in contrast to drunken drivers. But motorists even addressed new technology warnings. A number of vehicles, including products from Lexus and Mercedes-Benz, are programmed on-site sign that sleepy is a driver. Some are looking for specific steering wheel inputs, another system to a camera on the driver's face.

Most of the technologies, just try to identify a driver, if that happens, perhaps through a coffee cup emblem somewhere on the dash blinks or a gong sound.

Ford has added a drowsy driving warning, which it with the optional new lane-keeping assist system on the 2013 has coupled the fusion sedan. It uses a forward-facing camera order for visible road markings, alerting the driver through the steering wheel to vibrate when the system senses the car drift out of its lane to see.

"We found the driver languages we definitely inclined towards characteristics were the real practical benefit of inform them about potentially dangerous situations that they missed," after Billy Mann, Managing Director of the Penn Schoen Berland survey consider a current for Ford, as consumers responded to new security technology.

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Car tech Gets a share of the spotlight at CES

Paul A. Eisenstein, NBC News contribution

Want you your friends receive a Glympse of what you project? This is simple, if you using the Smartphone app Glympse and drive a Ford product, equipped with the latest generation sync Infotainment system of the manufacturer. With the touch of a button and a simple voice command technology allows a driver to send a bulletin to warnings of friends where you are - and where you are.

CES is the largest trade fair in the country, and this year organizers show reporting record turnout on a still 3.250 exhibitors about 1.9 million square feet of exhibition space at the Las Vegas Convention Center are distributed. And the spin off events everywhere scattered does not include city in sin.

Traditionally, the show focuses on televisions, stereos, computers and Smartphones, but automotive technology has come in the last few years, to play a more important role. More than a dozen different car manufacturers have staked a presence on the CES 2013 together with hardware vendors, app manufacturers and other vendors seeking to burglaries in the transport industry.

CEO Alan Mulally was often as a guest as Microsoft founder of Bill Gates in the last few years, and Ford was one of the most active in the field. During this time to Mulally in Detroit still is preparing for the next week in Detroit is auto show, Ford again a highly visible role disconnecting. The manufacturer is showing off a new developer program, she hopes to make it easier for companies like Glympse come with apps that can be used with the sync system.

Improve the driving experience
Paul Mascarenas, chief technology officer at Ford said the company "Software developer is inviting to provide thoughtful, meaningful solutions that will improve the driving experience." You will be added to a growing list already iheartradio's Stitcher ratio, Pandora, and in the coming weeks, a service synchronizes k, in which stories from magazines like men's fitness and form are read aloud.

Ford is only one of many car manufacturers which expand its lineup of apps. But there are many other ways manufacturers CES to show their new technologies in-vehicle use.

Hyundai blue link system already offers a variety of connectivity, convenience, and security solutions, and the manufacturers add the next generation of Google Maps API, make sure that your navigation database up to date remains. You eliminate that need regular order and install expensive DVD-based maps updates.

As most of his competitors claimed Hyundai its latest Dragon update will improve the ability of its Infotainment system, natural language commands for music, the weather, or to recognize the way questions. And by tapping into Apple's Siri Concierge system, motorists who may have a new iPhone, easy to find the best restaurant, after the end of the show.

Automakers have long relied on proprietary hardware and software systems, but this creates a mystery: technology, which usually is expensive and often not up to date. Through connection to smartphones and use more open architecture-based technologies, makers hope with a speed closer with that of the consumer electronics industry at the same time the costs start.

Chrysler is showing off the first navigation system enabled traders. Could instead order the technology at the time of purchase, a motorists save money front and later goes back to activate the system. The technology is initially on the new Fiat 500 L, Dodge Ram 1500 pickup and Viper SRT car offered at some point too much from the rest of the manufacturer's lineup will expand is.

"With enabled merchant navigation, we have a" no customer left behind "attitude", said Marios Zenios, Vice President of UConnect systems and service for Chrysler.

Automotive-related exhibits remove all in all so Organizer up to about 100,000 square metres exhibition space CES, an increase of 5 percent 2012.

While much of the focus is on Infotainment technology, automakers are also enhanced security and control systems, such as Toyota's advanced automotive safety explore research vehicle, or AASRV, which used the manufacturer test technologies, the as "a smart, always attentive co-pilot whose capabilities to the safer driving contribute" could serve, said Mark Templin, general manager of the Japanese manufacturer's luxury brand of Lexus.

There are a number of senior executives for the this year's CES, including Audi CEO Wolfgang Durheimer. The German brand theme of the show is "Electronic trends in the next decade", and includes everything from advanced Interior, autonomous drive technology.

Not so coincidentally, Audi of this week announced that it was the first luxury car manufacturer to get a license to publicly test their self-driving vehicle technology on Nevada roads. The State is the first in the country formally a registration program for autonomous vehicles - introduce who claim some proponents until end of Decade for sale can be offered.

Audi driver through traffic at speeds of up to nearly 40 mph shows at CES a less complex pilot-controlled drive system, which helps to steer.

"At Audi, you would be hard to find an innovation that is nowadays associated with electronics is not pressed", said Ricky Hudi, head of electrical/electronics development of the Audi.

It is probably no surprise that the car industry is a such a great welcome to CES. The consumer-electronics industry has to fight in the last few years and is on the lookout for the next "big thing". And in-car technology could be just that view that Rhapsody, another music app, the Ford Sync now few will take 40 percent of subscribers using the service on the road.

The most advanced of today's cars have now more digital technology on board, than found in typical at home and in the next few years, that even the cheapest Econoboxes could apply to. So expect, automakers, see disconnect a higher profile on the CES trade show for many years.

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