Car Biz Buzz

The Cube is the Nissan answer to Scion’s xB or Honda’s Element. All are compact, bold in their design, and affordable. While affordability and fuel efficiency is enough to excite plenty of car buyers these days, the Nissan Cube and its closest competitors also feature a love-it-or-hate-it design that certainly won’t resonate with every car buyer.

Powering the Nissan Cube is a 1.8-liter four cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission. The engine produces 122 horsepower and 127 lb ft of torque which doesn’t sound like much to consumers at a Nissan dealer in Seattle but once under way it’s certainly enough to easily move this 2864 pound vehicle. The Cube gets 28 miles per gallon in the city and 30 mpg on the highway with the CVT. Those numbers are enough to make it more fuel efficient than many other vehicles in its class.

The exterior of the Cube is the Nissan’s most distinctive quality according to test drivers among Nissan dealers Boston. However, its boxy appearance will likely appeal to younger car buyers and the exotic exterior styling is continued throughout the interior as well. The headliner even features ripples around the overhead dome light, mimicking the effect of a pebble dropped into a pond. One Providence used Nissan dealer says the Cube has a wide range of unique and fun available features including 16 inch alloy wheels, six speaker audio with Rockford-Fosgate amplifier and subwoofer, and even a USB input for your iPod.

Priced from $13,990, the Nissan Cube is certainly an affordable compact vehicle that offers ample versatility for passengers and cargo. With competitive fuel efficiency, the Cube should appeal to plenty of buyers, but thanks to its unique style the Cube will certainly not be confused with just any compact vehicle. Continue reading ‘Nissan Cube Delivers Style For Less’

General Motors lost its top spot as the as the highest selling automaker in the world when Toyota took the reigns as GM sales plummeted. Despite continued sales slumps and bankruptcy restructuring, GM narrowly missed overtaking Toyota in the first half of this year. Meanwhile, Volkswagen remains very close behind in the number three spot.

In the first six months of 2009, GM trailed Toyota sales by a mere 11,000 units, which has not surprised Dayton car dealers since the Detroit automaker has introduced several all-new models in recent months, including the popular all-new Chevy Camaro. Volkswagen has also done well, closing the gap with Toyota significantly to solidify its third place stance. Toyota was able to sell 463,805 more vehicles than Volkswagen.

Ford is the only other American automaker in the top ten lists, holding steady in the number five spot. Although Ford was able to avoid bankruptcy restructuring, Toyota Service Woodbridge observes that like Toyota, Ford still battles the effects of a sluggish economy, with new car demand stagnate worldwide.

In total, the top ten list for highest auto sales includes three manufacturers from Europe, five from Asian, and two from the U.S. With GM loosing the added sales of Saturn, Pontiac, Saab, and Hummer brands one dealer specializing in used cars in Philadelphia expects GM’s position on this list to change dramatically in the coming months. After holding on to the top spot for nearly 80 years, Toyota became the world’s largest automaker in 2008. Continue reading ‘GM Closes Gap With Toyota for Global Sales’

General Motors has announced that it will be exiting its partnership with Toyota. After 25 years, GM will cut its stake in the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc (NUMMI), which was a joint manufacturing venture between GM and Toyota. The partnership produced vehicles such as the Toyota Corolla and the Pontiac Vibe, as well as the Toyota Tacoma. The manufacturing facility is based in Fremont, CA and produces about 250,000 cars and 170,000 trucks per year.

Since GM has dissolved the Pontiac brand, the involvement in NUMMI was called into question as the Pontiac Vibe was the only GM vehicle currently coming out of the partnership. At first it appeared as though another GM brand would become a Toyota Matrix clone observed Newburgh Toyota, but with GM’s financial struggles it seems that simply walking away is the most feasible option at this time.

There’s been plenty of speculation about GM’s involvement in NUMMI following bankruptcy, but after trying to find solutions that made sense to all parties involved, NUMMI was labeled as part of the Old General Motors says Chicago Chevrolet dealers, and as such would be sold off through bankruptcy.

GM has expressed that the NUMMI partnership has been a positive relationship says one Poughkeepsie used cars dealer. While NUMMI will come to a close, GM is said to be open to future opportunities as well. As it stands, NUMMI employs about 4,500 workers and 890 salaried personnel. Continue reading ‘GM Leaves NUMMI Partnership’

While the auto industry struggles to counteract the effects of falling auto sales, a new study suggests that new car sales won’t necessarily be rebounding any time soon. According to market research firm AutoPacific, Americans are holding on to their cars for longer periods of time, and are there are continuing to stay clear of dealerships.

Research suggested that most would-be new car buyers intended to keep their cars for four years or longer rather than purchase a new car. This statistic, to the dismay of New York Hyundai Repair, is an increase from last year. Meanwhile, 72 percent of the general public intended to refrain from purchasing a new car for more than one year.

Needless to say, the economy is the largest factor in changing buying behavior admits Used Cars Yuma. Consumers that purchase a new vehicle every couple of years or less are becoming rarer in today’s economic environment. Despite the economy, one Nissan dealer in Tacoma points out that automakers are introducing attractive sales incentives and other programs to entice buyers to enter showrooms. Despite these initiatives, sales continue to be sluggish.

With over 32,000 respondents to the survey, the study likely indicates what the general public feels about car buying these days. Although recent signs suggest the worst may be behind us, the industry is still limping along and the rebound in new cars sales is clearly not going to happen overnight. Continue reading ‘Consumers are Holding onto Their Cars Longer’

General Motors is preparing to change the image of its lineup when it emerges from bankruptcy. While the much anticipated Chevrolet Volt is hoped to add to the automaker’s eco-friendly credentials, plenty of attention is also being placed on the Buick brand, particularly to compliment the expected demand for the attractive 2010 Buick Lacrosse.

Complimenting the release of the all-new Buck Lacrosse, Oklahoma City Car Loans say that GM is also planning a new hybrid model in the not too distant future. The stunning Lacrosse will be launched with two powerful V6 options to choose from, not to mention an ultra efficient 2.0-liter four cylinder engine with direct injection technology.

The announcement of a hybrid version of the new Buick Lacrosse comes on the heels of the cancellation of the Chevy Malibu hybrid, which will meet its demise next year according to Trenton Auto Service. The current Chevy Malibu and the Lacrosse hybrid already share similar a chassis and components and are built alongside each other.  The cancellation of the Malibu hybrid stems from poor sales, but Salt Lake City used car loans specialists notes that GM seems to think the Lacrosse hybrid will have better luck in the tough mid-sized hybrid segment.

By 2012, General Motors hopes to offer 14 hybrids. The recent announcement of the Lacrosse hybrid appears to be one of those 14, but it remains to be seen whether it can achieve the sales momentum that the Malibu hybrid seemed incapable of attaining. Continue reading ‘GM Announces Buick LaCrosse Hybrid in the Works’

Toyota and General Motors have had a strong partnership via NUMMI. This seemingly odd relationship was responsible for the Pontiac Vibe, which was build alongside the similar Toyota Matrix in a joint manufacturing venture based in California. With the Pontiac Vibe now discontinued, the question now is what will come of the NUMMI partnership.

Rumors have suggested that another model will soon be shared by the two automakers, perhaps also based on the Toyota Matrix suggests Oklahoma City Used Cars. However, details on these discussions remain unconfirmed. Another possibility for NUMMI is that GM will license Toyota’s hybrid technology for GM cars and trucks. This rumor has since been denied from GM executives in the paged of their online blog, the GM Fastlane Blog.

Although GM would no doubt benefit from Toyota’s stellar Synergy Drive Hybrid System, the automaker has pointed out that they are very busy developing their own internal hybrid technology. Chevrolet Financing Peoria say this proprietary technology will be available soon enough in the upcoming Chevrolet Volt electric vehicle. GM also has several other hybrid models under development, including a Buick hybrid crossover.

In discussing future hybrid technology plans, GM has singled out Buick as the main beneficiary of this new technology. A hybrid Enclave is currently in the works says Washington DC Buick, as well as a smaller hybrid crossover that will essentially fill the void in the GM lineup that will be left once the Vue Hybrid and the Saturn brand are sold. Continue reading ‘GM Dispels Rumors of Licensing Toyota Hybrid Technology’

With Chrysler’s bankruptcy problems, the automaker has been trying hard to unload its Dodge Viper business. Since late in 2008, Chrysler has been working to find a buyer for the Viper sports car brand, but unfortunately the only offers available went up to $10 million – far less than Chrysler was hoping.

As a result of the Viper brand being virtually unsellable, Chrysler will be holding onto it, meaning the brand will be handed over to Fiat to control. Reportedly, Chrysler had received offers of up to $35 million for the Dodge Viper business, but unfortunately used cars Connecticut dealers believe these offers were well before bankruptcy and needless to say have since  fell through.

With Chrysler now emerging from bankruptcy as a new company, the Viper’s fate will now be decided by Italian automaker Fiat. This includes the control of all Viper assets says Texas Dodge. Fiat can continue to look for a potential buyer for the assets. However, the other option is for Fiat is to simply dissolve the brand, which one body shop Oklahoma City observes is a sure way to remove competition from Fiat’s own Ferrari and Maserati sports car brands.

The Dodge Viper brand began 17 years ago. The brand helped Chrysler add a performance pedigree to its image and has earned a cult following. After a mere 25,000 Vipers have been produced, there will still be plenty of disappointed enthusiasts should the brand cease to exist. Continue reading ‘Chrysler’s Viper Brand Moves To Fiat’

With competition in the auto industry at an all time high thanks to the demanding economy, reliability and quality both play important roles in gaining new customers and retaining them. As a result, those seemingly irrelevant automotive quality and satisfaction surveys are becoming more important to today’s car buyers as they strive to find the make and model that will provide the most value. One of the latest of these reports is from California-based AutoPacific, which recently showcased its list of the most satisfying vehicles for 2009.

There was finally good news on this list for General Motors, whose Cadillac division won the Highest Satisfaction Brand for the second year in a role. Despite the negative news surrounding GM lately, the news apparently has not stopped customers from enjoying their Cadillac cars and SUVs. Despite setbacks for GM, Cadillac Philadelphia says that the Cadillac brand remains committed to luxury and innovation.

In other news, Hyundai was able to move up on this list compared with last year’s rankings, which is no surprise to Hyundai Service Chicago. Hyundai’s two shining models were the Genesis, which won the title of most satisfying Aspirational Luxury Car, and the Sonata which won most satisfying Premium Mid-Size. New Jersey Hyundai dealers say customers have continued to be drawn to Hyundai and these two models specifically thanks to their incredible value. Overall, Lexus took the title of highest overall satisfaction.

This survey was given to customers who purchase or leased a vehicle in Q4 of 2008. What’s interested is that it reflects attitudes of car buyers just at the beginning of concern over the economic downturn. Feel free to check out the full list of winners for the most satisfying vehicles below. Continue reading ‘Cadillac and Hyundai Named ‘Highly Satisfying’’

Car dealers are finding ways of attracting car buyers to showrooms while also delivering the best experience possible. Obviously fresh products remain an important part of the equation, but as the automotive industry braces for more losses, automakers are realizing the showrooms themselves also play a large role in the sales equation.

Luxury automakers in particularly have been focusing their attention to individual showrooms. Acura for example has begun investing heavily in its branding and services at the showroom level according to St Louis Acura dealers in order to raise the profile of the brand among premium car buyers. Additionally, a Los Angeles BMW dealer says that all products in the luxury segment remain so attractive and competitive that ultimately the focus has now widened to include the entire sales experience. As a result, if the showroom doesn’t give the premium feel that buyers expect, a dealer may lose a sale.

The latest to invest in its dealer showrooms is Audi. With an investment of $1 billion, Audi dealers will become transformed by the end of 2010 to include a new “Terminal” design scheme. The new design is intended to align dealerships with Audi’s image of sportiness, luxury, and efficiency. See the video of the new design above.

While automakers in every segment struggle to lure buyers back to showrooms, Washington DC Mercedes Benz dealers realize that service and the total package is exactly what premium buyers require. This is also why new car incentives have gone beyond low APRs and now include free maintenance and other enticing offers. Continue reading ‘Luxury Brands Invest in Posh Showrooms’

The automotive industry is said to be in the midst of an auto recession. With auto sales at a record low, automakers and dealers alike are feeling the effects of a sluggish economy as car buying is down across the board. Those particularly hard hit are the Big Three Detroit automakers who have scrambled to cut costs and introduce exciting new models.

New car buyers are staying clear from dealerships for a number of reasons. Among these reasons are falling resale values says Chicago Used Cars. For buyers planning on trading-in their current vehicles, they’re going to be getting less cash for them, which may make all the difference for some consumers. This is especially true for those who want to trade-in their full-size trucks and SUVs. Dealers are having a hard enough time selling their existing stock of new trucks and SUVs, and your used truck probably is likely to be a turn off for many dealers.

Leasing is also contributing to the auto recession. Automakers have reevaluated their leasing programs as many drivers have failed to make payments. Chrysler has made the boldest step, eliminating leasing entirely. Once vehicles have been returned to the dealer, Philadelphia Used Cars say they’ve lost a significant amount of value following the duration of the lease, hurting dealers further.

Car buyers have also changed their buying habits to keep with the changing economic constraints. Increasingly, buyers are considering smaller, more fuel efficient cars rather than the once popular trucks and SUVs. With concerns over gas prices and plummeting resale values, drivers are focused on compacts, which have helped make companies like Honda and dealers like Lexington Auto Dealers slightly better off as buyers are drawn to their selection of compact and fuel efficient models.

Some analysts have varying opinions about when the auto business will recover, but many expect it to be quite some time before it happens. Some don’t expect the recovery to begin until 2013. Meanwhile, it’s expected that GM may declare bankruptcy in the coming months. Even Ford, who has recently added a string of all-new models to their lineup, will also be bringing European models to US shores, which San Diego Ford dealers expect will help boost its presence within the compact car market. But Ford is not only in promising new models by 2010 – GM and Chrysler both have many vehicles in the works in hopes of encouraging a rebound in domestic sales.

Perhaps one of the most anticipated vehicles from Detroit will be the Chevrolet Volt. As a top priority for GM’s development teams, the Volt will be one of the first electric models available to the general public, and Hartford Buick expects will help boost GM’s reputation and brand when it comes to car buyers demanding efficiency and the greenest technology available. But with such significant time and financial commitment that big question is whether the Chevy Volt will pay off. Continue reading ‘The Auto Recession Hits Hard’