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Car Wars predicts Hyundai Kia will LOSE marketshare...??????????????????????????

Brownie — Sat, 19 May 2012 11:55:55 GMT

The annual "Car Wars" report by Merrill Lynch analyst John Murphy predicts that, despite their seizing of U.S. market share over the last few tumultuous years, Korean brands Hyundai and Kia will give it all back and then some to companies like Ford, General Motors and Toyota by 2016.

Murphy bases his predictions not on tea leaves or crystal balls, but rather the rate at which automakers launch new products. Ford will replace 26 percent of its product line over the next four years, a number that represents 46 percent of its volume, while General Motors will replace 25 percent and Toyota 24 percent. On account of these new product launches, Murphy says Ford can expect to add 0.8 percentage points of market share, General Motors will recover 0.5 points and Toyota will add another 0.3 points.

Other automakers that won't be so aggressive in turning over their lineups with new models include Chrysler, Honda, Nissan and the European brands, which Murphy surmises will all remain flat in terms of market share.

Hyundai and Kia, meanwhile, will be introducing fewer new models than the rest and therefore, Murphy predicts, will see a 0.5 decline in U.S. market share.

Of course, these are all just predictions and can be blown to bits with the next unforeseen economic crisis or natural disaster, just like the last three years were. And there are other factors that might affect market share for each automaker during the next three years, including the availability of raw materials, exchange rates, union contracts, recalls and a million another minor things that might grow to become big things, not the least of which is consumers deciding they actually like all those new products being launched.

no longer be- HOlden to the petrol bowser

Silver — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:31:16 GMT

This in today's news.com.au

http://www.news.com.au/technology/no...-1226358438795

PETROL pump pain could soon be a thing of the past, with motorists simply plugging their car into a power socket.

Holden yesterday unveiled the petrol pump of the future in the form of its first electric car charging station.

The charger outside its Port Melbourne head office is the first of many that will allow owners of its Volt electric car to charge their vehicles and hit the road.

The car maker claims the Volt is the most technologically advanced vehicle of its type in the world.

It is certainly not the cheapest, though, with sluggish US sales this year partly blamed on the vehicle's high sales price, estimated to be up to $65,000 when it arrives in Australia this year.

While each car takes about four hours to charge, it will run for up to 80km before needing an electric top-up.

More importantly, a 1.4-litre petrol engine will kick in as a back-up generator to recharge the battery when things go flat.

This extends the car's coverage to up to 600km and ensures drivers won't be caught short between charging points.

Holden said the Volt would run on 100 per cent green power from a charging station or owners could recharge at home from a standard power outlet for just $2.50.

Holden's engineering director Greg Tyus said the Volt was possibly the world's most technologically advanced vehicle.

"This will change the way Australians think about sustainable transport," he said.

ChargePoint CEO James Brown said the launch of the Volt would spur a network of supporting infrastructure such as charging stations across the country.

"The advent of electric vehicles will see a paradigm shift in the way people drive and plan their journeys," Mr Brown said.

Owners will even be able to use their iPhone to securely log in and charge their car, along with checking how much juice they have left in the tank.

"Refuelling your car will become synonymous with parking your car. That trip to the petrol station will no longer be needed."

Car sharing service GoGet recently offered its 15,000 members access to Mitsubishi i-MiEV battery-electric cars at public charging stations, including six-star energy-rated residential and retail development The Nicholson in East Coburg.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/technology/no...#ixzz1v5EFMgkb

UK set to snatch GM's Astra from Germany, sources say

Silver — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:28:08 GMT

UK set to snatch GM's Astra from Germany, sources say
Automotive News
May 16, 2012
by Rhys Jones and Jan Schwartz

Britain is on the cusp of securing a deal that would see General Motors Co. build the next generation of its Astra compact model at Ellesmere Port rather than in Germany, sources said today.

Such a deal, which is dependent on workers at the plant near Liverpool agreeing to changed working conditions, would be a blow for Germany and a major coup for the British government, which is grappling with a recession and weak opinion poll ratings.

"We confirm that have we made an offer to build the new Astra in Ellesmere Port from 2015 onwards," an Opel spokesman said. "The offer contains a lowering of structural costs and enhancement of flexibility at the plant.

"The employees will have to vote on the offer," the spokesman added. "Once this has taken place, we will announce the decision and give further details."

Opel is presenting a catalog of demands -- including wage cuts, more temporary workers and outsourcing -- to management of the plant in Ellesmere Port, according to a second, senior union, source.

Opel's management is considering halting production of the Astra, its most important model, at its main plant in Ruesselsheim, Germany, and making the car only in Ellesmere Port and in Poland's Gliwice plant from 2015.

Full article at link.

Ford to Replace U.S. Models Fastest

Silver — Thu, 17 May 2012 02:24:06 GMT

Ford to Replace U.S. Models Fastest, BofA Says in Report[/SIZE][/B]
Bloomberg
May 16, 2012
by Craig Trudell

Ford Motor Co. (F) will lead the industry in introducing new or refreshed vehicles in the U.S. at the fastest rate for model years 2013 through 2016, according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch report.

Ford will replace 26 percent of its lineup during the period, analysts led by John Murphy wrote in the annual �Car Wars� report published today.

The analysts said replacement rates will be 25 percent for General Motors Co. (GM), 24 percent for Toyota Motor Corp. (7203) and 23 percent for Nissan Motor Co., which will match the industry average.

Automakers that revamp models faster tend to increase market share, according to Murphy, who is based in New York. New-product introductions are accelerating from a �lull� during the last three years and will be led by the crossover, luxury-car and light-truck segments through model-year 2016, which may boost the sales mix for higher-priced models and increase industry profits, according to the report.

Full article at link.[

93 Octane E10 vs. Pure 91 Octane

RyanR0101 — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:46:19 GMT

'98 coupe, stock engine. What's the better gas choice between 93 octane with 10% ethanol and 91 octane with none? Does the stock engine change the timing between 91 and 93 octane, or does anything over 91 not matter?

Is the Ford brand really that bad?

Poltergeist — Wed, 16 May 2012 00:02:27 GMT

The automaker decides to drop its name and logo from its newest sales pitch.

Some drivers hate Ford vehicles. They have all kinds of reasons to cringe whenever they see the Ford name and the blue oval.

Ford knows it. But Ford has been overhauling its lineup, adding new technologies and new designs. The quality is improved and the new models look good. If only people could get past that blue oval.

So Ford is experimenting with a new strategy. Why not take the name and logo out altogether? That's the basis for a new TV ad campaign that doesn't mention the company at all.

Check out this commercial. It almost seems to introduce a new car company, showing cars with some slick features, such as voice-activated technology and a spiffy car-parking system. The ad sends viewers to the GoFurther.com website, and it's only when you get to the site that you see the Ford logo.

The idea is to make people rethink their perceptions of Ford. You might have hated the brand in the past, but it's different now. It's almost a return to the company's "Have you driven a Ford lately?" slogan. (Check out this amusing commercial for a reminder.)

Ford has been doing very well financially. It earned $29.5 billion in the last three years after losing about the same amount from 2006 through 2008, Bloomberg reports.

The new ads came out of Ford's own test clinics, Bloomberg reports. People were more enthusiastic about new models until they found out Ford made them.

"As soon as people see a blue oval they jump to immediate conclusions as to preconceived ideas about what the company does, what it stands for," a Ford marketing executive told Bloomberg. "We still have a gap and an opportunity to change that perception on the coasts."

Ford doesn't sell well on the West and East Coasts. Drivers in those markets prefer a Toyota or Honda, Bloomberg reports.

Ford is still keeping the logo on its vehicles. But it's trying to overcome a hard industry reality. Once people have a bad experience with one brand, they sign off altogether. They aren't about to put tens of thousands of dollars into another car from that company. Ford suffered from negative quality perceptions for quite a while, and even though the quality has improved, it's going to take a lot of work to reverse that damage.

2011 corvette sales coupe vs grand sport ....convertible vs grand sport convertible.

JBsC6 — Tue, 15 May 2012 04:35:33 GMT

Here are the 2011 numbers:

Coupe: 3112
Grand Sport Coupe: 5212

Convertible: 780
Grand Sport Convertible: 2782

Ally's mortgage unit files for bankruptcy

Abernathy — Mon, 14 May 2012 18:02:27 GMT

Ally's mortgage unit files for bankruptcy
By Chris Isidore @CNNMoney May 14, 2012: 8:23 AM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Ally Financial's ResCap mortgage unit filed for a prepackaged bankruptcy protection Monday, a move that the taxpayer-owned bank says will allow it to take another step to repay Treasury.

The ResCap unit, which operates under the GMAC Mortgage brand, was once one of the nation's leading subprime lenders. Problems with those home loans for riskier borrowers and the sharp drop in the company's core auto finance business forced Treasury to give it a $15.8 billion bailout in 2009, as part of its efforts to rescue the troubled auto industry and housing market.

Print CommentThe company, which started as the finance unit of automaker General Motors (GM, Fortune 500) under the GMAC name, changed its name to Ally following the bailout. Besides continuing its auto finance business, it now operates an online commercial bank.

Ally also said it is looking at a possible sale or other strategic alternatives for its international business.

The company said that it expects GMAC to continue to make and service mortgage loans while the bankruptcy process is completed. The portfolio of home loans it holds, now valued at less than half its original value, will be auctioned off as part of the bankruptcy process.

GMAC said it will make a so-called "stalking horse" bid of $1.6 billion for those loans, but they are expected to draw a higher bid from investors.

0:00 /4:30BofA's plan to move beyond mortgage mess
"The action by ResCap will enable Ally to achieve a permanent solution to its legacy mortgage risks and put these issues behind us," said Ally Chief Executive Officer Michael A. Carpenter. "This action, along with pursuing alternatives for the international businesses, will allow Ally to focus 100 percent of its energies on further strengthening its already leading U.S. auto finance and direct banking franchises."

Treasury currently owns about 74% of its outstanding stock, and Ally has paid about $5.5 billion of the bailout back to Treasury through dividends and loan repayments. The company's statement Monday said that upon successful completion of the bankruptcy auction and disposal of its international business, it should be able to have paid back about two-thirds of the government bailout.

source Cnn.com

GM's new 1.6 liter turbo makes 200hp. Would this make a great GTI fighter in a Sonic?

Abernathy — Mon, 14 May 2012 17:03:25 GMT

GM�s European arms, Opel and Vauxhall, are preparing to introduce three new engine families in the course of the following year, with these replacing most of their current petrol and diesel units.

The comany has only released info about one of them, a 1.6-liter four-cylinder petrol unit that uses direct injection and turbocharging, as well as a Start/Stop system. The fresh SIDI (Spark Ignition Direct Injection) ECOTEC petrol powerplant will be offered in multiple power levels, with the most muscular one producing 200 hp at 4,700 rpm and a peak torque of 300 Nm (221 lb-ft), which will arrive starting with 1,700 rpm. The engine will, of course, be offered on a wide range of models.

MORE AT: http://www.autoevolution.com/news/op...-hp-44911.html

[

corvette takes the win!

Abernathy — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:59:55 GMT

[]

9	1	GT	4	Oliver Gavin	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1
10	2	GT	3	Jan Magnussen	Chevrolet Corvette C6 ZR1
11	3	GT	55	Bill Auberlen	BMW E92 M3
12	4	GT	56	Dirk Mueller	BMW E92 M3
13	5	GT	1	Johannes van Overbeek	Ferrari F458 Italia
14	6	GT	45	Jorg Bergmeister	Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
15	7	GT	17	Wolf Henzler	Porsche 911 GT3 RSR
16	7

[

Test Drive: 2013 Dodge Dart Compact Cars

Brownie — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:54:15 GMT

www.allpar.com
Test Drive: 2013 Dodge Dart Compact Cars
by Bill Cawthon

The Dodge Dart and I go back a long way � all the way to the Dodge-on-a-Plymouth-size-chassis introduced in the fall of 1959. By then, my Dad had transferred to Plymouth, but I had seen the Dart before it hit dealer showrooms. Twelve years later, my first American car was a 1971 Dart Swinger with a Slant Six and three-on-the-tree [editor�s note: the 1960 Dart was based on the mid-sized Plymouth, not on the Valiant].

Fast-forward four decades to a Wednesday morning in Austin, Texas, which started bright and early as assorted journalists and bloggers headed into an 8:00 AM product presentation led by Chad Robertson, head of Dodge Car Marketing, who gave us a product and positioning overview of the new Dart. Next up was Jeff Gale, Senior Manager, Dodge Exterior Design Studio. Jeff took us through the creative process of developing a distinctive body language that is definitely Dodge but not a junior Charger. Ryan Nagode, Chief Designer, Dodge and Ram Interior Studios, talked about the upgraded interior of the Dart, which has features seldom found in a car in this class. Last, but not least, Cyril Benitah, Engineering Program Manager for the Dodge Dart, showed us not just the new engines and transmissions, but the underlying body structure with the various materials used to control weight while ensuring structural rigidity.

After the presentation, it was off to a parking lot near the W Austin hotel, where we stayed, to meet our rides for the day. As is typical of such events, we were paired up, two writers to a car. Each team would take a car to our destination in Albert, Texas, with a break along the way to switch drivers. I paired up with Rich Truesdell of AutomotiveTraveler.com. Since we were the senior members of the bunch, it seemed like a good fit.

Another participant drove the automatic 2.0 setup. He wrote: �It transferred the power smoothly and the shifts were quick and clean. It was exactly as an automatic transmission should be: invisible.�

There was a nice assortment of Darts from which to choose, with all trim levels, except the base SE, available. Rich and I selected a Dart Limited in Tungsten Metallic Clear Coat with the 1.4-liter MultiAir engine and the C635 6-speed manual transmission. Stickered at $23,275, not including destination, our car was well equipped with black Nappa leather, the digital instrument cluster, Uconnect Touch 8.4N CD/MP3/Garmin Navigation with Voice Command, and more.

Another participant drove the automatic 2.0 setup. He wrote: �It transferred the power smoothly and the shifts were quick and clean. It was exactly as an automatic transmission should be: invisible.�
After a little experimentation with clutch throw, we were off to the hill country west of Austin via an assortment of farm-to-market roads, ranch roads, and thoroughfares lovingly laid out long ago by meandering cattle.

The Dart was quite comfortable; controls were well laid-out and the climate control was more than competent, though it wasn�t competing with summer heat in Texas, which can be toasty at times.
The MultiAir engine was a fine powerplant: responsive and eager to rev. The car never felt like it was short on power in spite of the Dart�s relatively high weight. The transmission shifted smoothly and I found myself doing more gear changes than strictly necessary because it was so much fun to control the car with engine speed instead of the brakes.

The brakes deserve mention. There�s no doubt they will stop the car, especially the first time you use them. The brakes on our Limited had a tendency to grab abruptly and it took careful modulation of the brake pedal to come to a smooth stop. However, we quickly grew accustomed to this and it never created any problems. [This might have also been an artifact of preproduction and/or journalistic abuse.]

The seats were comfortable and supportive in both cars, though the Nappa leather in the Limited would have to get the nod. There was some tire noise but little wind noise even at higher speeds, in both the Limited and Rallye. Nothing was intrusive; it was easy to carry on a conversation in a normal tone or listen to the stereo without having to crank up the volume.
......................................

Much more @ http://www.allpar.com/reviews/2012/early-dart.html

And possibly don�t miss this from Autonews, about the Dart

How a merger made a Dart

First test of synergy shows Chrysler, Fiat can listen, collaborate

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...er-made-a-dart

Interesting news that deserve to be fully read.

rumor that Renault which owns Nissan will base new Alpine on GTR chassis????

Brownie — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:48:59 GMT

Speculation has been mounting that Renault was preparing to revive the Alpine nameplate with a new sports car. And with the 50th anniversary of the legendary A110 coming up, the latest suggests that is exactly what the French automaker has in store for the Monaco Grand Prix, scheduled to take place in short order on the streets of Monte Carlo.

Just what the new Renault Alpine will amount to, if anything, remains to be seen, however. Some forecast that it could be based on the same platform as the GT-R from allied automaker Nissan, while others anticipate an electric sports car of some sort.

Kpmg merger & acquisition survey

Brownie — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:41:29 GMT

KPMG MERGER & ACQUISITION SURVEY
KPMG is a company that provides tax and audit and advisory services for all kinds of corporate clients. It also keeps a very close eye on what drives M&A, mergers and acquisitions, in the automotive industry. Gary Silberg, with KPMG, conducts a survey of automotive executives to track what�s driving M&A and the latest survey turned up some interesting results.

Hello, I�m Gary Silberg the National Automotive Sector Leader at KPMG, here to talk to you about some key strategic issues facing the automotive industry today.

Whether it�s Geely acquiring Volvo, Tata buying Jaguar and Land Rover, GM taking an equity investment in PSA, or other tie-ups that seem to be announced on a regular basis, mergers, acquisitions and alliances are alive and well in the automotive industry.

We believe there are three primary trends driving all this M&A: First, Growth. Manufacturers want access to new markets and customers. Second, new technologies. Access to new technologies and products will be critical for success in the marketplace. Third, cost savings. Management sees acquisitions or alliances as a means to reduce risk, share development cost and gain scale.

To validate our hypothesis, our 2012 KPMG Global Automotive Executive Survey interviewed 200 senior executives from the world�s leading automotive companies, suppliers, dealers, financial service providers, and, for the first time, mobility service providers.

They confirmed the shift towards partnerships. A large majority � 68 percent� view joint ventures and strategic alliances at an OEM level as a key strategy to compete in the marketplace.

Tier 1 suppliers responded strongly in favor of mergers and acquisitions. With most of their restructuring behind them, they now have the profits, strong balance sheets and cash to do them.

Interestingly, previous respondents saw joint ventures and alliances primarily as a way to minimize debt and risk of bankruptcy. But in our most recent survey this was barely mentioned, a sign the industry is now looking to grow, rather than merely survive.

To survive and thrive in this intensely competitive market, automotive companies must move to the next level of product innovation, quality and cost competitiveness. Keeping strategic core competencies in house will remain critical. However, companies must also be able to look outside and see what others are investing and innovating in. The ability to balance internal and external competencies will determine the winners and losers. We believe that through collaboration, acquisitions, joint ventures and alliances, companies will be better able to compete and win in the marketplace and we believe you will see more announcements about this in the headlines in the future.

BIG TRUCK SALES UP shows Economy GROWING!

Brownie — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:40:28 GMT

BIG TRUCK SALES UP
We�ve been tracking this for some time now but sales of big trucks are still screaming ahead. According to WardsAuto, they were up close to 40 percent in April compared to a year ago in the U.S. And it�s the same story in Canada where big truck sales jumped 38 percent. this a good sign that the economy will continue to grow

Buy a sierra denali, get 5 tons of gas!

Brownie — Mon, 14 May 2012 16:39:26 GMT

BUY A SIERRA DENALI, GET 5 TONS OF GAS!
Car dealers love to come up with gimmicks to sell vehicles but this is one of the crazier ones I�ve seen. A GMC dealer in Shanghai is giving away five tons of gasoline with the purchase of a new Sierra Denali. Yes, five tons! A gallon of gas weighs about six pounds so that�s either 1,600 or 1,800 gallons of gas, depending on whether it�s a metric ton or not. In either case, that�s worth about $8,000 in China. It may seem like a lot, but with the Sierra Denali costing about $130,000 in China, dealers have to come up with gimmicks like this to get someone to pay that much for a pickup.