Car Biz Weekly

The 2010 Ford Taurus may not sound particularly exciting for most automotive enthusiasts, but it will likely play an important role for the automaker as it struggles to turn its operations around. Highlighting the importance of the renewed Taurus nameplate is a new ad campaign that will showoff premium-like features that Ford hopes will help set the sedan apart from its competition.

In all-new Ford Taurus ads, the automaker is not going after the likes of Chevrolet, Chrysler, or even Toyota. But rather the Taurus is going head-to-head with vehicles from Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus. As unusual as that comparison is, Ford is hoping that consumers take note of the quality and features that the new Taurus is packed with says DC Ford dealers, which hopefully will appeal to weary consumers searching for value.

Among the ads running to promote the new Taurus are those touting the vehicle’s quiet interior and even the Taurus’ chip-resistant, high-tech paint. Luxury car buyers intending to buy a Lexus are not suddenly going to choose a Ford Taurus instead, but Ford Service Waldorf says that buyers looking into an affordable mid-sized sedan will likely be looking for any sign that they’re getting value for their money, and these ads are intended to provide that reassurance.

The new advertising campaign for the 2010 Taurus is already underway according to one Alexandria used cars dealer. Expect to see the Taurus promoted heavily in the coming months as Ford hopes to lure buyers back to its showrooms. Continue reading ‘New Ad Campaign Launches For 2010 Ford Taurus’

Amid the endless  news of the weakened auto industry, glimmers of hope are beginning to surface. The brightest of these glimmers may be at Ford, which has reported a net income of $2.3 billion in the second quarter of this year. While the company still posted a pre-tax operating loss, Ford still managed to cut losses dramatically compared with last year.

Ford’s improved financial reporting is due to a number of cost cutting initiatives, improved market share, and encouraging results from Ford Credit, the automaker’s financial arm. A Ford dealer in Los Angeles says that all of these factors combine to ease the pain of the ongoing worldwide financial crisis.

With Ford continuing its restructuring and recovery, one Ford dealer specializing in car loans Salinas is hopeful that the automaker will get out of the red by 2011. That’s a bold goal considering that there is no end in sight for the auto industry’s recovery. In addition, Ford Credit is showing healthy figures, thanks to a $646 million profit in Q2.

While other Big Three automakers are emerging from bankruptcy and starting over, Ford is continuing to make the changes that seem to be yielding results. In an effort to turn things around, Ford has already made dramatic cuts, which has included prominent brands says Denver Auto Loans. In the coming months, consumers can expect more changes to come to Ford via the automaker’s lineup as well. Continue reading ‘Ford Continues Drive Towards Profitability’

Month after month, automakers and car dealers have seen dismal sales numbers have driven plenty of people out of business. However, June sales may be a turning point, as the month showed glimmers of hope for sales. The question remains whether this glimmer of hope is a sign that the worst is over.

General Motors finished the month with a 33 percent decline in sales, down only slightly more than analysts predicted. In addition, Toyota and Chrysler both faced declines that were worse than predicted. The only automaker to perform better than expected was Ford.

While auto sales data from June is by no means overwhelmingly positive, Florida Commercial Trucks points out that the sales numbers have improved compared with other months earlier in the year. June sales overall slipped from 9.9 million cars to 9.7 million cars. But despite the declines, June still marked the second best performing month yet this year, which again may not be too exciting, but it’s something.

The auto industry has a long way to go before it can return to its former health. Rather than a sharp bounce back, auto sales are likely to recover only gradually over a long period of time suggests Yonkers Used Cars. But analysts with Edmunds.com suggest that the leveling off of sales declines seen in the month of June is at the very least a sign of stabilization.

Other analysts have been even more optimistic, stating that current auto sales suggest that the worst is now over. A sign that this optimism is warranted is the fact that GM saw a 10 percent increase in sales in the U.S. compared with last year. Peoria Chevy says that the overall decline at GM was actually attributed to a huge hit to fleet sales. With Chrysler already out of bankruptcy, its partnership with Italian automaker Fiat has yet to have an effect on its lineup. Meanwhile, a used cars Saginaw dealer suggests that fleet sales have also hurt Chrysler’s overall sales figures.

As already mentioned Ford has fared better, both increasing market share and performing better than predicted. It still faced a sales decline, but the drop was not nearly as bad as recent months. In another encouraging sign of momentum according to Jersey City Lincoln Mercury, Ford has also noted declines in inventories and will also be increasing production for the third quarter of this year.

Typically, Korean and Japanese automakers have been far more resilient when compared with the Big Three. However, automakers such as Toyota have not been immune to the devastating effects the economy has had on the auto industry. Toyota June sales were worse than predicted. Both Honda and Nissan saw significant sales declines as well, but were relatively aligned with predictions. Continue reading ‘June Auto Sales May Suggest Hope’

Fuel economy is a huge concern among car buyers these days. With the sky-high gas prices of last summer, consumers learned the value of owning a fuel efficient vehicle. But with so many choices these days, it may seem a bit daunting to find the right fuel efficient vehicle.

Hybrids are what many driver think of these days when they think of fuel economy observes one used car dealer Chattanooga. A hybrid vehicle uses a gasoline engine for its main source of power, along with an electric motor to maximize fuel efficiency. The added benefit with hybrid is that these vehicles also emit far less harmful exhaust emissions than a gasoline-only vehicle, as the engine shuts off completely during stops and when the vehicle reaches cruising speed. Used car dealers Salinas suggest that another added benefit to buying a hybrid is the potential tax credit.

Perhaps the most notable manufacturer of hybrid vehicles is Toyota. The Toyota Prius is by far the world’s most popular hybrid vehicle, and it can average between 36 and 45 miles per gallon in mixed driving. Although the EPA ratings of 60 mpg city and 51 mpg highway would be nice, Pittsburgh Auto Finance admit those ratings are not necessarily the most realistic. Either way the Prius still gets well over 30 miles per gallon in the city which is quite a feat. Other Toyota hybrids include the popular Camry sedan and the Highlander SUV.

Although Toyota has managed to earn a reputation for producing hybrid technology, Honda’s lineup also includes some of the most popular hybrids on the road says the Toyota Accessories Store. This includes hybrid versions of the already economical Civic and the spacious Accord. Honda’s new hybrid vehicle, the Insight, enjoys the unique reputation of being the most affordable hybrid vehicle in America.

Other automakers are also building up their hybrid credentials. Ford and Mercury both offer a hybrid sedan, and also offer the Ford Escape Hybrid and the Mercury Mariner Hybrid which New Jersey Mercury dealers point out are the most fuel efficient hybrid SUVs on the road. General Motors also offers a range of hybrids to choose from such as the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. But Chevy also offers hybrids for those who still want full-size space, including the Chevrolet Silverado hybrid pickup and the Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid SUV.

While hybrids continue to be the most recognized vehicles for fuel efficiency, Pittsburgh used Mercedes dealers  warn that hybrids do come at a cost. First, hybrids are generally more expensive than many gasoline powered counterparts. In addition, hybrid-powered SUVs do not generally provide the level of fuel savings to offset vehicle costs. Luckily, there are still ample choices to consider for ample fuel savings.

Subcompact cars are becoming popular again at Mazda Salinas thanks to their low sticker prices and high fuel economy. These cars are small, so if you don’t need extra space a subcompact may be the best choice to help you save serious money. Nissan dealers Boston suggest that a wagon or hatchback may also be a wise choice if you need the space and versatility of an SUV, but don’t particularly want the added fuel cost.

One of the most popular small hatchbacks is the recently redesigned Honda Fit. Unlike the average economy car, the Honda Fit offers sporty styling and handling that is unique to the segment. The Toyota Yaris is also a wise choice, and not for 2009 the Yaris is available as a four-door sedan as well as either a three-door or a five-door. Perhaps one of the most competitively priced small hatchbacks on the road according to customers at Syracuse Suzuki is the Suzuki SX4, which now comes standard with satellite navigation. Late model pre-owned cars should also be considered suggests Pittsburgh used Kias in order to get the ultimate savings on a fuel efficient model.

In addition to having a low price tag, all of the above mentioned hybrids also deliver outstanding fuel economy. These compacts are also evidence that this segment is becoming increasingly refined as buyers are increasingly demanding high-quality and high-value products.

Take a look at just a view gas mileage comparisons below of several fuel efficient hybrids and compacts. Continue reading ‘Tips for Buying a Fuel Efficient Vehicle’

As the cost of new technology goes down, new cars are increasingly highlighting technology as a major buying feature. This may be nothing new for the premium car segment, but this means that more of this new technology is becoming standard in mid-range and more affordable cars. Let’s take a look at some of the in-demand in-car tech innovations.

Around View Monitor

Rear view monitors have become mainstream and no longer have much panache among consumers. The latest camera systems are around view monitors, helping drivers see not just behind the car but around the car. This system was first introduced on the Infiniti EX, a crossover from Nissan’s luxury brand. The around view monitor helps drivers navigate tight spaces and avoid minor fender benders. St Louis Acura says the system also makes parallel parking extremely easy.

Ford MyKey

The Ford MyKey is basically a key specifically for teen drivers. The system allows drivers to control a number of functions inside the car, such as top speed, stereo volume, and it controls various warning chimes. Parents can program the Ford MyKey system to their specifications, which Pittsburgh Lincoln Financing says will help to add peace of mind when children are out on the road. MyKey will be standard on the 2010 Ford Focus and Ford Escape hybrid. By 2012, MyKey will become standard on all vehicles.

Automatic Braking Systems

Using sonar and radar, automatic braking technology is able to monitor the closing speed of your car and the car ahead. If it detects that an impact may be imminent, the system will apply the vehicle’s brakes automatically without any input from the driver according to one used car dealer Trenton. The system was first featured on the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, but can also be had on the 2010 E-Class. Other vehicles that have adopted similar technology include Lexus and Volvo. While it’s not a replacement for safe driving, the system can prevent minor impacts that occur from distractions.

Lane Departure Warning Systems

Lane departure warning systems alert a driver whenever a vehicle begins to veer outside of a lane. When the vehicle steps over a double yellow line, one used car Philadelphia dealer points out that the system helps the drivers avoid a serious accident with an on-coming car, or even a motorcycle. While the system was first developed by Infiniti, it has since found its way into numerous brands including Cadillac, Lexus, Audi, and Mercedes-Benz. Some customers at Acura Service New Haven have thought the system is a bit too sensitive and annoying when it beeps unnecessarily. However, these systems can be shut off manually.

Driver Alertness Monitor

Also developed by Mercedes-Benz is the driver alertness monitor. The system monitors if a driver is falling asleep at the wheel. If the system senses a dozing driver, Mercedes Benz Washington DC says it will attempt to wake the driver up. Typically found on Mercedes S- and E-Class models, the system can also be found on Volvo models as well, including the S80 sedan. While the system could potentially startle a drowsy driver admits Indianapolis Mercedes and potentially could cause an accident, the system should be useful for those driving on long trips or who regularly drive late at night. That being said, anyone getting drowsy at the wheel should immediately pull off the road and call it a night. Continue reading ‘The Latest Trends in Automotive Technology’

After its reign as the largest automaker in the world, General Motors has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The Treasury and the federal government have claimed that theses new developments will make the new GM a leaner and healthier company. The bankruptcy is the third largest in American history and involved nearly $173 billion in dept.

In approximately 60 to 90 days, this new GM will be launched. The difference from the existing GM is that the new version will only include the strongest brands, dealers, and facilities. Oklahoma GMC points out that that while GM has previously been home to numerous nameplates, it will now only consist of only Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac brands. Fewer brands means fewer sales admits one dealer specializing in Philadelphia car loans, but these brands remain the automaker’s strongest and will certainly help make the automaker as a far leaner company.

Ultimately, the changes at GM are intended to provide the automaker with an improved balance sheet as recent years has seen debt grow dramatically. In order to help achieve its lofty goals, the U.S. Treasury is also committing $30 billion in bridge financing to further aid the process. Missouri Used Cars says the U.S. Treasury will not own GM debt alone, but will also share some of the dept with Canadian and Ontario governments as well.

While bankruptcy is under way, General Motors will continue to sell its cars and honor vehicle warranties. GM dealers realize that sacrifices will need to be made, but remain optimistic as the automaker will become stronger once it exits bankruptcy proceedings. In addition, operations until them will continue to operate as normal in most markets outside of North America. Continue reading ‘Time Runs Out: GM Files for Bankruptcy’

On news of dramatic losses on the close of the most recent fiscal year, Toyota looks to be tightening its belt and its budgets with various cost-cutting initiatives. It was only recently that Toyota was pouring money into its manufacturing operations, but even more recently Toyota has had to forgo innovative ideas for more resourceful ideas to streamline its manufacturing operations in an effort to save cash.

Nearly every Toyota manufacturing facility is undergoing some type of cost cutting initiative. After years of steep profits, Toyota now must rethink every level of its operations to account for evaporating sales. In addition to dwindling sales, Chrysler’s bankruptcy may bring a ‘Buy American’ political climate that Toyota will have to overcome as well.

Toyota is no doubt learning valuable lessons from the current economic environment according Used Cars Santa Barbara. Like with other automakers, last year may have been the most difficult for Toyota since coming to the U.S. market nearly 40 years ago. One outcome of recent struggles is that sales and manufacturing operations are now working closer together compared to past years. This move was made in an effort to establish long-term stability and help control issues that are fixable.

One of the most immediate issues affecting Toyota is product inventories. Currently, dealers are bloated with unsold inventory as Toyota is supplying more inventory today compared to better years. In direct response to supply concerns, Toyota shut down a number of plants this year and at the end of last year to curb output.

Not all is bad for Toyota. Sales of specific models at one Toyota dealer St Paul, such as the compact RAV4 crossover, have been doing well. But still Toyota is relying on attractive incentives to maintain U.S. sales momentum. These incentives include rebates and attractive deals on leasing. Unfortunately, Toyota’s recent incentives remain a bit tamer than the ones currently offered by Korean and American manufactures, which may change in the coming weeks.

Regardless, it’s the market than has handicapped Toyota according Tustin Toyota Repair, not its operations. Consumers are no longer eager to replace aging vehicles as worries about job security and the economy weigh heavily on the minds of American consumers.

With the potential of a ‘Buy American’ campaign coming from Washington, Toyota may be losing some allies on Capitol Hill. That being said, Conicelli Toyota Parts points out that Toyota has been investing in the U.S. for years and will only continue to do so. As such, Toyota doesn’t appear to be concerned about such political maneuvers.

Problems aside, Toyota is focusing on innovative new vehicles that will be heading to showrooms, such as the all-new Toyota Prius hybrid and the Lexus HS 250h luxury hybrid, both of which are highly anticipated at San Diego Prius dealers and elsewhere. Expect to see bold advertising campaigns soon hyping the unique traits of these cars. Continue reading ‘Toyota Looks Inward Amid Market Struggles’

This weekend, movie goers flocked to theaters to see fast cars and furious action in the fourth installment of “Fast & Furious.” The movie about street racers smashed records and thus far had the largest opening box office record of the year.

Although the movie and its sequels are not known for great acting performances, nor are they known for well-thought out plots, the movies excite movie goers young and old thanks to the unique rides and fast car chases. The latest installment also brings back the original film’s cast, including Paul Walker and Vin Diesel. With the action-packed car chases and the appeal of the original cast, Fast & Furious was able to growing $72.5 million in its first weekend alone, leaving Watchmen and Monsters v. Aliens in its dust. Los Angeles Toyota dealers say the movies appeal to a subculture that’s prevalent in the Los Angeles area. Cheap speed is what fuels many real-life street racers, but some cars featured in the movie can easily have cost $100K or more.

It would be safe to assume that these movies have been aided by teenage boys flocking to theaters, but demographic information has shown that nearly half of the audience seeing the movie was female, and about forty percent were older than 25. According to Birmingham Honda, car lovers are simply unpredictable.

The fourth installment of the Fast & Furious made a substantial amount of money in its first three days. It even made more than Spielberg’s last installment of Jurassic Park, which Buffalo Suzuki says just goes to show that fast cars and intense car chases make for an excellent movie experience. Continue reading ‘‘Fast & Furious’ Races to Top Box Office’

Times have been tough for the Detroit Big Three, but times have also been tough on the Japanese Big Three. In recent months, the largest Asian automakers, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan, have been forced to cut production, cut jobs, and alter product releases due to dismal financial results and poor sales. Clearly, the economic concerns extend well beyond Detroit and truly involves everyone from around the world.

While the slip in Japanese sales and profits has not been quite has steep as those of the domestic automakers, the time has come for Japanese automakers to follow the same path. This week Nissan has announced it will be cutting just over 8 percent of its workforce, thanks to a $2.9 billion loss expected for this fiscal year.

Despite steep losses, Nissan plans to uphold its current aggressive product development schedule. Included is Nissan’s upcoming electric vehicle, which Hartford Nissan says remains a high priority according to Nissan management.

Honda also has forecasted trouble ahead, reducing its earnings forecast by about 57 percent. While a profit is still expected according to Honda Philadelphia, Honda has preemptively cut salaries among board members and senior managers. Toyota, now the world’s largest automaker, has also shed salaries, cut production, and expects a loss of about $5 billion. Further cutbacks are also expected. That being said, Westminster Toyota dealers see new vehicles such as the Venza crossover and the all-new Toyota Prius hybrid to boost sales momentum. Already, Irvine Toyota dealers have seen demand for the Venza due to heavy Superbowl advertising and other current incentives.

While all automakers are hurt by dwindling sales here in the U.S., the automotive markets in Europe and Japan are also seeing declining auto sales. Even popular vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius hybrid, are facing declining sales as potential car buyers steer away from new car showrooms. In fact, a Toyota plant in Mississippi cut production of the Highlander in order to produce additional Prius vehicles. However, production there has been postponed, even as interest in the Prius has remained high.

With the U.S. auto market being particularly challenging these days, this year is looking to be a tough one for automakers and car dealers alike. While forecasts already look grim, many industry analysts are expecting the worst, with even more declines ahead in 2009. Continue reading ‘Japanese Big Three Continue to Struggle’

The mantra that ‘bigger is better’ is certainly leaving our vocabulary when it comes to cars. No longer is oversized, gas guzzling SUVs in vogue. Instead, smaller, more fuel-efficient vehicles are all the rage. However, these fuel efficient, easy-to-maneuver offerings aren’t necessarily the safest on the road.

Whether you’re buying a truck, an SUV, or a subcompact, all cars must adhere to strict safety regulations. While this helps provide drivers with a certain level of safety and peace of mind regardless of what vehicle one may purchase, a Honda dealer Los Angeles say it doesn’t necessarily guarantee the level of safety you’ll receive in real world driving. This is why it’s important to do your research before heading to the dealership to truly gauge how safe a car may be. Luckily, there are plenty of resources to do exactly that.

Perhaps the best resource for safety information is the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS). This nonprofit is supported by the insurance industry, and does extensive safety testing on just about every vehicle on the road. In addition to gauging the safety of a car’s design and how well its safety features work, one Westminster Toyota dealer says the IIHS also does a number of studies to find trends when it comes to vehicle safety. For example, the data below indicates Highest Rates of Driver Death rates between the years of 2001 and 2004.

One factor that this study found is that size and weight plays a large role when it comes to safety. Although today’s advanced safety features help minimize fatality rates in any size vehicle, real world driving has plenty to do with plain physics, which Auto Body Pittsburgh can certainly agree with. This is why many of the vehicles with the highest fatality rates were small cars, while the vehicles with the lowest fatality rates were larger cars.

Recent years has seen auto safety change dramatically. In fact, Kia dealers Denver have seen dramatic changes in Kia vehicles alone. First the advanced safety features are very much mainstream. Even seat belts are used more than just a decade ago. But speeds have also increased over the years, as the national speed limit used to be only 55 mpg. With greater speeds, but safer cars, physics is playing a larger role in car accidents and in fatalities.

Even more recent research conducted by the IIHS shows that the highest personal injuries occurred among smaller 2005 to 2007 model year vehicles. While the data is a bit daunting, and is often a concern among Toyota dealers Anaheim, the question then becomes, should you buy a larger car to protect your safety?

Overall, the rate of fatalities has not gone up as more consumers have abandoned larger vehicles in favor of smaller cars. This is an important consideration according to Hyundai Albany when wondering whether a larger car will guarantee your safety. All indicators show that smaller cars are getting safer, despite the higher rates of fatalities.

Regardless, when considering a new vehicle, one Pittsburgh Kia dealer always reminds customers that it’s important to consult the IIHS or NHTSA websites in order to find how the vehicles held up in crash test reports. The most popular vehicles will certainly have crash information, while low volume vehicles will not have any data if there is low sales volume. However, most of the new models rank well, and usually receive four or five star ratings.

Ultimately, in the coming years, Saturn Denver believes that technology will play an increasingly larger role in new vehicle safety. It’s new technology that allows new subcompacts such as the Honda Fit to have a top crash test rating. Electronic stability control, front and side airbags, and a slew of other now common safety features are relatively new, and were not even available on the Chevrolet Blazer in the study referenced above.

As more technology becomes infused into the vehicles we drive, regardless of size, it’s likely that we’ll be able to minimize or reduce the severity of crashes. However, that being said, good driver behavior will never be substituted by the most advanced safety features. Continue reading ‘How Does Vehicle Size Affect Vehicle Safety’