Just One Man’s Opinion
30
Jun
Time for another update on my automotive family tree. Looks like GM can’t keep the joint venture with Toyota together to keep NUMMI running. The 25 year joint venture for the NUMMI plant has built Toyota/GM products like the Chevy Nova, Geo, Prizm and recently the Pontiac Vibe, which will end its run in August.
Toyota [...]
24
Jun
Someone might want to check into voting fraud on this one! According to autonews.com, J.D. Power and Associates released the top honors in vehicle ownership satisfaction among German car owners. Number 4 was BMW, which was four points ahead of Audi and Toyota, tied for 5th. Number 2 and 3 was a tie with Alfa [...]
23
Jun
For those keeping score at home, Mercedes-Benz is doing another rename. First it was the CLK, which will be known as the E-Class Coupe in 2010. In 2011, CLC hatchback will be replaced by a true C-Class Coupe. Now it looks like the large CL will be renamed to S-Class Coupe, when the next new [...]
18
Jun
The automotive press is going against Ford orders of a July release date about the test drive of the Taurus SHO. So I feel I should give my option. Tho I haven’t driven one, just looking at it and looking at the specs, I’d guess I’d like it. The more aggressive front end to me [...]
11
Jun
According to autonews.com, GM is going to sell Saab to Koenigsegg Automotive AB. A source told Reuters that “The deal is there now and a few minor details remain”. Koenigsegg and Norwegian investors turned in their letter of intent to take over Saab. Bloomberg News is reporting that Koenigsegg was picked because it’s an automaker [...]
10
Jun
Later this year, BMW will come out with a 2010 M version of the X5 and X6. The X6 M will have 555 hp, which is good for 0-62 mph in 4.7 seconds. It will also feature BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system with dynamic performance control. The xDrive also as a self-leveling suspension with adjustable dampers. [...]
8
Jun
Tata, the owner of Jaguar and Land Rover from India, is planning on bring over the world’s cheapest car to the U.S.A. in three years. Chairman Ratan Tata made this statement at a Cornell University forum last week and was confirmed by David Good, a U.S. representative for Tata.
Tata will not be the first Indian [...]
5
Jun
GM is selling the brands it can’t afford to keep afloat. Earlier this week, Hummer was sold to China’s Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery Company Ltd. Now it seems that Saturn is being sold to Penske Automotive Group. For those wondering what racing team owner Roger Penske is going to do with Saturn and what [...]
4
Jun
Oh how we can so easily forget! Just a year ago we were rapidly approaching $4.00 per gallon of gas at the pumps. May’s sales figure came in and I guess we forgot about the $4.00 gas. Here is the Top 20:
1. Ford F-Series
2. Chevrolet Silverado
3. Toyota Camry
4. Toyota Corolla
5. Honda Accord
6. Honda Civic
7. Ford Fusion
8. Chevrolet Impala
9. Nissan Altima
10. Ford Escape
11. Dodge Ram
12. Ford Focus
13. Honda CRV
14. Chevrolet [...]
2
Jun
Looks like we’re about to see the first car come from the Chrysler and Fiat alliance. They are saying in as little in eighteen months, look for the Fiat 500 in the showroom floor. Fiat says that the 500 is the only car which will come to America without any significant changes. Which I say [...]