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Report: Auto workers planning protest on eve of Detroit Auto Show

Filed under: Detroit Auto Show, Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Chrysler, GM, UAW/Unions

Members of the United Auto Workers will once again protest the Detroit Auto Show this year. According to TheDetroitBureau.com, members of the union are upset about some of the concessions that the organization made when General Motors and Chrysler underwent bankruptcy. Now workers want those concessions back, even while both automakers struggle to protect profits and pay off sizable government loans. This comes as UAW President Bob King struggles to paint his union as a kinder, gentler labor organization. King has also made it clear that he wants the UAW to be part of the picture at manufacturing facilities owned by European and Asian automakers here in the states.

As part of that effort, King has called off protests at Toyota dealerships for their part in the closing of the NUMMI facility. Still, it seems that King is paying attention to the unrest in his organization. The UAW president is expected to ask for a larger share of the domestic automakers’ profits later in 2011 in a bid to appease his critics within the union.

[Source: TheDetroitBureau.com]

Report: Auto workers planning protest on eve of Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 17:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Dodge planning Super Bowl commercial, major ad blitz

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Dodge

2011 Dodge Magnum

2011 Dodge Durango – Click above for high-res image gallery

After years of nearly zero new products, Dodge dealers finally have something to crow about. The 2011 Dodge Journey, Charger, Durango, Avenger and Caravan are all hitting showrooms within a month or two of one another, giving dealers new products just as the auto industry is showing signs of recovery. But how does Dodge get the message across?

Automotive News reports that the marque is prepping a major ad push during the first quarter of 2011, including a return to the Super Bowl. Dodge brand CEO Ralph Gilles reportedly notified dealers that the automaker plans to flood tier one with promotions, with heavy local ads dependent upon sales volume. Gilles is telling dealers about the company’s marketing plans in part because he hopes dealers will order more vehicles. The CEO points out that early Durango and Charger orders are very strong, but other new products are lagging behind.

A flood of ads is just part of Dodge’s plan to increase showroom traffic. The automaker is also working with Automotive Lease Guide to help maximize residual values. Higher residuals means more affordable lease prices and an improved brand reputation, but Dodge will need to resist the urge to dump its new products into fleets for the plan to work. Dodge is currently leasing only five percent of its vehicles; well below the industry average.

Gallery: 2011 Dodge Durango

2011 Dodge Durango

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Report: Dodge planning Super Bowl commercial, major ad blitz originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Dec 2010 18:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce reportedly planning to expand Ghost family with coupe, cabrio, LWB sedan

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Sedan, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

Rolls-Royce Ghost – Click above for high-res image gallery

The new Ghost has been a runaway success for Rolls-Royce, the (relatively) more accessible saloon more than doubling its sales figures and outselling the larger Phantom by order of magnitude. And as might be expected, the BMW subsidiary has every intention of cashing in its success with a family of new models.

Much as it has with the Phantom, Rolls-Royce is reportedly planning on spinning the Ghost sedan into a full range, including a long-wheelbase version, a coupe and convertible. The stretched limousine is expected to come first, with about half a foot of extra length added between the B and C pillars for more rear-seat space. The coupe and convertible versions are expected to follow.

Reports also indicate that Rolls-Royce is planning a green push by implementing more environmentally-friendly drivetrain options, although it has not yet decided exactly what form they’ll take. With sister-brands BMW and Mini taking the pressure of carbon emissions regulations off its back, the Spirit of Ecstasy is more concerned with pinpointing just what its customers want, and delivering it in a finely-crafted, leather-lined burlwood box.

Gallery: First Drive: 2010 Rolls-Royce Ghost

Photos by Rex Roy / Copyright (C)2010 AOL
[Source: Inside Line]

Rolls-Royce reportedly planning to expand Ghost family with coupe, cabrio, LWB sedan originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 19:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW planning rear-wheel drive 2 Series?

Filed under: Hatchback, BMW, Rumormill

BMW M2 Rendering Consider our fingers crossed. With all of the talk of front-wheel-drive BMW models coming down the pike, we simply assumed that the future of small German hatchbacks with roundels on the hood would be littered with soulless heaps. According to the sleuths over at Car and Driver, however, that’s not the case. After discovering that BMW had filed for U.S. patents for the names 228, 230 and 235, someone at BMW let it slip that the new 2 Series would, in fact, send its power to the aft. But hold onto your teacups, kids, it gets better.

BMW has also filed for a patent for the M2 moniker.

Now, we know as well as anyone that a patent doth not a production vehicle make, but it’s still exciting to know that BMW isn’t walking away from the notion of a smallish, fun-to-drive model anytime soon. Supposedly the company is planning a rash of models positioned below the current 1 Series to help decrease its corporate average fuel economy, but the news of a rear-wheel drive model with an M badge on the back goes a long way toward salving any ails inflicted by the thought of a front-wheel-drive Bimmer.

[Source: Car and Driver]

BMW planning rear-wheel drive 2 Series? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lexus still mulling LF-A Roadster, planning seven-seat CUV?

Filed under: Convertible, Coupe, Crossover, Lexus, Rumormill, Luxury

Lexus LF-A Roadster - red

Lexus LFA Roadster concept – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to a new report from AutoWeek, Lexus has a whole slew of tricks up its sleeves that it hopes will help right the ship and keep the automaker atop the luxury car sales sweepstakes, a position that’s currently in jeopardy due to a rising tide of threats from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

Starting at the tippy-top of the lineup, it seems that Lexus may halt production of the show-stopping LFA coupe after just 500 units have been delivered. If you happen to be one of the lucky ones who can afford its outrageous sticker price, though, perhaps you shouldn’t fret too much – AW says a production version of the LFA Roadster concept is once again in the cards. According to the story, the 2008 Detroit Auto Show star will likely even be built in larger numbers than its hard-hatted predecessor, though it could take a year or so for it to show up.

Also on the potential possibilities list is a so-called Lexus VX, which would supposedly be a step up from the Japanese brand’s all-conquering RX crossover. The car-based VX would feature seven seats and offer more interior room and strive to offer better driving dynamics. Interestingly, the marque is also said to be studying a rival for BMW’s X6.

Of course, we know that the CT200h hybrid hatchback is right around the corner, but Lexus is also reportedly planning a bevy of updates across its entire model range to bring some freshness into its showrooms. Want to know more? Feel free to hit up the source link below for all the gossip.

Gallery: Lexus LF-A Roadster

[Source: AutoWeek]

Lexus still mulling LF-A Roadster, planning seven-seat CUV? originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 27 Sep 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ben “The Stig” Collins planning Top Gear rival?

Remember when any hint of the identity of the vaunted Stig was news? Even after Ben Collins outed himself as the mysterious super driver it took a few days before we truly believed that the biggest secret in British television had been spoiled. Judging by recent comments made by Jeremy Clarkson, we’re starting to think there’s little chance we’ll ever see the Stig again on Top Gear, but that doesn’t mean Collins is out of television for good.

The UK’s Telegraph reports that the former driver-in-white is fielding several offers to host his own show in the near future. Of course, Collins isn’t quite ready to spill details about his future plans, but he reportedly did mention that he wants to have a show with riskier stunts than what we’re used to seeing on Top Gear. In fact, Collins even managed to take a completely unveiled shot at Jezza by saying that the main man at TG “doesn’t have that kind of respect for people behind the scenes.

Until a show officially materializes, Collins plans to cash in on his book about the show, followed perhaps by a bit of fiction writing. Meanwhile, Top Gear will likely be hard at work finding the next Stig, though we’re guessing the show’s producers won’t bite on Collins’ idea to do a “Who wants to be The Stig” reality show, if only because the former Stig thought of it.

[Source: Telegraph]

Ben “The Stig” Collins planning Top Gear rival? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Sep 2010 12:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Audi planning A3 sedan for U.S. market

Filed under: Sedan, Audi, Rumormill

Audi A3 TDI

2010 Audi A3 TDI – Click above for high-res image gallery

Ever so slowly, the United States is getting over its prejudice against hatchbacks. The subcompact segment is booming more than ever and the vast majority of vehicles in this range have a five-door configuration. Take the new Ford Fiesta, for example – the hatch is easily outselling the sedan. This may be well and good for cars living in the sub-$25,000 segment, but Americans still haven’t quite grasped the idea of a premium hatchback like the Audi A3.

To try and boost sales, Audi is reportedly working on an A3 sedan for the U.S. market, which would give the automaker another vehicle to offer below the larger A4. No details have been released about the upcoming four-door A3, but we can see how this move makes sense for Audi considering how much the A4 has grown in size over the years.

If Audi is indeed working on an A3 sedan, it will be one of a kind amongst its competitors. The BMW 1 Series is only available as a coupe and convertible in the U.S., and Mercedes-Benz doesn’t have any small offerings, though the next-generation B-Class hatch is being considered for U.S. consumption. Assuming all goes well, expect to see the A3 sedan sometime around 2013.

Gallery: Review: 2010 Audi A3 TDI

[Source: Financial Times (translated)]

Report: Audi planning A3 sedan for U.S. market originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Aug 2010 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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French electric golf cart company planning $9.5M Aston Martin supercar

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Luxury

Aston Martin Super Sport by Star Electric Cars France – Click above for high-res image gallery

Yes, the past couple of months have been a little heavy on the supercar-dreamed-up-by-inside-dude’s-keister news, but this one is simply too compelling to pass up. A company called Star Electric Cars France is the European subsidiary of Star Electric Cars U.S. They make golf carts that look like Hummers and Rolls-Royces and the like, and the French firm also sells electric bikes and skateboards and a fascinating contraption called the Snow Rider.

The company also claims to “design unique cars built for presidents, kings and princes around the world,” and this would have to be one of them. Called the Aston Martin Super Sport, it’s a coachbuilt, mid-engined Aston powered by a 5.4-liter, twin-turbo V8 putting out up to 950 horsepower. The bespoke bodywork is carbon fiber and sports scissor doors, an alcantara-coated interior and Recaro buckets. Naturally, production is… up in the air.

The price of this imaginary slice of supercar pie, €7.5 million ($9.53M U.S.) – a sum so impossible to comprehend it deserves its own episode of Lost. According to the car’s developers, though, only eight will be made, with each color being unique. Word is that “sky blue is available immediately.” Of course it is… Hat tip to Bawlz

Gallery: Aston Martin Super Sport by Star Electric Cars France

[Source: GT Spirit via Top Gear]

French electric golf cart company planning $9.5M Aston Martin supercar originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 23 Aug 2010 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Mercedes planning C63 AMG Coupe

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Rumormill

It’s been confirmed for some time that Mercedes-Benz is developing a new two-door coupe version of its C-Class to replace the current hatchback CLC model. With that in mind, it should come as no surprise that Autocar is reporting that Mercedes-Benz is also working on an AMG variant of the coupe to go up against the Audi RS5, BMW M3 and Cadillac CTS-V.

The British magazine is reporting that the coupe will use the same AMG 6.2-liter normally aspirated V8 as one of our favorite Benz sedans, the C63 AMG. However, if this car is to debut later in 2011 as projected, it would seem logical that Mercedes might switch to the new twin-turbo 5.5-liter V8 that’s going into the 2011 CL63.

The turbo V8 could the output from the current 451 horsepower to somewhere closer to 500 hp. Autocar also speculates that a C63 Black Series coupe could be a followup to an upcoming SLS Black Series.

[Source: Autocar]

Rumormill: Mercedes planning C63 AMG Coupe originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Prince Charles planning eco-friendly motor show in London?

Filed under: Hybrid, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, Electric

Prince Charles drives a Saab 9-3 BioPower

While fire-breathing performance cars and hot rods are car-show fixtures, there aren’t many environmentally-friendly car shows out there, so Prince Charles is having one in his front yard. The Prince of Wales will open his gardens at Clarence House to the public from September 8-19 (neighboring gardens at Lancaster House and Marlborough House will also open their respective gardens) for what’s being dubbed “The Garden Party to Make a Difference.” Proceeds from the event will support the Prince’s Charities Foundation, whose aim is to help people “lead more sustainable lives and to show what a more energy efficient, cleaner and healthier future could look like.”

The garden party will feature a number of eco-friendly vehicles, music, comedy acts and a race from Glasgow to London pitting the sustainable stallions against the Prince’s royal train, which runs on waste vegetable oil. Entry to the gardens costs £15 (about $23 USD), but the display of green cars is free. Is a green car show worth a trip across The Pond? We’re thinking no – unless of course we can burn some rubber racing Charles’ choo-choo – all in the name of environmental responsibility.

[Source: Auto Express | Image: Saab]

Prince Charles planning eco-friendly motor show in London? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 25 Jul 2010 15:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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