An AMG-tuned S Class Coupe prototype (note that the CL moniker has been dropped) gets stuck in a drift while testing in the icy north. Auto Motor und Sport reports that it took the combined efforts of an ML prototype and an S Class prototype to pull the beast from its icy resting place. Sportisch!
VW and Audi combined for a hell of a month, with combined sales up 40 percent. The Beetle is back, kind of, but the Jettas still butter the bread at VWOA. At Audi, the A4/A5/Q5 combo combined for two thirds of the brand’s 6,510 January sales. Subaru‘s Impreza and Forester are a down a bit from their big 2009 numbers, but the new Legacy/Outback duo were up over 100 percent. Mercedes had a strong January across the board, with only the tired SLK, CLK, CL and CLS failing to grow sales. Also, 156 people bought an R-Class this month.
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LaHood may struggle with some of the technical details (like, you know, how to actually stop unintended acceleration), but he’s got the politics down pat. The gameplan in these kinds of situations is simple: scare the public, shame the automaker, and say lots of things that make it sound like you’re taking charge. Like threatening Toyota with the maximum allowable $16.4m in civil penalty fines [per the Detroit News], potentially shattering the previous recall fine record of $1m set by GM in 2004 for its handling of a windshield wiper recall. The fact that all this makes the government’s “investments” in the auto industry look a little better is just the gravy on top. [UPDATE: Reuters reports that LaHood meant to say that “owners concerned about unintended acceleration should instead seek out dealers for advice and necessary repairs.” You know, instead of implying that all Toyotas are fundamentally dangerous. “What I said in there was a misstatement,” confessed LaHood. [Hat Tip: commenter Fonzy]
Carscoop dug up these drawings from a Chrysler patent filing for the Dodge-branded version of the forthcoming 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Autoblog figures Dodge will drop the Durango name in favor of resurrecting the Magnum moniker, though given that model’s distinct lack of success, that would be a questionable strategy. On the other hand, the Durango name doesn’t have a lot of tread left on it either… but then what Chrysler Group nameplate does? [UPDATE: Grand Cherokee pricing/trim levels apparently leaked here, with prices reportedly ranging from $31,480 to $45,770 ]
Today’s review of the Fiat Bravo is more than just a unique look at a European-market vehicle that will never be sold in the United States: it’s an(other) early look at the future of Chrysler. Sergio Marchionne has called the C and D segments “critical” for US-market success, and the C-Evo platform that lies beneath the Fiat Bravo tested today, will form the basis for planned 2012 replacements to the Caliber and PT Cruiser and possibly the re-launched Sebring and Avenger (reportedly in stretched form). Indeed, the Lancia-trimmed version, known as the Delta, was shown at the Detroit Auto Show in Chrysler-brand drag, apparently to prove how easy these rebadges will be. As cynical as this might seem, Mr Bronfer’s relatively positive review leaves little doubt that Fiat’s got more to offer the C and D segments than the aging, neglected Mitsubishi platform that currently underpins Chrysler’s offerings in these classes. In that sense, this is some of the most positive news we’ve heard about Chrysler’s future in a while.
Hyundai sales kept on climbing in January, though Kia slowed to just 27 units over its January 2009 sales numbers. Combined, Automotive News [sub] reckons they grew 13 percent to 52,626 units. Hit the jump for numbers.
We overlooked a key point in our write-up on Tesla’s IPO plans: the profits Elon Musk has been touting are a mirage. As this balance sheet from Tesla’s IPO prospectus [read the whole thing at the SEC here, it’s a giggle] proves, Tesla might have fudged a one-month profit, but the company is hardly on a sustainable footing. Unless you consider seven million bucks in “gross profit” (including Zero Emissions Vehicle credits) enough to offset a nearly $29m operating loss, in which case, I’d like to talk to you about underwriting TTAC’s budget. This also puts into Tesla’s disclosure that it faces declining revenue into some scary perspective. Notch another one up for Farragoian skepticism…
Chrysler sales in January of 2009 were “Medusa class” ugly [down nearly 55 percent] in the always-apt words of one Robert Farago, which makes the Pentastar’s January 2010 sales [PDF release here] whatever 8 percent uglier than Medusa class is. The Chrysler brand was down 2 percent, with only the Sebring (+85%, 3,593) and Town & Country (+6%, 4,531) in the black. Jeep fell 8 percent despite growth in Compass (+52%, 1,244) and Grand Cherokee (+6%, 3,311) sales. Dodge was up one percent on strong growth from Avenger (+44%, 3,134), Journey (+55%, 4,790) and Caravan (+34%, 4,298), and the Ram brand fell 25 percent, with Ram pickup volume dropping below 10k units. Fugly? Heinous? Tragic? Pick the adjective you’re most comfortable with.
HUMMER is the big loser of GM’s dead brand version of “The Biggest Loser,” with an epic 2,493 vehicles left on lots after 9 months of “winding down” (not to mention the two plus years with a “for sale” sign stuck on the brand). As this table from GM’s January sales release shows, even Saab has trimmed more inventory since GM announced the cut to four brands last May. HUMMER did beat the Swedes in sales last year, barely, clocking 9,046 units to Saab’s 8,680. But Saab also sold more 9-7x Trollblazers (2,218) than HUMMER sold H2s (1,513). Figure that out. And people wonder why the Chinese government doesn’t want Sichuan Tengzhong to buy this hummer of a brand. [UPDATE: HUMMER’s Communication Director responds after the jump]
Corporate fleet sales were back with a vengeance last month, as GM admitted that these lower-profit fleet sales made up a full 29 percent of its total sales in January. Those total sales, including the winding-down Pontiac, Saturn, Saab and HUMMER brands were up only 13.6 percent. Core brand sales were up 30 percent in total, but again, most of those gains were in fleet sales, as core brand retail sales gained only 3 percent over GM’s moribund performance in January 2009. Zoinks! Full release in PDF format here, details after the jump.
Ford’s sales momentum continues unabated, as the Blue Oval has announced that its January sales were up 25 percent over January 2009 [full release in PDF format here]. Sales were led by a a strong performance from Ford-branded cars, which were up 54 percent as a category, with individual nameplates logging gains ranging from 33 percent (Focus, 10,389 units) to 121 percent (Taurus, 3,768 units). Ford Crossovers and SUVs were up 16.7 and 12.9 percent respectively, with most of the volume gains coming from CUVs like the Escape (+28.6%, 10,753) and Edge (+25.5%, 6,243 units). Ford truck sales were up 14.5 percent, with heavy commercial vehicles falling and the Ranger recording a strong 47.3 percent gain to 4,143 units.
This spy shot was sent in to us by an anonymous tipster, who caught what appears to be an extended-wheelbase Ford Fusion Hybrid. But it’s not just stretched: those wheel arches are definitely not stock Fusion kit, which suggests that the Fusion Hybrid body might just be a mule body concealing an unrelated chassis under development. Can you spot any other clues that might hint at what we’re looking at? Got a guess? Let us know in the comments. [Thanks to you know who you are!]
Toyota Sienna boy band, Boyota from Jennifer Vuong on Vimeo.
Standard & Poors Equity Research [via BNET] says you shouldn’t dump that Toyota stock just yet.
Will the aggressive action of cutting production and recalling so many vehicles scare away potential Toyota buyers, or will consumers think the abundantly cautious response shows a commitment to customer care and quality? We think it is too early to tell, but we believe resilience and global growth of vehicle demand will help TM (Toyota Motors)
You know, until mechanics actually start finding malignant hellspawn demons within Toyota electronic throttle control units. In which case you should invest heavily in law firms. Meanwhile, Toyota is apparently hiring shamans to cleanse their new product of metaphysical infestation by way of bizarre voodoo ceremonies like the one shown above [Hat Tip: Vanity Fair Gay Cars blog].
Spyker has set the goal of turning a profit with its newly-purchased Saab division by 2012, reports Automotive News [sub]. That effort will be led by a total of three Saab products: the existing 9-3 (with a new version rumored for 2011), the forthcoming 9-5 sedan and, later next year, the GM-built Saab 9-4X Crossover. Other models, including a 9-1 compact are being hinted at, but Spyker acknowledges that such a product would require about a billion dollars more than Saab-Spyker currently has access to. Meanwhile, those three vehicles will have to generate 100k-125k annual sales in order to keep the business plan rolling along. Saab-Spyker honcho Victor Muller has an almost shockingly confident take on this possibility, telling Reuters:
It’s all about the restoration of the confidence in the company. Customers have been very reluctant to buy because of the uncertainty surrounding the brand… Saab has to do nothing but regain its existing and old customers because that in itself would be in enough to create a very strong business model..
Saab sold a total of 8,680 vehicles in the US over the course of 2009. Globally, the firm sold 39,903 units last year, down from 94,751 in 2008. Perhaps the challenge is a bit more difficult than Muller lets on.
What can I say, I’m a child. Then again, this 100hp, Renault Twingo-based Wind coupe-convertible is one silly toy. With an 11-second 0-60 time from its 1.2 liter engine, there’s some question of whether the Wind could even outrun a fart. But hey, at least you’ll look cool trying, in an adorable, non-threatening, French kind of way.
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