Of course, that’s a bit blunt for corporate types. Ford design chief J Mays gives us the Ford-approved terminology for the automaker’s decision to forgo rear wheel-drive (RWD) for its passenger vehicles: “It’s out of the cycle plan,” J tells Automotive News [AN, sub]. “We’ve got other priorities at the moment. We’re going down a path right now that is all about fuel efficiency, and we’ve got a lot to do about that. So we’re not talking about rear-wheel drive.” AN provides the potted history of the layout’s extinction. “A year ago, Ford CEO Alan Mulally and product chief Derrick Kuzak confirmed that the new Ford and Lincoln rwd sedans would be coming. By midyear, Kuzak said Ford was rethinking the program but hadn’t discontinued it. Analysts had expected U.S. sales of the rwd cars to begin with the 2013 model year. The platform was to be shared with a large car developed for Australia.” And now, nothing. TTAC’s Best and Brightest will debate the wisdom of abandoning RWD. Suffice it to say, Lincoln. Oh, and the Hyundai Genesis.
Category: News Blog
Not only does Richard Colliver admit that ’07’s sales were a bubble– a bubble that has permanently popped– but the executive vice president of Honda America says the bailout billions thrown at banks, aspiring banks and automakers hasn’t had any impact on the credit availability underpinning the U.S. new car market. Colliver also told Reuters that HoMoCo’s given up forecasting ’09 sales. “We’re not even forecasting because whatever we forecast, we would be wrong. If you look at the last 120 days, if that trend continues then we’re looking at a significant reduction (from 2008).” So Honda’s battening down the hatches, cutting inventory to 65 to 70 days of supply in the next three months (from the current 100 days). At the same time, Honda’s planning on boosting its leasing penetration from 23 percent to 27 percent of total U.S. sales. As for the impact of Motown’s meltdown on Honda…
Fans of English royalty will both recognize the seminal moment in the courtship of Prince Charles and Lady Diana. During an official interview with David “I’m not a Dickens character either” Dimbleby, the obsequious reporter dared ask Charlie Boy and Lady Di if they were in lerve. “Of course,” the future Mrs. Windsor replied. To which Charlie famously added “Whatever love is.” The story reminds me of today’s pronouncement by Ford scion, ex-Ford CEO, current Ford Chairman of the Board Bill Ford when asked if FoMoCo will join GM and Chrysler by lining-up for a mega-suckle on Uncle Sugar’s tit. “Only if the world implodes as we know it.” Whatever “implodes” means. Maybe we should ask Barney Frank.
I’m sorry. I couldn’t resist. But c’mon; who came up with the idea of naming the “100 lucky people get to drive the Mexican-built U.S. market Fiesta before regular folks just like the MINI EV except perhaps not quite as exciting for the press or anyone else for that matter” website fiestamovement.com? Did one of the other Farley brothers take over for Jim down at The Blue Oval? Apparently not: “Getting serious about the small-car business is a big change for Ford,” Jimbo told Automotive News [sub.] Anyway, do YOU have what it takes to drive a stylish econobox free for six months? In other words, can you make a two to five-minute video that Ford can use for its nationwide campaign, saving themselves a million in advertising agency fees? [come on after the jump] Here’s something odd: Jim Farley says annual American sales for the Fiesta– on sale next year— could range from 30k to 70k units, depending on gas prices. Correct me if I’m wrong, but that’s nowhere near enough throughput to get Ford out of trouble.
The Detroit News [scroll down] is blogging the heck out of the don’t call it The Detroit Auto Show. As always (we can only hope), GM Car Czar Bob Lutz provides the requisite non sequiturs. The DetN’s Snell asked Maximum Bob about the prospect of another, more alpha (in the HUMMER sense) Car Czar, soon to be assigned by Congress to keep watch on the $13.4b of taxpayer money loaned to MB’s employer. Like the idea? He loves it! “We’ve never had a go-to person in Washington to pour out our hearts to,” Lutz said. “To have a person, a presidential appointee, intimately involved in the industry to review plans and have a dialogue with, I think is a very beneficial institution. I almost wish we had this before.” Almost, but not quite? But don’t worry, Maximum Bob reckons GM will “meet the requirements we signed up for” with the help of the new Cadillac SRX, Chevrolet Equinox and yes, Buick LaCrosse. Of course, that’s not the whole plan. “GM is betting gas prices will rise once the economy recovers and pent-up demand for new vehicles in unleashed. ‘That’s what we’re counting on,’ Lutz said.”
The New York Times reports that 600 GM employees “accepted a company invitation to demonstrate as reporters walked to a G.M. press conference Sunday morning.”
“The Honda engineering team wanted something different from the Insight. They wanted a hybrid that was appealing to drive. Fortunately they already had a small car that met that criteria: the Fit. So, naturally, the important dynamic bits of the Fit form the basis of the Insight. The entire front structure of the Insight is in fact common to the Fit. Compared to the Fit, the rear axle has been moved back two inches and the roof has dropped 3.8 inches. Inside, the roof sits two inches closer to the front seat and three inches closer to the rear. That means that occupants in the Insight sit lower to the ground and have a cozier feeling than in the Fit, but the new Insight actually ends up feeling sportier than either the Fit or Prius.” Oh, and ABG achieved a claimed 63.4 mpg.
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