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1954 Buick Skylark. More Beautiful Than a 48 Roadmaster?
in Classical Drives, on July 10, 2009
A few days ago I posted a blog about the styling of the post-war Buick Roadmaster (although a convertible was shown, it's the fastback that really turns my crank). It was, and still is, one of my favorites. However my good friend and former test drive buddy Colin Hefferon checked me up on t...
Daimler SP250 Celebrates 50th Anniversary, Sidney Gets a Treat
in Classical Drives, on July 3, 2009
Walking down Sidney BC's main street recently on a fine sunny day, I spotted a Daimler SP250, known as a "Daimler Dart" until Chrysler threatened legal action. Although SP250s are scarce I remember them primarily because a fellow sports car club member raced one in the same Ontario ...
GM Stands For... General Mess. But PT Cruiser Cruises On
in carzz.org, on July 1, 2009
Oh, what a mess! General Motors could face liquidation on July 10 unless a federal bankruptcy judge approves the sale of the automaker's best assets to a new company. Now the German Opel deal is doubtful as well. According to the Detroit News , German Economy Minister Karl-Theodor zu Gutte...
MGB-GT, Yours for Just $20 in Museum Charity Raffle
in Classical Drives, on June 12, 2009
It isn't often that I participate in so-called "lucky draws," especially those where the first prize is a brand-new million dollar+ home. What would I, a bachelor of considerable years, do in an 8-room house, anyway? I could barely afford the taxes let alone the services of a cleani...
The Man Who Might Have Saved General Motors
in carzz.org, on June 10, 2009
On April 1, 2009, Bob Lutz, GM's vice-president of global product development, stepped down from his esteemed position. This move may have been unexpected but I think I know why he did it. First, for those of you unfamiliar with a man whom we automobile journalists affectionately dubbed "...
Will the Volt save GM?
in Sox First, on June 10, 2009
With Toyota unveiling its third generation Prius, it's time to ask whether GM's Volt will be able to match the competition. Or for that matter, save GM. We read in the report here that the car comes with a new four cylinder engine with more horsepower and special braking, which recap...
What next for GM?
in Sox First, on June 4, 2009
The big question now is how General Motors will emerge out of this bankruptcy? And what lies ahead for what was once the world's biggest car manufacturer? As Dennis Berman at The Wall Street Journal points out, the $65 billion in taxpayers' money is all part of the subterfuge. Instead...
Is manufacturing dead?
in Sox First, on June 3, 2009
Much has been written about the decline of manufacturing and the demise of General Motors highlights the problem. Which makes the observations in Robert Reich's blog on the future of manufacturing. Reich argues that the bailout of GM is just buying time. It won't create jobs and it wo...
The Chevy Spark, a Face Not Even a Mother Could Love
in carzz.org, on June 3, 2009
When the price of gasoline again rises to $3.00-$4.00 per gallon, and believe me it will, the American public will turn to small cars at a rate that no one dared predict. GM ( the "new" GM ) wants to be ready for this revolution. It has two contenders waiting in the wings. The 2011 Chev...
GM's bad ad
in Sox First, on June 2, 2009
It's hard to go past the chutzpah of General Motors' latest ad, posted on YouTube and Facebook, shortly after it filed for bankruptcy. You can watch it courtesy of AdvertisingAge . With images of wind turbines, public transport and butterflies, GM proclaims it is a new beginning. "...
What the GM bankruptcy means
in Sox First, on June 1, 2009
With General Motors filing for bankruptcy , the biggest manufacturer do so with its debts more than double its assets, the question needs to be asked about what this means for the auto industry, both in the US and globally. This is the world's biggest industrial bankruptcy. It's the wo...
Daimler steigt bei Tesla Motors ein
in Das AutoWeblog, on May 19, 2009
Wie ich schon so oft vermutet habe, setzen die Automobilkonzerne mittelfristig auf Elektroantrieb. Der nächste Schachzug in der Automobilindustrie ist der heute bekannt gegebene Einstieg von Daimler beim US-amerikanischen Elektroautohersteller Tesla Motors.
Aktuell sorgt Tesla Motors mit bereit...
Daewoo: GM's Secret Weapon?
in carzz.org, on May 13, 2009
With Chrysler bankrupt, GM nearly so, and several other manufacturers in trouble, rumours are flying about mergers and buyouts. Pundits who long ago claimed that the auto industry would some day be reduced to a few combines are being congratulated as visionaries. But where will the familiar marqu...
Opel im Aufwind
in Das AutoWeblog, on May 9, 2009
... wochenlangen Hin- und Her und Medienrummel um die Abspaltung vom insolventen Mutterkonzern General Motors, schöpft man bei opel scheinbar neue Hoffnung und besinnt sich auf die eigenen Stärken. D...
GM Drops Pontiac, Journalists Miss the Point
in carzz.org, on April 29, 2009
By now the entire world, or least the world that actually cares, will be aware that General Motors will soon close the lid on its long-time Pontiac marque . Note that I said "marque" not "brand," the latter being a marketing maven's method of reducing a great product to j...
Driving With the World's First Computer-based Rally Navigator
in Classical Drives, on April 20, 2009
I was with one of the original computer nerds, though I doubt he knew what that meant and I certainly didn't. It was the 1960s and we were competing in the Canadian International Winter Rally in a factory-backed Volkswagen Beetle; me as driver, my friend as navigator. In those years the Win...
Early Japanese Car Models Arrive in New York
in Classical Drives, on April 13, 2009
...often sport a combination of battery-powered lights, electric (as opposed to friction or clockwork) motors, remote controls, chrome trim, and retractable parts. Many of the featured tin toys retain th...
Paris Fashion Design Gives Way to the Car People
in carzz.org, on April 8, 2009
... the company as vice-president for design. Franz von Holzhausen, formerly of Volkswagen and General Motors, left Mazda to join Tesla, the start-up electric car company in Silicon Valley. Mazda followe...
Wie geht es weiter in Detroit?
in Das AutoWeblog, on April 1, 2009
Es geht mittlerweile um 21,6 Milliarden US-Dollar mehr wie ursprünglich veranschlagt...US-Präsident Barack Obama hat nun bekanntlich die Vertreter von General Motors und Chrysler abgewiesen damit sie nun erneut bessere Pläne für die langfristige Überlebensfähigkeit ihrer Automobilkonzerne entwic...
Rest in peace, GM
in Sox First, on April 1, 2009
And so General Motors will be eased into bankruptcy. The New York Times reports it will be a controlled bankruptcy, essentially splitting the company in two much like the "good" and "bad" bank model. That will see good assets like Chevrolet and Cadillac being sold to a new...
Car chiefs in the gun
in Sox First, on March 30, 2009
Who would want to be a car chief today? It's become one of the world's worst jobs. Two have been sacked and there's more to come. First we have the Obama administration forcing General Motors chief executive Rick Wagoner to rack off. In his statement , Wagoner made it clear that ...
Just in Time for the Recession: The $2000 Car
in carzz.org, on March 25, 2009
All those who thought the Nano would be a "no no" had better say "yes yes." India's Tata Motors has finally launched what the manufacturer calls "the world's cheapest car." It sells for Rs. 1 lakh (about $2,000 U.S.) plus shipping, taxes, and registration f...
GM Vize Bob Lutz: Die Krise hat niemand kommen sehen
in Das AutoWeblog, on March 18, 2009
Er hätte sich sicher einen wirtschaftlich besseren Zeitpunkt für seinen Ausstieg bei GM gewünscht: Vizepräsident Bob Lutz verkündete mit 76 Jahren seinen Ruhestand und damit den Ausstieg aus dem Automobil Business.
Wer es noch nicht wusste: Bob Lutz ist ein passionierter Blogger und schrieb regelmä...
Rückruf: Über 6000 Lexus müssen in die Werkstatt
in Das AutoWeblog, on March 17, 2009
Wie dasautoblog.com berichtet , müssen in Deutschland 6.167 und weltweit insgesamt 52.204 Fahrzeuge der Luxusmarke von Toyota überprüft werden. Bei den Modellen IS 220d (Bauzeitraum 14. November 2005 bis 8. September 2006) , IS 250 (30. August 2005 bis 25. September 2006) , GS 300 (21. Dezember 200...
GM - too big to fail?
in Sox First, on March 7, 2009
Fascinating to read the corporate speak in GM's FastLane blog which, as you would expect, plays down any prospect of the company going bust. The company's Vice President, Global Communications Steve Harris says GM explored various bankruptcy options because it was asked but that it ha...
Introducing The New Fiat C500. The Only Thing Better Than a Fiat 500
in carzz.org, on March 4, 2009
...owning one are soon to be realized, although Chrysler is again hinting of amalgamation with General Motors, which would put paid to the Fiat deal if it happened. (Fortunately GM has no interest in suc...
Auto catastrophe
in Sox First, on February 27, 2009
When are they going to take this company off life support? General Motors has lost billions more than we expected with its latest result . The question is whether the funds from the US Government keeping the company going is throwing good money after bad. There is a structural shift going on i...
Pontiac, Great Indian and GM Chief, Soon to be Buried
in carzz.org, on February 18, 2009
...tinguished models since your 20s inception as a replacement for the Oakland. Unfortunately, General Motors, as part of its restructuring plan, sees fit to drop you and focus on its core brands, meanin...
Will GM and Chrysler go bust?
in Sox First, on February 10, 2009
Irony of ironies. Will the bailout of US automakers lead to them going out of business? Will it send GM and Chryler bankrupt? That's the question now being raised. As Forbes points out, the companies have a week to submit new restructuring plans to the US government under terms of their $...
Startling predictions for 2009
in Sox First, on February 7, 2009
...so be an unstoppable chain of bankruptcies and the list of potential failures include Ford, General Motors, Jet Blue, Air Tran, US Airways, and Air Canada and retailers including Claire 's, Loe...
US auto sales continue to shrink
in Sox First, on February 4, 2009
US automakers are in serious trouble with the Financial Times reporting that China has overtaken the US in car sales. According to the FT, annualised US car sales slipped below 10 million last month despite the big discounts and deals they were offering while China's car sales crept up...
Toyota ist nun der weltgrößte Autobauer
in Neueste Nachrichten der simplenewz Redaktion, on January 21, 2009
Nach 77 Jahren hat Toyota General Motors Corp (GM) als weltgrößter Autobauer abgelöst. Der Absatz von GM ist gefallen, somit übernimmt Toyota und darf sich ab sofort "Marktführer" nennen.
· Ganzen Artikel bei FAZ.net lesen
Tesla Roadster Sport - von 0 auf 100 km/h in 3,7 sec
in Das AutoWeblog, on January 19, 2009
Mit dem Tesla Roadster und seinen 205 PS ist man eigentlich schon sportlich genug unterwegs. Jedoch soll von Tesla jetzt noch ein noch schnellerer Sportler folgen. Bereits im Sommer soll der Roadster Sport folgen, der den Spurt von 0 auf 100 km/h in 3,7 Sekunden schafft. Damit die Lithium-Ionen-...
General Motors To Begin Leasing Vehicles Again
in Exclusive from our news room , on January 12, 2009
Now that former automotive giant General Motors has received government aid top management must decide what course to take with their new business plans.
Leasing, which used to account for nearly 25% of GM's business, was discontinued due to excessive loses, but GM executives expect to start of...
Arizona. More Than Just Collector Car Auctions
in Classical Drives, on January 7, 2009
Arizona, you're beautiful. We first met when a girlfriend and her mother were spending a few days at Scottsdale's Inn at McCormick Ranch and I was invited to join them. We took a Jeep tour into the desert, watched the sun rise over the Grand Canyon, visited the Frank Lloyd Wright school...
Toyota and Honda revising JIT methods to avoid future crisis problems
in Supplychainer, on January 1, 2009
Toyota and Honda considering modifying supply chain to avoid supplier bankruptcies.
According to Left Lane News , Toyota and Honda say that they are considering modifying their "just in time" supply chain methods in order to avoid any production delays that might be caused by suppli...
Are we all Keynesians now?
in Sox First, on December 30, 2008
...announcing it would pump $6 billion into GMAC Financial Services, including $1 billion for General Motors, with the Troubled Relief Assets Program (TARP) turning into a giant slush fund and with the ...
Why Selling-Off Automobile Marques is a Bad Idea
in Classical Drives, on December 29, 2008
The worldwide recession is, as everyone knows, leading to talk of auto manufacturer buyouts: GM buys Chrysler , Renault buys Chrysler, the Chinese buy GM, etc. You'd better hope it never happens as history shows us that when car company A takes over car company B the results are usually ...
17,4 Milliarden Dollar für US-Autokonzerne
in Neueste Nachrichten der simplenewz Redaktion, on December 20, 2008
...für die angeschlagenen US-Autokonzerne, hofft der scheidende Präsident George W. Bush General Motors, Chrysler und Ford über die Krise hinweg zu helfen.
· Ganzen Artikel im Tagesspiegel lesen ...
China's BYD Auto Puts a Plug-in Hybrid on the Market There
in IfEnergy, on December 20, 2008
While automakers in the US and Japan worry about how to cope with the global recession, one China car maker has made the great leap forward into the world of plug-in hybrids.
According to Business Week , BYD Auto (a SHENZHEN -based company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange ) "got a ...
Chrysler stoppt Produktion
in Das AutoWeblog, on December 19, 2008
Bei chrysler wird die Produktion gestoppt. Der US-Autobauer hat mit der Kreditklemme und einem schweren Absatzeinbruch zu kämpfen. Deswegen stehen nun für 30 Tage die Bänder still.
Ab heute wird für mindestens einen Monat kein Fahrzeug mehr produziert , dass teilte das Unternehmen Mitarbeitern...
Volvo S60 Concept
in Das AutoWeblog, on December 17, 2008
Die Krise des Mutterkonzerns Ford macht sich auch bei volvo bemerkbar. Deshalb hat die schwedische Regierung dem Unternehmen finanzielle Unterstützung zugesagt. Allerdings blikt man bei Volvo optimistisch in die Zukunft.
Neue Modelle wie die S60 Mittelklasse-Limousine soll das Überleben d...
Close to 1 million bankruptcies in the US, and climbing
in Sox First, on December 14, 2008
More signs of the US economy on the skids with the latest data showing that bankruptcy filings are climbing and are likely to reach one million by the end of December. According to the figures, more than 5000 businesses went bust each day in November. The November daily filing rate of 5,075 i...
China: from inflation to deflation
in Sox First, on December 11, 2008
Worrying figures with China's annual inflation rate falling to 2.4% in November. It's the lowest rate of increase in almost two years. In the year to February 2008, it was 8.7% which means basically that China has shifted from inflation to deflation in less than a year. With commodity...
Tiger, Save Us!
in Eagle Par Birdie, on December 8, 2008
Tiger Woods is still rehabbing his bad knee and generally taking it easy. But he is still the world's top drawing card when it comes to the game of golf.
Australian tour pro, Geoff Ogilvy, is pushing Australian golf officials to lure Tiger back to Australia for the Australian Open and Au...
Another KBR scandal
in Sox First, on December 5, 2008
The KBR scandals just don't stop. One year after the company was implicated in the rape of KBR employee employee Jamie Leigh Jones , it's been hit with a new lawsuit from another former employee. This one accuses KBR, among other things, of serving US soldiers with ice that still had ...
Behind the $1 salary
in Sox First, on December 4, 2008
Chastened by the public uproar, the chief executives of the Big Three automakers have pledged to earn $1 A year in salary to keep their companies in business. It's a good symbol designed to generate maximum publicity, but it's just that. In real life, it's not that big a sacrific...
GM Chairman Leaves Jet in Detroit, Returns to Washington at the Wheel of a Car
in Classical Drives, on December 3, 2008
So The Three Amigos had their egos slapped in Washington for arriving at the moneyfest in their corporate jets? Like other critics I railed at this flagrant abuse of funds while secretly envying them the opportunity. That's because I love airplanes and living next to an international airp...
Auditors slam bailout
in Sox First, on December 3, 2008
The Government Accountability Office has raised questions about the transparency of the US Government's $700 billion rescue package for profligate banks. In its report , the GAO says nobody really seems to be tracking how the money is being spent. "The banking regulators indicated t...
Meet "The Car Detectives"
in Classical Drives, on December 1, 2008
After becoming aware that countless people are seeking to be reunited with a car they once possessed, I think there's a possibility for a TV series with the above title. Every 13 weeks a former owner with a fascinating tale to tell would be the focus of a world-wide hunt culminating usually, ...
China Investment Corp Buys General Motors (Maybe)
in China Venture News, on December 1, 2008
All the way back in July, Richard Brubaker over at All Roads Lead to China suggested that General Motors could become a chinese -owned company. ...with firms like Anhui Cherry already showing at the Detroit Auto Show, and China's obvious desire to be a global player in the auto market, I am...
Shopping malls crunched
in Sox First, on November 28, 2008
US retailers might be keeping their fingers today for Black Friday, traditionally the big shopping day of the year where people queue up for gift items and there are plenty of door-buster discounts. But concerns, reported here , are running high that it's going to be very bad this year. Wit...
Auditors can't beat fraud
in Sox First, on November 25, 2008
Some 12 months ago, I did a blog entry suggesting that it might be easy to pull the wool over auditors' eyes when it comes to fraud.
Now a piece in CIO Today, Investigations or Audits: Fraud vs. Innocent Mistakes reaffirms that. As journalist rebecca Tonn points out, a fraud invest...
Citi slickers
in Sox First, on November 25, 2008
The Bush administration's bailout of Citigroup might be a sign of more to come, and that's a worry for everyone. Not just American taxpayers but right around the world. The most incompetent president in US history has announced that there might be more rescues. "We have made th...
GM Dumps Tiger
in Eagle Par Birdie, on November 24, 2008
Courtesy: autoblog.com
8 million dollars. Car companies spend that on Super Bowl advertising. Or flying executives around the country on corporate jets.
They dish out cash like that for fancy smoke-and-mirrors displays at auto shows around the planet.
But 8 million bucks was a pill too big ...
Do we get depressed?
in Sox First, on November 23, 2008
The big question is whether the downturn and recession will be a replay of 1929. There are different views on it. The most alarming comes from Paul B Farrell at MarketWatch . in his piece, Farrell gives 30 reasons why we will be in the Great Depression for three years with such lead indicators...
Cheap oil and global risk
in Sox First, on November 21, 2008
The plunging price of oil , dropping to its lowest level in more than three years, is likely to reshape the world significantly. It's great for motorists and businesses, but there are some disturbing signs when you look at how it will affect business and other countries. Big companies are ...
Teurer PR-Stunt der Solarworld AG?
in Das AutoWeblog, on November 21, 2008
Diese Woche ist bekannt geworden, dass die Solarworld AG opel kaufen will. Das Unternehmen denkt schon länger daran Elektroautos auf den Markt zu bringen "wollte anscheinend die Gunst der Stunde nutzen" und den angeschlagenen Opelkonzern aufkaufen.
Ein Angebot ist an General Motors r...
Automakers flew to Washington in private jets
in Sox First, on November 20, 2008
General Motors' finance arm GMAC has applied with the Federal Reserve to become a bank holding company and the automakers have taken their case to the public with General Motors behind a website gmfactsandfiction.com which purportedly seeks to set the record straight.
According to the...
Opel - Ist das die richtige Lösung?
in Das AutoWeblog, on November 18, 2008
Bereits seit 1929 ist Opel die Tochter des amerikanischen Konzern General Motors. In den letzten Jahren mussten die Rüsselsheimer aber arg unter den Verlusten des Mutterkonzerns leiden, obwohl man aber strategisch gut aufgestellt war / ist . Und nun sieht es wirklich gefährlich aus: auch wenn GM di...
GM: Death or bailout?
in Sox First, on November 12, 2008
We now seem to be watching General Motors in its death throes with shares in GM hitting a 65 year low amid concerns that the automaker will run out of cash . Analysts say the only way it will survive is with a US government bailout. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says GM is too big to fail ...
Toyota's day of reckoning?
in Sox First, on November 7, 2008
Another sign that hard times are well and truly upon us with Toyota announcing that it has slashed its earnings by more than two-thirds, or 69%. Look at the numbers carefully. In the first half, it expects its net income to decline 68% to about $5.6 billion for its fiscal year, but it also exp...
The NSU RO 80, a Car Ahead of its Time
in Classical Drives, on November 5, 2008
...veral other automakers bought licenses to develop the Wankel, including GM, Mercedes-Benz, American Motors, and Mazda. Convinced it was the engine of the future, NSU then built a car around it: the re...
Tough Times Ahead
in Eagle Par Birdie, on November 2, 2008
Tiger in Dubai. Courtesy: The Telegraph
There is a dark cloud looming for the PGA Tour in America.
No, it's John Daly's latest drunken binge, although that is bad enough (the man is through, is he not?).
The dark cloud is deflation. I am certain that Tim Finchem looks at the headlin...
Bailing out General Motors
in Sox First, on October 28, 2008
Yesterday, I did a blog entry looking at how all these failed companies were lining up at the trough to get some of the $700 billion Paulson bailout package. Now, The Wall Street Journal tells us that the Bush administration is working to facilitate loans to General Motors from the loans Co...
Was ist los auf dem Automarkt?
in Das AutoWeblog, on October 27, 2008
Die deutschen Autobauer haben immer mehr Absatzschwierigkeiten, sowohl auf dem Heimat- als auch auf dem US-Markt. Es werden kaum noch Neuwagen abgesetzt und das geht an die Substanz. Daimler und Opel sind die beiden Ersten, die in den kommenden Monaten ihre Produktion massiv zurückfahren müssen.
Be...
General Motors und Chrysler nähern sich Fusion
in Das AutoWeblog, on October 17, 2008
Offenbar haben die beiden US-Autohersteller General Motors und Chrysler ihre Fusionierungsgespräche beschleunigt, denn vor allem GM ist an einer Fusion interessiert. Der Grund dafür sind die schlechten Drittquartalszahlen, so eine US-Zeitung. Deshalb ist der angeschlagen Konzern auf der Suche na...
GM-Chrysler merger: a bad idea for bad times
in Sox First, on October 11, 2008
Nothing concentrates a man's mind more than his execution. No surprises then that The Wall Street Journal reports that GM is now in talks with Chrysler about a merger. If the merger goes ahead, and shrinks the Big Three auto firms to two, it might have massive ramifications for Ford. Stil...
Ford and GM: can they survive?
in Sox First, on October 10, 2008
That General Motors and Ford are in serious trouble is no big surprise. Standard & Poor's says it might cut their rating deeper into junk and specialists have told Bloomberg their liquidity levels are so low they might have to file for bankruptcy. GM is losing around $1 billion cash e...
Autohersteller drosseln Produktion
in Das AutoWeblog, on October 8, 2008
Die großen Hersteller haben unterschiedliche Erfolge auf dem, momentan schwächelnden, Automarkt. Während Volkswagen eine Gewinnerhöhung von 2,6 Milliarden Euro erwartet, sieht es bei GM, Ford und BMW nicht ganz so rosig aus.
Auch andere Hersteller wie Daimler, PSA, Renault und Toyota haben ih...
