Category Archives: results

Mazda MX-5 Miata Celebrates 25 Years at CAS

Posted on 7 February 2014 by Ken Zino

With the collapse of the British sports car industry and the absence of roadsters, the Miata, as it was then called in the U.S., hit a sweet spot in the market. Miata weighed a low 2,116 pounds curb weight and could reach 60 mph in less than nine seconds. Japanese quality, spirited open top driving and a starting price of $13,800 MSRP proved a winning combination. Continue reading →

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Nissan Shows Cummins Diesel Frontier Pickup at CAS

Posted on 6 February 2014 by Ken Zino

It looks as if Nissan will join the mid-size pickup diesel parade based on a concept truck created to gauge consumer interest in a next-generation Frontier with a Cummins diesel engine. First shown at the Chicago Auto Show, aka CAS, it is powered by a 2.8-liter Cummins turbo diesel with nearly 200 horsepower, and more than 350 lb.-ft. of torque. The estimated fuel economy increases 35% compared to the current Frontier V6. Continue reading →

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GM and Isuzu to Update Ohio Diesel Engine Plant

Posted on 5 February 2014 by Ken Zino

The investment – in the depressing language of the jobless auto recovery – retains 500 jobs at what is a joint venture between General Motors and Isuzu. DMAX has produced 1.6 million engines since opening in 2000. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Bucks January Sales Dive in U.S. Subaru continues its Streak too

Posted on 5 February 2014 by Ken Zino

The conventional wisdom in the auto business is that winter weather was responsible for the unexpected decline in January Auto Sales in the U.S. While GM, Ford and Toyota all posted big sales drops, Chrysler, the comeback car company, reported U.S. sales of 127,183 units, an 8% increase compared with sales in January 2013 (117,731 units). Continue reading →

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Ford Motor Earns $1.3 Billion in Q4, $8.6 Billion during 2013

Posted on 28 January 2014 by Ken Zino

Ford Motor Company [NYSE: F] today reported that Q4 pre-tax profit was $1.3 billion, a decrease of $402 million compared with 2012. However, Q4 earnings per share at 31 cents were the same as a year ago. Ford has posted … Continue reading →

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Modest Growth Forecast for January U.S. Auto Sales

Posted on 26 January 2014 by Ken Zino

Total light-vehicle sales are projected at 1.1 million, a meager 1% increase from January 2013. Fleet sales are expected to remain below the level of a year ago and representing less than 20% of total light-vehicle sales for the month. Continue reading →

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Fiat Buys Out the UAW Equity in Chrysler Group

Posted on 21 January 2014 by Ken Zino

Fiat S.p.A. through its wholly owned subsidiary, Fiat North America, today completed its previously announced acquisition of all of the UAW VEBA Trust’s equity in the Chrysler Group. This means that Chrysler Group is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Italian Fiat with considerable help from U.S. taxpayers who financed the 2009 reorganization of the bankrupt company. Continue reading →

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EU Sales Recover in December. Six Year Trend Still Down

Posted on 18 January 2014 by Ken Zino

The automaker trade group says that from January to December, the EU market recorded 11,850, 905 new cars. With a decrease of -1.7% in 2013, European new car registrations have been on the decline for six consecutive years. Continue reading →

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GM Declares 30 Cent Quarterly Stock Dividend

Posted on 14 January 2014 by Ken Zino

General Motors Company Board of Directors today declared a quarterly dividend of 30 cents per share on its common stock. The dividend is payable 28 March 2014 to all common stockholders of record as of 18 March 2014. The last time GM paid a dividend on common was in the pre-bankruptcy days of 2008. Continue reading →

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GM Sweeps NACTOY Car and Truck Awards at NAIAS

Posted on 13 January 2014 by Ken Zino

The Chevrolet Corvette Stingray and Silverado 1500 are the 2014 North American Car and Truck of the Year, announced this morning at the opening of press days at the North American International Auto show in Detroit. This is the first time Chevrolet has won both awards in the same year. The Silverado was last named Truck of the Year in 2007 and the Corvette was last named Car of the Year in 1998. Continue reading →

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China Sales Propel Buick to Global Sales Record

Posted on 12 January 2014 by Ken Zino

China sales were the only reason the Buick brand was kept by U.S. Treasury officials while they were killing Pontiac and Hummer during the 2009 taxpayer financed GM bankruptcy reorganization. Continue reading →

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Chevrolet to Sell 4G LTE Data Connections Next Summer

Posted on 10 January 2014 by Ken Zino

What this does for the deadly distracted driving problem remains to be seen and depends whether the driver or passengers are surfing the web. There is also risk involved; electronics in automobiles are now the largest single source of customer dissatisfaction if there are glitches, dropped voice commands, screen crashes or problems connecting portable devices. Continue reading →

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U.S. Light Vehicle Sales to Soar in 2014 Says NADA

Posted on 10 January 2014 by Ken Zino

Employment, particularly in the construction, services industries, will improve this year, and a continued moderation in gasoline prices and improvements in the housing market will help to offset stagnation in wages and income in 2014. Continue reading →

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Texas RV and Motorcycle Importers Fined for CAA Abuses

Posted on 10 January 2014 by Ken Zino

Savoia, BMX Imports, BMX Trading, and their owner, Terry Zimmer, allegedly illegally imported motorcycles that didn’t comply with the Clean Air Act, or CAA Continue reading →

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EU Light Vehicle Sales Increase in December

Posted on 9 January 2014 by Ken Zino

While the EU economy is still on life-support, light vehicle sales during December increased in most major Western markets. Continue reading →

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