Tag Archives: auto marketing

Book Review: Car Spy – an Inside Look at an Auto Culture Past

Posted on 30 August 2011 by Ken Zino

Car Spy is entertaining, funny, and sardonic. It captures the voice of Dunne – caveat here – whose adventures I sometimes participated in, whose photos I ran in various publications and still run in AutoInformed.com, and whose stories related in Car Spy I heard first hand. Continue reading →

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High Fuel Prices Having Little Impact on Vehicle Choice?

Posted on 9 August 2011 by Ken Zino

Rising fuel prices are having little effect on the type of vehicles U.S. buyers are considering. This latest research conundrum comes from consultancy AutoPacific, which claims that while drivers are complaining about fuel costs, the choice of a future vehicle appears decoupled from them. Continue reading →

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New-Vehicle Consideration Rates Shift To European Models in China, away from Japanese. Chevrolet and Buick Gaining

Posted on 6 July 2011 by Ken Zino

The study finds that the proportion of new-vehicle intenders who say they would consider purchasing a model from a European automaker has increased to 32% in 2011 from 25% in 2009. Consideration rates for Japanese models have declined to 27% in 2011 from 32% in 2009. An increasing proportion of intenders are citing concerns about quality and reliability and concerns about dealer service for Japanese models. Continue reading →

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Why “Green” Alternative Vehicle Sales Will Remain Limited

Posted on 27 April 2011 by Ken Zino

To veterans of the automotive ecological wars, the conclusions of the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Green Automotive Study released today are, numbingly, familiar. For most consumers cost is the not so invisible hand that drives a free market – even a semi-free one with lavish taxpayer subsidies in place in an attempt by the government to mandate technologies. Continue reading →

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Hyundai Adds Guaranteed Trade-In Value to Assurance Plan

Posted on 25 April 2011 by Ken Zino

This latest marketing push is made possible by newly found strength in Hyundai residual values, now among the highest in the auto industry, as Hyundai newest generation of vehicles have increased in sophistication and quality compared to previous models. Continue reading →

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Chrysler Brand Launches “No Pressure” Test Drives at Malls

Posted on 5 April 2011 by Ken Zino

Chrysler Group said today that it is bringing Chrysler brand vehicles to shopping malls so potential customers can drive them in what is claimed to be a no pressure environment.

Shoppers will be able to drive the 2011 lineup, which includes the new, redesigned and 2011 200 sedan and 200 Convertible, the revised Chrysler 300 sedan and the innovative Chrysler Town & Country minivan. Continue reading →

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Mopar Charger Sketch Released. New York Auto Show Debut?

Posted on 5 April 2011 by Ken Zino

All Chrysler Group is saying is here’s a sketch of its new 2011 Mopar Charger. Dodge will release details of the latest Mopar muscle car “later this month,” which points to a New York Auto Show Debut. Continue reading →

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Audi Prices 2012 A7 Sportback in U.S. Starting at $60,000

Posted on 4 April 2011 by Ken Zino

Audi today announced that pricing for the full size Audi A7 will begin at $59,250 when the models reach U.S. showrooms later this month. At first glance appears to be a hefty price for a V-6 powered, all-wheel-drive 5-door hatchback, … Continue reading →

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Milestones: 900,000 Mazda MX-5 Miata Roadsters Made

Posted on 7 February 2011 by Ken Zino

What Mazda dubs as the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster, the Mazda MX-5 Miata, has reached a new milestone of 900,000 units produced.

Nearly 45% of the two-seat Miatas made – about 388,000 – were sold in the United States since the Miata launched here in the last century. Continue reading →

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Cadillac CTS-V to Offer Black Diamond Tri-Coat Paint in March

Posted on 2 February 2011 by Ken Zino

Cadillac will offer a Black Diamond Edition of the performance CTS-V with what’s called tri-coat paint, dubbed Black Diamond. This marketing name for once actually describes the color.

Available on the CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon models, this will be the first use by an automaker of something called a “SpectraFlair” pigment in North America, after it showed in 2002 at the Specialty Equipment Manufacturer’s Show in Las Vegas. (Old naming habits die hard.) Continue reading →

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Lexus Commercial Suspends Five Cars from Crane

Posted on 18 January 2011 by Ken Zino

Lexus has debuted a new commercial, titled Chain, which links five vehicles on cables and suspends them from a crane.

Shot on the runway of an airport, a crane is used to lift Lexus after Lexus until five – an LS, RX, GS, ES and IS – are suspended in midair nose to end. Finally, an LFA parks directly below the chain of vehicles. The voiceover says, “The hard way is how Lexus inspires absolute confidence. The hard way is the pursuit of perfection.”
Continue reading →

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Camaro Sales Top Mustang for First Time Since 1991!

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Ken Zino

With a sales growth rate in 2010 of three times that of the Ford Mustang, the Chevy Camaro took the annual sales leadership for the first time since 1991. Continue reading →

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Camaro Sales to Beat Mustang for First Time Since 1991!

Posted on 20 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Call it a Bowtie blowout or another example of a GM comeback, but unless Ford pulls off a Christmas miracle later this month, Camaro will take the annual sales leadership crown from the Mustang for the first time since 1978. Continue reading →

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Nissan Adds Power Windows to All Versa Sub-Compacts

Posted on 17 December 2010 by Ken Zino

Nissan North America says that all Versa sub-compacts now come standard with power windows and door locks. This change affects all Versa 1.6 Sedans, as well as Versa 1.8 S Sedan and 1.8 S Hatchback models (power windows and door … Continue reading →

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GM Names Joel Ewanick Global Chief Marketing Officer

Posted on 17 December 2010 by Ken Zino

General Motors today announced that Joel Ewanick is now Global Chief Marketing Officer (CMO), effective immediately, and will have responsibility for GM’s brands globally. Ewanick, 50, will report to CEO Dan Akerson as Global CMO and continue to report to … Continue reading →

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