HarleyEarl

This Canadian Acura is the same as the European Civic.....the different head and tailights...

I'm surprised they are still doing the Tiger Woods thing.....I find those ad campaigns boring.

I shudder to think of these cars years from now on....on the used car dealer lots....the battery replacement will be very expensive..they are a big question mark in the long haul.

News New Lucerne to dominate Buick ad spending; vehicle to get special Tiger Woods pitch JAMIE LAREAU | Automotive News Posted Date: 11/17/05 WASHINGTON -- Buick will focus its national advertising and nearly one-fourth of its budget on the new Lucerne sedan in the first quarter of 2006. The Lucerne is a "very big part" of Buick's advertising budget for next year, Steve Shannon, Buick general manager, told Automotive News at a press event here. Buick will spend well over 20 percent of its first-quarter advertising budget promoting the Lucerne, Shannon says. That's about $9 million, based on this year's figures. Buick spent nearly $46 million on advertising in the first quarter of this year, up 48.8 percent from $30.8 million spent in the year-ago period, according to TNS Media Intelligence. Buick spent $122 million in advertising for all of 2004. National campaign Buick began shipping the Lucerne to dealers on Oct. 29, Shannon says. The national advertising campaign starts at the end of this month, he says. "Next year, we'll focus most of our national advertising weight on the Lucerne," Shannon says. Buick also will consider advertising the Lucerne during "big name" events, Shannon says. He would not specify which events the brand might sponsor. He says it probably will not be the Super Bowl, where Cadillac traditionally advertises. 'Something exciting' Shannon said that Buick has "something exciting planned in the first quarter involving this car and Tiger Woods." The advertising mix includes traditional TV spots, a lot of print and a shift to more promotion-oriented marketing, Shannon says. "You've got to get people in the car," he adds. "The Tiger Woods thing will get people in this car." The advertising will spell out the Lucerne's features, such as heated windshield-washer fluid that melts ice, dual-stage driver airbag, quiet interior, standard OnStar and a four-year/50,000-mile warranty. The Lucerne is part of GM's value pricing strategy starting at $26,990, including shipping. Last month, GM told dealers it is changing the Buick tag line from "Dream Up" to "Beyond Precision" to emphasize Buick's quality and product features.

News Subaru maker Fuji Heavy attempts to slash its way back into the black JAMES B. TREECE | Automotive News Posted Date: 11/17/05 TOKYO -- Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., maker of Subaru vehicles, is trying to reverse its falling profits by slashing spending and cutting staff. Fuji Heavy is reducing spending on r&d, plants and equipment. It also plans the first round of Japanese staff cuts in its history by offering early retirement packages. The automaker also is selling financial assets. Fuji Heavy projects a modest currency gain this year, in contrast to the currency loss it forecast as recently as last May. Its cost-cutting efforts yielded a 12.3 percent rise in operating profits to 17.41 billion yen, or $153.8 million at current exchange rates, in the six months through September. But net income fell 3.8 percent from a year earlier to $70.3 million on extraordinary losses. Those losses included $49.6 million upon canceling work on a new model with Saab. Revenues fell 3.4 percent to $5.89 billion. Unit sales fell 4.0 percent to 264,000. Fuji does not release quarterly results. North American operating losses narrowed in the half year to $55.0 million, from $68.2 million a year earlier. Unit sales fell 6.1 percent to 88,000. North American revenues fell 5.1 percent to $2.05 billion. Fuji predicts its operating profits for the current fiscal year ending March 31 will fall 7.2 percent to $344.6 million despite its cost-cutting efforts. It says full-year net income will drop 34.2 percent to $106.0 million. In May, it forecast operating profits and net would rise modestly. The company blames a less profitable mix of the cars and trucks it sells and weakness in North America. In addition, one-quarter of Fuji's global sales are 660cc minicars in Japan. Fuji and other minicar makers are caught in the crossfire as minicar leader Suzuki Motor Corp. fends off a market-share challenge from No. 2 Daihatsu Motor Co., a unit of Toyota Motor Corp.

Mercedes-Benz Bionic Car Pioneering First Lap Text & Photos courtesy of DaimlerChrysler AG 11-17-2005 Bionic Car makes history with first Brooklands circuit lap First lap of new Mercedes-Benz World track at Brooklands Bionic Car with Bluetec technology is clean, refined and powerful Pioneering spirit lives on at Mercedes-Benz World Mercedes-Benz made history again last weekend. Its stunning Bionic Car completed the first official lap of one of the tracks at its Mercedes-Benz World site at Brooklands – 98 years, 4 months and 28 days since Ethel Locke-King led a procession of cars around at the opening launch party back on 17 June 1907. Under a crisp blue autumn sky, DaimlerChrysler Development Engineer Ralph Hettich, responsible for the Bionic Car project, became the first person to complete the first official lap of the new Brooklands track. Building work on the impressive 155-acre site continued unhindered as the car completed its first lap of the 0.6 mile circuit loop in a time of 3m32s. Despite the low average speed – due to the 10mph speed limit in force while the site is under construction - the significance of the first lap was not lost on those present. Pioneering spirit "The Bionic Car perfectly embodies the enduring pioneering spirit of Mercedes-Benz, so it was the ideal vehicle to complete the first lap today;" said Peter O’Halloran, Mercedes-Benz World Director. "The Mercedes and Benz race cars at the inaugural meeting in 1907 were at the cutting edge of technology for their day, and this Bionic Car is no different. Its revolutionary design and construction shows what the future of motoring could hold, which is why it was chosen for the inaugural lap of our new track." The new handling courses are still under construction, but already the surface is smooth enough for a complete circuit. After laying the top layer of smooth, grippy asphalt next spring, the completed tracks (totalling 1.55 miles) will give visitors a thrilling chance to experience how the Mercedes-Benz cars react to different driving conditions, including ESP® tests on wet grip circles. The handling circuit’s tracks, adjacent 10-acre off-road course, and huge Brand Centre building will be available to customers, families and to companies which have hired the complex’s facilities. Mercedes-Benz World is already open to bookings from the end of 2006. Mercedes-Benz World will also function as a vehicle retailer for Maybach, Mercedes-Benz and smart models. New and used vehicle sales, service and repair, and accessories will all be available alongside a display of every vehicle in the Mercedes Car Group range. Displays of the company’s most famous models past and present, interactive displays and a low pressure ‘no hard sell’ atmosphere will all make Mercedes-Benz World the perfect venue for a wide range of users of all ages. Future meets past After completing the first laps of the new circuit, Mr Hettich demonstrated the Bionic Car to families who were spending their day at the Brooklands Museum. He drove along the famous old Members’ Banking, the enthusiastic crowd watching as the car got to within feet of the top of the banked circuit. This makes the Bionic Car the only vehicle in the world to have driven on both old and new Brooklands tracks. It was an appropriate way to end an afternoon where Brooklands enjoyed a glimpse of the future; a glimpse of a car that features leading edge environmental and safety technology making history; a glimpse of the start of the next chapter in the enduring story of Mercedes-Benz and Brooklands. Bionic Car Mercedes-Benz designers have taken their inspiration from nature and looked at the way the body shapes of fish have evolved in order to swim efficiently. The Bionic Car is the result. Designed to mirror the streamlined features of the tropical boxfish, the Bionic Car has been fused with the latest Mercedes-Benz diesel engine technology to deliver world-first characteristics. Its lightweight construction and superb aerodynamics mean that the car consumes 20 per cent less fuel than regular production cars. Its drag coefficient value of only 0.19 helps deliver fuel consumption of 65.7mpg. It has an SCR technology (Selective Catalytic Reduction) diesel engine, using Adblue to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 80 per cent, exceeding proposed Euro V emission standards expected in the UK in 2010. Its revolutionary body shell is designed using the boxfish’s body for inspiration. It is up to 40 per cent more rigid than other cars, yet its weight is reduced by around one third. Strength and crash safety is unaffected.

Love the Alero!....it always was a great design...had so much potential. Quit bringing up these great Olds stories and pictures...always gets me sad for the day. No, I don't really mean that...keep em coming. ;(

It's great to hear about these great new innovations at GM....it's part of what makes me a GM fan. cmattson, you are so right about others taking credit down the road.

Polish K....you summed it up well. The original EL was a very good looking car....so much better than the Civic it was based on.

I don't think there are any 'fiascos' on the market, but a couple I think won't do as well as expected, the VW Passat and Jetta.

To me, hybrids are a good touchy feely PR exercise....purchasers feel good about what they are driving...financially they are not further ahead and there are very clean running gasoline engines available. Some cars now produce emit cleaner emissions than the air around them.

News GM moves to replace paint with plastic film; facias, rocker panels are first applications RHODA MIEL | Plastics News Posted Date: 11/4/05 DETROIT -- General Motors is using film rather than paint on parts for five vehicles. Bumper fascia and rocker panels are among the parts involved. Unlike past users of paint replacement film on parts, GM has chosen a thick thermoformed sheet. The company intends to develop a supply base of thermoformers. "This is one of our major efforts," said Charles Buehler, a technical integration engineer in GM's materials group, during an Oct. 11 interview at the Society of Plastics Engineers' Thermoplastic Olefin conference in Sterling Heights, Mich. "We're working to build a cooperative supply base for thermoforming." GM first used a thermoformed sheet that combined a thermoplastic polyolefin base with a body-color film on a stone shield for its Chevrolet SSR pickup. Now the Chevrolet HHR wagon has stone shields that were made using the process. Two cars just beginning to roll out -- the Buick Lucerne and Cadillac STS-V -- have thermoformed rocker panels; the GMC Envoy will have thermoformed bumper fascia starting next year. GM and its suppliers have created 1,000 of the fascia in an early rollout. With the bumpers, not only did the companies eliminate the need to paint a plastic part, they also replaced an injection-molded part with thermoforming. An earlier paint-replacement system that debuted on the Dodge Neon used thermoformed paint replacement, but the fascia was injection molded behind a thin formed sheet. The thick-sheet thermoforming reduces the number of manufacturing steps, which shortens development time and cuts costs. That's because tooling for thermoforming is less expensive than standard injection-molding tooling, Buehler said. Using thermoforming, the company and its suppliers can create a component -- from design to tooling to production -- within 120 days, he said. "We see this as an enabler," Buehler said. "We're not against injection molding behind (the sheet), but we think the supply base in place isn't ready." Now a supply base for thermoforming is developing, creating opportunities for molders, material suppliers, tool makers and machinery makers. The GM system uses films produced by Soliant LLC of Lancaster, S.C., that can match the full line of automotive paint colors. Machinery makers accustomed to making materials-handling equipment are learning how to make parts that meet automakers' demands for Class A surface quality, said Ed Bearse, a partner in Plastic Concepts & Innovations LLC of Mount Pleasant, S.C. His company helps coordinate communication within the developing supply chain and runs training programs for thermoformers. Suppliers latch on Durakon Industries Inc., a Lapeer, Mich., supplier that makes aftermarket thermoformed pickup beds, launched its paint film technology with the SSR. Now it's turning out rocker panels for the Lucerne and STS-V. Guardian Industries Inc., of Auburn Hills, Mich., a traditional injection molder, is making the stone shields for the HHR. It is taking over thermoforming operations from partner Southtech Plastics Inc. of New Bern, N.C., and is seeking more contracts. Another injection molder, Meridian Automotive Systems Inc., of Dearborn, Mich., is overseeing the SUV fascia program. "This is something new for the industry," said Len Damico, vice president of sales at Durakon. "It's been a real bright spot for the company, and we've made some substantial investments." Durakon was one of a handful of thick-sheet thermoformers that already supplied the auto industry. It had its own in-house extrusion to turn out the sheets but added clean rooms to laminate its substrate to Soliant's film. It also added robots to automate production further. "It had been a tremendous effort to get this started from an infrastructure standpoint," said Joe Randazzo, Guardian's director of research and materials development. By partnering with Southtech, Guardian has access to Southtech's expertise in producing the thick thermoplastic polyolefin sheets laminated with Soliant's film. It is also tapping other companies, such as Plastic Concepts & Innovations, for information. Durakon has shared information with potential competitors to get the industry off to a smooth start, Damico said. "It's a new beast out there called collaboration," he said. "Collaboration and teamwork are essential." Selected applications GM is targeting specific applications on each vehicle it has selected for its paint-replacement project, Buehler said. In the case of the HHR, the company needed to protect a fender area of the car that takes abuse from road debris. Stones would chip away the paint on a standard part. GM and its suppliers had to design a shield that would stand up to the damage but also precisely mimic the shape of the vehicle, sitting flush with the body. "The perspective that we're looking at is in terms of value performance," Buehler said. "We want what's best for the vehicle. We want the right places to do it." Meridian is investing both in thermoforming and standard injection molding and paint lines so that it can make parts with whichever process a customer selects, COO Steve McKenzie said. Success with GM's programs now will lead to more opportunities. Guardian's Randazzo said all of the automakers are continuing to consider options. Said Randazzo: "There is a lot of interest out there, and GM, for all intents and purposes, is the one that is pushing it forward."

GM Hybrid to Undercut Prius Struggling U.S. automaker targets Toyota with plans for a cheaper hybrid SUV. November 16, 2005 As General Motors’ stock sank to its lowest level in 18 years on Wednesday, the troubled automaker turned to green technology for hope, pledging to undercut the competition when it introduces a hybrid version of the Saturn VUE next summer. “We think it will be the most affordable hybrid on the market,” Susan Garavaglia, manager of communications for GM’s powertrain division, said at a meeting in San Francisco. “Hopefully, we’re going to be opening up the hybrid market to more consumers.” GM was late to the hybrid game, making its first passenger vehicles—the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickup trucks—available to consumers in the 2005 model year. But the company hopes the Saturn hybrid SUV will help it gain on its competitors, including the ultra-popular Toyota Prius and the Honda Civic Hybrid. GM could use a big hit. Its shares have lost 48 percent of their value since December when they set a 52-week high of $40.82. The stock closed down $1.32 at $21.29 on Wednesday on trading of 35.4 million shares, more than three times the daily average. ‘We don’t want to be the company selling vacuum tubes when the rest of the world has moved to transistors.’ -Dave Barthmuss, Financial woes have plagued the company, which posted $1.6 billion in losses in the third quarter, down from a profit of $315 million in the same period last year. Earlier this month, the United Auto Workers approved a measure that will save the Detroit-based company significant healthcare costs. The company’s Saturn division has yet to turn a profit. “I think the hybrid is one of our best opportunities to become profitable over time,” said Fred Cartwright, director of technology planning for GM Powertrain. “But it’s just one of several units within Saturn that hopes to bring the right product to its customers at the right time.” He said the hybrid technology is still very expensive, and it will take a long-term commitment to bring it to profitability. “We are absolutely committed. Hybrids are a big part of our future, globally,” he said. Cost Factors A cheaper hybrid may appeal to motorists who want to cut their gasoline bills, but are put off by the fact that hybrids typically cost $3,000 to $4,000 more than conventional cars—enough to buy 1,200 to 1,600 gallons of gasoline at $2.50 per gallon. However, the company won’t disclose details about the VUE hybrid’s pricing or fuel economy until January. The Saturn hybrid’s engine will be significantly different from the hybrid system in GM pickups. The Saturn’s will include electric power assistance, which will allow the Saturn to accelerate faster, Ms. Garavaglia said. Otherwise, the powertrain will have similar features: shutting off the engine when the car is stopped, braking, or decelerating. It will also use braking to regenerate power. While hybrids still account for less than 1 percent of total U.S. vehicle sales, their numbers are growing fast. In the United States, hybrid registrations were up 81 percent in 2004 to 83,153, according to automotive research firm R.L. Polk. Toyota is the top hybrid manufacturer with a 64 percent market share in 2004. Honda is the second-largest hybrid manufacturer with 31 percent of the market last year, according to research firm J.D. Power. More Hybrids The Saturn isn’t the only hybrid GM is planning for the future. The company plans to put the same system in the Chevy Malibu, and says it will launch a third hybrid system—a two-mode hybrid that it is developing with DaimlerChrysler—in the Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon during 2007. Together, GM expects to launch 12 hybrids in the next few years. But the Saturn makes a sensible next step, said Mr. Cartwright. “It is one of the highest-volume SUVs on the market today,” he said. “Saturn was also very much involved in the EV1 program, so that image for Saturn has already been established. We see the Saturn VUE as a real flagship for being a real global product.” The EV1 was Saturn’s electric vehicle, which was introduced in 1996, but did not sell in large numbers. GM also hopes the hybrids will help pave the way for the larger goal—hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. GM expects those to hit the roads in five to 10 years, said Dave Barthmuss, North Coast manager of advanced technology. Mr. Barthmuss said it is essential for GM to keep up with innovation. “We don’t want to be the company selling vacuum tubes when the rest of the world has moved to transistors,” he said. Despite its financial troubles, the company has shown no signs of decelerating investment in core technologies, Mr. Cartwright said. “With a lot of companies, typically advanced technologies could be the first to go, but that has not been the case here at all,” he said. “Still, he added, the financial issue “puts a little more uncertainty over the whole business.”

TechArt Porsche 911 Carrera S for TUNE IT! SAFE! Text & Photos courtesy TechArt Automobildesign 11-16-2005 Fastest Police Car in the World TUNE IT! SAFE! (www.tune-it-safe.de) is the name of a new initiative started by the Bundesverkehrsministerium (German Federal Traffic Ministry), VDAT (Association of German Automobile Tuners) and the ESSEN-MOTOR-SHOW. TechArt Automobildesign (www.techart.de) supports the new campaign aimed at increasing awareness for safe and legal tuning with the world’s fastest police car. The Porsche 911 Carrera S has been completely modified by TechArt and reaches a top speed of some 300 km/h thanks to 370-hp / 272-kW performance tuning. In addition to sporting the official green police markings and the light bar on the roof the world’s fastest police car is also a prime example for professional automobile tuning. TechArt increases power output of the 3.8-liter flat six with the TA 097/S1 performance kit by 15 hp / 11 kW. Thus equipped the silver and green coupe accelerates from rest to 100 km/h in just 4.5 seconds and breaches the 300-km/h barrier. To achieve even better directional stability and therefore active safety the Carrera S was fitted with a TechArt aerodynamic-enhancement kit that was tested extensively in the wind tunnel. It is joined by TechArt Formula 20-inch five-spoke wheels with 235/30 ZR 20 and 305/25 ZR 20 tires, and by the custom-calibrated TechArt Vario sport suspension with struts that are adjustable in height, bound and rebound. In the interior an ergonomically shaped TechArt sport steering wheel with airbag ensures a safe handle on the performance.

I LOVE THIS CAR!!!.....saw one recently with bigger aftermarket wheels....just sexy hot.

I have never liked the thinly disguised EL and don't like this...but these things sell big in Canada. That Acura name is powerful and it get's people in at an affordable price. Let's not forget the early Integra...entry level models were pretty basic. And let's not forget the TSX is almost identical to the Euro Honda Accord...just rebadged. And let's not forget Honda rebadging the Isusu suv. Honda is just as bad as others for blatant rebadging.

Acura announces pricing of CSX Canada's own exclusive Acura CSX will be officially in dealer showrooms by November 22nd. The Civic-based entry-level luxury sedan will sport a base manufacturer's suggested retail price of $25,400. A top-of-the-line CSX retails for $31,900. Standard features in the base Touring include a 2.0L inline 4-cylinder engine that puts out 155 hp, 4-wheel disc brakes, automatic climate control, 16" alloy wheels, 6 air bags and a premium audio system with MP3/WMA compatibility. To jump into a Premium model, an extra $2,700 will be required. For the extra coinage, leather seating with front heated seats, HID headlamps, a power moonroof and a 350-watt 6-CD changer equipped audio system will be added. A navigation system can be added to the Premium for a cool $2,500. For both the Touring and the Premium, a $1,300 5-speed automatic transmission with F1-style paddle shifters. The CSX replaces the out-going EL. (Auto123)

Audi Le Mans Quattro Concept Approved for Production Text & photos courtesy Audi of America edited 11-15-2005 Exotic Sports Car to Be Called R8 It is now official: the new Audi sports car will be called the Audi R8. Presented as the "Le Mans quattro" concept study two years ago at the IAA Frankfurt Motor Show, Audi has now taken the decision to build its new sports car. Everything is already being prepared for the series production of the R8 at Audi's plant in Neckarsulm, due to commence in the fourth quarter of 2006. The market launch in the U.S. is scheduled for mid-2007. 28 million euros are being invested in the R8 production line. The Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH will be responsible for production. Development and test construction at quattro GmbH and technical development at AUDI AG are currently in full swing. 250 employees will work on the production of the R8. "Through the R8 we are looking to build on our successes in motorsport and carry them over to series production. This model represents Audi's very own interpretation of sportiness," says Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of AUDI AG, about the new member of the Audi model range. Audi is relying on intelligent lightweight design for its R8, a core area of expertise in Neckarsulm. The Audi A2, A6 and A8 were all developed at the Aluminium Centre there using lightweight design technology.

I read that they only intended to do this show for one season only. Doesn't she now have another show?...sort of a talk show but in the kitchen?...there is just no stopping Ms. Stewart.

Nick, that's hilarious.....great link!

...sorry, must have missed the previous post...looked to see if anything had been posted...won't be offended if this was removed. I agree the spoiler looks dated and non-harmonious or something..don't like it.

If this is the best they can do, then leave this storied car alone. Awful.

The last one didn't sell?.....I seem them constantly here. I never liked this truck and still don't...the hood has no slope. It's no Range Rover.

The future dims for spark plug businessProduction will end in 2006 By Randy Conat FLINT - (11/09/05)-- Last week, union leaders at Delphi Flint East were told that spark plug production at the plant would come to an end during the next few months. Spark plugs have been made in Flint for 101 years. Randy Conat takes a look back at the industry that had employed thousands of people through the years. Albert Champion, a native of France, manufactured and sold spark plugs as a sideline business. GM founder Billy Durant invited him to Flint, just as the auto industry was revving up. "1904 would have been the first year that they produced for the Buick Company," said David White, an archivist with the Kettering University Archives. Champion Ignition was initially located at the Buick complex in Flint, then moved across Industrial Avenue to its own building. "Champion Ignition became one of the first companies brought under the General Motors umbrella in 1908," White said. A year later, the name of the company was changed to AC Spark Plug. By 1912, the company was producing 600,000 spark plugs a year. During World War I and World War II, AC made spark plugs for airplanes. Hundreds of women worked at the two plants in Flint before it was common for women to work outside the home in any capacity. "Peak production was probably in the 50s or before. There was less competition," White noted. The demise of spark plug production in Flint hurts Don Bronson, who worked for AC for more than 30 years. "Makes me unhappy, just like many other eras that come to an end. But there's not a thing I can do about it." "It's a loss for the whole community. Very unfortunate for all of us," added White. Union leaders have been told most spark plug production will end by late December. The last spark will probably be made in July 2006. The plant on Dort Highway has been the home of AC spark plug production for more than 80 years now. But in just a few months production will finish, ending an era in Flint's history. About 400 people are employed in spark plug production at Delphi Flint East.