The May 2008 sales numbers from car makers are in, relative to the same month in 2007. And it’s marked by heavy losses for the Detroit Three.
The Losers
- Isuzu: -27.9%
- General Motors: -27.5%
- Chrysler LLC: -25.4%
- Mitsubishi: -23.6%
- Porsche: -16.5%
- Ford Motor Co.: -15.9%
- Toyota: -4.3%
- VW: -1.2%
The Winners
- American Honda: +15.6%
- Subaru: +13.2%
- Daimler AG: +12.4%
- Nissan: +8.4%
- Hyundai Group: +7.0%
- Mazda: +4.2%
- BMW: +3.1%
- Suzuki: +1.7%
It’s no mystery why the Detroit Three suffered such heavy losses.
The short answer is their line up lacks the type of vehicles that new car buyers are looking for. Their dealers are loaded down with big, gas guzzling trucks and SUVs that hardly anyone wants. Couple that with other new car buyers trading in their trucks and SUVs for more efficient vehicles and you have one hell of a mess for the Detroit Three and their dealers.
The long answer is the Detroit Three were so focused on short term profitability during the real estate bubble and cheap (relatively speaking) gas prices, they completely forgot about the potential for crude prices to explore into the stratosphere. I can personally attest to this, as I attended a meeting with the Focus brand management group at Ford and J. Walter Thompson, Ford’s agency of record at the time, in February 2001. Despite my suggestion that they really think about a concerted, vested effort into the sport compact market, both parties rebuffed my input. They stated that they were focused on SUVs and trucks for the foreseeable future and they didn’t see much viability or potential market share in the compact segment. Well, well. Look at where that type of thinking has gotten you.
All the winners for the month of March have specific things in common:
- An existing high level of brand equity or rising brand equity
- A diverse line up of products
- A "younger," more dynamic brand image
So there you have it. What will June hold? We’ll find out soon enough.
Yes, yes. I know. This is the first update for Project Evo in a long time, but I must confess to being pretty busy at WebRidesTV.com. But don’t fret. Major new updates are in the works.
The first update is the arrival of new rubber for the CT9A. Michelin North America has graciously decided to support the project through sponsoring the tire portion of the build. Arriving just last week, the Michelin Pilot Sport PS2s, in 255/35-18, are sure to provide Project Evo sure-footed traction. Designed with the tires provided to Formula 1 teams - with the three continuous grooves - Michelin has a long history of experience in motorosports, the least of which includes championships in P1, P2, and GT1 classes in ALMS and at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Needless to say, I can’t wait to get these new tires mounted on the Volk Racing CE28N wheels that are on the way from Japan.
Stay tuned as we revisit Project Evo in a big way in the coming months.
Sourcebox
Michelin North America
Greenville, SC
www.michelin-us.com
Let us rejoice! WebRidesTV.com’s Shootout #4 is here, “Sibling Rivalry.” This shootout already has current and prospective BMW E92 M3 owners in a frenzy, as their tightey whiteys bunch up from our conclusion that an aftermarket tuned 335i is a better buy. Well, before your Fruit of the Loom gets any tighter around your sphincter, let us examine the facts. We can only squeeze in so much into the video, so let’s really delve into the numbers.
When we were considering vehicles to pit against the M3, many came to mind. The venerable Audi RS4 , the newcomer Lexus IS-F , and the overpowered (in our opinion) Mercedes C63 AMG . But really, how fun would it be to do the same thing everyone else is doing? So after much debate about the match up, our own Larry B and I came to the same conclusion - how about an aftermarket tuned 335i? And although there are plenty of tuning houses out there making obscene horsepower with the inline-6, we selected Dinan ’s stage 3. Sure, Dinan tends to be on the conservative side of the tuning spectrum, but a car needs to be reliable regardless of how much power it may make. Afterall, if you can’t drive your car because it’s constantly in the shop, that’s a deal killer for us.
If you are reading this, you are most likely wondering, “How do I enter this contest?” Well, here’s how:
1) Create your own 15- to 30-second commercial centered around Bluetooth technology and upload it here
2) Integrate the new Pioneer AVIC-F series multimedia navigation headunits - details and photos of the new AVIC-F series can be found here
Or you can integrate any Pioneer / Premier product with integrated Bluetooth technology (they have “BT” in the model name) - details and photos of these units can be found here
3) Integrate the Pioneer corporate logo into the commercial - logo can be found here
We will have an example of our very own “user-generated” quality commercial later today. And please don’t forget to indicate your video as an entry into the contest when uploading.
Prizes for the “Hands Off” month Pioneer promotion are:
- Grand Prize: Pioneer AVIC-F900BT
- Second Prize: Pioneer AVIC-F700BT
- Third Prize: Pioneer AVIC-F500BT
- Honorable Mention: Pioneer DEH-P700BT
A great combination of creativity, substance and Pioneer product / brand integration are what we’re looking for. So let your inner film maker take hold! Good luck!
As a part of our expanding offering of content to our viewers - over 1.5 million on a month - we will be launching a model section on WebRidesTV. com. This will be an invite only section, where we will reach out to models that we feel have the look to participate.
Here’s the offering to you:
- Your own page / section on WebRidesTV. com, with a photo gallery and interview section
- Exposure to over 1.5 million visitors
- A monthly contest in which the winner will be awarded a $1,000 cash prize, a photo shoot in Los Angeles and an accompanying video shoot
Here is what we need from you to kick things off:
- 10 to 15 HIGH RESOLUTION photos, professionally shot
- The photos should reflect a variety of looks and outfits, ranging from swimwear, lingerie, formal wear, casual, etc.
- Contact information, including email and phone number
- Limited release for the photos - the photos will be used only on WebRidesTV. com and related promotional channels, such as our email newsletters to registered users
Please email the above to models@webridestv.com.
We look forward to your participation!
What could be marked as a turning point for the thriving Korean automaker, the new Hyundai Genesis sedan will launch with a starting price of $33,000 for the 290bhp V6 iteration and $38,000 for the 375bhp V8 version. Both versions will contain a generous helping of standard features, as it has become the norm for the Korean automaker. Check out the official press release from Hyundai Motor America.
As if the current Honda Fit is not gas-friendly enough, Honda announced that they will introduce a gas-electric hybrid version of the Fit subcompact by 2010.
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TOKYO — Honda’s fuel-sipping Fit will turn an even deeper shade of green with plans to launch a gasoline-electric hybrid version of the subcompact in the early 2010s.
The hybrid Fit, announced here today, will be the fourth hybrid from Honda Motor Co. by 2015, as the Japanese automaker chases rival Toyota in the low-emission car race.
Honda had planned to introduce a dedicated hybrid vehicle early next year, to challenge the Toyota Prius, followed by a sporty hybrid and a redesigned Civic hybrid.
The greener Fit’s arrival dispels Honda’s earlier skepticism about the viability of mounting pricey hybrid systems on small, low-priced cars that already get great mileage.
President Takeo Fukui has changed his tune — in time with changing market realities.
"The Fit has great fuel efficiency to begin with, and if you put in a hybrid, it’s going to get even better," Fukui said while announcing the car at a news conference. "So with crude oil prices going up this much, I think a Fit hybrid is now starting to make sense."
Hybrid hopes
The price difference between the hybrid Fit and regular Fit needs to be less than 200,000 yen ($2,000) in order for the hybrid to win customers, Fukui added.
The Fit should be released by 2015, Fukui said. That would put it on a timeline for the Fit’s next model makeover.
When all four hybrids hit the streets, Honda expects annual hybrid sales of 500,000 units. That includes 200,000 of the hybrid-only model debuting next year in Japan, North America and Europe.
Toyota, by contrast, is targeting annual hybrid sales of 1 million vehicles in the early 2010s, led by the Prius, which has so far thrashed the hybrid Civic.
"We’re not that interested in comparing ourselves with Toyota, but I don’t think we’re going to come in as second runner to them," Fukui pledged.
The "affordable" hybrid due in early 2009 is seen as Honda’s best challenge the Prius.
It will be a five-door, five passenger vehicle. But it won’t have next generation lithium-ion batteries. Fukui said lithium-ion technology still hasn’t overcome safety and cost hurdles.
The batteries are lighter and more powerful than the currently used nickel-metal hydride variety. And they have great potential for making more efficient hybrid vehicles. But concerns about the batteries overheating have kept them out of mass-produced cars.
More motors please
The new hybrid’s design is based on Honda’s wedge-shaped FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. That car will begin lease sales in the United States this July and in Japan in the fall.
Honda expects to lease several dozen FCX Clarities in the United States and Japan a year to reach a total of 200 units in the first three years, Fukui said.
To prepare for the ramped up production of hybrid vehicles, Honda will add a new motor production line at its Suzuka factory by year’s end. The addition will boost annual capacity to 250,000 motors, up from 70,000 motors today, Fukui said.
Source: Automotive News
Ford Motor Co. was on the verge of turning things around, especially considering their latest fiscal quarter report of $200 million in profits… Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 650,000 Ford F-150 and Lincoln Mark LT pickup trucks to fix a brake hose that could weaken brake power. Ford is recalling the 2005-06 versions of the trucks with 5.4-liter three-valve engines, according to a posting today by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
"Weaken brake power"? Sounds like another potential case of the Firestone tire disaster on Ford Explorers.
In a previous post a while back, the battle between the EPA and CARB (California Air Resources Board) commenced with the adoption of the new CAFE standard. Well, the battle continues to wage between the federal and state organizations.
The EPA has rules that CARB would not be able to mandate California-only emissions standards for new vehicles produced under the new CAFE standard. Under current laws, CARB has been able to force OEs to produce California-specific models. Obviously, this adds to the production costs of vehicles as a separate model with different emissions equipment have to be made on the line. CARB, in reaction to the EPA’s ruling, has vowed to fight the decision.
Mary Nichols, CARB’s head cheese, told engineers at an SAE conference that her organization’s plan would increase the variety of alternative, fuel-efficient vehicles and give the industry time and flexibility to meet the standards. Nichols said she was confident the next presidential administration would allow California to set the nation’s first greenhouse gas limits on cars, trucks and sport utility vehicles. All three of the remaining White House hopefuls have expressed support for a waiver allowing the California regulations to be enacted.
Endless USA, the purveyor of fine, high-end braking and suspension systems, has announced the release of the new forged monoblock 6-piston caliper dubbed “The Mono-6.” According to their press release, the new caliper system is light weight (7.4 pounds) and high in rigidity. And that is precisely what a monoblock caliper design delivers. The additional benefit is in reducing unsprung weight at the corners, which will ALWAYS help vehicle performance, especially at the track.
Available in “Race Alumite” finish only, the Mono-6 comes with the option of titanium piston caps which further increase strength and durability while decreasing weight. The Mono-6 will be paired with 370mm rotors for most vehicles and 387mm rotors for the R35 GTR. Due to the R35 GTRs high performance, it will utilize the Mono-6 for both front and rear setups. Other applications include Mitsubishi Lancer EVO (CT9A, CZ4A), Subaru Impreza (GDB, GRB), Toyota Supra (JZA80), Infiniti G35, Nissan 350Z, Nissan Skyline (R33, R34) and Porsche 911.
I’m sorry to hear about these brake calipers come out NOW, as Project Evo is fitted with the 2-piece 6-piston Endless calipers. If I had known, I would have waited for these monoblock calipers instead. Thanks, Dom =(
Sourcebox
Endless USA
18421 Gothard Street, Unit 200
Huntington Beach, CA 92648-1236
(714) 847-0694
www.endlessusa.com
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