Autoblog

Entourage dead, Hyundai says no to badge engineering

Michael Harley — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:02:00 EST

Filed under: Minivan/Van, Plants/Manufacturing, Hyundai, Kia, Earnings/Financials

When Hyundai dealers complained about not having a minivan in 2006, the automaker reached into the corporate pool and re-badged the Kia Sedona, turning into the Entourage. The timing was poor, as minivan sales plummeted across the board. Last year, sales were down 50% on the Entourage to just 8,400 units (Kia sold 27,000 Sedonas in the same period). It was a brutal lesson, but Hyundai's U.S. CEO John Krafcik says the company learned "why you don't do badge engineering." Needless to say, the plug is being pulled on the Hyundai Entourage later this year. With its sales wounded by the dismissed Hyundai, the Kia Sedona will continue to grace showrooms. For now, at least.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Entourage dead, Hyundai says no to badge engineering originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 10 Apr 2009 18:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GgggM CcCancels heated washer fluid option

Dan Roth — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GM, GMC, Hummer, Saturn

In a move that might frost your cupcakes, General Motors has dropped the heated windshield washer fluid option on all models. The feature was a big part of Buick advertising in the recent past, but GM has either not had enough takers, or there are issues with the OEM for the system components. Either way, you're going to have to chip the ice off the windshield of your brand new Traverse the same way we've done it since the invention of the wheel: cold, freezing, wet, and swearing.

In all honesty, heated washer fluid is better in theory than in practice. It may help a little bit, but the windshield has a lot of "thermal inertia" and the glass is what really needs to be warmed up. Those of us who thought we were smart wrapping the washer fluid line around a radiator hose back in the day discovered this, and now it seems GM has found out the same thing. Maybe Tata could hook The General up with Range Rover's windshield supplier, and we could all rock Lucernes with defroster grids in the front glass. Obviously, cars already built with the system will hit dealerships so equipped, but any vehicles that are pending will have the option deleted and a price adjustment made. Hit the jump to see which vehicles are stricken.

[Source: ChevyTraverseForum | Image: Picasa]

Continue reading GgggM CcCancels heated washer fluid option

GgggM CcCancels heated washer fluid option originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Buh-bye: Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible ends production

Noah Joseph — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:04:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Plants/Manufacturing, Chrysler

There were no eulogies. No bagpipes were played or honor-guard gunshots fired. Few paid any notice, but on December 21, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible passed quietly into the night and was buried. And we doubt many will miss it.

The axing of the ragtop PT is part of the phasing-out of several Chrysler LLC products devised by its new owners in order to cut costs. Earlier we brought you the news that the Chrysler Crossfire ceased production in Germany. Before that, the Chrysler Pacifica ended its lifecycle in November. Although originally only the convertible version of the PT Cruiser was scheduled for execution, reports later suggested that the regular hard-top wagon version could also be discontinued.

While those Chryslers likewise won't be terribly missed, except by small pockets of devoted enthusiasts, the next to lie under the Chrysler LLC guillotine will be the Dodge Magnum, which is being discontinued in March. The gonzo wagon dropped 25% in sales in 2007 over the previous year. As Inside Line points out, however, if you're still keen on getting a Magnum (or a PT convertible, for that matter), some good deals are likely to be had from local dealers eager to sell the last remnants of a dying breed.

[Source: Inside Line]

Buh-bye: Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible ends production originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 06 Jan 2008 15:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIP: MazdaSpeed6 and Mazda6 Sport Wagon killed off for '08

John Neff — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Wagon, Hatchback, Mazda

click above image for high-res pics of the 2007 MazdaSpeed6

Mazda has released details about various changes for its 2008 model line, but only two points of interest concern us. Both the MazdaSpeed6 and Mazda6 Sport Wagon have been discontinued for the 2008 model year. The demise of the Sport Wagon comes at the hands of higher demand for the standard Sports Sedan and Mazda6 5-door. We say too bad, as the Mazda6 Sport Wagon was a kiddie hauler with some attitude, and we're surprised it gets the shaft before the 5-door sedan hatchback model.

If everyone could now take a moment to tip their 40-ounce for the all-wheel-drive MazdaSpeed6... thank you. This was a unique sports sedan, if based only on the fact that it utilized a turbo four-cylinder producing 270 horsepower rather than the more common 3.5L-and-above V6 mills that so many other automakers choose for their sports sedans. Some say it had a harsh ride, we say it was sharp. And the hood bulge, fender-filling wheels and dual-exhaust should tip you off anyway that this isn't milktoast.

One glimmer of hope that was found in Mazda's press release is the fact that the all-new Mazda6 (did you see the spyshots?) will not be a 2008 model, but more likely a 2009. So, if the fates are on our side, and we believe they are, the MazdaSpeed6 will return in a couple of years after the new model debuts and gets settled in. This time, however, we doubt it will packing as few as four cylinders.

[Source: Mazda via Kicking Tires]

Gallery: 2007 MazdaSpeed6

Gallery: 2007 Mazda6 Sport Wagon

Continue reading RIP: MazdaSpeed6 and Mazda6 Sport Wagon killed off for '08

RIP: MazdaSpeed6 and Mazda6 Sport Wagon killed off for '08 originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Jul 2007 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIP: Buick Rainier

Dan Roth — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:07:00 EST

Filed under: SUV, Plants/Manufacturing, Crossover, Buick

As General Motors refines the future of their brands, they're trimming out redundancy and we have a hard time coming up with a more redundant vehicle than the multitude of GMT 360 based 'utes across all the GM brands.

The Buick Rainier is one version of this ubiquitous platform that no longer has any reason for living; thus, production will end during the second quarter of 2007. Buick's plan is to trim the lineup back to three or four models, while focusing on developing and turning them out extremely well. The focus of Buick's future is taking the brand further into luxury, rather than offering everything the other divisions do, but with plusher seats. The buying public has found religion with car-based CUVs, as well, so dropping the Rainier to focus on execution of the Enclave is a shrewd move. Competition from other luxury brands, such as the Lexus RX vehicles, which have been based off car platforms since their inception are preferred by consumers and no amount of niceties inside will make up for the lumbering feel of a body-on-frame truck. Rather than have two vehicles vying for consumers hearts -- and confusing them in the process -- we laud the decision to lay the Rainier to rest.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

RIP: Buick Rainier originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 09 Feb 2007 08:07:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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RIP: Ford Focus Wagon

John Neff — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: Trends, Wagon, Ford

While you may be able to successfully argue that station wagons have made a comeback thanks to such hipster sleds as the Dodge Magnum and SUV-inspired Outbacks from Subaru, the love hasn't spread to the Ford Focus Wagon, which has always been the black sheep of the Focus lineup holding down around 8% of the small car's sales. Thus, Ford announced on its fleet website that it will be discontinuing the Focus Wagon in December. While Ford is actually increasing Focus production as a whole to meet the U.S. market's newfound demand for small cars, it's decided to spend its resources on the high volume Focus sedan, 3-door and 5-door hatchback models. Though the Focus lineup will now be down to three models by the end of the year, soon enough the heavily revised 2008 Focus will appear and a two-door coupe will join the ranks in place of the discontinued wagon.

[Source: Ford Fleet via LLN]

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RIP: Ford Focus Wagon originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 03 Oct 2006 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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