Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[REPORT: Nissan cancels RWD Silvia successor and GT-R sedan, Prius-fight planned]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/nissan-cancels-rwd-silvia-successor-and-gt-r-sedan-prius-fight/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/nissan-cancels-rwd-silvia-successor-and-gt-r-sedan-prius-fight/http://www.autoblog.com/2009/02/12/nissan-cancels-rwd-silvia-successor-and-gt-r-sedan-prius-fight/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,



We knew this was coming, it was just a matter of getting confirmation. According to Autocar, Nissan has suspended plans to create a compact, rear-wheel-drive successor to the Silvia due to Nissan's financial difficulties and Carlos Ghosn's pledge to reduce costs.

The first indication that Nissan was working on a Silvia/240 replacement came in the form of the Foria concept that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. The Urge design study quickly followed and development of the RWD coupe continued over the following years. We talked to a Nissan exec back in August of 2008 and they were able to confirm that work was still underway, but wouldn't put an exact date on when it would be unveiled.

Another casualty of the financial crisis is the rumored and refuted GT-R-based sedan for Infiniti. Work on the Porsche Panamera fighter has been put on indefinite hold, but it hasn't been cancelled outright. Ghosn wants the automaker to focus its development efforts on producing small- and medium-sized cars, including a Toyota Prius competitor which could arrive as early as next year.

[Source: Autocar]

REPORT: Nissan cancels RWD Silvia successor and GT-R sedan, Prius-fight planned originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 12 Feb 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>200240cancelcancelleddropdroppedgt-rgt-r sedanGt-rSedangtrinfiniti gt-rInfinitiGt-rnissannissan priusnissan silviaNissanPriusNissanSilviapriusThu, 12 Feb 2009 13:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Another one bites the dust: Mitsubishi pulls out of Detroit Auto Show]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/another-one-bites-the-dust-mitsubishi-pulls-out-of-detroit-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/another-one-bites-the-dust-mitsubishi-pulls-out-of-detroit-auto/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/21/another-one-bites-the-dust-mitsubishi-pulls-out-of-detroit-auto/#commentsFiled under: ,



Eight weeks from now, the 2009 Detroit Auto Show will open its doors at Cobo Hall. And... Mitsubishi won't be there. Like a handful of other high-profile manufacturers who have pulled out (including Rolls-Royce, Land Rover, Ferrari, Suzuki, and Porsche), the Japanese automaker based its decision on cost - the market for Mitsubishi automobiles in the Detroit area just isn't significant enough to warrant the expenditure in today's economy. The automaker's move is rather significant as the Detroit show is considered one of the most prestigious in the world. However, skipping the 2009 show doesn't prevent Mitsubishi from coming back in 2010. Regardless of whose left at the show come the second week of January (hey, at least Chinese automaker BYD will exhibit), Autoblog will be there to cover everything in detail.

[Source: Automotive News, subs. req'd]

Another one bites the dust: Mitsubishi pulls out of Detroit Auto Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2009 detroit2009 detroit auto show2009Detroit2009DetroitAutoShowcancelcancelledDetroit auto showDetroitAutoShowdroppedmitsumitsubishino showNoShowremovedFri, 21 Nov 2008 13:30:00 EST<![CDATA[European insurers quit covering Ford and GM suppliers]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/15/european-insurers-quit-covering-ford-and-gm-suppliers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/15/european-insurers-quit-covering-ford-and-gm-suppliers/http://www.autoblog.com/2008/11/15/european-insurers-quit-covering-ford-and-gm-suppliers/#comments

Soaked in bad news, GM and Ford received yet another dousing when their three big European credit insurers dropped them this week. Euler Hermes, Atradius, and Coface have all refused to write policies for suppliers trading with both automakers. The three giant insurance companies control more than 80 percent of the world's credit insurance (insurance companies typically pull their coverage when a client stops proving insurers with enough information to calculate a credit risk, or their overall risk profile has deteriorated). Without their credit cover, suppliers will be forced to either trade uninsured, cease trading, or ask for payment up front. Supply issues aside, this news only compounds the automaker's problems as it also weakens investor confidence, already completely slumped.

[Source: FT, free subs. req'd]

European insurers quit covering Ford and GM suppliers originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 15 Nov 2008 09:18:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AtradiusCancelledCofaceCreditDroppedEuler HermesEulerHermesFordGMInsuranceIssuesPolicySat, 15 Nov 2008 09:18:00 EST<![CDATA[Dealership service doesn't seem so expensive anymore]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/08/dealership-service-doesnt-seem-so-expensive-anymore/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/08/dealership-service-doesnt-seem-so-expensive-anymore/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/11/08/dealership-service-doesnt-seem-so-expensive-anymore/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Poor guy. After wearing out the first set of Goodyear's on his beloved Elise (not hard to do. -Ed.), he figured where better to take it than a Goodyear dealer, right? Especially since his father-in-law had been the service manager there for 10+ years. What could possibly go wrong?

After reviewing the jacking procedures in the manual with the techs, they assured him the car was in good hands. He and his father-in-law left.

About an hour later, the owner got a phone call informing him that there had been an "accident" and he should come back to the store right away. The picture tells the rest.

Click the read link for the entire story in the owners words.

Thanks to Gil for the tip!

[Source: NASIOC.com]

Dealership service doesn't seem so expensive anymore originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Nov 2006 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>droppedEliseGoodyearLotusWed, 08 Nov 2006 19:54:00 EST