Autoblog

Eterniti Artemis "super SUV" officially bows, yours for $334K

Jonathon Ramsey — Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:15:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Performance, SUV, Porsche, UK, Luxury, MISC

As of November 9, 2012 Eterniti Motors, makers of the Artemis (nee Hemera), has a home in Park Royal, London. The company produces its "super SUV" at a facility in London and has opened the 10,000-square-foot atelier, design studio and showroom nearby. Revealed on the night was the production version of the Artemis, the Cayenne-based high-rider brawned up with a 4.8-liter V8 making 600 horsepower and 553 pound-feet of torque.

The Artemis exists to satisfy "a car suitable for chauffeured transport but also for driving pleasure." Hence carbon fiber body panels, 23-inch lightweight wheels on low-pros, the interior of quilted leather, lambswool rugs, reclining and climate-controlled rear seats and a drink chiller with crystal tumblers. We don't know how the driven classes have survived all this time...

The price in all markets but China is the local equivalent of £210,000 ($334K US) plus taxes. A starlight headliner is free, further customization is not. More showrooms are expected to open next year, starting with Hong Kong. The press release below can tell you more.

Continue reading Eterniti Artemis "super SUV" officially bows, yours for $334K

Eterniti Artemis "super SUV" officially bows, yours for $334K originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 13 Nov 2012 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce opens flagship showroom on Long Island

Noah Joseph — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 14:02:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Rolls-Royce, Luxury

A modern Rolls-Royce is big. Really big. The standard-wheelbase Phantom is closer to an full-size SUV in size than it is to an ordinary sedan. And the extended-wheelbase model is an astonishing 20 feet long. Hence, Rolls-Royce needs some big showrooms, and the one you see above is its biggest yet in all of North America.

The new Long Island showroom in the town of Jericho, New York has some 9,200 square feet of floor space. It can display up to eleven vehicles in the main showroom space, and also boasts the largest configuration studio of any Rolls dealership in the world, plus a café and outdoor terrace.

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Rolls-Royce opens flagship showroom on Long Island originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Jun 2012 14:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW opens 8.6-acre flagship showroom in Abu Dhabi

Noah Joseph — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST

Filed under: BMW, Mini, Rolls-Royce, Middle East

Where would you expect to find the largest BMW dealership in the world? At BMW headquarters in Munich? Somewhere in Texas, perhaps, where everything is bigger? Or maybe in California, a state that represents one of the automaker's largest markets? If you're shouting, "No! It's in Abu Dhabi!," you're (A) good at reading headlines and (B) correct.

The Persian Gulf emirate is the location of a new showroom that was just opened this week after a three-year construction project that cost 300 million dirhams - equivalent to over $80 million. All in all, the showroom measures a massive 35,000 square meters. That works out to some 377,000 square feet or 8.6 acres of space, allowing BMW to lay claim to the largest showroom in the world. That's a whole lot of elbow room for the company's 7 Series range, the company's most popular model line in the Middle East.

If you're wondering how even BMW's expansive model lineup could possibly eat up that much room, consider that the location represents the products of the entire BMW Group, including Rolls-Royce, Mini and BMW motorcycles as well as the Bavarian automaker's cars and crossovers. Follow the jump for the full press release and scope out the images in the gallery for a closer look.

Continue reading BMW opens 8.6-acre flagship showroom in Abu Dhabi

BMW opens 8.6-acre flagship showroom in Abu Dhabi originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Last domestic car dealership in San Francisco shuts its doors

Zach Bowman — Wed, 11 May 2011 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Ford, Earnings/Financials

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the very last domestic dealership in the greater San Francisco area closed its doors a little over 10 days ago. Previously, San Francisco Ford, Lincoln, Mercury was the only dealership selling new products with an American badge on the grille in all of the 47.6 square miles of the city (the Chrysler-Jeep dealer shown above went bust in 2008). Ford took over operations at that dealer almost three years ago after the original owners walked away. After talks with various other local franchise owners fell through, Ford has finally cut off the lights for good.

But domestic dealers have faced a tough climate in San Francisco for years thanks to a much larger share of import sales compared to the rest of the country. According to one source quoted by the San Francisco Chronicle, import vehicles outsell their domestic counterparts 4:1 in the Bay area.

Those rare San Francisco domestic owners will now have to travel outside of the city for their factory maintenance and repair, which likely won't do anything to help American manufacturers better their outlook in the near future.

Last domestic car dealership in San Francisco shuts its doors originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 11 May 2011 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rolls-Royce opens its largest showroom yet in Abu Dhabi

Noah Joseph — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Rolls-Royce, Middle East, Luxury

Rolls-Royce showroom Abu Dhabi - Click above for high-res image gallery

The news these days from the Middle East mostly focuses on warfare and revolution, but not in Abu Dhabi. The gulf emirate remains an island of tranquility, and that's where Rolls-Royce has opted to open its largest showroom ever.

The dealership includes some 900 square meters of showroom space - that's nearly 10,000 square feet - incorporating a coffee bar, a customer configuration lounge and enough floorspace to showcase five vehicles in uncluttered opulence. Which is really something, considering that the company currently offers only four variants across two model ranges. There's a service facility adjacent as well. The new Abu Dhabi location is the 82nd in an expanding chain of Rolls-Royce dealers around the world, and the eighth in the Middle East alone.

Gallery: Rolls-Royce showroom Abu Dhabi

[Source: Rolls-Royce]

Continue reading Rolls-Royce opens its largest showroom yet in Abu Dhabi

Rolls-Royce opens its largest showroom yet in Abu Dhabi originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Ford now has more dealers than Chevy for first time in many years

Chris Shunk — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Chevrolet, Ford, GM

2010 was a good year for Ford. The Blue Oval outsold long-time rival Chevrolet by 160,000 units, but that's not the only area where Ford managed a lead over the Bowtie. Ward's Automotive reports that the Dearborn automaker ended the year with 47 more U.S. dealerships than its cross-town nemesis. The General lost 372 dealers during 2010, compared to just 61 for Ford.

Both companies shed a lot more dealers when counting all the brands that fall under their respective umbrellas, and both moves have helped helped remaining retail stores increase profits. In fact, Wards claims that sales are up between 38 and 129 percent per store. But given the atrocious 2009 automakers endured, 2010 looked like a dream year despite the fact that sales were still among the lowest in three decades. In all, there are about 17,660 car dealerships in the U.S. spanning all automakers.

[Source: Ward's Automotive | Image: Paul Sakuma/AP]

Report: Ford now has more dealers than Chevy for first time in many years originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 22 Feb 2011 17:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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What to do with all those empty car dealerships? Why, build a yoga studio, of course!

Michael Harley — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:27:00 EST

Filed under: Earnings/Financials

One needn't be an Autoblog regular to be aware of the fact that the car industry has taken quite a drubbing over the past few years. The slump in our nation's economy has slaughtered sales, leading automakers to shutter thousands of dealerships nationwide. Chrysler Group LLC slashed 789 franchises in June of this year. General Motors has said it will cut 2,400 retail locations of its own by next fall.

With empty dealerships littering the country and a depressed real estate market adding to the opportunity, the Associated Press notes that America's once gleaming new car showrooms are increasingly being converted into food banks, restaurants, day care centers, private residences, and more. Typical automotive showrooms are built sturdy to house heavy vehicles and accommodate high foot traffic. They offer countless windows for plenty of natural light and are generally centrally-located within a commercial community for visibility reasons. In a nutshell, they are near-perfect locations for many entrepreneurs and businesses.

In Oregon, a Catholic Community Services organization runs a food bank warehouse inside a former showroom. In St. Louis, an old dealership is now a classy wedding venue. In Los Angeles, at Golden Bridge Yoga, the aroma of incense has replaced that "new car smell" in a relic automotive showroom. The incessant noise of customers haggling over pricing is gone and the perimeter is no longer strung with posters of shiny late model sedans. The only drone heard today are that of percussive Eastern rhythms... while solemn prayer flags adorn the former showroom walls.

Turning car sales points into new, non-automotive businesses is a trend that's likely to accelerate well beyond the Naughties, so check out the link below to learn more about it, and be sure to drop a line in Comments if you've seen any particularly creative dealership repurposing in your neighborhood.

[Source: Associated Press | Image: Spencer Platt/Getty]

What to do with all those empty car dealerships? Why, build a yoga studio, of course! originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 29 Dec 2009 17:27:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers being scaled out of existence

Michael Harley — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Marketing/Advertising, Ford, Lincoln, Mercury

In 2006, Ford began to shrink its dealership network in order to more efficiently align its distribution network. Three years later, it appears that the hardest hit are the company's stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealerships. While there were 619 Lincoln-Mercury dealerships nationwide just a few years ago, the number had dwindled down to just 357 at the beginning of 2009.

Automotive News recently spoke with Ford CEO Alan Mulally about the future of the Lincoln brand and its stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury stores. While Ford's current strategy is pushing combo Ford-Lincoln-Mercury retailers, Mulally would not confirm that eliminating the stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealerships was the desired end result. When pushed on the question, Mulally reiterated that Ford was focusing on building a distribution network which allowed sales volume, product breadth, and profitability... qualities that are apparently better served by the Ford-Lincoln-Mercury store.

Mulally added that although these combo dealerships will be selling the Lincoln MKS on the same lot as the Ford Taurus (both vehicles share platforms and mechanicals), retailers will learn how to deliver the sales experience that fits the vehicle and differentiates the brand. Whether this concept works or whether car salesmen simply take the easy route and sell the less expensive Ford remains to be seen.

Either way, it has to be asked - is peeling away at the automaker's stand-alone LM dealers part of a larger plan to do away with Mercury altogether? Inquiring minds want to know...

[Source: Automotive News - Sub. Req. | Image: Stephen Brashear/Getty]

REPORT: Stand-alone Lincoln-Mercury dealers being scaled out of existence originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 Nov 2009 18:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: GM preparing to give more dealerships the axe

Jonathon Ramsey — Fri, 29 May 2009 18:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, GM, Pontiac, Earnings/Financials, Rumormill

On top of the 1,124 General Motors dealers that will be closed next year, the ailing automaker is reportedly going to announce another round of dealer closings on Monday when its bankruptcy declaration is expected. According to two Automotive News sources, 450 dealers will not see their dealer franchises renewed. For his part, Mark LaNeve, GM's VP of North American sales, said the number would be "less than half that."

No matter the number, it's more of the same bad-yet-necessary news being spread around. LaNeve notes that the dealers who won't be renewed "have very specific issues" including "specific performance issues." Among them are supposed to be some stores that are skewed exclusively or heavily Pontiac. These dealers will be shutting up shop when their franchise agreements expire in October 2010.

[Source: Automotive News -sub req'd | Image: Mark Ralston/Getty]

REPORT: GM preparing to give more dealerships the axe originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 29 May 2009 18:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Ford offering dealerships for $1

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Ford, Earnings/Financials

Ford's dealer development program works to help people become dealer principles who might not otherwise have the chance. The 64 members of the program, most of them black or Hispanic, are set up with stores by Ford and then buy out Ford's interest in the dealership with revenues. To give them a boost and, presumably, free up Ford money, Automotive News is reporting that Ford is offering dealers in the program an offer they'll have a hard time refusing: complete ownership of their stores for $1.

To take advantage, though, the dealers will need to have private financing for their operating capital in place by September 30. If they can prove to Ford that they have enough private resources, they will take complete control of their stores and Ford will forgive any money the dealer still owes to The Blue Oval. Even though Ford would technically lose money on any dealer who accepted the offer, the automaker would no longer need to be involved in the dealership or in its floorplan financing.

With the state of car sales, there are likely to be dealers who can't take advantage of the program. For those who haven't been able to pay Ford back at all, the decision will be taken on a case-by-case basis about what to do with their stores. For those dealers in good standing who simply can't get outside financing, the arrangement will continue as is.

[Source: Automotive News, sub req'd]

REPORT: Ford offering dealerships for $1 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 22 Apr 2009 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MINI dealers abroad asked to create separate stores

Michael Harley — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:33:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Marketing/Advertising, BMW, Mini

Click above for our John Cooper Works MINI and Clubman high-res gallery

European MINI dealers are being asked to distinguish their stores from the BMW brand by creating a separate showroom for sell the British/Bavarian small-car. This entails new main entrances, and dedicated reception and service desks. While most of the dealers in the United States currently operate in this manner, most European retailers still share space with BMW. If dealers don't move enough volume to justify the investment, they will be dropped. In 2007, there were about 750 MINI retailers in Europe. That number is expected to fall to about 650 by the end of this year (worldwide, MINI has about 1,500 dealers in 70 countries). Unlike nearly all other automakers who are experiencing a sales slump, MINI's global sales are reportedly up more than 12 percent for the first nine months of 2008 -- no doubt credited to their diminutive size and fuel efficient engines.

Gallery: 2008 John Cooper Works MINI and Clubman

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

MINI dealers abroad asked to create separate stores originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hyundai offers scorching deal on Genesis leases

Michael Harley — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:25:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan

Click on the image above for our high-res Hyundai Genesis gallery

To lure buyers towards the all-new 2009 Hyundai Genesis luxury sedan, the Korean automaker is aggressively pricing lease programs. Traditional Hyundai customers choose to lease about 10-12 percent of the time. The Genesis, however, is aimed at a more upscale buyer -- a segment that tends to lease more often (according to Hyundai's estimates, 50 percent of the Genesis customers will lease the new sedan). To drive sales, the standard six-cylinder model, with a base price of about $33,000, will lease for $399/month (24-month lease with $2,199 due at signing). It's a deal that undercuts the Cadillac CTS by nearly $150/month, according to a retailer who sells both. With 80 percent of customers expected to choose the V6 model (we would too), the lease program is bold enough to drive traffic. In case you were wondering, the V8 model won't be in showrooms for another month, and by that time the lease program will have expired.

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

Hyundai offers scorching deal on Genesis leases originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jul 2008 10:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AskPatty.com aims to enhance communication between women, auto dealers

Erin Mays — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:33:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends

It's not a new topic in the automotive industry -- women influence and even directly account for around 80 percent of automotive buying decisions, yet dealers still reportedly look over the woman's shoulders for a husband or father. Despite the industry's best efforts to recruit women salespeople to increase the odds of good communication, almost half of the auto dealerships in the country have no women on staff, and women only make up 8 percent of the sales force, according to the NADA. Dealers have also tried to make showrooms more female-friendly, including installing play areas for kids with toys and children's videos, yet complaints persist -- truth or mere stereotype, so what's a car salesman to do?

Enter AskPatty.com, a female-staffed online publication that seeks to educate women on vehicle buying and car ownership, while identifying female-friendly dealerships after showroom staff complete a training course on how to communicate with women. The training, conducted by Maddox Smye, includes an instructional course, a reading of How to Get Rich Selling Cars and Trucks to Women, and an hour-long test. About 225 dealerships have signed up.

AskPatty isn't all about bridging the gap between Mars and Venus, though -- it's a business as well. Training is $225 per person for 12 months, and dealers shell out $795 a month for certification. If it encourages one salesperson to alter his style, however, it might just be worth it in our book.

[Source: Detroit Free Press]

AskPatty.com aims to enhance communication between women, auto dealers originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 14 Dec 2006 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scion holds showroom design contest

Frank Filipponio — Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:28:00 EST

Filed under: Contests, Etc., Japan, Scion

Chevy might be tapping coeds for its upcoming Super Bowl ads, but Scion is seeking help in the showroom. ScionZone's Nick 06 tC reports that Scion has recently launched a competition for up-and-coming architects and interior designers to develop a complete design concept for a next generation 750-square-foot Scion dealership. Call it Scion 2.0. First prize is five grand so it might be worth a try if you're in the field. Even if you're not, there is enough information at the website to help you put together a decent proposal.

The contest is called Scion Floorplan and has its own website, scionfloorplan.com. At the site you'll find more details about the competition including what your proposal needs to include, judging criteria, and downloadable resources to help you with your entry. Second and third place winners will receive $1,000 and $500, respectively. Submissions will be accepted until November 10th when Scion executives and design firm Commune will begin the judging process.

[Source: ScionZone]

Scion holds showroom design contest originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Sep 2006 19:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW dealership opens inside Kansas mall

Joel Arellano — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:54:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Trends, Marketing/Advertising, BMW

We've all seen cars displayed in malls. Well, Baron BMW of Merriam has taken what it considered as the "next logical step," opening up a BMW showroom in the Oak Park Mall in the city of Overland Park, Kansas (pictured is the Merriam dealership).

Like a conventional dealership, the mall showroom will have computer kiosks and a coffee bar. Other plans include introduction of new vehicles and fashion shows. Finally, a test drive area outside the mall has been prepared for those itching to see how their would-be Bimmers handle the parking lot gymkhana.

Anyone for new socks, some Chik-fil-A and a Z4?

[Source: Kansas City Business Journal]

BMW dealership opens inside Kansas mall originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Infiniti dealers infuriated over losing GT-R

John Neff — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 15:20:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, New York Auto Show, Coupe, Performance, Infiniti, Nissan

How would you feel if one of the most anxiously awaited automotive arrivals in recent history were just swiped from your showroom floor? Infiniti dealers are reacting to Carlos Ghosn's announcement last week that the GT-R, the latest iteration of the company's Skyline sports car designed for total global consumption, would be sold in the U.S. with a Nissan hood ornament. Ghosn cited the fact that brand's North American operations couldn't prove the Infiniti emblem on the GT-R's hood would generate more sales or profits.

Infiniti sales were down a sharp 9 percent in the first quarter of the year and dealers were hoping the GT-R would fill out the brand's narrow lineup (four cars, two SUVs), as well as be a halo vehicle around which the company could rally. All is not lost, however, as the redesigned G35 sedan that debuted at the NY auto show last week was received very well by the press.

[Source: Automotive News via AutoWeek]

Infiniti dealers infuriated over losing GT-R originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 19 Apr 2006 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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