It is back to the basics for General Motors! With a handful of marquee brands left under its wing, this is the best approach they are going to have to take. General Motors has been on rocky waters and apparently the need for a new strategy to gain its competitive nature once again is seen as the best choice.

At the moment, their remaining brands include the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC. With four brands under its wing, the best thing to do is re-study the state of these brands and highlight the features that can make them marquee models once again.

Given a new lease of life, General Motors may do well by showing how its vehicles perform and by staking out stronger identities for the brands. In short, the new GM can be likened to starting out their business as if it was their first day of operations. This includes planning as well to make sure that this time around, the new GM will be deadlier and better than the old one.

(Source) Fox Business

Tags: best choice, buick cadillac, cadillac chevrolet, car brand, fox, General Motors, GM, GMC, handful, models, new lease, new strategy

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As far as their site is concerned, CarMax can confirm the wandering thoughts on which cars are being searched for today. And the two popular cars are the hybrid and diesel vehicles, two cars that cater to cheaper fuel that is easy on the pockets.

This is not entirely surprising considering that this trend has been all over the news and rampant among automotive discussions. People are becoming wiser, turning to these vehicles mainly because fuel is getting costlier by the day. Motorists are shifting towards alternative vehicles but you can be assured that a lot of the famous car brand names still come up.

Popular hybrid vehicles on carmax.com include the Toyota Prius, Lexus RX400h and the Honda Civic hybrid while popular diesel vehicles include the Ford F350, Dodge Ram 3500 and the Volkswagen Jetta TDI.

As you can see, the big name cars are still there. This stems from the fact that these auto manufacturers were ready since the whole fuel issue hit us. So with this post, you now have a guide for yourself in case you are looking for a reliable car to use.

(Source) Press

Tags: auto manufacturers, car brand, carmax, diesel vehicles, dodge ram 3500, ford f350, honda civic, honda civic hybrid, hybrid vehicles, lexus rx400h, motorists, pockets, popular cars, toyota prius, two cars, volkswagen jetta, volkswagen jetta tdi

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After a tumultuous couple of months clouding the popular car brand, General Motors is now ready to stand up once again, starting a new chapter with a new and supposedly better GM in the U.S. auto industry. Among the highlights of the new GM include leaner greener models and now 61% owned by the U.S. government.

The debts have been cleared and the business continues. But if GM is not careful in its strategic approach, they may end up falling short of attaining goals they have. Apparently, these are only some things they have to watch out for.

With a grueling economy and people choosing to shy away from new car purchases for now, GM has its work cut out for them. New marketing approaches and wiser cars for the conservative motorists have to be done if GM wants to make the new company fare better than the old one.

“It is the smaller, leaner, tougher, better cost-focused GM,” said George Magliano, an automotive analyst with the consulting firm IHS Global Insight. “But they still have to deal with the problems that they faced longer-term.”

(Source) Yahoo News

Tags: auto industry, car brand, car purchases, consulting firm, debts, economy, General Motors, global insight, GM, marketing approaches, models, motorists, new car, new chapter, new marketing

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Their brands have been reliable and if there are secrets to be revealed on why their quality is something to be envious about, it can all be summed up to dedication and quality as far as car manufacturing for car buyers is concerned. Taking out the best for most cars lies heavily on how they are able to put together vehicles that showcase and uphold their products. And for Volkswagen and Ford, this has been proven before and continue to do so until this day.

“In today’s difficult market, the difference between products that generate consideration, build brands and increase sales versus those that do not is often how much delight and love the product generates with its customers,” says Dr. Darrel Edwards, Chairman of Strategic Vision.

Indeed, you can simply ask yourself which car brand you would ideally prefer, given the freedom to choose. These two brands, Ford and Volkswagen, have been around. To this day, they have proven themselves as worthy vehicles for consideration, something that most motorists are sure to prefer if they could afford them.

(Source) Press

Tags: car brand, car buyers, Cars, dedication, edwards, Ford, freedom, motorists, showcase, strategic vision, volkswagen

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Controversial General Motors is sitting on pins and needles lately. Bankrupt seems to be their middle name these days although they are pinning their hopes on one car to help bring them some light in the midst of the darkest hour of their legacy. And the car tasked to bring in some glory to the embattled GM brand is the 2010 Buick LaCrosse.

The 2010 Buick LaCrosse is GM’s entry to compete with the likes of Acura, Lexus and Toyota models as far as midsized luxury sedans are concerned. Though it has become a familiar car for gated Florida retirement communities, GM is hoping for one last push for the sagging American car brand.

The car comes with a choice of two V-6 engines or a four-cylinder one that gets up to 30 mpg on the highway. The larger 3.6-liter engine puts out 280 horsepower and should go from zero to 60 mph in less than 7 seconds, according to Buick.

“Buick definitely has a significant challenge,” she said. “It is a brand that for over 100 million Americans, a combination of Generation X and Generation Y, it’s a tainted brand.”

GM, though, isn’t going for the next generation just yet. Its target market for the LaCrosse, according to Bierley, is people in their mid-40s and 50s. Those are people likely to have the money to buy it, with a base price of US$27,835.

(Source) Stuff

Tags: Buick, buick lacrosse, car brand, florida retirement communities, General Motors, generation x, horsepower, luxury sedans, toyota models

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Count another falling brand under the GM logo sold. The latest car brand made famous by General Motors has been officially sold to Koenigsegg Automotive AB, a tiny company that produces only a dozen custom-made super cars a year.

GM bought a 50 percent stake in Saab for $600 million in 1990 and acquired the rest for $125 million in 2000. GM CEO Fritz Henderson said GM could build another car for the Saab brand. “Based on the preliminary plan, we expect the buyer to ask GM to build the 9-4x,” Henderson told reporters during an online chat Tuesday. “We will also provide support in terms of powertrain and other technologies.”

While the task to rebuild the Saab brand seems like a daunting task, Koenigsegg has been known to be successful without the expensive modes of advertising and promotions. Can you imagine a car company that does not advertise prices but is doing good in the business? That alone speaks highly of what the company can do to turn around the sagging fortunes of the Saab.

No financial figures have been revealed but many speculate the deal to be a virtual giveaway. The deal is expected to be finalized by the third quarter of the year.

(Source) CBS News

Tags: car brand, car company, Cars, daunting task, fortunes, General Motors, GM, gm logo, koenigsegg, modes, percent stake, powertrain, promotions, Saab, tiny company

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Thanks to its fleet of vehicles committed towards curbing down carbon emissions and providing an improved fuel-efficient lineup, Vauxhall’s ecoFlex vehicles have been lauded by Fleet World. Vauxhall has some notable vehicles under its wing that includes the Vauxhall Insignia and Astra ecoFlex, which have so far done their part in contributing towards an eco-friendly environment.

‘With its ecoFLEX range, Vauxhall has committed to reducing fuel consumption and CO2 emissions in cars with conventional internal combustion engines: It achieves this through clever technological and aerodynamic innovation. The aim is, quite simply, to make highly efficient vehicles available at affordable prices.

Without a doubt, Vauxhall has achieved all that. And with their vehicles going green, it should not be surprising why this car brand may be one of the car companies to run to especially if you are planning to get into the eco-friendly driving bit.

(Source) Easier.com

Tags: Astra, car brand, carbon emissions, Cars, co2 emissions, ecoflex, fleet world, Insignia, internal combustion engines, reducing fuel consumption, Vauxhall

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Opel is on the block and while there are a lot of potential companies vying for ownership of the German-based can manufacturer, it seems likely that the winner will be one of its allies in GAZ of Russia. Considered to be one of the cheapest yet reliable brands in the car industry, Opel is a car brand name known globally.

However, Opel is also having its share of problems and apparently, the need for new management and owners seems to be feasible option if Opel is to stay in the market.

The Opel dealership in Moscow sells family cars as well as sport and luxury autos – from the newest top-of-the-range Insignia, to the small and sporty Corsa hatchback.

(Source) Russia Today

Tags: allies, brand name, car brand, car industry, corsa, family cars, gaz, Insignia, luxury autos, moscow, Opel

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If reports hold true, we may be seeing the official demise of the Pontiac. General Motors has reportedly decided to pull the plug on the classic vehicle line, a sign which clearly shows that GM is in a deep hole. General Motors is preparing to announce that the Pontiac car brand, once marketed as GM’s “Excitement division,” will be killed off, according to a source familiar with the decision.

An official announcement is expected Monday. GM spokesman Jim Hopson declined to comment on Pontiac’s fate, saying the automaker has no announcements to make at this time.

In its most recent “viability plan” – which will be updated to reflect this new brand cut – Pontiac was not named as one of GM’s four “core brands.” Those are Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac. But Pontiac was also not to be killed or sold off, as were Saturn, Saab and Hummer. Instead Pontiac was to continue on as a “niche brand” focusing on just a few models.

That was already a step down for Pontiac which, in 2008, was the third-best selling brand behind Chevrolet and GMC. That year the brand sold more than Cadillac and twice as many vehicles as Buick. Cadillac is a high-profile – and high profit – luxury brand while Buick is a hugely popular brand in China and is seen as seen as resurgent in the U.S.

Today’s Pontiac is part of GM’s Buick-Pontiac-GMC brand channel, created in 2002, with the plan being that all three brands would be sold in combined dealerships. GMC would, as always, sell trucks and SUVs, Buick would sell value-oriented luxury models and Pontiac would sell less expensive, fun-to-drive cars.

(Source) CNN

Tags: automaker, buick cadillac, buick gmc, buick pontiac, car brand, chevrolet buick, classic vehicle, gm spokesman, jim hopson, luxury brand, luxury models, pontiac car, pontiac general motors, pontiac gmc

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Toyota is not exempted from the declining car buying market as they found that out through figures on sales for their $64,000 Lexus LS sedan and $67,000 Lexus SC Coupe. Demand for the best-selling luxury car brand in the U.S. dropped 37 percent in the first quarter, led a 43 percent plunge in sales of the costliest car models. The company has sacrificed profit margins to stanch the decline.

Toyota had its first annual loss in six decades as the global recession decimates auto sales. Surging incentives at other luxury brands including Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, Daimler AG and Audi AG has forced the Toyota City, Japan-based carmaker to more than quadruple discounts on Lexus models in the last two years, according to Edmunds.com.

U.S. Lexus sales shrank 27 percent in Toyota’s fiscal year that ended March 31, versus a combined 23 percent drop for Toyota and Scion models. While the premium line accounts for 12 percent of Toyota’s overall U.S. volume, analysts estimate it has generated a much larger portion of profit.

(Source) Bloomberg

Tags: audi ag, bayerische motoren werke, bayerische motoren werke ag, car brand, car models, carmaker, daimler ag, down economy, edmunds, global recession, lexus ls, lexus models, lexus sc, line accounts, luxury brands, luxury car, profit margins, toyota city, toyota lexus

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Texans can now get closer to owning an Aston Martin with this announcement that Aston Martin North America, in partnership with John Eagle Dealerships, is pleased to announce the appointment of an Aston Martin franchised dealership in Austin, Texas. The move signals the continued expansion of the independent luxury sports car brand in Texas and across North America.

Aston Martin of Austin will be the 36th Aston Martin dealership to open in North America. John Eagle Dealerships, who own and operate the award-winning Aston Martin of Dallas, has announced Sonny Morgan as Dealer Principal of the Austin franchise. Sonny previously held the position of President, Aston Martin of Dallas and has now relocated to Austin to oversee the development and operation of the latest Aston Martin dealership in Texas.

Sales will commence in April from a new state-of-the-art 10,000 sq. ft. showroom with dedicated service facility, located on Research Boulevard, to the North of the city. This new facility is nestled in the beautiful hill country, which is the perfect place to experience Aston Martin’s range of handcrafted high performance sports cars, including the flagship DBS, elegant DB9 and iconic V8 Vantage.

(Source) Press

Tags: Aston Martin, austin texas, car brand, db9, luxury sports car, texans, v8 vantage

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Toyota has added another twist to its popular car brand line Innova. Traditionally we all know the Toyota Innova to run on gas and diesel fuel but today, Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) introduced the Innova CNG in India.

“Toyota is an environment conscious company committed to the cause of nurturing and protecting nature in its myriad forms. With CNG having established itself as an eco-friendly, reliable and economic fuel, TKM is pleased to announce India’s first ever energy efficient MPV in India. This is yet another step in our efforts to make the environment more inhabitable.”

The CNG Innova will be priced at around Rs 85000 higher than the current petrol version.

It can be recalled that the growing fuel costs have compelled every car maker to come up with an alternative fuel option cars in the market. There has been a surge in demand for such model in markets like India which are extremely price sensitive.

(Source) A Pakistan News

Tags: alternative fuel, car brand, Cars, CNG, diesel fuel, fuel costs, fuel option, India, mpv, Toyota, toyota innova, toyota kirloskar motor

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Fiat is making a timely re-entry into the U.S. car scene as it has technically bought a 35% stake into Chrysler. The deal was not cash-based and is pending government approval.

Chrysler was to get smaller vehicles from the deal while Fiat would gain access to the various retailers, allowing it to strategically place itself in marketing to a promising market looking for small cars.

If all goes as planned, the consumer gets better vehicles from Chrysler and a return to U.S. sales by Fiat’s legendary Alfa Romeo sports car brand. Chrysler is expected to use Fiat platforms as the basis of a new generation of compact, subcompact, and perhaps midsize cars.

In addition to providing North American dealers and assembly capacity, Chrysler could supply Fiat with the large-car platform it needs to build credible luxury sedans when the next generation of Chrysler’s acclaimed 300C and Charger rear- and all-wheel-drive cars go into production

(Source) Freep

Tags: Alfa Romeo, assembly capacity, car brand, Chrysler, Fiat, luxury sedans, midsize cars, Sports Car

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