Archives for April 2013

The 7 Greatest Top Gear Moments!

April 30, 2013 by Alexander Johnson Leave a Comment

There’s something epic about Top Gear. Absorbing a huge budget and sending three hapless English petrolheads around the world on increasingly ridiculous quests, the programme has been keeping its viewers extremely entertained since its relaunch in 2002. It’s a global phenomenon and should be recognised as such.

But through all the drama, the banter, the controversy, the speed, the explosions, the jokes, and the cars, this list represents the very best of Top Gear. It’s what has kept audiences thrilled for all these years, and what keeps us coming back for more. Here’s our take on the seven episodes we reckon make Top Gear the most popular TV show… in the world.

1. The Peel P50 in Television Centre

Top Gear: Peel P50 by Blogpaedia on Flickr It might not have been the most spectacular but it certainly ranks among the most memorable. Jeremy Clarkson piloted the tiny Peel P50 – the world’s smallest production car – around the streets of London and into BBC Television Centre. Dwarfed by even a Mini Cooper, the Peel P50 was at home in the winding corridors of Britain’s iconic broadcasting hub.

Cars involved: Peel P50

Best bit: Clarkson’s accidental appearance on BBC News

2. Trying to Destroy a Toyota Hilux

It’s well-known that the Toyota Hilux is a robust piece of machinery. They’re popular with farmers, gamekeepers and, as Clarkson pointed out, the Taliban, for precisely this reason. The 90s shape remains one of the most instantly recognisable cars of modern times.

That wasn’t enough for Clarkson and company, however. They wanted to test whether its reputation was earned, and whether the Hilux really was indestructible. To do this they conducted a number of very ordinary scientific tests oh, you know leaving it on a beach while the tide was coming in, setting it on fire, dropping a caravan on it – but it was the final test that makes this episode one of the most brilliant.

The Toyota Hilux survived a huge block of flats being demolished beneath it. After falling to the ground it took only basic mechanical intervention before the engine roared into life – the Hilux in question remains on display in the Top Gear studio.

Cars involved: Toyota Hilux pickup

Best bit: The battered machine’s return to the studio, damaged but still rolling.

3. Driving the Then-new Land Rover Discovery up a Mountain

Looking back, this challenge was rather tame. Appearing alongside the Dodge Viper SRT10 and the Rinspeed Splash back in November 2004, the then-new Land Rover Discovery was a technological marvel. This episode showed Clarkson drive one to the top of Cnoc an Fhreiceadain (Scotland) against a musical backdrop of Holst’s Jupiter. Classic on every level.

Cars involved: Land Rover Discovery

Best bit: The summit

4. Driving to the North Pole

Top Gear has broken a lot of records (and other things) so it’s no real surprise that they were the first to drive to the North Pole. But you’d expect Jeremy Clarkson and James May cooped up in their car to have more hilarious fallings-out.

Instead, they tackled the challenge with a grace and competence not demonstrated in any Top Gear episode before or since. Sure, there were uncertain moments (they could hear the ice cracking beneath the car) and a few times when May clearly wished he was somewhere else (some quality time on the towbar-mounted lavatory seat while Clarkson had the keys was a questionable idea) but the boys were ultimately successful in their quest to drive to the North Pole.

Cars involved: Toyota Hilux ‘Invincible’

Best bit: The fact that Hammond was racing them on a dog sled

5. Crossing the Channel in Amphibious Cars

Top Gear: amphibious car The boys had been given an amphibious car challenge before. Their task had been to cross a lake in home-made machines that could drive on the public road and also be used in water. Hammond’s ‘Dampervan’ – a bizarre Volkswagen-narrowboat hybrid – began to sink almost immediately and May’s sail-powered Triumph Herald was prone to drifting into reeds. Clarkson’s Toyboata had properly worked, only to be capsized during a moment of exuberance mere yards from the finish. May’s Triumph somehow triumphed.

This time, the boys took their task more seriously. May’s attempt was still rubbish and Hammond’s craft sank again, but after a number of attempts (and a run-in with the port police) the Toyboata prevailed. Clarkson, May and Hammond successfully ‘sailed’ from the old Hovercraft terminal in Kent to a beach somewhere in France – using a modified Hilux and an outboard motor.

Cars involved: Triumph Herald, Volkswagen Campervan, Toyota Hilux

Best bit: The boys arriving on a French beach in front of bemused locals

6. ‘Properly’ Testing the Ford Fiesta

Clarkson frequently laments the letters the programme receives, many of which ask for more sensible reviewing of ordinary cars. In the case of the famous Ford Fiesta test, he responded to one particular piece of correspondence with the proper review to end all proper reviews.

With the needs of the public in mind, Clarkson demonstrates the Fiesta’s prowess at outmanoeuvring baddies in a blacked-out Corvette during a chase through a shopping centre. He then goes on to prove its abilities as a landing craft during a military invasion exercise. Truly informative.

Cars involved: Ford Fiesta, Chevrolet Corvette

Best bit: Handbrake turn through British Home Stores

7. The Reliant Robin Spaceship

A truly spectacular piece of television, featuring all the elements that make Top Gear so great – ridiculousness, perseverance, enormous ambition and a truly gargantuan budget. This time, the boys had set their sights beyond the horizon – they wanted to build a space shuttle.

Choosing the Reliant Robin because it looks most like the NASA-built Shuttle, Clarkson, May and Hammond set to work on what would be one of the most spectacular Top Gear failures ever. The project was finished, the launch was set, the countdown began, the ship launched…

Everything appeared to be going smoothly until the Reliant failed to separate from the fuel tank. Rather than gliding gently to terra firma as predicted, the whole ‘spaceship’ crashed into the ground in an enormous fireball.

This episode epitomises the unofficial Top Gear mantra – ambitious, but rubbish.

Cars involved: Reliant Robin

Best bit: The explosion, obviously

Author Information

This article was written by Alex Johnson, a freelance writer and Top Gear fan working on behalf of MORE TH>N car insurance. MORE TH>N might not cover all the vehicles mentioned in this article – especially the amphibious ones ????

Image credits

Peel P50 by Blogpaedia on Flickr

James May’s Amphibious Car by bombhead on Flickr.

Revealed: 2014 Toyota 4Runner

April 29, 2013 by admin 4 Comments

The fifth generation Toyota 4Runner has been revealed, a midsize sport utility vehicle with standard seating for five or optional seating for seven. Like each model built to date, the all-new Toyota 4Runner features body-on-frame construction, an arrangement that makes it possible for the optional 44 model to handle off-road duty with ease.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Toyota used the 2013 Stagecoach Music Festival as the venue for revealing the 2014 Toyota 4Runner this past weekend. The automaker sponsors this annual event set in Indio, Calif., held some 30 minutes from Palm Springs. The new model is offered in three trim levels: SR5, Limited and Trail.

One engine and transmission combination is offered across the Toyota 4Runner line. A 4.0-liter V-6 engine is paired with a five-speed automatic transmission with a transfer case. This engine generates 270 horsepower and 278 foot-pounds of torque, making use of variable valve timing to optimize torque. It is the same powertrain combination found in the fourth generation model.

Estimated fuel economy for the 2014 Toyota 4Runner is 17 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway for 42 models and 17 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway for 44 models. This model takes regular grade gasoline.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Exterior and Interior Changes

Exterior changes for the Toyota 4Runner include a more robust grille, smoked headlamps and optional color-keyed grille insert with fog lamps. Color-keyed bumpers, over fenders and a hood scoop are among the defining characteristics of this muscular model.

Projector beam headlamps and LED light treatments are new. Both SR5 and Trail editions sit on 17-inch alloy wheels; the Limited edition gets 20-inch painted black alloy wheels. For 2014, a roof rack is standard across the model line.

Inside, soft touch materials are evident throughout the cabin with leather touches standard on the steering wheel and the shift knob. Standard fabric seating gives way to leather seating with the Limited edition.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Model Convenience Features

Standard equipment includes a manually-controlled air conditioning system, upgraded to an automatic, dual-zone system with the Toyota 4Runner Limited. An eight-way power driver seat is standard; ventilated driver and front passenger seats are included with the Limited edition. Lumbar support and heating capabilities are standard with the Limited.

Convenience features offered across the Toyota 4Runner line include second row fold-flat seats, a 120-volt power outlet and a pair of 12-volt outlets. Entune Audio Plus, Toyotas multimedia system, is standard and comes with eight speakers, integrated SiriusXM satellite radio, a USB port, iPod connectivity, Bluetooth capability and music streaming. Choose the 4Runner Limited and a Premium JBL audio system is included.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Safety and Handling

The 2014 Toyota 4Runner employs a double-wishbone independent front suspension and a four-link rear suspension. This model is outfitted with variable-flow rack-and-pinion steering, with coil springs over gas shocks used at all four wheels to provide optimum ride and handling.

Standard safety features include eight air bags, anti-lock brakes, electronic brake-force distribution, traction control, stability control, brake assist and a brake override system. Front active headrests are standard.

A safety connect telematics system is available, one that provides automatic collision notification, stolen vehicle location, an emergency assistance button and roadside assistance.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

Toyota 4Runner Warranty

Every 2014 Toyota 4Runner is covered by a 36-month/36,000 mile bumper-to-bumper. A pair of 60-month warranties provide powertrain coverage for 60,000 miles and corrosion coverage with no mileage limitation. Toyota Care, a complimentary maintenance and roadside assistance plan has buyers covered for two years or 25,000 miles, whichever comes first.

The Toyota 4Runner competes in a segment where its competitors have largely abandoned body-on-frame construction for a unibody design. The Dodge Durango, Ford Explorer, Jeep Grand Cherokee and Nissan Pathfinder have all made the switch, leaving the 4Runner as one of the last SUVs of its kinds. And with its 5,000-pound towing capacity, Toyota hopes buyers will take notice, by providing perhaps the best combination of on-road usability and off-road utility in its segment.

2014 Toyota 4Runner

See Also — First Drive: 2014 Toyota 4Runner

Photos courtesy of Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.

Will This Buick Riviera Concept Become a Reality?

April 28, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

Buick just cannot lose the Riviera model name. No surprise there as the Buick Riviera is one of the most heralded appellations in the Buick brand’s 110-year history.

Buick Riviera Concept

Auto Shanghai 2013

At Auto Shanghai 2013, Buick took the wraps off of the latest iteration of a Riviera concept, what Buick says is a “preview of Buick’s future design language.” If it is, you can expect to see big changes in future model designs perhaps encompassing models such as the LaCrosse, Regal and Verano sedans.

The Buick Riviera concept, however, is a coupe and its designers say that it was inspired by the dynamic nature of water. Running water, to be precise. GM’s Shanghai design team and the Pan Asia Technical Automotive Center (PATAC) jointly designed the concept, taking inspiration from the Chinese saying: “The greatest good is like water.”

Said Ed Welburn, GM vice president of global design, “Riviera is a design study of the future expression of Buick design with its elegant athletic shape, sculptural beauty, and precision execution.” Welburn also stated that the Riviera design points to future Buick products, its technologies to grace those models as well.

Gull-Wing Buick Riviera

But it is still a concept and that means that despite the dazzle, we may not see certain characteristics on a production model including its gull-wing doors. Or its front floating seat design. Then again, its four-wheel steering, electromagnetic-controlled suspension and air spring package could very well roll out. As might its 4G LTE networking capabilities.

Safety is also a feature of this dream model as 10 high-resolution cameras and 18 micro high-precision sensors collect traffic information and employ distance monitoring respectively. The information is then displayed in a holographic image onto the windshield. Futuristic shades of Star Trek, eh?

Buick Riviera Concepts

So, why the infatuation with Riviera name? Its style, mostly. Unlike virtually everything else that Buick was producing, the Riviera fairly consistently presented a look that combined sportiness with flair, a halo model of sorts that gave car shoppers a reason to give Buick a closer look. An anti-Roadmaster of sorts.

Produced from 1963 to 1999, the Riviera’s absence has been felt even as Buick tries to breathe fresh life into this premium brand. Some have seen that fresh life coming from Opel, supplier of the current Buick Regal and builder of the Cascada, itself marked possibly as a future Buick Riviera model for North American consumption.

Buick Riviera Concept

Photos courtesy of General Motors Company.

How to Dispute an Auto Insurance Claim Payout

April 27, 2013 by admin 2 Comments

Getting in a car accident is a hassle enough, but when your auto insurer fights you over its claim payout, it can be just like getting injured all over again.

Claim Payout Dispute

As a consumer, you have every right to question your claim payout, but you to exercise both patience and resolve as you address this problem. For a minor accident, you may find that it is simply not worth disputing with your car insurance company. For a major accident, fighting back may spell the difference between getting a new car or being stuck with the one you’re currently driving.

insurance claim payout Let’s take a look at several steps you can take to win your claim payout battle:

1. Review your insurance policy. Yes, car insurance people make mistakes. No, you’re not immune from making mistakes yourself.

The first step is to review your policy to learn what is covered and what is not. You may not be aware that you have a $1,000 deductible instead of the usual $500 deductible, thus the lower claim payout check. Your insurer spells out the claims procedure, explaining how long it takes for claims to be made and how long you have to challenge the claim payout.

2. Contact a third party. Your insurer sends an in-house appraiser to review your car’s damages, thus that appraiser’s findings are usually final. But, not always.

You may be allowed to use your own claim adjuster, an individual that works for you, to file his own claim amount. Your insurer will then review the findings from both adjusters and may give you more money based on the latter’s findings.

3. Mediate or arbitrate your claim payout. You can sue your insurance company in a bid to obtain a better claim out, but keep in mind that you will have to go to court. A court case can drag out, while mediation or arbitration can be handled swiftly. Moreover, you need not be present to handle this — your lawyer can do it for you.

Mediation and arbitration keep you out of the court and can be resolved amicably between the two parties. On the other hand, a lawsuit may create a hostile atmosphere and take longer to resolve. Contact your attorney about your legal options.

Claim Considerations

It isn’t your insurance company’s wish to drag out your insurance claim or claim payout request. Settling this matter outside of court is important too as your insurer must pay for legal representation. Document your dealings with your insurance company and, if you can prove that damage was substantially more than what the insurer says that it was, then offer copies of your findings to prove your viewpoint.

See Also — Hail Damage and Your Car Insurance

Private Party Car Sale Legal Responsibilities

April 26, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Private Party Car Sale

A private party car sale should be a simple matter, right? After all, if the odometer reading is correct, there shouldn’t be any legal problems. Still, there are a few matters you will want to ensure are taken care of before you sell a car to another individual.

Avoid problems when selling your car to a private party.

Your Cars Worth

Before you market your car, you need to know what it is worth. You can determine your cars current value by visiting Kelley Blue Book.

Once youre on the KBB site, choose Whats my current car worth and then select I plan to sell it myself. From there, you will plug in some information about the car including its model year, make, model and mileage. Next, select the cars style before checking off the boxes for its options. Click See Blue Book Value and you will review prices based on the cars condition: excellent, very good, good and fair. Choose the value that corresponds with your car and use that amount as a basis for selling your vehicle.

Review Your Vehicle

The KBB price may not give you a precise value for your car. For instance, a limited edition coupe might be valued higher while a gas hogging full-size SUV could be harder to sell. Check online ads for sales of similar models to gauge whether your price is right or if it should be adjusted.

You should also review your car carefully for potential problems that a buyer might notice such as old tires, faded paint, torn seats, a worn out muffler, an aged battery, fogged over headlamps and more. Consider fixing these items before you sell your car or be prepared to subtract the cost of these repairs when you nail down your price.

Prep Your Vehicle

You’ll be selling your vehicle as is. That does not mean it has to look anything less than a really great car.

Vacuum the interior, wipe down all surfaces and test all components to ensure that everything is in working order. That means checking the air-conditioner, the audio system, power accessories and the navigation system if you have one.

Outside, the car should be washed, waxed and detailed. Remove road surface tar, polish the wheels, wipe down the tires and check the entire cars surface for scratches, dents and blemishes that you can touch up. Clean out the trunk, check all lights to ensure that they are functioning and take your car for a spin with the audio system off, listening for problems.

Market Your Vehicle

There are several ways for you to get the word out about your car. Placing for sale signs on it when it is parked is a good start provide a contact number and whatever other information you wish to provide.

You can also place an ad online to attract interest. Both eBay and Craigslist are popular sites for car sellers be as detailed as possible and post multiple pictures of the cars exterior, interior, under the hood, trunk and other key features. List your asking price, mileage, make/model/year and other details. Be thorough and honest you want to attract people that are interested in your car.

Receive Potential Buyers

Once your car is marketed, you will begin to attract people that are interested in finding out more. You need to be forthcoming with buyers, sharing what you know about the vehicle including its repair history, accidents or anything else that needs to be made known.

For serious buyers, they will want to test drive the car. But first, you may want to drive the car with the potential buyer in it, demonstrating how the car operates and pointing out various features. Then, pull over and allow this individual to drive with you in the passenger seat or in the back seat if a spouse is present. You can outline the route that you want this person to take and you should verify that this person has a valid drivers license before allowing him to get behind the wheel.

Weigh Offers

If someone is interested in buying your car, he will make an offer once he is satisfied that you have answered his questions. That offer will likely come in less than your asking price, so determine in advance what your floor price is and stick with it.

If you missed a problem and a mechanic verifies that work needs to be done, consider splitting this cost with the buyer. Serious buyers will settle on a price as soon as possible knowing that if you turn them down, you may have another buyer waiting in the wings.

Close the Deal

As you prepare to seal the deal, there are a few things you will want to keep in mind to protect yourself legally. Senen Garcia, a Florida attorney, advises that the deal be done in writing, that the seller encourage the buyer to inspect the vehicle (and noting this in the contract), and being careful not to misrepresent any facts regarding the vehicle.

Accept cash, but never accept a personal check. A certified check should be cashed at your bank before you release your car. You can also accept a money order, but me mindful that there are fake versions out there.

Lastly, once the title has been transferred, remove your personal documentation and vehicle tags. Return the tags to DMV and contact your insurance company to cancel coverage.

See Also — How to Check for Flood-Damaged Cars

Great Wall Motors Headed to the United States

April 25, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

Chinese cars began to arrive in the United States a few years ago and below nearly everyone’s radar. CODA Automotive, a privately-held electric vehicle manufacturer based in California, was one of the first companies to sell Chinese cars in America, sourcing knock down kits and electric batteries from China and building these vehicles in northern California.

Great Wall Motors

While CODA hasn’t lived up to its own expectations, another Chinese manufacturer is pragmatically considering selling its own vehicles directly in the United States, perhaps by securing a plant in the states and building locally. Great Walls Motor Co,, wants to enter the US car market and is weighing the possibility of selling an SUV reports Automotive News.

Great Walls Motors Haval H6 Those plans are in the early stages with Great Wall president Wang Fengying acknowledging that the company must study US safety and emissions laws first as well as consumer preferences before entering the market. Still, the company is looking at building SUVs in the United States, a move that reflects its current position as the top SUV manufacturer in China.

US Dealer Network

Like other companies before it, Great Wall would need to establish its own dealer network and set up a marketing program. Great Wall sells most of its SUVs under the Haval brand and used the backdrop of the 15th Shanghai Automobile Industry Exhibition (Auto Shanghai 2013) to make known its plans. That exhibition kicked off last weekend with a press preview; the public show runs through April 29.

Haval H6

Earlier this year Great Wall Motors separated Haval, making it a stand-alone brand. Thus, the Great Walls Haval H6 is now simply known as the Haval H6 (pictured), representing just one of five SUV models the brand currently sells. Its SUV penetration keeps it ahead of joint ventures from Hyundai and Volkswagen, as well as Toyota and Honda.

First quarter sales in China measured 89,689 units with sales increasing by 85 percent in March year-over-year. Besides its Great Wall and Haval brands, the company sells pickup trucks under its Wingle brand.

The Great Wall Motor Company claims that it has exported its vehicles to more than 100 countries and currently has over 800 overseas sales networks operating in more than 80 countries. Great Wall does build some of its vehicles abroad, shipping fully- and semi-knocked-down to factories in Indonesia, Russia, Iran, Egypt, Bulgaria and Ecuador for final assembly reports Automotive News.

Looking Ahead

Two plus years is a short time frame to secure a plant, assemble a dealer network and pass required US crash and emissions testing. Still, Ms. Fengying says that the company has been studying the US market for two years and may be ready to move forward with its plans beginning later this year.

Photo courtesy of Great Wall Motors Co.

Toyota: A Stateside Lexus and an SUV Music Festival Debut

April 24, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

2013 Lexus ES 350.

Toyota has been doing things quite a bit differently of late. On Friday, the Japanese car manufacturer announced that it was shifting production of its Lexus ES sedan to the United States. This Saturday, Toyota will introduce the 4Runner at a music festival in California, the first time that this automaker has tied a product reveal to a music venue.

Both moves are new for Toyota, so what gives?

That’s a question Auto Trends asked Toyota in a bid to understand the changes the company is making. Such changes represent only part of an increasingly broader effort that Toyota senior management is undertaking to allow its American operation to make decisions that once required extensive board review and approval.

Lexus Goes to Kentucky

Indeed, the company now entrusts its US operation team to run its business apart from the board’s strict oversight. That change was made evident on Friday when Toyota Motor Corporation President Akio Toyoda appeared in Kentucky to announce that Lexus ES production was shifting stateside beginning in 2015. This will be the first time that a Lexus model will not be manufactured in Japan.

Said Toyoda, “This is a new team, a new beginning and a new Lexus. We are changing at Toyota, but one thing will never change. And that is our strong commitment to the United States. We are united and committed to fulfilling the needs of our customers and strengthening local communities, here and around the world.” That new team pushed to have Toyota expand its Georgetown, Ky., manufacturing plant, a $360 million investment that will also create 750 jobs.

Outside Board Members Tapped

Toyoda, who received his MBA from Babson College in Massachusetts and has been leading Toyota since mid-2009, is playing no small part in remaking the company. He successfully pushed for the appointment of three “outsiders” to sit on Toyota’s board of directors, the first time in the company’s 76-year history that it has taken this approach. One of the new board members is Mark Hogan, a former GM executive and independent consultant.

This past March Bob Carter, senior vice president of automotive operations for Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc., spoke on behalf of his company at the J.D. Power/NADA 2013 Automotive Forum. Carter acknowledged that Toyota had to learn how to be “open, transparent and honest with our customers,” a change that came about after the automaker endured a series of highly publicized recalls affecting millions of its vehicles worldwide.

Back then, Toyota did not fully understand social media and the 24-hour news cycle. The company’s public relations and marketing arms were overwhelmed, responding weakly and defensively to press inquiries, making it seem as if it was hiding something. Public apologies by Toyoda helped to quell the uproar, with much introspection by Toyota management following.

Toyota’s management changes go beyond its board members and are now moving down to the regional and local level. Indeed, four of the company’s eight regions are now led by non-Japanese managers and even Lexus’ global operation is under the care of an American, Mark Templin, who previously ran the luxury brand’s US operation. Each of these efforts have been made to transform Toyota from a Japanese-centric automaker to one with a global mindset.

2014 Toyota 4Runner Reveal

That fresh mindset also means that Toyota can introduce new products such as the Toyota 4Runner at different and even unusual venues. This Saturday the next generation 4Runner will be revealed at the 2013 Stagecoach Music Festival in Indio, Calif., just 30 minutes from Palm Springs. Toyota has been a presenting sponsor at this event for seven years and has tapped radio personality Cam Buzz Brainard to introduce its all-new SUV.

If you were thinking that it will be “business as usual” for Toyota going forward, then the company’s new approach may be closer to “expecting the unexpected.” That’s a welcome change for a once highly predictable, even stodgy automaker.

See Also — First Drive: 2014 Toyota 4Runner

Photo courtesy of Toyota Motors Sales U.S.A., Inc.

Auto Industry Buzzword: Collaboration

April 23, 2013 by admin 4 Comments

The global auto industry is collaborating as never before. This week, GM and Ford announced that they are once again teaming up to develop transmissions. Toyota and BMW are building fuel cells together. Ford and Toyota are working on hybrid systems for large vehicles including pickup trucks.

Collaboration on special projects seems to be more successful than outright alliances, e.g., Daimler and Chrysler or Volkswagen and Suzuki. Some alliances such as Nissan and Renault do work, but much evidence points to difficulties that seem nearly impossible to surmount. DaimlerChrysler unraveled because of strong cultural differences. The same can probably be said about Volkswagen and Suzuki.

Ford Toyota collaboration Given that collaboration is one of the auto industry’s buzzwords, we thought that wed pose a few questions to some of the people involved in decision-making, individuals that may have a stake in cooperating with other companies including those across industry lines.

Our Questions

Is collaboration the way for industry stakeholders to go?

Fred Thomas, Industry Director of Apriso answered, In many instances, yes. The immense cost of bringing new products to market at the pace demanded in todays globally competitive automotive industry, is driving a whole new look at collaboration opportunities from product development through manufacturing. This holds true for both components and vehicles.

Added Thomas, But, collaboration in the global automotive industry is not new. It has been going on for years. I think what youre seeing today is a renewed focus on finding ways to work together for a common good, while remaining fierce competitors on the global automotive playing field. That common good may include jointly developing hybrid drive systems, a joint effort that can reduce fuel consumption and lower vehicle emissions.

Product Liability Pitfalls

Of course, working directly with other businesses to co-develop a product, a key component or other supplies is not without risk. Exclusive intellectual property rights may be compromised and then there is a matter of personal liability. That led to our second question is there a potential downside such as shared personal liability for co-developing a product that might fail?

Sarah Lee Marks (MyCarLady.com), an independent auto buyers agent and car consumer advocate who also works with dealers and manufacturers on training, brand marketing and digital positioning offered the following response: Today so many components are supplied by one supplier to many brands, when it fails it fails for everyone, so all the products are tainted by a recall campaign. A joint venture at the manufacturer level might actually insure a better product down the line.

Auto Industry Cooperation

Beyond the high-profile news-making collaborations of late, we also wondered are there other areas where companies might cooperate? Torsten Maschke, President, Automotive Sales and Marketing, Freudenberg Sealing Technologies, offered his input.

Said Maschke, While collaboration has become, in my mind, a business imperative, it also remains a complex, complicated means of leveraging research, talent, systems and solutions. Suppliers are protective of their independence but need to very clearly understand and communicate their position in the market. When they collaborate with their customers, there is a mutual expectation that their intellectual property will be protected and secure in the relationship. When a customer is concerned that collaboration might lead to a loss of competitive advantage, even if this concern is unfounded, the relationship is likely to go awry. For example, when Magna tried to become an OEM by taking over Opel, other OEMs were extremely concerned about their IP falling into the hands of a potential competitor and they abandoned projects with Magna.

He added, There are, of course, examples where this kind of thing has worked. SGL Carbon in Europe is an example. The company is jointly owned by BMW and Volkswagen and supplies both companies with critical technology solutions. In general, however, these kinds of collaborative arrangements work best when the technology the supplier brings to the table is unique and arrives early in the life cycle development process. In the case of mature products, just the opposite can occur OEMs can sever their relationship with their own in-house supplier development organizations (GM-Delphi, Ford-Visteon) because they cannot leverage enough capability, cost savings and profits from these relationships.

The Consolidation Factor

Collaboration may not always be possible especially in an industry that is also consolidating. PRISM Plastics has grown its business from $9 million in sales in 2009 to more than $25 million in booked business this year and has done so as other suppliers have consolidated. This injection molding company is a Tier 2 supplier that works with Takata, Autoliv, Key Safety, by providing difficult to mold parts that keep its customers coming back for more.

PRISMs co-owner and vice-president, Gerry Phillips, is confident that even if an OEM switches Tier 1 suppliers that it will pick up enough business elsewhere to maintain its position. Instead of collaboration and consolidation being driving factors, maintaining a competitive edge may help niche manufacturers such as PRISM not just survive, but thrive.

Chevrolet Cruze Diesel Raises MPG Threshold

April 22, 2013 by admin Leave a Comment

This fall, Chevrolet will introduce the Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel, the latest variant of this popular compact sedan. The five-passenger front-wheel-drive Chevrolet Cruze has been a hit for the bow-tie brand, but GM has been wanting to extend its appeal to reach car shoppers that are putting a premium on fuel economy.

Diesel Chevrolet Cruze

Chevrolet Cruze Clean Turbo Diesel The newest Chevrolet Cruze is rated at 27 mpg city, 46 mpg highway for a combined 33 mpg. Its highway number is 4 mpg above what GM had projected and it is also the highest of any diesel car sold in America. The diesel market is expanding and the mpg threshold has been raised by Chevrolet.

The Cruze diesel will hold the top honor when this model goes on sale, but its competitors may insist that an asterisk be placed after any ads touting its best fuel economy rating. And perhaps for two good reasons.

1. The new Chevrolet Cruze will get 27 mpg in the city. Several Volkswagen models including the Passat, Jetta and Golf get at least 30 mpg around town. As does the Audi A3 TDI.

2. Its combined 33 mpg is not tops. The EPA takes the two fuel economy numbers and factors in a combined mpg rating. That rating is based on 55 percent of the driving around town and 45 percent on the highway. The Chevrolet Cruze diesel comes in at 33 mpg behind the class-leading Volkswagen Passat at 35 mpg. Other models that are ahead of the Cruze include each of the ones mentioned earlier.

Combined Fuel Economy

No matter how its competitors choose to react, the fuel economy numbers for the 2014 Chevrolet Cruze diesel are impressive. It isn’t the only model in the Cruze portfolio with outstanding fuel economy as the Cruze Eco is rated at 28 mpg in the city and 42 mpg on the highway when outfitted with a six-speed manual transmission. That model ties the diesel Cruze in combined fuel economy too at 33 mpg.

The Chevrolet Cruise Clean Turbo Diesel, however, offers a performance edge over its competitors. Priced from $25,695, the Cruze Diesel is powered by an Opel-supplied 2.0-liter turbocharged diesel that makes 148 horsepower at 4,000 rpm and 258 foot-pounds of torque at 2,000 rpm. The larger Volkswagen Passat diesel gets 140 horsepower and makes 236 foot-pounds of torque. The differences are small, but with its lighter weight the diesel Cruze will be no slouch either. GM says that the diesel Cruze will go from 0 to 60 mph in 8.6 seconds — this model is a surprisingly quiet one too.

Extended Range Diesel

The diesel Chevrolet Cruze is outfitted with a 15.6-gallon fuel tank. That means when your driving takes you on a long trip, one where cruise control is engaged at highway speeds, your cruising range is more than 700 miles. That’s about enough fuel to take you from Boston to Raleigh, NC, on one tank of diesel fuel.

When the diesel Chevrolet Cruze does debut later this year, it will carry another important distinction with it: best highway fuel economy of any non-hybrid model. Indeed, the standard Toyota Prius liftback has the diesel Cruze beat, but by only 2 mpg as it delivers 48 mpg on the highway.

Photo courtesy of General Motors Company.

Ford, GM Collaborate Again On Transmissions

April 21, 2013 by admin 3 Comments

Making competition pay off for two rivals.

The Ford Motor Company and the General Motors Company are industry adversaries, but not always. In the mid-2000s, the two companies collaborated on transmissions, enabling both companies to produce the six-speed gearboxes now widely used by the two car manufacturers.

New Transmissions

GM and Ford will once again be putting their differences to the side to collaborate on a new generation of transmissions. On Monday, the two companies announced that new 9- and 10-speed automatic transmissions will be jointly developed, and used in a variety of vehicles including pickup trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossover utility vehicles and cars.

Both companies will benefit from sharing the costs associated with building advanced technologies enabling each automaker to field vehicles that are more fuel efficient and perform better. At present, no car manufacturer offers more gears than eight, enabling both companies to raise that standard.

Said Jim Lanzon, GM vice president of global transmission engineering. “We expect these new transmissions to raise the standard of technology, performance and quality for our customers while helping drive fuel economy improvements into both companies’ future product portfolios.”

Maintaining Control

Although the transmissions will include identical hardware, each company will use its own control software. That software enables manufacturers to achieve the performance goals established for the respective model.

Ford GM collaborate and GM both issued press releases announcing the collaboration, with each company citing the success of previous projects including the now current six-speed transmissions. Said Joe Bakaj, Ford vice president of powertrain engineering, “Our front-wheel-drive transmissions have exceeded expectations and there is every reason to believe we will have the same success with these all-new transmissions.”

Let’s Collaborate

The current crop of transmissions can be found in the Ford Fusion, Chevrolet Malibu, Ford Escape, Chevrolet Equinox, Ford Edge and Chevrolet Traverse among other models.

Each manufacturer will handle production at its own plants and, of course, the Ford v. Chevy battle will continue despite these commonalities.

Antitrust Record

GM and Ford collaborating to this degree would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Back then, it wasn’t so much that the two companies wouldn’t have worked together if possible, rather the US Justice Department might have stepped in and blocked it over antitrust concerns. However, with the auto industry now vastly changed as foreign makes have turned a toehold into a stronghold, those antitrust concerns have largely disappeared.