Brand
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The new logo is flatter and switches to a single color, and VW introduced a new signature sound.
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Mercedes overtakes Toyota as most valuable car brand in influential study
Mercedes-Benz is now the most valuable automotive brand in the world. That's according to the latest study conducted by Brand Finance. The German automaker edged out Toyota and bested rival BMW for the top spot on this list. Brand Finance says that Mercedes managed an impressive 24 percent...
Jeff Glucker -
Today In Politics: Justin Timberlake Is Audi's Ambassador
Remember last week when we spotted Jennifer "Coco" Lopez sliding her superstar culo into the passenger's seat of an Audi Q7? At the time we commented on the swarm of high-powered celebs who've recently been spotted in Audi rides and commended Audi on its covert marketing tactics. Of course, we were...
Richard Read -
Lexus shifting focus to entry-level models
Everyone in the industry is feeling the burn of a long, slow summer, but few are feeling as keenly as Lexus. Perhaps that's because the luxury import carmaker had so far to fall, having been the dominant force in American luxury cars for most of the past decade. But there's a plan afoot to help...
Ralph Hanson -
Last Mercury Sable to roll off line Thursday
As General Motors sacrifices and sells off about half of its brand portfolio and Chrysler downsizes through bankruptcy, Ford has stayed above the fray. But with the end of production of the Mercury Sable coming this Thursday, talk of the brand's potential demise has come back to life. Early in...
Ralph Hanson -
Rare Porsche and other classics being auctioned at Brands Hatch
Only a month ago we saw two of the rarest cars in the world being put up for auction - including a 1967 Ferrari 330 P4, as well as a 1965 Shelby Daytona Coupe that was expected to sell for between $10 million and $15 million. Potential buyers will now also be able to bid on a handful of other rare...
Kenneth Hall -
It's simple math: carmaker plus bankruptcy equals uncertainty and lower resale values. But Chrysler owners are feeling the bite of that equation as the value of their vehicles dropped 6% on average in a single week. In the week after Chrysler filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, owners of Jeep and Dodge vehicles saw their 36-month resale value go from 38.4% and 37.3% of their original price, respectively, to just 32.4% for Jeep and 31.2% for Dodge. Chrysler-branded vehicles fell an even 6% from 34.8% to 28.8%, reports the Detroit Free Press. That's a very rocky patch, worsening...
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Docherty: Pontiac decision may have to wait until next year
As General Motors prepares for its June 1 bankruptcy-or-viability deadline, the decision on what to do with Pontiac is sitting on the back burner. In fact, dealers may have to wait until next year to find out what the General has in store. Or so says Susan Docherty, vice president of GM's...
Nelson Ireson -
Chery gets literal, launches two new sub-brands in China: Riich and Rely
The American car industry as a whole may be under fire for its current situation, but there's always a bright side. Like Arkansans are fond of saying, "thank God for Mississippi" when it comes to state-by-state rankings, Detroit no doubt finds similar relief in the misadventures of Chinese...
Nelson Ireson -
Renault Sport Experience: touring Europe with hot hatches
The best way to make a small fortune in motorsports? Start with a large one. Yes, the old adage is true as ever, but it need not always be, at least in a few cases. The Renault Sport Experience is one way to get some track time on the cheap, and it's getting ready to hit some of the most famous...
Kenneth Hall -
Report: Chery considering bid for Volvo
America's car-market troubles are well-known and much belabored of late, but China's automotive industry isn't facing such a dire situation. In January, China's total car sales overtook America's for the first time, and many of the constituent companies, such as Chery, are looking outside China to...
Nelson Ireson -
Acura forges ahead with tier 1 luxury plans, NSX could be revived
Apart from Lexus, Japanese luxury brands still pale in comparison to their German rivals in terms of the number of models they produce and the prices they can command. Overall image in the marketplace and status on the street have likewise proven difficult to develop. That's why Acura is making a...
Alex Kaufmann -
High performance is the heart of Abarth's brand image, but usually it's due to their work on combustion engines and hot hatches. This time around, it's a desktop PC receiving the Abarth treatment, co-branded with Intel to create a serious gamer's rig. A unique case design by Brain Technology Spa complements the high-spec components - much like a custom car's body kit hints at what's under the hood. but why would a car company make such a foray into consumer electronics? The motivation, according to the company, is a desire to tap into the gaming market as a sort of real-world stress testing...
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Hummer is the only GM brand for sale, says CEO Wagoner
Saab's slowing sales and delayed models from parent company GM have previously sparked rumors that the Swedish brand could be sold off by General Motors to raise some much needed cash for its operations. Today, GM's CEO, Rick Wagoner, said that the General is not looking to sell any of its brands...
Ralph Hanson