Ralph Hanson, Author
Articles
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Honda leads the automotive industry in retaining the highest percentage of new-vehicle purchasers, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Customer Retention Study. The study measures the... -
Wrightspeed Cancels The X1 Electric Sports CarDetroit's carmakers aren't the only ones that need some help in the down market. Smaller manufacturers, especially startup and mid-sized electric vehicle companies, are in tight spots as well. Tesla is in need of a cash infusion to build its Model S sedan, and now Wrightspeed, the company behind...
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Tesla will be forced to delay Model S sedan without federal loanFledgling electric car company Tesla Motors has encountered financing problems recently, prompting the firm to apply for a $400 million aid package from the Department of Energy. The electric sports carmaker has now revealed that without the loans the introduction of its Model S sedan will have to...
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DuPont names white most popular car color in U.S.Paint companies have a somewhat understandable fascination with color popularity, and each year they release their statistics, citing which new car color reigns supreme. This year, DuPont has named white its strongest seller, though just a few months ago PPG said silver was the hottest color. The...
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White House voices concern over bailout planThe Bush administration and congressional Democrats have made a tentative agreement for a $15 billion emergency loan for the Detroit 3, but there remains concern in the White House that the carmakers may still not survive. President George W. Bush has reportedly questioned the ability of the...
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Detroit 3 bailout likely to come with 'car czar'With the legislation for a loan package to secure the immediate futures of the Detroit 3 is reaching the 'discussion draft' stage today, talk of an overseer to administer the funds has begun. The bill actually stipulates that there may be multiple overseers, raising the possibility of an oversight...
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Flying cars have been one of the primary disappointments of the 21st century's expected innovations. The fact remains that nothing approaching what so many enthusiasts had hoped - and been promised...
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Congress reaches agreement on $15b to $17b Detroit 3 bailoutDemocratic leaders of Congress revealed late on Friday that they had reached an agreement on a bailout plan for the Detroit 3 ranging in the vicinity of $15 billion to $17 billion, about half what the carmakers were seeking. The plan still needs to be voted on but this is expected to take place...
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Ford appoints new performance vehicles chiefFord Motors is stepping up its efforts in performance vehicles, with a senior employee being appointed to the newly created position of Director of Global Performance Vehicles and Motorsport Business Development. Jost Capito will be taking up the position at the beginning of next year, and will be...
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New survey finds 61% of Americans oppose aid to Detroit 3In the perpetual tug-of-war that is modern opinion polling, a new poll has found that 61% of Americans are opposed to the issuance of federally subsidized loan money to the car industry. The new poll, conducted by CNN/Opinion Research Corp. contradicts an earlier study funded by General Motors...
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U.S. Department of Energy shoots down $16B in Detroit requestsEven as America's carmakers plead their case before the U.S. Congress today, the executive branch has rejected $16 billion in grant requests through the DOE's retooling program. The rejection came in the form of a letter to the carmakers earlier this week from Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman. Of the...
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GM CEO will head to Washington in a Chevrolet VoltPreviously we reported that GM CEO Rick Wagoner would be driving a Malibu hybrid to Washington for this week's auto industry bailout hearings, however it has come to light that he will actually be driving the company's much anticipated Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid. Wagoner will be driving a...
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The controversial jobs bank system, which pays laid-off workers nearly full salary and benefits packages will come to a temporary end as the UAW works with the Detroit carmakers to reach a solution... -
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Detroit 3 rescue package is unavoidable
The incumbent speaker for the U.S. House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, has stated that she expects the Detroit 3 will be given government funding in at least some form soon. Pelosi said that even if the Bush administration is hesitant to step in, Congress will be willing and able to rescue the...
Ralph Hanson -
Chrysler's viability plan calls for $7 billion emergency loan before 2009Just as Detroit compatriots General Motors and Ford are revealing their strategies for future viability - and need for funding in the meantime - Chrysler has come out with its plan for the future, both near-term and long-term. An immediate need for $7 billion in emergency loans before the end of...
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Nissan dealers to fill corporate shoes at Detroit Auto ShowDespite Nissan's widely-publicized withdrawal from the 2009 Detroit Auto Show, a cadre of local dealers will bring cars to exhibit in the hopes of boosting sales. The typical car-show role of flaunting new wares was abandoned this year by the corporate decision makers as a money-saving measure...
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Chrysler future model plans still on trackChrysler may be struggling financially but its product development chief Frank Klegon has assured reporters that the Auburn Hills carmaker will be coming out with new models over the next few years. Klegon confirmed that projects were still in the pipeline for 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013, but...
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Lexus VP says four new models rolling out next yearLexus already launched the 2010 RX range of SUVs at the LA Motor Show a couple of weeks ago, and now Lexus' vice-president Mark Templin has revealed that the Japanese luxury automaker will be rolling out three new models next year. Two of these are already confirmed, with both the IS convertible...
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Ford has unveiled a pickup truck concept vehicle bearing the Ranger name at this year's Thailand Motor Expo.
Carrying the full title of Ford Ranger Max concept, the new concept features a bold...
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Ex-Pininfarina Designer Takes Head Job At Stile BertoneItaly's place in the automotive design business is legendary, inspiring passion for cars in generations of people all around the world via cars from Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lancia and Alfa Romeo and more. Both Pininfarina and Bertone have spent time at the leading edge of design, and Jason Castriota...
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Detroit 3 head back to Washington December 5 to offer plan for future
The heads of the Detroit 3 headed to Washington earlier this month in the hope of securing a second emergency aid package to supplement the previously earmarked $25 billion for more efficient vehicles to meet looming CAFE regulations. Unfortunately for the carmakers, top Democratic legislators...
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GeigerCars works over the Dodge Challenger SRT8Most German tuners usually stick with modifying European cars but one company, GeigerCars, has a well-documented obsession with the American muscle car. Now the firm has taken the new Dodge Challenger and worked it over, adding more power and style. While the base model Dodge Challenger SE comes...
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Cerberus accuses Daimler of fudging Chrysler’s numbersCerberus Capital Management has accused Daimler AG of misleading them about the true value of Chrysler before selling the American private equity group a majority holding in the Auburn Hills carmaker. At this point in time, Cerberus owns 80.1% of Chrysler and Daimler owns the remaining 19.9%, and...
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Heffner Performance Camilo Pardo Ford GT tops 900hpCamilo Pardo, the chief designer of the Ford GT project for the Blue Oval, is a top name among those in the know on cutting-edge automotive design, and he's teamed up with Heffner Performance to create a monstrous custom Ford GT. The special edition car, sold moments after its reveal, cranks out...
Ralph Hanson