We said that we had Autoblog readers a few questions for managers car on the North American International Auto Show, we would ask. We got to make the most of our questions, but even better, we have a bunch of questions that you had to ask our readers.
We do not have to get all of them, but we will do our best to follow-up e-mail, as well as the upcoming Washington DC and Chicago auto shows. Stay tuned for another column, where we have to address your questions. This is only Part One.
Q: Can we have a diesel Jeep Wrangler? A: Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne said a diesel is very desirable in the Wrangler and within reach. There is demand. Other Chrysler execs even said Autoblog is there a business case to be tried. Stay tuned.
Q: What about a Focus SVT? A: You did. Unless it's the Focus ST, as mentioned in Europe. Ford decided it should have a nomenclature worldwide.
Q: Ford Global rear-drive platform for a Lincoln luxury car? A: Quite chief marketer James says he does not believe that Lincoln really needs an upscale luxury car to thrive. He says the heart of the luxury market for the future $ 30,000 - $ 50,000. More important than an up-market rear-wheel-drive sports car of the Lincoln entry from the Focus platform is developed. This will have under the new MKZ, a design that differs from the next merger will be sewn.
Read on for more responses.
[Image: Bill Pugliano / Getty]
Q: What about a B-car from Subaru? A: Subaru boss Tom Doll says it would be nice to have, but he notes that Subaru will address fuel consumption with innovative engine technology and design when the new Impreza comes scoring around 35 mpg even with the company four-wheel-drive system.
Q: Any chance of medium-sized truck stage a comeback need to cope with higher fuel consumption? A: Not much. Certainly not body-on-frame medium trucks. The Ford Ranger is gone. The Dodge Dakota is gone, according to Chrysler Marchionne. To compensate, a Jeep Wrangler is available with a flat-bed. And here's an idea we kicked around is - a new Explorer Sport Trac built from the new Explorer. If it comes true, look for the bed design, a bit more utilitarian than the old one. And Ford says Farley, the company is looking at derivatives of the Transit Connect. Maybe even one that has an open bed.
Q: Why no American muscle cars in Europe, except through the gray market? A: GM-president Mark Reuss says the company has a set of priorities, but that is not one of them. He thinks the market is too small to make the investment. Ditto when we asked Ford's Jim Farley.
Q: Why not a six-speed gearbox on Subarus? A: Subaru marketing chief Tim Mahoney says that the company has not yet seen the need for investment. But Subaru is always very cautious. We would be shocked if they are not themselves in the new Impreza. It's hard to imagine they can say 35 mpg in the Impreza it is to get to come without it.
Q: Can we have a Civic hatchback? A: Not from, we could say. Honda seems to be satisfied with the gasoline engine to adjust demand to treat.
Q: We [have finally caught with Volkswagen CEO Martin Winterkorn. He is notoriously hard open to a U.S. journalist. But we are button-holed him at the Audi stand without a public relations representative] Why is it so important to remember all the time about this sales target of one million VWs and Audis in the U.S. by 2018th Why not improve the quality of focus in the wrong direction now for the past two years. And this, number one in the world? Have you learned something from watching GM and Toyota? A: Winterkorn: "We have four goals - to sell 10 million vehicles a year by 2018 Earn more than 8% have the best team in the industry to be # 1 in quality ...." So, yes. Leaders in quality is the last of the four goals. The VW chief is certainly dug, and convinced that this constant reminder to reach the sales targets in nearly every speech, the right way to go. Of course, even with his recent contract extension, he is to complete of the time the meeting that goal with the next CEO.
Q: How about that "Joy" campaign for BMW? A: BMW USA chief Jim O'Donnell told us that the Joy campaign will be "less visible" very soon.
Q: When will we see an AWD Focus, Ford Fiesta or recent U.S. Rally In addition, we push a 3-door Fiesta or a Mustang-based car? " A: Not a big market for three-door Fiesta, says Ford's Jim Farley. No shot for Mustang cars. Ford execs were Cagi of AWD for Fiesta or Focus, Focus, although that would be more likely eventually to have them as an option.
Q: Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne: "How on earth would you want the errors that Chrysler mergers and heavy game Adventure of the past have struck to avoid, also what you have taken concrete steps, and will continue to take to make sure? higher quality vehicles with better design, which are competitive with a market that is constantly being developed? " A: Marchionne says that investing in quality improvements in size. As one of the auto bloggers, all of which drove recently renewed products, I can tell you that, Charger, Compass, Patriot, Challenger and have some degree of the Chrysler 200 has been improved dramatically. The Town & Country is much better. And the Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango are both very good, good enough to be finalists for North American Truck of the Year. Marchionne says Chysler not get traction with doubters to third-party validation of Consumer Reports and JD Power has a chance to materialize. It takes time.
Q: GM CEO Daniel Ackerman, "Where is my money? A: We do not have the chance, Akerson ask directly. But I saw him at the GM Holiday Party, before I wrote the previous column. I could extrapolate from our IPO on GM, you bought some GM stock, when it took place in November, you would have had to earn money now to chat. Ironically, Akerson themselves as hard-core Republicans, probably not in favor of the bailout before he was due to GM board. He is trying very hard to get rid of the government as shareholder. But we suspect that GM execs say that there more to do, the freedom to do, has much more in salary and bonuses to allow the government currently pays when they know how car buyers felt. So far it's not like consumers to seek out one way or the other as GM sales and market share go up.
Q: Why did not VW Tiguan TDO in the U.S. A: Volkswagen execs tell us that the Tiguan is already suffering because they are too expensive compared to the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. The diesel would add another $ 3,000 and charge it is really out of whack pricing-wise. Only VW nuts that were still buying Eurovans would end up being tried. And there were about 100 of them in the year.
Q: GM: When can we expect "full" product lines for Buick and Caddy? A Cadillac is not a new product from 2012 to midway through ... one replacement for the STS Deville and called XTS, plus an entry level car called the CTS under ATS. Possible Roadster, the middle of the decade. The CTS and SRX moreover, plus hybrid versions, and the Escalade. That's it for Caddy. On the side of Buick, new Verano, Regal, LaCrosse and Lucerne and Enclave. Jeeez. How many Buicks do you want? The crossovers are going GMCs, which are sold in the same showroom.
Q: Why can not I have a more economical car with a manual transmission that is large enough to put a motorcycle in it? A: Because you do not live in Turkey. No one wants a manual tranny van in the U.S. more out of you, seven journalists and car Cheech and Chong.
Q: Ford: The supposed reasons alphanumeric "name" is to put more value on the brand. Would it not make sense at first a well-defined brand strategy for Lincoln, but new badging Fords? How about with some unique products? And why are you stuck with the MK name. A: From Ford's Jim Farley. The MKS and MKT not rebadged Fords. And the MKZ to be replaced, have a unique design apart from the Ford Fusion set. The Focus-based Lincoln is also a unique design. The alpha-mumerics, as they are or not to stay. Can not keep switching names strategies. Hopefully the new Lincoln campaign a few months to take effect and we will stay with the positioning.
Q: To Audi: Why the long delay between the base and S model and the RS? BMW and Mercedes-Benz M and give its AMG versions, almost simultaneously with the base models. A: Really? In the U.S., M and AMG models tend to come later. The 1 Series M Coupe is just out in a few months. and was just shown at the NAIAS. In any case, staggers Audi releases in order to keep the line fresh by the cycle. They consider it clever marketing and product management in order to have the power and convertible versions in the middle of the product cycle. Plus, if they could be released all at once variants, the exhibition spaces are not overcome.
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