On 31st October 1957 Toyota set up a dealership in Hollywood. In 1958 it launched its first car in the US market called the Toyopet Crown. That year it sold 288 of them and also one Land Cruiser. Its performance in the first few years was so bad that it seriously thought of quitting the US market.
But instead of doing that it sat back and analyzed the reasons for its failure. It quickly understood that the ugly looking and underpowered vehicle would never sell in the US and it eventually withdrew it from the market.
All this is now history. In its 50th year in the US Toyota is on track to sell 9.34 million vehicles worldwide, surpassing GM to become the largest car manufacturer in the world by numbers. It had already become the most profitable car manufacturer several years back. Today its market capitalization is greater than the Big Three put together plus Honda plus Nissan! The Big Three plan to close down 26 plants over the next five years and to shed thousands of jobs.Toyota on the other hand is opening a new plant in Texas this fall and another in Ontario in 2008. Today 60% of the cars Toyota sells in America are made here. It is not outsourcing to make profits. It is creating jobs in the US. It's offering union wages and health benefits. Above all it is selling cars made by Americans to Americans at a profit.Its cars have a 'retail turn rate'-that is the number of days a dealer has to keep a car before selling it of 27 days. For Ford it is 82, GM 83 and for Daimler Chrysler it is 107 days.(figs. for 2006).
Toyota has successfully challenged the American model of manufacturing and management. There are several, by now familiar, reasons for it. The first is the belief in 'kaizen' or continuous improvement, and in 'jidoka' or not letting a defect go from one machine to the next. Then there is the secret designation for certain projects known as 'irei' which roughly means 'not ordinary' and refers to vehicles which the company will go to any lengths to perfect. In the early 1990's, the Prius enjoyed this designation. Toyota plans decades in advance and is not unduly concerned with quarterly and annual balance sheets. True, it enjoys certain cost advantages, like lower health care costs, but what people overlook is the huge cash reserves it has built up and the massive amounts it is spending every year on research and development. Of late it has been hit by vehicle recalls due to manufacturing defects and has recently lost the top spot of being the safest car, slipping to third place, but it is still the clear leader of the pack. It is currently able to sell all the cars it produces in the US, and with the US having more cars per household than drivers, it should be able to do so in future as well.
2008 Volvo C30-A Cool Car
The all new Volvo C30 two door hatchback goes on sale in the US later this year as a 2008 model. Unlike the usual Volvo family car which typically appealed to buyers above forty, Volvo has given the C30 more style and more speed and also a sporty look with which Volvo hopes to attract younger customers.
The C30 utilizes the S 40 T5's power train-a 2.5 liter 218 horsepower turbocharged inline-5 and it has a six-speed manual transmission(a five speed automatic will be optional). It generates 216 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 pound -feet of torque between 1,500 and 4,800 rpm.The C30 is quick, going from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.It has a top speed of 146 mph(149 mph for the manual version).
It seats four with individual bucket style back seats that are moved a bit towards the center to provide forward visibility around the front seats.The front as well as rear seats are comfortable. However cargo space is somewhat limited, only 8.2 cubic feet with the seats up. but with the rear seats folded it increases to 30.9 cubic feet.
The interior will be familiar to Volvo drivers. The distinctive 'floating' console is present as part of the design.In addition to standard front, side ,and side curtain airbags, the C30 protects with seat belt pretensioners for all four seats,a whiplash protection system(WHIPS), a side impact protection system(SIPS), and dynamic stability traction control(DSTC).
Car audio enthusiasts are certain to appreciate the Volvo C30's standard 160 watt stereo system. Also available is a Premium sound system with a digital 5 x130 W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. Total output for the Premium Sound System is 650 watts.
The C30 offers a Custom Build ordering process with 17 different exterior colors and 12 interior combinations. Its starting price is around $23,000. It has been designed under the supervision of Peter Horbury and was his last car for Volvo before he left to join Ford in North America.
The C30's nearest competitor in the US is likely to be the Volkswagen GTI, which is similarly priced and has similar specifications as well. Other competitors are the Audi A3, Mazda 3, and the Mini Cooper S.
The car is already on sale in Europe and will be available from this month in the US as a 2008 model.Volvo says its compact dimensions are suitable for driving and parking on cramped city streets. Although fuel economy could have been better, the features it offers, along with the Volvo quality are likely to make the car a winner.
The C30 utilizes the S 40 T5's power train-a 2.5 liter 218 horsepower turbocharged inline-5 and it has a six-speed manual transmission(a five speed automatic will be optional). It generates 216 horsepower at 5,000 rpm and 236 pound -feet of torque between 1,500 and 4,800 rpm.The C30 is quick, going from 0-60 mph in 6.2 seconds.It has a top speed of 146 mph(149 mph for the manual version).
It seats four with individual bucket style back seats that are moved a bit towards the center to provide forward visibility around the front seats.The front as well as rear seats are comfortable. However cargo space is somewhat limited, only 8.2 cubic feet with the seats up. but with the rear seats folded it increases to 30.9 cubic feet.
The interior will be familiar to Volvo drivers. The distinctive 'floating' console is present as part of the design.In addition to standard front, side ,and side curtain airbags, the C30 protects with seat belt pretensioners for all four seats,a whiplash protection system(WHIPS), a side impact protection system(SIPS), and dynamic stability traction control(DSTC).
Car audio enthusiasts are certain to appreciate the Volvo C30's standard 160 watt stereo system. Also available is a Premium sound system with a digital 5 x130 W ICE Power amplifier from Alpine, Dolby Pro Logic II Surround, and 10 loudspeakers from Danish loudspeaker manufacturer Dynaudio. Total output for the Premium Sound System is 650 watts.
The C30 offers a Custom Build ordering process with 17 different exterior colors and 12 interior combinations. Its starting price is around $23,000. It has been designed under the supervision of Peter Horbury and was his last car for Volvo before he left to join Ford in North America.
The C30's nearest competitor in the US is likely to be the Volkswagen GTI, which is similarly priced and has similar specifications as well. Other competitors are the Audi A3, Mazda 3, and the Mini Cooper S.
The car is already on sale in Europe and will be available from this month in the US as a 2008 model.Volvo says its compact dimensions are suitable for driving and parking on cramped city streets. Although fuel economy could have been better, the features it offers, along with the Volvo quality are likely to make the car a winner.
Detroit Auto Show Braces For Upcoming Chinese Invasion
A record number of Chinese companies will be exhibiting their products at the Detroit Auto Show in January next year. The show will feature the following Chinese manufacturers:
1. Changfeng Motor Group
2. BYD Auto Co.
1. Changfeng Motor Group
2. BYD Auto Co.
3. Geely International Corp.
4. China America Automotive Inc./ZXNA
5. Li Shi Guang Ming Auto Design Co.
The show will be open to the public 19th January through January 27th.Nissan Pivo The Cute Little Car!
Nissan unveiled the Pivo concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2005. At first sight it appears to be another of those futuristic cars.But a closer look reveals a very interesting vehicle.It is an electric car with a unique revolving cabin which can turn 360 degrees.The advantage of this design is that it eliminates the need for reversing and parking is not a problem anymore because you have wheels that can turn 90 degrees.Whatever you do you can always be looking forward while doing it.This makes it much safer to drive also.The driver's cabin is bubble shaped which eliminates blind spots and gives perfect visibility.This is the new Nissan Around View Technology. Its engine The Nissan Super Motor is powered by a Compact Lithium-ion battery which has zero emissions and gives you one of the most environment friendly cars available.
The Pivo seats three. the driver sits in front in the center and two passengers sit side by side in the rear.The name Pivo is derived from the word pivot. Whenever you need to reverse or to park you simply pivot the entire cabin and do it while looking forward.This is possible because of Nissan's advanced drive by wire technologies which eliminate the need for mechanical connections between the cabin and the chassis.
Cameras mounted on the outside of the car feed an accurate image of the surroundings on to a dashboard monitor. These cameras are located at the front, rear and both the sides of the car. An image processing technique synthesizes these images into a single bird's eye view.
An infra red commander allows drivers to operate the navigation and audio systems without taking their eyes off the road.Because of Nissan's Horizontal Display information is displayed along the bottom of the windshield allowing drivers to concentrate on the road ahead.
Now Nissan has unveiled the Pivo 2.This car also features a robot which sits on the dashboard and warns the driver when it senses that the driver is getting sleepy.It also nods and shakes its head which cheers up drivers.Unlike the first Pivo this car has no axles.Instead it has four electric motors which power each wheel separately.This vehicle will be exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. In Japanese the Pivo is called 'Kawaii' or cute. Nissan hopes that this car will be particularly attractive to female drivers. Let's see whether this car is a hit or not.
The Pivo seats three. the driver sits in front in the center and two passengers sit side by side in the rear.The name Pivo is derived from the word pivot. Whenever you need to reverse or to park you simply pivot the entire cabin and do it while looking forward.This is possible because of Nissan's advanced drive by wire technologies which eliminate the need for mechanical connections between the cabin and the chassis.
Cameras mounted on the outside of the car feed an accurate image of the surroundings on to a dashboard monitor. These cameras are located at the front, rear and both the sides of the car. An image processing technique synthesizes these images into a single bird's eye view.
An infra red commander allows drivers to operate the navigation and audio systems without taking their eyes off the road.Because of Nissan's Horizontal Display information is displayed along the bottom of the windshield allowing drivers to concentrate on the road ahead.
Now Nissan has unveiled the Pivo 2.This car also features a robot which sits on the dashboard and warns the driver when it senses that the driver is getting sleepy.It also nods and shakes its head which cheers up drivers.Unlike the first Pivo this car has no axles.Instead it has four electric motors which power each wheel separately.This vehicle will be exhibited at the Tokyo Motor Show later this month. In Japanese the Pivo is called 'Kawaii' or cute. Nissan hopes that this car will be particularly attractive to female drivers. Let's see whether this car is a hit or not.
2008 Nissan Rogue Arrives In Style
Nissan has been an active player in the SUV market with models like Pathfinder, Xterra and Armada.This will be Nissan's first entry in the crowded small crossover SUV field. It will be in direct competition with the Toyota RAV4 and Honda CR-V. Its counterpart called the Quashqai has already been introduced in Europe in early 2007.First exhibited at the Detroit Auto Show the Rogue is built on the same 'C' platform as Nissan's Sentra. The Global 'C' architecture has been developed jointly by Nissan and Renault.
Both the base Rogue and the upgraded Rogue SL have a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine matched with Nissan's trademark continuously variable transmission (CVT) producing 170 horsepower. The Rogue's engine gives it more power than most of its competitors.
The Rogue also offers a long list of standard safety features including front seat mounted side impact supplemental air bags and roof mounted curtain supplemental air bags. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes are also there.
The Rogue offers many high tech options like heated leather seats, keyless ignition, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Bose audio system, malfunction trip computer and Xenon headlights. These options will take your cost closer to $25,000 from the base price offer of $20,000.
"With Rogue, we have targeted drivers in their early thirties, whose responsibilities and functional needs have changed but who don't want to leave behind the person they've always been-someone who enjoys driving, who values style and design and who wants to retain his or her individuality", said Bill Bosley, Vice President and General Manager, Nissan Division. "The Rogue name was chosen to reflect its positioning, though we certainly believe that all buyers, regardless of age of life stage, will positively respond to Rogue's fun to drive, all climate performance and aggressive styling".
How the Rogue will impact the market is tough to guess. Experts feel that though it is a good car it is a latecomer to this segment and without any standout quality it will find it tough to beat the competition.
Both the base Rogue and the upgraded Rogue SL have a 2.4 liter four cylinder engine matched with Nissan's trademark continuously variable transmission (CVT) producing 170 horsepower. The Rogue's engine gives it more power than most of its competitors.
The Rogue also offers a long list of standard safety features including front seat mounted side impact supplemental air bags and roof mounted curtain supplemental air bags. Electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes are also there.
The Rogue offers many high tech options like heated leather seats, keyless ignition, Bluetooth phone connectivity, Bose audio system, malfunction trip computer and Xenon headlights. These options will take your cost closer to $25,000 from the base price offer of $20,000.
"With Rogue, we have targeted drivers in their early thirties, whose responsibilities and functional needs have changed but who don't want to leave behind the person they've always been-someone who enjoys driving, who values style and design and who wants to retain his or her individuality", said Bill Bosley, Vice President and General Manager, Nissan Division. "The Rogue name was chosen to reflect its positioning, though we certainly believe that all buyers, regardless of age of life stage, will positively respond to Rogue's fun to drive, all climate performance and aggressive styling".
How the Rogue will impact the market is tough to guess. Experts feel that though it is a good car it is a latecomer to this segment and without any standout quality it will find it tough to beat the competition.
2008 Ford Taurus Wins Crash Safety Award
The Ford Taurus was first introduced in December 1985 as a 1986 model.It was a front wheel drive automobile and was a milestone design not just for Ford but the entire American automotive industry. Between 1992 and 1996 it was the best selling car in the US, losing this status to the Toyota Camry in 1997.Sales declined thereafter but the Taurus continued to be a favorite of car rental companies.This further depressed the residual value of the cars and Ford finally stopped producing it in October 2006. Ford had hoped that the Ford Five Hundred and the Ford Freestyle would be worthy successors of the Taurus . However these two cars went almost unnoticed due largely to their unattractive styling and underpowered engines.
As it became clear that the Five Hundred and the Freestyle would have to be upgraded substantially, CEO Alan Mullaly decided to revive the Taurus name for the new models and the Five Hundred became the new Taurus and its mechanical twin the Freestyle became the new Taurus X. Clearly Ford is banking on consumer awareness of the Taurus name to help it come up with a winner.
But the name is not all that Ford is banking upon. The new car is powered by a 3.5L Duratec V6 engine that generates 263 horsepower compared to the 153 horsepower of the old Taurus and 203 horsepower of the Five Hundred. The car is not fast, about 7.6 seconds to 60 but it does'nt lag too far behind the competition.The vehicle is styled to reduce aerodynamic drag and to cut out noise. Interior noise is greatly reduced, partly by using a new sound absorptive material called Sonosorb.
Where this car has done particularly well is that it has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's(NHTSA) highest five star rating for not only the front crash test (driver and passenger) but also the side crash test (front and rear outboard passengers).It is also the 'Top Safety Pick' of the Insurance Institute of Highway safety (IIHS). It provides as standard equipment the Safety Canopy System with rollover sensors and side curtain airbags, the Personal Safety System featuring dual- stage front airbags plus side impact airbags.
It has attractive styling with a new chrome grille and new taillights. It is also amongst the roomiest cars available with a huge trunk in which to carry your golf bags.Although the mileage could have been better, experts consider it to be a good car.
Although it does not promise to be a bestseller it certainly deserves a second look.
As it became clear that the Five Hundred and the Freestyle would have to be upgraded substantially, CEO Alan Mullaly decided to revive the Taurus name for the new models and the Five Hundred became the new Taurus and its mechanical twin the Freestyle became the new Taurus X. Clearly Ford is banking on consumer awareness of the Taurus name to help it come up with a winner.
But the name is not all that Ford is banking upon. The new car is powered by a 3.5L Duratec V6 engine that generates 263 horsepower compared to the 153 horsepower of the old Taurus and 203 horsepower of the Five Hundred. The car is not fast, about 7.6 seconds to 60 but it does'nt lag too far behind the competition.The vehicle is styled to reduce aerodynamic drag and to cut out noise. Interior noise is greatly reduced, partly by using a new sound absorptive material called Sonosorb.
Where this car has done particularly well is that it has earned the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's(NHTSA) highest five star rating for not only the front crash test (driver and passenger) but also the side crash test (front and rear outboard passengers).It is also the 'Top Safety Pick' of the Insurance Institute of Highway safety (IIHS). It provides as standard equipment the Safety Canopy System with rollover sensors and side curtain airbags, the Personal Safety System featuring dual- stage front airbags plus side impact airbags.
It has attractive styling with a new chrome grille and new taillights. It is also amongst the roomiest cars available with a huge trunk in which to carry your golf bags.Although the mileage could have been better, experts consider it to be a good car.
Although it does not promise to be a bestseller it certainly deserves a second look.
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