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The automotive industry in the U.S. has been enjoying one of the best years in terms of sales. But one segment is seeing a drop in their sales. That segment is the midsize sedan. Automotive News reports that the demand for midsize sedans is at a five-year low. The numbers tell this sad story. In the first quarter of 2016, sales of midsize sedans dropped 3.4 percent. The second quarter saw sales dropped 13 percent, while the third quarter saw a whopping 21 percent drop. For the month August, all 16 midsize sedans saw an average drop of 27 percent. The Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Nissan Altima reported drops of over 30 percent. Automakers have been throwing money on the hoods of their midsize sedans to try and ignite sales. But this tactic isn't working. Why are midsize sedan sales down? It comes down to consumers wanting crossovers and SUVs. "It doesn't matter how deep you discount the leisure suit and bell-bottoms -- nobody's going to buy them if they're not fashionable. I don't think they're ever going to go away, but there's a lot more people who don't consider them anymore," said Eric Lyman, vice president of industry insights at TrueCar. The outlook for midsize sedan sales doesn't look good as we enter fall and winter. "That larger sedan buyer just sees more value in the SUVs or CUVs," said Mike DeSilva, co-owner of Liberty Hyundai in Mahwah, N.J. "That's just where the activity is. And heading into the end of summer and going into winter, we're really going to get into SUV season." Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article -
Midsize Sedans Are Experiencing Sales Freefall
William Maley posted an article in Automotive Industry
The automotive industry in the U.S. has been enjoying one of the best years in terms of sales. But one segment is seeing a drop in their sales. That segment is the midsize sedan. Automotive News reports that the demand for midsize sedans is at a five-year low. The numbers tell this sad story. In the first quarter of 2016, sales of midsize sedans dropped 3.4 percent. The second quarter saw sales dropped 13 percent, while the third quarter saw a whopping 21 percent drop. For the month August, all 16 midsize sedans saw an average drop of 27 percent. The Ford Fusion, Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, and Nissan Altima reported drops of over 30 percent. Automakers have been throwing money on the hoods of their midsize sedans to try and ignite sales. But this tactic isn't working. Why are midsize sedan sales down? It comes down to consumers wanting crossovers and SUVs. "It doesn't matter how deep you discount the leisure suit and bell-bottoms -- nobody's going to buy them if they're not fashionable. I don't think they're ever going to go away, but there's a lot more people who don't consider them anymore," said Eric Lyman, vice president of industry insights at TrueCar. The outlook for midsize sedan sales doesn't look good as we enter fall and winter. "That larger sedan buyer just sees more value in the SUVs or CUVs," said Mike DeSilva, co-owner of Liberty Hyundai in Mahwah, N.J. "That's just where the activity is. And heading into the end of summer and going into winter, we're really going to get into SUV season." Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Alfa Romeo has finally gotten the Giulia onto the production line (for Europe) and they are working on their SUV (possibly named Stelvio). So what's next? How about a larger sedan? Auto Express reports that Alfa Romeo is hard at work on a sedan that will compete against the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It will use a version of the platform that underpins the Giulia. Engines will include gas and diesel, along with a possible plug-in hybrid. That does include the 503 horsepower 2.9L twin-turbo V6 engine as a high-performance model. Auto Express says the model will launch in 2018. Given the company's track record with release dates, we say add another two to three years to it. Source: Auto Express -
Alfa Romeo has finally gotten the Giulia onto the production line (for Europe) and they are working on their SUV (possibly named Stelvio). So what's next? How about a larger sedan? Auto Express reports that Alfa Romeo is hard at work on a sedan that will compete against the likes of the Audi A6, BMW 5-Series, and Mercedes-Benz E-Class. It will use a version of the platform that underpins the Giulia. Engines will include gas and diesel, along with a possible plug-in hybrid. That does include the 503 horsepower 2.9L twin-turbo V6 engine as a high-performance model. Auto Express says the model will launch in 2018. Given the company's track record with release dates, we say add another two to three years to it. Source: Auto Express View full article
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A couple weeks back, we reported that a Mitsubishi executive says talks between them and Nissan/Renault has stalled, but didn't go into details as to why. But Automotive News has shined a light as to possibly why and where it stands now. According to a source at Mitsubishi, the company ended talks with Renault about using the midsize Latitude/Samsung SM7 sedan built in South Korea because the Yon suddenly appreciated. This is turned undercut the plan's profitability when paired against the U.S. Dollar and Japenese Yen. A Nissan source goes onto say that Nissan has begun talks with Mitsubishi about using one of their sedans. A Mitsubishi spokesman says at this time that plans to replace the Galant are on indefinite hold. While he declined to comment on the talks between Mitsubishi and Nissan, he did say that working with Nissan is “one option.” In the meantime, Mitsubishi has moved up the replacement for the compact Lancer to the top of its priority list. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
A couple weeks back, we reported that a Mitsubishi executive says talks between them and Nissan/Renault has stalled, but didn't go into details as to why. But Automotive News has shined a light as to possibly why and where it stands now. According to a source at Mitsubishi, the company ended talks with Renault about using the midsize Latitude/Samsung SM7 sedan built in South Korea because the Yon suddenly appreciated. This is turned undercut the plan's profitability when paired against the U.S. Dollar and Japenese Yen. A Nissan source goes onto say that Nissan has begun talks with Mitsubishi about using one of their sedans. A Mitsubishi spokesman says at this time that plans to replace the Galant are on indefinite hold. While he declined to comment on the talks between Mitsubishi and Nissan, he did say that working with Nissan is “one option.” In the meantime, Mitsubishi has moved up the replacement for the compact Lancer to the top of its priority list. Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
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Back in late 2013, Mitsubishi announced a new partnership with Nissan to create a new midsize sedan for the North American marketplace. But at the NADA conference this weekend, a Mitsubishi executive says the plan has hit an impasse. “I told them that the plan has stalled. And I said that’s really all I can tell you at this time,” said Don Swearingen, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America to Automotive News. Its unclear whether the sedan part of the partnership or if another part is causing the trouble. Nissan was unable to comment at the time the story went up. But while the midsize sedan fate is in question, Mitsubishi dealers have a lot of new products to look forward in the next couple of years. Redesigned Outlander - July Redesigned Outlander Sport and new Lancer - End of the year New Mirage - Next Spring Mirage Sedan and Outlander Plug-In Hybrid - Second Quarter of 2016 Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) View full article
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Back in late 2013, Mitsubishi announced a new partnership with Nissan to create a new midsize sedan for the North American marketplace. But at the NADA conference this weekend, a Mitsubishi executive says the plan has hit an impasse. “I told them that the plan has stalled. And I said that’s really all I can tell you at this time,” said Don Swearingen, executive vice president of Mitsubishi Motors North America to Automotive News. Its unclear whether the sedan part of the partnership or if another part is causing the trouble. Nissan was unable to comment at the time the story went up. But while the midsize sedan fate is in question, Mitsubishi dealers have a lot of new products to look forward in the next couple of years. Redesigned Outlander - July Redesigned Outlander Sport and new Lancer - End of the year New Mirage - Next Spring Mirage Sedan and Outlander Plug-In Hybrid - Second Quarter of 2016 Source: Automotive News (Subscription Required) -
Rumorpile: Alfa Romeo Planning To Debut A New Sedan Next Summer
William Maley posted an article in Alfa Romeo
Every few months it seems, we get news on Alfa Romeo. For the most part, it happens to deal with either something be delayed or killed off. But once in a great while, there is news that shows Alfa Romeo is making progress to showing something. This story happens to be the latter. Automotive News Europe has learned from sources at Alfa Romeo that the Italian automaker will be revealing a new sedan next June. The new sedan - codenamed project 952 - is expected to be a midsize sedan and wear a different name than Guila, originally pegged as the name for the new sedan. ANE's sources say the new sedan will come in between the BMW 3-Series and 5-Series in size. Source: Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) -
Every few months it seems, we get news on Alfa Romeo. For the most part, it happens to deal with either something be delayed or killed off. But once in a great while, there is news that shows Alfa Romeo is making progress to showing something. This story happens to be the latter. Automotive News Europe has learned from sources at Alfa Romeo that the Italian automaker will be revealing a new sedan next June. The new sedan - codenamed project 952 - is expected to be a midsize sedan and wear a different name than Guila, originally pegged as the name for the new sedan. ANE's sources say the new sedan will come in between the BMW 3-Series and 5-Series in size. Source: Automotive News Europe (Subscription Required) View full article
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The current Honda Accord and I had a difficult beginning. When the automaker introduced the Accord Coupe Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, I was wondering what real changes had been made and being more interested in the early 80’s Accord on loan from The Henry Ford in their exhibit. Then when Honda revealed the production Accord Sedan and Coupe, I was wondering what was going at Honda because it looks almost the same as the old one. But recently, I spent a week with a 2014 Honda Accord EX Sedan and I said, “Oh, I get it now.” Read on to see what I mean. On the face of it, the 2014 Accord EX Sedan doesn’t look that much different from the last-generation model. The two models have a similar design profile. Honda made a couple of changes with the front end with a new grille surround and a set of LEDs running along the outer edge of the headlights. In the back, there is a restyled trunk lid. However, there is one big difference between the old and new Accord; length. Park the two next to each other and the 2014 model is about 3.6 inches shorter than the last-generation. Not only does this bring the Accord back into the midsize classification, it also makes the overall design look better proportioned. Moving into the Accord EX’s interior, its the same story as the exterior. There really isn’t anything that breaks new ground. It’s just a lesson on how to build one that is very comfortable and well built. Materials range from soft-touch plastics on the door panels and dashboard to faux brushed metal trim. Build quality was excellent. All Accords come equipped with a large eight-inch color screen that displays radio, audio inputs, trip computer, backup camera, and Honda’s LaneWatch system. LaneWatch uses a camera on the right-side mirror to keep an eye on the Accord’s blind spot. The system activates when you flick the turn signal to make a right turn or by pressing a button on the turn stalk. The system is a great idea as it provides that extra amount of security and certainty when making lane change or a pass. I would like to see Honda add a blind spot monitoring system as well to add a bit more security. Aside from LaneWatch, controlling the audio system and trip computer was very easy thanks to a well placed set of controls that featured large buttons. The Accord’s interior space has to be at the top of the class. On the EX, they were wrapped in comfortable cloth with heat. The front seats provided excellent support and comfort. Despite a cut in overall length and a 0.2 inch reduction of headroom, space in rear seat is still large. My 5’7” frame was able to get comfortable and even stretch out back here. For thoughts on the powertrain and handling, see the next page. For most Accords, they’ll be equipped with the powertrain combination found in my tester; a new 2.4L EarthDreams four-cylinder engine with direct-injection paired with a CVT. The 2.4 produces 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. However, the new Accord Sport gets a slight bump in horsepower and torque to 189 and 182 respectively. Honda is known for building four-cylinders that are very smooth, but have to be pushed to an inch of its life to get it moving at a decent clip. The new 2.4L follows that somewhat as its power delivery is very smooth. However, you don’t need to reach the outer limits to get moving. The engine builds power starting in the midrange, which makes power delivery more linear. More impressive is the CVT which takes the place of a five-speed automatic. The transmission has been engineered to simulate shifts to make it seem like you’re driving an automatic. This illusion works for the most part aside from pressing the pedal to the floor and the whine from the transmission comes into play. My average fuel economy for the week landed 31 MPG, which puts it right in line with the EPA ratings of 27 City/36 Highway/30 Combined. Another item Honda is very well known for is using a double-wishbone suspension setup in the front and rear for the Accord. With this generation, Honda swapped swapped the double-wishbone in the front to a more compact MacPherson strut setup. This change may cause many to worry that the fun to drive aspect of the Accord would be lost. It hasn’t. The Accord feels confident and collected when being pushed around. Steering feels nicely weighted, giving more confidence to a driver. Don’t think the Accord’s suspension is a one trick pony though. On the ‘fine’ roads of Michigan, the Accord’s suspension was able to provide a very smooth ride. Impacts from bumps and potholes were minimized. One area Honda still needs to work on is wind and road noise. Both were noticeable during my week with the vehicle. On the face if it, you may think Honda really didn’t change anything with the 2014 Accord EX. But first glances can be deceiving. While the Accord does not have the sleek and sexy styling as some of its competitors, it does have a number of improvements to the interior, powertrain, and ride qualities that embarrass many of its rivals. To put it quite simply, the Accord just does everything right for a midsize sedan. Disclaimer: Honda Provided the Accord EX, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2014 Make: Honda Model: Accord Trim: EX Engine: 2.4 DOHC 16-Valve i-VTEC EarthDreams Four-Cylinder Driveline: Front-Wheel Drive, CVT Horsepower @ RPM: 185 @ 6400 Torque @ RPM: 181 @ 3900 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 27/36/30 Curb Weight: 3336 lbs Location of Manufacture: Marysville, Ohio Base Price: $25,680.00 As Tested Price: $26,470.00 (Includes $790.00 Destination Charge) Options: N/A William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. -
The current Honda Accord and I had a difficult beginning. When the automaker introduced the Accord Coupe Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, I was wondering what real changes had been made and being more interested in the early 80’s Accord on loan from The Henry Ford in their exhibit. Then when Honda revealed the production Accord Sedan and Coupe, I was wondering what was going at Honda because it looks almost the same as the old one. But recently, I spent a week with a 2014 Honda Accord EX Sedan and I said, “Oh, I get it now.” Read on to see what I mean. On the face of it, the 2014 Accord EX Sedan doesn’t look that much different from the last-generation model. The two models have a similar design profile. Honda made a couple of changes with the front end with a new grille surround and a set of LEDs running along the outer edge of the headlights. In the back, there is a restyled trunk lid. However, there is one big difference between the old and new Accord; length. Park the two next to each other and the 2014 model is about 3.6 inches shorter than the last-generation. Not only does this bring the Accord back into the midsize classification, it also makes the overall design look better proportioned. Moving into the Accord EX’s interior, its the same story as the exterior. There really isn’t anything that breaks new ground. It’s just a lesson on how to build one that is very comfortable and well built. Materials range from soft-touch plastics on the door panels and dashboard to faux brushed metal trim. Build quality was excellent. All Accords come equipped with a large eight-inch color screen that displays radio, audio inputs, trip computer, backup camera, and Honda’s LaneWatch system. LaneWatch uses a camera on the right-side mirror to keep an eye on the Accord’s blind spot. The system activates when you flick the turn signal to make a right turn or by pressing a button on the turn stalk. The system is a great idea as it provides that extra amount of security and certainty when making lane change or a pass. I would like to see Honda add a blind spot monitoring system as well to add a bit more security. Aside from LaneWatch, controlling the audio system and trip computer was very easy thanks to a well placed set of controls that featured large buttons. The Accord’s interior space has to be at the top of the class. On the EX, they were wrapped in comfortable cloth with heat. The front seats provided excellent support and comfort. Despite a cut in overall length and a 0.2 inch reduction of headroom, space in rear seat is still large. My 5’7” frame was able to get comfortable and even stretch out back here. For thoughts on the powertrain and handling, see the next page. For most Accords, they’ll be equipped with the powertrain combination found in my tester; a new 2.4L EarthDreams four-cylinder engine with direct-injection paired with a CVT. The 2.4 produces 185 horsepower and 181 pound-feet of torque. However, the new Accord Sport gets a slight bump in horsepower and torque to 189 and 182 respectively. Honda is known for building four-cylinders that are very smooth, but have to be pushed to an inch of its life to get it moving at a decent clip. The new 2.4L follows that somewhat as its power delivery is very smooth. However, you don’t need to reach the outer limits to get moving. The engine builds power starting in the midrange, which makes power delivery more linear. More impressive is the CVT which takes the place of a five-speed automatic. The transmission has been engineered to simulate shifts to make it seem like you’re driving an automatic. This illusion works for the most part aside from pressing the pedal to the floor and the whine from the transmission comes into play. My average fuel economy for the week landed 31 MPG, which puts it right in line with the EPA ratings of 27 City/36 Highway/30 Combined. Another item Honda is very well known for is using a double-wishbone suspension setup in the front and rear for the Accord. With this generation, Honda swapped swapped the double-wishbone in the front to a more compact MacPherson strut setup. This change may cause many to worry that the fun to drive aspect of the Accord would be lost. It hasn’t. The Accord feels confident and collected when being pushed around. Steering feels nicely weighted, giving more confidence to a driver. Don’t think the Accord’s suspension is a one trick pony though. On the ‘fine’ roads of Michigan, the Accord’s suspension was able to provide a very smooth ride. Impacts from bumps and potholes were minimized. One area Honda still needs to work on is wind and road noise. Both were noticeable during my week with the vehicle. On the face if it, you may think Honda really didn’t change anything with the 2014 Accord EX. But first glances can be deceiving. While the Accord does not have the sleek and sexy styling as some of its competitors, it does have a number of improvements to the interior, powertrain, and ride qualities that embarrass many of its rivals. To put it quite simply, the Accord just does everything right for a midsize sedan. Disclaimer: Honda Provided the Accord EX, Insurance, and One Tank of Gas Year: 2014 Make: Honda Model: Accord Trim: EX Engine: 2.4 DOHC 16-Valve i-VTEC EarthDreams Four-Cylinder Driveline: Front-Wheel Drive, CVT Horsepower @ RPM: 185 @ 6400 Torque @ RPM: 181 @ 3900 Fuel Economy: City/Highway/Combined - 27/36/30 Curb Weight: 3336 lbs Location of Manufacture: Marysville, Ohio Base Price: $25,680.00 As Tested Price: $26,470.00 (Includes $790.00 Destination Charge) Options: N/A William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
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William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 5, 2013 In a surprise move, Mitsubishi has announced they are teaming up with Nissan-Renault to build two new sedans; a new midsize sedan that would be sold in the U.S. and Canada, and a compact sedan that will be sold globally. The partnership will also look new projects which include products, technology and manufacturing capacity. “Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have jointly benefited from several collaborations in the past, most recently the successful joint-venture on Kei cars in Japan. I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors," said President and CEO of Renault-Nissan, Carlos Ghosn. The two vehicles in question will be based on platforms from Renault. No timetable has been set as to when we'll see either vehicle. This isn't the first time that Nissan and Mitsubishi have teamed up. A couple years ago, the two automakers started a joint-venture company called NMKV to work on Kei cars for the Japanese marketplace. The first vehicles of this joint-venture, the Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK wagon, went on sale this year. 2013 Renault Latitude and 2013 Mitsubishi Galant. Could these two cars become one? Click Picture to Enlarge Source: Mitsubishi, Nissan/Renault William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE & MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION EXPLORE WIDE RANGING GLOBAL PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION New projects to drive global product coverage and capacity utilization AMSTERDAM, Netherlands and TOKYO, Japan – The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced their joint intention to explore several new projects covering shared products, technologies and manufacturing capacity among the automakers. As a consequence, it has been agreed that the strategic cooperation between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors could be expanded across the broader Renault-Nissan Alliance. Between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, it is expected that the existing NMKV joint-venture company will be extended to co-develop a new small-segment car including a specific electric version that can be sold on a global basis. The basis for this product will be from a jointly developed “Kei car” platform of the type popular in the Japanese domestic market. Further details of all products, markets and manufacturing will be announced separately. The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation are also confirming their intention to share technologies and product assets related to electric vehicles and latest-generation platforms. Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors were among the first to pioneer the introduction of mass-marketed zero emission products. Based on the current direction of discussions between Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, it is firstly expected that two new sedan models would be launched under the Mitsubishi brand, based on vehicles from the Renault portfolio. Secondary and additional studies around other projects will then be considered. The first sedan, to compete in the full-size D-segment markets of the United States and Canada and would be manufactured at the Renault-Samsung plant in Busan, South Korea. The second sedan model would compete in the global C-segment. The manufacturing location for this product is under discussion. President and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn said: “Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have jointly benefited from several collaborations in the past, most recently the successful joint-venture on Kei cars in Japan. I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors." Osamu Masuko, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation commented: “As a result of the development of collaborative projects with Nissan Motor up to now, Mitsubishi Motors is pleased to work again with Nissan and now Renault towards achieving further collaborations. The new opportunities could be described as evidence that the ongoing collaborative projects between Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan have brought positive results, and Mitsubishi Motors hopes that any new collaborative projects with the Renault-Nissan Alliance would bring us further merits." Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have an existing joint-venture company called NMKV which was established in June 2011 for the purpose of co-developing a range of Kei cars for both brands. The first of these products – the Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK wagon – went on sale in Japan this year. Both products are manufactured at the Mitsubishi Mizushima plant in Japan. View full article
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Mitsubishi Teams With Nissan/Renault To Create A New Midsize Sedan
William Maley posted an article in Mitsubishi
William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com November 5, 2013 In a surprise move, Mitsubishi has announced they are teaming up with Nissan-Renault to build two new sedans; a new midsize sedan that would be sold in the U.S. and Canada, and a compact sedan that will be sold globally. The partnership will also look new projects which include products, technology and manufacturing capacity. “Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have jointly benefited from several collaborations in the past, most recently the successful joint-venture on Kei cars in Japan. I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors," said President and CEO of Renault-Nissan, Carlos Ghosn. The two vehicles in question will be based on platforms from Renault. No timetable has been set as to when we'll see either vehicle. This isn't the first time that Nissan and Mitsubishi have teamed up. A couple years ago, the two automakers started a joint-venture company called NMKV to work on Kei cars for the Japanese marketplace. The first vehicles of this joint-venture, the Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK wagon, went on sale this year. 2013 Renault Latitude and 2013 Mitsubishi Galant. Could these two cars become one? Click Picture to Enlarge Source: Mitsubishi, Nissan/Renault William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 RENAULT-NISSAN ALLIANCE & MITSUBISHI MOTORS CORPORATION EXPLORE WIDE RANGING GLOBAL PRODUCT AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION New projects to drive global product coverage and capacity utilization AMSTERDAM, Netherlands and TOKYO, Japan – The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation today announced their joint intention to explore several new projects covering shared products, technologies and manufacturing capacity among the automakers. As a consequence, it has been agreed that the strategic cooperation between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors could be expanded across the broader Renault-Nissan Alliance. Between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors, it is expected that the existing NMKV joint-venture company will be extended to co-develop a new small-segment car including a specific electric version that can be sold on a global basis. The basis for this product will be from a jointly developed “Kei car” platform of the type popular in the Japanese domestic market. Further details of all products, markets and manufacturing will be announced separately. The Renault-Nissan Alliance and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation are also confirming their intention to share technologies and product assets related to electric vehicles and latest-generation platforms. Renault, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors were among the first to pioneer the introduction of mass-marketed zero emission products. Based on the current direction of discussions between Renault and Mitsubishi Motors, it is firstly expected that two new sedan models would be launched under the Mitsubishi brand, based on vehicles from the Renault portfolio. Secondary and additional studies around other projects will then be considered. The first sedan, to compete in the full-size D-segment markets of the United States and Canada and would be manufactured at the Renault-Samsung plant in Busan, South Korea. The second sedan model would compete in the global C-segment. The manufacturing location for this product is under discussion. President and CEO of the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Carlos Ghosn said: “Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have jointly benefited from several collaborations in the past, most recently the successful joint-venture on Kei cars in Japan. I welcome the direction being taken towards this broader cooperation, creating new opportunities for Renault in addition to further leveraging the productive relationship between Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors." Osamu Masuko, President of Mitsubishi Motors Corporation commented: “As a result of the development of collaborative projects with Nissan Motor up to now, Mitsubishi Motors is pleased to work again with Nissan and now Renault towards achieving further collaborations. The new opportunities could be described as evidence that the ongoing collaborative projects between Mitsubishi Motors and Nissan have brought positive results, and Mitsubishi Motors hopes that any new collaborative projects with the Renault-Nissan Alliance would bring us further merits." Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors have an existing joint-venture company called NMKV which was established in June 2011 for the purpose of co-developing a range of Kei cars for both brands. The first of these products – the Nissan Dayz and Mitsubishi eK wagon – went on sale in Japan this year. Both products are manufactured at the Mitsubishi Mizushima plant in Japan. -
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 10, 2013 While the midsize sedan market as a whole remains the single largest segment in the U.S., sales of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are shrinking due to the rise of crossovers. "While the segment is still growing year-over-year, it's nowhere near what it was growing last year as the industry was launching a lot of new midsize cars," said Bill Fay, the U.S. head of the Toyota brand. The rise of crossovers are being fueled by their practicalness, ability to get in and out much easier, and improved fuel economy. The price gap between midsize sedans and crossovers has also narrowed. Kelly Blue Book says a crossover costs $1,300 more on average than a midsize sedan. To put it another way, the difference in monthly payments between a midsize sedan and a crossover is less than $20. "Fundamentally, both serve the family market. Midsize cars have gotten smaller and more expensive, because of a variety of factors. People are switching to crossovers, because they satisfy the family needs very well," said Mustafa Mohatarem, General Motors Co's chief economist. Source: Reuters William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. View full article
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Crossovers Are Eating Up Sales Of Midsize Sedans
William Maley posted an article in Automotive Industry
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com May 10, 2013 While the midsize sedan market as a whole remains the single largest segment in the U.S., sales of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry are shrinking due to the rise of crossovers. "While the segment is still growing year-over-year, it's nowhere near what it was growing last year as the industry was launching a lot of new midsize cars," said Bill Fay, the U.S. head of the Toyota brand. The rise of crossovers are being fueled by their practicalness, ability to get in and out much easier, and improved fuel economy. The price gap between midsize sedans and crossovers has also narrowed. Kelly Blue Book says a crossover costs $1,300 more on average than a midsize sedan. To put it another way, the difference in monthly payments between a midsize sedan and a crossover is less than $20. "Fundamentally, both serve the family market. Midsize cars have gotten smaller and more expensive, because of a variety of factors. People are switching to crossovers, because they satisfy the family needs very well," said Mustafa Mohatarem, General Motors Co's chief economist. Source: Reuters William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] or you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. -
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 7, 2013 Mazda has announced the pricing for the new Mazda6. Starting at $21,675 (includes a $795 destination charge), the base i Sport model comes equipped with a 2.5L SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine producing 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque and a six-speed manual transmission. This combination gets an estimated 25 City/37 Highway/29 Combined. Other standard features include push-button start, a tilt-and-telescopic adjustable steering column, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, 17-inch alloy wheels, and auxiliary and USB connection ports. There is a optional six-speed automatic i Sport model priced at $23,290 that gets 26 City/38 Highway/30 Combined and adds Bluetooth, a 5.8-inch color touch screen display, a rearview camera, HD Radio, Pandora, SMS text message receipt/delivery, and E911 automatic emergency notification. Other models in the lineup include the $25,290 i Touring and the $30,290 i Grand Touring which add 19-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette sport seats, and other features. Source: Mazda William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 MAZDA ANNOUNCES PRICING, FUEL ECONOMY OF ALL-NEW 2014 MAZDA6 - Redesigned Mid-Size Sedan Entry Offers Competitive Pricing, Best-in-Class Highway MPG - IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced official pricing and fuel economy figures for the all-new 2014 Mazda6. Starting at $20,880[1] MSRP, the all-new mid-size sedan is the second vehicle in the Mazda lineup to fully incorporate SKYACTIV®[2] TECHNOLOGY, the brand's breakthrough engineering approach toward increasing overall vehicle efficiency. Offering both powerful performance and improved fuel economy, the 2014 Mazda6 features best-in-class highway fuel economy of 38 miles per gallon (MPG). On sale now, the 2014 Mazda6 is fitted with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine, which can be paired with a choice of transmissions: the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic. Touting 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm, the sleek sedan offers impressive fuel efficiency at 25 city/37 highway/29 combined MPG when equipped with the standard manual transmission, as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When equipped with the optional automatic transmission, fuel economy increases to an EPA rated 26 city/38 highway/30 combined. For more information on fuel economy and how estimates are determined, visit www.fueleconomy.gov, a joint website venture between the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available in three trims, the entry i Sport starts at $20,880 MSRP, a slight increase of $155 from the previous model year. With its SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission, standard equipment includes a push-button start, air conditioning with a pollen filter, power windows with a driver-side one-touch up/down feature, a tilt-and-telescopic adjustable steering column, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, 17-inch alloy wheels as well as auxiliary and USB connection ports. When equipped with the optional SKYACTIV-Drive automatic, other added features include Bluetooth® phone/audio connectivity, a 5.8-inch color touch screen display, a rearview camera, HD Radio™ Technology, Pandora®, Radio Broadcast Data System program information, SMS text message receipt/delivery, E911 automatic emergency notification and audio menu voice command. The mid-level i Touring trim ($24,495 MSRP) sits on larger 19-inch alloy wheels and, when equipped with a SKYACTIV-Drive transmission, includes all the features of the i Sport model equipped with an automatic transmission ($22,495 MSRP) as well as dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat vents, leatherette-trimmed sport seats, a six-way power driver's seat and a Commander Switch for operating functions on the 5.8-inch display. An optional Touring Technology Package ($2,000 MSRP) adds a TomTom technology-based navigation system, Bose® Centerpoint® 11-speaker Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System, automatic on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink®, an auto-dimming driver's side outside mirror, heated outside mirrors and the all-new Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system. SCBS is an added safety component designed to assist a driver in avoiding front collisions when traveling at low speeds of less than 19 miles per hour. When the imbedded laser sensor detects an obtrusive object and the system calculates there may be a high risk for collision, the brake pedal travel is reduced in order to hasten braking. Should the driver fail to perform an avoidance maneuver, the SCBS system will activate an automatic braking function. While the system will not eliminate accidents, its intent is to minimize them and reduce the severity of a crash. The i Grand Touring is considered the high-level trim model and includes all the equipment features of the i Touring with Touring Technology Package. Starting at $29,495 MSRP, additional standard niceties include platinum silver 19-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, a rear lip spoiler, bi-xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights with auto leveling, leather-trimmed sport seats with heated front seats, an eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, a four-way power front passenger seat, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Sirius® Satellite Radio with a four-month complimentary subscription. Two package options are available for the i Grand Touring. For an additional $900 MSRP, the MRCC/FOW Package adds Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW). The Advanced Package, available from the second half of 2013, adds the MRCC/FOW Package as well as a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), High Beam Control (HBC) and i-ELOOP, Mazda's capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system, which is expected to offer increased fuel efficiency. Pricing for this package is not yet available. A SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine will be offered on 2014 Mazda6 vehicles also during the second half of the year. Final specifications and packaging of the diesel engine and trim combinations will be announced closer to its on-sale date. Standard safety features for all 2014 Mazda6 models include six airbags (front, side and full side-curtain), whiplash-reducing front headrests, power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), a Traction Control System (TCS), hill launch assist, a fold-away brake pedal assembly, a trunk entrapment release system, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH). i Touring models feature a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) as standard equipment with the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system available as an option. i Grand Touring models feature BSM and SCBS systems as standard equipment as well as RCTA and an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS). Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and High Beam Control (HBC) are available as part of an optional package. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. [1] Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary. [2] SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation (MC). -
By William Maley Staff Writer - CheersandGears.com January 7, 2013 Mazda has announced the pricing for the new Mazda6. Starting at $21,675 (includes a $795 destination charge), the base i Sport model comes equipped with a 2.5L SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine producing 184 horsepower and 185 pound-feet of torque and a six-speed manual transmission. This combination gets an estimated 25 City/37 Highway/29 Combined. Other standard features include push-button start, a tilt-and-telescopic adjustable steering column, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, 17-inch alloy wheels, and auxiliary and USB connection ports. There is a optional six-speed automatic i Sport model priced at $23,290 that gets 26 City/38 Highway/30 Combined and adds Bluetooth, a 5.8-inch color touch screen display, a rearview camera, HD Radio, Pandora, SMS text message receipt/delivery, and E911 automatic emergency notification. Other models in the lineup include the $25,290 i Touring and the $30,290 i Grand Touring which add 19-inch wheels, dual-zone automatic climate control, leatherette sport seats, and other features. Source: Mazda William Maley is a staff writer for Cheers & Gears. He can be reached at [email protected] you can follow him on twitter at @realmudmonster. Press Release is on Page 2 MAZDA ANNOUNCES PRICING, FUEL ECONOMY OF ALL-NEW 2014 MAZDA6 - Redesigned Mid-Size Sedan Entry Offers Competitive Pricing, Best-in-Class Highway MPG - IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced official pricing and fuel economy figures for the all-new 2014 Mazda6. Starting at $20,880[1] MSRP, the all-new mid-size sedan is the second vehicle in the Mazda lineup to fully incorporate SKYACTIV®[2] TECHNOLOGY, the brand's breakthrough engineering approach toward increasing overall vehicle efficiency. Offering both powerful performance and improved fuel economy, the 2014 Mazda6 features best-in-class highway fuel economy of 38 miles per gallon (MPG). On sale now, the 2014 Mazda6 is fitted with a SKYACTIV-G 2.5-liter gasoline engine, which can be paired with a choice of transmissions: the SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual transmission or SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic. Touting 184 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 185 lb-ft of torque at 3,250 rpm, the sleek sedan offers impressive fuel efficiency at 25 city/37 highway/29 combined MPG when equipped with the standard manual transmission, as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). When equipped with the optional automatic transmission, fuel economy increases to an EPA rated 26 city/38 highway/30 combined. For more information on fuel economy and how estimates are determined, visit www.fueleconomy.gov, a joint website venture between the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Available in three trims, the entry i Sport starts at $20,880 MSRP, a slight increase of $155 from the previous model year. With its SKYACTIV-MT manual transmission, standard equipment includes a push-button start, air conditioning with a pollen filter, power windows with a driver-side one-touch up/down feature, a tilt-and-telescopic adjustable steering column, steering-wheel-mounted audio and cruise control functions, 17-inch alloy wheels as well as auxiliary and USB connection ports. When equipped with the optional SKYACTIV-Drive automatic, other added features include Bluetooth® phone/audio connectivity, a 5.8-inch color touch screen display, a rearview camera, HD Radio™ Technology, Pandora®, Radio Broadcast Data System program information, SMS text message receipt/delivery, E911 automatic emergency notification and audio menu voice command. The mid-level i Touring trim ($24,495 MSRP) sits on larger 19-inch alloy wheels and, when equipped with a SKYACTIV-Drive transmission, includes all the features of the i Sport model equipped with an automatic transmission ($22,495 MSRP) as well as dual-zone automatic climate control with rear seat vents, leatherette-trimmed sport seats, a six-way power driver's seat and a Commander Switch for operating functions on the 5.8-inch display. An optional Touring Technology Package ($2,000 MSRP) adds a TomTom technology-based navigation system, Bose® Centerpoint® 11-speaker Surround Sound System with AudioPilot®, Mazda Advanced Keyless Entry System, automatic on/off headlights, rain-sensing windshield wipers, an auto-dimming rearview mirror with Homelink®, an auto-dimming driver's side outside mirror, heated outside mirrors and the all-new Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system. SCBS is an added safety component designed to assist a driver in avoiding front collisions when traveling at low speeds of less than 19 miles per hour. When the imbedded laser sensor detects an obtrusive object and the system calculates there may be a high risk for collision, the brake pedal travel is reduced in order to hasten braking. Should the driver fail to perform an avoidance maneuver, the SCBS system will activate an automatic braking function. While the system will not eliminate accidents, its intent is to minimize them and reduce the severity of a crash. The i Grand Touring is considered the high-level trim model and includes all the equipment features of the i Touring with Touring Technology Package. Starting at $29,495 MSRP, additional standard niceties include platinum silver 19-inch alloy wheels, a power moonroof, a rear lip spoiler, bi-xenon high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights with auto leveling, leather-trimmed sport seats with heated front seats, an eight-way power driver's seat with power lumbar support, a four-way power front passenger seat, steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters and Sirius® Satellite Radio with a four-month complimentary subscription. Two package options are available for the i Grand Touring. For an additional $900 MSRP, the MRCC/FOW Package adds Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW). The Advanced Package, available from the second half of 2013, adds the MRCC/FOW Package as well as a Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS), High Beam Control (HBC) and i-ELOOP, Mazda's capacitor-based brake energy regeneration system, which is expected to offer increased fuel efficiency. Pricing for this package is not yet available. A SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter clean diesel engine will be offered on 2014 Mazda6 vehicles also during the second half of the year. Final specifications and packaging of the diesel engine and trim combinations will be announced closer to its on-sale date. Standard safety features for all 2014 Mazda6 models include six airbags (front, side and full side-curtain), whiplash-reducing front headrests, power-assisted ventilated front and solid rear disc brakes, anti-lock brakes (ABS) with Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist, daytime running lights, Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), a Traction Control System (TCS), hill launch assist, a fold-away brake pedal assembly, a trunk entrapment release system, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH). i Touring models feature a Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) system and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) as standard equipment with the Smart City Brake Support (SCBS) system available as an option. i Grand Touring models feature BSM and SCBS systems as standard equipment as well as RCTA and an Adaptive Front-lighting System (AFS). Forward Obstruction Warning (FOW), Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS) and High Beam Control (HBC) are available as part of an optional package. Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City. For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com. [1] Starting price is manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for lowest trim level. MSRP does not include $795 destination charge (Alaska $840), title, taxes, license, options and dealer charges. Actual prices set by dealer and may vary. [2] SKYACTIV is a registered trademark of Mazda Motor Corporation (MC). View full article
