Category: The Car Biz

After a lovely 4th of July weekend, doing my best to focus energies on anything not related to work (something I hear is easy for most people to do, but I’ve never quite got the knack of), I started my usual workday morning routine at my local Bally Total Fitness. And, sure enough, as soon as I get near the gym TV, there’s the news, dragging me right back to 5:15 am Monday morning reality.
The 5 am scoop in Detroit was the rumor GM is considering dumping more brands, one way or another, and firing more mid-management white-collar employees. (No, UAW, you do not have the corner on losing jobs. I swear.) Of course, by time I was in the office and caught up with e-mail, GM has flatly denied that any brand, other than Hummer, is up for review. We’ll only know the truth of that if GM manages to hold onto [...]

The Altima Hybrid can give initial electric-only propulsion from a stop and a slower speeds. (erfect for mowing down unsuspecting pedestrians in parking lots as 4 miles per hour.

There is just so much that goes into creating a new vehicle. The level of detail is almost beyond comprehension, in fact. Not only does a car company have to develop engines, styling, interiors, suspensions, and so on, but they have to fine tune all of those components too. Developing a new vehicle is truly a task of monumental proportions.
Last week, a few of your intrepid VehicleVoice correspondents got the chance to spend the day at Chrysler’s test track in Chelsea, Michigan. It’s a giant facility with all kinds of simulated roads and environments so that they can develop new vehicles in secrecy, away from the public’s prying eyes. You can see the layout of the place in this pic:

Chrysler’s proving grounds in Chelsea, MI

Products as characters...for a fee, please.

Products as characters...for a fee, please.

General Motors reconsiders HUMMER strategy. How will that impact hilltop H2 owner group?

For the first time in 17 years, the F-Series has been outsold in the monthly sales race. And not just outsold, trounced by four different cars.

Deal between Ford Motor Company and Tata Motors is final: Jaguar Land Rover now owned by Indian conglomerate.

Deal between Ford Motor Company and Tata Motors is final: Jaguar Land Rover now owned by Indian conglomerate.

Navigation systems and in-car telematics breed the next new advertising frontier: Your car!