Automotive News - January 7, 2008 - (Page 26)

26 • JANUARY 7, 2008 Forum concept is a clubhouse on wheels Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com For two years, Nissan’s planners have been talking about a “different approach” for the brand’s next minivan, in light of the dismal sales reception for the Nissan Quest. The Forum concept shows they weren’t kidding. If the Quest was designed for moms who wanted a different look for their kid hauler, the Forum appears to be for dads who want to leave the kids at home. With its glass top and an outline suggestive of a Nike running shoe, the American-designed Forum looks more like a clubhouse than a family vehicle. Rear seating is a klatch of leather swivel chairs, each with its own independent audio system. Middle-row seats have wireless video monitors and the ability to swing around 90 degrees to watch a ballgame through the wide-open doors. The concept, which will be on display at the Detroit auto show, comes with shag carpet and a small microwave oven to heat up the party food. By using reinforced roof and door frames, designers were able to eliminate the van’s B-pillar. That allows for front doors that open a full 90 de- PREVIEW Outside, the Nissan Forum concept resembles a running shoe. Inside, it has leather swivel chairs, wireless video monitors and a Bose audio system. grees and easier entry into the rear cabin. Translation: Dad’s grown-up buddies can climb in and out with less grunting. As with any good basement hangout room, audio rules the Forum. And the driver rules the clubhouse. A touch of a steering wheel button silences all speakers and videos throughout the cabin and turns on a microphone to allow Dad to be heard with unmistakable authority. A Bose SeatCentric audio system puts speakers into the seat’s winged headrests. A separate network of Bose speakers is mounted on the outer edges of the doors and linked to a wireless media player for when the party needs to blast music outside the clubhouse. c Profiled Dealer of the Month The Wolfington Group can be described as streamlined, organized and professional. By all means our sale was a success. Wolfington group’s explanation of the sale was dead on with gross potential, units and customer up count per day. Their staff was courteous from management to lot personnel; a customer even requested the lot manager to sell her a car! The sale met our expectations. We would recommend this company to anyone. We had a very profitable month while others in our market struggled. ■ 75 with Dodge ■ 25 with Chevrolet Elmer Beene Jr., left, of Beene Motor Sales (Chevrolet-PontiacBuick) in Mexia, Texas, receives a 25-year award for Chevrolet from Bob Sanford, General Motors’ San Antonio zone manager. Maurie Goodwin, center, of Goodwin Bros. Automobile Co. in New Castle, Ind., receives a 75-year award for Dodge from Brian Schnurr, left, director of Chrysler LLC’s Great Lakes Business Center. At right is Wade Goodwin, the dealership’s sales manager. The Goodwins also sell Chryslers and Jeeps. Milt Fosmire, Sales Manager Rochester Lincoln Mercury · Toyota · Dodge 603·332·5131 The Wolfington Group can be reached toll free 1-800-958-0595 *Current Wolfington Group market areas excluded. We invite news items for the dealers section. Please include your telephone number or e-mail address. Citizenship: Please tell us the dealer’s name, the dealership name and city. Let us know if he or she has received a civic award or is involved in a charitable organization or if the dealer or the dealership has made a sizable donation. Tell us the name of the charity, the town, a brief description of what it does, the amount of money and how it was raised. Please don’t send the information until after the event. E-mail items to : autonews@crain.com Or send them to: Dealers Section Automotive News 1155 Gratiot Ave. Detroit, MI 48207-2997 ■ 50 with Chevrolet George Stockburger IV of Stockburger Chevrolet and Stockburger Chrysler in Newtown, Pa., receives a 50-year award for Chevrolet. Pictured, from left, are Steve Spoerl, Chevrolet’s Philadelphia area sales manager; Dan Ahern, Chevrolet’s Philadelphia zone manager; George Stockburger IV; George Stockburger V, vice president; Sean Frawley, general manager; and Ron Chieffe, Chevrolet’s Philadelphia area service manager. The portrait is of dealership founder George Stockburger III and his wife, Eleanor. Milestones Joanne Helphenstine and Brett Helphenstine of Palm Automall in Punta Gorda, Fla., received a 25-year award for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep from Chrysler LLC.

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - January 7, 2008

Caddy V-8 is endangered species An industry turns green -- let's talk JAPAN TRIUMPHANT Ford, Microsoft to offer 911 service in Sync GPS will track fuel price Brose buys Siemens motor unit as step toward N.A. growth Expanding Meridian sees bright future Federal-Mogul CEO to stay Harbour Consulting sold Soft market threatens Tundra sales goal Ford dumps volume targets for dealer bonuses How HCCI engines work Visteon: 'We're leaner and smaller' Ford doubles regional promo money Gasoline-diesel combo moves closer to reality Rethinking retail: A hot topic at World Congress Denso expands hybrid plant CAFE fines may yield meager grants Some pay raise: To $8.3 million from $1 New Chrysler purchasing chief looks to Asia BMW adds jobs to boost S.C. output Continental layoffs follow production cuts at Chrysler Study: Indirect loan delinquencies soar No more peekaboo for Camaro Saturn's Lajdziak: GM is 'where I wanted to be' LETTER TO THE EDITOR Why buy Japanese? Here's an answer CAFE will put new entrees on auto show menu What an exciting way to start 2008 LETTER TO THE EDITOR 84-month financing is nothing new LETTER TO THE EDITOR GM ad policy shift is good for dealers JAMES B. TREECE Detroit show gets back on a global track LETTER TO THE EDITOR Too many dealers: Blame greed LETTER TO THE EDITOR Why not learn from Toyota? LETTER TO THE EDITOR A hot news item? Nah; it's 9 years old Suppliers to the 2008 Saturn Vue Supplier personnel Haldex farms out brake work The theme: Green and mean Dodge Ram gets interior upgrade BMW's 1-series coupe gets a soft-top counterpart Chrysler eye candy includes green jelly bean Chinese automakers increase their presence Concept offers a peek at Explorer's likely successor Ford goes global in styling its B-cars Forum concept is a clubhouse on wheels Dealers Simple safety: Green, amber, red Lexus SUV luxury will grow on you Personnel Gas prices boost Nissan car sales as trucks tank This year's U.S. sales forecast: Gloomy Ford: Tata is lead bidder for 2 brands Ex-Toyota manager goes to Audi Hyundai has new N.A. chief TRW buys Delphi brake assets Who's No. 1? Time for an official review Waning interest Solstice outguns Miata - again Once more into the legal fray? Lifan is the latest Chinese wannabe Things are looking up (and down) for MG Who has 1st Mustang - and what's it worth?

Automotive News - January 7, 2008

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