Automotive News - January 21, 2008 - (Page 10)

10 • JANUARY 21, 2008 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Audi predicts 1 million global sales in 2008 Diana T. Kurylko dkurylko@crain.com DETROIT — Audi AG says it will break the 1 million mark in global sales for the first time this year and set a record for the U.S. market. Audi CEO Rupert Stadler said at the Detroit auto show that the increase will be fueled by new vehicles, including the A4 compact sedan that already is on sale in Europe. The A4 goes on sale in the United States this fall. Last year, Audi sales worldwide rose to 964,200, up 6.5 percent from 2006. U.S. sales were up 3.8 percent from 2006 for a record 93,506 units. Johan de Nysschen, executive vice president of Audi of America Inc., said Audi CEO Rupert Stadler: New vehicles will boost sales. the sales increase reflects a shift in strategy devised three years ago. Since then, Audi has launched 19 new vehicles, including variants, he said. De Nysschen did not detail his forecast for 2008 but said that the A4 is Audi’s most significant introduction because the current model represents 55 percent of the brand’s U.S. sales.c Bob Carter, Toyota Division general manager, introduces the Venza crossover. Toyota crosses over into tricky segment Mark Rechtin mrechtin@crain.com DETROIT — Chrysler Pacifica. Mercedes-Benz R class. Ford Freestyle. The road to crossover glory is littered with the wreckage of vehicles that suffered from an identity crisis. Buyers couldn’t quite figure out what they were. This fall, Toyota will launch its own effort at a crossbred crossover — called the Venza. Not a wagon, not a minivan and not a car-based SUV, the 2009 Venza splits the difference among the three vehicle types. The pitfall for rivals’ past efforts was that consumers could not identify what the vehicle was and were put off by what it was not. Toyota executives variously describe the vehicle as a “sports crossover” or a “crossover sedan.” sion of the Camry’s 2.4-liter inlinefour. Both engines will drive a sixspeed automatic transmission. Frontand all-wheel-drive versions will be offered. Like the Camry, the Venza seats five occupants. No third-row seat will be offered. But the Venza’s cowl structure and suspension pieces will be different from those of the Camry. Toyota required that the vehicle be able to fit a 42-inch flat-screen TV, a bulk roll of Costco toilet paper or a mountain bike, said Chris Hostetter, group vice president of advanced product strategy and product planning. Empty-nesters The buyer is an empty-nest baby boomer suffering from “SUV fatigue,” said Andrew Coetzee, vice president of product planning. Young couples with children are a secondary target. Toyota will build the Venza at the Georgetown, Ky., assembly line, alongside the Camry. Toyota expects to sell 70,000 units annually. The flexible nature of the Georgetown plant means it can accommodate more or less demand. With the Venza, Toyota is going to concentrate on grass-roots marketing. TV advertising may not accurately communicate the vehicle’s attribute, Lentz admitted. “People need to experience it in person to say, ‘I get it,’ ” Lentz said. “But it has done better in clinics than any vehicle we’ve ever done.”c Based on Camry platform Although similar in silhouette to those other attempts, the Venza has some subtle differences. The location of the sill height is different, as is the beltline, hip point and roof height. It also has shallower angles to the windshield and rear glass than the Pacifica, R class and Freestyle. “Ten millimeters here and there can make a big difference in styling,” said Jim Lentz, president of Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Because the Venza is based on the Camry platform, it will share many of the sedan’s components, including the 3.5-liter V-6 engine. The base engine will be a bored-out, 2.7-liter ver- http://www.vectrix.com http://autonews.com/classifieds

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - January 21, 2008

Campi will move fast to buy global Ford rolls out new F series — but will it stay No. 1? GM will push metro megastores BMW: We may need a 'green' brand Competition claims traditions German summit Toyota: We have enough plants for now Chinese pitch innovation, not just price Mercedes in, Cadillac out as sponsor of Masters golf tournament Auto show walkaround: Chasing the YIPS around Detroit New Acura TSX will get a diesel Toyota: We'll crack 35-mpg CAFE before 2020 Audi predicts 1 million global sales in 2008 Toyota crosses over into tricky segment LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Digital edition is a 'quantum leap' KEITH CRAIN: Here they come, ready or not EDITORIAL: Incentives war isn't the answer to sales downturn LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Toyota over Chevy? Don’t be too sure DIGITAL EDITION: You did your homework Chrysler concepts show brand tweaks Chrysler: 'Hemi is not powertrain of the future' Some of what we heard at the Detroit auto show Corvette has a future — but maybe a lighter, greener one Nissan exec: Cube is coming to America Subaru relies on new Forester Farley: Ford must groom the market Ford still funds Jag, Land Rover product development Ford will probably develop its new rwd cars in the U.S. Volvo considers North American production Good design: Solving problems, making a statement Horbury wants a more aerodynamic F-150 Hyundai upgrades next Sonata's interior M-B could build C class in U.S. VW hints at vehicles for new N.A. plant Customer demand for CTS sedans strains production capabilities at Cadillac GM to test ZR1 carbon fiber weight savings Honda Pilot has more room, power Indiana plant will boost Honda's flexibility Zetsche sees 20% diesel mix for Mercedes-Benz GM hopes to have E-Flex test vehicles ready by June GM to increase Enclave output Cadillac aims high with Provoq Pontiac to launch G8 marketing in March Big-truck sales fall 43.5% in Dec. Personnel Buckle up for a rocky '08, economists warn Canada sales up 2.4% in '07 Gioia: Ford hybrids will be profitable by year end American Honda opens workplace diversity office Dealers From CDs to Sync: Auto industry races to adapt in-car IT trends Microsoft exec sees a car as 'another room in the house' China's Geely plans plant in Mexico Chrysler exec: China exporters need time Murtaugh: Nissan deal won't affect Chrysler-Chery venture Strike by writers makes TV iffy for auto marketers Super Bowl auto advertisers get pre-game jitters Final Say GM bumps buyout total to 46,000 GM considers U.S.-made Astra Good Karma: Mean, green, fighting machine Purves confirms it: The end is near Rehab for designers: A change can do you good Tata's achievement: Redefining 'cheap' Fans remember auto commercials with sports themes Which brand is stronger — Scion or Prius? Engine advances bring cleaner emissions a step closer Suppliers to the 2008 Ford Focus Varable compression ratio makes a comeback Change the engine's stroke Integrate components to boost efficiency Reduce the size of the engine Eliminate the cams and count the savings ZF expects surge in new orders American Axle's rising son may be another Dauch Honda taps Web for workers Trelleborg unit adds tech center Kia restricts hiring at Ga. plant to Web applicants Magna pursues Ogihara Supplier personnel Age of intelligent transportation is getting closer Plastic spoiler saves weight Automotive News' cartoonist looks at 2007 8 will enter European Automotive Hall of Fame Pininfarina lifted family business to new heights Merciless cost cutter Calvet rescued PSA Opel boys turned bicycle venture into automaker Giacosa fathered the Fiat 500 JCI to supply batteries to Chinese automakers Automakers will spend more on digital ads Ford snares star role in return of 'Knight Rider' GM Certified markets online to Hispanics Writers' strike could benefit auto marketers

Automotive News - January 21, 2008

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