Automotive News - January 21, 2008 - (Page 16)

16 • JANUARY 21, 2008 DETROIT AUTO SHOW ADVERTISING STAFF Circulation 313-446-0450 Advertising 313-446-6790 Classified Advertising 313-446-6065, 800-388-1800 E-mail lschlagheck@crain.com Web site www.autonews.com ADVERTISING AND SALES Subaru relies on new Forester Crossover expected to generate about 30% of brand’s U.S. sales in 2008 Ryan Beene rbeene@crain.com DETROIT 1155 Gratiot Ave., Detroit, MI 48207-2997 313-446-6790 Fax: 313-446-8030 Larry Schlagheck, Advertising Director lschlagheck@crain.com, 313-446-6790 Rick Greer, rgreer@crain.com 313-446-6050 Kathleen C. Lightbody, klightbody@crain.com, 313-446-6037 Russ Procassini, rprocassini@crain.com 313-446-0350 Karen Rentschler, krentschler@crain.com 313-446-6058 Jerry Salame, jsalame@crain.com 313-446-0481 Regional Sales Managers Bryan Foster, Marketing Director bfoster@crain.com, 313-446-6013 Ellen Dennehy Director of Relationship Marketing edennehy@crain.com, 313-446-6039 Lance Graves, Promotion Art Director lgraves@crain.com, 313-446-0469 Marie Hingst Classified Advertising Manager mhingst@crain.com, 313-446-6065 Dolores Lanivich, Denise Hendricks Classified Advertising Sales LOS ANGELES Justus Breese jbreese@crain.com, 323-370-2446 Pacific Region Sales Manager Lauren Ford, lford@crain.com 323-370-2447 Todd Landau, tlandau@crain.com 323-370-2466 Regional Sales Managers 6500 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048-4947 Fax: 323-655-8157 NEW YORK Scott Ghedine sghedine@crain.com, 212-210-0126 Henry Woodhouse hwoodhouse@crain.com, 212-210-0125 Regional Sales Managers 711 Third Ave., New York, NY 10017-4036 Fax: 212-210-0489 CHICAGO Jim Farnan, Regional Sales Manager jfarnan@crain.com, 312-649-5257 360 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60601-3806 Fax: 312-649-5265 DETROIT — U.S. sales for Subaru of America Inc. in 2007 fell short of their 2006 mark, but that was no surprise to the automaker. Tom Doll, Subaru of America executive vice president, said here at the auto show that Subaru initially forecast lower sales figures for 2007 because “we had so much of our product line in transition.” He added, “We had to balance out the old inventories we had in order to provide for the new ones.” Doll said he expects 2008 to be better for sales in the United States, forecasting totals of about 200,000 vehicles, up from 187,000 in 2007. Scheduled for U.S. launch in March, the redesigned and updated 2009 Subaru Forester crossover is part of a lineup featuring four updated or redesigned models. Doll expects to sell about 60,000 Foresters a year in the United States, or about 30 percent of Subaru’s projected 2008 U.S. sales volume. Subaru, which is owned by Fuji Heavy In- GEOFF ROBINS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES/NEWSCOM The 2009 Subaru Forester, shown with Fuji Heavy Industries CEO Ikuo Mori, left, and Tom Doll, Subaru of America executive vice president, is part of a lineup featuring four updated or redesigned models. dustries Inc., expects to sell 800,000 vehicles globally in 2008. Part of the automaker’s efforts to boost U.S. sales back to 2006 levels is to develop its dealers in the Sun Belt, Doll said. “That’s a little bit of a challenge for us because we’ve got to get more units in operation in those markets to make it profitable for the dealers,” he said, adding that mature markets in the Pacific-Northwest, California and the Northeast will not see much expansion but maybe some changes to the dealerships themselves. “We’d like to sell more units per outlet and that way they’d be able to invest in signature facilities and separate sales management,” he said. “We think that the franchise is clearly capable of selling more cars than we’re currently selling. There’s no reason why we shouldn’t be selling 230,000 to 250,000 with this great product that we have.” c Nissan exec: Cube is coming to America Lindsay Chappell lchappell@crain.com DETROIT — The Cube — a boxy, small-engine car suggestive of Toyota Motor Corp.’s Scion xB — has been sold in Japan since 1998. Nissan North America Inc. has been studying the car’s sale here for the past two years but has officially remained noncommittal. “The Cube is coming to the U.S. market,” said Shiro Nakamura, global design director for Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. “It will be a unique vehicle for Nissan. Visually, it is not like any other model,” Nakamura said. “It’s not for everybody. It’s not aerodynamic. Some people in the United States will find it kind of strange.” But unlike Toyota’s equally quirky Scion, Nissan will not establish the Cube as its youth-oriented brand. Tom Lane, corporate vice president for product strategy and product planning, declined to discuss details of the plan here at the auto show, saying no official announcement has been made on the Cube. But he said that because Nissan’s age demographic is lower than those of its competitors, the Cube need not be a youth brand. “Does Nissan need a youth brand? Nissan almost is a youth brand,” Lane said. “This is not to say we wouldn’t consider it in the future.” c CONFERENCES Libby Irwin, Conference Director lirwin@crain.com, 313-446-0420 Shauna Vercher-Morrow Special Events Manager svercher-morrow@crain.com, 313-446-0485 WWW.AUTONEWS.COM The boxy Nissan Cube has been sold in Japan since 1998. John Fitzgerald, Director of Business Planning and Online Commerce jfitzgerald@crain.com, 313-446-1679 CIRCULATION subs@crain.com 888-446-1422 (U.S. & Canada) 313-446-1662 (all other locations) Fax: 313-446-6777 To subscribe via the Web www.autonews.com/subscribe.htm Patrick Sheposh, Circulation Director Lauren Cialella, Circulation Manager Jennifer Natone, Circulation Coordinator Subscriptions U.S. 1 year, $155; 2 years, $266. Canada $239 (U.S.); other countries, $395. Single copy sales, $5 per issue plus shipping. Reprints Kristi Fulkerson, The YGS Group, 800-494-9051, Ext. 144 kristi.fulkerson@theygsgroup.com Microfilm ProQuest Information and Learning Co. 800-521-0600 Corvette has a future — but maybe a lighter, greener one Rick Kranz rkranz@crain.com DETROIT — The Chevrolet Corvette will live on despite tougher fuel economy rules. But the redesigned car, expected in about 2012, could be lighter and smaller than today’s Corvette. And the V-8 that powers the Corvette of the future may be smaller than the one used today. “I don’t think we’re going to design a 700-hp Corvette,” Tom Wallace, vehicle line executive for the Corvette, said here at the auto show. “What’s going to be more important is fuel economy, carbon footprint and green. We have already paid a lot of attention to those areas. ROGER HART The Corvette ZR1 will top 200 mph. Where we can pay more attention is pounds per horsepower.” Two engines are offered for the 2008 model year, a 430-hp 6.2-liter V-8 and a 505-hp 7.0-liter V-8. The 2009 ZR1 features a 620-plus hp supercharged 6.2-liter V-8. Wallace won’t talk about specifics of the next-generation Corvette. But he said if the car’s weight was dropped by 300 to 400 pounds and a 4.7-liter V-8 is offered with 150 fewer horsepower than the 2008 models, the “pounds per horsepower are the same.” Wallace said he envisions a Corvette that is “more fuel efficient … even nimbler than it was before. But he said no decision has been made about horsepower or engine size. The 2009 ZR1 will have a top speed over 200 mph. Rather than trying to top those performance numbers, Wallace said: “I think we need to say, ‘We reached performance levels that are pretty good. Let’s maintain those and improve fuel economy.’ ” c PRODUCTION Terry Driscoll, Production Manager tdriscoll@crain.com, 313-446-6062 Larry Williams, Production Supervisor AUTOMOTIVE NEWS EUROPE www.autonewseurope.com aneletters@craincom.de Jason Stein, Publisher jstein@craincom.de/+49-8153-907522 Arjen Bongard, Editor abongard@craincom.de/+49-8153-907501 Thomas Heringer Sales and Marketing Director theringer@craincom.de/+49-8153-907404 Nina Sauer, Sales Manager nsauer@craincom.de Argelsrieder Feld 13, 82234 Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany +49-8153-907500 Fax: +49-8153-907510 Lars Timmermans, Sales Manager ltimmermans@craincom.de +31-315-345772 http://www.autonews.com http://WWW.AUTONEWS.COM http://www.autonews.com/subscribe.htm http://redflagrulescompliance.com http://www.autonewseurope.com http://redflagrulescompliance.com

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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