Automotive News - January 21, 2008 - (Page 30)

30 • JANUARY 21, 2008 DETROIT AUTO SHOW Cadillac aims high with Provoq Jamie LaReau jlareau@crain.com DETROIT — General Motors is counting on the Cadillac Provoq crossover to win buyers that the SRX mid-sized SUV never could. The Provoq, which was shown at the auto show as a fuel cell concept, is expected to replace the SRX in about 2009, powered by a V-6 gasoline engine. “The Provoq has got to hit 60,000 or 70,000 units in sales, not the 20,000 we’re hitting with the SRX,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac’s general manager. Cadillac’s Jim Taylor: “The Provoq has got to hit 60,000 or 70,000 units in sales.” Taylor says the Provoq can do at least one thing the SRX could not: Draw young female buyers who like crossovers more than SUVs and wagons. The SRX “landed in that territory where it might be a crossover, but it might be a wagon, too,” Taylor said. “That lack of clarity made it miss the sweet spot. The Provoq proportions and styling make it much more apparent that it is a crossover.” The five-seat Provoq draws styling cues from the 2008 CTS sedan, including the bold grille and glitzy headlight modules. The concept, which first appeared at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this month, is powered by GM’s fifthgeneration fuel cell. Asked if Cadil- ROGER HART The Provoq crossover, shown, is expected to replace the SRX in about 2009. lac would consider producing a fuel cell version of the Provoq, Taylor says: “No question, that’s under heavy debate. If it makes sense for GM to build a fuel cell, it has to be Cadillac.” c BECOME A WYNN’S © GM CORP. The G8, Pontiac’s first rear-wheeldrive sedan since the 2005 GTO, goes on sale this spring. CHARGER! Pontiac to launch G8 marketing in March Jamie LaReau jlareau@crain.com See “Big Daddy” Don Garlits’ new Mopar® Wynn’s Charger in Booth #5435N at NADA. ™ MEET LEG ENDARY Sto Stop by Wynn’s NADA Booth for a Chance to w to win a $5,000 American Express Gift Card. ® ITS DON GARL AND NHRA “BIG DADD Y” JAY BLAKE OWNER/C REW CHIE F Like B Like Big Daddy’s new Wynn’s Charger™ 392 HEMI Crate Engine dragster, Wynn’s is setting standards for performance. So it stands to reason that, just by visiting the Wynn’s new s booth at NADA, you could become a big Wynn’s “charger” yourself by walking away with a $5,000 $5,00 American Express Gift Card! ® While While While you’re there, ask about CIMA Systems … the advanced communications software that tha r th t results in higher customer satisfaction n greater sales with lower overhead. and g stick around to meet our special guests, drag racing legend “Big Daddy” Don Garlits And s and Jay Blake, the blind car owner/crew chief for Follow A Dream’s Top Alcohol Funny Car (winner of the 2006 NHRA Championship in Pomona, CA). AMERICAN EXPRESS® GIFT CARD! Visit booth #5435N at NADA to discover what the new CIMA Systems can do for your service business, and enter to win a $5,000 American Express Gift Card. WIN A Name Visit booth #5435N at this year’s NADA … ﬁll out and bring in this registration form to enter the Wynn’s $5,000 American Express Gift Card Giveaway. It’s a great opportunity to discover, ﬁrsthand, why our Complete Automotive Maintenance Programs (C.A.M.P.™) are a win-Wynn’s proposition. Welcome to Wynn’s! Title Dealer Name Address City State ZIP Phone No purchase necessary to win. Odds of winning are determined by number of entries. Drawing will be held and the winner announced during the last day of the NADA convention. 1234 567 8 1234 6 789 Oil – Fuel – Cooling – Transmission – Power Steering – Brake – HVAC – Dif ferential – Batter y – Headlight 1-800-989-8363 / www.wynnsusa.com / Fax: 626-334-1456 ©2008 Illinois Tool Works Inc. Wynn’s and Wynn’s Charger™ are registered trademarks of Illinois Tool Works Inc. American Express® is a registered trademark of American Express Company. Mopar® and HEMI® are registered trademarkes of Chrysler LLC. 12935 DETROIT — TV spots for Pontiac’s new G8 sedan will debut in March during broadcasts of the NCAA college basketball tournament. The G8, Pontiac’s first rear-wheel-drive sedan since the 2005 Pontiac GTO, goes on sale this spring. Pontiac teased the G8 in some brand TV spots on New Year’s Eve and during college football bowl games. “We’re trying to make an emotional connection and communicate style and performance,” Craig Bierley, marketing director for Pontiac, said here at the auto show. “We will have specific G8 creative that just talks to the G8.” The TV spots will promote only the sedan variant, although Pontiac also plans to offer wagon and truck versions. Like the recent rear-drive GTO, the G8 will be built by GM’s Holden subsidiary in Australia. “The mix will be heavily television with a major online digital component,” Bierley said. Part of that marketing includes online social networks such as www.facebook.com. “Our priorities this year are to launch the G8 and sustain the momentum we have on the G6 — it’s our bread-and-butter car,” said Bierley. “The Vibe presents an opportunity for us as well.” Bierley declined to say whether Pontiac’s 2008 marketing budget is up from last year. But the G8 will get “prominent weight” in the advertising plan, said Jim Bunnell, general manager of Buick, Pontiac and GMC. c http://www.facebook.com http://www.wynnsusa.com http://www.wynnsusa.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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