Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - (Page 10) 10 • NOVEMBER 24, 2008 Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover Kathy Jackson kjackson@crain.com Venza vs. Murano How Toyota’s Venza stacks up against the Nissan Murano. 2009 TOYOTA VENZA 2009 NISSAN MURANO FARMINGTON, Pa. — Toyota’s new Venza looks like a crossover, drives like a crossover and competes with vehicles that are proud to be called crossovers. But Toyota Division boss Bob Carter said at the press introduction here that “we don’t view Venza as a crossover.” Instead, he said, the vehicle “establishes an exciting new direction in passenger car design.” The Venza, which goes on sale in early December, is Toyota’s first crack at a fast-growing segment that includes such modern station wagon-type vehicles as the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7. Though Toyota comes late to the party, company executives believe the vehicle still can be a trendsetter. That’s because its step-in height is about the same as a Camry sedan and the rear load-in height is lower than the Camry’s. Yet the passenger position is as high as the mid-sized Highlander SUV. Carter said the Venza’s ingress and egress make the vehicle unique. The basics: The Venza is a five-seat vehicle based on the FT-SX concept Wheelbase Length Width Curb weight Base engine Horsepower Torque, lbs.-ft. EPA mpg Base price* *Includes shipping 109.3 in. 189.0 in. 75.0 in. 3,760 lbs. 2.7-liter 4-cylinder 182 @ 5,800 rpm 182 @ 4,200 rpm 21 city/29 hwy. $26,695 111.2 in. 188.5 in. 74.1 in. 3,855 lbs. 3.5-liter V-6 265 @ 6,000 rpm 248 @ 4,400 rpm 18 city/23 hwy. $27,650 The 2009 Toyota Venza, above, will vie with the Nissan Murano, Ford Edge and Mazda CX-7. Safety System as standard equipment. The system includes enhanced vehicle stability control and traction control, antilock brakes, electronic brake force distribution and brake assist. Twenty-inch wheels are standard on the V-6 version, and 19-inch wheels come with the four-cylinder. Other standard equipment includes hill start assist and a 14-degree rear seat recline. As for options, Venza offers some firsts for the Toyota lineup: bluetooth streaming; a high beam feature that detects oncoming vehicles and automatically switches the headlights from high to low beam; a panoramic glass roof that tilts or slides in the front; a navigation system that speaks in English, French and Span- Toyota unveiled at the 2005 Detroit auto show. It is offered with four- and six-cylinder engines and in frontwheel-drive and all-wheel-drive configurations. Both engines are teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. The base four-cylinder engine, which is new to Toyota, generates 182 hp and 182 pounds-feet of torque. The six-cylinder delivers 268 hp and 246 pounds-feet of torque. The fwd four-cylinder gets an estimated 21 mpg in the city and 29 on the highway, nearly the same as the four-cylinder Camry’s 21/31 fuel economy ratings. The four-cylinder awd version gets an estimated 20 in the city and 28 on the highway. The six-cylinder fwd version gets an estimated 19 in the city and 26 on the highway, while the awd version gets 18/25. The Venza goes from 0 to 60 in 6.7 seconds and can tow up to 3,500 pounds. Notable features: This is the first Toyota car equipped with the Star ish; and a display system that can be customized for font size. Pet products also are available, including a rear hatch pet ramp and pet buckles. What Toyota says: “This is the only four-cylinder with standard 19 inch wheels,” Carter says. “It will give upscale sedans a run for their money.” Compromises and shortcomings: Toyota says the Venza raises the bar on styling, ride comfort and utility. But the styling may not go far enough to differentiate the vehicle from competitors on the market. Nuts and bolts: The Venza will be built in Georgetown, Ky., alongside the Camry, Solara and Avalon. The V-6 version goes on sale in early December, and the four-cylinder follows in January. Toyota expects sales of about 60,000 in 2009, with a 50/50 mix of V-6 and four-cylinder models. The skinny: Sales of crossovers have cooled. But Toyota may have a marketing tool with the Venza’s low floor and high hip point. And the fuel efficient four-cylinder should appeal to customers. c Boost Dealership Service & Parts Revenue Nissan expects Chrysler pickup deal will survive Rick Kranz rkranz@crain.com MSXI can show you how MSXI: Your Lifeline to Profitable Growth in Challenging Times Can you be profitable in today’s market? Can you grow revenue when sales are lean? Yes you can, and we’ve proved it. Process improvement solutions from MSXI deliver increased Service & Parts profitability – and proven ROI – to dealerships like yours. In fact, for many years we’ve been providing lean, agile and easy-to-implement solutions that drive sustainable, profitable growth. That’s why dealers worldwide, in these challenging times, are turning to MSXI: The Smart Alternative. To receive a free consultation – and learn how you can increase your fixed operations revenue and profitability – email us at corpmarketing@msxi.com or see us at NADA in New Orleans. | www.msxi.com DETROIT — Nissan is betting that Chrysler LLC will resolve its financial problems and produce Nissan’s nextgeneration Titan pickup truck. But if Chrysler is forced out of business, Nissan will not develop a replacement for its full-sized pickup. “We can always predict the worst, but it is not our way of thinking,” said Carlos Tavares, Nissan Motor Co.’s executive vice president in charge of corporate and product planning. Nissan is not preparing a contingency plan, said Tavares, who was interviewed this month at the Automotive News Green Car Conference and Exhibition. “I don’t think we need a backup plan because, first, we expect Chrysler to meet its commitments as much as we will meet ours,” said Tavares. “And so far, what I can tell you, everything is on track. “Secondly, I don’t think we would create a backup plan for this size of business. You know how many Titans we sell. It is not a huge, huge thing.” Last year, Nissan’s U.S. Titan sales Carlos Tavares: No Plan B for the Titan if Chrysler deal falters totaled 65,746. Through October 2008, U.S. Titan sales totaled 30,907. Last spring, Nissan signed an agreement for Chrysler to produce the next-generation Titan, which will be based on the current-generation Dodge Ram. Production is expected to begin in 2010. Insiders at Nissan say the contract with Chrysler is expected to last until 2017 or 2018. Tavares said Chrysler will engineer the Titan. Nissan’s input is more about design, functionality and features. “We have no intention to re-engineer the core of the pickup — no intention at all,” he said. “We trust our partner for being an expert on trucks.” But he said the Titan’s exterior styling will be unique. Said Tavares: “There will be no reason to confuse” a Titan and a Ram. c Web site offers specs for cars and light trucks sold in China Need info on vehicles sold in China? Specs for cars and light trucks in the world’s second-largest vehicle market are available on the Automotive News China Web site. Data for each vehicle include dimensions, features and prices. Listed are vehicles of 76 brands from Chinese and global automakers. To view the information, go to www.autonewschina.com and click on Car Specs. The data, compiled by JATO Dynamics Ltd., is available in English and simplified Chinese. Also new on the site are China-related press releases. Companies may send Chinese or English releases for free listing to Yang Jian, managing editor of Automotive News China, at yangjian@autonewschina.com. The Automotive News China staff in Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou covers China’s auto industry with a Web site and weekly newsletter. To register for the free newsletter, go to www.autonewschina.com.c http://www.msxi.com http://www.msxi.com http://www.autonewschina.com http://www.autonewschina.com
Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - November 24, 2008 Iacocca tip: 'Equality of sacrifice' Ch. 11 would hit dealers hard â fast Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom Down the road and a continent away Used-vehicle demand shrivels O'Neill will lead Power GM tweaks production plan Mitsubishi: No to Detroit Ford will cut more output Nardelli: Chrysler is running on fumes GMAC on brink of bankruptcy, S&P warns Off with their heads! (But whose?) In defense (kind of) of Detroit Bailout Motors? Britain went down that road CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling Ford: We still want Mazda expertise Imports clog ports as sales plunge Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume Nissan expects Chrysler pickup deal will survive Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover It's time to put partisanship aside; Detroit needs help What GM needs is GMAC.2 'Buy American' talk won't help industry Readers weigh in on auto industy woes No one bailed out Oldsmobile It's time to move to mass transport We still need manufacturing Bankruptcy is a bet Let's get wages under control Will America be better off? First step: Bring the jobs home America owes it to GM to help The answer is simple: Leasing What about dealerships? Detroit 3 CEOs must offer to quit Oct. truck sales fall 17.4% Honda plant adds parts center They're sold on Camaro Drawn to Ferrari Japan poised to control key batteries Europe's worst month hits all automakers Dealers BMW: Diesel 7 series could come to U.S. Honda's FC Sport mixes green and go Infiniti G37's hard top retracts in 30 seconds Redesign of Lexus RX series hard to see Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker Ford hybrid sedans aim at Camry After only 3 years, Ford revamps Fusion Hyundai plans new crossover, turbo engine Restyled Mustang: More refinement, horsepower Honda: Don't count on CR-Z gasoline variant '09 Nissan Z delivers more of what fans like Mazda3 gets new look, powertrains Nissan Cube joins the box brigade Infiniti upgrades powertrains Lincoln MKZ gets a makeover Porsche won't stall Panamera 2010 GLK priced below rival Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp Detroit 3 squeezed by credit, cash â politics Waxman could mean trouble for Detroit GM formulates a 'Plan B' if it doesn't get federal loan Infiniti replaces Igo Sharks vs. Jets, D.C.-style What's good for â uh, how'd that go again? Mazda deal imperils Ford training ground More like Toyota, Honda? Careful what you wish for Maybe he's Buck-a-year Bob now Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout Automotive News - November 24, 2008 Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - (Page Intro) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom (Page 1) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3: Bankruptcy = doom (Page 2) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Ford will cut more output (Page 3) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Off with their heads! (But whose?) (Page 4) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Off with their heads! (But whose?) (Page 5) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling (Page 6) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - CEOs could have pre-empted the grilling (Page 7) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume (Page 8) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Volvo's N.A. boss will resume leases to boost volume (Page 9) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover (Page 10) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Toyota: Venza is a trendsetter, not a crossover (Page 11) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - 'Buy American' talk won't help industry (Page 12) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - 'Buy American' talk won't help industry (Page 13) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Detroit 3 CEOs must offer to quit (Page 14) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Drawn to Ferrari (Page 15) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Japan poised to control key batteries (Page 16) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 17) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 18) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 19) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 20) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 21) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Dealers (Page 22) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Mini electric: Jolt comes from sticker (Page 23) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Restyled Mustang: More refinement, horsepower (Page 24) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp (Page 25) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Bentley's Azure T gets 500 hp (Page 26) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - GM formulates a 'Plan B' if it doesn't get federal loan (Page 27) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Infiniti replaces Igo (Page 28) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Infiniti replaces Igo (Page 29) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 30) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 31) Automotive News - November 24, 2008 - Romney: Bankruptcy, not bailout (Page 32)
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