Automotive News - March 24, 2008 - (Page 40)

40 • MARCH 24, 2008 NEW YORK AUTO SHOW Dollar halts U.S. retail sales of Audi Q7 hybrid Diana T. Kurylko dkurylko@crain.com NEW YORK — The weak dollar has claimed another victim: The Audi Q7 hybrid crossover won’t be sold in the United States. Johan de Nysschen, head of the Audi brand in the United States, said Audi could not make a business case for the electric/gasoline engine hybrid. The hybrid was scheduled for launch in early 2009, soon after the diesel Q7 goes on sale. “If you look at the way the economics are going, it was a very hard car to Audi’s Johan de Nysschen said of the decision not to sell the Q7 crossover in the United States: “It was a very hard car to make the numbers work.” make the numbers work,” de Nysschen said in an interview at the New York auto show. De Nysschen said a few Q7 hybrids will be available in the United States for the “commercial” market but would not elaborate. “We will not do the hybrid Q7 as a conventional product offering,” de Nysschen said. “We will have a very low volume of cars available.” The more likely hybrid candidate will be the smaller Q5 crossover, which debuts in the United States next year. “That hybrid has always been in planning. The question is, again, volume potential,” de Nysschen said. “We in the U.S. are more enthusiastic about diesels. Hybrids have a niche in this market. We are a small company and ask ourselves if we need to be in every niche.” Audi isn’t disclosing the price of the Q7’s diesel option. The diesel is expected to boost sales of the Q7, which have slumped in recent months. Through February, sales were 2,339, down 30.9 percent from the first two months of 2007. The A4 compact diesel is likely to get the green light for the United States; board approval is pending. The diesel wouldn’t go on sale until well after the Q7 diesel debuts because additional engineering has to be done for the United States, said de Nysschen. “We also haven’t decided whether we do the V-6 or the fourcylinder diesel,” he said, “so it will take some time.” c Maxima’s target: Luxury Euro makes Jim Henry The G8 sport truck hearkens back to the Chevrolet El Camino. The GXP is a high-performance version of the G8. autonews@crain.com NEW YORK — The redesigned 2009 Nissan Maxima goes on sale in early summer with a goal of taking on European luxury imports more squarely. In fact, some of the development work for the new Maxima was done at Germany’s fabled Nuerburgring racetrack, said Al Castignetti, Nissan Division general manager. German competitors such as BMW would probably disagree, but at a press conference last week at the show here, Castignetti suggested that the Maxima helped originate the “four-door sports car” niche in the late 1980s. But the Maxima is frontwheel drive, which German purists would not consider truly sporty. The 2009 Maxima gets a 3.5-liter, V-6 engine that produces 290 hp. DALE JEWETT Some development for the Nissan Maxima was done in Germany. That’s 35 hp more than the 2008 Maxima, but fuel economy for the new car is expected to be about the same as the 2008 model, at 19 mpg city/26 mpg highway. The new car gets an updated version of Nissan’s Xtronic continuously variable transmission with a “manual” mode that allows the driver to choose certain pre-set gear ratios. c GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz presents the hard-top Solstice coupe, aimed at restoring Pontiac’s performance image. Pontiac adds 3 sporty variants Jim Henry autonews@crain.com NEW YORK — For the past three years, Pontiac has been trying to add some excitement to General Motors’ “We build excitement” division. “We are reinforcing Pontiac style and performance,” said Bob Lutz, GM vice chairman of global product development. Pontiac launched three variants at the show here: the hard-top Solstice Coupe; the G8 GXP, a high-performance version of the G8 sedan; and an El Camino-like G8 sport truck. Lutz said at a Wednesday, March 19, press conference that when he joined GM in 2001, “Pontiac, arguably, did not have the goods.” He said that at the time, Pontiac had only one V-8 model “and a lot of cladding on the Aztek.” The 2009 Pontiac G8 GXP sedan, with a 6.2-liter, V-8 engine, should help restore some of that performance image. Except for the pickup bed and a heavier-duty suspension, the G8 sport truck is essentially the same as the G8. The Solstice Coupe has the same four-cylinder powertrain choices as the convertible Pontiac Solstice Roadster: a 2.4-liter that generates 173 hp or a turbocharged 2.0-liter with 260 hp. The Solstice debuted in 2005. c Hyundai Motor America executive John Krafcik called the V-6 Genesis Coupe “the most affordable, 300-plushorsepower sports coupe on the planet.” DALE JEWETT Hyundai: Genesis Coupe offers more go for dough Jim Henry autonews@crain.com ■ Scion Hako Vehicle type: Concept coupe Engine: Static display, but an allwheel-drive turbo-4 would fit Who designed it: Toyota’s Tokyo studio What’s cool: Vertical windshield makes it a true box. Side-mounted cameras allow “where I’m at” photos to be posted online. Urethane seating surfaces make for easy cleaning. Front passenger gets two video screens. Will it be built? It could join the lineup in the next few years as Scion expands its offerings. NEW YORK — With the 2010 Genesis Coupe, shown last week at the New York auto show, Hyundai Motor America wants to add a sporty element to its brand image. In addition to attracting performance-oriented buyers, Hyundai is trying to take its historically inexpensive, entry-level brand upscale. The Hyundai Genesis is central to both efforts. In January, Hyundai showed the Genesis sedan at the Detroit auto show. The automaker pitches the sedan, selling with an optional V-8 for around $30,000, as a competitor to more prestigious and expensive luxury brands such as BMW — at half the price of the BMW. The introduction of the Genesis Coupe was all about performance. Hyundai unveiled the car wreathed in smoke from burning rubber, as professional drivers spun “doughnuts” in a closed-off area of New York’s Jacob K. Javits Center. The coupe gets either a 306-hp, 3.8liter V-6 or a 212-hp turbocharged four-cylinder engine. Without disclosing a price, John Krafcik, Hyundai Motor America vice president of product development and strategic planning, called the V-6 Genesis Coupe “the most affordable, 300-plus-horsepower sports coupe on the planet.” c

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Automotive News - March 24, 2008

Ford lists 6 to succeed Mulally GM pushes luxury superstores Industry straps in for rough ride Bob Irvin is a worthy addition to Hall of Fame Debate at Scion: How to grow Ford moves executives in Asia to new jobs CEO of lanelogic: We're still here Kia's N.Y. duo Chrysler's exec trio: Reports of friction mostly fiction Where others see gloom, Honda chief sees boom in U.S. Fukui: Nickel battery is best bet for hybrid Beijing conference explores key issues in China market Planworks keeps its role as buyer for GM ads Lincoln: MKS will make up for brand's slow start in '08 Deal's no big deal: Styling top reason to buy GM Penske's Smart start: He'd like 15,000 more Dodge's pitch for Challenger: A halo that you can afford Chrysler plans 'We listen' ads You go, Bob With zest, activist Ditlow remains on lemon patrol Autos did the job after 9/11; don't bet on that now Chinese cars? Dealer beware Solar power is the only answer Where will we get power for the Volt? Want higher CAFE? First, do this In N. California, hybrids are hot Detroit 3 can learn from the Marlboro Man The Prius is a phenomenon Wait 3 years, then judge Ford How many Jeeps will India buy? Lithia looks into improper sales reports at dealerships AutoNation's lead shrinks as largest U.S. dealer group Honda ad agency creates unit to build Acura brand Study: Consistent theme in auto ads builds viewer recall Big-truck sales continue slide in Feb. -- off 27.1% MazdaSpeed revs up racing accessory sales Calif. company eyes electric charging stations for Volt, Vue Indictment: Bribe scheme cost GM $83.3 million The greening of Toyota dealerships 6 more finalists in race for PACE recognition Tenneco expands Japanese work, seeks more Bosch buys diagnostic equipment firm in China JV will design vehicle platforms Citation moves headquarters NxtGen tests emissions system VW stake may help Porsche on fuel economy rules Chrysler's Project Genesis wins over Ore. dealer Germany, new EU members send up European sales Saturn will choose store system soon VW thinks modular for flexibility at auto plants Automakers eager as axles turn high-tech Talking drivetrains with American Axle Dollar halts U.S. retail sales of Audi Q7 hybrid Hyundai: Genesis Coupe offers more go for dough Maxima's target: Luxury Euro makes Pontiac adds 3 sporty variants Outsider Elmer Johnson shook up GM Importer Yanase was Hall of Fame member Obituaries Redesigned TSX has many Acura firsts Dealers Certified sales up 7.5% in Feb.; Audi leads the way eBay's new Web site has new look, more features Big pickups and SUVs lead plunge in used-vehicle prices Ex-Reynolds CEO O'Neill joins J.D. Power Auto Hall of Fame will induct 8 Liberatore looks beyond Daimler Molina gets the top job at GMAC F&I pioneer Pat Ryan to retire from Aon Study: Hydrogen research worth the cost Gulf States trial halted As yuan rises, so do prices of Chinese parts Personnel exec Laymon: Ford still seeking outside talent GE gives supplier credit Dana CEO wants Asian growth Tesla launches production Todt steps down as Ferrari CEO Union pursues Toyota effort Chrysler offers spiffs for military Land Rover ads focus on heritage Mark Rechtin Fresh heir: To turn green, must BMW create brand? GM ponders mini-muscle Camaro New Ford ads coming in April With a spiffier image, Lincoln would rock abroad Rival says Nardelli's OK Ford hails its cab, but mpg is an issue

Automotive News - March 24, 2008

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