Click here to view the embedded video.

In the US, the Focus will be powered by a new 2-liter direct-injection gas engine whereas in Europe it will be diesel powered. Sedan and hatchback models will arrive in 2011. Updated designs will sport “a European look”.

Read the NY Times article here.

Ford is also counting on the Focus’ fuel efficiency to encourage consumers to switch to the Ford line. The redesigned Focus features a small bump on the vehicle’s taillights that reduces air turbulence and allows the car to travel further on a tank of gas.

Read the Wall Street Journal article here.

In response to rising demand, G.M. said it would build 75 percent more vehicles in the first quarter than it did a year earlier, and Ford said it would raise first-quarter production by 58 percent. Both companies had been drastically cutting production since the middle of last year.

While sales figures for the months of July and August were significantly higher, mostly due to the Cash for Clunkers program, November sales were the third highest for 2009.

This article posted by AFP, noted that Chrysler sales in the U.S were down 25 percent compared with a year earlier to 63,560. Sales were down modestly compared with October’s figure of 65,803, and the company said this was a positive sign.

Ford meanwhile said increased sales of passenger cars and newer “crossover” vehicles offset weak demand for trucks and sport utility vehicles.

Ford said it sold 123,167 new vehicles in the month, marginally lower than the 123,222 in November 2008. The figure was down from 136,920 in October.

“We can see now that a modest economic recovery is under way,” Emily Kolinski Morris, Ford’s senior United States economist, said on a conference call Tuesday. “It won’t begin to feel like a recovery until the labor market has begun to improve materially.”

Hyundai was the industry leader last month, as it has been through most of 2009 as consumers look for lower-priced but reliable alternatives to some more popular vehicles. The Environmental Protection Agency released a report Tuesday citing Hyundai topping Honda as the most fuel-efficient vehicle lineup.

“The discounts from dealerships, as well as manufacturers’ incentives, generate the highest discounts of the year on Black Friday,” said Jesse Toprak, an analyst for Truecar.com.

The average new car discount on Nov. 27 is projected to be 7.5%. The average discount the day before and after is expected to be just over 6%. On a typical day throughout the year, car shoppers usually pay about 4.7% less than the sticker price.

The article cites some dealers going to less-traditional measures to bring in customers. For instance, Paragon Honda will send bicycle riders dressed in gorilla costumes to a nearby Best Buy store.

Other dealers, like Bob Goldberg, general manager of Premium Nissan in New Rochelle, NY, denied that Black Friday is particularly special at his dealership. “Every day is important to us,” he said. “I don’t consider it different from any other day.”

Read the entire article at cnnmoney.com

Hyundai’s market share jumped to 4.3% in the first ten months of 2009 from 3.1% in the same year-ago period. In September, while the industry overall suffered a 22% sales drop in a post-Cash for Clunkers hangover, Hyundai managed to increase its new-vehicle tally by 27% to 31,511 units.

Read the complete article on AdAge.com.

General Motors Company announced today that it will be extending its 60-day satisfaction guarantee program as a part of its “May the Best Car Win” campaign.

GM originally planned to end the program on Nov. 30 but will now run it until Jan.4.

“It’s been very successful, and the third phase of the advertising campaign will launch in magazines due on shelves in December,” Ryndee Carney, GM spokeswoman told Automotive News. “They feature head-to-head comparisons of our vehicles versus our competitors.”…….

Original article on autospies.com

More stories on 60-Day extension at:
blogs.cars.com

Editors at Popular Mechanics today announced the winners of the magazine’s 2010 Automotive Excellence Awards, and Ford Motor Company set a precedent, winning more categories in a single year than any other automaker in the history of the awards.

The Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards recognize the best in automotive design, execution and technology for 2010 model year vehicles in 10 categories. Ford’s Mustang Shelby GT500 won the award in the Performance category, Transit Connect took top honors in the Workhorse category and F-150 SVT Raptor earned the award in the Off-Road Ability category.

Derrick Kuzak, group vice president, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company, accepted the awards on behalf of the Ford team.

To determine award winners, Stewart says editors of Popular Mechanics travel the globe and spend thousands of miles behind the wheel of every new car and truck introduced by the world’s automakers. After months of hands-on testing and research, the team nominates a list of vehicles in each category, then votes on the winners.

2010 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 – Performance Category Winner
The editors of Popular Mechanics describe the Mustang Shelby GT500 as a new superpower to contend with in the 21st-century muscle car wars.

“The Mustang Shelby GT500 – with its incredibly potent 5.4-liter V-8 engine – certainly impressed us,” said Ben Stewart, automotive editor, Popular Mechanics. “But it was Ford Special Vehicle Team’s (SVT) refinement of the chassis that made our staff declare the GT500 the best Mustang in the model’s long 45-year history.”

2010 Ford Transit Connect – Workhorse Category Winner
Popular Mechanics editors praise the Ford Transit Connect as a fresh alternative to a full-size van that is packaged to address the pressures of the economy, urban congestion and fluctuating gas prices.

“It was the brilliant combination of the Transit Connect’s efficient use of space – and fuel – that won over our team,” said Stewart. “This vehicle proves that small vehicles can handle big jobs, and it comes at an ideal time when contractors and other business owners are looking to downsize and save on fuel.”

2010 Ford F-150 SVT Raptor – Off-Road Ability Category Winner
“The most extreme high-speed 4×4 pickup ever produced,” is the way editors of Popular Mechanics describe Ford’s F-150 SVT Raptor.

“We spent time riding along with Ford SVT engineers at near race speeds and had a chance to climb behind the wheel of the truck ourselves,” said Stewart. “For the avid off-roader, the Raptor is the truck we’ve all been waiting for.”

Stewart says he was particularly impressed with the tuning of Raptor’s long-travel suspension.

“It soaks up high-speed desert terrain better than any production pickup truck we’ve driven,” he said.

Quotes
“Ford’s sweep of three categories in this year’s awards speaks to the onslaught of great products coming from Dearborn.”
– Ben Stewart, automotive editor, Popular Mechanics

“This important recognition reflects the strength and diversity of the Ford product lineup. From a performance car to a workhorse vehicle to an off-road pickup, Ford is building quality products that people really want.”
– Derrick Kuzak, Group Vice President, Global Product Development, Ford Motor Company

Snippet courtesy of http://ford.digitalsnippets.com/cars/

Volkswagen of America is utilizing the iPhone to help launch their new 2010 GTI. The free iPhone app is called Real Racing GTI game exclusively featuring the new 2010 GTI. Registered users of the Firemint Real Racing paid app can win one of 6 Limited Edition GTIs in a contest.

The free app is available worldwide and can be played on the iPhone or iTouch. Using new methods to engage customers is growing. The app campaign is considerably more cost effective at $500K as opposed to the customary $60M. It is the only

Links

• Advertising Age article
• Nick Burcher
• MarketingVox.com

Manager Minute: solid stewardship, customer service a constant amid change, at family-owned auto dealership

The tough economy and new technologies have changed the game for the auto industry, but one thing has remained constant: the need for good old-fashioned customer service, said Kurt Dennis, general sales manager at Ed Morse Bayview Cadillac.

“We don’t get every sale,” Dennis said. “But we make every effort. Follow-up is essential, whether a customer buys or not.”

Staying upbeat and positive is part of the corporate culture set from the top down — despite the pressures and challenges created by the downturn in the economy.

In September, the company celebrated a grand re-opening, showcasing its $10 million state-of-the-art remodeled facility. It was encouraging, and signifies future success, Dennis said. Employees watched the progress over the months, from temporary buildings and trailers.

“This is a family business, with their name on it,” Dennis said. To be successful at his job, Dennis recognizes that his boss, “lives and breathes the business 24 hours, seven days a week. My job is to be there for him, to give my opinion if he asks.”

Creating a positive work environment and training empowers employees, said Dennis, who began selling cars in 1991. “If you’re going to be a manager, you have to understand the sales process first. Employees get leadership coaching and sales and finance training. Employees are encouraged to network, participate in community and charity functions and events.”

Positioning staff for success also means understanding how customers shop and buy: social networking on Facebook gives employees another way to communicate with customers. Internet sales have increased.

Dennis starts his day walking through the dealership, chatting with everyone to get a pulse of the people. “You have to be hard on people, but also kind and understanding and adjust to what they are going through,” he said.

Taking notes

Hiring someone is just the beginning: Don’t abandon your employees. The biggest mistake a manager can make is thinking he or she doesn’t have to follow up with staff. Involve them in brainstorming and decision making.

Have the answers: Understand your market and demographic for effective forecasting. See the big picture and what’s in front of you at the same time.

Communicate: Listen, discuss and comprehend to be an effective leader. Articulate the message in more than one way, at meetings, in notes, one-on-one.

Originally posted by Cindy Kent - South Florida Sun-Sentinel

All you need to do is subscribe to their RSS feeds for individual SMPRs, and you’ll be instantly updated with the latest digital snippets related to that story. The snippets include copy, photos, video or audio, optimized for the Internet. As a subscriber you can use any of the snippets in your blogs, social media networks or online news, as long as you give credit back to the site.

I wonder how long it will take  until the other automakers have similar sites.

Here is a video about the upcoming Ford Taurus’ ability to take a hit.

Click here to view the embedded video.