It Ain't Over 'til...

Last week I received a news release from domestic vehicle manufacturer with an opening sentence that I never imagined I would read.  More to the point, a sentence with a noun that is absolutely jaw-dropping: “Ford Motor Company today said it is making further reductions to its North American truck production plan while adding more small cars, crossovers and fuel-efficient powertrains, as the company responds to the continued deterioration in the U.S. business environment and the accelerated shift away from large trucks and SUVs."

“Deterioration”!?

That’s synonymous with decline, failure, breakdown, decay. . . .

None of which are pretty.

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2008 Pontiac G8 GT

2008 Nissan Altima Hybrid

2008 Ford Focus Coupe SE 

2008 Audi TT Coupe 3.2 quattro

2008 Saturn Astra XR 5-Door

Driven Archives

Doublin' Down
Closed since 2006, Ford’s Atlanta Assembly Plant recently sold to real estate developer Jacoby Developments, Inc. for redevelopment as an "aerotropolis" – an aviation-intensive business district that will include office, retail, restaurant, and hotel space as well as airport parking. The 122-acre site once produced the Fairlane, Fairmont, Falcon, Galaxie, Granada, LTD, Ranchero, Torino, Thunderbird, Marquis, Sable, and Taurus.  – View More

Lost in the Ethisphere
Textile maker Milliken & Co.’s has been added to the list of the World Most Ethical Companies, by the Ethisphere Institute , "a think-tank dedicated to the research and promotion of profitable best practices in global governance, business ethics, compliance and corporate responsibility." The Ethisphere Institute and Ethisphere Council are supported by more than 100 member institutions and corporations. – View More

Hey! My iPod Doesn't Work!
Ford and Microsoft have modified the Sync system to include a feature that connects drivers with a local 911 emergency operator after an airbag deployment or emergency fuel cutoff. Called "Sync 911 Assist," the upgrade is a non-subscription based connection to 911 that is active when a phone is properly Bluetooth-paired, turned on and connected to Sync. – View More 

quattro!
Audi Konzept Design in Munich has embarked on a new project: designing branded golf accessories for Audi’s quattro GmbH subsidiary. Best known for producing vehicles like the Audi RS4, RS6 and R8 , the quattro crew has added a golf bag, travel cover, travel case, sport bag, shoe bag, and umbrella to its lineup. – View More 

Why Postage Rates Rise
Pity the poor Postal Service. It does its civic duty, buying more than 30,000 flex-fuel light trucks between 1999 and 2005, and discovers its fuel use has gone up, not down. So what is the government agency’s answer to this problem? Switching to electric vehicles, of course. – View More

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Is Anyone Surprised?
Despite telling us almost from the start that Chrysler was in the catbird seat under Cerberus ownership, now word comes that CEO Bob Nardelli is telling the troops out in Auburn Hills that things are...Read More...