Cars.com Offers Its Picks for the Cars that Can Save Detroit
January 08 2010 - 8:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
CHICAGO, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- With the North American
International Auto Show starting in Detroit next week, the editors
at Cars.com took a look at 10 current or planned new car
introductions they believe can help turn the Big Three around in
2010 and beyond. "Despite the poor shape of the domestic auto
industry, we do see some signs of hope from the Big Three," said
Cars.com Editor in Chief Patrick Olsen. "A string of model
introductions and redesigns could bring them back to solvency and
beyond if done well -- or mean disaster if they don't win over
consumers." Here's a look, automaker by automaker, at the cars to
watch from the Big Three. Ford Motor Co. Ford Fiesta: A feisty
import from Europe could erase memories of the last U.S. version of
the Fiesta. If you're old enough to remember it, you might recall
an econobox with a festive name, but poor reliability. Ford's new
version claims to get around 40 mpg, and the Euro version that we
drove has a great interior to boot. Its price starts just north of
$13,000, which sure helps in the current economy; it could build a
new generation of Ford fans from teens and 20-somethings. Ford
Taurus: While the Fiesta could make a big splash with its quality
and high mileage, in reality, Ford needs a car like this to appeal
to Baby Boomers looking to downgrade from expensive luxury makers
and still generate profits. The Fiesta's dirt cheap price likely
means a narrower profit margin. The Taurus, though, has a name with
equity and enough extra features that could make it a big
moneymaker for Ford. Despite its sharp looks, the Taurus' cramped
cockpit may put off some family shoppers, although Ford's
ridiculously powerful EcoBoost engine could make dads overlook the
tight fit. Boomers will appreciate the huge trunk that can store
more golf bags than the car can carry passengers. Could the Taurus
be the once and maybe future king of sedans? Ford sure hopes so.
Ford Explorer: Speaking of nameplate equity, the Explorer
practically invented and owned the SUV segment during the 1990s.
It's moving to a unibody platform, which should help it drive more
like a car and get more carlike mileage. Although the SUV category
has slumped, a new Explorer could help cement Ford in the family
car business, where it has seen modest success with the Flex and
the Edge. It'll go head-to-head with Jeep's revamped Grand
Cherokee. What's Missing: Ford hasn't given the Escape compact SUV
a full redesign since it debuted in 2000, and it doesn't hold up
well to new entries like the Hyundai Tucson and Chevy Equinox. Yet
it's one of the best-selling vehicles in the country. Ford better
not drop the ball on this like it did with the Taurus two
generations ago. Chrysler Jeep Grand Cherokee: Chrysler is wise to
kick off its rebirth with a unibody family hauler that has an
advanced off-road system to satisfy the broadest swath of
consumers. But given its recent history, the Cherokee's mileage is
likely to lag its competitors despite an estimated 11 percent gain
in mileage -- and Chrysler desperately needs to solve the
reliability problem that has dogged the Grand Cherokee for years.
Still, the Cherokee is one of only two new models for Chrysler next
year. It needs to sell well to help get Chrysler to the rest of its
recovery plan. However, even well-executed redesigns or new models
like the Nissan Murano and Ford Edge have not been huge successes.
Fiat 500: Chrysler today doesn't have a single model that gets
better than 31 mpg; will this small car, already popular in Europe,
give the company enough cache to get young buyers into the shop?
Once there, will those shoppers even look at anything else on the
showroom floor? The company plans to start selling the 500 in
January 2011 at "salons" in select urban dealerships. While it
could become as successful as the Mini Cooper, that level of sales
volume won't be enough to help Chrysler pay off its government
debt, much less reach profitability. Chrysler 300: Whereas the Fiat
500 might not pave the road to cash flow, the 300 may. This
style-centric rear-wheel-drive sedan helped revive Chrysler in the
early 2000s, and it's getting a redesign for the 2011 model year.
Like the Taurus for Ford, the 300 could provide plenty of profit
margin, along with a huge cabin. Mileage could be a concern, but
with an improved interior expected and lots of space, the 300 could
win back fans of flashy looks while the masses focus on value.
What's Missing: The Fiat 500 may make a splash in the subcompact
market, but Chrysler needs a successful compact car that the Dodge
Caliber never was. The company also can't figure out the vital
compact SUV market with various entries that are either too small -
Jeep Patriot - or too big -- Dodge Nitro. General Motors Chevy
Equinox/Traverse: These are two cars masquerading as one entry on
our list, but these models are already in production, have sold
well and made the brand a true innovative player in the family car
market. The Traverse is now the top large crossover, beating out
Toyota's Highlander and Honda's Pilot for a few months now. The
Equinox has a top-class cabin and class-leading gas mileage. Chevy
Cruze: Like Ford with the Fiesta, the Cruze is GM's effort to get a
40-mpg small car on the market. Although the Cruze is more a
competitor for Toyota's Corolla or the Honda Civic, where the
Fiesta goes up against the subcompact Toyota Yaris and the Honda
Fit, among others. For GM, there's a PR move behind this car as
well. Now owned in part by U.S. taxpayers, GM sees the Cruze as a
shot at making its case that they can build a desirable,
fuel-efficient car, proving that the federal bailout was worth the
money and effort. The company's current compact, the Cobalt, has
the best fuel mileage in the class and has not been a success.
Chevy Volt: A lot rests on the Volt. Could the electric-gas hybrid
be GM's opening shot in the electric-car wars, or will it be
outmoded the moment it arrives? It's reasonable to ask why
consumers would pay upward of $40,000 for a car that gets great
mileage when they can buy another car that gets great mileage for
closer to $20,000, say the Toyota Prius or Honda Insight. Of
course, there's a halo effect that GM will expect from having the
Volt in its lineup, and federal tax credits should chop a hefty
$7,500 off the Volt's MSRP. The next question for GM: How long till
your plug-ins make it to market? What's Missing: There are plans
for a new Chevy Aveo subcompact, but the current generation
shouldn't even be in the consideration set of shoppers who can pick
up a new Toyota Yaris or Nissan Versa. Chevy needs to get a new
Aveo on the market quickly or lose domestic shoppers to Ford's
Fiesta. About Cars.com Cars.com is the leading destination for
online car shoppers, offering credible, easy-to-understand
information from consumers and experts to help buyers formulate
opinions on what to buy, where to buy and how much to pay for a
car. With comprehensive pricing information, side-by-side
comparison tools, photo galleries, videos, unbiased editorial
content and a large selection of new- and used-car inventory,
Cars.com puts millions of car buyers in control of their shopping
process with the information they need to make confident buying
decisions. Launched in June 1998, Cars.com is a division of
Classified Ventures, LLC, which is owned by leading media
companies, including Belo (NYSE:BLC), Gannett Co., Inc. (NYSE:GCI),
The McClatchy Company (NYSE:MNI), Tribune Company and The
Washington Post Company (NYSE:WPO). DATASOURCE: Cars.com CONTACT:
Jackie Brennan, Associate Public Relations Manager,
+1-312-601-6229, mobile, +1-219-577-6106, , or Steve Nolan, Public
Relations Manager, +1-312-601-5163, mobile, +1-630-310-2468, Web
Site: http://www.cars.com/
Copyright
Belo (NYSE:BLC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Belo (NYSE:BLC)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024