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Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Can Toyota's New Tundra Challenge the Ford F-150 and Chevy Silverado?

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By Adam Levine-Weinberg, The Motley Fool

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Back in February, Toyota Motor unveiled the third generation of its Tundra full-size pickup, which will make its debut in September for the 2014 model year. Let’s take a look at how it might stack up against similar offerings from the big names in Detroit.

While Toyota has become a force to be reckoned with in the U.S. car market over the past few decades, it’s had much more trouble breaking into the full-size pickup segment. Ford has been the segment leader for a long time with its F-150 pickup, and General Motors is a strong second with its Chevy Silverado. (If you include the Silverado’s twin, the GMC Sierra, GM‘s total market share in the segment is similar to Ford’s.) Chrysler Group lags well behind Ford and GM in terms of market share, but its Ram pickups still have the No. 3 market share spot locked up.

The new Tundra makes some modest performance improvements over the previous version, but the interior redesign is far more impressive. However, truck owners are known for being very loyal to their favorite brands, so Toyota faces an uphill battle to grow its market share. Nevertheless, I believe Toyota may offer significant discounts to drive higher volume. In today’s price-conscious world, this strategy could be successful and drive a significant market-share increase for Toyota, at the expense of the Detroit Three.

Tundra’s long road
The full-size pickup segment offers very high margins compared with the auto industry as a whole, which explains why Japanese automakers have tried to break into this business. Toyota opened a new manufacturing plant in San Antonio to produce the second-generation Tundra back in 2007 and hoped to sell 200,000 per year. It was favorably reviewed, won the Motor Trend “Truck of the Year” award, and nearly met its sales goal in 2007. However, the collapse of the housing market shortly thereafter drastically reduced sales; last year, Toyota sold barely 100,000 Tundras. By contrast, Ford sold more than 645,000 F-Series trucks in 2012.

Clearly, the loyalty of longtime Ford, Chevy/GMC, and Dodge/Ram truck owners puts a limit on the Tundra’s market share. Still, Toyota did gain substantial market share back in 2007 when the last-generation Tundra hit the market. Furthermore, while Toyota hasn’t provided a specific sales goal, executives have said they expect the Tundra’s sales growth to outpace overall segment growth this year, even though the new Tundra won’t hit the market until the fall.

Going for luxury
The main area where Toyota has made significant improvements over the previous generation is in the luxury pickup segment. Toyota is offering many more upscale options on the 2014 Tundra, including two different premium grades — the Platinum and 1794 edition. The fastest-growing segment of the pickup market has been for luxury trucks retailing for $40,000 or more, but Toyota hasn’t previously offered that level of luxury. With the new high-end Tundra models, Toyota is using high-quality leather and

From: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/04/14/can-toyotas-new-tundra-challenge-the-ford-f-150-an/

News, Politics, Government

Mystery surrounds disappearance of elderly fugitive wanted in daughter-in-law's murder

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It was an early autumn morning when 73-year-old Eugene Palmer gunned down his daughter-in-law outside her home and then calmly called relatives to admit what he’d done before slipping into the vast wilderness of New York’s Harriman State Park.

Or did he?

Six months after the murder, the elderly fugitive and retired park ranger has not been found — despite efforts by police in Haverstraw, N.Y., and the man’s sons, John and Clarence Palmer, to locate him.

Authorities surmised early on that Palmer, who had a heart condition and diabetes, likely died from the elements within the 46,000-acre woodland filled with caves and abandoned root cellars that straddles Rockland and Orange counties. But Palmer’s family claims police conducted a half-hearted search because they believed the retired park ranger was armed with a shotgun, according to the Journal News.

However, a shotgun recently found under leaves near Palmer’s house suggests he might have fled unarmed, the newspaper reports. Family members told the paper that Palmer drove into the woods wearing his slippers, after leaving cash with his sister to pay his taxes.

Later searches by bloodhounds, foot patrols and helicopters turned up no trace of Palmer, and police produced no definitive evidence confirming he entered the park — other than locating his green 1995 Dodge Ram on a trail about a half-mile from his home.

The Palmer sons claim their father snapped and killed his daughter-in-law, Denise Palmer, in a fit of rage following a long, bitter domestic dispute. Denise Palmer, who was married to John Palmer, was shot three times at about 7:40 a.m. on Sept. 24, minutes after putting the couple’s two children on a school bus.

After the shooting, Palmer reportedly told his sister, Elaine Babcock, to “give [him] an hour to get away” before calling police to report the crime, according to local reports.

The Palmer family told the Journal News that they believe he died somewhere in the woods after suffering a diabetic coma.

“If the police didn’t botch the hunt in the beginning, my father’s remains would be where they belong,” Clarence Palmer told the newspaper. “They were afraid of going into the woods; afraid of a man with a shotgun, supposedly. If he wanted to be found, he would have finished himself off here. He went into the woods. I think he fell into a diabetic coma.”

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox US News

Business, Finance, Occupation & Industry

Is GM Ready to Turn the Corner?

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By Daniel Miller, The Motley Fool

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Detroit’s big three have come a long way since the depths of the recent recession. They’ve improved vehicle quality and management enough for investors like me to root for an American comeback. While consumer perceptions are difficult to turn around, Ford and General Motors have gone to great lengths to convince consumers that domestic vehicles can once again compete. 

That said, in many ways GM still trails behind rival Ford. Its vehicle portfolio is much older, contributing to its market-share losses. The common jab of “Government Motors” highlights the negativity its brand image has battled over the last few years. GM still ranks second in global sales and needs to refresh its vehicles and improve its marketing to become a better investment. Let’s look at a few recent events that might show GM is ready to turn the corner and start fixing its vehicle portfolio and marketing weaknesses.

Enter Mr. Mahoney
Tim Mahoney is Chevrolet’s new global marketing chief. GM hopes he will bring stability and creativity to its often bland marketing strategies. In the past it’s been difficult to create an image that can encompass such a large number of brands and models. The last attempt, “Chevy Runs Deep,” didn’t run very far or very long. It’s remarkable that with the slogan not translating well into other languages, Chevy still represented 54% of GM‘s global sales. Imagine how sales could rise if Chevy finally creates a marketing campaign that consumers can relate with and buy into.

It will be no easy task, as Chevy is about to tackle its wildest vehicle portfolio refresh in the brand’s 102-year history. It will redesign numerous models in the United States this year, including its highly profitable Silverado. The Impala and the buzz-worthy new Corvette will also roll out in new styles. Chevy will then continue its redesigns into early 2014, with the Suburban and Tahoe due to release.

Mahoney’s first job will be to make sure Chevy’s cash cow, the Silverado, is positioned correctly. It has a year’s head start on Ford’s redesigned F-150 and must take advantage of that to secure its market share. Ford and Chrysler both have been touting fuel efficiency, which, in KPMG‘s 2013 survey, is the consumer’s No. 1 factor in purchasing a vehicle. Ford is showing off its popular EcoBoost engine whenever possible, and it’s catching on with consumers. The turbocharged V6 saves fuel while providing equivalent power. GM‘s other rival, Chrysler, has been parading the Dodge Ram in recent commercials as a best-in-class 25 mpg on the highway. Finally, GM has prepared a response to its rivals’ advertisements.

Mahoney is fighting back with a different viewpoint. Rather than arguing fuel efficiency, it says the Chevy Silverado 1500 has the lowest total cost of ownership. That includes transaction prices, operating costs, maintenance, and fuel consumption. It’s the second year in a row it earned the “5-Year Lowest Cost to Own” award. If Chevy can market this idea well, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Automobiles

Report: Mexican police seize engine-powered drug cannon

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By Jeffrey N. Ross

Mexican drug cannon in pickup bed

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It seems like we’re always hearing about new ways in which people are trying to smuggle things into the US from Mexico – including simply driving over the wall. Case in point? Mexican police have found yet another way criminals are attempting to get drugs over the border. Mexicali police have seized what looks to be either a Mitsubishi Mighty Max or Dodge Ram 50 pickup, equipped with what is essentially an oversized spud gun in the bed used to shoot marijuana over the border.

Constructed from a metal tank and a large plastic pipe, The Guardian reports that this drug cannon actually uses a car engine to build up enough air pressure to launch up to 13 kilos of marijuana at a time. Mexicali police were alerted to this truck when their US counterparts found drug packages on this side of the border. As of yet, there is no word as to how the vehicle was caught and whether any arrests resulted.

Mexican police seize engine-powered drug cannon originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Official: Cadillac ATS, Ram 1500 named 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year

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By Steven J. Ewing

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2013 Cadillac ATS

2013 Ram 1500As is tradition, the 2013 Detroit Auto Show kicks off with the announcement of the 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the year awards. And without further ado, we present your winners: the Cadillac ATS and Ram 1500.

Runners-up for the award are the Ford Fusion and Honda Accord in the car category, and the Mazda CX-5 and Ford C-Max in the truck/utility class. The winners were determined by a non-profit, independent jury of 50 American and Canadian journalists, including some members of the Autoblog staff.

This is the first win for Cadillac as a Car of the Year, though the CTS was a finalist in 2008. General Motors brands have won the Car of the Year award five times. This win for the 2013 Ram 1500 marks the third truck win for the Chrysler Group. The Ram (well, Dodge Ram) first won the award in 1994.

Cadillac ATS, Ram 1500 named 2013 North American Car and Truck/Utility of the Year originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Autoblog

Automobiles

Ram 1500 Named 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year

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By Malcolm Hogan

Taking home the 3rd win for the Chrysler Group, the Ran 1500 pick-up takes home the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year award.

The domestic automakers field is surely exciting this year and to reiterate that excitement and pride put into the design and engineering of new American vehicles, the North American Car of the Year and North American Truck/Utility of the Year awards both go to vehicles belonging to the Big 3. Last year for 2012, neither of the winners were domestic where the Hyundai Elantra and Land Rover Range Rover Evoque took the win.

Going up against the Mazda CX-5 and Ford C-Max in the finalist round, the Ran 1500 edges them out receiving the 3rd truck win for Chrysler (the Dodge Ram 1500 won in 1994).

DETROIT, – Domestic automakers dominated as the Cadillac ATS took the 2013 North American Car of the Year and the Ram 1500 won the 2013 North American Truck/Utility of the Year.

The winners were revealed Monday morning at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show.

The winners were chosen by a jury of 49 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada.

The awards – now in their 20th year – are unique in the United States because instead of being given by a single media outlet they are awarded by a group of automotive journalists from the United States and Canada who represent magazines, television, radio, newspapers and web sites.

The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles of the year. These vehicles are benchmarks in their segments based on factors including innovation, comfort, design, safety, handling, driver satisfaction and value for the dollar.

The jurors gave the ATS 207 points, the Accord 159 points and the Fusion 124 points.

It was the first win for Cadillac ATS and the fifth car win for General Motors. The Cadillac CTS was a finalist in 2008.

The jurors gave the Ram 1500 261 points, the CX-5 142 points and the C-Max 87 points.

It was the third truck win for Chrysler. The Dodge Ram 1500 won in 1994.

Domestic automakers have won North American Car of the Year 11 times. Japanese automakers have won three times. European automakers have won four times. A Korean automaker (Hyundai) has won twice.

Domestic automakers have won North American Truck of the Year 13 times. Japanese automakers have won four times. European automakers have won three times.

To be eligible a vehicle must be all new or substantially changed. The jurors considered dozens of new vehicles before sending their ballots to Michelle Collins, a partner at Deloitte & Touche early in December.

On December 12th the three car and truck finalists were announced. But only Ms. Collins knew the winners until she handed over envelopes today to Michelle Krebs, a juror and
Editor-at-Large for Edmunds.com.

The awards were inspired by the “Car of the Year” in Europe.

They are administered by an organizing committee and are funded with dues paid by the jurors. There are no paid positions. Automakers do not pay to have their vehicles considered or to use the awards in ads.

The “2012 North American Car of the Year” was the Hyundai Elantra.

Last year’s “2012 North American Truck of the Year” was the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque.

MORE INFORMATION: More information on the awards — including names of the jurors, previous finalists and winners — is available at: www.northamericancaroftheyear.org.

Source: FULL ARTICLE at Automotive Addicts

Computers

Chrysler shows off connected Dodge Ram truck (video)

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LAS VEGAS—The 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 is Chrysler’s first connected vehicle, which means it has its own built-in wireless connection (through Sprint’s wireless network). This connection allows the driver to perform voice-activated Bing searches and write text messages (using Nuance’s voice-recognition software) while driving.

Chrysler’s 2013 Dodge Ram 1500 connected truck

Chrysler is yet another automaker showing off a new “connected” vehicle (it’s got its own cellular connection) with streaming Internet radio apps on its infotainment system.

The Chrysler truck can also be turned into a mobile hotspot, though that feature will cost extra. According to company representatives, the mobile hotspot feature will be available on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, and will cost between $15 and $50.

Chrysler’s other big announcement is that it’s updating its Uconnect infotainment system. The company is calling the service “Uconnect Access Via Mobile,” and it’s similar to what we’ve seen from companies such as Ford and General Motors. Uconnect Access Via Mobile will let drivers connect their smartphone to their car (via Bluetooth or wired USB) and access Internet-connected apps on the infotainment system.

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Source: FULL ARTICLE at PCWorld