According to reports, Daimler head Dieter Zetsche has been advising Sergio Marchionne on what to do with the Chrysler brand and how to handle the Fiat-Chrysler merger. Known also as having destroyed the Chrysler brand, at least to Americans, the guys at Autoblog.com are telling Marchionne to do exactly the opposite of whatever Zetsche is telling him.

We think Marchionne is probably safe, as we don’t see him as the kind of guy up for advice from someone who was the head of a company that went disastrously bankrupt. We’ve reported on some of the reservations regarding the new Fiat-Chrysler relationship, but frankly, things are looking better than what they did when it was Daimler-Chrysler “merger of equals” time.

Zetsche has apparently happened upon the fact that the US market likes big cars, and that Fiat has only promised smaller cars and fuel efficient technology. We had thought of this too, along with many others in the business (it doesn’t take a former CEO to figure that out, after all) but we’re feeling quite positive about future Lancia-Chrysler sedan designs, as the Lancia Thesis renderings indicate.

Continue reading: Dieter Zetsche gives advice to Sergio Marchionne

As the car world waits for the plan of the Fiat-Chrysler deal to be revealed, it looks as though a new Chrysler logo could be revealed. You might wonder why, if the brand is going to disappear from Europe, but it could be a show of faith from Fiat that Chrysler will get a revival in its own market of North America.

The new logo is quite sexy, definitely modern and hopefully marks the dawn of a new era for America’s beloved Chrysler. So far the Fiat-Chrysler plans have been sketchy and mostly include the arrival of the Fiat 500 or Abarth 500 on the US market, the appearance of the Alfa Giulia in the US, but perhaps not the Milano or MiTo, and the retaining of the Jeep brand on the European market. It looks as though Dodge will go niche, including an electric car in its line-up, and that we will see Lancia-badged Chryslers, particularly the new 300c already spied, in Europe. All will soon be revealed. Stay tuned.

Source | Autoblog

Continue reading: New Chrysler logo: Fiat to save Chrysler or not?

According to reports, the possible arrival of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe in Europe has not been wholly exluded from company plans. The new rear wheel drive had not initially been intended for the old continent, but favourable reports from the media and general market interest mean Hyundai is reconsidering.

The Genesis Coupe debuted last year and has been a huge success, particularly in North America where it has been voted Car of the Year for 2009. There’s no denying it’s a sexy little number, and Hyundai is no doubt doing its homework as to its reception in Europe.

While Hyundai may still have some hurdles to get over in terms of the reputation of the old model, it seems the new Genesis Coupe has wiped the slate clean and has been very convincing, at least elsewhere in the world.

Hyundai Genesis coupé

Source | Autoweek.nl

Continue reading: Hyundai Genesis Coupe coming to Europe?

Porsche has created this new Panamera commercial for the US market, though the spot goes beyond promoting just the four-door Porsche. All of the company’s important models, from road versions to race versions, appear briefly in the video, showing that the Panamera fits right in with the Porsche philosophy and style. Meaning that Porsche’s “family tree” reputation precedes it. Who knows how the Americans will welcome the new Porsche Panamera?

Continue reading: Porsche Panamera US commercial

We had reported that the Alfa Giulia was to appear in 2012, and now it looks positively destined for the US market. While the Fiat 500 is getting a Chrysler distribution and should be the flag bearer of Italian trendy style in that market, it seems the larger models from the Fiat portfolio are the ones considered for an American debut.

According to reports, the successful Alfa MiTo and yet-to-be-released Milano will not be going to the US due to their smaller size. It seems the MiTo and Milano will appear on the European market only at this stage. The MiTo has already been enjoying solid sales since its debut, though the fortunes of the Milano and Giulia are still unknown.

Source | Motorionline

Continue reading: Alfa Giulia in US in 2012, no MiTo or Milano for America

General Motors has been busy with announcements today, with the first being that it has officially emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy. The announcement comes only 39 days after the company had originally filed for bankruptcy.

Having gotten itself out of bankruptcy, the company is set to undergo a rebirth and will tackle its controversial executive culture by cutting about 35 percent of staff from its executive level. There is no word as to when the company might pay back the 50 billion dollar taxpayer funded loans it has received, but after a tough month in June, here’s hoping the American auto giant is back on its feet.

After the general announcement that General Motors had emerged from bankruptcy, it also revealed part of its strategy to get sales back on track. The plan is to test a new strategy with eBay online auctions in which customers can bid for new cars online rather than visiting dealerships. Fritz Henderson revealed the plans to sell cars online, saying:

“Customers will be able to bid on actual vehicles just like they do in an eBay auction, including the option of choosing a predetermined ‘Buy It Now’ price… we’ll be testing this and other ideas with our dealers over the next few weeks, and hope to expand and build upon them in the coming months… in all cases, our goal is to make the shopping and buying process as easy as possible for GM customers - on their time and their terms. Stay tuned.”

Apparently ‘revolutionising’ the way people buy cars will include an innovative partnership with eBay in California. The big question is how General Motors will now deal with its dealership network and whether some dealers may find business harder as customers choose to buy online in what may be considered an empowering move for consumers.

Source | Left Lane News and Autoblog

Continue reading: General Motors to sell cars on eBay

With General Motors finally filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the many premonitions that economists had about the company’s future have been illuminated. And as we shade our eyes from the huge job losses in a sector the scale of which could bring a country to its knees, and the fact that much of this may have been prevented if tax-grabbing policies were curbed, it’s time to have a look at what the future may hold.

The US Government is stepping in to avoid what will be an enormous negative impact across the US, and is investing in a hopeful attempt to bring this giant back from the brink. General Motors is truly, an awesome icon in American society, and recreating something new from the ashes will not be easy.

There’s no keeping the Americans down, but they’ll need more than optimistic rhetoric to get them out of this situation. With 82.3 billion US dollars in assets facing up to 172.8 billion dollars in debt, the “fast track to a competitive future” seems a long way off.

Continue reading: General Motors bankrupt: analysis

As already announced, the Fiat Panda will soon debut on the US market, and the Cross 4×4 city car will appear with the Jeep brand, and will be sold under the name “Phoenix”. Expected for 2011, the Jeep Phoenix is planned for success with an off-road look, practical use and different enough from the rest of the Jeep range.

Here are the first Fiat Panda reconstructions of the stars and stripes version of the Italian car. Seeing one of the originals on mountain roads in Italy, she’s difficult to recognise. Time will tell if the choice is a hit or not.

Source | Autoblog.com

Continue reading: Fiat Panda takes on Jeep Phoenix guise for US market

Ford has celebrated a record of 250,000 units of the new Fiesta built in just nine months, making the Fiesta the most sold car on the European market for March. The figures prove that on the old continent, the small hatchback segment is healthy, with overall Fiesta figures from its birth in 1976 reaching 12 million sales.

After starting production in Cologne, the 2009 Fiesta is now also assembled in Valencia and Beijing. In 2010, that production will expand to Rayong in Thailand and Cuautitlan in Mexico. Sales with start in North America next year, with a large advertising campaign planned for the US market.

Continue reading: 250,000 Ford Fiesta models sold in just nine months

In more prizes from the New York auto show, the Volkswagen Golf received the award for “World Car of the Year 2009″, from the same jury panel as that of the Fiat 500 design car award.

The prize should prove to be extremely important for the Golf, in terms of its recognition and success in the US market. The Golf had its debut here, in New York, and together with the prize for the 500, we could be seeing a revaluing of small cars in America.

Continue reading: Volkswagen Golf wins "World Car of the Year 2009" in New York

The news is official that Volkswagen will abandon the name “Rabbit” and introduce the Golf to the US market with its original name, which is a relief to anyone who thought “Rabbit” was a bit too silly. The presentation of the Golf 6 will take place this month at the New York auto show, with Managing Director of Volkswagen America, Mark Barnes, announcing the name change.

The decision was taken on European shores, though, as the Golf is sold in more than 120 countries as a kind of autonomous brand. To continue the globalisation theme, the Rabbit name, introduced in the US in 2006, is being abandoned in favour of Golf.

Source | Autoblog.com

Continue reading: Volkswagen Golf in the US to keep original name

After the Fiat-Chrysler agreement, many asked themselves how much the deal was worth. Now, according to Chrysler president Bob Nardelli, Fiat is selling its know-how to Chrysler to the tune of ten billion dollars. In return, the Italian group will get a 35 percent stake in Chrysler shares.

In more Chrysler news, with an email adressed to employees, Nardelli has described as constructive the meeting with the task force set up by US President Barack Obama to supervise the restructure of the company. According to Nardelli, the government funds will help Chrysler to continue to act as a “stand-alone” company.

Source | IlSole24Ore

Continue reading: Fiat Chrysler deal with 10 billion