News By Topic: Editorials and Commentary

2008 Volvo V70 Review

Aug 16, 2008

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS 2008 Volvo V70 Volvo has been building wagons since 1953, and has made the genre a specialty. If the Swedish automaker has a small presence in the general automotive marketplace, it is a major player in the wagon class throughout the world. Wagons are a minor sideline for most manu ... Continue reading

2008 BMW 128i Convertible Review

Aug 16, 2008

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS 2008 BMW 128i Convertible It may be hard to believe at this late date, but in the early 1960s BMW was a faltering manufacturer of baroquely-styled luxury cars and small sedans and coupes powered by flat-twin engines derived from the motorcycle division, which supplanted the single- ... Continue reading

2008 Automotive Management Briefing Seminars - DAY 5, TRAVERSE CITY

Aug 16, 2008

MANAGEMENT BRIEFING SEMINARS - TRAVERSE CITY Day Five – Wrapping It Up By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Detroit Bureau A couple of politicians punctuated the discussions with their own brands of optimism today. Our own good lookin’ Governor Jennifer Granholm (who once flirted with a career as a fashion model ... Continue reading

2008 AUTOMOTIVE MANAGEMENT BRIEFING SEMINARS-DAY 4

Aug 15, 2008

Day Four – The Heavyweights Pontificate By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Detroit Bureau This morning’s lineup of speakers was impressive: Mark Fields, Ford’s president of the Americas; Michael Stanton, president and CEO of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc.; Tom LaSorda (not ... Continue reading

2008 Management Briefing Seminars - DAY 3

Aug 14, 2008

Day Three – Optimism Prevails By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Detroit Bureau We heard a lot about environmental impacts and fuel efficiency today. The wringing of hands over government mandated CAFÉ fuel economy standards may be irrelevant, according to Amory Lovins, chairman of a respected think tank in Colo ... Continue reading

2008 MANAGEMENT BRIEFING SEMINARS - TRAVERSE CITY DAY 2

Aug 13, 2008

Day Two – By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Detroit Bureau STEVE: We’re here for the news as well as the insights. Toyota’s Steve St. Angelo, senior VP of engineering and manufacturing, revealed in interviews with Wards AutoWorld that they are considering manufacturing the new Highlander Hybrid in the US ... Continue reading

Carz4Girlz Review: 2008 KIA SPORTAGE, FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, HONDA CR-V

Aug 11, 2008

Carz4Girlz Review: 2008 KIA SPORTAGE, FORD ESCAPE HYBRID, HONDA CR-V MAKING A CASE TO YOUR PARENTS FOR AN SUV? HERE'S THREE FUN, USER-FRIENDLY & AFFORDABLE VEHICLES By Ilyse Gordon Owning an SUV isn't all about guzzling gas. That will be the first roadblock your parents will pull out if you're planning on going to batt ... Continue reading

2008 Automotive Management Briefing Seminars - Day 1

Aug 11, 2008

MANAGEMENT BRIEFING SEMINARS – TRAVERSE CITY Day One – Getting Acclimated By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Detroit Bureau Early August means we find ourselves in beautiful Northern Michigan for perhaps one of the automobile industry’s most important conferences – The Management Briefing Seminars ho ... Continue reading

2009 Toyota Corolla S Review

Aug 7, 2008

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS 2009 Toyota Corolla S Gasoline prices, if dropping slightly from recent record highs, are still expensive. And vehicle sales reflect that. For many years the best-selling vehicles in the US were full-size pickup trucks. Now that honor goes to compact sedans, and the Toyota Corolla ... Continue reading

Barack Obama Calls for Sweeping Energy Overhaul, Perhaps Ensuring His Election - VIDEO

Aug 4, 2008

By Marc J. Rauch, Exec. Vice President/Co-Publisher (August 4, 2008) Hopeful Presidential candidate Barak Obama gave a half-hour midday speech in Lansing, Michigan today that, in my opinion, is the most important policy statement given by any 2008 candidate so far, and may very well put him in the White House for at le ... Continue reading

THE KRASL ART MUSEUM HOSTS A CONCOUR EVENT

Aug 4, 2008

THE KRASL ART MUSEUM HOSTS A CONCOUR EVENT Old Cars on the Bluff in St. Joseph, MI By Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com For those of you who’ve not been to St. Joseph, MI, on the southwest shore of Lake Michigan allow me the opportunity to enlighten you. Only about an hour from Chicago and perhaps 3 from Detroit, thi ... Continue reading

2008 BMW Z4 M Roadster Review

Aug 4, 2008

THE AUTO PAGE by JOHN HEILIG SPECIFICATIONS – 2008 BMW Z4 M Roadster Model: BMW Z4 M Roadster Engine: 3.2-liter DOHC inline 6 Horsepower/Torque: 330 hp/262 lb.-ft. Transmission: 6-speed manual Wheelbase: 98.2 in. Length x Width x Height: 161.1 x 70.1 x 51.1 in. Tires: P225/45ZR18 (F)/ P255/40ZR18 (R) Cargo volume: ... Continue reading

2008 Kia Sedona EX Review

Aug 3, 2008

THE AUTO PAGE<br> by<br> JOHN HEILIG</p> <p><b>SPECIFICATIONS: 2009 Kia Sedona EX</b></p> <p>Model:</b> Kia Sedona EX <br><b>Engine: </b> 3.8-liter V6 <br><b>Horsepower/Torque: </b> 250 hp/253 lb.-ft. <br><b>Transmission: </b> 5-speed automatic <br><b>Wheelbase: </b> 118.9 in. <br><b>Length x Width x Height: </b> 202.0 ... Continue reading

2009 Audi A4 Preview

Aug 3, 2008

Keeping Up With the Premium Small Car Segment By Thom Cannell and Steve Purdy Photos by Steve Purdy TheAutoChannel.com Detroit Bureau [A4 FRONT] The premium small sedan category is a hot one. BMW has been the benchmark in this segment ever since the 3-Series grew out of the wonderful 1800 and 2002 models of the 60s and ... Continue reading

Car Industry Gloom - Hey Guys Make Lemonade Ourt of Lemons

Aug 2, 2008

FRANKFURT/TOKYO August 1, 2008; Christiaan Hetzner and Chang-Ran Kim(Reuters) - The clouds hanging over the global car industry cast dark shadows over two more makers on Friday as BMW issued a profit warning and Nissan Motor badly missed quarterly operating profit forecasts. "Business conditions for the automobile indu ... Continue reading