GM's 2014 pickups bank on improved power, mpg, refinement to revive truck share

DETROIT -- General Motors' next-generation full-sized pickups offer "evolutionary" exterior styling changes but significant engine and interior improvements, in a bid by GM to cater to buyers who use their trucks to make a living.


GM officials touted the improved power, refinement and functionality of the redesigned 2014 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra pickups -- the company's top-selling model line and biggest profit source -- today at a film studio in suburban Detroit where the trucks were introduced.

While fuel efficiency should improve for each of three new engine choices, final mpg estimates will be released later, it's clear that GM believes its pickup customers value torque and toughness more than mpg.

"Our customers rely on their trucks to meet the day-to-day challenges of earning a living, running a business," Mark Reuss, president of GM North America, said in a statement. "Chevrolet is committed to giving truck customers the most refined, best-engineered pickups in the market."

GM's pickup strategy diverges from that of rival Ford Motor Co., which has enjoyed surprising success by touting the fuel efficiency of its six-cylinder EcoBoost offering on the top-selling F-150 pickup. GM won't chase Ford with its own turbocharged six-banger.

Instead, GM is relying on a family of three engines, versions of its next generation of small-block engines, to deliver better power and competitive fuel efficiency. It will no longer offer a hybrid truck because of low sales volumes, a spokesman said.

The new engines are "100 percent truck, specifically designed for the way customers use trucks in the real world," Jordan Lee, chief engineer for the small-block engine, said in a statement.

Core truck buyers

Dave Sullivan, a product analyst at consulting firm AutoPacific Inc., says GM's strategy is to "go after the traditional, core pickup buyer who doesn't want some newfangled powertrain or air-suspension system."

GM wants to keep its full-sized pickups as workhorses while giving fuel-conscious buyers another alternative, Reuss has said.

That's why, unlike Ford and Chrysler Group, GM decided to continue marketing the mid-sized Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon pickups. Redesigned versions of those trucks are expected to go on sale by late 2013 or early 2014.

GM has much riding on the strategy. The Silverado and Sierra are the company's most lucrative vehicle lines -- bringing in around $12,000 in profit per unit, analysts estimate -- and together are GM's highest-volume U.S. products.

GM execs hope the summer launch of the trucks, delayed by the company's 2009 bankruptcy, will help reverse a steady slide in its share of the full-sized pickup market. It has declined from 42.2 percent in 2002 to 35.7 percent this year, its lowest level during that decade, according to the Automotive News Data Center.

The Silverado has been the perennial No. 2-selling vehicle in the United States, behind the Ford F series pickup. But it has dropped to No. 3 this year behind the F series and Toyota Camry.

Since the fall 2006 launch of the current Silverado and Sierra, GM has offered few enhancements. Over the past few years, the trucks have become long in the tooth relative to rivals and now are the oldest full-sized pickups on the market.

Ford and Chrysler have made more frequent and substantial improvements to the F series and Ram 1500, and gained share in the segment. Ford added EcoBoost and its MyFord Touch infotainment and control system to the F-150 in the middle of its life cycle, for instance.

GM said today it will begin producing 2014 Silverado and Sierra crew cabs, which account for more than 60 percent of its current truck volume, in the second quarter of 2013. Other cab styles will go into production later in the year, GM said.

The timing could be good for GM. Analysts and GM execs expect the nascent strength in the U.S. housing market over the next few years will aid pickup sales.

Through November, industrywide sales of full-sized pickups rose 10 percent, trailing the 14 percent sales growth for all light vehicles. Silverado sales were flat while Sierra sales rose 4 percent.

The Silverado's exterior styling "can be described as evolutionary, but the updates to the interior are dramatic," the pickup's design director, Helen Emsley, said in a statement.

The Silverado and Sierra sport taller profiles than their predecessors. Each has a more muscular look, with domed hood and more-sculpted body sides.

A wider, one-piece bumper wraps around the front of the trucks, from fender to fender, giving them a wider stance. Both feature bolder, squared fender flares; the Silverado's flares are wider, while the Sierra's are more creased.

The trucks are more aerodynamic, with doors that are inlaid to fit into the recesses in the side of the body, rather than wrapping over the roofline. The doors also are more tightly sealed to reduce wind noise.

GM used more high-strength steel, including some hydroformed steel, in the truck cab, main rails and cross members to reduce mass. The hoods are aluminum, saving about 17 pounds compared with the steel hoods on current models.

The 2014 Sierra will offer a new GM technology, launched first on the Cadillac XTS, that alerts the driver of a potential collision via a vibrating pulse in the left or right side of the seat.

Isolating the cabin

The pickups will offer a more comfortable ride, quieter cabin and better handling, GM says. A third hydraulic body mount was added to better isolate the cab from the frame to reduce noise and vibration, providing "a solid, refined feel with no loss in traditional truck capability," GM says.

In the front suspension, the use of lighter, stiffer aluminum control arms on some models, along with stiffer front springs, should provide more confident handling, GM says.

Electronic power steering was added to improve feel and save fuel because it doesn't require an engine-driven pump. For the brakes, GM will use its hardened, rust-resistant Duralife rotors, which can double the life of the rotors.

Other new features include a step on the corner of the rear bumper that, combined with new handholds in the box rail protectors, will make it easier to climb up into the bed. GM says an internal torsion bar in the tailgate will also make it easier to raise and lower.

LED lamps are installed under the bed rails. GM has added a 6-foot-6-inch box to crew cab models to join the 5-foot-8-inch box that's already offered.

GM also is borrowing several safety features recently introduced on Cadillac nameplates and other models. They include optional lane-departure warning and forward collision alert, which uses a camera to monitor the distance from another vehicle in front of the truck and warn the driver of an impending rear-end crash.

The Sierra will offer a new GM technology, first used on the recently launched Cadillac XTS, that alerts the driver of a potential collision via a vibrating pulse in the left or right side of the seat.


New powertrains

The next-gen Silverado and Sierra will be offered with three choices from GM's new family of EcoTec3 engines: a 5.3-liter V-8, which is expected to be the volume engine; a 6.2-liter V-8; and a 4.3-liter, naturally aspirated V-6.

A GM spokesman said that official federal mileage ratings won't be assigned until early next year. But GM is confident that each of the three engines will get better fuel economy than its predecessor.

The 2013 pickups offer a 4.3-liter V-6 that gets 15 mpg in city driving and 20 on the highway in a regular cab truck; a 4.8-liter V-8 that gets 14 mpg city/19 highway in a regular cab; a 5.3-liter V-8 that gets 15 mpg city/21 highway in an extended cab; and a 6.2-liter V-8 rated 13mpg city/18 highway in an extended cab. Fuel economy ratings are based on two-wheel-drive mode.

The 2014 pickups will be mated to six-speed transmissions. Sources say GM plans to eventually offer an eight-speed transmission, but it likely won't be added for at least a year.

GM powertrain engineers spent five years developing the engine family for the fifth-generation small block. A version also will be in the redesigned Corvette due out next year. The overhead-valve pushrod engine will be built in Tonawanda, N.Y.

The addition of direct injection was a key to an improved combustion system that allows the engine to consume fuel more efficiently. The system sprays fuel directly into the cylinders, which more precisely controls the fuel-air mixture. The new engine block is aluminum, which also reduces weight.

Cylinder deactivation, which shuts down four of the eight cylinders under light loads, will come standard on all models. Today, it's only offered on higher trim levels. GM engineers say the new engines will allow the vehicle to operate for longer periods in four-cylinder mode, which should wring out further fuel savings.

GM vastly improved the pickups' interiors, which are relatively spartan on current models, and says the new styling "sets a benchmark for full-sized trucks." Higher trim levels have plenty of soft-touch material and aluminum trim.

GM used more durable, "dual density" foam in the front seats for better comfort. Lower trim levels will come with cloth seats that use new "high-wear" material that resists staining.

The Silverado and Sierra will come with an optional 8-inch color touch screen displaying GM's infotainment offerings. Big knobs and interfaces were designed for ease of use, even for drivers wearing work gloves. A 4-inch information screen in the instrument panel, also optional, displays vehicle and infotainment data.

GM improved rear-seat access on both extended and crew cabs. The rear doors on the crew cabs are larger, while the doors on extended cab models now hinge at the front, allowing rear-seat passengers to enter and exit without opening the front door.

GM also addressed a problem spot on the current truck -- tight rear legroom compared with rival pickups -- by pulling forward the B-pillars slightly and narrowing the backs of the front seats, changes that added about 2 inches of rear legroom.

Join us October 20, 2012, for the 3rd Annual Susan G. Komen CenLA Race for the Cure®!


There are plenty of reasons to come to the Komen CenLA Race for the Cure: walk or run with friends and family, visit sponsor tents, kids’ activities – it’s a fun day. But we're asking you to join us for one reason: we need your help to save lives.

The Komen CenLA Race for the Cure is a special day to all. Survivors, family members, friends and dedicated community activists come together to help end breast cancer forever. Because of your support, Komen CenLa has raised over $600,000 over the last two years to fight breast cancer every day in our community. Thanks to people like you, we are able to reach under-served populations and women without health insurance with life-saving breast cancer education and screening programs.

Whether you run, walk, or Sleep In for the Cure®, we ask that you register today. Help us take a step closer to the cures.

ANYONE WHO REGISTERS BETWEEN NOW AND AUGUST 31 WILL GO INTO A DRAWING TO WIN A RACE FOR THE CURE ROLLING COOLER









Take it one step further by creating a team and asking your friends, family and co-workers to join you. Having a team on Race day increases your experience because you get to share the beautiful morning with people who mean the most to you. Don’t wait… create your team today!



To learn more about teams, click here.



We hope to see you on October 20, 2012, in Downtown Alexandria for the Race! For more Race information visit us online or email us at cenlarace@komen.org.

With Grateful Appreciation,

Komen CenLA Race Committee

Honda's Redesigned Accord

LOS ANGELES -- The redesigned 2013 Honda Accord will go on sale this fall with a shorter length, a new engine family and a continuously variable transmission -- huge engineering changes for a signature car that has slipped against mid-sized rivals.

Honda released the first images of the production version of the Accord sedan and coupe today but provided few additional details about the cars.

The 2013 sedan -- weighing less than the outgoing model, but with more passenger and cargo room -- features nearly flush windshield glass, flush-mounted windshield wipers and available LED daytime running lights, headlights and taillights.

Honda -- clearly aiming for U.S. buyers attracted to the current Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima, Toyota Camry and 2013 Ford Fusion -- calls it the "most sculpted and dynamic Accord ever."

Honda calls the ninth-generation sedan the most sculpted Accord ever with increased interior passenger and cargo space. The overall length has been shortened however Honda says to provide sportier driving and easier parking.

The side flanking and rear-window kink at the C-pillar resemble the styling of BMW's 3 series. But the front and rear fascias clearly signal a Honda product.

In addition to sportier styling, the 2013 Accord is being used to introduce several key pieces of Honda technology.

The first generation of the automaker's "Earth Dreams" engines -- offering improved fuel economy and lower emissions -- debut featuring direct injection and double overhead cams.

A hallmark of the Accord since its 1976 U.S. debut as a hatchback -- leading fuel economy -- is under attack by rivals such as the Sonata and Camry.

The base engine will be a 2.4-liter inline-four with more than 181 hp and 177 pound-feet of torque, Honda said in January. That would mean a slight horsepower increase but considerably more torque, with at least 10 percent better fuel economy, Honda engineers have said.

All four-cylinder versions of the Accord equipped with an automatic transmission -- a huge percentage of the model's sales mix -- will be equipped with a continuously variable transmission. The decision could prove to be a gamble because CVTs have not been widely accepted by American buyers and have been plagued with reliability issues in some vehicles.

Honda has also re-engineered the Accord's 3.5-liter V-6 engine and paired it with a new six-speed automatic transmission or an available six-speed manual gearbox .

Honda has said the V-6 will produce more horsepower than the current model while targeting class-leading fuel economy and an overall gain in fuel efficiency over the 2012 model.

The 2013 Accord will also be offered with a two-motor plug-in hybrid system that features three modes – all-electric, gasoline-electric and direct-drive.

But perhaps the biggest question looming over Honda -- in an era of cost-cutting necessitated by the strong Japanese yen -- is what the latest Accord looks like inside. A repeat of the current Civic's overly plastic interior will not work well with U.S. customers.

Honda did not release images of the 2013 Accord's interior today, but Honda sources say the cabin is an upgrade from the current generation.

While the coupe will remain similarly sized, Honda says the sedan will feature a more compact exterior footprint. Both models will feature "increased passenger and cargo space," Honda said today in a statement.

The automaker said previously the 2013 Accord would be offered with lane departure warning, forward collision warning technology, blind spot detection, and a standard rearview back-up camera.

In January, John Mendel, head of sales for American Honda, vowed the ninth-generation Accord would "raise the bar again through a tour de force of new Honda powertrain and safety technologies, geared to ensure that Honda and the Accord continue to lead in fuel economy, safety and fun-to-drive performance."

Sales of the Accord -- America's top-selling car in 1989-91 and again in 2001 -- have rebounded 28 percent this year through July to 183,817.

That is just ahead of the Nissan Altima, with sales of 183,703, but behind the top-selling Toyota Camry, with year-to-date sales of 243,816 units.

Last year, Accord was passed by the surging Altima in U.S. sales volume, partly because of inventory shortages stemming from the March 2011 earthquake in Japan.

The Accord's share of the mid-sized segment has slipped markedly over the past several years, from 17 percent in 2007 to 11 percent this year, according to data from R.L. Polk.

However, those numbers include fleet sales. If only retail sales are counted, the Accord's segment share has slipped from 21 percent to 14 percent, but it still holds a solid second place, according to Polk.

Both the Accord and the segment-leading Camry have ceded a few points of share apiece to the Sonata, Fusion and Chevy Malibu, which analysts say is a sign of growing parity in the segment.

The Altima's share of retail sales has actually slipped over the same period -- indicating big fleet sales for the Altima as Nissan sold down the old model before its redesign this summer.

George Peterson, president of the AutoPacific consultancy in Tustin, Calif., said Honda has more to worry about from the 2013 Altima than it does from the Camry that was redesigned last fall.

"With the weight Nissan has put behind Altima, can Honda keep Accord close to Camry?" Peterson asked. "The base Altima comes across as a credible car. There's a lot of stuff in that car."

Honda has said the 2013 Accord will offer more standard equipment compared to the current model, such as Bluetooth hands-free phone interface, a full-color intelligent multi-information display and SMS text messaging that reads received texts from compatible mobile devices aloud over the audio system.

Perhaps more worrying to Honda is that Accord residual values have slipped from 52 percent to 49 percent since 2007, according to ALG, formerly Automotive Lease Guide.

Meanwhile, the overall residual values in the mid-sized segment have increased. As a result, the Accord's price premium over the segment average has slipped from seven percentage points to two.

Honda also will have to get its dealers off the incentive juice. As part of its sell-down strategy, Honda spent $3,900 per unit in APR and lease incentives on the Accord in July, and $4,500 in April, according to TrueCar data.

Rival Toyota spent $2,180 apiece for APR and lease deals on the Camry in July.

Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120808/OEM04/120809880#ixzz22yR0GotY

WALKER AUTOMOTIVE MOVES UP 19 SPOTS AND IS LISTED AS NUMBER 33 ON WARD’S DEALER MAGAZINE LIST OF NATION’S TOP DEALERSHIPS

This year marks the 10^th consecutive year that Walker Automotive has placed on the Annual Automobile Dealer 500 rankings published by “Wards Dealer Business” Magazine.  The list is a comprehensive ranking of the 500 biggest automobile dealerships in the country ranked by total revenue.  According to the magazine, one constant among the ranked dealers is that they are “among the best of the best” in the business.  Collectively, the nation’s 500 largest dealers sold more than 1.3 million vehicles with revenues in excess of $45 billion. 

“We are pleased to have made the Wards 500 list for the tenth consecutive year.” W. Foster Walker III, President of Walker Automotive said. “Our dealership group is honored to have a team of professionals dedicated to our continued growth and success.  The sales team, managers and employees have proven time and again that they are nimble enough to adapt to changes in the markets so that our business has positive growth.”  Walker’s overall revenue grew by 12% over last year and units increased 13%.  “I cannot say enough about the management team that is assembled throughout the organization.  They are committed to customer satisfaction and it continually translates into increased revenue and unit sales.” 

“I am proud to be a part of a group of dealers across the nation who employ so many people and contribute so much to local communities,” Walker Said.  According to the Louisiana Automobile Dealer’s Association, Louisiana has more than 320 franchised automobile dealers who employ more than 16,000 employees.  Two other dealers in Louisiana made the 2012 Ward’s Ranking list.  Walker moved up 19 spaces this year to number 33 and was further recognized as a leader in used units. 

Walker Automotive was recognized separately in the 2012 magazine as one of the 2011 Ward’s Dealer 500 used vehicle volume leaders.  Coming in at number 8 on the used units list, Walker delivered 3,455 used vehicles in 2011 which represents a 12% increase over the same time last year. 

Walker has continuously expanded its footprint in central Louisiana with new facilities and increased service.  “We are committed to our business, the Central Louisiana community, and our customers.  Our most recent commitment to this area is the addition of 20,000 square feet of expanded GM service area and a new stand-alone retail collision center.  Our growth comes from many areas and vehicle service and collision repair is vital to our continued success.  These two enhancements give our company additional capacity to repair our customer’s vehicles in an efficient manner while maintaining our focus on customer care” Walker said. 

The average age of passenger vehicles in United States is the highest in history according to research from Polk.  “Our entire organization is extremely proud of these two new enhancements and we expect the additions to assist us in meeting the additional service demand that is represented by the aging fleet of vehicles in the area.  People are keeping their cars longer and we want to be equipped to handle the additional service.” Walker Said.    

ABOUT WALKER AUTOMOTIVE

The dealership was founded in 1919 as Alexandria Auto Company, Inc. by Foster Walker Sr.  Walker Oldsmobile Company is now lead by Foster Walker III, as his father did before him.  Ninety-three years after its inception the dealership has expanded from its meager origins to four locations, 7 manufacturers, four service departments and a stand-alone collision center.  Walker employs more than 176 employees.  Over the last 9 decades, Walker has won numerous national and factory awards for all aspects of its business.  Walker Automotive offers new and pre-owned vehicles ranging from quality entry level models to German luxury vehicles.  

Mr. Walker also emphasized that as a fourth generation family company, Walker Automotive always tries to do what is in the best interest of its customers.  “We remain committed to serving our customers, being an active community partner, executing business strategies that allow for continued growth, and delivering new and used vehicles to satisfied customers.” 

Walker Automotive was named the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award winner which recognizes local businesses for outstanding ethical practices.  This was the second time for Walker Automotive to win this prestigious award. 

ABOUT W. FOSTER WALKER III

W. Foster Walker III served as Chairman of the Board of the Louisiana Automobile Dealer’s Association for 2011-2012.  Mr. Walker has previously held the positions of Chairman Elect, Treasurer, and District 16 Representative for the Association. The board of directors for the Association is governed by 19 dealers elected from 14 districts across the state.   The Association represents approximately 320 automobile dealers in Louisiana and more than a hundred Associate and Subsidiary members. 

ABOUT WARD’S DEALER BUSINESS

Wards has covered the auto industry for more than 80 years, serving those within automakers, dealerships, suppliers and others serving or observing the industry with a wide range of information products. 

2011 KOMEN CENLA RACE FOR THE CURE® ANNOUNCES KICKOFF

The 2012 Susan G. Komen CENLA Race For the Cure® is excited to announce that the CENLA Race will be held in downtown Alexandria on October 20, 2012.  Race organizers are currently seeking 2012 race sponsors and volunteers. 

The 2011 race raised more than $400,000 with over 5,500 people registering for race day events. This year organizers are hoping to have more than 7,000 registered participants by race day.  Since seventy-five percent of all funds raised stay in the seven parish area surrounding central Louisiana, the 2012 Race will make an enormous impact for survivors, caregivers, and family members through local grants awarded from the money raised.

Laura Bryan has been selected as this year’s Honorary Survivor Chairperson.  Each year local race organizers choose an honorary chairperson who has battled breast cancer and can bring awareness and passion to the fight to end the disease forever. 

Laura was born and raised in England to a military family with one brother and one sister. After living throughout the U.S., she settled here in Louisiana 15 years ago. She has been married to Jacob Bryan

who she describes as her “rock”, for the past nine years, and they are the “parents” of 2 furry children, their Great Pyrenees, Sampson and Golden Retriever, Buck. Laura works as a Mortgage Specialists who enjoys food and music, traveling to attend music festivals throughout the country each year. She is also a very active community supporter and volunteer serving in leadership positions in the Junior League of Alexandria, Chamber of Commerce, Alexandria Zoo, and Krewe of Mariposa. She is also an active member of Cabrini Hospital’s Pink Ribbon Club Breast Cancer Support Group. Laura is a 3 year breast cancer survivor having triumphed through mastectomy, reconstruction, chemotherapy, radiation, and lymphedema.  Laura states, “During everything…I never stopped smiling and never blamed God. Life is always full of challenges and God never promised us tomorrow. So my thought is that if you live every day like it’s your last here on earth, then there are no regrets!”  

Susan G. Komen for the Cure®

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure^® which launched the global breast cancer movement.  Susan G. Komen for the Cure is the global leader in the fight against breast cancer through the funding of innovative research and community-based health programs.  

Walker Honda Earns Honda’s Highest Dealership Honor

Alexandria, Louisiana, March 30, 2012 – American Honda Motor Co., Inc., is proud to announce that Walker Honda of Alexandria has earned the Honda President’s Award. This annual award is presented to top-ranking Honda dealerships across the country, based on their achievement of excellence in all areas of operation – customer service and satisfaction, sales, training, and facility operation for the prior calendar year.



The President’s Award was established in 1995 to challenge dealerships to provide a superior automotive experience. Each year the objectives are modified to stay ahead of current market trends. A major component of the program focuses on the customer experience and is measured via customer satisfaction surveys. To earn this distinction, Walker Honda met the lofty program objectives established for the 2011 calendar year.



“Earning the President’s Award is a yearlong commitment that requires the dedication of every dealership team member,” said John Mendel, executive vice president of Automobile Sales for Honda. There are currently more that 1,000 Honda dealerships in the United States. Walker Honda is one of only 144 to earn this distinction for 2011.



“Honda is proud to recognize the accomplishments of its top dealers. You will recognize their success by the President’s Award trophy and mementos displayed throughout the dealership. I invite you to experience for yourself the advantage of doing business with an award-winning Honda dealership.”



Foster Walker III, said “I am so proud of all of our employees who worked so tirelessly to serve our customers and win this great award.”

Honda Accord Concept Gets Bolder Looks, Better Drivetrains

DETROIT -- Honda Motor Co. today unveiled an Accord Coupe Concept that foreshadows the styling of the production car set to arrive this year against stiffening competition.

The concept, shown at the Detroit auto show, sports a creased beltline, muscular rear fender and aggressive lower fog lights. Powertrain improvements will be a key selling point for the 2013 Accord, Honda says.

After the Accord's 17 percent drop in U.S. sales last year, Honda is counting on the next Accord to take on freshly redesigned mid-sized rivals, including the Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Fusion and Chevrolet Malibu.

The coupe will be the same size as the current model. But the sedan will have a smaller footprint than today's version, with a shorter wheelbase and lower curb weight for better handling and enhanced fuel economy.

Interior space will stay the same, Honda pledges.

The timing of the sedan's U.S. launch hasn't been released.

The Accord's U.S. sales decline last year, to 235,625, stemmed largely from supply shortages following Japan's March 11 earthquake.

That dropped it to fourth place in the segment, behind the Camry, Fusion and Altima. The Camry held onto its No. 1 spot despite dropping 6 percent to 308,510 units, also because of supply shortages after the earthquake.

Honda needs a strong showing from the Accord after its redesigned Civic small car received a chilly reception last year for what critics said was a cheap-looking interior.

American Honda's total U.S. sales fell 7 percent in a market that increased 10 percent.


New powertrains


The Accord will feature three new drivetrains.

The first will feature the initial U.S. use of the next-generation, direct-injection engine that Honda unveiled in late November at the Tokyo Motor Show. The so-called Earth Dreams engine, a 2.4-liter, 16-valve, DOHC i-VTEC four banger, will be combined with a new continuously variable transmission.

The engine delivers 181 hp and better fuel economy than the Accord's current base powerplant, an inline four. Honda did not release fuel-economy figures but said the engine aims to achieve class-leading mileage.

The second drivetrain will consist of a re-engineered 3.5-liter, 24-valve, SOHC i-VTEC V-6 engine paired with either a new six-speed automatic transmission or an existing six-speed manual. The automatic will achieve better fuel economy and horsepower than the outgoing model, Honda says.

The final variant is the first use of Honda's two-motor, plug-in hybrid system. In all-electric mode, the system's lithium ion battery and motor can power the car for up to 15 miles of city driving at speeds as high as 62 mph. The battery can be fully recharged in four hours using a 120-volt outlet or in 90 minutes with a 240-volt charger, Honda says.

For longer drives, the hybrid operates in gasoline-electric mode, drawing from a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, Atkinson-cycle engine combined with a CVT. For high-speed cruising, the car can run in gasoline-only mode with the engine directly powering the front wheels.

The Accord Plug-in Hybrid will go on sale in the winter of 2012, Honda says.

Honda canceled the previous Accord hybrid at the end of its 2007 model year.



Safety features

Honda says the next Accord also will sport several new safety features.

It will have Honda's first lane-departure warning system and first forward-crash warning technology. Both use cameras mounted behind the windshield to alert drivers of dangers.

It also will get Honda's first use of its LaneWatch blind spot display, which uses a camera mounted on the passenger mirror to keep tabs on that side of the car.

A multiangle rearview camera also will come standard.

Other new standard features in the next Accord:

• Bluetooth hands-free phone interface.
• Full color information display.
• An SMS texting function that reads messages aloud.
• iPhone-compatible Pandora Internet radio.


Read more: http://www.autonews.com/article/20120110/OEM04/120109807#ixzz1jGPKvmZd

Dealer Sells Luxury Cars in Louisiana Truck Country

W. Foster Walker III sells German luxury cars and a lot of Hondas in Louisiana’s truck country.


Premium-car business is good enough that Walker Automotive Group in Alexandria, northwest of Baton Rouge, recently opened Mercedes-Benz and BMW showrooms and a service center.

The 35,000-sq.-ft. (3,251-sq.-m) construction project totaled $6 million. It is the latest expansion for the 4-store, 7-franchise organization.

Walker, a third-generation dealer, acquired the Mercedes franchise in 1974, followed by Honda in 1975 and BMW in 1985. He says he “got lucky” after expanding to import brands to shore up his General Motors-brand representation.

“There was just this awareness I had of something new and growing, so I went after it,” Walker says of the brand additions. “We had the room to expand, and we did.”

It has turned out well for him. He notes his GMC and Buick brands also are going strong. Kia and Mitsubishi brands round out his franchise portfolio.

Following in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps, Walker is president of the 92-year-old dealership group bearing the family name.

“This new location and building will enable us to reach more customers with increased visibility,” he says.

For years, the dealer chain has built a reputation as a prominent Honda seller. The auto maker is the No.1 seller in the region for 23 of the past 24 years, Walker says, calling his organization central Louisiana’s largest-volume dealer group.

A regular on the WardsAuto Dealer 500, Walker Automotive ranks No. 52 on the 2011 list.

The group posted more than $131 million in revenues in 2010, with the Honda franchise accounting for $36.6 million of that. Overall sales and revenues this year are about 5% higher.

Besides the new Mercedes and BMW showrooms, Walker in the past two years has expanded the Honda service department, opened a new collision center and added 10,000 sq. ft. (929 sq. m) of GM service-department space.

Still, Walker knows about handling adversity. He’s seen plenty since joining the family business in 1970 after college and Army service.

Recent challenges include GM’s bankruptcy and this year’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan, a natural disaster that crippled auto production in that nation. Walker went from selling 75 to 20 Hondas a month, due to slashed allocations.

Adapting to a crisis “takes constant effort, organizing and ability to manage change,” Walker says.

He takes pride in not laying off employees during the GM downsizing and overall market declines. He expanded the import lineup to cover his bases, acquiring the growing Kia franchise in 2010 to replace a Saturn dealership after GM killed that brand.

He employs 176 staffers and plans to hire more service technicians.

Mike Barbera, a 26-year veteran, is group general sales manager. Walker’s son, Foster Walker IV, oversees Honda operations, including customer relations and sales, service and parts activities. Daughter Amy Walker Searcy manages marketing, non-dealership assets and market analysis.

Sales managers Donald Ayo (Honda) and Ray Leggio (used cars) have been with the group for 24 and 20 years, respectively. Nearly 40% of employees have been with the company at least 10 years.

Future expansion is a possibility, says Lawrence Searcy, Walker’s son-in-law, who serves as operations manager and legal counsel.

“We do not have any specific parameters for opportunities, other than to say we want to make well-thought-out decisions and acquire franchises that add to the value of the corporation.”

Walker credits much of his group’s success to exceeding customer expectations. His company repeatedly has won the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for ethical practices.

“If I am going to err, I will do so in favor of the customer,” he says.


PROFILE

Company:Walker Automotive Group, Alexandria, LA
President: Foster Walker III
Employees: 176
Market: A region of more than 350,000 residents in central Louisiana.
Elected: Chairman of the Louisiana Automobile Dealers Assn., representing 325 dealers.

Mission statement: “Walker is 100% committed to honesty, integrity, quality and excellence – ingredients that define lasting customer relationships.”

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BMW and Mercedes-Benz Finish 1st and 2nd in Luxery Sales

BMW fended off a late-year surge by rival Mercedes-Benz to win its first title as best-selling luxury brand in the United States.

BMW said today that U.S. sales rose 15 percent to 26,834 in December, for an annual total of 247,907. Mercedes said its sales last month climbed 28 percent to 25,701, pushing its tally for the year to 245,192.

The results officially end Lexus' 11-year reign atop the U.S. luxury rankings. The Toyota Motor Corp. brand reeled after the March earthquake in Japan disrupted production, finishing the year down 13 percent at 198,552. Mercedes won the title once, in 1999, before ceding the U.S. crown to Lexus.

Today's announcements also capped an unusual end to the reporting of annual auto sales. BMW of North America and Mercedes-Benz USA were the only companies that failed to release U.S. totals along with the rest of the industry on Wednesday, drawing more attention to the luxury race.

The results exclude Mercedes Sprinter vans and Smart cars as well as BMW's Mini brand, which aren't luxury vehicles.

BMW sales advanced 13 percent for the year in an overall market that rose about 10 percent. Mercedes' U.S. deliveries also climbed 13 percent, aided by a refreshed C-class sedan and redesigned M-class SUV.

Mercedes advanced after BMW ended the third quarter leading its German rival by 7,621 U.S. sales. The lead narrowed to 1,582 by the end of November.

Both automakers increased incentives in November and carried forward customer discounts into December, according to Ivan Drury, an industry analyst with Edmunds.com.

Mercedes increased incentive spending in November by 39 percent compared with a year earlier, and BMW's incentives rose 25 percent, according to Autodata Corp. Many of those discounts and incentives are on the C class and 3 series, which are the automakers' top sellers.

Rivals have noticed the discounting.

"They've been outspending us -- even with some relatively newer products," Kurt McNeil, Cadillac's vice president of sales, said in a telephone interview. BMW has offered $400 to $600 a car more than the General Motors brand, he said, and Mercedes' discounts exceeded Cadillac's by more than $1,000. "They've been bringing it from an incentive standpoint," he said.

While some automakers in the past have delayed releasing monthly results, "this is unusual," Jesse Toprak, an industry analyst with TrueCar.com, said Wednesday. "I don't really recall this happening from two automakers who are clearly going head-to-head against each other. It's too much of a coincidence."

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