truth about domestics

Mark Fields opens up for CNN and CNBC on the impact of cash for clunkers.

Now that General Motors has been shrunk to just 4 brands, Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC, there is a little bit of reorganization going on with the remaining dealers.  Since Buick doesn’t really have trucks, and all GMC sells are trucks, dealers are being forced to become “duals” selling both Buick and GMC vehicles.  I think this will be good for most dealers, as many were Pontiac – GMC dealers, so it won’t be much of a stretch to add Buick in there.  For more on the story, head over to Autoblog.

Our friends at Autoblog were the first to bring news of the new 6.7L Scorpion diesel from Ford, earlier today (12:01 AM to be exact) and boy is this engine impressive!  It features 30,000 psi fuel direct injection, a unique new single turbo design, as well as a compressed graphite iron block to reduce weight and increase strength.  No details on power have been released yet, but the new diesel is expected to produce more power and be more efficient than the outgoing 6.4L which makes 350 hp and 650 lb-ft of torque.  Stay tuned for more details!

For more details, and more pretty pictures, head on over to Autoblog.

A Ford Ka was spotted at the weekly Cars & Coffee gathering in Irvine, California.  Does this mean the Ka might be coming stateside?  Only time will tell…but for now, head on over to Autoblog to check out some pics.

(Image source: Ford)

For those of you not keeping tabs, the Cadillac CTS coupe will go on sale next summer.  The video above shows just how progressive the design still looks even after being taken from concept to production.  Also in the video you will see the new 2010 Cadillac SRX crossover and the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon.  What an incredible looking lineup.

Back in the day (which was a Wednesday by the way), DaimlerChrysler was involved in a Global Engine Alliance, designed to put forth world class 4-cylinder engines for Chrysler, Mitsubishi and Hyundai.  Several products (like the Jeep Compass above) featuring this engine are already on the market, but with Chrysler’s new partner Fiat, it looks as though Chrysler might be leaving the Global Engine Alliance.

The reason being that Fiat makes many of its own smaller engines, which would make more sense in Chrysler vehicles to help improve the economies of scale for both automakers.  Automotive news is also reporting that the Ram could get a Fiat diesel, so stay tuned for more news on that front.  For the details, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Chrysler)

Henry Ford III has recently started working at Ford Motor Company, at the age of 29.  This isn’t his first taste of the auto industry though, as he has just finished up a summer internship at Galpin Ford and was also involved in the labor contract negotiations of 2006-2007.  He is also currently earning his MBA from MIT.  For more, head on over to AutoWeek.

(Image source: AutoWeek)

Anyway, according to The Detroit News, Ford Motor Company had police personnel from across the country come out to Dearborn to sample some of their latest offerings to see which car would best suit law enforcement after the 2011 death of the Crown Vic.  Since Ford with the Crown Vic owns 85% of the 75,000 police vehicles sold each year, they aren’t ready to give up without a fight.  One vehicle the cops were allowed to sample was the Taurus and Taurus SHO.  No word on any plans to offer the Taurus with a police package have surfaced as of yet…

(Image source: Ford Motor Company)

The Saturn VUE 2-Mode hybrid was supposed to hit the market late 2008/early 2009.  When the market crashed, it was one of the first programs to be cut, and now that Saturn is being transitioned over to Penske, the VUE itself doesn’t have much life left in it.  That didn’t stop the General from having the VUE hybrid EPA certified, bringing home a 27 mpg city, 30 mpg highway rating.  While that doesn’t seem so great compared to the Ford Escape hybrid, the VUE features a V6 compared to the Ford’s I4.  The VUE beats the Toyota Highlander hybrid though, which is rated at only 27 mpg city, 25 mpg highway.  For more on the story, head on over to Autoblog.

(Image source: Autospectator)

What appears to be mostly an interior and exterior appearance package, the Steeda Edge Sport puts a decidedly unique look on the Ford Edge.  An eight-piece body kit, 22 inch wheels, Magnaflow cat-back exhaust and other tweaks make this a fairly well rounded package.  I hope to hear an increase in power when more details become available.  For now, head on over to Steeda to check out more photos of this sweet ride.

(Image source: Steeda)