Have they been to Stanton? Jan 4, 2009
If we want to continue to live at this level of material opulence and conspicuous consumption, with our SUVs lined up in Wal-Mart parking lots next to trucks filled with merchandise manufactured in China, the Earth is going to take a hit. Al Gore is right about that, and he's a very valuable figure in the global environmental debate, if he will just agree to play responsibly. (Bismarck Tribune, ND)
El Paso Bucks National Trend For Car Sales Jan 4, 2009
If the slumping sales hold true for December of 2008, it will be the first year that cars outsold SUVs and trucks since 2000. Copyright 2008 by. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Toyota engineers and prices the all-new Venza to be the "must have" car of 2009 Jan 3, 2009
TORONTO, Jan. 3 /CNW/ - The Toyota Venza makes a bold segment-busting statement that drivers can have innovation, versatility and efficiency in one package (Canada Newswire)
Ford sees sharp drop in US sales Jan 3, 2009
The sharpest sales declines in 2008 came in full-size SUVs, a gas-guzzling category that U.S. consumers abandoned during the spring and summer spike in oil prices. Share. (Reuters)
Higher gas tax may be result of people driving less Jan 3, 2009
RVB wrote on Jan 2, 2009 6:57 PM:" I think higher gas taxes are a great idea. Look back to this summer when gas was reaching $4.50 here and $5+ in other areas. People were starting to look for ways to cut back on gas usage, such as car pooling, taking the bus, or buying a more efficient vehicle. Sounds like a great start to getting us away from our dependance on foreign oil right? Wrong. Unfortunately, Americans are short sighted morons with the memory of a goldfish. Now that gas prices are... (The Pantagraph newspaper)
The best letters of '08 Jan 3, 2009
" Engage a few of the legions of homeless people and prostitutes standing on street corners, and ask them about the tremendous benefits that casinos provide. (March 23)NEIL X. KRUEGERTHE PROTESTS against the Olympic torch have been an embarrassment to our country. They are further proof that the general public has no real idea of their place in the world. I also find it amazing that I have not seen the media point out that these yahoos calling for everything from Tibetan uprising to US military... (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
When good programs go wrong Jan 2, 2009
They drive Lexuses, BMWs, Cadillacs, Lincolns and mostly SUVs. I am wondering if there is a government assisted program to pay for the vehicles as well. (Orangeburg Times and Democrat, SC)
America resumes its big-car love affair Jan 1, 2009
com: "After nearly a year of flagging sales, low gas prices and fat incentives are reigniting America's taste for big vehicles. Trucks and SUVs will outsell cars in December something that hasn't happened since February. Meanwhile, the forecast finds that sales of hybrid vehicles are expected to be way down." ... As long as fuel is cheap, people will go out and buy used SUVs and Hummers. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Business)
More buying trucks as gas prices drop Jan 1, 2009
In November, SUVs made up 25 ... Trucks and SUVs are outselling cars for the first time since February, Ms. Caldwell said ... MONTH - TRUCKS - SUVS. (The Augusta Chronicle)
SUVs, top vehicle in theft list Jan 1, 2009
SUVs, jeeps top vehicle theft list in Chandigarh - Sify ... SUVs, jeeps top vehicle theft list in Chandigarh ... The city is fast emerging as a favourite target for vehicle thieves, especially those eyeing sports utility vehicles (SUVs) and jeeps. (Sify.com, India)
Can we run our cars on human fat? Dec 31, 2008
A Beverly Hills cosmetic surgeon attracted attention from alternative energy buffs and public health officials after he announced that he was using liposuctioned fat to fuel two SUVs. Dr. Craig Alan Bittner, owner of the Beverly Hills Liposculpture clinic, claims that he produced biodiesel from the excess lipids hoovered from his patients backsides, which he then put into the tanks of his Ford Explorer and his girlfriend s Lincoln Navigator. (Christian Science Monitor)
Most Affordable 2009 Vehicles Dec 31, 2008
Consumers should buy the smallest, most fuel-efficient vehicle they can get away with, he says--the Kia fits the bill for those who truly need an SUV. And despite recent generous deals on full-sized SUVs, buyers should remember that they'll usually save more money on their initial purchase and on gas later on if they choose the smaller SUV or engine ... Scaled-Down Luxury, Bigger Savings Of course, smaller vehicles tend to cost less to own over the years than crossovers and SUVs. (Forbes)
GMAC loosens credit on vehicle purchases Dec 31, 2008
9 per cent on more than three dozen other 2008 and 2009 models, including many trucks and SUVs. The deal runs through Jan. 5. (Globe and Mail)
Hot stuff and hapless players Dec 31, 2008
Al Gore will hate all those new vehicles unless Americans start replacing their SUVs with imported Nanos. Signs of the times. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
Oh, No It's 2009 Dec 31, 2008
Conservatives should buy their overpowered muscle cars and SUVs before the greenies make them illegal. (Any conservative who buys a Toyota Prius will have his Vast Right Wing Conspiracy membership card confiscated immediately). (Human Events Online)
Guinea junta targets regime loyalist Dec 30, 2008
The heavily armed men burst through a gate and demanded that Mamadou Sylla hand over the keys to several SUVs allegedly stolen from the government, Sylla said. It was the second time the military junta has use intimidating force in dealing with key supporters of strongman Lansana Conte, whose death last week touched off the coup. (Boston Globe)
Best Bets For Bargains In '09 Dec 30, 2008
People will consider purchasing SUVs in 2009 because of new incentives by automakers of up to $4,600 on large SUVs. We'll also see lower interest rates and extended payment periods for qualified buyers. (CBS News -- Early Show)
More of this story Dec 30, 2008
In the meantime, frustrated motorists driving SUVs continue to churn through the remaining water, sending waves that disrupt the swimming of hundreds of black tadpoles that have hatched in the temporary lake. Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. (Lihue Garden Island, HA)
What's coming Dec 27, 2008
GM's lineup of hybrids includes: full-sized SUVs such as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, as well as the Saturn Aura Green Line, Saturn Vue Green Line and Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. Nissan/Infiniti. (Globe and Mail -- Business)
It's the end of the line for SUV plants in the United States Dec 27, 2008
Reeling from its financial problems and a collapsing SUV market, General Motors on Tuesday closed its factories in this city and in Moraine, Ohio, marking the passing of an era when big SUVs ruled the road. The moves followed the shutdown last Friday of Chrysler's factory in Newark, Delaware, which produced full-size SUVs ... 7 million big SUVs since the early 1990s. (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Dont draw special attention at the checkpoint Dec 27, 2008
Also, there are many profile vehicles in Arizona that are linked to alien smuggling such as Greyhound buses, white SUVs, 1986 Chevy Astro vans, and any vehicle with tinted windows. These vehicles will often draw special attention at the checkpoint. (Nogales International, AZ)
The taxpayer watchblog Dec 26, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008 12:10 PM EDT. Mark Kukiela is an employee of The Citizen and a Cayuga County resident that would like to see government spending brought in line with what is affordable. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
California Surgeon Uses Human Fat to Power Car Dec 26, 2008
liposuction doctor claimed to have the environment's best interests at heart when he began fueling his and his girlfriend's SUVs with human fat sucked out of his patients. Unfortunately the practice was illegal, according to California state health officials. (Fox News)
Chris Selley's Full Pundit: The best and worst of George W. Bush Dec 23, 2008
The Globe's editorial board all arguments for inaction on the Detroit crisis, whether it's ideological or just a desire to see justice meted out to companies lived for years "off the profits from their luxury SUVs while putting off the day of reckoning." It's time for the pragmatists to seize and keep control of the situation, the editorialists argue, and besides, "demand for vehicles will bounce back" eventually. Even if it didn't, they note, trying to replace the 500,000 Ontario jobs dependent... (National Post)
Q&A: Auto dealer sees opportunity in crisis Dec 23, 2008
I began putting them in SUVs because I could buy the SUVs for almost nothing ... I was selling more SUVs than anybody else. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Business)
Toyota expects first operating loss since 1938 Dec 23, 2008
Though known for the gas-sipping Prius, Camry and Corolla, Toyota has gradually moved into the big pickups and SUVs Americans craved. They have higher profit margins, but sales plummeted earlier this year when the gas price crunch hit, and haven't significantly rebounded. (USA Today -- Autos)
The Auto Bailout's Silver Lining Dec 23, 2008
It's possible that the companies and the union are somehow hoping that if the economy quickly revives and SUVs start selling they can rebound without much pain and maybe make it to 2011 when the two-tier wage structure they've negotiated will begin to kick in. If that happens, it happens. (Slate)
Auto Bailout Caps Flawed Relationship Dec 22, 2008
Up until this year, Detroit had few reasons not to lean on trucks and SUVs for profits -- and government policy all but invited them to do so ... They could sell fuel-efficient small cars and trucks at little or no profit to make up for the high-profit, gas-hungry luxury cars and big SUVs they promoted ... Federal tariffs imposed on imported trucks and other quirks in Washington's fuel-economy regulatory scheme also encouraged U.S. auto executives to push trucks and SUVs. (Wall Street Journal)
US foray on track, says Mahindra Dec 22, 2008
"First of all, we should not forget that the trucks and SUVs that have seen demand dip substantially in the US are big, expensive gas guzzlers. Mahindra on the other hand plans to offer small compact products running on clean-burning diesel that would run more miles per gallon. Moreover, the prices at which we would sell would be very competitive," he said. The products meant for the US market are under the development stage, Shah said, adding that the company would start with two-door and... (India Times, India -- Intl Business)
Ohio GM Plant Closing to Leave 1,080 Workers Idle Dec 22, 2008
That's when the automaker pulls the plug on the plant that over the past 27 years has spit out cars, trucks and SUVs, helped pay mortgages and college educations, and provided a security blanket in turbulent times ... Stress on the workers at the Moraine plant has been mounting since June, when GM announced it would close the plant because high gasoline prices were driving consumers away from the SUVs made there ... GM will cease making SUVs on Tuesday, putting 1,200 workers out of work. (ABC News -- Wire)
SKorea's Hyundai, Kia slash 2008 sales forecast Dec 22, 2008
Ssangyong, majority owned by China's Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., makes the Rexton, Actyon and Musso SUVs as well as the Chairman luxury sedan. The company's labor union said on its Web site it has heard that SAIC refused to provide a cash infusion to the company due to the union's demand that management step down and the holding of a protest at the Chinese Embassy in Seoul. (International Herald Tribune -- Travel)
American consumer must take blame for auto industry woes Dec 22, 2008
The SUV may not be best for Mother Nature, but motorists have demanded SUVs ... There are just as many sedans unrealistically plowing through bumper-high snow and speeding over ice-glazed roads with abandon as there are SUVs. (Boston Globe -- Editorial)
Outlook crossover a capable hauler Dec 21, 2008
This suspension setup goes a long way toward giving these vehicles a soft carlike ride, something you won't find on the truck-style SUVs. Standard features include power rack-and-pinion steering, GM's StabiliTrak electronic stability control system with anti-rollover technology, and traction control. (Boston Globe)
Obama arrives in Hawaii for vacation Dec 21, 2008
The street is also wider than most of the narrow lanes leading to Kailua Beach, so the Secret Service should have plenty of room to drive and park their SUVs ... The street is also wider than most of the narrow lanes leading to Kailua Beach, so the Secret Service should have plenty of room to drive and park their SUVs. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
From Spitzer to financial crisis, 2008 already feels historic Dec 21, 2008
Gas prices also have area car dealers reporting a surge in hybrid sales, while others stop taking in SUVs or pickups as trade-ins. Pages: 1. (Albany Business Review, NY)
Dealerships find a place in Boerne auto market (6) Dec 21, 2008
"We are hoping Boerne will help us reach the Hill Country market for trucks and SUVs.". The dealership is scheduled to open in 10 months and will employ about 100 people, officials said. (Boerne Star, TX)
Cave Man Bush Dec 21, 2008
Perhaps it seemed like a good idea last year for Bush to make SUVs more expensive to make, but it hardly looks that way now. At the top of their non-negotiable list are prohibitions against corporate jets and limits on CEO pay. (Forbes -- Business)
MURCHISON: Myths of the assembly line Dec 20, 2008
Ford Explorers and Sport Trac SUVs roll off the assembly line at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky ... Ford Explorers and Sport Trac SUVs roll off the assembly line at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky. (Insight on the News)
Bitters Clingers Dec 20, 2008
the suvs, pickups and high horsepower vehicles. Columnist Tom Friedman, along with others, floated this ceiling(or floor)gas tax some time ago, structuring the price of gas to be no less than $4. (Townhall.com)
Big 3 remain in trouble Dec 20, 2008
But the Detroit carmakers also have to find some new hits, just as they did in the 1990s with the SUVs, minivans and pickups that helped them - along with a national policy that encouraged the cheap gas that fueled the big and profitable vehicles - earn billions ... In fact, Detroit still depends heavily on pickups and SUVs, as well as crossover vehicles, which are sport utilities built on car underpinnings ... Falling gas prices are good news for Detroit in the short term, as consumers may warm... (International Herald Tribune -- Business)
Can't get There From Here- Dog and pony show Dec 20, 2008
In the mid-1990s these guys sold millions of gas guzzling SUVs at stupendous profits (up to $10,000 per unit for the most expensive). When people like me complained that these things were dangerous and a waste of energy, the SUV People said, hey, they re just giving the people what they want. (Billerica Minuteman, MA)
GM Has Fared Better Overseas Dec 20, 2008
It has lost more than $20 billion so far this year as soaring fuel prices curbed demand for fuel-hungry SUVs and trucks, whose high profit margins had helped the company offset high costs. Meanwhile, auto industry demand has plunged worldwide due to global economic woes. (Investors Business Daily)
Road Test: 2009 Pontiac G8 Dec 19, 2008
Of all of the SUVs on the road, very few live up to the name in full. All are vehicles that bring some semblance of utility; few deliver on the sport side. (The Gazette (Montreal))
Viva Las Vegas? Dec 19, 2008
Whether hanging Christmas lights in Toledo, buying SUVs in Boulder, taking long showers in Atlanta, residing in sprawling suburbs near Chicago, or overspending anywhere, we are all Las Vegans now. And because we have become so environmentally and economically interconnected, what happens in our own Vegas no longer stays in our own Vegas - it affects everyone. (San Francisco Chronicle -- Opinion)
Volkswagen's '09 Jetta brings diesel back to U.S. mainstream Dec 19, 2008
Diesel's a strong seller for VW, but (except for a few Touareg SUVs) '06 Jetta was the last diesel sold in the U.S.. How much. (USA Today -- Autos)
MORE ON GM: Stock quote and Wikinvest commentary Dec 19, 2008
Furthermore, the U.S. government passed an energy bill in December of 2007 that will push fuel efficiency standards for cars, trucks and SUVs to 35 mpg by 2020, up from 27 ... 5 for trucks and SUVs in 2007. (USA Today -- Money)
Banking on bucks for lux Dec 18, 2008
Abrams said most major rental companies carry luxury cars and SUVs, but Lytle said those vehicles aren t always readily available in cities of Columbus size. We re not stepping on anyone s toes, Lytle said. (Columbus Business First, OH)
For Alternative Energy's Sake--Keep Oil Prices High Dec 17, 2008
We purchased ever larger cars and SUVs and moved to ever more distant suburbs. Sure enough, now that oil prices have spiked again, we are looking at the same alternatives we had relegated to niche markets then. (Scientific American)
Car factory to slash output as demand falls Dec 17, 2008
Automotive companies are suffering significant down-time and shift changes, and reduced volumes at Land Rover have been impacted by the downturn in demand in the US for SUVs. While it s good to see there s no job losses as a result, we hope it s not long-term and will be seeking a meeting with the company in the immediate future to get those guarantees on no job losses. (LDPBusiness)
The taxpayer watchblog Dec 16, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008 12:10 PM EDT. Mark Kukiela is an employee of The Citizen and a Cayuga County resident that would like to see government spending brought in line with what is affordable. (Auburn Citizen, NY)
Japan as ground zero for no-waste lifestyle Dec 16, 2008
Last July, Japanese hosted the G-8 summit and gave it an environmental cast, touting how their manufacturers sustained a drive for energy stinginess long after the oil shocks of the 1970s gave way to the cheap fuel and SUVs of the '90s. More recently, recycling efforts have burgeoned, as has progress in reducing waste in everything from cars to copy machines. (Christian Science Monitor -- USA)
Trust, willingness to cooperate needed in auto help debate Dec 16, 2008
Citing criticism that the Big Three produce "unreliable" gas-guzzlers centered around SUVs and trucks while failing to produce hybrid and more fuel efficient cars, the auto critic for the Detroit newspaper points out that J.D. Power and Associates statistics rate the Big Three brands' reliability and fuel efficiency as on par or higher than their foreign competitors. He also points out that while they were slow to address future technology, the U.S. automakers are quickly adding hybrid vehicles... (Brookhaven Daily Leader, MS)
Viewpoint: Data centers look to cash in on SSDs Dec 16, 2008
Like the migration from the gas guzzlers of the 1960s and SUVs of the early 2000s to more energy-efficient cars, IT data center storage must reinvent itself to keep up with rising energy and real estate costs, or continue to bleed red ink. Today, storage solutions have begun to stratify into "performance optimized" and "capacity optimized" solutions. (EETimes)
How cars can solve the energy crisis Dec 15, 2008
They'll try to produce large hybrid SUVs, but the engineers won't be able to achieve recycling percentages much over 10-15 percent because slowing a behemoth SUV creates too high recharge currents for a battery to absorb. They would then scramble to find ways to reduce weight, so as to increase the energy recycled: how simple the problem would be if the car weighed 1,000 pounds instead of 6,000. (Boston Globe)
Honda cutting production again Dec 15, 2008
The Marysville plant, which will reduce production by 39,000 additional vehicles through March, produces the Accord sedan and coupe, the Acura TL sedan and RDX sport utility vehicle, while East Liberty, which will cut manufacturing by 19,000 units, makes the Civic, CR-V and Element SUVs. The reductions announced in November totaled 6,000 vehicles between both plants. (Columbus Business First, OH)
What's new: BMW X1 Dec 15, 2008
The reality of introducing a compact crossover, tapping into two of the automotive sector's strongest and fastest growing segments, compact models and crossover SUVs, is a double positive for the company. Yes, the X1 should boost overall sales significantly just as the 1-Series has, the compact Mini brand's 35-percent rise in sales during the month of November being proof positive that small luxury-performance cars are ultra-hot right now, and allow the BMW brand to be back in the black, posting... (The Gazette (Montreal))
TOM TEEPEN: Driving less and the case for mass transit in America Dec 15, 2008
Detroit worries -- reasonably, given our past consumer behavior -- that no sooner will it retool for more efficient products than some whim of circumstance will have us chasing after SUVs again. A flexible tax gimmicked to keeping gasoline at $3. (Fresno Bee -- Opinion)
Mesquite: Marines host top spot in state for toy collection Dec 15, 2008
The Mesquite locations have led the state in bringing in the most toys as cars and pickups and SUVs circled the Golden Arches and handed off toys. McDonald's will be collecting toys at the Mesquite locations through Dec. 19. (McKinney Courier-Gazette, TX)
In Europe, conserving gas is a matter of habit Dec 14, 2008
Already, US automakers are slashing production of SUVs in favor of more popular hybrids and compact cars ... The SUVs that drove by in an hour could be counted on one hand. (Boston Globe)
Karkare's bullet-proof SUV was hardly used Dec 13, 2008
The two ATS SUVs were the first bullet-proof vehicles for the state police. The department is cash-strapped and not many vehicles can be made bullet-proof. (Indian Express)
VW's Tiguan solid contender in tight field Dec 13, 2008
While full-size and midsized SUV sales have gone off the boil, consumers are still crazy for compact SUVs ... Each of these factors driving the appeal of compact SUVs is more emotional than factual, but as long as consumers are paying, manufacturers are supplying ... I did manage 26 mpg on the highway, beating the EPA rating of 24 mpg, but despite its four-cylinder engine and smaller size, the Tiguans around-town EPA gas mileage rating of 18 mpg for the front-drive model is no better than... (MSNBC -- Business)
Lawmakers may push license tax for highway money Dec 13, 2008
The last major increase took place in 1999 when license-plates for cars, pickups, SUVs, and vans went up an average of 12. Historically, licensing costs are far less now than they were in 1931. (Rapid City Journal, SD)
We Forget Too Quickly . . . Dec 13, 2008
General Motors gave $10 million to the American Red Cross, matching employee contributions of the same amount, and a fleet of vans, SUVs and trucks. DaimlerChrysler gave $10 million to the support of children and victims of the 9/11 attack. (Missourian Publishing, MO)
Fuentes waiting for call Dec 13, 2008
Just another car in a long line of sedans, SUVs and yellow buses. "It's tough. You wait a long time to have this kind of leverage (in free agency) and have some idea where you're going," said Fuentes, who won back the closer role in Colorado last season and finished with 30 saves. (Modesto Bee, CA)
GM to temporarily close 20 plants to slash output Dec 13, 2008
Arlington Assembly (Texas) - Full Size SUVs: Chevy Suburban, Tahoe & Tahoe Hybrid, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL & Yukon Hybrid, Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV & Escalade Hybrid. Lansing Grand River (Mich. (USA Today -- Autos)
