Hyundai Super Bowl Commercials Debut Early!

Being the experts on Super Bowl car commercials, we can do things like bring you the ads before they even air as part of our Super Bowl Ad Watch. Below we have the five advertisements Hyundai will show during and before the big game. Three of the ads will run during pre-show, also sponsored by Hyundai, and "Bosses" and "Contract" will run during the second and third quarters. Our perspective on these new advertisements below.

Title: Contract
Grade: C
Message: Hyundai has your back if you lose your job or income.
Our Take: For people who are freaked out about the economy the message may hit home, but it's just so boring.

Title: Commitment
Grade: C+
Message: If you're willing to commit to Hyundai, they're willing to commit to you.
Our Take: The 'commitment isn't scary' approach of this commercial for the Hyundai Assurance program works better than the "Contract" commercial because it implies we're all in the economic mess together. Still, it's rather boring.

Title: Columns
Grade: B
Message: The Hyundai Genesis won the 2009 North American Car Of The Year, something the automaker is obviously proud of as evidenced by the bragging.
Our Take: The commercial is good and, given Hyundai can afford multiple Super Bowl spots, there's nothing wrong with a little boastfullness. What really sells it, though, is the clip of the Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

Grade: B+
Message: By winning the 2009 North American Car Of The Year award we've put BMW and Lexus on notice.
Our Take: Because everyone may not be cool with the idea of buying Korean while the American economy is hurting, Hyundai is smart enough to take aim at the Germans and the Japanese. The portrayals of the two "axis powers" is a bit over the top, but it makes the ad work.

Title: Epic Lap
Grade: A-
Message: You want the Genesis Coupe so badly you'll go to EditYourOwn.com and re-edit your own commercial, which isn't up yet.
Our Take: Yeooooowww! Much like the 2010 Hyundai Genesis reveal, this car is all about power slides and burnouts. What does Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins have to do with driving an epic lap? We have no idea. But we give the 1990s alternarock icon credit for mixing together a sweet commercial.
Source: jalopnik



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Cadillac XLR Is Cancelled

General Motors plans to end production of the Cadillac XLR, which is made at the General Motors Bowling Green Assembly Plant.

The company anticipates production will cease this spring, impacting about 40 employees at the plant, said Sharon Basel, communications manager for General Motors.

The plant employs a small assembly crew dedicated to XLR production. Those employees were recently notified of the production cut. It has not yet been determined when those workers will be laid off, but it will likely be this spring, said Paul Graham, plant manager.
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£2.3 billion rescue plan for car industry - but it's no bailout says Mandelson

The Government announced a major package of help for the UK's ailing car industry today, including £1 billion of direct loans and a national strategy designed to help British manufacturers meet demand for greener, cleaner cars.
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Honda Announces End of Production for the S2000

The Honda S2000 is officially dead. In a brief statement released today, Honda said 2009 will be the final model year for its high-performance roadster. No reason was given for the termination, but Honda did mention that the program was originally conceived as a limited-edition tribute to the company's 50th anniversary.
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Bugatti Veyron will finish line in sight

Bugatti, the finishing line in sight for the Veyron. Last year knew the supersport manufacturer to deliver 73 copies. Although a few less than the 81 in the previous year, but the manufacturer has mid 2008 half variant presented. Open implementation of the production has started.


Bugatti spokesman Georges Keller of late De Telegraaf that there are about 50 copies of the 1.8 million euro cost Veyron available. When those sold, is the canvas for the sports coupe. Keller has no vision at the time that the last copy of the tape rolling. "This depends on the host Gran Sport," explains Keller from. "We start at the end of March with the construction of this open variant. If the question of the Gran Sport bigger, then at the expense of the coupe production. The two types are produced on the same line."


Bugatti will build only 300 units of the Veyron. At present the sales counter at 250 units, so let Keller know. From the Gran Sport 150 units will be manufactured. Are the first 40 units for Bugatti loyal customers intended, but which have not yet fully responded. In the Netherlands is known for a Bugatti-owner who has ordered the open variant. Our country has to be six-Veyron owners.
via: autotelegraaf



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Chrysler has discontinued the PT Cruiser...

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler LLC, pruning its lineup to save money, will stop building the PT Cruiser this year and is seeking buyers for the equipment used to make the model, President Tom LaSorda said.

Production “ends this summer,” LaSorda said today in a telephone interview. “Would we sell those assets? Yes. Do we have any offers to sell those assets? No. Would we be pursuing a buyer? Yes.”

The PT Cruiser, with a rounded body to mimic 1930s-style station wagons, would be the seventh model to be canceled since Cerberus Capital Management LP bought Chrysler in August 2007. The third-largest U.S. automaker is using $4 billion in federal loans to stay in business while reshaping operations to end losses.
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Lamborghini Sets Record Sales in 2008 despite economic turmoil

Lamborghini manufacturer Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A has recorded worldwide growth in sales despite current financial and economic hard times. Global sales in 2008 increased 1% over the year 2007 from 2406 to 2430 units.

Although Lamborghini's biggest world market the US saw a decline of 20.3% representing 741 units sold instead of 930 units in 2007, other markets stepped up to offset that decline.
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$50K Smart Electric Vehicle set for Limited Production Run - powered by Tesla

In a recent statement, Daimler AG announced, "The next generation prototype of the smart fortwo electric drive is being presented in the US for the first time during the NAIAS Autoshow. At the End of 2009, smart will start the production of the smart fortwo electric drive with a lithium-ion battery. The company is exploring opportunities for the United States market."


These Smart cars should cost US$49,900 when they go on sale this year according to Tesla CEO Elon Musk who confirmed the existence of this business relationship between his company and Daimler AG.


Tesla had been struggling to meet its financial obligations until late 2008 when it announced it had received business financing to the tune of $40 million from investors. The Smart car order should help its balance sheet pick up even more.

Tesla Motors is going to be supplying Mercedes-Benz with 1,000 EV battery packs and chargers. The power packs are to be installed in Smart electric cars as part of a cooperation between the electric car maker and Daimler AG, the parent company of Smart and the Mercedes-Benz Group.
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Detroit Auto Show: Ford Announces Aggressive New Electric Vehicle Plan

DETROIT, Jan. 11 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Ford Motor Company today launched an aggressive plan to bring pure battery-electric vehicles, next-generation hybrids and a plug-in hybrid to market quickly and more affordably during the next four years.


The plan, unveiled at the 2009 North American International Auto Show, signals the next phase in Ford's commitment to deliver the best or among the best fuel efficiency with every new vehicle it introduces and to make fuel efficiency solutions affordable for millions of customers.
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via:World Car Fans


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Honda Cancels All Sportscars Development Projects - including S2000 Successor

Honda has put an end to the next generation Honda S2000 in a restructuring plan meant to flex the company's green muscle while bringing them back to basics. A halt to the S2000 will no doubt leave many fans of the roadster disappointed.


Honda CEO Takeo Fukui has made company objectives clear: 500,000 hybrids built by 2012, including the Honda Insight and the 80mpg Honda Jazz. It is too bad they could not figure out a way to keep the Honda S2000 in the fold. Hopefully, they will take another look at the project when the economy recovers.


The plan was first announced in an end-of-the-year speech by Honda CEO Takeo Fukui. In that speech, he directly addressed the need to cut projects like the Honda NSX (Acura NSX, in America), as the need to be sustainable outweighed the demand for sports cars. The new direction was a result of the rapidly declining economy, and sudden -yet massive- fluctuations in oil pricing. Fukui believes products that larger audiences want, and are capable of paying for, will insulate the company from any more exposure to a global economic crisis.
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Chrysler to remain in NASCAR despite cost cuts

Chrysler LLC has decided not to pull its sponsorship from NASCAR, a company executive told Reuters. Instead, the cash-poor company will cut spending on the race circuit by 30 percent.
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Car News: Wagoner Heading to Bailout Hearing in Chevy Volt Prototype

The mule will be outfitted with the body of a Chevy Cruze but it will be equipped with the powertrain from the highly anticipated Chevy Volt. GM hopes this will send an important message to members of Capital Hill, stating in essence that a key part of the company's turn around plan will be based on new vehicles that will feature advanced technologies and improved fuel economy.

After last months public relations nightmare where CEO's from the big three took private jets to Washington DC to ask for a 25 billion dollar government loan package, General Motor's CEO Rick Wagoner has decided to forgo the first class accommodations for a Chevy Volt mule.

During GM's presentation the company will showcase the technology behind the Volt in an effort to explain to the Senators that the company's viability will be based on new energy saving technologies. With GM's plan to cut costs and focus on four core brands, the company is hoping Congress will approve their request for $18 billion in government loans.

Source:World Car Fans

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Ford CEO to drive Escape Hybrid to Congressional hearings

Ford has now announced that its CEO, Alan Mulally, will be driving to the hearings in an Escape Hybrid - a vehicle that gets 34mpg (6.9L/100km) in the city. The drive will take Mulally roughly nine hours, and a company spokesman has confirmed that the Blue Oval boss will be leaving Detroit today.
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Car News: Ford accelerates electric-vehicle plans

Ford Motor made electric vehicles a centerpiece of a turnaround plan presented to Congress on Tuesday, saying that it will introduce an all-electric van for fleet use in 2010 and a sedan in 2011.

The Big Three U.S. automakers are scheduled to return to Washington, D.C., this week with the hopes of negotiating loans to forestall a collapse from lack of cash.

All three companies are seeing a continued dip in sales, but Ford is considered far better off financially than General Motors and Chrysler. Ford on Tuesday said it could be cash-flow positive from operations by 2011, but it is still requesting up to $9 billion in loans, which CEO Alan Mulally said will act as a "critical backstop or safeguard against worsening conditions, as we drive transformational change in our company."

The business plan lists cost reductions--including plant closings and the sale of its much-criticized corporate aircraft--and investments in smaller, fuel-efficient cars and a line of electric vehicles.

Its product plans calls for:
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Toyota loses an 'A' in its credit rating

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Chicago Auto Show: Nissan pulls out

With the auto industry reeling, Nissan North America Inc. is pulling out of the 2009 Chicago Auto Show, the first major automaker to exit the high-profile public show that opens in February at McCormick Place.
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