Archive for the ‘Michigan’ Category

The Ford Focus has been extremely popular with Cash-for-Clunkers buyers. With an MSRP starting just above $15,000 and an EPA-rated fuel economy of 24/33 mpg -- not to mention the new luster of attractiveness Ford has acquired in light of its refusal to accept bailout dough -- the Focus is tailor-made for American buyers looking to cash in.

Of course, in order for customers to purchase the vehicles, Ford has to have enough of them on the lots, and apparently the company is struggling a bit to keep up. At the end of July, Ford had only a 25-day supply of the focus, which is definitely on the slim side for an industry that prefers to keep 60...

Blue laws are most commonly used to regulate alcohol sales, but in 13 states, they also ban the selling of automobiles on Sunday. Now, dealers in one of those states -- Michigan -- are pondering the possibility of lifting the restriction that shutters dealers in counties of 130,000+ residents. Some showrooms in unaffected counties have experimented with Sunday sales, meeting mixed results, but it seems like selling autos on a day that most white-collar workers have off could be a good idea. [DetNews]

We've known for a while that the Chevrolet Aveo would be replaced by the 2011 Chevrolet Viva, which will be sold in Asia, Europe, and North and South America, courtesy of GM's new global product development process.

Now the first official renderings have landed from GM, and if the production car looks anything like the sketches, the new subcompact will have styling every bit as racy as that of the 2011 Ford Fiesta it will compete against.

Bob Lutz, who formerly headed GM product development and recently un-retired to return as head of marketing, has claimed the new car's design will be competitive or better with the best in its segment.

"It...