If you're reading this, then things have unfolded as I had feared and the zombie hordes have arisen. Even now, they could be shambling toward the gates of VehicleVoice World Internet Headquarters and House of Mystery. Of course, I am long gone, having fled to my ammo-packed wilderness compound and left this blog entry to be posted by my more dedicated, less survival-minded coworkers. They are no doubt fodder for the filthy undead, but there may still be hope for you. Read on if you value your life.

Oh crap.

Continue reading "Road Noise: The Brains of the Operation"

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 09:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

What's the problem?

There is a problem in the Motor City. The Detroit 3 combined have made no money at all over the past 10 years. And, given current fuel prices, the credit squeeze and low consumer confidence, they are unlikely to make a profit anytime soon ... unless something changes.

Fundamentally, the Detroit 3 in general and GM in particular have noncompetitive costs, too many brands and too many dealers.

Continue reading "GM/Chrysler Merger?"

Posted by Jim Hossack at 10:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Two approaches: The Hard Way, and the Easy Way
Seems to me, that there are essentially two ways to make this work. Everything else fails.

Continue reading "How to Succed in the Auto Business"

Posted by Jim Hossack at 02:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

It seems as though the further along we get into this project the faster things seem to go (thank goodness!). We’ve learned a lot about axles and we are beginning to learn a lot about leaf springs/suspension and driveshafts. For now, we will try and impart some of what we learned about solid axles with you…

Continue reading "1958 International Harvester Receives A Technology Transplant (PART V)- Extracurricular Projects"

Posted by Keagan Patrick at 07:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

A Sensible Recommendation? Yes, In Fact
At the close of the Audi Mileage Marathon we talked about last week, Audi of America's Executive Vice President Johan de Nysschen took a moment between results announcements and meet-and-greets with a few Hollywood celebrities to make a plea to the political structure. Mr. de Nysschen called for a lowering of diesel tax. Good, lowering taxes I like, though for a racing fan like myself, I was more impressed with Audi American Le Mans Series and Le Mans drivers Tom Kristensen, Allan McNish, and Dindo Capello than Mario Lopez or Brooke Burke. But that's just me, and I digress.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #34: Audi Calls for Lowering Diesel Tax"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

When you're cruising down the highway, do you ever see a vehicle bearing bumper stickers that indicate the driver admires a political party/sports franchise/deity that you're not especially crazy about? And then you have to struggle against the urge to make rude gestures or run them off the road, because how could they be so stupid as to support the Monster Raving Loonies/Gotham Gators/Flying Spaghetti Monster and then be so stupid as to tell everyone about it OMG can you believe these people?!

Me neither.

Time to cut back.

Continue reading "Road Noise: My Bumper Sticker Can Beat Up Your Honor Student"

Posted by Katrina Ohlemacher at 09:36 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

With two new and important full-size pickup trucks this fall, at a time of extreme economic uncertainty, what do we see happening to the market in general? And how does the F-150 stack up against the Ram? Since our correspondent Jim Hossack attended both Ford and Ram driving previews, we asked him for some comments. Here we go!

What's happening in the Full-Size Light Duty Pickup market?
Contrary to mass media reports, the full-size light duty pickup market is not dead. In fact, after a few tough months, it is coming back - in terms of share of industry if not actual number of units sold.

The auto industry is down by around 4 million units compared with 2007CY. Full-size pickup share of industry fell from 15.2 percent in August 2007 to as low as 8.6 percent on May 2008, but has rebounded to 15.8 percent in September 2008. In part that may be a reaction to fuel prices, which increased and then decreased, in part it a recent compensation for deferred purchases earlier this summer, and in part due to ridiculously low transaction prices as Dodge and Ford clear out showrooms of the old trucks. It is also worthwhile to remember that holding onto 15.8 percent of a much smaller market still means a dramatic decrease in overall F-150 sales. If and when the economy recovers, half-ton pickup sales volume will recover, depending on how drastic the next fuel price spike is.

Continue reading "Truck Market: Where is it Going? How Do F-150 and Ram Stack Up?"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 06:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

New Body; New Chassis; Improved Powertrain
VehicleVoice contributors Jim Hossack and Stephanie Brinley had the opportunity to drive Dodge's new 2009 Ram pickup - what used to be called the Ram 1500. We're impressed - there is a lot to like, from looks to features to driving dynamics to capability to interior quality.

Continue reading "First Drive: 2009 Dodge Ram"

Posted by Jim Hossack at 09:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

VehicleVoice correspondent Jim Hossack attended a 2009 Ford F-150 driving preview - and reports that it was well worth it. The Dodge Ram is the other big truck news of this season, so we decided to bring you reviews of both trucks this week.

Hossack says Ford put on a very thorough, very professional series of presentation, with plenty of opportunity to evaluate the new F-150 and facing competition under a variety of circumstances. Hossack was about as impressed with the passion and enthusiasm of the guys working on the program as with the truck itself.

Continue reading "2009 Ford F-150: First Drive"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 08:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

I just finished the fourth leg of Audi's Mileage Marathon, a coast-to-coast demonstration and competition drive for the best fuel economy from a range of Audi TDI clean diesels. The drive started in New York City on October 6, ending in Santa Monica on October 19. I joined the crew in Las Vegas, which included driving through Monterey, California, and the chance to see the Audi R10 TDI cars take 1-2 in the final American Le Mans Series race of the year at Laguna Seca, their ninth consecutive victory.

The undertaking allowed attending Audi engineers, designers, and product planners to take a deep dive into the extremes of American driving conditions, from a crowded New York City street through the Rocky Mountains, Red Rocks at Sedona, Death Valley to Mammoth Lakes (from altitude of minus 282 feet below sea level at Badwater Basin in the Valley to 11,000 feet in Mammoth Lakes), and finally down Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Monica.

This convoy of 23 silver Audi Q7s, Q5s, A3s, and A4s, dressed in nearly as many stickers as the R10 racing car, could not be missed. U.S. and international journalists and Audi engineers, designers, and executives got to see people over the country, talk to them about the car and the benefits of diesel, as well as gain firsthand knowledge of U.S. reactions. When the 3.0L TDI Q7 becomes available in the States next year, Audi will begin to see the results of the overall diesel communication strategy and education outreaches.

This was an astounding event in ambition, scope, and execution, and next week I'll be telling my driving story. Today, we're going to talk a little about diesel acceptance and Audi's positioning.

Continue reading "Exhaust Note #33: Audi Continues U.S. Diesel Education Program"

Posted by Stephanie Brinley at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

subscribe and share

Subscribe with RSS Feedburner

Autumn is in full swing here at Vehicle Voice World Internet Headquarters and Discount Wig Warehouse, and that makes me think of moving. My apartment leases always seem to end October-ish, and every year there seems to be a compelling reason why I have to pack everything in boxes and take it someplace else. I've moved seven times in the past six years, so I daresay I've got the expert qualifications necessary to advise you on the proper vehicle for your next move.