28.5.09

GM Exploring China

If you did not see this coming a mile away, well, then I am shocked.

With General Motors struggling to find profitability it appears as though they may turn to China to manufacture a larger amount of their products due to cheaper labor. Can we blame them? No, this is just doing good business.

In my humble opinion, the UAW has forced GM to look abroad, in desperate times, to avoid harsh labor contracts and high hourly wages.

A soundbyte from consumer advocate Ralph Nader sums it up:

"We'll look back on this bankruptcy, as a death star that has emerged to empty out jobs in communities all over the country."

Read the AutoSpies story and watch the CNN clip here.

Source: Boston.com

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Lexus Overload! More Thoughts On The IS C

For years, Lexus has been renowned as a luxury brand that focused on refinement and class. With cars like the legendary, game-changing LS sedan and the performance-focused IS, it is known for undercutting the competition by price while amping up standard features.

Source: rp

Following the hard-top convertible experience gained by their SC430, Lexus has produced the IS convertible in an effort to bank upon the success of the wildly successful sedan. Give the IS 20 seconds and headroom becomes infinite. But, the SC suffered from the design of a misshaped egg. Would Lexus do it again?

Read more here.

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27.5.09

REVIEW: Lexus HS250H A Newborn Icon?

Hybrid automobiles have become quite iconic in recent years.

Source: rp

Originally, the first generation Toyota Prius was subtle and did not look entirely different from the Toyota Echo. Hollywood stars like Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio snapped them up and touted the gas sippers down Rodeo. With representation like that, it was cool to be green. Then, the refresh came.

The second generation debuted with a whole new silhouette and it soon was established: if you are going to be forward-thinking and hip, you better own a hybrid. And, the Prius controlled the game with its innovative style. Not convinced? Take a look at the 2010 Honda Insight.

Source: rp

This brings us neatly to Lexus’ newest trick up its sleeve. The brand has jumped into the foray and is going to offer the world’s first dedicated luxury hybrid. Although the brand has offered several hybrids in its line-up, it has not ventured into the hardcore, dedicated hybrid field.

Read more here.

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26.5.09

Lexus' IS C Drops The Top And Heats Things Up

In the evolving market of convertibles, competition has been heating up. With the introduction of BMW’s 335 convertible and Infiniti’s new G convertible, Lexus had to have a strong answer. The new IS convertible is the dish Lexus has served.

Source: rp

Although Lexus has produced the current generation SC with a folding hard-top since the early 2000s, that was a car that seemed unattainable to the mainstream audience. With limited rear seat legroom and a rather blasé design, it was not a mind blowing success. However, the payoff out of that venture was the brand gained tremendous experience with hard-top convertibles and could apply what was learned to future products.

Now, armed with a design based off the relatively aggressive looking IS with room for four presents an attainable and practical offering, which is Lexus’ forte. So, when we heard that Lexus was hosting an event, the spies knew we had to be there.

Read more here.

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5.5.09

Starting Off May With A Bang: 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class

With the glitz and glam of the Las Vegas strip, there was not a better way for Mercedes-Benz to showcase their latest addition and “big gun,” the new E-class. Among the sin city’s nip/tuck crowd, the new face joining Mercedes’ line-up was out to prove beauty is not skin deep. Or, is it?

Source: rp

Coming from a long list of descendants, the new E-class is of significant importance to the three-pointed star. Although it is not quite the firm’s bread and butter, the C-class, the brand needs the E to be a volume selling success.

Want to read more? Follow here.

For the 2010 Mercedes-Benz E-class photo gallery, click here.

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