According to a New Year's PR greeting from ToMoCo Prez Katsuaki Watanabe, Toyota is going so damn green you'd be hard-pressed to find it in a field of clover. Just before I nodded off (sorry), Watanabe pledged to "contribute to the sustainable development of society and the earth in the future" in three main areas: research and development, manufacturing and social contribution. Yada, yada, "sustainable mobility," "cellulosic ethanol," "planting trees" and "hands-on environmental education at the Forest of Toyota." And now for the real news: Toyota wants to achieve "hybrid vehicle sales of 1 million units annually as soon as possible in the early 2010s," and put a Synergy Drive (possibly lithium-ion equipped) into every one of their models (hybrid Tundra?). As for those pesky quality issues dinging their brand rep, Watanabe is so committed to rectifying the situation he's quoting himself: "I am always saying that 'without improving quality, Toyota cannot expect to grow', and I believe that quantitative growth is the result of improved quality. For this, we understand well that corporate management must achieve growth that maintains a balance between corporate activities and environmental preservation, as well as between volume and quality." What, a pragmatic approach to multiple demands rather than seamless spin and endless hype? Where's the fun in that?

Toyota PR statement via Autochannel.com »

Source: “Without improving quality, Toyota cannot expect to grow”

Ralph Kalal
Filed in: Chrysler | industry news

At the end of the year, it’s the custom to make predictions for the next year – no less so in the magazine business than in any other. So, New York magazine has decided to offer it’s business predictions for 2008, among which is this:
 
“In the first real debacle of the private-equity era, Cerberus Capital Management, the quiet hedge-fund king, fails in its bid to resuscitate Chrysler—not a surprising turn, given that it picked Bob “I ruined Home Depot and all I got was $200 million” Nardelli to run the country’s worst car company.

The combination of Chrysler and the 51 percent of GM’s lousy mortgage business that it paid top dollar for forces former Treasury secretary John Snow to seek a bailout for Cerberus. Amazingly, given the love of hedge-fund contributions by both parties, Congress agrees and writes checks for billions to save Cerberus’ wealthy investors. Call the Chrysler failure a lock. The bailout? I’d say 5 to 1.”
 
Well, when the conventional wisdom goes one way, that’s often a sign that the smart way is the other way. Among the other future guesses at New York are $5 per gallon gasoline, a federal bailout of Citigroup, and Verizon becoming a cable company. 
 
So, maybe there’s hope for Chrysler, after all.
 
The magazine’s prognosticator – James J. Cramer – has a track record.
 
In 2005, he predicted that the year would bring a boom in domestic oil production, a national ID card, and social security reform, along with predicting that all domestic airlines would go bankrupt. 
 
In 2006, he predicted that General Motors would file for bankruptcy.
 
On the other hand, maybe Bob Nardelli ought not get too comfortable. The notion that Congress would bail out Cerberus and Chrysler seems pretty far-fetched.
 
Bob Nardelli isn’t Lee Iacoca.

Source: Internal

Source: Perhaps there's hope for Chrysler, after all

Simona Alina
Filed in: KTM | UK | KTM X-Bow

KTM Powersports AG has confirmed that its stunning new X-Bow sportscar will be exhibited at the Autosport International Racing Car Show starting on 10 January.

The lightweight, high-performance X-Bow marks motorcycle manufacturer KTM’s groundbreaking move into the four-wheeled market, and will be presented to UK driving enthusiasts for the first time finished in the new optional ‘Gleaming White’ bodywork.

The Autosport Show appearance will mark the KTM X-Bow’s fourth major show outing following its world premiere at the Geneva International Motor Show last year, its starring role at the 2007 Middle East International Motor Show in Dubai – where it was voted one of the event’s ‘Top Attractions’ by visitors – and its more recent showing at the end-of-year Bologna Motor Show, in Italy.

The Autosport Show takes place at Birmingham’s NEC from 10-13 January, and visitors will be able to see the new KTM X-Bow on Stand 9450 in Hall 9.
Production scheduled to begin with limited-edition ‘Dallara Series’

With customer orders for X-Bow exceeding all expectations, series production of KTM’s newcomer is scheduled to commence with a run of 100 limited-edition ‘Dallara Series’ models. The special ‘Dallara Series’ will feature extra equipment to boost the track-day sporty potential of X-bow. Subsequently, KTM will produce up to 1000 X-Bow sportscars per year at its new dedicated four-wheeled Centre of Excellence manufacturing facility in Graz, Austria.

Source: Internal

Source: KTM X-Bow to Make UK Debut