All Entries in the "Auto News" Category
Consumer Reports Annual Car Survey – What It Looks Like
As a Consumer Reports subscriber, I received an email asking for my input on vehicles. Here’s what Consumer Reports asked and how this particular survey might come up short.
New Oil Viscosity Grade Available – SAE 16
A new oil grade is coming to an auto parts store near you, SAE 16. And yes, the new oil grade is directly related to the ever popular automotive topic – improving fuel economy. Is it a scam or for real?
Is a new oil viscosity grade good for fuel economy or is it akin to snake oil from automakers?
Bloated Ford, GM, Ram Towing Numbers Continue
GM continues to ignore the J2807 “truth in towing” standards when it released its 2013 Twins towing ratings. Ford and Ram still won’t comply either. When will the lies stop? It seems that the truth in towing numbers belong to Toyota.
Once again Ford, GM and Ram are ignoring the J2807 towing standards – truth in towing. What will it take for them to tell the truth?
Hybrid Technology Kills Diesel Demand in U.S.
Ram and Chevy have introduced new diesel-powered cars and trucks, yet improved gasoline and hybrid engines are hitting the market too. With improved hybrid engines, is the 2013 diesel revolution dead before it began?
The diesels are coming, the diesels are coming! Is the hybrid engine going to kill their demand?
Ram Owners Manuals Being Translated Into Italian
As you all know, Fiat is working to obtain 100% ownership of Chrysler-Jeep-Ram this year. As negotiations continue, Fiat is beginning to prepare for 100% ownership in a few ways:
- They’re continuing to restructure their holdings in Europe in an effort to balance world-wide manufacturing capacity
- They’re holding “Lavoratore Indottrinamento” management meetings at all key facilities, with the aim of breaking down cultural barriers between American and Italian executives, engineers, and plant managers
- Most incredibly, they’re working furiously to translate all Chrysler, Jeep, and Ram vehicle owners manuals into Italian, so that manuals can be printed in both languages by the end of the year.
Why, you ask, must owner’s manuals be in both English and Italian? There’s a little-known Italian law that mandates all Italian corporations must produce consumer materials in Italian, even if the materials aren’t for Italian consumers.
