Autos News

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Consumer surveys which measure emotional connections to brands are very essential to automotive OEMs. Aside from the marketing advantage, attaining a high mark brings great satisfaction to the teams of people who design and build the vehicles. Such must be the case with the Cadillac team.

The 2012 “Most Desired Brands in the U.S.” survey attempted to reveal such emotional connections. It was conducted by the global strategic neuro-insight firm Buyology Inc and uSamp, which measured personal and emotional connections to 220 well-known brands across 10 industries. And Cadillac is now deemed the most-desired automotive brand in the United States by men.

Take, for example, the Cadillac CTS Sedan. As the centerpiece of Cadillac’s lineup, the CTS Sedan is focused on excellent driving dynamics and technology, competing strongly against many of the world’s finest midsized luxury cars.

Note that this reporter first fell in love with the Cadillac CTS at the NAIAS. I bought the model that year, and was always pleased with the purchase. In this case, though, it also struck an emotional connection with my wife. So, WE bought the car.

Proof, though, is always in the sales growth figures. Cadillac saw retail sales growth of 6.8 percent in 2011, led by the CTS family of cars, which were up 19 percent over 2010, and the mid-size luxury SRX crossover, which increased sales by more than 9.6 percent last year.

Still More to Come

Cadillac is poised to further extend sales in 2012 with the introduction of the XTS full-size luxury sedan and the ATS compact luxury sedan, which will be released in the spring and summer of 2012 respectively.

The ATS was revealed in January at the 2012 NAIAS in Detroit. It was unique in that the reveal event took place, not at the Cobo Center where the NAIAS was hosted, but at the Center for Creative Studies in Detroit. The school, which had displays from students on the floor at the 2012 NAIAS, has finnancial and moral support from General Motors and its many industrial design managers. So, it was deemed fitting the ATS must be be revealed there.

Here is a short video from its display and other Cadillacs from 2012 NAIAS in Detroit.

For the record, Cadillac, a division of General Motors Company (NYSE: GM) has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. In recent years, Cadillac has engineered a historic renaissance led by artful engineering and advanced technology.

[Photo of Cadillac CTS-V at 2012 NAIAS by Frank Sherosky, Authorfrank.com]

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Another example of advanced glass comes in roofs designed with clear tops utilizing double walls with nano-plate suspensions between them. The roof is transparent by default, but becomes opaque when a slight current is passed through the fluid.

It is somewhat surprising to discover just how many of the brand new release vehicles at NAIAS are using at least solar filtering glass, if not some even more advanced form of glass, according to the Enhanced Protective Glass Automotive Association (EPGAA). These products are also used for driver and passenger side windows and rear windows as well as roof glass.

Laminated glass is a high-impact glass fusing two or more panes together with a plastic film automakers have trusted for over 70 years. Benefits include reduced noise and weight (up to 12 percent over conventional tempered glass) while meeting all regulatory standards for performance.

Products like this have been showing increased incorporation into automotive design since 2000, when they first began to show up on luxury vehicles at NAIAS. Laminated glass tends to add affordcapable quality without compromising safety, lessened exposure to UV rays and even breathes life into the range of electric vehicles by reducing the Strength needed for air conditioning via Advanced Solar Control – a trade designation for solar filtering glass.

“We are pleased to see so many models with laminated glass at the North American International Auto Show – nearly 30% more than only 3 years ago,” told Pete Dishart, Director, brand new release Product Development and Emerging Technologies for Pittsburgh Glass Works and EPGAA President. “The automotive industry’s continued resurgence requires more than just the awe-inspiring designs which are certainly abundant here. It is essential for car manufacturers to give quality, security, comfort, fuel economy, and safety. Laminated glass, and the Advanced Solar heat reduction technologies it offers, can impact each of these areas in very meaningful ways. It is gratifying to see that laminated glass is increasingly being adopted in brand new release vehicles.”

Those vehicles include the Bentley Arnage and Continental Flying Spur; Buick Enclave, LaCrosse and Regal; Cadillac ATS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, SRX and XTS; Chevrolet Equinox and Malibu; Chrysler 300 and CUV; Dodge Avenger, Charger and Durango; Ford Explorer and Flex; GMC Terrain; Hyundai Equus; Jeep Grand Cherokee; Lexus LS and LX series; Lincoln MKS, MKT and MKX; Mercedes CL, CLS, plus the GL and SL series; Porche Panamera and Tesla S.

To see if a car you’re considering uses advanced glass products click here for the full list. .

Advanced glass products join Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers, aluminum components and high-strength steel alloys in becoming an everyday part of the cars we drive each year. Just like the Strength systems that drive cars are changing, so are the elements that surround the Strength train throughout the vehicle.

It is indeed an industry in a state of flux.

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Think synchronization of design and propulsion technology when you view the concepts cars at Toyota’s display at NAIAS 2012, because that is precisely the message that is being sent.

Also think of the year 2025. It must be ring a bell simply because it is the year that all automakers are focusing on; the year when all automakers will have to meet the government mandate of average fuel economy of 54.5 MPG. Yet, where it was once obvious what an EV, hybrid or fuel cell must be look like, today’s concepts need a sign to make the differences obvious; and that’s a much different message than just a few years ago when it was designed to look intnetinally different.

To those who figure the electrification of the automobile will kill all IC engine use are in for a surprise, though. Consider the following facts.

1) Only 20% of all light vehicles will be hybrid; meaning an IC engine along with an electric motor, or a full EV. The rest will be fuel sipping IC engines.

2) The present taxpayer subsidies will likely be exhausted to support any increase in costs.

Toyota, of course, has shown with their concepts the spectrum of propulsion technology seems fully covered. On the floor there is the Prius, a plug-in hybrid, which still looks like a specialty car. Then there is the Camry hybrid, which looks more traditional in style.

Now fast forward to the concept, NS4 Hybrid. It shows a return to a more a beautiful style, a full-sized sedan larger than the Camry on the floor; one that any family would be proud to own and drive. It could have a fuel cell as well, but the sign tells you differently. It also implies a larger body structure which will command a lot of aluminum.

The other concept car is the FCV-R, which is a fuel cell electric car. A lighter body structure will be required there, too. However, this implies a future whereby a fuel called hydrogen will require an infrastructure for delivery. Will that be in place by 2025? Advantage is, the delivery of the fuel will be similar to present gasoline.

Still, the styling for the NS4 hybrid could have been exchanged for the FCV-R and you would not have known the difference, because the propulsion choice is no longer a big deal. I could not tell the difference just by looking at the styling, so the sign certainly helped.

The message here is that Toyota is making extra effort to assure you that they are working with the latest propulsion technology with every concept, because it is becoming transparent. This tells me, design and technology have grown to be more in synch. No longer is electrification, hybrid or fuel cells a disturbance to design as it has been in past concepts.

Then there is the way out FUN-Vii. You cannot get more modern than this vehicle. However, this car which is merely a show of what the future can be if we let our minds free, could be fitted with any propulsion system.

Get the point? Propulsions are no longer the hang-up on styling anymore. They are becoming just another Strengthtrain option. Now we can get back to designing beautiful cars without having to anchor it to some technology choice. Design and technology are finally back in synch at NAIAS 2012

Recall a few years ago you could tell how a show car was propelled simply by the styling. Now it doesn’t make any difference. Nobody really cares whether it’s full electrification, hybrid, fuel cell, or IC engine as a propulsion; and all will be availed by 2025.

Nonetheless, Toyota has specifically chosen to show these particular future vehicles with two distinct propulsion systems. One is a hybrid which will require a fuel like gasoline; the other is a fuel cell which will require hydrogen. Is Toyota sending a message here?

Regardless, bottom line is, design and engineering are once again on a path to becoming fully synchronized; and it’s a beautiful thing.

Here is my video of the three vehicles. Look beyond the style and just notice how we are at a point where you won’t be capable to tell whether a car is a hybrid, an electric or a fuel cell. The propulsion system will be literally hidden, as it must be be. And once again our minds will be free to enjoy the styling without all that baggage of how the car will be propelled.

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By Adam Yamada-Hanff on Thu, 01/19/2012 – 11:26

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Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA) reported about one year ago that strong sequential revenue growth, gross margin improvement, and, more essential, the Model S Alpha Drives were on schedule. Now, by the looks of the Model S display at NAIAS, the car program appears to still be on track for mid-2012 deliveries.

Recent brand new releases, though, of the departure of chief engineer Peter Rawlinson and Nick Sampson, supervisor of vehicle and chassis engineering, led some investors to sell-off shares late Friday.

Despite the impressive appearance of Tesla Motors, Inc. (Nasdaq:TSLA) at NAIAS 2012 in Detroit, it is fitting for investors to wonder if this company can still make it, even with its alignment with Toyota.

According to an article by seeking alpha.com , Investors Business Daily was quoted as receiving an email from Tesla which made it clear that Mr. Rawlinson returned to the UK to tend to family; and Mr. Sampson had already transitioned his duties before he left. That does not appear to imply any sudden firing or walk out. Ref link: Tesla stock collapses, but looks massively oversold

Having viewed the aluminum body structure last year in detail and talking with Tesla engineers at 2011 North American International Auto Show, I dare say I was impressed with the lightweight structure. In fact, this year’s chassis display at NAIAS 2012 was also impressive, and stands as a leader, ahead of the major OEMs in the creation of lightweight body structures. So, perhaps this is indeed a future auto manufacturer in the making.

Think back again to the days of DeLorean and even later to Tucker. Likewise, there were those who developed and walked away; and many outsiders criticized and even scuttled every move that both made; especially Tucker who brought us aircraft quality disc brakes.

Of course, there is a big difference in the volume of production between an all-aluminum structure and steel. The OEMs have a long way to get to super-light body structures using aluminum, and an even longer row to hoe with carbon fiber. The only other companies with this kind of expertise are Lotus with its line of cars and Mercedes-Benz with its brand new release SL300; and, I believe, Lotus is already a consultant to Tesla and co-developed the Tesla Roadster.

And that connection to Tesla is key to these departures. My own visit to the Lotus Engineering facility in Sterling Heights, Michigan this past summer told me that body structure design does NOT have to be done in-house.

Nevertheless, there is certainly no lack of internal intelligent design or drive at Tesla, in my opinion. The electric drive is solid. And Toyota is not ignorant of Tesla’s technical value either.

The Model S sedan is indeed a beautiful car; albeit out of my budget range. Still, it has features that were surprising, above an beyond the aluminum structure and electric drive. Witness those two reverse-mounted, third-row seats. Also note the video screen on the dash, the biggest of any I have ever seen.

Tesla Stock Chart

From a big picture perspective, Tesla looks to some traders as heavily oversold. Perhaps this is indeed overactive selling on what is perceived as bad brand new releases. As the weekly chart above indicates, we were already in a sell-off that started in early December, with a confirmed channel breakout to the downside.

On a 52-week look-back, TSLA has reached a high of 35 and a low of 21.11. Also note the trend lines that act as future support and resistance levels. Fact is, TSLA is far from those levels.

Especially consider the weekly bar of this past week. It does have a long bottoming tail, indicating that buyers came in. Question is, will more buyers come in to build price support in the following weeks?

If so, then the current weakness in the stock price may be a level of opportunity to build a significant position ahead of what might be a solid launch of the Model S.

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Full Disclosure: At time of publication, Sherosky, creator of the auto sector charts for TN, is neither long or short with the mentioned stocks or futures, except some call options on Ford, though positions can change at any time. None of the information in this article constitutes a recommendation, but an assessment or opinion.

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About the Reporter: After 39 years in the auto industry as a design engineer, Frank Sherosky now trades stocks, futures and writes articles, books and ebooks like, “Perfecting Corporate Character,” “Awaken Your Speculator Mind”, and “Millennial World Order” via authorfrank.com. He may be contacted here by email: FrankS@Torquebrand new releases.com and followed in Twitter under @Authorfranks

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Additional Reading:
Tesla Model S to have optional throwback third row seating
Chevy Miray Concept expresses future at NAIAS 2012
Acura NSX Concept thrills NAIAS 2012 Press Preview
Falcon F7 makes supercar impression at NAIAS 2012
NAIAS 2012 Press Preview Day 2: great signs of industry enthusiasm
NAIAS 2012: Day 1 of Press Preview witnesses 27 vehicle unveilings
CODA Automotive announces 125 and 150 mile range for 2012 EV sedan at NAIAS
Volkwsagen E-Bugster makes debut at North American International Auto Show

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