Dick Scott Automotive Group

If the positive trends among automotive dealers continue and automotive forecasts of 14 million vehicle sales this year come true, average sales per dealership could reach record levels this year, said John Frith, vice president of Urban Science, a Detroit-based retail consulting firm.

Average sales per dealership - also known as throughput - was 719 in 2011. The forecast is to hit 785 this year, Frith said, beating a throughput of 775 vehicles in 2000.

The number of automotive dealerships in the U.S. grew by 100 last year to 17,767, including four more in Michigan, in further evidence of a healthier industry, according to a report released Tuesday by Urban Science.

"To put this into perspective, in a normal year we see a 2% decline in the number of dealerships nation-wide, which makes an increase, even a small one, very unusual," Frith said.

He noted this is only the second time since 1990 he has seen the count increase year over year.

While the demise of Mercury and a consolidation of LINCOLN dealers in metro markets lowered the number of dealers - including the loss of a couple in metro Detroit - Fiat added 135 dealers in 2011 and Chrysler-Jeep-Dodge-Ram added 50 dealerships.

Looking at the number of franchises in the U.S., which refers to the number of brands a dealership sells, there was a 2.4% decrease last year from 30,098 to 29,380, largely because of the loss of the Mercury brand.

Economic conditions forced a downsizing of automakers and their dealer networks in 2009 and 2009 but the ones that survived are more profitable now, Frith said.

But he cautioned that inevitably there will be another downturn and dealers must be careful not to abandon the more efficient practices they have put in place.

After cutting staff and inventory, rebuilding to handle a larger sales volume in the future must be done prudently. "It needs to be done in a controlled way," Frith said.

And dealers need to recognize the increased role the internet is playing.

More sales leads are coming from third-party internet sites or mobile apps, said Jody Stidham, global practice director at Urban Science.

Internet lead volume could be up 15-20% in 2012 and dealerships need trained staff to handle them with responses that are quick and include enough information to close the deal. That includes price quotes - 30% of dealers don't provide pricing - as well as arranging test drives and providing information such as hours and directions, models in stock and anything else that will differentiate the dealership from the others that the consumer is planning to cross shop.

"Close rates are higher when dealers do these things," Stidham said, adding that up to 30% of sales come from internet leads.

One internet sales manager can handle 80-90 leads a month and dealerships receiving more should consider adding more staff, Stidham said.

As read on: http://www.freep.com/article/20120214/BUSINESS01/120214036/Urban-Science-vehicle-sales

If you haven't seen the New Chrysler OFFICIAL Clint Eastwood Chrysler Commercial, It's Halftime in America,yet it is time for you to check it out!

It is truly an inspirational commercial! Although lately most of Chrysler's commercials have been or at least that is their intention. In a time when the Motor City is struggling to stay afloat during these hard economical times, Chrysler is staying focused on the bigger picture?. the second half of the game!

It's been a full generation in car years since Dodge offered a compact sedan and even longer since the brand offered a truly competitive model in the segment. Considering that sedans represent about 85 percent of all retail compact-car purchases, the gap in Chrysler's lineup has been particularly glaring, the five-door hatchback Caliber notwithstanding.

All of that changes this spring, with the debut of the 2013 Dodge Dart, which had its coming-out party at the Detroit auto show.

The Dart is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta from Chrysler parent company Fiat, which is already winning praise in Europe for its sleek design and sporty driving character. The Dart loses none of the good stuff while gaining buff Dodge sheetmetal that takes full advantage of the car's proportions.

Most prominent is the car's face, which combines a floating Dodge crosshair grille in a full-width mask fitted with an active shutter system that closes at speed to reduce aerodynamic drag. Subtle Coke-bottle sports-car toning carries through the side panels, while an unmistakable Dodge wraparound 152-LED tail-lamp treatment completes the look.

Interior appointments pick up on the theme, including ambient lighting, an available seven-inch reconfigurable gauge cluster and optional light pipes surrounding the floating instrument panel and 8.4-inch touch-screen media center.

All Dart models benefit from taut Euro-tuned underpinnings, relying on high-strength steel for more than two-thirds of the structure.

The front-drive Dart will be offered with three four-cylinder engines: a 160-hp, 145-lb-ft 2.0-liter; a 160-hp, 184-lb-ft turbo 1.4-liter; and a 184-hp, 171-lb-ft 2.4-liter-the latter two with Fiat's MultiAir variable intake and combustion timing. Three six-speed transmissions will be available: a dual-clutch gearbox, an automatic and a manual. The manual will be offered with all three engines, while the automatic will be limited to the 2.0-liter and the 2.4-liter. The dual-clutch will be paired exclusively with the 1.4-liter engine.

As Read on : http://www.autoweek.com/article/20120108/DETROIT/120109891#ixzz1kJF6XhRN

"The sky's the limit."

That's how Jim Bechtell, owner of the Somerset Buick/GMC dealership, sums up his outlook for the upcoming year. With the 2012 North American International Auto Show in full swing this week, Bechtell and other auto dealers around southeast Michigan are eager to capitalize on the success the industry enjoyed in 2011.

"General Motors for Buick and GMC, they've got a nice little niche with the premium vehicle market," Bechtell said. "They're not luxury cars like Cadillac, but they're not Chevys either. The price point is right in the sweet spot for these world-class cars."

He then pointed to the all-new Verano and the launch of the Encore as examples of how General Motors is gearing up for the year.

"It's all about the product," Bechtell said. "We can now offer vehicles that get 32 mpg or 36 mpg and you don't have to feel like you're crammed inside. They've got capacity and they offer great performance."

Dick Scott, owner of Dick Scott Dodge in Plymouth, shares the enthusiasm.

"We've got great products to start with," he said Friday. "We've got the 2013 Dart coming in June - it's just a phenomenal car. The banks are really concentrating on auto loans, there are strides in the economy and it's an election year, which is always good for retail."

He estimates a 15- to 20-percent increase in sales across the board.

"We had a great 2011," he said. "We finished December with a flurry and everything is pointed in the right direction, which is good for the entire economy."

Mike Schrieber, general manager of Bill Brown Ford in Livonia, said the newly-designed 2013 Escape and Fusion are sure to capture the public's attention.

"Bill Brown Ford is in a unique position," he said. "We sell more Escapes and Fusions than any dealer in the United States. We'll be the ones who get the inventory, especially in the beginning ,when they're hard to get."

At the same time, Schrieber said leasing deals on 2012 Fusions and Escapes have been sweetened to move the inventory.

"It really is all about the customer," he said.

Roy Williams, sales manager at Avis Ford in Southfield, adds the stylishly revamped 2013 Taurus to his list of hot-selling products for the coming year.

"We've got quite a bit of momentum going right now, and to add to that momentum we've got the new Fusion, the new Escape and the new Taurus," Williams said. "Anyone heading down to the auto show will get a chance to see just how great these cars look."

Williams added that Ford plans to continue with its aggressive incentive programs to keep people heading into the showrooms.

"Ford is committed to staying aggressive," he said. "We are always striving to being the best."

Scott LaRiche, vice president of Lou LaRiche Chevrolet in Plymouth Township, expects the public to be pleasantly surprised by the number of new vehicles being introduced at this year's car show, not to mention the quality.

"I think the number one thing in 2012 is every manufacturer across the globe has excellent products that people can see at the auto show," he said. "I spoke to some of the manufacturers at the show and they're anticipating 14.2 million to 15 million in car sales across the globe this year. That's a nice uptick from last year's number, which I think was around 13.5 million."

Along with better cars, LaRiche said many of the GM dealerships are getting face-lifts to offer nicer showrooms and customer lounges. He also touted the 2013 Malibu that's expected to arrive in his showroom in the next several weeks.

"They took it to a whole new level," LaRiche said. "They're taking cues from the Camaro and Corvette in terms of styling - and it gets up to 38 mpg on the highway. For a mid-sized vehicle, that's incredible."

As read on:http://www.hometownlife.com/article/20120115/NEWS02/201150343/Auto-dealers-gearing-up-tremendous-year?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|Royal%20Oak|p

With the Plymouth Ice Festival one week away, organizer Sam Walton says he has been losing sleep.

The restlessness doesn't come from the organizational or fundraising standpoint for the famed winter festival, however. Walton says the unseasonably mild temperatures this winter haven't been ideal for a weekend-long event that features ice with a variety of shapes, sizes and functions.

"Weather is obviously one of the biggest variables that we've had to deal with," Walton said.

Rather than the rain and warm temperatures of late, Walton says he is hoping for at least a dusting of snow and cold air.

There certainly is a lot at stake: The event typically draws about 100,000 people annually and is the largest free ice exhibit in the United States. The event already is stocked with a variety of local and corporate sponsors and the downtown community often relies on the extra foot traffic to boost its January traffic.

If the weather won't cooperate, Walton said, there still will be plenty for visitors to do in Kellogg Park when the event opens Jan. 20, including a variety of interactive exhibits that won't require such wintry conditions.

Among those, Walton said, is the McDonald's Winter Fun Zone with outdoor sports exhibits, coordinated with Sun & Snow. The three-day festival also will include appearances from stars of upcoming shows including Cirque du Soleil's Quidam and Super Grover from Sesame Street Live, who will appear at the event's Jan. 20 opening ceremonies.

Technologically inclined visitors might enjoy the festival's mobile video game system, which allows users to sit on ice while playing the latest software offerings. The event also will feature live music from the Shawn Riley Band and more food options than previous years, Walton said.

In his third year of promoting the event, Walton says he always is looking at ways to keep the 30-year-old festival fresh - and immune to woeful weather.

"(Just looking at ice sculptures) is like a museum to me," Walton said. "I'd rather shake it up and have people feel and touch and taste and do."

Still, he isn't overlooking the event's frozen roots and the striking sculptures that are curved during the duration of the festival.

The event was founded in 1983 by Scott Lorenz and later run by Michael Watts for 19 years.

"(Watts) did some amazing work over the years growing it into this world-class event," Walton said. "He was very focused on ice sculptures and blew people's minds with the amount of art and talent he could bring to Plymouth every year."

Walton, who took over in 2010, is just the third promoter in the festival's long history, and he says he hopes to help keep it running at least another 30 years with the support of local businesses.

"I'm happy I was able to be involved with the event during this 30th year," he said. "Twenty-seven years before (2010), I was a lucky guy that got to come down as a spectator."

As read on: http://plymouth-mi.patch.com/articles/plymouth-ice-festival-official-hopes-for-wintry-weather

Chrysler is to resurrect the Dodge Dart, launching an updated version of the sporty compact model at next month's North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The US automaker confirmed December 6 that the Dart, a 1960s classic, will be reborn as a 2013 four-door sedan based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, a model sold in Europe by Chrysler's parent firm Fiat.

Further details were sparse, although Chrysler did confirm that the vehicle would be offered with a choice of three engines, a 1.4-liter turbocharged MultiAir engine or a 2.0-liter/2.4-liter Tigershark 16-valve variant.

Styling will be 'unmistakably' Dodge, with front crosshair grille, full-width LED tailamps, a dual exhaust, projector headlamps and fog lamps and a longer and wider body form than the Giulietta, to suit the American market.

The model is set to hit showrooms in the first half of 2012, following its debut at the Detroit show, which runs January 9-22.


The Dodge Dart is the latest resurrected nameplate to join the automaker's lineup after the Charger and Challenger, and is likely to inspire plenty of passion from fans of the brand -- the original Dart, produced from 1960-1976, was highly popular and is still regarded as one of the most successful compacts ever introduced to the US.

With America's drivers now downsizing more than ever for models such as the Chevrolet Cruze and Ford Focus, Chrysler will be hoping the Dart can recapture the appeal once again.


As read on: http://www.nydailynews.com/autos/chrysler-bring-back-dodge-dart-north-american-international-auto-show-detroit-article-1.989131#ixzz1icKsd1Y5

Eleven 2012 Chrysler Group vehicles -- up from nine 2011 models -- earned a Top Safety Pick from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Senior VP for Engineering Scott Kunselman said the IIHS ratings for the 11 vehicles "underscores our commitment to engineering safety and security across all vehicle segments."

Among the latest safety innovations that are standard or available on many models is SafetyTec, which includes ParkSense rear park assist, Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path detection.

The 11 vehicles with IIHS Top Safety Picks:

Chrysler

    Town & Country (right)
    300
    200 (only 4-door models)

Dodge

    Grand Caravan
    Durango
    Charger
    Journey -- named a Top Safety Pick for the fourth straight year
    Avenger -- named a Top Safety Pick for the fourth straight year

Jeep®

    Grand Cherokee
    Patriot (with optional side torso airbags)

Fiat

    500 (made after July 2011)

As read on: http://blog.chryslerllc.com/blog.do?p=entry&id=1656

1. It really is capable of being the bargain version of the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG.
2. Power for the Chrysler 300 SRT8 comes from a  6.4 liter HEMI V8 making 470-hp with a maximum torque of 470 lb-ft - an increase of 45 horsepower and 50 lb-ft over the 6.1 liter HEMI V8 it replaces.
3. The engine is mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission with steering wheel mounted paddle shifters and a rear-wheel-drive or AWD system.
4. 0 to 60 mph in the high 4-second range; the quarter mile comes high 12-second range; 0-100-0 mph in less than 16 seconds - and a top speed of 175 mph.
5. Stopping power comes from 14.2 inch (front) and 13.8 inch (rear) vented/slotted rotors with four-piston Brembo calipers painted in silver finish.
6. A full-color graphic EVIC (Electronic Vehicle Information Center), allows you to keep track of how the car is performing while you drive. Shown on the 8.4-inch instrument touchscreen panel you can store your 0-60, one-eighth mile and quarter-mile times, your 60-0 braking distance, and your g-force distribution.
7. It features a new adaptive damping suspension (ADS) system that allows you to pick from Auto and Sport mode. In Sport mode, the Chrysler 300 SRT8, the damping system rebound and compression is locked to the higher damping rate
8. Owners of any Chrysler Group SRT vehicle will get a one day of professional driving instruction from the Richard Petty Driving Experience as part of the SRT Track Experience.
9. Fuel-economy for the 300 SRT8 comes in at 14/23 mpg (city/highway) or 17 mpg combined. Annual fuel-cost is estimated at $3,203 if you drive 15,000 miles a year (based on 45% highway, 55% city driving)
10. Prices start at $47,995. Comparatively, a BMW 528i with a 240-hp 4-cylinder turbo starts at $46,700, a Mercedes-Benz E350 starts at $50,490 and the Audi A6 3.0 TFSI starts at $49,900.

As read on: http://www.egmcartech.com/2011/12/06/top-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-2012-chrysler-300-srt8/