Paris 2010: Is it the end of the car, as we know it?

Story and photos by John LeBlanc PARIS — Woe be the modern automaker. With a lingering economic recession, ever-tightening fuel economy and emissions regulations and a younger population that is more interested in their next cell phone than their next set of four wheels, the global auto industry is seemingly under attack from all sides.

[svgallery name=”2010 Nissan Sentra”] Sentra soldiers on Nissan’s aging compact sedan struggles for attention in crowded market By John LeBlanc If the current Sentra was a person, you would almost feel sorry for it. In Nissan showrooms, it occupies the slot between the less expensive and smaller Versa hatchback and the larger Altima family sedan. […]

The Crank: Nissan EV only selling to the oldies

By John LeBlanc Here’s a good one: Instead of the young, hip buyers that you would think an electric-vehicle would attract—you know, the types of customers who are busy spending time updating their Facebook account and plotting ways to get Mom and Dad to pay for their next iPhone app—Nissan is saying that the average […]

The Crank: More proof pickups are dumb

By John LeBlanc I’ve never understood North Americans’ fascination with pickup trucks as daily transportation. They’re too big, too thirsty, and, well, they handle like trucks. But what do I know. Just last month here in the Great White North, Ford’s F-series pickup truck was the most popular new vehicle sold—car or truck.

The Crank: April’s showers could mean Fall flowers for new car buyers

By John LeBlanc April’s Canadian new car sales numbers came in this week. And as is the continuing trend, new car customers are dividing up the automakers into roughly three groups: the Haves, the Have-nots and those Treading Water.

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