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: Is Cadillac rethinking its definition of “flagship”?

By John LeBlanc Despite the fawning from most media over Cadillac’s XTS luxury sedan concept, left, that popped up at last year’s Detroit auto show, I’ve never been a big fan of the Government Motors world-class luxury brands’ idea of a “flagship.” I mean please, when Hyundai (with titsis Equs) can make a legitimate flagship […]

The Crank: is China’s latest Buick our next Skylark?

By John LeBlanc Like the debut of the Russian VW Polo, the release of a foreign market car gives away a new model coming our way. In this case, it’s the release of images of the Chinese-market Buick Excelle GT, a compact sedan that the Government Motors demi-luxury brand will sell in North America sometime […]

The Crank: Diesel-loving Canadians to get new 2011 Jetta TDI first

By John LeBlanc The next, new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta is going to be a big deal for the German automaker in North America. And it needs to be. Along with the new U.S.-made Passat-replacing-yet-to-be-named midsized sedan coming next year, the new Mexican-made Jetta is the first half of VW’s two-sedan attack to more than double […]

The Crank: Is the guard changing in Canadian new car showrooms?

By John LeBlanc In my weekly Autonews column at Wheels.ca, I reported that last month’s Canadian new car sales suggest the market is starting to be divided in to the “haves” and the “have nots.” However, Canadian auto industry analyst, Dennis DesRosiers has taken a longer view back than just a year ago. And he […]

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