Author: Automotive News n Feed

Ford Motor Co. is making midcycle changes to the Mustang in an effort to stay on top of the muscle car sales race, even as demand for such vehicles wanes.

Mercedes and BMW still sell a good volume of the luxury sedans known as brand flagships. But the identity builders for European luxury brands are likely to increasingly become crossovers and SUVs as the sales shift to trucks continues.

Ford Motor Credit customers will soon be able to purchase and finance new vehicles from a dealership’s website, thereby making a visit to the store optional.

Dealertrack’s next-generation FandI system is a simpler, more deal-centric approach to working with Dealertrack’s tools, such as credit applications, bureau reports, compliance tools, desking solutions and FandI product menus.

Audi may have room in its lineup for a larger three-row crossover and for more variants of current vehicles, but probably not for anything smaller than its current A3 sedan and Q3 crossover.

Karim Habib’s departure as head of BMW brand design creates more upheaval in the group’s design organization following two key departures last year.

Mitsubishi Motors’ alliance with Nissan Motor has sparked speculation about sharing parts, vehicles or production capacity. But Mitsubishi’s No. 2 executive in North America says it also could benefit Mitsubishi dealers.

The act of recruiting and securing talent has never been as critical and competitive for dealers as it is now, due to a growing gap in profits allowing the best to out-hire the rest.

Two redesigned crossovers on the way should help Chevrolet increase its retail market share, the head of the brand’s dealer council says, but Chevy needs to find ways to sell more of its Cruze sedan.