Today's News - March 5, 2012

**KBB in the News**

February sales surge for local car brands

http://www.ocmetro.com/t-Feb-auto-sales-OC-automakers-03-02-2012.aspx

No fueling: Surging gas prices driving customers to fuel-efficient cars, wagons

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2012/mar/03/fueleffiau/

Pain at pump not translating into trade-ins

http://www.toledoblade.com/Automotive/2012/03/04/Pain-at-pump-not-translating-into-trade-ins.html

Shell launches new fuel: No other gasoline protects better

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shell-launches-new-fuel-no-other-gasoline-protects-better-141403883.html

Family car? Passat judged best of the best

http://jacksonville.com/autos/2012-03-02/story/family-car-passat-judged-best-best

Chattanooga-made Passat named top family car of 2012

http://www.nooga.com/154068/chattanooga-made-passat-named-top-family-car-of-2012/

Subaru launches online dynamic brochures for 2012 models

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/subaru-launches-online-dynamic-brochures-for-2012-models-141190483.html

**KBB Editorial**

2013 Mazda CX-5: The cure for the common CUV

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2013-mazda-cx_5-the-cure-for-the-common-cuv/

Magna Steyr MILA Coupic Concept - 2012 Geneva Auto Show

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/magna-steyr-mila-coupic-concept-_-2012-geneva-auto-show/

Hyundai i-onic Concept teased - 2012 Geneva Auto Show

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/hyundai-i_onic-concept-teased-_-2012-geneva-auto-show/

Jaguar XF Sportbrake - 2012 Geneva Auto Show

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/jaguar-xf-sportbrake-_-2012-geneva-auto-show/

Mitsubishi i-MiEV Prototype to challenge Pikes Peak

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/mitsubishi-i_miev-prototype-to-challenge-pikes-peak/

2012 Ford Focus Electric earns record-setting 105 MPGe combined mark

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2012-ford-focus-electric-earns-record_setting-105-mpge-combined-mark/

2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1: Driving a new kind of muscle car

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2012-chevy-camaro-zl1-driving-a-new-kind-of-muscle-car/

2013 Ferrari F12 Berlinetta - 2012 Geneva Auto Show

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/2013-ferrari-f12-berlinetta-_-2012-geneva-auto-show/

Mercedes-Benz Wants You to Fall in Love with 4MATIC All-wheel Drive

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/mercedes_benz-wants-you-to-fall-in-love-with-4matic-all_wheel-drive/

Volkswagen GTI Cabriolet - 2012 Geneva Auto Show

http://www.kbb.com/car-news/all-the-latest/volkswagen-gti-cabriolet-_-2012-geneva-auto-show/

**Top News**

GM will stop making slow-selling Volt plug-in for five weeks

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-04/gm-to-halt-production-of-slow-selling-chevrolet-volt-plug-in-for-5-weeks.html

Volt problems could hurt Obama’s electric-car plan

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/03/05/volt-problems-could-hurt-obamas-electric-car-plan/

Chevrolet’s Volt sales running low, GM idles the line

http://www.cnbc.com/id/46608011

GM adds natural-gas option to big heavy-duty pickups

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/gm-conpressed-natural-gas-cng-chevrolet-silverado-gmc-sierra/1

GM trucks use CNG and gasoline

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120305/OEM03/303059965/1186/gm-trucks-use-cng-and-gasoline

**OEM/Vehicle News**

Ford plans 20 percent fuel-economy increase by 2020

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/ford-plans-20-fuel-economy-increase-by-2020/1

GM, PSA: Alliance packs big promises

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120305/OEM01/303059960/1193/gm-psa-alliance-packs-big-promises

The new way to cut costs: Let’s make a deal

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120305/OEM01/303059962/1193/the-new-way-to-cut-costs-lets-make-a-deal

Chrysler to target California’s big market

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120305/AUTO0101/203050336/1148/auto01/Chrysler-target-California-s-big-market

Next big Ford vans will have EcoBoost turbo engine

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/next-big-ford-van-will-have-ecoboost-turbo-engine/1

Fusion’s blue lights aim to drive blues away

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120305/OEM03/303059990/1254/fusions-blue-lights-aim-to-drive-blues-away

Porsche speeds up least-loved Boxster to gain on BMW’s Z4

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-04/porsche-speeds-up-least-loved-boxster-to-gain-on-bmw-s-z4-cars.html

Lincoln gets low-priced rivals in limousine wars

http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120305/OEM03/303059989/1250/lincoln-gets-low-priced-rivals-in-limousine-wars

Volkswagen unveils diesel off-road hybrid concept

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/volkswagen-debuting-diesel-off-road-hybrid-concept/1

China auto sales seen to have worst start in seven years as economy cools

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-03-04/china-car-sales-seen-having-worst-start-since-2005-on-economy.html

Screws tighten on European automakers

http://www.freep.com/article/20120304/BUSINESS01/120304008/Screws-tighten-European-automakers?odyssey=tab

**Dealer/Industry News**

BMW cars ask for service, but some humans fail to respond

http://www.autonews.com/article/20120305/RETAIL07/303059996/1147/bmw-cars-ask-for-service-but-some-humans-fail-to-respond

Obama says next-gen cars will slash drivers’ gas bills

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/obama-says-next-gen-cars-will-slash-drivers-gas-bills/1

**Ad/Media/Marketing News**

Chevy ad campaign channels ‘The Office’

http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/2012/03/05/chevy-ad-campaign-channels-the-office/

Now that Justin Bieber has a Fisker, what’s a Fisker?

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/03/fisker-karma-justin-bieber-ashton-kutcher/1

Fiat is ‘winning’ with Charlie Sheen ad

http://money.cnn.com/2012/03/02/autos/charlie_sheen_fiat/index.htm

Mercedes-Benz’s Cannon on his move from chief marketer to corner office

http://adage.com/article/cmo-strategy/mercedes-benz-s-steve-cannon-cmo-ceo/233074/

Kia Motors America announces Kia Classic winner to receive new range-topping Optima Limited

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kia-motors-america-announces-kia-classic-winner-to-receive-new-range-topping-optima-limited-141206563.html

Harley-Davidson’s Fan Machine generates new ad

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/169350/harley-davidsons-fan-machine-generates-new-ad.html?edition=44168

Facebook warns brands that scale in social won’t come for free

http://adage.com/article/digital/facebook-warns-brands-scale-social-free/233105/

Facebook’s U.S. user growth slows but Twitter sees double-digit gains

http://www.emarketer.com/Article.aspx?R=1008879&ecid=a6506033675d47f881651943c21c5ed4

What analytics can do for your mobile app

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/168592/what-analytics-can-do-for-your-mobile-app.html?edition=44168

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