Owning a car may be the next best thing to the American dream of owning a home. But these days you wouldn't know it as U.S. automakers - General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), Ford Motors Corp. (NYSE: F) and DaimlerChrysler - are having trouble selling enough cars to insure their existence. However, if you're interested in opening your wallet for an automobile in the near future or just curious to see what the Big Three and others have to offer, you may want to check out the New York International Auto Show at the Jacob Javitz Center in Manhattan this weekend, the last two days of the nine-day exhibition.
The three ravaged automakers are showcasing some of their future and present lineups.
Some good, some not. One vehicle that has received a lot of attention that may play a part in GM's future bottom line is a concept car it created with Dean Kamen's Segway Inc. called the Personal Urban Mobility and Accessibility. The electric two seater is GM's pitch to corral city dwellers that need to get around in a fuel efficient, affordable vehicle. The PUMA can run up to 35 mph and weighs around 400 pounds.
But for those that are looking for a vehicle now that's roomier, you may want to check out Ford Escape Hybrid, which Edmund's says is "the most fuel-efficient SUV on the market", delivering close to 30 miles per gallon in city and highway driving. Meanwhile, Chrysler unveiled its 2011 version of its Grand Cherokee. The vehicle sports a chassis it claims is 146% stiffer than the current model. Although sounding impressive, is that what consumers crave these days? Media reports say it's a strong possibility that Chrysler and GM may not even be around in its current form in 2011 if it doesn't turnaround sales and receive more bailout money from the U.S. government.
That cloud over the uncertainty of the future of at least two of the Big Three could put the 2009 New York International Auto Show as one of the most memorable in its history. It could be the last one you see the Big Three showcasing their vehicles together. - Gerald Magpily
See Dealscape: PUMA will save GM?
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Since the big three was defeated by Asian car
companies in sales,are you willing to employ
an Asian Industrial designer?
My name is Philip Vergel,Industrial Designer
by profession and I can clearly see how the Japs.
have eaten the market.They have literary invaded
USA using Toyotas and Hondas instead of guns
and bombs.
My portfolio and bio-data are with Designerspace.
com or use Google and simply type my name.I hope
you'll give me a chance to create an entirely
new series of cars that will directly compete
with Toyota's Scion series.
Thank you very much for the opportunity
Sincerely,
Philip Vergel
205 Cerro drive B311 Daly City,CA 94015
riseti@comcast.net (650)488-0404