Jalopnik: business week

Where's The Wild-Ass Speculation On Ford's Private Plan?

Ray Wert — Fri, 25 Aug 2006 10:05:17 EDT

After we reminded folks of our own wild-ass speculation earlier this month on FoMoCo's prior planning for privatization, people are even beginning to notice our explanation for M&A expert Kenneth Leet's recent hire by the Dearborn-based automaker (to sell stuff to raise money to go private). Ahh, we're starting to feel like we're batting 1.000 on the punditry front this AM, with new articles up on the topic over at the Freep and Edmunds. We feel kind of like David Kiley over at BusinessWeek today, after he was vindicated over us taking him to task over his wild-ass speculation. But of course then he took us to task over us taking him to — wait, now we're confused. But anyway, speaking of Kiley, the man had a great little interview with Boss Bill himself — and yet, where was the question on taking FoMoCo private? Come on man, at least engage in the wild-ass speculation when you got the big man right in front of ya — it's like a disservice to all of us wild-ass speculators out there if you don't.

Ford on Ford [BusinessWeek]

Toyota Tells All: "GM Hasn't Talked To Us, We Haven't Talked To Them."

Ray Wert — Mon, 17 Jul 2006 12:00:40 EDT

In an attempt to counter some weekend wild-ass speculation — the Detroit News is reporting from another unnamed Toyota source — apparently with a different opinion from that made by BusinessWeek's David Kiley:

"They haven't approached us, and we haven't approached them."

With all of these unnamed sources running around — one talking to Kiley, and one talking to Christine Tierney of the Detroit News — we're starting to wonder if maybe the unnamed sources should start talking to each other first to make sure everyone's on the same page. Then, when the two of you have your stories straightened out — drop us a line at tips@jalopnik.com.

Toyota not out to derail GM talks [Detroit News]
Will Toyota Make a Play for GM? [BusinessWeek]

Wild-Ass Speculation Pans Out: BusinessWeek's Kiley Sort of Vindicated

Mike Spinelli — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 09:22:15 EDT

How much does it suck to be a visionary in a world of cataracts cases? Just ask Nicolaus Copernicus or William Shatner's vocal coach or BusinessWeek's David Kiley. All were mocked for their radical views and all have, in descending order, been vindicated by history. In the weeks before the GM, Renault, Nissan, Wagoner, Kerkorian, Ghosn, et. al story broke, we chided Kiley for riffing off a Forbes interview with Carlos Ghosn and suggesting Ford Motor could become a third wheel in the Renault-Nissan twosome. "Wild-Ass Speculation," we said; he's run "screaming into the fortune-tellers tent," we said. In light of current events, Kiley turned out to have been a singular voice in the wilderness, a beacon in the mist, a lone pizza arriving on a night of drinking and self-doubt. Yeah, he's got enough wiggle room here to warrant at least an acknowledgement on our part. "Dude, you totally look like Nostradamus." How's that?

A Little Vindication For My "Wild Ass" Speculation [The Auto Beat (BusinessWeek)]

Forbes, It's Not A "Sexy Cars" List Without A Camino!

Ray Wert — Tue, 25 Apr 2006 06:00:00 EDT

Forbes has gone and done it. They've dropped their list of the Top Ten Sexiest Cars of 2006 — and there's narry a 'camino in sight. But in all seriousness, the place has totally gone downhill since Dubow left the place to peddle his wealth-porn at Business Week. That's the only reason we can think of for why they came up with the Honda Element and the Phantom as two "Sexy cars." And from what we hear, DuBow ain't making the best name for himself over at Business Week, but that's precisely the point. His attempts to spank copy-editors is already the stuff of legend. But you gotta understand, that's how DuBow rolls...and in fact, that's why he was able to roll off some of the hottest Top Ten Car lists to be found on this side of the pond. Oh DuBow, how we miss your pretentiousness.

Sexiest Cars 2006 [Forbes]

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A N-SeXy New Image For Acura? [internal]

DuBow's Bow-Wow-ing Over Autos At Business Week

Ray Wert — Wed, 19 Apr 2006 19:31:17 EDT

Charles DuBow, the former lifestyle editor for Forbes.com was most well-known for his "Top Ten list-gasms" of cars we can't afford. Last month he packed up his bags and moved over to Business Week for a spiffy new office and a spiffy-er new title of "Director, New Products." DuBow maybe shoulda kept with the whole Letterman-type gig, because a "Director, New Products" seems to consist of bitching about how his auto stories "heds" and "deks" aren't being used. Would that make him a bit of a "dek-hed?"

Please Do Not Annoy, Torment, Pester, Molest, Badger, Harass, Heckle, Tease, or Copyedit the Bigshot New Editor [Gawker]

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More Industry News [internal]