Paying attention to the changing lifestyles of the consumer is very important. When you have so much competition differentiating your product over others with a little tiny thing that suits (the consumer's) lifestyle may be enough to sway them.

There's so much competition out there, and it's really a finite number when you talk about the attention of the book-buying audience,

It was amazing to me that one competition could bring so much attention to the sport. When I'm on planes, I'd talk to people and I'd tell them I compete in the X Games. Some would know what it was, but maybe half didn't. But everyone knows about the Olympics. They're really like the X Games for the world!

So far, the perceived gas price increases have not had any discernible impact on new-vehicle buying patterns, as least with regard to the size of the engine.

The Patriot can end up cannibalizing or competing with vehicles in the Jeep lineup and not provide the incremental volume that they hope it does.

Volker Kruger's extensive automotive background adds another valuable asset to our European team. We see tremendous opportunities to better serve clients in Germany and in surrounding areas with the addition of Mr. Kruger.