MotorMediaWATCH Daily – Feb 8, 2008

LATIMES:
Song of the Sequoia
Records on Sunset going silent and CD sales in general heading for the dumpster, it seems that musicians have had to find a new business paradigm. Take Pete Droge, whose beautifully simple, wistful song ‘Going Whichever Way The Wind Blows’ is featured on a TV ad for the new Toyota Sequoia SUV. Jingles are soooo last century.+++

WSJ:
The Road to Style
Auto makers are turning to the fashion world to inject some hipness into their brands and distinguish themselves as features and reliability become more standardized.+++

Chicago Auto Show

Auto makers showed off their latest concepts and new production models during the media days at the Chicago Auto Show this week. +++
Toyota Opens Loans to Seven Years

Toyota has begun offering customers 84-month loans on new cars in an effort to help dealers ride out the most severe downturn in the U.S. auto industry in the past decade.+++

Chrysler Plans to Cut Models, Dealers

Chrysler is laying out plans to nearly halve the number of models in its product line and significantly reduce the number of dealers selling its cars, company officials told dealers in meetings recently.+++

High Fashion Hits the Highway
Auto makers are turning to the fashion world to inject some hipness into their brands and distinguish themselves as features and reliability become more standardized.+++

Still No Frills on Subaru’s Cult Car
When the Subaru Impreza WRX made its U.S. debut in 2001, it seemed to herald a new era for car enthusiasts. An affordable performance machine that ran circles around cars costing twice the money, the “Scooby” was akin to a modern BMW 2002.+++