Volkswagen Expected To Meet Profit Target
by Anthony Fontanelle
The largest European automaker Volkswagen AG is expected to meet its profit target - something that American automakers have failed in the past years. The famed automaker has set a goal of amassing 5.1 billion euros in sales this year. That figure is for profit before taxes. In US dollars, that figures equates to about $7 billion.
A newsletter from AIADA says that the goal will be reached by the European automaker a year early. The reason for the expected attainment of the company's profit goal is its cost cutting measures. The step taken by the automotive giant has led to increasing the value of shares for the company.
Aside from the prediction that Volkswagen will reach its profit target, it is also expected that the company will reach record sales this year. If the current trend continues regarding the sales output of Volkswagen AG, the automotive company will be selling more than 6 million vehicles all over the world.
Concerning the predictions on the success of the automaker, Volkswagen released a statement which says: "The increase in unit sales and the continuous optimization of cost structures will lead to a sustainable improvement in competitiveness and our earnings power."
Aside from Volkswagen, other European automakers are also expected to post increased sale for this year. French Renault has already reached their sales target for the first half of the year and is on track to reach their target for the entire year. Fiat is also joining other European automakers having success in the auto market.
What this means is that while the demand for more fuel efficient vehicles increases, the demand for European cars have not declined. European automakers after all are already making headway in the development of environment-friendly vehicles. In this quest for the development of eco-friendly vehicles, European cars are still known for their performance. Thus Volkswagen and Renault are careful to develop new vehicles which will not only be of high performance but also fuel efficient.
By manufacturing quality auto parts such as VW relays and other electronics and mechanical auto parts, Volkswagen continues their tradition of being the first choice of many car buyers. The introduction of different auto modes catering to the needs of various auto buyers, Volkswagen continues its strong hold on its large buyer base.
The European automaker announced that they have sold 3.09 million vehicles around the world for the first six months of the year. That first half sales output by Volkswagen shows an increase of 7.8 percent compared to the number of vehicles they have sold around the world for the first six months of last year. The world's fourth largest automaker led all European auto firms in sales increase for the first half of the year.
The sales increase for Volkswagen is driven by growing demand for Volkswagen vehicles in Asia and South America. And with Volkswagen expected to reach a deal with the Malaysian government as to the purchase of the majority of Malaysian automaker Proton, sales in Asia of Volkswagen AG is expected to increase still.
Under the deal, it is expected that Volkswagen will be marketing Proton vehicles outside Asia while Proton will be helping Volkswagen increase its presence in the Malaysian auto market. Although the share of Proton in the Malaysian auto market is on the decline, the involvement of a prestigious brand such as Volkswagen can also increase the sales output of the car company in the said Asian country.
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Volkswagen Expected To Meet Profit Target
Jeep Catalytic Converter
Jeep Catalytic Converter
by Kim Baker
Effective exhaust systems need GMC catalytic converter and Jeep catalytic converter
A vehicle's exhaust system contribute to its overall performance, located here are the various components responsible for taking the exhaust away from the engine. The vital role these parts play, are what makes any vehicle run smoothly. But just because they efficiently emit those exhaust gases doesn't mean it is all good. The emission should also be less harmful for the environment. To achieve this, the vehicle needs an effective catalytic converter. For car companies like GMC and Jeep, their catalytic converters are already built in the system.
GMC catalytic converter and Jeep catalytic converter help in reducing the toxicity of the vehicles' exhaust. They basically remove harmful elements in the exhaust before they are released into the atmosphere. They do this by first keeping the air to fuel ratio very close to the stoichiometric point, which is the ideal calculation.
Most GMC catalytic converters and Jeep catalytic converters are three-way catalytic converters. This refers to the three regulated emissions they help to reduce, which are carbon monoxide, Hydrocarbons or volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Nitrogen oxides (NOx) molecules. GMC catalytic converter and Jeep catalytic converter function in three stages. The first stage is The reduction catalyst, where platinum and rhodium are used to help reduce the nitrogen oxides emissions. In the second stage or oxidization catalyst, the catalytic converter reduces the unburned hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide by burning or oxidizing them over a platinum and palladium catalyst. The final stage is a control system that monitors the exhaust stream. It also here where the information is used to control the fuel injection system.
The GMC Catalytic Converter and Jeep Catalytic Converter are great solutions to minimizing air pollution. Today, some car companies are also offering hybrid cars, which are powered by both an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. GMC catalytic converters and Jeep catalytic converters are just alternatives, because they are either built in or installed later on.
GM repair manual, performance chip turn car from weak to sleek
GM repair manual, performance chip turn car from weak to sleek
by Hailey Boss
In a great car power and reliability are a given. But, because most cars are mass produced and are often set in a standard powerband setting, as in the case of GM, power and reliability typically come beyond the stock GM parts installed on the vehicle when it rolls off the production assembly. One GM part in the aftermarket segment of the automotive industry that is designed to help GM owners up the performance of the vehicle is a plug-and-play car tuning device called the GM performance chip. On the reliability side of the car, a GM repair manual, also from the aftermarket industry, sets itself as a handy guide for car repairs that are necessary to ensure a reliable vehicle operations.
Called power programmer or performance programmer, the GM performance chip is a GM addition aimed at modifying the car's rev and speed limits, the air-to-fuel ratio and the shifting points on an automatic transmission. It boasts of a capability to unleash the extra power the GM has under the hood, helping the vehicle to make the most of the adjustments depending on the specific type of performance chip that is installed. The GM performance chip works by optimizing the fuel and ignition system in order to extract the maximum amount of horsepower and torque possible. It serves as a substitute for an ECU (Engine Control Unit) chip which contains the GM's engine lookup tables. The ECU measures the values that translate to higher fuel rates during certain driving conditions. As a result, the spark timing may also be modified when necessary to harness more horsepower.
In order that the GM maintains its reliable operations, on the other hand, a GM repair manual offers step-by-step instructions on how to perform repair and maintenance tasks. It likewise contains must-have information like torque specifications, tightening sequences, and safety procedures, enabling GM owners to know what's the right setting for a GM to get a flat out performance level. Proven to be authoritative and effective, the GM repair manual has been a trusted industry resource for years. The GM manuals feature detailed technical specs, wiring schematics, diagnostic information, component service instructions for common procedures, and other handy information. Whether one is replacing old or defective parts, modifying a vehicle for engine efficiency and torque, or building that first dream car, the GM repair manual and performance chip can help owners turn their cars from weak to sleek.
Lessen Air Pollution With Honda and Toyota Catalytic Converters
Lessen Air Pollution With Honda and Toyota Catalytic Converters
by PeteAlex
Japan-based Honda Motor Company was found in 1948 by Soichiro Honda. The company got its beginnings by making motorbikes. Today, Honda's lineup already includes fuel-sipping hybrids, spacious minivans, reliable family sedans, rugged SUV's and even a pickup. The manufacturer is a standard-bearer in many segments. Models like the Civic and the Accord are considered benchmarks in their respective classes.
Honda vehicles are known for their better-than-average fuel economy, attention to safety, concern for the environment and reliability. Every Honda vehicle has a Honda Catalytic Converter to perform its maximum performance without causing damage to the environment. Honda includes Honda catalytic converters in their emission systems to prevent the engine from polluting the environment with gases like hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides. The Honda Catalytic Converter is installed in the exhaust line, between the exhaust manifold and the muffler.
Toyota is another Japan-based car company that is currently making headlines with its continuing effort to produce environment-friendly cars like the renowned Toyota Prius. Recently, Toyota adopted the 2010 Global Vision, a vision for meeting mobility needs in a way that respects our earth and all people. It is made of long-term policies centered on the basic theme of innovation into the future.
All Toyota vehicles are equipped with Toyota catalytic converters in order to ensure that the emissions coming out of the vehicles are safe from harmful substances. A Toyota catalytic converter is said to be damaged and is in need of replacement when it has a broken or rusted out converter body or end tubes and and there is the presence of bits of substrate in other sections of the exhaust system. Symptoms of a failing Toyota catalytic converter may include a failed emissions test, poor performance, increased engine temperature, increased fuel consumption, stalling and hesitation.
The government created clean-air laws, and many laws have already been enacted that restrict the amount of pollution that cars can produce. A damaged Toyota Catalytic Converter causes a car to fail state-required emissions tests and failing these tests have unfavorable consequences.
Aside from this, it will result to a decreased engine performance so it is important to replace a damaged Toyota Catalytic Converter as soon as possible.
Toyota and GM Big Winners of the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards
Toyota and GM Big Winners of the 2007 Motorist Choice Awards
by Hailey Kerr
PRIMEDIA's IntelliChoice.com together with AutoPacific has recently announced the results of their annual Motorist Choice Awards for model year 2007. Toyota and General Motors were the big winners for the said awarding. The Japanese automaker has scored winners for eight segment of which include the overall winner Lexus LS while GM was able to have five segment winners including the GMC Yukon XL and Cadillac DTS.
The Motorist Choice Awards were given to vehicles that offer the highest customer satisfaction and the lowest cost of ownership. To come up with the winners, the data gathered from the new car and truck buyers by AutoPacific were combined with IntelliChoice's rating methodology resulting to a new kind of award that reflects both the heart and what the pockets of buyers can afford.
According to James Bell, the publisher of IntelliChoice.com, the winners for this year's award were recognized for quality and value. Toyota was able to obtain majority of the 25 vehicle segments but GM with its 2007 Cadillac DTS top the large luxury car segment.
George Peterson, President of AutoPacific further added that any vehicle scoring more than 700 in the Motorist Choice Awards might just as well be considered in the top rank of the highly desirable cars or trucks. He said that there were at least 25 vehicles that were able to obtain 700+ score however some of these vehicles didn't make the list because they lost out to other high-scoring vehicles in their segment. BMW the producer of quality BMW 328ic parts have two models that failed to make the list: 5-Series and 7 Series. The other models that failed to make the top 25 include: Lexus GS, Chevrolet Tahoe, Lincoln Town Car, Chevrolet Suburban, Acura RL, Mercedes-Benz S-Class, Mercedes-Benz E-Class, Mercedes-Benz GL450, Chevrolet Suburban, Toyota 4Runner, Lexus RX and Hyundai Azera.
The 2007 Winners of the 25 individual segment awards:
SEGMENT - Winner Aspirational Luxury Car - Lexus IS Compact Car - Mazda3 Compact Crossover SUV - Chevrolet HHR Compact Pickup - Toyota Tacoma Compact Sport Utility/ORV - Toyota Tacoma Economy Car - Honda Fit Image Compact Car - Volkswagen GTi Large Car - Toyota Avalon Large Heavy Duty Pickup - Chevrolet Silverado HD Large Light Duty Pickup - Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Large Luxury Car - Cadillac DTS Large Sport Utility - GMC Yukon XL Luxury Crossover SUV - Acura MDX Luxury Mid-Size Car - Nissan Maxima Luxury Sport Utility - Land Rover Range Rover Sport Mid-Size Car - Volkswagen Jetta Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Honda CR-V Mid-Size Sport Utility - Toyota 4Runner Minivan - Honda Odyssey Premium Luxury Car - Lexus LS Premium Mid-Size Car - Nissan Altima Premium Mid-Size Crossover SUV - Nissan Murano Premium Sports Car - Lexus SC Sports Car - Porsche Boxster Sporty Car - Scion tC
GM axle and ball joint assembly: Key to a comfortable ride
GM axle and ball joint assembly: Key to a comfortable ride
by Hailey Boss
The GM axle assembly is the central shaft under the car frame that links the vehicle to the rotating drive wheels. Composed of a network of GM ball joints, bearings and bushings, the axle allows the wheels to turn while keeping their positions relative to one another and to the vehicle frame. A GM axle typically installed on the rear end of the car is fixed to a rotating gear, while a GM axle with GM ball joints are installed on the front wheels of the vehicle where steering capability is a chief requisite. The well oiled joints and bearings in the mounting points of the GM axle assembly keep the car under a tight rein from vehicle cruising to revved-up driving.
Necessary in a slew of vehicle operations ranging from accelerating, braking, and steering, the GM axle assemblies sport various structural designs and settings. A world standard GM axle assembly consists of one shaft connecting the right wheel to the left. It is a design consideration aimed at souping up the car in terms of weight load capacity and resistance to stress. Such design is still in use on off-road cars and heavy-duty GM vehicles. For sedans and compact cars, the drivetrain sports a split GM axle design, where individual wheels are attached to an independent shaft. Because each wheel runs on its own set of GM ball joints, independent suspension of the wheels is available and allows for a smoother ride. Additionally, the split GM axle assembly allows various speeds of wheel rotations when the car hugs curves and is engaged in an off-road drive condition, improving traction and prevent excessive tire wear.
The GM axle assembly is usually reinforced inside a steel billet. Also, a tandem GM axle can be used on a number of GM models requiring higher weight load capacity. The GM ball joints likewise are ordinarily enclosed in a steel casing, which gives protection to the joints against gunk and road salt that may otherwise get into the assembly and affect vehicle operations. A specialized type of GM ball joints, the motion control ball joints, is fitted with an internal spring aimed at preventing vibration problems in the linkage. It is designed to eliminate bumps and bounces in the suspension, isolating the GM axle joints from the chronically uncomfortable ride of such drive conditions.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Ford Airstream Nears the Mainstream
Ford Airstream Nears the Mainstream
by Tom Shanley
The Ford Airstream is truly one-of-a-kind. Few vehicles elicit a mixed reaction of disbelief, fascination and a comedic giggle during auto shows but the Ford Airstream concept car might have successfully done just that. Conjuring up images of wacky road trips, the Ford Airstream looks like the birth child of a marriage between family vans, space capsules, Airstream trailers, and a Pimp My Ride episode.
Launched at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show earlier this year, the Ford Airstream is the product of a collaboration between Ford Motors and Airstream that came about while the former was busy designing a concept vehicle centered around the idea of the American Journey. With Airstream holding a strong presence in American road travel, the two coming together was an ideal match.
Can this be the future of road travel? Ford certainly designed this with a focus on what crossover vehicles might look like in the future. The Ford Airstream looks fun and comfortable, the technology is top-notch and, with partial funding from the U.S. Department of Energy, it might prove a great solution to our current fuel woes.
Features
Most notable among the vehicle's impressive package is the Hyseries Drive. The Hyseries Drive is the Ford Airstream's battery-run powertrain with its own onboard plug-in charger and a hydrogen fuel-cell. The cell, provided by Ford partner Ballard, automatically turns on when the battery charge dips to below 40-percent. It is less than half the size, lasts almost twice as long, and built much simpler than existing conventional fuel cell systems.
The fuel cell serves to give juice to the battery and nothing more, a departure from previous fuel cell-powered vehicles, which used it to drive the wheels, allowing the Airstream fuel cell to be smaller and less prone to fluctuations. The Ford Airstream is designed to run using the battery's energy the whole time and boasts an equivalent fuel economy of 41 mpg.
The exterior design borrowed heavily on Airtsream trailer. The doors are large and asymmetrical, allowing for unobstructed loading of large cargo. The passenger-side clamshell door is huge, allowing an opening that runs two-thirds the entire length of the van. How to open the doors while parked between two vehicles on either side will be another story though, perhaps to be attended to if this concept ever sees production.
The futuristic theme extends to the car's interior, which features a plethora of high-end gadgets, including:
* Pod-shaped seats in the cabin that can rotate 360-degrees * Floating instrument panel * Touch-sensitive, flush-mounted controls * Dual-view screen on the dashboard showing a camera feed and secondary driver information * Lounge-style seats lining the sides on the rear * Four-point safety belts * 360-degree large-screen in the rear for entertainment and games
The Future
The real story in the Ford Airstream is the fuel-cell technology and the revised powertrain, allowing for real innovations in both design and performance.
The sad reality is we have seen concept exotic cars like this for years, but very few have truly hit the streets in full production capability. With environmental awareness reaching all-time highs, a radical environment-friendly vehicle might see wide commercial-acceptance soon. Perhaps, even a tricked-out vehicle such as the Ford Airstream.
The Ford Mustang Has It All
The Ford Mustang Has It All
One of the cars that immortalized Ford's niche in the car industry, is unarguably the Ford Mustang. This is the car that “started it all.” Since its debut to the public, its sales has been in an upstream direction. It caused panic to other competing brands which were then unprepared for the birth of such a ride. General Motors and Chevrolet were left with the battle to create the car that could top the Mustang. Years later, the Ford Mustang is still one of the bets coupes to ever grace the industry. With its high quality Ford Mustang Parts, one must not contest how this car once dominated the top.
The Ford Mustang is comprised of Ford parts that were designed specifically to help the Mustang perform to its fullest. Every component was engineered to perfection, from the Ford hood up to the Ford Spoiler. This ride may not be as fast and jaw-dropping without the Ford Spoilers. Because of its goal to “spoil” the unfavorable air movement across the body of the Mustang, it improves the car's stability by decreasing its drag, or lift. The Ford Spoiler is among the Ford Mustang Parts that help it to maintain its high performance. It may add that certain flair in the aesthetics of the Mustang, but the Ford Spoiler is definitely not just there to please the eyes---it also pleases one's appetite for the ride that has it all.
All the years that the Ford Mustang has seen through will not be possible without its ever-reliable Ford Mustang Parts. This historic car will remain to be a chosen favorite up to this day, and its accomplishments as a car will be the inspiration for all the other cars. In fact, it took a car like the Ford Mustang for Hollywood to give birth to the most memorable car chase in movies. In the film "Bullitt," Steve McQueen spruces up in his Mustang, all clad in action-packed ardor and glory. And if Hollywood says that it is a hot ride, then the Mustang must really have it all.
Ford Wheels And Ford Bumper Enhances A Car's Appearance
Ford Wheels And Ford Bumper Enhances A Car's Appearance
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, meaning what may look pleasing to one's sight may not be as attractive for another. Just as one vehicle may be appealing to one person, it may also be totally hideous to another. Some may prefer a sedan while others prefer pickup trucks, but no matter a person's taste, one can rely on Ford to adequately provide their choice of vehicle. A vehicle's appearance is sometimes its selling point. A sedan posses a sophisticated look for the general public, while a truck has that tough exterior. The bodywork is not just the focus, at times the simple parts like the wheels and bumper completes the whole exterior look.
The Ford wheels and Ford bumper are designed to enhance the exterior look of the vehicle and affect driving performance. Sometimes, motorists will replace existing Ford wheels and Ford bumper, depending on their preference. There are some instances that motorists would want a classic look, one option is getting Ford 1965 wheels. For Ford Contour owners who wants to enhance the appearance of their car, there are various Ford Contour parts available in the market today, and finding them is not very difficult.
A Ford bumper plays an important role in vehicle safety, for it helps during collisions. It basically helps prevent severe damages to the car's frame. Ford bumpers were originally made of heavy steel, in later years they have been constructed of rubber, plastic, or painted light metal leaving them susceptible to damage from even minimal contact. Ford truck bumpers also give the vehicle a more stylish look.
Ford wheels affect driving performance while making the vehicle look good. It is composed of the tires, rims and hubcaps. The wheel make the vehicle move to different directions. It is probably one of man's greatest invention. For it was the foundation of many innovations especially in transportation.
The Ford wheels and Ford bumper are very easy to replace. Today's market also offers a wide range of availability so looking for it is not that hard.
Durable Ford Auto Parts
Durable Ford Auto Parts
Ford is among the many light trucks and sports utility vehicle makers to be known worldwide. They are not only well-known, but the company also enjoys the respect it gets from being the top name when it comes to producing durable vehicles. They have savored many praises and received many awards for the bakkies they have made and for the quality parts they put in.
Mustang and Ranger are among the many known makes of Ford that has received a lot of appreciation and warm welcomes from car enthusiasts. Because of this, the Ford Auto Parts have also been known to represent the qualities Ford is mostly known for – endurance, longevity, and durability. The company has already stood for more than a century already, proving that they indeed offer these qualities that seem to be already synonymous with them.
Aside from producing light trucks, they also create vehicles along the line of luxury and comfort. That is why the Ford Auto Parts are both durable and elegant looking. These parts, although they were made to last for a long time still couldn't win over the test of time. When that happens, be sure to replace it with new Ford Auto Parts so that it could continue on serving owners transportation needs. There are a lot of dealers out there who offer quality Ford Auto Parts because besides the obvious reason of replacing them, some Ford owners love to maintain their old Ford models. The only way they could preserve such beauty is to replace the worn out parts with new one and experience a whole new performance.
Ford does not only give priority to its major parts because they also put high emphasis on small parts such as the Ford Mirror. This is because they know that their Ford power Mirrors also contribute to the overall look and performance of the vehicle. A Ford Mirror may seem to be a minor part but without their function, drivers may feel blind while driving down the streets. This part provides drivers eyes on the sides and at the rear of the car. They serve as a guide while making a turn, maneuvering as in parking, and when changing lanes. Because of that, automakers improved this part, making them a power mirror. Ford followed suit with their own set of Ford Power Mirrors.
The Ford Mirror should then be cared for and drivers must make sure that these are always on the proper angle. Failure to do so could even mean a guaranteed minor road accident. If there comes a time that the Ford Mirror and other Ford Auto Parts become broken, then a stop to trusted dealers is the solution. A Ford wouldn't be a Ford without the quality parts that these cars are accustomed to have. Ford owners better not forget this.
XM and BMW Pair Up for the Ultimate Driving Experience
XM and BMW Pair Up for the Ultimate Driving Experience
XM Satellite Radio is the cream of the crop when it comes to the radio listening experience, with millions of American consumers already experiencing the service. Since XM is such a premium radio service, it only makes sense that they are teaming up with one of the top automobile manufacturers. XM Satellite Radio and BMW automobiles are teaming up to create the ultimate luxury driving experience. With XM Satellite Radio in the car, it’s even easier for BMW drivers to cruise the roads without having to switch stations to find a good tune.
One of the reasons that XM Satellite Radio is so complimentary to BMW automobiles is the equipment they offer. The XM Direct is a perfect example of this. This is a portable satellite radio tuner that can easily connect to a satellite-ready radio with an adaptor. New BMWs are either satellite-radio ready or come with a factory installed XM satellite radio tuner, which consumers can choose at purchase time. The XM Direct can also be easily adapted to an older BMW, so smart drivers don’t have to replace their old stereo system to enjoy a satellite radio tuner in their car.
BMW is one of the vehicle makes that is most compatible with the XM Direct, with special adaptors made for their models as well as for the Mini. They permit satellite radio-ready systems and aftermarket in-dash systems to pick up a full XM Satellite Radio subscription service. It doesn’t matter what type of BMW audio system is in the vehicle, drivers still receive the same digital sound. Since BMW is the ultimate driving machine, XM Satellite Radio is a perfect partner. And consumers don’t have to worry about bulky receivers or obvious satellite radio antennas that may take away from the sleek look of their vehicles. The XM Direct easily integrates into an existing stereo system or hides behind the dash.
There is very little difficulty involved in setting up an XM Direct system in most other automobiles, as well. With most factory-installed and aftermarket car stereos it only takes a few adaptor cables to install the satellite radio tuner. These can work with stereo components from major manufacturers such as Alpine, Kenwood, Pioneer and Sony. XM Satellite Radio & BMW are the only two companies that have such a successful relationship. XM Radio also easily installs in Chryslers, Dodges, Jeeps, Buicks, Cadillacs, GMCs, Minis, Pontiacs, and Saturns. They do not offer quite as many options, incentives and compatibility, but they do make it possible to receive auto satellite radio from XM without too much trouble.
Anyone in the market for a new BMW may be pleasantly surprised to find free XM with their new vehicle purchase. People who drive older BMWs, which last forever and never go out of style, can also enjoy the easiest installation of XM Direct in their cars to enjoy the same great satellite radio service. These two companies are making it easier to enjoy the best in satellite radio and the ultimate driving experiences all at once.
LUXURIOUS CARS AT DIRT-CHEAP PRICES
LUXURIOUS CARS AT DIRT-CHEAP PRICES
Fellow investor,
It's true. The Government allows you to legally buy casual, or luxurious automotives at unbelievably low prices.
You can own any car you can imagine like BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Audi as long it is seized by the Government.
A Very Representative Case of Seized Vehicles...
Here's a typical paradigm... A drug dealer is driving his luxurious BMW on the Highway, having his car loaded with marijuana.
The Police with some effort arrests the dealer and the Government seizes his 'property'. What happens next?
The vehicle, a BMW in this case, is yanked for the Auctions -- it is available to the public for a measly tag!
Why am I really practically giving out this information? Because when you'll get your 'almost free' car, you'll remember good ol' George from http://www.bmwmaniac.com and kindly reciprocate by shopping for parts and accessories!
EVERY DAY, TENTHS OF CARS ARE 'UP-FOR-GRABS' VIA GOVERNMENT AUCTIONS!
For further information on the Auctions, ask for details at your local Police Department, or better...
Refer straight to the Auto Auction Center. The Auto Auction Center( http://hop.clickbank.net/?jojo7/netcom3 ) has all the information you'll need, compiled via a priceless interface plus Lively Reported Seized Cars up for grabs!
Sunday, July 29, 2007
BMW Sauber Faces Weather Challenge
BMW Sauber Faces Weather Challenge
by Anthony Fontanelle
BMW Sauber has so far fended off the challenge of defending world champion Renault. But these two Formula One teams are not fighting for the top spot, in fact, the two teams are battling for third place and BMW currently occupies that spot.
Renault though has shown resurgence prior to the French and British Grands Prix. BMW Sauber's duo of Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld though managed to upstage Renault's duo of Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen at the said two races. Thus going into the European Grand Prix, BMW Sauber sits comfortably in third place.
Although in third, BMW is far from catching frontrunners McLaren Mercedes and Scuderia Ferrari. The two teams have the monopoly on wins this season. McLaren has four wins - two from Fernando Alonso and two from Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari, on the other hand, has five wins; Kimi Raikkonen has three while Felipe Massa has two. In comparison, BMW Sauber only has a single podium finish this season courtesy of Heidfeld at the Canadian Grand Prix.
On Friday, Heidfeld and Kubica participated in the free practice session which has gone well for both drivers. The only problem that they have is the weather. Due to rain showers, the team has to anticipate when to change tires.
During the practice sessions, BMW Sauber had a taste of what Sunday would be like if it rains. Kubica said that they had a good run but the weather was something else. "The day was quite okay but the weather was so so," said the Polish Formula One driver in an interview after the practice sessions.
"The track was a bit wet for the first half an hour of the afternoon session, but then it dried. We did tire evaluation in the morning and then in the afternoon worked on the set-up, mainly doing research to get the right balance of the car as it is a big change from the last two races," Kubica continued.
Heidfeld is currently fifth in the drivers' championship standings and is now looking for a good performance to give their team a better chance of catching up to McLaren and Ferrari. The German Formula One driver is in agreement with Kubica in saying that they had a good day of driving.
"Our Friday went well, even better than expected before the weekend," pointed out the 30-year old Heidfeld. The German also bemoans the effect of the weather on their chances to a good race. "In the first session especially we were strong. In the second session the balance of my car wasn't as good, although we didn't change a lot. It was down to the track conditions - the rain had washed the rubber away and the wind had changed direction."
The German though is still upbeat with their performance on both practice runs. "But as usual the second practice session never really demonstrates our true performance. I think we have a good basis to work from," concluded Heidfeld.
Meanwhile, in other BMW news, the name is now being used for exactly 90 years (July 21, 2007). It was in 1917 that the name BMW was first used by the Bavarian automaker. On July 23, 1917, the automaker issued a letter informing everyone that a new force in the auto industry has emerged. The letter said: "May we respectfully inform you that, with effect from this day, we have changed our company name to Bayerische Motoren Werke."
Hybrid car plugs in at home
Hybrid car plugs in at home
Batteries can be recharged using standard wall outlet; model isn't ready for sale
Toyota already dominates the hybrid market with more than a million of the vehicles sold over the past decade. Now, it has developed a new type of hybrid that plugs into a home socket for a longer ride as an electric car, raising the stakes in the race to develop the vehicles.
The Toyota Plug-in HV received approval this week to run on Japan's public roads for tests -- the first time a manufacturer has received such a government OK in Japan, Toyota Motor Corp. said. Toyota plans tests for the United States and Europe.
Other major automakers such as General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co are developing plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged via a standard wall outlet.
Like most hybrids now on sale, which are powered by electric motors and gasoline engines, the new Toyota model also gets recharged by converting energy from braking and when the wheels spin. The advantage of the plug-in is that it runs longer on electricity than regular hybrids.
It is widely thought that hybrid vehicles can help reduce global warming because they have better mileage than a comparable gas engine vehicle.
Masatami Takimoto, the Toyota executive in charge of technology, declined to say when Toyota will bring a plug-in hybrid to market. Innovation in battery technology is needed, he said.
The Plug-in HV displayed this week runs on the same nickel-metal-hydride battery as the Prius and has a cruising range of eight miles on electricity. Takimoto said tests will help in deciding the range that consumers want, as well as gather information about emissions and fuel efficiency.
The maximum speed of Plug-in HV is 62 mph as an electric vehicle. The batteries require about 90 minutes to recharge at 200 volts and three or four hours at 100 volts, and the company recommends recharging overnight, when power costs are cheaper in Japan.
Toyota, which introduced the Prius in 1997, has the advantage of 10 years of experience in selling hybrid technology. It has set a target of selling a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.
General Motors is developing the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and says it hopes its plug-ins can reach showrooms by 2010.
Ford announced a partnership this month with Southern California Edison to test rechargeable hybrid vehicles and hasten mass production of plug-in hybrids.
Porsche to release new hybrid car
Porsche to release new hybrid car
(MENAFN) The Head of Porsche AG's new hybrid program announced that the company's first hybrid vehicle will be ready within three years, saying it showed progress by a company derided by some environmental groups as a climate destroyer, AP reported.
Leaders of Germany's auto industry have rejected criticisms that they lack the initiative to build more environmentally friendly cars, saying that they were working on new, fuel-efficient models.
Porsche's Cayenne hybrid is being developed in part with Volkswagen AG and Audi AG, and when complete is expected to reduce the sport utility vehicle's fuel consumption by almost one-third. The four-door SUV is expected to be on the market by the end of the decade, the Stuttgart-based automaker said, a major move for the company in an increasingly carbon-conscious world.
It is worth mentioning that Germany's auto industry, which includes Volkswagen AG, DaimlerChrysler AG and BMW AG, has come under repeated criticism that it has not built more environmentally friendly vehicles.
Luxury Car Quotes
Luxury Car Quotes
by Ben Padnos
Determining exactly what constitutes a luxury car gets tricky because the criteria seem to vary. For example, you may define it according to a certain price range or manufacturer, or the technological and comfort features a vehicle offers. Nowadays there are also more than just cars to consider...luxury now abounds in many SUVs, wagons, compacts, and even pick-up trucks.
Remember the old saying, "beauty is in the eye of the beholder"? Luxury varies by individual, so let's define a luxury car as one that offers the most in the way of convenience, creature comforts, and drivability to a specific driver. Entry-level luxury cars can cost in the neighborhood of $35,000 to $40,000.
This category attracts people who want the prestige that comes from driving vehicles made by automobile makers known for high quality. Examples include Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Cadillac, and Lincoln, to name just a few. Some manufacturers not generally considered producers of luxury cars also make high-end models with enough bells and whistles to be considered luxurious.
In any event, comfort, convenience, and great engineering in varying degrees ultimately determine luxury. Things such as quality leather seats, thick, lush carpeting, real wood trim, quiet, stabilized ride, a solid build, and a smoothly purring engine with enough power to never be sluggish constitute luxury for most drivers. In this age of technology, each year brings a new tool, and now we can navigate by watching an in-dash screen, listen to incredible sound systems that completely surround us in the car; and even let our cars parallel park themselves. Even more importantly - safety features continue to evolve as well.
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2010 VW Beetle: Full Modern, More Upscale
2010 VW Beetle: Full Modern, More Upscale
by Anthony Fontanelle
Amidst the board-room shakeups and in-flux product plans following the quasi-takeover by Porsche, a few things have nevertheless stayed on course at Volkswagen Central in Wolfsburg, Germany. One such project is the replacement for the not so new New Beetle, which is reportedly on track for a 2010 launch, said Mark Stehrenberger of Motor Trend.
According to the sources, the 2010 VW Beetle will once again be styled in California and engineered in Germany. It will be sharing a platform with the next-generation Rabbit and the new Scirocco. The next-generation Beetle, on the other hand, is an attempt to deviate from the 'chick car' image attached to it in the previous years.
To create a more upscale and full modern look and style, a VW pool of designers use sleek and elegant body parts mated to enhanced and hi-tech auto equipment. The next-gen Beetle will be made bigger than the current model. It will also make better use of the extra interior space.
The upcoming Beetle will be equipped with improved a VW window switch, roof, fenders, engines, a radiator, car accessories, striking design cues, and other noteworthy modifications.
The charming bug-eye aura, rounded contours, and spherical roofline are binned in favor of a more aggressive, and more conventional, style with a sportier deportment and coupe-style roof as illustrated in the drawings. The new Beetle is being penned to easily adapt for a wide variety of model variants. The upcoming Beetle is the reason why the German automaker has hesitated bringing the Scirocco, an almost identical car, stateside.
Additionally, a soft-top cabrio will come shortly after the hatchback's launch, with a sport wagon with small rear doors reportedly coming shortly thereafter. Other variants on the table include a micro-van, a pickup, and a sport wagon-based crossover, with hotted-up versions also part of the product mix, said Stehrenberger.
The plan to get rid of the iconic classic shape of the Beetle may result to backfiring if performed - it is an understandable move for VW to attempt to produce a sub-brand using the Beetle name. The strategy can be likened to BMW's venture with its Mini lineup.
The Beetle was widely scorned for its odd styling, rough ride, weak power, and high noise levels. But the car was ultimately the longest and most produced for a solitary design. It remained a hot seller even as rear-wheel drive traditional subcompacts were improved until ultimately replaced by front-wheel drive models. The German automaker intends to preserve the hot-selling factor of the car hence the plan of reviving the same in a more upbeat and upscale manner.
In creating the New Beetle, VW did an awesome job of seizing the essence of the old variant in both form and function. Since then, the New Beetle, launched in 1998, has undergone some minor facelifts but little else, leaving its interior design and architecture to sour as the auto competition leapt ahead with more tidy executions and enhanced materials.
"In principle, I like the New Beetle save for its interior. Yes, ergonomically it's comfortable enough but please, less plastic expanses and fewer diminutive audio buttons would be start," said Stehrenberger. "Despite its shortcomings, the quirkiness of the Beetle's living space will endear it to most if not all owners, as will its fun factor. Buyers seeking practicality and efficiency over style and nostalgia will likely pass on a Beetle. This front engine, front-wheel-drive version of Germany's famed folks-wagon is completely modern but it's no Honda Fit when it comes to cargo space and frugality." But Beetle aficionados should delight the fact that VW is making the iconic car much better.
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Lexus GS 450h
Lexus GS 450h
by Joe Ratzkin
Environmental care for most people means driving a Toyota Prius.
But now, at the forefront of hybrid technology, Lexus brings the GS 450h - the world's first high performance hybrid saloon. Lexus is the luxury division of Toyota, which brought the car industry saying "oh!" into the 21st Century with the noble Prius.
The Lexus GS 450h is a big car that has a conventional 3.5-litre, V6 petrol engine delivering 292bhp which is supplemented by an electric motor powered by a battery pack in the boot, which adds another 197bhp.
The GS 450h can run for just 2km in electric mode only. But the petrol engine gives the car a chance to recharge its batteries through regenerative braking. Other neat touches include the engine shutting off and then restarting when it is time to pull away at traffic lights. This is a car full of creative tricks.
The actual total output from the two power plants is 335bhp when working in combination, which is enough to propel the GS 450h to 62mph in 5.9s and on to an electronically limited top end speed of 155mph.
For a more customized car, Lexus aftermarket parts can be added to this big one.
Acceleration is completely gives you less effort for the engine is so quiet and smooth, even under hard acceleration and with a seamless CVT automatic gearbox. This car assures no rough noises, or squirming torque-steer, or roars to the red line.
The car runs quick and everything is finger light, thereby giving relaxed ride and relatively few sporting pretensions.
The adaptive variable suspension has a Sport setting, which also minimizes the steering ratio. The gearbox have a sequential-shift mode, with six pre-set gears; but somehow, using these, given the beyond adequate response in the normal settings, is hardly necessary.
The GS 450h claims that it is a mighty impressive car when judged against the BMW 5-Series, Mercedes E-Class and Audi's A6. That is a tough competition, but there is no other place for the elegant Lexus and the pure petrol-powered 460 that won the World Car of the Year Award.
As regards styling, the Japanese brand has combined the huge interior space of a big Mercedes with a sloping, near coupe-style roofline to come up with a shape that belies the car's iconic five-meter length. Lexus might not quite compete with what the finest cars Europe has to offer when it comes to looks, but the pay-off comes with their legendary build quality and reliability, as well as the ever so gentle sense of smugness.
Good Thing Lexus is a Hybrid
Good Thing Lexus is a Hybrid
by Joe Ratzkin
People nowadays are constantly being reminded to protect the environment as Mother Earth may return to us what we have being giving her. We are continuously being educated as to how we can avoid or at least slow down the damage. In other words, we are taught how to go "green".
Lexus cars prime dealership, in Edgware Road, is leading the way to "greenship". It is where the exclusive range of luxury hybrids is flying out the doors faster than they can be supplied, with celebrities like local pop hunk Lorenz heading the file.
Diana Mckinnon, general manager of the dealership said that the hybrid drive is the fulfillment of 15 years of unswerving research and development, resulting in breakthrough models like the RX 400h luxury SUV, the GS 450h performance saloon and the LS600h luxury flagship saloon (which will be on sale starting October 1, but available for viewing/driving from mid-August). We must definitely expect that each of those cars is equipped with quality Lexus air filter as Lexus targets green.
The general manger added that their stylish and sleek Lexus hybrids are the only luxury brand available at the moment and are almost a year ahead of others. She also commented that the benefits are superlative as all three hybrids deliver a unique combination of low emissions. She also said that those cars are exceptionally quiet and fuel efficient; the petrol engine and two electric motors deliver seamless power, while returning the lowermost premium petrol SUV fuel consumption today, and also allowing a 100 per cent discount on congestion charging.
She boasted that they have been selling these hybrids incredibly quickly and celebrities, too, can't get enough of them.
Italian pop sensation Lorenz, who sang the hit song Set Me Free, shares how he loves his Lexus RX400 Hybrid. According to him, he has always been very aware of green issues while saying that he really treasures the planet and want to do his best to take care of it. He deduced that his car has been a revelation to him and that he was so amazed with its qualities.
Furthermore, he said it is really a beautiful car - very luxurious and comfortable inside - that one does not think it is even switched on. He was also particularly stunned by the fact that its petrol consumption is the lowest he has ever experienced and that he traveled a lot around the UK.
It seems that the celebrities are doing their roles in saving the planet. But like them, we, ordinary individuals can do our tasks to while enjoying the benefits of a greener planet.
The Lexus brand was established in the early 1980s and launched in 1989. It soon became associated with quality, luxury and superior customer satisfaction. The brand reliably grew quickly until (barely 12 years after it was founded) Lexus became America's best-selling line of luxury motor vehicles.
Lexus belongs to the global Toyota family, whose members together form part of the world's third-leading automaker.
Nissan: No New Models Led to Drop in Profit
Nissan: No New Models Led to Drop in Profit
by Joe Ratzkin
Nissan Motor, one of the top three Asian rivals---- together with Toyota the producer of Lexus brake pads and Honda, has recently announced that its profit dropped for the third consecutive quarter due to a decline in the domestic demand. Japan's third largest automaker has been able to sell fewer light trucks in the US while paying more in taxes.
Nissan's net income fall by 16 percent to ¥92.3 billion or $765 million for the previous three months this year ended June 30 from ¥110.2 billion a year earlier.
The reason why Nissan sold few vehicles domestically is because of the aging population, add to that the absence of new car models. While the sales of large vehicles fell due to the ever increasing prices of gasoline which reached $3 a gallon.
According to Takashi Aoki, a fund manager at Mizuho Asset Management, "Dropping domestic sales are pulling results down, while a worsening product mix worries me. As only the cheap cars like the Versa and Sentra seem to be selling well."
Last year Nissan's Chief Executive Officer Carlos Ghosn have scrapped the bonuses that are to be given to top executives including himself since the automaker has failed to reach its target not to mention profit fell for the first time in seven years.
Nissan has also not introduced any new car model in the domestic market for the last 16 months in which on the same period Toyota has introduced 11 new or redesigned models while Honda introduced three. Ghosn said that Nissan need to improve if it wants to remain competitive. He also added that the automaker should released new models on a more regular basis.
Last April, Ghosn has relinquished the supervision of North American operations giving him more time to focus in improving the performance of Nissan and Renault. The French vehicle manufacturer owns 44.3 percent of Nissan.
Three months inclusive June 30, Nissan together with Toyota and Honda has been able to benefit from the 5.3 percent drop in the value of the yen against the dollar. The yen dropped by 11.7 percent against the euro.
The company has also recap its full-year forecast stating that it will introduce 11 new or redesigned vehicles for this fiscal year. It also predicts that its new models will help in boosting net income by 4.2 percent higher than the ¥480 billion forecasted in the 12 months ending next March.
Revenue is also seen to fall by 1.6 percent to ¥10.3 trillion this fiscal year since the total for the earlier year was for 15 months sales in Europe and Mexico according to the company as it changed to accounting to a fiscal year. The carmaker's operating profit for the quarter has also dropped by 3.2 percent to ¥148.4 billion while vehicle sales increase by 5.9 percent to 875,000.
A Hybrid Cayenne In The Works For Porsche
A Hybrid Cayenne In The Works For Porsche
by Anthony Fontanelle
Toyota's unveiling of its plug-in hybrid vehicle is not surprising. General Motors' decision to develop the Chevy Volt does not surprise also considering the fact that they are being hammered by Toyota in terms of coming up with eco-friendly vehicles. What is interesting though is that Cadillac will be coming up with a hybrid Escalade. More interesting than that is a hybrid Porsche Cayenne which the German automaker said is currently being developed.
The automaker has always been known for their fast gas-guzzling cars but with the current pressure on the auto industry to reduce the emission of their vehicles, the automaker was forced into making a hybrid Porsche. The company chose the SUV Cayenne to become the first hybrid Porsche vehicle.
According to the International Herald Tribune, the automaker announced that the Cayenne Hybrid is expected to hit Porsche showrooms before the turn of the decade. The company recently opened their doors to journalist to let the auto industry have a peek at what they are doing in their quest to build a hybrid Cayenne.
Although the Cayenne has been criticized by many Porsche car owners since it does not fit well with the company's image, Porsche did not discontinue the SUV line. Furthermore, the automaker pushes the envelope further by planning to build a hybrid Cayenne. According to the automaker, they are expecting the Cayenne Hybrid to consume 23 percent less fuel compared to non-hybrid Cayennes.
The 23 percent disparity in fuel consumption means that it will be consuming more or less 8.9 liters of fuel for every 100 kilometers traveled. Converted to mpg, the Cayenne Hybrid is expected to return 26 miles or a gallon of fuel. The conventional gas-only Cayenne only gets 14 miles for a gallon on city driving and 20 miles during highway driving.
As for its impact to the environment, the Porsche Cayenne Hybrid is expected to produce 20 percent less environment damaging emissions compared to the conventional Cayenne. Although emission is reduced compared to the conventional SUV, the high powered Cayenne Hybrid would still be emitting significantly high levels of greenhouse gases. Compared to the Prius or the Altima Hybrid, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by a Cayenne Hybrid would still be very huge.
But while this may not be enough to please environmentalists, Porsche is showing that it is doing something about the threat of global warming. Recently, Greenpeace members picketed in front of the automaker's headquarters in Stuttgart.
In defense, the automaker pointed out that the small number of Porsche vehicles on the roads of the global community today adds little to the increasing amount of greenhouse gases expelled to the atmosphere. "To refer to Porsche as a 'climate pig,' given these facts, is not only inappropriate but also malicious and a clear sign of bad intent," said the company.
The hybrid powertrain of the Cayenne is developed with performance still in mind. Unlike Toyota which puts fuel efficiency before performance in the development of hybrid vehicles, the German automaker still considers performance even though it is developing a hybrid vehicle.
The hybrid powertrain is developed by Porsche with inputs from another German automaker Audi. Volkswagen, known for producing reliable auto parts such as Volkswagen radiators, is also involved in the development of the hybrid powertrain. With that in mind, it would not come as a surprise if Audi comes out with its own hybrid vehicle. In fact, it can even combine the hybrid powertrain with a clean diesel engine.
Ferrari Furious Over FIA Verdict
Ferrari Furious Over FIA Verdict
by Anthony Fontanelle
The spying scandal which Bernie Ecclestone called as 'nonsense' reached its climax as an emergency World Motor Sport Council was called by the FIA, the ruling body of Formula One. During the council, McLaren was asked to answer allegation that they have used Ferrari technical details to gain advantage over the Italian team. After the deliberation, McLaren was found guilty of having in possession secret Ferrari technical details.
"The WMSC is satisfied that Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes was in possession of confidential Ferrari information and is therefore in breach of article 151c of the International Sporting Code," said FIA President Max Mosley. "However, there is insufficient evidence that this information was used in such a way as to interfere improperly with the FIA formula one world championship. We therefore impose no penalty."
But while the team was found guilty of that charge, the team will not be punished by the FIA due to the fact that no evidence was presented to show that there is no shadow of a doubt that McLaren used the Ferrari technical specs on their cars. But the FIA pointed out that once evidence surfaced that shows that the British team is guilty of using Ferrari specs on the McLaren cars, the team can face tough punishments not only for the 2007 season but also for next year.
Scuderia Ferrari is obviously furious with the decision of the FIA not to punish McLaren. The team argues that the non-punishment of McLaren 'legitimises dishonest behaviour in F1 and sets a very serious precedent'.
"The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team has been found to be in breach of article 151c of the F1 Sporting Regulations and to have therefore behaved in 'a fraudulent manner and therefore in a manner prejudicial to the interests of competition or motor sport in general," a statement from Ferrari stated.
Ferrari would have become the leader in both constructors' and drivers' championships if McLaren was penalized for having the documents. Although McLaren denied that the data was seen by any team members except the suspended Coughlan, Ferrari asserted that the possession of the documents should have incurred punishment for the McLaren team.
According to the statement released by the Italian Formula One team: "Ferrari notes that Vodafone McLaren Mercedes has been found guilty by the FIA World Council. It therefore finds it incomprehensible that violating the fundamental principle of sporting honesty does not have, as a logical and inevitable consequence, the application of a sanction."
The McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso currently leads the Ferrari pair of Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen. Hamilton and Alonso may have been expelled from the championship race if sufficient evidences were presented to the council. But since the FIA maintained that evidence is lacking, the McLaren drivers will continue their quests for the championship on their MP4-22 with Mercedes-Benz engine, the same makers of Mercedes-Benz clutches and other auto parts.
The pair is obviously relieved by the turn of events. "Having only been part of McLaren for a few months I know how important today's decision will be for everybody," said Alonso on an interview after the release of the verdict. "I am looking forward to an exciting second half of the season now and to continue our battle for both World Championships."
Championship leader Hamilton, meanwhile, has this to say: "Whilst it's only my first season in Formula 1 with the team, I already know and appreciate the commitment and dedication of the people there. As a result I am pleased with today's decision and can't wait for the rest of the season."
Toyota Aiming for Safer Vehicles
Toyota Aiming for Safer Vehicles
by Joe Ratzkin
There are different ways that could result to death, if not due to old age, illness, murder, suicide then people are likely to be killed in motor vehicle accidents. This is also the very reason why car manufacturers are working hard to reduce casualties from accidents by placing crumple zones, safety cells, and of course driver/passenger airbags to increase protection. And so far these measures have been quite successful in lowering down the number of deaths and serious injuries for both front and rear collisions.
According to recent studies, nearly three quarters of serious side collisions end up in head and upper body injuries--these are the very same injuries that Toyota is trying to prevent. The second-world largest automaker has fitted their vehicles with side-impact airbags and curtain shield airbags which are offered as standard features for Japanese passenger cars. The automaker believes that such features reduces death due to side impacts by as much as 37 percent which is not bad considering the number of accidents that happen on the road everyday.
Toyota the maker of Lexus brakes has also recently announced that all of its new models that are to be launched soon including all the new passenger vehicle models in Japan would come equipped with side-impact reducing SRS (Supplemental Restraint System) side airbags for front seats and SRS curtain shield airbags.
In case of side collisions, an SRS side airbag that is placed into the front seat is triggered reducing the risk of upper body injury for front seat occupants. Similarly, the SRS curtain shield airbags that are located between the front pillars and the roof-side rails are also triggered protecting the sides of all occupants' heads by forming a curtain-like barrier. This reduces the impact from the side windows, pillars and other internal objects and even from external objects that may struck the vehicle.
A study conducted in the United States has cited SRS side airbags and SRS curtain shield airbags as effective features in vehicles in reducing casualties from side collisions. These safety features reduces death by 37 percent. In Japan, such safety features have been able to lessen serious injuries to the head and upper body as well as death by 73 percent.
To further lessen injuries Toyota has been equipping a wide range of its vehicles with new airbags including SRS side airbags for the Celsior which was first launched in August of 1996. It has also introduced the world's first ever SRS curtain shield airbags for the Progrès model which was launched in May of 1998.
To further its efforts, Toyota is planning to increase its traffic safety initiatives by developing safer vehicles and technologies, participating in the development of a safe traffic environment and promoting or sponsoring activities that will educate people in traffic safety which the automaker believes is also important in reducing road casualties.
Ford Gains Traction, But Second Half's A Blurry
Ford Gains Traction, But Second Half's A Blurry
by Anthony Fontanelle
It pays off to struggle - that is the mantra of the Ford Motor Co. Its deep cost cutting efforts and efficient turnaround plan have dramatically bolstered the condition of the ailing American automaker. After two years, Ford has posted its strongest quarter. This is a strong proof that the company's turnaround plan was taking hold.
The pleasing sales figures also bolstered the credibility of CEO Alan Mulally, who said that the results show his turnaround plan is gaining traction even as he warned that the next few quarters will be much tougher. "There's no doubt that we are making progress," Mulally said in a conference call with analysts and reporters. "But we still have a long way to go. We expect the second half to be difficult."
Among the automaker's challenges are rising commodity prices, which increase the cost of making vehicles, reported Detroit News. Continuing weakness in the U.S. housing market, high borrowing costs and volatile oil prices are keeping demand for vehicles well below last year's levels, The News added.
Some analysts are anxious because the company's improvement remains driven by cost cuts rather than new products. "We continue to remain a bit cautious given the lack of new product and Ford's ability to maintain pricing, a key driver to recent results," said Robert Hinchliffe of UBS.
But most analysts believe that it is the other way around. "This is the third consecutive quarter since Mulally came on board that the company upsided cash flow, if not earnings per share, expectations," said Peter Nesvold of Bear Stearns. "That's encouraging."
Ford swung to a second-quarter profit of $750 million, from a loss of $317 million in the same period last year. Mulally said that the company will still post a loss for 2007, but it will be substantially less than the $12.6 billion in red ink the automaker reported for 2006. "We made even more progress than we anticipated," Mulally said last Thursday. "(But) we're still losing a lot of money in North America. We've got a long way to go."
The Dearborn-based automaker is fervently sticking to its turnaround plan for 18 months now. The plan is designed to push the automaker especially the North American division back into the black by 2009. Ford lost $279 million in the region in the second quarter, but that was $500 million better than the same three-month period in the previous year.
Ford has idled four plants and intends to close 16 factories by 2012. Also, it has eliminated thousands of workers since the end of 2005. While the cuts have been painful, Mulally said that the employees who remain are starting to believe in the company's turnaround strategy. "We're picking up momentum because we've got more and more people involved," Mulally said. "They want Ford back."
Mulally is hoping that applies to Ford's union workers, too. While the company's second-quarter profit might seem to eliminate some of the urgency surrounding those talks, auto analyst Michael Robinet of CSM Worldwide in Northville said that UAW leaders understand that it will take more than one quarter's profits to turn Ford around unlike other online stores that sell oxygen sensor Canada.
"The real chore is to get the membership to understand it," Robinet told The News. "It's clear that Detroit is less about moving the metal and more about moving the bottom line. The next contract is going to have to reflect that."
Additionally, the Dearborn-based automaker is taking other steps to ensure the efficiency of its turnaround plan. Mulally confirmed last Thursday that Ford is in negotiations with potential buyers for its Jaguar and Land Rover brands and said that the company is studying a possible sale of Volvo Cars.
Friday, July 27, 2007
Fuel Efficient SUVs From General Motors
Fuel Efficient SUVs From General Motors
by Anthony Fontanelle
The call for fuel efficient vehicles is increasing and so is the number of hybrid vehicles launched by automakers. Asian automakers are leading the pack with their hybrid cars. Toyota is the most famous, of course, with its compact Prius. Hybrids in the past are usually small cars, but when American automakers are concerned, their answer is to come up with large SUV hybrids.
Detroit automaker General Motors recently announced that they are expecting their SUV hybrids to be popular among auto buyers as these hybrids consume less fuel than the gasoline-only variants, reported The USA Today. According to the automaker, about 40 percent more fuel is consumed by non-hybrid SUVs compared to the hybrid variants. What this means is that the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrids and the GMC Yukon Hybrids are expected to have a gas mileage of about 19 to 20 mpg when it comes to city driving.
Initially General Motors announced that these hybrid SUVs are expected to offer 25 percent fuel consumption savings. The 40 percent prediction by the automaker will give their SUV hybrids with gas mileages comparable to some midsize or full size sedans. Furthermore, the fuel efficiency of these large SUVs will be better than some crossover SUVs.
The crossover SUV segment is currently the most competitive in the auto market. The reason for this is that crossover SUVs are designed to have the flexibility of SUVs and the fuel efficiency, handling, and performance of a car. But with the presence of large SUV hybrids with fuel efficiency better than crossovers, it can be expected that it will be making waves in the auto market.
The introduction of the SUV hybrids is one of the steps being taken by the automaker to meet the demand for eco-friendly vehicles. The hybrid variants of the GMC Yukon and the Chevrolet Tahoe are expected to appear in showrooms across the country this fall. The SUVs will use the two-mode hybrid system that was developed by the automaker in collaboration with BMW and Chrysler.
Aside from the Tahoe and the Yukon, General Motors is also planning to use the two-mode hybrid system with other nameplates for the next model year. The Cadillac Escalade is slated to receive a hybrid powertrain next year and so are Saturn vehicles. With General Motors' turnaround plan, it looks as if every marque under it will be given a hybrid. These SUVs are expected to do well in the market, something that the defunct Geo brand failed to do with its Geo oxygen sensor-equipped vehicles.
Mark Cieslak, the chief engineer for General Motors' full size trucks, said that the demand for full-size SUVs is still present. With more fuel efficient SUVs coming into dealerships this fall, General Motors is expecting to boost sales and increase market share in the country.
If the hybrid SUVs from General Motors an indeed save more fuel than crossovers, this will give the automaker the upper hand in terms of sales. Americans are known for their affinity for roomy vehicles like SUVs. With hybrid SUVs, auto buyers can enjoy the flexibility of these large vehicles and at the same time consume less fuel.
General Motors announced that they are planning to produce 10,000 hybrid SUVs this year. According to The USA Today, this is an ambitious mark since no hybrid SUVs have already been released thus the automaker cannot gauge the level of acceptance for hybrid SUVs.
Volkswagen Closing In On Proton Deal
Volkswagen Closing In On Proton Deal
by Anthony Fontanelle
Malaysia's national carmaker may soon be in the hands of Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen AG. Proton, established in 1983 has been dominating the Malaysian auto market until recently. The competition in the said market has led to the declining market share for the Malaysian automaker. Faced with this problem, the Malaysian government has been looking for an international automaker which is interested in buying 43 percent share in Proton which the government currently owns.
Although General Motors and Volkswagen are both having talks with the Malaysian government, it appears that the state is more interested on what Volkswagen has to offer. Three talks have already transpired between the Malaysian government and Volkswagen regarding the sale of the 43 percent share in Proton.
According to a Malaysian financial weekly publication The Edge, Volkswagen is now closing in on the deal that will give the European automaker 43 percent of Proton. Currently, the 43 percent share of the Malaysian government is in the hands of Khazanah Nasional Bhd - the investment arm of the Malaysian government.
"It is also understood that VW may have agreed to pay some cash for its 51 percent equity in the new company that will own key assets of Proton," reported The Edge. Volkswagen is expected to pour money into the Malaysian automaker. With the competition getting fiercer in the Malaysian auto market, it can be expected that Volkswagen will be leading Proton into a new era. That is if the Volkswagen and the Malaysian government agree.
The possible acquisition of Proton by Volkswagen will give the European auto maker better diversity in their offering. It is expected that Proton vehicles will be marketed by Volkswagen outside Malaysia. With the addition of Proton cars to their offering, Volkswagen will be expanding their presence in the global auto market.
In the past, Proton has enjoyed success in Malaysia due to its advantage in taxes. Non-Proton vehicles are sold in Malaysia with high taxes which mean that Proton cars are much cheaper than the cheapest competition. But with better foreign cars making an appearance in the Malaysian auto market, auto buyers slowly shifted away from Proton.
The prestige that Volkswagen will give Proton though will give the latter a boost in popularity. Aside from that, the two automakers will surely be sharing components and vehicle platforms. Auto parts such as the Volkswagen windshield wiper motor may soon be used on Proton cars. Technologies used by Volkswagen on their current auto models can also be used on Proton cars.
The Malaysian government though is not rushing. According to Malaysia's trade minister, Rafidah Aziz said that they are looking to sell the 43 percent share they have in Proton but they are not in a hurry. The government set a goal to reach a decision by the end of this year. Since Proton is an important part of Malaysia's economy, the Malaysian government is studying the deal very carefully.
"What we are looking for now is for somebody to buy the government-owned shares and that somebody should be able to provide the right kind of technology," said the trade minister as reported by Reuters.
Meanwhile, shares for Proton jumped as reports surfaced of its possible tie-up with Volkswagen AG. According to experts, the positive news is the reason for the increased share value for Proton.
Volvo Strengthening its Foothold in India
Volvo Strengthening its Foothold in India
by Rain Stockton
Despite the circulating news that Ford is likely to sell its Swedish-based subsidiary, Volvo on the other hand just doesn't want to be affected by it. As a fact, Volvo Car Corporation the producer of Volvo 240 parts has recently appointed three dealers in India in preparation of its already delayed launching in one of the world's the fastest growing market.
The three dealerships will be provided with the same visual identity and design as the rest of Volvo dealerships around the world based on the global programme adopted by Volvo which is Volvo Next Face (VNF). This programme is specifically created to produce a modern and unified look for all Volvo dealers worldwide.
According to Paul de Voijs, Managing Director, Volvo Car India, the Swedish-based automaker plans to launch its S80 sedan and XC90 sport utility vehicle in petrol and diesel variants in India by the end of 2007 and will appoint another 7-9 dealers by the end of 2008.
Managing Director Paul de Voijs has told UNI via a telephone interview, "Currently both the cars are awaiting approval on the homologation process and the prices are expected to be announced in the next two to three weeks."
Volvo will initially import vehicles and distribute them through dealers in Mumbai, New Delhi, and Chandigarh. Volvo Car also plans of sourcing auto components from India, added by Paul de Voijs.
Voijs further said as quoted by Reuters, "If we do decide to manufacture here at a later date, then we will obviously consider manufacturing with Ford." But he refused to give any comments on the specific investments or sales targets of Volvo for India.
Ford has started manufacturing vehicles in India at its Chennai plant in the year 1995 wherein it produces 60,000 vehicles annually.
Volvo for its part has earlier announced that it would launch dealerships in India scheduled in the fourth quarter of 2006. Unfortunately due to some problems encountered in obtaining necessary approvals have delayed Volvo's plans said de Viojs.
The plan of Volvo for India is modest compared to what it has in mind for China where it was able to sell more than 7,000 units last year. Volvo has also announced that China just might as well become its number two market in the next 10 years.
Volvo Car is joining a competitive Indian market wherein it has forecasted nearly double yearly sales that will reach 2 million units by 2010. De Viojs has also expressed his confidence on the company saying that it will be able to achieve its objective. He said, "I think there is no better time to enter the market than now, as the economy is still booming, GDP is growing. There's still growth to be had."
Volkswagen Obtained All-Time Record Sales for 1st Half of 2007
Volkswagen Obtained All-Time Record Sales for 1st Half of 2007
by Rain Stockton
Europe's largest automaker and producer of high quality VW Bug parts has been able to deliver around 1.8 million vehicles in the first half of this year to customers around the globe. It's 7.4 percent more than the same period last year. Volkswagen's Middle East market has experienced an increase of a staggering 32 percent as compared to last year.
The Touareg has been able to prove its position as the most popular Volkswagen vehicle in the Middle East region accounting for 33 percent of Volkswagen's total sales for the first half of 2007. There is also a 14 percent increase in the overall sales in the first half of 2007 as compared to the same period last 2006 in the region.
According to Hans-Dieter Keller the Managing Director of Volkswagen Middle East, "We are experiencing significant growth in the region as a result of our attractive and increasingly individual model range. The Touareg is our bestseller in the region and the launch of the new generation Touareg recently has boosted our sales quite dramatically for the first half of 2007. The launch of Volkswagen's new coupe-convertible, the Eos, and the introduction to the Jetta 2.5 litre earlier this year has also contributed to this growth. Apart from the excellent model range, professional market coverage by our partners has been crucial to our success."
Overall, Europe's largest automaker has been able to deliver 3.09 million vehicles to customers throughout the first six months of this year. This an all-time sale record for the company for the first half of the year which corresponding an increase of 7.8 percent over the same period last year.
Volkswagen group deliveries from January through June 2007 in Europe has also experience an increase by 3.7 percent to 1.86 million vehicles of which 1.62 million was delivered to Western Union. There was also an increase in the number of deliveries in Central and Eastern Europe reaching 238,000 vehicles marking an increase of 22.8 percent.
Europe's largest automaker was also able to sell 502,000 vehicle sin the Asia-Pacific region representing a 20.9 percent increase as compared to the first half last year. Likewise, the deliveries in China have also increased by 24.6 percent to 431,000 vehicles.
And surprisingly, Volkswagen has obtained positive results for the first half of this year on the American continents. For South America, Volkswagen has gotten 27.7 percent increase or 339,000 cars of which 260,000 was delivered to Brazil producing a 28.6 percent growth for VW there. Meanwhile in North America, Volkswagen was able to sell 263,000 vehicles or a 3.1 percent increase thereby registering a 2.8 percent increase to 163,000 vehicles.
Honda Gains Rise On Fuel-Saving Cars
Honda Gains Rise On Fuel-Saving Cars
by Anthony Fontanelle
The Honda Motor Co. announced last Wednesday that its first-quarter gains increased by 16 percent and such have been buoyed by demand for fuel-saving product lines in the United States and a weaker yen.
Additionally, net income of the second biggest Japanese automaker increased to ¥166.1 billion, or $1.4 billion, in the three months ended June 30, as compared with its ¥143.4 billion in 2006. Honda won customers in the United States, its biggest market, from domestics General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. with its Civic compact cars and CR-V SUVs.
The Tokyo-based automaker earns as much as 70 percent of its operating profit in the United States and benefited from a 5.3 percent drop in the value of Japanese currency against the dollar in the quarter, reported International Herald Tribune. Honda's world-wide sales rose 5.6 percent to 946,000 vehicles from the same period last year.
Heat is building up and it must be controlled by a Honda del sol radiator. As the competition gets even tougher, precise strategies are crucial. In June, Honda and the Toyota Motor Corp. increased production to meet rising demand from North America, Europe and Asia. Toyota raised global production 3.6 percent to 734,354 vehicles in June while Honda's global output rose four percent to 340,400 vehicles, the companies said in separate statements.
Toyota surpassed GM as the world's biggest automaker by sales in the first half of this year, bolstered by vehicle demand in the U.S. Honda increased its full-year sales and gain forecasts amid surging demand for its fuel- efficient Civic models, reported Bloomberg.
"Exports to North America have been strong,'' said Hirofumi Yokoi, an analyst at CSM Worldwide, an auto industry consulting firm. "Japanese and Korean carmakers will continue to grab market share away from Detroit.''
Toyota's overseas production rose 7.2 percent, while output in Japan increased by 0.3 percent to 368,513. The automaker's exports rose 9.6 percent to 242,101 and Honda exported 55,207 vehicles, down by 2.8 percent. Meanwhile, Honda's domestic production dived by 4.8 percent while overseas output climbed 9.2 percent, Bloomberg added.
Moreover, July domestic production is expected to decline as Japan's 12 automakers lost output of at least 120,000 vehicles after Riken Corp., Japan's biggest piston rings supplier, ceased production because of a July 16 quake in Niigata area. Carmakers will likely make up for the lost production by the end of the fiscal year, said Fujio Cho, the chairman of the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association.
Even amid increasing raw-material costs and expenses related to new production facilities Honda's net is bolstered. The automaker said that its brisk sales and the positive effects of the weak yen, which helps Japanese automakers by increasing the value of overseas earnings when converted into Japanese currency, led to its net profit of 166.1 billion yen or $1.38 billion in the three months ended June 30, up from 143.4 billion yen in the same period in 2006.
Honda increased its net-profit forecast for the year ending March 31 to 625 billion yen, a 5.5 percent increase from the year earlier. Honda's estimates were based on a conservative exchange rate of 115 yen to the dollar. So far this fiscal year, the dollar has remained at about 120 yen, causing the car maker to recalculate its earning, said Amy Chozick, an automotive writer.
Last week, Chief Executive Takeo Fukui said that Honda will increase its capacity world-wide to meet demand. A new U.S. car plant will open next year with an annual capacity to produce as many as 200,000 vehicles. Honda expects annual production in North America to reach 1.62 million vehicles by the fall of 2008, up from 1.4 million cars this year.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Toyota develops plug-in hybrid car for public road tests
Toyota develops plug-in hybrid car for public road tests
TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp. said yesterday that it has developed a plug-in hybrid vehicle for public road tests in Japan and plans tests for the U.S. and Europe.
Plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged via a standard wall outlet, are also being developed by other major automakers like General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co.
Like most hybrids now on sale, which are powered by electric motors and gasoline engines, the new model - called Toyota Plug-in HV - also gets recharged by converting energy from braking and when the wheels spin.
But the advantage of the plug-in variety is that it runs longer on electricity than regular hybrids. Electric cars use no gas and emit no pollution.
Toyota is the first manufacturer to receive government approval to conduct tests for a plug-in hybrid on Japanese public roads, it said, and will collect information about the tests from eight plug-in vehicles for the government about emissions and fuel efficiency.
Masatami Takimoto, the Toyota executive in charge of technology, declined to say when Toyota will bring a plug-in hybrid to market. Innovation in battery technology is needed, he said.
"We still need some time," he said.
The Plug-in HV displayed yesterday runs on the same nickel metal hydride battery as the Prius and has a cruising range of 8 miles on just electricity. Takimoto said tests will help in deciding the range consumers want.
The maximum speed of Plug-in HV is 62 mph as an electric vehicle. The batteries require about 1.5 hours to recharge at 200 volts and three or four hours at 100 volts.
In a short test-ride for reporters after the news conference, the vehicle zoomed along a course as a quiet electric car as long as the driver didn't accelerate too quickly. But when the driver suddenly stepped on the gas pedal, the car effortlessly switched on its gas engine to keep the ride going smoothly.
The more common hybrids such as Toyota's Prius have a cruising range of just 1.9 miles as an electric vehicle, according to Toyota.
Mass production of plug-ins is being held back by costs and battery technology that limit the vehicles' range. Manufacturers are racing to bring the technology to market as consumers seek alternatives to traditional engines and high gasoline prices.
Masanao Ozaki, an expert who writes about energy and the environment, said it is still unclear which automaker may be ahead in plug-in hybrids, and the range for Toyota's plug-in was too short to be a practical option.
"The regular hybrid may even be better for the environment," he said in an interview. "The advantage of a plug-in hybrid is that it uses electricity from homes through a regular outlet. But utilities companies predominantly use fossil fuels to produce electricity for homes."
Toyota, which introduced the Prius in 1997, has the advantage of 10 years of experience in selling hybrid technology.
It now dominates the hybrid market, with several other hybrid models, including the Camry and Lexus models. It has set a target of selling a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.
Toyota said in June its cumulative sales of hybrids passed 1 million vehicles, a landmark for the automaker.
Details of its plug-in hybrid tests for the U.S. and Europe are still undecided, Takimoto said.
General Motors is developing the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid, and says it hopes its plug-ins can reach showrooms by 2010.
Toyota to take plug-in hybrid car out on the road
Toyota to take plug-in hybrid car out on the road
By YURI KAGEYAMA
TOKYO -- Toyota already dominates the hybrid market, with more than a million of the vehicles sold over the past decade. Now, it has developed a new type of hybrid that plugs into a home socket for a longer ride as an electric car, raising the stakes in the race to develop the vehicles.
The Toyota Plug-in HV received government approval Wednesday to run on public roads for tests -- the first time a manufacturer has received such certification in Japan, Toyota Motor Corp. said. Toyota also plans tests for the U.S. and Europe.
Other major automakers such as General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. are developing plug-in hybrids, whose batteries can be recharged using a standard wall outlet.
Like most hybrids now on sale, which are powered by electric motors and gasoline engines, the new Toyota model also gets recharged by converting energy from braking and when the wheels spin. The advantage of the plug-in is that it runs longer on electricity than regular hybrids.
It is widely thought that hybrid vehicles could help reduce global warming because they have better mileage than a comparable gas engine vehicle.
Masatami Takimoto, the Toyota executive in charge of technology, declined to say when Toyota will bring a plug-in hybrid to market. Innovation in battery technology is needed, he said. "We still need some time," he said.
The Plug-in HV displayed Wednesday runs on the same nickel metal hydride battery as the Prius and has a cruising range of 8 miles on electricity. Takimoto said tests will help in deciding the range consumers want, as well as gather information about emissions and fuel efficiency.
The maximum speed of the Plug-in HV is 62 mph as an electric vehicle. The batteries require about 1.5 hours to recharge at 200 volts and three or four hours at 100 volts.
The more common hybrids such as Toyota's Prius have a cruising range of 1.9 miles as an electric vehicle, according to Toyota.
Mass production of plug-ins so far has been held back by costs and battery technology that limits the vehicles' range. Manufacturers are racing to bring the technology to market as consumers seek alternatives to traditional engines and high gasoline prices.
Toyota, which introduced the Prius in 1997, has the advantage of 10 years of experience in selling hybrid technology. It has set a target of selling a million hybrids a year sometime after 2010.
General Motors is developing the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid and says it hopes its plug-ins can reach showrooms by 2010.
Earlier this month, Ford announced a partnership with Southern California Edison to test rechargeable hybrid vehicles and hasten mass production of plug-in hybrids. Ford has been testing plug-in hybrids based on the Escape sport utility vehicle, for one, but has not said when it plans to start mass-producing them.
Toyota: 2007 Sales Forecast Still On Track
Toyota: 2007 Sales Forecast Still On Track
by Mike Bartley
The Toyota Motor Corp., which outpaced the General Motors Corp. in global vehicle sales in the first half of the year for the first time ever, set the full-year target late last year, Detroit News reported. The target is up six percent from the 8.8 million vehicles it sold around the globe in 2006.
GM has been auto industry's global top seller for more than seven decades now. Currently, the Detroit-based automaker has made no forecast for this year's sales. The Detroit-based automaker and its affiliates sold 9.1 million vehicles worldwide in 2006. But like the speedy Borla, GM is likely to be overtaken by Toyota.
On the other hand, Toyota President Katsuaki Watanabe said that he was leaving the company's sales target unchanged even though reviews were underway for all the regions. The largest Japanese automaker is seeing sales grow in the United Stated and other global markets. Escalating gas prices have produced fuel-efficient Toyota models such as the hybrid Prius and small cars Corolla, Camry and Vitz, which is also known as the Yaris.
Toyota plants were shut after a July 16 quake in north-central Japan, which damaged Riken Corp., a major auto parts supplier. The company said last Monday that 20 of its 31 assembly lines in Japan will be up by Tuesday. The closure has cost the Japanese automaker production of about 46,000 vehicles, and that number is expected to increase to about 55,000 overall, about 60 percent of them exports, Watanabe said. Toyota plans to catch up later this year on the lost production, he said.
Koji Endo, an auto analyst with Credit Suisse in Tokyo, said those vehicles amount to about three days of production, which can be easily made up on a weekend. "Overall, sales growth in North America, Russia, China and Europe is more than likely to make up for declines in Japan and Asia, and Toyota is likely to surpass its target," he said. "Toyota has set a conservative target. There is hardly any negative impact from the earthquake."
Outlining the Toyota's midyear strategy, Watanabe said that the company will contribute more to efforts against global warming and pollution by working on new technologies, including plug-in hybrids. More common hybrids already in mass production, such as the Prius, switch between an electric motor and gas engine to produce superb mileage. Additionally, plug-in hybrids do not need to be plugged in to recharge.
Other automakers also are working on the development of auto plug-in technology. Plug-in hybrids are equipped with batteries that power an electric motor, with an internal combustion engine for use when the batteries run low. The batteries can be recharged using a standard wall outlet.
Toyota said that in June, sales of its hybrid cars had passed one million units - a milestone for the Japanese automaker that started selling the Prius a decade ago but dominates the hybrid market at the present time. Toyota's 2007 global sales target would score the ninth consecutive year of global sales growth for the automaker.
Watanabe brushed off a question about the prospects of becoming number one in sales. "We must be thankful many customers are choosing to buy our products. "Being number one is a result of that," he said. "Toyota will continue to work to become a good corporate citizen in the United States and follow its principle of producing cars where they're sold."
Watanabe acknowledged the Japanese market was tough, but said new models were being well received in Japan in recent weeks. As part of an effort to woo buyers, side airbags and curtain-shield airbags will be offered as standard features on upcoming new models in Japan, he said.
Annapolis Subaru: Auto Dealership's Paradox
Annapolis Subaru: Auto Dealership's Paradox
by Anthony Fontanelle
Some bemoan that the retail auto business is increasingly difficult, yet one local dealer consistently serves customers from throughout the United States - Subaru Annapolis, reported the Examiner.
While other auto dealerships complain about sales doldrums, one retail business is singing a different tune. Amid tight competition and rising gasoline prices, the Subaru dealership is still booming. What is the secret behind?
Annapolis Subaru General Sales Manager Chris Kelly shared some of the tidbits and philosophies that have pushed the continuous growth of the dealership and earned it high customer satisfaction ratings.
Asked sets Annapolis Subaru apart from its competitors, Kelly has this to say: "It's interesting you should ask that because I was just discussing that with the staff. The only thing that sets us apart is how we treat our customers. We take great pride in the no-pressure environment at our dealership."
How does the dealership maintain a no-pressure sales environment? "That is where our staff comes in. Historically, we have not hired car salespeople. We hire good people and we train them in our way of doing business. I did recently hire two people who had previously worked at car dealerships. That is more the exception than the rule," Kelly said.
"A Subaru has a lot of unique characteristics. It is the only manufacturer where every single model they build has highest safety rating," he added. "Every Subaru also has the 'Boxer Engine' design which provides a very low center of gravity, and hence the exceptional handling characteristic. The reliability is also very high. Consumer Reports and other agencies consistently rank Subaru, Honda and Toyota as among the most reliable."
The dealership has established a good following because it does not only ensure the quality of the Subaru brake caliper but the vehicle's entirety. The service is not limited to quality, the dealership believes, a business should create an atmosphere of friendliness and reliability to keep customers coming.
"We actually reach out well beyond that to the surrounding areas and beyond. We sell cars even to those in the western states," Kelly noted. "We have customers in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas and Florida. Even on Caribbean Islands and Canada."
Basically, the thing about the dealership is viral marketing. And the best channel is no less than word of mouth. "People who buy Subarus are very particular about their cars. They understand when a dealer speaks their language and will honestly answer their questions. We appreciate their knowledge and we cater to those customers," said Kelly.
"You'll see in our scores that we have some of the highest customer satisfaction scores possible. That's because we really listen to our customers and treat them with respect. The Web has also been a significant factor in enabling us to expand beyond our local market," Kelly concluded.
Viral marketing has contributed to the dealership's exponential growth. Despite the surrounding dilemmas in the auto industry, Subaru Annapolis could not help but grow.... and grow some more.
Subaru, meanwhile, is a Japanese automaker and a division of Fuji Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. The name originated from the Japanese language meaning "unite". It is also the term for the constellation known in the west as the Pleiades. The current Subaru emblem, however, symbolizes the present company structure to deviate from the original star cluster image; it was known in the past.
While smaller than many of its rivals in the industry, Subaru has been a highly lucrative company for many years. It is famed for the production of traditional-bodied cars with full-time AWD as well as the exceptional boxer engines.
Welly Range Rover Model Car Review
Welly Range Rover Model Car Review
by Elliot Hanson
The newly redesigned Land Rover Range Rover is a work of art in the form of a luxury SUV. Welly has produced the 2003 Range Rover in 1:18 scale.
Immediately upon seeing the model you can tell Welly is improving the quality of their model cars. The body is well crafted and stays true to Land Rover's recognizable shape. The paint job is done nicely and evenly with a high gloss finish and nearly exact color matches.
Upon further inspection you start to notice the little details such as the detailed headlights and fog lights which look very realistic. The hood has "Range Rover" etched on it to further enhance realism of the front fascia. The side vents are also well done and the real lights while realistic are not as realistic as they could be for a 1:18 model car. The orange turn signal isn't as orange as its real life counter part and the light casing looks too much like plastic from certain angles.
A major point of consideration is the wheels; they're unrealistically large. Comparing Welly's Range Rover wheels to Auto Art's Range Rover Sport's wheels Auto Art is more in scale with the rest of the vehicle. The size of Welly's wheels make the diecast car seem more like a toy than a collectors item.
Moving inside to the interior some cost cutting is evident. While the interior is well crafted for a Welly model car the seats have a plasticy look and feel that detracts from the realism of them being plush leather seats. Some of the fine details that were painted seem to be slightly messy around the edges of the dash where the door joins the dashboard.
Though the center counsel is probably the best aspect of the interior. Small buttons and knobs are clear and defined. Even though the navigation system is a sticker it still looks realistic.
There's even a fold down cover for cargo modeled in rear and the tailgate and window hatch are modeled as two separate opening parts.
All in all this is a nice replica of the Land Rover Range Rover and will make a unique luxurious addition to any collection.
Land Rover Discovery Tows Accolade
Land Rover Discovery Tows Accolade
by Anthony Fontanelle
The Land Rover Discovery 3, one of the most awarded 4x4s ever, has towed yet another accolade for best 'Towcar over 1900kgs' at the inaugural Practical Caravan, and the Camping & Caravanning Club Towcar awards for 2007, Scoop reported.
"The Discovery 3 will happily tow at 100km/hr all day, and smoothes away bumps that are felt with a thump in many other 4x4s. Nothing else in this class is as accomplished an all-rounder; it's great to drive solo, tows with gusto and is supremely practical," judges of the competition said.
Land Rover's Discovery 3 is a technology-packed, premium 4x4 designed to deliver outstanding performance both on and off-road. The Discovery muscle vehicle offers superb space, comfort and flexibility, for up to seven adults and is able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes - enhancing its 'three cars in one' status, the Scoop continued.
"This is another example of the Discovery 3's breadth of capability," said Wallis Dumper, the Managing Director of Motorcorp Distributors, the New Zealand importer of Land Rover. "This award is testament to the fact that it is a supremely able vehicle and capable of tackling anything that a customer throws at it."
Land Rover's Discovery 3 is designed to deliver performance both on the road and off-road. It offers space, comfort and flexibility, for up to seven adults and it is able to tow up to 3.5 tonnes - enhancing its 'three cars in one' status, said Galway Independent.
Few cars create such admiration and annoyance in equal measure as the Land Rover Discovery. To some it symbolizes the kind of extravagance that is responsible for global warming, to others it is a practical combination of people carrier, off-roader, estate and luxury transport, said Jason Dawe of The Sunday Times.
The new styling of the Discovery carried enough of the previous cues to remain recognizable while still managing to improve internal volume. The interior is simple and extra space is gained by the use of an electronic parking brake that releases automatically when moving off.
Either way, one thing is beyond argument: the latest model is the best of the breed. The third incarnation of the Land Rover Discovery was launched in the UK in 2004 and was immediately acknowledged as being on a different plane from its forebears, Dawe noted.
The European automaker replaced the transmission and gearboxes and installed the state-of-the-art suspension systems to make the vehicle comfortable both off and on road. Under the bonnet there was a choice of two engines: petrol and diesel. The superb 2.7 liter V6 turbodiesel was the biggest seller and produces a healthy 190 horsepower. But the 4.4 liter V8 petrol unit is even quicker, with 300 horsepower under the bonnet.
According to Dawe, on the road the Discovery feels much more like a car than its predecessor thanks to the air suspension, which is standard on all but the entry-level model. "Not only does the vehicle ride well but cornering can now be tackled with a little more confidence because body roll has been significantly reduced. The latest generation of Discovery is a mighty impressive vehicle, and whether we believe it's politically correct or not it certainly deserves our respect," he noted.
The enhanced Land Rover Discovery 4.0 Series radiator and auto parts accessories equip the new variant of the vehicle. Even more impressive is how the sport utility flatters the occupants especially the driver. No matter how tough the going, the vehicle deals with it calmly, casually pulling him out of even the most troubling environment. The Discovery is proving itself to be a very reliable machine.
Volkswagen Closing In On Proton Deal
Volkswagen Closing In On Proton Deal
by Anthony Fontanelle
Malaysia's national carmaker may soon be in the hands of Europe's largest automaker, Volkswagen AG. Proton, established in 1983 has been dominating the Malaysian auto market until recently. The competition in the said market has led to the declining market share for the Malaysian automaker. Faced with this problem, the Malaysian government has been looking for an international automaker which is interested in buying 43 percent share in Proton which the government currently owns.
Although General Motors and Volkswagen are both having talks with the Malaysian government, it appears that the state is more interested on what Volkswagen has to offer. Three talks have already transpired between the Malaysian government and Volkswagen regarding the sale of the 43 percent share in Proton.
According to a Malaysian financial weekly publication The Edge, Volkswagen is now closing in on the deal that will give the European automaker 43 percent of Proton. Currently, the 43 percent share of the Malaysian government is in the hands of Khazanah Nasional Bhd - the investment arm of the Malaysian government.
"It is also understood that VW may have agreed to pay some cash for its 51 percent equity in the new company that will own key assets of Proton," reported The Edge. Volkswagen is expected to pour money into the Malaysian automaker. With the competition getting fiercer in the Malaysian auto market, it can be expected that Volkswagen will be leading Proton into a new era. That is if the Volkswagen and the Malaysian government agree.
The possible acquisition of Proton by Volkswagen will give the European auto maker better diversity in their offering. It is expected that Proton vehicles will be marketed by Volkswagen outside Malaysia. With the addition of Proton cars to their offering, Volkswagen will be expanding their presence in the global auto market.
In the past, Proton has enjoyed success in Malaysia due to its advantage in taxes. Non-Proton vehicles are sold in Malaysia with high taxes which mean that Proton cars are much cheaper than the cheapest competition. But with better foreign cars making an appearance in the Malaysian auto market, auto buyers slowly shifted away from Proton.
The prestige that Volkswagen will give Proton though will give the latter a boost in popularity. Aside from that, the two automakers will surely be sharing components and vehicle platforms. Auto parts such as the Volkswagen windshield wiper motor may soon be used on Proton cars. Technologies used by Volkswagen on their current auto models can also be used on Proton cars.
The Malaysian government though is not rushing. According to Malaysia's trade minister, Rafidah Aziz said that they are looking to sell the 43 percent share they have in Proton but they are not in a hurry. The government set a goal to reach a decision by the end of this year. Since Proton is an important part of Malaysia's economy, the Malaysian government is studying the deal very carefully.
"What we are looking for now is for somebody to buy the government-owned shares and that somebody should be able to provide the right kind of technology," said the trade minister as reported by Reuters.
Meanwhile, shares for Proton jumped as reports surfaced of its possible tie-up with Volkswagen AG. According to experts, the positive news is the reason for the increased share value for Proton.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ford Opens Doors For Jaguar, Land Rover Bids
Ford Opens Doors For Jaguar, Land Rover Bids
by Anthony Fontanelle
The recuperating Ford Motor Co. is opening its doors to welcome eager bidders. The automaker has finally decided to take that crucial step to let go two of its precious European brands included in the Premium Automotive Group (PAG).
The Dearborn-based automaker received last Thursday an undisclosed number of opening bids for its Jaguar and Land Rover British luxury brands, reported the Associated Press. Thursday was a deadline to submit early bids, but the automaker said no sale is imminent.
"We've had contacts from third parties, and we're actively evaluating them as part of our strategic review," John Gardiner, a Ford spokesman, said Thursday. "They've only been preliminary discussions, and no decisions have been made." Gardiner refused to divulge the number of bids and who submitted them.
In 2006, the second largest American automaker lost $12.7 billion and $282 million in the first quarter of 2007. The automaker has slashed thousands of jobs and closed several plants in an effort to reduce production costs. Analysts say the automaker in is need of liquid assets to sustain its turnaround plan and eventually return in the black. As such, it is selling the European brands to raise money for the improvement of Ford parts, production and business structure.
Ford sold its Aston Martin brand, also part of PAG, for $848 million in March. Now, the automaker is selling Jaguar and Land Rover. There is also a hot speculation that the Dearborn-based automaker would likely sell Volvo Cars, its Scandinavian brand. The rumor, spreading like wildfire, is still eliciting diverse speculations among auto industry watchers.
A company official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the bidding process is confidential said Thursday that preliminary bids have been submitted only for Jaguar and Land Rover, and that the company did not take bids for Volvo.
Paul Newton, an analyst in London for the Global Insight automotive research firm, said that he expects Jaguar and Land Rover to be sold separately because of Jaguar's losses. "Ford may even have to pay or assume liabilities to get Jaguar off its books," he added, "but Land Rover is a reasonable value for a buyer. I don't think anybody's going to bid cold, hard cash for Jaguar."
Newton noted Ford would like to find a buyer or buyers who would preserve the Jaguar and Land Rover heritage and jobs in the United Kingdom. Ford, which is the top auto seller in the U.K., does not want to rankle its British customers, Newton said in an interview with The Press.
Ford said Thursday that it has had contact with interested parties for its Land Rover and Jaguar luxury brands and is evaluating the level of interest, Reuters reported. "We have had contact with interested parties," said Gardiner. "We are actively evaluating the level of interest."
Quoting a company spokesman in Seoul, Bloomberg News reported Wednesday that Hyundai had no interest in acquiring another auto brand. Meanwhile, The Financial Times said that Renault of France and Nissan of Japan had decided to inhibit in the opening round of bids.
The International Herald Tribune said Ford had asked potential bidders to make themselves known by Thursday. A variety of companies, including private equity firms and possibly other automakers, have been preparing bids, continued the Tribune report.
The Tribune reported bidders were expected to include Cerberus Capital Management, the investment group that purchased the Chrysler Group in May. Other potential bidders include Ripplewood Holdings, a group led by Thomas Stallkamp, the former president of Chrysler. One Equity Partners, another investment firm whose senior partners include Jacques Nasser, former Ford CEO, may also participate in the bidding process.
General Motors Posts Quarterly Sales
General Motors Posts Quarterly Sales
by Anthony Fontanelle
Giant automaker General Motors recently posted its sales output for the second quarter of the year worldwide. According to the report made public by the Dearborn-based automaker, the company has sold more than 2 million vehicles all over the world from April to June this year.
The 2.405 million cars and light trucks sold by the automaker all over the world for the second quarter of the year is higher than last year's for the same period. From April to June last year, General Motors reported that they have sold 2.395 units around the world.
The increase in sales for the second quarter of the year is driven by record sales outside of North America. This is expected as General Motors continue to lose market share in the United States. Furthermore, the automaker is increasing its presence in the growing markets around the world. In China and India, General Motors is expanding its operations.
"GM's second quarter sales were driven by exceptionally strong demand in emerging markets," said John Middlebrook, General Motors' vice president for Global Sales, Service and Marketing Operations. "GM global sales of 4.67 million vehicles for the first half of the year reflects solid results, in fact we're on track to have our second-best annual sales performance in our almost 100-year history," he added.
Middlebrook pointed out the different emerging markets which they have posted increased sales saying: "In the second quarter we experienced record sales growth around the globe including 20 percent growth in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East - an all-time quarterly record for that region, and 8 percent growth in the Asia/Pacific region. We're also pleased to see almost 5 percent growth in Europe where we sold more than 574,000 vehicles."
While General Motors continues to sell more vehicles in Europe, South America and Asia continue to increase, the opposite is happening in the country. One bright spot for the automaker though is the Saturn brand which is one of the fastest growing auto brands in the United States. With General Motors' revitalization of the brand's lineup by partnering it with German automaker Opel, the brand has received more attention from auto buyers.
With European styled automobiles that come with Saturn repair manuals and other necessities, the new generation of Saturn vehicles is giving General Motors a much needed boost in the United States auto market.
Outside the country though, the automaker is depending on the popularity of auto models such as the Chevy Aveo, Optra, and Celta to boost sales. The Chevrolet Aveo is a compact car manufactured by General Motors Daewoo. The Optra, which is also called the Daewoo Lacetti, is also made by the Korean connection of General Motors. When General Motors acquired the Korean automaker, they rebadged the Daewoo vehicles and marketed them in Asian auto markets.
The Celta, on the other hand, is marketed as the Suzuki Fun in Argentina. The vehicle is said to be the second cheapest car sold in Brazil and other Latin American countries. This is one of the reasons for the increased sale by the automaker outside the United States. This increasing sale for the Dearborn-based automaker is expected to increase as Asian markets are expected to continue growing. With the company partnering with local automakers in countries around the world, an increasing global presence for General Motors comes as no surprise.
Audi Changes Diesel Perception
Audi Changes Diesel Perception
by Lauren Woods
In the largest auto market in the world, diesel engines are making a comeback. In the 80's, Oldsmobile introduced a diesel engine in the United States auto market. Unfortunately, the designers of the engine seem to have forgotten to make the engine less noisy and produce less black soot. Its noisy operation and unnaturally black soot emissions led to the unpopularity of diesel engines among American auto buyers.
The present generation of diesel engines though does not have those unpleasant attributes of past diesel engines. Leading the way in the development of cleaner and better diesel engines is German luxury automaker Audi. The Volkswagen AG-owned, Ingolstadt, Bavaria-based automaker has even fielded a diesel engine-powered race car at the prestigious 24 Hours of Le Mans and has already won twice with the diesel powered racecar.
This achievements made by Audi is promoting the use of diesel engines not only in Europe but also in the United States. In Europe, diesel powered luxury cars are not rare. In other countries especially in Asia, diesel engines are widely used because diesel fuel is usually priced lower than gasoline. But in the United States, the reputation of the diesel engines of the 80s has led Americans to stir clear of diesel engines.
While this perception is deeply ingrained in the minds of auto buyers, automakers are pushing through with their plans to develop clean diesel engines for the United States auto market. Ford has already introduced the F-Super Duty with its diesel engine manufactured by Navistar. General Motors is also joining the bandwagon as it is in the process of acquiring an Italian diesel engine manufacturer.
But Audi has outdone both Ford and General Motors in exhibiting the potential of diesel engines. At this year's staging of the 24 Hours of Le Mans, Audi's R10, the diesel powered racecar outpaced all gasoline-powered cars fielded in the event. With its huge torque output, it can outpace even the APC cold air intake-equipped R8.
The performance of the R10 is complemented by its significantly lower operating noise compared to gasoline-engined racecars. During downshifting, which occurs as the drivers turn corners, gasoline powered cars tends to produce a lot of noise which is usually accompanied with the sound of a backfiring engine. The R10 though produces none of that as it is designed to produce lesser noise especially during downshifts.
The dominance of diesel cars at this year's 24 Hours of Le Mans is not only shown by the Audi R10. In fact, aside from Audi, Renault also fielded a diesel-powered racecar at this year's event after its gasoline-powered entry last year was beaten soundly by Audi's diesel car. While Audi's R10 took the win, Renault's own diesel racecar finished second leaving behind the rest of the gasoline-powered field of cars.
The success of the Audi and Renault diesel racecars has surely opened the eyes of some Americans who still remember the forgettable diesel engines of the past decades. As the call for more fuel efficient vehicles increases, the success enjoyed by Audi's diesel racecars will go a long way in promoting the use of diesel engines which are considered more fuel efficient than gasoline engines. The price of diesel which is lower than gasoline can also serve as a reason for auto buyers to prefer diesel vehicles than gasoline ones in the future.
Subaru's No Pressure Philosophy
Subaru's No Pressure Philosophy
by Anthony Fontanelle
In the auto market, customer service is a very important part of dealership operations. Catering to the needs of consumers is the aim of every auto dealership. With more customers satisfied with their service, the more their popularity will increase.
At the recently released J.D. Power and Associates Consumer Service Index, British brand Jaguar ranks as having the best dealerships in the country. The amount of satisfaction that they give their consumers not only gives Jaguar a good reputation but it also attracts buyers into its dealerships across the country.
Although not in the top five of the study's findings, Japanese automaker Subaru is aware of the impact of consumer satisfaction to the overall success of a business. At the Annapolis Subaru dealership, The Examiner reported that upholding consumer welfare is a priority.
According to The Examiner, U.S. Annapolis Subaru's General Sales Manager Chris Kelly believes that the way they treat their consumers is what sets them apart from the competition. This action on the part of dealerships across the country is a positive one for consumers.
One automaker that comes to mind when dealership customer service is brought is Saturn. The General Motors brand is known for its haggle-free marketing strategy. This means that what you see on the sticker is what you will actually pay for. This marketing strategy is akin to what Annapolis Subaru is doing in terms of taking care of their customers' needs.
According to Chris Kelly in an interview with The Examiner, a 'no pressure' atmosphere is not actually hard to maintain. According to Kelly, they train their employees on their 'way of doing business'. This means that the dealership goes to great length to ensure that their personnel will be equipped properly before having them face customers.
With a proper training car salesmen or women are prepared not to pressure consumers into buying their products. This aggressive selling method might antagonize auto buyers. The 'no pressure' philosophy being used by Annapolis Subaru is a good way to make sure that consumers will not have a hard time in selecting the right Subaru vehicle for them.
In terms of the vehicles, Kelly said in the interview that what sets Subaru apart from other automakers is that it has 'a lot of unique characteristics'. One of these, according to Kelly, is the use of boxer engines. These engines are flat engines with the piston reciprocating horizontally as if they are boxing hence the term boxer engines. These engines according to Kelly have a low center of gravity. That means that it adds to the stability of Subaru vehicles which are also known for precision engineered all-wheel drive system.
Aside from that, the reliability of Subaru vehicles and its components are also strong selling points. Consumer Reports consistently ranks Subaru vehicles among the most reliable autos according to Kelly. The Japanese automaker is known for reliable auto parts such as Subaru belts, air filters, and the like.
With the 'no pressure' mentality behind Annapolis Subaru, it comes as no surprise that they not only cater to local customers. "We have customers in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, the Carolinas and Florida. Even on Caribbean Islands and Canada," said Kelly in the interview with The Examiner. The success of this particular dealership is one thing that other auto retail outlet needs to learn in order for them to serve consumers better.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Honda Pair Shows Good Performance
Honda Pair Shows Good Performance
by Katie Jones
Formula One teams are on the last stretch of their preparations for the upcoming European Grand Prix this Sunday. Friday was a busy day for all teams as free practice sessions were held in the morning and in the afternoon. During these practice runs, Formula One teams evaluate their cars and tweak them for a better performance for qualifying on Saturday and finally for the race which would be happening on Sunday.
For the Honda pair of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button, the practice session went well. But good news for the pair has reached them even before they participated on Friday's practice sessions. It was announced recently that both Button and Barrichello will be retained by Honda Racing Formula One Team for the 2008 season.
With that motivation and trouble-free practice sessions, both are looking for good performances at Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race. The only thing that went wrong for the pair is the weather. During the break between the two practice sessions, rain shower washed the rubber from the tracks which would have given them a better grip thus a faster run in the afternoon.
Button is aware of the weather and how it could affect them in the qualifying session and the race as well. "Today's running was always going to be difficult because of the weather. The rain after the first session left the track slightly damp for the start of the second," said the British Formula One driver.
Button only has a point to show after nine races this season. He is currently sixteenth in the drivers' championship standings. His dismal performance has received criticisms especially after his sixth place finish last year with 56 points. The British driver though is confident that the improvements they have made to their car will give them a better chance at finishing with points.
"With the program that we had, the work we did was positive and our long-run pace was reasonable. There is still a lot of work to do on our long-runs but the car worked well on both tires and then on new tires at the end. To get a good lap round here you need a very good set-up and today is not a bad start. We're moving in the right direction," Button mentioned.
Meanwhile, veteran driver and Ayrton Senna's protégée Rubens Barrichello is yet to score a point this season. During the afternoon practice session, he was slower not only due to the damp circuit but also because of the changes that they have made to the car.
"We made some big changes for the afternoon session and I was not very happy with the car as a result," said Barrichello. But the Brazilian is still confident that they will get things right and hopefully gave him a chance to finally earn a point at the European Grand Prix.
"They didn't translate in the way that we hoped. The track was very different as well this afternoon after the rain and it was quite windy out there. We have learned some important things for the rest of the weekend though."
Honda Racing Formula One Team is fielding the RA107s which is their new car for the season. The car uses Honda engines and other racing parts such as the Honda bumper which in Formula One is called the front wing.
Honda to Expand Further
Honda to Expand Further
by Ally Wahlberg
Honda Motor Company's announcement on its plans for a major expansion of its global production operations with new plants in Thailand, Vietnam, India and Argentina in order to meet growing demand outside Japan was made on Wednesday.
Furthermore, the Japanese car maker unveiled its plans for a $246-million research and development center in China. The center is aimed at designing a new vehicle with its joint venture partner in China specifically for the Chinese market to begin going on sale from 2010.
In Thailand Honda said that it had already begun construction of a second auto facility in Ayutthaya Province at a cost of almost $200 million that is set to start up in the second half of 2008 and eventually double its production in the country to 240 000 vehicles per year.
Moreover, Honda started work on a second facility in the sub urban areas of Hanoi with an investment of $65 million. The factory is intended to produce 500 000 motorcycles per year from the second half of 2008, thereby raising its annual production capacity in the site to 1.5 million units.
The Japanese automaker also approved plans that were first announced in January for a second auto facility in India with an investment of almost $230 million that is set to start up in late 2009 and produce about 60 000 vehicles per year.
To suffice the growing demand for vehicles in South America, Honda plans to spend $100-million on a new automobile production plant in Argentina.
To be constructed in Buenos Aires province, the facility is set to start up in 2009 with an annual production capacity of 300 000 compact passenger vehicles.
Have you ever wondered why we always see and here in the news that Japanese automakers have been ramping up their global production facilities? The answer is that they keep pace with strenuous demand for their vehicles overseas. They also do this to take advantage of lower labor costs outside of Japan - a wise move. Now you know.
Honda Motor has enjoyed several years of record profits. However, its earnings declined a bit in the last financial year up to March all along tough competition in its home market and higher costs of raw materials.
Mazda Hits 40 Million Units of Production in Japan
Mazda Hits 40 Million Units of Production in Japan
by Ally Wahlberg
Mazda Motor Corporation in July 16 reached 40 million units of cumulative production in Japan during a tribute ceremony at its Ujina Plant No. 2, which is situated near Mazda's headquarters in Hiroshima. Mazda's Representative Director, Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Hisakazu Imaki, along with executive officers and union representatives, mien as the 40 millionth Mazda -- an all-new MAZDA2 -- entered the production line. This milestone was accomplished 75 years and nine months from the date when Mazda started the production of its three-wheeled trucks in October 1931.
Imaki said that the company was able to accomplish 40 million units of cumulative production because of the huge support of their customers and the loyal efforts of the many employees and people related to Mazda. He explained that what pushes them to develop new technologies and create new value is Mazda's hunger for welcoming challenges and a lively corporate culture. The President and CEO assured that they will continue to provide their customers with vehicles that are inviting and fun to drive and make them want to drive those cars again, to maintain the car maker's track record of success going forward.
Initially, Mazda established itself in 1931 as a manufacturer of light trucks, beginning with three-wheeled trucks. When it started its production of the R360 Coupe minicar, Mazda took a brave step into the passenger car segment in 1960.
Since then, Mazda has developed into a true and competitive global corporation by producing and selling (internationally) of sports cars such as the first dual-rotor rotary engine car in the world, the Cosmo Sport and the legendary RX-7, alongside with durable models such as the Mazda Protege, Mazda 323 and Mazda 626. Mazda began to introduce a new generation of products in 2002 that vividly packed the new Zoom-Zoom brand promise. Since the start of the release of the MAZDA6 and MAZDA3, the new Zoom-Zoom vehicles have earned recognition thought out the world.
Mazda has long been dedicated to adopting innovative manufacturing styles for efficient production; and production for them means "both people and environmentally friendly". And just recently, the wider use of initiatives such as Mazda's Three Layer Wet Paint and Integrated Scheduled Production systems has enabled a uniquely flexible and high quality synchronized production line. Mazda aims to achieve further growth in the future by raising its brand value and improving business efficiency in accordance with the Mazda Advancement Plan. Mazda also assured that it will strive to provide excellent products and services that meet their customers' high expectations, with product quality, safety and environmental performance, which are atop their priority.
Japan is Mazda's home and the home of six out of top 10 largest vehicle manufacturers in the world. It is home to other multinational companies such as Toyota, Honda, Nissan, and Suzuki. We are definitely sure fans of Honda fuel tank are waiting for Honda's announcement of its cumulative production in Japan, as it ranks second to Toyota in terms of vehicle sales.
Land Rover - A true SUV
Land Rover - A true SUV
by Lance Dixon
The Land Rovers are originally British vehicles and have a manufacturing unit at Solihull in England. The first Land Rover was made in 1948 in England itself. It was designed by Maurice Wilks. He is known to have been inspired by an American jeep that he had seen at Wales. The first car was in fact itself called the Land Rover. But as time progressed, Land Rover became a brand that took to manufacturing newer cars under it. The Land Rover has passed through many hands, from the Rover group to the Premier Automotive Group, which is a part of the Ford Motor Company, and currently owns it.
If you hear the Land Rover's rich history, you are sure to exclaim, "The Land Rover almost sounds like best out of waste!" And the reasons are plenty. The body of the Rover is very light and is made from an alloy called 'Birmabright' that is made from aluminium and magnesium. This alloy is extremely rust-resistant. These vehicles were in reality, forced to be made from aluminium, as they were made in the post war periods, where there was little steel and surplus aluminium available. This alloy was also found to be softer than steel and so could bend and mould easily, requiring less number of tools. Another peculiar thing about these cars was that, the earlier vehicles were mostly of green color. This was due to the excess of green paint available after the war! The military used this color to paint the aircraft cockpits! Who would think that a world class SUV would have been made in such a way! In fact it is said that the Land Rover was designed just to keep the Rover Car Company busy during the depression period! This first model was a simple vehicle, primarily made for farm and industrial use and was made such that it could traverse all terrain. The car was highly functional and could be cleaned fully when dirtied. It was even bulletproof! The Land Rover was first showcased at the Amsterdam Motor Show and was an instant hit. It attracted the entire world and the media played an important role in this. Even the non-motor magazines gave the car lots of coverage, making the car reach beyond its target customer group.
Many of the Land Rovers have been extensively used by the military due to their durability and sturdiness and astounding features. Endurance of these vehicles can be judged from the fact that many of the cars that were made at the time of the Land Rover's introductory period, are still driven by people or appear at various shows or are being used after a little bit of restoration! This just shows that a Land Rover is certainly a lifetime investment. They are considered to be one of the safest cars to travel in and will never let you down.
1970s saw the dawn of the luxury Rovers that had all the features of a premium car besides the trademark ruggedness. The Range Rover (the first in this category) was so good that it is the first and only car to be kept in the Louvre museum at Paris as an exemplary form of modern sculpture. So much for the beauty of the Rover! It is simply incomparable. Range Rover was initially a two-door version but when its sales picked up it was made a four-door one. Increased demand and popularity amongst people, led the Range Rover to advance to better versions like the Land Rover Discovery, Defender, Freelander-which is a landmark by itself.
The Land Rovers have a fan base in the film industries across the world too! They have featured in many films! Land Rover celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1998.
The various well-known models of the Land Rover are the DISCOVERY3, FREELANDER2, DEFENDER, RANGE ROVER SPORT and RANGE ROVER VOGUE.
Despite being premium cars these cars have high maneuverability, are very fast, work astonishingly well for long distance travel, can withstand any kind of torture and are amazingly safe! If you want to experience what a true SUV is like, the Land Rovers are your best option.
Subaru: X Games 13's Exclusive Automotive And Gold Sponsor
Subaru: X Games 13's Exclusive Automotive And Gold Sponsor
by Anthony Fontanelle
ESPN announced Friday that Subaru is the exclusive automotive and gold level sponsor of the X Games 13 to be held in Los Angeles, Calif. August 2-5, reported PRNewswire.
Terms of the sponsorship agreement said that Subaru of America, Inc. will provide ESPN with a 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX to be the grand prize awarded by ESPN to the "Subaru Most Outstanding Athlete of the Games." ESPN will solely be responsible for choosing the recipient and administering the giveaway.
"We are very pleased to be an integral sponsor of X Games 13," said Tim Mahoney, the senior vice president and chief marketing officer, Subaru of America, Inc. "Last year, we had such tremendous success in the rally competition that we dubbed the event the 'WRX Games' in a celebratory print ad.' It is a perfect fit for our performance enthusiast customers that are always ready for action."
The X Games is an annual multi-sport event with a concentration on action sports. The games are divided into seasons: the Winter X Games and the X Games. The former is held in January or February, while the latter in August. Competitors perform in various categories and styles, trying to win bronze, silver and gold medals, as well as prize money. This year, the 2008 Impreza WRX will serve as the grand prize to be awarded to the 'Subaru Most Outstanding Athlete of the Games.'
The WRX, is an all-wheel drive turbocharged version of the Impreza. The Impreza WRX became popular to aficionados because of its superb performance and handling. The vehicle was originally introduced in Japan in 1992. Then it was launched in Australia and Europe.
The Impreza WRX is equipped with enhanced Subaru ball joints, radiator, filter and exhaust to complement the turbocharged 2.5L Boxer engine. Compared to the base Impreza, the WRX has larger brakes, bigger low-profile tires, and firmer, higher quality suspension components.
The Impreza WRX STI, formerly called the STi, is the highest standard-edition trim in the Impreza line. With the establishment of the Subaru Tecnica International (STI) division aimed at coordinating development for the FIA World Rally Championship and other motorsports, the Japanese company created the high-performance Impreza WRX STi. In 2001, the Impreze received a complete update to bolster performance, style, dynamics and handling. To stress, the five speed transmission, which was said to be one of Impreza's weak points, was changed to a STi engineered six speed manual transmission.
Meanwhile, the Subaru Rally Team USA driver Travis Pastrana is set to defend the X Games gold medal. In 2006, Pastrana and co-driver Christian Edstrom earned the gold medal in the inaugural X Games Rally event. Pastrana will be back in action to defend his X Games gold medal in the rally competition.
Pastrana edged out a win over former Subaru World Rally Champion Colin McRae, a rally legend. Pastrana's Subaru teammates Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino grabbed the bronze medal. The podium finishers drove Open Class Subaru Impreza WRX STI rally cars sponsored by the Japanese automaker and prepared by Vermont SportsCar.
The addition of Subaru to our roster of sponsors for X Games 13 comes at a great time after the success of last year's debut of Rally Car Racing, said Rick Alessandri, the Managing Director of the X Games Franchise. "Partnering with Subaru is a terrific fit for the X Games audience, and we look forward to growing the relationship for future action sports events."
This year, The Home Depot Center will host extra X Games competitions, while other events will return to STAPLES Center. For the complete information and schedule of X Games 13 rally events, enthusiasts can visit www.expn.com.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Volvo Announces Pricing for 2008 Model Year Vehicles
Volvo Announces Pricing for 2008 Model Year Vehicles
by Glady Reign
The Swedish car manufacturer Volvo recently announced the pricing for its lineup of 2008 model year autos. According to the Ford Motor Company-owned car manufacturer, new offerings for the United States auto market for the 20087 model year is the company's first compact car - the Volvo C30. A new engine for the S80 will also be a part of Volvo's latest offering to American car buyers.
The near-luxury coupe C30 offered by Volvo for the first time in the United States will have a starting price of $22,700 for the T5 "Version 1.0". The "Version 2.0" C30 will be priced starting at $25,700. Both versions of the C30 are equipped with a turbocharged five-cylinder engine with an output of 227 horsepower.
The luxury convertible Volvo C70 comes back in the United States auto market for the 2008 model year. The present version of the C70 fetches a starting price of $39,090. For the 2008 model year, Volvo moderately increased the price to $39,240. The convertible was introduced in 1997 by Volvo and it has received favorable reviews as well as gaining remarkable safety scores.
The Volvo C70 receives interior enhancements for the 2008 model year. The floating stack which Volvo has popularized is back with the C70 with revised controls for better user-friendliness. The handbrake is made more compact while the armrest is made longer for better driver comfort.
The S40 and its wagon version, the V50, are redesigned for the 2008 model year. For the S40, pricing will start at $24,365 while for the wagon version, pricing starts at $26,815. The all-wheel driver version of the S40 has a price tag of $30,365. For the all-wheel drive version of the V50, pricing will start at $31,565.
The Volvo S40 and the V50 were redesigned to offer better exterior and interior design cues. From the outside, the S40 looks like a smaller S80 while the V50 has moved closer to the V70. New engines were provided for the 2008 model year versions of the S40 and the V50. Aside from new engines, other components were also improved like the Volvo starter and the finely-tuned suspension assembly.
For the 2008 S80, Volvo announced that pricing will start at $42,045 for the T6 turbo with a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder engine. For the version equipped with the front-wheel drive configuration, pricing remains the same at $38,705. For the all-wheel drive version of the S80, the price increases by $2,000 as compared to the 2007 S80 version. The all-wheel drive S80 will have a starting price of $49,210.
The S80 underwent only minor changes for the 2008 model year. A new exterior color was made available for the 2008 Volvo S80 and it is called Ember Black. Two new alloy wheels are also thrown into the mix as optional items.
Volvo announced that the 2008 model year version of the V70 and the XC90 will be released later this year. While Volvo did not yet disclose the pricing for the V70 and the XC90, the company has already made public the changes made to the two auto models. The V70 is in its last leg of production. For the 2008 model year, Volvo eliminated the 300PS V70 R. For the XC90, Volvo announced that three new exterior colors will be available.
BMW Seeks further Brno Winning
BMW Seeks further Brno Winning
by Zeke Gervis
The BMW national teams have no time to party and have some fun as the FIA World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) resumes next weekend. The team aims further winning in the championship move into its ninth and tenth rounds in Brno in the Czech Republic.
The "Automotodrom Brno", the place where the race track lies, is majestically set into the open rural area of Southern Moravia. It stands in severe contrast to the small city circuit of Pau (FRA), where the previous two rounds of the WTCC took place. And the BMW racers are looking forward to the circuit that assures of several opportunities for overtaking.
The tack has a length of 5.403 kilometers and includes numbers of climbs which will combine the effects of any marginal weight in the car that is far more strongly than a flatter circuit would. Therefore, the audience should expect a tight rivalry between the teams particularly with World Championship leader Andy Priaulx (GBR) of BMW Team UK and with Augusto Farfus (BRA) of BMW Team Germany.
The two racers, after their successful performances and victory in France, will be first to transport the maximum ballast load of 60 kilos. Winning one of the two races in Brno last year, Farfus' team-mate Jorg Muller (GER) will be taking an additional 45 kilograms on board with his BMW 320si WTCC.
Meanwhile, BMW Team Italy-Spain's Felix Porteiro (ESP) scored four championship points in Pau. Having this driver in the team, they prospect to acquire another good result in Brno. Another confidence giver to the team is Alessandro Zanardi (ITA) who already gave a clear proof of his ability to handle the circuit after he finished second in the first round at the "Automotodrom Brno" in the 2006 event.
Andy Priaulx of BMW Team UK said that he had a wonderful weekend in Pau for it was fun and great for the team to once again lead the Championship. He wants to have his first win of the year in the next weekend, but he is preparing more for the Championship. He knows that for their team to lead, they will need 60 kilos of success ballast. But this is not ideal for the track. Nonetheless, he was sure that his RBM will once again cooperate with him and yield another fantastic performance. He added that Brno is a beautiful track and steep hills are surrounding it. He also commented that the track feels like a rollercoaster and that it is a bit like a mini-Spa.
BMW Team Germany's Augusto Farfus rolled over in qualifying, so winning the Pau, according to him, was a dream. He humbly said that he only contributed a percent to the entire achievement of the team. He said their success was largely due to the efforts of his teammates. He views the weekend in Brno as quite less challenging but he targets to still get more points. He added that he likes the track in Brno but he still needs to familiarize it with his BMW 320si WTCC.
Brno is not Jorg Muller's (BMW Team Germany) favorite track but he admits it is one of the most stunning stops in the WTCC because it has many thrilling sections which are challenging to drive. According to him, the surface is very even so drivers go into the event with a car set-up that is firmer than the usual.
All the leading racers are looking forward to the Brno circuit and they are excited to feel the challenge.
The BMW race teams are part of the German auto and motorcycle company BMW.
About BMW and its Motorsport
BMW is the abbreviation for Bayerische Motoren Werke (in German) or Bavarian Motor Works (in English). It independently manufactures autos and motorcycles. It is from where the MINI and the Rolls-Royce car marques came from. It also, therefore manufactures car parts under these brands like Rolls-Royce oxygen sensor. BMW was also once the owner of Rover.
With the English company slogan "The Ultimate Driving Machine", BMW has been into the world of motorsport since the production of the first motorcycle from the company.
BMW has competed, gained victor and won in many of the most desired, anticipated and prestigious races and motoring events.
Luxury Collectibles Rank First In Investments Of Passion List
Luxury Collectibles Rank First In Investments Of Passion List
by Anthony Fontanelle
According to the 2007 World Wealth Report which was issued recently by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini, the world's 9.5 million High Net Worth Individuals (HNWIs) develop an increasingly more global outlook with diversified interests, "investments of passion" have become an important portfolio allocation.
Investments of passion include luxury collectibles which cover automobiles, boats and aircraft; jewelry, art, sports-related investments like professional teams, sailing and race horses; and other collectibles categories consist of wines, antiques, coins, and the like.
The luxury collectibles ranked first, accounting for more than 26 percent of all HNWIs investments of passion in 2006. As wealth continued to concentrate in the hands of the Ultra-HNWIs, luxury collectibles became a hot seller over the previous year, with collectors purchasing classic autos and private aircraft. This is why the Mercedes-Benz headlight lens are almost on every road in affluent territories.
"As HNWIs have become citizens of the world they have parlayed a deep knowledge of many cultures into a diverse set of interests and hobbies," said Bertrand Lavayssière, the Group Director for the Capgemini Financial Services. "Now, in addition to overall portfolio returns, socially responsible investing, global diversification, and an increased focus on philanthropy, investments of passion have become yet another objective that HNWIs incorporate when assessing their overall goals and are developing wealth management strategies."
The Merrill Lynch and Capgemini's Report revealed that the art market was rated second in the category of investments of passion, with 20 percent of HNWIs allocations. Art has become a very famous commodity and many wealthy investors, even those without a fastidious enthusiasm for collecting, now see sculpture, paintings, and drawings as viable channels for diversifying their portfolios given the low correlation between art prices and the market cyclicality of stocks, bonds and real estate.
Next to art masterpieces are jewelries with 16 percent allocation in the luxury market. Jewelry reflected greater geographic variations than other investments of passion. In 2006, this category was most popular with Middle Easterners, who directed 32 percent of their investments of passion into jewelry. By contrast, Europeans, Latin Americans and North Americans, each allocated less than 20 percent.
As investments of passion continue to be of great interest to HNWIs, the cost of luxury goods and services rose nearly twice as fast as the cost of everyday consumer products in the previous year. The Report compared the consumption of luxury goods against daily consumer products. The cost of the luxury items tracked by the Forbes' Cost of Living Extremely Well Index (CLEWI) rose 7.0 percent while the cost of consumer goods and services, monitored by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 4.0 percent. This marked a significant raise in relative inflation of luxury goods over 2005, when the CLEWI increased by 4.0 percent and the CPI by 3.6 percent.
The Report concluded that the growing buying power of emerging market HNWIs will continue to drive demand for lifestyle and luxury brands. Nevertheless, this upturn carries with it the risk that as the number of HNWIs interested in investments of passion primarily for purposes of financial gain amplifies, so does the probability that these items will become overvalued. Financial service firms will have to carefully maintain equilibrium between the financial and collectible interests of these investors.
Merrill Lynch, one of the world's leading wealth management, capital markets and advisory companies, is a global trader and underwriter of securities and derivatives across a wide range of asset classes.
Meanwhile, Capgemini, the world's foremost providers of Consulting, Technology and Outsourcing services, offers noteworthy insights and capabilities that enhance companies' freedom to achieve excellent results through collaborative business experience, a unique way of working.
NASCAR Collectibles for All the Racing Aficionados
NASCAR Collectibles for All the Racing Aficionados
by Julia Crandall
No NASCAR aficionado worth his or her salt would be a certified fan without a few items of NASCAR collectibles. Just like with any other sports, it has been the tradition of true blue fans to purchase souvenir items and collectibles for them to take home as a reminder of their love for the game. For racing fans, there is a wide array of NASCAR collectibles to choose from. If you are a die hard fan of a particular driver, you may want to have die-cast cars which are mini-replicas of the actual car that they drive. Aside from die-cast cars, you can also purchase NASCAR t-shirts, caps, race tickets, travel mugs, key chains, watches, magnets - the list goes on and on!
For example, if you are a Jimmie Johnson fan, you can get a die-cast car as a NASCAR collectible. This die-cast car could be a miniature model of the Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS car that Jimmie Johnson is driving, with the signature blue color and the number 48 printed on both sides. Die-cast cars are the top items among the list of NASCAR collectibles that fans like to buy. Even if they do not get the chance to actually buy, ride or drive the ultra-expensive racing cars, at least they can take home a part of it through the NASCAR collectible items in the form of the die-cast cars modeled after the race cars driven by their NASCAR idols.
Depending on the brand, make and rarity of the NASCAR die-cast cars that you will buy, there will be a variation of the price. There are hard-to-find cars which may be costly for others, but for the serious collectors, the investment and satisfaction that they get in owning such NASCAR collectible items could be invaluable. However, there is something for everybody. Aside from die-cast cars, you can also buy apparel that you can wear the next time that you go to a NASCAR event. For the budget conscious, there are other NASCAR collectible items that you can choose from whose price will range from about a couple of dollars onwards. If you want to have a wide array of choices, you can visit Ebay.com, Amazon.com or go to the official site of NASCAR (www.nascar.com) to get a glimpse of the NASCAR collectibles that you can add to your collection. You can also go to the official web site of your favorite race drivers. Following tradition and getting souvenir items for one of the most popular sports events in the world has never been more fun than by purchasing all of the NASCAR collectible items that you can buy to your heart's content.
Hybrid Cars and Vehicles Rolling Over Competition
Hybrid Cars and Vehicles Rolling Over Competition
by Lance Freeman
Hybrid cars and vehicles have taken the market by storm over the past couple of years. This year, Toyota passed Ford for the first time as the number two automaker in the country largely because of the sales of the Prius and other vehicles such as the Camry Hybrid, the Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus 450h GS Hybrid. The anticipated Lexus LS600h L goes on sale in Fall 2007 and is expected to help widen the gap.
Although Toyota is solidly in second place in the U. S. for auto sales, they are neck and neck with General Motors for the number one position in worldwide sales. Depending upon how one crunches the numbers of sales in China, Toyota may already be number one worldwide.
On June 7, 2007, Toyota announced that they have now sold 1,000,000 hybrid cars worldwide since the Prius first rolled out in 2000. But, with increased sales has meant increased competition as well and since Toyota is not the only game in town now when it comes to hybrid cars, Prius sales slipped for the first time ever in the first quarter of 2007.
All the major auto manufacturers now have some form of hybrid vehicle either on the market or heatedly in development. Both GM and Toyota have announced that they will have plug-in hybrid vehicles that will roll out as soon as 2009.
Each of these plug-in hybrids is expected to top 100 mpg in gas mileage and could even top the 125 mpg range. Expect more automakers in the near future to announce their plug-in hybrid cars and vehicles as well as the price of lithium-ion batteries is coming down and the market for this type of vehicle is heating up.
People have turned to hybrid cars in droves in order to get better gas mileage, save money at the pump, reduce our dependency upon foreign oil and clean up the environment by burning less gasoline. In addition, the gasoline that is consumed is from a clean-burning hybrid vehicle optimized to cut down on emissions.
The Honda Insight was the first mass produced hybrid car on the market in the year 2000 and offered an astounding 61 mpg hwy and 49 mgp city at that time. The Toyota Prius, which rolled out six months later, was rated by the government Fuel Economy site as 41 mpg hwy and 42 mpg city.
The EPA rates the 2007 Toyota Prius with a combined gas mileage of 55 mpg while FuelEconomy.gov gives the same vehicle a rating of 45 mpg hwy and 48 mpg city. These numbers are confusing to most, but what they do add up to, no matter how one crunches the numbers is vast gasoline savings over the standard 27.5 mpg that current non-hybrid automobiles are supposed to achieve in the U. S. market.
One-third of all greenhouse gases currently emitted in this country come from the transportation industry. Most of the greenhouse gases are emitted in the form of CO2. In 2003, the Department of Energy estimated that the U. S. produces 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year or 23-percent of the world's total. If the public is willing, hybrid cars and vehicles can have a significant impact in cutting these numbers by as much as half within the next 5 years.
The EPA has now posted their 2008 Greenhouse Gas Scores for various makes and models of cars and hybrid vehicles take the top six slots out of ten in low emissions ratings. Leading the pack for 2008 are the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid.
For those who wish to save money at the pump, thumb our noses at foreign oil producers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is no better way than by buying a hybrid car to help in the effort. Once enough of us do this, we'll all be able to breathe a little easier.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
BMW Sauber's Goal: Get Both Cars To Finish Line
BMW Sauber's Goal: Get Both Cars To Finish Line
by Anthony Fontanelle
After two races in North American metropolises, Formula One is reviving its taste for the countryside as it reaches halfway point this season. The drivers will line up in Magny-Cours on the 1st July to vie for the most-coveted title in racing. For the BMW Sauber team, the goal is to get both cars to the finish line.
After Robert Kubica's horrific crash in Montreal and after a number of unwanted retirements, the team intends to go full throttle at Magny-Cours to take advantage of the circuit's offers. A crash and a retirement saw the BMW Sauber leave North America feeling short-changed. The team expects an illuminating race likened to BMW tail lights. "The Magny-Cours circuit has a lot to offer - two tricky chicanes, a high-speed section and some slow corners. I'm looking forward to the race weekend. The track is demanding, I like the countryside around the circuit and you tend to eat very well in France. There's not a lot going on in Magny-Cours and it gets its fair share of criticism as a result. But I like a bit of peace and quiet now and again," said Nick Heidfeld.
Kubica noted, "I can't wait to get back into the car. I may not have been given the green light to compete in the USA, but I hope the medical examination at Magny-Cours will be a formality. The reason why I wasn't allowed to drive at Indianapolis had nothing to do with how I felt; the problem was the risk involved in suffering a second accident within such a short space of time. That's also why I wasn't allowed to test. I've used the time to focus intensively on preparing for the next race."
The Pole added, "I'm pretty neutral about the Magny-Cours track. It isn't one of my favorite circuits, but at the same time I don't have a problem with it. Magny-Cours is a lot more fun in a Formula One car than with the smaller cars I've driven there before in other categories of racing. You can particularly see the potential of the F1 car through the chicanes."
Mario Theissen, the BMW Motorsport Director, has this to say: "After the grand prix double-header in the big cities across the Atlantic, the slightly remote rural idyll of Magny-Cours represents a welcome contrast. You are free to focus on the sport and the demanding race track. Like Robert himself, the team is also hoping that he will be back in the car in France. The race doctors at Magny-Cours will have the final say on that one though."
He added, "We have finished in the points in every race so far this season, but in the last two GPs we only managed to get one car to the finish on each occasion. Nick would have been set for a third-place finish in the USA and his retirement was a real pain. We are looking to pick up points with both cars at Magny-Cours and in so doing strengthen our third place in the World Championship."
"The two grands prix in North America saw the cars run with medium downforce, but now we're heading into a series of races where high downforce will be the order of the day. Magny-Cours offers an interesting mixture of slow and fast corners. One feature worth mentioning is the track surface, which is very sensitive to fluctuations in temperature. The right set-up in the morning might not necessarily be any good in the afternoon. This is something you have to remember when you're making changes to the car," said BMW Sauber's Technical Director Willy Rampf.
BMW Sauber Prepares For Grand Prix de France
BMW Sauber Prepares For Grand Prix de France
by Anthony Fontanelle
The North American leg of the current Formula One season left a bitter taste in the mouth of BMW Sauber. At the Canadian Grand Prix, Robert Kubica met an accident while at the United States Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld was forced to retire after his car malfunctioned. Although the team has scored their highest finish so far at the Canadian Grand Prix, they are looking to improve the team's performance at the upcoming French Grand Prix.
The next race will be in contrast to the two previous races held in North America. While the Canadian and United States Grands Prix were held around urban locations, the Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours is situated on the countryside. This change in the scenery may or may not change the performance of the drivers but according to experts, the course will give drivers more time to think about their driving.
BMW Sauber's Nick Heidfeld who took the team's first podium finish this season at the Canadian Grand Prix is apparently looking forward to racing in France and then some. "The Magny-Cours circuit has a lot to offer - two tricky chicanes, a high-speed section and some slow corners. I'm looking forward to the race weekend. The track is demanding, I like the countryside around the circuit and you tend to eat very well in France," the German Formula One driver said in a recent interview.
As for the location of the tracks, Heidfeld is hoping that the change in scenery will benefit their team. "There's not a lot going on in Magny-Cours and it gets its fair share of criticism as a result. But I like a bit of peace and quiet now and again. And I think the relative tranquility will do the team good after the eventful time we've had recently."
Meanwhile, Heidfeld's teammate Robert Kubica who survived an impact of 75-G is looking forward to racing again. The Polish Formula One driver was not permitted to participate at the US Grand Prix. "I can't wait to get back into the car. I may not have been given the green light to compete in the USA, but I hope the medical examination at Magny-Cours will be a formality," he declared.
The Pole explained why he was not permitted by the FIA and the doctors to race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway saying: "The reason why I wasn't allowed to drive at Indianapolis had nothing to do with how I felt; the problem was the risk involved in suffering a second accident within such a short space of time. That's also why I wasn't allowed to test. I've used the time to focus intensively on preparing for the next race."
The accident that Kubica met at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Canada is said to be one of the most horrifying crashes in recent memory. His Formula One car was totaled and not even a BMW thermostat would have been found intact considering what was left of his race car.
As for the French Grand Prix, the Pole said that he is neutral about the countryside track. "I'm pretty neutral about the Magny-Cours track. It isn't one of my favorite circuits, but at the same time I don't have a problem with it. Magny-Cours is a lot more fun in a Formula One car than with the smaller cars I've driven
BMW In Hartford: Finding The Right Car With The Right Help
BMW In Hartford: Finding The Right Car With The Right Help
by Korbin Newlyn
You live in Hartford and your in the market for a new car, but you're uncertain which one to buy. The moment you set foot on a BMW lot in Hartford, however, you get the instant impression of that sports car sensation. Working with the BMW of Hartford dealers helps ease your buying decision. Let the helpful and professional associates at BMW in Hartford assist in helping you find the right car for you.
The features that are available with the BMW read like "a list of who's who" in the automobile industry. The attraction of a BMW is based on performance and quality that is echoed from the admiration that a BMW car receives from onlookers. Making the right purchase at a BMW in Hartford dealership is assisted by representatives of the dealership that is made possible by extensive training of personnel.
Locating a Good BMW Dealership
One of the advantages a person who thinks of searching for a BMW in Hartford is the ability to shop around. When you're thinking of buying a car such as one as pricey as a BMW, the last thing you want to do is buy too quickly or on emotion. When it comes to purchasing a BMW in Hartford, it is best to compare dealerships side by side like the one at BMW Stamford Connecticut. In doing so, you could potentially save thousands of dollars. This is money that is either saved or can be used to add more options to your purchase.
Inquire With Your Dealer About the Special Deals and Offers
When you walk into the BMW dealership in Hartford, ask them what kind of deals they are offering, along with what features come with that deal. Make a list and compare each place you visit against the other. When you find a dealer who is willing to work with you on the lowest price, without giving up quality, you know you've found the right BMW dealer in Hartford.
Craftsmanship of a True Automobile
The refinements built into your BMW came about only through decades of arduous but steadfast effort from the manufacturer. This quality is reflected from the moment that you first set foot into a BMW automobile. This type of refinement is also reflected in the price. This is why it's vital to do your research beforehand to try and negotiate the best deal you can while you're at your BMW in Hartford dealership.
BMW to become Green
BMW to become Green
by Rain Stockton
BMW has recently announced their plans of reducing the CO2 emissions of their vehicles. To accomplish such BMW will make use of more efficient engines, regenerative brakes, and stop-start functions on most of its BMW model ranges.
The new Green Dynamics' programme that that German automaker and manufacturer of BMW aftermarket parts will implement is designed to improve its cars ecological credentials while maintaining their dexterity.
A range of optimized four cylinder petrol and diesel engines will made part of the programme. The 2007 BMW lineup which is comprised of no fewer than 22 models will benefit from such programme by achieving less than 140g/km carbon dioxide emissions.
One of the most dramatic reductions will be seen on the 320d Touring with fuel consumption that is now down by 17 percent over last years model. BMW's smaller car are not the only ones that are to benefit from the said programme, the uprated 520d will pump out an incredibly low 136g/km CO2.
BMW 123d in Shade of Green And in connection with BMW's Green Dynamics' Programme, the German automaker has also announced that for the coming 2008 there will be fewer than 22 models with a CO2 level of 140g/km or 240g/mile or lesser. And of these 22 models is the highly anticipated 123d.
The four-cylinder, twin-turbo all-aluminum 2.0 liter units that powers the 123d is just one among the long series of remarkable engines from BMW. If in case the 123d really do come out it will become the first mass-produced car with a 200 hp plus engine with CO2 output below 240g/mile.
To be more accurate the engine is capable of producing 201 hp which allows the new 123d to sprint from 0 to 62 mph in a matter of 7.1 seconds with an estimated fuel economy of around 54 mpg.
The 123d will be offered in three and five-door variants plus it will also receive BMW's new stop-start technology called the Efficient Dynamics which includes a brake energy regeneration function.
BMW and Mini models will also be given new engine variations. The 123d is scheduled to go on sale in September with pricing to be announced in conjunction with its release.
Audi Highly Targeted by Car Thieves
Audi Highly Targeted by Car Thieves
by Rain Stockton
According to reports German luxury cars are among the vehicles that are most frequently stolen.
Audi vehicles such as the Audi S4 with its top-of-the-line Audi S4 parts was claimed to be likely stolen 123 percent as compared to any other average car, followed by BMW with 117 percent average.
Surprisingly the other German luxury brand Mercedes-Benz has only gotten 19 percent on the average which makes you wonder whether its because of Mercedes really good car security features or car thieves just don't have lots of orders for this brand.
Last year's Suncorp statistics did not provide actual numbers, type or age of vehicle but only the proportions stolen.
The other vehicles that have gotten a below average ratings were Volkswagen, Ford, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Kia, Peugeot, Daewoo, Nissan, and the least to be stolen was Daihatsu. Basing on the researched most of the frequently stolen cars are the expensive ones.
The prices of the most frequently stolen vehicles range from $60,000 to $100,000 that is despite the claims of its manufacturers that these vehicles are equipped with the best theft protection features available.
Suncorp has also revealed claims information on crash frequency which contradicts the theory that the better the car, the better the driver.
In accidents where drivers were at fault it was found out that 10 percent of those involved in such type owns cars with cost ranging from $60,000 to $100,000. The research also revealed that Alfa drivers were 58 percent more likely to make an at-fault claim as compared to an average driver.
According to Suncorp Motor Insurance General Manager Daniel Fogarty, the results of the research clearly shows that drivers of prestige motor vehicles tend to become overtly confident which caused them to become more reckless in driving.
He also added, "On the other hand, drivers of new prestige vehicles may feel slightly more nervous on the roads than if they were driving a mid-range car, which might potentially cause more accidents, as the financial implications of accidents are higher."
Meanwhile one of the most usual types of claims that Queensland drivers made was for a single-vehicle accident. On the other hand, Holden Special Vehicles drivers were 50 percent more likely to make a single-car accident claim, followed by Audi with 49 percent and Chrysler with 44 percent.
The least likely to make such a claim were drivers of Daihatsu with 30 percent less than the average. The statistics revealed also that it is not a good idea to lend new vehicles to friends or relatives since there is a 12 percent chance that they will scratch or damage it.
Frequency of thefts
1. Audi 123% 2. BMW 117% 3. Jaguar 100% 4. Alfa Romeo 89% 5. Saab 74%
Frequency of at-fault accidents
1. Alfa Romeo 58% 2. Proton 19% 3. Mazda 13%
Frequency of not at-fault accidents
1. Audi 102% 2. Alfa Romeo 94% 3. Proton 75%
Frequency of single-vehicle accidents
1. HSV 50% 2. Audi 49% 3. Chrysler 44%
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Honda to Build new Plants in Thailand and Argentina
Honda to Build new Plants in Thailand and Argentina
by Ally Wahlberg
Honda Automobile Thailand Co. Ltd., Honda's automobile production and sales subsidiary in Thailand has announced recently that it has started the construction of its second auto plant as it sees further growth in demand for automobiles in Thailand and in other market in Asia/Oceania region.
The second plant was constructed adjacent to the existing plant and is scheduled to start mass production in the later part of 2008. The annual production capacity of the new plant will reach up to 120,000 units in the future and will create an additional 2,200 jobs. Combining the production capacity of the new plant with that of the production of 120,000 units of existing plant will produce a total of 240,000 units annually. Honda the producer of Honda muffler has invested around 6.2 billion baht or 23 billion yen on the new plant.
The new Honda plant in Thailand will be an eco-friendly facility equipped with a "complete water recycling system" with zero emissions of industrial water, and water-based paint with minimal VOC or volatile organic compounds emissions. It will also be equipped with solar cell panels that will help in reducing CO2 emissions by 10 percent.
Honda will also continue in amplifying the quality of its operations in Thailand and in the process further strengthening the business foundation in other markets in the Asia/Oceania region.
Honda to Invest in New Car Plant in Argentina
Aside from Thailand, Honda will also have a new plant constructed in Argentina. The Japanese automaker has invested $100 million on the new plant which was constructed primarily for the production of compact passenger cars, according to the announcement made by newly appointed Economy Minister Miguel Peirano.
The new Honda Argentina plant will create an additional 800 jobs and will have an annual output of 30,000 cars that are destined for both local and Latin American market.
In a press conference, Honda Motor Director General Leandro Risso said that the construction of the new plant will begin in September but actual production will start in 2009.
Honda to Increase its North American Production
Honda to Increase its North American Production
by Ally Wahlberg
The growing demands for Honda's fuel-efficient cars have encouraged the Japanese automaker to increase production capacity in North America and on its other plants elsewhere to maintain the momentum for global growth.
The annual production of Honda's plant in North America will reach 1.62 million vehicles by fall next year from the current 1.4 million that is according to Honda Motor Co. President Takeo Fukui in an interview with reporters last Wednesday.
Honda's President also said that the production capacity for Japan's No. 2 automaker was being increased in other parts of the world as well. Honda, which produces the Accord and Acura cars with highly durable Honda wheel bearing, plans to build its first auto plant in Argentina and second auto plant in Thailand. The Japanese automaker also plans of setting up a research and development center in China that would build models designed for the growing Chinese market.
For North America, Honda is planning a new auto plant in Indiana that would become Honda's seventh North America plant. The new plant is scheduled to begin production by fall of 2008 according to Honda President Fukui.
Later this year, Honda's plant in Mexico will start making the CR-V sport utility vehicle with annual production capacity increased from 30,000 vehicles to 50,000 vehicles said President Fukui.
The demand for Honda vehicles is continuously increasing attributed to the automaker's reputation in providing good mileage like for instance its Fit subcompact and CR-V especially during the times when gas prices are at their highest. But of course competition has also been intensifying especially now that automakers have started developing better car technologies that increase vehicles' fuel efficiency and at the same time minimizing harmful environmental impacts.
Honda President Fukui said that Honda was contributing to local production with 80 percent of Honda cars sold and produced in North America. He said, "Honda will further accelerate its efforts to strengthen the core characteristics that make Honda unique in each business area."
He also added that Honda will boost production capacity at its plant in Mexico and Turkey. For Turkey, Honda is working to increase its annual production capacity to 50,000 vehicles from 30,000 by early 2008 to answer the growing demand in Europe.
Honda will also be investing an additional 23 billion yen or US$188 million for its plant in Thailand where demand is expected to increase. The new plant will be constructed next to Honda's existing Thai plant and will have an annual output capacity of 120,000 vehicles thus doubling Honda's production there. Operation of the new Thai plant is expected to start in the later part of 2008.
For Honda's new plant in Argentina the Japanese automaker will invest around US$100 million. The new plant will also create 800 new jobs and will produce 30,000 compact passenger vehicles a year. Production will start on Honda's Argentina plant on the later half of 2009 that is according to President Fukui.
Did Ford take Jaguar down the wrong road?
Did Ford take Jaguar down the wrong road?
by David Durban
When Ford purchased Jaguar Cars Ltd in 1989, the Jaguar brand had for some years been tarnished with a reputation for poor build quality. There can be no doubt that the financial investment and quality control that Ford brought with it saved the Jaguar marque from an untimely end. However, Ford has been unable to make a financial success of Jaguar -- did Ford misjudge the Jaguar marque and its past success?
Jaguar's past
From its humble beginnings as the Swallow Sidecar Company in 1922, and for much of Jaguar's subsequent history, William Lyons, the company's co-founder, had a fundamental approach to his cars: to produce distinctive, high quality automobiles but at as low a cost as possible. The first of these, the Austin Seven Swallow, was simply a rebodied version of the humble Austin Seven because, Lyons believed, "... that it would also appeal to a lot of people if it had a more luxurious and attractive body."
In later years, the success of iconic Jaguars such as the XKs and E-Types were in part due to their distinct blend of forward-looking style and sophisticated use of technology. The power and quality of the XK engines used for the Jaguar XK120, and subsequent cars for many years, was far in advance of other comparable engines of the period. Similarly the much improved ride quality and road holding abilities of these cars had left their counterparts behind.
It was much the same with the Jaguar E-Type, a sensation when it was launched at the Geneva Motor Show in 1961. Here was a race-bred, visually sensational, 150mph sports car at just half the price of its nearest rival, the Aston Martin DB4.
The Jaguar XKs, and the C and D-Types which evolved from them, also enjoyed much success in sports car racing, dominating the Le Mans 24 Hour race in the 1950s and contributing to the success of the marque. In the 1980s Jaguar again returned to Le Mans with the Group C XJRs, winning in 1988 and 1990.
Ford's tenureship of the Jaguar brand
Since the mid 1990s, Ford has launched several new Jaguars, including the XJ8/XJR, S-Type, X-Type and XK8/R. The common theme amongst these models is that they have all taken their styling cues from historical Jaguars such as the D and E-Types of the '50s and '60s for the XK8, and the XJ6s and XJ12s of the '70s and '80s for the saloons.
One can certainly appreciate Ford's reasoning behind the decision to ape the styles that proved so successful for Jaguar in the past, but by doing so they appear to have missed the point of what made those cars successful in the first place: that the styles then were looking forward rather than backwards.
In an attempt to recoup the substantial financial investment in Jaguar, and in keeping with its own history, Ford created the X-Type as a "low-budget" Jaguar that was intended to appeal to the fleet market and those for whom the top-end models were too expensive. Yet this model never sold in the volumes that Ford hoped for outside of the UK. For many potential purchasers, the model shared too much in common with Ford's own Mondeo to be distinctively 'Jaguar', and for younger owners the car bore too much resemblance to the Jaguar XJ -- a model traditionally driven by older owners. It was also a highly competitive market and the X-Type was in direct competition with BMW, Mercedes and, at the time, the similarly styled Rover 75.
Yet on occasions Ford have created much interest amongst motoring journalists and enthusiasts with a number of concept cars. The XK180, and similarly styled F-Type, were greatly praised and could, potentially, have tapped into the emerging market for roadsters alongside the Porsche Boxter and Mercedes-Benz SLK, yet neither were translated into production models.
Sporting pretensions
With Jaguar's past successes in motor sport having added much to the brand, Ford attempted to recreate this with its entry into Formula 1 racing. Formula 1, however, with its vast budgets and tendency to be dominated by one or two top teams was an ambitious leap and the Jaguar team never managed to challenge for world championship points on a consistent basis.
In hindsight it would, perhaps, have been better to concentrate efforts in other motorsport categories. Indeed, the XKRs run in the Trans-Am series proved very successful, securing four manufacturers' titles. Had the F1 budget been spread across other classes, Jaguar's presence in world motorsport may have been a different story.
Too much too late
With the launch of the much praised next-generation XK/R in 2006, and the XF due out in late 2007 to replace the S-Type, Jaguar's model line-up does finally appear to be looking forwards both in terms of style and technology -- a substantial reason for the success of the brand throughout Jaguar's history. But with Ford having experienced financially troubled times over the last few years, the sale of Jaguar would inject much needed capital back into Ford, just as the Jaguar marque looks set to turn the corner and experience a resurgence in popularity.
Jaguar's future
To secure its future and to continue as one of history's most evocative automotive marques, Jaguar needs a parent company that will allow its designers to continue with the innovation and dynamism shown in the current XK range and upcoming XF. For much of its history, the Jaguar marque has been ahead of the field with design and performance -- its new owners, however they may be, would do well to bear that in mind.
Will Ford Emulate General Motors?
Will Ford Emulate General Motors?
by Anthony Fontanelle
Both General Motors and Ford are steadily losing ground in the United States auto market for the same reason. Both automakers have not expected that price of gasoline will sky rocket today that consumers will be opting for smaller and more fuel efficient vehicles. Both automakers are caught up in outdoing each other by producing larger and larger vehicles.
In the past, SUVs and pickup trucks are well and good. But in today's world where the price of petroleum fuel is continually rising along with the blood pressure of cost-conscious Americans, these large vehicles have become liabilities for General Motors and Ford.
Both are now pushing through with their turnaround plan to arrest their decreasing share market and sales. Detroit-based General Motors took a step which is currently paying off - a move that Ford has not made or has not made yet. General Motors' Saturn Division is not as popular as it is today, but under General Motors' turnaround plan, the brand has become one of the fastest growing auto brands in the United States auto market.
General Motors has revitalized the Saturn lineup by partnering it with German automaker Opel. The latter is also a subsidiary of the Detroit automaker. By infusing European styling to the new lineup of the Saturn brand, General Motors successfully attracted the attention of many consumers and auto journalists and critics as well. In fact, the Saturn Aura which was designed in Europe is the reigning North American Car of the Year.
The working relationship between Opel and Saturn did not only give birth to the revitalized Aura but also to other new Saturn auto models. The new Saturn Outlook has European styling cues all over it. The redesigned Saturn Vue is based on the Opel Antara. The new Vue has been receiving lots of praises for its new look and better performance - the result of Opel's collaboration. Another Saturn auto model with undeniable European lineage is the upcoming Saturn Astra which is a rebadged version of the Opel Astra.
The working relationship between the two automakers has been beneficial for Saturn, not only for the European designs of their autos but also of their performance. The two General Motors marques may also be sharing other components. A Saturn spark plug wire may be used by an Opel auto or vice versa.
Now, General Motors' European connection includes Saab and Vauxhall aside from Opel. Although these European automakers cannot be regarded as mediocre, they would pale in comparison to Ford's European connection. FoMoCo still has Jaguar, Land Rover and Volvo in its folds plus it still has shares in the ultra luxury brand Aston Martin.
If Ford emulates General Motors' initiative in bringing European styling to American cars, surely, the automaker can attract more consumers to their showrooms. With Volvo styling alone, Ford's American offerings can be at par with the revitalized Saturn lineup. In terms of performance, Jaguar and Aston Martin can provide good support for the automaker's American offerings.
But with Jaguar and Land Rover almost out of Ford's door, would an Opel/Saturn-like partnership be possible for FoMoCo? That is a question that many in the auto industry are still pondering on and only Ford can answer. Should Ford emulate General Motors or take its own route towards profitability? Emulating General Motors might gain Ford more attention, after all, the Ford Fusion Challenge has been adopted by General Motors for the Saturn Aura.
Subaru To Equip Autos With CVT
Subaru To Equip Autos With CVT
by Anthony Fontanelle
In the face of the increasing price of petroleum products in the world market, the demand for fuel efficient cars continually increases. This demand is directed towards automakers. Automobile manufacturers are now scrambling to come with technologies that would reduce the fuel consumption of their vehicles.
One of these automakers making steps forward in developing fuel efficient vehicles is the Japanese firm Subaru. The Japanese automaker has been known in the past as the maker of vehicles with all-wheel drive configuration and boxer engines.
In Subaru's plight to come up with fuel saving technologies for their vehicles, one solution is being reported as the next step that the Japanese automaker will be taking. According to Japanese daily Nikkan Kogyo Shimbun, Subaru is planning to use continuously variable transmissions on their auto models for the 2010 model year.
The use of CVT is steadily gaining ground. American automaker Chrysler is already using CVTs on some of their vehicles. The new Lancer from Mitsubishi is also equipped with a CVT. Another Japanese automaker which has been using CVTs is Nissan. In fact, in the automaker's environment-conscious plan, they are aiming to sell a million vehicles equipped with the CVT this year.
A continuously variable transmission is a gearbox with an infinite number of gear ratios between two set gear ratios. This so-called modern automatic transmission though is actually conceived hundreds of years ago by Leonardo da Vinci. Although it was conceptualized in 1490, the engineering challenge has pushed the CVT into obscurity. It is only now that it is being widely promoted by auto manufacturers. The reason for this is that with the use of a CVT, fuel consumption is reduced.
With an almost infinite number of gear ratios, a CVT efficiently transmits the power from the engine to other drivetrain components such as the Subaru axle and finally down to the wheels. What this means is that with less power being wasted, the vehicle's engine will not be tasked to produce more power. Thus, fuel consumption is reduced. With the current trend in the market, a fuel efficient vehicle with a CVT is a good choice for budget conscious consumers.
According to reports, although Subaru is yet to formally announce their plans, the first Subaru that will be equipped with a CVT is the next-generation Legacy. Technically, the Legacy will not be the first Subaru with a CVT since the Japanese automaker has already equipped past auto models with CVT. The small car Subaru Justy was offered with CVT when it was launched in the United States auto market until its discontinuation in 1994.
One issue that was raised concerning the plan of the Japanese automaker is financial. Although the company has mass-produced CVTs in the past for the Justy, their plan means that they would be mass producing CVTs not only for a single nameplate but several. Subaru's lineup includes the Impreza, the Forester, Legacy, and the Tribeca. This means that Subaru will be investing a huge sum for the mass production of CVTs for these auto models.
Although CVTs have been avoided by some consumers since they do not offer the exciting ride that manual transmissions can, Subaru's venture means that the carmaker is serious in its effort to help protect the environment.
Friday, July 20, 2007
Shanghai Volkswagen Sees New Light In Skoda
Shanghai Volkswagen Sees New Light In Skoda
by Anthony Fontanelle
The Shanghai Volkswagen Automobile Co. is enjoying the warmth of the new light brought by its newly launched Czech brand Skoda. The venture is an effort to bolster the sales of the automaker amid tight auto competition in the world's second biggest auto market.
The 50-50 joint venture of SAIC Motor Corp and Volkswagen AG, as reported by China Daily, expects Skoda, wholly owned by the German carmaker, to grab 2.5 to 3 percent of China's passenger car market by 2010.
Analysts in the industry said that the venture was a bold decision for the automaker - a new entrant in China. Shanghai Volkswagen said that it aims to sell over 30,000 Skoda Octavia compact sedans, the company's first China-made model, this year as part of its effort to push a total of more than 400,000 cars, up from 352,000 units in 2006.
Analysts say that the VW turn signal reflects a profitable year. The venture's first-half sales increased by 23.1 percent to 213,735 units, including 3,000 Octavias, ranking it as the top three passenger car manufacturer in China after VW's other tie-up with FAW Corp and General Motors' venture with SAIC.
Passenger car sales in China, which include sedans, sport utility vehicles and multi-purpose vehicles, will increase to 7.2 million units in 2010 from five million expected to be sold this year, predicted Yale Zhang, the director of Greater China Vehicle Forecasts for US consultancy CSM Worldwide Corp.
Shanghai Volkswagen said "the introduction of Skoda is the start of our multi-brand strategy and will expand our lineup to satisfy growing customer demand". The venture, which makes VW's Santana, Polo, Gol, Passat, and Touran, intends to launch a new Skoda model annually in coming years, including the subcompact Fabia and mid-range Superb, reported the Daily.
In an attempt to dismiss worries that Skoda will cannibalize VW brand sales in China, the company noted that Skoda product lines would not go head-to-head with Volkswagen models as the Czech marque has its own market position.
Skoda targets buyers who are "intelligent, steady-going and have a taste for life and inner-strength", such as the lawyers, doctors, teachers and senior civil servants, the company said. It will have 110 Skoda dealerships at the end of this year, up from 80 now, the company added.
Winfried Vahland, the CEO of the Volkswagen Group China, said last September that he expected Skoda to be a new "pillar" along with the Volkswagen and Audi brands to cement the German group's leadership in China's car market.
Industry data reflects that the company's sales in China increased by 24.6 percent to 431,369 cars from January to June this year. Overall sales of China-made passenger cars account for 2.55 million units in the same period, up 26 percent.
"Volkswagen is trying to boost sales in China's market, with more models tailor-made for Chinese customers," said Huang Zherui, an analyst at CSM Asia, which advises car makers in China. "The China market still has much more potential."
The company plans to maintain about 17-18 per cent share in the long term, said VW China Group executive vice-president Soh Weiming. "The market is still growing at a very aggressive pace," he added. "Ten years ago only a fortune teller could tell you how good the car market would be in the following year, but now the market is pretty stable."
Separately, VW and its car venture in Shanghai will jointly develop a new car targeting the North America and China market, the venture said on Wednesday. Reuters reported a tie-up with SACI Motor will develop a new sedan which would become a follow-up model of the locally produced Passat Lingyu.
Mercedes-Benz TV Ad: The Passion For Racing Unleashed
Mercedes-Benz TV Ad: The Passion For Racing Unleashed
by Anthony Fontanelle
McLaren Mercedes phenomenal Formula One drivers - consisting of Fernando Alonso, Lewis Hamilton and Mika Häkkinen - star in a new TV commercial that stresses the German company's passion for action-thirsty adventures.
The Mercedes Benz thermostat reflects a rising temperature but racing aficionados can pretty much handle the heat. Every second of the 60-second television ad is full of passion at Mercedes. It will be aired next weekend to coincide with Formula One races.
As reported by the Auto Spectator, the new Mercedes-Benz TV commercial reveal that Alonso and Hamilton have got racing in their blood. In a series of thrilling scenes, it becomes clear that they see themselves as friendly rivals not only on the race track but also at a hotel reception desk, at a gym, and in a sauna.
In the commercial, which will be aired starting next Saturday on the most famous public and private TV channels in Germany, Spain, and the UK, Mercedes-Benz demonstrates that the fascination of auto racing is based not only on fighting spirit but also a large dose of playful fun.
A sneak preview of the McLaren television commercial will be made on Friday, July 20, at www.mercedes-benz.tv, the company's Internet TV. There, the visitor can take a look at the full length McLaren commercial, and visitors can be replayed at any time via video on demand.
"The idea for this commercial originated in our brand philosophy," said Dr. Olaf Göttgens, the Vice President for Brand Communications at Mercedes-Benz Passenger Cars. "After all, motor sports are deeply rooted in the history of Mercedes-Benz, and today they're still an essential element of our brand's fascination. Motor sports embody the passion that characterizes Mercedes-Benz."
The television commercial shows the two McLaren Formula One drivers engaging in a 'fierce daily competition,' the Auto Spectator continued. "In the spot, the current Formula One front-runner, Hamilton, wins a race just seconds ahead of the current second-place driver, Alonso. He celebrates his triumph while he's still sitting in the cockpit, with a broad grin and a wave of his hand."
But only a short time later, as the McLaren racers are driving back to their hotel on board a Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG and a CLK 63 AMG Black Series, Hamilton is temporarily distracted by a gorgeous passerby. Alonso quickly takes advantage of the plight and leaves his flabbergasted teammate behind at a traffic light. Despite the blistering heat and their exhaustion in the sauna, each of them want to be the winner, the report continued.
"Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton have a passion for auto racing," said Norbert Haug, the head of Mercedes-Benz motorsports. "Both of them are ambitious, focused, and competitive. They cultivate a healthy sense of rivalry and appreciate and respect each other very much. Of course this is obvious on the race track, and it was evident while we were shooting the new TV commercial, too. In spite of the time pressure and their lack of familiarity with the TV medium, they really enjoyed the shoot. Mika Häkkinen, who has won the Formula One championship twice, has been in commercials before, and he's as cool and appealing as ever this time around."
In the end, the driver who grabs the spotlight is the legendary Mika Häkkinen. The Finn flaunts his know-how about everything there is to know about saunas and Finnish delight. The phenomenal Formula One drivers end the commercial by flaunting their pearly whites... even if they are just at a sauna.
More of Mercedes action is expected on the track. McLaren is leading the constructors' and drivers' championship and it will be radiating much of the passion in the upcoming races.
Subaru Testing on Formula One Ground
Subaru Testing on Formula One Ground
by Anthony Fontanelle
It seems like not only Formula One cars are busy making laps around 'the Ring'. The Nürburgring, found in Nurburg, Germany will not only play host to the upcoming European Grand Prix but it also served as the prowling ground for the upcoming 2009 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, which according to Wikipedia is the "highest standard-edition trim in the Subaru Impreza compact car line".
According to Edmunds.com, one of the leading online sources of auto information, spy photographers have taken shots of the latest WRX STI being tested at the Nürburgring test track. Although the car has been camouflaged, it is easy to distinguish it as the next WRX STI. The hood scoop which is prominent in almost any Subaru auto model gave the pre-production car away.
Changes made to the redesigned WRX STI include the revision of the grille. The 2008 WRX STI sports a larger grille which, in auto speak, is called the egg-crate design because of its resemblance. The 2009 model year version of the WRX STI though sports a mesh grille which is much smaller than its former nose design.
The hood scoop which gave the car away as the new WRX STI is larger than the hood scoop on its predecessor. What this means is that the engine under the hood of the car is bigger than its forerunner. After all, more air intake means that the hood scoop is feeding a bigger mouth. With a bigger engine comes the issue of fuel efficiency and gas mileage and whatnot. Surely, with the exterior of the WRX STI revised for the 2009 model year, it should be expected that it will sport refined Subaru WRX parts.
Another change made to the WRX STI is a bigger spoiler on top of its rear hatch. This might be revised to give the WRX STI better aerodynamics. Although larger than the previous version used on the previous WRX STI, the spoiler does not ruin the clean lines of the vehicle nor its proportion.
Four tailpipes can be found on the rear of the tested vehicle. The quad-tailpipe configuration is further confirmation that its engine will be a bigger one thus the need for a better exhaust system. After all, Subaru is not an automaker which would use four tailpipes on a car just to make it look 'cooler'.
The Japanese automaker though is yet to announce specifications of any kind for the 2009 WRX STI. After all, the testing is just one of the steps that a car should go through before it reaches production. The company may have to tweak the car a bit and put some finishing touches here and there before mass producing it.
Although no word has come out yet from the camp of Subaru regarding the specs of the WRX STI, it is speculated that it will be equipped with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine. The said engine is expected to have a power output of about 325 hp. According to Edmunds, although spy photographers have provided pictures of the 2009 WRX STI, the official launching of the WRX STI will be at the 2007 Tokyo Auto Show which is slated to be held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba City from the 26th of October to the 11th of November.
Saab's BioPower Range Successful in Europe
Saab's BioPower Range Successful in Europe
by Michelle Crimson
Saab the Swedish automaker subsidiary of General Motors and the producer of top-of-the-line Saab brake caliper is enjoying a continuing success of its BioPower model range, being the number one provider of flex-fuel cars in Europe. These flex-fuel cars have the ability of running on renewable and sustainable fuel source known as bioethanol E85.
Saab's success in Europe is fueled by the popularity of the BioPower especially in Sweden. Last 2006, Saab has sold around 11,000 BioPower cars in Sweden while 6,800 9-3 and 9-5 BioPower models were relinquished to Swedish customers for the first five months of this year.
Saab was able to maintain this sales turnover through June boost by the launching of the Saab 9-3 BioPower range which topped the Swedish eco-friendly sales charts letting Saab gain a 38 percent market share in that particular segment.
Jan Ake Jonsson, Managing Director of Saab Automobile said, "There is huge international interest in what is happening in Sweden regarding the technology and infrastructure for use of bioethanol. Countries such as Norway, Ireland and France are following Sweden's example by investing in a bioethanol infrastructure. Everyday we receive requests for more information regarding our environmental efforts."
In addition, Saab is also working together with other companies and various associations to encourage the UK government to prove its commitment to eco-friendly motor undertakings by means of creating additional measures that would encourage the production and increase supply of not only bioethanol E85 but also the sales of more flex-fuel vehicles.
Saab has an already established reputation as a technology leader in terms of discovering and developing the full potentials of bioethanol E85 as a source of fuel. This expertise in such unique technology has given Saab an opportunity to leverage their unmatched experience in the field of turbocharging enabling them to provide enhanced performance and at the same time reduced the harmful CO2 emissions.
What Saab has achieved with their BioPower range is something that no other eco-friendly vehicle at present in the world has been able to rival. The Swedish automaker will further continue with its R&D efforts in order to create more new products and better solutions to the increasing demand of market for high performance and fuel efficient vehicles. And to show just how serious General Motor's Swedish subsidiary is, it has started with the launching of its Saab BioPower Hybrid Concept at last year's Stockholm Motor Show.
Saab rejoices 60th car making year
Saab rejoices 60th car making year
by Michelle Crimson
Over 30,000 Saab fans gathered in the Swedish town of Trollhättan on June 10 - the exact date when the first Saab was revealed - to celebrate Saab's 60th anniversary as a car maker. The date was probably also when the first Saab ball joints were built. The four-day event topped off in a big amassment of historic Saabs outside the Saab Car Museum.
Rearward in 1947, Saab was known only as an aircraft manufacturer. Its first car - Saab 92 - was distinctively launched with streamlined shape and innovative engineering. It's definitely surprising since it was built by a team of aircraft engineers who were not experts of the conventional automotive design know-how.
The Saab brand was bought out in full by GM to the Middle East in the year 2000. Fortunately, the response has been continuously encouraging. Models include the 9-3 sedan and convertible, 9-5 sedan and the 9-7x SUV.
Now, after building over four million cars, Saab is recognized as a global premium car brand selling in over 60 countries worldwide, and many were represented by fans coming to Trollhättan, Saab's home town. Until now, the same spirit of inventive, independent thinking behind the Saab 92 continues to inspire the Saab brand and the development of its latest products.
Today, majority of the manufacturers have followed Saab's lead in adopting turbocharging, and the company has led another innovation with its BioPower technology. This further developed the potential of turbocharging to deliver better performance, and largely reduce fossil-based CO2 emissions, when using E85 fuel (85% bioethanol/15% gasoline).
The Saab Performance Drive Team is another part of the company's heritage. It's formed in 1987 for Saab's commemoration of its 40th anniversary and originally included Saab rally drivers. Today the team is formed of full time Saab engineers who are very passionate on cars; some of whom them have been with the company for twenty years or more.
They tour the world integrating the strong bond between man and machine by synchronized precision driving calculated to the millisecond. Doing about 30 events a year, the Saab Performance team has its own tour. To date, they've went to 25 countries worldwide and too many cities to count, performing in front of 22,000 people at once.
Saab unleashed a special limited edition 9-3 that arrived in the UAE recently to celebrate its 60th anniversary. Vector and Aero models in the Saab 9-3 range of anniversary editions have colour-keyed door handles and trunk lid spoilers for the Vector Sport Sedan and Convertible, aside from the Anniversary alloy wheels and unique Ice Blue metallic paint finishes with other current colour choices available. Also added to the Anniversary Convertible is its blue and black hood colour choice. The interior Anniversary theme is based on a grey room colour choice. Trimmed throughout with complementary grey inserts and prominent stitching is the distinctive black leather sports seating, with Saab-embossed front seatbacks. The central gearshift moulding and door trim has matte chrome finish, with added prominent stitching to the armrests.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Speculations Increase on the Possible Selling of Volvo
Speculations Increase on the Possible Selling of Volvo
by Jason Moore
Ford part of the once renowned Detroit's Big Three and producer of top-of-the-line Lincoln catalytic converter has released a statement refuting reports circulating in both UK and US that the automaker will dispose of its profitable Swedish unit, Volvo.
Sunday Times has reported yesterday that Ford has decided two weeks ago to sell Volvo for as much as US$8 billion. The Sunday Telegraph has also reported that Ford was willing to listen to offers from potential buyers of the automaker and would make a final decision on whether to proceed after completing the sale of its Land Rover and Jaguar businesses.
Ford said last month that it was conferring with investment bankers about options for Jaguar and Land Rover. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker is trying to restore a profit after recording a US$12.6 billion loss last year. The Sunday Times has reported last July 8 that Ford has set a deadline for bids to buy Jaguar and Land Rover.
Ford spokesman John Gardiner has declined to comment on reports in UK newspapers and refrain from saying whether there was a deadline for expressions of interest in Jaguar and Land Rover.
It can be remembered that Ford bought Volvo Cars from Volvo AV in 1999 for US$6.45 billion to become a part of the Premier Automotive Group of luxury-brand cars together with Jaguar, Land River, and Aston Martin. Ford sold its Aston Martin last March to a group of investors led by the UK auto-racing champion David Richards for US$848 million. However the sale was concluded only last May.
With the sale of the Aston Martin, rumors have started circulating of the possible sale of Volvo, Jaguar, and Land Rover brands.
Volvo's sales for this year is expected to surpass its 2004 record of 456,000 cars and sport-utility vehicles with the helped of new models and the increased in demand in Russia that is according to Fredrik Arp, the division's chief executive officer in an interview last June 26.
At present Volvo is focusing its efforts to expand other markets such as in Russia, China, and India in order to match the growth of its competitors such as Volkswagen's Audi luxury division and BMW's luxury cars.
Speaking of BMW, the Sunday Times has reported that the world's largest maker of luxury cars is interested in bidding for Volvo. Other automakers were also reported of showing interest on Volvo and these are Renault SA, Hyundai Motor Co and an unnamed Chinese manufacturer.
The Sunday Times has also stated that private-equity companies may also be attracted to buy Volvo. But of course all these would remain as mere speculations unless Ford will formally announced that it will sell Volvo.
Mercedes Launches Internet TV
Mercedes Launches Internet TV
by Anthony Fontanelle
Mercedes-Benz has launched its own Internet television broadcasting service with a live report from the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Berlin.
'Mercedes-Benz TV,' broadcasted in German and English, uses a set of new standards for online brand communication. This is the automaker's way of setting a new trend by fostering opening new doors and sticking not to the conventional business it is running.
As reported, the automaker's Internet TV service will feature a weekly news magazine hosted by Tanja Bülter, a society reporter from the RTL television network. The program will be about 20 minutes long and will offer news, facts, and background information from the world of Mercedes.
Internet viewers will also be able to watch programs 24 hours a day on the service's five Web channels for lifestyle, engines and sports, cars, history and legends, as well as innovation. Mercedes-Benz events at auto shows and the brand's world premieres will be broadcasted live on Mercedes-Benz TV in the future as well.
'Mercedes-Benz TV opens up a new and very emotional communication channel for our customers and anyone interested in the brand,' said Johannes Fritz, the Director of Sales and Marketing, Mercedes Car Group, Middle East. 'The Internet television service sets new standards in terms of content and design, while using video images to convey the fascination and legends that surround the brand with the star.'
Speaking of opening new doors, the German automaker also is embarking on a new venture involving cool shades and eyewear. At its Fashion Week event that started in Berlin, Mercedes-Benz introduced a new range of sunglasses and eyeglass frames in cooperation with Allison SpA, an Italian eyewear company.
Mercedes-Benz is jumping head-first into the proverbial water of its new market. The joint venture intends to sell in Europe through selected retailers, the trendy eyewear collection ranges from $233-$330 for the eyeglass frames and $220-$357 for the sunglasses.
What is more, Mercedes-Benz also has released details of the new C 63 AMG sports car, a sibling to the race car in the German Touring Car Championships. Outside, the car features the Mercedes-Benz brake dust shield, a bonnet with pronounced power domes, and a new front. At the rear, the AMG rear apron comes with a black diffuser insert and three diffuser fins.
The new car is powered by a normally aspirated 6,208cc V8. The engine produces a maximum power output of 336 horsepower and 600Nm torque. Additionally, transmission is a seven-speed automatic gearbox with steering wheel shift paddles.
The new MB C 63, which is expected to debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September, also features an automatic throttle- blipping function during downshifts and the three-level Electronic Stability Programme. The automaker declined to reveal the details of the price.
BMW To Sell 100,000 M3s
BMW To Sell 100,000 M3s
by Anthony Fontanelle
BMW expects to sell more than 100,000 new M3s, reported Automobilwoche, a German industry paper.
The snooty sales target for the latest generation E90-based M3 was revealed by the German automaker's M division representative. The M3 is a performance version of the popular compact 3-Series vehicles, which use some of the BMW 325IS parts. In essence, M3 models are based from the E30, E36, E46 and the E92 models. The Bavarian automaker sold 90,000 units of its previous M3, the E46 model, before the production of such was discontinued.
Compared to the 18,000 sales of the original E30, the M3 brand has evolved into a mass-market product in its own right.
Separately, BMW announced Tuesday its firm commitment to the Vietnamese market by officially appointing the Euro Auto Joint Stock Company as its authorized importer and distributor in the country.
The Bavarian automaker is entering Vietnam for the second time after a halt of close to two years in a new agreement that will also see Euro Auto being charged with post-sale services for all BMW product lines in the territory.
Director General of BMW Asia Roland Krueger said that the company believed that the Vietnamese market is quickly expanding and the group was eager to cement a foothold in the country by striking a strategic partner agreement.
As part of the agreement, the distributor built a $3 million-worth custom-built showroom and service centre in Ho Chi Minh City. Euro Auto Director General Huynh Du An said that his company would initially place orders to import between 200-300 of BMW's latest models including the 320i, 325i, 530 and the 730Li from now until the yearend.
The automaker had previously entered Vietnam in 1994 with a joint venture with Hoa Binh Automobile but pulled out of the market due to meager sales a year after the venture's inception. Earlier, the BMW Group Asia announced the appointment of its new distributor in HCMC. The HCMC-based Euro Auto Corp. will import, sell and supply services for the Bavarian automaker's product lines.
Huynh Du An, the general director of Euro Auto Corp, said that he had opened a boutique showroom at 165 Pasteur Street, District 3 to serve customers. These showrooms will be complemented by an interim service facility at 392 Kinh Duong Vuong Street, Binh Tan District.
As reported, Euro Auto will offer retail and services experience in a newly constructed facility at Phu My Hung new urban area next year. The company expects to sell 200 to 300 car units this year and 500 to 600 cars in 2008.
BMW Serious about Getting Green
BMW Serious about Getting Green
by Hailey Kerr
Linde's CEO Wolfgang Reitzle has stressed that he will be driving hydrogen-powered BMW Hydrogen 7 from now on.
The objective is very clear for Professor Dr. Reitzle. He said, "Hydrogen-powered cars should become an everyday sight on our streets."
The Chairman of the Executive Board of Linde AG has started practicing what he preaches by collecting a BMW Hydrogen 7 at the Linde Hydrogen Center. Professor Dr. Reitzle is to get a brand new model of what is considered to be the first top-end saloon in the world with a bivalent hydrogen-powered combustion engine. The new car will be handed over by Professor Dr. Joachim Millberg, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of BMW Group.
Professor Dr. Reitzle also added, "BMW and Linde are working closely together to achieve sustainable mobility using hydrogen as a fuel. With the BMW Hydrogen 7, BMW has taken a very important step towards mass production. For me, this vehicle is much more than just a new company car. The BMW Hydrogen 7 proves that hydrogen technology is suitable for everyday use."
The new car will be re-fuelled with climate-neutral hydrogen at the Linde Hydrogen Center in Unterschleißheim which presently supplies BMW's own test vehicles.
Professor Dr. Millberg said, "We need network partners from the fields of politics, the sciences and economics, so that we can continue to develop and expand appropriate infrastructures and technologies to support the use of hydrogen as a fuel. Linde and BMW are united by a common vision of achieving sustainable production and supply of hydrogen."
For so long, Linde has been at the cutting edge when it comes to the development of environmentally-friendly hydrogen technology. The company also provides a complete range of technologies necessary for the functioning of a hydrogen value chain and that involves production to re-fuelling.
Linde is also involved in other initiatives which aim to demonstrate the suitability of hydrogen as an everyday fuel. It is also BMW's exclusive gas partner for its CleanEnergy Project. The company has also taken a leading role as a supplier of mobile re-fuelling systems.
BMW the producer of top-of-the-line BMW 323is parts and Linde are ensuring Germany's position as the center of innovation reinforcing it with the creation of an infrastructure of hydrogen filling stations. Earlier this year, the Linde Hydrogen Center in Unterschleißheim was voted as one of the "365 Landmarks" by the federal initiative "Germany-Land of Ideas".
The German automaker has already produced a series of 100 models of its Hydrogen 7 which is the first top-end saloon in the world to be equipped with a hydrogen-powered combustion engine with bivalent drive. The Hydrogen 7 is a combination of hydrogen technology, good handling, high-performance, and of course luxurious comfort which BMW is known for. The range of Hydrogen 7 vehicles is to be presented in the course of 2007 to selected individuals in political and economic spheres and also to distinguish members of the society for use as an everyday mode of transport.
BMW's 5-Series has New Names, Much Better Performance
BMW's 5-Series has New Names, Much Better Performance
by Hailey Kerr
BMW has changed the name of its six-cylinder powered midsize, luxury 5-Series cars for 2008 to emphasize its larger and more powerful engines. The old 525i would be change to 528i with 230hp while the 530i becomes the 535i with 300 hp included on the twin-turbocharged, six-cylinder 535xi Sports Wagon.
The German automaker and producer of high quality BMW 325 parts has also updated the interiors of its 2008 5-Series sedans and wagons with the addition of an optional Lane Departure Warning system that softly vibrates the steering wheel whenever it detects that the driver is wandering out of his or her lane. The manufacturer's suggested retail price for the 5-Series including destination charge will start at $45,075 for the base 528i.
BMW has also assured that buyers of the 5-Series sedan will love the image that the four-door car conveys. The 2008 5-Series styling and design reflects its performance heritage, a good bit of technology but not lightweight. It is also worth mentioning that would-be BMW 5-Series owners will receive four years/50,000 miles of free maintenance that would include scheduled oil changes and even replacement if worn out windshield wiper blades. This is in addition to the four-year/50,000-mile limited, bumper-to-bumper warranty.
It is also hard to miss out the new found power in the 2008 BMWs. The test 535xi weighs in at nearly 4,000 pounds which means that this particular BMW will not feel lightweight or flighty. Its peak torque is at 300 pounds-feet and can come as low as 1,400 rpm and can reach up to 5,000 rpm which is quite satisfying for any kind of driving.
The 3-liter, twin-turbocharged, inline six-cylinder with variable valve timing for both intake and exhaust functions are similar to the one equipped on the BMW 335i. It was mated in the test 535xi to an updated Steptronic automatic transmission that could be shifter manually. For the 536xi, BMW has removed the confusing and difficult-to-operate Sequential Manual Gearbox.
The power is also increased to its highest ever in the base 528i which has a 3-liter, inline six-cylinder with variable valve timing without the turbocharging. The top range 550i sedan retains its 360-hp, 4.8 liter V8.
Fuel economy is not a highly flaunted characteristic of BMW's vehicles but for the test 535xi, it was able to perform within the government's ratings of 17 mpg for city driving and 25 mpg for highway driving. The handling as expected of a BMW was remarkable. The car body was steady and well-controlled in all maneuvers even over some busy road surfaces.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
BMW's HP2 Megamoto to Arrive in Showrooms July
BMW's HP2 Megamoto to Arrive in Showrooms July
by Hailey Kerr
To arrive in Motorrad showrooms this month (July) is one of the more interesting new motorcycles of recent times, the BMW's HP2 Megamoto.
Some manufacturers such as Ducati have developed 1000cc plus uber motards as motard motorcycles have grown its importance in the industry and market share. And now here comes the most inexorable and single-minded street bike BMW Motorrad has ever produced. The legendary Boxer-twin powerplant pumps out an admirable 113 bhp with an impressive 115Nm of torque. Built with some remarkably one-of-a-kind composite and metallurgical materials for a street bike, the Megamoto weighs in at just 179kg. It therefore gives the bike a mightily impressive, arm-wrenching power to weight ratio.
A key goal for BMW engineers has been to deliver pure character that is full of performance throughout the Megamoto's concept and design phases.
As with chassis components, no expense has been spared to ensure captivating handling and unyielding road holding. A completely adjustable, top of the range Öhlins shock absorber assures consistently stable rear-end feedback, while accurate steering is achieved with robust, upside-down 45mm Marzocchi front forks. The Megamoto achieves both sensitive and responsive steering, and at the same time maintaining maximum high speed stability along with the hand-built trellis frame chassis.
According to Tony Jakeman, BMW Motorrad's Marketing Manager, the Megamoto has been designed and built for those riders who really want to be different and desire a top-end, high-quality motorcycle that has class a leading performance, which is fast, fun and innovative. He also said that the bike typifies BMW Motorrad's brand metamorphosis to producing an ever more diverse range of premium performance motorcycles that appeal to expert and enthusiast riders.
Priced at UKP12, 595, the HP2 Megamoto will be launched at dealers in July.
About BMW Along with its automotive concerns, the BMW Group is composed of the development, production and marketing of automobiles, and motorcycles. It is also into financial services.
The BMW Group is the sole car maker in the world to pursue a purely premium strategy for all market sectors covered by its brands, from exclusive smaller cars to top-of-the-range luxury limousines. Its car brands include BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Group also manufactures quality BMW 318 parts.
As to motorcycles, BMW also uses "premium" as the key word. The Group's strategy is to develop and build the best motorcycles, set standards in connection with technology, environmental protection and safety, and provide outstanding customer service in the pre- and after-sales phases. The Group also perceives financial services as a key factor for success in today's mobile world. It provides financing and leasing, asset management, dealer financing and company car pools services.
Other business interests include insurance (Bavaria Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH), IT consulting and systems integration (Softlab GmbH).
BMW transfers 50% Stake to Chrysler
BMW transfers 50% Stake to Chrysler
by Hailey Kerr
German carmaker Bavarian Motor Works (BMW) said on Thursday that it has transferred its 50 percent stake in Brazilian engine joint venture Tritec Motors Limitada to DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group division.
As for the deal, which requires regulatory approval, BMW gave no financial details.
In a statement, the car maker said that Chrysler Group has assumed the responsibility for exploring long-term options for the Tritec operations. Thus, all possible alternatives for continuing the business for the long run are under analysis and assessment. The sale may include one of the facilities to a third party.
Tritec, established in 1997, produces 1.4- and 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engines for BMW's Mini brand and some Chrysler models. In January 2000, its large-scale production began. The statement said that the plant's annual production capacity is nearly 250,000 units.
A BMW spokesman said that the company would replace the motors with those made through its engine alliance with French carmaker PSA.
About BMW
Along with its automotive concerns, the BMW Group is composed of the development, production and marketing of automobiles, and motorcycles. It is also into financial services.
The BMW Group is the sole car maker in the world to pursue a purely premium strategy for all market sectors covered by its brands, from exclusive smaller cars to top-of-the-range luxury limousines. Its car brands include BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Group also manufactures quality BMW 318i parts.
As to motorcycles, BMW also uses "premium" as the key word. The Group's strategy is to develop and build the best motorcycles, set standards in connection with technology, environmental protection and safety, and provide outstanding customer service in the pre- and after-sales phases.
The Group also perceives financial services as a key factor for success in today's mobile world. It provides financing and leasing, asset management, dealer financing and company car pools services.
Other business interests include insurance (Bavaria Wirtschaftsagentur GmbH), IT consulting and systems integration (Softlab GmbH).
About Chrysler Group
Chrysler is an American automobile manufacturer. It has independently been producing automobiles since 1925. Chrysler and its subsidiaries were part of the German based DaimlerChrysler AG from 1998 to 2007 after a burdensome deal known as a "Merger of Equals" with Daimler-Benz in 1998. Before 1998, Chrysler Corporation traded in the auto industry under the "C" symbol on the NYSE. Its U.S. operations are generally referred to today as the Chrysler Group. Mopar is another popular term for all Chrysler cars. It is actually the name for its parts operation.
In May 14, 2007 DaimlerChrysler AG announced the sale of 80.1 percent of Chrysler Group to Cerberus Capital Management L.P., an American equity firm. When the transaction is completed, Chrysler will take on the name Chrysler Holding LLC.
BMW Sauber Previewed
BMW Sauber Previewed
by Hailey Kerr
Since 1994, this season for the first time features a single Formula One race held in Germany - and it is entitled the "European Grand Prix" to blow. Nick Heidfeld and the entire BMW team are excited for their home race on the Nurburgring. Robert Kubica is also certain of a good result for the BMW Sauber F1 Team in the Eifel on July 22.
While full on the race is on the schedule in the actual pit lane, fanatics in the BMW Sauber F1 Team Pit Lane Park will have the chance to raise questions to Formula One experts and even try their hand at changing tires as well as refueling. Furthermore, they can clock up some race laps in the Formula One simulator, get the low-down on F1, and see and hold various exhibits that include a Formula One engine.
Demonstration drives in the Formula One race car will take place several times a day. This time Jorg Muller - the current FIA World Touring Car Championship leader - is behind the wheel, as well as demo rides in Formula BMW cars. Visiting the high-tech theme park to give interviews and sign autographs are Nick Heidfeld, Robert Kubica and reserve driver Sebastian Vettel.
The Pit Lane Park will be set up in zone A7 and will be open daily from Friday to Sunday just like last year. Even without an F1 entry ticket admission is free. The Pit Lane Park will be open from 10 o'clock in the morning to 9 in the evening on Friday, 10 in the morning to 6 in the evening on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. on Sunday. It will be party time in the Pit Lane Park on Saturday night from 7.45 p.m. Media with F1 accreditation are welcome to the BMW M Power Night, which is the highlight of the BMW M cars meeting.
Formula BMW Germany will be staging rounds seven and eight as the season's highlight and as part of the support programme for the European Grand Prix. Formula BMW Europe will be launched beginning next season. With five wins in six races, last year's rookie champion Jens Klingmann (Leimen) currently dominates the championship. Marco Wittmann (Markt Erlbach) is leading the rookie rankings.
About BMW
Along with its automotive concerns, the BMW Group is composed of the development, production and marketing of automobiles, and motorcycles. It is also into financial services.
The Group is the one responsible for the manufacture of BMW 318is parts.
BMW is also into motorsport. The BMW Sauber F1 Team looks back on a successful British Grand Prix with Robert Kubica and Nick Heidfeld finishing fourth and sixth respectively. With this result, the BMW Sauber F1 Team garnered another eight World Championship points to the team's tally and maintained its position as third power on the Formula One grid.
Material Girl's BMW 7-Series for sale at Auto Trader
Material Girl's BMW 7-Series for sale at Auto Trader
by Hailey Kerr
Are you a big fan of Madonna? If you are, then this is your chance to have one of her cars. The original Material Girl Madonna is currently putting her BMW 7-Series on sale at Auto Trader.
Madonna is the only owner of this 2002 BMW 745 Li, loaded with a range of luxury features and quality auto components just like the BMW 320 parts which is not really surprising, first of all because it's a BMW and second it's owned by the Queen of Pop who wants nothing more but the best.
Anyway, Madonna's 2002 BMW 745 Li is powered by a 4.4 liter V8 and produces 333bhp and 332 lb-ft of pulling power. It can also sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100kph) in a matter of 6.3 seconds before running out of puff at an electronically limited 155 mph.
Inside the 2.5 ton monster which cost $61,000 when brand new is a fitted sat-nav, TV, air conditioning, Nappa leather seats and all-round electrics.
Madonna's BMW sits on 19-inch alloys and features anti-lock brakes, traction control, and six airbags. Madonna is one of the world's biggest female artists with a massive chart success over the past 20 years.
Madonna has also recently headlined the Live Earth gig at the Wembley stadium which is an event organized by the former US presidential candidate Al Gore with the objective of highlighting climate change.
Unfortunately, Madonna's BMW is not the greenest vehicle on earth. Its large V8 engine has a combined fuel economy of 24.4 mpg and emits 280g/kmof carbon dioxide requiring it an annual tax bill of £300 per year.
The Material Girl's BMW is not the first car featured on Auto Trader belonging to a musical royalty. For the past six months or so cars owned by Gary Barlow, Robbie Williams, Pete Townshend, and Frank Sinatra have all appeared on Auto Trader.
Even Madonna' husband, film director Guy Ritchie's BMW M5 is on the site.
Guy Ritchie who married Madonna the Queen of Pop in 2000 was the first owner of the 2001 M5 before finally passing it on to another member of the UK film industry last August 2003.
Ritchie's BMW M5 is powered by a 5-liter V8 engine that revs up 400 bhp. The M5 can sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 kph) in a matter of 4.9 seconds before hitting an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.
Ritchie's five-door M5 enters the supercar territory dominated by Porsche 911 and Ferrari F430 with a top speed of 186 mph. Inside the M5 is a sat-nav, TV, climate control, heated seats, and a six-CD sound system. Its other features include ABS, traction control, rear parking sensors, and a six-speed manual gearbox.
It has covered just 36,000 miles. The M5's black motor boasts of full BMW service history
Ford Drivers Gaining Ground
Ford Drivers Gaining Ground
by Anthony Fontanelle
In a season where Chevrolet drivers had a near-monopoly of wins, it is positive news for Ford that their drivers are getting more and more appearances on the podium as Chevrolet drivers have. The last five races is proof of Ford's resurgence. Two wins out of the five races and a two-three finish at the recently concluded USG Sheetrock 400 shows that Ford drivers are slowly getting into a strong fight with Chevy drivers.
At the nineteenth race of the season, although Chevrolet driver Tony Stewart took the win, Roush Fenway Racing's Matt Kenseth took second place and Carl Edwards third. Both drivers are driving Ford cars.
In fact, Kenseth had a chance to win the USG Sheetrock 400. During the restart with only 38 laps remaining, he looked ready to overtake Stewart but was foiled by the veteran driver. "It was very, very close... but I had to get out of there just a little bit because he closed the door," said Kenseth.
"I hung a left (went to the inside) and still got a good run down the backstretch and almost cleared him getting into (Turn) 3. Then we ran side by side for a couple of laps, and when you're on the bottom and racing for position, it's hard to hang on. If it was early in the race, people will give you a little extra room to stay on your car," he explained.
"But when it's at the end for position, you're both racing as hard as you can. I stayed under him for about two laps and then went into (Turn) 3 side by side, but I got so loose I was afraid I was going to wipe us both out, so I had to get back behind him," he ended saying.
Although Kenseth missed to take his second win of the season, he said that he feels that they still do not have the best car in the field. But with a second and third place finish, it would seem that Ford is making good progress in improving their cars and their racing parts such as Ford radiators and such.
"It really frustrates you when you lose if you have the best car, but I don't think we had the best car today," said Kenseth. "I don't feel we gave it away today. I don't think we had anything taken away from us."
"You can only go as fast as your racecar will carry you, and I feel we got everything out of it today. So overall it was a great weekend for us. It was good to come home second. I had that one shot at him, but I couldn't quite finish the pass. If I could have finished that pass on the restart, I would like to have been in front of him and try to hold him off."
Ford's first win was at the second race of the season taken by Matt Kenseth, and the second came at the fifteenth race of the season. The said race is the Citizens Bank 400 held at the Michigan International Speedway was won by Carl Edwards.
Edwards said that they are gaining on Chevrolet teams. "The Hendrick cars and the Chevys got off to an unbelievable start. I think we've been working really hard and we've been gaining a little ground."
The Ford Mustang has it all
The Ford Mustang has it all
by mhawke
One of the cars that immortalized Ford's niche in the car industry, is unarguably the Ford Mustang. This is the car that "started it all." Since its debut to the public, its sales has been in an upstream direction. It caused panic to other competing brands which were then unprepared for the birth of such a ride. General Motors and Chevrolet were left with the battle to create the car that could top the Mustang. Years later, the Ford Mustang is still one of the bets coupes to ever grace the industry. With its high quality Ford Mustang Parts, one must not contest how this car once dominated the top.
The Ford Mustang is comprised of Ford parts that were designed specifically to help the Mustang perform to its fullest. Every component was engineered to perfection, from the Ford hood up to the Ford Spoiler. This ride may not be as fast and jaw-dropping without the Ford Spoilers. Because of its goal to "spoil" the unfavorable air movement across the body of the Mustang, it improves the car's stability by decreasing its drag, or lift. The Ford Spoiler is among the Ford Mustang Parts that help it to maintain its high performance. It may add that certain flair in the aesthetics of the Mustang, but the Ford Spoiler is definitely not just there to please the eyes---it also pleases one's appetite for the ride that has it all.
All the years that the Ford Mustang has seen through will not be possible without its ever-reliable Ford Mustang Parts. This historic car will remain to be a chosen favorite up to this day, and its accomplishments as a car will be the inspiration for all the other cars. In fact, it took a car like the Ford Mustang for Hollywood to give birth to the most memorable car chase in movies. In the film "Bullitt," Steve McQueen spruces up in his Mustang, all clad in action-packed ardor and glory. And if Hollywood says that it is a hot ride, then the Mustang must really have it all.
Volkswagen Finds Its Way In America
Volkswagen Finds Its Way In America
by Anthony Fontanelle
Volkswagen AG's existence in the United States has always been one of highs and lows but not as near to the ground as now.
How grave is the situation? For the past three years, VW's U.S. operations have lost close to $1 billion annually. Now the German automaker is trying again to save the brand in the U.S. Stefan Jacoby, a German with close ties to VW Chairman Martin Winterkorn and Supervisory Board Chairman Ferdinand K. Piëch, was tapped to head U.S. operations.
Jacoby, 49, made his mark as head of VW's global sales and marketing. Since Jacoby took charge, VW boosted its European market share to 20.3 percent from 18.1 percent. With its U.S. fortunes slipping, Jacoby is facing his biggest challenge yet. His mission is to meet Winterkorn's target of breaking even in the U.S. by 2009.
Only a year ago, the German automaker was gearing up a huge marketing campaign to relaunch a revamped Rabbit and