Reports on the latest technological advances in the auto industry.
2005/11/30
@ 11:08 AM (47 months, 27 days ago)
Hyundai Motor Co. today introduced the all-new Santa Fe sports utility vehicle. Larger, more elegant and more refined than its predecessor, the new Santa Fe sharpens Hyundai's competitiveness in the hotly-contested segment with third row seating plus an abundance of new comfort and convenience features. Just like its predecessor which carved out a unique niche for itself, the 2006 Santa Fe blazes a new trail for Hyundai and will take our brand to the heights of refinement and confidence, said Chairman and CEO Chung Mong-Koo. Developed at cost of 162 billion won (US$155 million) over a period of 26 months under the CM project code-name, the new Santa Fe rides on a 2.7m-long wheelbase, 8cm longer than its predecessor. This enabled an i...
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@ 10:05 AM (47 months, 27 days ago)
BMW has selected New York-based Dotglu, LLC as its new U.S. Consumer Relationship Management (CRM) agency-of-record. This selection was a result of a national agency search that began in July 2005. Dotglu will work in direct partnership with GSD&M, the lead agency recently awarded the BMW national brand and advertising business. As the CRM partner company, Dotglu will work with GSD&M and BMW to maximize the total customer experience in all areas of CRM, direct marketing, database marketing and interactive marketing initiatives, including the redesign of www.bmwusa.com. "We could not be more pleased that Dotglu will be joining the BMW team. Our relationship with consumers is the most important we have as a brand and Dotglu is the idea...
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@ 06:47 AM (47 months, 27 days ago)
Rolls-Royce has opened a new factory in Shanghai, China, to serve the world's largest commercial shipbuilding market. Together with an existing facility in Korea, the factory forms a new production hub for north-east Asia enabling the company to supply shipyards with marine equipment at the point of manufacture - and open up new markets in the process. The Asian shipbuilding market is currently worth ?19 billion annually and accounts for around 80 per cent of all global construction. In 2004 new orders and deliveries reached record levels. Marine President Saul Lanyado, who officially opened the site on 2 November, said: "This is a very exciting development for us and it opens up real opportunities to expand our business in As...
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2005/11/29
@ 12:04 PM (47 months, 28 days ago)
Mercedes-Benz is proud to announce its award-winning SL convertible sports car lineup has yet another trophy to add to its cabinet - the SL65 AMG was voted "The Fantasy Convertible" by the New England Motor Press Association (NEMPA). NEMPA members, consisting of New England-based automotive journalists, tested the limited-production, high-performance hardtop convertible during its annual Ragtop Ramble convertible driving event from Boston to Kennebunkport this summer. "Why fantasy?" asks Gerry Miles, NEMPA President and automotive editor for New Hampshire's Portsmouth Herald. "Because it would be a fantasy to own one, never mind be lucky enough to secure seat time behind the wheel of one." The Mercedes-Be...
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@ 10:37 AM (47 months, 28 days ago)
Saab's "Real-Life Safety" philosophy earned the Saab 9 3 Sport Sedan a "Double Best Pick" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the first passenger car to achieve this distinction. Eight mid-size cars were crashed in the latest round of IIHS side-impact testing. The Saab 9-3 is the only mid-size car yet to earn a "Best Pick" in the test. Important to note is that this result was achieved with standard equipment only. Among the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan's standard safety features are adaptive, dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags engineered into the front seats, seat belts featuring crash pre-tensioners and load limiters, and Saab's "second generation"...
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@ 07:51 AM (47 months, 28 days ago)
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) today announced the nationwide launch in Japan, via "Netz" dealers, of the new RAV4, which is a completely redesigned version of the Toyota RAV4 J and RAV4 L that have been sold, respectively, through "Netz" and "Toyota Corolla" dealers in Japan. The RAV4 J and RAV4 L, launched in 1994 as small SUVs that were enjoyable to both look at and ride in, pioneered a new genre by being the first SUVs to provide the feel of a passenger vehicle. With the launch of the second-generation vehicle in 2000, they evolved into high-performance, urban SUVs that became global models. The new, third-generation model, developed to be a leader among SUVs for people with active lifestyles who enjoy t...
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@ 05:58 AM (47 months, 28 days ago)
Volkswagen AG, Europe's biggest carmaker, will stop selling the $66,700 Phaeton sedan in the U.S. next year after failing to compete with luxury models from BMW and DaimlerChrysler AG's Mercedes-Benz. Volkswagen will pull the Phaeton out of the world's largest market, where it never met sales targets, by September 2006, said Hans-Gerd Bode, a spokesman at the Wolfsburg, Germany-based automaker. The model's 10-month U.S. sales totaled 686 cars. The goal was to sell 10,000 Phaetons a year in the U.S. by 2004. ''They are simply not willing to spend additional money on this car in the U.S.,'' said Patrick Juchemich, an analyst with Sal Oppenheim in Frankfurt who has a ``buy'' recommendation on...
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2005/11/28
@ 12:03 PM (47 months, 29 days ago)
On the exact date of the launch of the Cayman S, Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG is undertaking a special kind of cooperation at its home location. From Saturday, November 26, 2005, the Cayman S will not just be in Porsche showrooms for the first time, ready to roll out to its new owners. At the same time, the South German sports car manufacturer will officially adopt a group of four caimans at Stuttgart's Wilhelma Zoo on this day. For five years, Marajo, Rana, Siri and Kaya - a male and three females - will be "adopted" by Porsche AG, which is supporting them with a sum of E10,000 Euros. Just as the Cayman S is celebrating its debut, this adoption agreement is also a first - both for Porsche AG and the Wilhelma. This is the fi...
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@ 11:01 AM (47 months, 29 days ago)
Greg Biffle capped off Ford Championship Weekend by winning Sunday's Ford 400 at Homestead-Miami Speedway as Roush Racing Ford Tauruses swept the top four positions for the first time in the team's history. Not only was it the first 1-2-3-4 finish in Roush Racing history, but it was Ford's first sweep of the top four positions since the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in May 2002. It was a fitting swansong for the Nextel Cup version of the Ford Taurus, which debuted in 1998 and ran for the final time on Sunday. During its time in service, the Taurus won 100 NASCAR Nextel Cup points races and eight more non-points races. The Taurus gave Ford manufacturer's championships in 1999, 2000 and 2002, and driver...
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@ 09:49 AM (47 months, 29 days ago)
Saab's "Real-Life Safety" philosophy earned the Saab 9 3 Sport Sedan a "Double Best Pick" designation from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), the first passenger car to achieve this distinction. Eight mid-size cars were crashed in the latest round of IIHS side-impact testing. The Saab 9-3 is the only mid-size car yet to earn a "Best Pick" in the test. Important to note is that this result was achieved with standard equipment only. Among the Saab 9-3 Sport Sedan's standard safety features are adaptive, dual-stage front airbags, side-impact airbags engineered into the front seats, seat belts featuring crash pre-tensioners and load limiters, and Saab's "second generation"...
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@ 07:56 AM (47 months, 29 days ago)
Audi is the first manufacturer ever to earn three "Double Best Pick" ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) for their front and side crash test results on the A3, A4, and A6. Audi raised the bar again with the addition of the A3 to the list of "Double Best Pick." The Audi A3 earned the rating after its performance in the recently conducted IIHS side impact crash test and the frontal offset crash test. This past July, Audi became the first manufacturer ever to have two vehicles with a "Double Best Pick" rating after crash tests were conducted on the Audi A6. With the addition of the A3 premium compact to this prestigious list, Audi's meticulous commitment to safety becomes even more...
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2005/11/27
@ 11:52 AM (48 months, 17 hours ago)
Rolls-Royce has opened a new factory in Shanghai, China, to serve the world's largest commercial shipbuilding market. Together with an existing facility in Korea, the factory forms a new production hub for north-east Asia enabling the company to supply shipyards with marine equipment at the point of manufacture - and open up new markets in the process. The Asian shipbuilding market is currently worth ?19 billion annually and accounts for around 80 per cent of all global construction. In 2004 new orders and deliveries reached record levels. Marine President Saul Lanyado, who officially opened the site on 2 November, said: "This is a very exciting development for us and it opens up real opportunities to expand our business in As...
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@ 09:46 AM (48 months, 19 hours ago)
Coupe and hardtop convertible models with true 2+2 seating have joined the G6 sedan to create an entire family of expressive, new Pontiac performers. Pontiac introduced the G6 coupe and G6 convertible at the 2005 Greater Los Angeles Auto Show. The 2006 Pontiac G6 hardtop convertible offers customers open-air driving, as well as the security and refinement of a coupe. Its Karmann-designed retractable hardtop operates with the touch of single button and takes less than 30 seconds to transform from coupe-like styling to top-down convertible. Both the coupe and convertible deliver 2+2 seating suitable for four adults. This was enabled by the G6s class-leading 112.3-inch (2852 mm) wheelbase, which stretches the wheels to the vehicle corners an...
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@ 07:16 AM (48 months, 21 hours ago)
Ford's integrated Spanish-language marketing campaign for the Fusion lets viewers mix their own music on the web. Check it out at www.fordenespanol.com "Chispa" - the Spanish word for spark - is the dominant theme of the integrated Spanish-language television, print and digital marketing campaign Ford has created to launch the 2006 Fusion in Hispanic communities nationwide. Chispa is reflected in Fusion ads that carry the tagline, "Energy that Moves You," in sponsorships and associations, and especially on the Internet. On the web, visitors to www.fordenespanol.com/cars/fusion/ can use the "Fusion Music Mixer" to blend Latin styles like reggaeton, salsa and tango with other genres, such as country, R&B...
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@ 05:47 AM (48 months, 23 hours ago)
Alfa Romeo closes the season with the win of Farfus. Giovanardi third in the Driver World Championship. At the "urban-circuit" of Macau (China) the first edition of World Touring Car Championship has closed the season. In the last appointment of the serie, on the most difficult circuit of the season, the young Brasilian driver Augusto Farfus defended the Alfa Romeo Racing Team's colours with a beautiful win in race 1. Farfus defended his leadership from Priaulx's Bmw and Rydell's Seat. In race 2, the Brasilian finished in fourth (win for Huismann, Bmw). The liet-motiv of the Macau's weekend was given Drivers and Manufacturers titles. Fabrizio Giovanardi, in race for the win, closed the Championship in thir...
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2005/11/26
@ 12:43 PM (48 months, 1 day ago)
Dale Hug writing for JCN reported that Toyota announced on November 10 that it officially registered the first hybrid vehicles in China, under the country's national hybrid vehicle certification system, which came into effect October 1. In June 2004, the Chinese government announced the Automobile Industry Development Policy 2004, which is designed to encourage the introduction of vehicles that contribute to reducing environmental impact. After looking into various ways of actively complying with the policy, TMC decided to export 30 units of its hybrid Prius model produced in Japan to China, and made arrangements with the relevant organizations. The 30 units, which are now in the possession of TMC affiliates in China, are planned for...
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@ 10:19 AM (48 months, 1 day ago)
The NASCAR Nextel Cup Series sprints to its 2005 conclusion with the Ford 400 at the Homestead Miami Speedway this Sunday. The Ford sponsored race marks the end of the series, which began in February and accounted for millions of dollars of earnings for the top drivers, not to mention thrills for the growing legion of NASCAR fans. As the drivers go into the final race of the season, Tony Stewart leads with 6415 points. The closest drivers racing for Ford are Carl Edwards in third, 87 points behind the leader, and Greg Biffle, in fourth place and 102 points behind. Both Edwards and Biffle race for the Rousch Team. Edwards drives the Ford Taurus #99 and so far has racked up four wins and 12 top five placings in 2005. Biffle drive the Ford...
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@ 08:26 AM (48 months, 1 day ago)
The Meriva OPC will make its world premiere at the 38th Essen Motor Show. The sports minivan features a powerful 180 hp turbo engine and has a top speed of 222 km/h. The Meriva OPC's newly-developed 1.6-liter turbo gasoline engine is the most powerful in its segment. The high-performance version of the versatile Meriva will be available as of February 2006. The Meriva OPC features high-tech options that are unique in its segment, including the halogen cornering and curve light (Adaptive Forward Lighting). Joining the OPC versions of the Astra, Zafira, Vectra and Vectra station wagon, the Meriva OPC brings the high-performance model family to five members. The 38th Essen Motor Show will open its gates to the public on November 25 and...
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@ 05:08 AM (48 months, 1 day ago)
Newly-launched aircraft leasing company, LCAL (Low Cost Aircraft Leasing), has announced its selection of the Rolls-Royce Trent 1000 engine to power six Boeing 787 Dreamliners. The value of the engine deal alone is $160 million at list prices, Rolls-Royce said today at the Dubai Air Show. In addition, the engines will be covered by a TotalCare(TM) service agreement (TCA) which gives lifetime protection for each powerplant and is portable between LCAL's customers. LCAL is the first leasing company to order the Trent-powered 787 and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2009. Mike Terrett, President - Civil Aerospace at Rolls-Royce, said: "The Trent 1000 - powered Boeing 787 will enable LCAL to offer customers high levels of effi...
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2005/11/25
@ 12:54 PM (48 months, 2 days ago)
Ford's modern history in midsize family cars can be summed up in a few short sentences: Ford flew. Ford flopped. Now Ford expects to fly again with its 2006 Fusion, an all-new midsize four-door sedan aimed at the market once dominated by Ford's own Taurus but now ceded to the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. The 1986 Ford Taurus was a sensation from the start. But Ford redesigned it a decade later with an eye away from its existing customers and toward an ill-defined group of supposed new buyers. The ovoid design scheme that resulted turned off a lot of people. Sales slid, and Ford was forced to concentrate on fleet sales as a way to prop up the sales numbers. That resulted in lower profits and poor resale value. Meanwhile, Toyo...
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@ 12:44 PM (48 months, 2 days ago)
TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that it has donated 80,000 traffic safety placards to elementary school children in Beijing, China to promote traffic safety. The announcement came during a presentation ceremony held today at the elementary school affiliated with Beijing Jiaotong University (formerly Northern Jiaotong University). The Beijing Traffic Management Bureau and other municipal agencies, such as the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, are jointly conducting traffic safety education and instructional activities for elementary school children in Beijing, as part of a traffic accident reduction campaign. In order to ensure the safety of children while they are going to and from school, children are encouraged...
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@ 09:43 AM (48 months, 2 days ago)
Scania's powerful V8 engines, which often operate in heavy long-haul or demanding construction tasks, use selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology to ensure cooling capacity and absolute top performance in all situations. These engines are now available in more output steps and variants than ever before. Scania's highest-output V8, delivering 620 hp and 3000 Nm, is the most powerful in the market. SCR technology works very well under heavy loads. Scania has thus chosen to employ this technology in its most powerful engines, which are used for especially tough driving. For Euro 4 emission standards, Scania has expanded its V8 engine range from two to three outputs (500, 560 and 620 hp). Its most powerful engine produces 62...
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@ 05:54 AM (48 months, 2 days ago)
The Antara GTC (Gran Turismo Crossover) concept vehicle won the prestigious "Concept of the Year" title in this year's Autocar awards. The annual ceremony, hosted by Britain's longest-running car magazine, recognizes the very best in the global car industry. Autocar's editor Rob Aherne praised the dynamic design, saying: "Opel/Vauxhall is back on track with their design direction. There's no New Edge design or Flame Surfacing at their design centre, just a bunch of professionals designing some of the most attractive family cars of the moment." Accepting the honor, GM Europe's Executive Director of Design Bryan Nesbitt said: "It's quite rewarding to receive this honor from such a prest...
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2005/11/24
@ 12:04 PM (48 months, 3 days ago)
The 2007 Cadillac Escalade made its worldwide premiere in Beverly Hills last night at the grand opening of "Escalade on Rodeo." The red carpet rolled out for the week-long celebration where Oscar-winner Adrien Brody hosted the opening night preview party, "Chrome Couture." Guests including Allison Janney, Paris Hilton, Stavros Niarchos, Wilmer Valderrama, DJ AM, Regina King, Chris Kattan, Wolfgang Puck, Virginia Madsen, Jadakiss, Frankie Muniz, Eduardo Verastegui, Anthony Anderson, Billy Morrison, Eddie Griffin, John Salley, Rachel Hunter, Rodney Peete, Styles P and Vida Guerra had an exclusive first look at the 2007 Escalade, the next-generation of the iconic luxury SUV. "Since its inception, Escalade has been an...
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@ 09:54 AM (48 months, 3 days ago)
Today marks the beginning of Ford Championship Weekend at South Florida's Homestead-Miami Speedway, where the NASCAR season will conclude with titles decided in the NASCAR Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman Truck Series. Tonight is the Ford 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, followed by the Ford 300 Busch Series race on Saturday. The weekend wraps up Sunday with the Ford 400 to decide the winner in the Nextel Cup Series. Roush Racing Ford Taurus drivers Carl Edwards and Greg Biffle enter Ford Championship Weekend in third and fourth place, respectively, in Nextel Cup points and remain in contention for the championship. Should either Edwards or Biffle prevail, it would mark the third straight year for one of team owner Jack Roush'...
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@ 08:19 AM (48 months, 3 days ago)
For the first time in the video game industry, a car company has built a driving game around its entire brand with the release today of "Volvo Drive for Life," a game published by Microsoft for the Xbox game system. Prior to the launch of "Volvo Drive for Life" on Xbox, companies -- including Volvo -- had participated in video games by inserting their products into an existing game platform. The new Volvo video game was designed to immerse the user in Volvo's most important core value, safety -- while participating in an exciting gaming experience. Everything within the game, from the cars to the surroundings, is modeled from scratch to create test tracks and driving environments that illustrate the strengths of t...
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@ 04:59 AM (48 months, 3 days ago)
Beneath the hood of a Ford hybrid vehicle is a system of electronic controls that continuously monitors the interaction between the driver, the vehicle and the road to deliver class-leading fuel economy. Utilizing drive-by-wire (or direct drive) technology, the hybrid's electronic controls add a new degree of precision to the communication between driver and vehicle. Drive-by-wire technology refers to the replacement of mechanical components with electronic controls. While the technology itself is not new, drive-by-wire has gained a newfound importance in hybrid technology. "In the Ford hybrids, we use a brake-by-wire system," said Tom Gee, manager, Hybrid Controls. "It's part of the regenerative braking syste...
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2005/11/23
@ 12:39 PM (48 months, 4 days ago)
Rolls-Royce is supporting UK Enterprise Week with a series of events staged in schools around the country to promote classroom interest in the skills needed for success in business. Nine schools and colleges in London, Surrey, Cambridgeshire, Birmingham and Cheshire, will showcase Profitable Pursuit, a team-based educational game designed by Rolls-Royce for 14-to-19 year olds. Competing in small groups, approximately 140 pupils in the schools will be given 'companies' to run, and must make business decisions on strategy, finance, operations and marketing, whilst keeping an eye on their competitors. A computer model tracks their performance over a session that can be scheduled to suit teachers' timetable needs, and identifi...
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@ 11:28 AM (48 months, 4 days ago)
TheSouth Central Pennsylvania GM Goodwrench Dealers have teamed up with Toys for Tots to collect toys during the holiday season for needy children. Consumers who donate a new, unwrapped toy at a participating GM Goodwrench dealership by December 10 will receive a card valid for a free vehicle inspection and tire rotation in appreciation of their donation. "The GM Goodwrench Dealers are pleased to partner with Toys for Tots to help brighten the lives of children in need in the South Central Pennsylvania area," said Joan Muller, GM Goodwrench Local Area Marketing Manager. "We are proud to be affiliated with an organization that's run with the efficiency & professionalism of the U.S. Marine Corps. And, one that has a simp...
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@ 09:42 AM (48 months, 4 days ago)
"Beyond Precision," a new brand positioning and advertising campaign for the Buick division of General Motors, will break with television commercials on Nov. 21 for the 2006 Lucerne, an all-new luxury sedan. The campaign focuses on Buick's quality by showcasing Lucerne's luxury features and benefits including QuietTuning and other technical innovations. The advertising's new tagline - "Beyond Precision" - speaks to the care and exactitude the designers and engineers put into the Lucerne. "Beyond Precision" exemplifies qualities that resonate with people who want a car to reflect their intelligence and that thrives on scrutiny with compelling attributes. "The people who design, engineer an...
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@ 05:53 AM (48 months, 4 days ago)
The 2006 Volkswagen Passat has earned a "Double Best Pick" designation for outstanding performance in front and side tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The Passat earned the top rating in every individual measurement category (head protection, injuries and structural design) for both the side impact and frontal tests. Earlier this year, the all-new 2005 Jetta was named a "Best Pick" for side crash protection and earned good ratings for frontal crash protection by the IIHS. At the time, it was the first vehicle ever to earn the top rating in every individual measurement category in side impact tests. Together, the Jetta and Passat account for 67% of Volkswagen's U.S. sales. &q...
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2005/11/22
@ 11:45 AM (48 months, 5 days ago)
Further advancing its vision of a gasoline- and emissions-free transportation future, Honda R&D Americas, Inc., in conjunction with technology partner Plug Power Inc., today introduced the Home Energy Station III, which provides heat and electricity for the home as well as fuel for a hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicle. This third generation unit, located at the company's North American headquarters in Torrance, California, is more compact and efficient than previous Home Energy Station models. Following Honda's strategy to develop intermediate as well as longer-term alternatives to traditional energy sources like gasoline, the Home Energy Station III uses natural gas as its base energy source. In keeping with the path established...
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@ 10:30 AM (48 months, 5 days ago)
If there's one thing men and women agree with when it comes to dating it's that cars make an impression, this according to a Ford Fusion "Life in Drive" Dating Survey that polled more than 400 singles and revealed a whopping 89 percent of males and 95 percent of females said they were somewhat likely to notice their date's car. The survey is part of an upcoming series of Ford-sponsored speed dating events in select U.S. cities to introduce the new Ford Fusion -- a mid-size car designed with style and attitude and marketed under the theme, "Life in Drive." On November 15, Miami-area singles will participate in the first Ford Fusion Speed Dating event from 6-8 p.m. at Cafeteria in Miami Beach. During the...
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@ 07:51 AM (48 months, 5 days ago)
Cadillac's heritage of technological innovation expands with the 2007 Escalade. From safety features such as new standard roof-mounted head curtain side air bags to StabiliTrak stability control with new rollover mitigation, Escalade delivers purposeful technologies to ensure exceptional levels of safety, convenience and luxury. "These vehicles envelop occupants with a comprehensive safety technology system that is built from a foundation of segment leadership in safety technology," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. Cadillac Escalade has a heritage of safety innovation. Previous-generation vehicles were the first in the industry to offer a passenger sensing system to suppress deployment of the front passenger air...
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@ 04:46 AM (48 months, 6 days ago)
The DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund and Detroit's Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History today officially celebrated a $1 million gift from the automaker to support completion of the museum's largest exhibit area, now named the DaimlerChrysler Hall. Frank Fountain, Chrysler Group Senior Vice President - External Affairs and Public Policy (Auburn Hills), Nate Gooden, United Auto Workers (UAW) Vice President and Director of the union's DaimlerChrysler Department and Member of the DaimlerChrysler Supervisory Board, and Christy Coleman, President and CEO of the museum hosted the event which commemorated the DaimlerChrysler Corporation Fund's significant support of the museum. The DaimlerChrysler Hall houses...
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2005/11/21
@ 11:53 AM (48 months, 6 days ago)
The Asahi Shimbun reported that Toyota Motor Corp. in 2008 will put into practical use its third-generation hybrid-system (HS) engine, which will cut prices for eco-friendly vehicles, reduce fuel costs and slash production expenses, company sources said. The smaller, third-generation HS can be installed on many models. Most of the automaker's midsize and larger models will be equipped with the new engine, they said. Toyota plans to manufacture key parts of the new HS in the United States to expand the use of the technology around the world, they added. Toyota's HS combines gasoline power and an electric motor. The system requires less fossil fuel and is thus more environmentally friendly than vehicles that run only on gas. Toy...
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@ 10:44 AM (48 months, 6 days ago)
Fans of the San Francisco 49ers and automotive enthusiasts alike received an early holiday present when the one-of-a-kind customized San Francisco 49ers Cadillac Escalade was unwrapped for its world debut at the 48th Annual San Francisco International Auto Show. The unique vehicle was unveiled by Cadillac with the help of 49ers player Mike Rumph at the 2006 San Francisco International Auto Show's VIP Night, November 18, 2005, and will be displayed at Moscone Convention Center throughout the show's public days, November 19-27, 2005. A 2006 model Cadillac Escalade was transformed into a work of art inspired by the 49ers' legacy and team colors. The vehicle was created as the grand prize for the "49ers Kick to Drive"...
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@ 08:20 AM (48 months, 6 days ago)
Poornima Gupta writing for Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co., facing a deepening financial crisis, said on Friday it plans to eliminate 4,000 salaried jobs, or 10 percent of its North American white-collar work force, as part of a larger restructuring plan. A majority of the job cuts -- announced to employees in an e-mail distributed by Mark Fields, president of Ford's Americas business -- will be made in the first quarter of 2006, spokesman Oscar Suris said. The cuts will come through attrition, layoffs and the elimination of some agency and contract positions, Suris said. They will be in addition to the 2,750 job losses already announced by the automaker this year, Ford lost $284 million in the third quarter and its automotive...
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@ 04:56 AM (48 months, 6 days ago)
New York City's first mini-fleet of hybrid taxicabs - six Ford Escape Hybrids - took to the streets of the Big Apple on Thursday and demonstrated how the innovations of private industry can work hand in hand with the needs of government and public advocacy groups. The Escape Hybrid, the first hybrid manufactured by an American automaker, is now doing taxi duty in New York thanks to the Clean Air Taxis Act, passed by the New York City Council in July of this year. "I want to congratulate everyone involved for putting this innovative hybrid technology on the streets of New York City," said Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford at a ceremony in midtown Manhattan sending off the hybrid taxis. Spurred by growing concerns over New...
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2005/11/20
@ 12:27 PM (48 months, 7 days ago)
The Alfa 159 is much more than a great saloon. It marks a turning point in the way Alfa Romeo views its cars. A view in which engineering and technology are 'visible', almost tangible, right down to the tiniest construction detail. Even with the car stopped. Alfa needed a striking, concise message to mark the market launch of the new model. 'The new breed of Alfa' is the slogan selected by the Brand to showcase the latest addition to the family in a campaign that uses a very forceful language, with great visual and conceptual impact, and which involves a range of communication media: the Alfa 159 takes front stage in TV commercials lasting 45 and 30 seconds, on billboards, in the daily press and in a radio campaign, on...
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@ 11:16 AM (48 months, 7 days ago)
Volkswagen of America Inc. today hosted its first display in the 42-year history of the Specialty Equipment Market Association's (SEMA) annual exhibition of automotive parts and accessories, presenting a trio of ultra-high-performance dream vehicles, two new accessorized sport sedans, plus a glimpse into the future with a race-winning robotic SUV. Volkswagen has been a familiar marque at the SEMA Show since the first Beetle was transformed into a dune buggy, but never before has Volkswagen of America exhibited at the automotive aftermarket's most important gathering. In addition to the three project vehicles built in cooperation with HPA Motorsports, the display features two of Volkswagen's newest production cars, the Jetta...
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@ 07:04 AM (48 months, 7 days ago)
The technical town council of Weissach authorized the application for planning permission by Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart for a new drive center. This enables the automotive manufacturer to begin with the clearing and digging work on the site of the Weissach research and development center as early as mid-November. The new construction is to be a joint workshop and office building in which all development activities for drive technology with engine and gearbox components as well as corresponding prototype assembly will be combined. At the same time, development work for the new sport coupe "Panamera," which is due to be launched in 2009, will be integrated there. The building is due to be completed in its first stage of...
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@ 05:39 AM (48 months, 7 days ago)
Just in time for slippery-road season, the much anticipated, all-wheel-drive versions of Porsche's latest 911 model debut this weekend in Porsche showrooms across North America. Both the hardtop 911 Carrera 4 and 4S(R) Coupe, and open-top 911 Carrera 4 and 4S Cabriolets sport a more dynamic and muscular stance, thanks to wider rear wheels and accompanying bodywork flared nearly two inches (44 mm) beyond the flanks of the two-wheel-drive 911 Carrera. For the first time, four-wheel-drive 911 Carrera models will be available with two engine options. Carrera 4 Coupes and Cabriolets are powered by the proven, 325-horsepower (SAE), 3.6-liter flat-Six. Carrera 4S versions are equipped with a larger 3.8-liter powerplant that develops 355 hp (...
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2005/11/13
@ 11:48 AM (48 months, 14 days ago)
The Ford Focus is "the most complete all-rounder" - that's the verdict of Scotland's top motoring writers, who have named it Family Car of the Year 2005 in the prestigious Scottish Car of the Year Awards. The award was conferred by the 15 members of the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers. "Fulfilling the needs of all the family is a demanding task and several vehicles came close to taking the top honours," stated the judges. "However, our winner in this tough market segment is the most complete all-rounder and shows how things should be done." The motoring writers considered the performance, value for money, safety, Scots appeal and other aspects of more than 50 new models, split into seven...
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@ 10:36 AM (48 months, 14 days ago)
General Motors has expanded the availability of its full-size hybrid pickup trucks nationwide beginning with the 2006 model year. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickups are the world's first full-size hybrid pickup trucks, provide the highest estimated city fuel economy of any full-size truck in the market and offer customers the added benefit of a 2400-watt built-in generator. The trucks were previously available in select markets. The hybrid option is available on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab pickups. The option is net priced at $1,500 MSRP and comes with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on all hybrid-related components. The Silverado and Sierra hybrid pickups feature GM's Vo...
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@ 09:09 AM (48 months, 14 days ago)
As the 2006 Milan arrives in dealerships this season, Mercury is debuting its stylish mid-size sedan in ads that celebrate the humor and discoveries of everyday life - such as the "joys" of renewing your driver's license. Mercury is showcasing the new Milan - the brand's first new mid-size sedan in more than 10 years - in a marketing campaign that continues the "New Doors Opened" theme, which last year introduced consumers to an energized Mercury brand, as well as the new Montego full-size sedan and Mariner SUV. Since that time, Mercury already has made considerable gains in consumer recognition. GFK Automotive research shows brand awareness for Mercury climbed from 65 percent in Q1 2004 to 74 percent for the...
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2005/11/12
@ 12:00 PM (48 months, 15 days ago)
Subaru of America, Inc. will showcase two of its newest high-performance models at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Manufacturers Association (SEMA) Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center Nov. 1-4. The 2006 Impreza WRX TR and the limited edition Legacy 2.5 GT spec.B will make their North American show debut at the industry's premier automotive specialty performance products trade event. Subaru is America's All-Wheel Drive leader, with Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive standard on every vehicle in its model line. For 2006, Subaru has considerably upped the ante in the high-performance arena with a restyled and expanded Impreza WRX line featuring a new 230-horsepower 2.5-liter engine. The new WRX TR model, and a new, limited edition Legacy...
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@ 11:16 AM (48 months, 15 days ago)
As the 2006 Milan arrives in dealerships this season, Mercury is debuting its stylish mid-size sedan in ads that celebrate the humor and discoveries of everyday life - such as the "joys" of renewing your driver's license. Mercury is showcasing the new Milan - the brand's first new mid-size sedan in more than 10 years - in a marketing campaign that continues the "New Doors Opened" theme, which last year introduced consumers to an energized Mercury brand, as well as the new Montego full-size sedan and Mariner SUV. Since that time, Mercury already has made considerable gains in consumer recognition. GFK Automotive research shows brand awareness for Mercury climbed from 65 percent in Q1 2004 to 74 percent for the...
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@ 09:22 AM (48 months, 15 days ago)
Hyundai Motor America unveiled the 2007 Accent SE three-door at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show today. Poised for even greater popularity, the new 2007 Accent three-door model (available in GS and SE trim) complements the all-new 2006 Accent GLS four-door, which will go on sale this November. The Accent GS and SE three-door models arrive next spring at Hyundai showrooms across the U.S. With more than 35 custom accessories being developed, buyers will be able to modify Accent GS and SE to suit their individual style. "Our all-new Accent lineup is going to set the pace in the compact segment," said Bob Cosmai, president and CEO of Hyundai Motor America. "Consumers will be blown away by the amount o...
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@ 05:42 AM (48 months, 15 days ago)
October sales for Ford Motor Company and the overall auto industry were down, but Ford is receiving encouraging news about its trio of new mid-size cars. The 2006 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr are turning heads and garnering quick sales. At Cherokee Ford in Woodstock, Ga., about 30 miles from Atlanta, a customer chose a new Ford Fusion over a Honda Accord. New Car Sales Manager Matt Krause says can't remember that ever happening before. "The customer said that all things considered, he thought the Fusion was a nicer car," Krause said. In Illinois, another customer snapped up a Fusion just three hours after the car hit the dealership. And a 58-year-old retired micro-biologist paid the sticker price for th...
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2005/11/11
@ 11:19 AM (48 months, 16 days ago)
Some 75 years since the adventurer and Le Mans winner Woolf Barnato raced and beat the famous Blue Train on its journey across France, Bentley Motors and its coach building division Mulliner are celebrating his achievement with a powerful, distinctive and luxurious grand tourer based on its flagship four-door saloon: the Arnage Blue Train Series. In specification, the Blue Train Series Arnage features the 450bhp version of Bentley's remarkable 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, allied to the chassis and suspension set-up of the refined and supple Arnage R. With a 0-60mph acceleration of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 168mph the Blue Train Series Arnage has the performance to satisfy the most demanding of drivers. A mountainous 64...
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@ 10:38 AM (48 months, 16 days ago)
Today, General Motors Corp. demonstrated a fleet of cars that do in fact have a sixth sense. Using vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication, a vehicle can detect the position and movement of other vehicles up to a quarter of a mile away. In a world where vehicles are equipped with a simple antenna, a computer chip and GPS (Global Positioning System) technology your car will know where the other vehicles are, additionally other vehicles will know where you are too -- whether it is in blind spots, stopped ahead on the highway but hidden from view, around a blind corner or blocked by other vehicles. The vehicles can anticipate and react to changing driving situations and then instantly warn the drivers with chimes, visual icons and seat vibrat...
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@ 08:45 AM (48 months, 16 days ago)
As fuel prices soar at the pumps and energy security remains a concern, Ford Motor Company is announcing a first-of-a-kind partnership with VeraSun Energy Corporation, a renewable energy company. This partnership builds on a commitment to American innovation made in a speech delivered by Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford to employees on Sept. 21. The initiative will expand the fueling infrastructure to support flexible fuel vehicles (FFVs) capable of running on up to 85 percent ethanol (E85). "Ford is working on innovative solutions to customer concerns over high gas prices and America's overdependence on foreign oil," said Ford. "Ethanol is an innovative energy source straight from the heartland of America. Ford has pro...
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@ 05:56 AM (48 months, 16 days ago)
Ford Motor Company's Mercury brand today announced an industry-first sponsorship of 2929 Entertainment's Landmark Theatres, the nation's largest independent film circuit, with 208 screens nationwide. This ground-breaking, innovative deal will bring Mercury to the forefront of independent film sponsorship, which is driven by Mercury's commitment to community building with this niche. Mercury's goal with this program is to fully integrate into the independent film community. This will extend from the theatre experience to the marketing and promotion of select independent films. This program reflects Mercury's focus on invigorating its brand as it launches a number of new vehicles, including the 2006 Mercury Mil...
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2005/11/10
@ 11:50 AM (48 months, 17 days ago)
Volkswagen has long been known for its small cars, but up until 1998, few people even know that the VW made midsize sedans. Sales of the Dasher in the 1970s, the Quantum in the `80s, and the Passat in the `90s were virtually unnoticed in that most popular car class. The fifth-generation Passat changed that, and added character to a class little known for that. A tough act to follow, perhaps, but now Volkswagen has done just that with the introduction of the sixth-generation Passat. The newest Passat quietly debuted in late summer, and, if there is a certain amount of continuity in its styling, it is a very different car under the skin. Most importantly, it is an even better car than its illustrious predecessor. The previous Passat was...
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@ 10:10 AM (48 months, 17 days ago)
Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., unveiled the all-new third-generation RAV4 compact sport utility vehicle (SUV) and the all-new Yaris three-door liftback at a press conference today at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. Featuring vastly improved performance, overall refinement, and a larger, restyled design, the RAV4 will redefine a segment it created nearly 10 years ago. The RAV4, which first launched in January 1996, revolutionized the SUV market as the first SUV developed on a uni-body passenger-car platform instead of a traditional ladder-frame truck platform. The success of the first RAV4 spawned the development of the car-based compact SUV, which now commands nearly 79 percent of the small SUV market...
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@ 08:25 AM (48 months, 17 days ago)
The Automobile Sector of Fiat Group and Ford Motor Company announced today they have signed a definitive agreement to co-operate on the joint development and production of vehicles in the European small car (sub-B) segment. The outcome of this exciting project will be the delivery to market of two highly differentiated vehicles, small cars with exterior and interior design that are true to the individual parents' brand identities. The two vehicles planned for development, the new Fiat 500 and a replacement for the current Ford Ka in Europe, will play a significant role in each company's European product range. Fiat and Ford are highly experienced in the development of successful small cars in Europe. By working together, Fiat an...
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@ 05:11 AM (48 months, 17 days ago)
Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced that the vehicle shown as the MX-Crossport at January's North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Mich., will formally move from concept to production vehicle. Mazda also announced that the vehicle will be named Mazda CX-7, fitting into the company's global naming strategy. "The addition of the CX-7 to the Mazda lineup is a critical step forward for us in terms of our ability to grow Mazda's business in North America," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. "In order to succeed, we have to be true to our core values and for any vehicle to wear the Winged-M logo on the grille, it must have the soul of a sportscar." In Mazda'...
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2005/11/9
@ 12:23 PM (48 months, 18 days ago)
New for 2006 is the SE trim level, and this is what we tested. The SE, for "Special Edition," is merely a trim level, but it combines many of the features that Mitsubishi has discovered its Outlander customers are interested in. For example, standard equipment in the SE includes a tubular roof rack with silver stanchions, color-keyed side mirrors, privacy glass, fog lamps and 17-inch wheels. Also standard in the SE is a premium Infinity sound system. Under the hood of the Outlander is a 2.4-liter inline four that generates a healthy 160 hp. While the engine is peppy enough, I found it to be noisy at all speeds. There was a constant buzz from the engine compartment that isn't unusual in a four, but is one that we hope woul...
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@ 11:34 AM (48 months, 18 days ago)
Isuzu will likely make an immediate impact on the crew-cab pickup market with the introduction of its i-350 for the 2006 model year. This powerful, sharp-looking truck puts up comparable numbers against the industry leaders, and then tops them all in the warranty category with a seven-year, 75,000-mile limited powertrain deal. However, Isuzu's i-350 is also "tops" in price, escalating toward $30,000, and because of that might push away some buyers. Nonetheless, I enjoyed my weeklong test drive in this comfortable, smooth-riding sister of the Chevy Colorado. Isuzu and Chevy/GMC work together, thanks to the popular, Isuzu-built GM Duramax Diesel engines, a joint venture between Isuzu and General Motors. The i-350 turned p...
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@ 10:49 AM (48 months, 18 days ago)
The new 9-5, Saab's flagship car, will be unveiled for the first time to the North American press and public on Friday, November 4 at the New England International Auto Show in the Boston Bayside Expo Center. "This is a very fitting venue for the debut of the new 9-5 in North America," said Jay Spenchian, Saab USA general manager. "Saab launched its American automotive activities almost 50 years ago in New England, and it is still a core area for our business. Over 400,000 Saab 9-5s have been sold so far worldwide, many in the Boston area. The debut of the new 9-5 here is a tribute to its loyal following in this area." Simultaneously, Saab USA released prices for the 2006 9-5 Sedan and SportCombi 5-door, which hav...
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@ 05:56 AM (48 months, 18 days ago)
Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today announced the much-anticipated rollout of the Ralliart performance parts and accessories program for the North American market in conjunction with the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show. The parts program premieres on Yahoo!, through Yahoo! Autos Custom (http://autos.yahoo.com/custom) -- a new site created specifically for automotive performance enthusiasts. The debut features a sweepstakes where the winner receives a one-of-a-kind 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution with Ralliart parts, and culminates with the Yahoo! Autos Custom Challenge, a unique head-to-head competition, sanctioned by NOPI Motorsports, between two customized Lancer Evolutions on the famous Las Vegas Strip....
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2005/11/8
@ 11:19 AM (48 months, 19 days ago)
Range Stormer is a high-performance, Sports-tourer SUV concept car, which showcases a future design direction for Land Rover and the company's increasingly bold approach to new technologies. It is also the first-ever Land Rover concept to preview a new production model, one that will enter a fresh market segment for the company. This will be an additional model line in the Land Rover portfolio. "The supercharged V8 Range Stormer gives a taste of our forthcoming new entrant in the booming high-performance SUV segment," says the managing director of Land Rover, Matthew Taylor. "The production vehicle that follows will share many of its styling and technical innovations." "Range Stormer is a modern, striking, h...
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@ 10:27 AM (48 months, 19 days ago)
Land Rover North America today presents the first Range Rover Sport to appear at the annual Specialty Equipment Manufacturer's Association (SEMA) show. Celebrating a successful U.S. launch earlier this summer, Land Rover unveils a concept from the custom paint shop of Troy Lee Designs, a major supplier and designer of premium motorcycle, ATV, and bicycle competition apparel. Inspired by the 'technicolors' of Las Vegas, the Range Rover Sport Supercharged is packed with details. Completed in Southern California at Faerber Productions, Land Rover's long-time product development partner, the 10-stage painting process was conceived and executed by Troy Lee Designs. Starting with three coats of House of Kolor(TM) black pai...
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@ 07:33 AM (48 months, 19 days ago)
What started out a year and a half ago as a sketch on a placemat at a Dearborn Coney Island will be one of the Ford show cars on display at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. Using the 1966 Sebring-winning Ford GTX1 roadster as his inspiration, Kip Ewing, a Ford Special Vehicle Team engineering supervisor, sketched a convertible version of the Ford GT, which he named -- quite appropriately -- the Ford GTX1. "The Ford GT has been an amazing automotive icon that I've had the pleasure to work on," said Ewing. "The X1 project is a great way to answer the question, 'What if?' and utilize the power of SEMA's members in the aftermarket to get it done." The SEMA show is the premier...
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@ 04:56 AM (48 months, 19 days ago)
South Carolina today celebrated the one millionth BMW shipped through the Port of Charleston, demonstrating the strength of a relationship that began in 1992 when the automaker broke ground in the state on its first U.S. production facility. The millionth BMW was a right-hand drive Titanium Silver X5 sports activity vehicle destined for Great Britain. "This milestone symbolizes the strategic partnership between BMW and the Port of Charleston," said Bob Nitto, Vice President for Corporate Affairs at BMW Manufacturing Co. BMW first began shipping cars through Charleston in June 1994, when 65 imports crossed the docks. The first exports began in March 1995 with 11 cars. Presently, on an average day, BMW ships mo...
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2005/11/7
@ 12:42 PM (48 months, 20 days ago)
Introducing Chrysler's newest addition to the Street and Racing Technology Series. With 85 more horses under the hood and SRT performance styling throughout, the SRT8 will change what you think about the evolution of the classic sedan. - Impressive 425-horsepower 6.1-liter HEMI(R) V8 engine - Unique calibration for five-speed automatic transmission with AutoStick(R) - Performance suspension, brakes, and Chrysler's Electronic Stability Program (ESP) for superior handling - 20-inch wheels with 245/45ZR20 front and 255/45ZR20 rear tires - Superior SRT styling, including a lower and even bolder stance, rear spoiler, sport front seats, leather-trimmed accents, power everything, and much more...
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@ 11:59 AM (48 months, 20 days ago)
Kia Motors Corporation and its Chinese joint venture partner, Dongfeng Yueda Kia, today announced the start of construction on the company's second manufacturing plant in China, in Yancheng, Jiangsu Province. Construction on the new plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2007. The new facility will have an annual production capacity of some 300,000 vehicles. At a ground breaking ceremony for the plant, Hyundai-Kia Automotive Group Chairman Mong-Koo Chung said, 'With the additional 300,000 units to be added to our annual Chinese production capacity, Kia Motors is now ready to emerge as a major player in China. The new Kia plant will roll out high quality, high value strategic models specifically designed for the needs...
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@ 11:31 AM (48 months, 20 days ago)
The XC70 AT features a 2.5-liter inline 5-cylinder engine that is normally found in the V70 R sport wagon. But where the V70 R makes an impressive 300 horsepower, the XC70 AT, with its Garrett GT2835R turbocharger and ipd/MTE Stage III software upgrade makes 408 horsepower at 6,200 rpm. Keeping the engine cool is an Aquamist in-cylinder intercooling system and an extra large top-mounted intercooler. Low restriction 3-inch stainless steel exhaust pipes emit a husky sound that would be more familiar coming from a Volvo XC90 V8. Producing 398 lb-ft of torque at a low 4,000 rpm, the XC70 AT uses the same 6-speed automatic transmission that is standard in the XC90 V8 and the 2006 V70 R. Making sure all four wheels get the most of the broad torq...
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@ 05:38 AM (48 months, 20 days ago)
October sales for Ford Motor Company and the overall auto industry were down, but Ford is receiving encouraging news about its trio of new mid-size cars. The 2006 Ford Fusion, Mercury Milan and Lincoln Zephyr are turning heads and garnering quick sales. At Cherokee Ford in Woodstock, Ga., about 30 miles from Atlanta, a customer chose a new Ford Fusion over a Honda Accord. New Car Sales Manager Matt Krause says can't remember that ever happening before. "The customer said that all things considered, he thought the Fusion was a nicer car," Krause said. In Illinois, another customer snapped up a Fusion just three hours after the car hit the dealership. And a 58-year-old retired micro-biologist paid the sticker price for th...
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2005/11/6
@ 11:25 AM (48 months, 21 days ago)
The first all-new 2006 Ford Focus RS World Rally Car completed almost 500km during its initial three-day test session in England last week. The car, which will spearhead the BP-Ford World Rally Team's challenge in the FIA World Rally Championship next season, will undergo a second test this week before it is seen for the first time in public during next month's Rally Australia. After a brief asphalt shakedown several days earlier, the car was driven on gravel forest tracks close to M-Sport's Dovenby Hall base in north-west England by newly-crowned British rally champion Mark Higgins. The car completed 200km on the first testing day, 160km on the second day and 130km on the final day with no major problems. "We are de...
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@ 10:21 AM (48 months, 21 days ago)
With the aim of promoting children's safety , Ford Motor Company launched for the second consecutive year in Costa Rica its "ID the KIDS" program. Ford's ID THE KIDS offers families free child identification booklets that provide an instant color photo of their child, fingerprints, family safety tips and a place to record important child safety information that can help expedite the return of a missing child or provide vital information to authorities in case of an accident. Ford held the first wave of the program in Costa Rica on October 29 and 30 in the cities of Cartago and Heredia and identified approximately 1,700 children. This number, achieved in just two days, surpassed the amount of children identified last ye...
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@ 07:35 AM (48 months, 21 days ago)
HRH The Princess Royal has this week met teenagers who are learning vehicle repair skills in the new Ford Motor Company Mechanics Workshop located in a young offenders' institution. Princess Anne opened the workshop at Ashfield Young Offenders Institution in Pucklechurch, South Gloucestershire, and saw the offenders work on vehicles, engines and transmissions supplied by Ford Motor Company. Ashfield's Ford Motor Company Mechanics Workshop houses a Ford Focus, Britain's top selling car, and a Freelander donated by sister company Land Rover. The teenagers learn automotive repair and service skills to gain vocational qualifications which help secure employment after release. Powertrain items supplied by Ford's British...
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@ 05:19 AM (48 months, 21 days ago)
Introducing Chrysler's newest dream. With improved performance, luxury features, and Lava Red accents that flow from the outside in, it's obvious why this PT Cruiser is a dream come true. - Deep Lava Red paint with premium Maroon cloth top - 17-inch Satin Silver painted 15-spoke aluminum wheels with smooth Satin Silver center caps - Dream Cruiser Series 4 decklid badge - Leather-trimmed sport seats in Light Pearl Beige with Maroon accents - Head restraints embossed with Chrysler wing logo - 368-watt Infinity(R) sound system with AM/FM radio, six-CD changer, and 6 x 9-inch speakers - Deep Lava Red instrument panel accents with prismatic-foil PT Cruiser graphic on passenger air bag door and chrome gearshif...
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2005/11/5
@ 11:30 AM (48 months, 22 days ago)
Volvo's hotrod is based on Volvo components with a twin turbocharged 2.9 liter inline 6-cylinder engine borrowed from an S80. The engine, rather than being housed under the hood, is in the back, located just behind the supportive leather bucket seats that were also lifted from a Volvo S80. The gearbox is a 5-speed Geartronic transmission that sends the power to the rear wheels. To help keep the engine cool, the rear decklid automatically lifts when a preset temperature is reached inside the engine compartment. Up front is a small compartment containing the mechanicals for the functioning ABS brakes and the top-notch audio equipment. The custom fabricated tubular steel frame was hand formed and utilizes rear subframes from the donor...
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@ 08:41 AM (48 months, 22 days ago)
General Motors has expanded the availability of its full-size hybrid pickup trucks nationwide beginning with the 2006 model year. The Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra hybrid pickups are the world's first full-size hybrid pickup trucks, provide the highest estimated city fuel economy of any full-size truck in the market and offer customers the added benefit of a 2400-watt built-in generator. The trucks were previously available in select markets. The hybrid option is available on the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 extended cab pickups. The option is net priced at $1,500 MSRP and comes with an eight-year, 100,000-mile warranty on all hybrid-related components. The Silverado and Sierra hybrid pickups feature GM's V...
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@ 07:38 AM (48 months, 22 days ago)
General Motors today announced it will invest approximately $20 million by early 2006 at its Shreveport, Louisiana truck assembly plant to increase production of the HUMMER H3 SUV, Chevy Colorado and GMC Canyon midsize pickups. To prepare for the increased output, the Shreveport plant will add a third production shift to its paint department during the first quarter of 2006. H3, the new mid-size HUMMER, continues to drive record sales for the division and broaden its appeal from a niche brand to a wider audience. HUMMER is helping GM attract a younger, more-affluent customer base. The average age of a HUMMER owner is 44. About 70 percent of vehicles traded in by H3 buyers are non-GM models. HUMMER sales in October were up 129 percent compa...
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@ 05:20 AM (48 months, 22 days ago)
When eight students from Washtenaw Community College (WCC) in Ann Arbor, Mich., returned to school this fall, their response to the question, "How did you spend your summer vacation?" was unlike that of any other student on campus. That's because they spent the summer restoring and modernizing a '70 Chevelle. The eight students - se ven men and one woman - are part of the college's auto body curriculum. Each student was selected for this high profile project based on their skills. Half are advanced students; the other half beginners. Some are specializing in mechanics, some in welding, and some in auto body. Collectively, they put their skills to use installing a new drivetrain, a new interior, and of course, a...
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2005/11/4
@ 11:42 AM (48 months, 23 days ago)
"Life in Drive" will be the theme of the integrated digital, television and print marketing campaign Ford has created to launch the new 2006 Fusion - the bold, fuel-efficient, affordable and sporty sedan that will build on the brand's recent car sales gains. "Life in Drive is about breaking free from convention to enjoy life with style and attitude," says Darryl Hazel, vice president, North America marketing. "This idea is infusing all of our Fusion marketing and communications." The Fusion, which is now arriving in Ford dealerships across the U.S. and Canada , already benefits from an extensive pre-launch marketing campaign that has generated more than 100,000 "hand raisers" - consumers who h...
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@ 10:13 AM (48 months, 23 days ago)
With the 1966 Sebring-winning Ford GTX1 roadster as inspiration, Ford SVT engineering supervisor Kip Ewing unveiled his take on that legendary racer during the opening day of the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show. Ewing conceived the idea for a roadster while working on the Ford GT launch, and after completing initial design sketches and engineering studies on his own time, he won the privilege of utilizing the Ford's SEMA Technology Initiative to bring the Ford GTX1 roadster to life. "The Ford GT has been an amazing automotive icon that I've had the pleasure to work on," said Ewing. "The X1 project is a great way to answer the question, 'What if?' and utilize the power of the SEMA'...
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@ 09:02 AM (48 months, 23 days ago)
Ford's new line of racing products will be showcased at the annual SMEA show, personified by a supercharged Ford Racing Mustang GT. SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) runs Nov 1 - 4 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. "At every auto show we always talk about the power of our vehicles," said Bob Adams, manager, Global Auto Shows and Event Strategy. "At SEMA, we're going to give people an opportunity to experience the power for themselves." Adams is referring to an exhibit - the first of its kind in the world at an indoor auto show - called the "Dyno Display," which was designed to simulate a quarter mile race on a drag strip. Dyno is short for dynamometer - a machine used to measure th...
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@ 12:37 AM (48 months, 24 days ago)
Ford Racing Performance Part's new line of Mustang 'Performance Packs' will be introduced at the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show on Tuesday, Nov. 1. "Mustang is the king when it comes to driving performance parts business," said Jamie Allison, manager, Ford Racing Performance Parts (FRPP). "The FRPP 'Performance Packs' for Mustang are grounded in championship-winning engineering and race-proven experience. These packs are the perfect platform for enthusiasts to customize, personalize, and enhance their Mustangs for the street or track". Introduced at the 2004 SEMA Show, Ford Racing's Mustang FR500C racer recently earned the Grand-Am Cup Manufacturer's Champio...
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2005/11/1
@ 09:41 AM (48 months, 26 days ago)
Specifications:
The Dyna Sport is powered by a vibration-isolated black-on-black Twin Cam 88® engine. It has triple-disc brakes, premium adjustable sport suspension, 150 mm wide rear tire with sticky rubber compound front and rear, top-mounted speedometer and tachometer, nimble handling (28-degree steering head), aggressive low-slung seating and aircraft style fuel cap.
Engine:
- Types: Air-cooled Twin Cam 88® V-Twin
- Displacement: 1450cc(88ci)
- Bore and Stroke: 95.18 mm X 101.52 mm
- Fuel System: Carburetor or Electronic Sequential Port Fuel Injection (ESPFI)
- Compression Ratio: 8.9
- [more...]
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@ 09:19 AM (48 months, 26 days ago)
Ford Motor Company is handing over the keys to five hybrid hydrogen Ford Focus Fuel Cell vehicles today as part of a five city 30 car program to conduct real world testing of fuel cell technology. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) will get three vehicles and Progress Energy will receive the other two. The Ford Focus Fuel Cell Vehicle (FCV) represents Ford's commitment to advancing the use and development of alternative fuel technologies. It is one of the industry's first hybridized fuel cell vehicles combining the improved range and performance of hybrid technology with the overall benefits of a fuel cell. Ford has been conducting fuel cell research for more than 10 years and believes fuel cell vehicles co...
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@ 06:01 AM (48 months, 26 days ago)
Adopt-A-Minefield(R) today announced the launch of an online sweepstakes to raise funds to be utilized in its mission to engage individuals, community groups and businesses in the effort to resolve the global landmine crisis. The sweepstakes prize will be a single, one-of-a-kind Paul McCartney Signature Edition RX 400h. Lexus created the customized RX 400h luxury hybrid SUV to commemorate its sponsorship of Paul McCartney's upcoming 'US' Tour and will donate the vehicle to Adopt-A-Minefield to show support for an organization that is close to McCartney's heart. "Lexus has created a really cool car to benefit Adopt-A-Minefield," said Paul McCartney. "Heather and I are delighted that we have been able to he...
Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels
