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 Auto News Archives September 10 | News 1 Yr Ago | News 2 Yrs Ago 
  Archives   (7  October  2006)

Ashok Leyland Sep vehicle sales up 39%  
MUMBAI: India's second-biggest bus and truck maker, Ashok Leyland Ltd, said on Friday sales in September were 8,155 units, a 39 per cent increase from 5,875 units a year earlier.

Domestic sales rose 44 per cent to 7,603 units from 5,284 units a year earlier, while exports fell to 552 units from 591 a year earlier.

Source : Economic Times (10/6/2006)


Honda knock £2000 off the outgoing CR-V  
With a new CR-V due in January, Honda will shift the remaining stock of the current model by offering massive discounts.

From now until December 31, Honda will sell all versions of its compact 4x4 at £2000 less than the list price. This mean that you'll be able to pick up the entry-level 2.0-litre VTEC model in SE trim for £16,075 instead of the usual £18,075.

This discounted price beats the What Car? Target Price by a useful £965. It also makes the CR-V cheaper, for the time being, than the Nissan X-Trail, its biggest rival. The X-Trail 2.0 SE, which only gets two-wheel drive, costs £16,825, £750 more than the four-wheel drive Honda.

Prices for the new version will start at around £19,000, a significant increase over the old car. For the extra cash, though, Honda says that customers will get a car that's better to drive, safer and more comprehensively equipped.

To find out whether the new car will be worth the extra cash, keep an eye on Whatcar.com next week for our first road test.

Source : http://www.whatcar.co.uk (10/6/2006)


STMicroelectronics Showcases Infotainment, Navigation, and Safety Solutions at ITS...  
GENEVA, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- STMicroelectronics , one of the world's leading suppliers of integrated circuits for automotive systems, and recognized as a major player in the automotive GPS market, is to demonstrate a broad range of leading-edge solutions for in-vehicle entertainment, information, and safety applications at the 13th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, held in London from 9 to 12 October. A mix of working and static demonstrations will showcase some of ST's infotainment, GPS and imaging technologies, as well as both existing and prototype automotive products.

Navigation systems shown at ITS 2006 include a working prototype using ST's NaviFlex platform -- announced at ITS 2005 in San Francisco -- and based on a Nomadik(TM) Application Processor, with ST's GPS chipset, software platform, and reference design. NaviFlex is a complete Nomadik-based platform for in-car infotainment that targets two main markets: Car Navigation and Infotainment (NaviFlex-PRO), and Portable Navigation Devices (Naviflex-PNE platform).

A display shows GPS System-on-Chip solutions, including the STA2051 and ST's new high-performance embedded-Flash single-chip baseband devices, and the STA2056 genuine one-chip system with on-board RF. ST has been selected by the Galileo Joint Undertaking -- overseeing Europe's global navigation satellite system -- as a Prime Contractor and chipset provider for the GR-POSTER (Galileo-Ready POSitioning TERminal) program for mass market Galileo terminal development. All ST GPS chipsets will be upgraded to be Galileo-Ready.

The recently announced ADR (Advanced Digital Radio) chipset, created in collaboration with Blaupunkt, can tune in to all the current analog radio services worldwide, as well as to the new digital radio services. Combining two of ST's TDA7528 RF front-end ICs with an STA3005 back-end chip, the solution delivers excellent sound processing and equalization performance, even in difficult signal conditions, while reducing the workload on the radio's main microprocessor.

In-car mobile TV will be demonstrated using a working prototype, also in cooperation with Blaupunkt, that uses the T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) system, which is based on the DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) standard and infrastructure already operating in many European countries, including the UK. The solution is based on ST's powerful but power- efficient Nomadik(TM) mobile multimedia application processor.

Satellite digital radios from leading manufacturers that use ST's market- leading receiver and tuner ICs will be on display. For terrestrial digital radio, a prototype of a DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale(TM)) receiver created by ST in cooperation with Kenwood and Fraunhofer IIS (Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits) will demonstrate ST's broad capability in this field. The receiver design is expected to lead on to the development of a low-power ASIC for DRM applications in radios and PDAs.

A working automotive Media Center demonstration -- with disk drive (HDD), DVD player and USB interfaces -- is based on the STi710x family, which includes the world's first single-chip H.264/AVC and VC-1 decoder; it includes wired and wireless links for PCs and smart phones.

Safety and security systems are supported by a live demonstration of 3-axis accelerometers using ST's MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology, with sensors detecting movement as inclination or acceleration. Applications shown include anti-theft systems for wheeled vehicles and anti-tamper systems for containers, and inputs for adaptive lighting.

The VS6x24 family of color digital cameras combines small physical size with low power consumption. They integrate a high-sensitivity pixel array, fully-featured digital image processing and camera control functions into a single die. With multiple resolutions and standard output formats (YUV, RGB or Bayer), this Imager-on-Chip (IoC) solution allows the rapid design-in of a high-quality digital camera to any system. It is shown with the x24 Camera Integration Kit (CIK) in a working demonstration of its easy evaluation and use.

A practical application of imaging technology in a vehicle environment is shown in a demonstration of a System-on-Chip (SoC) processor, the result of a joint development program between ST and Mobileye, which monitors pedestrians and lane discipline in real-time using a video stream from a single CMOS camera.

The exhibition of the 13th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems runs from 9th to 12th October, 2006, at ExCeL London. More details at www.itsworldcongress.com

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


September confirms Fiat sales success  
Fiat Auto's strong resurgence in a 'flat' UK market, has just been confirmed by its September sales result, up by a remarkable 66% (11,411 units) compared to the same month last year (6864 units).

This result was achieved in a market down 0.7% on the same period last year, and it has confirmed an annual trend which shows Fiat sales up 64% year-to-date, (47,184 units), compared to the same period last year, (28,697 units), despite a market which has declined by 3.5% in the same period.

Commenting on Fiat Auto's UK performance, managing director, Giulio Salomone, says: "Obviously we are delighted that UK customers have returned to our stylish new products in such an emphatic way, but we are far from complacent. The launch of new Fiat models and variants continues at speed, and next year we will see the arrival of two eagerly awaited cars from the 'new' Fiat. First we shall be presenting our C-segment contender, the Fiat Bravo, and late in the year we will present the new Fiat 500, a car that re-interprets Italy's golden and iconic age of popular motoring in a modern fashion."

The figures make Fiat cars the fastest growing automotive brand in the UK this year.

Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (10/6/2006)


DealerTrack Public Offering of 10 Million Shares of Common Stock Priced at $23.76...  
LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- DealerTrack Holdings, Inc. , a leading provider of on-demand software, network and data solutions for the automotive retail industry in the United States, today announced the pricing of its public offering of 10,000,000 shares of its common stock at a public offering price of $23.76 per share. In the offering, 2,750,000 shares are being sold by DealerTrack and 7,250,000 shares are being sold by the selling stockholders. In addition, the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters the right to purchase up to an additional 1,500,000 shares at the public offering price.

DealerTrack will use the proceeds of the sale of common stock by DealerTrack for general corporate purposes. DealerTrack will not receive any proceeds from the sale of its common stock by the selling stockholders.

Lehman Brothers acted as the sole book-running manager for the offering. William Blair & Company and Deutsche Bank Securities acted as co-lead managers, and Cowen and Company, Wachovia Securities, JMP Securities and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC acted as co-managers.

A registration statement relating to this offering was filed with and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The offering is being made solely by means of a prospectus. This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, and there shall not be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

A copy of the final prospectus related to this offering may be obtained from Lehman Brothers Inc., c/o ADP Financial Services, Prospectus Fulfillment, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, New York, NY, 11717. Email: monica_castillo@adp.com. Fax: (631) 254-7268.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


Manganese Bronze signs heads of terms with Geely for £53m black cab joint venture  
Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc, the parent of London taxi cab maker LTI, has signed heads of terms with the Chinese car manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. to establish a joint venture company to produce the London black taxi in Shanghai.

The non-legally binding agreement is expected to be succeeded by legally binding agreements within the next few weeks. Total investment in the joint venture is forecast at £53 million, of which Manganese Bronze's share is £19.85 million.

The investment will cover the purchase of land (£9.0 million) intellectual property (£5.6 million) and fund construction and factory fit-out. Final assembly and sales will be undertaken by Shanghai Maple, a subsidiary of Geely, which will have the right to sell these vehicles within Asia, while Manganese Bronze will have the right to sell them in the rest of the world.

Manganese Bronze says it will satisfy its investment by licensing its intellectual property rights, valued for the joint venture at £5.6 million and issuing 5.7 million new ordinary shares to Geely (representing 23.0% of Manganese Bronze's enlarged issued ordinary share capital) based on a valuation of £2.50 a share (with £14.25 million being invested by Geely in the joint venture. The shares and intellectual property secure an initial stake of 37.6% in the joint venture. Geely will fund the joint venture total cash investment of £38.4 million, with Shanghai Maple providing the land valued at £9.0 million, which combined secure a 62.4% stake in the joint venture.

Manganese Bronze has the right to purchase shares in the joint venture from Geely for £6.6 million to increase its stake to 50% at any time over the next five years.

The agreement will be subject to regulatory approval in China, and will require approval by Manganese Bronze shareholders at an EGM. Manganese Bronze says Geely stood out as one of the most respected automobile companies in China and the prime partner for a joint venture.

Geely began car manufacturing in 1996 and now has an annual production capacity of 250,000 vehicles, 200,000 engines and 150,000 gearboxes from four separate manufacturing plants. Its sales have grown in line with the expanding Chinese market, at over 50% in the last six months.

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Hella joins VW partnership to create AUTOSAR software  
Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., the German tier one supplier of automotive lighting and electronic equipment, has partnered with Volkswagen and two other suppliers to develop a new body/comfort electronic control unit (ECU) for future Volkswagens.

During the coming year, the partnership will combine the vehicle electronics know-how of VW, Hella, NEC Electronics of Europe and 3SOFT, which is Elektrobit's automotive software unit, to test the new ECU in a VW Passat, while also working on software integration, resource use, quality and cost issues. The ECU will be compatible with AUTOSAR (AUTomotive Open System ARchitecture) software.

Hella will supply ECU hardware and software applications for the project while acting as the software integrator. NEC Electronics will provide the ECU's V-850 series microcontroller and 3SOFT will provide the AUTOSAR platform. Volkswagen will then integrate its own vehicle software modules with the ECU.

The AUTOSAR partnership was founded in 2003 by OEMs and tier one suppliers and now includes over 100 companies in the automotive, electronics, semiconductor, hardware and software industries. About 650 people are working on developing AUTOSAR's standards.

- Hella's lighting manufacturing plant in Banbury is to be closed by the end of this year, it was reported yesterday. (See news bulletin for 5 October on this site.)

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


New Models Unveiled at South Florida Auto Show  
MIAMI, /PRNewswire/ -- Opening day at the South Florida International Auto Show presented by Allstate featured debuts of new models by Jeep, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Mercury, Bentley, Chevrolet, Nissan and Subaru. The 36th edition of the annual show opened for a 10-day run at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Those who attend this year's big event can reach new heights in motoring adventure. Almost 20 feet, in fact, an attraction in the table-top terrain that defines Greater Miami. Consumers can visit Camp Jeep at the show and take a "Trail Rated" ride over gravel, rocks, 2,000 wheelbarrows worth of mulch and an 18-foot high bridge designed to deliver the experience of rugged conditions.

Dan Tardella, senior marketing manager for Jeep, showed off the longer, wider, safer Wrangler and talked about the global advantage Jeep is getting from the new Compass and Patriot compact SUVs.

Mercedes-Benz used the annual show for the world debut of its CL Class model 550 coupe. According to Bart Herring, C-Class product manager, South Florida is the third largest market in the U.S. for Mercedes-Benz and should respond well to the latest expression of its 50-year coupe heritage. BMW also enjoys strong sales in South Florida and held the North American debut of its 355i Coupe. It features a new twin-turbo 3-liter inline six engine that develops 300 horsepower. The president of the manufacturer's high performance M division, Professor Ulrich Bruhnke, was on hand to describe the technology and capabilities of BMW's motorsport models.

Mercury unveiled its 2008 (sic) Mariner SUV and Chevrolet showed-off a brand new model for its popular new HHR-a panel truck version ideal for delivery van use or for customizers. The new HHR offers up to 63 cubic feet of space and a 40-amp auxiliary plug in the cargo area.

Bentley Motorcars President Andrew Stuart unveiled a new GTC convertible model of its luxury Continental GT, along with a "Diamond Series" model of its hard-top Continental GT to celebrate the marquee having been at its Crewe headquarters for 60 years.

"We're off to a great start this year," said Rick Baker, show manager. "We've never had 13 press conferences in one day before, and such a diversity of models. We're going to have an exciting 10-day run."

Nissan spotlighted its new subcompact Versa hatchback and a sedan version available next spring. Subaru presented the high performance Spec B version of its Legacy sedan. Other press briefings highlighted new or improved versions of Ferrari, Maserati, Infiniti and Hyundai. Sobre Ruedas, the leading Hispanic automotive magazine, presented 19 "Best Of" awards for the third year in a row at this major U.S. event.

Guest speaker for the press luncheon was Jay Spenchian, general manager of Saab Automobile, U.S.A., who identified Saab's place in General Motors' strategy to differentiate its brands. The U.S. is the biggest market for Saab, GM's only European premium brand, said Spenchian.

The South Florida International Auto Show is produced by the South Florida Auto-Truck Dealers Association, which comprises 220 dealerships in Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe counties. The show runs October 6-15.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


Ryder Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend  
MIAMI, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Board of Directors of Ryder System, Inc. , a global leader in transportation and supply chain management solutions, today declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.18 per share of common stock. The dividend will be paid on December 15, 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business on November 20, 2006. This is Ryder's 121st consecutive quarterly cash dividend -- marking more than 30 years of dividend payments.

Ryder provides leading-edge transportation, logistics and supply chain management solutions worldwide. Ryder's product offerings range from full service leasing, commercial rental and programmed maintenance of vehicles to integrated services such as dedicated contract carriage and carrier management. Additionally, Ryder offers comprehensive supply chain solutions, consulting, lead logistics management services and e-Business solutions that support customers' entire supply chains, from inbound raw materials and parts through distribution and delivery of finished goods. Ryder serves customer needs throughout North America, in Latin America, Europe and Asia.

The National Safety Council selected Ryder as the first transportation company to receive the Green Cross for Safety Medal -- its highest honor -- for exemplary commitment to workplace safety and corporate citizenship. For the ninth consecutive year, Ryder has been named a top five third-party logistics provider by Inbound Logistics.

Ryder's stock is a component of the Dow Jones Transportation Average and the Standard & Poor's 500 Index. Ryder ranks 375th on the Fortune 500 and 1,433rd on the Forbes Global 2000.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


Events: Plastics in Automotive Fuel Systems conference, 10-11 October  
A two-day conference organised by emap opens next Tuesday, 10-11 October, at the Lindner Congress Hotel, in Frankfurt, which will include coverage of the Californian PZEV and Zero Evaporative requirements in a regulatory session featuring Sharon Lemieux, Emission Research Manager of the California Air Resources Board.

The organisers describe the event as a rare European opportunity to discover more about the CARB requirements which set the tone for emissions regulations throughout the world. Make

Other speakers at the event include:

- Michael J. Harrigan Sr., Technical Leader, Fuel Systems, Ford Motor Company; and Chairman, Fuel Systems Standards Committee, Society of Automotive Engineers

- Dr. Ulrich A. Karsch, Director - Global Research, Kautex Textron

- Kai Kallio, Material Specialist, Volvo Cars

- Andreas Graichen, Technical Manager, 3M Fuel Cells

- Erik Middelman, CEO and CTO, NedStack Fuel Cell Technology

- Ronald Malland, Manager - PEM Fuel Cells, Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands

- Gemma Crawley, Senior Market Analyst, Fuel Cell Today

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Revealed: Full Specs on 2008 Mercury Mariner SUV  
DEARBORN, Mich. - Mercury has released specifications and details on its 2008 Mariner small SUV, which has been redesigned and will go on sale early in 2007.

Mercury Brand Manager Kim Irwin said it is Mercury's "first product to truly deliver 100 percent of the design DNA for Mercury as a brand."

That DNA includes a front end with an "eyebrow" lamp design and a larger grille with a bigger, centrally located Mercury waterfall badge. It also involves a redesigned interior that is intended to be more "technical-looking" - which means a floor-mounted shifter, new seats with Alcantara trim and chrome accents, as well as a space in the center console that can hold a laptop computer.

Among the technical upgrades is the addition of speed-sensitive Electric Power Steering. The 2008 Mariner also has Ford's roll stability control system (AdvanceTrac with RSC) and standard side curtain airbags.

The standard Mariner engine is a 2.3-liter Duratec four-cylinder that makes 153 horsepower and 152 pound-feet of torque. There's an optional 3.0-liter Duratec V6 that makes 200 hp and 193 lb-ft.

A hybrid version of the Mariner will be available as well, powered by a 133-hp 2.3-liter 16-valve four-cylinder engine along with an electric motor.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/6/2006)


Charged: Nissan's First Hybrid Debuts With 2007 Altima  
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Nissan's first gas-electric vehicle, the 2007 Altima Hybrid, is making its North American debut this week at the Orange County auto show here. It will go on sale in early 2007.

The hybrid version of the redesigned '07 Altima marries some Toyota patents with Nissan hardware, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. The powertrain system has a "net" output (including electric motor) of 198 horsepower. The EPA ratings are 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The standard gasoline-powered Altima goes on sale in November.

Nissan is late to the party with its hybrid, trailing Toyota and Honda by several years. Carlos Ghosn, who heads both Nissan and Renault, had repeatedly disparaged hybrids' viability as a solution to environmental and fossil-fuel issues.

The company said the '07 Altima Hybrid initially will be sold in states that have adopted California's tough emissions regulations, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as California.

The Altima Hybrid will be assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/6/2006)


Charged: Nissan's First Hybrid Debuts With 2007 Altima  
ANAHEIM, Calif. - Nissan's first gas-electric vehicle, the 2007 Altima Hybrid, is making its North American debut this week at the Orange County auto show here. It will go on sale in early 2007.

The hybrid version of the redesigned '07 Altima marries some Toyota patents with Nissan hardware, including a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a continuously variable transmission. The powertrain system has a "net" output (including electric motor) of 198 horsepower. The EPA ratings are 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

The standard gasoline-powered Altima goes on sale in November.

Nissan is late to the party with its hybrid, trailing Toyota and Honda by several years. Carlos Ghosn, who heads both Nissan and Renault, had repeatedly disparaged hybrids' viability as a solution to environmental and fossil-fuel issues.

The company said the '07 Altima Hybrid initially will be sold in states that have adopted California's tough emissions regulations, including Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont, as well as California.

The Altima Hybrid will be assembled in Smyrna, Tennessee.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/6/2006)


Hot in Here: VW Prepares GTI, GLI Special Editions for 2007  
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - In an effort to jazz up its lineup of carryover models this fall, Volkswagen of America is offering special editions of the Jetta, Jetta GLI, GTI and New Beetle.

The hottest editions are the Fahrenheit GTI and Fahrenheit GLI. Painted Fahrenheit orange and built in a limited run of 1,200 cars, the Fahrenheit GTI gets a perforated-leather-wrapped steering wheel, 18-inch wheels, heated leather sport seats, sunroof and orange interior trim. The Fahrenheit GTI is priced at $27,665.

The Fahrenheit GLI gets much of the same equipment as its Golf-based sibling and is painted Fahrenheit yellow, with matching interior trim. Prices start at $27,880 with manual transmission and $28,955 with automatic.

The Triple White New Beetle convertible is painted Campanella white and features a white interior and a white convertible boot. Offered in a run of 3,000 units, the car gets an automatic transmission, 17-inch alloy wheels, leather-wrapped steering wheel, white leatherette seats and center armrest, and black carpeting, plus satellite radio. The price is $25,990.

The Wolfsburg Edition Jetta is fitted with the 2.5-liter engine plus 16-inch alloy wheels, sunroof, leatherette seats and a cold-weather package. The car is priced at $19,360 with manual transmission and $20,435 with automatic.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/5/2006)


Crossover Coming: Hyundai Veracruz To Debut in Detroit  
DETROIT - Hyundai said its new midsize crossover, the 2007 Veracruz, will make its world debut in early January at the North American International Auto Show here.

The seven-passenger Veracruz will be aimed at such competitors as the Honda Pilot and the Toyota Highlander, as well as the new Ford Edge. The new model will be slotted above the Santa Fe in size and price.

The '07 Veracruz will be outfitted with a DOHC 3.8-liter V6 and six-speed automatic transmission, with all-wheel drive available as an option. Standard features include electronic stability control and side curtain airbags for all three rows.

Hyundai said it will release the first official photos later this month.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/5/2006)


Nissan's All-New 2007 Sentra Launches with Breakthrough Marketing Idea  
NASHVILLE, Tenn., --Inspired by the research photos taken inside the cars of hundreds of 20-30 year olds, the all-new 2007 Nissan Sentra will debut this month in an unprecedented marketing campaign. The research demonstrated that young people use their car as if it were another room in their home - filled with gym clothes, sports equipment, music (in all delivery forms), food and ways to communicate with the outside world.

"7 Days in a Sentra" is the simple but ingenious notion that will be translated into television commercials, webisodes, online executions and a special 2-minute piece - take one man, the 2007 Nissan Sentra and a challenge to actually live in the car for seven full days and be filmed doing it. Tapping into a number of pop culture trends (episodic story-telling, real life adventures, blogging and vlogging), Nissan casts the campaign in a whole new light.

"With this approach, we're moving away from 'interrupting' our consumers and toward creating opportunities to interact with them. I think we also transition from story telling to conversation," said Jan Thompson, Nissan's vice president of marketing. "The integrated marketing campaign will showcase the all-new Sentra in an innovative way across many communication channels."

Thompson noted that all 168 hours of film shot over the real seven day experiment (shot in and around Los Angeles) were designed to showcase the Nissan Sentra's new features including:

* Roomy, high quality interior with long list of available amenities, including a 60/40 split double-fold rear seat, available hidden trunk storage compartment and available integrated overhead compact disc holder.

* Multiple AM/FM/CD audio systems available, including RDS, mp3 playback, satellite radio and auxiliary input capability (variations by model)

* Available Intelligent Key keyless entry system and available Bluetooth(tm) Hands-Free Phone System

"We also showcase Sentra's smooth ride and fuel efficiency in vignettes that are both funny and surprising," Thompson added. "And no stunt drivers were employed!"

Nissan selected Marc Horowitz, a photographer's assistant and San Francisco native, to be the central character of the campaign. While the storyline depicts a young man living out of his new Sentra for seven consecutive days as an experiment to see if the Sentra lives up to its promises, Marc's experience was anything but fictional.

In addition to living out of the Sentra, Marc had to adhere to a challenging list of 'rules' that created the framework for the experiment, including:

* Must live 7 straight days out of the Sentra. I am free to come and go from the Sentra.

* Must not return to his apartment at any point during the 7 days.

* Must assume his normal day-to-day responsibilities, including work and scheduled meetings.

* Must personally prepare at least 4 meals within the immediate vicinity of the Sentra.

* Must go on at least one date. Hopefully more.

* Must not let anyone else drive his car during the 7 days.

* Must sleep in a different location each night. Once the location is chosen he must not move.

* Must not set foot outside of the car for any reason from 12am - 5am.

* Must host at least one "social function" in the Sentra.

* Must maintain the highest standards of personal hygiene.

"This was an amazing experience for me," said Horowitz. "I got to meet really amazing people, and I got to drive the Sentra, which really is a great car. And who knew there were so many places in LA where you can get a good shower for free?"

The "7 Days in a Sentra" campaign includes the following components:

* Seven (7) traditional :30 national TV spots - one for each day Marc lives in the car

* A "NissanUSA.com/7days" website will allow visitors to see the campaign, including long-form pieces

* A blog written by Marc which will document his experience during his 7 days in the Sentra. The blog will include Marc's journal entries from the week, photos, a long form piece and many viral, short-form films

* A personalized MySpace page by Marc

* Street teams with interactive AdVans in 7 key markets centered around the 7 days concept

* A short documentary film which will be cut to be shown both on the web as well as part of TiVo's Showcase lineup

Along with the 2007 Nissan Altima and Versa, the Sentra is being launched under the Next Generation Shift_2.0 campaign.

Creative is handled by Nissan's agency, TBWA/Chiat/Day, based in Playa del Rey, California. Other agencies involved in the campaign include OMD, TEQUILA, The Vidal Partnership, Edelman and The Designory.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/7/2006)


Sona Group to invest $10 m in N. America  
Auto components major Sona Group on Friday said it would make an initial investment of $10 million to set up a gear manufacturing facility in North America.

"The investment will be made by our joint venture company — Sona Okegawa Precision Forgings Ltd and the plant will have a capacity of 5 million units per annum," the Sona Group Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Surinder Kapur, told newspersons on the sidelines of a CII conference.

Mr Kapur said the company had been looking out for acquisitions to have a presence in the region. However, with the right target not being available it had chosen to set up its own manufacturing unit. The plant is expected to come up by next year.

Project funding

Commenting on the funding for the project, Mr Kapur said that funds would not be a problem, as the Group will use a lot of its own resources, besides which several private equity investors were also willing to provide funds.

Sona Okegawa is a joint venture company between the Sona Group and Japan's Mitsubishi Materials Corp, in which the former holds a majority stake of 60 per cent.

Mr Kapur said the Group as a whole was looking for increased exports as it expanded its footprint across the world. "Sona Group has set a target of achieving 45 per cent of its revenues from exports by 2010," he said.

Source : Business Line (Online Edition) (10/7/2006)


`Leyland's FY07 sales target to rise by 4-5 pc'  
Mr K Sridharan, Chief Financial Officer of Ashok Leyland, says that the company's market share stands at over 30 per cent after taking into account September sales. He says that the market share for the year to date stands at 28 per cent.

Mr Sridharan says that they plan to end FY07 with sales of over 78,000 units. He further adds that the promoter group is in talks with global players including Volvo, and that their new partner will help enlarge their product portfolio.

Excerpts from CNBC-TV18's exclusive interview with Mr Sridharan:

Could you tell us where your market share stands at the end of this month now?

It has been very good. For the month of September we have crossed 30 per cent, which is a psychological barrier, and we do hope to consolidate our position at this level. On a year-to-date basis, it is closer to about 28 per cent, as we didn't have that much of market share in the previous months.

Going forward, the market is very upbeat, more particularly on the heavy-duty range, as has been witnessed in the last six months. So we do believe that we should be able to consolidate above 28 per cent market share.

Where has the growth been strongest among passenger, goods and the LCV space?

Obviously it is in the heavy-duty range; the tractor-trailers and multi-axle vehicles. There is a runaway demand happening. Even now, we are not able to meet the full demand.

There is an order book backlog.

To some extent, passengers are catching up. We have been focusing more on the trucks. Now the order book position from the State Transport Corporation is what we will now be servicing.

So hopefully by the year-end we should be able to catch up on the passenger side.

The ICV (Intermediate commercial vehicle) segment has been a bit sluggish from our point of view.

Are there any changes you would like to make to the year-end targets or will you remain on course for the full year target?

We should be selling about four to five per cent more, something like 2,000-3,000 more vehicles, which would mean something like 78,000 units or so.

With a bit of luck, we should even touch 80,000 vehicles, but I would rather bet on more than 77,000 vehicles for the full year.

Could you confirm whether Volvo is in talks with the promoter group for a stake buy and how significant could that be?

Honestly, I won't be able to confirm that.

All I would be able to say is, I'm also aware that many leading players including Volvo have been in talks with the promoter group.

Certainly any association with any of the majors would be beneficial for Leyland's product range offering to the market. But I won't be able to say anything beyond this.

We believe there are also reports that you might be buying a stake in Doktas -would you confirm or deny that?

No, we are in the race and I can't say at the moment that we would be clinching it. It's a 50-50 probability now.

So we need to see how it turns out in the next few weeks.

How soon would you know?

Hopefully before the end of this month.

Source : Business Line (Online Edition) (10/7/2006)


Sona Group to set up $10 mn facility in North America  
NEW DELHI: Auto component major Sona Group’s arm Sona Okegawa Precision Forgings will invest $10 million to set up a greenfield gear facility in North America.

Sona Group chairman and managing director Surinder Kapur said, “We are in talks with a few southern states in North America for land for the proposed facility. A decision on this will be taken by the end of this year.”

The greenfield facility is likely to have a capacity of 5 million units per year. Sona Okegawa, which manufactures bevel gears and pinions, has manufacturing plants in Haryana and Chennai and an export-oriented unit in Pune. The company is Sona Group’s 60:40 joint ventures with Mitsubishi Materials Corporation.

Sona Group has been looking at North America for opportunities for both Sona Koyo Steering and Sona Okegawa for over a year now. Mr Kapur, however, ruled out an acquisition in the region for the time being.

“North America is an important automotive market and we want to be a significant player here. Also, the region offers a lot of incentives to those setting up facilities. However, the labour situation is so bad that we don’t want to inherit it with an acquisition. Moreover, the companies that we wanted to acquire were not available for acquisition. So we have decided to set up a greenfield facility to cater to the customers in the region,” he said.

“For the Sona Group, the target is to achieve 45% of revenues from overseas by 2010,” Mr Kapur said.

Source : Economic Times (10/7/2006)


Manchester, Inc. Acquires Nice Cars, Inc. & Nice Cars Capital Acceptance Corp.  
DALLAS, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Manchester, Inc. today announced they have completed the acquisition of Nice Cars, Inc., a privately held Buy-Here/Pay-Here auto dealership as well as its affiliate Nice Cars Capital Acceptance Corporation, a credit acceptance company.

Under the terms of the agreement, Manchester, Inc. paid an aggregate of $25 million in cash and issued 6.25 million shares of the Company's common stock to the previous owners of the two entities, aggregating to a total value of $72.5 million based upon the average trading price of the Company's common stock on the day of Closing.. In addition, the owners of these entities will receive 5 year employment contracts to continue running the dealerships. The Company financed the cash portion of the purchase price through the utilization of its $300 million credit facility.

James A. Worosz, Senior VP-Finance, Manchester, said, "Nice Cars is the first acquisition under our strategic business plan to become the leader in the Buy-Here/Pay-Here automotive segment of the used car industry. Nice Cars showed strong growth in sales and operating income for both entities during 2005 and we expect them to significantly contribute to both our top and bottom lines going forward." The Company also stated that they are currently pursuing a number of additional acquisitions and they expect to announce them in the near future.

Ray Lyle, of Nice Cars, Inc. stated, "We couldn't be more excited about teaming up with Manchester. This partnership will permit us to focus totally on selling cars and expanding our business. It addresses reduction of personal liability, liquidity, and provides a stable supply of capital, all issues important to all dealers in this business. We will also work with Manchester to introduce dealerships that might be appropriate acquisition considerations as they continue to grow their Buy Here/Pay Here family of companies."

Under the terms of the Nice Cars acquisition agreement, the Company has arranged to cancel 6.6 million shares of third party restricted common stock as of the same date as the acquisition of Nice Cars and in exchange will register 6.6 million remaining shares of third party restricted common stock in October 2007. Upon completion of this acquisition; the Company has approximately 33 million shares issued and outstanding.

Manchester, Inc. also announced the retirement of Mr. Herbert Hirsh from the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company is seeking a replacement and expects to fill this position very shortly.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


DaimlerChrysler signs partnership heads of agreement with Chery - reports  
Media reports from unnamed corporate sources thus far unconfirmed by DaimlerChrysler say the company has agreed in principle to establish a joint venture in which the Chinese carmaker Chery will export small cars to help Chrysler Group lower the price and fuel consumption of its domestic vehicle range. The sources quoted indicate that DCX and Chery have begun talking to a number of potential component suppliers.

Production would reportedly begin at Chery's existing facilities at Wuhu, which have a capacity of 300,000 units a year, which will be extended by a new plant to be constructed starting next year.

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Toyota delays N.America launch of new Corolla: media  
TOKYO - Toyota Motor Corp will push back the North American launch of its new Corolla from 2007 to 2008 in order to maintain quality, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun (Nikkei) reported on Saturday.

Toyota, Japan's top auto maker, has been plagued this year by a rising number of vehicle recalls. In July, it recalled some 400,000 SUVs in the United States, its single-biggest market.

Sales of the remodeled Corolla are set to start in Japan next week, and the company had hoped to cut the gap between domestic and overseas releases to one year from the usual two, the Nikkei said.

Instead, the company has decided to prioritize quality and start sales more gradually, the paper added.

Source : Reuters (10/7/2006)


NHRA Warren Johnson Pre Race: WJ and Richmond Have History Together  
Sugar Hill, Ga., - After a six-year absence, the POWERade Drag Racing Series returns to Richmond, VA this weekend for the Torco Racing Fuel Nationals at Virginia Motorsports Park, and no one should be happier than Warren Johnson and the GM Performance Parts GTO Racing team.

In the original era of NHRA competition at the Dinwiddie quarter-mile, which spanned from 1995-2000, "The Professor" was at his very best, logging four wins and four No. 1 qualifying performances, with an unparalleled 1.83 average starting position and a .889 round-win percentage. In addition, he made drag racing history at VMP when he recorded the first NHRA Pro Stock 200-mph top speed with his 200.13 mph pass on April 25, 1997.

"Everyone had been anticipating cracking the 200-mph barrier, and, after looking at the forecast for that weekend I had even predicted it would happen in Richmond," recalled Johnson. "We had run a lot of 198s and 199s leading up to the race, and looking at the atmospheric conditions, I pretty much knew that would be our best shot at getting it done for the year.

"As unusual as it may sound, there was nothing really remarkable about the actual run - it was just a typical fast run down the track. In fact, it was so smooth, it was somewhat boring, but it got the job done, which is what we hope to do this weekend with our GM Performance Parts GTO."

However, as Johnson is quick to point out, past accomplishments will mean little this weekend, as another tight Pro Stock field is expected in the Old Dominion state, with every driver looking to make their own mark at Virginia Motorsports Park. In addition, the combination of cooler fall temperatures and a recently repaved racing surface will have the naturally-aspirated "factory hot rods" primed for a high-speed shootout, with no room for error. Although competing on four consecutive weekends has severely impacted the six-time champion's development work, he remains cautiously optimistic about his chances for the weekend, and looks forward to racing in front of what have traditionally been some of the most ravenous Pro Stock fans on the NHRA tour.

"With the compressed schedule, we won't have any time to do any development work, so we will do the best with what we have at our disposal," stated Johnson. "The reports coming back from the teams that had an opportunity to test in Richmond are that the track is absolutely dead smooth. Given that it has an eighth of a mile of concrete, if the weather conditions are at all similar to what we had in Reading, the record book is going to get hit again.

"Fortunately, I believe we made substantial gains with our GM Performance Parts GTO last weekend. We keep learning with every run we make with this particular chassis, and apply that knowledge as soon as we can. It's coming around nicely, and I anticipate we should be able to run with the pack and see what kind of damage we can do on Sunday.

"It will be good to be back in Richmond. The East Coast has traditionally had a rabid fan base for our category, and VMP was a Mecca for Pro Stock, simply because our performance level there was faster than any other track in the country. There are a few of us remaining that raced there previously, and we all remember how tremendous the crowds were when we ran. We're certainly looking forward to going back."

Quick Notes on Warren Johnson & the GM Performance Parts GTO team entering The Inaugural Torco Racing Fuels Nationals:

The Professor Leads the Class in Richmond: This will be Warren's seventh career NHRA national event at Virginia Motorsports Park. In his previous six starts, he has four wins (which is the most by a Pro Stock driver) in four final round appearances (including the first four races from 1995-1998), and a 16-2 elimination round record for a spectacular .889 win percentage.

WJ is a Strong Starter in Dinwiddie: In six Virginia Motorsports Park starts, WJ has four No. 1 qualifying performances and six starts in the top two positions for a stellar 1.33 average starting position.

Track Record Holder: Warren holds the top speed record at Virginia Motorsports Park at 202.24 mph, which he set in April of 1999.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Check Vehicle Lights Before Daylight Savings Time Ends  
BETHESDA, Md., /PRNewswire/ -- The end of Daylight Savings Time happens in most parts of the United States on Oct. 29 and creates unfamiliar driving conditions that can be hazardous without proper vehicle lighting. The Car Care Council recommends vehicle lights be checked before the clocks "fall back" to help ensure safe driving, especially during dusk and peak evening traffic hours.

A vehicle's lighting system includes headlights (high and low beam), parking lights, turn signals/emergency flashers, brake lights, tail and marker lights, backup lights, interior lights and instrumentation lighting. Some vehicles are also equipped with fog lights.

Headlights should also be periodically cleaned of mud and muck, and properly aimed according to procedures outlined in the owner's manual. Headlights can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving, and if not properly aimed, can be distracting to other drivers.

Vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month in the United States have shown lighting to be an often neglected maintenance item, with 8 percent of vehicles inspected needing work on at least one of their turn signals, and 6 percent having problems with at least one of their brake lights.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


IRL tests 100% ethanol at Indianapolis  
The American Indy Racing League's 100% fuel grade ethanol test programme continued this week with a test at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway the venue of the IRL's centrepiece event, the Indianapolis 500.

Tony Kanaan of the Andretti Green Racing team and Team Ethanol driver Jeff Simmons ran cars equipped with 3.5-litre Honda Indy V8s burning 100% fuel grade ethanol which will be the regulation fuel in the IRL in 2007, replacing the 10% ethanol/90% methanol blend used in 2006.

During the test Simmons told reporters, "In terms of driving an engine with ethanol, nothing really stands out as far as differences. The broader power band is what I really noticed. It seems to be stronger and pulls a little better. It makes better mileage, so we've been seeing the different numbers on that."

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


New MD for Renault UK  
Renault has announced that Philippe Talou-Derible, its UK managing director, is to leave the company, to be replaced by Roland Bouchara who has been managing director at Renault South Africa since 2003. Derible has served as managing director of Renault in the UK since 2001, and will return to France as commercial director of Renault Sport.

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


US-based OEMs lobby ITC to end steel import duties  
In what they call "an unprecedented move underscoring their serious concern over access to competitively-priced steel", the six largest vehicle manufacturers with manufacturing facilities in the US have jointly called on the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to terminate anti-dumping and countervailing duties on 'corrosion resistant steel'.

The companies, which include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, also announced that they will take an active role in the ITC's "sunset review" process that determines whether the duties will remain in place.

"This marks the first time that these six companies have united on a trade issue," said Mustafa Mohatarem, Chief Economist of General Motors. "We have joined together because further protection for the steel industry is simply unjustified. Continuing these outdated duties hurts American manufacturing competitiveness and U.S. jobs."

"A great deal has changed in the steel industry since the duties were put in place 13 years ago," added Josephine Cooper, Toyota group vice president. "There is no longer an economic basis for keeping these duties. The steel industry benefits from unnecessary protection while the duties hurt a much wider sector of the U.S. economy."

The six petitioners said the U.S. automotive industry alone is responsible for the employment of 2.4 million Americans. They together purchase $200 billion annually in materials, parts and services for their U.S. operations. Steel is a critical component of every vehicle and a significant portion of production costs. All six companies buy the overwhelming amount of the steel used in their U.S. operations from U.S. steel mills, but say they must maintain the ability to obtain key materials for their vehicle assembly plants dependably and at globally competitive prices.

The ITC is required to conduct a so-called "sunset review" on antidumping and countervailing duties every five years. The duties will be lifted unless the ITC finds that the steel industry is likely to face material injury as a result. The duties on corrosion resistant steel have been in place since 1993 on imports from six countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Korea.

"With record profits, high prices and industry consolidation, the domestic steel industry is enjoying unprecedented prosperity that its own executives have publicly stated is sustainable for the long term," concluded Mark S. McConnell, counsel to the six auto manufacturers and a partner at lawyers Hogan & Hartson LLP. "Strong global demand for steel will render an influx of imports very unlikely in the event that the ITC revokes the orders. That is why these orders should be terminated as the law intended."

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Tesco signs up for two more years with BRC  
The UK based supermarket chain Tesco has confirmed that its title sponsorship of the MSA British Rally Championship will continue for a further two seasons following on from the successful introduction of biofuel blend Tesco 99 Octane as the control fuel for the 2006 championship.

The BRC was the first motorsport championship in the world to adopt a control fuel with bio-ethanol content, with Tesco 99 Octane, developed by leading independent fuel producer Greenergy Fuels, chosen not only for its power potential, but also because of its reputation as one of the cleanest motorsport fuels on the market.

British Rally Championship manager Mark Taylor said, "The announcement that Tesco, Britain's biggest retailer, is continuing its association with Britain's most exciting and dynamic motorsport championship is further evidence of the growth and success of the six-round championship which encompasses the best rallies of the British Isles."

Tesco category manager Peter Cattell said, "It's fantastic to see the UK's top rally drivers racing on Tesco 99 Octane. We're sure they are enjoying the fuel as much as the many thousands of customers who fill up with it at our stores every week."

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


True World Car: Dacia's Logan Unveils a Seven-Seat Version  
PARIS - Dacia of Romania has introduced a suitable rival to Czech automaker Skoda's Roomster.

The Dacia Logan MCV made its debut at the Paris auto show and will provide a large number of countries, notably in South America and the Middle East, with a seven-passenger multipurpose vehicle choice.

Dacia's standard Logan sedan has already won hundreds of thousands of fans across the world. In addition to Romania, it is now being made in Russia, Morocco and Colombia, and preparations for production are underway in Iran, India and Brazil.

The home factory in Pitesti has just been increased to allow for the manufacturing of 235,000 cars a year, and by 2008 it will churn out 350,000 cars a year. The Dacia brand has served its parent company, Renault, well in expanding to underserved and developing markets.

At the Geneva Motor Show in March, Dacia introduced its Logan Steppe concept, and this production version differs only a little. The name Logan MCV stands for Multi Convivial Vehicle. The conviviality comes from the fact that it offers seating for up to seven people, which was made possible by extending the wheelbase by 1 inch. The new variant is powered by the same four-cylinder gasoline and diesel engines as the Logan sedan.

A pickup truck is sure to follow, and rumors persist about other possible Logan body styles, including a hatchback.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/6/2006)


Shake Up: York Resigns From GM Board After Nissan Talks End  
DETROIT - General Motors has lost the representative of billionaire investor Kirk Kerkorian from its board of directors.

Jerome York submitted his resignation to the board today, saying in his letter that he has "grave reservations concerning the ability of the company's current business model to successfully compete in the marketplace with those of the Asian producers."

York's resignation comes less than 48 hours after GM's announcement that it was pulling out of negotiations with Renault/Nissan about a three-way alliance, an idea that Kerkorian's investment firm, Tracinda, had advocated.

In his resignation letter, which can be viewed on The Wall Street Journal Web site, York wrote of his frustration at the board of directors "environment," which he said is not "very receptive to probing much beyond the materials provided by management." He also emphasized that he was resigning because of that frustration, rather than directly because Renault/Nissan talks were not pursued, but he took the opportunity to say that he felt the board should have brought in independent advisors to provide a more balanced analysis of an alliance with the Renault/Nissan group.

GM stock plummeted nearly 7 percent to just under the $31 per share mark in the wake of the resignation announcement. Kerkorian's Tracinda Corp. also said it will not acquire some 12 million additional shares of GM stock that reportedly had been in Kerkorian's plans.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/6/2006)


Yuan a Ride? Iconic London Taxi To Be Built in China  
MILTON KEYNES, U.K. - Manganese Bronze Holdings, the owner of London Taxis International, has signed an agreement with China automaker Geely to manufacture the famous London Taxi in Shanghai.

This is not the first time the famous Black Cab has been tipped for the Chinese market. After London Taxis set up a successful marketing deal with Japanese microcar manufacturer Mitsuoka in 2001, the next obvious step was China.

So in 2002 it was announced that China Brilliance, manufacturer of Toyota minivans and the self-designed Zhonghua sedans, would assemble the cars for the local market. But the deal fell through at the last minute.

Privately owned Geely, which is aggressively expanding both at home and abroad, will likely be another story. Geely reportedly plans to use land adjacent to its Shanghai Maple subsidiary to set up a new plant where up to 20,000 TXII models could be produced starting in 2008.

As a comparison, in Coventry, England, only 2,500 taxis are made each year. Manganese will invest $99.5 million in a joint venture, holding 38 percent with a right to increase its stake to 50 percent.

While the British side is saying that U.K. production is not in danger, Li Shufu, chairman of Geely, was quoted by media calling the deal with Manganese Bronze "a significant export opportunity."

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/5/2006)


Study: One in Five Drivers Are Daydreaming  
LONDON - An alarming 20 percent of drivers admitted in a new study that they spend at least a quarter of their driving time lost in thought rather than concentrating on the road. According to the study, some 1.2 million of them are thinking about sex instead of driving.

Reuters reported the results of the study, carried out by Sky Living for the U.K. insurance company More Than. The news service said the study shows 3.2 million U.K. drivers are obsessing about their jobs, and 2 million more are thinking about family concerns while driving.

The study also reported that tailgaters are the number-one driving irritant for 28 percent of those surveyed, with lane hoggers in second at 20 percent. Those who drive too fast or too slow were each rated as most annoying by 11 percent of those surveyed. No word on how irritated people were by daydreamers.

Source : http://www.edmunds.com (10/6/2006)


Michelin 2006 Japanese F1 GP - Free practice  
FISICHELLA AND MICHELIN SET THE PACE AT DRYING SUZUKA

Michelin drivers were fastest in both free practice sessions at Suzuka today, as teams prepared for the Japanese Grand Prix - the penultimate race of the Formula One season. Anthony Davidson (Honda) was comfortably quickest on a streaming wet track this morning, while Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault) posted the day's best lap - a 1m 34.337s - as the rain abated sufficiently to allow drivers to run on dry tyres during the final 15 minutes of the second session.

Fisichella's title-chasing team-mate Fernando Alonso was fourth on aggregate, ahead of a clutch of Michelin drivers including Davidson (fifth), Sebastian Vettel (BMW Sauber, sixth), Jenson Button (Honda, seventh), Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren Mercedes, eighth), Kimi Räikkönen (McLaren Mercedes, 10th) and Michael Ammermüller (Red Bull Racing, 12th).

Michelin's day

Nick Shorrock, Michelin F1 director

"Today has been quite unusual because we were able to evaluate all four of our tyre products - full wets, intermediates and both dry-weather specifications.

"This morning it was clear that our wet tyres worked very well, which underlined what we have seen in previous rain-affected races such as Hungary and China. In the afternoon, every Michelin driver began the session on intermediates, but as the track started to dry significantly we had to keep a close eye on tyre evolution.

"We started u sing dry tyres during the final quarter of an hour and times continued to tumble as conditions improved. Initial analysis suggests that our primes and options both work very well, but we need to do some detailed analysis before making any firm recommendations to our six partner teams. We need to watch the weather forecast closely, too, because conditions could be quite variable throughout the weekend. There have been a couple of typhoons in the region and the first of those prompted this morning's persistent rain."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/6/2006)


Ground Breaking Ceremony for Johnson Controls New Macedonian Plant  
SKOPJE, Macedonia, -- Johnson Controls, a leader in automotive interior experience, lays the foundation stone of a new automotive electronics plant in Eastern Europe on 5 October. The ground breaking ceremony takes place in the presence of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski, along with John Barth, Chairman and CEO, John Fiori, Executive Vice President and President Johnson Controls International and other representatives of Johnson Controls. The new plant is part of Johnson Controls' strategy for Eastern Europe and production is due to start at the end of 2007. It is anticipated that by the end of 2008, around 150 new employees will have been hired to assemble printed circuit boards in a total workspace of around 6,000 square meters.

"This foundation stone signifies an important and exciting achievement for Skopje and Johnson Controls," said company Chairman and CEO John Barth. "The Macedonian government has been extremely committed and I would like to thank its officials for their work in supporting this effort. I have no doubt that our partnership will yield excellent results for both Johnson Controls and the Skopje community."

The new plant is part of Johnson Controls' long-term strategic objective to position itself in the growth markets of Eastern Europe. Primarily Slovakia is to be supplied from here. The company is investing around USD$20 million in the new plant being built in Bunardzik, a free economic zone located a few kilometers from Skopje. Over the next few years, the capacity of the new plant will be successively adjusted to the order volume. The new location will enable some very good synergies to be leveraged with the development center of the company located only 200 kilometers away in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Social commitment as a corporate objective

"We are always conscious of our social responsibility and here in Macedonia we are making an investment in the future," explained John Fiori. This investment by the company is not only in the construction of the plant but also in technology, people and the community. For instance, Johnson Controls has a scholarship program at the university in Skopje, where the company provides financial support to 35 students for a maximum of four years.

From these students 20 are already in their second year and 15 are new to the program. These scholarships are set up to ensure that the very high educational standard required by the automotive industry is maintained.

The Macedonia scholarship program is just one example of Johnson Controls' global commitment to corporate citizenship. Another example is the company's global sustainability initiative, which focuses on people and the environment - to the benefit of the communities where it does business. "We believe one of the reasons we have been very successful for the past 120 years is that we have strong corporate values," said Barth. "These values - integrity, customer satisfaction, our employees, improvement and innovation, and safety and the environment - are the foundation of how we do business all over the world."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/6/2006)


Six Largest Automotive Companies Call on U.S. International Trade Commission to End Steel Duties Hurting U.S. Manufacturing  
WASHINGTON, -- In an unprecedented move underscoring their serious concern over access to competitively-priced steel, the six largest automobile companies with manufacturing facilities in the United States today jointly called on the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to terminate anti-dumping and countervailing duties on "corrosion resistant steel," a steel product used extensively in the manufacturing of automobiles. The companies, which include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, also announced that they will take an active role in the ITC's "sunset review" process that determines whether the duties will remain in place.

"This marks the first time that these six companies have united on a trade issue," said Mustafa Mohatarem, Chief Economist, General Motors Corp. "We have joined together because further protection for the steel industry is simply unjustified. Continuing these outdated duties hurts American manufacturing competitiveness and U.S. jobs."

"A great deal has changed in the steel industry since the duties were put in place 13 years ago," added Josephine Cooper, Toyota group vice president. "There is no longer an economic basis for keeping these duties. The steel industry benefits from unnecessary protection while the duties hurt a much wider sector of the U.S. economy."

The U.S. auto and auto parts industry alone is responsible for employment of 2.4 million Americans. The six automotive companies together purchase $200 billion annually in materials, parts and services for their U.S. operations. Steel is a critical component of every vehicle and a significant portion of production costs. All six companies buy the overwhelming amount of the steel used in their U.S. operations from U.S. steel mills, but must maintain the ability to obtain key materials for their vehicle assembly plants dependably and at globally competitive prices.

The ITC is required to conduct a "sunset review" on antidumping and countervailing duties every five years. The duties will be lifted unless the ITC finds that the steel industry is likely to face material injury as a result. The duties on corrosion resistant steel have been in place since 1993 on imports from six countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Korea.

"With record profits, high prices and industry consolidation, the domestic steel industry is enjoying unprecedented prosperity that its own executives have publicly stated is sustainable for the long term," concluded Mark S. McConnell, counsel to the six auto manufacturers and a partner at Hogan & Hartson LLP. "Strong global demand for steel will render an influx of imports very unlikely in the event that the ITC revokes the orders. That is why these orders should be terminated as the law intended."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


ZF Meritor Files Antitrust Lawsuit Against Eaton  
TROY, Mich-- ArvinMeritor, Inc. announced today that ZF Meritor LLC, a venture between ArvinMeritor and ZF Friedrichshafen AG, and Meritor Transmission Corporation, an ArvinMeritor company, have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Eaton Corporation in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. The Companies are seeking an injunction prohibiting Eaton from engaging in anticompetitive conduct in the markets for heavy-duty truck transmissions and have asked the court to award treble damages, as authorized by federal antitrust laws.

The lawsuit alleges that Eaton has engaged in anticompetitive conduct that has harmed competition in the markets for heavy-duty truck transmissions by limiting consumer choice, eliminating competitive checks on pricing and suppressing innovation. The lawsuit also alleges Eaton's conduct forced ZF Meritor, though still a legal entity today, to cease operations.

Commenting on the lawsuit, Chip McClure, chairman, CEO and president of ArvinMeritor said, "It is unfortunate that we have reached this point. We have filed this lawsuit to protect competition, our shareholders, and heavy-duty truck buyers. In a market without competition, innovation languishes, choice evaporates and prices increase. We are committed to protecting the interests of our loyal customers who have depended on ArvinMeritor to provide advanced technologies, exceptional products and outstanding service."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Nissan's Xtronic CVT Technology Delivers  
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. introduced its first version of the Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to the Japanese market in the 1992 March compact. Since then, Nissan has made a number of industry-leading advances in CVT technology that have allowed it to expand the application of the advanced transmission for use with higher-torque engines.

This extensive work continues to pay off for model year 2007, with the expanded availability of the advanced Xtronic CVTÔ on a variety of Nissan vehicles in North America, including Altima (non-Hybrid models), Maxima, Murano, Sentra and Nissan's all-new, entry-level model, the Nissan Versa hatchback and sedan. The Xtronic CVT is standard on both Maxima and Murano.

The Xtronic CVT differs from conventional automatic transmissions by featuring an infinitely variable gear ratio between its lowest and highest gears. Whereas a traditional automatic transmission typically makes large ratio jumps from one static gear to the next, the Xtronic CVT flows smoothly by transitioning through gear ratios with the feel of one perfectly calibrated gear.

The latest, third-generation Xtronic CVT retunes a number of features to improve performance, including the use of a smaller, more efficient oil pump; the adoption of a compact chain drive for 2.0-liter engine applications (which reduces the transmission size as a whole); and improvement of the precision of the pulley diameter control, allowing for more efficient belt pressure, more reliable torque transfer and improved fuel economy.

"Across the industry, manufacturers are sacrificing performance for efficiency and economy," said Bill Bosley, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division. "But we refuse to detract from the Nissan driving experience. The expanded use of our advanced Xtronic CVT is the ideal way to offer sporty performance and fuel efficiency in one package."

How Xtronic CVT Works While automatic and manual transmissions use multiple gear sets with an integral clutch and bands to achieve separate gear ratios, Xtronic CVT uses an infinitely adjustable ratio design. For example, instead of jumping from a 2nd gear ratio of 1.950 to a 3rd gear ratio of 1.392, Xtronic CVT can rapidly progress through 1.950, 1.949, 1.948 - stepping seamlessly through 1.392 as the diameter of its pulleys gradually adjust. Because of this progression, the Xtronic CVT "changes" ratios with no perceptible pauses, jerks or lurches, virtually eliminating traditional shift shock.

Each pulley is composed of two stout cones, each point facing the other, similar to a yo-yo. A steel belt with a V-shaped cross section connects the cones. As the engine speed increases, the cones of the drive pulley slowly come together, gradually pushing the belt further from the pulley's axis. Simultaneously, the driven pulley's cones are moving farther apart, easing the belt closer to the axis of the driven pulley.

The pulleys are controlled to proportionately expand and contract so the ratio of the drive diameters between the two pulleys can be varied over a wide range. The Xtronic CVT offers a spread of "gear" ratios between its lowest and highest range (2.371:1 to 0.439:1 for the 3.5-liter V6 engine; 2.349:1 to 0.394:1 for the 2.5-liter 4-cylinder engine; 2.349:1 to 0.394:1 for the 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and 2.561:1 to 0.427:1 for the 1.5-liter through 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engines).

At the heart of the Xtronic CVT is a high-strength, flexible steel belt. The strength of this belt enables the transmission to handle a high amount of torque input, fitting for multiple sizes, displacements and power levels of different Nissan engines.

Xtronic CVT Benefits Xtronic CVT offers a number of benefits over traditional automatic or manual transmissions. The most obvious benefit is the smooth ratio changes, versus the "clunk" of a shifting transmission that is familiar to most drivers. In eliminating these "steps," the Xtronic CVT allows the engine to run closer to its optimal rpm, rather than dipping below or working above it like an automatic or manual transmission. By maintaining ideal engine speed and avoiding unnecessary engine rpm, the Xtronic CVT optimizes fuel economy and emissions performance.

For additional fuel economy, Xtronic CVT offers an expanded torque converter lockup range. While a conventional automatic transmission locks up in the mid-to-high speed range, a traditional CVT transmission only benefits from the torque converter at startup. Recognizing this, Nissan engineered the Xtronic CVT torque converter with a lockup range that extends further into lower speeds, allowing for a better range of manual-transmission-like direct transfer of efficient engine power.

Additionally, Xtronic CVT has numerous other advantages over conventional CVT transmissions. Xtronic CVT boasts a wider gear ratio, which allows for improvements in both performance and economy. And, thanks to smaller minimum drive pulley radius, Xtronic CVT delivers better acceleration performance than traditional CVTs, and its smaller minimum driven pulley radius allows for better fuel economy.

"Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. has been a leader in CVT research since the 1970s and currently offers CVTs in Asia and Europe in addition to the North American market, where our advanced Murano SUV paved the way for Nissan's expansion of Xtronic CVT technology in the United States," said Bosley. "We're pleased that Nissan is now able to offer a great balance of what drivers need - as well as what they want - in a broad range of vehicles, from our flagship Maxima to our entry-level Versa."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Honda Tops Industry in Retained Value  
Washington DC; The AIADA newsletter reported that three year old Hondas were worth 68.7 percent of their original transaction price in August, making the automaker the top retained value holder in the industry, according to PIN Insights, a monthly newsletter published by the Power Information Network, a division of J.D. Power and Associates. Toyota, Subaru, Volkswagen, and Porsche rounded out the five highest scores.

Eleven international nameplate brands scored above the industry average of 57.4 percent.
Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


STMicroelectronics Showcases Infotainment, Navigation, and Safety Solutions at ITS London  
GENEVA, -- STMicroelectronics , one of the world's leading suppliers of integrated circuits for automotive systems, and recognized as a major player in the automotive GPS market, is to demonstrate a broad range of leading-edge solutions for in-vehicle entertainment, information, and safety applications at the 13th World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, held in London from 9 to 12 October. A mix of working and static demonstrations will showcase some of ST's infotainment, GPS and imaging technologies, as well as both existing and prototype automotive products.

Navigation systems shown at ITS 2006 include a working prototype using ST's NaviFlex platform -- announced at ITS 2005 in San Francisco -- and based on a Nomadik(TM) Application Processor, with ST's GPS chipset, software platform, and reference design. NaviFlex is a complete Nomadik-based platform for in-car infotainment that targets two main markets: Car Navigation and Infotainment (NaviFlex-PRO), and Portable Navigation Devices (Naviflex-PNE platform).

A display shows GPS System-on-Chip solutions, including the STA2051 and ST's new high-performance embedded-Flash single-chip baseband devices, and the STA2056 genuine one-chip system with on-board RF. ST has been selected by the Galileo Joint Undertaking -- overseeing Europe's global navigation satellite system -- as a Prime Contractor and chipset provider for the GR-POSTER (Galileo-Ready POSitioning TERminal) program for mass market Galileo terminal development. All ST GPS chipsets will be upgraded to be Galileo-Ready.

The recently announced ADR (Advanced Digital Radio) chipset, created in collaboration with Blaupunkt, can tune in to all the current analog radio services worldwide, as well as to the new digital radio services. Combining two of ST's TDA7528 RF front-end ICs with an STA3005 back-end chip, the solution delivers excellent sound processing and equalization performance, even in difficult signal conditions, while reducing the workload on the radio's main microprocessor.

In-car mobile TV will be demonstrated using a working prototype, also in cooperation with Blaupunkt, that uses the T-DMB (Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) system, which is based on the DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) standard and infrastructure already operating in many European countries, including the UK. The solution is based on ST's powerful but power- efficient Nomadik(TM) mobile multimedia application processor.

Satellite digital radios from leading manufacturers that use ST's market- leading receiver and tuner ICs will be on display. For terrestrial digital radio, a prototype of a DRM (Digital Radio Mondiale(TM)) receiver created by ST in cooperation with Kenwood and Fraunhofer IIS (Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits) will demonstrate ST's broad capability in this field. The receiver design is expected to lead on to the development of a low-power ASIC for DRM applications in radios and PDAs.

A working automotive Media Center demonstration -- with disk drive (HDD), DVD player and USB interfaces -- is based on the STi710x family, which includes the world's first single-chip H.264/AVC and VC-1 decoder; it includes wired and wireless links for PCs and smart phones.

Safety and security systems are supported by a live demonstration of 3-axis accelerometers using ST's MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) technology, with sensors detecting movement as inclination or acceleration. Applications shown include anti-theft systems for wheeled vehicles and anti-tamper systems for containers, and inputs for adaptive lighting.

The VS6x24 family of color digital cameras combines small physical size with low power consumption. They integrate a high-sensitivity pixel array, fully-featured digital image processing and camera control functions into a single die. With multiple resolutions and standard output formats (YUV, RGB or Bayer), this Imager-on-Chip (IoC) solution allows the rapid design-in of a high-quality digital camera to any system. It is shown with the x24 Camera Integration Kit (CIK) in a working demonstration of its easy evaluation and use.

A practical application of imaging technology in a vehicle environment is shown in a demonstration of a System-on-Chip (SoC) processor, the result of a joint development program between ST and Mobileye, which monitors pedestrians and lane discipline in real-time using a video stream from a single CMOS camera.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/6/2006)


VW reveals Atacama Concept  
Volkswagen has revealed a striking off-road vehicle based on the recently-launched Crafter van.

Named Atacama, after the desert in South America, the four-wheel drive concept is the product of the Design Centre in Wolfsburg, Germany, and could become a limited production vehicle.

'The Atacama concept is a fresh and modern interpretation of a four-wheel drive Crafter, combining function and individuality,' says the team leader and exterior designer, Ralf Dekena.The design study gains its striking presence through its proportions. The front end, with slight modifications and the aluminium components such as the radiator, headlights or air vents, also add to the Atacama's powerful appearance.The side air inlets in the wings lend the Atacama a sporty finish.

For protection during off-road use, the vehicle has been equipped with robust panelling and powerfully modelled wheel arches.Aluminium inserts further emphasise its off-road appeal and give the Atacama a more exclusive appearance.Offsets and stamps are repeated thematically on the wheel arches.The unique side window design demonstrates the integration of exterior and interior.

The designer responsible, Romain Chareyre, explains: 'The design study shows further potential for the Crafter in the leisure and fun segment.'

The roof railing formed in a U-shape with integrated box is a modern interpretation of a carrier system.To match this element, the team designed the rear ladder which frames the brand logo in its shape and also has the door handle integrated in it.

The member of the Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles board of management with responsibility for sales, Harald Schomburg, is very enthusiastic: 'The absolute highlight of the Crafter presentation is the concept vehicle Atacama with four-wheel drive application by Achleitner.

'It emphasises the strikingly masculine features of the vehicle and is our idea of a Crafter off-road vehicle.I'm very curious about the customer reaction – if it is positive we will build a series of up to 100 vehicles.'

Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (10/6/2006)


London Taxi heading to China  
Manganese Bronze Holdings Plc has agreed terms with Chinese car manufacturer Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co. Ltd. ("Geely") to jointly produce the iconic London black taxi in Shanghai.

Total investment in the joint venture is forecast at £53 million of which Manganese Bronze's share is £19.85 million.Final assembly and sales will be undertaken by Shanghai Maple, a subsidiary of Geely, which will have the right to sell these vehicles within Asia, while Manganese Bronze will have the right to sell them in the rest of the world.

The joint venture agreement will be subject to regulatory approval in China, and this transaction will require approval by Manganese Bronze shareholders at an Extraordinary General Meeting.

Manganese Bronze has been pursuing a strategy of controlled international expansion following the divestiture of its loss making components division.Following extensive talks, Geely stood out as one of the most respected automobile companies in China and the prime partner for a joint venture.

Tim Melville-Ross Chairman of Manganese Bronze, said;

"We are delighted to have signed these Heads of Terms with Geely.Geely is one of the fastest growing car companies in China, with impressive manufacturing, supply chain, engine and dealership facilities.The joint venture will increase the appeal of our iconic vehicle around the world. We look forward to concluding a final agreement in the near future."

The intended capacity of the joint venture facility will be 20,000 vehicles, with production planned to commence in mid 2008 subject to timely completion of legal agreements and shareholder approval.

Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Koleos Concept in Paris  
Renault has unveiled the Koleos Concept at the 2006 Paris Motor Show.

To ensure maximum off- and on-road comfort, the Koleos Concept is built on a new four-wheel drive chassis and is powered by a 2.0 dCi engine, both of which have been developed within the framework of the Renault-Nissan Alliance.

On settling into the cabin, occupants discover a sporty interior, all in a two-tone colour scheme. The four independent seats, upholstered in beige leather, have been optimised to free up space for occupants and their luggage.

A long list of equipment is included to enhance travelling comfort. The central part of the dashboard is given over to the navigation system, multimedia applications and specific data useful for all-terrain motoring such as atmospheric pressure, compass bearings, altitude and gradient. All of this information is displayed so that all the cabin occupants can read it easily. The cabin is brightly lit thanks to the panoramic glass roof panel.

The split-opening tailgate makes the vehicle easy to load and easy to access in cramped parking spaces. The lower part of the hatch is designed to enable two people to sit comfortably for picnics or for open-air activities during holidays or weekend trips.

The Koleos Concept 2.0 dCi engine employs diesel engine technology including piezo-electric injectors, 1,600-bar common rail injection and a variable geometry turbocharger. To minimise polluting emissions, the 2.0 dCi is equipped with a periodic regeneration particulate filter, which operates without additives. It drives through a six-speed manual gearbox that gives the Koleos Concept a touring car style experience.

This show car foreshadows a 4WD vehicle that Renault is due to market in the first half of 2008.

Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Six Largest Automotive Companies Call on U.S. International Trade Commission to End...  
WASHINGTON, /PRNewswire/ -- In an unprecedented move underscoring their serious concern over access to competitively-priced steel, the six largest automobile companies with manufacturing facilities in the United States today jointly called on the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to terminate anti-dumping and countervailing duties on "corrosion resistant steel," a steel product used extensively in the manufacturing of automobiles. The companies, which include DaimlerChrysler, Ford, General Motors, Honda, Nissan and Toyota, also announced that they will take an active role in the ITC's "sunset review" process that determines whether the duties will remain in place.

"This marks the first time that these six companies have united on a trade issue," said Mustafa Mohatarem, Chief Economist, General Motors Corp. "We have joined together because further protection for the steel industry is simply unjustified. Continuing these outdated duties hurts American manufacturing competitiveness and U.S. jobs."

"A great deal has changed in the steel industry since the duties were put in place 13 years ago," added Josephine Cooper, Toyota group vice president. "There is no longer an economic basis for keeping these duties. The steel industry benefits from unnecessary protection while the duties hurt a much wider sector of the U.S. economy."

The U.S. auto and auto parts industry alone is responsible for employment of 2.4 million Americans. The six automotive companies together purchase $200 billion annually in materials, parts and services for their U.S. operations. Steel is a critical component of every vehicle and a significant portion of production costs. All six companies buy the overwhelming amount of the steel used in their U.S. operations from U.S. steel mills, but must maintain the ability to obtain key materials for their vehicle assembly plants dependably and at globally competitive prices.

The ITC is required to conduct a "sunset review" on antidumping and countervailing duties every five years. The duties will be lifted unless the ITC finds that the steel industry is likely to face material injury as a result. The duties on corrosion resistant steel have been in place since 1993 on imports from six countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Korea.

"With record profits, high prices and industry consolidation, the domestic steel industry is enjoying unprecedented prosperity that its own executives have publicly stated is sustainable for the long term," concluded Mark S. McConnell, counsel to the six auto manufacturers and a partner at Hogan & Hartson LLP. "Strong global demand for steel will render an influx of imports very unlikely in the event that the ITC revokes the orders. That is why these orders should be terminated as the law intended."

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/5/2006)


Bazemore fitted to new Top Fuel seat  
Indianapolis - Veteran Funny Car pilot Whit Bazemore, who will be driving for David Powers Motorsports in 2007, was fitted for his new Matco Tools Iron Eagle Top Fuel dragster Wednesday during a visit to chassis builder Brad Hadman's suburban Seattle headquarters. Bazemore climbed into his new ride to get the feel of having an 8,000 hp, nitro-breathing engine behind him instead of in front of him.

"This is going to be really different," Bazemore said. "Wrapped inside that carbon-fiber Funny Car body gives you a feeling of security like being in a cocoon. The dragster has a different feel altogether since the engine is behind the driver's compartment, not to mention the weight shift to the back of the car and its long, 300-inch wheelbase.

"I feel the open cockpit of the dragster must give you a sense of speed like nothing else; it has to be like driving a convertible. It's going to take a little getting used to but a few pre-season passes down the strip and I'll be ready for our Pomona debut next February."

This will mark Bazemore's first foray into the Top Fuel class after 18 years in a Funny Car. He will be teammates with existing David Powers Motorsports racer "Hot Rod" Fuller with both drivers running under the tuning expertise of decorated crew chief Lee Beard.

"Whit Bazemore is an outstanding driver and he's been a real asset to Matco Tools over the years," Powers said. "We selected him from a long list of very qualified applicants and we certainly weighed in the opinions and desires of everyone at Matco Tools. The fact he's worked with Lee Beard in the past allowed us insight into how he conducts his professional life and we quickly reached the conclusion that he was our man."

Matco Tools, which boasts franchise distributors in all 50 states across North America, Canada and Puerto Rico, has been affiliated with Bazemore since 2000 when they were an associate sponsor on the Chuck Etchells-owned Kendall Camaro Funny Car. In the end, Powers felt it made the most sense to capitalize on the equity Matco built with Bazemore over the years.

"I'm very grateful to the Matco Tools family of distributors for having the faith in me to continue to lead their racing efforts in the sport of drag racing," the 43-year-old Bazemore said. "David's commitment to success will ensure outstanding results for all aspects of the race team.

"Racing a Top Fuel dragster will be a new challenge but its one I'm looking forward to a great deal. David, Lee Beard, and Rob Flynn are in the process of assembling a first-class team that I know will make the Matco Tools Iron Eagle dragster a contender right away. I fully expect us to contend for the POWERade title in 2007 and beyond."

An avid cyclist away from the track, Bazemore entered 336 national events in a Funny Car, third most among active, full-time racers behind John Force and Gary Densham. Aside from his 20 victories in 46 final-round appearances and 338-294 race day record, Bazemore is perhaps best known as 13-time champion Force's archrival. The two have shared many on-track battles over the years.

"I'll miss racing Force and the other guys over there but at the same time, I look forward to racing Brandon Bernstein, Larry Dixon, Doug Kalitta, and the rest of the Top Fuel racers so it's a nice trade-off," Bazemore said. "This is just a new chapter in my life and my career and I'm very excited about the possibilities."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Air News Brief: Emissions Trading Alternative Will Help Improve Visibility in National Parks  
To help state and tribal governments improve visibility in national parks and wilderness areas, EPA has finalized an emissions trading program for its Clean Air Visibility Rule. The emissions trading program provides states and tribes with an alternative approach for applying Best Alternative Retrofit Technology (BART). The BART requirements would be satisfied if the trading program meets or exceeds the visibility benefits resulting from BART.

The BART requirements of the Clean Air Visibility Rule apply to industrial facilities, built between 1962 and 1977, that emit air pollutants that reduce visibility by causing or contributing to regional haze. The Clean Air Visibility Rule, including the BART requirements finalized on June 15, 2005, will provide approximately $240 million annually in visibility improvements in southeastern and southwestern parks. The rule will also provide substantial health benefits in the range of $8.4 - $9.8 billion each year -- preventing an estimated 1,600 premature deaths, 2,200 non-fatal heart attacks, 960 hospital admissions, and more than 1 million lost school and work days. The total annual costs of this rule range from $1.4 to $1.5 billion. Today's rule applies to an emissions trading alternative that states and tribes may use to improve visibility in specially protected areas.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/6/2006)


Azure Dynamics announces agreement with Ford Motor Company  
TORONTO, -- Azure Dynamics Corporation a leading developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial and military vehicles, today announced it has signed an agreement with Ford Motor Company to enable Azure to develop a hybrid electric powertrain for Ford's E-series commercial platform.

Azure is responsible for the development of the parallel hybrid electric gasoline system that will be applied to Ford's E-series commercial vehicles. Azure will be the Vehicle Modifier and will complete the hybrid modification on the E-350 and E-450 commercial chassis. Ford, as the OEM of the incomplete commercial vehicles, will provide Azure with assistance to facilitate the development of the hybrid electric powertrain.

D. Campbell Deacon, Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Azure Dynamics said, "We are very pleased to conclude this agreement which puts an Azure powertrain in an extremely popular commercial vehicle chassis and will have application in both the truck and bus markets. The agreement includes an intention for Azure to enter into a Ford Ship-Thru agreement which would allow the modified vehicles to be offered through the Ford distribution network. Ford has stated its desire to become a world leader in hybrid vehicle technology. We are excited to work on this product."

Azure Dynamics Corporation is a world leader in the development and production of hybrid electric and electric commercial and military vehicles and systems. The Company estimates it has more than 25 million miles of vehicle experience. Azure Dynamics' operations are based in North America and Europe.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Ashok Leyland bids for Turkish firm Doktas  
The second-biggest truck and bus maker, Ashok Leyland Ltd, has bid for Turkish automobile casting company Doktas, a senior company official told Reuters on Friday, reports Reuters.

"Leyland has bid for and is in advanced discussions with Doktas," chief financial officer K. Sridharan said."We hope the deal will be completed at the end of the month."The Economic Times newspaper reported on Friday that Ashok Leyland had offered USD 170-185 million for the Turkish company, but Sridharan declined to confirm the value.

At 0745 GMT, Ashok Leyland's shares were up 1.1% at Rs 48.90, having been as high as Rs 49.40, in a flat Mumbai market.Doktas, which is owned by Turkish conglomerate KOC Holding, makes die-cast products used for wheels and other automobile parts.

Ashok Leyland, which has 27% of the Indian market for medium and heavy trucks, bought loss-making Czech truck maker Avia in July to gain access to growing markets, a base for assembling its vehicles, and the potential to save on component costs.

Source : moneycontrol.com (10/6/2006)


Ashok Leyland says bids for Turkish firm  
MUMBAI - The second-biggest truck and bus maker, Ashok Leyland Ltd., has bid for Turkish automobile casting company Doktas, a senior company official told Reuters on Friday.

"Leyland has bid for and is in advanced discussions with Doktas," chief financial officer K. Sridharan said.

"We hope the deal will be completed at the end of the month."

The Economic Times newspaper reported on Friday that Ashok Leyland had offered $170-185 million for the Turkish company, but Sridharan declined to confirm the value.

At 0745 GMT, Ashok Leyland's shares were up 1.1 percent at 48.90 rupees, having been as high as 49.40 rupees, in a flat Mumbai market.

Doktas, which is owned by Turkish conglomerate KOC Holding, makes die-cast products used for wheels and other automobile parts.

Ashok Leyland, which has 27 percent of the Indian market for medium and heavy trucks, bought loss-making Czech truck maker Avia in July to gain access to growing markets, a base for assembling its vehicles, and the potential to save on component costs.

Source : ndtvprofit.com (10/6/2006)


Rare Enzo Ferrari Raises More Than $1.15 Million For St. Jude Children's Research...  
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., /PRNewswire/ -- Luxury Motors in Chicago, represented by Joe Abbas, CEO, placed the winning bid of $1.15 million to become the proud owner of one of the most famous performance cars in history, an Enzo Ferrari. The rare automobile, donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by a private owner who wished to remain anonymous, was offered for sale during the live auction at the fourth annual Runway For Life(R) to benefit St. Jude. The prestigious, high-wattage, celebrity fashion event was held on September 15 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. Auctioneer Andrea Fiuczynski, president of Christie's Los Angeles presided over the live auction which placed three bidders against each other in hopes of becoming the owner of the rare car. In one of the most exciting moments of the evening, Luxury Motors placed the winning bid and became the owner of the Enzo Ferrari.

This marks the second time that an Enzo has come up at public auction to benefit a charity. Launched in 2003 by Ferrari, only 399 of these exotic Enzos were ever manufactured and sold. One additional car was built and presented to Pope John Paul II by Ferrari, which was later auctioned for tsunami relief.

More than 1,000 guests attended the Runway For Life(R) event, which raised more than $2.2 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and included some of Hollywood's most recognizable faces, Cindy Crawford, Anna Kournikova, Chris Klein, Lisa Rinna, Harry Hamlin, Phil Donahue, Cybill Shepherd and more. The event was co-chaired by the Thomas family (Marlo, Terre and Tony) and close family friend Robert Ellis.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/5/2006)


Reply! Chairman and CEO Selected as One of Silicon Valley's 40 Under 40  
WALNUT CREEK, Calif., /PRNewswire/ -- Reply!, Inc.), today announced that the company's Chairman and CEO, Payam Zamani, has been included in the October 6, 2006 edition of the Silicon Valley Business Journal's annual list of '40 Under 40 -- People You Should Know in Silicon Valley's Business Community'. Mr. Zamani is recognized not only for his continued success in the boardroom, but together with his wife, ongoing philanthropic efforts focused on education.

As Chairman and CEO of Reply!, Zamani has steadily lead the growth of the company since its inception in late 2001, increasing revenues at a rate of more than 50% year-over-year over the past four years. Today, Reply! is recognized as a leading provider of online services for consumers in the residential real estate and automotive industries. Just as Zamani helped transform the online automotive retailing industry starting in 1994 with his first company, Autoweb.com, he is today leading efforts in changing the way people access information and decision making tools when in the market to buy or sell a home. With the recent launch of the first-ever-on-the-Internet capability -- Unsolicited Offers(TM) -- every home in America is up for sale through Reply.com.

A veteran e-commerce entrepreneur, he has successfully started several companies before co- founding, along with Behnam Behrouzi and John Truchard, Reply.com. At the age of 24 he founded Autoweb.com, which pioneered the online car buying industry and became a critical business success before going public and reaching a market cap of $1.2 billion in 1999. Now a U.S. citizen, Zamani escaped from Iran as a teenager after being persecuted for his Baha'i religious beliefs and came to the United States with $75 in his pocket. After working his way through college on jobs in pizza parlors and student house-painting, he graduated from the University of California, Davis and Stanford University's Executive Leadership Program.

A philanthropist and benefactor, Zamani's success goes far beyond executive boardrooms. Together with his wife, and through the Mona Foundation, he has identified the need for girls' education in Africa and is helping transform that need into tangible reality. The current project Zamani and his wife are involved in is the Ruaha Secondary School for Girls in Iringa, Central Tanzania.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


Impart Media Advertising Announces Direct Response Campaign With CARSTAR  
SEATTLE, /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Impart Media Group, Inc. , a unique full service provider of hardware, content, and advertising for digital media networks announced today that E&M Advertising, the direct response unit of Impart Media Advertising, a wholly owned subsidiary of Impart Media Group, has landed a media contract with CARSTAR. The project, which launched this week, is an extensive direct response campaign that will run for the next three months. CARSTAR selected E&M Advertising and International Media Partners to oversee the new campaign in Washington State.

Impart Media Advertising President, Michael Medico said, "We've spent the last several months planning for the right media vehicle with CARSTAR. The nature of their service business is ideal for attracting qualified leads, derived from measurable and accountable media. In recent years we have seen more and more advertisers focus on direct to consumer marketing to build their business taking advantage of the cost and flexibility of direct response."

International Media Partners President, Gordy Bryson added, "We have worked with Mike and the team at E&M for many years on a number of accounts and we consider direct response an important media solution for many of our clients. Direct response is becoming more and more a component of integrated media and marketing campaigns and the results have been very impressive."

Founded in 1989 and headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, CARSTAR is the largest group of auto body repair shops in North America. The privately held company currently has 270 locations in 25 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, and 110 Canadian locations.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


Philadelphia Insurance Companies Introduces Campground and Recreational Vehicle...  
BALA CYNWYD, Pa., /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Philadelphia Insurance Companies is proud to introduce its newest product - Campground and Recreational Vehicle Parks. This product is intended for stand-alone Campground and Recreational Vehicle (RV) park operators.

PHLY is targeting the franchised parks due to the standards established for the parks by the franchise corporation concerning park management, park conditions, park amenities, and frequency of inspections. Large in-house property capacity exists which allows PHLY to write any Campground or RV Park that meets its underwriting criteria.

General Liability limits up to $1.0 million/$3.0 million and Commercial Excess Liability limits up to $10.0 million are available. General Liability coverages include Premises Liability, Trailer Spotting, which covers property damage to trailers that are moved by the insured to another site, and Special Events for the parks activities. Liquor Liability is also available on accounts that meet PHLY's underwriting guidelines.

Mark Plousis, Assistant Vice President, Underwriting Division, at Philadelphia Insurance Companies comments, "We are very excited to introduce this specialized product which offers producers direct access to PHLY for their Campground and Recreational Vehicle client needs. We continue to stand out as a niche carrier who knows its customers' needs and continually finds additional ways to add value to our customer relationships."

In operation since 1962, PHLY designs, markets and underwrites commercial property/casualty, personal lines and professional liability insurance products, incorporating value-added coverages and services for select industries. The Company, whose commercial and personal lines subsidiaries are rated A+ (Superior), and A- (Excellent), respectively, by A.M. Best Company, is nationally recognized as a member of Wards Top 50 and Forbes 100 Best Mid- Cap Stocks. The organization has 38 offices strategically located across the United States to provide superior local service.

Source : http://www.automotive.com (10/6/2006)


New aftersales director for Nissan Motors GB  
Nissan has appointed Aad Van Dijk to the vacant position of Aftersales and Quality Director, following Vincent Wijnen's appointment to Sales Director. Mr Van Dijk joins NMGB from Nissan Europe, where he was General Manager, Aftersales Marketing. He joined Nissan in 1989 and worked in a variety of roles in sales and marketing, both in Amsterdam and Paris, up until 2003 when he joined the Aftersales division as General Manager.

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Alfa Romeo to race diesels in WTCC  
According to a report in the UK magazine Autosport, the Italian car manufacturer Alfa Romeo will return to competing in the FIA World Touring Car Championship with diesel-engined cars.

Autosport's story says that Alfa Romeo's return to the WTCC with a manufacturer backed team was approved at board level in September and that a racing version of its new 147 model was being developed to the FIA's Super 2000 technical regulations. It is thought that up to four gasoline-engined cars would be entered alongside two diesel-engined cars.

Source : http://www.autoindustry.co.uk (10/6/2006)


Toyota to provide virtual drunk driving experience  
NAGOYA; Japan Today reported theat Toyota Motor Corp said Thursday it will offer a virtual experience of driving a car under the influence of alcohol for visitors at its safety training center at Fuji Speedway circuit in Shizuoka Prefecture.

The program will be available from Wednesday in addition to current road-safety programs provided as part of the company's efforts to reduce the number of car accidents as a result of drunken driving, which has become a serious social issue recently.

The new course involves the wearing of specially designed goggles that impair a driver's sense of distance and peripheral vision, resulting in steering and other vehicle-operation judgments that mimic those often made under the influence of alcohol.

This simulated "drunk driving" experience is available to both private and corporate participants. in "mobilitas" safety-driving programs.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Advance Auto Parts Refinances Credit Facility  
ROANOKE, Va.--Advance Auto Parts, Inc. , a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries and maintenance items, today announced that it has refinanced its secured credit facility to a new $750 million unsecured five-year revolving credit facility. This facility replaces the Company's existing term loans and revolver.

"This refinancing provides Advance Auto Parts with an attractive level of financial flexibility, enabling us to increase liquidity while reducing interest expense," said Michael Moore, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. "We greatly appreciate the confidence our lenders continue to have in our future."

Approximately $434 million is drawn against the new facility. While the company has the ability to borrow up to the full amount of the facility, it does not expect to significantly increase its leverage. As a result of the improved borrowing costs under the new facility, the Company anticipates pre-tax interest expense savings of more than $2.5 million annually.

The facility bears interest at the rate of LIBOR plus a spread. The spread is currently 75 basis points, resulting in an annualized interest rate of approximately 6.1%, based on the current LIBOR. The Company has executed new swap agreements, which effectively fix the interest rate on $225 million of the new facility at approximately 5.0% plus a spread (currently 75 basis points). Under the terms of the new facility, the spread over LIBOR will adjust to reflect any future changes in the Company's credit rating.

In conjunction with this refinancing, the Company expects to record a charge of approximately $1.9 million of deferred financing charges associated with its prior credit facility, and record income of approximately $2.9 million associated with previously unrealized gains on interest-rate swaps. Both of these amounts will be recorded in the Company's third fiscal quarter, resulting in a net pre-tax gain of $1.0 million for the quarter.

The lending group, led by JP Morgan, includes Bank of America, SunTrust and BB&T.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Further Progress with Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology  
Stuttgart/Brussels,; With limited oil supplies and rising energy prices, public awareness of new types of drive system, such as fuel cells, is growing.

Against this background, the third general assembly of the European Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technology Platform (HFP) in Brussels is focusing on current developments related to hydrogen and fuel cell technologies.

The European industry for hydrogen and fuel cell technology is aiming to establish a public-private partnership with the European Commission.

This partnership, known as a Joint Technology Initiative (JTI), is intended to create a solid framework for efficient, coordinated demonstration projects and the research and development work that is required for the commercialization of fuel cell vehicles.

DaimlerChrysler supports the establishment of a JTI and is a cosignatory of an industry declaration of intent to this effect. The declaration expresses the intention of the European industry to take an active part in the JTI in conjunction with the public sector.

The HFP Advisory Council will play a key role in setting up the JTI. Prof. Dr. Herbert Kohler, Vice President Group Research and Advanced Engineering Vehicle and Powertrain and DaimlerChrysler Chief Environmental Officer, has been appointed the Advisory Council Chairman with immediate effect.

In addition, a group of two oil companies and six automakers (including DaimlerChrysler) has drawn up a position paper containing specific proposals for the JTI's activities and the necessary steps for building up a Europe-wide hydrogen infrastructure.

World's most extensive testing for fuel cell vehicles

Two Mercedes-Benz Citaro fuel cell buses that are usually in everyday service in Luxembourg and Amsterdam respectively are now making their way from these cities to Brussels, equipped with just a single tank of hydrogen each, in order to demonstrate the practicability of the pioneering fuel cell technology to politicians, industry representatives and the general public. They will be used as shuttle buses between the conference center and the exhibition of the general assembly. To date, the fleet of 36 fuel cell buses has covered over 1.5 million kilometers in total; the fuel cell stacks have been in operation for more than 100,000 hours in all.

The fuel cell buses are part of the European hydrogen project HyFLEET:CUTE, which involves the operation of 47 hydrogen-powered buses in regular public transport service in ten cities on three continents. The aim of the project, which is funded by the European Union, is to develop and demonstrate advanced hydrogen drive concepts for city buses as well as technologies and processes for the production and distribution of sustainable supply pathways for hydrogen.

Alongside the buses, a number of Mercedes-Benz A-Class F-Cell cars are being used in Brussels to demonstrate the current state of development of fuel cell technology in passenger cars. A total of 60 A-Class F-Cells are now being driven by customers in Germany, Japan, Singapore and the U.S. To date they have covered a distance of over 870,000 kilometers, with a total operating time of more than 26,500 hours. At the exhibition, DaimlerChrysler is also presenting a cross-section model of a B-Class F-Cell that offers a glimpse ahead to the next generation of fuel cell fleets.

Fuel cell vehicles from DaimlerChrysler are in use worldwide as part of various cooperation and demonstration projects. Automakers, oil companies, energy providers, ministries, public authorities, universities and other scientific institutes have joined together in these demonstration projects to prepare the market for the forward-looking fuel cell and hydrogen technology. Key activities in this regard include setting up a hydrogen infrastructure and boosting the acceptance of hydrogen technology among drivers and passengers.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


GMAC LLC Exercises Option to Purchase Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2003-02  
DETROIT; GMAC LLC announced today that it will exercise its option to purchase the remainder of the Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2003-2 on Oct. 16, 2006. This will result in a termination of all of the outstanding Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2003-2 Class A-4a 1.960% Asset Backed Notes, all of the outstanding Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2003-2 Class A-4b 1-Month LIBOR + 0.060% Asset Backed Notes, and all of the outstanding Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2003-2 Class B 1-Month LIBOR + 0.280% Asset Backed Certificates.

The Class A-4a and Class A-4b Notes will be purchased at $542.43425124 per $1,000 face amount, plus accrued interest from Sept. 15, 2006. A total of $250,000,000 of Class A-4a 1.960% Asset Backed Notes and $255,400,000 of Class A-4b 1-Month LIBOR + 0.060% Asset Backed Notes were sold to the public in June 2003.

The Notes may be presented and surrendered for payment to JPMorgan Chase Bank, Institutional Trust Services, P.O. Box 2320 , Dallas , TX 75221-2320. Interest on the Notes will cease to accrue on and after Oct. 16, 2006.

The Certificates will be purchased at $126.72010286 per $1,000 face amount, plus accrued interest from Sept. 15, 2006. A total of $90,261,344.19 of Capital Auto Receivables Asset Trust 2003-2 Class B 1-Month LIBOR + 0.280% Asset Backed Certificates were sold to the public in June 2003.

The Certificates may be presented and surrendered for payment to Deutsche Bank, DB Services Tennessee, Inc., Corporate Trust & Agency Services, Securities Payment Unit, 648 Grassmere Park Road , Nashville , TN , 37211. Interest on the Certificates will cease to accrue on and after Oct. 16, 2006.

GMAC is a global, financial services company that operates in 39 countries, in auto finance, residential mortgage, insurance and commercial finance businesses. With more than $300 billion in assets, it generated nearly $2.4 billion in net income in 2005, on net revenues of $19.2 billion.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Internet Plays Increasing Role for Car Buyers  
Washington DC; The AIADA newsletter reported that a recent survey from consulting firm Capgemini found that over 80 percent of consumers used the web during the car buying process, twice as many as 2004 and four times as many as 2002, reports USA Today.

AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson says that while few people actually buy a car online sight unseen, the Internet has cut the transaction time in half as consumers arrive at the dealership more informed.

Jackson also noted the Internet "has brought transparency to pricing" because of websites that provide buyers a car's true market value.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Rising Commodity Prices Will Increase Global Automotive Market Value But Could Squeeze Margins  
DUBLIN, Ireland--Research and Markets has announced the addition of the new report from Datamonitor "Five Factors That Will Shape the Future of the Global Automotive Aftermarket" to their offering.

The global aftermarket is forecast to show continued growth over the next few years. However the pattern of expansion will be uneven, with strong growth in the developing markets countering more modest growth in the developed markets. This brief assesses the factors behind the development of the sector, and the implications for market participants.

Scope of this title:

The brief assesses the value of the global aftermarket and changing patterns of expenditure.

What are the five key trends that will drive the market? What can participants do now to improve their chances of success?

Highlights of this title:

The global aftermarket is a huge sector - worth over EUR600 billion in 2005 and forecast to show continued growth over the coming years. However the pattern of expansion will be uneven, with strong growth in the developing markets of Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East / Africa countering more modest growth in the developed markets.

To be successful, market players will have to work with five key underlying trends - uneven levels of car park growth by geographic region, the trend towards better quality OE and replacement parts, rising commodity prices, the trend towards remanufactured products and continued merger and acquisition activity.

Reasons to order your copy:

* Identify the trends that will affect your company, and how you can take action in order to either protect yourself or fully reap the benefits.

* Understand the value of the global aftermarket, by region, and how this is predicted to change in the next few years.

Analysis:

Global aftermarket sales will continue to increase

Growth disparities by region highlights importance of developing markets

Uneven patterns of car park growth will change the relative importance of developed and developing markets

Car park growth varies significantly depending on region and market maturity

Car park growth will have a positive impact on aftermarket spend, but its effect will be mixed

Trends towards better quality and more technical products will have a negative impact on volume growth

Product quality improvements have a negative impact on volume, a positive impact on price

Impact on the "Do it for me" trend

Rising commodity prices will increase market value but could squeeze margins

Commodity price rises feed through to average aftermarket prices

Consequences at the retail level

Trend towards remanufactured products will require manufacturers to develop new skills

Conflicting trends in the market for pre-used car parts

Market dynamics for re-manufactured parts are positive

Continued merger and acquisition activity will make competition more aggressive

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


AAA Asks Motorists, Motorcyclists to Take Actions Aimed at Cutting the Rising Number of Motorcyclist Fatalities  
ORLANDO, Fla.--AAA, the nation's largest organization for motorists, wants motorists to help motorcycle riders curtail the growing number of fatal crashes involving riders, and urges motorcyclists to do more to protect themselves.

"AAA wants all motorists to be aware that tremendous growth in the popularity of motorcycling has added millions of new motorcycles and riders to our roadways," said AAA President, Robert L. Darbelnet. "This means drivers need to be more aware than ever of how to share the road safely with motorcycles. And motorcyclists need to take every opportunity to increase their margin of traffic safety.

"If motorists will be more alert to motorcycles on the road and give them the time and room they need to safely maneuver in traffic, and motorcyclists will better protect themselves by wearing protective gear, clearly illuminating their rides and looking into new technologies such as motorcycles equipped with airbags, the road can be safer for all of us," Darbelnet said.

According to AAA, the number of motorcycles registered in the United States has soared. Motorcycle registration has increased nearly 50 percent in just under a decade. Reasons for the growth include improved reliability, a wider array of models, fuel-efficiency and large increases in the number of female riders and riders who begin motorcycling in middle-age or older as a leisure activity. Unfortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports the growth in motorcycling has been accompanied by a 115 percent increase since 1997 in the number of fatal crashes involving motorcyclists. The total number of fatalities in 2005 increased to 4,553, up 545 from the previous year.

Promising new safety technologies - such as a motorcycle airbag system recently tested by AAA in cooperation with its equivalent motoring organization in Germany, ADAC - demonstrate that motorcycles can be equipped to provide much more protection for riders, AAA said.

The airbag system - optional this year on some Honda Gold Wing models - was able to prevent fatal injury to a test subject (a highly evolved crash test dummy) in a head-on 45 mph hour crash. The same crash on motorcycle without an airbag would have produced fatal or near-fatal injuries.

AAA said the test results exceeded the expectations of staff and concluded the motorcycle airbag system had a significant potential to considerably reduce injury risk in approximately a third of all crashes involving motorcycles and passenger vehicles. (Test results, including video, are available at www.AAA.com/news, as well as via satellite on Oct. 6th. Details are listed at the end of this release.)

AAA said advances in the construction of motorcycle helmets make some older helmets obsolete. Motorcyclists owe it to themselves and their loved ones, to upgrade to a high quality helmet if they have not already done so, and to wear appropriate eye protection, footwear, gloves, and bright or reflective riding apparel.

Illuminating motorcycles with clearly visible head, tail, turn and stop lamps is not only the law, it is crucial to seeing and being seen on the roadway. The addition of small "marker" lamps can improve the chances a motorists will spot a motorcycle on the road in dim or dark riding conditions.

"Motorists too, need to play a larger role in motorcycle safety," Darbelnet said. Approximately 50 percent all motorcycle crashes involve another vehicle, according to AAA.

With the large numbers of motorcyclists on the road, car and truck drivers need to be more vigilant in checking for oncoming motorcycles as they prepare to make turns, cross intersections and change lanes. A motorcycle's smaller profile can make it hard to see, especially at higher speeds, in dim light or at night.

Motorist should allow motorcycles more room to start, stop, or make turns. This means other motor vehicles should always give motorcycle riders plenty of room and respect their right to use the entire traffic lane. Because of the number of relatively inexperienced riders on the road, moving in too close can cause a rider to become unsettled and potentially lose control of their motorcycle. NHTSA recommends allowing a following distance of at least three to four seconds.

Anyone who is new to motorcycling should enroll in a motorcycle safety course and repeatedly practice in light traffic before riding in areas where there may be severe congestion, higher speeds or complicated and frequent turns and lane changes, AAA said.

As North America's largest motoring and leisure travel organization, AAA provides more than 49 million members with travel, insurance, financial and automotive-related services. Since its founding in 1902, the not-for-profit, fully tax-paying AAA has been a leader and advocate for the safety and security of all travelers.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Mercedes Car Group Notes Worldwide Sales Decrease Of 1.5%  
In this week's second round of financial statements, DaimlerChrysler is reporting today that worldwide sales of the Mercedes Car Group, composed of the Mercedes-Benz, Maybach and smart brands, fell 1.5% for the month of September to 116,100 units, bringing their year-to- date sales to 934,200 - an increase of 5.8% over 2005's nine-month YTD total.

Individually, sales of the Mercedes-Benz brand remained strong, with the unit noting sales of 106,600 units - the same figure achieved in September of 2005. To date, Mercedes-Benz has sold 846,300 units, an increase over 2005's YTD sales of 9.4%.

Unfortunately, sales of smart didn't fare nearly as well, with the mini-car division noting sales of 9,500 units - a decrease of 16.4%. This figure brings smart's YTD sales to 87,900 units, a decrease of 19.5% when compared to 2005's sales over the same period.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


American Suzuki Shows Full Line, 'Reggaeton' Concept Vehicle at 2006 South Florida Auto Show  
MIAMI, -- With an array of vehicles designed to meet the needs of consumers' active lifestyles, American Suzuki Motor Corporation (ASMC) arrives at the 2006 South Florida Auto Show with its full line of exciting cars and SUVs, including the all-new XL7 midsize crossover SUV and bold and functional SX4 compact X-over (crossover).

In addition to Suzuki's full-line of vehicles on display at the show, South Florida auto enthusiasts will be treated to a look at the Suzuki "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara. Designed in conjunction with SiTV, an English-language Latino cable network, the project vehicle reflects Reggaeton dance music, a combination of Reggae with a Latin dance beat.

"American Suzuki rolls into the South Florida Auto Show poised for an impressive 2007 campaign," said Koichi Suzuki, president of ASMC Automotive Operations. "We are coming off a record-setting year led by the popular Grand Vitara and top-selling Forenza family of vehicles, and we're set to continue the momentum into the next model year with the XL7 and SX4."

The XL7 and SX4 add to the momentum of an extraordinary time in Suzuki's history with last year's launch of the completely redesigned Grand Vitara and record sales for the first nine months of 2006. Year-to-date sales of Suzuki cars and SUVs in the United States through September 2006 are up 28 percent over the same period last year.

Suzuki's diverse vehicle line offers something for everyone with standout virtues for toughness, leading-edge style and high-end features at prices well below the competition. All 2007 Suzuki automobiles are backed by America's #1 Warranty: 100,000-mile/seven-year, fully transferable, zero-deductible powertrain limited warranty.

"Reggaeton" Grand Vitara

Showcasing the latest in personalized car styling trends, the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara offers innovative design and technology to appeal to urban teens and young adults. Designed to be a fully operational DJ station, the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara features:

* 20-inch customized painted wheels and tires

* Customized interior painted trim on speaker rings and door panels

* Vinyl-wrapped exterior, featuring a map of the three hottest Reggaeton locations (Miami, New York, San Juan)

* Rear swing arm DJ recording table with double iPod mixer

* In-dash touch screen video monitor with DVD player

* Vinyl-wrapped rear spare tire cover of Liz Hernandez of Power 106

* Interior LED lights and under car glow lights

* Lowered suspension

The eye-catching project vehicle recently was featured on the popular SiTV television program, "The Drop." For more information on the "Reggaeton" Grand Vitara, consumers can visit www.sitvmedia.com.

2007 Suzuki XL7

The XL7 blends SUV versatility and safety to increase driver and passenger comfort and features available all-wheel drive and seven-passenger, three-row seating to provide adaptability for active, mobile lifestyles. The 3.6-liter, V6, DOHC engine rated at 252 horsepower with 243 lb.-ft. of torque is matched to a five-speed automatic transmission fitted with manumatic controls.

The XL7 has a long list of standard features, including five-speed automatic transmission with manumatic shift, extensive safety features, including four airbags, tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), ABS with electronic brake-force distribution (EBD), traction control system (TCS) and Electronic Stability Program (ESP)(1). Additional standard features include remote keyless entry, tilt steering wheel, power windows, door locks and mirrors, two 12-volt accessory outlets, cruise control, 16-inch alloy wheels, satin silver trim, air conditioning with automatic climate control, trip computer, automatic headlamps, AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers and privacy glass.

Three trim levels are offered: XL7, Luxury and Limited. The XL7, offered in five- and seven-passenger configurations and either front-wheel drive or available all-wheel drive, has a starting manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) of $22,899. The XL7 Luxury adds leather-appointed interior, power driver seat, heated front seats, wood trim accents and 17-inch alloy wheels and has a starting MSRP of $24,599.

The top-of-the-line XL7 Limited features standard seven-passenger seating and adds fog lamps, rear spoiler, upgraded roof racks with aluminum lower bumper valances, premium XM Satellite Radio-ready audio system with seven speakers (including subwoofer), auto-dimming antiglare rearview mirror with compass, remote starter and DVD entertainment system. The feature-packed XL7 Limited carries an MSRP of $27,949.

There are three optional packages to go with the three trim levels: The seven-passenger seating package (available on XL7 and XL7 Luxury); the DVD entertainment package (available on three-row Luxury) that features a DVD entertainment system with wireless headphones and remote starter system; and the Platinum Touring package featuring a touch-screen navigation system, 17-inch chrome-plated alloy wheels with unique design and sunroof.

2007 Suzuki SX4

Designed for those who live an adventurous life, the 2007 Suzuki SX4 compact sport X-over (crossover) is sure to be a year-round standout in any driving condition. The all-new SX4 (the name stands for (S)port (X)-over for (4) seasons of weather) features a handsome five-door hatchback design, a sophisticated standard all-wheel-drive system, excellent stability and crisp handling characteristics. Built in Japan, the SX4 features a sophisticated 2.0-liter, in-line four cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine rated at 143 horsepower. SX4 is also fitted with intelligent all-wheel drive (i-AWD) as standard equipment. The i-AWD system operates in three modes for maximum fuel economy on dry pavement or to facilitate traction in case of snow or mud.

The SX4's standard features include six airbags; front driver and passenger airbags, driver and passenger side-impact airbags and side curtain airbags; four-wheel ABS with EBD, TPMS, seatbelt pretentioners, power windows, locks and mirrors, remote keyless entry, air conditioning, AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system with four speakers, tilt steering wheel, 16-inch alloy wheels, black roof rails, daytime running lights, fender flares and silver bumper guards. SX4 carries an MSRP of $14,999.

The SX4 comes in two trim levels: SX4 and SX4 Sport. SX4 is available with the Convenience Package, which includes cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls. SX4 Sport includes: TCS and ESP, auto temperature control, cruise control, leather-wrapped steering wheel and steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, premium audio with six-disc CD changer and nine speakers (including subwoofer), silver-color roof rails and SmartPass keyless entry and start system. SX4 Sport has an MSRP of $16,399. All trim levels are available in manual or automatic transmission with standard AWD.

2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara

First introduced as a 2006 model, the Grand Vitara has garnered much media and consumer praise and has won numerous awards. The 2007 Grand Vitara features a standard 185-horsepower, 2.7-liter, V6, 24-valve DOHC engine, a sophisticated available Four-Mode full-time four-wheel-drive system, tough unibody construction enhanced with a built-in ladder frame and an extensive list of interior amenities and standard safety features.

The list of standard safety features is extensive: ABS with EBD and ESP, including traction control, six airbags, three-point driver and front-passenger seat belts featuring shoulder height adjustment; in the rear seat, each passenger is provided with a three-point seat belt system and a headrest. With its carefully engineered control layout and close attention to materials and fit-and-finish, the interior of the Suzuki Grand Vitara is functional and attractive.

The Grand Vitara comes in three trim levels: Base, XSport and Luxury. The standard five-speed manual transmission and two-wheel drive starts at an MSRP of $19,379. The Grand Vitara with Luxury Package and full-time Four-mode four-wheel drives tops out at $23,399.

The Suzuki Forenza Sedan and Forenza Wagon

The Forenza sedan and Forenza Wagon feature Pininfarina styling, high standard feature content, powerful engines and backing by America's #1 Warranty. Last year, both Forenza models received a fresh front fascia design that incorporates a new Suzuki family grille. Both the Forenza sedan and the Forenza Wagon are available in one trim level, and customers can choose to add the ABS option, the Convenience Package (remote keyless entry and cruise control) or the Popular Package (remote keyless entry, cruise control and power tilt-and-slide sunroof). The starting MSRP for the Forenza sedan is $13,999 and $14,699 for the Forenza Wagon.

2007 Suzuki Reno

With its sculpted European styling and lively 2.0-liter, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine, the Reno is an attractive alternative to compact competitors. New in the 2005 model year, the five-door Reno offers budget-conscious buyers versatility for their active lifestyle. The starting MSRP for the Reno is $13,499. The Reno also has an available Convenience Package, adding power tilt-and-slide sunroof, remote keyless entry, steering wheel-mounted audio controls, leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift lever knob and cruise control.

2007 Suzuki Aerio

The fun-to-drive Aerio sedan comes standard with a sporty 2.3-liter, four-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC engine with 155 horsepower and 152 lb.-ft. of torque and adds more value in 2007 with the addition of a standard AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system. Aerio is available in two trim levels (Aerio and Premium), and buyers can choose between a front-wheel-drive system, and an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system, which comes with standard automatic transmission. Prices start at $14,299 for the Aerio and $14,399 for the Aerio Premium.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Nissan and Renault rose 3.5 percent on Thursday as investors reacted positively to news that alliance talks with General Motors had been terminated  
Washington DC; The AIADA newsletter reported that shares of Nissan and Renault rose 3.5 percent on Thursday as investors reacted positively to news that alliance talks with General Motors had been terminated.

Investors and analysts had worried that the possible alliance with GM would prove to be a burden for Nissan, given GM's struggling profits and soaring healthcare costs, reports The Associated Press. "We've somewhat expected the outcome so we just take it as is," Nissan Chief Operating Officer Toshiyuki Shiga told Japan's public broadcaster NHK. "A deal like this is difficult unless each participant is positive about an alliance as a benefit."

Nissan spokeswomen Mia Nielsen told Reuters on Thursday that the automaker remains interested in finding a North American partner. "We remain convinced that the Renault-Nissan alliance could be extended to work with additional partners. From a strategic perspective and under the right conditions a North American partner could make sense."

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/5/2006)


Lexus Announces Pricing on 2007 LS 460 and LS 460 L Full-Size Luxury Sedans  
TORRANCE, Calif., -- Lexus today announced pricing for the all-new 2007 LS 460 and the company's first-ever long-wheelbase model, the LS 460 L. The fourth-generation LS blends new levels of performance, sophistication, contemporary styling, and luxury refinements while redefining the full-size luxury-sedan segment. With a base Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $61,000 for the LS 460 and $71,000 for the LS 460 L, Lexus' new flagship luxury sedans will represent a compelling value in their segments.

"The new LS continues the heritage set by our original flagship luxury sedan by setting new standards in its class," said Bob Carter, Lexus Division group vice president and general manager. "This sedan has moved the Lexus brand beyond previous achievements in the areas of craftsmanship, styling, performance, and production innovation."

The new LS achieves a segment-leading combination of acceleration performance and excellent fuel consumption with an all-new 4.6-liter V8 engine mated to the world's first eight-speed automatic transmission. The engine, Lexus' first all-new V8 since the brand's launch, produces an impressive 380 horsepower and 367 pound-feet of torque. It features Variable Valve Timing with intelligence and the world's first Electronically controlled intake cam (VVT-iE).

The dual VVT-iE combination of electrically controlled intake and hydraulically controlled exhaust achieves superior engine-startup operation and high-output performance. The LS 460 will travel from zero to 60 miles per hour in approximately 5.4 seconds while achieving an estimated 19 mpg city and 27 mpg highway, 18 city/27 highway for the LS 460 L, by the EPA testing method. The LS sedans also achieve an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle II (ULEV II) rating.

In an effort to create a more intelligent vehicle, Lexus has combined advanced active and passive safety technology into a consolidated system. Among the new active features on the LS is the next-generation Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM) stability system, which integrates and manages a new Electronically Controlled Brake (ECB) system, Electronic Power Steering (EPS), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), and engine torque via the electronically controlled throttle. The driver can also choose to completely disable the VSC system via a console-mounted button. In addition to the active safety features, the new LS has eight standard airbags, including a twin-chamber front passenger airbag with both driver and passenger knee airbags, and a potential of ten airbags with option packages.

Both LS models include a number of standard luxury features including SmartAccess keyless entry with push-button start/stop, an electronic parking brake, a 10-speaker Lexus Premium Audio system, 18-inch nine-spoke aluminum alloy wheels, and seven new exterior colors. The paint is applied by a new proprietary paint process that includes double hand sanding.

Optional comfort and convenience attributes on the LS include a pre-collision system with dynamic radar cruise control, Lexus Link(R), and Intuitive Park Assist.

The long-wheelbase LS 460 L brings with it 4.8 inches of additional space and a long list of outstanding standard conveniences, including fifth-generation Lexus Navigation with factory-installed XM Satellite Radio with NavTraffic, climate-controlled front seats, heated rear seats, a new heated steering wheel, power rear sunshade, a new one-touch open/close power trunk, power door closers, headlamp washers, and laminated side glass, which is exclusive to the long wheelbase.

The new navigation system includes a hard disk drive (HDD) for faster calculations. The HDD can also store as many as 2,000 digital songs when partnered with the optional Mark Levinson(R) Reference Surround Sound system. The specially developed 19-speaker, 450-watt discrete 5.1 Mark Levinson(R) audio system creates a new benchmark for automotive sound with its theater-level entertainment experience.

The Executive Class Seating Package offered on the LS 460 L includes a rear-seat entertainment system featuring the world's first ceiling-mounted 3.0 VGA high-quality display with a nine-inch screen that operates with an electronic-motor open/close function. It also incorporates a right rear-seat recliner with multifunction massage and an ottoman leg rest, a four-zone independent front and rear air conditioning system with air purification and the world's first ceiling climate diffusers, rear-door power sunshades, and a fixed rear console with foldout table.

The all-new LS sedans offer the Advanced Parking Guidance System (APGS) as an option to assist with parallel and back-in parking. With this optional technology, once the driver has correctly positioned the car and identified the desired parking spot via the nav screen, APGS utilizes the back-up camera, parking sonar sensors and electric power steering system to automatically guide the car into the spot, while the driver controls speed via braking.

The all-new LS 460 and LS 460 L both come with a standard 48-month/50,000- mile basic limited warranty with roadside assistance for 48-months/unlimited miles and a special 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty unique to both Lexus and the luxury segment.

The 2007 Lexus LS 460 and LS 460 L, which go on sale on October 20, will represent a strong value in their segments with dynamic styling, advanced technologies, increased size, and improved performance and craftsmanship.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/6/2006)


Check Your Vehicle's Lights Before Daylight Savings Time Ends  
BETHESDA, Md., -- The end of Daylight Savings Time happens in most parts of the United States on Oct. 29, 2006 and creates unfamiliar driving conditions that can be hazardous without proper vehicle lighting. The Car Care Council recommends vehicle lights be checked before the clocks "fall back" to help ensure safe driving, especially during dusk and peak evening traffic hours.

A vehicle's lighting system includes headlights (high and low beam), parking lights, turn signals/emergency flashers, brake lights, tail and marker lights, backup lights, interior lights and instrumentation lighting. Some vehicles are also equipped with fog lights.

Headlights should also be periodically cleaned of mud and muck, and properly aimed according to procedures outlined in the owner's manual. Headlights can be knocked out of alignment by rough driving, and if not properly aimed, can be distracting to other drivers.

Vehicle inspections during National Car Care Month in the United States have shown lighting to be an often neglected maintenance item, with 8 percent of vehicles inspected needing work on at least one of their turn signals, and 6 percent having problems with at least one of their brake lights.

The Car Care Council is the source of information for the "Be Car Care Aware" consumer education campaign promoting the benefits of regular vehicle care, maintenance and repair to consumers.

Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (10/6/2006)


'Allo me old China'  
'Shanghai please, driver' is the cry from black-cab maker London Taxis International (LTi).

That's where the iconic London cab is heading, to be built by a joint venture between the sinister sounding Manganese Bronze Holdings and tongue-twisting Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, more easily referred to just as Geely from hereon.

It's a £53 million deal that will see the black cab touting for business on China's ever busier streets, where there are more than one million cabs already.

More taxis will be needed soon, as China experiences a huge shift of workers from the country to the city.

And you needn't worry that black cabs in the UK will come with a 'Made in China' label, because LTi will keep on building the cars at its Coventry base.

Source : http://www.topgear.com (10/6/2006)


Mahindra to invest Rs 1,500 cr for Uttaranchal plant  
NEW DELHI: Utility and farm equipments major Mahindra and Mahindra is setting up a second plant in Uttaranchal that will see the company invest up to Rs 1,500 crore for manufacturing four-wheelers.

The company's new plant would come up at Pantnagar and is likely to produce mini trucks, sources said. "Mahindra has been alloted around 200 acres of land and the new plant is likely to begin production by end 2007," they added.

Uttaranchal offers tax incentives to investing companies, including a ten-year excise duty waiver and complete income tax exemption for the first five years. Mahindra has already set up a three-wheeler plant at Haridwar in Uttaranchal in which it is investing Rs 70 crore.

Source : Economic Times (10/6/2006)


Fiesta Durasport launched in Bangalore  
BANGALORE: Ford India on Friday launched a special limited edition of Fiesta Durasport in Bangalore.

The launch follows the "unqualified success" of Ford Fiesta that was launched in November last year, Company's Vice-President-Marketing, Sales and Service Scott McCormack told reporters.

Fiesta Durasport, which is available in two petrol versions - 1.4 petrol EXi and 1.6 petrol ZXi, is a sporty and adventurous version of Fiesta and is priced at Rs 6.05 lakh (ex-showroom Bangalore), McCormack said.

Ford planned to sell 500 vehicles in the next couple of months, he said.

Asked about Ford Ikon, McCormack said it "continues to be very important to us. We are selling it in good numbers."

The company said it had posted a growth of 154 per cent for its domestic sales in September 2006 and registered sales of 4,260 units as compared to 1,679 units sold in the same period last year.

From January to September, the company registered an overall growth of 99 per cent with sales of 33,730 units compared to 16,922 units sold during the same period in 2005.

Source : Economic Times (10/6/2006)


Ashok Leyland bids for Turkish firm  
MUMBAI : India's second-biggest truck and bus maker, Ashok Leyland Ltd. , has bid for Turkish automobile casting company Doktas , a senior company

official told Reuters on Friday.

"Leyland has bid for and is in advanced discussions with Doktas," chief financial officer K. Sridharan said.

"We hope the deal will be completed at the end of the month." The Economic Times newspaper reported on Friday that Ashok Leyland had offered $170-185 million for the Turkish company, but Sridharan declined to confirm the value.

Ashok Leyland's shares were up 1.1 percent at Rs 48.90, having been as high as Rs 49.40 rupee, in a flat Mumbai market.

Doktas, which is owned by Turkish conglomerate KOC Holding, makes die-cast products used for wheels and other automobile parts.

Ashok Leyland, which has 27 percent of the Indian market for medium and heavy trucks, bought loss-making Czech truck-maker Avia in July to gain access to growing markets, a base for assembling its vehicles, and the potential to save on component costs.

Source : Economic Times (10/6/2006)


Honda money?  
You'd never guess there was a new Honda CR-V on the way. Not when the Japanese firm is knocking out the old model with a couple of grand shorn from the price.

Yep, Honda is clearing the decks of the current CR-V with a £2,000 price cut, which is a sure sign of the new model waiting in the wings.

When will we see the next CR-V? Funnily enough, just after Christmas when the current CR-V price slashing comes to an end.

If you really want to save money this Crimbo, may we suggest hanging fire on buying one of the outgoing CR-V models until the New Year when Honda dealers should be stuffing them into Xmas crackers to give away?

Source : http://www.topgear.com (10/6/2006)


Car seat catastrophe  
Millions of British motorists are still risking the lives of their children by failing to comply with new car seat regulations, it was revealed yesterday.

New rules were enforced on 18th September stating that all children below 135cm tall or under the age of 12 years MUST sit in a child seat or booster cushion.

But an astonishing 21 per cent of parents are refusing to obey and still haven't bought their children the appropriate seat. And four out of five rule-breakers say it could be "more than a couple of weeks" before they consider buying a car seat.

The shock poll of 3,027 parents of children under 12, conducted by family leisure chain Toys R Us, revealed that many parents do not accept the seriousness of the new regulations. The Government has insisted the new EU rules will save 2,000 children a year from death or injury.

Mike Coogan, spokesman for Toys R Us, said: "We experienced a frantic few days just before the car seat regulations came into force, with sales figures increasing by 340% in the week leading up to the 18th.

"We would urge any parent who hasn't yet bought a car seat, to make it their absolute priority."

A fifth of parents have said their children are worried they will be teased by their taller peers because they are in a car seat. Whilst 16 per cent say sitting in a "baby seat" will ruin their image.

But some parents have gone to great lengths to encourage their children to take the safer seat - a third have commented on the improved view from the new position.

Just over one in 10 parents have claimed the new seat is far more comfortable, and 14 per cent have encouraged their young ones to choose their own seat.

Source : http://www.newcarnet.co.uk (10/6/2006)


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