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January 2009

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Monday, January 26, 2009

Atlanta Motor Speedway News and Notes - January 26, 2009

Atlanta Motor Speedway News and Notes - January 26, 2009

The Search for Missing Programs, Labor Day Start Times and Buy One, Get One Calling All Collectors As Atlanta Motor Speedway is celebrating its 100th race at the Kobalt Tools 500, the track is turning to its fans for help in an effort to fill in three gaps in the track’s program archives. Atlanta Motor Speedway wi ... Continue reading

Tongxin International Ltd. to Host Business Update Call

Tongxin International Ltd. to Host Business Update Call

NEW YORK and CHANGSHA, China, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- Tongxin International Ltd. , a China-based manufacturer of engineered commercial vehicle body structures ("EVBS") and stamped body parts, announced today a conference call to introduce the Company's CFO, Jackie Chang, to investors and provide a busine ... Continue reading

GE Money and Suzuki Offer Financing for Powersports Enthusiasts

GE Money and Suzuki Offer Financing for Powersports Enthusiasts

KETTERING, Ohio--GE Money, a division of GE Capital, and American Suzuki Motor Corporation today announced a multi-year agreement to provide consumer financing for its motorcycles, all terrain vehicles and scooters. The Suzuki Installment Finance program, managed by GE Money’s Sales Finance unit, offers consumers ... Continue reading

Motorcycle Industry Council Urges New Hampshire To Postpone Motorcycle Sound Level Legislation

Motorcycle Industry Council Urges New Hampshire To Postpone Motorcycle Sound Level Legislation

IRVINE, Calif.--The Motorcycle Industry Council has urged the New Hampshire House Transportation Committee to postpone pending loud pipe legislation until early spring when a new stationary sound test is available. The MIC and the Society of Automotive Engineers are finalizing this test, SAE J2825, which will provide a ... Continue reading

2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona Becomes Closest in History of International 24-Hour Motorsports Races

2009 Rolex 24 At Daytona Becomes Closest in History of International 24-Hour Motorsports Races

<b><i>Less than two tenths of a second separated winners and runners-up</b></i> DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. January 26, 2009: This past weekend's running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona was the closest finish in the 47-year history of the event. It was also believed to be the closest contested finish in the history of major interna ... Continue reading

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES - JANUARY 26, 2009

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES - JANUARY 26, 2009

1. Wheldon offers tips to Super Bowl visitors: Dan Wheldon grew up in Emberton, England, where being a football fan meant cheering for men kicking a checkered, round ball. Now that he’s been racing in the United States for a decade, the 2005 IndyCar Series and Indianapolis 500 champion has an appreciation for the ... Continue reading

Manheim Reaches 3 Million Online Transactions

Manheim Reaches 3 Million Online Transactions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michele Barnett January 26, 2009 Communications Manager Manheim Online Solutions (678) 645-2780 MANHEIM REACHES 3 MILLION ONLINE TRANSACTIONS Access to Online Inventory Saves Customers Time, Money ATLANTA - Manheim has handled 3 million online wholesale vehicle transactions since the comp ... Continue reading

Statement From Dave McCurdy, CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, on President Obama's Statement on California's Proposed Emissions Standards

Statement From Dave McCurdy, CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, on President Obama's Statement on California's Proposed Emissions Standards

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On behalf of the 11 members of the Alliance, Dave McCurdy, president and CEO, issued this statement today in response to President Obama's announcement that his Administration will review California's request for a federal waiver to set state fuel economy/CO2 standards and ... Continue reading

Michael Andretti Tabbed as Strategist for Danica Patrick in 2009

Michael Andretti Tabbed as Strategist for Danica Patrick in 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. January 26, 2009: Andretti Green announced today that team co-owner Michael Andretti will take over the role of strategist for driver Danica Patrick on the team's #7 entry for the 2009 IndyCar Series season. Andretti, who co-owns Andretti Green with partners Kim Green and Kevin Savoree, won 42 times ... Continue reading

Crain's AutoWeek Sanctioned for Discovery Abuses in Litigation Against Independent Magazines Sales Agents

Crain's AutoWeek Sanctioned for Discovery Abuses in Litigation Against Independent Magazines Sales Agents

MEDFORD, Ore.--The United States District Court in Oregon sanctioned Crain Communications, Inc. for discovery abuses in an action against independent magazine sales agents pending in Michigan. Crain’s AutoWeek magazine brought an action for fraud and trademark infringement against certain independent magazine sale ... Continue reading

Dealers Urge Obama to Examine State Auto Emissions Rules For Unintended Consequences

Dealers Urge Obama to Examine State Auto Emissions Rules For Unintended Consequences

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President Obama today pushed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review state efforts to regulate vehicle emissions, the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) urged the administration to closely examine how those rules would actually be implemented. NADA' ... Continue reading

Sellers 'Storms' His Way to First with Six Laps to Go at Toyota All-Star Showdown

Sellers 'Storms' His Way to First with Six Laps to Go at Toyota All-Star Showdown

Jig-A-Loo Says Peyton Won - Sponsor to Honor Promotional Campaign LOS ANGELES, Jan. 26 -- Despite the heavy rain and multiple weather delays at Irwindale Speedway, Peyton Sellers and his #83 Jig-A-Loo Chevrolet proved again why they are one of the most inspiring race teams in NASCAR. Showing that perseverance and heart ... Continue reading

New SpeedInfo Sensors Installed on Highway 101 Extends Real-Time Traveler Information

New SpeedInfo Sensors Installed on Highway 101 Extends Real-Time Traveler Information

SAN JOSE, Calif.--The Santa Barbara County Association of Governments (SBCAG), working in partnership with the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) and Caltrans have installed an additional 30 SpeedInfo solar-powered Doppler radar sensors along 25 miles of busy Highway 101 from Goleta to the Ventura County l ... Continue reading

Polaris RUSH Will Revolutionize Snowmobile Industry

Polaris RUSH Will Revolutionize Snowmobile Industry

'Feel the RUSH' and Ride Longer, Harder, and Ride Again Tomorrow on the All-New Terrain-Dominating PRO-RIDE RUSH MINNEAPOLIS, Jan. 26 -- Polaris Industries Inc. today launched its Model Year 2010 600 RUSH snowmobile, the first snowmobile with a truly progressive-rate rear suspension. The 600 RUSH's bottomless suspensio ... Continue reading

Statement on Presidential Memorandum to EPA to Review Lifting of Ban on California Clean Car Standard

Statement on Presidential Memorandum to EPA to Review Lifting of Ban on California Clean Car Standard

WASHINGTON, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- All people have the right to clean air. Action announced by the White House today means that Americans may soon be able to breathe easier, said Dr. Jane L. Delgado, President and CEO of the National Alliance for Hispanic Health, the nation's leading Hispanic health advocac ... Continue reading

Change in Executive Board of Continental AG

Change in Executive Board of Continental AG

At today's meeting of the Supervisory Board of Continental AG, the Supervisory Board complied with the request of Dr. Alan Hippe, Vice Chairman of the Executive Board, CFO, and head of the Rubber Group of Continental AG, to release him from his duties as member of the Executive Board of Continental AG prematurely as of ... Continue reading

The New BMW 730Ld - Key New 7 Series Derivative For The Uk Goes On Sale

The New BMW 730Ld - Key New 7 Series Derivative For The Uk Goes On Sale

One of the most important derivatives of the BMW 7 Series has gone on sale. The long-wheelbase BMW 730Ld is the latest addition to the marque's flagship model range and is a welcome introduction for chauffeurs and business users. Priced at £56,790 OTR, the BMW 730Ld offers an additional 14cms of legroom for rear seat ... Continue reading

Oshkosh Defense Signs Agreement with U.S. Army to Further Develop Unmanned Ground Vehicle Technology

Oshkosh Defense Signs Agreement with U.S. Army to Further Develop Unmanned Ground Vehicle Technology

OSHKOSH, Wis.--Oshkosh Defense, a division of Oshkosh Corporation , today signed a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the U.S. Army’s Tank and Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC) to refine technology for the operation of unmanned ground vehicles in convoy missi ... Continue reading

GM India Launches Chevrolet Captiva Automatic+

GM India Launches Chevrolet Captiva Automatic+

General Motors India launched its state-of-the-art Chevrolet Captiva Automatic+ premium sport utility vehicle today at a function presided over by its President and Managing Director, Mr. Karl Slym. ... Continue reading

Continental Ensures Stable Financing Structure

Continental Ensures Stable Financing Structure

Continental AG has further secured its financing structure with the support of its banks. The automotive supplier has adapted the contractual terms with more than 50 banks to the changed economic situation. The proactively developed new concept for mastering 2009 and 2010 was convincing: Nearly 100% of the banks involv ... Continue reading

SSP Awards Banquet Recap from Saturday Night

SSP Awards Banquet Recap from Saturday Night

Contact: Lillian Bell (717) 292-1696 -FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE SSP's Night of Honor and Awards Banquet on Saturday Night Filled with Lots of Enthusiasm in York, PA Newberrytown, PA (January 25, 2009) - The Night of Honor and Awards Banquet for the Susquehanna Speedway Park's 2008 season last Saturday night, January 24 was ... Continue reading

Krohn Racing - Rolex 24 At Daytona - Sunday Final Race Report

Krohn Racing - Rolex 24 At Daytona - Sunday Final Race Report

Daytona January 25, 2009: Bad news befell the Krohn Racing team for the second time during the 2009 running of the Rolex 24 At Daytona race when the No. 75 Krohn Racing Ford Lola retired just after the 13-hour mark from the twice-around-the-clock enduro. Failure of an engine component was identified as the issue as Rou ... Continue reading

Daimler AG Receives Award For Its Sustainable Commitment To Innovation

Daimler AG Receives Award For Its Sustainable Commitment To Innovation

Daimler AG received last Saturday a special award for its commitment to innovation, during the presentation of the "29th German Industry Innovation Award". This "Decade Award" is only presented every ten years, in recognition of sustainable and successful commitment to concerted innovation strategies. ... Continue reading

Frisselle, Lamy, Dallara, New Ford Power All Pass First Test With Flying Colors

Frisselle, Lamy, Dallara, New Ford Power All Pass First Test With Flying Colors

<b><i>As Taylor, Angelelli, SunTrust Score Third Straight Top-Five at Daytona Opener</b></i> Daytona, January 25, 2009: Throughout nearly the entire running of the 47th Rolex 24 At Daytona, Simon Hodgson, general manager for the No. 10 SunTrust Ford Dallara team of Wayne Taylor Racing, repeatedly told each of his four ... Continue reading

Major Setbacks Don't Stop GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing From Scoring A Hard-Earned Seventh-Place Rolex 24 Finish

Major Setbacks Don't Stop GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing From Scoring A Hard-Earned Seventh-Place Rolex 24 Finish

<B><i>Team Recovers from Major Repairs in Race's First Half to Earn Solid Championship Points</b></i> DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. January 25, 2009: GAINSCO/Bob Stallings Racing recovered from two major repair jobs before the Rolex 24 At Daytona even reached its midway mark and spent the final 12 hours clawing back into the top ... Continue reading

DIXON SET FOR SEBRING DEBUT WITH DE FERRAN

DIXON SET FOR SEBRING DEBUT WITH DE FERRAN

Sebring January 26, 2009: Scott Dixon will drive at Sebring with Gil de Ferran (center) and Simon Pagenaud. Current Indianapolis 500 and IndyCar Series champion Scott Dixon will rejoin de Ferran Motorsports for the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the debut for the drivers and crew ... Continue reading

New Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Model is Dressed for a Dark Ride

New Harley-Davidson Iron 883 Model is Dressed for a Dark Ride

New Sportster(R) Motorcycle Takes the Stage with Aggressive Attitude MILWAUKEE, Jan. 26 -- With a defiant attitude embracing the pure essence of riding, the new Iron 883 model is the latest Harley-Davidson(R) Dark Custom(TM) motorcycle. Harley-Davidson Sportster motorcycles like the Iron 883 have stood against the grai ... Continue reading

MDOT, MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY ANNOUNCE R&D TESTING PARTNERSHIP

MDOT, MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY ANNOUNCE R&D TESTING PARTNERSHIP

DETROIT January 26, 2009: The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and Michigan International Speedway (MIS) announced today a unique partnership for research, development and safety innovation that could serve as a catalyst for job creation and growth opportunities for the state. MDOT and MIS have entered into ... Continue reading

Robby Gordon Dominates the 15th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Robby Gordon Dominates the 15th Annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge

Laughlin, January 26, 2009: Friday’s Impressive Qualifying Run – On Friday afternoon, Robby Gordon put his No. 77 Monster Energy Toyo Tires Trophy Truck on the pole for Saturday’s 15th annual SCORE Laughlin Desert Challenge, the first of five races in the SCORE International Series. Gordon posted a time ... Continue reading

vAuto and Carfax Expand Partnership

vAuto and Carfax Expand Partnership

NEW ORLEANS--Auto industry information technology leaders vAuto and Carfax have announced plans to expand their existing partnership. Company officials said the new effort will greatly enhance a used-car dealer’s ability to access vehicle-history information. Carfax subscribing dealers who use vAuto will now have ... Continue reading

Land Rover North America Reaches 500,000 Sales Milestone

Land Rover North America Reaches 500,000 Sales Milestone

NEW ORLEANS, Jan. 26 -- Land Rover North America announced this weekend during its annual Retailer Breakfast Meeting at the National Automobile Dealers Association (NADA) convention in New Orleans, that the company reached a historic milestone recently when a Range Rover Sport Supercharged became the company's 500,000t ... Continue reading

Oshkosh Corporation to Webcast February 3, 2009 Shareholders Meeting

Oshkosh Corporation to Webcast February 3, 2009 Shareholders Meeting

OSHKOSH, Wis.--Oshkosh Corporation will hold its 2009 annual shareholders' meeting at 10:00 a.m. CST on Tuesday, February 3, 2009, at the Hilton Garden Inn in Oshkosh, Wis. The meeting, highlighted by remarks from Robert G. Bohn, Oshkosh Corporation chairman and chief executive officer, will be simultaneously available ... Continue reading

CAAS Subsidiary Won ERP Award and Grant in Wuhu City

CAAS Subsidiary Won ERP Award and Grant in Wuhu City

WUHAN, Hubei, China, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- China Automotive Systems, Inc. , a leading power steering components and systems supplier in China, today announced that the ERP system of its subsidiary and joint venture with Chery Auto, Wuhu Henglong Steering Systems Ltd. ("Wuhu Henglong"), has been recogni ... Continue reading

AM Oil Resources & Technology Acquires Build Biodiesel Technology to Create Energy Diversity

AM Oil Resources & Technology Acquires Build Biodiesel Technology to Create Energy Diversity

VALENCIA, Calif.--AM Oil Resources & Technology Inc. (OTCBB:AMOR), announced today that it has just completed design drawings to build a mobile bio-diesel device. The Company’s design is a mobile biodiesel production plant, capable of producing 2,000 to 3,000 gallons of biodiesel per week. The designed plant fits ... Continue reading

Haldex secures AWD order from Land Rover

Haldex secures AWD order from Land Rover

STOCKHOLM, Sweden--Regulatory News: Haldex has received an order from Land Rover, which is owned by Tata, an industrial group based in India. The order applies to Haldex’s all-wheel drive (AWD) system for one of Land Rover’s new car models. Land Rover is Europe’s foremost manufacturer of jeeps that satis ... Continue reading

Ituran Location and Control Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Results Release and Conference Call Scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2009

Ituran Location and Control Ltd. Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Results Release and Conference Call Scheduled for Monday, February 23, 2009

Conference Call Scheduled at 10.00am ET AZOUR, Israel, January 26 -- Ituran Location and Control Ltd. , announced that it will be releasing its fourth quarter and full year 2008 results on Monday, February 23, 2009, before the US market opens. The Company will also be hosting a conference call later that day at 10:00am ... Continue reading

Eaton Reports Fourth Quarter Net Income Of $.98 Per Share

Eaton Reports Fourth Quarter Net Income Of $.98 Per Share

CLEVELAND--Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation today announced net income per share of $.98 for the fourth quarter of 2008, a decrease of 43 percent from net income per share of $1.71 in the fourth quarter of 2007. Sales in the quarter were $3.5 billion, 3 percent above the same period in 2007. Net in ... Continue reading

Coulomb Technologies Secures $3.75 Million in Series A Funding Led by Estag Capital AG

Coulomb Technologies Secures $3.75 Million in Series A Funding Led by Estag Capital AG

CAMPBELL, Calif.--Coulomb Technologies today announced it has secured $3.75 million in Series A funding lead by Estag Capital AG [Berlin, Germany]. Coulomb has developed the ChargePoint™ Network, the most advanced networked vehicle charging infrastructure for plug-in vehicles. The funding will enable Coulomb to co ... Continue reading

The New Mini Convertible

The New Mini Convertible

New edition of the highly successful open four-seater accounting for worldwide sales of some 164,000 units, continuation of the third body version within the MINI model family. The new MINI Convertible symbolises the thrill of motoring in the open air and bears out the unmistakable style of the MINI brand. Moving up to ... Continue reading

Audi Night Kicks Off Hahnenkamm Weekend

Audi Night Kicks Off Hahnenkamm Weekend

Anticipation, thrills and excitement - when the highly trained athletes at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup in Kitzbühel rocket down one of the world's most spectacular slopes, the spectators hold their breath. But what makes the Hahnenkamm race the absolute highlight of the winter sport season is its one-of-a-kind combinat ... Continue reading

Audi Schedules Six Days Of Reduced Work Hours In Ingolstadt And Neckarsulm

Audi Schedules Six Days Of Reduced Work Hours In Ingolstadt And Neckarsulm

Audi has decided to institute a phase of reduced work hours for six days between February 20 and 27 at its Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm plants. The arrangement affects some 25,000 employees. Divisions that are not directly associated with the production of automobiles are exempted from the reduced work hours. ... Continue reading

Fit for the Whole Family: Citroën Introduces the Seven-Seat Berlingo Multispace

Fit for the Whole Family: Citroën Introduces the Seven-Seat Berlingo Multispace

The UK's most popular value MPV has just got even more practical and versatile with the addition of a new seven-seat option to the family-friendly Citroën Berlingo Multispace range. ... Continue reading

Mitsubishi Motors to show i MiEV SPORT AIR concept at 2009 Geneva Show

Mitsubishi Motors to show i MiEV SPORT AIR concept at 2009 Geneva Show

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation is to give the i MiEV SPORT AIR concept model its global debut at the 79th Geneva International Motor Show. The i MiEV SPORT AIR explores the future possibilities for zero-emission vehicles, placing a greater bias on exhilarating driving pleasure. ... Continue reading

Could a Green SUV Revive U.S. Auto Plants & Save UAW Jobs?

Could a Green SUV Revive U.S. Auto Plants & Save UAW Jobs?

AFS Trinity announces prototype SUV fitted with new high mileage, high performance technology at heart of $2.5 billion 'green retooling' DOE proposal SEATTLE, Jan. 26 -- AFS Trinity Power Corporation today announced that the company's XH-150 SUV prototypes introduced a year ago at the North American International Auto ... Continue reading

Latest Accessories Range for Jimny

Latest Accessories Range for Jimny

It is nearly 40 years since Suzuki began manufacturing light compact SUVs, which saw the launch of the first generation LJ10 in 1970 and developed almost 30 years later into the current Jimny. This model is ever popular in this sector of the market, and Suzuki GB is pleased to announce a range of stylish accessories fo ... Continue reading

NADA: Chrysler Asks Dealers to Buy More

NADA: Chrysler Asks Dealers to Buy More

NEW ORLEANS January 25, 2009; Tom Krisher writing for the AP repoted that with Chrysler's U.S. sales down 30 percent last year, an economy mired in recession and the automaker living on government loans, the last thing you'd expect a dealer to do is order more cars and trucks. But that's exactly what Michael Andretta, ... Continue reading

Hyundai's Global Sales Rise 6.8 percent in 2008

Hyundai's Global Sales Rise 6.8 percent in 2008

Hyundai Motor Company, South Korea's largest automaker, saw sales rise 6.8 percent year-over-year to 2,796,370 units (domestic factories: 1,668,745 units, overseas plants 1,127,625 units) spurred by new products and efforts to diversify sales outside of North America and the European Union. ... Continue reading

Fiat Finishes 2008 With Its Best Ever Trading Profit

Fiat Finishes 2008 With Its Best Ever Trading Profit

Despite a difficult fourth quarter, the Fiat Group has completed 2008 with its best ever trading profit, up 4.0 per cent over 2007 to EUR 3.4 billion in 2008, on a total revenue of EUR 59.4 billion, up 1.5 per cent over the previous year. ... Continue reading

Contract Hire and User-Chooser Fleet Business Reaches Record Levels to Drive Buoyant Mazda Forward In 2009

Contract Hire and User-Chooser Fleet Business Reaches Record Levels to Drive Buoyant Mazda Forward In 2009

Demand from UK contract hire and leasing companies and user-chooser fleets for Mazda company cars rocketed by two-thirds in 2008 putting the marque and its recently appointed Fleet and Remarketing Director Peter Allibon in buoyant mood for the year ahead. ... Continue reading

The Cargraphic Airforce For Porsche 911 And Audi R8

The Cargraphic Airforce For Porsche 911 And Audi R8

Cargraphic, one of Europe's leading Porsche Tuners proudly announce the launch of their "Airlift Suspension System". This Cargraphic patented automatic level control system elevates many of the day to day problems that can be encountered in driving a high performance lowered sports car such as the Porsche 996/997 and i ... Continue reading

Good Value and Chic - the Aero Complete Package from ABT

Good Value and Chic - the Aero Complete Package from ABT

When the designers of ABT Sportsline work on a vehicle, it is with the aim of giving the car its own character - and this must be recognisable from every angle. "In our design specifications it therefore states that all components, from the wheels to the exhaust unit, have to be perfectly harmonised with each other", e ... Continue reading

GM's Vauxhall Offers The Most Low Emissions Models in Europe

GM's Vauxhall Offers The Most Low Emissions Models in Europe

The current financial situation means that fleet managers are scrutinising costs even more closely than usual, with concerns including high fuel prices and increasing environmental pressures. With this in mind, Vauxhall is offering fleet customers more choice than any other manufacturer to reduce their environmental im ... Continue reading

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