Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Wagoner Removed from GM; Edmunds.com Comments and Ours!

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Rick Wagoner is stepping down from his position as CEO of General Motors. “In the end, this is less of an indictment of Rick’s tenure as CEO and more about the political need for a scapegoat before unpopular loans could be offered,” commented Edmunds.com CEO Jeremy Anwyl. “GM i ... Continue reading

Polaris Schedules First Quarter 2009 Earnings Release and Conference Call

MINNEAPOLIS--Polaris Industries Inc. today announced it will release its first quarter 2009 financial results at approximately 5:00 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, April 16, 2009, and will hold a conference call at 9:00 am Central Time on the same day to discuss the company’s financial results for the first quarter ... Continue reading

Sonic Automotive, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Year-End 2008 Results

CHARLOTTE, N.C., March 31 -- Sonic Automotive, Inc. , a leader in automotive retailing, today announced a fourth quarter 2008 loss from continuing operations of $658.8 million, or $16.43 per diluted share, compared to income from continuing operations of $26.8 million, or $0.62 per diluted share, in the prior year peri ... Continue reading

Azure Dynamics Reports Fiscal 2008 Year End Results

OAK PARK, MI, March 31 -- Azure Dynamics Corporation (TSX: AZD & LSE: ADC) ("Azure" or the "Company") a leading developer of hybrid electric and electric powertrains for commercial vehicles, today announced its financial results for the three and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2008. The Company also provided a ... Continue reading

Speedemissions Reports Year End 2008 Financial Results

ATLANTA--Speedemissions, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: SPMI), today announced its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2008. The Company also announced that it has achieved a key financial milestone by removing the “going concern” opinion from its financial statements reported in its SEC Form 10-K fi ... Continue reading

Oshkosh Corporation Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2009 Non-Cash Impairment Charges

OSHKOSH, Wis.--Oshkosh Corporation , a leading manufacturer of specialty vehicles and vehicle bodies, today announced that it anticipates recording non-cash impairment charges of $1.2 - $1.5 billion for the write-down of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets in the second quarter of fiscal 2009. The Com ... Continue reading

Yokohama Tire Corporation Off to a Strong Start as Sponsor of 2009 Redline Time Attack Series

FULLERTON, CA March 31, 2009: Three first-places finishes highlighted a successful start for Yokohama Tire Corporation’s sponsorship of the 2009 Redline Time Attack series during the March 28-29 season-opener at Buttonwillow Raceway in central California. The series, which features purpose-built 600-horsepower rac ... Continue reading

Harker Cleans-Up The Competition In Texas

Baytown, TX., March 31, 2009: It has been two short weeks since Steve Harker started his 2009 NHRA Drag Racing season. A twenty year veteran of the Top Alcohol Funny Car class, Harker drove his I40, Inc Chevy Monte Carlo to his second final round appearance and his first win for the year! Wet weather plagued the start ... Continue reading

Acura Sports Car Challenge Of St. Petersburg Monday Notebook

Braselton, March 31, 2009: The Acura Sports Car Challenge will see a pair of Panoz Esperante GTLM's for Panoz Team PTG. On the heels of a solid third-place GT2 podium finish to open the 2009 American Le Mans Series season, Panoz Team PTG has entered a second Panoz Esperante GTLM for the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St ... Continue reading

Dega Bound? Talladega Superspeedway Fan Guide Available Online

TALLADEGA, Ala. March 31, 2009: Talladega Superspeedway has posted an electronic version of its 2009 Fan Guide on the track website for race fans attending the April 24-26 Aaron’s Dream Weekend. The Fan Guide is located at http://www.talladegasuperspeedway.com/fan_info/guest_guide/. “The 2009 Aaron’s Dre ... Continue reading

Troy Coughlin finishes fourth at NMCA season opener

BRADENTON, Fla., March 30, 2009: Veteran drag racer Troy Coughlin racked up a respectable fourth-place finish Sunday at the season-opening seventh annual Ross Racing Pistons NMCA Muscle Car Nationals at Bradenton Motorsports Park. Competing in the Scorpion Performance Pro Street class of the NMCA Edelbrock Drag Racing ... Continue reading

Gaming Chips, Wedding Trips, Looking For A Fifth On Coughlin's Mind

LAS VEGAS, March 30, 2009: Back-to-back and reigning Pro Stock world champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has a lot on his mind as the Full Throttle Drag Racing Series heads to Las Vegas for this weekend's big race at The Strip at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Before the race begins, Coughlin will take part in special autograph sessi ... Continue reading

A1GP Mexico City Confirmed As Season Finale

London, Great Britain March 31, 2009: A1GP World Cup of Motorsport has been given FIA approval to hold A1GP Mexico City, Mexico on the weekend of the 22-24 May 2009, thus making this the eighth and final round of Season Four. This popular event, which has been included on the A1GP calendar since Season Two, has never b ... Continue reading

Jeff Gordon's Crew Grabs Tissot Pit Road Win in Martinsville

<b>No. 24 team is the sixth different winner after six Cup races</b> Martinsville, March 31, 2009: The pit crew for Sprint Cup points leader Jeff Gordon won the Tissot Pit Road Precision Award in Sunday's NASCAR race at Martinsville (Va.) Speedway. The No. 24 crew took top honors in the Tissot weekly competition as a r ... Continue reading

INTERSPORT READY FOR ANOTHER GO AT ST. PETERSBURG

Present at the first race in the history of the American Le Mans Series, Intersport Racing will be on the grid for the Series’ 101st all-time event. The popular Ohio-based team will be has entered its AER-powered Lola B06/10 in LMP1 for this weekend’s Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg. Clint and Jo ... Continue reading

Fuel Saving eco:drive Takes Top Digital Award

It's saving motorists' money, helping to lower CO2 emissions and improving fuel efficiency, and now Fiat's innovative eco:Drive technology has won a top award. ... Continue reading

IndyCar Series Launches Re-designed Web Site To Kick Off 2009 Season

INDIANAPOLIS, March 31, 2009: On April 5, the IndyCar Series will be back on the racetrack, racing on the scenic streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. at the season-opening Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg. The official Web site of the IndyCar Series and Firestone Indy Lights, www.indycar.com, is kicking off the season wit ... Continue reading

Army Rugby on the Move with Mazda

Mazda UK is supporting the British Army Rugby Union (ARU) with three Mazda5 2.0-litre petrol TS2 automatic models, which Aldershot-based ARU Secretary John Dickens took delivery of this month. The Mazda5 vehicles will provide logistical support for the ARU to travel to rugby matches around the country. The sponsorship ... Continue reading

Chrysler LLC Conference Call to Announce March 2009 U.S. Sales

What: Telephone conference call to discuss Chrysler LLC's March 2009 U.S. sales When: Wednesday, April 1, 2009 - 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. EDT Details: Domestic telephone number: 1 800-857-0714; International telephone number: + 1-210-839-8803 Call Leader: Carrie McElwee Passcode: Sales Other: Following the conference call, ... Continue reading

GM CEO Exit Won't Affect Its China Operation

GM CEO exit won't affect its China operation http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009809/GM-CEO-exit-won-t-affect-its-Ch ina-o peration.html Shanghai, March 31 (Gasgoo.com) General Motors CEO Rick Wagoner was reported to step down immediately at the request of the White House, a sign of major changesin the auto giant but G ... Continue reading

BYD Auto 08' Sales Revenue Up 77% to $1.27 Bln

BYD Auto 08' sales revenue up 77% to $1.27 bln http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009819/BYD-Auto-08-sales-revenue-up-77 -to-1 -27-bln.html Shanghai, March 31 (Gasgoo.com) BYD Co, China's battery producer and auto maker, said in a statement that its net profit fell 37% year on year in 2008 but sales revenue of its vehicl ... Continue reading

Geely Auto Eyes Overseas Mergers Out Of Need

Geely Auto eyes overseas mergers out of need http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009810/Geely-Auto-eyes-overseas-merger s-out -of-need.html Shanghai, March 31 (Gasgoo.com) Geely Auto, one of China's biggest private carmakers, will choose partners for mergers and acquisitions out of its own need, the company's vice preside ... Continue reading

Antonov Secures EUR 15m Backing From Jianghan Industrial For Its TX-6 Automatic Transmission

Antonov, the UK-based vehicle transmission specialist, has strengthened its relationships with the Chongqing and Sichuan governments to create a firmer and broader platform for the possible formation of a joint venture in China to produce its proprietary TX-6 automatic transmission, which has the major innovation of el ... Continue reading

Porsche Posts Substantially Increased Profits

STUTTGART, Germany--After the first six months of the current 2008/09 business year (August 1, 2009 to January 31, 2009), Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart, has posted profits before taxes of EUR 7.34 billion; this compares with EUR 1.66 billion in the same period of the previous year. The principal reason for th ... Continue reading

Subaru to Introduce All-New 2010 Legacy at New York International Auto Show

- Roomiest Legacy Ever with New Level of Comfort, Quiet and Refinement - Bold New Design Stands Apart from Mainstream Midsize Sedans - New 6-speed Manual and CVT Transmissions for Legacy 2.5i Models - 2.5GT Models Gain 265-hp Turbo Engine and 6-Speed Transmission - New Legacy 3.6R Models Featuring More Powerful 6-Cylin ... Continue reading

CAP Launches New Version of Instant Used Vehicle Pricing Tool Valuation Anywhere

CAP has launched an uprated version of its instant car and van pricing tool Valuation Anywhere. Valuation Anywhere 1.5 offers users instant mileage-adjusted vehicle values and a wealth of other key data via an SMS text message and user-friendly web application. ... Continue reading

Reshaping Mitsubishi Motors in the UK

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK has announced several major changes in its UK sales, marketing and service operations, with effect from Wednesday 1st April 2009.1 ... Continue reading

Chevrolet Caprice: Standing Out With Power And Luxury

The Caprice has long been the cornerstone of the Chevrolet brand in the Middle East. Considering its specifications, performance, driving dynamics and value for money, it is indisputable that the 2009 Chevrolet Caprice is indeed one of the world's best large luxury sedans. Chevrolet's biggest sedan now benefits from a ... Continue reading

Vauxhall Is Scouting out Britain's Modelling Talent

Girls dreaming of getting a chance to strut their stuff on the catwalk, look out for the Vauxhall Style events taking place across the UK in April and May, where Vauxhall, sponsors of Britain's Next Top Model on LIVING will be searching for the Face of Tigra 2009. ... Continue reading

Ford Jumps on Hyundai Bandwagon to Cover Payments in Job Loss

Ford leads the industry in boosting consumer confidence with the new Ford Advantage Plan Ford will cover payments for up to 12 months on any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle if customers lose their jobs 0 percent financing is also offered through Ford Motor Credit on select Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles Ford a ... Continue reading

Lotus Receives the 2008 Dewar Trophy for Technical Excellence

The Royal Automobile Club has named Group Lotus plc as the recipients of the historic Dewar Trophy for 2008. The Dewar Trophy is awarded for an outstanding British technical achievement in the automotive field and the Dewar Trophy Technical Sub-Committee unanimously agreed that Lotus should be recognised for the compan ... Continue reading

Porsche Posts Substantially Increased Profits

After the first six months of the current 2008/09 business year (August 1, 2009 to January 31, 2009), Porsche Automobil Holding SE, Stuttgart, has posted profits before taxes of EUR 7.34 billion; this compares with EUR 1.66 billion in the same period of the previous year. ... Continue reading

Rolls-Royce Welcomes New Director of Global Communications

Richard Carter has joined Rolls-Royce Motor Cars as Director of Global Communications. He will be based at the company's head office and manufacturing plant at Goodwood and will have responsibility for the brand's global communications strategy. ... Continue reading

Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel Visits Opel in Rüsselsheim

Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel today visited the Opel Insignia production site in Rüsselsheim, stopping by to briefly chat with employees along the assembly line. She was accompanied during her 90 minute visit by Hessen&#8217;s State Premier Roland Koch, German Defense Minister Franz Josef Jung as well as Hessen&#82 ... Continue reading

GM Daewoo Introduces New Veritas Large Sedan

GM Daewoo Auto & Technology (GM Daewoo) announced today that it will start sales of the new Veritas large sedan, which features a popular new engine and transmission, on April 1. ... Continue reading

New Ferrari Web Site Provides A Unique Experience

Now anyone can choose their favourite Ferrari, design their own specification and then drive it around the Italian Mugello race track and see how their skills and their chosen Ferrari rate against Michael Schumacher, all thanks to the new Ferrari web site. ... Continue reading

The Rt. Hon. John Denham MP Hails Black Cab Apprentices

Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, the Rt. Hon. John Denham MP, has visited LTI Vehicles to meet apprentices and some of the staff who have benefited from Government funded training via Train to Gain. ... Continue reading

Skoda Auto and Volkswagen Open a Joint Manufacturing Plant in Pune, India

Skoda Auto is extending the scope of its Indian-based production. Together with Volkswagen, the company has today officially opened a new joint manufacturing plant in Pune, India. Starting one year earlier than planned, the local production of the Skoda Fabia will now start in May 2009. ... Continue reading

Mitsubishi Signs MoU with the Principality of Monaco Regarding Testing of i MiEV Electric Vehicle

Following a successful testing exercise conducted in December 2008, the Principality of Monaco, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Europe B.V. and MC Automobile (Europe) N.V. - a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation - yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding fleet testing of Mitsubis ... Continue reading

Honda, ATR and Shimadzu Jointly Develop Brain-Machine Interface Technology Enabling Control of a Robot by Human Thought Alone

TOKYO March 30, 2009; Honda Research Institute Japan Co., Ltd. (HRI-JP), a subsidiary of Honda R&D Co., Ltd., Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International (ATR) and Shimadzu Corporation have collaboratively developed the world’s first Brain Machine Interface (BMI) technology that uses electroenceph ... Continue reading

Edmunds.com Supports Scrappage Proposal

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--In his address, President Obama rightfully criticized Chrysler and General Motors for missed opportunities, and now the American people can only hope that the administration does its part to avoid similar missteps. “It was encouraging to hear that a scrappage program is being considered, sinc ... Continue reading

2009 Honda Civic Takes Top Spot in kbb.com Compact Sedan Comparison Test

Editors Test, Compare Seven New Vehicles in Popular Compact Sedan Segment, Declare Civic Winner IRVINE, Calif., March 30 -- Kelley Blue Book www.kbb.com, the leading provider of new car and used car information, today announces the results of the kbb.com expert editorial staff's highly comprehensive compact sedan compa ... Continue reading

SEMA Press Statement Re: Cash for Clunkers

WASHINGTON--SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA), applauds efforts to help consumers, automakers and dealerships with a program to stimulate new car sales. We support the concept of government–issued vouchers toward the purchase of fuel-efficient new vehicles and allowing consumers to deduct the ... Continue reading

Canada supports US Deadline to Force Overhaul of Ailing Carmakers Plans and Interim Loans

TORONTO March 30, 2009; Rob Gillies writing for the AP reported that Canadian officials said Monday they agree with President Barack Obama that neither General Motors nor Chrysler has proposed changes comprehensive enough to justify further long-term bailouts. But Canada will go ahead with up to 4 billion Canadian doll ... Continue reading