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February 2011

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Monday, February 28, 2011

2011 Geneva Motor Show: Show Preview - VIDEO ENHANCED

2011 Geneva Motor Show: Show Preview - VIDEO ENHANCED

By Henny Hemmes Senior European Editor AMSTERDAM, February 27. The upcoming Salon International de l’Automobile in Geneva is just a couple of days away. On Tuesday March 1, the media will have a first look at a slew of new cars that will debut in Switzerland. Today we start with the first part of our overview from A t ... Continue reading

INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing

INKAS Armored Vehicle Manufacturing

PR Newswire TORONTO, Feb. 28 TORONTO, Feb. 28 -- INKAS(R) is pleased to announce the release of its new 2011 INKAS LAPV II (APC) model. This innovative vehicle is equipped with advanced blast and ballistic protection, handling and maneuverability, increased tires size, significantly improved ground clearance and option ... Continue reading

G.E.T. G-OIL Motor Oil at Walmart

G.E.T. G-OIL Motor Oil at Walmart

PR Newswire WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 -- Green Earth Technologies, Inc. (Pink Sheets: GETG), a leading manufacturer and marketer of "green" environmentally safer consumer packaged goods and products, announced today the distribution of their G-OIL 5W-30 Bio-based Full Synthetic ... Continue reading

Oklahoma's Ada High School Rallies Community Behind Texting and Driving Problem, Placing First Among Hundreds in National Competition

Oklahoma's Ada High School Rallies Community Behind Texting and Driving Problem, Placing First Among Hundreds in National Competition

PR Newswire ADA, Okla., Feb. 28, 2011 ADA, Okla., Feb. 28, 2011 -- Determined Ada High School students spent weeks knocking on doors, handing out fliers, sending emails, talking to friends, family members – anyone who would listen – about the dangers of texting and driving and urging commu ... Continue reading

Hyundai's Oscar Ads Raise Consideration Levels

Hyundai's Oscar Ads Raise Consideration Levels

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--Hyundai’s big advertising investment in the Academy Awards earned a noticeable bump in consumer interest, according to site traffic data on Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information. In the hours following the Oscars, Hyundai’s overall brand ... Continue reading

Consumer Reports Names First-Timers Ford Mustang and Kia Sorento Among Six New Top Picks for 2011

Consumer Reports Names First-Timers Ford Mustang and Kia Sorento Among Six New Top Picks for 2011

YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 Honda Fit, Toyota RAV4, Toyota Sienna, and Chevrolet Avalanche also join elite list YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Ford Mustang and Kia Sorento are among six new models named to the Consumer Reports annual Top Picks car list for 2011, earning spots in the Sporty ... Continue reading

SiSTeR Technologies Selected to Provide Online Video for FordDirect DCPAIS Service

SiSTeR Technologies Selected to Provide Online Video for FordDirect DCPAIS Service

PR Newswire DALLAS, Feb. 28, 2011 DALLAS, Feb. 28, 2011 -- SiSTeR Technologies announced today that the company was selected to power the video presentations and syndication services for FordDirect's new DealerConnection Premier Advanced Inventory Service (DCPAIS). DCPAIS provides Ford and Lincoln dealers with new digi ... Continue reading

The Henry Ford Selects SIGMA as Marketing Partner

The Henry Ford Selects SIGMA as Marketing Partner

ROCHESTER, NY--February 28, 2011: SIGMA Marketing Group, the digital and direct marketing analytics firm, today announced that it has been retained by The Henry Ford to help build stronger relationships with current and prospective members, using data-driven insights and advanced marketing technology to develop a compr ... Continue reading

The Higher Gear Group's CRM Software Takes the Guessing out of Follow-Up for Automotive Dealerships with eZView

The Higher Gear Group's CRM Software Takes the Guessing out of Follow-Up for Automotive Dealerships with eZView

SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 28, 2011 SCHAUMBURG, Ill., Feb. 28, 2011 -- The Higher Gear Group just released eZView that answers the age-old question, "Are my customers being contacted by my employees?" The most common response is, "I THINK so." eZView allows the managers at stores using The Higher Gear Group CRM/Showroom Co ... Continue reading

Consumer Reports' Used-Car Reliability Survey Finds Some Used Cars Have Fewer Problems Than New Models

Consumer Reports' Used-Car Reliability Survey Finds Some Used Cars Have Fewer Problems Than New Models

PR Newswire YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 Late-model used vehicles offer more car for the money YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- With the average new car losing 47 percent of its value in the first three years of ownership, buying a used car can be the best way for consumers to get the most vehicl ... Continue reading

SAE International Offers Book on Vehicle Vibration Theory and Analysis

SAE International Offers Book on Vehicle Vibration Theory and Analysis

PR Newswire WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 28, 2011 WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Principles of Vibration Analysis with Applications in Automotive Engineering , a complete guide to the science of automotive vibration theory and analysis, has been developed by SAE International. The 390-page book is a ... Continue reading

Posty Cards Unveils 1st Commercially Available ChargePoint Electric Vehicle Charging Station in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area

Posty Cards Unveils 1st Commercially Available ChargePoint Electric Vehicle Charging Station in the Kansas City Metropolitan Area

CAMPBELL, Calif.--Coulomb Technologies today announced that Posty Cards has installed the first publicly available ChargePoint® networked charging station in the Kansas City Metropolitan area at its headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri. Installing electric vehicle (EV) charging stations can earn a company LEED ... Continue reading

Audi of America Donates $10,000 to Sharing and Caring Hands, MN

Audi of America Donates $10,000 to Sharing and Caring Hands, MN

PR Newswire HERNDON, Va., Feb. 28, 2011 HERNDON, Va., Feb. 28, 2011 -- Audi of America and the Audi After Sales team today announced that it donated $10,000 to Sharing and Caring Hands in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The money will be used toward a host of services provided by Sharing and Caring Hands to the over 20,000 hom ... Continue reading

Harley-Davidson to Implement New Production System at Kansas City Following Vote Approving Contract

Harley-Davidson to Implement New Production System at Kansas City Following Vote Approving Contract

PR Newswire MILWAUKEE, Feb. 28, 2011 MILWAUKEE, Feb. 28, 2011 -- Harley-Davidson, Inc. announced today it will move forward with the implementation of a new production system at its Kansas City, Mo. vehicle operations following a vote by the plant's unionized employees ratifying a new seven-year labor agreement. The ne ... Continue reading

Expanding UPS Green Fleet Travels 200 Million Miles

Expanding UPS Green Fleet Travels 200 Million Miles

ATLANTA--UPS today announced its fleet of alternative fuel and technology delivery vehicles has driven 200 million miles since 2000. The alternative fuel fleet (AFV) now numbers more than 1,900 and another 62 vehicles have just been ordered. “At UPS, we expand our alternative fuel fleet using a ‘rolli ... Continue reading

Honda Fit Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List

Honda Fit Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List

PR Newswire YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 Auto Issue names best new-car values in eight categories YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports names the Honda Fit as the small car with the best overall value in its 2011 Annual Auto Issue. The Fit also emerged as the best overall value among ... Continue reading

Consumer Reports Automaker Report Cards 2011: Ford Most Improved, but Honda, Subaru Still Lead Pack

Consumer Reports Automaker Report Cards 2011: Ford Most Improved, but Honda, Subaru Still Lead Pack

PR Newswire YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 Mercedes-Benz falls back as both average road-test and reliability scores drop YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Honda and Subaru still make the best vehicles overall, but Ford posted the largest gain, improving both its road-test and reliability scores in ... Continue reading

Honda Fit Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List

Honda Fit Tops Consumer Reports Best New-Car Value List

PR Newswire YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 Auto Issue names best new-car values in eight categories YONKERS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports named the Honda Fit as the small car with the best overall value in its 2011 Annual Auto Issue. The Fit also emerged as the best overall value among ... Continue reading

Jeep® Brand Debuts New Advertising Campaign for the 2011 Jeep Compass

Jeep® Brand Debuts New Advertising Campaign for the 2011 Jeep Compass

PR Newswire AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 28, 2011 AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Feb. 28, 2011 -- 'Bloodline' links the Jeep brand's legendary heritage to the new 2011 Jeep® Compass New advertising celebrates individuality and the path to a modern American dream 2011 Jeep Compass reflects a free-spirited, confident and fun drivi ... Continue reading

Nissan Americas Announces Senior Leadership Changes for Purchasing and Corporate Planning

Nissan Americas Announces Senior Leadership Changes for Purchasing and Corporate Planning

PR Newswire FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2011 FRANKLIN, Tenn., Feb. 28, 2011 -- Nissan Americas today announced senior leadership appointments in its Purchasing and Corporate Planning organizations. Catherine Perez, currently vice president, Purchasing, Renault-Nissan Purchasing Organization (RNPO), is appointed vice pres ... Continue reading

SAE International Releases New Book on Automobile Body Structure Design

SAE International Releases New Book on Automobile Body Structure Design

PR Newswire WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 28, 2011 WARRENDALE, Pa., Feb. 28, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There is a competitive need to bring fresh cars to market quickly. The body--including design, validation, and tooling--is on the critical path in product development. It is therefore imperative to have a body design st ... Continue reading

Zipcar Adds Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to Its Board of Directors

Zipcar Adds Former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to Its Board of Directors

PR Newswire CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 28, 2011 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Feb. 28, 2011 -- Today, Zipcar announced the addition of former eBay CEO Meg Whitman to its board of directors. Whitman brings to Zipcar deep knowledge of online auctions, e-commerce and payments. Whitman led eBay from 1998 to 2008. ... Continue reading

Kia Motors Partners with Homestead-Miami Speedway for Grand Prix Weekend

Kia Motors Partners with Homestead-Miami Speedway for Grand Prix Weekend

PR Newswire IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 28, 2011 -- Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge race will be named the 'Kia 200' Sponsorship furthers Kia's efforts to raise the profile of second-year motorsports program Just five weeks after capturing its first podium finish at Daytona, Kia Motors will ... Continue reading

Research and Markets: Vehicular Lighting - Global Strategic Business Report Gives Annual Estimates and Forecasts Provided For the Period 2007 Through 2015

Research and Markets: Vehicular Lighting - Global Strategic Business Report Gives Annual Estimates and Forecasts Provided For the Period 2007 Through 2015

DUBLIN--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/8798d5/vehicular_lighting) has announced the addition of the "Vehicular Lighting - Global Strategic Business Report" report to their offering. “Vehicular Lighting - Global Strategic Business Report” This report analyzes the worldwide mar ... Continue reading

Ryan Newman Phoenix Race Report

Ryan Newman Phoenix Race Report

There’s no doubt that Ryan Newman was hoping for a little magic as he returned to Phoenix International Raceway as the defending champion of the Subway Fresh Fit 500k NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race. After all, Newman started in the same spot, pitted in the same pit stall and drove the same No. 39 Tornados Chevrolet ... Continue reading

Daimler AG And Aabar Investments PJS Complete Full Acquisition Of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

Daimler AG And Aabar Investments PJS Complete Full Acquisition Of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd.

<center><b> Daimler AG and Aabar Investments PJS acquire 100 per cent of Mercedes-Benz Grand Prix Ltd. Daimler AG and Aabar Investments PJS acquire remaining 24.9 per cent from the team management Dr. Dieter Zetsche: "This majority stake holding demonstrates our determination to build a long-term Formula 1 involvement ... Continue reading

Hyundai Motor Company: Hyundai Signs Agreement with Vodafone To Develop Telematics Opportunities in Europe

Hyundai Motor Company: Hyundai Signs Agreement with Vodafone To Develop Telematics Opportunities in Europe

LONDON--Hyundai Motor Group signed an agreement with Vodafone Global Enterprise, the business within Vodafone which manages the communications needs of its largest multinational customers, to explore business opportunities in telematics services in Europe. The initial agreement, which was signed today, is expected to b ... Continue reading

Sixteen-Year-Old Veach Releases Book Forwarded by Michael Andretti and Featuring Teammates Dancia Patrick and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Among Others

Sixteen-Year-Old Veach Releases Book Forwarded by Michael Andretti and Featuring Teammates Dancia Patrick and Ryan Hunter-Reay, Among Others

INDIANAPOLIS, February 28, 2011: Zach Veach, driver of the #7 ZAKOSI Data Backup USF2000 Mazda for Andretti Autosport, will release his first book, 99 THINGS TEENS WISH THEY KNEW BEFORE TURNING 16 , with the help of journalist Lindsey Gobel on March 2. At press time, the book is available now through Amazon.com and Bar ... Continue reading

Toyota NSCS Phoenix Post-Qualifying Notes & Quotes

Toyota NSCS Phoenix Post-Qualifying Notes & Quotes

KASEY KAHNE, No. 4 Red Bull Toyota Camry, Red Bull Racing Team Starting Position: 3rd Could you be someone to beat in Sunday's race? "We had a really good lap there. I was real happy with it. I got into turn one and two, through the center I was kind of waiting for it to get a little loose and it never did. I felt like ... Continue reading

Interstate Batteries Racing: New Paint, Same Result

Interstate Batteries Racing: New Paint, Same Result

The paint scheme was different but the result was the same for Kyle Busch in Saturday’s Bashas’ Supermarkets 200 NASCAR Nationwide Series race at Phoenix International Raceway. The driver of the No. 18 Interstate Batteries Toyota Camry for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) dominated the 200-lap race, leading flag-to-fla ... Continue reading

Tasca And Motorsports-Quick Lane Ford Experiences Early Exit

Tasca And Motorsports-Quick Lane Ford Experiences Early Exit

POMONA, Feb. 27, 2011: Bob Tasca III and the Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Shelby Mustang team recorded their fastest speed of the weekend – 303.37 mph – during the first round of eliminations at the 51st annual NHRA Winternationals at Auto Club Raceway in Pomona, but it wasn’t enough to hold back ‘One ... Continue reading

Bayne's Whirlwind Week Ends With Crash At Phoenix

Bayne's Whirlwind Week Ends With Crash At Phoenix

Trevor Bayne’s been saying all along that there would be highs and lows in his first year driving the Wood Brothers No. 21 Motorcraft/Quick Lane Ford Fusion. But he wasn’t counting on them coming so close together. Just a week after his thrilling victory in the Daytona 500 and weeklong media blitz, Bayne expe ... Continue reading

Toyota NSCS Phoenix Post-Race Notes & Quotes

Toyota NSCS Phoenix Post-Race Notes & Quotes

KYLE BUSCH, No. 18 Combos Toyota Camry, Joe Gibbs Racing Finishing Position: 2nd What happened with the contact between you and Carl Edwards? "It was a real big mistake on my part and the first person I have to apologize to is Carl Edwards, obviously for what happened there on the backstretch. It just got out from unde ... Continue reading

14-Car Wreck Ruins Smith's Day In Phoenix

14-Car Wreck Ruins Smith's Day In Phoenix

PHOENIX, Feb. 27, 2011: Regan Smith's strong performance of 2011 was continuing in Sunday's Sprint Cup race at Phoenix International Raceway. But on Lap 67 of 312, Smith's No. 78 Furniture Row Chevrolet was in the wrong place at the wrong time as it suffered major damage after being involved in a 14-car wreck on the ba ... Continue reading

Greer Happy With Skoda Fabia S2000 BRC Debut

Greer Happy With Skoda Fabia S2000 BRC Debut

Jonathan Greer made an impressive Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship (BRC) debut in his new Skoda UK supported Fabia S2000, finishing sixth on the opening round of the 2011 series, Rallye Sunseeker. ... Continue reading

First UK Customer For Citroen DS3 Racing Is In Pole Position

First UK Customer For Citroen DS3 Racing Is In Pole Position

The first of the 200 special edition DS3 Racing models destined for the UK has been delivered to its new owner. ... Continue reading

Kia Motors Signs Agreement With Vodafone To Develop Telematics Opportunities In Europe

Kia Motors Signs Agreement With Vodafone To Develop Telematics Opportunities In Europe

Kia Motors Corp. has signed an agreement with Vodafone, one of the world's leading mobile communications companies, to explore business opportunities in telematics services in Europe. The initial agreement is expected to boost Kia's competitiveness in vehicle IT systems and reach out to a wider customer base in Europe. ... Continue reading

Ford Announces European Launch For Industry-Leading SYNC Technology

Ford Announces European Launch For Industry-Leading SYNC Technology

Ford customers in Britain will be among the first to benefit from the global launch of SYNC when it makes its European debut on the Ford Focus in 2012, bringing the company's award-winning voice-control and connectivity technology to a new audience. ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz Named As UK's No. 1 Consumer Superbrand

Mercedes-Benz Named As UK's No. 1 Consumer Superbrand

Mercedes-Benz has been crowned the UK's number one Consumer Superbrand for 2011, toppling last year's winner Microsoft which has dropped into 6th place. ... Continue reading

Skoda Auto To Offer A Live Streaming Of Its Press Conference

Skoda Auto To Offer A Live Streaming Of Its Press Conference

In line with its new direction, Skoda Auto is introducing a new standard in multimedia communications. ... Continue reading

Fiat Sponsors Children's Charity With Doblo Van Gift

Fiat Sponsors Children's Charity With Doblo Van Gift

A leading children's charity is set to benefit from Fiat's generosity after taking delivery of a Fiat Doblo Cargo van for help with a new international project. ... Continue reading

New-Generation EV i-MiEV Proves Excellent Safety Through Euro NCAP

New-Generation EV i-MiEV Proves Excellent Safety Through Euro NCAP

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation (MMC) recently announced that Euro NCAP (European New Car Assessment Programme), an overall safety rating system for new models launched in Europe, revealed their results for safety tests of the next generation electric vehicle i-MiEV (European-spec). ... Continue reading

Audi A7 Sportback Wins Design Summit

Audi A7 Sportback Wins Design Summit

The Audi A7 Sportback has scored a fantastic victory: the five-door coupe has been selected the winner of the "Auto Bild" Design Summit. A distinguished jury panel evaluated the design of a total of ten new cars, with the Audi A7 Sportback being voted number one by a wide margin for its outstanding design. ... Continue reading

New PR Contact For Volvo Car Australia

New PR Contact For Volvo Car Australia

Jaedene Hudson has been appointed as public relations manager at Volvo Car Australia, replacing Laurissa Mirabelli who has commenced 12 months maternity leave. ... Continue reading

Australians Shine At 2011 MX-5 Ice Race

Australians Shine At 2011 MX-5 Ice Race

Mazda's MX-5 roadster has again shown its pure sports car genes, this time on ice at the 2011 Mazda MX-5 Ice Race in Sweden. ... Continue reading

New Cruze: Most Fuel-Efficient Home-Grown Car

New Cruze: Most Fuel-Efficient Home-Grown Car

Holden today unveiled the new Cruze range, including the most fuel-efficient car built in Australia. ... Continue reading

Bloomberg News Reports that Rubber Is Rebounding 32% as Reserve Drop Drives Michelin Costs

Bloomberg News Reports that Rubber Is Rebounding 32% as Reserve Drop Drives Michelin Costs

Rubber’s 15 percent slump in about a week may be the prelude to rallies to a record high, driving up the cost of everything from Michelin tires to surgical gloves. ... Continue reading

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