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April 2010

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Thursday, April 1, 2010

ASA Press Release - ASA Member Tracks & Series Provide a Variety

ASA Press Release - ASA Member Tracks & Series Provide a Variety

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PRESS RELEASE April 1, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~ For Immediate Release Contact: Kevin Ramsell,ASA Public Relations Director (kramsell@asa-racing.com [mailto:racingpr@me.com]) ~~ ... Continue reading

CarMax Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2010 Earnings

CarMax Reports Fourth Quarter and Fiscal Year 2010 Earnings

RICHMOND, Va.--CarMax, Inc. today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 28, 2010. “We are pleased to report strong fourth quarter and fiscal year results, especially given the difficult market conditions we faced” Net sales and operating revenues increased 25% to $1.83Â billion fro ... Continue reading

Overdrive(TM) 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless Empowers Wi-Fi-Enabled Devices to Access Sprint's 4G Speeds Today

Overdrive(TM) 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless Empowers Wi-Fi-Enabled Devices to Access Sprint's 4G Speeds Today

Sprint Nextel CorporationSprint Nextel Corporation has added a news release to its Newsroom website. Title: Overdrive(TM) 3G/4G Mobile Hotspot by Sierra Wireless Empowers Wi-Fi-Enabled Devices to Access Sprint's 4G Speeds Today Date(s): 1-Apr-2010 8:04 AM For a complete listing of our news releases, please click here - ... Continue reading

EV Pricing Demonstrates Viability of Electrification

EV Pricing Demonstrates Viability of Electrification

WASHINGTON, April 1 - Nissan North America announced yesterday the pricing on its 2011 all-electric LEAF. Once federal tax rebates are taken into account, the LEAF will cost approximately $25,000; with some states offering additional rebates, some consumers will be able to purchase Nissan's electric vehicle for only $2 ... Continue reading

National Clean Car Standards Rev Up State Programs

National Clean Car Standards Rev Up State Programs

New Yorkers will save thousands of dollars at the pump NEW YORK, April 1 The Obama administration today announced new fuel economy benchmarks for automobiles and the first national standards for greenhouse gas emissions in U.S. history that will save New York car owners approximately $3,000 in fuel costs over the life ... Continue reading

New Fuel Economy Standards to Bring More Clean Diesel Cars to Americans, Use Less Petroleum and Have Fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions

New Fuel Economy Standards to Bring More Clean Diesel Cars to Americans, Use Less Petroleum and Have Fewer Greenhouse Gas Emissions

WASHINGTON--The Diesel Technology Forum issued the following statement today on the occasion of the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) announcement of 2016 new light-duty vehicle fuel economy standards. “Today’ ;s announcement ... Continue reading

Volkswagen of America Announces 41 Percent Increase for March 2010 Sales

Volkswagen of America Announces 41 Percent Increase for March 2010 Sales

TDI® Clean Diesel, Tiguan and Routan Models Drive the Brand HERNDON, Va., April 1 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today reported March 2010 sales of 22,148 total units, for a 40.9% increase over March 2009, and its ninth consecutive month of sales growth. For the year-to-date, Volkswagen's sales have risen 38.4% versus ... Continue reading

Mazda Reports Increased Sales for March 2010

Mazda Reports Increased Sales for March 2010

IRVINE, Calif., April 1 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported March 2010 sales of 23,193, an increase of 5.5 percent versus March 2009, good for its fifth straight month of sales increases. As Mazda continues to focus on the long-term strength of the brand, its MAZDA3, winner of ALG's Residual Value ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz Reports Another Strong Month With March Sales of 20,023

Mercedes-Benz Reports Another Strong Month With March Sales of 20,023

Sales Up 28.3 % for the Month and 25.7% Year-to-Date MONTVALE, N.J., April 1 -- Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) today reported March sales of 20,023 vehicles, up 28.3%, propelling the company to a 25.7% increase for the first quarter. Healthy demand in both the Mercedes passenger car and light-truck categories fueled the inc ... Continue reading

Mitsubishi Motors Reports Sales Increase of More Than 17 Percent

Mitsubishi Motors Reports Sales Increase of More Than 17 Percent

CYPRESS, Calif., April 1 -- Mitsubishi Motors North America (MMNA) today announced its highest monthly sales total since August. March 2010 sales of 5,434, were a 17.6 percent increase over March 2009, and Mitsubishi's second highest monthly total since October 2008. "The increases spread across virtually our entire pr ... Continue reading

Audi U.S. Sales in March 2010 Set a Record, Giving the Brand the Best First Quarter in its History

Audi U.S. Sales in March 2010 Set a Record, Giving the Brand the Best First Quarter in its History

- Overall Audi sales in March increased 33.5% from a year earlier - March sales of the Audi A5 set an all-time record - TDI clean diesel models made up nearly half of all A3 and Q7 sales HERNDON, Va., April 1 -- Audi today reported its March U.S. sales set a record for the month, rising 33.5% from a year earlier. The r ... Continue reading

American Suzuki March 2010 Sales: Up 63 Percent over Last Month

American Suzuki March 2010 Sales: Up 63 Percent over Last Month

BREA, Calif.--American Suzuki: Â Â MARCH Â Â CYTD 2010 Â Â 2009 Â Â MTD VS. 2010 Â Â 2009 Â Â YTD VS. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â MTD PRIOR YR. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â YTD PRIOR YR. GRAND VITARA: 396 1,051 -62 % 1,222 2,261 -46 % EQUATOR: 143 44 225 % ... Continue reading

Acura Announces March 2010 Sales Results

Acura Announces March 2010 Sales Results

Significant Sales Increases for Acura TORRANCE, Calif., April 1 -- Acura's line of luxury SUVs posted an impressive monthly sales increase of 43.7 percent based on daily selling rate*, with Acura car sales reporting an increase of 14.5 percent. With sales of 3,281 units, the MDX luxury SUV posted a 42.0 percent increas ... Continue reading

Nissan U.S. March 2010 Sales Increase 43.3 Percent

Nissan U.S. March 2010 Sales Increase 43.3 Percent

Nissan sales grow 44 percent; Infiniti up 37.3 percent FRANKLIN, Tenn., April 1 -- Nissan North America, Inc. (NNA) today reported March 2010 sales of 95,468 units versus 66,634 units a year earlier, an increase of 43.3 percent, compared with March 2009. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080506/NISSANWORDMAR ... Continue reading

Daimler AG Reports Total of 20,700 Vehicles Sold in the U.S. for March 2010

Daimler AG Reports Total of 20,700 Vehicles Sold in the U.S. for March 2010

- Mercedes-Benz USA Records March Sales of 19,637 Passenger Cars and Light Truck Vehicles - an Improvement of 25.9 Percent over March 2009 - Mercedes-Benz USA Records 386 Sales of Sprinter Vans - smart USA Records 677 Sales in March 2010 - a nearly 53.2 Percent Improvement over February 2010 NEW YORK, April 1 -- Daimle ... Continue reading

American Honda Reports March Sales Increase of 17.8 percent

American Honda Reports March Sales Increase of 17.8 percent

Honda Division up 16.9 percent; Acura Division up 25.2 percent TORRANCE, Calif., April 1 -- American Honda Motor Co., Inc., posted March sales of 108,262 vehicles, an increase of 17.8 percent based on the daily selling rate*, the company announced today. American Honda year-to-date sales of 256,412 represent an increas ... Continue reading

Subaru March 2010 Sales Breaks Record; 2010 Best First Quarter Sales Ever

Subaru March 2010 Sales Breaks Record; 2010 Best First Quarter Sales Ever

-- Automaker Breaks Sales Records for Eight Out of the Last Ten Months -- CHERRY HILL, N.J., April 1 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced its best first quarter sales ever with 57,494 units sold, continuing its strong start to 2010. March 2010 also marks another monthly record with 23,785 units sold, breaking the ... Continue reading

Kia Motors America Announces Record First Quarter 2010 Sales

Kia Motors America Announces Record First Quarter 2010 Sales

Company Sets New March Sales Record Highlighted By Sale of Three Millionth Vehicle in the U.S. IRVINE, Calif., April 1 -- Kia Motors America (KMA) today announced the brand's all-time best March sales of 30,522 units sold, a 23.5-percent increase over the same period last year and 10.7-percent increase over the previou ... Continue reading

Toyota Reports March 2010 and First Quarter 2010 Sales

Toyota Reports March 2010 and First Quarter 2010 Sales

TORRANCE, Calif., April 1 -- Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), U.S.A., Inc., today reported March sales results of 186,863 units, an increase of 35.3 percent over the same period last year, on a daily selling rate (DSR) basis. On a raw volume basis, unadjusted for 26 selling days in March 2010, compared to 25 selling days in M ... Continue reading

Buick-GMC Sales Increase 54 Percent in March, Leading a 43-Percent Gain for GM Brands

Buick-GMC Sales Increase 54 Percent in March, Leading a 43-Percent Gain for GM Brands

DETROIT, April 1 -- -- Combined Sales for Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac Increase 43 percent -- Sixth Consecutive Month of Year-over-Year Sales Gains for GM's Four Brands -- GM Estimates the Brands Will Increase Combined Total and Retail Market Share Buick and GMC dealers in the U.S. reported sales for those brands ... Continue reading

Suzuki Announces Stock Car of Tomorrow: Kizashi Sport - Richard Petty Coming Out of Retirement for One-Time Ride

Suzuki Announces Stock Car of Tomorrow: Kizashi Sport - Richard Petty Coming Out of Retirement for One-Time Ride

BREA, CA - April 1, 2010: To further gain familiarity with car buyers across the U.S., American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) today announced its intent to establish and run a stock car racing team in North America. Suzuki’s first contender in the 2011 season will be a modified version of its 2011 Kizashi Sport, which ... Continue reading

Hyundai Motor America Reports Its Best-Ever First Quarter and Best-Ever March

Hyundai Motor America Reports Its Best-Ever First Quarter and Best-Ever March

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 1 -- Hyundai Motor America today announced an all-time sales record for both the first quarter of the year and for the month of March as the company's all-new Sonata and Tucson clearly connected with new-car buyers across the country. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20091001/HY ... Continue reading

Ford's U.S. Sales Up 43 Percent in March

Ford's U.S. Sales Up 43 Percent in March

DEARBORN, Mich., April 1 -- -- Ford, Lincoln and Mercury March sales totaled 178,546, up 43 percent versus year ago -- Ford brand sales up 46 percent versus year ago, Lincoln up 19 percent and Mercury up 26 percent -- Cars up 53 percent versus year ago, utilities up 46 percent and trucks up 30 percent; March retail sal ... Continue reading

Porsche Reports U.S. Sales for March - Up 9% Y2Y

Porsche Reports U.S. Sales for March - Up 9% Y2Y

NEW YORK--Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), importer and distributor of Porsche sports cars, Cayenne SUVs and the Panamera Gran Turismo in the United States, today announced March sales in the U.S. of 1,905 units compared to the same period last year when it sold 1,749, up 9 percent. This marks the seventh time ... Continue reading

Jeep Announces National Treasure Hunt for Three Jeep Wrangler Islanders - VIDEO ENHANCED

Jeep Announces National Treasure Hunt for Three Jeep Wrangler Islanders - VIDEO ENHANCED

Consumers who solve on-line clues and find Jeep Tikis to win all-new 2010 Jeep Wrangler Islander NEW YORK, April 1 -- -- Jeep® Wrangler Islander Tiki Hunt national contest launched on Jeep.com, with supporting information available via Facebook and Twitter -- Consumers who solve the clues and find "Jeep Tiki Steel," " ... Continue reading

Robert Barker blasts to TSRS Late Model win at Thunderhill Raceway

Robert Barker blasts to TSRS Late Model win at Thunderhill Raceway

KYLE, April 1, 2010: Veteran Texas Super Racing Series (TSRS) driver Robert Barker made it look easy Saturday night at Thunderhill Raceway (THR). Barker had the fastest car in qualifying, started from the pole position after the draw and led all 30 laps of the shortened event that was originally set for 75 laps. “ ... Continue reading

Opel Corsa Launches Pop Art Idol

Opel Corsa Launches Pop Art Idol

Not only does Corsa put the fun back into driving, but it can now put you into a forthcoming TV commercial with the launch of Pop Art Idol. ... Continue reading

Junqueira joins FAZZT Race Team for Indianapolis

Junqueira joins FAZZT Race Team for Indianapolis

Indianapolis, April 1, 2010: Alex Tagliani didn't forget Bruno Junqueira's gracious act at last year's Indianapolis 500, and the Brazilian driver will compete for a starting berth this May in a second FAZZT Race Team car. Junqueira qualified a Conquest Racing car on Bump Day in the 30th position. But he stepped out of ... Continue reading

Infiniti Announces World First In-Car Hunger Monitoring

Infiniti Announces World First In-Car Hunger Monitoring

Infiniti, the luxury automotive brand from Japan, has announced the development of new technology aimed at reducing the dangers of driving while hungry. ... Continue reading

Petty, Andretti Autosport Join Forces With Window World, John Andretti For Indy 500

Petty, Andretti Autosport Join Forces With Window World, John Andretti For Indy 500

EFFORT INDIANAPOLIS, Wednesday, March 31, 2010 – Andretti Autosport announced March 31 it will work in a joint effort with racing legend Richard Petty and Window World, Inc., to field a fifth IZOD IndyCar Series entry for veteran driver John Andretti, first at Kansas Speedway on Saturday, May 1 and then in the 201 ... Continue reading

400 PS AWD Volvo C30 Concept Developed By Polestar Performance

400 PS AWD Volvo C30 Concept Developed By Polestar Performance

Polestar Performance, the team behind Volvo's championship-winning Swedish Touring Car Team, has announced their first complete road car project - the C30 Performance Concept Prototype ... Continue reading

Foster Set To Debut Goodridge As New Primary Sponsor

Foster Set To Debut Goodridge As New Primary Sponsor

BAYTOWN, April 1, 2010: Defending NHRA Division 3 Top Alcohol Funny Car Champion Chris Foster will unveil a new paint scheme and new primary sponsor Goodridge Hoses & Fittings during next weekend’s O’Reilly Spring Nationals at Houston Raceway Park. The two-race deal covers next weekend’s event, along wit ... Continue reading

THINK to Begin Selling City Electric Car in New York

THINK to Begin Selling City Electric Car in New York

NEW YORK, April 1 -- Today, pioneering electric car company THINK announced plans to begin selling the THINK City, one of the world's first highway-capable electric vehicles (EVs), in New York and other select cities later this year. THINK and the U.S. Department of Energy's local Clean Cities chapter are working toget ... Continue reading

MINI Countryman Makes its First U.S. Appearance at NY Auto Show - VIDEO ENHANCED

MINI Countryman Makes its First U.S. Appearance at NY Auto Show - VIDEO ENHANCED

NEW YORK - April 1, 2010: The all new MINI Countryman, MINI's biggest and boldest model, will make its U.S. debut during the New York International Auto Show. Equipped with four doors, four individual seats and a four-wheel-drive system known as MINI ALL4, the MINI Countryman will be hitting the U.S. city streets and s ... Continue reading

Renault Confirms Pricing and Specification for New Wind Coupe-Roadster

Renault Confirms Pricing and Specification for New Wind Coupe-Roadster

Overcast skies might have temporarily replaced the spring sunshine, but there is a glimmer of summer on the horizon as Renault releases pricing and specification details for its Wind Coupé-Roadster, one of the most eagerly-awaited and affordable open-top cars of the year, priced from £15,500. ... Continue reading

New Generation Vauxhall Astra Joins Senior Officials At Prestigious HOSDB Exhibition

New Generation Vauxhall Astra Joins Senior Officials At Prestigious HOSDB Exhibition

The recent HOSDB 2010 exhibition organised by the Home Office Scientific Development Branch saw Vauxhall proudly display the new generation Astra police vehicle on a stand hosted by the Association of Chief Police Officers Intelligent Transportations Systems Working Group (ACPO ITS). ... Continue reading

Mazda SKY Concept Powertrains and Premium Sporty Mazda8 Minivan on Display at Beijing Motor Show

Mazda SKY Concept Powertrains and Premium Sporty Mazda8 Minivan on Display at Beijing Motor Show

Hiroshima, Mar 31, 2010; Mazda Motor Corporation will showcase the China premiere of its next-generation powertrains based on the Mazda SKY Concept at the 2010 Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, to be held from Friday, April 23 through Sunday, May 2, 2010. Mazda will exhibit the 'Mazda SKY-G' direct injection ... Continue reading

Toyota Begins Radically Reshaping Operations to Meet Customer Expectations

Toyota Begins Radically Reshaping Operations to Meet Customer Expectations

Tokyo, Mar 31, 2010 - (JCN Newswire) - Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC) announces that today it convened the first meeting of its Special Committee for Global Quality. Chaired by TMC President Akio Toyoda, the committee will spearhead reforms to further instill the company's operations throughout the world with a custome ... Continue reading

Citroen's New Airdream+ Range: Ecological, Economical & Lavishly Equipped

Citroen's New Airdream+ Range: Ecological, Economical & Lavishly Equipped

Citroen has announced a new Airdream+ range, thanks to the introduction of two environmentally sensitive and economically rewarding Airdream+ versions of C3 Picasso and C4 Hatchback. ... Continue reading

New York Auto Show: Jeep Wrangler Islander Tiki Hunt - COMPLETE VIDEO

New York Auto Show: Jeep Wrangler Islander Tiki Hunt - COMPLETE VIDEO

NEW YORK - April 1, 2010: Five contestants who correctly answered a Jeep trivia question on Twitter will dig in a giant sandbox in Camp Jeep outside the Jacob K. Javits Center, site of the New York International Auto Show, looking for the golden Jeep Tiki. The first contestant to find the golden JeepTiki wins the 2010 ... Continue reading

Record March Sales for Suzuki

Record March Sales for Suzuki

Suzuki Australia has continued its strong start to 2010 with a record sales result for March. ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3: Spectacular Racing Car for the Sporting Customer

Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG GT3: Spectacular Racing Car for the Sporting Customer

Coinciding with the overseas market launch of the exciting SLS AMG, Mercedes-AMG is presenting a GT3 variant. This racing version of the gullwing model stands out with its spectacular design and thoroughbred motor sports technology. ... Continue reading

BMW Creates New Market Segment with Arrival of X1

BMW Creates New Market Segment with Arrival of X1

BMW has again created a new market segment with the introduction of the X1 - the world's first luxury compact Sports Activity Vehicle. The X1 joins the X family just over 10 years after the Bavarian luxury brand introduced the groundbreaking X5 ... Continue reading

Chrysler Group: Mighty Mopar Machines Arrive in Moab

Chrysler Group: Mighty Mopar Machines Arrive in Moab

Chrysler Group LLC arrived with truckloads of head-turning, "Moparizedâ" Jeep and Ram Truck vehicles to showcase at the 44th annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah ... Continue reading

Design Trophy 2010 - Audi Triumphs

Design Trophy 2010 - Audi Triumphs

Audi has been named the "most beautiful brand" in the first design award competition presented by Auto Zeitung magazine ... Continue reading

The New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: Four Seasons, Four Passengers

The New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Cabriolet: Four Seasons, Four Passengers

The highly appealing and emotionally charged Cabriolet is the latest addition to the successful Mercedes-Benz E-Class line-up and it's about to arrive on Australian roads. ... Continue reading

Energy Efficient Diesel Engines Noted For Future Energy-Savings Potential

Energy Efficient Diesel Engines Noted For Future Energy-Savings Potential

WASHINGTON--The Diesel Technology Forum issued the following statement today on the release of the National Research Council report “Technologies and approaches to Reducing Fuel Consumption of Medium and Heavy-Duty Vehicles.â€??? “This report highlights the immense number of variables, complex ... Continue reading

GSA Doubles the Federal Hybrid Fleet, DOE Takes the Lead in Updating to Hybrids

GSA Doubles the Federal Hybrid Fleet, DOE Takes the Lead in Updating to Hybrids

Agencies Move to Increase Energy Security and Fuel Efficiency WASHINGTON, March 31 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- President Obama announced today that the Federal Government will lead by example in replacing older cars in the federal fleet with fuel efficient hybrids and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles, reducing our depen ... Continue reading

Ford, Microsoft Team Up To Help Electric Vehicle Owners Recharge More Effectively, Affordably

Ford, Microsoft Team Up To Help Electric Vehicle Owners Recharge More Effectively, Affordably

NEW YORK, March 31 -- -- Ford and Microsoft are teaming up to use Microsoft Hohm as a platform to help future owners of Ford's electric vehicles optimize the way they recharge their vehicle and better manage their home's energy use -- Microsoft and Ford also will work with utilities and municipalities to help develop a ... Continue reading

Auction Results For UAW VEBA's Sale of Ford Warrants Announced

Auction Results For UAW VEBA's Sale of Ford Warrants Announced

DEARBORN, Mich., March 31 -- Ford Motor Company announced today that the UAW Retiree Medical Benefits Trust ("UAW VEBA") has priced a secondary public offering of 362,391,305 warrants to purchase Ford common stock. The offering was priced at $5.00 per warrant through a modified Dutch auction that took place on March 30 ... Continue reading

The Ford 5.0-Liter Mustang is Back With BorgWarner Variable Cam Timing (VCT) Technology

The Ford 5.0-Liter Mustang is Back With BorgWarner Variable Cam Timing (VCT) Technology

BorgWarner's Award-Winning Cam Torque Actuated VCT Technology Improves the 5.0-Liter Mustang's Horsepower AUBURN HILLS, Mich., March 31 -- BorgWarner's award-winning Cam Torque Actuated (CTA(TM)) variable cam timing (VCT) technology and timing drive system improve the horsepower and reduce emissions for the 2011 Ford M ... Continue reading

Clean Energy Signs CNG Provider Agreement

Clean Energy Signs CNG Provider Agreement

SEAL BEACH, Calif.--Clean Energy Fuels Corp. has contracted with AT&T to supply compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling stations to support AT&T in its current commitment to deploy up to 8,000 CNG fleet vehicles nationwide. As part of a multi-year master agreement, Clean Energy will build, operate and supply CNG stations ... Continue reading

The Chrysler Brand: Where Driving Passion Takes Flight

The Chrysler Brand: Where Driving Passion Takes Flight

NEW YORK, March 31 -- It is only fitting that a company whose name has long served as a defining feature of one of the world's most inspiring skylines should look to make its presence once again felt on the floor of the auto show in that same city. Without question, the energy, vibrancy and endless possibilities of New ... Continue reading

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