Wednesday, July 16, 2008

Want a Used 'Econobox'? Better Get in Line

Washington DC July 16, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that sustained high gasoline prices are pushing more drivers out of their SUVs and into what were once called "econoboxes." But because economy models haven't been big sellers for the past few years, car makers have built relatively few of them. The resulting t ... Continue reading

Top 17 2008 New Cars That Just Won't Sell - Some Obvious, Some Surprises

Washington DC July 16, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that as the economy worsens and every new auto industry sales report seems worse than the previous month's, will automakers still be able to sell every one of their vehicles? "The misconception many people have about new-car sales is that the automaker is actua ... Continue reading

Continental Tire North America Announces More Than $60 Million in New Investments for Mt. Vernon Facility

-- Investment will expand both PLT & CVT operations -- Brings total investments in Mt. Vernon since 2006 to more than $220 million MOUNT VERNON, Ill., July 16 -- Continental Tire North America, Inc. (CTNA) today announced more than $60 million in new investments for its Mt. Vernon facility over the next three years. Th ... Continue reading

Kinser Ready For Second Round of Eastern Competition

INDIANAPOLIS – The Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Series heads eastward for a second tour of Pennsylvania and New York this week as the series makes four stops at three area tracks. With the heat of summer at full blast, Tony Stewart Racing’s (TSR) Kraig Kinser is hoping the Bass Pro Shops t ... Continue reading

ENCOURAGED BLACK SWAN HEADING TO MID-OHIO

Black Swan Racing's Ford GT-R of owner Tim Pappas and Anthony Lazzaro placed eighth in GT2 at Lime Rock, the car's first race. Friday at Lime Rock Park, Tim Pappas said all he wanted to see was his Black Swan Racing finish the American Le Mans Northeast Grand Prix. That may not sound like much but consider that the tea ... Continue reading

Vincec captures East Division championship

Stouffville, Ontario - There was a specific goal this season for seventeen-year-old Mike Vincec and this past weekend at USA International Raceway in Shawano, Wisconsin, he completed the first step by taking the East Division championship in the Snap-on Stars of Karting series presented by Indy Racing League. Mike, who ... Continue reading

Raimondo scores fourth podium this season

St. Catharines, Ontario – In his bid to make up for a disappointing weekend at Mid-Ohio a few weeks back, Gianmarco Raimondo would have a strong run at Lime Rock Park in Connecticut this past weekend. Gianmarco would take a podium finish in race two and combine it with a top-five result in race one (P4) to add val ... Continue reading

Grand-Am's Krohn Racing Gaining Momentum

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Coming off a podium finish in the recent Brumos Porsche 250 at Daytona International Speedway, Krohn Racing’s Pontiac Lolas continue to improve in Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Cask No. 16 competition. The Atlanta-based team will be looking to score its first Daytona Prototyp ... Continue reading

Rested and ready, Coughlin set for Seattle success

SEATTLE -- Reigning Pro Stock champion Jeg Coughlin Jr. has been on top of the drag racing world four times, three in Pro Stock and once more in Super Gas. He also has accumulated 52 national event victories along the way. Bottom line, the 38-year-old from Delaware, Ohio, knows what it takes to win at the top level of ... Continue reading

Tony Stewart Racing's Donny Schatz Looks to Capture His Share in Sprint Car Racing's 'Month of Money'

INDIANAPOLIS – Win, lose or draw, a competitor always looks forward to his next opportunity. Such is the mindset of two-time defending Advance Auto Parts World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series champion Donny Schatz. Only minutes after his fourth-place finish in Sunday’s 25th annual Kings Royal at Tony Stewa ... Continue reading

Thrifty Car Rental Offers Travel Agents 20 Percent Discount

TULSA, Okla., July 16 -- Thrifty Car Rental, a subsidiary of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. , is giving travel agents cause to rejoice ... by rewarding them with a 20 percent discount on their next car rental. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050405/DATU014LOGO) Open to travel agents in the U.S. and ... Continue reading

WABCO-TVS Wins Best Quality Award From Tata Motors, India's Largest Manufacturer of Commercial Vehicles

BRUSSELS, July 16 -- WABCO Holdings Inc. today announced that WABCO-TVS (India) Ltd. has earned a "Zero PPM" quality award (zero defective parts-per-million) from Tata Motors, the largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles in India and the world's second largest bus manufacturer as well as fourth largest truck manufac ... Continue reading

From Cologne With Love - Ford Factory Makeover Gets Residents Guessing

The German city of Cologne awoke to a curious sight this morning, the nearby Ford Niehl plant had been completely transformed with a bright, dazzling coat of multi-colour paintwork. ... Continue reading

Ford Production and Sales Follow Green Path

Green Ford manufacturing and sales at flagship sites in the company's East London heartland are expanding thanks to operations underpinned by sustainable technologies. ... Continue reading

Skoda Auto's sales over the first six months have grown by 17.9% as compared with last year

Skoda Auto's sales over the first six months of 2008 have grown by 17.9% as compared with last year, reaching 366,686 vehicles in total. Skoda has dramatically increased the number of vehicles sold and delivered in Eastern Europe (63,684 vehicles; +40.1%), China (31,566 vehicles; sales started in June 2007) and India ( ... Continue reading

CO2nfused Britain - Motor Show Reveals 85% Don't Understand Car Emissions

Research released today by The British International Motor Show, sponsored by Zurich Connect, reveals a high level of confusion surrounding car emissions and greener driving technology. Most people (85%) do not know their own car's emissions level, over half admit to feeling confused about emissions (60%) and do not kn ... Continue reading

Antonov successfully completes 6-speed demonstrator vehicles

The Board of Antonov plc is pleased to announce that its six-speed automatic transmission programme has achieved a significant milestone with the completion of the demonstration vehicles. These will be shown to a high level Chinese delegation at the end of July in accordance with the plan previously announced. ... Continue reading

Limited Edition 'Clio by Rip Curl 2008' Green Credentials for Active Lifestyles

Buoyed by the sale of 30,000 Clio by Rip Curls in more than 20 countries in 2007, Renault is looking to build on its successful partnership with the well known surfing and snowboarding brand Rip Curl with the release of Clio by Rip Curl 2008. ... Continue reading

A City Limousine Service at Forte Dei Marmi, for an Exclusive Summer

Today at Forte dei Marmi, Olivier Francois, Managing Director of Lancia Automobiles, and Umberto Buratti, Mayor of Forte dei Marmi, presented the "Forte dei Marmi Vip Service" programme, organised with the brand new Lancia Musa Poltrona Frau city limousine. ... Continue reading

AutoWeek Magazine Celebrates Five Decades of Automotive History and Passion

DETROIT, July 16 -- AutoWeek magazine, North America's only weekly automotive enthusiast magazine, celebrates its 50th Anniversary today. On July 16, 1958, AutoWeek began as an eight-page motorsports newspaper titled Competition Press. It has since transformed into an all-encompassing automotive enthusiast brand with b ... Continue reading

Two hundred exclusive Fiat 500 for the Ferrari sales network

Fiat 500 and Ferrari: two universal motoring icons which represent 'Made in Italy', one cute and the other exclusive. This is why the Maranello House has chosen the Fiat model as its "courtesy car" for its customers, who appreciate Italian style and like unique products. In actual fact, two hundred Fiat 500 have been m ... Continue reading

India: Volkwagen Jetta - Market Launch

Today, in Mumbai, Volkswagen begins market introduction of the Jetta in India. The sedan - eight million of which have been sold since 1979 - will be available in three versions. At market launch the innovative 6-speed DSG dual clutch transmission will be offered. Other comfort and convenience features round out the pr ... Continue reading

Volkswagen Builds Factory in Tennessee, USA

Volkswagen is setting out to build a plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where vehicle production will be due to commence in early 2011. The supervisory board of Volkswagen AG today approved the plans and an investment volume of up to 1 billion USD (around 620 million euro). ... Continue reading

Valeo Equips the Mercedes A and B Class With Its StARS Micro-Hybrid System

Valeo announces today that its StARS micro-hybrid system equips the new Mercedes A and B Class. Invented by Valeo, this system featuring the Stop-Start function, cuts off the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill, at traffic lights for instance, and then restarts it quickly and silently when the driver releases th ... Continue reading

The New Distinctive, Mid-Engined, 2+2 Sportscar from Lotus

Eagerly anticipated and making its official global debut at the British Motorshow in London on July 22nd, the first all-new car from Lotus since the iconic Elise in 1995, will enter the sportscar market as the only mid-engined 2+2 in production. ... Continue reading

2008 British Motor Show: What Car? to Reveal Its First Ever Green Awards

LONDON - July 16, 2008: In response to overwhelming requests from readers for information on green cars, the awards will comprise 10 categories and an overall Green Car of the Year. Steve Fowler, What Car? Group Editor, commented: “With increasing environmental concerns among car buyers, not to mention green taxes ... Continue reading

New Kia Soul Model to Feature Choice of Three Engines

New Kia Soul model to feature choice of three engines - New Kia Soul to feature two gasoline engines and one diesel engine - Kia Soul production model will appeal to the 'young-at-heart' - World premiere of new Kia Soul to be held at Paris Show on 2 October (SEOUL) July 16, 2008 - Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed t ... Continue reading