Friday, February 20, 2009

MK Automotive Achieves Milestone in Quest to Trade Publicly

LAS VEGAS--MK Automotive, Inc. obtained effectiveness of its Nevada State Registered Offering for the sale of $1 million shares of common stock at $1 per share. After completing the offering in Nevada, MK Automotive plans to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to become a fully reporting company ... Continue reading

Friday's NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Event @ Gainesville Raceway

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NHRA LUCAS OIL DRAG RACING SERIES - SOUTHEAST DIVISION GAINESVILLE RACEWAY, GAINESVILLE, FLA. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2009 Contact: BRETT LYONS (626) 483-8242 NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series Arrives in Gainesville GAINESVILLE, Fla. (February 20, 2009) - The NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series sets up ... Continue reading

TopGear.com to build 70-mpg car for $7,000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, February 20, 2009 Contact: Devin Johnson, 212-339-1709 TOPGEAR.COM TO BUILD 70-MPG CAR FOR ONLY $7,000 VW bought in New York City, rebuilt in Canada and tested in sunny California Car to be named by TopGear.com readers TopGear.com announced today the launch of its "Build a 70-mpg Car" chal ... Continue reading

AssuranceAmerica Corporation Reports a $2.4 Million after Tax Charge from a Goodwill Write Down in 2008 Results

ATLANTA--Atlanta-based ASSURANCEAMERICA CORPORATION (OTCBB: ASAM) today announced its unaudited financial results for December 2008 and the twelve months ended December 31, 2008. Revenues for the twelve month period of 2008 increased 8% to $63.2 million, with December revenue up 15% to $5.4 million over December 2007. ... Continue reading

Twin Cities Automotive Enters into Agreement for Purchase of Dealerships from Denny Hecker Automotive Group

MINNEAPOLIS--Twin Cities Automotive Group has entered into an agreement for the purchase of the Inver Grove Heights Volkswagen and Hyundai dealerships from the Denny Hecker Automotive Group. “We are very pleased to confirm that our discussions have brought us to this agreement. While there are several conditions t ... Continue reading

Commercial Vehicle Group Senior Management Team Volunteers to Take Salary Reduction

NEW ALBANY, Ohio, Feb. 20 -- Commercial Vehicle Group, Inc. announced today that its senior management team volunteered to take a 10 percent reduction in base salary effective immediately as part of the Company's ongoing efforts to align costs for 2009 with the expected decline in the Company's end markets. "As a manag ... Continue reading

2010 Lexus RX: Reinventing the Vehicle That Invented It All - ROAD TRIP VIDEO

Lexus debuts third generation RX with new reinvention campaign TORRANCE, Calif., Feb. 19 -- Lexus celebrates the vehicles that invented an entire category with the launch of the next generation RX 350 and RX 450h, the first hybrid luxury sport utility vehicle. The RX 350, which is available now, and the RX 450h, which ... Continue reading

Volvo XC60, Jaguar XF, Dodge SXT, Nissan Murano In this Months Letter From Europe

Letter from Europe—Andrew Frankl European Bureau Chief As always when I write about Volvo cars I have to start with a confession. I own one, in fact it is the only car I own. An S70. It may not be new -1997- but when it is cleaned and polished it sparkles and goes like a train. Consequently I am biased about the c ... Continue reading

New BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo Concept Shows Much of the New Generation BMW 5 Series

By Henny Hemmes Senior European Editor MUNICH, Germany, With the unveiling of the Concept 5 Serie Gran Turismo, BMW also showed us what we can expect of the new 5 Series. The new generation of the ‘5’ is expected to bow in 2010 at the Geneva auto show. For Chris Bangle (52), presenting the Concept 5 Series GT ... Continue reading

Lebanon Set the Pace in South Africa

Gauteng, South Africa February 20, 2009: Round Five of the 2008/09 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season got underway in Gauteng, South Africa this afternoon with A1 Team France setting the early pace in the rookie session before A1 Team Lebanon’s Daniel Morad posted a 1-minute 30.816-seconds lap to end the day quic ... Continue reading

VICI LATEST TO CONFIRM SEBRING ENTRIES

Braselton, GA. February 20, 2009: VICI Racing will compete in GT2 at Sebring with at least two Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs. VICI Racing has joined the grid for the 57th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida, the opening race of the 2009 American Le Mans Series season. The team has submitted paperwork ... Continue reading

Long Time Speedway Motorsports Director Passes Away

CONCORD, N.C.--Long time Speedway Motorsports, Inc. director, William P. Benton passed away on February 19, 2009. Mr. Benton, 85, served on the Speedway Motorsports Board of Directors since just before the company went public in 1995. Mr. Benton retired from Ford Motor Company as Vice President of Marketing worldwide a ... Continue reading

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES - February 20, 2009

1. IndyCar Series drivers ready to start testing: One hundred seventy days after Scott Dixon was crowned the IndyCar Series champion at Chicagoland Speedway, teams and drivers will re-fire their Honda engines and begin on-track preparations for the 2009 season. Drivers and teams are scheduled for 10 hours of testing Fe ... Continue reading

Saab Says Today is the Beginning of a New Chapter in Saab's History - VIDEO ENHANCED

Saab Automobile on the Way Towards Independence After 20 years of foreign ownership, the future of Saab Automobile is once again in Swedish hands. On Friday, the Vänersborg District Court approved the request for a reorganization and restructuring which Saab’s representative submitted earlier in the morning. â ... Continue reading

Volkswagen Group of America Announces U.S. Arrival of 16 Passat Lingyu Fuel Cell Vehicles

- Zero Emissions Vehicles to Participate in Fuel Cell Demonstrations in Sacramento - HERNDON, Va., Feb. 20 -- Volkswagen Group of America announced today that 16 Passat Lingyu vehicles will participate in fleet demonstrations at the California Fuel Cell Partnership in Sacramento, Calif. These prototype vehicles were de ... Continue reading

YATES AND GILLILAND AMICABLY PART WAYS

FONTANA, CALIF. February 20, 2009: Yates Racing and David Gilliland announced today that they are terminating their relationship due to a lack of sponsorship on Yates Racing’s No. 38 Sprint Cup car. Gilliland began driving the No. 38 car for Robert Yates Racing in mid-2006. ... Continue reading

Sonic Automotive Mourns the Loss of William P. Benton, Long-Time Director

CHARLOTTE, N.C., Feb. 20 -- Long time Sonic Automotive, Inc. director, William P. Benton passed away on February 19, 2009. Mr. Benton, 85, served on the Sonic Automotive, Inc. Board of Directors since just after the company went public in 1997. Mr. Benton retired from Ford Motor Company as Vice President of Marketing w ... Continue reading

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Offering Innovative GPS Technology at U.S. Airport Locations

ST. LOUIS--Enterprise Rent-A-Car, North America’s largest rental car company, announced today that it is now offering a new Global Positioning System (GPS)-based navigation device – a customized version of the Garmin® nuvi 265W – at most major U.S. airport locations. “The portable GPS option is v ... Continue reading

2009 Chicago Auto Show: A Benefit to SAAD Sufferers, According to Scientist

CHICAGO, Feb. 20 -- Professor Vinny Boombatz of the Dangerfield Institute has presented Chicago Auto Show officials with a study that implies that seven of the displays now staged on the McCormick Place can positively impact those with Seasonal Automotive Affective Disorder (SAAD). "We have found that the lighting in t ... Continue reading

Robby Gordon California Preview

Fontana, February 20, 2009: No. 7 Jim Beam Toyota driver and California native Robby Gordon is excited to be racing in his home state this weekend for the Auto Club 500. Sunday’s race will mark Gordon’s 14th appearance at the two-mile D-shaped oval in the Sprint Cup Series recording one top-10 finish and four ... Continue reading

First Day of SCCA Convention Hands Out Region Honors; Talks With New President

LAS VEGAS, Nev. February 19, 2009: The first day of the 45th SCCA National Convention at South Point Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev., saw several region awards handed out and the membership’s first formal introduction to the new SCCA President and CEO. The morning sessions were capped off with a leadership lun ... Continue reading

Simulations Training Program Announced for Women Racers

<b><i>Lyn St. James’ Women in the Winner’s Circle Academy Students to Train in iRacing.com Driver Development Lab</b></i> BEDFORD, MA. February 20, 2009: A group of America’s most promising young women racing drivers will have the opportunity later this spring to learn how to use state-of-the-art motorsp ... Continue reading

Pacific Packaging Group to sponsor McDowell, #47 JTG Daugherty Entry

Harrisburg, NC February 20, 2009: Pacific Packaging Group, through their parent company Pacific Group Inc., announced a multi-year sponsorship agreement with JTG Daugherty Racing. Pacific Packaging Group will be sponsoring the #47 Nationwide Toyota Camry driven by Michael McDowell along with the teams other sponsor par ... Continue reading

Chery Auto Unveils its Frist Electric Car S18

Chery Auto unveils its first electric car S18 http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009413/Chery-Auto-unveils-its-first-el ectri c-car-S18.html Shanghai, February 20 (Gasgoo.com) China's largest homegrown carmaker Chery Automobile has rolled out its first own-brand plug-in electric car model, xinhuanet.com reported today. T ... Continue reading

Chery Auto Mulls Plan To Produce Cars In Belarus

Chery Auto mulls plan to produce cars in Belarus http://www.gasgoo.com/auto-news/1009416/Chery-Auto-mulls-plan-to-produc e-car s-in-Belarus.html Shanghai, February 20 (Gasgoo.com) China's Chery Automobile Co and Belarus' MAZ will prepare a business plan to produce passenger vehicles in Belarus this April, reported Prim ... Continue reading

Statement in Response to the New Jersey Supreme Court's Consumer Fraud Act Ruling

TRENTON, N.J., Feb. 20 -- Marcus Rayner, Executive Director of the New Jersey Lawsuit Reform Alliance, today issued the following statement in reaction to the New Jersey Supreme Court's ruling in Bosland v. Warnock Dodge Inc., which resolved the question of whether consumers are required to ask merchants for a refund b ... Continue reading

New Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar Tackles Off-Road Challenges

AKRON, Ohio, Feb. 20 -- When it comes to developing a tire that can take on tough terrain, such as exploring trails or crawling rocks, engineers at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company left no stone unturned. The new Goodyear Wrangler MT/R with Kevlar is the company's first off-road tire built with the rugged toughness o ... Continue reading

Ferro Schedules Conference Call for 2008 Full-Year and Fourth-Quarter Results

CLEVELAND--Ferro Corporation announced today that it will conduct a conference call on Tuesday, March 3, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss financial results for the full year and three months ended December 31, 2008 and factors that are expected to affect the Company's first-quarter performance. Participants from F ... Continue reading

Mercedes-Benz Newsgroup, Offering Exclusive Inside Access to This Year's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week

MONTVALE, N.J., Feb. 20 -- To meet the growing need for more widely accessible press materials including runway shots and designer information, Mercedes-Benz created Newsgroup to provide extensive and complimentary Fashion Show coverage. Since 2008, the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Newsgroup has provided journalists acce ... Continue reading

Porsche Releases More Cayenne Hybrid Details

The Cayenne S Hybrid will deliver the power of a V8 and the efficiency of a four-cylinder ATLANTA, Feb. 20 -- Porsche AG, the Stuttgart, Germany-based high-performance car and SUV manufacturer, shared more information about its Cayenne S Hybrid, which will debut next year. Using a parallel full hybrid design with the e ... Continue reading

TRW Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2008 Financial Results

- Fourth-quarter sales of $2.8 billion -- a decline of 28%; full-year sales of $15.0 billion -- an increase of 2%. - Fourth-quarter GAAP net loss of ($9.35) per share; full-year GAAP net loss of ($7.71) per share. - Excluding special items, fourth-quarter net loss of ($0.73) per share; full-year net earnings of $1.50 p ... Continue reading

The Electric Vehicle Initiative to Promote Electric and Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles in Florida

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.--A Florida family is traveling to your hometown this spring (Mid February through the end of March) to show you that 100 plus miles per gallon is a possibility for cars right now. Fed up with waiting for carmakers to show a willingness to give citizens of this country the non-polluting, efficient, ele ... Continue reading

Ford Targets 100 Socially-Networked Millennials for First Drive of Ford's New Small Car, Fiesta

- "Fiesta Movement" is designed to spread the word online and generate excitement among Millennials about Ford's new global small car leading up to the 2010 North American launch - The first of the 100 Fiestas are coming off the line today at Ford of Europe's Cologne assembly plant in Germany - Millennials, born betwee ... Continue reading

Markstone Capital Partners Acquires Controlling Interest of TOMCAR(R), Company Positioned for Growth in 2009

ROCHESTER HILLS, Mich., Feb. 20 -- Markstone Capital Partners has acquired a controlling interest in TOMCAR Ltd. TOMCAR was founded in 1991 and is the acclaimed manufacturer of the highly capable TOMCAR(R) TM2, TM4 and TM5 off-road vehicles which are available with a choice of gas or diesel engines. The TOMCAR is a mil ... Continue reading

The Mint Leasing, Inc. Announces Plans for Expansion

HOUSTON, Feb. 20 -- The Mint Leasing, Inc., (OTC Bulletin Board: MLES), a provider of innovative vehicle leasing solutions, today announced that the Company's landlord has secured additional adjacent property. With this additional land, the Company and the landlord, Jerry Parish, expect to expand the Company's headquar ... Continue reading

Research and Markets: Global Market Review of Automotive Batteries – New Updated Forecast Data to 2016

DUBLIN, Ireland--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/12676a/global_market_revi) has announced the addition of the "Global Market Review of Automotive Batteries - New Updated Forecast Data to 2016" report to their offering. Since just-auto's last edition of automotive batteries was published ... Continue reading

Research and Markets: General Motors 2009 Company Profile Edition 1

DUBLIN, Ireland--Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/070fc1/general_motors_200) has announced the addition of the "General Motors 2009 Company Profile Edition 1" company profile to their offering. This latest just-auto company profile is part of a major series of reports that will provide y ... Continue reading

FORMER TRACK R.O.Y. RETURNS TO ASA'S ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY AS NEW PROMOTER

For Immediate Release American Speed Association PR FORMER TRACK R.O.Y. RETURNS TO ASA'S ORANGE SHOW SPEEDWAY AS NEW PROMOTER DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (February 20, 2009) - Racers in the Southern California area have seen their options for places to compete dwindle over the past several years as racetracks are replaced by t ... Continue reading

Unite Warns Slump in Car Production Figures Heralds Greatest Crisis for UK Industry

LONDON, February 20 -- The latest car production figures, out today (Friday) and showing that 60 per cent fewer cars and commercial vehicles were made in January compared to the same period last year, underline that the UK car industry is in crisis, says Unite, the country's biggest union. Commenting on the slump in pr ... Continue reading

One in Five Fatal Car Accidents Involve Missing Air Bags; Carfax Takes Action to Protect Public

To: Assignment Desks (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080507/CARFAXLOGO ) Contact: Christopher Basso of Carfax, 703-934-2664 News Advisory: A new report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) finds that nearly one in five fatal accidents involve cars that have missing air bags. This ... Continue reading

GM Supplier Statement on Saab Reorganization

ZURICH, February 20 -- Saab Automobile AB announced today that it has filed for reorganization in Sweden. In response to the concerns received from Saab's supplier base, General Motors Europe will promptly establish a viable mechanism for the timely payment of suppliers' claims towards Saab. "GM is fully committed to m ... Continue reading

Is a 'Buy American' Policy Good for the U.S. Economy?

Washington DC February 20, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that the Detroit Free Press occasionally offers readers the opportunity to pose a question to a local economist. The week's question was: We're seeing more "Buy American" sentiment lately, both among automakers in Detroit and among lawmakers in Washington, ... Continue reading

Fuller Wanted to Start a New Winning Streak in Phoenix

Phoenix, February 20, 2009: The guy who had a streak of 17 consecutive round wins at NHRA national events in Phoenix won’t get a chance to start a new one this year. Instead of being strapped into a 7,000 horsepower Top Fuel Dragster at this year’s NHRA Lucas Oil Slick Mist Nationals, ‘Hot’ Rod Full ... Continue reading

5 Great Deals on a Family Car

Washington DC February 20, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that Yes, used car sales are up, but some people still want to buy new. Of the hundreds of national incentives being offered from manufacturers, the L.A. Times has collected some of this week's best "spifs" – industry lingo for lease discounts, rebates ... Continue reading

Winner Of Global Mobile Film Festival Gets First Chevrolet Cruze

The short film 'English as a Second Language', produced by Frank Chindamo and directed by Jocelyn Stemat, won the grand prize in the Mofilm mobile short film festival at the GSMA's Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Wayne Brannon, Vice President Chevrolet Europe handed over the keys of a brand new Chevrolet Cruze comp ... Continue reading

GM's Saab Unit Files for Bankruptcy

TROLLHATTAN, Sweden - February 20, 2009; The AIADA newsletter reported that General Motors Corp.'s Swedish-based subsidiary Saab filed for bankruptcy protection Friday so the unit can be spun off or sold by its struggling U.S. parent, officials said. The move comes after Sweden turned down GM's request for government h ... Continue reading

World Debuts: Porsche 911 GT3 and Cayenne Diesel

Two world debuts mark the highlights from Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, at the 2009 Geneva Motor Show: the 911 GT3 and the Cayenne Diesel. Presented for the first time to the public, these two models impressively symbolise the particular fortes of Porsche's model range focusing on both tradition and the futur ... Continue reading

Drive '09, The Professional Driver Event, Postponed Until September 2009

Following discussions with exhibitors and partners, the management team of Drive '09 have decided to postpone the Drive &'09 exhibition from March 2009 until 26 -27th September 2009. ... Continue reading

Starting Shot For Global Cooperation With ZF Services - Bosch Plans To Acquire Autocrew GmbH

The Bosch Automotive Aftermarket division plans to acquire AutoCrew GmbH, based in Schweinfurt, Germany. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of ZF Trading GmbH (ZF Services business unit). The purchase agreement was signed on February 18, 2009. It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be disclosed. The ... Continue reading

Hella is "Claas Supplier of the Year 2008"

The lighting and electronics specialist Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., Lippstadt, has been awarded the title "Claas Supplier of the Year 2008". With this title, the globally leading manufacturer of agricultural machinery acknowledges the many years of partnership in the field of the supply of lighting systems. ... Continue reading

Automobili Lamborghini Announces Lamborghini Academy Programme for 2009

Lamborghini has announced its new Lamborghini Academy dates for 2009. With courses open to all sports car enthusiasts as well as Lamborghini owners, the track driving schools provide an extraordinary opportunity to experience the full potential of Lamborghini cars, alongside the Italian super sports car manufacturer's ... Continue reading

Cologne Builds Fiestas For American Customer Trial

Ford of Europe's Cologne assembly plant in Germany is playing a key role in an initiative to introduce the New Fiesta to consumers in North America ... Continue reading

Andrea Bucci Extends Responsibilities At Iveco UK

Iveco has announced the appointment of Andrea Bucci to the role of Network Strategy Director, in addition to his current responsibilities as Marketing Director. ... Continue reading

New Citroen Relay Specialist Vehicles

Citroën is now offering its LCV customers a range of fully finished specialist vehicles with the introduction of its new Relay Specialist range. These include a Citroen Relay Tipper, Dropside and two Luton vans. All models are fully approved and supported by Citroën UK Ltd and feature a full Citroën LCV two year, un ... Continue reading

Honda Hybrid Sales Pass 300,000

Honda's worldwide, total hybrid sales hit the 300,000 mark earlier this month, and will soon be bolstered by the all-new Insight, which goes on sale in April as the most affordable hybrid car on the market. ... Continue reading

Will Saturn Drive Its Own Future?

AUTOMAKER GENERAL MOTORS RESTRUCTURING PLAN IS NOW BEING EVALUATED BY THE US GOVERNMENT AND IT INCLUDES A BUSINESS ALTERNATIVE FOR SATURN. DANIELLE ADDAIR HAS MORE ON THE BRAND’S PLANS TO DRIVE ITS OWN FUTURE. STORY INFORMATION: THIS REPORT BROUGHT TO YOU BY SATURN. PART OF THE RESTRUCTURING PLAN GENERAL ... Continue reading

BMW's New 7 Series: This is Driving Heaven...Anywhere on Earth - VIDEO ENHANCED

by Marty Bernstein Dresden, Germany The BMW 7 Series just isn't a car, nor can it be referred to as just a vehicle or an automobile, this is a fine, exclusive, elegant motorcar … in the oldest, grandest sense of the term but with contemporary commitments to style, agility, elegance and quality. BMW had been keepin ... Continue reading

2009 Geneva Motor Show: Rolls-Royce to Unveil 200EX

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars will unveil its latest experimental car, called 200EX, at the Geneva Motor Show on 3 March 2009. 200EX is a design study for a contemporary four-door saloon and shows the direction for RR4, a new model series from Rolls-Royce due for production in 2010. ... Continue reading

ESP Fitment Increases In The UK, But Small Cars Still Lag Behind

During the first half of 2008, 56 percent of all newly registered cars in the UK were equipped with the Electronic Stability Program, (ESP). This was an increase of eight percent on 2007 levels and the first time the UK fitment rate has represented more than half of all new cars sold. In Europe, overall fitment rose by ... Continue reading

2009 Geneva Motor Show: Chrysler to Showcases its Electric Vehicle Future

With its rapidly growing portfolio of ENVI-powered Electric Vehicles, Chrysler LLC is inspiring a personal mobility revolution, creating a new generation of responsible, no-compromise Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles for consumers who care about the planet's future and want to take care of it. ... Continue reading

Saab On The Road to Independence

As a result of GM's strategic review of the global Saab business the Saab Board announced today that it will file for reorganization under a self-managed Swedish court process to create a fully independent business entity that would be sustainable and suitable for investment. ... Continue reading

Kia Motors Posts Sales Growth in North American and General Markets in January

Kia Motors posts sales growth in North American and general markets in January - Kia Motors posts 15.4% growth and 3.3% growth in general markets and North America, respectively, in January (SEOUL) February 20, 2009 -- Kia Motors Corporation announced today that it has continued to gain market share in general markets ... Continue reading