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March 2011

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Thursday, March 31, 2011

2011 Kia Optima EX Review, Specs, Comparisons and Rankings

2011 Kia Optima EX Review, Specs, Comparisons and Rankings

2011 Kia Optima Specs, Prices and Comparisons DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH CAREY RUSS 2011 Kia Optima EX There are two manufacturers that dominate the midsize sedan class, with several more trying their best to usurp the leaders. None of these are Kia. Yet Kia has had a midsize sedan for eleven years and two previous gen ... Continue reading

InterPol Reveals Automovox.com as Source of Internet Viruses

InterPol Reveals Automovox.com as Source of Internet Viruses

PARIS - April 1, 2010: Confidential police sources have issued a report warning Internet users to not visit a France-based website www.automovox.com as it is the potential source of a new series of extremely harmful viruses that can disable computers and cause insanity to the user. The results are appearantly tied to A ... Continue reading

New 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Set for Global Unveiling in Shanghai - VIDEO ENAHNCED

New 2013 Chevrolet Malibu Set for Global Unveiling in Shanghai - VIDEO ENAHNCED

The Web reveal will also be streamed live on iPad and iPhone mobile devices. Consumers are encouraged to post questions during the reveal on Twitter using #MalibuReveal or on Chevrolet's Facebook page in the Malibu tab. ... Continue reading

The Cars Americans Think Are the Best But Are They?

The Cars Americans Think Are the Best But Are They?

Washington DC March 31, 2011; The AIADA newsletter reporterd that Forbes asks: Which cars do Americans think are the best? "The perception of the quality of the mainstream is certainly a cut below the luxury brands," says Eric Lyman, the director of residual values for the automotive analysis firm ALG. "People expect t ... Continue reading

New York Gets the Lead Out

New York Gets the Lead Out

LA VERGNE, Tenn.--Beginning April 1, 2011, the sale and installation of lead wheel weights will be banned in the state of New York, continuing a nationwide trend with a positive impact on the environment. “Starting tomorrow, New Yorkers will be exposed to less airborne lead when my law prohibiting the use or sale ... Continue reading

Chevron Introduces New Delo Grease ESI

Chevron Introduces New Delo Grease ESI

SAN RAMON, Calif.--Chevron Lubricants, maker of the Delo® brand of technologically advanced engine oils, lubricants and coolants, today introduced the latest member of its product family, Delo Grease ESI. This extended service interval (ESI) grease is engineered to reduce friction and wear and is designed for a ... Continue reading

Renowned TV Show Builders West Coast Customs Team Up With General Tire and Jeff "OX" Kargola to Create the "OX-Tundra"

Renowned TV Show Builders West Coast Customs Team Up With General Tire and Jeff "OX" Kargola to Create the "OX-Tundra"

PR Newswire CORONA, Calif., March 31, 2011 CORONA, Calif., March 31, 2011 -- West Coast Customs (WCC) premiers their new show on Discovery's HD Theater, Inside West Coast Customs, April 3, 2011, at 9:00 p.m. EDT. Inside West Coast Customs is the next exciting show featuring WCC's outrageous builds. WCC is unveiling the ... Continue reading

GM Announces Sale of its Stake in Delphi Automotive for $3.8 Billion

GM Announces Sale of its Stake in Delphi Automotive for $3.8 Billion

PR Newswire DETROIT, March 31, 2011 DETROIT, March 31, 2011 -- General Motors Company today announced the sale of its Class A Membership Interest in Delphi Automotive LLP (Delphi) back to Delphi for $3.8 billion. GM acquired the Class A Membership Interest in October 2009 in conjunction with the creation of Delphi. "We ... Continue reading

Obama Finally Starts to Make Good on Campaign Promises; Discovers the Virtues of Natural Gas

Obama Finally Starts to Make Good on Campaign Promises; Discovers the Virtues of Natural Gas

DULLES, Va.--Noting "the potential for natural gas is enormous," President Obama put aside his feud with the oil and gas industry for a moment Wednesday, and for the first time promoted the use of natural gas, particularly gas-fueled vehicles, as part of his energy policy, according to Natural Gas Intelligence (NGI). A ... Continue reading

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Review Redux

2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Review Redux

2011 Honda Odyssey Specs, Comparisons, Reviews and Prices THE AUTO PAGE By JOHN HEILIG SPECIFICATIONS: 2011 HONDA ODYSSEY TOURING ELITE Model: 2011 Honda Odyssey Touring Elite Engine: 3.5-liter V6 Horsepower/Torque: 248 hp @ 5,700 rpm/250 lb.-ft. @ 4,800 rpm Transmission: 6-speed automatic Wheelbase: 118.1 in. Length/W ... Continue reading

Goodyear Tire Plant Wins 'The Shingo Prize,' Top Award for Manufacturers

Goodyear Tire Plant Wins 'The Shingo Prize,' Top Award for Manufacturers

PR Newswire AKRON, Ohio, March 31, 2011 AKRON, Ohio, March 31, 2011 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's manufacturing plant in Americana, Brazil, has won The Shingo Prize, one of the world's most prestigious honors for manufacturers and called "the Nobel prize of manufacturing" by Businessweek magazine. (Logo: http ... Continue reading

Sequa Automotive Group Announces Manufacturing Expansion in Morgantown, Kentucky

Sequa Automotive Group Announces Manufacturing Expansion in Morgantown, Kentucky

PR Newswire BRIDGEPORT, Conn., March 31, 2011 BRIDGEPORT, Conn., March 31, 2011 -- Sequa Automotive Group, which operates ARC Automotive Inc. and CASCO Products – suppliers to the global automotive industry – announced today it will expand manufacturing in Morgantown, Kentucky, adding up t ... Continue reading

Navistar Introduces ProStar+ with MaxxForce 15

Navistar Introduces ProStar+ with MaxxForce 15

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--At a press event at this week’s Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky., Navistar, Inc. announced the production availability of its much anticipated MaxxForce® 15, which completes the broadest, most comprehensive lineup of integrated truck-engine offerings available to North ... Continue reading

Audi Brings Progress and Innovation to Two Wheels With Launch of Duo Hardwood Bicycles

Audi Brings Progress and Innovation to Two Wheels With Launch of Duo Hardwood Bicycles

PR Newswire HERNDON, Va., March 31, 2011 HERNDON, Va., March 31, 2011 -- Audi of America today announced that it has teamed up exclusively with Renovo Hardwood Bicycles, the only all-hardwood bike manufacturer in the world, to create the duo – an Audi-inspired bicycle collection that embodies the best of ... Continue reading

AutoVision International Film and Multimedia Festival Calls for Entries

AutoVision International Film and Multimedia Festival Calls for Entries

AutoVision - the International Film and Multimedia Festival for the Automotive Industry, calls for entries to its 10th jubilee edition. New OttoCar Grand Prix to win - Submissions are due until May 16th, 2011 $B!!(B Munich, March 29th 2011 - As of now TV & cinema commercials, TV programs, brand and corporate websites ... Continue reading

Washington Drivers Confused About HOV Lanes, Admit to Abusing Lane Privileges

Washington Drivers Confused About HOV Lanes, Admit to Abusing Lane Privileges

PR Newswire SEATTLE, March 31, 2011 SEATTLE, March 31, 2011 -- While most Washington drivers describe themselves as law-abiding, and even polite, a surprising number of drivers admit to crossing the line when it comes to high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes by using them without the required number of occupants, accordin ... Continue reading

Honda and Mazda Will Start Limited Production, AP Reports

Honda and Mazda Will Start Limited Production, AP Reports

DETROIT (AP) -- Honda Motor Co. and Mazda Motor Corp. said Thursday they will resume limited production at several Japanese factories in April, but full production depends on the availability of parts. ... Continue reading

GEICO's Coralville Office to Hire Almost 30 Associates for Sales and Service Positions

GEICO's Coralville Office to Hire Almost 30 Associates for Sales and Service Positions

CORALVILLE, Iowa--GEICO will hire nearly 30 associates for its sales and customer service departments and 100 associates over the course of the year due to the company’s continuing national growth. GEICO is the third largest private passenger automobile insurer in the United States. “Our office in C ... Continue reading

Ford Begins Building One of the World's First Digital Child Crash Dummies

Ford Begins Building One of the World's First Digital Child Crash Dummies

PR Newswire DEARBORN, Mich., March 31, 2011 DEARBORN, Mich., March 31, 2011 -- Ford begins one of the world's first research projects to build a digital human model of a child with more lifelike re-creations of the skeletal structure, internal organs and brain – to enhance future safety research Ford res ... Continue reading

Ryder Orders 202 Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Trucks

Ryder Orders 202 Heavy-Duty Natural Gas Trucks

MIAMI--Ryder System, Inc., a leader in commercial transportation and supply chain management solutions, today announced that it reached a key milestone in a major alternative fuel initiative with the order of 202 heavy-duty natural gas vehicles. The vehicle order is part of Ryder’s agreement with the San ... Continue reading

Exclusive Lexus Culinary Team to Debut at Pebble Beach Food & Wine

Exclusive Lexus Culinary Team to Debut at Pebble Beach Food & Wine

PR Newswire TORRANCE, Calif., March 31, 2011 TORRANCE, Calif., March 31, 2011 -- In a first of its kind, Lexus is teaming up with six of the world's most distinguished chefs as it unveils its Lexus Culinary Masters team. The team will partner with Lexus on multiple initiatives, including Lexus customer appreciation pro ... Continue reading

NADA Guide Analyst: Used-Car Prices Continue to Surge from Crisis in Japan

NADA Guide Analyst: Used-Car Prices Continue to Surge from Crisis in Japan

PR Newswire MCLEAN, Va., March 31, 2011 NADA Used Car Guide Responds Quickly to Extreme Shocks in the Automotive Market MCLEAN, Va., March 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Prices of fuel-efficient, used cars – both at auction and at the retail level – continue to feel the ripple effect ... Continue reading

Ford Hybrids Rated Highest for Customer Payback, Value

Ford Hybrids Rated Highest for Customer Payback, Value

PR Newswire DEARBORN, Mich., March 31, 2011 DEARBORN, Mich., March 31, 2011 -- Ford hybrid vehicles rank at the top of the list for payback and fuel cost savings, giving consumers more value and return on investment, compared to competitors Ford's hybrid vehicle lineup – the Fusion Hybrid and Escape Hybr ... Continue reading

Chevrolet Hosts April 8 Unveiling of Weymouth Township's 'Dream' Baseball Field

Chevrolet Hosts April 8 Unveiling of Weymouth Township's 'Dream' Baseball Field

PR Newswire Mar. 31 Local Community Invited to Help Dedicate Renovated Field at Weymouth Township Municipal Complex What: West Atlantic County Youth League will walk onto a completely renovated baseball field during the official unveiling on April 8 thanks to Chevrolet, The Scotts Company, and a local man who entered t ... Continue reading

Clean Energy to Build & Operate New CNG Fueling Facility to Support Tulsa, Oklahoma Transit Authority's Transition to a 100% CNG-Powered Bus Fleet

Clean Energy to Build & Operate New CNG Fueling Facility to Support Tulsa, Oklahoma Transit Authority's Transition to a 100% CNG-Powered Bus Fleet

SEAL BEACH, Calif.--The Metropolitan Tulsa Transit Authority (MTTA) of Tulsa, Oklahoma has awarded Clean Energy Fuels Corp. a contract to design, build, operate and maintain a compressed natural gas (CNG) fueling station to support the agency’s growing fleet of CNG-powered buses and paratransit vehicles. ... Continue reading

INRIX Partners With Targa and Infoblu for Next Generation Traffic Information Services

INRIX Partners With Targa and Infoblu for Next Generation Traffic Information Services

PR Newswire KIRKLAND, Wash. and ROME, March 31, 2011 KIRKLAND, Wash. and ROME, March 31, 2011 --INRIX®, a leading provider of traffic information and driver services, announced a partnership with service provider Targa Infomobility and Infoblu, the leading provider of traffic information in Italy. This partnership e ... Continue reading

Penske Logistics Earns Ford Motor Company's Gold World Excellence Award

Penske Logistics Earns Ford Motor Company's Gold World Excellence Award

PR Newswire READING, Pa., March 31, 2011 READING, Pa., March 31, 2011 -- Penske Logistics has been awarded Ford Motor Company's Gold World Excellence Award. This is the third World Excellence Award Penske Logistics has earned from Ford and it is the second time the company has earned Gold. "We're sincerely honored to r ... Continue reading

Saini, C.J. Wilson Racing Hoping To Strike Out The Side In 2011

Saini, C.J. Wilson Racing Hoping To Strike Out The Side In 2011

TOPEKA, March 31, 2011: When the 2011 SCCA Pro Racing Playboy Mazda MX-5 Cup season opened in March at Homestead-Miami Speedway, a new team was on the grid with a very familiar driver. Jason Saini, the 2007 MX-5 Cup Champion and 2008 Pirelli World Challenge Touring Car Rookie-of-the-Year, returned to the series with a ... Continue reading

Subaru of America Named Ogilvy Award Winner by Advertising Research Foundation

Subaru of America Named Ogilvy Award Winner by Advertising Research Foundation

PR Newswire CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 31, 2011 CHERRY HILL, N.J., March 31, 2011 -- Subaru of America, Inc. was honored with the Silver Award at the 2011 Advertising Research Foundation (ARF) David Ogilvy Awards for Excellence in Advertising. The awards, named after advertising legend David Ogilvy, are given to companie ... Continue reading

USAA Names Best Vehicles for Overall Value - Specs, Reviews and Comparisons

USAA Names Best Vehicles for Overall Value - Specs, Reviews and Comparisons

Best Value vehicle list that names the top 2011 automobiles in 16 categories based on quantitative data used in USAA's proprietary rating system. ... Continue reading

Tony Stewart Racing Concludes Outlaws California Spring Break

Tony Stewart Racing Concludes Outlaws California Spring Break

INDIANAPOLIS, March 31, 2011: For the first time in eight seasons, the World of Outlaws (WoO) Sprint Car Series stars have spent an early portion of their season competing in the Golden State. This weekend, the traveling Outlaws are set to conclude their five-race tour of California with an inaugural race at Merced (Ca ... Continue reading

TONY STEWART - A Martinsville Elitist

TONY STEWART - A Martinsville Elitist

KANNAPOLIS, March 31, 2011: Tony Stewart is part of an elite group. Believe it or not, it’s not because of his two NASCAR Sprint Cup Series championships. Or 39 career Sprint Cup wins. Or 1997 IZOD IndyCar Series title. Or four USAC championships. ... Continue reading

Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series To Kick Off This Weekend

Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series To Kick Off This Weekend

Glen Helen, March 31, 2011: While the Lucas Oil Regional Off Road Racing Series Presented by Daystar kicks off this Saturday, April 2nd, the organization continues to gain momentum with the support of a number of exciting new partnerships. The series focus of providing a platform for the development of grass roots shor ... Continue reading

J.J. Yeley, No. 46 Red Line Oil Chevrolet Impala Goody's Fast Relief 500 Fast Facts

J.J. Yeley, No. 46 Red Line Oil Chevrolet Impala Goody's Fast Relief 500 Fast Facts

NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race No. 6 Goody’s Fast Relief 500 Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, Martinsville, Virginia Race Information: Event: Goody’s Fast Relief 500, Sunday, April 3 at 1:00 p.m. Local. Track: Martinsville (Va.) Speedway Qualifying: Saturday, April 2 at 12:10 p.m. Local Time Track Length: .526-mil ... Continue reading

Ride to Return The Favor To Our Troops And Take A Lap Around Michigan International Speedway

Ride to Return The Favor To Our Troops And Take A Lap Around Michigan International Speedway

BROOKLYN, March 30, 2011: Motorcycle riders have a unique opportunity to take a lap around Michigan International Speedway as part of the first ever Ride to Return the Favor on Saturday, May 21. The ride will raise funds to support the VFW Foundation’s Return the Favor campaign to honor and celebrate active duty m ... Continue reading

IndyCar Notes

IndyCar Notes

<b>AirMed, LVCVA, AVIS and Others On Board for 2011 IZOD IndyCar Series</b> - Sunoco and PerkinElmer entitle the Rookie of the Year Awards: With the IZOD IndyCar Series' successful season kickoff this past weekend at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg, INDYCAR enjoys new and renewed relationships and deeper investm ... Continue reading

Irwindale Opening Night 2011!

Irwindale Opening Night 2011!

Irwindale, March 30, 2011: Toyota Speedway at Irwindale will open its 2011 NASCAR season on Saturday night, April 2 with a very special show Presented by Toyota Dealers of Southern California who’ve helped the track to go all out for a fun night of family entertainment that features the widest range of motorized a ... Continue reading

Jeremy Frankoski Readies NEMA Season Opener

Jeremy Frankoski Readies NEMA Season Opener

HUNTERSVILLE, March 30, 2011: USAC Ford Focus Carolina champion Jeremy Frankoski is readily preparing for his NorthEastern Midget Association (NEMA) season debut this weekend at Waterford Speedbowl in Waterford, Connecticut with the help of an old sponsor and a new sponsor. Jeremy Frankoski Racing (JFR) in affiliation ... Continue reading

Crew Chief For The No. 78 Team In The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Penalized For Rule Violation At Auto Club Speedway

Crew Chief For The No. 78 Team In The NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Penalized For Rule Violation At Auto Club Speedway

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (March 30, 2011) – Peter Rondeau, crew chief for the No. 78 team in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series, has been penalized for a rule violation committed last week at Auto Club Speedway. Rondeau has been fined $25,000 for violating sections 12-1 (actions detrimental to stock car racing) and 20-2.3A ( ... Continue reading

Rand McNally's "Moving America" Kicks Off at 2011 Mid-America Trucking Show

Rand McNally's "Moving America" Kicks Off at 2011 Mid-America Trucking Show

Rand McNally has kicked off a five-month long trucker appreciation tour featuring two trucks with custom-built trailers that will visit Pilot and Flying J travel centers from coast-to-coast. ... Continue reading

Chevrolet Introduces Mi-ray Roadster Concept

Chevrolet Introduces Mi-ray Roadster Concept

Chevrolet introduced the Mi-ray concept today at the 2011 Seoul Motor Show. The roadster celebrates Chevrolet's 100-year heritage of designing expressive vehicles in the brand's newest market. ... Continue reading

GM Says Chevrolet Cruze to Exceed 50,000 U.S. Sales in First Quarter

GM Says Chevrolet Cruze to Exceed 50,000 U.S. Sales in First Quarter

Chevrolet Cruze is on track to exceed 50,000 total sales. Retail sales for the Cruze are expected to more than triple those of the Chevrolet Cobalt during the first quarter a year ago. ... Continue reading

Polk 2010 Year-End Analysis Shows Ford, GM, Toyota Lead in Automotive Loyalty

Polk 2010 Year-End Analysis Shows Ford, GM, Toyota Lead in Automotive Loyalty

2010 year-end automotive loyalty rates finds Ford Motor Company ended the year with a 63.1 percent owner loyalty rate, the highest among vehicle manufacturers, according to Polk. Ford improved its loyalty rate 3.9 percentage points over 2009 and overtook General Motors' 2009 leading position. GM and Toyota rounded out ... Continue reading

>NHTSA Presents 17 Awards for Highway Safety

>NHTSA Presents 17 Awards for Highway Safety

PHOENIX -- The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today presented awards at the 29th Annual Lifesavers Conference to 17 individuals and groups for their exemplary achievement in promoting highway safety across America. "While we will never rest, the hard work of our awardees and organizations like L ... Continue reading

Carmarthenshire County Council Unveil Pure-Electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Carmarthenshire County Council Unveil Pure-Electric Mitsubishi i-MiEV

Mitsubishi Motors in the UK is delighted to announce that Carmarthenshire County Council will be the first authority in Wales to unveil their two new Mitsubishi i-MiEVs today. ... Continue reading

Ford's UK Tech Center Helps New Ford Focus Global Touring Car Prepare For Action

Ford's UK Tech Center Helps New Ford Focus Global Touring Car Prepare For Action

The all-new Team Aon Ford Focus BTCC car has undergone its final shakedown tests ahead of this weekend's opening race at Brands Hatch. ... Continue reading

Jaguar Wins Acclaimed Award For Its Sponsorship Of The England Cricket Team

Jaguar Wins Acclaimed Award For Its Sponsorship Of The England Cricket Team

Jaguar has been presented with the award for 'Best Sports Sponsorship (under £750K)' for its sponsorship of the England Cricket Team at the prestigious Hollis Sponsorship Awards in London last night. ... Continue reading

Get Set To Save With Saab

Get Set To Save With Saab

It's not often you get something for nothing, but that's exactly what is on offer for owners of Saab cars more than three years old. ... Continue reading

Chrysler Is Official Car Supplier For Gorby80 Birthday Gala Concert

Chrysler Is Official Car Supplier For Gorby80 Birthday Gala Concert

The grace, luxury and style of Chrysler vehicles will be on display to the world tonight (30 March) when a fleet of 300C saloons and Grand Voyager people carriers act as official transport for a unique gala concert in central London. ... Continue reading

Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4

Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4

The versatile Skoda Octavia Scout 4x4 is becoming even more attractive. The Octavia Scout 4x4 is broadening its range and now includes the highly-efficient DSG transmission and a top-of-the-range premium model. ... Continue reading

The Honda Foundation Breaks The $8m Barrier

The Honda Foundation Breaks The $8m Barrier

The Honda Foundation - Honda Australia's charitable arm - has donated over $8.1 million to 650 charities across Australia in the last 19 years. ... Continue reading

First Glimpse Of Holden's New Mid-Sized Player

First Glimpse Of Holden's New Mid-Sized Player

The first image of Holden's new-generation mid-sized sedan has been released ahead of its global reveal as the Chevrolet Malibu. ... Continue reading

More Than 5000 Kilometres Through Australia - F-CELL World Drive Starts Its Third Route Section

More Than 5000 Kilometres Through Australia - F-CELL World Drive Starts Its Third Route Section

59 days after setting off from Stuttgart, the F-CELL World Drive has reached the third continent of its round-the-world tour. ... Continue reading

Standout Classics At Shannons Sydney Sale

Standout Classics At Shannons Sydney Sale

Shannons have a number of 'tandout' British and European classics crossing the auction block in Sydney on Monday, May 2. ... Continue reading

Kia Naimo Electric Concept Stars In Seoul

Kia Naimo Electric Concept Stars In Seoul

Making its world premiere at the Seoul Motor Show today (Thursday), the Kia Naimo electric concept car combines Korean heritage with innovative modern features. ... Continue reading

Thrilling Racing At Pirelli's Debut In Australia

Thrilling Racing At Pirelli's Debut In Australia

Pirelli's first race of its three-year agreement to supply Formula One has provided close competition, two to three pit stops per car, and a total race time that was three minutes quicker than last year underlining the performance of the PZero tyres. ... Continue reading

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