The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

June 2004

Select Another Month

Friday, June 4, 2004

Allmendinger Milwaukee Qualifying

Allmendinger Milwaukee Qualifying

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Dashboard Confessional Award Their Customized Honda Civic to Margarita Garcia of Redwood City, Calif.

Dashboard Confessional Award Their Customized Honda Civic to Margarita Garcia of Redwood City, Calif.

VENICE, Calif.--June 4, 2004--Prior to their headlining concert at the Event Center at San Jose State University on Thursday, June 3, as part of Civic Tour 2004, Dashboard Confessional awarded Margarita Garcia of Redwood City, Calif., one of the customized and autographed Honda Civics that they personally designed. Gar ... Continue reading

Document from Infineon Raceway

Document from Infineon Raceway

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Jourdain Milwaukee Qualifying

Jourdain Milwaukee Qualifying

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Subaru of America, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of 2005 Legacy Sedans and Outback Sedans

Subaru of America, Inc. Announces Voluntary Recall of 2005 Legacy Sedans and Outback Sedans

- Campaign to Address Side Curtain Airbag Problem - CHERRY HILL, N.J., June 4 -- Subaru of America, Inc. today announced a voluntary recall on 2005 Legacy Sedan and Outback Sedan models to address a side curtain airbag problem. This recall involves all 2005 model-year Subaru Legacy Sedan and Outback Sedan models. The a ... Continue reading

Nissan's Global Products Highlighted on San Francisco Billboards; Automaker's Global Nissan 360 Event Makes a Splash on America's Favorite City

Nissan's Global Products Highlighted on San Francisco Billboards; Automaker's Global Nissan 360 Event Makes a Splash on America's Favorite City

SAN FRANCISCO--June 4, 2004--What is red, white and blue and speaks in four languages? They're Nissan billboards in and around San Francisco to celebrate the automaker's first global ride and drive event, Nissan 360, a three-week program which kicks off today. The billboards carry images of Nissan vehicles from North A ... Continue reading

Chrysler Group Designers Will Reveal Secrets of Jeep(R) Vehicle Design to 12-Year-Old, Make-A-Wish Boy During Special Tour, Tuesday, June 8, in Auburn Hills

Chrysler Group Designers Will Reveal Secrets of Jeep(R) Vehicle Design to 12-Year-Old, Make-A-Wish Boy During Special Tour, Tuesday, June 8, in Auburn Hills

WHAT: Myfargane Raymond, 12, of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., suffers from sickle cell anemia. He is a big fan of Jeep(R) vehicles and wants to be an automotive designer one day. Through the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Raymond asked to visit a design studio and talk to designers. The Chrysler Group will make that wish come true w ... Continue reading

Insurance Commissioner Approves 5 Percent Auto Rate Reduction for Auto Club's Insurance Affiliate

Insurance Commissioner Approves 5 Percent Auto Rate Reduction for Auto Club's Insurance Affiliate

LOS ANGELES--June 4, 2004--California Insurance Commissioner John Garamendi today approved an overall 5 percent reduction in auto insurance rates for the Automobile Club of Southern California's affiliated insurance company. The rate reduction is the first decrease by a major insurer in three years, and should save Aut ... Continue reading

Motiva Announces Improved Claims Process; Media Update; June 4, 2004; 3:30 pm CDT

Motiva Announces Improved Claims Process; Media Update; June 4, 2004; 3:30 pm CDT

Shell and Motiva apologize for the frustration our customers have been experiencing with the claims process related to the recent gas gauge issues. We value our customers and are committed to providing our Florida customers with exceptional customer service and high quality fuels. We want this process to move swiftly s ... Continue reading

News Release: Mastercraft Introduces the Avenger LSR Sport

News Release: Mastercraft Introduces the Avenger LSR Sport

Mark, Please see the latest news release from Mastercaft Tires in the body of this e-mail. If you would like more information, or a high-resolution image of the new Avenger LSR sport, please to contact me at jamie.heberling@fahlgren.com <mailto:jamie.heberling@fahlgren.com> or 614.825.1762. Best, Jamie Heberling Fahlgr ... Continue reading

States Respond to PIA Call to Protect Returning U.S. Soldiers From Auto Insurance Rate Hikes, Coverage Denials

States Respond to PIA Call to Protect Returning U.S. Soldiers From Auto Insurance Rate Hikes, Coverage Denials

Statements Issued By Officials in Washington, Missouri, Iowa WASHINGTON, June 4 -- State officials are responding to a call by the National Association of Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) making it clear that no insurance company should deny auto coverage to U.S. Armed Forces personnel, or raise their rates, because ... Continue reading

Timken to Increase Specialty Steel Prices

Timken to Increase Specialty Steel Prices

LATROBE, Pa., June 4 -- Timken Latrobe Steel, a subsidiary of The Timken Company, announced it would increase prices by 4 percent on all air melt stainless and remelted aerospace alloy steel grades. The price change is effective with all new orders received. Raw material surcharges will remain in effect. (Logo: http:// ... Continue reading

Offshoring Study Says Looming Workforce Shortage is Greatest Threat to Manufacturing

Offshoring Study Says Looming Workforce Shortage is Greatest Threat to Manufacturing

MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich., June 4 -- The Detroit Regional Chamber, along with its partners the Michigan Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and Accelerator Group, today released a study assessing the effects on Michigan manufacturing of offshore outsourcing. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000703/DRCLOGO ) "Accordin ... Continue reading

AAA Chicago to Host Exclusive 'Harry Potter' Inspired Tour of London and the English Countryside

AAA Chicago to Host Exclusive 'Harry Potter' Inspired Tour of London and the English Countryside

AURORA, Ill., June 4 -- AAA Chicago announces a unique vacation experience where guests will see first hand some of the sites where the Harry Potter movies have been filmed. This custom vacation has been created especially for fans of Harry Potter. AAA Chicago invites guests to take a ride on the "Hogwarts Express" tra ... Continue reading

Mayfield Wins Pole. Four Dodges in Top Five at Dover

Mayfield Wins Pole. Four Dodges in Top Five at Dover

Friday, June 4, 2004 Ray Cooper Dover International Speedway Clear!Blue, Inc. MBNA 400 "A Salute to Heroes" Qualifying. 704-975-3232 JEREMY MAYFIELD (No. 19 Dodge Dealers/UAW Dodge) - Pole winner's interview "It was a great lap. I just wanted to back up my lap that I had in practice. I knew if we could do that it would ... Continue reading

New Car Review: 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

New Car Review: 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid

THE AUTO PAGE By JOHN HEILIG<p> SPECIFICATIONS<p> MODEL: 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid ENGINE: 2.3-liter Atkinson cycle inline 4/94 hp permanent magnet synchronous motor HORSEPOWER/TORQUE: 133 hp @ 6,000 rpm/129 lb-ft @ 4,500 rpm TRANSMISSION: Electronically controlled CVT WHEELBASE: 103.1 in. LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT: 174.9 ... Continue reading

Auction of ZAP's First SMART Car on eBay Reopened

Auction of ZAP's First SMART Car on eBay Reopened

SANTA ROSA, Calif., June 4 -- Bidding on the 60-MPG SMART car from Europe resumed after being halted for several hours Wednesday night and Thursday morning on online auction website eBay, said U.S. distributor ZAP (BULLETIN BOARD: ZAPZ) . Bidding reopened on June 3 at 11:36:58 PM for the SMART car at http://www.ebay.co ... Continue reading

Visteon's Meszaros to Speak at China Business Update's 2004 International Conference

Visteon's Meszaros to Speak at China Business Update's 2004 International Conference

BEIJING, June 4 -- Steve Meszaros, managing director of Visteon Corporation's China operations, will speak at the China Business Update 9th Annual International Conference on June 8, 2004, at the Great Wall Sheraton Hotel in Beijing, China. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) Meszaros, who ... Continue reading

Bellflower Boulevard Car Show: Hundreds of Custom and Classic Cars, Trucks & Harleys on Display

Bellflower Boulevard Car Show: Hundreds of Custom and Classic Cars, Trucks & Harleys on Display

-- Saturday June 5, 4-9 p.m. in Historic Downtown Bellflower The City of Bellflower presents the annual Bellflower Boulevard Car Show featuring 400 classic rods, custom relics and Harley-Davidson motorcycles. Free and open to the public, the annual car show draws entrants from throughout Southern California, along with ... Continue reading

Johnson Controls Awarded Contract From United States Advanced Battery Consortium to Develop Enhanced-Technology, Lithium-Ion Battery

Johnson Controls Awarded Contract From United States Advanced Battery Consortium to Develop Enhanced-Technology, Lithium-Ion Battery

Contract Reflects Company's and Industry's Commitment to Support Battery Development for Future Hybrid Vehicles MILWAUKEE, June 4 -- Johnson Controls has been granted a contract for lithium-ion battery development by the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC). Over the 18-month program, the company will deve ... Continue reading

Asbury Automotive Group Names Thomas G. McCollum President and CEO of its Texas Platform

Asbury Automotive Group Names Thomas G. McCollum President and CEO of its Texas Platform

NEW YORK, June 4 -- Asbury Automotive Group, Inc. , one of the largest automobile retailers in the U.S., today announced that Thomas G. McCollum has been named President and CEO of McDavid Auto Group, based in Irving, Texas. Mr. McCollum, who had been Asbury's Vice President of Finance and Insurance ("F&I"), will repla ... Continue reading

Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production - June 3, 2004

Ward's Reports Estimated Weekly North American Vehicle Production - June 3, 2004

SOUTHFIELD, Mich., June 4 -- Vehicle production this week in the U.S., Canada and Mexico is expected to hit an estimated 296,189 units, down 6.0 percent from the 315,149 cars and trucks built last week, according to Ward's Automotive Reports. Including this week's estimates, calendar year North American output now tota ... Continue reading

NHTSA: Rollover Warning to Users of 15-Passenger Vans- Includes Video

NHTSA: Rollover Warning to Users of 15-Passenger Vans- Includes Video

The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) today re-issued a warning to users of 15-passenger vans because of an increased rollover risk under certain conditions. Similar warnings were issued in 2001 and 2002. The safety agency also unveiled an updated consumer hangta ... Continue reading

Azure Dynamics Launches First Hybrid-Electric London Taxi

Azure Dynamics Launches First Hybrid-Electric London Taxi

TORONTO CA June 4, 2004; Azure Dynamics Corporation, a leading developer of hybrid electric systems for commercial vehicles and London Taxis International ("LTI"), a leading manufacturer of purpose-built taxis, are pleased to announce the successful introduction of the first licensed hybrid electric London Taxi. The la ... Continue reading

Honda Motor Co. Sues Chongqing Lifan Industry Group, Accusing Motorcycle Maker of Logo Piracy

Honda Motor Co. Sues Chongqing Lifan Industry Group, Accusing Motorcycle Maker of Logo Piracy

SHANGHAI, China June 3, 2004; Elaine Kurtenbach writinfg for the AP reported that -- Honda Motor Co. is suing China's biggest private motorcycle maker, accusing it of pirating the Japanese company's logo, a Shanghai court said Friday. Honda is demanding more than 17 million yuan ($2 million) in compensation and legal f ... Continue reading

Chrysler Recalls Over 438,OOO PT Cruisers

Chrysler Recalls Over 438,OOO PT Cruisers

DETROIT June 4, 2004; Reuters reportred that Chrysler is recalling more than 438,000 PT Cruisers because power steering fluid can leak from the vehicles, causing potential engine compartment fires, federal safety regulators said on Friday. The U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said 438,391 PT Cruisers ... Continue reading

Allmendinger Milwaukee Practice

Allmendinger Milwaukee Practice

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Jourdain Milwaukee Practice

Jourdain Milwaukee Practice

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Auto Data Network Reports Revenue of $25 million and $0.19 EPS For 2004 Fiscal Year

Auto Data Network Reports Revenue of $25 million and $0.19 EPS For 2004 Fiscal Year

NEW YORK--June 4, 2004--Auto Data Network, Inc. (OTCBB:ADNW), a provider of software and real-time data services to the worldwide automotive industry, today announced financial results for its fourth fiscal quarter and fiscal year ended February 29, 2004. The company reported revenues of $25.0 million for its 2004 fisc ... Continue reading

Diamond Powersports Prepares for Exponential Growth

Diamond Powersports Prepares for Exponential Growth

CEO Pierre Elliott Featured in a Nationwide Conference Call FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., June 4 -- Diamond Powersports Inc. (BULLETIN BOARD: DPWS) is pleased to announce that CEO Pierre Elliott hosted a nationwide conference call to update the financial community on the current business conditions and future prospects of Dia ... Continue reading

Group 1 Automotive Acquires New California Platform; On Track for 2004 Acquisition Target

Group 1 Automotive Acquires New California Platform; On Track for 2004 Acquisition Target

HOUSTON--June 4, 2004--Group 1 Automotive, Inc. , a Fortune 500 specialty retailer, today announced that it has completed the acquisition of the Peterson Automotive Group, which consists of two dealerships in the Sacramento area and another two in San Diego with total annual revenues of approximately $320 million. "Thi ... Continue reading

Group Says, 'Ban Unfair Insurance Practices'; Coalition for Fair Insurance Practices Seeks Reform in Insurance Directed Billing and Referral Practices

Group Says, 'Ban Unfair Insurance Practices'; Coalition for Fair Insurance Practices Seeks Reform in Insurance Directed Billing and Referral Practices

OWINGS MILLS, Md.--June 4, 2004--The Coalition for Fair Insurance Practices (CFIP) www.fair-insurance.org announced today that it is calling for state legislatures across the country to enact legislation that would remove barriers to free trade in the insurance replacement segment of the auto rental industry. The State ... Continue reading

Toyotas 1-2 At Indy 500 Opening Day

Toyotas 1-2 At Indy 500 Opening Day

If the following text-only file is not easily readable, particularly any tables of numbers, try enlarging this window since every line has a forced end and there is no word-wrap. Otherwise, this report will look and print better from the following PDF file: http://www.sportssystems.com/applib/PDFload.cfm?file=/email /f ... Continue reading

Best Western Busch Series Show Car to Make Pit Stop at Sterling Inn June 7-8

Best Western Busch Series Show Car to Make Pit Stop at Sterling Inn June 7-8

Official Hotel of Nascar Promotes Partnership with Michael Waltrip's No. 99 Chevrolet PHOENIX, June 4 -- The Best Western Busch Series show car will make a pit stop next week at the Best Western Sterling Inn Banquet & Conference Center in Sterling Heights, MI, in conjunction with the company's annual district meetings. ... Continue reading

Parts Dealer Collaborates With IBM and 360Commerce to Develop Software and Systems

Parts Dealer Collaborates With IBM and 360Commerce to Develop Software and Systems

PHILADELPHIA--June 4, 2004--The Pep Boys - Manny, Moe & Jack , the nation's leading automotive aftermarket retail and service chain, announced that it has partnered with IBM, the world's largest information technology company, to develop and install advanced retail technology in all of Pep Boys' 595 stores and service ... Continue reading

CarMax Reports Record First Quarter Sales

CarMax Reports Record First Quarter Sales

RICHMOND, Va., June 4 -- CarMax, Inc. today reported record sales for the first quarter ended May 31, 2004. * Comparable store used unit sales declined 3% compared with last year's first quarter, consistent with the expectations we set in our May 12th announcement. * Total used unit sales grew 7% in the first quarter. ... Continue reading

Japanese Tire Maker Selects Georgia for Company's First Consumer Tire Production Plant in the United States

Japanese Tire Maker Selects Georgia for Company's First Consumer Tire Production Plant in the United States

ATLANTA, June 4 -- Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. has selected Bartow County, Georgia as the site for its first consumer tire manufacturing plant in the United States, company officials announced today during a joint press conference held in the State Capitol building with Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue, county and local ... Continue reading

Nissan to Participate in the Louis Vuitton Classic in the U.K.

Nissan to Participate in the Louis Vuitton Classic in the U.K.

TRAPPES, France, June 4 -- Nissan will exhibit its concept car, JIKOO, at the Louis Vuitton Classic, the world famous concourse event to be held at Waddesdon Manor in the U.K. from Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 June. Mr Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design, Nissan Motor Company (Tokyo) and Managing Director of Niss ... Continue reading

More Than 100 Hot Rods and Classic Cars Cruise into L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden for Third Annual Rods and Classics for a Cure Car Show, June 5

More Than 100 Hot Rods and Classic Cars Cruise into L.A. County Arboretum and Botanic Garden for Third Annual Rods and Classics for a Cure Car Show, June 5

--Car Show Presented by the Arcadia Firefighters Association and Mark Klass Too Next Generation Chapter to Benefit World-Renowned City of Hope Cancer Center WHAT: The third annual "Rods and Classics for a Cure" hot rod and classic car show, presented by the Arcadia Firefighters Association and the Mark Klass Too "Next ... Continue reading

Three Metro-Detroit Manufacturers Announce Merger

Three Metro-Detroit Manufacturers Announce Merger

WIXOM, Mich., June 4 -- Three Detroit-area tool manufacturing companies announce their merger and new company name, Silver Hawk Precision, which is headquartered in Wixom, Michigan. The three companies which comprise the new entity are: Carb-R-All and PCD of America, both of Wixom, Michigan, and Dia-Tool Corporation of ... Continue reading

LA Auto Club: Gasoline Prices Crest -- Conditions Right for Downward Trend

LA Auto Club: Gasoline Prices Crest -- Conditions Right for Downward Trend

LOS ANGELES--June 4, 2004--After two months of increases during which retail gasoline prices soared 24 cents per gallon, a plateau appears to have been reached and indicators point to lower prices in the coming weeks, according to the Automobile Club of Southern California's Weekend Gas Watch. The average price of self ... Continue reading

Edmunds.com Rates Nissan Titan as Top Truck of 2004 in Full-Size Truck Comparison Test; Consumer Interest Steady Despite Rising Gas Prices

Edmunds.com Rates Nissan Titan as Top Truck of 2004 in Full-Size Truck Comparison Test; Consumer Interest Steady Despite Rising Gas Prices

SANTA MONICA, Calif., June 4 -- Edmunds.com, the Internet's premiere resource for consumer automotive information, today announced that the Nissan Titan claimed a resounding victory in the 2004 Full-Size Truck Comparison Test. The full test can be found at http://test03/reviews/comparison/articles/101958/article.ht ml. ... Continue reading

GM Receives Clean Cities National Partner Award For E85 Program

GM Receives Clean Cities National Partner Award For E85 Program

DETROIT June 3. 2004; The U.S. Department of Energy recently recognized General Motors with its 2004 Clean Cities National Partner Award for advancing the nation's awareness of ethanol as an alternative transportation fuel. GM was presented with the award at the National Clean Cities Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. ... Continue reading

Bill Ford says Toyota "not invulnerable"

Bill Ford says Toyota "not invulnerable"

DETROIT, June 3, 2004; Reuters reported that Toyota Motor Corp. stripped Ford Motor Co. of its crown as the maker of America's best-selling car in 1997, and it may soon be gunning for its share of the lucrative full-size pickup truck market. But Ford Chairman and Chief Executive Bill Ford Jr. said on Thursday that Toyo ... Continue reading

Ford To Boost Hybrid Escape Production

Ford To Boost Hybrid Escape Production

DETROIT, June 3, 2004; Reuters reported that Ford Motor Co. hopes to boost production capacity for its yet-to-be-launched Escape hybrid sport utility vehicle because consumer interest is high, the automaker's chairman and chief executive said on Thursday. Ford did not say how many more Escape hybrids, due to hit dealer ... Continue reading

dodge nascar craftsman truck quotes from dover qualifying

dodge nascar craftsman truck quotes from dover qualifying

Thursday, June 3, 2004 Ray Cooper Dover International Speedway Clear!Blue, Inc. MBNA America 200 Qualifying. 704-975-3232 STEVE PARK (No. 62 Orleans Racing Dodge Ram) - Qualified Third "I don't think you ever get a perfect lap here at Dover. They named this place The Monster Mile for a reason. I love coming here to rac ... Continue reading

SensaTank RV 100 Featured on New Fleetwood American Coach Lines

SensaTank RV 100 Featured on New Fleetwood American Coach Lines

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill.--June 3, 2004--Material Sciences Corporation's Electronic Materials and Devices Group, Inc. (EMD) today announced the inclusion of its unique SensaTank(TM) RV 100 holding tank monitoring system on the new Fleetwood American Coach Lines for the 2005 model year -- which includes the Eagle, Traditi ... Continue reading

Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe and Sport Sedan Offer Enhanced Performance, Refined Interiors for 2005

Infiniti G35 Sport Coupe and Sport Sedan Offer Enhanced Performance, Refined Interiors for 2005

SAN FRANCISCO--June 3, 2004--Infiniti, Nissan's luxury division, today announced a number of significant enhancements to its popular G35 sport coupe and G35 sport sedan for the 2005 model year in North America. The changes include the introduction of a new coupe Sport model, a redesigned exterior appearance for the sed ... Continue reading

Denverites Can Now Pay for Parking Via Cell Phone; Park-by-Phone System Available in Second U.S. City Rollout

Denverites Can Now Pay for Parking Via Cell Phone; Park-by-Phone System Available in Second U.S. City Rollout

DENVER--June 3, 2004--The company that makes and sells the Denver Boot has a new way to help you avoid getting one: a system that lets you pay for parking at meters and lots by using your cell phone. The first-of-its-kind parking system is being formally launched in Denver on Friday, June 4, by Denver-based Clancy Syst ... Continue reading

CSK Auto Corp. Reports First Quarter 2004 Results; Net Income Increases 72%, Earnings Per Share Up 65% and Same Store Sales Increase 5%

CSK Auto Corp. Reports First Quarter 2004 Results; Net Income Increases 72%, Earnings Per Share Up 65% and Same Store Sales Increase 5%

PHOENIX--June 3, 2004--CSK Auto Corp. , the parent company of CSK Auto Inc., a specialty retailer in the automotive aftermarket, today reported its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2004. Financial Results Sales for the 13 weeks ended May 2, 2004 (the "first quarter of fiscal 2004") increased $19.7 mill ... Continue reading

Search The Auto Channel

The Auto Channel content library (since 1996) has grown to become the world’s most extensive and complete interactive archive of automotive centric news, articles, reviews and intense event coverage, presented to viewers as Text, Video and Images.

The Auto Channel Content by Topic

Vehicle manufacturers and alt fuels.