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June 2008

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Monday, June 9, 2008

AutoNation's Mike Jackson Says High Gas Prices Are Good for the U.S. Auto Industry

AutoNation's Mike Jackson Says High Gas Prices Are Good for the U.S. Auto Industry

Washington DC June 9, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that Detroit's big auto makers are slashing jobs, closing factories, and undertaking costly revamps of their product strategies to cope with $4 a gallon gas. What's the worst thing that could happen now? Gas could get cheap again, says Mike Jackson, chairman and ... Continue reading

Japanese Manufacturers Can Add Small Cars Faster than Detroit 3

Japanese Manufacturers Can Add Small Cars Faster than Detroit 3

Washington DC June 9, 2008; The AIADA newsletter reported that Toyota and Honda are better positioned than the Detroit 3 to quickly adjust their production to U.S. consumers' sudden shift to smaller cars. The international automakers have two advantages over the Detroit 3 in the hunt for more small and mid-sized cars. ... Continue reading

Hybrid Car Sales Hurt by Battery Shortage - HUH?

Hybrid Car Sales Hurt by Battery Shortage - HUH?

Washington DC June 9, 2008; The AIADA Newsletter reported that with gasoline at $4 a gallon, the market is screaming for more hybrids. But sales of hybrids dropped significantly in May. Battery shortages are crimping supplies of the Ford Escape Hybrid and Toyota Prius, two of the top-selling hybrids. According to Autom ... Continue reading

Alanis Morissette Goes BlueTEC

Alanis Morissette Goes BlueTEC

ALANIS MORISSETTE PARTNERS WITH MERCEDES-BENZ AND “MIXED TAPE” FOR NEW “UNDERNEATH” VIDEO Seven-time Grammy winning artist Alanis Morissette has partnered with Mercedes-Benz and its “Mixed Tape” online music magazine for “Underneath,” the first video/single from her highly antici ... Continue reading

Buyers Need to Look at Hidden Costs of Fuel Promotions to Determine Total Value

Buyers Need to Look at Hidden Costs of Fuel Promotions to Determine Total Value

BLOOMFIELD HILLS, Michigan - June 9, 2008 - Although automotive fuel promotions can be attractive to potential new car buyers, the hidden costs…and savings… of these promotions need to be understood to make an informed decision on the overall value. A recent study by Vincentric, an automotive data analysis fi ... Continue reading

Visteon Discusses Alternative Refrigerant Options at SAE Symposium

Visteon Discusses Alternative Refrigerant Options at SAE Symposium

VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich., June 9, 2008 -- Visteon Corporation , an industry leader in alternative refrigerants, has been chosen to present its expertise at the 2008 SAE Automotive Alternate Refrigerant Systems Symposium, June 9-12 in Scottsdale, Ariz. (Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20001201/DEF008LOGO ) As ... Continue reading

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES

INDYCAR SERIES NOTES

1. Dixon, Castroneves fight for every point: The Bombardier Learjet 550k provided a perfect snapshot of the 2008 IndyCar Series season. Scott Dixon and Helio Castroneves started and finished 1-2 and battled throughout the race for not only the victory, but the three bonus points associated with leading the most laps. D ... Continue reading

Pilgrim International, Inc. Announces World Premiere of Composite RV

Pilgrim International, Inc. Announces World Premiere of Composite RV

Exclusive Introduction Event Scheduled for Key RV Dealerships MIDDLEBURY, Ind., June 9 -- Pilgrim International, Inc. (Pilgrim) announced today that it will be unveiling the RV industry's first production built composite units at a special "invitation only" event to be held on June 25th. The day will include a tour of ... Continue reading

Seventy-Three Percent of AutoTrader.com Site Visitors Say Gas Prices Will Impact Overall Summer Driving

Seventy-Three Percent of AutoTrader.com Site Visitors Say Gas Prices Will Impact Overall Summer Driving

ATLANTA, June 9 -- Seventy-three percent of visitors to AutoTrader.com said in a recent survey that gas prices, now averaging more than $4 per gallon for regular gasoline, will impact their overall summer driving, causing them to drive less. Nationwide, the average price for regular gasoline passed $4 per gallon this w ... Continue reading

Weird Watkins Weekend Limits Dalziel and SAMAX

Weird Watkins Weekend Limits Dalziel and SAMAX

Orlando, Florida (June 09, 2008) – Ryan Dalziel’s hope of consecutive Grand-Am Daytona Prototype victories were quickly diminished last Saturday, 7th June, as an oil-leak in the first fifteen minutes of the ‘Sahlen’s Six Hours of The Glen’, Round 6 of the 2008 Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series, ... Continue reading

Two Sportsman stars cash-in big with JEGS 'Double-up' bonus

Two Sportsman stars cash-in big with JEGS 'Double-up' bonus

CHICAGO (June 8) -- Super Comp racer Ron Erks and Super Stock driver Anthony Bertozzi enjoyed landmark weekends in Joliet with both men scoring wins in the 24th annual JEGS Allstars event Saturday and the Route 66 NHRA Nationals on Sunday. The exceptional feat was rewarded with a "Double-up" bonus from JEGS High Perfor ... Continue reading

Third final of the year pushes Coughlin ever higher in points

Third final of the year pushes Coughlin ever higher in points

CHICAGO (June 8) -- Jeg Coughlin Jr. came within 6.7 seconds of successfully defending his Route 66 NHRA Nationals race title but settled for runner-up honors to Kurt Johnson instead Sunday evening at the super-track in Joliet, Ill. It was the third final of the year for the defending POWERade champion and kept him com ... Continue reading

Teen drivers often ignore bans on using cellphones and texting

Teen drivers often ignore bans on using cellphones and texting

ARLINGTON, VA June 9, 2008; Teenage drivers' cellphone use edged higher in North Carolina after the state enacted a cellphone ban for young drivers, a new Institute study finds. This is the case even though young drivers and their parents said they strongly support the restrictions. Parents and teens alike believe the ... Continue reading

THEIR FIRST LE MANS: AUTOCON MOTORSPORTS

THEIR FIRST LE MANS: AUTOCON MOTORSPORTS

Willman: "The thing that makes you want to drive in it ... is the drive down Mulsanne, then Mulsanne to Indianapolis." Photo: Regis Lefebure This is the first race at the 24 Hours of Le Mans for Autocon Motorsports but not the first for Bryan Willman and Chris McMurry. The two, who will drive the Autocon Creation-Judd ... Continue reading

SPEED GETS HARD KNOCKS AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

SPEED GETS HARD KNOCKS AT TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Not once, but twice Scott Speed charged to the front of the field in Friday night's NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series race at Texas Motor Speedway. The second surge, however, proved disastrous, as a run-in with the No. 15 Truck sent Scott and his No. 22 Red Bull Toyota crashing into the wall. He was racing three-wide fight ... Continue reading

SPEED GETS AGGRESSIVE IN ARCA RUN AT POCONO

SPEED GETS AGGRESSIVE IN ARCA RUN AT POCONO

For a self-described methodical driver who preaches patience and self-control, Scott Speed went for it - and then some - in Saturday's ARCA Pocono 200. "We were 25th with seven laps to go and finished second," Scott said. "I mean, I definitely didn't make too many friends out there, but that was an epic end to the race ... Continue reading

Pruett and Rojas Six-Hour Endurance Win Start to Another Big Weekend

Pruett and Rojas Six-Hour Endurance Win Start to Another Big Weekend

WATKINS GLEN, N.Y. (June 7, 2008)-Scott Pruett and Memo Rojas endured unseasonably warm weather at Watkins Glen International (WGI) in the No.01 TELMEX Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates (CGRFS) Lexus to score their fourth victory in six races. As a result of a shortened qualifying session the TELMEX team started f ... Continue reading

2008 Rolex Sports Car Series Champions Will Be Honored Sept. 22 at The Bellagio in Las Vegas

2008 Rolex Sports Car Series Champions Will Be Honored Sept. 22 at The Bellagio in Las Vegas

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (June 9, 2008) –Grand-Am Road Racing officials announced today that the luxurious Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas will be the location for this year’s Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 Champions Banquet on Monday, Sept. 22. The Rolex Champions Banquet comes ... Continue reading

Hacquard To Learn From Watkins Experience

Hacquard To Learn From Watkins Experience

Vancouver, British Columbia (June 09, 2008) – Taylor Hacquard will chalk Round 3 of the 2008 Star Mazda Championship Presented by Goodyear, held on Saturday 7th June, down to experience as the Vancouver rookie left New York’s Watkins Glen International Circuit with an 18th place finish. While he missed out on ... Continue reading

Kia kicks-off exclusive EURO 2008 activities

Kia kicks-off exclusive EURO 2008 activities

NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Michael Choo (mjc@kia.co.kr <mailto:cdore@kia.co.kr> ), International Communications Manager, Kia Motors Corporation, Tel: +82-2-3464-5663 Kia kicks-off exclusive EURO 2008 activities - 500,000 young soccer fans enter Kia's 'Match Ball Carrier' competition - Soccer-team liveried Kia ... Continue reading

Goodyear Seeks to Expand Brand's Reach at Licensing Expo

Goodyear Seeks to Expand Brand's Reach at Licensing Expo

NEW YORK, June 9 -- The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company's licensing group is in New York this week to identify potential licensees at the annual Licensing Expo. As part of its global licensing strategy, the company is seeking licensing opportunities with companies that could allow the high profile brand to extend its re ... Continue reading

Prepare Your Car for a Safe Summer on the Road

Prepare Your Car for a Safe Summer on the Road

CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 9 -- With summer just around the corner, Americans are planning their summer getaways. And with rising fuel costs, more and more of them will forego air travel in favor of road trips. Make no mistake, with the high price of gas, there are few travel bargains this year, but there are a number of wa ... Continue reading

Minivan Market Slumps But Consumer Interest Grows, Exceeds Interest in CUVs

Minivan Market Slumps But Consumer Interest Grows, Exceeds Interest in CUVs

NADAguides.com Analysis Finds That Consumers Are Still Considering Minivans COSTA MESA, Calif., June 9 -- Though minivan sales are down substantially this year over last, the segment is still key on the radar screens of new car shoppers and now slightly exceeds interest in crossover utility vehicles (CUVs), according t ... Continue reading

XM Radio and XM NavTraffic to be Available on All 2009 Porsche 911 Models

XM Radio and XM NavTraffic to be Available on All 2009 Porsche 911 Models

911 is First Porsche Sports Car to Add XM Availability WASHINGTON, June 9 -- XM , the nation's leading provider of satellite radio, today announced that XM radio and its award-winning XM NavTraffic service will be available as a factory- installed feature on all 2009 Porsche 911 models. This will be the first time that ... Continue reading

Pricing for All-New 2009 Dodge Challenger to Start in Low $20s

Pricing for All-New 2009 Dodge Challenger to Start in Low $20s

-- Three flavors: Dodge Challenger SE, Dodge Challenger R/T and Dodge Challenger SRT8(R) -- All-new five-passenger, two-door coupe available for under $22,000 -- Available 5.7-liter HEMI(R) with five-speed automatic transmission for under $30,000 -- Dodge dealerships now taking orders for the 2009 Dodge Challenger AUBU ... Continue reading

Cut Costs to Europe This Summer with Auto Europe

Cut Costs to Europe This Summer with Auto Europe

Free Car Rental Upgrades, Savings Up To 15% & Free GPS Rentals PORTLAND, Maine, June 9 -- Auto Europe, a leader in European car rental services for over 50 years is offering fantastic savings for travel to Europe. These savings will expire on June 30, 2008, so book early and remember, no cancellation fees. The offers i ... Continue reading

Continental Equips UEFA EURO 2008(TM) Team Buses With Premium Tyres

Continental Equips UEFA EURO 2008(TM) Team Buses With Premium Tyres

HANNOVER, Germany, June 9 -- The Continental AG is an UEFA EURO 2008(TM) official sponsor and exclusive tyre partner, and equips all 16 team buses with their premium bus tyres, the HSR 1, on all axles; as they had done during the FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany. The HSR 1 was designed specifically for use in regional an ... Continue reading

Fiat Group and Sollers sign joint ventures

Fiat Group and Sollers sign joint ventures

Fiat Group and Sollers JSC (formerly Severstal-auto) announce today the signature of two master joint ventures agreements for the manufacture and distribution of Fiat passenger cars and the production of Fiat Powertrain Technologies (FPT) F1A diesel engines, respectively. ... Continue reading

Fiat Grande Punto MY 2008 Closer To The World of Youth

Fiat Grande Punto MY 2008 Closer To The World of Youth

On 14 and 15 June, a Fiat dealer network open door event will be held in Italy devoted to the Grande Punto Model Year 2008. ... Continue reading

carmax.com Debuts New Design, Expanded Functionality for Online Car Shoppers

carmax.com Debuts New Design, Expanded Functionality for Online Car Shoppers

RICHMOND, Va., June 9 -- CarMax, Inc. , the nation's largest retailer of used cars, announced today the latest evolution of online car shopping with a new, intuitively designed carmax.com. The customer-centric website reflects CarMax's commitment to help car shoppers find the perfect used car within a few simple clicks ... Continue reading

U.S. Army Completes Production of First Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon Prototype

U.S. Army Completes Production of First Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon Prototype

Cannon outfitted for Urban and Conventional Warfare WASHINGTON, June 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Army's Future Combat Systems (FCS) Program successfully completed full prototype integration of the first FCS Manned Ground Vehicle (MGV) Non-Line-of-Sight Cannon (NLOS-C). The NLOS-C, which has the ability to rap ... Continue reading

Sales at Mercedes-Benz cars up 10 Percent since beginning of the year

Sales at Mercedes-Benz cars up 10 Percent since beginning of the year

The Mercedes-Benz Cars division - with the brands Mercedes-Benz, AMG, smart, and Maybach - sold a total of 111,100 vehicles in May 2008, a decrease of four percent from the 116,000 units sold in May 2007. Unit sales over the first five months of the year rose ten percent at the division, however, reaching the new recor ... Continue reading

BMW Group sales up 3.9% in May

BMW Group sales up 3.9% in May

The BMW Group increased its automobile sales once again in May. 133,496 BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce vehicles were delivered to customers (prev.yr.: 128,434) in the month under review. This represents a gain of 3.9%. For the year to May, sales climbed 6.7% to reach a total of 618,731 vehicles (prev.yr.: 579,745). This is ... Continue reading

EnerDel and Think Global Demonstrate Operational Battery Pack in Th!nk City Vehicle - VIDEO ENHANCED

EnerDel and Think Global Demonstrate Operational Battery Pack in Th!nk City Vehicle - VIDEO ENHANCED

FT. LAUDERDALE, FL - June 9, 2008 Ener1, Inc. (AMEX:HEV), an energy storage solutions company, today reported that its lithium-ion battery subsidiary, EnerDel, has installed and demonstrated a fully functional lithium-ion battery pack in a Th!nk City electric vehicle at its manufacturing facility in Indianapolis. The i ... Continue reading

With Gas at $4/Gallon Average, Plug In America Calls on Americans to Demand Electric Cars

With Gas at $4/Gallon Average, Plug In America Calls on Americans to Demand Electric Cars

Electric Car Advocacy Group Urges Americans to Call the Auto Companies and Demand Electrics EL SEGUNDO, CA - June 9, 2008: As gas hits $4 a gallon nationwide, Plug In America (PIA) calls on citizens from coast to coast to demand that automakers manufacture Electric Vehicles (EV) so that they can dump the pump. “Ca ... Continue reading

Renault, Nissan break ground for new plant in India

Renault, Nissan break ground for new plant in India

Renault Nissan Automotive India Private Limited (RNAIPL) today hosted the ground breaking ceremony for its new passenger vehicle plant in Chennai, India, expected to begin operations in 2010. The facility will have an annual production capacity of 400,000 and will produce vehicles for export and the local market for bo ... Continue reading

RV Industry 'Downsizes' to Keep Pace with Slow Economy and Rising Cost of Gas

RV Industry 'Downsizes' to Keep Pace with Slow Economy and Rising Cost of Gas

Teardrop Trailers and Other Lightweight Campers Proliferate as RV Industry Scrambles to Provide Fuel-Efficient, Environmentally Friendly Alternatives to Large Travel Trailers and Motor Homes CANTON, Ohio, June 9 -- The June 2008 issue of RV Business Magazine, the leading trade publication for the RV industry in America ... Continue reading

Bosch integrates yaw-rate sensor and acceleration sensors in the ESP control unit

Bosch integrates yaw-rate sensor and acceleration sensors in the ESP control unit

In May 2008, Bosch started production of a new version of the ESP brake control system which integrates sensors for yaw-rate measurement and lateral acceleration in the electronic control unit. This integration is a world first. In the past, these sensors were installed separately in the interior of the vehicle, within ... Continue reading

Time is up for Choice of Sustainable Refrigerant in Cars

Time is up for Choice of Sustainable Refrigerant in Cars

BRUSSELS, June 9 -- Ahead of key announcements at a major car industry event in Phoenix, Arizona, next week, Automotive Manufacturers are being urged to choose sustainable CO2 Technology in their next generation air conditioning, thereby dropping tests of less efficient, potentially toxic and flammable chemicals. Many ... Continue reading

Chevrolet opens its secrets doors to the winners of the first Young? Creative? Chevrolet! pan European competition

Chevrolet opens its secrets doors to the winners of the first Young? Creative? Chevrolet! pan European competition

On June 9th and 10th, the newly opened European Design Centre in Rüsselsheim, Germany, will exceptionally show some of its secrets to the winners of the Pan European Applied Art competition Young? Creative? Chevrolet!. The competition was created last year to create synergies and opportunities between the brand and yo ... Continue reading

New Managing Director at Ford Aachen research centre

New Managing Director at Ford Aachen research centre

Dr. Charles Wu has been appointed Managing Director of the Ford Research Center in Aachen, Germany. He takes up his new position on July 1. In addition to this role, Dr. Wu will remain Director, Manufacturing, Vehicle Design and Safety, Research & Advanced Engineering, based in Dearborn, Michigan, USA. ... Continue reading

Winners of the Audi Sales and Service Management Cup recognized

Winners of the Audi Sales and Service Management Cup recognized

Audi AG honored Germany's 20 best sales managers, service managers and parts service managers this weekend at a ceremony on Crete. The three-day concluding event marked the first time that the winners were recognized together. ... Continue reading

Peugeot 207 Cielo opens up a whole new world (UK)

Peugeot 207 Cielo opens up a whole new world (UK)

The Peugeot 207 continues to go from strength to strength with over 118,000 vehicles already on the roads of the UK. Now with summer upon us, the range has just got even stronger with the introduction of the 207 Cielo Special Edition. ... Continue reading

The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur range

The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur range

The new Bentley Continental Flying Spur is set to deliver even greater levels of refinement, comfort and opportunities for customer personalisation. The class-leading 12-cylinder luxury saloon will also be joined by the 600 bhp (610PS) Continental Flying Spur Speed. ... Continue reading

55 International Salespersons are First Recipients of Volkswagen Diploma - Award Ceremony at the Autostadt

55 International Salespersons are First Recipients of Volkswagen Diploma - Award Ceremony at the Autostadt

For the first time, Volkswagen has awarded a diploma to the best international salespersons. At a ceremony held last week in the Autostadt, 55 people who successfully completed the Volkswagen International Training Center received certificates and trophies. Awards were made to Volkswagen Brand salespersons from Italy, ... Continue reading

Japan's Imported Auto Sales Fall 23.8 Pct in May 2008

Japan's Imported Auto Sales Fall 23.8 Pct in May 2008

Tokyo, June 5, 2008; Sales of new imported vehicles in Japan in May fell 23.8 pct from a year before to 15,811 units, the Japan Automobile Importers Association said Thursday. Of them, sales of vehicles made by foreign manufacturers dropped 20.3 pct to 13,953 units. Passenger car sales decreased 29.8 pct to 14,458 unit ... Continue reading

2009 XLR: More Dramatic Design and Technology for Cadillac's Roadster

2009 XLR: More Dramatic Design and Technology for Cadillac's Roadster

Detroit, Mich. - Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac's XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the world's finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology. Only the finest editions ... Continue reading

Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009

Cadillac Escalade Adds FlexFuel Capability for 2009

ATLANTA – All models of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be able to run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two, General Motors announced Friday. And customers will have the fueling choice at no additional cost. The Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV as well as the GMC Denali, ... Continue reading

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