Ford Motor Company the world's third largest automaker have introduced to the US Department of Energy its first flexible fuel capable plug-in hybrid SUV. It is the Ford Escape Plug-in Hybrid.
The Ford Escape Hybrid, launched in 2004, is a gas-electric hybrid powered version of the Ford Escape SUV. Three companies have converted Ford Escape Hybrids to Plug-in under a contract with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and delivered them in 2007. The three companies were; Electrovaya of Toronto Canada, HyMotion also of Toronto Canada and Hybrids Plus of Boulder Colorado USA.
It runs on gasoline or E85. The conversion includes the replacement of the original NiMH battery with a larger capacity LiIon battery.
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle can be recharged by connecting a plug to an electric power source. It promises to reduce the world's reliance on petroleum which is a very large cause of carbon emissions. Mark Fields, President of the Americas, Ford Motor Company said "As a leader in both hybrid and flexible fuel technology, Ford is well positioned to bring the two together in a plug-in vehicle."
The vehicle operates for up to 30 miles at speeds less than 40 mph in electric mode until the battery's charge is 70 percent depleted. At higher speeds or when the battery is depleted, the vehicle switches to traditional hybrid mode - a fuel efficient four-cylinder engine assisted by the lithium ion battery.
As Fields said, this step would most probably be successful because there is enormous interest in the country in the electrification of vehicles. Ford has made a breakthrough with the introduction of plug-in hybrids in the American government.
In October of 2007, the 2008 Dodge Charger based on the 1970 models was shown in a Mopar magazine. The 2008 Charger is a 4-door, 5-passenger sports sedan, available in 6 trims, ranging from the SE to the SRT8. The 2008 Charger is a power performer, with commanding exterior styling and a roomy, comfortable interior. The Charger competes with other revived muscle cars, including the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Grand Prix.
"The SE is equipped with a standard 2.7-liter, V6, 190-horsepower engine that achieves 18-mpg in the city and 26-mpg on the highway. A 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard. The SRT8 is equipped with a standard 6.1-liter, V8, 425-horsepower engine that achieves 13-mpg in the city and 18-mpg on the highway. A 5-speed automatic transmission with overdrive is standard."
Dodge developed an original exterior that is fresh. The Washington Post says that it's an "aggressive, hell-bent-for-speed exterior. The Auto Channel continues to say that the Charger is a "handsome beast".
Dodge has upgraded the Charger's interior for 2008. The new interior additions include cabin air filtration, heated front seats, a power passenger seat, dual-zone automatic climate control and an auto-dimming rearview mirror. The package also includes air filtration, power-adjustable pedals and satellite radio. But some says that it doesn't offer the luxury of some of its competition.
It performs well in federal government crash tests, and the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety gives the 2008 Dodge Charger a rating of "good" for frontal offset test results.
The 2008 Charger is a carryover from 2007.
The Kia Kue was debuted as a concept car during the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It was also awarded "Eyes on Design Award" for design excellence at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show. This concept is just a design study to highlight the company's new head of design. Unfortunately, it is not planned for production at this time. What's worse is that, Kia says that the Kue is purely a design concept, but I'm hoping that there are some possibilities for it to be realized.
The vehicle has a very unique and striking back panel which is shaped like an egg. It features a monocoque platform that sits on 22-inch tires with a wheelbase of more than 114 inches, packaged in an overall length of 186 inches. It has about the same size as a Nissan Murano, and has 22-inch wheels. The concept comes in a four-passenger seating arrangement other exterior features include a glass roof, miniscule side mirrors and three mesh-filled openings in the rear bumper.
The Kia Kue concept is equipped with a 400-horsepower, supercharged 4.6-liter V8 which develops 400 lb-ft of torque. I think Kia's main purpose here is that while the crossover possesses a great SUV characteristics, it focuses more on giving the driver an excellent driving experience.
I can say that KIAs are far better looking than Dodges, Fords and GMs. The Korean brand is starting to produce some exciting concepts. The question now is why they don’t make it into a reality.
 In about two to three weeks from now, the auto industry will be closing the auto show season with a grand finale -- the World Car of the Year (WCOTY) Awards at the New York International Auto Show.
According to WCOTY Co-Chair Gerry Malloy, the announcement of the WCOTY winners is the best culminating activity for the auto season which was started by the Detroit and Geneva auto shows.
Now for the news, AutoChannel has just released a complete list of the WCOTY top ten finalists. The finalists were chosen by a panel of judges composed of 47 well-known automotive journalists from different continents including Asia, America, Europe and other parts of the globe.
The WCOTY Awards is divided into three categories: the 2008 World Car, the 2008 World Performance Car and, finally, the 2008 World Green Car. To get a glimpse of the top ten vehicles nominated for the said awards, just check the AutoChannel website.
If you think that selecting the finalists for this award is as easy as changing your Acura NSX brake pads, well, you're wrong. The judges will determine this year's top three nominees based from the following criteria: safety, environmental accountability, appeal to emotions and impact. Tough job, isn't it? Not quite, I think, for here is a scoop: Published in autoblog.com yesterday were the WCOTY three finalists as rated by the jurors.
For the 2008 World Car of the Year Award, it will be a stiff competition for Ford Mondeo, Mazda2 or Mazda Demio and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class. The Audi R8 as well as the Audi S5 Coupe and the BMW M3 will contend for the 2008 World Performance Car. On the other hand, the 2008 World Green Car, will be a battle between the BMW 118d, the SmartForTwo cdi and the Volkswagen Passat 1.9 TDI.
The WCOTY final awarding will be held on March 20 during the New York International Auto Show, where over 1,000 concept and production vehicles will be displayed at Javits Center, New York. The show's press preview is scheduled on March 19 and 20 while the public sneak preview is set on March 21. Public show dates are on March 21 to 30.
The 2008 New York Auto Show is expected to bring the auto industry's best of the best. Of course, it keeps getting better every year. One of the best stuff and highlights to look forward to during the event is the first-of-its-kind Virtual Garage. According to the Auto Channel, the Virtual Garage is designed to offer car fans across the globe the opportunity to brag video clips and photos of their vehicles, car covers and all other things automotive. It will be displayed at the New York International Automobile Show (NYIAS) website which is illustrated as "the automobile community site" according to Candida Romanelli, this year's Show Director.
In addition to this, the Virtual Garage at the 2008 NYIAS is the pioneering car event to make use of the online community group trend. This site was indeed a success, thanks to the world-renowned facebook.com and myspace.com, the NYIAS Virtual Garages section AutoShowNY.com was made known worldwide.
"We put so much effort into creating this amazing event to showcase the latest cars and trucks to the public that we thought it is only fair that we get to see the vehicles that our website and show visitors own and cherish," says Romanelli.
Members of the Virtual Garage are allowed to submit photos and videos of their vehicles, check other member's cars and trucks by going into their mini-bio. Also, they will be able to send emails and messages to all the members of Virtual Garage from different corners of the world. All the vehicles are cross referenced so that, for example, a Mercedes or Ford owner can see which members have similar vehicles listed on the Site.
"The beauty of the site is that it allows car enthusiasts to stay in touch with each other, and us, year round. We've made the process simple so that people can start sharing their vehicle pictures in seconds. We think that individuals, collectors, and car club members will enjoy making friends and sharing stories about their cars," she said.
"The New York Auto Show has become an institution. It's hard to believe that the Show and the public's love of cars has been around for so long. We're thrilled to be custodians of this great event, and part of that responsibility is to make sure that we are on the cutting-edge of what our customers are looking for. Not only in terms of automobiles displayed on the Show floor, but in the way that we communicate to future generations of car lovers and car buyers," added Romanelli.
By 2012, half of the vehicle volume in United States of America will run on ethanol.
That is General Motors' ambitious plan as revealed in a speech delivered by GM North America President Troy Clarke during the Chicago Auto Show, as reported at msnbc.com.
According to Clarke, GM, the world's largest automaker, will offer 11 ethanol-capable vehicles in the market this year and 15 will be added in 2009. He added that in 2010, GM will pioneer the production of Flexfuel Chevrolet HHR, a four-cylinder ethanol-capable vehicle model.
Ethanol is perceived as the best solution to the growing fuel problems around the world today. In fact, Clarke claimed that 29 billion gallons of fuel annually will be saved if Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC will "walk their talk" regarding the number of ethanol-capable vehicles they will produce by 2012.
However, in a separate article, Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, said that mounting demands for ethanol from grains will just cause more problems in the country stressing the point that the price of grain is now equivalent to the price of oil. That means, mounting prices of grain because farmers will reserve more of their harvested grain for ethanol use, which would yield them more profit. The result? Grain diverted from the family table into the family car as fuel.
"What we see are cars beginning to compete with people for world grain supplies," Brown said.
Not only that, in an article published at enn.com, researchers found out that clearing forests and converting them into fields to grow biofuel crops causes more greenhouse gas emissions. It also results to the destruction of forests and grasslands that are originally meant for food production.
According to Renewable Fuels Association, in a span of eight years, annual corn-based ethanol production in US rose from 1.6 billion gallons to 6.5 billion gallons. That supplies about 5 percent of the country's fuel for transportation.
Jason Hill, an economist and ecologist from University of Minessota and co-author of the study, warned against the ill effects of our country's desire to rush into biofuels.
"It's a little frightening to think that something this well intentioned might be very damaging," he said.
Indeed, truth is multi-faceted. An Acura Legend window motor may give you a more convenient view of the world outside your car, but sometimes, try to look closer, outside that glass window often blurs your vision. Maybe, just maybe you might see something different.
The 2008 Chicago Auto Show guaranteed fans a box of various surprises, and here's one of them! According to the Auto Channel, the all-new 2009 Chevrolet Transverse that had its first public appearance at the said event, will be the first Chevrolet car to offer the award-winning XM NavTraffic as a standard feature along with its standard hood and engine parts. XM's concurrent traffic information service, the XM NavTraffic, will be offered on Traverse vehicles.
"XM is pleased with Chevy's commitment to providing the best in entertainment and technology by making XM NavTraffic and XM Radio available on the 2009 Traverse. 2009 Chevy Traverse customers will benefit from the experience of real-time traffic data and more than 170 channels of entertainment," says Joe Verbrugge, senior vice president of automotive partnerships and international operations for XM Satellite Radio.
"XM NavTraffic is certain to save drivers of the all-new Chevy Traverse precious time and money," says Ed Peper, general manager of Chevrolet. "We think we have a great-looking family vehicle with lots of utility in the Traverse, and NavTraffic just adds to that."
For the first time in twenty years, Hyundai Motor America will take in a strong marketing strategy through various advertisements during the world-renowned National Football League's Super Bowl XLII! The Auto Channel reported that the company announced their plans last February 1, 2008. Furthermore, the company's acquisition of two 30-second spots throughout the third and fourth quarters highlighted Hyundai's first and foremost Super Bowl promotion endeavor since 1989. Hyundai’s advertisements were aired on the game broadcast last Sunday, February 3, 2008.
"The Super Bowl is a must-see event for nearly 100 million people and we want every one of them to know that Hyundai is America's next great car company. Hyundai marketing continues to step out in big ways, and the Super Bowl is as big as it gets," says Joel Ewanick, vice president of Marketing for Hyundai Motor America.
The creative department was headed by Goodby, Silverstein & Partners who were responsible for the bright concept. Both 30-second ad spots carried out the consistent theme and pitch with the "Think About It" promotion which was launched last September 2007. The ads defied conventional assumptions about the luxury category which focused on the all-new Hyundai Genesis rear-wheel drive luxury sedan with the best fuel filter.
"Unlike the majority of Super Bowl advertising which attempts to make the audience laugh, Hyundai's ads are intended to make the audience think. We want to challenge consumers to continue to see Hyundai in new light. We feel that the unique tone and theme of our two spots will differentiate us from the crowd on Super Bowl Sunday," added Ewanick.
In economics, there is this law that General Motors needs to review. That is the Law of Diminishing Returns. Encyclopedia.com defined it as a law stating that if one factor of production is increased while the others remain constant, the overall returns will relatively decrease after a certain point.
After being on top of the auto business, being the world's number one automaker for 77 years, General Motors (GM) was beaten by rival Japanese automaker Toyota in global vehicle production.
Last year, GM won the crown for global vehicle sales, selling 9,369,524 vehicles around the world, gaining a 3 percent sales increase than the previous year. That was about 3,000 vehicle sales more than Toyota, timesonline reported.
However, in their latest "neck-and-neck number race," as TimesOnline puts it, Toyota Motor Corp. claimed that they had made a record of 9,497,754 vehicles worldwide in 2007, that means that made about 213,000 more automobiles than GM's 9.284 million production last year.
Toyota's reputation for quality and good mileage must be an effective marketing strategy. In addition, the increase in demand for its forte - smaller cars, that is, due to oil price hike yield positive results.
If Acura's victory was equated with its quality parts like its Acura Legend car bra, Toyota's current success in the auto market can also be attributed to the popularity of its models such as the Camry Sedan, Corolla Subcompact and the Prius gas-electric hybrid that gave the company a "green" image with its vehicles featuring less global warming gas emissions.
This year, Toyota's vision is to sell 9.8 million vehicles worldwide and produce 9.95 million - higher than last year's global vehicle production.
But General Motors promises to keep fighting back by boosting its overseas business. It has not released its production targets for this year though.
In 1978, GM made a record-breaking 9.55 million annual global vehicle sales.
To retain its spot, GM has to keep balance between its sales and production strategies. The Law of Diminishing Returns is true.
Looks like General Motors Corp. is doing its homework regarding the enhancement of GMC truck parts to unleash a captivating pickup version of the Hummer H3.
The H3T, set to be rolled out this fall, will be launched at the Chicago Auto Show next week. The automaker said that the pickup retains Hummer's signature design and off-road capabilities, with a standard four wheel drive, 32-inch tires and optional 33-inch tires and front and rear wheel-locking differentials for improved traction. The H3T is also featuring a standard 3.7-liter, 5-cylinder engine with 242 hp and an optional 5.7-liter V-8 with 300 hp than can tow up to 5,900 pounds.
The design has all the Hummer cues, including a wide stance, low roofline and high beltline, divulged Freep.com. The Hummer H3T is larger than a midsize pickup but smaller than its full-size version. For a clearer picture, the H3T is bigger than Toyota Motor Corp.'s Tacoma but smaller than Ford Motor Co.'s F-150.
General Motors said that the production of the pickup will start in the third quarter at the company's Shreveport, La., assembly plant.
The production of a new pickup is expected to help revive the sales of Hummer which dived 22% in 2007 as customers shifted to fuel efficient cars due to the increasing gas prices.
The auto industry has gone green and it is about time too. The threat of global warming increases with every day that greenhouse gases are emitted by vehicles. Thus, the auto industry has been developing green technologies which include developing alternative fuel which can be a good substitute for petroleum fuel.
Recently, The Auto Channel reported that Solazyme, Inc. has found a way to derive bio-fuel from algae. The said fuel has already been tested and has been a success. The fuel powered a factory-standard vehicle over long distances. The vehicle which has been powered by the algal bio-diesel will be showcased at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. It is because the car and the technology to produce the bio-diesel are featured in the documentary Fields of Fuel. I doubt though if it would come equipped with Acura headlights.
Jonathan Wolfson, chief executive officer of Solazyme said: "Biodiesel from algae changes the landscape of renewable fuels. The concept of algal biofuel has been discussed for decades, and Solazyme's technology finally provides a scalable solution based on proven industrial processes. This fuel is just the first example of how algal oil will help the environment through new products that offer attractive economics and performance, as well as environmental benefits."
Harrison Dillon, president and chief technology officer of Solazyme added: "In demonstrating this new fuel alternative, we're responding to the need for a near-term solution that will also be cost effective and sustainable. Our technology combines all the key components: low carbon footprint, environmental sustainability, certified compatibility with existing vehicles and infrastructure, and energy security for our country."
This development shows that we are indeed moving in the right direction. I just hope that the technology will really be put to good use and will be made available soon for consumers.
Surprises! aside from having the best cargo liners in their vehicles, Honda got lots of surprises for everyone. Like what they have for the winners in the first ever Honda Helpful Awards. Check this out!
The Southern California Honda Dealers Association has confirmed that the winners have been chosen for the company's 1st annual Honda Helpful Awards. This event is a festivity which recognizes kindness amongst people in Southern California. According to TheAutoChannel.com, three good-hearted people who offered their lives to serving their neighbors will be shocked with an all-new 2008 Honda car from over 500 selections. This will take place on Tuesday, January 22, 2008, starting from 12:00pm to 2:00pm at the Santa Monica Pier.
"We were blown away by all of the nominees' stories and the passion of the people who took the time to submit a nomination. We are really proud to extend Honda's helpfulness beyond the media and day-to-day activities of the Helpful Guys and Girls in Blue. The winners' stories are truly inspiring - we're excited to honor each of them at the 1st annual Honda Helpful Awards, and hope this event is the first of many to come in the future," says Patrick Adams, the managing director of Secret Weapon Marketing.
With the world watching, automakers at the North American International Auto Show continue to impress. Lincoln, Ford's subsidiary unveiled its most recent concept vehicle, the MKT concept vehicle. The Auto Channel reported that the vehicle is powered by a V6 that produces the same power as a V8 engine.
Under the hood of the concept vehicles is a 3.5-liter V6 EcoBoost V6 engine which features turbocharging and direct injection. Both features are able to make the engine more fuel efficient. Of course, Ford created this to be as fuel efficient as possible since consumers are asking for fuel efficient vehicles.
Mark Fields, president of the Americas at Ford had this to say about the MKT: "EcoBoost engines can deliver better fuel economy and performance on a full range of vehicles, from small cars to large trucks. The Lincoln MKT concept offers the comfort of a luxury sedan, the spaciousness and flexibility of a full-size utility and the performance of a sporty roadster – executed with new technologies and materials that make it as environmentally friendly as it is elegant. The Lincoln MKT concept is understated but powerful – inside, outside and under the hood."
I don't think that the MKT will be available in the market soon. It may still take some time before Lincoln can bring down the cost of production although I am sure that if it reaches the market, it will have auto parts as reliable as Acura fuel pumps.
Peter Horbury, executive director of Design, The Americas also had this to say: "We envisioned this concept as a modern grand tourer, really a Learjet of the road. With the Lincoln MKT concept, you find a premium utility that could as easily accommodate a businessperson slipping into the back seat on the way to his or her next meeting in the chaos of Manhattan as a family packed up for a weekend getaway to the coast."
Automakers are finding ways to slash expenses without compromising their reputation. One of the most recent cost-cutting ventures involves Nissan and Chrysler.
Nissan Motor Co. will be building cars for Chrysler LLC which would be sold in South America. This is an effort of Chrysler to expand its product offerings while slashing investment costs.
In the said pact, Japan's third largest automaker is expected to produce a version of the Versa compact car for the Auburn Hills-based automaker starting next year. This statement was released by the Japanese automaker in an email sent to Bloomberg. Financial terms, meanwhile, were not divulged by the automaker.
The deal could help both companies as Chrysler battles two years of losses and Nissan works to reverse a 24% drop in its share price over the past 12 months, according to Bloomberg. The project adds to a growing list of partnerships aimed at expanding product lineups and utilizing assembly plant capacity with minimal investment.
"This partnership will give Chrysler nearly immediate access to vehicle segments in which we do not currently compete,'' said Chrysler President Tom LaSorda.
The automakers said that they may explore further cooperation. Carlos Ghosn, the Nissan chief executive officer, was earlier quoted as saying he wants an American partner. The statement was made after General Motors Corp. rejected an alliance 15 months ago. The Detroit-based automaker turned down the proposal after 3 months of study with Nissan and Renault SA, the French automaker that owns 44% of Nissan.
Chrysler and Nissan haven't discussed a partnership that involves equity, people familiar with the situation told engine mount and other auto parts from manufacturers.
The long wait is over. FoMoCo earlier announced its plans to introduce small cars in India in a matter of 2 years. The Dearborn automaker will be shelling out $500 million to boost the manufacture of engines in Chennai.
What's more, the new venture will finance a number of fresh initiatives that cover expansion of Ford India's Chennai facility as well as the construction of a fully integrated engine plant that is set to go online by 2010.
"The engine plant will be completed in 2 phases spread over 3 years. The first phase will be completed by April this year, when we have a capacity of 50,000 units," said Ford India president and MD Arvind Mathew. "These engines will be used to locally produce the existing Fiesta and Fusion models."
Ford is also ramping up capacity at its Chennai plant to 200,000 units from the existing 100,000 units by 2010, the bulk of which will comprise its small car, according to Indian Express. The integrated engine plant, on the other hand, is aimed at supplying engines for all those cars. The balance 50,000 units will be exported.
"Exports is not our criteria and if some of the engines are exported, it will be only after the domestic needs are met," Mathew said.
The new investment ups the automaker's total financial commitment to India to over $875 million. Last year, Ford announced a $500-million investment to build small cars in Thailand. The announcement was made weeks after introducing the production of small cars at a new $510 million facility in China.
"We have embarked on a strategy of growing our business across Asia Pacific," John Parker, Ford's executive vice-president for Asia, Pacific & Africa, said in an interview. "We want to grow our manufacturing and supply footprint in China, Southeast Asia, and India."
John Bonnell, the director of Asia Pacific forecasting for J.D. Power & Associates, told BusinessWeek that the new investment should help boost their sales. "By expanding its operations, Ford will be able to improve its cost structure and competitiveness as well as its product mix by bringing in a new model to the market," he concluded.
In many parts of the world, the Dearborn automaker is traveling on bumpy roads. In America, it lost its spot to Toyota as the second largest automaker. In Britain, Ford eyes a sale of the maker of Jaguar engines and Land Rover Discovery 3.9 radiators to Tata Motors of India. In Asia, the scenario is much brighter. The automaker is concentrating on the territory's burgeoning markets.
There's nothing more overwhelming than having a full blast in car sales during the past decade. I would be very happy that would happen if I was the owner or CEO of a company. Anyway, I think Hyundai deserves this great moment for a job well done over the past few years. Talk about the company's exceptional dedication in sending out premium vehicles. They are among the best! My oxygen sensor even knows that.
For nine consecutive years, Hyundai Motor America has announced its record-breaking December with sales of 46,487 units. And guess what? Hyundai achieved its best ever annual sales with a total of 467,009 for the previous year.
"We feel good closing the year with increased sales and market share over year-ago figures. Still, we enter the year with cautious optimism as the overall industry likely will retract to the 15.7 million range. But we are confident that the strongest product lineup in our history will bring further sales records in 2008, led by the all-new rear-wheel drive Genesis sedan being introduced at the Detroit Auto Show on January 13," says Dave Zuchowski, Hyundai Motor America's vice president of national sales.
Thousands or maybe millions of automotive experts and enthusiasts have been impressed by Ford's exceptional innovation that was unveiled a few months ago. I'm talking about the Ford SYNC! This masterpiece from Ford is the hottest stuff in the industry today that's why its popularity has spread out like wildfire. Indeed as hot as a BMW 318i radiator.
According to the news that I just read from the Auto Channel this morning, one of the most impressed customers of the Ford SYNC is Ken Venema, a businessman who sells cars and trucks for 26 years now. He's totally down with the SYNC, complimenting its advantages in his unit sales. His business was in full blast when he began acquiring vehicles such as Ford models with the SYNC.
"I must have a half-dozen sales because of SYNC. I strongly believe that," said Venema, a sales consultant at Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury in Grand Rapids, Mich. "I'm sold on it. And I'm sure glad Ford's got it."
"I am using (SYNC) as a showroom builder. I am pumped on it because it's something that we can offer the market that doesn't focus on price, and it's something we have that our competitors don't," said Kim Winkler, a new car sales manager at Pfeiffer Lincoln Mercury.
"It's early in SYNC's launch - we'll know more about its impact in a few months - but so far all indicators are extraordinarily positive," explained John Emmert, SYNC marketing manager, Ford Motor Company.
Forbesauto.com released the top ten list of the cars mostly driven by women. In their official website, these cars were also illustrated and now I'm bringing it here right before your very eyes. I would like to thank Forbes.com for lending it to us. Here are the ten cars mostly driven by women.
10. Lexus IS
Primary driver: 50.069% female
Total respondents: 54,267
9. Cadillac SRX
Primary driver: 50.070% female
Total respondents: 22,043
8. Land Rover Range Rover Sport
Primary driver: 50.071% female
Total respondents: 18,757
7. Audi A6
Primary driver: 50.16% female
Total respondents: 16,216
6. Volvo S40
Primary driver: 50.27% female
Total respondents: 24,566
5. Lincoln Zephyr/MKZ
Primary driver: 50.32% female
Total respondents: 33,114
4. Volvo V70 and C70
Primary driver: 50.61% female
Total respondents: 22,681
3. Volvo S60
Primary driver: 52.72% female
Total respondents: 25,753
2. Audi A3
Primary driver: 53.41% female
Total respondents: 8,040
1. BMW Z4
Primary driver: 61.18% female
Total respondents: 12,284
Volvo S40, Volvo V70 and C70 as well as the Volvo S60 also the maker of the Volvo 940 radiator were all included in the top ten cars driven by women. Does this mean that Volvo cars are made for women? Hmmnnn, at some point they are. I mean most of the women liked them and made them their choice.
I am bringing you back Forbes Auto's Top Ten List of the Safest Vehicles in the US car market. Months ago, the reputable car oriented website posted the list on their official page and now I'm bringing it back to give you a hint on what is the safest car on the road.
And now here it is, the top ten list of the safest cars as released by Forbes Auto.
1. Acura RL
2. Volvo S80
3. Honda Odyssey
4. Acura TL
5. Chrysler 300C/Dodge Charger
6. Lincoln Town Car
7. Buick Lucerne
8. Lexus ES 330
9. Lincoln LS
10. Honda Pilot
The Acura RL also wearing the same Acura CL wheel hubs topped the top ten list.
Teens are known to be aggressive drivers. Once they step on the pedal, there's no stopping this bunch of juveniles from what they want to do. Even the greatest brake booster can't hold these young adults for sure. There are several cases of vehicle accidents claiming approximately 5,000 or more lives every year. This piece of fact was accounted by Allstate Insurance from the survey they conducted which revealeds that countless teenagers continue to neglect personal responsibility to ensure safe driving. They also engage in dangerous driving behaviors repeatedly.
According to my source, teens can be soft at times. Almost 90 percent of the teen respondents stated that they wished for a safer road for their friends in 2008, while 11 percent included "driving more safely" among their individual New Year’s resolutions.
"Our survey found that teens are making New Year's resolutions about getting better grades, exercising more and other good things, but far too few are resolving to be safer drivers. Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the U.S., and the holidays are among the most dangerous times of the year for teens on the road. Unfortunately, our survey shows that teens have other things on their mind than driving safely," says Victoria Dinges, Allstate assistant vice president of Public Social Responsibility and mother of a teen driver.
Honda's growing. And it's growing with a bang!
Honda Motor Co. expects its American sales to surge between 3% and 5% next year despite a slight drop in the overall market, said John Mendel, the executive vice president of American Honda auto operations.
Total light vehicle sales in 2008 likely will be around 15.7 million, the exec said last Thursday. Total U.S. sales are expected to finish at 16.3 million this year. Through November, Honda's U.S. sales are up 3.1% to 1.4 million vehicles, thanks largely to a redesigned Accord and CR-V, reported The Detroit Free Press.
Honda should continue to receive a lift in 2008 from these vehicles, Mendel said. A redesigned Pilot, a three-row sport utility vehicle, and Fit, a subcompact hatchback, are planned for next year. "We haven't let our foot off the gas on the product development side," he said.
"Honda also could attract customers shifting to more fuel-efficient vehicles in the face of higher gas prices," he added. "When fuel prices are an issue with consumers, I think we benefit even more because we either lead or are among the leaders in every segment where we compete."
The second biggest Japanese automaker's expectations for 2008 are reasonable, said Erich Merkle, the director of forecasting for IRN Inc. in Grand Rapids. IRN forecasts overall light-vehicle sales of 15.5 million next year.
"Even as the market contracts, Honda has slightly higher-end customers who will not be affected as much by a down economy," Merkle said. "Honda also is not a player in the full-size truck market, which could drag down sales of other automakers. I think they'll probably be the leader in terms of market share gain. I only say that because 3% to 5% growth for an automaker in the next year is going to be phenomenal."
Notwithstanding its overall growth, Honda has faced grave challenges in some segments. Sales for Acura, Honda's luxury brand, are down by 10.8% so far this year.
"Reshaping Acura is a huge priority for Honda," Mendel said. "The company wants to turn Acura into a true luxury brand, competing with the likes of Lexus, BMW and Mercedes-Benz." The maker of the Acura vigor radiator could've been pretty pleased to hear the news.
This year, the Japanese automaker opened a design center in California dedicated to the Acura brand thus helping more clearly separate Acura from the Honda brand, Mendel said. "The next logical step is to start to see some of that product flow through," he said.
The Chinese auto market is the fastest growing market today. With more and more Chinese consumers able to afford new vehicles, the demand for vehicles in the Asian country increases steadily. That's why there seems to be a lot of focus on the Chinese auto market.
Recently, The Auto Channel reported that BorgWarner presented the 'China Heart' awards in Beijing. The said awards recognized the ten best engines in China which are the following:
- Mazda 6 2.3L engine from FAW Car Company
- Audi 3.2L FSI engine from FAW-VW
- BMW 3.0L engine from Brilliance BMW
- Roewe 2.5L engine from Shanghai Motor Company
- Buick 2.4L engine from Shanghai General Motors
- Magotan & Skoda 1.8 TSI engine from FAW-VW
- Zun Chi 1.8T engine from Brilliance Auto
- Carolla 1.8L engine from FAW-Toyota
- Brilliance Jun Jie 1.8L engine from Dong'an Engine Company
- SX 4 1.6L engine from Chang'an Suzuki
Tim Manganello, BorgWarner Chairman and CEO had this to say according to the report: "Congratulations to the manufacturers of these award-winning engines. As the Chinese auto industry continues to grow, the engine technology offered to consumers is also advancing, offering more environmentally friendly vehicles with better performance each year. We are proud to sponsor this event which provides consumers with the opportunity to learn about the engines powering the vehicles on the market today."
To be included in the list, the engine should be manufactured in China and used in vehicles manufactured in China too where wholesale auto parts are manufactured likewise. According to The Auto Channel, here's who the ten were chosen: "Following data research and drive tests, 59 engines made by 34 OEMs and engine manufacturers were rated based on power performance, technologies, market performance, environmental concerns and field judgment."
We are used to received the monthly list from intellichoice.com for its "Best Car Deals" and this time, they finally revealed the December list on their official website. According to James Bell, the publisher and editor of IntelliChoice.com, "Last month's list noted a total of seven changes, which showed how volatile the market can be heading into Year-End. This month there is just one - the Toyota Tundra over the Chevy Silverado. All of the vehicles on this month's list are smart from an economic perspective and reasonably priced, but car buyers should always have the most up-to-date data and advice before heading off to dealer lots."
I was looking for a Dodge water pump on the net and here's what I found. Here are the cars on the December list for Best Car Deals as posted on TheAuto Channel:
- Subcompact Car: MINI Cooper Hatchback
- Compact Car over $16,000: Honda Civic Hybrid
- Compact Car under $16,000: Honda Civic Sedan
- Midsize Car over $21,000: Toyota Prius
- Midsize Car under $21,000: Toyota Prius
- Convertible: MINI Cooper Convertible
- Luxury Convertible: Audi A4 Convertible
- Near Luxury Car: BMW 3 Series Sedan
- Luxury Car: Lexus ES
- Large Car: Toyota Avalon
- Base Sport Car: Volkswagen GTI 2-door
- Sport Car: Chevrolet Corvette
- Sport Sedan/Wagon over $38,000: Lexus GS Hybrid
- Sport Sedan Wagon under $38,000: Infiniti G35 Sport Sedan
- Compact Utility/Crossover: Ford Escape Hybrid
- Midsize Crossover: Toyota Highlander Hybrid
- Luxury Crossover: Lexus RX 400h
- Small Wagon: Toyota Matrix
- Midsize/Large Wagon: Subaru Outback Wagon
- Intermediate Utility: Hummer H3
- Full-Size Utility: GMC Yukon
- Luxury Utility: Lexus GX
- Minivan: Honda Odyssey
- Full-Size Passenger Van: Ford E150 Passenger Van
- Full Size Cargo Van: Chevrolet Uplander Cargo Van
- Compact Pickup Truck 2WD: Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 2WD
- Compact Pickup Truck 4WD: Toyota Tacoma Regular Cab 4WD
- 2WD 1/2 Ton Full-Size Pickup Truck: Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 2WD
- 2WD 3/4 Ton Full-Size Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
- 2WD One Ton Full-Size Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 2WD
- 4WD 1/2 Ton Full-Size Pickup Truck: Toyota Tundra Regular Cab 4 WD
- 4WD 3/4 Ton Full-Size Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
- 4WD One Ton Full-Size Pickup Truck: Chevrolet Silverado 3500 HD Crew Cab 4WD
We can relate this story from the Ugly Duckling tale. But in fairness with the current 2007 Malibu model, its design isn't that bad after all. It falls under the "average OK" category with the standard mud flaps I guess. This time, the duckling turned into a poised and beautiful swan... just like the Chevy Malibu with its fresh 2008 design, it's definitely stunning! And guess what? The 2008 Chevrolet Malibu is Kelley Blue Book's "2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle"!
The number one provider of the latest and previous vehicle information has proclaimed the Chevrolet Malibu as the ultimate winner of the "2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle" award.
The recently revamped 2008 Malibu is being admired for bringing out a new face to the significant mid-size car class with an amplified level of enhancement generally according to the kbb.com editorial staff.
"The 2008 Malibu solidified its case for kbb.com's '2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle' with a top-to-bottom, inside-and-out remake that's nothing less than game-changing. The new Malibu has earned its place at the top of one of the toughest and most competitive categories in the industry. It can take on any competitor head-to-head," says Jack R. Nerad, the executive editorial director and executive market analyst for Kelley Blue Book.
Here's a recap of the top 10 finalists for kbb.com's "2008 Best Redesigned Vehicle" in alphabetical order:
- Audi TT
- Cadillac CTS
- Honda Accord
- Infiniti G37
- Mercedes-Benz C-Class
- Mitsubishi Lancer
- Porsche Cayenne
- Saturn Vue
- Toyota Highlander
"As we've come to expect in recent years, each vehicle on this year's list of finalists represents a huge step forward versus its predecessor," said Nerad. "The presence of the CTS and Vue along with the Malibu marks a significant resurgence in product offerings from the domestic manufacturers. The domestics have proven they can play in the big leagues again with no excuses."
Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com "Best Redesigned Vehicle" record:
- 2004 Ford F-150
- 2005 Ford Mustang
- 2006 Honda Civic
- 2007 Chevrolet Silverado
- 2008 Chevrolet Malibu
I have this thought that Lexus is the number one car for these porn stars. Several news around the net reports about several porns stars using the name Lexus as their name. Maybe these chicks are using the Lexus fame to be famous and the company won't tolerate any of these malicious acts to be connected to their fabulous name.
If you can recall back in June of this year, two porn stars found themselves facing complaints by Toyota as they sued a pornography firm due to copyright infringement. This does not certainly involve Acura headers but the entire Lexus brand. The Japanese car maker also appreciates the efforts of an adult film star Lexus Cash for using their company and brand handle as her stage name and for her website. But because the porn star is not willing to stop its litigation campaign, the famous Japanese car maker is filing a law suit and suing another porn star for using its handle again. This time, it's no longer a girl but a gay porn star using Lexus on his name.
The latest news on the net reports that Toyota Motor Corporation is filing a law suit and a cease-and-desist letter against the EBoys Studios in Switzerland. The new boy porn group honcho said that the name they choose is with connection to the Greek mythology and not connected to the famous Toyota brand. The firm also said that "the company will not cave to the carmaker's demands to recall the two flicks it has produced with the actor using that name," the autoblog.com reports.
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