Car Crowd

BROADVIEW, Ill., June 28 /PRNewswire/ � How your car, minivan or SUV performs ultimately depends on the type of vehicle you drive and what it was designed for in the first place. However, new technology in premium spark plugs allows drivers to extract the best performance their vehicles can offer without compromising fuel economy.

�From copper to platinum and iridium - modern spark plugs help motorists get a lot closer to experiencing the highest level of performance and fuel economy their vehicle is capable of producing,� said Reid Smith, product manager for spark plugs for Robert Bosch LLC. Bosch is a leading supplier of premium spark plugs to vehicle manufacturers and the aftermarket and a pioneer in the development of spark plug technology. (http://www.boschautoparts.com)

Within a vehicle�s ignition system, the spark plug serves to ignite the air-fuel mixture which, in turn, produces the energy that moves a car. Over time and after thousands of miles, spark plugs may begin to show wear between the electrodes.

According to Smith, this wear increases stress on the ignition system and can prevent the spark plug from igniting the air-fuel mixture efficiently. When this happens, the car�s performance and gas mileage both decline.

�Fresh premium spark plugs help extract more energy from the same amount of gas,� said Smith. They improve the transfer of energy from the ignition system to the fuel, thus offering improved fuel efficiency and more power.

The Car Care Council, a consumer organization for motorists, states, �a dirty spark causes misfiring; and inefficient combustion caused by worn spark plugs wastes fuel.�

To meet the growing demand for performance and efficiency, automotive parts supplier Bosch has upgraded and expanded its entire line of premium spark plugs to suit every driver�s taste.

Bosch�s new technology-based Platinum Ir Fusion is the industry�s only spark plug that combines iridium and platinum in a patented fused fine wire center electrode design, Smith said.

On-road testing by Bosch indicates that the reduced gap wear of the Bosch Platinum Ir Fusion lowers the voltage requirement on the ignition system, yielding better, more consistent performance and longer service life, Smith said. The Fusion is now available for virtually all domestic and imported vehicles.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

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Some news - 2 week old, mind you - that I missed and read in the latest issue of The Economist calls for Ford to continue to shed assets in efforts to drop $5B.

The moves call for the sale of both Jaguar and Range Rover. 

Interestingly, in a sign of the times, it won�t be car makers but private equity firms that will be in the running to acquire the strong brands.

read more.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

Interesting what some of the indirect effects of the cheap dollar are having on decisions that directly affect labor: 

Toyota Motor Corp. is concerned that it has built too many factories in the United States and is considering a slowdown in its plans for further plant building here, according to a newspaper report Wednesday.

Although Toyota�s U.S. sales continue to grow, executives worry about an uncertain outlook, The Wall Street Journal reported.

In addition, a cheap yen has made it more profitable for the company to produce cars in Japan and ship them to the U.S., according to a senior executive and management-board member the Journal didn�t identify by name.

Read more.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

This is one Honda Accord thieves may want to avoid. The car was stolen twice in one day in Yakima County, and authorities quickly arrested suspects both times.

read more.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

LONDON and MILAN, ITALY�(Marketwire - June 14, 2007) - The NEVIS Engine Company Ltd. today announced that it has successfully closed its first round of seed funding to help the Company further test and develop awareness of its breakthrough patented technology incorporated within its first functioning prototype. The NEVIS (New Exhaust Valve & Intake System) engine is an innovative Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) that, within a single patented engine design, is estimated to nearly double the fuel efficiency attained by conventional ICE technologies.

At the heart of the NEVIS technology is both a new combustion cycle (the �Bortone Cycle,� named after the engine�s inventor, Cesare Bortone) and a breakthrough engine design protected by two patents. These innovations combined allow the engine to achieve near-perfect combustion at all levels of power demands (partial power demands of city driving versus full and constant power demands of highway driving). The engine�s versatile design means it can be configured to be fuelled not only by gasoline but also by diesel, hydrogen and bio-fuels.

The Company believes that the NEVIS technology holds enormous potential because, to date, most industry players have focused on adding a second engine (as in today�s hybrids with their electric motors) at significant cost to overcome the inefficiencies of conventional internal combustion engines at varying power demands.

The NEVIS Engine Company Ltd. is a technology commercialisation company formed after the NEVIS Engine prototype went through its first successful bench test in 2006 (funded largely by Italian government grants). Capable of nearly doubling the fuel efficiency attained by conventional engines, its modular cylinder construction offers opportunities to enhance manufacturing efficiency while allowing a single facility to produce a wide range of engine sizes for varying power needs suited for diverse applications (automotive, aeronautic and marine). Its versatile design means it can be configured to be fuelled not only by gasoline, but also by diesel, hydrogen and bio-fuels.

For more information visit us on the Web at www.nevisengine.com.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

IRVINE, Calif., June 13 /PRNewswire/ � The average credit score for U.S. consumers with no late auto payments is nearly 100 points higher than for those who have at least one late payment, according to the latest National Score Index® study by Experian Consumer Direct(SM), the leading provider of online direct-to-consumer credit reports, scores and monitoring products.

The national average credit score for consumers with no late auto payments is 703, while the average score for consumers with at least one late payment is 605. The average credit score drops further to 580 when an auto payment is late by 90 days or more. For additional survey results, visit Experian�s National Score Index Web site at http://www.NationalScoreIndex.com.

Texas had the lowest average credit score for those with at least one late auto payment at 592 and also had the highest monthly auto payment of $570. Conversely, consumers in New Hampshire had the highest average credit score for those with no late auto payments at 728 and an average monthly auto payment of $442.

The study also found that:

� Nationwide, 12 percent of consumers have at least one late auto payment
on file
� The national average balance on an auto loan is $15,654
� The average U.S. monthly auto payment is $495
28 percent of the U.S. population has at least one auto loan or lease
on file

�An automobile can be one of the larger purchases consumers make over their lifetime and their credit score is one of the factors lenders use to determine the interest rate and loan terms,� said Ty Taylor, president of Experian Consumer Direct. �Paying bills on time and spending within your means are cornerstones of effective credit management, which can have a positive impact on a consumer�s credit score.�

Experian Consumer Direct empowers consumers by offering products and information through Web sites such as http://www.FreeCreditReport.com to help them proactively manage their personal finances conveniently and securely online. Products include credit reports from all three national credit reporting companies, credit score reports that show the positive and negative factors that affect a consumer�s credit score, and credit monitoring products that provide daily monitoring of their Experian credit report or all three national credit reports.

More information about Experian�s National Score Index study plus additional credit data at the state and local levels can be found at http://www.NationalScoreIndex.com. This study used Experian data as of March 2007.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

SPRING LAKE, MI–(Marketwire - June 12, 2007) - Many parents feel defenseless in safeguarding their teenagers when they begin driving. There is one simple, yet important component often overlooked in improving teen driving safety.

Identify the new drivers’ car.

Parents can now increase awareness of their teen driver by identifying their vehicle with a standardized ‘rookie driver’ symbol. That’s according to Corinne Fortenbacher, a leading proponent of teen driving safety. The car magnet alerts other drivers when there is a novice driver behind the wheel.

While the crash risk for all teens is high, it is especially dangerous for 15 and 16-year-olds. According to the National Institute for Highway Safety, they are nine times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than the driving population as a whole. Teen driving statistics show that over 1,000,000 teenagers are involved in auto crashes every year in the United States. The Institute lists driver inexperience as a leading cause.

“By addressing the common culprit of driver inexperience, we can help reduce the teen driving toll,” says Fortenbacher, president of Rookie Driver.Net. “Identifying a teen’s driver status allows experienced drivers to anticipate common new driver mistakes. We know to be more cautious and forgiving when we realize a teenager is new to the road.”

There have been improvements nationwide in teen driving laws, according to a AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study. Most states require teen driving school for student drivers. Tougher reforms include longer duration of the learner permit phase, implementation of graduated driver’s license programs, passenger limits and night driving restrictions. Fortenbacher reports that these reforms have helped reduce teen driving accidents, but more can be done to make sure these numbers continue to decrease.

She adds that the safety of all drivers is jeopardized until we reduce the number of teen crashes. “Many parents agree that the standardized ‘rookie driver’ symbol is a simple way to help increase awareness during the most dangerous driving period of their kids’ lives, and an additional way to help reduce the heartbreaking No. 1 killer of teenagers.”

Rookie Driver.Net’s products are designed by teens and can be found at http://www.RookieDriver.Net. The firm has grown from a single product, launched in 2006, to a leading online provider of safety aids. Visit their teen driving safety blog at http://rookiedriver.wordpress.com/.

Or, visit Rookie Driver.Net’s Media Room at http://www.rookiedriverintraining.com/rookiedriver-news.html

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

Brussels, Belgium (PRWEB) June 10, 2007 � TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION (TMC) announced today that global cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles have topped the 1 million mark, with approximately 1,047,000 units sold worldwide as of May 31, 2007

(1)Toyota launched the Prius�the world�s first mass-produced hybrid vehicle�in Japan in 1997 and began selling it in North America, Europe and elsewhere in 2000. To view the archived presentation of this press release please go to http://www.toyota-media.com/euen/.

The second-generation Prius, equipped with the Toyota Hybrid System II, was introduced in 2003 with an emphasis on delivering both environmental performance and power. Over time, Toyota has expanded the use of its hybrid system to minivans, SUVs, rear-wheel-drive sedans and other vehicles. According to the press release published on http://www.toyota-media.com/euen/, hybrid vehicles have been enjoying good sales both in Japan and in over 40 countries and regions around the world, particularly North America.

Toyota began overseas production of hybrid vehicles in Changchun, China in 2005 and in Kentucky in the United States in 2006.

Toyota has calculated that as of April 30, 2007, worldwide sales of its hybrid vehicles(2) since 1997 have greatly contributed to reductions in CO2 emissions, which are considered a cause of global warming, by producing approximately 3.5 million fewer tons(3) of CO2 compared with the same class gasoline-powered vehicles of similar size and driving performance.

Toyota has positioned environmental responses as a priority management issue, and as such has made a concerted effort to popularize hybrid systems. It will actively continue to find ways to utilize the system�s high degree of applicability to double its hybrid lineup and will aim to achieve annual sales of 1 million units in the early part of the 2010s.

http://www.toyota-media.com/euen/ is exclusively reserved for media professionals, and contains information on Toyota & Lexus business activities and products, environmental solutions & technology, how to get in touch with us and much more.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

This is a crazy story:

A man was taken on a wild ride when his wheelchair became lodged in the grille of a semitrailer and was accidentally pushed down a highway for four miles at about 50 mph, authorities said.

The 21-year-old man, whose name was not released, was unharmed but was taken to a hospital as a precaution. He had been secured to his wheelchair by a seat belt.

“The man spilled his soda pop, but he wasn’t upset,” said Sgt. Kathy Morton of the Michigan State Police.

Here�s the picture to prove it:

Wow, I thought this only happened in movies.  Read more.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

SANTA ROSA, CA � (MARKET WIRE) � May 31, 2007 � Filling the gaps between point A and point B, ZAP (OTCBB: ZAAP) has finally found the middle road. The new ZAPINO electric scooter is a great link between ZAP�s personal transporters and electric cars.

Not only economical and eco-friendly, the ZAPINO is powerful with an advanced 3000-watt brushless DC hub motor, perfect for city commuting. Able to reach speeds of 30 MPH, the ZAPINO will be able to keep up with city traffic without contributing to city pollution.

Electric scooter pioneer ZAP is introducing a new moped-class vehicle to help beat high gas prices. They say the ZAPINO is now in stock and uses an innovative 3000-watt motor built into the rear wheel. For information visit http://www.zapworld.com.

Electric scooter pioneer ZAP is introducing a new moped-class
vehicle to help beat high gas prices. They say the ZAPINO is
now in stock and uses an innovative 3000-watt motor built into
the rear wheel. For information visit http://www.zapworld.com.

The rear wheel hub motor on the ZAPINO creates more room on board for additional batteries and performance. This innovative drive system eliminates the need for belts or chains with lower overall maintenance. It also delivers a more enjoyable ride because it is nearly silent, accelerates smoothly with no shifting, has no engine vibration, no tailpipe or heat exhaust � just good, clean fun.

ZAP pioneered the use of wheel motors in electric vehicles, first incorporating one into its line of ZAPPY3 electric scooters in 2004. Learn more at http://www.zapworld.com.

About ZAP

ZAP has been a leader in advanced transportation technologies since 1994, delivering over 90,000 vehicles to consumers in more than 75 countries. At the forefront of fuel-efficient transportation with new technologies including energy efficient gas systems, hydrogen, electric, fuel cell, ethanol, hybrid and other innovative power systems, ZAP is developing a high-performance crossover SUV electric car concept called ZAP-X engineered by Lotus Engineering. The Company recently launched a new portable energy technology that manages power for mobile electronics from cell phones to laptops. For product, dealer and investor information, visit http://www.zapworld.com.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

Seems insane, but apparently the battery is a wee bit volatile upon impact… which would be big trouble… Also, this page has some pics of a potential next-gen Prius model, cool!

Read more HERE from Jalopnik.com

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

WEST BERLIN, N.J., May 30 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ � Global Resource Corporation announced today that Gershow Recycling, one of the world�s largest recyclers, has agreed to receive the world�s first 100 percent emission- and pollutant-free green recycling machine for auto shredder residue (ASR). Global Resource will supply Gershow with its proprietary technology to reduce landfill waste by approximately 65%, recover extra metal for profit, and the process will generate virtually no emissions linked to global warming.

The revolutionary ASR conversion machine, the HAWK 10, was invented by Global Resource Corporation. The cutting-edge system uses high microwave frequencies to convert �autofluff� � textiles, foams, plastics, rubber, and light metal content extracted from cars � into oil and gas. This process significantly reduces the amount of waste that Gershow will send to landfills, and it is conducted in a closed-loop system that eliminates pollutants.

�Imagine running a major industrial process like recycling with negligible fuel costs and zero emissions,� says Kevin Gershowitz, Executive Vice President of Gershow Recycling. �It seems like the stuff of science fiction, but it�s real, it�s proven, and it�s available right now to companies like Gershow who grasp the importance of fighting global warming. Recyclers are only part of the solution. We too must strive for the same efficiencies and green production processes that challenge industries everywhere. Our agreement to acquire Global Resource Corp.�s HAWK 10 is a major step forward toward deploying processes that make sound business and environmental sense.�

Located on Long Island, N.Y., Gershow Recycling collects and processes ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, and paper products from scrap suppliers, and turns them into high quality scrap products. A high percentage of Gershow�s scrap comes from automobiles. Obsolete automobiles are the most recycled high-volume consumer product in the US. The scrap industry recovers about 18 million tons per year of ferrous scrap, mostly from shredded automobiles. The HAWK 10 will allow Gershow to scrap more metal from materials that were difficult to separate in the past, allowing them to reduce waste by 65%.

For each ton of steel that is recovered, between 500 - 700 pounds of automobile shredder residue (ASR) is produced. ASR contains plastics, rubber, wood, paper, fabrics, glass, sand, dirt, ferrous and non-ferrous metal pieces. The current ASR disposal technology is land filling. When ASR is landfilled, many high-priced materials with significant embodied energy are lost. This loss, combined with the cost of landfilling, more stringent regulations and shrinking landfill space require new alternatives for ASR.

Global Resource Corp.�s HAWK 10 eliminates these costs and environmental hazards by breaking down the autofluff with its patent-pending high-frequency microwave technology. The microwaves gasify the materials � a process also known as �cracking the hydrocarbon chain� � and convert them into 80 percent light combustible gases, and 20 percent oil. The gas is then cycled in a closed-loop system to fuel the next round of material breakdown, without emitting any harmful waste. The alternative renewable energy system delivers sizable savings in four ways:

� Combustible gases and fluids to energy
� Approximately 65% reduction of land fill tipping fee
� Additional metallic material captured
� Alternative energy tax credits

�We expect Gershow Recycling to capture a full return on their investment within one year of use, thanks to HAWK 10�s incredible efficiency, and its ability to lower expenses and recover profit,� says Frank Pringle, CEO of Global Resource Corp. �Gershow�s agreement to implement the HAWK 10 is an excellent example of their forward-thinking, tech-savvy approach to recycling � one its entire industry should emulate to fight global warming. We�re on the cusp of an energy revolution in our country, and alternative energy technology such as ours offers a clear way to cheaper, cleaner fuel, and higher profits.�

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

IRVINE, Calif., May 29 /PRNewswire/ — Superheroes are popping up everywhere with Spiderman 3, Fantastic Four and the Heroes TV season finale hitting screens large and small this summer, but Volvo Cars of North America wants you to know — you don’t have to have superhuman powers to be a hero.

Since 2002, Volvo Cars of North America has discovered and celebrated more than 17,000 everyday heroes in its annual Volvo for life Awards. Heroes like this year’s Grand Award Winner, Rose Mapendo, who, after suffering incredible adversity, went on to help bring thousands of African refugees to safety, or finalist Paula Lucas who helps overseas victims of spousal abuse find support, or Eli Kahn, a fifteen-year-old cancer survivor who, through his organization Cartridges for a Cure, is raising money for cancer research while helping protect the earth.

If you know someone like Rose, Paula or Eli, someone who is using their ordinary powers to do extraordinary things to improve the safety, quality of life or environment in your community, nominate them for the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards at http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com.

When the nomination period closes this fall, the American public will be invited to vote for their favorite heroes online to decide the finalists in the categories of Safety, Quality of Life and Environment in the 6th Annual Volvo for life Awards.

A panel of distinguished judges will then select one winner for each of the categories, who will receive $50,000 to be donated to the charities of their choice, remaining finalists will receive a $25,000 charitable donation. The overall grand award winner will be named “America’s Greatest Hometown Hero” and presented with a Volvo car every three years for the rest of his or her life at the annual Volvo for life Awards Ceremony in New York City, March 19.

To learn more or to nominate a hero, visit http://www.volvoforlifeawards.com. A Spanish version of the site can also be accessed at this address.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

TORONTO, May 28 /PRNewswire/ � CarProof Vehicle History Reports and the New Car Dealer�s Associations of Ontario today announced a partnership designed to provide tools to dealers that will give consumers peace-of-mind when they buy a used vehicle.

The Toronto Automobile Dealers Association (TADA) and the Ontario Automobile Dealers Association (OADA) announced today that they have selected CarProof Vehicle History Reports as their official report. Members of the associations will now be able to purchase CarProof reports through their association web site at www.tada.com and www.oada.com. Each report will provide details about a car�s complete history including where it has been registered, any accident claims that may have been made and whether or not the vehicle is stolen.

�We selected CarProof because we are of the opinion their reports provide the most accurate and comprehensive information on Accident Damage, Vehicle History and Liens in the marketplace today,� said TADA Executive Director, Barry Gee.

CarProof is a Canadian company and the only service of its kind that is connected �live� to each motor vehicle and lien jurisdiction in Canada so that it can deliver the most up-to-date information available in the Canadian automotive industry. CarProof is also the only online reporting service that is connected �live� to the Canadian insurance industry to report real time vehicle accident damage. In addition, CarProof accesses U.S. vehicle history information from a database consisting of 20 billion records through its partnership with Experian Automotive. CarProof also recently took steps to add another layer of protection for their customers, adding a national stolen record search of the Canadian Police Information Centre. All CarProof Verified and Claims reports will now include data used by law enforcement and government agencies across Canada to identify stolen cars.

�We believe providing this tool to our members, one that will generate the most complete information available, will allow our members to show their consumers that they have taken great care to sell pre-owned vehicles that are accident-free and have clean histories,� said Geoff Wilkinson, Executive Director of the OADA.

�At CarProof, our goal is to provide consumers and the automotive industry with critical, reliable and current information so that they can make confident and informed decisions about any used vehicle transaction,� said Paul Antony, President of CarProof. �We are excited that the OADA and the TADA have chosen CarProof as the official Vehicle History Report provider for its members. Consumers purchasing a car from one of their members will have greater peace-of-mind seeing the CarProof report that was run on the vehicle before they buy it. And that will result in greater sales revenue for the dealers and better buyer loyalty.�

About CarProof

CarProof, a London, Ontario company, was started in 2000 to provide the most comprehensive, accurate and timely Used Vehicle History Reports available in Canada. In addition to being the Official Report of the OADA-TADA New Car Dealers of Ontario, CarProof is used by the government of Alberta and PEI as part of their provincial registry, endorsed by the Motor Dealer Council of British Columbia - Vehicle Safety Authority and the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and by many major motor vehicle manufacturers in Canada. CarProof is also the sole supplier of vehicle history reports to both Manheim Canada and the ADESA Canada auctions for all of their U.S. import vehicle and arbitrations. For more information about CarProof, please visit their web site at www.carproof.com.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

NEW YORK, NEW YORK � (MARKET WIRE) � May 23, 2007 � Hybrid Technologies, Inc. (OTCBB: HYBT) (www.hybridtechnologies.com), emerging leaders in the development and marketing of lithium-powered products worldwide, would like to present the following major announcement by Mayor Bloomberg of New York City released Tuesday May 22 via AP writer Sara Kugler:

Tuesday May 22, 9:51 am ET By Sara Kugler, Associated Press Writer

� The city�s yellow taxi fleet will go entirely hybrid within five years, Mayor Michael Bloomberg announced Tuesday.

�There�s an awful lot of taxicabs on the streets of New York City,� Bloomberg said. �These cars just sit there in traffic sometimes, belching fumes. This does a lot less. It�s a lot better for all of us,� he said of the hybrid plan.

Nearly 400 fuel-efficient hybrids have been tested in the city�s taxi fleet over the past 18 months, with models including the Toyota Prius, the Toyota Highlander Hybrid, the Lexus RX 400h and the Ford Escape.

Under Bloomberg�s plan, that number will increase to 1,000 by October 2008, then will grow by about 20 percent each year until 2012, when every yellow cab � currently numbering 13,000 � will be a hybrid.

Hybrid vehicles run on a combination of gasoline and electricity, emitting less exhaust and achieving higher gas mileage per gallon.

The standard yellow cab vehicle, the Ford Crown Victoria, gets 14 miles per gallon. In contrast, the Ford Escape taxis get 36 miles per gallon.

In addition to making the yellow cab brigade entirely green within five years, the city will require all new vehicles entering the fleet after October 2008 to achieve a minimum of 25 miles per gallon. A year later, all new vehicles must get 30 miles per gallon and be hybrid. Bloomberg made the announcement on NBC�s �Today� show.

Hybrid vehicles are typically more expensive, but the city said the increase in fuel efficiency will save taxi operators more than $10,000 per year. Yahoo Inc. said it would donate 10 hybrid Ford Escapes for the city�s effort.

Shifting the taxi fleet to hybrids is part of Bloomberg�s wider sustainability plan for the city, which includes a goal of a 30 percent reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.

About Hybrid Technologies: www.hybridtechnologies.com

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

It�s easy to blame the unions, of course, when management misses targets and does not execute.  But here�s an interesting tidbit from a WSJ article, found via Michael Parekh�s blog:

�With the collapse of the DaimlerChrysler experiment, it might be useful to stop referring to �domestic� and �foreign� auto makers.

The important distinction is between auto makers bound by UAW contracts and those that aren�t.�

I hate to say it, but unions were really needed once upon a time, but times they change and indeed the US carmakers can�t compete, maybe the reason is the union factor.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

ZEELAND, MI — (MARKET WIRE) — May 23, 2007 — Gentex Corporation, the leading supplier of automatic-dimming mirrors to the worldwide automotive industry, has announced that it is shipping interior auto-dimming mirrors for the 2007 Jeep Patriot. The Patriot is a compact SUV being sold in North America and other select markets.

Gentex auto-dimming mirrors automatically darken to reduce glare from the headlamps of vehicles approaching from the rear. The brighter the glare, the darker the mirrors become, making nighttime driving safer.

An auto-dimming base interior mirror is available as part of a “Driver Convenience Group” on the 2007 model year Patriot Limited trim level or with an optional UConnect® Hands-Free Communication system integrated in the Gentex interior mirror. The Sport E trim level offers the same auto-dimming mirror as part of an optional package.

“The Patriot is expected to attract a new group of vehicle buyers to the Jeep brand,” said Gentex Senior Vice President, Enoch Jen. “Gentex is excited that Jeep is including our glare elimination and microphone technologies in their expanding product line.”

Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation is an international company that provides high-quality products to the worldwide automotive industry and North American fire protection market. Based in Zeeland, Michigan, the Company develops, manufactures and markets interior and exterior automatic-dimming automotive rearview mirrors that utilize proprietary electrochromic technology to dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. Many of the mirrors are sold with advanced electronic features, and approximately 96 percent of the Company’s revenues are derived from the sales of auto-dimming mirrors to nearly every major automaker in the world.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

DEARBORN, Mich., May 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ � The Memorial Day weekend kicks off the beginning of summer days of fun, but according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, (NHTSA), it also kicks off the deadliest driving season of the year.

On average, 269 more people die in traffic fatalities each month during the summer than in any other season of the year. Of the 25 deadliest days on American roads over the past five years, 20 of them fell during the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

Even more troubling is the fact that motor vehicle crashes are now the leading cause of death for 15-to-20-year-olds in America, with more than 7,000 teens killed annually in vehicle accidents. NHTSA also reports that one in five 16-year-old drivers are involved in collisions during their first year of driving.

To help minimize the number of accidents involving teens, Ford Motor Company is working to help teens become better drivers by turning to the Web. Ford is now offering safe driving tips in video format on popular Web sites like www.youtube.com, www.yahoo.com, in addition to Ford�s interactive teen safe driving Web site, www.drivingskillsforlife.com. New tips will be posted each week through early June.

The short video spots provide a variety of driving tips for teens and adults delivered by professional instructors from Ford�s Driving Skills for Life program. The videos show teens what to do if passenger-side wheels leave the roadway, how to recover in a skid, how to sit properly for safe driving, how to anticipate danger, and when it�s important to slow down.

�We�re turning to the Web because that�s where teens live, and where they get much of their information,� said Sue Cischke, senior vice president, Sustainability, Environment and Safety Engineering, Ford Motor Company. �We want the video spots to get teens thinking about safe driving, and we think the tips can be valuable for adults, as well.�

Cischke said the best way for teens to learn safe driving is to get behind the wheel with an experienced driver � a driving instructor or parent � who can share their knowledge first hand.

�The best thing both teens and adults can do to remain safe is to buckle up, and avoid alcohol while driving. Research into driving related injuries and fatalities clearly demonstrates that,� Cischke said. �We�re proud that our safe driving program has helped many teens return home safely, and we want to spread our safe driving message any way we can.�

Research provided by NHTSA indicates that one of the biggest reasons for high teen driver and passenger fatalities is low safety belt use among teens. More than 60 percent of occupants killed in vehicles driven by teens were not wearing safety belts. When worn correctly, seat belts reduce the risk of fatal injury to front-seat passenger car occupants by 45 percent � and by 60 percent in pickup trucks, SUVs and mini-vans. Yet nearly one in five Americans still fail to regularly wear their safety belts.

Ford�s Driving Skills for Life program emphasizes belt use and helps young drivers improve their skills in four key areas that are critical factors in more than 60 percent of teen vehicle crashes: hazard recognition, vehicle handling, space management and speed management. Ford will continue to hold several hands-on driving safety events across the United States, and provide free educational materials to high schools around the country.

Established in 2003 by Ford Motor Company and the Governors Highway Safety Association, Driving Skills for Life provides effective learning tools, including the comprehensive interactive Web site that rewards students for taking the initiative to learn safe driving techniques. In addition, educator materials are available at no charge in both English and Spanish, allowing instruction of the program in school or community settings. Driving Skills for Life has staged hands-on driving events that have reached nearly 6,000 students. The program also combines learning materials for use by students, parents, educators, and instructors for use at home, in schools and community settings.

To view web video:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid900881707

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

GLENDALE, CA � (MARKET WIRE) � May 17, 2007 � More drivers in Southern California will have the opportunity to drive a gas-free electric car on May 22 with the Grand Opening of EnVironmental Motors, a new dealer for the XEBRA electric car and truck from automotive pioneer ZAP.

California leads the country with the highest average gasoline price, according to AAA. A gallon of self-serve unleaded costs an average of $3.47 in the state and experts are predicting $4 per gallon gasoline this summer.

ZAP�s XEBRA (pronounced �zebra�) 100% electric cars, trucks, personal transports, and ATVs are now in stock and available; some of the only consumer electric vehicles in the US that can meet the need for gas-free, city-speed driving. ZAP calls the XEBRA a �city-car,� an all-electric design for city-speed driving up to 40 mph. Priced about $10,000, they plug into any 110-volt outlet � the same outlet that is found in and outside every home, garage and office. ZAP says that for every test drive at EnVironmental Motors through Memorial Day, it will pledge a tree towards its �Million Tree Challenge.� Learn more at http://www.zaptrees.org.

A new electric car dealership is opening in Glendale, California to help Californians drive green. EnVironmental Motors, opening May 22, is offering the new gas free XEBRA city-car from ZAP, which is also available as a truck.

A new electric car dealership is opening in Glendale,
California to help Californians drive green. EnVironmental
Motors, opening May 22, is offering the new gas
free XEBRA city-car from ZAP, which
is also available as a truck.

EnVironmental Motors of Glendale, California organized a full schedule of activities as part of their Grand Opening, including several Earth Day and educational events with local groups, schools and celebrities. In an effort to �spread the EnVironmental word,� EnVironmental Motors was present at the Los Angeles Earth Day celebrated at the Santa Monica Promenade on the 14th of April as well as the Pasadena Green Earth Day Event on the 21st. Other events included private student presentations, which were held at area schools.

EnVironmental Motors also made a splash with the ZAP XEBRA during Oscar Week in February at RC Green�s Ultimate Green Room party, hosted by Landers Public Relations. Among the many green VIPs attending the event, a major celebrity had the opportunity to take a spin in a ZAP. EnVironmental Motors also attended the National Alternative Fuels and Vehicles Fleet Conference in Anaheim.

Kent Sokolow, whose family has been in the automotive dealer business for over 54 years, founded EnVironmental Motors over 6 years ago. Daughter Taryn Sokolow, the Director of EVM, is a third generation auto dealer joining her sister Robyn, her father Kent and her grandfather, Lewis Sokolow (1914-1997), in servicing the local community as her family has for so many years.

�We�ve been driving and advocating electric cars for over eight years now, long before it was considered to be the �cool� thing to do,� says Kent Sokolow. �We are excited bringing electric vehicles to Southern California, which will play an important role in protecting the environment. With our experience in the car business, we know we can help people feel good about purchasing an EnVironmentally friendly vehicle.�

Visit EnVironmental Motors� Grand Opening on Tuesday, May 22 between 4 and 7 PM at 134 S. Glendale Ave, Glendale, CA 91205, call (818) 549-0000 or go online to http://www.EnVironmentalMotors.com.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info

AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ � As temperatures heat up across the country, many Americans are working to get their �soft� bodies back in shape. Between lunges, crunches and sit-ups, the Chrysler brand discovered consumers want to firm up more than just their legs, arms and stomachs this summer. They also want to firm up their tops - their convertible tops that is. In fact, a recent Chrysler brand survey revealed 62 percent of Americans want hard convertible tops(1).

While a majority of consumers prefer �hard� bodies and hard convertible tops, the survey also revealed a softer side of America. Here�s the hard truth about the softer side:

- Get the Ice Cream Scoop: More Americans prefer the soft serve version
of the perfect summer treat - ice cream - compared to the hard, hand-
packed option (50 percent to 43 percent).
- Paperback Preference: Nearly seven out of 10 consumers (69 percent)
would rather have a soft, paperback book over a hard cover novel when
they�re reading at the beach or on a summer road trip.
- Soft Rock Soothes: The Beach Boys, Steppenwolf, Lynard Skynard and
other classic soft rock artists were identified by Americans for making
some of the best convertible driving songs.
- Raise the �Soft Top� Roof: Even with the hard top option, one in three
Americans (33 percent) still prefer soft convertible tops. With a top
for everyone, the all-new 2008 Chrysler Sebring Convertible is the
first convertible to offer three automatically latching top options:
vinyl, cloth and a body-color painted steel retractable hard top.

�No matter where you live, there�s just something special about driving a convertible. It�s exhilarating - windows down, hair blowing in the wind,� said David Rooney, Director - Chrysler Marketing & Global Communications. �Regardless of whether you prefer the hard or soft top option on the all-new Chrysler Sebring Convertible, this summer is the perfect time to have fun cruising around town in the open air.�

No matter if you are a first time convertible driver, planning to buy a new convertible or thinking about renting one, all convertible drivers and passengers should be familiar with a few universal driving tips that apply to all convertibles:

- Lock Your Valuables: Don�t leave important documents or valuables in
plain site when parking any vehicle; if you�re in a convertible and
parking with the top down, put valuable items in a locking glove box to
keep them safe.
- Sing, Sing, Sing: Top-down fun and good music go hand in hand … but
think about what you�re blasting since everyone around you can hear
your music choices.
- Protect Your Pet: Allow pets time to adjust to the convertible ride if
they�re not used to riding with the top down; help acclimate your
canine companions by taking them on short trips, at low speeds and
eventually work your way up to cruising full speed once your pet has
had time to adjust.
- Hair Raising Experience: Driving with the top down can add extra volume
to your usual hair style. Take a quick peak in the mirror after
arriving at your destination to make sure the extra volume is
enhancing - not detracting - from your appearance.
- Soak Up the Sun: Top down driving is a great way to get your daily dose
of Vitamin D, but don�t forget to apply sunscreen if you plan on being
in the sun for an extended period of time. The American Academy of
Dermatologists recommends wearing sunscreen every day if you plan on
being in the sun for more than 20 minutes.

For additional information about the Chrysler Sebring Convertible, visit www.chrysler.com/sebringconvertible/.

Originally Syndicated via RSS from DriveMojo.com - Cars, Bikes, Automotive News, Car Industry Info