1748 replies to this topic

[the1]

Marcile franceze continua sa piarda teren in Europa

Cifrele publicate recent arata ca, in Europa, in lunile iulie si august, marcile franceze au pierdut teren, in special Renault: -14,1% in iulie si -12,7% in august. Cele 5 mari piete (Germania, Italia, Marea Britanie, Spania si Franta) au inregistrat scaderi in luna iulie, intre 2,7% in Germania si 11,1% in Italia.

Per ansamblu in Europa (26 de tari), s-a inregistrat o scadere de 4,5%, cu 1,22 milioane unitati pe luna. Aceeasi situatie a fost si in august, scaderea inregistrata fiind, insa, mai mica pe pietele germana, spaniola, britanica si italiana, in timp ce in Franta inmatricularile au ramas aceleasi.

La finele lunii august, un total de 10,43 milioane automobile au fost inmatriculate in Europa, reprezentand, o crestere de 0,4%. De la inceputul anului, Renault a pierdut in medie 11% din volumul vanzarilor, adica 120.000 unitati pe primele 8 luni, in Europa. La sfarsitul lui august, Renault era cea de-a treia marca in Europa (899.598 unitati) dupa Volkswagen si Opel/Vauxhall.

Peugeot a scazut cu 10% in iulie si 6,7% in august, cu o pierdere de 30.000 de unitati pe primele 8 luni. Aceeasi tendinta a prezentat-o si Citroen, cu o scadere in iulie de 6,1% si, in august, de 0,2%, inregistrand o pierdere de 2,4% pe primele 8 luni.

Pe plan continental, Volkswagen a inregistrat o crestere a vanzarilor de 6,2% in iulie si o scadere de 0,5% in august, ramanand totusi in crestere fata de competitori, pe primele 8 luni inregistrand un plus de 100.000 unitati. De remarcat ca, in august, Opel a detronat Renault, de pe locul 2 pe piata europeana.

stiriauto.ro

[Cristian]

Sincer nu ma mira .... ma atrage mult mai mult Opel-ul Si Fiatul (ma refer aici doar la GP)decat gama peugeot care mi se pare putin cam piperata la pret fata de ce da ... acelasi lucru il spun si la Citroen la , Renault nu ma pronunt.

[the1]

HYUNDAI launches a NEW V6 Diesel Engine for the first time ever in Hyundai history. Moreover, the New V6 Diesel Engine is made by Hyundai's own Engine R&D department.

The Engine will be first used by the new Veracruz(EN) SUV.

The name of the V6 Engine will be named as S Engine.

Moreover, this S Engine will be added to other models later such as BH, Azera, Santa Fe, and so on.

[masterblaster]

nu e chiar asa 307 si C4 au preturi mai mult decat ok (cu reduceri desigur)
intr'adevar 407 e cam scumput...207 e chiar prea scump, dar sa nu generalizam....C2,C3 sunt ok.....nu sunt la curent cu pretul lui C5, dar nu cred ca este piperat

[masterblaster]

First US Made Honda CR-V, Rolls Off the Line

Honda production associates left their shift at the East Liberty Plant this morning having finished production of the first U.S.-made Honda CR-V, an all-new version of one of America's most polular sport utility vehicles.

Sixty units of the CR-V - all them in the color Nighthawk Black Pearl - rolled off the same East Liberty assembly line where Honda associates also build the Honda Civic Sedan and the Honda Element SUV.

"We're proud that our associates can build three distinctly different vehicles on a common assembly line with Honda's commitment to quality," said John Pleiman, plant manager and vice president of Honda of America Mfg. Inc. "Their dedication has been a key component of Honda's flexible manufacturing systems, which allow us to respond quickly to market changes."

Both shifts at East Liberty built the first batch of CR-Vs, which began to take shape in the body welding shop. They emerged from the paint shop on the first shift Monday and journeyed down the final assembly line. The first model was driven off the line at 7:17 p.m. Eastern time.

"Communication is the key part of making flexibility work on the line," said associate Paula Wilson of Bellefontaine, who has worked at Honda for 22 years and is one of the original associates at the East Liberty Plant, which opened in 1989.

Roy Preston of Springfield, an original East Liberty associate who has worked for Honda for 20 years, said: "This is the best start we've had of any of the new models. We were more prepared for it, since our plant has been flexible for so long."

Flexibility also is a key attribute of the nearby Marysville Auto Plant, where Honda builds the Accord Sedan, Accord Coupe, Acura TL luxury sports sedan and Acura RDX luxury sport utility vehicle.
Annual production volume of the CR-V at the East Liberty Plant will be determined by customer demand. Truly a global product, the CR-V for the North American market also is produced in the United Kingdom and Japan.

"There was a considerable amount of teamwork around the world in redesigning and manufacturing the CR-V. Here at East Liberty, our associates were empowered to suggest process changes that made this vehicle fit in with the Civic and Element," said Dave Skidmore, engineering project leader for the CR-V.

CR-Vs made at East Liberty come equipped with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder i-VTEC engine produced 40 miles away at Honda's Anna Engine Plant in western Ohio.

Between 2003 and 2006, Honda has invested about $750 million to keep its Ohio operations as state-of-the art facilities. Honda's total U.S. capital investment in research and development, design, manufacturing and sales operations has risen to more than $8.5 billion since 1979, when the company began U.S. manufacturing.

The East Liberty Plant inaugurated U.S. light truck production by Honda in Ohio when the Element went into production in November 2002.

The 2007 CR-V* goes on sale Thursday. The new crossover vehicle has a dramatic new body structure. Under the aerodynamic look are safety enhancements, including Honda's exclusive Advanced Compatibility Engineering (ACE) body structure, six airbags, antilock brakes, pedestrian safety design and Vehicle Stability Assist with rollover sensor.

Honda of America Mfg. Inc. was established in 1979 to build motorcycles, adding car production in 1982. It's comprised of four manufacturing plants - the Marysville Auto Plant, the East Liberty Auto Plant, the Anna Engine Plant and the original facility, the Marysville Motorcycle Plant.

Honda employment in Ohio totals about 16,000. Major operations include Honda R&D Americas Inc. in Raymond; Honda Transmission Mfg. Inc. in Russells Point; Honda Engineering North America Inc. in Marysville and Anna; and the American Honda Motor Co. Inc. service parts and procurement center in Troy.

[Artanis]

Renault nu e interesat de uzina de la Craiova

Grupul francez Renault se va concentra asupra uzinei Dacia de la Pitesti, unde intentioneaza sa dezvolte capaciatea de productie, lasand sa se inteleaga ca grupul nu este interesat de preluarea uzinelor Daewoo de la Craiova.

"Ne vom concentra pe uzina actuala a Dacia unde vom dezvolta capacitatea", a declarat azi la Paris Carlos Ghosn, directorul executiv al grupului Renault.

Pe de alta parte, Presedintele Ford Europe, John Fleming, a reconfirmat, azi interesul producatorului american pentru uzina din Craiova, conform Mediafax.

Uzina de la Craiova a revenit recent in proprietatea statului roman, dupa ce a fost detinuta de grupul sud-coreean Daewoo Motors, aflat in faliment.

Fleming a apreciat ca aceasta achizitie reprezinta o oportunitate pentru extinderea activitatii Ford in Europa Centrala si de Est, in special prin productia de automobile de clasa mica.

Ziarul Financiar, 28 sep.

[masterblaster]

Mercedes RECY at LA Auto Show Design Challenge


Transform the Future of Driving Into an Environmental Experience

Home to one of the world's greatest concentrations of automobile manufacturer design studios, Los Angeles is consistently ahead of the next trend, spawning ideas to help solve tomorrow's challenges today. This century's more eco-friendly vehicles are only the beginning of transforming the future of driving into an environmental experience.

For the third consecutive year, the Design Challenge has Los Angeles design studios shaping their vision of the future by creating a vehicle that is environmentally aware of its global footprint. Nine participating studios are exploring this new futuristic frontier by imagining a time when all vehicles have technology allowing the public to enjoy the distinctive Southern California lifestyle and unique environment without harming it.
Environmental Sustainability

These multi-purpose, environmentally sustainable design entries are as diverse as the beach, mountains and deserts that represent the geographic diversity of LA. They include such design visions as the vehicle with interchangeable, fully recyclable body coverings, another which runs on pedal power and a vehicle with algae-filled panels that transform harmful CO2 into pure oxygen.

Designers thrive on participating in the Design Challenge because it enables them to explore far-reaching, creative ideas in automotive design without any restrictions on them.

Entries in this year's Design Challenge are:

* Acura FCX 2020 Le Mans -- Acura Design Center
* Audi Dynamic Space Frame -- Volkswagen/Audi Design Center California
* Honda Extreme -- Honda Research & Development
* Hummer O2 -- General Motors Advanced Design, California
* Kia Sandstorm -- Hyundai Kia America Design Center
* Mercedes-Benz RECY -- Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America
* Mini BioMoke -- BMW Group DesignworksUSA
* Toyota RLV -- CALTY Design Research
* Volkswagen Nanospyder -- Volkswagen/Audi Design Center California

The two-dimensional renderings will be judged by a panel consisting of multi-discipline design professionals who will select a winner based upon the following criteria: originality of creative concept, contribution to the environment, degree of safety and reflection of a unique, spirited Southern California "green" lifestyle.

Judging the entries this year are Bill Van Amburg of Calstart, Tom Matano of San Francisco's Academy of Art University, Imre Molner of Detroit's College for Creative Studies and Stewart Reed of Pasadena's Art Center College of Design.

"The environmental theme is very appropriate in creating awareness with consumers on automotive issues that are prevalent today," says Chuck Pelly, director of Design Los Angeles and partner in The Design Academy, Inc. "We are happy to see that the LA-area studios are using design as the tool to communicate unique and innovative approaches to this challenge."

The upcoming Design Challenge entries will be revealed in early October when media packs and CD-ROMs featuring the vehicles are released. The winner will be announced on November 30 at the LA Auto Show.

Photo caption: Wood, alloys, glass and rubber combine to create a 100 percent recyclable California roadster of the future. The RECY concept is one of the entries in the Los Angeles Auto Show's Design Challenge. "It's a fast, fun Mercedes-Benz for the ecologically minded consumer who demands a smart, elegant alternative to the traditional roadster." The design team from Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design of North America includes Andre Frey, Gorden Wagener, Nick Garfias, Jeffrey Aneiros and Christopher Rhoades.

[masterblaster]

Audi R8 Production Starts


Audi is marking "100 Years of Automotive Engineering in Neckarsulm" by officially putting its new R8 sports car into production. At a ceremony held at the Neckarsulm plant in the state of Baden-W�rttemberg, Chairman of the Board of AUDI AG, Prof. Martin Winterkorn, was joined by state premier G�nther Oettinger to launch production of this new range-topping model, which is to be built in Neckarsulm under the supervision of quattro GmbH.

"During its 100 years of existence, the Audi site in Neckarsulm has evolved into a mainstay of innovation, economic dynamism, prosperity and employment in Baden-W�rttemberg," remarked state premier G�nther Oettinger during the ceremony, adding, "I would like to thank Audi for the major presence it maintains in Baden-W�rttemberg and especially for the exemplary approach it takes to training young people and the vital contribution it makes as a result to safeguarding the future of our youngsters."

A century after the first "original Neckarsulm motor car" left the production halls there, Audi is in Neckarsulm to celebrate the German premiere of its new sports car and extend the long series of top-class automotive products that have originated in Baden-W�rttemberg. "We are giving the go-ahead for the production of a sensational car that opens a new chapter in our company's history," emphasised Audi Board Chairman Prof. Martin Winterkorn in Neckarsulm.

The R8 is a thoroughbred mid-engined sports car with an aluminium body, which is due to arrive on the market in mid-2007. "This vehicle adds a new flagship model at the top our range and further advances the position of our brand," commented Prof. Winterkorn. The R8 had received its world premiere just three days previously at the Paris Motor Show.

"The production of the Audi R8 here at the Neckarsulm plant is, in my view, testimony to the fact that skill and dedication reap their own rewards, as these very qualities are evident in abundance amongst our workforce," said the chairman of the Neckarsulm works council, Norbert Rank, at the centenary event.

Over 1,000 guests, including many VIPs from the worlds of politics, business and high society, media representatives, members of the Audi Board of Management and Supervisory Board as well as executives past and present, gathered in a logistics hall that had been converted into an event arena, where they were taken on a dramatic journey through time from the beginnings of mobility through to today's high-tech manufacture. The plant staged an open day to mark the centenary anniversary and visitors were able to follow proceedings on a number of giant outdoor screens.

The journey through the plant's past opened with an NSU 6/30 PS Saloon from 1928. On the race track, the Neckarsulm engineers emulated their motorcycle racing successes. The 1925 German Grand Prix, for instance, was won by the NSU 6/60 PS supercharged racing car. An NSU 1300 TT built in 1970 and an NSU Racing Spider from 1967 represented many more racing triumphs. The NSU Wankel-engined Spider (1964) that was exhibited on the stage epitomised the courage and pioneering spirit of Neckarsulm's automotive experts. It was the first vehicle in the world to be fitted with a series-manufactured engine of this type whose pistons moved in a rotary instead of a lifting motion. This innovation placed the Neckarsulm design engineers at the very forefront of engine development.

An NSU Ro 80 from 1976 illustrated how vehicles from this era also distinguished themselves with a sophisticated and timeless design. It was also at this time that the precept "Vorsprung durch Technik", which continues to guide the company today, was devised. In 1977, production of the NSU models had to be halted due to economic constraints. But prospects brightened again as soon as 1980, after the "quattro" permanent four-wheel drive developed by Audi NSU in Ingolstadt - showcased at the ceremony by an Audi 100 Coup� - caused such a sensation.

The Audi 100, which later evolved into the Audi A6, became the bread-and-butter car for the plant. Some 60 percent of the workforce are involved in the production of this model and its derivatives (A6 Avant, S6 Saloon and Avant and the allroad quattro). Today, Audi is the global market leader in the premium C-segment, as it is known.

Audi finally completed its ascension to the premium segment with the Audi 200 (C2, built in 1982). The real quantum leap came in 1994 however, when the company brought out the Audi A8, the first luxury car to feature a full-aluminium body and "quattro" four-wheel drive which was represented at the anniversary show by an A8 L 6.0 from 2002. The company continues to centre its vast expertise in the field of lightweight manufacture and aluminium technology at its Neckarsulm site today.

An Audi A6 2.5 TDI demonstrated how Audi changed the face of motoring in 1989 with a revolutionary engine that gave diesel cars a new sporty, dynamic and economical image. Today, 54 percent of all Audi cars have a "TDI" engine under the bonnet.

Neckarsulm is synonymous with automotive performance of the very highest calibre and is often dubbed Audi's 'racing centre' with very good reason. In 2006, AUDI AG expanded its already attractive portfolio with the addition of three new models built in Neckarsulm: the A6 allroad quattro and two high-performance saloons powered by ten-cylinder engines � the S6/S6 Avant as well as the leading sports star of the luxury class, the S8. The stage show culminated with the appearance of two Audi R8 cars with 420-bhp 4.2-litre eight-cylinder FSI engines which together signalled the dawn of a new era: the official start of sports car production at the Audi plant in Neckarsulm. The R8 is a thoroughbred sports car boasting the Audi Space Frame (ASF), a mid-engine concept and quattro permanent four-wheel drive.

The Audi subsidiary quattro GmbH has invested around �28 million in manufacturing plant and structural measures in Neckarsulm to prepare for series production of the sports car that was unveiled at the 2003 Frankfurt Motor Show as the "Le Mans quattro" study. 250 people will work in the final assembly section for the R8, where trademark Audi standards of precision and craftsmanship are the order of the day.

Since 1906, over six million cars have been built in all at the Neckarsulm site. In 2005, a total of 241,070 A6, A8, RS 4 and allroad quattro models were built. The Audi Neckarsulm plant has a workforce of 13,260 employees, including nearly 800 apprentices, making it the largest employer in the Heilbronn-Franconia region.


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JAS Motorsport Honda Civic Type-R



Italy-based JAS Motorsport (Honda's official partner in customer racing support) has worked closely with Honda R&D to develop a racing Civic Type-R to GrN, GrA and GrR specifications. This is a track only, racing variant of Civic Type-R for competition only, expected to be available from Spring 2007.

Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the race Civic features an upgraded engine unit developing well in excess of 200ps and featuring re-profiled camshafts and other internals for competition use, all of which have been tested in the Nurburgring 24 hours Race.

A custom designed 6-speed sequential gearbox has also been developed along with competition brakes, shock absorbers, suspension components and roll cage.The drivetrain is completed by reinforced driveshafts and a state-of-the-art limited slip differential (plate type with adjustable preload). Lightweight carbon-fibre interior parts (door panels, dasboard trims, floor panels).

[masterblaster]

Aston Martin V8 Vantage goes rallying

Independent rally teams will soon be able to compete in the world’s most exclusive rally car, the Aston Martin Rally GT. The new car has been developed by Aston Martin Racing, a partnership between Prodrive and Aston Martin.

The Rally GT is based on the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, but extensively re-engineered by Prodrive. The motorsport specialist has combined its experience of running the Aston Martin DBR9s in international sports car racing with more than 20 years of rallying experience, to create this new car. As part of its development programme, the Rally GT has already competed in three French Rally Championship events, coming second in the Series GT class on its debut at the Lyon to Charbonniers Rally.

As with the DBR9, the Rally GT uses a standard road car chassis which is fitted with a Prodrive-designed roll cage for safety and increased torsional rigidity. The engine is closely based on the all alloy road car 4.3 litre V8 unit but has been tuned to make it more flexible and responsive for the demands of rallying.

The suspension on the Rally GT carries over the road car’s wishbones, but has new competition Eibach springs and three-way adjustable EXE-TC dampers. The standard road car transmission is kept on the rally car, but this can be upgraded to a six-speed, close ratio dog engagement gearbox, developed specifically for the Rally GT.

A limited number of Rally GTs will be produced by Aston Martin Racing and the first cars will be available at the end of 2006.



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Caparo Vehicle Technologies, a brand new company formed earlier this year, has completed the build of the first of two Caparo T1 prototypes. The car’s creators – design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead – climbed into the high performance two-seater last week to start the engine and complete the first trial run.

“It’s been a fantastic achievement to get this far so quickly,” said Scott-Geddes. “I’m very proud for everyone involved who has helped us so much on a project like this. It takes a very special team to deliver this kind of result in a short time.”

“I guess it’ll be one of those moments we’ll remember forever,” added Halstead. “We’ve both been involved in new car developments before, but this project is more personal and the technical achievement is a tribute to the team’s hard work. The car’s first test has gone extremely well; better than anticipated.”

Commercial director Sean Butcher added: "This is a great achievement for Caparo Vehicle Technologies and my fellow directors, Graham Halstead and Ben Scott-Geddes and all the engineers on the team. I believe this defines a moment in supercar performance not only from a technical ability, but also sends a very strong message that lightweight materials and power-to-weight performance is clearly where mainstream vehicle engineering needs to progress. The initial results of this test will create excitement with our clients and generate further orders and interest from other international customers."

Having successfully started the ‘XP1’ under its own power, the first T1 prototype now commences a rigorous test programme before production cars can be built and delivered to customers early next spring. The shake-down will include engine mapping and other specific tests as well as long-term durability and high speed trials. A second prototype – the XP2 – is expected to be completed before Christmas and will similarly be tested for durability and performance. The highly experienced professional race driver Chris Goodwin will help to evaluate both vehicles for their all-important handling characteristics and dynamic performance on the track.

On hearing about the preliminary run, Caparo group chief executive Angad Paul, immediately authorised the procurement of long lead items required for the first production cars, which are destined for customers next year.

“I’m delighted the first prototype is up and running and at the progress we’re making, especially given that we only started the business earlier this year,” said Angad Paul. “It shows what you can achieve with a small team underpinned by high levels of expertise. And it’s the same experienced team that’s also delivering lightweight vehicle design solutions and a carbon composite production capability to aerospace and automotive manufacturers.”

Angad Paul, who took the decision to invest in the high technology company, has also approved additional manufacturing investments for the new factory located on the M3 corridor. Despite occupying brand new premises at Farnham when the company was formed earlier this year, it has already proved necessary to move into larger premises at Basingstoke to accommodate more design staff and more production facilities to help produce lightweight structural parts for the aerospace and automotive industries. A new autoclave for carbon composites production was delivered in September.

Meanwhile, the new Caparo T1 is being assembled at the same facility, with the company on target to build approximately 24 cars a year, with the first car scheduled for March 2007. Thereafter the highly exclusive T1 will be built at a rate of just two cars a month possibly redefining the aerospace and automotive industry definition of ‘ultra low volume production’.

“The Caparo T1 represents but one-tenth of the business plan.” said Richard Butler chief executive of Caparo Vehicle Products and director of Caparo Vehicle Technologies, which sits alongside seven sister companies within the Caparo Vehicle Products group.

“The Caparo T1 is a real demonstration of our lightweight vehicle design and materials production capability. But it’s also more than a concept inasmuch as there’s a real – albeit exclusive – market for the car and real customers who not only demand the highest possible performance from a track car, but also need it to be driveable on the road and street legal.

“Our long term objective is to help the aerospace and automotive industries to reduce the weight of their vehicles and hence carbon emissions with affordable and practical composite solutions. In essence, we’re applying highly technical lessons learnt from the motorsport industry.”

Angad Paul added: “As well as supplying composite materials alongside the aluminium and steel we’ve always supplied, we can now assist in the design of individual components and complete vehicle systems. And while two-thirds of the group’s overall manufacturing capability for steel and aluminium is based in the UK, for low cost production of modern composite parts we can turn increasingly to new production facilities in India, underpinned by our high level engineering design capability established in the UK.”

Caparo founder and chairman Lord Paul commented: “The Caparo T1 is a high profile flagship project for the entire Caparo group and I’m immensely proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time.”

[DVS]

negocierile intre renault-nissan si gm au esuat.

[masterblaster]

mai bine...nu cred ca sunt compatibili

[masterblaster]

Bruno Sacco: Shaping the face of the brand

* Mercedes-Benz design under Bruno Sacco
* The Automotive Hall of Fame salutes the great designer
* �A Mercedes-Benz will always look like a Mercedes-Benz.�

�One can only recognize innovative technology when it is combined with equally innovative design.� So says Bruno Sacco, the man whose lasting impact on the design of Mercedes-Benz automobiles has been greater than any other�s � and the designer who put the face on Mercedes-Benz. On October 3, 2006, Dr. Bruno Sacco, whose work for the brand with the three-pointed star spanned more than four decades, will be admitted to the renowned Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn near Detroit, USA, as a tribute to his life work. The now retired former Mercedes-Benz Head of Design will thereby be made an honorary member of the small and select group of outstanding and deserving personalities from all over the world whose life work has demonstrated a commitment to individual mobility.
Vita Bruno Sacco

Bruno Sacco was born in Udine, Italy, on November 12, 1933. After training in Tarvisio and Udine, he enrolled at the polytechnic high school in Turin, where a study period at Ghia provided him with early experience in the field of body design. He later took on a number of smaller orders for both Ghia and Pininfarina. Bruno Sacco�s career at Daimler-Benz began in 1958. As stylist and designer he was involved in various projects under the supervision of Karl Wilfert, Friedrich Geiger and B�la Bar�nyi, including the Mercedes-Benz 600 and the 230 SL roadster. In addition, he was made project leader for the design of the safety exhibitions of the day as well as the so-called �test labs on wheels�, the C 111-I and C 111-II experimental vehicles. In 1970 Sacco became Head of the Body Design and Dimensional Drawing department at Daimler-Benz. Under his aegis this period saw the development of the ESF (Experimental Safety Vehicle) prototypes and the 123 series.

In 1975 and now bearing the title Senior Engineer, Bruno Sacco took over as successor to Friedrich Geiger as Head of the Styling Department and from then on played a vital part in shaping the overall appearance of Mercedes-Benz passenger cars. The key stages of this gradual formal evolution were the record-breaking C 111-III diesel (1978) and the W 126-series S-Class (1979). In 1978 Sacco was appointed Head of the Styling Department. In 1987 the Board of Management appointed him Director of the Design Department, and in 1993 in his function as Head of Design he became a member of the company�s Board of Directors. In this capacity Bruno Sacco also assumed a mandated role for the design of products for the Commercial Vehicle Division. In March 1999, after 41 years service with Mercedes-Benz design, Bruno Sacco handed over leadership of the department to Peter Pfeiffer.

During the years he worked at Daimler-Benz Bruno Sacco received numerous personal awards:

* 1981: Honorary member of the Academia Mexicana de Dise�o
* 1991: Received the title Grande Ufficiale dell�Ordine al Merito della Repubblica Italiana
* 1993: Winner of the Cover Award � Auto & Design, Turin
* 1993: Awarded the Premio Mexico 1994 � Patronato Nacional de las Asociaciones de Dise�o AC, Mexico
* 1994: Winner of the Alulia Award for Professional Achievement
* 1996: Voted Best Designer by Car magazine
* 1996: Voted Designers� Designer by Car magazine
* 1997: Winner of the Lifetime Design Achievement Award, Detroit
* 1997: Presented with the Raymond Loewy Designer Award by the Lucky Strike brand
* 2002: Honorary doctorate from the Udine University, Italy.

Automotive Hall of Fame - A celebration of automotive progress

On October 18, 1939, a group of high-ranking decision-makers representing the automotive industry met in New York to set up an institution to honor automotive achievements. The organization was given the name Automobile Old Timers and was established in part as a memorial to the pioneers of the age of the automobile, but also to honor contemporary personalities connected with the automotive industry. This circle of worthies was later expanded to include all outstanding thinkers who have played a part in the global development of the car. Since then the institution has celebrated all those who have made decisive contributions to the automotive industry.

In 1960 the Automobile Old Timers organization moved to Washington, D.C., then in 1971 to Midland, Michigan, about 55 miles (90 km) north of Detroit, where in 1975 it became a permanent institution open to the public. Soon afterwards the organizers realized that their organization should be close to Detroit, the focal point of the American car industry. So on August 15, 1997, the Automotive Hall of Fame was opened at its present location in Dearborn, Michigan.

The number of personalities currently honored in the Automotive Hall of Fame runs to almost 200. They include B�la Bar�nyi, Karl Benz, Robert Bosch, Ettore Bugatti, Louis Chevrolet, Walter P. Chrysler, Andr� Citro�n, Gottlieb Daimler, the brothers John Francis and Horace Elgin Dodge, William Durant, Enzo Ferrari, Henry Ford, Soichiro Honda, Wilhelm Maybach, Armand Peugeot, Ferdinand Porsche and Kiichiro Toyota.

The Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn is the world�s largest institution dedicated to celebrating creative achievements in the world of international automotive design. Each year the facility attracts over 30,000 visitors who come to admire its avantgarde architecture and to learn about the personalities featured here, their life work and technological advances in the automotive industry. The Automotive Hall of Fame recognizes achievements in four categories: People who have rendered outstanding general service in the field of human mobility, people who have made a particular contribution on specific themes, industry managers of the year and the industry�s rising stars of the future.
Mercedes-Benz design philosophy

The history of the automobile dates back over 120 years. Customers today can choose from an enormously diverse range of cars. Virtually any class or brand of vehicle is available in almost every country in the world, and the number of different variants is almost too overwhelming for the individual to grasp. Many of the polular brands today offer a complete product range from compact car to luxury sedan, not to mention derivatives for various market niches. Helping customers get to grips with such diversity is one purpose of brand names. Notwith-standing their economic relationship to a company, every brand represents a certain set of values. The job of design is to convey the technical expertise behind that set of values. It is a task to which Mercedes-Benz design has felt particularly committed since the era of Bruno Sacco.

When designing a new car it is not sufficient simply to serve up bundles of creative solutions in order to make the product appear innovative. What is required is strategic far-sightedness. The time spans in which designers are required to think are considerable and therefore conceal a major risk � the incalculability of social, economic and political changes into which a new product will be released. Taking as an example the lifecycle of the Mercedes-Benz passenger car, Bruno Sacco demonstrated just what degree of far-sightedness was necessary when working against a backdrop of such underlying uncertainty. Sacco worked on that basis of a three- to five-year development phase, an average production period of eight years and a service life of about 20 years. So the design of a Mercedes-Benz not only has to remain up-to-date for 30 years, it also has to remain timeless. Considering that the form of a vehicle will be decided in the second year of this cycle, the importance of design to the success of a new Mercedes-Benz is therefore enormous.

In order to safeguard success in the long term, Bruno Sacco developed a Mercedes-Benz design philosophy during the 1970s. A design family was to be created to which all passenger cars bearing the three-pointed star belonged. The first law of this philosophy was that a Mercedes-Benz should be intuitively recognizable as part of this family by members of the public representing different cultures from all over the world. And should a Mercedes-Benz undergo advanced development in a subsequent model generation, then the identity of the model series was to be safeguarded. Bruno Sacco referred to this as �vertical affinity�. It was the central pillar of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy and ensured that a predecessor model did not appear outmoded following the presentation of a new model generation. The goal of this strategy was to retain the positive aura of a Mercedes-Benz on the roads for as long as possible.

The second main pillar of the Mercedes-Benz design philosophy was brand identity. This called for traditional design characteristics to be maintained, further developed and featured in all model series simultaneously. In this context the term Sacco used was �horizontal homogeneity�. It found outward expression, for example, in the design of the radiator grille, headlamps and tail lights. Although there were formal differences in detail between sedans, coupes and roadsters, the family likeness was obvious to the casual observer at first glance.

[masterblaster]

First autonomous vehicle

Eclectic (pho. � Eclectic �) : Broad-mindedness enabling one to address all new ideas with understanding, taking the best offered by each different system.
THE 1st ENERGY-AUTONOMOUS VEHICLE

Soaring gas prices, economic crises, wars, omnipresent pollution, irreversible changes in the climate… Our world is going through a period when the stakes in terms of energy form the very basis for worldwide chaos. While admitting that no solution for energy production can be perfect, we must become fully aware of the imperative need to limit our own personal consumption of energy.

Eclectic, the first autonomous vehicle in the history of the automobile, opens up a new era in the field of mobility : reserved for daily driving in urban areas, its low energy consumption make it the most economical environmental vehicle ever built.

Innovative and astonishing, Eclectic is much more than a simple vehicle ; it is a production and storage plant for renewable energies, either solar or wind based. Charging of these energies, which is intermittent in certain regions, can also be complemented by electrical recharging.
FUNCTION DICTATES THE DESIGN

Of decidedly original design, this is a vehicle that has no desire to look like other cars which depend on “black gold” : priority has been given to integration of the photovoltaic cells which compose its translucid roof.

Eclectic thus does not pass unnoticed in traffic: its elevated central driving position offers exceptional panoramic vision and considerable space, for both driver and passengers.

Eclectic’s message is loud and clear: this is not an ordinary car, but an avant-garde way of getting around. Owning an Eclectic is also a personal commitment : it means changing one’s way of getting from one place to another by exchanging one’s role as a “consumer” for that of a “producer” and this, in the general interest.

Its designer Sacha Lakic describes Eclectic as : “a modern, autonomous and intelligent automobile. The energy that drives it exists all around it : it simply has to deploy its wind turbine, expose its solar cells or, if necessary, find a simple electric plug.

It is usual practice to “stylise” a car. In the case of Eclectic, its contours were born of an approach to design. Its appearance reflects its function.

Its silhouette pays homage to certain icon-cars such as the Lunar Rover, Mini-Moke and M�hari. Though its technology positions it clearly in the present and, above all, the future”.
TECHNOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ADVANCES

Venturi marks a new era in technological history by launching the production of Eclectic, an urban 3-seater electro-solar vehicle which goes well beyond anything offered so far by car manufacturers of today :

* 1 st vehicle powered by renewable energies ;
* 1 st solar production vehicle (2.5 m2 of photovoltaic cells) ;
* 1 st vehicle that can be directly recharged with a personal wind turbine ;

Eclectic is thus the vehicle with the least possible impact on the environment.

Unlike other vehicles which are not used for over 90% of the time, Eclectic takes advantage of moments of immobilisation to store energy in its batteries ; contrary to a petrol tank, this energy reserve remains available for other uses. It’s well worth betting that one day, and at national level, this could comprise a considerable reserve of energy which could compensate for breakdowns in the production of electricity as already seen, for example, in California.

Available with last-generation NiMH (NIV-7) batteries (liquid cooled), Eclectic offers a range up to 50 km at a speed of 50 km/hr (electronically restricted), which suffices largely to cover daily movements in urban areas.

The share of solar recharging is approximately 7 km per day of exposure.

When using electricity, a full recharge requires 5 hrs using a standard connection (16 A).

Finally, as an option, Eclectic can be recharged with one or more wind turbines, fixed either on the roof of the vehicle when it is stationary, or to the ground with a specific mast. In this case, the share of recharging is approximately 15 km per day in windy areas.
COMMERCIAL INFORMATION

* Production of 20 pre-series vehicles has commenced.
* A limited version of 200 vehicles with specific equipment will be launched in June 2007 (colour : white) at a price of 24,000 € plus VAT (excluding State subsidies of 2,000 €).
* A higher level of production should see the light of day as from 2009 at an estimated base price of 15,000 € plus VAT (excluding State subsidies of 2,000 €).
* Eclectic targets two different markets : that of companies wanting to adopt an environment-conscious stance and that of a very avant-garde public at the top end of the range.
* A single-seater utilitarian version will also complement this production.
* The vehicle comes with a 2-year guarantee (parts, labour and batteries)
* Recycling of batteries is handled by Venturi.
* Venturi’s commercial agent is Carbon Neutral.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type :
3-seater electro-solar vehicle with zero emission

Category :
Heavy quadricycle (minimum driving licence B1, from 16 yrs old)

Engine :
Type : Asynchronous
Power : 16 kWc
Max rating : 3500 tr/min
Torque : 50 Nm
Cooling : air.

Reduction :
Ratio : 1/10

Batteries :
Modules NIV-7 (Hydride metal Nickel) 72V 100 Ah
Onboard energy : 7 kWh
Mass : 108 kg
Liquid cooling
Estimated life-span of batteries : 2,500 cycles (> 10 yrs)
Recharging system when braking

Recharging :
Full recharge in 5 hrs with onboard charger (1.5 kW) using a standard 16A plug

Solar roof :
2.5 m2 of photovoltaic cells (yield 14%)
Power : 330 W
Average solar contribution : 7 km/day

Wind turbine :
Average wind contribution (option/windy areas) : 15km/day

Chassis :
Frame in composite materials, aluminium structure, steel engine cradle

Bodywork :
Composite materials

Suspension :
Mc Pherson (inf. triangle + buffer spring set)

Brakes :
4 discs, diameter 170

Dimensions :
Length (overall) : 2860 mm
Width : 1850 mm
Roll-bar height: 1750 mm
Front and rear gauge : 1690 mm
Wheelbase : 2000 mm
Front and rear tyres : Michelin 130/80 R17

Weight empty :
350 kg

Performance :
Autonomy on batteries : 50 km
Speed : 50 km/hr (electronically restricted)

Venturi Eclectic personalisation program :
400 to 800 W wind turbine charging system (turbine with mast)
Wifi kit (module, aerial and maintenance software)
Cloth-covered wooden seats.
Fabric doors
Trunk with lock
Peripheral kit : 220 V output and 12 V output for passengers
Blue-tinted windscreen (green on standard models)
Water resistant Sony Radio/CD/MP3
Optional water-resistant rear-console Sony remote control


http://www.garajul.r...tyle_emoticons/default/010.gif somebody shoot it please

Available with last-generation NiMH (NIV-7) batteries (liquid cooled), Eclectic offers a range up to 50 km at a speed of 50 km/hr (electronically restricted), which suffices largely to cover daily movements in urban areas.

[the1]

Ferrari�s of the future may include an optional four-wheel drive system that the company has just developed, and follows on from the �adaptable� four-wheel drive system developed in Maranello last year. Unlike a permanent four-wheel drive mode that can rob the engine of torque, this part-time version dubbed �insertable 4�4″ comes on as required such as during loss of traction, according to Italiaspeed.

Ferrari�s new four-wheel-drive system can be used for both their mid-engine cars, as well as the front-engine vehicles that feature a transaxle layout. The system works like an ordinary rear-drive car with a conventional gearbox and clutch system, but when optimal grip is required, such as during a slide or driving on icy roads, the front wheels can be selectively connected using the new transmission system. A secondary clutch is mated to the crankshaft, which is activated by an electronic sensor that measures slip and acts as a form of traction control when driving the front wheels.

The use of four-wheel drive has been proven to dramatically increase the performance of a vehicle in poor grip conditions. Another benefit is that Ferrari�s system, unlike Lamborghini�s AWD mode, will allow drivers to choose whether to use just the rear wheels or all four. However, one of the major hindrances is the substantial cost and complexity of installing the system. At higher speeds the four-wheel drive mode can only be activated for brief periods before it overheats, which leads to poor reliability, something Ferrari can definitely do without.

Source : italiaspeed

[masterblaster]

Saab AlcoKey Helps Drivers


Steer Clear of Drinking and Driving

Sweden has one of the best road safety records in Europe, but drinking and driving remains a serious hazard, accounting for about 35 per cent of all crash fatalities in Sweden last year (2005). Now Saab is ready for field trials in 100 cars of its innovative Saab AlcoKey, a simple, reusable device that fits conveniently in the pocket or handbag.

As compact as a small mobile phone, the Saab AlcoKey module incorporates a cap covering a mouthpiece where the driver provides a breath sample before starting the car. A radio transmitter then sends a signal to the car�s electronic control unit, which will either allow the car to be started or remain immobilized if the breath sample is found to contain alcohol above the permitted legal level.

Saab AlcoKey meets an increasing demand in Sweden among car fleet operators and public service providers for an effective means of ensuring drivers cannot drive if their blood/alcohol level is over the limit. It could be offered as an option for Saab 9-5 and 9-3 models sold on the Swedish market.

Senior Saab executives and local car fleet and taxi operators will participate in user trials over the next six months involving about 100 cars. It is the final step in a two-year development program that has focused on miniaturizing the unit to its current small size and maximizing battery longevity, now rated at 12 months when used five times a day.

Quick and easy to use, Saab AlcoKey utilizes existing anti-theft technology, independent of the car's ignition key. Before being able to start the car, the driver must first switch on Saab AlcoKey and blow into the mouthpiece for about three seconds, until the unit emits a beep. The breath sample passes over a tiny sensor inside the unit and green or red light is immediately illuminated on Saab AlcoKey. The green light indicates a satisfactory sample and the engine's electronic immobilizer is released via Saab AlcoKey�s radio signal, allowing the driver to start the car and proceed. If a red light shows, the engine cannot be started as the engine immobilizer remains armed. To avoid the need for a second breath sample, the car must be started within a minute of the �green� signal from Saab AlcoKey.

Saab AlcoKey also measures the temperature of a breath sample, allowing it to distinguish between a normal, human sample and, for example, air introduced from a balloon or a foot pump in an attempt to defeat the alcohol check.

An amber warning light flashes whenever the battery pack has less than 20 per cent capacity remaining. The pack should be replaced through a Saab dealership, although a cable connection to the car�s cigar lighter is also included for emergency power if the battery pack is not replaced in time.

Saab AlcoKey is currently intended only for the Swedish market. During the life of a car, subsequent owners could have the Saab AlcoKey functionality removed from the engine management system at a Saab dealership.

The user field trials will focus on verifying Saab AlcoKey�s convenience and ease of use. If a breath sample is provided before entering the car � the Saab AlcoKey transmitter has a range of up to 10 meters � its quick three to four second clearance process should not delay the driver. The software program in the trial cars is currently adjusted so that the engine can be restarted within 10 minutes, without the need for a Saab AlcoKey signal. In everyday use, Saab AlcoKey could provide a useful check if a driver has had a drink some time before intending to drive or has been drinking the night before.

Designed as a reliable and more convenient alternative to wired, in-vehicle systems available on the aftermarket, Saab AlcoKey could be offered at a retail price of around 3000 SEK.

Announcing the user trial program, in which he will take part, Saab Automobile Managing Director Jan-�ke Jonsson said: �Car crashes and personal injuries due to drinking and driving remain a great concern and Saab wants to do what it can to help prevent such behavior.

�We have listened to car fleet operators in Sweden, particularly those running public or taxi services,� Jonsson said. �They want to demonstrate their social responsibility and provide some public reassurance by giving drivers access to a device such as Saab AlcoKey.�

The Saab AlcoKey project has been supported by the Swedish National Road Administration as a means of improving driving safety. �We all have a responsibility to discourage drinking and driving,� said NRA Traffic Safety Director Claes Tingvall. �As Saab is the first car manufacturer to be involved in this work with us, we are together making a big step forward when it comes to increasing the acceptance of and demand for systems like these.�

[masterblaster]

From CNN Money's Business 2.0 Magazine, we've learned of a proposal that is anything but indecent. Business 2.0 asked several venture capitalists what projects they would like to fund. Knowing this can be a touchy subject, they were pleasantly surprised to get some of the VCs to divulge their pet projects. The result is an interesting list of 20 business ideas, including websites, applications, batteries and even a luxury housing development. The one that naturally caught our "i" was a call for a next generation iDrive type computer interface that would utilize a heads-up display system. If you think you can build a better mouselesstrap, there could be a cool $5 mil in it for you and your team.

Investors Jonathan Fram and Howard Schultz, of Maveron, are willing to part with five million dollars for an "in-dash computer with a keyboard built into the steering wheel and a full-screen heads-up display projected on the windshield." The technology behind the system, laser or cathode-ray tubes that convert pixels into projected light, has been around for 30 years. Jet fighter pilots use it to read cockpit data without taking their eyes off the road sky. Commercial pilots use it too, and automakers have tried it with mixed results.

Projected displays don't distract drivers as much as cell phones or dashboard controls, and research has shown that our eyes can handle projected displays and the road much easier than refocusing between the road and the dashboard. Fram and Schultz (who helped create Starbucks) think that with the increasing technological needs of today's drivers and the obvious safety advantage of not having to take your eyes off the road, there is enough of a market for a functional system that $5 million is just a drop in the bucket. If you think you have a "deeply qualified 20-person team" that can deliver a prototype, as well as a plan to promote a commercial version to automakers in the next three years, the $5 million could be yours.

[adrian_r5]

E oficial: China, a treia forta a lumii la productia de automobile

China a depasit Germania in ceea ce priveste productia auto si s-a instalat pe al treilea loc la nivel mondial, dupa Statele Unite si Japonia.

Cu cele 3.6 milioane de masini produse in primul semestru de imperiul asiatic, China a reusit sa adune o productie cu peste 20% mai mare decat cea a Germaniei, care pana acum se situa pe podium. Pozitia Chinei nu este deloc suprinzatoare, expertii apreciind ca in cel mult cinci ani statul asiatic va deveni primul producator si consumator auto.

La nivel mondial, numarul de masini construite a crescut cu 6% fata de anul trecut. Astfel, productia de masini a explodat in India, in China si in America de Sud, regiuni in care cresterea se situeaza la circa 18%.

Tarile care inca nu sunt membre ale Uniunii Europene, printre care si Romania, au crescut la acest capitol, in medie, cu 5-6%, in timp ce in statele comunitare si in SUA ritmul de productie se mentine constant. Una dintre tarile care au scazut enorm in ultimul an din punctul de vedere al productiei este Franta, ai carei constructori au diminuat productia interna cu 11.2%.

( sursa: http://www.hotnews.r...-automobile.htm )

[oaspetele]

sper ca pozitia de prim producator sa fie legata strict de cea de prim consumator. sau invers.

[LaScurt]

Oare pe cate din piesele vw-ului tau scrie Made in China? Daca pe niciuna, atunci pastreaz-o ca masina clasica, s-ar putea sa devina o raritate. Macar io m-am scos, pe piesele mele scrie Made in South Korea. Mi se pare mie sau si masinile vor ajunge ca si electronicele?

[oaspetele]

poi asta spuneam si io, sper sa fie tot ei cei care vor inghiti puhoiul de masini mici si galbene cu care vor domina topurile.

[masterblaster]

2007 Audi Q7 Receives 5 Star Crash Test Rating

The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week gave the 2007 Audi Q7 their highest-possible ratings for front and side crash protection. The Audi Q7 received five-star ratings for driver and passenger protection in frontal crash tests, and five-star ratings for front and rear passenger protection in side impact crash tests. The Audi Q7 also received a roll-over rating of four-stars.

�Time and time again, Audi has demonstrated a strong commitment to safety.� said Johan de Nysschen, Executive Vice President of Audi of America, Inc. �We knew the Audi Q7 would be one of the safest SUVs available when we were developing it, and these test results confirm our position.�

The 2007 Audi Q7 comes standard with the latest safety features such as quattro� all-wheel drive, dual-front and front-side airbags, Sideguard� head curtain air bags that protect all three rows of passengers, pre-tensioning three-point seatbelts for all passengers, LATCH child-seat anchoring system, ABS, and Electronic Stabilization Program with roll-over detection. Audi Side Assist, which warns the driver of vehicles in their blind spot at speeds over 30 mph, and rear-side airbags for the second row are optional safety features. The 2007 Audi Q7 3.6 has a price of $39,900 before destination.

5 stele?


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Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard







Mercedes-Benz has completed the new S-Class range by introducing an armoured special-protection model. Thanks to its factory-integrated protective features, the new S-Guard provides a unique level of protection against attacks and threats posed by violent crime. The new model is initially available in Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard guise, with a twelve-cylinder engine and a long wheelbase.

The new Mercedes-Benz S-Guard is the logical continuation of an almost 80-year unbroken tradition in the development of special-protection vehicles. This new top-of-the-range Guard model is produced in Sindelfingen, Germany by vastly experienced specialists working on the principle of integrated special protection. In effect this means that, rather than retrofitting the protective elements in the doors, rear wall, side panels, roof lining and firewall etc. of an already finished vehicle, they fully integrate them into the bodyshell on a dedicated production line. All the body-structure reinforcements required due to the extra weight of the protective elements can therefore be incorporated right from the start. The resulting vehicles offer hallmark Mercedes-Benz build quality combined with comprehensive Highest Protection, including in those areas where post-production access would be all but impossible.
Outstanding comfort and effortlessly superior performance

The S-Class interior space concept, which makes for a first-class ambience combined with outstanding ride comfort for all the occupants, not to mention effortlessly superior handling, remains virtually unaffected. Furthermore, generously dimensioned chassis components and twin-calliper front brakes lend the Mercedes-Benz S-Guard Saloon hallmark Mercedes handling qualities and provide the driver with an optimal driving feel at all times. Plus the chassis has been configured so as not to impair the sumptuous level of comfort that distinguishes the standard-production S-Class. At the heart of the Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard is a twelve-cylinder biturbo engine developing 380 kW/517 hp, whose scintillating performance capability allows the luxury saloon to escape from dangerous situations with breathtaking speed.

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard offers Highest Protection and has been engineered to resistance level B6/B7, as tested and certified by state-approved organisations. Its armour resists military-standard small-arms projectiles and provides protection against fragments from hand grenades and other explosive charges. Additional safety features include run-flat tyres, a self-sealing fuel tank and a fire-extinguishing system.

Yet the Highest Protection that underpins the new Guard Saloon is scarcely noticeable from the outside. After all, discretion is as much of a must as trust, reliability and quality. Prominent personalities in particular like to travel incognito, wherever they happen to be, and the new Mercedes-Benz S-Guard gives them this option.
All the trailblazing developments of the new S-Class

The Mercedes-Benz S 600 Guard is equipped with the same technical innovations that have made the flagship Mercedes S-Class the number-one trailblazer in passenger car development and the world's best-selling luxury saloon. These include important new developments such as Brake Assist PLUS and the PRE SAFE� brake in combination with DISTRONIC PLUS, night view assist and the enhanced PRE-SAFE� anticipatory occupant protection system. On top of all this, the outstanding level of interior comfort and extremely agile handling make for an effortlessly superior driving experience.

[the1]

PSA Peugeot Citro�n inaugurates new plant in Trnava, Slovakia


Peugeot has issued the following press release:

The new PSA Peugeot Citro�n plant in Trnava, Slovakia was inaugurated on Thursday, October 19, 2006 by Thierry Peugeot, Chairman of the Peugeot SA Supervisory Board, and Jean-Martin Folz, Chief Executive Officer, in a ceremony attended by Slovakia�s Prime Minister Robert Fico and Trnava�s Mayor �tefan Bo�n�k.

The plant has been manufacturing Peugeot�s latest model, the 207, since last June. The model, which offers an especially effective response to the major challenges currently facing the automobile industry, is therefore going to symbolize the new vitality of Slovakian industry. With its elegant, thoroughbred styling, the Peugeot 207 sets the European benchmark in safety, environmental performance and driving pleasure.

The production center is built on a 192-hectare lot and comprises four main facilities�stamping, body-in-white assembly, painting and final assembly�with capacity to produce 300,000 cars a year in three shifts. It currently employs 3,300 people. An adjacent supplier park is already home to a dozen equipment manufacturers.

Announced in early 2003, the project to build the site and launch production of the first model required a total investment of �700 million. Construction and installation of the plant and production lines were completed in just two years, with pre-series production of the Peugeot 207 starting up in early 2006.

The new Trnava plant incorporates all the benefits of PSA Peugeot Citro�n�s Convergence Plan, a continuous improvement process implemented across the Group�s manufacturing base. This ambitious strategy is primarily designed to instill the best manufacturing and technical practices developed in the Group and the industry as a whole. The strategy has already enabled the Trnava plant to deliver remarkable performance in team training, production methods, just-in-sequence logistics and overall production quality.

In this way, the plant has successfully paved the way for the deployment of the efficient, standardized PSA Peugeot Citro�n manufacturing system.

�The Trnava project has met all our objectives in terms of both plant construction and the hiring and training of our teams,� said Jean-Martin Folz, CEO of PSA Peugeot Citro�n. �By meeting the deadlines and delivering excellent production quality, the plant is off to a very good start.� Jean-Martin Folz also said that he was very grateful to the Slovak authorities for actively supporting the project over the past three years and helping to make it a reality.

[masterblaster]

3 All New 2007 Ford Championship Level Pace Cars Unveiled


Three “championship-level” 2007 Ford vehicles – the Ford Shelby GT500, Ford Edge and Ford F-150 FX2 Sport – have been selected to pace the three Ford Championship Weekend races at Homestead-Miami Speedway, site of NASCAR’s season-ending events.

Dan Davis, director of Ford Racing Technology; Curtis Gray, president of Homestead-Miami Speedway; and Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion and a contender for this year’s title, were all on hand at the race track today to help unveil the three pace vehicles in a ceremony before open NASCAR testing at the track.

“We wanted to select championship level production vehicles to pace the Ford Championship Weekend, and we picked three of the best,” said Davis, in making the announcement. “When you talk about vehicles that combine bold design and the kind of performance needed to lead the NASCAR field on track, these three vehicles are the place to start.”

Bold Moves on Track

The Ford Shelby GT500, which will lead the field in the Ford 400, is simply the most powerful Mustang ever.

At 500 horsepower, there won’t be any problem leading the NASCAR Nextel Cup field. The GT500, with its 5.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, is a collaboration between racing legend Carroll Shelby and Ford Special Vehicle Team.

The car also features an aggressive muscular front-end design, Le Mans racing stripes, and the unmistakable Cobra logo and Shelby nameplate. It has a race-tuned suspension, six-speed manual transmission and four-piston Bembo brakes.

The Ford Edge will be the first Ford crossover utility vehicle (CUV) to pace a NASCAR race when it leads the field for the Ford 300 NASCAR Busch Series event.

The Edge features bold American design, 265 horsepower out of a 3.5-liter V-6 engine, and innovative features such as a panoramic Vista Roof, Advance Trac with Roll Stability Control, a Safety Canopy air curtain system, an MP3-player jack and console laptop storage.

With contemporary design and engaging vehicle dynamics, Edge is Ford’s answer to the growing CUV market, which is the fastest-growing segment in the United States.

The F-150 FX2 Sport is the latest edition to the F-Series family of great Ford trucks that are on their way to a 30th consecutive year of sales leadership.

The FX2 Sport package is available on 4X2 SuperCab and SuperCrew XLT editions, and features a dark accent billet-style grille insert with body color grille surround, unique 18-inch aluminum wheels, available 20-inch aluminum wheels, a chrome exhaust tip, fog lamps, unique captain’s chairs with center console and floor-mounted shifter, and a body color front bumper, rear bumper, door and tailgate handles.

Each of the three vehicles has been equipped for their pace car duties with special decal packages and light bars.

Bold Moves in the Chase

Matt Kenseth, the 2003 NASCAR Nextel Cup champion, took part in today’s ceremonies and was on hand to test for Ford Championship Weekend, where he will seek his second NASCAR title.

Kenseth, driver of the DeWalt Ford Fusion, led the NASCAR points championship going into the 10-race, NASCAR Nextel Cup Chase for the Championship playoff. Going into the Oct. 22 race at Martinsville Speedway in Martinsville, Va., Kenseth is just 45 points out of the championship lead.

His Roush Racing teammate, Mark Martin, is the other Ford Racing driver among the final 10 competing for the Nextel Cup title. Going into Martinsville, Martin – driver of the AAA Ford Fusion – ranked No. 4 in the chase standings, 102 points out of first as he seeks his first Nextel Cup championship.

The NASCAR Ford Fusion made it debut this past February in Daytona, and has captured five wins, with Kenseth scoring four, and his teammate Greg Biffle scoring one.

Bold Moves in the Marketplace

Ford’s racing program makes business sense for the company.

As far back as 1901, company founder Henry Ford raced to prove out his new product, and to gain favorable publicity for his efforts. His victory in his one and only race in Grosse Pointe, Mich., that year proved to be the turning point in attracting investors to Ford and helping him start the Ford Motor Company in 1903.

“My great-grandfather understood the value of racing, and what it could do for a company,” said Edsel B. Ford II, a member of the Ford board of directors and a long-time supporter of Ford’s racing programs.

“He knew what racing could do, both in terms of technical innovation and marketing. I think he’d be pleased that those are key reasons we still race today.”

Indeed, on-going research has shown racing works for Ford.

“According to our 2006 research, fifty-six percent of Ford owners call themselves race fans,” said Burt Diamond, global marketing manager, Ford Racing Technology.

“Certainly that’s a huge number of people out there who have a strong emotional connection with what we’re doing. We’d be crazy not to market to these people.”

But more than just showing interest, these Ford race fans are proving to be good, loyal customers.

Among market-active consumers, Ford’s market share among race fans is 46 percent higher than non-race fans. And consideration for Ford products is 72 percent higher among race fans, than non-race fans.

“Not only that, but we’ve found that racing truly influences the fundamental beliefs about Ford products,” said Diamond.

“Our research has shown that our primary brand attributes – things like ‘holds up well,’ ‘smart designs,’ ‘practical innovations’ – all rate higher among race fans than non race fans.

“Our NASCAR race fans have the strongest image of Ford on both primary and racing-related brand images than anywhere else we race.

“There’s no question, based on our research, that racing polishes the oval for Ford.”

[adrian_r5]

Premiera mondiala: Opel Astra sedan

Opel anunta ca are pregatita de lansare varianta sedan a noului model Astra. Masina va putea fi admirata de la targul auto de la Istambul, in perioada 3-12 noiembrie. Astra sedan este construita de divizia europeana a GM in Polonia si vizeaza pietele din Europa centarala si de est, dar si restul Europei.

continuarea:

http://www.hotnews.r...Astra-sedan.htm

[the1]

Ford's cost-cutting plans clearly don't come cheap - its third quarter report saw losses rocket to around �3bn.

In the three months up to the end of September, Ford lost $5.8bn (�3bn), almost 30 times the figure for the same period last year. Ford is aiming to cut 45,000 jobs and clost 16 factories in the United States and Canada as it slashes costs in a bid to restore profitability. But even with the American giant's provision for redundancies is taken into account, it still lost $1.2bn (�650m). It lost �151m in the same period in 2005.

Ford's new CEO Alan Mulally said the results were 'clearly unacceptable'. He added: "Our focused priorities are to restructure aggressively to operate profitably at lower volumes, and to accelerate the development of new, more efficient vehicles that customers really want."