Car Rack Resources, an internet social networking website  
Car Rack Resources, an internet social networking website for automobile rack public question and a PDF Car Rack Resources, an internet social networking website for automobile rack public question and answer forums, Thule Racks & Yakima Racks reviews and ratings, and ORS Roof Racks Direct, a leading national supplier of truck rack and car rack systems for commercial and recreational applications, announced today that ORS Roof Racks Direct has partnered as title sponsor of Car Rack Resources (www.carrackresources.com/) and its two major service departments; Roof Rack Reviews & Ratings (www.reviews.carrackresources.com/) and Truck Rack / Car Rack Public Forums (www.forums.carrackresources.com/).

Other sponsors also include industry manufacturering leaders Thule Racks and Yakima Racks.

"We have noticed for quite some time the benefits and effectiveness of Car Rack Resources and the assistance it offers visitors in providing a public arena for anyone seeking to post questions, offer answers and assistance and comment on all areas concerning the car rack and truck rack industry," explains Catherine Case, ORS Racks Direct Consumer Relations and Sales Coordinator. "Our own car rack website has been connecting customers to the Car Rack Resources reviews and public forums for a while now, and when we learned the association was looking for sponsors to help offset the cost of operations we naturally leaped at the opportunity."

In addition to being recognized as presenting sponsor with banner placement on the website and logo inclusion in all correspondence and marketing materials, ORS Racks Direct will also be assisting in providing advice and help to users with questions they may have regarding various installation issues and product features.


Source : http://www.pr-usa.net (3/16/2008)

2008 Sedans, 2007 Sedans That Get 30+ MPG Combined City/Highway  
30 Miles Per Gallon Combined City/Hwy Mileage.

The Sedan

The sedan is the most popular car body style, and offers interior space and access through two doors on each side (or more rarely one) and luggage security because of a locking, covered luggage compartment separate from the passenger compartment.

Sedans come in all sizes. Small examples include the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla. Midsize sedans are the best-selling, with the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord leading. And large sedans, once the staple of the American industry in the 1950s and 1960s, refuse to die, keeping limo drivers happy in their Lincoln Town Cars, and police officers in their Ford Crown Victorias.

With over 100 sedan models to choose from it is important for potential buyers to know before they try and buy

If you want to know more (and we suggest that you do), The New Car Buyers Guides exclusive Rank By Specs tool allows consumers to become experts and rank and then compare every sedan sold in North America by every spec, dimension, capacity and performance criteria.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Can't Pinch Me ... I'm in a Zipcar!  
CHICAGO, -- This St. Patrick's Day, Zipcar goes "greener" by participating in the 2008 Chicago St. Patrick's Day Parade on Saturday, March 15, both with its own entry and a sponsorship of the Illinois Chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Through its sponsorship, Zipcar will be transporting a leukemia/lymphoma survivor down the parade route as part of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's parade entry. Zipcar's entry will feature a Toyota Prius hybrid and a Mini Cooper convertible, along with five, fun street team members offering information about how easy it is to join Zipcar.

Every Chicagoan wants to be a little green on St. Patrick's Day. Zipcar, the world's largest car sharing service, wants to help them be green on the 364 other days too. With all of the significant, positive environmental impacts of car sharing, Zipcar makes it easy to be un-pinchably green every day of the year.

"Each Zipcar put on the road replaces 15 personally owned vehicles. Members give up their private cars, drive less, and walk, bike and use public transit more often. It doesn't get much greener than that," said Steve Bishop, General Manager of Zipcar Chicago. "This year we have also partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to celebrate their important work and to support their cause."

There are currently more than 250 Zipcars in 100 Chicago locations. Vehicles are available in a range of sizes -- wee enough for a leprechaun and big enough for Brian Boru. Cars start at $9.25 per hour (or as low as $7.75 per hour with Zipcar's Extra Value Plan), and all reservations include 180 free miles, plus gas and insurance.

For more information on Zipcar's participation in the St. Patrick's Day Parade or on Zipcar Chicago, contact Ryan Kilpatrick at rkilpatrick@grisko.com or 312-335-0100 (office) and 312-623-1991 (cell).


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Maruti races past competition in mid-sized sedan segment  
New Delhi : Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India, better known for its compact cars, has zipped past competition, including Honda and Hyundai, in the mid-sized sedan segment this fiscal on the back of its successful model SX4.

The company, which has been focusing on becoming a full-scale player to outgrow its small-carmaker image as a part of parent Suzuki's global strategy, has managed to grow 53.2 per cent in the A3 (mid-sized sedan) segment during the April-February period.

According to the latest data by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), MSI's sales in the period stood at 41,799 units as compared to 27,283 units in the same period last year.

The growth has enabled the company to speed past Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI), which was at the number one slot in April-February period of the previous fiscal. HSCI sells City, its popular model in the segment.

In the ongoing fiscal, HSCI's cumulative sales stood at 34,029 units as against 35,300 units in the corresponding period last year.

Hyundai Motor India comes third in the segment with 29,146 units sold in the period as against 25,147 units a year ago. The company sells two models -- Accent and Verna -- in the category.

The fight for the fourth place in the segment is a close one, between Ford and Tata Motors that have respectively clocked sales of 26,485 units (down from 34,681 units last year) and 26,281 units (29,949 units last year) during the period.

Ford has Ikon, Fiesta and Fusion models in the segment, while Tata Motors has Indigo and Indigo Marina.

Mahindra-Renault, which entered the segment with Logan, has so far managed to register sales of 22,823 units this fiscal.

MSI, which currently offers only the SX4 in the segment after its entry level sedan Esteem was discontinued, will be launching the Swift Dzire by the end of the month. The new model is expected to consolidate its position further in the segment.

Also, the company is working on a bigger sedan, expected to be launched in 2009-10, to compete with the likes of Toyota Corolla and Skoda Octavia that come in a price bracket of Rs 10-12 lakh in the fast growing A4 segment.


Source : The Hindu (Online Edition) (3/16/2008)

GE Money and Michelin Move Forward with Consumer Finance Program  
KETTERING, Ohio--GE Money and Michelin today announced an agreement to provide consumer financing through CarCareOne, a private label credit program managed by GE Moneys Sales Finance unit. Car owners can choose from 90-day, 6-month or 12-month no interest programs on their Michelin purchases. The program includes no annual fee and no down payment terms, as well as a full menu of promotional payment terms.

Budgeting for tire maintenance isnt easy especially when unplanned needs arise, said Parmeet Grover, brand director for Michelin. We pride ourselves on offering competitive prices to car owners, and the CarCareOne program is a great addition to our service offering that further helps people get and pay for the tires and ongoing maintenance they need.

The GE Money CarCareOne program has enjoyed over 25 years in the industry, and were pleased to continue to work with leading partners like Michelin, said Stephen Roe, vice president and general manager, Automotive, GE Money Sales Finance. More than $3 billion in automotive parts and labor costs have been financed through the program, helping consumers and businesses pay for the automotive maintenance they need to continue driving safely.

Tires use up to 20 percent of the energy needed to operate a car, and with fueling costs continually on the rise, drivers are doing all they can to improve gas mileage, including looking to better performing tires. For more than 120 years, Michelin has obsessively worked to reduce energy consumption related to tire performance and The CarCareOne program can be used to purchase any of Michelins line of tires.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

What A Night For Penske, Porsche At Sebring  
Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard celebrate Penske Racing's overall win Saturday at Sebring.

The 2007 American Le Mans Series was a magical one for Penske Racing. The 2008 season may be even better if Saturday was any indication. Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Emmanuel Collard drove to an historic overall win at the 56th Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring presented by Fresh from Florida.

The win was the first overall at Sebring by an LMP2 car and saw 27 overall lead changes, a race record, and three lead-lap finishers, tying a race record. Dumas took the checkered flag by 1:02.084 over Dyson Racing's trio of Butch Leitzinger, Marino Franchitti and Andy Wallace in their Porsche RS Spyder. The Audi Sport North America trio of Dindo Capello, Allan McNish and Tom Kristensen finished third overall and first in LMP1.

Third in P2 class and fourth overall was the second Dyson Porsche of Chris Dyson and Guy Smith as the P2 class took three of the top four spots.

The overall win for Porsche was its first since 1988 when Hans Stuck and Klaus Ludwig took victory in a Porsche 962. Roger Penske took his first win at Sebring in 40 years and became the first team owner to win overall at Sebring, the Indianapolis 500 and the Daytona 500.

"I have to say thank you to Team Penske because they did a great job today," said Bernhard, who also won the 2004 race in GT. "The strategy was really good and we had no problem with the RS Spyder. We were a perfect trio today and it was very important that the whole package was working."

Collard also won for the second time at Sebring, and Dumas was a first-time winner. The trio ran a smart, consistent race and watched their toughest challengers all fall by the wayside. They led seven times for 144 laps including Dumas' final 31 to the end.

"The key today is that we ran without a problem - gearbox, engine and race strategy," Collard said. "That's why we won this race."

Bernhard and Dumas won six overall races in 2007 with two more LMP2 victories en route to capturing the class championship.

"We were on the lead lap late and thinking, 'Why not win?'" Dumas said. "The Acuras are very strong, just like they were a few weeks ago. Their car was very quick and we saw that again. Today was something special. I think we will have a great championship. Today was just exceptional and I think the season will be. It will be very difficult to win so many races overall (as last year). I'm quite sure about that."

Audi's streak of consecutive overall wins at Sebring ended at eight although it extended its Series record of consecutive class wins to 23.

Kristensen won for the fifth time at Sebring, Capello won for the fourth time at Sebring and McNish was a victor for third time. The sister car of Mike Rockenfeller, Lucas Luhr and Marco Werner were the class runners-up after losing precious time while changing a turbo in the paddock. Third was the cellulosic E85-powered Intersport Racing Lola B06/10-AER of Clint Field, Jon Field and Richard Berry.

"It was a great race and great finish," Kristensen said. "We had issues and we had to deal with them under green, which was very tough. We needed something yellow, and not the yellow car (Penske Porsche). We needed the yellow flag to help us but it didn't come."

The race started out ominously with a stop-and-go penalty for Capello after colliding with one of Flying Lizard Motorsports' Porsche 911 GT3 RSRs in the opening hour.

McNish, Kristensen and Capello overcame a myriad of other problems to come within a whisker of a remarkable comeback. After the team changed front brake discs and a pushrod, the trio fought back from three laps down with three hours left.

"When I was in the car for my third and fourth stint, I was impressed with how good the car was," Capello said. "From the third lap on, the car was jumping left and right. I could not control it and we were losing three or four seconds a lap. We could see the car was behaving in a strange way. Tom did two stints and even he was having trouble. Once the team changed the pushrod, the car was as good as it was."

The much-anticipated battle between diesel rivals Audi and Peugeot materialized in the race's opening half. The two traded the lead back and forth for 131 of the first 133 laps before the Peugeot 908 began to falter with hydraulic problems and related issues. It eventually finished fourth in P1 and 11th overall in its maiden North American race.

Corvette Racing's No. 3 Corvette C6.R of Johnny O'Connell, Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows won GT1 on Saturday.

Johnny O'Connell became the winningest driver in Sebring history with his seventh class victory as he broke a tie with Sebring legend Phil Hill. O'Connell teamed with Jan Magnussen and Ron Fellows for a nearly flawless run in Corvette Racing's Corvette C6.R. The trio started from the head of the class and never trailed.

"We had some unfinished business," Fellows said. "We had a really strong car at Road Atlanta and had some bad luck with Jan. We had a great race at Le Mans. All three of us feel that this is a great way to start. Le Mans is the next big prize we're going to shoot for. This is a great confidence builder for all of us and we definitely want another Le Mans."

O'Connell won overall in 1994 and posted class victories in 1993, 1995 and 2002-2004. It gave Fellows four Sebring wins - he teamed with O'Connell for three straight from 2002-04 - and was Magnussen's second in four years.

"If you've ever had the chance to meet Phil Hill, he is everything good and proper about motorsports," O'Connell said. "He was what was wonderful about that era. You run across some of your heroes that you run across that are so full of themselves. But you meet someone like Phil Hill, he's one of the coolest cats around! You start to have a real understanding about what this race is about."

While the No. 3 Corvette ran faultlessly, the No. 4 sister Corvette of Oliver Gavin, Olivier Beretta and Max Papis ran into trouble early. The car lost time early in the race when the crew had to change a driveshaft in the second hour. The trio was trying for a second straight class win together.

"We had great pit stops. We made time on in laps and out laps," O'Connell said. "Anytime you beat your own team, you have to be pretty good. Everyone is really feeling positive about things. Last year there were a lot of races where I thought we were the dominant car and had a lot of bad luck."

Flying Lizard Motorsports finally broke through in the 12 Hours after finishing second the last two years. JÃrg Bergmeister, Wolf Henzler and Marc Lieb drove their No. 45 Porsche 911 GT3 RSR to a two-lap victory over the sister car of

Darren Law, Seth Neiman and Alex Davison.

It is the first 1-2 class finish for the Lizards, which placed third in 2005 and runner-up in 2006 and 2007.

Flying Lizard Motorsports placed 1-2 in GT2 at Sebring, the first such finish for the team in the American Le Mans Series.

"The Lizards really deserve this victory because they have worked so hard over the years," Lieb said. "To win this race after the last two disappointing seasons, it makes me very happy. The Lizards really deserve this victory because they have worked so hard over the years. This team puts a lot of effort into racing with Porsche. It goes down through the people who care for the tires to engineers. Everything is just running really well at the moment. Flying Lizard is one of the top teams in the world and deserves a win like this."

Henzler and the Lizards took the lead near the halfway point when Risi Competizione's Jaime Melo ran hot in Turn 7 while leading in the No. 62 Ferrari F430 GT and collided with the second-place Porsche of Dirk Werner and Farnbacher Loles Racing.

As a result, the Risi Competizione/Krohn Racing Ferrari finished third in class, driven by Nic Jonsson, Eric van de Poele and Tracy Krohn.

"At six hours when the Ferrari hit the No. 87 Porsche, our main competitors were out of the race," Henzler said. "We decided to take it a little bit easier and bring the car home."

In the 2007 race, Flying Lizard came up 0.202 seconds short of a class victory in a final-lap duel with the Risi Ferrari that stands as the closest finish in race history.

"I'm really happy with the result," Bergmeister said. "The big competitors we had for this year and a lot of bad luck and zero points. So that makes for a nice cushion. I was pretty amazed. We have been testing quite a lot and the car had no problems from beginning to end."

Adrian Fernandez and Luis Diaz had finished second overall and in class but failed a post-race stall test in technical inspections. Their Lowe's Fernandez Racing Acura ARX-01b was excluded as a result.

The next race for the American Le Mans Series is the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg. The green flag is scheduled for 1:25 p.m. ET on Saturday, April 5 from the streets of St. Petersburg, Fla. The race will be broadcast on ABC from 1:30-3:30 p.m. ET on April 5. Radio coverage will be available on XM Satellite Radio and on americanlemans.com, which also will feature IMSA's Live Timing & Scoring.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Wickens Leads Canada to Feature Pole  
Mexico City, Mexico - Robert Wickens captured A1 Team Canada's second pole position of the 2007-08 A1GP World Cup of Motorsport season today as the Toronto-born racer topped the timesheets in Feature qualifying at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriquez in Mexico City, home to Sunday's eighth round of the nation versus nation championship.

Wickens, who became the youngest ever A1GP pole winner at the previous round in South Africa, collected his third front-row start in four races courtesy of a flying lap of 1m20.278s in this afternoon's Feature race qualifying session. The 19-year-old, whose pole came with the top twelve nations separated by less than a second, hopes to convert P1 into victory tomorrow as he did in Durban last month in the Sprint race - Canada then climbing to eighth overall in the A1GP Nations Standings.

The earlier Sprint qualifying session proved to be an even tighter affair at the 4.42km track with the top fifteen entries split by less than a second - Wickens powering Canada to a third row grid slot with the sixth fastest time, a 1m20.621s. South Africa's Adrian Zaugg claimed the Sprint pole ahead of fellow A1GP race winner, New Zealand's Jonny Reid.

Robert fired himself into immediate pole contention with his first tour in Feature qualifying, a 1m20.812s, second fastest for the session. Going quicker still on his final run, Robert set the fastest third sector time on his way to a 1m20.278s lap. Wickens duly trumped the field to claim both his and A1 Team Canada's second-ever A1GP pole position.

"Getting my first Feature pole is definitely a great accomplishment," said Wickens. "Everyone wants to win the Feature race as it's longer with pit stops and more variables. The team did a great job; the car was phenomenal in qualifying. We struggled a bit in practice but overcame those difficulties in time for a competitive qualifying showing!"

"Another great performance from the team and particularly Robert," reflected Mark Gallagher whose Status Grand Prix operation runs A1 Team Canada. "After the win in South Africa, another pole here, this time in the Feature, is very satisfying and a further indication of the team's strength in depth. Daniel Morad played his part this weekend by performing well in the rookie session yesterday so all in all it's a very satisfying team effort."


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Two wheeler sales dip; car sales jump in Feb `08  
According to the figures released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), motorcycle sales in the country declined by 17.68% in February to 4,25,089 units, against 5,16,410 units a year ago, reports agency sources.

Total two-wheeler sales in February also came down by 14.25% to 5,42,578 units, compared to 6,32,712 units in February 2007.

On the other hand, commercial vehicle sales during February increased by 1.69% to 45,059 units from 44,308 units for the year-ago period.

Domestic passenger car sales increased by 2.31% in February 2008 to 94,756 units from 92,618 units in the same month last year.


Source : myiris.com (3/16/2008)

Former champ Ashley shines in return to JEGS ProMod Challenge  
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Mike Ashley may have spent the last two years in a nitro Funny Car since winning back-to-back Pro Mod titles in 2004-2005, but he certainly hasn't forgotten how to drive the 2,500-horsepower hot rods.

Ashley opened the 10-race 2008 JEGS ProMod Challenge with a stellar 5.945 at 239.61 mph in his ProCare Rx Chevrolet Camaro Saturday evening to lead the field into Sunday's elimination action at the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. It was the only five-second run of the weekend and places him a full seven-hundredths of a second ahead of the chase pack.

"I can't say I'm surprised because when I look at the caliber of the race team I'm on I see a bunch of champions," Ashley said. "But I'm certainly not driving my best. I'm off, way off, on judging where the finish line is and I keep clicking it off early. The scoreboards come out you a lot quicker at 330 mph in a Funny Car than they do in a 230 mph Pro Mod car but I'll be alright after a few more runs, I hope.

"We added it up the other day and I've made something close to 200 runs in a Funny Car since I've driven a Pro Mod car so I need to re-train myself. I can't be the weak link on this team. There's too much talent over here."

Reigning series champion Josh Hernandez was the closest to Ashley with a 6.015 at 240.42 mph in his AMS Staff Leasing Camaro. Raymond Commisso is third with a 6.020 at 244.34 mph in his ProCare Rx machine, the fastest pass of the meet.

Joe Baker of Milton, Fla., will be the lone representative of the Sunshine State as he squeaked into the field with a 6.243 at 226.62 mph to earn the bump spot. He'll face Ashley in the opening round, slated to begin at noon.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Too Close To Call At The Track Too Tough To Tame  
DARLINGTON, S.C. Darlington Raceway has long been known as the track Too Tough to Tame and the track that produces the most competitive and exciting racing on the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series circuit. The close competition and excitement was never more evident than on March 16, 2003 during the Carolina Dodge Dealers 400.

An exciting race from the drop of the green-flag, it came down to a late race battle between veteran driver Ricky Craven and relative new comer Kurt Busch.

Both drivers started near the rear of the field, Craven qualified 31st while Busch qualified 6th but had to drop to the rear due to an engine change, and both had their work cut out for them. Craven and Busch battled a tough field all day but their persistence paid off with both drivers making their way to the front of the field and Busch taking the lead for the first time on lap 269.

Although Busch had taken the lead, Craven would not be discouraged, he caught Busch in the closing laps of the race and was challenging for the race lead.

After taking the white flag Craven nearly passed Busch twice before preparing for a final run at victory lane, coming out of turn 4 and the two drivers banged together several times as they charged towards the checkered flag with Craven snatching the victory by inches, literally.

Cravens margin of victory, a mere two thousandths of a second, setting a record for the closest finish in NASCAR history, a record that still stands today, five years later.

Winning at Darlington is what was important, Craven said. As the years have gone on, it has been about the event and the spectacular finish, but, as a racer, it was always about winning at Darlington.

Although he came within inches of capturing that elusive Darlington victory, Busch still has fond memories of that day.

Craven and I were both in the same state of mind in that we both wanted to win, but neither of us was going to wreck the other guy, Busch said. It was the ultimate example of two guys racing as hard as they could to win. If that same situation played out again a hundred times, 99 of them would probably end with a big crash before they got to the finish line. To this day, every time I think back about that race I have to say that it was pretty incredible.

Dont miss your chance to see another incredible finish at Darlington Raceway when the stars of the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series take on the track Too Tough to Tame in the Dodge Challenger 500 on May 10, 2008. The racing action kicks off with the NASCAR Nationwide Series Diamond Hill Plywood 200 on May 9th.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Maruti ahead in mid-sized segment  
Maruti Suzuki India, better known for its compact cars, has zipped past the competition including Honda and Hyundai in the mid-sized sedan segment this fiscal on the back of its successful SX4.

The company, which has been focusing on becoming a full-scale player to grow out of its small car maker image, has managed to grow 53.2 per cent in the A3 (mid-sized sedan) segment in the April 2007-February 2008 period.

According to data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Marutis sales in the period stood at 41,799 units as compared to 27,283 in the previous year period. The growth enabled the company to race past Honda Siel Cars India, which was number one.

Hondas cumulative sales stood at 34,029 units in the April 2007-February 2008 period against 35,300 units in the previous period. Hyundai Motor India was third with 29,146 units sold in the period as against 25,147 units a year ago.


Source : Business Standard (Online Edition) (3/16/2008)

The Henry Ford Honored with Four Best of Industry Awards by Michigan's Meetings + Events Magazine  
DEARBORN, Mich.--The Henry Ford was awarded four Best of Industry awards by Michigans Meetings + Events magazine in a ceremony held in Detroit on March 5. The Henry Ford, Americas greatest history attraction, was named Most Unique Venue for the second consecutive year; Best Holiday Venue; Best Meeting Space Without a Hotel; and tied with The Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn for Best Banquet and Reception Venue. Michigan Meetings + Events magazine, the leading magazine for meetings and events professionals in Michigan, asked several hundred readers to vote on the top venues in the meetings and events industry.

Our unique settings and finest collections of artifacts documenting the American experience sets us apart and allows us to ensure that every event held here becomes a distinguished one, said Patricia Mooradian, president of The Henry Ford. We are incredibly honored and delighted to be recognized by such a reputable magazine, as well as by the top planners in the event planning industry.

With five distinct attractions including Henry Ford Museum, Greenfield Village, the Ford Rouge Factory Tour, The Henry Ford IMAX Theatre and Benson Ford Research Center, there is a place for every landmark event. The Henry Ford provides an idyllic, preserved and controlled setting that includes in-house catering with world-class cuisine, as well as various program offerings and enhancements. In addition to our five attractions, The Henry Ford also includes Lovett Hall, an exquisite ballroom that accommodates 300 guests ideal for weddings, receptions and banquets. Henry Ford Museum is the ultimate venue for a company gala of up to 2,500 guests and Greenfield Village is perfect for an all-American company picnic.

The Henry Ford is a first-rate venue that has had the privilege of hosting many high-profile events, including the NFL Commissioners Party for the 2006 Super Bowl, and the World Series Gala that same year.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Fox Rent A Car Expansion  
LOS ANGELES, -- As part of a company-wide expansion strategy, Fox Rent A Car has opened a corporate location in the Seattle Airport and is planning to open an additional corporate location in Salt Lake City on April 1st 2008.

In August 2007, Fox opened the corporate location in Seattle, eventually looking to move into the consolidated car rental facility that is currently being planned. Opening in Seattle offers Fox the availability to target the value oriented consumer and local businesses. Fox is pleased to see explosive rental car growth in the Seattle market in the first 60 days of opening.

"In 2007 we asked our customers what new markets they would like to see us in," said Joe Knight, Vice President of Business Development. "Our customers are very loyal and gave us some great suggestions. Helped by their feedback, we decided to open the Seattle and Salt Lake Airports, and we are in the advanced planning stages to open additional locations throughout 2008. The airports that we have selected, like Seattle and Salt Lake, offers us options to participate 'on-airport' as the opportunities develop."

Seattle has been a great new market for us," said Mike Jaberi, a founder and owner of Fox Rent A Car. "As we continue to develop and refine our web-based reservation system, our volume of business continues to grow. We are confident that we can enter new airport markets and succeed."


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Overheating Issues Lead to Early Retirement for XM Acura  
After a promising start that saw the XM Acura take the overall lead during the first two hours, a persistent overheating problem ended the team's day during the 10th hour of competition at the 56th annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring. Drivers Marco Andretti, Christian Fittipaldi and Bryan Herta were credited with a seventh-place finish in LMP2 and a 19th place finish overall.

Marco Andretti, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura:

"It was awesome getting off to the start we did this morning. We showed the pace and I was having fun. But, then the overheating problems started to develop and set us back. It's unfortunate that the problems we had ultimately took us out because the XM Acura team showed some serious promise. I had fun racing with those guys, but I wish it had ended differently."

Christian Fittipaldi, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura:

"It was very disappointing to have the day end like this because we obviously had a pretty solid car. For me, I had a pretty difficult first stint because of a tire choice we made that definitely wasn't the correct one at the moment. But, the car was still good and when we changed tires, I had a pretty competitive second stint. It's just disappointing because this XM Acura team waited a whole year to come back here to try to win again. I've only been with them for a few months, but we were all so excited to come here and things just didn't go our way."

Bryan Herta, #26 XM Satellite Radio Acura:

"Obviously, the XM Acura had a lot of speed early in the race. But, later on we started struggling with the overheating and finally we just couldn't control the temperature with the engine anymore. It hurts to not get a better finish here, but it's a long championship ahead. At this point, we just have to look forward to the Acura Sports Car Challenge of St. Pete and try to get a win there."


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

TEAM USA qualifies 3rd in Sprint, 7th in Feature at Mexico City  
MEXICO CITY Jonathan Summerton drove A1 TEAM USA to third starting position for the Sprint race and was seventh for the Feature in qualifying Saturday for the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport at the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.

Were really happy to be starting third in the Sprint, Summerton said. Its a boost for the team in that it validates the progress weve been making in qualifying with the We the People car. We had a good run, didnt get blocked or red flagged, and we came really close to the pole. We were able to show the speed we had in the car.

We were unfortunate to be seventh in the Feature qualifying. We were running two-tenths (of a second) faster than our Sprint lap when we arrived at the chicane. A car had gone off seconds before and put dust and dirt onto the track and it caused us to lose grip braking for the chicane. It cost us five-tenths. Its disappointing knowing we would have been on the front row if the track had been clean.

Summerton ran a lap of 1:20.426 in Sprint qualifying, only .111 of a second slower than the pole-winning time of South Africas Adrian Zaugg. In the Feature session, the 19-year-old from Kissimmee, Fla., covered the 2.53-mile circuit in 1:20.778.

A1 TEAM USAs previous best qualifying performances this season had been sixth twice with Summerton for the Sprint races at New Zealand and Australia. Summerton equaled his top A1GP qualifying run. He also was third last season at Shanghai, China.

We have put together a terrific effort in Mexico City, A1 TEAM USA Holdings owner Rick Weidinger said. Weve known we had the capability of qualifying in the top five and it feels really good to do it for the first time this season. Weve made steady improvement, but something has always seemed to get in our way of cracking the top-five. We never lost faith that we were headed upward and have kept working hard.

We cant celebrate yet, but were in position to achieve our goal of finishing in the top-five in both races Sunday.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

South Africa and Canada on Pole in Mexico  
Mexico - A1 Team South Africa's Adrian Zaugg has qualified in pole position for tomorrow morning's Sprint race at the A1GP Mexico City, Mexico, while the Feature race will be led off the grid by Durban Sprint race winner Canada's Robert Wickens.

Sprint race qualifying Twenty-one-year-old Adrian Zaugg set the fastest lap on new tyres during the second 15-minute qualifying segment to take pole position for the South African team for tomorrow morning's Sprint race, claiming his fourth pole position of the season.

New Zealand's Jonny Reid, who topped the time sheets in Q1, will line up alongside South Africa on the front row in second position. USA's Jonathan Summerton was on fine form, leaping up the order in Q2 to qualify third. The 19-year-old American will be joined on the second row by current title leader Neel Jani, who qualified the Swiss car in fourth place.

GBR's Oliver Jarvis and Canada's Robert Wickens will start the Sprint race from fifth and sixth places, while Ireland's Adam Carroll and Brazil's Bruno Junqueira will line up behind them on the fourth row of the grid in seventh and eighth places respectively.

Mexico's David Garza will start the Sprint race from a disappointing 21st position after a frustrating qualifying session. France's Jonathan Cochet, currently lying second in the championship and in need of a decent points haul this weekend, will start the Sprint race from 16th.

Feature race qualifying Canada's Robert Wickens waited for the closing minutes of the final qualifying segment to secure pole position for tomorrow's Feature race, just thousandths of a second ahead of Switzerland's Neel Jani, who will line up alongside the Canadian in second place on the front row.

Germany's Michael Ammermüller qualified in third position while Great Britain's Oliver Jarvis, who blitzed the Mexico Feature race last year to take GBR's first ever A1GP victory, will line up in fourth place on the second row. Ireland's Adam Carroll took the fifth spot ahead of New Zealand's Jonny Reid who will start the Feature race from sixth place.

USA's Jonathan Summerton, who finished second in the Mexico Feature race last year to secure the best ever result of his A1GP career, qualified seventh. He will be joined on the fourth row by Portugal's Filipe Albuquerque, who is enjoying a strong weekend in Mexico City, which is only his second A1GP event.

Home nation A1 Team Mexico's David Garza will start the Feature race from the back of the grid as he was not able to set a competitive lap time in Q4 due to spinning off and hitting the wall at the famous Peraltada corner.

France's Jonathan Cochet endured another difficult session and will start the Feature race from 14th alongside the Netherlands' Jeroen Bleekemolen.

South Africa's Adrian Zaugg, who will start the Sprint race from pole position and the Feature race from 10th, said:

'The new tyres actually make things a lot easier for you - the car is a lot more stable and a lot easier to drive over the bumps. It wasn't actually very difficult to get a good time. The times are very close so each and every little error will cost you a position. We tried to aim to go out late because usually the track is at its best at the end of the session.'

Canada's Robert Wickens was pleased with his first Feature race pole and praised the work of his team:

'Getting my first Feature pole is definitely a good accomplishment. Everyone always wants to win the Feature over the Sprint because in my opinion it's a better race - it's longer and there are pit stops and more variables. Canada did a great job and the car was phenomenal. We struggled a bit in practice but we were able to overcome our difficulties and it was a pretty solid qualifying effort.'

Mexico's David Garza endured a difficult qualifying session this afternoon and will start the Sprint race from 21st and the Feature race from 22nd:

'I had trouble with one of the front tyres and we were struggling to keep them in condition for the whole session. I tried to do a reasonable time in the last lap to try to improve my position but the car was just impossible so I lost it when I was braking for the chicane and that was it. There will probably be a lot of incidents in the races tomorrow with tyres and those who keep their tyres in better condition are going to have a good result, so I'm counting on that to improve my position.'


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Maruti races past competition in mid-sized sedan segment  
NEW DELHI: Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India, better known for its compact cars, has zipped past competition, including Honda and Hyundai, in the mid-sized sedan segment this fiscal on the back of its successful model SX4.

The company, which has been focusing on becoming a full-scale player to outgrow its small-carmaker image as a part of parent Suzuki's global strategy, has managed to grow 53.2 per cent in the A3 (mid-sized sedan) segment during the April-February period.

According to the latest data by Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), MSI's sales in the period stood at 41,799 units as compared to 27,283 units in the same period last year.

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The growth has enabled the company to speed past Honda Siel Cars India (HSCI), which was at the number one slot in April-February period of the previous fiscal. HSCI sells City, its popular model in the segment.

In the ongoing fiscal, HSCI's cumulative sales stood at 34,029 units as against 35,300 units in the corresponding period last year.

Hyundai Motor India comes third in the segment with 29,146 units sold in the period as against 25,147 units a year ago. The company sells two models - Accent and Verna - in the category.

The fight for the fourth place in the segment is a close one, between Ford and Tata Motors that have respectively clocked sales of 26,485 units (down from 34,681 units last year) and 26,281 units (29,949 units last year) during the period.

Ford has Ikon, Fiesta and Fusion models in the segment, while Tata Motors has Indigo and Indigo Marina.

Mahindra-Renault, which entered the segment with Logan, has so far managed to register sales of 22,823 units this fiscal.

MSI, which currently offers only the SX4 in the segment after its entry level sedan Esteem was discontinued, will be launching the Swift Dzire by the end of the month. The new model is expected to consolidate its position further in the segment.

Also, the company is working on a bigger sedan, expected to be launched in 2009-10, to compete with the likes of Toyota Corolla and Skoda Octavia that come in a price bracket of Rs 10-12 lakh in the fast growing A4 segment.


Source : Economic Times (3/16/2008)

Bridgestone Brand Named The Official Tire Of The NHL, NHLPA And HHOF  
NEW YORK & TORONTO & NASHVILLE, Tenn.--The National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players Association (NHLPA) today announced a new global multi-year partnership with Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, LLC (BFNT) and Bridgestone Firestone Canada Inc. (BFCA) in which the Bridgestone brand will serve as the Official Tire of the NHL, NHLPA and the Hockey Hall of Fame.

As part of the agreement, the NHL will grant BFNT and BFCA rights to the Leagues premier trademarks and provide numerous exclusive promotional opportunities throughout the NHL season and beyond, including: the Stanley Cup Playoffs, NHL Draft, NHL Award Show and the 2009 NHL All-Star game. In addition, the Bridgestone brand will be designated as one of four associate sponsors of the international NHL Premiere series. Commitments to the Leagues controlled media properties NHL.com and NHL Network will help the Bridgestone brand leverage these League platforms.

The Bridgestone brand also will leverage its status as the exclusive tire of the NHL by supporting its NHL and NHLPA partnership with advertising on NHL telecasts in Canada and the U.S. as well as supporting various NHL clubs. Through its partnership with the NHLPA, BFNTs and BFCAs activation will include the use of player images and select player appearances in connection with advertising executions, premiums and point-of-sale materials. The Bridgestone brand will also be a sponsor of the NHLPAs annual Golf Classic.

The NHL has adopted a leading-edge approach to reaching its fans by developing assets in both new and traditional media, marquee events and grassroot platforms. As a result, we have created more strategic opportunities for our partners to connect with our highly desirable demographic, said Keith Wachtel, NHL Senior Vice President, Corporate Sales & Marketing. As a premier sports property, we are excited to partner with a leadership brand like Bridgestone.

This is a terrific opportunity to position the Bridgestone brand with a premiere sports league with a large and very loyal fan base, said Phil Pasci, Vice President of Consumer Tire Marketing, BFNT. By partnering with the NHL, the NHLPA and the Hockey Hall of Fame we see enormous potential to connect hockey fans across the world with our message: for drivers who want to get the most out of their cars, its Bridgestone or nothing.

The NHLPA is excited to be partnering with the Bridgestone brand on a number of exciting platforms, said Mike Ouellet, NHLPA Chief of Business Affairs. NHLPA members are globally recognized as the worlds best hockey players and the Bridgestone group is a global leader in its industry, so bringing together NHL players with this respected brand is a natural partnership.

In addition to its new national partnership with the NHL and the NHLPA, BFNT has entered into numerous high-profile sports sponsorships with the Bridgestone brand, including the Official Tire of the NFL, Official Tire Sponsor of the Super Bowl, NFL Pro Bowl and presenting sponsor of the NFL International Series Game. The Bridgestone brand is also the official tire of the PGA TOUR and sponsors the World Golf ChampionshipsBridgestone Invitational played at the Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio. The companys Firestone brand is the Official Tire of the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race®, as well as the IndyCar Series and IndyPro Series. BFNT also has local and regional sponsorships with properties such as the Tennessee Titans and Nashville Predators.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Gatornationals take bite out of Pro Mod racer Coughlin  
GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Troy Coughlin was surprisingly upbeat after missing the 16-car elimination field of the 39th annual ACDelco NHRA Gatornationals. The driver of the JEGS.com Pontiac GTO was forced to shut-off very early in both of his qualifying attempts, surrendering his chance at big numbers when his racecar made wild moves to the left as soon as he let out the clutch in both sessions.

"We're not sure why it did that," Coughlin said. "Fortunately, our car builder, Jerry Haas, is here at this event and he's going over the car from front to back to see if it's a chassis issue. We've already made arrangements to stay and test Monday and Tuesday so we'll figure this thing out and get back after it in Houston.

"It appears the powerplant is solid. We only made a few preseason test runs but we were encouraged with what we saw there. Of course, we would have loved to have had the round we lost to rain yesterday back but we all had the same shortened schedule to deal with."

Coughlin opened with a 10.929 at 81.15 mph, and posted a 9.733 at 92.42 mph in the second round, a pass in which he lightly scrubbed the left-side retaining wall.

"The car did adjust to the changes we made between sessions," Coughlin said. "We just didn't do enough. As for the wall, I barely touched it. It was literally a rub on the paint; that was it. I'm fine and the car is fine."

Coughlin will now prep for the upcoming 21st annual O'Reilly Spring NHRA Nationals presented by Pennzoil at Houston Raceway Park. The race runs from March 28-30.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

YOSpeed electric two-wheeler launched in Tamil Nadu  
Chennai, : After making its market presence felt in Northern and Western India, Electrotherm India Limited today launched its hi-speed, hi-power 'YOSpeed' electric two-wheeler in the Tamil Nadu market.

Electrotherm was the first company to introduce battery-operated electric two-wheelers 'YObykes'.

Hailed as a revolutionary milestone in the history of electric vehicles, YOSpeed was the latest offering from the makers of YObykes.

''It is India's first ARAI approved electric two-wheeler in 750 W category. Unlike the existing range, it has 33Ah long range battery and high power motor (750 W) and can be driven at a comfortable city speed of 45 kmph.'' Electrotherm India Limited Director Avinash Bhandari told newspersons at the launch function that the two-wheeler would run for 70-80 km per charge (with single rider) and 60-70 km with two riders under standard riding conditions.

YOSpeed had been developed keeping in mind the requirements of the people and the rising cost of petrol. ''There is no electric two-wheeler in the country with 33Ah long range battery and 750 W powerful motor which gives real power to seat two persons and provides high range per charge,'' Mr Bhandari said.

'YOSpeed' would be available across the country through the company's 200 plus exclusive YoWorld showrooms, he added.


Source : newkerala (3/16/2008)

Dana Holding Corporation to Host Conference Call and Webcast on March 19 to Discuss Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2007 Results  
TOLEDO, Ohio, -- Dana Holding Corporation will announce its 2007 fourth-quarter and full year 2007 financial results on Wednesday, March 19, 2008. At 10 a.m. EDT, on that date, Executive Chairman and Acting Chief Executive Officer John Devine and Chief Financial Officer Ken Hiltz will host a conference call and supporting webcast to discuss these results and answer questions.

(Logo : www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990903/DANA)

Participants may listen to the audio portion of the conference call either through audio streaming online or by telephone. Slide viewing is only available online via a link provided on the Dana Investor Web site: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=66043&p=irol-irhome .

To dial into the conference call, domestic locations should call 1-888-311-4590 (Conference I.D. # 39284925). International locations should call 1-706-758-0054 (Conference I.D. # 39284925). Please ask for the Dana Holding Corporation Financial Webcast and Conference Call. Phone registration will be available beginning at 9:30 a.m. EDT.

An audio recording of this conference call will be available after 5 p.m. EDT on March 19. To access this recording, please dial 1-800-642-1687 (U.S. or Canada) or 1-706-645-9291 (international) and enter the conference I.D. number 39284925.

A webcast replay will also be available after 5 p.m. EDT on March 19. This replay may be accessed via the Dana Investor Web site.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

CTS Corporation Announces Acquisition of Orion Manufacturing, Inc.  
ELKHART, Ind. -- CTS Corporation today announced the acquisition of Orion Manufacturing, Inc., a privately held company, for approximately $10 million in cash. Under the terms of the agreement, CTS may pay a contingent earn out of up to $1.75 million in cash, based on the achievement of certain financial targets in 2008 and 2009. Orion is a contract electronics manufacturer based in San Jose, California, providing turnkey electronics manufacturing services to customers in the defense and aerospace, industrial and medical markets. Full year 2007 sales were approximately $27 million. CTS expects the transaction to be accretive in year one.

The acquisition combines Orions capabilities, with CTS Electronics Manufacturing Solutions (EMS) business headquartered in Moorpark, California. CTS expects to achieve significant synergies by combining the Orion operation with the CTS operation in Santa Clara, California.

Commenting on the acquisition, Vinod M. Khilnani, CTS President and Chief Executive Officer said, Orion Manufacturing is a well respected, highly-focused contract manufacturer with a strong customer base and excellent service capabilities specializing in low volume, high mix assemblies. Orion has built a solid track record of providing competitive, on-time quality manufacturing services. Its business model complements CTS EMS business and enhances our ability to add value in our target markets.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

2008 Report Focuses On the UK Commercial Vehicle Market, Covering Light, Medium and Heavy Commercial Vehicles, Buses and Taxis  
Research and Markets has announced the addition of Snapshots UK Commercial Vehicles 2008 to their offering.

Snapdatas Snapshots UK Commercial Vehicles 2008 provides 2007 year-end market size data, with 2008 estimates, 5 years of historical data and five-year forecasts. The Snapshots report gives an instant overview of the UK commercial vehicle market, and covers light, medium and heavy commercial vehicles, buses and taxis. It does not include used commercial vehicles or commercial vehicle stock. Market volume is based on new registrations. The data is supplied in both graphical and tabular format for ease of interpretation and analysis. The Snapshots UK Commercial Vehicles 2008 forms part of Snapdatas Automotive industry coverage.

Snapshots Report Overview:

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary within a Snapshots report outlines the main findings of the report (market size, market shares and market forecasts)

Market size

Market size is the measure of the total value or volume of a particular product sold in a particular length of time. In our case it is the total amount of the market covered by a title in the last whole year, for example, in UK Beer 2005, all the beer consumed in the UK in 2004. The aim of the report is to tell how much of the product was consumed in the country discussed by value and by volume.

Market Segmentation

Market Segmentation is a segmentation of the market by key product categories, ideally by value and volume. For example: the yoghurt market can be segmented into: drinking yoghurt, flavoured yoghurt and natural yoghurt.

Market Share

Market Share is the share of each competitor in the market place and can be expressed in value or volume terms.

Market Share by Volume - each competitors share of the total Market Volume

Market Share by Value - each competitors share of the total Market Value

Distribution

This measure of the market relates to the different distribution channels to market for each product. The distribution can include the following channels

Consumer Goods example:

- Supermarket

- Hypermarket

- Discount Store

- Corner shop

- Internet

- Etc

Socio-Economic data

The key socio-economic indicators in each report will be:

Size of population

GDP - Gross Domestic Product

Inflation rate

Exchange rate

Forecasts

All market forecasts are based on statistical forecasting techniques based on historic performance (linear extrapolation of the market size, based on the five-year historical growth). These statistical tools are supplemented with qualitative parameters such as: industry expectation/opinion. Socio-economic drivers, new product development, technological advances, expected levels of market saturation etc.

Further Sources

In this section we include important websites such as trade bodies or trade associations relevant to the market. All sources whose data we have used in the report and who have given us permission to use their data are represented here.

All secondary sources in local and global languages are scoured, from government statistics to trade magazines. As the Snapdata model is unique as a product and non-competitive to specialist publishers, the company has also been able to develop strong relationships with companies such as Gartner and ACNielsen, who provide secondary data points to cross check research.

Snapdata aims for 3 to 4 data points for each table, and no secondary data point will be used without written permission from the original source, which not only verifies the quality, but also provides the integrity to use the data. Once all secondary sources have been exhausted, the language specialist researcher will then complete semi-structured telephone interviews with the major companies in the industries to cross check and verify all data available.

Benefits of the Snapshots Reports

The Snapdata product range is designed to save time for clients by providing an industry data overview, market size, shares and forecasts; verified with full sourcing.

Easy to search, quick to access, and clear and concise to use: Snapdata reports can save 40% of resources in those early stages of a project. Sometimes just a report from the Snapshots Series is all that is required for an internal clients first request. But when the project develops, the reports also help your internal research team prepare a fuller picture for their end-users utilizing the further sources provided in each report for industry drivers and analytical information, enabling them to provide a more detailed document based on solid figures but tailored to the end-users requests.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Punjab goes on Mercedes overdrive!  
CHANDIGARH/LUDHIANA: When it comes to Mercedes cars, Punjab is on top gear. So high is the demand for them that the world-renowned luxury carmaker is gasping to catch up.

With 175 car units being sold by the sole dealer in Punjab, one of India's richest states, and its capital Chandigarh - Tai-pan Motors in 2007, cars sales have shown an all time high.

"Last year was quite a jump. The demand is so much that I am unable to keep pace with the orders. People just walk in and want to buy one of the models. I am unable to fulfil the entire demand," Tai-pan managing director Manjit Singh Bala told the media.

Having showrooms only in Chandigarh and the region's industrial hub of Ludhiana, Tai-pan had sold 125 Mercedes cars in 2005 and 138 in 2006. In 2008, Bala is expecting to sell up to 300 car units. Merc models here cost upwards of Rs 2.5 million and go up to Rs 20 million.

The craze is so much, especially for the newly re-launched and modified C-class, that the dealer has virtually run out of cars of this model.

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"Youngsters particularly want to buy this car model, given its attractive features and the new design. But we try to know about the customer and his need," Bala said.

At a time when this region is witnessing growing competition among leading top-end foreign brand cars like BMW and Mitsubishi Montero and Pajero, Mercedes has picked up in sales.

"Our sales picked up after the BMW dealership came to Chandigarh," Bala said. Numerous BMWs; the 3, 5 and 7-series cars and scores of Mitsubishi Montero and Pajero sports utility vehicles (SUVs) have been sold by respective dealers in Chandigarh in the last over one year.

Mercedes India has officially acknowledged Ludhiana as the Merc-capital of the world. The industrial city has over 550 Mercedes cars while Chandigarh has another 300. Jalandhar city, which falls in the NRI-rich belt, boasts of 250 plus Mercedes cars.

"People in Chandigarh buy cars to flaunt these but Ludhiana is very competitive. Buyers there buy a Mercedes to reward themselves for working hard and earning well," Bala pointed out.

The C,E and S class remained the top favourites with buyers in the region. The 'E-class' accounted for 80 car units the highest among all Mercedes models, while 50 units of S-class were sold last year.

"Punjab is a young market. People are going beyond these models to look at convertibles and others in the Mercedes brand," Bala added.


Source : Economic Times (3/16/2008)

1-800-Radiator Announces Second Purchase in a Week of Automotive Radiator Business With Acquisition of San Diego, CA's AAA Radiator Warehouse  
BENICIA, Calif., -- 1-800-Radiator, an auto-parts distribution franchise and the largest independent auto parts distributor in the nation, today announced its second purchase in a week of an automotive cooling parts business with the acquisition of AAA Radiator Warehouse, in San Diego, CA. Earlier this week 1-800-Radiator announced the purchase of New York's two Tri-US Radiator locations.

"Our business is in growth mode," said Mike Rippey CEO of 1-800-Radiator. "We are expanding rapidly throughout the U.S. With the purchase of AAA Radiator and the Tri-US locations in New York, we strengthen our presence on both the east and west coasts."

For the past 29 years, AAA Radiator Warehouse was a family-owned and operated company with both retail and wholesale divisions. The retail side, Radiator Stores, Inc., and the wholesale side, AAA Radiator Warehouse had several locations throughout Southern California. At the time of sale, the company had 22 employees, many of which are being retained by 1-800-Radiator.

"1-800-Radiator franchises are a new way of doing business and are a departure from the big box large distribution service. By having owner-operators servicing targeted geographical areas, customers get a high level of personalized service," said AAA Radiator Warehouse's owner, Blair Laframboise.

Entrepreneur magazine recently named 1-800-Radiator as the 37th fastest-growing franchise in the nation in their Annual Franchise 500(R) rankings for 2008.

1-800-Radiator sells radiators, condensers, fan assemblies, gas tanks, heating cores, and other new automotive parts. In preparation for the summer months, many of 1-800-Radiator's franchise locations have started selling air conditioning parts. In almost all cases, the company provides same day delivery to customers at their businesses or homes within a few hours.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Two-wheeler makers demand further cut in excise duty  
New Delhi, -- -- The Nano effect was too apparent to ignore at Finance Minister P Chidambaram's post-Budget conference today with two-wheeler manufacturers, including Bajaj Auto and Hero Honda, demanding a further cut in excise duty for a level-playing field with small car makers.

The duty for two-wheelers and small cars has been brought down to 12 per cent in the Budget proposals, a move, two- wheeler manufacturers feel, would lead to unfair competition.

"Two-wheelers are used by real aam admai (common man)," Hero Honda Managing Director Pawan Munjal said at the conference while making a case for lower excise duty on two-wheelers.

"The excise duty on two-wheelers and three-wheelers should be brought down to 8 per cent," Chairman of Bajaj Auto Rahul Bajaj said.

Chidambaram in his Budget has proposed to reduce the excise duty on small cars and two-wheelers from 16 per cent to 12 per cent.

Assuring the industry that he would keep a close watch on developments in the auto sector, Chidambaram said he had kept the duties at the same level for auto and small cars "as they enjoyed the same duty in the last two-three years." Fearing competition from Tata Motor's Rs one-lakh car Nano, which was unveiled at Auto Show in January in New Delhi, two-wheeler makers want that excise duty on motorcyles and scooters should be lower than the levy on small cars.

Tata Motors is planning to launch its Rs one-lakh car in September, which will now attract excise duty of 12 per cent the same as for two-wheelers and three-wheelers.

Responding to the demand of the industry that encouragement should be given for exports of two-wheelers, Chidambaram said the Government refunds excise duty on exports and added efforts could be made to expedite the process of reimbursements. On the apprehensions that the proposal to narrow down the definition of charitable trusts would bring industry chambers under the tax net, the Finance Minister said tax exemptions were given to promotion of charitable activities in the field of education, health and feeding the poor.

Under the new proposals, he said all the commercial activities carried out by the charitable institutions and services provided by them in relation to trade and commerce will be taxed.

When pointedly asked whether the industry chambers would have to pay taxes, he evaded a direct reply and said in lighter vein, "I thought FICCI, CII and Assocham were loss-making organisations." He explained that the intention of Parliament was to provide tax exemptions to charitable institutions and not to entities carrying out commercial activities like Guarjat Maritime Board or port trusts as has been held by some courts.

The Minister also asked the industry chambers to adopt ITIs as per the scheme unveiled by the Government earlier and pursue the objective of enhancing skills.

Stating that so far MoUs have been signed for only 244 ITIs, he asked the industry to complete the process of initiating upgradation of all ITIs by the end of 2008-09.

Chidambaram said the proposed Skill Development Mission will be developed outside the Government under the public- private partnership mode and would be headed by a corporate leader.


Source : tradingmarkets.com (3/16/2008)

Bosch Acquires Accu Industries Inc. in the U.S.  
The Bosch Group is acquiring the operating assets of Accu Industries Inc. in Ashland, Virginia. An agreement to this effect was signed on March 12, 2008. It has been agreed that the purchase price will not be disclosed. The acquisition is expected to close before the end of April 2008.

Accu Industries employs 45 associates and generated sales of roughly $16 million (approximately 11.7 million euros) in 2007. The company sells tire changers, wheel balancers, and wheel alignment equipment. With the acquisition, Bosch is strengthening its Automotive Aftermarket division, and further expanding the workshop equipment business of its Diagnostics business unit. "Above all, we want to improve the distribution and service offered by our Bosch Diagnostics business unit in North America. In this market, Accu Industries is well established in the aftersales segment, and is therefore a logical extension to the business we already have in the U.S.," says Hans- Peter Meyen, member of the executive management of the Automotive Aftermarket division.

Accu Industries will become an integral part of the existing Bosch Diagnostics business in the United States. The President of Accu Industries, Tommy Saunders, will remain with the company in a senior management position.

In the future, Accu Industries is to assume responsibility for wheel and tire service in the U.S., in the area of both sales and technical support. Even today, the company works together with more than 70 sales representatives and 200 authorized service centers in the area of workshop equipment. The assembly activities of Accu Industries will also be an addition to the global production network of Bosch Diagnostics.

The Bosch Group is a leading global supplier of technology and services. In the areas of automotive and industrial technology, consumer goods, and building technology, some 260,000 associates generated sales of 43.7 billion euros in fiscal 2006. The Bosch Group comprises Robert Bosch GmbH and its roughly 300 subsidiary and regional companies in over 50 countries. This worldwide development, manufacturing, and sales network is the foundation for further growth. Bosch spends more than three billion euros each year for research and development, and in 2006 applied for over 3,000 patents worldwide. The company was set up in Stuttgart in 1886 by Robert Bosch (1861-1942) as "Workshop for Precision Mechanics and Electrical Engineering."

In North America, the Bosch Group manufactures and markets automotive original equipment and aftermarket products, industrial automation and mobile products, power tools and accessories, security technology, thermo-technology, packaging equipment and household appliances. Bosch employs 24,750 associates in more than 80 primary and 20 associated facilities throughout the region.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)

Piaggio launches two new 3-wheeler models  
Bangalore : Three-wheeler manufacturer Piaggio today introduced two variants of its Ape model, the "Ape Xtra" and "Ape Xtra LD" in the Indian market.

However, the prices of the variants were not mentioned.

Ape Xtra and Ape Xtra LD are likely to set a whole new standard in 3-wheeler performance, having been meticulously engineered to deliver higher outputs on all critical parameters, Piaggio Director-Sales and Marketing Ashutosh Khosla said here.

The standard version of Ape Xtra has an extra strong cold-rolled loading platform with additional reinforcement to enhance strength and give longer durability to the tray.

A new extra-strong gearbox will ensure extra performance and reliability. Likewise, new clutch that withstand higher torque ensure extra clutch life and performance, he said.

Ape Xtra LD variant has all the above features plus an extra long deck that is increased to 1,660 mm (180 mm longer) making it a longest load body vehicle in its category. The increase in loading area of 2.5 sq ft offers 12 per cent more loading area.

"This is the age of competition. There is no space for complacency. The time is right for a pioneer brand like Ape to make a positive difference in the category. It's time to do something extra for the customer," Khosla said.


Source : The Hindu (Online Edition) (3/16/2008)

Motorcycle Sales Gain In February  
Industry Says the Climate is Right for a Budget Sales Boost

Powered two wheeler (PTW) sales were up by 5.5 per cent last month with 5,476 mopeds, scooters and motorcycles registered, according to figures released by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA). Despite poor weather and a weakening economy, PTW sales for the first two months of the year are on a par with the same period last year at 12,070, down just 0.6 per cent.

Several factors are encouraging industry experts to predict another strong sales year not least todays Budget announcements.

The hike in fuel costs has merely been deferred and taxation on motoring is increasing all the time. Coupled with rising costs of living, people will think again about their transport needs and a PTW will be an increasingly attractive option, said MCIA director of public affairs, Craig Carey-Clinch. In recent years we have seen a growing number of people take to two wheels in an effort to avoid congestion, parking and other charges, crowded and expensive public transport, the cost of motoring and the sheer hassle and unpredictability of going anywhere. Motorcycling is now a serious personal transport option and the chancellors announcements could give the market another boost.

Its not just economic factors that influence PTW buyers. The Easter break traditionally signals the start of spring and better biking weather, so dealers are gearing up for a busy long weekend later this month.

Last year, 51,000 new riders gained licences and the MCIA is predicting an increase of more than 10 per cent to around 57,000 in 2008. This is ahead of changes later this year that will make it more awkward to gain a PTW licence.

There is a clear sign of greater diversification in the PTW market, reflecting growing interest not only in commuter machines, but also in leisure and touring bikes. Adventure sport bikes epitomised by Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman in The Long way Down are nearly 18 per cent up this year with the BMW R1200GS leading the way. But the biggest gains so far this year are in the touring category with another BMW the R1200RT the biggest seller in a sector thats up by 92 per cent.

In the first two months moped sales are up by 2.4 per cent with motorcycle and scooter sales down by only 1.5 and 4.9 per cent respectively. The biggest selling manufacturer in February was Honda with 761 registrations.


Source : http://www.newspress.co.uk (3/16/2008)

Podium Finish for Risi-Krohn Ferrari Team  
The No. 61 Risi-Krohn Ferrari of Tracy W. Krohn, Nic JÃnsson and Eric van de Poele took their Risi-Competizione-prepared Ferrari 430 GT to a third place finish in the 56th Annual 12 Hours of Sebring race Saturday night in Sebring, Florida.

Attrition, as usual, played into the results at the season-opening American Le Mans Series (ALMS) race at the historic 3.7-mile circuit. Only 20 of 33 cars finished the grueling race. Heat was also a factor, especially for the No. 61 Ferrari, as the only problem they suffered in the demanding race was the air cooling system to the drivers helmet.

Houston-based Risi Competiziones current GT2 Drivers Champions, Jaime Melo and Mika Salo together with Italian Ferrari GT driver, Gianmaria Bruni were not so fortunate at the Florida classic today. After holding a commanding class lead for the first five and a half hours of the race, the No. 62 car was involved in an incident with a competitor, which resulted in the retirement of both cars.

This is the second podium in six races for the Risi-Krohn Ferrari. Krohn, JÃnsson and Colin Braun finished second at last years 24 Hours of Le Mans. Additionally, in 2007 the Risi-Krohn Ferrari team participated in four of the ALMS races, collecting three Top-10 finishes.

TRACY KROHN, Risi-Krohn Ferrari 430 GT Driver and Krohn Racing Owner: That was the intended and desired result. To be on the podium here is one of my dreams in racing. The team did awesome. Nic and Eric are just solid professionals and fun to drive with. The team did well. There are some things we can work on and improve. The good news is it can just get better. The car was solid. The team did a great job. Mark (Schomann Team Engineer) did a super job getting the car ready and calling the right shots. He did a just a great job on that. The car was fun to drive all day long. I also would like to make a dedication to my friend and co-worker, Lisa Holt, who has just recently had surgery for breast cancer and is a survivor and is doing fine. This one is for you, baby!

NIC JONSSON, Driver, No. 61 Risi-Krohn Ferrari 430 GT: Its awesome! Again the Risi Competizione guys prepared a very good car for us. I think we all stayed out of trouble. Thats the name of the game in these endurance races. We actually had a pace towards the middle and end of the race where we were running right with the leaders. Tracy did a fantastic job. So did Eric. Its fantastic to be on the podium in one of the biggest sports car races in the world. We finished second at Le Mans last year and now were third here at Sebring. Sebring is the one biggest sports car race in North America. Its a great accomplishment. I cant be happier. Im very proud and pleased to be a part of Krohn Racing and its a fantastic start of the year.

ERIC VAN DE POELE, Driver, No. 61 Risi-Krohn Ferrari 430 GT: It was a great result. It was very hot in the car today and we had problems with the air to the helmet. Other than that, it was great. Tracy and Nic drove well and kept a good pace. I am very happy with the result. I want to thank Giuseppe and Krohn Racing. Every time I come back with Risi, we get on the podium. Its fantastic!

GIUSEPPE RISI, Team Owner, Risi Competizione: It was unfortunate about Jamie making the mistake he made, and were extremely sorry it compromised the results of another competitor but it is racing and these incidents occur. Im very happy we were able to bring the no.61 home for Tracy Krohn. This is his second year with us and last year his experience here at Sebring wasnt good, but this year its another podium finish on a long distance race. Second place at the 2007 Le Mans 24 Hours and third place at Sebring now; I dont think its too bad to have those on your CV. The teams happy to have a 50% finish and so well go forward to the next race.


Source : http://www.theautochannel.com (3/16/2008)