Official: 2011 Dodge Journey

Chrysler is continuing to update its lineup with fresh interiors and engines. The 2011 Dodge Journey is powered by a new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that delivers 20% more boost than the previous unit. With this engine, the 2011 Dodge Journey develops 283 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed transmission.

The exterior of the 2011 Dodge Journey hasn’t received many upgrades, shy of the new Dodge brand grille surrounded in black honeycomb with some enlarged foglights in the lower fascia.  Dodge teases that the new V6 models will include a sportier front fascia with late availability for those models and you can see from the picture in the slideshow on the left that very little has changed on the outside of the 2011 Journey… but the inside is another story.

The interior remains a five- or seven-seat configuration, but gets what Dodge calls "world-class levels of craftsmanship and comfort." If the Journey follows on the success of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, the claim may not be far off the mark. The new Journey interior redesign includes a larger instrument cluster with a center-positioned, full-color electronic vehicle information center, a center stack that's sculpted to be more comfortable for the driver's knees, more cushioning on the center console, redesigned seats, repositioned cupholders, a larger center storage bin, and a range of six new interior colors and trims.

Revised steering and suspension geometry round out the mechanical updates for the tweaked Journey, along with reduced noise, vibration and harshness thanks to higher-quality sound-deadening materials.




Press Release

2011 Dodge Journey Crosses Over: A Gorgeous New Spirit and a Driver’s Soul

It's not over yet. Dodge continues to unleash new products to the market, today introducing the new 2011 Dodge Journey, its mid-size crossover with "right sized" proportions, five- or seven-passenger seating, innovative storage solutions, abundant safety and security features, all-wheel drive capability and models packaged for a variety of lifestyles.

For 2011, Dodge takes what was good and makes it better. The Dodge Journey receives a major overhaul with a completely redesigned and retuned suspension, a new V-6 engine and a gorgeous new interior. And that's not all. Journey also features the latest and greatest in vehicle connectivity and customization with the Chrysler Group's new PowerNet electrical architecture. Owners will feel like they have the world at their fingertips with the Journey's available touch-screen command center, Uconnect Touch.

From navigation to dual-zone climate controls to the ability to check fuel prices, the all-new Uconnect Touch media center makes life in the new 2011 Dodge Journey an excellent adventure for the driver and passengers. Four Uconnect Touch models are available, all featuring easy-to-use controls and class-leading technology. With its touch-screen display and user-friendly touch-key categories, connecting and controlling personal devices is simple, intuitive and customizable.

The 2011 Dodge Journey is nimble, composed and handles well in all driving and road conditions. Chrysler Group engineers improved routine ride handling by re-engineering the suspension geometry, adding new, improved premium tires and redesigning the steering for a more precise and coordinated response. Overall, customers will be treated to an energetic, fun-to-drive experience behind the wheel.

In addition, at 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2011 Dodge Journey equipped with the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivers a 20 percent boost in power compared with the V-6 engine it replaces. It's mated to the smooth-shifting six-speed transmission.

Drivers also will be treated to a smooth, quiet ride. Engineers reduced noise, vibration and harshness by installing new, premium sound-deadening treatments and insulation throughout the vehicle.

But perhaps the most rewarding surprise is Journey's new interior. Customers will step into world-class levels of craftsmanship and comfort. A beautifully crafted one-piece instrument panel sets the tone. A new, larger cluster with standard electronic vehicle information center (EVIC) is positioned in the center of the new gauges. It's a full-color display backlit in Dodge red lights, giving it a soft glow unlike any in the segment. New, integrated center stack bezels are less angular and more sculpted, and designers softened the radius to make more room for the driver's knees. The heating and cooling outlets are also redesigned to make them better looking and better functioning.

The center console gets a lot of extra cushion on the tilt-and-slide armrest. Lift the lid, and there's a larger center storage bin with a 12-volt outlet and USB port where owners can hook up their MP3/iPod charging connections and hide them away.

The design team also worked to make the Journey's interior more comfortable. They moved the shifter and cupholders, making it easier for drivers and passengers to get their coffee and soda without having to lean over and under the dash. There's also a larger front storage bin with side nets. The new multi-functioning three-spoke Dodge brand steering wheel with integrated controls and a wider, longer, soft-touch armrest transform the driver's seat into a cockpit-like experience. Comfortable new seats might just make drivers want to take the long way home to get a little extra seat time. The Dodge Journey offers six new interior color and trims to complete the makeover.

On the outside, Journey maintains its sculpted, clean, aggressive lines, and adds a new front fascia that sports the signature Dodge Brand "split crosshair" honeycomb grille. The fog lamp bezels are bigger and bolder, and Journey models with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 get a new, unique more aggressive lower fascia with the honeycomb texture in the grille (late availability). New 19-inch wheels, a new, less angular rear fascia and "ring of fire" LED taillamps wrap it up from front to back.

Journey also is loaded with an abundance of safety and security features, including: standard advanced multi-stage front passenger air bags, active head restraints, electronic stability control (ESC) with all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation and brake assist, new driver-side knee blocker air bag, supplemental side-curtain air bags covering all three rows, supplemental front-seat-mounted side air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, LATCH child seat anchor system and trailer sway control.

The Dodge Journey is built in at Chrysler Group LLC's Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico. It will arrive in U.S. dealerships in fourth quarter of 2010.

Official: 2011 Dodge Journey

Chrysler is continuing to update its lineup with fresh interiors and engines. The 2011 Dodge Journey is powered by a new 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 that delivers 20% more boost than the previous unit. With this engine, the 2011 Dodge Journey develops 283 hp and 260 lb.-ft. of torque. The power is sent to the wheels via a six-speed transmission.

The exterior of the 2011 Dodge Journey hasn’t received many upgrades, shy of the new Dodge brand grille surrounded in black honeycomb with some enlarged foglights in the lower fascia.  Dodge teases that the new V6 models will include a sportier front fascia with late availability for those models and you can see from the picture in the slideshow on the left that very little has changed on the outside of the 2011 Journey… but the inside is another story.

The interior remains a five- or seven-seat configuration, but gets what Dodge calls "world-class levels of craftsmanship and comfort." If the Journey follows on the success of the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango, the claim may not be far off the mark. The new Journey interior redesign includes a larger instrument cluster with a center-positioned, full-color electronic vehicle information center, a center stack that's sculpted to be more comfortable for the driver's knees, more cushioning on the center console, redesigned seats, repositioned cupholders, a larger center storage bin, and a range of six new interior colors and trims.

Revised steering and suspension geometry round out the mechanical updates for the tweaked Journey, along with reduced noise, vibration and harshness thanks to higher-quality sound-deadening materials.




Press Release

2011 Dodge Journey Crosses Over: A Gorgeous New Spirit and a Driver’s Soul

It's not over yet. Dodge continues to unleash new products to the market, today introducing the new 2011 Dodge Journey, its mid-size crossover with "right sized" proportions, five- or seven-passenger seating, innovative storage solutions, abundant safety and security features, all-wheel drive capability and models packaged for a variety of lifestyles.

For 2011, Dodge takes what was good and makes it better. The Dodge Journey receives a major overhaul with a completely redesigned and retuned suspension, a new V-6 engine and a gorgeous new interior. And that's not all. Journey also features the latest and greatest in vehicle connectivity and customization with the Chrysler Group's new PowerNet electrical architecture. Owners will feel like they have the world at their fingertips with the Journey's available touch-screen command center, Uconnect Touch.

From navigation to dual-zone climate controls to the ability to check fuel prices, the all-new Uconnect Touch media center makes life in the new 2011 Dodge Journey an excellent adventure for the driver and passengers. Four Uconnect Touch models are available, all featuring easy-to-use controls and class-leading technology. With its touch-screen display and user-friendly touch-key categories, connecting and controlling personal devices is simple, intuitive and customizable.

The 2011 Dodge Journey is nimble, composed and handles well in all driving and road conditions. Chrysler Group engineers improved routine ride handling by re-engineering the suspension geometry, adding new, improved premium tires and redesigning the steering for a more precise and coordinated response. Overall, customers will be treated to an energetic, fun-to-drive experience behind the wheel.

In addition, at 283 horsepower and 260 lb.-ft. of torque, the 2011 Dodge Journey equipped with the new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine delivers a 20 percent boost in power compared with the V-6 engine it replaces. It's mated to the smooth-shifting six-speed transmission.

Drivers also will be treated to a smooth, quiet ride. Engineers reduced noise, vibration and harshness by installing new, premium sound-deadening treatments and insulation throughout the vehicle.

But perhaps the most rewarding surprise is Journey's new interior. Customers will step into world-class levels of craftsmanship and comfort. A beautifully crafted one-piece instrument panel sets the tone. A new, larger cluster with standard electronic vehicle information center (EVIC) is positioned in the center of the new gauges. It's a full-color display backlit in Dodge red lights, giving it a soft glow unlike any in the segment. New, integrated center stack bezels are less angular and more sculpted, and designers softened the radius to make more room for the driver's knees. The heating and cooling outlets are also redesigned to make them better looking and better functioning.

The center console gets a lot of extra cushion on the tilt-and-slide armrest. Lift the lid, and there's a larger center storage bin with a 12-volt outlet and USB port where owners can hook up their MP3/iPod charging connections and hide them away.

The design team also worked to make the Journey's interior more comfortable. They moved the shifter and cupholders, making it easier for drivers and passengers to get their coffee and soda without having to lean over and under the dash. There's also a larger front storage bin with side nets. The new multi-functioning three-spoke Dodge brand steering wheel with integrated controls and a wider, longer, soft-touch armrest transform the driver's seat into a cockpit-like experience. Comfortable new seats might just make drivers want to take the long way home to get a little extra seat time. The Dodge Journey offers six new interior color and trims to complete the makeover.

On the outside, Journey maintains its sculpted, clean, aggressive lines, and adds a new front fascia that sports the signature Dodge Brand "split crosshair" honeycomb grille. The fog lamp bezels are bigger and bolder, and Journey models with the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 get a new, unique more aggressive lower fascia with the honeycomb texture in the grille (late availability). New 19-inch wheels, a new, less angular rear fascia and "ring of fire" LED taillamps wrap it up from front to back.

Journey also is loaded with an abundance of safety and security features, including: standard advanced multi-stage front passenger air bags, active head restraints, electronic stability control (ESC) with all-speed traction control, electronic roll mitigation and brake assist, new driver-side knee blocker air bag, supplemental side-curtain air bags covering all three rows, supplemental front-seat-mounted side air bags, four-wheel anti-lock disc brakes, LATCH child seat anchor system and trailer sway control.

The Dodge Journey is built in at Chrysler Group LLC's Toluca Assembly Plant in Toluca, Mexico. It will arrive in U.S. dealerships in fourth quarter of 2010.

GM Backtracks On Plan To Nix Chevy Nickname [Video]

General Motors Co. on Thursday backed off a "poorly worded" internal memo that asked employees to refer to the brand only as "Chevrolet" -- not its long-standing nickname -- in an effort to create consistency.

In the original memo, employees were discouraged from using the "Chevy" nickname for the Chevrolet brand. GM later issued a statement to clarify the intention of the memo, saying that it was only meant to help establish Chevrolet as a global brand and that employees needed to be more focused in their communications in referencing the brand.

General Motors said " 'Chevy' will continue to reflect the enthusiasm of customers and fans."
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The internal memo was part of an effort to develop a consistent brand name as it establishes a significant global presence.

In a video also issued by GM to correct itself, Alan S. Batey, vice president for Chevrolet sales and service, said, "Chevy is our nickname. It comes from selling vehicles here in the U.S. for 100 years. We love it when people call us Chevy." Batey was one of the two GM officials who signed the original memo.

On Facebook, brand pages include Chevy Camaro, Chevy Silverado and Team Chevy.

General Motors also stated that they were reconsidering resurrecting the talifin. A sudden resurgence of the love for the 1959 Chevrolet is rumored to be the reason.





Press Release

Statement on the use of Chevrolet and Chevy

"Chevy" will continue to reflect the enthusiasm of customers and fans

2010-06-10 DETROIT -- Today's emotional debate over a poorly worded memo on our use of the Chevrolet brand is a good reminder of how passionately people feel about Chevrolet. It is a passion we share and one we do not take for granted.

We love Chevy. In no way are we discouraging customers or fans from using the name. We deeply appreciate the emotional connections that millions of people have for Chevrolet and its products.

In global markets, we are establishing a significant presence for Chevrolet, and need to move toward a consistent brand name for advertising and marketing purposes. The memo in question was one step in that process.

We hope people around the world will continue to fall in love with Chevrolets and smile when they call their favorite car, truck or crossover "Chevy."

GM Backtracks On Plan To Nix Chevy Nickname [Video]

General Motors Co. on Thursday backed off a "poorly worded" internal memo that asked employees to refer to the brand only as "Chevrolet" -- not its long-standing nickname -- in an effort to create consistency.

In the original memo, employees were discouraged from using the "Chevy" nickname for the Chevrolet brand. GM later issued a statement to clarify the intention of the memo, saying that it was only meant to help establish Chevrolet as a global brand and that employees needed to be more focused in their communications in referencing the brand.

General Motors said " 'Chevy' will continue to reflect the enthusiasm of customers and fans."
Advertisement

The internal memo was part of an effort to develop a consistent brand name as it establishes a significant global presence.

In a video also issued by GM to correct itself, Alan S. Batey, vice president for Chevrolet sales and service, said, "Chevy is our nickname. It comes from selling vehicles here in the U.S. for 100 years. We love it when people call us Chevy." Batey was one of the two GM officials who signed the original memo.

On Facebook, brand pages include Chevy Camaro, Chevy Silverado and Team Chevy.

General Motors also stated that they were reconsidering resurrecting the talifin. A sudden resurgence of the love for the 1959 Chevrolet is rumored to be the reason.





Press Release

Statement on the use of Chevrolet and Chevy

"Chevy" will continue to reflect the enthusiasm of customers and fans

2010-06-10 DETROIT -- Today's emotional debate over a poorly worded memo on our use of the Chevrolet brand is a good reminder of how passionately people feel about Chevrolet. It is a passion we share and one we do not take for granted.

We love Chevy. In no way are we discouraging customers or fans from using the name. We deeply appreciate the emotional connections that millions of people have for Chevrolet and its products.

In global markets, we are establishing a significant presence for Chevrolet, and need to move toward a consistent brand name for advertising and marketing purposes. The memo in question was one step in that process.

We hope people around the world will continue to fall in love with Chevrolets and smile when they call their favorite car, truck or crossover "Chevy."

Mercedes Innovation: The Crumple Zone in 1952

It was an inventor Bela Barenyi who pioneered the idea that passengers were safer in a vehicle that was designed to easily absorb the energy from an impact and keep that energy away from the people inside the cabin.


It may be the Volvo name which is most associated with automotive safety in the consumer's mind, but it was, in fact, Mercedes-Benz which first developed the most basic tenet of passenger car safety - the so-called Crumple Zone.


Barenyi devised a system of placing the car's components in a certain configuration that kept the kinetic energy in the event of a crash away from a bubble protecting the car's occupants. Mercedes obtained a patent from Barenyi's invention way back in 1952 and the technology was first introduced into production cars in 1959 in the Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S and 220 SE models.


For example, Barenyi arranged the steering column and other heavy components so that they would not form blocks that would heighten the impact on the cabin. The system was designed to have the car's body crumple around the cabin, absorbing the worst of the kinetic shock of impact.


The inventor/engineer Barenyi is credited with about 2,500 patents, more than half as many as the more famous inventor, Thomas Edison.
via:worldcarfans



Press Release

Patent No. DBP 854 157: The "Crumple Zone", Life-Saver of Thousands

* Mercedes-Benz engineering mastermind: Bela Barenyi and the invention of the crumple zone
* Rigid passenger cell, interior designed to reduce injury hazards in an accident: Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S, 220 SE model year 1959
* "Terracruiser": Bela Barenyi's contribution to the company and other milestones

Stuttgart - Almost 60 years ago Mercedes-Benz presented what would become a common life-saving fixture on cars: the crumple zone.

On 23 January 1951, Daimler-Benz AG applied for patent number DBP 854 157, using the unadorned description of "Motor vehicles especially for the transportation of people". Concealed behind this was the invention of the deformable areas at the front and rear of a car that is still today generally referred to as "the crumple zone".

In the decades that followed, this patent revolutionised the entire automotive industry and became the decisive factor in "passive safety".

In more recent times, it has even been applied in railway locomotive and carriage design.

The ingenious mastermind of the idea was Bela Barenyi for whom the maxim of the time - "a safe car must not yield but be stable" - was completely inappropriate.

He was the first to discover that in a collision, kinetic energy must be absorbed through deformation in order for the occupants to be protected. He logically split the car body into three "boxes": a soft front section, a rigid passenger cell and a soft rear section.

The patent was granted on August 28, 1952.

Rigid passenger cell and interior designed to reduce injury hazards in an accident

On a global scale, Barenyi's safety bodywork made its debut in production cars in the first six-cylinder Mercedes-Benz 220, 220 S and 220 SE models of 1959, their most striking feature being distinctive tail fins.

Developments under the engine hood were equally revolutionary: the steering gear moved far to the rear and the auxiliary units were arranged in such a way so as not to form blocks with each other in the event of a collision, but rather to slip past one another, permitting more effective crumpling of the bodywork.

Inside this Mercedes, the most significant improvement was only to be detected after giving it a second look: for the first time ever, the interior was completely redesigned in order to reduce the injury hazard in an accident. Hard or sharp-edged controls were replaced by yielding, rounded or recessed units, combined with recessed door handles, a dashboard which yielded on impact, padded window ledges, window winders, armrests and sun visors and a steering wheel that featured a large padded boss. Under heavy impact, the rear-view mirror was released from its bracket.

In 1961, anchorage points for seat belts were fitted as standard in the "tail fin". Lap belts were available from 1957, and the first diagonal shoulder belts appeared in 1962. Round-shoulder tyres also made their debut on this car.

"Terracruiser": Bela Barenyi's contribution to the company and other milestones

In October 1948, engineer and inventor Bela Barenyi signed his new employment contract with Daimler-Benz AG, where he had worked previously between 1939 and 1946. He contributed his concept for a "car of the future for the two-to-three litre class", the "Terracruiser" as he called it, which had been in development for several years.

Striking at first glance on this design was the car's body, which was split into three sections, giving it a front end, a passenger compartment and a tail. The two outer sections were strictly separated by the passenger cell which itself was flexibly mounted in a "cradle position". This mounting was to absorb vibrations as well as offer protection in the event of a collision.

One other thing: to protect the driver as effectively as possible in a lateral crash, the driver's seat, including all instruments and controls, was arranged centrally in a complex "bridge".

The Terracruiser was designed as a three-box body with outstanding aerodynamic efficiency.

Barenyi developed a huge range of trailblazing safety elements alongside the Terracruiser. These include such essentials as the safety steering column, the steering wheel impact absorber, the "disappearing windscreen wiper" and, highly important for interior safety, the protective side moulding.

His modular design principle, which he developed so early on, has become relevant only recently.

By the end of his professional career, the restless Bela Barenyi was able to call 2,500 patents his own. To grasp the scale of his relentless pioneering work, famous US inventor, Thomas Edison, has just over half as many.

Another round of dealer cuts imminent at GM

Just a couple of weeks ago General Motors revealed that it would be cutting ties with over 1,100 dealerships, and the bad news keeps coming for dealers as the struggling automaker is expected to cut a further 450 dealerships in the coming months.

Many dealerships are under franchise agreements with GM that are expected to finish late next year - at which point around 450 dealers will most likely not have their contracts renewed. The dealerships facing the axe from GM have been chosen because they "have very specific issues", the automaker’s sales chief Mark LaNeve revealed to Automotive News. These issues include the fact that certain dealerships may have been exclusively stocking the now-defunct Pontiac brand, or be underperforming in regards to sales targets.
more detail. ...

Devon Motor Works is only serious bidder for Viper business

Chrysler confirmed in March that it had received three offers for its Dodge Viper sports car business, and that it was currently doing due diligence ahead of making a final decision, but documents unearthed in the company's bankruptcy filing reveal that no 'serious offers' were ever really tendered. Even at a bargain-basement price of $10 million for the 392,000 square foot Viper plant, there were no takers.


"We received no purchaser interest," said CEO Bob Nardelli. "The market for such assets is extremely depressed at this time." The best offer was a $5.5 million low-ball from Devon Motor Works (DMW), which sought to purchase the entire Viper brand, lease the Conner Avenue Viper plant for a year and take on none of the brand's debts or liabilities.


The ailing Detroit carmaker did not reveal who made the supposed offers at the time, nor the likely time that a decision would be made, but Chrysler vice-president Jim Press said any sale would be delayed by the then-ongoing viability plan submission to the U.S. Congress. Since then, no further headway has been made on the sale, according to Chrysler's court documents, reports Automotive News.


Previously, Chrysler CEO Bob Nardelli confirmed that the sale had gathered interest from both international and North American parties but wasn’t willing to reveal any names. Some of the firms that were rumored to be interested in the sale included specialty performance shops Saleen and Roush, which would have had the capacity to accommodate the Viper’s handmade production process.


Other details unearthed in Chrysler's bankruptcy documents indicate the Viper brand could disappear altogether within a year. The planned sale of Viper will likely not happen at all, especially with the lack of interest and any ability to get a fair price for it.


DMW’s plan was to use the facility to start production of its own GTX sports car, most likely based around the Dodge Viper platform. The company still plans to produce the car, which is previewed in these official renderings, and will eventually attempt to break the Nurburgring’s production car lap record before unveiling it at the 2009 Pebble Beach Concours in August.


Nardelli has previously stated that Chrysler will act in the best interests of the Viper's supporters and fans, who understandably would want to see the brand spared from being axed altogether. But at the same time, Chrysler will do what it must to get out of bankruptcy and back into operation.


The brand's sale, or death, would mark the end of a 17-year run of the Viper at Chrysler, with the first model having debuted in the 1992 model year. The company just produced its 25,000th Viper in March of this year, and celebrated the event with festivities that included the launch of the track-focused Viper SRT10 ACR.


Some of the assets of the current Chrysler operation could be 'left behind' in the portion of the company that is to be effectively eliminated - i.e. not brought forward into the 'new' Chrysler-Fiat pairing. Viper could be one of those assets, left behind and liquidated with all the rest of the dross.


via:motorauthority

Greek court rules against Daimler on China SUV

There's an old saying that "justice is blind," an adage which has taken a literal meaning thanks to a Greek court's decision to dismiss Daimler's lawsuit against a Chinese copy of the Smart fortwo.


Although the case looked promising for Daimler early on, a Milan court ruling in mid-December 2008 in favor of Shuanghuan in the BMW case seemed to have put the nail in Daimler's coffin. The court found that visual and price differences between BMW's X5 and Shuanghuan CEO were enough to prevent consumers from confusing the two. After winning the case against BMW, Shuanghuan resumed the sale of its CEO SUV in Italy.


The Greek court determined that "an informed buyer would not confuse the Noble with the Smart Fortwo." They also stated that because the two vehicles offer different technical specifications, any exterior styling similarities are irrelevant and almost inevitable because they're both mini-cars.


Chinese auto makers reportedly have 'borrowed' inspiration from BMW's X5, Daewoo's Matiz and the Mercedes-Benz SLK. Various legal challenges have been mounted, some successfully and others less so.


Mercedes-Benz (China) Ltd. started to sell Smart Fortwo, the classic low-emission car under Daimler's Mercedes-Benz brand, in China on April 8 this year.
Source: gasgoo via World Car Fans

Porsche GT2 Champ Of BeaveRun; GT-R Poised For Overall One Lap Win

Ian Stewart and Peter Lier's Porsche GT2 performed masterfully today at BeaveRun Motorsports Park. With Stewart behind the wheel, the GT2 stormed to first place in both events around the 12-turn track, setting a 3:08.4 cumulative lap time in the morning and afternoon.

Still, the Cannonball GT-R -- which placed second in both events -- leads the GT2 by 100 points overall. With one event and 24 hours remaining in this year's competition, the Nissan looks as though it will clinch the overall win barring a catastrophic mechanical failure.
Read More



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Volkswagen Releases New Small Family in Slovakia

The FINANCIAL -- Europe's largest carmaker, Volkswagen, has set its course for the future. Yesterday, a decision on the production location for the future New Small Family was taken.


VW Up! and Space-Up! Concepts - Carscoop"Our team at Volkswagen in Slovakia is ideally prepared to provide the flexibility required for the production of the New Small Family. Four brands are already produced successfully under one roof at our plant in Bratislava today," said Professor Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft.


This investment is certainly a leap of faith in favor of Volkswagen Slovakia. VW SK company rep Andreas Tostmann said, "I'm happy about the confidence that has been shown in the Slovak plant." TASR quoted him as saying, "We're well equipped to produce such progressive vehicles as new small family cars thanks to our qualified and motivated workers."


The first study of these economical city cars made its world debut at the 62nd International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt in 2007. The second version with its smart space concept followed only a few weeks later at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show. 20 months after the presentation of the first study, Volkswagen has now laid the foundations for the production of the future New Small Family.


Presumably, these New Small Family cars are based on the Volkswagen up! concepts. The plant will initially be responsible for building new three-door and five-door models for Volkswagen, Seat, and Skoda, according to a press release. These cars should be available for purchase by 2011.
via:World Car Fans



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Ford Targeted in Malware Scam

Press Release

DEARBORN, Mich, Apr. 14, 2009 - Ford Motor Company was made aware of a black hat Search Engine Optimization (SEO) attack using the Ford Motor Company name as bait to distribute malware on the Internet. Ford is collaborating with Google and other search engine companies to mitigate the impact.

These attacks work by misleading search engines to falsely promote malicious pages to the top of the search results. Once the user visits one of the malicious sites, they are prompted to download and install a malicious "codec", which then installs software that mimics anti-virus software.

These fake antivirus programs are designed to make users believe that their computers have been infected by malware. Users are then offered the chance - through pop-ups and banner ads - to buy the fake antivirus to clean their computers. If the victim does not purchase the bogus antivirus, the malicious code will prevent the computer from operating properly in an attempt to coax users into buying the product.
via:World Car Fans

Quandt Family nixes BMW and Daimler 7% share swapping deal

Germany’s Der Spiegel first reported today that Daimler and BMW would acquire a 7% stake in each other, but now the same newspaper is reporting that the Quandt family, BMW’s biggest shareholder with a 46% controlling stake, has quashed the deal over fears Daimler may attempt a takeover.
Read More



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Geneva Motor Show: EDAG Light Car Concept

EDAG Light Car Concept The Light Car's exterior dimensions (4.0 meters long and 1.70 meters wide) put it in the compact car size range. However, thanks to its in-wheel drive system that eliminates the need of an engine and gearbox, it features an extra-long wheelbase of 2.90 meters, or 2mm longer than that of the BMW 5-Series sedan.


There's no doubt that this year's Geneva Salon in March will be jam-packed with electric and hybrid vehicles of all sorts. EDAG, a German design and engineering firm that has created anything from a Pontiac Solstice Station Wagon to amphibious rescue vehicles will perform the world debut of the "Light Car" concept. The compact sized hatchback will be propelled by four electric motors incorporated in the wheels featuring a range of up to 150 km - 93 miles.

One of the highlights of EDAG's concept is its innovative LED lighting technology that is incorporated in the glass panes. The LED lamps that mark out the outlines of the headlights and rear lights can be modified to the individual taste of the driver thus giving the car a unique appearance.
Source: carscoop



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Chrysler has discontinued the PT Cruiser...

Jan. 14 (Bloomberg) -- Chrysler LLC, pruning its lineup to save money, will stop building the PT Cruiser this year and is seeking buyers for the equipment used to make the model, President Tom LaSorda said.

Production “ends this summer,” LaSorda said today in a telephone interview. “Would we sell those assets? Yes. Do we have any offers to sell those assets? No. Would we be pursuing a buyer? Yes.”

The PT Cruiser, with a rounded body to mimic 1930s-style station wagons, would be the seventh model to be canceled since Cerberus Capital Management LP bought Chrysler in August 2007. The third-largest U.S. automaker is using $4 billion in federal loans to stay in business while reshaping operations to end losses.
more detail. ...



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Benzs.blogspot_Jaguar Files Patents for C-XJ and C-XE Names

We know that Jaguar parent Tata is interested in ramping up models of the big cat in the coming ten years or so, and that the current fuel crisis is forcing all auto makers to look much more closely into cutting fuel consumption figures and CO2 emissions. Jaguar so needs a small car programme and this could be the sports car answer to that question.

Such a car could conceivably be built in England, but don’t count India out. Although both Jag and Tata insist there are no immediate plans to manufacture on the sub continent, the agreement that stipulates this is not a closed one, and does in fact, expire in a few years’ time, which could pave the way for Jaguars and Land Rovers to be at least assembled from CKD (completely knocked-down) units cost-effectively in India.


Jaguar has patented the words C-XJ and C-XE. What this means for us looking through the British pussycat’s cage is that two new concepts will soon be unveiled to the public. The one is of course the new 2011 XJ big daddy leaper which has been extensively spied on a number of occasions already. The second one is XE.


Lots of guesses on this one, but a likely candidate is a smaller XK, something of a Porsche Boxster or BMW Z4 rival perhaps? Or just a step below XK, say something to rival a 911 instead. The X would be Jaguar’s way of labeling its cars, and the E stems from the classic E-Type. Others contend that it’s the X-Type replacement.

Editor’s note: pictures used are of the XF concept and spied facelift XK.
Source:World Car Fans


Other article:
Jaguar C-XF Concept
Jaguar XF-R Sports Sedan Spied
Jaguar XJ-Series