Archive for November, 2009
Global Competition “World Car of the Year” (WCOTY) is remarkable in that predict the results quite difficult. But the jury of professional automotive journalists are so diverse and represents so many different regions, that some national and regional peculiarities and predilections don’t play a significant role in the final selection. The winner will have to please everyone.
The jury assessed each model in terms of technical innovation, cost, safety, environmental friendliness, as well as the emotional component. From this list, the world’s best recognized Honored model VW Golf next generation, the representatives of the jury also impressed with layout of a compact Toyota iQ and a fresh perspective on the world car of the new Ford Fiesta. The final choice of a “World Car of the Year” is made of the trio. Throughout the short history of the competition WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR even one brand could not win it twice. The tradition is continued in 2009.
WORLD CAR OF THE YEAR is so good because it is not tied to a specific region. The jury of the competition includes 59 automotive journalists from different countries up to Mexico to South Africa. Have the greatest representation of the country with a developed automobile industry and automobile market: ten Americans, six Japanese, five Germans, five Chinese.
The new Jaguar XJ is a beautiful car with an exterior made entirely of aluminum, giving it slightly better gas mileage and aerodynamics, according to Jaguar. The XJ8 features an luxurious interior, but trails the leaders in the luxury class.
The vehicle itself is a massive departure from previous generations, which in essence changed little in style terms over 30 years. But it gained more modern lines conceived under the supervision of Jaguar design chief Ian Callum.
The Jaguar XJ is built on a light and strong all-aluminum structure. Two engine options are available: a 300-hp 4.2-liter V8, or a 400-hp 4.2-liter supercharged V8. Both engines send power through a six-speed automatic transmission. An adjustable air suspension is responsible for the XJ’s impressive road handling abilities and luxurious ride. Safety features part include advance dual front airbags, side curtain airbags, and front side-impact airbags. Anti-lock brakes, traction control, and auto electronic stability control are standard.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced at the Shanghai auto show its new car called the Ghost (once known as the 200EX/RR4 concept).
It is absolutely new car model because it evokes a sense of “adventure and technical innovation,” as well as “flair and style.”
“Simplicity is the hardest part in design principle to follow. It’s at the heart of our approach to Ghost. Seductively simple, it offers the presence you’d expect from a Rolls-Royce underpinned by the latest technology and ideas in luxury car design. Ghost is the essence of Rolls-Royce in its simplest, purest form. Every inch delivers on the power of simplicity.” – Rolls-Royce says.
Rolls-Royce also announced final specifications for the advance new car. The 6.6-liter twin-turbo V12 will pump out 563 hp and 575 lb-ft of torque and will mate to a ZF eight-speed automatic transmission. Rolls-Royce says the engine has also been retuned for more low-end torque, to provide a quieter and more relaxing driving experience in the tradition of the company’s cars.
Nineteen cars and eight SUV’s won this year’s award, and for the first time, a good performance in a roof strength test that measures protection in a rollover is needed to win.
The test also measured protection for front, side and rear crashes.
Ford, Subaru and Volkswagen sit atop the insurance industry’s annual list of the safest new vehicles, according to a closely watched assessment used by car companies to lure safety-conscious consumers to showrooms.
The Virginia-based Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded its “top safety pick” on Wednesday to 19 passenger cars and eight sport utility vehicles for the 2010 model year. The institute substantially reduced the number of awards compared with 2009, because of tougher requirements for roof strength.
The Toyota Camry would have made the list, the Institute said, if it had received the highest rating in rear crash protection. The Institute said the Camry’s seats and head restraints were rated marginal for protection against whiplash injuries. Toyota Motor, BMW, Mazda and Mitsubishi were shut out in the annual IIHS review.
After the unveiling in July and the official presentation in Frankfurt last September it was time for the debut on the road and on the track for the Ferrari 458 Italia.
The first group able to test-drive the car were journalists from some of the most important magazines in the world. The journalists drove the new model from the Prancing Horse on the roads around Maranello and on the Fiorano circuit: an intense day to discover the new generation of 8-cylinder mid-engine cars from Maranello.
Every Ferrari is the result of an uncompromising design approach that integrates styling and aerodynamic requirements. The Pininfarina design features compact, aerodynamic lines, underscoring the concepts of performance-oriented efficiency that inspired the project.
“Just brilliant to drive, it worths its price” published Autocar, 10 November 2009.
In the year 2009 Volkswagen group plans to launch one of its most successful car model of German auto maker, Volkswagen Beetle, in India by December. The most awaited small car model would be imported from Volkswagen group plant in Mexico.
The company official refused to say about the exact pricing of Volkswagen Beetle model but they indicated that it will be priced in the range $18,000 – $20,000 thereby placing it in luxury car segment in India.
The new style car Volkswagen Beetle will be packed with all those luxuries features that any premium category auto car offers. The the Volkswagen group will launch its compact car based on the Polo platform in 2 variants: hatchback and sedan.
12-14 November 2009 at the Karachi Expo Center (Karachi, Pakistan) opens AUTO & AUTO PARTS PAKISTAN 2009 (AAPP 2009). It is an International Automobile, Auto Parts and Accessories Exhibition. This is the 5th Edition of this exhibition in Pakistan. AAPP 2009 will prove to be a one-stop sourcing platform for automotive industry professionals and experts from all over the world.
The Auto & Auto Parts Pakistan 2009 aims at drawing foreign entrepreneurs to meet and interact with their counterparts, strengthen relationships and showcase their engineering achievements. It also offers a unique opportunity to interact directly with a targeted and highly focused business to business audience from around the world.
The AAPP 2009 will showcase a wide and detailed range of:
Many studies have been conducted on gender and spatial perception. But before you assume that men do better on this one and women are better at multitasking and communicating, it might be interesting to show you video I saw today.
A woman behind the wheel is like a monkey with a hand grenade – sad but sometimes true. Are women bad drivers, or just the victims of a sexist slur? See for yourself!
Women Drivers
wishbone | MySpace Video
If one drives slowly – he can enjoy the beauty of surrounding landscape, if one drives too fast he will join the composition of this landscape inevitably and others will enjoy this landscape finally.
So be careful on the road!
thanks to Stevan Hogg for the video
Luxury auto maker Audi AG (NSU.XE) plans to almost double sales in Russia by 2015 despite the current steep market downturn, highlighting the trend among auto makers to tap emerging markets for future growth.
Sales in Russia are expected to come in around 30,000 cars in 2015 after about 16,500 this year, Audi executive board member responsible for sales and marketing, Peter Schwarzenbauer, said in an interview.
Audi is the premium brand of Volkswagen AG (VLKAY,VOW.XE), Europe’s largest auto maker by sales. It was the group’s biggest earnings contributor in the first nine months of 2009.
Russia appeared on track to surpass Germany as Europe’s largest single car market, but demand for cars contracted sharply when credit markets turned sour amid the financial crisis.
According to Russia’s Association of European Businesses, domestic car and light commercial vehicle sales slumped 51% on the year in the January-to-September period to 1.11 million units. Audi posted a 13% decline compared to the same period last year–to 11,464 cars in Russia.
PHOENIXVILLE - Advance Auto Parts, Inc., a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, batteries, accessories and maintenance items, today announced it will open its first store in Phoenixville at 323 Schuylkill Road on November 5th.
Company officials said they chose this location for the store because it’s convenient to where their customers live and shop as well as the garages where they take their vehicles for repair.
Fenton Hanchett is the new General Manager and works with nine other Team Members there. A three-year veteran of the automotive and retail sales industries, Mr. Hanchett has been with the Advance Auto Parts Team for three years.