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Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Ford is Participating in AirVenture 2007
 Do you know what company will make the largest presence ever in an air show this year? Hint: it's not an aircraft manufacturer.
The answer is... Ford.
Right. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker is once again participating in the annual AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 aviation event presented by the Experimental Aircraft Association (EEA). This annual event takes place in Oshkosh, Wisconsin starting from July 23rd until July 29th. The event is dubbed as the "The World’s Greatest Aviation Celebration."
“AirVenture is a great opportunity to showcase Ford Motor Company vehicles and spur purchase consideration for all of our brands. This year, we are engaging event attendees in more ways than ever before." said Kevin Keling, Ford Corporate Events manager
“Half the battle in this business is getting buyers behind the wheel for a test drive. The Ford Challenge has proven very effective at improving purchase consideration.”
Well obviously, Ford will not present their flying machines coz I think they don’t have one. Instead, Ford will present some of their all-new models like the Shelby GT500KR and the Ford Flex FFV as well as the newest concept models including the Ford Interceptor, Lincoln MKR, and the Ford Fusion Hydrogen 999. The John Force Mustang Funny Car and other Ford technologies like Ford Sync are also on display.
Ford is also sponsoring events and other activities in AirVenture Oshkosh 2007 like the Mustang Quarter Mile Challenge, Ford vehicle technology discussions (presented by Ford Chief Designer Doug Gaffka and the Ford Advanced Engineering team), Ford Challenge Test Drive Event, Fly-in Movie Theatre, Jack Roush and Carroll Shelby autograph signing, and Beach Boys concert.
Tom Poberezny, president of EAA and chairman of AirVenture commented: “Last year’s Beach Boys concert was successful beyond all expectations and we had many, many requests from EAA members and others for another opening-day concert. Through the support of Eclipse Aviation, Innovation Solutions & Support and Ford, we are able to bring the Beach Boys back in 2007 to round out an extraordinary opening day at Oshkosh.”
More than 600,000 people are expected to visit Oshkosh for this event. You should be one of them and check out Ford's displays and activities in EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2007.
Posted at 07:37 pm by KimAnderson
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Monday, July 09, 2007
Beijing to ban a million cars for clean air
In a crucial offense to eliminate the choking smog that covers Beijing, one million cars will be removed from the polluted and congested streets of the city this summer. The announcement of a partial driving ban between August 7 and 20 came as officials admitted that China's inexorable industrial growth has pushed its environment to a breaking point and is putting the lives of its people in jeopardy. In July 4, the World Bank said that at least 460,000 Chinese people die each year from breathing polluted air and drinking dirty water. And no doubt, cars have largely contributed to this. Ruining China's attempts to clean up one of the nastiest environments in the world are corruption, vested interests and the country's focus on chasing economic growth. Previous government reports say that more than 70 per cent of China's waterways and 90 per cent of its underground water are contaminated by pollution. Outspoken vice-minister at the State Environmental Protection Administration Pan Yue said that traditional ways of development have caused the near-breakdown of China's resources and environment, as well as people's lives in great peril. The vice-minister added that the aim for short-term goals is leading to ever increasing pollution. An order to keep government cars in their garages during an Africa summit this year effectively ended widespread jams and made the sky bluer to the Chinese capital. However, few details of the traffic plan were made public in July 4. Beijing is preparing for the Olympic Games to be held from August 8 next year. In connection to this, the city has set a goal for a certain number of blue sky days each year. The sad thing is in June it recorded poor air quality on 15 days - the most polluted June since 2000. The city has already spent $15 billion (Ł8 billion) on a gigantic pollution clean-up, moving steel mills, power plants and coal-fired furnaces to the sub urban areas or beyond. The Government claims that the efforts are having an impact because last year the city enjoyed 241 "blue-sky" days, as compared to fewer than 100 decades ago. Nonetheless, with as many as 1,200 new cars hitting the streets of Beijing every day, the city is expected to have over 3.3 million cars by the Olympics, a 2.97 million increase from the present number.
Posted at 07:38 pm by KimAnderson
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Thursday, June 14, 2007
New Technologies Permit Higher Fuel Efficiency without Sacrificing Vehicle Safety
 Bored with the many articles about fuel efficiency?
Here’s one that promise something new and totally different from others, it has something to do with new T-E-C-H-N-O-L-O-G-Y.
Four leading researchers follow a line of investigation and the study was released by the International Council on Clean Transportation that offers significant insights at a moment when Congress is taking into account changes in the nation’s motor vehicle fuel economy requirements, known as Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards.
This study was even supported by the Hewlett Foundation; this foundation put emphasis on supporting and improving institutions that create optimistic contributions and offerings to the community and to the society as a whole.
Written by transportation policy consultant Deborah Gordon David L. Greene, a fuel-economy policy expert; Marc H. Ross, emeritus professor of physics at the University of Michigan ; and Tom P. Wenzel, of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory--- this study is entitled: “Sipping Fuel and Saving Lives: Increasing Fuel Economy without Sacrificing Safety.”---See, told you its interesting.
Key findings are:
1. Most technologies to increase fuel economy do not affect safety; most technologies to increase safety do not affect fuel economy.
2. Reducing car mass while improving vehicle structure, using advanced materials and designs, can simultaneously increase fuel economy and safety.
3. Reducing the weight and improving the structure of truck-based SUVs and pickups can increase their fuel economy and improve the safety of all vehicles on the road.
Recommendations are:
1. Set fuel economy and safety performance goals at cost-effective levels, and allow adequate time for phase-in of vehicle redesigns.
2. Develop short-term goals that use existing technological potential and long-term goals to spur continued innovation.
3. Apply the same fuel economy and safety standards consistently to all vehicle types (cars, SUVs, and pickups).
4. Encourage driver behavior that improves fuel economy or safety – e.g. seat belt use or reduced driving speeds.
According to the International Council on Clean Transportation to be able to improve public health, the environment, and quality of life, they want to have progress when it comes to environmental performance and good competence of cars, trucks, buses, and transportation systems. That’s why this study has a great influence and importance to them.
Posted at 05:59 pm by KimAnderson
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Monday, June 11, 2007
 Prince Charles, the next in line to the British throne in recent years has spent his time in taking up causes that concerns the environment and architecture. And to show his sincerity to the cause he is fighting for, he had his Jaguars and Land Rovers tuned up to run on biodiesel.
And just recently to promote the Brighton-to-London Eco Car Rally, the Prince of Wales has driven a Saab Bio-power 9-3 convertible along with other eco-friendly models such as Honda Civic Hybrid, a silver Ford Focus Cell, and a 7 Series BMW Hydrogen 7.
The prince was able to test drive four of the newest eco-friendly vehicles in the car park at London’s Hampton Court Palace. These four vehicles are powered by alternative fuels to petrol---the Saab Bio-power 9-3 convertible runs on bioethanol E85 derived from fermented plant matter; the Honda Civic Hybrid utilized an automatic petrol and electric motored vehicle while the other two (Ford Focus Cell and 7 Series BMW Hydrogen 7) are powered by hydrogen.
The prince also joked that as much as he wanted to try an electric scooter but he might just fall from it.
The Prince of Wales has arrived in his bio-fuel navy blue Jaguar which was converted three months ago. Currently the prince owned two bio-fuel Jaguars and a modified Audi. The prince also makes use of a turbo-propelled private charter plane, which transport him from his home in Scotland, Birkhall to the Richmond palace.
The Clarence House source said that the prince prefers to use the twin turbo charter plane since it is by far cleaner and gives off lesser carbon dioxide as compared to a jet plane.
Posted at 09:29 pm by KimAnderson
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Thursday, June 07, 2007
Mazda latest Naturally-Aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle Engine
Thinking out of the box- that’s Mazda, as this Japanese carmaker announced last May 31 that they will be hitting the market July this year with their newly developed, naturally aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine that will power the all-new Mazda2 (known as the new Demio in Japan). The new Mazda2 will have a fuel economy of 54 mpg, a 20 percent increase from the current model on sale for this year. With this new engine Mazda is proud to say that the new Demio meets Japan's Super Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (SU-LEV) standard and thus entitles it to green tax exemptions, just like hybrid cars. The model qualifies on this since the exhaust emission has been decreased for about 75percent than 2005 standards. The fuel-efficient power train of the new Demio will be 220 pounds lighter than what is on sale as of this moment in the market. Add to that according to Mazda, in order to lessen pumping losses and improve thermal effectiveness through a higher expansion ratio the naturally-aspirated MZR 1.3L Miller-cycle engine uses delayed closing of the intake valves. The said intake valve timing is optimized by the Sequential Valve Timing System to make some changes over the current one with regards to its efficiency when speeding up. At the same time working with the CVT, which transfers torque at low speeds without power loss and eliminates gear-shift shock, leading to a smooth and exciting ride.
Posted at 08:20 pm by KimAnderson
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Monday, June 04, 2007
GM confirms Buick Velite Concept production
Well General Motors seem to be on a whir lately. The former number one automaker has confirmed that they will build a production version of its 2004 Buick Velite concept by the end of the decade. The announcement was made by Troy Clarke, president of GM North America in a recent interview with Car and Driver. According to the magazine the Velite was previewed as a convertible, but the automaker will likely build both sedan and convertible variants. It will be built on GM's Zeta architecture. No monicker has been picked up for the production yet, but GM is reportedly open to keeping the Velite badge. Velite will be Buick's only rear-wheel-drive vehicle, according to Clarke. All other models will remain front-drive.
Posted at 11:23 pm by KimAnderson
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Saturday, June 02, 2007
Know the truth: Hybrid Cars
People are on the move to protect themselves from gasoline price hikes. No wonder there hybrid cars are being introduced here and there for the wanting to spend less and gain more kind of car buyer. According to Gerri Willis of CNN hybrid cars however, hybrids are really fuel economy vehicles but then there’s no assurance that you’ll be able to save money. So what’s the real score on hybrid cars? CNN provide you the following facts and tips for you to consider. ● Hybrid cars generally get more miles to the gallon and if you purchase one, you may qualify for a tax break. But you'll pay about 20 percent more for a hybrid car than a traditional automobile. ● Buy a new hybrid to get the credit. Buying used won't help you. Check out a list of qualified hybrids, their credit amounts and the expiration schedule at fueleconomy.gov. If you sell your hybrid, it's unclear if you'll have to pay back part of the tax credit you received. But keep in mind that there might be state tax incentives for buying a hybrid. Also, before counting on that tax credit find out how close you are to having to pay the Alternative Minimum Tax. Having to pay the AMT or even getting close can reduce or entirely wipe out that hybrid tax credit. ● Performance hybrids, for example, don't necessarily save you more gas than a traditional car. Plus, hybrids are notoriously far off from the miles per gallon, or MPG rating, designated by the EPA. For example, the Toyota Prius was given an MPG rating of 60, but in real-world testing that number was more like 33 MPG, according to Edmunds.com. But remember that EPA estimates are for comparison purposes only. Non-hybrid cars don't get their EPA estimated mileage, in most cases, either. So the hybrid could still end up saving you a lot on fuel. ● If you're looking to save some fuel, you may also want to consider a sub compact car. Vehicles like the Toyota Yaris or the Honda Fit are priced at $12,000 to $16,000, which is thousands of dollars cheaper than a hybrid car. And by saving $10,000 you'll be able to buy 3,130 gallons of gas, which equals about 100,000 miles worth of fuel.
Posted at 01:07 am by KimAnderson
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Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Aside from celebrating its 40th anniversary in producing vehicle models powered by Mazda rotary engines, Mazda Motor Corporation also launches a fresh new model in its headquarters in Japan.
Starting today, Japanese auto enthusiasts that are looking for practicality and functionality in a vehicle can purchase the revamped AZ Wagon mini station wagon model in Mazda dealerships all over the country. The Mazda AZ Wagon received numerous enhancements inside and out, according to the Japanese automaker. Customers can choose between the four available model trims: FA, FX, FX-S Special, and FT-S Special. The AZ Wagon Custom Style range comes with three model grades including X, T, and DI.
Check out the highlights of the Mazda AZ Wagon according to a Mazda official press release.
Exterior
- Front fog lamps have been added (FT-S Special)
- New alloy wheels with a more stylish design (FX-S Special and FT-S Special)
- Highly visible turn indicator lights affixed to the door mirror covers (FT-S Special)
- New body colors, Jewel Purple Pearl Metallic (FX-S Special and FT-S Special) and the pink-tinged Antique Rose Metallic (FX, FX-S Special and FT-S Special) have been added to the existing color range
- Mazda’s Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) is available for the FWD FX grade as a factory-installed option
Interior - Freshened seat upholstery and door trim design (all grades except those in the Custom Style range)
- Advanced keyless entry & start system that makes locking/unlocking the doors and starting the engine easier. (FX-S Special and FT-S Special)
Posted at 10:46 pm by KimAnderson
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The 5 Safest Vehicles According to NADAguides
Looking for safest vehicle model to ride on this summer? This blog entry could help you out. NADAguides.com,
one of leading online sources of new and used car pricing guides,
vehicle specifications, and other automotive information has released
their top 5 vehicle picks for the Overall Safety and Value category.
NADAguides.com also released their picks in connection with the
All-American Buckle-Up Week. Check out the top 5 vehicle picks
for Overall Safety and Value according to NADAguides.com. The list also
includes description for each vehicle model according to NADAguides.com
staff. 1. 2007 Saturn Outlook FWD 4dr XR -- MSRP: $29,555 " The
2007 Saturn Outlook comes equipped with plenty of safety features,
including front, side-head and side-body air bags in the front seat, as
well as side-head air bags in the rear seat. The Outlook also features
traction control. NADAguides.com selected the 2007 Saturn Outlook for
its safety ratings and features, as well as its MSRP of $29,555, a
value among other equally-equipped vehicles in its class." 2. 2007 Audi A4 4dr Sedan CVT 2.0T FrontTrak -- MSRP: $29,440 " In
addition to child safety rear door locks and traction control, the 2007
Audi A4 features front, side-head and side-body air bags in the front
seat and side-head and side-body air bags in the back seat, while
ranking high in industry crash test and safety review analyses. With an
MSRP of $29,440, the Audi A4 was an overall NADAguides.com favorite for
safety and value." 3. 2007 Pontiac G-6 4dr Sedan GTP -- MSRP: $24,650 " In
addition to solid styling, the 2007 Pontiac G-6 comes equipped with
plenty of safety features, including traction control, child safety
rear door locks, and a variety of air bag configurations, including
front, side-head and side-body air bags in the front seat and side-head
air bags in the rear seat. The 2007 Pontiac G-6 boasts the lowest price
tag on the NADAguides.com list, with an MSRP of only $24,650." 4. 2007 Honda CR-V 4WD 5dr EX-L -- MSRP: $26,000 " Scoring
well in industry crash tests and ranking favorably in safety reviews,
the 2007 Honda CR-V comes equipped with a parking aid, traction
control, child safety rear door locks and air bag configurations in the
front of the car that include front, side-head and side-body
protection. With an MSRP of $26,000 (just slightly higher than the
lowest priced vehicle on its top picks list) NADAguides.com chose the
2007 Honda CR-V as a standout for overall safety and value." 5. 2007 Ford Five Hundred 4dr Sedan Limited AWD -- MSRP: $28,460 " NADAguides.com
chose the 2007 Ford Five Hundred as one of its favorites for overall
safety and value, based on its air bag configuration (front, side-head
and side-body protection in the front of the vehicle) and the inclusion
of a parking aid, child safety rear door locks and traction control.
With an MSRP of $28,460, as well as favorable rankings in safety
reviews and industry crash tests, the 2007 Ford Five Hundred was
another NADAguides.com top pick for overall safety and value." The
staff experts at NADAguides.com selected these vehicles based on the
evaluation of safety ratings, reviews, pricing information, and crash
test results.
Posted at 07:37 pm by KimAnderson
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