Archive for the ‘Automotive’ Category
Chevrolet Spark to Hit the Streets in 2013
By 2013, Chevrolet is about to put out a Spark mini-car which runs completely only on electricity. This move will add to the electric car fleet of General Motors Co.
On Wednesday, the Detroit-based automaker said that the new Spark EV will be out in limited units only, and will only be available in certain market areas in the U.S. like California and overseas.
However, other information such as the pricing, specific markets, and quantities will be further discussed soon.
Chevrolet’s global vehicle chief engineer for electric vehicles Jim Federico averred in a statement that the said car is expected to complement the extended-range EV of Volt and the 2013 model of Malibu Eco with eAssist. The Malibu Eco is a new technology which runs on a gas-electric hybrid which boosts a car’s fuel economy.
The battery maker who will supply Spark EV’s battery packs is A123 Systems Inc.
General Motors revealed that the sales of the Volt went slower than expected. However, the company assures that the demand for the car is still strong. This is due to the fact that it can run solely depending on its battery power for more or less 35 miles before a gasoline generator takes over.
GM has sold 3,895 Volts through September. This is far shorter than its goal of 10,000 for the first year. Yet, the Volt is only available in 27 states. When it hits the showroom nationwide, it is expected to increase its sales.
General Motors shares went up by 3.8 percent or 85 cents when it closed in the afternoon trading. A123 Systems on the other hand, gained 59 cents or 17.8 percent of its shares.
Porsche and VW Merger Stops Over
The merger between Porsche Automobil Holding and Volkswagen progressed very quickly. Shareholders should not be worried.
Porsche families who control VW and Porsche have already abandoned their agreement last 2009 to fully combine the two companies by the end of this year. Issues state that lawsuit investors allegedly manipulated market over the unsuccessful bid of Porsche last 2008 for VW.
Porsche disputes the asserted claims which amounted to $6.8 billion US dollars. This is equivalent to Porsche’s market capitalization amounting to 7 billion euro. With this uncertainty, it would be impossible to value Porsche for the purpose of merging.
Other common stock by Porsche is held by the families. Qatar also owns nearly all of VW’s common stock along with the state of Lower Saxony. Preferably, the stocks of both companies are the only classes that effectively trade in the market.
A new merger pact may be signed by Porsche and VW to start off with a new deadline. Another alternative might be considered by VW through exercising its strike price option to buy Porsche’s remaining 51 % in the automotive business which it doesn’t own. By this, VW would have to pay almost five times of the estimated 2012 earnings which is based on its stake last 2009 at 4 billion euro.
Kyle Busch for the All-Time Nationwide Series Win Record
Kyle Busch took the win forty nine in the races at NASCAR Nationwide Series. He garnered the win for less than 8 years and exceeded what Mark Martin has done in twenty four. Busch won the race at New England 200 Nationwide Series at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, London on the Saturday’s league. For that, the records of Busch in the nationwide series for all time have become equal to Martin’s.
Busch created his mark of the win record in Nationwide Series for all-time at New Hampshire Z-Line Designs Driver.
Busch is a driver for Joe Gibbs Racing (JGR) in the No.18 Z-Line Designs Toyota Camry. On lap number 17, Busch began 5th and went by Ricky Stenhouse Jr. He took the lead during the final thirty-three laps all over the oval of 1.058 miles. At the age of twenty-six, Busch already brought in his forty ninth car racing career at the Nationwide Series success two years. This achievement of Busch is younger than what was accomplished by Martin when he became victorious on his very first race in the Nationwide Series. It was held on the 30th of May in the year 1987 at the Budweiser 200, Dover (Del.) International Speedway.
Busch stated during the Nationwide Series of three straight triumphs, “We cannot do it with no support coming from them (Jim, CEO and President of Z-Line Designs and his wife Monica Sexton. Achieving the forty ninth win for the Z-Line Designs is awesome.”
Right now, Busch already acquired one hundred winning crossing the top 3 division of NASCAR. He has 22 wins in the Sprint Cup, 49 in the Nationwide Series, and 29 in the Camping World Track. There is also an additional to his winnings at the race in Lenox Industrial Tools 301 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race on Sunday.
Chevrolet Takes Pride on their Sprint Cup Entry
The Chevrolet vice chairman for motorsports and vehicles Jim Campbell reveals the progress they are making for their new car. He says that the improvement they are creating for the vehicle’s structure cycle is coming out nicely. However, the company is not yet open to reveal the kind of model they’re thinking of running in 2013 during the NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series.
Campbell explained to Sporting News at Daytona International Speedway last Saturday that their entry for the Sprint Cup is now on track. They have recently worked with NASCAR together with other original equipment manufacturers (OEM) tremendously to guarantee that they are coming in rightly and in direction with regards to the concepts that were pre-established.
They had also kept track with its design by a fantastic alliance involving the Chevrolet design and their NASCAR team. They also worked together with NASCAR to check that their car goes well with how it looks to the kind of car they will present on the showroom.
Campbell also revealed that individuals have created a recommendation which will be submitted to NASCAR for the model they are planning to put to race in 2013. Still, these people failed to disclose the selection.
“NASCAR is fully aware of it,” Campbell added.
In fact, NASCAR had already seen it. However, at this point of time, they are still not divulging it towards the general public. But he shared how excited they really are in their progress with regards to the model they will be racing on the track during the series. Most of all, Chevrolet is stoked that they will be presenting this car displayed on their showroom floor for consumers.
Toyota Lexus Finding a Niche in India
Toyota Motor Corporation is one of the Japanese companies that are recovery up to this day. Toyota has done a sequence of arrangement and management of their automotive productions in order to compensate the damage brought by last March’s 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami.
Driving about the growing privileged circumstances, the market industry for high end vehicles in India remains to be expanding swiftly as German the kind of Mercedes, Audi and BMW with Jaguar Land Rover that is Tata-possessed strengthen their investment. The majorities of the companies give an account over seventy percent developments in volumes this past year and look forward to healthy advantages in the future too.
To continually recover from the disaster in Japan, Toyota will be manufacturing and distributing out car units known as Lexus.
Going for a signal in the growth felt by rivals like Mercedes, Audi and BMW, Toyota is likely to roll-out its luxurious automobile Lexus in India. Japan auto primary can also be seeking to be able to kickoff its automotive finance division, Toyota Financial Services, to enhance sales.
Moreover, the organization authorities stated Lexus might be put on the market by independent shops. The organization can also be thinking about to begin an arm of finance to stay protected against the variation of movement in vehicle finance market.
The organization, which released a brand new variation of their first-class car Corolla Altis, stated it might let pass its sales objective in India this year by about ten thousand models because of the cut of production following the depressing earthquake and followed by a tsunami.
Toyota Onwards to a Fast-Paced Comeback
Many Japanese corporations were greatly affected by the earthquake with a magnitude of nine on March this year. Until then, the net income of most Japanese companies was turned down and slowed their production.
As of now, Japanese are still in the process of recovering from the disaster including Toyota, a motor and automotive company which headquarters is based at Toyota City, Aichi, Japan.
Japan’s biggest car maker, Toyota, has battled to again stock US marketers because of the tsunami and nine-magnitude earthquake controlled resources of their top-selling Prius hybrid and Camry. Products on hand shortages dropped at some thirty three percent in the US sales of Toyota in the month of May and therefore are constraining delivery this current month.
In April, Toyota believed that pre-quake generation would continue in November.
Production at Toyota Motor Corporation’s United States plants, slowed down by parts shortages soon after Japan’s March earthquake, is regaining more quickly than imagined and definitely will get back to regular in September, the company accounted the previous day.
On 6th of June 8 models were restored which included Sienna minivans, Corolla and Camry cars and sport utility motor vehicles known as Highlander.
In addition, Lexus RX SUV’s and pickups Tacoma and Tundra will likely pursue the production by September this year as what have stated by Bob Carter who is the US sales’ cluster vice president.
The car maker will improve advertising and marketing to guarantee US buyers recognize its suppliers again have motor vehicles readily available.
Patrick Dempsey Shares Mazda Experience in their 20th Anniversary

Mazda Motor Corporation is not just the ordinary automotive manufacturer based in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. It automotive sales in the year 2007 is remarkable as it reached 1.3 million sold Mazda vehicles worldwide.
Aside from being one of the largest automotive manufacturers, Mazda has become the number 1 and only Japanese automaker to keep a tally of win at the Le Mans which is the world’s well-known endurance sport in racing.
On this month, Mazda is celebrating its 20th Anniversary of being triumphant in Le Mans. Patrick Dempsey, a member of MAZDASPEED family since 2007, was able to race a three-rotor RX-8 in Grand-Am GT competition and in 2010 he was Mazda Driveway steering the RX-792P. Dempsey enthused that he loves the heritage of racing as a sport. With his chance to drive this car that garnered the highest-visibility triumph in Mazda’s storied racing history – it is more than an honor for Dempsey.
In line with the celebration, Mazda employees prepared a demonstration of Mazda 787 with four rotors and 700-horsepower strength on the track speed as a symbolism of honor and gratitude to the unceasing support of the fans.
The Director of Mazda Motorsports in Mazda North American Operations, John Doonan commendes that the 20th anniversary is an extraordinary celebration for them. He also praises Demsey for giving his outmost effort to be the champion of the endurance race. Mazda is also vocal about their praises for the Patrick as he is committed to the sport itself. The celebration marks the history of Mazda as they commemorate it with pride and honor.
Ford Venturing into Health Monitoring Technology
Ford is now developing a “controlled wireless technology” that can enable drivers to interact with some health-monitoring technologies and services for things like a web-based allergen alerts, asthma management tools and diabetes control.
According to the company, it is already developing its initial offer. The company is now working with Medtronic — the medical device service, WellDoc – the mobile health vendor, and HDI Health – the health analytics provider which has developed the allergy website pollen.com.
Moreover, the company also is pushing forward its SYNC technology that is characterized as a factory-installed, in-car communications and entertainment system developed by Microsoft. This is also a voice-operated system that makes use of a Bluetooth device to connect wireless devices. This technology is said to be offered in 12 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury models.
Paul Mascarena, the chief technology officer at Ford’s Research and Innovation division stated, “Ford SYNC is well known in the industry and with consumers as a successful in-car infotainment system” then it is their goal “to broaden the paradigm, transforming SYNC into a tool that can also help improve people’s lives as well as the driving experience.”
With this new technology, Ford has developed features in their cars that makes use of “blood glucose monitoring capability, location-based allergy and pollen alerts and voice-controlled, cloud-based health management services.”