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Want the oddballs in the automotive world? Well, brace yourself for the most eccentric cars off the roads. They are exotic. They are intriguing. But they are not for everybody to have and hold. In today’s auto shows, manufacturers are shelling out a fortune to be part of the specialty market players that introduce the most eccentric cars.
Steve Mattin, Volvo's new vice president and director for design, has a problem with old Volvos: there are so many of them. There are millions of boxy ones out there, said Mattin in an interview. We want to move beyond the box. To step out of the boxy image, the automaker is entertaining a new design DNA.
Since its arrival in the United Kingdom in the previous year, the new Volvo S80 luxury sedan distinctive characteristics of Scandinavian design and innovative technology has captivated the soft spot of the Europeans. As a fact, the sedan has earned positive feedback from executive chauffeur drivers and customers in the automaker’s VIP test drive offer.
Dear Misanthropic Mechanic: Is there a way to get my ’95 Monte Carlo to stop on a dime like those racecars in NASCAR? The way those boys just blaze into pit lane and stop right on that white line is darn amazing. Willy G. from Concord NC Willy: NASCAR? Come on, Willy. Should I call you Erwin, Bob, Dale…maybe Jimmy? Just messin’ with ya there Willy-boy.
The Toyota Motor Corp. is planning a $413 million upgrade to its Georgetown, Kentucky plant. The plan is intended to boost the production capacity and efficiency. The automaker also plans to add a model to the Camry, Avalon and Solara vehicles in said the plant. The Kentucky Economic Development Finance Authority gave preliminary approval for $25 million in economic incentives for the work.
In all car systems within the world, none is as essential, as necessary as the brake assembly. What allows you to halt your vehicle in the middle of the street and barely miss mowing down a couple of tourists from Topeka? What allows you to slow down to a stop when the traffic lights go red, what allows you to basically take command of your Volvo’s destinations based on nothing more than the strength of your whims, letting you pull your car to a stop wherever you wish—a function that’s operated by no more than a slight pressure exerted by your foot on a pedal? The brake system is of course responsible for all these.
Volvo Cars introduces its ‘spoilage factor’ in its flagship sedan to create an even greater customer baseline. Some enthusiasts are complaining about costly luxury cars. So Volvo is unraveling the S80’s spoilage factor without sacrificing affordability. The most obvious change in the S80 sedan is in its aura.
How would you feel when you have Alan Mulally, Ford Motor Co.’s CEO, take care of your auto purchase? For Danny Herrington, an F-350 Super Duty pickup truck purchaser at Galpin Ford in Los Angeles, the experience was not a total surprise. He expected that Ford’s chief executive would be waiting on him this morning when he went to buy a new pickup truck.
Dealing with a car loan can be quite the headache, but here are some things that everyone needs to know. First, a car loan is a long-term commitment. Many dealerships are now offering car loans that are 72 months, 78 months or even 84 months long. That’s between seven and eight years, a lot longer than the average person intends to keep a new car when they purchase it.
The Toyota Motor Corp. said last Friday that it plans to build a new factory in Fukuoka in southwestern Japan to produce components for gas-electric hybrid vehicles. Toyota, which leads the market in hybrid sales, said it plans to acquire about 340,000 square meters of land there and put production lines for hybrid parts together from other plants.
The global warming issue has led the auto industry to take steps to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Newer technologies have led to the reduction of carbon dioxide emission on new cars. Particulate filters and other related components makes sure that the carbon dioxide formed by burning petroleum products in an internal combustion engine will be purified before being shot out of the vehicle’s tailpipe.
The upcoming New York International Auto Show (NYIAS) is always known for attracting a huge number of attendees and exhibitors. Recently, Japanese car manufacturer Nissan announced that they will be showcasing their vehicles at the event. These vehicles will showcase the capabilities of Nissan in producing cars in response to the demand of their growing buyer base.
General Motors Corp. is defending its reign as the largest automaker worldwide. And so along with its struggle, is the support from its divisions. Saturn, for one, will be adding features to boost its appeal to Americans. Saturn will add cupholders and a warmer interior trim to make the Astra more welcoming than its German rivals.
General Motors Corp., on a mission to pump some life into its dull sedans and sport utility vehicles, will showcase its latest efforts at the New York auto show. GM will display a redesigned Buick LaCrosse and performance versions of the LaCrosse and the Buick Lucerne. It will also showcase a refreshed Cadillac STS.
The Ford Motor Co. will be unveiling three new limited edition vehicles which are produced to slot into smaller cars. The custom vehicles are said to belong to what is called microsegmentation. The cars are the new versions of the Mustang and the Shelby GT-500KR. These cars boast scorching hot performance.
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