American Honda Motor Co., Inc. announced yesterday five of the first lucky customers for its highly developed and latest FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle, and also offered information of the planet's first fuel cell vehicle dealership network in the United States. The proclamations were announced during a ceremony for the launching of FCX Clarity production at the world's first committed fuel cell vehicle manufacturing facility in the land of the rising sun!
American Honda also announced the building of the primary network of dealers to aid the sales and service of fuel cell vehicles to offer its customers with exceptional sales and service back up and as a significant attempt in developing fuel cell vehicles in the actual world. The three Southern California Honda dealers are Power Honda Costa Mesa (Costa Mesa), Honda of Santa Monica (Santa Monica) and Scott Robinson Honda (Torrance).
"This is an important day in the history of fuel cell vehicle technology and a monumental step closer to the day when fuel cell cars will be part of the mainstream. Our customers and dealers share in our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable transportation future, and share in our challenge to embrace a new generation of automotive technology that we think will carry the auto industry and its customers into the future," says John Mendel, executive vice president of American Honda.
"Auto companies can't explore the potential for fuel cell technology as the ultimate solution to our world's energy and environmental challenges by us. Our customers are true pioneers and leaders in the effort to bring fuel cell technology to the marketplace," added Mendel.
Honda Names First FCX Clarity Customers
Charles Randall | 06/18 2008,Wednesday 01:18
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Total Package for Los Angeles County Ocean Lifeguards
Charles Randall | 05/24 2008,Saturday 00:49
Los Angeles County Lifeguards (not the cast of Baywatch), a division of the Los Angeles County Fire Department has teamed up with the all-American automaker, Ford Motor Company to help save lives while safeguarding Mother Nature. Ford offered the team with the first 10 of a fleet of 45 eco-friendly Escape Hybrids with Intelligent four-wheel-drive, especially equipped for use on rescue patrol along 72 miles of Southern California coastline.
Now here are some quotes provided by my source, check it out:
"We are the largest lifeguard organization in the world, and we have always blazed the trail for the profession. We wanted to be the first public safety agency in the country to go green," says Mike Frazer, chief, Lifeguard Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department.
"This continues the Escape Hybrid's impressive string of endorsements. In addition to being clean and fuel-efficient, the Escape Hybrid is highly functional and durable, proven in hundreds of thousands of miles in taxi service in New York and San Francisco. Now, we are adding lifeguard duty to the list," says Hal Dewsnap, California regional sales manager for Ford Motor Company.
"The Escape Hybrid is one of the cleanest vehicles available today. It meets California's strict Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (PZEV) standard. To put it in a California summer context, it releases fewer smog-forming emissions into the atmosphere during a three-hour drive (about 180 miles) than grilling one hamburger in your back yard," added Freeman Thomas, Ford%2
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Honda shouts the improvements in fuel cell
Charles Randall | 05/16 2008,Friday 02:45
Honda Motor has the latest hydrogen-powered automobile with its completely smaller fuel cell as well as motor, leaving the similar inside space as a normal car. That's a huge progress from the Honda’s foremost such style unveiled just about a decade ago. That fuel cell was so large that the vehicle can hardly seat one person.
This most recent FCX Clarity can run a maximum rate of 99 miles an hour can be used for four persons.
"Compact Renaissance Zero", the FCX stands for - a term proposed to capture the plan of a new beginning in the design of compact vehicles that starts a new essential. The design study model of a lighter hybrid sports coupe made up of next-generation technologies that distribute high driving reliability and performance while decreasing the car's environmental issues. This Clarity production also brings two to three times the fuel saving of a similar gasoline-engine vehicle.
A new improvement in the Clarity is its lithium-ion battery, at this moment are more usually used in laptops and gadgets, but a hard to find in automobiles.
Hybrid gas-electric vehicles, akin to Toyota Motor Corp.'s well-liked Prius, it uses a special kind of battery, and Honda's preceding fuel-cell motor vehicle did not contain a lithium-ion battery.
Honda team believed the battery in the Clarity won’t get as high temperature compare in gadgets. Honda Clarity’s battery assists in powering the fuel cell car through storing energy created once it slows down, making it good and efficient.
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Korean Cars Are Great Too!
Charles Randall | 05/09 2008,Friday 09:26
Is that true? Most of the people keep on asking this question when they finally saw the “Spirra S” Korean’s super car. They didn’t appreciate all the industrialized country will have auto producers.
One of the eye-glancing look sporty vehicle at Beijing, plus one of the few that will truly see creation by Oullim Motors from South Korea. The Spirra S is ready to be produce, a mid-engine sports car similar on the previous Spirra sports car framework. The designs borrow a lot as of the Lotus at the same time the engine is a 2.7-liter supercharged V6 comes from Hyundai. The corporation prepares to create 100 of these in hand-built sports car in the former year, with manufacture beginning next month, with 300 pieces coming next year. Their existence in Beijing may be a little tip-off that they don't just prepare to put up for sale in the Korean public market. By means of a Hyundai mill you may think the cost would be on the lower-end for low quantity super cars. You will be mistaken. The very first creation comes up for about $100,000 US.
These car consists of a mid-mounted, quad cam supercharged engine, pure alloy wheels, carbon fiber frame body plus new Brembo brakes. Maintained a top speed of 190mph. It's a fast, eye-glancing sports car with the class of specification sheet anyone expects to find on great made in Italy. However the Spirra S is made close to Seoul. Meet Korea's great production super car.
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The Auto Industry’s Real Heroes
Charles Randall | 02/18 2008,Monday 18:24
We come face to face with heroes everyday—nameless people who fight for a worthy cause and offer their lives for others without the intent of building themselves some ivory or golden statues. You know what? Many of these heroes are drivers like you and me.
On March 27, Goodyear will celebrate these people’s heroism in the 25th Annual North America Highway hero Award. The prestigious award gives honor to truck drivers who have done unnoticed yet life-saving acts while on the job.
According to fleetowner.com, this year’s nominees are Rick Tower of Earl Brayant Trucking who rescued an 82-year-old from a car that fell on the Klamath River, Richard Filiczkowski of C.R. England Incorporated who helped rescue an 8-year-old girl and her father, who eventually died, Ronnie Greene, A. Passmore and Sons driver who saved a pregnant woman from her boyfriend who attempted to run his pickup truck over her and the late David Virgoe, who used to drive for Wilburn Archer Trucking. Virgoe was killed after swerving his empty tanker truck into a ditch in an effort to avoid three street-racing cars. Had Virgoe did not do it, his truck could have slammed into oncoming traffic across the street.
Steve McClellan, vice president for commercial tire systems for the Goodyear tire and Rubber Company, couldn’t contain his amazement for truck drivers from United states and Canada who risk their lives for the sake of others.
“We truly are in awe of these brave men and women who travel our highways,” he said.
According to an article, journalists from the trucking industry will determine who among the four finalists will be hailed as the 2007 Goodyear North America Highway Hero Awardee. The winner will receive $10,000 Savings Bond, a plaque and a ring while other finalists will be given a $5,000 savings Bond and a plaque.
The Highway hero program has been existent since 1983, recognizing the heroic acts of truck drivers as they travel their way across North America.
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The Edge Goes Sporty!
Charles Randall | 02/11 2008,Monday 12:06
The 2008 Chicago Auto Show introduced the new face of the hottest and best-selling crossover, the 2009 Ford Edge Sport edition! Aha, it’s indeed a sporty Edge with ultramodern factory modifications. According to Ford.com, the Sport model together with the SE, SEL and Limited models in the lineup, makes the Ford Edge the first vehicle in its class to offer a custom-made model.
“The new Ford Edge Sport is designed to instantly appeal to crossover customers who want a sportier custom look and feel. This specialty design reflects the growing popularity of personalization and more customers’ interest in industry shows like the annual Hot Import Nights around the country and the Specialty Equipment Market Association Show in Las Vegas,” says John Felice, general manager of the Ford Division.
“While custom-made to appeal to customers, Edge Sport is smart business,” says Mark Fields, president of The Americas. “The aftermarket industry has grown to a $40 billion annual business, and crossovers are the fastest-growing vehicle segment in the U.S. We want customers who crave something special to know that Ford can customize their Edge - right at the factory.”
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A Call To Patriots…
Charles Randall | 01/23 2008,Wednesday 18:44
Sales are slipping. American brands are ailing. So what’s the remedy?
Call out the patriots!
Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC are clinging unto their American roots to call out true-blooded patriots. Though they are not singing The Star Spangled Banner to draw them closer, they are using some other strategies…
At the NAIAS, Ford launched the redesigned F-150 pickup. The Dearborn-based automaker invited American icons to promote its bread-and-butter vehicle. The icons include Toby Keith, a popular country singer; Rick Crawford, the legendary NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver; and Justin McBride, a highly-skilled bull rider.
Chrysler, meanwhile, embraced the limelight, by inviting a company of rugged American cowboys driving a herd of cattle outside the Cobo Center. Now, who won’t be flabbergasted?
What made American automakers rattle? According to MSNBC, sales sagged last year as the housing market sank and construction activity declined. Sales of pickups in the United States fell 6% in 2007, while overall U.S. vehicle sales declined by 3%.
"For years, people who didn’t really need trucks were buying them as fashion statements, but now with gas prices rising those buyers are leaving the market, wondering why they’re going to pay so much money for trucks and have to pay for the extra gas needed to run them,” said Karl Brauer, editor in chief at Edmunds.com. “So you’re seeing the big manufacturers trying to lure them back, focusing on functionality, and adding cool, hip fashion statements, and better gas mileage.”
“The manufacturers could have come out with their next versions (of their trucks) and just made them a little bit bigger and a little bit better, which is what they would have done in any previous redesign of a full-size truck,” Brauer said in an interview with MSNBC. “This time they have definitely gone the extra mile.”
The competition is ever growing. According to Tom Appel, editor of Consumer Guide Automotive, American automakers are likely to be under pressure to update their vehicles more often. “There was a time when a new pickup was big news, but now with more players in the market there’s always something new, and what used to be an 8- to 10-year product cycle has shrunk, so news of a new pickup is not as exciting as it used to be,” Appel added. “There is more competition, and that means there have to be more redesigns to get people excited.”
“You can’t pull commercial sales ahead. Companies will buy a new truck when it makes financial sense to do so, and commercial sales of light duty trucks tend to coincide with the housing market,” Appel concluded. “But for the average car buyer a vehicle purchase is more elastic, more emotional, so you can lure them in.”
Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler LLC are clinging unto their American roots to call out true-blooded patriots. Though they are not singing The Star Spangled Banner to draw them closer, they are using some other strategies…
At the NAIAS, Ford launched the redesigned F-150 pickup. The Dearborn-based automaker invited American icons to promote its bread-and-butter vehicle. The icons include Toby Keith, a popular country singer; Rick Crawford, the legendary NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver; and Justin McBride, a highly-skilled bull rider.
Chrysler, meanwhile, embraced the limelight, by inviting a company of rugged American cowboys driving a herd of cattle outside the Cobo Center. Now, who won’t be flabbergasted?
What made American automakers rattle? According to MSNBC, sales sagged last year as the housing market sank and construction activity declined. Sales of pickups in the United States fell 6% in 2007, while overall U.S. vehicle sales declined by 3%.
"For years, people who didn’t really need trucks were buying them as fashion statements, but now with gas prices rising those buyers are leaving the market, wondering why they’re going to pay so much money for trucks and have to pay for the extra gas needed to run them,” said Karl Brauer, editor in chief at Edmunds.com. “So you’re seeing the big manufacturers trying to lure them back, focusing on functionality, and adding cool, hip fashion statements, and better gas mileage.”
“The manufacturers could have come out with their next versions (of their trucks) and just made them a little bit bigger and a little bit better, which is what they would have done in any previous redesign of a full-size truck,” Brauer said in an interview with MSNBC. “This time they have definitely gone the extra mile.”
The competition is ever growing. According to Tom Appel, editor of Consumer Guide Automotive, American automakers are likely to be under pressure to update their vehicles more often. “There was a time when a new pickup was big news, but now with more players in the market there’s always something new, and what used to be an 8- to 10-year product cycle has shrunk, so news of a new pickup is not as exciting as it used to be,” Appel added. “There is more competition, and that means there have to be more redesigns to get people excited.”
“You can’t pull commercial sales ahead. Companies will buy a new truck when it makes financial sense to do so, and commercial sales of light duty trucks tend to coincide with the housing market,” Appel concluded. “But for the average car buyer a vehicle purchase is more elastic, more emotional, so you can lure them in.”
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The Instant Classic
Charles Randall | 01/09 2008,Wednesday 15:06
I have been expecting this and it comes as no surprise to me, that the Audi R8 will receive awards after awards. Recently, the Audi R8 was named as an instant classic by Edmunds' Inside Line according to The Auto Channel. The R8 is widely anticipated by a lot of performance enthusiasts in the United States and it is not surprising as the R8 is one of the most powerful production cars out there.
In the past, performance enthusiasts in the country have been aiming to create a better Audi by using performance enhancing components on their Audi A8. But nothing beats the real thing as the R8 makes it apparent that it has the right to bear the name of that 24 Hour of Le Mans-winning car.
Kevin Smith, Edmunds' editorial director had this to say about the R8: "The Audi R8 successfully extends the automaker’s model line beyond coupes and sedans into the realm of the pure fantasy machine. The fact this car makes you dream about the long-term commitment just makes the whole fantasy that much more exciting."
Now, Audi is already known for its marvelous creations. But it is still playing catch up to other German automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The development and subsequent production of the R8 proves that Audi has what it takes to rival the creation of other German powerhouses.
Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief of Inside Line couldn't have said it any better when talking about the winners of their Most Wanted Awards. "The vehicles chosen were our favorites – the ones that we didn’t want to give back after testing them," said Oldham. It is easy to say that the R8 is quite a big accomplishment for Audi.
In the past, performance enthusiasts in the country have been aiming to create a better Audi by using performance enhancing components on their Audi A8. But nothing beats the real thing as the R8 makes it apparent that it has the right to bear the name of that 24 Hour of Le Mans-winning car.
Kevin Smith, Edmunds' editorial director had this to say about the R8: "The Audi R8 successfully extends the automaker’s model line beyond coupes and sedans into the realm of the pure fantasy machine. The fact this car makes you dream about the long-term commitment just makes the whole fantasy that much more exciting."
Now, Audi is already known for its marvelous creations. But it is still playing catch up to other German automakers such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW. The development and subsequent production of the R8 proves that Audi has what it takes to rival the creation of other German powerhouses.
Scott Oldham, Editor in Chief of Inside Line couldn't have said it any better when talking about the winners of their Most Wanted Awards. "The vehicles chosen were our favorites – the ones that we didn’t want to give back after testing them," said Oldham. It is easy to say that the R8 is quite a big accomplishment for Audi.
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Barenaked Ladies In NAIAS!
Charles Randall | 01/07 2008,Monday 12:16
Hey, don’t get me wrong dude, it’s not what you’re thinking! I’m talking about the iconic pop-rock band Barenaked Ladies! According to the Auto Channel, the world-renowned group will perform inside the Cobo Arena at the 2008 North American International Auto Show's (NAIAS) annual black-tie Charity Preview gala.
Furthermore, the band from Canada will give excitement and fun to Charity Preview delegates for over an hour starting at 9 p.m. in a concert this coming Jan. 18, 2008
"Seeing Barenaked Ladies perform at Charity Preview will make this truly a night to remember for our guests," said Carl Galeana, the senior co-chairman for the NAIAS 2008. "Anyone with a Charity Preview ticket can watch the band perform in Cobo Arena."
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Ways To Steal A Car
Charles Randall | 12/28 2007,Friday 18:39
No. Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want you to become auto thieves. It’s the other way around. I want you to know these things to avoid auto thievery.
I chanced upon a nice Edmunds.com article that gives the ways to steal a car. Here are the steps:
1. Bump against the car to check for a car alarm. Since it seems like everything from a loud Harley to a rumbling garbage truck can set off a car alarm, people have been conditioned to tune them out. Instead of a motion-sensitive car alarm, use one that has a pager that will notify you as soon as your alarm is activated.
2. Break the window or jimmy the lock to gain entry into a locked car. Don't tempt car thieves. Keep valuables out of plain sight. Take them with you or store them in the trunk. Also, if you have a stereo with a removable face plate, take it with you instead of tucking it away in the glovebox.
3. Cut the steering wheel itself if there's a steering wheel lock. Instead of locking just your steering wheel, "lock" your car's ability to go by using a starter disable switch and putting it in a place where only you can get to it.
4. Look for exposed wiring that can be cut or for the central unit of the car alarm to deactivate it. Instead of going to a big retail chain store, have your car alarm installed by a professional car alarm installer, preferably a reasonably shady one. Unlike retail chain employees, these experts know what it takes to make your car elusive to crooks.
5. Look for car alarm decals to figure out which method to use to eliminate the alarm. Never display stickers that advertise what sort of car alarm you have, or audio system for that matter. Consider using a hood lock cable so the thief can't get to your battery or car alarm mechanism.
6. Jump into an unattended running car while the owner is at the ATM, dropping off videos, etc. Never leave your keys in the ignition even for a quick errand. Car theft is a crime of opportunity, so don't make it easy for them to grab yours.
7. Look for the car's title, registration or anything with a home address on it. Keep your registration and insurance information with you and never leave personal information in your car.
8. Stake out sporting events, movie theaters and shopping center parking lots for the car of your choice since they offer the largest variety of cars in one area. Whenever possible, park in lots and garages that have security and/or parking lot attendants. If not, don't park in the farthest corner of the lot but rather near the entrance of these facilities to insure the most foot traffic (and the most potential witnesses). Also, opt for paying the extra couple of dollars for the monitored parking lot instead of using the free parking on the less-trafficked side streets.
9. Find the second set of keys the owner "hid" in the car. Don't leave spare keys in your car or in a magnetic box attached to the underside of your car. Thieves know where all the "hiding places" are.
10. Copy specific vehicle information and take it to the manufacturer to get a replacement key made. Instead of VIN etching the major parts of your vehicle, which doesn't turn most thieves off, drop your business card into the doors through the window slots to identify your car as yours.
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