2010 February | Japanese Cars

Chief Minister of Punjab inaugurates Tata Motors supported State Institute of Automotive and Driving Skills

Sunday, February 28th, 2010

Tata Motors intends to set up more such institutes in other states

The Government of Punjab and Tata Motors today announced the formal inauguration of the Punjab State Institute of Automotive and Driving Skills (SIADS), at Mahuana in the Muktsar district of the state. The driving institute was inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Mr. Parkash Singh Badal. Mr. P. M. Telang, Managing Director (India Operations), Tata Motors, other senior officials from Tata Motors and the company’s subsidiary, TELCON, were present at the inauguration.

The institute has been set up in an area of 14 acres. The state government has invested about Rs. 15 crores towards creating a modern complex, testing track, computerised driving test and hostel facilities, besides providing the land and infrastructure. Tata Motors and TELCON have invested about Rs. 2.75 crores in providing support in the form of designing course content, technical assistance and know-how, guidance, vehicles and earth moving equipment, training aggregates and teaching aids. The training aims at developing the right attitude for safe driving and road safety among learners. The Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training of the state government has provided instructors for all the Industrial Training courses. The institute is being operated and maintained by a Society set up for the purpose, and will be self sustaining.

Tata Motors intends to set up similar driving training institutes in other states in association with the respective state governments.

The objective of the institute is to provide training to the youth of Punjab and, in turn, enhance their employability. The institute has already started training drivers for heavy and light commercial vehicles, buses, passenger cars, off-the-road (OTR) vehicles, earth moving equipment, and also technical training related to trades such as auto mechanics, welding, painting, electrical, electronics and air-conditioning since the last four months. Each batch in a trade has a capacity to accommodate around 32 learners and the module is designed for 1-2 years depending on the trade whereas for the driving training, the duration ranges upto 3 months.

Source: http://www.tatamotors.com/our_world/press_releases.php?ID=529&action=Pull

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MSA Team UK convenes for first training session

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

The Motor Sports Association’s Team UK national squad convened at Silverstone’s Porsche Experience Centre this week for its first training session of the year.

Nine of the ten elite race and rally drivers spent two intensive days working with recognised sports performance experts in preparation for the coming season. Only one driver was unable to attend due to testing commitments. The activity was overseen by national race coach David Brabham and national rally coach Mark Higgins, under the guidance of MSA Performance Director Robert Reid.

The drivers were put through a rigorous physical assessment by Eliot Challifour and his team at VoTwo, who have trained a number of elite athletes including reigning F1 world champion Jenson Button and Red Bull F1 star Mark Webber. The Team UK members then went on to work on a one-to-one basis with Hugh Richards, Sport and Performance Psychology lecturer at the University of Edinburgh.

Andy Mellor, Head of Technical Affairs at the FIA Institute, gave a fascinating presentation about the advances made in safety within motor sport and shared some of the relevant driver technology that will come through in future years. This included discussion of evolving car, seat and helmet design, as well as improvements in fire safety, crash testing, high-speed barriers, head restraints, roll over protection systems and more.

Dedicated sessions with championship-winning race engineer Andy Miller offered invaluable advice on communicating with race engineers and how best to extract performance from in-car telemetry. On the second day, all the drivers benefitted from in-depth media and TV interview training from experienced motor sports broadcasters John Hindhaugh and Nick Daman.

National Race Coach David Brabham said: “It’s been a fantastic first gathering of the squad and everyone has reported great feedback from the sessions. We have significantly upgraded the content of the scheme and we will be demanding comparable commitment and dedication from the drivers but, in return, they will benefit from the best performance programme around.”

Alexander Sims, F3 Euro Series driver and 2008 McLaren Autosport BRDC Award winner, said: “I’ve been amazed by the quality of the last two days; it really feels like a big step up from last year’s elite programme. To be selected to be part of the national squad means a great deal and offers a great opportunity to be able to benefit from the coaching and experience of the people running the scheme.”

Marty McCormack, who will head abroad to contest the French Rally Championship this year, said: “These two days have been a real boost for the start of the coming season and having the race guys around has made it much more competitive. We have all got on extremely well and it is really starting to feel like we are part of a national team.”

Source: http://www.msauk.org/site/cms/newsarticle.asp?chapter=210&nid=1301

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The new A1: a real Audi

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Michael Dick, Member of the Board of Management for Technical Development at AUDI AG, talks about the Audi A1:

We are venturing into new terrain with the A1: It defines an entirely new model series and will be the first premium automobile in the small compact segment.

To bring premium – or better yet – a true Audi to this class was an exciting challenge for us in Development. We did, of course, make clever use of the very good potential offered by the Group’s modular system – that is one of the strengths of our Group. But one thing is particularly important: With the A1, the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. And this extra bit is what makes an Audi an Audi, and is what the A1 also stands for.

This also puts the A1 well in front of its competitors in a number of aspects. We have interpreted and implemented innovative technologies very specifically. The A1 has all of the genes and characteristics that are important to us. All of us, my team and I, have grown very fond of the A1.

Our newest Audi is emotional and modern; it is a lot of fun, and that at first sight. Just look at the unique, powerful design with the distinctive roof arch and the LED headlights.

The cabin also features top-level quality. We have provided many opportunities for the customer to put his or her own personal touch on the A1, and no other manufacturer offers high-end infotainment systems in the form that we do.

The A1 is a grown up compact car. Its chassis is sporty and agile, which is a prerequisite for a car that is a lot of fun to drive. The weight distribution, the very direct steering and the painstaking suspension setup also contribute to the fun factor. And technologies such as the ESP electronic stabilization program with electronic differential lock make the handling even more precise and sporty.

Our A1 also sets new efficiency standards. Four different engines will be available – two TDI and two gasoline units. All follow the downsizing principle – compact, yet powerful and highly efficient. They substitute forced induction for displacement, and all use direct injection with turbocharging to produce between 86 and 122 hp.

All versions of the A1 feature strong performance with low fuel consumption ranging between 3.8 and 5.4 liters per 100 kilometers (43.56 and 61.90 US mpg). The engine with the best fuel economy is the 1.6 TDI with 90 hp and manual transmission. It emits only 99 grams of CO2 per kilometer (159.33 grams per mile). All of the engines are equipped with a recuperation system, with which they recover energy while braking, and are also coupled with a start-stop system. A new thermal management system in the 1.2 TFSI helps to further reduce consumption.

For Audi, efficiency always means high-tech, which is why we offer the seven-speed S tronic transmission as an option. The dual-clutch transmission changes gears smoothly yet sportily and quickly. It can be operated as an automatic or manually, with shift paddles on the steering wheel available as an option. It is a lot of fun and reduces fuel consumption even farther.

We consider efficiency to be a total vehicle issue. With the A1, the low body weight, the electrohydraulic steering, and the on-board computer with efficiency program also play important parts. The bundled use of modern technologies is what makes our A1 unique in the compact class.

Source: http://www.audiusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=1682

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Hyundai announces i45 will arrive in 2nd quarter

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Hyundai Motor Company Australia will launch i45, the all-new mid-sized sedan, in the 2nd quarter of 2010.

i45 represents a modern approach to the traditional mid-size sedan segment incorporating Hyundai’s new ‘fluidic sculpture’ design and luxury features, combined with Hyundai’s value proposition.

In the U.S., the all-new mid-sized sedan, built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, is setting new standards in the mid-size car category, with best-in-class fuel economy rating thanks to the new 2.4-litre Petrol Direct Injection (GDI) four-cylinder engine, new six-speed manual and automatic transmissions and highly refined aerodynamics.

The car is already setting the standard for residual values in North America. The entry trim model fitted with the six-speed automatic transmission received an impressive 36-month residual value of 54 percent of manufacturer’s suggested retail price (known as Manufacturer’s List Price in Australia) from Automotive Lease Guide (ALG), the U.S. benchmark for residual value estimates, and a leading provider of data and consulting services to the automotive industry.

The residual value of the all-new Hyundai mid-sized sedan topped popular competitive 2010 models from Toyota, Nissan, Ford, and Chevrolet, in addition to premium brands such as Lexus, BMW and Mercedes, representing the lowest depreciation in the U.S. mid-sized car segment.

The Hyundai outperformed Honda, depreciating US$640 less over a three-year period than a comparably-equipped 2010 model year Accord. Strong residuals add to the value equation, indicating higher trade-in value for buyers and lower monthly payments for lessees.

Australian bound i45s will be produced in South Korea.

“We are very excited to be launching the all-new i45 mid-sized sedan in Australia in the coming months, said Oliver Mann, Hyundai Motor Company Australia’s Marketing Director. “Already breaking records in South Korea and receiving awards in the U.S., i45 is going to make a considerable impact in the competitive Australian mid-sized segment.”

Source: http://www.hyundai.com.au/Hyundai-announces-i45-will-arrive-in-2nd-quarter/default.aspx

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DTM countdown: Audi’s driver line-up for the 2010 DTM is complete

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Nine weeks before the 2010 DTM season starts, Audi’s driver line-up for the most popular international touring car racing series is complete. Since Le Mans record winner Tom Kristensen will fully concentrate on sports car racing in the Audi R15 TDI in 2010, the young Spaniard Miguel Molina will join the team as a new member.

In tests with the Audi A4 DTM the 21-year-old left the strongest and best impression of all the candidates. “Miguel is not only a charming young man, he’s very quick as well,” says Head of Audi Motorsport Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich. “Even two years ago he was very fast in tests with the A4 DTM. But at the age of 18 we felt that a move into the DTM would have been a bit too early for him. That’s why I’m delighted to see that in these tests he confirmed his performance and the good impression he left before.”

At age 21, the Spaniard who hails from Girona near Barcelona is the youngest Audi “factory” driver. After exclusively racing Formula cars so far, he will now compete with a roof above his head for the first time. “For me, a dream is coming true,” says Molina. “Driving for Audi in the DTM is simply fantastic. Audi is a fascinating brand with superb cars and the DTM has proven to be one of the world’s toughest racing series. I’ll give everything to live up to the expectations placed on me.”

Molina could hardly have wished for a better team in his DTM debut season: like the title defender Timo Scheider, the two-time DTM champion Mattias Ekström, the four-time DTM race winner Martin Tomczyk and the up-and-coming driver Oliver Jarvis, the young Spaniard will compete for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline, the team that provided the DTM champion in the three most recent consecutive seasons and, in addition to four current-specification Audi A4 DTM cars (internal designation: “R14 plus”), will again enter a fifth car from the previous model year (“R14”) in 2010.

Katherine Legge, who contested the series for Audi Sport Team Abt Sportsline in 2009, will switch to Audi Sport Team Rosberg to become Markus Winkelhock’s new team-mate. Audi Sport Team Phoenix’s line-up will re-unite Alexandre Prémat and Mike Rockenfeller, the two racers who in 2008 jointly won the champion’s title in the Le Mans Series in the Audi R10 TDI.

The Audi DTM squad will meet for the first time in 2010 at the Audi winter camp held in the “Allgäu” during the second half of February at which the DTM racers traditionally train together with their sports car colleagues. Their first time out on the track will be at the official DTM tests at Valencia (Spain) from March 24 to 27, before the first race of the year is staged at the Hockenheimring on April 25.

Audi is the first automobile manufacturer in history to have won the DTM three consecutive times and – fitting the A4 – is now shooting for title number four. With an average age of 27.5 years, the youngest Audi DTM driver squad of all time is gearing up to achieve this ambitious aim.

Source: http://www.audiusanews.com/newsrelease.do?id=1683

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Honda Introduces Wave110i AT Cub-style Scooter Equipped with New CV-Matic Automatic Transmission

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Honda will begin sales in Thailand of a new Cub-type automatic transmission (AT) scooter model, Wave110i AT, in March of this year through A. P. Honda Co., Ltd., a Honda affiliate responsible for distribution of Honda motorcycle products in Thailand. Based on the Wave110i, which is highly acclaimed for its fuel efficiency, the Wave110i AT features a new automatic transmission called CV-Matic. The starting price will be 44,900 baht, with an annual sales plan of 50,000 units. (1 baht = approximately 2.7 yen)

Wave 110i AT

CV-Matic makes the Wave110i AT a product that offers both the typical characteristics of Cub-type bikes such as longer riding range, durability and superior cost-performance as well as added characteristics such as ease of operation and comfortable ride. In addition to Thailand, Honda has plans for the sequential introduction of Wave110i AT in Vietnam and neighboring countries to meet the diversifying needs of customers in ASEAN markets.

The CV-Matic features a new cooling system which solved the issue of heat load on drive belt, and was developed based on the small-motorcycle automatic transmission technologies Honda has been fostering over the years. This new system enhances the durability of the drive belt and allows for a more compact design with a shorter distance between the drive pulley and driven pulley. Due to this advance, the engine position does not need to be significantly altered, optimizing design layout freedom.

Industry-wide motorcycle sales in Thailand in 2009 totaled approximately 1.54 million units (down 10% compared to 2008). With sales of approximately 1.01 million units, more than 60% of the industry sales total, Honda has been the best-selling motorcycle brand in Thailand for 21 consecutive years. Due to the added comfort and ease-of-operation, the overall sales of AT models has been growing in Thailand, accounting for approximately 710,000 units, or approximately half of the market size in 2009.

With the introduction of the Wave110i AT, an AT model of the already popular Wave110i, Honda will further enhance its product lineup to meet the diversifying customer needs. Moreover, Honda is planning to install Honda’s programmed fuel injection system (PGM-FI) to all models sold in Thailand by the end of 2010.

Source: http://world.honda.com/news/2010/c100218Wave-110i-AT/

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GM To Invest $494 Million In U.S. Manufacturing For Next-Generation Ecotec Engines

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

General Motors will invest more than $494 million and create nearly 550 jobs in three U.S. plants to produce the next generation fuel efficient Ecotec engine. The project consists of the following:

Tonawanda — $425 million site investment will add capacity for the next generation Ecotec engine at 370,000 per year and bring about 470 jobs to that community
Defiance – $59 million site investment will support precision sand cast block at a capacity of 188,000 annually and result in about 80 jobs to that community
Bay City – $10.5 million site investment will bring new product to the plant (Ecotec connecting rod) and will create about 15 jobs for that plant.

The investment includes facility renovation, new machinery, equipment and special tooling to support this engine program at the three plants.

“GM is transforming its product portfolio to reduce fuel consumption and emissions, and the next generation Ecotec engine is an integral part of that transformation,” said Denise Johnson, vice president – labor relations. “The investment in state-of-the-art four-cylinder engines is another example of GM’s commitment to replace larger-displacement engines with more compact, advanced four-cylinder engines that optimize fuel savings and performance. We look forward to working with our union partners at these three plants to make this investment a success.”

The investment in Tonawanda, supported by the investments at Defiance and Bay City, will go toward producing two next-generation Ecotec engines. The new engines will have additional capabilities to improve fuel efficiency and improve performance through advanced design and by adding technology.

The Ecotec engine family is known for its reliability, fuel efficiency and performance. GM Ecotec engines have been on the forefront of delivering leading edge technology including direct injection, variable valve timing and turbocharging. Direct fuel injection, a hallmark of many Ecotec engines since 2007, is just now becoming mainstream technology in the industry.

The current Ecotec 2.4L with direct injection and variable valve timing in the Buick LaCrosse, Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain was recently recognized as one of Ward’s Auto World magazine’s 2010 “Ten Best Engines” for North America based on several factors, including power, fuel efficiency and new technology. The Ecotec is currently available in 2.0L, 2.2L and 2.4L displacements.

“This investment is important because it supports manufacturing in the United States,” said Cal Rapson, vice president and director, UAW International Union. “All three plants have a strong reputation for building quality and focusing on the needs of our customers.”

For competitive reasons, specifics about the engine capabilities as well as product applications will be shared at a later date.

Source: http://publish.media.gm.com/content/media/us/en/news/news_detail.brand_gm.html/content/Pages/news/us/en/2010/Feb/0218_Engine

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Fast Company Names Ford In Top 10 “Most Innovative Companies” In Mobile Technology

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

What does Ford Motor Company have in common with Google, Apple, and Amazon? Ford shares a spot with them on Fast Company’s Top 10 list of “Most Innovative” companies in Mobile technology, and becomes the first automaker to ever be recognized in the category.

“This honor represents Ford’s commitment to innovation and development of technology that enhances the driving experience and adds real value to the consumer,” said Mark Fields, Ford president, The Americas. “We’re very proud of this recognition from Fast Company, and it is truly an accomplishment to be named amongst some of the leading technology innovators and mobile application developers.”

Fast Company ranked Ford fifth in the mobile technology category for the introduction and evolution of SYNC, the industry-leading connectivity system co-developed with Microsoft, as well as the recent reveal of MyFord Touch, an innovative user interface that promises to redefine the in-car experience.

“The automaker has taken a great leap forward,” says Fast Company.

Ford developed SYNC in response to the explosive growth potential of the mobile device and embarked on a strategy to build a software-based connectivity platform that could leverage the increasing power of the phone and improving data networks. MyFord Touch expands on the system’s device connectivity features by delivering a graphical, touch, and voice-controlled user interface that maximizes SYNC’s capability and provides an intuitive and safer way for drivers to interact with the car.

“Collaboration and strategic investment in open innovation have been keys to our success,” Fields said. “Our relationship with Microsoft was just the beginning, as we’ve forged strong relationships throughout the mobile industry and look forward to even more.”

In addition to introducing MyFord Touch at the recent 2010 International CES, Ford became the first automaker to announce hands-free command and control of smart phone apps. Pandora, Stitcher, and OpenBeak are the first to implement the SYNC Application Programming Interface (API), enabling drivers to voice control the apps through SYNC’s Bluetooth connection.

Source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-named-one-of-fast-32078

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Toyota Corolla steering investigation in the United States

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

There have been reports from the United States media today that steering performance of Toyota Corolla vehicles is under investigation in the US market.

Toyota Motor Corporation - Japan has advised the electric power-steering system used in Corolla models sold in Australia is different from that used for models sold in the United States.

There have been no cases reported to Toyota Australia.

For further information contact Toyota Customer Experience Centre on 1800 252 097.

Source: http://news.toyota.com.au/toyota-corolla-steering-investigation-in-the-united-states

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Ford At 2010 Geneva Motor Show

Saturday, February 27th, 2010

Ford’s all-new C-car makes its European debut at next month’s Geneva show, alongside final versions of
C-MAX and Grand C-MAX which go on sale this year. There are also further product enhancements for the Ford Kuga and Mondeo and more options revealed for the new S-MAX and Galaxy.

All-new Ford C-MAX range
The all-new Ford C-MAX family provides two of the star attractions presented by Ford Motor Company at the 2010 Geneva International Motor Show. The C-MAX family brings new levels of style and desirability to the compact Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) market.

Ford’s C-segment MAV customers now have the choice of a new five-seat C-MAX or a distinctive new seven-seat Grand C-MAX, which features twin sliding doors and innovative seat design to provide outstanding space and flexibility. At Geneva, the interior of the five-seat C-MAX is revealed for the first time. It features a coupe-like, sweeping roofline which falls off to the rear, but without compromising the comfort and practicality of the vehicle. The seven-seat model features a higher roofline and thinner pillars which emphasise the generous room and visibility on offer within the cabin.

The all-new C-MAX cockpit will represent the next generation of Ford’s human machine interface (HMI) system. The key elements of this technology are two five-way toggle switches on the steering wheel, which control two main vehicle displays: one in the instrument cluster and the second mounted in a high position in the centre console. This simple, intuitive control system enables the driver to operate the key vehicle features while keeping both hands on the wheel, and with a minimum of distraction.

Fuel-efficient, low-CO2 powertrains for the C-MAX range include the new 1.6-litre Ford EcoBoost petrol engine and updated 1.6- and 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.

“The launch of the new C-MAX range is highly significant, and shows customers worldwide that they can expect some truly exciting designs as we roll out our new global range of medium cars,” said John Fleming. “The new C-MAX is just the start – with the next-generation Focus coming quickly after, we look forward to revealing more of the story in the very near future.”

All-new Ford Kuga powertrain and transmission enhancements
The stylish Ford Kuga crossover strengthens its reputation as the leading vehicle in its class with exciting new powertrain and transmission options designed to boost performance and improve fuel economy and CO2 performance.

The updated Kuga now offers a powerful new 163PS version of the 2.0-litre Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engine achieving a CO2 output of just 159g/km in the All-Wheel-Drive (AWD) models with manual transmission (six per cent reduction compared to the previous 136PS engine). The new efficiency advantages delivered by the Ford Powershift gearbox lower CO2 emissions for the 140 and 163PS AWD diesel automatics to a class-leading 179g/km.

With 20 per cent more peak power, the new 163PS engine improves the performance of the Kuga, increasing the top speed from 112 to 121mph and cutting the 0-62mph time from 10.7 to 9.6sec, as well as meeting the latest European Stage V emissions standards.

All-new Ford Mondeo powertrain and transmission enhancements
The versatile Ford Mondeo now benefits from improved fuel economy and lower emissions combined with stronger performance thanks to new high efficiency Ford EcoBoost petrol-injection turbo and upgraded Ford Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.

The Mondeo gains the all-new, high efficiency, turbocharged, 203PS 2.0-litre Ford EcoBoost SCTi petrol engine and significantly improved Stage V, 2.0-litre Duratorq TDCi diesels with 115PS and 140PS power outputs, plus an impressive new 163PS version.

In addition, the smooth and effortless Ford Powershift six-speed twin-clutch automatic transmission system comes to the Mondeo range, fitted as standard with the 2.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine and optionally available for the 140PS and 163PS Duratorq TDCi diesel engines.

The newly introduced 2.0-litre 163PS Ford Duratorq TDCi allows the Mondeo to achieve impressive fuel economy with a combined fuel consumption as low as 53.2 mpg*, as well as complying with stage V emissions regulations. Together with the new Ford Powershift, the Mondeo delivers a combined fuel economy of just 50.4 mpg.

Source: http://www.ford.com/about-ford/news-announcements/press-releases/press-releases-detail/pr-ford-at-2010-geneva-motor-show-32080

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Archive for February, 2010

Chief Minister of Punjab inaugurates Tata Motors supported State Institute of Automotive and Driving Skills

MSA Team UK convenes for first training session

The new A1: a real Audi

Hyundai announces i45 will arrive in 2nd quarter

DTM countdown: Audi’s driver line-up for the 2010 DTM is complete

Honda Introduces Wave110i AT Cub-style Scooter Equipped with New CV-Matic Automatic Transmission

GM To Invest $494 Million In U.S. Manufacturing For Next-Generation Ecotec Engines

Fast Company Names Ford In Top 10 “Most Innovative Companies” In Mobile Technology

Toyota Corolla steering investigation in the United States

Ford At 2010 Geneva Motor Show