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20.6.12

Ford executives said Tuesday they expect the automaker will be hurt again for issues with its MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch electronic systems in the J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS), when 2012 results are released Wednesday.

"We expect to do about the same or a little better than last year," said Bernie Fowler, Ford vice president of global quality, at a media briefing Tuesday clearly intended to prepare reports for the study's results and allow Ford to provide its own spin on the results. After steady improvement in quality for a decade, Ford fell precipitously in J.D. Power's 2011 IQS results from 5th place to 23rd among nameplates. That put Ford below the industry average for the first time since 2006.

Ford owners complained in the survey mostly about problems with Ford's electronic systems — Sync, MyFord Touch and MyLincoln Touch. They also pointed out certain powertrain issues, specifically with Ford's Power Shift automatic transmission in the Ford Fiesta and Ford Focus, which were addressed with a software change.

Insisting Ford is listening closely and acting upon customer complaints like never before, Jim Farley, Ford group vice president of Global Marketing, Sales and Service, said the upgrades to the electronics were not available until March — after the November-to-February period during which J.D. Power performed its survey. Since March, Ford has sent notices to 377,000 of its customers for upgrades to their systems, which they can do themselves with a USB drive.

Farley said 89 percent of the 377,000 customers have upgraded their systems, with 70 percent of those performing it themselves, 20 percent going to a dealer for the service and another 10 percent having a friend help. Ford's surveys of customers showed they were significantly more satisfied with their vehicles after they performed the upgrade. "We won't see the results of the upgrade in this year's results," Farley acknowledged.

Inside Line says: The J.D. Power IQS, which tallies problems with vehicles in the early days of customer ownership and ranks nameplates, vehicles by segment and assembly plants, is a closely watched benchmark. The 2012 J.D. Power IQS finding will be presented at the Automotive Press Association luncheon in Detroit on Wednesday.

19.6.12

A set of training videos earned Chipola College’s Automotive Technology program an Exemplary Practice Award from the Association of Florida Colleges Occupational and Workforce Education Commission.

John Gardner, Chipola Automotive teacher, said the college filled a need within the automotive industry. Older training videos were outdated, filled with animation and voiceovers. Chipola College’s automotive program is one of the industry leaders in Florida, he said, making the project a necessary step.

This project wouldn’t have been possible without local business and industry partners finding the automotive technology programs the connections and means for production, Gardner said.

“They got this done for the betterment of the industry,” Gardner said.

The videos are the first ASE Certification series both written by and starring two practicing automotive instructors, Gardner and Chipola automotive teaching assistant Chase Vlieg, with more than 22 years of experience between them.

Each 10-minute segment contains the theory, parts description and a live demonstration, making it easy for all types of learners to understand, Gardner said. According to the press release, the video includes graphics, close ups of the equipment, ASE questions and answers and more.

The videos are geared toward anyone from students to do-it-yourselfers, Gardner said. He describes them as “infotainment.”

“It’s quick, fast-paced and to the point,” Gardner said. “It’s high definition and constantly moving.”

The videos have been written into the curriculum of Chipola College’s automotive technology program.

The videos can be purchased at the manufacturer’s website at bbbind.com. They will later be sold at a different website, details of which are not available yet.

Gardner said the college has received donations and recognition for the videos. A number of other manufacturers are beginning to produce their own videos as well.

14.6.12

Families needing the finest in moving services now will have increased convenience and a shorter distance to travel when moving, which not only will make their move easier but also will have the positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. U-Haul partnering with business owners across North America to increase convenience for customers while helping our environment is just one of the programs that support U-Haul Company's Corporate Sustainability initiatives.

myBay Automotive can now offer its customers a variety of moving equipment and supplies designed specifically for moving household furnishings, including moving vans, open trailers, closed trailers, furniture pads, appliance dollies, furniture dollies, tow dollies and auto transports. myBay Automotive also will offer sales items to protect their customers' belongings and make moving easier, such as heavy-duty boxes, which are made of up to 90 percent recycled content and are available in a variety of sizes.

"U-Haul is proud to be partnering with a quality independent business such as myBay Automotive," exclaimed Kenneth Birch, president, U-Haul Company of Fort Worth. "Jessily is a great example of the type of successful business relationship U-Haul has established in order to build and maintain a strong network of more than 15,000 independent dealers across North America."

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/06/13/4560146/mybay-automotive-in-denton-texas.html#storylink=cpy

18.8.11

19 Inch Porsche Wheels Rims Black (set of 4)The Porsche hybrid badge isn’t a joke. Like the Panamera sedan and the Cayenne SUV which were greeted warily by Porsche purists, the company’s gas electric powertrain has little trouble dismissing doubts, rewriting expectations, and silencing skeptics. If you still believe that Porsche product planners are making deliberate prods at the faithful -buy more 91ls or you’lI get more of this- you can take oft your tinfoil hat. While Germany’s great sports car maker is rapidly eleetrifying its lineup, it is simultaneously destroying hybrid stereotypes with vehicles like the 918 Spyder the 911 GT3 R Hybrid race car, and the Cayenne S Hybrid.

The new Panamera S Hybrid uses the same powertrain as the gas/electric Cayenne, save For a few changes to the battery—cooling plumbing. Inside the Panamera ’s enormous snout lives the same 333-hp, 3.0—liter supercharged V-6 that’s also found in the Audi S4. The addition of a 47-hp electric motor raises the peak power output to 380 hp and 427 lb ft of torque. The Panamera can run in hybrid mode or electric-only mode, accessed by the "E·Power" button on the center console. A nickel—metal-hydride battery is mounted under the trunk floor and can hold up to 1.7 kVVh ofenergy. The battery weighs about150 pounds and helps the Panamera S Hybrid achieve a more balanced weight distribution (51/49 percent) without substantially compromising trunk space.Compared with the V-6 Panamera S, an S Hybrid is about 400 pounds heavier. ---continue reading


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Rear Bumper Protector for 2010-2011 Toyota Priusat JAPANESE CAR COMPANIES, the chief engineer of 21 new vehicle holds enormous power. He (we’ve never encountered a she) is given a long leash by management and has the ability to create a car that reflects his own very persona vision. He helps conceptualize the vehicle, influences its design, and guides the multiyear development process with 21 firm hand. Generally speaking, his word is law.

Over the years, a tradition has emerged with Japanese chief engineers who are developing an new vehicle for the American market, and that tradition is the American road trip. The ostensible purpose of this multiweek jaunt is for the chief engineer to see how Americans live with their cars, to immerse themselves in American culture, and to glean ways to better serve American automotive needs. The chief engineer for the new Toyota Prius Y Hiroshi Kayukawa, made the obligatory journey to America to haunt Home Depot parking lots and visit major tourist sites before returning to his 1500-member team in Toyota City to start work on the new, bigger Prius. ----continue reading 


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15.8.11

BMW chairman Norbert Reithofer is not exactly a fan ofthe cheap zz roadster tm its been internally christened), the decision makers are beginning to understand that they can't cede this segment to the competition. The Z4 has evolved into a good- looking vehicle, but its packaging, weight, and rigid convertible top disappoint hard-core enthusiasts (i.e., Boxster buyers). Initially BMW planned to build the Z2 on the brand’s upcoming front-wheel-drive architecture ignition, May zoul However, the mere rumor of a front-wheel-drive BMW sports car raised enough of an outcry within the enthusiast community that BMW officials are now considering two far better options. The first would be to continue developing the car on this platform, alongside the Mini Roadster and Coupe, but to take a page from Audi and make it four-wheel drive. Among the undisputed advantages of this strategy are (1) a short path to production (spring 2014 for a ragtop roadsten fall 2014 for a coupe version), (2) the traction bonus inherent to four-wheel drive, and (3) the economies of scale offered by bitching up to a high-volume architecture.
On the debit side, it's hard to ignore the usual weight, space, and cost penalties of adding driveshafts and other associated hardware. Continue reading . . . 



19.2.11

Porsche SE wants to retain and build on its position as the world’s most profitable carmaker, Automotive News Europe reported, according to the e-mailed preview of an article that will appear in Tuesday’s edition.

Volkswagen AG needs to build five or six new plants worldwide to meet demand, the magazine said, citing Chief Executive Officer Matthias Mueller. The VW Group plans to sell 10 million and 11 million cars a year and production capacity is at a maximum 8 million, the magazine reported.

Mueller also said Porsche wants to sell 30,000 units a year on average of the new 911, compared with about 20,000 units last year when the old 911 came to the end of its life cycle.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ragnhild Kjetland in Frankfurt at rkjetland@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Vidya Root at vroot@bloomberg.net

Source

15.2.11

ECOtality, a provider of clean electric transportation technologies and Roush have started the mass manufacturing of its Blink Level 2 Charging Stations at Roush Manufacturing.

ECOtality partnered with Roush in July 2010 to manufacture the company's Blink home and commercial charging stations.

The company said that the agreement marked a major move for Roush into the electric vehicle industry.

This is an important evolutionary step for Roush and the automotive industry, as an existing Roush automotive facility has been modified to now support the developing EV industry, said the firm.

ECOtality president Don Karner said throughout each step of the EV Project, they've seen unprecedented consumer demand for electric vehicles, and partners like Roush have played a key role as they've brought their smart charging stations to market.

"Roush's stellar reputation and automotive OEM experience made them an ideal partner as we made the move to full-scale manufacturing," Karner said.

"Together we are excited to bring an innovative, American-made charging station to EV drivers nationwide."

The Blink charging stations form the centerpiece of the rich charging infrastructure network ECOtality is deploying, as part of the DOE-backed EV Project.

The home charging stations offer several advantages over conventional charging stations, including advanced energy monitoring capabilities that allow homeowners to optimize their energy usage and charge their vehicles when rates are lowest.

The company said that, the Blink Network charger interface is the hub where users can receive information about their EV and Blink Home Charging Station including charge status, statistics and history.