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GM’s Lutz, retiring after 47 years, says hybrids, electrics are future

By admin | March 12, 2010

WARREN, Mich. – General Motors Co. will keep making big trucks and SUVs because U.S. buyers demand them, but a major portion of them will be gas-electric hybrids in the near future, retiring Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Friday.

Lutz didn’t give details, but said GM must apply hybrid technology to more vehicles in order to meet fuel-economy standards that will rise 40 percent to an average of 35 miles per gallon by 2020. The cost will likely be spread across GM’s lineup, since charging individual buyers for a hybrid system would make vehicles too expensive. GM has seven hybrids in its lineup now.

Lutz believes GM will be profitable by 2011 and will have a successful story to tell when the company goes public again to help repay its government loans. He said he’s leaving a team that respects his mantra of investing in high-quality products and good design.

“The mission of General Motors is to design, build and sell the world’s best cars and trucks. End of story,” he said. “And that has never been as clearly stated by senior-most management before. Never.”

Source: AP


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Ferrari 599 HY-KERS, New Green Car

By admin | March 3, 2010

Ferraris have been synonymous with the color red for so long that the company may be taking the association with hues a bit literally. The 599 HY-KERS concept is the company’s first take on a hybrid car, and likely the first one you’ve ever seen painted green.

Using a variation of the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) developed for its F1 cars, a battery-powered electric motor offers up a 100 hp boost to the V12 gasoline engine when needed, and can even propel the car on it’s own, turning it into the first ever 100 hp Ferrari – at least for short trips.

Source: AP


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Ford Outsells GM in Monthly Sales

By admin | March 2, 2010

It was the first time since 1998 that Ford outsold General Motors in monthly sales.

Among the biggest sales increases among Ford car models in the metro area were for Taurus (up 82 percent from February 2009) and Focus (up 72 percent).

“The strength of our new products and Ford’s leadership in quality, fuel efficiency, safety, smart design and value are resonating with customers,” Ken Czubay, Ford VP for U.S. marketing, sales and service, said in a statement. “The good news is we have even more new products and fuel-efficient powertrains coming this year, and we expect our progress to continue.”

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How to Handle car Loan Negotiations

By admin | February 22, 2010

Trying to purchase a car can be a little overwhelming and even embarrassing for some. The recession has resulted in many people having lower credit, yet cars still break down and have to be replaced. Certain people wonder if their credit is good enough to get a loan, and what the salesperson will think if it’s not. It is imperative to keep your confidence in this situation, because you most likely .

First off, don’t worry about other people’s opinion of what your credit rating is. The fact is that you may potentially could result in 1 or more deals, and they are grateful for it. Not a single soul at any car dealership will endeavour to make you feel uncomfortable.

The fact is that you most likely will get a car loan. But if you show that you are a bit on edge the staff will see that, and you’ll won’t be at as strong a position when it comes time to make a deal and hence may wind up paying a bit more than you would have. It is hard to negotiate from a position of power when the other party can sense . So keep your cool at all times, and try not to show too much emotion one way or the other.

Always conduct yourself as if you are already approved for credit, for even if you are declined you will have gained experience in negotiations and will be that much better prepared for the next time. If you seem like a steady person, even after rejection, the salesperson may try to find another way to get you financed.

Additionally, you want to avoid appearing as having a lot of interest in any given car. By becoming excited about a car they know you will pay more for it, so it’s best to look over it with a critical eye and voice any flaws in it or improvements you woul like.

The last thing you want is for a dealer to think that the sale is in the bag. If sensed, then you likely won’t get any leeway when it comes to price. The point is to never show your cards, because if they think the deal could collapse at any moment you’ll get much better terms.

Also keep in mind to be reasonable – if a dealer notices you’re being a little too difficult the whole thing may be shuttered on their end. But if you manage to achieve a few concessions then consider you trip a success.

So keep these three points in mind: act confident at all times, don’t get overly interested in one car, and be ok with walking away if you don;t get what you are looking for.

Don’t let bad credit become more than it is. Most people are in the same boat these days, and dealerships are used to accomodating it. If you follow the steps above the end result will have you pulling out of the dealership in a new vehicle, for a price that you are happy with.

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Want Your Car Done For Free?

By admin | February 19, 2010

This show is one of the most highly viewed reality shows all over the world. It is created by Bruce Beresford – Redman and Rick Hurvitz. The host of this show is the very popular rapper Xhibit who has brought life to this show by his dry sarcasm. In every episode, a car in a very poor state is taken and it is customized to suit the owners’ needs or interests or personality. The UK version of this show was hosted by DJ Tim Westwood and the version played all across Central Europe called the “Pimp My Ride International” which was hosted by hip hop performers Fat Joe and Lil’ Jon. This is one show that has gained popularity all across the globe.
Every episode of this show begins with the owner of the car parading his or her car and explaining why his or her car needs a make over. Once this is done the host of the show comes to the house of the owner and he examines the car. This is followed by his comments on the car which is usually hilarious and fun. After this the car is transported to the custom body shop which was West Coast Customs in seasons 1-4 and the Gaplin Auto sports from season 5. It is here that the real work begins. The shop crew examine the vehicle, analyze it and clearly state what all is needed for its make over, most of the times it is just cosmetic or mechanical in nature, but the fun begins when the engine has to be replaced.

The cosmetic make over of the car varies based on the hobbies and the interests of the owners. It includes repainting, adding fun images or accessories to the car, changing the wheels and even redoing the interior electronic work like installing new stereo system, TFT screens and many others. Both the shops, WCC and GAS are well known for adding their mystical touch to the cars.

Finally when the car is ready it is presented to the owner. While doing so they clearly explain what ever changes were made to it. In addition to all these, the owner sometimes even gets a special prize, something to go in his or her car or maybe something to do with his or her hobby. This pleasant surprise not only affects the owner but also the viewers as even they wish for their car to get “pimped”.

This show has gained popularity all over the world and several versions of it are available in various countries such as “Pimp Mon Char” of Canada, “Pimp My Fahrrad” of Germany and many more this way. Such versions have brought about local popularity to this show.

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