Cummins works works on a 28-mpg diesel with V8 power for pickups

Cummins Inc. is developing a four-cylinder diesel engine aimed at giving full-sized, light-duty pickups the power of a small V-8 and overall fuel economy of 28 mpg.

The project began in September using the Nissan Titan pickup, which is being used to test the engine, pickuptruck.com reports.




Funding is provided by the U.S. Department of Energy in partnership with Nissan Motor Co. The Energy Department is providing $15 million of the project's estimated $30 million cost.


Vehicle and engine makers are seeking ways to improve fuel economy. New federal fuel economy and emissions rules took effect Jan. 1 that require automakers to achieve a corporate average fuel economy of 35.5 mpg by the 2016 model year.


But automakers and regulators from the EPA, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the California Air Resources Board are debating a tougher proposal initiated by President Barack Obama last October. That plan calls for a CAFE range of 47 mpg to 62 mpg by the 2025 model year.


The two-wheel-drive 2011 Titan is rated at 13 mpg city/18 highway/15 combined. The Titan has a gasoline-powered 5.6-liter V-8.


The test engine has a 2.8-liter displacement. According to initial figures, the diesel engine produces 350 pounds-feet of torque at about 1,800 rpm. The horsepower of a small V-8 is targeted.


The engine is a derivative of the four-cylinder ISF architecture that Cummins builds overseas, with 2.8-liter and 3.8-liter displacements, according to pickuptruck.com.


The test engine uses high-strength steel pistons instead of conventional aluminum pistons. Steel pistons can handle high power loads with a shorter stroke, which helps reduce the overall height of the engine for improved packaging, according to pickuptruck.com.


Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110526/CARNEWS/110529863#ixzz1NZHIJqhL

Car-sharing programs hit the big time

Rental-car company Getaround introduced its business plan for “peer-to-peer car sharing” on May 24 at the Tech Crunch Disrupter conference in New York City. Unlike other car-renting and car-sharing companies such as ZipCar, Getaround works by connecting potential car renters with willing car owners via an iPhone app.

All Getaround vehicles are privately owned. An owner can sign up for the program and, if he is not actively using the vehicle, he can charge to rent it out. The potential renter checks his phone, finds a car that’s close and books the deal. Once the renter is approved by the owner, he uses the phone application to access the car.

Owners can choose how much to charge, but cars currently on the site run from $5 to $15 per hour.

If a Getaround car gets wrecked, is stolen or is left with an empty tank, the company’s basic insurance would cover the issue. The renter/driver is responsible for a $500 deductable, but beyond that, it’s all covered. A representative from Getaround told AutoWeek that an owner should expect the same claim speed as he or she would from a current insurance provider.

The company also announced Berkshire Hathaway as an insurance partner, which was one of the biggest hurdles left to clear for a country-wide launch.

Currently, the company operates in the San Francisco Bay area and in parts of San Diego, but it will be accepting cars across the country on a city-by-city basis.

Getaround is the just the latest player in the car time-sharing game. ZipCar was started more than a decade ago. With that service, you get a ZipCar card, which you use to pay for and unlock cars. ZipCar covers gasoline and insurance as well. The company recently launched its initial public offering.

I-Go is a Chicago-based company that works the same way as ZipCar. Members get a card to open doors and keep tabs on their balance. While the car is in service, drivers use the keys and fobs like normal.

Relay Rides is a service that primarily operates in Boston and San Francisco. It’s more like Getaround, using a peer-to-peer philosophy. The company also pays for gasoline and insurance.

The companies with monthly rates charge about $50. Others only rent by the hour, and some have yearly rates for heavy usage

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110526/CARNEWS/110529855#ixzz1NZGWyz1g

Video: Audi Le Mans driver Allan McNish explain 'eliminating luck'

Audi is ramping up its efforts for the 24 Hours of Le Mans both in the pit and in the marketing office. The company has created a new 3-D video called A Day in the Life of an Audi Driver.

The video shows Audi Team Joest driver Allan McNish talking about the hundreds of people and hundreds of hours that go into planning for something such as Le Mans.

It lives (in 2-D) at Audi’s YouTube channel but will be shown to the world on May 28 at Saturday’s UEFA Champions League final soccer game. The video also will appear in the trailers before the final Harry Potter movie.

The 24 Hours of Le Mans takes place June 11-12 at Circuit de la Sarthe in France. Count on AutoWeek to bring you full coverage

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110526/CARNEWS/110529850#ixzz1NZAlplSn

2012 Volkswagen Passat priced at $20,765

The all-new 2012 Volkswagen Passat, looking to be a big player in the highly competitive midsize segment and the first car to be built at a new Chattanooga, Tenn., assembly plant, will come to market this fall with a base sticker price of $19,995, plus $770 destination charge. The 2012 Passat will be sold with three powertrains and a variety of equipment levels.

“The 2012 Passat is a true Volkswagen, offering German engineering, class-leading standard features and superior fuel economy, all for a remarkable value,” said Jonathan Browning, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America. “Demonstrating our commitment to the American market, the car will be produced at one of the newest, most advanced and environmentally responsible auto assembly plants in the world.”

The base Passat is powered by a 2.5-liter five-cylinder with a manual transmission and 170 hp. The 2.5L model, available in eight equipment levels, comes standard with automatic dual-zone climate control, Bluetooth connectivity, steering-wheel audio controls and VW's no-charge three-year/36,000-mile scheduled-maintenance program. The uplevel Passat SE model starts at $23,725 and includes additional equipment such as 17-inch alloy wheels, an eight-way power driver seat, heated front seats, a touch-screen Premium VIII radio and a multifunction leather-wrapped steering wheel.

The 2.0L TDI clean-diesel model offers three trim levels and starts at $25,995. The Passat TDI--the only clean-diesel option in the midsize segment--is expected to deliver 43 mpg on the highway, with a range of nearly 800 miles. The TDI base trim package, the SE, comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels, heated front seats, a touch-screen Premium VIII radio and a six-speed manual transmission. VW's automatic DSG transmission is optional.

Topping the VW Passat range is a 3.6-liter VR6 that comes in three different trim levels and has a base sticker price of $28,995. The VR6 model comes standard with a six-speed automatic DSG transmission and offers a highly competitive 280 hp. Additional standard premium features in the VR6 model include 18-inch alloy wheels, comfort sport seats, a sunroof and a class-exclusive Fender premium audio system.

The new Passat, designed specifically for the North American market, is a slightly larger version than the car sold in the rest of the world. The all-new midsize sedan is 191.7 inches long and has a 110.4-inch wheelbase.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110526/CARNEWS/110529866#ixzz1NZ9usWdO

Indianapolis 500: HPD wins Louis Schwitzer Award for refueling system

Honda Performance Development on May 21 won the 45th-annual Louis Schwitzer Award for motorsports engineering innovation and excellence in recognition of the Honda Refueling Safety Interlock System.

The system, which reduces the potential for fires in pit lane when refueling, was created by a team at HPD led by Roger Griffiths, Jim Goodloe, Marco Martinelli and Robert Bell.

The key part of the system is an electronic fuel-probe sensor installed on an Indy-car’s inlet valve into which ethanol fuel flows. The sensor prevents the car from leaving neutral while the fuel hose is still attached. The software included in the HPD system also provides strategies for overriding the system if a sensor fails.

To date, according to HPD, the sensors have achieved 2,500 competition miles without failure. The system became mandatory at the beginning of the 2011 Izod IndyCar Series season.

HPD engineers also won the award in 2004 for developing the HI4R-A IndyCar Series engine, which Buddy Rice drove to the Indy 500 winner’s circle.

The Louis Schwitzer Award was given previously to the developers of the Head And Neck Support (HANS) device and for the soft SAFER barrier used on oval tracks.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110524/CARNEWS/110529909#ixzz1NJ6n7kkG

U.S. sales of quirky 5-series GT disappoint BMW

BMW's 5-series Gran Turismo was meant to be a stylish alternative to minivans and crossovers when it debuted in November 2009. But sales of the tall, quirky five-door have been disappointing.

Now, BMW of North America CEO Jim O'Donnell says he wishes the company hadn't stopped selling the 5-series wagon in the United States last year. BMW had expected the 5-series GT to attract those wagon buyers, but the GT is luring owners of the more-expensive 7-series sedan instead.

"The disappointment I have is that I thought a lot of our 5-series station wagon customers would go with the GT," O'Donnell says. "In point of fact, that is not happening. We have lost those customers to the competition--mainly to Mercedes-Benz.

"The GT has attracted 7- and 5-series customers and conquests," he says, "but not the station wagon customer we had hoped."

In Florida, 10 percent of BMW 7-series owners have replaced their cars with the 5-series GT, O'Donnell says.

The GT uses the platform of the larger 7 series but starts at $57,375 for the 535i GT, while the 7 series starts at $71,525 for the 740i sedan. Prices include shipping.

When the GT was launched in the United States, BMW executives said they expected annual sales of 4,000 to 8,000 units. BMW sold 2,848 GTs in 2010 and just 720 in the first four months of 2011. Sales of the 5-series wagon peaked at 2,351 units in 2005.

The 5-series GT's styling has been controversial. Dealers say some buyers dislike the hatchback configuration and some object to its high rear-end design.

"Americans don't like hatchbacks no matter how much Europeans want us to like them," says John Mantione, general manager of Fields BMW in Winter Park, Fla. "But it's a great value--a 7-series car for the price of the 5 series."

One public dealership group has stopped ordering the GT because of slow sales. Other dealers said they sell one or two GTs a month.

"They just sit there," says Nick Toomey, general manager of Rallye BMW in Westbury, N.Y. "I don't know why it takes a long time to sell."

O'Donnell says he doesn't want to lose wagon sales to Mercedes-Benz so BMW will keep the 3-series wagon in its lineup.

"We are not giving up the 3-series wagon because if you give it up, they will go straight to the competition," he says.

As for bringing back the 5-series wagon, O'Donnell says it may be too late for this generation.

"It's in the back of my mind," he says. "When we do the next generation, maybe we should."

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110524/CARNEWS/110529913#ixzz1NJ6E0R3s

Mercedes Benz launches iPad app that tours redesigned CLS

Mercedes-Benz USA has released an iPad app for the redesigned 2012 Mercedes CLS that allows users to explore the car's interior and exterior and customize a vehicle.

The app was created as a tool for dealership sales associates but it's open for consumers to use. It is the first installment in a series of 2012 model year product apps available free through the Apple Store.

Users can find the app by searching "Mercedes-Benz 2012 CLS."

The app enables dealers and customers to learn more about the 2012 Mercedes CLS and personalize vehicles with a virtual tour and "explore" section. Video demonstrations are also available through the app.

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110524/CARNEWS/110529900#ixzz1NJ5om7kZ

Measurer of pressure of I disturb in cloud 2g

To connect the measurer of boost in a Cirrus 04.Lo first that you must do is to connect the current or the cable of current of your measurer in the fuse of the quarters that is in the small box within the car. For the Earth you can take hold a screw and to connect it, later you pass the manguerita there of emptiness (the transparency) upon the column of the direction you are going there to find a packing, that packing you must haul it but much eye, does not leave absolutely, single you must haul it WITH WELL-TAKEN CARE OF so that it passes the manguerita that way... you put all the manguerita by that packing and of the side of the motor it is going to be leaving under the BOOST of the brakes later returns to put the packing in its place.

After there since you across have the tube in the engine compartment, then you arrange yourself to use the T, Where goes the " T "? ah then, you must disconnect the manguerita that goes in the acceleration body
Here in the photo I show to you as it is the hose

IMPORTANT, YOU MUST BUY a HOSE SMALL PIECE OF VACIO FOR INTRUDUCIR IT IN the HOYITO Of the ACCELERATION BODY SINCE NORMALLY " T " EMBONA ASI NADA MAS and already the emptiness (it is transparent) does not go connected in the " conection" of the " T "
Good now the installation you would have left thus:

　
Also it is important that the measurer with the dull car marks " zero "

Tunear the measurer of kilometros or speedometers

The speedometers are one of the most important parts of the vehicle, so important that we must try that is always in perfect state, since is what all the information of the vehicle transmits until us.
It has several spheres where one generally visualizes the kilometers per hour to which the vehicle moves (speedometer), another one where it indicates the RPM of the motor (tachometer), and two smaller than they indicate the temperature and the amount of remaining fuel.
There are them more modern than they are digital, instead of the spheres for the fuel and the temperature; but the normal thing is to always find them like minimum with speed and revolutions with needle.
What can be modified of the speedometers?
color of the inner spheres.
frontal part that is bordering the spheres.
needles.
illumination of the needles and spheres.
As a rule the modification of this one part is not legal since the kilometrage can be changed manually.
Types of Speedometers.
The types of speedometers that there are are:

. Digital
. Mechanics
. Electronic

Limited edition racing car: Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

With the 911 GT3 RS 4.0, one of Porsche's most popular, coveted and successful racing pedigree production cars is entering the home straight. Limited to 600 vehicles, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 brings together in a road car all the attributes that have made the Porsche 911 GT3 a serial winner on the race track. The new model purveys thoroughbred motorsport technology to its innermost core. The flat engine's crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3 RSR racing car's six cylinder engine and the forged pistons' connecting rods are fashioned from titanium. The four-litre displacement sports engine, the biggest 911 model line engine ever, is also the most powerful naturally aspirated engine with 125 hp/litre (92 kW). It achieves its maximum power of 368 kW (500 hp) at 8,250 revs per minute. The engine delivers its maximum torque of 460 Newton metres at 5,750 rpm.

The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 offers truly impressive performance. The most eloquent figure: It makes it round the Nurburgring-Nordschleife in 7:27 minutes. The 911 GT3 4.0, available exclusively with a six-speed sports transmission, sprints to 100 km/h (62 mph) from a standing start in 3.9 seconds, its gearing designed for the racing circuit taking it to the 200 km/h (124 mph) mark in under 12 seconds.

The 911 GT3 RS 4.0's outstanding driving dynamics are the fruit of meticulously coordinated details. In addition to using the suspension components typically encountered in motor racing, weight reduction is also of supreme importance. Equipped as standard with light weight components such as bucket seats, bonnet and front wings made of carbon fibre, plastic rear windows and weight-optimised carpets, the two-seater's ready-for-road weight is a mere 1,360 kilograms with a full tank of fuel. At 2.72 kg/hp, the 911 GT3 RS 4.0's power-to-weight ratio thereby dips below the magical threshold of 3 kilograms per hp.

The limited edition 911 is painted white as standard and emphasises its proximity to motor racing by its dynamic appearance. Trademark characteristics are the wide track, the low vehicle position, the large rear wing with adapted side plates, the typical central twin tailpipe and the aerodynamically optimised body. The lateral front air deflection vanes, so-called flics, making their first appearance on a production Porsche, testify to the aerodynamic precision engineering. They create increased downforce on the front axle and together with the steeply inclined rear wing bring the vehicle into aerodynamic equilibrium. As a result, at top speed, aerodynamic forces exert an additional 190 kg pushing the 911 GT3 RS 4.0 onto the road.

The market launch of the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0 begins in Germany in July 2011. The basic list price is 178,596 euro including 19 per cent value added tax and country-specific equipment.

Mercedes-Benz CL & SLS by MAE Design

For many years, MAE has been synonymous with exclusive accessories for Mercedes Benz brand vehicles. In particular the characteristic wheel rims were sought-after by all Mercedes fans around the world. Then things got quieter around the brand with its concise three letters. Now MAE takes off again under a new management, presenting all-new wheel designs right away!

Lots has been said and written on the brand of MAE. After many complicated years and several disputes, the brand rights finally even ended up in the United States. Now it is time to start anew! In Berlin, MAE is now taking off for real again under the management of Tuning original Yuksel Akkus, the official license holder representing the brand of MAE in Germany exclusively. The new Berlin headquarters, which also house a shop, opens on 23 April 2011. Branches are located in Munich and Marburg, offering the traditional wheel rims as well as new designs like the brand-new "Majestic" wheel. This wheel rim with its strong turbine looks even has screwed-on rotor blades, making it a complete new development. The wheel rim can be delivered with flat and fine double-stage bed. It is available in widths from 8 to 14 inch; the diameter range goes from 20-24 inch. Every single customer wish will come true here! Another highlight is the re-launch of the popular "Crown Jewel" wheels, also available in many different sizes. The range here goes up to a brutal 7.5 inches outer bed, guaranteeing for extreme looks. The black CL 500 uses fine wheels in the sizes of 11.5x20 inch in front and 12.5x20 inch at the rear axle. The Michelin tyres in 285/25 and 305/25 give the heavy coupe a heavy stance.

Finally, the new "Crownia" wheel rim enters the ring. With its massive look, it also matches the Mercedes vehicles well. A particularly nice match for these wheels is the luxurious sports car SLS, not least due to their generous dimensions of 9.5 and 11.5x22 inch. With 315/25 rear tyres and even 265/30 rubber at the front axle, even this SLS 63 AMG will not need to complain of lacking traction. The delivery range will be continually developed over the next years, so that the wheels will be available in more and more sizes and bolt circles. Therefore, MAE will in future also be available or the owners for fine car bodies of other brands.

There are also some other areas with great offers. MAW offers new lowering modules for serial air-suspension car bodies. They can be remote-controlled via the phone buttons in the original steering wheel. This means that the car can be lowered by the push of a button! Apart from this, stainless steel exhaust systems are offered in three different volume stages. They will be able to live up to any genuine part where precise fit is concerned.

The car body has also been considered by MAE. At the moment, they are developing a body kit to be introduced on the market for selected Mercedes vehicles in autumn.

The All-New 2012 Subaru Impreza. Coming this Fall.

The current Impreza is the perfect size. It's easy to park and fits in tight spaces, yet it's big enough to carry a full load of your companions and gear. We didn't want to lose any of this, so we found a way to stretch the interior and make it even roomier, while keeping the overall vehicle length and width the same. Now, the trunk on the all-new sedan can carry four golf bags, compared to the previous model's three, and the size of the cargo area in the five-door also increased. Rear seat passengers weren't forgotten either, they gain two inches of legroom. Along with the added space, the 2012 Impreza also delivers a major step-up in refinement, with richer looking appointments and details everywhere. The dashboard, door trim, and center console armrest are now all made of soft-touch materials.

Ford F-150 probe expanded to cover 2.7 million vehicles

U.S. safety regulators have expanded to 2.7 million vehicles an investigation into faulty fuel-tank straps on Ford F-150 pickups.

Officials are looking into whether the straps that hold the fuel tanks can rust and break on F-150s from the 1997-2001 model years.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said two fires resulted from the problem over the weekend. One report from Ford said a vehicle caught on fire from a leaking fuel tank, and safety officials said they received another complaint of a fire that went out before causing major damage.

There have been 306 complaints about the issue--175 filed with NHTSA and 156 with Ford.

"Among the incidents reported to NHTSA or Ford, 243 involved the fuel tank dropping below the vehicle and/or dragging on the ground, 95 involved fuel leakage, and nine included reports of sparks from the tank being dragged on the road," the NHTSA filing said.

The probe was opened in September after 32 consumer complaints, when an estimated 1.4 million F-150 pickups were thought to have faulty straps.



Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110509/CARNEWS/110509836#ixzz1Lv8ntyQh

Ford Mustang adds 'Mayhem' to its option list

The social networks have spoken: The Ford Mustang V6 Performance package will now be known as the Mayhem Mustang package.

Ford put out a call to its 1.4 million Facebook fans with the question, “What should we call the Mustang V6 Performance package?”

More than 3,000 submissions were made via Ford's Facebook page, and almost 6,700 users installed the “You Name It” app. The winning submission came from a fan in North Carolina, who won a three-year lease on the 2012 Ford Mustang V6.

The five names that received the most votes were selected, but Ford made the final decision. Each finalist was run through trademark, copyright and brand approvals to make sure the no toes were stepped on. The Mayhem name will be used on all of Ford's marketing and communication materials.

The package combines the base 305-hp engine with a 3.31 performance rear axle and Mustang GT-based suspension and braking parts. The Mayhem Mustang gets unique 19-inch wheels and Pirelli performance tires.

Other highlights of the package include:

-- Mustang GT front and rear stabilizer bars

-- Mustang GT500 rear lower control arm

-- Strut tower brace for increased body rigidity

-- Unique electronic stability-control calibration with sport mode for performance driving

-- Unique badging


The 2012 Ford Mustang V6 costs $22,995. The Mustang Mayhem package (still named V6 Performance package on the build site) adds $1,995.


Ford Press Release

Ford Mustang Facebook Fans Choose ‘Mayhem’ as New Name for V6 Performance Package•The Ford Mustang V6 Performance Package has been given a new name – “Mayhem Mustang Package” – thanks to a Facebook contest that asked for the help of nearly 1.4 million Mustang fans

•More than 3,000 submissions were made to the Facebook page and nearly 6,700 users installed the “You Name It” app. The winner, from North Carolina, receives a three-year lease on a 2012 Mustang with the Mayhem Mustang Package

•Mayhem Mustang Package combines lightweight 305-horsepower all-aluminum V6, a 3.31 performance rear axle and Mustang GT-based suspension and braking components. Unique 19-inch wheels and Pirelli performance tires provide superb grip and aggressive appearance

Dearborn, Mich., May 9, 2011 – The Ford Mustang V6 Performance Package delivers on “fun, fast and affordable,” and now it has an all-new name to go along with that. After Ford reached out to the nearly 1.4 million fans on the Mustang Facebook page, “Mayhem Mustang Package” has been chosen as the new name.


“We saw great enthusiasm from fans, with tons of creative, unique names coming in,” said Brian McClary, Ford social and emerging media specialist. “The contest was twofold – it let us engage with fans by letting them have a say, and it helped build awareness for the package.”


More than 3,000 submissions were made to the Mustang Facebook page and nearly 6,700 users installed the “You Name It” app that let them participate in the contest. The winning submission came from a fan in Charlotte, N.C., who has won a three-year lease on a 2012 Mustang equipped with the Mayhem Mustang Package.


Facebook fans were asked to suggest a name on the Facebook page and reach out to their friends in the social media world to help propel their choice into the top five names. A gallery on the page let visitors see all of the choices that could be voted on. After the five most-voted names were selected, Ford chose the name that best shows off the personality of the package.


Each finalist was run through trademark, copyright and brand approvals. The Mayhem Mustang Package will be used as the name on all Mustang sales, marketing and communications materials.


High-tech horsepower

The Mayhem Mustang Package takes advantage of Mustang’s 305-horsepower all-aluminum Ti-VCT V6 engine’s lightweight and high-revving nature to deliver a nimble performance car equally at home on a road course or road trip.


Borrowing from Mustang GT, the Mayhem Mustang Package includes numerous suspension, braking and body stiffening upgrades to deliver unparalleled handling performance. That road-holding is helped by a near-equal front/rear weight distribution, providing exceptional transient response along with the car’s slimmed-down curb weight of less than 3,500 pounds.


The 2012 Ford Mayhem Mustang Package includes:


•3.31 rear axle ratio for quicker off-the-line acceleration

•Mustang GT coupe front and rear stabilizer bars

•Mustang GT front struts and rear shocks/springs

•Shelby GT500 rear lower control arm

•Unique 19-inch wheels

•Pirelli performance tires for improved grip

•Mustang GT front and rear brake calipers with Performance Friction pads

•Strut tower brace for increased body rigidity

•Unique electronic stability control calibration with sport mode for performance driving

•Unique badging

Read more: http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110509/CARNEWS/110509840#ixzz1Lv7vK7rx

Chevrolet Launches Special-Edition 2012 Camaro Exclusively For The Troops

If you presently serve in the United States’ armed forces, Chevrolet has some good news: it’s created a limited-edition 2012 Camaro just for you.

In celebration of National Military Appreciation Month, General Motors announced the 2012 Camaro Honor and Valor model. The new package is essentially a stock 2012 Camaro SS, but throws in several unique touches, including a painted body kit, white side stripes, black leather seating, a so-called “Honor” badge, and a grille insert and surround similar to that used on this year’s Indy 500 pace car.

Camaro Honor and Valor models will only be available in red, white, and –er, black. Production is limited to 99 examples, and much like Harley-Davidson’s police and firefighter edition models, cars will only be made available to buyers actively serving in the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, or Coast Guard, and National Guard. Interested buyers can place an order through www.gmmilitarydiscount.com

The specialized Camaros are, admittedly, a small part of GM’s plans for the Military Appreciation Month. Through the end of May, the company is extending its military discount — which usually can shave anywhere between $500 through $4000 off the price of a vehicle — to spouses of both active and reserve members, along with retirees.

Additionally, those who order, purchase, or lease a Chevrolet this month will also receive a set of Honor badges (identical to those used on the aforementioned Camaro). GM will also donate $100 per transaction to Cell Phones for Soliders, a group that provides mobile phones to soldiers stationed abroad for free calls home.

rumors.automobilemag.com

Geneva motor show 2011

From 3rd to 13th March 2011
Monday - Friday : 10 am to 8 pm
Saturday - Sunday : 9 am to 7 pm


Geneva public transport network (TPG)


http://www.salon-auto.ch/en/

Car tuning

Car tuning is both an industry and a hobby, in which an automobile, motor bike, scooter or moped is modified in order to improve its performance, handling and presentation and improve the owner's driving style. As most vehicles leave the factory set up for average driver expectations and average conditions, tuning has become a way to personalize the characteristics of the vehicle to the owner's preference. For example, they may be altered to provide better fuel economy, produce more power at high RPM or the ride comfort may be sacrificed to provide better handling.

Car tuning is related to auto racing, although most performance cars never compete. Rather they are built for the pleasure of owning and driving such a vehicle. Another major facet of tuning includes performance modification to the car exterior. This includes changing the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle via side skirts, front and rear bumpers, adding spoilers, splitters, air vents and light weight wheels.

Origin of tuning

In the 1970s and 80s, many Japanese performance cars were never exported outside the Japanese domestic market. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, grey imports of Japanese performance cars, such as the Nissan Skyline [1][1] [2][3], began to be privately imported into Western Europe and North America. In the United States, this was in direct contrast to the domestic car production around the same time, where there was a very small performance aftermarket for domestic compact and economy cars; the focus was instead on sporty cars such as the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Corvette, or on classic muscle cars.

Because of their light weight and the increasing availability of low-cost tuning equipment, economy and compact cars exhibit high performance at a low cost in comparison to dedicated sports cars. As professional sporting and racing with such vehicles increased, so did recreational use of these vehicles. Drivers with little or no automotive, mechanical, or racing experience would modify their vehicles to emulate the more impressive versions of racing vehicles, with mixed results.

Also a rise of this class of automobiles into racing scenes was the Rallying competitions, where highly modified tuners race against each other on twisty roads and are timed.This has led to some public styling like on the Impreza models.

During the late '90s, demand for tuning began to spike in many countries with the introduction of a video game franchise by the name of Gran Turismo for the Sony PlayStation. It showed that normal everyday cars could be transformed into high performance vehicles for racing. Also the internet showed people what could be done to their cars and the after market parts scene became wider and more available so people could buy more parts than they had been able to before.The modding tuning side had been around for many years where we see Skylines in races down to the 60's and drifting in the 70's and BMW's tuned and racing from the 60's also just a few cars which were tuned and raced from years ago.