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New “911 Identity” Exhibit
Opens at the Porsche Museum
Thousands of visitors expected to enjoy retrospective of all seven
generations of the iconic 911
ATLANTA – Jan. 31, 2012 – The Porsche Museum in Stuttgart today unveiled
its new “911 Identity” Exhibit, a major “family” retrospective of all
seven generations of the legendary Porsche 911, each showcased against
the backdrop of its era. The exhibit will be open to the public until
May 20, 2012.
The first 911 was unveiled in 1963, and since then more than 700,000
models have journeyed from the assembly line in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen
to customers around the globe. With the launch of the all-new 2012 911
Carrera and Carrera S, both Porsche and its curator of historical
milestones, the Porsche Museum, wanted to celebrate the automobile’s
lineage and cultural significance.
In addition to the seven generations of Porsche 911 production cars,
rare race cars based on the 911 platform also join the exhibit. These
include rarities such as the Porsche 911 Carrera RS 2.7 “Safari” and the
Porsche 911 GT3 R Hybrid. Adding to the automotive retrospective are
documents from the Porsche archive that have never before been on public
display.
In celebration of the latest generation of the Porsche 911 and the new
exhibit, the Porsche Museum is also expanding its guided tour offerings.
Porsche fans will be able to add even more history and heritage data and
anecdotes to their own sports car lexicon during a themed, one-hour
guided tour.
The Porsche Museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Admission is eight euro for adults, reduced admission is four euro.
Children under 14 are admitted for free if accompanied by an adult.
Further information, including the special guided tours, is available
online at www.porsche.com/museum.
Contact:
Nick Twork Dave Engelman
Manager, Product Communications Media Relations Manager
678-323-6975 770-290-3617
nick.twork@porsche.us dave.engelman@porsche.us
About Porsche Cars North America
Porsche Cars North America, Inc. (PCNA), based in Atlanta, Ga. is the
exclusive U.S. importer of Porsche sports cars, the Cayenne SUV and
Panamera sports sedan. Established in 1984, it is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of Porsche AG, which is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany,
and employs approximately 220 people who provide parts, service,
marketing and training for 194 dealers. They, in turn, work to provide
Porsche customers with a best-in-class experience that is in keeping
with the brand’s 63-year history and leadership in the advancement of
vehicle performance, safety and efficiency. At the core of this success
is Porsche’s proud racing heritage that boasts some 30,000 motorsport
wins to date.
Follow us:
www.twitter.com/Porsche and
www.facebook.com/Porsche
Note: Photos are available to accredited journalists on the Porsche
Press Database at
http://press.porsche.com/. Video
footage is available to registered users at
http://thenewsmarket.com/porsche.
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SAMA announces judges for
2011 Miami auto show awards
By Ron Beasley
The Southern Automotive Media Association
will award trophies again in 2011 to three auto manufacturers who enter
vehicles in the South Florida International Auto Show that are judged
Star of the Show, Best Green Technology Vehicle in the Show
and Best Concept Vehicle in the Show.
This is the fifth consecutive year that SAMA has given the awards at the
SFIAS, which marks its 41st anniversary this year. A prestigious panel
of nine SAMA members has been selected to walk the floor of the show and
review the vehicles just prior to the opening and determine which
vehicles will receive the coveted SAMA awards.
Those judges are SAMA founding president and automotive editor for
Miami’s Community Newspapers Ron Beasley, former Automundo Magazine
publisher and SAMA founding member Jorge Koechlin, FAMA Magazine
publisher and SAMA founding member Al Vazquez, prominent international
auto journalist Howard Walker, auto writer/photographer and SAMA
founding member Angelica Willard, nationally known automotive radio
personality Joe Castello, veteran automotive writer and track announcer
Ric Green, bilingual automotive journalist Juan Robbin, and auto writer
and sports car racer Dr. Ray Mummery.
The
awards will be announced and presented at an annual luncheon hosted by
SAMA for members of the auto industry on the opening day of the Miami
auto show. The SFIAS gets underway at the Miami Beach Convention Center
on Oct. 28 and continues through Nov. 6.
For more information, address email to
RonBeasley@bellsouth.net
or call
786-429-5031.
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Ron Beasley is a veteran television and newspaper journalist. He
is the founding president of the Southern Automotive Media
Association. Ron is the editor of the Pinecrest Tribune and is the
automotive editor for Miami’s Community Newspapers. For the last
10 years, he has written a popular new car review column entitled
Let’s Talk Cars that is published weekly. |
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 Jorge
Koechlin is a popular television broadcaster/host who has covered
the major autosports events around the world and is the former
publisher of Automundo Magazine. Jorge is well known for his
autosports work on television and he has hosted programs for the
Univision Network USA, ESPN, Telemundo, TV Azteca, the Speed
Channel, Canal 4 America TV, America TV Peru and Television
Nacional Chile. Jorge is also a race car driver and auto event
promoter. |
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One of the world’s most widely published auto journalists, Howard
Walker has been covering the auto industry since 1978. The former
editor of the influential British auto weekly Motor, he went on to
launch Auto Express in the UK and become editor-in-chief of
Britain’s top-selling auto consumer magazine What Car? Moving to
the U.S. in 1991, Howard began covering the North American market
for a variety of worldwide auto publications, including Autocar in
the UK, AutoVisie in Holland, Car South Africa, Vi Menn in Holland
and Unique Cars in Australia. Here in the U.S., he is currently
the auto editor for Palm Beach Illustrated and Naples Illustrated,
the Sarasota Café Racers.com website, and writes bi-weekly reviews
for the Tampa Tribune. Based in Tampa, Howard has also served on
the European Car of the Year jury and North American Car and Truck
of the Year jury. |
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Al Vazquez is the
co-publisher and editor of FAMA, the popular Spanish-language
lifestyle magazine. For the past 20 years, he has been writing
vehicle reviews for the automotive section of FAMA Magazine. Al,
in his quest for information about the auto industry, travels
throughout the country and the world to cover hundreds of auto
shows and media events. For the last five years, he has been
videotaping his work and posting it on the FAMA website where
there are now hundreds of car videos available for consumer
viewing and downloading. Al says the changes in the industry and
in the automobile itself over the last two decades have been
nothing short of amazing. “I believe the car is no longer just a
machine to take people to a particular destination,” he says.
“Today, it is an integral part of our daily life; and sometimes we
spend more time in our car than we do in our own home.” |
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From 1969 to 1983,
Angelica Willard was the public relations representative for the
Fiat Motor Co. auto and truck assembly plant in Chile,
representing the company at expo events. After moving to the
United States in 1991, Angelica became a writer and later editor
of the San Jose, California Spanish-language newspaper El
Observador and began covering auto races at Laguna Seca in
Monterrey in 1999. She has had a love for auto racing ever since
and has covered races at Long Beach, Infineon, Las Vegas, Miami
and many others. Angelica began photo coverage of new cars in 2003
and has tested and written about hundreds of different cars since
then. Angelica currently writes for several lifestyle magazines,
including Gente of Miami, Eventos, and Cancunissimo in Cancun,
Mexico and Miami. |
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 Joe
Castello is a nationally-known radio personality whose award
winning
WFORadio.com
network focuses on motorsports and the automotive industry. His
background behind the microphone extends over 20 years. Joe's
passion for the automobile has driven his career from the start.
Joe co-authors the Automotive Insiders column that appears in
South Florida-based newspapers and online magazines, including the
Deerfield Beach Observer, and on
WFORadio.com. |
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 Ric
Green has been covering the automotive scene for 12 years for the
publications New Times, The Pelican, Eastside Magazine and
The Observer, where he was also the editor. Ric has been
the public address announcer at numerous automotive events,
including Homestead/Miami Speedway for the past 10 years, calling
the auto racing action of NASCAR, Rolex Grand-AM, Continental Tire
Sports Car Challenge, Indy Car, Historic Sportscar Racing and the
Ferrari Challenge. He has also been the announcer at Barber
Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama and Miller Motorsports
Park in Salt Lake City, Utah, covering Grand Am racing events at
those venues as well. He is also the President/CEO of the Pompano
Beach Chamber of Commerce. |
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Juan Robbin was born in Colombia and came to the United States
when he was just seven years old. He grew up in South Florida. A
lifelong car enthusiast and aficionado, Juan has raced, bought,
sold and collected cars since he was 16 years old. For the last
eight years, Juan has been active as a bilingual automotive
journalist, writing for several web sites, magazines and community
newspapers. Juan’s writing focus is a lifestyle angle,
incorporating a style that he calls: “How does the car make me
feel?” |
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 Dr.
Ray Mummery is an aviation medical examiner, but his passion is
cars, with an emphasis on sports cars. He is an automotive writer
for SCCA, IMSA and Motoring Style. Ray is a competitive racer and
has been a member of the Sports Car Club of America since 1963. He
has had 17 starts in the Sebring 12 Hour endurance race, with a
first place finish in the FIA 2 liter class. He has started 12
times in the Daytona 24 Hour race and notched a Camel Light GT
win. He raced IMSA from 1972 to 1996 and he has raced in SCCA
events since 1965. Ray is the owner of Miami Auto Racing, Inc., a
motorsports consulting, car building and race track support
operation. He especially enjoys racing vintage sports cars and
currently owns a 1996 Porsche 993, a 1990 Mazda Miata, a 1957
Lotus 17, a 1950 Jaguar XK 120 and a 2000 Ford Expedition.
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Porsche to Unveil All-New 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera
World
Premiere at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show Next Month
ATLANTA
-- August 23 2011 – At 48, the Porsche 911 Carrera is younger than
ever. The completely redesigned seventh-generation sports car icon is
stepping into the limelight with its sleek and stretched silhouette,
exciting contours and precisely designed features. Yet from every
angle it is unmistakably a 911, holding true to the Porsche 911
Carrera ‘evolution, not revolution’ design philosophy.
The 100 mm or 3.9 inch longer wheelbase and reduced overall height
underpin the fresh, athletic yet elegant appearance. When viewed from
the front, the eye is drawn to the 911’s trademark wide-arched
fenders, emphasizing the wider front track. The side mirrors are now
mounted on the upper edge of the door, which also helps highlight the
new design line and gives the visual impression of width.
The new lightweight body is an aluminum-steel composite construction
and contributes greatly to the 45 kg or about 100 lbs weight reduction
when compared to the previous 911 body. When combined with the greater
structural rigidity and optimized aerodynamics – including a wider,
variably extending rear spoiler – the new 911 Carrera’s front and rear
lift has been reduced to near zero while retaining the Cd value of
0.29.
To complement the modern exterior design, Porsche designers created an
interior reminiscent of the Carrera GT. The driver is now even more
closely integrated within the cockpit thanks to the rising center
console and high-mounted shift lever or gear selector located close to
the steering wheel. As with the exterior, classic Porsche elements
abound inside. Present is the instrument cluster with five round
gauges – one of them a high resolution multifunction screen, and of
course the central tachometer and the ignition lock to the left of the
steering wheel.
Setting
the standard in its class, as it has for generations, the new 911
Carrera and 911 Carrera S raise the performance and efficiency bar yet
another notch. All versions get by with significantly less than 10
liters of fuel per 100 kilometers (official U.S. EPA fuel mileage
estimates are TBD) and fuel consumption and emissions are up to 16
percent lower in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) when compared
with the predecessor. This is achieved through systems such as the
Automatic Start Stop
function, engine and transmission thermal management, electrical
system recuperation, the world’s first seven-speed manual transmission
and – in conjunction with the Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) –
the ability to ‘sail’ or coast. The new electro-mechanical power
steering offers not only Porsche’s typical precision and feedback but
also helps increase efficiency and reduce fuel-consumption.
For example, the 911 Carrera with the new 350 hp, 3.4-liter boxer
engine and optional PDK consumes 8.2 l/100 km based on the NEDC – 1.6
l/100 km less than its predecessor.
The 911 Carrera S with its 400 hp, 3.8-liter boxer engine – 15 hp more
than before – achieves 8.7 l/100 km in the NEDC when paired with the
optional PDK transmission. This represents a fuel consumption decrease
of 14 percent or 1.5 l/100 km.
At the same time there are performance improvements in both models.
The 911 Carrera S with PDK accelerates from 0 to 60 in 4.1 seconds.
Using the Launch Control function of the optional Sport Chrono Package
cuts that to 3.9 seconds. The 911 Carrera with PDK needs only 4.4
seconds to sprint from a standing start to 60 mph (4.2 seconds when
using the optional Sport Chrono Package’s Launch Control function).
Top-track speed for the 911 Carrera S and 911 Carrera is 188 mph and
179 mph, respectively.
The new 911 offers both better longitudinal dynamics and unprecedented
top performance in terms of transverse dynamics. In addition to the
longer wheelbase, the greater agility, precision and driving stability
are based, among other things, on the wider front track, the new rear
axle and new electro-mechanical power steering. Depending on the
model, there are other standard or optional active control systems
available that can help further enhance the overall driving dynamics.
That is especially true for the Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC)
active roll stabilization system, available for the first time on the
911 Carrera S. The system helps reduce lateral roll when cornering and
helps keep the tires in the optimal position relative to the road
surface.
The new 911 further extends the span of seemingly contradictory
attributes such as performance and efficiency, sportiness and every
day practicality that have always typified the Porsche 911. That makes
the 911 Carrera more of a 911 than ever. The new Porsche 911 Carrera
celebrates its world premiere at the 2011 IAA Frankfurt Motor Show in
September.
The first new 911 models will arrive in U.S. dealerships beginning in
February of 2012. The new 911 Carrera Coupe will have a base MSRP of
$82,100, while the 911 Carrera S Coupe’s base MSRP will be $96,400
(excluding destination). Both models will include substantial
additional equipment when compared to the previous models.
Follow us: www.twitter.com/Porsche and www.facebook.com/Porsche
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The Audi urban concept – a
completely new kind of concept car
*An innovative urban concept car with 1+1 seats
*Spyder variant with doors that open to the top
*Sleek cockpit made from CFRP, free-standing wheels with protective
plates
*Elaborate suspension, compact electric drive system for sporty
performance
Audi is once again opening up new horizons: the Audi urban concept is
a 1+1-seat, ultra-light car for congested urban spaces. The technical
study being presented at the International Motor Show (IAA) in
Frankfurt does not fit under any of the conventional categories – the
Audi urban concept combines elements of a racing car, a fun car and an
urban car into one radical new concept. In addition to a Sportback
model, Audi is also presenting a Spyder variant.
The Audi urban concept is not based on any previous model – its
development is solely oriented on the strict principles of lightweight
construction, efficiency and reduction. The result is a concept car
with no unnecessary weight, and one that concentrates on the pure
essence of sporty motion.
The Audi urban concept has a sleek body. The wheels are free-standing,
their surrounding protective plates feature blinking strips of LED
lights. The highly concentrated look of the technical study, with its
forward-urging lines, is dynamic and emotional – it lends Audi’s
design language a completely new impetus.
On board there is room for two people, their position slightly
staggered and at a sporty, low level. All controls and materials are
subject to the dictates of ultra-lightweight construction in order to
ensure that the sensory experience they convey is unique and
compelling. The driver can adjust the steering wheel and pedals to his
own body measurements. Characteristic features of the Spyder include
its low, continuous window area and its doors that open diagonally to
the top.
The technology in the Audi urban concept reflects the full
capabilities of the brand, especially when it comes to
ultra-lightweight construction. The cockpit consists of carbon
fiber-reinforced polymer, which integrates the undercarriage of both
seats. The Audi urban concept rolls on wheels with a 21-inch diameter.
Two e-tron electric motors provide the propulsion – providing the
ultra-light Audi urban concept with the ability to accelerate
powerfully. A lithium-ion battery supplies the energy – ideal for
extended city tours.
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AUTISM SPEAKS: 300-MPH FUND RAISER!
Team 608 races at Bonneville to support Autism
Speaks and, of course,
bragging rights.
When Don Biglow gets
belted into the Dauernheim-Biglow-Davis AA/Gas Lakester’s
streamlined cockpit at Bonneville this month, his mission will be
clear: Run over 300 mph to trigger a
$5,000 donation to Autism
Speaks, average 315 mph on two successive runs (to set the AA/GL
record), and get inducted into the exclusive 300-MPH Club.
Since 2006, Team
608 has raced at Bonneville and raised approximately $100,000 for
charities: Susan G.
Komen For The Cure (Breast
Cancer), Juvenile
Diabetes Research Foundation International (JDRF)
and Autism Speaks.
In 2011, they are once again supporting Autism
Speaks. To date, this year they have garnered an anonymous
$10,000 donation and the Peter & Kate Kend family, Darien, CT, has
offered a $5,000 donation if the Lakester goes over 300 mph during
Speed Week.
Bob Dauernheim,
owner and constructor of #608, has been building and racing
dragsters since the 1960s when he and Team member and racer Tony
Feil were members of theChatham (NJ) Squires hot
rod club. He’s been hooked on land speed racing after running a
belly tank Lakester, The
Flying Pickle, on the Salt Flats in 1998.
“Team 608 is
self-funded and self-sustaining and 100% of the money we raise goes
to charities. It’s our way of pursuing our passion
for hot rods and racing, challenging the record books, and giving
something back to society,” said Dauernheim.
The #608 Lakester
was redesigned this year after setting the AA/Fuel record (290.49
mph) at Bonneville in 2009. After locking in the record, it topped
out at 297, hitting anaerodynamic wall. Bob Cuneo, Chassis
Dynamics, Oxford, CT, was brought in to consult with artisan Rob
Ida, who was fabricating the Lakester’s new fiberglass upper body. Cuneo
had designed and built the ‘sleds used by the medal-winning USA
Olympic Bobsled Team.
“I suggested to Ida
and Dauernheim that the racecar body needed a longer, tapered tail,
necessitating that the frame be lengthened and a completely new body
fabricated,” said Cuneo, an aerodynamics specialist.
Ida, a modern-day
coachbuilder who creates show-stopping customs, hot rods and
prototypes at Rob Ida Concepts, Morganville, NJ, took Cuneo’s input
when designing and handcrafting the Lakester’s wind cheating upper
body. Dauernheim fabricated #608’s aluminum side panels and
steel floor.
When the body was
completed, Jeff Davis, and his painter and crew at Specialized
Autocraft, Chatham, NJ, prepped it and applied waterborne DuPont Hot
Hues paint: Cromax
Pro Blue plus silver and black. Lettering and striping is by Dennis
Smith, Davis’ striper for almost 40 years.
Powering the
25-foot-long, 3,100-pound Lakester is a 582-inch, 1,150-horsepower
big-block engine, built by the legendary Chevrolet engine builder
and drag racer, Tony Feil. Retired for more than a decade, Feil has
been inducted into the East
Coast Drag TimesHall of Fame and, while running Tony Feil
Competition Engines, accumulated an impressive collection of
national records.
The dry-sump-lubed
582-incher sports a Dart Big
M cast-iron block,
Brodix Big Dukealuminum
heads, Callies forged crank, JE 15-to-1 pistons, Crower billet rods,
Comp Cams roller, Jesel & Manley valve train, and is topped off with
a pair of Holley 1,150-cfm Dominators. Redlined at 7,800 rpm, it
thrives on a diet of 114-octane ERC race gas.
A ratchet-shifted
Long four-speed and Quarter Master 7 ¼-inch triple-disc clutch
covered with a Lakewood shield, transmit power to a Winters
quick-change with a 3.08 ring & pinion (Bonneville final drive ratio
is 2.19-to-1) and narrowed tubes fitted with Strange 31-spline
axles.
Dauernheim
fabricated 608’s 194-inch-wheelbase space frame using 1 ¾-inch,
.130-inch-wall mild steel tubing and fitted the 3/8-inch-wall mild
steel tube front axle with 1937-’40 Ford spindles and bearings.
Steering is VW and the front suspension has cantilevered,
horizontally mounted Ohlins coil-over shocks.
At the rear,
Dauernheim installed a four-bar suspension with 5/8-inch anti-roll
bar and vertical Ohlins coil-overs. Brembo donated ventilated disc
brakes that had been used on Dale Earnhardt Jr’s Sprint Cup racecar.
The Lakester rides on Goodyear 15-inch front, 18-inch rear Eagle LSR
tires. A Stroud dual-chute system fits in canisters mounted in the
tail section.
Michael Alan Ross
is offering a fine art photo of #608 on the Salt Flats, valued at
$750, for any donation over $250 to Autism
Speaks. Michael can be contacted at,http://www.michaelalanross.com/
Checks for
donations (fully tax deductible) should be made payable to AUTISM
SPEAKSand mailed to Team 608, c/o Rob Gibby, 9 Timothy Lane,
Bloomfield, CT 06002.
# # #
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Toyota, Tesla to build RAV4 EV at Ontario plant
Woodstock, Ontario (August 5,
2011)—Toyota and Tesla Motors, Inc. (Tesla) confirmed today that
their jointly-developed RAV4 electric vehicle will be built at
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, Inc. (TMMC) in Woodstock, Ontario
beginning in 2012.
“The Tesla-Toyota joint development team has
agreed that building the vehicle at the Woodstock plant on the
same line as the gasoline-powered RAV4, will streamline and
simplify the production process and guarantee the highest level of
quality control,” said Ray Tanguay, TMMC Chairman, who hosted
Canadian officials at the plant today and thanked them for their
support. “This is a great example of Toyota’s determination to
collaborate with companies with leading edge technology.”
As previously announced, Toyota will pay Tesla
approximately $100 million to supply the electric powertrain,
which includes the battery, motor, gear box and power electronics for
the RAV4 EV. Tesla will build the electric powertrains at its
production facility in Palo Alto, California and then ship them to
TMMC for final assembly into the vehicle.
The RAV4 EV will be sold at U.S. Toyota dealers
through Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. (TMS). Details including
pricing, volume and regional distribution will be determined and
announced at a later time.
In July of last year, Tesla and Toyota Engineering and
Manufacturing, America (TEMA) collaborated to convert 32
conventional gas-engine RAV4 compact SUVs into fully functional
RAV4 EV prototypes.
Toyota is committed to a broad strategy of
sustainable mobility, incorporating products, partnerships, the
urban environment, and energy.The RAV4 EV is one of several
advanced-technology new products coming for Toyota. In addition to
expanding the Prius family with the upcoming Prius v and
Prius Plug-in Hybrid, Toyota will introduce an electric version of
the Scion iQ in 2012 and a Hydrogen Fuel Cell Hybrid Vehicle by
2015.
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AMSOIL Introduces New Break-In
Oil
New AMSOIL SAE 30 Break-In Oil allows quick and efficient piston ring
seating and protection for new and rebuilt engines. Cam lobes, lifters
and rockers are protected by anti-wear additives during the critical
break-in period when wear rates are the highest. In addition,
increased film strength protects rod and main bearings from damage.
Formulated with no friction modifiers, AMSOIL Break In Oil allows
sharp peaks on newly honed cylinder walls to partially flatten. This
results in a larger surface area for the ring face to seat against,
while allowing the formation of a dynamic seal that increases
horsepower, compression and torque. High performance and racing
engines often utilize aftermarket parts intended to increase torque
and horsepower, resulting in added stress that can rupture the oil
film responsible for preventing harmful metal-to-metal contact on rod
and main bearings. AMSOIL Break-In Oil contains high levels of zinc
and phosphorus additives designed to provide the anti-wear protection
required during this critical period.
AMSOIL Break In Oil is designed for high-performance and racing
engines requiring SAE 30 oil.
About the Company: AMSOIL has been the recognized leader in synthetic
lubrication since 1972. For more information about AMSOIL synthetic
motor oils contact your nearest AMSOIL distributor, or call AMSOIL at
(715) 392-7101 or 1-800-777-8491. AMSOIL INC., 925 Tower Avenue,
Superior, WI 54880, or go to www.amsoil.com.
News Contact:
Ed Newman
Director of Advertising
AMSOIL INC
enewman@amsoil.com
715-392-7101
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NISSAN LEAF EARNS TOP SAFETY PICK FROM IIHS
Today,
the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety awarded the 2011 Nissan
LEAF a “Top Safety Pick” rating. The rating is given to vehicles that
achieve the Institute’s highest rating of “Good” in front, rear and
side impact protection as well as being equipped with electronic
stability control and earn a good rating in roof strength. The Nissan
LEAF joins the Nissan Cube and Infiniti M37/M56 on the list of 2011
Top Safety Picks.
“Nissan has a long standing commitment to safety and innovation,” said
Brian Carolin, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Nissan
North America, Inc. “The award confirms that the commitment to
passenger safety continues with the 100% electric Nissan LEAF.”
The
Nissan LEAF is the first 100% electric vehicle to be tested by the
Institute.
Standard Nissan LEAF safety systems include Nissan Advanced Air Bag
System (AABS) with dual-stage supplemental front air bags with seat
belt and occupant classification sensors, front seat-mounted side
impact supplemental air bags, roof-mounted curtain side impact
supplemental air bags for front and rear-seat outboard occupant head
protection, 3-point ALR/ELR seat belts (driver’s seat ELR only) with
pretensioners and load limiters, child seat upper tether anchor, LATCH
(Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) system and child safety rear
door locks. Vehicle Dynamic Control (VDC) and Traction Control System
(TCS) are also standard on all LEAF models.
About Nissan Americas
In the Americas, Nissan's operations include automotive styling,
engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing,
distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the
environment under the Nissan Green Program and was recognized as an
ENERGY
STAR®
Partner of the Year by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency in 2010
and 2011. More information on Nissan in North America, the Nissan LEAF
and zero emissions can be found at
www.nissanusa.com.
About Nissan
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive
company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an
integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more
than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more
than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to
developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a
comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under
the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero emission mobility,
Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the
first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of
numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011
European Car of the Year award.
For more information on our products, services and commitment to
Sustainable Mobility, visit our website at
http://www.nissan-global.com/EN/.
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Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0: Biggest 911 Engine Ever Offered
Limited-edition car is packed with motorsport
technology
ATLANTA – April 28, 2011 --- The 911 GT3 RS, one of Porsche’s
most popular, coveted and successful track-inspired production
cars, has been given a final, thrilling injection of
thoroughbred motorsport technology resulting in the 2011 Porsche
911 GT3 RS 4.0. Limited to 600 vehicles worldwide, the 911 GT3
RS 4.0 brings together in a sports car the attributes that have
made the Porsche 911 GT3 a consistent winner on the race track.
The motorsport-derived 4.0-liter engine, already the highest
displacement 911 engine ever, also features the highest
per-liter output -- 125 horsepower (hp) per liter -- from a
naturally aspirated Porsche flat-six engine. The engine uses
forged pistons, the connecting rods are fashioned from titanium,
and the crankshaft has been lifted unchanged from the 911 GT3
RSR race car. It achieves its maximum power of 500 hp at 8,250
rpm. Maximum torque of 339 ft/lbs is reached at 5,750 rpm.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0 offers truly impressive performance, lapping
the famed Nürburgring-Nordschleife in 7 minutes and 27 seconds.
Available exclusively with a six-speed manual transmission, the
911 GT3 RS 4.0 sprints from 0 to 60 mph in only 3.8 seconds, and
with its gearing designed for the race circuit it reaches the
124 mph mark on the race track in under 12 seconds.
The 911 GT3 RS 4.0’s outstanding driving dynamics come from
numerous, meticulously coordinated details. In addition to using
suspension components typically encountered in motor racing,
weight reduction is also of supreme importance. Equipped as
standard with lightweight components such as light but strong
carbon fiber sport bucket seats, carbon fiber front fenders and
luggage compartment lid, and weight-optimized carpets, the
two-seater’s ready-for-action weight is just 2,998 lbs with a
full fuel tank. The 911 GT3 RS 4.0’s power-to-weight ratio is
5.99 lbs/hp.
This limited edition 911 is painted Carrara White as standard
and emphasizes its proximity to motor racing by its dynamic
appearance. Signature characteristics are the wide track, the
low vehicle position, the large rear wing with side plates,
central twin tailpipe, and the aerodynamically optimized body.
Air deflection vanes mounted on either side of the front bumper
– called ‘flics’ or dive planes – make their first appearance on
a production Porsche. They create increased downforce on the
front axle, and together with the steeply inclined rear wing,
provide aerodynamics on par with its performance capabilities.
As a result, at the 193 mph top track speed, aerodynamic forces
exert an additional 426 lbs of downforce, thus pushing the 911
GT3 RS 4.0 onto the road.
With a manufacturer’s suggested retail price starting at
$185,000 (excluding destination), the new Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0
goes on sale in the United States in late 2011.
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Scion tC Receives Five Star Overall
Rating for Crash Tests
TORRANCE, Calif. (April 12,
2011) – The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
awarded the all-new 2011 Scion tC sports coupe, a top overall
rating of five stars.
The New Car Assessment Program (NCAP), a consumer information
program created by NHTSA, rates vehicles to determine crash and
rollover safety. The test ratings are gathered during controlled
crash and rollover tests conducted at the NHTSA research
facilities. The announcement was released on the NHTSA website
www.safercar.gov.
All Scion models meet or exceed the safety requirements of the
federal government and the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA).
The tC comes standard with a total of eight supplemental restraint
system (SRS) airbags including driver and front passenger airbags,
seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front-passenger knee airbag,
and side curtain airbags.
All 2011 tCs come standard with Anti-lock Brakes (ABS) and
Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA),
Traction Control (TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Smart
Stop Technology (SST).
Additional safety features include a tire pressure monitoring
system and newly adopted active front headrests.
The all-new Scion tC, which went on sale in October 2010, has an
impressive list of standard features including, 180 horsepower,
6-speed transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 300-watt
8-speaker audio system.
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Mazda Race Teams Rally to Help Raise Funds
for American Red Cross
Teams will Race
with Special American Red Cross Decals
WASHINGTON,
D.C. (April 6, 2011) – Three race teams waving the MAZDASPEED
Motorsports Development banner will be racing to raise funds for
the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief
Fund at this weekend’s Grand-Am race at Barber Motorsports Park in
Birmingham, Ala. SpeedSource, Dempsey Racing and Team Sahlen will
each carry special graphics on their RX-8 racecars, encouraging
race fans to support people affected by the Japan earthquake and
Pacific tsunami by texting a $10 donation to REDCROSS at 90999 (message
and data rates may apply).
“The
devastation in Japan is so overwhelming and we wanted to help in
any we could,” said Sylvain Tremblay of Speedsource, Inc, who came
up with the idea to race with special graphics on the Mazda race
cars. “We will be donating all race winnings from Car #70 to the
American Red Cross Japan relief efforts.”
“The racing
community is a real family and you especially feel that in
difficult times like this,” said John Doonan, Mazda’s Manager of
Motor Sports Team Development. “That our MAZDASPEED teams
want to help our friends, colleagues and the people of Japan by
helping raise much needed relief funds, is testament to this
family feeling and sense of a broader community.”
Racing Mazda
RX-8s in Grand-Am’s premier series since 2007, Dempsey Racing will
be running cars #40 and #41 with the American Red Cross message to
donate.
“It’s been
just three weeks since the tragedy in Japan and already news
updates have begun thinning out, while the people of Japan still
need so much help,” said Joe Foster of Dempsey Racing and who co-drives
car #40 with Patrick Dempsey. “We are hoping to generate a second
round of donations to the Red Cross this weekend by keeping Japan
top-of-mind with both the racing community and our fans.”
Team Sahlen
will be racing cars #42 and #43. “We are hoping to help make a
difference by spotlighting the Red Cross efforts to assist Japan,”
said Will Nonnamaker, team driver.
The Mazda
Foundation (USA), Inc. made a $150,000 donation to the American
Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund, and
has encouraged its dealers to do the same. Additionally, Mazda
Motor Corporation in Japan donated 30 million yen to the Japan Red
Cross Society.
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$600 Volkswagen about to be revealed that gets 258 mpg!
This is
not a joke and they do sell for $600.00. They wont be able to
make
them fast enough--be good just to run around town.
Here's a car that will get you back and forth to work
economically.......
$600 for the car.
258 miles per gallon...
Only a one seater however....
Talk about cheap transportation .......
Volkswagen's $600 car gets 258 mpg -- It looks like Ford,
Chrysler and GM
missed the boat again!
China launches $600 car that will get 258mpg
This $600 car is no toy and is ready to be released in China
next year.
The single seater aero car totes VW (Volkswagen) branding.
Volkswagen did a lot of very highly protected testing of this
car in
Germany, but it was not announced until now where the car
would make it's
first appearance.
The car was introduced at the VW stockholders meeting as the
most
economical car in the world is presented.
The initial objective of the prototype was to prove that 1
liter of fuel
could deliver 100 kilos of travel.
Spartan interior doesn't sacrifice safety
The aero design proved essential to getting the desired
result. The body
is 3.47 meters long and just 1.25 meters wide, and a little
over a meter
high. The prototype was made completely of carbon fiber and is
not painted
to save weight.
The power plant is a one cylinder diesel positioned ahead of
the rear axle
and combined with an automatic shift controlled by a knob in
the interior.
Safety was not compromised as the impact and roll-over
protection is
comparable to the GT racing cars.
The Most Economic Car in the World will be on sale next year:
Better than Electric Car - 258 miles/gallon: IPO 2010 in
Shanghai
This is a single seated car
From conception to production: 3 years and the company is
headquartered in
Hamburg , Germany.
Will be selling for 4000 Yuan, equivalent to US $600..
Gas tank capacity = 1.7 gallons
Speed = 62 - 74.6 Miles/hour
Fuel efficiency = 258 miles/gallon
Travel distance with a full tank = 404 miles
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