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Sep 19 Mercedes-Benz Employees take Action Against Hunger with three New SUVs
MONTVALE, NJ – Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) employees are filling three new SUV
models with nonperishable food items for those in need. The food drive, which
benefits Action Against Hunger, a community service program administered locally
by North Jersey Media Group, is underway today at the company’s Fall Fest
employee picnic held at the Platzl Brauhaus in Pomona, New York. Items such as
rice, pasta, cereal, macaroni and cheese, canned soups and vegetables, as well
as paper goods, baby formula, and diapers are being collected and will be
donated to the Center for Food Action in New Jersey (CFA), one of the food
pantries served by Action Against Hunger. The donations will help feed
children, the elderly, and the low-income working poor in Bergen County. “Within the past year, we are seeing many more families in need of support,”
said Irwin Vogelman, Director of Food Resources and Systems, Center for Food
Action in New Jersey. “Many families are fighting a losing battle each month
trying to stretch their paychecks to buy food. The wages of the working poor
have not kept up with rent and utility increases or rising gas and food prices.
That’s why it’s so important for companies in our area, like Mercedes-Benz, to
reach out and lend a hand.” This Action Against Hunger™ program, sponsored by the North Jersey Media
Group Foundation, helps emergency food pantries in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and
Morris counties provide food to people and families in urgent need. CFA
estimates that each year it provides 40,000 emergency food packages to neighbors
who are struggling to put food on their tables. According to the Community
FoodBank of New Jersey (CFBNJ), there are more than 250,000 people living below
the federal poverty level in Bergen, Passaic, Essex and Morris counties. The Center for Food Action in New Jersey (CFA), which aims to prevent hunger
and homelessness and improve the lives of individuals and families living in
poverty, is the direct recipient organization of MBUSA’s food drive. CFA
provides emergency food packages, rental and utility assistance, counseling,
advocacy and other essential services to those in need living in northern New
Jersey. Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, believes that a
premier company must lead by example. With a reputation for innovation and
leadership – qualities that are mirrored among Mercedes-Benz owners, dealers and
employees alike – comes an opportunity to give back to the community.
Mercedes-Benz USA’s philanthropic efforts involve direct funding by MBUSA
augmented by donations from dealers, employees and the public. Through these
combined efforts, MBUSA supports causes that cover a broad spectrum of need.
MBUSA invests in the communities in which employees live and work through the
corporate headquarters in Bergen County, N.J. and through regional offices
around the country. Support is given through corporate contributions, community
relations and volunteer efforts, women’s initiatives, diversity support,
matching gifts, cause-related marketing regional and dealer activities, and
international cooperation. Action Against Hunger Action Against Hunger is administered locally by North Jersey Media Group:
The Record, Herald News, (201) and Community Newspapers and Magazines of North
Jersey Media Group. This program runs the largest one-day food drive in the
metropolitan area and has helped feed those in need in North Jersey since 1991. Action Against Hunger is part of a worldwide international network that has
been assisting more than 40 countries in emergency situations such as war,
conflict, and natural disasters for nearly three decades. The organization
focuses on eliminating hunger using their expertise in nutrition, food security,
water and sanitation, health and advocacy to create long-term solutions from
short-term interventions. Press release via Mercedes-Benz HERNDON, Va. – Two of the world’s most fuel efficient drivers, John and
Helen Taylor, are a third of the way through their attempt to break the current
world record for lowest fuel consumption across the 48 contiguous United States.
Today they will be driving into their ninth day, passing through the northern
states of the Great Plains, including South Dakota, North Dakota and Montana. To
help them along the way, they are driving the all-new, 50-state-compliant clean
diesel Volkswagen Jetta TDI, fueled by Shell’s best diesel fuel.“The
vehicle seating is extremely comfortable and the power point in the car enables
lots of work en route to be done while preserving power,” said Helen Taylor.
“The car is efficiently driving its way to a fuel economy world record.” “It has been quite an adventure thus far, the world is getting smaller — on
day four we met a girl originally from our small town in Australia now residing
in Ohio!” said John Taylor. “We are optimistic we should be able to break the
current world record if we stay on course and keep our fuel-efficient driving
tips in mind.” People are encouraged to e-mail the Taylors along the way at:
fuelacademy@gmail.com with any questions they may have about the tour, the
vehicle or about fuel economy tips and join their “Fan” page on Facebook.com. As
of yesterday, 805 people have e-mailed the Taylors. The most common question
asked was if the Taylors would do a fuel economy clinic for them. Approximately 12 official check-in and refueling stops across the country are
included throughout the duration of the drive, which is slated to conclude Sept.
26 in W. Va. The couple will drive on a counter-clockwise route and plan to pass
through these cities: Chantilly, Va.; Rutland, V.T.; Toledo, Ohio; Des Moines,
Iowa; Spearfish, S.D.; Missoula, Mont.; Winnemucca, Nev.; Santa Monica, Calif.;
Durango, Colo.; Oklahoma City, Okla.; Mount Vernon, Ill.; Ponchatoula, La.; and,
Beckley, W. Va. Some of the Shell FuelStretch tactics the Taylors will employ on the road
include: avoiding idling and higher speeds, minimizing vehicle drag and
performing regular vehicle maintenance. The Taylors have made a 26-year career out of driving economically and
conducting workshops globally on fuel-efficient driving techniques. They have
collected 82 world fuel economy and vehicle-related records from drives around
the globe in Australia, Asia, South Africa, Europe, the Middle East and North
America. Via their Web site, the Taylors will be sharing their personal experiences on
the road. For more information and regular reports from the road, visit www.fuelacademy.com
and www.media.vw.com. For a complete list of fuel-saving driving tips, visit
http://www.shell.com/us/fuelstretch. Press release via Volkswagen For decades the Mercedes-Benz S-Class has epitomized the best in automotive
design, performance, luxury and safety. Now this icon will use its star power
to raise funds for women’s cancer research, new treatments, education and
prevention. Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) has designed a
special edition S550 sedan to help raise funds for Saks Fifth Avenue’s KEY TO
THE CURE, a women’s cancer initiative developed in partnership with the
Entertainment Industry Foundation’s (EIF) Women’s Cancer Research Fund. As a
national sponsor of Saks Fifth Avenue’s KEY TO THE CURE, MBUSA expects to
contribute $1 million through the sale of 1,000 exclusive S-Class vehicles
scheduled to arrive at Mercedes-Benz dealerships this month, bringing the total
raised to date by MBUSA for women’s cancer research to over $6 million. As elegant as it is powerful, the special Edition S550 sedan features
exclusive Diamond White metallic exterior paint, Sahara Beige/Black interior,
and 20”AMG 5-spoke light-alloy wheels with high-performance tires. A car for
those who appreciate superior handling and power, the S550’s 5.5-liter,
382-horsepower V-8 engine will rocket this sedan from 0-60 mph in only 5.4
seconds. “The S550 offers auto enthusiasts not only what they’ve come to expect from
Mercedes-Benz – progressive automotive design, award-winning technical
innovations and unparalleled performance – but now, as part of Key To The Cure,
a unique opportunity to help make a difference in the fight against cancer,”
said Steve Cannon, vice president of marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA. “This is
a cause that touches so many lives and we are proud to partner with Saks Fifth
Avenue and the Entertainment Industry Foundation in this important campaign.” The Special Edition S550 is equipped with: Known world-wide for achieving the best in luxury, safety and comfort, the
Signature Edition S550 also features AIRMATIC air suspension with Adaptive
Damping System, heated and active-ventilated drive-dynamic multicontour front
seats with 4-level massage feature, a power sunroof, PARKTRONIC audiovisual
parking assist, KEYLESS GO, electronic trunk closer, and a rear view camera.
Each Special Edition S550 sedan is also equipped with GPS navigation and a
14-speaker harman/kardon LOGIC7 surround sound system with Dolby Digital 5.1,
SIRIUS satellite radio, an in-dash 6-disc DVD/CD changer, an in-dash memory card
reader, voice control for audio, telephone and navigation, and an iPod
integration kit. To celebrate the 10th Anniversary of KEY TO THE CURE and give a voice to
those the campaign supports, Saks Fifth Avenue, EIF and Mercedes-Benz USA is
co-sponsoring a road trip, during which blogger Lori Raimondo is traveling in
the special edition Mercedes-Benz to Saks Fifth Avenue stores across the
country. Lori began the journey in San Francisco and is making stops in Beverly
Hills, Phoenix, Dallas, Atlanta, Indianapolis, Chicago, Chevy Chase, and New
York. The Saks Fifth Avenue store in each city is hosting Lori and introducing
her to cancer survivors, community partners, local businesses, and media. Lori
is blogging about her trip on www.kttcroadtrip.com, where readers can share
their personal stories. Adding additional star power to the campaign, Academy AwardŽ winning actress
Gwyneth Paltrow has been named Entertainment Industry Foundation ambassador for
Saks Fifth Avenue’s 2008 KEY TO THE CURE and will show her support by wearing
this year’s KEY TO THE CURE limited edition t-shirt designed by Karl Lagerfeld.
Ms. Paltrow will appear in promotional materials and in a national public
service announcement (PSA) to bring attention to this critical issue. The PSA
will appear in major fashion and lifestyle magazines this fall. Saks Fifth Avenue’s charity shopping weekend will take place October 16th to
19th at all of its stores nationwide and through saks.com, during which 2% of
sales will benefit local organizations through EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research
Fund. The Special Edition S550 sedan will be displayed at Saks Fifth Avenue
stores during this timeframe. Additionally, the limited edition t-shirt will
retail for $40 (over $35 to charity), exclusively to benefit KEY TO THE CURE and
will be available at Saks Fifth Avenue beginning October 1st. Funds raised for Saks Fifth Avenue’s KEY TO THE CURE will benefit more than
50 charitable programs nationwide dedicated to finding new detection methods,
treatments and cures for women’s cancers. Organizations benefiting from these
funds include: EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund; The Breast Cancer Research
Foundation; the Cleveland Clinic; Boston’s Dana-Farber Cancer Institute; the
Nevada Cancer Institute; and many others. EIF’s Women’s Cancer Research Fund Entertainment Industry Foundation Saks Fifth Avenue Press release via Mercedes-Benz Washington, D.C., Sep 3, 2008 - Especially in this time of high gas prices,
Global Electric Motorcars (GEM), a Chrysler company, is pleased to offer a $500
discount on their 100% battery-electric GEM vehicles to AARP members at AARP’s
2008 Life@50+ and 50th Anniversary Celebration in Washington, D.C., Sept. 4-6,
2008. The theme for the conference is “It’s Monumental.” “GEM cars were such a big success last year that we definitely wanted to
bring them back to the Life@50+ event, especially with gas prices taking a big
bite out of our members’ budgets,” said Ernest “Chico” Rosemond, director of
sponsorships and exhibits for the 2008 Life@50+. “We appreciate GEM offering a
discount to AARP members, because the GEM cars are a great fit for them and
their communities.” “We had a great time at this AARP event last year and are delighted they
invited us back for their 50th Anniversary celebration this year,” says Rick
Kasper, President and COO of Global Electric Motorcars, “To ease the burden of
high gas prices, we wanted to say ‘Happy Birthday’ to AARP in appreciation for
the many members who currently drive GEM cars in their neighborhoods.” GEM cars are neighborhood electric vehicles used by consumers, corporate and
college campuses, sports teams, master-planned communities, city governments,
federal government agencies, the U.S. military, and resorts across the U.S. and
internationally. The six GEM 100-percent, battery-electric passenger and utility
models are manufactured by Global Electric Motorcars, a 10-year-old Chrysler
company, and produce no tailpipe emissions; they are eco-friendly, economical,
versatile, safe and fun to drive. In the Washington, D.C., area, GEM cars are used by the Washington Nationals
baseball team in their first-in-the-nation LEED-certified ballpark, the national
parks and memorial grounds, the U.S. Naval Academy, University of Maryland, “On
the Fly” mobile food kiosks and the U.S. Capitol, among others. To obtain the discount, AARP Life@50+ attendees must sign-in at the GEM booth
(# 3613) to receive a coupon. The GEM coupon entitles the bearer to receive a
discount of $500 off the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of any 2008 GEM
vehicle when they present a valid AARP membership card at the time of purchase,
from Sept. 4, 2008, to Jan. 2, 2009. The street-legal, safety-equipped NEVs provided by GEM will be the primary
form of transportation for event attendees around the enormous convention area,
accessible at “trolley stops.” There will also be a GEM exhibit booth along the
“trolley path” where attendees can stop by, see more GEM cars, and learn about
the low maintenance, economical, safe and fun GEM neighborhood electric cars. In addition, Joan Michelson, Marketing Manager of Global Electric Motorcars,
will give two presentations at Life@50+, on Friday, Sept. 5 and Saturday, Sept.
6 at 2:45 p.m. (same time both days) on the Monument Stage, or go to
www.gemcar.com for more information. Chrysler LLC, the parent company of GEM, is a platinum sponsor of AARP’s 2008
Life@50+ event for the first time, and also has an exhibit booth at the show on
the “trolley path” with Chrysler vehicles and is making a special offer to AARP
members. Being held in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 4-6, 2008, at the Walter E.
Washington Convention Center, the 2008 AARP member event features noteworthy
speakers and entertainment, including Maya Angelou, Dr. Laura Berman, financial
editor of “The Today Show” Jane Chatzsky, Shirley McLaine, Judy Collins, Cal
Ripken Jr., Natalie Cole and Paul Simon, in addition to the exhibit floor and
presentations. About Global Electric Motorcars (GEM) GEM is a winner of the prestigious 2007 Blue Sky Merit Award from
WestStart-CALSTART. GEM vehicles are eligible for incentives and tax credits
from clean-air districts and other governmental agencies. For more information,
to arrange a test drive, build your own GEM and/or locate a dealer, visit
www.gemcar.com or call Joan Michelson at 702.806.3690 (cell). About AARP Press release via Chrysler INGOLSTADT, Germany, Aug, 2008 - For the first time, Audi Sport will offer a
racing sports car specifically developed for customer use in the form of the
powerful 500 hp plus GT3 version of the Audi R8 which will be available from
autumn 2009. The logistics and factory space required for the AUDI AG customer
programme will be created over the next few months in Ingolstadt, Neckarsulm and
Györ. “The R8 is the first production Audi bearing the
name and genes of a successful racing sportscar and is therefore an excellent
base from which to build up our first big customer sport programme,” explains
Head of Audi Motorsport Dr Wolfgang Ullrich. “Ever since the R8 was unveiled
we’ve been inundated with enquiries about a race version. With the Audi R8 we
will offer customers a racing sportscar equipped with high-calibre technology
and the typical Audi qualities, but which is nevertheless easy to handle.” The Audi R8 conforms to the production-based GT3 regulations allowing the car
to be fielded in numerous national and international race series. Because the GT3 regulations prohibit the use of four-wheel drive the Audi R8
comes with the typical GT rear-wheel drive. The power is transmitted via a newly
developed six-speed sequential sports gearbox. The suspension uses almost
exclusively components from the production line. A comprehensive list of safety
equipment guarantees the highest-level of passive safety. A modified front end
and a large rear-wing generate the required downforce for the race track. The Audi R8, which bears the project name “R16″ within Audi Sport, was
developed under the direction of Audi Sport. Mid August, the first prototype
successfully completed a roll-out in the hands of Audi factory driver Frank
Biela. The first test races in various European racing series are scheduled for the
2009 season. Delivery to the customers is planned from the autumn of this coming
year. The customer cars are manufactured together by Audi Sport and the quattro
GmbH, which is also responsible for production of the Audi R8 street version,
and Audi Hungaria Motor Kft. (Györ). Press release via Audi WOLFSBURG, Germany - The Volkswagen Group has taken its place among the
world’s top three automakers thanks to the Wolfsburg-based company’s outstanding
delivery figures in the first half of 2008. Rival Ford had to settle for fourth
position. “We are delighted that the Volkswagen Group has made it to the global
automobile industry’s top three for the first time. This shows that we are on
the right track with our ever-stronger international presence and, above all,
our product program. We will systematically push ahead with our growth course
even in the present difficult market environment,” Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn,
Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, commented. With 3.31 million vehicles delivered in the first half of 2008, the
Volkswagen Group increased deliveries in the first six months of this year by
7.2 percent, moving up to third place in the global vehicle sales ranking and
overtaking its rival Ford, which announced vehicle sales of 3.22 million for
this period. Press release via Volkswagen DEARBORN, Mich., August 19, 2008 – Ford Motor Company’s fleet of 30 fuel cell
vehicles has exceeded expectations of the company’s hydrogen research engineers
by accumulating more than 865,000 real world miles without significant
maintenance issues since the fleet’s launch three years ago. The Ford Focus Fuel
Cell test vehicles also have earned accolades from the company’s global fleet
partners for outstanding durability, reliability and capability. Ford was one of the first automakers to launch a fleet of hydrogen fuel cell
electric vehicles in 2005, after unveiling a prototype in late 2003. Its Focus
Fuel Cell fleet partners include a variety of government agencies in California,
Florida, Michigan, Canada, Germany and Iceland, where cold climate testing is
expected to result in significant performance improvements on the next
generation. Additional Ford hydrogen projects have included a fleet of 20 H2ICE (hydrogen
internal combustion engine) buses, the Fusion Hydrogen 999 that set a land speed
record in 2007, a Fuel Cell Explorer and a Plug-in Hybrid Edge that uses a fuel
cell-powered HySeries DriveTM. An H2 fuel cell vehicle produces electricity through an electro-chemical
process in the fuel cell stack. There are zero tailpipe emissions when using
this technology, with only drops of water coming from the tailpipe. Experts
maintain that widespread use of H2-fueled vehicles could help eliminate CO2
emissions that contribute to global climate change. “It’s important for Ford to remain active in hydrogen and fuel cell
development as a long-term renewable fuel solution,” said Roland Krueger, Ford
of Europe hydrogen and fuel cell technologies team leader. According to Ford’s global fuel cell team, the first generation Focus Fuel
Cell vehicles have lasted three times longer and worked much better than
originally expected with virtually no degradation in performance. In light of
that success, the U.S. Dept. of Energy (DOE), which shares the program’s
operating cost with Ford, agreed to extend the program. “We’ve had a lot of great experience with these cars and they’re running
quite well,” said Scott Staley, Ford hybrid and fuel cell development chief
engineer in North America. “We expected the fuel cells to be much more
problematic under real world conditions, but it’s a credit to our development
process that the vehicles have been very robust.” Ford supports its fuel cell fleet partners with local project managers and
technicians who conduct regular service checks, and collect mileage and
performance data for analysis at Ford’s Fuel Cell Center in Dearborn, Mich. The
vehicles have proven highly reliable, averaging 96 percent “up” time. Customer
surveys indicate that Ford’s fuel cell vehicles have outperformed those of other
automakers in areas of acceleration, comfort (primarily air conditioning
performance), durability, reliability and mileage. “We’re very satisfied with the Ford’s performance, range and overall
reliability, and we’re encouraged that the DOE is extending the program, because
much more work needs to be done to advance this technology to
commercialization,” said Gerhard Achtelik, manager of the Zero Emission Vehicle
Infrastructure Section of California’s Air Resources Board. “Having
zero-emission vehicles like the Ford in our fleet ensures that we continue to
promote clean transportation.” Ford researchers agree that much more work needs to be done before fuel cell
vehicles can be commercialized. The biggest challenge according to Rob Riley,
Ford fleet manager in California, is building a viable H2 infrastructure with
fueling stations across the country. Currently, there are 70 hydrogen fueling
stations and most of them are not accessible to the public. California is
leading the way having recently opened its 24th station. Customer surveys suggest purchase consideration also will be dictated by
affordability, reliability and useful life of the vehicle, as well as
availability of fueling stations. In addition, parts availability and an
adequate number of trained technicians will be essential to ensure convenient
customer service of the vehicles. A chief concern among fleet partners is limited driving range. Ford is
addressing that need by doubling fuel storage pressure on select fleet vehicles
allowing twice the fuel to be stored in the same volume. “With continued advancement and rigorous testing of this technology,
automakers will be in able to produce fuel cell vehicles that compete very
effectively with internal combustion engines, without compromise to performance,
safety, cost or reliability,” Riley said. Fuel storage capacity and other improvements on the current generation of
vehicles have put Ford in a favorable position for the implementation of the
next generation, according to Chris Gearhart, Ford fuel cell technical
specialist. The team is expecting significantly increased fuel cell life, better
mileage, more efficient use of platinum (a key catalyst), more power from a
smaller fuel cell stack, improved reliability, and the ability to start under
frozen conditions. “We’re so much farther ahead than we were on the first generation,” Gearhart
said. “We have better development processes and robust disciplines in the way
we’re doing things.” Staley concurred, adding: “Our fuel cell customers are very interested to
know what’s next, and we’re looking forward to demonstrating it.” H2-fueled vehicles account for just one type of Ford’s alternative fuel
technology research and development portfolio. Ford has outlined a near, mid and
long term strategy to implement technology to increase fuel efficiency and
reduce CO2 from the widespread application of EcoBoost engine technology across
the line up in the near term, to the introduction of plug-in hybrids and
hydrogen fuel cell vehicles in the longer term. Press release via Ford CAMPBELL, CA (August 20, 2008) – IntelliChoice.com (www.intellichoice.com),
the leading source for automotive ownership cost and value analysis, today
announced its “Best Deals of the Month” for August for all cars, trucks, and
sport utility vehicles. The monthly ranking reveals the ongoing impact of new
car rebates and possible buying opportunities in vehicle classes that offer the
best ones. Bell also noted that IntelliChoice.com’s list of Best Deals for August shows
opportunities across all classes of vehicles. “Lots of families are looking to
make the switch to small cars, and it’s noteworthy that the Toyota Corolla and
Toyota Yaris, two of the top smallest cars in our ranking and highly respected,
both carry rebates. That demonstrates once again how important it is for buyers
to do their homework. You never know where the deals might be, especially in
this buyer’s market.” The Chevrolet Silverado, meanwhile, continues to do well in the Full-Size
pickup truck classes, sweeping all six categories. “The Chevy Silverado has been
a solid presence on the Best Deals’ lists for months,” said Bell. “However, we
expect to see the close outs of the 2008 Dodge Ram and 2008 Ford F150 impact
these classes as their all-new 2009 models roll into the market later this
year.” IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals of the Month” identify new cars, trucks, and
SUVs with the best ownership cost value in 33 respective classes. Selections are
based on current car pricing, market conditions and the lowest national
manufacturer consumer new car rebate. In addition, IntelliChoice.com uses the
latest information from numerous automotive resources to evaluate what it costs
to buy, own and operate each new model-year trim line over a five-year basis. The following
“Best Deals” for August 2008 are ranked by vehicle type and size. IntelliChoice.com Helps Consumers Do Their Homework IntelliChoice.com’s “Best Deals” designation enables consumers to identify
how car rebates affect a vehicle’s value throughout ownership and not just at
the time of purchase. Ownership costs can vary significantly among different
trim lines of the same model. Additionally, IntelliChoice.com continuously
updates fuel costs based on the latest data from the U.S. Energy Information
Administration. Vehicles designated as “IntelliChoice.com Best Deals of the Month” are
typically cars and trucks that have good to great ownership cost values before
any manufacturer rebate. A rebate can often turn a good ownership cost value
into a great value, and a great value into an “IntelliChoice.com Best Deal of
the Month.” Please visit www.intellichoice.com for more information or to check the auto
rebate section of any vehicle report for the most up-to-date incentives. About IntelliChoice.com Lordstown, OHIO – General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick
Wagoner today announced that the company will invest more than $500 million in
the U.S. to build the Chevrolet Cruze, an all-new global compact car. The
vehicle will be built at its Lordstown, Ohio plant. The Chevy Cruze will be
officially unveiled at the Paris Motor Show in a few short weeks. In a surprise
move, the investment announcement was accompanied by a glimpse of the Cruze
life-size show property. Ed Peper, GMNA vice president of Chevrolet, spoke to GM’s strong position in
delivering fuel-efficient vehicles that consumers want to buy. “The Cruze will
build on the already successful Chevrolet Cobalt, Cobalt XFE and Cobalt SS, all
of which are nearly sold out in dealer showrooms,” Peper said. “Our dealers are
asking for many more Cobalts than we can build.” Chevrolet Cobalt sales are up 16 percent, year-to-date through July 2008,
with an impressive 33 miles-per-gallonhighway. The new Cobalt XFE model jumps to
37 miles-per-gallon and is selling almost as soon as it’s unloaded from the
delivery trucks to dealerships. The Chevrolet Cruze epitomizes the global nature of the automobile industry
and General Motors’ commitment to deliver fuel efficient, high-quality products.
Cruze is the result of a development process harnessing GM’s global design and
engineering expertise. It is the first of a new family of compact Chevrolets
that will continue the attention to quality, fuel efficiency, and strong value
promise of the highly successful Malibu and all other vehicles under the
Chevrolet brand. “The Chevrolet Cruze was designed and engineered by our global teams in
Europe and Asia Pacific and will be manufactured in those regions in addition to
the assembly plant here in Lordstown, Ohio,” Wagoner said. “Our goal for the
Chevrolet Cruze is to lead in fuel economy in this very competitive car
segment.” The new Cruze will be launched in Europe and Asia Pacific next year. It’s
scheduled to make its European debut at the Paris Motor Show in October. Press release via General Motors Woodcliff Lake, NJ - August 15, 2008… After multiple rounds of testing and
nail biting qualifying runs for PINKS ALL OUT at Raceway Park in Englishtown,
NJ, July 25th - 26th, the 650-horsepower MINI Cooper S drag racer, custom built
by ABF Performance, emerged a crowd favorite and newly appointed giant killer.
Piloted by Vincent Tennessee Kung, MINI USA’s Product
Manager, the little “MINI That Could” took down car after car with multiple
10-second passes and trap speeds exceeding 135mph. But the fun doesn’t stop at 1,320 feet out. Thanks to the massive R&D that
went into building this car, ABF Performance will continue to build on its
extensive portfolio of performance parts for street-bound and race-only MINIs.
In addition, ABF Performance will keep on designing and building a range of
turnkey race cars available for purchase by motorsports enthusiasts. Also, ABF
Performance will support a number of Club Racing series at racetracks throughout
the U.S., calculated to demonstrate the racing capabilities of the MINI
platform, while strengthening the community of MINI enthusiasts and giving them
an opportunity to sharpen their driving skills. Vincent Tennessee Kung, MINI Product Manager, stated, “The collaborative
effort between MINI USA and ABF Performance has resulted in record-making power
and speed. As the new generation of MINIs makes its way into the hands of
racers, we look forward to seeing what the aftermarket can accomplish both on
the dragstrip and on the road course.” Hubie Fuh, Executive Vice President of ABF PERFORMANCE, INC. added, “The new
second-generation MINI platform represents a solid and flexible platform for the
construction of extreme high-performance automobiles. We look forward to
developing the new platform through our signature racing programs and competing
at a variety of racing venues, including Drag, Drift, and Road Racing events
over the coming years. We also look forward to making the MINI brand one of the
most respected in all of motorsports. The combination of MINI’s fundamental
engineering and our performance enhancements will help MINI USA and ABF
Performance achieves this goal easily.” The MINI drag racer, a 2002 MINI Cooper S, has been extensively engineered
and tuned by ABF Performance and performed flawlessly over one week of grueling
competition in tough heat and humidity. The only hiccup for the team was the
factory axles, which snapped like toothpicks under Kung’s driving demands and
repeated requests of “more power.” Running 38 psig of turbo boost and making
9000 rpm shifts didn’t help matters much either. The MINI Cooper S Drag racer speeds on to other appearances and races this
fall, including: For more information about the ABF MINI, MINI USA, and MINI Financial
Services, please visit: www.miniusa.com ABF Performance, Inc. is the recently-announced joining of forces by the two
most respected aftermarket performance suppliers for the MINI automobile, with
its base of operations located in Los Angeles, CA. ABF Performance is the
official parts, development, technical support, and motorsports affiliate of
MINI USA, a division of BMW North America. In this capacity, the company sells
original and after-market parts and services to BMW and MINI owners and racing
enthusiasts throughout the U.S. For more information about ABF Performance,
please visit: www.abfperf.com Press release via BMW/MINI |
