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McCain's Battery Proposal Draws Critics

Submitted: 20.07.08

Republican presidential candidate John McCain's proposal to create a $300 million prize to spur development of a more efficient battery to power future hybrids and electric cars continues to generate buzz today.  Political opponents and energy-industry analysts have begun to weigh on in the plan, and opinions are mixed. USA Today reports, "Historians said the offer of a multimillion-dollar prize appears to be a presidential campaign first. Author Rick Shenkman, ...

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BMW Performance 3-Series accessories

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/in-the-news/bmw-performance-3-series-accessories     news     .

2010 Mercedes GLK350 pricing announced

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/in-the-news/2010-mercedes-glk350-pricing-announced     news     .

Porsche 911 (998) Turbo spy shot

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/in-the-news/porsche-911-998-turbo-spy-shot     news     .

Listings of New and Used Cars Information Guidelines By Priya Singh

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/interesting/listings-of-new-and-used-cars-information-guidelines-by-priya-singh By the time you read this, there??s little doubt that Tata will have been announced as the new owner of two legendary, and quintessentially British, marques ?? Jaguar and Land Rover. At the moment, an official announcement is still awaited, but it appears to be a foregone conclusion. Nevertheless, as they say, ??it??s not over until the fat lady sings?? ?? in this case the fat lady is the ailing Ford Motor Company, which is expected to announce the buyout in early 2008.It??s a matter of great pride for our country that two Indian companies made it to the final round of bidding ?? Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra. M&M recently pulled out of the race citing some last minute complications.Tata??s buyout of Jaguar and Land Rover, at an expected US $2 billion, may pale in comparison to its recent acquisition of the steel giant Corus at US $ 12 billion, but in some ways it announces to the world even more firmly that India??s time has well and truly arrived. Reason being, Jaguar and Land Rover are much more in the public eye ?? in fact, in the hearts and minds of people across the globe ?? as opposed to a faceless organization, albeit a massive one.Both these marques have a very rich heritage and tradition. Tata will be well aware that leveraging this heritage, and maintaining the inherent characteristics of both marques, will be critical to their success moving forward. Tata will be well aware that leveraging this beritage, and maintaining the inherent characteristics of Jaguar and Land Rover, will be critical to their success moving forward Tata??s also fortunate to have stepped in at a very opportune time indeed, especially in the case of Jaguar. While Land Rover, as an individual entity, makes a healthy profit and is a brand held in high regard the world over, Jaguar hasn??t been so fortunate in the recent past. The company has been fighting a losing battle to wipe out its red ink, and Ford has pumped in an enormous amount of time and money to ensure its existence and revival.It appears that Jaguar could well be on the cusp of that revival as we speak. The money that Ford has pumped into product development means that Jaguar has an exciting new model line up in the pipeline ?? its new XF sedan, which hints at a completely fresh approach, is evidence of this. Even before its launch, the company??s received over 3,000 bookings in the UK itself. This model has the potential to single handedly turn the marque around and lead its revival.Needless to say, there will be huge challenges as well. In many cases, Tata Motors will have to depend on Ford??s help and active involvement in areas such as drivetrain technology, R&D for better fuel efficiency, lower emissions, etc. At the same time, for Tata Motors this means immediate access to new and cutting edge technology and international markets. They can use both these factors to further leverage their relationship with Fiat ?? who could benefit from the existing dealer network for the re-entry of Alfa Romeo in the US, or even some of Land Rover??s expertise to assist in developing an SUV of its own. Moreover, ownership of these marques will give the Tata brand itself greater appeal. Even if it takes them many years to incorporate new technologies into their own cars, the halo effect will begin almost instantaneously.At the complete other end of the spectrum, Tata Motors will preview the highly anticipated One-Lakh car at the Auto Expo in New Delhi for the first time. The Expo, which has doubled in size since the last edition in 2006, is indicative of how rapidly the Indian market is evolving. Be certain to attend the show, and don??t forget to pay us a visit outside Hall 7 in Pragati Maidan.The car in this image is a Ferrari FXX ?? at the time referred to as the Super Enzo ?? caught testing at Fiorano during a very memorable trip to Maranello, the home of Ferrari, in 2005. See our feature story for more, as well several other exciting destinations.

MotorSport Listings of New and Used Cars Reviews By Priya Singh

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/interesting/motorsport-listings-of-new-and-used-cars-reviews-by-priya-singh Many people have died during this event. Maggie Thatcher's son caused consternation in Britain some years ago by getting lost while participating. Broken bones are quite common every time the event is held. I'm talking about the Dakar Rally, which was famously known as the Paris-Dakar.They say that when the going gets tough, the tough get going. Well, the Dakar Rally is probably the best way of checking out how tough you are by battling and overcoming tough, inhospitable terrain ?? not for just a day, but over a fortnight. The event came into existence when the founder Thierry Sabine, while participating in a race, got lost in the desert and hit upon the idea of holding a regular rally. Originally, the cars, bikes and trucks started from Paris, France, to Dakar in Senegal but varying political situations in the countries the rally passes through has meant the route has changed several times. Because the Dakar Rally terrain is a superb natural testing ground, many manufacturers like Land Rover, Toyota, Mercedes and Pinzgauer, as well as Citroen and even Porsche have chosen to participate. Nissan and Mitsubishi also take the rally very seriously indeed.In fact, 2008 will see Mitsubishi defending its 8 consecutive victories in what has been acknowledged as the toughest endurance race on the planet. The 2008 event is being looked upon as a source of technical feedback from the 2008 Dakar Pajero Evolution in terms of durability and endurance as this will influence the all-new range of high performance clean diesel engines slated for 2009. Mitsubishi's chief rival manufacturer is Volkswagen, and the German team has readied its Tdi-powered Race Touareg 2s. VW will field four cars but Jutta Kleinschmidt, the first woman to have won the Dakar Rally (in a VW) will not be with them. VW is hoping to become the first manufacturer to win the Dakar with Diesel power, just like sister company Audi has done at Le Mans for the past two years. The route for the 2008 Dakar Rally is 9,273km long, of which 5,736km will be treacherous special stages. The rally starts in Lisbon on the 5th of January and is scheduled to reach Dakar on the 20th of January after wending its way through Spain, Morocco & Mauritania. Narain??s flawless performance should remind those who??ve have cast him aside that he??s still very much a force to be reckoned with on the world motorsport stage. In all fairness though, he was a little lucky to inherit first position when Neel Jani of Switzerland, who was leading comfortably, had trouble in the pits. But, more often than not, you need lady luck in your corner in order to win a race. Narain, on his part, put in quick laps when it counted, and set one fastest lap after another to secure his position.During the closing stages of the race, Narain also soaked up an enormous amount of pressure from Jonny Reid of New Zealand to finish the 45-lap feature race just half a second ahead ?? his first major win since his Formula 3 days in the UK several years ago. Having proven that he still has the ability to win, Narain feels he??s due another shot at F1.At the end of the day, this is a great win for team India. It??s sure to be a huge morale booster for a team that is still developing and getting better all the time ?? hopefully it??s also sign of many more wins to come. On the whole, you??ve got to say, it??s looking relatively good for the Indian racing scene at the moment.

NSX Body Kits- Change the personality of your vehicle By Louie Liu

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/interesting/nsx-body-kits-change-the-personality-of-your-vehicle-by-louie-liu Feel that the look of your NSX sports car is not enough to match your dazzling personality? Well, with NSX body kits, your NSX will surely capture the look of anyone, wherever you go. Though the design and the appearance of Acura NSX is already remarkable, it is not enough to suit anyone??s uniqueness. An NSX body kit will allow you to create a look that you can truly own, patterned to your own personality. Aside from that, NSX body kits will also enhance the performance and aerodynamics of your car. Depending on your needs, several online stores carry a large selection of NSX body kits from 1991 to 2005. Buying in an online store proves to be cheaper and convenient than going outside your home to look for reputable shops that sell affordable body kits. Bear in mind though that buying in online stores should also be done carefully. The internet is not a safe place, if you do not know what you are doing, anyone can just manipulate you and get away with your money. Extreme carefulness is advised when doing transactions online. Make sure that the online store you will be dealing with is a member of Better Business Bureau. Otherwise, forget that shop and move on to the next shop you are going to find. Money is not easy to earn, therefore, you should take the necessary precautions to avoid being ripped off. The next thing you need to do after finding a reputable store is decide which kind of body kit is suited for your needs. Usually, there are only two kinds of body kit. One is made of urethane, and the other fiberglass. The two is a very different in the sense that urethane is highly resistant to damage, but once damaged, can never be repaired. And fiberglass is prone to damages but can be repaired. Depending on where you live, these two materials guarantee quality. After deciding on the material, you now have to decide on who will install the kit. Will it be you or a local body shop? If you do not know anything about body kits, then it is a better idea to pay a little sum of money and let the experts install it for you. Do not play Johnny-know-all it will only delay the process and might ruin the look of your car. Better if you just trust the experts and chillax. When the experts are done installing body kits to your car, do not be too overwhelmed about the transformation of your car, reserve it later when you have double checked the work of the installer. Test drive your car and see if there are any rattling sounds caused by loose bolts. If there is none, then it is time to celebrate because you now have a stylish and eye catching NSX that will be the envy of everyone who is so common!

Question: How would you spend the bailout money?

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/chrysler/question-how-would-you-spend-the-bailout-money Imagine you are the CEO of Chrysler and the government is ready to help Chrysler. How much money would you ask? How would you spend the money? What type of projects? How long would it take to fix Chrysler? Leave your suggestions and plans as a comment.

Car Drive Track Adventure Information Tips By Priya Singh

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/interesting/car-drive-track-adventure-information-tips-by-priya-singh The Nordscheliefe, at 14 miles in length with 173 tricky corners per lap, is the ultimate driving challenge. The track is so diverse in the nature of challenges it presents that a number of manufacturers use it to test their cars before they go into production ?? in fact, practically every major manufacturer tests its sports cars at the Ring. he track is located in Germany, midway between Cologne and D??sseldorf. And only in Germany ?? a country that still has large sections of unrestricted Autobahns ?? can a track such as the Nurburgring officially be designated a toll road where anyone with a car (or caravan even) pay a few Euros to drive around and test their mettle. Technically, it's a one-way public toll road with no speed limit, but certain rules do apply. It costs less than 20 Euros a lap, depending on how many laps your ticket allows you to complete.The track is open to the public on most weekends, and you see a wide range of cars in the paddock ranging from supercars to diesel station wagons. Large rental car agencies don't allow their cars to be driven on the track, so if you're visiting the best thing to do is to rent a car from one of the local establishments that have cars meant specifically for the Ring ?? referred to as Ring Tools.Needless to say, it's not for the faint of heart. The Ring has everything you could ask for in a track, or even a mountain road ?? an endless barrage of unforgiving dips, crests, bumps and blind corners that are unrelenting for the entire 14 miles.If you feel driving around the track yourself may prove to be a little too adventurous, perhaps you'd fancy a drive around in a taxi. Not just an ordinary taxi though, Ring Taxis are BMW M5's driven by professional drivers ?? you can be rest assured that it'll be the ride of your life.Try and soak in a little of the history while you're holding on for dear life, as the track has been the scene of some of the greatest races of all time, where only legends of the sport have prevailed. As you drive into Maranello, it appears very much like any other industrial town in this part of Italy. Yet, you can't help but think to yourself, it houses some of the most skilled craftsman, engineers and technicians in the world.Then you hear the shriek of an engine in the distance, being tested to its full potential at the Fiorano circuit ?? the Ferrari test track in Maranello itself. You get a sense that you're arriving somewhere very special indeed. And then, with almost no warning at all, you come across the hallowed gates of the Ferrari factory itself. You pause for a moment, reflect, and pay your respects ?? it hits you that this is anything but an ordinary place. Within those gates, which have stayed largely the same for many decades, the most beautiful, coveted and exquisite creations known to man are conceived and then crafted.

Eagle Motor Company: a brand name lost somewhere in the competitive world By Brian Hamson

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/interesting/eagle-motor-company-a-brand-name-lost-somewhere-in-the-competitive-world-by-brian-hamson Little is acknowledged at the moment on the subject of the Eagle brand. Particularly when compared to large trade names whose name single-handedly signifies a lot of things, the trade name Eagle doesn??t grab much attention. This is for the reason that Eagle subsisted for merely a decade. An undersized-lived partition of the Chrysler Corporation, Eagle automobiles were produced and marketed simply from the year 1987 to the year 1998. For this reason, the majority automobile consumers of these days don??t recognize much in relation to the trade name and a number of people are not even conscious that it on one occasion existed. Even if the majority of us may perhaps see Eagle motor vehicles on a daily basis on the road, it is uncomplicated to oversight them for a Dodge, or merely Chrysler. On the other hand, though the developing has been congested years before, Eagle automobiles still sprint and class Eagle components are still being produced at the moment.Once a component of the Chrysler Company, Eagle was recognized in the year 1987 subsequent to the point of time when Chrysler got hold of American Motors Company (AMC). Its name was made in use by the AMC Eagle, one of the most recent motor vehicles produced by AMC as a self-governing company. In its complete history underneath the Chrysler Corporation, quite a few automobile models under the Eagle trade name have been produced, which take account of the following models:1) Premier 2) Summit 3) Vision 4) Talon 5) Medallion. Discontinuation of Eagle vehicle production: On the other hand, all of these forms are merely badge-engineered inventions and look a great deal similar to their Chrysler matching parts underneath names such as the Dodge, Plymouth and Mitsubishi. Additionally, only the Eagle Talon was capable to sell more components than its replicas. Through Eagle??s unfortunate deals brought about by unfortunate product acknowledgment, Chrysler discontinued the Eagle portion in the year 1998.While the development of Eagle automobiles has been congested, the manufacture of Eagle automobile parts carry on. In actual fact, Eagle automobile parts have been established to be at the same level with the components of additional Chrysler motor vehicles when it comes to excellence. As a result, just as additional Chrysler motor vehicles are provided and completed with superior value parts at the moment, so are Eagle automobiles. Each Eagle motor vehicle that runs and turns over at the moment is equipped with highest value Eagle components that facilitate them to perform well or even superior than more well-liked automobiles.With appropriate concern and preservation, Eagle automobiles can in point of fact do better than the more well-liked and acknowledged vehicles.

Used Car Classifieds By John Marker

- posted: 08.01.09
http://auto-news-blog.com/interesting/used-car-classifieds-by-john-marker Trying to find a used car can be an incredibly taxing experience. Some people have an easy time finding the used car that they need; they seemingly become lucky as they find the used car that they want in the first place that they looked. Generally, people have a hard time finding the used cars that they want, and wind up spending incredible amounts of time on the search. Fortunately, the Internet has made it easier to find the used cars that you need. Used car classifieds can be an incredible tool, as long as you know how to use them, and know what to do.Know What Your Limits AreWhen you are thinking about buying a used car, it is important to think about your limits before you actually look at the cars. When you set your limits before you find a car, you will be sure that you do not change your limits just because of a car that you have found. Figure out how much you are willing to pay for a used car, so that you know your spending limit. Know what year you consider your limit, so you know how old of a car you can handle. Know how many miles you are willing to have on that car, so that you know exactly how much you can deal with. Knowing all of the different types of limits for yourself and your used car purchase is the best way to make that purchase.Find the CarsUsed car classifieds are incredibly important for those who want to find as many different used cars as possible. Used car classifieds can help you to understand exactly what cars are in your area. Luckily, these used car classifieds have made their way to the Internet. You can know use the Internet to figure out exactly what types of used cars are available in your area.Visit if Possible, Get the Information.If you can, visit the used cars that you find and are interested in. Actually visiting these cars is the best way to get a feel for the legitimacy of the car. After that, however, you must be sure to get the carfax report on the car, and that you (if possible) take it to a mechanic. This is the only way to understand how well the car should hold up over the next few years.While finding the car through used car classifieds is incredibly important, it is more important that you have all of the information necessary to make the best decision possible. By knowing what you are willing to do, how far you are willing to go, and how much you are willing to pay will bring you to the best decision available.