News Service

Toxic cars sold in Japan seven months after nuclear meltdown

Seven months after the nuclear meltdown in Japan that occurred in the aftermath of the earthquake and tsunami, vehicles contaminated by the radiation in the area have received new registrations and license plates and sold as used cars. Vehicles from the area around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, which suffered a series of meltdowns March 11, were scheduled to be destroyed. But dealers have been selling them, according to the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun. Dealers have traditionally bought used vehicles in Japan and exported them to Russia and Southeast Asia, according to the Telegraph. In June, Russian police turned back a half-dozen used cars from Japan after finding they were contaminated with radioactove isotopes. Authorities in South America, Australia and

Cars 2 driving across global boundaries, now online in China

Cars 2, the popular animated movie with myriad American movie stars, including Owne Wilson and Michael Caine, providing voiceover roles, now has a mainland China counterparts in the debut of the film online via the website, Tuduo.com. The availability of Cars 2 online, which began Oct. 24 and is between Tudou Holdings Limited and The Walt Disney Company, marks the first time that a full-length film from Disney's Pixar Animation Studios has been made available through an online video website in Mainland China. Cars 2 is available for on-demand viewing on Tudou's website for a fee. Viewers can choose among Mandarin, Cantonese or English language versions. Chinese actors and actresses provided the voiceovers. The release of Cars 2 through Tudou's

Manny Pacquiao adds to car fleet, buys new Ferrari 458

Like many famous athletes, Manny Pacquiao is fond of cars. The Filipino boxing star recently purchased a new $225,000 Ferrari 458 Italia. The Italian-made Ferrari has a 570-horsepower 4.5-liter V8 engine and can achieve 0-60 mph speed in 3.4 seconds Pacquiao, 32, who will fight Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on Nov. 12 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, owns or is often escorted in numerous cars, including a Cadillac Escalade and several other sport utility vehicles. Pacquiao also has a Porsche Cayenne, Mitsubishi Pajero, Lincoln Navigator, Honda CR-and a Chevrolet Suburban, Ford Expedition and a Toyota Landcruiser given to the boxer by a dealership last year. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years,

World Series, 2011: Patriotism, Chevys and Ray Charles

Chevrolet will celebrate its 100th birthday November 3, and what better time to promote the occasion than two weeks early during the World Series. During the opening game between the Texas Rangers and St. Louis Cardinals and throughout the World Series, viewers on FOX will see "Then and Now.' The one-minute spot features Ray Charles' singing a live version of America the Beautiful. The voiceover at the end of the commercial is handled by long-time actor-spokesman Tim Allen. Footage shows vintages photos from Chevy's archives, fans, employees and Flickr. The "Chevy Runs Deep" tagline is included, and following a shortened rendition of Ray Charles singing America The Beautiful, Allen concludes the commercial with the words: "For the first 100 years

Asbestos health risks abound for car owners, mechanics

Automobiles are beneficial, but car exhaust releases harmful chemicals, including carbon monoxide, which accelerates global climate change. In addition to harming the environment, car exhaust has many toxins harmful to health, again including carbon monoxide that can lead to asphyxiation in an enclosed area. Car exhaust also contains high levels of benzene, which has been proven to be carcinogenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), a known carcinogenic that also lead to birth defects. Although it’s common knowledge car exhaust contains hazardous toxins, car parts also contain hazardous toxins. Car interiors, for example, are toxic. Bromine, a flame retardant used to make many of the interior plastic parts, also contributes thyroid trouble, memory and learning disabilities, reproductive issues and behavioral problems.

World Series, 2011: Audi, BMW, GM, Nissan will have TV ads

Audi, Nissan, BMW and Chevrolet will help comprise a large presence for the car industry during the World Series on Fox when the 107th edition of the Fall Classic between the St. Louis Cardinals and Texas Rangers begins Oct. 18 in St. Louis. According to a report on the website www.broadcastingcable.com, World Series commercial spots sold out for about $500,000 per per spot, up from last year about $50,000 per spot. "Led by several categories, especially cars, MLB postseason has been solid for us. We're pacing well ahead of last year," Neil Mulcahy, executive VP for sports sales at Fox, told the website. Fox Sports said its top categories during the World Series will include cars, financials/insurance, movies, pharmaceutics, packaged

Honor Dan Wheldon, watch SENNA, film homage to racing

The death of Dan Wheldon during final IndyCar series finale Oct. 16 occurred ironically during the current release of the documentary SENNA, the biography of Ayrton Senna, the Brazilian Formula 1 driver who like Wheldon was revered and a racing hero to their respective countryman and global fans. Wheldon, 33, the Great Britain native and two-time Indy 500 winner, died in a 15-car accident early in the race at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Senna, 34, of Brazil, a three-time F1 world titlist, died May, 1994 in an accident during the San Marino Grand Prix. Wheldon called Senna his racing hero, and 17 years after his death Senna is still often regarded as the greatest F1 driver in history. The

White supremacy returns for car buyers, silver now second

After a decade of silver leading the pack as the world's most popular car color, white is now No. 1 with 20 percent of all cars painted white, according to PPG Industries in Detroit. The color trends data company recently announced that white now has one percent lead over silver globally. But while white is also the leading color in North America, geographically color preferences are drastically different. In Europe, black is the favorite color among car buyers. Among North American car buyers, here are the percentages: white (20 percent), silver (19), black (18), gray (15), red (9), blue (9). And what a difference 17 years make. Green, once the most popular color, is now the least popular. In Europe,

Kia Rio, 2012: New features, new style, lower starting price

The redesigned 2012 Kia Rio ($13,600) and Kia Rio5 ($14,700), priced lower than 2011 models, are available in three trim levels — the base LX trim, the midlevel EX, and the top of the line SX. The SX starts at just under $18,000, which includes additional features such as 17 inch alloy wheels, twin chrome exhausts, a sport tuned suspension, and LED accents for the head and taillamps. Regardless of which model is selected, all three Rio trim levels will have electric power steering, air conditioning, and satellite radio as standard equipment along with standard safety features such as four wheel ABS brakes, Hill Start Assist Control, and Electronic Stability and Vehicle Stability Control systems. The 2012 Kia Rio features

Formula 1 on right track at Circuit of The Americas in Texas

About 13 months before Formula 1 racing returns to the United States for the first time since 2007, construction of the Circuit of The Americas is steadily progressing toward the Nov. 18, 2012 debut in Austin, Texas, of a 10-year contract for the world's most viewed sport. According to literature distributed during a media tour held as a preamble to the national unveiling of the 2012 Kia Rio and Kia Soul, the Circuit of The Americas is the "first purpose racetrack and F1 Grand Prix facility." The 3.4-mile circuit is located on an approximately 970-acre site in southeast Austin along the SH 130 corridor near FM 812, two miles from Austin Bergstrom International Airport. In addition to F1 racing, Circuit

Buy pink tires? It's Radar Tires' way to fight breast cancer

Radar Tires, the flagship automotive tire brand of Singapore-based Omni United, is supporting The Breast Cancer Research Foundation in a unique way. It's asking its customers to buy pink-walled tires. The manufacturer, via a campaign called "Mobilizing Hope," will donate $1 to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF) for each set of four Radar RPX800 and DIMAX tires purchased during the next year. Radar Tires has committed a minimum annual donation of $250,000 and has a goal of raising $1 million. To raise awareness of the initiative and to further support the BCRF, Radar has turned to its campaign affiliated retailers across the country. The goal is to “Mobilize Hope” in their respective communities throughout the month of October, which

Mercedes-Benz Superdome: new turf for luxury carmaker

Three of the largest upcoming sporting events in the United States will have prominent relationships with Mercedes-Benz with the announcement of the luxury carmaker's new relationship with the New Orleans Saints and the National Football League team's home playing facility. Via a 10-year agreement that provides official naming rights among other sponsorship benefits including being named the Official and Exclusive vehicle of the NFL’s Saints, the newly named Mercedes-Benz Superdome will play host to the 2012 Men's Final Four and BCS Championship Game and the 2013 Super Bowl. The agreement is the first naming rights deal in the U.S. for the luxury car maker and also for the New Orleans sports and exhibition stadium. It recently underwent a six-year $336

Geely expands, signs exclusivity deal with Saudi Arabia

Haji Husein Alireza and Co. Ltd. (HHA) has launched China’s Geely & Geely Emgrand cars in Saudi Arabia as the manufacturer's exclusive dealer following the the initial agreementat completed the recent Shanghai International Auto Show in China. "We have put our capabilities and vast experience in our quest to get the dealership of Geely & Emgrand cars for Saudi Arabia after we conducted an in-depth study to show the demand for and future of this brand in our local market,” Ali Alireza MD, HHA, said at the recent launch event, which was attended by senior executives of the two companies in Jeddah. "We have succeeded in our quest and become the exclusive dealer for this important brand in Saudi Arabia,"

Sly Stone now among the everyday homeless people

Plenty of rock musicians and movie stars are known for the passions for cars. But not too many celebrities get attention for living in their vehicles. Re-meet funk icon Sly Stone, the top-selling artist and former car buff who’s now living in a van in a rough Los Angeles neighborhood. Stone, with the ensemble he put together called The Family Stone, had numerous hits beginning in 1968 with “Dance to the Music,” followed by “Everyday People,” “Family Affair,” “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” and “Stand!” Like other celebrities, he loved cars. According to several media accounts, he once drove a Jaguar XKE he painted purple. And he had Hummers, a London taxi and a Studebaker he still owns.

Rare Ferrari with seven miles on engine on sale on eBay

A 2004 Ferrari FXX Evolution, one of only 17 in the world and with only seven original miles has less than three days of auction time left on eBay According to the listing, the Ferrari had has been maintained in a collection since delivery. It was upgraded to Evolutionin the Fall of 2010 by Ferrari’s Corse Clienti department and returned to the collection where it sits. The FXX uses some technology developed from the Enzo, and combines it with some new developments from Ferrari and its suppliers. Ferrari has built 30, adding one special edition to the 29 that were originally planned. The original 29 have all been sold to pre-selected past Ferrari customers. The 30th was retained by Ferrari

World Fastest Car: It's a show, It's mobile, It's on eBay

World's Fastest Car Show, an original video series for its website and mobile application, has been announced as the first originally produced media content for eBay Motors. Hosted by Justin Bell, the former 24 Hours of Le Mans winner and FIA GT2 World Champion, the series chronicles the fast-paced automotive lifestyle, designed to engage automotive enthusiasts through both the web and mobile platforms. There will be two versions of each weekly episode, one produced for the eBay Motors mobile application, and the other produced for the eBay Motors website. Episodes will feature segments such as automotive adventures, celebrity interviews and car collections, road trips, and a Mystery Car segment where viewers will be given clues to a car, the identity