News Service

Tour of California: caravan of cars traverse the state

Beyond many of world’s best cyclists, including top Tour de France contenders, world titlists and Olympic gold medalists, the 800-mile Tour of California, like other cycling events, features a caravan of automobiles, motorcycles and recreational vehicles. An estimated 300 vehicles are traveling start to finish in sponsors’ cars, including Nissan, the co-sponsor of the RadioShack team, and Acura, the co-sponsor of BMC. Each starting and finish city also has its own law enforcement jurisdictions with a sizable array of police vehicles. The caravan of vehicles is nothing new to bike racing, but the sixth annual Tour of California this year began in South Lake Tahoe, California. Inclement weather, including snow, rainy and wet roads, prompted the cancellation of the opening

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Kentucky Derby: Horses, (Dodge) Rams, killing for silence

For the second consecutive year, the Ram Truck brand continued its title as the Official Truck of Churchill Downs and the Kentucky Derby with a multi-faceted program dedicated to the 2011 Kentucky Oaks and Kentucky Derby horse races. According to the official press release: “From the moment Thoroughbred fans enter Churchill Downs they will be immersed in the Ram Truck brand via vehicle displays and work trucks in and around the track, gate crew staff uniforms, and Ram branded jockey pants.” The best part of the partnership for Kentucky Derby viewers, just like in the Super Bowl or World Series, was arguably the sponsor’s commercials. Ram Trucks had its share, including a spot called “Silence” with actor Sam Elliott doing

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Indy 500 tickets available for race's 100th anniversary

With the event and likely its most famous driver celebrating milestones, the 100th anniversary of the Indianapolis 500, arguably auto racing’s greatest events, will offer its share of memories. As such, attending the May 29 race at Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) is still possible. In addition to the race’s centenary, A.J. Foyt will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first of four Indy 500 wins in a special ceremony. Foyt has also been named to drive the race’s pace car. Race Day ticket prices start at $30. Fans can buy tickets online at www.imstix.com, by calling the IMS ticket office at (317) 492-6700, or (800) 822-INDY outside the Indianapolis area. In Indianapolis area, tickets are available at the speedway administrative

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A.J. Foyt will drive Indy 500 pace car; Donald Trump exits

A.J. Foyt, the first four-time winner of the Indianapolis 500 who is celebrating the 50th anniversary of his first triumph in the event, will drive the Chevrolet Camaro convertible pace car at the 100th Anniversary race Sunday, May 29 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Donald Trump, the businessman, television show host and potential presidential candidate, withdrew his name as the expected pace car driver, citing a busy schedule. The choice of Trump as the pace car driver had drawn criticism via his political opinions and criticism of President Barack Obama. In addition to his Indianapolis 500 victory in 1961, Foyt also won as a driver in 1964, 1967 and 1977. He was triumphant as a team owner in 1999 with

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General Motors reveals broad recall, including Chevy Cruze

General Motors, the largest automaker in the United States, has announced three recalls across several brands — including economy cars to vans — and most notably its top-selling 2011 Chevrolet Cruze. The Cruze, the top-selling GM car in April, is experiencing steering shift installation problems among 154,112 car built at its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, from last summer through April 21. The problem has since been resolved, but the recall is necessary on the Cruze editions sold in the United States and Canada since last September. Additionally, more than 120,000 Cruze models with an automatic transmission will also be inspected to ensure the transmission shift linkage was properly installed. GM said. General Motors said no accidents or injuries had been

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China's Hawtai invests in Spyker to prevent Saab's demise

Hawtai Motor Group of China seeks to invest about $220 million in exchange for stock to the Dutch carmaker Spyker in order for its Swedish brand Saab to continue plans for its 9-3 to be made in China beginning in 2013. A privately-owned Chinese carmaker, Hawtai makes SUV and passenger cars. Founded in 2005, it’s owned by Zhang Xiugen, among the country’s wealthiest entrepreneurs. Spyker took over Saab about a year ago from General Motors, although GM retains stock. Hawtai will now own about 30 percent of Spyker. Saab’s production has ceased in recent weeks after suppliers stopped delivery of parts because of unpaid bills. The Hawtai deal is the second time a Chinese company has invested in a Swedish

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Honda extends airbag recall in six models dating to 2001

Honda is again expanding a recall for faulty airbags, with the issue now involving more than 1.7 million Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and to Acura models dating to 2001. The Japanese manufacturer reports the airbags can inflate with too much force, causing a casing break and a risk of injury or death. Honda says it is aware of 12 incidents, including 11 injuries and one death. The latest addition to the recall includes 833,000 vehicles among the following styles: Accord (2001-02), Civic (2001-02), Odyssey (2002), CR-V (2002-03), Acura 3.2 TL (2002-03) and Acura CL (2003). The original Honda recall in 2008 included 3,940 of its 2001 and 2002 models. Honda expanded the recall to about 443,000 vehicles in July 2009

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It's a small, cool world: Tata to Toyota, Rolls-Royce to Ford

Rolls-Royce gets it. Tata Motors and Ford get it. And so does Toyota and Volkswagen. Small cars are cool cars. That was one of the themes at the recent New York International Auto Show and the Geneva Motor Show. And the trend certainly didn’t go unnoticed by John Filiss of SeriousWheels.com. Filiss, in conjunction with CNBC.com has compiled a list of 10 cool small cars, some available now, some still in concept stages. Tata Motors, most well-known for its uber-cheap Nano, will in two years introduce the Tata Pixel, which looks surprisingly looks like a rabbit, not a Volkswagen by the same name, but the real creature. Here’s what Filiss said about the Tata Pixel: “This car concept capable of

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Kia gets car commercial honors with driving, rap hamsters

Kia Motors’ driving hamsters commercial, the advertising campaign for the Soul sport utility vehicle, has earned the Automotive Ad of the Year by the Nielsen Company and awarded at the New York International Auto Show. The spot titled “This or That,” the second chapter of the Kia Soul hamster story depicts the hamsters driving through city streets to the tune of the hip-hop song “The Choice is Yours” by Black Sheep. The commercial compares “This,” the funky and uniquely styled Soul, to “That,” a number of boring and mundane appliances on wheels, cardboard boxes or hamster wheels. Together, the popular “This or That” spot and the original “A New Way To Roll” campaign have contributed to significant increases in consumer

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Toyota recalls more than 300,000 RAV4, Highlanders

Toyota has announced a voluntary safety recall involving more than 300,000 RAV4 sport utility vehicles model years 2007 and 2008 and 2008 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles sold in the United States to replace the airbag sensor assembly. The recall will involve approximately 214,000 RAV4 vehicles and approximately 94,000 Highlander and Highlander HV vehicles. In the roll sensing curtain shield airbag system of the subject vehicles, two sensors in the airbag sensor assembly designed to detect vehicle roll angle. If one of these sensors malfunctions, the airbag warning light (malfunction indicator light) will illuminate and the roll detection system will be suspended; however, the airbag remains available in the event of a side collision. If both sensors fail nearly simultaneously

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Hyundai announces used car trade-in price guarantee

For the third time in 12 years, Hyundai has announced an automotive industry marketing first. This time, the South Korean manufacturer will guarantee the trade-in price of new cars after two, three or four years. =Hyundai recently ended its industry unique Hyundai Assurance Program. It promised to buy back buyers' cars if they lost their jobs. In 1999, Hyundai became the first manufacturer of offer a 10-year, 100,000-mile warranty. With the new program, Hyundai buyers can only apply the trade-in value to a new Hyundai. If the assessed value of that car is higher than Hyundai's guaranteed price, the buyer will get to apply the higher value to a new car. If the assessed value is lower, the buyer will

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Ford, Hyundai top fastest 2011 cars under $30,000

Forbes.com compiles innovation car lists, best used cars to most cost effective hybrids. The business website’s latest car list in the top-10 fastest 2011 cars that cost less than $30,000. The list extends from the Ford Mustang GT to the Hyundai Sonata SE, one of most increasing popular cars in the United States. Forbes.com used 0-60 mph times for 2011 models tested by Edmunds’ InsideLine.com. The 10 fastest that cost $30,000 or less made the cut. As Forbes.com stated, the Aston Martin V12 Vantage (4.1 seconds) and Porsche 918 Spyder hybrid (3.1 seconds) are too expensive for the list. Here’s the information on the Hyundai Sonata SE, the 10th-fastest car with a price less $30,000, as well as the complete

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Scion tC 2011 gets top NHTSA safety rating

The Scion tC sports coupe is the latest 2011 vehicle car to receive a top five-star overall rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). 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.   All Scion models meet or exceed safety requirements of the federal government and NHTSA. The Scion tC features include: 180 horsepower, 6-speed transmission, 18-inch alloy wheels and a 300-watt 8-speaker audio system. Also standard are eight supplemental restraint system (SRS) airbags including driver and front passenger airbags, seat-mounted side airbags, driver and front-passenger knee airbag

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BMW Z3, PT Crusier, Audi TT collectors' cars of the future?

One standard guideline in the automotive industry is that cars 25 years or older are considered “vintage.” Now, Josh Max, a writer for AOL Autos, believes several current or cars formerly in production in the last decade like the Chrsyler PT Cruiser and BMW Z3 could be collectors’ cars of the future. In the article, Max writes: “It’s hard to imagine, but once upon a time, a 1946 Packard, ’57 Chevy or a ’68 Ford Falcon didn’t cause a major stir on the highway any more than a Honda Accord, Audi A4 or a Dodge Ram would today.” Here’s what Max said in part about the Chrsyler PT Cruiser: “Cheap and stylish if initially underpowered, enthusiasm reached a quick fever

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Ferrari, Nissan, BMW chosen on 2011 All-Ugly car list

It’s not often Ferrari and Mazda or Lotus and Nissan are featured in the same car discussion. But all of them, and several other surprising choices, have been selected on the list of the 10 ugliest cars of 2011. John Pearley Huffman, who writes the appropriately titled Taking Blame column for the Inside Line feature on Edmunds.com, has strong and clever opinions. And he has a good share of detractors because of his selections. Huffman believes the Ferrari California is a ugly as the Mazda3 sedan. And he lumps the Dodge Caliber with the BMW6 series. The trio of newfangled electric-gas hybrids, the Chevy Volt, Honda Insight and Toyota Prius are grouped in an all-ugly category Huffman describes as “one

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Honda, Lexus get top best resale honors in new study

Vehicles manufactured by Honda, particularly the Accord sedan, CR-V crossover, Civic compact and Odyssey minivan, retain their value better than any other brand, according to a new study by Edmunds.com. The renowned automotive assessment website announced the result of its study five months after rival Kelley Blue Book named Subaru the top non-luxury brand and BMW the best luxury brand. “A lot of consumers just see (Honda) as a value-oriented brand that has good resale (value) and a good history of reliability,” said Danny Zhou, senior analyst for Edmunds.com. Edmunds calls the new evaluation, the Best Retained Value Awards. The authors used past resale prices to estimate the prices 2011 models when they are resold in five years. Honda retains

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