News Service

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.

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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

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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

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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,

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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,"

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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.

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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

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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

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Volkswagen Beetle, 2012: High fives and hand claps

Volkswagen isn't the first manufacturer to make clever television commercials. But the new spot for the 2012 Beetle is among the best. It's simultaneously hip and ideally deals a recent prevailing trend that Beetle are only purchased by women. The video features a male driver driving in various situations around town. No matter where he drives, people want to "high five" or do "knuckles." The commercial is shot to the ""The Clapping Song." It was originally recorded by Shirley Ellis in 1965, shortly after she hit it big with a similar song, "The Name Game". The Clapping Song song made it to the top ten on the charts. Here a synopsis of the lyrics: "Three, six, nine The goose drank

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Subaru recalls 400,000 cars, rust issues

Subaru is recalling more than 400,000 vehicles, including Impreza, Forester, Legacy and Outback models sold or registered in 20 states to replace potentially rusty brackets on the underside of the vehicles. The recall covers the 2002-2007 Impreza and 2003-2008 Forester because of front lower control arms broken at hanger brackets due to corrosion caused by road salt. The second recall covers 195,000 2010-2011 Legacy and Outback to replace the windshield wiper bottom cover, which could catch fire or stop working. Subaru said it received a complaint of smoke from a wiper motor in January and began an investigation. Owners will be notified by November. Dealers will inspect the front lower control arms and will rust-proof them or replace them with

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Toyota Camry 2012 set for early dealer debut

Two weeks earlier than expected, the Toyota Camry 2012 is expected to arrive at dealerships in mid-September, according to the manufacturer. The Japanese manufacturer with a new plant in Georgetown, Kentucky, said the advance sales of the top-selling Camry is feasible because the "sell-down of the 2011 Camry is going extremely well." In its monthly sales meeting, Toyota reported selling 30,185 2011 Camry models in August compared with 30,764 in August 2010, a drop of 5.7 percent. Jeff Bracken, vice president of sales for Toyota's U.S. division, said North American production of Toyota models will return to normal levels in September, for the first time since the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan. With most of Toyota's North American

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Jeff Gordon edges Jimmie Johnson in Atlanta NASCAR

Delayed two days by inclement weather, Jeff Gordon claimed the AdvoCare 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway over teammate Jimmie Johnson on Tuesday (Aug. 6) by about a half-second. Despite continued poor weather conditions — the event was red flagged for weather with 115 laps to go and laps were ran under caution a couple of other times because of a light mist — Gordon talllied his 85th-career win to assume sole possession of third on the all-time win list. Tony Stewart was third, Kurt Busch fourth and Carl Edwards fifth. Gordon took the lead on lap 44 of the 325-lap race, and dominated much of the rest of the way. ResultsLap length: 1.54 miles(Start position

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