News Service

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BMW named official vehicle for 2012 London Summer Olympics

The London Organizing Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (LOCOG) set targets for CO2 emissions – which BMW met with its Olympic fleet of cars, beating the target average CO2 output of 120g/km. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars BMW will showcase electric vehicles with its 2012 fleet, the company already running a number of electric Minis in three countries to collect data on their usage. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles will be provided, as will BMW bicycles in the Olympic Village. BMW will also use its motorcycle range to support certain events. LOCOG Chairman Sebastian Coe commented: “Operationally, an automotive deal is vital for any organizing committee and

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Mercury rising: Rachel Veitch and her 600,000-mile love affair with a ’64 Comet Caliente

Veitch, who turned 91 in August 2009, is still driving the car she’s owned for more than 45 years and driven nearly 600,000 miles. AUTOMOTIVE RESOURCES Auto Shipping Quote, Car Financing, Car Insurance Quotes, Car Loans, Online Car Insurance, Rental Cars, Used Cars Veitch of Orlando, Fla., who has has been married three times, now largely drives her car to volunteer work. A retired nurse, she’s an expert on Robert’s Rules of Order, which she also still teaches. Veitch’s driving is now limited to daylight driving because of her difficulty with night vision. She last took a driver’s license test in 2003. In the three years since she was “discovered,” Veitch’s story has provided keen feature material for automotive journalists

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Bloom box: Fuel-cell technology's Holy Grail or its Holy Hype?

On 60 Minutes tonight a brand new energy company unveiled what was billed as a potentially revolutionary energy technology called Bloom Boxes. Based on fuel-cell technologies, Stahl unveiled the formerly secret company Bloom Energy thusly: “The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” The Bloom Box is said to be a device that can power approximately 100 houses. According to a press release, the Bloom Box was developed by NASA scientists and can be used in different ranges of temperatures which makes the way it can be used more expansive. Several competitors are also trying to develop similar devices

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Bloom Energy: Could it replace current electric and other alternative fuel cars?

“The idea is to one day replace the big power plants and transmission line grid, the way the laptop moved in on the desktop and cell phones supplanted landlines.” Based in Sunnyvale, Calif., Bloom Energy has operated for the past eight years. According to the 60 Minutes report, it has raised about $400 million from venture capital firm Kleiner Perkins, and its early clients include Google, eBay and Walmart. Additional investors in Bloom Energy are diverse and its business relationships are posted on the company’s web site. But what was conspicuously absent from the 60 Minutes report was if the fuel cells could have a potential application in auto industry. The Chevy Volt, Nissan Leaf and Tesla Roadster are auto

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New Hot Wheels for Danica Patrick called Danicar

Patrick is credited as a co-designer of the new Hot Wheels and will be available as part of the basic 1:64 scale rather than on limited edition. Patrick recently crashed out her NASCAR debut early in a 12-car pile up at Daytona International Speedway. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and

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Corvette ZHZ (2008) in auction for Haiti and children's music charity

Proceeds from the sale of the Corvette will benefit two charities: OxFam International and the Music for America Project. OxFam International works in more than 100 countries to overcome poverty and injustice (currently a part of our Heal Haiti Auction). The Music for America Project  provides avenues for children to achieve their musical dreams. Additional details: Estimated value, $45,000; Current bid (increments of $2,500), $27,500.01; Mileage 24,717; Model Year, 2008; Location Orlando, Fla.; Warranty,  Limited for first 60 Days or 2,000 Miles. For additional information or to bid, visit: CharityBuzz/Corvette James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this

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Toyota continues goal to restore customer faith after massive recall

James Lentz, president and chief operating officer of Toyota Sales, USA, Inc., writes in USA Today (Feb. 15) that he reassures consumers the Toyota community is doing all they can to handle the recall situation swiftly and responsibly. The op-ed piece begins: “For 50 years, Americans have trusted Toyota to provide vehicles that are among the safest, most reliable on the road. “We recognize that of late we have not lived up to the high standards our customers expect from us. We take our commitment to the public very seriously and are working hard to make things right. The piece is entitled “Firmly focuse on safety” and its sub-titled: “Unintended acceleration is rare; Toyota is working to restore trust.” To

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Danica Patrick unhurt as NASCAR debut ends in smoky crash

Patrick had moved from 27th to 21st when Josh Wise banged into rookie Colin Braun, starting a chain reaction of wrecks in turn four of the 69th lap. Patrick, She boxed in traffic, couldn’t see because of surrounding smoke and ricocheted off Wise’s car. Patrick then kidded across the grass and settled into a stop with heavy damage to the right-front fender of her GoDaddy.com Chevrolet. “I literally couldn’t see a thing,” Patrick told reporters. “That’s the problem. If we could figure out how to have the tires make no smoke, there would be a lot less crashed race cars, but unfortunately that’s the inevitable of what’s going to happen here. “It’s also the product of racing so close together.

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Chicago Auto Show, 2010: New models, concept cars from Ford, Chevy, Honda, Toyota, Kia

The new Ford Edge, Honda Odyssey, Toyota Avalon, Silverado HD and of futuristic KIA Ray, were all also included. The show continues through Feb. 21. Check out Mica’s highlights from the Chicago Auto Show in the video below: James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut Creek, Calif., and monthly auto review and wellness columns for Gulfshore Business, a magazine in Southwest Florida. An author and contributor to many newspapers, magazines and online publications, co-hosted The Weekly Driver

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Hertz plans to introduce Nissan Leaf into rental car fleet

The Leaf can seat five adults and is designed to travel up to 100 miles on a single charge. It will be available at select Hertz rental sites, though the company did not specify where. Nissan expects to begin selling the Leaf in the United States later this year. The Japanese company also plans to use its partnership with French automakers Renault to mass market electric vehicles worldwide in 2012. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist for more than 45 years, James has written the new car review column The Weekly Driver since 2004. In addition to founding this site in 2004, James writes a Sunday automotive column for The San Jose Mercury and East Bay Times in Walnut

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Honda recall: Nearly 400,000 Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V and Acura TL models may have faulty airbags

The newest recalls applies to 2001 and 2002 model-year Accord, Civic, Odyssey, CR-V, and 2002 Acura TL vehicles. The move expands a recall first announced in November 2008 for less than 4,000 Accord and Civic sedans due to faulty airbag inflators. The initial recall was expanded in July 2009 to cover an additional 440,000 vehicles. The company said it was not aware of any new incidents after the airbag recall was first broadened in July 2009. “However, we have concluded that we cannot be completely certain that the driver’s airbag inflator in the vehicles being added to this recall at this time will perform as designed,” a Honda spokesperson said in a statement. James RaiaA sports, travel and business journalist

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Toyota's rise to recall crisis: Reuters details carmaker's woes in timeline

Reuters was the first to report the recall of the top-selling Prius this week and the news service has been on the competitive edge of the ever-fluctuating automotive industry story since 2000. With Toyota‘s recall now of nine of its vehicles, Camry to Corolla, Lexus to Prius, Reuters has posted a piece its calling: “Timeline: Toyota‘s rise and run-up to its recall crisis.” It begins in 2000 when it reports Toyota launched program known as “Construction of Cost Competitiveness for the 21st Century.” Its aim was to cut costs of 180 key car parts by 30 percent, saving nearly $10 billion by 2005. The dateline is current with the latest in the series of Toyota recalls. Here’s the link: Toyota

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Audi 'Green Police' video chosen best Super Bowl car commercial by Cars.com's Kicking Tires blog

It’s obviously a subjective list, but Cars.com, and its perfectly named blog, Kicking Tires, just picked its top-10 cars commercials from the Super Bowl. The Audi Green Police commercial was picked as Cars.com’s favorite. The WeeklyDriver.com gave the top commercial nod to 10 Years Strong, the commercial featuring Brett Favre. We found the Green Police video annoying. The WeeklyDriver.com a difference of opinion with other commercials on Cars.com’s but we like the site’s succinct way of presenting its list. So, here it is: Nevertheless, here’s the Cars.com list, with a synopsis of its top pick. 1. Audi: Green Police The whole premise of overanxious greenies policing our bad environmental habits was exceptionally well done. Showing off the Audi A3 TDI

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Ferrari initiates two-year certified used car Power Warranty

So, in an attempt to help ease the fear of owners of some of its older models, Ferrari has announced a new 24-month warranty program. The 24-month Power Warranty will only apply on certified used cars purchased through the official Ferrari dealer network. To qualify for the program, the vehicle must pass a 190-point inspection at an official Ferrari dealer or approved service center. The inspection includes a service history check to make sure the car has had its annual inspection and has been properly maintained. The warranty remains with the vehicle and has a duration of 24 months from the date of purchase provided that the vehicle is correctly maintained (including the annual inspection) at an official dealer or

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Ford reveals Fusion Hybrid, Milan Hybrid join Prius with braking issues

In the aftermath of Toyota’s floor mat and braking issues in nine of its models, including top-selling Camry, Corolla and Prius, Ford has also discovered potential problems with the braking system in the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid and 2010 Mercury Milan Hybrid. Unlike the Prius, the Fusion and Milan hybrids don’t lose braking power while the driver steps on the brake pedal, bit it can feel that way. The cars have two separate braking systems – a regenerative system that gently slows the car by reversing the spin of its electric motor, which also recharges its batteries, and conventional brakes at the wheels. The brake pedal operates these systems electronically. But if something interferes with the electronics, it presses the

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Toyota CEO emerges from silence, outlines current woes, Prius, Lexus plans

Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, speaking for the first time since his embattled company has recalled millions of its vehicles and is considering further recalls with Prius and perhaps Lexus models, has outlined the Japanese manufacturer’s plans. Here are the key points of what Toyoda, the grandson of the Toyota founder, said at a news conference in Nagoya, Japan, late Friday, which was shown at Toyota’s Tokyo office by satellite feed. Also included are other key points of the current Toyota scandal: * Toyota‘s president apologized for the automaker’s global recalls and promised to beef up quality control by setting up a special committee he would head himself. * Toyota is still deciding what to do to fix braking

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