Monthly Archives: April 2010

Shell partners with Penske for 2011 racing season

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Celebrity Auto News, Dodge - DO NOT USE

Shell Oil Company and Penske Corporation have announced a business alliance to increase their motor sports presence in the 2011 racing season, extending sponsorhsip to former champion Kurt Busch, who has driven the No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge since 2006.

As a result, rival company ExxonMobil fired back by announcing that it is also cutting ties with Penske after this season. Its withdrawal means Penske has to look for a new sponsor for Sam Hornish Jr., driver of the No. 77 Mobil 1 Dodge.

“It has been a long and successful relationship, and we wish the Penske team continued success on the track,” the ExxonMobil said in a statement as reported by the Associated Press.

Penske’s deal with Shell will make Pennzoil the primary sponsor for Busch, who will move to the No. 22 Dodge, according to the news provider.

In a new release, Penske said that Pennzoil will become the “official motor oil” of its racing season next year, including all of its entries in the NASCAR Sprint Cup, the Nationwide Series and the IZOD IndyCar Series.

Penske first partnered with Pennzoil in 1983 as part of its IndyCar teams. The partnership won the 1984 and 1988 Indianapolis 500 Mile Races. Busch also drove a Pennzoil-supported car for another team when it won the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Championship in 2004.

Ford unveils software to liven up driving

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Posted in Auto Brands News, Auto Industry News, Ford

The U.S. car maker Ford has released a new software called SYNC AppLink, which will make possible hands-free control of certain technologies via Android and Blackberry smart phone applications.

While the software will launch on the 2011 USA Fiesta, Ford said that the software will be made available to older Ford models that run its in-car connectivity system called SYNC. Ford also plans to create a developer community to encourage the development of apps for Ford cars.

Ford said the AppLink will allow drivers and passengers to control some of the most popular apps through SYNC’s voice commands and steering wheel buttons while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road. Some of the apps that motorists will be able to control include the online radio provider Pandora and the micro-blogging site Twitter.

“The growth in smart phone mobile apps has been explosive, and Ford has worked hard to respond at the speed of the consumer electronics market,” Doug VanDagens, director of Ford’s Connected Services Organization, said in a news release.

Studies have shown that the mobile app development, which was a niche market just three years ago, will grow into a $4 billion industry by 2012. Mobile devices will become the No. 1 source for Internet access by 2015, surpassing the home computer.

Used Toyota resale values on the rise

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Toyota

Resale values of Toyota vehicles are gaining slowly after a boost in sales, as reported by the Japanese automaker earlier this month.

Consumers who currently own a Toyota have gained back “at least some of the resale value” they lost at the peak of the safety recall in February, Bankrate.com reports.

The automotive websites Edmunds.com and Kelly Blue Book have shown an uptick in resale values of used Toyota cars, in sharp contrast to their forecasts two months ago that prices would drop by as much as 10 percent.

“Values for three-year-old Toyotas are improving, though at a slower rate than the current industry average,” the news provider reported, citing Kelley Blue Book’s analysis.

Edmunds.com senior analyst Joe Spina also said that prices of used Toyota cars are “almost back to their pre-recall levels,” noting that a full rebound will not come until late summer.

Toyota has recalled more than 8 million vehicles due to safety concerns, but its March sales increased 41 percent compared with those in the month a year earlier. The rebound has largely been fuelled by subsidized leases and interest-free financing.

Cadillac offers more color options for car buyers

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Posted in Auto Industry News, Cadillac - DO NOT USE

Summer is just around the corner and it could be the perfect time of the year for people to revamp their car’s look. A California-based company has recently launched a new line of pigment specially made for Cadillacs.

JDSU, which provides color solutions for a wide range of industries including the automotive sector, has launched the “From a Different View” campaign to highlight the role of colors in brand differentiation and personal style.

Designers from Cadillac said colors impact the car-buying process as customers want colors to match their personality. Cadillac uses JDSU’s pigments, which add depth to cars by changing color when viewed from different angles.

“We have been collaborating with JDSU for nine years and in that time have created six special car colors for our Cadillac vehicles,” Chris Webb, senior creative designer at Cadillac, said in a news release. Cadillac owners have options to repaint their cars with JDSU’s chrome, tuscan bronze and thunder gray colors.

Scientists have long examined the psychology of colors. Numerous studies have pointed out the meanings each color evokes, and advertising companies have used them to come up with catchy color themes for their campaigns. So for car owners who want to change their personal branding, a new car color can usher in the change.

Justin Beiber gets driver’s license, will drive a Range Rover

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Land Rover - DO NOT USE

The millions of fans of teen sensation Justin Bieber shouldn’t be surprised if they see the 16-year old singer behind his Range Rover some time soon.

The Canadian singer has reportedly received his driver’s license from the Atlanta Department of Motor Vehicles, though Bieber’s rep has not released a statement on whether or not the claims are true, according to entertainment news site TMZ.

Bieber recently revealed in an interview with the British TV show “Live on Studio Five” that R & B superstar Usher bought him a Range Rover for his birthday.

“Usher helped buy me a car. He bought me a Range Rover. I can drive. They wanted a bigger car so if I got in an accident I’m not going to get as hurt,” the teen star told the show.

Bieber is one of the youngest male artists to reach the top spot on the Billboard 200 with his new album “My World 2.0.” The record is currently held by Stevie Wonder, who topped the chart in 1963 as a 13-year-old with “Little Stevie Wonder/The 12 Year Old Genius.”

New driver for No. 88 Chevy in NASCAR

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News, Chevrolet

The show must go on, and despite Kelly Bires’ departure, the No. 88 Chevrolet will still be on hand for nine races this season, which could up excitement for Chevrolet fans in New Jersey.

Jamie McMurray will take over the the driver’s seat from Bires, who drove JR Motorsports flagship No. 88, according to Fox News.

“We are extremely appreciative of Kelly Bires and wish him the best,” said Kelley Earnhardt, co-owner of JRM with brother Dale Earndhardt Jr., who created the team to train drivers in NASCAR’s second-tier Nationwide Series level.

Gloomy sponsorships were part of the reason of Bires’ departure, as media reports state the Earnhardts are practically financing much of this season out of pocket because sponsorships have been scarce.

The Earnhardts also said that the team’s “chemistry” with Bires “needed to succeed in this highly competitive industry was simply not there,” the Associated Press reported.

Bires responded, “I know I belong and will be successful in this sport. JRM gave me an opportunity, it just didn’t work out.”

McMurray will start driving No. 88’s first of nine races this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway. JRM said the team secured sponsorship from Hellman’s while Suave Men will sponsor the other two.

Ex-racer loses suit on Porsche ownership

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Posted in General Auto News

A former race car driver has lost his appeal to force the return of his Porsche, which is on display at an Indiana museum.

An appeals court in Chicago upheld the lower court’s decision not to give the Porsche 935 K3 back to ex-racer Reginald Whittington, the Associated Press reports. Whittington listed the car’s value as more than $75,000.

Whittington filed the case in 2004, claiming that the car was a loan – not a gift as the museum argued – for the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Hall of Fame Museum.

The court said no record of transfer exists, as the transaction was validated by a “handshake deal.” Without clear records, the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided that Whittington’s behavior after the transaction “was more consistent with the car being a gift rather than a loan.”

The five-time Indianapolis 500 and 10-time NASCAR drove the Kremer Racing Porsche 953 K3 in an endurance race in France, which he won with his brother in 1979.

Car-friendly apps from iPhone and Blackberry makers

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Posted in Auto Industry News, General Auto News

Mobile device makers Apple and Research in Motion are gearing up with new software updates to make their smartphones more driver-friendly.

Apple announced last week that its new OS 4, which will be released this summer, will allow iPhone models to run multiple applications while RIM forged a deal with QNX Software Systems.

According to the The New York Times’ blog “Wheels,” Apple’s update includes a feature called “iPod Out,” which will allow developers to integrate iPhone apps with car stereo and navigation systems. This means, drivers can simultaneously listen to music while using their iPhone’s GPS system.

For RIM, maker of the popular Blackberry phones, the deal with QNX may lead to various innovations. QNX develops software for the infotainment and telematics systems of more than 200 different car models, and RIM will surely benefit from QNX’s deep automotive knowledge. A Blackberry phone that doubles as a remote starter or remote lock is not a far-fetched idea with this new partnership.

While the two companies have loyal customer bases eager to try their new offerings, it remains to be seen whether car manufacturers will buy the idea.

How to lower car insurance costs

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Posted in How To

According to a new national survey conducted by Insure.com, New York and New Jersey rank as the 27th and 28th least expensive states for car insurance in the country, placing them right in the middle of the pack.

Surprisingly, Louisiana was found to be the most expensive state, with a median premium of more than $2,500 per month. In contrast, car owners from Maine spend just over $900 each month to insure their vehicle.

While car owners can’t do much to about having to pay for car insurance, there are a few ways to minimize costs. The easiest way to save money on premiums is to purchase a new or used car that is safe, modest and easily fixable.

Officials with Money Watch report that while a supercharged Jaguar XKR would cost a driver approximately $2,500 a year in insurance costs, a Honda Odyssey would run just over $1,000 annually.

The news source also suggests that used car owners raise their deductibles, lower their collision coverage and comparison shop for the best deal available. Taking the time to check with several different car insurance companies can save hundreds of dollars a year in the long run.

Tiger finished 4th at Masters, image still tarnished

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Posted in Celebrity Auto News

On Sunday, Tiger Woods officially completed his comeback to the PGA Tour by finishing fourth in the annual Masters tournament. After six months off following his Thanksgiving Day car crash, Woods competed well, but ended the day five shots behind Phil Mickelson, who won his third career green jacket.

In an effort to clean up his image, Woods was on his best behavior for most of the four rounds, but was caught on camera loudly cursing on two separate occasions on Saturday. As expected, neither his wife, Elin, nor his two children were in attendance.

Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that golf fans will not see Tiger behind the wheel of a car anytime soon – in commercials at least. Analysts with the historically conservative auto industry told the news source that the world’s number one golfer is still a tainted product following the news of his multitude of extramarital affairs.

The insider also said that auto manufacturers have changed the way that they advertise in the last year, focusing on appealing to specific demographics rather than going for simple name recognition.

“The attitude is, ‘Let’s do something’ instead of ‘Let’s put our name on something,'” said the analyst.