Toy Story 3

I went to see Toy Story 3 today, it is a real work of art, absolutely wonderful. The opening scene features a wild get-away by train robbing Potato Heads in a purple Barbie corvette driven by Martians.

Even if you have not seen the earlier installments, go see this one.

Buy A Lincoln Before Sept. 7 And Get Three Years Free Maintenance

Lincoln has created a new aftersales offer in the effort to become more appealing to buyers. The American company announced that it will offer free scheduled maintenance for customers who purchase or lease new 2010 or 2011 model year Lincoln vehicles this summer.

Lincoln announced a promotion starting Friday that offers free scheduled maintenance for three years or 45,000 miles. The incentive runs through Sept. 7.

The strategy works well as it helps the dealership build a relationship with the customer, builds confidence in the brand, and isn't as likely to chip away at residuals and resale value the way that higher sustained cash-back incentives would.




Press Release

LINCOLN OFFERS CUSTOMERS free scheduled maintenance on NEW vehicles PURCHASED THIS SUMMER

• Lincoln to cover all scheduled maintenance for three years or 45,000 miles for all customers who purchase or lease a new Lincoln between today and Sept. 7
• Free scheduled maintenance Lincoln program includes all oil changes, tire rotations, routine inspections as well as the replacement of wear items including wiper blades and brake linings
• Lincoln continues to gain traction: Lincoln cracked the top 10 among all brands in the new J.D. Power and Associates Initial Quality Study; U.S. sales are up by 11 percent year-to-date

DEARBORN, Mich., June 18, 2010 – Two weeks after revealing plans to expand the Lincoln brand and enhance the customer experience, the company today announced it would provide free scheduled maintenance for customers who purchase or lease new 2010 or 2011 Lincoln vehicles this summer.

Lincoln's U.S. customer program, which begins today and runs through Sept. 7, covers oil changes, tire rotations, vehicle inspections, engine belts and hoses for three years or 45,000 miles as well as wear items, including brake pads and wiper blades*, which normally are not covered by a vehicle warranty.

"Our commitment is to further grow the Lincoln brand and offer our luxury customers the premium experience they deserve and expect," said Ken Czubay, Ford Motor Company's vice president of U.S. Marketing, Sales and Service. "Our free scheduled maintenance offer marks only the first step in our plans to further upgrade the Lincoln experience."

The road ahead
Lincoln will expand its brand lineup with seven all-new or significantly refreshed vehicles in the next four years as part of an aggressive growth plan focused on standout product design, class-leading technology and new powertrains – all aimed at competing with Cadillac and Lexus in North America.

Lincoln will be led by expanded product development and marketing, sales and service teams to support the brand's growth plan and ensure it has a strong cadence of distinct products that are well positioned in the market. Plans for Lincoln include:

• Lincoln's first-ever C-segment vehicle
• New Lincoln-exclusive powertrains, including an all-new V-6 engine and advanced fuel-efficient transmissions
• EcoBoost™ engines available in all Lincolns – from the Navigator full-size SUV to the new C-segment Lincoln
• Fuel economy leadership with each new vehicle – leading to Lincoln emerging as the most fuel-efficient luxury lineup on the market
• More useful technology and features than any other competitor – with a special focus on comfort and convenience. New advanced features include: fully retractable glass roofs; adaptive computer-controlled suspensions; electronic, push-button gear-selectors; active noise control; and exclusive MyLincoln Touch™ driver connect technology

Lincoln's hallmarks will be refined, modern design, the most fuel-efficient premium powertrains and industry-leading technology that create a unique driver experience both in the cabin and on the road.

Strong foundation
The future of Lincoln is building from a strong base that includes the all-new flagship MKS large sedan, the all-new MKT seven-passenger crossover and a significantly refreshed MKZ mid-size sedan – all now in showrooms.

The hybrid version of the MKZ will reach showrooms later this year and has been EPA-certified as the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan on the market, delivering 41 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway.

Also arriving in dealerships later this year is the significantly refreshed 2011 MKX crossover, the first vehicle to feature MyLincoln Touch driver connect technology.

The aim is to deliver each new Lincoln with segment-leading quality.

On Thursday, J.D. Power and Associates released its 2010 Initial Quality Study that showed Lincoln moved into the top 10 among all automotive brands in the U.S. Lincoln moved to the eighth position, up from the 26th spot a year ago – the largest jump of any brand.

The J.D. Power and Associates 2010 Initial Quality Study is based on responses from more than 82,000 new 2010 model-year vehicle owners after they have driven their new vehicles for three months. It measures problems per 100 vehicles and was based on November through February registrations.

Earlier this year, Lincoln placed second behind Porsche in the 2010 J.D. Power and Associates Vehicle Dependability Study, ahead of several luxury brands, including Lexus, Mercedes, Acura and Cadillac. This study examines long-term durability of vehicles sold in the U.S.

Dacia Duster may be sold as a Nissan

The Dacia Duster might become a Nissan as well as a Renault - as long as the market conditions don't put the rebadged cars up against each other.

The Duster, a compact 4x4 may retail from £11,000 when it goes on sale in the UK in 2012 - has already been lined up to become a Renault in several markets. But a Renault-Nissan insider has confirmed that if the conditions were right, the Romanian-built SUV could also be badged as a Nissan.

"In a market where Nissan had a presence and Renault didn't, it would be a possibility," he said. "That's assuming we had the spare production capacity."

The most obvious region where Nissan is present and Renault is not is in the U.S - although the Duster could also be sold in some 'crossover' regions in Africa if individual Renault importers choose not to sell it.

Brilliance to re-enter Europe (EU)

Chinese manufacturer, Brilliance will return to Europe after setting up its own new distributor.

It was revealed that the firm would end exports of its BS4 and BS6 saloons to certain European markets after the cars were met with a tepid reception, while the firm also supposedly struggled to meet ever-changing European emissions regulations.

Brilliance has now created a new distributor, Shenhua Europe GmbH, who is responsible for operations, establishing dealerships, spare parts distribution and warranties of European Brilliance models. Its HQ will be in Ginsheim, Germany and the company will be led by ex- Hyundai Europe manager, Eberhard Niering.

Niering told German media, “Brilliance would like to establish itself in Europe with its products over the long term."

Between 2007 and 2009 Brilliance sold just 502 BS4s and BS6s across Europe, according to industry analyst Jato Dynamics. Brilliance is also BMW's partner in China.

Video:Seat Leon Cupra R Launched in the U.K.

The Spanish brand has announced today the Seat Leon Cupra R UK price and the fact that the first cars will hit British shores in a few weeks.

The production of the Seat Leon is sending only 500 copies to the U.K. of its hot new Leon Cupra R. The price is $37,350 and the first cars arrive "within weeks," according to the manufacturer.

Standard equipment includes XDS, ESP stability control, TCS traction control and EBA emergency braking assistance, a sporty twin central exit exhaust pipes within a customised rear diffuser, extended rear spoiler, ‘R’ badging and gloss black highlighting inside and out.

The 2010 Seat Leon Cupra R extracts 265 PS and 350 Nm of torque from a 2.0-litre, 4-cylinder, turbocharged petrol engine, which translates into a top speed of 155 mph, needing 6.2 seconds when accelerating from 0 to 62 mph.

At the same time, the car gets 34.9 mpg, while spewing out only 190 grams of CO2 per kilometer.  Other features include XDS, a system that retools the anti-lock brakes to mimic a limited slip differential.  Stability control, traction control, and emergency brake assistance is also included.




Press Release

SEAT's scorching Leon Cupra R is here!

Just weeks after SEAT launched its most economical Leon to date in the shape of the latest Ecomotive the stylish Spanish brand is teeing up the showroom debut of its most potent Leon yet: the awesome Cupra R.

While the green-themed new Ecomotive with its road tax-busting CO2 rating of just 99g/km is all about economy and environmental responsibility the 265 PS Cupra R is, undeniably, aimed at ultra-hot hatch enthusiasts with high octane fuel coursing through their veins.

Storming into UK showrooms now, and due to face the glare of the nation's motoring media at a launch event in the next few days, the latest Leon is nothing less than the most powerful SEAT yet offered for sale in the brand's 25-year UK history.

That 265 PS power peak is the product of a tuned 2.0-litre, four cylinder turbocharged petrol engine - revised by the engineers at SEAT's state-of-the-art Technical Centre in Martorell to make it more potent, even, than the current Leon Cupra which is good for a still impressive 240 PS from its 2.0-litre powerplant.

The 16V petrol engine features a new, high-pressure fuel pump injector to satisfy the greater performance demands and allow it to meet strict EU5 emissions standards while revisions to the electronic engine management system, plus increased maximum turbo pressure (1.9 bar at max output and 2.2 bar at max torque, versus 1.8 bar for the 240 PS 2.0-litre TSI in Leon Cupra) complete the powerplant changes beneath the SEAT's svelte ‘clamshell' bonnet.

The torque generated by the new Cupra R's refined and willing engine is, arguably, even more impressive than its power peak. No less than 350 Nm is on offer at just 2,500 rpm - that's a full 50 Nm more than the already muscular Leon Cupra.

Naturally, the challenge of harnessing all this urge in a front-wheel drive set-up has been comprehensively met by SEAT's engineers who have applied a host of effective yet unobtrusive aids to the task.

XDS - SEAT's clever electronic system which uses enhanced ABS functionality to mimic the operation of a traditional limited slip differential - ESP stability control, TCS traction control and EBA emergency braking assistance are among the new car's standard-fit kit and work together to help keep things on the straight and narrow.

The result? Near-supercar levels of acceleration and performance. The benchmark 0-62 mph dash is dispatched in only 6.2 seconds while, where legal, Leon Cupra R drivers can thence press onward to a top speed of 155 mph. Impressive stuff.

As impressive, perhaps, is the new Leon's frugality. Combined economy of 34.9 mpg and CO2 limited to just 190 g/km make the newcomer among the ‘greenest' ultra-hot hatches around. Not green enough to qualify for the brand's Ecomotive badge, of course, but markedly more environmentally responsible than a number of rivals which have CO2 emissions of 220 g/km and above.

The Cupra R's standard six-speed manual gearbox has not escaped the development engineers' attention either: modifications include a shorter ‘throw' (down by six millimetres) to help the driver achieve even faster changes.

As stylish as it is swift, the latest Leon has undergone a number of bespoke styling modifications, inside and out, to elevate its kerbside appeal and deliver the necessary air of exclusivity demanded by what will be an elite hot hatch.

Among the changes are the addition of sporty twin central exit exhaust pipes within a customised rear diffuser, discreet extended high level rear spoiler, subtle ‘R' badging and the careful application of gloss black highlighting inside and out.

The new ebony black front seatbacks even give rear seat occupants a taste of the Cupra R cabin upgrade, while the prominent ‘R' logo incorporated on the seatbacks leaves no one in any doubt about the identity of this super-quick SEAT.

Mighty 19-inch ‘Potenza' wheels, available in traditional silver alloy or contemporary white finish, mark out the ‘R' as something extra special and ensure the car becomes the first SEAT model to use 19-inch wheels on this platform.

UK pricing for the new Leon Cupra R is confirmed at £25,205, production is limited to around 500 in a full year, and the first customer cars are due to be delivered within weeks.

Welcoming the long-awaited arrival of SEAT's most powerful model to date the brand's UK Product Marketing Manager, Andy Medcraft, said: ‘The Leon Cupra R is a special car for us not just because it is the most powerful, fastest and most extreme production model we have yet made.

‘It also clearly illustrates what makes SEAT stand out from the crowd, and is our brand's familiar 'auto emoción' slogan made metal.

'We're anticipating a huge surge of interest around the showroom debut of this exclusive car and I know our dealers nationwide can't wait to welcome it.'

Cheap Gas, Low Demand For Hybrids, B-Cars

According to Ward's Auto, sales of fuel efficient vehicles (cars with 30mpg+) are falling, as customers move back to their mid-size cars and crossovers.  Toyota's Prius is selling well, but the hybrid Camry and Honda Civic Hybrid are declining.  Small gasoline cars such as the Yaris (down 38%), Honda Fit (down 20%), and Smart ForTwo (down 63%) are not doing well.

Unless Obama can find a way to ramp up the price of gasoline soon, the near term sales of the many new B-cars are not going to be pretty, and fleet fuel economy improvements are going to be small.

Let's face it, Americans don't want little cars.  They want cheap gas and large cars.  I can't wait for the public reaction when the 36mpg CAFE regulations force people to look at B-cars, or pay a premium for larger vehicles.  

 

HP2G Vaporware?

I keep tabs on HP2G, Doug Pelmear's startup which is working on a hybrid electric V8 engine design, because he is somewhat local (Toledo OH) and makes some astonishing claims (110 MPGe and 400HP).  As you may have heard already, HP2G was a Progressive Automotive X-prize contender but dropped out in the early stages of the competition.  HP2G also had a deal with Revenge Design to supply the HP2G engine for a hybrid supercar, the Revenge Blade.  Revenge has broken off its relationship with HP2G, and posted this nasty item on its web site:

Revenge Designs Inc is announcing the withdrawal of all support and funding to Hp2g llc, due to numerous requests for third party validations to the claims of their 110mpge Hp2g engine. Revenge Designs was informed the patents were in place late 2009, since then Revenge Designs has requested documentation for the third party testing to no avail. Revenge Designs finds this to be unacceptable. 

A quick search of the U.S. patent database shows that the only patent that Doug Pelmear has to his name at this time is one for an engine block brace--nothing about his magnetic cylinder assist system.  There are no applications by Pelmear in the U.S. patent application database.  A quick search of the EU patent database also shows only the engine block brace patent.  So it appears that HP2G has failed to apply for a patent for its magnetic hybrid engine technology until very recently.  And it is odd that HP2G refuses to allow 3rd party testing of its prototype, an old Mustang.

Does Pelmear have a 110MPGe V8 engine that also makes 400HP, or is he selling snake oil?  I wonder if we will ever be able to find out.