AUDI A4 AND A6 RECEIVE "INTERIOR OF THE YEAR" HONORS AT WARD'S SIXTH ANNUAL AUTO INTERIOR OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Topic: Auto News
DETROIT, MI.--- Today at Detroit's Cobo Center, Ward's Communications named two Audi models, the new A4 and the new A6, as winners in the 2005 Auto Interior of the Year awards. Both the A4 and the A6 won the media vote in their respective categories in recognition of innovative use of new technologies, materials, ergonomics and overall aesthetics.
In early April, the editors of Ward's Auto World magazine nominated 23 vehicles, out of which automotive journalists throughout North America, as well as the general automotive community, then determined the winners in four categories. The winners were selected by two votes - one by members of the news media and one by the industry at-large.
Audi is widely recognized in the press as the automotive interior design leader. These awards build on a number of significant victories in international competitions over the last 12 months including World Car of the Year and the Most Beautiful Large Sedan in the World for the new Audi A6.

Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards? Viewing Event Auctioned off an Audi Q7 on March 5, 2006
Topic: Auto News
Lifestyle
LOS ANGELES - Sir Elton John and David Furnish hosted the 14th Annual Academy Award? Viewing Dinner and After-Party to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF) along with co-sponsors Audi, Chopard and VH1 on Sunday, March 5, 2006 at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, CA. The event rose close to $3 million, more than double the amount of last year's event. To cap off the evening, Sir Elton John and three-time Grammy winner John Legend performed together.
The Elton John AIDS Foundation party is one of the most important events on Oscar? night as it brings together the biggest names in the entertainment industry to raise money for one very worthy cause, the fight against HIV/AIDS. This year's guests included Sharon Stone, Prince, George Lucas, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Donatella Versace, Eric McCormack, Josh Groban, Olympic Silver Medalist Sasha Cohen, Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Paris Hilton, Nicollette Sheridan, Michael Bolton, Helena Christensen, Cheryl Tiegs, Elisabeth Rohm, Macy Gray, Michelle Rodriguez, and Lisa Rinna & Harry Hamlin among others.
Upon arrival, dinner guests were asked to fill out ballots guessing who would win Academy Awards in each category - Eric McCormack and his wife, Janet, separately guessed the most correct answers and each took home an Elton John series Chopard watch. Adding additional excitement to the evening was a live auction that took place immediately following dinner. Two 2007 Audi Q7s - the first to be sold in the United States and Canada - were auctioned off to raise funds for the Foundation. After the first car was auctioned for $160,000, Audi put a second Q7 up for auction raising an additional $120,000. Another exciting moment of the evening came when Sharon Stone pushed the minimum bid on Sir Elton John's red Yamaha grand piano, which is available at www.ebay.com/ejaf, up to $170,000. In total, the event raised close to $3 Million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
This year's Event Co-Chairs included Dame Elizabeth Taylor, Tom Hanks and Rita Wilson, Nicole Kidman, Donatella Versace, Jeffrey and Marilyn Katzenberg, Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, Sharon Stone, Sheryl Crow, Barbara Davis, Audi Board Member for Marketing and Sales Ralph Weyler, Chopard President Caroline Gruosi-Scheufele, and VH1 General Manager Tom Calderone.
Well-known event designer J. Ben Bourgeois from Los Angeles-based event production company, J. Ben Bourgeois Productions, transformed the "Outdoor Plaza" of the Pacific Design Center into a lavish and warm environment using hints of periwinkle and chocolate brown staged in a custom-built circular tent. Guests arrived at 4:00pm for a cocktail reception followed by a five-course dinner and viewing of the 78th Academy Awards? telecast. Immediately following the viewing guests, and after party guests, gathered to celebrate the night's biggest winners.
Find out more about this extraordinary event by visiting the Elton John AIDS Foundation website. You can also find out more about the Audi Q7 at the link below.

Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition
Topic: Auto News
Gaydon, April 10 2006 - Aston Martin and Nokia are proud to announce the Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition, a unique collaboration between two of the world's most aspirational brands.
This exclusive iteration of the Nokia 8800 will be manufactured in strictly limited numbers, and features a discrete laser-etched 'Aston Martin' logo on the stainless steel casing. This is complemented by the words so synonymous with Aston Martin, 'Power, Beauty & Soul’, etched into the Nokia 8800's unique stand-alone charging station, plus elegantly-designed packaging bearing the Aston Martin wings.
The Nokia 8800 is Nokia's flagship phone, an elegant combination of the best quality materials and high technology. Beautifully proportioned, the Nokia 8800 feels right in the hand, whether open or closed. The slender stainless steel slider case has a weighty, machined feel, with the polished and brushed metal casing, juxtaposed with surgical-quality resin and finished with processes usually used in watch-making, offers a uniquely tactile experience. The bistable spring mechanism used in the sliding feature, which opens to reveal a concealed camera, uses ball-bearings more commonly found in high-performance cars, appropriately enough. Sliding open the phone is a precise and smooth movement takes just a fraction of a second. The colour display is protected by a specially toughened glass screen, adding to the premium feel.
The Technology
The Nokia 8800 is a tri-band mobile telephone, offering a full colour 208 x 208 pixel display, complete with SVGA camera that offers both image and movie functions. In addition, the Nokia 8800 provides a digital music player (capable of playing both AAC and mp3 formats) with 64MB of internal memory. The Nokia 8800's Bluetooth connectivity will synchronise with all Aston Martin models, allowing for easy operation through the car’s centre console and safe and convenient hands-free calling.
In addition to the Nokia 8800's standard ring tones, which were created for the phone by award-winning composer Ryuichi Sakamoto, the Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition comes loaded with a selection of exclusive Aston Martin content, including a short documentary film, striking wallpapers featuring the company's current range, a screensaver based on the famous crystal starter button found in all Aston Martin models, and ring tones that sample the evocative roar of the Vantage's (380 horsepower) V8 engine.
Aston Martin
Aston Martin’s history dates back to 1914, establishing itself as a technical pioneer in the early days of motor racing. In the post-war era the company became famous for the 'DB' series of high performance saloons. Today, Aston Martin is a thoroughly modern manufacturer, with a range of the most technologically advanced performance cars currently available. From the Aston Martin V8 Vantage, introduced in 2005, to the V12-engined DB9 and DB9 Volante, to the flagship Vanquish S, Aston Martin continues to embody the values of power, beauty and soul. The company's established low-volume, high quality manufacturing tradition has been preserved and enhanced by the a creation of a cutting edge manufacturing facility at Gaydon in Warwickshire, and the unique VH (Vertical/Horizontal) architecture that underpins the V8 Vantage and DB9 models provides a solid base upon which future models can be developed.
The company's strong sporting heritage, now embodied in the DBR9 GT racing car, is combined with elegant design and unparalleled attention to detail. From the flowing, understated bodywork to the cosseting interiors, Aston Martin's range continues to epitomise the marriage of form, function and material. Dr Ulrich Bez, Aston Martin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer says that 'the Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition demonstrates the same attention to detail as our range of cars; it is an ideal complement to the brand.'
Nokia
Nokia is the world leader in mobility. Founded in Finland in the middle of the nineteenth century, the company grew from forestry and rubber products to embrace electricity generation and cabling. By the late 60s it dominated electronics production in Finland, but gradually focused on telecommunications, delivering its first car phone in 1981 and Finland's first GSM network in 1989. By 1998 it was a global leader, pioneering technologies like colour screens and camera phones.
In 1998, Nokia established an entirely new consumer category with the introduction of the Nokia 8810, the company’s first 'premium' mobile phone. Combining high quality materials and design, The Nokia 8810 found an immediate audience with connoisseurs of quality and taste. Subsequent models, including the aluminium-sheathed Nokia 8850 and its companion the Nokia 8890, introduced new materials and design innovations. In 2002, the Nokia 8910 featured a special mechanism that slowly opened to unveil a colour screen – the company’s first model with a colour screen.
The Nokia 8800 Aston Martin Edition will cost ?800 excluding VAT. It is available now from Aston Martin Dealers and via www.astonmartin.com

Infiniti Now Offering Exclusive Apparel and Gifts
Topic: Auto News
Introducing Selections, Merchandise by Infiniti. This exclusive catalog is now available in your mailbox and online.
Shop our private collection of authentic, high-quality products from fashion to travel items and of course automotive accessories.
Each article is carefully chosen to embrace the spirit and creativity that is the Infiniti ownership experience, and to exude the intelligent, thoughtful design you expect from Infiniti.
Visit Infiniti Merchandise today to shop online or sign up for your catalog, and check back frequently for the latest in Infiniti selections.

Crossovers and Hybrids Highlight
Topic: Auto News
Crossovers and hybrids will be big in the Big Apple as automakers showcase their latest offerings at the New York International Auto Show. Running April 14 through April 23, the New York Show brings back many models previously seen at Detroit's North American International Auto Show (NAIAS) and will showcase several new vehicles.
"The key themes will be crossovers and hybrids," said Stephen Murray, manager, Competing Product Plans for Ford. "Along with products like the Ford Edge and Lincoln MKX, we'll see competitor crossovers like the Saturn Outlook, Acura MDX and GMC Acadia. More automakers are jumping into the hybrid market, like Lexus with it's LS and Nissan with a hybrid Altima."
The crossover surge is hardly surprising. According to George Pipas, manager Sales Analysis, crossovers are expected to outsell SUVs for the first time this year.
"The growth rate for CUVs has been phenomenal when you consider they started from ground zero in 1995," Pipas said. "We expect sales for this category to continue for some time."
Ford jumped on the trend early with the Freestyle and continues this year with the 2007 Ford Edge, Lincoln MKX and Mazda CX-7 five-passenger CUVs previewed at NAIAS in January and on display at the New York show.
New York will also see the debut of the seven-passenger Mazda CX-9. While the vehicles are stable mates, the CX-9 is not simply a longer version of the CX-7. The vehicle incorporates an all-new platform architecture with unibody construction, an all-new 3.5-liter V6 engine and a new six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission.
Ford is also paying attention to more traditional customers at New York with the introduction of the new F-150 FX2. The FX2 will be a stylish sport truck with unique exterior and interior design elements, differentiating the vehicle from the standard F-150. The FX2 is aimed at customers wanting a more stylish appearance and who do not need four wheel drive.
"FX is our designation for specialty models that feature unique appearance upgrades and in some cases hardware changes," said Raj Sarkar, F-150 assistant marketing manager. "The FX2 builds on our constant offering of unique models as part of having the most truck configurations in the business."
An aggressive front end with a dark billet grille, clear headlamps with platinum bezels, and deep front valence, highlight a custom monochromatic look The interior offers Black Captains Chairs with red stitching in cloth (with red inserts) or leather and a flow-through center console with floor shifter, among other features.
The F-150 FX2 Sport Package is being introduced for the 2007MY, going on sale this fall.

NEW DESIGN PROCESS RESULTS IN LUXURY AND PERFORMANCE WHEEL ON LINCOLN CONCEPT SEDAN
Topic: Auto News
Blending the latest digital design technology and rapid prototyping with a method as simple as child's play, Lincoln designers developed an exquisite luxury wheel with high-performance attributes. The substantial 20-inch wheel, with its five/five spoke configuration and multiple finishes, will turn heads whether the wheel is turning or not. Designers know because they decided on the ultimate design after attaching miniature models of their six favorites on a wall and spinning them to see which looked best in motion. The wheels will be featured on a Lincoln teaser vehicle at the 2006 North American International Auto Show. "When the wheels are spinning, the light literally dances from spoke to spoke," says Gordon Platto, chief designer. "There's an emotional connection with the moving wheel that the customer ultimately experiences. Now, we're adding that experience to our process." This simple, hands-on exercise cut almost two weeks out of the design process, explains Robert Gelardi, a senior designer who created the wheel. "To enhance and expedite our process, we rapid-prototyped six-inch scale models that were made overnight so we could look at the wheel with different combinations of finishes," says Gelardi. "By expediting the three-dimensional evaluation, we achieved the right wheel design for this sedan very early in the development process." [Rapid prototyping is the process of making a physical model of a part directly from 3-D CAD data.] Once the final selection was made, designers used advanced design software called Bunkspeed to fine tune the wheel digitally. Bunkspeed allows designers to change vehicle features instantly, with the click of a mouse. Traditionally, wheels have been designed on screen and evaluated from full-size, 2-D renderings glued to tires. After favorite rendering was selected, a full-size model wheel was then produced. Any changes to the wheel at this point required additional full-size models - a costly and time-consuming process. Because renderings cannot show precise proportions nor can they recreate the effect of light on the wheel, it's not uncommon to have to produce additional full-size models. "Previously, we couldn't take into account the 'spin' look during the selection process," says Xitij Mistry, exterior designer. "With the six-inch models, we now have a method that is more accurate and efficient." The Result The commanding 20-inch wheels represent the hallmark of American design, says Platto. "The trend in wheels is to make a statement. And these wheels do exactly that. They have a sense of importance, a presence, that you find on American vehicles," he says. To maximize the perception of the wheels' size, Gelardi and Mistry used exposed lug nuts on the secondary spokes, allowing the major spokes to travel uninterrupted from edge to center. "The sculpted shape of the spoke dives toward the center of the wheel, adding visual length," says Gelardi. "This makes the wheel appear deeper and the tire wider." says Gelardi. The five/five spoke design marries luxury and performance in a bi-level arrangement. Five major spokes are positioned at the outer edge of the wheel and five secondary spokes, having a different shape, are placed farther back. This portrays a sense of depth while accommodating multiple colors and finishes. With five/five spokes, customers have more opportunities to personalize their wheels, choosing polished or vapor-blasted alloy as well as a variety of colors that would match the vehicle's body. Depending on the paint and polish treatment of the spokes, the wheels will appear to have five spokes, giving the car a sporty, performance attitude. Or they will appear to have 10 spokes, underlining the sedan's elegance and grace. "Using different paints combined with different finishing processes gives you a very cost-effective way to achieve multiple appearances from one wheel," Gelardi says. Says Platto: "At Lincoln, we're just as concerned with how a wheel looks when the vehicle is parked as when it is in motion. We want to make sure our wheel is beautiful in both cases, so we came up with an amazingly simple way to do that in the studio."...


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FORD COMPLETES SALE OF THE HERTZ CORPORATION TO PRIVATE EQUITY GROUP
Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) announced today it has completed the sale of The Hertz Corporation to an investor group of leading private equity firms. The investor group, composed of Clayton Dubilier & Rice, The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity, purchased the equity of The Hertz Corporation in a transaction valued at approximately $15 billion including debt. Under the terms of the agreement, which was entered into last September, Ford received $5.6 billion in cash for the sale of its 100 percent ownership interest in Hertz. As a result of the sale of Hertz, Ford will recognize a pre-tax gain in the fourth quarter of 2005 that is estimated to be in the range of $1.1 billion to $1.3 billion. Hertz operates the largest general-use car rental business in the world and one of the largest industrial, construction and material handling equipment rental businesses in North America, based on ...

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Kia Sorento completes around the world expedition
Christer Gerlach, the record-breaking Swedish driver and adventurer, successfully completed the '(R)Sorento Around the World Expedition' -- a 27,000-kilometer global adventure -- on Friday (December 16), when he drove his completely standard Kia Sorento SUV up to the gates of Stockholm's Royal Palace almost exactly four months to the day since his mid-August departure from this Swedish landmark. 'My earlier confidence in the performance, quality and reliability of the Kia Sorento proved to be well founded,'+/- enthused the 61-year old Swede. 'The Sorento's large diameter wheels and tires were essential to successfully finding an off-road route across much of Asia, as there simply were no roads or tracks to follow for much of the journey. I am of course delighted to be home in time for Christmas, but I am surprisingly fatigue-free as the Kia also proved to be a remarkably comfortable vehicle, even for this rather extraordinary journey.'+/- Gerlach's round-the-globe adventure took him to 11 countries, including the remotest regions of Kazakhstan and Mongolia, and a 3,500-kilometer wilderness trek across the largely unmapped wastelands of Siberia en route to the famous Russian port of Vladivostok and the ferry to South Korea, the half-way point in his epic journey. For this demanding challenge, Gerlach chose a 3.5-liter, V6-engined, automatic transmission Sorento, running in completely standard specification and on normal road tires. The Swede's 'fullest confidence in Kia's 4x4'+/- led to his decision to him to travel solo, without a support team, and to schedule one engine oil change as the only maintenance throughout this mammoth motoring expedition. Gerlach's pre-departure confidence was indeed well founded. The only unscheduled attention the Sorento required en route to Korea was to fix two punctures, one light bulb and one loose headlamp. During the second half of the world tour, Gerlach had to fix another light bulb, but otherwise the Kia ran entirely '(R)trouble-free.' The second half featured a trans-continental multi-state crossing of the USA and Mexico via Route 66 (visiting California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas and South Carolina); a trans-Atlantic voyage aboard the world's largest car transporter vessel (the 7,000 car capacity Boheme) to Bremerhaven in Germany; and the final leg, via the 8-kilometer Oresund bridge from Denmark, to his Swedish home town. 'We are extremely proud to have partnered Christer during his epic adventure,'+/- comments Yong-Hwan Kim, Senior Executive Vice-President and COO of Kia Motors Corporation, who travelled to Stockholm in June to personally hand over the keys for the new Sorento to Mr Gerlach. 'His exciting global challenge has allowed us to demonstrate the reliability, quality and excellence of our products all around the world and to ...

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CUT TAX AND FUEL COSTS - BUY FUEL-SIPPING FORD ESCAPE OR MERCURY MARINER HYBRID
The cost of owning a hybrid vehicle becomes even more attractive in 2006. Beginning Jan. 1, buyers of the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid - the world's cleanest, most fuel-efficient SUVs - can look forward to significant tax savings. "Our hybrid owners tell us how much they enjoy their Escapes and Mariners because of the way they look, the way they drive and their fuel economy," says Christine Biondi, Escape Hybrid marketing manager. "Now with these new credits, our customers can subtract directly from the money they owe the IRS. That makes the Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid even better values because they now deliver more at the pump and in the pocket." Today's owners of an Escape or Mariner Hybrid can look forward to considerable deduction in April by being eligible for up to a $2,000 tax deduction, reducing their taxable income for an after-tax savings of up to $700. The deduction is being replaced in 2006 with a new sliding scale tax credit that can be used directly against the amount owed to the IRS. The Internal Revenue Service has not officially said how much the tax credits will be. However, Ford expects buyers of the Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid to be eligible for a credit of $2,600 for two-wheel-drive versions and $1,950 for four-wheel-drive models. Hybrid buyers are encouraged to review state or local laws to determine whether there are further tax incentives related to hybrid ownership. In addition, Congress recently approved a new law that allows states to provide owners of hybrid electric vehicles access to High Occupancy Vehicle lanes. The Ford Escape Hybrid, the world's first hybrid SUV, is entering into its third year on the market. In addition to the Escape Hybrid, Ford sells the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, while Mazda has a test fleet of Tribute hybrids on the road today. Mazda will begin selling the Tribute Hybrid in 2007. In 2008, the three SUVs will be joined by the Ford Fusion Hybrid and Mercury Milan Hybrid. And by 2010, Ford will sell 250,000 hybrids globally and offer the option in up to half of its Ford, Lincoln and Mercury nameplates.

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Sand Castles, Laser Printers Improve Fuel Economy, Cost and Reliability of Ford Vehicles
Topic: Auto News
While Ford Motor Company's new Beech Daly Technical Center may be the most sophisticated prototyping complex in the industry, the mediums they use may not seem like the stuff of rocket science. Sand castles, laser printers, and candle wax are used to quickly and efficiently build prototype parts used to test every nut and bolt on a new car. Housed in a rather unassuming building in Livonia, Mich., the center is capable of casting, machining, assembling and testing every major powertrain component, faster and more efficiently than ever. Prototype components are used in every stage of vehicle development, with the intent of making the product more reliable, more fuel-efficient, and more affordable for the consumer. The BDTC facility's rapid prototyping brings these benefits to the consumer faster, and more economically than ever. Five years ago, the time required to turn computer-aided design data into a functioning engine prototype could require more than six months. Today, Ford plans to build the first prototype of an all-new engine program from scratch in just 10 weeks. For Ford, this quick reaction time is expected to cut one to two years off of the typical time required to bring a powertrain to market. In addition, rapid prototyping eliminates the expense of tooling previously required to make functional components. This saves up-front costs, and significant costs as the engineering process drives design change. For example, the tooling for a small engine component could cost as little as $10,000. However, if nine design changes are required through the program, the cumulative cost of tooling alone could be $100,000. These cost savings increase exponentially with larger, more complicated components, such as engine blocks, cylinder heads and intake manifolds. "We believe the Beech Daly center is the most advanced prototyping facility in North America," says Todd Kloeb, manager, Engine Manufacturing Development Organization. "Paired with our sister facility in Dutton, England, Ford Motor Company now has the most sophisticated prototyping organization in the world. The center features proprietary technologies, but our advantage is not just in hardware and equipment. Rather, it's how we deploy that technology for significantly faster, cheaper prototype production." The BDTC relies on six techniques to produce prototype components. Two rapid casting techniques produce functional metal components that replicate sand-cast or high-pressure die-cast production components. Four rapid prototype technologies replicate functional plastic components, or non-functional, design-aid replicas. Here, computer data is translated into molds, built out of sequential layers of sand. These molds would humble the most elaborate sand castles, as these precise sand molds are filled with molten metal to make functional prototype pieces, such as an engine block. A pre-mixed layer of sand and activator is first applied to the entire build platform. Next, a printhead squirts a binding mixture onto the layer of sand. The activator and binder harden, creating the sand mold, one layer at a time, from bottom to top. Once the excess sand is removed, the mold can be filled with molten metal to cast the prototype piece. This makes very accurate, very intricate metal prototypes, such as transmission valve bodies. The begins by producing a rapid prototype master directly from CAD data. A silicone mold of the master is then filled with wax to create a pattern. These wax patterns are then dipped in ceramic. However, these ceramic pieces are not meant for display on a kink-knack shelf. After the ceramic hardens, the wax is replaced with molten metal to cast the prototype piece. SLS is used to make functional plastic components. For example, technicians at the center used SLS to develop functional intake and velocity stacks for use on Ford Racing's championship-winning FR500C Mustang. The Selective Laser Sintering process involves the production of a physical model by melting specific sections of powdered material, layer by layer. Like a laserjet office printer, the SLS laser beam scans each layer on the powder bed to fuse the fine particles into a solid area. Another layer of powder is then deposited and the next layer of the part is drawn. The solid sintered material forms the part, while the loose material acts as a support. When the build is finished, the loose material is removed to reveal the prototype piece. (click here for related story) Stereolithography can produce a very accurate, very inexpensive replica of a component in plastic. These are not functional pieces, and are usually used for design aid, or engineering models. For example, SLA replicas of metal castings are used to verify machining patterns and tool paths before the expensive metal components are cut. SLA components are made by curing a photosensitive liquid resin, which forms a solid surface when exposed to an ultraviolet laser. Each layer of the part is scanned onto the resin surface. Once a layer has been scanned, the build platform is lowered below the surface of the resin, and the process is repeated. When the build is complete, the part is raised out of the liquid resin, cleaned, and fully cured. Car Reviews Concept Car Auto Insurance Tires Wheels