Friday, July 31, 2009

Chrysler PT Cruiser will continue production

2009 Chrysler PT Cruiser

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. : Jul 31, 2009 - Chrysler Group LLC announced today that production of the Chrysler PT Cruiser will continue. The Chrysler Group Toluca (Mexico) Assembly Plant—the exclusive home of Chrysler PT Cruiser—will continue to build the quality-proven, versatility packaged and “too cool to categorize” small car.


“The heritage-styled Chrysler PT Cruiser continues to be a global success story,” said Peter Fong – President and Chief Executive Officer – Chrysler Brand and Lead Executive for the Sales Organization, Chrysler Group LLC. “With more than 1.3 million PT Cruisers sold in more than 60 countries since 2000, we’re excited to announce we’re re-energizing the iconic and award-winning PT Cruiser.”

The Chrysler Group changed the landscape of the automotive market when it introduced the segment-busting Chrysler PT Cruiser nearly 10 years ago. Its one-of-a-kind exterior styling and Swiss Army knife-like interior flexibility, offered at a compact car price, redefined the small-car segment and became an instant hit with consumers.

High-quality, craftsmanship, performance and functionality continue to give the award-winning Chrysler PT Cruiser a leg up on the competition. For years, leading consumer magazines and third-party studies have recommended the PT Cruiser for its consistently high levels of quality and refinement—tying for first place in J.D. Power’s Initial Quality Survey (IQS) this July.

Some of the Awards the vehicle has won are the following:
  • 2008 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Consumer Reports “Recommended”
  • 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Consumer Guide, "Best Buy - Compact Cars Category"
  • 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Consumer Reports, "Recommended"
  • 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Edmunds.com, "Most Significant"
  • 2004 Chrysler PT Cruiser, AutoPacific, "Top Vehicle customer satisfaction"
  • 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, North American International Auto Show, "North American Car of the Year"
  • 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, African Americans on Wheels and Latinos on Wheels, "Car of the Year"
  • 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Strategic Vision, "Compact Car Segment"
  • 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Industrial Design Excellence, "Gold Award"
  • 2001 Chrysler PT Cruiser, Automobile Magazine, "Best Small Car"
Since production of the Chrysler PT Cruiser began in February 2000 (as a 2001 model), the PT Cruiser lineup has been a continuous hit. The latest flavor, the 2009 Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser 5 marked the 14th customized version of the segment-busting small car. The Chrysler PT Dream Cruiser Series 5 joined the Flames, Woodie, PT Dream Cruiser Series 1, 2, 3 and 4, PT Turbo and Chrome Accents models, the Chrysler PT Cruiser Convertible, the refreshed 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser, the Chrysler PT Street Cruiser Route 66, Street Cruiser Pacific Coast Highway Edition and Street Cruiser Sunset Boulevard Editions.

[Since : CHRYSLER]

2010 Harley-Davidson lineup announced

2010 Harley Davidson Street Glide

Harley-Davidson roars into 2010 with nine new motorcycle models, the most expansive new-product introduction in the history of the Motor Company. Across six model platforms, Harley-Davidson achieves a fusion of tradition and technology in a motorcycle product line that offers more power, luxury, and style, and more value.


"This ambitious new motorcycle launch reaches to our riders with the incredible passion that Harley-Davidson has inspired for more than a century," said Bill Davidson, Harley-Davidson Vice President of Core Customer Marketing. "We are thrilled to offer our customers nine new models and a full selection of products for 2010 that lets their enthusiasm for enjoying great motorcycles continue at full throttle."

Highlights of the 2010 Harley-Davidson® line include:

  • As the new king of the Harley-Davidson Touring line, the Electra Glide® Ultra Limited model delivers the performance upgrade of a Twin Cam 103(TM) engine, and features standard equipment items previously offered only as accessories on regular-production Harley-Davidson Touring models.
  • The new Road Glide® Custom model looks lean and mean, with a slammed suspension, 18-inch front wheel and a new 2-into-1 exhaust system.
  • The Wide Glide® returns as an all-new Dyna® model done in old-school chopper style, with black laced wheels, a chopped rear fender, black "wire" sissy bar, 2-1-2 Tommy Gun exhaust and an optional flame paint scheme. Priced starting at $14,499, the Wide Glide is also a great new value.
  • The new Street Glide® Trike brings stripped-down, hot-rod styling to the three-wheel category, and joins the Tri Glide(TM) Ultra Classic® in an all new Trike family for 2010.
  • Dressed in satin chrome and denim black, the new Fat Boy® Lo presents a darker and lower interpretation of the motorcycle that still defines the fat-custom segment.
  • The 2010 Street Glide® model gets even more hot-rod soul, with updates that include a larger front wheel, slimmed-down exhaust, and a new tail light assembly. Street Glide takes a classic Harley-Davidson Touring profile to a low, light and lean extreme.
No motorcycle on the road today matches the modern street attitude of the three exciting models in the Harley-Davidson VRSC(TM) family: V-Rod®, Night Rod® Special and V-Rod Muscle®. The explosive performance of the liquid cooled Revolution® V-Twin engine keeps VRSC at the top of the power cruiser food chain in 2010.

The American motorcycle legend that is Harley-Davidson Sportster® features six models for 2010, including the $7,999 Iron 883(TM) introduced mid-year 2009 and four others priced less than $10,000.

Harley-Davidson Custom Vehicle Operations(TM) (CVO(TM)), masters of shimmering chrome and bold paint, offers four new limited-production models for 2010. The CVO Softail® Convertible is a versatile urban touring motorcycle, while the CVO Street Glide is a high-performance hot-rod bagger. The CVO Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® and CVO Fat Bob® models are refreshed for 2010 with new paint schemes and styling details. All CVO models are powered by a Twin Cam 110(TM) engine, the largest displacement V-Twin offered by Harley-Davidson.

2010 Harley Davidson Line-up










[Source : Harley Davidson]

Mazda Releases '20th Anniversary' Special Edition Roadster in Japan

Special edition Mazda Roadster 20th Anniversary
(RHT model with a six-speed automatic transmission)

HIROSHIMA : July 31, 2009 - To commemorate 20 years of Mazda Roadster (known overseas as the Mazda MX-5) sales, Mazda Motor Corporation has released a special edition version of its lightweight, two-seat, open-top sports car for the Japanese market. The Mazda Roadster 20th Anniversary goes on sale today at all Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealerships nationwide.


Celebrating its 20th birthday this year, the Mazda Roadster has attracted a wide range of customers since its launch in 1989, and is currently sold in approximately 60 countries. The Roadster was certified as the world’s most produced two-seat, open-top sports cars by Guinness World Records when production reached 800,000 units. Total production of the Mazda Roadster now stands in excess of 860,000 units.

The Roadster 20th Anniversary is based on the Roadster RS soft-top model with a six-speed manual transmission, and the VS Power Retractable Hard Top (RHT) hard-top model with a six-speed automatic transmission. Special equipment includes unique red and black RECARO bucket sport seats, exclusive ‘20th Anniversary’ badges, and clear front fog lights.

The manufacturer’s suggested retail price (including sales tax) is 2,860,000 yen for the soft-top version and 3,110,000 yen for the RHT model.

Main features of the special edition Mazda Roadster 20th Anniversary

Base models
Mazda Roadster RS with manually-operated soft-top and six-speed manual transmission, and Mazda Roadster VS RHT with Mazda’s groundbreaking power retractable roof system and six-speed automatic transmission.

Special equipment
  • RECARO bucket sport seats (Black Alcantara®*1 and red leather)
  • Exclusive ‘20th Anniversary’ badges (on each side fender)
  • Clear front fog lights and bezels*2
  • 205/45R17 84W tires and 17-inch aluminum wheels*3
  • Front strut tower bar (cowl connecting type)*3
  • Fabric soft top with glass rear window (soft-top model only)
  • Heated seats with five temperature settings*4
  • Soft padding (synthetic leather door armrests and center console lid)*4
*1 Alcantara® is a registered trademark owned by Alcantara S.p.A.
*2 Fog lamp bezels are black on the soft-top model and silver on the RHT model.
*3 Special equipment on the RHT model only (standard equipment on the soft-top base model).
*4 Special equipment on the soft-top model only (standard equipment on the RHT base model).


Body colors
All 20th Anniversary models come in Crystal White Pearl Mica, used for the first time on the Mazda Roadster.

Pricing
Start from JPY 2,723,810 - without TAX

[Source : MAZDA]

Suzuki reveals New 2010 Kizashi Sedan

2010 Suzuki Kizashi
  • Kizashi concept series culminates with world introduction of all-new Suzuki sport sedan.
  • Chic Kizashi production model to deliver Japanese quality and European flair.
  • North American Car of the Year contender to serve as halo vehicle for maturing Suzuki lineup.
  • Kizashi’s exhilarating performance and driving experience reflect Suzuki’s exuberant brand spirit, backed by the confidence of America’s #1 Warranty.
BREA, Calif. : July 30, 2009 — American Suzuki Motor Corp. (ASMC) takes a bold step forward today. Known primarily as a maker of small vehicles and high-performance motorcycles, today marks the global debut of the 2010 Suzuki Kizashi (pronounced “Kee-Zah-Shee”), the company’s first entry into the all-wheel-drive sport sedan segment. Benchmarked against some of the leading cars in the world, the all-new 2010 Kizashi becomes an instant car-of-the-year contender in its own right. With the launch of the Kizashi, Suzuki delivers a unique blend of dynamic performance attributes with premium design aesthetics and craftsmanship yet to be experienced in this category. Scheduled to arrive in North American showrooms this winter, the Kizashi will serve as the company’s flagship vehicle, further expanding and strengthening its current product line of high-quality small cars, trucks and SUVs.


“In developing and naming our newest automotive introduction, the Japanese word ‘Kizashi,’ which tells that something great is coming, seemed appropriate for the vehicle,” said Kevin Saito, president, American Suzuki. “Now that the production model Kizashi has arrived, we expect the name and the product itself to clearly demonstrate the bold statement this company knew it would be making with the debut of this vehicle — while also simultaneously suggesting what will emerge in the Suzuki lineup as we look ahead to the future.”

The Kizashi sport sedan, which originates from the Concept Kizashi series introduced over the last two years, follows a similar design theme and appreciation for performance previously illustrated by the three eye-catching and immaculately designed concept vehicles. The production Kizashi redefines the traditional performance sedan and moves the Suzuki brand upscale. Furthermore, its active and energetic identity, a core component of the Suzuki brand DNA, is tempered by the vehicle’s overall mission to provide a strong, refined urban performance.


Powertrain

Built at Suzuki’s brand-new manufacturing facility in Sagara, Japan, the 2010 Kizashi is equipped with a standard 2.4-liter DOHC inline four-cylinder engine offering a more potent standard engine than many competitive best-sellers. The engine employs both an aluminum block and cylinder heads, providing a lightweight installation; aluminum pistons with low tensile force rings deliver improved power and efficiency. Dropped-forged connecting rods, rotating on a forged steel crankshaft, contribute to the inline four’s durability, and a balancer shaft delivers improved engine balance and reduced noise, vibration and harshness (NVH).


The responsive inline four is connected to a six-speed manual transmission, for heightened performance in the low gears, along with relaxed — and economical — cruising capability in the higher gears. Customers may opt for an available Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that delivers both the driving experience and fuel efficiency today’s consumers demand, while not compromising the character preferred by driving enthusiasts. That character is enhanced with paddle shifters, optimizing driver control regardless of speed or driving environment. With either transmission choice, the Kizashi is engineered to return competitive fuel economy numbers for fuel-conscious consumers.

In addition to this excellent new powertrain, and to even further enhance the Kizashi’s strong efficiency story, Suzuki is developing an even more fuel efficient hybrid version that will be added to the lineup in the future.

Braking and Handling

In order to successfully enter a field already saturated with countless nondescript transportation appliances, Suzuki breaks away from traditional values normally associated with the mainstream, standing firm on Suzuki’s belief in delivering a dynamic and exhilarating driving experience. That driving experience was validated on Germany’s Autobahn, Switzerland’s Alpine twisties, cobblestone roads of rural England and the legendary Nürburgring.

An exceptionally rigid steel unibody — with reinforced front suspension and multi-link rear suspension constructed with embedded aluminum — allows for crisp, nimble handling with excellent stability, sophisticated ride and reduced chassis vibration. Engineered from conception to be all-wheel-drive capable, the Kizashi offers a newly developed advanced all-wheel-drive system with highly advanced controls that evokes and promotes a natural sense of heartfelt driving enthusiasm and safety. Kizashi’s sophisticated braking system offers standard four-wheel disc brakes and includes suppliers such as Akebono, a world-leader in NVH control and analysis and a leading brake supplier for automotive and high-speed rail applications.

Design

Kizashi’s thoughtfully crafted exterior design is best described as the seamless melding of European style and Japanese craftsmanship. Tailored for the driving enthusiast, Kizashi’s bold and aggressive stance is complemented by available 18-inch alloy wheels; contemporary styling — with its lean proportion and minimal front overhang — injects the sophistication appropriate to a performance-oriented sport sedan. As with the Concept Kizashi series, the front end of the production Kizashi expresses both strength and style, while the vehicle’s impeccably engineered body reflects Kizashi’s underlying strength and distinctive combination of capability and refinement.

At Kizashi’s rear, the architecture accentuates the ‘sport’ aspect of Suzuki’s sport sedan. The visual dynamic is enhanced with the addition of an integrated dual sport exhaust, communicating — both visually and aurally — the Kizashi’s performance-imbued spirit.


Interior

Suzuki has taken advantage of its expertise in the compact car segment to efficiently execute larger — yet still tidy — proportions that afford comfort and practicality without the wasted space. Along with cabin proportions that reward Kizashi drivers and passengers with comfort and roominess, Suzuki pursues a contemporary, upscale interior feel — such as standard sport seats — in line with the vehicle’s on-road performance characteristics. Driving enthusiasts will appreciate Kizashi’s sporty and elegant instrument panel, while consumers seeking a luxury sedan will be pleased with the vehicle’s available leather seating, featuring high-density foam and premium quality materials rivaling upscale competitors.

The available premium leather is supplemented by three-stage heated seats and a three-position memory program. In addition, both cloth and leather seats benefit from Suzuki’s attention to detail: French seams, hard cover rears and low fatigue foam.

For those wanting high-tech beyond the engine compartment, the Kizashi’s interior delivers by the megabyte. Beginning with standard keyless push start system, Kizashi also offers iPod®1 connectivity and optional streaming audio via Bluetooth®2. For your advanced listening pleasure, Rockford Fosgate®3 provides an optional listening experience boosted by 425 watts of power.
Traction and Safety

The all-new Kizashi includes a class-leading list of standard safety equipment, including class-exclusive standard eight airbags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP®)4, an anti-lock braking system with electronic brake-force distribution, projector beam headlamps and a tire pressure monitoring system.

Also included as equipment on the Kizashi is Suzuki’s developed synergetic vehicle dynamic control. This system assists drivers control and a fun-to-drive experience with minimal intrusiveness.

Kizashi is offered with Suzuki’s next generation i-AWD system, a rare option in its class, as this safety and performance enhancing feature is more typically found among luxury sport sedan offerings. Engineered to provide outstanding traction in inclement weather, the sophisticated all-wheel-drive system also delivers enhanced cornering capabilities. Activated when the driver selects the “AWD” switch on the instrument panel, power to the rear wheels starts immediately upon acceleration. Torque split remains dependent on several factors, including wheel slippage and throttle input.

1 iPod is a trademark of Apple Inc., registered in the United States and other countries.
2 Bluetooth is a registered trademark of Bluetooth SIG, Inc.
3 Rockford Fosgate is a registered trademark of Rockford Fosgate.
4 ESP is a registered trademark of Daimler AG.


2010 SUZUKI KIZASHI (US)
Base Specifications
Body Type Sedan
Engine J24B
Drive System 2WD / AWD
Transmission 6MT or CVT / CVT

Overall Length - Inches (mm) 183.1” (4,650)
Overall Width 71.7” (1,820)
Overall Height 58.3” (1,480)
Wheel Base 106.3” (2,700)

Images : 2010 Suzuki Kizashi

















[Source : SUZUKI]

Gemballa Mirage GT Gold Edition

Gemballa Mirage GT Gold Edition

GEMBALLA Automobiltechnik are amazing tuners which specialty is to build exclusive sports cars which are based on the Porsche models. The very last exotic addition to their range is called MIRAGE GT GOLD EDITION. The words ”MIRAGE GT” in the model name reminds us for a few other GEMBALLA creations, but ”GOLD EDITION” speaks for a Midas touch in that particular one.


The MIRAGE GT GOLD EDITION super sports car is based on the Porsche 980 Carrera GT and for sure will conquer lots of motor sport hearts. It is an extremely attractive version of the MIRAGE GT and the eye-catching main evolutionary characteristic are the GEMBALLA body details finished in golden paint and golden carbon fibre. But the GEMBALLA improvements are not over yet: ultra-light aerodynamics components, power engine with powerful 670 hp and a top speed of 335 km/h which accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds. A ground-breaking, hydraulic, height-adjustable coilover kit especially adjusted to the GEMBALLA wheel-tyre combination GT SPORT Forged provides perfect road handling. Also the interior is stylishly arranged from the floor to the roof lining with carbon fibre and elements painted in golden color.

Images : Gemballa Mirage GT Gold Edition









[Source : GEMBALLA]