Archive for November, 2007
Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
A 54-year-old employee of a Pontiac car repair shop apparently decapitated himself early Thursday using a cable and the thrust of his Tow Truck.
Authorities in Livingston County released few details of the death and declined to identify the man pending notification of relatives. The man’s employer called the death outside the shop a suicide.
The man, who had worked at S&R Route 66 Auto Center on the western edge of Pontiac for about four years, appears to have tied a cable to a sign in front of the business and the other end around his neck.
Then, at about 4:30 a.m., he got inside his Tow Truck and popped the clutch.
Jeff Semmens, the owner of S&R, said the man usually kept the Tow Truck at his house, but had been sick the last few days and left it at the shop.
“He was a pretty good guy,” Semmens said. “It really freaks me out — I can’t think of why he’d want to do this.”
Semmens had not arrived at the shop by the time police had already found the decapitated body. He said he usually gets to work around 5 a.m.
A bystander in the area called 911 at 4:27 a.m. to report a Tow Truck driving erratically through the S&R and neighboring parking lots along a commercial area off Illinois 116 near its junction with old Route 66.
The truck careened through the S&R parking lot and adjacent Superior Gyros parking lot eastward, then struck a sign and crossed old Route 66. It went down an embankment and came to rest behind a business on the other side of the road.
When police arrived, they found the man’s head in the S&R parking lot and his body inside the truck.
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Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
It looked like a little boy’s dream come true in front of Springfield’s Fire Station No. 1 Monday morning.
Four brand-new, sparkling red fire engines were parked in the driveway, complete with new car smell inside, stairs that automatically descend when the doors are opened and side mirrors that are controlled electronically.
“I think we’re more excited about this than anyone else,” joked Fire Chief John Kulek.
It’s been a while. The engines will replace vehicles in the fire department’s fleet that are as many as 22 years old.
“In 2000 and 2001, they got new aerial Trucks, but there have been no new frontline vehicles for quite some time,” said Mayor Tim Davlin as he stood in front of the purchases.
The Trucks cost about $460,000 each for a total of $1.8 million.
“This is really a big thing, a long time coming,” Davlin said.
The police department is expected to get some good news soon, too, with 50 new police cars on the way, the mayor said.
“The last city council came to the conclusion that we needed to spend some money (on equipment),” Davlin said.
Kulek said the Trucks have better suspension and brake systems than older Springfield fire engines.
“It will be safer for our guys. They can get to the scene safely and on time,” he said. “When we’re running hot through city streets, we’ll have better control and better stopping.
“We train on defensive driving,” he said, “but someone comes from behind, and when it’s car versus fire Truck, you can imagine who will win in that situation.”
The new trucks, which are made by the same company as others in the fleet, will also be easily repaired because the city can stock all the same replacement parts.
To prevent the city from having to spend so much at one time again, Kulek said the fire department is trying to get on a steady program under which one new Truck is purchased each year. There is another new one in the budget for the current fiscal year, he said.
The new engines will be housed at fire stations on Stevenson Drive, at Ninth and Ash streets, at the Illinois State Fairgrounds and on Koke Mill Road.
Some engines currently used at those firehouses will be worked into the backup fleet, and the oldest in the backup fleet will be sold at a city auction next year, Kulek said.
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Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
Motor Trend Magazine has named the new Cadillac CTS its 2008 car of the year, saying it is proof that Detroit can build a world-class sedan.
The award, to be announced today, is significant because it shows that Detroit is back in the car business after years of focusing on sport utility vehicles and Trucks, said magazine Editor-in-Chief Angus MacKenzie.
The car’s appearance, fit and finish, quality of materials and performance rival that of its German and Japanese competitors, MacKenzie said.
“There’s really not a lot of difference at all between BMW, Mercedes and Cadillac,” he said yesterday.
The CTS, made by General Motors Corp., won from a field of 18 significant vehicles such as the Honda Accord and new Dodge and Chrysler minivans, Motor Trend said in a statement. To be eligible, vehicles must be new or totally redesigned and released in the 12 months prior to Jan. 1, 2008.
Japan-based automakers had five cars in the field, with seven U.S. models, four from Germany and two from Sweden.
Motor Trend said the CTS was chosen from among one of the toughest fields in the award’s history.
“The CTS obliterates the old-man image of Cadillac,” MacKenzie said. “This car will turn heads in the same way the elite European models do, but it is unmistakably American.”
The CTS, with a base price of $32,990, is a bellwether for GM’s transformation to building world-class cars to be distributed internationally, he said. The CTS was tested and developed in the U.S., Germany and China, he said.
Last year’s winner was the Toyota Camry. Last month, the magazine named the 2008 Mazda CX-9 as its sport utility vehicle of the year.
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Wednesday, November 21st, 2007
67-year-old man and 6-year-old boy taken to hospitals; 3 others were troopers
A sport-utility vehicle drove this afternoon into a Chick-fil-A in Edgewater, injuring five patrons, two seriously, an Anne Arundel County fire official said.
The SUV crashed through the brick and glass exterior of the restaurant at 3220 Solomon’s Island Road around 12:30 p.m., and into the dining area, said Battalion Chief Michael Cox, a fire department spokesman.
A 67-year-old customer, who was sitting directly where the car struck, in front of a handicapped parking spot, suffered serious injuries and was flown to the Maryland Shock Trauma Center. A 6-year-old boy was also hurt and was taken by ambulance to Anne Arundel Medical Center, Cox said.
Three state troopers who were having lunch at the restaurant suffered “very minor” injuries, said 1st Sgt. David Jones, a Maryland State Police spokesman. They refused medical treatment and returned to work, he said.
“They just picked the wrong place to eat lunch,” Jones said.
The driver of the SUV was uninjured, Cox said. No additional information was available.
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Friday, November 16th, 2007
The number of new cars considered the safest by the insurance industry nearly tripled in the past year, helped by automakers’ push to make certain safety equipment more widely available.
Ford Motor Co. and Honda Motor Co. had the most vehicles on the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety’s annual list of the safest cars for 2008.
The institute requires new cars and Trucks to have electronic stability control, or ESC, to qualify for the award.
Ford was represented on the list by the Ford Taurus and Mercury Sable passenger cars with optional ESC, and the Ford Edge, Ford Taurus X and Lincoln MKX midsize sport utility vehicles. The Volvo S80, C70 midsize convertible and XC90 SUV, part of Ford’s Volvo unit, made the list.
Honda and its Acura unit had seven vehicles on the list: the Honda Accord, Odyssey, Pilot, CR-V and Element, and the Acura MDX and RDX SUVs.
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Friday, November 16th, 2007
State Route 19 is closed one mile north of Collinsville because of an overturned Tanker Truck carrying acetone, which is a highly flammable liquid.
Currently at the scene are personnel from MDOT, MEMA, MDEQ and MHP as well as the Lauderdale County Sheriff’s Office. Because of a slow leak of contents, officials have decided to close this section of highway until the tanker is unloaded and moved back to its upright position.
The projected reopening time should be around 10 p.m.
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Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Ford’s Accessorized FX2 Truck Introduced at the 2006 SEMA Show
The F-150 FX2 Sport Truck was one of many Ford cars and Trucks shown at the 2006 SEMA show in Las Vegas. I talked with Mark Birnhart, Ford’s Truck Marketing Strategy Manager, Vehicle Personalization, about the truck. He’s a real nice guy and spent some time pointing out details about the truck and explaining the concept behind it.
Ford’s goal was to create a customized looking truck that was built using factory parts and accessories that are already available. They wanted power and a bold presence — but not a way-out concept truck; it had to be something a new owner could create.
Before the design team went to work on the truck, they considered consumer trends and even asked automotive journalists for their input during an event in Texas. They decided to base the FX2 Sport truck on the existing FX2–a popular two-wheel drive version of the F-150 truck.
The original FX2 package already has a monotone look, with color matched bumpers, front lower air dam and mirror covers and a flat “billet style” grille.
F-150 FX2 Supercharged Truck
To create the FX2 Sport truck, Ford designer Joe Siler and his team added loads of accessories:
- A supercharger that increases the truck’s hp from about 300 to about 450
- Ceramic coated headers to extend header life and cut down on heat in the engine compartment–for better performance
- Ford’s sport exhaust for better exhaust flow–another performance enhancer
- Wheels from Ford’s existing accessories
- A fiberglass bed cover
- A bedliner
- A double stripe that fades along its length to almost match the color of the truck
- A remote starter
- Hands-free cell phone connection
- DVD monitors in the back of both headrests
Now that the truck is out and about Ford will listen to opinions about it, but it sounds like the company achieved its objectives. The truck gave Ford an opportunity to test out its accessory line to discover whether or not it was broad enough to create a fully decked-out truck.
They have a truck to show the public and their dealers, one that says you can do the same thing with our accessories. Mark projected that it would probably take 3-4 days to install identical accessories on a new Truck. By doing it before delivery the customization would become part of the financed price, not something you’d have to pay for as a lump sum afterwards.
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Thursday, November 15th, 2007
The 2008 Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150 – the most powerful factory F-Series Truck ever – races onto streets this fall to help the famed motorcycle maker and automaker kick off their 105 th anniversary celebrations. The new, limited-edition truck is the third supercharged Ford Harley-Davidson™ F-150, following the best-selling 2002 and 2003 models that were part of more than 60,000 of the specialty trucks sold since 1999.
“Ford Harley-Davidson™ trucks have turned a shared passion for open roads into one of the most successful alliances in the industry,” says Todd Eckert, Ford Truck and SUV communications manager. “The new 2008 Ford Harley-Davidson ™ F-150 perfectly blends the flexibility and capability of F-Series trucks with the free spirit and raw power of Harley-Davidson ® motorcycles – the principles that continue to drive both companies after 105 years.”
This anniversary edition F-150 honors the humble beginnings of two American icons in 1903. The truck is available as SuperCrew 4×2 or all-wheel-drive models and features a choice of Black monochromatic exterior with custom stripe running along the beltline or an available Black and Vintage Copper two-tone exterior paint.
The purposeful exteriors are complemented by other features that signal the truck’s connection to Harley-Davidson ® motorcycles. They include:
-Unique chrome billet grille and lower front valance.
-Body color bumper, mirror caps, ground effects, door and tailgate handles.
-Blacked-out headlamps with black bulb shield and dark tinted, smoked-out taillamps.
-Windshield with Bar & Shield logo dot pattern and Alliance logo.
-New 22-inch polished forged-aluminum wheels with the Bar & Shield logo on center caps.
-Forged aluminum “105 th Anniversary Harley-Davidson F-150” Medallions on the fenders and tailgate.
-Chrome dual exhaust tips and tie-down hooks.
-Rubber bed mat with HARLEY-DAVIDSON Bar & Shield logo.
The Vintage Copper and Black color scheme is carried onto the interior that features Black/Dusted Copper leather-trimmed front captain’s chairs and rear bench seat with die-cast Bar & Shield logos embedded in the leather.
Other interior features are: Two-tone leather shifter, console lid and steering wheel. High-gloss piano black floor console and center stack with the Bar & Shield logos, as well as chrome vent rings and unique instrument cluster. Serialized nickel plate displaying the production VIN and number. Brushed stainless steel pedals. The center stack, matching door-trim panels and lower part of the windshield feature numerous miniature Bar & Shield logos. In fact, the center stack panel was inspired by similar panels found on certain Harley-Davidson ® motorcycles.
Powertrain options include a standard 300 horsepower 5.4-liter Triton ™ V-8 or an available SALEEN intercooled, supercharged, V-8 that pumps out an impressive 450 horsepower and 500 lbs.-ft. of torque. Along with the engine upgrades, the SALEEN performance package, available on the 4×2 only, includes an available gauge pod with boost and air-charge temperature gauges.
The 2008 Ford Harley-Davidson ™ F-150 truck is the tenth model to emerge from a Ford Harley-Davidson Alliance that began in 1999. The co-branding of the two storied companies has proven to be a successful formula with sales of Ford Harley-Davidson ™ F-Series trucks totaling more than 60,000 units.
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Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Big jobs require big trucks. That’s probably why Ford’s previous generation of heavy-duty pickups, the F-250 and F-350, has been such a huge success. Starting with the 1999 model, Ford built the Super Duty models on a chassis significantly different from the F-150’s. FoMoCo took the opportunity to increase nearly every dimension with the change, including a four-inch wheelbase stretch that translated directly into more interior room.
As expected in this class, there are many combinations of engine, drivetrain, cabin size, and bed length as well as special versions for RVs and commercial applications. The regular cab is offered with a long bed; the extended cab has four doors, the aft two hinged at the rear, with a short or long bed; and the SuperCab, with four full-size, front-hinged doors, also is available with either bed. Within those categories are various trim levels: There are too many combinations to list here, but the XL is base–and we do mean base, with vinyl seats and no standard air-conditioning–while XLT is above that and Lariat is at the top. There’s probably a combination of bed, cabin, and door count to fit any need.
Along with the wide range of choices in layout, you get to pick from a variety of engines. A 235-horsepower, 5.4-liter Triton V-8 is standard, with a 275-horsepower 6.8-liter V-10 as an option. The 7.3-liter Power Stroke V-8 turbodiesel makes just 235 horsepower, but has a mammoth 500 pound-feet of torque. For 2000, the 5.4-liter was boosted to 260 horsepower and 350 pound-feet, and in 2001, Ford upped the V-10’s output to 310 horses and 425 pound-feet and the turbodiesel’s to 250 and 505. In 2003, the 7.3-liter Power Stroke’s torque was pumped up again to 525, but by midyear, an all-new 6.0-liter variable-fin turbodiesel arrived, boasting 325 horsepower and 550 pound-feet of torque. Bring on the Sea Ray! Most models could be ordered with a four-speed automatic or a manual–five-speed was standard and six-speed optional until 2002, when the extra ratio was made standard.
Owners have reported a choppy ride, particularly with the 4WD option–which is to be expected in a 3/4- or one-ton truck. There are reports of injection problems on the gasoline engines, notably the idle-air control and EGR valves. Reports also show transmission issues on high-payload diesel versions, so it’s worth carefully checking the service history of any candidate–remember that tow vehicles can lead a hard life, even in a few miles.
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Thursday, November 15th, 2007
Ford Motor Co., the second-biggest U.S. automaker, said it’s offering three-year, no-interest loans on all 2007 Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles to start making room at dealerships for next year’s models.
The financing incentives run from today through July 9, spokeswoman Lydia Cisaruk said in an interview. On some models, customers can take cash rebates of $500 to $2,500 instead. The Dearborn, Michigan-based company also is offering an additional $2,007 rebate on 2007 pickup trucks and sport-utility vehicles.
Ford is getting an early start on lot-clearing efforts after a 12 percent drop in its U.S. sales through May, while the industrywide total fell 1.2 percent. Automakers usually begin such offers closer to August, when many of the new models begin to arrive.
“Sometimes you need that shot in the arm,” said Rebecca Lindland, an analyst at Global Insight Inc. in Lexington, Massachusetts. “You need to get some of that inventory out.”
Ford shares rose 33 cents, or 3.6 percent, to $9.61 at 12:49 p.m. in New York Stock Exchange composite trading. They have gained 28 percent this year.
The $2,007 rebate for pickups and SUVs doesn’t apply to so- called crossover wagons such as the Edge, Cisaruk said.
Ford’s sales have declined in part because of its plan to sell fewer vehicles to car-rental companies, which get discounts for buying in bulk. Ford in October stopped making the original Taurus sedan, sold almost exclusively for rentals, as it closed a plant in Atlanta. Taurus has since been revived as the new name for the Five Hundred sedan, produced at a Chicago factory.
The company also has been hurt by a 13 percent slide through May in sales of F-Series pickups, which account for about a quarter of Ford’s U.S. total.
GM Offers
General Motors Corp., the largest U.S. automaker, said on June 25 that it would offer no-interest loans of as long as three years, as well as $1,000 discounts on some 2006 and 2007 models. Those offers also run through July 9 and are tied to the July 4 U.S. holiday.
GM had a 3.2 percent U.S. sales decline in the first five months. The Detroit-based automaker reported an unexpected increase of 9.6 percent in car and light-truck sales in May.
GM also is reducing sales to rental-car customers. The automaker had a 2.1 percent increase in sales to individual buyers in the first five months of the year, spokesman John McDonald said in an e-mail. Such sales generally are more profitable than sales to rental-car companies.
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