Archive for December, 2007
Thursday, December 6th, 2007
The story of the 1994 Dodge Ram is the Hail Mary of American pickups.While the Chrysler Group isn’t facing the same life or death situation that Chrysler survived in the early nineties, the 2009 Dodge Ram is so important that TCG has tapped its hottest designer, Ralph Gilles, to head this redo. Gilles (pronounced ‘jeels’) is the man responsible for penning the retro-gangsta style Chrysler 300C that’s reinvented the American full size sedan. There’s two design directions the next Ram may take - continue to evolve the current big rig looks or move forward with an all new theme, likely based on last year’s sleek Dodge Rampage concept. Gilles has stated that improving aerodynamics is one of his top objectives, lending weight to a Rampage-based path, but we’re placing our bet that the instantly recognizable snout of the current Ram is going to continue to set this pickup apart from its five full size competitors.
Inspiration for our speculation about the ‘09 Ram’s sheetmetal comes from the new 2007 Dodge Nitro SUV (Gilles also worked on this program), and 2002 Dodge M80 and 1999 Dodge Power Wagon concept pickups.
What other changes can we expect to find?
An improved HEMI V8 with a six-speed transmission is a virtual certainty but it’s the alternative powertrains where the 2009 Dodge Ram will truly innovate over the current Ram.
Chrysler Group CEO Tom LaSorda recently promised that after 2009 1500 series half-ton Rams will be powered by an optional Cummins diesel engine - the first time a manufacturer has announced such an offering in the light duty segment. With high fuel prices, and increased scrutiny around CO2 emissions, we expect compression ignition engines to be a popular choice with buyers.
Fuel economy concerns are also likely to find the future Ram powered by a dual mode hybrid V8. DaimlerChrysler has partnered with General Motors and BMW on the technology, which offers up to 25% improvements in mpg on the highway over single mode hybrids like the Toyota Prius. Even better, dual mode hybrid technology will work with the current 5.7-liter HEMI’s Multi-Displacement System (MDS) that can switch off half the cylinders during off-load running.
Inside the Ram, Gilles promises a renewed focus on the interior components, so expect a spiffed up cabin to support the contractor on the go when it comes to work and luxury touches to take the missus out on the town.
2009 is looking kind of far out right now after the introduction of the new Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, and Toyota Tundra pickups, but If Dodge can deliver distinctively stylish looks with innovative powertrain and interior improvements, it will continue to score touchdowns with buyers.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
The average price in Reno for a gallonm of diesel is $3.69 per gallon.
It’s not just truckers feeing the pain. We all will. Analysts say since just about everything we buy gets moved around in a diesel truck at some point.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
The Reno City Council will hold a public hearing on whether restrictions should be placed on where truck stops can be located. A truck stop has been proposed to be built at I-80 and Robb Drive. The hearing has been set for 6 p.m. at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center Wednesday.
“This is a residential area and it would be nice to keep it a residential area,” Gina Battle, who lives near Robb Drive, said.
The city says the Flying J truck stop will be close to the interchange, allowing truckers quick on and off access. But some say additional trucks, means additional traffic.
“It would bring more of the traffic off of the freeway and into the neighborhoods so to say and we don’t really need that,” Battle said.
According to a city staff report, studies of traffic and noise would have to be conducted. But some say the location is too close to homes, and isn’t right for the neighborhood.
“We already have a lot of areas around here that aren’t filled up a lot of shopping centers that… aren’t leased out and I don’t think it’s necessary that it needs to be right off the freeway in people’s backyards,” Ruthie Thompson, a resident of the area, said.
A public hearing will also be held for people to discuss a controversial condo project for the South Meadows. The Boulevard South towers have been criticized for being too tall and not appropriate for the neighborhood. Some South Meadows residents are also concerned about increased traffic.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
US auto giant Ford Motor Co said Wednesday it had reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit lodged by people claiming the company’s popular Explorer vehicle was prone to rollovers.
A spokeswoman for Ford refused to give details of the settlement in an emailed statement to AFP, saying more information would be revealed when the deal is presented before a judge in Sacramento on Monday.
“For the reasons that will be presented in court on Monday, we believe this settlement is fair and reasonable and is in the best interests of our customers and our shareholders,” the spokeswoman said.
Around one million people in four states — California, Connecticut, Illinois and Texas — had filed suit asserting that Explorers made between 1991 and 2001 were liable to rollover.
Ford has battled a wave of wrongful death and injury lawsuits following accidents involving older models of the Explorer, regarded as Ford’s flagship sports utility vehicle.
A federal investigation was launched in 2000 following concerns about the Bridgestone/Firestone tires fitted on the vehicle, leading to a legal feud between Ford and the tire manufacturer.
In 2005 Bridgestone Firestone agreed to pay 240 million dollars to Ford to settle liability over the recall of defective tires in 2000 and 2001 linked to numerous deaths.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
Ford will offer voice-operated controls on its European models, using software provided by Nuance, it was announced yesterday.
Nuance, which merged with ScanSoft in 2005, offers a range of voice-control and text-to-speech solutions. The company’s VoCon® speech recognition and RealSpeak™ text-to-Speech platforms are being integrated into the Blaupunkt human-machine interface electronics (HMI).
“Nuance has a long history of working with Ford,” according to Steve Chambers, NUance exec.
“Now with the advanced speech technology in the Blaupunkt navigation solution, we are able to offer drivers a safer alternative… drivers no longer need to take their eyes off the road or their hands from the wheel to dial their phone, enter an address to the navigation system or control their audio system.”
HMI with Nuance software will be available on the Ford C-MAX and Ford Focus starting in December, followed later by the Ford Galaxy, Ford Mondeo and Ford S-MAX. In addition to controlling the car’s hardware, it uses text-to-speech for giving navigation directions.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
Ford has reportedly sold British marques Jaguar and Land Rover. The deal was done a few days ago but won’t be announced until February. The likely buyer is Tata, the giant automotive company in India. Tata wants to become a major global name and is looking for a European vehicle development centre. Ford earlier sold the other famous British nameplate, Aston Martin, to British-Kuwait interests. Another thing: Ford now apparently wants to hang on to Volvo.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
This year’s FAI Ford Cup final sees Cork City take on Longford Town at the RDS on Sunday, kick-off 3.30pm.
Longford Town are down to the bare bones due to injury, suspension and cup tied players.
Midfielder Gary Deegan is suspended, while Dave Freeman is absent due to illness. Colm James, signed from Galway United, and former Shamrock Rovers player Ian Ryan are both cup tied.
Robbie Martin is likely to partner Daire Doyle in centre midfield due to Deegan’s absence with Jimmy Duffy on the right and Mark Rutherford on the left.
In defence, Pat Sullivan and Sean Prunty are expected to play either side of centre halves Damian Brennan and Kevin Doherty.
While in attack Dave Mooney, with 19 goals so far this season, will probably be partnered by Dessie Baker.
Cork City are hopeful that full-back Darragh Ryan will be the only absentee, as he recovers from a hernia operation and will not be a member of the Cup final squad.
Cork have three players returning from recent injuries - midfielder Liam Kearney, striker John O’Flynn and centre-back Brian O’Callaghan.
Kearney, who was treated for a calf injury, returned to full training last week and played for 60 minutes in the challenge game against Cobh Ramblers on Sunday last and manager Damien Richardson will monitor his recovery with interest.
John O’Flynn also returned to training last week after treatment for a groin injury. O’Flynn’s season has been disrupted by regular injury and a fully-fit O’Flynn would be a big asset to Cork.
Brian O’Callaghan’s run at centre-back was interrupted by a hamstring. He too has also returned to training and will be challenging for selection for a game that provides Cork with a last opportunity of a major trophy this season.
Cork are also due to be without full-back Neal Horgan because he has to serve a one-match suspension. They and Longford Town are hoping to persuade the FAI to postpone on sympathetic grounds the suspension that Horgan and Longford’s Gary Deegan are due to serve.
A minute’s silence will be observed before the game as a mark of respect to Longford club president, Peter Keenan who died during the week.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
BP-Ford World Rally Team dominated today’s opening leg of Rally GB to hold first and second with its Focus RS World Rally Cars. Mikko Hirvonen and Jarmo Lehtinen were outstanding in dreadful weather conditions to win five of the day’s six speed tests in south Wales and build a 39.6sec lead. Team-mates Marcus Gronholm and Timo Rautiainen shared fastest time on the other special stage to end the day in second.
After last night’s start ceremony in Cardiff, the action on this final round of the FIA World Rally Championship moved west to Swansea this morning. It was from here that competitors left for two identical loops of three speed tests covering 140.80km high in the Vale of Neath forests. Rain over the last few days left the gravel tracks muddy and both Hirvonen and Gronholm opted for BFGoodrich’s extra soft compound tyres on their Focus RS cars, with extra cuts carved into the rubber to help clear the mud.
The opening 17.41km Port Talbot test in Margam Forest was shrouded in thick fog, although the weather improved for the remaining two tests of the opening loop in Resolfen and Rheola. However, heavy rain this afternoon caused the conditions to deteriorate and the final stage in Rheola – held in the dark, in torrential rain and thick fog – was evil, forcing drivers to little more than walking pace on the highest parts of the test.
Hirvonen was a fast starter this morning and quickest time on the opening three tests allowed him to build a 21.4sec lead. He was beaten into third on the middle stage of the afternoon loop but quickest time on the other two stages enabled the 27-year-old Finn to extend that advantage into a comfortable overnight lead.
“I couldn’t see more than a handful of metres on the final stage, it was the worst I can remember,” he said. “It was like having a white wall in front of the car and in some sections it was easier to drive with no lights at all. Driving in the dark, the fog and the rain was scary. I tried to drive through the conditions. My pace notes were perfect all day and I trusted them 100 per cent. I’ve not taken split times for the other drivers because there was enough work to do keeping the car on the road.
“I guess I took more risks than the others and I felt confident with the car and tyres. That allowed me to keep pushing and build my lead. Tomorrow I will try to maintain it, but I’ve not driven those stages for a few years so it won’t be easy,” he added.
Gronholm, making his 150th WRC start on his final rally before retirement, was focused more on the battle for the drivers’ title in the championship. The 39-year-old Finn’s hopes of a third crown depend on the fortunes of arch-rival Sébastien Loeb, and he made a cautious start in the fog. However, he quickly climbed to second and remained there this afternoon to end the day ahead of the Frenchman.
“I was too cautious at the start of the first stage this morning because it was uncomfortable in the fog and I couldn’t see much,” he said. “I don’t have to take risks and I didn’t drive flat out. I didn’t try to catch Mikko, I was just trying to control my pace, but my confidence wasn’t so good because the weather this afternoon was some of the worst I can remember in my career. There was water on the car, under the car and all around the car – there was even water in the car!”
BP-Ford team director Malcolm Wilson described his drivers‘ performances as ‘perfect’. “They couldn’t have done better. This was exactly what I expected of Mikko. He has a good lead and Marcus is in the ideal position if anything happens to Loeb over the next two days,” he added.
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Saturday, December 1st, 2007
In the news release, Ford (NYSE: F) Plug-In Hybrid Hits CaliforniaStreets, issued earlier today by Ford Motor Company over PR Newswire, we areadvised by the company that the contact phone number for Paul Klein shouldread “626.302.2255″ rather than “623.302.7935,” as originally.
Ford Trucks for sale at :- http://www.usedfordtruckforsale.com/
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