2011 Volvo S60 to Debut at Geneva Motor Show in March



With the 2011 S60, Volvo aimed for a sportier and more visually enticing design by incorporating the look of a four-door coupe. The S60’s new rakish roofline is part of the flowing styling dubbed “racetrack” design, which means that the car’s lines don’t end abruptly at any point but instead flow organically around the entire vehicle. With its sculpted front fascia, short overhangs, and flowing taillights, we have to say the S60’s design really works.

Volvo didn’t leave the sporty changes just to the S60’s styling, however, as the new S60 has a more dynamic chassis than any Volvo before it. The S60 sports stiffer springs all around and a stiffer chassis to increase grip and give the driver more control. Along with all of these upgrades in the name of sporty driving, Volvo improved the damping to provide a balance between stiffness and ride comfort.

“We spent many weeks fine-tuning the dampers out in the English countryside,” says Stefan Sällqvist, who led the S60 chassis development. “We drove on old Roman roads that have only ever received a few layers of tarmac over the centuries -- a perfect environment for finding the right damping qualities.”

Powering this sporty Volvo is the same 3.0-liter turbocharged in-line six-cylinder engine found in several vehicles in Volvo’s lineup. As of now, this is the only engine known to be coming to the U.S. Whether other engines will be available remains to be seen. In Europe, drivers will also get the choice of two diesel powerplants when the A60 is launched, with another diesel and three gasoline engines available shortly afterward. These engines are all coupled to either a six-speed automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. The manual transmission option may also be omitted from the American S60 lineup.

Volvo’s designers continued with the racetrack-design theme inside the car. The entire interior was designed to look as if it’s in motion. There is more legroom in the rear and the seats back there have been reshaped to offer more lateral support, but, unlike other four-door coupes, three passengers can still ride on the back bench. The S60 also adopts a new infotainment system that allows the driver access via steering wheel controls, standard controls underneath the screen, or voice recognition, when equipped. A new high-end radio from Audyssey Laboratories also equalizes the sound system automatically.

As with all Volvos, the S60 comes with a host of safety features. Volvo’s City Safety, which automatically applies the brakes to reduce the damage from or completely eliminate crashes below 18 mph, is standard. A new pedestrian detection system can apply full braking power to reduce the force of a collision with a pedestrian at speeds up to 21 mph. In addition, the new S60 is available with driver alert control, a blind spot warning system, lane departure warning, and numerous airbags.

Look for the 2011 Volvo S60 to make its world debut this March at the Geneva motor show. Volvo has not yet released any further details on pricing or an on sale date, but expect the car to make it into showrooms later this year.

Despite Facelift, 2011 Volvo C70 Pricing Still Starts At $40,800



For 2011, Volvo dropped the standard 6-speed manual transmission, opting instead to make the 5-speed automatic standard. 2011 C70s also receive Volvo’s premium “Sovereign Hide” leather trim and Sirius satellite radio at no charge.

Option packages largely mirror the 2010 model. A multimedia package, which adds a premium 14-speaker Dynaudio system, navigation, and Volvo’s real-time Map Care updates, runs $2600 -- just as it did in 2010. The climate package still costs $900, and includes heated front seats, headlamp washers, and rain-sensing windshield wipers.

Volvo did increase the price of the Dynamic Trim package to $1000, which adds 18-inch aluminum wheels, Xenon headlights, and a sports steering wheel. A new convenience package, which also runs $1000, adds keyless ignition, Homelink, rear parking sensors, and an automatic-dimming rearview mirror with a built-in compass.

Standalone options include a new cranberry leather (no charge), blind spot detection system ($700), special Nordic Light Oak wood inlays ($150), and a wind blocker ($495). Metallic paint options run between $550 and $675, depending on the color.

Look for the new 2011 Volvo C70 to arrive at dealers stateside later this year.
 source by automobilemag

Why The Toyota - Tesla Deal Works
Toyota Motor Corp’s
$50 million investment in electric sports car maker Tesla Motors is an investment in both electric car technology and much needed public relations.



In one stroke, the company has made its boldest move to date toward putting full electric vehicles on American roads in addition to giving a new lease on life to one of America's most celebrated auto plants. The investment, quite small for cash-rich Toyota, was made by President Toyoda after the company head dined at the home of Tesla CEO Elon Musk and drove the Tesla electric roadster.

Tesla is a maker of electric sports cars, but a niche one at that. The company has sold over 1,000 $109,000 roadsters worldwide so far, with plans to build a second, lower-priced car with the idea that it can eventually reach about 20,000 sales a year. Toyota’s investment in the company, which adds up to about a 2.5% stake, is a shot in the arm for financially struggling California, as well as giving Toyota a new story-line for the public to focus on after months of bad headlines surrounding product recalls and government investigations.

As part of the deal with Toyota, Tesla has purchased the New



United Motor Manufacturing (NUMMI) factory in Fremont Ca., which Toyota recently closed, to build the lower-priced, $49,500, luxury electric car it hopes will give it sales volume and staying power. Toyota had already let go over 4500 workers who had been making Toyota Matrix cars and Tacoma pickup trucks, an unpopular move that preceded the automaker’s recall woes.
Toyota's Image Problem

Since last fall, Toyota has been embroiled in a public relations firestorm related to the recall of millions of vehicles for acceleration and braking problems. The company faced scrutiny by Federal regulators, paid a $16.4 million fine and perhaps for the first time in their history, sprouted the seeds of doubt in the minds of millions of American consumers who came to trust Toyota products more than the domestics.

If Tesla’s sales volume goals materialize, officials say the plant could eventually employ 1,000 workers, many of whom would be expected to be hired from the experienced pool of workers put out of work when the factory closed last month. That move alone is worth a good deal to Toyota in the state of California, although it's unlikely that the plant will recover all 4500 jobs in the near term.

The NUMMI plant has arguably been one of the most significant auto plants of the last 25 years because it was operated as a joint venture between General Motors and Toyota, starting in 1984. It was Toyota’s first foray into manufacturing in the U.S., at the time a controversial move for GM, which was facing up to the mounting competition from Japan. The factory, previously one of GM’s worst and most notorious factories for poor quality and labor relations, has been the subject of several case studies on the topics ranging from worker re-training to meshing U.S. and Asian cultures into one enterprise.

GM pulled out of the venture last year when it went through Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and killed off its Pontiac brand. NUMMI had also been making the Pontiac Vibe at the plant.

As workers are rehired at the plant for production, which is expected to begin in 2012, it is an open question as to whether the workers will be United Auto Workers union workers. Tesla is not bound by contracts to use union workers. The UAW workers that had been employed at NUMMI had, as part of the grand experiment of the GM-Toyota joint venture, agreed to much more flexible work rules than were found at other UAW plants.

“Our union’s hope is that this venture will give first hiring preference to former NUMMI employees who are already trained and highly skilled,” said UAW President Ron Gettelfinger. But actual talks between union representatives and Tesla will be down the road.

A Hedge Against A Bigger Market?

The move by Toyota is interesting beyond the public relations value. Toyota already has more production in the U.S. than it can use now given industry sales running at around 11.5 million a year, down from the 16 million rate just a few years ago. The company has a money losing plant in San Antonio, Texas, and a plant it stopped production on in Mississippi. By investing in Tesla, say officials with knowledge of the deal, it gives Toyota an opportunity to re-use NUMMI capacity at a later date if it needs more manufacturing capability, especially for electric and hybrid vehicles. Most analysts expect the U.S. auto industry to rebound back to 15 million vehicles a year by 2015 or sooner, so having production at NUMMI to go back to as a Tesla partner could be advantageous.

“This is a very inexpensive move for Toyota that seems to have the potential to pay off in many ways down the road—politically, image wise and even from the standpoint of leaving options for future production open,” says Dennis Keene, a Los Angeles-based independent marketing consultant.

Tesla is receiving $465 million in loans from the U.S. government for investment in the new model and the plant. Additionally, Tesla is gearing up for an initial public offering (IPO) of stock to the public to raise capital, and the Toyota investment and co-venture will help the IPO. “This move by Toyota is probably worth a lot more than $50 million to Tesla in terms of the company’ credibility as it tries to sell its stock offering,” says auto industry analyst Stephanie Brinley of AutoPacific Group.

Will Toyota's Electric Strategy Change?

The move is curious, however, because Tesla’s recipe for achieving electric power has traditionally been via lithium-ion batteries, a technology that is similar to what is used for cell-phones and laptop computers. Toyota has not been a big proponent of this technology as a solution for electric vehicles.

Toyota Motor President Akio Toyoda said Toyota is still curious about pursuing lithium-ion technology, and views Tesla as an ideal partner to sort out how effective the technology will be from the standpoint of cost and performance.

"I spent time at NUMMI and learned much about working in America there, so I feel a sense of attachment (to the plant)," Toyoda said. He also said in a statement that through the venture, Toyota hopes to learn from Tesla's "challenging spirit, quick decision-making and flexibility."

Toyota is not the only big-name investor in Tesla. German automaker Daimler--parent company of Mercedes-Benz, smart and Maybach—last year took a 10% stake in Tesla. The purpose of the investment was to

2010 Chrysler Town & Country Overview

Introduction

Chrysler puts a luxurious spin on the minivan with the Town & Country. Innovative seating and upscale features inside and out set this van apart from the competition.
The most important feature, both from a usability stand-point and competitive stand-point, is that this van features Stow'n Go seats. The second and third-row seats can be folded into the floor. No more fumbling to release and remove awkward heavy seats and then try to find a suitable place to store them. Combine this with Chryslers new YES Essentials seat trim that repels all but the most caustic stains, and you have a truly family-friendly vehicle. The base trim is powered by a 3.3-liter V6 rated at 175 horsepower mated to a four-speed automatic transmission. The Touring model uses a more powerful 197 horsepower 3.8-liter V6, while the Limited is equipped with a 251 horsepower 4.0-liter V6. Both the Touring and Limited use a six-speed automatic. All trims come equipped with a tilting steering column, remote keyless entry and a tire pressure monitor.
The Town & Country carries-over with minimal changes for 2010.

NHTSA Frontal Crash Test

NHTSA rates crash-tested vehicles by assigning them one to five stars, with five stars indicating the most injury protection and one star indicating the least protection.
 source by autos.alo

2010 Chevrolet Camaro Overview

Introduction

With design cues evocative of the legendary 1969 model, the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro combines the spirit of the classic American muscle car with the fuel efficiency, safety, handling, technology and build quality expected in a modern performance coupe.
The Camaro is available in three trims: LS, LT and SS. The LS and LT are powered by a 304-hp direct-injected 3.6-liter V6 with a six-speed manual or an optional six-speed automatic transmission. The SS?s 6.2-liter V8 generates 426 horsepower with the standard six-speed manual, and 400 horsepower with the optional six-speed automatic with sequential shift control. Standard equipment on all Camaros includes independent rear suspension, StabiliTrak stability control with traction control, six airbags, air conditioning, OnStar and XM satellite radio. The LT adds fog lights, 18-inch alloy wheels and power driver?s seat, while the SS features unique front fascia, sport suspension, Brembo brakes, limited slip differential, a rear spoiler and heated leather seats. The available RS Package includes 20-inch aluminum wheels with performance tires, distinctive high-intensity headlights with a ?halo ring? display, rear spoiler and unique tail lamps. Optional equipment includes Bluetooth wireless connectivity, power sunroof, performance tires, Boston Acoustic sound system and a variety of exterior stripe packages.
The Chevrolet Camaro is all-new for 2010.

NHTSA Frontal Crash Test

NHTSA rates crash-tested vehicles by assigning them one to five stars, with five stars indicating the most injury protection and one star indicating the least protection.
 source by autos.alo