Saturday, May 3, 2008

GM sells more than 2.2 million vehicles from January to April 2007

According to preliminary sales figures released earlier this week, General Motors sold the record $ 2.26 million cars and trucks, along with the GM trucks and accessories, all over the world this year in the period from January to April. GM World during the first quarter car sales up 67000, or 3 percent, compared with 2.19 million sales in the first quarter in 2006. Vice President John GM middlebrook said GM recorded sales network in the first quarter was driven by strong demand for exceptionally in emerging markets such as global sales, services and marketing operations. He added that the company has experienced more than 20% growth in the Asia / Pacific 17% growth was in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. He added that the growth rate of 6% in Europe since sold more than half a million new car and the establishment of record sales are very large. Three cars from GM show global success, all indicate GM marketing Most trucks: Chevrolet, Hummer and Cadillac. A 4 per cent increase over last year and was seen in the Chevrolet global sales of 1.04 million cars. The global increase was attributable to the growth rate of 33% in Europe and 12 percent in the Asia-Pacific region and 19 per cent in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. The GM also reserved for luxury truck portfolio of strong growth, due to the incompatibility GM truck parts, which includes the car. Hamer is evidence that sales increased 37 percent in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Throughout the world, recorded 15000 Hummer vehicles for sale. Hummer H2 with the strengthening of the mid-session, as well as for the V8-powered Hummer H3 Alpha in North America and the commencement of production from the right hand - a Hummer H3 in South Africa, Hammer products is well positioned to respond to the needs of consumers demand. Outside North America, Cadillac was due to increased sales to 89% sales growth in Europe, 55% increase in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East and 47 percent growth in the Asia / Pacific. GM and several regional brands have also witnessed remarkable growth in the first quarter in 2007. Opel, Vauxhall City, for example, sold 443000 vehicles for the months January to April this year. Vauxhall City even had 6.3 percent and Opel was about half percent in 1200 with more cars sold this year compared with those sold in the first quarter in 2006. There has been a part of the leadership qualities with meriva, Opel Opel zafira - in part monocab - and the second Opel Astra with the situation of the people in the Charter. Depends largely on the popularity of the new Saturn Aura 2007, 2007 Saturn in the sky, visible from a user company Saturn 2007, 2007 Saturn used visual environment from the Green Line hybrid, and the prospects for 2007 vehicles moving Saturn, Saturn sales in the United States and Canada were before even 19 percent. Saturn expects stronger sales this year while continuing to launch the Saturn Outlook and move welcomed Saturn Astra, Ion replacement of small cars. According to reports, with most of Saturn& 39;s products and extensive in its history alive. South Korea does not measure the strong market growth to return from winstorm jeep and a car medium Cusco, sales of Daewoo Motors 35000 until 31 percent.
gm expects further sales increase coming years as they continue to innovate what was already away from the other way.



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Sunday, April 20, 2008

Audi A3: Hot Hatch Meets Smooth Cool German

Despite today s never-ending talk about globalization and the merging of world cultures, German cars still have a personality all their own. But like most strong personalities, the distinct flavor of Teutonic automobiles isn t a favorite with everybody. While the typical German car s smooth, refined manners are impressive, such machines can seem a little too slick feeling for some -- they tend to be a bit isolating, sterile, chilly.
Count me among believers of the latter. I generally like cars to have more soul than the usual Bahn-stormer delivers. But that s why I found the new Audi A3 to be such a pleasant surprise. It s as friendly feeling as a Japanese sports sedan, without giving up the sense of precision and refinement that s the hallmark of machines from Audi and other German makes.
Slipping into the A3 s cabin, you find it to be noticeably smaller than its A4 sibling, but not dramatically so. Surrounding occupants are quality-feeling black plastics of various finishes, offset by a sprinkling of aluminum here and there. Although not opulent or expensive feeling, the A3 s furnishings are sophisticated and pleasing. They convey a sense of thought and care in their design.
Likewise for the optional leather upholstery, which has a taut, quality feel. The seats are supportive and comfortable. There s decent room for tall individuals up front. In back, leg- and head-room are a bit snug for six footers, but not painfully so.
Firing up the turbocharged 2.0-liter four yields a smooth, precise purr, which elevates to an almost exotic rip as rpms get into the upper half of the range. That transition is appropriate, mirroring the engine s switch from somewhat lopey feeling off the line, to a surprisingly strong midrange champ that has more gusto than its 200-hp rating might imply.
Indeed, a look at the specs shows why -- this engine s full 207 lb ft. of torque is available at just 1800 rpm, giving it a gutsy feel that s quite entertaining. Although the A3 will be offered with a 250-hp V6, the four is plenty enjoyable.
Somewhat less enjoyable, however, is the 6-speed sequential-shift manual transmission. It proved to be a mixed bag. The steering-wheel shift paddles were intuitive and effective for manually controlling shifts. Likewise, the transmission s upshifts under hard throttle demonstrated impressively quick action without any sort of jerkiness. But automatic-mode downshifts were a trifle sluggish and upshifts often came early, leaving the engine to lug along in what felt like too low a gear.
Nonetheless, such quibbles don t dampen the fun appreciably and the A3 is good for plenty of excitement on twisty roads. Compared to most German sporty cars, the A3 s steering is lighter and more communicative -- dare I say even a bit soulful. Complementing this is the A3 s competent, confidence-inspiring handling. Not surprisingly, grip runs out front-end first on this FWD machine, so charging into tight turns can bring on some plowing understeer. But it s not a major handicap, and it s certainly no worse than most rivals in this respect. Firm damping controls body motion well and the A3 s brakes are powerful and easily modulated, capping off a package that s good for plenty of sport-driving fun.
The only significant downside I found to the A3 is its price. Although prices start at an attractive $24,740, our A3 2.0T test car stickered for around thirty large with a few typical options. While that s not exactly highway robbery for a machine this competent, it s enough to probably send some potential A3 buyers toward rival premium subcompacts.
But after looking around, a lot of those people will probably come back to considering the A3. It s a nice blend that s easy to fall for -- small but practical, lively yet sophisticated, Teutonic but eager. Plenty of other cars would do well to emulate its virtues.
For more drive-test articles on today s hottest sports cars, sport compacts, and muscle cars, go to http://www.autiv.com/



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Toyota Ranked 6th in Fortune Global 500 List

Toyota Motor Corporation has made it to the list of Fortune s list of world s 500 largest companies by revenue for 2006. Toyota was ranked 6th for this year which is two notches ascent from last year s 8th ranked.
The producer of top-of-the-line Toyota Camry parts, Toyota Motor Corp. was the only Asian company that made it to the top 10 of Fortune Global 500 rankings. Toyota s revenue of $204.75 billion has qualified it for the 6th position.
Toyota s revenue has grown by 10 percent over the previous year and is expected to grow continuously for the coming years.
Aside from Toyota, the US retail Wal-Mart Stores Inc. has returned from the top spot from being second the previous year with a revenue of $351.14 billion up by 11 percent.
Exxon Mobile Corp. still from US came second with revenue of $347.25 billion followed by the British-Dutch oil titan Royal Dutch Shell PLC with revenue of $318.85 billion.
In fourth position was Britain s BP PLC with $274.32 billion revenue followed by General Motors, the world s largest automaker of United States with posted revenue amounting to $207.35 billion.
The total revenues of the companies included in the Fortune Global 500 list came to $21 trillion up by 10.4 percent as compared to 2005.
As expected six of the top 10 were oil companies with three automakers and a retailer. Banks and brokerage firms have also advanced in their rankings baked by a global boom in merger and acquisition activities.
There were a total of 67 Japanese companies that made it into the Fortune s list down by three from the previous year which is attributed to the depreciation of yen against some of the world s major currencies which reduces their revenues in dollars.
Japan has the second largest number of companies on the list seconded by United States which has 162 companies. The combined revenues of the US companies included in the 500 list accounted for more that one-third of the total revenues of the Fortune Global 500 companies.
China has also 24 companies that made it into the Fortune s 500 list, up by 20 from the previous year and the second highest number in Asia following Japan.
Among the Japanese firms that made it into Fortune Global 500 list are Honda Motor Co. which ranked 37th with $94.79 billion revenue; Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. ranked 40th with $92 billion revenue; Nissan Motor Co. on the 45th place with $89.50 billion revenue; and Hitachi Ltd on the 48th place with $87.62 billion. Here the Top 10 of Fortune s Global 500 list: 1 Wal-Mart Stores: 351,139.0 2 Exxon Mobil: 347,254.0 3 Royal Dutch Shell: 318,845.0 4 BP: 274,316.0 5 General Motors: 207,349.0 6 Toyota Motor: 204,746.4 7 Chevron: 200,567.0 8 DaimlerChrysler: 190,191.4 9 ConocoPhillips: 172,451.0 10 Total: 168,356.7 For a more comprehensive list simply log on to fortune.com.



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Plugin Diesel Power

With ever rising fuel costs and efiiciency now a major forcus of car manufacturers world wide and new product has been developed that can make all the difference for diesel vehicles.
The mass-produced diesel car engine generally has a number of shortcomings that are the result of the necessity to meet a wide variety of service conditions and realities, such as variations in manufacturing tolerances, fuel quality variations, climatic conditions, and inferior maintenance. As a result, the off- the-shelf characteristics of a standard diesel engine offer significant scope for improvement and, as has been shown by power and torque curves obtained from dynamometer tests, poor low speed response and mid-range "flat-spots" can often be eliminated, with a resulting improvement in overall performance which doesn t just mean going faster. So "tuning" is not all about raising power and torque output, (although this is usually also a pleasant end result!) but equally about optimising the efficiency of the engine. Improved efficiency means improved economy and better fuel consumption.
One of the reasons why the diesel engine has great advantages over its petrol counterpart in terms of response to tuning is the key factor of "excess air". Try to tune any petrol engine by offering it more fuel and it soon becomes breathless, as it runs out of oxygen with which to burn the extra fuel. The only way to overcome this is to persuade the engine to burn more petrol at higher engine speeds, where more air/oxygen can be ingested. So generally a tuned petrol engine has to rotate more quickly to produce extra torque and power, and in the process becomes a more temperamental and frenetic performer. But most diesel engines and we are inevitably talking today of turbo-diesels are able to ingest far more air than is needed to burn the injected fuel. So they respond eagerly to the offering of carefully chosen modest amounts of extra fuel by intelligent re-programming - and in the process usually actually operate at higher efficiencies!
The ready availability of excess air at all engine speeds means that the tuned diesel engine usually produces its extra performance throughout the rev range and, as a result, the response is improved in all driving conditions not just when maximum power is demanded. So a tuned diesel becomes an even friendlier and more willing beast, often becoming smoother and more flexible so it will pull a higher gear, and often deliver better fuel economy than a standard engine because it s actually more efficient!
How does it work?
The operation of today s electronic injection diesel engines is masterminded by the engine s ECU which, according to requirements, sends constantly varying signals to the fuel injection unit, as instructions to deliver a certain amount of fuel at any instant. Electronic tuning uses any one of a number of different systems to modify this signal in such a way that, throughout the engine speed range and according to power demands, the fuel injection volume is beneficially enhanced. But it s particularly useful if there s potential to actually adjust these modified instructions according to individual needs and particularly if an engine is being tuned to an owner s specific requirements.
The DPChip:
Have you recently began to think about how your diesel could do with a bit more power? Have you ever wondered what a bit more power or torque in the right place could do for you when your carrying a heavy load or just going about your regular driving? A simple plug and play module can easily give you an instant increase in power. You ll be excited about the possibilities for your vehicle and you ll experience the satisfaction that fitting a Diesel Power Chip can bring to your everyday driving whether at work or at play.
The Diesel Power Chip - DPChip - is available for a large range of EFI diesel trucks from the light utility of the Mercedes Sprinter to larger commercial vehicles such as the Isuzu Gigamax. By fitting a DPChip you can take full advantage of your truck s power. With an increase of up to 35% you will notice a difference in takeoff power and control. With a longer powerband you ll experience less gear changing and smoother gear changing. This improved performance leads to a general improvement in economy. In many cases up to 10% better fuel consumption can be expected when driving with a DPChip. Get the edge over your competition and get your vehicle going with a Diesel Power Chip. Add our 5 year warranty to the equation and you can see that the DPChip is your key to more power and control saving you many times it s cost over the working life of your vehicle.
We pride ourselves on our world wide product support. If you have any questions regarding the DPChip or need information or help with installation or any other matter please don t hesitate to contact us.
Postal Address: Old Hume Highway, Berrima, 2577, Australia
Phone: +61 2 4877 1022 Fax: +61 2 4877 1239
Email: info@dpchip.com
Web: www.dpchip.com
Overview
1. DPChip is an interactive computer which exploits the full potential of modern EFI diesel engines.
2. Individual programming and re-mapping of the engine management system enables this simple to fit device to increase power by up to 25% and torque by up to 35%.
3. DPChip alters fuel, timing and air characteristics to create smooth power gains.
4. Accelerator, air mass and load, as well as other readings are accurately read by DPChip to calculate and deliver Real Time alterations to the engine managements own signals with digital precision and speed.
5. More power is delivered throughout the rev range with torque (pulling power) delivered lower down and lasting much longer throughout the rev range.
6. DPChip can be further adjusted manually or via it s onboard USB port to provide optimum performance for your particular needs. If you modify your engine with extras such as turbos, intercoolers, and exhausts DPChip can be safely adjusted to suit your driving needs.
7. DPChip can provide up to 10% better fuel economy through more efficient and less gear changing.
8. DPChip is installed downstream of the ECU leaving all error detection and operational safety systems intact. DPChip cannot harm the vehicles ECU.
9. DPChip increases performance well within set tolerances thus protecting your engine.
10. DPChip is transferable between vehicles. Each DPChip model covers a large range of applications. If you sell or change vehicles simply unplug DPChip and install it in your next EFI diesel.
11. DPChip increases performance well within set tolerances thus protecting your engine.
12. DPChip has the largest range of EFI diesel tuning modules in the World.
13. DPChip is brought to you by Australia s Original Diesel specialists in the industry since 1956.
14. DPChip comes with a class leading 5 year warranty.
15. DPChip comes with 24hr/7day technical Hotline support so you have peace of mind wherever you are.



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