Auto news and reviews from Car Buyer's Notebook.com: 5th Wheel Archives

June 12, 2008

Porsche 'christens' endangered eagle chicks

Stuttgart -- Today Dr. Wolfgang Porsche, Chairman of the Advisory Board of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, and his daughter Stephanie 'christened' two imperial eagle chicks in Stuttgart, naming them Asta and Artus. The two young birds of the species aquila heliaca, which is threatened worldwide with extinction, hatched six weeks ago in Greifvogelpark Hellenthal, falconer Horst Niesters' sanctuary park for birds of prey in the Eifel region. This successful hatching is regarded as a sensation in expert circles.

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June 10, 2008

Alanis Morissette partners with Mercedes-Benz Blue-Tec

Seven-time Grammy winning artist Alanis Morissette has partnered with Mercedes-Benz and its “Mixed Tape” online music magazine for “Underneath,” the first video/single from her highly anticipated new album Flavors of Entanglement (Maverick/Reprise Records).

Alanis, a strong supporter of environmental causes and organizations, chose the fuel-efficient Mercedes-Benz E320 BlueTEC for the music clip.

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2009 Cadillac CTS-V Performance certified at 556 horsepower

MILFORD, Mich. - As final testing of the limited-edition 2009 CTS-V nears completion, the results suggest that Cadillac's upcoming sports sedan is entering the stratosphere of the world's highest-performing cars.

Cadillac announces the following performance specifications for all-new 2009 CTS-V:

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June 9, 2008

Porsche's Hartmut Kristen: “A class victory in Le Mans is a huge success”

Stuttgart -- After its successes in the American Le Mans Series and the Le Mans Series, the Porsche RS Spyder is on the verge of its next great challenge: On Saturday at 3pm, the Weissach-developed and built sports prototype tackles the Le Mans 24 Hours for the first time.

Hartmut Kristen, Head of Motorsport at Porsche, is relaxed about the debut at the world’s toughest long distance race: “I’m confident that we are very well prepared.”

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Robbie Knievel Jumps 21 Hummers

FORT WORTH, Texas — Motorcycle daredevil Robbie Knievel successfully completed a shortened jump Saturday night at Texas Motor Speedway.

Knievel jumped over 21 Hummer vehicles, four less than had originally been planned because of a headwind gusting more than 30 mph. The landing ramp protected the last three of the large SUVs in the line, though Knievel easily cleared all the vehicles and avoided crashing even after hitting the landing ramp off-center.

"I love you Texas, bye-bye," Knievel said after the jump.

June 8, 2008

Video: Bob Lutz on the Volt Test Mule

By Bob Lutz, GM Vice Chairman

This week we announced that the GM Board has approved the Chevrolet Volt program. Yes, development work has been going on in earnest, but now it’s official. In fact, recently, at GM’s Milford Proving Ground, I drove an official “engineering development vehicle” with the 16-kwh lithium-ion battery pack we’ve been testing for our E-Flex System and I have to say – pun half-intended – it was electrifying.

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Space Shuttle Crew Tests BMW Hydrogen Vehicle

Munich -- The Space Shuttle crew is getting a taste of the future of mobility at BMW. The astronauts, who normally head into space propelled by hydrogen, have adopted the role of earthbound passengers to experience the world's first hydrogen-powered saloon, the BMW Hydrogen 7.

It is an obvious move considering that NASA was already using the American fleet of these vehicles for test purposes at Cape Canaveral in autumn 2007. Commander Stephen Frick takes stock of his impressions: "It's impressive to see hydrogen functioning so smoothly in cars as well. What I find most striking is that a car running on hydrogen performs just as well as a petrol-driven model."

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Video: General Motors Exec Buys Vectrix Scooter

General Motors electric car champion Bob Lutz has upped his personal commitment to battery-powered transportation with the purchase of an electric scooter.

The GM vice chairman has bought a Vectrix scooter that uses a nickel metal hydride battery pack to give it a range of 45-60 miles and a top speed of about 60 mph. Watch the video of Lutz taking delivery of the scooter.

For more scooter news, read ScooteringUSA.com

Chevy to award five lucky high school grads with new cars

Nashville, Tenn. – During Fall 2008, high school seniors at more than 200 schools in 26 Tennessee counties learned that having perfect attendance would make them eligible to win a new 2008 Chevy Cobalt sedan this June. Close to 500 students faithfully attended all 180 days during the school year.

Five of these students will be awarded new Chevy Cobalts in a drawing held at the Sommet Center on 501 Broadway in Nashville on June 13, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

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Video: Jay Leno Drives off in Challenger

"Under the Pentastar" is a fast-paced video recap of the significant Chrysler stories from the past seven days: This week's program includes comedian Jay Leno driving away in his new 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8, celebrities race the Challenger, and the delivery of the first production Challenger. Other highlights include plant productivity awards for Chrysler, recognition for improved quality, and U.S. and Canada sales results.

June 7, 2008

Volkswagen Partners with Bliss Spa at Scottsdale Dealership

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. has paired ignitions with indulgence as a result of its partnership with Bliss Spa.

On Saturday, June 7 at the North Scottsdale Volkswagen dealership, customers can enjoy select spa treatments after test driving Volkswagen vehicles, enter to win a complimentary manicure, facial or massage, and sample brownies in the Bliss "You Be The Fudge" contest.

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Posted by Frank at 2:47 AM | Filed under 5th Wheel | Auto Marketing | Auto News | Volkswagen

June 6, 2008

Porsche Celebrates 60th Anniversary

ATLANTA -- On June the 8th of 1948 the very first car to carry the Porsche name made its worldwide debut as it rolled out of its tiny workshop in the Austrian Alps.

The creation of Ferdinand Alexander “Ferry” Porsche, the son of Volkswagen Beetle designer Ferdinand Porsche and identified as 356-001, this diminutive and radical-for-the-time vehicle featured a unique teardrop aerodynamic body shape and placed the engine behind the driver.

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Mustang first convertible to win top safety rating

DEARBORN, Mich. -- When Ford Chief Engineer for Safety Systems Steve Kozak decided to give a new car to his teenage daughter as a graduation gift only one model would do: the 2008 Ford Mustang GT convertible, the No. 1-selling and top safety-rated drop-top in the U.S.

The 2008 Mustang GT is the only convertible to earn a five-star safety rating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for frontal crash, side impact and rollover tests.

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Ford continues voice-activated research

DEARBORN, Mich. -- As the National Safety Council turns the country's attention to distracted driving next week, the Ford Sync in-car communications and entertainment system continues gaining popularity as one of the most advanced answers yet to the distractions nearly 190 million Americans encounter as they talk on cell phones while driving.

A recent survey found that more than 80 percent of mobile phone owners said they talk on the phone while driving, and 40 percent of teen and 20-something American mobile phone owners admitted to composing and sending text messages while driving.

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Volkswagen sponsors disabled artists

WASHINGTON -- VSA arts and Volkswagen of America, Inc. are seeking artwork from young artists with disabilities, ages 16-25, living within the U.S. "Green Light" encourages artists to consider the motivations behind their work and the infinite possibilities that creativity provides.

Fifteen finalists will be awarded a total of $60,000 during an awards ceremony on Capitol Hill and artwork will be displayed in a nationwide touring exhibition that will debut at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

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Posted by Frank at 5:50 AM | Filed under 5th Wheel | Auto Marketing | Auto News

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