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[Devinda_Z]

it seems that most american tax payers are pissed off at chrysler for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars of their bailout money on a this "thank you" ad.

and chrysler is getting ripped apart on their own web blog for this- http://blog.chryslerllc.com/blog.do?id=564&p=entry

typically american thing to do

hama ekama "ad" ekata ne karanne!

[Devinda_Z]

Toyota to Shut Japanese Factories for 11 Days

In an unprecedented move, Toyota will suspend production at a dozen of its Japanese plants for six days in February and another five days in March, the Japanese automaker announced on Tuesday. "Demand in the world auto market is so depressed that every model is falling sharply in sales," said Toyota spokesman Hideaki Homma. The last time Toyota suspended production in Japan was 1993, when the company closed factories for one day.

The announcement of the February and March closures came after Toyota reported dismal sales numbers for December: In the U.S., sales plunged 37% last month, worse than the 32% fall for Ford and 31% drop for General Motors.

Source : BusinessWeek

[MasterDon]

Downturn blamed as Kawasaki quit MotoGP

MotoGP is the latest branch of motorsport to be hit by the global economic downturn as Japanese manufacturer Kawasaki ended a week of speculation by withdrawing their team.

American John Hopkins rode for Kawasaki in the 2008 season with limited success.

Aside from a brief spell in the 1970s, Kawasaki have been mainstays of motorcycling's elite category but will not be supporting a work's line-up in the 2009 season.

"Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd announced today (Friday) that it has decided to suspend its factory MotoGP racing activities from the 2009 season," read a statement.

"In a quick-changing business environment, Kawasaki has been promptly taking measures to cope with the situation," it added.

Kawasaki are following the trend set by Honda announcing last month they were quitting Formula One and Subaru and Suzuki withdrawing from the world rally championship.

Don't Miss

Honda quit Formula One in major shock

While the sums of money in MotoGP are much smaller compared to Formula One, it is believed Kawasaki spent upwards of $40 million per year in running a Dutch-based team.

American John Hopkins and Italian Marco Melandri were due to ride for Kawasaki next season. Hopkins finished 16th in last year's overall standings while Melandri transferred from Ducati after a difficult season.

Kawasaki were founder members when the former 500cc world championship was rebranded as MotoGP in 2002, but have never topped the podium. - http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SPORT/01/09/mo...f=edition_sport

[Devinda_Z]

Downturn blamed as Kawasaki quit MotoGP

Another one bites the dust

Another one bites the dust

And another one gone, and another one gone

Another one bites the dust

[MasterDon]

Another one bites the dust

Another one bites the dust

And another one gone, and another one gone

Another one bites the dust

damn you...now i can't get that song outta my head

hate to see kawi go out...motoGP won't be the same without them.......but still there's the doctor on the yamaha to keep me entertained...so all is not lost(touch wood)

[GearHead]

looks like the recession monster has hit top gear as well - http://www.autoblog.com/2008/12/29/bbc-cut...his-own-haircu/

According to one one of the articles by Andy Wilman, the plan is to make most of the episodes of the next series to same standard as before and make several episodes, probably the last few episode, at a lower cost so that they can produce the show within the budget..

[MasterDon]

Ron Dennis Steps Down From Being McLaren F1 Team Principle -

www.topgear.com

News straight out of Woking: Ron Dennis has announced that he will stand down as team principal of McLaren.

Speaking at the launch of the MP2-24 - McLaren’s 2009 F1 car - Dennis stated that he was handing over the reins to current number two Martin Whitmarsh on March 1.

“It’s time for Martin to take over,” said Dennis, in a low-key announcement. “This is a job he will embrace and from now most race-day decision will be his.”

Dennis has run McLaren’s F1 operation since 1981, and will stay on as chief executive of the McLaren Group of companies. “It’s time, and it’s absolutely 100 per cent my decision. It’s what I want to do,” he said.

Whitmarsh has been head of operations at McLaren since 1989, and has been Dennis’s second-in-command in the pit lane for several years. “It doesn’t feel like a bombshell to me,” he said. “Ron has reached this point and I was keen for him to dictate a timeframe, but I certainly didn’t push him.”

Edited January 17, 2009 by HelRazor

[Devinda_Z]

Chrysler and Fiat in joint venture talks

By Julie MacIntosh in New York and Vincent Boland in Milan

Published: January 19 2009 18:20 | Last updated: January 20 2009 08:02

Chrysler and Fiat are in talks about creating a joint venture that would give the Italian carmaker a significant stake in Chrysler , several people close to the matter said on Monday.

One person involved in the talks said the companies had signed a memorandum of understanding on a deal to give Fiat a 35 per cent stake in Chrysler and an option to buy a majority of the company. The person said the deal could be announced within days.

But other people close to the matter said terms of the deal were still being negotiated. Fiat declined to comment. Chrysler said it would “not confirm or disclose the nature of its private business meetings”.

Shares in Fiat were suspended on Tuesday pending a statement from the company, the stock exchange in Milan said.

Under the proposal being considered, Fiat would help to finance the retooling of some Chrysler factories so they could manufacture Fiat cars and components and give Chrysler access to its technology. Fiat would not inject any cash into Chrysler.

The federal government gave Chrysler – smallest of the Big Three carmakers – a $4bn emergency loan this month to avert a collapse of the company.

As part of the bail-out – through which the government also promised General Motors $13.4bn – both US companies must restructure their operations and prove their viability by March 31. Fiat, which has been looking for partners in North America, has also held talks with Ford about a tie-up.

A Chrysler-Fiat link would be similar to the venture between Japan’s Nissan and France’s Renault, which have built vehicle assembly plants together.

A Chrysler-Fiat combination would have a strong presence in North and South America and in Europe. Chrysler lost much of its capability in Europe when its unsuccessful merger with Germany’s Daimler fell apart.

Source : http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/15a0eefa-e654-11...?nclick_check=1

[GearHead]

Fiat gets 35% stake in Chrysler for no cash

Italian group will provide technological expertise and management services

LONDON (MarketWatch) -- Italian carmaker Fiat SpA on Tuesday struck a deal to get an initial 35% stake in struggling U.S. carmaker Chrysler in exchange for its technological expertise, distribution network and management services.

Fiat (IT:F: news , chart , profile ) , the maker of the iconic Cinquecento car, will pay no cash for its stake or commit any funding in the future. Chrysler's majority owner, private-equity group Cerberus Capital Management, will see its 80% stake in the group diluted.

Chrysler said the alliance, a key element of its viability plan, will provide it with "access to competitive, fuel efficient vehicle platforms, powertrain and components to be manufactured at Chrysler sites." Fiat will also lend its distribution networks in key growth markets and provide "management services" supporting Chrysler's submission of a viability plan to the U.S. Treasury as required.

"A Chrysler/Fiat partnership is a great fit as it creates the potential for a powerful, new global competitor, offering Chrysler a number of strategic benefits, including access to products that compliment our current portfolio; a distribution network outside North America; and cost savings in design, engineering, manufacturing, purchasing and sales and marketing," said Bob Nardelli, Chairman and CEO of Chrysler.

Fiat's management talent also appealed to the U.S. carmaker. Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne is credited in the industry for pulling the Italian group back from the brink of collapse by overhauling production techniques, increasing the speed at which new cars are released and boosting their design appeal. Fiat last year sold 2.5 million vehicles worldwide. Chrysler sold two million cars and trucks.

But in recent months Chrysler has slowed the development of new cars in an attempt to save cash. At the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this month Chrysler didn't show a single vehicle that will be launched in 2009.

The deal will also help Chrysler strengthen its case as it seeks more loans from the U.S. government. The group nearly collapsed last year before the Treasury Department provided $4 billion in emergency loans. In order to keep those loans and to qualify for the additional $3 billion it says it needs the carmaker has until March to prove it's a viable business.

Meanwhile for Fiat, the deal means access to Chrysler's distribution network in the U.S., where it plans to re-launch its Alfa Romeo brand.

The idea behind the partnership is that both carmakers would gain economies of scale and geographical reach to better compete against stronger global players like France's Renault (FR:013190: news , chart , profile ) or Japan's Toyota Motor Corp.

Aude Lagorce is a senior correspondent for MarketWatch in London.

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Fiat...9-79A9428DDDC2}

Edited January 20, 2009 by GearHead

[GTAm]

Brilliant move by Sergio Machionne and Fiat! They've waited for everyone to say no to the dying patient Chrysler and then they've got it free with so many advantages. What timing - on the day of Obama's innauguration!!

As I see it, this would

1. Increase Fiat Power Train Technologies output/turnover by a massive margin as Chrysler has no proper small engines. Except out-dated Mitsubishi derrived units and the old Mini engine that comes from Brazil. The Fiat engines are far more advanced than both.

2. Fiat gets access to Chrysler RWD platforms current or future/shared. These could be used for Alfa and Lancia which is what they've been looking for as with the current Alfa and Lancia sales volumes they could not afford their own platforms.

3. Access to Chrysler's US dealer network. It's a lot less costly than setting up a new network for Alfa and more effective than using the few Maserati network.

4. Fiat gets a ride into Off Road and SUV segment which they've neglected so far. - Low tech for sure but the brand is valuable - JEEP.

5. Fiat also gets free plants in the US and Mexico to manufacture on the North American continent!

And Chrysler -

They get to survive!!!!!

[MasterDon]

FastSkinz claims to improve your car's mileage using golf ball technology

Source

I get really skeptical whenever I hear about some gizmo that supposedly saves lots of gas, but this dimpled car wrap kind of makes sense. Long ago, golf ball manufacturers discovered that a dimpled surface would help a ball to fly farther through the air with less drag, so why not apply the same thinking to cars? The dimples reduce the wake turbulence caused by early separation of the boundary layer, and while my high school physics is pretty rusty these days, it certainly sounds plausible.

FastSkinz are made by SkinzWraps, better known for those commercial car wraps that advertise things like radio stations and rap albums, although thankfully, the aerodynamic FastSkinz are pretty discreet.

The company claims an 18-20 percent improvement in gas mileage, although independent testing is still needed. If this actually works it would be amazing, but the fact that aircraft and race cars aren't already covered in dimples seems a bit suspicious.

[dinosh]

This seems similar concept used by Speedo for swin wear. Even Speedo used a specially treated material for Olympic swim wear to reduce the drag. This too was called Fastskin.

Wonder if the cost or durability that would be pushing this form coomercializing.

[MasterDon]

This seems similar concept used by Speedo for swin wear. Even Speedo used a specially treated material for Olympic swim wear to reduce the drag. This too was called Fastskin.

Wonder if the cost or durability that would be pushing this form coomercializing.

ahh yes i remember there was a controversy about the chinese swimmers getting to wear it or not....they were allowed in the end,if i'm correct

[Devinda_Z]

Toyota to recall more than 1.35 million cars worldwide

Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:35am EST

TOKYO (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said on Wednesday it would recall more than 1.35 million Vitz and two other models globally to fix a defect in the seatbelt, a component in the exhaust system or both.

Subject to the recall in Japan are 525,898 Vitz, Belta and Ractis cars built from January 2005 to April 2008, Toyota said in a filing with the transport ministry.

It will also recall a combined 830,000 units of the Vitz subcompact, called Yaris in many markets, and Belta exported to Europe, North America and other markets, a spokeswoman said.

One case of fire was reported in Japan due to the faulty seatbelt design, which could cause a noise-absorber device to melt when the seatbelt tensioner is activated in a collision, Toyota said.

No accident was reported in Japan from the defective exhaust-gas recirculation (EGR) pipe, which could crack in the worst-case scenario and cause exhaust gases that fail to clear emissions standards to leak.

Toyota declined to disclose the estimated cost of the recalls.

Its shares ended flat at 2,980 yen compared with a 1.0 percent rise in the transport equipment subindex.

(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim)

Source : http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNew...ews&sp=true

[Devinda_Z]

Breaking News!

Chris Bangle Resigns from BMW !

BMW Design Chief Bangle Resigns

The infamous designer of "Bangle's butt" was both respected and reviled. His successor, Adrian van Hooydonk, has a tough act to follow

February 3, 2009

By David Kiley

Chris Bangle, the design head at BMW Group since 1992 and one of the most controversial and well-known designers in the auto industry, resigned on Feb. 3. Bangle, 52, the first American to be named head of design at a foreign automaker, will be succeeded by Adrian van Hooydonk, 45, a native of Holland, who has led design on BMW brand vehicles for the last few years.

As head of design for the whole group, Bangle, and now van Hooydonk, oversees design for BMW, as well as the German automaker's Mini and Rolls Royce brands.

Controversial, but Influential

Bangle achieved infamy in 2001 when he introduced the BMW 7 Series at the Frankfurt Motor Show to catcalls over its high, squared-off trunk lid that came to be known as the "Bangle butt"The car featured a system called iDrive that used a new console-mounted knob to control most of the electronic functions of the car—which also met with disapproval. Later, he drew sharp criticism from many quarters over the exaggerated "flame" surfacing of the Z4 roadster.

But to characterize Bangle's career as merely controversial is unfair. "It's difficult to find a designer in the auto business who thoroughly dominated discussion in a given decade and Chris Bangle did it in two decades," says analyst Jim Hall of 2953 Analytics of Birmingham, Mich., who has worked with several automakers on design and product planning.

When BMW hired Bangle, the company was embarking on a mission to shake up the way it designed automobiles. "We were making sausages at different lengths and management at that time and especially Chairman Eberhard von Kuenheim and technical director Wolfgang Reitzle felt we needed to break away and chart a new course for the company and the brand," Bangle said in my book Driven: Inside BMW, the Most Admired Car Company in the World.

Shaking Up BMW's Brand

His impact couldn't be missed. BMW has ranked among the Top 20 in BusinessWeek's Most Innovative Companies poll since its inception in 2006. Only Toyota has consistently ranked as high. But while Toyota has scored largely for its efficiency in logistics and manufacturing, BMW has earned its status for product innovation and design.

When Bangle began his career, BMW had a single brand with five models. As the Munich-based company closed out 2008, it had three brands and 11 products within the BMW lineup alone, with an additional model coming out later this year. BMW sold 1.43 million vehicles in 2008.

Christopher Bangle, born in Ohio and raised in Wausau, Wis., attended Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif., and went on to work in Europe for General Motors' Opel division and Italian automaker Fiat before hiring on at BMW. Once there, he oversaw designs that would alter the trajectory of the BMW brand and the company itself, including the 2001 and 2009 7 Series, three generations of 3 Series and 5 Series, BMW's foray into SUVs, including the X5, X3, and X6, as well as the 1 Series, and the comeback of the 6 Series. He also oversaw the design of BMW's recent redo of the Mini Cooper, as well as the Mini Clubman. And he led the design of the Rolls Royce Phantom and subsequent designs after BMW acquired the British brand in 1998.

A New Design Language

Automotive journalists have been harsh on several of Bangle's designs when they were introduced. But in almost every case, such as the 2001 7 Series and Z4, criticism dissipated after a year or two as it became clear that rivals like Mercedes, Toyota, and Toyota's Lexus division were adopting Bangle's design cues in their products. "Take a look at the Mercedes S Class, Lexus LS, and Toyota Camry, and tell me you don't see design aspects from Bangle in some of the surfacing, back-end styling, and even proportions," says independent marketing consultant Dennis Keene, who works with companies on design and product strategy.

"We aren't copying anyone else's design language, not even our own, and I think that makes some people uncomfortable," said Bangle in a 2008 interview with BusinessWeek.

Because BMWs are cherished by their owners, anyone who is head of design is going to receive intense scrutiny. "I hated the 7 Series and the Z4 when it came out," says Anthony Boone, a BMW enthusiast from Carlsbad, Calif., who was one of thousands who signed an online petition in 2002 seeking to get the designer fired.

Working with Designworks

Bangle pushed BMW to stretch beyond the design parameters of its existing models. He instigated the acquisition of Designworks, an influential studio in Newbury Park, Calif., that had been doing some contract work for BMW in the early 1990s. Bangle's idea was that by having a design studio that did work in a variety of industries and categories, BMW's own design studio would come out ahead. Moreover, its assignments would give the company's designers a steady outlet of work beyond automobiles that would keep the talent fresh and energized.

The studio has proven to be a productive source of design for vehicles and motorcycles, as well as sorting out the interface between consumers and electronics. It also has been a useful recruiting tool and training ground, and continues to do work for Nokia (NOK), Deere & Co. (DE), Intel (INTL), and scores of other companies.

What's Next

Bangle, say industry sources close to him and BMW, has been making overtures for months about quitting. Since he signed on 17 years ago, he has worked for five BMW chairmen, an unusual tenure for design chiefs. He has been working on renovation of a home in Tuscany, Italy, and has discussed going into the wine-making business.

That's not to say he hasn't been busy on the design front. His most recent high-profile design is the Gina, an experimental car that seeks to replace an automobile's metal or fiberglass skin with a cloth sheath that can change the shape and aerodynamics of the car. The idea—something that Bangle has talked about as far back as design school in the early 1980s—is to make a car that's as safe as current cars, with a flexible shape.

In van Hooydonk, BMW has an able successor who is as respected in the design community as Bangle, though perhaps without as many critics. Van Hooydonk, 45, earned a degree in automotive design at the Art Center Europe in Vevey, Switzerland, in 1992. He joined Designworks soon after that, and was recruited to work in Munich on BMW designs for a few years before returning to California to be president of the design firm. In 2004, he moved back to Munich to lead design on BMW brand vehicles. Among the vehicles on which the Dutch-born designer had the greatest influence are the 2001 and 2009 7-Series, Z4, 6 Series, the X Coupe and Z9 concept vehicles, 1 Series, X5, and 3 Series.

Van Hooydonk's influence on so many important models is what put him on a fast-track to succeed Bangle and, in some minds, to surpass his boss in influence in the last five years. Even so, he has a hard act to follow.

Source : http://www.businessweek.com/print/innovate...9023_067557.htm

[GearHead]

Controversial BMW Designer Chris Bangle Quits

Repost: Refer post #40

Edited February 4, 2009 by GearHead

[Devinda_Z]

Controversial BMW Designer Chris Bangle Quits

uh machan... 2 & a half hours too late

Ref. post #40

[GearHead]

uh machan... 2 & a half hours too late

Ref. post #40

hope i wouldnt get a similar respose in the other thread as well...

[MasterDon]

Breaking News!

Chris Bangle Resigns from BMW !

Source : http://www.businessweek.com/print/innovate...9023_067557.htm

i personally thought his designs were alright...speacially the new 7 series,6 series and the Z4(new and old)

[Devinda_Z]

i personally thought his designs were alright...speacially the new 7 series,6 series and the Z4(new and old)

i'm with you on the Z4 - something about it made it seem a little like a rihno (thats a good thing, given what the Z3 this replaced was like ) when finished in grey

would be possibly the one modern day roadster i'd like to own , bar the Jag XK

[GearHead]

Mitsubishi Pulling Out Of Rally Racing

Mitsubishi, one of the preeminent sponsors of rally racing, announced today an indefinite halt to its racing efforts in an effort to conserve cash. The "Carpocalypse" strikes again. Mitsubishi has recently been having a pretty rough time, with terrible sales necessitating a 33% cut in production on top of cuts to investments and management salaries. A Mitsubishi spokesman on the situation said "The sudden deterioration of the global economy made it necessary for the company to focus its resources more tightly.” Thus, pulling out of rallying. Considering each entry in the Dakar Rally costs over a quarter of a million dollars — if you don't consider the research and development work involved, which is probably an even bigger chunk of change — this is probably (grudgingly) the right decision at the moment, but it still stinks. This is especially painful considering they just unveiled their sweet, diesel-powered Mitsubishi Racing Lancer, oh the pain. [Financial Times]

http://jalopnik.com/5146072/mitsubishi-pul...of-rally-racing

[Devinda_Z]

Mitsubishi Pulling Out Of Rally Racing

http://jalopnik.com/5146072/mitsubishi-pul...of-rally-racing

right first no Subaru in Rallying , now no Mitsubishi at the Dakar - what next , no Audi at LeMans , Vauxhall in BTCC or Honda in MotorGP ?!

[MasterDon]

right first no Subaru in Rallying , now no Mitsubishi at the Dakar - what next , no Audi at LeMans , Vauxhall in BTCC or Honda in MotorGP ?!

or ferrari out of F1...now that would really suck

[Devinda_Z]

or ferrari out of F1...now that would really suck

thought of that - but didn't want to even say it out loud even!

[GearHead]

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Cancelled

TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES TAKE THEIR TOLL

05/02/2009

Tough economic times take their toll

Carrera Cup feels the financial pinch.

Porsche Cars Australia (PCA) today announced the withdrawal of the Porsche Carrera Cup Australia Championship for 2009.

The regrettable decision results from the inability of teams to commit fully to this season’s entire championship.

Despite securing the best racing calendar and television package, full commitment from series sponsors and added incentives for teams in what was to be seventh Year of the country’s premier support category to the V8 Supercars, the harsh economic conditions has made it difficult for many existing and new competitors to secure funding to commit to the eight rounds of this year’s championship.

“Every effort has been made by Porsche and the Category Managers QMedia Events to offer what would have been the best year of Carrera Cup racing,” says PCA

managing director Michael Winkler.

“However, to enter the season without a robust grid of cars is simply not viable for all the major stakeholders.

“Motorsport is an integral part of Porsche’s activities in Australia so this decision is not taken lightly.

“We have already spoken with the Confederation of Australian Motorsport (CAMS) as the governing body of Australian motorsport and will proactively work with them to ensure existing owners of 997 GT3 Cup Cars are given the opportunity to race in other categories.”

CAMS CEO Graham Fountain has indicated his desire to achieve this outcome.

Winkler praised the efforts of new Carrera Cup Category Managers, QMedia Events:

“We could not have had a better partner going in to this season than QMedia. Glenn (Ridge) and Doug (Willersdorf-greene) have worked tirelessly and introduced benefits and incentives to secure the maximum number of competitors.

“It is not through a lack of effort or innovation from both QMedia and PCA that we have found ourselves in this situation.

“To have started the season with fingers crossed hoping that the grid size would somehow grow would have been unfair and unprofessional towards the teams,

sponsors, circuit promoters, the sport’s administrators and the motor racing public.”

PCA and QMedia Events stated earlier in the week that both parties were committed to the 2009 season, however a failure to secure sufficient entries left no choice but to cease the championship.

“This result is bitterly disappointing for all concerned, especially for the teams that had committed to 2009,” said Ridge. “We wish all teams the best of luck with their

endeavours in other series.”

Porsche Carrera Cup Australia has been a landmark category since its inception in 2003. The one-make series of thoroughbred Porsche 911 race cars has provided fierce racing and been the stepping stone to successful careers for drivers such as Alex Davison, Craig Baird, David Reynolds and Jonathan Webb; while also providing an arena for privateers to enjoy cut-and-thrust racing on a national stage.

http://www.cupcar.com.au/news/index.cfm?fu...ct_id=0&i=1

Edited February 6, 2009 by GearHead