A perfect match of the old and new luxury

Audi is emerging new marketing plans due to the new style of luxury evolving that is distinct to the traditional luxury grounded in Europe.

Quoting Scott Keogh, Audi's US marketing chief, new luxury style, that has a West Coast sensibility, is characterized by a more casual attitude and spirit. Besides, what we also see right now in the luxury world is a good chance those two things come together.

Holding the traditional European values of quality coupled with the new-age values of the West Coast such as design and innovation will bring to life a new trend that will help Audi to stand apart from its competitors.

Audi is also preparing a new 60-sec TV commercial taking its theme from the famous movie ''The Godfather'' addressing this way the old and new power.

We are looking forward...

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Go on winter holidays and get back safe

We are currently covering the second half of winter time with people taking advantage of the cold weather and escape to the mountains for holidays. Fans of winter sports choose resorts where they can go skiing, climbing and other extreme sports. What seems hard though in the whole story is how to reach those slopes from downtown.

My personal experience has taught me to get well-prepared before I go ahead driving for the big ascension with preparation being focused on my car's condition. I don't even remember how many times my car has given up on my way up to the mountain due to a technical problem. As a result, I have slowly given up skiing due to a fear caused by my bad experience.

Lately though I started looking for safe ways to get up there again and I came across with the site of Hertz, a rental car company which has special offers for winter resorts in several mountains all around the world such as St Moritz in Zurich, Chamonix in Geneva, Himos in Helsinki, Parnassos in Athens, Aspen in the USA and many other. Holding a good history in safety issues and reasonable prices I decided to give it a try. Even nervous about what would be the ending, I spent a great time in Parnassos in Greece and as for my concern... I got back safe!

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The cheapest car in the world!

A recent Indian invention signals the creation of a niche market in a relatively saturated car industry.

It is about the ''cheapest car'' in the world which is said that aims at the 65 millions Indian Scooter riders who are currently unable to afford a car purchase. The so-called ''one lakh'' car- manufactured by the Indian automobile company Tata- will being unveiled in the following week at the Delhi Auto Expo and it costs £1,280. As far as the technical part is concerned, the new ''people's car'' has an engine of less than a litre capable of producing only 30 horsepower. Consequently, considering the price in conjunction with the characteristics of the car it could be considered as a purchase with good value for money.

Yet, though this Indian creature seems to be a pionnering concept, Americans first appeared to induce in their market the well-known Henry Fords Model T targeting to the same segment of their country.

I think that it's time for motorcycle riders to stop worrying about their next warm riding uniform.

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A Motor Show for demanding buyers

Even though automotive industry continues to struggle for 2008, the oncoming 86th Motorcar & Motorcycles Show taken place in Belgium anticipates to welcome over 700,000 visitors.

The so-called Brussels International Motor Show will be carrying out from 15 to 27 January of 2008 and it is said that the name of the exhibition fulfils the ambition of Belgium to enhance its position as major motor show among other European countries. Besides, Brussels is the first motor show of the year and hence it aims at attracting a big range of product launches.

The European Motor Show, which is regarded as the flagship for Belgium motor sector, offers every single year a variety of new and conceptual car models all of them coming from an upgarded and re-designed production.

For people who have already started to think of attending, the target audience includes Executives& Businessmen, high-net-worth individuals and families, Corporate Buyers & CEO's, Decision Makers, Automobile Professionals, Tourism and Hospitality, Transport Operators, Technicians, Engineers, Media & Press. For those who felt missed out it's also a good chance of having a closer look at good cars!

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The green technologies of 2008

The truth is that alternative fuel vehicles have been in the market for a while. The forseeable petrol crisis in the future is likely to encourage production and use of such vehicles so many automotive giants are investing time and money to get them on the market first.

The scientific fight is over two types of technologies:

1. Plug-in hybrids (cars that get charged on a special plug and run a little further with the help of a back up diesel-powered generator)


2. Fuel cell, using hydrogen and emmiting water. They tend to be more expensive to make.

Whatever goes it is certain that alternative fuel is here to stay. Seems that the corporates are all dabling with both technologies undecided but trying to stay in the game. Ford Motor Co., General Motors Corp and Toyota Motor Corp are all doing it.

Which technology and which company is it going to win though?

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Ride of the Month competition by Import Tuner

Import Tuner, the import cars performance and apprearance specialist publication by PRIMEDIA is running a free T-Shirt photo competition. The winner entry is going to be featured in an exclusive article about your ride.

Once you submit your contest entry and photos about your outstanding ride Import Tuner will choose the top three entries and feature them in an online article. Each winner will receive an importtuner.com t-shirt.

Enter from 9:00 a.m. PST 6/01/2007 till 17:00 p.m. PST 6/22/2007. Online voting from 17:30 p.m. PST 6/22/2007 till 17:00 p.m. PST 6/30/2007. So stay tuned to see if you are a winner.

ImportTuner.com also features technical and other important information on import cars, parts and accessories, video games, events and a community forum with discussions and findings. You can get quotes for new cars as well as auto loans.
On top you also get the import models section where you can feast your eyes on top models from the latest automotive exhibitions, shows and conferences.
The website has currently added a new blog section with news and the latest gossip from the car manufacturers stables. Not to be missed.

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About time to learn how to drive

Have been researching a few websites regarding driving lessons for my daughter. She is based in Manchester for studies so I had to find a local provider. I stumbled upon the Activ8 Driving School. As I am crazy about design I found the website offer appealing and decided to give these guys a call.

Turns out they are good to talk to and my daughter is in her third lesson and enjoying it.

Just thought of letting you know.

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Ford executive vice president retires early

Mark Schulz, Ford Motor Co. executive vice president, is going to retire early next year after 30 years of service with the automotive manufacturer.

Schulz is responsible for Ford automotive operations outside of North and South America. He joined the world's second-largest automaker, in 1970 as an assembly line worker.

Schulz is one of the latest senior executives to leave since the company appointed Alan Mulally, 61, as CEO three months ago. A series of other senior executives including Ford's second-ranking North American executive, the North America manufacturing chief and the chief of staff announced their departures after Mulally's Sept. 1 hiring.

After Schulz's departure, Ford will have three remaining executive vice presidents: Don Leclair, who is also CFO; Lewis Booth, superviser of Ford Europe and Ford's Europe luxury brands, including Jaguar, and Mark Fields, head of Ford's Americas unit.

Industry insiders are now speculating a full company re-structure as Alan Mulally is implementing a series of changes in strategy and organisation.

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Motorbike ride a day keeps the traffic away

Ever felt fed up with cars? It's funny I should say that but there is nothing more annoying then driving in London. A real nightmare. Going from A to B becomes a day-long adventure that does nothing for my nerves.

So I decided to get a bike...
A motorbike of course, haven't gone mad yet.

Started searching and came across Brooks Barn. Simple, fast and furious. I am talking about the website, the service and the motorcycle. Was easier than buying a bag of crisps.

And YES, I am proud of my brand new Suzuki EN125-2.

Saves me 25 min everyday and love bypassing the car drivers that stare back in anger.

:)

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Traffic Accident Research Centre

The Volvo Car Corporation and Volvo Group are setting up a joint Traffic Accident Research Centre in China. Volvo is continuing to acquire information and expertise in the drive to develop safer vehicles with its active traffic accident research, while at the same time hoping to contribute to safer road traffic in the world's most populous country.

Volvo's in-house state of the art traffic accident research is the most advanced in the automotive industry. Its main centre is in hometown Goteborg, Sweden but there are more local operations in the USA and Thailand. Volvo has built up a unique database of facts including detailed information about almost 40,000 car accidents involving more than 50,000 passengers.

The safety systems introduced into Volvo's cars, buses and trucks over the years were developed from the knowledge that Volvo's accident research unit has gathered from real-life traffic accidents. A few examples are the SIPS (Side-Impact Protection System), frontal offset impacts and child safety equipment in passenger cars, as well as the deformable steering wheel and FUPS (Front Underrun Protection System) and ESP (Electronic Stability Program) for buses and trucks.

Volvo wants to contribute to this growing positive trend in this vital area and aims to create a traffic accident research centre in China. Local research for cars, trucks and buses will take place in co-operation with Chinese organisations and universities, while the operation's foundation will remain at Volvo's headquarters in Sweden.

So Volvo is taking a step in the right direction when it comes to safety. Hopefully other major automotive industry players will soon follow suit.

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