Slumping U.S. market hurts Japanese automakers

TOKYO–The slumping U.S. auto market reduced vehicle production in August at most major Japanese automakers, according to data released Thursday.

Toyota Motor Corp., the nation's top automaker, saw worldwide production dive 15.5 per cent last month from a year earlier at 626,745 vehicles.

Toyota marked its on-year overseas production decrease in more than six years amid a slowdown in Europe and North America, while production in sluggish Japan also dropped on year, it said.

Honda Motor Co. reported its best vehicle production ever in China for August but saw production in troubled U.S. plunge 10.2 per cent from the previous year. Japan's second biggest automaker produced 295,541 vehicles worldwide in August, down 4.8 per cent on year.

Nissan Motor Co. said its U.S. production dropped 24.7 per cent in August, although performance was better in China and some other overseas regions. Nissan's worldwide production in August decreased 5.5 per cent on year to 252,609 vehicles.

Mazda Motor Corp., an affiliate of Ford Motor Co. of the U.S., which has introduced some new models lately, bucked the trend. Its worldwide production in August gained 4.1 per cent from a year ago to 97,242 vehicles, the Hiroshima-based manufacturer said.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp. reported a 17.1 per cent decline in global production at 90,987 vehicles in August amid slowing output in Japan and the U.S.

The Lightning Lap, 2008

What car—for the money—delivers the best combination of power, handling, and braking? That question is fundamental to the ongoing mission of this magazine and the core element of all our road tests. We should also point out that those traits are the key ingredients of a car’s fun-to-drive (FTD) quotient, something we value far more than cup holders and/or trunk volume. 

But—and this is widely overlooked—the elements of FTD are also the key components of active safety, a vehicle’s ability to respond to and avoid an accident situation. The lane-change exercise, part of our comparison-test regimen, provides insight to this ability, but Lightning Lap delivers an indelible blueprint. Unless you’re a taxi driver in Baghdad, you might argue that no accident-avoidance situation goes on for three minutes, but of course our interest extends beyond dodging drivers whose text messaging overrides their attention to the road. We want to see how well a wide variety of performance cars combine their various dynamic elements in absolute terms in a controlled environment. 

Controlled environment means racetrack, and for Lightning Lap that means the 4.2-mile Grand Course at Virginia International Raceway, near Danville, Virginia. This beautiful road circuit is an outstanding blend of fast chutes, blind-entry corners, and lots of changes in ­elevation, including a series of climbing esses that’s one of the most challenging sections of racetrack in America. 

We rank our finishers strictly on lap times, taking the best run achieved by each car during our two-day event. The cars are grouped by price, and there was some very fast traffic this year in the upper groups (LL3 and LL5; there were no cars in the LL4 price category). The four fastest all lapped VIR quicker than our previous absolute record of 2:58.2/82.7 mph. How much quicker? Read on. And let the games begin.

2011 Ferrari FX / FX70 - Spied

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To maintain its standing as the indisputable leader of the go-fast world, Ferrari channels most of its energies into its highly successful F1 racing program, and then pumps out a couple thousand really fast road cars per year to sustain it. And every few years, Ferrari builds something that more or less blends both worlds together. These are the superstars of supercars with names like F40, F50, Enzo, the track-only FXX, and soon, the car you see (kind of) here: the FX70.

Underneath the clever camouflage—seemingly cobbled together from the front clip of an F430, the body and rear of a Scuderia, and the outer taillamps of the 599GTB Fiorano—is the chassis of Ferrari’s next big thing.

The massive FXX rear wheels give it away, placed further back in the body than they would be if this was a real Scuderia and, of course, looking far too big for the car—like a little kid wearing his dad’s shoes. Oh, and there’s a big, center-mounted tailpipe that recalls those of the Lamborghini LP640 Murciélago and Reventón.

What’s underneath all that? That’s unconfirmed at this point, but our spies say it sounded completely awesome as it rumbled by, amid rumors it houses either a twin-turbo V-12 of about 800 horsepower, or a more eco-sensitive (in adherence to Euro emissions requirements) twin-turbo V-8 of perhaps 700 horsepower. Either way, don’t expect to catch up to one unless you’re in an F-18 fighter jet.

What we don’t know is if this is the rumored Millechili (or whatever its name will be in production), or will exist in addition to the lightweight two-seater.

Production would be extremely limited and, in proper Ferrari tradition, the precious few will be offered first to the tycoons, royalty, and dictators currently nestled at the top of Ferrari’s VIP list who already own several of this car’s predecessors. And they can each expect to shell out at least a million bucks for one.
Car grills, billet grills

VW Tiguan Crossover

You no doubt are ready to argue, Tiguan drives like a demon, eh? It's what VWs do. More or less, but if that's your cuppa, consider a similar-size, cheaper Mazda CX-7. It has more power, loves a heavy foot, corners well and has a classy interior.
Tiguan lacked the smoothness of other VWs, and of rival crossovers. Its 2-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine sounded coarse. The six-speed automatic was smooth and crisp one time, balky and indecisive the next. VW provided a second Tiguan as a reality check. Transmission was better and more consistent. Engine still sounded rough.
Though the size and power specs are unchanged, the engine's not the same engine that's been in VWs for years. A chief change, which could explain the coarse noise, is a switch to timing chains instead of quieter, but less-durable, timing belts. Maybe the racket is the price of reduced maintenance.
VW says it also uses a bigger turbocharger. A bigger turbo can take longer to spool up and deliver a power boost and could be behind the new engine's more abrupt power delivery instead of the smoother feel of the previous version.
VW disputes those observations. It says most folks have called the new engine quieter than the old one. And VW says it has tuned the bigger turbo to be as responsive as the previous one.

Noise level isn't a deal-breaker, and the engine still has sufficient low-speed oomph for tedious driving, so the turbo change isn't fatal, either.

If you like to drive with the windows down, Tiguan will disappoint. The buffeting inside the cabin was hard to take, and no blend of windows up and down seemed to eliminate it.
On the other hand:
• Steering, brakes and cornering ability were above average — par for VW, and why owners of modern VWs often hate to switch. Those details have helped distinguish VWs from rivals and gave Tiguan a generally appealing personality.

VW Tiguan crossover is nice, but pricey for what it is
Not wanting to miss the feeding frenzy for small and sporty crossover utility vehicles, Volkswagen has put an SUV body on a small sedan chassis.

Tiguan is a strong reminder of why people like these vehicles, among them Honda CR-V (best-selling SUV in the U.S.), Mazda CX-7 (a sporty direct rival to Tiguan), Toyota RAV4, Ford Escape, Saturn Vue. They can haul and tow more than same-size cars. They offer all-wheel drive, have high seating positions many drivers favor and can zip and whip and tuck smartly into tight parking spots not available to larger SUVs.

150 Dodge Chargers

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The Kuwaiti Police sure have some troubles with all those rich guys running around in powerful cars evading their cars all the time, so they decided to order a new model of police cars, something sensitive like the Dodge Charger (!), and quite a few, only 150. Chrysler did go all the way to convince their Deputy Ministry of Interior, Musaed S. Al-Guwainem, who was taken to the central headquarters of Chrysler in Michigan, where a demonstration of a full police-spec Charger was given to him, convincing him that it was the right choice.

And it sure worked, the minister puttin immediately an order for 150 cars, and declaring that “Reflecting an image of strength and power is important for our law enforcement officials and the Dodge Charger portrays this image to the Kuwaiti people“. What better way to discourage the bad guys than chasing after them with a big american muscle car. After they are specially fitted with police accesories, the cars will be delivered and policemen from Kuwait will definitely be happy for them.
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2010 Dodge Challenger: Back to the Future!

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No fake covering scoops, no heralded perfect name slapped on a car that pales in comparison to the initial. No, we dont want you to erect the initial perfect we want you to erect the initial perfect better. Take the styling cues and run with them and incorporate current technology to develop leading the initial purpose. Thats all we ask. So, just what can enthusiasts visualize when they take escape of their Challenger? Well, like I said the car is still in the forecast stages, but what I have gleaned from numerous sites is the next information: bespoke Platform -- If you like the Mercedes based LX platform currently worn to run the Chrysler 300, qualitystep Magnum, and qualitystep steed then the LY platform will ensemble you too.

DCX is forecast to modulate the LX platform for its next generation of vehicles and the LY based Challenger will be one of many cars built leading it. Some have elective that the LY will be the LX on steroids, what that means.
What we have explored up to now is the most important information you need to know. Now, lets dig a little deeper.
Did superstar Say Hemi? -- Every Mopar upshot of significance will have elective Hemi warrant and the Challenger is no exclusion. presume a V6 to be streamer with the elective Hemi V8 for presentance versions of the car. Some have elective that the 425 h.p. SRT 6.1L V8 will also be made available for the Challenger. Ragtop insignia -- Chrysler says that the Sebring will be its only convertible donation, but that trees qualitystep dealers lacking a faint top car to advertise [other than the beast, of course] .
although this bit of information, look for a Challenger convertible to show up one or two days after the cars entrance. Heck, if DCX doesnt want to erect one then afteradvertise coach erecters will do the job for them. You can bet that qualitystep dealers will make these arrangements if DCX doesnt. Yes, the Challenger wont be in new car showrooms any time rapidly. For those of us remaining with baited breath well have to console ourselves with the many blogs, sites, and car shows hyping the car. Other than that, just visualize your shiny new Challenger congested at a travel light with a Mustang on one quality and a Camaro on the other quality

Knowing the ins and outs of this topic will help you to fully understand the importance of this entire subject
best details

2010 Dodge Challenger: Back to the Future! 1

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Blogs, car sites, and auto shows have been hyping up the concept Dodge Challenger to the point where you would think that the car is almost ready to roll off of a DCX assembly line. To say that the prototype is being well received is an understatement -- quite frankly if the Challenger was available for sale today the waiting list would be many months long. Such is the demand for a retro car that takes its styling cues right from the 71 Challenger. As it currently stands, the car will be built as DaimlerChrysler has given its blessing to the new Challenger.
We hope that you finish this article having learned at least a little bit of new information. If so, then we have done our job.
Still, the Challenger is more than three days from being manufactured as it is probable to be free some time during 2009 as a 2010 perfect. Yes, the remain will be hard for many, but if the tout equals the presentance, then the remain will sure be value your while. Some people are against the entire retro car revolution. Citing that Detroit must attain back in time to make germane cars is a evidence to the each automakers woes. On the awkward, I conqualityr the many recharged perfects currently being purposeed or already on our streets is a lucid evidence to Detroit lastly listening to its customers: we want cars that are uniquely styled and we want them to present just the way you will say they will present.
Lambo doors

Tata Halts Work

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"where large tracts of land are being future for assign, this release flares up." India wants to assemble its industries to invent jobs for its population of 1.1 billion, and industrial operations want large tracts of land. But acquiring land is hard in a crowded country with many competing biased groups and good networks of societal activists. Across India, conflicts have erupted over future singular fiscal zones, mines and substance plants. In the impoverished eastern state of Orissa last year, steel company Posco of South Korea dealt with violent disputes and even kidnapping of its employees over its policy to take over thousands of acres for a plant.
From now until the now until the end of this article, take the time to think about how all of this information can help you.
The resistance is a dilemma not just for corporations, but also for India's government, which has embraced a approach of industrial expansion to invent jobs. though the Indian market's expansion measure has averaged more than 8.5% a year over the previous five time, yearly extension in the agricultural sector is generally quicker to 2%. Two-thirds of India's population still lives in rural areas, with most rural dwellers earning minus than $2 a day. Officials would like to see more of them in industrial jobs, but the transition is regularly tender.
West Bengal state's chief opposition bash, Trinamool house, and farmers' lobbies have disparate Tata's Nano project, contending that the state's ruling socialist government has forcibly acquired ready agricultural land for the factory. Analysts said relocating the car plant would hurt Tata Motors because of bigger outlay, and would put anxiety on its ability to promote the car at $2,500 as promised in January. Some topicpeople fear the repercussions could go greatly auxiliary. "The adverse compel of the prolonged violence and intimidation of the work compel of the Nano plant is not restricted to Singur or West Bengal, but will resound in India's macro aura," said Tarun Das, an adviser to the Confederation of Indian activity, a topic lobbying group.

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