Hayes Lemmerz to Formalise Russian JV
Hayes Lemmerz International Inc plans to transform its technical alliance for the licenced manufacture of passenger car steel wheels in Russia into a formal joint venture over the next couple of years.
Hayes Lemmerz International Inc plans to transform its technical alliance for the licenced manufacture of passenger car steel wheels in Russia into a formal joint venture over the next couple of years.
Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama has recently been chosen to supply OE fitment tyres on three new models. The latest additions to the Yokohama portfolio include high performance, upgrade and off-road applications.
The new Honda Legend comes wearing Yokohama’s flagship tyre, the ADVAN Sport. The Legend is Honda’s flagship luxury saloon and features permanent four wheel-drive, a 291bhp V6 VTEC engine and a host of safety features, such as emergency braking radar and lane changing assistance. The Legend is fitted with 235/50R17 100W Yokohama ADVAN Sport V103 tyres, providing high levels of grip and response.
BMW has chosen the German company Beru AG as its supplier of tyre pressure control systems for BMW vehicles destined for the US market. Beru AG manufactures the Beru Tire Safety System (TSS), a unit that directly records tyre pressure when a vehicle is either stationary or moving.
The US Tread Act compels all vehicles approved for sale in the US from September 2007 model year onwards to be fitted with a tyre pressure control system. Such a system must be capable of independently monitoring pressure in all four tyres simultaneously, a task that requires the use of a direct recording tyre pressure system such as the Beru TSS.
The Bavarian design team at Loder1899 has successfully combined the comfort of a luxury vehicle with the dynamic power of a racecar. The result is a fresh take on the Aston Martin Vantage V8 with a top speed of 280 km/h, acceleration of 0-100 km/h in 4.9 seconds and new titanium suspension system. Loder1899 is one of the German distributors of the Kahn Design RS-V wheel line in 9×20 and 11×20 inch for Aston Martin V8, Aston Martin DB9, Bentley GT, Mercedes SL, VW Phaeton and Audi A8. This exclusive set of wheels is available starting from 7,000 euros.
They say motorsport improves the breed and no-one has demonstrated that more effectively than Yokohama. It’s been involved in motorsport for years and has used the experience it gains on the racetracks and rally stages to produce some of the most technologically advanced road tyres in the world. In fact, so successful have its motorsports programmes been, that manufacturers such as Bentley, Porsche, Lotus, Audi and Brabus have adopted the company’s products as original equipment fitment.
Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced that its Advan Sport (V103) tyre has been approved by Brabus GmbH of Germany for its Brabus Rocket. Tyres will supplied n size 255/35ZR19 (96Y) for the front and 285/30ZR19 (98Y) for the rear. Yokohama Rubber have also been approved for the Brabus MV12 sport utility vehicle (SUV).
(Akron/Tire Review) Mitsubishi Motors has selected Yokohama as the OE tyre for its 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander compact SUV. Yokohama will supply tyres to Mitsubishi in size P215/70R16 99H. With the addition of the Outlander fitment, Yokohama said it is now OE on a wide range of 2007 vehicles, including the Bentley Continental GT and Continental Flying Spur, Audi S8, the Lotus Elise and Exige, Porsche 911 Carrera 4, Lexus GS300 and GS430, Mazda MX-5, Suzuki Grand Vitara, Toyota RAV4, Suzuki SX4 and Subaru Legacy and Forester.
Yokohama was involved in yet another world record recently, when it supplied tyres for ‘Flat Out’, the lowest car in the world. The Fiat 500 was built by custom specialist Andy Saunders over the weekend of the recent Beaulieu Autojumble, starting as a standard car and ending up with an overall height of just 213/8in (543mm) from the ground.
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc has announced that its wholly-owned German subsidiary, Hayes Lemmerz Holding GmbH, has entered into a license agreement with Tolyatinskiy Zavod Stalnih Kolyos (TZSK) of Togliatti, Russia, a manufacturer of steel wheels. Under terms of the agreement, Hayes Lemmerz has granted a license to TZSK to use certain technology in the manufacture and sale of certain passenger car steel wheels to specific Russian vehicle manufacturers.
The electronics revolution behind major improvements in auto economy, braking, stability and ride comfort has necessitated a techno-overhaul for the car battery to underpin these functions. Luxury car brands like Bentley, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls Royce were the first to turn to suppliers like Varta for AGM (absorbent glass mat) batteries to cope with increased electrical and electronic consumption, and they have been being swiftly followed by mainstream models like the Audi A3, VW Golf and Passat, not to mention London’s black cab fleet. Now BMW is set to fit a Varta AGM battery as original equipment to the new Mini out later this year to meet the increased electrical demands of the Stop-Start technology it is adopting for this substantially revised model. Varta is Europe’s only supplier of AGM technology batteries to the original equipment market to date, and has a number of long term development programmes with carmakers to support their quest for increased vehicle efficiency and performance improvements.
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc. announced today that its steel wheel manufacturing operation in Guarulhos, Brazil has received the 2005 supplier award from Volkswagen of Brazil. The award recognizes Hayes Lemmerz for its steel wheels, in the category of “Logistics – Domestic Productive Parts.” The award was recently presented by Messrs. Hans-Christian Maergner, president of Volkswagen of Brazil and Thomas Gropp, purchasing director of Volkswagen of Brazil. “I am honoured that Volkswagen has recognized our efforts to be an industry leader,” said Fred Bentley, president and COO of the company’s Global Wheel Group.
A British supercar set an astonishing speed record in the heart of London by storming down an airport runway at 175.7mph on Saturday. The £317,500 Mercedes SLR McLaren supercar hit the top speed in a one mile speed challenge at London City Airport, a stone’s throw from ExCel, the venue for the British International Motor Show which was cleared of aircraft for the event.
Bavarian tuning specialist MTM has created the fastest Bentley ever with a 205-mph performance kit of engine upgrades and 21-inch Dunlop SP Sport Maxx ultra-performance tyres. Motoren Technik Mayer GmbH announced that its MTM Bentley Continental GT retains the elegant appearance of the stock vehicle, but packs even more power under the lid. The tuner supplies various performance kits, ranging from 560 horsepower as standard to an impressive 635 horsepower.
2006 has seen ArvinMeritor Light Vehicle Aftermarket embark on a major new parts development programme. During the first quarter of the year 55 exhaust and 30 catalytic converter references were added to an already market leading range, providing a further 100 model applications. With plans in place to accelerate the development programme, by year end the company aim to have added a total of 400 new references.
Hayes Lemmerz International, Inc is implementing tough restructuring measures that it says are designed to “strengthen its competitive position, improve profitability and increase long-term value for its shareholders.” The steps include revised wage and benefit plans; the strategic realignment of its business (more than 15 per cent of the company’s US staff have already lost their jobs); and the rationalisation of Hayes Lemmerz’ wheel capacity, namely closing its Huntingdon Indiana Wheel plant.
Curtis Clawson, president, chief executive officer and chairman of the board said: “The last several years have seen profound changes in the competitive landscape of the automotive industry. We are aligning our organization to recognize the realities in the US and to assure continued success in the global automotive marketplace.”
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