One of the UK’s oldest automotive marques has changed hands for US$848 million. Aston Martin, founded in 1913 and most recently owned by Ford, has been sold to rally driver and founder of prodrive David Richards plus several smaller stakeholders. Ford retains a minority shareholding in the carmaker.
A Dutch scientist claims that the fuel consumption in many of today’s cars could be reduced by 2.6 per cent through the addition of new software to the engine’s computer. John Kessels from the University of Eindhoven worked in conjunction with Ford to develop software that would improve engine performance, and the initial results of this collaboration look promising.
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has appointed Charles “Chuck” Mick to the newly created position of vice president and general manager, North American holdings and integration. Prior to taking on this position Mick had served since 2003 as vice president and general manager of the company’s Global Off-Highway tyre business.
Detroit’s “Big Three” carmakers are casting an eye on the contract signed between Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and the United Steelworkers union at the end of last year as a potential model to emulate. Of particular interest is the trust fund the company set up to separate themselves from the responsibility of future retiree health costs.
Michelin has signed the first OE deal for its Davydovo plant near Moscow. The plant, which opened in the summer of 2004, will produce two sizes of tyre as original equipment for models of the Ford Focus built in Ford’s Vsevolozhsk factory near St Petersburg.
With 2006 proving to be a tough year for the North American tyre industry, Continental AG Chief Executive Manfred Wennemer believes that things look set to improve in 2007.
Speaking to media at the North American International Auto Show, he pointed towards declining raw material costs, a potential upswing in replacement demand and reduced operating costs as signs of better times. “I am convinced 2007 will be a good tyre year” said Wennemer. “We do see there is some demand for the market that was not satisfied in 2006.”
Continental AG and Microsoft Corp have announced the formation of a strategic partnership between the two organisations in order to develop wireless technology for vehicles.
The companies are in the process of creating devices that will allow electronics such as mobile phones and MP3 players to connect wirelessly to a vehicles’ audio system, and they will begin supplying this technology to Ford later in 2007.
The value of the Ford contract has not been disclosed.
Continental Tire North America is moving its research and development department from its Charlotte, North Carolina to its non-unionised plant in Mt. Vernon, Illinois. Construction company Ray Black and Sons is currently completing the 700 square metre addition to the plant.
The facility at Mt. Vernon is now Conti’s sole US tyre production centre following the closure of several other plants. Mt. Vernon workers have accepted some wage reductions in exchange for a promise of increased production and an upgrade of facilities. The plant has recently been awarded “Q1” Quality Certification by Ford and recognition of improved quality from Nissan.
(Akron/Tire Review) Pirelli Tire North America’s automated tire plant in Rome, Ga., received Ford Motor Co. Q1 Accreditation for operational excellence recently. The plant, featuring Pirelli’s MIRS production system, supplies OE tires for various Ford vehicles.
“This is a prestigious award from a world-class organization and is a sure indication of the rapidly developing capability of our company in the U.S.,” said Francesco Gori, managing director of Pirelli Tire. “Pirelli Tire North America is focused on selective growth in both the replacement and original equipment markets in the U.S. and Ford is very much part of that strategy, making it doubly satisfying to receive the accolade of their Q1 Accreditation.”
MotoGP champion, Valentino Rossi has won the Monza Rally, taking charge in his Ford Focus WRC to win by a clear margin on Pirelli P Zero racing tyres. Mario Isola, Rally Manager for Pirelli Competizioni: “We congratulate Rossi on his excellent performance, which we are extremely proud to have been a part of.”
Valentino literally left all rivals in the distance in the final race of the Italian rally season, which brought both rally and track racers together in a single event. Against such names as Dindo Capello, Markku Alen, Piero Longhi, and Didier Auriol, Rossi took to the front right from the start and finished the race with a comfortable margin over his adversaries.
Continental Tyres has been awarded top accolades by four leading German consumer motoring magazines for its range of cold weather tyres. The tests, carried out by AutoBild, AutoBild Sportscars, Auto Motor & Sport and Powercar, underline the performance of Continental’s cold weather tyre range.
Tyres were put through their paces in dry, wet and snowy conditions. The Conti TS 810, winner of the test carried out in AutoBild, was described as being the “best all-rounder” in the test, offering “a dynamic and sporty drive, excellent steering precision and short braking distances on wet surfaces”. AutoBild Sportscars also rated the ContiWinterContact TS 810 as the clear winner and the TS 810 scored well in Powercar’s tests, coming second for its “very balanced performance across all criteria, especially on dry ground.”
(Las Vegas/Tire Review) Kumho Tire USA’s scented tyre, which was introduced as a concept at last year’s SEMA Show, is reportedly coming to fruition. A lavendar scented version of the tyre will hit the market early next year in three sizes, Kumho said. Based on Kumho’s Ecsta DX, the tyre features specialty scented compounds that replaces the smell of tyre rubber with the scent of lavender. The compound includes heat resistant oils that add the scent to the tyre. Kumho has tried a number of different scents, including lavender, jasmine, rosemary and neroli.
According to Rick Brennan, Kumho’s brand director, the company is bringing the DX aroma tyre to the market to help build brand awareness and differentiate Kumho in the marketplace. The new DX is targeted at female consumers who drive sedans such as the Honda Accord, Toyota Camry and Ford Taurus. The scented Ecsta DX Aroma tyre will initially be available in sizes 205/60R16, 215/60R16 and 235/60R16.
Ford has bought the Rover brand name from BMW for £6 million, raising hopes that the marque could yet rise from the ashes. Ford was granted an option of first refusal to buy the Rover brand when it acquired Land Rover from BMW for $2.7 billion in 2000. Although Ford did not comment on the future of the Rover brand, sources told The Times that the company wanted to build further upon its successful Land Rover brand in North America and has plans to design a so-called “crossover vehicle” using the Rover brand.
Car output in Russia rose 9.5 per cent year on year to 646,000 units in January-June, the industry and energy ministry reported. The ministry attributed the growth to an increase in car output by Avtoframos, a joint venture between the Moscow city government and Renault; Ford; the GM-AvtoVAZ JV; IzhAvto, TagAZ, and Severstal-Auto; and Russian car assembly plant Avtotor, a Prime-Tass report said. Truck output in Russia rose 18.4 per cent in the first half of the year, said the ministry, but did not provide any detailed data. The ministry attributed the growth to an increase in light commercial vehicle output by Russian automakers GAZ, UAZ and TagAZ.
Pirelli has awarded £1,000 in Thomas Cook holiday vouchers to the top performing Ford Rapid Fit tyre dealers, with regard to Pirelli sales, in the North and South Regions respectively. A further £1,000.00 in Thomas Cook vouchers was awarded to the next highest performer overall.
Pirelli was delighted with the increase in sales as a result of the promotion.
The winners are:-
1st South
Bristol Street Motors, Bristol Road, Gloucester
Winner: Mr Alan Slater
1st North
T C Harrison Ford, Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon
Winner: Mr Mark Nelson
3rd Highest Performer Overall
Brunel Ford, Ashton Gate, Bristol
Winner: Mr Neil Scull
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