An article in the Akron Beacon Journal says that tests show that the replacement tyres chosen by Ford to replace the Firestone tyres fitted as original equipment on the Explorer SUV made it “just as likely to roll over as the original tyres.”
For the first time in almost 10 years, Fiat’s Putno has topped the b-segment sales charts in western Europe and been named the most sold car in Western Europe. In January 2006 Fiat sold 37,977 Puntos ahead of Renault’s Clio (36,016) and Ford’s Fiesta 31,470. In the same month, Fiat Auto recorded over 100,000 vehicle sales in Europe, which represents a 17.9 per cent growth over January 2005. Fiat Auto’s European market share stands at 8.4 per cent, which represents a 1.1 per cent increase over the same month a year ago.
(Akron/Tire Review) Coker Tire Co. announced that it is offering BFGoodrich wide profile Redline radial tyres. With the tyre’s BFGoodrich v-block tread pattern and the distinctive appearance of a Redline sidewall, the supplier of classic and collector tyres said the tyre can turn a vehicle into “the ultimate muscle car tyre.”
Finland’s Marcus Gronholm dominated the 2006 Swedish rally by winning the first five of the day’s seven special stages. His nearest rival, four-times World champion Sebastien Loeb, won the remaining two to reduce Gronholm’s lead to 25.1sec. Gronholm, who drives for Ford, said after Loeb won stage six: “That was about as fast as I could go – the tyres were finished at the end – but I am enjoying this fight.”
(Akron/Tire Review) Ford Motor Co. has been ordered to pay a rollover accident victim $29 million. The case involved a 22-year-old Texas woman who was left partially paralyzed when a Firestone ATX on her 1999 Mazda Navajo failed and the vehicle rolled over.
BFGoodrich marked its WRC debut at the 74th Monte Carlo Rally by monopolising the podium with three different partners – Ford, Citroen and Peugeot – and even clinching fourth place too. Two-time World Champion Marcus Grönholm and co-driver Timo Rautiainen collected their first Monte Carlo win in a Ford Focus RS WRC06, finishing clear of triple Monte winner Sébastien Loeb driving a Citroën, with fellow-Finn Toni Gardemeister and Austrian Manfred Stohl coming in third and fourth respectively in their Peugeots.
Tyre choice is even more important in the Monte Carlo Rally, the longest-established rally of them all, as it is the only event where drivers have to compete on two surfaces, asphalt and ice/snow sections.
As the automotive world converges in Detroit for the 2006 North American International Auto Show (NAIAS), Alcoa Wheels Products say that the company is enjoying fitment on many new 2006 models.
Alcoa Wheel Products, a Cleveland-based business unit of Alcoa, has fitments on new production model vehicles including the Nissan Altima SE-R, Chrysler 300C SRT8, Dodge Charger SRT8, Dodge Ram 2500, Dodge Magnum SRT8, Dodge Viper and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8. Alcoa wheels are also being shown on Ford F250 trucks, including Ford’s Harley-Davidson Edition and on the GMC Envoy Denali, Hummer H2 and Pontiac Grand Prix GXP.
(Akron/Tire Review) Pirelli Scorpion LT/SUV tires have earned an OE position on the 2006 Ford F-150. The new F-150 Harley-Davidson model will have 22-inch wheels with Pirelli Scorpion Zero Asimmetrico tires in size P275/45R22. And the F-150 FX4, Lariat, and King Ranch models will have an available 20-inch wheel with Pirelli Scorpion ATR tyres in size P275/55R20. Pirelli Tire North America said this was the first OE fitment for the Scorpion ATR.
Autodata has updated its Wheel Alignment Data manual to include information on over 60 new models and important revisions to many other models. The 2006 edition marks 30 years of accurate up-to-date information on Wheel Alignment from Autodata.
Ford UK has been named the ‘Best Performing Corporate Organisation’ in the Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code awards, in recognition of Ford’s outstanding contribution to materials recycling.
During 2005 the company has purchased sufficient recycled-content products to stop 21,000 tonnes of materials – the equivalent of nearly 3,000 Double Decker buses – being disposed of in landfill sites.
Maywood Equipment Group has added a valuable new lift to it’s comprehensive range of electro-hydraulic models. The EHL 3600 has a 3.6-tonne capacity and is suitable for all cars and light commercial vehicles such as the Ford Transit. The lift comes in either single or three phase and has a lifting pad height of 95 millimetres. It also important safety features including: Mechanically operated safety locking mechanism; electronically controlled safety mechanism; load limiting hydraulic valve; manual lowering facility.
There is also the option of high lift pads for light commercial vehicles. This lift is the higher rated version of the well-known EHL 3000, which is already a top seller for Maywood. Maywood markets all its lifts through key distributors such as Unipart Automotive (Partco and Brown Brothers) and The Independent Factors Association.
A Dallas man and his customised 1937 Ford pick-up truck has received the top Dunlop “Maxxed Out” Award at the SEMA show in Las Vegas. John Davis, Emmy Award–winning host, producer and creator of US TV programme, MotorWeek, presented the Dunlop awards. “We were looking for the ultimate in ‘maxxed out’ style and performance,” said Andy Traicoff, director of Dunlop consumer tyre marketing. “Through these awards, Dunlop celebrates the artistry and all-out performance created by the people who personalise their vehicles to reflect their personalities and attitudes.”
October car sales of 14.7 million were the lowest since August 1998, Deutsche Bank analysts have reported. “GM’s retail sales declined 30 per cent year-on-year; Ford’s retail sales declined 31 per cent; We estimate Chrysler’s retail sales fell 24 per cent. This was weaker than expected, and it represents much more of a decline than can be explained by pull forward,” they explained.
(Akron/Tire Review) Gary N Benninger, PhD has been appointed chief operating officer at Amerityre Corp, effective 16 October. Previously, Benninger was director of technology development at auto parts supplier Magna International Inc. and its affiliate MEC. He was responsible for identifying new technologies and managing product launches.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT) has reached a settlement agreement with Ford Motor Co on “outstanding financial issues” tied to BFNAT’s August 2000 Firestone Wilderness tire recall and Ford’s subsequent May 2001 tire replacement program. In the agreement, BFNAT will pay Ford some $240 million. BFNAT said the deal “settles all remaining matters between the two companies related to these campaigns.”
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