Ford has once again chosen Goodyear’s Eagle SuperCar G:2 as original equipment on its most powerful Mustang, the Shelby GT500. The 2013 Shelby, which is now available in North America, is fitted with the Goodyear tyre in size P265/40ZR19 on the front axle and P285/35ZR20 on the rear.
Several new Chrysler models in the US will be fitted with Hankook tyres as original equipment; the tyre maker says it will supply Chrysler Group with its Optimo H725 touring all-season tyre as original equipment for the 2013 Chrysler 300 AWD models and 2013 Dodge Charger SXT, SXT Plus, and R/T AWD models. The tyres supplied will be for the Pentastar V-6 and V-8 versions of these Chrysler and Dodge AWD flagship saloons in size P235/55R19H.
"It is encouraging that the new car market remained stable in what is traditionally a low volume months for car sales" said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association (NFDA) which represents franchised car and commercial vehicle retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s new car registration figures.
Figures from the SMMT show the overall bus and coach market fell in August for the first time in 2012, dropping 27.8 per cent to 311 registrations for the month, but the market showed a rise of 54.4 per cent from January-August. The purpose-built bus and coach sector declined 57.9 per cent in the month, but was up 28.7 per cent over the year-to-date. Converted bus registrations grew 127.1 per cent in August and 89.9 per cent during the first eight months of the year.
Bridgestone has secured a premium original equipment deal in North America with its selection as standard fitment on the top-line ‘Platinum’ version of the new 2013 Cadillac XTS. The Platinum’s 20-inch rims will be equipped with the Potenza RE97AS in size P245/40R20 95V, and the tyre is also available as an optional upgrade on the ‘Premium Collection’ version of the new Cadillac flagship.
The British passenger vehicle market was the only car parc in Europe to increase registrations in July. According to analysis produced by Jato Dynamics, Europe’s new car sales declined by 8.2 per cent in July, and 4.9 per cent year-to-date compared to last year. Great Britain grew 3.5 per cent. Meanwhile Italy and Spain recorded the greatest drops in July unit sales. Volkswagen’s Golf maintained its position as Europe’s top performing model.
The latest new motorcycle and scooter figures show last month sales overall were up 4.5 per cent against July 2011. Under 50cc scooter sales were down 0.9 per cent in July, while all larger bikes over 50cc motorcycle sales have increased by 5.5 per cent.
Pirelli has confirmed that it is investing a total of £20 million in its Carlisle tyre production factory. As Tyres & Accessories reported following a visit last month, the money is being invested in research and development as well as factory upgrades. According to company representatives, of the £20 million total, £11.4 million is being spent on research and development and £9 million on machinery upgrades.
MG Motor UK is doubling the size of the design centre. According to the company, the latest stage of the rebirth of Longbridge will see substantial investments in the design studio, the engine test centre and the factory. Meanwhile, the firm is recruiting new engineers and designers to work on the next generation of MG cars as the firm prepares to hit the export trail to mainland Europe within two years.
The popularity of cars such as the Range Rover Evoque has led Jaguar Land Rover to introduce 24-hour working at its Halewood production plant. 1000 new jobs were created to support the new third shift at the plant, which has trebled its workforce in the past three years and staff from the first night shift clocked off on the morning of Tuesday 14 August 2012.
Bristol-based caravan manufacturer Bailey has decided upon a 100 per cent Michelin fitment policy for its new Unicorn caravan range, which will be available in retailers from September 2012 onwards. The two tyres fitted as standard equipment to the caravans are the 185/65 R 14 Energy Saver+ and the 185 R 14 Agilis. In a press release announcing the supply arrangement, Michelin notes that “despite being more expensive than the previous brand, the company believes that a premium caravan should be fitted with a premium brand of tyres.”
June was a good month for new bus and coach (>3.5 tonnes) registrations, which increased by 16.5 per cent, boosted by the good performance recorded in the UK (+97.9 per cent), Germany (+39.0 per cent) and France (+24.5 per cent). The Spanish (-15.4 per cent) and Italian (-21.5 per cent) markets declined.
Volkswagen has selected the Bridgestone Ecopia EP25 tyre as original equipment for the manufacturer’s new up! city car. The A-segment car was introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 2011, and Bridgestone started delivery of 165/70R14 81T and 175/65R14 82T size Ecopia EP25 tyres in November 2011. The blue motion version of the up! will be fitted with 175/65R14 82T.
128,871 new vans (up to 3.5 tonnes) were registered in the EU, or 6.5 per cent less than in the same month last year. Germany was the only significant market to post growth (+12.3 per cent), while all others contracted. The French shrank by 0.8 per cent, the British by 2.5 per cent, the Italian by 30.3 per cent and the Spanish by 30.9 per cent.
During preparations for its production debut in late 2012, the all-electric Audi R8 e-tron has just set a world record for a production vehicle with an electric drive system on the Nürburgring Nordschleife – the toughest test track in the world. Racing driver Markus Winkelhock piloted the high-performance, all-electric sports car around the demanding 12.92-mile track in 8:09.099 minutes.
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