Hayes Lemmerz International has announced that its Hayes Lemmerz Holding GmbH organisation in Germany has received an “A” level performance rating from Audi Ingolstadt for supplier project development and project engineering in connection with steel wheels produced for Audi at the wheel manufacturer’s plants in Manresa, Spain and Manisa, Turkey.
Following recent original equipment deals Bridgestone claims to be a supplier to every one of Europe’s major car companies and main market segments. These agreements include the first non-Michelin Citroën OEM contract in more than 70 years, the new Potenza S001 and a rash of Ecopia fitments.
Volkswagen has released its latest Polo BlueMotion, an 80.7 mpg fuel economy wonder, to order from Volkswagen Retailers. Prices start at £14,445 on the road, but the main news is the fuel economy and its subsequent low emissions.
The new Polo BlueMotion features a new 1.2-litre TDI three-cylinder common rail diesel engine offering 75 PS, and 133 lbs ft (180 Nm) of torque available from 2,000 rpm. The new engine, combined with longer gearing through the five-speed manual gearbox, regenerative braking and an automatic start/stop system, help the new Polo BlueMotion emit just 91 g/km of CO2 while returning an impressive 80.7 mpg on the combined cycle. This grants the new Polo BlueMotion a theoretical range of over 800 miles on one tank of diesel.
The Morgan Motor Company has achieved a new record for output in 2009, with the total cars built expected to total around 690 – a 73 per cent increase on the company’s usual figure of 400, according to reports in Autocar. The car-maker’s tyre supplier, Cooper Tire Europe, which supplied Avon ZZ3s for the Aero 8 and Aeromax models, declared itself “extremely proud” of its long association with Morgan.
Goodyear has announced that customers choosing Optional Performance Package on the recently unveiled 2011 Ford Mustang Shelby GT500 will receive its Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 UHP tyres as standard fitment. The tyre, tested on some of the most renowned road courses in North America, appears on the new Mustang this year in sizes P265/40ZR19 and P285/35ZR20.
Goodyear’s newest ultra-high performance tyre, the Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 has won OE fitment for the 2011 Chevrolet Corvette Z06, reports Tire Review. The new Eagle F1 SuperCar G:2 is “street-refined, but track-capable,” according to Bob Toth, Goodyear’s director of new products.
At the start of 2008 it was stated that the upcoming launch of two new Citroën models, scheduled for release in the second half of 2009, would end more than seven decades of exclusive Michelin supply to the French manufacturer in Europe. This day has finally arrived – Bridgestone has announced OE supply on the 2010 C3 compact and the DS3, the first model in Citroën’s new premium DS line.
Every wondered what the most expensive passenger car tyres in the world are? According to a report published on the Autocar website on 14 January, Bugatti Veyron rubber must be a prime contender with a set of four new tyres costing £23,500 (26,926 euros; US$38,482) to replace. And if you were wondering which tyre manufacturer won the OE contract to supply these products, a quick look at tyrepress.com’s online archive reveals that the 406 km/h car, which is capable of 0 – 300 km/h in under 14 seconds fits Michelin Pilot Sport Pax System 245-690 R520 A (front) and 365-710 R 540 A (rear) tyres.
New figures show that, of vehicles first used in 2004, the Toyota Corolla has the lowest failure rate – just 11.2 per cent. The Ford Transit Connect had the highest failure rate at 30.5 per cent, followed by the Renault Megane at 28.1 per cent and the Ford Transit at 26.3 per cent. This data refers to 2007 MOT results. VOSA is expected to publish statistics for 2008 and 2009 later this year, and then each year in the future.
On January 12 Bridgestone Corporation announced its selection as tyre supplier for the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), the next-generation regional jet under development by Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation. For Bridgestone this deal is significant, as while the company’s aircraft tyres are already supplied for use on large aircraft with 100 or more seats, the supply of tyres for the MRJ, a regional jet in the 70 to 90-seat class will further expand the scope of the company's aircraft radial tyre business.
Results of the latest J.D. Power Asia Pacific 2009 Japan Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Index Study indicate that high levels of satisfaction in original equipment tyres may well lead to a notable increase in brand loyalty amongst customers purchasing summer replacement tyres. The January 7 released results show that, on average, 74 per cent of motorists in Japan are likely to stick with their vehicles’ original equipment tyre brand when purchasing summer replacement tyres. However, amongst the more highly satisfied customers, namely those whose satisfaction scores averaged 800 or higher on a 1,000-point scale, this figure increases to 88 per cent.
Any niggling doubts you might hold as to whether there is space in your driveway for the Ferrari 458 Italia may be put to rest by Bridgestone’s announced supply of its new Potenza S-001 UHP tyre as original equipment on the recently released Italian supercar.
Starting on December 16, 2009, Volkswagen’s sports-oriented ‘R-Line’ version of its Passat CC is leaving the factory fitted with tyres featuring Continental’s ‘ContiSeal’ technology. The size 235/45 R 17 and 235/40 R 18 self-sealing ContiSportContact 3 tyres featured on the Passat R-Line are capable of closing off punctures up to five millimetres in diameter, and thus Conti believes around 85 per cent of all tyre failures can be resolved through this technology.
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Yokohama has announced two new OE fitment agreements for North American markets. The first of these is for the 2010 Toyota Prius, which will be delivered to US and Canadian customers fitted with Yokohama’s AVIDR S33D in size P195/65R15 89S. Last November Goodyear also announced its Assurance Fuel Max tyre will be fitted as OE to the third-generation Prius. Toyota’s 4Runner will also be Yokohama shod in US, Canada and Mexico, with models of the SUV in these markets supplied with the GeolandarR G96B in size P245/60R20 107H.
Cleveland, Ohio-based wheel manufacturer, Alcoa believes it has solved the problem of how to launch multiple new wheel programmes quickly without repeat capital investment. The company says that it has refined a process that generates “an infinite variety of styles from a single forged tool” through variations in design, machining and finishing. Using this process, Alcoa believes it can produce products that are amongst the strongest, lightest wheels available, but with the structural integrity to meet the toughest fatigue requirements. In terms of finishing too, Alcoa’s patented Dura-Bright surface treatment technology allows a wheel to be further differentiated not only by design and structure but also appearance and performance.
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