BFGoodrich, seven times winner of the Dakar Rally since 1999, is poised to introduce a number of new 4×4 tyres to its range in 2006. These are the All-Terrain T/A Comp, aimed at off-road rallying competitors, the Krawler T/A® KX, scheduled for launch in Europe in May, plus four new dimensions for the Macadam T/A.
A high proportion of the new cars launched at the recent Geneva Motor Show and set to reach the UK market shortly feature Varta calcium-silver and AGM batteries as original equipment. Varta claims a share of more than half the European OE market. Among the new cars with Varta as OE are two high-performance coupes from two of the UK’s most famous marques; the Jaguar XK8 and the Aston Martin V8 Vantage.
Ford’s Volvo Car Corporation has said it will begin making cars in China this year, at an existing Ford joint venture plant. The initial target is for 10,000 cars a year to be produced in 2007.
Pirelli’s reputation as a supplier of high performance tyres for some of the world’s most glamorous cars was enhanced by a number of prestigious fitments at the 76th Geneva International Motor Show.
Hankook Tire Co has closed a deal with Volkswagen to supply 440,000 tyres per year for the German manufacturer’s Golf and Bora models. The tyres will be fitted the fifth-generation Golf and will be sold in Europe from 9 February. In addition, the manufacturer will also provide 100,000 tyres a year for Volkswagen’s Bora model.
The deal will take Hankook’s overseas annual shipments for finished cars to $150 million – 12 per cent of its total export volume. Hankook sees the OE contract as a strategic move that will enable it to enhance its share of the European replacement market. Both the Bora and Golf will be fitted with Ventus Prime K105 (205/55R 16) and the Optimo K406 (195/65R 15).
Carlisle based owner-driver Keith Simpson has just replaced the original drive axle tyres on his Volvo FH12 tractor unit after an impressive 616,000 kilometres. The Michelin 295/80 R22.5 XDE2 tyres recorded this performance during the first life of the brand new tyres, followed by a regroove, which ensured an additional 20 per cent mileage. The regrooving also extended the tyres most fuel-efficient state, in line with Michelin’s Stop Thirsty Tyres Campaign.
SmarTire Systems Inc has announced that it will supply Prevost buses with tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) that also monitor tyre temperature. The TPMS will come as standard on Prevost’s H-series bus.
Alcoa Wheel Products achieved a European record when the Székesfehérvár, Hungary plant produced its four millionth forged truck wheel on 6 October 2005.
Alcoa sees the achievement as a reflection of the company’s position as the largest forged aluminium wheel supplier in Europe. Customers include European truck manufacturers Scania, Volvo, Renault, DaimlerChrysler, MAN, DAF, Iveco, and European trailer manufacturers such as Feldbinder, Spitzer, Benalu, Schmitz, Krone, to name just a few.
A prototype hybrid U.S. Air Force aircraft refueller truck built on a Mack Truck chassis features a new mixed-service tyre from Goodyear.
Goodyear Unisteel G287 MSA tyres (315/80R22.5) are mounted in the steer position on the 6,000-gallon refueller. Mack Trucks Inc. and the U.S. Air Force Advanced Power Technology Office developed the hybrid diesel-electric truck. Eight Goodyear Unisteel G286 tyres (12R22.5) are mounted on the vehicle’s rear drive axles.
Pirelli has supplied tyres for the Brabus E V12 Biturbo, a world speed record-holding tuned Mercedes on show at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, along with the main new models from Bentley, Cadillac, Lamborghini, Maserati, Peugeot, Audi, Volvo, Alfa Romeo and AMG. The Milan-based firm is also equipping the most sophisticated tuned versions of models from Ferrari, Mercedes, Range Rover and Jaguar prepared by the German specialists Novitec, Brabus and Arden.
General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have posted double-digit US sales gains for July. Toyota and Nissan North America also posted their best sales month in the United States.
DaimlerChrysler, including Mercedes-Benz, sold 260,945 units in July, a boost of 25.1 per cent for the month. Year-to-date, the car manufacturer has sold 1,547,536 vehicles, up 6.9 per cent from the same period in 2004.
GM’s July sales rose 15.2 per cent, boosted by the GM Employee Discount for Everyone incentive programme said the company. Its US sales totaled 524,218 vehicles in July compared with 454,963 in July last year. GM has sold 2,844,839 vehicles to date, a 4.3 per cent increase from the same time last year.
Paul Ballew, GM’s chief sales analyst, said 71 per cent of retail sales in July came from trucks, and he predicted that the company would achieve a market share of 27 per cent for the year.
Euro Car Parts has been appointed as the UK’s largest distributor of Contitech drive belts. The deal ensures that Euro Car Parts, the UK’s largest independent supplier of car parts, can meet the highest volume demands from trade and retail customers 30 branches nationwide. Contitech is an original equipment manufacturer on some of the world’s leading car marques including BMW, Mercedes, Porsche, Volvo, Seat and Audi.
Bosch has released the updated 2005 version of its range of DVD-based technical information, ESI[tronic]. The new version of the company’s software package will provide garage technicians with more technical knowledge for problem solving on a wider range of modern vehicles.
Pirelli has introduced a range of interactive tyre technologies including the X-Pressure AcousticBlue, a bluetooth compatible tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and an upgraded version of its Safety Wheel self inflation system – now redesigned for SUVs. At the same time, the Italian manufacturer announced the expansion of its existing range of run flats.
According to the company, the X-Pressure AcousticBlue (available from September) is a world first. Pirelli reports that the development of this mobile based TPMS was motivated by the “often too broad and potentially insufficient” legal regulations. In response the company is offering high-level tyre pressure monitoring capabilities to anyone who owns a Blue Tooth compatible mobile phone. By utilising the new this system Pirelli is offering customers a higher level of tyre pressure awareness, the company says.
Size does matter. Well that’s what Cobra Technologie & Lifestyle say. And in keeping with this philosophy the company now offers the new Cobra Sahara 10Jx22 light-alloy wheel for premium off-road vehicles such as the BMW X5, the Mercedes M-Class, the Mitsubishi V60, the Porsche Cayenne, the Volvo XC 90 and the VW Touareg.
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