Monday, June 30th, 2008
An unemployed man in Germany has set his car on fire in protest against the spiraling cost of fuel.
The incident took place at 7.30am on the lawn outside the Frankfurt Conference Centre.
The Bavarian man poured petrol over his 1995 black BMW 3 Series car before setting it alight.
Although he has not yet been charged with any offence, the man, who has not been named, could still face charges for breaching Germany’s anti pollution laws.
In a statement, Police said the man “…carried out the act because he was unemployed and could no longer afford a car due to the high cost of fuel”.
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Monday, June 30th, 2008
* Ford Focus most improved model in the industry, besting last year’s score by 88 index points.
* Ford and Mercury posted solid improvements even as the industry average declined.
* Ford Escape (gas and hybrid versions combined) joins Focus in top 10 of most improved vehicles.
The Ford Focus is the most improved vehicle in the industry’s top study measuring customer-pleasing design, content, and vehicle performance.
In J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout (APEAL) StudySM, Focus raised its score over last year by 88 index points – the biggest improvement in the industry.
The popular compact car performed better than the segment average in every category, scoring especially well in the areas of fuel economy, audio/entertainment/navigation, interior styling and exterior styling.
This Focus appeal to buyers bears out in the marketplace: Ford Focus retail sales are up 64 percent year-to-date, while industrywide retail sales of small cars are up 10 percent. In response, Ford is increasing Focus production at the Wayne Assembly Plant in Wayne, Mich., where a third shift will be added to the plant’s body and paint shops in September.
Another strong seller among the Ford lineup, Escape, showed a 36 index-point improvement, putting it in the top 10 of most improved vehicles in the industry. With Escape sales up 5 percent year-to-date over last year, Ford will increase production later this summer at Kansas City Assembly Plant.
Ford and Mercury brands both improved significantly in APEAL while the industry as a whole declined.
With a 14-point improvement over last year, Ford improved five positions to 22nd. Lincoln came in at 12th place, and Mercury improved by 12 index points to finish in 29th place.
These results were helped by the strong performance of the company’s newly redesigned vehicles. The Ford Focus, Escape, Taurus, F-Series SuperDuty, and Mercury Mariner and Sable posted better APEAL scores this year than last.
“With standardized processes in design, product development and manufacturing, we’re showing dramatic improvements on all fronts,” said Bennie Fowler, Ford group vice president, Quality. “Everyone at Ford Motor Company should take pride in these accomplishments and keep working together toward our goal of world-class quality for our customers.”
Five Ford Motor Company vehicles received second or third honors in their segments:
* Ford Explorer Sport Trac, 2nd place in Midsize Pickup segment
* Mazda CX7, 2nd place in Compact Multi-Activity Vehicle (MAV) segment
* Mazda CX9, 2nd place in Midsize MAV segment
* Ford Focus, 3rd place in Compact Car segment
* Lincoln Navigator, 3rd place in Large Premium MAV segment
APEAL asks customers to assess their level of delight with the design, content, layout and performance of new vehicles after three months of driving. In early June, J.D. Power and Associates released its Initial Quality Study (IQS) showing Ford brand improved by 8 points over last year, beating the industry average 7-point rate of improvement. Ford and Mercury were among the study’s top non-luxury brands, with both placing in the top 10 among brands included in the study. Earlier this month, the Global Quality Research System (GQRS) durability study saw Ford brand improving at a rate of 3 percent versus the industry average of 1 percent. Both reports position Ford Division solidly among the industry’s quality leaders.
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Saturday, June 28th, 2008
Audi A6 2.0 TDI Limited Edition
Upgraded limited run A6 Saloon and Avant 2.0 TDI models look even sharper and cosset even more effectively.
- A6 2.0 TDI Limited Edition now available to order in Saloon and Avant body styles priced at £26,670 OTR and £28,240 OTR
- Limited Edition specification based on SE trim but adds interior and exterior upgrades that equate to £1,600-worth of added customer value
- Six-speed manual transmission standard, ultra-efficient seven-speed multitronic CVT available at extra cost
- A6 2.0 TDI Limited Edition manual 0-62mph in 10.3 seconds, top speed 130mph, combined mpg 46.3, CO2 159g/km
Increased visual impact and enhanced comfort are the key ingredients in the new Audi A6 2.0 TDI Limited Edition, which joins the UK A6 range this week priced at £26,670 OTR in Saloon form or £28,240 OTR as an Avant.
Available exclusively in conjunction with the 2.0-litre, 140PS TDI engine, and taking the A6 in SE form as its starting point, the new Limited Edition model features an alloy wheel upgrade from a 17-inch five-spoke star design to a polished 18-inch twelve-spoke, and inside swaps Meridian cloth upholstery for supple Milano leather.
As part of a separate enhancement package for all four-cylinder petrol and TDI versions of the A6, DVD satellite navigation, which incorporates an upgrade to a seven-inch high resolution colour monitor for the Multi Media Interface control system and a six-disc CD changer, is also included at no extra cost.
If taken at face value, these luxury extras would normally add £3,725 to the total price of an A6 2.0 TDI SE, but the 2.0 TDI Limited Edition carries a premium of just £875, equating to total added value of £2,850.
The A6 2.0 TDI Saloon with six-speed manual transmission can accelerate from rest to 62mph in 10.3 seconds and reach a top speed of 130mph, all the while offering the potential to cover up to 46.3 miles per gallon of diesel.
In addition to the extras which define the A6 2.0 TDI Limited Edition, standard A6 specification includes electronic climate control, cruise control, light and rain sensors, powered front and rear windows and mirrors, a 10-speaker, 160-watt audio system and a Driver’s Information System.
This high specification, combined with attainable pricing and the inherent frugality and correspondingly modest 154g/km CO2 output of the 2.0-litre TDI engine, will make the A6 2.0 TDI Limited Edition a popular choice for both private and corporate customers.
Source : Press Release, Audi UK
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