XM Satellite Radio this week announced that the first of the all-new Lexus LS series with standard, factory-installed XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic are now available at dealerships.
The Lexus LS 460 L, long wheel base model, will arrive at dealerships factory-equipped with XM Satellite Radio's 170 channels of coast-to-coast entertainment and XM NavTraffic's real-time traffic information system as standard features. Factory-installed XM Radio is also available in the 2007 LS 460, which includes the service in its navigation packages.
Steve Cook, executive vice president, Automotive, XM Satellite Radio says, "XM Satellite Radio and XM NavTraffic are the natural complement to a car that already sets a new benchmark for technological innovation. That's why XM is pleased to offer Lexus LS buyers the added advantage of the nation's most extensive lineup of satellite radio programming and the broadest network of real-time traffic information."
XM NavTraffic is the first real-time traffic information system for the vehicle. Currently available in 44 major U.S. markets, NavTraffic delivers alerts regarding traffic delays, detours and road closings through the in-car navigation system, saving drivers time and fuel by helping them anticipate traffic delays.
Every Lexus LS equipped with XM NavTraffic and XM Satellite Radio also comes standard with a three-month complimentary subscription to both services.
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And the race continues.
Honda has recently overtaken Nissan to regain second place among Japan's automakers. The Detroit News reported that the automaker built 1.79 million cars and light trucks worldwide in the first half of the Japanese fiscal year, up 6 percent from year-earlier levels, while Nissan's output fell by 12 percent to 1.52 million vehicles.
Both automakers, however, are far behind Number One Toyota, which produced 3.94 million vehicles in the first six months of the fiscal year, more than Nissan and Honda combined.
Still on Honda, the automaker has also announced that it will increase North American production of its fuel-efficient four-cylinder Civic models in early 2007 by as many as 60,000 units annually.
Honda will reportedly shuffle production of cars and trucks among its North American plants to keep up with demand for the hot-selling Civic.
The company is also set to move production of the Honda Pilot from Canada to Alabama in February. The move will make the Lincoln, Alabama, plant the sole source for the Pilot and the Odyssey minivan. In April, the automaker will add Civic sedan production to its Alliston, Ontario, Plant 2 for the first time. Plant 1 in Alliston already builds the Civic.
Honda has reported that Civic sales rose 7.1 percent through September over 2005.
Meanwhile if you’re looking for quality grille, tailgate, center caps or engine parts for your Honda, just click over to your trusted online auto parts store.
Nissan has announced the recall of about 132,000 of its vehicles globally — including 80,000 in North America — because of an ignition key defect.
The affected vehicles are X-Trail and Muranos built between August 2004 and July 2006, as well as 10,000 Maximas sold in North America.
According to Nissan, the problem involves some of the ignition parts that are too long, so the cars sometimes don't start properly. Occasionally, the engines start even when the ignition is turned off and the driver moves the steering wheel, the automaker added.
The recalls applies only to models using Nissan's "intelligent keys" with integrated circuit chips inside, which allows drivers to open their car doors with their keys still inside their pockets by just pressing on the handle.
There have been no reports of injuries related to the defect. If you own one of these recalled vehicles; go get in touch with your dealer.
Looking for quality Nissan auto parts? Just click over to your trusted online auto parts store.
After 21 years of sales and nearly 7 million units sold, Ford will end production of its popular Taurus sedan next week, the Associated Press reports. It’s a sad, slow death for the once best-seller; the original Taurus, though dated by today's standards, was actually quite controversial and futuristic. In 1985 the Taurus made its debut and consequently went on to save Ford from financial turmoil - immediately selling 263,000 units during that first year. That number rose to 410,000 units in 1992 after the Taurus overtook the Honda Accord to become the best selling passenger car in the U.S., a title it held for five straight years.
The demise of the Taurus, credited with moving America away from boxy V-8 powered gas-guzzling bedrooms-on-wheels to aerodynamic, more efficient cars with crisper handling -- began after Ford abandoned development of the car in favor of SUVs in the mid-1990s.
Media reports also say that workers at Ford's plant in Hapeville, GA are particularly upset over the Taurus being discontinued. And who wouldn’t be? Not only will the plant be closed, the workers lose their jobs, but the team’s efforts at becoming a world class workforce (even raising quality levels at the plant after Ford announced it would be closed) also, would have been all for naught.
Earle Chafim, a 22-year electrician who repairs welding robots said workers met company goals, yet Ford still decided to shutter the plant.
"The biggest part I hate is we got the No. 1-selling car in the company, we won so many awards for being No. 1, it's a shame. We're still outselling other cars, and we're not even taking orders anymore," he said.
Ray Daniels, a 33-year company veteran, blamed Ford for not updating the Taurus and keeping the name.
"If they'd kept the name, we'd still be here," he said.
Apparently, Mark Fields, Ford's president of the Americas, can't understand too how the company strayed so far from the Taurus. He wasn't with Ford when those decisions were made, but said he knows well that Ford's 1980s turnaround was led by appealing products, something he's trying to duplicate now.
Too late the hero? Let’s just hope that Ford comes up with a car that could surpass what the Taurus has accomplished – and that’s a tall order, especially at these times.
Toyota RAV4. Infiniti FX. Mercedes-Benz R-Class. Dodge Caliber. Ford Escape. All popular crossover vehicles.
Now comes the Hyundai Veracruz.
Hyundai has recently unveiled its new crossover, the Veracruz —headed for the U.S. market — in Seoul, South Korea. The Veracruz, which will go on sale for over $30,000, is similar in size to the Honda Pilot or Nissan Murano. The automaker expects two-thirds of sales to come from the U.S. market and predicts sales of 80,000 worldwide.
The Veracruz will get Hyundai's 3.8 liter V6 engine matched to its six-speed automatic transmission, and will come equipped with Hyundai's answer to Stow-n-Go, the "Hideaway(TM ) third-row seat -- a 50/50 split fold-into-the-floor seat -- along with all-wheel drive, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and side and side-curtain airbags for all three rows of passengers. The Veracruz is expected to hit the U.S. market late this year.
The Veracruz and the Azera luxury sedan, which was introduced last year, offer the first models in a planned separate luxury brand for Hyundai, which may come as early as 2008.
Quality Hyundai auto parts are available at trusted online auto parts stores like Auto Parts Discount.
The National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted the latest crash test this year and tested the 2007 Audi Q7 SUV. And the results? Well, the Q7 performed well during the test and received 5-star ratings for driver and passenger protection in frontal crash tests, 5-star ratings for front and rear passenger protection in side-impact crash tests, and 4-star rating for roll-over crashes.
The 2007 Audi Q7 achieved these impressive results because of the latest standard safety features including:
- Dual-front and front-side airbags
- Sideguard head curtain air bags
- Pre-tensioning three-point seatbelts
- LATCH child-seat anchoring system
- Antilock Braking System (ABS)
- Electronic Stabilization Program with roll-over detection
- Audi Side Assist
- Rear-side airbags
Audi official said the Q7 is one of the safest SUVs developed, and the test results confirmed it. And for quality Audi parts, check out Auto Parts Discount.
Ever wished that your car had a convenient place to carry your bike?
Autoblog reports that GM Europe has just announced that the FlexFix system will be offered on the new Opel Antara crossover.
Essentially a drawer that can be pulled out from the car's rear bumper, the FlexFix system is equipped with two wheel-mount bike racks, an extra rear license plate, and supplemental brake lights. When not in use, you wouldn't even know the system was there if not for the drawer cutout.
General Motors currently offers the system in its 2007 Opel Corsa – sold only in Europe.
Full press release here.
In the news: Nissan will reportedly move production of the Quest minivan and the Infiniti QX56 sport-utility vehicle to two factories in Japan from the company's plant in Canton, Miss. over 2008-2009.
According to Japan's Nihon Keizai business daily, Nissan expects to save money from the move because its domestic plants are better equipped to handle model changes for vehicles produced and sold in relatively small quantities. The unused manufacturing capacity at the Mississippi plant would be shifted to increased production of pickup trucks, leaving total plant output unchanged, the paper added.
Nissan sold about 40,000 Quests and 15,000 QX56s in North America in 2005, the paper noted.
It is not really surprising if one day you will find rusts eating away your car. Its part of the tearing and wearing process that your car is going to undergo as it ages however the occurrence of rust can be slowed down. --- How? First you should know what causes this terrible car plague in order for you to fight it.
When mild steel comes in contact with water especially those resulting from acid rain rust is developed. This is also one of the reasons why you need to wash your car with clean water after a rainy drive. Likewise, regular maintenance check and proper car cleaning can help in preventing car rusts.
Car Rust Quick Fixes:
Conduct regular car rust check by inspecting all the spots that are prone to rust such as the wheels, around your door locks and all other places that are exposed to water, wind and dirt. If ever you found a rusty spot here are some simple procedures that you may follow:
1. Dipped a cloth in alcohol and wipe down the rust spot on and about an inch around it.
2. Scrape off the loose paint.
3. Rub the area with coarse sandpaper and then blow away the dust.
4. Apply a primer using a fine paint brush and then let it dry completely.
5. Use an old knife to apply a thin layer of cellulose stopper but make sure not to leave any excess around the affected area.
6. Make use of a medium grade sandpaper to make the area smooth.
7. Finish off with a can of touch up paint, applied quickly and smoothly. Apply at least two coats but leave an interval of 24 hours per coat to dry them completely.
Lastly, in order to find the exact color paint to match your vehicle, look for the trim code. This is code located on the identification plate usually underneath the hood or inside the doors. Bring this code when buying your car paint to get the exact shade for your car.
