“Nissan Electric Vehicle Tilts Into Corners - WPXI” plus 4 more

Nissan Electric Vehicle Tilts Into Corners - WPXI
Doshis' Premier Auto to roll out cheapest SUV - Sify
Los Gatos man's nine-day drive raises funds for Ronald McDonalds - San Jose Mercury News
Universal Technical Institute Finalizes Building Acquisition for New ... - PR Newswire
Larry Little, SVP, Chief Brand Officer, Cycle World Brand Group, - MSN Money

Nissan Electric Vehicle Tilts Into Corners - WPXI

Posted: 08 Oct 2009 07:16 AM PDT

Concept Vehicle Sways Like Motorcycle

Posted: 10:54 pm EDT October 7, 2009Updated: 11:10 am EDT October 8, 2009

ATSUGI, Japan -- Nissan's Land Glider electric vehicle tilts from side to side, sashaying into curves by up to a 17-degree angle, as though showing off in a fashion statement that it's zero-emissions.

The wheel segments of the car can move separately from the cabin, allowing the car, still an experimental concept model, to sway and swerve, almost like a motorcycle.

Nissan Motor Co. project design director Takashi Nakjima said the Land Glider is designed to be a "personal city commuter."

In a demonstration for reporters, the car glided around on a test course at Nissan's design center, outside Tokyo, leaning slowly to one side, and then the other, as it turned tight corners.

Just 110 centimeters (43 inches) wide, Land Glider has sensors to calculate speed and level of lean required for corners, and can maneuver through narrow streets and fit into tight parking spaces, according to Yokohama-based Nissan.

People aboard sit in a line, one behind the other, not next to each other as in traditional two-seaters.

Reporters got a preview look of the "concept model" but no test drive, of the Land Glider. There are no immediate plans for commercial production.

It will have its world premiere at the Tokyo Motor Show, opening to media Oct. 21, two days before its formal opening. The show runs through Nov. 4 in the Tokyo suburb of Chiba.

Japanese rivals Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co. are also showing nifty electric vehicles at the show.

Toyota's FT-EV II has a roomy cube design, a relatively conventional look for electric cars. But Honda's EV-N is small and cute with an intentionally old-fashioned car shape.

"We feel exploratory efforts in electric vehicles have entered a new stage" with Land Glider, Nakajima said.

Japanese automakers say electric vehicles will largely be used initially for limited range, commuter travel.

Nissan is among the first to offer an electric vehicle, set to go on sale in Japan, the U.S. and Europe next year -- the rather regular-looking Leaf.

Doshis' Premier Auto to roll out cheapest SUV - Sify

Posted: 08 Oct 2009 05:43 AM PDT

Nine years after it exited the business, Premier Auto is making a comeback in passenger cars. The Doshi family, promoters of one of India's oldest car companies, known for the once-ubiquitious Premier Padmini, are set to launch a compact sports utility vehicle (SUV).

More Auto Galleries

The rollout of the mini-SUV, called Rio, will also mark the entry of a Chinese four-wheeler company into India. Zotye Auto, a little-known Chinese manufacturer, will partner Premier in the venture. Zotye will supply vehicle kits to Premier to be assembled at Premier's Pune facility which has a peak annual capacity of 20,000 units.

Car loans: Just rates are not enough

Zotye will export completely knocked down (CKD) kits from China and Premier will provide a diesel power plant for the vehicle along with its assembly line at Chinchwad, near Pune. Zotye Auto will be paid by Premier for providing the CKD kits.

Although the vehicle won't be fully built in India, both companies are keen to make it the cheapest SUV in the country. It is understood that the base variant of Rio will be priced at Rs 5 lakh, making it 30 per cent cheaper than its nearest competitor, Mahindra Scorpio.

The top-end variant, expected to be priced at around Rs 7 lakh, will have safety features like air bags and anti-lock braking systems, said people with direct knowledge of the company's plans. The launch will take place this month after Diwali, they added.

Bajaj launches sports bike, Kawasaki Ninja, for Rs 2.7 lakh

Rio is a first-generation model from Daihatsu (a Toyota-owned brand) called Terios, which was in production from 1997 to 2005. The second generation Terios is sold with a Toyota badge in some international markets and with a Daihatsu badge in others.

Zotye had bought the tools and parts of the earlier Terios model from Daihatsu the same way that Tata Motors bought the tools and dies from French car maker Renault to produce a utility van called Traffic. Tata Motors produces and sells the vehicle as Winger in India.

Premier is expected to fit its own four-cylinder, 1.5 diesel engine, which produces peak power of 65 bhp into the Rio with a five-speed manual gearshift. The compact vehicle will be smaller than the Mahindra Scorpio in terms of length and width.

The Mumbai-based company is not keen to use its existing dealership set-up, which primarily sells a 1.4 tonne light commercial vehicle (LCV). Premier has already put in place 20 new dealers to serve the new vehicle and another 30 will be added by the end of the year.

Renault, Mahindra venture faces hurdles

Chinese two-wheeler manufacturers have been trying to foray into India, but all had to withdraw due to inadequate demand. For example, the Lifan Group tried to sell motorcycles and automatic scooters but failed to make much headway.

Premier Automobiles Ltd (PAL, the erstwhile name of company) manufactured the Premier Padmini from 1968 to 2000. The car ruled Indian roads for three decades before it made way for new–generation cars led by Maruti.

The company had forged alliances with France's largest car maker, Peugeot (now Peugeot-Citroen) and then with Italy's popular car company, Fiat.

Tata Capital cuts auto loan rate

But labour unrest that forced a lock-out for three months at the Kurla plant in Mumbai and the subsequent devaluation of the rupee, increased the cost of imports from France for Peugeot. PAL-Peugeot faced mounting losses as a result and ultimately decided to terminate the joint venture in 1999.

Fiat, meanwhile, got into a technical arrangement with PAL to make the Uno from the same plant through CKD units. Subsequently, Fiat took control of the plant when its automotive division was spun off as a separate unit.

More Auto Galleries

Los Gatos man's nine-day drive raises funds for Ronald McDonalds - San Jose Mercury News

Posted: 07 Oct 2009 09:51 PM PDT

[fivefilters.org: unable to retrieve full-text content]

Dave Schaub detests pizza. As befits the owner of Schaub's Meats, Fish and Poultry in Palo Alto, Schaub's culinary preferences are firmly in the meat-and-potatoes category. But the Los Gatos High School graduate (class of`69) was more than happy to ...

Universal Technical Institute Finalizes Building Acquisition for New ... - PR Newswire

Posted: 07 Oct 2009 02:56 PM PDT

PHOENIX, Oct. 7 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) (the "Company"), the leading provider of technical training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, has completed the purchase of a building in Irving, Texas. The building will accommodate the Company's new Dallas/Fort Worth campus designed predominately for local students seeking a UTI automotive education in their hometown. The Company anticipates opening the Dallas/Fort Worth campus during the summer of 2010. The purchase price of the building was $9.1 million and will be approximately 95,000 square feet upon completion of the renovations of the facility. At maturity, the campus will accommodate approximately 750 students.

"We are excited to have completed the acquisition of our Dallas/Fort Worth facility. Dallas/Fort Worth is one of the top five U.S. metro markets with favorable student demographics, population growth and technician demand. Adding the Dallas/Fort Worth campus to the UTI network of campuses is part of our broader business strategy of making a UTI education more accessible to students. We believe this campus will provide a more convenient educational experience and help lower the overall education cost to students in the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area," said Kimberly McWaters, President and Chief Executive Officer of UTI.

The building is centrally located within the Dallas/Fort Worth metropolitan area just north of the Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) Airport. The central location provides convenient access for students from most areas of the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex.

About Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Universal Technical Institute, Inc. (NYSE: UTI) , the leading provider of technical education training for students seeking careers as professional automotive, diesel, collision repair, motorcycle and marine technicians, offers undergraduate degree, diploma and certificate programs at 10 campuses across the United States, and manufacturer-specific training programs that are sponsored by the manufacturer or dealer at dedicated training centers. Through its campus-based school system, Universal Technical Institute, Inc. offers specialized technical education programs through several well-known brands, including Universal Technical Institute (UTI), Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and Marine Mechanics Institute (MMI) and NASCAR Technical Institute (NASCAR Tech). For more information, visit www.uti.edu.

SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc.

Website: http://www.uticorp.com

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Larry Little, SVP, Chief Brand Officer, Cycle World Brand Group, - MSN Money

Posted: 07 Oct 2009 01:59 PM PDT

This Fully-Integrated and Brand-Centric Organization Will Improve Innovation and Engagement with Motorcycle Enthusiasts and In-Market Shoppers Across Digital, Print, Radio, Events and Other Platforms

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Oct. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Larry Little, SVP, Chief Brand Officer, Cycle World Brand Group, owned by Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. (HFM U.S.), announced today the reorganization of his management team into a brand-centric structure that will maximize brand equity, integration, and strategic and revenue opportunities. Little promoted Executive Editor Mark Hoyer to Vice President, Brand Content and Editor-in-Chief, Cycle World; National Advertising Director Paul LaBella to Vice President, Brand Publisher; and Marketing Director Corey Eastman to Vice President, Brand Development. Hoyer, LaBella and Eastman will be responsible for the content creation, advertising sales and new business development of the Cycle World brand across all platforms.

David Edwards, who has served as Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, will be leaving the company. "I want to thank David for his years of contribution to Cycle World," said Little. "His love and knowledge about every aspect of the motorcycling sport and industry has made a substantial contribution to sustain Cycle World's position as America's leading motorcycle enthusiasts' publication. I appreciate his hard work and dedication, and, on behalf of his many friends at the company, I want to wish him all the best in the future."

The new structure of the Cycle World brand is President & CEO Alain Lemarchand's most recent move in reorganizing the company's assets into brand centric groups led by Chief Brand Officers (CBO). Like other CBO's, Little has full responsibility for the Cycle World group including developing new revenue streams, setting brand and editorial content direction across platforms, and integrating print and digital advertising sales.

Lemarchand added, "Cycle World is a full fledged brand with successful extensions beyond the print magazine including digital platforms, radio and branded events. The key to continued success which the new structure supports is brand quality and investment as well as innovation across platforms. Under Larry's leadership, all resources will be focused on common goals with more opportunity for unleashed creativity."

Investment and Improvements in Cycle World Magazine and Web Site

Little also announced that starting with the November issue appearing on newsstands this week, consumers will begin to see and feel the first of many strategic investments in the Cycle World brand. The magazine will have improved paper stock, perfect binding, and restyled sections.

Little commented that "The cover and paper stock is heavier and glossier, and there is a fresh organization of content and more vibrant layouts that will allow for a much more dramatic use of Cycle World's excellent photography and art direction. It's important that we're investing in our magazine when others are cutting back."

He continued, "Print is the medium of maximum engagement, and the magazine's upgrades will enhance that experience. Online is about accessing information, and the web site is going to have greater functionality for the in-market buyer. Visitors leave the web site, which they consider a trusted source, incredibly informed."

"The expansion of our digital content is key," noted Little. "Cycle World is a primary source of credible information for people who are buying motorcycles. That group of buyers is poised to expand with a new segment of eco-minded consumers who view the transportation opportunity motorcycles represent because of fuel costs, commute times and concerns for the environment. We are developing content targeted to their needs as well as to the enthusiast."

The web site has an all-new, enhanced Cycle World Buyer's Guide for 2009 and complete guides going back to 2005. The Cycle World Twitter Newsfeed (@CycleworldMag) offers motorcycle-related updates throughout the day. Also new to the site is the Cycle World Two Wheel Inspired Secondary Transportation (TWIST) Initiative, an area devoted to promoting motorcycles as a green and fun form of alternative transportation.

During this year, Lemarchand announced similar structures for HFM U.S.'s women's titles (ELLE and Woman's Day), the shelter group (Luxury Design Group: ELLE DECOR and Metropolitan Home) and the automotive assets (Jumpstart Automotive Group including Car and Driver and Road & Track).

About Cycle World

Cycle World produces a monthly magazine with a circulation of 300,000, a comprehensive web site with an enhanced Cycle World Buyer's Guide for 2009, hosts a weekly radio program and sponsors the Cycle World International Motorcycle Shows in 11 cities across the country. First published in January 1962, Cycle World magazine quickly became America's leading motorcycle enthusiast's publication covering all aspects of motorcycling, in print and online.

About Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. (HFM U.S.) (www.hfmus.com)

Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S. (HFM U.S.) serves consumers' passions and lifestyles through trusted, expert content that entertains and inspires on all media platforms. Illustrated with extraordinary images, these engaging editorial environments combine with highly-targeted demographics and scale to create rich opportunities for our advertisers. Our prestigious brands fall into five sectors: Fashion & Beauty (ELLE, ELLEgirl); The Luxury Design Group (ELLE DECOR, Metropolitan Home and PointClickHome); Women & Wellness (Woman's Day, Woman's Day Special Interest Publications); Automotive (Car and Driver and Road & Track as part of Jumpstart Automotive Group) and Motorcycling (Cycle World). HFM U.S. is part of Lagardere's (www.lagardere.com) media division Lagardere Active, a producer of special-interest content in more than 40 countries.

SOURCE Hachette Filipacchi Media U.S.

Back to News Home