plus 4, Driven: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi - Automobile

Driven: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi - Automobile
Michael Schumacher will make F1 comeback with Mercedes Grand Prix - Autoweek.com
Walton considers Rally New York - Daily Star
WOODHAVEN: Longtime auto dealer Gorno dies of cancer - News-Herald
Buy Bajaj Auto; target of Rs 1695: Sharekhan - MoneyControl.com

Driven: 2010 Suzuki Kizashi - Automobile

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 05:58 AM PST

Suzuki wants to reinvent its image in the United States. Actually, let me rephrase that: Suzuki wants to invent its image in the United States. If cars were movies, the Reno and the Forenza would've been as straight-to-video as the Olsen twins' How the West was Fun. The SX4, though, is a spunky little bundle of value, and now we have the Kizashi, Suzuki's most serious attempt yet to muscle into the automotive mainstream.

The Kizashi (pronounced the way Snoop Dogg would ask for some healthy breakfast cereal, as in, "Yo, pass me that box of Kiz-ashi") is a deceptively large four-door aimed at the sporty fringes of the mid-size-sedan market. The Kizashi isn't meant to take on the Toyota Camry and the Honda Accord - in fact, Suzuki's press materials explicitly disparage the "soulless transportation appliances" that rule the segment. Fortunately, the Kizashi has enough personality to distinguish itself from the mainstream, as well as from Suzuki's own recent past.

To our eyes, the Kizashi looks much smaller than a Volkswagen Jetta, but in fact, it's nearly four inches longer. The stubby trunk fools you into thinking that the Suzuki is compact, but a six-foot-tall passenger can sit in the back seat behind a six-foot-tall driver without feeling like a conscripted member of the U.S. bobsled team. It's a useful size, big enough to fit four adults but small enough to feel wieldy - and still ten inches shorter than the leviathan Mazda 6.

For now, the sole engine is a 2.4-liter four-cylinder that makes 185 hp when mated with the six-speed manual transmission or 180 hp with the CVT automatic. The engine is utterly smooth and rev-happy, as you'd expect from a company famous for its screaming motorcycle powerplants. Balance shafts help quell the bad vibes than can emanate from big four-cylinders, and an aluminum block and head keep weight down. The crankshaft and the connecting rods are forged, which is probably a good idea for a company that provides a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. With the manual transmission, the front-wheel-drive Kizashi does 0 to 60 mph in 7.4 seconds, says Suzuki, and manages about 30 mpg on the highway. All-wheel drive is an option.

Care to know more about the Kizashi's performance? Suzuki picks some very specific performance metrics to assert the car's superiority. For instance, the Kizashi is quicker than the four-cylinder versions of the Acura TSX and the Mazda 6 in the vaunted eighth-mile drag race. It also has higher lateral grip when turning left on dry pavement (0.98 g, according to Suzuki). So if you were going to race for an eighth of a mile and then turn left, the Kizashi is the clear winner. But what if you're accelerating to 43 mph, braking to 20 mph, and rolling down the windows while turning right? Suzuki isn't telling. ...next page >>

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Michael Schumacher will make F1 comeback with Mercedes Grand Prix - Autoweek.com

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 05:15 AM PST

Michael Schumacher will make a remarkable comeback next season with the Mercedes Grand Prix team, it was confirmed on Wednesday.

The seven-time Formula One world champion quit Grand Prix racing at the end of the 2006 season after winning an all-time record 91 races (among 154 podium finishes) and 68 pole positions. Since then he has served as a trackside consultant for Ferrari, with which he won five of his titles.

Schumacher will partner with Nico Rosberg in an all-German driving squad. Many Formula One insiders had anticipated a one-season deal, but Schumacher's new contract is for three years. Mercedes bought a stake in the former Brawn GP after the season and renamed the team.

Schumacher, who will be 41 years old on Jan. 3, 2010, began his professional career as a member of the Mercedes-Benz Junior program in 1990-91, racing Group C sports-racing cars and DTM touring cars.

The German automotive brand paid for his F1 debut with Jordan Grand Prix in the 1991 Belgian Grand Prix, and his recruitment is the biggest feather so far in the cap of Norbert Haug, the director of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport in Stuttgart. Haug has wanted Schumacher to join McLaren-Mercedes for many years but the driver always politely rebuffed his advances, seemingly wedded to Ferrari.

But Schumacher revealed today that the new Mercedes GP approach came not from Haug, but from Ross Brawn, the engineer who was working alongside him when he won all of his Grands Prix with both Benetton Formula and Ferrari.

Schumacher said: "The motivation is pretty straightforward. The call I got from Ross at the end of November concerning the chance to go racing, Mercedes being involved, I felt great. I never left the racetrack. I was tired of Formula One by the end of 2006, but in three years of absence, I got back all the energy that I am feeling right now. I played around with motorbikes, and I feel ready for some serious stuff now."

Last August, Schumacher agreed to stand in for the injured Felipe Massa at Ferrari. But the plan amounted to nothing because he had not fully recovered from a neck injury sustained in a motorcycle accident earlier in the year. Coming so close to a comeback evidently motivated him, and he was clearly disappointed with the outcome.

"Before I gave a final OK, I made sure that I was sure myself, and I can say 100 percent that the neck is no further issue," he said. "Unfortunately it was too close to the accident in the summer when I tried for Ferrari, but the time now is enough to have healed completely. I can do everything I used to do, no problem. For me, this partnership closes the circle. Mercedes supported me for so many years when I began my career, and now I can hopefully give something back to the brand with the star."

Haug commented: "In April 1991, when I had been in charge of the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport program for just six months, Michael was standing beside me on the balcony one evening. Without the slightest doubt, he said in a low voice: 'It's about time I got into Formula One.'

"Michael had just turned 22 years of age and four months later, he made his debut at Spa. Mercedes-Benz helped him to this point and the rest is history: seven world championships, more than any racing driver, 91 Grand Prix wins, more than any racing driver. Michael has more of everything than every other driver. Our sporting ambition has always been that Michael should drive again where his career had started, and Michael knew that.

"We often joked about it after the races and we discussed the prospect seriously several times during the last 14 years in Formula One. It didn't happen in 1995, it didn't happen in 1998 and it didn't happen in 2005. I am delighted that it will now happen in 2010. I am very much looking forward to working with Michael, and everybody at Mercedes-Benz and Daimler extends a very warm welcome to our 'apprentice' of 19 years ago. That apprentice is now the most successful racing driver of all time."

Brawn observed: "Michael's outstanding record speaks for itself, and I believe we now have the most exciting partnership in Formula One with him and Nico, who provide the perfect mix of talent, experience, speed and youth."

For more F1 racing news and reports, click here.

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Walton considers Rally New York - Daily Star

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 01:04 AM PST

WALTON _ Rally New York wants to stage its automotive road rally again in Walton next spring, and organizers are promising to center the entire event in Delaware County April 15 to 18.

The Walton Town Board listened to a presentation from Rally New York promoter Rich Otis Tuesday and then heard comments from seven Walton residents who are opposed to the rally returning to Walton.

Otis said the rally Saturday, April 17, would be limited to Dunk Hill Road, Dunk Hill Spur Road and Freer Hollow. However, he requested that the board consider expanding the racing to include Friday April 16, which would involve another road. That would mean racers would arrive Thursday and stay though Sunday.

Otis said he appeared before the Walton Town Board on Dec. 1 to hear comments from board about previous rallies and to propose changes for this year.

The rally, which uses road-registered vehicles that drive through a variety of checkpoints along the course, was last held locally this past April and in October of 2008. It was also held in fall 2007.

Otis said the board indicated that economic benefits last year were disappointing but said if the event is approved for this year, all rally participants will stay in the Walton area and a banquet for approximately 200 people would be held in Walton.

Last year, the racing stages were held in Walton but lodging and the banquet were in Sullivan County, where other racing stages were located.

Otis said lodging in Walton is limited, but there is enough in surrounding Delaware County communities to accommodate the rally participants.

Rally New York promoters Otis and Ivan Orisek are seeking special road-use permits from the town, under the state Vehicle and Traffic Law, to allow them use of the roads for the rally and to suspend traffic laws.

During previous rallies, roads were closed for alternating periods of up to an hour and a half to allow participants to drive the course.

Supervisor Bruce Dolph said the town board would not make a decision immediately, but promised to keep everyone informed when a decision is pending.

Dolph questioned whether there was a venue large enough to accommodate the banquet.

Otis said he had been in the Walton fire hall and it would handle the event.

Dolph questioned staging the race Friday when school buses would be running, but Otis said the rally had been able to schedule races around school bus runs in other areas.

Al Grust of Beers Brook questioned how the town could afford to spend tax money to provide police protection and support from the fire department and emergency squad.

Grust said that last year the people running the rally "weren't nice."

He said, "They were arrogant and tried to knock protest signs down."

Grust said a utility pole was struck by a rally car, knocking out electricity from 2 to 6:30 a.m.

"Have you ever had that 'ah-ha moment' when you know your life is in danger," Grust said. "That is what happened when the lights went out and when they came back on people were left with post-traumatic stress disorder," he said.

Arthur Swenson of Treadwell said he owns a camp on Freer Hollow. He said one of the cars caused damage to his property, but the rally organizers paid his son $100 to repair the damage.

Jim Taggart of Dunk Hill, questioned why the roads could not be closed for snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles and stock cars if they could be closed for rally cars. He said the town board was "opening a can of worms" by allowing the rally.

Councilwoman Cheryl Boyd pointed out that the town does not spend any money to support the rally.

Councilman Kevin Armstrong said the board does not control the Walton Fire Department and pointed out the Walton Fire Commissioners approved assisting the rally last year before the town board gave the rally permission to use the roads.

Walton Highway Superintendent Walt Geidel said the rally did not damage any roads.

___

Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com

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WOODHAVEN: Longtime auto dealer Gorno dies of cancer - News-Herald

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 03:56 AM PST

By Jim Kasuba

Click to enlarge

George Gorno

George Gorno Sr. seemed destined to become a car guy.

By the time he was born Oct. 6, 1948, his father, Dominic, already was well established with a dealership he started in Trenton in 1939.

He not only took over the reins upon his father's death in 1980, but also became thoroughly entrenched in the southeastern Michigan automotive dealers community.

Gorno died early Monday, Dec. 21, 2009, at Henry Ford Wyandotte Hospital after a 2½-year battle with colon cancer. He was 61.

According to his wife, Heidie, he was born in Detroit, but moved to Grosse Ile Township at the age of 2. He spent the rest of his life there.

He graduated from Grosse Ile High School in 1967, also the year he and Heidie began dating. The couple married Jan. 22, 1971.

He earned a bachelor's degree in automotive marketing and business management at Midland-based Northwood University. He later served on the board of governors of his alma mater.

In addition to the Gorno Ford and Gorno Mazda dealerships, both on Allen Road in Woodhaven, and owning a trucking company in Toledo called 1st Express, Gorno was highly involved in the larger automobile community.

He was a past president of the Detroit Automobile Dealers Association and served as director of the Metro Detroit Ford Dealers Association and the Michigan Automobile Dealers Association.

Other involvements included serving as co-chairman of the North American International Auto Show in 1997 and serving on the board of directors of the National Automobile Dealers Association.

For Gorno, cars were more than his livelihood. They were his passion.

"He loved fast cars, motorcycles and boating," Heidie Gorno said. "He just loved life. He was a kind, passionate person."

Gorno became a patron of the arts by accident.

"My wife, Heidie, would be on one committee or another serving a cause she believed in, and I would write out a check for the tickets," he said jokingly in a 1990 interview. "But then, I really got to enjoy all the events."

In 1990 he was honored by the Downriver Council for the Arts for giving of his time and efforts to the Downriver Metroplex Foundation, the Downriver Business Exposition and Ducks Unlimited, just a few of his many interests.

The arts were one area that captured Gorno's attention, but touting the wonders of Downriver was another. He and members of his family have been prominent business leaders in the region for 70 years.

"We started Downriver and we stayed," he said.

Together, George and Heidie Gorno were top fundraisers for the Southgate-based Guidance Center, a community agency serving the needs of men, women, children and families in the areas of counseling, parenting, preschool education and drug and alcohol abuse.

Gorno combined his passion for motorcycles with his desire to make a positive influence on the community through a fundraiser that invited bikers to tour Grosse Ile, with a police escort leading the way.

The event included the Gornos inviting participants to their house on East River Road to enjoy hors d'oeuvres, dancing and a beautiful view of the Detroit River.

In addition to his wife, Gorno is survived by four children, Nicole Gorno of Grosse Ile Township, and Cindy Czarnik, George Gorno Jr. and Tony Gorno, all of Trenton. He also is survived by six grandchildren.

Funeral arrangements were handled by the Martenson Family of Funeral Homes Inc.'s Trenton Chapel.

Visitation will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. today at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on Grosse Ile, followed by Mass at 11 a.m.

His remains will be cremated.

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Buy Bajaj Auto; target of Rs 1695: Sharekhan - MoneyControl.com

Posted: 22 Dec 2009 10:20 PM PST

Sharekhan is bullish on Bajaj Auto and has recommended buy rating on the stock with a target of Rs 1695, in its December 22, 2009 research report.

"Bajaj Auto recently launched the new Pulsar 135 cc bike to further strengthen its position in the 125+cc segment. The new Pulsar 135 LS, powered with a four-valve DTS-i engine, is competitively priced at Rs51,000 (ex-showroom Delhi) and has a mileage of 68 kilometre per litre (kmpl; as certified by the Automotive Research Association of India), which is good considering the engine capacity of 135cc. With the increase in our volume estimates for the motorcycle segment, our overall volume growth estimates for FY2010 and FY2011 stand revised to 27.2% and 14.2% respectively. In line with this, we have revised upwards our earnings per share (EPS) estimates for FY2010 and FY2011 from Rs108.9 and Rs114.3 earlier to Rs114.8 and Rs127.1 respectively. However, a probable increase in the excise duty in the forthcoming budget and a sharper than expected increase in raw material prices remain the key risk to our estimates."

"At the current market price, the stock is trading at 13.3x its FY2011E earnings of Rs127.1 and enterprise value (EV)/earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) of 8.1x. On the back of the upgrade in our earnings estimates, our price target stands revised to Rs1,907 (15x FY2011E EPS) and considering the significant upside from the current market price of Rs 1,695, we upgrade our recommendation to Buy from Hold earlier."

Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts on moneycontrol.com are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol.com advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions.

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