2009 Shanghai Auto Show: Chery Riich G5
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Sharp-eyed fans of the brand will observe that the
new G5 is, in fact, an update of last year's Chery A6 sedan. The automaker felt
compelled to create a new sub-brand in order to better position specific models
against Audi, including the new Riich G6 sedan. The G5 is one of six Riich
models that Chery expects to introduce over the next several years. It is
powered by a Chery-developed 2.0-liter turbo engine that makes 168 horsepower
and 173 pound-feet of torque and can be equipped with either a six-speed manual
or five-speed automatic gearbox. Among its high-tech features are satellite
navigation, in-car video, Bluetooth phone and a smart key. Chery plans to
begin selling the Riich G5 in late 2009.
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Paul Walker Confirms Fast and Furious 5 in
Brazil
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Although the oil-truck hijacking and Mexican border-hopping action in the last
movie was supposed to be it for the F&F team, the success of the movie was enough
to bring everyone back one more time. "With the way things opened up, Vin and
I will be coming back. We're making a fifth one, and we're going to Brazil,
that's it," Paul Walker said on an L.A. morning radio show. Thanks to the
return of Walker, Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster in Fast &
Furious, the movie shattered industry records and became the biggest April debut
in history. Stay tuned for more details and information on the 10-second cars
getting ready to head down to South America.
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Ford Mustang 45th Anniversary Celebration Kicks Off |
Ford said several original owners of the 1964.5 Mustang will be at the event.
"Since April 17, 1964, [the Mustang] has been a symbol of American freedom
and fun," said Jim Farley, Ford group vice president of marketing and
communications, in a statement. Mustang has enjoyed a band of devoted
followers, with many celebrity owners, including actor Kevin Costner, baseball
great Reggie Jackson and U.S. President Bill Clinton. Mustang's official
launch occurred on April 17, 1964, at the New York World's Fair, although
Americans were given a preview the night before, when Ford bought the 9:30 p.m.
time slot on all three television networks. An estimated 27 million Americans watched the broadcast debut of
the Mustang, "setting off one of the greatest consumer stampedes for an
automobile," according to the book Car Crazy: The Official Motor City
High-Octane, Turbocharged, Chrome-Plated, Back Road Book of Car Culture. By
March of 1966, the millionth Mustang had been sold. Ford said in a statement
that it plans several events here to mark the Mustang's milestone. World
champion drifter Vaughn Gittin, Jr. will be on hand to give demonstrations and
rides. Speed TV personality Tommy Kendall will provide hot laps for select
attendees in Mustang FR500S racing cars. Ford has kicked off a Mustang
contest, too. Through August 15, consumers can submit "their own Mustang dream
experience" in 250 words or less via Ford's "The Unleashed" Web site. "Winning
submissions will be selected every few weeks, and winners will be able to turn
their Mustang experience into reality," said the automaker.
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General Motors Confirms Multiple Bidders Are Interested in
Saturn
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"Over approximately the past 60 days, a subcommittee of Saturn retailers has
been studying the feasibility of the sale or spin-off options and has identified
some parties that are potentially interested in a purchase or spin-off of
Saturn," GM said in a statement. "We are advised that one of the interested
parties is Black Oak Partners. We are not at liberty to discuss any other
interested party." GM added: "With respect to what
the eventual outcome concerning Saturn might be with Black Oak or any other
interested party, it is simply premature at this time to speculate on what any
eventual outcome may be." Black Oak does not provide financial data or have a
Web site. It has teamed with some Saturn dealers on the bid for the GM brand,
according to a statement. GM will seek U.S. Treasury approval for the sale of
Saturn
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Fiat Boss: Only 50 Percent Chance of Coming to Agreement With
Chrysler
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President Obama's administration has given Chrysler and Fiat until the end of
April to negotiate partnership terms. If the alliance is not completed, Chrysler
faces a cutoff of funds from the U.S. government that could lead to its
liquidation. Fiat has proposed taking a 20 percent stake in
Chrysler. Marchionne told The Globe and Mail that Fiat will abandon the talks
linking his company to Chrysler if unions do not agree on substantial job cuts.
He said there is only a 50/50 chance the partnership will happen. "We are
absolutely ready to let the deal drop," Marchionne said. If the deal is
completed, the U.S. and Canadian governments would support Chrysler with
approximately $7 billion in loans to keep operating while Fiat overhauls the
company and brings in Fiat-based models. There was no response to
Marchionne's remarks as of Tuesday morning on the Web sites of the United Auto
Workers or the Canadian Auto Workers.
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2010 Chevrolet Camaro: From Concept to Production
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IIf there's ever been a Camaro that says "bad ass" like the first Camaro did,
this is it, hands down. The Chevrolet Camaro Concept looks like the car you
drive if your name is "Butch" and you strike matches on your stubble. The
styling elements recapture that crucial aspect of the original design
philosophy; a rebellious one that fell through the cracks as the decades poured
on after 1969. The designer of the Camaro Concept Coupe and the Camaro
Convertible Concept, Sangyup Lee, had no idea the Chevrolet Camaro was so
iconic. "I was kind of glad I didn't know how strong of an icon the Camaro was
when I was first working on the project," he admits. Working without pressure
allowed him to come up with the vicious concept everyone's talking about. Gills
in front of the rear wheel arches evoke the original car while radical angles
are said to be inspired by planes like the YF-22 fighter jet.
We've driven the silver Camaro Concept, which debuted at the 2006
Detroit Auto Show. It was built on a heavily modified Cadillac STS platform, and
bits from many rear-wheel-drive General Motors vehicles were used to make the
concept drivable. But the result was a taut and virtually rattle-free ride. We
had expected the concept to be a veritable rattletrap, being hand-assembled and
all. And we love being wrong about things like this. Performing as it always
has, the 400-horsepower LS-2 6.0-liter V8 provided far more power than we
ventured to tap, fearing instant ejection from the GM proving grounds. Monster
14-inch front rotors easily burned off the modest speeds we achieved. The huge
21- and 22-inch Goodyears did their jobs without protest. GM gave the
Chevrolet Camaro Concept a green light for production in August 2006. According
to GM Chairman Rick Wagoner, the 2010 Chevy Camaro will be "virtually identical"
to Lee's concept. That's a good thing. The Ford Mustang concept in 2003 was a
far cry from the car that came to showrooms in 2005. Hopefully the road-going
Camaro will come with the bulging rear fenders and sinister chop-top roof that
make the concept look so evil. Despite still being two full years away,
America has already been exposed to the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro in three forms;
coupe, convertible and er...Transformer. Chevy's upcoming muscle car has a lead
role as "Bumblebee" in this summer's blockbuster, The Transformers. And while
driving the $2-million Camaro Convertible Concept was an experience, we had the
opportunity to rip burnouts in the bright orange Bumblebee movie car while the
Paramount guys weren't looking. And no, it doesn't actually turn into a giant
robot. By the time the Camaro makes showroom floors, it'll need to be ready
for stoplight battles with the Dodge Challenger and the existing Ford Mustang,
both of which will already be roaming the streets. Strapped with a familiar LS2
V8, impromptu drag races shouldn't pose a problem whether you're using the
standard six-speed automatic transmission or rowing through the six-speed
manual. And it might not even be so bad to commute with, either. The
production car will be built off a derivative of GM's new Zeta platform,
developed by GM's Australian wing, Holden, and shared with that company's new
Commodore. That means MacPherson struts up front and a fully independent rear
suspension. If GM can stick to the game plan, the 2010 Chevy Camaro might be
more than enough to fight off the Challenger, the Mustang and the evil forces of
the Decepticons. So dust off your leather jacket and start growing that facial
hair.
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A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others
have thrown at him.
David Brinkley
Sincerely,
Frank Kimbrough
Franks Automobile Shipping & Transport Our website
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