From Monterey to Le Mans: Corvette Racing’s Motorsports Odyssey – Six-Hour Laguna Seca ALMS Race Is Final Rehearsal for 24 Hours of Le Mans

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May 202010
 

MONTEREY, Calif., May 18, 2010 – Two tracks loom large in Corvette racing history: Le Mans and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Although separated by a vast ocean and great differences in language and culture, these two classic circuits have played key roles in establishing Corvette’s standing as a force in international sports car competition.

Saturday’s American Le Mans Series Monterey marks the start of the 50th anniversary celebration of Corvette’s first appearance at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. Fans will be able to give the series’ most successful team a spirited send-off before the Compuware Corvette C6.R race cars begin their transatlantic journey to France, where they will compete in the world’s most prestigious sports car race on June 12-13.

The roar of Corvette thunder has rocked the central California coast for six decades. Corvettes raced through the streets of Pebble Beach on temporary circuits until sports car enthusiasts found a permanent home with the construction of Laguna Seca Raceway in 1957. Legendary drivers like John Fitch, Dick Thompson, Dick Guldstrand, Bob Bondurant, and others gilded their reputations by racing Corvettes in the Golden State. Chevrolet will salute this rich racing history with a special Corvette Legends of Le Mans display at Laguna Seca, and drivers Thompson and Guldstrand will attend the event.

“For many years we have talked about the legacy of Corvette Racing and the role that the team plays in Corvette’s history,” said Corvette Racing program manager Doug Fehan. “The reason this is important today is because of the strong foundation that people like Dick Thompson, Dick Guldstrand, Zora Arkus-Duntov, and many others built for Corvette. They set the bar high, and they accomplished so much with so little. Today we have the full resources of Chevrolet and GM behind Corvette Racing, but these pioneers are the ones who truly began Corvette’s performance heritage. Corvette Racing is continuing to build on that foundation for those who will come after us.”
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Low-speed vehicles and minitrucks shouldn’t share busy public roads with regular traffic

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May 202010
 

ARLINGTON, VA – More states are allowing a relatively new breed of vehicle on public roads, but crash tests by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show why the mix of low-speed vehicles (LSVs) or minitrucks and regular traffic is a deadly combination. LSVs are designed for tooling around residential neighborhoods, and minitrucks are for hauling cargo off-road. While these vehicles have a lot of appeal as a way to reduce emissions and cut fuel use, they don’t have to meet the basic safety standards that cars and pickups do, and they aren’t designed to protect their occupants in crashes.

“By allowing LSVs and minitrucks on more and more kinds of roads, states are carving out exceptions to 40 years of auto safety regulations that save lives,” says David Zuby, the Institute’s chief research officer. “It’s a troubling trend that flies in the face of the work insurers, automakers, and the federal government have done to reduce crash risk.”

Practically every state allows LSVs, also called neighborhood electric vehicles, on certain roads, mostly with 35 mph or lower speed limits. Eight years ago just over a dozen states permitted them. Now 46 do. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) defines appropriate performance and safety standards but has no say in where LSVs are driven. The same goes for minitrucks, which are legal to operate on some roads in 16 states, even though they weren’t designed to meet US safety or emission standards. The trend to grant minitrucks access to regular roads began in 2007 and is growing at a quick pace.
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FORD FLEX ADDS A STYLISH NEW TITANIUM MODEL TO LINEUP

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May 202010
 

  • Ford Flex adds a new top-end model to the lineup, the Flex Titanium
  • Flex Titanium delivers additional style and attitude to the Flex range and reflects the target customer’s love for personalization
  • Flex Titanium delivers content for customers looking for an even more luxurious ride, and reflects customer feedback on features that really matter

DEARBORN, Mich., May 20, 2010 – The Ford Flex has been turning heads for almost two years now. And in that time, one thing has remained constant – the customer’s love for the style and personality the Flex brings to the driveway. With that in mind, Ford announces the latest addition to the Flex lineup, Flex Titanium – a highly contented vehicle with individual style that will stand out in the world of more traditional crossovers and sport utility vehicles.

The new Flex Titanium features many new styling cues that will appeal to customers looking for a more personalized Flex experience. As Flex Marketing Manager Kate Pearce explains:

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2011 Cadillac CTS Coupe To Start At $38,990, On Sale In Early-August

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May 202010
 

DETROIT – Cadillac announced today that pricing for the all-new 2011 CTS Coupe will begin at $38,990 including destination charge. The CTS Coupe goes on sale in early August in the United States.

CTS Coupe will become the centerpiece of Cadillac, offering technology and performance in the dynamic form of a luxury sports coupe. Available in rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, CTS Coupe comes standard with a 3.6L Direct Injection V6 engine that delivers 304 horsepower. This engine is available with a six-speed automatic or six-speed manual transmission.

The ultimate expression of Cadillac’s new Coupe, the high-performance V-Series edition with 556 horsepower, Brembo brakes and Magnetic Ride Control also goes on sale later this summer at $62,990 including destination charge.

“CTS Coupe is a compelling new alternative for luxury and performance-minded drivers,” said Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac marketing. “The addition of a Coupe, especially one this dramatic, provides an important entryway for new consumers to experience Cadillac Art and Science.”

The Coupe expands the award-winning CTS line-up, which already includes the CTS Sport Sedan and CTS Sport Wagon. CTS has been named to the Car and Driver 10 Best list for three straight years.

CTS Coupe has the same wheelbase as the sedan but is lower in height, wider in track width and shorter in overall length. The windshield is laid at a faster angle, creating a sleek, athletic profile.

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HPE800 Twin Turbo Camaro Upgrade

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May 202010
 

Boost your new Camaro’s output nearly two-fold with the explosive, bull-charge performance of a twin-turbo 415cid stroker. The HPE800 is the latest American V8 to harness Hennessey Performance’s legendary track record of building high-horsepower, turbocharged muscle for outstanding performance gains.

  • Power: • 815 HP
  • 788 lb-ft TQ

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Jim Lentz Provides Progress Report to Congress on Steps Taken by Toyota to Become a More Responsive, Safety-Focused Organization

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May 202010
 

The following is written testimony of James Lentz, President and Chief Operating Officer Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc, submitted to the Committee on Energy & Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations.

May 20, 2010

Chairman Stupak, Ranking Member Burgess, members of the Subcommittee, thank you for inviting me here today. My name is Jim Lentz, and I am the President and Chief Operating Officer of Toyota Motor Sales, USA.

I am honored to return here to represent the 30,000 Americans who work for Toyota and the many thousands more at our dealerships and suppliers who bring great dedication and spirit to their jobs each day.
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Video: New Bus for London

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May 202010
 

Video: 2011 All-New Jeep Grand Cherokee Running Footage with production launch date

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May 202010
 

Auburn Hills, Mich., May 19, 2010 – Chrysler Group LLC released images today of the all-new 2011 Jeep® Grand Cherokee, an American icon and symbol of the new Chrysler. Offering timeless design and innovative engineering, the all-new Grand Cherokee redefines the SUV industry, delivering true duality: ultimate Jeep off-road capability and on-road refinement for a premium driving experience.

Capability highlights include a choice of three 4×4 systems, new Jeep Quadra-Lift™ Air Suspension and Selec-Terrain™ systems and towing capability of 7,400 lbs. On-road dynamics are improved courtesy of new independent front and rear suspension systems and a new body structure that dramatically increases torsional stiffness. The 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee features Chrysler Group’s all-new 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine that boasts an 11 percent improvement in fuel economy and delivers up to 23 mpg and more than 500 miles on one tank of gas.

Completely reengineered and redesigned for 2011 – with a new sculpted body, athletic profile, panoramic dual-pane sun roof and world-class interior with premium soft-touch materials – the all-new Jeep Grand Cherokee is built at the Jefferson North Assembly Plant (JNAP) in Detroit.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Laredo 4×2 models start at a U.S. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $30,995 – $495 lower than the outgoing model. Grand Cherokee Laredo 4×4 models start at $32,995 – $465 lower than the outgoing model. Also available in Limited and Overland models, the all-new 2011 Grand Cherokee arrives in Jeep showrooms next month.

Chrysler Group will celebrate the production launch of the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee at Jefferson North Assembly Plant, Friday, May 21, 2010 – 1:45 p.m.

Chrysler Group Chief Executive Officer Sergio Marchionne and Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm will join other government officials, Chrysler Group executives, UAW leaders and employees to celebrate the production launch of the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Plant tours will be available prior to the program. Please arrive by 11:30 a.m. to participate in a tour.

Jefferson North Assembly Plant is located at 2101 Conner Street, Detroit, Mich. 48215.