Maruti cuts prices of small cars by Rs 6,500 to Rs 18,030

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) Country's largest car maker Maruti Suzuki India Ltd today said it has reduced prices of its small car from Rs 6,500 for Maruti 800 to Rs 18,030 for Swift Diesel (ex-showroom Delhi) after government today cut excise duty on small cars from 16 per cent to 12 per cent.

The company has announced price reduction in all the six models that qualify for the lower excise benefit: Maruti 800, Omni, Zen, Wagon R, Swift Diesel and Alto - India 's largest selling car.

Company Managing Director and CEO S Nakanishi said in a statement that in the short term, the reduction in excise duty will make small cars more attractive for customers and offset the negative impact of higher interest rates.

''This is an encouragement for companies like us, which are making major investments in capacity, research and exports,'' Mr Nakanishi said.


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Ford setting its sights on 'Millennials'

Ford is showing four-door and three-door Verve concept models in U.S. auto shows this year, sampling potential buyers' opinions. The company is counting on its European small-car expertise to stake a bigger claim in this important segment. Ford designers in Dunton, England, and Cologne, Germany, developed the common small-car platform to be used by the Verve. The company claims small-car leadership in Europe.

Driving the growth in the U.S. market is a group of young people ages 13-28, dubbed "Millennials." Today, this group stands 1.7 billion worldwide and will represent 28 percent of the total U.S. population by 2010, when today's 13-year-olds can drive.

Every day, 11,000 Millennials in this country come of driving age. When it's time to buy their first car, or Daddy buys that first car, nearly half of this group shops the small-car segment.


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'BLACK' CARS TO GO GREEN

The Lincoln Town Car that has ruled the "black car" industry may soon be a memory since Mayor Bloomberg yesterday announced new fleet fuel-efficiency standards that only hybrids can meet.

Black cars, car services for corporate clients, average 12 to 15 mpg, but starting Jan. 1, new vehicles put into service will have to reach 25 mpg. The target jumps to 30 mpg in 2010.

Bloomberg again lambasted Congress for not addressing global warming, mocking the fuel-efficiency standards it's proposing as laughably low, as he stood before four shiny hybrids in the Winter Garden of the World Financial Center.

"New York City is not waiting," the mayor declared.

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Environment Ministry has new hybrid Toyota cars

Prague, Feb 28 (CTK) - Czech Environment Minister Martin Bursik (Green Party) received on Wednesday five new hybrid electric Toyota cars, two that will be used by him and his deputies.

Two Lexus GS 450h and three Prius vehicles replaced five BMW diesel service cars, which Bursik offered to other ministries.

The new Toyotas combine a conventional gasoline engine and an electric motor. The ministry has leased the cars.

Last year, the ministry worked out an analysis of the best possible vehicle.

Ministry's spokesman Jakub Kaspar told CTK that Prius was chosen because it had the lowest carbon dioxide emissions per kilometre, while no other car-maker than Toyota offered a hybrid car of a quality similar to the luxury Lexus GS 450h.

The ministry also bought an older model of the hybrid Prius two years ago that has been used by Deputy Environment Minister Ales Kutak.


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Hyundai to slash prices of its small cars

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) Hyundai Motor India Limited (HMIL) today said it will cut prices of its small cars by Rs 12,000-Rs 16,000 as an immediate fallout of the excise rate cut on small cars by the government from 16 per cent to 12 per cent.

Santro prices will be slashed by Rs 12,000-Rs 14,000, said Hyundai's Rajiv Mitra.

Getz prices will come down by Rs 14,000-Rs 16,000 while i10 is expected to be cheaper by Rs 12,000-Rs 16,000.


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Tooling Up For Tomorrow's Clever Cars

Cars are becoming more complex, with a range of advanced features we could hardly have imagined a few years ago made possible by sophisticated software-driven electronics. The downside is, with more to go wrong, more is going wrong, but European researchers have developed an antidote: a new computer language.

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Chrysler loss pegged at $2.7B

Chrysler LLC lost about $2.7 billion in the two months after Daimler AG sold controlling interest in the U.S. automaker to a New York private equity firm, Daimler said in its annual report Wednesday.

The figure, for the period from Aug. 4, 2007 to Sept. 30, was calculated under international financial reporting standards used in Europe and not under U.S. accounting standards, Daimler said.

The net loss also includes about $466 million in expenses incurred in the fourth quarter of last year, including Chrysler restructuring costs and costs related to a new four-year contract with the United Auto Workers, Daimler said in its report, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Daimler reported that for the full year in 2007, Chrysler lost 870 million euros, or roughly $1.2 billion when converted at the euro-to-dollar exchange rate that Daimler reported for the third quarter.


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Consumer Reports: Honda makes the best cars

The best cars you can buy in the United States are made by Honda, according to Consumer Reports. The is the second year in a row the Japanese automaker has been given the distinction.

Honda (HMA) cars and trucks scored an overage of 78 out of a possible 100 points in Consumer Reports' various tests. Toyota (TM) came in second with 75 points followed by BMW, Mazda, Nissan and Volkswagen. (After rounding, Nissan and Volkswagen tied with 71 points.)

"Honda earned the top score because it builds cars that are well-rounded, have excellent reliability and perform very well," the magazine, published by the not-for-profit Consumers Union, said in an announcement.

The overall score for each carmaker is based on the average score of all its vehicles tested by the magazine, and average predicted reliability scores based on the magazine's annual surveys.


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RACE RETRO CELEBRATES 100 YEARS OF ICONIC RACING CARS

This year's Race Retro, the international historic motorsport show, will celebrate 100 years of iconic racing cars, with exciting and interesting vehicles spanning the years from 1908 to present day.

Held at Stoneleigh Park from 14th to 16th March, racing cars on show range from a 100-year-old Panhard Levassor Grand Prix car on the Vintage Sports Car Club stand, to a 2007 Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24, courtesy of the Aston Martin Owners Club, which has been purpose-built to compete in events in 2008.

Iconic cars include a 1960 Ferrari 246 Dino, shown by the Historic Grand Prix Car Association; a 1965 Lotus 26R on the Grand Prix de L'Age d'Or stand; and a 1991 Reynard 913 from the Monoposto Racing Club. Dawn Treader Performance Ltd will display a newly-restored 1986 Lotus 98T Formula 1 car, while Ecurie Bertelli will showcase a 1938 ex-works Brooklands speed model Aston Martin.


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Tata Motors to cut prices of small cars, busses

New Delhi, Feb 29 (UNI) Tata Motors today said it will reduce the prices of its small cars and commercial vehicles (including buses, bus chassis and bus body), in view of the reduction of excise duties from 16 per cent to 12 per cent announced in the Union Budget by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.

The new applicable prices will be announced in the next few days, after the it has studied the details of the policy changes, a company statement said.



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Club spins wheels, spreads enthusiasm over tiny cars

Former Edgemere resident James Goolsbee has about 20,000 cars parked around his Essex house.Thankfully, each vehicle is only a few inches long."I started collecting Hot Wheels after I graduated from high school [in 1993 from Sparrows Point], Goolsbee said Monday.Goolsbee is a co-founder of the Hot Wheels Club of Maryland, which meets at Edgemere Elementary School on the first Saturday of every month.

"Anyone is welcome," Goolsbee said. "I mean, we get together and play with toys, right? So kids are always welcome."At the meetings, 25 to 35 members hold downhill gravity races on a 17-foot-long track and custom design competitions, according to Goolsbee."It's mostly a get-together of people who share the same passion," he said. "My son loves it."Membership, which is free, is open to anyone who loves tiny, die-cast vehicles, not just of the Hot Wheels variety, Goolsbee said."We have people who collect Matchbox and Ertl [brand] cars," he said.


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Airborne truck lands on cars

No injuries were reported in the crash, but four vehicles were severely damaged.

No one was injured Friday morning in a two-car accident on Belmont Street that sent a pickup truck airborne and onto two parked cars.

Patrolman Sean Lynch said police were called at 10:28 a.m. to the plaza at 111 Belmont St., just west of the entrance to Stonehill College.

Lynch said the accident occurred when a Toyota Forerunner being driven toward Easton by Kristen Walsh, 35, of 45 Brookside Ave., Brockton, was attempting to turn left into the plaza, which houses several businesses.

Walsh's vehicle collided with a Ford F150 pickup truck driven by Albert MacSwain, 50, of 268 Birchbark Drive, Hanson. MacSwain was traveling in the opposite direction on Belmont Street, heading toward Brockton.


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Mauritius: Coffee, Cars and Healthcare...

Free market does a pretty good job in delivering a whole range of goods and services. However, healthcare services can't simply be compared to running coffee shops or selling cars, says the author.

Sales of the Nano, the "people's car", are expected to be huge and there are plans to export it to other countries.

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Arlington targets residents who don't register cars

ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) - Arlington County is cracking down on thousands of residents who have out-of-state license plates on their vehicles for failing to register their cars in Virginia.

Beginning in April, the county will issue $100 annual fees for failing to register cars properly. State law requires that residents title and register their cars within 30 days of moving to Virginia.

Arlington also requires cars to be registered with the county within 60 days, along with payment of a tax based on 5% of the car's value.

Commissioner of Revenue Ingrid Morroy tells The (Washington) Examiner about 4,000 car owners have vehicles with out-of-state tags that are registered with the county but not the state. She estimates another 3,000 car owners still need to register with the county.


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Popular Ford SYNC System Updated, Expanded; '911 Assist' Connects ...

In his keynote address at the 2008 International CES in Las Vegas, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates announced that Ford will expand SYNC to nearly all Ford, Lincoln and Mercury cars and trucks by the end of 2008. Gates also confirmed a new "911 Assist" feature that will help drivers connect with emergency assistance in the event of an air bag deployment.

Introduced in the fall of 2007 and developed jointly by Ford and Microsoft, SYNC provides customers the convenience and flexibility to bring digital media players -- Apple iPods, Microsoft Zunes and other MP3 players -- and Bluetooth-enabled mobile phones into their vehicle and operate the devices via voice commands or with the buttons on the steering wheel or radio.

SYNC has been very popular. The new technology - which is exclusive to Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles -- topped 30,000 unit sales in its first three months on the market.


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Old standards missing on many new cars

Believe it or not, some cars are still offered with a bench seat. And some even have ashtrays. But many vehicles no longer offer these features, even as options. So let's take a peek at features that you won't be finding on future cars and trucks, ones that are about to join vinyl LPs, shag carpet and typewriters in the dustbin of history.

Bench seats

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Pool cars, get goodies galore

MUMBAI: If you give a lift to your neighbour, there is a good chance that you will get a discount on your car insurance premium, cinema ticket, and even coffee and food at some cafes and restaurants.

In a serious effort to tackle the mounting traffic and air congestion in the city, the Mumbai traffic police department along with a car pooling site has now tied up with a private insurance firm, multiplexes and restaurants in the city so that car pool members will get a rebate on a variety of allied services across a broad spectrum.

Carpoolmumbai.com is a social networking initiative which is currently providing online car pooling service to city motorists.

Members can, through an email, a phone call or an SMS, locate a car pooler plying near his location who is ready to accommodate him and take him to his desired destination.

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19 cars of freight derail northwest of Sudbury, Ont; no injuries, no spills, CP says

SUDBURY, Ont - Nineteen cars of a CP Rail freight train have derailed in northern Ontario, northwest of Sudbury.

CP Rail spokesman Breanne Feigel says it happened about 12:45 a.m.

today on a CP Rail line in a remote area, about 130 kilometres northwest of Sudbury.

Feigel says there were no injuries to the crew, and no public safety concerns.

There's no word on what caused the derailment.

Feigel says the westbound train was carrying a mix of consumer goods.

CP Rail crews are heading to the scene to assess the situation.

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Fuel price getting people out of cars

High prices at the petrol pump are forcing nearly a third of New Zealanders to drive their cars less, according to a new study.

The Research New Zealand study about the impacts of rising fuel costs, found that 32% of respondents say they are already thinking twice about taking the car, with 54% saying they will use their cars even less if the $2 a litre mark is passed. Females surveyed altered their driving habits more than males. While 35% of females said they were driving less, only 29% of males said they were.

People with a lower household income who were surveyed were more likely to change their driving habits, while those with incomes of $70,000 or more were least likely to say they were driving less (70%).

Director Emanuel Kalafatelis says the results are a significant given a cross section of New Zealanders were interviewed.

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Motorcyclist crashes into four cars

A motorcyclist suffered fractures earlier today when he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed into four cars.

The incident happened near Kennedy Grove.

The police said initial indications showed that the 39-year-old motorcyclist from Sta Lucija lost control of his bike and crashed into a VW Polo coming from the opposite direction. He then hit a BMW, a Toyota Celica and a Skoda.

The man has been treated for broken bones and been kept at Mater Dei Hospital for observation. .



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Vandals Slash Tires Of 22 Cars In Vancouver

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Teenage vandals caused thousands of dollars in damage Friday by slashing the tires of 22 cars at an apartment complex in Vancouver.

Police responded to the Springfield Meadows apartment complex on Friday to find the slashed tires.

The majority of the vehicles were parked inside the apartment complex, while a few had been parked on nearby streets.

Police described one of the four vandals as Hispanic, short and either 15 or 16 years old. .


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Police nab men they say broke into cars near Hitchcock Lake

WOLCOTT -- Police arrested two Bristol men who they say broke into seven cars near Hitchcock Lake Wednesday morning.Now police are investigating whether the same men are also responsible for other recent car break-ins in the same neighborhood last week.Jesse Gagnon, 21, and Kevin Gagnon, 24, both of 87 Union St., Bristol, were arrested minutes after a woman on Maple Avenue saw one of them sitting inside her car, police spokesman Capt. Domenic Angiolillo said. The woman saw the man get out of the car and run away on foot. .


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Request for cars raises questions

EWING -- Weeks after facing public criticism for buying two 42-inch flat-screen computer monitors while the township struggles financially, Ewing's construction office is again under fire for its spending -- this time for trying to buy four new cars to supplement its fleet of nine cars.

Construction Official Bill Erney wants to buy the cars -- hybrid SUV's at $26,500 each -- with money from his office's $580,000 cash reserve.

The request, scheduled to be discussed by the township council this week, has some residents wondering why Erney's department is enjoying a cash flow while the rest of the township government is pinching pennies and residents are facing an 18-cent hike in the local tax rate.

"We shouldn't have that kind of money sitting in some account," said resident Kate Tuttle.


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Cars confiscated after street race

THE cars of two street racers were confiscated after they were caught travelling more than 100km/h over the speed limit in Sydney's south-east.

Police observed a Honda CRX coupe and a Mazda RX7 speeding along General Holmes Drive in Mascot about 10.25pm (AEDT) yesterday.

Officers alleged the men entered the airport tunnel section of the road and then engaged in a street race.

They reached speeds of up to 170km/h in the 70km/h zone before police stopped the vehicles.

The men, aged 22 and 28, were issued with court notices for the offences of street racing, dangerous driving and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km/h.

Their licences were suspended on the spot and their vehicles were confiscated.

Both are due to appear in Waverley Local Court on March 18.

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People keeping cars longer because of shaky economy

DETROIT — People are keeping their cars and trucks longer as quality improves and the uncertain economy makes new purchases less appealing, according to a study released this week by automotive consulting firm R.L. Polk & Co.Polk said the median age of cars on U.S. roads was 9.2 years in 2007. That ties the previous year's record high. In 2007, 41.3 percent of all cars were 11 years or older, compared with 40.9 percent the year before.The median age for trucks and sport utility vehicles rose 4 percent to 7.1 years. Dave Goebel, a consultant for Polk's aftermarket team, said those numbers are starting to reflect a surge in truck and SUV purchases in the mid- to late 1990s.Goebel said he expects the average age of trucks and SUVs will rise and eventually be on par with cars once the segment stops its tremendous growth and settles into a more stable pattern.Purchases of new cars fell 3 percent in the U.S.


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2.5 percent WHT on local cars sale deferred for two months

ISLAMABAD (February 24 2008): The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has deferred payment of 2.5 percent withholding tax on the local purchase of cars for a period of two months. The board has amended Second Schedule of the Income Tax Ordinance, 2001 through SRO 153(I)/2008 issued on Saturday.

According to the notification, no tax will be collected under section 231B of the Ordinance 2001 during the period from February 21 to April 20, 2008 and will apply to booking of a motor car or delivered during the said period.

When contacted, Shafiq Ahmad Shaikh, head of public relations and official spokesperson of Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited, Karachi, said that the FBR has provided relief to the general public by withdrawing the levy. During this two-month exemption, the board would analyse whether the withdrawal of withholding tax increases the sale of locally manufactured cars.


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Car-sharing cameras to be tested

A new generation of road camera which can deduce how many people are in a car is to be tested for the first time.

It will initially be used to monitor car-sharing lanes in Leeds, but councils across Britain are said to be interested in using the technology.

Four out of five cars driving into cities at rush hour have only one person in them.

The government believes encouraging people to share journeys will help combat congestion.

It wants councils to look at building more "high-occupancy vehicle" lanes.

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Instant Analysis: Homestead

It looks like the track will go green on Lap 257, which will leave 11 green-flag laps.

Lap 254: The race has been red flagged for Montoya's crash. Here's the order: Yeley, Biffle, Kahne, Hamlin, Kenseth, Johnson, Truex, Stremme, Edwards, Bowyer, Sorenson, Harvick, Burton, Riggs and Martin. Then it's Stewart, Mears, Nemechek, Earnhardt, Wimmer and Raines, the last car on the lead lap.

Lap 252: Green flag. 16 laps to go and Yeley is in front for now.

Caution 10 Lap 248: Caution No. 10. Montoya has a hard crash in Turn 1 and he becomes the second Ganassi driver in two nights to have a fiery, scary looking crash. But he emerges unhurt.

Lap 252: Green flag. 16 laps to go and Yeley is in front for now.

Lap 248: The 21 lead-lap cars all pit for the last time.


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Nineteen cars of CP freight derail in northern Ont.

Nineteen cars of a CP Rail freight derailed in northern Ontario, northwest of Sudbury, early Saturday morning.

CP Rail spokesman Breanne Feigel said the incident happened about 12:45 a.m. on a CP Rail line in a remote area, about 130 kilometres northwest of Sudbury.

There were no injuries to the crew and no public safety concerns, Feigel said.

The westbound train was carrying a mix of consumer goods, he added.

The cause of the derailment has not been identified.

CP Rail crews were heading to the scene early Saturday afternoon to assess the situation.

With files from The Canadian Press

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Wild owner selling majority share to ex-Predators owner Leipold

PAUL, Minn. -- Craig Leipold emerged as the new chairman of the Minnesota Wild, promising not to "mess with" one of the NHL's model franchises.

The Wild announced Thursday that Bob Naegele's majority stake in the team will be bought by Leipold, the Wisconsin entrepreneur and former Nashville Predators owner.

"I'm not here to fix anything," Leipold said at a news conference to discuss the sale.

Naegele and his group of investors formed Minnesota Sports and Entertainment in 1997 when they were awarded the rights to an expansion franchise that entered the league in 2000. The Wild have announced a sellout for every game they've ever played at their downtown St. Paul arena.

"This is a genuinely incredible moment for me," Leipold said.

Vice chairman Jac Sperling declined to reveal the purchase price, but said the deal is expected to close over the next few months pending approvals by the city and the league.


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