Latest Articles by sarahmcbride

Ford's Young Exec Faces Big Challenges

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Joe Hinrichs is the newest executive of Ford Motor Co. As such, Ford family expects a lot from him. He faces big challenges and he has the burden of surpassing Ford's expectations.

Hinrichs spent grew up in the small, blue-collar town of Fostoria. With a 4.0, he graduated as valedictorian of his Catholic high school. Then, he went to the University of Dayton on a president's scholarship. He pursued MBA at Harvard University. After that, he was absorbed into the auto industry. Hinrichs was a former engineer of General Motors Corp. factory way back in 1989. He transferred to Ford Motor Co. in 2000. He transported Ford's transmission parts from one plant to another. Since coming to Ford in 2000, he's had six promotions.

Now, at the age of 40, Hinrichs is the youngest vice president at Ford. He is charged with extensive North American manufacturing operations of the automaker. He supervises 42 Ford factories in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

It is apparent that Ford is riding on rocky and troubled terrains of the automotive world. This fact alone is a big challenge to the young executive. "Next year will be one of the most challenging years that I've ever seen, at Ford or anywhere," Hinrichs said.

Hinrichs to-do list for 2007 includes the closure of 4 plants and the preparation to close 3 more in 2008, keep reduction costs in plants, help launch five new cars and trucks, and execute 32,000 hourly buyouts at factories, without compromising safety or quality. According to him, if all that weren't enough, he will help negotiate a new contract with the UAW.

"Joe has served spaghetti in this plant," said Jim Buffalo Smythe, who serves on the plant committee for UAW Local 2280. That local represents workers at the Van Dyke Transmission Plant, where Hinrichs started his Ford career. "He's a very strong leader. Some people just have that. And he has that," Smythe said. "Joe can talk to anybody -- that's his strength."

The big challenges Hinrichs faces now are the hardest in his entire career. "Everyone believes that I've been very fortunate, and I have been," Hinrichs noted. "But there's five or six events that have just been tragic, real setbacks. You have to overcome them."

This year through September, Ford lost $7 billion and this calls for a swift action. Hinrichs is determined to focus on quality of products to boost trust among consumers. Ford alloy wheels, engines, ergonomics and other performance and safety features as well as effective workflow are the main focus of Hinrichs.

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As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield,Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

CR-V, Watch Out For The Nissan Rogue

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Should the Honda CR-V be on the verge of extinction? Or should the Honda CR-V doubt the new claims that there is going to be a vehicle that would be taking its popularity and market share?

Nissan is going to send out a new vehicle at the 2007 North American International Auto Show and the company calls it the 2008 Nissan Rouge. The company also does claim that this new one is going to make the Honda CR-V run for shelter when it comes in. After all, according to Nissan, they named the vehicle the Rouge for it actually is meant to show “its independence oriented positioning.”

In the Nissan range, there are already four sport utilities in its range. However, the company chose to create a new one which would be having its own share of Nissan auto parts. The main difference that the Nissan Rouge would be having is that it has been designed to have taken a side towards sophistication compared to all other Nissan SUVs. In fact, Nissan’s general manager, Bill Bosley, explains, “The Rogue’s utility is a little more stealthy. All the necessary compartments and storage spaces are there; they just don’t scream ‘utility’ at you.”

People who were already able to take a peep at what the 2008 Nissan Rouge really has to offer were quite surprised to find that the vehicle looks so much like the Hyundai Santa Fe. It has got a length of 182.9 inches and is based on 105.9 inches of wheelbase. It may be quite smaller that the Hyundai vehicle but it just does look almost alike. Compared to the Honda CR-V though, the Nissan Rouge is much larger. Although larger does not necessarily equate to more space and more functionality.

The Nissan Rouge would be available for the public to purchase come the fall of 2007 and Nissan says that it would be having a price of $20,000 as the base. There are options which interested parties can choose to add but of course, that would mean additional fees. But still, Nissan estimates that a complete vehicle with all the trimmings would amount to around $25,000.

Mercedes-Benz Delivers 4-Door Drop-Top

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 00:00:00 -0600

Mercedes-Benz confirmed the rumor that spread like wildfire in the previous months. The rumor is about a 4-door convertible that comes with a fascinating drop-top. The new convertible from the automaker named Ocean Drive, will make its debut early next month at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show.

At a glance the new convertible appears like a decapitated S600 but a closer look suggests sophistication and state-of-the-art quality. It is given a unique body work that boasts large grille that also serves as Mercedes-Benz hood ornament. The door handles are mated to the striking architecture of the vehicle. The vehicle is also equipped with distinctive LED-based Mercedes-Benz headlights and taillights. In addition, 4 Lamborghini doors Mercedes-Benz are integrated to create a breathtaking vehicle.

To create a catchier and more indulging convertible, Mercedes-Benz integrated Ocean Drive's power operated soft-top behind the rear seats. The automaker's Airscarf heating system is also fitted onto the four seats to allow comfy driving even in colder weather conditions.

Mercedes-Benz did not give information about the production model of the car. Further, they are claiming that the mentioned convertible is not just a concept but a design study. According to auto analysts, automaker's decision regarding the production version will be influenced significantly by how the vehicle will be received by the auto market. When Mercedes-Benz finally decides to mass produce the vehicle, it will be its first production four-door convertible since the 1960s. More information about Mercedes-Benz Ocean Drive design study will be revealed by the automaker during Detroit show press days which is scheduled on January 7 to 9 next year.

Mercedes-Benz is a German brand for cars, trucks, buses and coaches, which are produced for Daimler-Benz AG. The latter's inception can be reckoned on June 28, 1926. Mercedes is now owned by Daimler-Chrysler AG. The brand name is applied to the models of one of the premier automakers today.

The automaker has introduced auto breakthroughs both in the past and present. In 1908, Daimler-Benz and Chrysler agreed on the "merger of equals," which eventually created DaimlerChrysler AG.

Mercedes-Benz pride convertibles include the 2007 CLK-Class priced at $46,200-$89,200, SL-Class $94,800-$186,000, and SLK-Class $43,350-$62,500.

On The Trail Of Overweight Cars

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Are you ready now for your holiday traveling with your trusty Toyota packed with all your gear and odds and ends that you would need? You might even have had packed your car’s truck with those spare Toyota body parts that you would need in case any one of your car’s breaks down.

However, have you ever thought about the weight your vehicle is actually carrying? According to the American Automobile Association, or the AAA, a vehicle that is overweight can be actually dangerous. Did you know that? You see, the director of public affairs of AAA’s Minnesota and Iowa areas, Gail Weinholzer, even did mention that when you overload your vehicle, the excess weight actually does put so much stress on three major things: the tires, the shocks, and the springs. Did you know that these three main parts are those main parts that actually do keep you in control of your vehicle and these also keep your vehicle safely on the road.

Actually, auto manufacturers have included the right amount of capacity when it comes to weight. However, such an amount actually is a combination of not only passengers but also of your cargo. You can find out how much your vehicle can actually carry by checking out the sticker your vehicle has on the driver’s side door panel.

Maybe you own a Toyota Corolla made for the model year 2006. According to the Toyota Motor Company, such a vehicle unit has the capacity to carry five passengers and has been built to have a payload capacity of some 850 pounds. Checking just how much your vehicle can carry can actually help you have a safe travel this holiday season and for the rest of your driving life.

Weinholzer does continue to share, “Built in safety mechanisms that help a driver maintain control at highway speeds won’t work properly when supporting more weight than they were designed to carry. In a turn or sudden swerve, an overweighted vehicle will roll too far to the outside which causes the spring and shock system to rebound pushing the vehicle back to the inside. This condition creates a rocking effect similar to a ship on the sea that can make steering so difficult that a driver may loose control of their vehicle.”

Auto Brochure To Share Insight On Safe Driving For Teens

Thu, 14 Dec 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Teenagers are often the group of drivers who meet vehicular accidents, crashes, or collisions. The whole thing may not be a big deal for these teenage drivers who would only have to suffer for a short time and save their weekly allowance so as to purchase new Honda auto parts to replace those ones that they have damaged. However, that is, if they are lucky enough to get away unscathed. And many other teenage drivers have been unlucky enough to get seriously injured or even killed during such occasions.

So as to spread about the information regarding such an alarming issue, GEICO, one of the country's foremost companies when it comes to auto insurance, has launched a new brochure that would greatly enlighten teenage drivers and also help parents understand more about their teenagers and their driving behavior. The whole brochure is dubbed as “Teens and Trucks” and this one would help you all out learn about safe driving. You can access this online though www.geico.com/auto/safety.

Browse through Teens and Trucks and you would be able to learn about tips and tricks so as to be safe even if you are taking a spin down the highway with large trucks almost surrounding you. The brochure does share that if you find yourself in such a kind of situation, you should keep in mind that the most important thing to do is to make yourself visible to these truck drivers. Also, make sure that you are not anywhere within the blind spots of the truck.

If you do decide to overtake and pass a truck, always be careful. Huge as these trucks are could also mean the complete opposite for your vehicle. Also, do not try to swerve when you are already in front of a truck or huge vehicle. If you do such a thing, you might end up getting hurt because the driver could swerve around and hit you and other innocent motorists.

The whole packet of information is readily available for anyone who is interested in learning about being safe on the highway. In fact, the insurance company also does encourage parents and teenage drivers to visit their library and learn more in the process.

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As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield, Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast. Do you want more information? Check out Honda auto parts.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

Tire Pressure Monitoring Is Not Just For Show

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

The tire pressure monitoring system is an electronic system and what it does is it monitors the level of air pressure or your vehicle’s tires. That way, you would not have to park your car somewhere, get out of your car, and go around just to check if all your car’s tires are still inflated just right.

However, unlike your vehicle’s external Mitsubishi OEM parts, your vehicle’s tire pressure monitoring system has been actually created not just for you to boast about it but to actually help you save your life.

Come to think of it, the tire pressure monitoring system is made up of just four little sensors that you can find on your vehicle. When one of your vehicle’s tires suddenly starts to lose air, the system would actually alert you while you are driving so that you would know about your tire’s situation. You see, if you drive with under inflated tires or over inflated tires, you and your passengers have a great chance of meeting accidents and being in a very dangerous driving condition. On the other hand, if you do have your tires inflated just right, you benefit a lot out of it. Not only are you safe, but you also get pluses. Your vehicle gets to perform at its best and in different aspects – from steering to comfort, to noise, to fuel economy to braking, and even to cornering.

Jim Gutting, the director of General Motors’ Tire Wheel Center, shares, “Tire pressure monitoring is wonderful technology that has the potential to help make our roads safer. But it’s no substitute for being conscientious about tire maintenance. All vehicle owners should familiarize themselves with TPMS, how it works and what it can tell them about basic tire maintenance.”

If you think that the amount of air pressure your tires have inside it are no big deal, then perhaps you should let the statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) change that thought for you. You see, according to the mentioned group’s data, there are about 660 fatalities each year which are actually caused by vehicles with low tire pressure. However, that is just the one part of the whole picture. There are also some 33,000 injuries per year to add to that.

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As a manager of one of the largest auto store in Springfield, Massachusetts, Sarah has extensive expertise on auto parts and automotives in general. This 42 year old is a certified car enthusiast. You need more information? Check this out Mitsubishi OEM parts.

Source: http://www.articletrader.com

"Dent and Run" Accidents Mounting in Britain

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

"Dent and run" accidents seem to appear common all over but in Britain the number is now mounting like a newly-launched rocket. So far, the figures, in the latest survey conducted in said territory, reflect that dent and run accidents are already alarming.

According to a survey for eBayMotors.co.uk about 64 percent of drivers have returned to their parked cars to find damage done but no note left. It was also found that an average driver has shelled out almost 340 pounds to have his car repaired. Car damage ranges from minor dents, scratches, and nicks to more serious cases like smashed mirrors, broken taillights and bended bumpers.

These days in Britain, broken truck mirrors for Toyota is a usual sight. Bended Chevrolet suburban bumpers are also oftentimes subjected to this misdemeanor in the territory. In addition, never be shocked if you see shattered taillights for Ford Crown, these pieces are just part of the motorist's lives in Britain. In the United Stated, these prevalent misdemeanors are called fender-bender accidents. Sports cars and MPV are, so far, the hardest hit of these
"fender-bender" accidents.

Last week was the first in what is aimed to be an annual survey by eBayMotors. According to the spokesman of the company, said accidents are much more common as road congestion and car numbers increase.

The survey revealed that out of 1,009 adult respondents, half of the drivers (50. 2 percent) admitted that they would "dent and run." Among the respondents who have witnessed "dent and run" accidents, only 2 percent would physically intervene to collar the culprit, moreover, 56 percent would secretly take note of the culprit's details and leave a note on the damaged car.

It was also found out in the survey that women appear to be more skilled drivers than men. Among men respondents 17 percent caused damage to another vehicle while squeezing or reversing into a parking space. Among women respondents, there is only 10 percent.

The survey also showed that the most common "dent and run" incident is the scraping of car doors. About two-thirds of the respondents say that they would never bother to leave a note if they caused said car damage.

Finally, eBayMotors survey pointed out that driver's excuses range from laziness to sheer sneakiness. 46 percent of the respondents would say that the damage could have been there already. 37 percent would say other driver was partly responsible. 19 percent would say no witnesses saw me do it. And, 8 percent would say I was worried about my no claims bonus.

WHEEL Power Gets Better

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

Cars do not work too well without quality wheels. Wheels secure the performance of the car and the safety of the occupants. This is the reason why a car purchaser should know the elements that make wheels outstanding.

Wheels come in a wide-variety of choices. Magnesium alloy, chrome, steel, and aluminum are some of the choices. Nonetheless, the most famous among them is Magnesium alloy wheels or "mag wheels." These wheels are commonly used on racing cars for better performance. This is because magnesium alloy wheels are lighter than steel or aluminum wheels.

Magnesium alloy wheels are produced by hot forging from magnesium alloys ZK60 and MA-14. The typical weight of a magnesium alloy wheel is approximately 8 to 12 kilograms, depending on the car model. Drawbacks of this type of wheel include the high price and the difficulty of recycling. Hence, it is not practical most street cars.

Steel wheels, on the other hand, are the most convenient tire package especially during winter. They are usually available in black and silver finish. Styling is made easier by using updated wheel covers. Compared to other alloys, steel wheels are more affordable. Steel is preferred by automakers because it is easy to manufacture and it reduces material costs.

Wheels also vary in size. People who are serious about their cars are aware that the size of the wheel is crucial to the performance of the vehicle. The primary effect of altering the wheel diameter is the need to change the gears to adjust the ratio of engine speed to wheel rotation speed. This is because the bigger the wheels are, the slower the car become. Nonetheless, the acceleration and top speed of a car do not solely depend on the wheel diameter if the gear ratio is optimized for that particular diameter. Larger wheels will not be affected by small road bumps.

Nowadays, the offer of a 26 inch wheel and tyre package is no longer amazing. These wheels can be used by Cadillac Escallade, Lincoln Navigator and Hummer. They can also serve as custom Ford truck wheels for F150 and other large American trucks.

When it comes to quality, durability and design, auto aficionados prefer Ford truck wheels, GMC truck wheels, and Toyota wheels. These wheels are especially manufactured to match their makes and models.

Furthermore, quality wheels must have routine maintenance to keep them in perfect working condition. In addition, maintenance give auto wheels longer wear. Owners can also opt for customization to personalize the car.

Production for BMW Hydrogen 7, begins

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

BMW has announced the beginning of the production of the world's first hydrogen-powered luxury saloon car –BMW Hydrogen 7. Said new car is scheduled to make its public appearance at the Los Angeles Motor Show on the 28th of this month. The automaker will be producing a limited number of the car and said production will be offered next year to chosen users only.

The new car from BMW is based on the 7 Series. BMW body parts are equipped with an internal combustion engine that runs on liquid hydrogen or petrol. When the car is using liquid hydrogen as its fuel, it emits no more than water vapor. Hydrogen 7 also boasts its BMW car parts that include a 260 horsepower 12-cylinder engine. With it, the car accelerates from 0 – 62 mph in a matter of 9.5 seconds.

BMW Hydrogen 7 is designed to shift swiftly from hydrogen to petrol power. This can be done with just a push of the steering wheel-mounted button. The shift will not adversely affect BMW wheels .

The dual power technology of the car has a cruising range in excess of 125 miles in the hydrogen power and additional 300 miles under petrol power. Aside from the traditional 74-litre petrol tank, BMW Hydrogen 7 comes with a tank that can hold a maximum weight of 8 kilograms of liquid hydrogen.

The engine power and torque of the car remains the same regardless of the power source. Additionally, the driver can switch between the two power sources without compromising driving performance. BMW Hydrogen 7 prioritizes the utilization of the of hydrogen power however; when the power source run out, it switches to petrol power automatically.

The hydrogen technology used by the new BMW pride decrease emissions produced by personal transport and minimizes carbon dioxide emission as well. BMW, as well as other automakers like Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, PSA Peugeot-Citroen, Ford, Audi, and Toyota are also venturing in hydrogen-powered vehicles.

100 units of BMW Hydrogen 7 will be manufactured in 2007. Details, pricing and other information about the 100 cars will be announced by the automaker at a later date.

Beware: Auto Scams This Holiday Season

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 00:00:00 -0600

The holiday season is very much felt nowadays. Just a couple more days and December would already be in. And then that is when we do feel the Christmas spirit and then start taking huge steps towards one of the basic things we do for the season – shopping.

However, it is also very important to note that during such a season, many auto scams and theft go about. That is why one of the leading insurance agencies in the country, GEICO, is actually sharing their bits and pieces of advice to keep vehicle owners and drivers safe from such acts of fraud and theft. Sure, you may just be stopping your vehicle to pick up those Mazda auto parts and a couple Ford car parts you ordered via the Internet but you may never know. Those few seconds could give car thieves the opportunity to do away with your car. With that, Seth Ingall, the current vice president for claims for the insurance company does share, “Auto theft and fraud perpetrators don’t take time off during the holidays. People are more rushed and pre-occupied than ever, which is an ideal time for auto thieves and fraud artists to get busy, too.”

So what do you do? Well, the these tips are actually some of the most basic however it is important that we are reminded about them. After all, the holiday rush could most certainly get to our heads.

First off, do not keep your car running or keep the keys inside your car while you rush off to pick up something even for just a couple of minutes. This actually gives the thieves the perfect opportunity to take some items off your vehicle or even take your vehicle off to a chop-chop yard. Another thing that could make thieves set their eyes on your car would be because you keep a lot of your valuables visible and inside your car.

One of the things that they do to falsify a claim is to actually wave to you so you can back out of a parking spot. However, in the process, they would actually have their car run into you. That is a parking lot scam and you should be beware of that.