Mazda Supports Sustainable Future

The Japanese automaker known for its use of Wankel engines, Mazda is making a name for itself when it comes to the development of vehicles geared towards a sustainable future. At the ongoing Tokyo Motor Show, the automaker once again affirmed its commitment to a greener future in the auto industry.

Hisakazu Imaki, President and Chief Executive Officer of Mazda recognize the change that is going on in the demand for clean vehicles. "As people grow increasingly concerned about protecting our environment, consumers look to car makers to take firmer measures to reduce the consumption of natural resources and prevent global warming, while respect for human life demands greater levels of safety," said Imaki during teh Tokyo Motor Show opening.

"This marks a transition in demand away from cars as a simple mode of transport in favor of cars that pay greater deference to traffic conditions and the environment. In other words, we have entered an era in which the very existence of car makers will be more closely scrutinized than in the past," Imaki added.

This move towards the development of vehicles aimed at protecting the environment is not only for Mazda as other automakers also strive to manufacture cleaner vehicles such as diesel Audi vehicles equipped with genuine Audi parts.

Imaki also pointed out that the company has launched its "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" plan. "In conjunction, we also drafted our 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom' plan, which outlines our long-term technology development vision," said Imaki. "The plan aims to promote development geared toward a sustainable future that benefits drivers, the roads and our environment. In advancing the "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" plan, Mazda aims to further evolve its Zoom-Zoom world by delivering true driving pleasure harmoniously balanced with high levels of environmental and safety performance. Mazda is committed to building a sustainable future society that brings continued happiness and excitement to people, society and the driving experience as we continue to offer exciting cars that look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them," he explained.

At the Tokyo Motor Show, Mazda unveiled the new Mazda6. According to Imaki, the redesigned vehicle has the attributes that motorists are known to be looking for like performance and fuel economy. "As the second model to join this next generation, the all-new Atenza embodies Mazda’s renewed committed to building fine cars as it aims to achieve a new harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance," said Imaki. He added further: "With class leading driving performance at highway speeds, fully supportive safety features, and superb driving quality that makes long rides comfortable, the all-new Atenza (Mazda6) ably represents the evolution of the Zoom-Zoom driving experience."

Hydrogen Hybrid Vehicles for U.S. Army Will Be Delivered By Quantum!

If your merchandise are great and has excellent quality, consumers will be delighted to purchase your goods. It’s like a hot and yummy pizza with the best toppings on top - all set for delivery! In the world of hydrogen vehicles, Quantum, a fully integrated alternative energy company that tops in the development and production of advanced propulsion systems energy storage technologies and alternative fuel vehicles, is the most trusted group to carry out the best hydrogen-powered vehicles. Speaking of pizza delivery, the U.S. Army has ordered hydrogen hybrid vehicles from Quantum!

The U.S. Army is now promoting hybrid vehicles as their primary vehicles on duty. They sure don’t want CO2-breathing cars like Saturn with the best Saturn wheel hub or any vehicle that damages the environment.

According to TheAutoChannel.com, Quantum Fuel Systems Technologies Worldwide, Inc. has announced that it has took in an order of six hydrogen hybrid vehicles for the U.S. Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineering Center (TARDEC). The agreement will be administered by Aerospace Engineering Spectrum (AES), located in Ogden, Utah.

Including Quantum's super-lightweight hydrogen storage system and the superior hydrogen fuel injection system, this setup is a chase on to Quantum's flourishing achievement of the improvement of a Ford Escape Hydrogen Hybrid for TARDEC. The six Ford Escape Hydrogen Hybrids will be prepared for service as governmental fleet vehicles at two military facilities in North America. This operation will carry the U.S. Army and its 21st Century Base program.

"We are pleased to be able to support TARDEC in expanding its hydrogen vehicle program. This contract exemplifies the U.S. Army's leadership as an early adopter of advanced technologies that will reduce petroleum dependence and fuel consumption while supporting the efforts of our troops. With oil prices as high as $80 a barrel, interest continues to grow worldwide in Quantum's hydrogen hybrid vehicles as near-term alternatives to reduce emissions and petroleum usage through the implementation of hydrogen technologies," says Alan P. Niedzwiecki, the President and CEO of Quantum.

Chevrolet Volt Concept Car Comes Back In Florida

I was extremely excited to see the Chevy Car Concept last January. I can’t even imagine how perfect the car was and General Motor Corporation promised to bring it back to the scene again. Well, the Chevy Volt Car Concept is finally going to town again revealing it’s self on the 18th to the 23rd day of October this year. But where? Where else but in South Florida.

We all had seen the first Chevy Volt Concept at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit last January. The concept car held 16 kWh lithium-ion batteries empowering 40 miles of all-electric range. Not only that, GM made it more interesting by adding few more features like an on-board “range-extender” engine as well as the generator set with is given power by gasoline or E85 which gives the car a huge range of more than 640 miles.

And to give the vehicle more interesting car parts, GM also added greener specifications like batteries and a greener engine to reduce the emission rates during the drive. Almost five percent of US car drivers are looking for quality batteries on cars because they want to save on fuel rather than spending much on it. Now, the car is handling a 110-volt/15-amp outlet when plugged.

GM needed to have 200 engineers and 25 interior and exterior designers to be able to design a great car concept like the Chevy Volt. Final production timing for the Volt is dependent on the development of lithium-ion batteries suitable for hybrid and electric vehicle applications.

The Auto Channel gave a detailed review of the said vehicle. The Chevrolet Volt Concept will be revealed at the Raleigh Hotel in Miami Beach during what is considered as the Volt’s South Florida tour.

WHEN: Thursday, October 18, 2007 7:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.

One-on-one and live morning show interviews available

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

Official press briefing 10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Post-briefing interviews available

WHERE: The Raleigh Hotel, poolside 1775 Collins Avenue Miami Beach, FL 33139

WHO: Bob Boniface, GM Director of E-Flex Systems Design

25 Most Beautiful Cars: The Wonders Of The Auto World

If there’s a list of the eight wonders of the world, AutoMobileMag.com has their own record of the most beautiful cars in the planet as well! The BMW 3 Series car with a brilliant BMW 3 Series radiator is one of the most beautiful cars in the world. But there can only be 25 top picks - the finest of them all... the extremely magnificent! Let’s check out the crowned vehicles for the top 25 most beautiful cars in the planet provided by www.automobilemag.com:

• 1935-1939 Alfa Romeo 8C 2900 – The outstanding inspiration for Enzo Ferrari.
• 1952-1955 Bentley R-type Continental- This car was designed and built by Brits, but wasn’t sold to Brits.
• 1971-1975 BMW 3.0CS/CSi/CSL- The coupe as art. The enchanting masterpiece from the german car manufacturer.
• 1937-1938 Bugatti Type 57S Atlantic - A seemingly sensational design with an awesome attitude.
• 1963-1965 Buick Riviera - Out of the fog came a Buick for the ages.
• 1938-1941 Cadillac 60 Special - An attraction sedan that earned a special push from Harley Earl.
• 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting Ray - Bill Mitchell sticks it to Zora Arkus-Duntov.
• 1947-1952 Cisitalia 202 coupe – This car was guided in the modern postwar era.
• 1936-1937 Cord 810 /812 - Harley Earl doesn’t know anything about this so he better shut up.
• 1964-1968 Ferrari 275GTB, GTB/4 - The Sophia Loren of supercars.
• 1968-1974 Ferrari 365GTB/4 Daytona – The all-around masterpiece. The universal appeal never fails!
• 1968-1979 Jaguar XJ6 - It defines the Jaguar look to this day.
• 1949-1954 Jaguar XK120 - You won’t be needing a pen and a paper to write about this car’s beauty.
• 1961-1966 Jaguar XK-E- Phalliform perfection.
• 1966-1972 Lamborghini Miura - A beauty under the skin, as well.
• 1940-1941 Lincoln Continental - The boss's tradition.
• 1961 Lincoln Continental - The car that defied the supremacy of Cadillac.
• 1957-1963 Lotus Elite - Designed by an accountant.
• 1967-1973 Maserati Ghibli - A high-water mark from an acknowledged master.
• 1954-1957 Mercedes 300SL Gullwing - Shaped by the wind, undaunted by the rules.
• 1936-1938 Mercedes-Benz 500K/540K Special Roadster - Teutonic opulence.
• 1990-1996 Nissan 300ZX - Basking crocodile.
• 1966-1967 Oldsmobile Toronado - The Homage that was as flourishing as the original.
• 1953-1954 Studebaker Starliner - It couldn't save Studebaker, but it still shines on the salt.
• 1937-1939 Talbot-Lago Figoni-Falaschi coupe - Teardrop or not, it's a sensual sensation.

Impreza: Ready For iPod

Think of the Impreza. What comes to your mind? You might think of the uber fast blue rally cars. Or perhaps - a sober version. A what?

Oh yeah, Subaru will be rolling out a sober version of the Impreza. Calm and confident - the pleasant ride quality makes the new version feel like a pricier car. Under the helm of a new chief exec, a range of a range of promising new cars and features are about to march into the UK auto industry.

As the Subaru brush guard continues to support the façade of the Impreza, the company is also looking forward to wrap its lineup with fabulous features.

One of the much-awaited features is the iPod. The automaker said it will introduce a technology that allows easy control of iPod through vehicle's audio system. While many new vehicles offer only an auxiliary input jack as part of their factory audio system, the 2008 Subaru Impreza takes portable music to the next level with the debut of the company’s integrated interface of the popular Apple iPod through the vehicle’s audio system, the company added.

On select 2008 Impreza models, owners can enjoy iPod functions through the dashboard. Functions include text display of playlist, artist, album and song information, fast forward and rewind, and browsing by playlist, artist, album, Podcast, and Audiobook - and even charges the music player’s battery.

The new Impreza iPod interface also manages the digital music player’s power by turning the unit off when the vehicle’s ignition is turned off, and resuming playback when the vehicle’s ignition is turned back on – an added benefit, since control via an auxiliary input jack requires manually switching the unit on and off.

Now you can take your music while driving the Impreza. The iPod will be turned off when the car’s ignition is turned off, and will resume playback when the ignition is turned back on. If the head unit is switched to AM/FM/CD or Aux modes, the iPod will pause and resume playback once the “SAT” button is pressed, the company’s release stated. Also, the dock connector is located in the center console, freeing the interior of unsightly cables and keeping the iPod hidden from view.

The company claims they offer a "sports casual" driving experience. In short, the new Imprezas are much more fun to drive than they look.

Tech Spec:

Price/availability: from £12,495, 2.0R from £14,995. Automatic £1,000 extra. On sale now.

Engine/transmission: 1.5R, 1,498cc horizontally opposed four-cylinder petrol engine with DOHC and four valves per cylinder; 106bhp at 6,000rpm, 104.7lb ft of torque at 3,200rpm. 2.0R/RX, 1,994cc, 147.5bhp at 6,400rpm, 144.6lb ft of torque at 3,200rpm. Five-speed manual gearbox with dual range. Permanent four-wheel drive with centre differential/viscous coupling.

Performance: 1.5R, top speed 109mph (auto 104mph), 0-60mph in 13.7sec (14.8sec), EU Urban fuel consumption 29.4mpg (28.8mpg), CO2 emissions 176g/km (177g/km). 2.0R/RX, TBA/9.2sec (auto11.3sec)/25.4mpg (25.4sec)/199g/km (194g/km).

Alternatives: Honda Civic five-door hatchback, from £13,207. Mazda3 five-door hatchback, from £11,430; VW Golf five-door hatchback, from £12,627.

63rd Annual Columbus Day Parade Happens In New York

Excited about the upcoming event? Well, just like anybody else, we have all anticipated the event to happen. Once again, a wide array of classic sports cars as well as some luxury cars aged to perfection are now again going to display themselves and show off the most outstanding designs and engineering. As elegant as you can imagine, these cars are all Maserati models and the Powerful 2008 Maserati GranTurismo is going to be part of a charity work.

All the Maserati sports and luxury cars will be seen lining up for the 63rd Annual Columbus Day Parade which is happening on the 8th day of October 2007. We should not expect anything like the Mazda speed parts maker Mazda on the show as the event is sponsored by Maserati itself. And take in the Italian style and elegance, the event will surely be the most sophisticated event this month. We are all aware that the Italian styles and designs are incomparable so expect engineering and design so different from all other cars you usually see.

The Maserati line up usually wears the famous luxurious exterior design of the Italian brand. At the event you will see the 1929/1931 Maserati Spyder which is so powerful to have the V16 for its engine with it becoming famous because of its 1829 record to a 2007 Quattroporte Automatic four-door sedan that can go from 0 to 60 in 5.5 seconds.

All these cars will be lining up to entertain the motor enthusiasts following a parade of the 2008 Maserati GranTurismo. There will also be an exclusive raffle which will benefit the scholarship programs of the Columbus Citizens Foundation who are also the organizers of the Columbus Day Parade. The first 10 of Maserati's latest models will be raffled during GranTurismo.

I found this list on The Auto Channel early this morning.

Among the Maseratis to be featured in the Columbus Day Parade are the following:

• 1929 / 1931 Maserati Spyder - V16
• 1953 Maserati A6GCS MM Spyder
• 1955 Maserati A6G54 GT Frua Berlinetta
• 1958 Maserati 3500 Vignale Spyder
• 1960 Maserati 5000 GT
• 1970 Maserati Ghibli Spyder SS
• 1971 Maserati Ghibli SS
• 2004 Maserati MC 12
• 2007 Maserati Quattroporte Automatic

Placido Domingo To Drive A BMW Hydrogen 7

Let’s put our Geo brake pads aside for a while and set the pace to the hydrogen mood! Ok… Last month, Jay Leno, the comedic host of the Tonight Show, was given the keys to a brand new BMW Hydrogen 7 model thus adding his name to the list of celebrities with a hydrogen-propelled vehicle made by BMW. The list of celebrities owning hybrid cars such as the Hydrogen 7 is growing. Today, another big-time persona has obliged to take in the Hydrogen 7! The ever famous opera singer and conductor Placido Domingo will be given the keys to a BMW Hydrogen 7 - the industry’s pioneering hydrogen-powered luxury sedan!

BMW announced the high-noted news yesterday which was published on TheAutoChannel.com. Placido Domingo is an extensively considered as the world’s supreme operatic artist of modern times. Domingo joined a group of other finest personas in government, entertainment, and the environment among many others as the most recent individual to drive the BMW Hydrogen 7 on U.S. roads as a part of the BMW Hydrogen 7 Pioneer Program. The plan is intended to help BMW in its task to establish extensive support for hydrogen as a practical substitute to fossil fuels. "It is an honor to be taking part in this initiative by BMW to educate, inform and, ultimately, to impact how we as a society think about alternative energy and the health of our planet. Having worked on numerous natural disaster relief efforts, I've witnessed first-hand the profound impact that environmental and climate changes can have on humanity. I feel it is the duty of everyone on this planet to learn, become involved in the fight, accept change and be part of the solution," says Domingo. Through the binding of power and influence of personalities like Placido Domingo, they are at the front position of their respective authorities to lead other people in promoting the use of alternative fuels. BMW is expected to maintain the generation of support of hydrogen-drive vehicles in the short term and encourage demand for viable hydrogen transportation in the long-term. Several entertainers, business leaders, politicians and other well known figures picked the BMW Hydrogen 7 as their energy-efficient ride of choice. The list includes:

• Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie at the "Ocean's 13" premiere in Hollywood
• Fox Entertainment Chairman Peter Liguori at the FOX All-Star Party in Santa Monica
• Richard Gere and Sharon Stone at the Cinema for Peace Gala in Berlin;
• "An Inconvenient Truth" producer Davis Guggenheim (Oscar(R) for the best Documentary Feature) and Best Foreign Language Film Oscar(R) winner
• Director Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck at the 2007 Academy Awards
• Michael Glos, German Federal Minister for Economy and Technology, Günter Verheugen, Vice President of the European Commission, World renowned soprano Anna Netrebko