Saturn fans invited to “Kiss My Astra” in online photo contest

The best photo entry wins a fuel-efficient 2008 Saturn Astra XR

DETROIT – Saturn today launched the “Kiss My Astra” national photo contest, offering Saturn fans an opportunity to show just how much they would love to win a new Saturn Astra.

Contestants can kiss their own Astra, a friend’s Astra or drop by any Saturn retailer and kiss their Astra, and then upload a photo of the kiss at www.ImSaturn.com. The contestant with the funniest, most creative photo – as selected by the online Saturn community – will win a 2008 Saturn XR 5-door.

“Saturn vehicles have always inspired feelings of passion from our owners, and the Astra is no exception,” says Matt Armstrong, Saturn car marketing manager. “With the ‘Kiss My Astra’ photo contest, Astra fans can share their public displays of affection for this fuel-efficient, great-looking new car.”

To be eligible, contestants must log on and join the ImSaturn online network. In September, a group of “Astra-ologists” from Saturn will select 20 finalists. Visitors and members of ImSaturn.com will then cast their votes for the best “Kiss My Astra” photo.

JAGUAR CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF XK AT THE BRITISH INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2008

Jaguar will showcase a new look for XK in celebration of 60 years of the iconic nameplate at this year’s British International Motor Show. The new XK60* will take pride of place alongside representatives from the full Jaguar model range, each with a success story for 2008. [Read more →]

2009 MAZDA6 PRICING TO START AT $18,550

IRVINE, Calif., July 15, 2008 – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced pricing for the 2009 MAZDA6 sports sedan will start at $18,550 for a MAZDA6 i SV, equipped with a 170-horsepower 2.5-liter I-4 engine and a six-speed manual transmission.  Pricing for the 2009 MAZDA6 s, powered by a 273-horsepower V6 engine and six-speed Sport AT automatic transmission begins at $24,130.  Destination charges for all 2009 model-year Mazda vehicles are $670, $715 in Alaska.  The 2009 MAZDA6 will be available at dealers across the U. S. starting in late August, 2008. [Read more →]

BREAKTHROUGH AERODYNAMICS IS BOXY FORD FLEX’S SECRET WEAPON FOR FUEL ECONOMY

The Flex’s standout aerodynamics equates to one mile per gallon improvement in fuel economy.

DEARBORN, Mich., July 16, 2008 - There’s no doubt the 2009 Ford Flex’s unique profile turns heads on the road, but can a boxy crossover vehicle really deliver the superb aerodynamics needed for maximum fuel economy?

In the case of the Flex, the answer is an unqualified yes. [Read more →]

CAA-Quebec study on transport and preparation charges - Canadians pay up to twice as much

QUEBEC, July 17 /CNW Telbec/ - CAA-Quebec’s 2008 study of vehicle
transport and preparation charges shows that Canadian consumers will spend an
average of 30% to 60% more than their U.S. counterparts when purchasing a 2008
model. Concretely, some automakers demand $1,000 more from Canadians for
“transport and prep,” a situation that the organization finds inexplicable.
For the second year in a row, CAA-Quebec conducted a detailed analysis of
the charges imposed by automakers for all models available on the market. The
conclusions thus far are clear: not only do Canadian consumers pay up to twice
as much, but even worse, the gap exists even for vehicles that have been
assembled here in Canada. [Read more →]

The New Distinctive, Mid-engined, 2+2 Sportscar from Lotus

Eagerly anticipated and making its official global debut at the British Motorshow in London on July 22nd, the first all-new car from Lotus since the iconic Elise in 1995, will enter the sportscar market as the only mid-engined 2+2 in production.

The new car, which is known only by its project name ‘Eagle’, is a more holistic offering than the Elise and Exige models that have been so massively popular with track day enthusiasts.  The car, the name for which will be announced at the British Motorshow on 22nd July at an 11:30 press conference, is designed for people who desire exotic sportscar characteristics of stunning design, exclusivity, dramatic proportions and performance. Project Eagle also offers real-world usability and a unique sense of occasion. [Read more →]

Bangor, Maine USA

Last Ditch Racing, defending 2007 Rally America Eastern Open Class
Champions, took the overall and Open Class wins in both the Mexico
Regional Rally and the Berlin Regional Rally at last weekend New
England Forest Rally.  Their performance was enough to earn them a
fifth place overall in the national portion of the event, after
starting 16th.  The team set several top 10 stage times and set
personal team records on seven stages.  The New England Forest Rally,
held in Western Maine and parts of New Hampshire, is Round 6 of the
2008 Rally America National Championship and regarded as one of the
roughest and difficult events in the Championship. [Read more →]

MITSUBISHI INTRODUCES NEW ‘RACING LANCER’ (MRX09) FOR THE 2009 DAKAR
Click here to enlarge

Mitsubishi Motors Corporation has developed a new competition car, the Racing Lancer, whose mission will be to target victory on next year’s Dakar which breaks new ground in 2009 with a switch from Africa to South America. For Mitsubishi Motors, not only does the Dakar serve as a platform for the sales and marketing of the Pajero/Montero but it also provides a unique proving ground for powertrains and 4WD transmission systems. In light of the corporate decision to focus the firm’s cross-country rallying activities on the development of a new diesel engine, Mitsubishi Motors sees it as a natural step for the Lancer (known in Japan as Gallant Fortis), a commercially and globally important model powered by the diesel powerplant, to take over the competition baton from the Pajero/Montero and the Pajero/Montero Evolution. The technological expertise accumulated thanks to the firm’s cross-country rally program . which includes the Dakar . will be applied to its diesel engine development, including the new-generation clean diesel that will power the future production cars. Meanwhile, as was previously the case, the 4WD systems technology will also be carried over to the production versions after their configuration has been optimized as a function of their end-use. [Read more →]

- New Kia Soul to feature two gasoline engines and one diesel engine
- Kia Soul production model will appeal to the ‘young-at-heart’
- World premiere of new Kia Soul to be held at Paris Show on 2 October

(SEOUL) July 16, 2008 — Kia Motors Corporation has confirmed that its all-new production model, the Kia Soul, will be marketed globally with a choice of three highly efficient engines (depending on individual markets), when it goes on sale in early 2009. [Read more →]