Archive for July 10th, 2009

Porsche Celebrates Production of 100,000 911s

Porsche AG has created another remarkable milestone in the automotive realm. The Stuttgart, Germany-based automaker produces another worthy page of amazing success in its survival book. The success story is boosted by its iconic sports car – the 911.

Earlier, the German automaker commemorated the production of 100,000th 911 unit built since April 2004. The milestone was attained with the latest (997) model manufactured at Porsche’s main plant in Zuffenhausen, Germany.

“It is with great pride that we celebrate this outstanding achievement for the 911, a vehicle renowned for its performance and style,” said Peter Schwarzenbauer, the CEO of Porsche Cars North America. “We look forward to many more years of delighting sports car enthusiasts who have long looked to Porsche to deliver unsurpassed engineering excellence.”

Year 2006 was a record sales year for the 911 in the United States, Porsche’s largest market, with 12,045 units sold. So far this year, sales of the 911 are up by nine percent over the same period in 2006.

The 911, the famous and distinctive sports car launched in 1963, has undergone continuous development since its introduction in 1964. The sports car is notable for being rear engined and air-cooled, until the launch of the all-new Type 996 in 1999. The sports car features exceptional styling and cutting edge parts accessories consist of OEM Porsche oil filter, engines, radiators, cold air intake, and more.

Since its introduction, the 911 has been enhanced the pool of the automaker’s engineers as well as by private teams. They were modified to conform to the demands of racing, rallying and other types of auto competition. Watchers in the industry say that the 911 is the most successful competition car ever built. This is especially true when its variations, including the powerful 935, are considered. In the international poll for the award of Car of the Century, the sports car came fifth after the Ford Model T, the Mini, the Citroën DS and the Volkswagen Beetle.

By the mid-1970s, the German automaker was thinking that its 911 sports car might be getting a bit archaic. With an air-cooled, flat-six engine hung behind its rear axle and ever-advancing competition, the company’s 911 was on the brink of being phased out for the new 928, with its ultra-modern, front-mounted, water-cooled V8 and breathtaking styling.

But something unexpected happened – people kept purchasing 911s and eventually the car outlasted even its presumed successor. And the rest is history…

It is likely that Porsche never imagined back then that in 2007, they would attain a new production record with their iconic 911 by producing 100,000 of the current Type 997 series in a span of three years, faster than any other preceding generation 911. Having debuted in April 2004, the 997 series will be produced in 16 variants by fall of this year, from the base 911 Carrera to the track-conquering, yet street-drivable – 911 GT3 RS.

According to the German automaker, by July 31, the end of the 2006/2007 fiscal year, around 36,000 units from the 911 series will have been sold around the globe setting another remarkable record in the history of the sports car.

Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, or just Porsche, is founded in 1931 by then Austrian Ferdinand Porsche, the engineer behind the very first Volkswagen car.

The Atlanta, Ga.-based Porsche Cars North America, Inc. and its subsidiary, Porsche Cars Canada, Ltd., are the exclusive importers of Porsche sports cars and Cayenne sport utility vehicles for the United States and Canada. PCNA employs nearly 300 individuals who provide Porsche vehicles, parts, service, marketing and training for its 213 Canadian and U.S. dealers.

Anthony Fontanelle is a 35-year-old automotive buff who grew up in the Windy City. He does freelance work for an automotive magazine when he is not busy customizing cars in his shop.

Used Japan Cars Vs Used Cars From Other Countries

span style=”font-size: 12pt; font-family: “Times New Roman”;”>Importing used cars from other countries is a passion for some people. Car lovers around the planet prefer to buy cars manufactured in Japan and USA. When it comes to performance and reliability, people prefer the Japan cars. The Japanese automotive gurus like Toyota, Nissan and Honda have gathered International attention due to their reliability and great performance. People prefer the American ones as the automotive giants like General Motors, Chrysler and Ford have been around us with great popularity for quite a long time. However, when it comes to making a choice of importing used cars, the Japanese used cars are the better options. Here is a comparison of importing used Japan cars and importing the ones from the States.

The sparingly used Japanese cars

The Japanese car owners are known to maintain their cars in good condition. Unlike the car owners in other parts of the world who use their cars often, the Japanese car owners will sparingly use their cars. The Japanese car owners will use other means of transport like scooters and motorcycles even if they own a car. On the other hand the cars in USA will be extensively used. Hence the condition of the used Japan cars will be far better than the American ones.

The Price Factor

Used Japan cars are popular around the planet for cheap pricing. You will be able to buy a used Japan car for half the price you spend for buying them from other countries. Apart from the cheap pricing, the used Japan cars will be bundled with lots of accessories. Hence by buying a used Japan car you will be able to get very costly car accessories for free. Moreover, you won’t have to spend a single penny on maintenance as the used Japan cars will be well maintained by the previous owner. The Japanese road law has strict policies in ensuring the condition of the car. Hence if you import used Japan cars directly from you don’t have to worry about maintenance for quite a long time.

The Tax Factor

When it comes to importing used cars from other countries, people will be overwhelmed with the import taxes that they have to pay. However, importing a used car directly from Japan doesn’t need any import tax to be paid. The true fact is that you can buy a used Japan car at the same price you pay as import tax for importing cars from other countries. The procedures and the paper works involved in importing cars from Japan are very simple when compared to the other options. The clearance procedures for the used Japan cars are very liberal and hence you can import cars directly from Japan, hassle-free.

All the above mentioned factors make importing used Japan cars more profitable and convenient that importing used cars from other countries.

Buying used Japan cars is beneficial in many ways. With the cheap pricing and lots of bundled accessories you can make great savings by buying used Japan cars. That is why the Author of the article writes articles explaining the benefits of buying used Japan cars. When it comes to buying used Japan cars, she recommends Woodstock-cartrading.

BMW HEADLIGHTS: ENLIGHTING ROADS

The users have given a reputation to BMW for giving ultimate driving experiences. It gives the owner of a BMW a great pride to drive. Its meticulous engineered response combined with precision and agility to commands is given to it by the person behind the wheels, thus making it a remarkable car. Because of its performance, the brand was eventually titled as “The Ultimate Driving Machine.” It is BMW’s standard quality that provides drivers the ease and comfort that all car consumers dream of.

BMW vehicles have a very distinctive design. Keeping the superb quality of these BMW vehicles in consideration, they are also designed along classic lines that give them a timeless look. The people in BMW know that although looks may withstand the test of time, some BMW interior parts will eventually wear down with constant use. For this reason, BMW interior parts are available in the market. These parts are made to match the specifications of one’s BMW car unit. These parts are especially made to meet the needs of a particular BMW vehicle. Thus, one can expect replacement BMW interior parts to perform as ably and competently as one’s old BMW part.

To make sure that BMW vehicle owners can enjoy the full benefit of having a BMW even as time goes by, BMW’s various interior parts are out in the market available for all BMW vehicles, such as the alternator, antenna, belts, body parts, brakes, brake pads, catalytic converter, clutch, air filter, cold air intake, control arm, engine parts, fuel pump, exhaust, fog lights, grille, , ball joint, head gasket, headlights, muffler, oil filter, oil pump, radiator, shocks, spark plugs, starter, oxygen sensor, struts, timing chain, taillights, thermostat, timing belt, turn signal and water pump.

Groundbreaking engineering and mechanical technologies have been employed by BMW in the manufacture of its automobiles. Due to its vehicles design, it provides optimum performance, but aside from that, safety measures are carefully kept in view as an integral part of the overall structure and design of BMW units. In this regard, every BMW vehicle is equipped with a complete lighting system. The BMW headlights, tail lights, corner lights and side lights are the one of its own kind in lighting system that has proven to improve road visibility for the vehicle driver which also enables him/her to communicate with other drivers on the road.

The BMW headlights are the most basic. Among all the components of the vehicles lighting system, these headlights lamps are positioned at the front end of the vehicle where by illuminating the road ahead for the driver helps in keeping the road view clear. During the day, headlights are of great use in maneuvering across foggy roads. During the night, it not only illuminates the road, it also serves as a signal to other drivers, of the vehicle’s presence. Through this, headlights prevent accidents which could sometimes be fatal especially at the curvy roads of the mountains.

BMW headlights are combinations of multiple lamps and reflectors. These lights are capable to be switched between two configurations: low beams and high beams. By shifting the BMW headlights to high beams drivers are allowed to have more light at a higher angle, causing the person at the wheels to be able to see farther. However, the high beams dazzling glare may be flattering to most of the drivers. But, low beams should be used during normal visibility conditions to avoid mishaps, the drivers could face when he is coming from the opposite directions.

Although BMW has used the material in the manufacturing of the headlights which could last long, the environmental changes may affect its life span. Some factors like changes in the weather can do damage to it, because these weather changes cause temperatures to rise and fall. This causes moisture to develop and collect inside the headlight assemblies and on the inner surface of the lens. This could be compromising with the beam pattern and may even turn out to temper the headlight’s electrical connections. So
BMW headlight users are cautioned to keep an extra pair with them.

So have a nice brighter, stylish and most beneficial drive at the most inconvenient driving conditions with BMW headlights, a brand name on which you can relay for your whole life.

Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia in Detail

Porsche AG has released the rally racing version of its popular Cayenne mid size luxury SUV. Named as the Cayenne S Transsyberia, the German automaker said the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia “is a car tailored specifically to the requirements of long distance rally racing” and “has been modified on a number of points enhancing both safety and the car’s racing performance.”

Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia retains the bold, aggressive, and rugged body styling of the Porsche Cayenne S base model, with new features that adapts into the world of rally racing. Two exterior color options are available: Basalt Black Metallic and Chrystal Silver Metallic. The overall body appearance is highlighted by the vehicle’s aerodynamic parts and other exterior auto parts including extra large air intake scoops, roof spoiler with a double-wing profile mounted on the tail gate, stainless steel front air dams, stainless steel rear air dams, and 18inch “Cayenne S II” light-alloy wheels and the rim hubs are finished in orange color.

In addition, the exterior side view mirrors, the rear wing, wheel rims, left and right air intake, and the additional headlights for the Cayenne S Transsyberia are also finished in orange color. Moreover, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia also comes with extra four headlights mounted on the roof to provide additional lighting when taking on different terrains. The orange colored stripes on the side with the name “Cayenne S Transsyberia 2007″ complete the vehicle’s exclusivity.

Moving inside, the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with a standard navigation system. This special Cayenne S model retains some of its interior features, but the glove compartment has been replaced with a Tripmaster computer. The typical foot operated brake on the Cayenne S is also replaced with a hand brake. The rally team aboard this special edition model can use the 20 liter luggage space and two transport boxes for their tools. The Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia also comes with safety features to give both the driver and passenger an effective protection against injuries. The Cayenne S Transsyberia comes with air bag system and a safety cage that complies with the standards of the FIA Motorsport Authority. In addition, Porsche AG said: “To set off the extra weight of the safety cage and rally equipment, and to further lower the vehicle’s centre of gravity, the rear seat bench, interior body panels and cound proofing material have all been removed from the car.”

The and suspension system on the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia has been modified to cope up with the most extreme terrains like rough and rocky surfaces as well as muddy tracks. The German automaker also installed their patented Porsche Dynamic Chassis Control (PDCC) and Porsche Active Suspension Management (PASM). These two systems works in conjunction with the air suspension to provide vehicle dynamics and further enhance the vehicle’s traction. Moreover, PDCC features a Special Offroad Mode that gives the Cayenne S Transsyberia 75 cm of maximum depth when crossing rivers or streams.

Powering the Porsche Cayenne S Transsyberia is a 4.8-liter V8 engine capable of delivering 385 bhp (283kW) at 6200 rpm. The engine comes with a direct gasoline injection system, and can be able to run on 25 percent ethanol fuel mixed with gasoline. This feature gives the Cayenne S Transsyberia lower fuel consumption by about 15 percent compared to the base Cayenne S model. A six-speed automatic transmission powering the Porsche Traction Management (PTM) permanent all wheel drive system completes the vehicle’s powertrain package. The vehicle also comes with quality cooling system, which also features water pump like the Jeep Wrangler off-road model with quality Jeep water pump.

Lisa Ziegler is a 29-year old native of Waldport, Oregon and is currently working as a senior research analyst in a top Automotive Research Consultancy firm.

Ferrari to Return as Ppda is Given the Boot

One of France’s top news anchors, Patrick Poivre d’Arvor, will bid farewell to viewers this summer and be replaced by the darling of the French media, Laurence Ferrari.

PPDA as he is more affectionately known has been a familiar face on prime time news for more than three decades. For Ferrari it marks a return to TF1 – the country’s biggest private television channel – which she left in December 2006 to host a weekly political programme on rival station Canal +.

The change signals something of a revolution in French television journalism. After all PPDA has been more or less the face and the voice of television news for the past 30 years.

In February 1976 he was chosen to present the prime time news on the country’s public channel Antenne 2, which later became France 2. He jumped ship nine years later to join TF1, where he has been ever since.

His tenure has been remarkable in the often fickle world of television in which ratings rule. But a recent drop in viewing figures has been compounded by stories of his autocratic style with newsroom colleagues and the desire by the powers-that-be for a change at the top.

Not surprisingly Ferrari didn’t require that much persuading to return to TF1. Despite a recent drop in ratings, the 8 o’clock evening news still regularly attracts more than 10 million viewers and is quite simply the most prestigious job in television journalism.

The 41-year-old first joined TF1 in 2000 and for the next six years formed one half of the golden couple of TV news along with her former husband, Thomas Hugues. The pair presented a weekly fast-paced news magazine and were regular holiday stand-ins for the channel’s main news presenters – Ferrari for Claire Chazal at the weekends and Hugues ironically enough for PPDA on weekdays.

Ferrari’s move in 2006 to Canal + came as a surprise to many, after all it gave her less exposure to the public at large. But it couldn’t have been better timed professionally speaking, coming as it did at the beginning of the campaign for last year’s presidential elections.

Her weekly political programme, “Dimanche”, gave Ferrari the chance to go one-on-one with some of France’s leading figures. And she won accolades for her pugnacity especially with the two main presidential candidates at the time, Nicolas Sarkozy and Ségoléne Royal.

Indeed the chemistry between Ferrari and Sarkozy certainly clicked – if only on a professional level rather than, as falsely rumoured later, the personal one.

Much is being made of Ferrari’s glamour and there’s no denying her looks but she’s also an accomplished journalist with years of experience. Her arrival should provide a boost to TF1, not least from those curious to see a fresh face at the helm.

But for some media watchers there are perhaps more sinister powers at work.

The merry-go-round in front of the cameras is also being accompanied by a shake up behind the scenes at TF1 with appointments in both news production and direction seeming to be made at the behest of the channel’s major shareholder – Bouygues – whose CEO, Martin Bouygues, just happens to be a close friend of Sarkozy.

At the same time public television is getting ready to scrap advertising, as ordered by Sarkozy earlier this year, with rumours a-plenty that the aim is in fact to pave the way to eventual privatisation of the main channel, France 2.

Not surprisingly perhaps there’s speculation in some quarters that Sarkozy is setting himself up as France’s answer to Italy’s Silvio Berlusconi, with a hands-on approach to setting the media agenda.

Be that as it may, the immediate question is what next for the 60-year-old PPDA? With his experience he’ll certainly be courted by competitive channels and is unlikely to disappear completely from the small screen.  And of course there’s also doubt as to how long Chazal will be able to hang on to her weekend slot before being replaced.

Johnny Summerton is a Paris-based broadcaster, writer and journalist specialising in politics and sport. Visit his site for a look at some the stories making the headlines here in France http://www.persiflagefrance.com

Issues Concerning Insuring a Ferrari

Ferraris are beautiful luxury machines that can make a great addition to your investment portfolio. Considered by vehicle connoisseurs as art on wheels, ownership of Ferrari Cars puts you in an elite group of auto enthusiasts. After making a large investment in such a thing of beauty, you will want to take the necessary steps to protect your expenditure; heading the list of costs included in Ferrari Prices is the obtaining the appropriate insurance for your New Ferrari.

How you will use the car is one factor that will come into play when you are purchasing auto insurance. A car that is used as a show piece and is rarely driven will demand a different rate from one that is taken out and driven on the open road. Some insurers also have requirements for garaging vehicles when they are not in use. Another aspect to consider is the age and gender of the driver. Insurance is based on risk and indemnity, and if you are in what the insurance company decides is a high-risk group, this will cause your rate to increase. For example, an experienced male driver with a clean driving record wishing to insure a $100,000 Ferrari with full coverage might expect an insurance premium in the $5,000 range. An older female driver with a similar record, experience and vehicle would typically pay less for the same coverage, because in general women drivers carry less of a risk to the insurer than do male drivers. The amount of experience a driver has, plus his or her driving record, will also factor into the insurance premium an insurer will offer you. The rarity of the particular Ferrari that you own will also play a part in the insurance costs incurred.

You might want to think about insuring your vehicle with an insurance company that specializes in collectible cars. In this way you will be dealing with agents that are experienced with auto insurance issues specific to Ferraris and other classic road vehicles, and they can offer you the specialized service that you will need. If you are a collector of rare or classic cars, you can often get a discount by insuring more than one vehicle with the same insurance company, so this is something for which you will need to inquire.

Belonging to an auto club for Ferrari owners can also provide a way to lower your insurance costs. Auto clubs can often offer discounts to their members because they are able to buy insurance coverage in bulk, essentially, and this helps drive the prices down, for the members’ advantage. Discounts on insurance are also sometimes given to auto club members because they tend to be safe drivers that take excellent care of their prized vehicles.

Jonathon Blocker has worked with many well known Ferrari Dealers. As a Ferrari aficionado who is intimate with the history and variety of Ferraris, Mr. Blocker enjoys sharing his expertise on the family of Ferrari Cars, both new and collectible.

Porsche Gears Up for a Possible Takeover

Porsche AG, the maker of valuable and profitable cars like 911, Cayenne and Boxter, will increase its shares in Volkswagen to avoid takeover from abroad. In view of this forthcoming act, auto analysts predict that Porsche is gearing up for a takeover of its own.


Recently, Porsche announced that it will purchase sufficient shares in Volkswagen to boost its share to 29.9 percent. Thirty percent of which means a full takeover bid. It seems that the automaker is not only concentrating on the quality of its Porsche factory parts but also with its shares.


Porsche, a German automaker, is controlled by the family of Ferdinand Piech Volkswagen chairman. Nowadays, the automaker is the biggest shareholder of Volkswagen.


Wendelin Wiedeking, Porsche CEO, said that the automaker has no plans to takeover VW. He added that the automaker wants to sell 8.75 million new shares. “We believe this may presage a full bid by the company for Volkswagen, fulfilling Ferdinand Piech’s evident wish to control the company ahead of a likely expiry of the Volkswagen law limiting any one shareholder to 20 percent of voting rights,” said analyst Stephen Cheetham at Sanford C. Bernstein Ltd. in London.


Cheetam noted that the operational impact on Volkswagen being owned by Porsche “is also highly uncertain,” and that the ouster of Pischetsrieder may “herald a turn away from (his) cost-reduction strategy to one focusing on products and volume growth.”


Cheetam also added that Porsche have to bank on debt-financing to pay for Volkswagen. Said brand is now valued at approximately 30 billion euros ($38.38 billion). Porsche’s stake coupled with the state of Lower Saxony, would be unlikely to sell its share amounting to 20 percent. This means that Porsche only need to acquire about 50 percent of Volkswagen.


Credit Suisse, an auto industry critic, said the raise in stake as well as the authorization for the hike in its capital was Porsche sending a signal that “it has the necessary firing power to bid for VW” if its influence at Volkswagen was ever in doubt.


Volkswagen is experiencing turmoil and amidst this turmoil and company’s plans, media has reported that Wolfgang Bernhard, the head of VW’s flagship Volkswagen brand, intends to resign. According to some critics, Porsche is solidifying the company to improve its operations and strategies.

Jenny McLane is a 36 year old native of Iowa and has a knack for research on cars and anything and everything about it. She works full time as a Market Analyst for one of the leading car parts suppliers in the country today.