General Motors to Increase Retail Sales, New Saturn Astra to Debut

News from Reuters: General Motors Corporation is optimistic about its US retail sales this year stating that it is seeing an increase brought about by the introduction of new vehicles, according to Troy Clarke, president of GM North America.

Clarke also told reporters in the sidelines of the Chicago Auto Show, when asked about GM’s capacity to sell more vehicles to the general public this year, “I am hopeful we can”. The retail sales will exclude sales to car rental agencies, large companies or government bodies that purchase fleet of vehicles.

General Motors, world’s largest automaker was able to sell about 3 million vehicles to retail customers in 2006. Clarke also mentioned that the automaker’s discussions with bankrupt former parts unit Delphi Corp. were moving forward.

Delphi has accepted a $3.4 billion bankruptcy emergence offer from a group led by Cerberus Capital Management LP and Appaloosa Management LP that obliged Delphi to reach deals with GM and its unions on contracts and other issues. The contract between GM and the United Auto Workers would expire in September and Delphi said that it hopes to complete talks with the UAW before those negations end. “It is hope that it is done before,” said Clarke in response to subject whether the deal will result in a bigger labor contract with the UAW.

And speaking of new GM vehicles, the new Saturn Astra will make its debut to the North American public at the Chicago Auto Show which is scheduled on February 9 to 18, 2007. The Astra will be made available to both US and Canadian markets starting the fourth quarter of 2007.

The new Saturn Astra is available in three or five-door model with a 1.8-litre, 140 hp ECOTEC engine. The Astra was produced alongside its Opel counterparts using quality auto parts that only the world’s largest automaker can supply like its popular GM exhaust tips at the GM Plant in Antwerp, Belgium.

According to Jill Lajdziak, Saturn General Manager, “In Europe, the Astra’s combination of style, performance, safety technology, and fuel efficiency has made it a hit with owners and auto critics alike. Now, Saturn is bringing the newly restyled Astra to North America and marrying it with our celebrated customer experience. The Astra rounds out our portfolio with a smart-driving, well-equipped compact car that shares the European designs evident in all our new vehicles.”

Since the debut of the third-generation Astra in Europe last March 2004, over 1.3 million units have been sold. The addition of the new bestselling Astra model line with its fresh new design styles and engine is expected to further boost GM’s US sales.

The present lineup of vehicles offered by Saturn includes Aura, the Outlook SUV, Vue Red Line and Vue Green Line Hybrid crossovers, and Roadster Sky. Meanwhile, the Saturn portfolio for the coming 2008 will only includes cars that are less than twenty months old.

Saturn is focusing on developing innovative products with high technological quality, solid value and excellent customer service. Just recently the Saturn Aura – which shares its vehicle architecture and design language with the Opel Vectra – was named North American Car of the Year during the Detroit Auto Show, toppling rivals like the Toyota Camry and Honda Fit (or Jazz in Europe).

Toyota and Scion of Northwest Arkansas, Committed to Excellence in Service

Toyota and Scion of Northwest Arkansas is equipped with highly qualified and dynamic professionals whose constant endeavor has been to earn the goodwill of customers and usher in professional excellence in all spheres of an automotive franchise. Toyota NW Arkansas steers you into the world of technological wonders, where you can possess the comfort and power in style. Quality, reliability, transparency, convenience and enviable sales record are a few of the reasons why it makes sense to choose Toyota NW Arkansas. The quest for innovation is the foundation for Toyota and Scion of Northwest Arkansas.

Now, through the Toyota NW Arkansas sophisticated website, which is embedded with special, unique features, the dealership has made things more than easy for its customers. Just everything about Toyota and Scion cars is made available at the click of a mouse. You can buy genuine parts and accessories and even schedule a service appointment, online. Vehicle research, virtual brochure and reviews help you explore everything you want to know about your favorite cars. There are other attractive features like online specials, finance specials, new vehicles special, pre-owned specials and weekend specials which make online shopping experience more interesting and exciting. These innovative designs and features have bolstered the concept of online shopping.

Toyota and Scion of Northwest Arkansas presents to you a varied choice of new and pre-owned Toyota and Scion models. Collection of Toyota cars include Corolla, Camry, Avalon, Matrix, Prius, Camry Solara, Yaris, Tacoma, Tundra, 4Runner, Highlander, Land Cruiser, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna and FJ Cruiser. It also has an exquisite array of Scion vehicles such as xA, xB and tC.

Here is an overview of few of the Toyota and Scion models available with the dealership:

Toyota Corolla equipped with a 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, pumps out 126 horsepower. The most popular model of Toyota, Corolla, is available in CE, LE and the sporty S versions. Its stylish, contemporary design speaks to your aesthetic sense. Its foundation of legendary quality, dependability and value speaks to your common sense.

The new 2007 Toyota Camry comes with a four-cylinder engine or a V6 engine. It also comes with an all-new hybrid drive train that delivers 192 horsepower. The Camry is available in three different models namely SE, XLE and Hybrid.

The 2007 Toyota Land Cruiser is an SUV that has the seating capacity of 8 passengers and offers just one trim level, the base model. Powering the 2007 Land Cruiser is the 4.7 liter V8 engine which provides 265 hp @5400 rpm and 310 lb.-ft torque @3400 rpm. Its transmission is a 5-speed automatic with overdrive

Scion xA, the least-expensive model in Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion line, is a 4-dr hatchback powered by 103-hp 4-cyl engine with manual or optional automatic transmission. Front side airbags and curtain side airbags are optional. Standard equipment includes ABS, air conditioning, power windows/locks/mirrors, and a 60/40 split folding rear seat.

The 2007 tC, a 2-dr hatchback coupe comes from Toyota’s youth-oriented Scion division. It has a 160-hp 4-cyl and a 5-speed manual transmission or optional 4-speed automatic. Standard equipment includes ABS and a driver knee airbag among other features.

Website: http://www.toyotanwarkansas.com

Email: toyotanwarkansas@gmail.com

Gas Saving Tips From the Pros

Gas Saving Tips from the Pros

(ARA) – They’re up, they’re down, they’re back up. Gas prices got you down? If telecommuting and pubic transportation are not viable options for you, here’s some down-to-earth advice from the pros at the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).

It is important to keep your vehicle properly maintained and change your driving habits so as to maximize your mileage, according to ASE officials. Here’s a plan of action from the group that tests and certifies automotive technicians:

Monitor your tires. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels waste fuel by forcing the engine to work harder. Let the tires cool down before checking the air pressure. Out-of-line wheels, as evidenced by uneven tread wear, should be aligned by a professional.

Consolidate your daily trips and errands. Some trips may be unnecessary. Also, try to travel when traffic is light so you can avoid stop-and-go conditions.

Avoid excessive engine idling. Shut off your vehicle while waiting for friends and family.

Observe speed limits. Speeding decreases your miles per gallon.

Drive gently. Sudden accelerations guzzle gas. Anticipate traffic patterns and adjust your speed gradually. Use cruise control. (You’ll help your brakes and suspension system last longer, too.)

Get rid of excess weight by removing unnecessary items from the vehicle. Store only essentials in the trunk. Less weight means better mileage. After family vacations, make sure you remove all unnecessary items, including that roof-top cargo carrier.

Use windows and air conditioning wisely. Your mileage should improve if you keep the windows closed at highway speeds, since air drag is reduced. This is true even with the air conditioning on — assuming that the system is in good working order. If possible, try to avoid using your air conditioner in heavy, stop-and-go traffic such as traffic jams or holiday weekend back-ups.

Be a sensible patriot. Everyone loves the flag. But show your patriotism by affixing a decal rather than hoisting a large flapping U.S. flag, which increases air resistance.

Keep your engine operating at its “peak efficiency.” A well-maintained engine will help you maximize the gas mileage for your specific make and model. A misfiring spark plug can greatly reduce gas mileage. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner’s manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended; have engine performance problems (rough idling, poor acceleration, etc.) corrected at a repair facility. Given today’s high-tech engines, it’s wise to have this type of work done by auto technicians who are ASE certified in engine performance.

These conservation tips will not only save gasoline, they’ll help extend the life of your vehicle and help you conserve precious natural resources. Patriotism, indeed.

The National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) was founded in 1972 as a non-profit, independent organization dedicated to improving the quality of automotive service and repair through the voluntary testing and certification of automotive technicians. ASE-certified technicians wear blue and white ASE shoulder insignia and carry credentials listing their exact area(s) of certification. Their employers often display the blue and white ASE sign.

Visit www.asecert.org for more information.

Lincoln Town Car Air Suspension Review!

The Lincoln Town Cars air suspension uses an air compressor located under the drivers side fender. Lines run from here to the air bags. There is an electric relief valve on the top of each air bag, that allows air to be exhausted. It senses the amount of air pressure in each air bag, to keep both sides equal. There is a leveling sensor that controls these valves. This leveling sensor is a movable arm that will be moved up if the rear of the car goes down. As it goes up it will activate the air compressor, which will fill the bags to level the car. It will also allow air to escape from the bags if the rear of the car is high.

Here are just a few of the problems you might experience with your 1998 Lincoln town car air suspension.

1. The back of your car is low and the air suspension light is on. Check your fuse first. If its not the fuse check the air suspension switch in your truck, and make sure it is on.

2. You took it in for service and it was put on a lift or jacked up. And now the bags are full, and the car rides rough. Well you should have shut the switch in the trunk off before lifting the car. Now you will need to bleed the air out of each bag manual and reset your system.

3. You suspension is all the way down. This could be caused by a leaking or stuck valve or a leaking air bag. If it is a leaking airbag, they will all go down, as the car attempts to level itself. So you will need to watch for the one that goes down first as that should be the one with the leak.

4. Your car goes down overnight, but comes up when started. This could be something electronic or could be a leaking bag. Which will soon cause the compressor to go out.

If you experience these air system problems you have a few mechanical options. You can either opt for the costly air suspension replacement, or you can go with the quality coil system that will not break. We at Air Suspension Reviews recommend the coil spring system. Otherwise you will be spending lots of money to replace your air suspension system that will likely break again. More info on Lincolns: 98 Lincoln navigator air suspension.

How to Install a Magnaflow Muffler on a Mini Cooper S

1. Your Magnaflow exhaust package comes with three pieces—a resonator, center pipe, and muffler section. The front resonator comes with a mounting flange that bolts right onto your stock catalytic converter. This part connects to a center pipe that is secured with exhaust clamps, which are supplied. And the rear muffler section joins together, exiting the car in the center of the rear bumper. Also, all the parts are stainless steel, which don’t rust or stain—nice job Magnaflow.

2. Now to the installation. You will only need a few common tools to remove your stock exhaust; no exhaust cutters are needed. Make sure you have help installing the system, it is very heavy and you will not want to drop it.

3. First, you will remove the factory skid plate/ heat shield from the chassis, which can be down with a socket wrench. Important—Do Not lose this piece as it will be re-installed after you install your new exhaust system.

4. Now follow the factory exhaust up towards the catalytic converter. You will now need to remove the mid exhaust mounting bracket from the chassis as well using a socket. Make sure you slip the exhaust hangers out of the rubber mounting brushings. Set this piece aside with your head shield as you will be reusing it also.

5. Now find the flange on the catalytic converter. It will have two bolts that you will need to remove. Be careful in this process because your whole exhaust system is only supported by two rear hangers on the muffler. This is where it will be handy to have a helping hand. Have your buddy hold up the front section of the system, otherwise it will crash to the ground.

6. You can now go to the back of the car and free the factory exhaust by removing the hangers from the rubber bushings. Congratulations, your factory exhaust has now been removed. You are one step closer to hearing your car’s new growl.

7. If you have gotten the factory exhaust off, you are pretty much in the clear. You will install your Magnaflow system in the reverse order of taking the old one off. You can start by matching up the resonator section with the flange to the flange on the catalytic converter and bolting them together. They slip the connecting pipe into the resonator pipe and clamp it down with the supplied clamp. This piece also connects to the factory chassis mount you removed earlier. Be sure to secure the hangers into the rubber bushings.

8. One more step. Connect the muffler section to the connecting pipe. The best way to do this is to slip the exhaust hangers on the muffler into the hanging rubber bushing first, then swing the rear section up and fit it into the connecting pipe. Then all that’s left to do is tighten down the supplied clamp. I would recommend making sure all your connections are tight and you muffler tips exit your bumper straight. Oh yea, and don’t forget to re-install that skid plate/heat shield.

9. You have just installed your Magnaflow exhaust system. Turn the car and make sure you don’t have any exhaust leaks. If everything is good, then you’re golden. Enjoy your Mini’s new throaty growl and boost in horsepower. Keep working on your Mini folks!