Hyundai Announces 10-Year/100.000 Mile Powertrain Warranty On Certified Used Vehicles

To appeal to a larger market Hyundai is now offering Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty on used vehicles going back five model years with less than 60,000 miles. If the “brand new” used Hyundai you’re buying falls in this category you’ve just won yourself a brand spanking new powertrain warranty with all 10 years/100,000 miles included.

The warranty resets itself with the new owner. This new option for Hyundai buyers stems from a 10 year/100,000 mile warranty that was launched in 2001. Some “reading in between the lines” reveals that cars manufactured post 2001 would now be pretty much less than five years old. Seems like Hyundai began to take some pride in what it was manufacturing. In fact, Hyundai bets its bank book on it. Via: Autoblog.com -Press Release after the jump

Posted by Dani

PRESS RELEASE: HYUNDAI ANNOUNCES ENHANCED PRE-OWNED PROGRAM WITH AN INDUSTRY FIRST, 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY

FOUNTAIN VALLEY, CALIF., 05/30/2007 Hyundai Motor America today announced an industry first with its new Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty, boasting a 10-year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty on used vehicles going back five model years with less than 60,000 miles. The enhanced pre-owned program and pre-owned warranty provides buyers with an added level of comfort and satisfaction with their vehicle purchase. The enhanced pre-owned program was launched to Hyundai dealers in May 2007, with warranty being effective from date of original sale. Hyundai's enhanced Certified Pre-Owned vehicle program will provide buyers with:

• Powertrain 10 year/100,000 mile warranty
• 150-Point Inspection
• $50 deductible
• Vehicles up to five model years old with less than 60,000 miles are eligible
• Roadside assistance
• Rental car coverage (up to $35/day for up to 10 days)
• Towing coverage (up to $75 per occurrence)
• Travel breakdown coverage (up to $375 per occurrence) Diagnostics
• Related damage for specific parts
• Fluids
• New car financing rates through Hyundai Motor Financing Company

"We are very excited to launch an industry first," said Kimberly Walker, Hyundai Motor America's national manager of Assurance Products. "Hyundai's new vehicles feature America's Best Warranty™ and adding the same level of value to our pre-owned vehicles is just another example of how Hyundai stands behind their vehicles."

Additional options available to the Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty include service contracts such as the Hyundai Certified Pre-Owned Wrap Contract which raises the comprehensive coverage on non-powertrain components, Hyundai Vehicle Care Maintenance Program and Hyundai Road Hazard Tire and Wheel option.

Hyundai Motor America is working with Jim Moran & Associates, Inc. and its affiliated companies comprising the JM&A Group on this industry first, enhanced certified pre-owned program.

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Fountain Valley, Calif., is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Co. of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout the United States by Hyundai Motor America and are sold and serviced through more than 750 dealerships nationwide.

Technorati: Hyundai, Hyunda+Warranty, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

So much for plungers: Bathroom Appliance Rig Takes 6inch Plunge Peeling Its Roof Off In Tunnel

Measurement is everything, especially when your 13 ft 6 inch truck is carrying bathtubs, toilets and plumbing fixtures through a 13 foot tall tunnel. I guess the contents of the truck aren’t really relevant in this case. But then a few angry New Yorkers won’t be taking a crap anytime soon since this driver disobeyed flashing lights, sirens and loudspeakers to not enter the tunnel.

As a result, the truck’s roof was peeled back like a tuna can. The safety director of U.S.A. Logistics Carriers, Mr. Cantu’s employer, said “it was just a bad call” by Mr. Cantu. “He misjudged the height of the tunnel, and once he was inside it he didn’t realize the damage he was doing.” Wouldn’t half the roof being peeled back be enough to cause concern to this man? Via: NYTimes

Posted by Dani

Audi A4 Global Drives: Tour The World’s Best Routes With Audi’s Interactive Microsite

The idea behind Audi’s “A4 Global Drives” is simple; visit the microsite, map out your own inspirational routes, rate other people’s, and vote for a winner. According to Audi, the first five finalists with the most exciting A4 routes will be short-listed on 6 June 2007. All registered users will then be able to nominate their favorite route as the winner, with the chance of securing a prize themselves: all participants will be entered into a draw to win a second test-drive on the winning trip itinerary.

Sounds great when you read it about in a press release, but when we actually tried it out, we got bored pretty quickly (Not fun for people with short attention spans). The microsite –at least when we tested it, was quite slow and if “by chance” you’ve had a go on Google Earth, it’ll probably won’t occupy too much of your time.

5th Gear Tests The Lexus IS220d And Compares It To BMW’s 320d

In this episode, 5th Gear’s Tom Ford took the new Lexus IS220d to Rome to test it out. Fitted with a 2.2-liter, 4cylinder turbo-diesel engine that pumps out 177Hp /130kw, the IS200d can go from 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) in 8,9 sec while it reaches a top speed of 218 km/h (135mph). Its avg. consumption is just 5.4 liters/100km or 44 mpg. It’s sexy and it’s cheaper than the BMW 320d. But does all this make it a car good enough to rival BMW’s ultimate sport salon? Check the video to find out what 5th Gear thinks. Via: thepassionatepursuit

Technorati: Lexus, Lexus+IS220d, Carscoop, blogs, automotive, vehicles

Breaking News: Porsche Asks European Commision’s Permission To Take Over VW!

The never-ending Porsche-Volkswagen story has got a new twist in it as according to a report from Reuters, Porsche asked the European Commission for permission to take over Volkswagen. The E.U. has a time frame of one month (until July 2) to consider whether the deal should win competition approval or requires further investigation.

Porsche has unsuccessfully tried several times this year to take over VW. Just two days ago (May 29), VW’s second-largest investor, the German state of Lower Saxony bought 376,000 shares worth €41 million euros ($55 million) to protect its holding as employees exercise options. Why? Because VW is protected from a hostile takeover by a 47-year-old German law that allows anyone with a 20 percent holding the right to block major decisions. As we’re speaking, Porsche's total stake in VW accounts to 30.92 percent of the voting rights. We’ll get back to this developing story later on the day. Via: Reuters

Technorati: Porsche, VW, Stocks, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles

Lamborghini LM400 Concept: Proposition For LM 002 Successor

Penned by Rene Harrigan, a BA of Automotive Design at Coventry University, the LM 400 is a concept vehicle inspired by the Lamborghini LM 002. Before Hummer’s stormed off the Kuwait war to the parking lots of the rich and famous, the LM 002 aka, "Rambo-Lambo" was THE ultimate 4x4. Powered by the Countach’s 444Hp 5.5-litre V12, the LM 002 was produced from 1986 to 1993 in just 301 units. Basically, it was the final evolution of a project dubbed Cheetah that started in 1977 and aimed at supplying 4x4 vehicles to the US Army.

Harrigan’s proposition for a spiritual successor to the LM 002 cuts all military connections though, as the LM 400 is nothing more, nothing less than a modern SUV projected to spend most, or rather, all of its time on and not off, road. Its designer says that it would be based on the Audi Q7 / Porsche Cayenne ? VW Touareg platform using V8, V10 and V12 units. What do you think about it? (Images: Rene Harrigan) Continued: Click “Read More…” for the image gallery

Via: carbodydesign

Technorati: Lamborghini, Lamborghini+LM002, SUV, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles

Rolls-Royce Phantom Silver: Limited Edition For Silver Ghost’s 100th Anniversary

In commemoration of the Silver Ghost’s 100 th anniversary, Rolls-Royce has produced a limited edition of its snobby limo dubbed, Phantom Silver. As if the Phantom isn’t limited enough itself, only 25 Phantom Silver units will leave Rolls-Royce’s Goodwood factory. Apart from the bespoke Ghost Silver paintwork, the limited edition’s standard features include 21-inch alloys, Roseleaf or Crème light leather interior trim, a solid silver and enamel Conway Stewart pen along with a solid silver key fob and Spirit of Ecstasy, Phantom Silver tread plates, white instruments and some other elements that we’re too bored to mention at the moment.

Theoretically speaking, the Phantom Silver will cost you an additional $45.500 / €32.400 / £22.000 over the standard Phantom price (£219,975 / US$333,350 / €328,000). Still interested or curious? Follow the jump for the image gallery along with the press release.

Technorati: Rolls-Royce+Phantom, Silver+Ghost, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles

PRESS RELEASE: PHANTOM SILVER MARKS 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF SILVER GHOST

Rolls-Royce has produced a limited edition, named Phantom Silver, to mark the 100 th anniversary of the Silver Ghost. The special model, of which only 25 will be made, pays homage to one of the most famous automotive names of all time.

First built in 1906, specifically to publicise the then new Rolls-Royce 40/50 h.p. six-cylinder model, the Silver Ghost established the Rolls-Royce reputation for reliability and engineering excellence. The name was coined in 1907 by Rolls-Royce Managing Director, Claude Johnson, by virtue of its silver coachwork and its ‘extraordinary stealthiness’. The original Silver Ghost, registered AX-201, competed in the 1907 Scottish Reliability Trial, for which it won the gold medal in its class for hill climbing speed and reliability. The Silver Ghost went on in that year to break the world record for a non-stop motor run, covering a London to Glasgow route 27 times, with mileage totaling 14,371 miles.

More than 6,000 “Silver Ghosts” were built between 1907 and 1925, and sold in every corner of the world. The majority are still in good running order.

In tribute to the specifications of the original, the Phantom Silver is finished in a new Bespoke paint, Metallic Ghost Silver. The 21-inch wheels have chrome centres and on top of the grille sits a hallmarked solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy. Inside, Rose Leaf or Crème Light leather is accompanied by seat piping and headrests embroidered with the Rolls-Royce interlinked RR badge. Straight grained Santos Palissander wood veneer is used throughout. The same veneer is also used on a specially designed presentation box that houses the key, two solid silver key fobs and a specially commissioned solid silver Conway Stewart fountain pen.

Rolls-Royce Chairman and Chief Executive, Ian Robertson, said, “The Silver Ghost is such a significant model in the history of Rolls-Royce that we felt marking its 100 th anniversary was entirely fitting. Its extraordinary reliability, refinement, comfort and virtually silent running were as important to Rolls-Royce in 1907 as they are today.”

Phantom Silver specification

• Bespoke Ghost Silver paintwork
• 21-inch alloy wheels chrome centre caps
• Roseleaf or Crème Light leather interior trim
• Santos Palissander veneered wood
• Coolbox
• Solid silver and enamel Conway Stewart pen
• Solid silver key fob
• Solid silver Spirit of Ecstasy
• Bespoke drinks holder
• Bespoke champagne flutes and tumblers detailed with silver
• White instrument dials
• Bespoke clock matched to instrument dials
• Phantom Silver tread plates

Lamborghini: Commemorative stamp issued by the Italian Post Office

Being an amateur collector myself –not a stamp, but a die-cast car collector, I fully understand how many chaps must feel seeing this particular postage stamp issued by the Italian Post Office (Poste Italiane) that's dedicated to the Lamborghini Miura. The €0,85 stamp that features a reproduction of the distinctive Sant’ Agata Bolognese mark, can be purchased along with a limited number of ‘first day covers’ from Italian post offices. The first day cover includes a booklet introducing the stamp and the legendary Lamborghini story, signed by the company’s CEO, Stephan Winkelmann. The Lamborghini stamp belongs to the ‘Made In Italy’ series with an anticipated production of around 3,500,000 stamps.

Lexus Sues Porn Web Site For Illegal Name Use!

Seem like Lexus Cash and her girlfriends Tasty Martina, Voluptuous Valerie and ginger haired Heidi finally ticked off Lexus’ parent Toyota Motor Company who filed a federal suit in Detroit yesterday, May 31, 2007, alleging LexusCash broke trademark laws by using "Lexus" as the name of a pornographic Web site and its star.

Mama Toyota had warned those “bad people” back in December, 2006 by sending a "cease and desist" letter to the owners of LexusCash, Mario Mendoza, 26, and Katie Lynn Krzywdzinski, 24, charging intellectual-property rights infringement. According to the suit, the porno site "uses the mark Lexus in an unwholesome and unsavory context" and "is likely to tarnish and blur the distinctive qualities" of Lexus.

Clearly for reporting reasons –one has to see both sides of a story (…), we took a tour of the porno site to investigate whether Lexus Cash and her voluptuous pals could potentially tarnish the luxury Japanese carmaker’s name. In all honesty, we couldn’t quite figure out how mama Toyota linked the porn site with its high-end baby. Heck, we wouldn’t have known that the Lexus Cash vixen ever existed if it wasn’t for the law suit. And say we did, we wouldn’t of have made the association. Things couldn’t have looked brighter for Lexus Cash. No thanks to mama Toyota's free publicity stunt, hundreds of thousands will pay her (literally) a visit... Via: freep

Technorati: Lexus, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles

Peugeot 308 CC Rendering

With the all-new Peugeot 308 compact hatch programmed to be unveiled in a few days from now -we mean official presentation as we’ve already showed you a set of leaked pictures, artists are concentrating their photoshop’s attention on the upcoming hardtop convertible version. This particular CGI looks like its pretty close to what we’ll see in 2008 when Peugeot takes the wraps off its second-generation mid-size 2+2 CC that’ll succeed the 307 CC. As with the 207 CC, we suspect that the French carmaker will unveil a near-to-production concept at the 2007 Geneva Show (March) of the 308 CC before its official debut at next year’s Paris Show in September. Via: Autoblog.it

Technorati: Peugeot, Peugeot+308+CC, Carscoop, cars, autos, vehicles