gear kereta

Car parts firm announces closures
An automotive Car Spare firm has announced it is cutting staff and shutting down plants across its global operations. GKN has 2,500 automotive staff in the UK with head quarters in Worcestershire and 2 plants in Birmingham and another in Telford, Shropshire. It is not yet clear how many of the automotive work force will be affected. The firm has said it is taking action to stop a predicted pretax profits plunge. Its 2500 strong UK aero space division is thought to be unaffected.

Difficult period
A spokesman for GKN said: "We are now finalising plans to reposition our businesses to deliver acceptable profitability and cash generation through this difficult period." He added car and light vehicle sales had dropped across the world, hitting its production schedules. GMB Union spokesman Keith Hodgkinson said the union had been aware for some time of the firm's precarious situation. "We have in place an agreement with the company that members who wish to opt to leave the company via voluntary redundancy are free to do so and over the last few quarters over 100 workers have taken up this option," he said. The union was seeking further information from the company, he added. The company employs 42,000 people worldwide.

Car parts job cuts
Protests against job cuts at car parts firm Visteon spread when workers attempted to occupy more factories.
Scores of workers are staging protests in Basildon, Essex, and Enfield, north London.
The action follows an overnight sit-in at another factory in Belfast.
Staff are demanding action to save 560 jobs at three plants.
Around 200 staff face the axe at a plant in west Belfast and 100 of the workers stayed at the site throughout Tuesday night.
They claimed the company's former owner and main customer, Ford, had promised contracts which they now want to see honoured.
Union representatives asked workers to hold off on a threat to picket Ford showrooms until more information was available.
Visteon UK employed 173 staff at the Basildon plant, 227 in Enfield and 210 in Belfast.
The wider group has a 33,500-strong workforce and operations in 27 countries.

Job fears as car parts firm runs into trouble
Around 600 workers at a car parts supplier faced an uncertain future today after the firm was put into administration less than a week after being taken over. Euro Car Parts (ECP) bought rival Sheffield-based LSUK, which has 53 branches nationwide, last Wednesday. But ECP said it had been forced to place the entire business into the hands of administrators today after failing to secure investment support. The firm said: "Unfortunately, it became clear, very quickly, that it was simply going to be impossible to continue with investment without the required support, which was not forthcoming. "After a considerable amount of non-stop work and investment into LSUK over the past five days, the ECP directors realised that they had no option but to place LSUK into administration with effect." Lead administrators Tenon Recovery is in contact with several interested parties for LSUK, ECP added. As well as its branch network which supplies car parts and motoring services, LSUK operates subsidiaries M I Diesel Products, Protech Auto(UK) and Yeovil Rewind. LSUK staff turning up for work today reportedly found themselves locked out and a notice on the door telling them the company had ceased trading. The firm has about 110staff at its head office in Sheffield. Wembley based ECP, which is one of the UK's largest car parts suppliers, said it "deeply regrets what has happened, but to continue any longer with LSUK, as it currently stands, was unfortunately a futile operation". The group added that Tenon was planning to liaise with LSUK staff and "everything will be done to help and advise them with regard to the situation".

This question, which comes at a time when the world faces an energy crisis and growing environmental stress, is being posed by petroleum company Shell as a challenge to the region's innovative students.

In the Shell Eco-marathon competition, Asian students are encouraged to design vehicles that use conventional fuels like diesel, petrol and liquid petroleum gas, or alternatives like solar, ethanol, hydrogen or biofuels

The "marathon", which will be held at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit track from July 8-10, 2010, is aimed at encouraging participants to find solutions to produce fuel-efficient vehicles that can travel the furthest distance using the least amount of fuel. As long as teams abide by safety rules, the design of their vehicles is limited only by their imagination. The key to wining the race will be a vehicle's range or distance it can travel, and not its speed.

Last July 16, some 150 students and academics got a sneak peek at the way the new competition will work. Five selected student teams from Malaysia and Singapore drove specially built energy efficient cars around the Sepang International Circuit's north track.

The preview was specially organised for students to test out the track where the Shell Eco-marathon will take place next year, the first time the competition is being held in Asia. Shell has also built a prototype car to give interested students an opportunity to get a hands-on experience of what is expected of them in preparing their vehicles for the challenge. The event saw student teams from Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM), the National University of Singapore (NUS), and ITE (Institute of Technical Education) College West in Singapore test drive the eco-car that was purpose-built by Shell.

"The Shell Eco-marathon is a major educational project that encourages and fosters innovation in which students work together to explore potential solutions to both current and future transport and energy challenges," said Shell Malaysia chairman Saw Choo Boon.

"We do not see the Eco-marathon as just a race," said executive vice president of Shell Global Business-to-Business Tan Chong Meng. "Rather, it is about encouraging and inspiring our younger generation to think about energy efficiency, and it offers a platform for innovation in a very practical way. It is about doing more with less, reducing waste."

However, while many praise Shell for promoting a competition that gets people thinking about fuel efficiency, some critics of the marathon point out that the vehicles that take part in the competition are highly impractical, especially for consumer use.

The vehicles have no room for passengers, and drivers are often forced into an uncomfortable position in order to reduce aerodynamic drag. The cars are also designed to achieve maximum fuel efficiency at a low speed, 23kph and some can not drive faster than a mere 48kph. But nobody can deny the world's need for more fuel efficient cars.

Sustainable mobility is one key component of a new energy future, said Tan. "Just consider this: only about 30 per cent of the fuel that you put into your car gets used to move it forward. The rest is wasted and lost," he said. "Then for every kilometre that you drive, you are effectively putting over 1kg of C02 into the atmosphere."

"So, to make our transport more sustainable for the future, we will have to design more efficient engines and fuels, we will have to make cars lighter, we will have to train motorists to drive more efficiently, and we will need to explore alternative transport energies," he added.

More than 230 teams from 33 countries have taken part in the Shell Eco-marathon in the past 25 years in Europe and the Americas, which saw the event's debut two years ago.

Malaysia, chosen for its importance among Shell's Asian heartlands and its excellent infrastructure, will host the annual Shell Eco-marathon Asia from 2010 till 2012.

Thereafter it will be brought to another Asian country to host for the subsequent three years.

"Asia has a lot of excellent students who would show the world their talents and Shell also wants to showcase Asia to the world," said Saw, in explanation for the reason why Shell is bringing the competition to Asia after 25 years of racing in Europe.

Four Asian teams took part in the Shell Eco-marathon Europe in Lausitz, Germany, in May this year. The UTM's Fuel Cell Vehicle Team, with its prototype car, was one of nearly 190 participating teams from around the world.

Two Singaporean teams, Eco n Eco 1 and Eco n Eco 2 from the ITE, also took part in the May's European event which saw 12 Asian teams, competing in the prototype discipline.

Kruce, a team from the NUS, is the only group competing in the urban concept category.

The Shell Eco-marathon programme is open to high schools, colleges, universities and technical institutes throughout Asia. Registration for Shell Eco-marathon Asia 2010 starts on September 1, 2009.

Car parts firm announces closures
An automotive Car Spare firm has announced it is cutting staff and shutting down plants across its global operations. GKN has 2,500 automotive staff in the UK with head quarters in Worcestershire and 2 plants in Birmingham and another in Telford, Shropshire. It is not yet clear how many of the automotive work force will be affected. The firm has said it is taking action to stop a predicted pretax profits plunge. Its 2500 strong UK aero space division is thought to be unaffected.
Difficult period
A spokesman for GKN said: "We are now finalising plans to reposition our businesses to deliver acceptable profitability and cash generation through this difficult period." He added car and light vehicle sales had dropped across the world, hitting its production schedules. GMB Union spokesman Keith Hodgkinson said the union had been aware for some time of the firm's precarious situation. "We have in place an agreement with the company that members who wish to opt to leave the company via voluntary redundancy are free to do so and over the last few quarters over 100 workers have taken up this option," he said. The union was seeking further information from the company, he added. The company employs 42,000 people worldwide.

Car parts job cuts
Protests against job cuts at car parts firm Visteon spread when workers attempted to occupy more factories.
Scores of workers are staging protests in Basildon, Essex, and Enfield, north London.
The action follows an overnight sit-in at another factory in Belfast.
Staff are demanding action to save 560 jobs at three plants.
Around 200 staff face the axe at a plant in west Belfast and 100 of the workers stayed at the site throughout Tuesday night.
They claimed the company's former owner and main customer, Ford, had promised contracts which they now want to see honoured.
Union representatives asked workers to hold off on a threat to picket Ford showrooms until more information was available.
Visteon UK employed 173 staff at the Basildon plant, 227 in Enfield and 210 in Belfast.
The wider group has a 33,500-strong workforce and operations in 27 countries.

Job fears as car parts firm runs into trouble
Around 600 workers at a car parts supplier faced an uncertain future today after the firm was put into administration less than a week after being taken over. Euro Car Parts (ECP) bought rival Sheffield-based LSUK, which has 53 branches nationwide, last Wednesday. But ECP said it had been forced to place the entire business into the hands of administrators today after failing to secure investment support. The firm said: "Unfortunately, it became clear, very quickly, that it was simply going to be impossible to continue with investment without the required support, which was not forthcoming. "After a considerable amount of non-stop work and investment into LSUK over the past five days, the ECP directors realised that they had no option but to place LSUK into administration with effect." Lead administrators Tenon Recovery is in contact with several interested parties for LSUK, ECP added. As well as its branch network which supplies car parts and motoring services, LSUK operates subsidiaries M I Diesel Products, Protech Auto(UK) and Yeovil Rewind. LSUK staff turning up for work today reportedly found themselves locked out and a notice on the door telling them the company had ceased trading. The firm has about 110staff at its head office in Sheffield. Wembley based ECP, which is one of the UK's largest car parts suppliers, said it "deeply regrets what has happened, but to continue any longer with LSUK, as it currently stands, was unfortunately a futile operation". The group added that Tenon was planning to liaise with LSUK staff and "everything will be done to help and advise them with regard to the situation".

Japanese people are passionate about latest technology and their strong financial position lead them to buy these latest technology available in current market. In technology their first choice is always buying a New car with best quality & features. One of the major reason to buy new cars in Japan is that people want to have the latest technology with them while they are driving on the roads of Japan.

To buy latest one they sell their current old cars to the local market and the same second hand cars mostly exported due to heavy demands in international markets and everyday thousands of used vehicles are exported from Japan to various countries around the globe.

Below are some reasons why these thousands of quality used vehicles are available for sale and exported from Japan:

1. Japanese people want latest models of vehicles with great features & best in quality.

2. Strong purchasing power, help them to fulfill their dreams to buy new cars.

3. Great car exchange offers from the Japanese vehicle makers against used cars to sale their new cars.

4. Time to time bulk purchasing from the corporate sectors to save corporate taxes.

5. Strict Testing regulations. When a vehicle registered first time in Japan that comes under 3-years “Shaken” and once its expired, owners must obtain testing certificate to use further and there after 2 years it was to be re-obtain the same certificate. This is most stringent test of this type in the world and expensive also.

Because of all these reasons thousands of quality used cars brought in domestic market for sale and export at 30-40% low prices comparing with other countries. Most vehicles are of low mileage, good conditioned, not many owners and high maintenance.

In radio-controlled modeling, a model engine is an internal combustion engine used to power a radio-controlled aircraft, radio-controlled car, radio-controlled boat, free flight and control line aircraft, and tether car models also use these engines. Because of the square-cube law, the behaviour of many machines does not always scale up or down at the same rate as the machine's size (and often not even in a linear way), usually at best causing a dramatic loss of power or efficiency, and at worst causing them not to work at all. Methanol and nitromethane are proven solutions to enhance the power of an automobile engine (Top Fuel) and they can even get these small engines running.

Two-Stroke simply means that the engine “fires” (ignites the fuel in its combustion chamber) with every revolution of the piston. Generally, they’re a good place for new nitro modelers to start. Two-strokes are easier to operate, less vulnerable to problems if misused, and deliver more power for their size and weight.

Four-Stroke engines fire once with every two revolutions. They consume less fuel, sound more realistic, and provide more torque — but cost more, are harder to adjust and require more maintenance.

R/C models are powered in a variety of ways. Sailplanes, for example, need no power source other than nature. But they’re the exception. Nearly all R/C vehicles, aircraft, boats and helicopters require something to propel them into action. Electric models use small motors, powered by battery cells. Those motors should not be confused with glow engines — which are actual internal combustion power plants that form the heart of any “gas” or “nitro” powered R/C model. Most nitro R/C models use a 2- or 4-stroke glow engine, sized specifically for that model. Typically, they range in displacement from .049 cu. in. to 1.2 cu. in. (80cc to 20cc) — a variety that satisfies virtually any model’s power requirements. Glow engines cannot be operated with the same gasoline you’d get at a filling station pump. They require a special fuel, called “glow fuel.” It contains methanol as the base, with varying amounts of nitromethane to increase the energy that the fuel can provide. Oil, pre-mixed into the fuel, lubricates and protects your tiny engine as it pounds out amazing power. When you get your new engine, first examine it carefully for any obvious defects. Read the operating instructions closely. If the manufacturer suggests a specific procedure for breaking in the engine, by all means, use it!

Jetta, the second model from the German automotive giant has been launched in Mumbai, and the price ranges from Rs 12.97 - 16.67 lakh, ex-showroom, Delhi. Ashwin Sundar was present to launch the car at the ceremony along with Jorg Muller, President and MD, VW India, and Makham Dhalivaal, MD, VW passenger cars India.

The Jetta will compete with cars in the lower-D segment, and slots in between the Skoda Octavia and Laura on price. The exterior is typically VW, but the interiors are where it’s at. Vienna leather, dual-zone climate control, electric lumbar adjust, a 6-CD changer that can play mp3s, and plays them through ten speakers are all present. The Jetta also has eight airbags, ABS and ESP to keep its occupants safe. The Jetta, like the Passat, has a huge boot, all of 527 litres with an auto-open facility. It has a standard two-year warranty which can be upgraded to a four-year, 100,000km warranty for just Rs 6500. The Jetta will be available in three variants, the 1.6l manual-gearbox petrol is available for Rs 12.97 lakh, the manual diesel is available for Rs 14.22 lakh and the top-of-the-line diesel with the DSG gearbox is available for Rs 16.67 lakh (all prices ex-showroom, Delhi).

Fiat India Automobiles Limited (FIAL) announced its intent to increase its focus on exports under which they have exported the recently launched Fiat Linea to South Africa.

As part of this strategy, Fiat has begun testing growth opportunities overseas with sharp focus on SAARC countries like Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka as well as other right hand drive countries. The company targets to export 7000 units of Fiat’s India manufactured cars this year.

As a first step the company has exported a batch of Fiat Linea to South Africa. The exported batch of Linea is similar to the one driven on Indian roads. Fiat India expects to receive a good response to the Linea 1.4 emotion pack in this market.

Speaking on the initiative, Mr. Rajeev Kapoor, CEO, Fiat India Automobiles Limited said, “The export of the Linea to South Africa is an integral part of our endeavour to reach out to international markets and establish our presence beyond India. This is a step in the direction of reaffirming our position as an international auto giant.”

This is not the first time that Fiat has entered an export venture in South Africa. In the last 12 months, the company has exported Palio to South Africa.

CarWale.com Tips & Advices help you with everything you ever wanted to know about cars, their buying, selling or maintenance. Read tips on better car driving, saving fuel and much more.

Night Driving

According to a survey, death rate due to accident fatalities at night is three times more than that in the day... more
Driving in the rain

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General Car Buying Tips

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New Car Buying Tips

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Selling a second hand car needn't be a headache. Our selling advice on the following pages will guide you through everything from preparing your car for sale to negotiating the price... more
Car Safety Tips

Preventive maintenance reduces chances of a breakdown. However chances cannot be overruled. It is better to be prepared... more
How to Save Fuel

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Regular oil changes is most important aspect of keeping your engine in a good shape. By doing so you eliminate so maaany other problems... more
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Driving Tips

hether you are an occasional or an every day driver, you can decrease the amount of fuel you use by taking the energy saving steps described in this pamphlet... more
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Need a tyre? What's your requirement? You want a tyre for normal use? You want to go flat-out and apex every corner? Else go off-roading? S tate your requirement and you will get the tyre.

Normal use:

If you intend to go for normal use, we suggest going for Tubeless Radial of the company recommended profile is the best option.

Are you a quick driver?

If going flat-out everytime is what you do, then performance tyres should be the ideal choose. They are soft and corner well but you have to compensate in terms of tyre life. Else, we can suggest to go for tyres with a greater contact patch. Remind you, though they grip more, that doesn't mean it has to go well with the suspension design. It could affect your steerability, hence performance tyres will be the ideal choice.

Off-Roading/Snow:

If your vehicle is meant to be driven more off-road or in snow or mud, all-terrain, snow or mud tyres will be the suitable tyre choice respectively.

Bling Bling:

Want to show off your tyres. Switch to alloys and low profile tyres to make your car look cool and attractive. Maybe chrome coated alloys could be your choice depending on the colour of your car. Avoid going overboard and go for ultra-low profile tyres as they will burst easy if the tyre goes into huge potholes.

Tyre Brands:

Apollo: Apollo tyres are another Indian tyre manufacturer, which owns Dunlop tyres and has now even acquired a Dutch tyre company. The company manufactures tyres for cars, trucks and tractors. Apollo even manufactures asymmetric tyres for passenger cars.

Bridgestone: Bridgestone is a Japanese tyre manufacturer which holds a good grip in most of famous motorsporting events. Bridgestone is the sole supplier to the top notch motorsport known as Formula 1, supplies tyres to some Moto GP teams and many other racing events. Bridgestone is the second largest year manufacturing company after Michelin.

CEAT: Cavi Electrici Affini Torino (CEAT) an Italian based company is a part of Indian Automotive Industry since 1958. The company has two plants in India (Mumbai and Nashik) and it manufactures tyres for heavy-duty trucks and buses, Light commercial vehicles, earthmovers, forklifts, tractors, trailers, cars, motorcycles and Scooters and auto-rickshaws.

Continental: Continental is a German company which manufactures tyres, brake systems and other automotive spares and is the fourth largest tyre manufacturer in the world. The company produces tyres for passenger vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Goodyear: Goodyear is a tyre company based in the US, and it's the third largest tyre company across the globe. The company manufactures tyres for automobiles, race cars, commercial trucks, light trucks and aeroplanes. They have a great motorsporting background and Goodyear holds the maximum share for supplying tyres to Formula 1 in terms of number of years. Goodyear invented vulcanized rubber and its use in cars.

JK Tyre: JK Tyre like MRF is another Indian brand that manufactures tyres for passenger cars, tractors and commercial vehicles. JK also sponsors a huge number of Indian Motorsporting events like the JK National Rotax Karting Championship, and most of the Indian Rally and Formula championship held across the country. The manufacturer goes on to sponsor many Indian racing drivers like Narain Karthikeyan, Karun Chandhok and Armaan Ebrahim. The JK tyres are also a bit harder like the MRF and tend to last longer than softer tyres.

Michelin: Michelin is a French based company famous for their high speed tyres. The French rubber producer supplies tyres to most of the motorsporting events like GP2 racing, World Rally Championship (WRC) and many to follow. The single tyre supplier for all teams rule made Michelin quit the Formula 1 circus. Michelin even supplies tyres to high speed cars capable of crossing 270km mark. Michelin tyres have built its image for manufacturing soft tyres which grip and handle well. Michelin is the largest tyre manufacturer (January 2009). Michelin is the pioneer of the radial ply tyres.

MRF: Madras Rubber Factory (MRF) manufactures tyres for cars, bikes and Formula racing in India. MRF's factory lies back in Chennai and the company has been promoting motorsports across the country through the MRF 4-stroke Karting Championship and a few rally championships. The rubber used by MRF on normal car tyre is a bit hard and tends to last longer than most of the other brands.

TVS Tyres: TVS Tyres manufacture tyres for two wheelers, three wheelers and agricultural applications like tractors. This is a child company of the TVS group.

Chevrolet Beat, one of the big small car projects Chevrolet is working on for the Indian market.

Features:
The Beat has a new refreshing looks. The design follows the new Chevrolet trend of having a sprawling front grille featured in the upcoming Chevrolet Cruze as well. The front headlamps of the Beat are leaf shaped and with its edges trailing. The air scoop below the front-grille is large and there are fog lamps on both the sides.

The car has not so thick A-pillar, which will reduce the blind spots in the car and increase the visibility for the driver. The c-pillar is probably a bit too thick and it could cause problems especially during parking. Maintaining the car’s three-door image look, the door handle for the rear door has been given in the black spot on the C-pillar. The car lays a rubber having a 155/70R14 profile. Like other hatchback, the car comes equipped with independent suspension. The coil spring and the damper can be seen in the picture.

Engine:
Chevrolet plans to launch a diesel powered car, who knows maybe Beat will be available with a diesel variant. The Beat could be made available with either 1.0-litre or 1.2-litre petrol engine.

Competitors:
The Chevrolet Beat will be placed a notch higher than the currently sold Chevrolet Spark. Chevrolet Beat could target the premium hatchback car segment where already exists a neck tight competition as most of the Indian auto manufacturers have launched a car in that segment. Else the Beat will be placed in a segment below the UV-A to compete with the Maruti Suzuki A-Star and alike models.