Akrym Adds Some Carbon Fiber to BMW M3

Sometimes, less is more and judging by these pictures, this seems to be the case with Akrym's new AeroRace bodykit for the latest generation of the BMW M3 Coupe. The California-based tuning company has designed a carbon-fiber boot with an integrated CLS-style spoiler and a new hood with functional air-vents made from the same lightweight material.

Both parts are available from 'Pyspeed' with pricing set at $1,999 for the single-side carbon hood (add $500 for the double) and at $1,249 for the single-side carbon boot (plus $450 for the double) .

Via: BMWblog , Link: Pyspeed

Nissan announces price of LEAF

Nissan today announced that the LEAF electric car will be priced at £23,350 in the UK, including the planned £5,000 Plug-In Car Grant purchase incentive.

The company also announced specific prices in the Netherlands, Republic of Ireland and Portugal, the four initial European launch markets for the Nissan LEAF. Reservations will begin in July with UK sales starting in February 2011.

The Nissan LEAF is a compact, zero-emission five-passenger family car that comes fully equipped with features such as air conditioning, satellite navigation, a parking camera, a quick charge socket and smart-phone connectivity.

"Nissan leads the industry by being the first automaker to offer an affordable zero-emission car. It's a pure electric vehicle, with no tailpipe emissions and very low running costs. Nissan LEAF may look similar to a compact family car, but its smoothness, acceleration and handling will surprise and impress drivers and passengers alike," said Simon Thomas, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Nissan International SA.

In the UK, the official list price of the Nissan LEAF will be £28,350 pounds (33,353 Euros) before incentives. However, the UK government recently announced that it will refund 25% of the purchase price of a pure electric vehicle, up to a limit of £5,000.

Other financial incentives will include zero 'road tax' (electric cars are exempt), zero company car tax for five years (until 2015), and a 100% Enhanced Capital Allowance for business purchases. Combined with average savings in fuel costs of over £500 per year compared with a conventional car, the Nissan LEAF is increasingly becoming an affordable proposition.

The price in the Republic of Ireland will be €29,995 including €5,000 in government incentives. Buyers will be exempt from vehicle registration tax, which can amount to as much as €3,800 on a C-segment car. Sales in Ireland begin in February next year.

"The Renault-Nissan Alliance is investing over four billion Euros to lead the auto industry in electric vehicles, with eight products across three brands," said Simon Thomas. "This investment includes five battery plants and seven confirmed assembly plants, including Sunderland in the UK. This reflects the strong commitment the alliance has made to electric vehicles and our determination to lead the market."

To place an order when Nissan begins taking reservations in the four initial markets, buyers are adviseed to pre-register on their local Nissan consumer website shown below. In addition to purchasing the car outright, customers will also be able to buy the car on a Nissan finance plan. Details of the all-inclusive acquisition method will also be released in July.

Best Buy and Recommended Awards 2010

This Article
1.Best Buy and Recommended Awards 2010
2.2010 Best Buy and Recommended Award Winners
3.Recommended All Car Articles articles

2010 Best Buy
All Best Buys and recommended here.
Each year, consumers buy more than 17 million new cars, trucks, SUVs and minivans, most of the cost of more than $ 20,000. Some people buy on impulse, driven by incentives or high style. Other buyers are methodological approach, a careful balancing of pros and cons of each vehicle, long before visiting a dealer.

Whatever the method, the budgets better than ever this year, and consumers should take the right decisions when choosing your next car. With over 250 new cars, trucks, vans and SUVs on the market that many consumers do not know where to start when purchasing a new car. This is where our editors offer choice in Consumer Guide Best Buy and recommendations in 18 different classes of vehicle on the procedure for selecting purchasers to simplify today. Our Best Buy and recommendations focus on total value of the vehicle and taking into account the performance, efficiency, reliability, convenience, comfort and price.

Consumer Guide selects only the best of the best

A Consumer Guide Automotive, our editors evaluate every vehicle so consumers can have confidence in your purchase. In an attempt to reflect the latest trends and vehicles to help consumers choose the right vehicle, the editors of the CG test drive more than 150 new vehicles per year. Vehicles We select the top in each class generally as "Best Buys. This is our highest grade.
Vehicle Buying Guides Class
For more information about the available vehicles in each class, check out the type of car Guides: Lead consumers. You will receive a concentrated dose of the specific advice for buying a car of this kind of vehicle you can purchase. Click here.


Top Models marked deserves serious consideration, but not far from the classroom to enhance a leader in value and sometimes even an audience again. Neither Best Buy or passport is recommended only for objective assessments. By contrast the total cost-benefit ratio compared to their direct competition.

How vehicles are evaluated Consumer Guide

Consumer Guide has a staff of 10 full-time editors of the car. Together these publishers have almost 150 years experience in testing cars. This team evaluates each new vehicle traveling the typical home owner - shopping, travel along the highway and in stop-and-go traffic.

Despite measuring times 0-60 km / h, braking distances and noise in a large number of vehicles that the performance of a vehicle for their ability to assess the needs for one days - mergers on highways or riding comfortably over potholes to minimize For example,. Voice also change how easy it is to the entry and exit of vehicles, how difficult it is to the controls while driving, or how many bags and suitcases with. Every car is put through its paces at least four trials of the drafting unit. Each director completes an evaluation form, commenting on specific areas of performance and comfort, taking into account the nature of the driving they did and the fuel they have. The publisher of the letter of the final evaluation of these reports and their own experiences leading applications, a comprehensive review of the vehicle.

Winners 2010

For millions of people to the Consumer Guide website each month, showing the list of this year, both perennials and artists some surprising entrants.

For the first time, the Toyota Prius Best Buy has recognized the medium category. "Since its debut in 2001, Consumer Guide considers the Toyota Prius, its technological refinement and better fuel economy class. Powertrain Prius hybrid had its flaws, but operate with adequate transparency, the vehicle is to be recognized Consumer Guide" says Tom Appel, associate editor for Consumer Guide Automotive.

"A new Prius in 2010 not only brings significant improvements in the travel industry and the data cab, but with a soft, super-efficiency drive, will be operated as any other refined gasoline. It is for these reasons, the first time, Prius is a guide to consumers of Best Buy.

Prius addition, 22 vehicles with hybrid or diesel engines were available, also awarded Consumer Guide Automotive Best Buy or Recommended honor. Read further for a full list of winners of 2010.

Some say E’s a genius

In 1982, Tom Peters and Robert Waterman co-authored a book, In Search of Excellence, which very quickly become an international bestseller entitled. It is based on a study of the largest companies in America at the time and brings the idea that the best way was to solve business problems, ditch the theory and empower employees to decision makers.

Since then, Mr. Peters has 12 pounds (which he also wrote with author Martha Barletta) and is running a successful business consultancy. www.tompeters.co.uk

His latest book "The Little Big Things: 163 ways to strive for excellence will be published in March 2010 and an indication of its contents can be found in a recent blog www.tompeters.com when Peters talks about 19Es excellence.

There's 19 of Excellence
• Enthusiasm! When an irresistible force of nature!
• Energy. (Keep the fire! Make a fire!)
• arrogance! Vibrating alert - cause earthquakes!
• Execution! Do it! Now! Get It Done! The barriers are nonsense! Apologies are for wimps! Accountability is the gospel! Keep to the doctrine of Bill Parcells: "The person at fault! Expect nothing! Do something!"
• Empowerment! Respect and appreciation rule! Always ask: "What do you think?" Then listen! Then you can freely! Then the fun!
• nervousness! Dance constantly on the border, and a little or much beyond that.
• Rage! Determined to challenge and change the status quo! Motto: "If it is not broke, break it!"
• Engaged! Addicted to MBWA: Management by walking. In Touch. Forever.
• Electronic! 60/60/24/7 partner with the world through the creation of electronic communities of all kinds.
• Reports! Relentlessly pursue the diversity of opinions - most of diversity is crazy! The diversity itself "works"!
• Emotion! Alpha. The Omega. The essence of leadership. The bulk of sales. The essence of marketing. Petrol. Period. . Confirm
• Empathy! Connect connect with the reality of others and wishes! "Walking in the shoes of another person" - until the soles have holes!
• Experience! Life is theater! Make every business contact unforgettable! Default: "Super Top" / Steve Jobs, "radically amazing" / BMW.
• Eliminate! Keep it simple!
• Error! Ready! Fire! Target! Try a lot of things to do and a lot of wounds and then try a few things and make a few more wounds - all with the speed of light!
• The hands! Straight as an arrow! Only a mistake! As Honest Abe!
• Expectations! Michelangelo: "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss him, but it is too low and we reach it." Amen!
• Eudaimonia! Continuation of the highest moral purpose of man - the heart of the philosophy of Aristotle. Since the service. Forever.
• EXCELLENCE! Not an exception! If not excellence, what?

Virgin Racing Finally Introduces Its 2010 Racer

The new Virgin Racing Team, one of the four newcomers, the 2010 FIA Formula One World Championship, has announced details of its debut race car - the Cosworth-Powered VR-01, which has been designed in the digital domain by using CFD ( Computational Fluid Dynamics). The black-red-painted car, which will be driven by Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi will be launched online on Monday and will be a two-day shakedown at Silverstone on Thursday to start.

This is the idea of the art Race Director Mary, Nick Wirth, who has gained international fame for his avant-garde approach pure CFD development of the car, all design, construction and testing of race cars in the computer simulation, without expensive, resource heavy scale model wind tunnel testing.

"Today is a good day for all involved in the Virgin races, but this time, where the car is the star, I salute all the wonderful people Wirth Research, who deserve the most credit for Compensation FRI - 01" Wirth said. "The composition of an F1 team, a growing concern and designing a new car from scratch is an epic task in the time we work.

"I was fortunate to have worked with top designers in Formula 1 and I am very well aware of what it takes to succeed in this sport. If we see what they have done than the other teams, with the usual, but good design approach, it is not surprising that much skepticism about our approach to all CFD. But we compete in a sport that the main change was to come face to face with the harsh economic realities of today face is marked. prove source reduction, Congress as too expensive and the need is really the mother of invention. I have absolute confidence in the process of digital design and the ability to show and share of the CFD approach in assessing the highest level - that this might be the way to the future of Formula 1 - is very, very exciting.

What a better overview of the new car, Wirth continued, "The RV-01 is the result of intensive exploration and evaluation of all factors affecting the creation of a great race car, combined with the specific parameters of sporting and 2010 technical regulations of the Games. The consequences of the chassis design was created by the prohibition of feeding clearly significant. The obligation of the entire race, amount of fuel run, creates excellent packaging and optimization challenges. Reducing the width of the front tires and the impact, the front-end grip required for modeling and simulation work, because we do not find data from previous years.

"We believe we have reached will benefit from a vehicle, the integrity of first class design and high aerodynamic efficiency and stability. Reliability is an important issue and all major areas in line with the FIA safety and crash test requirements for the impact structures - the nose, monocoque, side and rear impact structures - particularly suffering in terms of fuel prices rose to more severe.

Regarding the prospects for the team, Wirth said: "We are a serious racing team with big ambitions, if we do not try to walk before we can go. The starting point is the attempt to implement reliable, safe and efficient and the best teams.Then start of the new energy for us to put the car through a continuous development in the computer simulation. We expect problems in their entirely on the road, CFD is one approach - the model to test. In both cases it is only when the distance you can really appreciate the impact of factors that are difficult to model with a technology such that the effective stiffness of all body parts and joints to the air Take. We've all been on both closed and open wheel cars do, so I 'm pretty confident in the accuracy of our predictions and we are pleased to see how our initial configuration on the runway.

"We have two very focused and determined driver Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi made. The efforts behind the scenes in recent months in the simulator is invaluable as we begin our development work on schedule automatic translation tests.

"It is fantastic, and cooperation with Cosworth, as they begin a new chapter in the history of F1. You are a strong company, and I had the pleasure to compete against each other when we worked in Indy cars, where she has excellent work. The CA2010 is a package of Nice and the Cosworth engineers seem determined to prove himself again. I'm sure people will see that Cosworth has a great job.

Virgin Racing team owner, John Booth said: "Today is the culmination of a very emotional journey, which actually began in June last year, we celebrate the fantastic news that our membership was accepted in Formula One. The ceremonies were necessarily brief, but because We have been designing in a race against the clock to develop a car at the same time as the construction of a new group of people and buildings.

"I'm still confident Nick had a good concept car race when he think about the race team for a good job for labor exploitation has. Having closely with the technical team in the last 10 months, I know who will VR-01 the product of a very intensive and extensive design development see, and my excitement is our first race car to mark its track debut later this week jointly by any person who participates in races Virgin.

"The first step in our evaluation program is the way our two-day shakedown at Silverstone on Thursday and Friday of this week we will systematically tests are performed and the confidence to car parts and building systems for the car. It has always been the intention that we first test whether the team would miss in Valencia earlier this week and we focused on the second test in Jerez two weeks to test our public launch. It is a testimony to our methodical approach and hard work of the team we to Spain one weeks earlier than expected, some in the first test in Jerez next week. "

Cockpit-Team Virgin Virgin Virgin Virgin Party Car2VIrgin-CarLaunch-Shoot-Virgin-Virgin-Star Shoot2

Dealers punch Stop

Look-alike buildings is bad for the dealer profits.

I do not understand. Apparently because some manufacturers continue to require air a "uniform" in their buildings for private concession. This is understood to mean, outside of uniform building, including color, design and "look". A uniform internal ', color, design and layout "look". Several interpretations of "uniform" in my dictionary of synonyms, are immutable, like another invariable in the design, doing the same things.

Many potential car buyers would say that this translates as boring, irrelevant, passive, bland and ordinary. I heard that factory authorized dealerships phenomena described as "sweeping."

As part of my research for my professional development workshops, I interview people who buy new vehicles and ask questions about their buying experiences. Folks, it blows me away how many times can one say they do not remember the name of the dealerships they visited the purchasing process. The buyers can not distinguish one from another when they do their shopping brand vehicle. Nothing to distinguish one from another dealer. Is not this pathetic?

Manufacturer Logo mark on buildings is critical
Do not get me wrong, branding Dealers indeed good and it is very important for manufacturers, dealers and buyers. It is fundamental to effective marketing of the display manufacturer's mark should be very important and very visible to properly identify the vehicles being sold from the concession facilities. Great care needs to be taken to ensure the brand that signs are easy to identify and recognize and discover the buyer's vehicle. No argument. Period.

The dealers need to be distinctive. The uniqueness is necessary
What is meaningless concession buildings is sweeping demanding "and seats! , There are no statistics, validated by actual studies which explicitly state that the vehicle sales increase, profits or improve market share is improving with the double dealer.
There is no evidence, by the manufacturer or sales experience of their retail distributors, the building plans very similar color exterior and interior floor tiles, similar colors and showroom furniture actually produce the vehicle sales and profits. There is no such evidence. I think it is a myth propagated by the manufacturer. Where is it? The last 20 years of recent history in May supporting the reality that there are negative effects and consequences of this strategy double.

The dealer should have more flexibility in the construction and interior decoration?
Absolutely! They innovate. It will be good business for both dealers and manufacturers. Of course, the guidelines of the factory on the image business is essential and wise to encourage flexibility to each dealership to stand out in their market is necessary for successful sales in this rapidly changing world Internet. Each dealer must be original and more personal, more authentic to the dealership to attract business.
Each dealer out of place in the local market is a mark for themselves whether the manufacturer or recognized. It must be strengthened not diminished to increase sales by concession.

There is no compelling reason to refuse the franchised dealers can put the power of single brand to work immediately. Each dealer is independently owned and operated. They put their money, much money on the line of the land and building. Branding is all about separating from one to another distributor in their own dealership franchises and their competitor.

On the other hand, the reality, of course, is that include vehicle quality and value differentiation is the manufacturer's brand in the minds of the public to purchase. This is a key decision maker. This area is the manufacturer of 'cookie-cutter "buildings will not make up the shortfall. But provided a footing on the ground, then one label in each community made a difference in decision-making people.

Watch the NHL. They do not practice the marketing punch. The NHL is the franchisor (aka the manufacturer) and the NHL is marketing their products and logo in North America and the world. But each team is individually owned and managed and marketed as a single brand. Each team has different facilities, the unique team logos and colors of uniforms unique that separates them from all other franchises in NHL 30. The same situation exists for the CFL, NFL, and Soccer. People should not confuse the blue and white Maple Leafs with red, white and black Senators or blue and red Habs. The same product, hockey, only it is sold by the creative team brands, images and appearance for each franchisee. The rules are the same for each team to avoid cannibalizing the product or corporate brand. We have just experienced the successful defense system franchise by the NHL against the efforts of Balsillie.
He worked for the establishment of the team (brand) loyalty and healthy competition in each market.

McDonald's is another blockbuster franchise that does not practice the buildings are alike. He discovered the power of the brand logos with success in the minds of consumers with their famous "M Arches' in yellow and red. These arcs are familiar M dominate the corporate advertising and signage for each franchise location is differentiated by the building design, interior layouts and colors. No, contrary to manufacturer popular misconception, McDonald's is not the practice of building cookie cutter, facilities or colors. Check it out folks. My wife did. She raised two children and now our two grandchildren made her an expert on McDonald's. This strategy has helped to establish highly profitable long term customer loyalty and competitive advantage over many companies in the sector of fast food.

Bottom-line
The dealer is the entrepreneur and corporate executives are not. Both offer value to society and both bring unique assets, whether the right to use them. Common sense and good business practices would dictate that the automaker executives should stop the cookie cutter mentality. They should encourage their dealers to individual practice setting up their personal brand in their local market.

To print your files. Send it to key people.

Dave Kemp is president of Professional Development and Automotivator Track Star International, a monitoring system. He is an expert in the automotive industry with decades of automotive dealers more profitable and training to get success in Canada. It has been a success Marchand, general manager, sales manager and sales consultant. He shares sales strategies with thousands of members of the sales team in North America. www.Automotivator.com
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Prius brakes questioned; Toyota probe expands

The Prius will be involved in this temporary suspension of sales, but it seems that sales of the Highlander Hybrid are exposed. However, with 8 models are no longer available for distribution today is not a good day for Toyota.

Toyota Press Release:

Toyota to temporarily suspend sales of selected vehicles
Torrance, California, January 26, 2010 - - Toyota Motor Sales (TMS), USA, Inc., announced today that it has to count Toyota dealer to temporarily suspend the announced sale of eight models on the reminder to stick throttle implying January 21, 2010th

"Help for the safety of our customers and to restore confidence in Toyota are very important for our society," said Group Vice President and General Manager Bob Carter, Toyota Division. "This measure is necessary until a cure is completed. We do everything we can to rectify this situation for our customers as quickly as possible."

Toyota has announced that she would correct recall 2.3 million vehicles around the accelerator on some models of Toyota Division. Toyota has investigated individual cases mechanisms throttle in specific vehicles, without the presence of floor mats. It is possible that some mechanisms accelerator in rare cases, mechanically in a partially depressed position, or keeps returning slowly to the resting position.

Remember Toyota's gas pedal and the suspension of sales of Toyota vehicles is the division is limited to the following:

2009-2010 RAV4,
2009-2010 Corolla
2009-2010 Matrix
Avalon 2005-2010
Some 2007-2010 Camry
2010 Highlander
2007-2010 Tundra
2008-2010 Sequoia

No department Scion or Lexus vehicles are affected by these measures. Not affected are the Toyota Prius, Tacoma, Sienna Venza, Solara, Yaris, 4Runner, FJ Cruiser, Land Cruiser and then select the Camry models, including all the Camry hybrid, which will remain on sale.

By suspending the sales decline is expected to cease production of Toyota vehicles on the production lines for the following week to assess the 1 February, and coordination. The manufacturing of vehicles in North America are affected:

• Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada (Corolla, Matrix and RAV4)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana (Sequoia and Highlander)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky - Line 1 (Camry and Avalon)
• Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (Camry)
• Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas (Tundra)

No other facilities of Toyota vehicle production in North America by the decision affected the production.

The gas pedal sticking point is distinct from the permanent reminder of Toyota and Lexus vehicles to reduce the risk of foot compression reduces false or misplaced accessories floor mats. Approximately 1.7 million vehicles, Toyota Division, both subject to separate recalls.

# # #

Not to mention the latest news about the gas pedal stick:

Frequently Asked Questions for the accelerator sticking Recall (January 22, 2010)

Toyota Files voluntary safety recall on vehicles Select a division of Toyota to paste the accelerator pedal (January 21, 2010)



The latest on Toyota Consumer Advisory safety mats for potential interference with the accelerator pedal in certain Toyota and Lexus:

Setting the Record Straight (December 23, 2009)

A healthy debate on Security (December 10, 2009)

Toyota Announces Details of funds on the accelerator potential Entrapment (November 25, 2009)

Unintended acceleration: Toyota addresses issues (November 6, 2009)

Toyota Statement Regarding NHTSA News Release (November 4, 2009)

Toyota Begins interim notice to the owners about the future security Voluntary Recall) for floor mats (November 2, 2009, with respect

NHTSA Report (November 2, 2009)

Toyota Owners letter (November 2, 2009)

Toyota consumer safety alert: risk of interference with mats Accelerator (September 29, 2009)

Toyota / carpet / all-weather floor mats inspection, application and installation (September 29, 2009)

Toyota carpet mats Application Information Chart (September 29, 2009)

Toyota All-Weather Floor Mats Quick Reference Chart (September 29, 2009)

# # #

NOTICE TO CONSUMERS: We received a number of comments and questions on the table and understand the security concerns. We want to respond, but the newsroom U.S. Toyota is not a place for consumer complaints and provides detailed information on each vehicle features, specifications or capabilities. These types of problems are better handled by our Customer Experience Center, where the Account Manager Reference for Toyota, Lexus and Scion will be transmitted. You can contact our service representatives at 1-800-331-4331 by the customer. If you prefer e-mail or chat? Easy access to our website e-mail or live chat links for Toyota, Scion or Lexus.