FORD FIESTA PROVES TO BE A LEADER IN FUEL EFFICIENCY

Chiang Mai, Bangkok 24 May 2011 - Ford Fiesta, one of the most popular and award winning sedans was put to a test in order to prove its fuel efficiency. Tested in Thailand, the car covered a path from Chiang Mai to Bangkok and averaged 21.86 km per liter, winning the challenge by traversing a distance of 800 kms on a single fill up of petrol.

This challenge proved all what the company stands for that is delivering quality vehicles well known for their fuel efficiency and performance. A group of four individuals took part in this test and were closely monitored, and confirmed by Dr. Saiprasit Koetniyom, who is a renowned and distinguished Professor from Sirindhorn Thai-German Graduate School of Engineering located at King Mongkut University of Technology.

All four editors, two of whom drove a five door while two drove a four door Fiesta worked in tandem and switched roles of driver and passenger halfway through the race to demonstrate and subject the vehicle to different techniques of driving. Tightly sealed tanks and air conditioners set the teams drive on highways to complete the challenge.

[Source: Ford Media Via Premier Automobiles Sdn Bhd]

NISMO Japan has been working on a new race car project for a while now. Their latest creation is the race-prepped Nissan Leaf electric car. The Leaf race car features a full carbon body with wider-bodykit reminiscence of the Super GT race cars. Nismo Motorsport Planning Department, Manaki Iwamoto said that the leaf electric car produces zero emission and no noise which makes possibility to open up a new racing event such as city races, indoor races, and night races. Think of racing around the city at night without waking up people sleeping.

Check out the video below:

There’s no better way for Nissan to celebrate their success in global motor racing and 40 years of Z in the UK than by launching a special edition of their highly potent sports car, the 370Z. The special edition 370Z is called the GT Edition and expected to be available for UK market by early June.


The main highlights of the 370Z GT Edition are race-themed stickers running down the rocker panels, an exclusive to GT Edition; a darkened color of their 19inch Rays Forged alloy wheels, tweaked suspension and reworked chassis for high speed driving and revised underbody insulation to reduce road noise.

Furthermore Nissan has also included a Premium Connect satellite navigation system and fitted a tyre pressure monitoring system to the GT Edition. Another great feature of the 370Z GT Edition is availability of the snow mode option via the advanced seven speed automatic; According to Press release when the snow mode is applied, it sets the car off in second gear and controls engine revs to prevent wheel spin on ice or snow.



More images below:






Continue to read Nissan Press Release below:

NISSAN 370Z GT EDITION: A CELEBRATION

At a glance
- Special limited edition race-themed Coupé
- Three special body colour choices, side stripes and darkened 19" alloy wheels
- Suspension changes to enhance ride comfort, high speed handling

To celebrate in Nissan's global success in GT racing and 40 years of Z in the UK a special 'GT Edition' is being unleashed. Offering special body colours, unique GT stripes, darkened 19inch RAYS forged alloy wheels and a number of significant suspension and equipment changes.

The GT Edition recognises its heritage with a nod to the 1970s and the birth of the original Z car: special side stripes.

Grey 'GT' stripes running along the flanks of the car contrast with each of the special edition's three body colours - Pearl White, Kuro (metallic) black and Black Rose, the latter shade is exclusive to GT Edition. The exterior is set off by the standard 19inch RAYS forged alloy wheels finished in a dramatic dark anthracite colour.

In deference to the higher average speeds routinely enjoyed in Europe, changes to the GT chassis have been engineered by technicians from Nissan Technical Centre Europe (NTCE) based in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. The principal modification has been to retune the dampers to provide the ideal balance between ride comfort and high-speed handling.

Equipment changes include the arrival of a rear view parking camera as part of the Premium Connect satellite navigation system and the fitment of a tyre pressure monitoring system. The advanced seven-speed automatic option now has a snow mode which, when applied, sets the car off in second gear and controls engine revs to prevent wheel spin on ice or snow. Refinement is enhanced by revisions to underbody insulation to reduce road noise.

"The 370Z is an iconic sports car and the GT Edition underlines its appeal to enthusiasts everywhere," said Pierre Loing, Vice President Product Planning, Nissan International SA. "The combination of outstanding performance and the dramatic looks of this very special 370Z more than lives up to the heritage of its illustrious forebear while its strong links to the race track shows its true pedigree."

As the name implies, the GT Edition celebrates Nissan's presence in GT racing on the world stage. As well as its continuing commitment to Super GT in Japan, Nissan has been one of the leading lights in the new GT1 World Championship, winning the prestigious Tourist Trophy in 2010 with the fearsome GT-R. The Nissan Z family has been a race winner in the FIA GT4 European Cup since its inception and competes annually in various 24 hour races - the highlight being the Nürburgring 24 hours.

The Nissan 370Z GT4 Cup race car has raced toe to toe against competition from Aston Martin, Porsche and BMW across Europe in the real world while it is also the racing gamers' vehicle of choice in the virtual world.

An innovative link with Gran Turismo 5 game for PlayStation® 3 has seen cyber racers compete against each other to win a drive in a real 370Z GT4 cup car. The 2011 GT Academy series, already underway, with on-line gamers ready to swap the virtual world for the real thing.

The best will become part of the Nissan GT Academy, a motor racing ladder that could take top drivers from local series through the European Blancpain Endurance series right the way to international GT1 World Championship.

The new GT Edition 370Z is available to order from participating 370Z dealers with first deliveries expected from 1 June 2011 and priced from £35,000

[Source: Nissan]

2011 FORD FIESTA IS AWARDED NADA GUIDES OF THE MONTH FOR MAY 2011
Ford Says "It's a Pretty Big Deal" and NADAguides Analysts Could Not Agree More

News Highlights:

• NADAguides, the leading provider of vehicle pricing and information, names the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta the NADAguides Car of the Month for May.
• The 2011 Ford Fiesta was selected as the NADAguides Car of the Month based on the vehicle's quality of engineering inside and out, driving comfort, fuel efficiency, overall value, and wealth of features above and beyond what is expected in its class.
• Increased consumer interest for the Ford Fiesta on NADAguides.com also played a role in the vehicle's selection as the Car of the Month. NADAguides' market analysts saw an increase in consumer interest for the Ford Fiesta of nearly 55 percent during the first quarter of 2011, as compared to the fourth quarter of 2010, and expect to see that percentage continue to increase over the coming months considering rising gas prices and the Fiesta's ability to reach 40 mpg on the highway.

• NADAguides analysts agree that the Fiesta's tagline – "It's a Pretty Big Deal" – is extremely fitting for this feature loaded, sub-compact vehicle that scored a "Top Safety Pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The technology, performance and options of the Fiesta are not typically found in a sub-compact vehicle priced under $20,000, and NADAguides analysts foresee this vehicle making a large impact on Ford's overall sales in the coming months with 2 body styles and 5 trim levels available to car shoppers.

Key Quotes:
• Troy Snyder, Director of Product Development at NADAguides: "The exterior of the Fiesta has an aggressive, sporty and edgy look with modern lines sure to give the foreign sub-compact makers a scare in the design department. As for performance, sub-compact vehicles usually leave you feeling like you got what you paid for, but not the Fiesta – it is impressive and delivers a vehicle above expectations, setting a new bar for the competition."

• John Felice, General Manger Ford Lincoln Marketing: "We believe the 2011 Fiesta sets a new standard in the small car segment so it is rewarding to see it researched to such a high level by car buyers. This recognition is a further sign of the momentum we have built with our range of fuel efficient, technologically advanced new products that customers want to learn about and own. It is successful and popular new products like Fiesta that will continue to differentiate Ford Motor Company as a leader."


2011 Ford Fiesta Highlights:
• Engine: The all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta comes standard with a 1.6-liter twin-independent variable cam timing (Ti-VCT) Duratec® I4 Engine built to make the Fiesta able to conquer both quick sprints and long distance travel effortlessly. The Ford Fiesta manual achieves 28 MPG city and 37 MPG highway. Ford also offers its Fuel Efficient Technology which includes a powertrain control module and aerodynamic designs, or buyers can upgrade to the optional Super Fuel Economy (SFE) Package which includes additional aerodynamic details such as underbody shields and blockers on the lower grill – the Ford Fiesta SE with the SFE package achieves up to 40 MPG. With Dynamic Ride and Handling, Ford-Tuned Suspension and an available PowerShift Six-Speed Automatic Transmission the analysts at NADAguides found the Ford Fiesta to handle and feel like a sports car, providing confidence even at higher speeds.

• Interior: The analysts at NADAguides feel the interior of the Fiesta gives the driver more than expected. With a power moonroof, heated leather trim seats and ambient lighting the Ford Fiesta feels like a luxury vehicle. Ford put a lot of thoughtful design into the interior of the Fiesta including a cell phone-inspired center console which offers an intuitive user experience, available painted metallic accents, soft-touch materials and durable, tailored-looking seat fabrics.
• Technology: The Ford Fiesta comes with Ford's revolutionary automotive audio and navigation technology – SYNC® in-car Connectivity System. Additionally, the Ford Fiesta offers an LCD Message Center, Intelligent Access with Push-Button Start, SIRIUS® Satellite Radio, and Easy Fuel™ capless fuel filter.

• Safety: Selected as a Top Safety Pick by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) the 2011 Ford Fiesta offers seven standard airbags including a driver's knee airbag and Side Curtain Airbags, a Safety Cage of Boron Steel, Integrated Blind-Spot Mirrors, and AdvanceTRAC® ESC. IIHS gave the Ford Fiesta a rating of "Good" for frontal offset, side impact, and roof strength.

• Price/Warranty: The 2011 Ford Fiesta 4 door Sedan S starts at $13,320 while the 4 door Hatchback SE edition starts at $15,120. Standard warranty on the 2011 Ford Fiesta includes three years, 36,000 mile basic and five years, 60,000 mile drive train and roadside assistance.


About NADAguides Car of the Month Award:
The NADAguides Car of the Month award provides consumers with practical information on new cars, trucks and SUVs chosen by the analysts at NADAguides for exceptional performance, efficiency, features, options and appeal. Criteria used to determine the Car of the Month includes: quality of engineering, fuel efficiency, safety equipment and ratings, pricing and overall value, sales trends, consumer market interest on NADAguides.com, and test drives performed by NADAguides market analysts. Car of the Month vehicles are eligible for the NADAguides Car of the Year award.

[Source: Premier Automobiles Sdn Bhd]

According to Mainichi Daily News, Customs agents in Chile have detected low levels of radioactivity in cars that were shipped recently from Japan. Reports says that 21 out of 2500 cars that arrived in Iquique aboard the Hyundai 106 cargo ship was confirmed found contaminated with radioactive.

However, Chilean deputy treasury secretary Miguel Angel Quesada said that the level of radioactivity is too low to cause any damage to humans. He also says that the cars will be hosed down on board and any radioactivity will be contained inside the ship.

Hopefully the cars that will be shipped from Japan to Brunei does not contain any radioactivity. The ship that contains the radiation was the first shipment from Japan since the Japan earthquake tragedy and nuclear disaster

[Source: Mainichi Daily News]