EIN Presswire: Automotive Press Releases

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Encourages Investors Who Suffered Substantial Losses Investing in Magna International Inc. to Contact the Firm

Thu, 24 May 2012 22:36:00 +0000

Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP Encourages Investors Who Suffered Substantial Losses Investing in Magna International Inc. to Contact the Firm

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP, a leading national securities law firm, is investigating potential securities fraud at Magna International Inc. ("Magna" or the "Company") (NYSE: MGA).

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120119/MM38856LOGO)

The investigation focuses on whether the Company and its executives violated federal securities laws by failing to disclose that: (1) the Company's long-term European customer contracts were at steeply discounted prices; (2) Magna was experiencing quality control issues resulting in higher production costs at its European factories; (3) the foregoing adversely affected Magna's production margins; and (4) Company's representations concerning its disclosure controls were materially false and misleading.

Request more information now by clicking here: www.faruqilaw.com/MGA

Take Action
If you purchased Magna securities between January 12, 2011 and August 5, 2011 and would like to discuss your legal rights, visit www.faruqilaw.com/MGA. You can also contact us by calling Richard Gonnello or Francis McConville toll free at 877-247-4292 or at 212-983-9330 or by sending an e-mail to rgonnello@faruqilaw.com or fmcconville@faruqilaw.com. Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP also encourages anyone with information regarding Magna's conduct to contact the firm, including whistleblowers, former employees, shareholders and others.

Attorney Advertising. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP (www.faruqilaw.com). Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. We welcome the opportunity to discuss your particular case. All communications will be treated in a confidential matter.

FARUQI & FARUQI, LLP
369 Lexington Avenue, 10th Floor
New York, NY 10017
Attn: Richard Gonnello, Esq.
rgonnello@faruqilaw.com
Francis McConville, Esq.
fmcconville@faruqilaw.com
Telephone: (877) 247-4292 or (212) 983-9330

SOURCE Faruqi & Faruqi, LLP

SRT Motorsports - Sprint Cup Brad Keselowski Open Interview - Charlotte

Thu, 24 May 2012 21:12:45 +0000

May 24, 2012 , CONCORD, N.C. -

Thursday, May 24, 2012
Denny Darnell
Scott Sebastian
Jimmy White
Dodge PR
Charlotte Motor Speedway
NASCAR Sprint Cup Series
Coca-Cola 600
Brad Keselowski Open Interview
ddarnell@darnellcommunications.net
ssebastian@darnellcommunications.net
jwhite@darnellcommunications.net
http://twitter.com/teamdodge
www.media.chrysler.com
www.drivesrt.com

Brad Keselowski (No. 2 Miller Lite Dodge Charger R/T)
YOU HAD PRETTY GOOD WEEK LAST WEEKEND, WINNING A SEGMENT IN THE ALL-STAR RACE AND FINISHED IN THE TOP THREE. “It’s great to be back. It doesn’t seem like it was that long ago that I was just sitting here. Hopefully we’ll be sitting here a few more times this weekend. We had two really good runs in the All-Star race and the Truck race, finishing second in both of ‘em. I’d like to get one spot more in both races this weekend with the Nationwide and the Cup car. I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at it. Hopefully we’re able to make some small improvements on the car during the week and if we did that, I think we could do it. Kind of a short week in between the two races but that’s okay. It’s always a pleasure to come here and have race weeks and see all the fans. Maybe the traffic isn’t so much fun but the rest of it is really cool, to see everybody so excited over these weeks. It’s been good. I’m looking forward to hopefully having another strong performance and giving my fans something to cheer about; spending some time on Friday on Speed Street and doing all that kind of stuff. Lot of good things going on, obviously the Hall of Fame yesterday. It was a big deal for the sport so that was really cool, too. It’s a big deal for Miller to have Rusty (Wallace) get in the Hall of Fame, so really happy for them. Just all-in-all a great week and ready to finish it off with, like I said, two more solid runs.”

COULD YOU RECAP WHAT YOU FELT AT MICHIGAN WITH THE REPAVE? WHAT DO YOU ANTICIPATE WHEN YOU GET TO POCONO WITH THE NEW ASPHALT? “Well, I don’t know really what really to anticipate for Pocono but I’m glad we have a test day there. That’s going to be big for getting everybody on the same playing field for those cars who tested and those that didn’t. I did have the opportunity to go to Michigan and that was a thrill ride. It’s certainly the fastest track on the circuit as it stands right now. I think that’s kind of cool and obviously it’s in my back yard, so that’s kind of some bragging right and I feel proud about that. That should be a great race. I don’t think anybody really knows what to expect and those are always the cool races to me, the races where everybody comes in with no experience and you just kind of go, kind of like Kentucky was. You just don’t really know what to expect. I like those and Michigan is definitely going to be a race where nobody knows what to expect. Hopefully we come prepared and can bring home a win.”

WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE AT THE PENSKE RACING SHOP THIS TIME OF YEAR? DO YOU GET MUCH INTERACTION WITH ROGER PENSKE? “Well, I mean, the month of May is certainly a big month for Penske Racing. Obviously they’re having a lot of success over there at the Brickyard and that’s great to see and really important for Roger but we want to have a lot of success over here, too. It’s not an easy thing to do. I don’t know if anyone has ever pulled off the weekend sweep. I know (Jamie) McMurray was close one year but I think we’ve got a shot at it for sure. But you don’t take anything for granted. I know how much it would mean to Roger to be able to pull that off. I think it’s a great opportunity; that’s the key word that I want to use. I’m just happy that I have fast enough race cars to be a legitimate opportunity. You know, obviously, it takes a lot of time out of Roger’s schedule but he clears time on his schedule this month to make sure that he can be a part of it all. And it was great to see him fly out Saturday for the All-Star race after qualifying over there at the Brickyard. I think that just shows that he cares about both programs. He wants to win. It’s good. Like I said, I feel very lucky to have an owner that engaged.”

SINCE JIMMIE JOHNSON WON AT DARLINGTON AND THE ALL-STAR RACE, DO YOU THINK THAT TEAM HAS HIT HIGH GEAR? “Well, I think they never really lost the speed. They’ve had speed all year long; they just haven’t been able to close the deal at the end earlier in the season. Now I think they’re definitely closing the deal at the end. And that’s part of it, too, don’t get me wrong but you look at some of the NASCAR stats like speed by quarter and so forth and they’re right there, if not the best of anybody. And I think that shows they’ve had the main component and that’s always speed. They have it and so it’s just a matter of catching the right breaks, the yellows at the right times and so forth. You know, kind of executing at the end is the best way to put it. And they’re doing that right now with the fastest race cars so when they win with the car as fast they have, they’re going to win in dominating fashion like they did this past Saturday. It’s up to us to make sure that they don’t execute better than we do. Hopefully we can find, like I said, just a touch more speed where we can kind of knock them off that bubble. They’re still a really good team with great cars and when they win they’re going to win big.”

WAS IT SPECIAL FOR YOU TO SEE RUSTY WALLACE ELECTED TO THE NASCAR HALL OF FAME? DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL MEMORIES OF HIM DRIVING THE 2 CAR? “Special memories of Rusty for me, he had that one year, I can’t remember if it was ’93, ’94, something like that, where he just dominated. I can’t remember how many races he won but had to be somewhere around eight. I don’t have the full stats so don’t quote me on that but I remember that year and there was this video game that came out and I first started racing it. I’ll never forget, it was this NASCAR video game and he was always the guy to beat. I was probably about 10 years old so I remember that and how fast his car was (laughs), how good he was at Bristol and Martinsville and places like that. I remember that season for him more than anything else when I think back to Rusty and obviously the black and gold MGD car. So I think that’s really special for Miller and that’s where my memories are. It’s pretty cool to think of him being in the Hall of Fame and what that means for Miller. I’m excited for them. I know they’ve got some plans they’re working on to really take advantage of that with regards to Rusty being in the Hall of Fame and how to do something cool with the fans and him. I’m excited to see how that all plays out. I think it’s all great stuff. The Hall of Fame, I think, is doing exactly what it is supposed to do and that’s creating some excitement in the sport. It’s great to see.”

HOW MUCH OF A MENTAL TRANSITION IS IT TO GO FROM THE ALL-STAR RACE TO THE 600? “You know, I definitely think there is a transition there where you have to be a little more patient, so to speak. And I think it’s probably more of a transition for the crew chiefs than it is for the drivers because, at the end of the day, it’s still our job to drive the cars very, very hard and make ‘em go fast. I think it’s more of a transition for the crew chiefs to make sure that the cars have maybe a more appropriate balance of speed and reliability and speed being long versus a short run and reliability obviously being parts and components that doesn’t fail in such a long race. I think it’s probably more of a transition for them than it is for the driver. It certainly requires a different approach and I think that’s great. It showcases teams that are strong in multiple directions and I kind of think it’s pretty cool.”

IS DANICA PATRICK BECOMING THE FACE OF NASCAR? IS THAT OKAY WITH YOU GUYS? “Is Danica becoming the face of NASCAR? Well, that’s not for me to judge; that’s for you guys to judge and for the fans to judge. Certainly she brings some attention to the sport from a crossover standpoint of those that maybe would not have been engaged in it before and new interest is always good interest. And I can’t remember who it was that said it, I think it was Jeff Gordon maybe a year or two ago, it’s great that she’ll bring that new attention because I feel like if I win or he wins or whoever wins, that at the end of the day it’s the winner that gets the most of it. It’s just a matter of getting people to tune in to start with. So if she can get people to tune in to begin with, I think that’s definitely a win for the sport. But like I said, I’m not really a good judge on whether she’s the face or not. I don’t have enough time to look through those things to, I guess, get a grasp of it. I can certainly understand if I was a track or someone in the media that relied on ticket sales or page views or ratings or whatever that might be and she sold more of them or produced more of them or whatever that might be, then heck, I’d put her on whatever I could put her on (smiles). So I can understand that approach. I mean, I guess at the end of the day it’s for you guys to judge whether she’s the face of the sport, not me.”

WHAT’S IT LIKE TO DRIVE FOR MR. PENSKE? WAS IT INTIMIDATING AT ALL WHEN YOU FIRST MET HIM AND CHATTED WITH HIM? “Well, yeah, the first time I met him it was definitely intimidating. Long story short, I’m from Michigan and Roger lives in Michigan and has all his offices up there, and without giving away the exact location of where his office is, I can say that it is purposely left unmarked and it’s literally a building that I drove by all my life growing up and did not know that’s where he was at.

“When he called me and gave me the address of where to meet him at and I put it in my phone and Google maps, I was like naw, I’ve got the wrong address. And I remember calling back up and I can’t remember if it was his secretary or someone and kind of double-checking and I was like no, that’s it. And so I drove in his building and you know I’ll never forget that. He had like this really cool underground parking, which would make sense that I didn’t know it was his building, and it was elevators and stuff that were kind of guarded. It was really cool, a unique experience. I would definitely say that the first time I met him I was more intimidated by the fact that the way his building was, how he does things and how beautiful it was, I think that kind of goes into his persona of who he is. What makes it so much fun to be a part of his teams is the commitment to excellence that he has. You know, more power to him. He knows how to make that stuff work. He knows how to make things nicer than what you ever thought they could be. I had the pleasure of taking a few groups on a tour of our shop this week and this past week. They all say the same thing when they go through the building – this is so Roger, because when you go through the building at Penske Racing, there’s no other shop that compares to it. I get messages from fans on Twitter that take the tours and that’s all Roger; that’s him walking through the shop. We joke all the time that if somebody leaves papers on their desk he’s walk through when he’s there and find the biggest cabinet you can find and dump ‘em all in there because that’s how he wants things (smile). He wants the desk to be clean at night, the floor to be clean and you know things of that nature. That’s just Roger and that’s part of what makes him so cool.”

YOU ROUTINELY HAVE DRIVEN NATIONWIDE AND CUP RACES IN THE SAME WEEKEND. WHAT IS DANICA PATRICK IN FOR THIS WEEKEND HERE AT CHARLOTTE RUNNING BOTH RACES? “I can only go from my own experience. I can say she’s in for losing a lot of weight this weekend (smiles). This is a tough one and I think it’s an equal challenge to last week, physically. Whatever last week was, just take those quotes and copy-paste ‘em ‘cause it’s the same thing. And by last week I mean Darlington ‘cause it’s very similar in nature. The racetrack itself is probably not quite as challenging as Darlington but the extra race length more than makes up for that. This is a tough race. It’s 600 miles. I know there’s been talk from people in the past that it needs to be shorter. I think why it’s such a great race is the fact that it’s so long it differentiates it from other races and adds another element to it that I don’t think we see anywhere else. I think that’s what she’s up for.”

BASED ON HOW YOU CELEBRATE YOUR WINS WITH THE AMERICAN FLAG, WHAT MIGHT A VICTORY ON MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND MEAN? “Well, obviously, I’ve got the American flag on both my cars, in Nationwide and the Cup car in a way. One is in a banner form and the other is a traditional flag form. I think that shows how important it is to our team and sponsors – Memorial Day weekend and the cause itself. I’ve got two great sponsors with Discount Tire and Miller Lite that really activate around that, which just adds another element to why it’s so important to be able to have a strong run and hopefully get a win this weekend. But to me, I guess, kind of reflecting on it deeper, I think that’s one of those things that you don’t really know what it means to you until it happens to you. I’m going to assume it would probably mean a little bit more, for sure, being Memorial Day weekend, and for Roger and kind of my passion for doing things with the military, but it would be nice to confirm that (smiles). It’s one of those things I almost don’t think about it. I’d rather just experience it.”

--30--

Wajax Increases Bank Credit Facility to $225 Million

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:49:29 +0000

On May 24, 2012, Wajax (TSX:WJX) increased the limit of the revolving term portion of its bank credit facility by $50 million on substantially the same terms and conditions as the existing facility. The fully secured facility, due August 12, 2016, is now comprised of a $30 million non-revolving term portion and a $195 million revolving term portion. At March 31, 2012, Wajax had utilized $101 million of the facility.

Commenting on the increase, Mark Foote, President and CEO, stated: "In addition to taking advantage of the currently favourable borrowing conditions, the $50 million increase will provide Wajax with additional borrowing capacity to fund future growth, including increases in working capital and acquisitions."

Wajax Corporation is a leading Canadian distributor and service support provider of mobile equipment, power systems and industrial components. Reflecting a diversified exposure to the Canadian economy, its three distinct core businesses operate through a network of 117 branches across Canada. Its customer base spans natural resources, construction, transportation, manufacturing, industrial processing and utilities.

Wajax Corporation
Mark Foote
President and Chief Executive Officer
(905) 212-3300
mfoote@wajax.com
Wajax Corporation
John Hamilton
Chief Financial Officer
(905) 212-3300
jhamilton@wajax.com

E-ONE Appoints CEO

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:09:34 +0000

E-ONE Appoints CEO

PR Newswire

OCALA, Fla., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- E-ONE, Inc., a market-leading manufacturer of first responder apparatus, has appointed Kent Tyler as president and CEO. Tyler replaces Peter Guile, who was appointed CEO of Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV), the parent company of E-ONE, in January. Tyler, 45, most recently served as president of Collins Bus Corporation, also an ASV portfolio company and leader of Type-A school bus production throughout North America. Tyler will continue to lead Collins Bus for the immediate future alongside his new responsibilities at E-ONE.

"I'm delighted to announce the appointment of Kent Tyler as leader for E-ONE. He has an ideal background for E-ONE sharing our passion for quality, innovation and superior customer service," Guile said. "Kent has a proven track record in developing employees and dealers, implementing operational excellence and delivering significant growth."

Tyler has more than 14 years of experience in the specialty vehicle manufacturing industry, having joined Collins Industries in 1997. He holds a bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University and a master's degree from Missouri State University. Tyler and his family will relocate to the Ocala, FL, area.

"I'm extremely excited to join E-ONE. Peter and the E-ONE team have done an outstanding job of establishing E-ONE as the preferred choice for apparatus," stated Tyler. "I look forward to working throughout the entire organization to develop innovative first responder apparatus and serve our nation's heroes."

E-ONE engineers and manufactures mission-critical vehicles including custom and commercial pumpers tankers, Water Master vacuum tankers, aerial ladders and platforms, command and communication apparatus, quick attack units, industrial trucks, and aircraft rescue firefighting vehicles. The company sells its products world-wide and is headquartered in Ocala, Florida. E-ONE is an ISO 9001 registered and CCC certified manufacturer. For more information, visit www.E-ONE.com.

Allied Specialty Vehicles (ASV), Orlando FL, is a $1 billion revenue, privately held company comprised of industry leading brands in Fire & Emergency, Recreation & Commercial specialty vehicle segments. For more information, visit us at www.alliedsv.com.

SOURCE Allied Specialty Vehicles

Gentex Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX), the Zeeland, Michigan-based manufacturer of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based lighting-assist and driver-assist systems for the automotive industry, commercial fire protection products and dimmable aircraft windows, today announced that its Board of Directors recently declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.13 (13 cents) per share that will be payable July 20, 2012, to shareholders of record of the common stock at the close of business on July 5, 2012.

About the Company

Founded in 1974, Gentex Corporation (NASDAQ: GNTX) is the leading supplier of automatic-dimming rearview mirrors and camera-based lighting-assist and driver-assist systems to the global automotive industry. The Company also provides commercial smoke alarms and signaling devices to the North American fire protection market, as well as dimmable aircraft windows for the commercial, business and general aviation markets. Based in Zeeland, Michigan, the international Company develops, manufactures and markets interior and exterior automatic-dimming automotive rearview mirrors that utilize proprietary electrochromic technology to dim in proportion to the amount of headlight glare from trailing vehicle headlamps. More than half of the Company's interior mirrors are sold with advanced electronic features, and more than 98 percent of the Company's net sales are derived from the sale of auto-dimming mirrors to every major automaker in the world. Visit the Company's web site at www.gentex.com.

Gentex currently is working to fill a significant number of manufacturing and technical positions, primarily in the electrical, software development and engineering areas. Additional information is available at http://www.gentex.com/careers/.

CONTACT:
Connie Hamblin
616/772-1800
WEBSITE: www.gentex.com

Marine Corps Veteran Uses Experience as Police Officer/Air Marshall to Serve Raleigh Community as 1-800-TAXICAB Taxi Driver

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:21:11 +0000

Marine Corps Veteran Uses Experience as Police Officer/Air Marshall to Serve Raleigh Community as 1-800-TAXICAB Taxi Driver

Father of four brings unique experience from career as Federal Air Marshall and SWAT team member in new community service role as cab driver

PR Newswire

RALEIGH, N.C., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-iReach/ -- For taxi driver Kerry Pool, serving the community is nothing new. Having served as a Federal Air Marshall, SWAT officer, narcotics detective, and U.S. Marine, he's used to being depended on by the public.

Having started driving a taxi two months ago for the brand new, 1-800-TAXICAB taxi fleet in Raleigh, North Carolina, Pool's drawn upon his training to serve the local community, but he's replaced the squad car lights for taxi top lights, and his service revolver for his taxi radio.

"I love it – I guess you could say I'm part counselor, part cop, and part chauffeur," Pool says. "I wanted to find a new career but I wanted to keep being involved with the community, and driving a taxi lets me do that."

As a member of the SWAT team in Washington D.C., facing high pressure situations was expected. As a taxi driver, quick thinking and calm nerves have come in handy as well. Just recently, a mother-to-be needed to make it to the hospital – fast.

"My passenger's mother called and told me, 'my daughter's gone into labor, can you get us to the hospital fast?'" Pool recalls. "I said, 'I'll be there in 5! And you better believe it, I was there in less than 5 minutes!"

As his passenger's water broke in the cab, the urgency grew.

"My background as a police officer just went into full gear," Pool recalls. "I focused on keeping her calm. I reassured her. I had been in that situation before."

Five minutes after arriving at the hospital via taxi, the passenger delivered a healthy baby.

"I was just happy for them and very proud of being involved," said Pool. "It feels great to be depended on, and then to be able to help when it counts."

In his long career as a police officer, Pool faced life and death situations on several occasions. In one instance, a dangerous criminal aimed a gun at Pool. Pool had to call upon all his experience in the Marine Corps and police academy training to stop the suspect and save his own life.

Pool's law enforcement experience made him a candidate for the Federal Air Marshalls following the attacks on 9/11. Pool served as an Air Marshall for 6 years, from 2002 to 2008.

Pool exemplifies a trend seen at 1-800-TAXICAB and other taxi companies: experienced veterans who begin driving taxis after serving their country in the armed services.

"We are thrilled to see driver applicants who are veterans," says 1-800-TAXICAB Raleigh operations manager, Philip Williams. "First off, we love being a free country, and we owe that to our veterans. But secondly, they make great taxi drivers because they understand service. And service is the most important quality in good taxi drivers."

The commitment to service means taking calls to get passengers where they need to be, but not necessarily at the most convenient times for the drivers.

"I look at it as my duty," said Pool. "When I get a call at one o'clock in the morning, I know my passenger needs me. I go and get them where they need to go. That's just part of the business."

Other passengers, says Pool, need to go to the pharmacy for important medication, to the grocery store, or to non-emergency medical care, such as dialysis or therapy.

The elderly, for example, are especially dependent on the availability of quality, dependable taxi services. Pool has first hand knowledge of the importance of available transportation services to individuals who are either too old to drive, or have limited access to a vehicle.

"My wife and I chose to move back to Raleigh from D.C. to care for her aging father," he said. "We like the area, but the biggest factor was to be near him."

Pool and his wife have four grown children, one managing a chain of restaurants in Florida, one serving in the Navy, one finishing college and contemplating law school, and another attending college. Pool notes that raising children and driving a taxi share certain characteristics in common.

"You have short bursts of intensity, but they, your passengers or your kids, need you every day, all the time," Pool says. "You need to be 'on' all the time. You need to be committed. And that's part of what makes it so rewarding. Maybe that's one of the reasons I love it."

About the 1-800-TAXICAB Franchise System
The 1-800-TAXICAB Franchise is the first U.S. based multi-state taxicab franchise, with a new location in Raleigh, NC. 1-800-TAXICAB in Raleigh uses very distinctive Red and Black Dodge Chargers, accepts all major credit cards, uses GPS dispatching, and is open 24/7 year-round. The mission of the 1-800-TAXICAB franchise is to offer high quality taxi related services through a combination of excellent service with the latest technology. Passengers can call the system's nationwide toll-free number to order taxi service from a local franchise location, or, in cities without a franchisee, order taxi service from an independent local taxi company on the 1-800-TAXICAB referral network. Passengers can place reservations via telephone, sms text message, online booking, or smartphone applications. Visit http://www.1800taxicabraleigh.com to learn more about 1-800-TAXICAB or to order a taxi.

Media Contact: Mark Adkins Widestream Enterprises, Inc, 801-590-3276, mark@taxi-fran.com

News distributed by PR Newswire iReach: https://ireach.prnewswire.com

SOURCE 1-800-TAXICAB

Shelby Mustangs Headed for the Auction Block in Tulsa

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:15:15 +0000

Shelby Mustangs Headed for the Auction Block in Tulsa

PR Newswire

TULSA, Okla., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Leake Auction Company will auction an impressive collection of Shelby's during their upcoming 40th annual collector car auction in Tulsa, June 8-10 in the QuikTrip Center. This collection consists of a variety of Mustangs, spanning the late Carroll Shelby's career. Shelby is best known for his dedication to create high-powered muscle cars, most notably the Shelby Cobra and the Mustang Shelby GT500.

The line-up includes:

"Like everyone in the automotive industry, we were saddened by the death of Mr. Shelby," stated Richard Sevenoaks, president of Leake Auction Company. "Carroll Shelby transcends generations and his name is synonymous with muscle cars. There is not a guy out there who does not lust after a Shelby."

The Tulsa auction continues Leake's 40th anniversary celebration, and they are rolling out the red carpet for their guests. Those with proper credentials to bid on cars will be treated to a Car Bar where they can enjoy snacks and drinks, a dinner at the Hard Rock Casino featuring live music from the Mid Life Crisis Band and much more. The James C. Leake Lifetime Achievement award will also be given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to the car collecting industry. Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and military personnel with an ID and $7 for children under 12.

For a complete list of vehicles consigned to this auction, visit www.leakecar.com.

Leake Auction Company was established in 1964 as one of the first car auctions in the country. More than 40 years later the auction company has sold more than 34,000 cars. Leake Auction Company currently operates auctions in Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Dallas and San Antonio.

Sponsors include: Hard Rock Casino, Citizens Security Bank, Bob Hurley Ford and Hagerty Insurance.

Contact:
Jennifer Tetley, 918.232.7952
Jennifer@leakecar.com

SOURCE Leake Auction Company

UAW members to commemorate 75th anniversary of the historic Battle of the Overpass

Thu, 24 May 2012 19:10:00 +0000

DEARBORN, Mich. -- On May 25, UAW members will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the historic Battle of the Overpass that focused worldwide attention on Henry Ford's massive Rouge Complex and the workers who wanted to form their own union.

Members of UAW Local 600, along with local union presidents from area Ford plants, will attend the event at 11 a.m. Friday at the overpass at Gate 4 on Miller Road in Dearborn. The event will include unfurling banners from the overpass with the theme: "Working from a dark beginning toward a bright future."

The event is at the historic site of a brutal confrontation between company and union organizers on May 26, 1937.

After successfully organizing General Motors and Chrysler, the UAW came to the Ford Rouge Complex to hand out informational leaflets and talk to workers about organizing.

Walter P. Reuther, Richard T. Frankensteen, Richard Merriweather, Ralph Dunham, Rev. Raymond P. Sanford and others went to the overpass that connected the front entrance of the complex to Miller Road. They were met by Henry Ford's hired thugs and servicemen and mercilessly beaten in an unprovoked attack on the overpass.

The confrontation at the Rouge became known as the Battle of the Overpass.

Today, the Ford Rouge Center is composed of six factories, including the new Dearborn Truck factory featuring a vegetation-covered roof and rainwater reclamation system. The complex is Ford's largest factory and employs about 6,000 workers, represented by Local 600, an amalgamated local of about 25,000 active and retired members.

"This is an opportunity to recognize how much has been achieved in these 75 years," said UAW Vice President Jimmy Settles, who directs the union's Ford Department. "What drove us apart in 1937 now brings us together to produce some of the world's highest quality and most popular cars and trucks."

"We are honoring a powerful time in the history of this country, this union and UAW Local 600," said UAW Region 1A Director Rory Gamble. "It's a somber reminder but also one that shows us things can change for the better."

"We reflect on this historical anniversary proudly," said UAW Local 600 President Bernie Ricke. "It is a reminder that union success came because members stood together and fought for what was right."

The overpass anniversary follows good news for Ford.

On May 22, the company's rating was raised to investment grade by Moody's Investors Service. The boost signaled a brighter outlook by Moody's for Ford and the return of the company's iconic Blue Oval logo and other assets, which had been held as collateral for loans that helped the automaker restructure.

Also, the Ford F-150, praised for its power and fuel economy, was named 2012 Motor Trend Truck of the Year. It was the fourth time the truck received that award.

Hyundai Veloster And Rhys Millen Racing Renew Partnership To Compete In 2012 Global RallyCross Series

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:52:59 +0000

Hyundai Veloster And Rhys Millen Racing Renew Partnership To Compete In 2012 Global RallyCross Series

Continuing Partnership with Rhys Millen Racing Focuses on Fun-to-Drive Performance and Durability of Hyundai's Innovative Three-door Sporty Coupe

PR Newswire

COSTA MESA, Calif., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- In advance of the first Global RallyCross Championship (GRC) series at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Hyundai Motor America announced that it will continue its motorsports partnership with Rhys Millen Racing (RMR) for the 2012 GRC season. This year, RMR has extensively retuned its Veloster rallycross car, benefitting from last year's introductory season in the GRC series. Hyundai is the lead sponsor for Rhys Millen's RMR Veloster rallycross entry, leveraging his diverse racing career with impressive victories in RallyCross, Pikes Peak Hillclimb, Formula Drift, and a wide spectrum of stunt driving.

(Logo; http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20091001/HYUNDAILOGO)

This summer, the Hyundai Veloster Turbo joins the hot-selling Hyundai Veloster introduced last year with its unique third-door design and efficient direct-injected powertrain. The Turbo model boasts a hefty 63 horsepower advantage over the normally-aspirated model, generating an impressive 201 horsepower from only 1.6 liters of displacement. The fully race-prepared RMR Veloster rallycross turbo engine generates more than 500 peak horsepower from its four-cylinder turbocharged and intercooled powerplant, for explosive acceleration out of tight-radius corners.

"Global rallycross is the perfect competitive motorsports arena for the Veloster. Both naturally appeal to younger enthusiasts. Rallycross offers high-intensity, video-game-like pace with each heat, challenging tight-radius corners, powerful drifts, big-gap jumps, and even the occasional paint-swapping opportunity," said Steve Shannon, Hyundai's vice president of marketing. "This fan-immersive, high-intensity racing environment complements the power, agility, and fun-to-drive character of Veloster perfectly. Likewise, Millen's aggressive racing style coupled with superb precision make the most out of Veloster's lightweight agility, creating a thrilling and formidable GRC rally car."

The 2012 Global RallyCross Championship season features seven race events, including two rounds at the ESPN Summer X-Games. The X-Games were one of the first public venues introducing the concept of rallycross to U.S. racing enthusiasts. The GRC circuit at each venue features a series of tight turns and a large big-gap jump where the cars become airborne, often flying over rallycross cars crossing underneath, with the entire circuit visible to GRC fans for the duration of the heat. The GRC season will kick-off at the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Saturday, May 26, where fans are invited to get up-close with both technicians and drivers in the GRC paddock area. This season will allow RMR fans to view the rallycross and production versions of the Veloster, pick up a complimentary team gift, and receive an autograph from Millen.

"I'm thrilled to represent Hyundai and the Veloster in the GRC series for a second season," said Millen. "The RMR Veloster demonstrates just how impressive the production Hyundai Veloster is for everyday enthusiasts. GRC fans get to experience rallycross versions of affordable, fun-to-drive cars exploited to their full race potential. My daily driver is a Veloster in racing white, and I love it. The 6-speed manual is crisp-shifting, the audio system cranks out my favorite tunes, and the hands-free Bluetooth connectivity is perfect for staying in touch with my race team. And while it's perfect for the daily commute, I can't wait to compete in our RMR Veloster rallycross car."

A second Hyundai Veloster also will be competing in the GRC series, driven by Stephan Verdier. Verdier's Veloster is sponsored by Disney XD. Hyundai also partners with RMR in the Formula Drift series with the drift-prepared Hyundai Genesis Coupe.

2012 GLOBAL RALLYCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE

May 26: Charlotte Motor Speedway, Charlotte, North Carolina

June 9: Texas Motor Speedway, Dallas, Texas

June 30-31: Summer X-Games, Los Angeles, California

July 14: New Hampshire Motor Speedway, Loudon, New Hampshire

September 1: Atlanta Motor Speedway, Atlanta, Georgia

September 29: Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Las Vegas, Nevada

HYUNDAI MOTOR AMERICA

Hyundai Motor America, headquartered in Costa Mesa, 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 800 dealerships nationwide. All Hyundai vehicles sold in the U.S. are covered by the Hyundai Assurance program, which includes the 5-year/60,000-mile fully transferable new vehicle warranty, Hyundai's 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, and five years of complimentary Roadside Assistance.

For more details on Hyundai Assurance, please visit www.HyundaiAssurance.com

Journalists are invited to visit our news media website: www.hyundainews.com

RHYS MILLEN

World Champion driver Rhys "Mad Skills" Millen also pilots the RMR Hyundai Genesis Coupe in the Formula Drift Championship. Millen's driving credentials include movie and advertising stunts, 2005 USA Drifting Champion, 2008 Formula Drift World Champion, six Pikes Peak world records and his 2008 New Year's Eve Las Vegas truck flip at Red Bull: New Year. No Limits. Behind Millen's success in the driver's seat is an experienced team of engineers and expert fabricators in race preparation.

SOURCE Hyundai Motor America

May 2012 New Car Sales Expected to Be Highest May Since 2007 According to TrueCar.com

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:48:20 +0000

May 2012 New Car Sales Expected to Be Highest May Since 2007 According to TrueCar.com

May 2012 SAAR Estimated at 14.5M; Volkswagen Sales Highest Ever; Toyota Sales Highest Since August 2009

PR Newswire

SANTA MONICA, Calif., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- TrueCar.com, the authority on new car pricing, trends and forecasting, today released its May 2012 sales and incentives forecast. The forecast shows the following:

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110118/LA31413LOGO)

For May 2012, new light vehicle sales in the U.S. (including fleet) is expected to be 1,400,665 units, up 32 percent from May 2011 and up 18.3 percent from April 2012 (on an unadjusted basis)
The May 2012 forecast translates into a Seasonally Adjusted Annualized Rate (SAAR) of 14.5 million new car sales, up from 11.7 million in May 2011 and flat from 14.5 million in April 2012
Retail sales are up 29.4 percent compared to May 2011 and up 21.1 percent from April 2012
Fleet and rental sales are expected to make up 21.0 percent of total industry sales in May 2012
The industry average incentive spending per unit will be approximately $2,392 in May 2012, which represents an increase of 4.0 percent from May 2011 and decrease of 2.0 percent from April 2012
Used car sales* are estimated to be 4,387,554, up 6.3 percent from May 2011 and up 15.7 percent from April 2012. The ratio of new to used is estimated to be 1:3 for May 2012

"Pent up demand continues to fuel auto sales at a steady and sustainable level in May" said Jesse Toprak, Vice President of Market Intelligence for TrueCar.com. "All major manufacturers will see double digit growth this month; Toyota's recovery stemming from the natural disasters has happened at a breakneck pace and sales this month for Toyota will be the highest we have seen in a few years led by strong sales of the Camry and Prius along with strong sales from GM, which will be the highest since September 2008.

Forecasts for the top eight manufacturers for May 2012:

Unit Sales
Manufacturer	May 2012 Forecast	% Change vs. April 2012	% Change vs. May 2011
Chrysler	153,309	8.6%	32.9%
Ford	211,689	17.8%	10.5%
GM	258,072	20.9%	16.7%
Honda	146,305	19.9%	61.2%
Hyundai/Kia	130,949	19.2%	21.9%
Nissan	104,312	46.2%	37.0%
Toyota	206,808	16.2%	90.8%
Volkswagen	53,356	8.8%	31.6%
Industry	1,400,665	18.3%	32.0%

Market Share
Manufacturer	May 2012 Forecast	Apr-12	May-11
Chrysler	10.9%	11.9%	10.9%
Ford	15.1%	15.2%	18.1%
GM	18.4%	18.0%	20.9%
Honda	10.4%	10.3%	8.6%
Hyundai/Kia	9.3%	9.3%	10.1%
Nissan	7.4%	6.0%	7.2%
Toyota	14.8%	15.0%	10.2%
Volkswagen	3.8%	4.1%	3.8%

Incentive Spending
Manufacturer	May 2012 Incentives	% Change vs. April 2012	% Change vs. May 2011	Total Spending
Chrysler	$3,104	-3.4%	5.0%	$475,910,309
Ford	$2,637	7.1%	8.4%	$558,279,288
GM	$2,973	-6.0%	-3.6%	$767,331,629
Honda	$2,281	-8.2%	50.8%	$333,731,752
Hyundai/Kia	$1,201	-4.9%	-20.5%	$157,315,638
Nissan	$2,474	1.5%	10.1%	$258,093,982
Toyota	$1,685	-0.7%	22.2%	$348,472,382
Volkswagen	$2,438	-3.5%	20.7%	$130,087,770
Industry	$2,392	-2.0%	4.0%	$3,350,645,891

"Strong products from all automakers are driving sales as automakers continue to maintain or reduce incentive levels," said Kristen Andersson, Senior Analyst at TrueCar.com. "Volkswagen should have their best sales ever in the month of May with strong sales of the redesigned Passat and Jetta."

TrueCar.com also projects sales down to the brand level, which can be viewed in its entirety at the Truth Blog on TrueCar.com. Brand level incentive spending forecasts are available upon request.

TrueCar.com bases its forecast on actual transaction data. The transaction data based forecast is refined by other current and historical factors that impact vehicle sales, including: sales, inventory, incentives, fuel prices, and macro economic data (major stock market indexes, consumer confidence, new home starts, and CPI). TrueCar.com does not adjust for selling days in year-over-year percentage change calculations.

*Used car sales figures include sales from franchise dealerships, independent dealerships and private party sales

About TrueCar, Inc.

TrueCar, Inc. is an automotive solutions provider focused on changing how cars are sold by providing a significantly better customer experience while helping qualified dealer partners to gain incremental market share and reduce costs. TrueCar is a visual publisher of new car transaction data. TrueCar price reports help both dealers and consumers to agree on the parameters of a fair deal by providing an accurate, comprehensive and simple understanding of what others actually paid recently for an identically-equipped vehicle both locally and nationally. TrueCar works with a national network of dealers that provide a no-hassle car buying experience, and in many cases a highly competitive upfront price, to assist some of the nation's largest and most well respected membership and service organizations to meet the auto buying needs of their members and customers. TrueCar is headquartered in Santa Monica, CA and has offices in San Francisco, CA and Austin, TX. With 131 percent annual growth since 2006, TrueCar has connected hundreds of thousands of consumers with dealers nationwide resulting in the sale of over 400,000 vehicles and is developing a suite of products and services centered on radical clarity through the comprehensive analysis of market data and information.

You can follow TrueCar on Twitter and become a fan of TrueCar on Facebook.

Disclaimer

This press release and the information contained herein is for noncommercial use on "as-is, as available" basis and may be used for informational purposes only. TrueCar makes no representations or warranties, express or implied, with respect to the information contained in this press release and the results of the use of such information, including but not limited to implied warranty of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and non-infringement. The information contained in this press release may include technical inaccuracies or typographical errors. Neither TrueCar nor any of its parents, subsidiaries, affiliates or respective partners, officers, or directors, employees or agents shall be held liable for any damages, whether direct, incidental, indirect, special or consequential, including without limitation lost revenues or lost profits, arising from or in connection with your use or reliance on the information presented in this press release.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link.
Jesse Toprak
https://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=94534

SOURCE TrueCar.com

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: More Than 55 Percent of Auto Insurance Online Shoppers Are Less Likely to Shop an Insurer after a Disappointing Website Experience

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:26:29 +0000

J.D. Power and Associates Reports: More Than 55 Percent of Auto Insurance Online Shoppers Are Less Likely to Shop an Insurer after a Disappointing Website Experience

Allstate, Esurance, GEICO and Travelers Perform Particularly Well in Insurance Website Shopper Satisfaction

PR Newswire

WESTLAKE VILLAGE, Calif., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- As more than one-third (34%)[1] of auto insurance shoppers prefer to buy their policy online, the experience shoppers have on an insurance company's website impacts their likelihood to shop and recommend the insurer, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Insurance Website Evaluation Study(SM) released today.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20050527/LAF028LOGO-a)

The inaugural study measures online shoppers' experiences with insurer websites during the auto insurance shopping process. Five factors contribute to shoppers' overall satisfaction: ease of navigating the website; appearance of the website; clarity of information provided on the website; range of services that can be performed on the website; and speed of the website.

Among shoppers who indicate being delighted (satisfaction scores of 900 and above on a 1,000-point scale) with their website experience, 63 percent are more likely to shop the insurer after visiting their website, compared with 14 percent of shoppers who indicate being disappointed with the website (satisfaction scores of less than 550). Additionally, 50 percent of delighted shoppers say they "definitely will" recommend the insurer to others, while only two percent of disappointed shoppers say the same.

"The 2012 Insurance Shopping Study shows that nearly three-fourths of all shoppers visit at least one insurer's website, often as the first point of contact with the insurance company," said Jeremy Bowler, senior director of the insurance practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "Insurers have a fantastic opportunity to gain shoppers, and their referrals, by providing a website that is easy to use, has a professional and engaging appearance, and is a great resource for the shopping process."

Make the Quote Process Fast and Simple

The process of requesting a quote is a key aspect of the online shopping experience. While many insurers streamline this process by minimizing the number of questions they ask a prospect and use of pre-filled information, not all insurers excel in providing a positive quote experience. The study finds that only 72 percent of shoppers who requested a quote online were able to receive one immediately, compared with 18 percent who were required to wait for a follow-up response and an additional 10 percent who were unable to obtain a quote at all.

"The insurance industry spent more than $5 billion[2] in 2011 on advertising to attract consumers to shop for insurance," said Bowler. "For certain carriers, increasing marketing spend becomes increasingly inefficient, as up to 30 percent of the prospects they attract abandon their site with no quote in-hand and 15 percent of online shoppers report leaving an insurer's website to verify or follow up on a web quote rather than bind online. An insurer that cannot provide a fast, simple quote via their website likely has a dramatically lower chance at winning that business."

Overall satisfaction among shoppers who say their quote experience was faster than expected is 857, which is 245 points higher than among shoppers who say it took longer than expected. Pre-filling vehicle and personal information is important in improving the speed of obtaining a quote. Satisfaction among the 65 percent of shoppers who experienced accurate pre-filled information in their quote application is 790. However, among the 8 percent of shoppers who say that some of the information provided was incorrect, satisfaction declines significantly to 706 index points.

Availability of Contact Information

Some of the more traditional shoppers use insurers' websites simply to finalize their consideration set and to find contact information for the company or a local agent. This makes the availability of contact information extremely important in overall satisfaction with the website. Satisfaction among shoppers who indicate that finding contact information was "very easy" is 810, compared with industry average (702).

About the 2012 Insurance Website Evaluation Study

Allstate, Esurance, GEICO and Travelers perform particularly well in shopper satisfaction with their websites. Other insurers profiled in the 2012 Insurance Website Evaluation Study are 21st Century, American Family, Amica Mutual, Farmers, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Progressive, State Farm and The Hartford.

This year's report management discussion is available for download, please click here.

The 2012 Insurance Website Evaluation Studyis based on evaluations provided by 1,650 auto insurance shoppers. The study was fielded in March 2012.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, Web intelligence and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings, and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of The McGraw-Hill Companies.

About The McGraw-Hill Companies

McGraw-Hill announced on September 12, 2011, its intention to separate into two public companies: McGraw-Hill Financial, a leading provider of content and analytics to global financial markets, and McGraw-Hill Education, a leading education company focused on digital learning and education services worldwide. McGraw-Hill Financial's leading brands include Standard & Poor's Ratings Services, S&P Capital IQ, S&P Indices, Platts energy information services and J.D. Power and Associates. With sales of $6.2 billion in 2011, the Corporation has approximately 23,000 employees across more than 280 offices in 40 countries. Additional information is available at http://www.mcgraw-hill.com/.

[1] Source: J.D. Power and Associates 2012 Insurance Shopping Study(SM)
[2] Dowling and Partners, LLC

Media Relations Contacts:
John Tews; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (248) 680-6218; media.relations@jdpa.com
Syvetril Perryman; J.D. Power and Associates; Troy, Mich.; (805) 418-8103; media.relations@jdpa.com

No advertising or other promotional use can be made of the information in this release without the express prior written consent of J.D. Power and Associates. www.jdpower.com/corporate

SOURCE J.D. Power and Associates

New Reviewitonline.net Site To Compete With Automotive Industry Giants

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:12:21 +0000

/EINPresswire.com/ ReviewItOnline, a car review and research website, has launched its new and improved website at www.reviewitonline.net. The new design and approach to content reflects a wildly innovative and intuitive way to provide information on cars compared to other larger competitors in the online car review space.

David Cohen, co-founder and CEO, commented that "…the big players in the online car review game provide great information to consumers, but given the amount of information, and its technical nature, most people get lost in it very quickly. ReviewItOnline seeks to present the same information but in a much more intuitive and interactive format to consumers. We provide useful information on all vehicles including the best trucks and best SUVs which are huge areas in the market."

From a quick glance at www.reviewitonline.net, you will immediately notice that user interaction is a key component of the site. Users are encouraged to provide and publish their car reviews on the site. The About Us Page on the site demonstrates both founders' philosophy on the importance of user reviews - "We realized very early on that most users searching for products and services online…will read and rely on reviews written by their peers…. peer reviews are crucial in your decision making process. "

There is obviously much thought and common sense that has gone into the creation and development of the site. The company has announced that a further update to the current design will be rolled out in June 2012 with more information about the best cars, eye-catching design features and some fun facts that will grab the attention of readers.

About ReviewItOnline.net: ReviewItOnline.net is owned by Shark Tooth Ltd., a company founded by David Cohen and Elad Domb in November 2009. The Company has offices in New York, USA and Tel Aviv, Israel.

Media Contact:
David Cohen
Shark Tooth Ltd.
1-888-497-6110
http://www.reviewitonline.net

PR courtesy of Online PR Media.

Goforth Easterling LLP: Houston Auto Pitchman Rocky McCullough Sues Car Dealership for Wrongful Termination

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:05:43 +0000

Goforth Easterling LLP: Houston Auto Pitchman Rocky McCullough Sues Car Dealership for Wrongful Termination

PR Newswire

HOUSTON, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pearland Ford, D.B.A Southern Ford is being sued by Rocky McCullough for discrimination. McCullough claims Southern Ford fired him because he has cancer.

"They hired me as General Manager in November of 2011 to run the dealership. In five months my team increased sales over 200%. In December I was diagnosed with cancer, by April they fired me," says McCullough. "I feel like they sent me home to die."

"This is a blatant violation of the Texas Labor Code," says McCullough's attorney Daniel Goforth of the Goforth Easterling law firm. "You can't just fire someone because they're sick. Rocky was battling colon cancer and still performing all his job duties while putting in 60 hours a week."

The lawsuit, filed in Harris County 125th District Court cites a violation of the Texas Labor Code, which prohibits an employer from discharging an employee on the basis of that employee's disability.

Goforth Easterling LLP (formerly Goforth Lewis) is a civil litigation firm located in central Houston. Goforth Easterling LLP represents plaintiffs and defendants and focuses on commercial, products liability, and personal injury litigation.

SOURCE Goforth Easterling LLP

Techno Music and Midsize Sedan Features Create a Fusion of Sound

Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Techno Music and Midsize Sedan Features Create a Fusion of Sound

PR Newswire

DEARBORN, Mich., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

Detroit-area Techno artists Joshua Harrison, Keith Kemp and Tom Newman sampled sounds from the 2013 Ford Fusion – both natural noises like windows going up and down, and digital creations from the car's sound bank like the welcome chimes – to make original electronic music
All sounds produced by Fusion are painstakingly inspected and are designed to provide a specific driver or passenger response
The musicians were provided by Paxahau – organizers of the Movement Electronic Music Festival in Detroit – continuing a relationship between Ford and the festival

In an unusual blend of automotive and musical worlds, three Detroit-area Techno musicians used a 2013 Ford Fusion to make original tracks using the sounds produced by the car. They recorded everything from doors slamming to the soft back-and-forth of the windshield wipers.

The musicians took the sounds back to their studio along with a sound bank of Fusion chimes and tones and got to work. Using loop machines, synthesizers and their own creativity, each artist composed an original song featuring Fusion as an instrument.

Ford was there to capture each artist putting the songs together and explaining his respective process.

The results are tunes that groove with the same drive and energy that thousands of Techno fans who descend upon Detroit this Memorial Day weekend will hear. Each Fusion musician, provided by Paxahau – organizers of the Movement Electronic Music Festival – produced a unique song that transformed the everyday sounds of the car into a work of art. The trunk slam was looped to mimic the iconic kick-drum popular in Detroit Techno, the strong hum of the 2.0-liter hybrid engine is used as an overtone that wails with meditative resonance and the seat belt reminder plays as a melodic syncopation.

"This project worked so well because Techno music, by its nature, is very similar to the makeup of a car," explains Joshua Harrison, contributing musician and a performer in the upcoming festival. "In both cases, there are lots of little pieces mechanically put together. Just like a car, a Techno song has many elements that serve their own small purpose, and the masters of the craft are those who can put it all together and make everything work as one solid piece."

The Fusion music is ripe for melodic composition thanks in part to the dedication of Ford engineers who work painstakingly to ensure the smart technology of the car's sounds is specific and evokes appropriate responses from the driver and passengers.

Engineers write two to three note tones and conduct studies with listening groups to determine the correct sound for potential situations.

Alexander Petniunas, Ford sound quality technical expert, says that audible warning is intended to prompt the operator to respond the right way. Engineers work with four grades of severity. The high pitch staccato sound, for example, is considered the most severe, whereas the three note welcome chimes are meant to deliver a comfortable greeting. The sounds are designed to conjure an emotional response. The project worked out so well, said Petniunas, because music does the same thing.

Petniunas says some sounds are designed to be harsh to the human ear, like the loud warning that plays in cross-traffic alert technology, while other sounds like the reverse alert are softer in order to prompt action on the part of the driver but not cause alarm. Hundreds of sounds are analyzed.

"I love that the musicians were so infatuated with the sound of the Fusion's door slams," says Ramita Chawla, Ford sound quality engineer. "It's a testament to all the hard work that went into engineering a solid 'thunk' from the doors over the past few years.

"The level of detail that goes into developing sound quality in several of the vehicle components is often overlooked," she adds, "though subconsciously, these sounds significantly influence customers' perception of quality. I think it's pretty cool to hear pleasant sounds from various parts of the car coming together harmoniously to create these musical tracks."

Ford and the Movement Electronic Music Festival have a friendship spanning more than a decade – beginning when the festival was still in its infancy.

"Detroit inspires the world with its Techno music and cars," says Jason Huvaere, director of the Movement Festival. "Techno music is engineered and manufactured by skilled innovators, much as a vehicle is. When Ford does something like this, it's exciting. And it definitely says to us Ford gets it."

To hear each song, go to facebook.com/fordfusion, and to learn more about the Movement Electronic Festival go to facebook.com/movementdetroit.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F), a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 166,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford and Lincoln. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford and its products worldwide, please visit http://corporate.ford.com.

SOURCE Ford Motor Company

Nissan Frontier Ranked Number One Compact Pickup in Vehicle Satisfaction Survey

Thu, 24 May 2012 17:31:25 +0000

Nissan Frontier Ranked Number One Compact Pickup in Vehicle Satisfaction Survey

- Leader in Mid-Size Truck Segment Hauls in Fifth Major Award in 2012 -

PR Newswire

FRANKLIN, Tenn., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Autobytel and AutoPacific announced the winners for the 16th annual Vehicle Satisfaction Award, with Nissan Frontier taking top honors in the compact pickup category. This award measures how satisfied new car and light truck buyers are with their recently purchased vehicle and is based on more than 75,000 survey respondents who objectively rate 48 key vehicle attributes on their importance when considering to purchase, as well as satisfaction after purchase.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080506/NISSANBADGELOGO )

"The 2012 Frontier has earned numerous accolades for its dependability and value since its launch, and today we celebrate the distinguished honor of providing our valued owners with the highest level of overall satisfaction," said Al Castignetti, vice president and general manager, Nissan Division, Nissan North America. "This award underscores the strong commitment the company has made in delivering quality and reliability while still offering new levels of innovation, fuel-efficiency, dynamic performance and premium style to all our customers."

Combining premium hardware, extraordinary power and off-road athleticism, Frontier continues to be a leader in the mid-size truck segment. The Nissan Frontier emulates many of the Nissan Titan's full-size features, including its bold, expressive and adventurous exterior styling. Frontier utilizes signature Nissan truck themes, including an angled strut grille, large bumpers, short front and rear overhangs and large, stamped steel, geometric fender flares. The 2012 Frontier model lineup consists of Frontier S, Frontier SV, Frontier PRO-4X (4x4 models only) and Frontier SL (Crew Cab only). It is offered in both King Cab and Crew Cab body styles, in 4x2 and 4x4 driveline configurations, offering exceptional levels of family or workplace performance to fit nearly any need or budget.

"The quality of vehicles from all manufacturers has risen to the highest level in history and what delineates a car or truck is owner satisfaction," said George Peterson, president of AutoPacific. "Consumer purchases are often influenced by objective awards especially when they are based on consumer sentiment. It was our goal to get the input from as many consumers as possible because ultimately, it's the consumer's opinion that counts."

The honor from Autobytel and AutoPacific follows four other industry awards for Frontier in 2012. In addition to being listed on Insure.com's annual "Least Expensive To Insure" list, Frontier was named first in the mid-size pickup truck category in the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) 2011 Texas Truck Rodeo, and to Kelley Blue Book's "Best Resale Value Award: Top Ten Models" for model year 2012. Notably, J.D. Power and Associates named Frontier as the top mid-size pickup in its 2012 Vehicle Dependability Study.

For complete details on the 2012 Autobytel and AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards, please visit http://www.autopacific.com/awards

About the Autobytel and AutoPacific Vehicle Satisfaction Awards

The 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards are based on scores developed using results from AutoPacific's national New Vehicle Satisfaction Survey. Respondents to this survey are owners of new 2012 model year cars and trucks purchased from September through December 2011. The questionnaire was administered in January and February 2012. Respondents rate 48 attributes for importance in the purchase decision and satisfaction after purchase. Over 75,000 respondents provided input for these awards.

About AutoPacific

AutoPacific is a future-oriented automotive marketing and product-consulting firm. Every year AutoPacific publishes a wide variety of syndicated studies on the automotive industry. The firm also conducts extensive proprietary research and consulting for auto manufacturers, distributors, marketers and suppliers worldwide. Company headquarters are in Tustin, California, with an affiliate office in the Detroit area.

About Autobytel Inc.

Autobytel Inc., an online leader offering consumer purchase requests and marketing resources to car dealers and manufacturers and providing consumers with the information they need to purchase new and used cars, pioneered the automotive Internet when it launched autobytel.com in 1995. Autobytel continues to offer innovative products and services to help consumers buy, and auto dealers and manufacturers sell, more used and new cars. Autobytel has helped tens of millions of automotive consumers research vehicles; connected thousands of dealers nationwide with motivated car buyers; and helped every major automaker market its brand online. Through its flagship website autobytel.com, its network of automotive sites and its respected online affiliates, Autobytel continues its dedication to innovating the industry's highest quality Internet programs to provide consumers with a comprehensive and positive automotive research and purchasing experience, and auto dealers, dealer groups and auto manufacturers with some of the industry's most productive and cost-effective customer referral and marketing programs. Investors and other interested parties can receive Autobytel news releases and invitations to special events by accessing our online signup form at http://investor.autobytel.com/alerts.cfm

About Nissan North America

In North America, Nissan's operations include automotive styling, engineering, consumer and corporate financing, sales and marketing, distribution and manufacturing. Nissan is dedicated to improving the environment under the Nissan Green Program and has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in 2010, 2011, and 2012 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. More information on Nissan in North America and the complete line of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles can be found online at www.NissanUSA.com and www.InfinitiUSA.com.

About Nissan

Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Japan's second largest Japanese automotive company by volume, is headquartered in Yokohama, Japan and is an integral pillar of the Renault-Nissan Alliance. Operating with more than 150,000 employees globally, Nissan provided customers with more than 4 million vehicles in 2010. With a strong commitment to developing exciting and innovative products for all, Nissan delivers a comprehensive range of fuel-efficient and low-emissions vehicles under the Nissan and Infiniti brands. A pioneer in zero-emission mobility, Nissan made history with the introduction of the Nissan LEAF, the first affordable, mass-market, pure-electric vehicle and winner of numerous international accolades including the prestigious 2011 European Car of the Year award.

SOURCE Nissan North America