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Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge on this summer

BRENTWOOD, Essex, 18 June, 2008 – Drivers eager to limit the impact of rising fuel prices have flooded Ford with applications for its summer Smart Driving Challenge.

The strong response to the Ford Focus ECOnetic eco driving competition, launched in partnership with the Energy Saving Trust, has led to the challenge being extended to run throughout the British International Motor Show in London from July 23.

Smart driving techniques deliver environmental, financial and safety benefits by reducing fuel consumption thanks to a smoother driving style aimed at eliminating wasteful acceleration and braking.

Eco driving will be taught at six venues, including the British International Motor Show, as part of Ford’s nationwide challenge to find the UK’s greenest motorist. On the first day of registration alone, over 50 people signed up.

Candidates will tackle a three-part test: the first to establish existing eco driving skills among the 200 participants, with fuel consumption/CO2 output recorded.

Next comes a session of eco driving instruction from the Energy Saving Trust before a second mpg/CO2 measure is produced –expressed as an annual fuel saving. Fuel consumption is typically reduced by 15 per cent and savings can be as much as 25 per cent.

The driver with the most improvement at each event will win the loan of a new Ford Focus ECOnetic and a £1,000 eco home makeover, which looks at the fuel efficiency of a property and its appliances to deliver lower utility bills. Britain’s top eco driver will win £10,000 worth of free advice and appliances for the home.
The Focus ECOnetic has a combined fuel consumption figure of almost 66mpg – resulting in a class-leading 114g CO2/km.

Andy Taylor, Ford’s sustainability director, said: “Designing and manufacturing fuel efficient cars such as the Ford ECOnetic range becomes even more meaningful when linked to other measures to reduce emissions. Smooth and smart driving plays a huge but often unrecognised part in motoring – both financial as well as environmental.”

Nigel Underdown, Energy Saving Trust head of transport advice, said: “The Energy Saving Trust believes that typical savings of 15 per cent – in litres, pounds and CO2 – are achievable and realistic by adopting smarter driving techniques. Drivers will welcome the savings as fuel prices reach record levels and will also help address climate change by reducing CO2 emissions.”

Ford Focus ECOnetic Smart Driving Challenge

Murrayfield Stadium
Scotland
5 July

Longleat Safari Park
Wiltshire
12 July

Blue Reef Aquarium
Tynemouth
19 July

Knowsley Safari Park
Merseyside
9 August

West Midlands Safari Park
Worcestershire
16 August

British International Motor Show
ExCel, London
23 July – 3 August

What is eco driving?

Change up through the gears at between 2,000 and 2,500 rpm
Ease your speed. Driving at 70mph uses around 15 per cent more fuel than at 50mph
Anticipate to avoid unnecessary acceleration and braking

Use auxiliary equipment selectively, eg air conditioning

Switch off the engine whenever safe to do so

Check and adjust tyre pressures regularly, according to load and speed driven

Remove unnecessary cargo from the car to reduce weight

Reduce aerodynamic drag whenever possible, eg close windows or remove roof racks
What are the benefits?

Reduced fuel consumption
Lower fuel bills
Less CO2 emissions
Lower accident rates as a result of improved anticipation

HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda will present an all-new show car at this year’s Moscow International Automobile Salon. The concept is a sporty, compact crossover SUV designed especially for the Russian market.

The Moscow show car is the latest concept to be developed using the new design direction called Nagare – following in the footsteps of Nagare, Ryuga, Hakaze, Taiki and Furai. Nagare, which means “flow” in Japanese, represents a new approach to expressing movement in car design, taking as inspiration the flow patterns of natural elements, such as the wind. The design theme of Mazda’s concept for the 2008 Moscow motor show is “crosswinds”.

Russia is one of Europe’s fastest-growing markets and is rapidly becoming the region’s largest automobile market. SUVs are particularly popular in Russia, with a segment share of about 20 percent. Mazda’s latest concept car is designed to appeal particularly to younger SUV owners who have a strong sense of style.

The Moscow show car, the name of which will be announced in due course, again showcases the depth of creativity within Mazda design. In February 2008, the Mazda Design team received the coveted Grand Prix du Design at the Festival Automobile International in Paris.

The Moscow International Automobile Salon media days are on August 26 and 27, whereas August 28 caters for industry and trade specialists. The show is open to the public from August 29 through September 7. The new show car will be unveiled at the Mazda press conference at 10:15 on August 26 at the Mazda stand.

Leif Johansson, President and CEO of the Volvo Group
Stefano Chmielewski, President of Renault Trucks
Heinz-Jürgen Löw, Senior Vice President, Renault Trucks Europe
Tony Helsham, President of Volvo Construction Equipment
Mikael Bratt, Senior Vice President and CFO of the Volvo Group.
Pär Östberg, SVP, AB Volvo

The world’s most powerful production sport Boxer has arrived in New Zealand.
BMW Motorrad’s new R1200 S combines incredible power delivery with cutting-edge
design offering an exceptionally smooth and sporting on road experience.

The R 1200 S’s superior performance and sporting power is evident from the minute
your fire up its 1170-cc engine which reaches a peak of 90 kW/122 hp at 8250 rpm.
The machine in road trim weighs just 195kg making it 13 kg lighter than its 1100-
cc predecessor the R 1100S which was the catalyst for BMW’s focus on
performance bikes.

BMW Motorrad general manager, Australasia, Mac McMath, predicts the
R1200S will be a preferred option for riders looking for exceptional sporting
performance and a wide array of options.
A key objective in developing the new R 1200 S was achieving a balance
between sportiness and everyday riding qualities enabling the rider to take
on a relaxed seating position for effortless riding enjoyment even on long
distances.

The Ohlins sports suspension package ensures extremely precise and
smooth handling at all times coupled with a high-performance ABS brake
system maximum safety and agility are in the forefront of the design.
BMW Motorrad ABS anti-lock brakes combine low weight and fast
response ideal for the sports rider in this case without the integral
function, but with on-demand operation allowing the rider to deactivate
ABS for the racetrack. A wide range of BMW options and accessories
ensures enthusiasts seeking to highlight the looks of their machine can do
so.

BMW’s new Boxer comes with all the features expected of the brand such
as a fully controlled catalytic converter, the single-wire system for the onboard
CAN-Bus network complete with an electronic immobiliser, a smooth
and easy-shifting six -speed gearbox, maintenance free shaft drive with a
single swinging arm, as well as Telelever front suspension.
The most sporting and dynamic Boxer of all times is ready to go!

R 1200 S features:
· Air-cooled flat-twin, 1,170-cc power unit with balance shaft
· Max output increased to 90 Kw/122 HP at 8,250 rpm
· Electronic BMS-K engine management with dual ignition, knock
control, two oxygen sensors, and a fully-controlled three-way
catalytic converter
· Light and stable, three-piece frame structure made of steel and
aluminium tubes
· Extra responsive Telelever with superior steering precision
· EVO Paralever with extra-light drive shaft
· Dry weight 195 kg weight in road trim with full tank 213 kg
· Front fairing support made of extra-light pressure -cast magnesium
· LED tail lights
· Silencer under the rear seat
· Aerodynamically optimised, extra-slender body
· Ohlins suspension
· High-performance brake system
· New extra light ABS
· Heated grips
· Wide range of accessories tailored to the sports rider

Special accessories
· Paddock stand with an appropriate adapter
· Passenger seat cover
· Tank bag
· Sports rear seat bag (small)
· Tinted windscreen
· Silencer cover made of carbon-fibre -reinforced plastic
· Heated grips
· Anti-theft warning system
· Supplementary on-board toolkit