Jonathan Fry: November 2005

It's Party Time!

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Debbie and Jon are having a party. Well it’s more than a party, it’s a joint birthday, anniversary and pre Xmas warm up night out type party!

We’ve decided not to hire anywhere as experience suggests forty people in a large, dark and miserable room won’t go down too well so it’s off round town we go.

The plan is to meet up in the Mint, Hull old town at 8pm on Saturday 19th November 2005 and work our way around a few pubs before ending up in a club. We appreciate some of you may just want to join us for one drink and some won’t want to go to a club and that’s great but we’d really like to see you on the night. We also understand that a few of you may not like the sound of Hull Centre on a Saturday night but not to worry as security is being provided by Debbie’s father and uncle!!

We understand for many of you who will want to join in that a babysitter will be required and hope we’ve given you plenty of notice.

As of this evening we have 33 confirmations.

So, we’d like to see you on the 19th, we don’t do this very often and it’s our birthdays so your RSVP would be appreciated at your earliest convenience by return of email, post, phone, or a kick in the teeth!

And the final reason; I promised Kirsty I’d have a party if I was still with Debbie after a year so the 19th is my way of sticking to the deal !!

Confirmed so Far:

Debbie & Jon
Ellen & Ian
Steven & Friends
Graham & Friends
Danielle & Shane
Laura & Lee
Vickie
Steve & Sue
Steve & Mandy
Kirsty & Paul
Estelle & Mark
Mel & Paula
Ethan
Jenny & Carla
Marie & Rob
Becky
Tom & Barbara

Not Confirmed:

Mark & Lorraine (Subject to Babysitter)
Neil & Adie (Subject to Babysitter)
Tomo & Lizzie (Subject to Babysitter)

Barry & Janice (Not confirmed)
Tony & Kay (Not confirmed)
Mark & Elaine (Not confirmed)
Marlene & Jackie (Not confirmed)

If you haven't yet confirmed please, please, please let us know you are coming, even if it's only for one drink.

Update: 16th November 2005
Planned pubs and order -

(1) The Mint
(2) Lloyds Bar
(3) Mission
(4) V Bar (should be open late for non club goers)

DIAmond Advanced Test Goes Eco

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The DIAmond Advanced Motorist Test is the first advanced driving test to include eco-safe driving techniques. Under the latest EU directive on driving licences, eco-safe driving techniques are now built into the government test taken by would-be driving instructors – and it makes sound sense to extend this level of skill and awareness to all drivers.

The EU directive reflects the increased awareness and need for economical and environmentally friendly driving without any compromise on safety.

Typical examples of eco-safe driving which in general save fuel and reduce harmful emissions include:

Using cruise control if it is fitted to the vehicle and if road, weather and traffic conditions are suitable for a fixed speed to be maintained;
When it becomes evident that it will be necessary to slow down, reducing speed at an early stage by lifting off the accelerator, rather than braking at the last moment;
Keeping a vehicle on the move whenever and wherever it is safe to do so, rather than stopping and moving away from rest continually;
Double de-clutching or changing gear in a way which requires revving the engine both use fuel unnecessarily and are therefore not considered eco-safe;
Using the power or torque characteristics of an engine to drive in the highest gear possible without causing the engine to labour.

"These are only examples of eco-safe driving," says DIAmond Chief Examiner Colin O’Connell, "but they are useful guidelines and demonstrate the type of approach we now expect. It is worth emphasising, though, that safety should never be compromised, so there will be times when eco-safe driving techniques will not be appropriate."

More details on the DIAmond Advanced Motorist Test are available from DIAmond Advanced Motorists, Safety House, Croydon CR0 4XZ. Telephone 0845 345 5151 or email DIAmond@driving.org.

Research Material:

DIAmond Advanced Motorists, Safety House, Croydon CR0 4XZ

DIAmond Advanced Motorists is a member of the Safety House group of organisations, which includes the DIA, the largest professional association for driver trainers in the UK, the IVV (International Association for Driver Education), IRSTE (Institute of Road Safety Training Executives), DERF (Driver Education Research Foundation), The Driving Instructor Accident and Disability Fund, SAFEX (world road safety conferences), DRIVEX ride and drive, and the publications Driving Instructor and Driving Magazine.

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Nissan Wind Farm Spins into Action

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The wind farm at Nissan Sunderland is now fully operational and has begun generating power for the plant.

Construction of the £2 million project began in September, when the first of six wind turbines was installed in the centre of the 750 acre site.

Now the switch-on has been successfully completed, and the turbines have begun generating what will amount to 5% of the car plant's annual energy requirement. They will also cut carbon dioxide emissions from power plants supplying the car factory by up to 10,000 tonnes/year.

Planning permission for the farm was granted by Sunderland City Council following a highly detailed feasibility study. This took into consideration the views and opinions of local residents, as well as ensuring that the farm fully complies with strict noise level guidelines.

Nissan's wind farm is enclosed entirely within an industrial area on low-lying ground, minimising impact on the local environment. Barmston Pond, a wetland habitat next to and maintained by the Sunderland plant, will remain undisturbed as a safe haven and feeding ground for indigenous and migratory birds.

The site is also home to a protected species of great crested newts, so before installation began, Nissan obtained a licence from DEFRA (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) and measures were taken to protect the newts' habitat both during and after the construction phase.

Nissan Senior Engineer, Graham Bagley, said: 'All six turbines are now turning and generating electricity for the plant. We're very pleased with the initial output.

'The farm is the first of its kind for any Nissan facility and is receiving great interest globally from within the Company.'

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Competing With Hybrids

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New Technology Allows Even SUVs To Become More Fuel Efficient Vehicles

Hybrid vehicles are gaining popularity today with car buyers who are looking for fuel efficiency, but their high prices mean it may take years to save on the upfront costs of buying them. Manufacturers are responding with new technology that makes regular vehicles more fuel efficient.

A sophisticated electronics feature called displacement on demand transforms a brawny V-8 engine into a thrifty 4-cylinder whenever full power isn’t needed. The system improves fuel economy by 15 – 20 percent and is making a significant impact on even SUVs. Chevrolet says its 2007 Tahoe will be the most fuel efficient full size SUV on the road – getting 20.5 miles per gallon.

With Chevrolet, Honda and Chrysler using versions of the technology, more than two million ‘displacement on demand’ vehicles are estimated to be on the road in the next three years. All at a fraction of what gas-electric hybrid engine vehicles cost.

Multimedia:

Watch the Video - Competing With Hybrids (1 min 49 sec)
(The video is streamed courtesy of Google Video and will open in a new window)

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Greener Motoring Showcase Opens in Birmingham

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The most important exhibition of greener motoring takes place this week at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham.

The two-day exhibition of vehicles and technologies has been organised by SMMT and will run alongside the Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Conference. The conference is part of the UK presidency of G8 and the EU, and will be chaired by transport secretary, Alistair Darling MP. Around 200 international delegates are expected to attend, exploring how policy makers and industry can develop markets for cleaner vehicles.

The exhibition will showcase the investment made by the motor industry in the drive to sustainable motoring. It includes a selection of alternative-fuelled models, like the Toyota Prius petrol-electric hybrid and Volvo's V70 bi-fuel CNG car. Volkswagen will showcase their fuel-cell and hybrid Tourans, and a synthetic-fuelled Skoda Fabia, with BMW showing a 7 Series capable of running on hydrogen and petrol. There will also be a Lotus Elise sports car which runs on natural gas.

SMMT chief executive, Christopher Macgowan, will chair one of the conference sessions. Commenting on the exhibition he said, 'This is an opportunity to see first hand the tangible output from research and development towards sustainable motoring. But it is important that we don't lose sight of the progress we are making in cutting emissions and reducing energy consumption from manufacturing sites. We are also very proud to be leading Europe in providing more information to car buyers about the environmental impact of their choice of vehicle, at the point of sale.'

Working with the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, manufacturers developed Europe's first colour-coded label for new cars. It follows the familiar format applied to white goods and links CO2 information with average annual running costs. The labels are now widely displayed in showrooms across the UK and representatives of the LowCVP will be on hand to talk about this important cross-stakeholder initiative.

SMMT's sixth annual sustainability report was published last month. The report shows that in the last four years, improvements have been seen across UK manufacturing sites. Energy used to produce each vehicle is down by 42 per cent and the amount of waste sent to landfill has reduced by 70.2 per cent.

Notes:

The Environmentally Friendly Vehicle Conference runs from 10-11 November 2005.
A full list of exhibitors can be found at
http://livegroup.co.uk/efvc/ The new fuel economy label shows colour coded-CO2 bands, from red to green. These are similar in format to energy efficiency labels on white goods and follow the same CO2 emission bandings used by the government to levy road tax (VED). As well as CO2 ratings, the labels also show estimated annual running costs, based on the average fuel consumption over 12,000 miles and VED. The extra information available will, for the first time, put environmental concerns firmly on the agenda for new car buyers.
The sixth annual SMMT sustainability report can be found at www.smmt.co.uk/sustainability

New Car Prices Rise Again

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The list price of the average* new car rose by 1.4 per cent, year-on-year, to the end of October 2005, equivalent to a rise worth £182. The findings, published by EurotaxGlass’s in the monthly Glass’s New Car Market Trends report, point to a continued modest increase in new car prices, albeit at a rate that remains below that of UK inflation as a whole (the Retail Prices Index currently stands at 2.5 per cent).

The sector that has seen the greatest increases is the lower-medium sector (Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, etc), with an average list price rise of 3.2 per cent, or £396, over the past 12 months. At the other end of the spectrum, superminis (Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, etc) have seen list price reductions worth 1.4 per cent, or £130, on the average car.

"Current low levels of list price inflation are particularly noteworthy given the continuous improvements being made to vehicle specifications, as well as the growing physical dimensions of new cars in most sectors," comments Alan Cole, Editorial Consultant for the Glass’s Market Intelligence Service. "Buyers are effectively getting more for less. However, demand is simply not strong enough to enable vehicle manufacturers to increase prices in response to rises in steel and energy costs."

He continues, "Dealers are caught between a rock and a hard place. Retained margins of 1 per cent or less on the selling price of a new car are the order of the day, and new car profitability is still in decline. This all means there is very little room to offer further discounts on new cars and, with finance deals already very attractive, retailers have to be increasingly imaginative to secure consumer interest."

Headline figures

There have been year-on-year list price increases at or beyond the 1.4 per cent market average in the following sectors:

Lower-medium (Ford Focus, Vauxhall Astra, etc): up 3.2 per cent
Upper-medium (Vauxhall Vectra, Ford Mondeo, etc): up 3 per cent
Large Executive (BMW 5 Series, Audi A6, etc): up 1.4 per cent

Below average rises, or falls in list prices have been seen in the following sectors:

Compact MPV (Renault Megane, VW Touran, etc): up 1.1 per cent
Large MPVs (Ford Galaxy, Renault Espace, etc): up 1.1 per cent
Compact executive (Audi A4, Mercedes C-Class, etc): up 0.2 per cent
Sports Utility Vehicle (Toyota RAV-4, Land Rover Freelander, etc) down
0.2 per cent
Supermini (Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, etc): down 1.4 per cent

The biggest list price changes

The single largest list price rise during October was for the Lexus SC430, which increased by £1,993 to £53,905. The greatest list price fall was for the Toyota Corolla Verso 1.6 VVT-i T2 MPV, which had a reduction of £505 to £13,297.

To request a free electronic copy of the latest Glass’s New Car Market Trends report, email: marketing@eurotaxglass.co.uk, quoting reference ‘New Car 10’.

Web Sites:
www.eurotaxglass.co.uk (trade)
www.glass.co.uk (consumer)

Research Material:

Glass’s New Car Market Trends methodology

* The list price of the ‘average’ new car referred to in the monthly Glass’s New Car Market Trends report is based on analysis of over 1,000 models across key UK vehicle segments. To ensure the results are representative of true market trends, the data is weighted by sales volumes.

About EurotaxGlass’s

William Glass first published Glass’s Guide to Car Values in 1933 and July 2003 marked 70 years of the motor trade’s ‘Bible’. In 2000 Glass’s merged with Eurotax, forming EurotaxGlass’s - Europe's leading supplier of automotive business intelligence across 28 countries. The merger has created a group with unrivalled resources and knowledge. Today, EurotaxGlass’s offers products and solutions that are essential at every stage of the vehicle lifecycle – from valuation, technical and fleet management data, through to estimating, bodyshop and dealer management systems and web-based services. Recent developments include valuation data for consumers – offered via the Glass’s Motoring Guide website (www.glass.co.uk) – and the pan-European Market Intelligence Service that provides bespoke data and analysis for the industry at large.

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Action to Make Transport Fuels Greener

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Transport Secretary Alistair Darling today announced new measures to make transport fuels greener by requiring 5% of all UK fuel sold on UK forecourts to come from a renewable source by 2010.

The move - known as a Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation - was announced at the Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference in Birmingham, where representatives from international Governments and industry met to discuss ways to promote greener vehicles.

Alistair Darling said: "Taking action to tackle climate change is essential. The Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation I am proposing today is predicted to save around 1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions in 2010 - the equivalent of taking 1 million cars off the road. Carbon savings could also increase in future years. This will help reduce the impact of transport on climate change, and bring environmental benefits for us all."

"I am determined that transport should play its part in addressing the threat of climate change. Making vehicles more efficient and investing in public transport are important aspects of our strategy, but renewable fuels are equally important. This Obligation is vital in continuing to promote a shift towards cleaner, low carbon road transport."

Drivers filling up at petrol stations will see very little difference, as biofuels do not change the performance of cars.

The Government also published the results of a feasibility study today, setting out how the obligation will work. It will require the major oil companies and importers to ensure that a growing proportion of their fuel sales are from a renewable source. By 2010, that proportion must be 5%, which will mean a 20 fold increase in biofuels sales over today's levels.

Today most biofuels come from crops like oilseed rape and wheat, which can be mixed with petrol and diesel and run in ordinary cars. In the future we could see more advanced biofuels made from waste and possibly even renewable hydrogen.

To ensure that biofuels are sourced sustainably, the Government proposes to develop a carbon and sustainability assurance scheme as part of the obligation. Obligated companies would be required to report on the level of carbon savings achieved and on the sustainability of their supplies.

The Government will consult on the detail of how the Obligation will work in due course. This will cover issues like what level the obligation should be set at in future years and how long each obligation period will last.

Alistair Darling also highlighted the Government's intention to investigate further the potential for hydrogen fuel in the UK. He said:

"In the longer term, we need to look seriously at the fuels we are using to power our transport - which is why we are piloting the development of hydrogen fuelled transport.

"A lot of work is being done in this field, for example, the hydrogen highway in California.

"As a next step, we need to have a hard look here in the UK at the practical steps we would need to take to build a hydrogen infrastructure."

Web Site:
Department for Transport Website

Research Material:

1. The Government currently supports biofuels through a 20 pence per litre duty incentive. This has stimulated sales of around 10 million litres a month - about 0.25% of all road fuel sales. The Government announced that it would consider an obligation last year to answer industry calls for longer term certainty.

2. The RTFO will work through a system of certification. Oil companies will receive certificates from an administrator to demonstrate how much biofuel it has sold. If the company sells more than its 5% obligation, it would then be able to sell those certificates to other companies who need more to meet the obligation.

3. The primary powers that would enable the Government to introduce an obligation are contained in the Energy Act 2004.

4. The feasibility study can be obtained in electronic format from the DfT website (www.dft.gov.uk)

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Unipart Urge Motorists to Complete Vehicle Checks

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Motorists are putting their safety at risk by failing to complete regular vehicle checks, according to car part and servicing giant Unipart Automotive.

A survey from Unipart Automotive and Omnicar, Synovate’s specialist motoring omnibus research study, found that regular car maintenance by motorists has fallen by a quarter since 2001. The survey polled more than 53,000 motorists over four years.

In 2001, the average British motorist visited service and repair outlets 1.8 times a year to get their vehicle checked. This figure has dropped to an average of 1.4 visits in 2005.

The survey also reveals a steady decline in the number of British motorists carrying out regular DIY checks on their car. In 2001, nearly one in three motorists (30 per cent) regularly completed their own vehicle safety checks to review tyre tread depth, shock absorbers, brake pads and brake lights. This figure dropped to 22 per cent in 2005 contributing to a rise in the number of motorists that are unnecessarily endangering themselves and others on the roads.

To help raise awareness about the importance of regular vehicle safety checks Unipart Automotive has produced an essential guide to road safety in association with charity Brake for Road Safety Week this year (November 7 – 13).

The road safety guide, featuring top tips on vehicle maintenance and safe driving advice is available at www.uccc.co.uk.

Spokesperson for Unipart Automotive, Andrew Daly, said: "The survey shows a huge decline in the number of motorists willing to carry out simple safety checks on their cars. We are urging motorists to put safety first by following some simple steps that could really make a difference.

"It is important that we view car checks as part of our life routine of keeping healthy and safe. As a driver you should be aware about the crucial link between car maintenance and road safety. We hope motorists will refer to our safety guide to help themselves and others stay safe on the roads."

Mary Williams OBE, chief executive of Brake, the road safety charity, says: "Bald tyres, faulty brakes and broken lights cost lives. Anyone who drives a vehicle without checking it is in full working order is taking a big risk. The information packs being provided by Brake and Unipart will help drivers keep themselves, their passengers and other road users safe."

Brake is a national registered charity dedicated to preventing death and injury on the roads and caring for road crash victims. For more information about Road Safety Week, go to www.brake.org.uk

Research Material:
Unipart Group of Companies is one of Europe's leading independent logistics, automotive parts and accessories companies and one of the largest privately owned companies in Britain. Unipart engages in the following business:

The provision of logistics services to the automotive, IT, mobile communications, and defence sectors, through our logistics division Unipart Logistics;

The development, marketing and distribution of automotive aftermarket products and services through our Unipart Automotive Division;

The supply of truck and trailer components through TTC and Serck Intertruck which also supplies automotive cooling products;

The marketing and distribution of caravan, camping, marine parts and accessories through the Burden Group;

The manufacture of Original Equipment (OE) automotive parts. The Unipart Manufacturing Group manufactures original equipment for several British, European and Japanese vehicle manufacturers in the UK and Europe. It operates two joint venture companies with leading German component manufacturers;

The supply of rolling stock parts, services, signalling and telecommunications equipment to the rail industry. The Unipart Rail Division comprises our wholly owned businesses Railpart which supplies parts and services for rolling stock and National Railway Supplies which provides parts and services such as signalling and telecommunications equipment;

The provision of consultancy and training to enable sustainable organisational change through Unipart Advanced Learning Systems;

Omnicar is Synovate's dedicated face-to-face survey of 1,000 motorists, providing a monthly update of their attitudes and behaviour. Synovate, the market research arm of Aegis Group plc, provides a comprehensive suite of research solutions. More information on Synovate can be found at www.synovate.com

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Saab 9-5 BioPower Flex-Fuel Launched in the UK

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Today, Thursday 10th November, Saab Great Britain announces that it will now take orders for the Saab 9-5 BioPower™, a flex-fuel car whose fossil CO2 emission level can be reduced by as much as 70 per cent compared to a standard petrol-engined car. Saab BioPower technology means that the 9-5 model is capable of running on either a high-blend mixture of eco-friendly renewable energy source bioethanol and petrol (E85), or on pure petrol, without any adjustment required by the driver.

Initially available with the 2.0t, 2-litre light-pressure turbo engine, UK prices for the Saab 9-5 BioPower begin at £21,651 on the road for the Saloon, and £22,851 for the Estate variant. A manual transmission will be available from launch, with an automatic variant to follow shortly after. First UK deliveries will commence in January 2006. The BioPower engine will be available in all 9-5 2.0t model ‘forms’; Linear, Linear Sport, Vector and Vector Sport, with a £600 price differential over the regular petrol models.

As its name suggests, the Saab 9-5 BioPower not only offers purer power, but more of it. Because Saab’s turbocharging technology and engine management systems make it possible to take advantage of bioethanol’s higher octane rating, an impressive 20 per cent gain in brake horse power (bhp) and 16 per cent growth in torque can be enjoyed when the car runs on E85 compared to when running on regular petrol.

Bioethanol – Renewable and Sustainable

Bioethanol is produced from a wide variety of biomass, including forest residue, sugar cane and sugar beet, making it a totally renewable and sustainable fuel source. When mixed in high volumes with low volumes of petrol, a potent yet environmentally-friendly fuel, known as E85, is created. Unlike petrol and diesel, the consumption of E85 does not significantly raise atmospheric levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), which is the greenhouse gas that, according to some scientific research, contributes to global warming. This is because the emissions that are released from the combustion of bioethanol whilst driving are cancelled out by the amount of CO2 that is removed from the atmosphere, through the natural photosynthesis process, when the crops for conversion to bioethanol are grown.

Biofuels – A Key Part of General Motors’ Global Vehicle Fuels Initiative

When announcing the UK launch of Saab BioPower today, Elizabeth A Lowery, General Motors Vice President of Energy and the Environment, said that bioethanol plays a key part in GM’s multi-pronged energy strategy. Speaking at the Department for Transport Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference in Birmingham, Ms Lowery noted that in its domestic market of the United States, General Motors already sells a total of nine flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on E85. With 1.5 million such GM vehicles already in use on US roads, as well as being the largest seller of the bioethanol vehicles in Brazil, General Motors is the largest manufacturer of flex fuel vehicles in the world.

"E85 is clean-burning, renewable and sustainable fuel," Lowery told the conference. "As in North America, the infrastructure here in Europe for E85 needs more investment, and more stations to bring bioethanol closer to everyone. But with the European Union’s indicative targets for biofuel usage, fuel providers will be encouraged to expand the volume and the infrastructure to meet the needs of consumers, just as we are voluntarily expanding our offerings to meet their vehicle needs in line with the biofuel objective," she continued.

"Frustratingly, the E85 fuelling infrastructure is virtually non-existent in the UK today," adds Jonathan Nash, Managing Director of Saab Great Britain. "We urge the Government to take positive action in its pending Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation to actively encourage the widespread availability of E85 bioethanol throughout the UK."

A True Flex-Fuel Car

The beauty of the Saab BioPower is that it can run on E85 or petrol in any proportions, without any adjustment needed by the driver. "Our engine management system automatically adjusts for the blend of fuel so, if there is no bioethanol available, the customer can simply run on petrol at any time," says Kjell ac Bergström, President and CEO of Saab Automobile Powertrain AB. "Turbocharged engines are particularly well-suited to exploiting the benefits of ethanol and our work with this engine indicates there is a great deal of development potential for this fuel."

Environmental Care with Sporty Performance

Because E85 has a much higher octane rating (104 RON) than petrol, this allows the timing of the engine’s ignition to be advanced, producing more power without risk of harmful ‘knocking’.

As a result, when running on E85, the Saab 9-5 2.0t BioPower engine delivers 180 bhp and 280 Nm of torque, compared to 150 bhp and 240 Nm when using regular petrol, which is a significant 20 per cent increase in maximum power and 16 per cent more torque. This gives even sportier performance. For the 9-5 BioPower Saloon, for example, the zero to 62 mph dash can be accomplished in 8.5 seconds, compared to 9.8 seconds when running only on petrol.

The only hardware modifications necessary are more durable valves and valve seats, and the use of bioethanol-compatible materials in the fuel system, including the tank, pump, lines and connectors.

A Swedish Success Story

The premium Swedish marque launched Saab BioPower in its domestic market in July 2005 to spectacular success. Since its launch, the BioPower derivative has accounted for around 80 per cent of Saab 9-5 sales, despite the fact that, currently, it is only available in manual transmission with one engine – the 2.0-litre light-pressure turbo. In fact, the Saab 9-5 BioPower is currently Sweden’s best-selling environmentally-friendly vehicle (ELV), outselling sales of all of its competitor ELVs combined! Popular amongst fleet and retail customers alike, in the full year 2005, Saab expects to sell around 4,000 BioPower cars in Sweden.

Research Material:

About Saab
Saab is GM’s European premium brand, reflecting a unique Scandinavian design ethic, fused with a strong aircraft engineering heritage. Saab’s distinctive cars benefit from the best of GM’s worldwide capability, while being engineered and designed to cater for the exacting requirements of the global premium motorist.

Saab was founded in Sweden in 1937 as Svenska Aktiebolaget (Swedish Aircraft Company), producing its first aircraft-inspired passenger car in 1949, with UK sales commencing in 1960. Saab is currently the UK’s fastest-growing premium car brand.

About the DfT Environmentally Friendly Vehicles Conference
As part of the United Kingdom's Presidency of the G8 and the European Union, the Department for Transport will host an exchange of best practice on how to encourage development and commercialisation of clean, fuel-efficient cars. Chaired by UK Secretary of State for Transport Alistair Darling, the two-day event will focus on how policy makers and industry can develop a market for more efficient vehicles as a way of reducing their contribution to air pollution and climate change.

The event will build on the work that was started by Japan at the first Environmentally Friendly Vehicles conference in Tokyo, in January, 2003. It will also address some of the issues raised at the Energy in Motion conference, hosted by The Netherlands as part of their Presidency of the EU last year.

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Avon Tyres Launch New Winter Range

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In preparation of the fast approaching winter months, Avon Tyres have launched Ice Touring, a brand new winter tyre range.

Designed to cope with the gruelling demands and rigours of winter motoring, the Avon Ice Touring comes in a variety of sizes to fit most small to medium vehicles, from the Vauxhall Corsa to the Volkswagen Golf.

Engineers developed the bespoke tread, and high silica content rubber, in some of Europe’s most challenging winter conditions. The end result is a tyre that provides exceptional braking in the snow, grip on ice and resists aquaplaning in the wet.

The Ice Touring is the result of an 18-month extensive test programme conducted in the demanding Kaunertal glacier region of Austria. Available from tyre suppliers across the country, Avon recommend size 205/55 R16 for driving in snow and icey conditions.

Web Site:
Avon Tyres

Research Material:
Cooper-Avon Tyres Limited of Melksham, UK, owned by the Cooper Tire & Rubber Company of Findlay, Ohio, USA, has more than a century’s experience at the leading edge of tyre technology. Tyre makers since 1885, Cooper-Avon produces a full range with the emphasis on grip, comfort and value for money.

Cooper-Avon racing tyres are supplied to over 140 championships around the world, including the new A1 Grand Prix championship, as well as series supported by Audi, Ford, Porsche and Honda. Cooper-Avon Tyres Ltd was the first tyre manufacturer in the world to gain the prestigious ISO 9001 quality award. For more information visit www.avontyres.com or www.avonmotorcycle.com

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Improving Visibility with Xenon Lights

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The evenings drawing in and the long dark nights, and often wet conditions, make driving particularly hazardous. Statistics show that while only 25 per cent of journeys take place at night more than 50 percent of all fatal accidents happen during the hours of darkness. Furthermore it is recognised that a person aged 60 requires up to 10 times more light than a 20 year old. Car lighting therefore is a hugely important contributor to road safety and driving comfort.

Xenon lighting could provide the key to increasing safety and improving the lighting visibility for drivers and reassuringly experts predict that by the end of 2008 nearly four out of every ten cars in Europe will be equipped with xenon lights.

Xenon lights produce on average at least 2.5 times more light than a halogen bulb and only consume around two thirds of the power. Therefore a car driver can see ahead much more clearly and the car has more power for other functions. In addition, the clear blue-white light of xenon is far more like daylight than the conventional yellowish lamps and is easier on the eye with drivers able to concentrate better and not tire as quickly. A further benefit noticed by drivers is that xenon headlamps distribute more light on the road and improve illumination on the verge.

Nearly all new developments in car front-lighting technology have xenon at their heart. A key reason is that halogen lamps have a filament that results in a limited light output and lifespan. As specialists say, xenon lamps on average last more than double the lifetime of the most durable halogen bulb. Xenon creates its light from an electrical discharge between two electrodes in a micro-environment of xenon gas that is hermetically sealed in a tiny quartz capsule. A sophisticated electronic control module is required to maintain the stability of this arc of light.

The introduction of the bi-xenon headlamp in 1999, which for the first time produced dipped and main beam light from a single xenon bulb was one of the key initial milestones. This was followed in 2003 by the swivelling bi-xenon system and the approval for new vehicles with dynamic bend lighting to be used on the road. This innovation allows bi-xenon headlamps to follow the car driver’s steering movements and to swivel to the side as soon as he steers into a bend. Thanks to the new headlamp technology, the area illuminated by the dipped beam when entering a bend is almost doubled.

The first fully automatic lighting system (Adaptive Frontlighting System- AFS), which is expected to be introduced in 2006 / 2007 can create up to five different beam patterns for town, country, motorway, high beam and bad weather. Intelligent control units using data from different sensors around the vehicle will be used to switch these different patterns automatically.

The next step to increase safety is the world’s first active infra-red lighting system. This new technology allows for permanent driving with ‘invisible’ high beam lights without ever blinding oncoming traffic. Dangerous situations are identified and placed on the on-board display. Therefore a d

Jonathan Fry

Sunday, November 13, 2005

It's Party Time!

Saturday, November 12, 2005

DIAmond Advanced Test Goes Eco

Nissan Wind Farm Spins into Action

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Competing With Hybrids

Greener Motoring Showcase Opens in Birmingham

New Car Prices Rise Again

Action to Make Transport Fuels Greener

Unipart Urge Motorists to Complete Vehicle Checks

Saab 9-5 BioPower Flex-Fuel Launched in the UK

Avon Tyres Launch New Winter Range

Improving Visibility with Xenon Lights