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Last Updated: Mar 26th, 2006 - 11:41:45 |
Automotive
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Gifts
Forget The Halls...Deck The Driveway New Advertising Campaign Makes Lexus Present Perfect
Sales associate Jamie Klein of Park Place Lexus in Plano, Tex., remembers clearly the look on the woman's face when she opened the front door. Klein-holding a beautifully wrapped gift box containing keys to a new performance sedan-visited the woman's house to deliver a shiny, new Lexus GS. "Sitting on her driveway was the GS decorated with a bright red bow on top, just like the Lexus commercials," Klein said.
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Automotive
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Technology
New Convenience for Taxi, Limo Riders
For busy people who need to get from place to place quickly, having to carry cash when taking a taxi can be an inconvenience. Taking the time to find and visit an ATM machine is a barrier for travelers who need to reach an important destination. Fortunately, riding a taxi or limousine will become more convenient and entertaining with the installation of the e-Port, a card-reading device which will enable riders to use their credit cards to pay for their trip and have access to the latest news and information en route via an LCD screen situated in the back seat.
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Automotive
Internet Steers Car Lovers the Right Way
From researching the features and price of a new car to selling a used car yourself, the Internet is revolutionizing the automotive business.
But an explosion of Web sites about cars can make even a simple job seem difficult. Put the word "cars" in a popular search engine and you get 6.8 million hits. "New cars" cuts that down to 172,000 sites. Wasn't the Internet supposed to make tasks such as car shopping easier?
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Automotive
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Car Rentals
Rent Smart On Your Next Road Trip
Driving from here to there or even driving from the airport to there can be one of the most challenging aspects of any vacation. Avoiding unnecessary stress and staying safe are two keys to ensuring great vacation memories. So when looking at the transportation aspect of your next trip consider these tips:
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Automotive
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Gifts
Looking for an Inexpensive Gift that Offers a Simple , HIgh Tech Solution to Parking
Looking for an inexpensive gift that offers a simple, yet high-tech solution to the challenge of parking your vehicle in the garage? In the often-crowded home-garage environment where depth perception is so difficult, parking a car can be quite a headache and lead to expensive bumper damage. Now, homeowners can use Park-Zone by Exeter Technologies, which offers a convenient, high-tech solution to this daily parking dilemma.
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Automotive
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Technology
The Movable Theater
With motorists spending record amounts of time in their vehicles, drivers are changing drive time into entertainment and work time. A national survey reported that the typical motorist is spending more than 56 minutes a day behind the wheel, up 7 percent from 1990. What's more, the average household is logging 4,000 more miles annually than in 1990, according to the Federal Highway Administration study.
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Automotive
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Technology
NASCAR Rookie Driving Sensation Tony Stewart
Combining the number one spectator sport in America with one of today's hottest decorating trends, Environmental Graphics has introduced a new wall mural featuring NASCAR rookie driving sensation Tony Stewart. The popularity of the company's murals has been sparked by appearances in numerous TV shows and major motion pictures, such as "Primary Colors", and most recently "Big Daddy".
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Automotive
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Gifts
NASCAR Replica Stock Car
On your mark. Get set. Gooooooo! As America's best stock car drivers battle it out in a nail-biting race to the finish of this year's NASCAR (National Association of Stock Car Auto Racing) championship, the smallest of auto racing fans can now join the big race with their very own NASCAR replica stock car. Fueled by the growth of NASCAR auto racing, Hedstrom Corporation, one of America's largest toy companies based in Chicago, Ill., and NASCAR have teamed up to introduce NASCAR Power Riders.
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Automotive
Volkswagen Leads the Driving Revolution
While most car lovers are loyal to sedans and truck lovers loyal to flat beds, Volkswagen has achieved a way to please both camps. They've been exploring new and innovative areas of vehicle design and they've come up with a new concept car that combines the functions of an off-road pickup with the comfort and convenience of a large luxury sedan. It's called the Advanced Activity Concept (AAC) Off-Road Study, and it satisfies both car and truck lovers.
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Automotive
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Technology
Audi A8: Excellence, Not Excess
With its new A8 sedan, Audi has rewritten the book on how to build a premium luxury car. The front-wheel drive A8 3.7 and all-wheel drive A8 4.2 quattro are the first vehicles sold in North America to offer six airbags, including a side airbag for both front and rear outboard occupants.
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Automotive
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Gifts
Give the World for Under $50 A Gift for Every Driver
Travelers need to know where they're going, but they also like to see where they've been. There are some great travel gifts available this year for under $50, designed to delight nomads of all ages. A gift for every driver is the 1998 Rand McNally Road Atlas, the world's bestselling atlas since 1924. Completely updated, the 1998 edition boasts over 382 maps, city and state tourism directories, and many travel planning aids - plus the support of an award-winning Web site (www.randmcnally.com) that provides updates on road construction, address-to-address routing and much more ($9.95).
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Automotive
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Technology
Indy Car Tire's Rubber Meets Your Neighborhood Roads
Automotive companies involved in motor sports have always touted their racing programs and talked about how they lead to the development of products for the average consumer. It's an advertising message as old as the sport itself. But if you've ever wondered how much of the talk is real and how much is marketing hype, you should take a look at a new tire being introduced by Firestone.
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Automotive
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Regulations
Transportation Policy: Local Voice Remains Vital
For local government leaders concerned about the future of our national transportation system, a law called ISTEA - pronounced "ice tea" - has proven to be a refreshing change. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Act (ISTEA) includes an essential role for local government leaders in determining how best to meet local transportation needs.
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Automotive
This new Bridgestone Tire is Perfect for Light Trucks and SUVs.
Not all light truck and SUV drivers are looking to go off-roading. In fact, many of these drivers are looking for the same smooth handling and quiet ride they can get from a car. Now these light truck and SUV drivers will find the exceptional performance and sophisticated design they demand in the Dueler H/L, a new light truck touring tire from Bridgestone that incorporates the company's newest technology, UNI-T AQ.
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Automotive
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Technology
New 'Worn Tire' Technology Helps Improve Performance
All things wear over time - cars do, shoes do, and so do tires. And the wear on tires and other products can result in a degradation in performance. In fact, according to a Bridgestone/Firestone survey, 41 percent of people surveyed who purchased the company's premium tires said they noticed a deterioration in performance of the tires they replaced. The various tire brands they replaced still had usable tread remaining.
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Automotive
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Technology
While automakers, scientists and venture capitalists battle
While automakers, scientists and venture capitalists battle over the future of transportation, the high technologies of aerospace, defense and computer science are already putting electric cars on the road.
And they're doing it in style. California-based U.S. Electricar recently created the devilish Electricar GTP, capable of 80-mph speeds and handling worthy of James Bond. The company, which also builds other, more sedate sedans, industrial vehicles, pickup trucks and buses, expects to sell hundreds of vehicles this year - mostly in pollution-wary California.
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Automotive
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Technology
As researchers worldwide test energy alternatives
As researchers worldwide test energy alternatives, scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California are putting a new spin on an old idea.
They installed a prototype of a zinc-air battery in one of 12 electric shuttlebuses from the city of Santa Barbara and put it through its paces on laboratory grounds. After five hours and 75 miles, the conventional lead-acid batteries were discharged, but the zinc-air battery still had 85 percent of its original capacity, according to principal investigator John Cooper.
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Automotive
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Technology
Snow tires have become less popular
Snow tires have become less popular in recent years as motorists switch to all-season tires. And many states have either banned studded snow tires or restricted their use.
But this trend is beginning to change thanks to a new generation of studless snow tires which offer dramatic performance improvements over all-season tires.
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Automotive
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Car Rentals
Five Questions to Ask Before Renting a Car
Joe Smith learned a costly lesson when his rented minivan was sideswiped in a parking lot. Only when he returned it to the rental counter did he realize that he was responsible for the several hundred dollars in damages.
As this year's vacation season begins, if you're planning to rent a car, don't fail to call your insurance company and ask, "Am I covered for any damage to a rental car and any third party liability? Exactly what does my policy cover."
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Automotive
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Technology
Driving Concept Cars Home
The idea of a concept car is no longer an unusual one for many auto-show visitors. These mainstays of the show circuit have become as common as electricity and video screens. However, in 1938, the idea of creating an automobile to explore new worlds of design and technology seemed as fanciful as space flight for many-but not to designer Harley Earl.
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Automotive
Look At The Facts Before Choosing A Truck Bedliner
So you've purchased a new or used light truck. If you're like most truck owners, the next important enhancement to your driving arsenal will be the installation of a bedliner. Because trucks work hard, the more protection you provide, the greater the payback you're likely to receive in terms of durability and resale value. But make no mistake, one bedliner-like one truck model-isn't as good as the next.
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Automotive
ASK AUTO ANDY
Dear Auto Andy:
My 17-year-old daughter recently got her license. In addition to her part-time job, she will be involved in several school activities, which involve early arrival and late afternoons at school. Since she has proven she's careful and responsible, we'd like to reward her with her own car. Are there special things we should look for in a used car for a young driver?
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Automotive
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Technology
Reducing Auto Emissions And Environmental Concerns
Although the number of cars on the road has doubled since 1970, innovative technology is helping to clear the air and protect the environment. Since the removal of lead from gasoline in the early 1970s, the petroleum refining industry has continued to make major additional improvements in the manufacture of motor fuels, making the air we breathe today cleaner than it has been in years.
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Automotive
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Child Safety
Parents Latch On To New Car Seat System
Parents face many challenges these days, but luckily, due to a recently enacted federal law, installing car seats doesn't need to be one of these challenges. LATCH is a helpful new system that makes it easier for parents to properly install children's car seats. LATCH, an acronym for Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children, is a standardized system that helps simplify car seat installation. However, in order for the LATCH system to work properly, it requires an understanding of the new system.
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Automotive
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Child Safety
Boosting Kids' Safety
Millions of babies and small children are strapped into car seats every day, helping to protect them from injury should a crash occur. However, studies show older children ages 4 to 8 (weighing between 40 and 80 pounds and up to 4' 9" tall), are rarely restrained properly in the car.
That's significant because traffic crashes are the number one cause of death for children. Booster seats are necessary to lift older kids up to a height which allows the vehicle's shoulder and lap belts to fit properly and safely.
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Automotive
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Gifts
It Can Really Pay Off
Routine auto maintenance can help drive down your car costs-especially compared to other professional services.
Over the past decade, the cost of hospital services has risen more than 100 percent; financial services are up 90 percent. Meanwhile automotive maintenance and repair has risen only 44.5 percent, making auto repair the darling of the service industry, according to the Car Care Council.
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Automotive
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Technology
On The Move: Medium Luxury Utility Vehicle
On America's highways, there's a growing number of drivers who desire more room and cargo space than a sedan can afford, but don't want the enormity of a full-size sports utility vehicle. As a result, a new class-the medium-sized utility vehicle-is gaining in popularity. The latest entry in this field is a luxury model that offers a unique blend of dynamic performance, flexible utility and bold styling. The 2004 Cadillac SRX is designed to fit a new place in the company's portfolio between its luxury sedans and full-size SUVs.
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Automotive
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Technology
Doing Its Duty, Utility Vehicle Amazes At Home And Abroad
An off-road vehicle best known for its use on golf courses, gardens and farms got a different kind of workout in the months after September 11-and gave new meaning to the term "strong to the finish." The John Deere Gator® has proven to be an invaluable ally on Afghanistan battlefields, as well as at the cleanup sites in New York and Washington. Amidst extraordinarily harsh conditions, these off-road utility vehicles emerged virtually unscathed, thanks to a high-tech powder coated finish.
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Automotive
Nation's Aging Bridges In Need Of Repair Funding
A new study has found that our nation's bridges are not aging gracefully. Approximately one in four major bridges is approaching middle age, and is in need of repair or replacement because of deterioration or because it no longer meets current design standards. An analysis of federal data shows that 14 percent of the nation's bridges are structurally deficient, meaning that they show significant deterioration to decks and other major components. An additional 14 percent are classified as functionally obsolete.
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Automotive
An Original-Forged By Those With A Passion For Driving
When a popular car achieves the status of a classic, the features that won it a place in the public's heart should drive on in more than a fond memory. These winning features deserve another day on the road.
That is why the new Nissan Z retains all the elements that made the first Z model such a success: crisp styling, great performance and an affordable price but places them in a 21st century landscape.
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Automotive
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Technology
Going the Way of the Dinosaur?
American engineers are on the road to improving transportation .
Better options are essential. Today there are more than six billion people on the planet. Only about 12 percent have powered vehicles. The math is sobering. What happens when even a fraction of the other 88 percent become mobilized? Clearly, the energy needs of the future cannot be met long-term with only fossil fuels. As clean as today's low emission vehicle (LEV) and ultra-low emission vehicle (ULEV) cars and trucks have become, Mother Earth may not tolerate another 500 million gas-burning vehicles.
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Automotive
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Child Safety
New Restraint System Makes Child Safety Seats Easier For Parents
Every day, children sustain serious injuries and die in motor vehicle crashes. In fact, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 80 percent of child safety seats are installed and/or used incorrectly, leading to 68 deaths and 874 injuries each year. Many of these injuries and deaths can be avoided, yet many adults are unaware they are using safety restraints incorrectly, thereby placing children at risk. Any parent who has struggled with installing a child safety seat knows how difficult it can be. However, parents are now getting some relief.
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Automotive
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Technology
Get Better Fuel Mileage: Easy Changes Save Money At The Pump
"No matter how much money you've got, you've got better things to spend it on than gasoline," says Sue Elliott-Sink, director of content for enjoythedrive.com, the consumer Web site from SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. "While you certainly can save money by driving less, that isn't an option for most of us. Fortunately, it's easy for practically any vehicle to get better gas mileage. And here's a bonus: Many modifications that enhance fuel economy also improve your vehicle's performance and reduce emissions." The following tips may help you save money at the pump.
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Automotive
American Manufacturing Milestone: Ten Millionth Toyota
Sixteen years of success in manufacturing and job creation in North America: That's what one world leader in the automotive industry has cause to celebrate, as the ten millionth Toyota rolled off the production line in Georgetown, Ky. It's a landmark achievement by Toyota Motor Manufacturing North America, the headquarters of Toyota's manufacturing operations in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The company has invested $13 billion in its North American operations, making North America the centerpiece of the company's growth strategy.
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Automotive
Car Color: A Sign Of The Times?
It turns out the bursting of the tech bubble didn't just decimate millions of American's 401(k)s. It may also have cooled our love affair with the color silver-at least when it comes to cars. Silver, you see, is thought to equal high technology in consumers' minds. And since many tech stocks are anything but the "high-flyers" they once were, leading forecasters in automotive trends predict we're about to witness a distinct shift in color preference over the next few model years.
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Automotive
LUXURY APPEAL
One of the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry is going to town-the Town Car, that is.
The 2003 Lincoln Town Car earned the J.D. Power and Associates APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) award for the "most appealing mid-luxury car." The APEAL study is based on responses from new-vehicle owners and comprises eight specific areas of vehicle performance and design that identify what consumers like and dislike about their new vehicles during the first 90 days of ownership.
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Automotive
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Child Safety
Child Passenger Safety Week Focuses On Booster Seats
While most parents know it's important to use child safety seats, many do not follow the four steps recommended for restraining children as they grow.
Although motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for children age 4 to 14, a third of all children in the U.S. age 14 and under are riding in the wrong restraint type for their age and size, according to a 2002 observational study conducted by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign.
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Automotive
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Technology
Getting A Handle On Men's Lives
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Automotive
ASK AUTO ANDY
Dear Auto Andy:
I was channel surfing when I caught a news program talking about "fake airbags." Can you tell me what a fake airbag is and how I'd know if I had one?-C.D. in PA
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Automotive
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Technology
Oil Filter Magnetic Product sales
Hello. My name is Yong Lee. I am the president / Product Developer at Turbo-Mag. I feel that we have a revolutionary product that is sure to be a hot item for your business. It is called "Turbo-Mag".
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Automotive
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Technology
Skid Resistance: The New Battleground In Bedliners
Skid resistance-the ability to keep paint cans, cinder blocks, lumber and other cargo from rolling, sliding or tumbling across the truck bed-is one of the key performance requirements of a drop-in or spray-on bedliner. Unfortunately, millions of truck owners might wrongly assume that all bedliners perform at the same level when it comes to keeping things in their place.
"There's a huge difference in the skid-resistant capabilities of today's bed-protection products," said Tom Anderson, director of engineering for Penda Corporation, North America's leading manufacturer of bedliners and other accessories.
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Automotive
Finding A Prescription For Spring Fever
Each year, millions of Americans greet the vernal equinox with a restless edge-a pent-up feeling inside that just can't be shaken. Unlike other maladies, most people don't want to eliminate spring fever, they just want to find a temporary cure-a pastime or purchase to help scratch that itch. According to a national survey conducted by Lexus, Americans overwhelmingly believe that the best cure for spring fever is the great outdoors-activities that allow them to bask in the glory of sunshine after a dreary winter spell.
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Automotive
Satisfaction With Buying New Vehicles Skyrockets
A new study has found that a major reason U.S. consumers continue to buy new vehicles at a near-record pace is a dramatically growing satisfaction with automobile dealers and the car-buying experience.
The poll, released by Automotive Retailing Today (ART) also reports that the high customer satisfaction levels are prevalent across all ethnic and gender categories, and are especially strong among women buyers.
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Automotive
Site That Shares Car Stories Helps Make History
Do you have a fond Ford memory?
If so, Ford Motor Company would like to know about it. To commemorate the company's centennial, stories are being collected from employees, dealers, suppliers and enthusiasts around the world who have been touched by the company and its products for the last century.
"We're encouraging people worldwide to share their stories, with the goal of creating a historical database that cannot be found in traditional historical material," said Gary Nielsen, executive director of Ford's Centennial Operations.
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Automotive
International Driver's Licenses: A Dead End?
A driver's license that can never be suspended or revoked? That's what some marketers of Web sites are offering, and if it sounds too good to be true, it is. What these ads claim is that-for somewhere between $65 and $350-you can get an international driver's license (IDL) or an international driving permit (IDP), which can be used in place of a state-issued driver's license.
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Automotive
Changing How Suppliers And Manufacturers Work Together
Cars that anticipate accidents and adjust accordingly, providing additional protection for drivers and passengers? Thanks to improving cooperation between original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and their suppliers, such vehicles may not be that far away.
"A further innovative development representing a leap forward in technology will only be possible when the informal networks between subsystems installed in today's vehicles are replaced by systematic networking, consistently applied throughout the vehicle," says Dr. Wolfgang Ziebart, deputy chairman of the Board of Management for Continental AG.
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Automotive
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Technology
An Army Vehicle Equipped With Possibilities
It has been described as a truck with a mission but one smart new Army truck is equipped for whatever missions it takes to help protect the American way of life. The Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command's National Automotive Center (NAC) recently unveiled the SmarTruck II, a vehicle capable of both counterterrorism support and homeland security for a variety of community service and humanitarian aid missions.
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Automotive
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Technology
Police Use Satellite Technology To Fight Rising Auto Theft
Vehicle thefts are on the rise after eight straight years of steady declines in the '90s, and police forces are finding it difficult to keep up with the increase. In fact, motor vehicle thefts rose 4.2 percent in the first six months of 2002 compared to 2001, according to last year's FBI Uniform Crime Report. Each year, the total value of all stolen vehicles is estimated at nearly $8 billion.
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Automotive
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Child Safety
11 Things Moms Should Have For Their Vehicles
Mothers spend an incredible amount of time in their vehicles these days, shuttling kids to school and extracurricular activities, running errands, commuting. "More and more, vehicles are becoming a second home or office," says Chris Horn, vice president of communications for SEMA, the Specialty Equipment Market Association. "Fortunately, several auto accessories can make vehicles more family-friendly and make moms' lives easier and more efficient."
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Automotive
Most Famous Automobile Ever Built? The Model T!
Throughout its history, the automobile has gone far beyond merely a mode of transportation-it has had the unique ability to thrill, inspire and sometimes generate fierce loyalty. And although automotive history is filled with enough memorable makes and models to fill even the largest parking lot, one vehicle stands alone without equal.
Simply put, the Model T is the most famous automobile ever built.
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Automotive
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