Motor

Anuradhapura, Daladagama DriveGreen emission testing centres upgraded

Improved service and facilities greet customers at DriveGreen 's newly upgraded emission testing centres in Anuradhapura and Daladagama.

Both centres now feature a new improved customer area, increased parking facilities, a large garden area creating a greener, nicer environment and, importantly, are now situated at more convenient locations.

The technology and testing procedures used by DriveGreen emission testing centres feature 'Class Zero' testing equipment offering near 100% (99.999%) accuracy. Test reports include a useful Estimated Fuel Wastage report that illustrates the estimated rupee value loss resulting from poor engine efficiency as shown in emission testing.

The report estimates wastage as cost per litre, measuring engine efficiency as a percentage based on High and Low RPM (revolutions per minute) levels.

The superior service agenda also provides several pre and post test reports in addition to standard emission test reports. Guidance in simple corrective and preventive maintenance measures by trained staff provide customers with realistic solutions that reduce fuel and maintenance costs and rake up substantial savings - in some cases, as much as 30%.

The island wide network of DriveGreen emission testing centres are so located as to offer convenience and easy access. Plans are underway to expand network to cover the Northern Province shortly.

'Green'-tinted SUVs at Seoul Motor Show

Gas-guzzling SUVs, eco-friendly electric cars and the odd brave attempt to marry the selling points of both are taking centre stage at the biennial Seoul Motor Show.

Carmakers including Hyundai, Toyota, GM, BMW, Volkswagen and Ford are taking part in the 10-day event, with nine models making their global debut as Seoul seeks to catch up with better-known Asian auto shows in Tokyo and Beijing.

Sports utility vehicles, including Toyota's fourth-generation RAV4, are still the fore, despite their heavy frames and high fuel consumption -- long seen as challenges to luring drivers in Asia's congested cities.

French carmaker Renault gave an Asian debut to its new QM3 crossover -- a downsized mix of SUV and passenger car -- at an elaborate celebration event.

The colourful orange vehicle, first unveiled at the recent Geneva Motor Show, will hit the market in the second half of this year, said Francois Provost, chief executive of Renault's South Korean unit.

Renault Samsung Motors is hoping the model will mark a "new beginning" for the firm, which has struggled with sagging sales in recent years, Provost said.

The company also flagged plans to start production of its electric sedan, SM3 Z.E., at its plant in the southern city of Busan this year.

The SM3 Z.E. covers around 120 kilometres (75 miles) on a single charge with a top speed of 135 kilometres per hour.

US automaker General Motors gave an Asian premier to the all-electric version of its Chevrolet Spark, heralding it as a "new benchmark" for urban electric vehicles.

Production of the electrically-powered hatchback began at the firm's plant in the southern city of Changwon earlier in March.

The car's 20-kWh lithium-ion battery can be recharged to 80 percent of its capacity in 20 minutes, and its electric motor is capable of powering the car from 0 to 100 kilometres per hour in about 9.0 seconds.

South Korea's top carmaker Hyundai Motor showed off its hydro fuel-cell Tucson SUV model which started production in February at its plant in the southern city of Ulsan.

The car, which generates electricity using hydrogen and oxygen from the air, can travel much longer distances than battery-powered vehicles.

"We have achieved the feat of commercial production of hydrogen fuel cell cars for the first time in the world, ahead of nations like Germany, Japan and the US," Hyundai Motor CEO Kim Choong-Ho said.

Hyundai, which plans to sell 1,000 units globally by 2015, claims it is at least two years ahead of competitors like Honda or Toyota, who are developing their own hydro fuel-cell cars.

Infiniti, the luxury brand of Nissan, gave pride of place to its new electric sedan, LE Concept, best known for its wireless battery recharging system. Although leading brands are developing electric models, the market for them still faces challenges, said one expert.

"Hybrid cars have firmly established themselves in the market, but electric cars still have a long, long way to go," Kim Pil-Su, an auto expert at South Korea's Daelim University, told a forum on the sidelines of the auto show.

A lack of infrastructure, including recharging stations, high prices and "misguided" marketing campaigns have resulted in the electric car industry losing its initial momentum, he said.

"To make electric cars more appealing to consumers it's better to first market them as a second car for downtown driving or short-distance trips, instead of a car to entirely replace gas-fuelled cars," Kim said. The Seoul show is open to the public from March 29 through April 7.

AFP

Top CEAT dealers showered with awards, gifts at Kandalama

The revolutionary impact its products have had on Sri Lanka's tyre market has been the focus when the country's highest-selling tyre brand CEAT honoured top dealers for their contributions in sales performance to growth in 2012.

A gala, two-day event at Heritance Kandalama, saw 68 awards being presented to the cream of Sri Lanka's tyre retailers who were also showered with valuable gifts, including air tickets, the latest smart phones, digital cameras and weekends at star-class hotels.

In a video message played at the start of the awards presentation, CEAT Kelani Holdings Chairman Chanaka de Silva, reported that the company has achieved domestic sales in excess of Rs 7 billion in 2012 and exports of Rs 2.1 billion.

Noting that the company's performance was in the face of difficult local conditions, including higher costs of production inputs, he said the loyalty and hard work of CEAT dealers had been a key contributor to growth.

"The year ahead would be a challenging one, but we are confident that CEAT would continue to be a winner with your support," De Silva said. He also introduced the incoming Managing Director/CEO, Raman Rajagopalan.

In his address, Raman Rajagopalan said the CEAT brand had achieved a dominant 54 per cent share in the Truck/ Light Truck category, is the market leader in the Radial category with a 19 per cent market share, has a dominant 40 per cent market share in the Three Wheeler segment and has secured 16 per cent of the market for motor cycle tyres in the year under review.

"Our leadership position in Sri Lanka is driven by three important factors," Raman said.

"First, we have a Great Brand, driven by R&D support from CEAT India and a sophisticated production facility in Sri Lanka, manned by the best in the Industry.

Second, we have long standing dealers, who are loyal and have been supporting the brand in many ways. Third, customer confidence is very high with CEAT. We have constantly improved the quality and performance of our products to give better tyres to our customers."

A global tyre brand present in 110 countries, CEAT's credentials are built on performance. A National Business Excellence Award winner in 2010, 2011, and 2012, CEAT - Kelani Holdings, is an Indo-Sri Lanka joint venture between the RPG Group of India and Kelani Tyre - Sri Lanka.

The company operates three manufacturing units, manufacturing truck, light truck, radial, motor cycle, three-wheeler and agricultural tyres and employs a workforce of 1,000 people, according to a press release.

Ford India sorry for women gagged in car ads

Ford India has apologised for a series of advertisements featuring caricatures of bound and gagged women in the boot of a Figo car driven by former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi.

The advertisements for the best-selling hatchback, created by the Indian unit of global advertising giant JWT, appeared on the website "Ads of the World" although Ford says they were not meant for commercial use. They appeared online over the weekend, reportedly without Ford's approval, at a time when India is under fire for its treatment and portrayal of women following a series of sexual assaults. One advert showed three scantily-clad women in the boot of the car with a smiling Berlusconi flashing a peace sign at the wheel, above the tagline: "Leave your worries behind with Figo's extra-large boot".

Another featured a Paris Hilton-like caricature in the driver's seat with US celebrity Kim Kardashian and two other women gagged in the boot. A third advert shows Michael Schumacher with F1 rivals Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso gagged in the back. "We deeply regret this incident and agree with our agency partners that it should have never happened," Ford said in a statement emailed to AFP.
AFP