The California State Assembly unanimously passed Assembly Concurrent Resolution 37 (ACR 37) by Assemblymember Mendoza to establish April as Automotive Career Month.
The California Motor Car
Dealers Association (CMCDA) is pleased to see the Legislature highlighting the rewarding careers in the automotive industry. Over 500,000 Californians are in automotive-dependent careers, and the demands for recruiting will continue to grow.
Californians showed their support of Career Technical Education (CTE) when they approved a general obligation bond for CTE in November of 2006. CMCDA is proud to also show its support by creating a Scholarship Foundation for automotive education.
"The California Motor Car Dealer Association is pleased to have raised nearly $500,000 for our Scholarship Foundation over the past two years,- said Peter Welch, CMCDA President. 'We could not be more satisfied with our members' commitment to automotive education.-
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Assembly Resolution Establishes April as Automotive Career Month
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Mercedes-Benz S-class
The S-Class is the flagship sedan of the Mercedes-Benz lineup with state-of-the-art occupant protection, anti-theft, and vehicle-stability systems.
For 2003 the S600 received a twin-turbo V12 with 493 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, the S55 AMG received a supercharged 5.5-liter V8 with 493 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque, and 4MATIC all-wheel drive was added as an option for S420 and S500. The S-Class is redesigned for 2007.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Honda S2000
Description:
Already a legend in its own time, the scintillating S2000 represents over 40 years of Honda racing experience. Its 2.2-liter VTEC® engine provides low- and mid-range torque while maintaining all of its 237 horses. Aggressive styling is wrapped around a refined suspension that's at home on both road and track.
This truest of sports cars is a direct link between world-beating performance and you. Strap in. Press the blazing red start button and run it up through all six gears. You'll have no problem discovering this sport machine's true genetic code. And as you rush from turn to turn, wind whipping your hair, nothing else in the world matters.
BMW 5-series
Description:
The 5-Series is BMW’s luxury midsize sedan, a car that has been a favorite among driving enthusiasts since it was first imported to the U.S. in 1975. The 5-Series was redesigned for 2004, and for 2006 receives all-wheel drive for the first time. The 5-Series has always emphasized performance and an enjoyable driving experience, offering a variety of engine choices as well as both manual and automatic transmissions.
New for 2007
After engine grades for 2006, the 2007 BMW 5-Series receives an auxiliary audio input that’s suitable for an iPod or MP3 player and tire-pressure monitor as standard equipment. New options include a high-definition radio and Night Vision system that uses a thermal-imaging camera that constantly monitors the road ahead and displays images according to their temperature on the iDrive screen (requires navigation system). A 3-spoke sport steering wheel is added to the Sport Package and the Sport Package now includes 20-way Multi-contour seats. Standard coverage for BMW Assist Safety Plan now includes a 4-year membership (previously only 1 year).
2007 Nissan 350Z Roadster
Introduction
Nissan’s GT sports car lineage has a long history dating back almost four decades. In 1970 Nissan was known as Datsun and the first 240Z was introduced to the world. During the 80’s, the designers lost sight of the true “Z” sports car heritage. The 280Z series became slow and fat while trying to appeal to a sports car luxury market. Strict California emission requirements didn’t help the car’s performance, either. The next generation “Z” came in the form of the 300ZX (produced between 1990 and 1996). That particular generation has a loyal following and is coveted by many enthusiasts. After a six year hiatus Nissan introduced the 350Z and rocked the world again in 2003. The new design captured much of the youthful enthusiasm of the early generations and it became fun to drive a “Z” again. Does the Roadster version, with 306 HP, retain the same aggressive “chops” as the coupe model? Read on and we shall see.
Driving Impressions
Once I got beyond the thrill of driving an open top sports car, I began to settle into the car and learn the behavior of the 350Z on the open road. I spent four hours with Roadster in various driving conditions (slow traffic, fast commuter traffic on the freeway, surface street driving and a twisty/curvy route that included California’s scenic Highway 1 drive along the coastline.
When I was driving with the top up I noticed that the cabin can be on the noisy side. Lots of wind noise is apparent in the cabin while cruising at 50 MPH or faster. Thank goodness for the 7-speaker Bose audio system with subwoofer. Drowning out the wind noise was easy just by cranking up the tunes. Visibility around the car is alright with the top up. Although, the side view mirrors don’t offer much viewing area due to their small size. The side mirrors are very nicely sculpted, but check those blind spots carefully before changing lanes.
With the convertible top down I noticed the cabin picks up a lot of turbulence at 35 MPH or higher. The windshield behind the front seats could probably be a little taller if its purpose is to defeat the swirling winds inside the cabin. Hats are required unless you prefer the Oklahoma twister look.
2007 Infiniti FX35 - Driving Impressions
The Infiniti FX35 is a crossover vehicle blending the functionality of an SUV with the dynamics of a luxury sports car. The 280 HP FX35 is based on the G35 sedan and quite capable of towing the ski-doos to the lake or getting the kids to soccer practice with style. Below are three different viewpoints of the FX35 capabilities - including a woman's perspect
Go with the flow
The rumors have been flying at warp speed throughout the garage for weeks. Drivers, crew chiefs, and pit crewmen have speculated endlessly about the Car of Tomorrow, forecasting who's going to be strong in the new car design, who's going to be weak and who's going to be the wild card. Here's a quick look at five drivers who appear to be poised to do very, very well in the COT this season.
1. Jimmie Johnson
At the most recent test session at Bristol Motor Speedway, JJ clocked the fastest time. His team, Hendrick Motorsports, has more resources at its disposal than any other in NASCAR, so expect Johnson's equipment to continue to be as good as anyone's in the sport. Plus, Johnson has the luxury of having Chad Knaus atop his pit box. Over the last three years Knaus has proven to be the top crew chief in NASCAR. He's certainly the most driven, and his sleepless nights spent fretting over the COT will translate into speed on Sundays.
2. Jeff Burton
The general consensus in the garage is that the Chevys of Richard Childress Racing will be the class of the field in the first COT race. This obviously bodes well for Burton, an RCR driver. A 14-year veteran of Cup racing, Burton makes fewer mistakes on the track than any other full-time driver in the series now that Mark Martin has shifted to a part-time schedule. He excels at keeping his fenders clean and not pushing his car too hard. These attributes will serve him well as drivers adapt to the COT.
3. Tony Stewart
Stewart, the most versatile driver in NASCAR, shouldn't have any problem moving into the COT. He's won races on dirt, on pavement, in open-wheel cars, in stock cars and within a month I'm guessing he'll win in a COT.
4. Jeff Gordon
Like Stewart, Gordon comes from a diverse racing background. Gordon and Stewart are generally acknowledged to be the two most naturally talented drivers in the sport, and they both should adapt quicker to the COT than the other drivers. Gordon, who flourishes on the short tracks, is my pick to win this Sunday in Bristol.
5. Denny Hamlin
Hamlin has something going for him that is normally a liability in racing: his youth. I chatted with the 26-year-old last weekend in Atlanta, and Hamlin couldn't wait to hop into the COT. Unlike the older drivers who are set in their ways and are extremely comfortable in the old design of car, Hamlin doesn't have a lot of experience with the old stock car, and he won't have as many habits to break. Hamlin believes -- and so do I -- that this will make his transition into the COT easier than it is for most of the other drivers. "To me the COT feels a lot like the old car," Hamlin says. "Honestly, there's not as big of a difference as everyone says."
