A center of the latest Citroën Commercial Vehicle Specialist Dealers has been selected to give a superior level of sales and aftersales service and to harmonize Citroën’s recently expanded six-strong LCV array with a lot more to come. These new Commercial Vehicle Specialist Dealers have been chosen by Citroën from its available UK dealer network to offer an expanded range of facilities for Citroën’s LCV customers. The location is intentionally positioned throughout the UK.

“With increasing competition customers are demanding ever higher levels of sales and after sales service. Our new Commercial Vehicle Specialist Dealer network will provide a level of additional services to those already provided by our existing 200+ dealer network. Notably the quality of our current LCV network has already been independently recognised, with Freeborn Garages of Southampton winning the Best Van Dealer of the Year award in the Professional Van & Light Truck Awards 2008,” says Robert Handyside, Citroën’s commercial vehicle operations manager. 

These recently appointed Citroën Commercial Vehicle Specialist Dealers will provide an expanded range of new Citroën commercial vehicles in stock which will comprise models from Citroën’s award winning Ready to Run professional vehicle programme. Also, these dealers will have bigger figures of presenters and bear a better alternative of Citroën agreed used commercial vehicles. 

“We believe that the appointment of the Citroën Commercial Vehicle Specialist Dealers to our 200+ strong dealer network together with our widest ever range of light commercial vehicles will attract a large number of new customers. Citroën will be able to provide an unrivalled level of sales and aftersales support, reflecting the capability of its technically advanced LCV range,” continues Robert Handyside.

We’ve been badly teased by Rolls-Royce when they finally revealed the comprehensive sketches of its upcoming new model…the RR4! The model is set to have its world debut in 2010 and will sit next to the Phantom model array. RR4 will be smaller than Phantom and propelled with brand new engine, which is a new cup of tea for Rolls-Royce.  

Last year, the design was signed off and engineering progress is on its full blast today. The Goodwood manufacturing services are being entirely reorganized to provide accommodation to the RR4. The ucoming model will have an extended paint, wood and leather shops as well as a second assembly line. The company will progress to a two shift arrangement by 2009 as it prepares for full production of the future new model. 

“Effortless performance and standard-setting levels of comfort and efficiency, executed with the utmost care and attention, remain fundamentals of Rolls-Royce design. The RR4 has a more informal presence than the Phantom models with a greater emphasis on driving. In design terms this is expressed through its slightly smaller dimensions and more organic form, yet with powerful, purposeful proportions. It is a true and uncompromising Rolls-Royce in every sense,” says Chief designer, Ian Cameron. 

“RR4 will mark a milestone in the history of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The business continues to go from strength to strength and the introduction of this new model will expand the appeal of the brand. We look forward to this next chapter with anticipation and confidence,” says Chairman, Ian Robertson added.

Imagine a car that is able to run more than or at least 50 miles per gallon; a perfect picture isn’t it? Fortunately, sooner or later, we’ll be driving this type of vehicle.

Today, if we will dig the stat of cars existing in the North American soil, you won’t be able to find vehicle that gets 50 or 50 plus miles per gallon. Why?

A Story from Newsweek was thoroughly recapped by AIADA to explain to us why? Check this out:

Wouldn't it be great if you could drive a car that gets 50 miles per gallon? Well, you might, some day soon.

"If you want better fuel economy, it's just a question of when auto companies want to do it and when consumers decide they want to buy it," says Don Hillebrand, a former Chrysler engineer who is now director of transportation research for Argonne National Labs.

"Auto companies can deliver it within a year." But, according to Newsweek, the reality is that you won't see a car on a showroom floor in America with 50 mpg on the window sticker for at least three years and maybe longer.

"We're close enough to spit at that now," says Bill Reinert, Toyota's national manager of advanced technologies. "It's not an incredible stretch, but it's an incredible stretch to do it on a mass-market basis."

Here's the problem that most dealers are very familiar with: to get to 50mpg in the near future, consumers would have to trade off cost, drive quality, or safety. That's because the quickest way to make a car more fuel-efficient is to make it smaller, lighter, and equip it with some high-tech propulsion system.

The party at West Hollywood, California was a smash. Nearby residents praised the hopeful lyricist Jael Gadsen for being the the ultimate champion of the Lincoln Spotlight online music competition. The contest was judged by a panel that included Grammy Award-winning hip-hop superstar Common, Grammy-winning music producer Bryan Michael Cox, VIBE magazine editor-in-chief Danyel Smith, music executive Derek Dudley and renowned DJ Tony Touch. The flourishing luxury brand in America since 2007 year, and Grammy Award-winner Common started the nationwide search for the best and most creative aspiring lyricists in February. Gadsen is awarded with a prize of $10,000 and an opening spot for hip-hop superstar Common at one of his 2008 performances. 

"The Lincoln Spotlight competition appealed to me because it gave me the opportunity to write about a topic that I feel very strongly about: reaching high for your dreams and the chance to encourage someone else not to give up. Making it to the top five was already the icing on the cake! Actually winning - I am still at a lost for words. All I can say is 'overwhelming excitement’,” says the proud winner, Jael Gadsen.

The Lincoln Spotlight contest was open to the public and encouraged aspiring lyricists to make an original song and video expressing one of Lincoln's brand truths: advancing the American dream, exploring what it means to reach higher, daring to do more and taking pride in one's history.

"I was happy to be part of Lincoln Spotlight because it is a great way for young aspiring artists to focus their creativity on positive themes. The contestants had uplifting, inspiring lyrics, but I gave Jael the highest score because she had sincerity in her delivery that is equally as important as the message when artists perform. The passion that the performer has for the message is what really draws the audience in,” says Cox. 

"We were really excited by the enthusiasm we received from the public with this contest. Spotlight allowed us the opportunity to give exposure to other talented artists and to celebrate a favorite American pastime – music,” added Lincoln Marketing Manager Tom Grill.

Who else? 

A stunning record-breaking performance was carried out by BMW just recently. The BMW has just won the International Engine of the Year (IEotY) for its fourth consecutive year! Anyhow, a group of international judges handed out the top honor to the 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged petrol engine. This outstanding engine provides the supreme performance to the 1 Series, 3 Series and X6 in the 135i, 335i and X6 xDrive35i models respectively. On the other hand, BMW along with MINI went home with category honors between them to dominate the 2008 awards.

In addition to this, according to the Auto Channel, the 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine hit a remarkable record of powerplants from other close contender to notch the ultimate prize. The BMW 3.0-litre twin-turbo petrol engine won ‘Best engine 2.5-litre to 3.0-litre’ as well. Previously, International Engine of the Year winner, the 5.0-litre V10 powerplant, won its category of ‘Best engine above 4.0-litres’, an accomplishment that it also won in 2005 and 2006 on its way to winning the overall awards in those years.

“To win the International Engine of the Year is an immense achievement and underscores the technical expertise and dedication of BMW’s engineers and designers. But to win it four years in a row in such a convincing fashion is unprecedented. BMW Group’s winning engines were, in many of the categories, competing against our own products for top position,” says Klaus Kibsgaard, Managing Director of BMW (UK) Ltd.

Did You Know?

BMW’s trophy sweep in 2008 comes after the marquee won outright honors in 2007, 2006, 2005, 2002 and 2001.