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March 2003
The Pacific International Auto & Light Truck Show opened Friday. Regina Chan was there and captured these images of the auto show. Click the images to enlarge.
March 28, 2003 The inaugural Land Rover G4 Challenge adventure competition will get underway on Sunday, March 30th with an unusual urban challenge in Manhattan. Sixteen adventure athletes -- 14 men and two women -- representing 16 countries, will drive Land Rover Freelander all-wheel drive vehicles over a series of man-made obstacles set-up especially for the event in the canyons of the garment district of Manhattan.
March 28, 2003 Ford Motor Company unveiled the all-new Everest, a 7-seat family Sport Utility Vehicle, at the 24th Bangkok International Motor Show, the second-largest auto show in Asia-Pacific. The newest sport utility from Ford debuts in Thailand and ultimately will be available in more than 50 countries.
March 28, 2003 An all-new 3.6 litre V6 VVT engine will make its debut in the 2004 Cadillac CTS. The 2004 3.6 litre V6 VVT engine is the first variant of the global V6 engine family to go into production.
March 27, 2003 Nissan Canada announced pricing for its new Maxima sedan which goes on sale April 1, 2003. The manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP) for the 5-seater Maxima SE is $34,500. The four-seater 3.5 SE, which has a centre console running between the front and rear seats, is priced at $38,700. Both have a standard 6-speed manual transmission.
March 27, 2003 Lexus announced that it will offer Canadians new SportDesign versions of the IS 300 and GS 300 performance sedans. The SportDesign packages combine unique appearance cues with performance-enhancing equipment.
March 27, 2003 The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has released a list of auto safety recalls announced in February, 2003.
Chevrolet and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway announced that the new 2003 Chevy SSR will serve as the Official Pace Vehicle for the 87th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 25th.
March 27, 2003 J.D. Power and Associates data shows that retail sales have dropped by 8 percent since the start of the war with Iraq last week, compared with the corresponding four-day period a year ago. This four-day period is Thursday, March 20 through Sunday, March 23, 2003.
March 26, 2003 Mr. Marcus W. Breitschwerdt has taken over the duties of President and Chief Executive Officer of Mercedes-Benz Canada. Former President, Ernst H. Lieb, has been appointed President of DaimlerChrysler Australia/Pacific. March 26, 2003 Approximately 560 new vehicles will be on display at the 83rd annual Pacific International and Light Truck Show which runs Friday, March 28th through Saturday April 5th at B.C. Place Stadium near downtown Vancouver, British Columbia. March 26, 2003 Owners of the Hummer H2 now have the opportunity to enroll in the H2 Driving Academy to learn about their new SUV and its off-road capabilities. March 26, 2003 As part of the multiyear marketing partnership announced last November between Chrysler and Celine Dion, the Chrysler brand will have a prominent presence at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace during Celine Dion's new show there - from ushers wearing Chrysler lapel pins to Chrysler vehicles on display in the lobby. March 26, 2003 Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has announced details of its rear seat convenience and entertainment features for the new Phantom model. March 26, 2003 Japanese automakers are urging Japanese government officials to simplify and reduce the auto tax burden on consumers. The Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA) plans to submit a package of auto tax proposals this fall according to Japan Auto Trends, the JAMA newsletter released today. March 26, 2003 Mercedes-Benz will be offering a new, fully integrated universal mobile phone interface which will allow a variety of mobile phone models to be connected to the on-board electronic network. Drivers will be able to use all the Mercedes convenience and safety features when using these phones, namely the hands-free function, telephone operation via the multifunction steering wheel and monitoring via the central display unit or the COMAND communication centre (where specified). March 26, 2003 For the fifth consecutive year, Arai helmets rank highest in consumer satisfaction with motorcycle helmets, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2003 Motorcycle Helmet Satisfaction Study released on Tuesday. March 26, 2003 General Motors honoured its top 44 innovators of 2002 at the 27th annual "Boss" Kettering Awards ceremony yesterday. March 25, 2003 According to R. L. Polk's 2002 Total New Vehicle Registrations, the top ten convertibles in the U.S.A in 2002 were... March 25, 2003 Even though technology has made automobiles cleaner and more efficient than ever before, car buyers can still achieve greater economy and fuel efficiency by following a few simple guidelines when shopping for a new car, according to the American Automobile Association. March 24, 2003 Mini Canada reported that the company has sold 2,500 Cooper and Cooper S models in its first year of sales as of March 22nd, 2003. March 24, 2003 General Motors is recalling about 51,000 model year 2003 Cadillac CTS cars to inspect the steering shaft for a loose bolt. GM is aware of two incidents where customers lost steering control due to the condition. There were no reported injuries in either incident. The condition can be fixed by tightening the bolt. March 24, 2003 Scientists from Ford and Sensors Inc. have developed a way to measure vehicle emissions by using on-road testing that captures real-world driving conditions. March 21, 2003 Jeep Canada has teamed up with Exclaim! magazine to sponsor their cross-country concert series, starting in April. Concerts will represent all musical and cultural genres, with a special focus on Canadian artists. March 21, 2003 A new performance package for the Mini Cooper S will make its North American premiere at the New York International Auto Show in April. March 21, 2003 BMW will show an all-new Sport Package for the 745i and 745Li at the New York International Auto Show in April. March 20, 2003 According to the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), fatigue and drowsiness are the principal causes for approximately 100,000 reported crashes a year. Annually, more than 71,000 people have suffered injuries and 1,500 have died from accidents involving a driver falling asleep at the wheel. March 19, 2003 Four large luxury cars and two SUV's performed poorly in recent crash tests conducted by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to assess how well bumpers resist damage in low-speed impacts. March 19, 2003 Federal Transport Minister David Collenette has released statistics that show road fatalities in Canada decreased 5.1 per cent in 2001 from the previous year and were lower than any year since 1954. March 19, 2003 Firestone has introduced a new tire that brings passenger tire ride and comfort to the light truck/SUV market.
The Calgary International Auto and Truck Show took place this past weekend. Krista Pegg was there and captured these images of the auto show.
Honda Canada announced today that the new Accord Coupe EX equipped with a 240-horsepower V6 engine and a new 6-speed manual transmission will be available at Honda dealerships April 1, 2003. The Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price will be $33,600. March 18, 2003 A Dodge Viper SRT-10 won a half-mile drag race against a United States Air Force's Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon "Viper" fighter jet last Saturday. March 18, 2003 PartSource, a national chain of auto parts specialty stores, is opening six new stores in Ontario. The new stores will increase PartSource's national total to 39 stores and expand its presence in Ontario by almost 50 percent with 19 stores. March17, 2003 Models, celebrities, and GM cars will star in GM's 2nd annual 'GM ten' fashion show on Tuesday evening in Hollywood. March17, 2003 A new study by Frost & Sullivan, an international market consultancy firm, predicts that European vehicle manufacturers will be launching hybrid vehicle technology in order to be perceived as pioneers in delivering technologically advanced solutions and components. March17, 2003 Carnegie Mellon University will receive U.S.$8 million over the next five years from General Motors to continue smart car research that will revolutionize the way vehicles and drivers interact. March 14, 2003 "We've combined Parents' understanding of what moms, dads, and kids want with AAA's 100 years of auto-safety expertise to create a list of cars perfect for everything from shuttling the kids to doctor's visits, basketball and ballet practice to shopping and weekend camping trips," says Parents editor-in-chief Sally Lee. March 14, 2003 Among the accessories available at Hummer dealers is a new Hummer Tactical Mountain Bike. March 13, 2003 The U.S. National Highway and Safety Administration has announced vehicle recalls for the period from December 2002 through January 2003. Owners with affected vehicles should contact their dealers. March 13, 2003 In one of the largest field trials of its kind, General Motors and a group of partners will enlist about 80 Michigan drivers to test vehicles equipped with both forward collision warning and adaptive cruise control systems - two emerging technologies that could help reduce rear-end crashes. March 13, 2003 The second annual North American Concept Vehicle of the Year awards were announced yesterday during a ceremony at the Atlanta International Auto Show. A jury of 35 automotive journalists from throughout North America selected the winners from 32 Concept Vehicles and six Production Preview Vehicles that made a North American debut during the 2003 Auto Show season. March 13, 2003 Graco Children's Products today announced a voluntary recall of 650,000 stand-alone SnugRide infant car seats equipped with a base manufactured in the USA between March 1, 2002 and March 6, 2003. SnugRide infant car seats sold as part of a travel system (stroller/infant carrier/car-seat base combination), or stand-alone units made in China, are not affected by this recall. March 13, 2003 MP for Yukon Larry Bagnell, on behalf of Transport Minister David Collenette, and Yukon Infrastructure Minister Glenn Hart has announced joint funding of $5.8 million over two years for the rehabilitation of the Teslin River Bridge, located at Johnson's Crossing. March 12, 2003 CanadianDriver and Tiretrends.com are pleased to announce that Michael Boddy, of Richmond Hill, Ontario, is the winner of the February sweepstakes for a set of Kumho Ecsta MX performance tires. March 12, 2003 Toyota and Lexus vehicles were awarded four of the six 'Best Overall Values of the Year' awards presented yesterday by Intellichoice, publisher of The Complete Car Cost Guide and The Complete Small Truck Cost Guide in the U.S.A. In addition, Toyota and Lexus vehicles won 11 of the 24 individual category winners in the awards. March 12, 2003 The results of a recent driver distraction study conducted by Ford's Scientific Research Lab show that hands-free cellular phones are less distracting than hand-held cellular phones, and that teenagers are more susceptible to in-car distractions than adults due primarily to their driving inexperience. March 12, 2003 The first Japanese testing facility for fuel cell vehicles was opened at a ceremony on Tuesday. DaimlerChrysler is co-initiator of this project, in which five automotive manufacturers and further companies from the energy supply sector have joined forces to test fuel cell vehicles along with the necessary fuel infrastructure under everyday operating conditions. March 12, 2003 In its April New Car issue, Consumer Reports magazine announced its pick of the ten most influential vehicles of the last fifty years. March 11, 2003 Maybach has become the first make of car ever to be honoured with the "Five Star Diamond Award" presented by the American Academy of Hospitality Sciences. The award is normally reserved for the world's top luxury hotels and restaurants. March 11, 2003 The Japanese Government has granted GM approval to drive a liquid hydrogen-fueled vehicle on public roads in Japan. GM's HydroGen3 fuel cell vehicle will be the first to drive on the streets of Japan using liquid hydrogen as its fuel. March 11, 2003 Speaking to more than 1,200 engineers and industry executives at the 2003 SAE World Congress in Detroit, Michigan, Dieter Zetsche, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chrysler Group said a new breed of "car guy" is needed to adapt and excel in a new market climate in order for a company to maintain product leadership within the automotive industry. March 11, 2003 Toyota has launched an online game to attract the youth market, many of whom don't have a driver's license yet. The Toyota Rally Race is an interactive animated sweepstakes where the user becomes an active participant in a race across the United States. March 10, 2003 AutoWeek magazine has announced its 2003 Editors' Choice Awards from the Geneva International Motor Show, which each year inaugurates the European auto show season. March 10, 2003 The Toyota Echo and 4Runner recently received top honours in an online survey conducted by Guideauto.com. March 10, 2003 A new international owners club for Triumph TR7 and TR8 owners has been formed. The TR7 & TR8 Worldwide Owners Club offers the latest multimedia technology, the latest news, articles and videos, tips on restoration and maintenance, and interaction with enthusiasts from all over the world. March 10, 2003 In this year's "Europe's No. 1 Car" competition staged by the motoring publication "Auto Bild" and its 13 European partner publications, the readers and an expert jury voted the Mercedes-Benz E-Class the best new model to appear on the European market in 2002.
The Mercedes-Benz CLK 55 AMG made its debut as the official Formula One Safety Car at the first Grand Prix of 2003 in Melbourne, Australia and will continue for the rest of the Formula One season. March 10, 2003 International market consultants, Frost & Sullivan, presented its prestigious Internet E-business Strategy Award to DaimlerChrysler, recognising its outstanding achievement in utilising the Internet as a powerful business tool across the entire value chain as well as in the European remote vehicle diagnostics (RVD) systems market. March 7, 2003 Toyota has withdrawn its application for a review of an Employment Standards order which held that Toyota had violated Employment Standards law by scheduling mandatory overtime after eight hours of work a day. March 7, 2003 ord Motor Company opened a new 581 square metre garage at their Extreme Cold Weather Test Facility in Thompson Manitoba today. March 7, 2003 Mazda North America announced that the 2003.5 Mazdaspeed Protege will receive some exterior and interior upgrades. March 7, 2003 In a speech to the media at the Geneva Motor Show, Dr Michael Ganal, Member of the Board of Management of BMW AG, announced that the company would soon offer a diesel-engined Mini in Europe. March 7, 2003 Automotive Engineering International magazine has awarded "Best Engineered Vehicle for 2003" to the Volvo XC90. The announcement coincided with the opening of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) 2003 World Congress, March 3-6, in Detroit, Michigan. March 7, 2003 Six out of ten American parents say driving safety is a top concern when it comes to their teens - far outranking fears such as pregnancy, suicide, and drug and alcohol abuse, according to a new survey commissioned by the Chrysler Group.
Subaru, a division of Fuji Heavy Industries, unveiled the B11S concept car at the 73rd International Geneva Motor Show on Wednesday. The Subaru B11S showcases Subaru's future design direction said the company. March 6, 2003 The new Nissan Micra was honoured with the 2003 European Automotive Design Award from Designers (Europe), a division of Fontignies Consulting. March 6, 2003 GM and Shell Hydrogen are combining resources to help commercialize fuel cell vehicles.
Audi showed its new Nuvolari quattro concept at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday, a high performance 2+2 GT car.
Volvo Car Corporation unveiled what the company calls their expression of automotive 'haute couture', the Versatility Concept Car (VCC), at the Geneva Motor Show.
Saab revealed its new 9-3 convertible model at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. Peter Augustsson, Saab Automobile's President and CEO said, "In many ways, our Convertible's appeal goes right to the heart of the Saab brand. It expresses our brand pillars - design, performance, control, safety and versatility - in a focused package. It is a sporty, yet surprisingly practical car." March 5, 2003 In a speech to the automotive press on Monday evening, Dr. Helmut Panke, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW AG, urged Americans and Germans to overcome tensions related to the current Iraqi situation. March 5, 2003 Sixteen Canadians and their guests have won the opportunity to participate in the Mini Winter Driving Challenge. Participants in the MWDC will push the 115 horsepower Mini Cooper to its limits at Circuit Mecaglisse. Professional instructors will lead the group through a one-day driving program with a wide variety of exercises designed to improve winter driving skills. March 5, 2003 Carlos Ghosn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Nissan Motor Company, introduced the European version of the new Nissan 350Z sportscar at the Geneva Motor Show on Tuesday. March 5, 2003 The United States Army Tank-automotive and Armaments Command's National Automotive Center (NAC) has introduced a Class 8 Freightliner truck with a prototype liquid-fueled, roadworthy Ballard fuel cell auxiliary power unit (APU). The big rig was unveiled at the Society of Automotive Engineers 2003 World Congress in Detroit. March 5, 2003 Organizers of the 2003 New York International Automobile Show, to be held April 18 - April 27 at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City are offering the following tips on the best parking locations, transportation bargains, and discounted tickets. March 4, 2003 Vehicle sales were mixed in February, but one trend remains constant: import brands showed stronger sales increases than domestic brands.
The Chrysler Airflite concept car was unveiled yesterday at the Geneva show. The four-passenger, five-door hatchback features clean lines, a coupe-like profile, and a spacious cargo area. March 4, 2003 The "Clear Act" legislation, introduced on Monday by U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch and U.S. Rep. Dave Camp, provides tax credits to U.S. citizens to help purchase vehicles with advanced technologies with breakthrough fuel economy and emission performance during early market introduction. March 4, 2003 Reigning Canadian Rally Champion Pat Richard won the Rallye International de Québec, near Québec City. Richard finished more than three minutes ahead of six-time U.S. Champion Paul Choiniere - in spite of running a good part of the last stage on a flat tire. March 3, 2003 An English High Court has ordered the Financial Times to release a tape of an interview with DaimlerChrysler CEO Juergen Schrempp to Tracinda Corporation, DaimlerChrysler's largest shareholder group headed by Kirk Kerkorian. March 3, 2003 During the month of March, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Ontario residents can donate used hockey equipment to their local Ford dealers to support a used hockey equipment drive for local youth. March 1, 2003 General Motors of Canada, the Government of Québec and the Société générale de financement du Québec (SGF) signed an agreement on Friday that lays the foundation to develop the Québec automotive supplier base. |  | |
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