Automotive News - January 28, 2008 - (Page 28) 28 • JANUARY 28, 2008 PETA praises GM’s TV spot General Motors is scoring points with animal activists. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has presented GM a Glitterbox Award, given annually to companies that show compassion for animals when advertising their products. GM received PETA’s award for a Chevrolet Silverado commercial. In the spot, a man suggests to vegetarian children that the Silverado is also vegetarian because it runs on E85. E85 fuel contains 85 percent ethanol, which is usually made from corn. The spot caught PETA’s attention because it mimicked the group’s support for a vegetarian lifestyle. Said PETA President Ingrid Newkirk: “Chevy managed to promote Earth-friendly cars and diets at the same time.” c About 1,000 GMAllison hybrid buses are in service in 81 cities. The new orders are from public transportation systems in Washington, Philadelphia and MinneapolisSt. Paul. © GM CORP. Chrysler to spend $28 million on Ohio plant DETROIT — Chrysler LLC co-President Tom LaSorda said last week that the automaker will invest $28 million in its machining plant in Toledo, Ohio. The Toledo Machining Plant builds torque converters and steering columns for Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep vehicles. LaSorda said $26.4 million will go toward building redesigned torque converters for automatic transmissions and $1.5 million will be for steering column production. “This is an important day for the future of the UAW and Chrysler,” UAW Vice President General Holiefield said in a statement. “This investment is a significant step toward realizing our vision to see this company and our union grow this business and be competitive for the long run.” Last year, Chrysler considered closing the Toledo plant but backed off last fall during UAW contract negotiations. As a result, Chrysler committed to reinvest in the plant. The UAW local in Toledo ratified the contract. c GM gets 1,700-plus hybrid bus orders General Motors says it has taken orders for as many as 1,732 new hybrid buses from public transportation systems in Washington, Philadelphia and Minneapolis-St. Paul. GM estimates the hybrid buses will save 2.4 million gallons of fuel a year, enough to fill 300 tanker trucks. GM announced the bus orders last week at the Washington Auto Show. About 1,000 of the GM-Allison hybrid buses are now in service. The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority ordered 952 hybrid buses, GM says. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ordered 480, and the Minneapolis/St. Paul transit system plans to buy as many as 300 hybrid buses. GM launched its hybrid technology for transit buses in 2003. The automaker says the buses are in service in 81 cities in the United States, Canada and Europe. c gmdealergroupadvertising.com 800-992 2723 Standard equipment on the 2009 Ford Escape, shown, and Mercury Mariner will include a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a six-speed automatic transmission. Ford says the new transmission will improve fuel economy. 2009 Escape, Mariner to get upgraded engine, transmission DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. has retooled its Ford Escape and Mercury Mariner crossovers with scaled-up engines and transmissions for the 2009 model year. The crossovers will have a new 2.5liter four-cylinder engine producing 166 pounds-feet of torque and 170 hp — a 17 hp gain over the outgoing 2.3liter engine. The 2.5-liter also will be the gasoline-powered powertrain for hybrid versions of the Escape and Mariner in 2009. A new six-speed automatic transmission will replace the four-speed automatic. Ford says that will improve fuel economy. Ford also is offering an optional 230-hp, 3.0-liter V-6 on the Escape and Mariner for 2009. The new V-6 boasts a 30-hp gain over the crossovers’ previous optional V-6 and is teamed with a six-speed automatic transmission. Ford also said it will offer E85 flexible-fuel versions of the 2009 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator SUVs and E-series Econoline vans. c Get a Free Diagnosis of Your Dealership at www.mightycure.com ! tter l be 00 ee -39 ’ll f You 0-829 … -80 1 l us Cal …or… Visit us at NADA Booth 3239W The Automotive Dealership Specialists http://gmdealergroupadvertising.com http://www.joeverde.com/store http://jvtn.com http://joeverde.com/an http://www.mightycure.com http://www.mightycure.com
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