Paintless Dent Removal Illinois

From Reuters:

Top Chinese automaker SAIC Motor Corp (600104.SS) said its third-quarter net profit jumped 47 percent on solid demand for cars made with its two major partners, General Motors GM.UL and Volkswagen (VOWG.DE).

The results, which were in line with forecasts, come a day after rival BYD (1211.HK) reported a 99 percent plunge in third-quarter earnings as its aggressive sales strategy backfired when the market began to slow.

Analysts say SAIC’s earnings could stay solid in the fourth quarter as consumers rush to buy cars before the end of the year on worries that Beijing may scale back or even scrap incentives introduced last year to boost consumption.

“SAIC has been holding up better than most of its rivals because GM and Volkswagen are long-established brands in the country,” said Chen Liang, an analyst at Huatai Securities.

“Both Shanghai GM and Volkswagen have been outgrowing the market even during the summer months when the overall car sales growth slowed down considerably.”

SAIC, which also makes its own-brand cars, such as Roewe 550, booked a July-September net profit of 3.71 billion yuan ($556.9 million), compared with a 2.53 billion yuan a year earlier. Three analysts polled by Reuters had forecast 3.6 billion yuan on average.

In the first nine months, turnover soared 130 percent to 229.2 billion yuan, it said in a stock exchange filing.

SAIC’s broad portfolio of sedans, trucks, buses, sport utility vehicles, multi-purpose vehicles, mini-vans and pickup trucks, makes it more resilient than peers who make only cars, analysts said.

Its flagship car venture with GM reported a 35 percent sales gain in July, while sales from its Volkswagen AG tie-up rose 42 percent, both well ahead of a 14 percent rise for the market — its slowest growth in 15 months.

SAIC Chairman Hu Maoyuan told shareholders in July that the company was confident of hitting its 2010 sales target of 3 million vehicles.

SAIC shares closed down 5 percent in Shanghai on Wednesday before the earnings results, lagging a 1.5 percent fall in the benchmark index .SSEC.

They have soared about 85 percent from a low in late June to a record high this week. The broader market has gained about 27 percent since June.

MARKENT RETURNING TO NORMAL

China has been a major bright spot in a global industry struggling to recover from a steep downturn in 2009.

But car sales growth in the country, now the world’s largest auto market, has been slowing since May after rampant expansion in 2009 and the first few months of 2010.

From Bloomberg:

Volvo Cars, the Swedish carmaker owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group Co., may build vehicles at as many as three plants in the country, Chief Executive Officer Stefan Jacoby said.

Volvo is committed to increasing production in China, and its board will decide on sites once it receives approvals from the country’s regulators, Jacoby said in an interview today at an automotive conference in Stockholm.

“It depends on how strong we’re selling in the future” in China, Jacoby said. The southwestern city of Chengdu, a production hub for carmaker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd., is a possible location, he said.

Zhejiang Geely bought Gothenburg-based Volvo from Ford Motor Co. in August for about $1.5 billion. Expanding in China is key to Volvo’s goal of doubling sales to 800,000 cars in 10 years. Volvo, which is working to develop its dealer network, hasn’t decided yet on how and when to expand production capacity in China, Jacoby said.

Volvo now builds the S40 and S80L cars for the Chinese market at a factory co-owned by Ford and Chongqing Changan Automobile Co. Volvo will be able to use the plant for another couple years, the Swedish company’s officials have said.

Jacoby arrived in Sweden today from the U.S., where he got “the first insight on the U.S. market from the Volvo perspective,” the executive said. Jacoby joined Volvo in August after running the U.S. operations of Wolfsburg, Germany-based Volkswagen AG, Europe’s biggest carmaker.

Wuling’s self developed Bao Jun sedan has been spotted out testing yet again:

Bao Jun is a self developed brand that is being developed in a three way tie up between GM, SAIC, and Wuling, all of whom own a share in the Wuling brand. Bao Jun is expected to be at the heart of any GM-SAIC push into the Indian market, the first model will be the above sedan but there are also hatchback, MPV’s and SUV’s in development.

The Indian company, Mahindra Reva, are planning to launch their two seater electric car range into the Chinese market to take advantage of the current fanfare around electric cars. Reva’s CEO, Mr. Pawan Goenka, believes that as China is the world’s largest car market then it will be a great market in the future for new energy vehicles.

By 2020 China is aiming to have sales of 5 million new energy vehicles per year according to news reports from last week, but are Chinese consumers ready for Indian cars? Iranian cars were expected to enter China in 2008, but plans for this seem to have died, Proton were set to enter China but have done so via their Chinese partner in Youngman. It seems that China has enough of its own developing car brands, and doesn’t appear to be overly interested in taking on other countries developing brands at this stage.

Will Reva make it in China? They seem to have been reasonably popular in London as the G-Wizz brand of cars, but will we see them running on the crowded streets of Beijing or Shanghai anytime soon?

One of the most interesting, yet little-known events affiliated with the Los Angeles auto show is its annual Design Challenge, conducted by the organizers of Design Los Angeles, an automotive design conference that runs concurrently with the show’s media days. Now in its eighth year, the Design Challenge is a friendly competition between OEM design studios to see which can dream up the best answer to a challenge assigned by the organization.

This year’s mission for the OEMs that chose to accept it: “To envision an efficient, light-weight, four-passenger vehicle (not to exceed 1000 pounds), that is both comfortable and safe, while delivering satisfactory driving performance without sacrificing the styling consumers demand.” A tall order indeed, considering that today’s eensy Ariel Atom two-seater has no body panels yet still weighs nearly 1400 pounds. Nine design teams tackled the assignment. We’ve provided short previews of each below.

The entries won’t be formally presented to the requisite panel of distinguished judges until the auto-show media days wind down on November 18. But we’ll be there to tell you the winner as soon as it happens.

Cadillac Aera: Cadillac’s vertical lights have never looked more extreme than on the Aera, where they’re basically affixed to the wheels. Equally radical is the 2+2’s flexible skin, made as it is of pressurized air cells (which allegedly double as windows, too). The 10,000-psi tank of compressed air is said to be able to supply the car with enough power for a 1000-mile road trip.

Honda Air: Inspired by roller coasters and skydiving “wing-suits,” at just under 800 pounds, Honda’s pneumatically powered Air sports car could be refilled at home by a simple generator/air compressor (which Honda already makes, conveniently). Its central chassis connects to skeletal subframes, and it wears body panels made of vegetable-based polymers.

Maybach DRS: Born from a “coded DNA-cocoon,” Maybach’s two-wheeled wonder was inspired by the rickshaw (yes, the human-powered kind), but is moved about by an electric drive unit controlled by city infrastructure. There is no steering wheel. Seating: 1+2+1. And if you want to extend your range, start pedaling (seriously). Weird.

Mazda MX-0: Of all the pipe dreams on this page, the Mazda MX-0—or parts of it—actually has the greatest chance to see reality within the decade. Mazda claims the electric MX-0 sports car emulates the original MX-5 in “program,” but is rendered using fewer, simplified, lightened parts and an electric powertrain. Mazda even provides an on-sale goal of 2020, with production plans for up to 500,000 units per year. Why not a million?

Mercedes-Benz Biome: If cars grew on trees, we’d believe this one could happen, but since they don’t, it seems, uh, out there. With an interior that sprouts from a “seed” at the front, and an exterior that grows from another out back (each of the four wheels come from their own individual seeds), the so-called “Symbiosis” vehicles would be grown in Mercedes-Benz’s “ecologically sustainable nursery” and “release pure oxygen into the air.” Yeah, we’ve heard enough. Creepy.

Nissan iV: Tying with the Volvo Air Motion for coolest-looking 1000-pounder on the list is the iV, another car whose chassis components would be “grown” in farms and woven together. The hubless wheels contain multiple magnetically controlled concentric rings that can help tilt the car into turns as well as control suspension properties. Sure, it’s nearly as crazy as the Benz. But at least it looks hot.

Smart 454 WWT: No, the 454 in the name of this odd little car does not relate to the engine’s cubic-inch displacement but rather the weight, in kilograms, which is—you guessed it—1000 pounds. They’re built by “Smart Granny Robots” wearing flowered smock-like shells (we’re not kidding). The little 454 WWT can run on the beach in open-top form or in the city with its customizable textile roof. No word on what would power the thing. Cold milk and oatmeal cookies, perhaps?

Toyota Nori: “Nori” is Japanese for “seaweed.” So guess what Toyota’s CALTY designers envision combining with carbon fiber to create the “Podular” (as opposed to modular) body/chassis of the Nori? Yup, seaweed. Solar cells are also integrated into the green body (as well as plenty of chlorophyll, we imagine). Compared to the other concepts in this competition, the Nori has a relatively conventional powertrain: it’s a BEV with a motor at each wheel.

Volvo Air Motion: Inspired by the simple design of a clamshell, the Volvo Air Motion is perhaps the sexiest car here. It’s powered by compressed air and could hypothetically be refueled at Air Replenishment Sites that harness the power of the wind 1000 feet in the air, if such sites existed. The Air Motion is a sports car with two forward-facing seats, two rear-facing seats, and supposedly thousands fewer parts than today’s automobiles.

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Freedom is just another word for “you did what with your crankshaft?”

Most car engines today are pretty similar. Even the ones that we’d call different, like Porsche’s flat-sixes, or Fiat’s new two-cylinder, follow tried-and-true engineering maxims that have dominated the industry for the past 50 years. But not every car manufacturer plays by the rules when designing engines. Some of the non-conformist engines are just weird enough to raise an eyebrow, but a small number are completely off-the-wall, shirt-eating, stranger-hugging insane. Sometimes there was a method to the madness, such as trying to improve efficiency. Other times, it was clear the inmates got the run of the engineering department. And we’re just fine with that.

Keep Reading: The 10 Most Unusual Engines of All Time – Feature

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Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental.

Is carbon fiber replacing aluminum as the “cool” material to have? Speaking to executives at the premium carmakers, you’ll get just that impression. Just look at the incredibly light Lamborghini Sesto Elemento, or listen to BMW gushing about its Megacity Vehicle: better be part of the game, which is driven by marketing almost as much as by technology. Now Mercedes-Benz is about to become a real player, too.

With the SLR McLaren, Mercedes was ahead of the carbon-fiber race for a few years already, but the new halo car, the SLS AMG, is all-aluminum. Now the company is re-focusing on carbon fiber, and significant parts and panels could be used for series production vehicles as early as 2012. Carbon-fiber components will be used for vehicles with production volumes of 20,000 to 40,000 annually—far more than the SLR.

Carbon fiber works perfectly for crash structures and monocoques, but cost is an issue as well, so don’t look for full carbon-fiber bodies at Mercedes, but rather for a creative mix of it with steel and aluminum. To transfer the technology into series production, the carmaker is teaming up with Japan’s Toray Industries. The supplier will handle the entire development and production chain.

Mercedes will keep investing in battery technology; more about that in a week or two. But don’t expect miracles to happen because the progress is slow. No wonder it remains committed to the internal-combustion engine—this was explicitly confirmed by the company’s head of environmental affairs, Professor Herbert Kohler, at Daimler’s “TecDay Innovation” in Stuttgart earlier this week. Kohler hastened to add that hybridization is important, too, especially for big cars, which he promises Mercedes will keep building.

Fill ‘er Up: The Future of the Electric Car?

Insufficient range is the electric car’s Achilles heel, at least the most obvious one. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could just fill it up with gas? Volvo thinks so and is working on a C30 that’s equipped with a range extender that consumes regular gas. From this fuel, a converter extracts hydrogen gas, which is turned into electricity by a fuel cell, which then powers the electric motor. The car, according to Volvo, emits “only water and a small amount of carbon dioxide.” Volvo will start testing two prototypes in 2012. I do like the fact I would be able to just gas it up on the corner, but it does seem pretty complex. Actually, that may not be strong enough a word.

Debating Audi’s Styling Direction

Audi Design is widely appreciated as leading the pack in the premium segment, but there are challenges as well. The brand’s chief designer Wolfgang Egger says he wants to accentuate the geometric style with even fewer, sharper lines. The next generation of cars will emphasize the strong shoulder, and a lot of them will feature a sloping trunk. For the sportier models, the exterior mirrors will be placed on the shoulder, sports-car like, and not in the triangle of the side window. Check out the e-tron Spyder or the A7 Sportback to see what Egger has in mind.

Audi will keep the “single-frame” grille, but it won’t get any more massive than on the A8. In fact, the styling department is looking at more modest and filigree variations, such as on the e-tron Spyder. And the company’s SUV styling direction is under review; Audi must strike a fine balance between the politically correct modesty demanded by the European markets and the powerful, bold style that works everywhere else. Egger, by the way, doesn’t think an SUV would work well for Lamborghini, a sentiment shared by most Audi and Lambo executives, although the massive LM002 with its Countach engine still puts a big grin on everybody’s face.

Leave the Vans Alone

The driving public in Europe is incessantly exposed to shock propaganda claiming that commercial vans pose a grave threat to road safety. The “Sprinter class” vans are powerful, they handle well, and many of them can easily exceed 100 mph. Unsurprisingly, busybody politicians keep clamoring for special speed limits and even mandated speed governors. But a study which was presented today at a symposium of “commercial vehicle safety” in Altensteig/Black Forest—sponsored not only by the industry, but also by insurance companies, certification companies, and government bodies—tells a different story. Traffic fatalities related to commercial vans dropped sharply from 1472 in 2001 to 892 in 2009; the fast vans are almost exactly as safe as passenger cars, and the accident patterns are very similar. Most accidents happen on city roads and country roads, which are burdened with speed limits anyway. Hopefully the study will stifle the campaigns.

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1. BMW Launches Carbon-Fiber Accessories for M3
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3. The Future of Lamborghini: More Carbon Fiber, Greater Efficiency, No Forced Induction—and No Manuals?

A fancy painted top and a new interior update Jeep’s icon for 2011.

It’s the fanciest damn Jeep Wrangler you’ve ever seen. For 2011, all Wranglers get a new, more upscale interior in place of the previous assemblage of Playskool-grade plastics, and the optional hardtop can be painted body color on Sahara editions like our test vehicle. Available new features include heated seats, heated power mirrors, automatic climate control, and a steering wheel with buttons for the radio, cruise control, and Bluetooth phone connection. Stability control is now standard, there are more power outlets in the cabin, and the rear windows have been enlarged, too. It seems the Wrangler is all growned up.

Keep Reading: 2011 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited Sahara 4×4 – First Drive Review

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Dodge’s minivan earns a new V6, retuned suspension, and a “sporty” R/T trim.

Chrysler recently announced a small update for the 2011 Town & Country, and —predictably—Dodge’s Grand Caravan will mirror its sibling’s changes. For 2011, the Grand Caravan will receive a new crosshair front grille and a more sculpted front fascia. Around back are a redesigned bumper and a liftgate sporting sharper creases and new lettering.

Keep Reading: 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan – Official Photos and Info

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It’s not all sport compacts and muscle cars at the SEMA show. Ford will display a smattering of F-150 and F-350 trucks outfitted for tasks like off-roading, towing, or looking, uh, different. Here’s a peek at the offerings from various customizers.

A.R.E. Accessories (above)

This Pro Football Hall of Fame–themed F-150 wears silhouette graphics showing stadiums, footballs, and other pigskin-y stuff. The truck’s bed is filled with Hall of Fame memorabilia, and the interior is accented with pigskin leather. Also, big wheels.

Godfather Customs

The folks at Godfather used an F-150 equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost engine as their canvas. They applied a cowl-induction hood, a new front bumper, a tonneau cover, new taillights, massive wheels, and a bagged suspension.

Mickey Thompson

This F-150 from Mickey Thompson looks ready to show off its tires. It’s got a six-inch suspension lift, 35-inch MT off-road rubber, big PIAA lights, and a Warn Industries winch. There’s a BedSlide cargo management system in back, and Katzkin leather and aftermarket audio components inside the cab.

The Custom Shop

This EcoBoosted F-150 has shaved door handles, a tonneau cover, lightweight wheels with low-rolling-resistance tires, and a glitzy bronze-and-black color scheme. The tailgate is emblazoned with one of the largest blue ovals this side of the company’s HQ.

Rize Industries

An F-350 plus dirt bikes, seems like a good combo. Rize Industries equipped this truck with an eight-inch suspension lift, a loading ramp to easily get bikes into the now-lofty bed, a power washer, an air compressor, and a built-in bike stand.

Cars by Kris and Airhead Kustoms

The Pit Boss is an F-350 designed to tow your race car to the track and serve as a mobile pit while there. The bed packs a tire cage and toolboxes, while the cabin has leather seating and a dashboard-integrated computer. The new wheels, orange accents, and dropped-to-the-floor body kit look pretty awesome, too. We’re not sure about that light-up cow-catcher, though.

Skyjacker Suspensions

The suspension people from Skyjacker will show off a truck meant for serious off-road duty. With an 8.5-inch suspension lift, beefy off-road tires, auxiliary front lights, tough Fab Fours bumpers, and a winch, this F-350 looks ready for the worst the great outdoors can offer. It appears to have caught some digital mud from a Raptor, too.

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