Class Action Lawsuit Against General Motors for Piston Slap

March 5, 2004 A class action complaint against General Motors Corporation was filed by the law firm Green & Jigarjian LLP and the Oklahoma based firms of Federman & Sherwood and Walker & Walker. The lawsuit, brought on behalf of purchasers of 1999 through 2003 model GM vehicles with a 3.1, 3.4, 4.8, 5.3, 5.7 (LS1), 6.0, or 8.1 liter engine that exhibits a loud noise due to Piston Slap, alleges that GM actively concealed the engine defect while continuing to advertise, market, and warrant that GM engines are free from defects. Some of the models that may have a Piston Slap defect are the Chevrolet Camaro, Corvette, Silverado, Tahoe and Surburban; GM Denali and Yukon; Cadillac Escalade and Pontiac TransAm.

"Piston Slap" is a loud knocking noise

Japanese culture long ago found its way to America, bringing such things as sushi, martial arts and new-styled cartoons to American shores. Now, Japanese sports are hitting American raceways. Fasten your seat belts - drifting is here!

Drifting is a motor sport in which racecars slide sideways on racetrack turns. This dangerous extreme sport got its start in Japan and is fairly new to American raceways. This is the first year a championship drifting run has taken place in the U.S.,

Ford Motor Company's News from 2004 Geneva Motor Show

• Ford TeamRS introduces its performance vehicle programme
• Ford's Fiesta ST is previewed
• The new 2004 Jaguar S-TYPE debuts an all-new diesel engine
• Volvo's sporty YCC (Your Concept Car) has its global reveal
• The Range Stormer concept from Land Rover arrives in Europe
• Aston Martin's DB9 Volante - also in Europe for the first time

Fiesta ST

(Junior World Rally Car) will debut in June at the Junior World Championship in Greece, bringing the excitement of Ford's RallyeConcept to life for future World Championship rally drivers.

Based on the concept, it sits 60mm lower on 7-by-17-inch, multi-spoke Speedline wheels with tyres in tarmac trim and an aggressive body kit. Its 1.6 litre all-alloy, dry-sump engine delivers over 215 PS at 8,750 rpm. Alcon alloy brake callipers front and rear shed speed efficiently and a hydraulic handbrake is fitted for tight hairpin bends.

Ford's 'Dura' powertrain range continues to grow

Ford has aggressively grown its powertrain technology portfolio since embarking on its product-led transformation in 2000. At Geneva, Ford's commitment to develop new customer-focused powertrain technologies - embodied by "Dura" branding - is evident. It includes:

• a new 150PS Duratorq TDCi common-rail engine for the Ford Mondeo range later this year
• a new 136PS Duratorq TDCi engine for Ford's Transit and Tourneo models
• Stage IV emissions capability for Modeo and Fiesta, with Fusion from May 2004 and now Focus C-MAX with DPF.

A showcase of interior technology

Ford's Visos Design Concept vehicle will be turned 'inside out' at Geneva as part of a demonstration of current and future interior technologies for comfort and relaxation. This includes 'clamshell seats' that transform to match your driving style and a Human Machine Interface (HMI) communications device - a way of customising the vehicle's settings through a single point of contact.

The new Ford Maverick

Featuring a fresh look inside and out, the Ford Maverick 4x4 makes it debut in Geneva with expanded on-road and off-road capability, enhanced safety technology and greater comfort. Available in selected European markets, it has a new four-cylinder engine, a new Intelligent 4WD System, standard anti-lock brakes and the Safety Canopy curtain air bag system.

Volvo's YCC Concept Car

At Geneva, Volvo will unveil the YCC (Your Concept Car), a sportscar with practical features developed by an all-women project team. Designed to suit the individual, this car has 'Ergovision' which means the driver, regardless of height, can sit correctly when driving and have the right line of vision. The buyer's body is scanned at the dealership, then this data is used to define a driving position. The car is also easy to get in and out of, has smart storage solutions and is easy to park - all things female drivers demand.

The idea of an all-women team making the decisions in the development of a new concept car arose at Volvo in late 2001. The finished car gives Volvo the opportunity to concentrate on the fast-growing group of women customers.

Jaguar to show the X204 S-Type with new V6 diesel

The introduction of an all-new, state-of-the-art V6 Diesel engine marks another milestone in the evolution of Jaguar's S-TYPE executive saloon. The first ever outing of this diesel, it is the next in the range co-developed by FMC and Peugeot. The arrival of the twin-turbo AJD-V6 engine means that S-TYPE buyers will be able to choose diesel power as an alternative to the 4 petrol engine options. It will be available from June 2004. Interior and exterior features have also been enhanced, including a more contemporary look, sleeker aerodynamics and a lighter aluminium bonnet.

Land Rover's Range Stormer concept sits

DENSO Increases Motorsports Sponsorships for 2004

TOKYO, Feb. 25 Japan-based DENSO Corporation today announced its motorsports sponsorship plans for the 2004 season. DENSO has
been sponsoring motorsports since 1971. This year, DENSO will co-sponsor two new teams as a corporate sponsor:
• Panasonic Toyota Racing team in Formula One (F1), and
• Subaru World Rally team.

DENSO also continues to support the Panasonic Toyota Racing team as a technical sponsor. “DENSO is excited to sponsor these motorsports teams, and we hope to increase our name recognition and corporate image through our involvement with

Leading UK Car Rental Company Holiday Autos Streamlines And Increases Customer Service with RightNow

BOZEMAN, Mont., Feb. 24 RightNow(R) Technologies, the leading on-demand CRM company focused on customer service, today announced that leading UK car rental company Holiday Autos has cut emails to its UK customer service center by 50 percent, a reduction of 250 a day, and telephone calls by 20 percent, a reduction of 450-500 a day, since implementing RightNow's customer service solution this past summer. Holiday Autos also
achieved a tangible return on its original investment in the RightNow solution within four months of implementation. The RightNow solution was up and running just four days after installation began and following a 60-day pilot, the solution went live on Holiday Auto's main UK website http://www.holidayautos.co.uk .
One of the key benefits of the RightNow solution at Holiday Autos is its online self-learning knowledge base, which