News 23-11-99 Page 3

News of November 23, 1999

Page 3 of 4
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Ford and Bolt align for strategic partnership to reach the next generation . .
DEARBORN, Nov. 19, 1999 - Ford Motor Company is teaming up with Bolt Inc., one of the largest teen destinations on the Internet to develop cars.bolt.com – a co-branded destination on the Bolt.com website. Cars.bolt.com will provide Ford with information on the vehicular interests and needs of more than 3 million teens who visit Bolt.com daily.	Photo: Ford
"This partnership with Bolt enables Ford to better connect and develop an ongoing dialogue with the Echoboom generation - the largest cohort group in history - who are going to fundamentally change the automotive landscape," says Ford Motor Company President and Chief Executive Officer Jac Nasser. "This is also another element of our totally integrated E business strategy. We are connecting with consumers through multiple touchpoints, wherever they are in the physical or virtual world. However, the biggest impact and benefits of the internet to both the consumer and shareholder are going to be in the value chain. We are going to use E business to drive efficiency from the distribution system through to suppliers to accelerate the transformation of the company - consumer focused and shareholder driven." The association with Bolt.com is the latest in a string of strategic electronic commerce initiatives Ford has undertaken this year as it connects with consumers at every touchpoint, drives e-business throughout the Ford Motor Company, and continually enhances shareholder value. These initiatives include the formation of Consumer Connect, the internal organization within Ford with responsibility for all direct consumer interfaces, on September 15; a joint venture with Microsoft CarPoint on September 20; the formation, with Oracle Corporation, of AutoXchange the worlds first online supply chain network with Oracle on November 2; and a market test with Priceline.com on November 15.
BMW: New 3 Series convertible unveiled .
Based on the 3 Series Coupe, the Convertible shares all the styling features of its hard-top brother as far as the A-pillar. Beyond, its clean lines and muscular rear end give it the stylish good looks demanded by wind-in-the-hair enthusiasts. There is no fixed roll hoop to spoil the lines of the car, but instead a highly sophisticated roll-over system activates from the rear head restraints when required. The car will also feature BMW's sophisticated driving stability aids - ASC+T (Automatic Stability Control + Traction) and DSC III (Dynamic Stability Control). .	BMW 3 series convertible Photo: BMW
New front seats feature a seatbelt system which is incorporated into their structure, instead of being attached to the car body. This ensures the correct seatbelt geometry at all times, makes access to the back seat easier and stops the passenger belt flapping when not in use. A new soft top design improves noise insulation, visibility and luggage space. Padding in the lining reduces wind noise and a glass rear screen gives improved de-misting performance and scratch resistance, compared to the plastic window of the previous model. The whole soft-top system is contained in a cartridge which has two major benefits. With the roof erected it allows the container which extends into the boot space to be folded up, giving a 30 per cent improvement in luggage space compared to the previous 3 Series Convertible (300 litres versus 230 litres). In addition, if owners wish to fit the optional hard top, the folded soft top can be removed as single unit. The Convertible is the fourth model in the new 3 Series range. It follows the Saloon (September 1998), the Coupe (June 1999) and Touring (November 1999).
Audi A2 1.2 TDI -The three-litre car from Audi .
Ingolstadt, Nov. 1999 - The latest model in the A2 series, the 1.2 TDI, requires only 2.99 litres of diesel fuel per 100 kilometres. Audi has now become the first manufacturer in the world to supply a four-door "three-litre" car, in other words one with fuel consumption of less than three litres per 100 km. In common with the other members of its model family, the 3-litre A2 1.2 TDI brings together all the characteristic features of a high-quality, ultra-practical car within its compact shape. Its spacious interior is as impressive as its ride comfort and quality character.	Audi A2 1.2 TDI Photo: Audi
The high-tech concept of the entire A2 family offers the ideal basis for ultra-low fuel consumption. For example, the all-aluminium body with Audi Space Frame (ASF) is 43 percent lighter than an otherwise identical structure made from steel. On the three-litre version, it proved possible to reduce the car's weight by 135 kilograms compared with the 1.4 TDI, to 825 kilograms. And the 3-litre A2 1.2's drag coefficient was pushed down to a sensationally low c_D = 0.25 – the lowest for any production car in the world. Another key aspect of the three-litre A2's low fuel consumption is its modern, ultra-efficient 3-cylinder turbodiesel engine. The 1.2 litre TDI power unit, developing 45 kW (61 bhp), has an aluminium engine block and cylinder head. A high-pressure direct injection system with pump-injector technology, in conjunction with the turbocharger's variable turbine geometry, generates substantial torque and assures efficient operation. This engine's power is transferred to the road through an automatic-control manual gearbox, whose electronic shift program has been adapted to the performance characteristics of the 1.2-litre TDI engine. As a result, the A2 1.2 needs precisely 2.99 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres (overall consumption acc. to 93/116/EC) and thus has a theoretical operating range of 669 kilometres.

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