May 2008

Saturday, May 31, 2008

Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. is planning to open its office in China

On June 1^st,Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. , a South Korean petrochemical producer, announced to open its office in China. The company is planning to produce and sale petrochemical products in China. The new office will oversee the production and sales of polypropylene (PP), a petrochemical product mostly used in cars and electric appliances. The Economic Times reports:

Foreign firms have been eager to invest in China's huge petrochemical industry, which has been expanding at a double-digit annual rate in recent years. Last week, South Korea's largest refiner SK Energy confirmed it had agreed to buy a 35 per cent stake in a joint venture with Sinopec Corp to build a petrochemical complex in central China.

Samsung Total Petrochemicals Co., Ltd. is a joint venture formed by the famous South Korean conglomerate Samsung Group and Total S.A. (NYSE:TOT),a reputed French oil producing company. In January, Samsung Total announced to build a composite polypropylene plant in China with an annual production capacity of 28,000 tonnes. Construction of the plant will start from this month. Though the company did not reveal the value of the deal, from a reliable source, it has been confirmed that the investment would be around 1 trillion won.

Related article:
Economic Times

Samsung

Samsungtotal

TotalS.A.

samsungtotalpetrochemicals

Heritage Nissan move to a new location in Rome

Heritage Nissan, the Nissan car showroom, subsidiary of Rome based Heritage Autogroup, has changed its current location due to communication problems. The old Heritage Nissan showroom, situated at the corner of Martha Berry Highway and John Davenport Drive, became difficult to access due to tight intersection, limited parking space and road construction. The new location on Veterans Memorial Highway east of Ga. 53, which will be unveiled on June 2^nd, is more spacious with lots of facilities. Rome News-Tribune reports:

The move from the old location, which has housed Heritage Nissan since the early ’90s, will provide much more space and amenities for both customers and the dealership’s employees.

“This new location should double our inventory space, and we’ll be able to house well over 200 new vehicles,” said Gary Loyd, the general manager of Heritage Nissan. “The new facility is state-of-the-art. For the consumer, the location will provide easier access in and out, and we’ll have spacious new offices, showrooms and a new air-conditioned workshop. It will be a great work environment for our employees.”

In the new facility of Heritage Nissan, everything is easy to find- the sales, service,parts areas. The new center is very customer friendly. Loyd also said that the Heritage Auto Supercenter will remain in the old location.

Related article:
Rome News-Tribune

Nissan Motor Company will reshape its Sunderland plant in England

Nissan Motor Company (TYO: 7201) is going to reshape production plan at its Sunderland car plant. Supported by the British government, under the new plan, production of the popular Nissan Qashqai will be increased and a new small SUV will be introduced by the third largest Japanese auto maker. Within 2010, Nissan will remove the production of Micra to Chennai.

On 3^rd June, British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown will visit Nissan design center and reveal the government support package. So far, it has not been confirmed whether Nissan Motor Company will receive any government fund for developing new capacity at the plant. Times Online reports:

The Sunderland plant employs 4,200 people and produces around 350,000 cars a year. An extra 800 workers are expected to be taken on in July to staff a third shift to work on the Qashqai production line.

Meanwhile, the government is under pressure to fight European taxes that could add thousands of pounds to the price of new Jaguars and Land Rovers.

Ford, the American car giant, will complete the sale of the two British car companies to India’s Tata group this week.

Europe plans to levy hefty taxes on cars that do not meet strict emission limits by 2012.

An exemption will allow small-volume carmakers to avoid the blow, while luxury carmakers that are part of bigger groups will be sheltered by their parents’ smaller car fleets.

The Nissan car plant situated at Sunder in England is one of the most efficient car plants in Europe. Recently, Nissan expressed its concern over the pound euro relationship.

Related article:
Times Online

Nissan

NissanMicra

Nissanqashqai

Soulb: The new Samsung Soul phone

Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEO: 005935) is launching another Soul series phone, Samsung Soulb “Spirit of Ultra.” It has all the features of the original Soul model except the touch screen LCD. According to Geesung Choi, President, Samsung Telecom Business, Soulb was an important stepping stone for Samsung. It proved the world that Samsung is not only a predominant leader in selective form factors but also continuously seek after becoming the leader in all variety of form factors including slider, clamshell and bar. Samsung Soulb is the third phone in the Soul family. The other two models are: Samsung SGH-U900 slider and Samsung SGH-G400 clamshell.

Soulb will be first released in Germany in early June. Then it will be released in other regions of Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia (China), Southwest Asia, Southeast Asia, and South America. The price has not been fixed yet.

Dimension:
Length: 111 mm.
Width: 46 mm.
Breadth: 9.9mm.

Features:

The Samsung Soulb comes in fully covered metallic body softly brushed with a hairline pattern. Mobile88.com says:

Continuing the legacy of Soul, Samsung Soulb captures the eyes of the viewer at once with its astonishing state-of-the-art design. Just as Soul, Soulb is fully covered in an elegant metallic body which is softly brushed with hairline pattern. Soulb‘s trim graceful outline with mere 9.9mm thickness undoubtedly resembles the sleek silhouette of Soul. Just as its precedent, Soulb once again amazes the viewer with its utterly splendid yet minimalistic design.

The Samsung Soulb is available in five colors - soul grey, platinum silver, metallic black, soul pink and amethyst violet.
The Samsung Soulb has a 3-megapixel camera with Power LED.
The Samsung Soulb has 2 inch TFT display with 16 million colors and 240 x 320 pixels.
The Samsung Soulb has office document viewer and editor.
The Samsung Soulb comes with HSDPA 2100.
The Samsung Soulb supports tri-band GSM connectivity (900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz).
The Samsung Soulb has Bluetooth v.2.0.
The Samsung Soulb has music player.
The Samsung Soulb has video editor/recorder.
The Samsung Soulb has FM radio with RDS.
The Samsung Soulb comes with 1GB of internal memory
The Samsung Soulb has microSD card.
The Samsung Soulb comes with a 3.5mm audio jack.
The Samsung Soulb comes with a web browser.

Related articles:

Samsung SPH-W4950 : the latest CDMA phone from Samsung

Samsung SPH-W4950 is the new CDMA mobile phone from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEO: 005935). This slim slider phone supports CDMA2000 1x EV-Do Rev.A. Soon to be released in South Korea, Samsung SPH-W4950 will be released by LG. So far, no pricing details have been released.

Dimension:
Length. . . .103 mm.
Breadth. . . 48 mm.
Width. . . . .14.7mm.
Weight. . . . 89.4g.

Features:

The Samsung SPH-W4950 comes with two digital cameras. The front VGA digital camera has video recording, playback, call facility. On the back, there is 1.3 mega pixel camera with video recorder, self timer, multi shot and digital zoom function.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 comes with multimedia player.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 has a 2.1’’ QVGA TFT display with 262k colors.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 comes with microSD/TransFlash memory slot.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 comes with WAP browser.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 supports Text-to-speech function.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 comes with multimedia messaging service.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 comes with internal antenna.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 has call vibration facility.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 has 64 bit MP3 polyphonic ring tone.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 has text input predictive software.
Samsung SPH-W4950 can store up to 2000 contacts in phonebook.
Other standard features include: alarm clock, calendar, calculator, memo, dictionary, PC sync, photo album, photo editor, wallpaper and games.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 has 165 hours of standby time.
The Samsung SPH-W4950 has 4 ½ hours of talk time.

Related articles:

Friday, May 30, 2008

Samsung Launches SGH-L870 Smart Phone

Samsung Electronics Company Ltd. (SEO:005930) has introduced its latest smart phone, SGH-L870, at the two-day S60 Summit in Barcelona, Spain. This smart phone offers a number of features including a web browser and 2.4-inch QVGA display in three different themes. However, its form factor could play a big role to attract the mobile users. Samsung SGH-L870 measures 13.5 millimeters thin, running on Symbian 9.3 operating system with S60 3.2 interface. The phone comes pre-loaded with S60 OSS browser. With 3-megapixel camera, Samsung SGH-L870 offers video capture features in DVD-quality.

Samsung SGH-L870 smart phone is mainly targeted to mobile professionals. That is why, the phone provides some interesting and helpful features which would attract the users of this class.

Nformationweek reported:

The phone is aimed at mobile professionals and has preinstalled applications aimed at the mobile worker. They include an advanced task manager called Checkit, a personal information manager on the home screen, a business-card-recognition function, and push e-mail out of the box.

It also features a full Web browser. Samsung originally claimed the device would sport a feature dubbed "Safari browser (full browsing)." This caused many to speculate that a deal with Apple had been worked out. But Samsung later clarified that the L870 would be equipped with the S60 OSS browser.

There are some other features provided with this smart mobile phone. A microSD expansion slot, stereo Bluetooth, FM radio, and a multimedia player are available in Samsung SGH-L870. However, the phone set lacks some common features of a typical smart phone like GPS, Wi-Fi, and a QWERTY keyboard. The phone includes tri-band GSM with single-band UMTS/HSDPA 3.6Mbps support. Samsung SGH-L870 is expected to hit the European market in August.

Samsung SGH-L870 : The new slider smart phone from Samsung

Famous South Korean mobile phone company, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. (SEO: 005930) announced a new smart phone Samsung SGH-L870. It is a stylish phone with a stainless steel body. Introduced at the S60 Summit of Barcelona on May 28^th, Samsung SGH-L870 is designed for mobile professionals. The phone has various applications to support mobile workers. Samsung is going to launch the phone next month and in Europe in August.

On the surface, the SGH-L870 has strong resemblance with Samsung Soul (SAMSUNG SGH-U900). This slider phone comes with an interactive touchpad and loads of features.Into Mobile.com says:

Like a tailored pair of suit, every millimeter of L870 is carefully custom-designed to match the user's lifestyle. A magnificent stainless steel body softly brushed with elegant hairline pattern, and a 13.5mm slim and sleek outline, will perfectly complement every outfit and style. A minimalistic key pad that appearing when slides up, is deliberately designed to provide enough spaces between each keys to provide convenience.

Leveraging the capabilities of S60 platform, L870 brings full connectivity and application that surpass expectations for a handset device. The applications and features of the S60 software are not only easy to learn and use, but also enable maximum productivity. With Full-speed internet browser and more than 6,000 open applications are also compatible with L870 to customize the device for each individual's needs.

Dimension:
Length: 103.5 mm
Width: 50.5 mm
Breadth: 13.5 mm

Samsung SGH-L870 has 2.4 inch QVGA 240 × 320 display with three different themes and a new interface.
Camera is a must for smart phones and Samsung SGH-L870 comes with a 3-megpixel came. It offers “DVD quality” video capture.
Samsung SGH-L870 comes with microSD expansion slot expandable up 4GB.
Samsung SGH-L870 has USB 2.0.
Samsung SGH-L870 has stereo Bluetooth.
Samsung SGH-L870 comes with FM radio with RDS.
Samsung SGH-L870 has Quick Office Document viewer.
Samsung SGH-L870 comes with push email system.
Samsung SGH-L870 comes with a multimedia player that supports MP3, AAC, AAC+, RA, AMR, WMA audio file formats.
Samsung SGH-L870 also supports H.263 + AMR, MPEG4, Real One and WMV video files.
One of the major weaknesses of Samsung SGH-L870 is it does not have integrated GPS, Wi-Fi system and QWERTY keyboard.
Samsung SGH-L870 has tri-band GSM.
Samsung SGH-L870 comes with single band UMTS/HSDPA.
The Samsung SGH-L870 runs on Symbian 9.3 operating system with S60 3.2 interface. It is the first Samsung phone to support S60 3.2. Information Week says:

The phone is aimed at mobile professionals and has pre-installed applications aimed at the mobile worker. They include an advanced task manager Checkit, a personal information manager on the home screen, a business card recognition function, and push e-mail out of the box.

It also features a full Web browser. Samsung originally claimed the device would sport a feature dubbed "Safari browser (full browsing)." This caused many to speculate that a deal with Apple had been worked out. But, Samsung later clarified that the L870 would be equipped with the S60 OSS browser.

Related articles:

Anadigics Inc. starts shipping its power amplifiers for LG-KU990

New Jersey based semiconductor solutions provider ANADIGICS, Inc. announced that it will start shipping ANADIGICS AWT6277 WCDMA power amplifier modules to LG. The amplifiers will be used in LG Viewty (LG-KU990), the 5.0 mega pixel professional camera phone of LG. LG-KU990, also known as LG Viewty, is one of the best camera phones produced by LG. Similar to LG Prada and Apple’s iPhone, LG-KU990 comes with a large touch screen which enables good camera view. The most prominent feature of this phone is that it can take video at a rate 120 frames per second. With one click, users can upload a recorded video to You Tube. Antara News reports:

"We are very pleased that LG Electronics has chosen our AWT6277 PA module for their cutting-edge LG Viewty 3G camera phone," said Dr. Bami Bastani, President & CEO of ANADIGICS. "Our technologically advanced compact dual-band WCDMA power amplifier offers an industry-leading combination of high performance, small footprint, and low profile, making it possible for this mobile device to do much more than make a phone call."
Specifically designed to meet the needs of feature rich mobile handsets, the AWT6277 HELP(TM) WCDMA PA includes ANADIGICS' HELP(TM) technology which reduces WCDMA average power consumption by 50%. Combined with low leakage current in shutdown mode, the AWT6277 PA delivers longer battery life and additional talk-time-two key metrics for mobile handset designers.

Measuring 4 mm x 4 mm x 1.1 mm, the ANADIGICS AWT6277 WCDMA power amplifier is very suitable for thin phones. The amplifier is enabled by ANADIGICS' advanced patented InGaP-Plus(TM) HBT technology.

Related article:
Antara News

Toyota and Nissan acquire top position in April Japan car production

With the rising price of fuel, Japanese cars have become ‘hot cakes’ in North America. In April, Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) and Nissan Motor Company Limited (TYO: 7201) took the top position in car production in Japan. According to the latest figure published by Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, the combined auto production of twelve major Japanese automakers have increased 5.4% to 917,951 and exports increased 21% to 584,059.

Currently, Toyota’s hybrid model is very popular in the USA. On May 27^th, Toyota announced to build a third battery plant in Japan for its hybrid vehicles. News came out that Toyota is talking with GM to produce Prius hybrid at the Toyota GM joint venture plant in California. However, Toyota spokesperson said that nothing had been decided on production of Prius at the joint venture New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. Bloomberg reports:

The price of gasoline has jumped 30 percent in the U.S. so far this year, prompting demand for small cars. Toyota and Nissan increased sales in the world's largest car market last month, winning customers from General Motors Corp. and Ford Motor Co. Japan's vehicle exports to the U.S. jumped 21 percent.

``Rising gasoline prices are certainly helping the Japanese carmakers the most,'' said Jesse Toprak, director of market forecasting for Edmunds.com in Santa Monica, California. ``The Japanese brands are perceived to have more gas-efficient vehicles.''

Sales of the domestic cars in the USA is at the lowest since 1995. Japanese companies are making profits from their small vehicles. Toyota increased its domestic output 1.1% to 331,100 vehicles. Exports rose 8% and shipment to China rose 77%. Production of Nissan Motor Company increased 42% to 98,873 vehicles and export to the USA increased 64%.

Related articles:

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Hyundai Genesis 2009: The first luxury sedan from Hyundai Motor Company Limited

Hyundai Motor Company (SEO: 005380) is famous for its passenger carriers. Now, the company is foraying into luxury class. Hyundai Genesis 2009 is the first luxury sedan from Hyundai. Along with the remodeled Hyundai Sonata 2009, Hyundai Genesis 2009 was showcased at Chicago Auto Show and North America International Auto show. Created to compete with cars like Lexus ES, Chrysler 300, and Cadillac CTS, Hyundai Genesis 2009 will be released in July.

The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes in two versions: the 3.8-liter, 290 horsepower V-6 version and the 4.6-liter, 375 horsepower V-8 version.

Price:

On May 29 2008, Hyundai announced the price of Hyundai Genesis 2009 sports sedan.

Hyundai Genesis 2009 V6 version will cost $33,000.
Hyundai Genesis 2009 V8 version will cost $38,000.
Both cars will have $750 freight charge.

Dimension:
Length. . . . . . . 195.9’’
Width. . . . . . . . 73.4’’
Height. . . . . . . 58.3’’
Wheel base. . . . 115.6’’

At first look, you will understand that the Hyundai Genesis 2009 is a luxury car. It is spacious as the Mercedes S-class sedans but you can get it at the price of C-class.Auto blog.com says:

First, the design. The Genesis sedan has clean lines and uncluttered surfaces that look detailed and, frankly, expensive. Yes, it's derivative. There's a bit of Lexus LS in the headlights, some Infiniti in the profile and rear... you get the idea and can add your own observations in the comments. It's a criticism that's been lobbed at nearly every recent Hyundai design, but it doesn't stick. The design of the Genesis won't offend and it won't excite, and our only major complaint is the grille, which looks too anonymous without a big Hyundai logo front and center.

Automobile mag says:

In terms of size, the Genesis is bigger and roomier than most mid-size luxury sedans and, in fact, is classified by the EPA as a "large" sedan. Its wheelbase is 115.6 inches, compared with 113.7 inches for the BMW 5-series, 112.4 inches for the Mercedes E-class, and 113.4 inches for the Cadillac CTS. With an overall length of 195.9 inches, it's several inches longer than those three cars and only 2.5 inches shorter than a short-wheelbase 7-series. Although rear-seat room falls short of what you'd find in a long-wheelbase 7-series or a Lexus LS, the rear seats in the Genesis are still very accommodating, with plentiful legroom that outpaces the 5-series, the E-class, and the CTS.

The Hyundai Genesis 2009 is a rear-wheel-drive car with advanced five-link suspension at all four corners. The 290-horsepower Lambda 3.8 litre V6 engine comes with an Aisin six-speed automatic transmission. The Tau 4.9 liter V8 engine has ZF six-speed automatic transmission.Both cars have high fuel economy. Auto-spectator.com says:

The Tau produces 375 horsepower using premium fuel and 368 horsepower using regular unleaded, leading all competitors in specific output (horsepower per liter), while also outperforming all V8 performance sedans with a projected fuel economy estimate of 17 city/25 highway. Genesis 3.8 achieves EPA fuel economy estimates of 18 city/27 highway, which outperforms the V6 engines in many smaller, mid-size cars (e.g., Nissan Altima, Ford Fusion) on the highway.

Net car show.com says:

Hyundai Genesis is built on an all-new rear-wheel-drive architecture, its first application in a U.S. Hyundai model. Genesis boasts a near ideal 53/47 front-to-rear weight distribution for exceptional handling and more refined steering characteristics. The rear-wheel-drive layout allowed engineers to position the car's front wheels farther forward delivering outstanding handling and steering performance. Standard Electronic Stability Control (ESC), the industry's most important new safety technology, further enhances the vehicle's driving confidence. Hyundai leads all popular car brands in the standard application of ESC, with more than 70 percent of 2007 Hyundai sales featuring ESC as standard equipment.

Hyundai Genesis reduces interior noise levels and improves ride and handling with a stiffer, lighter body structure. The use of high tensile steel in critical areas in the unibody provides Genesis with 12-14 percent higher dynamic torsional rigidity and a lower body structure weight than the BMW 5-series and Mercedes-Benz E-Class - despite having a substantially larger cabin than either of those benchmarks. Hyundai Genesis has more interior volume than Mercedes Benz E-Class and BMW 7-Series.

Features:

The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes with 8 airbags with front and rear side-impact door beams.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has electronic stability control with traction control system.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has ABS with electronic break-force distribution and break assist.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes with automatic seatbelt pretensioners and energy absorbing steering column.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes with active front head restraints. Autoblog.com says:

An electronic active head restraint system will debut on the 2009 Hyundai Genesis. Hyundai is the first popular brand to offer electronic active front head restraints, an improvement over mechanically based active head restraint systems. Until now, electronic active head restraints could only be found on select Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Lexus models. Active front head restraints have been proven by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety to help prevent whiplash.

The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has active front lighting system and rear-view camera.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has rain sensing wipers.
What makes the Hyundai Genesis 2009 a best-buy car is the warranty. Hyundai is offering various warranties ranging from 12 months to 5 years.
Both the Hyundai Genesis 2009 model comes with heated and cooled driver seats.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has Bluetooth hands-free mobile phone connection facility.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes with speech dialog system.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has 8’’ navigation screen with 30GB hard drive.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has XM radio and HD Digital Radio.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes with 6-disc, in-dash DVD changer with auxiliary iPod and USB inputs.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 comes with 17 speaker, 500+ watt Lexicon discrete premium sound system.
The Hyundai Genesis 2009 has XM Nav Traffic.

Related articles:

Hyundai Genesis official website

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Sony revealed Home's event venue but not sure about its release date

Sony unveiled the event venue of 'Home', its interactive virtual world,last week to the selected members of its Home beta test. The company recreated Play Station Day 2008 in Home’s Media and Events Space. The space created will be given to the companies for displaying their advertisements and event. Wired.com reports:

"As well as looking great, the Media and Events Space is flexible and user-friendly - it’s a real focal point for our virtual community," said Home producer Martijn Van Der Meulen. "This was a very exciting first event and we’ve already received plenty of great feedback."

I appreciate Sony showing off new features as much as the next guy, but I've been waiting since Home originally debuted (Game Developers Conference 2007, almost 15 months ago) to actually get to play around with the thing.

Home is a virtual world created by Sony where its gamers could meet and chat; just like Second life. Sony unveiled the program in March 2007 at the Game Developers Conference. The main problem is Sony has not been able to launch it on time. According to David Reeves, president Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, Sony’s original vision for home to include non-gaming applications and sponsors diverted its attention away from the gamers. Reeves also said that if Home’s Fall release had been postponed it will be definitely launched in autumn. On the contrary, Sony President Kazuo Hirai said that Home will not be released until he is happy with the final product.

Related articles:

Wired.com

sony

Hyundai Sonata 2009 car review

Hyundai Sonata is a mid-size sedan car that first came out in 1988. The original Sonata was built to sale in the US market following the success of Hyundai Excel. The car was first introduced in South Korea and Canada in 1987. It replaced Hyundai Stellar as the large family car. The current Hyundai Sonata is the fourth generation Sonata car. The main feature of Hyundai Sonata is that it is not a very stylish car but comes with lots of space inside and safety features. Sonata is the first car by any Asian car company that became successful as a commercial vehicle in Europe in 2000. If you are looking for a family car then you should go for Hyundai Sonata. Hyundai also gives great warranty coverage for Sonata.

Hyundai Sonata is one of the top selling cars in the USA. However, the car observed a downfall in sales since 2007. In 2007, the sales fell 2.6% and 12.4% in the first four months of 2008. So now, Hyundai brings to you Hyundai Sonata 2009 the upgraded version of Hyundai Sonata. Unveiled in February at the Chicago auto show 2008, Hyundai Sonata 2009 comes in three categories: Sonata GLS, Sonata SE, and Sonata Limited. Car and driver.com says:

The Sonata receives minor visual upgrades—the design team says it didn't want to mess with a design it considers to be successful. The bumper, the grille, and the headlights have been sharpened to help give the car a more edgy image. The face lift also brings new alloy-wheel options.

The transformation continues inside, where almost all the interior plastics have been upgraded. A new center console, dashboard, and door panels are intended to project a more luxurious image than the current pieces. The sedan also gets a first-ever touch-screen navigation option, dual-zone climate control, an auxiliary input jack for music players, and an ionization system that's supposed to prevent mold growth. If that's really a concern, we're all for ionizing whatever we can.

Mechanical changes make up the biggest part of the refresh. A revised front subframe makes the Sonata safer in frontal collisions.

Price:

Sonata GLS . . .$18,120
Sonata SE. . . . .$23,170
Sonata Limited $ 23,970

Features of Sonata GLS:

The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with 2.4L 4-cylinder or 3.3L V6 engine.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with 5-speed manual transmission.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has dual exhaust.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has Electronic Stability Control (ESC) with Traction Control System (TCS).
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has active front head restraints.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with front airbags, front seat-mounted side-impact airbags, and roof-mounted side-curtain airbags.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 AM/FM/XM/CD/MP3 audio system.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with iPod®/USB and auxiliary input jacks.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with 16-inch wheels.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 comes with tilt steering wheel.

Canada.com says:

Nonetheless, the 2009's biggest improvement is inside the cabin. Its decor and build quality are superior to the Camry's and Altima's, and it is now almost equal to the Honda Accord's. The dashboard material, for instance, feels soft, the gauges are chrome-trimmed and the centre stack is much better organized. Compared with the Camry and Altima, the Sonata's interior is - wait for it - elegant. Yes, I'm surprised, too. Heck, even the very cheapest model gets two-mode seat heaters as standard equipment.And the Sonata's interior volume is greater than any of its primary competition. Normally, mid-model refreshes are modest affairs with the addition of a few electronic gizmos and a new front grille. Hyundai's more-than-modest refresh has largely addressed all the original car's weaknesses while maintaining its price competitiveness.

The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has remote keyless entry system with alarm.
The Hyundai Sonata GLS 2009 has leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.

Features of Sonata SE:

Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE comes with 17-inch alloy wheels with 215/55R17 performance tires.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has fog lights.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has 8-way power driver seat.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE comes with steering wheel audio controls.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has driver seat adjustable lumbar support.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has automatic headlight control.

Business Week says:

The SE, the Sonata I test-drove at a Hyundai press conference, is the sporty version. It has 17-in. alloy wheels and performance tires, as well as upgraded cloth and leather upholstery and a tilting and telescoping steering wheel. The fancy Limited has 17-in. alloy wheels with all-season tires, plus extra chrome exterior trim, leather upholstery, a premium sound system, wood-grain trim, and two-level heated front seats.

The Sonata's two available engines are also peppier. The four-cylinder in the 2009 Sonata is rated at 175 horsepower, 13 more than before, and the 3.3-liter V6 at 249 hp, 15 more than before. A five-speed stick shift is standard; a five-speed automatic is standard on the Limited and optional on the less fancy SE and GLS.

Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE comes with trip computer.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has chrome window-belt moldings.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has metalgrain interior accents.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has leather bolster/cloth insert sport seats.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has tilt and telescopic steering wheel.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has rear lip spoiler.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 SE has solar control glass.

Features of Hyundai Sonata Limited:

Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited comes with leather seating surfaces.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has heated front seats with adjustable temperature control.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has dual-zone automatic temperature control.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited comes with auto-dimming inside mirror with integrated digital compass.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has home link integrated transceiver.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has chrome insert exterior door handles.
Hyundai Sonata 2009 Limited has premium door-sill scuff plates and limited badge.

Related articles:

Toyota Motor Corporation global out put rise by 8.8%

On May 27^th, Toyota Motor Corporation announced an 8.8% increase in its global automobile production to 727,040 units. Below is the statistics:

Domestic output increased 1.1% to 331,100 units.

Overseas output grew 16.3% to 395,940 units

Vehicle sales in the domestic market rose 8.6% to 114,735 units.

Exports increased 9.4% to 238,174 units.

Toyota group's combined global vehicle production rose 8.7% to 808,948 units.

Automotive Business Review further reports:

Toyota's vehicle production in Japan increased 1% to 401,997 units in April 2008, while overseas production increased 17.5% to 406,951 units, compared to April 2007.

The company's total passenger car production increased 0.7% to 352,559 units, and trucks and bus production increased 2.8% to 49,438 units.

Toyota and its subsidiaries have reported total sales of 165,024 units in April 2008 in Japan, an increase of 7%, compared to April 2007. Total passenger car sales in Japan increased 9.9% to 140,121 units, while total sales of trucks and buses decreased 6.7% to 24,903 units, compared to April 2007.

Exports of passenger cars from Japan increased 8.1% to 230,550 units, and exports of trucks and buses increased 26.4% to 26,830 units.

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Automotive Business Review

Toyota Motor Corporation and Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. declare to build two new battery plants for hybrid cars

On May 27^th, Japan’s top car maker, Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) announced to build a third battery plant with Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (TYO:6752) In the face of the rising demand of hybrid vehicles, Toyota decided to increase its battery production. The batteries are used to drive the electric motors in the hybrid vehicles.

Toyota and Matsushita joint venture Panasonic EV Energy Co. will spend $289 million (291 million according to IHT) to build the battery plant which will be situated at Miyagi Prefecture in northern Japan. The company will start its operation by 2010 and it will produce 200,000 units of nickel-metal hydride batteries per year.

On May 23^rd, the two companies announced to build their second battery plant in Shizuoka Prefecture in Tokyo. The plant will cost $194 million. Bloomberg reports:

The new plants will make nickel-hydride batteries to help Toyota meet its goal of selling 1 million hybrid cars including the Prius annually in the early part of next decade. Drivers are opting for cars that use less gasoline after the price of oil has more than doubled in the past year.

``Toyota is way ahead of everyone else in hybrids,'' said Edwin Merner, president of Tokyo-based Atlantis Investment Research Corp., which manages $2 billion in assets. ``Hybrid cars are in short supply and demand is increasing. If they don't exploit this advantage, they may lose market share.''

The factory in Miyagi will start production in 2010 and will be able to make 200,000 batteries annually when it reaches full operation.

Despite high price tag and comparatively lower sales, Toyota Prius is the environmental champion of Toyota and the most sold hybrid car in the USA. Since its inception in 1997 till April 2008, Toyota sold 1.03 million hybrid cars. Of the total sales, North America accounted for 58% and Japan 31%.

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Monday, May 26, 2008

Toyota and Hino come together to develope dual-mode vehicles (DMV)

Japan's top car maker Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) and its truck-making subsidiary company Hino Motors Ltd. (TYO:7205) have come together to develop an environment friendly vehicle that will run both on rails and roads.

According to a Hino spokesperson, this new model was originally created by railway operator JR Hokkaido Railway Co. The two companies are working on the front part of the vehicle to enable it to carry upto 25 people. The railway firm developed several prototypes and began test drive. AFP reports:

The operator, which operates railways in the nation's northern island of Hokkaido, has developed the vehicle as part of its effort to utilise railways now out of service due to a sharp decline in passengers in the region.

The vehicle has eight wheels -- four iron wheels for railways and four rubber tyres for roads -- and is powered by a diesel engine. It is said to burn only one fourth of the fuel of conventional diesel-powered cars.

"Our contribution is expected to be another step toward more practical use of the dual mode vehicle," said Kenichiro Baba, a Hino spokesman.

Hokkaido Railway Co., operator of railways in the northern island of Hokkaido developed the vehicle as part of its effort to utilize the out of service railways in the region. The eight wheeled vehicle is powered by a diesel engine that burns only one fourth of the conventional diesel-powered cars.

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Toyota Yaris is more popular than Toyota Prius

Yes, it is true. The green house effect and soaring price of fuel have put our lives in jeopardy and fuel efficient, eco-friendly hybrid cars are the choice of the season but there is a catch; MONEY. The hybrid cars come with a higher price tag which makes them out of rich for many people. Hence, traditional four cylinder cars are still dominating the highways. Even today in the USA, hybrids consist of 3% of the new cars sold and SUVs 14%. Canada.com reports:

The four-bangers account for 37 per cent of the U.S. market, up from 30 per cent just three years ago

The fact is that hybrids are still quite expensive -- $30,000-plus -- and no matter what the opinion surveys say about how green we have all become in our purchase choices, the bottom line is still the bottom line.

"For now, the easiest, cheapest way for new-car shoppers to get better mileage is to choose a model with a conventional four-cylinder engine. And they are," said Jason Rothkop, a J.D. Power and Associates analyst recently.

Toyota Prius from Toyota Motor Corporation (TYO: 7203) may be the most popular hybrid in the USA, it is facing serious competition from Toyota Yaris model. The little car saw an 83% rise in sales in March. Prius may not be so cheap but American people are buying more fuel efficient small cars. Compared to the USA, Canada people are more into small cars and if you are a resident of Canada you check the fuel efficiency of all cars in the region from the website: http://oee. nrcan.gc.ca. You can also obtain a hard copy of the Fuel Consumption Guide 2008.

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