Napleton Fleet Group - Hot Flashes

January 19, 2009

Open & Shut
The 2009 calendar year begins with many assembly plants closed due to the economic slowdown. To assist you with your planning, the following are the announced weeks that Chrysler, Ford and General Motors plants will be closed in the coming months.

Chrysler LLC

Ford Motor Company

General Motors Corporation

Fleeting Tidbits
The Chrysler website has a link to a 24 minute video of the unveiling of Chrysler's vehicles at the North American International Auto Show. Go to the following link - http://www.chrysler.com/en/autoshow/ - and select Reveal Video for a complete look at the press conference and the vehicles.

Ford announced that the new four-cylinder Ford Fusion S has been certified by the U.S. EPA at 34 mpg highway and 23 mpg city – beating both the gasoline-powered Camry and Honda Accord models. The news follows certification of the Ford Fusion Hybrid at 41 mpg rating city and 36 mpg highway, topping the Toyota Camry hybrid by 8 mpg in the city and 2 mpg on the highway.

A jury of 50 automotive journalists from the United States and Canada has selected the Hyundai Genesis as the 2009 North American Car of the Year and the Ford F-150 as the 2009 North American Truck of the Year. The awards are designed to recognize the most outstanding new vehicles in their segments. The winners were announced this week at a news conference at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

The all-new 2009 Dodge Ram earned the 2009 International Truck of the Year, awarded by International Car of the Year (ICOTY) jurors. The Nissan GT-R won the 2009 International Car of the Year award.

The 2011 Chevrolet Volt’s battery packs will be manufactured in GM’s new automotive battery lab to be built in Michigan. The lithium-ion cells for the battery packs will be supplied by LG Chem. The automotive battery facility GM is building will be the largest of its kind at over 31,000 sq. ft. With the new facility GM will be able to design new energy storage technologies as well as testing and developing new lithium-ion technologies. The lab will be built to allow GM to ramp-up in-house battery capability.

Taillights
And one last time...

What do you call a Yugo's shock absorbers? Passengers.
The new Yugo has an air bag. Before an accident, start pumping real fast.
How do you double the value of a Yugo? Fill the gas tank.
What do you call a Yugo at the top of a hill? A miracle.
Man to car dealer: "I'd like a gas cap for my Yugo." Dealer: "Sounds like a fair trade."

1/19/09