BMW Hydrogen 7 on Road

BMW Hydrogen 7 on Road

Sivax Izana, New Car Modern Design

A New Car Inovasion just from the world otomotive, a car filled the exhibition in Paris some time before, with the modern and new design, gave the luxurious and beautiful impression

Cooper-Standard Automotive reports 2006 results

Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc., the parent company of body sealing, fluid handling and NVH components specialist Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc., has announced its fourth quarter and full year 2006 financial results. For the full year 2006 it reported record sales of $2.2 billion, and after one-off pre-tax adjustments related to restructuring and impairment charges of $37.1 million, reported a net loss of $8.4 million.

Net sales increased 18.4% from 2005, primarily due to the acquisition of FHS and favourable foreign exchange rates ($36.5 million), partially offset by lower unit sales volumes and customer price concessions.

Operating profit in 2006 was $12.0 million lower than in 2005, decreasing from $76.3 million to $64.3 million, primarily due to increased restructuring costs ($20.9 million), increased amortisation of intangibles ($2.9 million), and an impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets at Cooper-Standard’s NVH business ($13.2 million).

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Car Controversy has scared...

MELBOURNE, March 14 (Reuters) - Formula One tail-enders Super Aguri have accused rivals of scaring off potential sponsors of the team by casting doubt on the legality of their new car.

The Honda-backed team presented their controversial SA07 car at Melbourne's Albert Park circuit on Wednesday without a title sponsor.

Apart from Honda, the only prominent branding on the car was that of little-known oil and gas company SS United Group.

"They are a major sponsor, not the title sponsor," said team managing director Daniele Audetto. "With the title sponsor we had a very long negotiation, it is still going on but unfortunately we cannot close in time for the first race.

"I think the team are in quite a strong position to get two or three more big sponsors.

"It is difficult to get sponsors for a new team and it makes it even more difficult when you write and declare in the newspaper that you are not legal, that you cannot start the championship," added the Italian.

"That had a very negative impact on our ongoing negotiations.

Spyker team boss Colin Kolles has threatened legal action against Super Aguri to try and prevent them from racing what he believes is little more than a developed version of last year's race-winning Honda.

Former champions Williams have been supportive of Spyker's stance. Formula One rules say teams must design and build their own cars.

There have also been suggestions that Super Aguri and Toro Rosso, whose car has also been questioned because it shares a designer with the Red Bull RB3, should be ineligible for constructors' points.

Official scrutineering for Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix is on Thursday. Super Aguri, who failed to score any points last season, have said repeatedly that their car is legal.

"We do the best we can within the existing rules...we want to respect the rules, we don't want to cheat," said Audetto.

He said the new car had passed the mandatory crash tests, after having to repeat some, and the main objective for the season was to finish in the top 10 and become eligible for a share of television revenues and other benefits.

"Of course other teams that fear being out of the top 10 can see a potential big loss and that is the reason of this animosity," he said.

"I think that if one day all the teams get the financial benefit, all this animosity will disappear because it is just a question of money."

Super Aguri have Japan's Takuma Sato and Briton Anthony Davidson as their race drivers this year

www.sport.guardian.co.uk

Missing the mark?

Each week Mark Martin is asked whether he's going to retire or not. And each week Martin leaves the door open for a full season. Joe Menzer wishes the cat-and-mouse game would stop as he puts a wrap on the Vegas weekend. More