However, the Sleuth hears talks are progressing quickly with farther-reaching partnerships now being discussed at the highest levels.

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BMW of North America announced plans on Tuesday to debut the production models of the diesel-powered BMW 335d and the X5 xDrive 35d at the Los Angeles International Auto Show next week.

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Lewis Hamilton is the hottest property in F1 motor racing at the moment and the great thing is he’s British! A few months ago the name Lewis Hamilton was relatively unknown to the general public, but he had made a name for himself among motor racing insiders and those who are Formula One or F1 fans. His phenomenal rise to the top of Grand Prix racing began at the start of this season and has continued until Lewis Hamilton now leads the F1 World Championship standings after 8 races.

Lewis Hamilton was born in the Hertfordshire town of Stevenage in January 1985. From a modest English family background, Lewis began racing go-karts when he was aged 8. It is very common for many of the top motor racing drivers to start kart racing from a very young age. Karting is just like F1 racing only much smaller; there is even a karting World Championship series. Young drivers gain valuable racing experience together with a grounding in all the qualities required to become a successful motor racing driver as they climb up through the ranks. It goes without saying that many of the top F1 teams keep a close eye on the karting arena to get an early idea of potential future racing superstars.

At the age of 10, Lewis Hamilton won the McLaren Mercedes Championship of the Future series, and this is where he first met Ron Dennis who is the owner and boss of the UK-based McLaren Formula 1 racing team. A 10-year old Lewis Hamilton apparently told Ron Dennis that he wanted to race in Formula 1. It is said that Ron replied ‘…. Speak to me when you’re eighteen son’. However, McLaren ended up signing Lewis to their young drivers programme when he turned 13 years of age and provided support for his fledgling career as he progressed through the ranks of karting and car racing, culminating in Lewis Hamilton being given a full-time McLaren F1 Grand Prix drive for the 2007 season.

Motor racing insiders knew that prior to the Lewis Hamilton F1 career, he was regarded as one of the most promising young drivers on the circuit. He won several major karting titles including the European Formula A championship in 2000. In 2003 he won the British Formula Renault championship after only a year in the car, attaining 10 race wins and 11 pole positions. This is early proof that Lewis Hamilton is a very fast learner. After a further 1 year gaining knowledge in the prestigious F3 Euroseries, he won the F3 title in 2005 with a comprehensive 15 race wins and 13 pole positions. A year later he won yet another championship, winning the GP2 series championship in his rookie year. The GP2 race series is the step below Formula One.

It is clear that Lewis Hamilton has gained extensive experience on the McLaren young drivers programme and has been extremely successful throughout. Those who had not heard of Lewis Hamilton before he burst onto the F1 scene should not be surprised at his early successes in a Grand Prix car. Lewis Hamilton has a great race pedigree and is a proven winner.

NOTE: As we all know, Lewis Hamilton is now the Formula 1 World Champion, way to go Lewis!

By: Keith R Scott

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For all the latest information on Lewis Hamilton F1 wonder kid, visit my website: www.lewishamiltonf1.org.uk

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Think of Mercedes and you immediately think of a luxurious and stylish auto. You probably don’t often associate the name with cargo or hauling soccer teams. But that’s exactly what the new Mercedes Sprinter is being recognized for in the latest reviews. It’s a full-sized van that maintains the amenities and class you expect from Mercedes, but with more space that can be customized to your specific needs.

The cargo version of the Sprinter was built to haul everything from pool equipment to storage boxes. It still has superior handling despite the wide body, making it much more graceful than the jalopies that many commercial business owners utilize. For a car with its storage capacity, it has excellent fuel economy. With a variety of options available, you can tailor the car to suit your business needs. The 2008 model will feature optional power-sliding door for smoother access. You also have the choice of body lengths and roof heights—no more strapping ladders to the outside.

For those who think outside of the box, the Sprinter makes an ideal vehicle for charter and other travel services. It’s roomy enough to fit a good-sized group including luggage. It would make an excellent option for more intimate tours and transportation services, providing plenty of room.

The Mercedes Sprinter is also available as a passenger van. With a multitude of customizations available, you can make it the ideal family vehicle. Add-ons include parking assist, six CD changer, review camera, and heated seats. The engine, a 3.0 Liter turbodiesel V6, can tow a good-sized load. For those apprehensive to diesel, there is a gasoline V6 option available.

One of the most talked about features in reviews is its adaptability to suburban life. It can be bought in both passenger and cargo models, but its sleek exterior and comfortable seating arrangements make it an ideal vehicle for a large family as well. It has ten removable seats so you can adjust the car to fit your needs. Going camping with the dog and kids? Pull out a few seats, throw your equipment in the back and you’ll still have room to spare. No longer, cramped car rides. And since its light at the gas pump, it is a more economical choice than an RV.

For those concerned about drivability, its superior handling, specially balanced to account for its height and width, makes it a great choice for families. It also comes equipped with anti-lock breaks and an emergency window, making it a safe choice for those with children.

The Mercedes Sprinter also comes with standard features that you won’t find in other full-sized vans. A tilt and telescoping steering wheel and automatic climate control are just two of the perks included. These features, when combined with the Sprinter’s ease of customization, make it a sound investment.

So, if you’re tired of compromising style for size, and size for style, you might consider trying out the Mercedes Sprinter. You can be assured a comfortable and smooth drive.

By: Andrew Stratton

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Mercedes Sprinter is the choice of many families after it being shown as best in the latest reviews. It has all facilities to make your drive comfortable and smooth and caters all needs of your family. For more details, visit lakeshorechrysler.com/.

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Only BMW was able to produce a vehicle that carries a concoction of various car features since its first invention. It is very popular for its excellent handling and protection while traveling which makes it one of the safest manufacturers on the road. It has been heralded as having the best maintenance service in the industry. There is no other car company that offers the luxury of designing your own BMW features at a reasonable cost.

In its 2008 version, the body is quiet heavier and larger. Its speed is unbelievably fast compared to the previous models. The style is very gallant-looking with enhanced suspensions. The interior has an extensive space and screams of luxury. Try maneuvering the BMW X5 and you wouldn’t want to ever get out from the car. This car is very popular within the circle of junior executives. BMW X5 contract hire is within the range of a company’s budget. It is considered as an outstanding model because you do not only get the best value for your money but also get to maintain your well-appointed reputation.

At present, there are the 1, 3, 5, and 7 series that are being sold in the market. The first being the oldest and the seventh being the newest model sold out in the market. The SUV’s are carrying the X symbol. Take the following samples: 518, 520i, 530i which are under the 5 series models. As the number gets bigger so does the vehicle size. Take note, though, that not only the size of the car progresses but the cost as well. BMW leasing charges more for these models aswell.

Although the newest arrival is unlike the rest, there are still flaws. There are some who say that you find in its safety features undependable and odd technologies. But these are not issues that a potential buyer needs to worry about. The excellent and above-board design has made this insignificant.

If you can’t afford to build or purchase your own BMW, there are various BMW X5 contract hire companies online. It is the preference of most people these days. Instead of purchasing the unit, they opt to lease so they can minimize on expenses on BMW leasing.

By: Darrell Freeman

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Darrell F writing about the value of BMW leasing and BMW contract hire.

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Motor Trend magazine, one of the world’s premiere automotive publications has included the new Mercedes-Benz GL 450 on their long term test fleet. The GL 450, the first and only model (as of today) on the Mercedes-Benz GL-Class full size luxury crossover sport utility vehicle (SUV) segment made its debut at the 2006 North American International Auto Show when the German automaker finally decided to include an entry in the full size luxury crossover SUV market. Motor Trend has also named the Mercedes-Benz GL 450 as the 2007 Sport/Utility of the Year.

Here is how Angus MacKenzie, Editor in Chief of Motor Trend describes the Mercedes-Benz GL 450: "The GL may be a surprise winner for many people. The first full-size sport/utility from Mercedes is not cheap, but it has astonishing technology. It offers a seven-speed automatic transmission and a V-8 engine with 335 horsepower, and it will be available in a version that runs on the new low-sulfur diesel fuel for greater gas mileage. Comfortable, third-row seating has become one of the most important measures for sport/utilities, and the GL’s is the best."

The Mercedes-Benz GL 450 is powered by a monstrous 4.6-liter DOHC 32-valve V8 front engine that pumps out 335-hp and delivers 339-lb-ft amount of peak torque, combined with a 7-speed automatic transmission powering the Mercedes’ 4Matic all-wheel drive configuration with traction control. The GL 450 also comes with adjustable-ride air suspension, Mercedes CV boot, as well as 18-inch wheels and performance tires for the vehicle to ride on.

Standard interior highlights include heated and powered front seats, bird’s eye maple trim, manual 60/40-split second-row and powered 50/50-split third-row seating, multifunction steering wheel with mounted controls, eight-speaker premium audio system. The Mercedes-Benz GL 450 won’t compromise the safety of its occupants. The vehicle is equipped with advanced safety equipments including eight standard airbags (including two front airbags for the driver and passenger, side airbags for the first and second rows and three-row head-protection curtain air bags), seatbelt pretensioners as well as passive safety systems like electronic hill-descent control, anti lock braking system (ABS), roll stability controls (RSC) with traction control.

Meanwhile, bunch of premium packages for the Mercedes-Benz are also offered. These include the premium package that includes Parktronic, power tailgate, DVD navigation system, Sirius Satellite Radio, premium sound with rear controls, power tilt/telescoping steering, and BlueTooth hands-free mobile phone, and rear-seat DVD entertainment system. The off-road package comes with adaptive damping, two locking differentials, and front/rear skid plates to provide all-terrain capability and better traction. Other optional features include twin sunroofs three-zone climate-control, Macadamia leather interior trim, rearview backup camera, wood and leather steering wheel, and Bi-Xenon headlamps.

The starting manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the Mercedes-Benz GL 450 is about $54,900, but getting the fully-loaded model with the above packages will make you spend about $79,195 USD.

By: Dwyane Thomas

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What Car magazine voted the Jaguar XF car of the year 2008. The award was well deserved. Leasing and contract hire companies are experiencing strong demand for the XF. It somehow seems odd that the manufacturers of a car so expertly designed and advanced technologically, should have started out as a manufacturer of sidecars; the Swallow Sidecar Company. Started in 1922 by William Walmsley and William Lyons both very keen motorcyclists. However the real driving force behind the company was William Lyons.

Lyons and Walmsley certainly went into the market at the right time; motorcycle sidecars were extremely popular at the time and continued to be right through till the 60’s. The reason being that the average worker could not afford a car, once they could motorcycles almost disappeared from Britain’s roads, until their revival many years later. Sidecars proved so popular because they allowed the married man to take his family out on day trips. They could accommodate the children whilst the wife would ride pillion, crash helmets however were not a legal requirement at the time. The Swallow Sidecar Company captured market share by having very appealing designs.

The company’s next venture was building car bodies for other motor manufacturers; they built the body for the Austin 7, which was very popular. This prompted them to change the company’s name and became The Swallow Sidecar and Coachbuilding Company. They also moved premises from Blackpool, to the heart of the British motor industry, Coventry. Their high quality work had started to become recognized and they were in demand to build car bodies for other manufacturers.

The company was ambitious and before long had launched a car of their own, the impressive SS. It proved to be a real crowd puller when it appeared at the London Motor Show in 1931. Although it only cost 310 to buy, it gave the impression of being far more expensive; it was quite long and low to the ground and its wire wheels gave it a distinctly sporty look.

The name of the company changed again, to SS Cars Ltd in 1933 and the SS1 Tourer was introduced. Shortly after William Walmsley left the company. During the mid 1930’s the SS90 was launched; it was low to the ground and very sporty in appearance, the car was very reasonably priced, less than 400. It was followed by the SS100, this time with a 2,663 cc engine and twin carburettors. It was very fast although later an improved version was on show at the 1938 Motor Show with a 3,845 cc engine. This model never really got of the ground because the Second World War followed soon after its launch.

Normal production stopped during the war as it did for all motor manufacturers. Both German and British motor manufacturers switched their production to military vehicles. Because of it’s concentration of manufacturing industry, Coventry was heavily bombed by the Germans. Equally Volkswagen BMW and Mercedes were prime targets for the allied forces.

SS Cars had little choice but to change its name after the war, sales would not have been helped by having a name that was so closely associated with the recently defeated Nazi Germany. Jaguar Cars became the company’s new name in 1948. That year also saw the launch of the outstanding XK 120.

The Earls Court Motor Show in 1948 saw the unveiling of the XK 120; 120 being the top speed of the car. It may not sound very fast today but it was very fast in those days. It’s speed and road holding were unmatched. Also unmatched was its design it was quite staggeringly beautiful, both then and now. It was a drop head sports car that was so desirable because of it’s combination of speed and looks. Demand was strong and it now very much is a collector’s car.

The 1950’s were a wonderful time for Jaguar; the Mark V11 was launched, a large impressive saloon that proved very successful in motor racing. Mike Hawthorn Britain’s first Formula One world champion and Stirling Moss both raced in it. In 1956 the Mark V11 won the Monte Carlo rally. The XK140 was introduced during 1954; it had rack and pinion steering. It also had other new features including a seat at the rear that could accommodate small children. Although small children were probably far from the mind of the typical purchaser of the XK140, thinking perhaps more about speeding along the coast road of the Cote d’Azur. This was followed by the XK150, with disc brakes, and also Mark1, the Mark 11, the Mark V11 and the Mark 1X.

In the late 50’s and early 60’successful businessmen drove the Mark 11 but strangely it also became the mark of the successful villain. It was also targeted by car thieves, once stolen they would be used as getaway cars for Jewellery smash and grab and bank robberies. Police then bought the Mark 11 and to give themselves an edge, modified the engines. In a Florida auction in 2008 a Mark 11 was sold for $75,900.

In 1961 Jaguar launched the Mark X, it was a very large car much more suitable for the American market than Britain. It was long and wide and did just seventeen miles per gallon, which was not to much of a problem in the US where they were used to gas guzzling cars but of course they were paying much less for their fuel. In the UK it was too large and expensive to run for most .The car became know in some circles as the poor man’s Rolls Royce. The revolutionary E Type was launched in the same year. It was unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the motoring press and public couldn’t believe their eyes; it was a most extraordinary looking car, long, low and sleek, with a bonnet that seemed to go on for ever. To describe the car as eye catching would be an understatement; when it was first on the road, it stopped traffic and pedestrians in their tracks. Jaguar must have been very proud of their achievement.

The XJ6 was launched in 1968 and it proved extremely popular between 1968 and 1973 almost 100,000 came off the production line. The series two was to follow and various versions of this model continued through to the present day. During 1972 William Lyons retired from Jaguar.

1975 saw the introduction of the XJS; the motoring press gave it very good reviews but some Jaguar enthusiasts were disappointed with the design. Some twelve years later their faith in the Jaguar design team was restored when the XK8 was launched in 1997. A wonderfully designed car that had almost as much class and style as the E Type of some 36 years earlier.

In 1966 Sir William Lyons as he had now become was in negotiation with BMC who were interested in purchasing Jaguar. Leyland were also interested in acquiring Jaguar, this put Lyons in a strong negotiating position. BMC won the day, as did Sir William, as he got what he wanted; which was for Jaguar to be autonomous and to have a seat on the board of the company that had now become BMH.

In 1968 when Jaguar became a division of British Leyland, Sir William continued to fight Jaguar’s corner but the company was in chaos. Jaguar’s workforce were demoralised further in 1972 when Sir William retired. Inevitably build quality suffered. British Leyland Exports became the new name for the company that had previously been Jaguar Cars ltd and morale plunged even further. After British Leyland’s bankruptcy in 1975 the Labour government nationalised the company.

Jaguar was then in the hands of Bob Knight a loyal Jaguar man, who was determined to turn the company around. Jaguar reputation for poor reliability was becoming well known and sales were dropping. Knight was convinced that a lot of the company’s quality problems were as a result of outside suppliers supplying components that were of poor quality and subsequently failing, making Jaguar cars look bad in the eyes of the public.

In 1980 Bob Knights role was taken over by John Egan. Michael Edwards, who was head of what had become BL, gave more independence to Jaguar and allowed Egan to carry on where Bob Knight had left off, in restoring the company to profitability.

When Bob Knight joined the company the workforce were on strike. He didn’t have much to offer the workforce at that early stage but persuaded them to put their faith in him and production re-started. The low morale, from which the company had suffered, started to recover. Things did not improve overnight and in 1981 Jaguar only managed to sell a little over 13,000 cars.

Morale amongst the workforce improved when in 1982 the company was restored to Jaguar Cars ltd effectively giving it back its identity and in 1984 the Thatcher government privatised the company, it became Jaguar plc. After so much turmoil the company was safe again. Ford bought Jaguar in 1989 in a deal worth $2.5 billion. Over the following years it is estimated that they invested another $10,000 billion between the two companies they had acquired, Land Rover and Jaguar

In 1982 the company was re-named Jaguar Cars ltd and in 1984 was privatised by the Thatcher government, Jaguar Plc was formed. John Egan remained with the company as chief executive. Jaguar’s future was once again secure. In 1989 Ford bought Jaguar for $2.5 billion, it has been estimated by some observers, that since then it put between $1billion and $1.5 billion a year into the company, more conservative estimates are that Ford invested over the years, a further $10 billion into Jaguar and Land Rover, which it had also bought.

Ford got some return on their investment into Land Rover but not from Jaguar. Ford was worried about the future of large cars and in 2001 launched the X Type. It was hoped that it would rival BMW’s and Mercedes’ entry models, it did not. Using Ford Mondeo components in the X Type did not help its reputation, Jaguar was after all a luxury brand. With the benefit of hindsight Ford must have seen the X Type as a big mistake.

Ford was running into problems, it sold it’s interests in Aston Martin during 2007. Jaguar and Land Rover were sold together for $2.3 billion in March 2008. The purchaser was Tata an Indian motor manufacturer, with many other diverse interests around the world. A substantial loss for Ford made worse by having make up the shortfall in both Jaguar and Land Rover’s pension funds, this cost them a further $600,000. Any benefit from the excellent XF model, designed whilst they owned the company, will now go to Tata. At least the sale of its various subsidiaries has allowed Ford to concentrate more on their own problems, without the added distractions.

More importantly Jaguar’s future seems to be secure. Jaguar needs to have its identity to succeed and Tata have confirmed that is how they want it to be. Naturally they will want to have some input but they will probably keep that to a minimum acknowledging that Jaguar is very special case and can do very well if left to get on with things.

In 2006 of 30,000 Germans polled, the majority favoured Jaguar over the German produced Mercedes, BMW and Audi; Jaguar is also extremely popular in America. The XF model being hailed as a triumph and with contract hire and leasing companies, that are responsible for so many of the cars on the roads of Britain, placing significant orders for this model, there seems no reason why Jaguar will not be around for another 86 years.

By: Harvey Williams

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For more information about contract hire, lease purchase, finance lease or vehicle hire purchase in the UK please contact Bowater Price plc 01494 536 536.

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Government agencies seize cars from drug trafficking dealers almost everyday through-out the country. These cars are kept by the arresting agency to be auctioned off in hopes to recover the costs in fighting crime. You see the government doesn’t want to hang on to these vehicles more than they have to because there is a high cost in storing them. This is why we have the term government seized car auctions, it is generally selling drug dealers and other criminals vehicles at an auction to eliminate the cost of storing them.

There is another reason the government agency want to rid themselves of hanging on the vehicles is because of there decrease in value as time goes by (as with all cars). It is commonly known that the value of a car decreases quickly with time, even if it is not being driven.

The best thing for us "the general public" is that the Government agencies have a more pressing need to get rid of these vehicles more than they have to make a profit. That is the perfect recipe for saving us the buyers tons of money. It is reported that at these government seize car auctions people win bidding on cars saving 30% to even 90% off the retail value. Wow, that is a big savings.

Government seized car auctions are held usually every week in every state across the country. The cars are very often in good condition and vary from all types, BMW?S, Mercedes, Cadillac, SUV?s, Honda?s, etc. As stated there are many different types of cars with many different value types, you could spend $500 to $10,000 or more depending on what you want, what the retail value is and what other bidders/market are willing to pay at the government seized auctions you are attending.

Now let’s pass on a few notes here of honest reality. There is a lot of hype on the internet these days in regards to government seized car auctions that seems to make it all sound so easy to buy a car at auction for 80% off retail. Not saying this isn’t possible but what happens is, people don’t stick to their budgets when it comes to bidding. You have to set a budget amount based on the retail value of the car you want, somewhere in the neighbor of 90% to 30% below retail value. You don’t want to bid any higher than 30% below retail of the car (use a Kelly blue book to get the estimated market value) because you have to also pay auction fees and registration. So to get a real deal stick to your budget and if you loose on bidding be patient another auction and the car you want will come by again.

Now that you know government seized cars have to be auctioned off to the highest bidder is a recipe for saving you 30% - 80% less retail on the car of your dreams (if you are dreaming about one). The opportunities are great. There is a good chance you will find a great car for your enjoyment for a lot less or buy cars to resale for a profit. Either way you still have to do your homework, know where to find auctions in your area, how to inspect them and how to budget your bidding as to not pay too much. Research the subject through our site and attend a few auctions just for fun to Just to see how auctions work before you buy is probably the best advice. Good luck and have fun! P.S. Take a friend with you and enjoy it together that’s even better : )

By: Samual Warmuzen

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Samuel is an seize car and bank repo auction enthusiast that has built a site for everyone of you interested in saving time and money buying your next vehicle from government seized seize car and bank repo auctions and other bank repo

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