News

Daimler readies 4x4 Freightliner Sprinter for cold climates

With Ford launching a new Transit commercial van line this summer, Daimler’s Freightliner division plans to compete with a new Sprinter commercial van for the United States by early 2015.

More fuel efficient than the traditional U.S. work van, the Sprinter and Transit feature taller roofs, lighter frames, and smaller engines. Towing and cargo capacity tend to be lower, but the vans have more interior space. The next Sprinter will feature an optional 4x4 system that Daimler believes will be popular in cold climates. Sprinter 4x4s have been sold in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Australia, and France.

Available with a 144" or 170" wheelbase, the Sprinter will be available in both low and high roof configurations. Two diesel engines will be offered.

www.freightlinersprinterusa.com

Metal Storm 2014 open house event

Methods Machine Tools Inc. is hosting an open house from June 11-12, at its recently expanded headquarters at 71 Union Ave., Sudbury, Mass. Called Metal Storm 2014, the event will feature more than 50 machines under power, with several pre-engineered automation and metrology solutions also to be demonstrated. Visitors will be able to attend technical seminars by manufacturing industry experts in automotive, aerospace, and automation. Some of the session topics include geometric dimensioning and tolerancing, EDM solutions, turn and mill technology, and choosing the best automation solution. Manufacturing professionals are invited to attend Metal Storm 2014 to experience the broad range of machining and automation solutions. Door prizes will be awarded throughout the event and lunch will be served each day. Registration ends June 10.

http://bit.ly/1houDUG or call 978.443.5388

GM recalls 4.8M cars, takes $1.3B charge

Ongoing recall problems tied to ignition switches in small cars will cost General Motors at least $1.3 billion, the company says, adding that it plans to take charges against earnings to reflect the higher costs.

In several separate announcements during the first quarter of 2014, GM issued 4.8 million recall notices, although several of those are for multiple repairs to the same vehicles. The total number of cars covered by the problems is closer to 2.6 million.

The automaker says the defective switches could slip into the accessory position while the car is moving, shutting off airbags. Power steering and power brakes could also stop working, making the cars more difficult to control.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration(NHTSA) identified 13 deaths from airbags not deploying in Saturn Ion, Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, and Chevrolet HHR models made between 2001 and 2007.

http://1.usa.gov/1jwHpVy

Auto sales whimper through first quarter

Strong numbers in March helped automakers eke out a gain for the first three months of 2014 after massive snowstorms in January and February hurt sales nationwide.

Sales for the first quarter were up 1.5% for the 10 largest automakers in the United States. Nissan and Chrysler both reported strong gains, with Chrysler up 11.1% and Nissan up 11.5% compared to January through March of last year. In both cases, strong truck and crossover sales made up for relatively weak car numbers. Car-heavy Volkswagen and Honda, companies that don’t have large numbers of bigger vehicles, suffered during the quarter, both reporting losses.

Sales numbers would have been much worse for the first quarter if March truck sales hadn’t been so strong. Auto producers credited the warmer weather, or at least the lack of large numbers of road-clearing storms, for the improvement. Analysts noted that cash-back incentives were also up in March, possibly luring more buyers into showrooms.

The first quarter numbers were far below the optimistic predictions that analysts shared at the end of last year, but General Motors and others said they believe sales will gain steam throughout 2014.

Month-by-month sales breakdown: http://bit.ly/1mVB7j9

Last ’Vette pulled from sinkhole

The last of the Great 8 vehicles has been pulled from the depths of the 40ft x 60ft sinkhole that collapsed within the Skydome room of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Ky., in February.

“We’re happy to have the completion of our major goal to recover all eight of the Corvettes,” says Wendell Strode, executive director of the museum, adding the reconstruction of the building should begin soon.

The 2001 Mallett Hammer Z06 was one of two Corvettes whose whereabouts were initially unknown after the sinkhole swallowed the vehicles. The car was finally discovered upside down with the nose pointing toward the red spire in the center of the room. It is, by far, the most heavily damaged of all eight Corvettes.

“It looks like the worst one, a lot of parts and pieces,” states Mike Murphy, CEO of Scott, Murphy, and Daniel Construction. “It took a lot of punishment from a lot of big rocks.”

The Mallett Hammer was donated to the museum in December 2013 by Kevin and Linda Helmintoller of Land O’ Lakes, Fla. Upon hearing the car had been located, Kevin traveled to Kentucky to witness the rescue operation.

“I expected bad, but it’s 100 times worse,” Kevin observes. “It looks like a piece of tin foil.”

www.corvettemuseum.org