Report: Hyundai comes to terms with Korean union

Filed under: Hirings/Firings/Layoffs, Plants/Manufacturing, UAW/Unions, South Korea

Following a tumultuous four months, it appears Hyundai and its labor union have buried the hatchet. According to a report by the Associated Press, the Korean automaker and its labor union have struck an accord that will end the company's first strike in four years.

The deal between the two parties, which will be put to a vote of 40,000 unionized workers on September 3, would eliminate night shifts and increase workers' wages.

The strike, which started in July, has resulted in the loss of $1.4 billion in potential output. To compensate for the lost time and the new work hours, Hyundai will invest $264 million in upgrading facilities to maximize output.

The deal is not set in stone yet, as Hyundai workers rejected an earlier deal between union leaders and company management. According to Kwon Oh-il, a labor union official, "In previous years, there were cases when the tentative deal had failed to win majority votes."

Hyundai hopes that this deal will win the vote and workers can get back on task. A partial strike on Wednesday resulted in the loss of 15,000 vehicles in potential output. In spite of this, Hyundai appears able to meet its sales targets this year due to high production volume in the first six months of 2012.

Hyundai comes to terms with Korean union originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 10:46:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/hyundai-comes-to-terms-with-korean-union/

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Official: Toyota announces new four-cylinder Camry SE Sport

Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Toyota

There are plenty of great reasons to look forward to the upcoming three-day Labor Day weekend, but is a Toyota Camry one of them? While a special-edition Camry might not sound as exciting as the numerous parties or cookouts taking place this weekend, Toyota is giving its dealers a special way to celebrate with the new SE Sport Limited Edition added to the 2012 Camry line equipped with the four-cylinder engine.

Essentially, this car is a more attractive value package that combines a few popular options bundled together for a low(er) price. The 2012 Camry SE Sport Limited Edition will have a starting price of $25,995 (*not including delivery charges) which is about a $2,700 premium compared to the 2012 Camry SE. The package will include added equipment such as navigation, Toyota's Entune infotainment (a $2,405 option on its own), power sunroof and power driver's seat.

Toyota livened this package up a little more with exclusive features like the 18-inch, smoked-finish wheels and a Blizzard Pearl paint that will only be produced between September 12 through November 12. The Camry SE Sport that shoppers can find in dealers this weekend will come in Barcelona Red and Attitude Black. Read the official announcement below.

Continue reading Toyota announces new four-cylinder Camry SE Sport

Toyota announces new four-cylinder Camry SE Sport originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 09:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/toyota-announces-new-four-cylinder-camry-se-sport/

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Mike Zarren Staying With The Celtics

Source: http://www.celticsblog.com/2012/8/30/3280011/mike-zarren-staying-with-the-celtics

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KU forward to play Wilt Chamberlain in film

With all due respect, no one would confuse Kansas junior forward Justin Wesley with Wilt Chamberlain. As a sophomore, Wesley averaged 1.2 points and 1.6 rebounds in 8.6 minutes per game; he was Kansas's fourth option in a somewhat shallow frontcourt. Chamberlain is one of the greatest and most dominant basketball players in history, a modern-era athletic freak plopped in a black-and-white Converse commercial, playing against guys that looked a lot more like me than Jeff Withey.

Source: http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/63481/ku-forward-to-play-wilt-chamberlain-in-film

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Official: 2013 Nissan Sentra debuts with improved CVT, 40 MPG

Filed under: Budget, Sedan, Nissan

If this big reveal of the 2013 Nissan Sentra feels a bit anticlimactic to you, know that you aren't alone. Not only have we seen the new Nissan compact do its slow striptease on the spy shot circuit, the car already debuted for the Chinese market as the Sylphy during this year's Beijing Motor Show. Still, that doesn't make it any less of a big deal.

The new model is roughly 150 pounds lighter than the car it replaces.

The 2013 Sentra follows in the footsteps of Nissan's larger Altima sedan, and not just in terms of design. We already knew this new C-segment car was going to look a lot like its big brother, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. It may not be as aggressive as a Ford Focus or Dodge Dart, but it's a conservatively handsome little thing nonetheless, offering premium touches like LED running lamps, attractive 17-inch wheels and LED taillamps out back. A close focus on weight savings has been applied to this seventh-generation Sentra, and the new model is roughly 150 pounds lighter than the car it replaces.

Under the hood, the outgoing Sentra's 2.0-liter inline-four has been ditched in favor of a smaller and oddly less powerful 1.8-liter unit. This engine produces 130 horsepower and 128 pound-feet of torque - losses of 10 and 19, respectively - and is mated to the company's next-generation Xtronic continuously variable transmission. Only the base Sentra S is available with a six-speed manual 'box. Much like in the larger Altima, this new CVT means fuel economy is vastly improved, with the majority of Sentra models rated at 30/39/34 miles per gallon (city/highway/combined). Adding the extra-efficient FE+ trim package will even net you a full 40 mpg on the highway with the CVT.



In addition to the S, S FE+, SV, SV FE+ and SL, Nissan will offer an SR trim (pictured above) that adds unique five-spoke 17-inch alloys, sport front and rear fascias, a sport front grille, lower body side sill extensions, fog lights, a rear spoiler and a chrome exhaust tip. Sadly, no suspension or powertrain upgrades are included with the "sporty" SR, but inside, silver trim is mixed in with unique cloth seats.

Sadly, no suspension or powertrain upgrades are included with the "sporty" SR.

The remaining Sentra models offer what Nissan says is a "class-above" premium feel inside, with improved overall interior dimensions versus the outgoing model. Both cloth and leather upholstery are available, as is the automaker's fancy new NissanConnect infotainment system that combines things like NavTraffic, NavWeather, as well as Bluetooth and Pandora streaming audio.

Full pricing information will be released closer to the Sentra's launch this fall. For now, scroll down to read the official word from Nissan and browse through the gallery above to see the new compact sedan from all angles.

Continue reading 2013 Nissan Sentra debuts with improved CVT, 40 MPG

2013 Nissan Sentra debuts with improved CVT, 40 MPG originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/2013-nissan-sentra-debuts-with-improved-cvt-40-mpg/

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Video: VW Zombie Rabbit is focus of latest Depth of Speed vid

Filed under: Classics, Budget, Performance, Hatchback, Volkswagen, Design/Style

There are many aspects of the Depth of Speed video series worth loving. The beautiful cinematography, moving soundtrack and gorgeous vehicles all combine to make for some compelling clips. But for us, the real attraction is how accurately the filmmakers capture the relationship between vehicle owners and their machines. Take Joel Erkkinen and his wild Mk1 Volkswagen Rabbit, for example. What started as a $400 potential Grassroots Motorsports Challenge entry for 2008 evolved into an all-consuming passion.

Having never built a car before, the Rabbit served Erkkinen's schoolroom when it came time to cut out old rust and weld in new metal. While the Minnesota native had toyed with later generation Rabbit models previously, going back to the Mk1 required a bit of a learning curve. Fortunately, he found himself surrounded by helping hands.

"The VW community here in the Twin Cities is really friendly and inviting," Erkkinen tells Autoblog. "I had people I didn't even know want to come over and help just because they saw my thread on VWVortex."

The Zombie Rabbit slowly transformed from a clapped-out heap into turbocharged widebody terror thanks to the knowledge and guidance of that community. But it's Erkkinen's attention to detail and eye for style that make the car what it is.

Unable to find a suitable material for the steering wheel cover, Erkkinen scrounged up an old leather jacket from a thrift store and set to cutting his own pattern and stitching the hide by hand. He did the same for the Corbeau Forza seats, covering the race buckets in fabric with custom embroidered Zombie Rabbit emblems. Check out the video below as well as the gallery for a closer look at the resurrected bunny. You can also take a peek at the full modification list. Still hungry? Check out the full build thread over at VWVortex.

Continue reading VW Zombie Rabbit is focus of latest Depth of Speed vid

VW Zombie Rabbit is focus of latest Depth of Speed vid originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 31 Aug 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/31/vw-zombie-rabbit-is-focus-of-latest-depth-of-speed-vid/

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Hall of Famer Don Nelson thrilled to be retired (Yahoo! Sports)

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Don Nelson never knew just how much he would love retirement. In the Maui plantation town of Paia, he is far from the pressures of the fast-paced NBA lifestyle in which he thrived for more than three decades to become the game's all-time winningest coach.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/nba/SIG=12jrbjsdt/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/news/hall-famer-don-nelson-thrilled-223449769--nba.html

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