The Opel Antara’s adaptability and functionality will be put to the test once again in January 2008. For the second year in a row, an Antara with Balázs Szalay and his ‘Szalay Dakar Team’ at the wheel will take on the Lisbon-Dakar rally – the longest and most difficult cross-country rally competition in the world.

With expert assistance from GM Racing and sponsorship from General Motors/Opel Hungary, the private team’s brand new car – an Opel Antara RR – has been specially adapted to the harsh conditions and includes the latest GM race engine. In its first desert test at the UAE Desert Challenge in November 2007, the new Antara RR performed sensationally, helping the team to 8th place overall.

Balazs Szalay has been rallying Opel cars since 2003, and 2008 will be his 10th Dakar race. And with the versatile, dynamic Opel Antara, Balazs has the best chances of a top-place finish. Boasting a robust design, distinctive lines and a powerful stance, the Opel crossover is sure to cut a fine figure as it battles through the sand dunes and challenging conditions toward Dakar. The team will be assisted throughout by Gregory Prior and Ross O’Blenes, two GM Motorsport engineers who participated in the engine development for the Dakar Antara and spent time in Hungary fine-tuning the car. “The GM Racing engineers will be a great help when it comes to the technical side of the rally, and give us the assistance we need to pose a greater challenge to the other professional drivers in the race,” says Balázs Szalay.

The 9723-kilometer Lisbon-Dakar rally begins in Lisbon/Portugal on January 5 and ends in Dakar/Senegal on January 20, 2008. To date, 580 vehicles have signed up for the 2008 rally, which promises to be the toughest in the event’s 30-year history.

The new Saskatchewan government has eliminated the provincial sales tax on used cars and trucks.

The change came into effect Monday. Rod Gantefoer, finance minister for the Saskatchewan Party, says those who have paid the PST since Nov. 8 can apply for a refund.

Used vehicles that are eligible include all cars, all sport-utility vehicles, all light passenger and cargo vans and all light trucks.

Every night, columns of hulking blue and red freight trucks invade China’s major cities with a reverberating roar of engines and dark clouds of diesel exhaust so thick it dims headlights.

By daybreak in this sprawling metropolis in southeastern China, residents near thoroughfares who leave their windows open overnight find their faces stiff with a dark layer of diesel soot.

After Mary Leung opens her tiny open-air shop along a major road soon after dawn, she must wipe the soot off her countertops and tables; the tiny yellow-and-olive bird that has kept her company is harder to clean.

The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority has stopped importers from withdrawing at least 2,970 used passenger vehicles out of the Subic Bay Freeport.

SBMA Administrator Armand Arreza said he issued the order after the Supreme Court made a final ruling denying the motion of the Motor Vehicle Importers Association of Subic Bay Freeport Inc. (MVIASBFI) to sell the used cars outside the freeport.

The Office of the Solicitor General received a copy of the court’s Oct. 30 resolution on Nov. 9. Arreza said his office received a copy on Nov. 16.

The court maintained its previous positions. On Feb. 20, 2006, it exempted the Subic Bay Freeport from the ban on the importation of used motor vehicles on the condition that it cannot sell or market them outside the freeport.

The elimination of PST on used cars and trucks has had little impact on vehicle sales in Moose Jaw.
The idea was a Saskatchewan Party promise during the recent provincial election campaign and took effect when the new government came into power Nov. 21, retroactive to Nov. 8.
“After the initial announcement, people were a little hesitant because they wanted to hold off until the election was all said and done,” said Stan Topola, business manager at Village Ford Lincoln.
“After that, we saw a little bit of an increase in used vehicle sales.”
Tim Giokas, used car manager at Murray GM, hasn’t seen any increase in used vehicle sales, while Kim Hoffman, owner of Grand Auto Sales, said used vehicle purchases at his lot have gone from about one a week to three a week starting Nov. 20.
Although he’s pleased with the tax exemption, Hoffman wishes the government would go a step further and include all used vehicles, not just light cars and trucks.
“We sell motorhomes and motorbikes here and you still have to pay PST on them,” he said. “And on three-ton trucks.”

Urban planner Daniel Burnham anticipated the day when it would be possible for every Illinois resident to pile into all the state’s cars and trucks and drive out of the Land of Lincoln.

But Burnham, who worried about future traffic congestion overburdening the roadway system in outlying areas, also foresaw the day when gridlock, if left unchecked, would make that movement of humanity impossible. So he came up with a plan.

Dear FSB: Must I prove that a work vehicle is used for business 100 percent of the time? And if so, how do I prove it? My question is related to Land Rover’s statement about tax depreciation allowances. They claim that the first year you can claim $32,000, then $11,200, then $6,700, then $4,032 each year respectively for a total of 90 percent of the purchase price after four years. If this is true I will be purchasing ASAP! Thanks for your time!

- Michael, San Diego, Calif.

Dear Michael: Technically, you are correct. “But it truly must be a business vehicle and you must be able to prove it,” says David Gorsich, a licensed tax professional in San Diego. “Most people hear about tax laws from their barber or bartender and think something like this is a silver bullet and any bozo can get rich. But it doesn’t work that way.”

SAN LUIS RIO COLORADO, Mexico - A sprawling junkyard on the edge of this Sonoran border town might seem like the last place to find a car stolen from the streets of Phoenix. But here they sit by the dozens.

There are 5,000 cars, trucks and vans in various states of disrepair, from gleaming new sports cars to bare chassis. About 200 were stolen in the United States, 40 to 50 of them in Arizona. One is a blue Nissan bearing three different vehicle identification numbers, which are supposed to be unique to each car.

Commander Jesus Zamora Orozco leads San Luis Rio Colorado’s eight-man stolen-vehicles unit, which formed six months ago to return the stolen cars to owners.

Zamora’s new team represents growing cross-border cooperation to stop criminal car-theft rings that have plagued border states for years and are expanding into other crimes.

Chevrolet announced that they have signed as the exclusive automotive sponsor for the 2007 Mana “Amar es Combatir” US Concert Tour.

MANA, the first Latin band to break into a top-ten spot on the Billboard 200 and one of the hottest Mexican rock bands of all time, will be touring all over the country and Chevy has joined the band to promote its music and environmental efforts. Chevy’s sponsorship of the band’s tour is part of a larger promotional campaign that will kick-off August 29 th in McAllen, Texas and will consist of on-line, grassroots, and promotional media extensions.

Just last year, Chevy recognized Mana with the first ever “Chevy Latin Music Award” for their contributions to the community and their commitment to help preserve the planet. Mana founded The Selva Negra Foundation in 1995 to collaborate actively with governments to guarantee future generations a livable planet. Since its creation, Selva Negra has financed and supported many important projects in favor of a healthier environment.

“We are extremely thrilled to be the exclusive au tom otive sponsor of Mana’s US Tour because it allows us to achieve a closer relationship to their vibrant audience and align our brand to such an amazing group of well respected musicians,” said Ed Peper, Chevrolet General Manager. “Chevy shares Mana’s passion for music as well as the environment. Together we hope to enhance the Hispanic community’s awareness on the importance of developing technologies for a sustainable future.”

“Chevrolet and General Motors have shown their commitment to taking the au tom obile out of the environmental equation. We are pleased to work with them to educate Latinos in the U.S. about the environment.” said Fher, Mana’s lead vocalist.

In addition, Chevy will utilize various Mana songs for its 2007 Hispanic advertising campaign. Currently, Mana’s song “Justicia, Tierra y Libertad” is featured in the emotional 2007 Chevy Silverado Hispanic campaign which is currently running on Spanish language networks. The song focuses on the battle cry made famous by Pancho Villa and Emiliano Zapata in a modern, rock style that emits a feeling of accomplishment and pride.

Chevrolet is leading the way in alternative fuel technology. E85 is a renewable fuel made of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline, which can be made from plants such as corn and is a renewable resource. E85 is available in the Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Chevrolet Avalanche, Chevrolet Impala, Chevrolet Monte Carlo and Chevrolet Uplander. In addition, many Chevy products are available with Active Fuel Management, a fuel-saving technology that shuts off cylinders when the engine doesn’t require full power.

Meet the 2007 Chevy Silverado 1500 2×2 Extended Cab

The newly designed 2007 Chevy Silverado has racked up a couple of truck of the year awards, from the 2007 North American International Auto Show in Detroit and from Motor Trends Magazine. We’ve seen past award winners fizzle out with the buying public, but the new Silverado does deserve some recognition. Some of the changes made to develop the new generation truck were subtle, some were major, but together they produced a much improved Silverado. Base price, $25,960; truck tested, $31,700.

First Impressions of the 2007 Chevy Silverado
Compare the 2007 Chevy Silverado with the previous generation truck and you’ll immediately notice that its front end is cleaner looking, with simpler grille and headlamp styling. The truck’s front and rear fenders are contoured to create a look of strength, but they’re not so bold as to overpower the rest of the truck’s exterior appearance.
My test vehicle was a 2×2 extended cab Silverado that was equipped with Chevy’s optional EZ lift tailgate. The tailgate lift has a torsion bar system to help you close it, and according to Chevrolet, lifting effort is reduced by about 40 percent. The extra help might not sound too important, but if you use the truck bed regularly it could save you a lot of lifting over the life of the truck.

Under the Silverado’s new sheet metal you’ll find a totally new frame, one that showed up first in 2007 Tahoe and Suburban SUVs, which were released before the Silverado. A combination of building processes called hydroforming and frame boxing result in a frame that supports more weight and is more resistant to flex and twist than the previous model. The new design gives the truck a better ride and increases stability, especially on rough or uneven roads, and it also allows the Silverado to carry more weight.

I really liked the truck’s remote starting feature. I drove it during cold weather and it was nice to start it up from inside the house, wait a few minutes and step into a warm cab.

Inside the Silverado 1500
I had plenty of legroom in the comfortable leather seats installed in this LT model Silverado and visibility was excellent. Extra space and a good view over the wheel are due in part to Chevy’s decision to move the dash 3.5 inches lower and forward for the LT Silverado (you’ll gain 5-inches in the LTZ model). Instruments are well positioned and control buttons are good sized and all within easy reach.

The LT Silverado has dual glove boxes, a handy feature we’re seeing in more and more vehicles. The test truck had a 40/20/40 split front seat. Look under the 20 percent center seat area and you’ll find a locking space large enough to hold a laptop. Fold-down that seat’s back and it becomes a center console.

Rear passenger space was pretty good for an extended cab truck. Backwards opening doors can’t be opened by rear passengers without help from someone in the front — unless you’re prepared to stretch your body across the front seat backs. That’s not unusual for an extended cab truck, but it is something you should be aware of.

The truck was equipped with plenty of options, including power windows in front and back, a sunroof, dual zone climate controls, steering wheel mounted radio controls and an auto dimming mirror with a compass and temperature display. Overall, the interior was a good combination of the comfort you would expect in a nice SUV with the utility you need in a truck.

On the Road in the Chevy Silverado
The test Silverado was equipped with a 5.3-liter V-8 engine with flex fuel capability, meaning the engine will run on either gasoline or a mixture of gas and ethanol. The truck had a four speed automatic transmission with towing mode.
Push a button to enter tow-mode, which changes the computer’s shift points to allow the engine to stay in the best power range as much as possible while you’re pulling something behind you. Chevy offers several different rear axle ratios depending on the configuration you choose, but a 3.73 rear axle is the norm for trucks with the tow package. This lower ratio helps in many instances, like pulling a boat up a ramp or a hill or when you’re simply moving away from a stop with a heavy load.

Unfortunately, there’s a trade off when you have a lower rear axle ratio — reduced fuel mileage whether you’re pulling or not. I drove the Silverado 553 miles and about two-thirds of that was at approximately 40 mph or higher. I used 33.3 gals of gas for an average of 16.6 miles per gallon. That’s somewhat lower than I would have expected from a 2×2 truck.

In this new generation truck, Chevrolet finally made the switch away from recirculating ball type steering to rack and pinion steering. The result is a responsive steering system that gives you a better feel for how the truck is handling the road. The new trucks also have a coil spring front suspension instead of the previous torsion bar system, another switch that improved the ride. The Silverado did just fine on the winding roads I drive every day.

Final Thoughts on the 2007 Silverado 2×2
One thing about the Chevy Silverado hasn’t changed, it’s available in numerous configurations. Engine variations are just one of the choices you’ll make — there’s a V-6 and a variety of V-8s. You can buy a regular cab truck with just front seating, an extended cab like the truck I drove or a crew cab with four full size doors and two full rows of seating.

The Silverado is available as a 4×4 or 4×2 truck. Choose from three bed lengths, 5 feet 8 inches, 6 feet 6 inches and 8 feet, but bed choices vary, they aren’t all available with every truck.

Silverado Safety Features

• Front air bags are required on all new vehicles in the US, and the Silverado is no exception.
• Side curtain air bags are an option on all Silverado trucks.
• Antilock brakes are standard on all models.
• GM’s StabiliTrack system is standard on crew cabs and an option on extended cabs, but for some reason is not available on regular cab Silverados.
• OnStar is installed in all trucks and the first year of GM’s Safe and Sound plan is free.

Warranty

• New vehicle warranty, 3 years/36,000 miles
• Powertrain warranty, 5 years/100,000 miles
• Rust-through corrosion, 6 years/100,000 miles

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