Journos at their best
Some of the most outrageous exchanges between automotive hacks and company execs during press launches of cars and bikes:
Don Juan: “How much stake do you (Ford) own in Suzuki?”
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Jac Nasser: “Left Detroit three days back. None at that time. Lemme check the latest situation for you now.”
Don Juan (red faced, sweating and explaining his complicated question to fellow journos): “I was asking about the indirect holding in Suzuki through Mazda.”
Angry Young Man: “Why don't you offer airbags in your small cars? I mean how unsafe are they?”
Angrier Young man (Jagdish Khattar): (Takes off his specs; ready for the fight) “Do you have any idea about how cars are priced? Do you know how much the customers are willing to pay?” This is followed by a three minute non-stop sermon on car pricing delivered in a tone saved for the mortal enemy, at the end of which the Angry Young Man is suitably deflated.
Meanwhile Jagdish Khattar seems to be in an unforgiving mood and is not about to stop till his GM Marketing walks over and hands him a note. The note probably read, “No worries boss, we will order a hit once he is alone.”
And why was the normally jovial and composed Mr Khattar so infuriated. It seems someone had fried the clutch of a Suzuki Grand Vitara rendering it motionless. That was the Vitara that was scheduled to be at the launch party the next day. And was one of the two specimens in the country at that time. Loads of pain for the Maruti PR machinery.
Angry Young Man: “I remember Kinetic was working on a small car. What is happening to that?”
Most Photographed CEO (Sulajja Firodia Motwani): “Ummm…..haven't we spoken about that already….about five years back? Can we stop talking about it now?” (To herself) “Great! At the launch of my most important scooter, all this man asks me is about that stupid car!”.
Deepesh Rathore
Research Editor
deepesh.rathore@supplierbusiness.com
For more details on Journos at their best visit www.theautodiary.com


'Highway to the Future'
Toyota, maker of the once famous Toyota Matrix parts, is bringing the "Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience," to Livingston, Montana for the Northern Rockies Sustainability Fair. It is a nationwide tour that is designed to provide consumers with a firsthand opportunity to experience automotive hybrid technology.
In January 11, 2007, the tour debuted at the San Jose International Auto Show. It is now traveling to more than 150 events across the country during the next 18 months. Through a number of interactive educational exhibits and test drives, consumers will have an opportunity to test Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system and learn about hybrid technology.
Celeste Migliore, Toyota's National Manager for Advanced Technology Vehicles, said that most people have heard of hybrid technology and probably have a shallow idea of how it works, but only a few have actually driven a hybrid and or taken an up-close look at its operation. According to Migliore, the tour allows consumers to learn more on the technology behind this system and the benefits derived from hybrid vehicles.
Highway to the Future: Mobile Hybrid Experience functions like a mobile museum to the environment as well as to alternative fuels. The exhibit will be situated at Sacajawea Park from 9:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 14.
Within the exhibit, there are four distinct interactive learning areas. One is the "Alternative Fuels: Fueling the Future”. It identifies the differences in the different types of alternative fuels and how they are produced. Next is the "Environment and Resources: Small Steps, Big Difference”, which shows attendees what they can do to make a difference to the environment. The third one is "The Prius Driving Experience", which feigns the current Hybrid Synergy Drive technology allowing visitors to interact with system while on-screen instructions offer driving tips, and the last one is the "Hybrid Technology: Not All Hybrids are Created Equal" exhibit which gives visitors a better understanding of the different hybrid technology options on the market and how hybrids benefit the consumer and the environment as well.
Other than those, the exhibit provides attendees the chance to get behind the wheel of the Prius, Camry Hybrid and Highlander Hybrid for them to experience Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system.
Not only interesting educational activities are offered by the hybrid experience. It is also designed to eliminate its own environmental impact. As a matter of fact, Toyota will plant more than 50,000 trees in honor of those visiting the experience in lieu of the National Arbor Day Foundation. These trees will help repay the "carbon footprint" of the trucks which are transporting the tour across the country and will continue to have a positive impact on the environment as years pass by.
Please visit http://www.toyota.com/highway for more information or the schedule of events. Experience hybrid!


Schumacher Sure of Toyota completion
German Formula One racing driver, Ralf Schumacher said that Toyota's recent more rigid form has convinced him that the team can be much more competitive in the remaining half of the season.
The Toyota Team racer had a misery beginning to the year. He is struggling to set up the car to his liking and lagging far behind his team-mate, Jarno Trulli.
Rumors dispersed that Schumacher was on the edge of losing his drive as he repeatedly failed to get past the first qualifying cut-off. But in the last two races, he has bounced back, qualifying a season-best sixth at Silverstone and out-pacing Trulli the entire weekend.
He felt that Toyota had made its point despite of the fact that he retired early in the grand prix.
Schumacher said that their team obviously has the potential to turn it around because they have good people and the right facilities. In his certainty, he added that they just need to do the job. He also said that everyone is pushing hard so he quite optimistic for their completion.
He also said that a double retirement at Silverstone is clearly not satisfactory but the positive element was the sixth place in qualifying, which representative and he claims that he had good lap times while he was still in the race.
Schumacher admitted that the Toyota Team is still not consistent.
He boasts that their car is very competitive under certain circumstances. He sited the instance in Barcelona and they looked good in terms of pace in Magny-Cours too. He admitted that they had problems so they did not get their aspired results.
He added that he has become increasingly comfortable with his set-up and the whole team is working hard as they chase a successful second half of the year.
Schumacher believes that after this week's test at Spa, the Belgian track might be one of the venues that brings out their Team's strengths.
According to him, the car performed well overall so they can look forward to the race there with confidence. He continued that they were quick in Silverstone and the Belgian track has similar characteristics with a lot of high speed corners so he anticipates that it should suit them when they get there in September.
Toyota Motor Corporation is the world’s leading automaker. Maker of quality Toyota headers, the car company has held its reputation as an excellent manufacturer since its first year of existence. Other than that, Toyota has claimed to be one of the best race teams in Formula 1.