Shearer Teams Up with Continental
Firestone announces new agreement at Smithfield
Bridgestone to Purchase Rubber Estates from Goodyear
Hankook Sales Increase Fuelled by UHP Success
Kingsway Tyres helps Children in Need
NTDA Winter Tyre Campaign Aims to Grow UK Market
Kwik-Fit Acquires French Axto Chain
Fulda Challenge 2006 Applications Now Invited
Michelin Manufacture Environmental Solution Vehicle
New High-Performance Saloon to Fit Bridgestone Potenza Tyres

Shearer Teams Up with Continental

Alan Shearer has been unveiled as an ambassador for the Continental Tyre Group, who are one of the Official Partners of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany The former England captain has signed a two-year contract to help raise awareness of the Continental brand in the run-up to, and during, the tournament. Shearer will be lending his name to PR, advertising and sales promotion activity and will also be making guest appearances on the manufacturer's behalf.

Brian Smith, Managing Director, Continental Tyre Group, said: "We are delighted that Alan - one of the greatest strikers England has ever produced - has joined forces with Continental Tyres to share in the excitement of this incredible sporting event." "As a consistently high performer on the pitch, Alan's legendary skills reflect Continental's core brand values of excellence, precision and reliability."

Andrew Dart, Marketing Manager, SFX Sports Group Europe added, "Alan is the model professional in every respect, his exceptional career on the pitch, is now complimented off the field in a career as a broadcaster with the BBC. These core qualities married with Continental's brand values make this the perfect partnership going into Germany 2006."

Firestone announces new agreement at Smithfield

Firestone has announced a new deal with Anglia Farmers Ltd - the country's largest agricultural buying group, with over 1100 members across 20 counties and a turnover of over £55 million. Members will be entitled to a preferential deal on the full range of Firestone agricultural radial tyres.

Commenting on the agreement, Firestone's Marketing Manager, Barry Coleman said, "We are very pleased to be able to offer this support to Anglia Farmers Limited, and appreciate their confidence in the Firestone brand. Our tyres are available both from our extensive network of specialist distributors under the AGRI POINT banner and also from other leading agricultural tyre dealers. "

Bridgestone to Purchase Rubber Estates from Goodyear

Bridgestone Corporation have announced that they and Goodyear have entered into an agreement in principle on the purchase of Goodyear's 95 percent stake in Goodyear Sumatra Plantations (GSP) by Bridgestone Corporation. Terms of the pending purchase were not disclosed.

GSP, which began operations in 1917, is one of the largest natural rubber estates in North Sumatra Indonesia. Its activities include the planting, growing, tapping and processing of natural rubber. GSP has approximately 18,000 total hectares (47,000 total acres) with approximately 5,000 employees.

Bridgestone said its acquisition of GSP is part of its aim to secure a stable supply of natural rubber and to increase its research and development in this area. Building independent production capabilities in strategic raw materials around the world is a stated priority for the Bridgestone Group. The group supplies some of its own demand for steel cord, synthetic rubber and natural rubber, as well as carbon black. The transaction will be completed after several approvals are obtained from the governmental bodies in Indonesia.

Hankook Sales Increase Fuelled by UHP Success

Hankook Tire has announced stronger than expected third quarter results, with net profits rising 30 per cent year-on-year to 45.7 billion Won (US $40 million). Sales rose 13% to 455.8 billion won, with operating profit up 27 per cent to 62 billion Won. Volume sales also rose on a year-on-year basis, being 5 per cent higher than the comparable figures in 2003. Particularly pleasing for Hankook will be the fact that UHP tyre sales in the third quarter were 50% higher than the previous year.

Kingsway Tyres helps Children in Need

Kingsway Tyres has helped raise more than £4,500 for Children in Need. The dealership teamed up with a local ASDA store a host of celebrities for a day of fund-raising activity in Corby, Northamptonshire. The celebrities, including television chef Rusty Lee and presenter Paul Ross, competed in a series of challenges ranging from leg waxing to competing for the best lap time in a motor racing simulator, provided by Kingsway Tyres' parent company Bridgestone UK.

The tyre dealership, which has 16 outlets across the East Midlands and East Anglia, also brought a replica Ferrari Formula One car to the event, and members of the public were given the chance to have their photos taken with the impressive vehicle and also test their driving skills on the simulator in return for a charity donation.

"It was a very successful event," said Bruce Cleghorn, area manager at Kingsway Tyres. "It felt good to aid the Children in Need cause, and everyone had a fun day out too. "Not only were the celebrities that took part in the event very generous to give up their time, but also the general public proved to be very charitable as more than £350 of the total collected was raised from photos with the car and rides on the simulator," added Bruce.

NTDA Winter Tyre Campaign Aims to Grow UK Market

The National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) has invited representatives from the UK tyre industry to a special meeting in January next year, to explore the possibilities of developing a significant domestic market for winter tyres. In Holland the industry has been successful in expanding the market for winter tyres by nine fold in four years, achieved by embarking on a positive campaign. The NTDA feels that a similar exercise in the UK could establish a new market of over 2.5 million units. The association is to discuss ideas for a UK campaign with its retail members at a special seminar held next January, during The Aftermarket Show at the NEC.

"Winter tyres have always been regarded as a niche market in the UK, unlike other northern European countries where the market is firmly established, despite the weather not being that different from the UK" explained NTDA director Richard Edy. In Holland, a campaign based on a slogan "If there's an R in the month change to winter tyres" has been successful in changing motorists' perceptions of winter tyres to such an extent that sales have risen from around 50,000 units in 1997 to the current high of almost 500,000.

"Holland has a very similar climate to the UK so there is every reason to believe that the UK motorist will be receptive to the same kind of messages that have worked so outstandingly over the past six or seven years," said Richard Edy.

Technical and marketing experts from Dutch tyre maker Vredestein and major German brand Continental will talk at the seminar, together with representatives from VACO, the Dutch Association, and the NTDA. The seminar will take place on Thursday 13 January 2005 at The Aftermarket Show, where Vredestein and Continental will display their new generation winter tyres - the NTDA will also be exhibiting.

"In a highly competitive and mature market like the UK the prospect of increasing the overall market size by over two million units is an opportunity that cannot be ignored. Response to the seminar has already exceeded expectations so we know the trade is interested in finding out how the concept can be turned into reality," added Mr Edy.

Kwik-Fit Acquires French Axto Chain

Speedy, a subsidiary of the Kwik-Fit Group and the largest fast-fit operator in France has acquired the French Axto fast-fit network of 43 centres. Following this acquisition, which was completed on the 7th of December 2004, Speedy will operate from 518 centres.

Meanwhile, Speedy is also accelerating its programme of franchisee acquisitions both in France and other overseas markets and is hoping to reach its objective of 200 franchises in the very near future. Kwik-Fit is also continuing to expand its Pit.Stop brand in Germany, having opened six new greenfield sites during November bringing the total opened in 2004 to 30. This takes the Pit.Stop brand to 323 company operated outlets and further openings are planned in December.

Fulda Challenge 2006 Applications Now Invited

With only just over one month to go until the 2005 Fulda Challenge begins, organisers of the annual extreme arctic adventure are now accepting applications for the 2006 event. One of the world's toughest sports endurance competitions, the Fulda Challenge, takes place early each year, in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The mountainous region with a sub-zero climate is a dream come true for avid adventure sports enthusiasts. The icy wilderness sets the scene for a week of demanding activities designed to test the human qualities of stamina, skill and determination to the limit.

The 2005 UK team, comprising of Marketing Manager Emmie Gribble and Offshore Engineer Richard Jackson, is currently preparing for next year's challenge, which takes place between 29 January and 8 February 2005. During the seven-day trip, the super-fit duo will travel in a convoy of Toyota Rav4s and will be forced to combat perilous winter driving conditions. This may not prove as bad as expected because the Toyotas will be equipped with Fulda's dedicated Tramp 4x4 Yukon tyres for enhanced grip and performance.

Along with teams from Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, The Netherlands, USA and Canada, the UK team will take the Alaska Highway to Haines Junction and journey through the Kluane National Park. The Klondike Highway will lead the teams to Eagle Plains and the Arctic Circle - via the gold rush town of Dawson City and the seemingly endless Dempster Highway. The teams will stop only to compete in several daunting daily challenges. A range of Yukon activities, including ice climbing, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, car pulling and ski-doo racing are just some of the events that competitors in previous years have faced.

Fulda UK Brand Manager Marcus White said: "The standard of entries for 2005 was extremely high. As well as possessing the fitness levels that the challenge requires, all the selected athletes worked well on their own - and as part of a team. This made for two superb selection weekends, which went down to the wire in the final events. Fulda UK is hoping for victory in 2005 and would like to see even more people apply for 2006."

Extreme sports enthusiasts, 4x4 drivers, adventure racers, triathletes, or anyone else who thinks they have got what it takes to pull a car, ski, snowshoe, climb and run, can apply online now at www.fulda.co.uk Short-listed applicants will be invited to an initial selection event in June/July 2005 (details to be confirmed).

Up to five men and five women will be selected to compete in the final Fulda Tyres Challenge elimination event, which takes place in Sulden, Italy in late September/early October 2005. Here the UK team will be chosen to compete in the Fulda Tyres Challenge, which takes place in January/February 2006.

Michelin Manufacture Environmental Solution Vehicle

At Challenge Bibendum, Michelin's global roadshow for sustainable mobility vehicles held in Shanghai in October, Michelin demonstrated that its talents lie beyond the boundaries of tyre manufacturing by revealing two advanced prototype vehicles, the HY-LIGHT and the CONCEPT.

Weighing just 850kg yet capable of carrying four adults, the zero emissions HY-LIGHT is powered by a 30kW fuel cell developed in partnership with the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI). Acceleration to 62mph takes just 12 seconds, top speed is 80mph and the range, 250 miles. Tractive power comes from Michelin's Active Wheel concept first revealed at the Paris Motor Show on September 25th. Each Active Wheel combines an active suspension system, disc brake, and a powerful, 40bhp permanent magnet electric motor in one compact unit. Two are fitted to the front of the HY-LIGHT, delivering lively and responsive performance.

Fuel cells consume hydrogen gas and oxygen to produce electricity with only heat and pure water as by-products. In most fuel cell vehicles, hydrogen is stored either in liquid or compressed form while the oxygen is absorbed from air pumped through the fuel cell by a compressor. Disadvantages are that compressors add weight, consume power and are noisy. The fuel cell is also wastefully being fed with other components of fresh air, which it doesn't need, such as nitrogen and CO2.

To overcome these problems, the HY-LIGHT carries a tank of compressed oxygen as well as compressed hydrogen, doing away with the noisy compressor altogether and improving efficiency. Further efficiency is gained through recovering energy usually wasted when the vehicle is slowing down in a process known as 'regenerative braking.' When the driver lifts his foot from the throttle, the electric wheel motor function switches to generator mode, helping to slow the vehicle at the same time

. The electricity they produce is stored in an 'ultra capacitor', an electrical storage device which can be charged in seconds and similarly can release power very quickly. The capacitor is also charged by the fuel cell at any time when the driver is demanding less than full power. During acceleration, the ultra-capacitor releases electrical energy, boosting the power produced by the fuel cell for increased performance.

The drive-by-wire CONCEPT paved the way for many of the technologies used on the HY-LIGHT. Powered by four Active Wheels, it demonstrates how vehicles of the future can be simplified, doing away with transmission, clutch, differential, anti-roll bar and drive shafts. There's adjustable ride height for easy access and loading and the CONCEPT leans into corners by up to 10 degrees like a motorcycle, improving passenger comfort and keeping the contact patch of the tyre flat on the road surface for improved efficiency and road holding.

The suspension within the Active Wheel also incorporates anti-pitch and anti-dive geometry to further improve passenger comfort. Apart from the co-operation with PSI, both vehicles, including the highly advanced Active Wheel, were developed entirely in-house at Michelin using existing expertise.

Pierre Varenne, Deputy Director of Michelin Prospective Research, said of the achievement, "Michelin has a major role to play in the field of sustainable mobility. We want to understand what will be required to in 10 to 15 years when raw materials and energy sources will be very different to those we are familiar with today. Michelin wants to demonstrate that it is an industrial group which can control different technologies, not just in theory, but in reality."

New High-Performance Saloon to Fit Bridgestone Potenza Tyres

Subaru has launched a new version of one of its most popular cars - the Legacy. Seen by many as a sensible family saloon, the new Legacy range now includes a high-performance version thanks to Bridgestone Potenza tyres, and a new gearbox and suspension system inspired by its sister marque the Impreza.

The Subaru Legacy 3.0R spec.B has a revised Impreza STi 6-speed gearbox, which helps the three litre engine produce 241bhp and an impressive 0-60mph time of 6.5 seconds. And in keeping with the sporty feel, the new saloon will fit Bridgestone Potenza RE050A tyres as original equipment.

The Bridgestone Potenza RE050A has an asymmetrical tread pattern meaning the outside of the pattern design differs from the inside. Large blocks on the outer side provide superior lateral rigidity to increase control in high-speed turning, while high-angled grooves on the inner side improve water dispersion to assist in wet-weather driving. Like other high-performance tyres in the Potenza family the RE050A utilises a racing car nose-shaped tread pattern, giving it a sporty and stylish look that not only enhances the look of the Legacy, but also reduces the possibility of the car hydroplaning.