Ford Set to Take 1,000-Lap Challenge Around Bristol Motor Speedway on One Tank of Gas in 2011 V6 Mustang

- Ford will attempt to circle the Bristol Motor Speedway NASCAR track for at least 1,000 laps - more than 500 miles - on one tank of fuel with the 2011 Mustang V-6 during record challenge in June.

- Fans can enter to win a 2011 Mustang V-6 by correctly guessing the number of complete laps the car completes on a tank of gas at www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com.

- The 2011 Mustang V-6 provides 305 horsepower and best-in-class 31 mpg fuel economy.

- The 2011 Mustang V-6 will get a taste of Bristol this weekend when it serves as official pace car of the Food City 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup event.





Press Release

DEARBORN, Mich., March 21, 2010 – Since first coming off the assembly line 45 years ago, Mustang has always been known for its sheer power and speed. Now you can add another element to that reputation – best-in-class fuel economy.

One year after the Ford Fusion Hybrid, America's most fuel-efficient mid-sized sedan, successfully eclipsed 1,000 miles on a single tank of gas, Ford will put its new 2011 Mustang V-6 on a similar quest as it attempts to run 1,000 laps on a single tank of gas at Bristol Motor Speedway on June 23, and they're inviting consumers to be involved.

A team of Ford engineers and celebrities will attempt to prove Mustang's ranking as the most fuel-efficient pony car to date by circling the half-mile NASCAR bullring at least 1,000 times – more than 500 miles – and highlight the 3.7L V-6 model's best-in-class 31 mpg.

Fans can be involved in the Mustang 1,000-Lap Challenge by entering a national sweepstakes in which they will guess the total number of complete laps that Mustang will complete during the Challenge. Ford has designed a specific website for fans, who can register their guess at www.Mustang1000LapChallenge.com between March 21 and June 23, 2010.

The grand prize winner will be randomly selected from all those who correctly guess the number of laps completed during the Challenge and will take home a 2011 Mustang V-6 coupe.

"We all know how much fun it is to drive Mustang, but in today's market it's also about fuel economy," said Jamie Allison, director, Ford North America Motorsports. "By going 1,000 laps or more on one of NASCAR's most popular tracks, we expect to show that when it comes to Mustang, you can be mean and green."

The Mustang 1,000-Lap Challenge will begin the morning of Wednesday, June 23 with a team of Ford test drivers continuously circling the track billed as "the world's fastest half-mile" until the vehicle runs out of fuel with a goal of surpassing 1,000-lap mark.

"To go at least 1,000 laps at Bristol means we'll be going twice as far as the NASCAR drivers do during their races, and we'll be doing it without a pit stop," said Fritz Wilke, Mustang Brand Manager.

The V-6 Mustang will be no stranger to Bristol by then, having been selected to serve as pace car for this weekend's Food City 500 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event.

This event is a follow-up to last year's challenge in which Ford NASCAR driver Carl Edwards participated in driving the 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid a total of 1,445 miles (an average of 81.5 mpg) on a single tank of gas around Washington, D.C.

About Ford Motor Company

Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 198,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company's automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford's products, please visit www.ford.com.

Source: Ford Motor Company

Geneva 2010: Jaguar unveils the ultimate XKR Special Edition

Jaguar will unveil the latest dramatic evolution of its supercharged XKR coupe at the Geneva Motor Show. The stunning new XKR Special Edition delivers a significantly raised maximum speed – 174mph (280km/h) – and bold exterior styling changes that create the ultimate supercharged Jaguar.

The XKR Special Edition combines a number of new features and option packs that are introduced to the XK range at 2011 Model Year. Jaguar customers have the option to personalise their vehicle by building on the existing XKR package to deliver a car that offers even greater performance without sacrificing the refinement and luxury for which every Jaguar is renowned.

Introduced last year, the XKR boasts a state-of-the-art 5.0-litre supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R engine that delivers 510PS (510bhp SAE), 625Nm of torque and propels the coupe to 60mph in just 4.6 seconds. Now, in Special Edition guise, the XKR's top speed climbs significantly from an electronically limited 155mph (250km/h) to 174mph (280km/h) thanks to the addition of the Speed Pack. Allied to that remarkable engine is an advanced six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel mounted paddles, lightweight aluminium body structure and a range of computer-controlled systems including Active Differential Control and Adaptive Dynamics that ensure the supercharged car accelerates even faster, handles even more precisely and sets new standards of ride and comfort.

The benefits of the XKR's lightweight but stiff and strong advanced all aluminium body are already acknowledged. Not only does this architecture bring dynamic benefits thanks to its torsional rigidity, it also offers excellent safety and crash repair features and provides the ideal base to improve performance across the board – including optimised fuel economy and CO2 emissions. Thanks to the combination of excellent powertrain efficiency and the XKR's advanced lightweight body architecture, its fuel economy is comparable to the previous generation of XKR – despite the significant increases in power and performance.

The XKR Special Edition pairs the optional Speed and Black Packs to create the bold new model unveiled in Geneva, which also sports optional Piano Black veneers on the dashboard and red brake callipers. Both option packs are also available separately for customers who seek to personalise their cars in terms of either styling or additional performance. Whatever combination is chosen, every XKR delivers that classic Jaguar blend of seductive, powerful and elegant looks, beautifully finished interiors and even more comprehensive specification.

The driver is the centre of attention in the XKR Special Edition, with exciting new features including the acclaimed JaguarDrive Selector™, and high levels of specification such as the 7-inch Touch-Screen, 16-way heated and cooled memory seats, Jet Suedecloth premium headlining and Flint Grey premium carpet. In addition, a bespoke new Jaguar XK suitcase (which will be available as an option for all XK models) has been fashioned for the XKR Special Edition. From 2010, the Jaguar XK range (UK and certain European markets only) will be fitted with the tyre repair Instant Mobility System. By adopting IMS on all models, the XK frees up its 30-litre wheel well, which is now carpeted and can hold the specially designed and tailored XK accessory suitcase, substantially increasing the versatility of the car.


THE NEW 2011 XKR OPTION PACKS

The new 2011 Jaguar XKR Special Edition consists of two new styling and performance packs – the Speed and Black Pack. Both are available to XKR coupe customers separately and provide new levels of styling and performance for owners looking to further personalise their Jaguar.


The XKR Speed Pack

The XKR with new optional Speed Pack allows customers to further strengthen their XKR's already impressive breadth of capability, by extending the car's top speed from 155mph (250km/h) to an electronically limited 174mph (280km/h), thanks to a unique engine and transmission recalibration.

To ensure the XKR with Speed Pack remains stable at high speeds, the coupe uses a revised front aerodynamic splitter and larger rear spoiler to provide increased balance and a reduction in lift. The XKR's computerised Active Differential Control also adjusts to reduce steering sensitivity at very high speeds, further improving stability and driver control.

Customers who order the XKR coupe with the Speed Pack will be offered a paint palette that is part of the Jaguar Designers' Choice programme – a range of colours that have been specifically chosen to compliment the performance potential of the car. Seven colours are available on Speed Pack models – Ultimate Black, Polaris White, Salsa Red, Liquid Silver, Lunar Grey, Kyanite Blue and Spectrum Blue.

Every XKR with the Speed Pack will come with body-coloured side sills and rear diffuser, and a chrome finish to the window surrounds, upper and lower mesh grilles, side Power Vents and boot lid finisher. Red brake callipers with a Jaguar 'R' logo sit inside 20-inch Kasuga alloy wheels.

By raising the XKR's maximum speed the new car has extended its sporting credentials, taking it even further into supercar performance territory. Russ Varney, Chief Programme Engineer, XK Series, explains the philosophy behind the uprated XKR:

"With 510PS and 625Nm of torque, the XKR has immense reserves of power and acceleration which impress everyone who experience it. The car has always had the potential to reach speeds far beyond its original electronically limited maximum and many of our customers have expressed an interest in a car that can safely be driven faster where conditions permit. The new Speed Pack allows them to release some of that potential and give them control of the fastest Jaguar XK we've made to date."

The performance potential of the supercharged AJ-V8 Gen III R engine comes courtesy of its highly advanced design. The all-aluminium four-cam power unit has a number of features that deliver power with very high efficiency, including spray-guided direct injection (SGDI), which improves performance and economy, and dual independent variable cam timing (DIVCT), which benefits performance and economy, while also reducing emissions.

The AJ-V8 engine is built around a stiff, aluminium block with cast-in iron liners and cross-bolted main bearing caps to reduce noise, vibration and harshness. The block is high pressure die-cast, providing a superior finish and greater dimensional accuracy. The engine uses aluminium heads, with four valves per cylinder and spheroidal-graphite cast-iron crankshafts and forged steel connecting rods. The cylinder heads for the first time are specified with a secondary (recycled) aluminium alloy thus reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing the new engine.

A sixth-generation, twin vortex system supercharger is fitted to the XKR's 510PS engine. It is a compact Roots-type unit, feeding air through twin intercoolers, which in turn are water-cooled by their own discreet cooling circuit. The high helix rotor design improves the supercharger thermodynamic efficiency by more than 20 percent over its predecessor. It also improves noise quality to the point where the unit is virtually inaudible (making supercharger whine a thing of the past). The intercoolers reduce the temperature of the pressurised intake-air and so optimise power and efficiency. Mechanically, the new supercharger and its intercoolers are efficiently packaged in the 'V' of the engine to deliver a lower overall engine height in support of pedestrian safety requirements.

An industry-first, centrally-mounted, six-hole, spray-guided fuel injection system delivers fuel at a pressure of up to 150bar directly to the cylinder. This substantially contributes to improved low-speed, dynamic response. The positioning of the injectors ensures fuel is precisely delivered to the centre of the combustion chamber, maximising air-fuel mixing and improving combustion control. Fuel is delivered through twin, high-pressure fuel pumps that are driven via an auxiliary shaft in the all-new engine block.

The charge cooling effects of the direct-injection fuel system have allowed the compression ratio of the supercharged engine to increase from 9.1:1 to 9.5:1, further optimising fuel economy. During the engine warm-up phase, the combustion system employs multiple injection mode strategies to deliver 50 percent more heat for fast catalyst warm-up and emissions reduction.

A new type of variable camshaft timing (VCT) system introduces another new technology. The four VCT units are activated by the positive and negative torques generated by opening and closing the intake and exhaust valves, instead of by oil pressure. This has allowed the engine oil pump to be reduced in size, saving energy and improving fuel consumption.

VCT units work independently on all four camshafts with 62 degrees of authority on the inlet cams and 50 degrees of authority on the exhaust cams. Timing is optimised by the engine control unit for torque, power and economy at every point in the engine's speed range. The new VCT units are capable of a response rate up to three times faster than in previous Jaguar engines, with actuation rates in excess of 150 degrees per second. This delivers a more immediate engine response to the driver's demand for power.

Minimising internal friction is key to improving fuel consumption and CO2 emissions, and as such was a key aim when it came to the design of the engines. As a result, the new Jaguar AJ-V8 Gen III engines achieve another best in class, setting a new industry benchmark for cranktrain efficiency.

All engine bearings were engineered for reduced friction without compromising reliability. Diamond-Like Carbon Coating (DLC) has been used to reduce friction on the fuel pump tappets and a solid film lubricant has been used to coat the piston skirts. New engine oil has a lower viscosity, contributing to an extension in
service intervals from 10,000 miles to 15,000 miles (or 12 months). The V8 engine is fitted with an electronic oil-level indicator for added peace of mind.

Sound quality is a key characteristic of all Jaguars and is one particular aspect that customers relish. With that in mind, Jaguar engineers have accentuated the acoustic feedback into the cabin in order to further enhance the driving pleasure.

In addition to the fully active exhaust system in which valves open to provide a more rewarding note, the new XKR has been engineered to provide an intake feedback system to enhance the V8 sound character commonly absent on supercharged engines. Intake manifold pressure pulsations are fed into an acoustic filter at the rear of the engine that is tuned to provide an edgy sports car 'crescendo' at high revs. The filter is controlled by the engine management system, which only allows the sound to enter the cabin under the appropriate driving conditions.

The new intake feedback system combined with the fully active exhaust system provides the most exhilarating aural experience yet delivered on a Jaguar.


The XKR Black Pack

For customers looking to create a real statement with their XKR, the new optional Black Pack allows them to own a bold and purposeful Jaguar with undeniable visual impact thanks to menacing gloss black wheels and exterior detailing.

Like the Speed Pack, XKRs fitted with the Black Pack have a paint palette that is restricted to colours that Jaguar's Design team believe to be ideal for creating a coupe with immediate exclusivity. The Black Pack models will be available in Ultimate Black, Polaris White or Salsa Red and boast eye-catching 20-inch gloss black Kalimnos alloy wheels. Further gloss black finishing is applied to the window surrounds, front grilles and side Power Vents. Optional red painted brake callipers contrast strongly with the black alloy wheels, while body coloured front and rear spoilers and boot lid finisher round out the package. Customers also have the option to apply a sweeping 'XKR' side body graphic that runs along the door sills.

Jaguar's Design Director, Ian Callum, says the new Black Pack is a fitting addition to the XKR:

"While Jaguars are about beauty, they are also about speed and power. With the optional Black Pack you can now add a sense of drama and severity to that performance."

In addition to the Black Pack's exterior changes, the Jaguar Designers' Choice programme has also selected a range of interior trims that support the visual impact of the car. All XKRs with the Black Pack will be trimmed with Charcoal leather hides that can be personalised with a range of colour stitching and grain. Three interior finishes and veneers for the fascia and door trims are also available – Dark Oak, Dark Mesh Aluminium and Piano Black.

Whatever interior trim is selected, the XKR's cabin is evidence of contemporary, sporting luxury, exceptional quality of craftsmanship, and Jaguar's renowned attention to detail. The interior is clean, elegant and spacious, and remains entirely in harmony with the sporting character of the revised exterior.

The latest feature enhancements are showcased by the JaguarDrive Selector™, which is neatly and elegantly packaged in the centre console. First seen on the Jaguar XF saloon, the JaguarDrive Selector™ features a rotary shift control which rises into the driver's hand as the car is started, to give intuitive, ergonomically efficient transmission control from a neat, space-efficient interface.

The selector is, in fact, much more than just an unobtrusive yet completely practical solution to selecting an automatic gear mode. It also imbues the car with a strong driver 'handshake' – get into an XKR and the start button in front of the JaguarDrive Selector™ pulses red, like a heartbeat; press this button to start the engine and the cast alloy JaguarDrive Selector™ rises into the palm of your hand.

From there, automatic transmission functions are selected simply by turning the control with the fingertips. As an example, Drive to Drive Sport selection is accomplished with a simple push and turn action. Returning from S to D, the rotary control operates with spring-assistance, which eliminates the need to pull the Selector. It couldn't be simpler. And when the engine is stopped, the JaguarDrive Selector™ returns automatically to its Park position.

The welcome to the car is also enhanced by bright treadplate inserts. Many of the other changes emphasise high levels of Jaguar craftsmanship with jewel-like touches. The three-spoke steering wheel contains a leather-wrapped lower spoke, and Jaguar's striking 'growler' badge. The XKR's instruments further emphasise the car's performance character with red pointers and white illumination.

The door casings are even more luxuriously crafted than before, with saddle-stitched lines and a new interlayer to give a softer touch to the top shoulder of the casing. The leather door pulls also introduce
twin-needle stitching and a soft-feel interlayer. In each door, the modified seat switch pack includes single-piece chrome 'highlight' switches.

In true, contemporary Jaguar fashion, a great deal of relevant and intuitive technology is controlled by the clear and elegant seven-inch Touch-screen in the centre console. The Touch-screen provides access and control for the Climate Control and Audio systems, for the Satellite Navigation System, for Bluetooth mobile connectivity, and for Jaguar's Portable Audio Interface – which are all standard equipment. The satellite navigation system offers DVD mapping, postcode entry, and a traffic message channel. The Portable Audio Interface offers iPod connectivity, and the connection of other storage devices through a USB port, to the in-car sound system, with full Touch-screen control.

The audio system for the new XKR is the ultimate Bowers & Wilkins 525-watt system with Dolby® ProLogic®II Surround Sound, three-channel stereo with unique amplifier, Kevlar mid-range speakers with high output and low distortion, and specially designed aluminium tweeters.

Depending on market, a number of Digital Radio options are available: HD radio is available for North American market cars, SDARS satellite radio for North America and Canada, and Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB) is offered in selected European markets.



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Geneva 2010: Abt R8 GTR

Sure, the R8 is no lame duck, and this is even more so once the sports car has been tuned by ABT Sportsline. The result is a real model athlete, which does not just ooze power, but also doesn't have a single gram of fat on its body. With the limited version R8 GT R (with only 25 units available) engineers and designers have gone one logical step further: experience from motorsport flowed into the design, and all the components have been systematically trimmed to ensure a light-weight construction and optimal weight distribution.


As a result not just the bonnet, front and rear aprons, the adjustable rear wing or the tailgate are made of carbon, but the outline edge on the rear, the external mirrors and the door panel are also made of the same material. The side windows are made of Makrolon - the high-tech polycarbonate does not just reduce weight, but also has impressive strength properties. The result: the ABT R8 GT R is a proud 100 kilos lighter than its series counterpart.


How much motorsport the team, which comprises the current winners of the DTM and the ADAC GT Masters, actually brings to the road can be seen from the details: Recaro racing seats, a 4-point seat belt system, stainless steel roll-over bar with seat belt attachment, hand-held fire extinguisher or an ABT Sports steering wheel made of carbon – the people at ABT have thought of everything. "The R8 GT R is an uncompromising racing car for the road, and provides maximum performance", states Christian Abt.


The successful motorsport racer indicates his responsibility for the development of this extraordinary vehicle and is impressed with the result. "I recommend trying the GT R on a racing track from time to time, as the car is great fun to drive there", says the General Manager of ABT who is responsible for technology. The adjustable front panel allows sports inserts; the ABT driver overalls, helmet, racing shoes and gloves are just as much as part of the effective GT R special equipment as an on-board video system and the expandable data module.


The well-trained sports car has enormous performance potential: instead of the series-standard 525HP (386 kW), the 5.2 FSI in the ABT R8 GT R provides a massive 620HP (456 kW) and as a result the light car travels extremely quickly: the top speed is 325 km/h, it does 0-100 km/h in just 3.2 seconds and the GT R reaches the 200km/h mark in a mere 9.9 seconds. In order to ensure that the power can be optimally applied on the road and on the race track, height-adjustable ABT Sports suspension and adjustable dampers are standard on the ABT R8 GT R.


The ceramic brake system with modified brake pads has been adjusted to meet the enormous performance potential of the super sports car. The extremely light ABT CR alloys round off the package. On the front axle they are mounted in 9x18 inch and on the rear axle in 11x18 inch. The Michelin sports cup tyres are the perfect choice for the car. The ABT R8 GT R is a unique vehicle which provides maximum driving enjoyment. It has been designed for driving at the limit: from the weight-optimised exhaust unit to the ABT Titanium special coating – ABT's love of motorsport can be seen in every detail.

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Geneva Motor Show: Citroen Survolt bridges the divide

SURVOLT: GLAMOROUS, FREE-SPIRITED AND HIGHLY-CHARGED!

Survolt is the continuation of CITROËN'S exploration of distinctive and original electric vehicles, initiated with the Revolte concept car revealed at last year's Frankfurt Motor Show. Survolt turns received notions on their heads through its radically new vision in a consummate blend of high-fashion glamour and extravagance with motor-racing punch.

The desire to overcome one's limits, take things further, dare and create is written in CITROËN'S DNA. Breaking with convention, shaking up the rules, shifting borders and surprising continuously is the passionate quest and leitmotiv of a brand that over its 90-year history has never ceased to develop innovative objects ahead of their time. Survolt is one of these. It takes the genetic material of Revolte and adds an extroverted sports dimension to the mix.

Like a luxury accessory that transcends an outfit, Survolt is CITROËN'S answer to an automotive universe that all too often seems morose. Survolt casts aside protocol and transgresses existing codes to initiate a new kind of stylish, sporty and elegant supermini. Bucking current trends and pointing to the future of sleek coupés, it unites elegance, glamour and sporting passion, sublimating this last quality with its electric drivetrain.


Innovative and sensual

With its compact dimensions – 3.85 m long, 1.87 m wide and 1.20 m high – Survolt reappropriates sports car styling cues to form an all-new and revolutionary concept.

At the front, the distinctive vehicle badge reigns elegantly above the large oval-shaped grille, its centre home to the striking double chevron. The car's "look" – charming and profound at the same time – attracts and holds the viewer's gaze with a promise of transgressions suddenly made possible. Its slim, horizontal head lamps, inspired by high-performance sports coupés, exert a magnetic appeal, while an LED light signature adds a contemporary, high-tech touch.

Survolt was made to gobble up the miles and glide over roads. Low-slung and sleek, it features strong contrasts between the voluptuous bonnet and generous, sculpted flanks, highlighted by emphatic wheel arches that promise performance and thrills.

Survolt's air-slicing, flowing design is heavy on excitement and sensuality. It conveys agility, precision and vitality, barely containing a powerful, well-defined musculature under refined and luxurious wraps. The rear features the elegant light signature of Revolte together with a spoiler in an essential reference to motor sport.

Survolt is innovative and powerful but also knows how to turn on the charm, revealing its finest assets to catwalk in motor sports arenas. It features two-tone paint, hues of fuchsia and charcoal grey, and plays with materials and volumes. The curves shift from satin-smooth to shiny, breaking definitively with the classic masculine codes of the sports world. Survolt continues the work begun with Revolte by once again blending two universes with contrasting appearances. Survolt eschews decorum to create its own styling language.

The inclusion of materials such as chrome and aluminium inevitably recall the spheres of luxury goods and motor sport. Survolt is a perfect combination between high fashion and car racing, a unique alliance with the same philosophy and the same cues as Revolte, namely performance, cutting-edge technology and excellence.


Elegantly sporty

Survolt's cockpit is designed like a floating cell, a glass setting held between chrome-finished roll bars like some magnificent piece of jewellery. The leitmotiv with Survolt is to transgress the conventions of the luxury world and combine them elegantly with those of the sporting world.

The cabin was imagined as a cross between two worlds that by their essence are opposed. This union begets an organic universe, both flowing and technical, from which the driver's station springs forth. The interior as a whole was designed to bring the two occupants comfort and refinement, triggering singular pleasure and an outstanding experience.

The car's generous glazed area brings light and a sensation of space, light years from that offered by today's sports cars.



Transcendent power and excitement

Ahead of its time, Survolt captivates with its innovative, environment-friendly technology. Like Revolte, Survolt is powered by electricity, thus combining sports performance with environmental respect and sustainable development. Still particularly rare in the racing world, this technological solution also embodies a previously unthinkable alliance. But CITROËN dares and creates, transgressing conventions to better sublimate them. With irreproachable ecological credentials, the drivetrain blends driving pleasure, thrills, performance and vitality, and all in extreme comfort, since the car is silent in operation.

CITROËN is proposing a new automotive vision with Survolt, in a move that is entirely consistent with its 90-year history as an innovative brand focused on creativity and technology.

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TAG Heuer and Tesla Motors Launch Worldwide Partnership

To be unveiled this week at Geneva Motor Show, unique TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster commemorates Swiss brand's 150th anniversary.

Pioneering luxury Swiss watchmaker TAG Heuer and electric carmaker Tesla Motors have teamed up in a worldwide partnership as the iconic Swiss brand celebrates its 150th anniversary.

On display at the Geneva Motor Show starting Tuesday is the 2010 TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster. This one-of-a-kind collector's car includes a unique interior by Tesla Chief Designer Franz von Holzhausen, incorporating TAG Heuer avant-garde design elements and a specially designed center console due to host TAG Heuer's cutting edge concept watch, to be revealed in Basel on March 18.

This car also features a TAG Heuer Meridiist mobile phone as well as a one-fifth second Heuer Limited Edition Stopwatch. This Swiss-made timepiece with mechanical movement pays tribute to the 1860 founding of the company and evoques the mythic revival of the brand's vintage stopwatches.


The car's exterior color scheme is Foucault Field Gray, embodying the innovative spirit of both companies. The design was inspired by the new TAG Heuer concept watch, a technical milestone in mechanical movements, which brings technologically advanced art to life through motion.

The 2010 TAG Heuer Tesla Roadster will remain at the Tesla booth during the public show days, March 4-14 at the Palexpo-Geneva conference center. The car will then be driven to Baselworld, the world's largest watch exhibition, for a special event March 18.


Relentless focus on technological innovation

Since its founding in an artisan's workshop in the Swiss Jura, TAG Heuer has become one of the world's best-known luxury brands -- maker of avant-garde watches, eyewear and premium mobile phones for refined consumers around the globe.

TAG Heuer, a star brand from the luxury group and worldwide leader Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy (LVMH), also has deep roots in the automotive sector. Company founder Edouard Heuer received in 1911 the patent for The Time of Trip, the first car dashboard chronograph, followed in 1933 by the Autavia -- the first dashboard timekeeper for both automobiles and aviation. The benchmark in cutting-edge chronographs and timekeeping technology since 1860, TAG Heuer is the watch brand that can claim the longest and strongest association with motor sports and dream cars. Both watches and chronographs are inspired and driven by motor sports, from Formula One to GT cars.


"TAG Heuer has a rich history and expertise with the world's most prestigious racing teams -- but this is the first ever partnership we've forged with an electric sports car company," said Jean-Christophe Babin, President and CEO of TAG Heuer. "We believe that high-performance drivers are increasingly searching for products that are efficient, socially responsible and stylish. TAG Heuer and Tesla are two of the few companies arleady achieving these ideals today."

Tesla Motors began developing an electric sports car in 2004 and remains the only automaker selling highway-capable electric cars. The Tesla Roadster accelerates faster than nearly any other supercar yet is twice as energy efficient as a Toyota Prius -- the only car that delivers supercar performance guilt-free, with zero tailpipe emissions and a carbon footprint dramatically lower than any comparable sports car.


Based in California's Silicon Valley, Tesla has delivered more than 1,000 cars to consumers in 21 countries. Advertising Age magazine recently named Tesla one of America's "hottest brands." The Tesla Roadster is quickly becoming the must-have car among Hollywood celebrities, European royalty and socially responsible trendsetters worldwide.

"Engineers at both TAG Heuer and Tesla understand intuitively that technology -- whether worn on your wrist or driven on the road -- can help us live better while we tread more lightly on this planet," said Tesla CEO Elon Musk.

The CEOs of TAG Heuer and Tesla, along with celebrity customers of both companies, will launch their next collaboration in style on March 18 at a party during Baselworld 2010. This nine-month project, commemorating TAG Heuer's 150th anniversary, will have worldwide reach and will raise awareness of technological innovation to consumers on three continents.

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