Monday, September 8th, 2008
Offered in three trim levels which comprise of the base, the LS, and the LT, the Chevy Astro is a Classic truck based minivan however it is not as flashy as the rest of the brands in its own segment. Yes, it does not boast of flashy gadgets and high technology features. However, amidst everything, the Chevy Astro comes to basically serve its purpose, and that is to transport and delivery cargo and passengers. This function is done with the utmost care and safety and also provides total and great convenience. In a nutshell, this vehicle offers stability, safety and durability since its introduction back in the late 1980s.
Taking a look at the Chevy Astro’s interior, this vehicle boasts a cabin that can take a maximum of eight passengers. It has two front buckets seats. The rear part of the vehicle has two rear benches that could seat three people. The second row buckets seats are optional, though. Just like most vehicles nowadays, the rear seats could be removed or folded down. By doing such, the cargo space is enhanced and enlarged to come up to 170 cubic feet.
For the latest model of the Chevy Astro, the vehicle sports 16 inch wheels and tires. As for people looking from the outside, the Chevy Astro sports a sliding door in its passenger side.The power of this vehicle comes from its 4.3 liter V6 engine that can produce some 190 units of horsepower at 4400 rpm and 250 pound feet of torque. This engine uses a multi-port fuel injection and gets some help from a four speed automatic transmission system with overdrive. The Chevy Astro also comes available with either a rear wheel drive or all wheel drive. This vehicle also has been equipped with anti lock four wheel brakes that work greatly with a highly responsive Hydroboost hydraulic assist power brake booster as well as GM’s Dynamic Rear Proportioning.
This vehicle comes with features and options that include air conditioning, an all wheel drive, an AM/FM stereo, a cassette player, a CD player, rear audio controls, a digital clock,daytime running lamps with automatic exterior lamp control, driver and right front passenger frontal air bags, special cloth seating, a six way power driver seat, a HomeLink transmitter, an independent front suspension system, the LATCH system, a luggage rack, an overhead console with storage compartments, power door locks, power windows, power outside rearview mirrors, a rear Dutch door, a remote keyless entry system, a Vortec 4300 V6 engine, a cruise control system, and a tilt wheel steering column.
For the original and best minivan on the market, nothing is befitting than the excellently crafted Chevy replacement parts and accessories at Auto Parts Online. It has in its stock the highest quality Chevy truck parts that will retain the Chevy’s driving dynamics as well as technology and design. Auto Parts Online has a task on its hands when renewing the object of such affection and loyalty. Product excellence and unequalled customer service go hand in hand for every Chevy parts you purchase.
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Monday, September 8th, 2008
The company is based in Dearborn, Michigan. The company was first established in June 16, 1903 by Henry Ford. It has been controlled by Ford’s descendants for over a century since its founding.
Early Years
Ford began his venture into the automotive industry with only US$28,000 as capital, which he gleaned from several investors. Interestingly, the founders of the Dodge Brothers Motor Vehicle Co. — John and Horace Dodge — contributed to Ford’s capital. Ford gave his products a designation of letters, with the first one designed Model A. Ford’s first six-cylinder car was designated as Model K, which had a price of US$2800. The Ford model was the most expensive automobile at that time, as its rivals sold for prices significantly lower than that. Ford did not have his own factory when he produced his first automobiles. He soon acquired his own factory in Piquette Avenue in Michigan, from which he produced about 18,000 units of Model T automobiles in 1909. High demand for the Model T prompted Ford to move his operations to a larger plant in Highland Park, from which over 69,000 units of the Model T were made and sold to buyers. Ford also came up with a moving assembly line, the first of its kind in the whole world. Ford had his engineers build up on the basic techniques of assembly line and mass production in a bid to increase production and make improvements to assembly processes. Because it now only took 2 hours and 40 minutes to assemble a chassis, the company was able to output more than 200,000 units of the Model T in 1913.
Workforce Problems and Rise to Fame
Ford’s improvements to the assembly line caused high turnovers within his factory workforce, because it became strenuous to the employees who were used to the earlier processes to adjust to the faster-paced assembly line processes. However, Ford found a way by increasing the workers’ pay to twice the original sum, and cutting down on work hours by an hour. Ford’s tactics worked. Employee turnover significantly dropped, and production increased significantly. Sales also increased, which meant Ford can now sell more units at lower prices. Ford truck parts also established the Ford brand name more by coming up with a system of dealers that franchised the Ford name. The Ford Motor Co. officially expanded internationally when it established Ford of Canada in 1904. Seven years later, Ford opened several plants in Europe and in Australia. By 1920, Henry Ford’s firm controlled 50% of the market share with its Model T cars. Henry Ford himself contributed to the rising fame of his brand name by joining other pacifists when they tried to stop the First World War in Europe.
Developments During and After World War I and World War II
Although he had earlier stated that he did not want to make profits from war, the Ford Motor Co. eventually handled production of the B-24 Liberator bomber for the war effort, prompting it to build the Willow Run plant. Beginning, Ford’s assembly lines worked 24 hours a day to roll off one complete and functional B-24 in just an hour, with pilots waiting for takeoff in costs while the bombers were rolled off the production line. The stress of the situation would ultimately lead to the death of Edsel Ford, who was named as Henry Ford’s successor, in the spring of 1943. Henry once again assumed control of the company during these trying times.In 1956, Ford went public under the leadership of Henry Ford II, the son of Edsel and Eleanor Ford, who was appointed president in 1945 by Henry Ford himself. Despite being public, the Ford family acquired enough Special B preferred stocks to keep a controlling interest of 40% in the company.
Current Years
The Ford family still controls 40% of the company through the preferred stocks, and about 5% of the ordinary shares of the company. The company is currently under restructuring. In fact, the company had announced the mortgaging of all of its assets in 2006 in order to earn about US$23.4 billion to refinance the rehabilitation until 2009.
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