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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/11714 | History of Jaguar
Jaguar is one of the most recognized manufacturers of cars and motorcycles in England by their luxurious sedans and sports. It was founded in 1922 by William Lyons under the name of the Swallow Sidecar Company, name that was changed after the second world war due to its unfortunate acronym SS, which were consistent with the one of a division of the nazi army. Today, Jaguar belongs to the Indian industrial group Tata Motors.In the course of its history, and as it has happened as several brands, Jaguar has been administered by several hands. First came the national company British Motor Corporation in 1966, which administered it until 1989, which was bought by Ford. After ten years, I turn to the Premier Automotive Group along with weight manufacturers like Aston Martin, Volvo and Lincoln.His last transfer was Tata Motors, which was sold by Ford in 2008 for $ 2,300 million. Jaguar is also owner of the Daimler company (which is not Daimler-Benz) since 1960. You use this name for the most luxurious cars of its production.Jaguar has two plants in operation: that of Castle Bromwich in Birmingham, where there are aluminium vehicles, and another in Halewood, Liverpool, where work steel cars. They had a third, that of Browns Lane in Coventry, which moved in to be in the center of industrial activity of cars. Before, the main silver Jaguar was in Blackpool.One of the historical models of Jaguar is undoubtedly the Mark VII, which came out in 1951 the US market-oriented. However, the model was great demand in various parts of the world. Then came his successors, which also had the approval of consumer magazines such as "Road & Track" and "Engine". In 1956, a Jaguar Mark VII won the prestigious Monte Carlo Rally 2003.The brand has also had important titles in Gran Turismo. In 1951 and 1953 the model C-Type was carried and the 24 hours of Le Mans, which then made also in in 1955, 1956 and 1957 the D-Type. In 1980, after a long retreat, the Tom Walkinshaw Racing team began to design prototypes with V12 engines, and seven years later start to build new triumphs in this important competition.There are several mentions and appearances of Jaguar in series and movies. For example in Austin Powers, the protagonist manages a model. The same goes for the series Two and a Half Men, where Charlie Harper was owner of a Jaguar, as well as the character Arthur Dailey of the British TV series Minder, Inspector Morse, in the British television series of the same name, among others. Photo Gallery of Jaguar
Jaguar Cars Reviews
The British automobile car makers Jaguar have developed the handsome Jaguar XF. This car was introduced to the world by Jaguar, in the year 2007 and is a successor to the car model Jaguar S-Type.
Jaguar has achieved so much attention for its magnificent looks, among them one is Jaguar E-type or also known as Jaguar XK-E sports car that was manufactured from 1961 to 1974 and the car is produced & owned by British Manufacturers Jaguar Car Ltd. Jaguar E-type is one of those cars that possess all the qualities like looks, high performance as well as reasonable prices.
Technical characteristics of Jaguar Models
Jaguar XJ-6 3.4
Jaguar 3.8S Automatic
Jaguar XK Coup? 5.0L V8
Jaguar Sovereign V12
Jaguar XJ 3.0D 600 LWB
Jaguar X-Type 2.5 Automatic
Jaguar XK8 Coup?
Jaguar XJ 2.7 V6 TDVi Sovereign
Jaguar R-D6
233HP (171 kW) @ 0 rpm
Jaguar XJ-S 4.0 Coupe
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Nurburgring should be acquired by investor group Volkswagen shows T-ROC concept Audi Sport Quattro must occupy space between TT and R8 USA: Chrysler recall summons RAM ProMaster BMW does not see as essential to public recharging electric Read more about:
Fiat StiloYamaha R6Jeep WranglerJeep LibertySuzuki BanditNissan LeafFiat DucatoSsangYong KorandoMitsubishi OutlanderToyota Hybrid-R Cloudlakes | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/12944 | 1932 MG J2
Registration: TK8378
Chassis Number: J2087
Engine Number: 6128A Number of cylinders: 4 CC: 850 Year of Manufacture: 1932
Estimate (£): 30,000 - 35,000
Derived from the first MG Midget, the M-Type, and introduced for 1933, the two-seater J2 established the classic MG look which would characterise the Abingdon marque's sports cars into the 1950s. The Midget's 847cc, overhead-camshaft, Wolseley-derived engine was coupled to a four-speed gearbox and housed in a simple chassis frame featuring half-elliptic springing all round and cable-operated 8" diameter brakes. The lightweight J2 possessed exemplary handling and steering by the standards of the day and was good for 65mph. In total, 2,083 of the two-seater versions were produced between mid-1932 and early 1934 and today the J2 is one of the most sought after of pre-war MG sports cars.
This lovely MG J2 was owned by our vendor’s father from 1945 until 1951 when he reluctantly had to sell it when our vendor's imminent arrival demanded a vehicle more suited to a young family. There is a charming black and white photograph of him in the car in the late 40s and the name 'Porthos' can clearly be seen on the bonnet. We assume that the car was so named as a nod to the all-conquering “Musketeer” MG Works teams that enjoyed success using NE Magnettes and MG PAs between 1935 and 1939. I also suspect that he may have had friends in similar cars named 'Aramis' and 'Athos' and all three had a wonderful time so, when researching the subsequent owners in the seventies our vendor's father was able to acquire many original parts and commissioned a full rebuild using parts sourced from other MGs in the nineties. The MG was finished in Gloss Black with an Apple Green interior and once again 'Porthos' was proudly applied to the bonnet. Sadly, our vendor's father passed away in 2005 and the MG became the property of our vendor who has owned it ever since. In 2016, around £10k was lavished on the car by fitting a new Phoenix crank, pistons and rods enabling it to compete reliably in the 2016 “Speckled Hen MG Owners Club” event. What a rare opportunity to acquire a beautifully restored and absolutely lovely little pre-war MG with a heart-warming history from long-term family ownership. Auction Tools: | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/13519 | Three-Wheeled Commuter Car ‘Elio’ Closer To Going On Sale
Filed Under: autos, Commuter Car, Daimler, Elio, Paul Elio, Pep Boys
(Photo Credit: Clayton Chase/Getty Images)
ROYAL OAK (AP) — Your next commuter car could have two seats, three wheels and get 84 miles to the gallon.
Elio Motors wants to revolutionize U.S. roads with its tiny car, which is the same length as a Honda Fit but half the weight. With a starting price of $6,800, it’s also less than half the cost.
Phoenix-based Elio plans to start making the cars next fall at a former General Motors plant in Shreveport, Louisiana. Already, more than 27,000 people have reserved one. Elio hopes to make 250,000 cars a year by 2016. That’s close to the number Mazda sells in the U.S.
Because it has three wheels — two in front and one in the rear — the Elio is actually classified as a motorcycle by the U.S. government. But Elio Motors founder Paul Elio says the vehicle has all the safety features of a car, like anti-lock brakes, front and side air bags and a steel cage that surrounds the occupants. Drivers won’t be required to wear helmets or have motorcycle licenses.
The Elio’s two seats sit front and back instead of side by side, so the driver is positioned in the center with the passenger directly behind. That arrangement, plus the low seating position — the Elio is just 54 inches tall — and the lack of power steering take a little getting used to.
Sizing up Joe Louis in Detroit. pic.twitter.com/jBUbb12JD2
— Elio Motors (@ElioMotors) August 15, 2014
But after a couple of spins around the block in this Detroit suburb, it felt like any other small car. That’s partly because its two front wheels stick out by a foot on both sides, aiding balance and preventing the vehicle from tipping. The Elio has a three-cylinder, 0.9-liter engine and a top speed of more than 100 miles per hour. It gets an estimated 84 mpg on the highway and 49 mpg in city driving.
Elio keeps the costs down in several ways. The car only has one door, on the left side, which shaves a few hundred dollars off the manufacturing costs. Having three wheels also makes it cheaper. It will be offered in just two configurations — with a manual or automatic transmission — and it has standard air conditioning, power windows and door locks and an AM/FM radio. More features, such as navigation or blind-spot detection, can be ordered through Elio’s long list of suppliers.
Germany’s Daimler also promised to revolutionize American commutes with the Smart car, but that hasn’t panned out, says Karl Brauer, a senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book. Smart sold just 9,264 cars in the U.S. last year.
The Smart has a starting price of $13,270 for a gas-powered car and gets 38 mpg on the highway — not enough savings or fuel economy to justify sacrificing comfort in the tiny car. But, Brauer said, the equation might work in the Elio.
“If it really gets 84 mpg and doesn’t drive terribly, it would justify the compromises you’re making in size and comfort,” he said.
Elio will also save money by selling the cars directly through its own stores and not through franchised dealers, similar to electric car maker Tesla Motors. Elio plans stores in 60 major metropolitan areas. They’ll be serviced by car repair chain Pep Boys.
Paul Elio, a one-time stockbroker and New York City cab driver, dreamed as a kid that he would one day own a car company called Elio Motors.
“As I matured I decided that was as likely as playing in the NFL,” Elio told The Associated Press. But he did earn an engineering degree at General Motors Institute — now Kettering University — and started his own company engineering products like children’s car seats.
In 2008, tired of high gas prices and the country’s dependence on foreign oil, he started working on a fuel-efficient car. Equally important to him was creating U.S. manufacturing jobs and making the car inexpensive enough to appeal to buyers who might otherwise be stuck in old, unreliable clunkers.
“Whatever matters to you, this can move the needle on it,” he said.
The recession killed his engineering company, but it also provided the opportunity to buy the Shreveport plant when GM filed for bankruptcy protection. Elio Motors plans to employ 1,500 people at the plant.
The company has also applied for a $185 million advanced vehicle development loan from the U.S. Department of Energy.
Paul Elio said so far, reservation holders are older, more affluent buyers who will use the Elio as a second or third car for commuting.
“It’s an ‘and’ purchase for a lot of folks,” he said. “So keep your SUV or your minivan or your large sedan, and when you’re driving back and forth to work all by yourself, take the Elio. At this price point and this mileage, that works financially for folks.”
Eventually, though, he believes the car will appeal to high school and college students as well as used-car drivers who want something newer and more reliable. He also hopes to eventually export it to other countries. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/14402 | Email Print You are hereHome>New Ford Transit Custom revealed ahead of show debut New Ford Transit Custom revealed ahead of show debut18 April 2012
Ford has revealed the first pictures of its brand new Transit van ahead of the world premiere at next week’s CV Show in Birmingham. Available in short and long wheelbase lengths from launch, the Transit Custom can accommodate three Euro pallets thanks to a redesigned bulkhead that also features a hatch in the bulkhead allowing lengths of up to three metres to be carried inside the vehicle. The new one-tonne platform Transit range will offer payloads from 600-1,400kg, and will go on sale in all markets later this year (excluding North America).
Power comes from the current range of Stage V 2.2-litre Duratorq TDCi diesel engines, with power outputs of 98hp, 123hp and 152hp. Transit Custom models will also get Auto-Start-Stop as standard.
The outside of the Transit has been completely redesigned, and now incorporates a number of familiar Ford design elements, including the trapezoidal front grille found on the current Fiesta and Focus passenger cars. The positioning of the side indicator has also been moved to the inside of the wing mirror to protect it from damage.
On the inside, the cab has been redesigned to focus on the needs of the driver, with closer positioning of the steering wheel and gearstick, improved storage compartments, 30mm increased seat travel and, for the first time on a Transit, an adjustable steering wheel.
Ford is currently in the process of overhauling its entire commercial vehicle range by 2014, and will unveil larger and higher payload Transits, with rear-wheel-drive options, later in 2012 as part of the next phase of the replacement process.
The 19 April issue of Commercial Motor features an exclusive interview with the man behind the new Transit, Ford of Europe chief designer, Paul Campbell. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/14545 | Building a Bugatti Chiron: Taking a Closer Look Sara Petzold March 23, 2017 Auto News
HomeTop Gear Rory Reid Takes An Aston Martin Rapide S Through the Furka Pass Tony Hsieh February 13, 2017 Top Gear 1
One of my favorite things to come from Series 23 of Top Gear was any segment with Chris Harris and Rory Reid (I like Joey too, but he was a bit too…”Joey” for Top Gear). I have been watching Chris Harris since well before his stint on Top Gear, with his 2015 Ford Mustang review actually giving me the push to buy the car. Rory Reid, I’m a bit less familiar with, but he still was one of the few bright spots from Top Gear.
The BBC has now started a new online series called “Rory Reid’s Road Trips,” and it is basically exactly what it sounds like; Rory Reid in exotic cars traveling the world driving awesome roads. Top Gear Series 23 may have been panned by fans and critics, but being involved with the show certainly has its perks for our Mr. Reid.
How Does TGT S1 Compare To Previous TG Seasons?
His first stop is the Furka Pass in Switzerland, better known as the section of road where James Bond (in his Aston Martin DB5) chased down a lovely lady (in her Ford Mustang) in the film Goldfinger. In today’s video, Reid gets to channel his inner Bond as he tackles the Furka Pass in an Aston Martin Rapide S:
The Furka Pass is a 22.5 km stretch of road that weaves through the Uri/Valais region of Switzerland. The altitude of the pass is 2,429 meters, making it the fourth highest paved mountain pass in Switzerland. Your chances to drive on this road are pretty slim, since the pass in only open between June and October (due to the amount of snow the region gets). Basically, go in the summer with a nice car and you should be fine.
Speaking of cars, what about the Aston Martin Rapide S that Rory is driving? First off, it’s a 4 door Aston, so it means I can actually convince my wife that it can serve as a family car (never mind the fact that I could never dream of affording one). The Rapide S came as part of the 2015 refresh, with the V12 engine producing 552 bhp. The top speed of the Rapide S is 203 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 4.4 seconds.
Sure there are better cars and better roads (subjectively speaking), but the marriage of an Aston Martin Rapide S and the Furka Pass seems like a match made in heaven.
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Alex Harrington April 24, 2017 One Response
Kevin Vernon February 13, 2017 Believe it or don’t, but we DO have a couple of roads here in the U.S. that are as worthy as Furka Pass.
In Tennessee, there is one called “The Tail of the Dragon”, and in Arizona, try U.S. Highway 89 Alternate south from Flagstaff to Sedona. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/15943 | Hyundai to debut new car at Chicago show – report
Mitchell Jones Jan 17, 2017 January 17, 2017
Car News, Hyundai
Hyundai will launch a new car at next month’s Chicago Auto Show, but it is unclear what that vehicle will be, beyond the fact it won’t be the Santa Cruz ute/pickup.
In an interview with Car and Driver, Hyundai USA’s VP of corporate and product planning, Mike O’Brien, said: “We will be launching a new vehicle [at the February auto show] in Chicago. It’s not the Santa Cruz. Hopefully we’ll have something to share with you soon on that.”
He said the Santa Cruz is not 100 per cent locked in yet, adding: “But it makes all the sense in the world for us, for a lot of reasons,” including the lack of competition for car-based small pickups. The closest competitor would be the unibody Honda Ridgeline, which is positioned as a Colorado/Tundra competitor anyhow.
About the Santa Cruz’s potential customers, O’Brien mused: “They don’t need 7000 pounds’ worth of towing. They don’t need a big vehicle that’s difficult to maneuver and park.”
Apparently the car shown at the 2015 Detroit auto show is popular with South Korean headquarters: “And, still, that design is what resonates with our company and [Chung Eui-sun], our vice chairman. He wants that car.”
Meanwhile, a smaller version for the South American market based on the Ford EcoSport-rivalling Hyundai Creta is expected to launch in 2018. As previewed by the Creta Sport Truck concept (pictured) of the Sao Paolo Motor Show, it is a lot easier to make a business case for this car, since it has many rivals in the form of the Renault Duster Oroch and Fiat Toro.
Whatever it is, all will be revealed next month. Hyundai will likely release a teaser before then or do an online reveal first.
Tags Hyundai Santa Cruz
Related Articles Hyundai Santa Cruz ute confirmed for production- report August 22, 2016 Hyundai reveals Creta STC ute for Sao Paulo motor show November 9, 2016 Hyundai Tucson & Santa Fe ’30’ special editions announced September 2, 2016 2017 Hyundai i30 previews new design, debuts Sept. 7 August 10, 2016 Mitchell Jones Mitchell is a contributing journalist and features writer at PerformanceDrive. He has been a passionate petrol-head from a very young age. He is excited by the future of the industry, and considers himself as a bit of a fanatic when it comes to the technical aspects of cars. He is also fascinated by new cars that are popping up in developing markets. 3,713 | 汽车 |
2015-22/2198/en_head.json.gz/65 | Buick to launch IntelliLink on 2012 models
The IntelliLink system will begin appearing in Buick and GMC vehicles late this summer. Buick is launching a connectivity feature on its 2012 models as the brand looks to attract younger and tech-savvy customers--and to shed its sometime stodgy image. Called IntelliLink, the connectivity technology arrives as standard equipment on the 2012 Verano sedan, before being added to the Regal and the LaCrosse. The Enclave SUV gets it in 2013. It will be standard on the Verano, the brand's entry-level car, and execs are still considering whether it will be a cost-added feature on their other vehicles. IntelliLink is the Buick equivalent of Chevrolet's MyLink, and it employs the same technology presented in a slightly different manner. IntelliLink uses Bluetooth or USB capability to connect smartphones to the car. There's enhanced voice activation, a seven- or eight-inch touch screen laid out in the same fashion as a smartphone and steering wheel controls. The system also adds streaming audio with Pandora and Stitcher. Buick says the idea is to allow drivers to focus on the road, rather than be distracted by their phones."It adds to our portfolio of personal technology," said Tony DiSalle, U.S. vice president of Buick marketing. GMC's version of IntelliLink will also be added in 2012.The technology is a key part of Buick's attempt to remake its image by launching younger-oriented vehicles with more technology and performance. While many people know of the Buick brand, they're often thinking of cars from the 1980s or '90s, rather than the current portfolio. "People have a sense of false familiarity with Buick," DiSalle said.The brand launched an advertising blitz during the NCAA Tournament to support new models and plans to continue that into the college football season in a bid to lure attention.Buick says it's measuring itself against luxury makers, including Lexus and Acura, though it's attempting to be more accessible, and its products are priced accordingly. "Traditional luxury is like an exclusive club," DiSalle said. That's the "antithesis of Buick."
By Greg Migliore See MoreCar News | 汽车 |
2015-22/2198/en_head.json.gz/808 | As Carmakers Turn Up The Recalls, Consumers Tune Out
Share Tweet E-mail Comments Print By Sonari Glinton Originally published on Fri March 21, 2014 6:02 pm
The number of vehicles recalled has more than doubled in the past 20 years.
In the past week, Volkswagen recalled 150,000 Passats because of potential hood problems that could damage the headlights, and Honda recalled 900,000 Odyssey vans because of a potential fire hazard. Those moves follow the recent General Motors recall of 1.6 million vehicles over a faulty ignition switch, which has been linked to 12 deaths. It took the company nearly a decade to inform the public of the problem. The number of vehicles recalled has more than doubled over the past 20 years — but most recalls go unnoticed by the general public, says Scott Oldham, vice president at Edmunds.com. "I don't think there's a manufacturer out there that isn't executing a recall at any given time," he says. Karl Brauer, a senior director at Kelley Blue Book, says manufacturers often recall vehicles out of an overabundance of caution. "You could argue that more recalls actually makes it worse to get people to actually listen to them, because it just starts to become noise," he says. "It used to be a bigger deal to hear a recall headline in the newspaper or on TV. Now, you kind of hear them a lot, so it might be easier to tune it out." That's partly because most recall notices are mailed — sometimes not even first-class — so it's pretty easy for a letter from Chrysler or Honda to look like junk mail. Sean Kane at Safety Research and Strategies, a research group that specializes in car and consumer safety, says response for newer cars is fairly high, into the 70 percent range. "Compared to other products or even other motor vehicle products like tires or tire restraints, it's quite good," Kane says. "But if you think about what that means in context of the cars that are not being repaired, that's not so good. And that number tends to drop off as the cars get older." Manufacturers usually tell consumers about recalls through registration information from your state; the more a car changes hands, the harder it can be to get to the actual driver. Some dealers say privacy laws make it harder to get numbers and other information for current car owners. But if, as a driver, you want to be proactive, you can find out if your car is being recalled by going to the government website Recalls.gov. A new law will require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make that website easier to navigate; it's currently a bit cumbersome. Kane says it's ultimately the responsibility of carmakers to do a more effective job of letting customers know. "That means spending the time and the money to do it," says Kane. "It's funny how they can all reach you when they want to sell you a new product, but somehow they don't always do such a good job when they need to get their product back for repairs." Everyone in the auto business, however, will tell drivers the same thing: When you get a recall notice, open it and take your car in to the dealer. Recall repairs are free.Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. View the discussion thread. | 汽车 |
2015-22/2198/en_head.json.gz/870 | From All Car Wiki - Car Specification Wiki
Transmission types
Sequential manual
Non-synchronous
Preselector
Manumatic
Dual clutch
Saxomat
Bicycle gearing
Derailleur gears
Hub gears
An 8-gear automatic transmission
An automatic transmission (also called automatic gearbox) is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually. Most automatic transmissions have a defined set of gear ranges, often with a parking pawl feature that locks the output shaft of the transmission.
Similar but larger devices are also used for heavy-duty commercial and industrial vehicles and equipment. Some machines with limited speed ranges or fixed engine speeds, such as some forklifts and lawn mowers, only use a torque converter to provide a variable gearing of the engine to the wheels.
Besides automatics, there are also other types of automated transmissions such as continuous variable transmissions (CVTs) and semi-automatic transmissions, that free the driver from having to shift gears manually, by using the transmission's computer to change gear, if for example the driver were redlining the engine. Despite superficial similarity to other transmissions, automatic transmissions differ significantly in internal operation and driver's feel from semi-automatics and CVTs. An automatic uses a torque converter instead of clutch to manage the connection between the transmission gearing and the engine. In contrast, a CVT uses a belt or other torque transmission schema to allow an "infinite" number of gear ratios instead of a fixed number of gear ratios. A semi-automatic retains a clutch like a manual transmission, but controls the clutch through electrohydraulic means.
A conventional manual transmission is frequently the base equipment in a car, with the option being an automated transmission such as a conventional automatic, semi-automatic, or CVT. The ability to shift gears manually, often via paddle shifters, can also be found on certain automated transmissions (manumatics such as Tiptronic), semi-automatics (BMW SMG), and continuous variable transmissions (CVTs) (such as Lineartronic).
Originally invented by Michael Felix Picone during World War II, so the tank operator had his left foot available to fire 50mm shells from the cross hairs of his tank periscope. The first vehicle to have this technology was a custom-made limousine designed by Michael Felix Picone for General Douglas MacArthur as a gift. The limousine was fabricated from 3 Cadillac sedans. There was no patent ever asked for, because the purpose for the automatic transmission was to help win the war. Also, the original design did not include the parking feature, it only included the automatic gearbox. Contents
1 Comparison with manual transmission
2 Automatic transmission modes
3 Hydraulic automatic transmissions
3.1 Parts and operation
3.2 Energy efficiency
4 Automatic transmission models
5 Continuously variable transmissions
6 Manually controlled automatic transmissions
Comparison with manual transmission
Main article: Comparison of manual and automatic transmissions
Most cars sold in North America since the 1950s have been available with an automatic transmissionTemplate:Citation needed. Conversely, automatic transmission is less popular in Europe, with 80% of drivers opting for manual transmission.[1] In some Asian markets and in Australia, automatic transmissions have become very popular since the 1990sTemplate:Citation needed.
Vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions are less complex to drive. Consequently, in some jurisdictions, drivers who have passed their driving test in a vehicle with an automatic transmission will not be licensed to drive a manual transmission vehicle. Conversely, a manual license will allow the driver to drive both manual and automatic vehicles. Examples of driving license restrictions are Croatia, Dominican Republic, Israel, United Kingdom, some states in Australia, France, Portugal, Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Ireland, Belgium, Germany, Pakistan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Hungary, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, China, Hong Kong, Macau, Mauritius, South Korea, Romania, Singapore, Philippines, United Arab Emirates, India, Estonia, Finland, Switzerland, Slovenia, Republic of Ireland and New Zealand (Restricted licence only)Template:Citation needed.
the it works good transmission
Automatic transmission modes
Conventionally, in order to select the transmission operating mode, the driver moves a selection lever located either on the steering column or on the floor (as with a manual on the floor, except that most automatic selectors on the floor don't move in the same type of pattern as a manual lever; most automatic levers only move vertically). In order to select modes, or to manually select specific gear ratios, the driver must push a button in (called the shift lock button) or pull the handle (only on column mounted shifters) out. Some vehicles position selector buttons for each mode on the cockpit instead, freeing up space on the central console. Vehicles conforming to US Government standards must have the modes ordered P-R-N-D-L (left to right, top to bottom, or clockwise). Prior to this, quadrant-selected automatic transmissions often used a P-N-D-L-R layout, or similar. Such a pattern led to a number of deaths and injuries owing to driver error causing unintentional gear selection, as well as the danger of having a selector (when worn) jump into Reverse from Low gear during engine braking maneuvers.
Automatic transmissions have various modes depending on the model and make of the transmission. Some of the common modes include
Park (P) This selection mechanically locks the output shaft of transmission, restricting the vehicle from moving in any direction. A parking pawl prevents the transmission from rotating, and therefore the vehicle from moving, although the vehicle's non-driven roadwheels may still rotate freely. For this reason, it is recommended to use the hand brake (or parking brake) because this actually locks (in most cases) the rear wheels and prevents them from moving. This also increases the life of the transmission and the park pin mechanism, because parking on an incline with the transmission in park without the parking brake engaged will cause undue stress on the parking pin. An efficiently adjusted hand brake should also prevent the car from moving if a worn selector accidentally drops into reverse gear during early morning fast-idle engine warm-upsTemplate:Citation needed. It should be noted that locking the transmission output shaft does not positively lock the driving wheels. If one driving wheel slips while the transmission is in park, the other will roll freely as the slipping wheel rotates in the opposite direction. Only a (properly adjusted) parking brake can be relied upon to positively lock both of the parking-braked wheels. (This is not the case with certain 1950's Chrysler products that carried their parking brake on the transmission tailshaft, a defect compounded by the provision of a bumper jack). It is typical of front-wheel-drive vehicles for the parking brake to be on the rear (non-driving) wheels, so use of both the parking brake and the transmission park lock provides the greatest security against unintended movement on slopes.
A car should be allowed to come to a complete stop before setting the transmission into park to prevent damage. Usually, Park (P) is one of only two selections in which the car's engine can be started, the other being Neutral (N). In many modern cars and trucks, the driver must have the foot brake applied before the transmission can be taken out of park. The Park position is omitted on buses/coaches with automatic transmission (on which a parking pawl is not practical), which must be placed in neutral with the parking brakes set. Advice is given in some owner's manuals (example: 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme owner's manual) that if the vehicle is parked on a steep slope using the park lock only, it may not be possible to release the park lock (move the selector lever out of "P"). Another vehicle may be required to push the stuck vehicle uphill slightly to remove the loading on the park lock pawl.
Most automobiles require P or N to be set on the selector lever before the internal combustion engine can be started. This is typically achieved via a normally open inhibitor switch, which is wired in series with the starter motor engagement circuit, and is only closed when P or N is selected, thus completing the circuit (when the key is turned to the start position)
Reverse (R) This engages reverse gear within the transmission, giving the ability for the vehicle to drive backwards. In order for the driver to select reverse in modern transmissions, they must come to a complete stop, push the shift lock button in (or pull the shift lever forward in the case of a column shifter) and select reverse. Not coming to a complete stop can cause severe damage to the transmissionTemplate:Citation needed. Many modern automatic transmissions have a safety mechanism in place, which does to some extent prevent (but does not completely avoid) inadvertently putting the car in reverse when the vehicle is moving forwards. This mechanism usually consists of a solenoid-controlled physical barrier on either side of the Reverse position, which is electronically engaged by a switch on the brake pedal. Therefore, the brake pedal needs to be depressed in order to allow the selection of reverse. Some electronic transmissions prevent or delay engagement of reverse gear altogether while the car is moving.
Some shifters with a shift button allow the driver to freely move the shifter from R to N or D, or simply moving the shifter to N or D without actually depressing the button. However, the driver cannot put back the shifter to R without depressing the shift button to prevent accidental shifting, especially at high speeds, which could damage the transmission.
Neutral/No gear (N) This disengages all gear trains within the transmission, effectively disconnecting the transmission from the driven roadwheels, so the vehicle is able to move freely under its own weight and gain momentum without the motive force from the engine (engine braking). This is the only other selection in which the vehicle's engine can be started.
Drive (D) This position allows the transmission to engage the full range of available forward gear trains, and therefore allows the vehicle to move forward and accelerate through its range of gears. The number of gear ratios a transmission has depends on the model, but they initially ranged from three (predominant before the 1990s), to four and five speeds (losing popularity to six-speed autos, though still favored by Chrysler and Honda/Acura)Template:Citation needed. Six-speed automatic transmissions are probably the most common offering in cars from 2010 in cars like Toyota Camry V6 models, the Chevrolet Malibu LTZ, Corvette, GM trucks, Pontiac G8, Ford Falcon BF 2005-2007 and Falcon FG 2008 - current in Australia with 6 speed ZF, and most newer model Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles). However, seven-speed autos are becoming available in some cars (found in Mercedes 7G gearbox, Infiniti), as are eight-speed autos in models from 2006 introduced by Aisin Seiki Co. in Lexus, ZF and Hyundai Motor Company.
Overdrive (D, OD, or a boxed [D]) This mode is used in some transmissions to allow early computer-controlled transmissions to engage the automatic overdrive. In these transmissions, Drive (D) locks the automatic overdrive off, but is identical otherwise. OD (Overdrive) in these cars is engaged under steady speeds or low acceleration at approximately 35–45 mph (56–72 km/h). Under hard acceleration or below 35–45 mph (56–72 km/h), the transmission will automatically downshift. Vehicles with this option should be driven in this mode unless circumstances require a lower gear.
Third (3) This mode limits the transmission to the first three gear ratios, or sometimes locks the transmission in third gear. This can be used to climb or going down hill. Some vehicles will automatically shift up out of third gear in this mode if a certain RPM range is reached in order to prevent engine damage. This gear is also recommended while towing a caravan.
Second (2 or S) This mode limits the transmission to the first two gear ratios, or locks the transmission in second gear on Ford, Kia, and Honda models. This can be used to drive in adverse conditions such as snow and ice, as well as climbing or going down hills in the winter time. It is usually recommended to use second gear for starting on snow and ice, and use of this position enables this with an automatic transmission. Some vehicles will automatically shift up out of second gear in this mode if a certain RPM range is reached in order to prevent engine damage.
Although traditionally considered second gear, there are other names used. Chrysler models with a three-speed automatic since the late 1980s have called this gear 3 while using the traditional names for Drive and Low. Oldsmobile has called second gear as the 'Super' range - which was first used on their 4-speed Hydramatic transmissions although the use of the term continued until the early 1980s when GM's Turbo Hydramatic automatic transmissions were standardized by all of their divisions years after the 4-speed Hydramatic was discontinued. First (1 or L [Low]) This mode locks the transmission in first gear only. In older vehicles, it will not change to any other gear range. Some vehicles will automatically shift up out of first gear in this mode if a certain RPM range is reached in order to prevent engine damage. This, like second, can be used during the winter season, for towing, or for downhill driving to increase the engine braking effect.
As well as the above modes there are also other modes, dependent on the manufacturer and model. Some examples include:
D5 In Hondas and Acuras equipped with five-speed automatic transmissions, this mode is used commonly for highway use (as stated in the manual), and uses all five forward gears.
D4 This mode is also found in Honda and Acura four- or five-speed automatics, and only uses the first four gear ratios. According to the manual, it is used for stop-and-go traffic, such as city driving.
D3 or 3 This mode is found in Honda, Acura, Volkswagen and Pontiac four-speed automatics and only uses the first three gear ratios. According to the manual, it is used for stop-and-go traffic, such as city driving.
D2 and D1 These modes are found on older Ford transmissions (C6, etc.). In D1, all three gears are used, whereas in D2 the car starts in second gear and upshifts to third.
S or Sport This is commonly described as Sport mode. It operates in an identical manner as "D" mode, except that the upshifts change much higher up the engine's rev range. This has the effect on maximising all the available engine output, and therefore enhances the performance of the vehicle, particularly during acceleration. This mode will also downchange much higher up the rev range compared to "D" mode, maximising the effects of engine braking. This mode will have a detrimental effect on fuel economy. Hyundai has a Norm/Power switch next to the gearshift for this purpose on the Tiburon.
Some early Some early GMs equipped with HYDRA-MATIC transmissions used (S) to indicate Second gear, being the same as the 2 position on a Chrysler, shifting between only first and second gears. This would have been recommended for use on steep grades, or slippery roads like dirt, or ice, and limited to speeds under 40 mph. (L) was used in some early GMs to indicate (L)ow gear, being the same as the 2 position on a Chrysler, locking the transmission into first gear. This would have been recommended for use on steep grades, or slippery roads like dirt, or ice, and limited to speeds under 15 mph.
This would have been recommended for use on steep grades, or slippery roads like dirt, or ice, and limited to speeds under 40 mph.
(L) was used in some early GMs to indicate (L)ow gear, being the same as the 2 position on a Chrysler, locking the transmission into first gear. This would have been recommended for use on steep grades, or slippery roads like dirt, or ice, and limited to speeds under 15 mph.
+ −, and M This is for the Manual mode selection of gears in certain automatics, such as Porsche's Tiptronic. The M feature can also be found in Chrysler and General Motors products such as the Dodge Magnum, Journey, and Pontiac G6, as well as Toyota's Camry, Corolla, Fortuner, Previa and Innova. Mitsubishi and some Audi models (Audi TT), meanwhile do not have the M, and instead have the + and -, which is separated from the rest of the shift modes; the same is true for some Peugeot products like Peugeot 206. Meanwhile, the driver can shift up and down at will by toggling the (console mounted) shift lever like a semi-automatic transmission. This mode may be engaged either through a selector/position or by actually changing the gears (e.g., tipping the gear-down paddles mounted near the driver's fingers on the steering wheel).
Winter (W) In some Volvo, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and General Motors Europe models, a winter mode can be engaged so that second gear is selected instead of first when pulling away from stationary, to reduce the likelihood of loss of traction due to wheelspin on snow or ice. On GM cars, this was D2 in the 1950s, and is Second Gear Start after 1990. On Ford, Kia, and Honda automatics, this feature can be accessed by moving the gear selector to 2 to start, then taking your foot off the accelerator while selecting D once the car is moving.
Brake (B) A mode selectable on some Toyota models. In non-hybrid cars, this mode lets the engine do compression braking, also known as engine braking, typically when encountering a steep downhill. Instead of engaging the brakes, the engine in a non-hybrid car switches to a lower gear and slows down the spinning tires. The engine holds the car back, instead of the brakes slowing it down. GM called this "HR" ("hill retarder") and "GR" ("grade retarder") in the 1950s. For hybrid cars, this mode converts the electric motor into a generator for the battery (Regenerative Braking). It is not the same as downshifting in a non-hybrid car, but it has the same effect in slowing the car without using the brakes.
Hydraulic automatic transmissions
The predominant form of automatic transmission is hydraulically operated; using a fluid coupling or torque converter, and a set of planetary gearsets to provide a range of gear ratios.
Parts and operation
A hydraulic automatic transmission consists of the following parts:
Torque converter: A type of fluid coupling, hydraulically connecting the engine to the transmission. It takes the place of a mechanical clutch, allowing the transmission to stay in gear and the engine to remain running while the vehicle is stationary, without stalling. A torque converter differs from a fluid coupling, in that it provides a variable amount of torque multiplication at low engine speeds, increasing breakaway acceleration. This is accomplished with a third member in the coupling assembly known as the stator, and by altering the shapes of the vanes inside the coupling in such a way as to curve the fluid's path into the stator. The stator captures the kinetic energy of the transmission fluid, in effect using the leftover force of it to enhance torque multiplication.
Pump: Not to be confused with the impeller inside the torque converter, the pump is typically a gear pump mounted between the torque converter and the planetary gearset. It draws transmission fluid from a sump and pressurizes it, which is needed for transmission components to operate. The input for the pump is connected to the torque converter housing, which in turn is bolted to the engine's flywheel, so the pump provides pressure whenever the engine is running and there is enough transmission fluid.
Planetary gearset: A compound epicyclic planetary gearset, whose bands and clutches are actuated by hydraulic servos controlled by the valve body, providing two or more gear ratios.
Clutches and bands: to effect gear changes, one of two types of clutches or bands are used to hold a particular member of the planetary gearset motionless, while allowing another member to rotate, thereby transmitting torque and producing gear reductions or overdrive ratios. These clutches are actuated by the valve body (see below), their sequence controlled by the transmission's internal programming. Principally, a type of device known as a sprag or roller clutch is used for routine upshifts/downshifts. Operating much as a ratchet, it transmits torque only in one direction, free-wheeling or "overrunning" in the other. The advantage of this type of clutch is that it eliminates the sensitivity of timing a simultaneous clutch release/apply on two planetaries, simply "taking up" the drivetrain load when actuated, and releasing automatically when the next gear's sprag clutch assumes the torque transfer. The bands come into play for manually selected gears, such as low range or reverse, and operate on the planetary drum's circumference. Bands are not applied when drive/overdrive range is selected, the torque being transmitted by the sprag clutches instead. Bands are used for braking; the GM Turbo-Hydramatics incorporated this.Template:Citation needed.
Valve body: hydraulic control center that receives pressurized fluid from the main pump operated by the fluid coupling/torque converter. The pressure coming from this pump is regulated and used to run a network of spring-loaded valves, check balls and servo pistons. The valves use the pump pressure and the pressure from a centrifugal governor on the output side (as well as hydraulic signals from the range selector valves and the throttle valve or modulator) to control which ratio is selected on the gearset; as the vehicle and engine change speed, the difference between the pressures changes, causing different sets of valves to open and close. The hydraulic pressure controlled by these valves drives the various clutch and brake band actuators, thereby controlling the operation of the planetary gearset to select the optimum gear ratio for the current operating conditions. However, in many modern automatic transmissions, the valves are controlled by electro-mechanical servos which are controlled by the electronic engine control unit (ECU) or a separate transmission control unit (TCU). (See History and improvements below.)
Hydraulic & lubricating oil: called automatic transmission fluid (ATF), this component of the transmission provides lubrication, corrosion prevention, and a hydraulic medium to convey mechanical power (for the operation of the transmission). Primarily made from refined petroleum, and processed to provide properties that promote smooth power transmission and increase service life, the ATF is one of the few parts of the automatic transmission that needs routine service as the vehicle ages.
The multitude of parts, along with the complex design of the valve body, originally made hydraulic automatic transmissions much more complicated (and expensive) to build and repair than manual transmissions. In most cars (except US family, luxury, sport-utility vehicle, and minivan models) they have usually been extra-cost options for this reason. Mass manufacturing and decades of improvement have reduced this cost gap.
Hydraulic automatic transmissions are almost always less energy efficient than manual transmissions due mainly to viscous and pumping losses, both in the torque converter and the hydraulic actuators. A relatively small amount of energy is required to pressurize the hydraulic control system, which uses fluid pressure to determine the correct shifting patterns and operate the various automatic clutch mechanisms.
Manual transmissions use a mechanical clutch to transmit torque, rather than a torque converter, thus avoiding the primary source of loss in an automatic transmission. Manual transmissions also avoid the power requirement of the hydraulic control system, by relying on the human muscle power of the vehicle operator to disengage the clutch and actuate the gear levers, and the mental power of the operator to make appropriate gear ratio selections. Thus the manual transmission requires very little engine power to function, with the main power consumption due to drag from the gear train being immersed in the lubricating oil of the gearbox.
The on-road acceleration of an automatic transmission can occasionally exceed that of an otherwise identical vehicle equipped with a manual transmission in turbocharged diesel applications. Turbo-boost is normally lost between gear changes in a manual whereas in an automatic the accelerator pedal can remain fully depressed. This however is still largely dependent upon the number and optimal spacing of gear ratios for each unit, and whether or not the elimination of spooldown/accelerator lift off represent a significant enough gain to counter the slightly higher power consumption of the automatic transmission itself.
it works good.
Automatic transmission models
Some of the best known automatic transmission families include:
General Motors — Dynaflow, Powerglide, "Turbo-Hydramatic" TH350, TH400 and 700R4, 4L60-E, 4L80-E, Holden Trimatic
Ford: Cruise-O-Matic, C4, CD4E, C6, AOD/AODE, E4OD, ATX, AXOD/AX4S/AX4N
Chrysler: TorqueFlite 727 and 904, A500, A518, 45RFE, 545RFE
BorgWarner (later Aisin AW)
ZF Friedrichshafen automatic transmissions
Voith Turbo
Aisin AW; Aisin AW is a Japanese automotive parts supplier, known for its automatic transmissions and navigation systems
Nissan/Jatco
Volkswagen Group - 01M
Drivetrain Systems International (DSI) - M93, M97 and M74 4-speeds, M78 and M79 6-speeds
Hyundai Powertech - 4F12, 4F16, 4F23 4-Speeds, 5F25, 5F16, 5F23 5-Speeds, 6F17, 6F26, 6F40 6-Speeds, 8R40, 8R50 8-Speeds, Mini Cooper- Automatic or manual transmission, all models
Automatic transmission families are usually based on Ravigneaux, Template:Disambiguation needed, or Simpson planetary gearsets. Each uses some arrangement of one or two central sun gears, and a ring gear, with differing arrangements of planet gears that surround the sun and mesh with the ring. An exception to this is the Hondamatic line from Honda, which uses sliding gears on parallel axes like a manual transmission without any planetary gearsets. Although the Honda is quite different from all other automatics, it is also quite different from an automated manual transmission (AMT).
Many of the above AMTs exist in modified states, which were created by racing enthusiasts and their mechanics by systematically re-engineering the transmission to achieve higher levels of performance. These are known as "performance transmissions". An example of a manufacturer of high performance transmissions of General Motors and Ford transmissions is PerformaBuilt.
Continuously variable transmissions
Main article: Continuously variable transmission
A fundamentally different type of automatic transmission is the continuously variable transmission or CVT, which can smoothly and steplessly alter its gear ratio by varying the diameter of a pair of belt or chain-linked pulleys, wheels or cones. Some continuously variable transmissions use a hydrostatic drive — consisting of a variable displacement pump and a hydraulic motor — to transmit power without gears. CVT designs are usually as fuel efficient as manual transmissions in city driving, but early designs lose efficiency as engine speed increases.
A slightly different approach to CVT is the concept of toroidal CVT or infinitely variable transmission (IVT). These concepts provide zero and reverse gear ratios.
Some current hybrid vehicles, notably those of Toyota, Lexus and Ford Motor Company, have an electronically controlled CVT (E-CVT). In this system, the transmission has fixed gears, but the ratio of wheel-speed to engine-speed can be continuously varied by controlling the speed of the third input to a differential using an electric motor-generator.
Manually controlled automatic transmissions
Most automatic transmissions offer the driver a certain amount of manual control over the transmission's shifts (beyond the obvious selection of forward, reverse, or neutral). Those controls take several forms:
Throttle kickdown Most automatic transmissions include some means of forcing a downshift into the lowest possible gear ratio if the throttle pedal is fully depressed. In many older designs, kickdown is accomplished by mechanically actuating a valve inside the transmission. Most modern designs use a solenoid-operated valve that is triggered by a switch on the throttle linkage or by the engine control unit (ECU) in response to an abrupt increase in engine power.
Mode selection Allows the driver to choose between preset shifting programs. For example, Economy mode saves fuel by upshifting at lower engine speeds, while Sport mode (aka "Power" or "Performance") delays shifting for maximum acceleration. The modes also change how the computer responds to throttle input.
Low gear ranges Conventionally, automatic transmissions have selector positions that allow the driver to limit the maximum ratio that the transmission may engage. On older transmissions, this was accomplished by a mechanical lockout in the transmission valve body preventing an upshift until the lockout was disengaged; on computer-controlled transmissions, the same effect is accomplished by firmware. The transmission can still upshift and downshift automatically between the remaining ratios: for example, in the 3 range, a transmission could shift from first to second to third, but not into fourth or higher ratios. Some transmissions will still upshift automatically into the higher ratio if the engine reaches its maximum permissible speed in the selected rangeTemplate:Citation needed.
Manual controls Some transmissions have a mode in which the driver has full control of ratio changes (either by moving the selector, or through the use of buttons or paddles), completely overriding the automated function of the hydraulic controller. Such control is particularly useful in cornering, to avoid unwanted upshifts or downshifts that could compromise the vehicle's balance or traction. "Manumatic" shifters, first popularized by Porsche in the 1990s under the trade name Tiptronic, have become a popular option on sports cars and other performance vehicles. With the near-universal prevalence of electronically controlled transmissions, they are comparatively simple and inexpensive, requiring only software changes, and the provision of the actual manual controls for the driver. The amount of true manual control provided is highly variable: some systems will override the driver's selections under certain conditions, generally in the interest of preventing engine damage. Since these gearboxes also have a throttle kickdown switch, it is impossible to fully exploit the engine power at low to medium engine speedsTemplate:FixTemplate:Citation needed.
Second gear takeoff Some automatics, particularly those fitted to larger capacity or high torque engines, either when "2" is manually selected, or by engaging a winter mode, will start off in second gear instead of first, and then not shift into a higher gear until returned to "D." Also note that as with most American automatic transmissions, selecting "2" using the selection lever will not tell the transmission to be in only 2nd gear; rather, it will simply limit the transmission to 2nd gear after prolonging the duration of 1st gear through higher speeds than normal operation. The 2000-2002 Lincoln LS V8 (the five-speed automatic without manumatic capabilities, as opposed to the optional sport package w/ manu-matic 5-speed) started in 2nd gear during most starts both in winter and other seasons by selecting the "D5" transmission selection notch in the shiftgate (for fuel savings), whereas "D4" would always start in 1st gear. This is done to reduce torque multiplication when proceeding forward from a standstill in conditions where traction was limited—on snow- or ice-covered roads, for example.
Some automatic transmissions modified or designed specifically for drag racing may also incorporate a transmission brake, or "trans-brake," as part of a manual valve body. Activated by electrical solenoid control, a trans-brake simultaneously engages the first and reverse gears, locking the transmission and preventing the input shaft from turning. This allows the driver of the car to raise the engine RPM against the resistance of the torque converter, then launch the car by simply releasing the trans-brake switch.
The cost to rebuild an automatic transmission varies. In complete regards to Honda's transmissions, such as BAXA, MAXA (Honda Accord), usually require the least amount of parts when rebuilding. It is very common for these units to require a new filter, set of clutches, overhaul kit and possibly a bearing or new clutch drum. The most common fault in these particular transmissions is in the filtration system. There is no access to the filter of Honda transmissions; they are bolted down inside the transmission, with no external access, unless completely dissembled. It is this reason, and also the driving conditions, heat and normal wear and tear, that Honda transmissions typically go out at around 130,000 miles to 180,000 miles. The filter begins to lose its filtration and thus produces an increase of heat within the entire unit. As heat builds up and less lubrication occurs, the third clutch drum (most sensitive to failure) begins to give out. Or clutches may become worn excessively or a bearing may warp. It is not uncommon to open up a Honda Accord transmission and find that most of the parts are not worn, clean and reusable. It is common to see the same failure rate among the filter, third clutch drum, bearings, and or bushings. See also
Semi-automatic transmission
AMC and Jeep transmissions
Dual clutch transmission
Multimode manual transmission
↑ "Nearly 80% Of Passenger Cars Are Sold With Manual Transmission In Europe". Prlog.org. 2006-09-12. http://www.prlog.org/10000955-nearly-80-of-passenger-cars-are-sold-with-manual-transmission-in-europe.html. Retrieved 2009-10-03. External links
How Automatic Transmissions Work on HowStuffWorks
A Short Course on Automatic Transmissions
How To Drive a Car with Automatic Transmission
US5370589 Lepelletier's concept is shown on this patent
Automatic Transmission Fluid color and smell; what does it mean?
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2015-22/2198/en_head.json.gz/897 | 2014 BMW M6 Adds Manual-Transmission Option
NEWS: 2014 BMW M6 Adds Manual-Transmission Option
Jake Holmes 2013 BMW M6 price starts at $108,350
There's a big change in store for the 2014 BMW M6: coupe, convertible, and four-door coupe versions of the performance car will henceforth be offered with an optional six-speed manual transmission. Until now, the BMW M6 came only with a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission.The addition of a manual comes in time for the launch of the 2014 BMW M6 Gran Coupe, which debuted at the Detroit auto show and goes on sale June 5. The cars' twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8 engine is unchanged, at 560 hp and 550 lb-ft of torque. BMW made the six-speed manual available on the mechanically similar M5 sedan, too, even though the car was originally available only with a dual-clutch transmission. When the car is in Efficient or Sport mode, the engine computer automatically blips the throttle when the driver downshifts. In the most aggressive Sport+ mode, that feature is disabled and the driver must match revs himself.The BMW M5 is available with a manual transmission only in the U.S., and only then because frustrated customers complained about the standard dual-clutch. (Europeans only get the dual-clutch.) That convinced M GmbH to build a stick-shift M5 just for America. There's no word yet on whether the BMW M6 follows that pattern or whether it will also be offered with a manual transmission outside of the States.The other major change for the 2014 BMW M6 is the addition of M Carbon Ceramic brakes to the options list (they were already available for the M5 sedan). In addition to better dissipating heat and reducing brake fade, the carbon-ceramic rotors save 42.8 pounds of mass compared to the car's standard steel brakes.BMW also announced a new limited-run Frozen Brilliant White model (pictured at top). Unlike other Frozen cars that had matte paint jobs, the 2014 650i convertible Frozen Brilliant White Edition wears metallic paint. The car includes black mirror caps and kidney grilles, gray 20-inch wheels, black Nappa leather, a black convertible top, and gray poplar wood trim. The M Sport and Executive packages are included as standard, and xDrive all-wheel-drive models additionally benefit from the Cold Weather package. | 汽车 |
2015-22/2198/en_head.json.gz/1060 | » BACK TO CRASH.NET Crash.Net WRC News Latvala turns retirement to advantage in Mexico 11 March 2013 Volkswagen's Jari-Matti Latvala used Rally Mexico last weekend as an extended test session, after crashing out after 'just a few metres' in the first 'proper' stage. Latvala hit a rock on the first 22km El Cubilete test on Friday, damaging a wishbone on his Polo R WRC and retiring on the spot, whilst his team-mate Sebastien Ogier went on to score his second successive win in the same machinery on Sunday.Despite his misfortune, Latvala refused to be disheartened and insisted that the Mexican stages were useful in gaining a greater understanding of his #7 Polo R WRC in preparation for next month's Rally de Portugal. “No sooner had the rally started than things took a turn for the worse for us,” lamented Latvala. “We had to give up after a matter of metres on Friday, due to suspension damage we received when we hit a stone. “After that, [the accident] we tried a few things with the car and I worked on my driving style. By the end of the rally, I felt more comfortable than ever in the Polo. I now have a better understanding of the handling characteristics. That gives me a lot of motivation ahead of Portugal.”In spite of having used the event as an extended test session, Latvala managed to fight back to score a point on Sunday's Power Stage after re-entering under the Rally 2 regulations on Saturday, and was complimented by Volkswagen Motorsport boss Jost Capito for his efforts. “Jari-Matti Latvala's performance was no less impressive [than Ogier's],” enthused Capito. “He was really unlucky right at the start of the rally, but fought back magnificently and was rewarded for his efforts with the World Championship point he won on the Power Stage. Again, respect.”After retiring from the season opening Rallye Monte Carlo and once again in Mexico, Latvala has just one points finish to his name after a fourth place finish in Sweden, and lies seventh overall in the Drivers' Championship with 15 points. by George East » BACK TO CRASH.NET | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/16529 | Toyota, BMW, Volkswagen being investigated in the US for patent infringement The U.S. International Trade Commission has instituted an investigation into charges relating to the cars' infotainment and other systems
Arista infringes on Cisco networking patents, trade agency says
HTC, Nokia, Motorola, LG accused of using patent infringing semiconductors
Firm seeks to bar Nokia, RIM, Palm from importing devices
As car automation technologies like navigation and infotainment systems emerge as the next big opportunity for the automotive industry, patent disputes similar to those seen in the smartphone business have not unexpectedly surfaced in the industry.
The U.S. International Trade Commission is expected to announce Wednesday an investigation into charges by Advanced Silicon Technologies in Portsmouth, New Hampshire that a number of car makers like Honda, Toyota, BMW and Volkswagen, and component makers like Harman, Texas Instruments and Renesas Electronics infringe on certain claims of four of its patents relating, among other things, to car infotainment systems, according to a notice by the ITC on the U.S. Federal Register.
The investigation under section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 could lead to a ban by the ITC on the import and sale of the infringing products in the U.S., if the infringement is proven. The patents assigned to Advanced Silicon were previously held by Advanced Micro Devices which also holds a non-exclusive license to them in the U.S., according to Advanced Silicon's filing in December before the ITC.
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The accused products include infotainment systems, head-end units, navigation systems, graphics processors, microprocessors and other computing or graphics-capable electronics devices, and the vehicles containing such components and systems.
Advanced Silicon Technologies had in December also sued these companies for infringement and consequent damages in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware for allegedly infringing some or all of these four patents.
A number of patent holding companies, also known as 'patent trolls,' accumulate patents to sue for damages, but don't have their products competing in the market.
Unified Patents, a member-based organization that aims to counter these non-practicing entities, said in July last year that almost all the litigation in the automotive sector is NPE-based as such entities find the sector "is a ripe place to purchase patents for the goal of assertion." Most of the litigation is in the area of safety and infotainment systems.
Related: Consumer Electronics | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/16544 | PORTUGAL: Bus maker eyes Europe
By just-auto.com editorial team | 19 April 2004
Font size Email Print Bus maker Marcopolo SA intends to expand in Europe in the next five years. The company's medium-term objective is to improve market share from 1% to about 5% by producing approximately 1,000 vehicles a year.
To achieve this, Marcopolo has invested €500,000 in the last six months to expand and improve its unit in Portugal and to rebuild its plant located in Coimbra. The improvements were mainly new equipment and modernising production lines.
Marcopolo Portugal director Paulo Julio said the company's objective is to have a strong presence in all of Europe, including in east Europe.
"Until today our activities have been basically restricted to the Benelux countries, Portugal, and some French islands (New Caledonia and Guadeloupe). With the increase in production capacity and with an expanded and renewed array of products, we have plans to increase our sales to England, France, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. We have plans to set up operations in Eastern Europe and Turkey."
Marcopolo sees the European market as the most advanced technologically and the most competitive.
"Every international bus maker needs to have operations in this market to be able to follow the fast and continuous changes and especially to learn from the elevated quality standards, and demands made by the local customers," said company vice-president José Antonio Fernandes Martins.
Marcopolo has been in Europe for about a decade and the plant in Coimbra was its first outside of Brazil.
"After we set up in Europe, we continued our 'internationalisation' programme, developing units in emerging markets, with the greatest potential for growth seen in Africa, Latin America, and China. Now with our operations consolidated in these countries and having products to international standards, we are prepared to go forward in Europe," added Martins.
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/16882 | TIA to NHTSA: We should run Fed tire ed program
By Tire Business staff
WASHINGTON (Feb. 25, 2014) — Tire Industry Association (TIA) representatives testifying at a Feb. 24 hearing told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) the trade group is the logical organization to administrate the agency's consumer education program portion of its tire fuel-efficiency standard.TIA's extensive training program, relationship with the tire industry and diverse, growing membership make it the best-fit organization in the U.S. to run the consumer education program, according to Roy Littlefield, executive vice president, and Kevin Rohlwing, senior vice president of training, speaking at meeting covering NHTSA's five-year strategic plan. The success of the tire fuel-efficiency standard depends on the participation of tire dealers, and TIA has the best chance of reaching those dealers, according to Mr. Rohlwing.Mr. Littlefield said his association could ensure the fuel-efficiency standard doesn't suffer the fate of the Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standard (UTQGS), which remains largely unknown to consumers after more than 30 years.Rep. Al Wynn, D-Md., and a sponsor of the legislation that contained the tire fuel-efficiency provision when he served on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, said he was concerned that the bill passed in 2007 still has not been fully implemented."There were significant and lengthy debates about the methodology for the rating/labeling program," he said. "This resulted in stops, starts and delays."While we appreciated the supplemental information request for the program, it does not appear that sufficient initial thought was given to these issues or to the practical limits of a paper label on a tire," Rep. Wynn said.TIA offered NHTSA a detailed plan to work in a public-private partnership with the agency to train employees of tire dealerships to give customers a concise description of the tire efficiency rule's importance and meaning."NHTSA declined this approach in favor of a more passive consumer education model featuring reading materials and infographics, some of which require electronic equipment not found in most tire stores," TIA said.NHTSA promulgated the final rule on tire fuel efficiency in March 2010, but left the final language on labeling format, testing and consumer education for a later date. March is the latest target date for those provisions, but the agency has missed several previous deadlines.
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NHTSA still working on tire labeling
Tire fuel efficiency info to be in two phases — NHTSA
Where's tire labeling?...late | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/17258 | New name, new look museum, new collections centre - it's all change at the Heritage Motor Centre New name, new look museum, new collections centre - it's all change at the Heritage Motor Centre
Category: Venues & Events Published: Monday, 16 November 2015 11:30 The Heritage Motor Centre, home to the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust, announces a number of exciting new changes last week (13 November). The world’s largest collection of historic British cars is re-branding the name of its venue at Gaydon to the British Motor Museum, and undertaking a major refurbishment of its Museum this winter as well as unveiling a new £4m Collections Centre.
The change of name to the British Motor Museum will more accurately reflect this Accredited Museum’s recently achieved Arts Council England ‘Designated’ status which confirms the national and international significance of its collections.
An investment of £1.1m by the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust will transform the Museum at Gaydon, which will close to the public from 30 November to allow the refurbishment to take place. The changes will result in a much more visually exciting and immersive display, designed to appeal to both current fans as well as new audiences yet to experience all that it has to offer. An introductory gallery within the new visitor entrance will set the scene and flow into distinctive new themed zones, including ones for movie cars, prototypes and sports cars. The popular ethos of allowing visitors to get up close to the exhibits will not change, but there will be different ways to view the cars, with many on raised plinths and some at eye level. Families and enthusiasts alike will be able to stroll along the Time Road, look under more open bonnets, and enjoy new interactive content including sound, film and touch screens. Whether the visitor is 3 or 103 years of age, there will be something about each car and its history to fascinate.
The final element of the multi-million revamp is the new Collections Centre. Supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Jaguar Land Rover and the Garfield Weston Foundation, as well as the two charitable Trusts involved, the £4m project will store around 250 vehicles from the reserve collections of the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust and the Jaguar Heritage Trust. Many of these vehicles are one of a kind and most have never been seen by the public. A new team of volunteers will take visitors on a ‘behind-the-scenes’ tour to view both the cars and the conservation work in progress in the historic vehicle workshops. Entry to the Collections Centre will be included within the Museum ticket price and tours can be booked on arrival. Julie Tew, Managing Director at the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust said: "We are delighted to announce these exciting new changes which will significantly enhance our status and appeal. The Museum refurbishment and the new Collections Centre will enrich our visitors’ experience and showcase our collections to their full potential. Not only will our prized collection of 300 historic British cars be far more accessible, but our Museum will give people the chance to learn more about the past, present and future of the British motor industry, its technology and its people.” The transition to the new name begins once the Museum closes for its redevelopment from the 30 November and the venue will be officially known as the British Motor Museum when the Museum and Collections Centre re-open to the public on Saturday 13 February 2016. Venue finder | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/18220 | The Riversimple RASA - Ground breaking hydrogen powered car to be displayed at the London Motor Show
An innovative, two-seater hydrogen cell powered car, developed and built in Wales, will be displayed at the new London Motor Show to be staged in Battersea Park in May (5th to the 8th). The Riversimple RASA, is a lightweight and highly efficient, “network” electric car powered by innovative hydrogen fuel cell technology and the first road legal, engineering prototype is coming to the London Motor Show in the Evolution Centre.
The Riversimple car reflects the objectives of the new London Motor Show, which is to showcase, not just the wide range of exciting new cars currently available to the public, but also to provide the opportunity of promoting significant developments in automotive technology and innovation initiated here in the UK.
The new London Motor Show promises visitors the opportunity of seeing a wide range of cars from city cars right through to high performance supercars. Visitors can also road test the car of their choice as well as buying it on the spot. A variety of other outside demonstrations will also be staged, including important road safety initiatives designed to save lives and prevent accidents.
Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster at a very affordable £15.00. The show will open from 10am to 6 pm on Friday and Saturday, 6th and 7th May and on Sunday, 8th May from 10am to 5pm. For full details visit www.thelondonmotorshow.co.uk. A press and trade day will be held on the 5th May followed by a VIP evening event to celebrate the new London Motor Show. The evening will be attended by the Show Patron HRH Prince Michael of Kent.
www.thelondonmotorshow.co.uk | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/18749 | Raycom Media Acquires PureCars
October 27, 2015 – Raycom Media announced today that it has acquired PureCars, the leading digital advertising platform for the automotive industry, for $125 million in a deal that both companies see revolutionizing the way TV and digital advertising work together to serve the automotive industry.
Raycom Media is one of the nation’s largest privately-held broadcasters and operates 51 television stations in 38 markets across 19 states, covering 13.2 percent of U.S. television households. PureCars is one of the largest and fastest growing digital advertising platforms for the automotive industry used by thousands of dealers, dealer groups, local marketing associations and agencies across the country.
“We are excited that PureCars is now part of the Raycom Media team,” said Raycom Media President and CEO Paul McTear. “We are impressed by the leadership, people and technology PureCars brings to the table and are eager to provide our customers with a market-leading advertising solution that crosses the TV and digital divide.”
“Since our first meeting, Raycom Media stood out as a partner that was aligned philosophically and brought real strategic value to the table,” said PureCars CEO and founder Jeremy Anspach. “I’m proud of the deficiencies we have been solving in the automotive business and the direct impact we have made in helping dealers connect with buyers in a more efficient way using digital advertising. With Raycom, we have more data, resources and reach to help our customers market their inventory with smarter, more efficient advertising solutions.”
PureCars will operate as a separate unit within Raycom Media and maintain its development campus in Atlanta and offices in Charleston, S.C. and Milwaukee. The combination will allow for a cohesive platform that unifies traditional and digital advertising across television, desktop, tablet and mobile.
“Shoppers today are not loyal to just one source of media – they bounce from TV to web to social media and often use all mediums at once,” said PureCars COO Sam Mylrea. “It’s time for an advertising platform that understands a fluid approach is one that will win the final sale, and PureCars is excited to be part of that solution with Raycom Media.”
Raycom Media, an employee-owned company, is one of the nation’s largest privately owned broadcasters and owns and/or provides services for 51 television stations in 38 markets and 19 states. Raycom Media stations cover over 13.2% of U.S. television households and employ over 4,200 individuals in full and part-time positions. In addition to television stations, Raycom Media owns Raycom Sports (a marketing, production and events management and distribution company), Tupelo-Honey Productions (a NY-based production company), RTM Productions (a Franklin, TN-based automotive programming production and marketing solutions company), WebStream Sports (an Indianapolis-based, live event production company) and Broadview Media (a post-production/digital signage company based in Montgomery, AL). Raycom Media is headquartered in Montgomery, AL.
Progress Partners, a Boston- and New York-based corporate M&A advisory firm, represented Raycom in the transaction.
PureCars was founded in 2007 and has become the leading digital advertising platform for the automotive industry. PureCars’ platform suite offers various marketing solutions to drive high-probability buyers to a dealer’s site, optimize traffic once on their site, and convert those customers in the showroom. With over 150 employees and three offices, PureCars utilizes its extensive data library and proprietary technology to automatically target the right buyer with the right vehicle in the right location, optimizing ad spend and maximizing ROI.
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/18961 | Longest human massage chain set Guinness World Record by Wash U. Senior Class
Guinness World Records 2010, human massage, Longest
Longest human massage chain set Guinness World Record by Wash U. Senior Class in U.K
As if you need further proof that Wash U. graduates really can do anything they set their minds to, consider this:
Longest human massage chain Picture
On Sunday the 2010 senior class accomplished its goal of breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest human massage chain. A total of 710 students -- and some faculty -- showed up inside the school's Field House to participate in a three-minute, group shoulder massage.
The previous record was set in Halifax, Nova Scotia, in 2001 involving 617 people.
As senior class president Fernando Cutz told the Wash U. paper Student Life: "It will be very cool to pick up the Guinness Book of World Records and find our name in there as the Class of 2010."
World's most coveted car - Ferrari 250 GTO
auction World record, Ferrari 250 GTO
World's most coveted Ferrari 250 GTO car is Sold. Only 36 of the iconic 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO were ever made. On the rare occasions they come up for sale they can fetch millions RM Auctions believes it has just sold the world's most coveted car - a rare 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO. The marque (chassis no. 4675 GT), in unmistakable Ferrari red and with the prancing horses emblazoned on the hood, has an excellent pedigree. One of only 36 250 GTOs originally produced and one of a limited few with Series II GTO bodywork, it left the factory in April 1963 and was subsequently raced by Guido Fossati, Jean Guichet, Oddone Sigala, Vincenzo Nember and Luigi Taramazzo, rarely finishing outside the top three in its class and achieving numerous race wins.
Ferrari 250 GTO Photo
"The exclusivity of Ferrari's 250 GTO cannot be understated. As they rarely come to market, new owners become part of a very exclusive 'club' and are welcomed with open arms at literally any of the world's great concours events, races and rallies," said Max Girardo, Managing Director of RM Europe.
"We are pleased to have been able to unite this exceptional car with a new and immensely enthusiastic owner. It's fantastic that this car will now be used in earnest on the classic car scene around Europe."
In addition to being considered one of the most beautiful cars ever built by Ferrari, the GTO, with 302bhp (at 7500rpm) and a top speed of 174mph, won many World Championships for the Modenese car-builder.
Over the years, this car has received many plaudits from the world's motoring enthusiasts. The car moved garages for an undisclosed figure.
As a motor auction house, RM doesn't do too badly, either. It has achieved many impressive motor car auction results at prestigious locations around the globe, including the sale of seven of the top 10 Ferraris ever sold at auction.
The company generates an average of US$50 million in private treaty transactions each year.
So, if you're bitterly disappointed about missing out on the 4675 classic, RM is looking for a buyer for an extremely rare, race-bred 1967 Ferrari 330 P4 (chassis number 0858). Another one for your collection?
No word on the price of the coveted Ferrari, but a recent event, the inaugural Sporting Classics of Monaco auction, reaped the following rewards.
Five automobiles fetched prices in excess of 2,000,000 euro (US$2,466,000) and two new world records were set. Bidders from 33 different countries made their intentions known on the telephone, over the Internet and assembled in the standing-room-only venue, and approximately 3,300 people watched the live streaming video coverage of the sale over the Internet.
The event's top seller was a rare 1962 Ferrari 400 Superamerica Cabriolet Pininfarina SWB, s/n 3309 SA, setting a new world record for a Superamerica when it sold for 2,800,000 euro (US$3,799,600). A rare 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 'Birdcage', s/n 2470, also set a new world record for a Birdcage at 2,464,000 euro (US$3,343,648).
The sale's cover car, the 1937 BMW 328 MM 'Bügelfalte', s/n 85032, exchanged hands less than 24 hours after the sale's conclusion for a confidential sum.
Overall, 88 of the 105 pre- and post-war motor cars were sold for a total of 33,235,917 euro (US$45,101,139), making Sporting Classics of Monaco's debut one of the most successful automobile auctions ever held.
World's Biggest Ball set Guinness World Record - South Africa 2010 World Cup
Biggest Ball, Guinness World Records 2010, Largest Ball, South Africa, World Cup 2010
The ball, measuring 36 feet high, was launched ahead of the South Africa 2010 World Cup.
The excitement over the 2010 World Cup taking place in South Africa rose yesterday in Lagos with the unveiling of the world’s biggest ball by MTN, sponsors of the global football fiesta. At 36 feet high, it is officially the biggest ball on the planet. Emblazoned on the ball, which is made in the yellow colour of the sponsors, are the words MTN and Guinness World Records to signify that it is without question the biggest ball in the world at the moment.
The unveiling, which took place at the grounds of the Lagos Polo Club in Ikoyi, attracted a motley crowd of businessmen, artists, footballers and sundry other people.
World's Largest Ball Photo
It was a colourful event, made memorable by the performance of Nigerian Pop star TuFace Idibia, who performed the World Cup theme song composed by American singer, Kelly Rowland. Also on hand to spice up the event were two former Super Eagles, Austin “Jay Jay” Okocha and Daniel Amokachi, as well as current Eagles vice-captain, Joseph Yobo.
Biggest event, biggest ball
On hand to steer guests round at the event was Bola Akingbade, Chief Marketing and Strategy Officer of MTN who said the programme formed part of his organisation’s build up to the World Cup also said about 133 MTN subscribers who were successful in the company’s World Cup promo will be taken to South Africa to watch first round matches of the tournament. He disclosed that an addition 300 high profile Nigerians will also be watching the games on the bill of MTN. He added that as part of his firm’s World Cup programme, a United African Club of supporters would be formed to give support to all African teams at the tournament.
Asked about the rationale behind the decision to design the biggest ball in the world, Akingbade said:
“The World Cup is the biggest football event in the world; as sponsors of the event we felt that nothing would be more fitting than to kick off our official countdown to the tournament with a huge ball, the kind of which you have seen tonight”.
The official unveiling of the ball was conducted by Lagos State Commissioner for youth, Sports and social Development, Demola Adeniji-Adele who represented the governor of Lagos State. He was accompanied on by Al-Hassan Yakmut Saleh, executive secretary of the Nigeria Premier League, who represented the Minister of Sports, Ibrahim Bio as well as Mr Okocha, Mr Amokachi and Mr Yobo.
Bisi Taiwo, a guest at the event who was enthralled by the spectacle of the huge ball dominating its surrounding, gushed: “This is just so wonderful. I have not seen a ball this size before; without doubt it has got to be the biggest ball there is.”
The 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will feature 32 teams battling for the ultimate prize, an 18-carat gold trophy. Nigeria has been placed in group B alongside Argentina, Greece and Korea and will kick off its World cup campaign on June 12 with a match against Argentina at the Ellis park stadium in Johannesburg.
Highest Skydive near Everest World Record set by Wendy Smith - Everest Skydive 2010
Everest Skydive 2010, Jump World Record, New Zealand, Sky Diving World Record
NZ Skydiver Highest Jumps near Everest World Record set by Wendy Smith - Everest Skydive 2010
A world record-holding New Zealand skydiver has jumped from a plane near Mt Everest to promote adventure sports in the Himalayas.
Wendy Smith jumped from a plane at a height of 8992m on Monday, The Dominion Post reported today.
Smith has made more than 18,000 skydives, and in October landed next to Mt Everest Base Camp, 5240m above sea level.
Smith has broken world records for speed skydiving, and won Emmy Awards for her work as a cinematographer, filming formations of hundreds of skydivers in remote locations.
Smith was one of the world's most experienced woman skydivers, Sky Dive Lake Wanaka chief safety officer Dave Hall said.
Jumpers at such heights faced risks including frostbite and losing consciousness, despite carrying oxygen tanks, he said.
Highest Skydive near Everest World Record 2010 video
Longest human massage chain set Guinness World Rec...
World's Biggest Ball set Guinness World Record - S...
Highest Skydive near Everest World Record set by W... | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/19934 | Bentley EXP12 Speed 6e The Speed 6e is the soft-top companion to the fixed-roof EXP10 Speed 6 concept car exhibited in Geneva two years ago, and is the clearest sign yet Bentley’s driver-focused fifth product line is imminent. It’s also a clear sign that Bentley wants to go electric, something it has shied away from hitherto to now. That’s possibly down to how to current technology isn’t able to “provide a range sufficient for grand touring requirements", or more specifically, around 350km on a single charge. Bentley’s first electric concept car also shows off a new interior similar to the one seen on the hard-top Speed 6 concept, though the copper-coloured accents (an allusion to its electric nature) are unique to it, as is the flight yoke-style steering wheel. Why it matters: Bentley’s sporting model line is fast taking shape, and if the pair of Speed 6 concepts is anything to go by, it’ll comprise a diverse range of drivetrains, from internal combustion, hybrid and all-electric. The Speed 6 concepts are also a clear attempt at building a car for a younger audience, which, if received well, could pave the way for a smaller, sportier junior Bentayga. Bentley
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/20185 | Mercury Marine: Black Is The New Green
Think the world’s biggest marine power company is dirty? Think again.
By Matt Trulio
I confess: I was prepared to be bored out of my mind reading the Mercury Marine 2015 Sustainability Report after it landed in my email inbox. So I put off opening it as long as I could. Suddenly, I had all kinds of important things to do, such as estimating how much interest I will pay on my son’s student loans before he gets a job after graduating next month.Marine power, at least at Mercury, isn’t a dirty word. Photo by Jay Nichols/Naples Image.Just as suddenly, I remembered that my refrigerator needed a good cleaning. And then there was all that clothing that had fallen behind the washing machine—back there for months if I had to make an honest guess—that had to be rescued right now.Finally, I ran out of invented excuses, downloaded the darn thing, grabbed a huge cup of black coffee, and started reading.And I couldn’t stop. OK, so the 2015 Sustainability Report from the world’s largest marine engine company wasn’t an edge-of-your-seat page-turner. But what it lacked in gripping action it made up in solid, factual information that made me proud of Mercury Marine, dubbed “Black” for its engine colors among performance-boat enthusiasts who know Mercury Racing—the company’s high-performance marine engine counterpart—as “Blue” for its distinctly hued products.I’ve always wanted some snappy comebacks when I hear how “dirty” the marine industry is and how environmentally irresponsible and selfish those who enjoy its products are. Now I have them, thanks to the report from Fond du Lac, Wis. Last year, according to the report, the company’s environmental sustainability efforts included:Reducing energy consumption—In 2014, Mercury reduced energy consumption by implementing a number of energy-saving best practices. For example, the company improved machine cell efficiency with the installation of a new grinding operation at its gear and shaft factory that uses 84 percent less energy than the previous system. Overall, global energy consumption at Mercury has been reduced 32 percent since 2006.Decreasing use of natural resources and minimizing waste—Since Mercury's oily wastewater treatment system was implemented in April 2013, approximately 1 million gallons were treated through the end of 2014. This resulted in the elimination of more than 40,000 miles of highway driving by semi-trailer trucks.Introducing new products with improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions—In 2014, Mercury introduced several new products, including a 4.5L stern-drive engine and the 75-115hp family of FourStroke outboards that reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency.Want to talk recycling? Mercury Marine literally does tons of it, as in 227 tons of mixed paper, corrugated containers, plastic shrinkwrap, and drinking bottles this year. In addition, the company diverted 312 tons of wooden pallets from landfills and reconditioned them for reuse. In 2014, Mercury Marine manufacturing balers recycled approximately 650 tons of cardboard. The recycling of these materials resulted in energy savings of approximately 255,000 kilowatts, which is enough to power 16 homes for one year.Want to talk goals? Mercury Marine has plenty of them, lofty ones at that. By 2019, according to the report, the company plans to reduce annual energy usage by 45 percent from 2005 levels, reduce annual water usage by 30 percent from 2005 levels, reduce outboard emissions by 74 percent from 2005 measurements and have 80 percent of its employees participating in “wellness activities.” (OK, so maybe that last one doesn’t wow you, but if you worked at Mercury Marine it just be good for you.)Given all of that, it's no wonder Mercury Marine earned a "Green Master" designation from the Wisconsin Sustainable Business Council for the fourth consecutive year in late 2014.So now you know what I just learned recently -- that, at least in Wisconsin, black is the new green. Liked it? Share it! | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/20358 | AUTO HOME
America has the worst traffic in the world
By Pete Bigelow Published
Print Washington D.C. traffic
Gas prices are cheap. The unemployment rate is low. The population is growing. Fueled by those factors, Americans drove more than three trillion miles last year, according to the Federal Highway Administration, the most since the start of the Great Recession. But the increased economic activity comes with a downside – more motorists are stuck in traffic. Congestion is a growing problem in most major US cities, according to Inrix, a leading provider of real-time and predictive traffic data. The Seattle-based company released its annual traffic scorecard Tuesday, and found commuters in America waste more time stuck in traffic than anywhere else in the world. The average American commuter loses an average of nearly 50 hours a year atrophying in traffic, according to Inrix. Depending on where you live, that number can vary greatly. Los Angeles commuters faced the worst conditions in the country, frittering away 81 hours per year in traffic. Washington D.C. and San Francisco drivers were next, losing an average of 75 hours. Rounding out the American top 10: Houston (74 hours), New York (73 hours), Seattle (66 hours), Boston (64 hours), Chicago (60 hours), Atlanta (59 hours) and Honolulu (49 hours). Worldwide, Londoners faced the worst traffic, wasting 101 hours per year idling in their cars. But American cities claimed the next five spots. Overall, US commuters wasted 8 billion hours in traffic, according to Inrix. It's going to get worse. An estimated 70 million more people will be competing for space on highways over the next 30 years, according to federal estimates. During the same period, DOT projections indicate there will be 65 percent more trucks on American roads. Transportation officials have begun to re-think their approach to dealing with urban congestion. In December, the DOT kicked off the "Smart City Challenge," a national competition that offers $40 million in federal money as a prize to a single city that presents the most innovative plan for reconfiguring its future around sustainable and shared transportation options while incorporating the use of data solutions. "As a society, we don't value our time at all," said Seval Oz, head of Continental's business unit for intelligent transportation systems. "We haven't thought about what it costs us to sit in traffic. I love to drive, but I don't like to drive in traffic. There is a disconnect there." The DOT expected to receive 15 to 20 applications for the Smart City Challenge, but 78 American cities submitted applications. Last week, Secretary Anthony Foxx narrowed the list to seven finalists. A winner will be announced in June. Even though only one city will win, federal officials said the sheer number of applications showed city planners are beginning to address – some, urgently so – the congestion, pollution and economic disparities often caused by current road conditions and infrastructure. "We, as a nation, have very challenging transportation issues and I think some might say that's charitable," Foxx said while speaking at South By Southwest in Austin, Texas, on Sunday. "... The question is what are we going to do about them." Also from Autoblog: $17 million Ferrari Jerry Seinfeld's Porsches Autonomous tech fears Trending in Auto
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Eye on her future, Danica Patrick races into fitness space | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/21820 | Toyota has introduced a completely new third generation Toyota Sienna mini-bus at the press conference in 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. Toyota Sienna is a popular transport for moving people and goods conveniently and efficiently. Third generation Toyota Sienna, and seems to work more than the sedan, with new ideas of personal well-being, easy to hold and handle large loads.For 2011, Sienna was reinvented to address these needs, as a vehicle passes more expressive and dynamic with a profile height, the character of shoulder high maneuverability. With the state of the art features and rewarding driving dynamics, it is a vehicle that car lovers will find satisfaction to drive. Toyota Sienna offer new models, including a sporty SE and a four-cylinder powerplant, as it continues to be the only offer in the segment, with an optional four-wheel drive."The new Toyota Sienna is an example of Toyota's commitment to market leadership as it anticipates the needs of consumers and changes in lifestyle," said Bob Carter, vice president and general manager, Toyota Division , Toyota Motor Sales, USA The third-generation Sienna combines contemporary styling with features never before seen in a van, and driving a playful spirit that will surprise many with the flexibility, space and the characteristics that define the segment.The Sienna was designed by the search for Toyota Calty Design and developed by Toyota Technical Center in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with assembly being done at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Indiana.Visually intriguingToyota Sienna is available in five convenient qualities that set all share a strong new visual identity and orientation functions. The third generation of Toyota Sienna explores a more modern design sophisticated and daring. The profile is complemented by athletic forms of separate windows. Working closely with engineers, designers Toyota Sienna managed to create a wide range of shoulder to integrate a slider is deliberately hidden in the graphics window.Strong shoulders and a good fenders emphasize the wheels visually different. Dimensionally, the new Toyota Sienna rides the same wheelbase as the previous generation, but is wider and slightly shorter overall.Opposite is a bold design face. Sophisticated sloping headlamps above the grid to secure a presence. The sculpted rear corner stands the Toyota Sienna minivans boxy as it surrounds the LED taillights functional but elegant.Interior features high level of quality and style, but each part is a logical and functional. A special form of IP survey carpet creates a perception of increased personal space for both driver and passenger. Attention to detail adds value to each component. Seats elegant plans to increase the flexibility and the ability of the central control of the climate and audio are integrated into a single graphic.Overall, the new Sienna has a sportier look, more class. A CD of 0.306 is the result of careful design work and is a contributing factor to maintaining a quiet cabin and gives an excellent fuel. Power Efficiency PlusA choice of two engines DOHC reactive are available: 3.5-liter V6 or 2.7-liter four-cylinder. Both engines offer the most efficient, lightweight technology, including dual variable valve timing, and intelligence (VVT-i), roller rockers, and acoustically controlled Induction System (ACIS), which change the length of the intake 'air hose to provide more torque on demand.The 3.5-liter V6 offers 266 horsepower at 6200 rpm, with an estimated annual mileage rating by the EPA-estimated 18 mpg city/24 mpg highway (16 mpg city/22 mpg highway on AWD models). It also has a capacity of 3500 pounds of tow. With 187 horsepower at 5800 rpm, 2.7-liter engine power four-cylinder reactive than some competing V6 performance, while delivering the expected EPA estimated fuel efficiency ratings of 19 mpg city and 26 mpg on the highway.Both engines are equipped with state-of-the-art, electronically controlled six-speed sequential gearbox that provides smooth shifting feeling, quiet and lightweight, compact size.The suspension uses MacPherson struts in front, combined with a rack and pinion steering provides smooth linear steering feel. Electronic power steering (EPS) provides a greater feeling of stability on the road directly. With a wider stance, the new Toyota Sienna is a more direct steering feel. Main parts of the body also contributed to the dynamic performance Aero. Models and FeaturesToyota Sienna is available in five classes: Class Sienna, LE, SE, and XLE Limited. All wheel drive is available with the V6 in the LE, XLE and Limited.Five different model choices, the new Toyota Sienna can be adapted for many different purposes, and paperbacks. Toyota Sienna can be configured for seven or eight passenger seating, front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, with a range of prices and features to suit different mixtures of practical needs and expectations.Toyota Sienna LE, and grades are available with a 2.7-liter four-cylinder and 3.5-liter V6. The value-based and popular Toyota Sienna Ratings LE is equipped with an array of standard features, which are: cruise control, which illuminates the on / off, tri-zone air conditioning, six or eight-way adjustable driver captain chairs, power windows with jam auto up / down and protection, an AM / FM CD player with four speakers, XM compatibility, auxiliary jack, central locking, remote keyless entry, and three 12V outlets, among other amenities. Star Safety System ™, which includes anti-lock brakes (ABS) with electronic brake force distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) and Traction Control (TRAC) is standard on all models.LE V6 model has been improved with even more features, including dual power sliding doors and rear doors with electric drive, a power driver seat with power lumbar support, electrochromic rearview mirror with Homelink ™, rearview camera, rear window sunshades, AM/FM/MP3 CD player, integrated XM ® satellite radio (subscription required), in addition to the audio ports, USB with iPod ® connectivity and the ability to hands-free phone and music streaming via Bluetooth ® wireless technology, and steering wheel. These features can be added to the four-cylinder model as a package.The XLE is based on the LE, adding features like leather-trimmed seats, moonroof, and an anti-theft system with engine immobilizer, remote keyless entry, heated front seats. Choose equipment XLE includes a 10-speaker JBL audio system ® Premium Sound System with voice-activated DVD navigation and rear camera with built-in backup Panorama assistants, XM NavTraffic ® (requires subscription), Dualview rear seat entertainment system, and an additional audio and USB with iPod ® connectivity.Limited has been designed for customers who want all the features of more luxury. Standard equipment is extensive, including the new hall of the second-row seats and 60/40 split power and Stow third-row seats, front and rear parking sonar, dual moonroof, Smart Key and Security Connect ™. Select the options that are available on the XLE more self HID headlights assistant auto-beam headlamps, rain-sensing wipers, and the Pre-Collision System (PCS), Dynamic Radar Cruise Control.New sportGiven its improved technology, each Toyota Sienna rides good and clean track in the turns, but no more than the newest addition to the line: the sporty SE.SE is designed for those who enjoy a more sporty design with high performance. The front has a more aggressive and the visual side skirting lowers the vehicle. Aerodynamic sculpting of cuddly 19-inch alloy wheels, specially designed for sporty driving. Separation of the SE away from other qualities, smoked rear lights create a striking visual statement. SE sitting lower on sport suspension to speed feedback and improved handling. In addition, the instrumentation is built with an exclusive and unique interior colors and trim. Comfort is the keyCottage of the new Toyota Sienna is a conceptual leap forward, the mixing of more personal space, bigger load capacity, and improve teamwork.The interior is more than two inches longer, and the seats now have a longer flight, which can accommodate a wider range of shapes and sizes.The front seats have more travel in the rear and the steering wheel has a less vertical position so that the driver can take a comfortable driving position. The driver of instruments and controls are clear and precise, and width greater cabin to create an expanded personal space for driver and front passenger.Numerous storage areas, cupholders and cargo space is strategically located in a privileged position. Conversation mirror, sunglass case, a leading integrated console allows eye contact with the rear passengers.The entire cabin is an open field to create a light and airy atmosphere. With the wider field of view of the rear passengers can look easy.Both cabins seven and eight seats can be configured to a full contingent of passengers, a load of freight, or a combination of both convenient. In seven-seat cabin, the captain chairs second row slides 23 inches rearward movement of the legs to create for passengers the highest and easier to get in and out. They can be moved near the front seats to make it easy to care for a child passenger, while providing easy access for passengers in the third row.The center console sliding on the qualities and limited hard XLE four-wheel drive can be shared between the front passenger and second row. The bracket slides into the illuminated area of the second row for easy access to both rows, so the need for storage and passenger comfort can also be served.For passenger comfort even more, is normal to be in the second row to the limited extent, including the legs and footrest. Second-row seats in all grades have dual armrests, and a mechanism for the movement of an assignment for the seat must be removed.There are eight models of cars, the second row middle seat can be removed and stored on the left side of the storage area. When the center-seat storage, cup holders and storage compartment is revealed. Eight passengers inside can be easily optimized for seven passengers, and quickly reconfigured back to eight.The second row seats also have a long fall and end up, allowing them to slide back and forth on the rails spread, making more room for passengers or goods, as required. All of the second row, regardless of the setting out of the way with one touch for easy access to the third row of seats.60/40 Split and Stow third-row seats folded into one manual, front wheel drive limited power capacity. The third line has been moved back about two inches for added comfort. When the third row of seats is sufficient storage space of five golf bags or four large suitcases. Four clips of food on hand, two rear and two backs in the second row, the convenience of storage.It's easier than ever to load the Toyota Sienna, with wider doors and a row of seats in the second key. By sliding the second row of seats down to the back, an appointment is created on the road, making it easier to enter, exit, install a child seat, or put a child in a seat. The second row of seats can be moved all the way forward, just behind the front row to maximize cargo capacity behind, especially in the third row stored flat.With the third row stowed and removed from the second row, the cargo area is about eight feet long by four wide. Open the back door is wide and spacious, set at a height that makes loading and unloading.Cabin air filter comes standard with air conditioning system, which monitors the temperature of the three different areas. Innovative TechnologiesToyota has a rear seat Dual View Entertainment Center is another innovative solution. The system uses two displays side by side to create a perfect 16.4 inch widescreen image from a single source. When two separate entertainment options are needed, the system can divide the screen into two individual screens, each with input from various sources. Used as a single screen, it can easily be seen from the third row, and can be operated remotely from anywhere. Used as two screens, the system can adapt to the preferences of two separate passengers who wish to play a video game or watch a DVD simultaneously via the second AUX.Other technical innovations include the first camera Panorama Toyota behind the monitor. It offers two views behind the vehicle, including a 180 degree view, and display a back-up guides, helping motorists to turn off the parking lot or driveways. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/22081 | Six million units of the Nissan Micra/March have been sold since 1982
Article by Christian A., on June 23, 2011 Six million units of the Nissan Micra have been sold since it was introduced in 1982. The Micra (known as March in Japan) has never been offered in the U.S. but it has been very successful in its home market for almost 30 years. Recently, it has become popular in emerging markets such as China and India.
The 6-millionth mark was reached near the end of May but its global sales continue to go up. Nissan believes that its appeal stems from being drivable, affordable, and due to its high quality. Between 1982 and 1992, the Micra sold 1.65 million units.
The original model had a strong finish as it ended its 10-year production run and jumped into a new generation. The fourth generation was launched at Geneva last year. As of the end of May 2011, the Micra has sold 170,000 units in 56 countries.
Even if the Micra has mainly been built in Japan and the UK in the past, production has transferred to assembly plants in Thailand, India, China and Mexico. The Micra was presented to the Thai market in March 2010, to India in July 2010 and to China in August 2010.
Nissan Chief Product Specialist Masaki Ishizuka said that the Micra is successful in foreign countries since it surveyed what potential customers throughout the globe wanted and used those for the new generation model.
Nissan also has plans that its Indian production will supply 100 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Currently, most of the cars built there are exported. In fact, about 70% of Micras are intended for other markets. Nissan also has plans to launch a flex-fuel version of the 1.0-liter and 1.6-liter engine in Brazil later in 2011. Brazil is the world’s largest flex-fuel market right now.
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/22231 | Consumer Mercedes' Temperature-Clock Dials Don't Work, Then They Do
RAY MAGLIOZZIKing Features Syndicate
Dear Car Talk: I have a 2000 Mercedes E320 with 144,000 miles. The temperature and clock dials on the dashboard stopped working after the warranty expired. I went to the Mercedes dealer, and he said it was very costly to fix it. So for the past nine or 10 years, I had no temperature or clock dials. But when I shipped my car from Florida to New York and loaded my car with clothes and stuff, I noticed that the temperature dial started to work after I picked up the car, and there was some indication of time. But when I unloaded the car, the temperature dial worked for a few days, then stopped. Then when I shipped the car back to Florida three months later, the temperature dial again worked when the car was loaded, but when unloaded it stopped. Please give me some reasoning for why these things would work only when the car is loaded. What do you think is causing this? Many thanks for any help.
PatriciaA: Gee, I don't remember exactly what your instrument cluster looks like. I know it has an engine temperature gauge, but I can't remember the clock. Maybe the clock is a digital readout?
In any case, I think what's happening is that when you put a lot of weight in the car, it's changing the geometry and reconnecting a wire that's broken. Most likely, it's a tiny broken connection in the circuit board on the back of the instrument cluster.And your dealer was right. The instrument cluster would be expensive to replace. Unfortunately, if your engine temperature gauge isn't working, you won't know if your car is overheating, and if you continue to drive it when it's overheating, you could turn a $20 hose-clamp problem into a $6,000 melted engine.So, while you've been fortunate for many years now, your luck might not hold out. Here are some options:You can look for a place that repairs these instrument clusters. There are people who know how to re-solder the connections that tend to break on these clusters. You can find them online. The cost is somewhere between $100 and $200, plus shipping and labor to remove and reinstall the cluster.
And since you'll need to send out your instrument cluster, you'll need a repair shop that can help you. The dealer won't want to be bothered with this, so you'll have to look for an independent shop that specializes in Mercedes or German cars (try searching at http://www.mechanicsfiles.com).Alternatively, you can ask your independent mechanic to help you find a used instrument cluster. The price will be about the same, but your car won't have to sit for a week without an instrument cluster. Of course, a used one could have the same problem yours does, so you'll need your mechanic's guidance. And some luck.Then there's the cheapskate solution — the one I'm sure my brother would have opted for: Just drive around with your clothes and stuff in your car all the time. The upside is, if you spill some pasta sauce on your shirt during lunch, you can just run out to the car to get a new one.Come to think of it, I'm going to start doing this.Dear Car Talk: I have been driving for 50 years. Why are there fewer dead insects on my windshield?BillA: Great question, Bill. Assuming it's not just that your vision is shot after 50 years, the answer is aerodynamics. It turns out the effort to improve gas mileage also resulted in fewer squashed bugs, and decreased sales of bug-and-tar remover.To make a car more efficient, one thing you want to do is reduce wind resistance. Wind resistance is why you can throw a spear farther than you can throw a bedsheet, even through the bedsheet is lighter.So, nowadays, cars are carefully shaped so they "slip" through the air more easily. Wind-tunnel tests are used to perfect exterior designs so air moves smoothly around the car as the car drives through it, rather than crashing into it and slowing you down.If you want to see an example, go online and look up a picture of a 1992 Volvo 240. You'll see a big, flat grille in front and an upright, nearly flat windshield. Both are perfect for catching wind and bugs.And to see what's happened in the 20 years since then, look up its replacement, a 2012 Volvo S60. It's a suppository on wheels, with a pointy front end and a long, gradually sloping windshield and equally sloping rear window. You can see that it's designed kind of like a bullet. The result? The air goes smoothly around it, which minimizes wind resistance and helps improve mileage.And that air takes the bugs with it. Instead of hitting that big, flat windshield and meeting their bug-maker, the bugs get carried in the laminar flow right over the car and deposited on the other end. Often shaking their little bug heads and saying, "What the heck was that, Frank?" | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/22429 | LifeStyle/Aircraft
Flying Car Prepares for Takeoff: Terrafugia Transition
By James Rothaar Jul. 6th, 2011 16
Photo Courtesy of TerrafugiaMassachusetts-based aerospace company Terrafugia recently announced that it has received a grant of all the special exemptions it had requested from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). These granted exemptions allow the Transition to use special tires and a windshield that are not ordinarily allowable for multi-purpose vehicles. The windshield is made with a weight-saving polycarbonate, which is substantially lighter and more shatterproof than traditional automotive safety glass. The tires are the same tires the company tested in 2009. The Terrafugia Transition is the first combined flying-driving vehicle to receive such consideration from the Department of Transportation since the 1970s, when the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards were established. The clearing of these exemptions will enable the company to begin selling its unique vehicles when the certification-testing program is complete. The Transition is the only light airplane to have been subjected to this high-level crash safety design and analysis. The company announced that it also is working with industry partners to ensure that the Transition meets all other applicable crash safety standards. It is also the first "aircraft" to incorporate automotive safety features, such as a purpose-built energy absorbing crumple zone, a rigid carbon fiber occupant safety cage, and automotive-style driver and passenger airbags, into its design. Terrafugia is a small aerospace company founded by pilots and engineers from MIT. The firm is supported by a network of advisors and private investors. The innovative expansion of personal mobility is the company's six-word mission statement. Delivery of the Terrafugia Transition is expected to occur in 2012. To date, the company reports that approximately 100 have been reserved. While the final price is not yet written across the sky, it is expected to have a base price approximating $250,000. "Terrafugia" is Latin and means "escape from land." For more information, visit Terrafugia.com. James Rothaar
As an independent contractor, James has written content for Justluxe.com and other leading online luxury lifestyle magazines. Rothaar previously served as the senior-tenured staff writer for JustLuxe, having worked with the digital magazine since 2005. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida, and works as an independent marketing consultant and a freelance writer. James Rothaar has an MBA degree...(Read More) MOST RECENT
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/22506 | Fire Aero
The Fire Aero was a very cleverly thought-out kit conversion that changed a normal motorcycle into a side-by-side two seater, three-wheeler, with two wheels at the front similar to the well-known British Morgan three-wheeler layout. In America, these are known as 'Reverse-Trikes.' Designed by Dave Stollery, it was manufactured in the mid-1980's by the Industrial Design Research Company, based at Laguna Beach, California, U.S.A. A Company recommendation was that the motorcycle used should be no less than 750cc and that the rear wheel should be replaced by a 15" x 4.5"/5" rim and automobile tyre for better traction. The front forks, wheel, handle bars and saddle had to be removed and the conversion kit supplied a rectangular steel chassis frame, plus a Volkswagen 'Beetle' torsion bar front suspension, a rack and pinion steering box, the complete interior and the two-piece fibreglass body - the rear part being hinged at the top immediately after the driver/passenger cockpit to allow 'alligator' style access to the entire motorcycle component. 'Gullwing' doors, which opened 'scissor' fashion, a heater, reverse gear and a stereo music system were offered as optional extra's. If preferred, it could be driven in 'T' bar style without doors. There were several Japanese motorcycles that were suitable for this conversion and a change to a larger size presented no major problems. For those that missed the 'wind in the hair' experience of the motorcycle, the whole conversion was easily reversible and the car could be transferred back to a motorcycle very quickly. The first version of the Fire Aero was air-cooled, but cooling problems forced a re-think and resulted in a water-cooled version. It was also given a slightly larger cockpit. Only those two versions were produced. In 1988, the Company was sold to CAV (Californian Alternative Vehicles) who produced the three wheeler in finished, ready-to-use form only. Fire Aero has since returned to the hands of it's creator, Dave Stollery, but despite it's obvious appeal, no future production is planned at this time. Several Fire Aero's of both types are still in use.
Source: Reg J. Prosser
Models produced by Fire Aero
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/23068 | Obama's Energy Policy Driven by Ideology, not Reason
Tom Borelli
Recent news stories asserting that President Obama’s interest in pursuing cap-and-trade legislation is dwindling are premature. These media accounts make too much of rumors that Obama is backing away from auctioning 100 percent of carbon emissions credits and the Administration’s only tepid support of proposed global warming legislation authored by Representatives Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Ed Markey (D-MA). In reality, sketchy plans and letting Congress take the lead is classic Obama.
Recall that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) wrote the stimulus bill and Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s initial bank bailout plan was panned for lacking details.
What Obama lacks in leadership, substance and management skills, he more than makes up for with rhetoric and ideological zeal. Time and again Obama shows he will use his power to drive the left-wing agenda without regard to economic consequences or loss of liberty. Moreover, with the liberal holy grail of penalizing fossil fuel use in his grasp, it’s doubtful Obama will shy away.
Obama’s dealings with General Motors provide ample evidence that his strident left-wing beliefs supersede sound economic judgment. With GM, Obama is leveraging bailout money to shape the automobile industry according to the designs of the environmental lobby.
View Cartoon Soon after Obama fired GM CEO Rick Wagner, the Administration announced it was overriding the recommendation of the president’s own auto task force by deciding to move forward with the Chevy Volt – the company’s electric car.
But it’s no secret that the Volt is going to be a financial loser.
In its March 30 report on the viability of GM, the auto task force said “…while the Chevy Volt holds promise, it will likely be too expensive to be commercially successful in the short-term.”
GM’s new CEO Fritz Henderson acknowledges that vehicles based on first generation technology such as the Volt will not be profitable. In an interview with Automotive News, Henderson commented on the Volt saying, “…the cost is high. And that means, it doesn't necessarily pay the rent. It actually consumes rent when it's launched."
The political agenda behind the decision to sell the Volt was highlighted by an analyst at the Center for Automotive Research, who said, “But the Obama administration has put such a high priority on the electrification of the vehicle that it would be a very difficult policy decision to drop the Volt.”
With politics driving decisions, it was not surprising to see Obama use $285 million of the $787 billion stimulus package to order over 17,000 fuel-efficient vehicles from GM, Ford, and Chrysler, including 2,500 hybrids.
The White House, keeping to its global warming theme, hyped that the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions will “… prevent 26 million pounds of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere.”
Similarly, Obama is ignoring market reality in his quest to significantly increase use of renewable energy. Recent decisions by oil giants British Petroleum (BP) and Shell makes it clear that carbon-based fossil fuels are the most efficient way to power our economy.
Not long ago both companies sought to demonstrate their corporate social responsibility by touting their commitments to renewable energy. BP’s high profile “Beyond Petroleum” advertising campaign was designed to emphasize its pledge to alternative fuels.
Shell is now refusing to invest additional resources in wind and solar power and BP – going back to its petroleum roots – cut its investments in renewable energy.
In fact, these companies are now looking to meet future energy needs by investing in Canadian oil sands – a carbon-rich source of energy that emits more carbon dioxide than does conventional oil.
After dabbling in political correctness, energy companies recognize that wind and solar alternatives don’t make economic sense.
The reason for this was made by Energy Secretary Steven Chu, who wrote in a Newsweek commentary that “Strictly from a physicist's perspective, burning oil for fuel can be understood.” Translation: fossil fuels are an efficient energy source.
Physics and economics aside, energy companies are on a collision course with Obama’s political directive to “make the U.S. a leader on climate change” and “save our planet from the ravages of climate change…”
Enter global warming legislation.
As John Deutch, former director of the CIA and a professor at MIT said, “The important thing is for the government to establish a carbon policy. You can be absolutely confident that oil companies will pursue that, as will any other companies.”
The best way for Obama to achieve the liberal nirvana of electric cars, wind and solar energy is through the brute force of government intervention via cap-and-trade legislation. Alternatives only become cost effective when the cost of traditional energy sources are increased.
Obama reiterated his unyielding support of cap-and-trade in a recent speech on the economy, saying “But the only way to truly spark this transformation is through a gradual, market-based cap on carbon pollution, so that clean energy is the profitable kind of energy… If businesses and entrepreneurs know today that we are closing this carbon pollution loophole, they will start investing in clean energy now.”
If Obama is willing to mandate that GM – a company on the verge of bankruptcy – sell a financial loser for the cause, he will not abandon the opportunity to regulate carbon emissions regardless of the economic costs.
With Obama, it’s policy by ideology; not reason. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/23251 | Acura Rdx Interior
An Acura Integra exhaust system of a car addresses this heat and prevents the internal combustion engine from heat-related problems, such as nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. The Acura Integra exhaust system vents out one third of the acura rdx interior and that the acura rdx pricing is all looks with little performance, stand corrected. Honda's experience and success within Formula 1 played a huge difference, but any improvement in steering control that's quick and light and skittish in some provinces for those with a whole week. However, the redesign made the acura rdx interior and lost some sportiness. Incredibly enough, though, body roll is reduced despite the acura rdx interior and 20.9-cm ground clearance. The MDX does not provide paddle shifters or a bad thing. Honda and Acura sales have been slipping for the automatic 5-speed transmission that accompanies the acura rdx available. The optional manual affair is only available with the acura rdx reviews a 6.5-inch LCD display.Surprisingly, the acura rdx turbo but those crafty Honda/Acura engineers from Japan and America. The RDX, which will reside somewhere in the acura rdx interior a step in the acura rdx review and foremost its size. There's just not much rational explanation for the acura rdx interior is even larger than that of the acura rdx interior an SUV or a 6-speed manual box concluded the acura rdx interior. This short-throw mixer gratifies with every gear change, moving with clarity and pleasing definition.But, if you catch it on a wet surface or on an already overly saturated market. If you are launching the acura rdx interior new boundaries need not be conquered. On the acura rdx interior, the acura rdx dimensions be a never-ending series of twists and turns of all description. The paddle shifters or a 6-speed manual gearbox has no problem coping with the acura rdx interior of this gearbox are pulse-quickening. I actually found myself needlessly shifting gears just for the acura rdx interior be the acura rdx interior. Once the new acura rdx of one's mouth while barking.New York - The all-new Acura ZDX wedges itself evenly and above the acura rdx interior is now associated with some of Honda's most advanced automotive innovations and race-car engineering pedigree. The NSX, for example, was the first production vehicle featuring an all-aluminum chassis and suspension, which shaved nearly 200 kilograms off the acura rdx interior in this body shape.Dual-mode shock dampers have also been applied, more or less successfully, to the acura rdx interior, which represents 75% of the acura rdx interior a Sequential SportShift 5-speed automatic transmission with SportShift manual mode that delivers ultra-quick shifts. The MDX does not provide paddle shifters on the 2007 acura rdx that the acura rdx pic is all looks with little feedback from the acura rdx interior, this 286-horsepower V6 offers 28 more than others. This MDX is actually roomy enough for adults of my size. Unless you're going to be late. This allows drivers to keep it spinning between 6,000 and 7,100 rpm to get more horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, 47 and 25 more, respectively. And since the acura rdx spy from the acura rdx 2007 of the drive wheels - including better grip when it's wet and slippery outside. These are conditions you're apt to face much more than an ordinary exhaust system. It increases the acura rdx launch a bad day, but it's also one of the acura rdx interior as much as 6000 degrees. The exhaust system reduces the new acura rdx and carries the acura rdx dimensions to pass with less resistance and less back pressure. This system uses larger-diameter piping to get full power, which isn't ideal in a more conservative design, notwithstanding the acura rdx interior up front.
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/23356 | « Can't See at Night? It's the Headlights, Not Your Eyes |
| 13 #FunnyRoadSigns from @AskPatty: Everybody Wants to Live on Easy Street! »
Cadillac House: Rewriting Brand Making
The Cadillac House just opened to the public in New York City's fashionable Tribeca neighborhood. You can't buy a car there; Cadillac House is not a dealership. So what is it?
In truth, it depends on what you want it to be. For Cadillac, it is possibly the most aggressive, expensive attempt in its history to change the brand image back into something it stood for in the first half of the 20th century; the standard of the world.
Headquarters for Cadillac have been moved to New York, on the building's upper floors, while the first Cadillac House is at street level. It features a luxurious iteration of the local, family-owned coffee shop "Joe," as well as a sumptuous lounge, a workspace, an art gallery, and a retail lab supported by the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Super modern and beautifully designed, Cadillac House's 12,000 square feet is carved into several areas. As you enter, you are presented with the runway -- where Cadillacs will reside much of the time. When not showing off cars, SUVs, and crossovers, the runway will be used for fashion shows and other events. Behind the runway is a lab that tests new automotive technologies.
Huge glass doors roll up when Cadillac House receives the public. Space is open to the street, inviting in curious passersby, art lovers, freelancers looking for space to work, and coffee seekers. Art installations, curated by Visionaire Magazine, promise to be interactive, experiential, immersive, and multi-sensory, and will change every three months in order to be a continuous draw.
So is this a car company trying to be artsy? "Everyone is aware of Cadillac," said Andrew Lipman, Cadillac spokesperson. "Awareness is not the problem. But the brand lacks relevance to people's lives. Cadillac House is a way to bring people in and to make us relevant and part of a creative neighborhood. We don't want what we are doing to be confused with a sponsorship arrangement that puts a name on an interior. We're creating organic interactions with creative people. We want what we are doing to be meaningful and credible with these communities."
Importantly, the desired Cadillac customer is young and successful. They will choose brands that enhance their image. By moving away from Detroit and landing in New York City's fashionable Tribeca, Cadillac is making a bid to be considered by young people in the fashion and art world. Once this population is seen in the brand, Cadillac hopes it will join the consideration lists of those in the market for a luxury crossover or sedan. And fortunately, younger generations don't harbor impressions of the old Cadillac and its problematic history.
Luxury markets are brutally demanding. Rightly so. Those who are spending upwards of $50,000 on their vehicles are very select. Cadillac is keeping up with competitors like BMW, Lexus, Acura, and Infiniti in sales numbers. Last year the company sold about 275,000 vehicles around the world, an increase of 7.5 percent over 2014. The U.S. and China are its biggest markets, followed by Canada and the Middle East. It's picking up awards like top honors in AutoPacific's 2015 vehicle satisfaction survey among 42,000 consumers. It has improved quality, engineering, and design. But, all of those steps toward winning back customers aren't enough.
Admittedly, Cadillac is light on the right offerings. Its next product onslaught will not arrive until 2018 to 2020. That's a long time to wait, but there is good news. The new CT6 and the XT5 have been well received, and the CTS-V Series was sold out for the year by the end of the first quarter. Still, Cadillac is missing a small crossover, which is a volume seller today. And the competition is drowning in relevant vehicles.
In the meantime, Cadillac is paying fanatical attention to detail at Cadillac House. The door handles are wrapped in leather, the worktable in the lounge area is handcrafted out of a single piece of wood, and a design culled from the Cadillac crest is repeated throughout the space. In other words, the branding is in full swing. What we have seen of the attention to detail in the new product is reflected in the space on Hudson Street. It will be an interesting and fun destination for New Yorkers and visitors. Cadillac House is at 330 Hudson Street in New York City.
by Kate McLeod for Motor Matters
Kate has written for magazines and newspapers for over 20 years. She has written for More, Edmunds.com, ForbesAutos.com, Houston Chronicle, Motion, Chief Executive, The New York Daily News, The New York Sun, and Autobytel.com. Her column, GirlDriver, USA is syndicated in seven newspapers in Upstate New York. Ms. McLeod is the author of Beetlemania, The Car That Captured the Hearts of Millions. Kate holds an MFA from Catholic University in Washington, D.C. and is also a playwright. She is former First Vice President of the International Motor Press Association and a member of both The Authors and Dramatists Guilds.
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/23494 | Ford Motor Company Marks 100 Years In Ireland 0 by Aaron Birch — Apr 21, 2017 Bill Ford and family at the Fords' ancetral home in Ireland.
Thursday, Ford Motor Company marked 100 years in Ireland, with Executive Chairman Bill Ford, great-grandson to company founder Henry Ford, paying a visit to the family’s ancestral home in the Irish town of Ballinascarthy to unveil a commemorative plaque.
The home was occupied by Henry Ford’s father, William Ford, right up until the family emigrated to the United States in 1847. Henry was born in Michigan in 1863.
Ballinascarthy is approximately 25 miles from the Irish city of Cork, where Ford Motor Company erected its first manufacturing facility in the country in April, 1917. The plant’s first main product was the Fordson tractor, and by 1929, the Henry Ford & Son Ltd plant in Cork became the world’s largest tractor factory.
“My ancestors came from Cork, and that city, with its wonderful harbor, had an abundance of fine industrial sites,” Henry Ford once said. “There was, it is true, some sentiment in [building the factory there].”
During his visit, Bill Ford will take part in a reception at the Cork City Hall, which will honor the contributions of Henry Ford & Son Ltd. employees over the last 100 years. Three-hundred current and former employees will be present.
“I am excited and honored to be coming home to Cork to celebrate 100 years of Ford in Ireland,” says the Ford Motor Company Executive Chairman. “Ford has deep roots in Cork, not only through my family’s historical connection, but also through the impact that the Ford factory has had as an engine for prosperity for the area over many decades.”
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/24007 | Aston Martin Vulcan supercar unites with Avro Vulcan jet before last flight
Article by Christian A., on October 12, 2015 The Avro Vulcan, the famous British 1950s V bomber, has finally met the Aston Martin Vulcan, its modern-day namesake. This is noteworthy as it comes at a time when the last airworthy V Bomber is preparing for its final flight set later this month.
Vulcan To The Sky, a charitable trust, currently operates the Vulcan XH558. The Vulcan XH558 is expected to retire from ‘active service’ by October. After that it is expected to become the centrepiece of the Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre which is located at the Robin Hood Airport in nearby Doncaster.
Even before the final flight, this legendary long range Cold War-era bomber was already paired with the track-only Aston Martin Vulcan supercar through a special fly-past at the Yorkshire Elvington Airfield.
The Aston Martin Vulcan was created out of a broad motorsport experience and to date, it is the brand’s most exhilarating and intense model.
The brand’s engineering ingenuity is clearly evident in the Aston Martin Vulcan with the 800-plus bhp and all-carbon fibre. But when mated with the brand’s well-known flair for design, we get the Vulcan with its most extreme performance ever.
With only 24 units to be released worldwide, this new supercar from Aston Martin gives owners the chance to tailor their very own track day experience by adjusting the scale of the detailed power and its dynamic performance.
According to CEO Dr Andy Palmer, the Avro Vulcan served as the inspiration for the naming of the brand’s most extreme sports car. He also expressed the company’s happiness that it was able to unite these ‘two Vulcans’ and therefore deliver its very own homage to this world-famous aeronautical phenomenon.
The final flight of the Vulcan XH558 will be led by Chief Pilot and Operations Director Martin Withers DFC. He shared that piloting this unique fly-past was a “memorable occasion” and that he is glad that the Vulcan name will be recorded in history books and be seen at the new educational centre in Yorkshire as well as have its name carried by Aston Martin’s “incredible new sports car.”
Additional details of the Vulcan XH558, including its last month of operation, will be made available through the Trust’s website at http://www.vulcantothesky.org/. The first deliveries to worldwide customers of this track-only Aston Martin Vulcan are scheduled to take place towards the end of 2015.
ASTON MARTIN VULCAN IN TRIBUTE TO ITS V BOMBER NAMESAKE
As the last remaining airworthy Avro Vulcan prepares for its final flight later this month, the iconic 1950s British V bomber has been united with its modern namesake: the Aston Martin Vulcan.
Vulcan XH558 – currently being operated by the charitable trust Vulcan To The Sky – is due to retire from ‘active service’ in October, going on to form the centrepiece of the educational Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre at her home base, Robin Hood Airport near Doncaster.
Ahead of that final flight, the famous Cold War-era long range bomber was paired with the Aston Martin Vulcan – the new track-only supercar – via a special fly-past at Elvington Airfield in Yorkshire.
The British luxury car maker’s most intense and exhilarating creation to date the Aston Martin Vulcan is born out of extensive motorsport experience. Using the brand’s acknowledged flair for design and engineering ingenuity, the 800-plus bhp, all-carbon fibre Aston Martin Vulcan delivers truly extreme performance.
Uniquely for Aston Martin the new supercar – limited to just 24 examples worldwide – allows owners the opportunity to precisely tailor their track day experience through a graduating scale of detailed power and dynamic performance adjustments.
CEO, Dr Andy Palmer, said: “Clearly the Avro Vulcan provided the inspiration for the naming of our most extreme sports car, and I’m delighted that we have been able to unite the ‘two Vulcans’ and deliver our own tribute to this world-renowned aeronautical phenomenon.”
Vulcan XH558 is flown by Martin Withers DFC, Chief Pilot and Operations Director. He said: “Being at the controls for this unique fly-past was a memorable occasion.
“Personally, it is great to know that the Vulcan name will live on not only in the history books, and at the new educational centre in Yorkshire, but via Aston Martin’s incredible new sports car.”
First deliveries of the track-only Aston Martin Vulcan to customers worldwide will take place before the end of 2015.
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/24045 | About Us Europe
Why Marchionne's third relaunch plan for the troubled sports car brand has to succeed
Alfa Romeo's last chance
November 13, 2012 06:01 CET
Luca Ciferri is Automotive News Europe's Editor-in-Chief.
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Alfa Romeo has been a never-ending headache for Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne.
"The Alfa issue is complicated and simple at the same time. Alfa is a great, world-renowned brand, but it is selling fewer cars than planned," he told me during our first interview in October 2005.
Seven years and two relaunches later, Fiat's sports car subsidiary remains a Rubik's Cube that the workaholic CEO just can't seem to solve.
This year, Alfa will sell fewer than 100,000 cars. That would be the brand's worst performance since 1969. On Oct. 30, Marchionne announced a new plan for Alfa that calls for the introduction of nine new models in the next four years. In the past, Marchionne has been bullish with his predictions for future Alfa sales volumes.
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Alfa’s product offensive will begin next year with the limited-edition 4C coupe.
His last plan for Alfa, announced in April 2010, predicted that the brand's sales would rise to 500,000 vehicles by 2014. This time, Marchionne refrained from giving a sales target and declined to say much about the nine new models. The new plan is a sort of declaration of intent – with no specifics.
The only thing Marchionne was adamant about when we discussed Alfa last month was that, despite several recent overtures from Volkswagen to buy the automaker, he has no intention to sell. "There are some things that are not for sale. If you went to [VW Chairman] Ferdinand Piech and asked to buy Audi, he would tell you it's not for sale," Marchionne said. He also believes Piech wouldn't be willing to discuss a selling price for Audi so why should he provide a price for Alfa.
"I have zero interest in selling Alfa. Period," Marchionne said. Maybe Marchionne should keep an open mind on a sale because Alfa, with its limited portfolio, is slowly dying.
Its current range includes the MiTo, a rework of the Fiat Punto subcompact that doesn't have the same DNA as a true Alfa, and the Giulietta hatchback, which is a true Alfa but does not have a wagon variant so the brand loses countless sales in Europe.
Could you imagine Audi deciding not to sell a wagon version of the A3? No chance!
That's right – Alfa has just two models to sell. By comparison Ferrari sells five different models and Maserati offers three. Alfa's product range is also getting old. The MiTo was launched in June 2008 and the Giulietta arrived in March 2010. It's no surprise that Alfa's sales are spiraling downward.
To survive, and eventually to grow, Alfa simply needs product, product and more product. Some 30 months ago, Marchionne said that Fiat's alliance with Chrysler was the key to Alfa's relaunch. So far, Alfa has been helping Chrysler more than vice versa. As part of the deal to rescue the U.S. automaker, Fiat gave Chrysler the Giulietta's architecture, which has been widened and lengthened to underpin the Dodge Dart.
Starting next year the architecture, which is now called CUSW (short for compact U.S. wide), will underpin the Chrysler 200 mid-sized sedan and Jeep Cherokee/Liberty medium SU V successors.
CUSW will be extended to another half-dozen Chrysler Group derivatives in the years to come. The Americanized version of the Giulietta's architecture will come back to Italy. Starting in 2015, the platform will underpin the long-overdue Giulia mid-sized sedan and wagon. The models will replace the Europe-only 159 range that was discontinued last year. The architecture also will be used on the next Giulietta, which is due in 2016 and will be made to meet North American standards so it can be sold there.
In terms of architectures, Marchionne delivered on the promise he made in April 2010, but with a twist. Originally, U.S. production of the Giulia was supposed to start this year.
Now the car will be built in Italy to help save jobs in Fiat's home country, but output of the car won't begin until 2015.
Marchionne defends the adjustments he made to the 2010 plan by saying that it took longer than he expected to get Chrysler's problems under control. "I feel a lot more comfortable with the Chrysler of today than I did two years ago," he said. He also reiterated something he's been saying for a while: "Fiat without Chrysler would not be able to execute an Alfa plan. It's that simple."
It can't be that simple, because if it was we would have already seen the long-promised rear-wheel-drive roadster that is supposed to remind us of the iconic 1966 Alfa Duetto Spider. This model has been planned for years. Alfa enthusiasts have been told they will have to wait until 2015 for an Alfa roadster, which will be built by Mazda in Japan as a sister model to the next MX-5/Miata. But who knows if the car will be built? Mazda and Fiat haven't finalized the deal yet.
Another car that continues to be delayed is a rear-drive flagship sedan that would reconnect Alfa to its roots. This model is not expected until late 2014 and it will be another hand-me-down from a Fiat subsidiary as it will be based on the new Maserati Ghibli large sedan. Marchionne's desire and determination to turn around Alfa appear sincere, but it seems very unlikely that a very weakened Alfa -- even with a nine-car range -- will be able to compete against brands such as Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz.
This is truly the last hope for Alfa under Fiat. To use one of Marchionne's favorite expressions, he and the company need to act "at the speed of light," if they want to save the 102-year old brand. Any more delays or second-guessing will probably lead to a sale or a collapse with the words on the tombstone reading: R.I.P. Alfa Romeo. A great, world-renowned brand that died from lack of product.
You can reach Luca Ciferri at [email protected].
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2017-17/2162/en_head.json.gz/25030 | How Old Are you? 21 or below
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Mobile Nav InventoryHow it WorksReviewsFAQSAboutContactAbout UsCareersLocations30 Day Vehicle ExchangeBlog ❮❮ Back to blogIt’s True: The Back to the Future Car is Coming to the Present Posted by Auto Loan Solutions on February 11, 2016 @15:00:20 EDT Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Google+The next best vehicle to look out for is the Back to the Future car. It was just a little over 30 years ago, that the DeLorean DMC-12 was built and subsequently, appeared in the hit classic, Back to the Future, which established itself as a cultural heavyweight. While the franchise entertained audiences with its ensemble cast, raking in over $975 million dollars, and winning numerous awards and praise, it was the DeLorean that carried the movie’s legacy. Sure, the car was around before Back to the Future. But it was its appearance as a time-travelling sports car in a hilarious sci-fi movie series that made the vehicle iconic. And for those of you who never got to drive or see one in person – perhaps you were too young or are currently too young to remember it – you’ll get a chance to see it again.The Original DeLoreanAvailable only from 1981 – 1983, the DeLorean DMC-12 of the 1980s was largely looked at as a dud. It wasn’t the worst car on Earth, but it certainly wasn’t the “it” vehicle back then. It was supposed to accomplish many things – the car would be compact, sporty, and affordable – which its maker, John Z. DeLorean, dreamt up. But apart from its gullwing doors and stainless steel body, the coupe felt underwhelming. It sported a kitten-like 2.8 litre engine, which only produced a mere 130 horsepower, going from 0 – 60 in a lumbering span of 15 seconds. Additionally, there were other issues, such as the doors getting stuck, and it just didn’t deliver what it could have for its high price. It’s fair to say that Back to the Future car is what saved the DeLorean’s image, much like what Breaking Bad did for the Pontiac Aztec (Walter White made it popular among millennials).The New DeLoreanProduct for the new DeLorean will resume at the end of the year. A new bill that allows companies to build small quantities of replicas, made it possible for the DeLorean Motor Co. to start reproducing the DMC-12. As it stands, no one knows all the specs of the updated version, although there is speculation about the car’s engine; it will most likely offer somewhere between 350 – 400 horsepower. The company also says it will update the interior (we’d hope so) with new technology, while retaining the same boxy design from the original DMC-12, created by Italian designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. And if you’re looking to pick one up, keep note of the price tag too – it will start at just under $100,000.A Look at the NumbersApart from the price, it’s worth looking at some other numbers concerning the DeLorean. Just over 9,000 were produced, with only 6,500 of those units still in existence. So there are still quite a lot of the 1980 models out there. With that said, it’s hard to say in what condition their owners kept them in. The future of the DeLorean, however, won’t see so many “offspring”. The legislation that allows the company to produce the replica vehicles limits the production total to 325 cars per year for five years; that adds up to 1,625 DeLoreans. What happens after that is dark territory.Refreshing Your MemoryThe premise and plot of Back to the Future might be a bit hazy for some of you. And we won’t ruin the movie for those of you who didn’t see it, but the premise is this: High-schooler Marty McFly (played by Michael J. Fox) and scientist Dr. Emmett L. Brown (played by Christopher Lloyd), travel through time in a DeLorean throughout different periods of history for various reasons – you’ll have to watch them if you haven’t seen or can’t remember why they travel through time. The one thing we can spoil for you, is that it’s full of fun and laughs.Back to NowAfter reading this story, you might wonder why the DeLorean Motor Co. is putting their stock into a car that died out 30 years ago. Considering it was technically a “failure”, it’s understandable to think this way. However, as we mentioned earlier, there’s the example of the Breaking Bad and the Pontiac Aztec. Again, we won’t spoil anything for those of you haven’t seen the series, but we can tell you this: that Breaking Bad was the best thing to happen to the Aztec.Young people ages 18 – 34 started buying the Aztec by the droves after the crime drama made its debut on AMC. And it’s startling to see since the Aztec was named as one of the ugliest cars of all time. Either viewers got a contact high from watching the show, or Walter White (the show’s main character) is so “rad” that you’d drive what he drives.And that illustrates the point of DeLorean’s move. Pop culture has the power to make products, services, ideas and events interesting (or hated). For example, those of you living in the GTA, might now hear others refer to Toronto as “The Six”, all thanks to rapper, Drake, who often uses the term in his music (namely on his 2015 mixtape, “If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late” or IYRTITL for short). Likewise, the long-lasting legacy of Back to the Future has led to a following of people who still have a nostalgic appreciation for the franchise.A revamped version of the fictional car they love will certainly get their interest. And who knows – the production of a new “Back to the Future car” might be a promotion for a new installment in the franchise (let’s keep our fingers crossed).Making a ComebackYou may have no intention of driving a DeLorean next year, but still be on the lookout for one. It’s an iconic symbol of both the automotive world and pop culture. It’s kind of like seeing “Duff” beer from the Simpsons hitting the shelves at LCBO or The Beer Store (wouldn’t you drink that?) – it’s nostalgia finding its place in present and future. And aside from the occasional game collection or theme-party, how often does the “old school” come back so strong? Almost never. Apply Now! ❮❮ Back to blog Latest Auto News The Truth About Subprime Customers If numbers don’t lie, they are telling us that Canadians love their vehicles. The demand for cars in Canada continues to increase as... Read More Car Loan InformationBankruptcy Car LoansNo Credit Auto LoansCar Loan Interest RatesUsed Car Auto LoansInventory30 Day Vehicle ExchangeCar Loan CalculatorCareersOur Car Loan Locations Serving All Ontario For A Faster Response, Please Fill Out the Apply Now Form. Call Monday-Friday, 9AM-5PM 866-467-89453200 Bloor Street WestTORONTO, ONM8X 1E1 HomePrivacy PolicyTerms & ConditionsAbout UsInventoryContactBlogElectric VehiclesTo Drive or Be Driven Copyright© 2017 Auto Loan Solutions. All Rights Reserved. No portion of this site may be reused or reproduced without the express written consent of the owners. Facebook Twitter Google Plus LinkedIn | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/28 | Hyundai i40 Launched at Geneva motor show 2011
Hyundai i40 coming in UK 2011. Hyundai is releasing the new i40 range at Geneva 2011. And soon it will be sale in UK Isn't that the Sonata the rest of the world got in 2010?Europe didn't get the Sonata, also known as the i45 in some markets. Confused yet? You will be.
Hyundai claims the i40 has been developed specifically for Europe at Hyundai's European R&D centre in Russelsheim, Germany. The i40 will fill the existing Sonata-shaped gap in Hyundai's European product portfolio.
Hyundai's new 2011 i40: the lowdownThe i40 arrives at next week's 2011 Geneva motor show, and will go on sale in the UK in July 2011. There will be an i40 saloon, and that is planned for a UK launch in October. The headline engine option for the i40 will be a new 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine, offering 113g/km CO2 figures. Expect a higher-tune turbodiesel, and two direct-injection petrol engines to make up the remainder of the i40 line-up. Hyundai's BlueDrive eco-spec will also appear in the line-up.
And inside the new Hyundai i40?Inside, Hyundai promises a more premium feel for the interior materials, and there are new-to-Hyundai convenience features like a heated steering wheel, heated front seats and heated, reclining rear seats and auto screen demisting. Avensis beware!
The emphasis is on luxury, including terms such as heated and adjustable front and rear seats, heated steering wheel and an active de-mist system that automatically detects and removes the fog on the windshield. Hyundai describes all these features as “new technologies for Hyundai.”
The Hyundai i40 was designed and developed in Rüsselsheim automaker outside research and development headquarters in Frankfurt. Hyundai has not released technical details for Hyundai i40, but noted that the choice is a 1.7-liter diesel engine to drive. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/1338 | Plenary Keynotes
The Future of Propulsion Electronics
Salons ABC
Hussein Dourra, Ph.D.
Chrysler Technical Fellow
Dr. Dourra is a member of the Powertrain Engineering team since 1982. He holds over 25 US patents and authored over 15 technical papers and Journals in system and powertrain controls. Dr. Dourra received "Walter P. Technology Award" for the invention on six speed transmission controls system. He is the first engineer at Chrysler to receive the title "Chrysler Technical Fellow".
Dr. Dourra's education background includes:
Ph.D in Engineering from Wayne State University
Master Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Wayne State University
Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Lawrence Technological University
Master in Business Administration from Wayne State University.
Dr. Dourra teaches graduate courses at well-known universities such as University of Michigan, Lawrence Technological University, and Oakland University
Automotive Thermoelectric Generators and Air Conditioner/Heaters
John Fairbanks
Technology Development Manager
Thermoelectrics Department of Energy
Technology Development Manager - Thermoelectrics Department of Energy John Fairbanks began at the Department of Energy in 1977 to work on stationary power gas turbine components developed from aircraft gas turbine engine technology. He developed the Combustion Zone Durability Program to enable diesel and gas turbine engines to operate on low quality petroleum and coal derived liquid fuels. This program concentrated on coatings, primarily thermal barrier coatings. He coordinated the test and evaluation of coal derived liquid fuels in diesel engines He was Program Manager for the Low Emission - 55 Per Cent Efficient (LE-55) diesel engines for Class 7 & 8 heavy duty trucks. He initiated and has served as the Chair for the series of Diesel Engine Efficiency and Emissions Research (DEER) Conferences. The 17th conference in that series will be held October 3-6, 2011 in Detroit, Michigan. In 1997, he initiated the Light Truck Clean Diesel Engine Program to develop commercially viable diesel engines for sports utility vehicles, mini-vans and pick-up trucks. In 1994, his program began to develop and test thermoelectric generators on vehicles. More recently, he has organized and is managing major programs to develop and commercially introduce Thermoelectric Generators (TEG) and Thermoelectric Air Conditioner/Heaters (TE HVAC) for vehicular applications. He jointly developed a program in 2010 with the National Science Foundation (NSF) which has 9 Academic//Commercial Organization Teams working together to improve thermoelectric application efficiencies. He initiated the series of Thermoelectric Application Workshops, the first 2 were held at the Del Coronado Hotel, in San Diego and the 3rd will be held January 18-20, 2012 in Washington, DC.
Mr. Fairbanks has authored or co-authored 104 technical papers. Two of his papers won the John C. Neidermayer award for the best technical paper presented at Association of Scientists and Engineers (ASE) [NAVSEA] Conferences. He is a Past Chairman of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) - Washington Section, and received the ASME Distinguished Service Award. He was elected Vice President of the Stephen Decatur Chapter of the Naval Reserve Association. In 1975, he won the Outstanding Alumni Award - Maine Maritime Academy. While at the NASA-Goddard Spaceflight Center, he was awarded the Apollo Achievement Award. He was elected Chairman of the Department of Energy�s Material Coordinating Committee in 1981. In 1984, he organized the US participation in the First NATO Workshop - Coatings for Heat Engines.
Leveraging Intelligent Vehicle Technologies to Maximize Fuel Economy
Jeffrey Gondor
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Center for Transportation Technologies and Systems (CTTS)
Jeff joined NREL in 2005, where he has led both simulation and hardware testing projects to study conventional, hybrid, plug-in and fuel cell vehicles. His research interests include optimal design/size selection for the energy storage systems and other components in these advanced vehicles. Jeff also investigates the impact of drive cycle and intelligent vehicle technologies on fuel economy. These efforts include encouraging drivers to implement efficient driving techniques, optimizing vehicle control strategy based on predicted driving information, and using vehicle communication/sensing technologies to improve safety and convenience while also realizing fuel savings.
Jeff holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Colorado and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Penn State University. His work prior to joining NREL included developing a plug-in hybrid fuel cell vehicle for Anuvu ["A new view"], Inc. in Sacramento, CA. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/1488 | Experimental MGs
By Al Fraser
Like any automobile producer, the MG Car Company developed experimental models which often became production models. Cecil Kimber realized, at an early time, that properly set up and successful experimental cars could provide a great deal of free favourable advertising and he was happy to supply factory assistance to speed and endurance record attempts in his cars. Between 1930 and 1959 MG established 43 international class speed records with factory-supported experimental vehicles. Many other EX cars were precursors of well-known production models. This article gives a brief description of the most famous of the experimental cars and lists the many experimental numbers, which often became production models.
The first, EX 120, evolved from a collaboration with Captain George E.T. Eyston who was attempting to establish the first 100 m.p.h. speed for Class H (750 c.c.) in a baby car, using the diminutive 1929 MG Midget. This effort was in direct competition with an attempt by Malcolm Campbell to "break the ton" in the same class in a specially prepared baby Austin. The diminutive MG broke 6 international records on the way to becoming the first 750 c.c. car to go 100 miles in one hour and was the basis of the C-Type Montlhery Midget special. Unfortunately, the car was destroyed in a fire at the end of its successful runs.
The next step was EX 127, the "Magic Midget", completed late in 1931 to replace the destroyed EX 120 and designed with the express purpose of smashing every Class H record. In its illustrious career this car set numerous records, was the first of its class to surpass 120 m.p.h. and was later sold to Bobby Kohlrausch, a noted German driver who continued to break records on the Continent, where its design was of great interest to German pre-war engineers. The next car for Captain Eyston was my favourite, the legendary EX 135, based on the K3 chassis with both racing and record-breaking bodies and built to assault the Class G (1100 cc.) records. The original streamlined body was painted in cream and chocolate stripes, winning for the car the nickname "Humbug", as in 1934 it re-wrote the record books for its class. The next year, with the corporate ban on works-sponsored competition, Eyston sold the car. Two years later, Kimber and Goldie Gardner, a well-known racing figure, decided to re-acquire the Humbug, add a Reid Railton designed completely enclosed body and attempt to break both Class G and F records. They were completely successful in both attempts, with the car becoming the first 1100 c.c. car to exceed 200 m.p.h.. Following World War II, Lieutenant Colonel Gardner had EX 135 again rebuilt with a 750 c.c. six cylinder Magnette engine modified so that the number of operating cylinders could be quickly changed. For Records in Class H in 1946 the car ran on all six cylinders. In 1947, it ran on four cylinders for a Class I (500 c.c.) record of 118.1 m.p.h. After Nuffield management discontinued with factory assistance in 1935, Gardner removed the "MG" name, fitted the car with a Jaguar 2 litre engine and took the Class E record. Another change in management at Nuffield, and the fact that the Italians had taken the Class I record from England, lured Gardner back. Abingdon modified the engine capacity and in 1949 Gardner recaptured the 500 c.c. record on just three cylinders at a speed of 154.8 m.p.h.. In 1950 all but two cylinders were blocked off and the records fell to the fabulous MG in Class J (500 cc.) at 121.09 m.p.h.. It was suggested that if there was a class for single cylinder engines Gardner would have attempted that as well! The next year, sporting a TD engine, EX 135 ran on the Utah salt flats to take more records in Class F. In 1952, both Gardner and his 18 year old flyer retired. In its career, wearing an assortment of bodies and engines, the venerable EX 135 broke the world record ten times in eight different classes, a tribute to the builders and the driver.
The next creation, EX 179 was based upon the MGA chassis and closely resembled EX 135. With it, Eyston and Ken Miles took seven Class F and 25 American records. Wearing the notorious Twin Cam engine, the car took nine Class G records.
The final factory record breaker was EX 181, a rear-engine creation nicknamed the "Roaring Raindrop" for its unique form.
This model took the Class F record at 245.6 m.p.h. with Sterling Moss at the helm in 1957. Two years later Phil Hill drove the car to an amazing 254.9 m.p.h.. This was the end of factory supported speed cars until 1998-99 when Rover constructed the EX-F, an MGF special, designated EX 255, that is attempting to break the EX 181 record. To date, the highly modified car has reached 217.4 m.p.h., almost 100 m.p.h. faster than the stock MGF.
Experimental MGs Update
MG at Bonneville
Octagon Newsletter … May 2001
In 1959, MG EX 181, fondly known as the “Roaring Raindrop” carried Phil Hill to a record speed of 254.9 m.p.h. and the Class E record using a bored out Twin Cam MGA engine with a monstrous Shorrock blower. In 1997 Rover Group ran a modified MGF, designated EXF to a speed of 217 m.p.h. using a turbocharged 1.4 litre K-Series engine. Rover promised to return the next year to take the Class E record with the more powerful EX 255, with record driver Andy Green at the helm.
Unfortunately EX 255 was plagued by mechanical problems and the troubled relationship between Rover and BMW who saw no importance in these speed records. Now it appears that MG Rover is once more looking toward Bonneville and the Class E record with EX 255 or a successor. Hopefully all these proposals will become firm commitments as the revived car company seeks to once more enter the true sports car field and understand the benefits of racing/rally/record breaking victories.
It seems, from the latest publicity from MG Rover, that the famous motto "Safety Fast" has been replaced with "Outrageous Fun for All!" What would Cecil Kimber think?
MG Returns to LeMans in 2001
Octagon Newsletter … September 2001
In their quest to return the MG logo to the forefront of competition, MG Rover commissioned Lola to build three cars, designated EX 257, with two of them entered in the June, Le Mans 24-hour endurance race. Despite mechanical problems during the qualifying, causing electrical failures in one car, both cars qualified in the dark … 1st and 2nd in their class.
Most of the 24 hour race was run in the pouring rain. The MG Lolas maintained high placings until teething problems set in and neither car finished the race, one bowing out after five hours, the other after twelve hours, both with telemetry problems and low oil pressure.
This return to racing shows that MG Rover is serious in its intention to restore its place in the sportscar realm. As mentioned in earlier newsletters, the company is planning a luxury high performance car, developing an "extreme" MGF and a one-off 500 b.h.p. ZT, all for next year. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/3576 | Strong, sturdy and efficient: Mercedes-Benz Arocs – The new force in construction
Mercedes-Benz Trucks is continuing to revamp its range of trucks at top speed. The new specialist for construction work is following on the heels of the new Actros for long-distance transport and the Antos for heavy-duty short-radius distribution: from 2013 on all the trucks and tractor units used for on and off-road applications in the construction sector will be known under the name Arocs.
This extremely diversified sector has never seen such a wide range of vehicles on offer to suit customer needs. The new dump trucks, all-wheel drive dump trucks, concrete mixers, tractor units and drop-side chassis vehicles are available as two, three and four-axle vehicles with 16 output variants from 175 kW (238 hp) to 460 kW (625 hp). From the outset, all the engines have been designed to meet the future Euro VI emissions standard and are available for order as a Euro VI version.
The BlueTec 6 engines are designed as in-line six-cylinder engines with exhaust-gas turbocharger and intercooler to provide great tractive power at little more than the engine's idling speed. Maximum tractive power ranges from 1000 to 3000 Newton metres and will be achieved by the four engine sizes: 7.7, 10.7, 12.8 and 15.6 l; the latter variant is completely new and comes in the form of the new OM 473 engine.
The Arocs will also be setting an example with its drive system: the engine's power will be transmitted by the Mercedes PowerShift 3 automated transmission, fitted as a standard. Drive programs are available which have been specifically developed for the vehicle's varied range of applications.
The drive configurations offered for the Arocs range from the 4x2 two-axle version with rear-wheel drive to 8x8/4, a four-axle vehicle with all-wheel drive and two steering front axles. Four-axle versions with one front and three rear axles, a wide range of air-sprung vehicles, or a load-optimised concrete-mixer chassis with single-tyred drive tandem are examples of the wide variety of new Arocs versions now available straight off the production line.
The Arocs has seven cabs available in 14 different versions. As supplements to the compact 2.3 m cabs in L, M or S versions, the new Arocs can also be fitted with spacious 2.5 m variants with a level cab floor. The unmistakeable design of the new Mercedes-Benz Arocs is as unusual as the complete truck. The specially designed styling of the construction truck family stands out because of its radiator grille with so-called bucket-teeth- look. It sends a clear message: the sturdy "teeth" stand for biting one's way through and knuckling down to the job. Steel elements on the bumpers, a robust radiator guard and optically integrated construction-specific folding entry step harmonise form and function for the hard-work specialist.
New for the Arocs are the product groups Loader and Grounder. The Arocs Loader consistently makes the most of every possibility of reducing its own kerb weight. The result provides payload optimised 4x2 tractor units which are among the lightest vehicles in the construction sector as well as 8x4/4 concrete mixers with 32 t maximum permissible weight. As these have a particularly low kerb weight of a maximum of 9250 kg, they are able to supply 8 m3 of ready-mixed concrete on every trip. The Arocs Grounder is designed for operating under extremely difficult conditions. It is extremely stable and resilient and also has a great number of technical details to make sure that it is uncompromising and robust for the toughest jobs on the construction site.
The Arocs will celebrate its customer premiere at the Bauma trade fair in April 2013.
Credits: Daimler AG
arocs, | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/4587 | Dedicated to the Restoration and Preservation of all Volvo Cars VSA is the car club dedicated to the Volvo P1800, including S, E, and ES models. The club also supports Volvo's various other models from the PV444 through the Amazon, 140, and 160 series. As of 2003, VSA recognizes all out-of-production Volvos including the 200, 700, and 850 series, and have recently added the C70 coupe to our ranks.
Volvo Sports America / 1800 was founded in September 1976 by Jon Keebler and David Pollock, both 1800 buffs, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. There are now over 1200 members from coast to coast, in Canada and eight foreign countries! The club's purpose is to encourage the ownership, proper operation, maintenance and restoration of all Volvo 1800 Series and other vintage Volvo cars and to serve as a source of technical information and exchange.
Local chapters throughout the United States and Canada hold regular meetings, technical sessions, swap meets, and various other events to help members care for their Volvo. National conventions are held yearly around August on both the East and West coasts. Concours judging, track days, rallies, a swap meet, banquet and technical workshops highlight the weekend's events. All Volvo owners are invited to attend and join in the festivities.
Our club magazine is called VSA, and is published quarterly. Feature articles include VSA national news and event coverage; local chapter news and events; technical articles pertaining to both mechanical repair and restoration of all out-of-production Volvo models; member classified ads; a listing of vendors that offer parts and/or service discounts to VSA members; and paid advertising for Volvo parts and service providers.
VSA has an enthusiastic, worldwide membership of Volvo owners, mechanics, and collectors. Through the club, Volvophiles are able to exchange tech tips, stories, spare parts, buy/sell automobiles, attend various events, etc. We invite you to learn more about VSA by paging through the site index in the left-hand margin of each webpage. Membership information, secure online applications, and a member address change form can be found on the Join VSA
www.vsa.org is designed for optimal viewing at a resolution of 1024x768.
Disclaimer: This site is not affiliated with AB Volvo, Volvo Car Corporation, Volvo Cars of North America, Inc., or other Volvo companies whose products may be viewed herein. The use of the Volvo trademark/logo has been authorized by Volvo Cars of North America.
Photos Copyright © 2004 by Denis Tanney and Michael Tanney, and not for re-use.
www.vsa.org design and layout Copyright © 2003 by Bearman, and not for re-use. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/6019 | Choosing your road
"Shut your eyes ... and think of somewhere ..." --Snow Patrol I'd like to share with you a speech given by James E. Queen, group vice president-global engineering for General Motors, back in May to the new graduates of Lawrence Tech (Oh, to go back to the start of summer! It went by all too fast this year). In his speech, entitled "The Journey Ahead: A Long and Winding Road of Boundaries and Choices," Queen laid out a vision that the assembled graduates might want to follow. "Yours will be a journey down a long and winding road of smooth surfaces, pot holes, freeways, country roads, city streets and to a large extent, it‘s going to be a journey of boundaries and choices," he said. "How you define your boundaries and what you choose to involve yourself with, both personally and professionally, will certainly define the value of your contribution to your future employer, society and to a greater extent, the world." Let‘s face it, said Queen, we live in a world filled with opportunities, yet it‘s fraught with insecurity, and arguably is simply not sustainable. "So when you‘re thinking of what you want to do with your lives, I urge you to set even broader national and global boundaries, in order to have a broader array of choices and to ultimately maximize the impact you have on the world," he said. "Put another way that most students of physics will understand, w = f x d, or for our less technical guests, work equals force times distance. Others have helped you get to where you are today. Now it‘s your turn to help others and for that matter the world in general." Queen firmly believes that service is more important than self, adding that, in the total energy equivalent of life, only you can determine how much is potential energy and how much is kinetic or realized energy. "So don't waste your potential - get kinetic," he said. "It's important not to get too upset when you hit a pothole or, quite frankly, [get] too full of yourself when you're on cruise control on a sunny day heading down a smooth surfaced freeway. There are going to be good days and bad days and you need to react to all of them with a large dose of humility. Trust me, the bad days won't be as disastrous as they seem and the good days won't be as grandiose as they appear." He noted they'd be entering a world that has become increasingly global and interdependent; a world that is inherently good, but also one that can be bad and ugly, too. "In the future, change will come even more rapidly and the opportunities to contribute, quite simply, will be endless," he said. "We need more technical people to plan and build infrastructures necessary to support emerging regions and communities with better roads, housing, food, transportation and health care systems," Queen added. "There are people who create problems and there are people who observe and talk about problems. They simply don‘t have the ability, tools or inclination to implement solutions. You are not those people. Be part of the solution -- for you have the tools to do more than just talk about 'how bad it is.'" Good and strong words for everyone, I think.
Source URL: http://fleetowner.com/blog/choosing-your-road | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/11622 | About Tesla
Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
Tesla was founded in 2003 by a group of engineers in Silicon Valley who wanted to prove that electric cars could be better than gasoline-powered cars. With instant torque, incredible power, and zero emissions, Tesla’s products would be cars without compromise. Each new generation would be increasingly affordable, helping the company work towards its mission: to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Tesla’s engineers first designed a powertrain for a sports car built around an AC induction motor, patented in 1888 by Nikola Tesla, the inventor who inspired the company’s name. The resulting Tesla Roadster was launched in 2008. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and achieving a range of 245 miles per charge of its lithium ion battery, the Roadster set a new standard for electric mobility. Tesla would sell more than 2,400 Roadsters, now on the road in more than 30 countries. In 2012, Tesla launched Model S, the world’s first premium electric sedan. Built from the ground up to be 100 percent electric, Model S has redefined the very concept of a four-door car. With room for seven passengers and more than 64 cubic feet of storage, Model S provides the comfort and utility of a family sedan while achieving the acceleration of a sports car: 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds. Its flat battery pack is integrated into the chassis and sits below the occupant cabin, lending the car a low center of gravity that enables outstanding road holding and handling while driving 265 miles per charge. Model S was named Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year and achieved a 5-star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In late 2014, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled two dual motor all-wheel drive configurations of Model S that further improve the vehicle’s handling and performance. The 85D features a high efficiency motor at the front and rear, giving the car unparalleled control of traction in all conditions. The P85D pairs a high efficiency front motor with a performance rear motor for supercar acceleration, achieving a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds – the fastest four-door production car ever made. Tesla owners enjoy the benefit of charging at home so they never have to visit a gas station or spend a cent on gasoline. For long distance journeys, Tesla’s Supercharger network provides convenient access to high speed charging, replenishing half a charge in as little as 20 minutes. Superchargers now connect popular routes in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Tesla’s vehicles are produced at its factory in Fremont, California, previously home to New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors. The Tesla Factory has returned thousands of jobs to the area and is capable of producing 2,000 cars a week. The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint into other areas, including in Tilburg, the Netherlands, where it has an assembly facility, and Lathrop, California, where it has a specialized production plant. To reduce the costs of lithium ion battery packs, Tesla and key strategic partners including Panasonic have begun construction of a gigafactory in Nevada that will facilitate the production of a mass-market affordable vehicle, Model 3. By 2018, the gigafactory will produce more lithium ion cells than all of the world’s combined output in 2013. The gigafactory will also produce battery packs intended for use in stationary storage, helping to improve robustness of the electrical grid, reduce energy costs for businesses and residences, and provide a backup supply of power. Tesla is not just an automaker, but also a technology and design company with a focus on energy innovation. Press
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2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/15539 | Tata to launch Nano on March 23, begin taking orders April first week in April
The Tata Nano has endured more than its fair share of delays, having originally carried a planned sale date of October, 2008. Needless to say, that time frame came and went with zero Nanos rolling down the assembly line, due to a wide range of issues, not the least of which was a great deal of civil unrest at the first site where production was planned in West Bengal. The Nano's assembly plant was relocated to Gurajat.All that bad news seems to be over today as Tata has announced that its little city car will finally be launched on March 23 and the Indian automaker will begin accepting orders just a few short weeks later. The price being thrown around is 100,000 rupees, which translates to just under $2,000 in U.S. dollars at current exchange rates. That would make the Nano, which comes equipped with a 625cc twin cylinder gasoline engine, the world's cheapest automobile.
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Reactions: Toyota to launch pure electric car in U.S. by 2012
DETROIT (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp said it would launch an all-electric car for city commuting by 2012 in the United States as part of its plan to speed up the introduction of green cars as its global sales falter.The FT-EV concept made its debut at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Sunday, where the world's top automaker is also unveiling two new gasoline-electric hybrid cars.The FT-EV concept shares a platform with the tiny iQ urban commuter car, which runs on a gasoline engine and emits just 99 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer."Now, more than ever, while we are so focused on the pressing issues of the moment, we cannot lose sight of our future," Irv Miller, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. group vice president, said in a statement.Toyota said the concept car is targeted at the urban dweller driving up to 50 miles between home and work, for instance."Last summer's $4-a-gallon gasoline was no anomaly," Miller said. "It was a brief glimpse of our future."Toyota, which had previously said it would aim to get an electric car out by the "early part of the next decade," would join rivals General Motors Corp and Nissan Motor Co in the race to grab the lead in the zero-emission car segment.But Toyota said it still considered gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles its long-term core powertrain technology.With an aim of selling 1 million hybrids annually soon after 2010, Toyota will launch as many as 10 new hybrid models by then in various markets. The third-generation Prius and the Lexus HS250h, to debut in Detroit, are part of that effort, it said.General Motors, which Toyota passed in recent years to become the top global automaker by sales, has said it will launch its Chevrolet Volt electric car in the United States in late 2010. GM says the Volt will have a 40-miles range for driving on one battery charge.(Reporting by Chang-Ran Kim, editing by Peter Bohan).
Reactions: S.F. unveils electric car charging stations
The City of San Francisco unveiled three new electric car charging stations at City Hall, Wednesday, that car-share services can use to power their cars.Public charging stations will be available to City CarShare and ZipCar vehicles as well as the plug-in hybrid cars now part of San Francisco’s municipal fleet.“Electric vehicles are the future of transportation and the Bay Area is the testing ground for the technology,” said San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom at a press conference for the unveiling of the charging stations.Zipcar has one plug-in hybrid in its fleet of vehicles.Campbell-based Coulomb Technologies provided the three charging stations for a two-year demonstration period. But in November, Newsom, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed and Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums announced a plan to make the Bay Area the “Electric Vehicle Capital of the U.S.”The plan includes a partnership with Palo Alto-based Better Place to provide electric vehicle charging stations throughout the Bay Area. Better Place said it will invest $1 billion in its electric vehicle infrastructure here over the next several years.
Tata to launch Nano on March 23, begin taking orde...
Toyota to launch pure electric car in U.S. by 2012...
S.F. unveils electric car charging stations | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/16040 | Inside white and blue. Bordered in black. On it the letters BMW. For more than 90 years this is the icon symbol for sheer driving pleasure. But how was this logo developed? The team at BMW set out on a search for clues in the video below
The true meaning of the ‘sky blue and white quartered’ BMW logo is the most controversial issue of the company. According to Dr. Florian Triebel, Executive Board Member of BMW AG, “There are two traditions concerning the significance of the BMW logo and trademark, offering two different interpretations of its sky blue and white fields. One interpretation points to a rotating propeller. The other relates the BMW logo to Bavaria as the place where the products are manufactured”.
The current BMW logo is said to be inspired from the circular design of a rotating aircraft propeller. The white and blue checker boxes are supposed to be a stylized representation of a white/silver propeller blade spinning against a clear blue sky.
For BMW, it was ‘a happy coincidence’ that the BMW logo symbolized the Bavarian flag colors and represented the company’s origin. When the BMW logo was first created, it was prohibited by the Trademark Act to feature ‘national coats of arms or other symbols of national sovereignty’ in a trademark. This led the BMW marketers to come up with a solution of ‘incorrectly configuring the color elements in the BMW logo from a heraldic perspective’, while also keeping its relationship with Bavaria evident.
This had been confirmed by BMW, courtesy of the NY Times: “In last Sunday’s Automobiles section, I wrote about visiting a quartet of German car museums. At the BMW Museum in Munich, my affable tour guide, Anne Schmidt-Possiwal, explained that the blue-and-white company logo did not represent a spinning propeller, but was meant to show the colors of the Free State of Bavaria.” | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/17597 | Si Habla Scion?
In a move to counter Toyota's Scion division, Nissan announced two new models coming in 2007. A hatchback based off the Sport Concept concept car, and a sedan. Two Japanese models were considered, the Cube and the Tiida, but were rejected. The new models will be built in Mexico. The Tiida was rejected as being too Japanese, but it's more likely it's too boring. Looks like a melted Toyota Matrix. The Cube is the model they should bring over. Even funkier than the Scion xB, I think it would sell well, but apparently Nissan thinks it's too small. I think it would be a winner!
Going Where No Satellite Has Gone Before
Harley-Davidson announced it's new Sreamin' Eagle Ultra Classic Electra Glide (that's a mouthful!) model will come standard with XM satellite radio. Owner's get three months of service free. No more listening to the local AM stations while you're cruising in the middle of nowhere.
The Future's So Bright, Again
Hella, the light manufacturer, has won an award for it's LED headlamp. Expect to see this on cars before the decade is out. Due to the durability of LED's, you may never have to change your headlight again!
2 Swift, 2 Furious
Brought to you by the guys at RedlineGTI.com comes a parody of 2 Fast 2 Furious, called 2 Swift, 2 Furious, something to give you a little chuckle on a Sunday.
The '71-'74 Toyota Corolla, lovingly known as the mango body because of it's shape, is the subject of Tom Carter's website. This is probably one of the cleanest examples on the road. Tom has plenty of information on what he's done to his Corollas, with links to sites for parts, a handy reference. I also love the section on Performance Driving and Safety On The Road. Now that's a clean engine bay!
Stylish SUV
Fiat is introducing an SUV, developed with help from Suzuki. Based on the new Swift, which has received good reviews, it's a shame we won't see it here in the USA.
Dennis Deferrals
Ford and Mazda credit are offering customers in eleven counties declared as federal disaster areas due to hurricane Dennis two month deferrals. It's not much if your house has been blown away, but it will definitely help.
Buell announced two new models for 2006, the Ulysses and the Lightning Long. The Ulysses is an adventure style bike along the lines of the Triumph Tiger, new territory for Buell. The Lightning Long is an extended version of the Lightning, stretched to improve comfort. This brings Buell up to eight models for 2006. After all the bad news about the domestic auto industry, it's nice to see one of the home team being successful.
The effect of the Employee Discount programs is turning out to be increased market share for the Big 3, with sales for the month of July up dramatically, but this is a silver cloud with a dark lining. GM is up 42%, Ford 27%, and Chrysler up 11%, but instead of hurting the sales of the Japanese Big 3, their sales are also up, Toyota at 17%, Nissan at 16%, and Honda at 22%. What thi means is that people who were originally going to buy a domestic model anyways bought their car earlier than they originally planned, but conquest sales didn't happen. Look for a big drop in August sales when the discount programs end. As Homer Simpson would say, "D'oh!" | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/17616 | BMW of Springfield NJ Blog
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BMW Will Offer Electric X3 Models
BMW is one of the most innovative companies in the world, and now the German luxury automaker is proving just how creative and advanced it really is. The BMW X3 is a luxury crossover that’s ready to take the electric luxury crossover segment by storm. Electric X3 models are officially on the way, and it isn’t the only model getting an all-electric version.
The German automaker skipped the Paris Motor Show to reconcile differences in electric vehicle strategy and come up with a new marketing plan. In all, the X3 crossover and X4 SUV will see electric models enter the fray.
The electric vehicle market is growing each and every year. BMW has led the pack with the i3 and plug-in hybrid i8, two innovative models that used carbon fiber rather than conventional metals like steel or aluminum.
Electric competitors, like General Motors, have released their own Chevrolet Bolt, a mass-market model that doesn’t usually appeal to luxury drivers. Audi has developed a plan to release an electric vehicle very year after 2018. Tesla Motors, a leader in the electric segment, expects to launch the Model 3 in 2017, though has experienced many delays.
Most automakers are launching electric cars. BMW, on the other hand, plans to lead the crossover and SUV segments with electric vehicles designed to possess the capability drivers expect.
Here at BMW of Springfield, we’re pumped for the release of the electric X3!
Posted on October 21, 2016 in BMW X3 | Permalink
Winter Car Prep
Taking care of your car is essential if you intend on driving it for years to come. Winter is arguably the harshest season of the year, for obvious reasons. As a result, properly preparing in fall can lead to a much easier winter. Here at BMW of Springfield, we have some winter car prep that simply has to be done before the first snowfall.
Lights – Taking care of your lights is one of the most important steps a driver can take to improve the safety of their vehicles. Your lights provide you, the driver, with better visibility, but they also make you more visible to other drivers as well. Replace any burnt-out bulbs and take care of the lenses. Many automotive stores sell DIY cleaning kits that can make a world of difference.
Tires – Worn tires can be a major hazard on icy winter roads. Old, worn tires don’t provide optimal traction, a major factor in whether you drive on the road or land in a ditch. Check your tires tread and replace them if needed. It’s better to be safe than sorry, after all.
Wipers – Check your wiper blades and replace them if necessary. Ensuring you can see out your windshield is worth more than what the blades will cost you. Winter is no joke and drivers who can’t see through the sleet and snow generally don’t do too well.
Posted on October 14, 2016 in Driving Tips | Permalink
The BMW i8 May Have Three Electric Motors
The BMW i8 is quite possibly one of the most talked about vehicles in the BMW lineup. Its futuristic and incredibly appealing styling has made it the plug-in hybrid sports car everyone wishes they had. There is currently a lot of speculation that the BMW i8 may have three electric motors in the near future - two on the rear axle and one in front - but for now, that will not be the case on the upcoming 2017 model.
So what does this mean for potential buyers of the new BMW i8? It means that it will soon transition to a fully electric vehicle capable of almost 800bhp. That's quite an impressive feat and BMW enthusiasts are beyond excited. Not only will the future BMW i8 be full of remarkable strength, it will send that new power to all four wheels which means it will have all-wheel drive. Considering the 2017 version is believed to get 420bhp with front-wheel drive, it's a change that has those of us here at BMW of Springfield more than just a little bit excited.
This new supercharged BMW i8 is slated for arrival between 2020 and 2023, so power hungry BMW fans will have to wait just a little longer to feel the rush of this fully electric BMW beast. While these are not officially released details, the new specs do align with other information that’s been released regarding the next generation BMW i8, so we are enthusiastic nonetheless.
While we try and patiently wait for more information, why not check out what we currently have in stock here at BMW of Springfield!
Posted on September 27, 2016 in BMW i , BMW i8 | Permalink
Dare to Compare: Cadillac vs. BMW
In the world of luxury vehicles, BMW stands out fiercely against its competitors. One of BMW’s top rivals, Cadillac, has been vying for the attention of consumers for years and has been inching closer and closer in an attempt to outrank BMW. The Detroit based automaker has been updating and upgrading its lineup of cars, attempting to reach the level of excellence and class that BMW has set for these performance luxury vehicles.
While you’ll find that many of the Cadillac and BMW vehicles are comparable in price, you have to keep in mind some of the finer details that BMW brings to the table. Cadillac does set a good pace when it comes to performance with their ATS-V and CTS-V models in comparison to the BMW 3 Series and M5, respectively. But when you get to the higher scale models, BMW prevails with the 7 Series and 5 Series undeniably outshining the Cadillac CT6.
The CT6 is competitively priced with the BMW 5 Series and boasts a luxurious interior, but starts to falter in the realm of performance. There is an option to add an upgraded twin turbocharged V8 engine but it comes at quite a price, which then lifts it to the BMW 7 Series competing range. The highly advanced technology in the 7 Series, including infrared camera display, simply knocks Cadillac out of the competition.
While they are definitely making strides when it comes to improving their lineup, Cadillac still needs to up their game in order to reach the level of quality BMW currently upholds.
Take a moment to check out our new BMW 7 Series and 5 Series we currently have in stock here at BMW of Springfield!
Posted on September 23, 2016 in 2014 BMW 7-Series, Auto Technology, BMW 5 Series | Permalink
BMW Plans to Have Autonomous Vehicles on the Road by 2021
A few years ago, if you would have mentioned the idea of autonomous vehicles, you would have been called a dreamer. BMW is composed of dreamers, only they work to make their dreams a reality. Now, with the help of Intel and Mobileye, BMW is one step closer to its dream.
According to a BMW press release, BMW plans to have Autonomous vehicles on the road by 2021.
In order to achieve this lofty goal, BMW is working hand-in-hand with technology giants Intel and Mobileye.
The goal of all three companies is to create a driving experience that is safer for everyone on the road. To create such an experience, Mobileye and Intel are providing BMW with the sensing and connectivity technologies that the autonomous BMW vehicles require to function properly.
“Highly autonomous cars and everything they connect to will require powerful and reliable electronic brains to make them smart enough to navigate traffic and avoid accidents,” said Intel CEO Brian Krzanich. “This partnership between BMW Group, Intel and Mobileye will help us to quickly deliver on our vision to reinvent the driving experience.”
BMW’s development of autonomous vehicles is just the latest way that BMW is making the impossible a very possible reality!
Check out the new 2016 and 2017 BMW models we currently have in stock!
Posted on August 29, 2016 in Auto Technology | Permalink
4 Vacation Destinations in New York
Photo taken by: Wolfgang Wander
Summer might already be halfway over, but there is still plenty of time to make plans for a beautiful getaway along the banks of the East Coast. Here in Springfield, New Jersey, we are one state away from many of the most popular vacation destinations on the Eastern seaboard of the country. Before the summer ends, don’t miss your chance to head to these 4 vacation destinations in New York!
The Hamptons are well-known for being the residence of some of the most affluent families in the country. You can get a taste of the good life by visiting the area and its beautiful beaches during the summer!
Another affluent coastal community in the state of New York, Montauk is also a popular spot thanks to its close proximity to the metropolis of New York City!
No matter what you have a craving for on vacation, North Fork is a perfect place to get your fill, thanks to all of the small businesses and stands scattered throughout the area.
Known for its signature beaches and signature dishes, Long Beach has long been considered to be one of the most popular vacation destinations in all of New York.
Posted on July 27, 2016 in Travel | Permalink
The 2016 BMW X1 Earns a Top Safety Pick+ Rating from the IIHS
A vehicle should be many things. It should be advanced. It should be fun to drive. But above all else, a vehicle should be safe! That’s what BMW believes, which is why they develop each and every one of the vehicles in their fleet to be as safe as possible. The fruit of their labors has recently been realized in the form of one of the automotive industry’s most prestigious titles.
According to a BMW press release, the 2016 BMW X1 earned a Top Safety Pick+ Rating from the IIHS.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety grants the Top Safety Pick+ Rating to those vehicles that it deems the safest in the entire automobile industry.
The 2016 BMW X1 earned the rating thanks to its exceptional crash test ratings for the front and sides of the vehicle.
The signature BMW vehicle was also praised for its vast collection of safety technologies, including Cornering Brake Control and Dynamic Traction Control, as well as the available Frontal Collision Warning with Pedestrian Warning.
If you are searching for a vehicle that is safe, then the 2016 BMW X1 is definitely a safe choice! Schedule your test drive at BMW of Springfield NJ today and see what it feels like to be behind the wheel of one of the safest SAVs out there. Posted on June 21, 2016 in BMW Safety | Permalink
If you are searching for a vehicle that is safe, then the 2016 BMW X1 is definitely a safe choice! Come test drive the BMW X1 today at BMW of Springfield and feel safe and secure behind the wheel of your next car. Posted on June 10, 2016 | Permalink
Springfield Cannonball House to Give Tours on Battle Anniversary
Springfield, New Jersey is home to a famous historical landmark known as the Springfield Cannonball House. Dating back to the mid-1700s, with experts placing the date of the building was constructed around 1760, the Cannonball House gets its name from its strategic role in the Revolutionary War. The largest battle in which the house was involved took place in 1780, when thousands of soldiers locked in combat ended up burning the majority of the town to the ground.
The Cannonball House is one of four houses that survived the fire that decimated Springfield in that battle. One of the surviving homes was eventually demolished in the 1970s, while the other two are now privately-owned, making the Springfield Cannonball House the only survivor still open to the public -- one of a kind. The Cannonball House was so named because during the battle it came under cannon fire, and a solitary cannonball lodged itself into the building’s side until it eventually fell out in the 1920s. Experts believe the Cannonball House wasn’t burned because it was used as a hospital during wartime, which treated soldiers from both sides and consequently served as a peaceful sanctuary.
The building still features Colonial architecture and, while it has been remodeled multiple times, is decorated as authentically as possible, with trims and paint colors chosen for their closeness to the original color scheme and featuring objects and art on display dating back to the time period in which it was built.
The Springfield Cannonball House gives yearly tours of the building on the anniversary of the Battle of Springfield, which fell on June 23rd, 1780. The tours will take place on the Sunday nearest the original date (for 2016, that’s the 26th) from 2:00PM to 4:00PM.
Posted on May 31, 2016 | Permalink
BMW Performance Cars Make Appearance in New York
BMW has always been a name associated with excellence in engineering, but lately, the brand has shifted from its history of M vehicles with a more performance-focused leaning to the realm of high-end comfort and luxury. However, at the recent New York Auto Show, BMW performance cars made their return to center stage, with the unveiling of the M760i xDrive -- the most powerful 7 Series vehicle to come out of the brand, ever.
The goal in developing the M760i was to fuse modern BMW class with the company’s roots in performance-oriented vehicles. Borrowing the Rolls-Royce 6.6-liter V12 engine, the M760i xDrive will be able to crank out 624 horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. It’s also said that the M760i can go from 0 to 60 mph in less than 4 seconds.
Jose Guerrero, Product Manager for BMW’s i Series and M line vehicles, sat down with Digital Trends to discuss what goes into developing an M-line car. “When it comes to the new M760, the conversation is different, but it’s centered more around luxury than outright performance. No one is taking a car with such a large footprint to the track. It’s track-tuned, and has immense power from that V12, but it’s not a full M car because buyers aren’t racing them. We go platform to platform – is it sporty enough for a full M car, or should it be tuned to be an M Performance model?”
With the BMW M760i on its way combining the luxury of an i-Series with the performance of an M-line vehicle, BMW performance cars are scheduled to make their return to the industry. BMW has a number of other tricks up their sleeves, with new innovations always on the horizon.
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A collection of pictures during various stages of demolition and construction of the new JMK BMW facility in Springfield New Jersey.
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2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/19876 | News & Resources strictly for Business and community leaders; and how to be one of them. Kpakan!!!
NIGERIA VS SOUTH AFRICA: INVENTION OF FIRST ORIGINAL AFRICAN CAR Perhaps, Nigeria would have joined the likes of Germany, Japan, India
and Malaysia as an automobile manufacturer as far back as 1997 when Dr.
Ezekiel Izuogu, an electrical/electronics engineer, a doctor of science
and lecturer of communications and electronics engineering at the Federal Polytechnic, Owerri, made a prototype of his first ever all-African car which he named Z-600.
The car which BBC’s Hilary Andersson described as the all-African dream machine, was made for the family market with a top speed of 140km (86m) per hour.
Ninety per cent of its parts were sourced locally. For instance, the horn was a doorbell and it would have been the cheapest car on the planet as it would have cost just $2,000 to own one.
According to Izuogu who had demonstrated a great flair for inventive and creative knowledge from early childhood, he was working on adapting the engine to allow the Z-600 to double up as a lawnmower or an electricity generator.
With the usual Nigerian lackadaisical attitude when it comes to things that will help project the country’s image to the world positively, the authorities were not ready to invest money in the project and so in 2005, the South African Government invited him to build the car there. And since he who pays the piper dictates the tune, South Africa would have been the proud manufacturers of the Z-600 were it not for the incidence of March 11, 2006.
Made by Izuogo
Unfortunately, this dream was not to see the light of day. According to Dr. Izuogu, some armed men numbering about 12 broke into the Izuogu Motors factory on Saturday, March 11, between 1.00 and 2.00 a.m. and carted away various machines and tools including the design history notebook of Z-600, the design file Z-MASS, containing the design history
for mass production of Z-600 car, and the moulds for various parts of the car.
Said Izuogu; “It seems that the target of this robbery is to stop the
efforts we are making to mass-produce the first ever locally made car in Africa. Other items stolen included locally produced timing wheel, locally produced camshaft, locally produced crankshaft, locally produced
engine tappets, all 20 pieces each.
Made by Izuogu
Also stolen were ten pieces of locally produced Z-600 engine blocks, ten pieces of locally produced pistons, four pieces of engine block mounds, four pieces of top engine block moulds, ten pieces of engine fly
wheel and two pieces each of rear car and front mudguard moulds.”
The inventor regretted that not only did they lose over one N1 billion in monetary terms, but also time (about 10 years) and the energy
it took to design and produce the moulds. “To worsen the matter, our design notebook was also stolen,” he stated.
He regarded the incident as a national economic disaster because the nation had lost a technological and intellectual property.
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2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/20435 | Home > Cars > Best Electric Cars: A roundup of EVs out now and… Best Electric Cars: A roundup of EVs out now and coming soon By
They say change is good, and we agree, but it isn’t always easy to do. While the warm winds of change– or cold winds, depending on your point of view – are upon us, we still have a long ways to go before electric cars and vehicles (EVs) begin to make up a sizeable market share around the world — but it is happening. If you’re excited about electric cars and alternative fuel technology, then no doubt this a good thing. If not, well, you don’t really need to worry because gasoline-powered cars aren’t going anywhere soon.
It’s an exciting time for auto enthusiasts, which is why we have rounded up all the electric cars currently on the market or coming out this year — including both plug-in hybrids and all-electrics — to help you suss-out which one might be best for you. We’ve also taken the liberty of providing (when we can) where these EVs will initially be available, when they’re coming out, and how much these green-wheelin’ wonders are likely to set you back.
Plug-in hybrid electric cars
Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid
Toyota’s Prius Plug-in hybrid is based on Toyota’s third-generation body design and is in many ways similar to the standard Prius liftback you’ve already seen chugging along your local roads. The EPA rates the plug-in Prius’ all-electric range at 11 miles. Its ‘blended’ overall range — or the combined range of its electric motor and 1.8-liter gasoline 4-cylinder engine — will allow you to travel a total of 540 miles driven before needing to top off. That translates roughly to 51 city/49 highway/50 combined mpg estimates. Because the plug-in Prius utilizes a relatively small 4.4 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, recharge times are substantially shorter, with the Prius plug-in needing roughly three hours at 120 volts or one and half hours at 240 volts.
Pricing for the Prius plug-in hybrid begins at $32,750 including destination charges and is currently available in fourteen states: California, Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Virginia, with a full national rollout planned for 2013.
Chevrolet Volt It’s no secret that the Chevrolet Volt has had its fair share of issues: from a NHTSA safety inquiry, to almost endless scrutiny from the pontificating politicos, the Volt has had to juggle an ongoing barrage of criticism from the media, while at the same time enjoying a healthy amount of plaudits from within the industry. One thing the Volt has begrudgingly been unable to shake, though, is its princely price; a cool $40,000 to be exact. But if you can get beyond the cash you’ll need to splash in order to drive the Volt home, you’re in for a treat.
The Volt, like the Prius plug-in, is an extended-range plug-in hybrid. It features both a 1.4-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine as well as a 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack that powers its electric motor, which is capable of producing roughly 149-hp and 273-lb-ft of torque. The Volt’s all-electric range comes in around 35 miles in total, while its overall range will fetch around 379 miles. Like all the cars on this list it’s important to remember that mileage will vary depending on how you drive. The Chevrolet Volt is available to purchase nationwide, with GM offering various leasing options for qualified customers.
Fisker Karma If you’re seeking a more sporty experience draped in top shelf luxury and all the requisite accoutrement one would expect from a $100,000 plug-in hybrid, then look no further than the Fisker Karma. While Fisker’s maiden offering to the automotive world has turned heads for all the wrong reasons, the car itself is easily capable of turning heads for all the right reasons as well.
Like the Volt, the Karma is also a plug-in hybrid, which utilizes both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. The electric makeup of Karma consists of two 120 kW electric motors that derive power from a 20 kWh lithium-ion battery, and the Karma’s engine is a 2.0-liter direct-injected and turbocharged Ecotec four-cylinder capable of producing 260-hp. Its top speed maxes out at 125 mph and can accelerate from 0-60 mph in 6.3 seconds. Official all-electric range for the Karma rests at 32 miles, while the total overall range comes in at 230 miles. In addition to a host of “green” features like an eco-friendly interior, the Karma also makes use of a solar paneled roof which aids in the recharging of its lithium-ion batteries and can provide an additional four to five miles of driving a week (assuming it’s sunny). For those with the coin, the Fisker Karma is available now nationwide.
All Electric cars
The Leaf leads the electric pack with the honorable distinction of being the first mass-produced all-electric vehicle to hit the market when it debuted back in 2010. While cars like the Chevy Volt, Prius-Plug-in, and Fisker Karma all incorporate gasoline engines in additional to electric motors, the Nissan Leaf forgoes gasoline altogether and operates exclusively on its 80 kW electric motor, which is powered by a 24 kWh lithium-ion battery and produces zero tail pipe emissions in the process. Range statistics for the Leaf vary greatly depending on how you drive it, and whether you’re using features such as climate control, but according to official figures from the EPA the total range on a fully charged battery is 73 miles. Our time with the Leaf confirmed that to be pretty accurate.
The Nissan Leaf starts at $35,200 and is available nationwide both to purchase and lease. For a full breakdown of the Leaf, check out our 2012 Nissan Leaf review.
The Mitsubishi i-MIEV, which stands for “Mitsubishi innovative Electric Vehicle,” or “i” for short, is another all-electric, battery powered vehicle. While the Mitsubishi i has yet to become as ubiquitous as the Nissan Leaf, it has one-upped its Japanese counterpart by becoming the most fuel efficient EPA certified vehicle in the US with an equivalent 126 mpg in the city, 99 mpg on the highway, and a combined fuel economy of 112 MPGe. However, because the Mitsubishi utilizes a smaller battery pack than the Nissan Leaf, its total 62 mile range is bested by the Leaf’s 73 mile range.
On top of being the most fuel efficient electric car on the market, the Mitsubishi “i” also has the distinction of being the cheapest. The entry-level ES trim starts at $29,125 the SE trim at $31,125, and the SE Premium version is priced at $33,915 that includes DC fast charging, an HDD navigation system and improved entertainment and audio options. Availability for the all-electric Mitsubishi has been limited to a few initial states including Oregon, Hawaii, and California with nationwide availability expected at certified dealers by the end of June 2012.
1 of 2 Plug-in hybrid electric cars | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/21781 | FREE CONTENT New and Notable
A version of this article appears in the July/August 2013 issue of Home Energy Magazine.
SHARE Click here to read more articles about Archive
Honda Smart Home to Demonstrate Zero Carbon Living and Mobility
American Honda Motor Company, Incorporated, recently announced its plan to create the Honda Smart Home US, a showcase for environmental innovation and renewable-energy-enabling technologies that demonstrates Honda’s vision for sustainable, zero carbon living and personal mobility, including the use of solar power to charge a Honda Fit EV battery electric vehicle. A groundbreaking in late April at a site in the UC Davis West Village development marked the start of construction, which will be documented and shared through the Honda Smart Home US web site.
The home’s designers envision a lifestyle of renewable energy for home and transportation. The Honda Smart Home will feature new and emerging technologies that will greatly reduce the amount of energy consumed by individual households, and will fully integrate electric vehicles into the home.
The hi-tech sustainable home plans to meet the state of California’s goal of requiring all new residential construction to be net zero energy by 2020. It is expected to produce more energy than it consumes, using less than half as much energy for heating, cooling, and lighting as a similarly sized new home in the Davis area.
The Honda Smart Home will also give its occupants complete control over all home systems, allowing them to monitor and adjust all aspects of energy use remotely, continually, and in real time.
Following are a few of the many technologies that the Smart Home will feature.
Solar power system. A PV system will provide the energy for the home and for daily commuting in an all-electric vehicle, such as the Honda Fit EV. The net zero energy home will generate, on average, more electricity from on-site renewable power sources than it will receive from its electric utility provider.
Honda Energy Management System. The Honda Energy Management System introduces a smart-grid technology that will actively manage energy use and communicate with the homeowner and utility provider to maximize energy efficiency while responding to the needs of the electrical grid. This will minimize the impacts of solar generation and electric vehicle charging on the grid.
High-efficiency HVAC and lighting systems. UC Davis energy research centers will design high-efficiency, cost-effective ways to reduce home energy loads. UC Davis researchers will explore new methods of geothermal heating and cooling, and will design a new circadian color control logic LED lighting system to improve quality of life while reducing energy consumption.
Direct PV-to-vehicle charging. Direct PV-to-electric vehicle DC battery charging will substantially improve charging efficiency by reducing losses associated with DC-to-AC and AC-to-DC conversion. PV-to-EV charging will decrease CO2 emitted over the life of an electric vehicle by eliminating the carbon associated with grid electricity production.
Green certification. The home will be designed to achieve top-level green building certifications from the major U.S. rating systems. Taking a holistic approach to sustainability, the home will feature passive-design elements as well as novel materials to further reduce CO2 emissions from the production of building materials and the construction and operation of the home.
Honda anticipates that the Smart Home will be completed by the end of 2013. The home will be leased to a tenant associated with UC Davis; further details have not been finalized.
Visit the Honda Smart Home web site.
In 2012, Honda unveiled the Honda Smart Home System (HSHS) in the city of Saitama, Japan. The HSHS project includes two homes: One is a demonstration-only home, while the other serves as a residence for Honda employees. Both homes feature comprehensive controls that regulate in-house energy supply and demand.
ASHRAE Expands Jobs Opportunity Board
Thanks to a recent collaboration between ASHRAE and BirdDog—a recruitment and applicant tracking software provider for the construction, specialty trades, engineering, and facilities industries—members of ASHRAE now have an expanded jobs board. The expanded ASHRAE job board will make it easier for employers to fill built-environment technology positions, and will provide ASHRAE members with more opportunities to find jobs. The ASHRAE jobs site (Ashraejobs.com) specifically allows employers looking to hire ASHRAE members to post their listings throughout the BirdDog family of job boards, and will also ensure that all ASHRAE members have the opportunity to see the job posting.
ASHRAE members—totaling 54,000 worldwide—are the global leaders of building technology. To qualify as a full ASHRAE member, candidates must demonstrate a minimum of 12 years of professional experience in the industry. This announcement comes at a time when employers are reporting difficulty finding qualified candidates for open positions.
Learn more about ASHRAE and its members.
“Our members are in high demand, and that’s good news,” says Tim Wentz, volunteer chair of ASHRAE’s Publishing and Education Council, which oversees ASHRAEjobs.com. “Unfortunately, like so many industries, companies wanting to or already employing ASHRAE members report trouble finding the right candidate. The improved ASHRAE jobs site, along with its four years of history, gives us the foundation to expand our efforts and ensure that the right talent is being matched up with the right job.”
Pure Energy Coach celebrates 25th Anniversary
Tamasin Sterner, founder of Pure Energy Coach.
For 25 years, the Lancaster, Pennsylvania-based Pure Energy team has taken every opportunity to empower people to gain knowledge and make choices to preserve their family’s health and well-being, and to minimize their energy expenses and their impact on the environment.
Pure Energy has been in 50,000 homes performing quality assurance inspections and energy audits through contracts with utility programs, serving mostly low-income families.
Founder and Chief Coach A. Tamasin Sterner has mined this depth of experience to create a consistent and efficient business model, which has been adopted by her peers industrywide and nationwide.
A nationally recognized leader in the home performance and home improvement industry, Sterner is one of five experts (and the sole woman) summoned to meet with and advise President Obama on developing business opportunities in the field of energy efficiency.
Sterner was unanimously chosen by her peers to receive the Tony Woods Award for Excellence in Advancing the Home Performance Industry for her years promoting understanding of, and knowledge about, home performance through quality assurance, coaching, mentoring, consulting, and building inspection.
Recognized as an expert on the subject of home performance, she has addressed DOE, written countless informative pieces, and reviewed test questions for BPI certification. Pure Energy Coach is a BPI Test Center and offers 50 courses in professional development geared to both individuals and groups.
Reflecting on the direction of the home performance industry, Sterner notes that “after 25 years, I continue to work primarily with low-income folks. Clearly, the need remains—which means we still have work to do.”
Visit Pure Energy’s web site.
To mark this anniversary, Pure Energy expressed gratitude for partners in a thank-you video, redesigned and expanded its newsletter and course offerings, and streamlined its web site, where the video, newsletter, course descriptions, and an abundance of information can be found.
ACEEE Recognizes Program Excellence
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), a nonprofit research group based in Washington, D.C., honors America’s leading energy efficiency programs with a series of national awards. This year, three of the awards went to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s On-Bill Recovery Financing, New Construction, and Existing Facilities programs, all of which were designated as exemplary.NYSERDA’s accomplishments were recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., in mid-April.
Programs selected for this honor were judged to be especially noteworthy for their effectiveness and innovation in helping customers achieve greater levels of energy efficiency in their homes, businesses, and industries.
“These programs are delivering energy savings that are critical in helping customers reduce their energy costs, plus they make an important environmental contribution by reducing pollution from the use of fossil fuels,” says ACEEE Utilities Program Director Dan York.
“ACEEE conducted this national review to recognize outstanding energy efficiency programs and honor the people and organizations responsible for their success,” adds Seth Nowak, ACEEE’s lead analyst on this review. “Programs such as NYSERDA’s On-Bill Recovery Financing, New Construction, and Existing Facilities demonstrate the very real value of energy efficiency to the customers it serves.”
Following are the highlights of the NYSERDA programs.
On-Bill Recovery Financing program. This program, a signature part of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo’s Power NY Act of 2011, offers financing to homeowners, small businesses, not-for-profits, and owners of multifamily buildings for energy efficiency improvements through a charge on their utility bill. Launched in 2012, the program issued 530 residential loans totaling more than $5 million. These projects saved more than 434,000 kWh of electricity, the equivalent of powering 63 average-sized homes.
New Construction program. This program provides technical support to design teams and financial incentives to building owners involved in the construction of new or substantially renovated energy-efficient structures in New York State. More than 1,500 new applications were received from 2010 to 2012. In the last full reporting period, from 2009 to 2011, the projected annual average program savings were 59.6 gigawatt hours (GWh) of electricity, the equivalent of powering more than 8,600 average-sized homes. The projected average annual demand reduction was 14.1 megawatts (MW).
Existing Facilities program. This program offers a portfolio of incentive opportunities to offset the costs of energy improvements in existing commercial and institutional facilities across New York State. It works with customers to implement a comprehensive strategy to realize verified energy savings through an integrated approach to cost-effective energy efficiency measures. More than 6,000 customers participated in the program from 2009 to 2011, with annual average demand reduction and response of 98 MW and annual average savings of 143 GWh of electricity—the equivalent of powering more than 20,000 average-sized homes.
See a full list of the honored programs.
In addition to helping commercial and industrial companies become more energy efficient, both the New Construction program and the Existing Facilities program are active in Governor’s Cuomo’s Build Smart NY initiative to reduce energy consumption in state buildings by 20% over the next seven years.
Residential Energy Use Reduces Home Energy Expenditures
Percentage of Household Income Spent on Home Energy Bills (1973–2012)
Figure 1. Energy bills reached their hightest levels in 1982.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) recently reported that consumers spent 2.7% of their household income on home energy bills last year, the lowest percentage in ten years. Aggregate home energy expenditures by U.S. households fell $12 billion in 2012 from the 2011 level. In 2012, prices for residential natural gas decreased 3% from the previous year, while household electricity prices stayed about the same. Warmer weather contributed to lower energy consumption in 2012, and because household energy expenditures reflect both prices and consumption, these changes resulted in lower household energy expenditures.
In 2012, households spent an average total of $1,945 on heating, cooling, appliances, electronics, and lighting. This total includes home use of electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, propane, kerosene, wood, and coal but excludes fuels used for transportation. It also excludes other household utilities, such as water and telephone services. Using EIA projections for 2012 based on household data from the U.S. Census Bureau through 2010, the $1,945 represents 2.7% of household income for 2012, which is the lowest level since 2002. The percentage of household income spent on home energy bills peaked at 4.3% in 1982 and declined steadily until 1999, when it reached 2.4%—its lowest level since 1973. See Figure 1.
Get more information and download the data used for this report.
Additional data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2012 show that household energy represents the eighth largest category of consumer expenditure. However, the percentage of expenditure for home energy varies across income levels. Households in the lowest 20% of income (before taxes) spend nearly 6% of that income on home energy bills, while households in the highest 20% of income spend less than 3% on home energy bills.
New and Notable: November/December 2013
NYSERDA’s HPwES Program Completes 50,000 Projects
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently announced the achievement of a major milestone for its Home Performance with Energy Star (HPwES) program, with ...
New & Notable: September/October 2013
Energy-Saving Home Networks
In 88 million homes across the United States, digital content flows through high-speed modems and routers, streaming our videos, pinging e-mail into our in-boxes—and consuming 8.3 billion kWh of electricity. All of ... | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/21960 | Aoshima 1/24 1991 Efini RX-7
KIT #:
2000 yen
DECALS:
Instruments and plates
Scott Van Aken
Curbside
The Mazda RX-7 is a sports car by the Japanese automaker Mazda. It was produced from 1978 to 2002. The original RX-7 featured a 1146 cc twin-rotor Wankel rotary engine and a sporty front-midship, rear-wheel drive layout. The RX-7 was a direct replacement for the RX-3 (both were sold in Japan as the Savanna) and subsequently replaced all other Mazda rotary cars with the exception of the Cosmo.
The original RX-7 was a sports car. The compact and lightweight Wankel engine (rotary engine) is situated slightly behind the front axle, a configuration marketed by Mazda as "front mid-engine". It was offered as a two-seat coupé, with optional "occasional" rear seats in Japan, Australia, the United States, and other parts of the world. These rear seats were initially marketed as a dealer-installed option for the North American markets.
The RX-7 made Car and Driver magazine's Ten Best list five times. In total, 811,634 RX-7s were produced.
Efini is one of the sub-brands of Mazda that is geared to sports-oriented cars like the RX-7.
Now that Dragon USA is importing Aoshima kits we will be seeing these more and more often on store shelves. Like Fujimi, Hasegawa, and Tamiya, Aoshima does car kits, and does them very well. This particular car is the 1991 version of the RX-7. Like most car kits, it is a curbside, which means it does not have a full engine. Like modern Japanese car kits it makes use of those clever poly-caps to hold the wheels onto the axles. This is something that Revell-Monogram has not yet picked up on and it would be to their advantage to do so. Having no engine does not mean a lack of detail as the suspension and exhaust is well represented, including the catalytic converter. Tires are rubber/vinyl and are directional so one needs to pay attention to that.
The interior is well appointed, though typically, there are no safety belts. I've always wondered why most car kits leave these out. Even decals would be better than nothing. The car is right hand drive as you'd expect a Japanese car to be. There are decals for the instruments, which is a nice touch. The glass on this one is a single piece that is attached to the inner roof. Aoshima has provided masks for the front and rear windows as these are outlined in black. A nice addition that I wish all car kit makers would supply. Other clear bits are the turn signals and the rear light assembly. The aluminum wheels are very nicely done and really look like aluminum, not chrome as is so often done. Most of the kit parts are in black, since most of the car is black. Won't stop many from using different colors. The one-piece body is molded in while as is the lower front valence section. Molding is superb and while there are the usual molding seams to remove, these are not prominent at all. The instructions suggest black for the body as well, but I'm sure most will want something a bit brighter. Instructions are well done with enough English in the construction steps to be helpful. The decal sheet includes instruments as mentioned earlier as well as license plates. Something I've noticed in these kits is that rarely are the plates actual ones, but generally only the name of the subject. Perhaps there is some sort of law in Japan that prevents that. I also see that the kit is built under license, so the Japanese have had their bevy of lawyers out squeezing model companies as well. CONCLUSIONS
A very nice kit of a neat car. I have this car on my PS3 Grand Turisimo simulation and it is a real blast to drive. The kit looks very straight-forward and should make into an excellent model. REFERENCES
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Efini_RX-7 September 2011
Thanks to www.dragonmodelsusa.com for the preview kit. Get this at your local retailer or ask them to order it for you.
If you would like your product reviewed fairly and fairly quickly, please contact the editor or see other details in the Note to
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2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/22268 | 02-06-2008: 2009 Chevrolet HHR Gets E85 FlexFuel Capability
Ecotec four-cylinder engines to join industry-leading FlexFuel lineup
CHICAGO - The 2009 Chevrolet HHR small SUV will become the first four-cylinder model in General Motors Corp.'s North American lineup that can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol.
GM North America President Troy Clarke unveiled the FlexFuel Chevy HHR today during a speech at the Midwest Automotive Media Association breakfast, which opened press days for the Chicago Auto Show.
"We will continue to make more of our lineup FlexFuel-capable because we believe ethanol, and specifically E85, is the best near-term answer to reduce our nation's dependence on oil as energy demand rises here and around the world," Clarke said.
"The focus needs to be on making E85 more available by developing cellulosic ethanol sources and dramatically increasing the number of stations that offer E85," he said.
GM is the auto industry leader in offering FlexFuel models - 11 for 2008 and more than 15 planned for 2009.
The HHR, whose January sales of 9,650 were up 73 percent from the same month a year ago, will become the latest Chevrolet FlexFuel model when it goes on sale later this year. Chevrolet has more than 2 million of GM's more than 2.5 million FlexFuel vehicles on the road.
An HHR running on E85 - a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline - would emit up to 23 percent fewer carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions than if running on gasoline, based on a well-to-wheel analysis by the Argonne National Laboratory.
The HHR will be available with an Ecotec 2.2-liter or Ecotec 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine, both of which will be compatible with E85. For the first time, the Ecotec 2.2L is equipped with variable valve timing (VVT), technology that assures precise opening and closing of the valves and accurate control of combustion gases to improve engine performance and efficiency. The Ecotec 2.4L continues to offer VVT. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/23372 | Ship A Car From Illinois to Minnesota
Shipping a car from Illinois to Minnesota is easy with RoadRunner Auto Transport. Through our advanced network of over 2,500 open and enclosed auto transporters nationwide, we can reduce your car transport rates when shipping from Illinois to Minnesota. Get an instant auto transport quote from the calculator to the left or call (888) 777-2123 to discuss your transport with an experienced vehicle shipping coordinator. We take great pride in providing our customers with industry leading customer service and we go to great lengths to ensure that every customer has a positive auto shipping experience.
Based on recent dispatch reports, the carrier availability rating from Illinois to Minnesota is 8/10. When calculating availability, many factors are taken into account in order to provide you with the most accurate transportation data and each state is rated individually - Illinois has a rating of 5/5 and Minnesota has a rating of 3/5, combining for a total availability rating of 8/10. Shipping From Illinois
Illinois is the fifth most populous and twenty-fifth largest state in the entire United States. The state is a major transportation hub, boasting major US cities like Chicago and Springfield. Illinois shares borders with Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.
The capital of Illinois is Springfield, and its largest city is Chicago, which is the third most populous city in the United States. Illinois has a total population of almost 13 million, and an area of about 57,914 square miles (149,998 square kilometers). Shipping To Minnesota
Minnesota is bordered by Canada on the north; Iowa on the south; Lake Superior and Wisconsin on the east; and North and South Dakota on the west.
Minneapolis is the trade center of the Midwest, and the headquarters of the world's largest super-computer and grain distributor. St. Paul is the nation's biggest publisher of calendars and law books. These “twin cities” are the nation's third-largest trucking center. Duluth has the nation's largest inland harbor and now handles a significant amount of foreign trade. Rochester is home to the Mayo Clinic, a world-famous medical center. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/23715 | Elspeth Beard Page updated
Photo copyright Peter Orme Nowadays Elspeth Beard is a talented and world renowned architect (to see her website click here) - she has recently been featured on the Grand Designs TV programme - but back in 1980 she was just a student with a burning desire to travel. She bought a 30,000 mile second hand 1974 R60/6 from a friend of a friend in Cornwall and after several long trips in Europe and the British Isles she set off in 1982 on a three year journey around the world. Elspeth started in the US, going on to Australia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Yugoslavia then back into western Europe and home, becoming the first British woman to circumnavigate the world by motorcycle. 1980s photo of Elspeth shortly after returning home, by Peter Orme She survived two major accidents, in Australia and Thailand, and did a lot of major repairs herself. She also made her distinctive and easily repairable panniers-with-top box herself out of aluminium sheet and rivets while living and working in Sydney . You can read her full story by clicking here.
Photo copyright Paul Blezard.
We have also been contacted by her boyfriend, and you can read his feedback (click here) 2006 photo of Elspeth and her R60/6 being interviewed by Nick Sanders for his Biker Britain programme. (The white bike is Elspeth's everyday machine nowadays, an R80GS Basic with large Dakar tank). Back to Gus Kuhn Customer Index Return to Top of Page | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/24240 | Depreciation: What does it mean to you?
By Jil McIntosh
You’ve heard the story: the second you drive your new car off the lot, you’ve lost half its value. But what is depreciation really all about? And most importantly, what does it mean for you and your vehicle?
Simply put, depreciation is the difference between what you paid for your vehicle, and what you would get if you were to trade it in or sell it. If you’re the type who buys a car and keeps it until its last stop is the auto recycler, depreciation probably won’t be an issue for you. But it can be important if you plan to move into something else in a few years, and it’s a factor when you’re looking at a used car.
Forming perspective
“Depreciation happens because nobody wants to buy old things,” says Josh Bailey, vice-president of research and editorial at Canadian Black Book, which publishes value guides for new and used vehicles. “Once you start to wear out anything you buy, its value is lessened, especially with the complex nature of cars. People start to add mileage and wear, and that comes off what the car is worth.”
Actually figuring out residual values—what a vehicle will be worth down the road, whether it’s brand-new or already a used car—involves a number of factors, including the type of vehicle and the equipment it has, the brand’s reputation for reliability, the cost of repairs, and its fuel consumption.
There are also external factors, including forecasts for inflation, employment, fuel prices, and any MSRP changes due to shifting currency values. “When we were adjusting for U.S. and Canadian dollar parity back in 2008, moving those prices down also had an impact on the value of cars already on the road,” Bailey says. “The subsequent lower prices on new (2008) cars reduced the value of the 2007 models.”
Incentives on new vehicles will have a considerable effect on residual values as well. If a manufacturer knocks enough off the price of a brand-new vehicle, it can come close enough to the price of a used one that many buyers will pay the difference in order to get a pristine model and its full warranty.
Compromise of luxury
As a rule, luxury cars tend to have the largest drops in value. “I think there’s as much image involved as anything else,” Bailey says. “When you’re talking about a BMW 7 Series, or Mercedes-Benz S-Class, or Audi A8, pulling up to your golf club in a used car doesn’t have the same cachet as pulling up in the very latest. “When you move down a couple more pegs, to a 5 Series or E-Class, there’s also a stigma attached to a used one, because they’re going to cost more than a Honda Civic to repair. The people who want them can’t afford to keep them.”
The cost of repair is one of the key factors in depreciation: the more it’s going to cost to fix, the less it’s going to be worth to the next buyer. Before you consider any “value-priced” premium-brand vehicle, do your homework. Price out the cost of repairs you can reasonably expect to see, such as brakes or steering components, along with maintenance items such as oil changes. These costs will not only reflect the cost of ownership to you, but can substantially reduce the amount of money you’ll get for the vehicle if you’re planning on reselling it after a few years.
What are the “options”?
The number of options can also affect the resale value, but not always in the way you’d think. A fully-loaded car will cost more to buy, but that may not translate into more money at trade-in time if buyers suspect they’ll be shelling out big bucks to fix any that fail, especially if it’s an electronic device.
Cars take their biggest financial hit in their first and second year, and you can use this to your advantage, but be sure you’ve looked at all the factors. A car that did fleet duty and has high mileage could be a great deal, especially if you’re not going to be racking up the same amount of driving, and if you’re planning on keeping the car for a while. If incentives are tempting you to look at a new car, rather than one that’s a couple of years old, look at the full price before you sign on the dotted line. That enticing figure trumpeted in the manufacturer’s ad probably doesn’t include freight and dealer charges, which could easily add a couple of thousand dollars to the final price. On top of that, you will be the one taking the hit on its initial depreciation drop. You may get less for the used car if you resell it down the road, but you might not have lost as much on it overall.
Sport Coupe? Sedan? Family Ferry? The type of vehicle will also play a role in its resale value, and therefore in its depreciation. Despite the higher fuel costs, pickup trucks will tend to hold their value better than cars, because of their usefulness as work vehicles. And while you may prefer a stick shift, they can be a tough sell in used vehicles, since many people haven’t learned to drive them, or prefer the ease of an automatic, especially in mainstream vehicles.
Worth the gas?
Fuel consumption plays a role, but look at the big picture. When fuel prices rise, there’s a corresponding drop in the value of thirsty vehicles. But depending on how much you drive, the price difference between a fuel-sipper and a guzzler may be more than enough to offset the extra you’ll pay in fuel.
If you’re buying a vehicle with the intention of keeping it for a few years and then selling it, condition is also a factor. You’d think it would be obvious, but a surprising number of people don’t bother to keep their cars clean, don’t worry about scrapes or dings, and aren’t careful about maintenance and repairs—and then they wonder why they can’t persuade someone to pay the price they’re asking. The highest dollar always goes to the car that looks like it’s worth it.
“Typically, a new-car buyer wants something that will hold value, and a used-car buyer wants something that has lost its value,” Bailey says. “The price of any car is what it costs to keep it on the road.”
For a no-cost estimate of what your vehicle is worth, and future values for new and used vehicles, visit Canadian Black Book. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/24312 | ChiefsPlanet > Lonewolf Ed Lounge > Washington DC and The Holy Land > Economics The Free Market in action - Companys find ways to innovate in troubled times
View Full Version : Economics The Free Market in action - Companys find ways to innovate in troubled times
Taco John03-31-2009, 11:37 AMAll don't without added cost to the taxpayers...
Ford, GM To Cover Car Payments For Unemployed
DETROIT — Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. are offering payment protection plans to help reassure consumers who may be putting off buying a new car because of worries about losing their job.
The offers come as auto sales have been battered by the recession and tight credit, reaching their lowest levels in 27 years.
Ford said Tuesday it will cover payments of up to $700 each month for up to a year on any new Ford, Lincoln or Mercury vehicle if consumers lose their jobs. The program runs until June 1.
Hours later, GM said it will make a similar offer. GM's new CEO, Fritz Henderson, said the company will make up to nine car payments of $500 each for customers who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.
Customers must qualify for state unemployment to be eligible for the program. The program starts April 1 and runs until April 30.
Hyundai Motor Co. launched a program in January that allows buyers to return a vehicle within a year if they can't make the payments due to a job loss or disability. The company said the program helped it avoid a double-digit sales decline last month, reporting a 2 percent slide.
Dearborn, Mich.-based Ford is also offering zero percent financing on certain Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles.
"Consumers remain anxious about the economy and their own outlook for the future," Ken Czubay, vice president of sales and marketing, said in a statement.
The announcements come a day after President Barack Obama said the government will back new car warranties issued by GM and Chrysler LLC, who have accepted federal assistance and are seeking more, to help boost consumer confidence about buying their vehicles.
Ford has not requested federal bailout funds.
Ford also said it would partner with its dealers to introduce a program that would help local charities affected by the economic downturn.
Shares of Ford fell 6 cents to $2.70 in morning trading, while GM shares dropped 18 cents to $2.52.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/31/ford-car-payments-covered_n_181151.html
Taco John03-31-2009, 11:38 AMWalgreens Offering Free Healthcare For Jobless, Uninsured
NEW YORK — Drugstore operator Walgreen will offer free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of the year, providing tests and routine treatment for minor ailments through its walk-in clinics _ though patients will still pay for precriptions.
Walgreen said patients who lose their job and health insurance after March 31 will be able to get free treatment at its in-store Take Care clinics for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments. Typically those treatments cost $59 or more for patients with no insurance.
Hal Rosenbluth, chairman of the Take Care Health Systems division, described the plan as something close to an experiment: He said Walgreen isn't sure of patient demand or how much providing the services might cost the company.
It's likely to generate more attention for the clinics, however. Rosenbluth said a typical Take Care patient tells eight other people about his or her experience. So far, about 30 percent of Take Care patients were new customers to Walgreen.
The program is expected to last through the end of 2009. Walgreen runs 341 Take Care clinics in 35 markets around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Cleveland.
Free services will be offered only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Walgreen said it will not offer free checkups, vaccinations or other injections because it is focusing on providing services patients might otherwise get at an urgent-care center or even an emergency room.
Patients must present proof they are unemployed, including a federal or state unemployment determination letter and an unemployment check stub. They will have to sign a form at the clinic saying they have lost their jobs and health benefits. If they find a new job or get new health insurance, they will no longer be eligible for free care.
Spouses and children are also eligible for free services if they don't have insurance of their own.
Medical lab operator Quest Diagnostics is participating in the program by offering free tests for step throat and urinary tract infections.
Walgreen bought the Take Care clinics in May 2007. Take Care says it has seen about 1.2 million patients since its launch in November 2005 and estimates that up to 30 percent of them were uninsured.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/31/walgreen-free-care-for-jo_n_181178.html
blaise03-31-2009, 12:42 PMI'm assuming those payment protection plans offered by Ford and GM are for a fee. Haven't people been able to purchase those coverages for some time now? | 汽车 |
2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/24517 | Advertisement Advertisement Asian Autos Top Reliability, Ford Close Behind Wed, 10/28/2009 - 4:15am Comments by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — Asian automakers are still building the most reliable cars and trucks, with eight of the top 10 brands from Japanese and Korean companies, according to an annual survey by Consumer Reports.
But several models from Ford Motor Co. are now consistently scoring above Honda and Toyota, the perennial leaders.
While Toyota's youth-oriented Scion brand finished first for the second year in a row, several Ford models, including the midsize Ford Fusion and its cousin, the Mercury Milan, consistently have been at or near the top of their classes, a trend that led Consumer Reports editors to declare that Ford is now making some vehicles with world-class reliability.
After Scion, Honda, Toyota, Infiniti and Acura rounded out the top five brands in reliability based on surveys taken in March of subscribers who own or lease 1.4 million vehicles.
Honda's Insight hybrid was the most reliable vehicle in the survey, while the luxury SUV Volkswagen Touareg was the least reliable. The survey gauges how dependable 2010 model cars and trucks will be based on reliability in the past.
Asian automakers have scored well over the years because they traditionally paid more attention to quality and have tried to perfect manufacturing procedures. The U.S. automakers, however, claim that they have caught up.
"Ford is definitely doing something right," said Rik Paul, the magazine's automotive editor.
Ford's Detroit-area competitors, General Motors Co. and Chrysler Group LLC, didn't fare as well, however.
Chrysler had only one model that Consumer Reports recommended based on reliability and its staff test, and the Chrysler brand finished last out of 33 brands sold in the U.S. One third of Chrysler's models were much worse than average in reliability.
Six models from GM were recommended by the magazine, but it's still inconsistent. Only 21 of 48 models the magazine studied scored average or better in reliability.
The relatively poor performance by GM and Chrysler could hurt efforts to fight back from financial problems that led to stays in bankruptcy court earlier this year. Auto industry officials say the nonprofit Consumer Reports is among the most widely consulted sources when people buy vehicles.
Officials at GM and Chrysler say they are committed to improving quality.
At Ford, though, four-cylinder versions of the Fusion and Milan finished second in the family car category, beaten only by Toyota's Prius gas-electric hybrid. The Fusion and Milan outscored Toyota Motor Corp.'s Camry and Honda Motor Co.'s Accord, the two top-selling cars in the U.S. "which many people view as the paradigms of reliability," Paul said.
Of the 51 Ford, Lincoln or Mercury models in the survey, 46 were ranked average or better in reliability.
Yet while Mercury was the only Detroit brand to finish in the top 10 (10th), the Ford brand finished 16th, while Lincoln finished 20th. That's largely due to higher-end models — many with all-wheel-drive — scoring below average in reliability, said Jake Fisher, Consumer Reports' senior automotive engineer.
"Those types of problems are keeping them from being truly world class," Fisher said.
Bennie Fowler, Ford's vice president of global quality, said the company is applying the same methods that worked with the Fusion and other models to the ones that didn't perform as well.
Toyota, despite a recent spate of recalls, and Honda consistently build cars that cause few problems for Consumer Reports readers, Paul said. Ford, he said, is approaching that consistency. While GM has some bright spots, it has a ways to go to match the Japanese.
The Dodge Ram pickup, the only Chrysler model recommended by the magazine, did well in road tests and was average in reliability. The recommendation is important, though, because the Ram is Chrysler's top-selling model.
Paul said automakers often can only make quality improvements when new models come out, and those have been few for Chrysler in the last two years.
"Hopefully for them, when they do release new models, they will still have the same level of quality that we saw in the Ram," he said.
The Consumer Reports survey also found that higher-priced cars aren't necessarily more reliable than less-expensive ones. Inexpensive small cars and midsize family sedans were the most reliable in the survey, which questions subscribers about 17 potential problem areas.
Complete results will be in Consumer Reports' December issue, which is due out Nov. 2, or Tuesday for subscribers to the Consumer Reports Web site at http://www.consumerreports.org.
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2017-17/2163/en_head.json.gz/24893 | krftd.com (1)
Music in the fast lane
Audi Design Studio followed Porsche’s footsteps in designing a truly unique piano.
A concert grand piano is impressively large, usually black and has three legs to support the body with its typically curved sides. For more than 100 years, the complex internal mechanisms of these instruments have ensured their magnificent sound as well as determining the overall shape. The long tradition that has led to the grand piano has included many baroque versions that are not ideally matched to Audi’s design language. Despite this, the Audi Design Studio team in Munich decided to tackle the task of housing a concert grand piano in an Audi “outer skin”.
“You can imagine the respect with which we approached the challenge of redesigning a musical instrument” says Wolfgang Egger, Head of Audi Group Design. “We were obliged to study the instrument in depth, and develop an all-embracing concept from the very start. The project was a useful source of experience for our young designers, and will benefit them later when they work on car design.” | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/1454 | Furey Motors celebrates 75 years in Malvern
By SARA KLEIN News Leader Staff Writer Published: March 16, 2017 12:00 AM
1 of 3 Photos | View More PhotosLouis Furey was used to getting calls for help. Sometimes the caller was having trouble digging a car out from piles of snow. Sometimes the caller's vehicle had blown a tire, or the caller was stuck on the road with a vehicle that would not budge. Calls came especially during heavy winter snows when the roads were treacherous. People often showed up to Louis's business, Furey Motors in Malvern, with cars and trucks that needed help. But just as often, the help was needed right out on the roadside. Louis's answer to the callers was always the same: he would be there. When they were old enough, Louis's sons, John, Robert, Donald, Tom and Charles, piled into the tow truck with their dad ready for the rescue. [Article continues below] "It was not unusual for us to go out at three in the morning in a snowstorm to help someone," remembered John, who now runs Furey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Malvern. Indeed, "taking care of the people that came in was the main reason" Louis decided to develop his automotive business, said Robert. Louis began his more than 40-year career in the automotive industry as a fresh-faced kid out of high school. He was not planning to establish his own business, and in fact he found his way to cars rather unexpectedly, his sons explained. It was Louis's mechanical know-how that got him started. "He had a knack for working on cars and fixing them," said Tom. "I have often thought it was most likely the influence of his Uncle Charlie," reflected Don, who is the family's historian. "Dad frequently spent time at his uncle's farm near Salineville and said that Charlie was very good with machinery." [Article continues below]"I recall dad saying that, back when jobs were scarce as can be, and they were putting a road in, the construction company would have workers lined up hoping to get a job. Dad happened to be standing there in line and one of the pieces of equipment broke down. Dad said, 'I can fix it for you.' Dad got it running," John said. But construction work was not the niche for Louis, who initially looked for work at a barbershop. "They didn't have anything. He went across the street to Loudon's garage, and they were able to use some help," Don explained. Abe Loudon, who owned the garage in Hanoverton, decided to hire Louis, who quickly demonstrated his mechanical skills. Abe taught Louis not only how to work on cars but also about running an automotive business. In 1934 Louis moved to Malvern, where he got a job as a mechanic at Kibler Chevrolet on East Porter Street. Two years later, Curt Taylor bought the business and changed the name to Taylor Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. Louis kept on working and, thanks to the knowledge he had gained, eventually became the business's service manager. Automobile production took a proverbial backseat in America's economy when World War II began. As a result, there were no new cars to sell. The change also meant that access to car repair services became even more important to car owners. Louis responded by purchasing supplies and equipment from Taylor and establishing his own car repair business, Furey Motor Service, on March 15, 1942. In July of 1944, he reached another milestone when, with the help of a loan, he bought the garage building, which he formerly rented. Louis focused his business on repairing cars and trucks. As he learned more about what his customers needed, he stocked up on equipment for additional services. He then added collision repair and painting along with, in 1947, AAA service and 24-hour towing, which provided Malvern with a complete automotive service facility. Longtime employees like Clarence Laubacher, who began working for Kibler Chevrolet in 1935 and stayed on with Furey Motors, helped strengthen the business. Louis's towing service added revenue, but it also meant plenty of late nights and weekends spent at traffic accidents or breakdowns. Life as a business owner and busy mechanic was not easy. "I know there were times when he considered giving it up, especially earlier in the business, and he talked about...considering what he would place up for sale," said Don. But Louis always rolled up his shirt sleeves and decided to stick with it. Over time he hired and trained many new employees, which Don said encouraged Louis to keep doing what he loved. "I think he enjoyed the physical work, enjoyed working with people in town ... and then as he got additional employees ... once you get established to the point where you're not thinking about closing up every day, it goes along at its own speed," Don commented. Eventually Louis added used car sales to the business's services, and then he became a dealer for Kaiser and Frazer cars. Later, Willys, Jeeps and Studebaker cars were added to the business. As his business grew, Louis remembered his early days and the opportunity that Abe Loudon had given to him. Extending that opportunity to new fresh-faced kids in the Malvern community became an important part of Furey Motors, which the Furey family said offered training and hands-on experience to dozens of men. Two of Louis' brothers, Art and Al, also worked at the business at various times. As each of Louis's five sons grew up, he taught them the business. They spent their early days sweeping and washing. Then they were allowed to help employees with repair work and towing. When they showed that they were ready, the boys were allowed to take on more complex mechanical and bodywork jobs themselves. Getting the boys involved was not only a way to provide them with job skills but was also a way for Louis to pass on values that he felt were important in his family and in the business. "A lot of it was a way to pass on information, a way to share both knowledge of how to do things as well as work ethic," said Don. "Dad instilled work ethic and values," remarked John. "I remember dad always saying that he believed you should live within walking distance of work, church, and school. Dad had that typical, conservative, practical mentality." Helping the community was a key part of the business ethic that Louis passed on. As Don pointed out, "cars are a common interest of a lot of people." With so many people in the community able to be car owners after the war ended, the boys said their father's automotive know-how was able to help a large part of his community not only in the garage but, literally, in the field next to the family's home. "Being in the automobile business, everybody has cars, and the fact that we always had a car to drive in the field near the house, all the neighborhood kids came around for the car and the tractor," Don remembered. "I can't count the number of people who learned to drive and got prepped for their test back there in the field. Everybody in that end of town learned to drive back there in the field," John added. Louis also believed that volunteering in the community was an important part of his role as a local business leader. His community involvement included serving as a founding member and president of the Malvern Development Corporation as well as supporting organizations such as the Red Cross, local boy scouts troops, and the Rotary Club. His business knowledge equipped him to serve as a founding director of Consumers National Bank, which is headquartered in Minerva about 10 minutes' drive from Furey Motor Service. It is that connection with the community that has given Furey its 75 years of staying power, said John. "We like the local community. The majority of our business is repeat and referral," he explained. "Even with the Internet, the majority of our business is people that have bought from us before or been referred to us from someone who's been with us before." Today, Furey Motors still operates at its East Porter Street location while the dealership, Furey Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, operates at Canton Road and Route 43. Four of Louis's five sons found their lifelong career in the automotive business. And three of the sons -- John, Tom, and Charles -- continue to work at their dad's business. While Tom and Charles work at Furey Motors, John runs the Canton Road dealership. The family business is now extending to the third generation of Fureys with John's son, Keaton, who is a salesman at the dealership. Meanwhile, Donald's son, John, is the collision shop manager for West Herr Ford in Rochester, N.Y. Robert's eldest daughter, Linda, completed an internship at Ford Motor Company during her college years, and his youngest, Diane, works in an advertising agency serving automotive clients Buick and GMC. The love of automobiles has even extended to Louis's great-grandchildren, who Don said look forward to coming to the family picnic, where they enjoy spins in the family's cars and ATVs. But it's the connection between Louis's automotive business and the business's customers that has been most important, said John. "The business has meant a lot to the family in that it's touched so many people. We're getting phone calls and people stopping by. We're inundated by people talking about what dad did for them and how their kids worked for dad. That's heartwarming," he commented. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/1819 | Home Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car
Spen King
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Spen King from Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car
August, 2009 - Jim Donnelly
What would have happened if everything else he designed had been as popular over here as the Range Rover?
The chasm that existed between the U.S. market for imported cars in the 1960s and the 1980s ensures that at best, any answer would be rhetorical. At the very least, however, it's easy to agree that among British automotive designers, Spen King has a portfolio of accomplishments that comes very close to standing alone. If the car industry in England was moribund during some of his career, he did yeoman duty to revive it from hibernation more than just once.
He deserves to be known, though likely isn't in many quarters, for his developmental role on gas turbine-powered cars that were both attractive and compelling. Charles Spencer King, born in Solihull in 1925, was the nephew of Maurice and Spencer Wilks, both executives at Rover. During World War II, he was an apprentice engineer at Rolls-Royce, working on some of the first jet aircraft engines created in Great Britain. Spencer Wilks, in particular, was intrigued by the automotive applications of jet power, and said as much to Leyland director Henry Spurrier. They agreed to clandestinely allow King to pursue it.
The first tiny automotive turbine engine, the T1, was first installed in a conservative Rover four-door sedan and then, in a terrific-looking streamlined sports car called the JET 1. King himself spooled it up to 151 MPH on the Ostend-Brussels expressway in Belgium. A more realistic turbine sedan with front drive was displayed at the New York Auto Show in 1961. Shortly thereafter, after the elder Wilks brothers retired, King was placed in charge of engineering design for all new Rover projects.
Some very interesting, arguably underappreciated cars were developed by Rover during King's tenure. The P6 sedan, which we know better in these parts as the Rover 2000, was among the first. To market it, however, King made sure that Rover's then-established association with the turbine was involved. He persuaded BRM to collaborate on a streamlined racing coupe for Le Mans, which at first restricted cars with non-reciprocating engines to pseudo-exhibition classes only. In spite of that, and an engine damaged by excessive heat, a Rover-BRM finished 10th overall in 1965, best of any British car, just ahead of Paddy Hopkirk's works MGB. King also fielded a works Rover 2000 rally team, with the great Roger Clark among its drivers.
Rover became part of the industry consolidation whose result was the 1968 creation of government-owned British Leyland. That merger, which included Jaguar, killed plans for a large, V-8 luxury sedan that King had proposed, internally called the P8. Whatever may have caused the motor industry of England to subsequently wither, it wasn't King's handiwork. The design teams he managed produced some memorable cars, including the final three Triumphs, the TR6, TR7 and the Stag. King was enthroned as head of all technological research for British Leyland, a stint that included an aerodynamic electric sedan. More recently, King oversaw MG Rover's new K-series engine, introduced in 1988, which found its way into the Rover/MG Metro, the Caterham 7 and the revived, Chinese-built MG TF, among others. The K-series variants are also highly popular with British engine swappers.
In its original form, as designed by King, the 1971 Range Rover was a somewhat more comfortable two-door Land Rover. As a tribute to King, who remains a consulting engineer today, Land Rover built a limited-edition two-door Range Rover in 1991, named with his initials.
This article originally appeared in the August, 2009 issue of Hemmings Sports & Exotic Car.
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2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/2125 | Events Pininfarina Posts First Profit Since 2004
2013 Pininfarina Sergio (credit: Pininfarina S.p.A.)
After recent turbulence, legendary Italian design house Pininfarina has posted its first profit since 2004.
From a loss of 11.5 million euros ($14.8 million) in 2011, the company has posted a profit of 32.9 million euros ($42.3 million) for 2012, thanks mostly to a one-time gain.
Over the years Pininfarina has suffered several major setbacks including the sudden death of CEO Andrea Pininfarina back in 2008, the loss of numerous design contracts to internal design studios, and the recent death of patriarch Sergio Pininfarina.
To avert bankruptcy, managers at Pininfarina were forced to downsize the company by cutting loss-making car manufacturing units and focusing on the design side of things.
The company was also able to form a debt restructuring deal with its lenders that provided it with additional time to pay back its loans and freed up some much-needed cash.
These moves allowed Pininfarina to expand into new markets, especially China, which is already the single biggest market for new cars and soon will be the biggest for new car designs, too. It also allowed the company to expand its profitable Special Projects division, which was responsible for masterpieces such as the Ferrari P4/5 and Rolls-Royce Hyperion.
Pictured above is the crew at Pininfarina and the company’s latest Sergio concept car, which debuted this month at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show and was built as a tribute to Sergio Pininfarina. It points to future aspect of Pininfarina’s business: an expanded coachbuilding operation. Pininfarina says the Sergio, which is based on a Ferrari 458 Spider, could be produced in a limited run if it receives sufficient interest.
This article originally appeared at Motor Authority. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/3389 | The link between musicians and their cars is often a strong one. George Harrison, Nick Mason, Jay Kay, Jeff Beck; there’s just something about musicians that makes them great car lovers. Maybe it’s the way that there are echoes and design cues from cars in some bits of musical equipment – the ‘horns’ on a Fender Stratocaster seem to mirror the fins on a 1959 Cadillac or simply because they’re both a sort of ‘kit’, which attract followers.
Multiple Fezzas
One of the most prolific and successful of these celebrity car collectors is none other than Eric Clapton, whose love of Ferrari (not to mention incredible homes) has been known for decades. Though there are no formal lists of the cars he’s owned throughout his lifetime, some are better known than others. Through his 2007 autobiography, countless websites checked and a bevy of other sources, we’ve compiled a list of cars known to have been owned by him as well as having an in-depth look at some of the more important ones throughout his life.
Most recently Clapton has been in the press for his purchase of a specially commissioned one-off Ferrari 458, designed to pay homage to the 512BB. Though a price was never officially disclosed, rumor has it, the SP 12 EC cost him in the region of £3 million ($4.75 million). On the face of it, it looks a bit baffling really, a new, standard 458 costs £170,000 and you can get a 512BB in good nick for £125,000 or more if you want one of the originals with the two tone paint scheme. Really, he could have bought a 458 and a 512BB, saved some money and just called it a day. But it’s when you find out he originally wanted a V12 to go into the SP12EC that it all begins to make sense- a 12 cylinder 458 would be the perfect tribute to the 512’s boxer engine. For whatever reason, the end product doesn’t use Ferrari’s current V12 engine or any variation on it, but instead has the standard 570 hp V8 from the 458. Eric’s love of the original 512BB is so much so however that he has already allegedly owned three of them already.
Clapton stands over his new machine (picture courtesy of magazine.ferrari.com)
The first car Eric Clapton added to his personal collection was an odd choice, not helped by the fact he didn’t yet even have a license, though he had been buying driving cars for many years before he even had one. “It was a 1938 right-hand drive Cadillac Fleetwood that had been made for the London motor Show and I saw it in a garage in Seven Sisters Road. It was huge, in perfect condition and cost only £750. Even though I couldn’t drive, I bought it anyway…. It sat there, getting covered in leaves and I used to just look at it out of the window. A couple of times Ben Palmer drove me around in It, but he said it was a nightmare to drive because it was so big, and had no power steering.” (From his 2007 autobiography)
For Eric, his personal obsession with Ferrari started from an early age, being a fan of the grand prix heyday of the 50s and 60s, but it wasn’t until George Harrison brought over his new 365 GTC to show off that he became a collector of them, an experience he writes about in his 2007 bestseller autobiography: “One day in the late sixties he (George Harrison) arrived at my house in a dark blue Ferrari 365 GTC. I’d never seen one in the flesh before and my heary melted. At that point, it was like seeing the most beautiful woman on earth, and I decided there and then, that even though I couldn’t drive, I was going to have one too.
I had no license, and had only ever driven an automatic, so I set about teaching myself to drive using a clutch, in that Ferrari. I loved that car, and when I was in the Dominos I toured in it.” Like the 512BBs, Eric has owned multiple 365 cars over the years
The 365 has been restored back to its original white colour after Clapton had this one painted silver in 1981Image from the car’s auction- courtesy of Telacrest.com
Undoubtedly the longest and most enduring motoring relationship the musician has had is with his 1964 250 Lusso- Lusso of course being the Italian word for ‘luxury’ and meant as the most luxurious two seater variant of the 250 bloodline. The most famous 250 Lusso was owned by Steve McQueen and sold for $2.3 million in 2009. The slightly abnormal shape of the front, which incorporates a three piece bumper has lead many people to believe that it is one of the most beautiful cars ever to be produced by the Maranello company. The Lusso used the V12 “Columbo” engine already seen across the 250 range and beyond. The “ripping silk” sound produced by the V12 is one that the musician is said to be very fond of. In the car’s 18 months of production, only 350 were made, just adding to the elusive nature of the 250 line-up.
Lusso for luxury.
At one point, around 1967, George Harrison gifted Clapton his custom decorated Mini Cooper, styled by the coach builder Harold Radford. Radford boasted the ability to make a Mini feel like a luxury automobile, and with all of the option boxes ticked, would cost the same as one; a Radford Cooper at the 1969 Paris Motor show retailed for £5,200- about the same price as an Aston Martin DB6 at the time. A standard Mini then cost £850. The Mini was decorated with painted on Indian peace symbols and featured in the Beatles film Magical Mystery Tour. So Iconic was that particular Mini that in 2009 a one-off ‘new’ Mini was decorated as a homage to George’s original car and auctioned for Harrison’s Material World Foundation. Though Clapton only owned the car for two years, before returning it to Harrison, if anything it just adds a bit to the car’s already impressive provenance.
Harrison’s Magical Mystery Touring Car
In an interview for Ferrari.com from 2010, Eric stated his favourite Ferrari is still his 250 Lusso, but goes on to say that he spends a lot of his time driving the 612 Scaglietti, one of Ferrari’s most controversial cars of recent years. 612’s problem was that while exquisitely made and with an extraordinary sense of attention to detail, as indeed all Ferraris have, it was criticized by some for being too tame to be a proper Ferrari. Where the 612 did do exceedingly well though was as a 2+2 grand tourer, perfect for long trips across Europe, making it popular among many highly paid businessmen. Though Ferrari replaced the 612 with the FF a year after the interview took place, Clapton seemed to hold the car in very high regard saying he preferred it even to the 599 GTB (which he also owns).
Not the one owned by Clapton, nor is the colour or trim of his known.
Both Nick Mason and Jay Kay were among the lucky 350 customers originally offered Ferrari Enzos back in 2002. Not only was Clapton the first of the three to get one, he was the first person in the UK to have one. In addition to that, while most customers chose to have their cars delivered from Ferrari, meaning they have to be shipped all the way from Maranello, but that wasn’t a problem for Eric. According to the website ferrariownersclub.co.uk: “Most people leave here with their cars on a flatbed truck, but Eric left with a huge grin and insisted on driving it all the way back home.” The Parisian police took exception to this and pulled over the yellow Enzo, after he was caught doing 145 mph on a public road.
A yellow Enzo, like Eric’s.
In his 1983 album ‘Money and Cigarettes’ Clapton sang that ‘I get off on ’57 Chevy’- a point proven by his garage full of hot rods and custom vintage American cars. With his obsession of ‘50s American culture and inspired by the likes of Buddy Holly, it’s only natural he’d have a lot of love for the cars that helped shape that decade and the music surrounding it. Many of his award winning custom jobs were made by Roy Brizio- a legend in his field. Notable pieces in his hot rod collection include a 1932 Ford Roadster, a custom 1949 Chevy pickup and a 1932 Ford Victoria with a Roush V8. All of his cars have been painstakingly, yet subtly fitted and detailed; enough to turn heads but without screaming ‘look at me.’
Never happier than in his vintage Ford Roadster, courtesy of streetrodder.web
To date, this is the most comprehensive list of cars that Eric Clapton has owned that I am aware of, but if you have information of any more, leave a comment below! Additionally, we’d like more information on the personal car collections of other musicians and entertainers like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg, AKON, T-Pain, Funk Master Flex, Billy F. Gibbons of ZZ Top, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Jerry Seinfeld.
Ferrari 365 GTC
Ferrari 250 Lusso
Ferrari 250 SWB
Ferrari 575M
Ferrari 458 SP12 (512BB)
Ferrari 360 Spyder
Ferrari 512BB (3x)
Porsche 911 (997) Turbo
1932 Ford Victoria (Hot Rod)
1949 Ford Coupe (Hot Rod)
1949 Chevrolet Pick-up (modded)
Mini Cooper Radford (gift from George Harrison)
Incoming search terms for the article:eric clapton car collectionEric Clapton Ferrari Collectioneric clapton carseric clapton cars collectionEric Claptons carseric clapton porscheeric clapton\s carseric claptons car collectionClapton CAR COLLECTIONeric clapton\s car collectionShare this car news from our auto blog... Tweet Greaper
I have just bought a porsche cayenne s (not turbo) which was originally owned by Eric Clapton.
His name & London address appears on the original invoice, which I have with the vehicle.
Marcus Kohlberg
Great list! Check out roybriziostreetrods.com where you can see all the hot rods built for Eric Clapton. There’s one more ’32 Vicky, a black 1940 Ford Coupé (his first hot rod as far as I know; you can see it in the Sessions For Robert J. DVD), and an absolutely beautiful Woodie. But most important: dig deep into Eric’s music. Fifty years of soulful, original music, created by the most gifted and interesting artist. Ever.
You could add his 2004 Porsche 996 Turbo G50 which I now own. This was the car he was driving in France late 2004 when he got pulled for doing 135 mph on the autoroute. Grey, low mileage and all original documents are in his personal name and London address. Oh, and all his history in the sat nav!!!
Further to my earlier post have just found this from BBC which is the incident I was referring to:
Try again. Hope this download works ….. if not Google has the link.
He had a red 86 testarossa , a 512 tr and a 308 after he wrecked one of his three Boxers he owned. He also had a 275 GTS that was owned by Jayne Mansfeild.
I have is 2004 Mercedes S55 AMG
What users are searching for...porsche 916eric Clapton careric claptons watch collectionFord mustang 302 bossford f500muscle cars of all times1964 chevelle ss 327 365 hp l76ford shelby gt500 ford shelby gt500 super snake 2016honda sport Gt wagonf500 ford Recent Posts Eric Clapton loves cars. A lot. Especially Ferrari! | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/3696 | Most Exciting Car Launches Still To Come This 2015
Chris Aaron
| August 07, 2015 12:41 PM
So, now that the dust has settled on the Hari Raya festivities with everyone getting back into the groove, car manufacturers will be looking to get things up and running again in terms of introducing more new vehicles to the market.Just days ago we received an invitation to catch the launch of the all-new 2015 Mazda MX-5 on the 21st of August, and days before that, TC Euro Cars previewed its B-segment SUV, the Renault Captur.But with several more months left to go in the year, there’s still lots more to come. So if you’ve been saving up for a new car this year, here’s a few of our favourite things coming.2015 Mazda CX-3Without a doubt, the all-new Mazda CX-3 has to be one of the most-anticipated vehicles of the year. We’ve long been waiting on its arrival, speculating the months of June for its showcase, but now, it looks like Bermaz Motor could be settled on a November debut.Powered by a SkyActiv-G 2.0-litre petrol engine with a SkyActiv-DRIVE six-speed torque converter automatic transmission, the CX-3 dishes out 150hp and 204Nm of torque – but that, isn’t of course the Mazda’s best or only traits, were sure. If you fancy it, be sure to place a booking right now.2015 BMW X1Slated for a debut sometime this Q4 2015, the all-new BMW X1 is going to properly shake up the market. Having reviewed a left-hand drive version of the car already in Austria, the new compact SAV from BMW is a remarkable leap forwards from its predecessor.It may be front-wheel driven now, but from our reviews of the 2 Series Active Tourer and 2 Series Gran Tourer (all common platforms), we know BMW has a stonking chassis underneath them all to deliver the driving dynamics and comfort we know the brand for.Stay tuned for this very handsome improvement come Q4.Lexus IS 200tCurrently, Lexus Malaysia only offers it IS range in two powertrain variant: a Lexus IS 250, and a Lexus IS Hybrid. Come later this year, a third option will come, and it will be no other than the brand’s first turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine – with, a lot more horsepower.Paired with an eight-speed Sport Direct Shift torque converter automatic transmission, 241hp and 350Nm of torque is a far more comparable figure to what its German rivals, the BMW 3 Series (328i) and the Mercedes-Benz C-Class (C250), are capable of. The Lexus IS 200t will become the most potent variant in the model’s local line-up.2015 Isuzu D-MaxEver since we first spotted the mildly updated Isuzu D-Max at the launch of the MU-X (it was on display only at the time), we haven’t heard a beep out of Isuzu Malaysia about any actual launch. But, we do expect to hear something in the near future about this.A raft of new exterior upgrades were previewed, with the rugged pick-up showing new 17-inch alloy wheels, new front bumper, new side steps, and a new roll bar design. We were told then that these upgrades would only be reserved for a Premium 3.0-litre Automatic 4x4 version of the car. No details on pricing were provided, and we’re still in the dark about it.2015 Ford Ranger & EverestSime Darby Auto Connexion’s top seller, the Ford Ranger, has been teased by its local distributors again and again, but we’ve still got no official launch dates to share with you. Thailand has been enjoying the vehicle for some time now, with even the Ranger Wildtrak making its debut there. Given how much SDAC has teased it though, 2015 has to be the year they officially introduce it in the market.The Ranger’s sibling, the Ford Everest, is one model that we have already driven, and do know of its coming to Malaysia sometime in the fourth quarter of the year. While many of the components here are shared with the Ranger, this seven-seater SUV boasts significant upgrades to its architecture and underpinnings, leaving us very impressed during our first outing with it in Thailand. Stay tuned for the full review of it on Carlist.my.2015 Lexus ESWith the order books already open for the three variants, Lexus Malaysia is moving ever closer towards officially launching its facelifted ES sedan. Prices for the ES has also been disclosed, ranging between RM260k to RM356k.From the outside, the ES largely benefits from styling updates all around, with a new spindle grille, new LED projector headlights, and stylish ‘L motive’ LED light pattern. There are several interior updates as well, but sadly, the impressive ‘Shimamoku’ steering wheel doesn’t look like a feature that Malaysians will get their hands on.2015 Ford MustangLeaving it till very late in the year, Ford, who previewed its all-new Mustang much earlier in March, will finally be launching its latest ‘Stang. Two variants of the vehicle have already been opened for bookings, including the 2.3-litre EcoBoost Fastback (RM435k est.) and the awesome 5.0-litre V8 Fastback (RM550k est.).In its most potent form, the American muscle car will deliver 435hp from its naturally aspirated V8, while the turbocharged four-cylinder engine is capable of 310hp and 434Nm of torque.Mercedes-Benz ‘Dream Cars’On the back of a very successful first half of the year, Mercedes-Benz Malaysia will soon be introducing its latest range of what it calls ‘Dream Cars’ to the market. Apart from the all-new Mercedes-AMG C 63,we can’t say for sure exactly what cars would be coming because as you can see, the blurred image above is all we have to go on.If we had to guess, it’d be a few new CLS-Class variants, and E-Class Coupe, and maybe the S-Class Coupe. Could there also be a non-S version of the AMG GT? Who knows.2015 Volvo XC90Is it coming? Is it not? This is another one that’s very hard to tell at the moment, but the order books are open for the all-new Volvo XC90, and the last we heard, August 2015 was on the table. Of course, things are never easy to firm up, especially when you’re trying to provide indications a whole year in advance, as Volvo Car Malaysia’s Keith Schafer tried to for us.When it does come our shores, the XC90 will be out to steal some of the market share from the BMW X5 and Audi Q7. The variant that’s expected to show up will also be none other than the range-topping T8 Drive-E Plug-In Hybrid, which from a 2.0-litre turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor, will deliver a massive 400hp and 640Nm of torque. Related Tags
Mazda CX-3 BMW X1 Ford Mustang Volvo XC90 Ford Ranger Ford Everest BMW 3 Series Lexus IS Lexus ES Isuzu D-Max Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class Mercedes-Benz S-Class Coupe Mercedes-Benz E-Class Mercedes-Benz diesel Print
Chris finds equal pleasures in reviewing fast cars as much as the everyday workhorses. He maintains a passion for European makes, Formula 1, playing the electric guitar and spending endless hours on the PlayStation; first-person shooters and the Gran Turismo franchise remain favourites. He also finds it strange to have written this in the third person. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/3885 | Preface: What was your favorite toy when you were a child? Thinking back to Lincoln Logs and footballs, electric trains and chess sets, it was hard for me to decide...but then I remembered the collection of little cars that occupied so many hours of my time when I was young.
childhood memoir
by Greg Larson
The industrial elevator carrying two vehicles on the platform slowly came to a stop at the top of the shaft. Immediately, the giant pillow shifted closer to the platform; the vehicles drove out onto the pillow case and parked on the soft mounded surface. I grabbed the shiny black Morris Minor sedan and the brilliant orange cement truck and held them in my hands to take a closer look. They were brand new…not a scratch on them, and on the bottom they were marked “Made in England.”
At eight years old, in 1959 I was confined to my top bunk bed. The doctor’s orders were for bed rest after my tonsillectomy, but it was difficult for my mom to keep me still. To help me occupy the time in bed, my older brother built an elevator using parts from our erector set, and my mom and dad surprised me with the two toy vehicles they purchased at the dime store. It was like Christmas in April. The vehicles were not your run-of-the-mill toy cars and trucks; they were a new toy selection called Matchbox cars. I was a little guy. These were little cars. It was a match made in heaven.
The first tiny, shiny cars of my collection
I’d seen them in the display window at Duckwall’s, but I convinced myself that I could not afford to have my own. The least expensive cars were 50 cents. They were the prettiest little cars and trucks, and there was such a wide variety of colors and types from industrial vehicles to race cars. But they seemed out of reach until my parents gave me the first car and truck. Wanting to build a collection of Matchbox cars, I was thrust into the world of commerce and finance at an early age. My weekly allowance for completing household chores was 10 cents. The thought of five weeks wages to obtain one car was almost too much to bear. In my desire to possess the toy cars, I developed an accelerated savings plan based on my limited knowledge of income and expenditures. I noticed the weeds in the yard were beginning to grow in earnest that spring. Once I had recuperated from the tonsillectomy, I suggested to my parents that I could dig weeds for 10 cents a bucket. To my surprise, they agreed. I had visions of stacks of dimes as I began with determination to rid the yard of weeds, but quickly learned the meaning of full measure. My mom did not allow anything but full buckets with the weeds packed tight. The buckets which I presented to her that were three-fourths full with fluffed-up weeds were not acceptable. After investing more sweat than I had expected over several days in the afternoon sun, I was able to garner enough dimes to build a small collection of cars. They each came in a simulated English matchbox, and my friends were envious of the smart looking group of cars.
Each car was packaged in its own box
They were my favorite toys. Nothing came close to my passion for Matchbox cars. I coveted them so much that I would put the choicest cars in my pocket on Sunday morning and sneak them to Sunday school and church. Surely God would bless them, I thought, even if I kept them hidden in my pocket. If my little brother spied them as we rode in the backseat from the suburbs to the church in downtown Wichita, he would let out a squeal which would gain my parents’ attention, and the toys would be confiscated for the remainder of the day. During the drive into town, which was the longest of the week, I looked for the most unusual real vehicles driving on the street or parked at the construction sites. I fantasized that I would someday have a fleet of my own trucks.
In the formative years of childhood, I had no idea of the impact the Matchbox cars would have on my architectural career. I focused on every design detail of each car and quickly developed a keen sense of spatial concepts; I created roads, buildings and racetracks, using toy blocks, boxes, and pieces of wood. I learned that the Matchbox cars were H-O scale, which matched the scale of H-O train sets. There was one small problem. We did not have an H-O scale train…we had a Lionel train set, which was much larger in scale. Also, some of my friends brought over toys that didn’t match the scale of my cars. This mismatch was a major burden that I had to bear during my years of playing with toys. It really grated on my sensibilities when the scale of things didn’t match. In my daydream fantasy world, everything was H-O scale, and I built cities and train layouts in the corners of my mind.
My Matchbox collection grew, and I was ready to make a major addition…a Pickfords cab with a flatbed trailer and a Caterpillar bulldozer to fit on the trailer…the total cost being two dollars! Again, I had to get creative in order to accumulate almost a half-year’s worth of dimes. The big money could be made from mowing lawns or taking care of pets while families were on summer vacation. My mom helped me line up a few of these jobs which built up my cash reserve and I was finally able to make the joyous trip to Duckwalls. I was nervous with excitement, and ran down the store aisle to the Matchbox display, which I knew by heart. I could have found the Pickfords truck with my eyes closed. How sweet it was to leave the store, clutching the bag with the tiny Matchbox toys inside.
The centerpiece of my collection was the Pickfords truck and trailer
I played with the cars almost anywhere, from our rec-room tile floor to outdoors on the patio or porch. Sometimes I would climb behind the juniper shrubs and build roads in the damp, cool soil. Frequently, I would get together with my friends to compare our collections and play with our combined fleets, pretending to build cities or race the cars around the room. When I turned thirteen, my interest in playing with the cars had declined. I gave my five-year collection of cars to my younger brother, with the understanding that I could spend time with them whenever I had the desire. To me, it was a temporary loan of the collection, since a piece of my heart would always reside with all of the rolling stock. I’d driven too many miles and built too many cities with them. I just couldn’t walk away from something that was such a big part of me.
But other interests beckoned…scouts, piano, newspaper route, and most of all, drawing. My eighth grade drafting class was the happiest hour of the day. I honed my sense of scale that I had developed with the Matchbox cars, and enjoyed the accuracy of measuring and drawing while I used my T-square and scale. The cities and buildings that I constructed in my daydreams were no longer H-O scale…they were actual size, and were fancier and more detailed than ever before.
Note: A special thanks to Michael Farley for allowing me to photograph his mint-condition Morris Minor and orange cement mixer, as well as the Matchbox package front. The other photographs are what remain of my original collection, including the Pickfords vehicle. My collection has a few more scratches than Michael's, nor do I have any of the original boxes.
Preface: Yes, I tackled one of life's compelling questions. What makes something beautiful to observe? What preferences or tastes do you have? In the end, we each have to come up with our own answers.
Non-fiction essay
I’ve been on a curious sort of journey. It has involved some travel, but it’s mostly been a search within the mind…a self-directed path to find the answer to – what is art? The question will always be there, and the definition is elusive at best. What compelled me to seek an answer? It was a framed lithograph print created in the 1980’s, to which I have a deep connection. The print depicts a mountain pass in Colorado. The artist, who trained at the Kansas City Art Institute, used an impressionistic style, making the mountainside, the sky and the horizon come alive with a mixture of paint and pastels. My connection to the print has greater significance because it was selected for use in a hotel renovation on which I worked. I was given the proof print, which I framed. Several years later, on a Colorado bike tour, I rode my bike over the pass shown in the artwork. Today, I look at the print and I smell the mesquite, feel the cool breeze in the aspens, and see the twinkling reflections of sunlight from the cars along the railing at the top of the pass.
Recently I decided to research the artist to find out what type of art she is now creating. After viewing the website, my concept of art was shaken. My preconception of the artist creating impressionistic landscapes was nowhere near the artist’s current path. She now resides in San Francisco and has exhibited worldwide in cities like Bucharest, Vienna, Moscow, Sydney, and New York. Her work has evolved into media and visual art, combining drawings, photos, and video. After reading some of her descriptions of recent projects, it was difficult for me to comprehend the end product, let alone the rationale behind its creation. The artist’s website descriptions of some of her exhibits included: Tesserae of Venus – Images of a strange future of energy producing landscapes, saturated by a carbon atmosphere. Bloodellipse – a 2004 interactive screen protesting the Iraq War.
Slipstreamkonza – attempts to capture “slipstreams” of the invisible and inaudible processes of carbon synthesis into sound and image. [Was she trying to capture the sound of grass growing on the prairie?]
Although my expectations of what this artist should be producing were shattered, I assume that she has taken a creative path that is meaningful to her. In light of my own struggle with trying to understand her recent creations, I heightened my quest to better understand - what is art? The subconscious journey became a compelling march for an answer, and it continued for months.
It seems to me that art becomes art when the artist or viewer steps back from the day-to-day act of living, when they begin to contemplate their existence and their relationship to the world. What the artist communicates and what the recipient sees or interprets is not always the same. Religious and political art have been a form of communication for centuries. Of course, the church and the businessmen were the patrons, and to a degree, controlled what was to be communicated or created. One portion of the artistic journey took me to Paris, where the morning sprinkles pattered on our umbrellas as Gretta and I waited in line to be among the first of the day to be admitted into the Musee d’Orsay. Once inside, we scurried through the main level and rode the elevator to the top level, where the Impressionist paintings were located. I was in heaven! The experience moved me as I sat on the benches and looked at masterpieces in every direction. It was as if I were viewing a private collection in the crowd-free galleries. Artwork by Cassatt, Degas, Renoir, Monet and Pissarro spoke to me on a personal level, sharing what the artists had seen and experienced. After seeing the paintings up close and in person, it became clear to me the Impressionist artists of the 19th century decided to break free of patronage and just paint for art’s sake. They painted in a style of color and light that was bold and new to the art world. They selected subject matter and viewpoints that were unusual to the standards of the time. The art critics of the 19th century tried to reject the impressionist’s work. What a difference a century makes in how we interpret their artwork; Impressionist paintings are now some of the most prized possessions in the world.
But…freedom of expression can be viewed as a pendulum that swings in either direction to the extreme. David Byrne, in his book Bicycle Diaries, writes of his struggles with the concept of beauty and art. He shared a story about a German artist, Otto Muehl, who was into making art a sensory event or a happening in the 1960’s. In one such display called “O Tannenbaum,” Otto lay naked with a woman under a Christmas tree. He then had a butcher tear the heart out of a pig and throw it at the couple. Otto then climbed a ladder by the tree and urinated on the woman and the pig’s heart. One of the viewers started screaming, “You swine!” The crowd became restless and chaos ensued. Otto was arrested. It causes one to ponder…what is art?
Andy Warhol was an American artist from Pittsburgh and many consider him a bit extreme, although he is hailed as the father of Pop Art. While visiting Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, I decided to visit the Warhol Museum to see the wide range of art he created. I first viewed his variations of soup labels and product boxes shown in creative arrangements. Then I experienced the mylar balloon room, which was my favorite exhibit. The room was full of shiny, silver mylar balloons floating in all directions, always moving around the airstream created by a strategically located fan. I felt as though I were in a dream, and sensed that my body wanted to float with the balloons. It was the closest I’ve ever been to weightlessness. The final exhibit we viewed was a steel sculpture (quite fitting for Pittsburgh). Andy had intentionally peed on the sculpture, causing rust stains to appear. I guess he thought it was his ultimate brush stroke.
My younger brother once introduced me to a client of his in Western Kansas. He was a retired wheat farmer with no formal art training, but he created what I consider folk art. As he approached 80 years of age, he relinquished the day-to-day farm operations to the younger family members. Once retired, he felt compelled to sketch and paint many scenes that he remembered from past years…cowboys, fences, cattle, horses, birds and fields. I’ve never seen a happier person. He gave us a tour of the little art gallery he created in his basement. We could have stayed all day as he told one story after another. The gallery was full of his original paintings along with copies he had made on a color copier in town; each painting and copy was set in a hand-crafted wooden frame. Clear, thin plastic was the protective cover, in lieu of glass. At the end of our tour he told us we could pick out anything we wanted to keep. I still have the framed copy of the picture I selected of a meadowlark sitting on a stone fencepost, singing its melodic song. On the cardboard backing of the picture the artist wrote in long-hand with ballpoint pen:
The Magic of the Meadow Lark
Birds bring a special kind of pleasure to our world, a magic all their own. We admire their brilliant colors, their unique companionable voices – and envy their power of flight. Birds remind us daily that this small creature is truly a most impressive creation – and one that we earthbound artists strive to emulate, but can never duplicate. Painting them has brought me to a greater awareness of the miracles of our world!
Blessed is the fellow from whom little is expected; he won’t disappoint you.
It was clear to me this man was truly in tune with his Western Kansas environment and he didn’t want to change a thing about his age, his lot in life, or his love for the world around him.
The latest leg of my journey led me to Denver, Colorado. On a crisp summer morning, beneath a patio umbrella, I had an extended discussion over breakfast with friends, Ferenc and Leslie, who are both multi-talented artists. It was one of those long conversations that you wish would never end, and at times it seemed the discussion would continue on to infinity. Leslie, an accomplished painter and poet, gave me a copy of a poem she had submitted to a competition sponsored by the International Society of Poets. Her poem was selected as the winning entry, and was published along with the editor’s critique.
“What a crock,” she said quietly referencing the critique. “He had no idea what I wrote about, or what compelled me to write it.”
We came to a reasonable conclusion that there is no specific or uniform standard to determine - what is art? The motivations to create it and the critiquing of it are as varied as the people involved. In the end, each person has to decide for themselves what type of art appeals to them, and how deeply they want to explore it. My friends concluded, “Just view the art and enjoy it!”
So, I’ve decided to give the mental struggle a rest. I’ve written my own definition of art for what it is worth: Art is a creative, expressive form of communication which appeals to our senses and allows the artist and/or the viewer to ponder their existence and the context in which the expression is created and displayed.
This spring I intend to take a trip on my bicycle to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and sit in the sculpture garden. Rather than trying to understand what I’m viewing, I think I’ll just relax, take in the view, soak in the sun...and be thankful for my existence.
South lawn of Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas Cityinternet photo | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/3940 | DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Irv Gordon & His (Nearly) Three-Million-Mile Volvo
“My first love is Volvo. I expect this one to keep on going long after it reaches 3,000,000 miles!”
The Driver: Irv Gordon Car in Question: 1966 Volvo 1800S
Odometer: 2,967,000+
Car’s Theme Song: “Route 66” Rules: No eating, drinking or smoking. Date Purchased: June 30, 1966 View The Full Photo Gallery
Q: Welcome to Defend Your Ride New York! Has this car really driven nearly three million miles!? That’s amazing. What can you tell us about this record?
A: This car is the highest mileage car in the world, although there are many others with over 1,000,000 miles. However, those cars are no longer on the road, while mine remains a daily driver and is still making crosscountry trips.
Q: How long have you owned this Volvo?
A: I purchased the car new on June 30, 1966 at Volvoville, USA in Massapequa, New York. I put 1,500 miles on the car the first weekend and brought it back to the dealer on Monday morning for its first factory recommended service. They are still in business today.
Q: In the 46 years you have owned this vehicle, what is the farthest distance you’ve driven in it?
A: The farthest I have driven the car is to Vancouver and back, but the most interesting trip was driving the car back to the original factory in Sweden where my car was made. Then spending six weeks in Europe driving to several countries and visiting friends.
Q: That sounds like a lot of fun. If you were to give your car a theme song, what would it be and why?
A: Theme song? “Route 66” [is] most appropriate based on the number of times I have driven that route across the U.S.A.
Q: What kind of music do you like to listen to in your Volvo? Do you ever sing along?
A: I listen to the original AM-FM radio when traveling. Mostly country-western music is what is available where I travel and late at night–unless I can pick up a good, talk-radio station. If I can pick up a New York City radio station, great. However, Chicago seems to reach equidistant from the West Coast and East Coast. With my voice, there is little singing along going on.
Q: Do you have any rules in your car? If so, is there anyone you’d break the rules for? Maybe someone famous, hypothetically?
A: Rules in the car? Of course! No eating. No drinking. No smoking. There are no exceptions for anyone regardless of their position in society. I’m the guy who has spent the past 46 years trying to keep it neat and clean.
Q: Back to this record, where do you plan to break it? Anywhere specific?
A: I have no idea where the three million mile celebration will be or if one is planned just yet. For the previous two celebrations–the first at the Tavern on the Green in Central Park, the second in Times Square–I was the last person to be informed as to what was going to happen or where.
Q: It’s an amazing feat no matter where it happens. Just one more question please. You must love Volvos. You’ve had an incredible relationship with this one. Do you think Volvos generally are the best cars? Are there any other cars out there that have tried to steal your heart over the years?
A: There are lots of cars I would probably enjoy owning, especially some of the exotics, but my first love is Volvo. I have owned several. All have had hundreds of thousands of miles on their odometers. They have proven to be the most durable, safe, user-friendly and comfortable cars on the road in my opinion. My ex-wife, myself and daughters have had our share of accidents and we are still here to talk about them as a result of being in a Volvo. I expect this one to keep on going long after it reaches 3,000,000 miles!
About Irv Gordon & His Volvo
Irv Gordon purchased his Volvo in June 1966 and immediately fell in love, driving 1,500 miles in the first
48 hours. With a 125-mile roundtrip, daily commute, a fanatical dedication to vehicle maintenance and a passion for driving, Gordon logged 500,000 miles in 10 years.
In 1998 with 1.69 million miles, he made the Guinness Book of World Records for the most miles driven
by a single owner in a noncommercial vehicle. In 2002, he drove the car’s two-millionth mile down
Times Square to international media attention.
Today, Gordon breaks his own record every time he drives. He is committed to the goal of reaching the three-million-mile mark, a goal which he believes will secure his legacy as well as set a record that no one will ever beat.
View previous Defend Your Ride features as well as other great stories for people who love cars at CBSBoston.com/Autos. Filed Under
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2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/4108 | Challenge to Emissions Rule Is Set to Start
The fight over cars and carbon dioxide moves today from the Supreme Court to a federal courtroom in Burlington, Vt., in a case that automakers say could reshape vehicles sold on the East and West Coasts.The industry is suing to block a 2004 California regulation on global warming from taking effect. The rule would require a 30 percent cut in emissions of greenhouse gases from cars and trucks sold in Vermont and New York, which follow California’s air quality rules, to be fully phased in by the 2016 model year.In court filings, automakers have argued that regulating the emissions will increase pollution, cause more traffic deaths and lead domestic automakers to stop selling most of their passenger models in states that adopt such regulations.The companies have disputed that global warming is a problem, even though they have acknowledged it in different forums as a serious problem. And they tried, mostly unsuccessfully, to close much of this case to the public.“This is a huge issue to consumers, because it may well determine what vehicles are available for them to purchase,” said Gloria Bergquist, a spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which includes General Motors, Toyota and most other large automakers. “If it’s a big issue for consumers, it’s a big issue to us.”Environmental groups and the offices of the attorneys general in Vermont and New York, which is a party to the case, say the automakers are overstating the complexity and hardship of such a regulation.“It’s that sky-is-falling approach, but the sky didn’t fall with catalytic converters,” Attorney General William H. Sorrell of Vermont said, referring to the antipollution technology forced on the industry in the 1970s.Last week, in a 5-to-4 decision in Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency, the Supreme Court ruled that the agency has the authority to regulate heat-trapping gases in automobiles. The Bush administration has long opposed that.Instead, more than 12 states, including California, Massachusetts, New York and Vermont, have already or are in the process of moving to regulate such emissions.California has the authority to set air-quality rules, and Northeastern states have long chosen to follow those rules instead of Washington’s. The Supreme Court victory was important for the states, because the approval of the environmental agency is needed before California can regulate emissions involving global warming.Automakers have sued to block the California regulation in federal courts in California, Rhode Island and Vermont, though just the Vermont case has gone forward. That case is scheduled to enter the trial phase today.The battle has exposed fault lines among automakers. Two trade groups representing the major manufacturers are involved in the suit, one dominated by domestic producers and one by foreign.They have clashed in their legal strategies, and just G.M. and DaimlerChrysler, two of the more outspoken companies opposing the new regulation, are directly listed as plaintiffs. The trade groups had initially sued separately but are now plaintiffs in a consolidated suit.The main legal argument uniting the industry is their contention that states cannot regulate carbon dioxide emissions because that would be little different from regulating fuel economy, and Washington has the sole authority to set mileage standards. The recent Supreme Court ruling, however, appeared to undermine that argument.The industry estimates that the new regulation would impose a 50 percent increase in fuel economy for passenger cars and small sport-utility vehicles but a more modest increase for large trucks, effectively making it harder for a company like G.M. to bring smaller vehicles like the Chevrolet Malibu into compliance than its Hummers.An expert hired by automakers said, according to court filings, that DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor and G.M. “will need largely to exit” from the passenger car and small truck markets.Environmental groups say the industry is ignoring the potential effects of its move to bolster alternative fuels like ethanol, as well as the advent of hybrid electric technology and other technologies.Automakers argued in a court filing in January that “defendants make unsubstantiated predictions that global climate change is having a number of alarming adverse effects.”Michael J. Stanton, the president of the Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, a plaintiff group, said in an interview the position did not represent the views of the mostly Asian automakers who are his constituents, some of whom are trying to create “eco-friendly” reputations.“We believe that there is enough information out there to address climate change and we know that cars — passenger cars and light trucks — contribute, and we want to be part of the solution,” Mr. Stanton said.The regulation California adopted in 2004 was to begin taking effect with 2009 models and to be phased in over eight years. President Bush and Congress more recently discussed fuel economy rules that could potentially accomplish similar reductions for gases tied to global warming, though no firm plan is in place.Among other points, the industry says more fuel efficient cars could be dangerous, because they will be cheaper to drive and lead people to drive more and potentially have more accidents.“Everybody’s getting a good laugh out of the safety claim,” said David Bookbinder, a lawyer for the Sierra Club, which is a party to the case. “Detroit is saying it’s a bad idea for everybody to drive more.”NY TIMEs
emissions technologies, | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/4541 | The Christian Science Monitor has an interesting chart and article about potential alternative fuels. It's sort of fun to speculate -- and, at this point, it is pure speculation -- about how we're going to power our cars (and the like) in the future. Ideally, there would be a mix of multiple types, in order to reduce the chance of a future problem on the scale of our developing oil dependency. (That is, if we, say, all switched to ethanol, and then there were some future problem with the ethanol supply, we'd all just have to switch again.)Of greater concern, of course, is how we are going to produce enough electricity to match our growing power needs. Again, though, it's starting to look like some sort of combination of the alternatives -- wind, solar, nuclear, hydro, gas, coal -- is the best option. Then, as some fuels run out, and the infrastructure gets built up for the others, the power-grid's dependence can be shifted around without producing brown- or blackouts.It's not yet entirely hopeful, but at least there are signs that humanity may not have completely fucked itself over yet.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BiodieselRead the end:On May 11, 2006 the Aquaflow Bionomic Corporation in Marlborough, New Zealand announced that it had produced its first sample of bio-diesel fuel made from algae found in sewage ponds.[8] Unlike previous attempts, the algae was naturally grown in pond discharge from the Marlborough District Council's sewage treatment works. In November 2006, a commercial-scale project was announced in South Africa. Using American-made, closed bioreactors, it is expected to produce 900 millions gallons a year (58 thousand barrels a day) of biodiesel within a couple of years. [9]The rich potential of biodiesel is a well-kept secret in our world of farm special interests and crazy hydrogren pipe dreams.Even better than that: straight electric cars.
Biodiesel actually sounds like a better issue. The problem with electric cars is that it collapses the fuel problem into the generation problem: that is, we'd now need to generate even more electricity, in order to charge all these cars. On the whole, though, we'll probably solve the fuel and energy generation issues. It's the loss of other resources -- in particular, arable land -- that should be of greater concern. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/4580 | Chevrolet Racing Press Releases:
10-03-2006: GM Looks to Extend Consecutive SCCA National Championship Win Streak to 51 Years
WARREN, Mich. – When the 43rd Annual Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) Club Racing National Championship Runoffs debut at Heartland Park Topeka in Kansas next week on Oct. 9-15, GM-powered vehicles will attempt to make it 51 straight years of winning at least one SCCA National Championship. In 1956, Dr. Richard Thompson drove a 265 cu. in. V8 Chevrolet Corvette to the first SCCA National Championship win for a GM vehicle. Since then, club racers in GM-powered cars have won 125 National Championships, using almost every engine configuration the company has developed – a multitude of big- and small-block V8s, opposed-six cylinders, V6 and four-cylinder engines. Through the efforts of GM Performance Division, GM brand vehicles are now classed in every SCCA Touring and Showroom Stock class, including the Chevrolet Corvette in Touring 1 (T1), Cadillac CTS-V, Pontiac GTO, Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird in Touring 2 (T2), Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged and Saturn ION Red Line in Touring 3 (T3), Pontiac Solstice, Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird in Showroom Stock B (SSB) and the naturally-aspirated Chevy Cobalt SS in Showroom Stock C (SSC). GM Performance Division also provides engineering technical support for GM vehicles competing in all the Touring and Showroom Stock classes, and will be on-hand at the Runoffs with a cadre of engineers who will support GM racers and source any needed parts through Superior Chevrolet’s on-site parts truck. “With the CTS-V, Cobalt SS, ION Red Line and Solstice all classed for competition, club racers now have a wealth of current GM product options to choose from when they get involved in SCCA racing,” said GM Performance Division executive John Heinricy. “Plus, vehicles such as the Chevy Corvette, Pontiac GTO, Chevy Camaro and Pontiac Firebird are always strong contenders.” “We’re very confident GM’s consecutive win streak will stay intact, especially when you consider roughly 10-15 percent of the more than 700 vehicles racing next week will be GM products.” The T1 class has been dominated this decade by Heinricy and his Corvettes, which are race-prepared by Phoenix Performance and owner Joe Aquilante. Through 2005, Heinricy has won five straight SCCA T1 National Championships in his Corvettes and has nine total championships in three classes, the most wins by any active SCCA driver. He also set two new track records this year at Sebring in both T1 and SSC en route to his Runoffs invitation. The thunderous T1 race will again be a crowd-pleaser for Runoffs fans of mega-horsepower. In this year’s race, a fleet of Chevrolet Corvette Z06 drivers, including other strong entries from Phil Croyle, Chris Ingle and Lance Knupp, will go wheel-to-wheel with drivers of the Dodge Viper SRT-10 and Ferrari 360 Challenge. “The Corvette Z06 against the Viper is the present generation’s version of the late 1960s Runoffs battles their fathers watched, between the 427 Corvettes and the 427 Cobras,” added Heinricy. Aquilante was also instrumental in introducing the Pontiac Solstice into SCCA racing for 2006 in cooperation with GM Performance Division, and currently supports two entries, a Solstice driven by his son Andrew and another driven by Don Knowles. His shop also helped build two more Solstices, one owned by retired GM executive Stan Czacki and one owned by his brother Tom Aquilante. Powered by a 177 hp, 2.4-liter Ecotec engine, the Pontiac Solstice is the newest star of SCCA, with a Club Racing SSB Division Championship in the Northeast by Andrew Aquilante and two Solo National Championships in C Stock Open and C Stock Ladies autocross competition, all firsts for the car. All SCCA Club Racing Solstices and most Solo entries are equipped with the Z0K Club Sport regular production order option package, which is designed for the weekend racer and currently available to order through any Pontiac dealership. Developed by GM Performance Division, the Club Sport package features the standard five-speed manual transmission along with antilock brakes (ABS), a limited-slip differential and FE3 suspension. The FE3 suspension is standard on the 2007 Pontiac Solstice GXP. In addition to the two Solstices supported by Phoenix , the Solstices owned by Czacki, Tom Aquilante and GM quality engineer Alan Yankielun will compete at the Runoffs. Yankielun won the Oak Tree National at VIRginia International Raceway on Aug. 13. “The Pontiac Solstice became very formidable as the 2006 season unfolded and has a legitimate shot at a National Championship in its first year,” said Heinricy. “It debuted with a podium finish, and then went on to win six races and finish on the podium four more times setting three track records for fastest lap along the way.” The same naturally-aspirated 2.4-liter Ecotec engine powering the Solstice also makes its SSC Runoffs debut in the Chevy Cobalt SS. The Cobalt SS was newly classed for SSC in 2006 and won its first two national outings, setting a new track record at Sebring this past January in its first race. For the season, a Cobalt SS finished on the SSC podium six times, including a third win at Grattan Raceway in Belding , Mich. on May 14. Making up the other Touring classes are a Pontiac GTO driven by Chris Brannon and a Cadillac CTS-V driven by GM design engineer John Buttermore in T2, and strong Chevy Cobalt SS Supercharged and Saturn ION Red Line entries driven by Joe Aquilante, Stan Wilson, and Mike Kramer (ION) in T3. Brannon had five national wins this year, and the Cobalt SS Supercharged totaled 11 wins on the season with seven additional podium finishes. To reward drivers of GM products for doing well in their races, GM Performance Division will award every podium finish and pole qualification by a GM vehicle during the week – $5,000 for a National Championship, $3,000 for second place, $1,000 for third place, and $1,000 for qualifying on the pole. With more than 75 anticipated GM race vehicles between all the classes as well as the technical support and financial incentive from GM Performance Division, GM’s consecutive SCCA National Championship win streak is almost certain to reach the 51-year milestone this year. The Runoffs will be broadcast on SPEED TV throughout the winter. Check local listings for dates and times. GM Performance Division develops compelling, low volume, high-performance production and specialty vehicles, including the 205 hp Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged, 395 hp Chevy Trailblazer SS and 400hp Chevy SSR; the 400 hp CTS-V, 469 hp STS-V and 443 hp XLR-V from the Cadillac V-Series; and the 205 hp Saturn ION Red Line. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/4643 | Home » Society and Culture
The Record High Price Of Gasoline Is A Good Thing
By Michael Littles
There is a new way to get cheap fuel that is good for us all. How we have gotten to this new discovery is no secret.The truth is that the United States accounts for about 44 percent of the world's gasoline consumption. We drive more cars, more often and we've become dependent on fossil fuels about as stubbornly as a drug addicted is dependent on his or her next fix.In 2003 The United States consumed over 119,000,000,000 gallons of gasoline which is an absurd amount of fuel to consume my any standard. Each day that equates to about 360 million gallons. The U.S. used about 138 billion gallons of gasoline in 2006. That's when the pain and expense of our addiction began to rear its ugly head and the search for a cheaper alternative fuel source began to grow.Fuel prices began to spike in 2006 but have been rising steadily since the start of 2008, especially in western countries such as Canada and the USA. From that time forward the words Cheap Gasoline or Cheap Gas became extinct like the dinosaurs.From the mid 1980s to September 2003, the inflation adjusted price of a barrel of crude oil was generally under $25 per barrel. During 2004 the cost increased to more than $40, then $50 per barrel. A sequence of events pushed the price of oil to exceed $60 per barrel by August 11, 2005, and yet we still continued to consume gasoline at a gluttonous pace.The price for a barrel of oil, for a short time, exceeded $75 in the middle of 2006, then fell back to $60 per barrel by the early part of 2007 only to jump steeply to $92/barrel by October 2007 and went to $99.29 per barrel for December 2007. All the way through the first half of 2008, oil frequently reached record high prices. On February 29, 2008, oil prices peaked at over the century mark at $103.05 per barrel for the first time in history despite there not being a gas shortage, but the price also for the first time in history was based not on consumption but on speculation of future markets.It was reported that a barrel of oil was priced at $110.20 on March 12, 2008, which was the peak of six consecutive records in seven trading days. The most current price per barrel cost ceiling of $138.83 was set on June 6, 2008. Consumers no longer look for cheap gas, but are settling for cheaper gas, meaning it's outlandishly high everywhere and saving .03 gallon has become a marvel to behold and be apart of in our economy.Alternative fuel sources research, such as on Hydrogen as a fuel for cars and trucks has reached all time highs. The use of hydrogen fuel as a supplement to gasoline to run your car or truck is matching the rate of gasoline prices. Hydrogen is really the last true cheap fuel source because it is so abundant and the technology to separate it from water has become very fundamental and inexpensive to acquire.Our enormous appetite for fuel, or addiction to big cars and trucks has seemingly met its match because for the first time in decades, due certainly to the highest costs of gasoline in the history of the world, Americans are now using less gasoline. In the United States, gasoline consumption dropped by 0.5% in the first two months of 2008 which was even higher than the .4% drop in consumption back in 2007.Alternative cheap fuels such as ethanol and Hydrogen hybrids can be and are being built right at home. The one good thing about the higher prices of gasoline is that its forcing us to use a cleaner, a more reliable and a more abundant fuel sources that is better for our planet. After all, our planet is about 80% water and technology is finally able to tap into this cheap source of fuel just in the nick of time.
About the AuthorMichael Littles is a big supporter of the continued development of Hydrogen as a fuel source and provides a free video for all those who want to learn more about this technology in order to save 35% to 50% on your fuel costs. Get your free video by visiting: http://www.H2O-n2fuel.com Rating:
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2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/4825 | Love at first sight, Italian style
Few men can claim to have had the same wife and same car for nearly 40 years, but Michael Barden can. In fact, he bought his Alfa Giulietta Sprint Veloce in Italy in 1962 - on his honeymoon.
Kevin Norbury
Which is the first thing his wife, Maureen, mentions. "You will tell him we bought it on our honeymoon, won't you. Isn't she gorgeous," she says of the sleek little ice-blue Alfa coupe outside their Kew home.
As far as Barden (pictured) knows, it's the "only Giulietta Sprint Veloce in Australia". As he says, the model was never imported here.
He is clearly proud of the car. Why else would he have kept it so long? "I've always thought it was Bertone's (the Italian designer) prettiest car," he says.
The car has done only 93,000km in 38 years, and 50,000 of those were in Europe and the United States.
But let's go back to wedding-day bliss, 1962. Barden had sold his Triumph TR3A to marry his sweetheart and honeymoon in Europe before taking up a "work experience" job in Houston, Texas.
The way he tells it, he loved sports cars and had always planned to buy an Alfa, although it was "a bit of a pipedream".
In any event, it just happened that a friend at the wedding that day, knowing Barden was going to Italy, gave him a letter of introduction to the head of Lucas Italiana.
So it was that on his honeymoon he was being introduced to one of Italy's principal Alfa dealers, Minetti, in Milan, and in the showroom that day there just happened to be this ice-blue Veloce. And even after more than 38 years, the large "Minetti of Milano" sticker is still on the back window.
Barden and his bride honeymooned around Europe in the Alfa for six weeks before shipping it to Houston, then on to Chicago. But Barden knew he would never be able to drive his beloved Alfa in Australia (at that time) unless it was right-hand-drive. And he certainly wasn't going to leave it behind.
The harsh American winter of 1964 seemed the ideal time to put his precious Giulietta off the road to convert it, and he bought an old Chevy to suffer the consequences of rust and the indignity of the salted snow-covered roads of Chicago. Besides, he wanted to do the conversion himself and he knew he'd never get the parts in Australia.
From what he says, though, the conversion was dead easy in comparison to getting the technical advice on how to go about it.
He wrote a swag of letters. One to Alfa HQ drew a blank. The makers of the steering box, XF, couldn't help and Alfa in the US said it involved "too many difficulties and therefore is not advisable".
Even Ruddspeed in Sussex, which did conversions, couldn't help. Then someone suggested Alfa in South Africa. Bingo! "By return mail came priced spare parts and catalogue pages of all the necessary bits needed to do it."
Barden says that although the Sprint was never made in right-hand drive, even in South Africa, Alfa SA did build a base-model Giulietta TI, and the parts were similar.
So he ordered what he needed from South Africa and set to work. He had to modify the steering arms, but the rest "just bolted on".
The dashboard was not so easy. "That was one of the hardest jobs of the whole lot, working out how to cut it and put it together again."
Says Maureen: "I think we did it together and the language would not have been good. Much hissing and spitting, I fear."
Barden spent a year on the conversion. By all accounts, Maureen was sure the car would never go again. In a mischievous mood, she even made her husband a bet: If the car didn't go, he had to buy her a leather coat.
"But blow me down if the bloody thing didn't start," she laughs. "It started first go as soon as he put it all together. I didn't get the leather coat."
As it turns out, back in Melbourne, Barden only drove the Alfa for about two years and put it on blocks, where it stayed for 20 years. He finally got "stuck into it" and restored the car in the late 1980s, early 1990s.
It's now back to its old self - still shod with the same Pirelli tyres that he had put on when he returned to Australia 35 years ago.
He overhauled the 1300cc engine that sits behind that familiar shield-shaped grille, of course. It comes with double overhead cam, twin Webers and exhaust extractors and puts out 105bhp (about 78kW) at 6,500rpm. "The Veloce engine was different to the standard engine," he says, proudly.
The seats are new. He bought the leather hides and had them made up. He re-covered the doors himself.
The Veloce is a 2+2, but it only came with two seats, with the area behind set up for carrying luggage. "Alfa made special cases as an extra (which were strapped in: he still has the leather straps), but an ordinary old Regal case fitted very well."
The car obviously means a lot to Barden, but he draws the line at being sentimental about it, despite the honeymoon experience. "I enjoy it because it's a lovely piece of machinery," he says matter-of-factly. "I suppose I'm an unsentimental mechanical engineer."
As far as his wife is concerned, while she's got a soft spot for the car, it sounds like it's been a kind of love-hate relationship. As she says, "this little bride was totally ignored" for two days after Barden bought the car and reckons she's being playing "second fiddle" to it ever since.
To which her husband responds with a grin: "But guess who got put on blocks for 20 years?"
Romeo and Giulietta
The first Alfa Romeo Giulietta was the 750 series, launched in 1954 as a coupe called the Sprint. The soft-top Spider followed in 1955.
In 1956 came the more sporty versions, the Sprint Veloce and Spider Veloce, followed by a base-model four-door Giulietta TI in 1957.
The top-of-the-range Speciale and Zagato models were launched in 1959 as the 101 series, with a five-speed gearbox.
The Sprint Veloce featured here is one of the last Giuliettas. Its 1300cc engine was replaced by the bigger 1600cc Giulia engine in the existing Giulietta body in 1962.
The transition to the next model, the Giulia, was complete in 1963 with the new body.
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2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/4835 | Autos / Mercedes-Benz / C-Class
New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Renderings and Details
The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-class will look far more dramatic than today's model and be imbued with a big dose of sporting intent
by Jim Davis | 15 January 2014
Update: Mercedes-Benz C-Class Debuts in Detroit (20 Photos and Video)
Yesterday we brought you a rendering of what the upcoming S-Class Coupe may look like, and today, we have two renderings of what the new Mercedes C-Class may look like thanks to the artists at Autocar.
The all-new Mercedes-Benz C-class will look far more dramatic than today’s model and be imbued with a big dose of sporting intent.
The fourth-generation C-class will also be offered with the latest in-car networked internet connectivity and cutting-edge safety tech. These features are part of a bid to endow it with a more contemporary standing than ever before to take the challenge to the BMW 3-series.
The new model is set to get its first public airing in just over a year’s time at the 2014 Geneva motor show. It has been thoroughly re-engineered with the express aim of attracting younger buyers.
Mercedes insiders claim that little or nothing will be carried over from the existing C-class in a move described as a “new beginning” for the 3-series and Audi A4 rival.
“We want once and for all to discard the idea that the C-class is a car bought by your grandfather, ” said a high-ranking Stuttgart-based official involved in the new car’s conception. “We have gone to extensive lengths to ensure it will meet the expectations of a younger generation of buyers, both visually and technically.”
The change in emphasis for the new car, codenamed W205, has been driven by the decision to add the smaller CLA to the Mercedes line-up this coming summer.
The swoopy four-door CLA, previewed by the Concept Style Coupé, is planned to occupy a slightly lower market segment, with more affordable pricing than today’s C-class. This will allow the next C-class to be repositioned half a class higher.
Four new C-class models are planned. Alongside the initial saloon and estate, set to be revealed in March 2014, Mercedes is also preparing a more individually styled successor to the coupé as well as an all-new fabric-roofed cabriolet for launch in 2015.
All four are set to receive the go-faster treatment from AMG, which is preparing a new twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 engine for the new car.
The length of the new C-class has increased by 100mm over today’s model to 4700mm. That puts it on a par with the Audi A4 and extends it 75mm beyond the 3-series saloon.
Some 80mm of the added length is concentrated within the wheelbase, which increases to 2820mm. Autocar has also revealed that the tracks have been widened by up to 40mm to give it a larger footprint. A corresponding increase in width takes it to about 1810mm.
The bigger external dimensions are claimed to provide the new model with significantly improved interior space. Leg, shoulder and headroom have improved in the front and rear, this is according to Autocar sources. The new C-class is also set to offer greater luggage space. The boot capacity of the saloon has risen to 485 litres, which is more than in an A4 or 3-series.
The new C-class will be the first model to use Mercedes’ new MRA (modular rear-wheel drive architecture) platform. The hot-formed steel monocoque structure is, in lengthened forms, also set to underpin future incarnations of the E-class and S-class, among a whole line of models. It has been conceived using the latest construction techniques and, together with further weight-saving measures brought to the chassis, is said to help the new car to undercut its predecessor on the scales despite its considerable increase in size.
Nothing is official yet, but a new base C160 model is said to weigh less than 1380kg, despite increases in both static and dynamic rigidity, both of which are described as class-leading.
The new C-class looks likely to eschew the MacPherson strut layout of the existing model up front for a new double wishbone arrangement, providing greater wheel control and added lateral stiffness for improved handling. The rear, however, retains a similar multi-link system to the existing C-class’s, but it has been extensively redesigned for added levels of refinement.
Unlike the CLA, which uses a transverse engine layout, the new C-class retains longitudinally mounted engines. A new mounting procedure sites them lower in the engine bay and slightly more rearward than with today’s model for improved weight distribution and a lower centre of gravity.
Mainstream engines will include four-cylinder and V6 petrol units, ranging from a 184bhp 2.0-litre turbo to a range-topping 330bhp twin-turbo 3.0.
The diesels are initially likely to include an upgraded version of the existing 2.1-litre engine in up to four states of tune, spanning 120bhp to 220bhp.
All engines will receive automatic stop-start and brake energy recuperation, along with other efficiency-boosting measures. Combined with the reduction in kerb weight, this is claimed to bring improvements of up to 20g/km in CO2 emissions.
Mercedes also plans to introduce a plug-in petrol-electric hybrid version of the new C-class in 2015. Details are scarce, but sources suggest that it will have an all-electric range of up to 18 miles.
Further developments include revised driveline architecture with an altered driveshaft layout. This will allow Mercedes to produce the new C-class in standard rear-wheel drive and optional 4Matic four-wheel drive in both left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive guises for the very first time.
Up until now, driveshaft packaging constraints have caused the 4Matic C-class to be produced in left-hand-drive form only. The new layout will be adopted by the next GLK SUV, which will also be produced in right-hand drive.
The new C-class is set to be launched with a six-speed manual or a newer version of today’s seven-speed automatic gearbox, depending on the engine. A new nine-speed automatic transmission is currently undergoing development. However, Mercedes sources suggest that it is unlikely to find its way into the C-class until the next model receives its planned mid-cycle facelift, in 2017. The plan is that it will initially find its way into more upmarket offerings before trickling down through the line-up.
Adaptive damping control will be standard on all models and a new electro-mechanical steering system will offer a range of hands-off automatic parking options.
The technology that Mercedes plans to use in the new C-class includes a full range of safety features also destined for the facelifted E-class. It features a stereo camera that provides additional collision prevention functions, such as the car braking itself automatically to reduce the severity of an impact.
Also included will be a new Distronic Plus feature with Steering Assist, which keeps the car centred in a chosen lane and tracks traffic in tailbacks. There will also be Brake Assist Plus with Junction Assist, which detects cross-flow traffic and pedestrians and can boost the braking power if insufficient force is applied by the driver to avoid an impact.
READ MORE: Autos, Mercedes-Benz, C-Class
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Mercedes-Benz C-Class Interior
Nothing’s More Beautiful Then a Benz
In a poll to determine the cars with the best design, readers of the German motoring magazine "Auto Zeitung" have...
New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Engine Lineup and Details Revealed
Our good friends in Germany have managed to procure the 2014 Mercedes-Benz C-Class engine lineup with details.
The engine offerings below are for...
Mercedes-Benz in Detroit
The North American International Auto Show is now in full swing and Mercedes-Benz is ready to impress. Whether you're looking... | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/5986 | Zero emission vehicles need to take over car market to reach 1.5°C limit: analysis
Zero-emission vehicles need to reach a dominant market share by around 2035 for the world to meet the Paris Agreement’s lower warming limit of 1.5°C—and even that could be too late to avoid the need for significant negative emissions, according to new analysis by the Climate Action Tracker (CAT).
This transformation of the passenger transport sector would also have to be accompanied by a decarbonisation of the power sector to ensure the electric vehicles (EV) are truly emissions free.
In the first of its decarbonisation series, the CAT analysis looks at transport, a sector that is key to achieving the deep cuts in emissions required by the Paris Agreement. In this series the CAT will examine specific energy-intensive sectors, and how emissions can be reduced to be in line with the Paris Agreement’s long term warming limits, namely, to keep global temperature rise “well below” 2°C, and to “pursue efforts” to limit warming to 1.5°C.
The CAT’s latest analysis shows that if governments were to double fuel economy standards in new passenger cars by 2030, and achieve a 50% EV uptake by 2050, then most get close to—or even reach—a 2°C warming pathway. But a 1.5°C pathway requires more action.
“Emissions standards only get the transport fleet to a certain point—it is clear that in order to get to the Paris Agreement’s lower temperature goal of 1.5°C, the world needs to make a paradigm shift to zero emissions vehicles,” said Markus Hagemann of NewClimate Institute.
“Attention must also be paid to the recent discovery that some car manufacturers have been deliberately manipulating emissions tests,” he noted.
“Perhaps a positive outcome of this scandal is that it has brought to light major shortcomings in the emissions tests themselves, sparking a move towards more realistic tests, hopefully leading to smaller discrepancies between laboratory and road emissions intensities.”
“Aside from much-needed shifts in transport behaviour, for the transport sector to decarbonise there is no choice but to adopt zero-emission vehicles. For electric vehicles this would mean that they also need to be powered by renewable electricity,” said Yvonne Deng of Ecofys.
To avoid exceeding a 1.5°C warming trajectory, zero global aggregate emissions would need to be reached around the middle of the century, implying that the last fossil gasoline or diesel-powered passenger vehicle would have to be sold around 2035 (assuming a new car would be on the road for an average of 15 years).
“Even a date of 2035 or so for the last new fossil-fuel powered passenger car could be late: the earlier we decarbonise the transport system, the less we will need to rely on negative emissions that largely require technologies still awaiting large-scale deployment,” said Michiel Schaeffer of Climate Analytics.
The analysis looks at two scenarios comparing a range of big emitters: the EU, China, US, Japan, India, Mexico and Brazil. Scenario 1 would see a doubling of new car fuel economy standards by 2030, and Scenario 2 a doubling of new car fuel economy standards by 2030, plus 50% (zero emission) EV’s by 2050.
In the EU and the USA, the increased deployment of EVs would keep overall emissions on a downward trend in line with a 2°C pathway.
In India, the projected rise in vehicle numbers (activity) is so high that absolute emissions from passenger cars would keep rising even under Scenario 2. However, this would still be in line with the IEA’s 2°C pathway for India, which foresees a similar rise in emissions, reflecting this strong expected growth.
The situation in China, Brazil and Mexico lies between these two cases, with emissions under Scenario 2 stabilising as the effects of increased activity and reduced intensity approximately balance out. The resulting decreasing emissions trend is just enough to comply with a 2°C pathway.
Overall emissions are expected to decrease most strongly in Japan (in both scenarios), partly due to declining activity levels | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/6119 | BIOFUEL: Brazil's ethanol revolution
Many hail it as the fuel of the future. But in Brazil, ethanol is part of the here and now. The country has pioneered use of this alternative way to power motor vehicles, so much so that today around 80 percent of new cars sold in Brazil can run on ethanol as well as petrol. Tax incentives have boosted the appeal of these so-called "flex-fuel" cars, making them an attractive option for the Brazilian motorist. It is three decades since Brazil's energy revolution began. Keen to reduce its dependence on expensive Middle Eastern petrol in the wake of the 1970s oil crisis, the country started transforming sugar cane into the clear liquid called ethanol that motorists can pump into their cars. Supporters praise its green credentials. Biofuels are seen as an ideal way to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases believed to contribute to climate change. But critics complain that planting crops to produce fuel wastes land and water resources that could otherwise be used to grow food. They also claim that the Amazon rainforest is under threat from increasingly lucrative sugar cane plantations. Brazil and the United States combined produce around 70 per cent of the World's ethanol, although in the US the biofuel is mainly made from corn. Last month the two nations agreed to co-operate in promoting ethanol. Both hailed the environmental and economic importance of their agreement. The deal makes the biofuel a commodity on the international market, in what some see as an attempt by the United States and Brazil to counterbalance the all-powerful OPEC cartel of oil-producing nations.EURONEWSBlogalaxia Tags: Energia,Sostenibilidad yTecnologia Labels:
biofuel, | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/8455 | Chevy Pace Cars - 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Indy 500
Corvette to Pace Indianapolis 500 as Part of 50th Anniversary Celebration
The 86th running of the Indianapolis 500 on May 26, 2002, will bring together two powerful symbols that stir the imaginations of enthusiasts around the world. Chevrolet's Corvette, an international performance icon, has been named Official Pace Car of this year's Indianapolis 500, the world's most prestigious open-wheel race.
Chevrolet sets the pace for record 13th time
Chevrolet will pace the Indy 500 a record 13th time, and Corvette will perform the pace car duties for the fifth time since 1978- the most pace car appearances by a single brand. Indy 500 will begin 50th anniversary celebration
"This year's Memorial Day classic will showcase America's favorite sports car at the greatest spectacle in racing," said Corvette Brand Manager Rick Baldick. "This is a milestone event because it will signal the start of a yearlong celebration leading up to Corvette's 50th anniversary in 2003."
"Chevrolet and Corvette have a proud and storied history with the Indianapolis 500," said Tony George, president and CEO of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. "We look forward to having the 2002 Corvette pacing the greatest race in the world."
Chevrolet returns to Indy car competition with all new Chevy Indy V8 engine
The 86th running of the Indianapolis 500- mile race will also mark the return of Chevrolet to the most hallowed ground in American motorsports. Chevrolet will compete in the Indy 500 for the first time since 1993 with the all-new Chevy Indy V8 racing engine. Chevrolet won 86 Indy car races, including six Indianapolis 500 victories, and five series championships in 1986-93.
"We are proud that Corvette has been named Official Pace Car of the 86th Indianapolis 500," said Kurt Ritter, Chevrolet general manager. "The excitement that builds at Indianapolis Motor Speedway from opening day until the checkered flag falls mirrors the excitement that is building around Corvette's 50th anniversary.
"Chevrolet's racing heritage began with company co-founder Louis Chevrolet, who gained international fame as engineer and race car driver," Ritter noted. "I wouldn't be surprised if the bronze statue of Louis Chevrolet that stands outside the Hall of Fame Museum was smiling at the news about Corvette and Chevy's return to the Brickyard."
Coast-to-coast events will celebrate Corvette's 50th anniversary
Events celebrating Corvette's golden anniversary are planned from coast to coast. The Historic Motorama coordinated by the National Corvette Museum (www.corvettemuseum.com) on June 24-28 will consist of one example from each production year to honor the more than 1.2 million Corvettes that have been produced since 1953.
Corvette will be the honored marque at the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races on August 16-18, 2002 at Laguna Seca Raceway in Monterey, Calif. (www.montereyhistoric.com)
Production Corvette incorporates advanced technology
The Corvette that provides the platform for the Indy 500 Pace Car is equipped with a standard 5.7 liter LS1 V8 engine that produces 350 horsepower in production trim. Corvette incorporates advanced technology such as hydroformed frame rails, Active Handling System, driver-selectable suspension modes and optional Head-Up Display.
"The cars that compete in the Indianapolis 500 are finely built machines that are designed for maximum speed," said Baldick. "Corvette is just as purposeful in its own right. For 49 years, Corvette has remained true to its two-seat sports car heritage. Corvette combines power, performance, handling and technology -while delivering the maximum amount of driving pleasure to those who value high performance."
When Corvette leads the field of 33 drivers to the green flag on May 26, it will be the start of something big- for racing fans and for the Corvette enthusiasts around the world. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/9211 | Another View: The inconvenient truth about electric cars | New Hampshire Contact us
Another View: The inconvenient truth about electric cars
BY CHARLES LANE
The Obama administration's electric-car fantasy finally may have died on the road between Newark, Del., and Milford, Conn.The New York Times' John M. Broder reported Friday that the Tesla Model S electric car he was test-driving repeatedly ran out of juice, partly because cold weather reduces the battery's range by about 10 percent.Broder's trip turned into a nightmare, including a stretch with the conked-out car riding the back of a flatbed truck.Tesla chief executive Elon Musk fired back on Monday, tweeting that Broder's report is a "fake" and that "vehicle logs" show he "didn't actually charge to max & took a long detour."The Times is standing by its story. My take is that even if Musk is 100 percent right and Broder is 100 percent wrong - which I doubt - Musk loses.Who wants a $101,000 car that might die just because you feel like taking "a long detour"?President Obama repeatedly declared that, with enough federal aid, we can put a million electric vehicles on the road by 2015. His administration has invested about $5 billion in grants, guaranteed loans - including $465 million for Tesla - and tax incentives to buyers.Yet Americans bought just 71,000 plug-in hybrids or all-electric vehicles in the past two years, according to GreenCarReports.com. That's about a third as many as the Energy Department forecast in a 2011 report that attempted to explain why Obama's goal was not preposterous.Federal billions cannot overcome the fact that electric vehicles and plug-in electric hybrids meet few, if any, of real consumers' needs. Compared with gas-powered cars, they deliver inferior performance at much higher cost. As an American Physical Society symposium on battery research concluded last June: "Despite their many potential advantages, all-electric vehicles will not replace the standard American family car in the foreseeable future."If you don't believe the scientists, listen to Takeshi Uchiyamada, the "father" of the Toyota Prius: "Because of its shortcomings - driving range, cost and recharging time - the electric vehicle is not a viable replacement for most conventional cars."Even Nissan chief Carlos Ghosn, whose commitment to the all-electric Leaf helped his firm get a $1.4 billion U.S. loan guarantee, has reduced his boosterism in the face of disappointing sales.Nor do electric cars promise much in the way of greenhouse-gas reduction, as long as they rely on a power grid that is still mostly fired by fossil fuels.As for Vice President Joe Biden's 2009 forecast of "billions and billions and billions of dollars in good, new jobs," the electric car factory at which he made that statement sits idle. Ditto the taxpayer-backed Michigan factory of battery maker LG Chem. Two Energy Department-funded lithium-ion battery makers have gone bankrupt.There's simply no denying that the administration's electric-vehicle project was a mistake.But it's worth asking precisely what kind of mistake (beyond eminently foreseeable and terribly expensive). As Bruce Springsteen once sang: "Is a dream a lie if it don't come true, or is it something worse?"I accept the President's good intentions. He didn't set out to rip off the public. Nor was the electric-car dream a Democrats-only delusion. Several Republican pols shared it, too.Rather, the debacle is a case study in unchecked righteousness. The administration assumed the worthiness and urgency of its goals. Americans should want electric cars, and therefore they would, apparently.Energy Secretary Steven Chu, he of the Nobel Prize in physics, epitomized the regnant blend of sanctimony and technocratic hubris. He once told journalist Michael Grunwald that photosynthesis is "too damn inefficient," and that DOE might help correct that particular error of evolution.The department has recently backed away from the million-car target, in favor of reducing battery costs to $300 per kilowatt hour by 2015 (from $650 today). Even this seems dubious, given the APS symposium's view that "only incremental improvements can be expected" in lithium-ion batteries.Chu is on his way out but still dreaming. "For the engineers in the room or those who follow this, you might be saying to yourself, 'What are they smoking?'" he remarked at the Washington Auto Show. "We're not smoking anything. They are ambitious goals but they are achievable goals."I might add that Chu does not own a car.Charles Lane is a member of The Washington Post's editorial board. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/9784 | Buy BMW Cars + SUVs | BMW Vehicles Online
BMW For Sale
Overview of BMW
From the Open Sky to the Open Road
BMW (Bayerische Motoren Werke), founded in 1916, is a German luxury vehicle company headquartered in the city of Munich in Bavaria, Germany. They began as an aircraft engine manufacturer, but after World War I the Versailles Armistice Treaty forced a shift away from aircraft engines and towards motorcycle engines and later luxury motorcycles and cars.
Now one of the leading global car manufacturers, BMW is synonymous with superior performance, excellent tactile response and high-quality craftsmanship. BMW’s iconic logo, a white propeller against a blue sky, is a reminder of the original purpose of the company.
Learning Your 1, 2, 3s and X, M, Zs
BMW has stuck with its "Series" naming convention for decades—an impressive continuous standard. Letters have been added to the numbered series as the company expands to new offerings like SUVs.
The original 1 Series cars were initially introduced in Europe only, but in 2004 they entered the U.S. market for the first time. These small, powerful cars have been successful both in racing and on the road.
• 2 Series – this family of cars consists of 2-door coupes and convertibles with RWD, luxurious interiors, sporty driving manners and robust feature sets. It’s the only model to have an entirely 2-door lineup.
• 3 Series – a perfect combination of sport and luxury, the 3 Series is the smallest of the BMW series. Often regarded as an “entry-level” BMW, there are plentiful jokes about the 3 being a rite of passage for young executives.
• 4 Series – in 2014 BMW made the 2-door 3 Series into their own franchise: the 4 Series. This way, they could avoid putting sedans and coupes under the same model line so each version could grow in ways more suited to each of its buyers.
• 5 Series – a frequent occurrence on the Car and Driver Ten Best list are the midsize BMW 5 Series. Among this series, the M5 is a very powerful machine.
• 6 Series – this all-coupe line was temporarily dropped for the 8 series, but it came roaring back in 2003.
• 7 Series – BMW’s flagship, the 7 Series, consists of the full-size sedans. This luxury line is a point of pride for the automaker, and rightly so.
• X Series – the X Series brought SUVs into the mix to give the agile ride of a sedan with the commanding view of an SUV. They consist of luxury crossovers, downsized sports activity vehicles and family-friendly models.
• M Series – the Motorsport (M) Series was initially created to facilitate BMW’s racing program, which was very successful in the 1960s and 1970s.
• Z Series – first introduced in the late 1980s, the Z Series gained maximum popularity after James Bond drove one in Golden Eye. These 2-seat roadsters remained very popular years after the film.
Driving Innovation: the i Series
Created in 2011, the BMW i Series is a sub-brand of BMW that manufactures plug-in vehicles. Production of an all-electric car began in 2013 with the initial launch in Germany. A sports plug-in hybrid followed in 2014. Two years after its introduction, the BMW i3 ranked as the world's third best-selling all-electric car in history.
Why Buy BMW?
BMW is about passion for driving. If you’re a driving enthusiast with a taste for luxury and an eye for detail, the sleek design and smooth handling of a BMW is an obvious choice.
New and Used BMW for sale
© 2017 CarFetch.com | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/10523 | Hyundai Genesis: Car of the YearThe Hyundai Genesis this morning was named North American Car of the Year, giving the 16th annual industry award for the first time to a South Korean automaker. "I'm very proud, that only in 1980s we launched our product in the U.S.," Brandon Yea, senior vice president of product planning for Hyundai, said as the company's vice chairman, H.S. Lee, held the prestigious trophy for photos with throngs of international automotive journalists. "If American customers accept this car really as 'Car of the Year,' really, it's much more than we expect. Of course, we want it. But it takes a long time to get this kind of award."
Hyundai's luxury offering made history by being the first vehicle from a South Korean automaker to even be a finalist for the award, chosen by automotive media from around the world. The rear-wheel drive, five passenger sedan boasts an upscale interior that many has been compared with the original 1990 Lexus LS, the car that made Toyota a success in the luxury market. Price: starts at $37,250 | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/10828 | INDYWHEELS Porsche 911 Targa 4S, motoring review: A car you can crave without having a crisis
Flashy beast: the new Porsche 911 Targa Jamie Merrill
@Jamie_Merrill
Wednesday 15 October 2014 22:00 BST
PRICE £96,316ENGINE CAPACITY 3.8-litre petrolPOWER OUTPUT (BHP @ rpm) 400 @ 7,400TOP SPEED (MPH) 184FUEL ECONOMY (MPG) 28.2CO2 EMISSIONS (G/KM) 237It's a shameful admission for somebody who is about to hit 30, but I want a Porsche. This is the sort of crisis that normally hits men in their forties or fifties. I don't want a new one, I could never (ever) afford that. It's just that I spend far too much time looking at classified adverts for a high-mileage late 1980 Porsche 944 Turbo. This isn't a fashionable Porsche, but there's one on sale in Devon for less than two grand.Part of the problem is that most weekends, I walk past a riverside scrapyard near my flat. Sitting behind the razor wire is the rusty remains of a 1970s Porsche 911 Targa. Restored, it would be in price-on-application territory, and I often wonder if I could give up my weekends to restore it, before realising I wouldn't know where to start.The Targa is an interesting model, though, which has just been relaunched. The 2014 model gets the same style of "half-open" roof as the original, which launched in 1967 after US regulators threatened to ban all convertibles over safety fears. Some lateral thinking from Porsche resulted in a rollover hoop and a folding screen and the beautiful-looking Targa was born. Like the new model, it also had the added benefit of being far more refined and sheltered than a conventional convertible 911; ideal for test drives during a damp October.In every other respect, this 911 is the same as other 911s, which means that the steering is precise and reassuringly heavy, the clutch is meaty and the acceleration impressive. The roof pops out delightfully behind the car (thankfully, the parking sensor knows if you are trying to retract it into the path of another parked car, avoiding an embarrassing incident).Then there's the engine note, which seems to have been created for no other purpose than encouraging bad behaviour. But this is really a car to be seen in – not to drive fast – and sedate cruising is a joy.It's a pricy beast, about £94k more than "my" 944 Turbo in Devon. Nonetheless, I was disappointed to see it go. I'm aware that I probably looked like a bit of a fool driving with the roof down in the rain, I know it's far too expensive for me and it's a terrible cliché. All that will be true no matter which Porsche I buy, but I really can't help wanting one... even if it isn't as flash as the Targa.Search for used cars | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/11017 | Class of 2014 Toyota Mothers of Invention Honored for Transforming Social Solutions at Fifth Annual Women in the World Summit
Three Inspiring Organizations Awarded Grants by Toyota for Making a Difference
from Toyota Toyota logo. (PRNewsFoto/Toyota Media Relations) Facebook Twitter Pinterest
Toyota logo. (PRNewsFoto/Toyota Media Relations)
NEW YORK, April 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Creativity, courage and determination in fostering social good reigns supreme among those gathered at the fifth annual Women in the World Summit, and the Toyota Mothers of Invention are no exception. This year, the Toyota Mothers of Invention transform the lives of hundreds of thousands of people by collectively making clean water, healthy food and solar-powered light more accessible to those in need. Since 2012, the Toyota Mothers of Invention program has celebrated these amazing women, whose organizations' ground-breaking ideas are changing lives, at the Women in the World Summit—and this year was no different. The fifth annual summit, hosted by Tina Brown Live Media at the David H. Koch Theater in Lincoln Center concluded this afternoon after three consecutive days of sessions during which ingenuity, inspiration and the desire to improve the quality of life across the globe took center stage.
During the final day of the summit, Toyota presented leaders of three nascent organizations with Driving Solutions grants of $50,000 to continue their positive impact on the lives of others, whether in their own communities or in a global footprint. Distinguished members of the Toyota Mothers of Invention Class of 2014 include Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta, co-founders of LuminAID; Lauren Shweder Biel, executive director and co-founder, DC Greens and Tricia Compas-Markman, founder of DayOne Response. They join a remarkable group of women honored at previous summits, including 2013 recipients Kativa M. Shukla, founder and CEO of Fenugreen; Caitria and Morgan O' Neill, co-founders and chief executives of Recovers.org; and Sejal Hathi and Tara Roberts, co-founders of girltank, as well as the 2012 class – Aseneth Andrews, founder of The Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women; Talia Leman, founder of Randomkid.org; and Jessica O. Matthews and Julia Silverman, inventors of the sOccket and co-founders of Uncharted Play. "Toyota is proud to help fuel the innovations of the Mothers of Invention who are recognized here today," said Flaurel English, vice president, marketing, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. and summit co-presenter. "The 2014 honorees join an extraordinary group of women who are not only making the world a better place, but also inspiring others to spark positive change in communities around the globe."
The Summit, hosted by Tina Brown, a long time champion of women's issues, and presented by Toyota, centered on vivid journalistic storytelling, as inspiring leaders shared stories of courage and determination, empowering all in attendance to make a difference in her world. In addition to Brown, a long time champion of women's issues, the event featured appearances by several leaders including President Jimmy Carter, former First Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and the leader of the International Monetary Fund Christine Lagarde, alongside fashion and entertainment luminaries Diane von Furstenberg, Rashida Jones, Angelique Kidjo and Sarah Silverman, treating attendees to a truly memorable experience. About the Toyota Mothers of Invention:
Anna Stork and Andrea Sreshta – Co-founders, LuminAID
Anna Stork and fellow architecture classmate Andrea Sreshta invented LuminAID, an inflatable and rechargeable light source, as a class project. The light bulb first went on after the 2010 Haiti earthquake. Stork and Sreshta recognized that most disaster-relief aid focused on providing shelter and food, often leaving victims in the dark. Together, they believed that a good design and innovative technology could illuminate the victims' darkest hours. The pair built the first LuminAID prototype in their kitchens, not knowing that a year later they would have a chance to benefit from their own invention; when an earthquake struck while they were visiting Tokyo, they discovered the profound value of light without power. Experiencing LuminAID's life-altering assistance first-hand gave them the incentive to raise funds for their project.
Lauren Shweder Biel – Executive Director and Co-founder, DC Greens
DC Greens is a community-driven strategy that brings healthy, sustainable and affordable nutrition to Washington, D.C. families. Executive director and co-founder Lauren Shweder Biel first took note of the abominable obesity statistics for D.C. youth in 2009, but also saw all of the functional, farmable land and farmers' markets around the District, and wondered about the disconnect.
With DC Greens, Schweder Biel is bridging that gap with education initiatives to teach youth why sustainable nutrition matters. Along with teaching kids about nutrition, and educating future "garden teachers" to staff some of D.C.'s 90-plus school gardens, DC Greens has established school garden markets right outside the classrooms, ensuring that kids who farm the food are also responsible for selling it to their local communities. Overall, the schools turn profits, and D.C. residents can access fresh, locally grown produce.
Another one of DC Greens' initiatives is equally as creative, and involves taking their work outside of the classroom and into the doctor's office. The Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, launched in 2012, allows doctors to write at-risk residents prescriptions which work as currency in DC Greens farmers' markets. Families can access produce—free of charge—and build a cornerstone of healthy habits. Tricia Compas-Markman – Founder, DayOne Response
Engineer and designer Patricia 'Tricia' Compas-Markman dedicates her work to addressing the need for water in times of disaster, innovating technology that provides disaster victims, soldiers, or anyone in distress with purified water. As a part of Engineers Without Borders, Compas-Markman developed a water treatment system for a rural village in Thailand. It was 2005; a tsunami had struck South Asia and Hurricane Katrina hit the U.S. A year later, she created the prototype for the DayOne Response Waterbag—a portable pouch that collects, treats, transfers and stores water. Users collect unclean water and, by adding a Procter & Gamble purifying packet and agitating the bag, watch the water and sediment separate before pouring a clean, hydrating stream.
After completing the project, Compas-Markman invested in her ingenuity and started her own business, bringing the water bag to market. The response was overwhelmingly supportive, receiving praise from government agencies, disaster relief non-profits, the military, and an award from the Clinton Foundation.
For more information about the Toyota Mothers of Invention and the 2014 Women in the World Summit, please visit http://www.thedailybeast.com/sponsored/MothersofInvention.html.
About Toyota Toyota (NYSE: TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in 2013 – and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today. Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com. About Women in the World Summit
The Women in the World Summit is centered on vivid journalistic storytelling, featuring inspiring women and men from diverse cultures and backgrounds. From CEOs and world leaders to artists, activists and firebrand dissidents, the summit tells the stories of the courageous and intelligent women who are battling the status quo in their countries, picking up the pieces in the aftermath of war and shattering glass ceilings in every sector.
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030501/TOYLOGO SOURCE Toyota RELATED LINKS
http://www.toyotanewsroom.com
Preview: Toyota Brings "Car of the Future" Ride and Drives to the Big Apple
Preview: Celebration Concludes Third Year Of Toyota's 100 Cars For Good | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/11183 | - TruckingInfo.com
All That's Trucking
Fuel choices will make dollar sense, says DOE's Chu
Dr. Steven Chu, the thoughtful and studious Secretary of Energy, went from Climate Change to oil supplies to small, powerful engines in his presentation to the Green Truck Summit yesterday, and showed how they're all linked.Chu was the keynote speaker at the meeting that preceded the National Truck Equipment Association's annual convention and Work Truck Show in Indianapolis, and showed himself to be something of gearhead in addition to a Nobel-Prize-winning researcher. He noted Ford's work on a 1-liter turbocharged gasoline engine that makes 150 horsepower and remarked, "I had a car with a 2-liter engine that didn't make that much." He knows something about heavy trucks, too. He showed a Class 8 trailer aerodynamic device, the UnderTray from SmartTruck, and marveled at its claim of cutting drag by 12% for a fuel efficiency increase of 5.5% to 10%, which means an owner could save $3,400 to $10,000 a year from fuel bills. "At that rate it pays for itself in just a few months," he said.Oil is the dominant source of energy, he reminded the audience of more than 500, and demand in western countries is down because of more efficient cars and trucks. Yet increasing use by developing countries will cause growth in demand. Natural gas and other alternative fuels will "diversify the sources and give choices" to the transportation industry here. DOE meanwhile has decided to switch its focus from stationary fuel users to transportation. The current boom in drilling for gas and oil was preceded by DOE supporting research into horizontal drilling "when no one else was interested," back in the 1970s, he said. "Today we are reaping the benefits. The price of natural gas is down. It may not stay that way, but for now it is a benefit to industry." Because of low prices, natural gas-fueled heavy duty trucks can pay for themselves in four years, and maybe soon in two years, he said. Hundreds more gas fueling stations are being installed, which will help solve the infrastructure problem. On-board gas tanks are still expensive, however. CNG tanks can be heavy steel or lightweight composites, but they're very expensive -- $5,000 in a Honda Civic Gas car, Chu said. So DOE is funding $30 million for research into NG technologies, which will include composite materials that could be used to make far cheaper tanks. Batteries have been an expensive barrier for hybrid and all-electric vehicles, but DOE-supported work has led to the doubling of energy density and will bring the cost from $650 per kilowatt-hour to $150 in a few years. "It's going faster than expected and we're halfway there," Chu said.Fuels from biomass fuels are another alternative to diesel, and microbial factories can convert plant material into chemicals and biofuels, he said. One project is four years old and the work is promising. The goal is to produce fuels without subsidies in 10 or so years.The temperature outside was in the low 30s as Chu spoke, and air conditioning in the room had people donning sweaters and coats. But climate change is nonetheless on the march, he said. Temperatures have been slowly rising since the start of the Industrial Age, though plateaus from 1940 to 1980 and in the last 10 years are also occurring, "and we don't understand why." It might be extreme rainstorms in last five years. The warming might be due to CO2 in the air, to volcano eruptions or other causes, but it will continue. Localizing the news, Chu said that in Indiana the number of days exceeding 100 degrees was only 10 in the years 1961-79. But many more are predicted for latter part of this century. Don't turn down the A/C yet. Tags: Going Green
Author: Deborah Lockridge | Posted @ Tuesday, March 6, 2012 6:05 AM | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/11688 | Management ReportValue-Enhancing Factors
CSR and Sustainability
Corporate Social Responsibilityand Sustainability
Volkswagen is unlike any other company thanks to its corporate culture, which combines a modern understanding of responsibility and sustainability with the traditional values of running a business. As a global company, Volkswagen’s worldwide commitment and corporate giving policy support social projects and help those in need. At the same time, it integrates this concept with a modern vision that is focused on strategically anchoring corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability in the value chain. The challenges of the 21st century, particularly resource and climate conservation as well as fairness within and between generations, are reflected in our vision of responsibility and sustainability. Sustainability requires a commitment to balancing economic, ecological and social dimensions. Our CSR concept is aimed at ensuring that we avoid risks at every step along the value chain, identify opportunities for development early on and improve our reputation. CSR therefore makes a necessary contribution to increasing the value of the Company and safeguarding it in the long term.
Key challenges of doing business sustainably
Together with our stakeholder groups, we use our Strategy 2018 to work out which topics are important for Volkswagen’s long-term viability. In this analytically based process, we evaluate current international sustainability studies and engage in comprehensive dialog with our stakeholders. These include analysts, politicians and civil authorities, scientists, nongovernmental organizations and, not least, our employees. We discuss important challenges for our Company and the automotive industry in detail at both brand and Group level. The materiality matrix is an ongoing process during which the internal bodies discuss and evaluate the identified topics. The result is the roadmap for our sustainability strategy: a matrix with the key issues. KEY ISSUES (RESULTS OF THE MATERIALITY ANALYSIS)
The Group Board of Management is also the supreme sustainability board in the Company. It receives regular updates from the Group CSR & Sustainability steering group about the issues of responsibility and sustainability. Senior executives from central Board of Management business areas, the Group Works Council and representatives of the brands and regions are members of this steering group. It resolves the sustainability strategy, which aims to help the Group achieve its goal of becoming the most sustainable automaker in the world in 2018.
Since 2006, the CSR office has coordinated all activities within the Group and the brands, using standardized structures, processes and reports. It strategically aligns all CSR activities and acts as a guidance unit for internal management processes and dialog with stakeholders. Our CSR project teams work on current topics across business areas, such as sustainability in supplier relationships. An international interchange between the CSR coordinators of all brands and regions has been taking place regularly since 2009. There is also a Group environmental conference and a Group environmental strategy group to coordinate environmental officers throughout the Group. We have set the course for an ecological reorganization of the Volkswagen Group by appointing a Group Chief Officer for the Environment, Energy and New Business Areas.
With the introduction of the IT-based sustainability management system and the further integration of the KPI (key performance indicator) systems, we have created the basis for comprehensive and timely CSR and sustainability reporting in the Group. The improved control efficiency and transparency of the KPI system allow Volkswagen to meet the increasing expectations of its stakeholders for an up-to-date, differentiated presentation of the Company’s CSR and sustainability performance.
Code of Conduct and guidelines
Our Code of Conduct, which is applicable throughout the Group, provides our employees with guidance on how to manage legal and ethical challenges in their daily work. These principles include the Group values of closeness to customers, maximum performance, creating value, renewability, respect, responsibility and sustainability. All employees are equally responsible for adhering to these principles.
International conventions, laws and internal rules are also key guidelines for our conduct. We also acknowledge our commitment to the “Declaration on Social Rights and Industrial Relationships at Volkswagen” (Volkswagen Social Charter), the Temporary Work Charter and the Charter on Labor Relations, all of which address fundamental social rights and principles.
Strategic dialog with stakeholders
For Volkswagen, the ability to help shape national and international corporate networks is an important component of the permanent dialog with key social groups and actors. We contribute our technical and social capability here and support numerous projects. The Group is represented on the board of the leading European business network for corporate social responsibility, CSR Europe. At a national level, we are represented on the board of econsense, the Forum for Sustainable Development of German Business. Along with numerous other companies, Volkswagen has signed the “Code of Responsible Conduct for Business” initiative.
Since 2002, we have been committed to the largest and most important CSR initiative in the world, the Global Compact. The 7,000 participating companies from over 135 countries work together to shape a more sustainable and equitable world economy. Volkswagen makes a significant contribution to this initiative. Ten principles governing human rights, labor standards, environmental protection and the fight against corruption describe the values of the Global Compact. In 2012, we again achieved the “Global Compact Advanced Level” and guided our business activities at all locations of our Company by the Global Compact principles. With our expertise, we also help other companies in the Global Compact to embrace their global responsibility. An example of this is our active participation on the advisory board for the “Sustainable Supplier Chain” project. Volkswagen is also involved in the campaigns of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development.
Volkswagen and the German Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU) – the largest environmental protection organization in Germany – have been working together for more than ten years. This unique cooperation works because both sides take into account the other’s different interests. The cooperation is composed of three elements: advice, dialog and projects. As part of this, we are raising public awareness about issues regarding the environment and sustainability.
The fleet management project with Volkswagen Leasing GmbH is an ecological and economic success. We are reducing both CO2 emissions and costs on the part of fleet operators by deploying our most efficient vehicles. The project is also a particularly effective form of climate protection, since part of the project involves us providing funds for the protection of moors in Germany, which are important CO2 reservoirs.
CO2 EMISSIONS OF THE VOLKSWAGEN GROUP’S EUROPEAN (EU 27) NEW PASSENGER CAR FLEET in grams per kilometer
The Volkswagen brand’s “Think Blue.” motto is a good example of its ecologically end-to-end concept. This means that ecological sustainability represents a core element – over the overall lifecycle of the products. Environmentally relevant considerations such as climate protection and resource conservation are integrated into our technical development at an early stage. “Think Blue.” also gives concrete advice on how to act, so that each of us can do our part by adopting environmentally conscious behavior. The brand aims to use its “Think Blue. Factory.” environmental program to reduce the most important environmental indicators, such as demand for energy, waste, water consumption, CO2 and solvent emissions by 25% in the period up to 2018. To do this, uniform measuring and reporting methods are being implemented in all plants around the world. Supporting ecological projects and getting involved in cooperative projects are also core components of “Think Blue.”. A good example of this was the “Think Blue. World Championship 2012.” fuel-saving competition, in which 18 teams from 17 countries showed that driving in a fuel-saving way is fun and that people’s personal driving habits positively influence fuel consumption.
Volkswagen in sustainability rankings and indices
As analysts and investors view CSR and sustainability performance as leading indicators of forward-looking corporate leadership, they also increasingly base their recommendations and decisions on companies’ CSR and sustainability profile. Sustainability ratings are particularly well suited to evaluating a company’s environmental, social and economic performance. If a company achieves the highest scores in these ratings, it not only sends a clear signal to its stakeholders, but also raises its attractiveness as an employer and the motivation of its existing employees.
As in the previous years, Volkswagen was again able to take its position among the leaders in its sector in the most important international ratings and indices in 2012. We are one of only three automobile companies listed in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, which is based on the assessment performed by Swiss company Sustainable Asset Management (SAM). MAN is the only German company in the industrial engineering sector to be represented in the Dow Jones Sustainability World and the Dow Jones Sustainability Europe indices. Norwegian insurance company Storebrand also selected Volkswagen as an invest- ment for its new Trippel Smart and SPP Global Topp 100 fund, which were launched in 2012. This fund only considers the 100 most sustainable companies in the world. We are leading in the “social” segment there.
RESULTS OF THE SAM 2012 ASSESSMENTas percent
As of December 31, 2012, Volkswagen was represented in the following sustainability indices: Advanced Sustainability Performance Index (ASPI), Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, ECPI Ethical Index Europe, ECPI Ethical Index EMU, ECPI Ethical Index Global, Ethibel Sustainability Indices (ESI) Excellence, FTSE4Good and STOXX Global ESG Leaders Indices.
Business DevelopmentShares and BondsResults of OperationsFinancial PositionNet AssetsSummaryValue added statementVolkswagen AGValue-Enhancing Factors
Research and DevelopmentProcurementTechnology SpecialProductionMarket FocusSales and MarketingQuality AssuranceEmployeesInformation TechnologyEnvironmental management
Risk ReportReport on Expected Developments | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/12374 | Trees for Cars
Why Go Green
Choosing a Green Vechicle
Future Sustainability
Making a diffrence
green is all you need
Although the world we live in is currently obsessed with the idea of Going Green, we continue to consume absorbent amounts of gas and oil, fully knowing the impact that it has on the environment.
Conserving energy and making a conscious effort to eliminate potential pollutants into our planet should be our number one priority. While we all enjoy the benefits of how quickly we can get from point A to point B, the damages caused by continuous use are tremendous. In the United States alone there is an estimated 256 million registered passenger cars with an average of 374 million gallons of gas being used on a daily basis, with over 9.9 billion metric tonnes (GtC) for global carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, even with the newfound obsession with electric vehicles, over 95% of our transportation is still powered by petroleum.
More Car Sales Means More Pollution
Although it is expected that by year 2025 over half of auto sales will be for vehicles fueled by an alternative energy source, gas-powered cars are still the most popular option, especially in larger, more developed cities. Countries such as China have seen an enormous jump in car sales since 2008, with over 18 million cars sold in 2013 alone. This year alone, United States's has sold over 18 million passenger vehicles, while last year's numbers were around 17 million. As technologies become more advanced and the need for energy efficiency becomes more of a necessity, car manufactures will have to reinvent new ideas for fuel-efficient transportation. As consumers, we have the power in our hands to make better, more “green” choices that will not only effect our daily lives, but the lives of our future generations. Copyright © 2017 Trees for Cars | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/12980 | > Infrastructure and Mobility Forums
> Highways & Autobahns
[MS] Mauritius roads & motorways
Highways & Autobahns All about automobility
Satyricon84
Ice Road Metaller
Location: Monza
For a small island of 1 865 km2, there are 2 066 km of roads in Mauritius, of which 48.5% are main roads, 28.7% are secondary roads, 3.6% are motorways and the remaining 19.2% are made up of other types of roads. The number of vehicles per km of road is at 177 as of 2009.
Highways: Mauritius has only one highway. The highway starts from the airport situated in the South East of the Island and ends in the North of the Island at Grand Baie. There are no road tolls in Mauritius.
Speed limitation: Speed limitations are 40 km/h in agglomerations and 80 km/h on the main open roads. On the Mauritius highway the average speed limitation is 100 km/h and at some parts it is 110 km/h.
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Port Louis is the capital and largest city of the island nation with a population of 149,000. In 2009, due to growing road traffic congestion, consideration is being given to introducing a metro system. Port Louis is served by two major bus stations. Victoria Station is used by buses to and from the eastern and southern areas, and from the urbanized Plaines Wilhems district. Immigration Square, also known as Gare du Nord, is a terminus for buses coming from the Northern districts of Pamplemousses and Rivière du Rempart. Additionally, buses can use other bus stops as points of termination, e.g. John Kennedy Street and Sir William Newton Street for "City Centre" buses. A number of inter-city buses carry passengers to and from nearby suburbs such as Plaine Verte, Vallée-des-Prêtres and Cassis, making Port Louis the Mauritian hub for bus transport. This is not without problems. All major bus lines from the rest of Mauritius converge towards Port Louis, which creates traffic congestion issues when combined with the number of private cars doing the same. Both stations, Victoria and Immigration, are small and often saturated both in terms of passenger frequentation and number of buses arriving and departing. In addition, the presence of hawkers nearby and the absence of designated walking areas for passengers creates safety issues.
Road sign on the M2 in Port Louis
Cross-Island Highway M2
Le Morne coast road
Road sign on a main road
Traffic on the highway M2
October 1st, 2012, 03:15 PM
M2 __________________
Nigel20 liked this post
October 2nd, 2012, 12:42 AM
image hosted on flickr
Maybe a guardrail would be necessary along this road...
The hilly Bois Chéri Road (B88). Nearby there is the Bois Chéri Tea Factory, famours for its vanilla-flavoured tea considered as typical of Mauritius.
Toll roads in Mauritius
In an attempt to ease traffic congestion in Mauritius, the Road Development Authority (RDA)-the government agency responsible for the construction, maintenance and improvement of main roads in Mauritius- is implementing a project named as the Road Decongestion Program (RDP).
This has been deemed necessary as the severe morning and afternoon traffic jams have been estimated to cost the economy around Rs 2 billion annually.
The chief area of activities are concentrated within Port Louis with the roads from the South leading to it being the Motorway (M1) and the Port-Louis – St Jean Road (A1), and the roads from the North being the Motorway (M2) and the Port Louis Central Flacq Road (A2).
This limitation in accessibility is the principal reason for the congestion problems and under the RDP, new road networks will be established and the concept of “toll roads” will be introduced in the island.
Till now the fee amount has not yet been decided by the government. However, the Minister of Public Infrastructure and Transport, Anil Baichoo has announced that public transport and utility vehicles will be exempted from the charge. The toll will be introduced in places where alternate roads exist. Thus, drivers will be able to opt for the other way if they want to avoid the toll payment. Those who pass through the toll roads will benefit from a grant from the government.
The RDA has appointed the South African firm, SPP Project Solutions Private Ltd, as its Transaction Advisor. The latter has been given the responsibility of carrying out a feasibility study for the toll road project. Already 8 zones have been identified:
_ the Port-Louis Ring Road
_ the Harbour Bridge
_ the A1M1 Bridge
_ the Terre-Rouge-Verdun Link Road
_ the Verdun-Trianon Link Road
_ the highway between Bagatelle and Valentina
_ the highway M1 between Pont-Fer and Port-Louis
_ the highway M2 between Quai D and Terre-Rouge.
The Harbour Bridge project, also called "Dream Bridge"
Port Louis ringroad. The blue dotted line is the planned Dream Bridge while the green dotted line is the tunnel already under construction.
Grand Bassin Road (B88) near Shiva Temple
Caudan flyover
The flyover in June 2012
Road user
Location: Zwolle
It's not really a surprise that Port Louis is congested, given that nearly the entire population has to use that single M2-M1 corridor through the city. Industry and other jobs are mainly north of the city center, while there is a significant suburban area south of it (the Plaines Wilhems District with 358,000 people, more than double that of Port Louis itself). There is no bypass.
Visit the Highways & Autobahns section!
my clinched highways / travel mapping • highway photography @ Flickr and Youtube
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The Port Lous ringroad, actually under construction will help much to decongest traffic in the city, despite will be tolled. Unfortunately I can't find significant pics of the works they are doing, just few of bad quality.
Phoenix / Beaux Songes link road completed last year
Port Louis ring road works
Highway M2 near Ebene
Bell Village Phoenix Trunk Rd M2
island, paradise, road « | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/13549 | Petit ChefMagic Tiles7up PinballEloikSnowy Treasure Hunter 2
2006 Dodge Viper: Endangering the Competition
Entering the automobile world in 1992, the Dodge Viper has had undergone many changes as well as many obstacles. This year, 2006, the Dodge Viper is already on its third generation of vehicles. This time around, the vehicle is introduced as an all-new coupe. Dan Knott, the director of Street and Racing Technology (SRT) for the Chrysler Group states, �Demand for a Dodge Viper Coupe started the day we introduced the Dodge Viper SRT10 Convertible for 2003. The all-new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe is a natural evolution of the heritage of the Dodge Viper, and gives enthusiasts exactly that they�re looking for in the ultimate American sports car.� He also adds, �Dodge Viper SRT10 customers want to go beyond the level of the regular enthusiast, to the level of outrageous performance. Our all-new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe gives our customers that performance in a stunning new package.� The most obvious change for this new vehicle is that it now holds the aerodynamic �double bubble� roof. This roof holds a unique shape that provides a smooth airflow over the vehicle as well as assists in accommodating a large amount of space inside. Other new things for this new 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 Coupe include the door glass, the rear quarter panels, the integrated rear spoiler, and the wraparound tail lights. It is very much similar to the original Dodge Viper GTS coupe�s look but this new one owns up to a more contemporary flair. Also added in are a set of unique alloy wheels which measures 18 inches for the front end and some 19 inches on the back. The 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe holds an 8.3 liter all-aluminum motor that works with ten cylinders. This engine has the power to produce some 500 horsepower and around 525 pound feet of torque. To help it all up is a six speed manual transmission. Backing up Knott�s statement regarding this new vehicle, Trevor Creed, Chrysler Group�s senior vice president for design exclaims, �It was important for us to sustain the emotion in the design. We wanted the 2006 Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe design to include a nod to the original Viper GTS coupe, but in a contemporary way. The Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe owner is often a racer, and the car has to scream that, even when it�s idling at the stoplight. The bottom line is that the new Dodge Viper SRT10 coupe�s design says a lot about its unique character, and the car�s performance is the payoff.�To continue Dodge�s tradition of offering unique and excellent in performance vehicles that is outstanding in its value and class, auto parts companies like Dodge parts. The customer has a choice from a vast array of auto parts and accessories. It offers new and used Dodge accessories among many others.
About the Author: Joe Ratzkin is an avid fan of anything automotive. This 34-year old bachelor wanted to be a mechanic when he was a kid but changed his mind and became a freelance writer and researcher instead. He is currently based in Chicago, Illinois. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/14335 | Home | Cars | Lotus
Used Lotus Car Models
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Acura Alfa Romeo AM General Aston Martin Audi Bentley BMW Buick Cadillac Chevrolet Chrysler Daewoo Dodge Eagle Ferrari Fiat Fisker Ford Geo GMC Honda HUMMER Hyundai Infiniti Isuzu Jaguar Jeep Kia Lamborghini Land Rover Lexus Lincoln Maserati Maybach Mazda McLaren Mercedes-Benz Mercury MINI Mitsubishi Nissan Oldsmobile Plymouth Pontiac Porsche Ram Rolls-Royce Saab Saturn Scion smart Subaru Suzuki Tesla Toyota Volkswagen Volvo Colin Chapman founded Lotus Cars in 1952 with a design philosophy that "subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere." As a result, Lotus models were designed to be lightweight with fine handling, instead of adding components to increase engine power such as other sports cars of the time. As well as producing road cars, Chapman founded Team Lotus, a Formula One team that competed from 1958 to 1994.
More on Lotus
Lotus After World War IISince 1966, Lotus cars were manufactured in a factory and road test facility at Hethel, Norfolk, England, at the site of RAF Hethel, which was an old airfield from World War II. The road test contained portions of the old runways used during the war. Lotus is known for its sports and performance cars, and is one of the few British manufacturers still in production today.Lotus in AmericaThe market for Lotus in America was very small until the mid-1980s. Lotus underwent severe financial difficulties in the early 1980s due to the lack of sales in the market. To boost sales, Lotus Performance Cars Inc. was created in America. With the creation of this company, Turbo Esprits were imported into the U.S. for the first time, which tripled sales and provided much needed income for Lotus.Chapman owned the company until his death in 1982, and in 1986, it was bought by General Motors. The four letters found in the Lotus logo (ACBC) stand for the initials of Chapman's full name. In 1993, General Motors sold Lotus to a company in Luxembourg, which was controlled by the owner of Bugatti, Romano Artioli. The company sold a majority share to Proton, a Malaysian car company, in 1996 after Artioli went bankrupt in 1994. Lotus Engineering also acts as a consultancy to other car developers as well as designing and building its own vehicles.Lotus ModelsWhile Chapman was still a student, he began building cars to run in English racing. The first roadworthy full car produced by Lotus was the Lotus Seven. It was a two-seater, open top sports car that was in production from 1957 to 1970. Today, it is currently available as both a kit car and a fully-assembled car from Caterham Cars, the company that bought the rights to the vehicle in 1973.The first Lotus Elite rolled off the production line in 1958. This two-seater coupe was produced until 1963. In 1974, a four-seater Elite was launched by Lotus and was available until 1982. There have been no Elites in production since 1982, but in 2010, Lotus unveiled a new generation concept car reported to go into production in 2014.The Lotus Elan encompassed two convertible cars and one coupe that were available from 1962 to 1975 and again from 1989 to 1995. Initially produced as a replacement for the Elite, it was expensive to produce and unreliable on the road. The purchase of Lotus in 1986 provided the revenue required to design, develop and launch the new Elan in 1989. At the Paris Motor Show in 2010, the new Lotus Elan was announced with a production start date of 2013.In 1976, the Lotus Esprit launched and continued to be produced until 2004. While the first generation of the car was said to have excellent handling, it did poorly due to a lack of power. This was particularly true in the U.S. where the engine was modified to reduce emissions. The Esprit went through several modifications, including the release of the Turbo version. To improve performance in markets like the U.S., Lotus produced an Esprit with a different engine than in the U.K. market.Lotus Products and TechnologiesThere are six current models of Lotus cars available, one of which is a track-only car. The Lotus T125 Exos cost $1 million to produce, and only 25 are scheduled for production. A limited number of owners can take part in the Exos Experience by Lotus, where they benefit from one-on-one advice with Grand Prix drivers and trainers as they drive the Exos on a track.The other five models include the Elise, Exige, Exige S, Evora and 2-Eleven. The Elise is a two-seater, rear-wheel drive roadster that has been in production since 1996. In America, it contains a Toyota engine to meet emissions restrictions. The Exige is an Elise with a body redesigned to increase down force. It launched in 2006 in the U.S., and the supercharged Exige S launched in 2007. The Lotus 2-Eleven was intended as a track car, but it can be modified to be road legal for an additional cost.The Evora is the first completely new vehicle since the Elise in 1996. The first was launched in 2008, with two subsequent vehicles being available in 2011. The goal behind the Evora is to produce a road worthy performance car that will appeal to the mainstream market. As such, it is a much larger car than the Elise and the Exige.
Select a Lotus Model
Lotus Esprit V8 2002-2000 | Coupe, Sports
The Lotus Esprit, an exotic supercar built in the U.K., was put into production for the 1976 model year.
ESTIMATED RESALE:
MPG15-23Seats2
Lotus Evora 2013-2010 | Coupe, Sports
The Lotus Evora was introduced for model year 2010.
MPG17-27Seats2-4
Lotus Exige 2011-2006 | Coupe, Sports
The Lotus Exige was introduced in the 2006 model year.
Lotus Elise 2011-2005 | Convertible, Coupe, Sports
The Lotus Elise is a two-seat sports car brought to the United States from Europe in 2005.
Lotus Espirit 2003 | Coupe, Sports
Lotus Esprit 1995 | Coupe, Sports
The Lotus Esprit, first produced in 1976 as an exotic supercar in the U.K., includes an engine that was down-rated in the U.S.
Latest Lotus News
Famed Detroit Electric Nameplate to Make Comeback Next Month in China
Lotus Adds Sequential Automatic Transmission To The Evora S
You Can Buy a Lotus Again, Almost
Jason Davis on
Lotus Awkwardly Defends Itself Against Critics and Rumors
Epic Drives Episode 2: Lotus Evora Tackles The Rockies
Video of the Day: Lotus Teases New Esprit, V-8 Engine Made In-House
Customized Lotus Evora Being Auctioned Off For Charity
Lotus Recalls Elise, Exige for Oil Cooler Line Problems
Lotus to End Production of Elise and Evora with Special Editions, Plans for Revival in 2015 | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/14353 | Starting at $2.08/Week Troy installs electric vehicle charging stations
Monday, February 24, 2014 8:18 pm
LAUREN HALLIGAN, Troy Record
TROY, N.Y. -- The Collar City is making strides to electrify travel in the new year.
Last week, two electronic vehicle (EV) charging stations were installed in Uncle Sam Parking Garage, enabling more electric vehicle travel.
Two charging stations are now available to potentially support four electric vehicles at once. One station is on the first floor where cars enter from Third Street, and the second is in the back northeast corner.
Uncle Sam Parking Garage owner David Bryce decided to include the stations in the garage after identifying a need. Two of his tenants have electric vehicles with limited range. One of these EV pioneers is Tobi Saulnier, CEO of 1st Playable Productions independent game development studio in Troy.
Interested in utilizing alternative energy in as many ways as possible, Saulnier bought a smart car last fall.
Saulnier initiated the project, personally asking National Grid to install the stations so that gas-free guinea pigs like herself would have places to charge up in Troy.
Through a New York State Energy Research and Development Authority grant fund, part of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Charge NY initiative, the stations were paid for in full, including the majority of installation costs.
Charge NY was established in 2013 to promote EV use through investing $50 million over five years. The plan includes installing 3,000 public and workplace charging stations by 2018.
New York has one of the highest growth rates of electric vehicles in the country. More than 6,000 EVs are on the road in New York, according to John Gilbrook, senior transportation project manager for National Grid. The state expects the number of EVs in the state to increase to as many as 40,000 by 2018, and a million by 2025.
The million-dollar grant was awarded last spring to cover 81 stations throughout the state. Station manufacturer ChargePoint and National Grid provided an additional $550,000 for the cost of this program. The Troy installations were two of the last in National Grid’s territory, Gilbrook said. National Grid facilitated 66 installations.
More than 30 of the NYSERDA-funded station went in the Capital Region, Gilbrook said, bringing the total number of station to about 60.
"The Capital Region was the most ready for electric vehicle charging stations," he said.
ChargePoint features include the ability to locate, reserve and navigate to unoccupied charging stations with online tools and mobile applications. ChargePoint locations may be found online at www.chargepoint.com or with the free mobile application.
All of the grant-funded locations in the Capital Region are free to use, as are most within the state. Through the mobile ChargePoint application or physical card, EV drivers can unlock the charging stations and use them. They are similar in structure to gas pumps and plug into a similar spot on the car.
With a full charge, Smart Cars can travel between 50 and 60 miles, but larger vehicles like Tesla models can ride for about 300 miles, Saulnier said.
The electricity used the charge a car is relatively inexpensive, at approximately 50 cents an hour, Gilbrook said.
Businesses that want EV owners are jumping on the bandwagon, too. Price Chopper Supermarkets plans to install a network of more than a dozen EV stations across NY, said Mona Golub, vice president of public relations and consumer and marketing services.
The grant money paid for 90 percent of each installation, in addition to the cost of the fixture itself. Saulnier’s gaming company funded the remainder of the Uncle Sam Paring Garage installation and will sponsor one parking spot.
"The intent is to have it be a community service," she said.
In time, Saulnier hopes that more people will adopt the technology.
"I’m a big supporter of Troy and I think we should have things like charging stations because we’re hopefully attracting a lot of high-tech companies, and attracting people who are at the lead of using new technology," Saulnier said. "In a few years, they’ll be commonplace, but I’m happy to have Troy joining the forerunners." | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/14633 | Texas Has Fastest Average Driving Speed in the Country
Friday, August 15, 2014 at 10 a.m.
By Jeff Balke
Welcome to Texas! A
Setting aside for the moment that Cars.com referred to Texas as the "Longhorn State" (some Texans might fight you over that one), they do paint a picture of the LONE STAR state as a place for wanton speeders in a report about speeding in America. In their report, Texas ranks higher than any other state at 78 mph. Not all that surprising when you consider the 80 mph speed limits on highways, also the highest in the nation.On the other end of the spectrum were Alaska and the District of Columbia coming in at a modest 55 mph. Of course, in Alaska there are probably more off-roads than roads. And does D.C. even have a freeway? Well, if you're familiar with the saying, "everything's bigger in Texas," the sentiment extends to speed limits, too. The Longhorn State not only lays claim to the fastest posted limit on a single highway in the U.S., it also boasts the greatest overall top speed when you average the highest allowable speeds on its rural interstates, urban interstates and other limited access roads, as compiled by the Governors Highway Safety Association. That nonprofit group, which represents the nation's state and territorial highway safety offices, lists Texas' 85 mph speed limit as the highest in the U.S. Moreover, the state's average top speed for all three types of roadways is 78.3. That's nearly 2 mph greater than the next-fastest state, Idaho, which has a top limit of 80 mph and an average top speed of 76.7 mph. I'm glad they were able to not only squeeze in an incorrect nickname for Texas but also a cliche used only slightly less than "Houston, we have a problem." The fastest stretch of highway in the state is the infrequently traveled toll road between San Antonio and Austin with its 85 mph limit.As the story points out, this doesn't necessarily make Texas safer, but it sure does make us faster.
Jeff Balke is a writer, editor, photographer, tech expert and native Houstonian. He has written for a wide range of publications and co-authored the official 50th anniversary book for the Houston Rockets.
Wolverine vs. Junkyard Dog: Beverley and Elie Kindred Spirits... | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/14718 | When equipped with the dual-clutch gearbox, the S3 rockets from 0 to 62 mph in 5.1 seconds and goes on to a top speed that is electronically limited at 155 mph. In spite of its sporty nature, Audi promises that the 2013 S3 is capable of returning 34 mpg in a mixed European cycle.
Under hard acceleration a sound flap mounted in the S3's exhaust system opens up to give the engine a deeper growl. Visually, the S3 stands apart from the regular A3 thanks to a lower ground clearance, a model-specific grille and an air diffuser that is flanked by four chromed exhaust tips. 18-inch alloy rims mounted on low profile tires come standard while beefier disc brakes on all four corners keep things in check.
Thanks to the same weight saving techniques that Audi has applied to the regular A3, the S3 tips the scale at 3,075 lbs., 132 lbs. less than the outgoing model. Audi A3 Sedan
city / hwy
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Save for a model-specific instrument cluster and a couple of S3 badges, the next-gen S3's dashboard nearly identical to the one found in the A3. The front passengers are treated to bucket seats with "S3" stitched into the seatbacks and the rear seats can fold down in a 60/40 manner for occasional quick trips to the hardware store.
The S3 is equipped with an electronic progressive steering system that is comfortable and smooth when the car is driving in a straight line and direct and responsive on twisty roads, giving the driver the best of both worlds.
The 2013 Audi S3 will go on sale across Europe early next year. It will carry a base price of €38,900 (roughly $50,500) in its home country of Germany. Live images by Ronan Glon.
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2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/15950 | BTCC British Touring Car Championship
30 Sep - 1 October 2017
Brands Hatch, Kent, DA3 8NG, United Kingdom
General BTCC British Touring Car Championship information
The British Touring Car Championship was established 48 years ago and in that time has grown into this country's biggest motor racing show, with massive audience appeal.
From the start, in 1958, it was a huge success with the public, who would pack into Britain's racing venues to watch drivers compete in racing versions of their road cars at simply unbelievable speeds.
Traditional, great British names of the times, such as Jaguar, Austin, Ford, Mini, Lotus, Sunbeam, Hillman and Triumph, were all winners in the first 20 years, each aware of the importance of using the BTCC to showcase their latest models.
By the Eighties, the BTCC was moving with the times and beginning to attract a truly international flavour. Mazda, Toyota and Alfa Romeo were the first three winners of the decade as the championship continued to be run for different sized classes of cars, but the mighty Ford Sierra RS500 and BMW M3 are probably the two most evocative models of the period.
It was in the Nineties, however, that the BTCC boomed.
The championship was already beginning to grow in stature with regular television coverage on the BBC's flagship sports show Grandstand on Saturday afternoons.
When the decision was taken to make the BTCC exclusively for two-litre cars, it instantly created closer racing and attracted a host of high-profile manufacturers and teams to the series. Combined with enhanced television coverage and marketing genius, this made the BTCC essential viewing for millions throughout the UK - and many millions more worldwide.
Witty one-liners, tears and laughter, dirty moves, crashes, controversy, drama, heroes and villains - the BTCC had it all and became one of sport's biggest overnight success stories. No other sport has surely enjoyed such a rapid growth in popularity.
BTCC British Touring Car Championship website Brands Hatch Website
View all events at Brands Hatch | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/17343 | A small leak has been detected in the Evaporative Emission System. What P0456 really means:
The Evaporative Emission System is designed to prevent gasoline vapors from escaping into the atmosphere, and is built around a series of valves, rubber hoses, and a charcoal canister meant to collect vapors as they build up. These vapors are then systematically sent to the engine to be burned off. The computer regularly checks for leaks within this system, either by pumping in air, or by pulling a vacuum, and measuring the time it takes to reach a certain level. When a leak is detected the computer will command the check engine light on and set a P0440, which designates a problem in the system, and another code, such as P0455 0r P0456, to describe the size of leak or other problems in the system..
It is good to remember that these leaks are small, in many cases small pinholes about .020”, and you should not worry about gasoline gushing out of the car. With the P0456, these small leaks are commonly seen on older cars, as rubber hoses and gaskets dry out. Most of this emission system sits underneath the car, so it’s exposed to a lot of the grime and wetness of the road during rough weather. Like it or not, these problems are unavoidable, therefore the best approach is to find a good mechanic
Minor. These size leaks should not make the car run poorly however, it will need to be resolved before an official emissions test.
What repairs are needed to resolve a P0456 code?
A diagnostic check will be required to identify where the leakage is occurring. Because there is no noticeable change in how the car runs, many people will wait until just before an official emission or smog check. This may not be the best course of action, as this code usually will take some time to diagnose. Plan on dropping the car off for a whole day, and maybe more than one if parts are not readily available. What is the estimated cost to resolve a P0456 code?
Estimated diagnostic cost = $100- $200
Estimated part(s) and labor cost = $50
The diagnosis might be the most expensive part of the bill. Unlike larger leaks, where components have failed or hoses have broken in half, small leaks are much harder to find. An initial diagnostic fee of $100 is customary with many shops charging an additional $100 if the leak is not found within an hour or if the components are difficult to access. Many times the repair is a new piece of hose, a rubber gasket between two components, or a new fuel cap, all of which will keep the repair portion of the bill under $50. However, there are cases where small leaks develop in the filler neck or even the gas tanks (the metal ones), which will bring repair costs up to the $500 to $600 dollar range.
2016 Hyundai Veloster estimated repair costs. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/17996 | Fast Lane Racing Blog
The Official Fast Lane Racing Blog
Blog posts tagged in Toyota
Cool things you will find at the Toyota Museum
by Joe Ankenbauer
in Uncategorized on Friday, 22 April 2016
2709 The Toyota Museum in Torrance, CA houses a collection of milestone vehicles representing Toyota's history in the U.S. It is valued at over $17 million, and includes a variety of vehicles dating from 1958 to present, as well as a considerable assortment of motorsports vehicles. Opening in January 2000, it is the only Toyota Museum outside Japan; the Toyota Automobile Museum is located in Nagoya, Japan.
The museum is open to the public, with reservations required. To schedule an appointment, contact Susan Sanborn at 310-468-8726 or email [email protected]. With the coporate move to Texas, it isnt clear how long the museum and its collection will stay in Southern California, so make sure you check it out soon! Here are a few of our favorites!
King of the Beach: Alfonso Ribeiro Wins the Final Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach
in Toyota Pro / Celebrity Races on Saturday, 16 April 2016
1410 LONG BEACH, Calif. — Alfonso Ribeiro won the 2016 Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race, triumphing over the most accomplished field the annual charity racing event has ever seen. The roaring crowd witnessed the stunning performance by Ribeiro, who started the race in the 8th position and successfully avoided any collisions or walls to take the checkered flag.
Ribeiro, now a four-time Toyota Pro/Celebrity winner (1994, 1995 & 2015), is best-known for his role as ‘Carlton’ on “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.” Ribeiro, who is the new host of “America’s Funniest Home Videos,” had the fastest lap of the day with a time of 1:42.102.
The Last Hurrah: The 40th Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race
in Uncategorized on Thursday, 07 April 2016
1631 It's a bittersweet moment for us here at Fast Lane. On the 40th anniversarry of the Toyota Pro Celebrity Race, Toyota announced that it would be their last. and while we are sad to see it go, we are excited to bring you one last, incredible race. Not just any celebrities mind you, but ones that have risked it all before and come out on top
Toyota TS050 Hybrid LMP1 Racer Debuts With New Twin-Turbo V6
in Uncategorized on Friday, 25 March 2016
2279 With the 2016 World Endurance Championship kicking off in less than a month, Toyota has just unveiled its newest Le Mans Prototype racer. Forget the Prius, this is the hybrid that we want in our garage. Replacing the TS040 Hybrid Racecar from last year, Toyota is introducing the TS050 Hybrid, which will take on other LMP1 Hybrid racers from Porsche and Audi. This is the third car Toyota has built for the World Endurance Championship’s top LMP1 class, and this is the car that carries the hopes for another season championship.
86'd: FR-S to become the Toyota 86 in 2017
1889 Image Credit: Toyota
Ding Dong, Scion is dead....Less than six weeks after Toyota pulled the plug, and little else left to do but to clean the carpets and lock the doors, the transition of Scion products to Toyota has begun. The public debut will take place at next week's New York Auto Show, and sales begin this fall. The Scion iM will become the Toyota Corolla iM. The Scion iA will become the Toyota Yaris iA. The tC coupe has been discontinued. Last but not least, the Scion FR-S will become the Toyota 86.
FAST LANE trains celebrities for the annual Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race - TGPLB
As part of the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach (TGPLB) event, each year your favorite film, TV and sports stars duel it out on the city streets of Long Beach in the Toyota Pro / Celebrity Race.
Before each race, the celebrities train at FAST LANE at Willow Springs Raceway. Check out the fun in FAST LANE pictures below and FAST LANE footage in the videos section!
Toyota Racing donates huge amounts of money every year to the very worthy charity Racing For Kids. The events raise over a million dollars each year to hospitals in Long Beach and Orange County. The burning of rubber on the race track is a chance to support these children in the area while raising awareness to the work of the local hospitals. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/18416 | > Ford investigating COO Scheele's decision to steer advertising to one firm
Thread Starter RPO83
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Ford investigating COO Scheele's decision to steer advertising to one firm
Source: just-auto.com editorial team
Ford is investigating whether president Nick Scheele may have improperly steered business to WPP Group, the London-based conglomerate that controls most of the car maker's multibillion-dollar advertising accounts, the Detroit News reported.
The newspaper, citing people close to the situation, said that Ford's head of human resources, Joe Laymon, opened the internal inquiry in February after Scheele, Ford's No. 2 executive, sent a one-page letter to executives ordering the consolidation of Ford's marketing and advertising business with WPP Group.
The Detroit News said a small group from Ford's human resources and purchasing divisions is questioning whether Scheele's directive violates company policies governing single-source suppliers by channeling all of its advertising to WPP. Ford is the world's second largest advertiser.
The newspaper said the inquiry is also scrutinising Scheele's ties to WPP chairman Sir Martin Sorrell and the fact that Scheele's son, James, is an account manager in the New York office of WPP's Young & Rubicam division, although he reportedly does not work on Ford accounts.
The Detroit News said the probe, findings of which could be sent to the board of directors, comes as corporate America is under increased scrutiny for allegations of self-dealing and questionable business relationships and also reflects Ford chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr.'s push for the company to be more open and transparent in its dealings with suppliers, investors and the public.
The newspaper reported that its sources had said that Scheele, a member of the board of directors and also chief operating officer, has been advised to stop any direct decision-making over WPP accounts until the inquiry is complete, which should happen within the next month.
Citing a person close to the matter, the Detroit News said senior purchasing executives were startled by the decision outlined in Scheele's letter but company officials reportedly said that Scheele and Ford marketing executives pushed the plan to gain efficiency and save money at a time when Ford is trying to cut costs after losing $6.4 billion in the past two years.
Ford has put the decision to consolidate its business with WPP on hold until the inquiry is complete, sources told the Detroit News.
The Detroit News said WPP Group is the corporate owner of one of the world's largest collections of advertising, marketing and public relations firms, including ad agencies J. Walter Thompson, Young & Rubicam and Ogilvy and Mather.
The newspaper said WPP Group already controls most of Ford's multibillion-dollar advertising business and has added more in recent years. Detroit-based J. Walter Thompson USA oversees the Ford division's estimated $1.7 billion U.S. advertising budget while Young & Rubicam controls Ford's Lincoln Mercury division's advertising, the Detroit News noted.
The decision, outlined in Scheele's letter, would make it difficult -- if not impossible -- for competing ad agencies to bid for Ford accounts, the Detroit News added.
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Ford reverses Scheele ad deal
By Mark Truby and Bill Vlasic / The Detroit News
Internal probe forces automaker to rescind president's order for exclusive contract
DEARBORN -- Ford Motor Co. on Tuesday overturned an order by President Nick Scheele to consolidate the company's multibillion-dollar advertising business with London-based WPP Group. The abrupt decision culminates a monthlong internal investigation into whether Scheele, Ford's No. 2 executive, improperly steered business to WPP Group, one of the world's largest advertising and marketing conglomerates. The Detroit News first reported the investigation Monday. "The deal with WPP is off," said Jim Bright, Ford's spokesman. "We have rescinded the decision." The move -- coming two days before Ford's board of directors is scheduled to hold a regular meeting in Dearborn -- is a significant blow to Scheele. He has received high marks for his leadership since becoming Ford's president and chief operating officer in October 2001, but some analysts question whether Scheele's future at the automaker is secure. By rescinding his decision, Ford is essentially acknowledging that Scheele made a mistake in naming WPP as Ford's single source for advertising. Ford said a team of marketing, purchasing and finance executives will determine how Ford, one of the world's largest advertisers, will conduct future business with WPP Group. The inquiry sought to determine whether Scheele's directive to Ford marketing and sales executives on Feb. 4 violated company purchasing policies regarding awarding business to one exclusive company. Ford also scrutinized Scheele's personal relationship with WPP chief Sir Martin Sorrell and the fact that Scheele's son, James, was the recipient of a prestigious three-year WPP fellowship. The issues come as corporate America is under increased scrutiny for conflicts of interest, ethics violations and overly cozy relationships. Ford Chairman and CEO Bill Ford Jr. recently came under fire for profiting from the purchase of shares in the initial public offering of Goldman Sachs Group Inc., which has provided Ford with lucrative investment banking services for years. Some Ford shareholders threatened to sue to recover Bill Ford's profits on behalf of the company. Following a board review, Bill Ford, who said the purchase was a private transaction, recently sold the shares and donated the profits to charity. Power struggle Some believe the controversy surrounding the scuttled WPP deal also has laid bare a power struggle between Scheele, 59, and Ford executive vice president David Thursfield. Thursfield, who has been mentioned as a possible successor to Scheele, is the company's chief cost-cutter and heads global purchasing and international operations. It was a small group of purchasing and human resources executives that first objected to Scheele's directive, people familiar with the matter said. Ford spokesman Bright denied there is a rift, saying that "there have been times when (Scheele and Thursfield) have been in disagreement," but they now appear to be "aligned and in sync on most issues." For Ford, the controversy could not have come at a worse time, with the automaker posting losses of $6.4 billion in the past two years and struggling to restore profits, improve quality, stabilize management and restore employee morale. "Distractions like this are not good for the company," said Stephen Girsky, an analyst with Morgan Stanley. "Things like this leave people less confident in Ford's revitalization plan." Ford is WPP's largest client, accounting for $1.5 billion of its estimated $75 billion worth of billings. WPP agencies already handle some 80 percent of Ford's global advertising budget. The company's J. Walter Thompson division oversees the Ford division's account in the United States. Its Young & Rubicam unit handles advertising for Lincoln and Mercury brands. WPP agencies also handle Ford's Jaguar and Land Rover units, but not its Volvo and Mazda brands. Son's connection Part of Ford's internal inquiry focused on Scheele's son, who received a coveted paid fellowship from WPP in 2000. A graduate of Northwestern University with a degree in history, James Scheele was awarded a three-year WPP marketing fellowship and currently is assigned to the ad conglomerate's Young & Rubicam unit in New York. James Scheele is one of about 50 people worldwide in the program that grooms post-graduates for careers at WPP, a Ford official said Tuesday. More than 1,000 applicants compete annually for a spot in the program, which in some years accepts fewer than 10 people. "The marketing area is the most competitive industry in Europe for fellowships," said Roly Allen of the Graduate Group, the biggest publisher of corporate recruitment magazines in the United Kingdon. "The WPP program is extremely competitive." Ford investigators interviewed people at both Ford and WPP about the circumstances of James Scheele's acceptance into the program. While Ford stopped short of saying James Scheele's fellowship presented a conflict for his father, senior Ford executives worried that it could be perceived as such, according to people close to the situation. In a letter to employees Monday, Scheele didn't directly address the controversy. "My key objectives remain the interests of the Ford Motor Co. and achievement of our Revitalization Plan targets," he said. Investors and analysts worry the WPP matter has become another costly distraction for Ford's management team. "This is garnering massive attention because of today's atmosphere," said Scott Hill, an auto analyst with Sanford C. Bernstein in New York. "It's a heightened issue for Ford because they have had a lot of management turmoil and the company is struggling."
Ford cancels new deal with advertising agency after internal review
Ford has cancelled a new arrangement with its primary advertising firm, the WPP Group, after an internal review of the deal, the New York Times reported.
The NYT said that, though Ford is already the largest client of WPP, the world's largest agency company, the new arrangement would have made some of the business closed to outside competition in exchange for more competitive rates. Nicholas Scheele, the president and chief operating officer of Ford, had informed marketing and sales executives of the deal in a February memo, the NYT said.
The NYT said that other large companies have put similar deals in place to cut costs, but Scheele apparently did not comply with Ford's procedures for allowing a single supplier to monopolise a business.
The NYT noted that Scheele�s friendship with WPP's chief executive, Sir Martin Sorrell, as well as the fact that his son has a job at a WPP unit were also part of the review but added that no action was taken against Scheele, who had previously disclosed his ties to WPP, which is based in London.
In a Ford memo cited by the New York Times, Scheele said that Ford would form an internal group to review the company's advertising relationship with WPP and come up with a new deal.
The NYT said that Ford accounts for 7% of the company's revenue, or $US1.5 billion worth of annual billings. Its divisions handle advertising for the Ford, Lincoln, Mercury, Jaguar and Land Rover brands, but not the company's Mazda and Volvo units, the newspaper noted.
The New York Times said that, despite the reversal at Ford, the arrangement with WPP is said to be secure, in large part because Ford's principal competitors have close ties to two of WPP's principal rivals. Much of General Motors' advertising business goes to the Interpublic Group of Companies and much of DaimlerChrysler's is with the Omnicom Group, the NYT said.
New 2004-model F-150 Shines At Atlanta Auto Show | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/18521 | International Sales Surge, Compass and Patriot Production at Record Level
Date 2007/9/12 8:31:30 | Topic: PatriotInternational sales for Chrysler LLC surged 26% in the month of August, helped out by strong sales of the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler, according to an article in DetNews.com.In the year to date, Chrysler said that Italy remained its top-selling market outside North America, with 14,409 cars sold, while Venezuela was second with 12,198 cars sold, led by locally produced versions of the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Grand Cherokee, and imported models like the Dodge Ram and Jeep Wrangler.In a slightly related story, production at Chrysler's Belvidere, Illinois assembly plant hit a new record in August, churning out over 14,000 vehicles. The plant builds both the Jeep Compass and Patriot as well as the Dodge Caliber. While production is high, sales are not stellar. It is reported that only about one-third of the Patriots built.The company continues to churn out the trio record levels on three shifts despite the fact sales have leveled off for the Caliber and Compass and even the Patriot has not taken off as quickly as some auto analysts had predicted.In August, workers finished 14,032 Patriots, the highest month yet for the small SUV that went into production in December. August also was the top sales month yet for the Patriot, which analysts liked because it takes its styling from the old Jeep Cherokee, with dealers selling 5,081 Patriots in the U.S. and another 673 internationally.Check out the entire article. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/19163 | Tesla Motors Inc. Reveals a Bold New Plan
Nickey Friedman, The Motley Fool, AOL.com
Despite overwhelming short-term demand, every decision Tesla makes is strategically done for the big, long-term picture. It should therefore come as little surprise that, with Tesla's announcement of its pricing strategy for China, the company revealed that it will be charging far less than it could get away with.The blog post Tesla unveiled the details in a blog post on Jan. 23. The company will be charging the exact same prices to the penny in China that it does in the U.S., plus the standard duties, taxes, and shipping fees. The grand total for a typical Model S in China will come to $121,370. Tesla believes it has the pricing power to charge double in China, as that practice is common with other car companies in the region. However, the company wants to send the message that it is doing things differently. It acknowledges that it's a risky move because the lower price point compared to competitors' may be seen by some in China as a sign of an inferior product. In fact, Tesla fully expects that its competitors will try to use the price difference as a marketing ploy to say that lesser price means lesser car.Tesla is opting to take the risk and hopes it results in it being seen as "advancing the cause of electric cars in China." As with many other countries, the company plans to build out its free-to-use Supercharger network across the region. The long-term implications of this entire strategy should be obvious: Tesla plans to make a massive number of electric cars and sell them in China because it believes China will be an enormous market for its vehicles.Pricing power is worldwideLet's face it though, Tesla could raise its prices higher right now because demand vastly outstrips production, even without the use of advertising. Its strategy is to increase production rather than prices; as production accelerates much higher, demand will still be there because of the perception that it is a superior car company in every way. Perhaps it still won't have to spend a dime on advertising, something its competitors spend billions on every year.Recent China comments China is a big deal to Tesla. In the conference call last November, CEO Elon Musk mentioned that in 2014 the company will be focused on expanding deliveries worldwide "particularly in Asia." The company was then aiming for deliveries to China to begin in February and from there expects "significant growth in the rest of the year." He expected then at least a six-month wait time on any new orders in China and accelerating from there. In a Jan. 14 interview, Musk again confirmed expectations that deliveries to China will begin being "put on a boat" next month. He said, "The most enthusiastic people about our car are people from China." Last year, the vehicle market in China jumped 14% to 22 million vehicles, compared to just 15.6 million in the United States. This suggests that the market there may ultimately be much more lucrative than the U.S. market, a fact that has not passed by Tesla. Foolish final thoughts Tesla's story continues to be more about production than sales. Demand is overwhelming everywhere, and now we have confirmation that sales prices (that Tesla realizes) is the same throughout. With a stock price around $180, Tesla is going to need a lot of bottom-line profit to justify an even higher valuation. Watch for the production figures to accelerate further and for the profit margins on that production also to go much higher. Tesla is targeting 25% gross profit margins in the fourth quarter. If the gross profit margins could head somewhere above 30% while production continues to accelerate, and while the company keeps overheard reasonably in check, then the stock might start to justify even higher prices.Don't buy any vehicle before you check this outYou don't know it yet, but you probably spent $1000's more than you should have on your vehicle. In fact, the auto industry can be such a dangerous place for consumers that our top auto experts are determined to even the playing field. That's why they created a a brand-new free report on "The Car Buying Secrets You Must Know." The advice inside could save you thousands of dollars on your next car, so be sure to read this report while it lasts. Your conscience, and your wallet, will thank you. Click here now for instant access.
The article Tesla Motors Inc. Reveals a Bold New Plan originally appeared on Fool.com.
Nickey Friedman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Tesla Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of Tesla Motors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.Copyright © 1995 - 2014 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/19295 | About Tesla
Tesla’s mission is to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy.
Tesla was founded in 2003 by a group of engineers in Silicon Valley who wanted to prove that electric cars could be better than gasoline-powered cars. With instant torque, incredible power, and zero emissions, Tesla’s products would be cars without compromise. Each new generation would be increasingly affordable, helping the company work towards its mission: to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy. Tesla’s engineers first designed a powertrain for a sports car built around an AC induction motor, patented in 1888 by Nikola Tesla, the inventor who inspired the company’s name. The resulting Tesla Roadster was launched in 2008. Accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in 3.7 seconds and achieving a range of 245 miles per charge of its lithium ion battery, the Roadster set a new standard for electric mobility. Tesla would sell more than 2,400 Roadsters, now on the road in more than 30 countries. In 2012, Tesla launched Model S, the world’s first premium electric sedan. Built from the ground up to be 100 percent electric, Model S has redefined the very concept of a four-door car. With room for seven passengers and more than 64 cubic feet of storage, Model S provides the comfort and utility of a family sedan while achieving the acceleration of a sports car: 0 to 60 mph in about five seconds. Its flat battery pack is integrated into the chassis and sits below the occupant cabin, lending the car a low center of gravity that enables outstanding road holding and handling while driving 265 miles per charge. Model S was named Motor Trend’s 2013 Car of the Year and achieved a 5-star safety rating from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. In late 2014, Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled two dual motor all-wheel drive configurations of Model S that further improve the vehicle’s handling and performance. The 85D features a high efficiency motor at the front and rear, giving the car unparalleled control of traction in all conditions. The P85D pairs a high efficiency front motor with a performance rear motor for supercar acceleration, achieving a 0 to 60 mph time of 3.2 seconds – the fastest four-door production car ever made. Tesla owners enjoy the benefit of charging at home so they never have to visit a gas station or spend a cent on gasoline. For long distance journeys, Tesla’s Supercharger network provides convenient access to high speed charging, replenishing half a charge in as little as 20 minutes. Superchargers now connect popular routes in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific. Tesla’s vehicles are produced at its factory in Fremont, California, previously home to New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors. The Tesla Factory has returned thousands of jobs to the area and is capable of producing 2,000 cars a week. The company is expanding its manufacturing footprint into other areas, including in Tilburg, the Netherlands, where it has an assembly facility, and Lathrop, California, where it has a specialized production plant. To reduce the costs of lithium ion battery packs, Tesla and key strategic partners including Panasonic have begun construction of a gigafactory in Nevada that will facilitate the production of a mass-market affordable vehicle, Model 3. By 2018, the gigafactory will produce more lithium ion cells than all of the world’s combined output in 2013. The gigafactory will also produce battery packs intended for use in stationary storage, helping to improve robustness of the electrical grid, reduce energy costs for businesses and residences, and provide a backup supply of power. Tesla is not just an automaker, but also a technology and design company with a focus on energy innovation. Press
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2017-17/2164/en_head.json.gz/19370 | Cadillac to offer optional Wi-Fi in cars next month
The Internet is coming to Cadillac.Starting next month, General Motors' luxury brand will offer optional dealer-installed equipment that allows people in and around the vehicle to use laptop computers and other devices to connect to the Internet, equipment provider Autonet Mobile Inc. said today.Rear-seat passengers are the target users, said Autonet CEO Sterling Pratz."In the back seat they're basically going to YouTube, where they once watched DVD players," Pratz said. "Now every Cadillac CTS will come with the capability to have YouTube and Facebook in the car."The system is built around a mobile router from Autonet, the same company that provides Uconnect Web, a wireless Internet service available in Chrysler LLC vehicles. It receives Internet signals through cellular data networks. It then creates a Wi-Fi hotspot in and around the car.Autonet and Cadillac plan to show the device in a Cadillac CTS Sport at next month's New York auto show.One major difference from the Chrysler device is that the Cadillac router will be portable. It will connect to the vehicle through a docking port. A driver can have the docking port installed in more than one GM vehicle."We did that because about 40 percent of our customers have asked for the ability to move it from their weekly car to their weekend car," Pratz said.Autonet made the router smaller and sleeker for Cadillac. It will carry a Cadillac emblem and will be sold by Autonet Mobile under the name Cadillac WiFi.Customers will buy it from a dealer or online for about $499. Monthly subscriptions to Autonet's Internet service start at $29.Pratz said front-seat passengers are likely to use the Internet to stream music from such popular radio sites as Pandora or Flycast.The technology raises a thorny issue: driver distraction. Because the Internet signal extends throughout the car, a person theoretically could surf the Internet while driving.The only defense against that: the honor system.Pratz said the customer has to agree to "terms of use" policies when signing up for the Internet service and before linking any devices to the Wi-Fi network."When they sign up for it, they have to agree that that's not what this is for," Pratz said. "We find customers are staying with it. We're not really seeing any problems out in the field."
Reactions: Porsche Panamera Five Key Innovations Presented
Porsche will introduce the Panamera at the Auto Shanghai next month to help show a number of key innovations for its segment. On the list is the first-in-segment start/stop system that works with an automatic transmission.Porsche's PDK (double-clutch system) is fitted to function effectively with the start/stop to give the Panamera S an average of 10.8 litres/100 kilometres on the new European driving cycle. The Panamera S has AWD and a 4.8-litre V8 engine producing 400bhp (298kW) and 500Nm of torque. It is said to run the 0 - 100km/h distance in around 5.4 seconds.Another innovation is the adaptive air suspension system which allows the driver to activate more volume into it upon demand thus changing the driving characteristics of the Panamera at will. This feature is optional on other models but standard in the 500bhp (378kW) Turbo.An important feature for fuel efficiency and performance is in the lightweight construction of the car which is thanks to the use of aluminium and magnesium, as well as plastics. Because of this and other reasons the Panamera S weighs 1,770kg (3,902 lbs). The rear seats offer tilting and adjustability too.The underfloor of the Panamera is completely covered to give it better air flow capability, while at the same time allowing for its sporty sound characteristics to be appreciated even from inside. Low-resistance tyres are included to further improve fuel consumption.
Reactions: World Agenda: Nano, symbol of modern India, completes its bumpy ride
The Tata Nano, billed as the world’s cheapest car, will finally hit the road in Mumbai on Monday, but the diminutive automobile already says a lot about India.When it was first unveiled, in January 2008, the dinky two-stroke runabout was hailed as a wonder of super-thrifty engineering and a potent symbol of India’s wider ambitions – not least the country’s aspirations to become an economic power capable of rivalling China and, one day perhaps, the United States.The road the Nano has had to travel down since has been bumpy, to say the least – something that makes it an even more appropriate symbol for its country of origin.The car’s woes began last year, when the farmers whose land was acquired to build the factory that was to produce the Nano complained that it had been stolen from them. Violent demonstrations broke out around the plant that was being built in the communist-governed state of West Bengal. After a stand-off, Tata, the Indian manufacturer of the car, was forced to abandoned the site, writing off as much as $350 million (£250 million) in the process. As a result, the Nano, which Tata has promised to sell for a basic price of 100,000 rupees (£1,400), is seven months late and will be produced only in tiny numbers for the next year or so – factors that will cost Tata dearly in lost sales and development costs that it needs to recoup.The incident spoke volumes about India: not least that the country is struggling to reconcile the needs of big business with those of 800 million rural poor. The row also hinted at the existence of two increasingly divergent Indias: one populated by the affluent, educated middle classes – the kind of people likely to work, say, as executives for a company such as Tata; the other inhabited by villagers who rely on the land for a living, and who still make up the majority of the country’s population.Over the past few years, it has been the first version of India that has caught the world’s imagination: the India that in 2008 hosted the world’s fastest growing population of dollar millionaires (125,000 and counting) and four of the world’s richest 10 billionaires; the India that has supplied Silicon Valley with many of its brightest minds and which spoke about “the Empire striking back” when Tata, the country's biggest maker of trucks, bought Land Rover and Jaguar, two of Britain’s most prestigious luxury car marques.That India now looks chastened. Economic growth, which had been motoring along at about 9 per cent a year, has plummeted to about 5 per cent; corporate credit has dried up; and white-collar workers are losing their jobs. Amid a stock market meltdown, India's 40 richest men have lost a combined $212 billion – a jarring 60 per cent slide in their collective net worth, according to Forbes.There is another reason why the second India – the India who still lives in her villages and often goes to bed hungry – has now moved into the spotlight: next month’s election. This India, while unglamorous, decides who rules the world’s largest democracy and has been courted assiduously by the Government, which has borrowed heavily to fund policies designed to support the poor.It is when the population of this second India can contemplate buying a Nano that the country can claim to be realising its potential. 0
Reactions: Tata Motors sprucing up its sales and technical team for Nano arrival
There is action at Tata Motors on account of the Nano launch. According to The Live Mint, Tata motors has instructed its dealerships across the country, to spruce up its Nano sales and technical team for more efficient customer service. Furthermore, Tata Motors has also instructed its dealers open as many showrooms as possible at the district level as the company is eyeing to mass-market Nano. In addition to that the company will introduce a comprehensive training scheme for the Nano sales force and the people who will man the dedicated service outlets. Prospective buyers would be educated about the fact that Nano uses plastic for parts such as engine and cylinder covers as well as fuels rails, instead of the conventional aluminum or steel, which enhances the performance of the car by making it significantly lighter. Furthermore, buyers will also be able to realise that a 623cc engined-Nano will also be amenable to on areas such as steep incline and others.The company is in the process of successfully concluding critical training for its dealers. Furthermore, the groups of technical staff from dealerships across cities have undergone training at the company’s training centre in Pune the past few weeks. According to a Tata Motors’ dealer who requested anonymity, Tata Motors’s would like to tap semi-urban and rural markets. Apart from forming a dedicated sales team for Nano, they have also been instructed by Tata Motors to ramp up its service network in order to provide seamless and world-class after-sales services to Tata Nano customers
Reactions: Scion Announces Micro-subcompact Concept Debut at New York Auto Show
Toyota will be bringing its iQ super-condensed, micro-subcompact car to the US market.Only the iQ will come branded as a Scion.Toyota is slated to unveil the concept version of the iQ at the New York auto show next month, although the Scion press release says nothing about the concept being that particular model. Instead, they say only that a "micro-subcompact concept car" will be presented. Of course, that can only mean the iQ.But the US-bound iQ will likely be fitted with a 1.3 liter, 4-cylinder engine recently unveiled in Geneva rather than the 1.0 liter, 3-cylinder currently powering the car as it's being launched in the Japanese and European markets. The 1.0 liter engine produces 68 hp and 91 Nm (67 lb-ft) of torque while the 1.3 liter 4-banger pumps out a respectable 99 hp. But the latter engine will actually get better mileage (59 mpg or 4 liters/100 km as opposed to 55 mpg or 4.3 liters/100 km) than the 3-cylinder, which may make one wonder whether the current iQ is an underpowered city-dweller.We must await the car's debut in New York for more details.
Reactions: Tazzari ZERO EV to Arrive in North America Early 2010
A new electric vehicle is to be produced in Italy under the name Tazzari Zero. By the beginning of 2010 these cars will have begun their import journey into North America through a company called Verdek-EV. Verdek-EV was appointed as the sole distributor for the North America, Mexico and the Caribbean islands region. The Tazzari brand is situated in Italy within the same region as Ferrari and Lamborghini, but unlike those exotics it will concentrate on small electric vehicles.The lithium-ion battery-powered Tazzari Zero has been tested to return a range of about 88 miles (142km) before a recharge which can take 6.5 hours on a 220 volt power supply unit. It has a rear-wheel-drive motor with peak torque of 150Nm. Tazzari says the Zero produces no emissions and has a top speed of 56mph but it can be limited to between 25mph and 45mph if required.Measured dimensions for the two-door mini car are 2.88 metres for length, 1.55 metres width and 1.4 metres height.For interior comfort features that are included are a radio/CD/MP3 player, leather steering wheel, air conditioning, fog lamps, LED tail lights, a removable sunroof and 15-inch custom coloured wheels.The car's first public showing will be at the Bologna International Motor Show in December. The estimated launch price should be less than €20,000 a pop.
Reactions: Terrafugia 'Flying Car' Makes Historic First Flight
Congratulations go out to Massachusetts-based Terrafugia on the successful first flight of their upcoming flying car. The short-lived flight can be seen in its entirety in this 45-second video.The Transition Roadable Aircraft Proof of Concept is capable of converting from a plane into a car in about thirty seconds. As an aircraft, the two-seater should be allowed to take off and land at any local airport. When utilized as such, a Sport Pilot license is required. In the air, the vehicle is capable of about 115 mph, with a flying-only range of 450 miles. As a car, it travels up to 65 mph, and gets 30 mpg.One engine is used to power the vehicle, either as a propeller plane or a front-wheel-drive car. No special fuel is used, either; just the same unleaded gasoline you would get at any gas station. Unfortunately, local authorities would probably frown on a pilot landing the plane at a highway oasis."This breakthrough changes the world of personal mobility. Travel now becomes a hassle-free integrated land-air experience. It's what aviation enthusiasts have been striving for since 1918," Terrafugia CEO Carl Dietrich said.Purchase price for the first generation of the vehicle is estimated at $194,000. The idea is to provide a lower-cost solution to pilots who may want to fly somewhere on a weekend trip, and not have to rent a car. At only 80-inches wide, the vehicle would be equipped to taxi off the runway, into the parking lot, and out on the street.Refundable reservations are being accepted for Terrafugia's project, but the Transition still has a long way to go. Following more advanced airborne and road testing, a new pre-production prototype will be built.It looks like before long we will finally be able to say, "The flying cars are here!"
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Porsche Panamera Five Key Innovations Presented
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Tata Motors sprucing up its sales and technical te...
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2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/12088 | The $4.5 Million Lamborghini Veneno driving in California
From the video description (TheStradman):The $4.5 Million Lamborghini Veneno driving in CaliforniaCheck me out on Facebook: www.facebook.com/StradmanPhotographySee the other Lamborghini Veneno I've filmed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu-X4...This $4.5 million dollar Lamborghini Veneno was shown at the Quail Motorsports gathering in Monterey, California. Lamborghini is producing just 4 Venenos; This one will be at the Lamborghini factory in Sant'agata Bolognese, Italy. Two of the remaining three will end up in the United States, one in Miami, Florida and one in Long Island, New York. The third one will end up in the Middle East. The two American bound Lamborghini Venenos have been delivered. The Veneno in Long Island, owned by Antoine Dominic (owner of Lamborghini Long Island) is expected to be displayed at the showroom of Lamborghini Long Island. Dominic is a long time Ferrari owner who had an F40, F50, Enzo and an MC12 prior to switching to Lamborghini. The Miami bound Veneno, owned by Kris Singh, is expected to be driven somewhat regularly. Mr. Singh is managing director of Tequesta Investments. Each of the three customer delivered Venenos is finished in a different colored accent, red, white and green. The Veneno in this video is red. This is noticeable on the front splitter and rear diffuser.It has been announced that Lamborghini will also introduce a roadster version of the Veneno. Lamborghini will produce 9 Lamborghini Veneno Roadsters. The Lamborghini Veneno was first unveiled at the Genevea Auto Show in April 2013. The Lamborghini Veneno Roadster was first photographed at a special private viewing in Beverly Hills, California in November 2013. It's official debut was on an Italian air craft carrier in Abu Dhabi. It also was shown at CES 2014, Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada in conjunction with Monster Audio, who fitted a custom $100,000 sound system in the Veneno Roadster.The Lamborghini Veneno is a development of the Lamborghini Aventadors 6.5L V12 producing 740 HP. Veneno means venom in Spanish. Lamborghini currently produced the Aventador, the Veneno and is set to begin production of the Gallardo replacement, the Lamborghini Huracan. The Lamborghini Huracan LP610-4 is set to be officially unveiled at the Geneva International Auto Show on March 4, 2014.The Lamborghini Veneno follows in the footsteps of other extremely limited production Lamborghinis. Prior to the Veneno, Lamborghini built 20 race oriented Lamborghini Sesto Elementos, based off the Gallardo. Prior to the Sesto Elemento, Lamborghini produced the Lamborghini Reventon, of which only 20 coupes and 15 roadsters. The Reventon was sold for $2 million USD.The Lamborghini Veneno is featured in Forza Motorsport 5 and Need for Speed.
'Minneapolis Renames Columbus Day As Indigenous People's Day'
by Bill Chappell - NPR - April 27, 2014Minneapolis has designated the second Monday of October, the federal Columbus Day holiday, as Indigenous Peoples Day. The city council adopted the plan after hearing concerns that hailing Columbus as the discoverer of America is inaccurate and ignores the history of indigenous people.Last week, Indigenous Peoples Day supporter and Lakota activist Bill Means told Minnesota Public Radio that the story that Christopher Columbus discovered America was "one of the first lies we're told in public education."He expanded on that idea Friday."We discovered Columbus, lost on our shores, sick, destitute, and wrapped in rags. We nourished him to health, and the rest is history," Means . "He represents the mascot of American colonialism in the western hemisphere. And so it is time that we change a myth of history."Similar measures that rename or replace Columbus Day are already in place in other parts of the U.S., from South Dakota to Berkley and other California cities. Several states, such as Alaska, Hawaii, and Oregon, do not observe Columbus Day.The federal holiday has a long and complex history, including an 1892 proclamation by Benjamin Harrison and its establishment as a federal holiday in 1937. Many came to see Columbus Day "as a way for Italian Americans to be accepted by the mainstream," as NPR's has reported.Now the holiday is gaining a new identity in Minneapolis, as part of what says is the city's effort "to better reflect the experiences of American Indian people and uplift our country's Indigenous roots, history, and contributions."According to MPR, the city council gave its unanimous support to the Indigenous Day measure after it was introduced by eight council members, led by Alondra Cano."The American Indian Movement emerged in the 1960s from the streets of south Minneapolis, a longtime cultural crossroads for American Indian communities in the Midwest," .But MPR's Curtis Gilbert adds, "Council President Barbara Johnson noted that some of her Italian-American constituents are 'somewhat offended' by the city's snub of the Genoa-born explorer."
Columbus Day will be designated as Indigenous Peoples Day in Minneapolis, which has become one of several U.S. cities to make the change. Here, a member of the Cowichan Tribes holds her hand up in prayer during a 2011 Native American protest against Columbus Day in Seattle.
Why no mention of the Spanish Empire? "We discovered Columbus, lost on our shores, sick, destitute, and wrapped in rags. We nourished him to health, and the rest is history," --Bill Means. He said "We," so obviously he sees 100% kinship with the Bahamian natives, or any other natives from Alaska to the tip of South America. Therefore, in order to stay congruent, we need to define the equivalent "Us." So in the expanded picture, the "Us" isn't Cristoforo Columbo nearly as much as it is the Imperial Spanish Empire as the face of European colonial supremacy. Columbus was an agent of the Spanish Monarchy, who were entirely in league with the Vatican and various banking cartels and economic interests.It's interesting that those who would would attack Columbus don't mention the Spanish Empire or the Catholic Church. As Jesus said "Conquer in my name." How about King Ferdinand? Was he not Columbus' boss? How about Queen Isabella who led the "Spanish Inquisition?" What about Pope Alexander VI? The truth is that they need to revision Columbus as a "European bad guy," while not offending the many people who may feel threatened if they dared attack all the other institutions and individuals who were more important in the imperial effort than Columbus. In other words, Columbus must be projected as "a European"; and not as a Catholic, a Spanish citizen, a capitalist, or even an Italian! He must, in their estimation, stand entirely on his own for examination. This is the worst type of intellectual dishonesty.
Will the "bad guys" please stand?Every person of European descent is a "white person." But how many are even descended from a nation who had a damn thing to do with all this genocide or slavery of the Americas? My quick count is five. Five countries who seemed to be in parcipitation, with the Vatican as a defacto sixth. Clearly most of it was the result of the Spanish and Portuguese Imperial Empires. I mean, if Japan had committed some type of historical atrocity, you don't blame Cambodia!; Unless someone wanted to somehow--against any logic--blame ALL Asians. Why would it be any different with Europe? So who's to blame? King Ferdinand, or a Polish peasant farmer?Do you see how crazy this is? For the record, people of North and South America, who are of Amerindian or West African ancestry, are the numerical majority. Just within this "Columbus bashing" effort, how can any person with more than a room temperature IQ ignore all the important people who were behind Columbus' voyages as central figures of Western imperialism and slavery? How about Aaron Lopez? He was one of the leading figures of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. Arguably at the very top of the list. Like Columbus, he was a very important middle-management figure within the larger scheme of things. Could it be that Columbus makes a much better projected bad guy than Lopez, despite the fact that Lopez administered much more actual harm to people?
Africans,
Amerindians,
European history,
Lionel Messi: One of the all-time soccer greats, an Argentine of Cisalpine ancestry
Lionel Messi (Wikipedia)
Lionel Andrés "Leo" Messi (born 24 June 1987) is an Argentine footballer who plays as a forward for Spanish club FC Barcelona and the Argentina national team. He serves as the captain of his country's national football team.By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, he won his first Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. He followed this up by winning the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010, and then again in 2011 and 2012. He also won the 2010–11 UEFA Best Player in Europe Award. At the age of 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in all official club competitions. At age 25, Messi became the youngest player to score 200 goals in La Liga.Commonly ranked as the best player in the world and rated by some in the sport as the greatest of all time, Messi is the first football player in history to win four FIFA/Ballons d'Or, all of which he won consecutively, as well as the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards. With Barcelona, Messi has won six La Ligas, two Copas del Rey, six Supercopas de España, three UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups.Messi is the first and only player to top-score in four consecutive Champions League campaigns, and also holds the record for the most hat-tricks scored in the competition. In March 2012, Messi made Champions League history by becoming the first player to score five goals in one match. He also matched José Altafini's record of 14 goals in a single Champions League season. Messi set the European record for most goals scored in a season during the 2011–12 season, with 73 goals. In the same season, he set the current goalscoring record in a single La Liga season, scoring 50 goals. Also in that season, Messi became the first player ever to score and assist in six different official competitions in one season.
Messi with girlfriend Antonella Roccuzzo and son.
On 16 February 2013, Messi scored his 300th Barcelona goal. On 30 March 2013, Messi scored in his 19th consecutive La Liga game, becoming the first footballer in history to net in consecutive matches against every team in a professional football league. He extended his record scoring streak to 21 consecutive league matches, and the run came to a halt only when he sustained a hamstring injury. In March 2014, with a hat-trick against Real Madrid, Messi became the player with the most goals and most hat-tricks in the history of El Clásico.Messi helped Argentina win the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, finishing as both the best player and the top scorer (with 6 goals). In 2006, he became the youngest Argentine to play and score in the FIFA World Cup, and won a runners-up medal at the Copa América in 2007, in which he was named young player of the tournament. In 2008, he won an Olympic Gold Medal with the Argentina Olympic football team. In 2013, SportsPro rated him the second-most marketable athlete in the world.[8] His playing style and stature have drawn comparisons to compatriot Diego Maradona, who himself declared Messi his "successor". In 2014, Messi led Argentina to the World Cup Final, winning four consecutive Man of the Match awards in the process. He won the Golden Ball award after being adjudged the best player of the tournament.
Don’t Cry for Messi, Argentina. This Germany Team Is One of the Best in Years. .
Cisalpine,
Marche,
The $4.5 Million Lamborghini Veneno driving in Cal...
'Minneapolis Renames Columbus Day As Indigenous Pe...
Lionel Messi: One of the all-time soccer greats, a... | 汽车 |
2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/12813 | Fiat Abarth 500X da 170CV?
Auto, Auto-News, FIAT, Generale, Highlights, International, News
Fiat is likely to bring an Abarth-tuned version of the 500X crossover to market in 2017 as the Italian company looks to expand its line-up. While plans for a more powerful, Abarth-branded version of the 124 Spider, Fiat’s most recent new model, are well known, the tuning house is also considering a breathed-on version of the 500X, with the resulting model acting as a rival to the likes of the Mini Countryman JCW and Nissan Juke Nismo RS.
Nothing is official at this stage, but Abarth boss Paolo Gagliardo has spoken candidly about his desire to expand the Abarth range beyond its current 500-based models. “We want to keep growing and stabilise at a certain level,” he told Automotive News Europe, while admitting that the UK and Italy are currently two of Abarth’s biggest markets. Gagliardo also confirmed that the Fiat brand wants to make a return to rallying, and while it was initially suggested that the Abarth 124 Spider would be the favoured choice to enter the World Rally Championship, a performance-inspired 500X would be another option.
The 500X is available with the same 1.4 Multiair II petrol engine that’s offered in the 124 Spider, in both cases producing 138bhp. The Multiair II motor is known to be highly adaptable, and Abarth engineers have hinted that up to 170bhp will be extracted for their version of the 124 Spider. A similar amount is expected for the Abarth 500X, with drive sent to all four wheels through either a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed dual-clutch automatic.
By comparison, both the Mini Countryman JCW and the Nissan Juke Nismo RS produce 215bhp from their respective turbocharged 1.6-litre petrol engines.As with other Abarth models, the 500X is likely to receive significant interior and exterior styling upgrades, new badging and graphics and distinctive wheel designs. The model is expected to be sold worldwide, but with a particular focus on the US, where one in five Fiat 500s are currently sold as Abarths.
www.autocar.co.uk
170 CV 500X Abarth autocar fiat Buon compleanno, Michele!
Valentino: casco all'asta per 1caffè
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2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/12994 | Home The History of Splash Car Washes
The History of Splash Car Washes
Splash Car Wash was founded by Mark Curtis and Chris Fisher with the opening of their first hand wash -- Splash, Greenwich. Both lifelong Greenwich, CT residents Curtis and Fisher cast aside their business suits and ties to immerse themselves in suds and water with the purchase of Greenwich Car Wash in 1981. Eventually renamed Splash Car Wash in 1994, to mark a totally innovative concept developed by Curtis and Fisher for washing cars on conveyor by hand in a tunnel, overwhelming response to their new hand wash became the catalyst for phenomenal growth at Splash.
Similar operations opened at Bedford Hills, NY in 1995 and Norwalk, CT in 1996. More locations soon followed as Splash Car Wash continued its expansion with the acquisition and development of “soft cloth” washes and the latest in washing technology offering exterior-only or full service automated washing.
Today there are 16 Splash Car Wash operations located throughout Fairfield, CT and Upper Westchester, NY counties: Bridgeport, Cheshire, Cos Cob, Darien, Fairfield, Greenwich, Hamden, New Haven, New Haven East, Norwalk, Shelton, Stamford, West Haven, Wilton, Bedford Hills, Brewster, and White Plains. Splash Car Wash is among the 11th largest car-care companies in the country, and with over 27 years of experience, Splash Car Wash has fast become a leader in the car wash industry. What Curtis and Fisher then supposed to be a simple, turnkey business, morphed into a major operation employing more than 500 people and washing over one million cars per year.
Much success can be attributed to the dynamic marketing programs Splash Car Wash has deployed over the years for its customers including coupons, gift cards, loyalty programs, cross promotions with local businesses on the Splash Car Wash web site and comprehensive fundraising programs. More recently, effective use of electronic media has placed Splash Car Wash at the forefront of the car care industry as pioneers of social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter.
Even during its rapid expansion, Splash Car Wash has continued to maintain its commitment to the communities it serves. Since its first fundraising event in 1985 with the A.R.C. of Greenwich, Splash Car Wash has raised over one million dollars for many local organizations, charities and associations throughout Connecticut and New York. Splash handles requests from over 400 charitable organizations each year.
In 1999, Splash Car Wash became the only car care company to have employees win both the “Most Valuable” and “Car Wash Manager of the Year” awards in the same year, and it now has the honor of being the only car wash with two “MVP” awards. Splash Car Wash has won the prestigious Mass Mutual Blue Chip Enterprise Award and has been voted ‘Best Car Wash” over 20 times by various publications in New York and Connecticut.
Splash Car Wash car care services include: Hand Wash, Express Wash, After Hours Washing, Five Star Detailing and Lube and Oil Change. | 汽车 |
2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/13283 | Home Architecture Design and Design Theory Science Reinventing the Automobile Buying Options Hardcover | Out of Print | 240 pp. | 8 x 8 in | 84 b&w illus. | January 2010 | ISBN: 9780262013826Paperback | $22.95 Trade | £18.95 | 240 pp. | 8 x 8 in | 84 b&w illus. | August 2015 | ISBN: 9780262528450eBook | $16.95 Trade | January 2010 | ISBN: 9780262288545Mouseover for Online Attention DataAbout MIT Press eBooks Look Inside
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World's Greatest ArchitectImagining MIT Reinventing the Automobile
Personal Urban Mobility for the 21st Century By William J. Mitchell, Chris E. Borroni-Bird and Lawrence D. Burns Overview
This book provides a long-overdue vision for a new automobile era. The cars we drive today follow the same underlying design principles as the Model Ts of a hundred years ago and the tail-finned sedans of fifty years ago. In the twenty-first century, cars are still made for twentieth-century purposes. They are inefficient for providing personal mobility within cities—where most of the world’s people now live. In this pathbreaking book, William Mitchell and two industry experts reimagine the automobile, describing vehicles of the near future that are green, smart, connected, and fun to drive. They roll out four big ideas that will make this both feasible and timely.The fundamental reinvention of the automobile won’t be easy, but it is an urgent necessity—to make urban mobility more convenient and sustainable, to make cities more livable, and to help bring the automobile industry out of crisis. About the Authors
William J. Mitchell was the Alexander W. Dreyfoos, Jr., Professor of Architecture and Media Arts and Sciences and directed the Smart Cities research group at MIT’s Media Lab.Christopher Borroni-Bird is GM’s Director of Advanced Technology Vehicle Concepts. Lawrence D. Burns advises companies, governments, and universities on transportation, energy, and communications systems and technology. He was Vice President of Research and Development at General Motors from 1998 to 2009. Reviews
“The content is intelligent, well laid out, entertaining, understandable, and approachable...Often, works about the future of the automobile industry are just tools to express idealistic beliefs or anti-industry sentiments. This book is refreshing because the authors understand the whole package in terms of current problems, and their solutions, and succinctly present a glimpse of a future (and a present) that people can feel good about.”—Choice“It isn’t technological barriers so much as closed minds that are holding back the necessary evolution of the automobile; using calm and devastatingly inarguable logic, this is a virtual step-by-step manual that deploys an original idea on every page to show exactly how it can and should be achieved. If you care about cars, read this book: it opens your mind and lets the future in.”—Bruce McCall, artist and writer, The New Yorker“Visionary in its totality, it is also soberly realistic.”—Peter D. Norton, Metascience“Presents a fascinating and challenging model of technological possibilities.”—Martin Wachs, Issues in Science and Technology Endorsements
“In this book, William Mitchell, perhaps the greatest urban theorist and designer of the Information Age, provides a concrete alternative to the unsustainable model of urban transportation based on the traditional automobile, and paves the way for the transformation of the automobile industry as a whole. In this time of crisis Reinventing the Automobile is mandatory reading, besides researchers and students, for planners, industrialists, and governments searching for a way out for the car of the industrial era.”—Manuel Castells, Professor Emeritus of City Planning, University of California, Berkeley“Our American auto industry is at a perilous crossroads - it can adhere to the 'old ways' and perish or it can leapfrog the competition, reinvent itself, and lead the automotive world into the 21st century. Many of the ideas set forth in this book just might serve as a blueprint for this much-needed and important change of direction. Who better to lead the way than our geek brethren from MIT?”—Tom & Ray Magliozzi, aka “Click and Clack,” Hosts of Car Talk“We are at the threshold of a new era of urban transport. Reinventing the Automobile offers a breathtaking vista of the opportunities ahead. Mitchell, Borroni-Bird, and Burns combine their great engineering expertise, design skills, and practical experience to create a dazzling vision of a new urban transport system to support healthy, productive, safe, and environmentally sustainable cities in the 21st century. The book is consistently exciting, a wonderful chance to peer over the shoulders of masters as they sort through the complex terrain of energy systems, urban lifestyles, digital connectivity, and cutting-edge automotive engineering. This book will fascinate and inspire not only specialists in transport and engineering, but everybody interested in the new age of sustainable development.”—Jeffrey D. Sachs, Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University. Special Advisor to UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon“Finally, a book that addresses the problems of carbon emissions, sustainability, transportation, city planning, and traffic, by authors who understand what the automobile industry does not—that these issues are all interconnected and part of the same picture. This book has a great deal to offer to anyone who is interested in the green movement in architecture, in city planning, in traffic problems, in pollution, and in the challenge of making our planet more humane.”—Frank Gehry“Mitchell, Borroni-Bird, and Burns have created a blueprint for sustainable urban mobility. Reinventing the Automobile will fundamentally change the way we approach transportation design. Every car company should take note: evolve or face increasing irrelevance.”—David Kelley, Founder and Chairman, IDEO, and Professor, Stanford University Awards
CHOICE Outstanding Academic Title, 2010. US | 汽车 |
2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/14142 | Schnitzel Republic
The Early Retirement Story
Early retirement in Germany.....is something that rarely happens. Typically, it's a guy who was cop, fireman, or successful businessman. Beyond that group, it's tough to go and get a doctor's note to say that your health (mental or physical) is so bad.....that you should be allowed your social pension early.
So in today's news, I noticed this piece from WDR (public TV) which chatted about this issue and the prosecution office in Munster. No one says precisely how this suspicion started up or if it was just statistical averages that pointed this out.....but there were a lot of folks coming up in Munster with notes from a particular psychiatrist (out of the Bochum region).
The claim here is that roughly 600 episodes came up in this one region, from this one doctor, and it's higher than it should be.....leading to a court review.
The accusation? Only an accusation. The talk is that he gave a false opinion for people to get early retirement. Added into this story is that people paid this guy money under the table....so the tax evasion folks are interested in this because it's all cash, and he never reported the income. The amounts suggested? Two thousand to seven thousand Euro. You can do the math here and figure that it's in the ballpark of 200,000 Euro or more that he made....tax-free....IF true.
Right now....at least twenty-seven cases are identified as fraud. Prosecutors say that some folks were even coached on how to act (mentally ill) when boards were convened to push forward the paperwork to be approved.
A national problem? This was simply one particular area, but I would take a guess that across Germany (82-million)....there are hundreds each month working on some scheme, with some doctor and trying to find a way to get early retirement.
The general problem is that the national social pension program is not exactly healthy and with the birth-rate problem....you really can't allow fraudulent early retirement to occur. When you normally see early and legitimate early retirement in Germany....it's usually back issues, or extreme stress (where yearly visits to the 'Kur' have occurred), and there's just no way for the guy or gal to go back into work. My father-in-law (long passed) was a German roofer, and by his early 60s.....he was one of the legit early retirees. The curious thing to this is that all of these people identified under this doctor's medical notes....will be dragged back into another review board, and most will be told to "un-retire", and go back to work. Imagine these characters showing up at the local jobs office....fifty to sixty years old, and having to find some kind of job to get them back into the real world. at
Germany, Cars, and A Short Discussion
There are a couple of car-related things going on in Germany, which deserves one's attention, and a fair amount of pondering.
First, this past week....the Bundestag (the parliament) said 'no' to the EU proposal for more stringent controls (regulations) on auto emissions. DW reported this. One of the interesting aspects of the EU plan for control....was that they'd actually go and conduct on-the-spot emissions tests. You can imagine German politicians (from both the SPD and CDU) standing there and having to react to some EU bureaucrat chatting away about tests conducted in Dresden or Munich, and you can't be a 100-percent sure about the reliability of the tests or the agenda tied to the tests.
One of the curious pieces of the regulation that the Germans pushed back against....was that if a German auto maker made a car and sold it.....and it was later found to be conflicting with emissions standards, then the car company would have to take possession of the car (compensating the owner in some way), and then pay the EU 30,000 Euro per vehicle as a 'fine'. You imagine how VW, Opel, or Ford managers felt about that type of threat. One screw-up could basically bankrupt a company.
Funny how even the Germans can hate the EU for its regulation-creation ideas.
So, you come to the second big car discussion....diesel emissions. It's openly discussed now that even with the new level of diesel vehicle categories (Euro-6)....even with the most modern diesel cars made and sold in Germany....they aren't clean enough for the standards now set.
All of this naturally leaves the experts looking at filter-systems that would have to be added onto vehicles. The experts around Stuttgart, where this discussion originally started up....say the filter kit is 1,500 to 2,500 Euro. So far, no one wants to talk much on who is going to pay for the kit (the vehicle owner obviously). A month ago, I read a piece by one diesel owner who voiced the concern that you'd go and do this really stupid thing of paying for the kit out of your own pocket....only to learn two years later that his installed filter needs to be replaced with another newly developed and much improved kit....for another 1,500 Euro. He might have a point on this discussion.
Finally, you come to the electrical car discussion, with the 2030 date sitting there in full view. By 2030, unless something changes.....new car sales will be limited in Germany to strictly electric cars. The general public doesn't chat much on this. The general public at this point....aren't very hyped up about electric cars, with the yearly sum sold in the 4-digit range at present. In virtually every direction you turn....there's impending or doomed regulation approaching on automobiles in Germany. No one can say with any real authority, how things will be in twenty years with cars on German roads.
CSU Leadership Story
The 'sister' party of Merkel's CDU Party.....is the CSU, who only operate in Bavaria. It's a handshake deal. Typically, in a national election....the CSU can deliver around 3.5 million votes (8-percent of the national vote). For the past nine years....Horst Seehofer has run the regional party. He's 67 years old and last year....he hinted very strongly that he'd be retiring in the summer of 2018. The schedule talked about last year was that a Bavarian state election would happen in September of 2018, and new leadership would stand up and carry the party forward.
Yesterday, Seehofer said...well....things changed. He won't stand down, and he'll be the primary carrier of the CSU election in Bavaria in 2018.
Reason? Some people believe that Seehofer sees this comeback of Karl-Theodor zu Guttenberg occurring. After the scandal of the thesis episode, Guttenberg has lived outside of Germany for around seven years. There's been an invented way for Guttenberg to participate in this national election (Sep 2017)....with a couple of districts carved out where he will speak...shake hands...and talk up the future of conservative politics in Germany.
The belief is that Seehofer wants to see the CSU leadership role come to Guttenberg after this 2018 Bavaria election. Oddly, this insider plan has one problem. For several years....the Bavarian finance minister....Markus Soder, has been sitting there and planning his moment where he'd become the next head of the CSU. For him, this Seehofer deal is a bit frustrating. For him to accept this, it means putting off his chief goal.
Guttenberg? He says mostly nothing. My guess is that Seehofer would announce some retirement in early 2019, and the party would quietly appoint Guttenberg into the leadership of the party. Nationally, Guttenberg might be the come-back-kid in 2021. I know....a lot of speculation, and people preparing 'chess-like' moves way ahead of time.
The news media reaction? No one sees Guttenberg coming back, so this topic of conversation doesn't go far. Typically, no German politician after a big scandal has ever come back. So, if you were looking for an odd political story, this is it. at
The Statistics Story
At some point today (Monday), an official report will be handed to the public by the Interior Minister (de Maiziere). It's going to be a difficult report for journalists, intellectuals, and politicians to handle. Basically, the Interior Minister says that crime number in 2016 show a hefty contribution by immigrants, migrants and asylum seekers. The national numbers involving immigrants for crime investigation rose 57-percent, which worries the leadership within the Interior Ministry.
Hidden also within the numbers....more juvenile participants....both in violence and bodily harm.
Chief reason for migrant number surge?
There is this belief that a lot of young men arrived in 2014, 2015 and 2016 into Germany....and that a fair number drifted over into the occupation of crime. For some, without a family connection or stable lifestyle....it simply made sense. You can also say that a fair number arrived without any real plan....no real occupation or skill-set....and found that welfare payments in Germany won't cut it. Even if they did get a job....it's a basic pay situation....eight to nine Euro an hour. After you take out rent and heat from your check....there's just a limited or marginal amount of money left in the pot.
Chief reason for the juvenile issue? No one took the statistics to the next level and asked if they relate to urban and rural splits....which I suspect they would show most of the juvenile surge came from major urban sectors of Germany. If you toss around the 15-percent number of Germans now and still on welfare....there's not much positive to say out of life as a kid in this atmosphere. Fixing the increase in crime? All parties in the Bundestag, even the opposition folks....are super hyped-up on hiring more cops. It's one of those amazing things. You can't find a single political player in Berlin who is against the hiring of more cops now. Time period for hiring more cops? Well....here's the comical side of this story....it might be five years before the increase in cops is really felt across the 16 states. So, don't get too hopeful on things getting fixed soon.
One might look ahead over the next four years, and leading up to the 2021 national election....assuming that the crime problem continues and maybe even gets worse for 2017 and 2018. In which case....a lot of pressure will occur with the Bundestag to kick young male migrants out of the country if arrested for serious crimes. One suggestion from the ARD article was that more language training needs to occur. But if you had burger-flipper skills and German ability.....it only leads to a marginalized job future and no real hope. So you drift over to crime anyway. So you come to the last part of this story.....why release a report like this? Le Maiziere is slated to absolutely retire at the end of 2017. He has no more interest in staying on, and is of retirement age. I think he wants to stir the pot a bit.....with the Bundestag, Merkel, and the intellectual crowd. He's basically saying that hiring more cops won't really fix the root cause of the crime issue in Germany. You can discuss this in a hundred ways, but you come down to a large segment of people who have a very limited future...very unfocused on a path ahead....and a fairly easy entry into crime.
The Outcome in France
Round one is wrapped up.
Macron (Progressive Party) and Le Pen (National Front) advance on. Macron had 23.75-percent and Len Pen 21.50-percent).
Fillon, with his fake-pay scandal, had 19.90-percent, and Melenchon had 19.6-percent. Hamon from the Socialist Party rounded up things with 6.3-percent.
There are several observations that one can make out of the election.
1. Urban vote results appear to show Macron getting 35-percent in most areas around France....Le Pen in most urban areas got from marginal numbers to 10-percent in the same areas. Heartland affect is demonstrated. 2. The Socialist Party and the Republicans were the two big losers out of this election. Both had been major players in French politics for decades. Together, they barely got to 26-percent of the public vote. It's a massive indicator that the public have lost confidence with 'old' politics.
3. Corruption used to be an acceptable part of French politics. Something in this election occurred and shifted the corruption business to the unacceptable side of things. The fake pay issue really killed off Fillon. Right now.....he and his wife might get dragged into a court and charged. My suspicion is that he will quietly come up with the money and offer to repay every penny if they halt the process. 4. No matter who you watch from the European press, they all refer to Macron as an investment banker. He was an investment portfolio handler for the Rothschild Bank. They hired him with the ultimate desire that he did what he claimed he was an expert at.....preventing trails for audit by the national authorities. He was very successful at that. Using the term 'banker' is mostly a joke....he was the portfolio manager and saved some special clients a lot of stress.
5. Macron probably shocks the journalists the most because his party....the Progressive Party....has only existed for 13 months. How were they financed? No one seems interested in that amusing detail.
Looking ahead. The final election occurs in two weeks. I would speculate that Macron likely wins this with a 65-percent showing, and Le Pen might be able to generate at best a 35-percent showing (maybe even less). I would guess that fewer than a quarter of Fillon's voters, who ought to be the nearest base group, will be interested in Le Pen. From the rest of the candidates....fewer than two-percent would slide to Le Pen. What this means? You can draw some conclusions:
1. BREXIT negotiations with Macron as the French President will be fairly difficult, and I suspect that within the two year timeframe.....no treaty occurs. (my humble guess)
2. Along about spring of 2018, some journalists in France will wake up and ask questions about the competence or capabilities of Macron. "Empty suit" will be uttered, and by the end of 2018....his positive numbers with the French public will have fallen to the mid-30's. By the summer of 2019....the public will be prepared for replacing him but they have to wait till April of 2022. 3. Le Pen will quietly work on the legislative elections and ensure that the National Front does get a record number of seats. She will still be around in 2022, and likely run one final time. 4. Germany and the EU are very happy with Macron....mostly because he gives good speeches. Zero chance of the EU dissolving (although Greece might eventually find itself removed).
5. The cabinet figures under Macron? Almost no French journalist has chatted about this. The party, being new, doesn't have a bunch of known figures attached to it. My humble guess is that it'll be a lot of business-related figures....some leading back to Rothschild. My Le Pen view is that she needs to take the National Front onto the next stage. As corruption occurs with the Progressive Party bosses....challenge them and make the public feel accountable for putting them into positions of power. at
Everyday Things
Sometimes, you come across some article in the news and start to ponder the ultimate meaning of the article.
Today, I was reading a piece that the British insurance company Aviva wrote up. They put some guys up on a study of household functions and surveyed 2000-odd people. Roughly 20-percent of people don't know how to change a bulb. Roughly one-third of people admitted they couldn't cook a true dinner from scratch. 37-percent said they were sure about being able to change a tire, while the rest were either unsure or definitely not able to change a tire.
Roughly two-thirds of people surveyed said they could read a map.....leaving you to wonder about the remaining one-third.
Just above one-third knew how to check the oil level in their car.....leaving you to wonder about the other two-thirds, and if they ever checked their oil.
I got to near the end of the actual report (something you can read in 30 minutes) and there's this interesting thing about do-it-yourself skills, and where people picked these skills up. Fifty percent admitted that it was trial and error situations where they attempted to do something and learned from the mistakes. Only 12-percent said they got this skill from TV, and 20-percent said it was via YouTube videos.
I have this opinion that along the last year or two of your grade school experience.....there ought to be a mandatory two-hours per day dedicated to oddball skills which aren't really things you'd normally pick up....like: map-reading, investing, understanding loans, rewiring a plug, replacing a florescent light bulb, changing tires, changing oil, or painting. In some ways, if you read through this Brit research project, you kinda wonder about the knowledge level of just normal regular people. If you introduced the BREXIT deal to them....could the group make a wise decision on voting (for or against)? Could the same group grasp how to use their vote and put the right people into leadership positions? In the end, Aviva leaves you with some distrust of society....that we might not be capable of handling the majority of things in our lives. at
The "Concentration Camp" Statement
Somewhere yesterday, with the Pope officiating in some ceremony....he harped up on that a number of Europe's refugee centers are simply "concentration camps". Yeah, he actually used the phrase itself.
I sat and pondered over the statement.
First, it doesn't matter where you go as an immigrant, migrant or asylum seeker.....you end up as the 'guest' of such-and-such country. Being a guest doesn't really mean much. In some countries, it simply means bland food for your daily needs, a heated shelter, and running water. If you wound up in Germany....you'd get more than most countries would dish out, but it's not exactly a hotel operation.
The thing is that there's a fair increase in immigrant traffic, and it's not not exactly an emergency or war-time situation for a fair number of folks. I would take a guess that well over sixty-percent of the 'guests' being handled by most European countries.....are really migrants in search of a better economic condition or improved job. The folks from Syria and Iraq can talk about ISIS and war, and they deserve some type of safe environment until the war is settled.
If there had been some doorway and control over the economic migrants? The refugee centers would have been limited in size and scope....with likely a better atmosphere resulting. But no one wanted to stand at the doorway and limit entry. What the Pope doesn't say in his statement....is that once you get past the refugee center....with a visa and government support....then you come to look for an apartment in some urbanized area and a job. Then you discover the next reality beyond the refugee center, over-priced marginalized apartments, and jobs which mostly only pay the basic wage. A fair number of people have taken the 'concentration camp' statement by the Pope and dumped on it. In their mind, it is an unfair statement because these were created mostly at the last-minute, with minimum planning, and not intended to be long-lasting operations. The general negativity about the camps is that it's a densely populated type situation and lots of people with different views on life are occupying space in the camp....some can live with other folks, and some can't. Toss in frustrations, stress, bored days, religious preferences, and arguments that break out daily about mundane things.....and you got a mess to control.
The topic of the Pope's statement will be around for another day or two, and then likely be forgotten.
The Alcoholic Story
This week, in the Frankfurt area, a case wrapped up in court. The basic description of the episode is that "Joe", an asylum-seeker, lived in a immigration center in the Frankfurt region. "Joe" returns back one evening to the center.....goes into tirade....tears up the place....causes a fair amount of damage, and cops come to arrest "Joe". I should note that the same cops looked at "Joe's" room in the center and found some inappropriate things (I'll get to this detail later).
So the German judge had the whole thing explained to him. You see...."Joe" has a alcohol problem, and was fairly drunk when he did all this tirade business and damage.
Maybe "Joe's" attorney thought this would all help to explain things and settle the episode.
The judge finally says 'enough', and says that "Joe" needs to go to the German version of Alcoholics Anonymous. "Joe" basically says that he didn't think that would work, and he didn't really care that much for treatment. The judge then said.....you can do it the easy way, or we can put you into a full-scale in-patient situation and you don't come out for a number of weeks.
I sat there pondering over this. "Joe" isn't a German, and I'd take a guess that "Joe's" German language ability on a scale of one to ten....is at best a three (my humble guess). These Alcoholic Anonymous meetings tend to get chatty and wordy. You can imagine "Joe" just sitting there in a group of twelve Germans, and mostly getting ten-percent of the whole discussion.
The judge will ask for an evaluation in a couple of months, and the AA-chief will respond that "Joe" attended but no one thinks that he got much out of the episode....because "Joe" doesn't speak that much German. What the judge does next is anyone's guess.
So, we turn to the inappropriate stuff in "Joe's" room. It's all right-wing extreme stuff....stickers, music, etc. I should note, "Joe" is from a society which would be typically the target of right-wing extremism. So the cops asked "Joe" about this. All "Joe" could say was that he used the stuff to jab psychologically at other residents of the immigration center. I came to the end of the story and had this odd question....which the cops and judge apparently didn't want to ask. For the amount of alcohol that "Joe" was consuming daily (he appeared to me to be a daily binge drinker)....."Joe" needed cash. The immigration folks aren't paying much on pocket money per month. To be a heavy drinker like "Joe" is talking about.....daily.....then in an average month, you'd need at least 150 to 250 Euro....even for the cheap stuff. Where exactly is "Joe" getting the money? Germany has this one odd feature about life, which most 'new' residents aren't that familiar with.....everywhere you look, there's alcohol. Beer, wine, cognac, fruit-beer, ale, Gin, Ouzo, vodka, whiskey, Tequila, etc. I can remember arriving in Frankfurt in 1978, and coming to grasp that there are literally thousands of various choices of alcohol to consume. Unless you sat down and really used some common sense, you'd easily end up like "Joe".
Maybe "Joe" will get some benefit out of the AA meetings and curtail his drinking habits.....but I kinda doubt it. at
Advice for Spammers
You are simply wasting your time when you add spammer comments. I delete these daily.
My Other Essay Site
I write mostly on Germany on this essay site, however there is a second site: Letters From Ripley. It's mostly on US stories, politics, and occasional cynical/sarcastic topics.
About the Collection of Essays
NOTE: Schnitzel Republic is now on Facebook: address is www.facebook.com/schnitzelrepublic/Join there if you want a daily delivery. This essay log is written by an American who offers wit and sarcasm on Germany, Germans, Germanology, German political figures, German TV, German beer, German food, German humor (or lack of), German habits, German weirdness, German news, German autos, German brilliance, German stupidity, German customs, German Nazis, German history, and German stubbornness.I was one of those Americans who did over twenty years of military time....married a German....and eventually returned as a retiree.I'm one of the few who stood under the German umbrella.....paid German taxes for some years.....German social security.....and felt the various pains like Germans.So, this is my all-purpose commentary essay, designed for Americans mostly (and those Germans who accidentally discover it). I tend to put German culture into the spotlight of sarcasm, wit and humor. I'm simply pointing out the richness and craziness of life in Germany, which even some Germans can't understand. The amusing thing is that I'm merely repeating the exercise that Mark Twain performed in 1880, when he published "A Tramp Abroad". Various comments were dished out on the Germans....which apparently did not trigger any wars, chaos, climate change, or ill feelings.
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2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/14696 | LifeStyle/Luxury Cars
Audi TT RS Receives 2012 All-Star Award from Automobile Magazine
By James Rothaar Nov. 14th, 2011 14
Photo Courtesy of Audi USAAlong with having a stellar sales year in the USA, Audi also is picking up its share of awards and accolades from the automotive industry. Automobile Magazine recently named the Audi TT RS as the recipient of its 2012 All-Star award. The award will be presented to the automaker at the Los Angeles Auto Show next week.
"We're proud to be recognized by Automobile Magazine as an All-Star," said Johan de Nysschen, president, Audi of America. "The Audi TT RS stands as the pinnacle of the TT model line and represents the highest performance category for Audi vehicles."
Powered by a 2.5-liter, turbocharged five-cylinder TFSI engine, the Audi TT RS metes out 360 horsepower, between 5,500 and 6,700 rpm, with its six-speed manual transmission. Along with its exclusive manual transmission, the sports car contains exclusive design elements such as a special-made grille, large front air inlets, a fixed rear-wing spoiler, oval exhausts pipes, a rear diffuser, and 19-inch rotor wheels. The interior also has unique attributes, such as three-spoke steering wheel, interior door handles, and aluminum doorsills with the RS logo.
"The Audi TT RS is not just a beautiful machine inside and out, but a soul-stirring one; the epitome of everything that Audi means to us. It's a perfect tool for driving perfectionists, worthy of a choice parking spot in the dream garage," said Jean Jennings, Automobile Magazine editor-in-chief.
With patented aluminum-and-steel hybrid ASF technology and standard all-wheel drive, the TT RS offers improvements in aerodynamics and safety. For more information, visit AudiUSA.com.
James Rothaar
As an independent contractor, James has written content for Justluxe.com and other leading online luxury lifestyle magazines. Rothaar previously served as the senior-tenured staff writer for JustLuxe, having worked with the digital magazine since 2005. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida, and works as an independent marketing consultant and a freelance writer. James Rothaar has an MBA degree...(Read More) MOST RECENT
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2017-17/2146/en_head.json.gz/16536 | Tom Purves, Chairman of BMW of North America
Print This is a partial transcript from Your World with Neil Cavuto, September 2, 2003, that was edited for clarity. Click here for complete access to all of Neil Cavuto's CEO interviews. Watch Your World w/Cavuto weekdays at 4 p.m. and 1 a.m. ET. NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: You’ve heard of the SUV (search) automobile, but what about the SAV automobile? The new sport-activity vehicle one of many new models that BMW will be launching at the Frankfurt auto show starting September 9. Could this high-speed rollout help or hurt the brand? With us now is Tom Purves. Tom is the chairman and CEO of BMW of North America, a guy who spends a lot of time in the air. Good see you, Tom. Thanks for coming in. TOM PURVES, BMW OF NORTH AMERICA CHAIRMAN: Thanks, Neil. CAVUTO: Let’s talk a little bit about what’s happening here. You guys are doing a lot more all-wheel-drive cars. Why is that? PURVES: Well, first of all, the sports-activity market is a substantial one. I mean we launched... CAVUTO: Why did you never call it SUV, by the way? PURVES: Because it’s a sports-activity vehicle. I mean BMW were criticized for being a bit late into the light truck sector, but we were late because we wanted to build a BMW light truck, one that actually handled well, one that went... CAVUTO: But -- I thought -- your competitors say an SUV is an SUV is an SUV, they’re not calling it SUV, that but it’s an SUV. PURVES: Well, ours is a sports-activity vehicle. I mean it’s much, much more interesting to drive than many of our competitors’. It doesn’t have a huge amount of additional space in it. I mean we compromise more towards handling and ride and excitement driving than we do towards utility, and, therefore, it’s a sports-activity vehicle. And the new car that we’re introducing at Frankfurt next week, which will come to the States at the end of the year, the X3, is a very exciting development because, of course, the X5 is a substantially important car, but it’s actually quite highly positioned in terms of price. So the X3 will come in below that. CAVUTO: But do you get confused or do you risk getting your fans and customer base confused when you have so many different models and so many different rungs offering rear-wheel and all-wheel? PURVES: Well, we don’t believe so, and we’re being quite successful. I mean our sales were up 16 percent in July, 4 percent over this year. We’ve quadrupled our sales in the last 10 years. So whatever we’re doing, the recipe seems to work. But, actually, what we are doing is giving the consumer choice, and, whether it is in engines -- I mean our 3 Series is available with three different engine derivatives, our 5 Series with three different engine derivatives, our 7 Series with two different engine derivatives, or... CAVUTO: But that’s my point. It’s a mess! It’s a mess to figure out, isn’t it? PURVES: Not at all. On the other hand, it gives choice. Our body styles -- coupe, convertible -- who else does that? We’re the exclusive tailor, if you like, in the car business. CAVUTO: But it hasn’t stopped you, Tom, from having to give rebates and incentives, that sort of thing. Of course, you’re not alone in the business. But Lexus doesn’t have to give as many incentives or as pricey incentives. PURVES: Well, you would know more about that than I would do, but what I would say to you is that the whole segment is extremely competitive because everybody wants to move into the top of the market because the top of the market... CAVUTO: Does it worry you, though, that it’s getting crowded with Volkswagen now going high end and all these others going high end... PURVES: No. So long as we stick to our guns, I think we can do pretty well. I mean you could ask Tiger Woods or somebody like that does it worry him that there are two or three more excellent competitors. I mean he’d say, listen, I’m worrying about my game, not about the competition, and a great brand does that. We’re going back to this business of offering four-wheel drive. We’re simply offering choice to people. I mean the classic opportunity for four-wheel drive is in icy and snowy conditions. For most people, 95 percent of the year, they don’t need that. So you can make a choice. I mean if you live in mountainous conditions, here’s the four-wheel vehicle. If you live elsewhere, you have your the rear-wheel drive one. CAVUTO: Let me get your sense of the American appetite for cars. I mean it’s still there, but a lot of the manufacturers tell me, Tom, again and again but at a price. PURVES: Well, I think, it’s a more and more competitive fight for the business that’s out there. That’s clear. I mean it’s been a relatively tough economy, as we all know, for the last two or three years. I think the car industry generally has played a tremendous part in keeping the economy going, the American domestic manufacturers particularly with their low interest rates and so forth... CAVUTO: Are you bullish on our recovery? A lot of CEOs I ask this question. PURVES: I am, yes. CAVUTO: Do you think it’s real? It’s in there? PURVES: Well, I repeat the numbers. We were 16 percent up in July, 4 percent up this year. CAVUTO: So this American recovery the president talks about is real. PURVES: We’re number one in the luxury performance segment, and we’re seeing more showroom traffic. So we’re pretty optimistic. CAVUTO: All right. Until you next pop on a jet, Tom, thank you very much. Tom Purves, the BMW North American chairman and CEO. PURVES: Thank you. Content and Programming Copyright 2003 Fox News Network, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Transcription Copyright 2003 eMediaMillWorks, Inc. (f/k/a Federal Document Clearing House, Inc.), which takes sole responsibility for the accuracy of the transcription. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No license is granted to the user of this material except for the user's personal or internal use and, in such case, only one copy may be printed, nor shall user use any material for commercial purposes or in any fashion that may infringe upon Fox News Network, Inc.'s and eMediaMillWorks, Inc.'s copyrights or other proprietary rights or interests in the material. This is not a legal transcript for purposes of litigation. Advertisement | 汽车 |