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2015 Infiniti Q70 Launch Date – Price and Specification of Infiniti Q70 New Version adminApril 18, 201410075 0 Comment Infiniti Q70 made its debut in NewYork AutoShow 2014 for the expected 2015 Infiniti Q70 Launch Date which has grabbed a lot of attention in NY Auto Show running this week. 2014 version of Infiniti Q70 has already making success in the market and now it’s getting refreshed look for 2015 version. It is estimated that Infiniti is about to set 2015 Infiniti Q70 Launch Date in early of 2015, and Q70 is about to launch in 1st quarter of 2015 and we will be see the long wheelbase version of Q70 at dealer places after the launch. The new Q70 will have a 5.9 inch longer wheelbase which is quite attractive and will be as roomy as a full-size luxury sedan. For the US market, perhaps Q70 is the only vehicle in it’s segment who offers both short wheel-base and long wheel-base option. Audi and BMW also offers this option but it is for the China market and not for the US market, and hence Infiniti is making a unique proposition to the US market. Along with this, there are too many designing tweaks has been approached by Infiniti for the 2015 version of Q70. The front look of Q70 gets a new grill and LED headlamps, while at the back Infiniti has tried different taillights, a slimmed bumper, the flattened trunk lid, and some added chrome. This has helped a lot in enhancing the look and feel of Q70 and has not only made some changes, but added some value in the look of Q70. The 2015 Infiniti Q70 will have 3.7-liter V6 or there will be option of the 5.6-liter V8 engines. Both the variants will have a seven-speed automatic with optional all-wheel drive and solid magnesium pedal shifters. The V6 version of engine will give power of 330 HP at 7,000 rpm and torque of 270 lb/ft of at 5,200 rpm. 2015 Infiniti Q70 with V8 engine will be capable of generating power of 420 HP and torque of 417 lb/ft. There will also be option for those who are looking for the fuel-economy. 2015 Q70 will have a option of Hybrid engine option available to satisfy the need of those segment who are looking for Fuel efficient vehicles. Along with this engine Specifications and features, the Q70 will also be enhanced when it’s about the safety and security. Q70 will have lane departure warning and prevention, active cruise control and blind spot intervention. Along with all these safety features which is also available in all cars in the segment, the 2015 Q70 will also have a collision warning, backup collision intervention, 360-degree view moving object detection and forward emergency braking. Q70 with longer wheelbase will have 32.4 inches of a knee room. Also, to have a classy feel, the car maker has worked a lot on the Noise cancellation side and added a noise insulation material and also an active noise cancellation facility is made available for the car. When it’s about the pricing, there is no confirm news available form the Infiniti about the pricing for 2015 Q70, but it is estimated in the market that it will be available at the same price range of 2014. It is estimated that 2015 Infiniti Q70 will be priced at around US$ 52,000 and above depending upon the variant of the car. Anyhow, before arriving at any conclusion about the pricing, we have to wait a bit more till Infiniti makes any official announcement. Till than keep reading. 1 vote, 5.00 avg. rating (96% score) « VolksWagen Golf TDI... 2015 Audi RS3 Launch... » September 20, 2014 Volkswagen Hover Car (Flying Car) Launch Date – Imaginary Concept Car from Volkswagen August 4, 2014 2016 Chevy Volt Release Date – New features of Chevy Volt 2016 Model – What to Expect July 17, 2014 Microsoft’s Wearable Fitness Tracker Device Release Date – A Wrist Worn Microsft Device

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GM Gives A Woman The Keys To Drive Its Future By Marilyn Geewax Dec 10, 2013 TweetShareGoogle+Email Mary Barra speaks at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit earlier this year. General Motors has picked her to lead the company. Originally published on December 10, 2013 5:29 pm She's not the first woman to head a global corporation. Ginni Rometty runs IBM, and Indra Nooyi heads PepsiCo. Don't forget Ursula Burns at Xerox and Meg Whitman at Hewlett-Packard. There's Marissa Mayer at Yahoo. Still, when Mary Barra emerged on Tuesday as the new chief executive of General Motors, the announcement felt historic. Next month, the 51-year-old daughter of a GM factory worker will succeed retiring Dan Akerson as leader of the biggest U.S. automaker. The automotive sphere has been seen as a guy thing since the first oil-splattered cars started rolling down dirt roads in the late 1800s. Even now in Saudi Arabia, women risk violence or arrest just for sitting behind the wheel of a car. But in Detroit, Barra leapt ahead of men such as Mark Reuss, president of GM North America; Dan Ammann, chief financial officer; and Steve Girsky, vice chairman. "It is remarkable because the auto industry has always been such a male-dominated industry," says Jerry Jasinowski, an economist and past president of the National Association of Manufacturers. Just 1 in 5 workers in the auto industry is a woman, and a mere 4 percent of CEOs at all major U.S. companies are female. So Barra's promotion is a big deal. On the other hand, auto analysts say her elevation should not come as a surprise to anyone at GM because her career path has been so steady. "She's been there 30 years. She has earned her stripes," says Stephanie Brinley, an analyst for IHS Automotive, a forecasting firm. "She is well-respected, and I don't see her having a problem. I think she will be accepted because of credibility — she has it. " It helps too that her late father was a GM die maker in Pontiac for nearly four decades. Barra got her bachelor's degree in electrical engineering at the General Motors Institute at Kettering University in Flint, Mich. She met her husband, Tony Barra, when they attended GMI. Her first job was at the plant where her father worked. GM gave her a scholarship to get an MBA at Stanford. Being part of the GM family for so long "is part and parcel of who she is," Brinley says. "Everyone understands that she knows how to build things." In various roles at GM, she has worked on cutting costs, streamlining management, working with suppliers and figuring out what designs will be popular. She understands that "you need to listen to your customers," Brinley says. Since early 2011, Barra has led GM's vehicle-development operations. During that time, GM's Chevrolet Impala became the first U.S. sedan in at least two decades to be chosen by Consumer Reports as the best on the market. And Motor Trend picked the Cadillac CTS as car of the year. Jasinowski says Barra not only has a knack for knowing what consumers want, but she may have fresher ideas about how to sell vehicles to all customers, not just men. When it comes to TV commercials, "there has been excessive reliance on sports to carry the auto message forward," he says. "A lot of women love sports ... but the industry has gone overboard with the football stuff." Anne Doyle, a former Ford executive and author of Powering Up! How America's Women Achievers Become Leaders, says the auto industry as a whole has been too dominated by men who think alike. But that conformity changed at GM when the company accepted a multibillion-dollar bailout from taxpayers five years ago. "There's nothing like a crisis to force people to either retrench — or to take risks and do things differently," she says. After going through a bankruptcy and bailout, GM emerged with new directors. "They completely reorganized," Doyle says. "They changed the culture there." Those changes helped "crack the steel ceiling," allowing a woman to rise, she says. Having a CEO who is also a mother of two might help GM attract talented women to work at the company, she adds. "This will give GM a competitive edge," Doyle says. NPR's Sonari Glinton contributed to this report.Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. TweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. © 2017 WMRA

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Tesla, other electric vehicles poised to enter… Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Trending: When are the Academy Awards? Sunday solar eclipse Ali’s son detained Trump tape released Landslide closes dorms Trump’s 21st-century mindset Business Tesla, other electric vehicles poised to enter the mainstream Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) By Dana Hull, Bloomberg News | Mercury News, Bay Area News Group PUBLISHED: April 3, 2011 at 2:40 am | UPDATED: August 13, 2016 at 4:23 pm After decades of sputtering starts and stalled hopes, the electric vehicle is poised to enter the mainstream. Tesla Roadsters, Nissan Leafs and Chevy Volts are already on the market, and every major automaker has at least one electric model in the pipeline, giving consumers an array of choices in the coming years. The new wave of EVs just beginning to hit American highways is not the first — they were popular a century ago until cheaper, gasoline-powered cars gained dominance after World War I. But experts say the stars now appear to be aligned for an alternative to the internal combustion engine. “This time it feels real,” said Roland Hwang, director of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s transportation programs. “Automakers are serious. There’s oil price shocks. The long-term trends are very positive. There will be potholes in the road as this rolls out, but there aren’t any showstoppers.” Advocates argue that EVs are not simply another type of car but a game-changer for the country. They say that widespread adoption of electric vehicles will help cut the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming and enhance national security by reducing the country’s dependence on foreign oil. The transition to EVs won’t happen overnight, however. Current models have a limited range and are more expensive than most comparable gas-powered cars, making them unappealing to many drivers. But EV prices are expected to decline as high-volume production pushes manufacturing costs down. And Silicon Valley startups are racing to improve battery technology, which should allow the cars to go farther between charges. When that happens, manufacturers and enthusiasts hope electric cars will become a viable option for millions of Americans. Overcoming challenges Tech-savvy early adopters such as Felix Kramer and Rochelle Lefkowitz, of Redwood City, are already sold. The couple outfitted their Toyota Prius, which operates on electricity as well as gas, with a larger battery pack in 2006. In December, they bought one of the nation’s first Chevy Volts, which runs on electricity for about 40 miles before its gas engine kicks in. In January, they added an all-electric Nissan Leaf to their household fleet — making them the only family in the nation known to own three plug-in vehicles. “I drove the Volt to get a haircut the other day, and people on the road were waving at me and giving me the thumbs-up,” said Lefkowitz, who has grown used to strangers stopping her to talk about cars. For EVs to enter the mainstream, the auto industry has to reach beyond enthusiasts like Kramer and Lefkowitz and appeal to a mass audience. The potential market is huge: Last year, Americans bought 11.6 million new cars and light trucks, and some analysts project sales of 16.3 million in 2015. If EVs can capture even a modest slice of that market, experts say, they could reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil. Sales of EVs are expected to be modest for the next few years because of their limited range, relatively high cost and a shortage of charging stations. There are currently about 120 public electric vehicle chargers in the Bay Area, with more than 2,000 more planned in the next five years under a state program. But despite such challenges, many in the industry point to encouraging signs. ‘Demand is out there’ When General Motors first launched the Volt, plans called for 10,000 to be built by the end of 2011 and 45,000 by the end of 2012. But GM is accelerating production, in part because some companies are turning to the vehicles to power their corporate fleets. General Electric has already ordered 12,000 Volts. “It appears we’ve underestimated,” said Tony Posawatz, the GM executive in charge of the Volt, adding that GM plans to make at least 15,000 Volts this year. “It’s still early in the launch, but we’re getting more and more feedback that the demand is out there. It’s very much like using a smartphone — once people have the experience of driving electrically, they don’t want to go back.” The Obama administration wants to see 1 million EVs on the road by 2015 and has proposed replacing the existing $7,500 tax credit with a $7,500 rebate at the time of sale to spur demand. Some analysts worry that goal will be hard to reach, even with robust government incentives. Mike Omotoso of JD Power and Associates thinks no more than 700,000 to 750,000 plug-in and pure EVs could be on American roads by 2015. “The cost of the vehicles is too high, and gasoline-engine powered cars are getting more fuel-efficient all the time,” he said. “Almost all new compact cars are getting 40 miles per gallon on the highway now, so why pay twice the money for an electric car that only has a 100-mile range?” But rising oil prices could change that calculation. “In early 2008, when gas went above $4 a gallon, all hell broke loose,” said Alan Baum, a Michigan-based auto industry analyst. “Larger cars went out of fashion, and people started buying smaller cars and hybrids. If the price of gas goes up and stays up, that will increase consumer interest in EVs, plug-ins and hybrids.” Educating consumers Still, the EV industry faces significant obstacles, not the least of which are the current limits of battery technology. The most expensive part of an electric car is its lithium-ion battery — both because of the cells themselves and the sophisticated control systems needed to regulate temperatures around them. “Batteries are heavy and bulky, and right now to extend range you just add more batteries,” said Sunil M. Chhaya, an electric drive expert at EPRI, the Electric Power Research Institute, in Palo Alto. “They take up a lot of space inside the car, and everyone wants to reduce the size.” Doing that will require improvements in “energy density,” which refers to the acceleration and range the batteries can provide. Toward that end, the Obama administration has given $2.4 billion in federal stimulus dollars to 48 advanced battery and electric-drive projects. Battery startups such as Envia Systems in Hayward and Amprius in Mountain View are attracting venture capital, and companies such as Coulomb Technologies of Campbell, which makes networked charging stations, are growing rapidly. Another hurdle for electric cars is lack of public awareness. Many Americans still know very little about them, or have concerns about cost, range, safety and charging requirements. In a recent survey of 1,716 American drivers conducted by IBM, about 40 percent said they had heard only “a little bit” about electric cars. One in five said they would be likely or very likely to consider an EV for their next auto purchase. But half of all respondents said they would not be willing to pay more for an electric car than a gas-powered one, and nearly a third said they would not be willing to invest in a home charging station. “We saw a big education gap,” said Kal Gyimesi, head of automotive research for IBM. “The more knowledge people had about EVs, the more viable an option it became. The EV industry has to continue to educate consumers about why this is a viable product.” And at the moment, there’s one other obstacle: you can’t just go to a dealership and buy an electric car straight off the showroom floor. In most cases, consumers must order the car months in advance of delivery. Bay Area to drive sales The first big push for electric vehicles came more than a century ago. In the 1890s, electric taxis were common on the streets of New York City. When President William McKinley was shot in 1901, he was driven to the hospital in Buffalo, N.Y., in an electric ambulance. Henry Ford purchased an electric vehicle for his wife, Clara, and also worked with Thomas Edison on an electric vehicle model. Sales of plug-in vehicles peaked in 1912, when 6,000 were sold. In the late 1990s, GM briefly produced the EV1, but consumers could not buy the car outright — they had to lease it. GM canceled the EV1 in 2003, inspiring the 2006 documentary film “Who Killed the Electric Car?” (Filmmaker Chris Paine’s sequel, called “Revenge of the Electric Car,” is having its world premiere in New York on April 22 — Earth Day.) In addition to the Roadster, Leaf and Volt, a wave of EVs is expected to launch in California later this year, including the Coda Sedan, Ford Focus Electric and Mitsubishi “i.” Tesla’s Model S — one version promises a range of 300 miles — and Honda’s Fit EV are scheduled to hit the market in 2012. Audi, Daimler and Volkswagen are also developing electric vehicles — there’s even buzz about a possible all-electric Volkswagen bus. Pacific Gas & Electric has analyzed hybrid vehicle registration data and says the Bay Area will be “ground zero” for EVs, particularly in the Peninsula, East Bay and Marin County. It expects anywhere from 219,000 to 845,000 electric vehicles to be on the roads within its vast Northern California territory by 2020. Kramer and Lefkowitz, with their three plug-in cars, are among those leading the charge. Kramer is the founder of CalCars, a small nonprofit organization that promotes plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) as the key to reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil. “We have to stop using fossil fuels as quickly as possible,” Kramer said. “If more people understood the urgency — both of saving the planet and in terms of energy security — we could get there even faster.” Contact Dana Hull at 408-920-2706. Follow her at Twitter.com/danahull. Tags: AutosElectric Cars Dana Hull, Bloomberg News Shaquille O’Neal’s violation of JaVale McGee is much deeper than basketball San Jose Flood Photos: Dramatic images of this week’s disaster Mother saves son’s life on Watsonville soccer field JaVale McGee explains his love for the Warriors positive environment Shaq cursed? Lil B warns O’Neal over feud with McGee Shaq clowns JaVale McGee again, in ‘Doctor Strange’ spoof Shaq v. McGee: Durant, Kerr come to JaVale’s defense Giants notes: Jae-gyun Hwang goes deep, Mark Melancon impresses in debut, etc. More in Business How the federal government disguises the fact that is is constantly getting bigger Female engineers get encourage, inspiration at tech conference February 25, 2017, 2:36 pm Hundreds of women engineers and students attended a conference in San Jose to network and learn tips that could help them survive in a male-dominated industry. Oakland’s last underground jazz club, Birdland Jazzista, bids farewell February 25, 2017, 11:11 pm Birdland, which is run by volunteers and has a BYOB policy, established itself as a no-frills hotspot attracting amateur and professional musicians across the Bay Area. It was also known for the hundreds of handmade birdhouses lining the building’s walls both inside and out. Warren Buffett sticks to business, avoids politics in letter February 25, 2017, 3:26 pm OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Billionaire investor Warren Buffett reiterated his rosy long-term outlook for the U.S. economy and his distaste for high Wall Street fees in his annual letter to Berkshire Hathaway shareholders that always draws a big audience. Member Services

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House passes mandatory fuel surcharge. Easing the burden? House passes mandatory fuel surchare. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a mandatory truckload fuel surcharge as part of the major highway bill (H.R. 3) working its way through Congress. The provision was included in an amendment offered by House Transportation Committee leaders that was described in the Congressional Record as making “a number of adjustments and technical changes.” The House previously passed a mandatory surcharge, but only as Congress was about to adjourn and when there was virtually no hope of final passage. This time, however, the provision is part of legislation that eventually will be signed into law by President Bush. There is no guarantee that the truckload fuel surcharge will make it into the final version of the highway bill, however. If the Senate does not adopt the measure in its version, the surcharge will be subject to negotiation among House and Senate legislators who must agree on a single version of the highway bill. The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association has pushed for a federally mandated fuel surcharge for years, said Todd Spencer, OOIDA vice president. He noted that OOIDA was formed more than 30 years ago in response to rising fuel prices that put economic stress on independent truckers. “Between 2000 and 2001, a quarter of a million trucks were repossessed, and this was directly attributable to their owners’ inability to cover the cost of fuel,” Spencer said. As passed by the House March 10, the surcharge would be mandatory in “any contract or agreement, providing for truckload transportation or service involving a motor carrier, broker, or freight forwarder subject to jurisdiction under chapter 135 of this title that regularly provides such transportation or service.” The legislation requires that any carrier, broker or freight forwarder using fuel it didn’t pay for – when an owner-operator provides actual transportation, for example – pass along the fuel surcharge to the person responsible for paying for fuel. The surcharge at a minimum would be the amount of the “increased cost of fuel,” which is determined by subtracting a “benchmark price” from the current diesel fuel price and multiplying the difference by the number of gallons of diesel fuel used in the transportation. The initial benchmark price would be $1.10, and it would be subject to an annual adjustment based on the percentage change in the previous calendar year’s Annual Truckload Producer Price Index. The legislation assumes that one gallon of diesel is used for every 5 miles of transportation, and the mileage is to be determined by using the Defense Table of Official Distances issued by the Defense Department’s Surface Deployment and Distribution Command. Under the legislation, the surcharge, which must be itemized on invoices, would apply during any period in which the current diesel price surpasses the benchmark price by 5 cents per gallon. It would expire once the current diesel fuel price equals or is less than the benchmark price. The mandatory surcharge would not apply to any contract or agreement that provides for a surcharge or fuel cost adjustment as of the date of enactment. Also, although the surcharge must be at least equal to a cents-per-gallon fuel surcharge, it may be expressed on a mileage basis, as a percentage of the freight charge or in another manner. –Avery Vise Freightliner Names New CEO Freightliner has named Chris Patterson as its new president and chief operating officer. The truck maker’s senior vice president for service and parts for the past three years, Patterson, 50, was slated to replace Rainer Schmueckle, who was promoted to chief operating officer of the Mercedes Car Group effective April 15, DaimlerChrysler announced on April 2. Based in Portland, Ore., Freightliner is a DaimlerChrysler subsidiary, as is Mercedes. Patterson officially will assume Schmueckle’s title as head of Business Unit Trucks NAFTA, which includes all DaimlerChrysler’s heavy-truck holdings in North America – Freightliner, Sterling and Western Star – as well as Thomas Built Buses. Schmueckle, 45, the company’s one-time chief financial officer, took over as Freightliner’s president and CEO in May 2001 during a severe market turndown and helped lead the truck maker back to profitability through his restructuring plan. –Randy Grider Truckers News Wins Neal Award for Idling Story Truckers News editors received a Jesse H. Neal National Business Journalism Award for the May 2004 cover story, “The Big Turnoff.” The honor for Best Single Article within the magazine’s category was presented at a ceremony in March at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City. The article, which examined the push for stricter anti-idling laws and the effects on truck drivers, was written by Senior Editor Sean Kelley. It was edited by Randy Grider, John Latta and Kristin Walters and designed by Richard Street. Last year, Truckers News was one of three finalists for its special report, “Highway Robbery,” which covered the problem of cargo theft and provided strategies to help readers avoid being a victim of this multi-million dollar crime. “The Jesse H. Neal Award is considered the top editorial honor in business journalism,” said Robert Lake, vice president and group publisher of Randall Publishing’s Truck Stop Division. “This prestigious award shows not only the talent of our editors, but also their dedication to Truckers News readers and the real-world issues that affect them.” This year, Truckers News’ sister publication, Overdrive, was one of three finalists in its class for Best How-to Article. The entry was its August 2004 cover story, “Self-Help Toolbox.” Both magazines competed against business publications that have $3 million to $7 million in annual revenue. Almost 1,200 entries were submitted from all industries. “These honors show that our magazines continue to lead the trucking industry,” said Linda Longton, vice president of editorial for Randall Publishing Co., which publishes Truckers News and Overdrive. “Our editors are experts in their field with extensive journalism experience who consistently deliver useful, well-researched information to our readers.” Studies Disagree on Hours Rule Impact A recent study released by an insurance trade group says the new hours-of-service rule has resulted in truckers driving more and being slightly more fatigued than under the old rule. However, a new report from the American Trucking Associations shows that the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety study is “bogus, as usual,” said ATA spokesman Mike Russell. While the drivers responding to the IIHS study said their sleep time had increased under the new rule, they reported slightly more instances than when the old rule was in effect of driving drowsy or falling asleep at the wheel. When drivers were asked about dozing at the wheel at least once in the past month, the reported percentage increased from 13 percent in 2003 to 15 percent in 2004. “The new rule was supposed to improve safety, but our survey shows the opposite,” says Anne McCartt, IIHS vice president for research. “Truckers are using the restart provision to squeeze even more driving hours into the week.” A work week restart provision of the current rule, requiring 34 hours off, increases allowable driving hours in a seven-day period from 60 to 77. The rule lengthens the mandatory rest period by two hours but lets drivers stay on the road an extra hour every day. A quarter of drivers who were surveyed by IIHS said they drive more than the new daily limit of 11 hours. Eight of 10 drivers said they’re taking advantage of the restart provision that allows them to drive 25 percent more in a week. The ATA study, based on government accident records and data from 70 carriers operating under the new rule, was presented March 10 to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration as comment on the possible revision of the hours rule. ATA asks that the rule receive no major changes. Among ATA’s findings: While total DOT recordable accidents and preventable DOT recordable accidents remained relatively consistent, there were decreases between 2003 and 2004 in total injuries and injuries related to DOT recordable accidents. The 34-hour recovery and restart help to avoid the shifting of daytime to nighttime schedules, which can affect the circadian rhythm and decrease alertness. By increasing the daily off-duty requirement to 10 continuous hours, the new rules greatly reduced the possibility of chronic sleep deprivation and the development of a sleep debt during a driver’s workweek. With minor modifications to accommodate better use of sleeper berths and the promotion of naps, the rule should continue to prove highly useful in assuring the overall safety of the nation’s highways. Enforcement of work hours has long been a problem because written log books are easily falsified, said IIHS. Its survey shows about a third of drivers say they at least occasionally omit work hours from their logs. “Without electronic recorders the rule can’t be enforced effectively,” McCartt said. Russell said FMCSA compliance data shows that only about 8 percent of drivers cheat on their logs. –Max Heine Peterbilt Introduces Model 386 Truck Peterbilt Motor Company announced its 2006 line of Class 8 conventional trucks and tractors, including the new Model 386, at the recent Mid-America Trucking Show in Louisville, Ky. The Model 386 is part of Peterbilt’s aero product line. Peterbilt General Manager Dan Sobic credited the success and popularity of the Model 387 as a major factor for the launch of the Model 386. “The Model 386 was developed to impact a customer’s bottom line through improved fuel economy, increased driver productivity, greater resale value and as a tool for attracting and retaining drivers,” Sobic said. Peterbilt Chief Engineer Craig Brewster said the Model 386’s aerodynamic efficiency was improved by 10 percent over its predecessor. “This results in approximately three-tenths of a mile per gallon increase in fuel economy.” Built on a separate chassis with optimized front axle placement, the 386 will have the same engine options as the 387. Available in high or low roof configurations, the 386 can be configured as a day cab or with 48-inch, 63-inch and 70-inch sleeper options. Production of the Model 386 begins in July. Peterbilt also spotlighted models 379, 385, 378 and 357 as part of its 2006 conventional lineup, which are all available with Bendix’s next-generation ABS-6 antilock braking system. Peterbilt’s Model 379 will include a new Platinum Oval interior package option. The package includes a stainless grille with a punched oval pattern, polished aluminum grille bars, Donaldson air cleaners with a punched oval pattern on the intake screens and a stainless steel sunvisor. House Bill Aims to Route Worst Hazmat Loads Away from Cities A U.S. House member has re-introduced a bill that would strengthen security requirements for shipments of the most hazardous materials. U.S. Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., introduced the Extremely Hazardous Materials Transportation Security Act on March 17. U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, D-N.J., will introduce a similar bill in the Senate, according to Markey’s website. The legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to route around densely populated areas any materials that are toxic by inhalation, highly flammable or highly explosive – if a safer route is available. It also would: Require emergency workers to be notified before toxic chemicals are transported through their region and require those workers to have response plans ready. Require employee training for those who work with the shipments and whistleblower protections for those who report problems. Make those who fail to comply subject to injunctions or civil penalties of up to $100,000. If the bill passed, federal officials would be required to issue regulations for public comment within 180 days. Markey introduced similar legislation in 2004. –Jill Dunn Trucker Convicted of Immigrant Smuggling A jury convicted Tyrone Williams of smuggling illegal Mexican immigrants into Texas but decided he was not responsible for the deaths of 19 of them. The March 23 verdict means the Schenectady, N.Y., trucker does not face the death penalty, though prosecutors said the temperature inside the trailer rose to 173 degrees and Williams did not stop when he heard the immigrants yelling. The abandoned trailer was found May 14, 2003, near a Victoria, Texas, truckstop, about 130 miles south of Williams’ Houston destination. Williams’ lawyer said his client did not speak Spanish and so could not understand the immigrants’ cries for help. U.S. District Judge Vanessa Gilmore said Williams would be sentenced later. Gilmore imposed a gag order on both prosecution and defense until all 13 defendants in the case are sentenced. Though he does not face the death penalty, Williams likely will spend a long time in prison. He was found guilty on 38 counts of transporting illegal immigrants. Williams, 34, is himself a legal Jamaican immigrant. –Lance Orr Reduced Speeds Beginning in early summer, the Tennessee Department of Transportation will lower speed limits for commercial trucks to 55 mph in Memphis and the surrounding Shelby County, a change that affects 106 miles of interstate, including I-40, I-55 and I-240. The speed limit for automobiles will be reduced simultaneously, to 65 mph on interstates and controlled access highways. Safety Crackdown A $2,500 maximum fine could await anyone speeding, tailgating or driving recklessly on an 11-mile high-crash section of I-95 in Virginia, along the Potomac just south of Washington. Virginia’s transportation department has designated I-95 from Route 619 near Quantico north to Route 123 near Occoquan a Highway Safety Corridor. From 2000 to 2002, crashes on that stretch killed nine people and injured 800. New TCA Chairman Dave Berry, vice president of Swift Transportation in Phoenix, was elected 2005-2006 chairman of the Truckload Carriers Association at its annual meeting in March. A TCA board member for almost a decade, he served as first vice chairman in 2004-2005 and chaired the North American Transportation Management Institute. Berry has worked in the trucking industry since 1973 and has been with Swift for the past 15 years. N.Y. Truck ID New York truckers who operate wholly in-state soon must display their business names and U.S. DOT numbers on both sides of their trucks. Effective July 5, the new rule initially applies only to trucks with a gross vehicle weight rating of 18,001 pounds or more. Beginning July 5, 2006, in-state truckers who own trucks with a rating of at least 10,001 pounds must also comply. For more information, call the department at (866) 881-2630, or visit this site. New Petro A new Petro Stopping Center has opened in Kingsland, Ga., off I-95 at Exit 3. The new facility will immediately sell fuel and merchandise. A branded fast food franchise and a six-bay Petro:Lube Truck Service Center is scheduled to be added in the near future. Navistar Wins Army Contract Navistar has won a multimillion-dollar U.S. Army contract to provide thousands of International trucks to the Afghan army. The first order in the three-year contract is $61.8 million for 374 vehicles, the company said. The contract calls for International Truck and Engine to supply up to 2,781 vehicles, 2,400 of them general transport trucks and the rest in specialized applications such as dump, water and hazmat. The entire contract, which includes two years’ worth of spare parts, could be worth $467 million, the company said. CFI Equips Trucks with XM Contract Frighters, Inc., will provide XM Satellite Radio free to its more than 2,500 drivers. CFI is factory-equipping its new trucks with XM Satellite Radio receivers. All CFI drivers will receive XM subscriptions, whether they drive a truck with an XM receiver or they own a plug-and-play XM radio for earlier-model vehicles. New Love’s Tifton, Ga., now has a Love’s Travel Stop #325. The new store is located on I-75 and Southwell Boulevard. This is the first of 15 new Travel Stops scheduled to open in 2005. Taking Their Lumps Trucking Footprints

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Research Continuing into Solving Truck Parking Problem April 23, 2013 SHARING TOOLS | Print Subscribe Truckers looking for increasingly hard to find parking spaces may be getting some help from the American Transportation Research Institute and the U.S. Department of Transportation. ATRI is working with multiple partners to test a new system for truck parking management, acording to Dan Murray, ATRI’s vice president, in his keynote address at the Pegasus TransTech User Conference in Safety Harbor, Fla., last week. When the system is widely deployed, a driver will be able to check on parking availability along an interstate corridor in real time using his own or a company-supplied wireless communication device. One program, which is nearly operational, Murray said, was launched with the help of the Minnesota Department of Transportation and the University of Minnesota. It currently involves two public rest areas on I-94 in that state and will expand to private truck stops within a few months. With several Wisconsin rest stops coming online later this year, the hope, Murray said, is that the system will ultimately extend the length of I-94, which runs 1,585 miles from Detroit, Mich., to Billings, Mont. “Of course, the trucking industry would like to see it go national,” Murray said. Murray outlined the parking initiative as part of his update on ATRI’s 2013 research activities. He told the group that ATRI is guided by its Research Advisory Committee, which defines what they believe to be the most important issues confronting the trucking industry. “This is the first time in a while that the economy has not been the committee’s top issue,” Murray said. The top concern now is CSA (Compliance, Safety, Accountability), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s comprehensive safety reporting and evaluation program, followed by hours-of-service issues with the economy in third place followed by the driver shortage, Murray said. While truck parking is not at the top of the list, it is a growing problem for drivers who are required by law to rest for certain periods of time. Yet states have been closing public rest areas to save money, he explained. Meanwhile, time in some rest areas is limited and enforced by police, who also ticket drivers pulled over on entrance and exit ramps when no other space is available to them. The problem will only get worse, Murray said, as truck traffic increases, as it is currently projected to do. The as yet unnamed parking system being tested begins with cameras mounted at parking areas that send pictures of parking slots to a central server. The computer can tell whether or not a parking space is occupied and keeps a running, real-time inventory. Tags: U.S. DOT, ATRI, Truck Parking Old Sayings Apply While Driving Through Bad Weather [ April 25, 2013 @ 06:13AM ] This has got to be absolutely the stupidest thing I've ever read.. I wonder how many Million tax payer dollars were wasted on this??? Correct me if I'm wrong, BUT you cannot use a wireless device in a CMV while moving!!!!! So what are you suppose to do???? Park somewhere to use your wireless device to look for a place to park???? And whats even funnier is the article before this one on the email from HDT is about a study on hands free texting is no safer than regular texting!!!!!! LMAO 2. [ April 30, 2013 @ 10:00PM ] Agree, John; however I came upon slow congested interstate traffic a few weeks ago moving about 35 mph, when I got to the problem....ABF driver holding cell phone in ear with left shoulder and a keyboard upon the steering when on which he was typing...... With the new screwed up HOS rules scheduled for June, all that extra down time and congestion its going to create we will need some way to find a place to park.

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2007 Ford Freestar Van 4dr Limited *Ltd Avail* 2007 Ford Freestar for Sale Benefits of Driving a 2007 Ford Freestar Van The Ford Freestar received a five-star Frontal Crash Test Rating from the NHTSA and a 'Good' rating from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for 2007. Also, Freestar's 4.2L V6 has the highest torque in its class and is the largest engine available in a minivan, making it a good choice for those who plan to tow. It also has one of the quietest interiors found on a minivan. Ford will discontinue the Freestar after the 2007 model year, to be replaced in 2008 by a new vehicle called the Flex. For 2007, the smaller 3.9L engine formerly offered on some of the lineup is no longer available, and a new panic brake assist feature is available with AdvanceTrac. Six of the nine exterior colors available for 2007 are new. Torquey engine for towing and hauling tailgate seat optional safety features. The 2007 Ford Freestar goes into its last model year with a single powertrain choice--a 4.2L overhead-valve V6 making 201 horsepower and a class-leading 263 lb-ft of torque. It is paired with a four-speed automatic transmission recently redesigned for shorter, smoother shifts.

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First-Ever 'Distracted Driving' Guidelines Issued by NHTSA Tiffany Kaiser - February 17, 2012 9:55 AM (Source: intomobile.com) Automakers would have to rethink the kind of electronic devices and the number of these devices used within a vehicle The first guidelines for reducing distracted driving were proposed by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood yesterday, where automakers would be challenged to cut the number of in-vehicle entertainment and information electronics. "Distracted driving is a dangerous and deadly habit on America's roadways -- that's why I've made it a priority to encourage people to stay focused behind the wheel," said LaHood. "These guidelines are a major step forward in identifying real solutions to tackle the issue of distracted driving for drivers of all ages." The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued the new guidelines, which are the very first of their kind. They aim to offer recommended criteria for the kind of electronic devices and the number of these devices used within a vehicle. The proposed guidelines are currently in Phase l, which applies to light vehicles like cars, pickup trucks, minivans and SUVs. Phase l recommends guidelines that help automakers use electronics that are less likely to distract the driver with tasks that are not associated with the operation of the vehicle, and the use of electronics that won't require the driver's sight and touch for long periods of time. The exact guidelines for Phase l include the following: reduce complexity and task length required by the device; limit individual off-road glances required for device operation to no more than two seconds in duration; limit device operation to one hand only; limit the amount of manual inputs required for device operation, and limit unnecessary visual information in the driver's field of view. The Phase l guidelines also recommend that certain in-vehicle features be disabled to the driver, except when the car is in park: visual-manual text messaging; visual-manual social media browsing; visual-manual Internet browsing; visual-manual 10-digit phone dialing; visual-manual navigation system destination entry by address, and the display of more than 30 characters of text to the driver that is unrelated to driving the vehicle. NHTSA is already looking ahead to Phase ll and Phase lll guidelines, which will take an in-depth look at electronics that are distractions in vehicles, yet not part of the vehicles, like smartphones and tablets. Phase lll is expected to look into voice-activated controls. LaHood is known for his support for ridding distracted driving, but said he isn't looking to ban electronics in vehicles entirely. Back in December 2011, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) pushed for a ban on hands-free calls while driving in order to reduce distracted driving, and LaHood said he wouldn't back it. Source: United States Department of Transportation "If you can find a PS3 anywhere in North America that's been on shelves for more than five minutes, I'll give you 1,200 bucks for it." -- SCEA President Jack Tretton NTSB Looks to Ban Hands-Free Calls, Transportation Secretary LaHood Isn't Supporting It Ford Lets Parents Ban Teens' In-Car Calls Chicago Driver Allegedly Kills Pedestrian While Posting on Facebook

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Home > Cars > Halo’s iconic Warthog could be yours for… Halo’s iconic Warthog could be yours for only $28,000 By In 2009 a British gent named Peter Cooper built a surprisingly spot-on replica of Halo’s Warthog vehicle for a fan film called Operation Chastity. As writer and director of the film, the creation of the Warthog was just one more indicator that Cooper was willing to go to great lengths to finish this flick. Unfortunately, the production seems to have become inextricably mired in the dozens of small issues that crop up when creating movies. A teaser appeared in 2010 that offered a “Summer 2011” release window for Operation Chastity, but here we are mere days from 2013 and the movie has yet to materialize. Supposedly Operation Chastity is still being in production, but at this point we feel safe in describing the project as stuck in limbo. Given the lack of progress on his film and, presumably, mounting debt related to the project, Cooper has decided to sell his Warthog. The price? £17,500, or roughly $28,180USD. Can’t come up with that much scratch on such short notice? Cooper’s initial sales announcement does state that he’s willing to consider reasonable offers for the vehicle (though “reasonable” in this case is entirely subjective and up to Cooper’s own discretion). Assuming you do have that kind of money burning a hole in your pocket and an unending wellspring of affection for Microsoft’s most famous franchise you’re likely now wondering what exactly you’ll get for Cooper’s nearly $30,000 asking price. Luckily, the official Operation Chastity website includes a section specifically devoted to the Warthog. According to the site, the Warthog you see pictured above started life as an unassuming early-80s Land Rover Defender. With the assistance of professional prop maker Daniel Carey-George (who is most famous for supplying the cars used in 1997’s Herbie Fully Loaded), Cooper stripped the Land Rover, and equipped the basic skeleton of the car with a new body, lifted suspension, special oversized tires and “a whole host of other upgrades to make it into the futuristic combat vehicle.” As much as we’re excited for the possibility that one of you readers might turn this prop into your daily driver, we’ve got concerns about the work Cooper and Carey-George put into the Warthog. Actually, scratch that. Cooper and Carey-George created a vehicle specifically to suit their specialized needs (read: they built a movie prop), but it’s questionable whether this machine might also function as a real world vehicle. Even assuming the normally quite capable Land Rover Defender engine isn’t massively bogged down by the alterations made to this car’s body and suspension, we doubt there are many DMV locations that would approve of the Warthog’s huge exposed doors. Likewise, Cooper makes no mention of safety features in the Warthog. We’ve seen how some of you drive in Halo 4, and without seatbelts we have to imagine that most of you would be killed the first time you attempt to launch the ‘hog off of a conveniently-placed rock formation. And of course, that’s assuming that you don’t attempt to mount a gun on the back of the Warthog. Even in the most lenient of jurisdictions an exposed, fully-automatic machine gun gives the cops free rein to search your vehicle. Still, as far as replicas of video game objects, this is one of the best we’ve ever seen. It ranks right up there with the finest cosplay, only instead of fancy homemade clothing, this object is a gear-grinding, diesel-chugging piece de resistance for both Halo fans and gearheads. We imagine Cooper won’t have too much trouble selling this car, even with its sizable price tag.

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2013 Cadillac ATS Spy Video Email This Page 2013 Cadillac ATS Spy Video We’ve previously brought you spy shots of a prototype for the new 2013 Cadillac ATS, as well as an official teaser, but here is our own exclusive spy video of the upcoming rear-wheel drive small sedan testing on the Nurburgring race track in Germany and on some of its surrounding roads. Small cars and Cadillac haven't, historically, gone hand in hand. However, the new video gives a good idea as to how the overall proportions and stance of the ATS will look when out on the roads, and from what we can tell Cadillac fans have nothing to worry about. The ATS has been confirmed for launch in the summer of 2012 and when it arrives will go head-to-head with the BMW 3-Series, Lexus IS, and Mercedes-Benz C-Class. In terms of styling, the prototype confirms Cadillac designers are sticking with the brand’s ‘Art and Science’ design language, with plenty of influences from the CTS evident. Under the hood should be a range of four-cylinder and V-6 engines, and hopefully a V-8 reserved for a high-performance ATS-V. Click here to watch the spy video in full via our YouTube page. While we wait for its arrival mid next year enjoy the latest spy video, and then click here for our more detailed report. HI-RES GALLERY: 2013 Cadillac ATS spy shots Spy Videos Cadillac News

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Guest Message by DevFuse Racing the Subaru BRZ GT300 Started by Subactive Subactive Subaru BRZ GT300 finishes 8th in Super GT Sepanghttp://subaru.com.au...t-round3-report here's the whole thing; Subaru BRZ GT300 finishes 8th in Super GT Sepang 13.06.12 Tags: Motorsport Round 3 at Sepang International Circuit, 10 Jun 2012 The final race of Round 3 of the Super GT – run over 53 laps and a distance of 300km – was held at Sepang International circuit on 10 June. The Subaru BRZ GT300, driven by Tetsuya Yamano and Kota Sasaki, started from 12th position after the qualifying round and finished the race in 8th. On race day at Sepang, temperatures reached as high as 35°C. Even though the scorching heat had been expected, it made conditions a lot tougher for the drivers than on other circuits. Before the race, driver Yamano had commented with a smile, "The only countermeasure is to get my body used to the heat to prevent heat stroke. I have done some things like running in a racing suit to accustom my body to exercising in high temperatures. Meanwhile, Sasaki said, "I already got in shape for last month's Nürburgring 24-hour Race. I'm confident that I'm still physically strong enough for this race". Before starting the race from the 6th row back, Yamano had said, "I will be surrounded by cars which are faster than the Subaru BRZ at the moment. So, it's important not to wear out my tyres by trying too hard." And so despite falling to 15th at the beginning of the race, he recorded consistent lap times. He also explained his reason for coming back to the pit early on Lap 19, "It's easier to build up my rhythm without feeling any stress when I'm on my own rather than in a group". His strategy paid off and Sasaki had gradually moved up to 8th by Lap 31 after taking over from Yamano for the final part of the race. Sasaki held back in the last half of his turn because he had to drive a long distance, and so dropped to 9th. However, as the car in front ran out of fuel and stopped on the track on the final lap, the Subaru BRZ climbed back to 8th. As the team had acquired championship points for a second consecutive race following the Fuji round, STI General Director Hideharu Tatsumi said, "At this stage, 8th is an excellent result. The drivers didn't give in to the heat until the end of the race. I think this is the reason for the good result above everything else. All of us in the team will be brainstorming to make the car even faster". Addressing the fans, Yamano said "Thank you very much for your support. Our strategy worked and we got this result. I think the team is on track, but we can't hope to beat the top teams unless we make our car a lot faster. In saying so, I think the Subaru BRZ will be able to come into its own in the next race at SUGO because that circuit doesn't have many long straights, on which FIA GT cars fare better. It also has many technical corners, which our car is good at. Please follow our race". Lancefield, Vic, Aust. I was wonder how long it would be until I ran into you over here Subactive. Good to see you're adding to the conversation over here too... Back to BRZ and its Sister the Scion FRS/Toyota GT86 → BRZ and its Sister the Scion FRS/Toyota GT86

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Frankfurt preview for Peugeot 308 RC Z Peugeot proposes Audi TT-like sports coupe with 308 RC Z Peugeot is proposing an Audi TT-alike sports coupe with the unveiling of a concept called 308 RC Z at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The RC Z is a curvy 2+2 coupe based on the new 308 small family car; it's the same length as the hatch, but 25mm wider and, at 1,320mm high, considerably lower-slung. It has a high percentage of aluminium and carbon-fibre components to keep its weight down, and its outline has been developed for optimum aerodynamics. While it bears a strong resemblance to the 308, the RC Z has a single air intake, a chrome front grille and different fog lights and four projector-style directional bi-xenon headlights; to the rear, it has a pair of centrally-mounted exhaust tailpipes integrated into the rear bumper's lower section. Peugeot says that this has been achieved by repositioning the rear silencer in a transverse position, where it can double up as an aerodynamic diffuser, and that this layout still allows for the storage of a spare wheel. The RC Z is finished in a metallic grey 'flake' paint finish and its interior is leather-upholstered with chrome, aluminium and black lacquer trim. It's kitted out with bucket-type front seats and two 'occasional' folding rear seats - more for golf clubs than as a proper '+2' for passengers - although with these seats folded, Peugeot claims enough boot volume to accommodate a mountain bike. Showcasing Peugeot's latest gadgets and technology, the cabin features kit including lane departure warning, as in the 308. Power comes from a 218bhp version of the 1.6-litre turbo engine as in the 207 GTi; this has a maximum torque output of 207lb-ft, which can be temporarily boosted to 221lb-ft for quick bursts of acceleration, and is fitted in combination with an all-new six-speed manual gearbox. The RC Z is said to be capable of 146mph and 0-60mph in seven seconds, yet is relatively economical, returning 42.2mpg and 160g/km of carbon dioxide. Though this is described only as a concept car and a 'testbed' for new technology, the 308 RC Z is a very definite hint that Peugeot is planning to extend its 308 range by adding a sporty coupe. The coupe is also expected to have a drop-top counterpart with folding metal roof, which will replace the current 307 CC. Wed, 1 Aug 2007 Vauxhall reigns in June Extra CO2 tax band called for Related Articles Mercedes-Benz E-Class Takes Victory in UK Car of t...

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TOGETHER – Strategy 2025 The automotive sector is in transition: autonomous driving, e-mobility and connected car concepts will determine the future. The rapidly changing conditions along with the diesel issue, which it will take further enormous efforts to resolve, pose major challenges for us as a car manufacturer. With the “TOGETHER – Strategy 2025” future program, the Volkswagen Group has launched the biggest change process in its history. We are thus laying the foundations for lasting success in tomorrow's world of mobility and our evolution into a globally-leading provider of sustainable mobility. More than 250 experts from all parts of the company worked on developing “TOGETHER – Strategy 2025”, which builds on the successful “Strategy 2018”. That means “Strategy 2025” came from the core, the very heart of the Volkswagen Group and unites the knowledge, ideas and vision of the company and its employees. The 2025 time horizon we have defined for our future program is an integral part of the name and stands for our long-term, forward-looking mindset and actions. The prefix of our title – “TOGETHER” – stands for a way of thinking, an approach that will become more and more vital in the Volkswagen Group moving forward. Together, we want to keep on thrilling our customers with tailor-made mobility solutions and meet the diverse needs with a portfolio of strong brands. The new Group strategy comprises a raft of far-reaching strategic decisions and specific initiatives essentially aimed at safeguarding our long-term future and generating profitable growth. To achieve this, the “TOGETHER – Strategy 2025” futureprogram is built on four key building blocks: Transform core business Build mobility solutions business Secure funding Strengthening innovation power With “TOGETHER – Strategy 2025” we are building a new, a better, and an even stronger Volkswagen. We want to thrill our customers with fascinating vehicles and innovative mobility solutions, to be a technology leader and role model when it comes to the environment, safety and integrity. We will represent an attractive investment by achievingcompetitive profitability, and we will remain an excellent, reliable and secure employer. More information: “Shaping the future of the Volkswagen Group” May also be of interest “Our Group has qualities that did not vanish overnight, qualities on which we can also build for the future.” PDF Annual Report 2015 It is our task to anticipate the future needs of our customers and to convert these needs into innovative technologies. The Board of Management of Volkswagen AG comprises nine members. Each Board Member is responsible for one or more functions within the Volkswagen Group.

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News > 'Featured' > The Continental: Greetings from Vienna with BMW, Hyundai and Volkswagen Powertrain News The Continental: Greetings from Vienna with BMW, Hyundai and Volkswagen Powertrain News April 26, 2013 at 1:56 pm by Jens Meiners SHARE Each week, our German correspondent slices and dices the latest rumblings, news, and quick-hit driving impressions from the other side of the pond. His byline may say Jens Meiners, but we simply call him . . . the Continental. I have been on the road with carmakers every day this week, and I am wrapping up the slog at the Vienna engine symposium. About 1300 engineers and executives are here to discuss the future of powertrains. Most of these people have gasoline in their veins, while a few seemingly need to be disconnected from their electrical outlets. Bosch CEO Volkmar Denner says that the electric car won’t play a significant role until 2020, but his company “believes in it.” The ultra-strict consumption and emissions requirements proposed by the E.U. for 2020 can be met with regular technologies in the subcompact segment, he says, but Golf-sized compact cars likely will need a brake-energy recovery system to comply. These systems consist of strong electric starter-generators with about 15 horsepower, which operate on a 48-volt electrical system and boost the main engine at low speeds. Large cars and SUVs—according to Denner, who wants to sell these systems—will need to be full hybrids, even plug-in hybrids, in order to match ambitious efficiency targets. He also gave a glimpse of a hydraulic hybrid system that Bosch is working on with PSA. The system will launch on a production car in 2016 or 2017 and it will be a lot less noisy than the first prototypes. BMW R&D chief Herbert Diess traced the history of BMW’s eco-conscious i brand: Seven years ago, the brand’s strategy of bigger, faster cars was reviewed. It was found that “environmental awareness is growing, climate change is happening”—beliefs that currently prevail at BMW. Surprisingly, he says that there is a strong trend towards downspeeding, the practice of running engines between 800 and 1800 rpm which brings about larger cylinder volumes. Diess says “the danger is that we are moving away far from emotion, from our heritage, which is characterized by six-cylinder engines and motorcycles.” Three-cylinder engines, according to Diess, are one way to preserve that emotion: “I believe it is a good option for our front-drive and compact rear-wheel-drive cars. The sound, frequencies, power delivery and dynamic capabilities are more interesting than on many four-cylinder engines.” (We recently tried out BMW’s three-cylinder in a European 1-series, and Diess is fairly spot-on in his assessment of the triple’s qualities.) On electrics, which BMW is betting on, he is optimistic that the upcoming, $40,000 i3 will be a fun car around town. But “if you want to drive to Northern Italy with an i3 with a range extender, there will be compromises. You won’t enjoy the same driving experience.” There is a wide consensus among engineers that natural gas is a cost-effective and attractive solution to address ever-stringent CO2 requirements. It hasn’t caught on yet in the market, but that may change: “Thanks to fracking technology, there is a revolution happening; the energy outlook has been fundamentally changed,” says Bosch’s Denner. Hyundai Europe’s powertrain chief, Jürgen Grimm, agrees and expects that the oil price will be adjusted accordingly—in a downwards direction. BMW’s Diess weighs in that that natural gas–powered vehicles are a “fantastic solution,” and hints that he would be happy to follow if a big manufacturer with game-changing power takes the lead. It appears that big game-changer would be Volkswagen: The group is pushing massively for natural-gas vehicles, as symbolized by the Audi A3 g-tron and the Volkswagen Eco Up. Some Volkswagen Powertrain News Besides the 1.0-liter three-cylinder in the Volkswagen Up, which will come in turbocharged form down the road, Wolfsburg also is working on a larger 1.5-liter triple. VW Group’s high-powered inline-five could be offered in several brands, in versions which are more advanced than in the base U.S.-market Passat, but more comfort-oriented than in the Audi RS3 and TT RS. The thirsty but sweet VR6 could come to market as a turbocharged 3.0-liter engine, replacing Volkswagen’s naturally aspirated 3.6. Soon, all VW Group V-8 and W-12 engines will feature direct injection and turbocharging—and a W-12 thus equipped will be offered again under the VW brand. It was previously available on the first-generation Touareg, and recently was discontinued from the current Phaeton lineup because ZF stopped making the five-speed automatic that was fitted to it. It’s good to know that the W-12 will be back stronger than ever . . . I also hear that the next Phaeton, which is based on VW’s MLB modular-longitudinal platform, might be fitted with a four-wheel-steering system. The added high-speed stability such a system would bring could allow chassis engineers to select a more agile setup. Soon, a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic this way comes. Hyundais for the Autobahn Hyundai is currently testing the next-generation Genesis sedan on the Nürburgring, and several of its technological highlights underscore the fact that it is a car designed for Europe. With the top engines, it will be fitted with a ten-speed automatic with higher ratios designed to work best above 125 mph. On the other side of the power spectrum, the next Genesis also will be offered with a high-output four-cylinder diesel, likely hybridized. In the mid-size i40, Hyundai will have a brake-energy recuperation system, which can feed more than 100 lb-ft of torque to the wheels at low rpm via a starter-generator motor. Lovers of the Veloster Turbo will be happy to know that its six-speed torque-converter automatic makes way for a quick-shifting, seven-speed dual-clutch automatic next year. Instrumented Test: 2013 Hyundai Veloster Turbo Manual / Automatic Instrumented Test: 2013 BMW 760Li First Drive: 2015 Volkswagen GTI An Unsafe Benz? The controversial Euro-NCAP organization has delivered a painful blow to Mercedes-Benz and its Citan light commercial vehicle. Little more than a rebadged Renault Kangoo, it has gotten flak for cynical brand exploitation. But that’s nothing against the misfortune of its Euro-NCAP safety rating: At three stars out of five, the Citan falls short of Benz’s own impeccable standards. Its side and curtain airbags failed to perform as expected—a problem Mercedes promises to rectify. Pedestrian protection was described as “poor” in several areas, and Euro-NCAP criticized several minor points, such as the manual maximum speed setting, which delivers only a visual warning and therefore “did not meet Euro NCAP’s requirements.” The Citan’s rating is somewhat surprising as French vehicles typically fare very well in the test, for which they are specifically developed. Would I buy a Citan? No way. But any supposed lack of safety has nothing to do with it. EVs Aren’t Making Inroads European electric-vehicle sales numbers for February are in, and at 2039 units, their market share amounted to a sorry quarter of a percent. And this figure includes plug-in hybrids. According to the sales figures, 505 electrics were registered in Germany, a country where the government has blared that a full million would be on the road by 2020. A whopping eight EVs were sold in Italy, thought that’s more than in Greece, where sales amounted to zero. Perhaps some Eurocrats should be spending their time at the Vienna engine symposium instead of coming up with worthless advice.

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2007 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Utility Crossover 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander for Sale Benefits of Driving a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport Utility Crossover Based on a new global platform, the 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander offers large amounts of both sport and utility in a midsize package. An aluminum 3.0L V6, revised suspension, and aluminum roof used to lower the center of gravity make the Outlander more spirited than it previously was. Its ride is a refreshing change from other truck-based SUVs in the segment, and pricing is very competitive. The Mitsubishi Outlander has been completely redesigned for 2007. Where before it only offered an inline four-cylinder engine, it now comes equipped with a 220-horsepower V6. Nearly every dimension is larger, and traction control is now standard. An optional selectable four-wheel-drive system replaces what was previously an all-wheel-drive setup. Suspension and steering have been revised to provide a more satisfying everyday driving experience. A genuinely sporty SUV lots of equipment for the money. Mitsubishi completely redesigned the Outlander for 2007, and it is now powered by a 3.0L V6 engine that produces 220 horsepower. This engine is paired with a six-speed Sportronic transmission with paddle shifters. Three Outlander trim levels can be had with front-wheel drive Preview: 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander Source: The Car Connection New products, positive PR spin helping set the stage. Okay, it's quiz time. What is 3.7 inches longer, 2.0 inches wider, and 0.4 inches higher than the Mitsubishi Outlander SUV? The Endeavor perhaps, or the Montero? Wrong. Bizarrely, the answer is the next-generation Outlander, unveiled by the Japanese firm at last month's Tokyo Motor Show. Size-wise it's a definite step up from the current model, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. What's brave is giving it the same name and expecting people not to be a little bit confused. However, just because a new car has an identical badge to its predecessor, it doesn't mean it has to be saddled with the same characteristics, good or bad, as the older vehicle. Take the MINI; the current BMW version is a world away from the original Rover model launched in Britain in the Sixties. Clever marketing has convinced drivers the world over that the pair are the motoring equivalent of chalk and cheese. Mitsubishi will be trying the same sales techniques with the new Outlander. But does bigger and bolder mean better? The day after its debut, TCC took the train north from the Japanese capital city to get behind the wheel. Commanding presence Even at first glance the newcomer's larger dimensions are noticeable. It has much more of a presence than the 2006 model. Our test car was powered by a 2.4-liter DOHC MIVEC gasoline engine mated to six-speed Sport Mode CVT automatic gearbox. Delivering 170 hp, it will go on sale in America in 2006. But the range also includes a VW-sourced 2.0-liter DI-D diesel, though it's doubtful that will come Stateside. There are three driving modes: 2WD for regular use, 4WD Auto which automatically adjusts traction and handling depending on the road surface, and 4WD Lock, which maximizes traction to get the best grip. An easy-to-use rotary knob, sited just to the rear of the gear shifter, allows the driver to swap between them very simply. What's more, technology has been borrowed from the outrageous Lancer Evolution super-saloon, including an aluminum roof panel to keep the overall weight down and monotube shock absorbers. The good news for Mitsubishi's marketing team is that this Outlander is much better than the current model. Riding on 225/55R18 rubber, it handles well and delivers plenty of grip when pushed through corners. The ride is decent, and the whole package feels refined at speed with very little of the wind noise that can blight SUVs. The least impressive thing about our vehicle was the CVT gearbox. As an automatic the engine was working too hard as it tried to deliver acceleration, and in the alternative manual mode it wasn't much better. That said, the system changes cogs well enough via steering wheel-mounted paddleshift selectors. On-road performance has clearly been at the forefront of the engineers' minds during the development of the Outlander. They speak of impressive off-road capability, too, but sadly we had no way of verifying their claims during our day of testing. Fitted for space The cabin is an improvement on the current car, too. In an age where more buttons, dials and display readouts are seen as a good thing, it's simple and stylish but well finished. The two heavily cowled instrument binnacles are a neat touch, too, and at night everything is illuminated in red, which is very reminiscent of Audi interiors. The driver and front passenger sit in sporty semi-bucket seats. The two-tone multi-function steering wheel continues the "less is more" theme, with buttons only on one side. Jump in the back and there's decent space for rear passengers, and a generously sized cargo area into which the third row of seats fold flat. Mitsubishi engineers describe these final chairs as for occasional use only. And they're right; they're not the most sturdy ever designed, though they do come with full three-point safety belts. Cargo space is cut to a minimum with the chairs upright. For added practicality, the middle row bench - which splits 60/40 - tumble forward in a single movement. One push of a button hidden away in the luggage compartment is all you need to create a huge load bay. A Range Rover-style split tailgate has also been included, with the lip low to the ground. That's great for getting those big loads in. The test car also featured an optional in-built Rockford Fosgate audio system. Tuned for heavy bass reproduction, the 650-watt, nine-speaker outfit sounded impressive. American crash data on the car isn't available yet, but in-house testing during development has led engineers to believe the Outlander will earn the maximum six-star rating in the Japan New Car Assessment Program (JNCAP). Twin front dual-stage inflation airbags are standard, with side and curtain units available as factory-fit options. Active Safety Control (ASC) is fitted to every car, which regulates dynamics to prevent skidding as a result of sudden steering inputs or loss of traction on a slippery surface. The limitations of our testing time meant we couldn't try this system out. The car is available in its home market as a five- or seven-seater, though Mitsubishi's North American arm has yet to decide which version it will sell through dealerships. Whichever one is sold, the all-new Outlander is much more of a lifestyle SUV than the more aggressive mud-plugging designs of the Endeavor or Montero. That said, it's better than the current car in almost every way. Though that vehicle is sold across Europe, it's not been a massive hit. But there's huge interest in this new version there because of what else the platform is being used for. The car is being developed as part of a pioneering joint venture between Mitsubishi and PSA, which means it will form the basis of the eagerly anticipated SUVs from French siblings Peugeot and Citroen. Likely to be badged the 707 and C7 respectively, they're due on sale across the Atlantic in 2007. © from TheCarConnection.com Printable Version 10 Years/100,000 Miles

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Sub Navigation Watchdog awards top safety rating to RAV4 5:30 AM Saturday Mar 16, 2013 2013 Toyota RAV4 Less than a week before its New Zealand launch, Toyota's fourth-generation RAV4 has earned a top safety rating from the crash test watchdog. The Australasian New Car Assessment Program (Ancap) has awarded the RAV4 a top five-star rating, largely helped by its count of seven airbags including a driver's knee airbag, and technology including seatbelt reminders for all seats. Ancap chief executive Nicholas Clarke said the RAV4 would be competing in a part of the market where two out of every three off-roaders rolling out of showrooms carried a top safety rating. "The RAV4 will be competing in a very competitive segment of the market and its five-star Ancap safety rating brings it to a new level in terms of safety," said Clarke. "This means more and more motorists will be driving in five-star safety." Ancap noted some higher-specification RAV4 models added more safety technology, including adaptive front lighting, blind spot monitoring, daytime running lights and a reversing camera. Ancap's crash rating for the RAV4 was based on a Euro NCAP test of a left-hand-drive diesel-engined vehicle. According to the crash test, driver head, chest and leg protection was rated "acceptable" for the frontal offset, which simulates one car turning in front of another, while both the side impact and pole test returned a "good" rating. The RAV4 joins the ranks of the Volvo XC60, Ford Kuga and Honda CR-V as top-rating mid-size soft-roaders. All four vehicles include potentially life-saving side curtain airbags that drop down to cover the windows and protect occupants' heads in a side-on collision. Toyota RAV4 - NZ Herald

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2014 Infiniti QX50 Introduction The Infiniti QX50 is a crossover SUV previously known as the EX37. Based on the architecture used by Nissan Z sports car and Infiniti Q60 coupe, the QX50 is sort of a cross between a wagon and a coupe but slightly taller. Whatever you call it, the Infiniti QX50 strikes a nice balance between sportiness and luxury. The Infiniti QX50 comes with a 3.7-liter V6, 7-speed automatic transmission, fully independent suspension and rear-wheel drive. Rear-wheel drive and the powerful V6 gives it a sporty character and it feels more car-like underway than most crossovers. This vehicle was last redesigned for the 2008 model year when it was dubbed the EX35. The headlights were reshaped for 2010 and the 3.5-liter V6 engine was replaced by a 3.7 engine. The nomenclature was switched over to QX50 for 2014. QX50 can seat five, but we found it much more comfortable with four. The cabin boasts rich, soft-touch materials and a stylish design. All of the controls are within easy reach. Room up front is good, but taller drivers will want more headroom, especially if they opt for a moonroof. The back seats offer decent room, but it’s tight when the front seats are all the way back. Both rows are easy to enter and exit, thanks to a relatively low ride height, higher than that of a sedan, but not as high as that of most SUVs. Cargo room is plentiful thanks to the hatchback design, though many SUVs offer more space. A power-folding second row eases the process of loading items in the back, and they can be brought back up from the driver’s seat, handy when pulling up to the curb to pick up passengers. The 3.7-liter V6 makes 325 horsepower and is mated to the 7-speed automatic transmission that has a manual shiftgate (but no paddle shifters). It accelerates from a standstill quickly and offers strong passing response at highway speeds. Fuel economy is an EPA-estimated 17/25 mpg City/Highway. The QX50 comes with a choice of rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. The AWD is meant for on-road use and is beneficial in foul weather. QX50 AWD is EPA-rated at 17/24 mpg City/Highway. The QX50 drives like a sedan with a slightly elevated ride height. Handling is responsive, and the brakes and steering feel natural and inspire confidence. The QX50 rides smoothly, not as firm as the Acura RDX and a bit less driver-focused than the BMW X3. The Around View Monitor shows obstacles 360 degrees around the vehicle, making it easier to maneuver in tight quarters. The QX50 also comes with Distance Control Assistant. There’s a hard drive available with 9.3 gigabytes of storage for music files. The Lane Departure Prevention system enhances safety by lightly applying the brakes on one side to steer the vehicle back into its lane should it start crossing lane lines, for example, if you fall asleep. Infiniti Personal Assistant offers 24-hour access to live concierge services.

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Utilities thrilled and worried about electric cars NEW YORK -- The first mass-market electric cars go on sale next month, and the nation's electric utilities couldn't be more thrilled -- or worried. Plugged into a socket, an electric car can draw as much power as a small house. The surge in demand could knock out power to a home, or even a neighborhood. That has utilities in parts of California, Texas and North Carolina scrambling to upgrade transformers and other equipment in neighborhoods where the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are expected to be in high demand. Not since air conditioning spread across the country in the 1950s and 1960s has the power industry faced such a growth opportunity. Last year, Americans spent $325 billion on gasoline, and utilities would love even a small piece of that market. The main obstacles to wide-scale use of electric cars are high cost and limited range, at least until a network of charging stations is built. But utility executives fret that difficulties keeping the lights on for the first crop of buyers--and their neighbors--could slow the growth of this new niche. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression," says Mike Rowand, who is in charge of electric vehicle planning at Duke Energy. Auto executives say it's inevitable that utilities will experience some difficulties early on. "We are all going to be a lot smarter two years from now," says Mark Perry, director of product planning for Nissan North America. Electric cars run on big batteries that are charged by plugging into a standard wall socket or a more powerful charging station. A combined 30,000 Nissan Leafs and Chevrolet Volts are expected to be sold over the next year. Over the next two years, Ford, Toyota and every other major automaker also plan to offer electric cars. Governments are promoting the expensive technology as a way to reduce dependence on foreign oil, cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve air quality. Congress is offering electric car buyers a $7,500 tax credit and some states and cities provide additional subsidies that can total $8,000. The Leaf sells for $33,000 and the Volt sells for $41,000. Electric cars produce no emissions, but the electricity they are charged with is made mostly from fossil fuels like coal and natural gas that do. Still, electric cars produce two-thirds fewer greenhouse gas emissions, on average, than a similarly sized car that runs on gasoline, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council. Driving 10,000 miles on electricity will use about 2,500 kilowatt-hours, or 20 percent more than the average annual consumption of U.S. homes. At an average utility rate of 11 cents per kilowatt-hour, that's $275 for a year of fuel, equivalent to about 70 cents per gallon of gasoline. "Electric vehicles have the potential to completely transform our business," says David Owens, executive vice president of the Edison Electric Institute, a trade group. Nationwide, utilities have enough power plants and equipment to power hundreds of thousands of electric cars. Problems could crop up long before that many are sold, though, because of a phenomenon carmakers and utilities call "clustering." Electric vehicle clusters are expected in neighborhoods where: Generous subsidies are offered by states and localities Weather is mild, because batteries tend to perform better in warmer climates High-income and environmentally conscious commuters live So while states like North Dakota and Montana may see very few electric cars, California cities like Santa Monica, Santa Barbara and Monrovia could see several vehicles on a block. SoCal Edison expects to be charging 100,000 cars by 2015. California has set a goal of 1 million electric vehicles by 2020. Progress Energy is expecting electric car clusters to form in Raleigh, Cary and Asheville, N.C. and around Orlando and Tampa, Fla. Duke Energy is expecting the same in Charlotte and Indianapolis. The entire territory of Texas' Austin Energy will likely be an electric vehicle hot spot. Adding an electric vehicle or two to a neighborhood can be like adding another house, and it can stress the equipment that services those houses. "We're talking about doubling the load of a conventional home," says Karl Rabago, who leads Austin Energy's electric vehicle-readiness program. "It's big." How big depends on the size of the battery in the car, and how fast the car is charged. When plugged into a standard 120-volt socket, the electric car will draw 1,500 watts. By comparison, a medium-sized air conditioner or a countertop microwave oven will draw about 1,000 watts. But the car can be charged faster, and therefore draw more power, when plugged into a home charging station. The first Leafs and Volts can draw 3,300 watts, and both carmakers may boost that to 6,600 watts soon. The Tesla Roadster, an electric sports car with a huge battery, can draw 16,800 watts. That's the equivalent of 280 60-watt light bulbs. A modest home in the San Francisco Bay area that doesn't need air conditioning might draw 3,000 watts at most. Transformers that distribute power from the electrical grid to homes are often designed to handle fewer than a dozen. Extra stress on a transformer from one or two electric vehicles could cause it to overheat and fail, knocking out power to the block. The "nightmare" scenario, according to Austin Energy's Rabago: People come home from work on a hot afternoon, turn on the air conditioner and the plasma television, blend some frozen cocktail, start cooking dinner on an electric stove --and plug their car into a home charging station. An electric vehicle plugged into a standard wall socket poses a different problem. It will put less stress on a transformer, but it could trip a circuit breaker if the circuit serves other appliances. Power would go off in part of the house. To head off problems, teams of workers at utilities are gathering information from Nissan and Chevrolet, doing customer surveys and looking at buying patterns of hybrid gas-electric cars like the Toyota Prius to try to predict where they might see clusters of electric car buyers. They are comparing that data with maps of their systems to determine what equipment might need upgrading first in hopes of avoiding blown circuits in the neighborhoods of early buyers. Utilities also hope to convince drivers to program their cars to charge late at night, when rates are low and most appliances are switched off. Ted Craver, the chief executive of the parent company of SoCal Edison and a chairman of an industry electric vehicle planning association, says early buyers will likely be tolerant of a few hiccups. At the same time, he says, those are the people utilities should try hard to please. "They turn into promoters," he says. Replacing a neighborhood transformer costs a utility between $7,000 and $9,000, according to SoCal Edison. This is work a utility will often want to do. With the approval of public utility commissions, utilities can add the cost of these kinds of upgrades to the rates they charge customers across their territory. Utility executives hope the popularity of electric cars will grow as the vehicles' costs come down and as public charging stations are made available at malls and along highways. Momentum will gather faster, they predict, if they minimize the number of home circuits that get blown and neighborhood transformers that get fried over the next two years. But they know there will be problems. "It's like you're about to have a baby," says Duke Energy's Rowand. "You know it's going to be good, but you also know there's going to be some throw up and some dirty diapers, and you just hope that it's something you are prepared for." Classifieds | Report A Typo | Send Tip | Get Alerts | Most Popular Follow @abc11 on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook Load Comments

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Terrafugia’s "flying car for all of us" to take over the skies in 2018 Many drivers dream of a future, when their cars would be able to fly like the ones in Luc Besson's Fifth Element. A company from America ambitiously believes they'll make these dreams come true a lot sooner than you might imagine. Terrafugia company is represented by a team of award-winning MIT-trained aerospace engineers and MBAs, working and creating to make "general aviation safer, more convenient, more fun, and more accessible." Their first attempt at creating a land-and-air vehicle resulted in what they called 'Transition', a plane with foldable wings that can carry two persons and small enough to fit in your garage. To fly and drive Transition, a person would require a sport pilot license and $279,000. And a single-car garage. What is even more interesting than Transition, though, is the new prototype the company is working on right now. TF-X, the first-ever unmanned flying car, is supposed to enter its testing phase in 2018 and be available to buyers by 2025. Pilot license will not be required, as this will be "the flying car for all of us," meaning even for us whose closest encounter with piloting skills was watching Harry Potter fly on a Nimbus 2000. The semi-autonomous flying car will carry four people, making them feel as if they were travelling in a comfortable sedan, and have a range of 500 miles with cruise speeds up to 200mph. It will be able to take off or land vertically from a level clearing of at least 100ft in diameter and drive on roads and highways in horizontal position. TF-X will be equipped with folding wings with twin electric motors on each side, powered by a 300 horsepower engine. To get to a desired destination, the driver will be required to input the chosen destination and let TF-X take over the drive. To make the vehicle safer, the driver will of course have the final say and will be able to control the vehicle manually, for example, in case of an emergency landing. While the TF-X is still in the early stages of development and a production date estimated at 8-12 years from now, some details about it are already known. It comes as no surprise, really, that this type of convenience of personal transportation will see the price "consistent with high-end luxury cars", according to the manufacturer. So this might not be "the flying car for all of us" afterall. photo: Terrafugia flying car TF-X Is it a bird? Is it a plane? It's a flying car! TF-X™ is able to take off (vertically) and land on its own. The driver only sets the destination. In the air with Lilium Jet - Flying Light Vertical take off, a maximum speed of 400 km/h and 500 km range, tops. Vertical landing. This is Lilium and the freedom it offers. Fueled by electricity, of course. Ehang Drone To Carry Human Passengers From the Chinese company EHang, Inc. (an innovative, technology oriented, enterprise that is specializing in smart drone R&D, manufacturing and sales) comes Ehang 184 AAV Drone - a drone... Did you like the Jetsons' flying family car? This looks even better. Volocopter, the flying 'car' of the future, can fly for 20 or 30 minutes on one charge and would cost about 340,000 American dollars. Airbus E-fan: Silence as Benchmark Noise? What noise? Airbus is putting their money on electrical silence, with a new project called E-Fan. Yet this two-seater plane brings a lot more to the table, most of all a revolutionary pilot training program. In the air: Diamond Aircraft The new Diamond six-seater will present not only a hybrid drivetrain, but also a hybrid concept of flying with many aspects taken from the automotive world.

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NC Becomes Latest State to Threaten Tesla's Direct Sales to Customers Brandon Hill (Blog) - May 14, 2013 11:33 AM Bill sponsor received $8,000 in campaign donations from the North Carolina Automobile Dealers Association Living in the Research Triangle Park (RTP) area of North Carolina, which I nickname Silicon Valley East, I quite frequently see Tesla Model S sedans and Roadsters silently cruising down city streets and interstates. However, the North Carolina Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved a measure that would make it illegal for Tesla Motors to sell vehicles directly to customers without the ever-present "middleman" in new car transactions: car dealerships. Not surprisingly, the NC Automobile Dealers Association (which represents North Carolina's franchised car dealership) is behind this latest stab at Tesla. But according to NC ADA President Robert Glasser, this isn't an attack specifically aimed at Tesla. Glasser notes that the precedent Tesla has set for direct sales could set into motion a chain of events that would topple the entire dealership model of business. “We care about the franchise system,” said Glaser. “The whole point of the retail system is to protect the consumer.” Of course, Tesla Motors sees things quite differently. “They’re trying to insulate the dealer franchise model from any competition,” said Diarmuid O’Connell, Tesla’s VP of Corporate and Business Development. “It’s a protectionist move to lock down the market so we have to go through the middleman – the dealer – to sell our cars.” And here's an interesting tidbit that shines a whole new light on the story. Slate reports that Sen. Tom Apodaca, the Republican sponsor of the bill, received $8,000 in campaign donations (the maximum allowed by state law) from the NC ADA. It's pretty clear to see why dealerships are shaking in their boots at the prospect of Tesla (and other auto manufacturers) selling directly to customers. Tesla managed to deliver a whopping 4,750 Model S sedans to customers during the month of April. Compared to other luxury sedans that also dance in the $70,000 to $100,000+ price range, the Model S outpaced monthly sales of the Audi A8 (1,462 units), BMW 7-Series (2,338), Lexus LS (2,860) and Mercedes S Class (3,077). Tesla has sold 80 Model S sedans in North Carolina and has an additional 60 orders in queue from residents. The overwhelming majority of those sales have come via the internet. And one could argue that an electric vehicle like the Model S needs less attention from dealerships due to the much lower maintenance needs of the electric motor and battery pack. Quite simply, there is potentially less to go wrong with a Model S compared to BMW 750i with its twin-turbocharged V8 and 8-speed automatic transmission. Despite this new speed bump in Tesla's road to electric vehicle proliferation, the company has been showered with a wealth of good news in the past week. Last week, Tesla reported its first profit in its ten years of existence and Consumer Reports gave the Model S a near perfect rating: 99 out of 100 possible points. Tesla's stock is up 57 percent since its quarterly earnings were released last Thursday to just under $90/share. Sources: News Observer, Slate "This is about the Internet. Everything on the Internet is encrypted. This is not a BlackBerry-only issue. If they can't deal with the Internet, they should shut it off." -- RIM co-CEO Michael Lazaridis Related Articles Tesla Reports First Profitable Quarter; Hires Aston Martin's Chief Vehicle Engineer Tesla CEO Elon Musk Willing to Take Auto Dealer Fight to Federal Level

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Home > Cars > The car as a mobile device: The perks and pitfalls… The car as a mobile device: The perks and pitfalls of increased car connectivity By Stephen Edelstein What if your car was nothing more than a four-wheeled smartphone? What if car companies spent as much time thinking about connectivity and apps as they do about horsepower and fuel economy? Making the car an extension of our online selves would add convenience, but it wouldn’t be without problems. “It’s time for the car to be a social device,” Jim Farley, Ford’s executive VP of global marketing, sales, service, and the Lincoln brand, said during a press event at the 2013 New York Auto Show. “Ford’s… ultimate goal is having a user’s data migrate seamlessly from their smartphone to their car.” From Ford’s point of view, at least, integrating the driving experience with the mobile experience will make cars more relevant to consumers. “You can have someone essentially take a car… and make it just for you,” K. Venkatesh Prasad, Ford’s in-car electronics czar, said. Ford plans to do it with platforms like the developer-friendly OpenXC architecture, which could allow independent developers to create software and hardware that can interact with a car’s systems. Ford is already promoting this approach with its Developer Program and Personalized Fuel Efficiency App Challenge, which aim to encourage the development of apps for Ford vehicles. Ford is also working on better integrating existing apps like Pandora and Spotify, with the ultimate goal of having a user’s data migrate seamlessly from their smartphone to their car. So far, though, the car is far from being a mobile device. Ford’s MyFord Touch infotainment system has been panned and drivers risk distraction while behind the wheel as systems become more complex, feature-laden and interactive. Voice-operated systems are available and could be a partial answer to the problem of distracted driving but more development is needed. Additionally, when voice activation systems cannot understand a request (or get it wrong), drivers can be distracted while working with car controls or their phones to fix the problem. Noting that Ford spends a significant amount of resources on driver education, Farley said only drivers themselves can guarantee safety. “I hope it’s the consumers choosing… and not being something that they’re told to do,” he said. Brendan Kraham, mobile advertising sales manager for Google, suggested that predictive technologies could negate the need for consumers to pull out their phones while driving, because their cars could automatically access the phones and pull up the relevant data after the driver initially syncs the device. Some newer in-car systems, such as Subaru’s Starlink and BMW’s iDrive systems, are implementing this concept now but for the most part the idea is still in it’s infancy and its not always easy for customers who are not especially tech-savvy to implement the technology. Will an intuitive interface be as important as a comfortable seating position? There’s also the possibility that drive time could become swamped with ads, certainly an essential part of any Google or Facebook experience, or that car and social media companies could use drivers’ data to track them. Again, companies say they are making it the consumer’s responsibility to use the tech in a positive way. “It’s the user’s choice ultimately to make those decisions,” Kraham said, noting that Google allows users to opt-out of its current location-based ads. Ford’s Farley said consumers would ultimately tell the companies when they want to see ads. He used Ford’s Mustang Customizer, a popular app that allows users to trick out a virtual Mustang, as an example. “In a way, it’s self-governing,” he said. Will car customers of the future complain about lack of privacy in their own vehicles? Will an intuitive interface be as important as a comfortable seating position? That’s what car manufacturers and car buyers will have to figure out if the car really becomes a “mobile device.” What’s your experience with in-car technology? What works? What drives you crazy? What features or automation would you like to see? Leave us a comment.

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LifeStyle/Luxury Cars Ralph Lauren's 1938 Bugatti Atlantic Lauded at Villa d'Este By Noah Joseph Jun. 12th, 2013 10 Photo Courtesy of BMWStyle is typically but one element of many that factor into the automotive industry and even its loftiest of products. But as you might expect from the name, the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este is all about automotive style. Every year the finest classic cars and new concepts gather on the shores of Lake Como. And this year's assembly, as exceptional as some of its entrants may have been, was no exception to that rule. The Concorso d'Eleganza this year featured numerous classic cars of note, including the finest examples ever produced by the likes of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz and Rolls-Royce, among so many others. But the unquestioned “belle of the ball” was Ralph Lauren's stunning 1938 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic Coupe. The Atlantic is widely regarded as one of the most beautiful cars ever made, coveted by collectors the world over. With only four ever made and three in remaining in existence, it's one of the rarest and as a result, the most valuable. Getting one of those three owners to part with the luxury auto is a rare achievement, and the last time one was sold three years ago, it went for between $30 and $40 million. (Exact details of the private treaty sale by the estate of Dr. Peter Williamson were not disclosed, but the car has been displayed at the noted Mullin Automotive Museum dedicated to Art Deco cars in Oxnard, California.) Fashion icon Ralph Lauren counts a Bugatti Atlantic as the pride of his famous classic car collection, alongside his Ferrari 250 GTO, two Testa Rossas and three McLaren F1s, to name just a few. He pledged his Atlantic to display at Villa d'Este four years ago and when he finally made good on his promise this year, his efforts did not go unrewarded. Lauren's stunning black Bugatti swept every top category for historic cars at the Concorso d'Eleganza this year, including the juried Trofeo BMW Group for Best in Show and the Coppa d'Oro Villa d'Este (voted by public referendum among show-goers), as well as the Trofeo BMW Group Italia and the Trogeo Ragazzi voted upon by attendees under the age of 16. In other words, there was no doubt left that the Atlantic was the most beautiful car on display at this spectacular gathering of classic cars. Noah Joseph Noah Joseph is a veteran automotive journalist and lifestyle writer whose words have been published in print and online media around the world. A military reservist and multinational citizen, Noah lives with his wife and son in the mountains above the Mediterranean Basin. ...(Read More) MOST RECENT Classic Cars & Southern Charm at the Hilton Head Island Concours d’Elegance Interview: What Drives Pirelli's CEO? The Mercedes-Benz Pick Up Truck is the Real Deal and it's Coming Soon Audi Holds First Women’s Track Day With 2017 R8 Coupe Fast Times: Test-Driving the New Porsche 718 on California's PCH

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Ford India Starts Exporting Petrol Engines to Thailand 15 June,2010 Car maker Ford India said that it has started exporting petrol engines from its Chennai unit to Thailand. The company is also working towards exporting them to other parts of the world, including the Asia-Pacific and African regions.Ford India exported its first batch of 1.4 litre and 1.6 litre high-compression petrol engines from the Maraimalai Nagar unit, near Chennai, to sister facility AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT). “The first shipment of 1,000 petrol engines is a significant first step in our goal to become a major production and export hub of diesel and petrol engines,” said Ford India President and Managing Director Michael Boneham.Besides the AAT facility, Ford India will export engines to other Ford plants in the Asia-Pacific region. It already caters to facilities in South Africa. “The number of engines exported will increase to 2,500 per month, and will continue to build as the projected export demand gradually increases through the year-end and into 2011,” the company said.Ford India has been exporting diesel powertrains from the Indian engine facility, with a production capacity of 2.5 lakh units per annum, to South Africa since 2008. The Indian subsidiary of the U.S. car major is also exploring export opportunities for new cars and powertrain components to markets in the Asia Pacific and African regions.“We are excited about the significant growth opportunities for our engine export programme, and proud of Ford India’s contribution to the development of the local auto industry and the economy overall,” Boneham said.

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The White House to Discuss Advanced Vehicles at Wednesday Forum (Source: carinsurance.org) The discussion aims to map out the future of advanced autos that will abide by the new fuel efficiency standards Only weeks before the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is expected to complete the new fuel efficiency standards, the White House will hold a three-hour forum this Wednesday on the future of advanced vehicles. The White House Council on Environmental Quality will host a forum on Wednesday called "Advanced Vehicles, Driving Growth." The discussion aims to map out the future of advanced autos that will abide by the new fuel efficiency standards. "The Obama administration is bringing together diverse auto-sector stakeholders at a White House event to celebrate success stories in the remarkable resurgence of the auto industry and spotlight leaders who represent President Obama's vision of out-innovating and out-manufacturing the rest of the world," said Taryn Tuss, White House CEQ spokeswoman. "In partnership with auto manufacturers, the United Auto Workers, states and environmental stakeholders, the Administration has developed historic fuel efficiency standards that will nearly double the fuel efficiency of cars and light duty trucks by 2025, save consumers $1.7 trillion at the pump, and encourage innovation and investment in technologies that increase our economic competitiveness and reduce our dependence on foreign oil." The forum aims to continue taking suggestions for rule changes, mainly from foreign automakers from countries like Germany who feel the rules have been biased toward U.S. automakers. Last year, major automakers, the state of California, and the White House agreed on the new Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) proposal for 2017-2025 that would boost fleet wide fuel economy to 54.5 mpg by 2025. The effort aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and lessen the country's dependency on foreign oil. The new fuel efficiency standards for 2017-2025 will cost the auto industry $157.3 billion and add an extra $2,000 to the sticker price of new autos, but it will save consumers $1.7 trillion at the gas pump. The NHTSA will finalize the fuel efficiency standards by the end of July 2012. Source: The Detroit News "A politician stumbles over himself... Then they pick it out. They edit it. He runs the clip, and then he makes a funny face, and the whole audience has a Pavlovian response." -- Joe Scarborough on John Stewart over Jim Cramer

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just-auto homeNews & insightsBlogs Blog: Batteries not to blame for fatal BYD taxi fire Glenn Brooks | 9 August 2012 A panel of safety exports has delivered a verdict in the case of a BYD plug-in taxi which crashed in May, killing three people. The panel found that the vehicles' batteries were not to blame. The car in question, a BYD e6, was hit from behind by a Nissan GT-R which police in the southern Chinese city of Shenzen claimed had been travelling at an estimated 180km/h at the point of impact. The findings of the police investigation into the collision stated that the taxi had veered off the road after being hit by the Nissan. The driver of the BYD, as well as his two passengers, died after the vehicle hit a tree. Various media published images of the car engulfed in flames. The panel of experts appointed by authorities in Shenzen carried out its own investigations over two months. It has now reported that the occupants of the e6 taxi died of head injuries, rather than as a result of the fire. The battery pack did not explode, as some media had reported, but the fire WAS an electrical one. The panel found that its cause was a short circuit. BYD had been due to launch the e6 in the US market earlier this year but is yet to do so. BLOGWhite nights and networking in St PetersburgBLOGNew Normal becomes New Reality in BRIC parlanceBLOGColossal China powers onI'm starting to get a small idea of the scale of things here in China, but really, I'm only scratching the surface of this vast country....BLOGChina Hot PotGiven the startling complexity of obtaining a journalist visa for China - the code 'J2' is now indelibly stamped on my mind - it was with some surprise how swiftly I managed to sail through airport im... David Leggett, editor of just-auto

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The Amazing Decline of Chrysler SlateMoneyboxA blog about business and economics.Jan. 2 2014 10:50 AM You're Italian now! Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images Italian automaker Fiat, which owns a 58.5 percent stake in Chrysler, reached an agreement over the holidays to purchase the 41.5 percent of the company that's owned by the United Auto Workers through a health care benefits fund. UAW will get $4.35 billion for its trouble, coming in the form of a $1.75 billion payment from Fiat, a $1.9 billion payment from Chrysler, and four subsequent annual $700 million payouts from Chrysler. Relative to where Chrysler was four years ago on the brink of liquidation, this is a great happy ending for the brand and especially for the people who work there. But it's really striking what a collapse in the value of the enterprise this is relative to where things were in 1998 when Daimler-Benz bought Chrysler for $36 billion. That'd be just more than $51 billion in 2013 dollars. Cerberus Capital Management paid $7.4 billion for 80 percent of Chrysler back in 2007. And even though the UAW is getting a $4.35 billion payout, Fiat will only have put a total of $3.7 billion in cash into the two-phase acquisition since a lot of the money coming the UAW's way is cash flushed out of the enterprise. There are a few different ways you could look at the company's current valuation, but however you slice it, the decline over the past 15 years has been staggering in scale. Advertisement Moving forward, by becoming sole owner of Chrysler the Italian automaker will have the chance to build a real integrated company. In the short-term, that's going to mean Chrysler's profitable North American operation will subsidize Fiat's losses in Europe. The business case is that this cross-subsidy era will be temporary as the eurozone returns to growth and that integrated technology and dealership networks across the two companies will create long-term efficiencies. But for the immediate future it creates a situation in which the Fiat Group becomes even more indebted and Chrysler's cash will be managed with a view to a global enterprise rather than an American one.

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Tesla's massive 'Gigafactory' by the numbers Tesla is doubling down on its effort to complete construction of its massive battery manfuacturing facility, affectionately dubbed the Gigafactory. With 1,000 workers building seven days a week across two shifts, Tesla is hoping to start churning out lithium-ion cells by the end of the year although it’ll be several more years before the entire structure is complete and running at full capacity. Tesla’s electric vehicles are well-known for, among other things, their high price. That’s largely out of necessity as building a car company from the ground-up is no easy task, especially one that deals exclusively in all-electric vehicles. Indeed, getting the Gigafactory online ASAP is a top priority as Tesla has hundreds of thousands of Model 3 reservations to fill in the coming years. As of early June, Tesla had 373,000 Model 3 reservations after adjusting down from 400,000 based on what were likely duplicates. The Gigafactory is an incredible feat of engineering. Once complete in 2020, it’ll consist of 5.8 million square feet and be the largest building in the world (based on ground footprint). By comparison, CES has just 2.47 million square feet of exhibit space and it feels absolutely massive. In full swing, Tesla says it’ll reduce its costs by 30 percent, a critical cog in its ability to offer the Model 3 at a base price of $35,000. At that rate, Tesla forecasts to produce more batteries at its Gigafactory than were made in the entire world in 2014. Right now, however, the factory is only 14 percent complete. Tesla inks landmark deal with Panasonic to build Gigafactory on US soil Tesla's residential battery system leaked, here's everything we know Tesla to reveal new product line next month 6 comments

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The ASAP C5 Corvette Real Buck Rogers, 21st Century Stuff This isn't Art Richards' first rodeo, but it's his first new rodeo. He took time out from Art's Corvettes to raise a family. During that hiatus, Art says, "We went go-kart racing and RC racing."He's back and bigger than ever if his plans go, well, as planned."We used to sit around the campfire and talk about what we can do, what we could invent. We said, 'Nothing if it ain't big.'"Art teamed up with Louis Zember to form ASAP. The bottom of their business card reads "American Supercars and Prototypes, LLC." 2/10 We ran across Art's crew in November of 2004 at SEMA, the huge annual Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Their display car was obviously a Corvette by the badges, but obviously far from stock with its cantilevered doors lifted high in the air and a body like no Vette we had ever seen.Of the rolling sculpture, Art explained, "The only thing left Corvette is the inner structure of the doors and the cleavage in the hood."Really drawing attention was the large PC screen flashing in the middle of the dash, just above the console. Plus, another screen, in front of the passenger, broadcast images for rear vision. Basically, tiny cameras took the place of side view mirrors. The car was attracting a great deal of attention. We wanted to get the scoop. After some deliberation, the crew agreed to drive the car on the desert after the show was over so we could take pictures in the real world, outside of the glitz.Art's Corvette career began, he explains, in 1967, "When I got out of Vietnam."He'd been fooling with Vettes back home in Indiana. He recalled a trip driving a '69, an L71 427 tri-power with L89 aluminum heads and a four-speed."I was pulling a '63 split-window," he says. "In Missouri, what started my career was, we slid off the road on an on-ramp. The wrecker guy came out and said, 'Man, that's the first time I've seen two Corvettes hit each other.' « Prev

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Get a FREE Issue of Earth Island Journal Sign up for our no-risk offer today. Search the Journal Go Back: Home > Earth Island Journal > Issues > Winter 2013 > +/- +/- Plug In, Drop Out By Jim Motavalli +Jim Motavalli is the author most recently of High Voltage: The Fast Track to Plug In the Auto Industry (Rodale), and is a contributor to The New York Times, Car Talk at NPR, and the Mother Nature Network. If I were buying a new car today, I’d reluctantly pass on ethanol (E85) and biodiesel options. My car of choice would be a plug-in hybrid – probably the Chevy Volt, although the Ford C-Max Energi and Honda Accord also look very attractive. I see the plug-in hybrid as a transitional technology on the way to electric cars. Pure battery electric vehicles (EVs) are still pretty expensive, and on vehicles like the Nissan Leaf they’re still getting the bugs out. Some owners in Phoenix are finding out that running a car without active temperature control for the battery pack in 100-degree-plus weather reduces battery range. No doubt the second generation of the Leaf will be much better. General Motors photo As talk show host Jay Leno told me with quite a bit of passion, the plug-in hybrid idea – 40 miles of all-electric range from a modest battery pack, backed up with a gas engine capable of another 300 miles or more – just makes sense. Leno bought a Volt, and promptly put 10,000 miles on it without using the gasoline engine much at all. The Volt, he said, is “the smart one.” Why? Because it’s “an electric car 95 percent of the time. But when you need to go to Vegas or San Francisco, it turns into a regular car. That’s the key.” Both automakers and EV advocates – who hate the idea of burning any gas at all – point out that most of us never travel more than 35 miles in a day, including the round-trip commute. I buy that. But we also take longer trips occasionally, and there still aren’t enough public recharging networks along our highway to make EVs viable for long-distance trips – yet. But make no mistake, the era of the EV is coming. I have no doubt that we’re headed for electrified transportation on a global basis, even if we have to go over some speed bumps to get there. I want to see battery EVs come down in price and extend range from the current 100-mile average (80 or so in the real world) to a reliable 125 miles or so. That will do a lot to kill “range anxiety” – drivers’ worries that they won’t be able to find a recharge station. I expect both of these things to happen with technology now in the pipeline. For instance, Envia Systems, a battery maker in California, announced in February 2012 that it had achieved what it called a “major breakthrough” in lithium-ion cell technology that would result in a significant increase in the energy density – and a sharp re

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M4A3(75) (small hatches) Sherman production variants of the information on this page is courtesy of Joe DeMarco. Note: some of the this page was compiled using a technique informally referred to as "counting heads." It is based on the ongoing study of period documents and photographs, as well as surviving Shermans. Due to the limited nature of available reference sources, some of the information presented here must be considered as "educated guesswork." First of all, you have to identify the tank as being an M4A3(75) "small hatch" Sherman tank. Please visit this page to do so. M4A3(75)s with small hatches (officially, "Tank, Medium, M4A3, 75mm, Dry") were manufactured exclusively by the Ford Motor Company. 1690 units were made from June 1942 to September 1943. There were two Ford M4A3 Production Orders: P.O. T-3034: 350 units produced June 1942 thru January 1943 : Serial Number 2655 / USA 3055615 thru SN 3004 / USA 3055964 P.O. T-3334: 1340 units produced November 1942 thru September 1943 : SN 11460 / USA 3053615 thru SN 12799 / USA 3054954 Click on the picture for larger size Ford was contracted to manufacture Medium Tanks powered by an in house designed 500 HP V8 engine. Since the engine was new and untested, M4A3s served as training tanks in the US, giving Ford the opportunity to "iron out the bugs." In comparison tests, the Ford GAA engine was found to be superior to the other tank power plants, and in June 1943, it was declared "suitable for overseas supply." It was further decided that production of M4A3s would be reserved for US troops, both at home and abroad. While Ford left the Sherman program in September 1943, it continued to supply engines to Chrysler & Fisher Body for the 1944/45 production of M4A3s and M26s. During WW II, Ford's Lincoln plant produced 26,954 V8 tank engines (above). Most of the M4A3s that served in combat were of the 1944/45 production "large hatch" variety, but period photos and documents show that a small number of Ford built M4A3s fought in the final campaigns in Northwest Europe, as well as on Okinawa. Click on the pictures for larger size The photo on the top left shows the M4A3 pilot, rolled out on May 13, 1942. The M3 bogies were replaced with the M4 type about a week later, although, curiously, the rearmost units were mounted backwards. It's apparent that the first two units were built using M4A2 hulls. Note the odd "bump" on the glacis, a feature of some early Pullman and ALCO M4A2s. The "M4A2 angle" of the upper rear hull plate as seen on Ford #2 in the top right photo, was steeper than on the standard M4A3. The overhead view shows the non standard engine deck doors of the pilot models. These units appear to be the only Fords that had M34 gun mounts in the initial configuration, along with turret lifting rings mounted in the "high" position." Click on the photos for larger size The four photos above show Ford # 3, the first production unit, accepted August 1942. Note the standard engine deck configuration, and the standard angle of the upper rear hull plate. This tank has the later, typical Ford M34 gun mount configuration, which was replaced by the M34A1 in March, 1943. Ford made its own power trains and claimed to have designed the one piece differential housing, which it used throughout production. On this example, part of the lower glacis "plate" was actually a casting that included the bow mg socket. "Counting heads" evidence suggests that the first 50 to 100 units used variations of this, but by October 1942, Ford settled into a standard pattern that featured a lower glacis of armor plate into which was welded a small bow mg casting. The mg dust cover fitting was most likely retrofitted, as these don't appear to have been factory installed until September, 1942. Only Chrysler (M4A4) and Ford used "wide" drivers' hoods castings on their Shermans. Manufacturers of small hatch M4s and M4A2s made use of "narrow" drivers' hood castings. Note how the "wide" casting included a section of the glacis along with the driver's hood. On M4A3s and M4A4s, possibly because of the use of wide drivers' hoods castings, the antenna bracket was positioned very close to the edge of the glacis, whereas it was mounted further inboard on M4s and M4A2s. The lines in red on the pictures above show the weld patterns of the wide vs. narrow drivers hoods. Left-side photo courtesy of Paul Hannah. The hull antenna bracket shown in the left side photo is typical of Ford-built M4A3s made from October, 1942 onward. The bracket shown on the right may have been used on the first 50 to 100 units. Both castings have the same part number - D50112. Our right side photo shows an "outlier" - the earlier casting on a December 1942 production M4A3 (S/N 11550) on display in Vermont. Perhaps it was a misplaced part that was used later when it was found? The Direct Vision slots were found to be a ballistic weakness of the Sherman, so the drivers' hoods were redesigned to eliminate them. The hoods were elongated in the front, where an additional periscope was provided. Ford began to replace the old hoods in October 1942, and the transition to the new hoods was completed a month later. In general, the introduction of changes was "with obsolescence." As the new parts began to enter production, the manufacturer continued to use the old parts until the supply was exhausted. Left-side photo courtesy of Kurt Laughlin. At the start of production, Ford M4A3s were equipped with "padded" hull lifting rings as seen above. They transitioned to the "final" type of lifting ring in January 1943. A few surviving examples built during the transition period have been noted to have the padded lifting rings on the front and the final types on the rear, or vice versa. This is the "final" and most common type of Sherman lifting ring casting. It was installed on Ford M4A3s produced from January 1943 (SNs around 11620-11680) until the end of the production. Ford M4A3s have grouser compartments with oval cover plates (circled in red). Overheating within the engine compartment was not an issue on M4A2s and M4A3s, so that they did not require the use of air scoops as did the M4, M4A1 and M4A4. While large hatch, 47 degree hull M4A2s continued to provide access to the grouser compartments, late production M4A3s did not. Right side photo courtesy of http://toadmanstankpictures.com/ The hull ventilator behind the right side of the turret has the asymmetrical bolt pattern typical of all welded hull Shermans with the exception of Pressed Steel Car M4s. Cast hull Shermans and PSC M4s used ventilators with symmetrical bolt patterns. The right side photo shows the armored fuel cap covers, with the locking pins intact. On many surviving tanks, the caps and/or locking pins are missing. Ford used a cast piece throughout for its headlamp sockets. On Shermans, headlamp plug holders were initially mounted parallel to the glacis. Our research indicates that Ford repositioned them to the "final," vertical position in November, 1942. Most likely this was done to keep the plugs from falling out of the holders. "Product Correction Reports" were submitted by units as they trained. PCRs often resulted in change orders, such as..."The present guard on all M4 welded hull tanks is being moved back to protect the taillight. Starting with Ford Motor Company tank Serial No. 11525, the guard will be properly placed." In the photos of 3055617 shown earlier, one can see that the initial position of the guard did not completely encompass the taillight. Photo Mark Corbett. The side armor plates on Ford M4A3s had beveled top edges. On most Shermans, including all of the 47 degree welded hulls, the top edges were not beveled. Note also that Ford did not provide engine deck door "stops" (circled in red), while they were standard on large hatch M4A3s. The lower rear hull configuration of Ford M4A3s and the later models is similar, with a single engine access door bracketed by a pair of heavy exhaust stacks. However, Ford used a rounded casting to join the lower rear hull plate to the belly plate. Note the "GAD" caster's logo in the left side photo (circled in red) and a close up below. Ford had its own steel production facilities at its massive Rouge River complex. It made its own armor plate, as well as many of the cast parts for its Shermans. It also supplied these components to other manufacturers. Ford amor plate can be identified by a simple "F" stamping (above left). For some reason, Ford used "GAD" for its caster's logo rather than "Ford." Note how the "GAD" bow MG casting is welded into the armor plate, the standard Ford configuration by October, 1942. Ford made its own power trains, which had one piece differential housings. They transitioned from the E4186 to the later, sharp nosed E8543 diff housing around August 1943. The above shows the most common type seen on Ford M4A3s. Note the cast in steps. It was found that the steps interfered with the working of the quick release towing shackles (seen above right) that had been introduced with the new diff. Consequently the cast steps were eliminated, and replaced with welded on steps. "Counting heads" evidence suggests that few if any of the diffs with welded on steps were installed by Ford before production ended in September 1943. Left side photo courtesy of Alf Adams. Ford made its own drive sprockets, which appear to have been used exclusively by Ford in production. They are "dimpled," which gives them an almost artistic appearance compared with other types of sprockets. Of course a high wear item such as this often required replacement, so that Ford sprockets can be seen on other Sherman models, and Ford M4A3s can be seen with other sprocket types. Ford's main supplier of turret castings was General Steel. Note the very distinctive "G inside a shield" caster's logo. A lot of their turrets have dates on them, and from recording such data, we know that GS began to cast D50878 turrets without pistol ports in May, 1943. These found their way on to the assembly lines a month later. Ford used them to the end of production. This was a "with obsolecence" change, but with the proviso that the remaining supply of turrets with pistol ports have them welded shut (right side photo). See this page for more info about 75mm turrets. Left side photo courtesy of Paul and Lorén Hannah. The photos above show the "as built" Ford M4A3 engine deck configuration. The forward section held armored filler covers for the left and right vertical fuel tanks, as well as a middle cover for the engine coolant expansion tank. The edges of the forward panel were built up with armor plates to protect the filler caps from bullet splash. A three piece splash guard was also positioned in front of the housing for the fire extinguisher pulls. The photos above are of S/N 12390 at the Saumur Tank Museum. By its appearance, the authors suspect that this M4A3 was one of the few Fords shipped to Europe during WW II, so may have a combat history. The engine deck doors were extremely heavy. They included a "chute" on the underside that contained or directed any debris that came through the grating away from the engine (on the photos above, the door is shown upside down, so the "chute" is on the top). In November 1942, a request for a fix was submitted to the Manufacturing Branch of the Tank-Automotive Center. It was rejected... "It is thought that any mechanical assistance to facilitate door opening would only result in much complication, interference with cooling, and reduced accessibility to motor. Two men can easily raise and close these doors where on previous tank models a crane was required." Left side photo courtesy of Chris Hughes. Because most served as training vehicles in the US during WW II, Ford M4A3s have survived in greater numbers than other 1942-43 production Shermans (about 80 units). The M4A3s in the photo above appear to be "as built," which was usually the case with Shermans in the US. The "padded" hull lifting rings combined with the vertical headlamp plug holders, suggest a production date between November 1942 and January 1943. There was a critical shortage of rubber at the time, and Ford was contracted to produce the particular type of "three bar cleat" steel tracks that can be seen on these tanks. The above Signal Corps photo is part of a color series unfortunately captioned "desert maneuvers, USA, 1944." The fall foliage seems inappropriate for the desert, as does the year. Tracing their movements, we think it is more likely that this series shows units of the 10th and 81st Tank Battalions, 5th Armored Division at Pine Camp, New York in the Fall of 1943. Click on the picture for larger size Many surviving Ford M4A3s show evidence of having been remanufactured once during WW II, and again in the early 1950s. The three Tank Depots and Montreal Locomotive remanufactured 681 M4A3s from August 1944 through April 1945. Most of these would not have been available for overseas shipment because of their late date of production. The above photos shows a trio of remanufactured M4A3s at Ford's Richmond Tank Depot in Fall 1944. These reflect the appearance of the few small hatch M4A3s seen overseas in period photos in 1945. Note how the sandshields were modified to accomodate extended end connectors. Only the leftmost tank has the late, sharp nosed differential housing and a gun travel lock. "Counting heads" evidence suggest that the late diff, gun travel lock and full suite of applique armor began to be factory installed at Ford at roughly the same time - August 1943. Thus, approximately the last 250 units would have been built with these features. The other two tanks probably required more modification work on the part of the remanufacturer. The absence of gun travel locks most likely indicates that RTD was not able to obtain them for the reman program. The absence of mg dust cover fittings is just curious. Unlike other Shermans, Ford continued to position the siren on the left front fender throughout production. "A tank of 1st Division, US First Army, destroyed on outskirts of Rottbitze, Germany...March 20, 1945." USA 3054295 (March, 1943 production) is thought to have belonged to the 745th Tank Battalion, since they were attached to the 1st Infantry Divion at the time. The installation of sand shields at factory or depot seems to have been a waste, since it is obvious they were not popular with combat troops. Here one can see how they were extended out from the hull to accomodate the extended end connectors. The blanket roll rack and the mg stowage on the turret bustle would have been other items added during remanufacture. The bogie wheels may have been replaced during remanufacture, but period photos suggest that Ford used either the "pressed spoke" type seen here, or welded spoke wheels during production. The sheet metal exhaust deflector was obviously flimsy, and was replaced with an armored type in early 1945, too late for much overseas service during WW II. Click on the picture for larger size The disposition of Ford built M4A3s in the postwar years is a little murky. It is assumed that most were sealed and placed in storage lots throughout the US, such as Letterkenny Arsenal (above left). In 1946, they were declared "not acceptable" to Army Ground Forces, but the Government went back and forth for several years trying to decide if they should be retained or scrapped. OCM Item 32443, dated Oct. 28, 1948, approved obsoletion - "Scrap for Parts (Ford Engine)." It stated that there were 1413 units in the US inventory, including 120 in use by the National Guard. However, with the outbreak of the Korean War, OCM 33280 dated May 25 1950 reclassified them from "Obsolete to Limited Standard." The 1181 remaining units were to be retained for possible "emergency conversion." In January 1951, Bowen McLaughlin York received a contract to remanufacture 1493 M4A3(75) and M4A3E2(75)s. The "heavy door" problem was addressed this time, as the order included a provision "for installation of torsion bars on engine doors" (above right). Evidence on a few surviving examples indicates that Brown and Root of Houston also rebuilt some Ford units. One B & R dataplate for Serial Number 11755 is stamped 6/14/52. Right side photo courtesy of Gerry Chapek via http://toadmanstankpictures.com/ Click on the picture for larger size Some of the 1950s remanufactured Fords were provided as Military Assistance, to Peru, for instance. Some were placed back into US Army service. Quite a few appeared in war movies of the 1950s. USA 3054468 above, was in "The Tanks Are Coming" filmed at Ft Knox in 1951. Note that this tank has the E9 modification, but lacks the extended end connectors that were to be added to each side of the tracks. The authors think that the E9 mod, as well as the M34 rotor shield mod (above right) seen on some surviving examples, were done during an earlier remanufacture in 1945 at Montreal Locomotive Works. Most Shermans, including the Fords, were declared obsolete in 1956. Some were used as range targets, some were provided as tank monuments, but most were sold off as scrap. Popular Mechanics reported that, in 1958, a Chicago steel dealer, bought 536 Shermans from Rock Island Arsenal for $305,388.00. That is about what a single, fully restored Sherman might fetch today. It is thought that the M4A3E9 in Akron, Ohio (right) might have come from the RIA lot. The authors would gladly receive reports from readers who encounter any Ford M4A3s. Fords are perhaps the easiest Shermans on which to find the tank serial number. It was stamped on "the four corners of the upper hull." It can be found just below both of the hull lifting rings on the front, and in the areas indicated by the red circles in the rear. We don't have the opportunity to get inside many Shermans, so dataplate information would be particularly welcome. An original dataplate will include the name of the manufacturer. These were often replaced with new plates during remanufacture. Since most surviving examples were rebuilt, we have yet to come across an original Ford dataplate. Did Ford use its great stylized company logo on the original plate? Photos, Steve Tyliszczak.

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March 22, 2010January 9, 2013 BMW Sport Helmet gets Bluetooth 2.0 Motorcycle Bluetooth 2.0 BMW Motorrad has expanded the application spectrum of its Bluetooth communication system and now offers it with its BMW Motorcycle Sport helmet. The Sport helmet is already designed for immediate integration of the BMW Motorrad Communication System. With its excellent aerodynamics and exceptional aeroacoustics, it is perfectly suited to the new communications system and its outstanding sound quality. The system employs Bluetooth standard 2.0 to allow wireless voice communication between two helmets as well as other Bluetooth equipment, such as navigation systems, mobile telephones, or MP3 players. The BMW Motorrad Communication System comprises a main circuit board, a boom microphone, and two loudspeakers which are installed in the helmet, plus two NiMH rechargeable batteries, which enable constant operation for periods of ten to twelve hours. The system is controlled by a three-button module, which fits snugly into any Sport helmet, irrespective of the shell’s dimensions. The BMW Bluetooth System has been conceived to facilitate voice communication between the rider and co-rider, but communication with other Bluetooth equipment is also possible. For instance, the rider can not only talk to his co-rider, but is also able to receive messages emitted by the BMW Motorcycle Navigator IV, make telephone calls, or listen to music, provided the equipment used is Bluetooth-compatible. The Motorcycle Communication System also allows communication from motorcycle to motorcycle. Depending on the local conditions, the system will allow voice communication over a distance of up to 100 metres with only a slight drop in quality, provided there is an uninterrupted line of sight between the Bluetooth devices. If the distance cannot be bridged or the conditions are otherwise unfavourable, and the connection is lost, it is automatically restored as soon as the distance between the Bluetooth transmitters is sufficiently small. The Motorcycle Communication System in the Sport Helmet is compatible with the communication system in the BMW Motorrad System 6 Helmet. Previous articleMotorcycle Dealer Expo returns in 2011 Next articleWorld First: Spaceship takes Inaugural Flight Search

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Toyota recalls 700,000 vehicles in US amid safety concerns Japanese carmaker to contact owners of selected Tacoma, Camry and Venza vehicles about potential manufacturing faults The Toyota Venza crossover sedan is to be the subject of a product recall in the US. Photograph: Justin Lane/EPA Richard Wachman As a byword for reliability and safety, Toyota conquered the ferociously competitive global car market to become the number one manufacturer in the world. But the Japanese company that once could do no wrong suffered yet another blow to its battered reputation when it said it was recalling 681,500 vehicles in the US due to safety concerns. Toyota has now recalled more than 10m vehicles in the past three years as a litany of technical problems have bedevilled a manufacturer once renowned as a pioneer of production knowhow. It has also seen operations devastated by last year's earthquake and tsunami in Japan and floods in Thailand, where many parts are made. Pummelled by natural disasters, faulty vehicles and the high yen, which makes exports expensive, Toyota warned in December 2011 that profit would be less than half what it was in 2010. Sales have been hit hard, and the firm has lost market share to resurgent US rivals. No longer is Toyota the largest carmaker in the world – General Motors had grabbed back the title it lost in 2008 after decades of American hegemony, while Germany's Volkswagen has overtaken Toyota in Europe and is winning awards for reliability and design. Colin Couchman, a senior analyst at IHS Automotive, said: "The latest Toyota recalls are the last thing the company needs, as it undermines claims they have turned a corner and will attract the sort of attention the firm could do without." He added: "Toyota has lost market share in North America, with the Koreans making gains when it comes to smaller vehicles, and GM lifting sales of trucks and SUVs. "The playing field has evened out in America, with US companies coming up with a lineup so good they don't have to discount as much as they did." Instead, the Japanese need to cut prices to claw back what they have lost. This is a relatively new dynamic and "it's going to be intriguing to see how it plays out," he said. The latest recalls, disclosed by Toyota on Thursday, include about 495,000 Tacoma trucks, made between 2005 and 2009, which need to have their steering wheel spiral cable assemblies replaced. Toyota said friction may occur between the assembly's spiral cable and the retainer in some vehicles and, over time, cut the connection to the driver's airbag. In addition, it is recalling about 70,500 Camry sedans made during 2009 and about 116,000 Venza crossovers made between 2009 and 2011 to replace lamp switches. The company said it would notify affected owners when it was obtaining replacement parts, which it would fit for free. It said it was not aware of any accidents or injuries caused by the problems. The company's carefully cultivated image as safe and reliable has taken a beating. The setbacks have dented public confidence and left senior management embarrassed, culminating two years ago in an appearance by then chief executive Akio Toyoda before a US congressional committee, during which he apologised repeatedly for the faults. There were 14 separate recalls involving Toyota vehicles in 2010 alone. In 2010, Toyota was fined $32.4m (£20.9m) by the US government for failing to swiftly recall millions of vehicles with faulty brakes and steering. Those fines were the maximum allowed by law. Toyota paid another $16.4m fine related to the recalls, bringing the total to $48.8m. Another investigation was prompted by the fatal crash of a California highway patrol officer, Mark Saylor, and his family. They died after reporting a stuck accelerator while driving a 2009 Lexus ES 350. Despite its travails, Toyota has returned to normal production and seen a revival in its sales in the US, one of its biggest markets. According to the latest data, Toyota's US sales increased by 12% in February from a year earlier. Analysts said the upward trend was likely to continue in the coming months despite the latest recall. [This update was inserted on 13 March 2012: A Toyota representative adds that "the US government investigations by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and engineers at the National Aeronautical and Safety Administration into unintended acceleration both concluded that there were no real-world scenarios in which Toyota electronics can cause unintended acceleration and both closed their investigations into this matter in 2011."] But one problem that is not going away is the strength of yen, still relatively high against the dollar. A strong yen means a ≠dip in the value of repatriated profits for big exporters such as Toyota, as well as putting their products at a competitive pricing disadvantage in export markets. • This article was updated on 13 March 2012 to include information from Toyota about the outcome of US inquiries into the accelerator question. Toyota

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Weigh Your Options When Spec’ing a Suspension System When school bus drivers transport students to and from school, they should focus on the well-being of their passengers, not bumps and potholes in the road. By driving a bus with a good suspension system — which combines road-holding ability and control with a smooth, quiet ride — drivers can more easily concentrate on the task at hand. This article explains how to select a suspension system that best meets your needs. Note: You need to make sure that your suspension system meets state specifications. These design and capacity requirements should be reviewed carefully before selecting a suspension system. Find the right balance Today, several design options are available. Selecting a good suspension system involves finding an acceptable balance of durability, stability, cost and ride comfort. Too often, decisions on the selection of suspension systems are made with a focus on durability. High-capacity systems don’t always provide increased durability or longer life; however, they usually do provide a poor ride for the passengers and the driver. We categorize suspension systems as “soft” or “firm.” For the best performance, these systems should not be mixed. For example, a soft front suspension system should not be matched with a firm rear suspension. The weight of the vehicle is another key consideration. It can vary dramatically depending upon the number of passengers and equipment options, such as wheelchair lifts and air conditioning. The location of the fuel tanks also can affect weight. These variances can influence the quality of the ride. If the bus is not equipped with a suspension system designed to accommodate load variances, unusually light or heavy loads could lead to a bumpy ride. Load analysis helps An analysis should be done to determine the maximum load that the bus can be expected to carry. The suspension system must be adequate to support this maximum load, but it should not exceed that capacity. For example, if the anticipated maximum load at the rear axle is 17,500 pounds, the bus must have a suspension system rated to carry that load. It is not necessary to select a suspension of a higher capacity, such as 19,000 pounds. Overspec’ing the suspension system can lead to a poorer ride because, in general, as the capacity increases, so does the spring rate. The best ride comes from the lowest possible spring rate. (Spring rate refers to the load-deflection characteristic of the spring. It is usually expressed as pounds per inch of deflection, i.e., how many pounds of force are required to move the spring one inch.) Once the full load capability is determined, the partial load conditions must be addressed. If the bus is expected to operate frequently with light or intermediate loads, a suspension system providing a good ride over a wide range, such as a two-stage suspension, may be needed. Seek expert advice An important part of selecting the best suspension system is working closely with the body manufacturer. It can help you determine the suspension system’s capacity based on the weight of the body, anticipated number of passengers, interior configuration, number of seats and options selected. Although the suspension system hasn’t always been considered the most important option on a school bus, new types of systems have been developed in recent years that provide more choices and benefits. Several options are available for both front and rear suspension systems, depending upon needs. Here is a rundown of the basic systems offered: Front suspension systems Flat-leaf springs (firm ride) — The multileaf spring is the oldest option for front suspension systems. It is a stack of flat leaves of constant thickness along the entire length of each leaf. The leaves are fastened tightly together, and the metal-to-metal contact creates leaf-to-leaf sliding friction. Friction restricts the movement of the spring, adversely affecting the ride quality. So, although this system is inexpensive and provides good stability and vehicle control, it does not offer the best ride. Parabolic (tapered-leaf) springs (soft ride) — A newer option on the leaf spring suspension system is one with parabolic (tapered-leaf) springs, which are thicker in the middle than at the ends (see illustration). These suspension systems use fewer spring leaves, which reduces leaf-to-leaf friction and produces a smoother ride than flat-leaf springs. Rear suspension systems Multileaf variable rate springs (firm ride) — This flat-leaf spring design offers a variable deflection rate by changing the effective length of the spring with the use of a cam-type frame mounting bracket. As the spring deflects, due to increased load, the point of spring contact on the bracket moves toward the center of the spring, making it stiffer as the load increases. This is the most popular type of rear suspension today, providing good stability and control, but not the best ride. Parabolic (tapered-leaf) springs (soft ride) — This option is also available on rear suspension systems and provides a smoother ride than flat, multileaf springs because of the low-friction design. When considering the combination of a tapered-leaf rear suspension with a tapered-leaf front suspension, reduced stability can occur and anti-sway bar systems may be needed. Multiple (two-stage) springs (soft ride) — The multiple (two-stage) spring is designed to provide the stability of a multileaf system and good ride when the bus is either loaded or empty. This design provides a lower spring rate when the bus is lightly loaded and a higher rate when it is heavily loaded. The package of spring leaves is divided into two sections. At light load conditions, only the long leaves of the upper section are active in carrying the load, and the spring rate is relatively low. As the load increases and the upper section is compressed, it gradually comes into contact with the shorter leaves of the lower section. At the higher load conditions, both sections of the spring package are active, and the spring rate is higher. This design is an excellent option if the bus will be running frequently at lighter loads. Air-ride suspension With a variable rate and low friction, this option is known for excellent ride quality coupled with a lightweight design. The suspension height remains constant and the effective spring rate changes as the air cushions are automatically adjusted to different load conditions. This option provides a smooth ride over a wide range of light to heavy load conditions. It is a good choice when transporting special-needs students, and for a small additional cost, flat-floor configuration for versatile seating plans can be provided. Flat-floor flexibility Flat-floor configurations are available with leaf spring suspensions and 19.5-inch wheels or air ride with 22.5-inch wheels. When combined with track seating, the flat-floor configuration provides the greatest seating flexibility. With this design, there are no wheelwells protruding from the floor and no step between the passenger and driver area. The flat-floor configuration has become very popular in the last few years. Summary It’s clear that the suspension system is an important factor in achieving the best combination of stability, control and ride. By setting goals and assessing the various designs, the best system will be selected to meet the specific needs of school bus drivers and passengers. Author John Fay is manager of school bus marketing for International Truck and Engine Corp. in Chicago. school bus specs Bus air-conditioning manufacturer Eberspaecher Suetrak develops the E-Control platform to provide centralized control of all the thermal management components on a bus. News Advances in Transmission Jacks Lift Productivity According to Stertil-Koni, new technologies that have been incorporated into transmission jacks have increased lifting capacities and improved stability. News W.W. Williams Acquires Auto Safety House Auto Safety House, the Thomas Built Buses dealership for Arizona, will operate as a brand under the ownership of W.W. Williams, a provider of repair services and products. Product South Carolina Adds New Propane School Buses to Fleet The state acquires 26 Blue Bird propane buses as part of its efforts to update its aging fleet. Product School Bus Technicians Earn ASE Master Certification Brad Miller, who works for Durham School Services’ Indianapolis location, and Ian Moulaison at Stock Transportation in Halifax, Nova Scotia, earn the certification. News Bendix Launches Brake Training Sessions for 2017 Registration is open for the complete schedule of sessions, which start on March 21 in Owosso, Michigan, and cover 14 states before concluding in November. News IC Bus Honors Top Dealers for 2016 Four dealers win the bus manufacturer’s Diamond Premier Dealer award, while 11 win the Diamond Dealer award. IC Bus also bestows its Pursuit of Excellence award. Video VIDEO: BusWise Efficiency Features BusWise Technologies for Thomas Built Buses' Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus offers features that can help in boosting efficiency, such as tracking location, speed, and fuel consumption. Video VIDEO: School bus OEM team declares 'We Are Thomas' In this spot from Thomas Built Buses, get a look behind the scenes at the men and women who build yellow buses in High Point, North Carolina. News 11 First Student Locations Earn ASE Blue Seal of Excellence To become Blue Seal certified, at least 75% of technicians performing diagnosis and repairs at the location must be ASE certified. News New Study Analyzes School Bus Fires The report, commissioned by FMCSA, sheds light on the frequency and common causes of fires in school buses and motorcoaches. News NSTA Urges South Carolina to Consider School Bus Contracting In response to the state superintendent’s plan to update South Carolina’s aging school bus fleet, NSTA says that contracting could provide new buses while saving money. Load More stop-arm running/illegal passing

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Toyota recalls Prius, Corolla models Toyota Motor Corp. on Wednesday announced two safety recalls for its flagship Prius hybrid and a separate agreement to pay $25.5 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit related to its sudden acceleration problems. Jerry Hirsch and Ken Bensinger Toyota Motor Corp. on Wednesday announced two safety recalls for its flagship Prius hybrid and a separate agreement to pay $25.5 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit related to its sudden acceleration problems.In one recall, the automaker said the steering intermediate extension shafts in 670,000 Prius cars sold in the U.S. need to be inspected and in some cases replaced. In the second recall, 350,000 of those hybrids also will have to have their electric water pumps replaced.Toyota will recall an additional 2 million vehicles worldwide, including the Prius and the Corolla, to fix the same problems.These actions follow another large recall by Toyota barely a month ago. In October, the Japanese automaker recalled 2.5 million vehicles nationally to fix a faulty power window switch that has been linked to at least nine injuries and several hundred reports of smoke and fire. In one instance reported to federal regulators, a passenger in a Camry was burned while trying to extinguish a fire caused by the switch.The big recalls come as Toyota's vehicle sales in the U.S. have been surging after being derailed last year. Sales were hurt by manufacturing disruptions and inventory shortages caused by the Japan earthquake. Massive recalls in 2010 for sudden acceleration problems and other safety defects also added to Toyota's sales woes.The gas-sipping Prius has become an important vehicle for Toyota, giving the company a reputation for producing green vehicles and becoming one of the top sellers in the automaker's lineup. Toyota is on track to sell more than 250,000 Prius hatchbacks and station wagons this year, which will make it one of the bestselling passenger cars in the U.S. So far this year, the Prius has been the best-selling car in California.In the U.S., the recalls include 2004 through 2009 model year Prius hybrids.The steering shaft problem results from a manufacturing error in which certain parts in the system did not have the required hardness and could deform. Additionally, in some cars the electric motor that drives the water pump circulating coolant through the hybrid components can shut off. In some cases, this can cause the hybrid system to stop while the vehicle is being driven.There have been no crashes or injuries reported for these two conditions. But continuing recalls might prevent potential new customers from purchasing a Toyota and could diminish the loyalty of current owners, said George Cook, professor at the Simon School of Business at the University of Rochester."This recall may also cause some sales problems for the company as the Prius model has been a hot model for Toyota," he said.The settlement in the shareholder litigation would put to rest allegations that the company hurt the value of its stock by hiding defects and other safety problems, as well as by not acting swiftly to address vehicles that accelerated out of control.Those problems came to light in late 2009 after a horrific San Diego County accident that killed a family of four in a Lexus. In the months following, Toyota recalled more than 10 million vehicles worldwide, faced multiple congressional investigations and eventually paid record fines of almost $50 million.Plaintiffs in the class-action suit, led by the Maryland State Retirement and Pension System, had claimed damages in excess of $100 million. Toyota's total market value fell by as much as $30 billion at the height of the crisis."We are pleased to be turning the page on this legacy legal issue, pending court approval, and believe this is a reasonable outcome," Toyota spokesman Mike Michels said of the settlement, which was revealed in court documents filed Tuesday.The first shareholder lawsuit prompted by the sudden acceleration claims was filed in early 2010, and since then the cases have been narrowed to holders of Toyota stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange. The claims were consolidated in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles. Judge Dale Fischer has yet to approve the settlement.In settling this case, Toyota removes another legal obstacle from its path. Last year, Toyota settled a wrongful-death case with relatives of the family killed in San Diego for $10 million.But the Japanese automaker still faces numerous — and potentially far more costly — lawsuits related to sudden acceleration and other alleged safety problems.Among them are multi-plaintiff state and federal cases alleging personal injury and death due to Toyota vehicles, as well as cases brought by consumers who contend that the value of their vehicles was diminished because of safety defects.Those cases are set for trial starting early next year.

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Acura recalls all 2007-2008 LT sedans The 2007 Acura TL is being recalled worldwide. Image: 123 Chroma Pixels/Flickr/CC BY-SAAcura, the luxury division of the Japan-based Honda Motor Co. Ltd, has voluntarily issued a safety recall for all of its 2007 and 2008 TL mid-size sedans. The recall comes as a result of a potential issue that could cause the power steering hoses to leak fluid.Hoses could deteriorate earlyAcura says that the power steering hoses in the sedans could deteriorate prematurely, leading to potential leaks of power steering fluid. A loss of power fluid could lead to the vehicle becoming extremely difficult to steer. In addition, if some of the fluid leaks onto the catalytic converter, or onto other hot parts inside the engine compartment, it could lead to smoke and, in the worst-case scenario, a possible engine fire.Nearly 53,000 LTs in U.S.According to the automaker, 52,615 TL sedans are being recalled inside the United States alone. At this time, however, there have been no crashes, fires, injuries or deaths as a result of the deteriorating power steering hoses.[A new car purchase is something to celebrate.]TL timelineThe Acura TL mid-sized sedan first appeared in 1995 to replace the automaker’s Acura Vigor. From 1996 to 2000, it was sold in Japan as the Honda Aspire. From 1996 to 2004, it was known as the Honda Saber in other markets. The fourth, and most recent, generation of the TL premiered in 2009. That version is marketed in Japan as the Honda Accord, but it is not the same Accord that is marketed in the U.S. That version is not available in Japan.The version affected in the current recall is a third-generation Acura TL.Owners to be notified in JuneNotifications will be mailed to the affected owners in mid-June, according to Acura. At that time, affected owners are urged to take their vehicles to a local dealership for a no-cost replacement of the hoses.A host of complaintsThe notice for this recall has not yet appeared on the website for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. However, according to Car Connection, that may not have been far off. The “complaint” section of the NHTSA website contains several posts about power steering fluid issues in 2007 and 2008 Acura TL sedans.Contact the automakerConcerned owners can contact the automaker’s recall webpage (www.recalls.acura.com)to determine whether their vehicles are affected, or for more information. Additionally, Acura can be reached at (800) 382-2238. Select option four.SourcesThe Car Connection Motor Authority Posted in Auto News | Tagged acura, acura recall, acura tl, honda Comments are closed.

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Southern California's Holiday Motor Excursion wraps up the year: Video It wouldn't be Christmas, New Year's or any of the other things we celebrate around this time without the annual Holiday Motor Excursion put on by the Horseless Carriage Club of America's Southern California Branch. Each year, between Dec. 25 and New Year's Day, a couple hundred cars older than your favorite grandfather drive, putter, wheeze or roar onto the roads in and around Pasadena, Calif., for a daylong road trip into motoring's past in a wheeled testament to mechanical devotion. The Horseless Carriage Club of America is a repository of automotive history from the earliest days of the invention. Membership in the club is limited to those who have cars built before 1916. That brings out a lot of Locomobiles, Tourists, Pope Hartfords, Stanley Steamers and one of the largest gatherings of Ford Model Ts you'll see all year. For this annual holiday event the club relaxes the model-year requirements a little, sometimes to cars built as late as 1932, by which time a lot of the engineering of this new form of transportation had been more fully sorted out. It's as much fun for the hundreds of spectators who show up at the launch and along the route as it is for the proud owners, drivers and restorers who get a chance to run their projects on the open road. "This is a gearhead meet for people who have taken antique cars from, in a lot of cases, not much more than dust and, like the phoenix, have turned them into beautiful mechanical pieces of artwork," said Kenny King, event coordinator and SoCal HCCA board member. "We like to display them and show them to the public and educate them about early transportation. At the same time we get to play with our artwork." The Excursion starts in a parking lot off of Foothill Boulevard in Pasadena ("Pasadena seems to be our unofficial base city," says the club's Web site), then winds up into the hills and around the floodplain of the San Gabriel Mountains. We rode in our friend Harry Hernandez's 1913 Model T Speedster. Hernandez also owns a Model T Touring and a Jeffrey, the latter serving as a reminder of how many car companies there were back in the days when economies of scale were all over the map and there were no Tier 2 supplier networks or government crash-test regulations. Our T was in great running order, and we whisked through the canyons of Pasadena, Altadena, La Canada (by the Art Center College of Design), the Rose Bowl and San Marino where we passed the Huntington Library, which likewise reminded us that this was where the oil barons and land barons all lived before Beverly Hills had even been invented. There's a donut stop (a requirement for all car-club events), a lunch stop (also required) and a final stop at a club member's home garage before the pack disperses and everybody heads home for another year. This year the tour ended at the home and garages of Loren Burch, where, each time we visit we want to start working on any of his many old-car restoration projects--or try and start the steam locomotive that once circled the backyard track. There are other HCCA events all over the country all year long. Have a look at www.hcca.org and go buy yourself a Pope, a Peerless or a Packard. Mark Vaughn - West Coast Editor Mark Vaughn covers all car things west of the Mississippi from his Autoweek lair high above the LA metropolis. Read more »

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Car Rental News MPG Car Rental expands its fleet with latest and greatest models For LosAngeles top provider of hybrid car rentals, 2012 looks to be a banner year. The diverse family of green vehicles at MPG Car Rental is opening its doors to three new members, including the Chevy Volt, the Fisker Karma, and the plug-in Prius. MPG Car Rental is already extremely popular for the wide range of options that it offers its valued customers, but with these additions, the best just got better. The Chevy Volt has made a splash as the most fuel-efficient compact car in the United States , according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). With an overall combined gasoline-electric fuel economy rating of 60 MPG (and a combined city/highway fuel economy of 93 MPG-e in all-electric mode), the Chevy Volt is an exciting new option for drivers who want to save a buck for themselves and save the planet at the same time. Talk about racking up some good karma! As for the Fisker Karma, this plug-in hybrid sports car is the ultimate rebuttal to all those critics who have said that hybrids have no style or panache. This marvel of engineering is a beauty to look at and a dream to drive. Featuring a combined city/highway fuel economy of 52 MPG-e in all-electric mode, and 403 horsepower electric motors, the Fisker Karma has all the character of a classic top-of-the-line sports car with the fuel economy of a premier plug-in hybrid. The asking price for a brand new Fisker Karma is over $100,000 , but why buy it when you can rent it for a very competitive rate at MPG Car Rental, the best car rental company for eco-friendly consumers? Last but not least, the new plug-in Prius arrives in March, and what can we say, once again Toyota has managed to improve on their brainchild. As with each new release of an Apple product, it’s hard not to get giddy about the latest Prius model. The plug-in Prius offers a combined electric and hybrid mode of 87 MPG-e, making it one of the most fuel efficient cars on the road today. These three vehicles and many other hybrid cars and SUVs can be found at MPG Car Rental, a reputable company with a headquarters conveniently located in Venice, CA. To learn more about MPG Car Rental, competitively priced car rental at LAX, making online reservations, and special offers, visit online at www.mpgcarrental.comADVERTISEMENT Makkah Clock Royal Tower claims top prize at World Travel Awards Best Western announced 2012 Board of Directors

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Business Day|Carmakers Back Strict New Rules for Gas Mileage Business Day Carmakers Back Strict New Rules for Gas Mileage By BILL VLASICJULY 28, 2011 DETROIT — Four years ago, the American auto industry was so opposed to higher fuel economy standards that executives of Detroit camped out in Washington in an unsuccessful bid to undercut them.On Friday, when President Obama announced even stricter standards — in fact, the largest increase in mileage requirements since the government began regulating consumption of gasoline by cars in the 1970s — the chief executives of Detroit’s Big Three were in Washington again.But this time they were standing in solidarity with the president, who was also surrounded by some of Detroit’s highest-tech — and most fuel-efficient — new vehicles.While the American carmakers, as well as their Asian rivals, once argued against even minimal increases in government fuel rules, they are acquiescing without protest to an increase to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, from the current 27 miles per gallon. Continue reading the main story The new standards are seen by the Obama administration as critical to reducing oil consumption and cutting consumer expenses at the pump, and the White House made it clear to Detroit executives that the changes were coming and they needed to cooperate. It is an extraordinary shift in the relationship between the companies and Washington. But a lot has happened in the last four years, notably the $80 billion federal bailout of General Motors, Chrysler and scores of their suppliers, which removed any itch for a politically charged battle from the carmakers.And the auto companies have gotten a lot better at building popular small cars that are fuel efficient — thanks to gas-electric hybrids and advances in battery technology — and consumers are responding. Six of the 10 best-selling vehicles in America are small or midsize cars, and one of the most popular pickup models on the market is a Ford F-Series with a high-mileage, six-cylinder engine.Still, the industry’s meek acceptance of what are considered extremely challenging fuel-economy goals is a marked retreat from years past, when the companies argued that consumers would not be willing to pay for the technology needed to meet higher mileage requirements.“The auto companies’ level of vitriol and rhetoric has changed,” said Dan Becker, director of the Safe Climate Campaign, a group that works to mitigate global warming. “We welcome all epiphanies.”The new mind-set in Detroit has been helped by some give and take on the government’s side. G.M., Ford and Chrysler pressed for less onerous mileage goals for their profitable pickup trucks and got them. And the administration agreed to revisit the new requirements halfway through their course, with the possibility of adjusting them.In the end, though, Detroit was faced with an undeniable political reality: there was no graceful way to say no to an administration that just two years ago came to its aid financially.“This was no time to fight these regulations,” said one Detroit executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity because of the nature of the closed-door negotiations. “And you’re starting to see these fundamental shifts in the market that play a huge role in this,” the executive said in advance of Friday's announcement. “The standards are going to be quite stringent and a challenge,” said Scott Becker, a senior vice president in the United States for the Japanese automaker Nissan. Above, the company's electric vehicle, the Leaf. Richard Drew/Associated Press Environmental groups find themselves in the unusual position of lauding the automakers for making fuel economy a priority in virtually all their newest products, from the tiniest subcompact to the heaviest pickup. “These proposed standards can be met using well-known technologies such as better engines, lower-cost hybrids and electric cars,” said Roland Hwang, transportation program director at the Natural Resources Defense Council.The proposal introduced by the president calls for a 5 percent annual increase in fuel economy for cars from 2017 to 2025. The gains are more modest for the light-truck category, which includes sport utility vehicles — 3.5 percent a year through 2021, and then 5 percent annually in the next four years. The standards announced four years ago run through 2016, requiring a corporate average of 36 miles per gallon by then. Over all, the new standards will require a 54.5 miles per gallon corporate average for 2025. That standard will be made more easily achievable by credits that automakers can earn by producing battery-powered vehicles, hybrids and alternative-fuel models. Details of how the credits will work have not yet been made public, but the intention is to encourage the development of cars with far lower emissions.Initially, the White House floated a much more aggressive target of 62 miles per gallon by 2025. It reduced that twice before agreeing on the final number.A crucial negotiator for the administration was Ron Bloom, one of the senior members of the president’s automotive task force that shepherded G.M. and Chrysler through taxpayer-financed bankruptcy reorganizations in 2009.Detroit executives said Mr. Bloom’s relationships with the companies and his understanding of their current and future products were critical factors in bringing all the sides together. The parties included environmental and public health groups as well as the California Air Resources Board, which has historically set standards more aggressive than the federal ones.“The really big part of this is the midpoint review,” said David Cole, chairman emeritus of the Center for Automotive Research, an auto industry research group in Ann Arbor, Mich. “By then everybody will have a better understanding of the cost of the technology, particularly the batteries.”The automakers are confident that they can achieve incremental goals each year, but the real test will be if costs can be lowered enough so consumers will want to buy more electric and hybrid models.“The standards are going to be quite stringent and a challenge,” said Scott Becker, a senior vice president in the United States for the Japanese automaker Nissan. “But given the range of technologies that we either have currently or are developing, we will be in a position to meet them.” Support for the new standards by the Detroit and Asian carmakers will allow the administration to formally set forth the plan by the end of September, which will then be followed by a public comment period.The White House has said the regulations will save drivers money at the pump in addition to reducing emissions. In the past, Detroit might have challenged the thesis, or forecast a negative impact on job growth. This time, the automakers’ trade group proposed radio ads that would have raised concerns about job losses, but the proposal was squelched by some of the companies, notably G.M. and Chrysler. Instead, the automakers decided to sign on to the goal of 54.5 miles per gallon — and wait and see if it can be achieved down the road.“These targets are far out there, but the economics need to work,” said Mr. Cole. “This is also the most aggressive environmental administration the industry has seen for a long time, and the companies have to get through this with them.” Nick Bunkley contributed reporting. A version of this article appears in print on July 29, 2011, on Page A1 of the New York edition with the headline: Carmakers Back Strict New Rules For Gas Mileage. Order Reprints| Today's Paper|Subscribe New Goal for Fuel Economy

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We The People pancake feed Firth downs Cardinals, 58-50 State wrestling update You are hereHome » Family opens NAPA Auto Parts store Family opens NAPA Auto Parts store The Smith family from American Falls has been keeping their eye out for a new place to expand their NAPA Auto Parts stores in Southeast Idaho and found the perfect opportunity in Blackfoot. They opened the doors to a new store on Monday at 1250 W. Bridge, in the old Spudnik building next to Gold's Gym. The family opened their first NAPA store in American Falls in 1998 and a second store in Aberdeen in 2008. The family-owned business — which includes Dennis and Donna Smith; their two sons Joaquin (wife Sarah Wyne Smith) and Kade (wife Jesalee Thomas Smith) — employs six people at the Blackfoot store. Sarah (Wyne Smith), who grew up in Pingree and graduated from Snake River High School as the daughter of Dr. Edward and Sally Wyne, said she is thrilled to be back working in the Blackfoot area again. "I have so many fond memories of working at the Blackfoot Community Clinic and being involved in the Nuart Theater," she said. Sarah said that as business partners in NAPA, the family takes great pride in their excellent customer service and the ability to supply even 'hard to find' parts." "We are continually trying to stretch our inventory to meet the needs of the community by carrying lines in light duty, heavy duty, ag, import and hydraulic parts. "If we don't have it, we'll get it," she added. "I love that we're branching out. We love to support local communities and we look forward to our new home in Blackfoot." For more information on NAPA Auto Body in Blackfoot call 785-9950.

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1 of 8The SRT Viper made it on-track debut Thursday at Mid-Ohio.Photo by ALMS2 of 8The SRT Viper.Photo by ALMS3 of 8The Viper takes on Mid-Ohio.Photo by LAT Photographic4 of 8The SRT Viper waits to take on Mid-Ohio for practice on Friday.Photo by LAT Photographic5 of 8The Viper is back in the American Le Mans Series for the first time since 2000.Photo by LAT Photographic6 of 8The Viper runs at Mid-Ohio.Photo by LAT Photographic7 of 8The SRT Viper at Mid-Ohio.Photo by LAT Photographic Next Gallery: Le Mans Blog: Pay respect to Audi, DeltaWing teams for raising the bar » 8 of 8Next Gallery: Le Mans Blog: Pay respect to Audi, DeltaWing teams for raising the bar SRT Vipers make ALMS debut at Mid-Ohio SRT Motorsports made its long-awaited debut in the American Le Mans Series on Thursday, testing for the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge. The two SRT Viper GTS-Rs hit the track for the first time after the manufacturer announced in April that it was bringing a two-car factory Viper program.This weekend's event marks the first race for Viper in the ALMS since 2000.The No. 91 Viper of Dominik Farnbacher and Kuno Wittmer was 11th in GT on Thursday at 1:22.891 (98.066 mph). Two spots down was the No. 93 Viper entry of Marc Goossens and Tommy Kendall.“First of all, I want to thank the whole SRT team for putting this together. It's been a hell of a few months,” said Farnbacher, who posted the team's best lap Thursday. “We've been working day and night, and thanks to the team for working day and night.“The car feels fantastic. The first time out, it already feels very good. Of course, the first time out we have a little fine-tuning to do on the setup, but other than that it's a fantastic car. I think we're heading the right way. It feels good so far.”The SRT Vipers—constructed by Riley Technologies—went through a thorough testing schedule that included multiple days at Mid-Ohio in the past month. The GT class in the ALMS also includes factory- and works-supported teams from BMW, Chevrolet, Porsche, Ferrari and Lotus.“There are goals and expectations,” Kendall said. “A driver's goal is to always come out and win the race. The expectation, though, is to learn as much as we can. We've done a lot of testing and have a lot of questions in our minds about where we stand. We want to get as many miles as we can. We're under no illusions about what we've gotten into. We picked a pretty deep and stocked pool to jump in.” The Mid-Ohio Sports Car Challenge is set for 1 p.m. on Saturday, being hosted at the 2.25-mile, 13-turn Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course.

汽车

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You are here: Vehicles The FC82 Vehicles - The FC82 V8 Coil Sprung Forward Control The FC82 was a development of the 139” wheelbase Sandringham Six. Built to satisfy the military payload requirement, the vehicle had to be made into a Forward Control configuration to be able to carry a platoon. Back to back seats were fitted facing front and rear and a canvas tilt could be fitted with the tilt frame running down the side of the seats and located in holes in the floor. The floor was aluminium tongued and grooved sections. The rear body was fitted with dropsides and a drop tail. Small lockers were fitted between the rear of the cab and the dropsides, and below the body between the front and rear wheels. The 6X6 used the Sandringham Six’s petrol tank which was specially made to fit above the rear axles and below the body. The 4X4 used the standard Land Rover rear tank. SMC Engineering had heard about the proposed military requirement for a mainly road-going vehicle, with limited off-road capability, at the 1980 British Army Equipment Exhibition. The Sandringham six had been launched in 1979 and was then adapted into the FC82. Its launch was at the 1982 British Army Equipment Exhibition. I have read that it was on static display as well as in the mobility display. My FC82 was bought as a flatback vehicle but was supposed to have been a fuel bowser. At that time I still hadn’t located SMC Engineering so I thought I would contact past owners to see what light they could shed on the vehicles history. As luck would have it the person who had owned the vehicle originally was very helpful. He had run a business renting out Range rovers to film companies and TV channels for outside broadcasts. He had gone to buy an ex-demo hi-cap pickup for his business but returned with a virtually new FC82 for £2000 less than roughly treated ex-demo hi-caps were selling for. The FC82 was bought at the auction as a dropside pickup with canvas tilt fitted, so had never been a fuel bowser originally. The new owner kept it for about eight months before selling it to Heathrow Airport. Here it lost its original body and was made into a mobile workshop/bad weather rescue vehicle for all the other airport vehicles. This explained the worklights, extra batteries and “Forth Bridge” built rear tow bar. The rear mounted fuel tank was also replaced with a lorry tank to make way for the tow bar strengthening. It’s said that it was the very first vehicle to be painted in the then new BA livery of dark blue and grey, even the engine box was painted. After seven years at Heathrow it somehow found its way to a farmer on Humberside who fitted the current flatback body for carrying a vintage tractor. After owning the vehicle a few years he seems to have started the long performance of trying to sell it. Four years had passed between the first advertisement and my friend acquiring it. Eventually I finally met up with SMC’s owner. He said he still had a body that would fit my vehicle, unfortunately it was a much later type than it should have been if I am to restore it to its original specification. No drawings survive of the bodywork dimensions, I presume because so many sets of bodies were built by the coachbuilders and used as required on either Sandringham Sixes or FC82. The 4X4 body was a cut down version of the 6X6 body. The only 6X6 vehicle I know of has also had it’s body altered so all the vital measurements I require are not available and I have been unable to trace the whereabouts of the other vehicles in the UK. After my visit to SMC I now know what should and shouldn’t be on my FC82 as far as the chassis cab is concerned but I require some good photographs to try to make an accurate rear body. The dropsides are not the problem but the size of the lockers at the rear of the cab are. Geoff Burge 2001

汽车

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Advertisement Advertisement Pelosi: Big 3 Bailout An Automotive 'Renaissance' Tue, 01/12/2010 - 3:37am Comments by Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer DETROIT (AP) — House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Obama administration officials on Monday defended last year's federal bailout of the auto industry, citing optimism that General Motors and Chrysler had made strides only months after exiting bankruptcy. "What we see here today is a renaissance," Pelosi said. "A renaissance, a phoenix — a rebirth." Pelosi and more than a dozen lawmakers traveled to the auto industry's annual showcase. They inspected General Motors' Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in electric vehicle, as well as engine technologies under development by Chrysler LLC and its Italian partner, Fiat Group SpA, and fuel-sipping small cars from Ford Motor Co. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood also toured the show. He said the administration made the right decision to save GM, Chrysler and auto lender GMAC Financial Services with about $80 billion in aid, along with a separate $3 billion Cash for Clunkers program that boosted auto sales during last summer's doldrums. "This was a good investment of taxpayer dollars in an industry that needed a little bit of an infusion of resources," LaHood said. He noted that GM, which received about $50 billion in aid, had recently repaid the government $1 billion in loans and was showing signs of recovery. Shiny new cars and trucks usually command all the attention at the auto show, but Pelosi and her congressional colleagues were mobbed by dozens of reporters, cameramen and hovering boom microphones as they toured the vehicle displays. Pelosi's trip was aimed at showing support and optimism for the auto industry and Michigan, which has been ravaged by the economic downturn. GM and Chrysler were forced into bankruptcy and many automakers and suppliers faced painful job losses and a sharp decline in auto sales. Michigan's jobless rate has hovered around 15 percent and the state has held the nation's highest unemployment rate for much of the past four years. "I see a lot of flickers of hope here," said Labor Secretary Hilda Solis. During a luncheon with Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, lawmakers and industry officials, Pelosi acknowledged that the government's intervention in GM and Chrysler and the economic stimulus was met with resistance. But Pelosi and others said it was critical to preserving the nation's manufacturing base and developing renewable energy sources. Pelosi said she planned to return to Detroit for the 2011 auto show to chart carmakers' progress. The U.S. government owns about 61 percent of General Motors and nearly 10 percent of Chrysler. GM has said it will repay nearly $7 billion in loans by June and is working to conduct a public stock offering, which could lead to the repayment of some of the billions. GM Vice Chairman Bob Lutz said Monday that the automaker could not repay the U.S. government with one stock offering and may issue two in an effort to repay the money. "I don't think we've given any thought to how big the first wave would be and when we'd do the second wave," Lutz told reporters. "I think it's fair to assume that we couldn't go the whole $50 billion all at once." Government watchdogs have expressed doubt that the government will get all its money back. The Congressional Oversight Panel reviewing the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program said last year that most of the $23 billion initially provided to GM and Chrysler was unlikely to be repaid. Pelosi said GM chairman and interim CEO Ed Whitacre Jr. assured her that "he's a taxpayer and he wants his money back. We feel that we're on the right path now. I think this represents real change." Whitacre has projected a positive outlook for the company, telling reporters last week that GM could be profitable this year depending on economic factors. "We're going to make you proud," Whitacre told Pelosi. "You're going to like what we do." Providing more help, the Energy Department announced $187 million in funding for projects to boost the fuel efficiency of heavy-duty trucks and passenger vehicles. General Motors, Chrysler and Ford Motor Co. were among the beneficiaries. Government leaders took a prominent role on the first day of the North American International Auto Show, a major industry showcase with wall-to-wall vehicle unveilings and thousands of journalists. The government's influence was apparent — even a local coffee company served "organic bailout blend" in the media lounge.

汽车

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Follow us: News Freight Class I Short Lines & Regionals Switching & Terminal Intermodal Passenger Intercity Commuter/Regional Rapid Transit High Performance Light Rail Mechanical Freight Cars Locomotives M/W C&S Sustainability Safety PTC Finance/Leasing Regulatory Sunday, May 12, 2013 A look back in time: The GM/Southern Pacific Vert-A-Pac SP Vert-A-Pack Remember the Chevrolet Vega and its Pontiac equivalent, the Astre? These cars were shipped long-distance in a rather unusual manner. Until the early 1960s, automobiles moved by rail were carried in boxcars. The boxcars were 50 feet long with double-wide doors. Inside was room for four full-sized sedans on a two-tier rack—two raised up off the floor on a steel rack and two others tucked in underneath them. This protected the cars during transport but wasn’t very efficient, as the weight of four vehicles was far less than the maximum weight a boxcar that size could carry. When 85-foot and 89-foot flatcars came into service, it was possible to pack up to 15 automobiles in one car on tri-level autoracks. But this still didn’t approach the maximum allowable weight for each flatcar. When Chevrolet was designing the Vega during the late 1960s, one of its main objectives was to keep the cost of the car down around $2,000 (in circa-1970 dollars). At the time, the freight charge for moving a loaded railcar from the Lordstown, Ohio, assembly plant to the Pacific coast—the longest distance cars produced at Lordstown would need to travel—was around $4,800. Since the Vega was a subcompact, it was possible to squeeze three more cars on into an autorack, for a total of 18, instead of the usual 15. But that still worked out to around $300 per car—a substantial transportation charge (which dealers passed on to customers) for a $2,000 car. If Chevrolet could get more Vegas on a railroad car, the cost per unit of hauling them would go down. Engineers at General Motors and the Southern Pacific Railroad came up with a clever solution. Instead of loading the cars horizontally, they were to be placed vertically on a specially designed autorack called the Vert-A-Pac. Within the same dimensions of an 89-foot flatcar with a tri-level autorack, the Vert-A-Pac system could hold as many as 30 automobiles instead of 18, reducing the transportation charge per vehicle by about 40%. Chevrolet’s goal was to deliver Vegas topped with fluids and ready to drive to the dealership from their distribution point. In order to be able to travel nose-down without leaking fluids all over the railcar (and onto the tracks), the Vega’s engineers had to design a special engine oil baffle to prevent oil from entering the No. 1 cylinder of the car’s inline-four engine. Batteries had filler caps located high up on the rear edge of the case to prevent acid spills. The carburetor float bowl had a special tube that drained gasoline into the vapor canister during shipment, and the windshield washer bottle stood at a 45 degree angle. Plastic spacers were wedged between the powertrain and chassis to prevent damage to engine and transmission mounts. The wedges were removed when cars were unloaded. The doors were closed with a forklift tractor (see illustrations). The Vega was hugely popular when it was introduced in 1970. However it quickly earned a reputation for unreliability, rust, and poor engine durability. When the Vega and the Pontiac Astre were discontinued in 1977, the Vert-A-Pac racks were retired as they were too specialized to be used with anything else. The Vert-A-Pac racks were scrapped, and the underlying flatcars went on to other uses. Railway Age thanks Doug Warble, Mechanicsburg, Pa., a member of the Susquehanna Valley GTOs automobile club, and the club’s newsletter, GTO Tiger Times, for this article. Railway Age Editor-in-Chief William C. Vantuono is Chapter Coordinator for the GTO Association of America and an SVGTO member. Tagged under

汽车

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This camouflaged Ford Fusion was caught testing in metro Detroit. Photo by Autoweek 2013 Ford Fusion is spotted on the road in light camouflage The 2013 Ford Fusion made its public debut at the Detroit auto show in January. It was completely restyled from the last-generation car and bears a strong resemblance to the Ford Evos concept revealed in Frankfurt. The new Fusion will hit showrooms soon, but one of our intrepid readers spotted this camouflaged prototype cruising the streets of metro Detroit on Thursday morning.The new Fusion will be available with one of three four-cylinder engines, ranging from 170 hp to 237 hp. Ford will also build a Fusion plug-in hybrid model to compete with the Chevrolet Volt and the Hyundai Sonata hybrid. The Fusion will be offered with a six-speed automatic, a six-speed manual or a six-speed SelectShift automatic, an upgraded unit used on the Ford Taurus SHO.In the pictures we can clearly see the 2013 Fusion's headlights and new grille, though it looks to be blacked out on this car and not chrome. The new flowing shape is easily seen, along with the oblong taillights we saw on the show model.Ford says the car will go on sale “in the middle of 2012,” so hopefully the company is working out the last few bugs on the vehicle. Or, who knows, it could be a 2014 Fusion testing some other new technology we haven't heard about yet. We'll find out more later this year.

汽车

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Ferrari 330 & 365 GTC Models Index Ferrari F40 model guide F40 we have sold Ferrari F40 Model History The Ferrari F40 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupé sports car produced by Ferrari from 1987 to 1992 as the successor to the Ferrari 288 GTO. From 1987 to 1989 it was Ferrari's fastest, most powerful, and most expensive car. The car had no traction control, and a rather agressive power delivery from it's twin turbo V8 engine...Rated by many as the greatest Supercar of them all, the F40 was the last car commissioned by the late Enzo Ferrari, to celebrate 40 years of production at Maranello. Following on from the 288 GTO Evoluziones, the F40 took the concept of a powerful engine in a lightweight body a stage further. With a power to weight ratio of over 400bhp/ton the F40 set new standards of performance - eclipsing even the Porsche 959 with its 200mph top speed and brutal acceleration. Even today - these are really good fun to drive - and without the proliferation of driver aids seen in modern supercars - you are reminded what "real" driving is all about when an F40 comes on boost - especially when the road you are travelling on is not completely dry..Total production for roadcars came to 1315 - with an additional small number of racecars also made - all were LHD. There were 7 RHD cars made by Pininfarina for Brunei - of which we have sold the 2 that have come onto the market. Talacrest and the Ferrari F40 We have sold lots of these cars - and vividly remember a spirited drive around the M25 when the cars first came out - and before the advent of speed cameras... We have sold the "White Collection" ex - Chris Evans a few times - now repainted in it's original red and in "as new" condition - Click here for details. There is a link to a video of this car is on the bottom right of the page - when it was part of the White Collection. There were 7 RHD cars made by Pininfarina for Brunei. 2 of these cars have come onto the open market - with the other 5 remaining in Brunei. We have sold one of the cars 3 times! - Click here for details. The other car with a desirable non-cat/non adj spec and with a modified 650 BHP engine was also sold by us - Click here for details. Ferrari F40 price guide Current prices range from £550,000 to £1 million dependant on mileage. Classiche certification and full service history are essential and unless it is a RHD Brunei car - modifications affect values as the market for cars modified to LM/GTE specification is much smaller. If you are buying or selling - talk to us first. Examples of Ferrari F40 Talacrest have sold Video of Ferrari F40 Talacrest has sold Latest Stock We have access to the best classic Ferrari available anywhere in the world... With over 30 years experience Talacrest have sold over $1 Billion worth of Ferrari. Find out all the latest news from Talacrest from out social feed, updated daily.

汽车

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ON AIR NOW9:00 AM - 12:00 PMThe Stafford Show Ontario Investing $20 Million To Build 500 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Danny Longo Posted: April 28, 2016 12:12 pm The province is investing $20 million from Ontario’s Green Investment Fund to build nearly 500 electric vehicle charging stations at over 250 locations in Ontario in 2017. Ontario is working with 27 public and private sector partners to create a network of fast-charging electric vehicle stations in cities, along highways and at workplaces, condominiums and public places across Ontario. The investment is part of the $20 million Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario (EVCO) grant program. This expansion in charging infrastructure will help address “range anxiety,” a common concern of consumers regarding the distance electric vehicles can travel compared to traditional vehicles. Tranportation minister Steven Del Duca says by building a more robust network of public chargers across Ontario, electric vehicle owners can now plan longer trips with more confidence that a charging station is as readily available as a gas station is. Some locations will have only a Level 2 charger, which can fully charge a vehicle in four to six hours, others will have Level 3 _ or Direct Current Fast Chargers _ that can charge a vehicle to 80 per cent in 30 minutes, and some will have both. Del Duca says in just 10 years, Ontario has become a North American leader in the development, use and manufacturing of clean energy. There are approximately 6,400 electric vehicles currently on the road in Ontario.

汽车

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/ Modified dec 13, 2011 12:41 p.m. In 2006, director Chris Paine made the film "Who Killed the Electric Car?". Now, he's back with a new film which documents what he calls an "industry revolution in progress". by Mark McLemore "Revenge of the Electric Car" director Chris Paine Why have electric cars run into so many roadblocks over the years? Recent news about exploding batteries has left many potential consumers wary, but electric vehicle (or EV) converts say those reports are exaggerations. It was over a decade ago that General Motors first produced - and then eradicated - a limited number of EV1 vehicles, a story documented by Chris Paine in his 2006 film Who Killed the Electric Car. But now, the situation is different, and there are an estimated 8,500 electric cars on the road in the U.S. alone. Chris Paine is back, with a film called Revenge of the Electric Car , and AZPM's Andrea Kelly has the interview... Revenge of the Electric Car begins a run at The Loft Cinema on Friday, December 9th. Director Chris Paine will be attending a screening followed by a Q & A on opening night at 7 pm. Additionally, here is a list of some additional electric vehicle (EV) resources: TEVA2 is Tucson’s chapter of the Electric Auto Association, and is composed of EV enthusiasts who – primarily, but not exclusively – convert older existing gasoline cars to electric power. A recent article in the online publication EV World took a closer look at Tusconan Jerry Asher's commitment to EV cars. Tucson resident Jerry Asher and his "Spirit Of DC", a converted Toyota Prius gas / electric hybrid that can operate for long distances solely on electric power. The Pima Association of Governments is coordinating efforts with The Tucson Clean Cities Program, The U.S. Department of Energy and ECOtality North America to provide a local infrastructure of public EV charging stations. Among the first modern commercially available EV to become available here was the Nissan Leaf, which arrived in late 2010. One year later it is estimated that there are around 300 Leafs operating on the streets of Tucson. The Nissan Leaf is now available worldwide and, at 20,000 units made just this past year, it is the most produced Electric Vehicle in history. Tucson was among 29 cities across the United States that participated in "National Plug In Day" on October 16, 2011. The grass roots EV awareness event, which is anticipated to occur annually, was spearheaded by Plug In America. There are many national and internationally based EV news websites keeping up with the latest information, including a blog run by New York Times correspondent Brad Berman called Plug In Cars.com. Special thanks to AZPM's Ben Nead for his research and involvement with this article and interview. The Loft Cinema is an underwriter of Arizona Public Media. MORE: People and Places, Technology, Tucson YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Inside the Arizona Highways Wildlife Guide Mime Evolves with "Tales of Transformation" From March to Movement By posting comments, you agree to our Comment Policy

汽车

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How much air pollution comes from cars? Linda C. Auto | Exhaust & Emissions Browse the article How much air pollution comes from cars? How much do you know about air pollution? Digital Vision/Thinkstock You see it every time that smoke billows from your car's exhaust pipe, so there's no denying that vehicles are major contributors to air pollution. Air pollution refers to the presence of foreign substances in the air that don’t belong there, or excessive amounts of certain impurities that wouldn't harm us otherwise. When cars burn gasoline, they emit pollutants. Gasoline fumes escape into the air even when we pump gasoline into our fuel tanks. There are four major pollutants that come from cars: How Light Pollution Works Can clothing neutralize pollution? The Ultimate Indoor Air Pollution Quiz A car emits carbon monoxide when the carbon in fuel doesn't burn completely. A car's exhaust emits hydrocarbons, a toxic compound of hydrogen and carbon.When fuel burns, nitrogen and oxygen react with each other and form nitrogen oxides (NOx). Particulate matter -- small particles of foreign substances -- in the air contribute to atmospheric haze and can damage people’s lungs. Pollutants from cars contribute to various types of air pollution. When hydrocarbons and NOx combine in sunlight, they produce ozone. High in the atmosphere, ozone protects us from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. When holes in the atmosphere's ozone layer allows ozone to come closer to Earth, it contributes to smog and causes respiratory problems. Air pollutants emitted from cars are believed to cause cancer and contribute to such problems as asthma, heart disease, birth defects and eye irritation. Emissions from cars increase the levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. At normal levels, greenhouse gases keep some of the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and help warm Earth. That said, many scientists believe that burning fossil fuels such as gasoline causes greenhouse gas levels to spike, leading to global warming. Scientists use sophisticated instruments to measure concentrations of harmful substances in the air, but it’s tough to say exactly what percentage of air pollution comes from cars. This makes sense, because many other human activities contribute to air pollution as well. In fact, the production of electricity by coal-fired power plants and other sources can cause more pollution than most cars. If that wasn't enough, we pollute the air when we heat our homes and public buildings with fuels other than electricity -- just as we do when we drive our cars. Even people who don’t drive add to pollution when they buy goods and services that involve fuel when they're made or delivered. Although the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) declared cars "mobile sources" of pollution, they aren’t the only culprits. Big trucks, bulldozers, ships and boats, trains and even snowblowers pollute the air. According to the EPA, motor vehicles collectively cause 75 percent of carbon monoxide pollution in the U.S. The Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) estimates that on-road vehicles cause one-third of the air pollution that produces smog in the U.S., and transportation causes 27 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. The U.S. has 30 percent of the world's automobiles, yet it contributes about half of the world's emissions from cars. The United States was long considered the world’s biggest polluter in terms of carbon dioxide and other greenhouses gases, but by 2008, the United Nations had reported that China had moved into the top spot. The percentage of air pollution caused by cars is higher in urban areas and higher still near major highways. Fortunately, better fuels and new technologies in cars help. The U.S. government has imposed tougher emissions standards, and consumers want better efficiency. According to the EPA, today’s cars emit 75 to 90 percent less pollution per mile driven than cars made in 1970 did. Hybrid cars, electric cars and alternative fuels will continue to help, but the sheer number of people -- and cars -- on the roads offset those improvements. People can help by driving less. If you have to get out of the house, combine trips for efficiency. Walk, bike, carpool or use public transportation if you can.

汽车

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2016 Contents HOn3 Extra Board HOn3 Product Reviews HOn3 Blog Meet the HOn3 Annual Staff Advertise with HOn3 Annual The average HOn3 rolling stock roster features a sea of nominally 30-foot, boxcar red equipment, and this new reefer from Blackstone provides a much-needed bit of color and variety. Long popular with modelers, the short reefer is a welcome addition to the Blackstone line. Rio Grande 30′ Refrigerator Car from Blackstone Models By Chris Lane/Photos by the author Blackstone has introduced the latest in their line of true-to-prototype HO narrow gauge rolling stock; the Denver & Rio Grande Western 30-foot “Short” reefer. A perennially popular prototype for narrow gauge modelers, this new car provides both variety and a bit of color to freight train consists. The Prototype The Rio Grande got into the narrow gauge railroad business in 1871 with the usual mix of passenger cars, boxcars and flats, but quickly found the need to augment the roster with specially rolling stock like ventilated boxcars and refrigerator cars. This particular series of cars joined the roster in 1908 as replacements for earlier 1881-built cars. Designated Class 4r, the D&RG built 50 of these new cars in their shops in August of 1908. Numbered 32 to 81, these cars weighed 26,400 and had a 20-ton capacity with a volume of 1,031 cubic feet. The cars were 30 foot with truss-rodded wood frames and car bodies per standard turn-of-the-century car building practices. One item that gave them a bit of flair is that the queen posts and needle beams were tilted at a slight angle towards the trucks. The cars rode on American Car and Foundry 4’-8” wheelbase archbar trucks. Most of the D&RG narrow gauge cars rode on trucks with outside hung brakes but these trucks featured inside hung brake shoes. The thinking was that water from the melting ice in the bunkers would drip on outside hung brakes and considerably lessen their stopping power, especially in the winter as the water froze. The cars were dispatched all over the narrow gauge system, and faithfully piled up the train-miles for the next twenty years. The D&RG reorganized as the Denver & Rio Grande Western in 1920, and began to upgrade and modernize the railroad. This included rebuilding the bulk of the 1900-era narrow gauge freight cars. “Rebuild” is a bit of a misnomer. The tax laws at this time gave preference to a rebuilt asset when compared to buying a new car from the car builder, but make no mistake, cars going through this program emerged as new cars. The frames were built new, as were many aspects of the car body, the trucks renewed and the air brake system rebuilt and upgraded, in addition to some of the ironwork being replaced. When it came time for the Class 4r reefers to go through the process in June of 1926, 40 out of the 50 cars in the fleet were rebuilt. No. 79 had been wrecked in 1923 and Nos. 44, 58, 61, 62, 66, 71, 75, 80 and 81were retired in ’26. The construction of the Class 5r 50’ “long” reefers, Nos. 150-169, in 1924 and 1926 made those cars surplus and unneeded. The remaining cars received the Murphy sheet metal roofs, truck and ice bunker work; general repairs as needed and the needle beams were reconfigured to run at 90 degrees to the frame as seen on the other rebuilt cars like the boxcars and gons. Or at least that is what some rail historians have reported. But in examining the D&RGW engineering drawings for the rebuilds, they clearly show the needle beam and queenpost angling 6 degrees towards the trucks as was seen on the original cars. The folio drawings also show this feature, although folio drawings are not always the most accurate source of car configuration. The photographic evidence also suggests at least some of the cars featured the angled needle beams. At the same time, there is ample evidence that some, if not most of the cars were rebuilt with the standard needle beam/queenpost configuration. In the end, we’ll never know 100% because while numerous car bodies still exist, as the railroad scrapped the cars, they pulled everything below the frame beams off, so no definitive way to prove the configuration, one way or another. As anyone in the building trades knows, the plans don’t always match up with how the builders finish, so I suspect that some of the early cars were built with angled beams, and somewhere along the line the car foreman thought “we’ve built hundreds of 30’ cars with the needle beams and queen posts straight up and down, why are we going to the extra work on these?” and made a running change. The cars continued to serve the railroad for the next 20 years and then began to leave the roster: Nos 32 and 33 were sold in 1942; No. 37 retired at the end of 1948; and Nos 35, 38, 42, 50, 52, 59, 63-64, 70, 73 and 80 (likely a book recording error) in 1951. 1952 saw Nos 49, 51, 56, 60 and 76 leave the roster, followed by 47 and 69 in 1953. A fire destroyed No. 40 in 1953. By the start of 1957, traffic had diminished to the point that cars 34, 36, 39, 43, 46, 54, 55, 72 and 74 were not needed and retired, followed by No. 45 at the end of the year. The last two cars in the class, Nos 48 and 68 lasted until June of 1958. That should have been the end of the story, but it is quite amazing how many of the almost 100 year old car bodies survived scrapping and the railroad’s demise. Nine are confirmed as still in existence, including No. 45 at the Colorado Railroad Museum (currently in rough shape and awaiting restoration) and No. 55, which has been restored by the Friends of the Cumbres & Toltec in Chama, N.M., to full operating condition. Of note is the recent discovery and purchase of Nos 39 and 54 by the Durango Railroad Historical Society, the same folks who restored D&RGW No. 315 to operation. The two reefer bodies had been hidden away in a lumber shed in the San Luis valley in Colorado and had intact original paint and lettering on one side of the cars. No. 39 is well on its was to full operational restoration, using some metal parts from No. 54 and components from the wreck of No. 79 near the Ames Slide on the Rio Grande Southern. No. 54’s body will provide much needed storage in the Silverton enginehouse. Blackstone Models’ new 30’ D&RGW short reefer is the latest release in their extensive line of HOn3 rolling stock. Blackstone has earned a reputation as a builder of extremely accurate models that also operate well on layouts and this new car is no exception. In fact, access to prototype reefer No. 39 being restored less than 2 miles from Blackstone’s offices in Durango has yielded an exceptionally accurate model with unparalleled fidelity in paint and lettering. The model consists of plastic injection-molded body and details, a cast metal underframe, free-standing details and wire grab irons. The car rides on new scale 4’-8” archbar trucks with engineering plastic sideframes and bolsters and metal wheels. These trucks demonstrate the same free-rolling characteristics of the 3’-7” trucks that most of the previous offerings from Blackstone ride on. Because the sideframe is longer, the wheelsets can pop out in shipping or handling. If the truck doesn’t roll freely, simply reseat the wheelset in the journal, and it will glide along the tracks. The models are equipped with Kadee® No. 714 couplers. The car weighs in at 1.7 oz. This is consistent with the weight of other 30’ Blackstone cars. Dimensionally, this model agrees with published drawings, including plans in Slim Gauge Cars-Second Edition (available from White River Productions) and the D&RGW engineering and folio drawings. The model also duplicates the distinctive coupler striker plates (found only on the 30’ reefers) and the detail of the door hardware is nothing short of astounding. Inspection with a jeweler’s loupe revealed all the bolts, hinges, latches and door hooks found on the prototype; all rendered in crisp relief from the car siding. That same detail is evident on the ice hatches, including the holes molded through the straps that hold the hatches open. The underframe has the needle beams in the common non-angled configuration, which is consistent with the photos for the car numbers offered. The model is decorated with American Refrigerator Transit (ART) Yellow sides, black underframe and boxcar red ends and Murphy roof. The paint is smoothly applied and the lettering both opaque and crisply rendered. Our sample sports the “Flying Grande” paint scheme, which was applied post-1940 and the car carried until it was retired. The model is also available in the pre-1940 “Royal Gorge Route” and “Moffat Tunnel” herald schemes. Most manufacturers develop their lettering from photographs, but Blackstone had the unique opportunity to measure authentic lettering from a car untouched since the late 1940s and sample its paint. This leads to a model that simply looks “right.” Sound-equipped locomotives have become well accepted, if not the norm in the last few years, but the train trailing it also makes noise. Blackstone’s parent company Soundtraxx addressed that with the introduction of their Tsunami SoundCar Digital Sound Decoder. This decoder adds train sounds like wheel noise, flange squeal, rail clickety-clacks and coupler joining and uncoupling sounds to the consist, and this reefer is set up for drop in installation of this decoder. The 2015 HOn3 Annual contained an article with step-by-step instructions for installing the decoder in the new reefer. It should be noted that the underframe is slightly less detailed than previous Blackstone Models to accommodate the sound feature in that the piping on the airbrake cylinder has been simplified and the brake rigging is absent. This likely of no concern for a layout model, and even most photography, but if the modeler wished to upgrade the detail, this underframe and the underframe from the 3000 series boxcar cars are a direct swap. The average HOn3 rolling stock roster features a sea of nominally 30-foot, boxcar red equipment, and this new reefer from Blackstone provides a much-needed bit of color and variety. Long popular with modelers, the short reefer is a welcome addition to the Blackstone line. These cars were both long-lived and useful on the D&RGW, and also ran on the Rio Grande Southern, so you would be justified in adding several to your car fleet. List price for this fine model is $55.95. Blackstone Models 141 Burnett Drive HOn3 D&RGW 30-Foot Refrigerator Car B340801 45 Flying Grande Herald $55.95 B340805 46 Moffat Tunnel Herald $55.95 B340807 32 Royal Gorge Route Herald $55.95 This article was posted on: October 19, 2016 Bucklin, Missouri 64631 Outside U.S. 660-695-4433 About Our Company About White River Productions Railroad Model Craftsman Model Railroad News Railfan & Railroad Passenger Train Journal Trains & Railroads of the Past Railroads Illustrated Annual On30 Annual Hon3 Annual Railroading Books Special Interest Publications HOn3 Annual, ©2015-2016 White River Productions. All rights reserved.The HOn3 Annual is the only publication dedicated to HO scale narrow gauge model railroading.

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california blue The 1964 Chevrolet Impala is kinda like the blue jeans of classic cars. It’s got a timeless styling, a solid construction, and it fits whatever look you’re after. In other words, you’ll be hard pressed to find any other car make and model that makes it look seemingly effortless being a mild kustom candidate, a drag strip hero, a collector’s favorite and a lowrider icon all at the same time. Dylan Odbert from San Clemente, California, couldn’t agree more. He currently owns two 1964 Impalas: an original unrestored one as his daily driver, and this beauty, a lowrider with a mild kustom soul. Or is it the other way round? We’re gonna find out soon. Dylan grew up in Sacramento, which is considered by many to be one of the birthplaces of lowrider culture, besides of being the capital of California. No wonder, already at an early age, Dylan fell for the impressive sight of lowrider Impalas, cruising the boulevards of his home town. »I was born in the 1980s, but even at that time, lowriding still was an important part of the local car culture. Going low and slow definitely made a lasting impression on me.« A lasting impression also resulted from the countless hours he spent at his dad’s garage. Garry Odbert is a true old school hot rodder, still owning his very first roadster from high school days. It’s also Garry who taught Dylan the correct use of welder, wrench and power hammer. Experiences, that soon would turn out to be very valuable. Learning for life as they say, in the best possible way. When Dylan’s high school time was approaching, he eagerly started collecting ideas for his future means of transportation. The family had just moved from Sacramento to Arroyo Grande , a laid-back, mellow small town at the California central coast and Dylan was able to extend his search even further south. It was on the countryside north of Los Angeles where he got lucky: a 1964 Impala Coupe. Or what was left of it. »Dude that car was a wreck« Dylan remembers with a laugh. »The interior was gone, the trunk floor and the rear quarters were rusted out, and one of the front fenders was completely torn.« Nevertheless, Dylan, being a 15-years old high school kid now owning a 1964 Impala, was one happy camper when he proudly dragged his find home. To get this project started, Dylan made a list of all the missing parts. A lot of the small stuff was gone, but thanks to the help of Mario Hernandez, he was able to track down the Impala’s missing bits one by one. Much more head scratching was caused by the sheet metal work, which Dylan did for the most part by himself but under the guidance of his dad Garry. Dylan even managed to straighten that heavily bent fender. Just as impressive is the fact that he masterfully applied the candy blue paintjob. He also relied on some accomplished mentors in this field: »Jr Cechetti, Paul Cepeda and Ray Cano all were patient in showing me the secrets of spraying candy paint. Without the three of them, I wouldn’t have made it.« Seven long years went into the restoration of this Impala. Several times, the project came to a halt, most often for such side issues like getting a high school diploma or starting an own company… »A couple years ago, my brother Dustin and I created the California menswear brand ambsn. And since Arroyo Grande was a bit far from the industry, we decided to move to San Clemente in Southern California.« But even this important move didn’t stop Dylan from turning his childhood vision into reality. He still fondly remembered the boulevard cruisers from his youth, so there was no doubt for the direction of his own sixty-four Impala. As with every car build, getting the stance right is mandatory, so Dylan opted for an AccuAir E-Level air ride system. The Cragar S/S wheels are a great choice, too, as they are right at the threshold between custom and lowrider, further emphasizing on that mid- to late-sixties boulevard cruiser style Dylan was after. While most people would have chosen some skinny whites, he went for some wider white walls that work great with the blue and white paint scheme. Finally, a completely rebuilt small block 350 and a TH350 automatic transmission make sure Dylan is going to make it wherever he wants to go. Even if it’s just low and slow, the way it was back in Sacramento. 2 california blue

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Advertisement Home > Trailers > First NATM show in Las Vegas since 2008 goes so well that it likely will become the West Coast convention host First NATM show in Las Vegas since 2008 goes so well that it likely will become the West Coast convention host Rick Weber | Trailer/Body Builders EMAIL Comments 0 Lucas Landis, marketing director for ATC Trailers, receives the NATM Green Award from Mike Lloyd, NATM president, and Ron Yarnell, PPG. The $5,000 award, sponsored by PPG, goes to the winning company’s favorite charity. Advertisement For the first time in six years, the National Association of Trailer Manufacturers (NATM) held its Annual Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas. And although Elvis Presley and Ann-Margret were not in the building, NATM executives were so pleased with the attendance and productivity that they were tempted to shout, “Viva Las Vegas!” The 26th annual event drew the second-highest number of registrants in recent history—880, a 15% increase over 2013—and the highest number of trailer manufacturers since 2010. The trade show floor also was sold out three weeks in advance of the event, which was held February 26-28 at South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa. The exhibitors and attendees gave the event a high rating. According to a survey, 100% of exhibitors said that the event is a high-quality exhibition that benefits their company; 14% were first-time exhibitors, a significant increase; and 46% of exhibitors introduced a new product. Of the attendees, 95% said the value of the show was good to excellent; they gave the trade show a rating of four out of five; 89% of the responding attendees have a role in purchasing products; 13% were there for the first time, a significant increase; and 92% said they will definitely or probably attend next year’s show in New Orleans. “Las Vegas is definitely a draw,” NATM executive director Pam O’Toole Trusdale said. “We’re still going to alternate between East and West Coast locations, but our West location will probably be Las Vegas for the next few. We already have a contract at South Point for 2016, and we’re looking at South Point for 2018. “The facility was great. Members liked having everything under one roof. When we go to a convention center, sometimes the trade show is there and other functions are at the hotel. They liked having everything there at South Point. We got good room rates, and the service and food were good. It’s just a great facility.” There were between 70 and 100 attendees for all of the workshop sessions, and in some cases there wasn’t enough room to accommodate them. Trusdale chalked that up to changes that were made for this year’s event. After reviewing 2013 convention evaluations, the convention committee eliminated the workshop sessions from Friday afternoon and moved the trade show up an hour on Friday, so it ended at noon. Instead of the Friday lunch, there was a Friday breakfast with the exhibitors. Friday also offered an opportunity for exhibitors to provide product demos in a theater on the trade show floor. “It was different this year,” Trusdale said. “Usually, we had three workshops at a time, and typically two were really well-attended and one not so much. So we decided to focus on technical topics and business issues and do two at a time, focusing on good speakers and attendance. We will do that again next year. Our technical forums were very popular. We will use the same format for next year.” NATM presented Aluminum Trailer Company (ATC Trailers) of Nappanee, Indiana, with the NATM Green Manufacturing Award at the Awards Luncheon. The NATM Green Manufacturing Award is presented to an NATM trailer manufacturing member annually to recognize the best innovation or novel solutions by a manufacturer in the industry that positively impact the environment. NATM has partnered with PPG Industries Inc, the founding sponsor of the Green Award, which donates $5000 to the charity selected by the award recipient. The financial support reflects PPG’s commitment to improving the environment. ATC Trailers has been proactive in its commitment to sustainability. A pillar of ATC’s core values is to enhance surrounding communities. Examples of ATC’s commitment to sustainability include recycling of 100% of wood scrap, aluminum and steel, while also recycling employee waste and eliminating one-time use paper products. This alone has generated an average of $4500 per month as well as keeps the waste from filling landfills. ATC has increased its energy efficiency and is in its fourth year of a lean manufacturing transition. The company has utilized natural ventilation for the summer months and a high-efficiency, wood-fired boiler in the winter months. One result of this effort is a huge reduction of utility costs from $221,520 to $113,625 annually. The company also complies with water-run off requirements, and has improved air quality through a new ventilation system and placed limits placed on smoking areas. ATC has plans to continue with its green improvements with a switch to energy-efficient light bulbs and increase natural lighting as well as introducing a rain capturing system in order to utilize the grey water in the facility. NATM President Mike Lloyd and Ron Yarnell of PPG presented Lucas Landis the 2014 Green Award to ATC Trailers. ATC selected Goshen’s Farmer’s Market to receive the donation. Goshen Farmer’s Market is governed by The Community Sustainability Project, an Indiana non-profit corporation with a mission to create a viable market for locally grown and crafted products in order to promote and educate about agricultural, environmental, economic, and community sustainability. The 27th Annual Convention & Trade Show is set for New Orleans at the Ernest M Morial Convention Center from February 11-13, 2015. Trusdale said the goal is to continue to grow attendance. “We’ve already sold 50% of the booth space for next year,” she said. “We give them a special rate if they exhibited this year and sign up within 45 days of this year’s convention for next year. We’re going to grow a bit and will have a few extra booths next year. “We had some promotions to get new members and first-time people there. We gave a free room and registration to one person per company to those who had never attended from a company. We want to reward not just new members but also long-time supporters, so with every full registration, a company could bring its purchasing agent for free. We had quite a few new manufacturers there this year, and that was our goal. We’re constantly trying to improve our educational events and have workshops with topics our members want to hear.” ♦ Find the NATM Convention Report archive with articles from 2012 to present Print Please Log In or Register to post comments. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related ArticlesNATM stages its convention and trade show in New Orleans for the first time since 1997 NATM takes its trade show and convention back to the site of the super-successful 2008 event, which set records NATM takes its trade show and convention back to the site of the super-successful 2008 event, which set records HDAW 2008 theme embraces the future NATM 2017 will be hosted by Orlando for the first time in 10 years, and a spike in attendance is expected Advertisement Current Issue Holland’s New plant builds low-volume work trucks with high-volume processesCanadian Transportation Equipment Association presents news from both sides of the border at annual Manufacturers Conference in VancouverGM forms partnerships to produce a smarter experience, because the trailer shouldn’t be viewed as a mystery black box

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Shop n' Charge, Local Mall Unveils Electric Car Charging Stations By Michael Lynch Jul 24, 2014 TweetShareGoogle+Email Pennsylvania ranks 19th in number of public electric car charging stations with 270 outlets—make that 274. The Mall at Robinson Thursday unveiled four new car charging stations powered by solar panels mounted above the mall’s food court entrance. Mall General Manager Beth Edwards said the stations take about 2 hours to fully charge an empty battery. That’s six times faster than the average at-home charge. The solar panels are “actually offsetting the eight kilowatts that are needed for four full charges of the station,” Edwards said. In other words, it costs the mall almost nothing to operate the stations. The outlets are also free to all shoppers. Visitors using the stations are eligible to receive shopping promotions, as well as the chance to earn a $25 gift card for using the outlets 10 times. Shema Krinsky, marketing director for the Mall at Robinson, expects more businesses to make charging stations available to the public. “I think you’re going to see other companies like the Mall at Robinson embrace the electric car chargers,” she said. “It’s something that’s important that we need to do as a city.” A kiosk has also been installed in the food court for shoppers to monitor the energy created by the solar panels. Because of its proximity to Pittsburgh International Airport, Krinsky said she expects to see more travelers with electric cars visiting the mall. “It’s important that when you map out your drive, you know where there’s going to be a point where you can charge because they don’t hold, obviously, forever,” she said. “So, maybe on your way to the airport you stop here before you’re going to be leaving your car there for a long time or vice versa.” There were 134 electric vehicles registered in Allegheny County in 2013, with electric and hybrid cars making up about .2 percent of all Pennsylvania vehicles, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). The charging stations were donated by power management company Eaton and WESCO Distribution. Tags: Electric CarsThe Mall at RobinsonHybridsTweetShareGoogle+Email Related Content AAA Tries to Spark Interest in Electric Cars May 28, 2013 When choosing a way to get around for the next few years, eight out of 10 adults would rather drive out of the dealership with a gas vehicle than an electric one. According to a survey by AAA, 30 percent of adults said they would not buy an electric car because of limits with mileage. Twenty-six percent said it was because of cost. New Method of Charging Electric Cars Could Bring Savings By Julian Routh Feb 3, 2014 A new study by a team of researchers at Carnegie Mellon University suggests that electric car owners can cut costs if they forfeit control over when to charge their vehicles. The study found that allowing the power grid to control charging is more beneficial than charging the vehicles during peak electricity times. © 2017 90.5 WESA

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Chrysler Unwraps Three Electric Vehicles, Sales Start in 2010 Michael Asher (Blog) - September 24, 2008 8:20 AM Chrysler's all-electric sports car (Source: Detroit Free Press) Chrysler Vice-Chairman Tom Lasorda unveils the new models New all-electric sports car leads the pack. While GM has generated a media frenzy over its upcoming release of the Volt plug-in hybrid, and even Ford is getting in on the act, little has been heard from Chrysler. That's all changed now, as the smallest of the US Big Three today announced plans to release three electric vehicles, including a totally new all-electric sports car. One of the three models will be on sale as early as 2010. Chrysler unveiled an "electric range-extended" versions of their Town and Country minivan, as well as their iconic Jeep Wrangler. Both models will be plug-in hybrid variants. The automaker says each will have a 40 mile range on electric-only drive, at which time the gasoline engine will kick in. This range is identical to GM's Volt, which should come as little surprise, given Chrysler has been working with A123 Systems, the same Lithium-Ion battery supplier GM reputedly will use for the Volt. Chrysler has not announced an official supplier yet, however, and says they are "working with multiple suppliers" on potential sources for batteries. Tom LaSorda, Vice-Chairman for Chrysler, said the new models have been in the works for nearly two years. According to LaSorda, Chrysler's strategy is radically different than GM's. "We said we’ll take something more bold on the electric — all electric." LaSorda said, "we didn’t want to spend the time on developing an all new platform, an all new car and then an all new propulsion system. We said we’ve got two icons for our company, a Wrangler, which is the icon for the Jeep brand, and the minivan, there’s 11 million-plus which we’ve sold. And people would say, ‘My god, they brought green to a minivan and Wrangler, this is unbelievable." The most interesting of the new models, perhaps, is the new all-electric Dodge sportscar, capable of a 0-60 acceleration time of under 5 seconds. The vehicle's range will be 150-200 miles and will have a charging time of 6-8 hours on a standard 110v outlet. The vehicle will also accept a 220v supply, which will cut charging times in half. No name or price was given for the sports car. Chrysler has been hit hard by poor sales due to high gasoline prices. The automaker's sales have been down more than 20% in 2008-- a value double the industry average. "I'm an Internet expert too. It's all right to wire the industrial zone only, but there are many problems if other regions of the North are wired." -- North Korean Supreme Commander Kim Jong-il Related Articles Report: Toyota to Drop Plans for Diesel Tundra, Produce Hybrid A-BAT Update: Production Chevrolet Volt Design Unveiled

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GM Says if Volt Needs Battery Changes it Will Make Them It's too early in the investigation to know if changes are needed The Chevrolet Volt is the first and only extended range EV on the U.S. market today. The Volt has been in the spotlight recently after the NHTSA found that two of three vehicles caught fire after side impact testing. One of the vehicles that caught fire didn’t burst into flames until three weeks after the crash test. The other started sparking and smoking immediately after the test. Understandably, GM is eager to get to the root of the problem with the Volt fires. GM's Mary Barra, VP of global product development for GM said, "I have engineers working shoulder-to-shoulder with the NHTSA engineers right now," said Mary Barra, vice president of global product development for GM. "We are looking to say, 'Are there some design changes that we can make — something more robust in this location or that location or this component?'" However, the automaker does note that any changes would need to be rigorously tested both at GM and with outside sources. GM also says that if the investigation determines that changes need to be made to the design of the battery packs, it will make those changes as quickly as possible. She also points out that there still isn't any indication of just how long the investigation into the fires will last. GM's Mary Barra with a Chevrolet Cruze [Source: GM] GM is taking the concerns of the roughly 6,000 Volt owners in the U.S. seriously and has offered to loan Volt owners a different vehicle until the investigating is completed. GM has also noted that if a Volt owner wanted to sell their Volt back to GM, it would buy the car back. Originally, it sounded like all the Volt owner had to do was ask and GM would buy their car back. Some statements that Barra made make it sound as though a buyback isn't a given in each case. Barra said, "First, we're going to have a conversation and understand their specific concern." She added, "But if, as we go through that process, we get to a point where we think it's the right thing to do for that customer to protect the customer's satisfaction and show that General Motors puts the customers first, then that's what we'll do." Source: Detroit News "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk." -- Apple CEO Steve Jobs GM Will Buy Volts Back From Any Owner That Asks GM Offers Loaner Vehicles For Scared Volt Owners Chevrolet Volt Flunks Two Out of Three Crash Tests, Triggers Formal Investigation

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BYD F3DM To Sell To General Public in China By Aaron Turpen, Tue, March 23, 2010 In brief: The BYD F3DM plug-in hybrid has so far only been available to corporate and commercial fleets in China, but that will soon change as the company prepares to sell the cars to the general (Chinese) public. Make/Model: F3DM Manufacturer: BYD While promises of China's top hybrid coupe coming to America have been postponed, BYD has announced they will begin selling the car to the general public in China. Up to now, the car has only been available in limited numbers to corporate fleets. Sales have been disappointing for BYD, to say the least, and they also recently announced postponement (and the likely cancellation) of their battery electric vehicle plans. The price of the F3DM remains a big obstacle, selling for almost double the price of a comparable gasoline-only car. That has partially been lifted, however, with the introduction of government subsidies in China and several local governments, such as the City of Shenzhen, are discussing offering their own incentives to hybrid car buyers. The F3DM has been in development since 2008 and has been in production for several months now. Photo credits: BYD

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PEOPLE: IAN THOMSON Name: Ian Thomson Nationality: Great Britain The son of the company secretary of Jensen Cars, Thomson grew up in Leominister in Herefordshire. His passion for motorsport came early while accompanying his father to race meetings around Britain. When he left school he went to work at the Bulmer's cider company in order to fund an industrial design degree at Coventry University. This led to a six month placement at Williams in the summer of 1980, the period in which the team was in the process of winning its first World Championship title. After graduating he got a job as a tyre engineer with Dunlop Motorsport in Birmingham, working in sports cars and touring car racing before joining Williams as a composite technician in 1982 to work with Brian O'Rourke, who had been recruited from Northrop to develop the team's first composite cars. Thomson stayed with Williams until October 1987 and then moved to March's composite offshoot Comtec as a project engineer, working on the different March projects, including the first March-built CART cars and the March 88G sports car. In July 1988 he was hired by John Barnard to work as design engineer at Ferrari's Guildford Technical Office and he worked with Barnard on the groundbreaking Ferrari 639 chassis. After Barnard departed in 1990 Thomson became a senior designer and stayed there until approached by Sauber, which was recruiting for its planned F1 programme. He joined the Swiss team in January 1991 as head of composites and initially worked on Sauber's C11 and C291 sportscar programmes before moving on to the C12 Formula 1 prototype with Harvey Postlethwaite. Thomson stayed with Sauber until May 2001 when he decided to join Prost Grand Prix to work with Henri Durand and chief designer Jean-Paul Gousset on the design of the AP05. Unfortunately this was never built because of lack of funding and, having turned down a job at Ferrari, he moved back to Britain in April 2002 to head the composite design team at Asiatech in Didcot. After a spell building the LRS three-seater F1 for Laurent Redon, Thomson joined Renault F1 for a short period before being hired by Dallara to work on the planned Midland F1 car and after that project was cancelled he became principal composite engineer for the new Super Aguri F1 team. Thomson continues to be an ardent race fan, visiting club meetings whenever he has time while also being something of an artist when time permits. A painting of his of the Williams FW08C sold several hundred copies in the 1980s.

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Why American millennials may never get to live alone It’s worse than you thought: Americans are drastically under-saved for retirement Log In Hunting for luxury car buyers Joseph B. White Published: Nov 10, 2012 11:03 a.m. ET JosephB. White BMW’s 328i sedan. At Mercedes-Benz of Novi in suburban Detroit, cars in the showroom are wearing big blue bows, and sales manager Mike Dega is gearing up for a record two months of holiday-season sales. “It’s started right now,” Mr. Dega says. “We’ve got a full court push.” Luxury car holiday deals(4:43) The holiday season means that luxury car makers are hoping to entice customers into big ticket purchases. Joe White joins Lunch Break with a guide to holiday car buying. Photo: BMW. Luxury brands have traditionally used the final weeks of the year to clear out last year’s inventory, while stirring up interest for new models. This year, car buyers can expect more and earlier deals. The competition between makers is particularly fierce as the two leading German brands, Mercedes-Benz and BMW, vie for bragging rights as the No. 1 luxury brand in the U.S. market. BMW is looking to wrest back the crown it held last year. It has sold nearly 213,000 cars and SUVs year to date, and trails Mercedes by less than 2,800 vehicles. Both are rolling out aggressive year-end sales “events” well ahead of the traditional Thanksgiving weekend start. So confident is BMW in its U.S. market that it is diverting more than 5,000 vehicles from slower-selling European and Asian markets—including popular all-wheel-drive 3 series sedans. To move all that metal, the German manufacturer is offering discounts of up to $3,500 or more, with additional discounts aimed at retaining existing customers, dealers say. Mercedes is countering with similar discounts aimed at keeping customers in the fold, along with deals they hope will prod people to switch from rival brands. Mercedes is also allowing drivers of leased cars to get out of their contracts up to five months early if they agree to take a new vehicle. Other high-end car makers are joining the fray. Volkswagen AG’s Audi brand isn’t buying out leases early as part of its “Season of Audi” promotion. But the company says it will waive buyers’ first-month payment and security deposit. It is also offering discounted leases or finance rates as low as 1.9% for several of its high-volume models. For example, Audi is now advertising a 2013 A6 model with its Quattro all wheel drive system—list price $50,045—for $559 a month, with $3,690 down. Toyota Motor Corp.’s Lexus brand, which gets credit for turbo charging the luxury-car holiday sell-a-thon concept in the late 1990s, plans to launch its annual “December to Remember” sales push around Thanksgiving. Lexus typically makes its high-volume RX utility vehicle the centerpiece of its sales. Car shoppers will see so-called “loyalty” and “conquest” discounts in this year’s holiday sales campaigns. These deals essentially reward consumers for shopping the competition, even if they intend to stay with the brand they already drive. For example, a customer who owns a Mercedes could get an additional $750 discount for agreeing to buy or lease another. If the same owner went to a BMW showroom, he or she would likely be offered a similar amount to switch teams. About 20% of shoppers on Edmunds.com who looked at a Mercedes C-Class during the last week of October also looked at a BMW 3 Series, according to data from the site. Among those considering the 3-series, 10% looked at a C-Class, and 10% looked at the Audi A4. Dealers say discounts specifically tied to retaining existing customers have an impact. “It gives us something else to discuss, to look at a customer and let them know they are special to us,” says Robert Camastro, owner of Mercedes of Danbury, Ct. The loyalty and conquest discounts vary by model and brand. Some Audi dealers are advertising discounts of up to $2,500 if you are trading in a rival luxury brand. Lincoln, a brand of Ford Motor Co., is offering no-money-down lease deals on its MKX sport utility. Cadillac’s deals vary, but the brand is offering no-money-down, $399-a-month leases on its just-launched ATS model, which is designed to compete with the 3 series and Mercedes C Class. Cars that Americans drive longest(2:25) MarketWatch's Christopher Noble and Jim Jelter discuss data recently released by Edmunds.com that shows which cars Americans drive the longest before they exchange them for new vehicles. Photo: Getty Images Chase Hawkins, Cadillac’s vice president of sales, says the GM brand has two major selling drives year—during summer and the last two months of the year. The deals are better now, he says. Luxury car makers and dealers are putting extra effort into this year-end sales drive in part because they are more confident than they have been in several years that consumers will respond. Experian Marketing Services, which assesses consumer sentiment, says its measure of how likely consumers are to buy or lease a new car rose during the first half of 2012 to the highest level since the first half of 2008—before the full force of the financial crisis hit. The strength of the American auto market relative to Europe and China has encouraged German auto makers to allocate more of their production to these shores. Dealers welcome the extra shipments because, through much of the year, inventories of unsold Audis, BMWs and Mercedes models were still relatively lean. Even with the added vehicles, more expensive, limited-volume models will likely be in short supply. That means the discounting isn’t across the board. Audi, for instance, isn’t offering significant discounts on its high-performance S models. For its part, Mercedes won’t be offering as generous discounts on its M-Class sport utility as it has in past holiday sales, because the M-Class was just redesigned and is still in relatively short supply. “We don’t need to push as hard on the M,” says Stephen Cannon, president of Mercedes’ U.S. sales arm. Instead, the focus of the holiday deals will be on the high volume C- and E-class sedans and the GLK sport utility. Jessica Caldwell, an analyst with auto-shopping site Edmunds.com, says shoppers looking to grab a 2012 model at a comparatively low price should move fast. “They don’t have that much in stock,” she says. Less than 10% of C Class sedans on Mercedes dealer lots are 2012 models, she says. Even people shopping smaller luxury brands could benefit from the head-butting among the big German brands. Janice Monarrez of Grosse Pointe, Mich., says she and her husband are shopping for a luxury brand replacement for their 12-year-old Volvo S70. “We were kind of surprised at how much movement there was on prices when we started to talk to the Volvo dealership,” she says. They’re waiting to see how much better the deals get closer to the end of the month.

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TOPICS > Economy Ford Cuts 10,000 Workers, Closes Two Factories September 15, 2006 at 6:40 PM EST [Sorry, the video for this story has expired, but you can still read the transcript below. ] http://www-tc.pbs.org/newshour/rss/media/2006/09/15/20060915_auto28.mp3SEE PODCASTS RELATED LINKSLayoffs cause self esteem problems, author finds. Two guests discuss the potential impact of Ford's new business plan and potential layoffs. RAY SUAREZ: It’s the end of the line for tens of thousands of Ford workers. Executives at the nation’s number-two automaker announced they were slashing a third of the company’s salaried jobs; that’s in addition to offering buyouts to all of its 75,000 hourly workers. It’s part of the latest plan to turn the ailing company around, according to Ford’s president of the Americas, Mark Fields, who spoke at a morning teleconference. MARK FIELDS, Exec. Vice President, Ford Motor Co.: The simple fact is that the business model that served us in North America for decades no longer works. We must change to a new business model that delivers greater bottom-line contributions from cars and crossovers, continued leadership in pickups, new products that drive revenue, and actions that move rapidly to reduce our costs to achieve profitability. RAY SUAREZ: Fields also confirmed Ford would idle two more two plants — one in Ohio, another in Canada — for a total of 16 plant closures by 2008. It’s the second time since January that Ford has moved to reduce its workforce, scale back production, and ramp up new products, all as part of its so-called “way forward” plan to return North American operations to profit. Just last week, Bill Ford stepped down as CEO and was succeeded by former Boeing executive Alan Mulally. Ford remains chairman of the company, which lost $1.44 billion during the first half of this year. The new cuts at Ford would reduce its total North American workforce by 29 percent, from the current level of about 130,000 to about 92,000 by the end of 2008. The shake-up has left employees rattled. JIM COX, Ford Employee: I’ve been over there for 13 years, so now what do I do? Do I start looking for a job now? RAY SUAREZ: Under the terms of the voluntary buyout plan, which the United Autoworkers Union agreed to yesterday, workers will choose options that pay them between $35,000 and $140,000 to leave the company. Those who opt for the more generous packages would have to give up their health benefits. Dearborn, Michigan, Ford plant employee Brent Orr has worked for the company for 12 years. BRENT ORR, Ford Plant Employee: I’m probably going to take a buyout, one of the buyouts that they’re offering, just because they’ve redlined our trade. No more carpenters will ever be hired at Ford Motor Company ever again. RAY SUAREZ: Ford, like other American automakers, has been battered by the car market’s rapid shift from Ford’s staple — trucks and sport utility vehicles — to more fuel-efficient foreign cars, as gas prices have soared. Earlier this year, number-one automaker General Motors offered buyouts to its hourly staff, and about one in three, or 34,000, took the company up on the deal. A new "way forward"Csaba CsereCar and Driver Magazine [P]art of that business model was for Ford to put all of its eggs in the truck basket. And that worked spectacularly well in the '90s, but it stopped working in this millennium as other competitors went into the truck business. RAY SUAREZ: For more on what the Ford move means for the company, its workers, and Michigan, I'm joined by Rebecca Lindland, associate director of the automotive group at Global Insight, an economic research firm in Boston.Ron Lare started on the assembly line at ford nearly 30 years ago. He's now a skilled tradesperson at the Dearborn, Michigan, plant. He's a member of the United Autoworkers, but does not speak for the union.And Csaba Csere is editor-in-chief of "Car and Driver" magazine. Both Ford and the UAW declined our requests for interviews.Rebecca Lindland, you heard the Ford executive. The business model that they used for decades no longer works. Is this new one, the way forward, what the company needs?REBECCA LINDLAND, Global Insight: Well, most of it is what it needs. You know, the presentation this morning addressed production cuts, which they certainly need to do. It also addressed the workforce, where cutting costs is another big aspect of turning around the company.The third part that still needs a lot of work, in our opinion, is on the product side. And even though they talk about it being a product-led turnaround, we still don't see those new and exciting models that really resonate with Ford heritage.RAY SUAREZ: Csaba Csere, is a product-led turnaround going to be difficult for Ford?CSABA CSERE, Car and Driver Magazine: It's going to be very difficult, because part of that business model was for Ford to put all of its eggs in the truck basket. And that worked spectacularly well in the '90s, but it stopped working in this millennium as other competitors went into the truck business, as Ford continued to neglect cars, and, finally, as gas prices went up, it's really taken them out of all segments.And to really get back into the truck business and to build up a crossover business almost from scratch is going to take some time, although it's getting started already, because there are two new crossovers about to be introduced in November. RAY SUAREZ: Well, I was just going to ask you whether the company brings any market advantages or some strength in certain segments that will allow them to keep selling while they retool the company?CSABA CSERE: Well, Ford has done very well with SUVs over the years. Crossovers are a form of SUV. They're simply an SUV that's built on a car platform, not a truck platform. So Ford knows a lot of those customers and has some connection there.But, then again, you know, these are new name plates, and getting them going in a market that has a lot of crossovers out there already, it's not trivial. They're good products, but they're not automatically going to take the market by storm.A worker considers his optionsRon LareFord employee I think the UAW members are their best resource, and I think they're cutting back more than they need to. And certainly, I think this is the fault of bad management, not the fault of the workers. RAY SUAREZ: Ron Lare, what kind of work do you do for Ford?RON LARE, Member, United Autoworkers Union: I'm a skilled tradesperson, tool- and dye-maker at the Ford Rouge plant.RAY SUAREZ: What does a tool- and dye-maker do?RON LARE: Tool- and dye-maker makes or maintains machines that stamp metal parts.RAY SUAREZ: And will Ford no longer need people like you? When they offer a buyout to all 75,000 production workers, how do they make sure they still have who they need?RON LARE: Well, I think that's a very good question. I think they are going to get rid of more people than they can afford to. I think the UAW members are their best resource, and I think they're cutting back more than they need to. And certainly, I think this is the fault of bad management, not the fault of the workers.RAY SUAREZ: Well, what goes into your decision of whether or not to take the buyout? What do you have to consider before you know whether you can take Ford up on the offer?RON LARE: Well, there are some personal considerations. I'm 59 years old, but I have a young daughter. I'd like to spend more time with her. On the other hand, I need to save for her education. And I'd also like to stay in the fight to make the UAW stronger, because we're going to need that to be a fighting union again.RAY SUAREZ: Have you had a chance to talk with fellow workers, especially those in your boat who might have thought of themselves as a little too young to retire, but kind of old to start over on a work career?RON LARE: Well, yes, I have, and there's a very wide range of views from people. Some people are trying to recover from the news itself, although it wasn't totally unexpected. Many are angry at Ford management.And others say that the UAW -- and others like myself say that the UAW needs to organize the transplant facilities in the U.S. from other auto companies around the world, and we can do that only with some changes in the UAW.Looking elsewhere for jobsRAY SUAREZ: Rebecca Lindland, a lot of guys and women, like Ron Lare, have lost their jobs working for the big three over the last decade, yet there are foreign plants popping up all over the country. Why don't those workers get those new jobs?REBECCA LINDLAND: Well, because they're nonunion jobs, as Mr. Lare referred to. The transplant new factories, which are primarily moving into the South, are nonunion plants.They tend to pay significantly less sometimes or, in fact, their health benefits are really the big difference that you'll see at a transplant location. And we talk about transplants, basically the imports like Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, building plants here in the U.S., but those plants are nonunion.RAY SUAREZ: And so even middle-aged workers, workers still in their 30s and 40s, if they were willing to relocate, could they vie for jobs in Kentucky, Alabama, South Carolina, some of the states where those new plants have gone?REBECCA LINDLAND: You know, Mr. Lare would actually probably be a better person to answer that. I'm not sure if the union prohibits you from taking a job with a nonunion facility. Does it, Mr. Lare?RAY SUAREZ: Ron Lare?RON LARE: Well, one would have to leave the company one is at now and give up a lot of seniority, so that would be a very risky proposition.REBECCA LINDLAND: For younger workers, maybe.RAY SUAREZ: Yes, yes, especially if you're not in line for a lot of money, the way the buyout plan has been structured, it might look like more of a proposition for you.Csaba Csere, this must be hitting Michigan hard.CSABA CSERE: Well, it's hitting Michigan extremely hard. The state already has the highest unemployment rate in the country. A lot of that unemployment is concentrated around the Detroit area. And ultimately, Detroit is still a company town, and the company is the domestic auto industry. And all three companies are hurting to a greater or lesser extent.There have already been a large number of layoffs, both blue-collar and white-collar. There is a large number of layoffs already scheduled that haven't even happened at General Motors. And now Ford is bringing this forward, and it's extremely hard on southeastern Michigan.RAY SUAREZ: And is there no compensating inflow of new manufacturing or investment that will soak up some of this workforce?CSABA CSERE: Not terribly much, really. Part of the problem is that, for an awful lot of the manufacturing in the United States, it is going nonunion, and this is a very strongly union area of the country, and there isn't really that much moving in here.I believe in the last census Michigan actually didn't gain much population. In the last five years that they looked at, the state is losing people, and it's because these jobs are going away.Management vs. unions vs. workersRebecca LindlundAuto industry analyst [F]or a state to lure a plant to its location, in some ways it needs to sometimes ensure that a workforce is not going to be unionized and you're not going to be faced with high cost of employment and high benefits. RAY SUAREZ: Well, Ron Lare, what's out there for you, if you decide that the buyout package -- especially as a very senior worker -- is worth it for you?RON LARE: Well, I'm in a much better situation than the young workers. They're the ones who are really going to bear the brunt of this. I may get an early retirement package, but I'd like to respond to something another speaker said, which is talking about jobs going away.I think that most of the jobs that have been lost, the large majority, if not virtually all of the jobs that have been lost in the U.S. from the auto companies, in fact, are still inside the U.S. in nonunion or in union parts shops but at a lower pay.They've left the big three. They're still in the U.S. The UAW needs to fight harder to get representation for all autoworkers. That means everybody that makes something that goes on a car, wherever they are in the U.S.And we need solidarity with Ford workers around the world. We do have some leverage. Ford is profitable worldwide. I think we need to get together with autoworkers in other countries with joint contract expiration dates and joint strike deadlines.RAY SUAREZ: Rebecca Lindland, does that sound like a future that companies, that manufactures are willing to buy into, the one just spelled out by Ron Lare?REBECCA LINDLAND: Well, I think that when you look at where new plants are going -- Kia just announced Georgia, Hyundai's put their plant in Alabama, the new Nissan plant in Mississippi -- you're talking about a workforce that has not even had a job opportunity in a long time. And so to unionize and cause that kind of disruption would really just push these plants someplace else potentially, because there's a lot of state funding that goes into bringing these plants there.And so, if you can get your workforce to say, you know, "We're not going to unionize, especially if you bring this plant here," unions are very controversial in this day where there's very few of them left, and there's pros and cons to them, quite frankly.And so I think that, for a state to lure a plant to its location, in some ways it needs to sometimes ensure that a workforce is not going to be unionized and you're not going to be faced with high cost of employment and high benefits.RAY SUAREZ: Well, Csaba Csere, the union is often faulted for raising the base cost of an American-made vehicle. With Ford, is that where the fault lies and contribute to the company's problems?CSABA CSERE: Well, it's only a small part of the problem. There's no question that the unionized workforce does cost more than the nonunion workforce.But when you look at the differences that people are willing to pay for some of the Ford products versus some of the more competitive imports, that difference is much bigger than the cost difference imposed by the union. And what that says is it's the wrong product for the market right now.The correct product would more than offset the union problem. And you can't blame the factory workers for building the wrong cars because management has designed and engineered the wrong cars.RAY SUAREZ: Ford plans to finish this transition by the 2008-2009 model year. Guests, thank you all. buyouts car industry ford foreign competition gas prices layoffs nonunion plants unemployment United Auto Workers Union

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[email protected] Ranger Boats Welcomes New Partners Platinum Equity Acquires Industry Leading Boat Manufacturer FLIPPIN (February 2, 2010) Wood Manufacturing, Inc., home to the legendary Ranger boat brand, today embraced new ownership as the previously announced acquisition by Platinum Equity was finalized. The transaction, which was approved January 13 by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in St. Paul, Minnesota, also gives Platinum Equity ownership of several other leading boat brands previously under the Genmar umbrella. Wood Manufacturing - the nation's largest manufacturer of premium fiberglass fishing boats - will be operated independently from the other divisions and will continue on under the leadership of the existing local management which boasts more than four decades of experience. Both initiatives are designed to maintain the company's focus on quality products and longstanding commitment to the sport of fishing. In addition, the same management team will also continue to be responsible for Stratos Boats as well as the Champion brand. "Ranger has always been the leader in its marketplace, with an established brand, broad product line and extremely loyal customers. It's an extraordinary company and we're excited and privileged to partner with this outstanding management team. We are totally committed to help our new partners continue to thrive and ensure their leadership position well into the future," said Louis Samson, the Platinum Equity principal who led the transaction. "Their focus on bringing quality products and services to their dealers and family of owners will only intensify through our partnership." Ranger Boats President Randy Hopper, along with legendary company founder Forrest L. Wood, spoke about the excitement stemming from the new partnership. "We couldn't be more pleased," said Hopper. "Our capital structure going forward will allow us to keep our focus where it should be - building the most sought after fishing boats in the world." Echoing Hopper's comments, Wood emphasized his staunch support and continued affiliation with the company. "It's great to see this partnership promoting so many unique opportunities. The Ranger Family is full of wonderful, talented folks and Nina and I are so proud to be a part of it all. We look forward to continuing the programs that have served Ranger well for more than 40 years. Building the best product and encouraging increased participation in a sport for all ages have always been our goals, and we all look forward to a thriving relationship with our new partner." According to Hopper, Ranger Boats enters 2010 with the strongest model lineup in its 40-plus year history. In an economy where many manufacturers are choosing to scale back their efforts and offerings, Ranger is being recognized by several industry leaders, including Trailer Boats magazine for aggressively developing new models. In their January issue, Ranger's all-new Z521 Comanche received Trailer Boats' prestigious 2010 Excellence in Design award for freshwater fishing boats - an honor reserved for the industry's most exciting and innovative new craft. About Ranger Boats Ranger Boats, headquartered in Flippin, Ark., is the nation's largest manufacturer of premium fiberglass fishing boats, including a series of bass, multi-species, fish 'n play and saltwater boats. Founded in 1968 by Forrest L. Wood, Ranger Boats continues its commitment to building the highest-quality, strongest-performing boats on the water. For more information, go to rangerboats.com. About Platinum Equity Platinum Equity is a global M&A&O® firm specializing in the merger, acquisition and operation of companies that provide services and solutions to customers in a broad range of business markets, including information technology, telecommunications, logistics, metals services, manufacturing and distribution. Since its founding in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity has completed nearly 100 acquisitions with more than $27.5 billion in aggregate annual revenue at the time of acquisition. For more information, go to platinumequity.com.

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Archive for Friday, February 26, 2010 Crisis spotlights auto electronics Tom Krisher - Associated Press Writer Steven Senne/AP File Photo Master Diagnostic Technician Kurt Juergens, of Foxborough, Mass., uses a laptop computer to diagnose and repair the brake system on a 2010 Toyota Prius in this Feb. 9 file photo in the repair shop of a Toyota dealership, in Norwood, Mass. After years of driver horror stories, five months of recalls and two days of congressional hearings, the mystery persists: Are electronics at the heart of Toyota’s crisis of quality? Detroit — Investigations into whatever is lurking behind Toyota’s crisis of quality have put a spotlight on all that can go wrong with auto electronics — the growing number of wires, sensors and computer chips that have profoundly changed the automobile in the last decade. Though no smoking circuit has been found, a picture is emerging that shows the automobile industry’s technology is racing ahead of quality-control testing and regulators. It’s troubling not only for Toyota owners but for drivers of any modern car. Toyota insists that electronics played no role in the unintended acceleration that sparked its recalls. Lawyers, regulators, engineers and politicians aren’t so sure. The auto industry has been moving at Pentium speed since the late 1990s to replace mechanical cables and other devices with computers to control everything from brakes to throttles to power steering. Automakers say electronics have made vehicles safer with devices such as air bags and antilock brakes. It’s also made cars more fuel efficient, cleaner and, usually, more reliable. Still, things can go wrong and diagnosing problems is complicated. Glitches can include buggy software, circuitry that’s randomly influenced by electrical interference and shorts caused by microscopic “whiskers” from solder. It can be one or more of these problems, as well as environmental factors — a blast from a heater vent or moisture from the road — that can cause a failure. Age also can be a factor. “You’re looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Raj Rajkumar, an electrical and computer engineering professor at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. Drivers complained vehicles accelerated out of control — without stepping on the gas. But complaints were dismissed by Toyota, its dealers and government regulators, who blamed mechanical problems or drivers stepping on the wrong pedal. Toyota, which until recently had a reputation for being high-quality and cutting-edge, began replacing mechanical accelerators with electrical ones starting with the Camry in 2002. Since the 2007 model year, all its cars have been equipped with the high-tech throttle. An analysis of complaints by the auto safety research firm Quality Control Systems, found that the number of Toyota “speed control” complaints received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tripled since electronic throttles were introduced. NHTSA says 34 people have died because of sudden acceleration crashes in Toyotas since 2000. But the issue didn’t get much attention from Toyota until an off-duty California Highway Patrol officer and three members of his family were killed when their loaner Lexus sped out of control and crashed into traffic near San Diego. The Aug. 28 crash received widespread media coverage. Just more than a month later, on Oct. 5, the automaker recalled 3.8 million Lexus and Toyota models in the U.S. because of floor mats. In January, it recalled 2.3 million because of sticky accelerators. So far, more than 8 million vehicles have been recalled worldwide to replace floor mats or fix pedals. Toyota president apologizes; no recall issued for Prius Toyota recalls another 2.17 million vehicles for accelerator pedals that could become stuck in floor mats Toyota disputes critic who blames vehicle electronics

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Vicki’s View Gear Driven Shop Ducati News They’re Back! Laguna Seca scores a World Superbike Round ’till 2015 Posted by Vicki Smith on September 21st, 2012 at 1:09 pm 2004 Laguna Seca SBK Mark the date – 27-29 September, 2013 Following a three-year agreement between Infront Motor Sports and Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, the United States Round of the eni FIM Superbike World Championship will take place at the Californian circuit next season and in 2014 and 2015. The confirmed date for the 2013 event will be 27-29 September, and it marks the return of the championship to the spectacular Monterey circuit for the first time after an eight-year absence. The last World Superbike round was held at Laguna Seca in 2004. Paolo Flammini, CEO of Infront Motor Sports, declared: “We are absolutely delighted to be returning to Laguna Seca for the US Round for the first time since 2004. Over the ten-year period in which we were last there, we witnessed an extraordinary growth in interest and in overall attendance and we are sure that this event will once again become one of the most prestigious on the calendar. The return of Laguna Seca to the Superbike World Championship, with its six competing manufacturers, will definitely be a boost to the championship’s growth in the US market as California has a special tradition and offers significant opportunities for the motorcycle industry, sponsors and media.” “We have a strong history with World Superbike and are thrilled to have them commit to a three-year race schedule,” says Gill Campbell, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca CEO/general manager. “Their return to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca solidifies our position as THE premier circuit in the U.S. for motorcycle racing.” Like Us! GearDriven Store Ductalk Copyright Ducati.net

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HomeNewsTexting UK wants to stop distracted driving by making it easy to disable drivers' phones Like their counterparts around the world, officials in the United Kingdom are sick and tired of distracted driving. Sadly, education campaigns haven't done much to encourage drivers to stop texting and checking email behind the wheel--in fact, the number of motorists who admit to using a mobile...Read More» Why doesn't Apple end texting and driving? We're in the midst of a distracted driving crisis, and mobile phones are largely to blame. Motorists young and old can't seem to resist the temptation to check text messages, email, and social media when they're behind the wheel. As the New York Times recently noted, mobile networks and phone...Read More» Great Britain gets serious about distracted driving The problem of texting and driving isn't limited to the U.S.--not by a long shot. Great Britain is taking steps to discourage the practice by boosting fines and potentially revoking licences. Currently, British drivers face fines of £100 ($130) and three points on their licenses if they're...Read More» NHTSA pushes for the electronic recall notices we should've had years ago A little over a year ago, we told you about a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate that would've required automakers to send recall notices by both email and snail mail. Alas, that bill died, so the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is taking matters into its own hands with proposed...Read More» Survey: 68% of teens use apps behind the wheel Analysts may be feeling bearish about Apple's lack of innovation on the iPhone front, but smartphones aren't going anywhere anytime soon--and neither are apps. On the one hand, that's a good thing, because many of us depend on those apps for navigation, communication, entertainment, and...Read More» Israeli firm that hacked the iPhone wants to analyze cell phones after crashes The name Cellebrite might not ring any bells, but you've probably heard about the company. It's the Israeli firm that's rumored to have helped the FBI hack into the iPhone 5c involved in the shootings that took place last December in San Bernadino, California. Whether or not those rumors are true...Read More» Texas Study Suggests That Distracted Driving Laws Should Target Women We make a lot of assumptions about distracted driving. More often than not, we assume the culprits are teens tethered to their smartphones, but numerous studies have shown that mom and dad exhibit poor decision-making skills, too. A group of researchers from the University of Texas Health Sciences...Read More» Drivers, Put Your Google Glass Away: Another Study Proves That Hands-Free Texting Isn't Safe As of today, 44 states prohibit texting and driving. (The six outliers: Arizona, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Oklahoma, and Texas.) Twenty-two place at least some restrictions on using handheld devices to make or take calls behind the wheel. No state in the U.S.A. prevents drivers from using a...Read More» Uh-Oh: Police Radar Guns Could Soon Tell If You're Texting, Too Privacy is taking a real beating. Every few weeks, another group of hackers nicks our beloved credit card numbers, or a legion of crafty young gentlemen burrow into the online storage accounts of certain female celebrities, proving that iCloud isn't the Fort Knox of data we were promised. And as if...Read More» Study: Adults Talk & Text While Driving, Even Though They Know Better In theory, adults are wiser than children. They've had more life experiences, they've seen ups and downs, they know what's good for them and, presumably, what's not. That's why we tend to focus our energies on warning teens about the dangers of distracted driving, rather than their parents. We...Read More» Drivers Hate Texters, Love Classic Rock, And Other Findings From Expedia's Road Rage Report Memorial Day weekend marks the start of the summer driving season, and to get you in the mood, Expedia has published its annual Road Rage Report. Some of the findings may surprise you, and a few might suggest ways for you to improve your own driving habits. In gathering data for the 2014 report...Read More» Another Study Confirms That Parents Use Cell Phones While Driving We tend to think that adults are smarter than children. Over the years, they may have become less inquisitive and more hesitant, but still, all that life experience ought to give them an edge, right? Apparently, that's not the case when it comes to texting and driving. ALSO SEE: Women Say Men With...Read More» Honda Takes A Less-Graphic Approach In New Anti-Texting Ad: Is This More Effective? Last week, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published a heart-stopping PSA for Distracted Driving Awareness Month. Now, Honda has posted one of its own -- one that takes a considerably less graphic approach. Is one more effective than the other? As you'll see from the clip...Read More» NHTSA Gets It Right: New Anti-Texting Ad Will Give You A Heart Attack It's Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and to mark the occasion, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has created a public service announcement that will probably scare the bejesus out of you. That's a good thing. When it comes to PSAs, there are, broadly speaking, three approaches...Read More» Public Shaming With Billboards: Any Less Likely To Text And Drive? Imagine going out on the town with the boss, and seeing... yourself, caught in the act, texting while driving. That's what's happening in the San Francisco Bay Area, where a graphic designer, Brian Singer, has received a lot of media attention for purchasing space on Billboards to share his...Read More» 5 Tricks To End Distracted Driving That Are Easier Than Painting Your Nails Red People use nail polish for a lot of things. They use it to paint their nails, obviously. They also paint keys to identify them at a glance. And, fun fact: nail polish is great for holding screws in place. But that's not how the people at Evolution Bureau use nail polish. No, at least one employee...Read More» Experienced Drivers Are Safer Drivers -- Until They Reach For Their Phones (Video) You probably don't need a research scientist to tell you that young drivers are more likely to be involved in auto accidents than their older, more experienced peers -- but just in case, the New York Times reports that a team led by Virginia Tech University's Charlie Klauer has conducted a study to...Read More» The Driver Of That SUV Could Be A Trooper Watching You Text If you're one of the 38.9 million American motorists planning to hit the road this Thanksgiving and you've got a penchant for texting behind the wheel, keep an eye on the driver beside you – especially if you're in New York and she's in a big SUV. According to the New York Times, troopers in...Read More» Does The iPhone Need A "Car Mode"? Would You Use It? (Video) We spend a lot of time writing about the problem of distracted driving and various solutions offered by app-makers and automakers. With few exceptions, though, handset manufacturers like Apple and Samsung haven't been working overtime to address the public's concerns about texting and talking...Read More» Honda Clarity EV range, Musk responds to worker claims, VW exec pleads not guilty: Today's Car News GreenCarReports.com Ford Mustang police car leads 2017 Cologne Carnival parade MotorAuthority.com

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Edition: USA UK editionAUS editionIND editionLAT edition Newsletter sign up Nissan Sunderland opens 2012 apprenticeship scheme Posted on 8 Feb 2012 Nissan’s Sunderland plant has announced 25 new apprenticeships on its Trainee Maintenance Technician Scheme. Announced to coincide with National Apprenticeship Week, the 25 posts will take the number of apprentices recruited at the plant to 1,073 in its 26-year history. The 25 new trainees will become part of the maintenance team who maintain the production facilities at Nissan Sunderland, the UK’s biggest carmaker. The structured programme leads to a foundation degree, and those accepted will also learn the Nissan Production Way, the foundation of the company’s manufacturing system. The roles form part of a recruitment campaign at Nissan Sunderland for engineers and maintenance technicians, as preparations continue for the launch of the new Battery Plant and production of the 100% electric Nissan LEAF, and high demand for the Crossover models Qashqai and Juke continues. Employment recently hit a record at the plant with more than 5,400 staff on site. Anybody interested in the Nissan Apprenticeship Scheme should call the Nissan Training Section on 0191 418 4219 for further information. Details of all the other roles currently available at the plant are available at the website www.careersatnissan.co.uk Nissan Sunderland plant engineering director, Richard Ebrahim, who started his own career as an apprentice, said: “We are proud to support apprenticeships and would like to see more companies in our region doing so. “Hiring apprentices… supports the development of future managers and directors, giving our staff the practical skills and academic qualifications they will need for a successful career. We are looking for ambitious, intelligent people with a desire to learn and work hard. In return they are guaranteed a challenging and rewarding career at a company that is at the forefront of the UK manufacturing industry.” Nissan Sunderland Plant manufactured 480,485 units in 2010 which accounted for more than one in three of all passenger cars produced in the UK and broke the plant’s own all-time record for UK car manufacturing. Nissan Sunderland Plant has now been the UK’s biggest car producer in every year since 1998. One of the plant’s current apprentices is Ethan Marshall, who has just been named Nissan Sunderland Plant’s Trainee Maintenance Technician of the Year. He started the five-year scheme in January 2008 and is assigned to Trim and Chassis No. 1 Shop at the plant, where the Qashqai and Qashqai+2 are manufactured. Ethan, 21, from Chester-le-Street, is currently completing the final year of the Foundation Degree in Maintenance Engineering. His job involves activities such as facility improvements, software improvements, reducing breakdowns on equipment and AGV production cover. He said: “I chose an apprenticeship because it would enable me to gain valuable qualifications in engineering, both practical and theoretical, while being paid. It also allows me to apply skills to real life situations and, at the end, have a secure career with good prospects.” The five-year Trainee Maintenance Technician scheme combines theoretical and practical skills, giving successful applicants the chance to work towards nationally-recognised qualifications through on-the-job and academic training, while earning a competitive salary. The first year of the scheme is spent completing off-the-job-training with Gateshead College. The remaining 4 years are spent in the plant with day release at college. New apprentices will study towards nationally-recognised qualifications developed with NA College and Gateshead College, including NVQ Level 2 in Performing Engineering Operations; NVQ Level 3 Engineered Systems; Award in Industrial Environmental Awareness; Extended Certificate in Engineering (Level 2), Extended Diploma in Engineering (Level 3) and Foundation Degree in Maintenance Engineering. Applicants must be aged over 16 and be under 24 on September 1, 2012. The minimum academic qualifications are at least 4 GCSEs, including Grade A or B in Mathematics; Grade A-C in English Language; Grade A-C in a science-based subject and Grade A-C in at least one other subject. Equivalent qualifications will also be considered.

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HomeThe Tatler ListEventsFashion & BeautyWatches & JewelleryDiningWeddingsTravelMore Tatler TVCarsHomesArts & CultureSocietyOpinionsInside this month Cars HomeCarsLicensed to Thrill: The Aston Martin DB11 Licensed to Thrill: The Aston Martin DB11 The Aston Martin DB11 is a stunning beginning for the British marque’s second century Sean Li on Nov 16, 2016 Photo courtesy of Aston Martin At more than a century old, Aston Martin is in a very exclusive club. During that long life, it has made 80,000 cars, a figure that may not sound all that exclusive—until you realise it’s the equivalent of Toyota’s output for three days. While 95 percent of all Aston Martins are still in existence, they’re a rare sight and invariably cause heads to turn. In the highly competitive world of exotic sports cars, however, history and exclusivity don’t count for much against the technological developments and, it has to be said, marketing that have pushed high-performance cars to unprecedented levels. Speed figures seem almost irrelevant, given how quickly the cars surpass themselves year after year—and in an era that requires vehicles to be ever more environmentally friendly. Aston Martin has managed to carve itself a special niche and brand aura in this demanding field. The association with James Bond has certainly helped, but that only goes so far; the cars still have to deliver on their promise of high-end performance combined with British flair, where poise and decorum accompany stellar engineering. In the lead-up to the marque’s centenary, Aston Martin focused for more than a decade on what it called the VH platform, which was shared by virtually all its cars and was highly successful. But to better meet the demands of today’s marketplace for rapid innovation and shorter product lifecycles, Aston Martin laid the foundations for a new platform in what it calls its “second-century plan.” The recently launched DB11 is the embodiment of this revolutionary change, the first product of Aston Martin’s new management supported by new investors— among them Daimler, which has taken a 5 per cent stake. Under the new regime, Aston Martin says it will introduce a new car every year for the next seven years, including a crossover vehicle to be built in a second factory in Wales starting in 2019. Each model will see much greater differentiation from the rest of the Aston Martin line-up, not only visually, but also dynamically. The DB11 shows this approach clearly, with an aesthetic that differentiates it from its immediate predecessors. While the Aston Martin genes are undeniable, you’re not likely to mistake the DB11 for any car produced in the past decade. The design has been somewhat polarising, particularly the rear, which is radically different. But the design is very functional, for hidden within its lines are the car’s aerodynamic features. Aston Martin, ever focused on elegance, did not want the car to sprout spoilers or other accoutrements for stabilisation at high speed. With the DB11’s “Aeroblade” design, the wind flow is managed from the front, where it exits over the side of the wheel wells, and on the flanks through intakes at the base of the C-pillars, venting through the boot lid. The only concession is a small rear spoiler that extends at high speed and which bears a minor resemblance to the shield 007 deployed in his DB5. Incidentally, the reference number of the Bridgestone Potenza tyres on the DB11 is S007. Aston Martin is adamant this was unintentional, and the tyres are not exclusive to the marque. Visually, the car’s presence is undeniable. And if you don’t see it, you’ll certainly hear it when the company’s first turbocharged engine, a 5.2-litre V12, roars to life. This is one turbo that doesn’t leave me wanting. Aston Martin is well aware of the importance of engine noise at all speeds, and the DB11 delivers beautifully. But it also has a quiet mode; to start the engine without the typical mechanical flourish, simply keep the start button pressed until it fires up. You’ll still hear it, but at a lower level that will hopefully not wake your entire household. On the dynamic front, Aston Martin is almost apologetic about the engine’s statistics: 600bhp, 700Nm of torque, zero to 100km/h in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 322km/h. These figures are more than enough to send you on your daily commute or a road trip at a more than adequate pace, but the motoring world almost yawns these days at sports cars that have “only” 600bhp. With the DB11, however, Aston Martin is not seeking the crown of ultimate performance; that’s the job of one of the other models in development under the second-century plan. This car is designed to take you great distances at speed in ultimate comfort and luxury—a grand tourer par excellence. The interior doesn’t disappoint; you’ll find only the finest leathers and detailing. The dashboard and switchgear may look familiar to those who have driven a recent Mercedes-Benz, thanks to Daimler’s involvement—and you’d be hard-pressed to blame Aston Martin for making use of some of the best technology available. But the carmaker has personalised the instrument panel by framing it and making it look analogue rather than fully digital. Keeping to the DB11’s character as a grand tourer rather than a barnstormer, the gearbox is a fully automatic eight-speed with an electronic fly-by-wire control system. It’s one of the best automatics I’ve ever used, with none of the lag you normally associate with them, even when in manual mode. The car has three preset driving modes: GT, Sport, and Sport Plus. Different modes can be assigned separately to the throttle response and the suspension system; you choose the combination you’d like via switches on the steering wheel. I preferred Sport or Sport Plus on the windy Tuscan roads, dialling in GT mode when we hit traffic. Neither sport mode was particularly aggressive or bone jarring. The braking system is equipped with pretty much every electronic marvel you can think of, including active torque vectoring, which Aston Martin is using for the first time. The car comes into its own on the open road, its poise at high speed inspiring confidence. The engine features automatic cylinder deactivation, where one bank of the V12 is switched off when conditions dictate, such as cruising. The system automatically switches between the two banks to manage wear and temperature, and the car’s response or character is not affected. Aston Martin has struck a very nice balance between performance and usability in a remarkable package with a modern aesthetic. It’s impressive how the functional aspects of the aerodynamics are so cohesively and seamlessly woven into the design. On the inside, the car is spacious and comfortable, and adapts to your driving mood, whether you’re on the daily commute or a road trip across Europe. However, it won’t be your go-to wheels for your next track day. It wasn’t designed for that; you’ll have to wait for the new Vantage. The DB11 shows a renewed energy and direction for Aston Martin, and should go on your shortlist if you’re considering a grand tourer—or simply a beautiful exotic car. Photo courtesy of Aston Martin Fact File: Aston Martin DB11 Body: Two-door coupé | Engine: 5.2-litre twin-turbo V12 | Transmission: Paddle-shifted eight-speed automatic | Maximum power: 600bhp | Maximum torque: 700Nm | Acceleration: 0-100km/h 3.9 seconds | Top speed: 322km/h | Price: HK$3.58 million This article was printed in the November 2016 issue of Hong Kong Tatler Tags: Luxury Car, Cars, Aston Martin David Gandy on Formula E, Jaguars and Racing Need for Speed: Edwin Chuang Test Drives the New Mercedes-Benz E-Class Latest in Cars Rolls-Royce unveils the world’s most expensive Phantoms ever David Gandy on Formula E, Jaguars and Racing Inside Track: All About the Newest Audi R8 Why Formula E is so Much More Than a Car Race

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Buffalo's BNMC unveils electric car charging stations By Daniel Robison, WBFO Dec 2, 2011 TweetShareGoogle+Email Smack dab in the middle of the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus, an electric vehicle charges up for free. Daniel Robison / WNED Electric car owners can now plug in their vehicles at the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus (BNMC), thanks to the installation of new charging stations. There are currently 21 charging stations in downtown Buffalo. But initially, these taxpayer-funded facilities will have very few takers. Barry Carr, with the Department of Energy, which helped fund the project, concedes that at the moment, there’s a lack of demand for those facilities. He says federal and state government want to begin building infrastructure, should electric vehicles begin to sell. “A lot of this is about doing the right thing and keeping the money here in the United States and not sending it out of the country for fuel,” he says. To encourage that, electric car drivers can plug in their vehicles in for free, a $4 value. So far, private investors have shied away from sinking money into furthering the tepid electric vehicle market. That gives the government a meaningful role to play, says Carr “Fortunately, with a lot of this cutting-edge technology, the government is realizing that they’re going to have to throw some money at it to change the culture and the way people think,” Carr says. Only handful of plug-in cars, like the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf, have sold in western New York, although dealerships say waiting lists for the vehicles are growing. The BNMC hopes to use electric car charging stations to help recruit researchers, doctors and other top professionals. Carr says the stations will help make western New York more attractive to environmentally-minded and progressive medical professionals who are looking for a location to do their work, says Carr. Additionally, the charging stations will also help solve the “chicken or the egg” problem that consumers face when choosing to buy an electric car, he says. “Believe me, they’re going to want to see charging stations before they go to the dealership to buy [an electric] car,” Carr says. “If they don’t believe they can save that money and clean up the environment by being able to plug in while they’re at work, shopping, while they’re at the coffee shop or traveling, then they’re not going to buy the vehicles.” Tags: buffalowestern new yorkbnmcelectric carsTweetShareGoogle+EmailView the discussion thread. Related Content Charge it: Businesses turn to electric car drivers By Ryan Morden Oct 4, 2010 Ryan Morden / WRVO Hybrid vehicles are poised to become the standard for what people see on the road, and soon bona fide electric cars will be added to the mix. That could be a boon for those in the business of charging electric cars. Half Price Books near Dallas, TX is taking an entrepreneurial approach and has installed a charging station in its parking lot for customers to use. The company says the idea is to allow customers to recharge their vehicles while browsing for books or having lunch. © 2017 Innovation Trail

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Following his record-breaking success with the 1000hp Sunbeam, Henry Segrave announced a new attempt was to be made in an all-new car. The Golden Arrow was designed by J.S. Irving and used a Napier Lion aero-engine of the Special 930bhp Schneider Trophy Type. The twelve cylinders were in a W formation. The car's low line design was achieved by the use of twin propeller shafts each side of the driver. Segrave drove Golden Arrow to a new record of 231.362mph/372.341kph at Daytona Beach Florida on 11 March 1929. Output1000hp

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Audi is confident of selling 200,000 vehicles in the US by 2018 Article by Anita Panait, on January 18, 2013 Scott Keogh, President of Audi of America, is confident that the carmaker could reach its goal of selling around 200,000 vehicles in the United States "sooner rather than later." Audi posted a 19-percent jump in sales in the US in 2012 to a record 139,310 vehicles. Audi expects to log a 44-percent growth in sales by 2018, despite current supply challenges that raised the prices of its vehicles. According to the Automotive News Data Center, Audi has a 30-day supply in the US. Keogh told the Automotive News World Congress that he plans to keep models in relatively short supply. The President of Audi of America remarked that dealers will always ask for more cars, noting that he would rather have them “screaming” for more cars than to send them more supply that may lead to vehicle price discounts. Audi’s current sales success in the US signifies an incredible turnaround for the Volkswagen’s premium brand. Keogh noted that a couple years ago, people were laughing at Audi. He noted that when Audi announced it would sell 1.5 million cars worldwide, people would say that they are “crazy.” He also noted that when Audi declared it will compete against more established premium brands BMW and Mercedes-Benz, people said the brand was never going to achieve it. Keogh then emphasized that Audi is now the second top-selling luxury brand, and a “incredibly profitable brand." Keogh was hired by Audi in 2006, when it was the seventh most cross-shopped luxury brand. By that time, the brand was experiencing weakening sales that caused many of its dealers to become unprofitable. Audi, however, managed to pick itself up by focusing on high technology and cutting-edge style. According to Keogh, the brand is expecting to have another record year in 2013. Topics: audi, sales, united states If you liked the article, share on:

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2015 Frankfurt – IAA: The first-ever official photos of the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept in real life surface Posted: Sep 14, 2015 Email Gallery - 30 images Bugatti not too long ago teased to the world their rendition and idea of what a Vision Gran Turismo Concept should be, exclusively for Sony Playstation’s Gran Turismo videogame franchise. Though not only was it a one-off concept car, providing a glimpse into the future for prospective models, it was described as a clear indicator as to what to expect from the new Bugatti Chiron, or the highly-anticipated successor to the famous Veyron. Now, Bugatti’s parents, Volkswagen, just dropped the details plus a considerable amount of photos for outlets and onlookers to see, in detail. Unlike the original set of pictures revealing the car, these latest photos are of the car actually existing in the flesh, in the physical world, outside the realm of virtual reality. Details are still sparse in terms of technical specifications, but that doesn’t undermine the fact that the new Chiron is just going to be insane. WORLD PREMIERE AT FRANKFURT MOTOR SHOW 2015: “THIS IS FOR THE FANS” BUGATTI UNVEILS ITS VISION GRAN TURISMO SHOW CAR Virtual concept designed exclusively for the PlayStation® video game franchise Gran Turismo® Bugatti President Wolfgang Dürheimer: “This project makes our brand accessible to the millions of Bugatti fans throughout the world to say thank you for their loyalty” Car design celebrates Bugatti’s racing history and is based on cutting-edge motor sport technology Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo marks a new chapter in the company’s history Virtual project gives outlook of the brand’s future design language Molsheim/Frankfurt am Main, 14 September 2015 A unique show car makes its world debut: Bugatti has transformed its Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo from the virtual world of bytes and pixels into a real carbon-fibre racer specially for the 66th International Motor Show (IAA). In Frankfurt the French super sports car brand unveils the project that it has designed exclusively for the PlayStation video game franchise Gran Turismo to thank its millions of fans worldwide for their loyalty and enthusiasm. Following the sale of all 450 vehicles in the Veyron series, Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo marks a new chapter in the luxury brand’s history that will culminate in the unveiling of the new Bugatti super sports car. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo design pays homage to Bugatti’s great racing tradition of the 1920s and 1930s, in particular its victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and is based on cutting-edge motor sport technology. At the same time the virtual project also previews Bugatti’s future design language. “Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is the first stage on a new journey that Bugatti is embarking on following the successful completion of its Veyron chapter, and which will culminate in the unveiling of the next Bugatti super sports car in the not too distant future,” says Wolfgang Dürheimer, President of Bugatti Automobiles S.A.S. “This project showcases Bugatti’s new design language, which we have developed to celebrate this new chapter in our company history.” “Bugatti will remain clearly positioned in the future as a brand with a strong profile,” continues Dürheimer. “We’re building the world’s fastest, most exclusive, most luxurious and most powerful production super sports car.” The collaboration with Polyphony Digital, creator of Gran Turismo, allows Bugatti to make the highly exclusive brand available to fans, gamers and high-performance aficionados of all ages. The PlayStation video game franchise has sold over 70 million units since its launch in 1997. “Our Veyron series was limited to 450 vehicles, all of which are now owned by proud automotive connoisseurs,” says the Bugatti President. “However, our fans, who love the brand and have remained loyal to us for years throughout the world, are unlimited in number. This project is our way of thanking them for their loyalty and enthusiasm.” “Having met the team at Bugatti, I can honestly say that the way they challenge limits, the way they try to push beyond boundaries, feels so similar to the way Gran Turismo attempts to go the extra mile in everything it does”, says Kazunori Yamauchi, Senior Vice President of Sony Computer Entertainment and President of Polyphony Digital, who has created the world’s most successful video racing franchise. “For us, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo greatly enriches the Gran Turismo offering. It is an exciting and cool car and I am proud to have it on board“. Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo gives an outlook of the brand’s future form and design language The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo virtual concept previews the design language that the brand has developed for the next chapter of its history following the end of the Veyron era. “Bugatti’s design DNA has reached a new stage in its evolution,” says Achim Anscheidt, head of the Bugatti design team. “Given the nature of the project, our concept car for Vision Gran Turismo is overstated and pushes performance to the limits, but its progressive design language will clearly show the direction that Bugatti’s design will take in the coming years.” Design of virtual race car pays homage to Bugatti’s racing tradition The Bugatti designers drew their inspiration from the brand’s illustrious racing tradition. Bugatti enjoyed great success in racing in the 1920s and 1930s. Company founder Ettore Bugatti was the first car maker to build street-legal versions of his compact and lightweight race cars, which he sold successfully to amateur racing drivers following victorious weekends on the track. The Type 35, probably the most successful race car of all time with over 2,000 victories and podium finishes in its day, is the most prominent example of that phenomenon and continues to embody Bugatti’s racing legacy. Historical inspiration for the modern virtual race car for Vision Gran Turismo came, in particular, from the Bugatti Type 57 Tank and its victories in the 24 Hours of Le Mans races in 1937 and 1939. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo will race in the classic blue two-tone finish of the Type 57 G Tank, which was the winning car in 1937, while also evoking the colour of the historic French race cars of that time. Blue has been the Bugatti brand colour ever since. “Le Mans influenced the design of the virtual race car for Vision Gran Turismo in two ways,” continues Anscheidt. “First, through Bugatti’s tremendous victories on the circuit there. Second, this track with its long straights remains an emblem of top speed today, making it the ideal place for Bugatti to show what it can do as a double world record holder.” Bugatti has held the record for the world’s fastest street-legal production vehicle since 2010 with a speed of 431.072 kph (267.86 mph) and made its way into the record books again in 2013 with the world’s fastest production roadster, clocking 408.84 kph (254.04 mph). Bugatti designers and engineers developed the virtual race car in close collaboration Although the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo will race in a class in which the racers typically bear no or little relation to actual cars and whose design is therefore far more extreme and performance-geared than that of street-legal cars, two points were important to the design team: first, the virtual car should have the distinctive Bugatti look and embody Bugatti’s values of “Art, Forme, Technique”, and, second, every vehicle component should have a real performance function. The virtual race car was therefore developed in close collaboration with the Bugatti engineers and is based on cutting-edge racing technology and aerodynamic analyses. Florian Umbach, head of chassis development at Bugatti, had a lot of fun with the project. “For Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo, we’ve geared every parameter to maximum performance, unlike with our production car, where it goes without saying that comfort and easy handling are also key factors.” The systems that are responsible for luxury and comfort in the street-legal Bugatti super sports car have been dispensed with for the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo. That makes the vehicle more lightweight and creates space for the new, high-performance aerodynamics and a new radiator layout that we specifically designed for the virtual race track. Nevertheless, the car’s technical features, like its design, are realistic, since the virtual project is based on the Bugatti development team’s latest simulation models of driving dynamics and aerodynamics. The engineers and the designers worked together meticulously on the project for six months. Also, racing experts from the Volkswagen Group were involved to ensure that every detail of the virtual race car is authentic. “For Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo, my colleagues and I for once were free from the statutory requirements that as vehicle developers we naturally need to comply with in everyday life,” continues Umbach. “It was an exciting project without any limits or compromises. We were only bound by the safety regulations of the FIA.” The engineers have calculated that the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo can drive at over 400 kph (250 mph) on four sections of the virtual Le Mans track. “With our extreme speed on the long straights, we could make up for any disadvantages on the bends, and would then be as quick in the virtual world as the fastest real-life LMP1 race car, which, unlike us in the video game, naturally needs to comply with all FIA and ACO regulations,” explains Umbach. To attain that performance goal, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo too is driven by a W16 engine, which delivers incredible power to all four wheels. “While the Bugatti Veyron is a super sports car that’s a combination of the beauty and the beast, the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is the ultimate performance beast,” says Anscheidt. “With its radical and extreme design, it’s a thoroughbred Bugatti for the virtual race track.” Exterior design: a successful symbiosis of technology and aesthetics “We wanted to make the project as realistic as possible for our fans, and to introduce a real Bugatti to the virtual world of the PlayStation video game franchise,” explains Frank Heyl, head of exterior design for production development at Bugatti. “Every design feature has a purpose. Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is a successful symbiosis of technology and aesthetics.” “To pay homage to the victories in Le Mans, we definitely wanted to design a modern vehicle to convey the atmosphere of those special moments in Bugatti’s history, rather than create a retro-style race car,” explains Sasha Selipanov, head of exterior design creative development. “As an unabashed Gran Turismo fan, it’s a great adventure for me to bring a brand that was once so successful in racing back to the virtual track. The expressive design of the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is marked by large convex surfaces, which contrast with concave transitions and strong lines. That lends the exterior styling precision and surface tensions of the highest quality. The proportions of the vehicle are uncompromisingly athletic and designed for maximum performance. The cockpit lies as low-slung as possible between the four dominant wheel housings and is fully enclosed by the muscular wings. The extreme mid-engined proportions with the V-shaped front end and short rear overhang indicate powerful forward thrust even when stationary. The result is a dynamic, “ready-to-race” stance that gives the impression of immense power immediately at the ready. The designers have unmistakeably integrated the key features of the Bugatti design DNA into the virtual race car’s design. The side profile of the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo features the famous Bugatti line, which not only divides the exterior into the signature two-tone finish, but also plays an important aerodynamic role in cooling the vehicle. The virtual race car also features the most striking Bugatti symbol – the horseshoe on the front grille. It is positioned in the centre of the central front air intake as a three-dimensional sculpture, and acts as a support for the front splitter. The horseshoe is flanked by the eight-eye headlights, which were specially developed for Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo. They also have an aerodynamic function, since they act as air intakes to cool the brakes. Another signature Bugatti design element is the centre fin, which derives from the legendary 1936 Type 57 Atlantic. The designers have used two versions of the fin for the Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo: one on the wings and rear side panels, where the fins enhance the design of the vehicle and the other running the length of the roof, where the fin makes an important contribution to the car’s dynamic stability. The kinematic system for the rear wing, which controls the air brake and the drag reduction system (DRS), is located here. An interesting detail on the roof is the NACA duct, which, with its contrasting light blue finish, is not only strikingly aesthetic, but is also the most aerodynamic way to bring air into the engine at roof level without creating turbulence in the inflow of the rear wing. The rear of the vehicle has a strong trailing edge which provides excellent driving stability, exhausts the hot air from the engine compartment and, no less importantly, unmistakeably shows the virtual competitor that a Bugatti is getting ahead and away from them. Functional, exclusive interior design à la Bugatti Just as with the exterior, no comprises were made when it came to the design of the vehicle’s interior. “It’s the ultimate race car, and at the same time a true Bugatti,” says Etienne Salome, head of interior design at Bugatti. The architecture of the interior continues the clean lines of the exterior. The striking centre fin of the roof is echoed in the interior, where it divides the cockpit from the rest of the interior and merges with the central console below. The interior picks up the two-tone finish of the outer shell. Every aspect of the interior is geared to racing. All indicators, displays and controls, which are positioned where a racing driver would expect them to be, are easy to read and can be reached in a split second. There are two displays for the driver, both of which are convex for improved readability in line with state-of-the-art design. The display on the steering wheel shows all the relevant vehicle information. The second display is located on the steering column and combines the images from the three cameras mounted on the exterior of the vehicle to provide the driver with a better overview for an even safer driving experience. All displays in the cockpit are backlit so the driver can see the information easily. The materials used for the interior also reflect Bugatti’s values. The designers followed the principles of authenticity and exceptional quality. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo not only uses carbon fibre, which is typically used in racing to keep the cars lightweight, but blue visible carbon fibre. A high-gloss version is used for the exterior, whereas a matte finish is used in the interior to prevent unwanted reflections. The Bugatti designers went the extra mile with the leather upholstery as well. A particularly lightweight and durable suede that until now was used only for racing shoes in Formula One has been used for parts in the cockpit that need to have a particularly good grip or be resilient such as the steering wheel, the dash panel and the headrest. Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo is the first vehicle to be upholstered with that material. “Whether in the virtual or in the real world, a Bugatti needs to exude the values that the brand stands for,” say the designers. The show car in Frankfurt is therefore the perfect realisation of the virtual concept. It was built by hand, using exclusive materials, with Bugatti’s signature attention to detail and workmanship. The Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo show car will be on display at the Bugatti stand in hall 3.0 of the IAA grounds from 17 to 27 September 2015. – By: Chris Chin Tags: 2015, 2015 Bugatti Vision Gran Turismo Concept, 2015 Frankfurt Auto Show, 2015 Frankfurt Motor Show, 2015 IAA, Auto Shows, Bugatti, Bugatti Chiron, Coupes, Hypercars, Luxury, Supercars wheels Bugatti Veyron factory OEM Bugatti Veyron Carbon rear bumper / ATD SPORTSCARS Bugatti Veyron r.h. Side Panel / ATD SPORTSCARS Bugatti Veyron r.h. Quarter Panel / ATD SPORTSCARS Bugatti Veyron Carbon Shock rod, Carbon rear bumper Connect with us on any of our social profiles below.

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» Toyota NS4 Plug-In Hybrid EV Concept @ Geneva [VIDEO] Toyota NS4 Plug-In Hybrid EV Concept @ Geneva [VIDEO] Europeans will be able to enjoy the presence of Toyota’s hybrid mid-size concept car, the NS4. A car based on this concept will probably be launched by 2015 worldwide. Now, although the NS4 is a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV), the Japanese company says it is not a member of the Prius family. Unlike what the Prius line has installed, this concept car has a next-generation Hybrid Synergy Drive plug-in system that is lighter, smaller, more fuel efficient, has better acceleration and is able to travel longer distances in electric-only mode. The exact details of how well the new system performs compared to the old one have not been made public, not yet anyway. But we do know that a lot of emphasis will be put into making the car as intelligent as possible. Toyota considers that connected vehicles rank in third behind smartphones and tables as the fastest growing markets. Thus, it has invested a lot of time, money and effort into bring the very best in to into its cars, especially into this NS4 concept. The concept’s HMI (Human-Machine Interface) is centered on a multi-touch screen that not only looks stunning, but is also extremely useful. This is where a driver controls the car’s multimedia capabilities, the air conditioning, as well as the navigation functions and battery related issues. Toyota claims that this HMI is able to adapt to a driver’s habits and will be able to actually predict what he wants to do, in certain circumstances at least. In theory, this sounds great; let’s wait and see if Toyota’s actions are up to its words. Next, the Japanese have thought long and hard about safety and what that implies. They have come up with a number of new safety features, like the Pre-Collision System (PCS). Just like the name indicates, this system is designed to predict when a collision is about to take place and avoid it. Millimeter-wave radar and front-mounted stereo cameras are used in the detection process. This way, the system knows when a lane is left behind, a pedestrian or a car is close by. At night, near-infrared beams are used to boost performance. If a collision is detected, a buzzer warns the driver, but if it is imminent, the brakes are automatically pushed while the seatbelt tightened. In case a pedestrian is involved, an included pop-up hood structure kicks in that raises the rear of the hood to increase the space underneath, thus, reducing the chances of the pedestrian sustaining head injuries. Toyota says this system has been tested with dummies and virtual models, and it works. Further tech additions are the replacing of mirrors with cameras,and a dedicated screen mounted on the dashboard to display the panoramic rear view image captured by the cameras. At the same time, cameras mounted in the front grille together with Adaptive Driving Beam (ADB) headlights and partial shielding inside the headlights will allow a driver to use high beam illumination almost all the time without the risk of producing glare. The concept car will undoubtedly attract a lot of people at Geneva interested in how Toyota’s cars will be like in a few years from now. EV Concept,

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Electric charge points unused There are 1,300 electric car charging points in London. But figures obtained by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats show that between April and July this year only around 300 of the charge points had been used at all. 6:25 pm, Mon 16 Sep 2013 Were charging posts an expensive mistake? Was the Mayor's plan to turn London into the electric car capital of the world an ambitious but expensive mistake? So far the charging points for the cars have cost the taxpayer more than 6 million pounds, but motorists aren't swapping their petrol guzzlers for free-to-charge electric vehicles. ITV News has seen the latest figures obtained through a Freedom of Information Act which show 65 percent of the charging stations simply haven't been used. This exclusive report from Dan Hewitt. Mayor: 'We must invest in electric technology for the future' Mayor Boris Johnson has responded to new figures which show that two-thirds of electric car recharging posts in the capital are not being used. He called on electric car manufacturers to reduce their prices, and said the technology was vital for reducing emissions. Westminster City Council says that putting in electric charging points is the only way to ensure that the infrastructure is in place for the long term. It says: · There are 42 on-street recharging bays within the City of Westminster. At the start of 2013, there were approximately 150 recharging stations in the public car parks in Westminster · The first on-street recharging point was installed in 2006 as a trial with local users. Westminster has spent and budgeted approx £140,000 per year on electric vehicle recharging infrastructure to deliver recharging bays in line with local demand. · Usage data shows that the established on-street recharging points (which cover a two year period) are used at least twice / three times a day and the average length of stay at the post is 4.5 hours. Westminster Council 12:02 pm, Mon 16 Sep 2013 1000 electric charge points are unused London now has 1,300 charging points for electric cars, but new figures obtained under a Freedom of Information request show that only 300 of them have been used at all. A man charging his electric car in Westminster Credit: Katie Collins/PA Wire Since its launch two years ago, 1,300 charging points have been installed by a consortium of over 60 public and private partners, led by Transport for London at over 300 sites in the capital, including supermarkets, shopping centres, council and private car parks, hospitals and on the street. London's 1,300 electric car charging points form Europe's largest urban charging network Credit: Katie Collins/PA Wire Energy is supplied by EDF and motorists can charge cars for free after paying a £10 annual membership. But figures obtained by the London Assembly Liberal Democrats showed that in the last four months of 2012, only 198 of 800 points were used. For many points the average use was just one to four minutes a day, suggesting they were only used once or twice over this period. Only 37 of those 198 charging points were used for two hours or more each day on average. Stephen Knight, the Assembly Lib-Dems' environment spokesman, said: "Source London is clearly failing to have much impact. A growing network of charging points primarily for private electric cars may have long-term merit but the Mayor's first priority must be to switch London's 20,000 diesel taxis and 8,500 buses to electric power."

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Coke plant new home for Harleys Mike's Famous Harley-Davidson finally will be motoring to the New London side of the Thames River.The motorcycle sales and service operator, which previously had unsuccessfully sought to open a location in East Lyme, and at one time considered another site on Crystal Avenue in New London, closed on a $550,000 deal last month to purchase the former Coca-Cola bottling plant at 951 Bank St. The dealership will be one of the largest in the Northeast when it opens in December.Mike Schwartz, owner of the Delaware-based motorcycle business, said Friday that the massive 55,000-square-foot building he is in the middle of renovating will be his business headquarters. The Bank Street site more than quadruples the size of his current location at 1416 Gold Star Highway in Groton, which will be winding down operations, he said."It's an incredible building," Schwartz said during an hourlong tour of the rambling structure on a nearly 5-acre site. "The attractiveness of the building was the grittiness of the warehouse."Schwartz said he will incorporate much of the building's current features, including tongue-and-groove ceilings, warehouse-style windows and steel trusses, into the design of his new Harley-Davidson showroom. Redoing the floors and installing new lighting will be a major part of re-imagining the space as a vibrant retail establishment, he said."This building is the perfect backdrop for the products that we sell," he said.Schwartz said he started looking at the 1938 landmark building last spring, but couldn't close on the deal with the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Southeastern New England until he had all approvals in place.The building, with its distinctive curve, served as a bottling operation for more than half a century before being converted into a distribution center in 2003. Coca-Cola Bottling moved out of the building three years ago when it opened a new 74,000-square-foot sales and distribution center in Waterford.Schwartz said the building has enough space for an expansive showroom to display more than 200 motorcycles, along with all-terrain vehicles and watercraft. It also will allow for a drive-in service and parts operation while providing space for storage as well."It's always been the goal to find the right location for the business," Schwartz said. "It's been a challenge."He bought the former New London County Motorcycle Sales in Groton in 2004 and the following year proposed a large Harley-Davidson dealership on Industrial Park Road in East Lyme, where Bob's Discount Furniture is now located. But local opposition eventually killed the plans.He then had a brief flirtation with a site on Crystal Avenue, but eventually dropped the idea.On Bank Street, he is working with Groton-based civil engineer Clint Brown of DeCesare-Bentley Engineers, Carlin Construction Co. of New London and Point One Architects in Old Lyme to design a space that will be flexible enough for a wide range of activities, including public and private events."We have this very short window to get it right," said Sabrina Foulke of Point One Architects, who is helping coordinate the project.Schwartz said the idea is to highlight the building's inherent beauty and use found objects on site and reclaimed materials elsewhere to create an interesting ambiance. Lumber, brick and even corrugated metal will make its way into the design, he said, as well as some of the current concrete flooring."It's an iconic building, an iconic brand," Schwartz said. "Coca-Cola and Harley-Davidson are two of the most iconic American brands in the world."Schwartz said New London has been very enthusiastic about the project, and though the business will have residential neighbors, he has not encountered major obstacles along the way to approval.The business could employ as many as 40, Schwartz said, about double the numbers that work in Groton during the warmest months of the year, when motorcycle sales are at their highest."This is a great American city," he said. "I'm very proud of the fact we have an opportunity to take a part of town that has been a little downtrodden and try to inject some life and vibrancy into it."[email protected]

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Mount Washington Auto Road to host largest gathering of alternative-energy based vehicles in North America | New Hampshire Contact us A Sparrow II, a single passenger, zero-emissions, all-electric vehicle perches atop Mount Washington following its climb up the Mount Washington Auto Road during the 2013 Alt Energy Summit. The summit returns to the Auto Road on Sept. 13 and 14. (COURTESY) Mount Washington Auto Road to host largest gathering of alternative-energy based vehicles in North America By JOHN KOZIOLSunday News Correspondent GREEN'S GRANT - As all-electric cars become increasingly common, their popularity can be credited in part to events such as the Alt Energy Summit, which next month is hoping to bring the largest field of alternative-energy based vehicles in North America to the Mount Washington Auto Road, according to its organizers.. A three-wheeled board, the Tribey, was a popular attraction last year. Constructed by Black Sparrow Indutries, it's expected to make a return visit this year with updates. (COURTESY) Founded in 1975, the Alt Energy Summit went dormant in recent years but was "rebooted" in 2013 and returns again this year on Sept 13 and 14 under the direction of Ted Dillard, a Boston-area writer, photographer and businessman who expects as many as 100 alternative-energy vehicles to be on hand... One of the vehicles perched atop Mount Washington following its climb up the Mount Washington Auto Road during the 2013 Alt Energy Summit. The summit returns to the Auto Road on Sept. 13 and 14. (COURTESY) To be held rain or shine, the free event will feature a parade up the Auto Road as well as workshops for inventors and the public to educate both groups about the variety of alternate-fueled vehicles already out there and to inspire them to build - or buy - one...National eventThis year's summit, said Dillard from his Dedham, Mass., home, will serve to kick off the New England celebrations of National Drive Electric Week. The New Hampshire Electric Cooperative is the presenting sponsor of the summit, which boasts major manufacturers, electric vehicle associations, industry suppliers and individual "makers." Expected to be on hand at the summit is one of the earliest examples of an alternate-energy vehicle: a steam-powered Stanley Locomobile that was the first motor vehicle to ascend the Auto Road in 1899...Howie Wemyss, who is the Auto Road's general manager, said given how the Auto Road has "seen the evolution of transportation play out on its 8-mile path to the summit," it seemed "very appropriate that we showcase how alternative energy technologies have evolved since then."..Many to attendDillard said attendees will include the New England Electric Auto Association; Bill Buchholz, with his Dirigo front-wheel drive, 90 mpg diesel tadpole trike; the MIT EVT team with its electric Porsche and latest electric motorcycle; Olin College's REVO Team; Zoombikes' electric bikes; Robert Worobey of Black Sparrow Industries, with his three-wheeled board, the Tribey; Ben Rich, Cross-Country EV adventurer and KickgasTV, who will display his Zero Motorcycle ride; and Smart Energy of New England, which will highlight its line of solar electric, solar thermal, pellet boilers and various wind-generation products...Also on hand will be representatives from Outrider USA along with the company's three-wheeled electric/pedal power vehicles; Chargepoint; the ALT E Store; Foxfire Energy; Dragonfly Aerials; the Maine Chapter of the National Electric Drag Racing Association, which is bringing an electric motorcycle and Cobra drag car; and the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, which will host a presentation on community-based charge stations...Experts on handGary LeMay from the NHEC will be on hand to answer questions about renewable and sustainable energy, and Twin State Ford will display an assortment of electric and hybrid vehicles available for purchase...A full schedule of events is available online at www.altenergysummit.org.The summit begins at 10 a.m. Sept. 14 with the "Alt Energy Parade and Drive to the Summit." The Auto Road will be open to the public both days, and the vehicles will be available for inspection...Dillard said Tim O'Neil and the EVSR race team - as well as two of their cars - will be present. In June, O'Neil drove the first electric vehicle in the Auto Road's Climb to the Clouds race, finishing 24th,with a time of 7 minutes 28 seconds, or a minute and 20 seconds slower than the conventionally powered Subaru WRX/STi driven by David Higgins...Dillard also expects some Tesla owners to be on hand with their high-end rides, as well as home inventors who may be bringing whatever they have developed since last year's summit.Varied methodsCreativity abounds at the Alt Energy Summit, said Dillard, noting that in 1975, one entry was a chicken manure methane-powered school bus...For the public's safety, Dillard joked, no vehicles are allowed to be powered by anti-matter or flux capacitors, the latter being the device that powered Michael J. Fox's DeLorean sports car in the movie "Back to the Future."..Other than those two exceptions, however, everything else goes at the Alt Energy Summit, said Dillard."Our effort last year, and a big part of our effort this year, is to inspire entrepreneurial inventors and to show the public what is here already, what they can buy right off the shelf," said Dillard, whether it's a hybrid or all-electric vehicle or a whole-house solar kit..."This year is the tipping point for electric vehicles," Dillard predicted. "We're seeing a huge surge in the stock value of companies like Tesla and pure, electric vehicles are being offered by most manufacturers. Next year by this time, electric cars will be as common as hybrids today, and it will happen that fast."[email protected]..

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Volkswagen goes live with new Chattanooga solar farm Posted on January 27, 2013 by MB-BigB Volkswagen USA has just taken the wraps of its new solar farm which will help power its Chattanooga Tennessee plant. The new solar farm cranks out about 9.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to fulfill about 12.5% of the plant’s needs during full operating capacity, and 100% of demand when the plant is not in production. VW’s new solar farm was built by Phoenix Solar Inc, and consists of 33,600 JA Solar polycrystalline silicon modules located on 33 acres of land.. As a result of a 20 year contract to buy the solar farm’s power output, VW has earned itself a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification for the U.S. Green Building Council, the first automaker to do so. This is all part of Volkswagen’s “Think Blue” initiative, which has a goal of hitting a 40% reduction in its greenhouse gas emissions by 2020 compared to 2010, and is a “broadly focused initiative for all Volkswagen plants to achieve more efficient use of energy, materials and water and produce less waste and emissions,” according the Frank Fischer, the CEO and chairman of Volkswagen Group of America. The VW plant covers about 1.9 million square feet and is used to make the VW Passat . About 3,000 people are employed there. via Volkswagen press release Tags: solar park, renewable projects, solar farm, solar projects, VW energy, new solar projects This entry was posted in Solar Power and tagged new solar projects, renewable projects, solar farm, solar park, solar projects, VW energy by MB-BigB.Bookmark the permalink. One thought on “Volkswagen goes live with new Chattanooga solar farm” Bonita Buck on January 27, 2013 at 11:05 pm said: VW also considered using methane gas from a landfill in the area to produce electricity and run it the plant, but opted for the solar park for now. Treehugger test drives the Volkswagen 2011 Touareg hybridCedar Creek II wind farm goes live with 250 megawatts capacityNew York Times review of the Green Car of the Year – the 2009 Volkswagen Jetta TDINew solar farm in Ohio opens – adds 12 megawatts to the gridVolkswagen announced Jetta Hybrid and shows off new electric Beetle concept – the E-Bugster

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PCM to be featured on tonight's episode of "Modern Marvels"Pacific Coast Motorsports will be featured on tonight’s episode of The History Channel’s hit show “Modern Marvels” tonight at 9:00 pm ET. The episode, titled “Crashes” takes an in-depth look at the safety innovations in Open-Wheel racing. Filmed at the Champ Car finale at the 2008 Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, the episode prominently features the Pacific Coast Motorsports teams and partners, and includes interviews with PCM Team Owner Tyler Tadevic, PCM IndyCar driver Mario Dominguez and PCM Atlantic driver Frankie Muniz. “Modern Marvels’ is a terrific show that explains in layman’s terms the technologies behind many of today’s achievements,” said PCM Team Owner, Tyler Tadevic. “This is our second time featured on “Modern Marvels” this year, and we are very proud to be part of their program. The “Carbon” episode was fascinating, and we are looking forward to tonight’s show. We’re always looking for ways to reach out to the non-motorsports media, and this exposure is extremely beneficial for our partners, our team and our athletes.” Racetrack safety is also highlighted in the episode. The “Modern Marvels” crew sat down with Long Beach President and CEO Jim Michaelian and Lon Bromley from the Champ Car Safety Team to discuss the latest developments in race circuit safety. Modern Marvels: Celebrating ingenuity, invention and imagination brought to life on a grand scale; MODERN MARVELS tells the fascinating stories of the doers, dreamers and sometime-schemers who created everyday items, technological breakthroughs and man-made wonders. Modern Marvels is a documentary television series on The History Channel that answers the question of how many things in the modern world are possible, and where they came from. Modern Marvels airs Monday-Friday at 8pm/7:00 central. For more information, visit: http://www.history.com/minisites/modernmarvels.

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Honda's Small Car Production Unit Set up at Rajasthan 28 May,2008 Premium car manufacturer Honda’s Indian subsidiary Honda Siel Cars India has announced that it is contemplating on bringing a small car to India.The company plans to hold the production of small car at the Rajasthan plant, which is currently under construction. The establishment of the facility is likely to be complete in two years time.The HSCI’s president and CEO, Masahiro Takedagawa confirmed that the small car from Honda stable will be manufactured at the Rajasthan plant. The facility will have a capacity to manufacture 60,000 units initially and will be upgraded to 2 lakh units later. Honda Seil Cars India is investing Rs 1000 crore on the new unit.Honda rules the premium small car market in India which is just a little more than 20 percent. As more than 75 percent of Indian car market comprise of small cars, Honda has also decided to launch it product in this segment. The company had not decided on the pricing factor but it will be in the premium hatchback category.The company has also upped it network to 80 dealerships from 55 last year. It also plans to add another 20 dealers to the list. With this number Honda plans to reach out to B and C level cities and expand its market share in India. Honda currently rules the premium car segment and recently launched the 8th generation Accord.

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Chrysler shows off the history of Turbine cars in video: Original turbine show cars were mostly destroyed About the Detroit auto showChrysler brought out a surprise concept to the Detroit auto show last week. The 2013 Chrysler 300S Turbine wore a coat of matte orange paint and sported turbine-style wheels, celebrating the 50-year-old concept car of the same name.Under the skin, it was a just an average 300S, with either a 300-hp V6 or 363-hp V8, mated to a six- or eight-speed automatic. There wasn't much -- besides the wheels -- to link it back to the concept. Nevertheless, it was enjoyable to look at, and posed for many pictures from passersby. Chrysler's head of design, Saad Chehab, said that he fell in love with the color and hoped to incorporate some of the elements in future products. No word was given if or when Turbine orange will be made available to the public. The inspiration for the car came 50 years earlier when Chrysler created the first Turbine car, designed by Ghia in Italy. The complete bodies were flown to Chrysler's Greenfield Avenue turbine research center in Detroit for final assembly. Only 55 units were ever built -- 50 were production and five were prototypes. They've all been destroyed, save for a few in museums across the country and the one that is, of course, parked at Jay Leno's garage.The classic turbine engine ran at speeds up to 44,500 rpm and could use diesel, gasoline, kerosene, JP4 jet fuel and even vegetable oil. It had about one fifth of the moving parts of a contemporary engine.Check out the video from Chrysler, where designers talk about what it took to build the car and why they did it. It also shows some footage of the original car in action. The annual North American International Auto Show, better known as the Detroit auto show, has maintained its place as a barometer for the entire industry. For 2013, NAIAS takes place Jan. 14-27 and will host concept cars, green cars and supercars from all the major automakers, including what's expected to be a highlight this year: the new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette. Check out Autoweek's complete coverage of the Detroit auto show here. Detroit Auto Show, Auto Shows, Car News, Car Life, Authors, Jake Lingeman, Concept Vehicles

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Subaru WRX S4 on the way, new JDM spec? Brett Davis Jul 26, 2014 July 26, 2014 Car News, Subaru A new Subaru WRX ‘S4’ is on the way, Subaru has confirmed, which will likely be the Japanese Domestic Market version of the new-look 2014 WRX. It’s set to showcase a number of Subaru’s latest technologies and premium features. While the WRX is on sale in Australia and the US, it is yet to arrive in a number of markets around the world including its home country in Japan. The S4 could be the flagship variant destined for the latter market, packed with high-end goodies. Very little has been revealed at this stage, other than this dark, profile teaser image. It is expected to come with the company’s latest 2.0 turbo boxer four-cylinder though, where it might be retuned slightly compared with the Australian-spec 197kW version. Inside, the WRX S4 is expected to come with the latest version of EyeSight technology, which incorporates exterior cameras to continuously monitor the road ahead and surrounding the car. It’s designed to help prevent slow-speed accidents and collisions with pedestrians. As for the S4 name, well, Audi will probably have something to say about it considering it has been selling its A4-based S4 for a number of generations now. The S4 will probably be the name given to the sedan WRX in Japan, similar to how the previous-gen sedan was called the G4. All will be revealed on August 25. Tags Subaru WRX, Subaru WRX S4 Related Articles 2017 Subaru Impreza to be revealed at New York Auto Show March 11, 2016 Subaru Levorg STI confirmed, likely JDM only (video) May 13, 2016 MY17 Subaru Levorg on sale in Australia from $42,990 June 24, 2016 Subaru Impreza sedan concept heading to LA auto show November 11, 2015 Brett Davis Brett is the editor and founder of PerformanceDrive. He's obsessed with driving, having played with Matchbox cars until he was tall enough to drive a real one. After initially working as a mechanic, Brett earned a degree in journalism and entered media as an editorial assistant at Top Gear Australia magazine. He then worked at CarAdvice.com.au. His dream is to live next door to the Nurburgring in Germany. 3,670

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f34 3 series News Stories 3 Series Gran Turismo in Motion by Tim Jones on April 29, 2013 at 06:26:00 PM Say what you will about the 3 Series Gran Turismo, you can't help but find it attractive in this well put together BMW product spotlight. Think of the 3 GT as a 3 series +, with a bit more room, a bit more comfort and a bit more functionality. Styling wise, BMW has left plenty of room for debate. The 3 Series Gran Turismo US Debut in New York! by Tim Jones on March 27, 2013 at 10:46:00 AM BMW is continuing to expand their model line up and the New York Auto Show is the first place in the United States that you have been able to see the 3 Series Gran Turismo model in person. The new BMW 3 Series Gran Turismo will arrive in the US, as both a 328i and a 335i, in the summer of 2013 as a 2014 model. Find other popular stories by clicking on the keywords below.... f30 forum bmw awards bmw racing bmw pricing f30 bmw f30 news © 2001-2017 performanceIX, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Forum Guidelines Terms of Use Privacy Policy Advertise with Us Contact Us

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We have received requests to provide you with all the cheats for this car logo quiz and we intend to deliver. It’s impossible to know all the car logos and names, even if you are extremely passionate about car logos. You will soon discover some symbols in the car logo quiz game that you will probably not be able to identify. It happened to us too, but we didn’t give up! We have to admit, we played this game and it is indeed addictive. The car logo quiz answers aren’t always easy, although pretty intuitive if you love cars and know a few things about them, but for all of you out there who need logo quiz car cheats, we are here for you! Dear player, welcome to the Logo Quiz Cars Level 1 Answers Page! On this page you will find all the car logos quiz answers that you need to advance to the next level. The automotive industry is teeming with extremely popular, but also obscure company names. To be honest, we didn’t get all the car symbols and names at first. This is exactly why we have decided to compile a list of logo quiz cars answers. If you’re here it means that you started the super popular and addictive game for iPhone and Android smart devices called Logo Quiz Cars. This game is the best way to test your knowledge about cars just by looking at the logo. But as much as one knows about cars, one cannot really guess them all. That’s where we come in. We’re here to provide you with the answers for the Logo Quiz Car game on all the levels. So let’s start with the first one. We will offer you all the Logo Quiz Cars Answers for all levels, together with help pages, brand hints and name explanations. This doesn’t mean that we will spoon-feed you all the car logos and names answers. The hints published below are designed to help you in your quest for cars logo quiz. You can have a peek at the Logo Quiz Cars Level 1 Answers for Android below. Before anything else, however, remember to come back for the next Logo Quiz Cars answers all gathered here in only one place, so don’t forget to tell your friends about us! Enjoy the ride! If there are any car logos and names that you are having trouble with, feel free to contact us. Audi – The Audi logo is one of the most recognizable car logos in the world. It consists of four rings intersecting each other. Many people asked themselves about the Audio logo meaning and we are here to tell you that the number four used to stand for the four car makers who created the company. – This famous German car brand was founded in 1909 by August Horch and has an impressive history. The founder’s last name means “listen" and if translated in Latin, you get “Audi". While the company’s general motto is “Advancement through Technology”, in the more recent years, the motto for the United States was changed to “Truth in Engineering”. – The famous Volkswagen logo comprises of the company’s initials – a “V" placed over a “W" surrounded by a circle. The current slogan of the company, “Das Auto.", is also placed under the emblem. This is among the most famous car logos and names in the automotive industry. – This German automobile maker was founded in 1937 by Ferdinand Porsche. The company is headquartered in Wolfsburg, Germany and it’s one of the biggest automakers in the world. The company’s name mean “people’s car" in German. Volkswagen is the biggest car manufacturer in Germany and the second largest car maker in the world. – The Ford logo is probably one of the most recognizable car logos in the world. The brand’s name is written in a blue oval shape and even if along the years there were many variations of the Ford logos, they all kept approximately the same features. – This brand has been around for more than 100 years and its name is intimately connected to Henry Ford, a visionary man who shaped history. The Ford Motor Company is one of the biggest car manufacturers in the world. It doesn’t matter if you choose an old model or a new one, Ford is still known as an American symbol and a synonym for quality. – The Citroen logo consists of two inverted Vs and below it the name of the brand written in red. However, the Citroen car logo is more than the eye can see: the origin of the logo may be traced back to a trip made by founder André Citroën to Poland, where he discovered an innovative design for a chevron-shaped gear used in milling and used as logos for all cars to this date. – As you probably know, this famous French car brand was founded in 1919 by Andre-Gustave Citroen, but starting with 1976, the company belongs to the French group PSA Peugeot Citroën. – The Chevrolet logo is one of the most recognizable in the car industry. It comprises of a cross in metallic colors, but actually it is referred to as the Chevrolet bowtie logo. If you are a Chevrolet fan, you must love the Impala, the Camaro, the Corvette or the SS and you know that no matter if a Chevrolet car is old or new, it still stands for class and quality. The logo is quite popular itself, as the Chevrolet logo vector is one of the most researched emblems on the Internet. – This is a famous car manufacturer owned by General Motors. It is also known as Chevy. What the company is iconic for, besides its cars, is the ad and marketing campaigns it developed along the years, all delivering powerful images and messages. – The Mercedes Benz logo is one of the most instantly recognizable car emblems in the world. It features the famous three-pointed Silver Star enclosed in a circle. Starting with 1902, the company featured many different logos, but the silver star seems to be the most popular. It is present on all cars, trucks, buses or coaches and it stands for German power and quality. – Mercedes the oldest car manufacturer in the world. It’s a German brand that makes luxury vehicles and was founded in 1886 and headquartered in Stuttgart. This brand is synonymous with style, class and comfort, no matter if we speak about sports cars or luxury limousines. – The next company on the list of car logos and names is Skoda. The Skoda logo features a green winged arrow and the brand’s name in a circle. The new logo of Skoda was redesigned in 2011, taking a more elegant and dynamic shape in comparison to the older logos. Skoda Auto belongs to the Volkswagen Group but it has its own share of success, together with a new line of e-car concepts, a new Rapid model manufactured in India and the rejuvenation of previously successful models in 2013. – Skoda is now a famous Czech car maker headquartered in Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic and was founded in 1895 under the name Laurin&Klement. What Skoda is appreciated for, among other things, is the affordable price set for its cars and the promoted image of a strong company looking into the future. – The Suzuki logo comprises of a stylized red “S", the company’s initial, and the full brand name in blue next to it and you will see it on every motorcycle or car that speeds on the boulevard, as Suzuki is known for producing powerful vehicles. – Suzuki is a world famous Japanese car brand founded in 1909 by Michio Suzuki, headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka and is well-known for manufacturing automobiles, engines, motorcycles and ATVs. However, it started out as a loom making factory for the textile industry, continued with a bike (or several bikes, as the nostalgic still have a soft spot for the Hayabusa, the GSX or the GSXR motorcycles) and ended up manufacturing cars only in 1961. It is one of the largest automakers in the world with more than 52,800 employees worldwide. – The Ferrari logo is probably one of the most iconic sports car logos and names of all times. It comprises of an illustration of a horse on a yellow background and the Italian flag on top. However, the Ferrari logo history is a bit more complex than that. The horse is called Cavallino Rampante (“prancing horse”) and is in fact a black prancing stallion chose as logo by Enzo Ferrari back in 1923. – This super famous Italian sports car manufacturer was founded in 1929 by Enzo Ferrari, had the name of Scuderia Ferrari and the logo has been present on the Ferrari vehicles ever since. The company is currently headquartered in Maranello, Italy. When you see Ferrari logo images you can’t think but F1 races, lots of horse powers and mind-blowing red super-cars. – The Daewoo logo is a sea-shell like symbol followed by the brand’s name. – Daewoo is a famous South Korean car company known for manufacturing automobiles. It was founded in 1967 by Kim Woo-jung and in 1999 the company was dismantled by the Korean government. However, the Daewoo cars, all bearing the same logos throughout the years, had plenty of success on the European market. Today, a handful of Daweoo divisions still survive under new owners. – The current version of the Dodge logo features the company’s name in uppercase characters with a pair of red stripes and it was introduced in 2010, although a famous older emblem for this car company was the Dodge ram logo.The new one was originally used for marketing purposes, but as of 2012, it shows off on all Dodge vehicles. There have been many other Dodge logos before, but the last versions are here to stay. – This American car company is a subsidiary of Chrysler Group LLC and was established in 1900 by Horace Elgin Dodge and John Francis. Today its official full name is the Dodge Division of Chrysler Corporation. – The iconic Yamaha logo depicts three tuning forks contained in a circle and stands for a company which was established in 1887. It is one of the most popular car logos and names in the world. The logo of Yamaha is closely related to the company history, in case you wanted to know the Yamaha logo meaning: the corporation’s origins as a musical instrument manufacturer is still reflected today in the group’s logo— the trio of interlocking tuning forks. – The Japanese manufacturer of musical instruments evolved into a large corporation involved in producing electronics and motors and sports related equipment, and, let’s not forget, motorcycles. The company is headquartered in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka. – The Kia logo represents the name of the car in red letters enclosed in an oval shape. The Kia Motors logo is quite simple and doesn’t use intricate symbolism, but it is easily recognizable. – If you’re a car lover, you must know this company, as it’s a famous Korean company headquartered in Seoul, South Korea, founded in 1944 and now owned by Hyundai Motor Group in a 32.8%. However, it is one of the largest car companies in South Korea and in the world. – The Volvo logo comprises of a circle with a diagonally upwards pointed arrow. There is no difference between the Volvo truck logo and the Volvo car logo, but the company is specialized mostly in the production, distribution and sale of trucks, buses, and construction equipment. – Volvo is a world famous Swedish car manufacturer, headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden and founded in 1927. The name of this company is inspired by the Latin word “volvere" which means “to roll". Unfortunately, Volvo sold its car division to Ford in 1999. – The Chrysler logo consists of the brand’s name inside a pair of wings. The Chrysler logos have changed along the years, with a new one announced in January 2014, together with the full acquirement of the remaining Chrysler group shares by FIAT. Together with this takeover, we will witness not only major changes in the company’s history, but also in the Chrysler logo history. – The company was founded in 1925 by Walter Chrysler and it’s famous for making luxury cars and we hope it will forever be famous for the same thing many years from now on. Wrapping Up: This concludes our list of car logo quiz answers. We hope you find them helpful. For more auto logo quiz answers head on over to levels 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10. You will find everything you need to complete the game in no time. Don’t forget, you should always try to come up with the car symbols and names yourself, and only check the logo quiz cars answers if you get stuck. Tags: car logo quiz car logo quiz answers car logos car logos and names cars cars logo quiz logo quiz Logo Quiz Answers logo quiz car answers logo quiz cars logo quiz cars answers Posted On: June 19th, 2014

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Toddler Buys Car on eBay Using Father's Smartphone Last month Sorella Stoute from Portland, Oregon, purchased a 1962 Austin-Healey Sprite on eBay. Now, this might not sound like much of a story, until you learn that Sorella is only 14 months old. Here's what happened. The tiny online shopper was playing with her father Paul Stoute's smartphone when she inadvertently opened the eBay app and purchased the rundown car for a little over $200 from a seller in nearby Tualatin, Oregon. Sorella's dad first learned of the purchase of the car, nicknamed "Franken Sprite," via an eBay confirmation email. At first he was shocked and panicked but in the end decided to keep the car and fix it up, saying, "I've done a lot of bodywork in the past … but this is another realm altogether." Stoute added that he felt lucky Sorella picked a car on the cheaper end of the spectrum, saying he was glad she didn't click on the $38,000 Porsche he had also been looking at. Paul Stoute set up a Smarty Pig crowdfunding page to raise money to restore the Franken Sprite, and he does not need to worry about Sorella's next purchase; he installed facial recognition technology and a new PIN code on his phone. He said he might give the fixed-up ride to Sorella for her 16th birthday or graduation.

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One of two dozen classic Ferraris that turned out for Scarsdale Concours. Photo by Jay Ramey Scarsdale Concours celebrates 10th anniversary with great turnout Just a couple weeks ago, the Scarsdale Concours d'Elegance welcomed car fans from all over the northeast to the center of Scarsdale, N.Y., just half an hour (or three) north of Manhattan, depending on traffic. Traffic being very mild on a Sunday morning in October meant that participants and visitors had no trouble getting to the show, with the center of town being closed down for the event, which is now in its 10th year. The concours actually began as a school project for two young car fans, and over the years has grown into a popular regional event on the concours circuit. This year, 132 cars from all over the region made the trip to Scarsdale, from early pre-war iron to late-model supercars. Given the number of classic car collections around New York City, we saw cars that have also previously appeared at Greenwich Concours and Lime Rock's Sunday in the Park Concours. The Scarsdale Concours does a nice job of presenting an eclectic selection from every part of the world and every time period. This means that even though a Packard 400 might not be sitting next to a Datsun 240Z, both cars are still in the event.We've always thought that the month of October makes for much more agreeable weather for classic car events on the east coast, as in the summer months it's either 100 degrees or raining. Or both. Now you know why the Hilton Head Concours, Amelia Island Concours, and other events in the south take place in the fall, winter, and early spring months.Best in Show this year went to a 1926 Brewster-bodied Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost Roadster, owned by Dennis Nicotra. It was one of a handful of vintage British cars at the concours, and it was easily the most elegant, even though it was dwarfed by the 1923 Rolls-Royce Landaulet owned by Jim Babchak. Below are more cars from the show that caught our eye. This 1951 Lancia B12 Aurelia took the trophy for Best Italian Car this year. Photo by Jay Ramey This 1951 Lancia B20 Aurelia Coupe ended up taking home the trophy for Best Italian Car. This was a very nicely restored classic Lancia in an understated color with nicely preserved details. Now that we think about it, Lancias do, in fact, tend to look much more appropriate in muted colors like this gray hue. This car is owned by Elad Shraga. One of our favorites was this rare Italian GT. Photo by Jay Ramey A perennial favorite of ours is this 1974 De Tomaso Longchamp, a car that we think succeeds in looking 10 years younger than it really is. Can you believe this design originated in the early 1970s? Designed by Frua, the Longchamp was first shown to the public at the 1972 Turin Motor Show, and shared quite a bit with the equally doomed De Tomaso Deauville. The Longchamp is a bit of a parts bin special, betrayed by its Ford Granada headlights, among other details. Production moved along at a snail's pace as the orders came in, until De Tomaso was bought out by Maserati. The latter ended up facelifting the Longchamp to the point where it became the Maserati Kyalami, though the Longchamp also continued on under the De Tomaso nameplate. The very last Longchamps were made in the late 1980s, by which point in time the car gained various scoops and flares, but still managed to look quite modern as automotive fashion had finally caught up to it. It's rare to see the Longchamp on this side of the Atlantic, though they're hardly plentiful on the other side of the pond, either. This example is owned by Walter Eisenstark, and has appeared at Lime Rock Sunday in the Park, Greenwich Concours, and Fairfield County Concours, among other events (yes, it's been quite busy). This Sabra Convertible was one of the best surprises of the show. Photo by Jay Ramey Here's a roadster we don't see often, a 1967 Sabra Coupe, an Israeli car produced in association with Reliant in England. These fiberglass-bodied roadsters used Ford 1703-cc engines, and only about a hundred cars are thought to remain. Most of the remaining ones are concentrated in Belgium, one of the biggest export markets for the Sabra. These were manufactured by Autocars Co. Ltd., alongside Hino Contessas and a number of British budget cars. This car previously appeared at the Greenwich Concours d'Elegance, just up the road. This example is owned by Elias Wexler. One of two dozen classic Ferraris that turned out for Scarsdale Concours. Photo by Jay Ramey One of about two dozen classic Ferraris that appeared at Scarsdale Concours, this 1964 Ferrari 275 GTB is owned by Massimo Iori. Produced by Scaglietti, these are still some of the more affordable (relatively speaking) of the 1960s Ferraris. When was the last time you've seen one of these? Photo by Jay Ramey Here's a car we didn't quite expect to see at Scarsdale Concours, and one of perhaps one of the newest cars in the whole event. This Alfa Romeo 164LS hails from 1994, the penultimate year of the 164's stay on our shores. These are getting hard to find in condition like this, to put it mildly, and there are always a few examples on eBay in just about every condition for every budget. This looked like a well-kept driver, one that is perhaps up to club concours standard, though faultless examples are probably not out there at all. This sharp Alfa was driven to the show by owner Christopher Pellegrini. This 1955 Abarth Spyder recently received a complete restoration. Photo by Jay Ramey Here was another crowd pleaser, one that we've seen before and after its restoration. This Spyder is based on the Fiat 1100-103 mechanicals and an Abarth chassis. Purchased by the duPont family following the 1955 Turin motor show, the Spyder passed to one of their aircraft mechanics' friends. The car sat unused for 30 years, and is now owned by an Israeli collector. A restoration was done within the last couple years. This 1956 Packard 400 just about stole the show, for American cars. Photo by Jay Ramey One of our favorites among American cars was this Packard 400 from 1956, quite similar to the Packard Caribbean. One of the last great Packards, these have aged well. As with most great companies that are no longer with us, Packard produced its best designs just before its demise. Jay Ramey - Jay Ramey is an Associate Editor with Autoweek, and has been with the magazine since 2013. Jay also likes to kayak and bike. Read more » See MoreCar Life Say hello to Detroit Autorama's finest 'rods, customs and race cars The Jaguar XJR-15 still impresses today Car Life, Car News, Classic Cars, Photo, Authors, Ferrari, Fiat, Lancia, Rolls-Royce, Luxury, Jay Ramey

汽车

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Gov. Scott Walker riding a motorcycle made by Harley-Davidson, which has announced during his time in office that it would begin manufacturing some bikes overseas. (Edward David / Flickr / Creative Commons) Features » August 20, 2014 Scott Walker’s Offshoring Flip-flop Wisconsin Gov. Walker’s convenient crusade against offshoring may prove to be surprisingly good for the state’s working people. BY Roger Bybee Share TweetReddit0 StumbleUpon89EmailPrint The former CEO of Wisconsin-based Serigraph, John Torinus, remarked 'Isn’t it strange when a pro-business Republican governor finds it advantageous to bash an entrepreneurial company with 1,000 jobs in Wisconsin to put the hurt on his opponent?' Confronted with a serious challenge in the form of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker—the “state’s biggest cheerleader for business”—has begun incorporating anti-offshoring rhetoric into his campaign. With the elections just around the corner, Walker’s attacks on offshoring are focused on a single enemy: the Trek bicycle firm, owned by Burke’s family. Though Trek has indeed opened factories overseas, Trek is also the only bicycle manufacturer currently manufacturing its products in the United States—and in Walker’s home state, no less. The critique also ignores the fact that Burke worked in the marketing department and that the current head of the company, her brother John, says she had nothing to do with the offshoring decision. That the attacks are political posturing seems clear, as Walker remains silent on offshoring as it relates to his corporate donors and allies. But Walker’s offshoring flip-flop isn’t just an attempt to trip up Burke—Mr. Right-to-Work is trying to divert attention from his administration’s abysmal record on jobs and labor in a state still mired in the effects of the Great Recession. Walker’s campaign has been weighed down by his administration’s failure to realize its 2010 campaign promise to create 250,000 jobs. If the governor sticks to his current pace, the administration will meet less than half of its initial goal. Additionally, in 2013 Wisconsin ranked 39th in the nation in the rate of job growth—the lowest among all 10 Midwestern states. The Right's not buying it either Given those numbers, it’s understandable that Walker and his advisors are growing anxious over how offshoring and other labor issues could swing voters. An October 2010 Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll showed 86 percent of those surveyed—both Democrats and Republicans—thought that the export of jobs “is a reason the U.S. economy is struggling and more people aren’t being hired.” The concern is a legitimate one in the U.S. economy, which is becoming increasingly globalized and corporation-friendly. A full 48 percent of “all sales by Standard and Poor’s top 500 U.S. firms [are] of items produced outside the United States,” according to economist Jeff Faux. The Left has long been on Walker’s case; now, for once, the Right agrees. In the eyes of the conservative Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Walker’s line of attack is “laughable.” The business community, too, seem confident Walker’s new hardline stance on offshoring is a political ploy, despite the fact that the governor’s position could have real repercussions for the practice if it begins to translate into state policy. The former CEO of Wisconsin-based Serigraph, John Torinus, remarked “Isn’t it strange when a pro-business Republican governor finds it advantageous to bash an entrepreneurial company with 1,000 jobs in Wisconsin to put the hurt on his opponent?” A new report from the liberal research and advocacy group One Wisconsin Now reveals just how hypocritical Walker’s new stance is. One Wisconsin Now points out a number of grants from the Walker-privatized Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation a number of job-creation grants had gone to firms engaged in sending jobs to states other than Wisconsin, and outside of the U.S. itself. (It also notes that 60 percent of that funding from went to businesses that donated to Walker’s 2010 campaign.) When it comes to keeping business in Wisconsin, Walker—like the watchdog in the Sherlock Holmes story “The Silver Blaze”—has been “the dog that didn’t bark.” The firms that have announced relocation of jobs or expansions in low-wage nations, especially Mexico and China—possibly portending in many cases a loss of additional Wisconsin jobs in the future—during Walker’s tenure comprise a substantial list: Wisconsin-based Harley-Davidson announced it would begin manufacturing some bikes in India; General Electric has moved the headquarters of its Medical Equipment Division to Beijing, China from the Milwaukee suburb of Waukesha; Caterpillar laid off more than 300 workers in its South Milwaukee plant while announcing the opening of new manufacturing facilities in Wuxi, China; Thermo-Fisher is moving 1,100 jobs from Two Rivers to Mexico; and Manitowoc Co. plans to cut more than 150 jobs in Wisconsin over the next two years as it shifts production to Monterrey, Mexico. Yet Walker has chosen to only speak out against the offshoring in the case of Trek Corp. Offshoring a hot topic once again Ironically, however, the reality of offshoring in Wisconsin has gained attention since Walker’s attempt to undermine Burke by vocally opposing the practice. Taking advantage of Walker’s bluster, Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca put forward a proposal to prevent firms that offshore jobs from receiving state money and tax incentives. Driven by his own rhetorical momentum, Walker had no choice but to throw his support behind the proposal. If Walker’s hypocritical charges against Burke start to get Wisconsinites focused on these realities about the real toll of offshoring, then one of the most divisive governors in the state’s history will have performed a truly valuable service. In the past, pro-corporate politicians of both parties—notably Bill Clinton and Al Gore for the Democrats—have fostered the notion that the U.S. can afford to lose manufacturing jobs overseas while Americans step up to higher-skilled and higher-paying technical jobs. But, according to Frank Emspak, professor emeritus in labor studies at UW-Madison, it turns out that manufacturing and technical, design, and engineering jobs are intertwined. So as manufacturing moves abroad, the high-paying tech jobs are unlikely to be created in the U.S.. “When you have the separation of production from engineering, once you start production of anything sophisticated, then you lose the capacity for innovation,” Emspak said. “So with General Electric moving its medical equipment headquarters from Waukesha, Waukesha becomes just a branch plant and the innovations and advances will take place in Beijing.” And though Walker’s rhetorical blasts at Mary Burke and Trek may lack authenticity, Wisconsin’s anti-labor governor may do a service to working people yet—by, paradoxically, intensifying public outrage over offshoring. Correction: This piece originally stated, inaccurately, that Harley-Davidson was moving 500 jobs to India. Never has independent journalism mattered more. Help hold power to account: Subscribe to In These Times magazine, or make a tax-deductible donation to fund this reporting. Roger Bybee Roger Bybee is a Milwaukee-based freelance writer and University of Illinois visiting professor in Labor Education. Roger's work has appeared in numerous national publications, including Z magazine, Dollars & Sense, The Progressive, Progressive Populist, Huffington Post, The American Prospect, Yes! and Foreign Policy in Focus. More of his work can be found at zcommunications.org/zspace/rogerdbybee. Walker did no mind the outsourcing of Wisconsin jobs till the current election. What changed his former lase faire policy on private sector job outsourcing? Not much besides his own desperate reelection flip-flop, at least until Walker is re-electedIn job-poor Wisconsin, Walker enabled outsourcing firms ...www.jsonline.com › Blogs › Purple WisconsinMilwaukee Journal SentinelJul 28, 2014 - It seems today that Governor Scott Walker and GOP gubernatorial ... been subsidizing with public money some big Wisconsin businesses that ... Posted by Arcturus on 2014-08-26 23:41:17 Clearly, businesses that export jobs should not receive taxpayer subsidies. Regardless of your political ideology, government spending should be utilized to strengthen the local economy. Governor Walker is right, as well as politically pragmatic in taking this position. How does his opponent feel on this issue. Posted by John on 2014-08-23 18:56:36

汽车

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Subaru of America’s April sales up 6%, marks 5th straight month of gains Article by Christian A., on May 2, 2012 Sales of Subaru of America have increased 6% last month, marking the fifth successive month of profits and leading the way for another record year, the company revealed. Specifically, the company's sales leaped to 26,310 units in April even with an inventory shortage. In some areas of the nation, Subaru is down to an 11-day supply of light vehicles, according to a company spokesperson. The inventory of Subaru remains low due to the production disruption brought about by the tsunami and earthquake in Japan. Subaru of America's spokesperson Michael McHale stated that inventory has "never recovered" from 2011 since "strong demand keeps eating at it." Sales in April were fueled by the next-generation four-door and five-door Impreza compact vehicle launched for sale late last year. Impreza sales increased 124% last month from a year earlier. The sales during the first four months increased 16% from the same period last year to 106,878 units. Chief Operating Officer Tom Doll at Subaru noted that the company's sales have surpassed 100,000 in four months -- a first in the 44-year history of the company. Subaru debuted its brand-new, fourth-generation 2012 Subaru Impreza at the 2011 New York International Auto Show. With a stronger, more active design and new engines, this compact also offers more interior space, augmentations, and handling dexterity. The 2012 Impreza provides a more satisfying drive and better ownership experience with new features inside, an improved infotainment system, and better quality materials. For the UK, a new 1.6 litre Boxer engine is combined with a five-speed manual transmission or a second-generation Lineartronic CVT (continuously variable transmission). Each new Impreza comes standard with symmetrical all-wheel drive, Subaru's unmatched performance and safety system. Based on a longer wheelbase with shorter overhangs, the new Impreza has a more spacious interior even though it has the same external size as the previous model. Not only is there a roomier passenger cabin, but there’s an important sensation of having more room and improved visibility than before. Bold designs also improve functions The new Impreza expresses a stronger, more poised style, emphasising its sports car heritage and standard all-wheel drive system. From the side, the Impreza’s wheels draw the eye’s focus with the robust arches that began as a running characteristic with the 2010 Subaru Legacy. Topics: subaru, united states, sales If you liked the article, share on:

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East India bucks slowing trend in auto sector A lower base could be part of the explanation but not all Mayank Mishra | New Delhi December 26, 2013 Last Updated at 00:50 IST BP loses bid to require proof of losses in spill accord BlackBerry co-founder cuts stake Panasonic, Sony to end joint OLED TV development KKR raises $1.5 billion Blackstone stock exceeds public offer price The base is low. The vehicle penetration level is modest as compared to other regions. But the trend is definitely positive in the eastern region of the country, even in the depressed automobile sales growth environment. Even in the commercial vehicle (CV) segment, the eastern region has seen a modest growth, amidst a decline in all other regions. Region-wise auto sales data available with Business Standard clearly suggest that whether it is the passenger car segment or two-wheeler sales, the eastern region showed growth in the first two quarters of this financial year. In CVs, the region registered growth in excess of 10 per cent in the first quarter (April-June). The quarter ending September saw a marginal decline in the segment. Other regions saw a five to 30 per cent decline in CVs in the first two quarters. It is a case of "smaller states doing better because of government effort, as well as low base", is how Madan Sabnavis, chief economist, CARE Ratings, explains the regional variation. The eastern region's better showing here could be related to the fact that most states, big or small, registered per capita net state domestic product (NSDP) growth higher than the national average in the last financial year. (AUTO SALES GROWTH) Some of that buoyancy might have spilled over to this financial year as well. Bihar, for instance, had shown a growth in per capita NSDP of 13 per cent in 2012-13. West Bengal with 6.65 per cent, Sikkim with 6.61 per cent and Odisha with six per cent did better than many other states. "States with a modest industrial or manufacturing base have suffered less in this current phase of slowdown. The consumption growth has been resilient in states where industry's share in overall gross domestic product has been marginal," says a top executive of a fast moving consumer goods company. Steady rise What has also helped the eastern region is the renewed focus on augmenting agricultural production, by way of budgetary support for what is known as the "green revolution in the east". The east might have also benefited from a good monsoon and strong demand in rural areas and small towns, says Prayesh Jain, associate vice-president, India Infoline. "What is surprising is that the same factors did not lead to revival of growth in the passenger car segment in the north," he adds. The northern region did see some pick-up in demand for passenger cars and two-wheelers in the last quarter. The CV segment, however, saw a decline of 17 per cent in the region during the last quarter. The eastern region, though, has witnessed a steady up-move. In the April-June quarter, companies sold 45,576 passenger cars here, 2,540 more than what they sold in the same quarter last year. In the quarter ending September, the eastern region registered sales of 44,966 units in passenger cars, 3,420 more than the same period last year. "The east is growing because of a low base. The region contributes less than 10 per cent of total auto sales volume in the country. The region might also have benefited from a lesser impact of the recent economic slowdown," argues Yaresh Kothari, auto analyst at Angel Broking. Analysts feel there is likely to be a revival of demand in the northern region in the current quarter, on the back of a strong monsoon. What is worrying the latter community, though, is the steep fall in demand for CVs in the north, south and west. In the last quarter, the west saw a dip from 69,167 units in the same period last year to 53,231 units. The southern region saw a fall from 61,147 units to 40,665 units; the northern region saw a drop from 43,662 to 36,218 units. The eastern region saw a modest fall from 26,329 units to 26,187 units. Analysts attribute the fall in demand for CVs to the ongoing Telengana agitation in Andhra Pradesh, the mining ban in Karnataka and below-par performance of the manufacturing sector. The only silver lining is that the two-wheeler segment has shown good growth in the north, east and west. However, the southern region saw a fall even in this segment. Auto Sector | Commercial Vehicle | Eastern Region | Cv Segment | Companies | News East India bucks slowing trend in auto sector A lower base could be part of the explanation but not all Mayank Mishra

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» Scandinavia's First Lithium Battery Electric Car Ferry Completes Over 4,000 Trips Scandinavia's First Lithium Battery Electric Car Ferry Completes Over 4,000 Trips The KF Hisarøy electric cable ferry has now been sailing between Mjånes and Hisarøy in Norway daily for over one year, with flawless operation. The Ferry was launched in September, 2013 with a new propulsion power system consisting of a complete rechargeable battery system from Electrovaya in cooperation with Solund Verft, HAFS Elektro & Rør AS and Electrovaya´s subsidiary Miljobil Grenland AS in Norway. The Owner of the vessel is Wergeland Halsvik AS. The 100 KWh prototype battery system is based on Electrovaya's SuperPolymer®2.0 technology, providing excellent performance and reliability with an exceptionally small on-board footprint. The battery system is an important step forward for the global maritime industry and a major step towards replacing diesel generators with a greener, toxic–free alternative form of energy. The owner of the vessel is Wergeland AS and Gulen Skyssbåtservice operates the ferry. The battery electric ferry can save up to approximately 180,750 liters of fuel consumption over its expected lifetime. It has a potential to save about 500 tonnes of emissions; 480 tonnes of CO2, 9 tonnes of particulate matter and volatile organic compounds, 2 tonnes of Carbon monoxide and 2 tonnes of other type of emissions. The Electrovaya lithium ion battery also eliminates fuel exhaust including the usual carcinogens from diesel exhaust. The Cable Ferry is operating approximately 10 round-trips per day between the mainland and the Hisarøy Island, a round trip distance of about 1.6 kilometers. The Cable Ferry is driven by two winches on-board and Electrovaya's on-board Lithium Ion battery system is recharged on the mainland between the round trips and over-night. KF Hisarøy is built to carry 49 passengers and 6 cars. With the International Maritime Organization (IMO) pressuring the marine industry to reduce GHG emissions and as the price of diesel continues to rise, there has been growing interest in developing clean propulsion systems for vessels in countries including Norway and Canada. The marine electric vehicle market is expected to grow from $2.6 billion to $6.3 billion by 2023. Demand will come from both on-water and underwater electric vehicles for use both on inland waterways and the sea. The key advantages of electric powertrains for marine vehicles are the lower maintenance requirements and minimal noise, air and water pollution. Wergeland Halsvik AS is very pleased with the ferry and the battery system delivered from the yard and its cooperating partners " said Hans Wergeland, the owner of KF Hisarøy. "As this market grows, and the demand for environmentally friendly, zero carbon foot-print energy solutions increases, this system is well-suited to further opportunities in the marine sector." "We are delighted to be working with Electrovaya, Miljobil Grenland and HAFS Electro." says Svein-Tore Eide, General Manager of Solund Verft AS, the ship building company responsible for the project. "This first battery electric cable and road ferry in Scandinavia demonstrates that an all-electric propulsion system has value for other marine applications," added Mr Eide. Electrovaya is pleased to have been part of this historic launching of Scandinavia's first electric cable Ferry. In addition to addressing the Global problems of Climate Change, this project has enabled Electrovaya to gather important technical data about the operation of such a vessel, positioning Electrovaya as a leader in this industry. Tweet

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Nissan’s Rear-View Camera-Based Mirror Sorry there are no photos! Hide Nissan is launching a camera-based technology set to replace the conventional middle of the car rear-view mirror with a screen and a camera. Nissan’s Smart Rearview Mirror, described by the company as the world’s first LCD monitor that helps provide clear rearward visibility unimpeded by traditional obstacles such as cargo, tall passengers, inclement weather or the design of a vehicle, will debut at the 2014 New York International Auto Show. Installed in an all-new 2014 Rogue, Nissan said the Smart Rearview Mirror allows the driver to switch between the LCD monitor and the traditional rearview mirror, depending on the driver’s preference. The Smart Rearview Mirror is housed within the structure of the traditional rearview mirror, with a built-in LCD monitor that can be activated in place of the conventional mirror. Nissan also explained a high-resolution camera mounted on the rear of the vehicle provides the driver with a clear, unobstructed view of the rear flanks, circumventing traditional rearview obstructions such as the vehicle’s C-pillars and allowing the driver to feel more confident when maneuvering in a variety of traffic conditions. The camera projects a clear image – a wider and clearer view than a standard mirror – onto the monitor for a better view, as well as a more comfortable driving experience. A switch function, operated by a control located at the bottom of the mirror, allows the driver to access either the traditional rearview mirror system or the Smart Rearview Mirror, said Nissan. “Smart Rearview Mirror will give our customers the best possible view no matter how tall the passengers in the back seat or how bad the road conditions,” said Andy Palmer, Chief Planning Officer and Executive Vice President of Nissan. “It also offers the possibility of new and exciting designs for our upcoming models, ensuring that appearance no longer has to be compromised for visibility and functionality. We’ll have the flexibility to create new shapes and to further improve aerodynamics for better driving dynamics and fuel efficiency.” In addition, the Smart Rearview Mirror can provide a clear image in a variety of environmental conditions including rain, snow, dawn and dusk. The high-quality camera and image processing system implemented in the LCD monitor consistently results in a clear image with minimal glare, even during sunrise or sunset conditions or when the vehicle is being followed by a vehicle with strong headlights, added Nissan. The Smart Rearview Mirror is equipped with a newly developed, high-performance, narrow-angle camera and a specially shaped LCD monitor, with a unique aspect ratio of approximately 4:1, versus conventional monitors’ 4:3 or 16:9. Matching a standard wide-angle camera lens to this monitor could not be done since the images from the camera, when adjusted to the special monitor size, produced a low-resolution image with insufficient picture quality. Nissan added to overcome this challenge, a 1,300,000 pixel narrow-angle camera was developed so that picture quality would not be sacrificed when formatted for the specially designed monitor. When the LCD monitor and mirror are used in unison, the transparency of the monitor and the reflection in the mirror can create an image overlap – a dual layered effect – making it difficult to get a clean view, but with the Smart Rearview Mirror, Nissan explained it applied a special technology to the structural design of the LCD monitor and the mirror, enabling it to function without any image overlaps. Nissan stated it plans to implement the Smart Rearview Mirror in the ZEOD RC, an experimental race car scheduled to compete in the 2014 24 Hours of Le Mans, as well as other NISMO race cars. “Under the harsh driving conditions in the world of motorsports, retaining a clear view for the race driver is of utmost importance,” said NISMO President Shoichi Miyatani. “In that sense, the Smart Rearview Mirror will be a powerful tool for our Nissan NISMO drivers. Also, we have high expectations towards improving the cars’ aerodynamic design, thanks to the Smart Rearview Mirror, thereby expanding the possibilities of race cars to a new level.” Nissan also said it is planning to introduce the Smart Rearview Mirror to global markets over the next few years after an initial rollout to Japanese customers this spring. Posted in News, Nissan, Technology Tagged as 2014 nissan rogue, lcd, mirror, Nissan, nissan camera-based mirror, nissan rogue, nissan Smart Rearview Mirror, rear-view mirror, Smart Rearview Mirror Related Readings Office Powered By Nissan Leaf Nissan is working on developing systems that will allow EV users to feed electricity to their house or office while Nissan Wins Japanese Industry Prize for Hybrid Technology In Japan, Nissan Motor Co has been awarded the Contribution Prize of the Ichimura Prizes in Industry. Hosted by the Nissan's Green Green Car Carrier Nichioh Maru So, do you think you a lot about cars? What do you know about the monster car carriers that bring an imported car? RECEIVE UPDATES ON THE BEST OF HYBRIDCARS.COM

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Child Seats Hard to Install in Most Vehicles By Ana Cezara Savin on April 13, 2012 in News, Other, Safety A recently released study shows that only a fifth of the 2010 and 2011 model vehicles were build so parents can easily install child safety seats. Last year in the U.S. seven models, Toyota Sienna XLE minivan included among them, did not have any of the three characteristics that make installation of child restraints easy. The researchers from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute evaluated 98 cars, from which only 21 met all three criteria outlined by them, including the Chevrolet Equinox crossover, Chrysler’s Town & Country minivan and the Ford Escape XLT. The U.S. safety regulators stated that all vehicles beginning from 2003 model year should be built with standard set of features that allow parents to install a safety seat, a system called lower anchors and tethers for children, or LATCH. According to LATCH cars must have anchors in the rear seats that can be attached to the top and bottom of child safety seats. “Sometimes parents blame themselves when they struggle with LATCH, but often times the problem lies with the vehicle, not the user,” said Anne McCartt, one of the report’s authors and senior vice president of research for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

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GM names first woman as chief executive December 11, 2013 - 12:44 AMTPanARMENIAN.Net - U.S. car giant General Motors (GM) has named product development chief Mary Barra to the post of chief executive. She will replace Daniel Akerson, and be the first woman to run a U.S. carmaker, according to BBC News. Barra joined GM as an electrical engineering student in 1980 and has worked her way up to lead GM's global product development. The product development job is considered a critical role at a carmaker and Barra received praise for her leadership of GM's unit. Under her leadership, GM rolled out new pick-up trucks and the Chevrolet Impala, which was highly rated by Consumer Reports magazine. "With an amazing portfolio of cars and trucks and the strongest financial performance in our recent history, this is an exciting time at today's GM," Barra said in a company statement. Barra also has a reputation for keeping costs down and cutting bureaucracy. As head of human resources after the 2009 bailout, she was credited with slashing paperwork - including a 10 page-dress code. She's also of GM lineage: her father worked for 39 years as a dye maker for the car manufacturer in its now defunct Pontiac division. Earlier this week the U.S. government sold its remaining shares in GM. Overall, it lost around $10bn on its bailout of the carmaker in the aftermath of the financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. The U.S. Treasury spent $49.5bn bailing out GM, and took a 61% stake in the company. GM's current chief executive and chairman, Akerson, will leave both of his posts in mid-January. His wife has recently been diagnosed with advanced cancer. In a message to the company's employees on Tuesday, Akerson said: "I will leave with great satisfaction in what we have accomplished, great optimism over what is ahead and great pride that we are restoring General Motors as America's standard bearer in the global auto industry." Current chief financial officer, Dan Ammann, was named GM president. He will also take responsibility for the Cadillac and Chevrolet brands.Related links:http://bbc.co.uk Top stories$120 million to be invested in Armenian agriculture“The investments will be spent to build a canning factory and slaughterhouses, expand greenhouse farms,” Ignati Arakelyan said.$140 mln IFC funding seeks to boost clean energy supplies in ArmeniaThe funding will go to a subsidiary of ContourGlobal, an international power-generation company that acquired the Vorotan Cascade in 2015.Armenia civil aviation negotiating with a number of air carriers"We are yet unable to disclose the names of companies we are conducting negotiations with," Satenik Hovhannisyan said.Armenia's tourist inflow grew by 5,7% in 20161,259,657 tourists have arrived in Armenia in January-December 2016, the National Statistical Service said, up by 5,7% on the year before.Partner newsLoading... ArticlesCountries and goods that boosted Armenian export in 2016Record figures Most popular in the sectionArmenia exports and imports up by 22% and 18.5%Armenia's new Electoral Code estimated at $16 mlnIran to increase gas exports to Armenia threefoldDeputy FM: EU-Armenia common air zone to help decrease tariffsHomeAll newsOverview: EconomyArchive for December 11, 2013Other news in this section

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2005 Aston Martin DBR9 Engine 6 liter V12 Weight 2425 lbs Aspiration natural HP 600 hp HP/Weight 4 lbs per hp HP/Liter 100 hp per liter (from Aston Martin Press Release) Aston Martin Racing has unveiled the DBR9, which will spearhead the British marque�s return to international motor racing in 2005. The car was shown to a selected audience for the first time on 4th November 2004 at Aston Martin�s headquarters at Gaydon in the UK. An intensive testing programme now follows for Aston Martin Racing prior to the DBR9�s debut race scheduled for the 12 hours of Sebring, Florida, in March 2005. Aston Martin Racing will run two cars at Sebring and then move to Europe to prepare for the Le Mans 24 hours in June 2005. This will mark Aston Martin�s return to the race which was won outright in 1959 with Roy Salvadori and Carroll Shelby. In recognition of this, the DBR9 will follow the Le Mans-winning DBR1 and Works DB3S and carry the same green and yellow livery as the cars which dominated sports car racing in the late 1950s. Aston Martin Racing will build 12 Works cars, which will be run by three Works teams in the major international GT series. A limited run of only 20 racing cars, prepared to the same specification, will also be built and made available to selected customers to race or keep in private collections. The DBR9 GT racing car is based on the latest Aston Martin production sports car - the DB9 - but is significantly modified for competition use. The DB9�s bonded-aluminium body architecture is shared with the DBR9 and provides both with a lightweight rigid chassis. The race engine uses the same aluminium cylinder block and head as the DB9�s 450bhp 6-litre V12 unit, but with racing modification it is expected to produce in the region of 600bhp. The DB9�s double wishbone suspension configuration is retained on the DBR9, but features up-rated components and a revised geometry for racing purposes. Formula One style carbon brakes are fitted front and rear and a competition, six-speed sequential gearbox is mounted at the rear axle. The DBR9 was styled by Aston Martin Racing�s own design team who made extensive use of Computational Fluid Dynamics to optimise the aerodynamics before producing the final body surface. The panels are hand made from carbon-fibre composite, helping the car to meet its 1,100kg minimum weight and giving it a power to weight ratio of 550bhp per tonne - more than double that of the road car. Dr Ulrich Bez, Chief Executive Officer of Aston Martin, said: �We need to create heightened awareness for Aston Martin around the world and motor sport will allow us to do this. �We took four years to find the ideal partner in David Richards and Prodrive and together have created Aston Martin Racing. The DBR9 is the first step in our return to motor sport and I know that our customers and enthusiasts alike are looking forward to seeing Aston Martin racing again at an international level in 2005.�

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Is there a future for natural gas vehicles in SoCal? Ric Romero DOWNEY, Calif. -- Is there a future for natural gas vehicles in Southern California? While it might be slow in coming, it will bring lots of benefits.The Southern California Gas Company held a seminar Tuesday on the future of natural gas transportation in Downey. "Natural gas is really a transportation fuel that's available to us today. It's cleaner, the fuel is abundant, it's cheaper, and it's American," said Hal Snyder, Southern California Gas Company vice president. Compressed natural gas (CNG) has been around for a long time, and slowly but surely it's becoming a viable alternative fuel source. Honda is building the only dedicated assembly line natural-gas vehicle. There are only 1,100 fueling stations in the country, compared to almost 200,000 gas stations. "It's almost the chicken and the egg: More vehicles, more infrastructure. More infrastructure, more convenience for the market," said Snyder. Some CNG companies are advancing the technology of fast fueling stations. Natural gas vehicles are joining company fleets, like taxicabs and buses. The SoCal Gas Co. is converting thousands of its vehicles to natural gas over the next several years. Plus there is a variety of vehicles on the market that can run on natural gas. "Right now, the price of natural gas on a gallon equivalent is about $1.96," said Snyder. Plus, you have carpool-lane access in a CNG vehicle.

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1 of 7The Audi RS7 is a high-performance version of the Audi A7. 2 of 7The rear view of the Audi RS7. 3 of 7The instrument panel of the Audi RS7. 4 of 7The front corner of the Audi RS7 at the North American International Auto Show.Photo by Jake Lingeman5 of 7The rear corner of the Audi RS7 at NAIAS.Photo by Jake Lingeman6 of 7The side of the Audi RS7 at the Detroit auto show.Photo by Jake Lingeman Next Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette: The Stingray is back: New Vette is a GT and a track car -- and uses less gas » 7 of 7Next Gallery: 2014 Chevrolet Corvette: The Stingray is back: New Vette is a GT and a track car -- and uses less gas Audi RS7 unleashed at Detroit auto show: Twin-turbo V8 cranks out 560 hp Audi's RS7 Sportback, capable of an eye-popping 190 mph, is set to take the fight to the recently unveiled BMW M6 Gran Coupe and an upgraded Mercedes-Benz CLS63 AMG.Pictured here following an unveiling at the Detroit auto show, the luxury liftback extends Audi's RS lineup and runs a twin-turbo 4.0-liter, 560-hp V8. North American launch details have yet to be announced but officials suggest the five-door will reach dealerships during the third quarter. Distinguishing features include an aggressive-looking front bumper with large cooling ducts that include vertical mounted vanes for improved airflow to the radiator, intercoolers and front brakes. The grille also gets a high gloss honeycomb insert and RS7 badge. Buyers can choose to further differentiate from lesser A7 models through an optional element in the lower section of the grille containing the word "quattro." Audi also offers clear coat carbon fiber in place of the standard matte silver trim. Further back, there are widened front and rear fenders, chunkier sills underneath the doors, an RS7 badge attached to the trunk lid and a deeper rear bumper that incorporates a more prominent diffuser element and houses two large tailpipes.Power for the RS7 Sportback hails from the same twin-turbocharged V8 gasoline engine used by the recently unveiled third-generation RS6 Avant, alongside which it will be assembled at Audi's Neckarsulm plant in Germany. The 90-degree unit runs a maximum 17.4 psi of boost pressure to maximum power at 5,700 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque on a band of revs between 1,750 and 5,500 rpm. Owing to the inability of Audi's seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to handle the heady torque loading of its engine, the RS7 Sportback receives a standard eight-speed automatic transmission. It operates in combination with the latest evolution of the German carmaker's quattro all-wheel-drive system, offering the choice between D (drive), S (sport) and M (manual) modes. The Torsen system gets a self-locking differential. A so-called sports differential, which continuously alters the distribution of drive between the rear wheels in a torque vectoring process, will be an option.Audi is yet to confirm a curb weight figure for its latest RS model, but claims it delivers 62 mph acceleration in 3.9 seconds and a nominal top speed limited to 155 mph. Buyers can choose to raise the top speed to 174 mph with an optional dynamic package and to 190 mph with a dynamic-plus package. The RS7 uses a raft of contemporary fuel-saving features, including automatic stop/start, brake-energy recuperation and a cylinder-on-demand system that deactivates four cylinders via electromechanical actuators on partial throttle loads. Underpinning the RS7 is a heavily reworked version of the standard A7 Sportback's chassis boasting widened tracks and air suspension. Audi will also offer the new performance model with an optional steel-sprung suspension in combination with dynamic ride control as part of a package known as sport suspension-plus-a move that is reflected on the RS6 Avant. Further chassis options include a so-called drive select program that brings a more direct steering ratio. Detroit Auto Show, Auto Shows, Car News, Photo, Authors, Audi, Other News, Production Vehicles, Greg Kable

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BMW CS1 Country of origin:Germany Introduced at:2002 Geneva Motor Show Source:Company press release Last updated:Before December 1st, 2004 Page 1 of 1 The CS1 is not simply a shrink-to-fit version of any other BMW model, but has its own unique look. In the future, each BMW model series will have a clear identity, which sets it apart from other cars in the line-up, while still retaining design features which make it instantly recognisable as a BMW.Making use of modern, lightweight materials like neoprene and matt-finished aluminium, the interior of the CS1 is a completely new take on the car interior. Self-supporting surfaces appear to float in the cabin, giving a feeling of space and light. Fine aluminium structures, covered with neoprene (the material used to make wet suits), form part of the cabin structures. A central spine runs down the middle of the car, dividing front and rear seats and at the front 'wings' branch off it under the dashboard.First seen on the new BMW 7 Series, iDrive is an ergonomic design philosophy which dramatically simplifies the car's control systems. The primary controls needed to drive the car are all within a finger's reach of the steering wheel and the major secondary controls are on the dashboard. The remainder are all operated using the large circular knob, positioned just behind the gear selector on the centre console, called the Controller. By pressing once on the Controller, the driver of the CS1 activates the system and a display screen rises into view, out of the aluminium dashboard.Paddles mounted on the steering wheel are used to change gear via BMW's ssG (Sequential Sports Gearbox) as available for the 3 Series Coupe. The clutch is operated electromagnetically, so there is no clutch pedal. Gearshifts take a fraction of a second. In slow city traffic the driver can choose the self-selecting mode, which allows the system to select the correct gear automatically. Page 1 of 1 Article Add your comments on the BMW CS1

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A BIG VICTORY FOR THE SMALL CAR. Paddy Hopkirk made the one-off British small car a motor sport legend in January 1964 - Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen repeated the triumph in 1965 in Munich/Monte Carlo. Small car, huge win: it is now 50 years since one of the most spectacular victories in the history of international motor sport. On 21 January 1964, the MINI Cooper S won the Monte Carlo Rally for the first time. It was the pairing of Northern Ireland‟s Patrick (“Paddy”) Hopkirk and his co-driver Henry Liddon that pulled off the big surprise, resisting the supposed superiority of significantly more powerful rivals in their small British car. Its faultless run over country roads and mountain passes, ice and snow, tight corners and steep gradients laid the foundations for the underdog-turned-giant-slayer to cement itself in both the hearts of the public and the annals of motor sport legend. Indeed, the classic MINI's dominance of the Monte Carlo Rally continued over the years that followed, Hopkirk's Finnish team-mates Timo Mäkinen and Rauno Aaltonen adding two further overall victories – in 1965 and 1967 – to the British manufacturer‟s collection. Now 80 years old, Paddy Hopkirk's eyes still light up when he recalls the driving qualities of his winning car: “Although the MINI was only a little family saloon, technically it had a lot of advantages. Its front-wheel drive and front-mounted transverse engine were a great advantage, and the fact the car was smaller and the roads were ploughed, they were quite narrow, so I suppose that was an advantage. We were very lucky – the car was right, everything happened at the right time and came together at the right moment.” It was the legendary “Night of the Long Knives”, the penultimate stage of the Monte, which put the MINI Cooper S with car number 37 and the now famous licence plate 33 EJB on course for victory that winter of 1964. Hopkirk crossed the finish line just 17 seconds off the pace set by his chief adversary Bo Ljungfeldt in the far more powerful V8-powered Ford Falcon. The handicap formula at the time – designed to even out the weight and power differences between the various cars – meant the classic MINI actually led the way in the overall standings. And Hopkirk defended his advantage in the sprint through the streets of Monte Carlo that rounded off the rally. At the winner‟s ceremony he shared the cheers of the crowed with his team-mates. Timo Mäkinen‟s fourth-place finish and Rauno Aaltonen‟s seventh overall set the seal on the success of the MINI Cooper S and ushered in the era of the “Three Musketeers” in the Monte Carlo Rally. The classic MINI's victory was celebrated with particular excitement in its native Britain. Hopkirk received a congratulatory telegram from the British government and the Beatles were also among those leading the applause. “I got a telegram from the Beatles,” remembers Hopkirk. “That was followed by a photograph of the four of them autographed to me saying: "You're one of us now, Paddy. And it's very nice to have that nowadays.” The triumph of the classic MINI in the Monte was lauded as a sensation by motor sport fans around the world. But this wasn't a success that came entirely out of the blue: the small car developed by Alec Issigonis, then Deputy Technical Director at the British Motor Corporation, possessed an inherent sporting talent from birth. The first person to spot this potential was John Cooper. The sports car designer was the driving force behind construction of a more powerful version of the car. The MINI produced only 34 hp at launch, but its front-wheel drive, low weight, wide track and comparatively long wheelbase made it an extremely agile four-seater and paved the way for its forays onto race circuits and rally courses. As early as 1960, big-name racing drivers like Graham Hill, Jack Brabham and Jim Clark were spotted testing the cornering flair of the John Cooper-tuned small car on the Silverstone Formula One track. However, the classic MINI was most at home in rally racing. Patt Moss, sister of grand prix driver Stirling Moss, piloted it to wins in the Tulip Rally and Baden-Baden Rally in 1962. And by the following year, the diminutive British car was ready to burst into the public consciousness at the Monte Carlo Rally. Preceding years had been a tough learning experience for the works team, but now they would make people sit up and take notice. Rauno Aaltonen and Paddy Hopkirk drove the 55 hp MINI Cooper to a 1-2 finish in their class, which was good enough for third and sixth places overall. It was clear that the classic MINI was better equipped than any other car to pull off the classic David vs Goliath act. John Cooper had long suspected that the car had what it took. Back in 1959 he instructed Roy Salvadori to drive a prototype to the Italian Grand Prix in Monza. The journey itself turned into a race between Salvadori and fellow racing driver Reg Parnell at the wheel of an Aston Martin DB4. The result confirmed what Cooper had foreseen in his mind's eye: the Cooper-prepared classic MINI arrived around an hour earlier than the much more powerful Aston. Identifiable from a distance with their tartan red bodywork and white roofs, the six small racers dispatched by the BMC works team for the Monte Carlo Rally in 1964 were – at least on paper – fighting against the tide once more. The MINI Cooper S lined up at the start for the first time. Its new four-cylinder engine now had an increased 1071cc capacity and output had also been boosted to around 90 hp. This was a lot more than in previous years but still modest in the face of competition from the likes of the Mercedes-Benz 300 SE and Ford Falcon, whose six-cylinder and V8 units had three or four times more power at their disposal. The 33rd edition of the Monte Carlo Rally began – as was traditional at the time – with a nod to the origins of the event, the cars starting from nine European cities before converging on the French city of Reims. The Hopkirk/Liddon partnership got their journey with the MINI Cooper S under way in Minsk, while for Rauno Aaltonen and Tony Ambrose the Monte adventure started in Oslo, and Timo Mäkinen and Patrick Vanson set off from Paris. The classic MINI successfully negotiated all these journeys and all six works cars were able to take their place in the 277-strong field in Reims. The first stage of the rally to Saint-Claude brought together the two cars which were to define the 1964 Monte from start to finish. Bo Ljungfeldt roared to the top of the time sheets in his Ford Falcon, but Paddy Hopkirk remained hot on his heels in his MINI Cooper S. The next leg of the rally was made up largely of mile-long flat-out sections, but Hopkirk refused to let his big-engined rivals build up a decisive advantage. The “Night of the Long Knives” would become the day of reckoning; this was the classic MINI's chance to demonstrate its talents to the full. “It was quite snowy that year, so we had done a lot of practising and preparing,” explains Hopkirk. “The MINI was particularly good downhill, and all the tests were up and downhill, so what we lost going up, I think we made up for going downhill.” Irresistible handling, correct tyre choice, Hopkirk's gifts at the wheel and the snow – which slowed the bigger cars down – all came together and ensured that Hopkirk was able to take over the lead on the 1,607-metre (5,270 ft) Col de Turini. However, it remained a tight contest all the way to the finish, with Bo Ljungfeldt, as expected, again posting the fastest time on the final stage through Monte Carlo. However, Hopkirk was also squeezing everything from his MINI Cooper S once again and hung onto his advantage to wrap up the win. “It's not like rallying today when you know where you are. I had to do the final circuit, then the journalists told me I had won and I couldn't believe it. It surprised the world and us, so it was very nice,” recalls Hopkirk. The following year Timo Mäkinen and co-driver Paul Easter ensured the classic MINI would retain its title. They were helped by a new engine with capacity increased to 1275cc, but it was the Scandinavian's driving skill that landed the decisive blow. Mäkinen was the only driver to remain penalty-point-free throughout the rally distance, despite the fact that the 1965 Monte Carlo Rally was providing one of the most exacting tests in the history of the event. Epic levels of snow and ice made the going seriously tough, but that didn't stop the organisers including a second night stage through the Maritime Alps in the programme. Mäkinen and his MINI Cooper S appeared impervious to the deteriorating conditions. The Finn won five of the six special stages on the final leg of the rally and finished the event with a handsome margin over the second-placed car. The most impressive and also most dramatic Monte Carlo Rally for the “Three Musketeers” was to follow in 1966. Mäkinen, Aaltonen and Hopkirk dominated the event from the start, and it was in this order that they completed a clean sweep of the top three positions overall at the finish. Public enthusiasm for the quicksilver classic MINIs appeared to be boundless – as was the disappointment when the French race commissioners revealed their decision to disqualify the trio on account of lights that allegedly did not conform with official regulations. This was also the reason given for removing the fourth-placed Lotus Cortina from the classification, which meant that the Finnish Citroën driver Pauli Toivonen was crowned the winner. The dream of a Monte hat-trick lay in tatters, but the “Three Musketeers” resolved to return at the earliest opportunity. In the winter of 1967 Hopkirk, Mäkinen and Aaltonen lined up alongside two other BMC works teams for the Monte Carlo Rally. And this time neither the rules nor the other cars could stand between the MINI Cooper S and victory. Rauno Aaltonen was joined by Henry Liddon – Paddy Hopkirk‟s co-driver from the successful 1964 Monte – for his latest assault on the rally. The Finnish-British team clicked straight into gear. Aaltonen guided the classic MINI to what was this time an undisputed victory with 12 seconds to spare. And nobody was more pleased for the duo than Hopkirk: “Henry Liddon was really an outstanding co-driver. But the co-drivers never got enough credit, you know. They did a fantastic job in reading the notes and they were the office manager of the car.” Hopkirk finished the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally in sixth place and also drove the classic MINI to fifth overall the following year. Aaltonen was third in 1968. However, the era of the small car that stormed to the summit of rally racing was clearly approaching an end. Its rivals had grown just too powerful and the sporting zenith of the classic MINI was now behind it. Memories of that famous triumph in the winter of 1964 will forever burn bright and the “Three Musketeers” have written an indelible chapter into the history of motor sport. As for distinctive headlight solutions, such as incurred the wrath of the powers-that-be back in 1966, they also live on as some of the most popular Original MINI Accessories – from black headlight housing and the evocative spotlights fronting the radiator grille to retrofit xenon headlights. 3-doortraditionrace Share this on: YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN TOP DOWN, POWER UP. When passion for motor racing is the driving force and intense open-air pleasure the goal, the new MINI John Cooper Works Convertible takes the ideal line from the word go. The New MINI Convertible: Serving Life, Sunny Side Up. No matter the season, the new MINI Convertible has the ability to connect to the elements more intensely and sensationally stimulating than ever before. DAKAR IS A GO. MINI prepares to achieve fifth consecutive Dakar Rally win with strongest line up yet of MINI ALL4 Racing and crews.

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The Worldwide Group to Headquarter in Auburn, Indiana, the “Home of the Classics” Written by Auction News The Worldwide Group, auctioneers of fine historic and collector cars, has today announced that it will build its US headquarters in Auburn, Indiana, the birthplace of some of America’s grandest and most significant automobiles. Rod Egan, Managing Partner and Chief Auctioneer, said “We are delighted to be able to announce that plans for our new headquarters are well underway. Our 24,000 square foot, glass fronted showroom will open later this year, in the town that is synonymous with historic automobiles and all of the passion that they evoke”. The motor industry in Auburn was born in 1875, when Charles Eckhart founded the Eckhart Carriage Company. His sons began experimenting with automobile construction, before moving onto vehicle manufacture as a full blown commercial enterprise. In 1919 the brothers sold the company to a group of Chicago investors, who were in turn bought out by E. L.Cord, a successful entrepreneur and car salesman of his day. Cord went on to partner with the Duesenberg Corporation in 1926, renowned for its racing cars which had triumphed at the French Grand Prix in Le Mans and at the Indianapolis 500. From this union a generation of unmatchable automobiles was born, revered for both style and engineering: cars with a glamour, cachet and price tag that made them the natural choice of the rich and the famous worldwide, among them Clark Gable, the Duke of Windsor and the Maharajah of India. John Kruse, Managing Partner of the Worldwide Group, said; “Those of us privileged enough to work in this industry are involved in more than a simple transfer of assets. In my view we are also the custodians of some of the finest examples of automotive history ever conceived, with a responsibility to future generations. There is no more fitting place for us to headquarter than Auburn, Indiana, with its retrospective and evolving role as the home of the classic car industry, ”. The Worldwide Group showroom will open later this year, in the town which is home also to the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Museum, itself a National Historic Landmark and the Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, held every Labor Day weekend. For further information, please contact Rod Egan or John Kruse on 260-927-0000, or visit us online at www.wwgauctions.com ← Beloved Joe’s Garage Collection Puts Spotlight on Southern California Car CultureThe Motorcycle Hall of Fame Museum Announces Additional Contributors For “Motosatrs: Celebrities + Motorcycles” → Need Help? Ask our Subscription Coordinator by submitting your question to our help desk! (click here)

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2010 mercedes-benz ml4502010 mercedes-benz ml4502010 mercedes-benz ml4502010 mercedes-benz ml4502010 mercedes-benz ml450 2010 mercedes-benz ml450Mercedes-Benz is ramping up its BlueTEC-laden 'responsibility' platform with its new 2010 Mercedes-Benz ML450 Hybrid model that's said to reduce fuel consumption and emissions by 60% compared to its own ML550. Key to its efficiency is a two-mode hybrid system powered by a 3.5L Atkinson-type V-6 and a pair of twin electric motors. The motors are charged thanks to a 288 volt high-capacity nickel metal hydride battery system. Depending on driving conditions and speed, the ML450's complex computer control unit utilizes "system matching" to determine which mode to use to best enhance fuel economy. The SUV has the ability to run solely on its electric power, combustion engine, or a combination of both.Together, the powertrain develops a healthy 335-hp and 381 lb-ft of torque and distributes its power to the 4MATIC all-wheel drive setup via an electric continuously variable transmission. The gearbox comes complete with three planetary gear sets and four clutches and allows for the near seamless transition between hybrid, electric, and gasoline drive modes. Mercedes-Benz officials claim their newest hybrid can get 21 mpg while perusing the city and 24 mpg while cruising on the highway. It can travel up to 520 miles on a single tank of fuel too. For comparison's sake, the new ML's combined 22 mpg fuel economy is 47% lower than the V-8 powered ML550.In true Mercedes-Benz fashion, the ML450 Hybrid is replete with luxurious accommodations. Identical leather trimmings, COMAND infotainment, and other appointments found in the ML-Class range can be had in the hybrid version. Active and passive safety measures are also standard. As the new powertrain needs no extra room, all cargo and passenger space is maintained. No word on pricing, but don't expect it to come cheaper than the ML320 BlueTEC's current $48,600 price tag.

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Feels Like The First Time Written by Dakota Wentz Starbird's 51st Annual Wichita Show About this time last year I took a trip back to the state known for aircrafts, wheat, and Dorothy to check out the 50th Annual Darryl Starbird National Rod and Custom Car Show in Wichita, Kansas. Well, seeing as it appears the half-century-old show isn’t going anywhere for a while I went ahead and made reservations for the 51st annual show.Last year’s turnout, in terms of custom classic trucks, was nothing less than superb. There was variety, style, creativity, and, most importantly, an abundance of trucks. All it took was a lap around the show to really get the creative juices flowing for one to rush home and start hacking away at their own hauler. With that being said, we could only hope that this year’s show would yield the same results. But let’s be honest, it’s hard to duplicate one’s first time.As the weekend unfolded, I soon figured out this show wasn’t going to duplicate last year’s, simply because this year’s show doubled the number of last year’s trucks. Not only did it double in quantity, but quality was stepped up a notch as well. Every square inch of the massive Century II building was doused with a truck here and there. This not only kept my camera busy, but my mind in full swing as well. So yeah, I guess this year’s show wasn’t the same as last year’s, but then again the excitement and electricity was right on par. I guess Foreigner said it best: “It feels like the first time.” Visit www.darrylstarbird.com for information on next year’s show, or call 918/257-4234. SEE ALL 45 PHOTOS FROM THE ARTICLE Facebook Feels Like The First Time /45 Feels Like The First Time Time Capsules! Unrestored Original Muscle Coming in the May 2017 Issue of Muscle Car Review Wiring your custom car with Coach Controls wiring kits 2017 Detroit Autorama Corvettes and More Corvettes Related Articles

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1966 Hertz Shelby - G.T. 350H Road Test Featured Vehicles 1966 Hertz Shelby - G.T. 350H Road Test Jerry Titus was one of the first to test the new '66 Hertz Shelby with an automatic Source Interlink Archives June 12, 2012 In 1966, Jerry Titus' primary employment was his job as Technical Editor at Sports Car Graphic magazine. But he also enjoyed racing, and it was his talent behind the wheel that attracted the attention of Carroll Shelby. In 1965, Shelby tagged Titus to drive a Shelby G.T. 350 R-model in B Production competition. Titus won the national championship. It was a great relationship; Titus got to drive top-level equipment and Shelby benefitted with plenty of magazine coverage.That coverage included the first drive report on the new '66 Shelby G.T. 350H in the April 1966 issue of SCG. Interestingly, Titus didn't play up the Hertz Rent-A-Car connection. Instead, the title of the article, "Driver's Report: 1966 Shelby G.T. 350 Automatic," focused on the three-speed Cruise-O-Matic transmission, which became an option for the 289 High Performance engine in 1966 and was also used in the majority of Hertz Shelbys. Perhaps the automatic angle appeased Ford Motor Company, which bought a back cover ad to tout the availability of the automatic behind the Hi-Po. The photos are from the Petersen Publishing archives, which are now part of Source Interlink Media, Mustang Monthly's parent company. Several of the photos here were not used in the original article and are likely appearing in print for the first time. —Donald Farr When Shelby American's Don Rabbit called us to see if we'd like to try a G.T. 350 with the three-speed automatic transmission, we decided the most interesting way to go was in one of the new Hertz versions. Truth being stranger than fiction, Hertz Rent-A-Car purchased 1,000 Shelby Mustang G.T. 350s and already has a bunch of them distributed around the country. Perhaps you've heard of the "Hertz Sports Car Club." When Chevy was the firm's major make, [Corvette] Sting Rays were made available to members of this club. After a check-out tour around the block to make sure the potential "member" could handle the power and four-speed transmission, he was given a "license" by the club so that the check-out could be foregone in the future. As of January 1 [1966], Hertz switched to Ford and their choice of a G.T. 350--with its ability to carry four passengers in comfort--as their sports car was quite logical. The rental cost is $13 a day and 13 cents a mile.While the Hertz purchase entitled them to a special model, designated G.T. 350H, we found it very little different from the regular '66 Shelby horse. The distinctive and attractive black-with-gold-stripe paint jobs and tiny center caps engraved "Hertz Sports Car Club" are about it. Like all the '66 run, it has rear seats that fold down to form a platform. The external scoops just aft of the door edge deliver cooling air to the rear brakes. The other change is a plexiglass rear window where the vents go in the Ford Mustang. To reduce brake pedal pressure and retain hard enough lining and pad material (discs in front, drum brakes in the rear) for high performance work, a dual-system master cylinder has been incorporated. This is a hydraulic/mechanical advantage, not a vacuum-assist, with a small diameter piston taking the last out of the system before the larger second stage takes over the job of applying pressure [Editor's note: Since the '66 used a single reservoir master cylinder, we feel Mr. Titus is referring to the Kelsey-Hayes disc brake specific proportioning valve]. It gives the pedal a progressive and rather strange "feel," but it is lighter than normal. The three-speed automatic is Ford's pride-and-joy, mainly because they don't have many other new innovations to talk about this year. It is a good gearbox, with positive upshifts and good ratios that complement the accelerative ability of the 289 High Performance engine. A short shift lever is located on the center console, the left tip of its "T" configuration a pushbutton-released lock-out for Low Range--at the extreme rear of the quadrant--and Reverse--forward past Neutral and just behind Park. Starting an acceleration run in First, you're locked in until you move the lever to Second. The shift is instantaneous, so you need only anticipate the redline on the electric tach mounted atop the dash by 150 rpms and keep your throttle foot flat to the floor. Then, to prevent a normal up-shift to Third gear, it is necessary to release the lock-out and move the lever back into Low Range. Again moving to Intermediate position allows the shift to Third. Sound complicated? Not very, but it is a little confusing until you practice it. Left in Drive, the trans is fully automatic, making its shifts at normal intervals, downshifting by throttle pressure and driveshaft rpms. You can manually back-shift by the same routine with the shifter as well. Unlike the '65, the limited-slip differential is not standard. For around-town use, it's a blessing to be without one, as Shelby has thus far found only one unit that will stand up to the full-throttle power of the 289--and it clunks like mad on engagement. Sans the limited-slip, the car is much more prone to wheel-spin, but it also decreases the understeer and makes steering lighter. We banged off some quick acceleration figures with the automatic and, sans speedo correction (it looked pretty accurate). They were: 0-60 mph in 7.9 seconds; 0-80 mph in 13.7 seconds, and 0-100 in 21.2 seconds. The G.T. 350H is available in standard four-speed as well. List price on the '66 Shelby car--in case a ride in a Hertz version impressed you--is $4,395 FOB St. Louis (splitting the freight costs across the country for either the automatic or four-speed version). Let Hertz Put You on the RoofAs older readers will recall, the "Let Hertz Put You in the Driver's Seat" TV commercials in the 1960s usually ended with a happy couple "flying" from the sky into their rented convertible as it rolled along the highway (younger readers can find a clip on YouTube). Apparently, Titus and his staff thought they would have some fun with the ad campaign by photographing Titus in a tree, then afterwards as if he had jumped, or "flown," onto the Hertz Shelby, with the fastback roof obviously preventing his safe landing in the driver's seat. Not so sure that the photo stunt worked, but at least it showed that automotive journalists in the 1960s had a sense of humor. Photo Gallery Where Is It Today?A photo of Titus lifting up the rear fold-down seats may give us a clue about the road test G.T. 350H's identity. A hand-written "598" underneath the forward portion of the fold-down sent us to the Shelby American Automobile Club's '65-'67 Shelby Registry, where we learned that SFM6S598 was originally consigned to Ray Geddes, the Ford employee who served the liaison between Ford and Shelby. The car was also used as a Shelby demonstrator, so it makes sense that the car could have been loaned to Titus for the SCG road test. According to the Registry, 6S598 was black with gold and equipped with the automatic transmission and 14-inch Magnum 500 wheels, just like the test car. The latest update in the SAAC Registry indicates that 6S598 survives today, most recently owned by Steven Ainsworth in California. Photo Gallery Although Jerry Titus was best known as a race car driver, he also gained respect as a technical writer for Petersen Publishing's Sports Car Graphic magazine. His experience behind the wheel gave him a unique perspective from behind the typewriter. Connect With Us

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Toyota RAV4 gets a new look, better fuel economy The new Toyota RAV4 is unveiled at the LA Auto Show in Los Angeles, Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2012. The annual Los Angeles Auto Show opened to the media Wednesday at the Los Angeles Convention Center. The show opens to the public on Friday, November 30. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) DETROIT (AP) -- The Toyota RAV4 is getting a makeover that could help it retake the crossover crown. The RAV4 was the first crossover when it went on sale in 1995, and it became a hit with families who wanted the roominess of an SUV with the tighter handling of a car. But as dozens of imitators entered the market offering more power, styling or technology for the price, the pioneering RAV4 was gradually overtaken. The current version is now the fourth best-selling crossover in the U.S., behind the more recently redesigned Honda CR-V, Ford Escape and Chevrolet Equinox. The RAV4 was last redesigned in 2006. Now, Toyota hopes its revamped 2013 RAV4 can reclaim the top sales spot. The crossover has a sharper, more muscular look than the boxier outgoing model. It also has a redesigned interior and better fuel economy. It debuts Wednesday at the Los Angeles Auto Show and will go on sale early next year. Here are some more details about the fourth-generation RAV4. UNDER THE HOOD: Toyota will carry over the 2.5-liter, four-cylinder engine from the current RAV4. It gets 176 horsepower, down from 179 in the current model because Toyota had to meet more stringent emissions standards. It will be paired with a new six-speed transmission, which replaces the four-speed on the current model. The new transmission helps it achieve an estimated 24 miles per gallon in the city and 31 on the highway, up from 22 and 28. Toyota will no longer offer a V6 engine. INSIDE: The main difference here is that Toyota will no longer offer an optional third-row seat, which had expanded the RAV4's capacity to seven. But second-row passengers will have more leg room thanks to thinner front seats. The cargo area is also longer and deeper than the previous model. When the second row is folded down, the RAV4 boasts 73.4 cubic feet of cargo space, which is more than the CR-V or Escape. A backup camera is now standard on every trim level, as it is on the CR-V. OUTSIDE: The design is more sculpted and dramatic than the current RAV4, with a sloping hood and more prominent front and rear fenders. Toyota is introducing a roof-hinged liftgate on the new RAV4, a break from its previous side-hinged rear doors. The company says the new liftgate will make the vehicle easier to load from a curb. The new RAV4 will also be the first Toyota to have a system that automatically shifts from front wheel drive to all wheel drive when the vehicle is accelerating or when it detects wheel slippage. PRICE: Not yet released, but expect it to be in the $22,500 to $23,000 range in this hotly contested and crowded segment of the market. CHEERS: It's a long overdue makeover for a major player in the market and will most certainly increase sales. Toyota has sold more than 1.7 million RAV4s over the last 17 years. JEERS: The CR-V and Escape still offer more horsepower and gee-whiz features, like the automatic liftgate on the Escape that opens with a wave of a driver's foot. The Chevrolet Equinox gets better highway fuel economy. The RAV4 will still have a tough time competing.

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Split-voltage E/E architecture takes shape June 28, 2011 // By Christoph Hammerschmidt After the recent announcement of a 48 V supply network in future cars, the elements of a split-voltage architecture take shape. It appears that the roll-out schedule is rather ambitious. Car maker Audi acknowledged the plans to equip next-generation passenger cars with an additional 48 V supply network, communicated a week earlier in a joint statement of all German OEMs. According to Audi, the 48 V supply network will be implemented first in standard cars with Internal Combustion engine. "Our first roll-outs won't include electric vehicles", the company said. Roll-out of first production vehicles will be within three years. Nevertheless, in the mid-term, the goal is to include HEVs as well. Not all companies involved wanted to talk openly about the topic. Luxury car maker Daimler, for instance, backpedaled and declined to provide any further details - after Daimler E/E expert Volker Wilhelmi had assumed the role of a spokesman in the joint statement. Nevertheless, in talks with various experts EE Times Europe was able to identify the most significant building blocks for the split-voltage architecture. In fact, the issue is not new; the industry has been discussing a higher supply voltage for high-current applications for more than ten years. But the voltages in discussion as well as the goal for introducing a higher voltage have changed. In the beginning, the focus was on performance and features - for instance, the industry intended to implement advanced systems like steer-by-wire, brake-by-wire, or electric valve control. "Now it is all about CO2 emission reduction", explained Alfons Graf, System Architect for vehicle body systems for Infineon. "In the meantime, the performance topics have been resolved otherwise or became obsolete", he said. Currently, the rationale to implement 48 V is "micro-hybridizing" the cars, with improved recuperation and other measures in the focus. "Also the battery technology has changed", Graf said. "In the beginning it was all about lead acid batteries, now the considerations focus on lithium-ion". Experts such as Graf expect that within the 12 V domain most elements will remain in place - including market factors such as growth expectations and product strategies. 1

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6 ways driverless cars will transform the economy Danielle Muoio AP/Tony AvelarDriverless cars are bound to change more than just how we get from A to B. Getting self-driving cars on the road will change everything from job availability to productivity, experts tell Tech Insider. Here's a look at six ways fully autonomous vehicles will impact the economy. View As: Productivity will increase. Women in Tech/Flickr Increased productivity will come in many forms, Luc Noiset, an associate economics professor from Kennesaw State University, told Tech Insider. Driverless cars will improve traffic flow and reduce accidents, that means less time commuting to work and less time in court for traffic tickets, he said. You could even work while in the driverless car since you don't have to pay attention to the road. Some jobs will be lost. Reuters/Mark Blinch "On the labor side, we are going to need much fewer police and traffic court administrators. That’s probably over a million or so workers that will need to change jobs," Noiset said. That's a sentiment echoed by David Kirsch, an associate professor in the University of Maryland's Robert H Smith School of Business. "There will be a lot of displacement for sure," Kirsch told Tech Insider. "These tend to be cab drivers, truck driers, local delivery services like mail drivers — probably the lower end of the education spectrum with relatively few opportunities." But there will also be an influx of new jobs. Brent Goldfarb, another associate professor at University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, told Tech Insider that the adoption of driverless cars will be gradual, meaning job displacement will also occur gradually. "I know there's a lot of claims that there will be a sudden shift in our infrastructure — I don't see that," he said. "It is true that this will displace unskilled labor at some point. But we do seem to find more things for people to do. This is an old problem that has happened throughout history." The price of some goods will decrease. YouTube/Otto With driverless cars will come driverless trucks. That's something Mercedes-Benz and a new startup by former Google employees are both working on. Cutting the high labor cost associated with having people transport goods across the country will lower the cost of some goods, Noiset said. There will be more space for housing and businesses in cities. The rise of autonomous cars could also mean the death of parking lots and garages in cities. If robot-taxis are always on the move, there simply won't be a need for tons of parking. It's actually why many companies pursuing driverless cars are interested in on-demand services, one example being General Motors $500 million investment in Lyft. If there's less demand for parking, areas typically reserved for that service could be transformed into housing or office space, Goldfarb said. The car insurance business will undergo a complete transformation. Via Wikimedia Commons Noiset said there will be no more driver liability insurance with the advent of driverless cars. While this might sound far-fetched, Volvo has already declared it will take full liability if one of its driverless cars gets in an accident. Noiset added that having product liability, instead of driver liability, will most likely be the route insurers take. "Like kids on a hoverboard that bursts into flames, that's a flaw of the manufacturer, and to the extent something goes wrong in car its going to be a flaw of the manufacturer of the car," he said. "So cars will still need to be insured but the manufacturers of these cars." Driverless Car Self-Driving Car Driverless cars are bound to change more than...

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Resource Center Current & Past Issues eNewsletters This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. To order presentation-ready copies for distribution to your colleagues, clients or customers, click the "Reprints" link at the top of any article. Toyota Facing Calls to Spend Cash Investors and analysts 'not happy' with the company's hoarding of nearly US$40 billion. By Ma Jie, Bloomberg, Masatsugu Horie, Bloomberg February 3, 2014 Toyota Motor Corp. President Akio Toyoda, whose company has accumulated a cash pile of almost $40 billion, is facing calls to put that money to better use. The world’s largest carmaker is seeing profits surge as the yen weakens and demand rises in the U.S. and China. The company will probably report today net income quadrupled to 434.3 billion yen ($4.3 billion) last quarter, according to the average analyst estimate compiled by Bloomberg, adding to the 3.88 trillion yen in cash and short-term investments it had at the end of September. Toyoda’s reluctance to spend has prompted the likes of Takaki Nakanishi, Institutional Investor magazine’s top-ranked Japanese auto analyst, to say the Camry maker should return more money to shareholders or increase capital investments. Options include higher dividend payments, stock buybacks, or building factories in markets such as North America and China, where capacity is strained. “Capital efficiency is not improving as fast as the fundamental improvement of Toyota,” said Nakanishi, founder of Nakanishi Research Institute in Tokyo. “So I am not happy, but that’s how Toyota is.” Toyota has said it aims to pay 30 percent of net income as dividends—a lower payout ratio than at Honda Motor Co. last fiscal year—and that the company won’t build any new factories until 2015 as it focuses on improving efficiency at existing plants. “Our fundamental approach to production is to build cars where the demand is,” said Shino Yamada, a Toyota spokeswoman. “Based on this idea, we are working to maximize the utilization and productivity of existing plants and facilities.” Instead, Toyota plans to increase its “net cash”—available funds minus some liabilities—to 6 trillion yen, from 4.6 trillion yen at the end of last fiscal year. Behind Toyota’s hesitation to spend are memories of tougher times, such as when it reported a record loss in the year ended March 2009, followed by millions of vehicle recalls related to unintended acceleration—adversities that Toyoda has partly blamed on over-expansion. U.S., China The company, which hasn’t announced any new car plants since January 2012, has the capacity to make about 9.5 million units annually, according to Issei Takahashi, an analyst at Credit Suisse Group AG in Tokyo. Still, production can exceed capacity through added shifts or working hours. Takahashi estimates capacity is tightest in North America, Toyota’s biggest market. Its plants are so stretched that Toyota produces some of its Camry sedans at a Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. factory. By comparison, Volkswagen AG announced plans at last month’s Detroit auto show to spend more than $7 billion during the next five years in North America. VW seeks to boost sales of its namesake and Audi brands to 1 million vehicles by 2018, the year it has set as a goal to become the top-selling automaker in the world. In China, Toyota forecasts its sales will rise to above 1.1 million vehicles in 2014, though the company has only disclosed plans to build up annual capacity in the country to 990,000 units in 2015. Toyota saw record sales in the world’s largest auto market last year as it recovered from the consumer backlash triggered in 2012 by a territorial dispute between Asia’s two largest economies. “They have to make a decision very quickly,” Edwin Merner, president of Atlantis Investment Research Corp. in Tokyo, said in reference to Toyota’s capacity in China. “If they don’t do it, they’ll lose market share. They can’t lose more market share.” One risk of doing so is that like other Japanese carmakers, Toyota is vulnerable to geopolitical tensions, as illustrated by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s recent visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which includes World War II soldiers convicted of Class-A war crimes. In 2012, consumers shunned Japanese products because of a dispute over a group of uninhabited islands, sending Toyota sales down by 4.9 percent, while companies from General Motors Co. to Hyundai Motor Co. increased their deliveries. “They can’t just walk away from China,” said Yoshihiro Okumura, general manager at Chiba-Gin Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. “GM, VW are not hampered by the political headwinds and increased capacity a lot. Toyota will have to be aggressive too.” VW, which has said it plans to invest 14 billion euros ($19 billion) in China through 2016, is building a new plant in the far western Xinjiang region along the old Silk Road. GM expects to invest at least $11 billion in China from 2013 to 2016, adding four assembly plants and raising capacity to 5 million vehicles. Returning Cash In the luxury segment, Toyota’s Lexus is the only main brand that doesn’t make cars in China. Even smaller marques including Cadillac, Volvo Cars, Infiniti, and Acura are going to be manufactured in China. For Satoshi Yuzaki, general manager at Takagi Securities Co. in Tokyo, investments into future growth are often better than returning cash to shareholders. “Is it better to return profits to investors, or keep an appropriate level of cash to invest for the future?” said Yuzaki. “I personally prefer them to invest wisely for projects that can guarantee their future growth.” Toyota returned 20 percent of profit last fiscal year as dividend payments, compared with 28 percent at Nissan Motor Co. and 35 percent at Tokyo-based Honda. Still, Toyota’s payouts are rising as profits increase, with the company last paying an interim dividend of 65 yen a share, more than double what it paid a year earlier. The trend should continue as earnings keep rising, Credit Suisse’s Takahashi said. “They should return cash to investors no matter in what form,” he said. FCA Working with 10 Banks on FX Probe Lending on the Upswing General Motors Co. 52 Toyota Motor Corp. 23 Volkswagen AG 21 Shinzo Abe 20 Honda Motor Co. 16 Nissan Motor Co. 13 Hyundai Motor Co. 6 Akio Toyoda 3 cash hoard 3 excess cash 3 Atlantis Investment Research Corp. 2 Edwin Merner 2 Issei Takahashi 2

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