transportblog

Adult pirate costumes for your Halloween dress up

2012-02-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

Halloween is one among the most auspicious times of the year that is cherished and celebrated with a lot of spirit all around the world.

Everyone loves to dress up in some costume or the other on this day, trying to look as realistic as possible and fit pretty well into the character. On this day, everyone around the world irrespective of their age or size dress up in bizarre costumes and party all through the night. Irrespective of which character you dress up as, authenticity is very appropriate and important. At least everyone expects to look as real as the character while they dress up and they put in a lot of effort, money and time to create that appropriate character look.

Children on this same day dress up in children’s costumes and run around the neighborhood playing trick or treat. Trick or treat is a very popular concept. Children visits their neighborhood homes and asks for trick or treat while they are supposed to perform as the character in which they have dressed up as and authenticate their character. In return, neighbors give them sweets, candies and chocolates as treat. Traditionally it is believed that the concept to have originated from the fact that children ought to be treated on this spooky day or they can trick you into a scheme. Some people believe that children could cast a spell or jinx their neighbors with their special magic powers when neighbors fail to treat them. However, this is just a superstitious concept and every household all around the globe cherish the concept with a lot of passion that they always end up treating these kids with chocolates and candies irrespective of whether children performs as the character or not. In fact, every year during Halloween, they see to that they include large quantities of chocolates and candies in their grocery shopping lists. When it comes to costumes, you have two choices. You can either choose to purchase the outfit at retail or wholesale costume shops or you can make your own outfit from your own closet using simple accessories and clothes.

There are also retail shops that rent these costumes instead of selling them which works out all the more cheaper and convenient for you. However, in order to look authentic it is advisable for you to opt for purchasing these costumes which allows you to use them for several years to come or rent these costumes for Halloween instead of making them on your own. Jack Sparrow and Pirates of the Caribbean has been a very popular theme ever since it hit the market. Everyone loves the movie and rejoices Johnny Depp’s performance as Captain Jack Sparrow. The character has some wide base of fanatics as well. So it’s understandable that many would love to dress up as pirates for the upcoming Halloween.

You can find these adult pirate costumes across several websites online and retail stores. However, if you choose to purchase it, it is very important that you purchase it from a reputable store or a website in order to ensure the costume’s quality. These costumes are considerably expensive and no one would like to waste on poor quality costumes. Hence, it is very important that your research thoroughly on the background of the website or store before purchasing or renting these costumes. And always remember to never compromise over quality for cheap price at any given day.

Jackson is a Expert author for Halloween costumes and Women Costumes.He has written many articles like Adult pirate costumes. For more information visit our site http://www.costumecenterusa.com.
Contact him at ccusamaster@gmail.com

A Short History Of The COSTA CONCORDIA

2012-01-26T01:57:00.000-08:00

The COSTA CONCORDIA was structured in January, 2004 as a bigger, modified version of the 102,587 gross ton COSTA FORTUNA and COSTA MAGICA which entered service in 2003 and 2004 respectively. The newest vessel would be the name ship of the “Costa Concordia Class” of five (5) nearly identical 114,147 gross ton ships that would take just about three hundred (300) more passengers than their predecessors.

Based on double-occupancy the latest Costa entrant would carry 3,004 passengers and a crew of over 1,000. At full capacity there could be up to 3,780 passengers aboard occupying the 1,502 staterooms. The overall length of the ship is 952 feet (290.2 meters), a beam of 116 feet (35.5 meters) and a draft of over 26 feet (8.2 meters). The newer Costa ships are based on a common platform as vessels in parent company Carnival Cruise Line’s fleet. The same basic design for the COSTA CONCORDIA, originated with the CARNIVAL CONQUEST class of ships beginning in 2002.

The rapid pace of building is well illustrated by the large number of ships delivered by Italy’s Fincantieri shipyards during the decade from 2002 to 2012. For just the two brands, Carnival and Costa, the yard produced 19 cruise ships, 11 of which share similarities of design with the COSTA CONCORDIA. Among their many subsidiary companies, Costa Cruises and their affiliated Aida Cruises brand were the primary beneficiaries of Carnival’s new building largesse. The COSTA CONCORDIA entered salt water for the first time from the Sestri Ponente yard of Fincantieri near Genoa, Italy, on September 2, 2005. The floating out ceremony was somewhat unusual in that it resembled a traditional ship launch more than a mere move to the builder’s wet dock. Carnival Corporation chairman Micky Arison was present for the blessing which was performed by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Archbishop of Genoa. An employee of the shipyard, Graziella Frisone, acted as Godmother. As she sent the ceremonial bottle of champagne against the hull, the bottle did not break. Widely regarded in seagoing lore as an extremely unlucky omen, another shipyard worker successfully smashed the bottle against the hull on the second attempt. On June 30th the largest Italian ship in history was delivered, followed by the official christening ceremony on July 7, 2006 by supermodel Eva Herzigova. Again underscoring the rapid building pace, the next ship of the class, the COSTA SERENA was floated out on August 4th and commenced her own maiden voyage in May, 2007.

Thanks: http://maritimematters.com

Motorcycle among prizes for Jubilee

2012-01-23T01:44:00.000-08:00

Harley-Davidson Corporation will contribute a high-end motorcycle to the 2012 Solano Wine & Food Jubilee, to be raffled off as part of the Jubilee's fund-raising efforts, organizers of the event said.

The annual Jubilee is a benefit for NorthBay Hospice and Bereavement.

The donation is part of the motorcycle company's new national program to help nonprofits, according to Ed Forbush, president of Iron Steed Harley-Davidson of Vacaville, and the Solano Wine & Food Jubilee in April is the first nonprofit organization to benefit from the corporation's generosity. Forbush worked with NorthBay Healthcare Foundation staff to prepare the winning grant that is bringing the donated motorcycle to Solano County.

The bike, a 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited in Vivid Black -- with a manufacturer's suggested retail price of $23,999 -- will be raffled off as part of the Jubilee's $35,000 cash and prize raffle. It will be on display at venues to be determined, as well as at the Jubilee itself.

"We are extremely honored to have been chosen by Harley-Davidson to be their program's first recipient and want to thank Ed Forbush, who brought the opportunity to our attention," noted Brett Johnson, NorthBay Healthcare Foundation president. "We're already planning a number of events -- such as a Poker Run through Suisun Valley on April 21 -- to showcase this top-of-the-line Harley-Davidson motorcycle."

Thanks : http://www.thereporter.com

European Car Market Slipped in 2011

2012-01-17T20:53:00.000-08:00

The European car market fell by 1.4% to 13.6 million vehicles in 2011, marking the fourth-consecutive annual decline and the outlook for this year looks bleak as tough austerity measures are expected to eat into demand.

“In 2011, most of the significant markets declined,” the European automobile manufacturers association, or ACEA, said Tuesday in a statement.

The French market dwindled by 2.1%, the U.K.’s fell 4.4%, while new-car registrations in Italy contracted by 10.9% and in Spain by 18% year-to-year, reflecting the region’s economic woes, particularly in Southern Europe, ACEA said.

Still, Germany—Europe’s largest car market—posted an 8.8% increase compared to 2010, backed by a more robust economy and better consumer confidence. There was a similar divide between car categories, with makers of luxury cars faring better than mass-market manufacturers. Registrations for BMW AG rose by 7.7% last year to 810,199 cars in Europe, helped by a 19% rise at its Mini brand. German rival Daimler AG’s market share in Europe was flat year-to-year as it eked out a 0.4% rise to 671,480 cars in 2011. Volkswagen, Europe’s largest car maker by sales, posted a 7.8% rise in new-car registrations to 3.17 million vehicles, driven by its luxury Audi brand as well as its VW and Skoda brands.

Thanks: http://blogs.wsj.com/drivers-seat/

Bajaj RE60 four-wheeler unveiled

2012-01-08T20:33:00.000-08:00

Four (4) years after Bajaj Auto showcased its ‘small car’ at the 2008 Auto Expo, the two- and three-wheeler giant has unveiled what it calls the RE60. “It is not a car. It’s a four wheeler,” said Rajiv Bajaj while addressing the media at hotel Taj Palace in New Delhi.

The RE60 will be built at Bajaj Auto’s Aurangabad plant and the launch will take place in a few months from now. The company refused to divulge the price. However, it said that the RE60 will deliver close to 40 kmpl and emit only 60g/km of CO2, making it one of the most fuel-efficient and green vehicles in the market.

The RE60 caters to the commercial passenger segment and is designed to gradually replace the autorickshaw as a mode of transport. And the Bajaj MD has a point, as the RE60, complete with four wheels and doors, is a much safer and convenient mode of transport compared to the three-wheeler autorickshaw.

The four-wheeler will have a 200cc, water-cooled, fuel-injected DTSi engine that will put out roughly 20 PS of power but the light kerb weight of just 400 kgs gives the vehicle a power to weight ratio similar to A-segment cars in India. The engine is mounted at the rear of the four-wheeler and as a result boot space is limited to 44 litres.

Acura’s New NSX, 2013 Buick Encore, 2013 Dodge Dart, 2013 SRT Viper

2011-12-18T22:25:00.000-08:00

Been away from your computer this week and missed all the automotive news? We’ve gathered a few of the top stories of the past week for your convenience.
Acura’s Future Product Plans — Including New NSX

Acura shared some its future product plans, the most exciting of which were promises of a new NSX supercar. A concept version of the NSX will bow at the Detroit auto show in January 2012, but we probably won’t see the finished production model for another three years. The aggressive, angular new coupe will showcase Honda’s technology know-how, with a hybrid SH-AWD drivetrain that uses a gasoline engine to power the rear wheels, and twin electric motors to power the fronts. In addition, Acura dished on the 2013 ILX, which is a small Honda Civic-based sedan; the 2013 RDX, which is an updated version of Acura’s small crossover; and a new flagship model that might be as large as a BMW 7 Series.
Buick Teases 2013 Encore Crossover Before Detroit Unveiling

Buick revealed a small teaser image of the 2013 Encore, a small crossover that will make its official debut at the Detroit show. The Encore will slot below the Enclave in Buick’s lineup, and is slated to offer the same range of upscale amenities, including QuietTuning noise reduction, we’ve come to expect from all Buick products. Both four- and six-cylinder engines are likely in store for the Encore.

Inside Look: Dodge Releases More 2013 Dart Interior Photos

Dodge has revived the Dart name from its archives and will apply it to a new small sedan, the 2013 Dart. Having granted us a look at the outside, Dodge has now shared photos of the interior of the upcoming Dart. A high-quality, Dodge Charger-inspired dashboard is home to a touch-screen infotainment system and a customizable LCD in the instrument cluster. The new Dart is based on the Alfa Romeo Giulietta, although that platform will be lengthened and widened slightly for use in the American-spec Dart. The new car will make its debut at the Detroit show and should go on sale next year.

Read more: http://rumors.automobilemag.com/

Toyota, Yamaha unveil connected electric trike, e-bike

2011-12-11T22:03:00.000-08:00

With populations in urban centers expected to surge over the next few decades, auto manufacturers are looking beyond cars to find ways to mobilize the population without using more fossil fuels. Toyota teamed up with Yamaha to show off a couple of electric bicycle concepts at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show. They're not the first companies to tackle e-bikes, but they could be the first companies to show how these non-traditional EVs can be connected to smart grids.

The three-wheeled EC-Miu and the electrically power-assisted Pas With bicycle are designed to work with the Toyota Smart Center, an advanced smart grid energy-management system designed for homes, businesses, and power companies, which means your e-bike will be another appliance you can manage online.

Commuters will be able to recharge these e-bikes using the same G-Station charging stations used by electric vehicles. Embedded Wi-Fi capability will give riders a way to use smartphone-based navigation and telematics services.

The manufacturers went one step further and modeled how electric bicycles could be integrated in city-wide bike-sharing programs, creating a mashup of Daimler's electric Car2Go program in San Diego and Paris' Velib project. By giving commuters a way to get from A to B without breaking a sweat, these electric bike concepts could make it easier to opt for two or three wheels instead of four, which would help ease congestion on city streets. However, they'll still have the problem of creating helmet hair.

No information on range, speed, or charging times were given in the news statement, but for comparison, the Smart eBike has a range of about 62 miles and a top speed of about 15 mph.

source:http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-57333645-1

Honda Adds Almost 1 Million New Vehicles To Airbag Recall

2011-12-05T02:04:00.000-08:00

Honda‘s airbag woes grew significantly after they recalled an almost 1 million additional vehicles.

The issue involves airbag pressure in 2001 and 2002 Accords, Civics and Odysseys from 2001 through 2003, CR-Vs from 2002 to 2003 and 2003 Pilots. The recall also affects 2002 and 2003 Acura 3.2 TLs and 2003 3.2 CLs.

The latest development primarily includes vehicles sold in North America. Owners can expect to receive notice soon if their car is included The recall started three years ago, so far Honda has recalled 2.8 million vehicles.

source:www.autoguide.com

Toyota’s Latest Concept Car – 'Smartphone on Four Wheels'

2011-11-29T21:04:00.000-08:00

Japanese car maker Toyota has unveiled a new concept car which is designed like a smartphone, featuring multiple touch screen panels on the outside The Fun-Vii, which stands for vehicle interactive internet, was unveiled by the company ahead of the Tokyo Motor Show, in order to showcase what the car maker plans for the future, when drivers will be able to interact with their cars in a way similar to how they use a smartphone.

The car's outside is embedded with a series of touch screen panels that allow the driver to change the body colour and display content. The company said that people will also be able to customise the interior of the car depending on their mood According to the concept images released by Toyota, the car's windshield will come with augmented reality capabilities and will also feature a virtual assistant for navigation and other driving related information.

Toyota has no plans to launch the car in the mainstream market but aims to demonstrate how technology can be used to make cars with great design and interactiveness with the external environment.

Source : itproportal.com

World's Most Expensive Car: 1936 Bugatti Type 57SC Atlantic

2011-11-27T20:53:00.000-08:00

The Bugatti Type 57 and is subsequent variants are the most desirable cars on the planet right now, and Youtube user CarsandCoffeIrvine has a very interesting video of the most expensive one ever, this awesome Atlantic model.

Called by many the most beautiful car from the pre-war ear, the Atlantic body has flowing coupe lines and its most liked for that unique dorsal seam running the whole length of the car. This feature is actually a bit like what you see on fighter planes of the time, since the body is made of aluminum alloy and has to be riveted as it could not be welded.

Only four of these were ever made and of those two have survived This is the car that was previously owned by Dr. Peter Williamson and was sold for between $30 and $40 million at an auction in May 2010. The other is in Paris and belongs to Ralph Lauren’s amazing collection.

Arctic Cat XC 450 ATV Recall Issued Due to Bent Tie-Rods

2011-11-24T01:10:00.000-08:00

Nearly 1,400 Arctic Cat XC 450 all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) have been recalled due to fears that they may pose a crash hazard an Arctic Cat XC 450 ATV recall was announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on November 10, after Arctic Cat Inc. received at least three reports of bent tie-rods.

The CPSC warns that the tie-rods could lead to a loss of control of the ATVs, though there have been no reports of injuries related to the defective Arctic Cats all 2011 Arctic Cat XC 450 ATVs and some 2012 Arctic Cat XC 450 ATVs are affected by the recall. The 2012 models affected by the recall have 6V0101 through 6V0178 and 700101 through 700230 as the last six digits of their Vehicle Identification Number (VIN). The VIN can be found on the lower front frame tube below the front bumper.

The ATVs come in black and orange or black and lime green and have the words “Arctic Cat” on each side of the cowl, and the “450 XC” on the front of the cowl. There are about 1,384 units in all affected by the recall The recalled ATVs were sold at Arctic Cat dealerships nationwide from February 2011 to present for between $6,500 and $6,900. They were made in Taiwan.

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Dog sledge caps tryst with Arctic

2011-11-21T00:33:00.001-08:00

The magic of the Arctic had cast such a lingering spell on the Arctic Challengers of Oman in the past three days that even after the temperatures dropped further and the chilly winds got harsher, the explorers longed for more thrill. And why not? After all where else on the earth could one experience such an unspoilt wilderness from such close quarters?but the unfavourable weather conditions prevented us from exploring the interiors and we were advised not to go further North. So the last leg of our trip faced a setback and our plans of meeting the Inuit people had to be called off.

“We were told that these inhabitants of the remotest part of the Arctic have adapted themselves to the harsh climate. Learning about the Inuit culture is as interesting as experiencing the wonders of the frozen wilderness of the Arctic. Sadly, we had to forego our dreams of meeting them.not being able to meet the Inuit people left us extremely disappointed but we were aware that ‘safety comes first’. Hence, we decided to stay back in the town and make the best of what we had.

It seemed to be a day of heartbreaks. First, we missed the opportunity of meeting the Inuit people and later we could not see the magnificence of the Northern Lights, especially the time when the glaciers get lit by the glow of the Northern Lights, owing to the bad weather conditions.

India Map

Land Rover’s DC100 debuts in Los Angeles

2011-11-16T20:52:00.000-08:00

Land Rover has presented its DC100 and DC100 Sport concepts at the Los Angeles Auto Show. The company said the models “investigate the potential design direction for a replacement for the iconic Defender,” and they are being displayed to judge North American reaction and explore the possibility of bringing the Defender back to the U.S. market “The Defender has always been at the heart of the Land Rover brand and single-handedly defines our go-anywhere, can-do spirit,” said John Edwards, Land Rover global brand director.

“Our ambition is to create an all-new Defender for a global market that remains absolutely faithful to its original DNA: tough, versatile, durable and capable. At the same time, it will be developed for the 21st century and adaptable for the needs of future generations.”evolved since their unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show last September, the concepts now ride on optimized off-road 20-inch alloy wheels with Cooper all-terrain tires.

The DC100 also features expedition accessories with a raised air-intake snorkel for wading, and a roof rack the concepts use a next-generation Terrain-i system which creates a map of the topography in front of the car and displays it as a 3D visualization, automatically identifying potential hazards and suggesting alternative routes. A new Wade Aid system uses sonar sensors to measure water depth, and optimizes the car for water crossings by closing body vents, raising the ride height, selecting a low gear and advising the safest speed.

Tourism Links

Get Your Bike Geek on at the Bike Expo This Weekend

2011-11-13T22:12:00.000-08:00

This weekend brings the geekiest, bike geariest local event of the year—The San Francisco Bike Expo for all of you bike nerds like me, the SF Bike Expo at Cow Palace is the local motherland of all things pedal-powered. It’s the once-a-year event where all of the local bike shops unload their inventory and bike companies big and small showcase their goods.

If you’re looking for vintage wool jerseys from the ’70s then this is your place. If you’re wanting to ogle the custom handbuilt frames of small-batch bike builders, this is your spot. And if you just want to watch pretty bikers model the latest cycletastic fashion, or BMXers tear it up on a jumps course, you can do that too. Best yet, if you’re looking for a good deal on a new or used bike, there’s no better time to find one.

Tourism Links

Electric carmaker CODA opens global HQ in LA

2011-11-10T21:53:00.000-08:00

Electric carmaker CODA Automotive Inc. opened its worldwide headquarters in Los Angeles on Thursday, strengthening California's bid to become the hub of clean-energy business the state hopes will create thousands of new jobs CODA, a startup company that began in Santa Monica, formally unveiled a 100,000-square-foot engineering, research and sales center that has more than 200 employees "it is a milestone. We started with a few people in a Santa Monica hangar just about four years ago," CODA spokeswoman Larkin Hill said.

"Dynamic innovation is a key building block of California's 21st century economy," Gov. Jerry Brown said at the ceremony. "Car companies like CODA are investing in California because our laws encourage electric cars and recognize the paramount importance of reducing oil dependency We see it as a catalyst that will usher in new jobs, more investment, and a stronger clean-tech industry to Los Angeles," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said.

CODA is working on a five-passenger sedan with a range of up to 150 miles per charge. It will be manufactured in China and final assembly will take place at a plant in Benicia, Calif. The car will sell for $44,900, or $32,400 after federal and state credits for electric vehicles.

Tourism Links

Steamboats not a-comin' to Cincinnati next year

2011-11-07T21:14:00.000-08:00

Cincinnati’s latest Tall Stacks riverboat festival is being delayed because of other events competing for sponsorship money the next Tall Stacks Music, Arts & Heritage Festival had been tentatively planned for October 2012. Organizers tell The Cincinnati Enquirer they hope to reschedule for 2013.

They indicate that a 2012 edition of Tall Stacks would have had difficulty landing sponsors because of the World Choir Games, also set for next year in Cincinnati tall Stacks started in 1988 to celebrate Cincinnati’s bicentennial and has been held six times since then. The last time was in 2006 and featured 16 boats that drew 800,000 spectators.

Tourism Links

New Helicopter To Boost Wildlife Conservation Operations

2011-11-06T20:57:00.000-08:00

Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has received a major boost in its air operations following the acquisition of a new Bell 407 helicopter.

The chopper, with a carrying capacity of seven, is set to further enhance conservation work.

The purchase of the helicopter is seen as an important investment expected to generate more revenue in addition to aiding KWS’s air services which include air patrols vital in anti-poaching operations, animal censuses and surveillance, large mammal translocation and client personnel transportation, among others.

During the launch of the helicopter, KWS Director Julius Kipng’etich also commissioned a new VIP lounge at the KWS Wilson Airport Hangar offices in Nairobi .

Mr Kipng’etich said as part of the organisation’s force modernisation and expansion programme, plans are underway to increase its aircraft in the next few years.

This would see the purchase of an additional caravan aircraft in 2013 and ensure that by 2015, each park should have at least one light aircraft to enhance operations.

The Director also challenged staff to come up with a proposal to acquire another hangar at the Wilson Airport aimed at multiplying the airwing’s efficiency and increase its productivity.

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Red Bull Racing Team Martinsville II race report

2011-11-03T22:35:00.000-07:00

And the hits just kept on coming. And coming. And coming. By the time Sunday’s Tums Fast Relief 500 was complete, 18 caution flags had waved that consumed more than a fifth of the 500 laps at Martinsville Speedway, putting the pace car third on the laps led list with 108. Brian Vickers, according to NASCAR’s cumulative report, was involved in five of them — three before lap 100.

Vickers drove into the top 10 courtesy of longer runs in the race’s middle stages and was running ninth with 50 laps to go. But the No. 83 Red Bull Toyota, already beaten and battered, took its worst shot when Matt Kenseth punted Vickers’ car into the turn-three wall with 42 laps to go. That irked an already frustrated driver, and Vickers, who had gone from a possible top 10 to multiple laps down, countered on Kenseth not long after in the same spot.

The end result? A 30th-place finish and a scrap heap of a race car that didn’t see the checkered flag for only the second time this season.

“These are the races where we all get to capitalize on it and do all the other things right, keep working hard and get yourself back in the game,” said Ryan Pemberton, Vickers’ crew chief. “Right there at the end, we just took ourselves out of it. We were in the game and now we’re out of the game — after all that. Four or five hours into the race and we finally get into good position, like, ‘OK, here’s the chance to capitalize on something.’ And we didn’t even have the chance to swing the bat.”

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Transport ministry suspends air controller for 3 months

2011-11-01T22:23:00.000-07:00

The transport ministry announced Friday it has suspended a 56-year-old male chief controller at Tokyo's Haneda airport for three months for posting a flight plan for the U.S. presidential aircraft, Air Force One, and other internal information on his private blog.

The controller started his blog in 2001 and posted 192 pictures taken at his workplace, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.

Five of the pictures showed flight plans screened on a monitor, including the flight plan for U.S. President Barack Obama's visit to Japan last November for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum held in Yokohama.

Another showed the flight plan of a U.S. Global Hawk unmanned surveillance aircraft that flew around the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power complex shortly after the plant was crippled by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

After finding sensitive information had been leaked that way, the ministry decided to designate flight plans for foreign government aircraft as top classified data and take other security measures.

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BMW 6 Series Coupé arrives in Kuwait

2011-11-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

The model has new interior and exterior designs and comes with a wealth of technology highlights that distinguish it from competitors. Offering stylish design, outstanding performance, luxury and sheer driving pleasure, the model is expected to set trends in both the premium car and sports activity vehicle segments.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Yousef Al-Qatami, General Manager of Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive, said: "The all new BMW 6 Series Coupé, marks a new chapter in sporting design for Ali Alghanim & Sons Automotive. With its beautiful exterior, luxury and innovative technology, the BMW 6 Series Coupé will make the hearts of sports car aficionados in Kuwait beat a little faster."

"The initial response we have received on this car has been positive, and we are confident it will prove popular among our customers in Kuwait," he added.

Following the launch of the BMW 6 Series Convertible earlier this year, the third generation of the 2+2-seater sports Coupé sees premium automotive manufacturer BMW adding another exciting chapter to its thirty year-long tradition in the production of sports cars.

On board to deliver the BMW 6 Series Coupé's signature driving experience is a range of innovative driver assistance systems and BMW ConnectedDrive infotainment features. The new car therefore meets the highest, not to mention the broadest, expectations of driving pleasure in a large, premium 2+2-seater in incomparable style.

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Renault Unveils Small Car Pulse in India

2011-10-31T02:48:00.000-07:00

Renault SA Saturday unveiled a new small car, Pulse, in India that it plans to start selling from January to boost sales and compete with bigger rivals such as Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., Hyundai Motor Co. and Tata Motors Ltd. in Asia's third-biggest automobile market.

The Pulse, Renault's third vehicle in India, will mark the French auto maker's entry into the high volume small-car market which makes up nearly two-thirds of passenger vehicle sales in India.

It is also a part of the company's plans to introduce five car models by the end of next year.

"India is one of the key markets for us along with Brazil and Russia. This Pulse is designed and produced for Indian drivers," Carlos Tavares, chief operating officer of Renault, told reporters. He said the company plans to sell 100,000 vehicles in India by 2013.

The Pulse shares its platform with Renault's Japanese partner Nissan Motor Co.'s V-platform. Nissan already sells its Micra small car based on the same platform.

The car will be manufactured at a factory near the port town of Chennai in southern Tamil Nadu state which the company jointly owns with Nissan. The factory opened in March last year with an initial annual capacity of 200,000 cars.

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2012 Fiat 500c Review: Cute but Underpowered and Overpriced

2011-10-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

Lest one think this is an automatic bashing of small cars – it is not. They are actually a particular favorite. The problem comes from the Fiat 500c's powertrain. This is a small – and I do mean small – car with no zip to it nor good fuel economy for its size.

Let's address the latter point first. It's one of the big knocks against the Smart car. It's little and cute like the Fiat 500 and only gets 33 mpg city and 41 mpg highway. The Fiat 500c, based on EPA figures, does even worse at 27 city and 32 mpg. A Hyundai Accent, which is bigger by all measurements, gets 30 mpg city and 40 mpg highway.

That's the unsettling thing about truly small cars in the U.S. They get relatively poor fuel economy for their size and typically run on premium fuel. Who wants to pay more just to get less fuel economy?

No Power in the Fiat 500c

What's also unsettling is how under powered this little car is – even for a little car. Americans don't mind small if it has a little zip to it. The Fiat 500c has a 1.4-liter MultiAir in-line four-cylinder engine that provides 101 horsepower and 98 lb. ft. of torque. As I said last summer when I reviewed the Mazda2, torque figures in the double digits are never a good thing.

The new Fiat 500c features the world’s first Fully Variable Valve Actuation (FVVA) system on a production engine. Also known as MultiAir, this intake-valve system replaces a traditional overhead cam with hydraulic actuation controlled by four, fast-responding, electronic solenoids – delivering instantaneous air-fuel adjustment at any time in the engine cycle for maximum efficiency and power or so Fiat claims. Maybe it does deliver maximum power but it's power that is lacking.

No Safety Concerns

One thing I can't knock about small cars is their safety. Sure, you can't overcome the laws of physics. A semi tractor-trailer crashing into a Fiat 500c is never going to end well for the Fiat passengers but there's a lot more protection inside than people may realize. Don't overlook a Fiat for safety reasons. It would be a mistake.

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The new Dodge Viper will not debut next month

2011-10-21T21:54:00.000-07:00

Mania over the new 2013 Dodge Viper has given way to pure insanity, with outlets reporting that the next generation super Mopar's going to appear at a regional press event in Florida next month. Yeah, we don't think that's happening — and you should believe us, because at least two of us here are crazy enough to think even Sports Night's coming back one day so we'll believe anything if there's a shred of hope it'll happen.

This rumor has its genesis at Top Speed, who seems to have pulled it directly out of their asses. Here's what they say

Debuting an extremely important car at a an event for a bunch of local automotive journalists who, despite their charitable intentions, have little national reach? Not going to happen.

Dodge PR confirmed to us that, as much fun as that would be, it ain't happening. In a phone call that lasted all of 56 seconds.

I just think some journalists are angling to get a trip to South Florida in the winter and thus are unwilling to pick up a phone to deny the most easily deniable rumor ever.

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Wounded Gaddafi Shown No Mercy

2011-10-20T21:33:00.000-07:00

Dragged from hiding in a drainage pipe, a wounded Muammar Gaddafi raised his hands and begged revolutionary fighters: "Don't kill me, my sons." Within an hour, he was dead, but not before jubilant Libyans had vented decades of hatred by pulling the eccentric dictator's hair and parading his bloodied body on the hood of a truck.

The death Thursday of Gaddafi, two months after he was driven from power and into hiding, decisively buries the nearly 42-year regime that had turned the oil-rich country into an international pariah and his own personal fiefdom.

It also thrusts Libya into a new age in which its transitional leaders must overcome deep divisions and rebuild nearly all its institutions from scratch to achieve dreams of democracy.

"We have been waiting for this historic moment for a long time. Muammar Gaddafi has been killed," Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril said in the capital of Tripoli. "I would like to call on Libyans to put aside the grudges and only say one word, which is Libya, Libya, Libya."

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BMW 6-series coupe dressed to thrill

2011-10-19T21:40:00.000-07:00

While it's easy to spec-up BMW's 6-series coupe to well beyond the quarter of a million dollar mark if you tick enough boxes like the M-sport option and lists of remarkable sound-systems, wheel choices and lighting alternatives, I hope I don't sound trite when I say it's still good value.

That's because, despite being very much a day-to-day turn-key sports coupe, it has sufficient performance to challenge competitors with another $100,000 to $200,000 on their sticker cards. As well as its obvious segment- mates, like the 'Benz CL ($285,000), Jaguar's XKR-S ($260,000) and the Maserati GranTurismo ($285,000), the 6-series has sufficient style and performance to be seen next to or to be driven with Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Aston Martins costing so much more.

There'll be but a single model of the 6-series Coupe for New Zealand - the 4.4-litre twin-turbocharged 650i - rather than the range of sixes and diesels and two and four-wheel-drive drivetrain options enjoyed in its native Europe. Standard gear includes sumptuous Dakota leather, chassis settings you can change with the prod of a console button and a standard sat-nav system that uses a huge fixed screen in the upper dash. The device threatens to dominate the otherwise well-organised and nicely designed cabin. There's an M Sport model which gets some subtle external body styling, special sill-plates and a chromed, Martini-striped M-badge for the bootlid as well as more sporting seats.

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Rolls Royce speeds up for first 100

2011-10-18T03:29:00.000-07:00

One of the world's premier luxury car manufacturers, Rolls-Royce has decided to strengthen its operations in India, owing to the rapid growth of the Indian automobile industry. The British car maker has its presence in India for the past 75 years. When it entered the domestic market, back in 1932, the company primarily built aero engines that were first used in Tata Airlines.

Recently, Rolls-Royce Operations India Private Limited was established in Bangalore, amid celebrations of its 50-year-long partnership with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited in 2006. Since its establishment, Rolls-Royce has been inclined towards introducing its luxury cars in India. Rolls-Royce has now decided to expand its operations as well as its product range in India. Currently, the car maker has two dealerships located in Mumbai and Delhi. The company aims to achieve the desired level of expansion by the end of 2011 or early 2012.

For expanding the dealership network, the company has appointed Herfried Hasenoehrl as the Head of Business Development for Rolls-Royce India. He is expected to give new highs to the Rolls-Royce dealership network in the country. In addition, he will be responsible for identifying potential cities for sales of Rolls-Royce products.

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Ford Focus Traveller: Fesche Ladezone

2011-10-16T21:43:00.000-07:00

Ob more work now belongs to the traveler was once an open question. And if so, he will bear with equanimity - he has the skills necessary to yes. Ford reduced the Focus body styles on the two (apart from the coupé-cabriolet) and after it is no longer three-door and the sedan is not offered for us to stay just 5-door and Travellers. Traveller is traditionally the address for the cluster .

Traveller (ie friends) is a perfectly fitting name, since you like the Focus is taking longer trips. Space for luggage or other leisure utensil's enough (490 and 1516 liters with rear seats folded down). At least as gratifying to the, fact that the sill is pleasantly deep down, board life of the trunk and the hatch opens before without disturbing excesses of one. The 1.6-liter Ecoboost with 182 hp ensures that there is fault with the performance anything even if one exploits the full load. Even in the lower rpm range, there are a lot of lard, to 182 hp, the engine feels but only at higher speeds.

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Yamaha FZ6R: Zero Gravity Windscreens

2011-10-14T22:13:00.000-07:00

Made in the USA, Zero Gravity's new line of 2009-2012 Yamaha FZ6R windscreens is now available in three distinctive styles, SR Series, Double Bubble and Sport Touring.

The stock replacement Yamaha FZ6R SR Series (20-523 shown in light smoke) approximates the size, shape and function of the OEM windscreen.

The Double Bubble (16-523 shown in light smoke), features a stepped profile design with an overall height somewhere between the SR Series and Sport Touring.

Performance is geared for sports riding, canyon carving and "tucked in" aerodynamics. Both the SR Series and Double Bubble are available in a variety of colors as well as clear, light smoke and dark smoke.

The Sport Touring Series screen (23-523 shown in light smoke), is 3 1/4" (82.55mm) taller than stock and provides enhanced wind protection while riding in the upright position aboard the Yamaha FZ6R. Mounting holes are pre-drilled. Installs using OEM fasteners. Included with each screen is a photo-detailed instruction sheet for quick installation.

Zero Gravity screens are made with cutting edge technology and feature a precise fit, hand polished visible edges and distortion free optical clarity.

Available in a variety of colors, Zero Gravity's new Yamaha FZ6R windscreens start at $89.95 and are protected with a limited factory warranty.

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GM Looking To Test Futuristic EV In Megacities Worldwide

2011-10-13T21:32:00.001-07:00

General Motors' ambitious EN-V electric concept vehicle may be coming to a city near you, as the automotive giant is looking into developing pilot projects around the world to determine just how practical the concept is.

GM has already signed a memorandum that will see the car — now dubbed the Chevrolet EN-V, short for Electric Networked Vehicle — potentially integrated into the Sino-Singapore Tianjin Eco-city in China. Other locations are being investigated for pilot programs, including the United States. Since the EN-V is designed specifically for urban dwellers, GM is looking at "selected megacities," though no specific locations were announced.

"By 2030, more than 60 percent of the world's eight billion people will live in urban areas," said Chris Perry, vice president, global Chevrolet marketing and strategy, at an event celebrating Chevrolet's 100th anniversary.

"The Chevrolet EN-V represents a possible solution for global customers living in markets where alternative transportation solutions are needed."

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Ashok Leyland has plans for an Innova-like vehicle

2011-10-12T21:19:00.000-07:00

Company working on common platform derived from Nissan van; planning to launch 7-8 seater vehicle in 2 years.

Burgeoning demand for spacious people movers in India has led Ashok Leyland, a medium and heavy truck builder, to plan on developing a utility vehicle to take on the likes of Toyota Innova, India’s largest selling multi-seater personal vehicle.

The Chennai-based company is targeting a medium-powered, seven to eight-seater vehicle. This segment is majorly catered to by Toyota, General Motors, Tata Motors and Mahindra & Mahindra.

V Sumantran, executive vice chairman, Hinduja Automotive, said, “The demand for the Innova has defined the overall demand for such vehicles in India. The way people travel has completely changed in India in the past few years. There used to be a Tata Sumo, which got replaced by Toyota’s top-selling Qualis, which eventually made way for the Innova. Today, there is a waiting period for the Innova, which sells close to 5,000 units every month.”

Launched in 2005, the Toyota Innova (price starts at Rs 8.64 lakh, ex-showroom, Mumbai) has consistently maintained superior demand compared to the competition, despite carrying a premium price tag.

Handicapped by production constraints, Toyota Kirloskar Motors, the Indian subsidiary of Toyota Motors, sold 4,765 units of the Innova last month, a growth of 126 per cent over 2,108 units sold in the same month last year.

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Fairs ... Or Farm Shows

2011-10-11T21:38:00.000-07:00

When I was growing up, country life revolved around county and state fairs.

Not only were there 4-H and open class exhibits of livestock, crops and hobbies, but also the fair was where you went to see the latest farm equipment and products.

You could walk from one exhibit to another, comparing tractors, chain saws, lawn mowers and countless other tools of the good life.

Increasingly fairs, county and stateFarm Machines, are more about entertainment than agriculture.

The Minnesota State Fair maintains the livestock show where I exhibited my Ayrshire heifer 40 years ago. However, the major agricultural suppliers have long since pulled out of Machinery Hill, not that there aren’t still many interesting exhibits to visit.

The real action for agricultural window-shopping has become the regional and national farm shows.

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China Bullet Trains Trip on Technology

2011-10-10T21:53:00.000-07:00

China celebrated its bullet trains as the home-grown pride of a nation: a rail system faster and more advanced than any other, showcasing superior Chinese technology.

However, China's high-speed rail network was in fact built with imported components—including signaling-system parts designed to prevent train collisions—that local engineers couldn't fully understand, according to a review of corporate documents and interviews with more than a dozen rail executives inside and outside China.

During a late July lightning storm, two of China's bullet trains collided in the eastern city of Wenzhou, killing 40 people and injuring nearly 200 in one of the world's worst high-speed passenger-rail accidents. China's government initially blamed flawed signaling and human error. It recently postponed public release of its crash findings.

The precise cause of the disaster remains uncertain, so there is no way to know what role, if any, the signaling assembly may have played.

An examination of China's use of foreign technology in its bullet-train signal systems highlights deep international distrust over China's industrial model, including weak intellectual-property protections, which can complicate efforts to acquire state-of-the-art technology.

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Government’s budget-cut slows purchase of new cars

2011-10-09T21:30:00.000-07:00

Toyota, the largest supplier of new cars in Uganda, is feeling the pinch of government’s resolve to cut-back it’s expenditure on items like motor vehicles, advertising and newspapers.

Mr Dino Bianchi, the managing director of Toyota Uganda, told Daily Monitor the budget cuts on the purchase of vehicles has affected sales because the government is the biggest buyer of new cars. “The decision is already hurting us. Of course, government is among our top buyers and a reduction in purchase affects us.”

In her 2011/2012 budget speech, the Finance minister Maria Kiwanuka said there was need to cut government expenditure on some sectors in order to improve government service delivery. Ms Kiwanuka proposed that the government would freeze the purchase of vehicles except for critical areas; including hospitals, police and security.

Other industries that were affected include hospitality and media. To cope with the freeze, Toyota has introduced initiatives to boost its sales by easing the cost of acquiring and servicing new cars. “We are however, making our cars more affordable to potential clients,” Mr Bianchi said.

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Electric Cars Face Challenging Market In Brazil

2011-10-06T21:54:00.000-07:00

Brazil market not as ready as U.S, Japan, Europe for electric-vehicle push, Nissan CEO Ghosn says

Ghosn: No clear initiative to support adoption of electrics by Brazil government

Brazil's oil fields, high use of ethanol also seen as key factors

RIO DE JANEIRO -(Dow Jones)- The future of the automotive industry is likely in electric vehicles, but the technology faces a challenging market in Brazil, the chief executive of Japan's Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. (7201.TO) said Thursday.

Carlos Ghosn, who also serves as chairman and chief executive of France's Renault SA (RNO.FR), cited Brazil's recently discovered oil fields, heavy use of biofuels and a lack of government support.

"We are pioneers in electric cars," Ghosn said during an announcement of Nissan's first factory in Brazil. "When the Brazilian government wants, when the Brazilian government is ready, we will instantly bring this technology to Brazil."

Nissan, which produces the popular Leaf electric car, doesn't view Brazil as a good candidate for early market tests of electric vehicles. The pressure to adopt the new technology isn't as strong in Brazil, which is currently rushing to develop offshore oil fields that could transform the country into one of the leading crude producers and exporters. In addition, the country is the world's largest producer of sugar-cane ethanol, with more than 80% of new cars able to run on the clean-burning biofuel.

"The attractiveness of Brazil as a market for electric cars will depend on the will of the Brazilian government to support the consumer in order to buy electric cars," Ghosn told Dow Jones Newswires in an exclusive interview earlier this week. "As long as there is no clear initiative by the government to support development of electric cars in the country, I don't think it's going to happen."

There are some signs that Brazil's government is waking up to the need for incentives to foster growth of so-called "green vehicles." Local press reports said that President Dilma Rousseff's administration was discussing plans that could allow Brazil to be at the forefront of electric-car adoption, including the end of a 25% industrial production tax on electric and hybrid vehicles.

Rio de Janeiro Governor Sergio Cabral also hailed the future of electric vehicles during Thursday's ceremony to unveil Nissan's $1.5 billion plant, which is expected to produce 200,000 vehicles per year. Rio de Janeiro wants to offer incentives to ensure that electric cars are produced in the state, said Cabral.

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Hyundai holds mini-auto show

2011-10-05T22:07:00.000-07:00

Engineers from Hyundai Motor Group’s subcontractors study the bottom of a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle with its battery removed at the automaker’s Namyang Technology Research Center in Gyeonggi Province, Wednesday. Between Oct. 5 and 8, Hyundai is hosting the 8th R&D motor show with 105 vehicles to help subcontractors learn freely about the latest automobile technology. / Courtesy of Hyundai

By Kim Da-ye

Hyundai Motor Group is hosting its own mini motor show to help subcontractors study more than 100 domestic and imported vehicles at no cost.

The eighth R&D Motor Show is taking place at the automaker’s Namyang Technology Research Center in Gyeonggi Province between Oct. 5 and 8. Some 5,000 executives and employees of 445 subcontractors have been invited to attend.

The displayed fleet includes 25 Hyundai and Kia vehicles including the i40 and the K5 Hybrid as well as 80 from rival automakers.

Prior to the opening ceremony, engineers from Hyundai-Kia and subcontractors disassembled globally popular cars to study the latest automotive technology.

Hwang Chong-ha, a researcher at Yura Corporation, participated in taking apart a Nissan Leaf electric vehicle. He said, “Disassembling an imported vehicle is a great opportunity for us. It is usually difficult for a subcontractor to buy a whole imported car to merely study a part.”

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Mahindra XUV 500 launched at a starting price of Rs 10.8 lakh

2011-10-03T21:22:00.000-07:00

Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), India's leading manufacturer of utility vehicles on Thursday launched its new global sport utility vehicle XUV 500 at a starting price of Rs 10.80 lakhs (ex-showroom Delhi). The company will begin bookings from Saturday. This is the first major utility vehicle launch from Mahindra after its Xylo launch.

Mahindra will position the XUV 500 between the Scorpio and the premium SUV range which comprises of the Toyota Fortuner, Chevrolet Captiva, Mitubishi Outlander, Honda CR-V and the likes. The XUV 500 will be available in both 4x2 and 4x4 variants.

The vehicle will be launched in South Africa tomorrow. "In the next six months, it will be launched in Australia, South and Central America, Western Europe and SAARC countries," M&M President (Automotive and Farm Equipment) Pawan Goenka told reporters here.

In the domestic market, it will be first available in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai and Pune. It will be pitched against the likes of General Motors' Captiva and the Toyota Fortuner, which are priced at around Rs 19-20 lakh.

M&M Chief of Operations (Automotive Sector) Rajesh Jejurikar said the price of the XUV500 could be revised after three months, depending on commodity prices and other input costs.

Stating that the new vehicle is a reflection of the firm's ever-growing global aspirations, M&M Vice-Chairman Anand Mahindra said: "XUV500 is much more than a car. It will be another cult vehicle, as Scorpio was."

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Hyundai Eon Small Car’s specifications and features details emerge!

2011-10-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

The second week of October or its thereabouts is when Hyundai India’s new bread and butter entry level model, the Eon Hatchback, will debut. Already, there is plenty of buzz surrounding the latest small car from Hyundai as this car represents a genuine alternate to the Maruti Alto, both in terms of price positioning as well as fuel economy and engine capacity. Now, we’ve just managed to lay our hands on the specifications of the Hyundai Eon, much before its launch.

We bring you these specifications courtesy a Team-Bhpian. Hence, this information isn’t yet official and the final specifications might vary from what we’re carrying on ICB today. The Hyundai Eon will arrive with a 3 cylinder, 814cc petrol engine producing a peak power of 56 PS at 5,500 rpm and a peak torque of 76.5 Nm at 4,000 rpm. The high point of this engine is the high fuel economy that is claimed for the Eon, which at 21.1 KMPL, leads the entry level small car class.

A five speed manual gearbox, which has been borrowed from the Santro Xing does gear shifting duties on the Eon. The Hyundai Eon could be available in no less than six variants and this means that like the Verna Fluidic, Hyundai India could price the Eon too in a very wide price band thus offering car buyers a lot of choice. From the information we have right now, the Eon will be available in D-Lite, D-lite(O), Era, Magna, Magna(O) and Sportz variants.

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Ford's F-150 Raptor gets front-view camera

2011-09-29T21:37:00.000-07:00

By now, rear-view cameras are pretty much expected in all larger cars and trucks. But a front-view camera?

You'll find it in the latest version of the F-150 SVT Raptor, Ford's 411-horsepower ultimate off-road truck. Sure, you can look at the windshield to see where you're going. But the goal of the front-view is to let you see where you can't see.

The camera is mounted on the front grille and looks down. It's meant to help drivers who are rock-crawling off-road. In rough terrain, they may not be able to see down low without the camera, Ford contends.

"It's a surprise-and-delight feature that works during low-speed crawling, and it's particularly useful for seeing in front of the vehicle when tackling large inclines," said Jamal Hameedi, Ford SVT chief engineer. "We found the system particularly useful for avoiding large rocks or placing a tire on a rock. It can even take the place of the spotter at times, which is a great feature when the truck is in 1 foot of mud."

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Mind-reading car could drive you round the bend

2011-09-28T21:46:00.000-07:00

Nissan collaborates with Swiss scientists to develop interface between man and machine, saying it will help road safety

One of the world's largest motor manufacturers is working with scientists based in Switzerland to design a car that can read its driver's mind and predict his or her next move.

The collaboration, between Nissan and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), is intended to balance the necessities of road safety with demands for personal transport.

Scientists at the EPFL have already developed brain-machine interface (BMI) systems that allow wheelchair users to manoeuvre their chairs by thought transference. Their next step will be finding a way to incorporate that technology into the way motorists interact with their cars.

If the endeavour proves successful, the vehicles of the future may be able to prepare themselves for a left or right turn – choosing the correct speed and positioning – by gauging that their drivers are thinking about making such a turn.

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Honda Brio launched at a starting price of Rs 3.95 lakh

2011-09-27T21:23:00.000-07:00

Honda has entered the business end of India's car market with the aggressively-priced Brio, sending a message that it has the gumption for a fight in the world's second-fastest-growing car market.

With a starting price of Rs 3.95 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), Brio is Honda's cheapest offering and is being launched in the middle of a trying period for the Japanese carmaker.

"Brio is our answer to the demand of mass car market. It's our most focused product," said Takashi Nagai, the president & chief executive of Honda's Indian unit. Honda Siel, the Indian arm is a joint venture with Siel, a Siddharth Shriram group company.

Honda has been struggling with falling sales, production stoppages caused by a devastating tsunami in Japan in March and the recall earlier this month of more than 70,000 City sedans to replace faulty power window switches.

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The Story of Ferrari’s Horse Emblem

2011-09-26T21:01:00.000-07:00

Italian car manufacturer Ferrari has been in the business of making sports and racing cars since 1947 and in the world of Formula One racing, the car is responsible for the excitement that follows each race. Along for every ride of the Ferrari line of cars has been the prancing black horse that is the recognizable emblem of the sportscar maker.

The trademarked Prancing Horse logo of Ferrari has a story almost as impressive as the brand itself. Having been on the plane of an Italian WWI flying hero, Ferrari used the logo with advice from the pilots mother that it would bring the company luck. Take a look at the Ferrari World video below that further explains the Prancing Horse logo. See cars and more from Ferrari

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Nissan LEAF to lead the charge with noisemaker tech in Australia; Toyota says no for now

2011-09-25T23:09:00.000-07:00

Toyota has released a video detailing its latest Vehicle Proximity Notification System (VPNS) – a system designed to improve the safety of pedestrians and other road users around near-silent hybrid and electric vehicles by emitting audible warnings – but don’t expect our Prius to get the technology any time soon.

VPNS broadcasts a range of low- and high-pitched noises when travelling below 15mph (24km/h). The pitch of the tone increases and decreases depending on the vehicle’s speed (a function called ‘pitch-shifting’).

Toyota engineers in the US say the system will improve road safety for cyclists, or pedestrians who may be distracted by mobile phones, and insists it will be especially important to the independence of blind pedestrians who rely on audible warnings from vehicles.

Toyota describes the sound as “automotive in nature, but still futuristic to match the advanced powertrain of our hybrid vehicle”, and says it has been developed to remain effective around other ambient noises and parked cars.

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Honda CR-V concept doesn't mess with success

2011-09-22T21:47:00.000-07:00

Honda debuted a CR-V concept today at the Orange County International Auto Show in Anaheim, but don't expect gullwing doors, cameras instead of rear view mirrors, or some new, revolutionary electric power train. This CR-V is a preview of the 2012 model update, the production version of which Honda will show off in November.

The concept reveals new styling, and Honda says the new CR-V will have more cabin space, a redesigned interior, and better fuel economy than the current model.

The redesign gives the CR-V a much more modern look than the previous generation, which has gone for five years without a significant update. The headlights are integrated with the grille, and a skid-plate-looking piece rises up from under the front of the car.

The hatchback is more vertical, giving the roof a straighter run from windshield to back. That detail should lead to the promised cabin space increase. Honda added an up line at the rear of the side graphic, which is very reminiscent of BMW's signature Hofmeister kink.

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Public transport workers expand Cairo strike

2011-09-21T21:22:00.001-07:00

Public transport workers and drivers in Greater Cairo went on a partial strike Wednesday demanding better pay, working conditions and buses after they failed to reach an agreement through negotiations with the Public Transportation Authority (PTA).

The strike began three days ago in the Mazalat Garage, but spread Wednesday morning to Nasr City, El Moneeb, Giza, Imbaba, El Ter’a Mazalat, Basateen, El Ameriya, Gesr El-Suez, 6th of October, according to the Center of Socialist Studies.

The workers believe that more public bus hubs will join the strike in the next few days, shutting down all public transportation.

The public transport sector employs about 40,000 workers. Previous nationwide strikes in 2007 and 2009 and during the January 25 uprising led to the establishment of transport workers’ independent trade union last March. . . .

Tata Nano car worth Rs 22 crore!

2011-09-20T22:50:00.000-07:00

The Tata Group on Monday unveiled a Nano car - made with gold and silver, and studded with precious stones - worth an astronomical over Rs 22 crore.

But, it's not for sale - the valuable and fully functional car is a unique branding and promotional initiative by Goldplus Jewellery, part of Titan Industries, a Tata Group company, an official said.

The mega-value Goldplus Nano Car was unveiled on Monday evening by Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata.

The Goldplus Nano Car pales the average Rs.1.40 lakh Nano, which started with a Rs.1 lakh price tag at its launch.

The Goldplus Nano Car is billed as the world's first ever gold jewellery car and celebrates the 5,000 years of jewellery making industry in India.

The car's body is made with 80 kg 22 carat solid gold, 15 kg silver, precious stones - including diamonds, rubies - and other expensive gemstones, the official said. . . .

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Jaguar unveils C-X16 coupé concept at Frankfurt

2011-09-19T21:39:00.000-07:00

Jaguar has used the occasion of the Frankfurt motor show to unveil a new coupé concept, code-named C-X16, designed to slot into the range beneath the XK.

The new car, like the XK and the XJ saloon, uses a largely aluminium structure and is also designed to have a 50:50 front/rear weight distribution in the interests of handling balance. Jaguar has indicated that the C-X16 should be capable of accelerating to 62mph from rest in 4.4 seconds and of reaching a top speed of 186mph, a similar level of performance to that achieved by the hottest version of today's XK, the XKR-S. But whereas the XKR-S uses a mighty 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine, the C-X16 is a hybrid; it pairs a 300 horsepower supercharged 3.0-litre V6 with a 95 horsepower electric motor, and is therefore projected to emit a comparatively modest 165g/km of CO2 in official tests, compared with the 292g/km achieved by the XKR-S. The power from the electric motor is provided on an “on-demand” basis. The driver of an C-X16 will be able to call upon its extra performance for brief periods by pressing what Jaguar calls a “Push to Pass” button.

At 4.445m, the C-X16 is the shortest Jaguar since the XK120 back in the 1950s. Its design is clearly related to that of the XK and previous Jaguar coupé models, although some traditional features such as the characteristic oval grille have been modified or dropped. . .

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Nissan plans to increase local content use

2011-09-19T02:14:00.000-07:00

PT Nissan Motor Indonesia (NMI) look ahead to the local contents of its cars assembled in Indonesia to reach 80% next year in line with the company`s plan to produce low-cost green cars (LCGC) in the country.

"This is part of efforts to achieve our short-term target in 2013," NMI President Director Takayuki Kimura said here on Saturday.

He said the increase in the local contents was also aimed at expanding the scope of Nissan products to up to 80 percent in 2014.

For its part, NMI held a meeting with supplies in Jakarta recently. The meeting was the starting point to support the company`s plan and commitment to realize the LCGC project, he said.

He said around 500 suppliers from Indonesia and other Asian countries who took part in the meeting appeared to be enthusiastic.

"The two-day meeting was aimed at exploring the possibility of cooperation between suppliers and Nissan," he said.

Now that Nissan was growing rapidly in Indonesia, it was important for NMI and suppliers to have similar understanding about the country`s business prospects. Likewise the suppliers were also expected to understand what Nissan had achieved so far, he said..

'Connected' cars new buzzword at IAA fair ‎

2011-09-14T21:27:00.000-07:00

The times are long past when car shows reeked of motor oil and fans were obsessed with engine power and sleek designs.

With the aid of cloud computing, car makers believe the car of the future will no longer be just a vehicle, but an extension of the home or workplace, where drivers will have access to emails and keep up-to-date on their social networks even on the road.

German top-of-the-range manufacturer BMW already offers an onboard computer with internet access whereby drivers can locate a restaurant of their preference, the nearest ATM or free parking space in a matter of clicks.

And rival Daimler is not to be outdone, either: its new in-built computer allows drivers to surf the web as long as the vehicle is parked.

In its new concept car on show unveiled at the IAA this week, the Evos, Ford claims it can fine-tune the car to personal preferences, even down to the cabin temperature, and access to the driver's home entertainment systems for listening to favourite news and music programmes.

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Hyundai offers glimpse of new i30

2011-09-13T21:45:00.000-07:00

South Korean auto major Hyundai Motor Company on Wednesday revealed the first picture of its new generation i30 hatchback, ahead of its unveiling at the Frankfurt Motor Show next week.

In a statement, Hyundai said it expected the new generation i30 to build on the success of the original model and also the company's first model to be launched with the prefix 'i'.

According to Hyundai, the original i30 was designed and engineered in Europe and rolled out of its factory in the Czech Republic in 2007.

Last year, Hyundai sold 115,000 i30 units in Europe.

After its July 2007 launch, the i30 went on to increase its sales in Europe every year, attracting 115,000 buyers in 2010 -- the highest-ever annual sales figure for an individual Hyundai model in Europe -- and achieving total sales of more than 350,000 units up to mid-2011.

The model has been designed and engineered at the Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Centre in R?sselsheim, Germany..

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BMW Superbike: Toseland Out, Elias In?

2011-09-12T21:32:00.000-07:00

2012 World Superbike

Last Friday, BMW Italia World Superbike's James Toseland announced he was forced to retire from motorcycle racing due to wrist injuries sustained at private testing at Aragon in March.

With this news still looming in the WSBK paddock, the BMW Italia World Superbike team reported that Moto2 Champion and current LCR Honda rider Toni Elias is scheduled to test ride the BMW S1000RR WSBK machine at Misano Tuesday and Wednesday.

But although Elias is the likely candidate to replace Toseland for 2012, the 28-year-old Spaniard is still under contract to compete in the remaining five rounds of the 2011 MotoGP Championship.

Serafino Foti (Sports Director for the BMW Motorrad Italia SBK Team) says: "The upcoming test is not aimed at replacing James in the championship, partly because Toni is already committed to the MotoGP championship. However, over the next few days we will identify and officially name the rider who will be competing for us in the last three (2011) races."..

Hybrid Air Vehicles — the future of Arctic mining is up in the air

2011-09-11T21:22:00.000-07:00

The 1985 movie Back to the Future ends with the prophetic line “Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.”

Fast forward to the present to Canada’s Arctic region and that prediction is appearing to come true. The Ice Road Truckers better watch out, the future of Arctic mining and drilling may not need any roads.

British aviation pioneer Hybrid Air Vehicles Limited is proposing an alternative option for the delivery of heavy goods and equipment to remote mining sites and oil and gas drilling locations which eliminates the need for long-distance trucking.

The company has developed a “hybrid” aircraft that combines the helium lift of a conventional airship with the aerodynamic shape and more conventional thrust of a vertical take-off-and-landing craft and the precision hovering and soft-landing ability of a hovercraft. It is working to give its vehicles a heavy lift payload capacity ranging from 20 tons to 200 tons.

Hybrid Air Vehicles, which has been developing vehicles for the military in conjunction with defense contractors such as Northrop Grumman, signed its first commercial contract in August with Canada-based specialty aviation company Discovery Air Innovations to build airships capable of lifting as much as 50 tons.

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Yamaha’s new premium bike

2011-09-08T21:37:00.000-07:00

India Yamaha Motor on Tuesday launched the upgraded version of its premium motorcycle YZF-R15 as the Japanese bike-maker hopes to cross 5-lakh sales figure in 2011. Priced at Rs.1.07-lakh, the bike comes with a 150cc liquid-cooled 4-stroke fuel injected engine that boasts of spruced up looks and better performance in circuit riding.

“The YZF-R15 has been continuously gaining ranks in the hotly contested premium segment since its launch three years ago and we are sure to repeat the same feat for the new version too. Seeing the trend, the market for premium bikes in India offers immense scope as this segment consists of people who are looking for performance characteristics,” India Yamaha Motor CEO & Managing Director Hiroyuki Suzuki told journalists here.

The R15 version 2.0 has undergone changes as compared to the present YZF-R15 in the specs of the engine control unit (ECU), drive train unit, a long aluminium swing arm, wider front and rear tires (radial tire for the rear), split seat, LED taillights and new-design middle cowl and tail cowl, he added.

About sales, Mr. Suzuki said the company was hoping a 40 per cent growth to reach 5.2 lakh units this year against last year's 3.8-lakh units. The Japanese bike-maker will also strengthen its market share in the 150cc segment from 15 per cent to 20 per cent by the end of 2011. “We are aiming to sell 5.2 lakh units in 2011…we plan to sell 6.5 lakh units in 2012, and touch 10-lakh sales figure by 2013,” Mr. Suzuki said..

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Tata launches a revamped Indigo eCS compact sedan with a mileage of 25 KMPL!

2011-09-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

The Tata Indigo eCS Compact Sedan, which has been the pioneer of compact sedans in India, has gotten yet another upgrade from Tata Motors Limited. This time around, Tata motors have made the already fuel efficient sedan, even more fuel efficient with a raft of changes to boost the fuel economy number further. Now, the Tata Indigo eCS Diesel is touted to deliver a stunning 25 KMPL, thus making it the most efficient sedan in India.

Tata Motors attributes the higher fuel efficiency of the 1.4 Liter TDI common rail turbodiesel to five main factors. Firstly, the 1.4 liter turbodiesel engine’s ECU is said to have been optimized for maximum fuel economy. Secondly, Tata engineers have worked on the Indigo’s 1.4 Liter turbodiesel engine comprehensively to increase fuel economy.

A host of changes have been made to the engine head, block and piston for maximum combustion efficiency and reducing friction between moving parts, both of which will contribute to a higher fuel economy number. Thirdly, the Indigo eCS’ aerodynamics are said to have been improved to reduce drag...

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Yamaha, Piaggio to launch scooters in 2012

2011-09-06T22:18:00.000-07:00

Honda Motorcyle & Scooter India, which holds almost half the scooter market in India, faces a big challenge with two of the world’s largest scooter makers readying a foray into the country.

Next year India Yamaha Motor and Piaggio will both launch their brands here. While Piaggio is bringing the world-famous ‘Vespa’, Yamaha is believed to be eyeing the entry-level scooter market, where currently HMSI is the undisputed leader.

Interestingly, Bajaj Auto recently vacated the scooter market, saying it did not generate enough volumes for the company whereas Hero MotoCorp—a late entrant—has seen healthy volume growth with its lone scooter brand called ‘Pleasure’.

A Tier I vendor, who supplies critical components to top two-wheeler makers in India, told DNA that Yamaha is working hard on its scooter plans and will be talking about volume targets by the end of the month.

“We have been asked to supply critical components to the Yamaha scooter brand...the first scooter should be out in the market next year and as far as I can see it will have a significant indigenisation level,” the vendor said.

A spokesperson for India Yamaha Motor declined to offer any comments. Yamaha would manufacture the scooters at its existing facilities at Surajpur and Faridabad.

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Rail-based business travel drops as government advised

2011-09-05T21:55:00.000-07:00

Business travel taken on trains has decreased for the first time in five years despite increased awareness of the market and its environmental benefits. A survey of transactions from April to June show that receipts for rail journeys dropped by 175, 250, or 14%, compared to this year’s first quarter and 2% down from the same quarter last year. The sector has seemingly been replaced by air transport as corporate travel picks up, with air transactions recording growth of 6% and ancillary revenue from insurance, visa services, baggage check-in etc up 6% compared to 2010’s Q2. In addition car hire receipts improved 10% and hotel transactions increased 8%. Overall the statistics, released by the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC), showed a slower rate of growth for business travel at 4% this quarter compared to 10% growth in the first quarter.

Despite the improved air travel data, Anne Godfrey, chief executive of the GTMC said the fall was due to a reduction in travel by civil servants. “Overall growth in business travel is healthy and steady but the decrease in rail bookings is significant and would appear, as expected, that public sector cuts have impacted on this mode of transport, which has been so popular with civil servants,” she said. “Rail was the first mode of transport to recover to pre 2008 levels, with increased transactions reported in every 2010 survey and a 10% growth that year. This dramatic drop in transactions will be monitored carefully in coming months”. The results come as government has been advised by Sir Roy McNulty to remove staff from 675 train stations across the UK. It is unclear how the government will react to the consultation, which would affect mainly rural areas but some small towns and stations in London.

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Mercedes Benz cars drive mid-size luxury segment sales in India

2011-09-04T22:42:00.000-07:00

Mercedes Benz cars are driving mid-size luxury segment sales in India. Their cars are making waves in India. The German auto giant is working tirelessly to bring the best cars to the Indian market. This seems to be the reason behind phenomenal rise of its car sales in India.

The company officially came to India in 1994 in collaboration with Telco. Traditionally, Mercedes-Benz cars have consistently catered to wealthy, rich, and super-rich consumers. The manufacturer’s name keeps on changing, but Mercedes-Benz cars remain Mercedes-Benz, for the Mercedes-Benz name has a greater brand relationship with world consumers than their manufacturer’s current corporate name – Daimler-Benz, Daimler-Chrysler, or Daimler AG.

Reports suggest that during the last eight months of this fiscal year, the Indian arm of Mercedes Benz grew by 40 per cent. A company spokesperson who was obviously over the seventh heaven due to the increased sales says, “Our sales grew by 40 per cent during the January to August period to 4,890 units in 2011 against 3,495 units during the corresponding period last year”.

Meanwhile like all other super car manufacturers, Mercedes Benz too is launching mid level sedans and sports vehicles in India to increase its sales volume. A top executive of another German auto maker Audi says, “Growth in the luxury segment is not coming from the top-end price points of above Rs 30 lakh”.

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Driverless Pod Cars Transport Passengers Around London's Heathrow Airport

2011-08-10T21:32:00.000-07:00

Driverless cars are just catching on in this country, but they’re already zooming around London’s main airport, ferrying passengers from their people-driven cars to the terminal.

Twenty-two of these automated pods are operating at Heathrow’s Terminal 5, the shiny new terminal occupied by British Airways. They were built to replace a duo of diesel buses that formerly drove in a loop from the car parks to the terminal, pausing at various stations no matter how many people were present.

The electric-power pods, which can accommodate up to four travelers and their bags, travel up to 25 mph along 2.4 miles of paved guideways, which can be customized to fit any path. They don’t require a special railway or magnetic field — just lines that can be used for optical navigation. The pods can even maneuver through light snow, according to their manufacturer, ULTra PRT. The New York Times says the autonomous pods have not been in any accidents.

The first trials started in April, and service became fully operational this summer when the buses were removed from rotation, the Times says.

Passengers have to press "start" when they get in, to ensure efficiency and to prevent people from making the pods move while they’re empty. About 800 people per day use the pods, the Times says.

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New Autopilot Cars in the Planning

2011-08-09T23:06:00.000-07:00

An autopilot car that can drive without a human controlling it is the auto-industry’s latest vision as it continues its quest for a future where accidents are nonexistent. The views on using technology for something like this are still mixed.

A couple of major car manufacturers, including Volkswagen, have expressed an interest in this new auto piloted vehicle, while others like Volvo remain unconvinced, insisting that humans should be in control of their vehicles at all times.

Volkswagen has plans to release an auto piloted vehicle that will be able to control driving tasks like steering and speed. This is not the first attempt at an auto piloted vehicle by Volkswagen. The company has been working on the development of a new type of automated vehicle for over six years now.

In 2005 Volkswagen won a contest for the best automated vehicle. The vehicle in question was a Touareg soft-roader which was able to drive over 200 kilometers by itself in off-road conditions.
Although the company has had some mild success with these earlier models, they mainly served to pave the way for their new and improved Temporary Auto Pilot system, also known as TAP.

This new system uses components which are already ready for production. The first vehicles in this range produced by Volkswagen were complicated and needed processors, cameras and many other technological gadgets. This new range of vehicles will run with the help of a cruise control that can adapt to different situations.

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BMW i4, i5 next to join the BMW i family: report

2011-08-09T03:04:00.000-07:00

Following last week’s unveiling of the all-new BMW i3 and BMW i8 electric and plug-in vehicles, rumours have started circulating about the next additions to the line-up, said to be the i4 and i5.

The i3 all-electric city car and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports car will hit the market in 2013 as the first vehicles in the new BMW i family.

According to BMW Blog contributor and brand insider, Scott27, the i4 will be a smaller two-seater sports car based on the i3 with a design influenced by the i8.

“i4 would offer a plug-in electric or range-extended electric drivetrain. The idea comes from not everybody will be able to afford the i8 but here is the more accessible offer.”

Scott27 says the i5 will be a much more important vehicle for the brand, however, as it will feature a more practical, family oriented sedan layout.

“i5 is seen as the ultimate test for BMW i and will be a mid-sized four door sedan-esque coupe again using the powertrain from the BMW i8.”

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New Chevrolet launched in Windhoek

2011-08-05T04:03:00.000-07:00

Auas Motors, the Opel, Chevrolet and Isuzu dealer in Namibia, this week officially launched the new version of one of its most popular models, the new Chevrolet Orlando and Captiva in Windhoek.
Speaking at the launch, Tim Hendon, Chevrolet brand manager at General Motors South Africa said its company launched a Chevrolet Captiva sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a fresh new look.
He added that the new Captiva ushered in a new era of design when it was first launched in the international market five years ago.
According to Hendon, the new car was designed by a fresh and youthful design team that drew on global inputs and design cues to define this mid-sized SUV for world markets.
“The design includes a number of interior upgrades, improved power trains for better performance and efficiency, refinements to the chassis, a new advanced electronics package and lower interior noise and vibration levels,” he said.
The latest Captiva is immediately identifiable by its new face defined by a dual-port grille with black honeycomb inserts, chrome surrounds and prominent Chevrolet bow-tie insignia set in a body colour grille surround.
The engine choice of the new car is now between a 2.4 litre in-line four-cylinder petrol engine or a 3.0 litre V6 direct injection petrol engine. Both are latest generation engines from Chevrolet.
“A new headlamp treatment sees the lamp clusters sweep forward into the front corners of the vehicle with polycarbonate lenses providing a smooth surface over the functional elements of the lamp cluster. The overall sleek appearance of the Captiva is defined by a swept windscreen and roof line that provide a sleek aero profile. The side view is complimented by a tight tyre-to-body relationship imparting a well-grounded appearance,” said Caroline Thomas, product communications manager of General Motors South Africa.

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Nissan to unveil their new sedan on 3rd August

2011-08-03T05:48:00.000-07:00

Nissan India will unveil its new sedan, which is based on the same V-platform as the Micra on the 3rd of August.

Nissan had launched the Micra petrol in mid-2010 and launched the diesel version of the Micra by the end of 2010.

The new sedan is known as Sunny in the Chinese market. This new sedan will come with 1.6-litre petrol and 1.5-litre diesel engine options.

Watch this space for more updates on the new Nissan sedan.

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Hyundai Equus gets 2011 top large premium car honors

2011-08-02T01:48:00.000-07:00

Another day, another honor for Hyundai. Competing against the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, BMW 7-Series and Lexus LS, the perennial leaders, the Hyundai Equus luxury sedan has for the first time earned the top spot on J.D. Power and Associate’s APEAL (Automotive Performance, Execution and Layout) Study for large premium cars.

It marks the first time since the survey’s inception in 1996 that a car other than a Mercedes, BMW or Lexus has claimed the large premium category. The base starting price for the Equus is $58,900.

Hyundai, which began selling cars in the United States in 1986, had its overall biggest jump in the ranking, improving from 28th in 2010 to 15th in 2011.

The study, now in its 16th year, surveys new car buyers after 90 days of ownership, asking them to rate their impression of their vehicle’s design, content, layout, and performance. Vehicles and their brands are scored on a 1,000 point scale.

The Equus totaled more than 900 points, the highest of any individual car.

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Hyundai beefing up rural network for low-cost car

2011-07-28T20:35:00.001-07:00

Hyundai Motor India plans to add 300 rural sales outlets within the next two months as it gears up to launch its cheapest car in India by November this year.

Hyundai announced in May that it would launch a small car costing below Rs 3 lakh in November. Hyundai is gearing up to launch the small car, codenamed HA, to directly compete with market leader Maruti Suzuki’s Alto.

The new rural outlets will take its rural sales network to 1,000, apart from the standard 325 dealerships located in cities.

The country’s second largest carmaker will employ a total of about 2,000 sales executives in these rural outlets. Rural areas, according to Hyundai, are the markets that lie outside the top 40 cities.

According to Maruti Suzuki's chief general manager, marketing, Shashank Srivastava, the company has 960 standard dealerships and 3,400 ‘taluka’ outlets through which it sells the Alto, the largest selling car in the country. Maruti plans to raise the number of its taluka outlets to 3,600 by the end of 2011. Maruti gets 33 per cent of its total sales from outside the 40 main cities.

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Tata Motors luxurious Aria rolls in

2011-07-27T21:08:00.000-07:00

Tata Motors launched the Tata Aria — the first Indian four-wheel drive crossover — a luxurious creation with the finesse of a sedan and the muscle of an SUV all blended in one car.

The Tata Aria redefines several benchmarks with its design and technologies, offering class leading features that take comfort and safety to a new height, it said, claiming that the all wheel drive 4x4 is equipped with a Torque-on-Demand System which significantly enhances all-terrain capabilities.

The feature is especially apt for Nepal where vehicles have to face harsh terrains and hostile road conditions daily.

It is also among those rare cars in Nepal to offer 36 new features with advanced safety features like the Electronic Stability Programme (ESP), which ensures the car’s stability, and six airbags (including curtain airbags) to ensure safety in emergencies.

The Tata Aria has been launched in three trim levels, all with 4x4 – the Aria Pride at the top end, the Aria Prestige and the Aria Pleasure, each in eight colour options, the company said.

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Audi A8 L W12 quattro Launched

2011-07-26T20:28:00.000-07:00

6.3 liter W12 engine with 500 horsepower, 1400 watt Bang & Olufsen stereo with 19 speakers, quattro centre differential, aluminium space frame, a passenger cabin with lots of leather and some wood. That's the new Audi A8 L W12 quattro for you

The A8 has been the top of the line luxury car at Audi for a while now. For those of you who have not seen an A8, it is a quite a long car. Most luxury car makers first make a top of the line luxury sedan and then launch a long wheelbase version with more legroom and kit. Audi has skipped all of that and straight away launched the A8 L.

Put simply, it’s as if someone has attached a part of a very expensive living room to the back of the all new A8. And it’s quite a nice living room too. The Valonea leather in the passenger cabin is tanned with plant extracts to make it especially soft. The dashboard is finished in piano wood. Audi offers an optional wood and leather centre console that stretches from the dashboard to the centre of the backrest of the rear seats. The head restraints and gear selector lever are adorned in buckskin leather for its hard wearing quality. If you go for this option instead of a backrest between the two rear seats you can have a refrigerator with a cabinet mounted on top to keep a set of glasses. The centre console at the back comes with separate controls for rear air conditioning.

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Electric car sales appear to slow despite government grants

2011-07-25T20:54:00.000-07:00

15 electric vehicle grants issued in last three months, fewer than half number issued in quarter before Sales of electric cars have all but stalled, despite government grants to encourage an electric revolution to cut emissions from burning petrol and diesel.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that only 215 electric vehicle grants were issued in the last three months, fewer than half the 465 issued in the previous quarter.

The figures were obtained by the research charity the RAC Foundation, which said the latest sales take the total number of battery-powered cars in the UK to just over 2,500, out of a fleet of more than 28m vehicles – a long way short of the 1.7m electric vehicles set as a target for the end of the decade by the government's Committee on Climate Change.

Andrew Fulbrook of market research firm IHS Automotive said that despite generous government grants of £5,000 for each electric car and van, the cost of new electric vehicles was still too high at £20,000-25,000, the choice too narrow, and the spread of charging points too slow to overcome "range anxiety" by drivers worried they will run out of battery power before they get home.

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Maersk Line orders world’s biggest ships

2011-07-25T00:35:00.000-07:00

Denmark’s Maersk Line, operator of the world’s largest container ship fleet, on Monday took a big gamble on future market growth when it signed a $1.9bn order for 10 ships that will be the largest vessels afloat.

The triple-E ships are to be built by South Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding and will each have a capacity of 18,000 20-foot-equivalent units, the standard measure of container capacity.

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The vessels take the title for the world’s biggest container ships from Maersk Line’s own E-class ships, which each carry 15,500 TEUs.

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Ben Bostrom Set for MotoGP Debut

2011-07-22T21:24:00.000-07:00

Ben Bostrom is living the dream this weekend aboard the LCR Honda RC212V in the Red Bull U.S. Grand Prix, but it's a sleepless dream that's kept him up at night.

The 37-year-old MotoGP rookie took most of the questions in the pre-race press conference for the 10th round of the MotoGP World Championship at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. Last year's AMA Superbike race winner thanked LCR, Michael Jordan Motorsports, and American Suzuki, then spoke of what he expected of his double duty weekend.

"Yeah, it's definitely going to be a big weekend," he said on a stage he shared with World Champions Casey Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, Jorge Lorenzo, and Nicky Hayden. "Just walking up those stairs is pretty special. It's an honor to sit with these guys. And actually, even have a little name tag right here. I took a photo myself to try to believe that.

"It's really an honor. Very lucky with LCR Honda. I've got to thank them with MJ, I mean Michael Jordan Motorsports. The collaboration between the two and even American Suzuki for allowing the opportunity. I want to go out there and twist the thing. It's so exciting to get a new toy to ride."

Bostrom added that it was "a dream come true. Honestly, I watch these guys because I TiVo every race and I'm becoming more and more a fan as I get older¸ which is strange. I didn't love motorcycles as much several years ago. Every day, maybe because you see the end coming more, I'm an uberfan. What can I say? So I'm there like glued to it."

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Introducing Mercedes Benz W25 Inspired Concept Car

2011-07-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

Nowadays design and technology are moving ahead at high speeds, thus the designers and engineers have to keep up with the alert rhythm. One such project that seems to define the tempo itself is the Touch Effect by Marco Sweston of the Munich University of Applied Sciences. The whole car was penciled as a continuation of the Mercedes-Benz Silver Arrows W25.

The vehicle thereby designed for this sport has a light-weight main body with a stiff carbon frame that imparts it ruggedness, giving it an overall stability. The other core muscles for the motor-sport vehicle have been made from flexible synthetics that can be deformed using voltage differences. These have been covered partially using acrylic glass surfaces on the exterior thereby giving a visual feel of merging parts into one volume.

However, the hull has been kept a bit unveiled as to convey the impression of being light-weight. In addition to the designing part, the vehicle has features like automatic ground clearance adjustment as well as a four-wheel steering. Marko Swenson visualizes

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I want to ride my bicycle, I want to ride my bike

2011-07-21T02:10:00.000-07:00

Somewhere near the beginning of life's scrapbook is this picture: a child detaching from the stabilizing grip of a grown-up and sailing forth alone as momentum and balance finally click and lock into the irrevocable knowledge of how to ride a bike.

It kept happening Wednesday at the Agri-Plex in Allentown, as child after child participating in a weeklong biking camp mastered gravity and conquered inertia and left training wheels behind for good.

What made it unique is that the cyclists were all special-needs children whose chances of ever riding a two-wheeled bike looked pretty dim as late as last week.

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Britons may soon fly cars!

2011-07-20T03:40:00.000-07:00

London, July 18 (IANS) A flying car which usually finds its mention in children books or animated cartoon movies, may soon become a reality in Britain.

Aviation experts are saying a flying car could be in regular use in Britain within five years after a model was formally approved by US authorities, Daily Mail reported Monday.

The $250,000 Terrafugia Transition is a two-seater aircraft, which has a top speed of 115 mph, a range of 500 miles on a tank of fuel and requires just 20 hours training to fly.

The car, at the touch of a button, takes just 15 seconds for its wings to fold up automatically and the power to be re-routed from the propeller to the rear wheels.

It can then be driven at up to 65 mph and will comfortably fit in a standard size garage.

'It's like a little Transformer,' said Terrafugia founder Carl Dietrich, referring to the children's toys that were turned into a blockbuster movie franchise.

Although aimed primarily at buyers in the US where there are plenty of airstrips and 600 'fly-in' communities - Boeing 707 owner John Travolta being the best-known fan - more than 20 Britons have already declared an interest in the carbon-fibre vehicle.

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Positive in Fluence

2011-07-19T21:20:00.000-07:00

IN times of economic woe and tightening of the purse strings, new car buyers are looking at value for money to sell their wares.

With Renault's history of making affordable family cars and the news they are extending and doubling their scrappage scheme, there's never been a better time to get behind the wheel of a new Renault.

And the new Renault Fluence not only provides value for money, it is one of the most spacious in its class.

The new sleek design fills the void left by the new Megane not including a saloon in the line-up.

I have to admit, I was never a huge fan of the old Megane saloon - there's no doubting it was a good car but it didn't do anything for me in the looks department.

The new Fluence definitely has kerb appeal. Renault designers have taken the challenge head on and have come up with one of the most attractive cars in the sector.

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Ford launches the all new Fiesta.

2011-07-18T21:29:00.000-07:00

The All-New Fiesta is available in four premium trims, across eight variants – Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Plus, with both petrol and diesel powertrain options in manual transmission. The 1.5 L Ti-VCT Style is priced at Rs. 823,500 (ex-showroom, Delhi) and the 1.5 L Duratorq TDCi Titanium Plus at Rs. 10,42,200 (ex-showroom, Delhi).

Ford India on Thursday launched its global sedan, the all-new Fiesta. The globally evolved product brings to its segment a host of new features. The company also introduced its first-ever 1.5-litre powertrains — 1.5 L Ti-VCT and 1.5 L Duratorq TDCi engines — that will drive the premium sedan. Both powertrains will be manufactured at the company's engine plant at Maraimalai Nagar near Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

The all-new Fiesta is available in four premium trims, across eight variants — Style, Trend, Titanium and Titanium Plus with petrol and diesel powertrain options in manual transmission. The 1.5 L Ti-VCT Style is priced at Rs.8.31 lakh (ex-showroom, Navi Mumbai) and the top of the line 1.5 L Duratorq TDCi Titanium Plus at Rs.10.51 lakh (ex-showroom, Navi Mumbai). The car will be available in seven colours — diamond white, moondust silver, sea grey, chill, panther black, squeeze and kinetic blue. Ford India is offering anti-lock brake system, electronic brakeforce distribution, airbags and steering wheel audio controls as standard features among others, across all the eight variants in both options.

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Mahindra to sell 120,000 SsangYong cars globally this year

2011-07-17T21:25:00.000-07:00

Automobile major Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd is aiming to sell 120,000 South Korean SsangYong cars globally this year, the company said on Wednesday.

"We are aiming to sell 120,000 SsangYong cars globally this year. About 55 percent of this will be sold outside (South) Korea and the remaining will be sold in (South) Korea. Last year 82,000 cars were sold," Mahindra and Mahindra president, automotive and farm equipment sectors, Pawan Goenka told reporters here.

Mahindra and Mahindra acquired the South Korean automobile manufacturer SsangYong Motor in February.

Goenka said the company will launch five new cars in India.

"We will launch five new cars in the country this year. Two cars of SsangYong - Rexton and Korando C, one SUV (sport utility vehicle) and one electric car will be launched," he said.

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BMW 330i is ready to be showcased

2011-07-15T02:52:00.000-07:00

Anamit Sen spent a whole day evaluating a BMW 330i in and around Delhi and the NCR. I'm starting this review with a bit of news. Auto Bild magazine in Germany has just reported that the 2012 version of BMW's 3 Series, which will be the 6th generation of the 3 Series, is ready to be showcased at the Frankfurt Motor Show later this year. The reports say that this new BMW, classified internally as the F30 and going up against the Mercedes C Class, Audi's A4 and Volvo's S60, has borrowed quite a bit in terms of design from the 5 Series. It will break new ground in terms of safety and will have new four-cylinder turbocharged engines. The reports also says that though BMW may not be vorsprung durch technik (borrowing from Audi) or advanced/ahead through technology any more because competitors also have the equivalent of the advantages of Efficient Dynamics, the boffins DO have access to the parts and accessory shelf of the 5 Series. Which means it is quite possible that the F30 may offer features like night vision assistance, heads up display or HUD, lane changing assistance as well as automatic parking.

So how is that bit of news relevant to this driving impression? Well, if you have not noticed yet the car featured here is the BMW 330i Edition Sport, internally classified as the E90. OK, let me explain the internal classification over the years, which starts way back in 1966 when the 1600-2002 series came in as a family saloon. It was sporty too with an 80bhp engine that could reach 96kph in 13 seconds. The 2002 Turbo was part of the 02 Series, with a 170bhp engine and BMW churned these out till 1976. The internal E classification kicked off with the E21 ,the first generation of 3 Series cars, production of which ran from 1976 to 1982. These cars still used small engines, with capacities of 1.6 and 1.8 litres. BMW introduced their first six-cylinder engine in the 3 Series at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1977, the 323i which had 143bhp on tap.

The E30 that followed in 1983 was the second-generation 3 Series. These cars were bigger than the previous generation cars, had more power, but were lighter, the perfect recipe for performance. The 325i topped the range and had a straight-six engine developing 170bhp out of 2.5litres, good for 135mph or 216kph which would be adequate even today. The E30 was especially notable because it was the base for the first M car, known simply as the BMW M3 E30, launched at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985. This particular car was VERY successful in race trim, winning several touring car championships. The M badge had arrived.

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2010 Yamaha YZF-R6 Graves Project Bike 2

2011-07-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

If you’ve analyzed our recent 2011 Supersport Shootout IX Street and/or 2011 Supersport Shootout IX Track motorcycle comparisons you’d have learned that Yamaha’s YZF-R6 is one of the more racetrack-oriented sportbikes on the market. Therefore if you want to have a go at road racing, it makes sense to do it at the controls of an R6. In this episode of our project bike saga we race with Willow Springs Motorcycle Club (WSMC) to see if all of the performance upgrades we purchased in the 2010 Yamaha YZF-R6 Modified Comparison, 2010 Yamaha YZF-R6 Modified Comparison Part II and 2010 Yamaha YZF-R6 Graves Project Bike 1 features were really worth it.

WSMC holds races exclusively at Southern California’s Willow Springs International Raceway on either the 2.5-mile Big Track or 1.3-mile Streets road courses. Races are held monthly (with the exception of December) so there’s always an opportunity to compete, and if you’ve never raced, WSMC offers a new racers’ school (see sidebar). Considering SoCal’s relatively temperate climate as compared to other parts of the U.S. one would assume that weather conditions would be consistent year round. However since Willow is situated in the high desert, that can’t be further from the truth. Surprisingly, there is only a few weeks of comfortable days during spring and fall seasons—in-between the inferno-like 100-plus degree summers and, at times, freezing cold and wet winters. Considering the season finale is held in late-November, we experienced the latter.

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Buy a new car, get a European vacation

2011-07-13T21:22:00.000-07:00

If you buy a new car in the future, you can pay less for the car and get a discounted European vacation at the same time by taking delivery of the car in Europe. Automakers with European delivery programs offer their cars at a 7 percent discount off the manufacturer's suggested retail price, or MSRP, on average, with discounts higher on certain car models.

The European vacation packages are coordinated through a travel agent at discounted rates, with some programs including perks such as free airfare and hotel stay. Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volvo currently offer the European delivery programs. Here's how the programs work.

Once you decide which new car you want to buy, visit your local dealer to have him or her order the car to your exact specifications for pickup in Europe. Pricing is arranged directly through the automaker at a discounted rate, so there is no negotiation at the dealer. Automakers can offer their cars at discounted rates because they aren't required to charge any destination fees or incentives paid out to a dealer to make the sale. Generally, it takes a minimum of two months to build the car to exact specifications. If you want to take your European vacation sooner than that, you may need to choose from a smaller selection of new cars already scheduled to be built.

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Signs Volkswagen-Suzuki global alliance in trouble

2011-07-12T22:40:00.000-07:00

A verbal battle has broken out between top officials of Suzuki Motor Corporation and Volkswagen AG, hinting the alliance between the global carmakers is in trouble.

In any case, technology sharing between the two hasn’t happened 18 months since the alliance was announced.

Fractures surfaced when the German carmaker accused its Japanese partner of non-cooperation in an interview with a German magazine.

Now, Osamu Suzuki, the helmsman of the Japanese car major, said in a blog post that none of Volkswagen’s technologies are interesting enough to be adopted and that for the time being, Suzuki is in no hurry to collaborate in critical markets such as India.

“Does Suzuki face an immediate difficulty? The answer is ‘Not at all.’ We learnt about Volkswagen’s technologies, but we did not find any one of them interesting enough to adopt immediately … We are producing more than 200,000 units of our diesel engine, which is attracting a lot of attention in India. Thus, for the time being, particularly in critical markets like the minicar market and India, we are not in a hurry to collaborate with Volkswagen,” Suzuki said last week.

Automobile industry experts agree nothing much has worked out for the two companies in India. There was a proposal for rebadging of some Maruti Suzuki cars (specifically the A-Star, which is already selling in Europe as Nissan Pixo and the WagonR) till the beginning of this year, but this also is no longer on the cards.

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New Release From BMW: Art Car Collection Virtual Video Tour

2011-07-12T03:39:00.000-07:00

The legendary BMW Art Car Collection can now be seen for the first time within a virtual video tour on the Internet. BMW Group’s international cultural commitment celebrate the 40th anniversary and this BMW Art Car Collection virtual video tour was launched just in time to coincide with it.

In premiere, an extensive virtual overview of the origin, history and development of the collection is available on the Internet. A film has been devoted to every car of the 17 “works of art on wheels”, in addition to extensive photographic material. Each of these cars was designed by an internationally well-known artist.

Many historic racing footage and artists’ statements as well as renowned representatives from art and culture are to be seen. A total of 17 artists from 9 countries and all 5 continents have contributed to the collection, artists such as Alexander Calder, Frank Stella, Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, A.R. Penck, Jenny Holzer, David Hockney or Olafur Eliasson.

Jeff Koons created the latest vehicle of the collection last year, when BMW celebrated the 35th anniversary of the Art Car series.

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Infography

2011-07-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

Title : Accessorizing your car should be a priority

Keywords : auto seat covers, automotive interiors, soft tops, auto interiors, auto headliners, auto replacement tops, auto soft top, convertible tops.

Accessorizing your car should be a priority

2011-07-11T05:07:00.000-07:00

We own a lot of prized possessions in our lives. And certainly you need to pay something to buy something. Every property we buy and own has a value. And over the years, if it is maintained well, some of them could be sold for a good resale value.

In life we keep swapping and changing things we own over a period of time just to get better and newer ones. Besides we use the same products every single day for some purpose or the other. Everything we own has its purpose to serve. And it becomes pointless or serves inefficiently when not maintained well. Why would anyone want to invest so much upon a product and use it less or get unsatisfied with its efficiency of usage when it is being ill maintained?

Everything has its cost. Everything has a price which has to be paid to purchase them. And some of the properties we buy are very expensive based upon its purpose, materials used to create it and other maintenance costs. There is certainly no point in buying a very expensive property and not using it or not maintaining it well. The product won’t sustain longer otherwise and it becomes useless over the years. Cars and other vehicles are one such property we tend to own.

The whole point of owning your own car is to travel around to places without depending upon public transport systems. And thus efficiency exhibited by that particular car is very important to use it for a long time.

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VW set to extend small car portfolio in India with UP!

2011-07-10T23:10:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen, Europe’s largest passenger carmaker, is working out a pricing strategy to bring Volkswagen UP! car to India to cash in on the growing small car market in the world’s fastest growing automobile market after China.

The Polo and Vento brands of the German auto major have been a runaway success registering a huge volume in the Indian market. In order to further boost its volumes, the company will position Volkswagen UP! car below Polo in India.

John Chacko, president and MD, Volkswagen group India, declined to talk about the company’s plans to bring Volkswagen UP! car to India. When contacted, Holger Nestler, executive director, technical and member of the board, Volkswagen India, too did not share details.

But the company, with the success of its Polo and Vento brands in diesel and petrol versions, is upbeat that Volkswagen UP! car will give a choice to customers and will be an engine of growth. The Polo brand carries a price tag of Rs 4.57 lakh to Rs 6.4 lakh. In January-June 2011, the company sold 39,355 units clocking a growth of 453 per cent compared to 7,109 cars sold in the corresponding period last year. The Polo and Vento brands contribute 95 per cent of the sales.

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Victory of Chevrolet Volt - The GM Electric car

2011-07-08T21:38:00.000-07:00

With the price of gas increasing, the trend to adopt the electric vehicles has been growing. It is not only the increasing fuel prices, but also the love for the green planet is inclining the Americans more and more towards the electric cars.

People who have already been driving the Chevrolet Volt, the GM electric car has been making big savings over their gas-running counter parts running on the roads. The recent slowdown in economy has shifted people's thoughts towards the more and more economic vehicles.

People who own the Volt usually charge it overnight using the home charging kits. By morning the fully fueled vehicle is ready to soar on the roads. With home charging stations readily available in the market, the charging of these vehicles at home has become very easy.

The average charges for a person who drives moderate distances is around $30 a month. Wow, can someone really have their fuel expenditure reduced to that much in a month. Yeah, the Chevrolet Volt is the answer. A number of satisfied customers are witnessing the fact. These people were usually shelling around $600 on average per month on the gas.

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Sound of the Honda 1000cc MotoGP

2011-07-06T22:20:00.000-07:00

Through the distorted sound of the mobile's microphone the video gives the first insight into the sound of the new 1000cc Honda as Kousuke Akiyoshi completes shake-down tests of the prototype machine around the Sugo circuit.

The preparation of the bike for the revamped 1000cc regulations has been shown in a previous video released by HRC, with the sound of the bike hidden behind a generic music track. For the first time the raucous sound of the new machine can be heard.

Engine-wise Honda are likely to be sticking with the V4 configuration as the 2012 rules dictate that the engine must have no more than four cylinders. The appearance of the bike from the released pictures show that the successor to the RC212V will be an evolution of the current machine rather than a revolution.

The pictures below show that the 2011 and 2012 bikes are nearly identical in regards to their layout; visible engine components appear to be the same and the only noticeable difference to the bodywork is the smaller air vents on the 1000 and its side panels blend into the airbox cover.

The maximum bore of 81mm is suitable for a V4 engine and the RC212V is probably not far from that now, the new bike will have a longer stroke as the intention is to reduce revs.

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Muscle Cars, No Midlife Crisis Required

2011-07-05T21:56:00.000-07:00

For the first time since the Carter administration, three big Detroit brands, Ford, Chevrolet and Dodge, all offer rear-wheel-drive coupes that boast a distinctively American blend of in-your-face styling and big horsepower numbers.

How big? Try a 444-horsepower Ford Mustang Boss 302, which can be ordered with a special "Laguna Seca" package that essentially makes it a street-legal race car. Or consider the forthcoming 2012 Chevy Camaro ZL1 that will deliver 550 horsepower from its supercharged V8. Meanwhile, Chrysler LLC offers a Dodge Challenger model with a 470-horsepower Hemi engine that can run from 0 to 60 miles per hour in under five seconds.

These monster engines are shoehorned into back-to-the-future body styles that telegraph the core target market for the cars: baby boomers who lusted for these cars in their teens and 20s, but settled for Japanese compacts, minivans and sport-utility vehicles. Equally important to Detroit marketers, though, is capturing the imagination of car enthusiasts who don't remember the '60s and '70s—they weren't born yet.

"It's the attitude of the customer," less than demographics, says Mustang brand manager Jim Owens, who has a customized Mustang of his own that packs 650 horsepower under the hood. It is an attitude that says, "Hey, look at me!" he adds.

For Detroit car makers that were struggling to survive just two years ago, the buzz generated by muscle cars provides a much-needed shot in the arm for their brands. The official Mustang Facebook page, for instance, has more than 1.5 million followers—about twice as many as the Ford Motor Co. Facebook page.

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Car sales spike by 12.6% in June

2011-07-05T00:58:00.000-07:00

New vehicle car sales have increased by 12.6% in June 2011 in comparison to same period in 2011, the latest figures released by the National Association of Automobile Manufacturers of South Africa (Naamsa) signalled on Monday.

In June 44880 new cars were sold, as opposed to the 39874 units sold in June 2010.

New cars sold in the first half of 2011 showed an encouraging spike of 15%, when compared with the first half of 2010.

Although the number may seem encouraging, Naamsa is warning future sales in 2011 will be put under pressure by rising costs.

"We are slightly worried about the inflationary outlook as the rise in the cost of living will bear down on the pace of growth in new sales in the motor industry sector," Norman Lamprecht, executive director at Naamsa told the Mail & Guardian.

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McLaren unveils new non-F1 race car at Goodwood

2011-07-04T02:49:00.000-07:00

McLaren has unveiled the latest iteration of its MP4-12C performance car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The British automotive brand, which traditionally focuses on Formula 1 racing, unveiled the MP4-12C GT3 to the public June 30, after showcasing it to prospective team owners over the past couple of months.

The new model, a modified version of the MP4-12C, is being developed for GT3 racing next year - it is the first car McLaren has manufactured for racing outside of Formula 1 since the McLaren F1 GTR, which was produced until 2005.

McLaren's MP4-12C GT3 uses a carbon-fibre chassis like its predecessor, but sports some new features designed to optimize the vehicle's aerodynamics, including a new front splitter, door blade, rear wing, diffusors and louvers in the front fenders.

It is powered by a 3.8-liter V8 twin turbo engine, with a six-speed gearbox controlled using paddles on the steering wheel, which is the same as that used by Lewis Hamilton in the MP4-24 Formula 1 car.

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Car sales continue to slow down in June; bikes grow

2011-07-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

Car sales in the domestic market continued to slow down with two of the top three firms, Maruti Suzuki India and Tata Motors, reporting decline in sales during June this year.

The second largest carmaker Hyundai Motor India Ltd (HMIL), however, posted increase in sales along with Volkswagen, Toyota and Mahindra & Mahindra.

Maruti Suzuki India (MSI) reported 3.8 per cent decline in sales in the domestic market to 70,020 units in June from 72,812 units in the same month last year.

During the month, the company suffered a 13-day long strike at its Manesar plant, where it mainly produces Swift , DZiRE and SX4. The firm suffered a production loss of 12,600 units due to the strike.

Tata Motors also reported 20.91 per cent decline its domestic total passenger vehicles sales at 21,993 units in June as against 27,811 units in the same month last year.

On the other hand, HMIL said its domestic sales grew 11.1 per cent to 30,402 units in June this year from 27,366 units in same month last year.

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Transport utility struggles to keep going as losses mount

2011-07-01T04:45:00.000-07:00

Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML), facing a cash crunch, is staring at an increase in losses as the recent fuel price hike has pushed cost of running its buses higher. It is already making a loss of around Rs 44 lakh a month. The figure is set to mount three-fold that too, when around 250 of the cash-strapped transport utility’s buses are off the roads every day.

The Pune and Pimpri-Chinchwad civic bodies halting financial assistance has made the problem severe for PMPML.

PMPML officials said the recent hike in diesel meant the monthly fuel (diesel and CNG) expenditure will be around Rs 13.3 crore, around Rs 1.3 crore higher, while daily revenue from ticket sale remains static at Rs 1.1 crore. PMPML needs 82,000 litres of diesel a day.

Until May 31, it had been incurring, on an average, a monthly loss of Rs 44 lakh. Its monthly revenue was over Rs 34 crore and expenditure less than Rs 35 crore. “The price hike will increase expenditure. We were incurring a monthly loss of Rs 44 lakh. Now we need to calculate our expenditure,” said PMPML joint MD Satish Kulkarni.

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Honda launches VTR 250 bike in India

2011-06-28T22:22:00.000-07:00

A new bike is launched by Honda motors in India its name is Honda VTR 250.It is believed that this bike will be launched in the Indian market by the end of this year or early next year. Honda bikes might have understood the demand of 250cc bikes in Indian market with the launch of their Honda CBR 250R.

At present, there are only two such bikes in Indian market that fall in same segment with Honda VTR 250. These two bikes are Honda CBR 250R and Kawasaki Ninja 250R. Out of these two bikes, demand of Honda CBR 250R is more as Kawasaki Ninja is more expensive. The so called bike FZ 250 and R25 by Yamaha bikes are not going to enter Indian market in near future. This second bike that is being launched by Honda is sure to strength its position and maintain its dominance in the segment of 250cc bikes.

This bike has been priced competitively with Honda CBR 250R. According to the speculations in the market, the ex-showroom price of this bike is supposed to be INR 1,50,000. It is not sure about which colours will be available in this bike in India. However, in international market, this bike is available in Graphite Black, Italian Red and Pearl Sunbeam White colours. As it is a naked bike, it is supposed that it will generate good demand in the market.

Honda VTR 250 is a 90 degree V-twin bike offered by Honda bikes and it has only one major upgrade. Original versions of this bike were sold only in Canada and USA from 1988 to 1990. The model that is being launched here is naked bike whose production started in the year 1997. It was available in Asia-Pacific region only. From the year 2009, it is also available in European nations. In some countries, this bike is also called as the Interceptor

Hyundai's new verna-cular

2011-06-28T20:54:00.000-07:00

The initial stupendous response has taken everybody by surprise. Can it continue the dream run?

The premium midsize segment (Rs 6.5-10 lakh) has always been a tricky one for all car manufacturers. City was the first to crack it, though Honda’s flagship model has been facing some speed bumps of late, prompting last month’s decision to cut prices by as much as Rs 66,000.

The previous Hyundai Verna, showcased in India four years ago and positioned as a natural progression from the hugely successful Accent, also didn’t exactly set the midsize car sales charts afire.

Enter the new Verna Fluidic, which was launched in the middle of last month. the latest Verna, which looks nothing like its predecessor, was responsible for shoring up Hyundai’s fortunes in May in a market that saw almost all car majors posting a steep decline in sales.

According to data provided by SIAM, 4,357 Vernas were sold by the end of May, which was a terrific figure in the context of the sub-2000 reported by other midsize car makers. The only other model, which has been a reasonable success, is Volkswagen Vento at 3,000 units a month.

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Suzuki to use Fiat engines for new car from 2013

2011-06-27T21:05:00.000-07:00

Fiat engines to equip new Suzuki car made in Hungary * 1.6 litre diesel engine to be manufactured in Italy * New 1.6 MultiJet to replace 2.0 MultiJet on Suzuki platform

Suzuki Motor Corp said on Monday it had agreed to buy 1.6-litre diesel engines from Fiat's powertrain unit to put on a car it will build in Hungary from 2013.

The Japanese automaker has been buying 2.0-litre diesel engines from Fiat Powertrain Technologies since 2006 for the SX4 made in Hungary. Suzuki also produces 1.3-litre diesel engines under licence from Fiat Powertrain Technologies in India.

The 1.6-litre MultiJet II engine will replace, on Suzuki's future SX4 platform, the 2.0-litre Fiat Powertrain engine, the Turin-based carmaker said in a separate statement on Monday.

The engine will be made by Fiat at its Pratola Serra plant near Avellino, southern Italy, and delivered to Suzuki's plant in Hungary.

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Yamaha postpones first 1000cc test

2011-06-26T22:25:00.000-07:00

Yamaha will not test the first version of its 2012 MotoGP bike until after the Czech Grand Prix in August.

Rivals Honda and Ducati have already begun running versions of their new 1000cc bikes for next season's regulation change - with Ducati sufficiently far advanced to start racing its 2012 chassis with a 2011-spec 800cc engine from this weekend's Dutch GP.

Yamaha had initially intended to run the 2012 bike at Mugello, scene of next weekend's Italian GP.

But the reigning champion team has now announced it will be mid-August before the new bike hits the track.

"Yamaha Factory Racing has made the decision to re-schedule the planned Mugello 1000cc test for the 2012 bike," said a Yamaha statement.

"To allow for further time for the development of the bike the decision has been made to postpone the test to a later date.

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Tesla's next act: Cheaper electric cars...and a profit?

2011-06-24T21:16:00.000-07:00

Tesla Motors can design cool-looking electric cars. Now it has to show the world that it can steer its finances just as well.

CEO Elon Musk said this week that Telsa's iconic Roadster electric sports car will no longer be on sale in the U.S. within a few months, marking a turning point for the company which helped catalyze an industry-wide technology shift to electric propulsion.

The move will cut off Tesla's main revenue source and start a transition to a new product--the Model S electric sedan. Whereas Tesla has still sold fewer than 2,000 Roadsters, the Model S will be made entirely by Tesla at a whole different scale of production in its new factory. That means still-unprofitable Tesla enters a period where it has little room for error as it takes on big changes in how it does business and its underlying product.

"Tesla's real challenge now is on the operational side. They need to switch to an operational model that actually makes them profitable and brings the cash flow to sustain them," said Oliver Hazimeh, the head of the e-Mobility practice at management consulting firm PRTM. "The question is how do they get the scale to make money on this car."

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ACT king of the road for car use

2011-06-23T21:55:00.000-07:00

Canberra's position as the nation's car capital reigns supreme, with a federal report showing the territory continues to have the nation's highest use of cars per capita.

The federal Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics data also shows Canberra's public transport system was relatively unpopular, recording with Adelaide the lowest per capita use of public transport.

Worse, Canberra and Adelaide were the only cities that did not record a shift from car use to public transport use.

Canberra has recorded the highest per capita use of cars for decades.

Greens MLA Meredith Hunter challenged Sustainability Minister Simon Corbell over the poor showing yesterday in question time, questioning whether the Government's transport policies had failed commuters.

Mr Corbell said the Government had committed to introducing a rapid public transit corridor.

''The issue of the modal split with public transport in Canberra is an issue that the Government is paying close attention to.

''In relation to the reasons for the modal split that occurs in the city, it is the case that Canberra's always had a higher level of journeys undertaken by private motor vehicles, and that is a consequence of course of the design of the city over many years [and] the provision of a very efficient and extensive road network, which has focused opportunities for travel overwhelmingly on private motor vehicle use.''

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'Irascible' transport head steps off treadmill

2011-06-22T22:02:00.000-07:00

Sitting down, somewhat reluctantly, for his final interview as head of CIE, John Lynch is trying to get the balance right.

When I suggest final interviews allow subjects to fully unburden themselves, Lynch shoots back, "I still want to be able to walk around this town''.

Having worked with 14 ministers across a number of state agencies and companies, Lynch, whose style is best described as irascible, has enemies and friends in equal measure.

But while his direct style is not to everyone's taste, it is impossible to deny his ability to survive at the top in the notoriously shark-infested waters of Irish semi-states, where politics and business don't always mingle easily.

CIE has a huge amount of critics and the economist Colm McCarthy reached the embarassnig conclusion last year that the company had no actual financial value, despite all the generous subsidies it got in recent years.

He argued that the amount of investment the company has receieved should mean it needs less in annual grants, but Lynch responds by saying all public transport companies need to keep their assets maintained, particularly railways and that is expensive.

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DUCAT INTRODUCES DIAVEL SUPERBIKE IN INDIA

2011-06-21T20:40:00.000-07:00

Ducati has officially unveiled its breathtaking superbike Diavel in India, thereby stirring up the domestic biking culture. This super-sensational Ducati bike has already been a huge hit across the globe.
Diavel is muscular in appearance and can captivate even the most bloodless soul on the street. Despite being a stubbornly aggressive sportsbike, this particular model from Ducati offers comfortable riding experience miles after miles. Thanks to the company’s proprietary L-twin Testastretta engine, Diavel is capable of generating torque of 127.4 Nm and power of 162 PS.

Moreover, the 4-stroke, 1198.4cc engine powers this superbike enough for that high-speed action on the road you always desired. However, the valve overlap in the powerplant of Diavel has been minimized to 11 degrees from 41 degrees.

Utilizing the full power of the engine is a breeze as this mean machine is retrofitted with a six-speed gearbox. Three riding modes – urban, sport and touring are offered by this sportsbike.

The company announced that, in India, three variants of the bike will be available – ‘Base’ which will cost Rs 17.06 lakh, ‘Carbon’ which will be priced at 22.06 lakh and ‘Carbon Red’ for which you will have to shell out Rs 22.43 lakh.

THE COMPACT SUV-AUDI Q3

2011-06-20T20:36:00.000-07:00

After months of speculation Audi revealed their smallest SUV ever at shanghai auto show.The Q3 is the third addition to Audi’s Q series placing itself as a premium rival to the likes of the Ford Kuga and the Nissan Qashqai, and in direct competition with the BMW X1, and the hotly anticipated Range Rover Evoque.

Head on the Audi Q3 is similar in appearance to the rest of the Audi range, with its gaping chrome framed grill and distinctive headlights, the rear seems to take its influence from Audi’s A1 city car.

The premium SUV promises to be as comfortable scaling hills and rough terrains, as it does driving around city streets. The Q3 has extensive interior customisation options, with a number of trim options, interior colours and fabrics to choose from as well as a lengthy extras list.

Initially the Q3 will be available with a choice of four engines which will all combine direct fuel injection with turbo charging backed up by start-stop and energy recuperation systems. There will be a 2.0 litre TFSI petrol engine with either 170PS or 211PS as well as the 2.0-litre TDI engine in either 140PS or 177PS variants. The 140ps 2.0-litre TDI unit will power the front-wheel-drive model only at launch, deliveries of which will start in December, shortly after the rest of the range. All other engines will be linked to the Quattro all-wheel-drive system.

Prices are expected to be starting from around £24,500 with order books opening this month. First deliveries are expected to take place in November

Engine problem 'grounds' A400 transport plane

2011-06-19T22:13:00.000-07:00

Airbus' A400M military transport plane will not make any flight demonstrations at the Paris International Air Show next week because of a problem with its engines, Airbus Military said Sunday.

The decision was taken "preventively and given the conditions in which you conduct flight demonstrations", an unnamed spokeswoman told AFP after what was described as a minor incident with the engines.

The long-delayed plane will nevertheless take to the skies at Le Bourget, with one arriving Sunday afternoon from Airbus headquarters in the southern French city of Toulouse that will do a fly-by during Monday's inauguration.

The plane will then remain on the ground for the rest of the biannual aerospace showcase.

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Airbus Military said the problem would not affect flight tests with a view to a first delivery to France in early 2013.

Mahindra Verito Is The Rebranded Logan In India. Price Starts At Rs. 4.82L

2011-06-16T21:58:00.000-07:00

Mahindra & Mahindra, the leading auto-maker in India has launched ‘Verito’ which is the re-branded ‘Logan’ in Kerala, India. Although Mahindra has not added lot of pizzas to their car, the Verito will feature Mahindra badge & emblem and new styling elements. The petrol version of Verito, the Verito BSIII will cost Rs. 4.82 lakh and the diesel version Verito BSIII price starts at Rs. 562000. We expect that Mahindra wants to compete with Tata’s Indigo which is available in similar price range.

The name ‘Verito’ has been derived from Latin “Veritas” which means truth. Company claims that Verito will be a dependable car. Under the hood, the car is powered by engine designed by Renault. Mahindra offers the same Logan drive train with option of 1.5 DCi CRDi diesel engine or 1.4 MPFI petrol engine. Verito promises mileage of 21.03 KMPL fuel efficiency (diesel mielage, ARAI). Verito, like Logan is the broadest car in its segment and known for the comfort cabin space it offers.

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