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In The News Today
2009-07-10 07:00:00 The tale kind of amazes me. Read coment(0) &nbs-p; Post coment
By: Daily Spirit
$71,000 Job Cut Years Ago While Funding Continues
2008-05-21 19:42:00 In 2005, Maine’s nuclear safety inspector position was eliminated by the Legislature. Oddly, the funding for that position has been a little slow catching up so Patrick Dostie, the state’s current nuclear safety inspector, will continue to receive his $71,000 a year salary. If you read the full story, you’ll see that the whole ordeal ...
GM, UAW reach tentative agreement at striking Fairfax plant
2008-05-21 16:46:00 GM, UAW reach tentative agreement at striking Fairfax plant After a strike that lasted nearly three weeks, General Motors has reached a tentative agreement with the local UAW that staffs its Fairfax production plant in Kansas City, Kansas. The Fairfax facility produces GM's hot-selling Chevrolet Malibu, but has been idle since Local 31 went on strike on May 5. According to Automotive News, the biggest disagreement in contract talks has been over "the role of seniority in job placement." The strike at the Fairfax plant — which also produces the Saturn Aura — has cost GM about 11,500 units of production. Through the first four months of the year, Malibu sales were up 18 percent while GM's overall sales were down 12 percent.
Kia Sportage facelift to debut at London show
2008-05-21 16:30:00 Kia Sportage facelift to debut at London show The Kia Sportage small SUV is due to get a facelift, and be unveiled at the British Motor Show in July. The changes to the SUV will largely be cosmetic inside and out, with a few new functional features. The visible revisions will include new headlights sitting in a new front fascia, as well as new range of colors for the body and trim. In the cockpit, new instruments will face the driver, with a USB port allowing personal audio players to interface with the car's audio system. The freshened up Sportage will be offered in three trim levels, comprising XE, XS and Titan. Power will come from the same two gasoline engines North American models get; a 2.0-liter four cylinder and 2.7-liter V6. Europe will also benefit from a redesigned diesel engine, according to Auto Express. The newly updated Sportage is expected to go on sale in the UK this August, with prices ranging from £14,000 (about $27,000) to £19,500 ($38,000).
Honda to build hybrid Fit, launch Prius competitor next year
2008-05-21 16:18:00 Honda to build hybrid Fit, launch Prius competitor next year In order to offer a lower-cost alternative to plug-in hybrids offered by the likes of Nissan, Chevy and Toyota, Honda announced it is planning to launch a hybrid version of its entry-level Fit hatchback. While there is no set launch date for the car, it will likely be built on the next-generation of the car, or sometime in 2015. During his mid-year address, CEO Takeo Fukui said the automaker is also working on a rival to the Toyota Prius. The Prius rival should arrive in 2009, and two other models are expected follow some time after, including a new Civic Hybrid and a sporty hybrid vehicle based on the CR-Z concept car. These four hybrid vehicles are expected to reach combined annual global sales of approximately 500,000 units. The price premium for the hybrid Fit as opposed to the gas-only version will have to be under an equivalent of about $2,000 in order for customers to consider it, said Fukui. The Prius-figh...
Bespoke: made for hard times
2008-05-21 02:26:00 Bespoke: made for hard times Molly Gunn considers the benefits of bespoke tailoring in hard timesJo Rees discovers bespoke tailoring: goodbye to my magic knickersFashion trends are often a barometer of the country's mood and as we stumble into an economic downturn, it's no wonder our shopping habits have become more considered - so considered, in fact, that bespoke and made-to-measure shopping services are undergoing a renaissance. Made-to-measu-re: Pretty Ballerina pumps"It may seem contradictory that people want a more specialised service when talk is of less disposable income," says Lauretta Roberts, editor of the fashion industry magazine Drapers. "But it does seem to go that way: we trade up in a downturn."Buying bespoke is about finding your own style and investing in it, rather than falling prey to every trend. It becomes about spending wisely and not wasting money."During the good times of the past decade, the idea of having something custom-made was eschewed in favour...
By: Fashion Newsweek
Queen draws inspiration from classy Camilla
2008-05-21 02:10:00 Queen draws inspiration from classy Camilla The Duchess of Cornwall is proving to be a surprising innovator, says Hannah BettsThe most diverting aspect of last weekend's royal wedding was not the Hello! deal, or the bride's wacky moniker, but how dashingly the House of Windsor scrubbed up, taking its cue from the Duchess of Cornwall as the Firm's fashion innovator. Hight of elegance: the Duchess of Cornwall and the Queen As Peter Phillips married Autumn Kelly, his grandmother, the Queen, looked not to her recent guest Madame Sarkozy, or Princess Beatrice - the granddaughter who is moonlighting on planet fashion - for inspiration, but to her daughter-in-law, a woman more associated with breeches than brocades.And yet here both women were in all their subtly shaded, feather-festooned, pearl-bedecked glory. The Duchess of Cornwall sported a silver-blue chiffon frock and embroidered coat by Anna Valentine, with her trademark Philip Treacy fascinator and trusty LK Bennett footwe...
By: Fashion Newsweek
Bespoke tailoring: Jo Rees discovers made-to-measure
2008-05-21 01:50:00 Bespoke tailoring: Jo Rees discovers made-to-measure When novelist Jo Rees failed to find the perfect dress for her book launch, she turned to a dressmaker - and discovered why there is a burgeoning appetite for all things made-to-measureBespoke: made for hard timesDeciding what to wear to the launch of my book tomorrow night has been more of a nightmare than choosing its title. Platinum was an easy choice, with its connotations of wealth and style - fitting for a romantic novel - but finding a fabulous frock to match was another matter. Jo Rees enjoys her bespoke dressI was pregnant with my third child while writing the book (my first solo novel, having co-written seven with my husband, Emlyn Rees). Wearing my giant, elasticated trousers as I typed, I fantasised about how I'd look at the party, sans bump. I envisaged my slovenly self in a glamorous dress - sophisticated, yet funky. But how to transform the yogurt-stained me into the kind of glamour-puss that adorns the pages...
By: Fashion Newsweek
Parrot Hands-Free Survey Says 75% Support Cell Ban
2008-05-20 20:15:00 Parrot conducted a survey called the Parrot Hands-free survey and says that it found 41% of drivers in California and Washington use cell phones while driving. Drivers between 35 and 45 admit to spending 40% of their commute on the phone. Parrot says that 1 in 4 drivers 34 and under admits to texting while driving. ...
Sprint Reigns In Data Usage
2008-05-20 20:02:00 Sprint is updating its Terms Of Service starting in mid-July and will be capping mobile broadband data usage at 5GB. Previously, Sprint offered truly unlimited mobile broadband. Once the new Terms Of Service go into effect, users who go over the 5GB cap, or a 300MB roaming cap, will be charged extra fees. This will ...
Too Much Smiling Bad for Your Health
2008-05-20 19:22:00 If you’ve got a job where constant smiling is required, you may want to check out this story. Apparently, a German psychologist is claiming that smiling too often can cause stress, depression, and heart problems. Ok, so you clearly need to take this story with a grain of salt, but maybe you should bookmark so ...
GM Europe to lauch two new engines by 2010
2008-05-19 18:54:00 GM Europe to lauch two new engines by 2010 General Motors has announced the launch of two new engines that will be used in some of the automaker's Euro-spec vehicles. The new powerplants include a family of four-cylinder turbocharged engines — ranging in displacement from 1.0L to 1.4L — and a 1.6L Compressed Natural Gas unit. Both engines will make their debuts around the turn of the decade. The new family of gas turbocharged engines will feature a turbocharger integrated into the exhaust manifold, full variable valve timing, thermal management, flow-controlled oil pump, and a reinforced crankshaft and connecting rod. In 1.0L guise, the engine will kick out 120 horsepower, while the larger 1.4L unit will produce 140 horsepower. GM says that both engines should return an 8 percent increase in fuel economy, when compared to larger, naturally aspirated engines producing the same amount of power. The 1.6L CNG engine is based on GM's current 1.6L CNG powerpl...
Holden Commodore set to go green; Pontiac G8, Chevrolet Camaro next?
2008-05-19 18:44:00 Holden Commodore set to go green; Pontiac G8, Chevrolet Camaro next? General Motors group vice president Nick Reilly was recently in Melbourne, Australia for Holden's quarterly strategy meeting and revealed some interesting possibilities for the future of the Holden Commodore — including diesel and hybrid powerplants. Reilly confirmed that Holden will release hybrid vehicles in the next "couple of years" and continued to say that the Commodore "could be one of the first hybrids you could see [in Australia from GM]. I would put a time frame on that of probably a couple of years,? according to Drive.com. Reilly also indicated that a diesel Commodore is on the way. ?We don?t yet have a diesel Commodore but that will come,? he says. Lastly, Reilly confirmed that a four-cylinder Commodore is being "looked at." As we have reported before (and even shown in spy photos), General Motors is readying a Buick Park Avenue — which is based on the Holde...
GM set to unveil Volt, new Delta platform world car at Paris Motor Show
2008-05-19 18:26:00 GM set to unveil Volt, new Delta platform world car at Paris Motor Show The long-awaited Chevy Volt electric hybrid may be making its world debut at the Paris motor show in early October, reports say. Alongside the revolutionary vehicle, GM will also show off a replacement for the small sedan known as the Chevrolet Lacetti in Europe, Optra in Canada and Suzuki Forenza in the U.S. The yet unnamed car will also apparently replace the Chevrolet Cobalt in North America. The Volt is said to launch in Paris in U.S.-spec, with left-hand drive and a powertrain that is close to the concept car's. According to Channel 4, an Opel- or Vauxhall-badged version of the Volt would substitute the auxiliary gasoline engine with a diesel and be sold in Europe. The Volt is due to launch in 2010, although GM is struggling to meet the date. In contrast to the low-volume, cutting-edge technology Volt, GM is set to launch a new Delta-platform car that will be sold in global markets. The current...
Jaguar sees first sales increase in nearly 2 years
2008-05-19 18:21:00 Jaguar sees first sales increase in nearly 2 years It looks as though India's Tata Motors picked the right time to acquire the Jaguar and Land Rover brands from Ford as both marques are experiencing record sales. While Tata was reportedly more interested in Land Rover than Jaguar, the British car maker has seen tremendous success in the past few months and has even posted its first sales increase in nearly two years. According to Automotive News, Jaguar's European sales were up 69.6 percent in April — totaling 4,047 units — marking the brand's first sales increase since July 2006. Through the first four month of the year, Jaguar sales were up 0.4 percent. The sales surge has largely been fueled by the all-new XF, but Jaguar has also seen an increase in demand for its X-Type and XJ sedans. Since Jaguar launched its XF just a few months ago, it has received about 18,000 orders for the sports sedan. Tata's Land Rover brand isn't doing so well i...
Qualcomm to Test MediaFLO in the U.K.
2008-05-19 12:33:00 Qualcomm has agreed to pay $16.3 million for 40 MHz of L-Band spectrum in the U.K. Qualcomm will use this sliver of spectrum to test and further refine its MediaFLO mobile TV technology. The European Commission recently chose DVB-H as the standard for mobile TV for European countries, so it is unclear what other purposes ...
RIM Plans to Sell Touch Screen Smartphone
2008-05-19 12:16:00 The Wall Street Journal is reporting that RIM is going to release a touch-enabled device. The touch-screen device, known as the Thunder, will be an exclusive to Verizon Wireless and Vodafone. According to sources familiar with RIM’s plans, it should be available in the third quarter of this year. The phone will be able to ...
Sprint Declares WiMax Ready for Launch
2008-05-19 12:13:00 Ending a lengthy trial period, today Sprint announced that it is officially ready to launch WiMax network services commercially in its test market of Baltimore-Washington, D.C. Sprint said that the mobile WiMax technology, which it is branding Xohm, has passed all the tests needed to assure certain quality measures regarding hand-offs and delays. The Baltimore-Washington, ...
Ask Hilary: Where is it from?
2008-05-19 10:04:00 Ask Hilary: Where is it from? Hilary Alexander tells a reader where to find Crowes Cremine Dear Hilary,For many years, I have used Crowes Cremine, a cleansing and moisturising cream and make-up remover. Originally, I got it from Boots, then from Lloyds Chemist. Until recently, I bought it by post, but now that avenue has closed. Please solve the mystery of the vanishing Crowes Cremine. Judy, East YorkshireDear Judy,Good news: we have tracked down a source of Crowes Cremine. The website expresschemist.co.uk sells 150ml pots for £4.49 (quote product code: 28212F), online or by phone: 0800 542 1203.
By: Fashion Newsweek
Spied: 2009 Acura TL sheds disguise
2008-05-18 18:28:00 Spied: 2009 Acura TL sheds disguise Months ahead of its official debut, our spies caught the fourth-generation Acura TL out and about during final durability testing. When it comes to redesigns, Acura appears to be on a roll — we've already seen the new RL and TSX this year, and the new TL should arrive before the end of 2008, too. In April, information leaked out of an Acura dealer meeting in New Orleans regarding the new TL. According to a source who attended the meeting, the 2009 Acura TL lineup will consist of two models: a base front-wheel drive car and an up-level all-wheel drive model. The front-driver will be powered by a 280 horsepower 3.5L V6 whereas the AWD model will receive its motivation from a 3.7L V6 producing 300 horsepower. Despite boasting 300 horsepower and all-wheel drive, the range-topping model will not sport the Type-S nameplate. In fact, the source says that Acura will not offer a Type-S model, at least not in 2009. It remains unclea...
Top 10 Vehicles with Highest-Precentage of Male Drivers
2008-05-18 18:12:00 Men want cars that exude power, performance and exclusivity. Vehicles with the highest percentage of male drivers are among the flashiest, loudest and most expensive models on the market. If you see a canary-colored Lamborghini Gallardo cruising down the street, nine times out of 10 a man will be at the wheel. The same goes for other attention-getting sports cars, chauffeur-worthy sedans and burly sport utility vehicles that make up our list of the Top 10 Vehicles Driven by Men. Top 10 Vehicles with Highest-Precentage of Male Drivers. 10. Aston Martin: 81.25 percent male drivers 9. BMW 6 Series: 81.71 percent male drivers 8. Cadillac Escalade ESV: 85.13 percent male drivers 7. Ferrari: 85.82 percent male drivers 6. Mercedes-Benz G-Class: 88.84 percent male drivers 5. Dodge Viper: 89.87 percent male drivers 4. Rolls-Royce Phantom: 90 percent male drivers 3. Lamborghini: 90.32 percent male drivers 2. Mercedes-Benz GL-Class: 90.47 percent male drivers 1. Maybach 57 and 62: 95 percent m...
Justine Picardie: tassels in the air
2008-05-18 09:17:00 Justine Picardie: tassels in the air Justine Picardie uses her loafersIf fashion moves in mysterious ways, it also has a tendency to go round in circles. Take the case of the loafer - currently exceedingly stylish again, having been seen out and about on Alexa Chung (the coolest girl in town, with an Arctic Monkey for a boyfriend). She's wearing the Russell & Bromley 'Chester' version - a tan leather classic from a quarter of a century ago, and formerly deemed just the sort of sensibly boring shoe that Sloane Ranger mothers would insist their daughters wear to boarding school.But this latest reincarnation also serves as a reminder of loafer history, all the way back to the 1930s and 1940s, when a slip-on shoe signified a streak of relaxed unconventionality; a literal representation, perhaps, of not being strait-laced. Thus Katharine Hepburn wore flat leather loafers with androgynous, wide-legged trousers, as if to suggest she was sufficiently confident to eschew the tradition...
By: Fashion Newsweek
Ali Hewson: ethics girl
2008-05-18 08:55:00 Ali Hewson: ethics girl Not for Ali Hewson the traditional rock chick's pursuits of shopping and partying. Bono's wife is far too busy raising a family and worrying about saving the world. Could she also be an Irish president-in-waiting, asks Justine Picardie There was a time when one might have expected a meeting with a rock star's wife to be attended by a certain amount of mayhem - temper tantrums and trashed hotel rooms, perhaps, or at the very least a retinue including a drug dealer, masseuse, hair stylist and personal astrologer.Ali Hewson: 'When he climbs up on the kitchen table at 11pm to play a gig, I have to tell him, I'm not 60,000 people!' But the softly spoken 47-year-old woman sitting opposite me in a suite in Claridge's is anything but the cartoon version of a hell-raising, hard-drinking rock chick; she is wearing a black calf-length Comme des Garçons skirt with a Victorian bell-sleeved blouse; raven hair neatly brushed, porcelain skin unadorned by make...
By: Fashion Newsweek
Alfa Romeo Spider Mille Miglia Special Edition
2008-05-17 17:31:00 Alfa Romeo has just released a few images of its upcoming Spider Mille Miglia Special Edition. Although no official details have been provided, word is that only 11 of the cars will be built, for the 11 times Alfa won the Mille Miglia. Power is said to come from the Alfa’s 260hp 3.2-liter V6.
2008 Scion Limited Edition xD Release Series 1.0
2008-05-17 09:40:00 2008 Scion Limited Edition xD Release Series 1.0 If you thought a Scion couldn't get any hotter, boy do we have a car for you. Toyota's funky youth brand announced on Friday the launch of its Limited Edition xD Release Series 1.0. It might only be May, but the release of the limited-edition xD already marks the third limited-edition Scion for 2008. The 2008 xD RS 1.0 features Hot Lava exterior paint, a DAMD body kit, rear spoiler, unique wheel covers and a TRD lowering kit. The car's Hot Lave paint scheme continues inside, with Hot Lava accented seats and interior trim. A RAZO shift knob is also part of the package. If you can stand the heat, you better hurry down to your local Scion dealers — only 2,000 xD RS 1.0s will be build. The limited-edition xD will also carry a $1,999 premium over lesser xD model, with the automatic version listing from $15,350 while the manual with sticker from $14,550.
Yohji Yamamoto and BFC?s Harold Tillman receive University of the Arts in L
2008-05-17 00:27:00 Yohji Yamamoto and BFC's Harold Tillman receive University of the Arts in London awards The University of the Arts in London has conferred Honorary awards to the recently appointed chairman of the British Fashion Council Harold Tillman, and the Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. Tillman, who succeeded Marks & Spencer's Stewart Rose as the BFC chairman earlier this year, is a fashion entrepreneur who's wealth of experience in the industry includes Lincroft Clothing Company, revitalising Alders, and more recently, the acquisition of Jaeger in 2003, which has spear-headed to its new position as a global brand. He began his career as a tailoring student at the London Collage of fashion in 1962. Yohji Yamamoto, one of the most famous avant-garde names in fashion, launched he first collection in Tokyo in 1972. By the 1980's he had built an international empire, with store in Paris, London and New York. Most recently, he became the first designer allowed by the Chinese government t...
By: Fashion Newsweek
BMW scores big in International Engine of the Year 2008 awards
2008-05-17 00:09:00 BMW scores big in International Engine of the Year 2008 awards BMW took exactly half of all the awards at the 2008 edition of the International Engine of the Year awards. The "engine oscars" have been awarded since 1999, and are given out by 65 automotive journalists from 32 countries judging modern engines in terms of drivability, performance, economy, and refinement, as well as application of advanced engine technology. BMW cleaned up this year, also taking the coveted International Engine of the Year for the second year in a row. This, the overall winner, is picked from the winners of the 11 separate categories. The awards are divided up by displacement or mission, with BMW's 3.0-liter, twin-turbo inline-six also taking the class win in the 2.5 to 3.0 liter class. The N54B30 engine is rated at 306hp and 295lb-ft of torque, and does duty in BMW's 135, 335, 535 passenger car and X5 and X6 SUVs. The German manufacturer also grabbed the top prize in the Best ...
Daimler CEO says lesson was learned in Chrysler ownership
2008-05-17 00:01:00 Daimler CEO says lesson was learned in Chrysler ownership There is no shortage of critics ready and willing to share their opinion why the DaimlerChrysler union was doomed to fail, but the 1998 merger did bring some interesting products Stateside, including the Sprinter Cargo Van and diesel-powered Jeep Grand Cherokee. Friday reports have the famous Dr. Z from the automaker's TV ads, or Dieter Zetsche, Daimler CEO more formally, admitting the partnership "couldn't achieve global integration." The CEO spoke at the St. Gallen Symposium in Switzerland today, which was held under the "Global Capitalism, Local Values" theme, according to Automotive News. Zetsche said that while the merger made theoretical sense, the reality was much different. "[Global integration] was at odds with the image of our brands, the preferences of our customers, and many other success factors — all of which were far more diverse and fragmented," he said. Zetsche ...
?90s redux: Geo Metro, Ford Fiesta back on the block thanks to excellent fu
2008-05-16 23:52:00 '90s redux: Geo Metro, Ford Fiesta back on the block thanks to excellent fuel economy The environmentally friendly vehicles of the 1990s were largely unsuccessful in their time, but with gas prices approaching the $4 a gallon mark, those econoboxes of yore could be finally coming into their own. Prices for used cars such as the Geo Metro and Ford Fiesta have risen by as much as 30 percent — and more — in recent months. According to Kelley Blue Book, most of these tiny hatchbacks were selling for right around $1,000 just a few months ago, but are now going for as much $6,000 — largely dues to high prices at the pump. The Geo Metro is proving to be one of the most popular fuel-efficient vehicles of the '90s, thanks to its hybrid-surpassing fuel economy. The Metro was powered by a fuel-sipping 55 horsepower 1.0L three-cylinder engine, which returned 49 mpg. An even more fuel-efficient XFi model was also available, which dropped the Metro's power t...
U.S. convertible registrations slip for the first time since 2003
2008-05-16 23:40:00 U.S. convertible registrations slip for the first time since 2003 Here's a little more proof that the sun has stopped shining on the U.S. auto industry — convertible registrations dropped 8.6 percent in 2007, roughly double the decline of the industry as a whole. The drop-off is the first for the convertible segment since 2003 and ends a four-year period of growth. The decline is believed to be caused by the U.S.' economic downturn. Most convertibles are purchased as second or third vehicles, but with the U.S. economy sagging, most consumers are cutting out unnecessary purchases. ?Despite the increased availability of retractable hardtops, which have made convertibles more appealing to many consumers, they are still considered discretionary purchases and were impacted by reduced consumer spending and conservative economic attitudes,? R.L. Polk & Co. consultant Mark Pauze told Automotive News. Ford's Mustang remained the top-selling convertible in 2007,...
Renault demonstrates all-electric Megane in Israel
2008-05-16 23:23:00 Renault demonstrates all-electric Megane in Israel Nissan is planning to launch its first all-electric vehicle in 2010 in the U.S. and Japan, and the first evidence of this goal was displayed earlier this week. Nissan's parent company — Renault — along with Silicon Valley startup Project Better Place demonstrated an all-electric Renault Megane in Tel Aviv last Sunday. Both companies are hopeful that the electric sedan will be on the Israeli market by late 2010, with test fleets hitting Israel's streets by next year. The car's electric motor provides a brisk 0-60 time of 8 seconds, with the batteries allowing for a 125 mile range. When the car finally does hit the market, it is expected that there will be 150 'swap stations' located throughout the country. The swap stations — as the name implies — will allow motorists to trade in their run-down battery pack for a fully charged one. This would allow for trips longer than 125 miles. ...
Substitute Teacher Arrested for Being Intoxicated on the Job
2008-05-16 19:24:00 Last week a study was released in the UK saying that 80% of employers believe that alcohol is the biggest threat to their staff. A substute teacher in Texas has proven that it’s also a big problem here in the United States when he showed up to teach one day but was found to ...
Scrapheap Challenge motorcycles pit electricity against gasoline
2008-05-16 00:26:00 We love the British show Scrapheap Challenge. Reruns of the old Junkyard Wars episodes sometimes appear on satellite TV, and we've seen all of them. The show still runs in the U.K., and the latest episode featured junkyard-derived motorcycles, which the show charitably describes as superbikes. One rule in particular made the challenge rather difficult: no parts originally used on a motorcycle may be used on the scrap-bikes. This made the design of the two-wheelers rather interesting, to say the least. One team decided to go light and nimble with an electric motor and lead-acid batteries. The other team chose to use the engine from a small car. What could be greener than making usable electric machines recycled from discarded junk? Would the powerful internal-combustion engine powered "superbike" grab the victory from the plucky little electric machine? If you'd like to find out, follow the build progress and recaps of the three races which would decide the winner. Thanks for the t...
Paul McCartney?s Lexus LS600H delivered by plane
2008-05-15 23:29:00 Click the Lexus LS600h for a high res galleryIt must be nice to be Sir Paul McCartney. Lexus offered to give the über-famous Beatles front-man a brand new car. He settled on an LS600H, the hybrid flagship of the Lexus brand. According to a source familiar with the matter, Paul "ordered the hybrid limo because it helps to reduce emissions." Those emissions took a giant leap forward before Sir Paul even got behind the wheel, as the vehicle was delivered by plane. The estimated carbon footprint of the trip comes to 38,050kg, which, for perspective, is ten times what it would have been if the Lexus had been delivered by boat. Put another way, according to Co2balance.com Director Mike Rigby, "That is the equivalent of driving the car around the world six times." Even the air freight shipping company was surprised, with a spokesman quoted as saying, "Obviously we were happy for the business but everyone was shocked. The carbon footprint must be enormous." McCartney is reportedly rath...
AT&T CEO Says It Will Deliver 20Mbps Downloads
2008-05-15 19:45:00 Speaking to investors, AT&T Mobility CEO Ralph de la Vega said that the company will enable 20Mbps downloads via its HSPA wireless network as early as 2009. He also said that by 2010, its network will be capable of 100Mbps downloads. AT&T has chosen LTE for its 4G technology, which is targeting 100Mbps downloads as ...
Phone-wallets still Years away
2008-05-15 19:24:00 HELSINKI (Reuters) - The new technology which enables small payments from mobile phones by just flashing the handset is likely to reach masses only around 2012, when one phone from five sold will be equipped with the technology. Consumers will be able to use a phone as a wallet or as an access card simply by ...
Fisker fights back in Tesla lawsuit
2008-05-15 18:35:00 Fisker fights back in Tesla lawsuit Fisker Coachbuild is fighting back a lawsuit brought against it by Tesla as the Henrik Fisker-run company has asked a California court for arbitration. The request was filed on Tuesday, May 13, with a hearing scheduled for June 11. Tesla filed its lawsuit against Fisker on April 14. In the suit, Tesla claims that Fisker stole trade secrets and designed an inferior product. Tesla hired Fisker to design its WhiteStar sedan, but says Fisker left them with a sub-par design — especially when compared to the Fisker Karma plug-in hybrid sedan. Fisker denies the allegations, even calling it "a ridiculous suit," according to Automotive News. In other Fisker news, the automaker says that its Karma sedan is on schedule for production — as evidenced by the latest spy shots. Fisker has taken 500 pre-orders for the plug-in hybrid and is preparing to unveil the car's production interior at November's Los Angeles Auto Show.
VW to produce company?s first-ever motorcycle
2008-05-15 18:28:00 VW to produce company's first-ever motorcycle Volkswagen will be teaming with Austria's KTM to make the company's first ever motorcycle, a new report finds. You may know KTM best for its raceday-ready X-Bow, which was actually its first attempt at a four-wheeled car. KTM has been producing motorcycles since 1953. While a VW-badged motorcycle might seem a little out there, it does have plenty of foundation in reality. Volkswagen engineers helped KTM develop the X-Bow, and the little racer is even powered by a 2.0L Audi powerplant. Since KTM has plenty of motorcycle knowhow and owes the German automaker one, the partnership makes sense for the project. It's also not unheard of for an automaker to also produce bikes, as companies like BMW, Honda and Suzuki make both vehicles of the two and four-wheeled variety. Add in that VW has already shown interest in motorcycle-derived vehicles — like the 2006 three-wheeled GX-3 concept (pictured) — and the pic...
Porsche denies bringing Cayenne production to U.S.
2008-05-15 18:13:00 Porsche denies bringing Cayenne production to U.S. Reports from earlier this week had VW's upcoming U.S. factory possibly assembling the Porsche Cayenne SUV Stateside. On Thursday, Porsche spokesperson Albrecht Bamler denied the rumors. Bamler reasoned suppliers for the Cayenne's components are based in Europe, and shipping them over to the U.S. would not make sense. He also cited currency hedging the automaker maintains until 2013 as the reason the weak U.S. dollar is not driving the decision to move production of Porsche's first and only SUV. The reports had the next-generation Cayenne, due out in 2015, built at VW's U.S. plant, which is too far into the future to comment on, Bamler said. VW Touareg, Audi Q7 and Porsche Cayenne bodies are made in Bratislava, Slovakia, and then shipped elsewhere for final assembly. In the Cayenne's case, it is Leipzig, Germany. VW is expected to announce the location of its U.S. plant before July 24, at which point it...
Toyota Prius eclispes 1 million worldwide sales
2008-05-15 18:04:00 Toyota Prius eclispes 1 million worldwide sales Toyota announced on Thursday that its Prius hybrid has reached a major milestone, eclipsing the 1 million mark in worldwide sales. The Prius was first launched in Toyota's home market of Japan in 1997, but was brought to other markets around the world — including the U.S. — in 2000. As of April of this year, Toyota has sold about 1,028,000 Prius hybrid vehicles. In 2003, the Prius received its first major redesign, which included a new five-door body style and Toyota's updated Hybrid System II. An all-new Prius will debut at next January's Detroit Auto Show, with sales following shortly thereafter. The Prius — which is the world's best-selling hybrid vehicle — is a major pillar in Toyota's plan to sell 1 million hybrids annually by sometime in the early 2010s. According to Reuters, Toyota sold 429,400 hybrid vehicles globally last year — up 37 percent from 2006.
Another leaked image shows upcoming Nissan Cube
2008-05-15 17:49:00 Another leaked image shows upcoming Nissan Cube Following on the heels of the leaked image of the all-new Nissan 370Z, an image of a production Nissan Cube has surfaced online. Just like the 370Z image, the Cube picture was brought to us via a presentation of Nissan's GT 2012 business plan. Compared to the current Cube, the 2010 model will lose some of its sharp edges, but will retain its overall boxy look. As previously speculated, the next-generation Cube will take most of its design cues from the Nissan Denki Cube concept unveiled at the 2008 New York Auto Show. Recent spy shots have shown that Nissan has already begun testing a version of the Cube destined for U.S. dealerships in the early part of next year. The prototype spotted was a gasoline-powered vehicle, but it is also believed that Nissan is developing a hybrid version, with an all-electric model possible for the 2012 model year. |
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