Author: Serkadis

SouthPeak is cooking up a little extra something for next month’s 3D Dot Game Heroes release in the UK. They’ve made three characters inspired by the candidates for UK Prime Minister.

Giving the Chevrolet brand a global presence is a key strategy at the new General Motors Company, however, in South Korea GM continues to sell its current global Chevy lineup under the Daewoo brand. Well, all that’s about to chance with the introduction of new Camaro, which will go on sale in Korea in 2011.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

“According to our market research, half of all Koreans are familiar with the brand and more than 80 percent are aware of Chevrolet’s distinctive logo,” said GM Daewoo Auto & Technology President and CEO Mike Arcamone. “This is indicative of the positive brand image that already exists among consumers in Korea toward Chevrolet. We see tremendous upside with its introduction.”

Click here to read our review on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

Click through for the press release for more details.

Review: 2010 Chevrolet Camaro LT V6:

Press Release:

GM to Bring Chevrolet to Korea

Will launch GM’s leading global brand to strengthen its position in domestic market

Busan, Korea – Chevrolet, General Motors Company’s leading global vehicle brand, will be introduced in Korea in 2011. GM Daewoo Auto & Technology President and CEO Mike Arcamone made the announcement today at a press conference held in conjunction with the opening of the Busan International Motor Show.

“The introduction of Chevrolet will enable us to provide our customers an array of exciting new vehicles from the brand’s global lineup, giving them more driving options,” said Arcamone. “This will help GM Daewoo increase our sales and market share in the domestic market while generating additional revenue, strengthening our employees’ job security, creating new jobs and resulting in additional investment in Korea. We regard it as a key to our long-term success.”

As an example of the products that Korean consumers can expect, GM Daewoo introduced the new Chevrolet Camaro at its motor show stand. The popular sports car will go on sale in Korea in 2011.

Arcamone also emphasized that today’s announcement is about brand coexistence, not brand replacement. “Our decision to launch Chevrolet is in the best interest of GM Daewoo and Korea,” he said.

Founded in 1911 and named after famous race car driver Louis Chevrolet, Chevrolet is one of GM’s four core brands. Last year, Chevrolet accounted for 44 percent of GM’s global sales and registered a 21 percent increase in sales from the previous year.

“GM is bringing the new brand to Korea to enhance our presence in the domestic market,” said GM International Operations President Tim Lee. “Last year, 3.3 million Chevrolet vehicles were sold in 130 markets worldwide, making it the fourth most popular passenger car brand globally.”

The success of products such as the new Chevrolet Cruze global compact sedan and the next-generation Chevrolet Spark mini-car has played a key role in Chevrolet becoming one of the fastest-growing vehicle brands in the world. Chevrolet sales in 2009 were twice those in 2005.

“Chevrolet has enjoyed success in mature markets in North America and Europe, as well as in emerging markets in Asia Pacific and Latin America,” said Lee. “We are confident that it will drive us into a new era in Korea.”

– By: Omar Rana

The Google TV rumors are beginning to look a lot more real with several new details leaking out. The first hardware running Google’s Android operating system is expected to be announced next month along with the details of the program. Sony will apparently be the first partner and is expected to launch Android-powered TVs in about a … (read more)

Mal chegada a nova geração do Volkswagen Golf na Europa, a companhia alemã já vem desenvolvendo a próxima (sétima) geração do seu hatch. Apesar de as aparências enganarem, embaixo da carroceria dessa flagrada “mula”, já está a mecânica do novo Golf realizando testes de desenvolvimento, flagrada no famoso circuito alemão de Nurburgring.

Sua gama de motorização na Europa contará com as unidades turbocharger TSI e TDI onde, movidos a gasolina termos os TSI de 1.2L com potencias de 85 cv e 105 cv, de 1.4L com 122 hp e 160 hp e o 2.0L de 220 hp e 300 hp. Já nos TDI movidos a diesel, teremos as configurações 1.6L de 90cv e 105 cv e o 2.0L com 140 cv, 170 cv e de 220 cv de potência.

Além disso, a sétima geração do Volkswagen Golf também ganhará motorização hibrida. As especulações são de que o modelo receberá um motor elétrico de 25 hp e bateria elétricas de níquel de metal hidreto (NiMH), além de uma segunda opção elétrica vinda com um motor elétrico de 75 hp acompanhado da tecnologia plug-in e com baterias de íons de lítio mais avançadas que a primeira opção.

O futuro Volkswagen Golf deverá chegar aproximadamente daqui a dois anos e receberá além da carroceria hatch, a perua chamada de Variant. Além disso, a sétima geração do modelo sofrerá um processo chamado de upmarketing, no qual devera compartilhar mais pecas com o Audi A3.

Volkswagen Golf G7

Fonte: AutoBlog.it

RM Auctions will inaugurate its Sporting Classics of Monaco auction with a sale of 105 prewar and postwar European motor cars. The event, scheduled for April 30-May 1, will coincide with the Historic Grand Prix of Monaco, now it its seventh year.

Highlights include a 1938 Delahaye 135 MS Competition Cabriolet, a 1960 Maserati Tipo 61 “Birdcage” and a 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Continental Cabriolet. The auction also includes the world’s largest single-owner collection of Shell Petroliana, featuring 1,000 Shell-related items.

The Sporting Classics of Monaco auction will take place at the Grimaldi Forum. On April 30, there will be a preview from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and a drinks reception from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. On May 1, the preview will begin at 10 a.m. and the auction will begin at 1 p.m.

Admission requires the purchase of an auction catalog, priced at about $94. The catalog admits two. Internet, absentee and telephone bidding options are also available.

For complete information about the items up for bid, visit www.rmauctions.com/monaco or call RM’s London office at +44 (0) 20 7851 7070.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

Hartge has unveiled their new aerodynamic kit program based on the E89 version of the Roadster. The Hartge BMW Z4 Aerodynamic Kits includes only a front spoiler and a hood lid lip which might offer increased downforce on both axles of the car. The Hartge BMW Z4 Aerodynamic Kit parts are made from PU-RIM and are not compatible with the model’s M Aerodynamic package. The Hartge BMW Z4 Aerodynamic Kit also sits on new rims.

Source: Lincah.Com – New Car and Used Car Pictures

The two-litre TFSI engine renders nearly one quarter more performance after the JE DESIGN engineers have finished their work. Instead of 265 hp (195 kW), the Cupra R now reaches 330 hp (243 kW). The maximum torque is increased from 350 to 420 Newton metres. Therefore, the Seat reaches the 100-kph limit in already 5.8 seconds instead of the former 6.2 seconds. The acceleration ends at 268 kph, while the serial model achieves its top speed at 250 km/h.

The Cupra R owes this additional power to the optimised control unit, the sports air filter, the metal catalyser, the front- and centre mufflers and the four-pipe stainless steel exhaust system. JE DESIGN offers the entire performance kit for 6200 Euro including VAT and includes a 12-months warranty.

The enormous performance enhancement is confirmed with the new Cupra R aerodynamics kit (entire kit for 1539 Euro). The front spoiler (319 Euro) with the centre sword (149 Euro) sucks the front to the road surface and the rear wing (459 Euro) renders the necessary downthrust. The side skirts (299 Euro) pacify the air flow and convey it to the rear wing extension (299 Euro) with the centre diffuser insert (99 Euro). The latter is surrounded by two stainless steel end pipes at both sides measuring 90 millimetres (899 Euro). Of course, JE DESIGN offers all aerodynamics components with an approval by the Technical Control Board (TÜV).

For more information about the extensive JE DESIGN programme, please visit the web site www.je-design.de/en

Source: Lincah.Com – New Car and Used Car Pictures

As you may know already, the Bmw X6 was an immense success for the German brand and the firm sold more than 80,000 units since its launch, back in 2008.

Now here is the good news: it appears the Bmw is currently thinking at a smaller car in the same mould as the X6 which could be named X4. The bad news is that the car didn’t receive green light for production yet, but according to our sources, there is a small chance to see this car on the streets. “We haven’t made any firm decision,” said the source, “however, the X6’s success shows there is a continued demand for sporty off-roaders.”

[via autocar]

Source: Car news, Car reviews, Spy shots

Filed under: Safety, Technology

The last decade has been a boon for technologies like traction and stability control, but the tire itself has remained relatively low tech. Schrader Electronics is reportedly looking to change that equation with a “smart tire” that could be production ready within three years. The electronics company already knows a thing or two about tires, as a self-proclaimed global pioneer of the Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems that stabilize today’s trucks and crossovers.

Schrader claims that its Smart Tire tech utilizes sensors on the tire itself that wirelessly transmits data to receivers in the wheel housing and is routed to the vehicle’s ECU sensor. Schrader is working with Pirelli to bring its new tire tech to market starting in 2010. The first tire, called ‘Cyber Tyre Lean,” will transmit pressure, temperature, average load and the number of revolutions.

The company claims that the fully-integrated “Cyber Tyre” will transmit information on “tread depth, pressure and temperature, along with the shape of its footprint and the amount of load it is under, will be combined with precise readings of road conditions to optimize control of the vehicle’s dynamics.” Schrader expects to offer the Cyber Tyre by 2013. Hit the jump to read over the Schrader Electronics press release.

Continue reading Are intelligent tires in your future?

Are intelligent tires in your future? originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 29 Apr 2010 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A cidade de West Midlands no Reino Unido recebeu uma nova parceira na luta contra o crime nas ruas: Unidades adaptadas para a polícia do Jaguar XF. O que é comum na Europa é a adaptação de supercarros e esportivos para ações policiais, devido ao seu desempenho.

O Jaguar XF versão policial possui um motor de 271 cv a diesel, e por enquanto apenas sete unidades desse carro estão servindo a lei. Visualmente, o carro pode parecer um pouco “estranho” com a sua pintura chamativa (acho que essa é a intenção, se é para ser uma viatura), em cores em verde fluorescete e azul, lembrando muito as cores de uma de nossas operadoras de telefonia mais odiadas do país.

Curiosamente, carros da Jaguar eram muito usados em filmes policiais dos anos 50 a 70, mas pelos bandidos como carro de fuga. Agora eles fazem parte de um grupo onde veículos como Range Rovers, Vauxhall Omegas e Toyota Lands participam na luta contra o crime.

Imagens da nova viatura britânica

Via | Auto Guide

theodp writes “Having already been burned by Amazon’s 1-Click patent, one imagines Barnes & Noble will be fuming to learn that the USPTO granted Amazon a patent Tuesday covering the use of Barnes and Noble’s physical stores to fulfill orders placed for used goods on Amazon. The e-tailer was awarded U.S. Patent No. 7,702,545 for its System and Method for Facilitating Exchanges Between Buyers and Sellers, legal-speak for arranging a place to meet to exchange cash for used goods ordered online. From the patent: ‘In an exemplary embodiment, buyers and sellers are permitted to designate exchange locations in the system 100. An exchange location may be a location that the user regularly visits. For example, users may designate locations such as health clubs, schools, coffee shops, book stores, and so on, as acceptable exchange locations.’”

Permalink | Comments | Email This Story

Brilliance China Automotive Holdings Ltd., BMW AG’s partner in China, has halted its car exports to Europe after its BS4 and BS6 sedan met with a cool reception, and there is no timetable for a resumption, senior executives said on Thursday.

The head of Brilliance’s former importer for Europe, Hans-Ulrich Sachs, told Automotive News Europe in March that another reason the automaker struggled is because it refused to lower the starting prices on the BS6 and BS4.

“They didn’t want to lose any money per car,” said Sachs, the former boss of the now dissolved import company HSO Motors Europe. “We told them that this is the entry fee you have to pay to get established in Europe. They told us that we should make the investment to cover the shortfall; that we would have to subsidize the brand.”

Sachs refused.

Brilliance is one of the few Chinese automakers that has managed to squeeze into the highly competitive European market, dominated by Volkswagen AG, PSA/Peugeot-Citroen SA and Fiat S.p.A.

In 2006, it secured a deal with Sachs, a former Volkswagen AG executive who also helped launch Hyundai in Germany, to ship 158,000 sedans to Europe over a five-year period, the largest auto order ever for a Chinese manufacturer from the developed world.

Weak sales

The total sales tally of the two Brilliance models from 2007 to 2009 was 502 units, according to UK-based market researcher JATO Dynamics.

Brilliance sold just 46 BS6s in 2009 and 181 BS4s, JATO’s data shows. Sales of the BS6 never recovered from poor crash test results in 2007.

Brilliance had at one point contemplated adding a BS4 wagon to its lineup, but the plan has now been postponed indefinitely, two company executives told Reuters.

“We have stopped exports to Europe. For now, we have no timetable for resuming the business,” said one of the executives with direct knowledge of the matter, blaming the poor reception for the sedans in part on the difficulty of keeping up with changing European regulations.

Both executives said the company would look to start sales again in Europe with products that could meet new EU emissions standards sometime in the future.

“The BS4 and BS6 were made with Euro 4 specifications in mind. When we resume the exports we will come up with cars and meet the Euro 5 standards,” said the second executive.

Sachs told ANE that last autumn he found out through contacts in China that Brilliance had stopped the engineering work needed to get its cars ready to meet European safety and emission standards.

“We asked some of the BMW guys working together with Brilliance in China and that is how we got the information that Brilliance stopped everything,” Sachs said.

About the same time Sachs’ relationship with Brilliance was falling apart, BMW announced that the partners would split the cost of a $740 million (560 million euros) new plant in China. The partners’ second factory is due to start production in 2012. BMW last week announced it plans to sell 120,000 BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce brand vehicles in China this year, up 20 percent from its earlier target. BMW Group sold 90,500 cars and SUVs in China last year.

Booming China market

China, which overtook the United States as the world’s biggest auto market in 2009, has become a safe haven for General Motors Co. and other producers battered by a steep industry downturn.

Chinese automakers, from state auto group SAIC Motor Corp. to Warren Buffet-backed BYD Auto Co. are also working harder than ever to raise their domestic profiles to compete with rivals such as Volkswagen, Toyota Motor Corp. and Honda Motor Co.

Rather than rushing into unfamiliar markets when economic uncertainties and rising protectionism have raised the bar for new entrants, Chinese automakers should focus more on their home turf, industry executives and observers said.

“At a time like this, the best strategy for a Chinese national brand is to step up its presence in China while while maintaining a foothold overseas,” said Huang Zherui, an analyst with CSM Worldwide, a global industry consultancy.

Brilliance, parent of Brilliance China Automotive Holdings, is China’s ninth-largest automaker with a 2.6 percent market share, compared with domestic leader SAIC’s 19.8 percent, according to official data.

Brilliance sold 348,300 vehicles in 2009, up 22 percent from a year earlier, lagging a 46 percent gain in the overall market.

For more

Source: Car news, reviews and auto show stories

A lingering question in the new tension on the Korean peninsula is why the emerging world power can’t stand up to its failed state neighbor.

South Korea has F-15K fighter jets, Aegis destroyers, K-9 self-propelled howitzers. It claims a mutual defense treaty with the United States. Moreover, the model economy has the world’s 15th highest GDP, right behind Australia.

But North Korea gets the edge with a strategy of asymmetrical warfare, including submarines, mines, hovercrafts, special forces, and a scary ballistics arsenal:

Chosun Ilbo:

North Korea’s nuclear, biological and chemical weapons as well as its ballistic missiles are another key component of its asymmetric strategy. The communist country is believed to have six to eight nuclear weapons similar in strength to the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. It is also believed to have between 2,000 to 5,000 tons of chemical weapons, making it the world’s third largest arsenal. It has around 10 different types of biological weapons as well. A thousand tons of chemical weapons is believed to be enough to kill 40 million people on the Korean Peninsula.

It’s no wonder South Korea is afraid to blame the Cheonan attack on Kim Jong-il. President Lee Myung-bak is gathering evidence for the U.N. Security Council, but the only country that matters (after decades of failed U.S. and U.N. sanctions) is China. Together, Seoul and Beijing account for 80% of North Korea’s international trade.

Will China use it’s power for good?

Don’t miss: 15 Facts About China That Will Blow Your Mind

Join the conversation about this story »

The first Russian sports car MARUSSIA is equipped with a 3.5 litre petrol engine providing 240bhp. Along with several kinds of outside appearance, the expansion of production range and creation of vehicles of other classes is planned: in particular, more popular among customers, five seats four-wheel drive SUV. A racing version of the car, which is being developed now, will be engineered with respect to contemporary auto racing technologies. At present MARUSSIA is a mid-engined vehicle, but the working on a front- and rear-engined versions of chassis has been already started.

The interior of the MARUSSIA vehicle is a product of Italian and Russian designers’ teamwork. The interior of the car is a harmonious extension to the swift beauty and completeness of the car’s exterior, being a perfect match to the colour and shape of the body. The interior decorations have been chosen carefully according to the principles of ecological compatibility and comfort to satisfy the requirements of the most sophisticated customers.

The main part of the interior is made of expensive durable material — leather, that goes together with the modern and convenient surface of plastic elements and SOFT TOUCH gear sticks. Another material used in the interior is high-tech textile with 3D plaiting. The unique designer solution is the M-shaped instrumental panel that goes well with the outline of the body and reminds of the MARUSSIA logo’s contours. The interior design unites elite style and classical comfort with sports and high technology.

Source: Lincah.Com – New Car and Used Car Pictures

A massive lending binge over the past couple of years has left major Chinese banks undercapitalized according to a new report from Caing, which has gone through the latest financial reports.

Sure, profits are surging, but the bottom line is that these banks are likely to need 200-300 billion yuan (up to $45 billion est.) in 2010 in fresh capital. To put that into perspective, that’s half as much as all the money raised by mainlaind Chinese public companies last year.

Specifically:

Industrial Bank’s capital adequacy ratio slipped to 10.63 percent at the end of the first quarter of this year from 10.75 percent at the end of 2009, with its core capital level dimming from 7.91 percent to 7.59 percent. The minimum capital requirement for joint-stock banks was raised to 10 percent by China Banking Regulatory Commission late last year. For six largest banks, it is 11 percent.

China Citic Bank’s capital adequacy dropped to 9.34 percent at the end of March, down 0.8 percentage point from the end of last year. The Bank of Ningbao had mixed performance: its core capital level dip from 9.58 percent at the end of last year to 9.07 percent at the end of the first quarter while capital adequacy ratio climbed from 10.75 percent to 10.88 percent during the time frame.

Read the whole report >

Join the conversation about this story »

The new Conquest Knight XV, a fully armored, ultra-luxurious, handcrafted sport utility vehicle comes with a new luxury upgrades and options including electronic touch handles, hand crafted billet aluminum and leather steering wheel and shifter handle, retractable custom flat screen television, TracVision satellite system, ultra suede seating and an electrostatic window tinting system, to name a few.

Conquest Vehicles has also created a new, high-level security upgrade and options platform for the Knight XV that includes a built-in oxygen survival kit, under vehicle magnetic attachment detection system, multiple armoring levels, under vehicle blast protection system and a black box system.

In addition to Conquest Vehicle’s luxury and security upgrades to the Knight XV, Conquest Vehicles has also added other production and design upgrade options including a turbo charger package; commercial grade multi link air ride suspension system; a custom made braking system consisting of 15 ½” vented 2-piece front rotors with high performance 12 piston billet calipers; carbon fiber instrument panel; Diesel engine; 24-inch vehicle extension package; right-hand drive conversion package.

Since launching at SEMA in 2008, the (US) $489,000 Knight XV has quickly gained popularity as a go-to vehicle for high-net worth individuals, professional athletes, government officials and heads of corporations around the globe. For more information, please visit the company’s website at www.conquestvehicles.com

Source: Lincah.Com – New Car and Used Car Pictures

Como uma medida preventiva para os consumidores, a Toyota está convocando os donos norte-americanos de seu utilitário esportivo Sequoia 2003, para consertar um problema relacionado à fraca aceleração (não é o mesmo problema do Corolla). Estima-se que sejam convocados cerca de 50 mil donos desse veículo. Em declaração oficial, Steve St.Angelo, o novo chefe do controle de qualidade da divisão norte-americana diz o seguinte:

“A Toyota está investigando as reclamações dos clientes com mais afinco, para que possamos dar uma resposta rápida aos problemas que identificamos em nossos veículos”.

Nesse recall será atualizado o sistema de controle de estabilidade do Sequoia, Sem tal atualização, o sistema de estabilidade pode ser ativado automaticamente em velocidades baixas e desnecessárias, segundo a montadora.

Via | Inside Line

Good morning. Here’s what you need to know:

• Greece shares are surging on renewed hope of some kind of bailout. Yesterday Barack Obama put pressure on Germany’s Angela Merkel, and the IMF has pledged increased support. Of course, we’ve seen this movie before.

• Sovereign debt spreads are narrower across the board, suggesting a day of breathing room after the madness of this week.

• Goldman Sachs (GS) may be nearing a settlement with the SEC, according to the New York Post.

• The massive oil spill in the gulf is 5x more severe than previously thought.

• Weekly jobless claims are out at 8:30 AM. Analysts are expecting initial claims of 445K. Check back here for the results.

• UK traders are buzzing about their own sovereign debt risks, and fears that S&P will reduce its ratings next. The origin, according to FT Alphaville, is a specific Barclays report, though there doesn’t seem to be much to it.

• Speaking of the UK, the Labour party is in serious damage control mode after the Prime Minister’s horrendous gaffe yesterday, when he called a little old lady a bigot. Word from the Labour party is that yes, immigration questions are perfectly legitimate. A major debate is scheduled for tonight.

• France’s Sarkozy pays official state visit to China in effort to strengthen ties between the two countries.

• Today labor unions will descend onto Wall Street for a day of protest. Should make for some good pictures.

• Shares of Procter & Gamble (PG) are slipping pre-market after the company reported light revenues.

• BONUS: A new report from UK’s Daily Mirror claims Tiger Woods has enumerated the exact number of women he cheated with. The number is… wait for it… 121.

Join the conversation about this story »