Author: Serkadis

Filed under: Sedan, Saab, Luxury

We’ve just returned from the grand opening of Saab’s new North American headquarters in Royal Oak, Michigan, where the newly emancipated automaker has just priced its pivotal new 9-5 for the U.S. market.

Saab will launch its new 9-5 lineup with the 2010 model year Aero sedan carrying a price of $49,990. The all-wheel drive 300-horsepower, 2.8-liter V6 turbo four-door will actually sit atop the range, with an entry-level 2011 model with Saab’s 2.0-liter turbo powerplant coming on stream shortly thereafter with a promised MSRP of “under $40,000.”

That’s ambitious pricing in what already amounts to a very crowded and competent sandbox. For reference’s sake, the 2010 Infiniti M37x starts at $48,400 and brings 330 horses to the table, while Cadillac’s CTS rings up at $43,465 in comparable all-wheel drive trim with a 304-hp 3.6-liter. The European establishment rings up at $48,925 for Mercedes-Benz’s 268-hp E350, and BMW’s new 2011 528i will start at $44,500, though both of those segment stalwarts are rear-drive and tend to run comparatively thin on standard equipment.

According to Saab’s hand-out press release (sorry, no digital version available yet!), the Aero will feature a six-speed automatic gearbox with paddleshifters, so apparently no manual transmission will be available with the V6 – at least at launch. Saab does, however, promise its superb XWD all-wheel drive system, power leather seats, dual-zone HVAC, and a cooled glovebox (a longtime brand staple) among other standard features. Options will include items like a heads-up display, lane-departure warning technology, and a Harman-Kardon surround sound stereo.

The first 9-5 models are slated to go on sale in July, with the 2.0T models arriving hard on its heels. No word yet on 9-5 SportCombi pricing or availability, but we expect the two-box model to go on sale in about a year.

[Source: Saab]

Saab announces U.S. 9-5 pricing, leads with range-topping Aero originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 21:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Google’s getting some attention for its decision to launch a tool highlighting the information requests made by various governments to Google, either to gather information or to take down certain content. According to Google, this is a part of its efforts to try to keep the internet more open, as seen by its decision to leave China and its pushing back on Australia’s attempts at censorship. Of course, many will claim that this is just self-serving on Google’s part, since it’s better off with a more open internet — but that doesn’t mean the initiative is a bad idea.

Still, it’s not clear really how much there is to learn from this tool. Basically, we see that Brazil requests a lot of information and takedowns — and the US requests an awful lot of info. And… well.. then we’re left wondering. The tool does breakdown the nature of the removal requests, but not in very much detail. And it doesn’t do that for the data requests. So, really, all this tool does is leave us wondering what exactly is being requested and/or taken down. Perhaps that’s the point of the tool: to get people to ask more questions, but it seems like Google could have done a bit more to highlight that kind of information as well.

Separately, in its op-ed about the new program, Google also suggests that the best tool for encouraging a decrease in repressive governments is through better free trade agreements. If only that were the case. Real free trade agreements can increase openness tremendously, but lately the sorts of “free trade agreements” we’ve seen have been things like ACTA — which is not at all about openness, and very much about using the same repressive tools used by China to try to block forms of communication.

It’s good that Google is encouraging some discussion on this topic, and perhaps this is the point of the limited tool, but looking through it seems to simply open up a lot more questions than it answers.

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With the games release date just around the corner, Atlus has released a brand new trailer for the highly-nostalgic action-adventure title, 3D Dot Game Heroes. Check out the game’s in-depth character creation tool after the jump.
 

Did you know that the basic layout of the city of Boston was planned by the cows? No, it’s true. It’s not just something I heard on “Cheers” from Cliff Clavin. Boston was one of the earliest-settled cities of the new world and the settlers of the times, being from various parts […]

Deciding to sit there and do nothing still creates an effect – so in a way you’re doing something by doing nothing.

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Filed under: Motorsports, Spy Photos, Hatchback, Aston Martin, Racing

Aston Martin announced its intent to race a lightly modified Rapide at this year’s Nürburgring 24-hour race, and what has to happen before that? Testing. Here is the black beauty with slicks and perspex windows caught measuring its mettle on that very track before doing the real thing in May.

The marque has taken class wins the last two years with its Vantage coupes, but it would still make for quite the hubbub if it pulls off the same in a 4-door hatch. All of a sudden, matte black as a production color really doesn’t seem so bad. Have a look at it in the gallery of high-res photos below.

Spy Shots: Competition-spec Aston Martin Rapide spotted testing on ‘Ring originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 19:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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By Anne C. Mulkern

Two rival trade groups seeking congressional help for the ethanol industry launched advertising yesterday to promote themselves and bash one another.  Growth Energy Inc., which represents U.S.-based corn ethanol producers, seeks to maintain supremacy at home, while the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, or UNICA, wants to tear down corn ethanol’s benefits in order to grab a larger share of the U.S. market.  The campaigns’ same-day launch was coincidental, the groups said. The lobbying efforts likely are eyeing the same legislative target, one analyst said.  “Senator Kerry is now saying that they’re going to have an energy bill in the next three weeks,” said Ken Green, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute think tank, referring to the climate bill that Kerry is crafting along with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.). Ethanol groups, Green said, “want to turn up the heat on what’s in this new energy bill and how it treats ethanol.”  Click here to read more…

When Audi unveiled the new 2011 RS5 at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show, the company wasn’t sure whether or not the model will make it to U.S. shores. Following a little rumor earlier this month that the 2011 Audi RS5 has been confirmed for the U.S., Inside Line reports that the high-performance coupe has indeed been approved by the higher-ups for the stateside.

Click here for pricing on the 2010 Audi A5.

“We have voted on it and the car is coming over definitely. But,” a product marketing contact from Quattro GmbH said. However, he said that “it will be more than a year out from the start of deliveries in Western Europe.”

Refresher: Power for the 2011 Audi RS5 comes from a 4.2L naturally aspirated V8 making 450-hp and a maximum torque of 317 lb-ft. Mated to a standard 7-speed S tronic, the 2011 RS5 goes from 0-62 mph in 4.6 seconds with a top speed of 155 mph (electronically governed).

2011 Audi RS5:

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Inside Line

Maserati has just released a new promotional video for the new 2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible – aka – Maserati GranCabrio.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Maserati GranTurismo.

Check out the video after the jump.

Refresher: The 2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible is powered by a 4.7L V8 making 440-hp. Mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, the GranTurismo Convertible goes from 0 to 62 mph 5.4 seconds with a top speed 176 mph. Prices in the U.S. start at $135,800.

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible:

2010 Maserati GranTurismo Convertible:

– By: Kap Shah

Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Mercedes-Benz, Luxury

Two swallows does not a summer make, but this is the second recently tuned SL65 AMG Black Series to say hello to the world – and that’s more news on the car than we’ve had since the car’s debut. Accomplished Mercedes-Benz tuner Renntech has played around with it, coming up with a hardtop coupe that shoots out 865 horsepower and 1,000 pound-feet at the crank. That’s 135 more ponies and 263 more lb-ft. than the stock SL65 Black, and a crucial 5 more horsepower than the Brabus Vanish, perfect for your interdimensional travel needs.

The Renntech version gets an ECU revision, upgraded intercooler pumps and sport mufflers in a package that begins at $16,390. That doesn’t include the transmission upgrade and LSD you’ll probably want to go along with it. And not that there’s much to see from 1,000 horses roped in place, but if the sounds turn you on, follow the jump for the video and the press release.

[Source: Renntech]

Continue reading Renntech tunes Benz’s SL65 AMG Black Series to 805 HP, 1000 pound-feet [w/video]

Renntech tunes Benz’s SL65 AMG Black Series to 805 HP, 1000 pound-feet [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hosted by enthusiast site Camaro5.com, more than 500 2010 Chevrolet Camaro sports cars headed to Valdosta, Ga. for the first ever Camaro5Fest. The event is said to be the largest-ever gathering of fifth-generation Camaro owners.

“Several members of the Camaro team attended, including Camaro Chief Engineer Al Oppenheiser, Vehicle Line Director Peter Kosak, Camaro Marketing Manager John Fitzpatrick, and Camaro Product Manager Cheryl Pilcher. Team Camaro drove from Detroit to Georgia in two Camaro Transformers Special Editions, two Camaro Synergy Special Editions, a regular production 2010 Camaro, and VIN 002 of a 2011 Camaro,” GM said in a statement.

Click here to get prices on the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro.

“It was an incredible opportunity to see the passion and enthusiasm owners have for the new Camaro,” says Fitzpatrick. “This was such an exciting event that I would not be surprised to see more than 1,000 cars at next year’s Camaro5Fest.”

More than 1,000 people attended the event driving their 2010 Camaros from across the U.S. and Canada to Valdosta on Friday, April 16.

Camaro5Fest (500 2010 Chevrolet Camaro):

– By: Omar Rana

Filed under: Concept Cars, GM, Design/Style, South Korea

The General Motors Seoul Advanced Design Studio has been putting out images for at least a year, but GM is only now making the announcement that it’s officially open. Our initial joy was tempered by the fact that GM has always known how to design a compelling concept car, then actually deliver something at the other end of the design see-saw. However, The General’s certainly taken a more than a few steps up the emotional design ladder in recent years, and the company’s South Korean designers have already proved their small-car talent with Chevrolet’s Cruze and Spark.

There will be 30 designers at the studio doing interior and exterior design for GM’s mini and small vehicles, among other duties. If their first photo can be used as a barometer, however, larger, sportier aspirations beat in their hearts. And you’ll want to remember this photo well, because there is every chance it could resurface in three years under a 48-point headline screaming, “Is This the Mid-Engined 2018 Corvette?!” As ever, the answer is “No.” The press release on the new studio is just after the jump.

[Source: General Motors]

Continue reading GM design studio opens in South Korea, draws first spaceship picture

GM design studio opens in South Korea, draws first spaceship picture originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 20 Apr 2010 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New product launch
HepcoMotion® is a pioneer in circulation and continuous motion and at MACH 2010 the company will be featuring a brand new system that reinforces its pre-eminence in this field. This will be the first public demonstration of this highly comprehensive system whose main features will the subject of a range of video displays on the stand.

New sealed actuator
Since its introduction, the HepcoMotion® SBD sealed belt drive linear actuator range has been a runaway success. Designed for high duty applications, these products provide an extremely clean linear solution that keep on working where other systems fail.

New at MACH 2010 will be a new small size addition to the range. The SBD 15-60 is based on a linear ball guide and is supplied in increments of 60mm to 6000mm in one piece; unlimited lengths can be achieved by joining the beams.

HepcoMotion® uniquely offers stainless steel as a standard choice in all its ranges and the SBD 15-60 is no exception to this rule. And naturally it is also fully compatible with the company’s MCS Machine Construction System, allowing it to be incorporated into any bespoke automation system or machine.

Dedicated actuators for X-Y-Z
The creation of an X-Y-Z system, each axis of which performs optimally, will also be a focus at MACH 2010. HepcoMotion® will emphasise that using general purpose actuators throughout the system isn’t good practice as this doesn’t factor in the specific and different demands on each axis. Its X-Y-Z systems use a different actuator in each axis resulting in greater overall efficiency, problem-free production and a long service life.

In a typical HepcoMotion® system, the X-axis would be a PDU2 linear actuator with ultra-high performance Herculane® wheel technology and the Y-axis, the high moment load version of the same product, the PDU2M. The enhanced linear force and higher gearing needs of the Z-axis are ideally met by the stainless steel, lead-screw driven PSD80, another product that uses Herculane® wheels.

All units fit together using standard components and are easily integrated into frames or more complex machines. The system can be specified as individual parts, in kit form or fully-assembled – HepcoMotion® also provides a complete turnkey service.

Datalogger Information Technologies is working in a proyect in which monitorize domestic meters.

¿Have you ever stopped to think how could improve the water/electriciy/gas control system? As the law requires supplier companies to make real readings only twice a year, the most common preceeding way is to send invoices for an estimated amount and charge the difference when making a real reading. This may be cause of dissatisfied customers, reading mistakes, leaks not registered on time and a poor track.
Datalogger-IT proposes the use of LOGSBEE units -based on ZigBee technology- connected to each domestic meter.

This way, and using an only DIT-LOGS47, we would have an useful tool to monitorize daily consumption and even they would be reduced in the long term, the costs derived from the hiring of a technician to read domestic meters.
Datalogger-IT also provides the necessary monitoring equipment: different software applications and additional hardware in ordert to overcome any other obstacle like lack of GSM coverage or connectivity problems. Moreover, the company offers Panels PCs installable in hostile environments ranging from 7 to 46 inches.
This technology, which is still undergoing optimization in the laboratories of Tekniker Technology Center, will soon be launched to the market by Datalogger-IT.

Four relay series make their mark in instrumentation applications and they do so like no other switching technology. The SIL HV, SIL RF, MSRF and CR Series meet the miniature size and low profile requirements of today’s high tech designs, ranging in size from 8.6mm [0.339 c] to 24.13 [0.950] in length and 3.4mm [0.134] to 8.13mm [0.320] in height. Designed to eliminate any magnetic coupling effect when stacked in matrices, they are equipped with an internal magnetic shield. Additionally, each series offers unique switching power and RF signal capabilities ranging up to 7 GHz.

The CR Series is the smallest and most versatile instrumentation grade relay capable of switching signals up to 7 GHz and producing low offset voltages less than 1 microvolt. Both the 1 GHz MSRF and 1.5 GHz SIL RF are miniature single-in-line relays capable of switching voltages up to 200VDC and 1 amp while maintaining a consistent 100 milli-ohm on state resistance. Both the SIL RF Series and MSRF Series can provide over 1500 Volts isolation, switch to coil.

The SIL HV series is an excellent high voltage / high current miniature single-in-line relay with a max power rating of 10W, this series can switch up to 1000V and carry up to 5 amps for up to 50 milli-second at a consistent repetition rate. These relays can dielectrically hold off up to 4kVDC across the contacts as well as between contacts and coil.

Samples are readily available for your evaluation and prototyping needs by request to MEDER per the contact information below.

About MEDER electronic.: MEDER electronic is a private company offering a complete line of Magnetic Reed Switches, Reed Sensors and Magnets, Reed Relays and Opto-couplers worldwide. MEDER leads the way in designing and manufacturing customer specific switching and sensing solutions for products driven by all major market segments including, but not limited to, Test & Measurement, Medical, Security, Household, Automotive, Industrial, Marine, Navigation, Farm/Lawn Equipment and Telecommunications.

For more information on MEDER electronic., please visit us on the web at www.meder.com

The production of attrition dried casein and the conversion of casein to caseinate.

In the early 1980’s the company developed the Multi-Rotor Cell Mill for finer milling and drying applications, which included applications in the food industry. Extensive market research was carried out on existing mills of this type as a basis for the Atritor Cell Mill design. It is a vertical shaft multi-rotor design and contains unique features which enhance the operation, maintenance and performance of the mill.

The blades simply locate between two rotor discs instead of securing them individually with nuts and bolts, which means twice as many blades can be fitted per rotor and up to 8 rotors per mill. In addition, the fabricated mill body is precision machined to take the internal liner rings, onto which the wear segments that come into contact with the product are secured. This gives a tight tolerance between the blades and body wear segments around the circumference of the mill chamber.

This combination, together with the variable speed on the main drive rotor, translates to a versatile, repeatable and predictable mill performance. For added flexibility a high integrity classifier can be fitted to the product outlet, which can be purchased with the mill or retro-fitted.

Product quality for our customers worldwide is assured by Atritor’s machine design stability, robust construction, low maintenance and total service & process support.

With the new Isoprobe IV series, Multi-Contact offers reliable oscilloscope probes in compact design.
New generation of test probes is an addition to the touch protected MC high frequency program. The greatly reduced size of this new product substantially facilitates the conduct of measurements in a restricted space, while maintaining the good electronic characteristics of MC Isoprobe test probes. Thanks to a high frequency range up to 500 MHz with touch protection up to 300V, CAT III, the Isoprobe IV test probes are particularly suited for electronics engineers, while the probes of the Isoprobe II and Isoprobe III series are designed primarily for electricians. The test probes are available separately or in sets with matching accessories.

For all available versions and technical details, please see our new flyer C HFline.

The High Voltage Leader Unveils Its New 10kW X-Ray Generator

February 23, 2010 – Hauppauge New York – Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation, the world’s leading manufacturer of high voltage power conversion products, announces the introduction of its new 10kW XT Series of X-Ray generators.

The XT Series features a negative polarity “hot cathode” output with an integrated floating filament power supply, and an optional floating grid bias supply in models ranging from 10kV to 120kV. Front panel controls allow for easy local operation and an analog interface provides comprehensive remote control. On board ethernet with 12 bit resolution simplifies integration of the XT into OEM systems, allowing many operational features to be user programmed.

The XT’s robust IGBT inverter is inherently fault tolerant, making the series ideal for demanding applications. The 6U (10.5” high) XT can be configured with additional chassis in parallel to address higher power requirements.

The XT will be available for purchase in the summer of 2010. Technical literature and additional information on the
XT Series can be obtained at: www.spellmanhv.com/XT

Information on Spellman and their wide range of high voltage products is available by calling +1-631-630-3000,
or by visiting their website: www.spellmanhv.com

Spellman High Voltage Electronics is the world’s leading provider of custom designed and standard AC-DC and
DC-DC high voltage power converters and Monoblock® X-Ray sources for medical, industrial, semiconductor, security, analytical, laboratory, and under-sea cable power-feed applications. With design, manufacturing and service facilities in the US, UK, Mexico, China and Japan, and direct sales offices throughout Europe, Asia and North America, Spellman is committed to supporting advanced system providers and their customers throughout the world.

The new horizontal balancing machine for rotors up to 50 kg

With the PASIO from Schenck, a new generation of compact balancing machines is coming onto the market which has realised many of our visions. Balancing is in our blood, which has naturally helped us to create a logical concept combining creativity and experience, bringing everything under one roof. With the PASIO, balancing is made significantly easier and less complicated, while simultaneously offering greater process reliability and improved efficiency – find out for yourself.

PASIO – Modern and proven capabilities in one concept

The benefits at a glance:
Compact design
Ergonomic operating concept
Low space requirement
Easy installation