CEF is among the precursors and the main French industrial producer of technical rubber parts rubber to metal and polyurethane for severe dynamic stresses.
CEF to a long history and expertise since 1961 because the family business has developed with its customers numerous innovative solutions.
CEF offers a comprehensive supply of parts molded elastomers:
Clients’ ever-growing interest for “higher efficiency solutions in the production line” has been the driving factor that led SMI to develop the new “HS” series of SK shrinkwrappers.
SK HS: not only “High Speed”
The new series of “HS” high-speed automatic shrinkwrappers allows to pack a large variety of different size containers into various packaging configurations, at the maximum speed of 450 ppm (according to the format and the dimensions of the product).
High reliability
The innovative technology used for the new SK 1200/1202 HS shrinkwrappers, together with a fluid and continuous motion packaging system (a common feature of the whole SK range), ensures:
– high reliability and quality of the final pack;
– low operational costs;
– low energy consumptions;
– easy maintenance.
High performances
At the machine infeed, the loose product pressure is efficiently controlled by means of a conveyor belt composed of two 2-metre long modules, each one provided with its own motorization.
Furthermore, SK 1200/1202 HS packaging machines feature, as a standard supply, the automatic changeover device. As an optional device, an automatic changeover device on the infeed conveyor is available as well; by this latter solution, the machine operator’s duties are tremendously simplified and his manual activity to adjust the product guides of the inlet conveyor is dramatically reduced.
Ergonomic design and easy maintenance
The ergonomic and functional design of the SK HS series ensures an easier machine operation and maintenance, keeping at the same time high level of security.
The “pit-style cardboard magazine” is an example of the machine’s ergonomic structure, that ensures:
– user-friendly blank loading;
– a fluid and linear blank feeding (less pressures);
– possibility to load blanks by means of a robot (Optional);
– possibility to apply additional modules, in order to increase the magazine’s overall capacity (Optional).
Low energy consumptions
The SK 1200 HS is equipped with a newly conceived shrinking tunnel, which uses an innovative system to manage air flows; this new device lets hot air evenly distribute on all sides of the pack.
This system allows getting superior quality packages from the aesthetic point of view and reducing energy consumptions.
BEIRUT — A senior Iranian cleric says women who wear revealing clothing and behave promiscuously are to blame for earthquakes.
Iran is one of the world’s most earthquake-prone countries, and the cleric’s unusual explanation for why the earth shakes follows a prediction by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that a quake is certain to hit Tehran and that many of its 12 million inhabitants should relocate.
“Many women who do not dress modestly … lead young men astray, corrupt their chastity and spread adultery in society, which (consequently) increases earthquakes,” Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi was quoted as saying by Iranian media. Women in the Islamic Republic are required by law to cover from head to toe, but many, especially the young, ignore some of the more strict codes and wear tight coats and scarves pulled back that show much of the hair.
“What can we do to avoid being buried under the rubble?” Sedighi asked during a prayer sermon Friday. “There is no other solution but to take refuge in religion and to adapt our lives to Islam’s moral codes.” Seismologists have warned for at least two decades that it is likely the sprawling capital will be struck by a catastrophic quake in the near future.
Click source to read about this new theory on Earthquakes
After just three days of a Phase 1b trial, Vertex’s VX-222 is asserting itself as a possible contender to partner with telaprevir for a new Hepatitis C combination therapy regimen.
Hepatitis C Virus Polymerase Inhibitor VX-222 Reduced Viral Levels Over Three Days In Phase 1b Trial
In conjunction with an oral presentation at the 45th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Vienna, Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (Nasdaq: VRTX) today announced results from a Phase 1b clinical trial of the investigational oral hepatitis C virus (HCV) polymerase inhibitor, VX-222. In the trial, treatment with VX-222 for three days was well-tolerated, with all adverse events being mild to moderate in severity.
Learn about the mid-trial results of PSI-7977’s effectiveness against Hepatitis C.
Pharmasset jumps on hepatitis C study results
PRINCETON, N.J.
Pharmasset Inc. on Thursday reported promising early results from a clinical trial of a hepatitis C drug candidate.
The company is testing a drug candidate called PSI-7977. In the midstage trial, a group of 63 hepatitis C patients are being treated with a combination of PSI-7977 and two older drugs, Pegasys and Copegus, or Pegasys and Copegus alone. None of the patients have received any previous treatment for the disease.
In the next fortnight, two political debates that could decide the future of this country will be at the
Tristan is rearing to Ask the Climate Question!
centre of media attention in the North West. There will be arguments aplenty, more than one candidate will claim victory but they won’t take place in Birmingham or London and they definitely won’t be a spin alley. On the 21st April Oxfam hosts the ‘Ask the Climate Question’ hustings in the South Ribble Banqueting Hall. It’s followed a week later on the 28th by another one, this time in Bury North at the Fusilier Museum in Bury. They will challenge parliamentary candidates in two of the countries closest constituencies to explain where they stand on the issue of Climate Change and could potentially prove crucial come May 5th.
As a self-confessed politics geek with a passion for tackling climate change it’s been a joy to be charged with helping organise these events. In fact all we need is the addition of Eric Cantona as chair and this is about as close to my perfect job as I can imagine. Geekiness and footballing legends aside though, the real reason these debates are so important to me is because climate change is so crucial an issue. Just as the injustice of apartheid led so many good people to act in the late 80s and early 90s, so too the threat of climate change requires positive action now.With people suffering day in day out because of it, it’s surely our generation’s great cause and the one that we will come to be judged on. After all it’s not about rolling back the comforts of the modern age but taking the small steps that could make such a massive difference. That’s why I think it’s not just an election issue but also THE election issue. So come Wednesday I’ll be there climate change question at hand and ears wide open.
In a week in which the second historic leadership tv debate takes place, it could be easy to think there was only one event that mattered. That’s not the case. So if you live in South Ribble or Bury North, why not take part in your own piece of history by coming to your local hustings and asking the climate question.
2011 Chevrolet Cruze – Click above for high-res image gallery
Chevrolet’s mainstream, high-volume compact car was derisively referred to as the Cadavelier not so many years ago. It was considered one of the most uninspired entries from any automaker in the segment. The Cobalt was a major step forward, but still wasn’t near the top of its class. In the words of soon-to-retire General Motors vice-chairman Bob Lutz, the Cobalt was developed under the old philosophy of making cars “good enough.”
Under Lutz’s tutelage, GM’s product development team has shifted to a philosophy of making its products “Best in Class.” Transitions like this don’t happen overnight, though – especially in the car business with its long lead times. While some would argue about whether GM’s newest offerings are segment leaders, there is no doubt that almost every recent GM introduction has made tremendous progress.
GM will launch a replacement for its one-and-done Cobalt later this year in the shape of the new Chevrolet Cruze. We were invited to the GM Milford Proving Ground to learn more about the Cruze and get a first drive on the track. Read on to find out if it indeed has a shot at being best in class.
On January 7, 2007, at the Detroit Auto Show, General Motors issued a press release entitled ‘GM’s Concept Electric Vehicle – Could Nearly Eliminate Trips to the Gas Station,’ marking the debut of the Chevrolet Volt Concept. Just over three years later, we had the opportunity to drive one of the very first Chevrolet Volt pre-production models before they hits the streets this November.
GM is insistent that the Chevrolet Volt not be called a hybrid, a plug-in hybrid, or even an electric vehicle. So then, what to refer to the Volt as? An electric-vehicle with extended-range capability without range anxiety. That the very foundation upon which the Volt was first conceptualized and later developed. When it was first announced three years ago, GM’s charismatic executive Bob Lutz said that the Volt would be GM’s ‘benchmark in battery technology.’
“Even so, electric vehicles, in general, had limitations. They had limited range, limited room for passengers or luggage, couldn’t climb a hill or run the air conditioning without depleting the battery, and had no device to get you home when the battery’s charge ran low,” Lutz said. “The Chevrolet Volt is a new type of electric vehicle. It addresses the range problem and has room for passengers and their stuff. You can climb a hill or turn on the air conditioning and not worry about it.”
So how does it drive? We will get to that shortly, but first lets get the technical stuff out of the way.
Click through to read more and to view the high-res image gallery (at the bottom of the post).
The backbone of the Chevrolet Volt is the Voltec propulsion system. That consists of a 16-kWh, “T”-shaped lithium-ion battery that powers the electric drive unit, which is capable of meeting full vehicle speed and acceleration performance while driving the car on electric power for up to 40 miles without using a drop of gasoline. According to GM’s preliminary specs, the system puts out 150-hp and a maximum torque of 273 lb-ft, bringing the Volt from 0-60 mph in about 9 seconds, and hitting a top speed of 100 mph. The battery can be re-charged by plugging into a household outlet and takes less than 3 hours to recharge on 240 volts, and about 8 hours on a standard 120-volt outlet.
That does not mean that after 40 miles of driving your Volt will be rendered useless; enter extended range capability without range anxiety. The Volt carries a 1.4L 4-cylinder engine that allows the five-door, FWD sedan to travel additional miles until you’ve found an outlet to plug in to. In range-extended form, the Chevrolet Volt will average 50 mpg, which is comparable to the Toyota Prius. A fully charged battery and full tank of gas will take the Volt over 300 miles.
So how does the car drive? Like a completely normal vehicle. This is not a sport car, nor does it provide the feel of a naturally aspirated engine, but compared to cars like the Toyota Prius and the Honda Insight, the Volt definitely has a much more solid feel to it. Even in electric-mode, the car takes off (with an added Sport Mode), takes corners as you would expect a car of this caliber to, and takes stop-and-go driving like a charm. What we’re trying to say is that driving the Volt, you’ll feel completely normal and won’t experience anything totally unexpected; however, once you take your attention away from the street (and stop day dreaming about how you’re saving the world by driving a “green vehicle”) and look at the interior cabin, you’ll realize you’re driving something totally futuristic and innovative.
Inside, the Volt offers modern controls and attractive quality materials, two informational displays, and a touch-sensitive infotainment center with integrated shifter (which we thought was a bit bulky and odd) which all serve to distinguish the Volt from other vehicles on the market. It’s almost as if a designer from Apple Computers Inc. came to help GM out in designing the interior.
Some interior features of the Volt include driver-configurable, liquid crystal instrument display, standard 7-inch touch screen vehicle information display, touchscreen-style climate and infotainment controls, standard Bluetooth connectivity, and optional navigation system with onboard hard-drive for maps and music storage and rearview camera.
Our only real gripe with the interior was that the rear-seat area becomes very cramped with a tall individual occupying the front driver and passenger seat.
The outside of the Volt is akin to every other fuel-efficient vehicle on the market, an oddly shaped cheese-wedge like body. However, GM has focused all of their attention on the exterior towards maximizing efficiency. Every detail was carefully attended to minimize aero-drag and maximize battery range as air flows easily around the car. The rounded flush front fascia with closed grille hits the eyes in an odd way, but this too serves a purpose; just like the aerodynamic side mirror, sharp rear edges, and rear spoiler – too make the car move effortlessly through the air before it as it attaches itself at the front and quickly detaches at the rear to reduce drag.
So, should you sit on the edge of your seat waiting to buy this car? Only if you want something technologically advanced and want to cash out in the mid $30k range and if you can recoup your investment. For example, if your daily commute consists of 40 miles a day, you’ll never have to pay for gas. The only cost you’ll have is maintaining your Volt and the electricity cost for charging the vehicle, which is estimated at $0.80 per day for a full charge delivering 40 miles.
Also, keep in mind that come November, General Motors will only offer the Chevrolet Volt in California, Washington D.C., and Michigan; GM will not be offering the Volt nationwide until 2011.
Unlike other forms of motorsport, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb Unlimited Class carries no restrictions and gives teams and racers to create any kind of race car they want to conquer the mountain. That mean it doesn’t matter what type of tires your car wears, how much it weight, or how much horsepower it pushes out from its engine.
Meet Rhys Millen and Hyundai’s new Genesis PM580, a modern Le Mans style car with a target weight of just 1,850 pounds. Power comes from a 4.1L Hyundai Lambda turbocharged V6 making 750-hp. However, the team feels that to have a competitive power-to-weight ratio, they will have to detune the engine to produce 675-hp
“We are building a car for today’s road,” said Millen “The car will have a sleek aerodynamic body, the grip of Toyo Proxy tires and the power and durability of a Hyundai engine. This is the package I need to break the record.”
The Hyundai Genesis PM580 will feature a carbon fiber aerodynamic body with an active rear wing. The wing will create less drag in the straight-aways and more stability in cornering and braking. The car will also carry an active center differential, which will allow a 10 to 100 percent torque split to the front wheels.
Hyundai Genesis PM580:
SPECIFICATIONS:
Chromoly frame and roll cage
Two Quaife differentials
Weismann semi-automatic AWD transmission
Tilton Racing clutch
3.8-liter Lambda V6 engine stroked to 4.1-liters
HKS T04Z turbocharger
Bar and plate intercooler
Custom RMR stainless exhaust manifolds
Carbon fiber Brembo brakes and pads
17-inch HRE wheels
275/40 Toyo rear tires
RMR customer carbon fiber body with front and rear diffusers
Active wing by Aeromotions
Não é de hoje que sabemos que a indústria de carros chinesa não parece ter muita criatividade, depois de mostrarem a cópia do Mini Cooper (Lifan Hatch), agora mostram mais uma obra interessante, que se assemelha muito ao Fiat Uno.
O nome do carango é Haval, fabricado pela chinesa Great Wall e possui linhas extremamente parecidas com as do Fiat Uno. A versão mostrada na foto é a “Adventure” do Haval, e o mais curioso de tudo isso é que até mesmo a cor verde é a mesma cor do Novo Uno Way.
O carro terá um motor 1.3 de 83 cavalos, airbag duplo, freios ABS, rodas de liga leve e revestimento interno em couro. Seu lançamento está previsto para o Salão de Pequim, quase na mesma data em que o Uno será lançado no Brasil.
Instead, these first official renderings suggest that the Rhys Millen Racing Hyundai Genesis PM580 looks more like a Le Mans prototype than some of the cartoonish looking Suzuki or Toyota racersdriven by Nobuhiro “Monster” Tajima or Rod Millen – let alone one of the more traditional open-wheel buggies that long dominated the Peak.
The PM580 uses a steel tube frame chassis wrapped in a carbon fiber skin. A turbocharged 4.1-liter Hyundai V6 producing up to 750 horsepower will put power down through an active all-wheel-drive system. The rear wing also has active trimming out on the straights to reduce drag, and it can tip up to generate additional downforce in the corners. Millen’s goal is to set the first ever sub-10 minute time for the 12.42 mile “Run to the Clouds.” Since you’ve got until June 27 until the green flag drops, why not check out the high-res gallery of renderings below and the official press release after the jump?
I’m very excited to announce that in just a few weeks’ time The Primal Blueprint Cookbook will begin shipping! Since the release of The Primal Blueprint last year countless readers have encouraged me to write and publish a cookbook. Not one to disappoint, I teamed up with professional chef Jennifer Meier to put together the definitive Primal recipe book. This perfect companion to The Primal Blueprint includes over 100 all-new (never before seen on MDA), mouth-watering recipes with easy-to-follow instructions and nearly 400 brilliant, full-color, glossy photographs to guide and inspire you to cooking and eating Primally.
To mark this occasion and to thank loyal Mark’s Daily Apple readers I’ve put together a special 72-hour limited-time pre-order offer for you. Continue reading to learn why you should pre-order your copy of The Primal Blueprint Cookbook today!
1. Get 20% off the cover price.
Pre-order The Primal Blueprint Cookbook in the next 72 hours (offer expires at 10 am PST, Thursday, April 22) and you’ll save 6 bucks off the regular retail price.
2. Get a FREE Primal Blueprint Poster ($14.95 value).
Released just a few weeks ago this 24×30 inch PB Poster (click the thumbnail to zoom in) illustrates the core Primal Blueprint fitness, diet and lifestyle behaviors, with sections devoted to the 10 Laws, the Primal Blueprint Fitness Pyramid, Food Pyramid and Carbohydrate Curve.
Pre-order soon to ensure your first edition, hardcover copy will contain my John Hangrok (I know, a stretch…).
4. Get FREE Shipping and Handling for a limited time.
Shipping and handling is a pain, isn’t it? If you pre-order now, you can avoid the shipping costs and get the book for a flat fee. (Disclaimer: Free shipping to US customers only. Reduced shipping and handling (only $5.99) for all international orders.)
5. If you like MDA recipes, you’ll love The Primal Blueprint Cookbook.
With years of Primal recipe blog posts behind us we’ve gained some valuable insight into how to create simple meals that taste great and are good for you. We took this experience to the kitchen and then spent innumerable hours designing, testing and distilling the best that Primal Blueprint meals have to offer. With chapters devoted to each of the following categories we’re sure there is something for everyone: Meat, Offal, Fowl, Seafood, Vegetables, Eggs, Primal Substitutes, Marinades, Sauces and Dressings, Desserts, Beverages. The book includes delicious recipes like Roasted Leg of Lamb with Herbs and Garlic, Salmon Chowder with Coconut Milk, Tomatoes Stuffed with Ground Bison and Eggs, and Baked Chocolate Custard to name just a few.
And to be clear, The Primal Blueprint Cookbook is not the same as the Reader-Created Primal Recipe Book. The PB Cookbook is filled with exclusive, never before seen recipes, while the Reader-Created Cookbook will be comprised of recipes featured on MDA and likely won’t be available for at least 6 months.
6. It will change your life and give you the kick start you probably need.
You’re ready to lose weight, get fit, and improve your health, but you don’t know where to begin! This book tells you exactly what to eat and how to prepare it in easy-to-follow instructions and with step-by-step photos. No more guesswork needed. Just flip open the book for Primal-certified breakfast, lunch and dinner recipes.
7. Because you can’t find this anywhere else.
Until now, high-quality, full-color cookbooks written for the growing Primal/paleo communities have been difficult to come by. Where else can you find grain-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, high-fat/low-carb recipes that would make Grok proud? If a cookbook without pasta, bread, rice and beans makes sense to you (and even if it doesn’t!), this book is for you.
8. If you don’t like it, I’m offering a 100% money back guarantee.
Just try the recipes for a month and I’m sure you’ll be hooked. If you don’t notice an appreciable improvement in body composition and health, or don’t find this to be the best Primal/paleo/low-carb cookbook on the market return it and I’ll refund your money. Just one taste of any recipe and I’m absolutely certain you’ll love it.
9. Be the first on the block to receive it.
The Primal Blueprint Cookbook is scheduled to begin shipping in May, and will not be available in stores or online retailers (including Amazon.com) for several months. You can only get it from PrimalNutrition.com. So grab your copy today to avoid the wait, and to get the official early adopter badge. (Disclaimer: The early adopter badge doesn’t really exist. Reference to the early adopter badge was only inserted for the purpose of eliciting a few chuckles. Please don’t email me about not receiving an early adopter badge with your cookbook.)
10. Because you’ve waited long enough already!
Even before the release of The Primal Blueprint last year I was receiving requests for a cookbook. Once I announced my intentions to write one, every week people would ask me when it would be available. Well, it’s nearly here. Jennifer and I spent many long nights writing the best book about Primal food we could. Now it’s all yours.
So pre-order today and get a first edition, hardcover, autographed copy of The Primal Blueprint Cookbook at 20% off the cover price with a FREE Primal Blueprint Poster and FREE shipping and handling. Thanks, everyone, and Grok on!
P.S. Tell your friends about this offer by clicking “ShareThis” below. They’ll thank you for the heads up.
So, for years now, the USTR has fought as hard as possible to keep ACTA a secret, while pretending otherwise. It’s insisted that ACTA wasn’t secret while at the same time refusing to release details of what’s in the document, claiming that it was a national security issue. Later, when confronted about it, the USTR claimed that others would leave the negotiating table if the text was made public. However, as more and more info leaked about ACTA, it became quite clear that it was really the US that was behind the level of secrecy. Of course, as time went on, more and more of the document leaked, the whole “secrecy” angle got pretty silly.
So it’s almost laughable to see the USTR say on Friday that now is finally the time to release a draft — as if everyone who didn’t already want to see it hadn’t seen it.
Overall, therefore, there was a general sense from this session that negotiations have now advanced to a point where making a draft text available to the public will help the process of reaching a final agreement. For that reason, and based on the specific momentum coming out of this meeting, participants have reached unanimous agreement that the time is right for making available to the public the consolidated text coming out of these discussions, which will reflect the substantial progress made at this round.
Yes. That or the massive public rebuke the USTR has been receiving from almost every quarter on this particular agreement. The full document gets “released” on Wednesday, and we expect it to be… well, pretty much like what was leaked last month.
A bike ambulance in Mozambique. Credit: Steve Simon Oxfam GB
Last week, I spotted a headline on the BBC website which gave me hope that years of campaigning on maternal health has at last paid off. A recent study has found that in the last 30 years, maternal deaths around the world have reduced by a third, meaning 150,000 more mothers are living to see their newborn babies.
For years, it seemed the scandal that allows a mother to die every minute – the vast majority of those deaths preventable – was continuing unabated. Despite the promise by world leaders to reduce maternal mortality by three quarters in the Millennium Development Goals – we were seeing virtually no progress.
So this research is fantastic news and shows what can be achieved when governments invest in their health systems and help mothers’ access health care when they really need it. But the headline missed the more depressing findings – that maternal mortality in many of the poorest countries, particularly in Africa, has in fact increased.
This makes me reflect back to my recent trip to Malawi, where I visited pregnant women in rural villages in the south of the country. I heard stories of women going into labour and having to walk 20km to the nearest health clinic, often in the middle of the night. The village had a ‘bicycle ambulance’, which could carry women who were suffering complications in labour or could not walk – but this would still be a three-hour journey along a bumpy dirt road. It was tragic to hear how the last women who was carried on the bike trailer had died en route, leaving another widowed father to care for his family alone.
I also saw how the Malawian government has made huge strides forward in improving their health service. Supported by international donors, they have expanded free health care for mothers and children, and are working through Chiefs to encourage women to travel to health clinics before they go into labour. But the experience showed me the reality behind the statistics, and the challenges to providing health care for all in a country that is desperately poor.
This week’s news story has made me optimistic that the fight against maternal mortality is winnable – but only if donors and governments invest in health care in poor countries. It’s made me more determined to continue the campaign on maternal mortality, to see that governments keep their promise to Africa’s mothers.
With pressure mounting on Iran to halt its nuclear weapons program, Daimler is reportedly joining the growing list of businesses – German ones especially – that are reducing their commercial activities with the rogue nation.
Daimler has strong business ties in Iran, principally centered around the production and sales of commercial vehicles and diesel engines. Among the moves being undertaken by the German industrial giant are the sale of its 30 percent stake in Iranian Diesel Engine Manufacturing and the withdrawal of an application to sell civilian vehicles to Iran. Critics maintain that the moves are insufficient in the global campaign against Iran’s nuclear program, but point towards the initiative as a positive step in the right direction.
The announcement has hit the wire hot on the heels of the nuclear security summit which President Obama hosted recently in Washington, where measures – largely supported by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (pictured above with Daimler chairman Dr. Dieter Zetsche) – aimed at isolating Iran were discussed.
Citroën Metropolis Concept – Click above for high-res image gallery
Few carmaking nations manage to straddle the extremes of the market quite like the French. At one end, we’ve got the Bugatti Veyron (yes, we know it’s owned by a German, but go with us for a minute here), and at the other, an array of diminutive budget hatchbacks. There’s little to bridge the gap, but that’s not because the country’s automakers aren’t trying. And here’s the latest.
Called the Metropolis, the latest Citroën is aptly named because it’s about the size of a city block. At 5.3 meters (17.4 feet) long and 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide, it’s longer than a long-wheelbase Mercedes S-Class and wider than a Maybach. And those are some freakin’ big cars.
Alright, so this is a limousine, then. What’s under the hood? Given that it’s coming from PSA – which has been shoehorning hybrid systems into its show cars for years now – you’re right to assume this is a hybrid as well. It’s got a 2.0-liter V6 under the hood mated to an electric motor that together can vary its combined output from 272 horsepower all the way up to 460, driving all four wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox.
So who’s this for? Well it’s not going to market just yet, but take notice that it’s set for debut at the Shanghai Expo next month, which crucially follows the Beijing Motor Show this week where BMW is unveiling its long-wheelbase 5 Series, Audi the new A8 L and Volkswagen its updated Phaeton. So fa,r we’ve only got these preliminary details and small batch of photos, but you can check ’em out in the gallery below and we’ll update you when more becomes available. Thanks for the tip, VLM!
In a couple of days, Fiat/Chrysler chief exec Sergio Marchionne is anticipated to officially announce plans to bring the Fiat 500 to North America. But if the diminutive hatchback strikes you as too small for American tastes, new reports indicate that a four-door version is in the works.
Set to be built at the Fiat factory in Mirafiori, Italy, AutoWeek reports that the four-door 500 – code-named L0 – will be classified as a small minivan in Europe, and arrive on the European market at the end of next year. If and when it comes Stateside, however, it will join the two-door, convertible and Abarth performance models, set to be built atop a new platform at the Chrysler plant in Toluca, Mexico.
Pensem comigo, qual foi o taxi mais veloz da vida real que vocês já viram? Normalmente não existem taxis velozes, ainda mais aqui no Brasil, onde existem muitos Astras, Corsas e outros sedans e cupês espalhados nas ruas para fazer o serviço. São carros populares em geral. Agora, e se você pegasse um taxi “diferente”, como um Porsche Panamera Turbo?
Claro que o serviço de taxi no Brasil já é caro, um dos mais caros do mundo, e se houvesse um Porsche taxi por aqui, eu… eu não consigo nem mesmo imaginar um carro desse porte em nossas ruas, com a segurança que temos. Um Porsche recebendo pessoas estranhas durante o dia todo, e a noite? Até me esqueci dos custos, realmente é algo impossível.
Mas na Alemanha isso aconteceu, e uma pessoa decidiu investir um pouco mais e fazer de seu Porsche um carro para transporte de estranhos. Até mesmo seus colegas taxistas ficam impressionados ao entrar no carrão, e devem pensar a mesma coisa que eu: “Esse ai quis se mostrar, só pode!” Mas parece que tudo está bem por lá, não parece que alguém tentaria roubar o taxi tão facilmente.
