Author: Serkadis

Event technicians manage daily the majority of small and medium jobs with mini vans like Sprinter, Ducato or Jumper. Therefore ProCase has a new flightcase line developed, which is optimised for transport in mini vans.
Until now, with the usual LKW pack size format, exists the problem, that only two of the 60 cm cases fit in the mini van side by side. The remaining free space can`t be loaded efficiently. The new Sprinter format is a little bit smaller. Now 3 cases fit exactly side by side. Additionally the new sprinter cases are lighter and take account of the limited cargo capacity of vans. The new Sprinter Cases are offered as packing chest with variable dividers in different dimensions. Additional there is a model with practical plastic storage boxes. Using this version by installation, cables and equipment are always well arranged and ready to hand. Adequate to this, you can combine the 19” racks of the ProCase standard line, which comply also to the sprinter format.

Vietnam is an up-and-coming country. Competitive personnel
costs and an interesting tax environment are key
factors in attracting foreign investors here. At the same
time, the domestic market is becoming ever more
appealing. All of these reasons made Vietnam interesting
as a production location for the world’s largest
semiconductor manufacturer Intel. With its sales
partner “Dong Loi Equipment & Service Co. Ltd”,
Leister has had a local presence for a number of
years and is well placed for the future.

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Budget, Japan, Crossover, Mitsubishi

Let’s just go on ahead and make that much needed volume leader. The great economic collapse of 2009 smashed Mitsubishi in the teeth with a much larger brick than most other manufacturers. Thinks have slightly improved, but their February sales were still down 10 percent, and from an already frighteningly low level. Obviously, something must be done.

Meet the 2011 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport, or as they’re calling it in alphanumeric-loving Europe, the ASX. We’ve covered this particular small crossover pretty extensively already, so here’s the U.S. spec deal. It’s 15 inches shorter than the Outlander GT. Like its big brother, it gets magnesium paddle shifters. However, they are connected to a CVT instead of Mitsu’s sweet dual-clutch gearbox. Now, no one has driven the Outlander Sport yet, and CVTs have gotten massively better in the last few years, so don’t bunch your panties up quite yet.

The real upshot of that CVT is the Outlander Sport’s 31 mpg highway figure, a right respectable number for a small crossover. In fact, that means the Outlander Sport is competitive with a small CUV we like a whole bunch, the new Hyundai Tucson. Besides the CVT, Mitsu has installed weight-saving plastic front fenders, electric power steering and has sculpted the Outlander Sport down to a admirably slippery 0.33 Cd. The Outlander Sport can also be shifted from front-wheel drive to all-wheel drive and yes, you will be able to order yours in this particularly vibrant shade of show car blue.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

New York 2010: Mitsubishi hopes 2011 Outlander Sport will be their volume leader originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As some of you know, I have an undergraduate degree in industrial and labor relations — which I got in the mid-90s. One of the things I remember clearly was that the big concerns at the time were over competition not from India or China — which is what you hear about today — but competition from Germany and Japan. I had multiple classes where we looked at how organizations and businesses worked in the US compared to Japan and Germany, with questions being asked about what methods made the most sense. A key case study was the case of NUMMI — the New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. I remember having to do case studies on NUMMI in three separate classes.

The Classic NUMMI Story

The simple story: GM had an auto plant in Fremont California that was the worst of the worst in terms of quality and productivity. The cars coming out of the factory were dreadful, and management and labor were constantly fighting — even more than elsewhere, in an industry where labor and management have never been close. Eventually, in the early 80s, GM shut down the plant, but later worked out a deal with Toyota, to reopen the plant, under joint ownership — with Toyota effectively running the plant. Both car companies could get something out of this. Toyota could start building cars in the US — which was important as the US was threatening very high tariffs on imported Japanese cars, and GM would learn about how Toyota was able to build cars of much higher quality than GM. Amazingly (and against the wishes of both companies initially), the same awful workers who had worked at the plant previously were rehired.

But, then something amazing happened. Under the Toyota process, the plant flourished. The relationship between labor and management was no longer antagonistic, and the plant became much more productive, and quality shot sky high. It was a success story in almost every way. Through the late 80s and 90s, NUMMI was seen as the key to reviving American manufacturing (especially in the auto industry).

The New NUMMI Story

Today, on April 1st, 2010, NUMMI is shutting down for good. Last weekend’s This American Life had an hour long episode all about what happened to NUMMI — from the original, horrible old plant, to the revitalization, and then up through now as it’s closing. The episode explains the second half of the story. If NUMMI was so miraculous, why is it now shutting down? Why is GM bankrupt? Hell, why is Toyota now recalling millions of cars over serious quality questions. What the hell happened?



Ideas Are Easy, Execution Is Hard

It really is a fascinating story all around — but the key to me is that it highlights the vast difference between ideas and execution. We’ve said it before: lots of people have good ideas, but it’s much, much more difficult to execute on a good idea. However, as a society, we tend to assume that the execution is easy, but the ideas are hard — getting the equation backwards. NUMMI was a success — for both GM and Toyota, but GM got the wrong lessons out of it.

Initially, it really just took the superficial parts of what worked at NUMMI in trying to expand that kind of production elsewhere. GM ignored the nuts and bolts of how to really execute on the teamwork process and how to focus on continual improvement. In one case, a GM manager even told someone to go to NUMMI and photograph every square inch, so that it could be recreated in a different plant, without bothering to care about how the rest of it worked. This is just the “idea.” It’s the window dressing. It’s what people see that’s pretty and clean, but not what’s really going on behind the scenes.

How NUMMI Became A Cargo Cult

In fact, it sounds like the folks at Toyota knew this all along. While many were surprised that Toyota would “give up its secrets” to GM, someone on the program points out that the GM folks asked all the wrong questions. They were focused on the shiny front-end stuff, and not the dirty back-end of how it all really worked. As, we’ve pointed out before, it’s like the infamous cargo cults that think if they just copy what they see of something, they’ll get the same results, totally missing the fact that the execution involves a lot more than you can see.

Following that, GM kept trying and failing (miserably) to replicate the success of NUMMI elsewhere — but as the report points out, it effectively took two decades, often involving numerous execs who had to spend years at NUMMI before moving elsewhere, before GM finally realized that what worked at NUMMI involved a lot more than just teamwork and a cable that allowed anyone to stop the line. It was more than a cargo cult. It was more than the idea. It involved a lot of careful, detailed execution. But, of course, by then it was too late. GM’s reputation for making crappy cars was well established. Add in a healthy dose of paralyzing union agreements and whack the whole thing around with a freefall economy, and you have a bankrupt car company, now mostly owned by the US government.

Oh, and as for Toyota’s more recent problems? It seems that it may have learned some of GM’s bad lessons in return. It started focusing on rapid growth over quality in an attempt to bulk up and compete — and now it may be facing some of the same problems that GM faced.

It’s The Execution, Stupid…

In the end, though, it really is a fascinating case study. The original case studies from back in the 90’s of what worked at NUMMI only told half of the story. The closing of NUMMI today highlights the other half: ideas are easy. Executing is hard. Pretending it’s the other way around can get you into an awful lot of trouble.

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Following our mini-exploration of NYC Fannie (FNM) and Freddie F(RE), we thought it wise to get some perspective from the opposite side of the continent.

So we talked to  a longtime vet of the real estate industry in Phoenix, AZ (one of many places that’s at one point or another been described as a “ground zero” of the housing bust.

As for the housing recovery he says: “I don’t see any recovery. At all.”

Why?

Like the NYC folks we talked to he expressed frustration with Fannie and Freddie, along with Obama, and the Wall Street banks.

Here’s a bit of what we learned:

• Fannie and Freddie’s rules have been very tight, but the institutional rules put in place by the banks have also mad things tough.
• Canadians — which used to play a role in boosting the housing markets of warm weather cities — can no longer get a loan in America. They HAVE to pay cash. Even a 50% down payment isn’t enough.
• Investors can’t get loans if they own more than 10 properties. That’s even if they’re loaded and have great credit
• The only activity right now are bank-owned properties and short sales.
• The homebuilders are dead in the water.
• The tax credit was a total wa

He also had some harsh words about the effect of the mortgage modification program, noting that banks are basically taking on all comers for a mod (at first) but then kicking them off the rolls after three months. He thinks it’s because they have an incentive to list mortgage modification starts, but the only effect is that it slows down the necessary foreclosure process. (Also, it explains why mortgage mod redefault rates suck).

So there you go. The market is still a mess and the government isn’t helping.

Join the conversation about this story »

• Key Competitors: Honda Accord, Toyota Camry, Nissan Altima, Mazda 6.
• Power: 2.4L GDI four-cylinder – 200 hp; 2.0L GDI turbo 4-cylinder (SX) – 274 hp; 2.4L hybrid (early 2011 availability).
• Transmission: 6-speed manual (LX); 6-speed automatic.
• Availability: Fall of 2010.
• Prices: TBA.

Kia today took the wraps off of its new 2011 Kia Optima mid-size sedan, which will arrive in dealerships later this fall. This is our first real look at the new Kia sedan and we have to say, it looks really good in person and should give its competitor something to worry about.

“The all-new Optima is a new strand in Kia’s growing design DNA with a blend of simple and fluid lines and elegant but uncomplicated shapes that draw the attention of the eye in much the same fashion as a perfectly-tailored fine Italian suit,” said Peter Schreyer, chief design officer, Kia Motors Corporation. “From the distinctive sweeping chrome accent that stretches through the C pillars to the sleek greenhouse and flared wheel arches, every inch of the Optima projects a distinguished and refined style and extreme attention to detail.”

Besides its 200-hp GDI 4-cylinder and its 274-hp 2.0L GDI turbo 4-cylinder, Kia will offer a hybrid version of the Optima in early 2011, the brand’s first hybrid model ever.

Make the leap for the press release and the live high-res image gallery.

2010 New York: 2011 Kia Optima:

All Photos Copyright © 2010 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

Press Release:

* Midsize Sedan Offers a New Level of Style and Performance Features from Kia
* Three all-new powertrains, including turbo and Kia’s first-ever hybrid offer class- leading power and fuel economy
* Segment-leading premium amenities and technology features

NEW YORK, April 1, 2010 – Kia Motors America (KMA) today globally unveiled the all-new 2011 Optima midsize sedan at the New York International Auto Show. Arriving in showrooms in early fall, the next generation Optima continues Kia’s design-led transformation while revealing a completely new and stunning design language for Kia, highlighted by a dynamic and streamlined profile that conveys elegance and athletic confidence from every angle. Optima’s groundbreaking spirit continues under the hood and inside the cabin with the introduction of three new powertrains – including the brand’s first-ever hybrid in the U.S. (available in 2011) – which deliver class-leading power1 and fuel economy while the latest technology features and luxury amenities are available at the touch of a button or a simple voice command.

Designed at Kia’s studios in Frankfurt and Irvine, Calif., the all-new Optima is longer, wider and lower than the vehicle it replaces and is based on an all-new midsize platform that allowed for distinctive dimensions and proportions in the segment1 while also providing a unique canvas for Kia’s global design team to pen a vehicle that stands apart from everything else in the segment.

The all-new Optima also employs engine management systems like direct injection and turbocharging to help bring performance to the brand without sacrificing fuel efficiency. Its smooth-flowing lines speak of grace and style and offer a strong hint of European luxury.

Sleek and Streamlined Exterior

The 2011 Optima projects a high-performance yet elegant image with its unique silhouette and sleek stance that builds upon Kia Motors’ philosophy of creating high quality and dynamic vehicles that evoke passion. The striking face of Optima features Kia’s signature bold tabbed grille that is surrounded by projector headlamps. Longer, wider and lower than before, Optima’s coupe-like profile is enhanced by a sweeping chrome arc that flows from the A through C pillars, a distinctive design motif that visually lowers the car further and enhances its proportions. Optima’s roofline connects with its high and pronounced shoulder line that leads to its sculpted flanks and extended wheelbase. Boldly flared wheel arches and a raked cabin create a sedan with a graceful muscular stance.

Available in three trims, LX, EX and SX, the 2011 Optima offers numerous standard features. The LX includes dual exhaust with chrome tips, solar glass, outside mirror turn signal indicators and 16-inch steel wheels fitted with 205/65R16 tires. Upgrading to the EX offers standard fog lights, heated outside mirrors, exterior chrome/body-color door handles along with 17-inch alloy wheels with P215/55/R17 tires. Moving up to the athletic SX adds HID headlights with auto leveling, LED rear combination lights, unique front grille design, rear lip spoiler, sculpted side sills, aero wiper blades, red brake calipers and 18-inch black machined finish alloy wheels furnished with P225/45R18 tires, achieving a true performance look.

Luxuriously Equipped Interior

From the moment the door opens, Optima presents an immediate sense of a driver’s car. The instrument panel is contoured toward the driver to suggest a cockpit feel with precise gauges and controls for an overall sport performance experience without sacrificing comfort or roominess. Paddle shifters behind the steering wheel convey that Optima is built for people who are passionate about cars. A high console with a short shifter adds to the cockpit perception while an available panoramic sunroof provides an open-air feeling. Offering occupants both space and comfort with a number of standard convenience features, the sedan’s chic cabin unifies with the exterior design by welcoming its passengers with lean and ergonomic seat design and effective storage throughout. Modern standard features such as six-way adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, illuminated vanity mirrors and a trip computer further expand the cabin’s luxurious qualities.

In addition to offering a comfortable cabin, impressive technology features also come standard throughout, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3/Sat audio system with SIRIUS® Satellite Radio capabilities with three months complimentary service. Also standard on all trims are auxiliary and USB audio input jacks for connecting with MP3 players and Bluetooth® wireless technology connectivity with steering wheel-mounted voice activation controls to enable hands-free operation for compatible mobile phones.

Additional standard interior features include a tilt/telescopic steering column, power door locks, power windows, sun visor extension and an air-conditioned glove box. Stylishly appointed cloth seats provide comfortable seating while a 60/40 split-folding rear seat offers multiple seating and cargo arrangements depending on driver and passenger needs. Optima LX with automatic transmission features cruise control and an active EcoMinder® indicator for optimal fuel efficient driving.

Optima EX comes well-equipped and offers premium standard features, including the UVO powered by Microsoft® infotainment system with rear-view camera, push button-start ignition with smart key, dual-zone automatic air conditioning with rear vents, a leather-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob, auto-dimming rear view mirror with Homelink® and compass, auto light control, driver and front passenger automatic window up/down and eight-way power driver’s seat, lighted glovebox, rear reading lamps, floor mats and chrome door handles.

For consumers looking for even more sporty appeal, the Optima SX adds unique black leather woven seat trim, black interior trim with carbon insert film and metal accent, Supervision™ meter cluster with LCD display, center fascia and meter housing, soft trim with French seams, steering wheel paddle shifters, metal pedals and lighted metal door scuff plates.

Available upgrades for the Optima EX and SX trims include a power panoramic sunroof, leather seat trim, memory driver’s seat, heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats and a heated steering wheel for additional interior refinement. Luxuriously appointed features, including an Infinity® 5.1 surround sound audio system with HD Radio®, and eight speakers delivering in excess of 500-watts of system power and voice-activated navigation system with a seven-inch screen enhance the cabin for audiophiles or those who seek the latest superior quality technology for a modern driving experience.

All-New Advanced Platform

The 2011 Optima is distinctive, right down to its all-new platform. Optima’s low, lean and powerful stance is assisted through its overall length of 190.7 inches, an increase of 1.7 inches over the previous model. Optima is built on a platform with an overall width of 72 inches and wheelbase of 110 inches, an increase of 2.9 inches, and has a low ground clearance of 5.3 inches for enhanced aerodynamics. Optima’s lightweight design uses high-tensile-strength steel to enhance structural strength while also achieving high torsional stiffness, benefiting handling, ride quality and refinement. Additional measures to help ensure good noise vibration and harshness (NVH) reduction qualities are fitted throughout the Optima.

Built on a unibody frame, the front-wheel-drive Optima utilizes independent front and rear suspension systems. MacPherson struts are used in the front with a multi-link layout in the rear and are both joined with coil springs and front anti-roll bars to engage drivers with responsive handling and provide the utmost comfort whether the road is smooth or less than ideal.

Class-Leading Efficient and Powerful Engines

The 2011 Optima is available in three all-new and fuel-efficient Theta II powerplants, a 2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder, a 2.0-liter GDI turbo engine or a 2.4-liter hybrid. The 2.4-liter GDI engine produces 200 horsepower and upgrading to the available 2.0-liter turbo GDI engine (SX model) delivers V6-type power with a four-cylinder engine that produces 274 horsepower1, while mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. This represents Kia’s first application of GDI technology, while a 2.4-liter hybrid Optima will be introduced in 2011. All automatics feature Sportmatic™ clutchless shifting. A single six-speed manual transmission is available only with the LX four-cylinder model.

Safety-Minded

The 2011 Optima is equipped with a high level of standard safety features, as is the rest of the Kia line-up. This includes six airbags (dual advanced front and front-seat mounted side as well as full-length side curtain), front active headrests, side-impact door beams, height-adjustable front seatbelts with pre-tensioners and force limiters, three-point seatbelts for all seating positions, Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH) and a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). Four-wheel antilock brakes (ABS), Electronic Stability Control (ESC), a Traction Control System (TCS), a Brake Assist System (BAS) and Hill Assist Control (HAC) also are standard.

Competitive Warranty

The 2011 Optima is covered by Kia’s warranty program, which offers unprecedented consumer protection. Included in this program are a 10-year/100,000-mile limited powertrain warranty, a five-year/60,000-mile limited basic warranty and a five-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty. A five-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance plan also is part of the vehicle coverage.

2011 Kia Optima Specifications

Exterior Dimensions
Overall Length: 190.7 inches
Width: 72.0 inches
Height: 57.3 inches
Wheel base: 110.0 inches

Interior Dimensions
Front Headroom: 40.0 inches
Rear Headroom: 37.6 inches
Front Legroom: 45.5 inches
Rear Legroom: 34.6 inches

Powertrain
2.4-liter GDI four-cylinder: 200 hp
2.0-liter GDI turbo four-cylinder (SX): 274 hp1
2.4-liter hybrid (early 2011 availability)

Transmission
6-speed Manual
6-speed Automatic w/ Sportmatic® shifting

Wheels & Tires
Wheels: 16-inch (LX), 17-inch (EX), 18-inch (Optional on EX, standard on SX)
Tires: 205/65R16, P215/55R17, 225/45R18

– By: Omar Rana

From Green Right Now Reports

Environmental groups were taken aback by President Obama’s announcement this week that the U.S. would open vast areas along the Eastern Seaboard, in the Gulf of Mexico and selected areas of the Alaskan Arctic to off-shore oil and gas leasing. Reaction ranged from pure outrage to a more measured response from big groups that clearly want to maintain good relations with a White House that has pitched some wins their way.

The World Wildlife Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council, for instance, issued straightforward statements saying they were not happy with the new drilling, but pleased with restrictions in some areas and glad that the administration is pursuing oil conservation measures like new higher mileage and stricter emissions standards for cars.

The best line:

“Short of sending Sarah Palin back to Alaska to personally club polar bear cubs to death, the Obama administration could not have come up with a more efficient extinction plan for the polar bear,” said Brendan Cummings, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity.

We thought it best you see the official responses  in full so we’re reprinted the various statements here:

From Brendan Cummings, senior counsel at the Center for Biological Diversity:

“Today’s announcement is unfortunately all too typical of what we have seen so far from President Obama – promises of change, a year of ‘deliberation,’ and ultimately, adoption of flawed and outdated Bush policies as his own. Rather than bring about the change we need, this plan will further our national addiction to oil and contribute to global warming, while at the same time directly despoiling the habitat of polar bears, endangered whales, and other imperiled wildlife.

“Oil development in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, home to all of America’s polar bears, is strongly opposed by conservation groups as no technologies exist to clean up oil spills in icy waters. Oil development in the Beaufort Sea would likely also be visible from the shores of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

“Today’s plan would allow existing leases in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas to move forward while the remainder of these areas would be subject to additional leasing following further environmental studies.   The only bright spot in today’s announcement was that a lease sale proposed in Alaska’s Bristol Bay, within critical habitat for the North Pacific right whale, the world’s most endangered whale, would be cancelled. However, important habitat for the similarly endangered North Atlantic right whale would be opened in its stead.

“The Center for Biological Diversity and other organizations filed a court challenge to the 2007-2012 offshore oil leasing plan issued by the Bush administration. The Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia set aside that plan for failing to adequately assess the environmental impacts of opening up areas off Alaska to drilling. Today’s announcement comes partially in response to that court ruling.    Earlier this year, Obama’s Interior Secretary, Ken Salazar approved Shell’s plans to drill this summer on existing leases in the Beaufort and Chukchi. Litigation against that plan is ongoing.

“Short of sending Sarah Palin back to Alaska to personally club polar bear cubs to death, the Obama administration could not have come up with a more efficient extinction plan for the polar bear.”

Statement by Frances Beinecke, president of the Natural Resources Defense Council:

“We need comprehensive solutions for America’s clean energy future — and more offshore drilling in our oceans does not fit in that picture. Offshore drilling carries significant environmental risks without truly increasing our energy independence. There are many areas that are just too sensitive for offshore drilling, which threatens our oceans, sea life and coastal communities; including economic interests in these areas. America has better solutions than to drill in our pristine waters — which needs more research and investigation — and we should be pursuing these options.

“On the other hand, the new vehicle standards are a giant step forward on our country’s journey towards a cleaner and more secure future. These standards will help consumers and businesses — while cutting carbon pollution to protect the environment. The new fleet of hybrid vehicles announced today will also help cut our oil dependence and cut pollution. And we are encouraged by the administration’s support for investments in carbon capture and storage and in advanced biofuels.

“In order to fully achieve a clean energy future, we need the administration and Congress to enact truly comprehensive energy and climate policies that will cut our dependence on oil, limit carbon pollution and create jobs. We now look to the Senate to advance comprehensive legislation — that is being crafted by Senators Kerry, Graham, Lieberman and others — to make our country stronger, safer and more secure.”

Statement from World Wildlife Fund’s Vice President for Arctic and Marine Policy Bill Eichbaum:

“Today’s decision accurately reflects the extraordinary value of Bristol Bay to the American people.  It is not only one of America’s great natural treasures; it also is the engine that drives the Bering Sea fishery, the single largest source of seafood in the United States that generates nearly $2 billion per year for Alaska’s economy.  The Administration now needs to safeguard this resource permanently.

“WWF is also pleased that additional planned lease sales will not go forward in America’s broader Arctic waters, namely the Beaufort and Chukchi seas, under the current 2007-2012 leasing program.  We remain concerned, however, that exploratory drilling in these sensitive places will be allowed to continue.  It is our sincere hope that Secretary Salazar will follow the science that clearly outlines the enormous risks we face if these areas are exploited before important environmental safeguards are put in place.

“The hard lessons of the Exxon Valdez oil spill still haunt us. And, as we saw with the recent catastrophe in Australia’s Timor Sea, even the latest advances in technology cannot prevent a major spill from happening or get it cleaned up quickly enough to prevent a natural disaster.

“The dramatic consequences of climate change have made the Arctic increasingly fragile to other threats.  It is critical that the Senate pass comprehensive climate and energy legislation this year and, while such action may require a compromise on offshore drilling, we cannot further compromise the Arctic ecosystems that we depend on for jobs, seafood and our natural heritage.”

Statement of  Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune:

“These standards are a grand slam: billions of dollars in consumer savings at the pump, a huge reduction in oil use, significant cuts in pollution, and they will help a more sustainable domestic auto industry thrive. Sierra Club pushed hard to pass the California law that set the stage for these standards, our members pushed for the Calfornia standards to be adopted in more than a dozen other states across the country, and we defended them all the way to the Supreme Court. The ambitious standards being finalized today were made possible by these years of hard work and we are delighted to see them become the law of the land.

“Today’s new national standards are the result of state leadership and the leadership of President Obama and his cabinet, including EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson and Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood. Driving vehicle standards forward to 35.5 miles per gallon in 2016 is a result of President Obama’s work to bring together automakers, state leaders, environmentalists, and labor unions to secure a win for the nation.

“The new tailpipe standards, promulgated under the Clean Air Act, demonstrate the Act’s power to spur innovation, fuel economic growth, protect our air, make America more energy independent, and fight global warming. Instead of using this and other important tools in the Clean Air Act to accelerate our transition to a clean energy future, some in Congress want to slam on the brakes and actually shift the country into reverse by gutting the Clean Air Act. We cannot allow this happen. It would be bad for the environment, bad for the economy, and bad for America. The only people it would be good for are Big Oil, big polluters, and America’s enemies overseas who continue to profit from our dangerous dependence on oil.”

Statement of Environmental Defense Fund’s National Climate Campaign Director Steve Cochran:

“Without comprehensive climate and energy legislation, the failed, narrow energy policies of the past will continue. We believe the President’s announcement demonstrates his continued commitment to work towards the bi-partisan majority that will be necessary to pass climate legislation in the Senate.

“The President has put forward his plans on offshore drilling after hearing from key Senators that it’s a necessary step to succeed in passing climate and energy legislation in the Senate.

“Now it’s time for the supporters of new drilling and an “all-of-the-above” approach to energy policy to step forward and support comprehensive legislation, including a limit on carbon pollution. And the President must provide the leadership and drive to make that happen.

“From an environmental prospective, we believe any exploration and drilling must be carried out with effective environmental safeguards, including protection of key coastal and ocean habitats. Explicit funding for repair of the damage caused by historic energy extraction and transportation infrastructure must be addressed as well.”

Kia today announced that it will start competing in the five-door hatchback segment with its new 2011 Kia Forte five-door. Based on the Forte sedan and the Forte Koup, the Kia Forte five-door carries a new front grille, alloy wheels, lower valence design, center console, paddle shifters, push-button start and navigation in addition to the fifth door for a distinct appearance and intentional practicality.

The Kia Forte five-door will go on sale later this year and will be available with two efficient engines – 2.0L or 2.4L – and a new six-speed manual or automatic transmission.

We like it. How about you? Let us know in the comments section after the jump.

2010 New York: 2011 Kia Forte Five-Door:

All Photos Copyright © 2010 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

– By: Kap Shah

 

Introduction and Summary:

Lord, have mercy! Ms. Frizzle is up to her old tricks again! In The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth, written by Joanna Cole and illustrated by Bruce Degen, Ms. Frizzle’s class has spent the last couple of weeks studying animals and their natural habitats, they are pretty excited when Ms. Frizzle announces, “We are going to study about our Earth!”. While the kids are excited about studying something new, they didn’t realize who Ms. Frizzle was. After a failed classroom homework assignment in which the class is required to bring in a rock to class, Ms. Frizzle takes them on another one of her wacky field trips; this time it’s to the center of the Earth! The class goes through each of the four layers of the Earth, collecting different types of rocks in both the crust and the mantle, before ending up on “one big volcano!” When the field trip ends, the class puts together a rock display, showing the different kinds of rocks they found, their classification and their uses. A wonderful book that teaches kids about earth science & geology while also incorporating wacky humor as well.

 Curriculum Connections:

 This book does much more than just teach children about the different types of rocks that exist in the world. It provides students with an in-depth look at the interior of the Earth’s surface. There are four layers- the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core-and the earth’s surface is constantly changing. Ms. Frizzle shows her students how different rocks and minerals are identified using a classification key(igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic) and also how the soil that we stand on is a natural resource. The students also get to understand the basic properties of rocks just based on direct observation: which rocks are rigid, which rocks are smooth, and even some rocks that float! The book is a geology/earth science encyclopedia that is just waiting for somebody to get their hands on, pick up, read & enjoy! (Virginia Standards of Learning: K.1, K.4, 3.7, 4.8, 5.1 and 5.7).

Additional Resources:

The Magic School Bus:  The home page of the delightful children’s book series. Filled with fun, adventure and learning, this website will keep students entertained for hours at a time.

Geology for Kids:  If you’ve ever wanted to learn about geology, the earth and rocks, then this is the website for you. It provides useful information for teachers to use in the classroom and it also has fun and unique games that children will want to play again and again.

Rock and Mineral Activities for Kids:  The name says it all. This website is filled with several activities for children to partake in that involve several different kinds of rocks and minerals.

General Information:

Book: The Magic School Bus Inside the Earth

Author: Joanna Cole

Illustrator: Bruce Degen

Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

Publication Date: 1993

Pages:  40

Grade Range: K-2

ISBN: 0-590-40760-0

We have seen a number of different shapes coming from the VAIO Division from VAIO X505 slimness to VAIO TP roundness, so Sony added a new VAIO to its line that will feature minimalistic design and pack the latest computing power behind its form factor. I’ve been lucky to play with it some and share some pictures with you all. I cannot disclose any more info at this point (being under NDA), but can say that this small VAIO is pretty cool looking piece of technology and will attract a lot of attention. It does have DVR capabilities with cloud storage on Sony’s servers, will stream seamlessly HD to any VAIO in your house (equipped with VAIO Media Plus or Gallery software), access to PlayStation/Qriocity platform will enable this device get the latest flicks on your Bravia. Cell processor is powering the OS that Sony has adopted (Linux integration) and your Windows OS will run under Intel’s undisclosed next gen chip. It will also have integrated features corresponded with the upcoming Sony devices that will be announced later in the year (think VAIO Touch enabled platform).  Check out the picture gallery and watch out for more news regarding this VAIO soon.

Top View:

Side Views:

This shows how small the device is:

In an email to subscribers, Hedgeye analyst Matt Hedrick explains why he is continuing to short the Euro. It seems he is not confident (like many other investors) in the ability of the PIIGS to rid themselves of gluttonous budget deficits and rising debt-to-GDP ratios.

The credit downgrades foreshadow quite nicely, too.

Hedgeye: As we noted in our post “Politics vs. Pragmatism” last week, despite the decision by the EU and IMF on 3/25 to “safeguard financial stability” in Greece, sovereign debt imbalances (especially among the PIIGS) remain at large and continue to heighten investors’ fears.  Regarding Greece, most recently credit markets are clearly indicating heightened risk via rising bond yields.

In the first chart (below) we highlight that since 3/25 the yield on the 10YR Greek Bond has jumped a hefty 25bps. And while 10YR yields for the other PIIGS have held pretty steady over the last weeks (chart 2), we’d expect to see them to push up in the coming weeks as Greece shares more of the “sovereign debt” spotlight. Note that Portugal’s credit rating was recently cut to AA- by Fitch Ratings; we’d expect to see a downgrade of Spain in the coming weeks. For reference on the total debt and budget deficit constraints afflicting the PIIGS, see chart 3 (shown below).

Where else is this fear showing up?

* The equity markets of Spain, Greece, and Portugal are among the worst global performers YTD, down -7.3%, -4.6%, and -3.6% respectively.
* Moody’s downgraded five of the nine Greek banks it tracks yesterday, saying the “country’s weakening macroeconomic outlook and its expected impact on these banks’ asset quality and earnings-generating capacity.” (a lagging indicator, but representative of consensus).

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See Also:

• Bond Traders Realize The Greece Bailout Is A Joke
• Gartman: The Next Euro Plunge Is Imminent
• Meet Greece’s Judge Dredd Of Finance Who Thinks He Can Defeat The Debt Burden

With all the automakers reporting March sales today, we’ve been paying close attention to the numbers.

Chrysler, as expected, clocked in lower with sales down 8% to 92,600 units. Every other company was up, including Toyota, so we figured Chrysler would be March’s underdog.

Then came Suzuki. Sales are down 72% in March, year over year, to 2200 units. The company sold only one Forenza vehicle last month.

2200 units is a paltry amount. Divide that amount by the lower 48 states and you have a whopping 45 cars PER STATE sold. Yikes.

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See Also:

• GM Recalls 1.3 Million Vehicles Due To Power Steering Problem In Ancient Cars Driving Slowly
• The Complete Round Up Of February Auto Sales
• Senator Calls For Ban On Japanese Car Imports

Bentley today showed its new Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible at the 2010 New York Auto Show. At first, we thought that the paint job on the exterior may glow in the dark, turn out, it’s just a really bad color choice. Moving on…

Refresher: Power for the Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible comes from a 6.0L W12 twin-turbocharged engine producing 621-hp with a maximum torque of 590 lb-ft. Mated to ZF 6-speed Quickshift automatic gearbox, the Continental Supersports Convertible goes from 0-60 mph in 3.9 seconds with a top speed of 202 mph. The Continental Supersports Convertible is flex-fuel capable, meaning it can run on either gasoline or E85 ethanol.

2010 New York: 2011 Bentley Continental Supersports Convertible:

All Photos Copyright © 2010 Omar Rana – egmCarTech.

– By: Omar Rana

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Volkswagen, Diesel

During yesterday’s North American debut of the 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid at the New York Auto Show, VW’s North American CEO, Stefan Jacoby, let slip that the yet-to-be-named Passat replacement – currently known as the “New Mid-Size Sedan” (NMS) – will be available with a diesel in both the U.S. and Canada when it goes on sale in 2011.

Production of the NMS is set to begin within the next year at the automaker’s new Chattanooga, Tennessee facility, and it’s all but assured that the mill will be the same 2.0-liter diesel four-pot currently outputting 140 horsepower and 236 pound-feet of torque in the Jetta TDI.

Details on the sedan are scant, but Jacoby reiterated that the NMS will be Volkswagen’s most focused push into the mid-size segment, where it is set to do battle with the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. With a launch this important, it’s no wonder that the company is still debating names.

New York 2010: Volkswagen Mid-Size Sedan to launch with TDI in 2011 originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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As part of its initiative to improve the profitability of its LCD TV business, Sony announced a new strategic alliance with Taiwan’s Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. Ltd. (“Hon Hai”) for the production of LCD TVs for the European region. Based on this agreement, Sony will sell to the Hon Hai a portion of its shares in the Nitra factory (legal name: Sony Slovakia, spol. s r.o. in [State of Nitra, Slovak Republic]), which currently manufactures LCD TVs for the European region. Following the sale, the Hon Hai Group will hold about 90% and the Sony Group will retain about 10% of the shares in the Nitra factory. The employees currently working at the Nitra factory will be assumed by Hon Hai upon the completion of the transaction. The Nitra factory will continue to be a key location for the production of Sony LCD TVs for the European region. In addition, Sony Supply Chain Solutions Europe, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sony, will lease a portion of the Nitra factory, which will remain a logistics center of Sony Group in Europe.

The parties intend to complete the sale by the end of September 2010, subject to regulatory approvals in several countries.

We recently wrote about the newly filed tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming copyright infringement in the US as part of a “monetization” plan for some independent filmmakers. We didn’t realize at the time, but it’s no surprise that at least one of the filmmakers involved is Uwe Boll, famous for his previous rants against piracy. However, given that the lawsuits are really more about just trying to get people to cough up some cash, rather than any serious legal question, is it any surprise that the lawsuits themselves may be pretty weak?

Someone who prefers to remain anonymous notes that, in the lawsuit over Boll’s Far Cry, a film supposedly released in 2008, the lawyers for the so-called US Copyright Group point to the fact that the copyright registration that the lawsuits are based on was not granted until January of 2010:

Here’s the lawsuit filing that highlights this particular copyright:



Ah, but all those thousands of accused infringers? The vast, vast, vast majority of them were accused of infringing before the registration. Take a look



And, of course, while you can sue over unregistered copyrights, you’re greatly limited in what you can do with those lawsuits — especially when it comes to remedies. If I remember correctly, by registering more than 3 months after publication and doing so after infringement occurs, you can no longer seek statutory damages — just “actual damages” and the infringer’s profits (in this case, absolutely nothing). So, basically, it appears these lawsuits are meaningless. They basically can’t win any money — but, of course, the purpose isn’t to actually win money in a lawsuit. It’s to scare people into paying up — and most recipients of the threat letters won’t realize that the copyright registration was too late and that the lawsuit likely won’t go anywhere.

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By John F. Terzano

Earlier this month, Orleans Parish District Judge Lynda Van Davis granted a new trial for Michael Anderson, who was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in a trial plagued with problematic evidence. Prosecutors have appealed the ruling and indicated that they will go forward with a retrial if necessary, so the question of Anderson’s guilt or innocence is far from settled. What is clear today, however, is that his first trial was marked by prosecutors’ troubling concealment of important information that undermined the credibility of key witnesses against him. Playing fast and loose with such evidence is unacceptable. In a death penalty case, it is unconscionable.

Judge Davis’s ruling was based on prosecutors’ failure to provide a videotaped interview with the sole eyewitness that highlights significant inconsistencies in her story and put her at the scene hours after the crime. Prosecutors explained this as an oversight that was due to their several post-Katrina office moves. More disconcerting, however, was the failure to disclose what Judge Davis called “the deal of the century” given to a jailhouse snitch witness, as that failure cannot be blamed on post-hurricane logistical challenges. In her opinion, Judge Davis noted that without the inconsistent eyewitness, “Anderson’s conviction is based on the testimony of three jailhouse snitch witnesses, one of which received the deal of the century that was not revealed prior to trial.”

Jailhouse “snitch” and informant witnesses often provide incriminating testimony during criminal proceedings in exchange for reduced sentences or other benefits. This practice provides powerful incentives for witnesses to lie, and makes their testimony notoriously unreliable. Despite this fact, police and prosecutors often use this highly unreliable form of evidence to secure convictions. The danger of this kind of testimony is not theoretical: in-custody informant testimony is a leading cause of documented wrongful convictions and a factor in over fifteen percent of the DNA exoneration cases nationally.

Because snitch testimony is so risky, it is imperative that such evidence be subjected to careful scrutiny and safeguards. Illinois has led the way by requiring pretrial reliability hearings in homicide cases, in which the state must demonstrate that a jailhouse snitch’s proffered testimony is credible before it can be presented to the jury. Other important safeguards include mandatory, automatic pretrial disclosures of information related to jailhouse snitch testimony, including witness compensation arrangements and other information bearing on witness credibility. States should also require corroboration of statements made by jailhouse snitches. The Justice Project’s common-sense reforms designed to protect the system from unreliable snitch testimony can be found in In-custody Informant Testimony: A Policy Review.

There is an emerging consensus among criminal justice experts on the need for reform. Alexandra Natapoff, a leading national expert on the issue, recently published a new book, Snitching: Criminal Informants and the Erosion of American Justice, which extensively details the threat that snitch testimony poses to the criminal justice system. Natapoff also outlines the need for new safeguards to prevent snitches from undermining justice.

By improving the standards for admissibility of jailhouse informant evidence at trial, states will increase the transparency and openness of the process and help ensure that the most reliable evidence is making it into the courtroom and before the jury and will increase public faith in the criminal justice system.

Filed under: New York Auto Show, Sedan, Etc., Technology, Hyundai, Luxury

The big surprise during the Hyundai Equus reveal today at today’s New York Auto Show was the automaker’s announcement that it would supply each new Equus owner with a “multimedia tablet” to replace the owner’s manual. While Hyundai USA president John Krafcik didn’t explicitly say that the device in question will be an Apple iPad, the image presented above unquestionably the company’s latest gadget. Of course, there’s no guarantee that the Hyundai tablet will actually be an Apple product by the time the Equus hits dealers this fall.

The idea behind the tablet is to not only replace the traditional owner’s manual – a costly book that’s grown increasingly more difficult to navigate with the exponential increase in features, particularly in luxury vehicles – but to handle customer/dealer interactions like scheduling service appointments.

Although the iPad (hitting retailers and pre-orderers’ mailboxes this Saturday) is the biggest player in the yet-to-be-tested tablet segment, there are several other manufacturers building slate-like devices for consumers. Dell, JooJoo and others have their own units in the works, but Apple is easily the stand-out… for now.

2011 Hyundai Equus replaces owner’s manual with “multimedia tablet” (iPad) originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Aftermarket, New York Auto Show, Sedan, Performance, BMW, Luxury

We dig super sedans. You get 94 percent of the performance of a sports car (or there abouts) plus the ability to take a few friends along for the hair-raising ride. Also, cops don’t seem to scrutinize big snazzy sleepers as much as they do bright yellow scissor-doored whatchamacall’em-ardos. It should come as no shock then that when we first heard about the new Alpina B7, we were pretty excited. When we then subsequently learned that an all-wheel drive version of BMW’s sportiest big sedan was coming to the New York Auto Show, well, our excitement grew.

Then we saw the car in the flesh.

Let’s just say we’re now triple excited. A few pertinent stats, if we may. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found in a host of BMWs has been significantly improved to 500 horsepower (up by 100 hp over stock) and 516 pound-feet of torque (up by 66 pound-feet). The B7 is also more aerodynamic than your garden variety 7 Series, comes with zillion-spoke wheels (fine, twenty) and can hit 60 mph in 4.5 seconds. With the Alpina B7 xDrive, you can now toss AWD into that already frothy mix.

But the above stats aren’t the crazy parts. It’s the details that impress the most. For example, all four of the heavy-duty half shafts come out of the 7 Series High Security. The 60 to 0 mph braking distance is identical to a Porsche Turbo. That last bit is not an April Fools’ joke, although it’s somewhat mitigated by Alpina’s saying, “that’s cold braking distance.” While not a stat per say, the AWD system is mechanically identical to other BMW xDrive systems, though Alpina has written their own software system, presumably for the better.

One last thing that’s actually a little to complicated to explain: take a look at the center of the B7’s wheel. You’ll see that once you’ve slid the heraldry over, there’s a keyhole. Now, if you zoom out, you’ll notice no valve stems anywhere on the wheel. In other words, your tire pressure’s locked in and can be adjusted to the tenth of a PSI. Pretty cool, no?

High res gallery below, official press release after the jump.

Photos by Drew Phillips / Copyright (C)2010 Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: BMW/Alpina]

Continue reading New York 2010: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive is deeply impressive

New York 2010: 2011 BMW Alpina B7 xDrive is deeply impressive originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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