2011 Hyundai Equus – Click above for high-res image gallery
Hyundai showed off its new Sonata Turbo and Sonata Hybrid yesterday at the New York Auto Show, two vehicles that should help keep the brand’s mid-size sedan moving up the sales charts with a bullet. With March sales figures just trickling in, it looks like the Sonata is now the third best-selling mid-size sedan behind the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. With its high level of equipment, style, quality and performance, it’s not surprising to see this Korean doing well. Today in New York, the automaker showed how it can take that level of refinement found in the Sonata and its bigger brother, the Genesis, and ratchet it up another notch for a new flagship, the Hyundai Equus.
The Equus actually showed up last year in New York, sent over in world-market form to gauge customer interest. Apparently, it went swimmingly for Hyundai, as the production Equus will officially go on sale here towards the end of the year – well an oxymoronically named Equus, minus its signature hood ornament. Looking slightly less like the Lexus LS460 than the previous version of the car we’d seen, the U.S.-spec Equus has a shape that fits right in with upscale sedans from Buick, Lexus and Infiniti, if not Mercedes, BMW and Audi. Particularly at the rear fender, there is a swoop that doesn’t quite speak luxury like the rest of the car though, reminding us more of a Dodge Charger than a Euro sedan. This production version though, particularly with its cleaner hood and grille, definitely has a refined look.
CEO John Krafcik wouldn’t give us a firm number but did promise that the 385-horsepower sedan will come in with a base price somewhere between $50,000 and $60,000. The Equus will also launch a new luxury ownership experience being sold through select dealers in a dedicated area that will also include Genesis and Genesis Coupe. It will be available in four- or five-seat configurations with a mini fridge splitting the rear bucks on the rear twosome. Those backseats are also extremely comfortable, with power ventilation, heating and massage, plus a Maybach-like foot rest. Very nice.
Hyundai has also said that the Equus buying experience will be a step up from other models, with an iPad-like tablet device replacing the traditional owner’s manual. We’ll have full details on this interesting bit of kit shortly. For the moment, we have live shots for you below and the official press release after the jump so you can get the rest of the lowdown on this highbrow Hyundai.
Unfortunately, it’ll also be the year of a significant increase in consumer debt accroding to Cardhub.com founder Odysseas Papadimitriou.
Papadimitriou explains how at the end of last year, debts stopped shrinking and started growing again – a good sign for consumer spending, no doubt, but can shoppers handle their debt?
CardHub.com founder Osysseas Papadimitriou says his analysis of credit-card lending and performance patterns showed that borrowers’ debts not only stopped shrinking late last year, but started growing. He expects the shift to continue in 2010, sipplying lenders with more potential asset-backed bond collateral.
Papadimitriou said US credit-card balances rose $500 million during the final three months of 2009, to $876.1 billion. By his calculation, which takes payments and charge-offs into account, that means consumers charges $21.5 billion more during the fourth quarter than in the preceding three months – a reversal from earlier in the year.
After making its world debut at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, the 2011 BMW Alpina B7 is back on the show floor – however, this time it is sitting on an xDrive platform of the 7-Series.
The 2011 BMW Alpina B7 will start at $122,875 for the standard wheelbase and $126,775 for the extended wheelbase.
Check out the live high-res gallery after the jump.
Refresher: Power for the 2011 BMW Alpina B7 comes from a twin-turbocharged 4.4L V8 power that produces 500-hp with a maximum torque of 516 lb-ft. Mated to a ZF 6-speed automatic transmission, 0-60 mph comes in just 4.5 seconds with a top speed that is electronically-limited at 174 mph. Maximum torque is available from 3,000 to 4,750 rpm.
We’ve been noticing a trend in recent years of companies that sell physical goods trying to figure out ways to have those goods get some of the “advantages” of digital goods. For example, with physical products, once you sell it, in theory, the seller no longer owns a piece of the good. But with digital goods, they still hold the copyright, and often try to limit what you can do with the product even though you thought you “bought” it. So we’ve been disturbed by the rise of things like artist resale rights, which take away the right of first sale on artwork, and require you to pay the original artist every time you sell the product.
We’ve pointed out how this really only benefits wealthy artists, while harming up and coming artists — despite those who support such laws claiming exactly the opposite. Their argument is that if a poor artist sells a piece of artwork on the cheap, and it later appreciates in value, he should get a cut of that increase in value. That argument fundamentally misunderstands economics, however. By adding that, you are effectively taking away the potential benefit to a buyer. You are lowering the possible return, making it less likely for them to invest in the first place. And we already have better mechanisms to help artists capture value if their older (cheaply sold) artwork becomes more valuable: it’s called creating and selling newer artwork for much more money.
When Australia moved forward with just such a plan for artist resale rights at the end of last year, we asked mockingly, why not apply the same thing to every product, so that any time you sold it, you had to pay everyone else who owned it. In fact, we noted:
Imagine if that were the case with cars or houses as well? Who would ever think that was reasonable?
Freehold Capital Partners, a company started in Texas, is selling developers across the country on a plan that would attach a private transfer fee to homes, allowing developers to profit for generations.
The fee, written into neighborhood restrictions, would encumber the property for 99 years and throw 1 percent of the sale price back to the developer — or his or her estate or another investor — and Freehold each time the home changes hands.
My apologies for thinking that such a scenario was an “obviously ridiculous” one. Not surprisingly, Freehold is using intellectual property as the basis for its plan:
“Just like authors who write books and musicians who write songs that will be enjoyed for generations to come, those who improve property are also engaged in the creative process, and the economics of the transaction should reflect that reality,” a Freehold brochure says.
Thankfully, people are protesting this, noting that it will drive down the price of homes, make it harder to sell them, harm neighborhoods and greatly “muddy” questions of ownership. Of course, all of that applies to copyright as well, but we won’t go there just yet.
For the week ending March 27th rails originated 293K carloads which was the highest level since November 2008. This was 16.5% higher versus 2009, but down 11.6% versus 2008. Intermodal traffic is also making a sharp rebound with a 12% year over year increase, but a 5.3% decline versus 2008.
The 2011 Mini Countryman made its U.S. appearance to here in New York and is ready to go on sale early next year.
“The Countryman is the most striking addition to our vehicle lineup so far,” said Jim McDowell, Vice President, MINI USA. “And development of this vehicle has inspired our engineers and designers; the brand is taking on a new, even feistier, fun-loving attitude.”
When it comes to the North American market, the base 2011 Mini Countryman will be available with a 1.6L 4-cylinder engine making 120-hp and a maximum torque of 118 lb-ft. The Mini Cooper S Countryman model will be powered by a 1.6L twin-scroll turbocharged 4-cylinder engine making 180-hp and 177 lb-ft (192 lb-ft with Overboost) of torque. The Cooper S will also be offered with Mini’s all-wheel-drive system called ALL4.
All models will come standard with a 6-speed manual transmission. A 6-speed automatic will be available as an option.
Pricing details will be announced closer to launch.
Com uma pontinha de inveja. Esta pode ser a causa de a Honda voltar a pensar em desenvolver e comercializar o seu carro superesportivo que nesses ultimo anos se transformou numa novela sem fim.
Isso porque existem fortes rumores de que a companhia japonesa já trata o assunto com mais seriedade, depois de ver seus rivais Nissan e Lexus lançarem seus esportivos GT-R e LFA, respectivamente, e apresentarem uma boa recepção do mercado. Dessa forma, dizem que a Honda já vem pesquisando a viabilidade comercial de uma serie limitada de um veiculo superesportivo. E caso realmente o novo esportivo da Honda sair dos papeis, não deveremos esperar muito para ver seu lançamento, que devera acontecer até o final de 2012.
Isso porque o modelo seria baseado no Honda HSV-010 GT, que atualmente disputa o campeonato japonês SuperGT. Ele é equipado com um motor V8 de 4.3 litros e que, se realmente chegar no sucessor do esportivo e ícone NSX, receberá um upgrade interno e ficaria com 5.0 litros e uma potencia que deverá superar a barreira dos 500 cavalos.
Volkswagen of America has unveiled its second-generation 2011 Touareg at the 2010 New York Auto Show. Joining the 3.6L V6 FSI gasoline engine and the 3.0L V6 TDI will be the 2011 Touareg Hybrid.
The 2011 Volkswagen Touareg Hybrid is powered by a supercharged V6 TSI unit making 333-hp. Mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and a 47-hp electric-motor, the 2011 Touareg Hybrid produces a total of 380-hp and a maximum torque of 428 lb-ft.
Volkswagen says that the 2011 Touareg Hybrid achieves approximately 21/25 mpg (city/highway).
Click through for the high-res image gallery and the press release.
Volkswagen Showcases Second Generation Touareg Featuring Hybrid Powertrain at the 2010 New York International Auto Show
HERNDON, Va., March 31 /PRNewswire/ — Volkswagen of America, Inc. today unveiled the second generation Touareg, showcasing the brand’s first-ever hybrid at the 2010 New York International Auto Show.
Taking the Touareg to the forefront of its class are three available engines to suit a variety of different drivers: A V6 FSI® gasoline engine, a V6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, and a V6 TSI® gasoline hybrid engine.
With the hybrid model, a 3.0-liter supercharged, direct injection V6 gasoline engine is paired with a special electric motor that reduces fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40 percent.
An eight-speed automatic transmission – the first of its kind in an SUV – keeps power always available while helping the Touareg Hybrid achieve approximately 25 and 21 mpg during highway and city driving respectively. A special clutch can disengage the transmission from the engine when the engine is not powering the Touareg, allowing it to coast forward emission free to further aid in fuel savings. The electric motor can also recover kinetic energy during braking to help recharge the nickel metal-hydride battery pack. With the V6 engine and electric motor combined, a total of 375 horsepower and 428 lbs.-ft. of torque are available, allowing for full towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds.
Also available is Volkswagen’s 3.0-liter, V6 TDI® Clean Diesel engine, which offers improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, and greater power versus a similarly-sized gasoline engine, and is an excellent complement to the new Touareg’s athletic design. A 3.6-liter, V6 FSI® gasoline engine comes standard with the 2011 model, providing smooth acceleration and all around performance. On all Touareg models, Volkswagen’s 4MOTION® all-wheel drive system is ready to tackle nearly any driving condition encountered on and off the road.
Matching the new Touareg’s refinements under the hood is a fully-revised exterior that embraces the brand’s new face and styling cues, created by Volkswagen’s chief of design, Walter de’Silva.
At the front is a narrower grille opening that seamlessly connects to the trapezoidal headlight housings that carry U-shaped LED running lights and Bi-Xenon High Intensity Gas-Discharged headlamps. The housings flow into the new fender flares, and a pair of compact fog lamps at the lower portion of the front fascia stand underneath the Touareg’s front air intakes.
The hood features a raised portion that runs from the grille back, finishing at the side mirrors and giving a more muscular overall appearance. A chrome accent strip carries from behind the front wheels, and runs along the bottom of the doors to complement the chrome touches bordering the windows.
The back of the Touareg is defined with pronounced curves around the hatch area, LED illuminated taillights with housings to match up front, and a blacked out lower bumper with a set of shaped, chrome exhaust tips.
Compared to its predecessor, the 2011 Touareg is wider and has a shorter overall height for a stronger presence. A longer wheelbase and greater length provide greater stability, and more room inside the cabin, while the use of new materials and other adjustments have removed nearly 450 pounds from the vehicle.
The Touareg’s interior has also been refined, making for a better use of space for both the driver and passengers, as well as in the cargo area. The greater use of curves and further attention to details on the door and dash trim coincide with redesigned, full leather seating for five, and cross-stitching on all panels and surfaces. Both the front and rear passengers can enjoy greater legroom with the Touareg’s new overall dimensions and fully adjustable seats, while the rear seatback can be folded at the touch of a button in the trunk, for more storage and convenience.
A seven-inch widescreen color display located between the main gauges in the dash provides the driver with the latest vehicle status information, including of the drive system in the hybrid model, turn-by-turn navigation directions, and more.
Volkswagen’s new RNS850 touch screen entertainment and navigation system features an 8-inch screen, a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available to upload audio, video, and more, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and Satellite/FM/AM stereo. The navigation system can display maps and directions in a 3-D view, and highlights major landmark highlights to further assist when traveling.
Arizona State University (ASU) and the New America Foundation hosted a panel on U.S. energy independence at the National Press Club. Michael Crow, President of ASU, said while there’s been a lot of discussion on idea of getting to energy independence, the goal was to outline the “revolutionary steps” needed to achieve energy independence.
Sunil Paul, Gigaton Throwdown Project, said we need to make energy secure by creating alternative energy systems. “Salt no longer holds any strategic power because there are now other ways to preserve food — refrigeration.” In the same way, Paul argues, oil needs to be taken off its central perch in global energy production. “We need a transportation system that doesn’t require oil. If this were to happen, oil would lose its strategic power, and its central role in global energy production.”
Paul is exploring algae-based fuels and trees that can be turned into ethanol, “energies we can scale up.” In order to embrace complexity, we need more alternatives.
Gary Dirks, Arizona State University Lightworks (and former President of BP Asia Pacific), said the world is at a crossroads because current energy systems aren’t sustainable. Energy usage is expected to grow 1.5 percent per year, meaning a 40 percent increase in supply is needed by 2050. Much of the demand will be coming from Asia and the Middle East. “This means a revolutionary shift in energy to the developing world. Developing the supply and distribution infrastructure for all these new consumers will be a mammoth task.”
The world’s current energy system is a marvel of efficiency, and a “true human achievement.” In less than a hundred years, the world set up a complex, inter-locking system of energy production and distribution that has co-evolved with consumption systems. “It’s all about maximizing availability and convenience while lowering costs.” However, there are down sides — the system is highly adverse to change. “The system is sophisticated, competitive, and adaptive, but highly resistent to change. This is because the costs are so low.” As a result, new innovative energy technologies often break down when they are introduced into the system.
Dirks thinks that pricing carbon is the first step in altering the current system because the market does respond well to price, and right now “there are no prices on carbon.”
Skip Laitner, Director of Economic and Social Analysis, American Council for an Energy-efficient Economy, argues that scaling up energy efficiency was the critical issue. To date, 75 percent of increased energy production is tied to increased energy efficiency, while 25 percent is linked to new supplies. “Energy efficiency is the invisible resource.” Laitner says we need to dramatically improve the rate of efficiency improvement through information technology and new materials.
Additionally, innovation must be “continuous and driven.” “There must be a purposeful effort to change the entire energy system.”
Lisa Margonelli, Director, Energy Policy Initiative, New America Foundation, contends that over the next 40 years we need productivity growth equal to the gains made during the Industrial Revolution. Asia and Europe already have policies in place for GHGs. Europe is investing in a new super smartgrid. “Where’s the U.S. on this?” Margonelli pointed to the incredibly inefficient domestic utility structure which includes 50 different public utilities. “The U.S. is missing a huge competitive opportunity.”
Arun Majumdar, Advanced Research Projects Initiative (ARPA-E), U.S. Energy Department, thinks a Sputnik-like moment awaits the U.S.. “We need to focus on security, environment, and technological leaps so we can create a tectonic shift. The pace and scale of innovation needs to change.” On the positive side, the U.S. has the best R&D infrastructure in the world. “Our innovation ecosystem is the best.”
ARPA-E is trying to play a catalytic role, unleashing “disruptive technologies” that can create new industries. “Right now, the U.S. has about one percent of the global share of the ion battery market. Our goal is to create a new technology that will supercede the ion battery so we can win in the new technological market.”
China is rapidly expanding its new energy technology portfolio because there’s great demand there. “We have to create demand in the U.S. through policy.”
James Rogers, CEO of Duke Energy, thinks the U.S. has the capacity to radically transform its energy system. He pointed to the success the U.S. had in creating universal access to electricity in 1910. “That’s great scale, and we also did at a price lower than the rest of the world.”
Before widespread electricity appeared across the U.S., “we couldn’t envision productivity gains, or the new role many technologies would play. Computers, the Internet, all were the result of universal access to electricity.”
To jump-start a technological boom like the U.S. had in 1910, Rogers thinks we need to (1) modernize and decarbonize the entire economy and (2) create smart grids that enable a new round of innovation, “innovation we can’t yet envision.”
What’s holding us up?
Panelists made a few points:
We need better images of the future, including a bipartisan roadmap and clear market signals.
U.S. energy policy swings back and forth between panic and complacency.
The UK, Germany, China, and South Korea are all on their way. Most of these countries have set industrial and energy policies. The U.S. has a deep reliance on market mechanisms and lacks a country-wide energy or industrial policy.
There are no prices on carbon. If carbon is included in the price of energy, then innovation can happen.
It’s relatively easy to open a new power plant, but incredibly difficult to find financing for home weatherization. Community-level energy efficiency needs to be built in.
Most panelists agreed that:
Multiple energy options (nuclear, solar, hydrothermal, etc) are needed. The market should decide which are best.
Government should help set up the R&D infrastructure but shouldn’t be creating five-year plans.
Cooperation with other countries, particularly China, is crucial.
Incentives need to be aligned.
There should be constant, pervasive innovation.
Interestingly, there was little discussion on how multi-use infrastructure could improve energy efficiency. Through piezo-electric systems, roads could produce energy powering cars. Bridges could also host solar energy systems. Transportation networks could double as energy providers. Just as interdisciplinary design and engineering teams are helping create water treatment facilities that also function as working parks, they could also be creating energy systems that serve other functions.
2011 Kia Forte five-door – Click above for high-res image gallery
Since Americans seem to be finally latching onto the concept of the compact five-door hatchback, Kia is jumping into the fight with a new variant of the Forte. The five-door Forte debuts with a slightly revised front fascia (something that will make its way onto all Forte models) to go with its new more useful backside.
Under the hood the Forte five-door retains the same port-injected 2.0-liter and 2.4-liter inline-four engines found in the sedan and Koup. Those engines remain paired with six-speed transmissions of the manual or automatic flavors. Inside, a new center console can be equipped with a navigation system for the first time, push-button start is available and the automatic versions get paddle shifters on the steering wheel. Look for the Forte five-door to hit Kia dealers in the coming months.
Loyola University New Orleans is hiring a full-time Research Coordinator for community engagement. The successful applicant will conduct research on past and present community engagement efforts at Loyola and develop comprehensive tracking and assessment mechanisms for these initiatives.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with significant related experience or master’s degree; 3-5 years of experience in community engagement, higher education, nonprofit administration, research and/or government/politics; experience conducting research and analyzing data; familiarity with quantitative and qualitative research methodologies; impeccable writing and editing skills; grant writing experience; superior data management skills; superior level of organization and attention to detail; ability to achieve goals and meet deadlines; strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Qualified candidates should send a letter of interest, a current CV, and a list of 3 references to resumes {at} loyno(.)edu. This position is funded through December 2010 with the potential for extension. Highly competitive salary and benefits package. Consideration of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Loyola University New Orleans welcomes a diverse applicant pool. Women and members of minority groups are welcome to apply.
Since the recession compounded a long-standing budget crisis, the Golden State has collapsed into a vicious cycle with no easy way out.
Unions interfere with budget cuts. Cutbacks emerge from somewhere and the people riot. Neither the Republican governor, nor the Democrat president has a solution, except hope to hell that the housing market picks up again.
Without a federal bailout, Schwarzenegger will TERMINATE at least six major state programs
These programs include Healthy Families, CalWORKS, Adult Day Health Care, In-Home Supportive Services, California Food Assistance Program, and all funding for Transitional Housing Placement for foster kids. Read more here.
23,000 teachers just received provisional pink slips — notifying them that their jobs are on the chopping block
How bad is the problem? Consider that California has a $20.7 billion deficit in the general fund budget over the next 16 months. California owes $8.8 billion in short-term loans that have to be paid off by June, and over $120 billion in outstanding bonds and interest that will be paid over decades. The state’s pension fund, CalPers, has $16.3 billion more in liabilities than assets, plus California also faces a $51.8 billion expense for the health and dental benefits of state retirees and future retirees.
California has the lowest S&P debt rating of any U.S. state: “A-“
A national report card released last month by the American College of Emergency Physicians gave California a failing grade for access to emergency care. The state ranks last in emergency departments per capita, with only seven per 1 million people, compared with the national average of 20. And it ranks 43rd in the country for Medi-Cal reimbursement.
In 23 years, California erected 23 prisons and ONLY ONE university
To get a handle on the damage California’s current approach to incarceration is having on its citizens, consider this: In a recent 23-year period, California erected 23 prisons — one a year, each costing roughly $100 million dollars annually to operate, with both Democratic and Republican governors occupying the statehouse — at the same time that it added just one campus to its vaunted university system, UC Merced.
California has fallen from #1 in per-pupil spending to #48
Since the late 1970s, California has fallen from first in the nation in per-pupil spending, nearly to the bottom at number 48. With California’s annual budget falling from $103 billion three years ago to $80 billion currently during what’s often called the Great Recession, schools — including the world class University of California system — continue to face deep cuts in funding, fewer teaching positions, and a reduced ability to educate students.
CA spends $859 million per year on imprisoned illegal immigrants
There are roughly 19,000 illegal immigrants in state prisons, representing 11% of all inmates. That’s costing $970 million during the current fiscal year. The feds kick in a measly $111 million, leaving the state with an $859 million tab.
California spends $500 million each year on wildfire damage and damage control
Our play from horse racing on Thursday will come from the 7th race at Santa Anita. It will be a 1 1/16th mile event run on the main synthetic surface. Its a conditional Allowance race for Cal breds three year olds and up. With our free pick we will play on number 6 Self Made to win. The 7th at Santa Anita is scheduled for a 7:07PM Eastern Time post and you can watch it on TVG.
Self Made will have the services of Rafael Bejarano in the saddle and is trained by John Sadler. This three year old colt is coming off an impressive straight maiden victory over the track on February 21st and posted an impressive 87 Brisnet speed figure in the process. He should improve off that effort in his second career start. Self Made has an outstanding work tab as he prepares to race at this condition.
Play #6 Self Made to win race 7 at Santa Anita 5-2 on the Morning Line.
At the 2010 New York Auto Show today, Scion unveiled the all-new 2011 iQ along with the production subcompact iQ. The 2011 Scion tC will go on sale in dealerships later this fall while the Scion iQ will go on sale in early 2011.
“Scion prides itself on being an innovative brand with a lineup of iconic vehicles that set automotive trends,” said Jack Hollis, vice president of Scion. “The iQ will define the premium micro-subcompact segment as the choice for new urbanites who want clever transportation without a sacrifice in style or new features.”
Based on the Toyota iQ, the 2011 Scion iQ will be powered by the same 1.3L 4-cylinder engine making a little over 90-hp. Mated to a CVT transmission, the Scion iQ is expected to average a combined fuel-economy in the high 30s.
“The all-new tC features styling that is both refined and aggressive, appealing to a sports coupe owner who wants to make a bold statement,” Hollis said. “The tC has had the youngest median age buyer in the industry, and with more power, superior driving dynamics, and increased fuel efficiency, that should remain the case with the new tC as well.”
The second-generation of the Scion tC rides on a new platform along with an all-new 2.5L inline 4-cylinder engine with dual VVT-i that makes 180 horsepower, 19 more than the previous model. The tC will be offered with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic with sequential-shift.
Prices of both models will be announced closer to launch date.
Click through for the high-res image galleries and the press release.
Scion Unveils a New Dimension at the New York Auto Show with All-New 2011 iQ and tC Production Models
NEW YORK (March 31, 2010) – A New Dimension of Scion was unveiled today with two new production vehicles – the all-new 2011 iQ premium micro-subcompact and the second-generation 2011 tC sports coupe – at the New York International Auto Show. The tC is scheduled to arrive in dealerships later this fall, while the iQ will go on sale in early 2011.
iQ Defines Premium Micro-Subcompact
Meeting the needs of a new trendsetting generation of urban drivers, the iQ succeeds at taking big ideas and concentrating them into a small package. Made possible by intelligent and functional packaging, the iQ is a small car that offers the functionality and comfort that drivers expect from a car twice its size.
The iQ’s profile, defined by a strong and high beltline, glides from the large, stout headlamps, up the A-pillar, across the roof and wraps around the rear, emphasizing the iQ’s geometric shape. Side mirrors with integrated turn signals accent the clean design.
The rear emphasizes the vehicle’s modern style. Trapezoidal lines run toward the wheels, from the hatch to the bumper’s rear diffuser-like accent, creating a substantial presence. With a 78.7-inch wheelbase and a unique suspension design – consisting of MacPherson struts up front, and a torsion beam rear suspension – the three-door hatchback can deftly maneuver through city traffic. In addition, its overall length of only 120.1-inches, width of 66.1-inches, and short front and rear overhangs create a confident stance that still allows the iQ to fit into virtually any urban parking scenario.
Engineering innovations like a compact air-conditioning unit, inverted front-mounted differential, and electronic power-steering system with compact steering column, all amount to significant decreases in front-end length. In addition, the iQ is equipped with a flat gas tank housed beneath the floor that reduces rear overhang.
The iQ’s functional “3+1” seating equates to the world’s smallest four-passenger vehicle. With the driver’s and front-passenger’s seats being slightly off set, this innovative seating arrangement allows for one adult behind the front passenger and a child, small package, or pet behind the driver. A first for Scion, extra-slim front seat backs are utilized to provide rear passengers with ample legroom. The rear seats are extremely versatile, featuring a 50/50 split and the ability to fold flat, creating enough storage to accommodate up to two golf bags.
The iQ is small in size but large on safety. Active safety features include Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), an anti-lock brake system (ABS) with Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD), Brake Assist (BA) and Traction Control (TRAC).
The iQ will come standard with 10 SRS airbags, including the world’s first rear-window curtain airbag. Other airbags include driver- and front-passenger airbags; driver- and front-passenger seat-mounted side airbags; side curtain airbags; driver- and front-passenger knee airbags; and a Scion-first driver seat-cushion airbag.
The 2011 iQ is equipped with a 1.3-liter, four-cylinder engine that produces over 90 horsepower and features the latest dual VVT-i, which allows it to be impressively efficient, providing a broader powerband yet requiring less fuel and generating fewer emissions.
The iQ’s engine is combined with a Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) that helps deliver smooth acceleration and excellent fuel efficiency. The iQ will be rated as an Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV-II), and it is expected to achieve a combined fuel economy in the high 30s, comparable to similar vehicles that feature less passenger and cargo capacity.
The iQ comes standard with a six-speaker audio system and is available with multiple audio head units for various degrees of audiophiles. All iQs will be outfitted with USB and auxiliary ports, allowing personal devices to be easily integrated into the car. Steering-wheel-mounted controls command the audio system to adjust volume and shuffle through music sources such as CD, AM/FM, auxiliary input, or a library from your iPod® or other USB device.
All-New tC Sports Coupe Adds Power, Performance
Launched in 2004, the tC quickly became Scion’s top-selling vehicle, at the same time attracting the youngest buyer in the entire industry. Six years later, the second-generation tC emerges with an aggressive new look, increased driving performance, and a more premium feel.
Enhanced performance is accomplished in the second-generation tC with an all-new 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine with dual VVT-i that generates 180 horsepower, 19 more than the previous model, and 11 additional lbs.-ft of torque. In addition to increases in power, the new engine delivers an increase in fuel economy all while lowering emissions. Performance is further improved and heard through a new intake manifold design and a sport-tuned exhaust system that delivers a bold and aggressive sound.
The tC features two all-new transmissions: the six-speed manual transmission has improved shift-feel and adds to the car’s already fun-to-drive character, and a new six-speed automatic gains two gears along with sequential-shift.
The 2011 tC enters its second-generation riding on a new platform, including a specially tuned MacPherson strut front-suspension and a double-wishbone rear-suspension that rides lower than the previous model. Larger 18-inch aluminum-alloy wheels are wrapped in wider tires, giving the tC a broader stance and elevated handling characteristics. The new model also comes standard with larger 16-inch disc brakes on all corners. A new performance-tuned electronic power-steering system provides the driver a confident feel that is more in-tune with the road. The elements brought together in the new chassis result in a premium performance that expands the tC into a new dimension of driving enjoyment.
The all-new design of the 2011 tC projects a bolder and more aggressive stance. Important design cues like the helmet-inspired cabin shape were adopted from the Calty-designed Scion FUSE concept, which was unveiled at the 2006 New York Auto Show. The protruding fender flares amplify its wider, lower stance and are aggressively complemented by a sleek front grille and projector headlamps. The shape of the rear taillights flow cleanly into the overall shape of the trunk.
Inside, a driver-focused cockpit starts with a sporty new three-spoke steering wheel that features a flat bottom and a new shape that offers a confident grip. Front seats feature robust bolsters that provide secure positioning while still offering spaciousness and comfort. The instrument-panel, gauge cluster and center-console all face inward in a V-shape, making controls easily accessible.
Overall, the cabin has been lengthened for a more comfortable passenger experience with increased versatility. Utility is enhanced with reclining rear seats that split 60/40, providing more storage capacity. The panoramic moonroof remains standard in the new tC.
The new tC comes standard with an AM/FM/CD/USB audio system that features eight speakers. As with all Scion models, steering-wheel-mounted controls allow the driver to easily navigate through all of their music.
The new tC is also reinforced with key safety features and is expected to achieve top safety ratings. In addition to standard Anti-lock Brakes (ABS), the new tC also gains standard Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), traction control (TRAC), Electronic Brake Force Distribution (EBD) and Brake Assist (BA). Active front-headrests and eight airbags are also standard, including both driver and front-passenger knee airbags.
SCION iQ and tC
PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS
2011 SCION iQ
POWERTRAIN
Engine: 1.3-liter, 4-cylinder with Dual VVT-i
Drivetrain: Front-wheel drive
Transmission: Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)
Durante estos días se esta celebrando en Estados Unidos el mítico Salón de Nueva York y una de las novedades que se han dejado ver en dicha feria del automóvil no es otra que el nuevo Cadillac CTS-V Sport Wagon.
Para el diseño de este modelo, la marca se ha inspirado en los años 60. Según afirma la propia Cadillac, este vehículo hará uso de un motor V8 con el que podrá desarrollar hasta 556 CV de potencia. Su maletero tiene una capacidad de 720 litros sin abatir los asientos.
Además, ya conocemos su precio, para Estados Unidos se podrá adquirir desde los 65.000$ mientras que en Europa costará apróximadamente unos 50.000€.
Everywhere you look now, all you hear is 3D this and 3D that. Hollywood blockbuster Avatar broke through all existing ticket sales records thanks to its stunning use of 3D technology. The TV screen seems to be the next place where 3D is heading, but Google is now thinking at even smaller screens. After years of research, the company is ready to unveil one of its grea… (read more)
While preexisting conditions and required coverage have taken the main stage on the health care reform bill, many of the smaller changes hold just as much weight in the future of America’s health. These changes and additions have been largely ignored by mainstream media despite several billion dollars allocated to new preventative care initiatives.
Additionally, the bill includes some surprising fine print regulations. Most regulations won’t take effect immediately, but the sum of so many new laws and restrictions could cause major repercussions on our system over the next several years.
Finally, while the bill is certainly heavy on spending, there are several programs included to reduce overall health care costs, but such programs appear highly unorthodox on a first reading. The Worker Bees and I have combed through thousands of pages of minutiae to find nine lesser known stipulations, clauses, regulations, and programs in the new bill.
1. Emergency Lap-Band treatments covered under government-offered insurance plan.
Lap-Band surgery has been credited as a legitimate and necessary procedure in certain situations and will be covered entirely under state and government assisted plans. Because many pundits claim the procedure is unnecessary, the surgery will be reserved for patients who have already exhausted conventional forms of weight loss such as eating low fat foods and running on a treadmill.
2. Insurance documentation course to be added to elementary education.
To prepare youngsters for future medical decision making, all public elementary schools will be required to teach an insurance documentation course to fourth grade students. Children will learn how to read insurance jargon and how to navigate through red tape when denied treatment for the first time. Additionally, students will learn life-practical skills such as how to pressure a PCP into prescribing the most heavily advertised medications, and what to pack into an emergency kit in case of total medical system failure. The insurance course will replace elementary physical education.
3. Indigestible feces content in CAFO beef to be eradicated.
Due to recent public outcry over meat and poultry production standards which permit “acceptable” levels of feces in market meats, a new policy will reduce the allowable feces content in CAFO beef to 0% by the year 2014. While eliminating feces from CAFO-raised products is impossible, a 73 million dollar stipend has been awarded to Monsanto to genetically modify cows to produce nutrient dense, flavor-rich, digestible feces. Incorporating the genetically modified, safe cow waste into meat would completely bypass all feces restrictions. The digestible feces should hit fans by 2012.
4. Statins approved for general consumption, given the go-ahead as a food additive.
Many popular cholesterol-lowering medications have been approved for public mass consumption. Over the next three years, statins will be used as food additives to regulate foods that would otherwise raise cholesterol. Kraft already has plans for a Stat’n Mac’n Cheese. And Pfizer and Baskin-Robbins are currently working together to produce 31 statin-filled flavors of ice cream by 2011.
5. USDA Food Pyramid replaced with Food Trough.
Due to rising complaints about the archaic food groups included in the traditional USDA food pyramid, a new “food trough” has been designed to adequately reflect modern foods and eating habits. Rather than a pecking order of specific food groups, the trough appears as a swill of ingredients, traditional foods blended with chemically reduced corn byproducts. The imagery of the old “pyramid” diagram was confusing, often leading Americans to believe food was something to be climbed rather than something to stick one’s face in. Additionally, the new trough design allows for future food group discoveries and foods that do not easily lump into particular groups such as binding gums, preservatives, and hot pockets.
6. Bacon tax.
Working under the common knowledge that bacon is unhealthy, a twenty seven cent tax will be attached to each strip of bacon sold after May 18, 2010. The bacon tax could net over 14 billion dollars in the first five years, though 80% of that revenue will be set aside to bolster police and security forces for the impending May 19 bacon riots.
7. 42 Million dollars allotted to reduce the growing number of celebrity fad diets.
With over 70 outbreaks of celebrity fad diets in 2009 (up from 63 in 2008), Congress has implemented a series of regulations and initiatives to reduce the number of celebrity fad diets by as much as 40% by the year 2014. A fad diet hotline will be established for celebrities who have suffered from a recent bout of lemonade/cayenne fasting, and all new celebrities will be required to sign an “I will eat more than cabbage soup” pledge. Gwenyth Paltrow alone is being paid 2.3 million dollars to “eat normal” for a period of three years. And Kirstie Alley has been legally restricted from creating any more reality television shows.
8. Easy Cheese abolished.
In what is being hailed as one of the few non-partisan stipulations of the bill, Easy Cheese has been reclassified as a level 5 narcotic and will now only be available by prescription.
9. “No Child Left Behind” replaced with “No Child Left Unmedicated”.
Under the new plan, school nurses will be replaced with a system of self-serve procedures and medications available to elementary students based on classroom achievement. Students will be expected to use the knowledge gained from the earlier mentioned insurance documentation course to fill out all necessary application material for proper self-medication.
Tell everyone what you think about these stipulations in the comment board. Happy April 1st!
Transmission: 6-speed manual, 7-speed double-clutch transmission with launch control.
Performance: 0-60 mph in 5 seconds flat.
Availability: Spring 2010.
Pricing: $50,525 for the 2011 BMW 335is Coupe, $59,075 for 2011 BMW 335is Convertible.
Our recent week-long affair with the 2010 Audi S4 almost made us forget about the BMW 335i (okay we’re definitely exaggerating – don’t kill us). Well, BMW now has an answer for the S4 and it is called the BMW 335is. While it still produces 13-hp less than the 2010 Audi S4, the BMW 335is still goes from 0-60 mph in 5 seconds – close to Audi S4’s 4.9 seconds.
The world will now come to a halt with the announcement that Android(the best OS ever) will become one with the Iphone(the best phone ever). This announcement comes from Phandroid who received a tip of the new device. We do not want to remind their parade so, head over there for their specs and everything.
As Rupert Murdoch moves forward with his plans to put in place a paywall for the online sites of some of his UK newspapers, he may want to look around carefully. Jeff Sonderman points us to the news of a UK newspaper publisher that put in place a paywall of £5 for three months of access to its newspaper websites late last year — only to find that the paywall has been quietly dropped after less than ten people signed up at one of the papers:
A source at one of the titles involved in the trial said it had been a “disaster” and that the number of people subscribing had been in single figures.
This fits with Newsday’s experiment, where only 35 non-Cablevision subscribers were willing to sign up. Newspapers keep over-estimating the willingness of people to pay to read websites.
Everywhere you look now, all you hear is 3D this and 3D that. Hollywood blockbuster Avatar broke through all existing ticket sales records thanks to its stunning use of 3D technology. The TV screen seems to be the next place where 3D is heading, but Google is now thinking at even smaller screens. After years of research, the company is ready to unveil one of its grea… (
While preexisting conditions and required coverage have taken the main stage on the health care reform bill, many of the smaller changes hold just as much weight in the future of America’s health. These changes and additions have been largely ignored by mainstream media despite several billion dollars allocated to new preventative care initiatives.
