If you thought that the current starting price-tag of the $89,800 2010 Panamera S sedan was too high, Porsche is now offering a slightly more affordable option – of course, you’ll have to sacrifice 100 horses.
Come next month at the 2010 Beijing Motor Show (where the Panamera originally made its debut), Porsche will hold the world debut of the new Panamera and the Panamera 4. Without the ‘S’ at the end of each badge, the base Panamera and Panamera 4 are powered by a 3.6L V6 engine making 300-hp and a maximum torque of 295 lb-ft. All U.S. models will be fitted with Porsche’s Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK) 7-speed double-clutch gearbox as standard.
Prices for the 2011 Porsche Panamera with the V6 will start at $74,400, while the V6 Panamera 4 will start at $78,900. Sales being in June.
Porsche Adds New Panamera Models to its Gran Turismo Lineup
Sporting a new 300-horsepower V6 engine, the Panamera and Panamera 4 deliver Porsche driving excitement, high comfort, and excellent fuel efficiency
ATLANTA – February 16, 2010 Porsche Cars North America today announced the addition of two new Panamera models, just three months after successfully launching the first four-door Gran Turismo in three V8 flavors: the Panamera S, the Panamera 4S and the Panamera Turbo.
The Panamera and Panamera 4, the model line’s new entry level versions, will be in Porsche dealerships in June 2010. Both feature a brand-new 3.6-liter V6 with Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) developing 300 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. The Panamera transmits its power to the road via the rear wheels, while the Panamera 4 comes standard with active all-wheel drive. U.S. models will include Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe (PDK), Porsche’s new and revolutionary seven-speed double-clutch gearbox, as standard equipment.
The Panamera and Panamera 4 are examples of the Porsche Intelligent Performance development strategy. Equipped with the PDK gearbox and the Auto Start Stop function, Porsche expects these new models to be considerably more fuel efficient than their normally aspirated V8 siblings. Official U.S. EPA fuel economy figures will be announced closer to the new models on-sale date, and both meet the strict EU5 emission standard in Europe and the LEV standard in the United States. And like all Panamera models, they are not subject to a gas-guzzler tax.
Porsche has always focused on superior efficiency and performance, and in the case of these new Panamera models these long-held tenets are not mutually exclusive. One example of this ideal combination of qualities is consistent lightweight construction with the axles, doors, hood, front fenders and tailgate all made of aluminum. Likewise, the brand new 90-degree angle V6 powerplant built at Porsche’s engine plant in Zuffenhausen is approximately 66 lbs. lighter than the Porsche V8 in the Panamera S and 4S. This contributes to the low overall curb weight, which in the case of the Panamera with the PDK transmission is just 3,880 lbs. (1,730 kg).
Like the proven V8 models, both the Panamera and the Panamera 4, as genuine Gran Turismos, combine a sporting character with a high standard of comfort and everyday driving qualities. Steel suspension with variable dampers is standard, and adaptive air suspension with additional air volume on demand is available as an option. This provides a wide range of suspension qualities and features, with a high level of motoring comfort on the one hand and extremely sporting driving dynamics on the other.
Both models will be making their world debut at the Beijing Motor Show on April 23, 2010. The Panamera and Panamera 4 MSRPs are $74,400 and $78,900, respectively.
Facebook is at 400 million users worldwide right now and it’s not slowing down. At some point though, it’s going to run out of potential users, there are ‘only’ about 1.7 billion people online today. Still, there are more than six billion people in total and five billion of them will have a mobile phone by the end of this year according to some e… (read more)
The recall of over eight million vehicles has Toyota in the crosshairs of the world media, and all that negative attention is predictably hurting the Japanese automaker’s U.S. sales. A report from Breitbart claims that Toyota is stopping production at its Georgetown, Kentucky Camry and Avalon plant for four days to keep output in line with demand. Likewise, the San Antonio, Texas Tundra plant will be shuttered for 10 days in March and April to ensure that dealers don’t have more trucks on the lot than needed.
If the report is true, the temporary shutdown of the plants in Kentucky and Texas would appear to signal that Toyota doesn’t plan to build up stockpiles of vehicles in the short term. We’re thinking that’s probably a good idea in light of the fact that Toyota will likely continue to see bad press until well after the Japanese automaker heads to Washington D.C. for congressional hearings about its recall issues. Toyota is working hard to get the many recalled vehicles fixed, however, as the automaker claims its dealers are on a torrid pace repairing 50,000 pedals per day.
At Italy’s international Seatec trade exhibition for yachts, ships and boats, ACTA Energy won the prestigious 2010 Qualitec Technology Award (along with Volkswagen) for their new EL100 Hydrogen Generator.
The generator was coupled with a 1 Kw fuel cell that together powered an outboard boat motor. The nautical award was given for the device’s “innovation, low cost and environmental profile.”
Now, I’ve talked about ACTA Energy before as in December 2009, they had shown a hydrogen fuel cell bike at the EICMA Motor Show in Milan, Italy, which could be powered either by H2 or by pedaling.
Now, nautical hydrogen fuel cells are nothing new. Also in December 2009 I had talked about the EFOY 2000 providing onboard power for the Pogo2 yacht in a 4,800 mile race and the Pharos Marine Orcageno hydrogen diesel hybrid super-yacht being unveiled.
Over the past several years I’ve talked about hydrogen ferry boats, whale touring ships, motorboats, submarines and other seafaring craft. ACTA Energy, however, is working on low cost solutions that will bring hydrogen fuel cell technology to commercialization in the short term rather than long term.
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Boeing [NYSE: BA] on Feb. 11 shipped the first Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite from the company’s satellite manufacturing facility in El Segundo to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a Boeing-built C-17 Globemaster III airlifter.
The next-generation navigation spacecraft will now undergo final preparations for launch.
Space Vehicle 1 (SV-1), the first of 12 GPS IIF satellites for the U.S. Air Force, will lift off on a United Launch Alliance Delta IV vehicle later this year.
The GPS IIF system will bring enhanced performance to the GPS constellation by providing twice the navigational accuracy of heritage satellites, more robust signals for commercial aviation and search-and-rescue, and greater resistance to jamming in hostile environments.
“Since the first GPS satellite was launched in 1978, this successful program has demonstrated the value of space assets,” said Craig Cooning, vice president and general manager of Boeing Space and Intelligence Systems.
“The GPS IIF system will afford major performance improvements over the legacy satellites and will sustain and dramatically improve the GPS constellation for civil, commercial and defense users alike.”
To prepare for the launch of SV-1, the SV-2 spacecraft in September successfully completed a consolidated system test – a set of one-time, system-level design verification and validation tests involving the space vehicle, the ground-based control segment, and user equipment.
In addition, GPS master control stations successfully commanded the space vehicle as they will do when the satellite is in operational orbit. SV-2 was also used as a “pathfinder” to validate transportation equipment and processes, as well as launch-site test procedures and equipment.
GPS is a space-based, worldwide navigation system providing users with highly accurate, three-dimensional position, navigation and timing information 24 hours a day in all weather conditions.
GPS IIF is the product of Boeing’s experience with 39 successful satellites from the GPS Block I and Block II/IIA missions and more than 30 years of teamwork with the Air Force. GPS IIF will form the core of the GPS constellation for many years to come.
About Boeing Defense, Space & Security
A unit of The Boeing Company, Boeing Defense, Space and Security is one of the world’s largest defense, space and security businesses specializing in innovative and capabilities-driven customer solutions, and the world’s largest and most versatile manufacturer of military aircraft.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Boeing Defense, Space & Security is a $34 billion business with 68,000 employees worldwide.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bob Pickard, 310-364-6125
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems [email protected]
Angie Yoshimura, 310-364-6708
Boeing Space & Intelligence Systems [email protected]
Harper College’s women’s basketball team dropped a 56-48 contest on the road to Milwaukee Area technical College on Saturday. The Lady Hawks are now 17-9 overall and 8-4 in conference action.
With 5 players again playing a full 40 minutes, Peggie Parhas lead the way with 19 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists and 1 steal, Anna Kirchoff added 13 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, Siobhan Cerney added 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals, Noreen Davis contributed 5 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals, Nina Montero contributed 7 rebounds and 1 point.
Next up for the Lady Hawks is a trip to Madison for a contest with Madison College on February 16th. The game starts at 7:30 PM
So with the announcement of Windows Phone 7 series, is Windows Mobile 6.5 dead? It better not be, as Microsoft gas said in Barcelona that they expect 30 more Windows Mobile 6.5 handsets to ship globally , with 14 going to Asia in the next 6 months.
They would add to the 30 million installed base of Windows Mobile 6.0 and 6.1 handsets shipped so far.
Some, notably Gizmodo, have said the announcement of Windows Phone 7 series Microsoft has “brutally kneecapped their existing phone software, effectively taking Microsoft out of mobile for the next six months”.
I think however the biggest issue affecting sales of Windows Mobile has been the constant negative propaganda the OS has suffered from big gadget blogs, an ire one do not see directed to ancient operating system such as RIM’s Blackberry OS for example.
Now that the idea that Microsoft’s mobile OS efforts are not relevant are no longer tenantable it should make for an interesting next 6-9 months.
The simple solution for handset OEM’s are of course simply to offer an upgrade path, somethinghope we will be seeing more off over the next few months.
Meanwhile we expect to hear more about developments to the Windows Mobile 6.x platform soon also.
You may remember that Warner Music Group’s CEO, Edgar Bronfman Jr., has been beating the drum for a while that video games like Guitar Hero and Rock Band should be paying more to use songs in those games. This, despite the fact that having a song in those games helps sell more albums. It’s the typical fallacy of the record labels: overvaluing the content and undervaluing the platform or the context. So, what happens when two entertainment industry giants collide in such a debate?
Viacom, owners of MTV, which own Harmonix, who own Rock Band (and originally created Guitar Hero), seems to feel differently about all this than Warner Music — recently declaring that it wants to pay less for the music in video games, and if the record labels don’t like it, Viacom will find cheaper music elsewhere:
As we go forward, we are continuing to focus more on software than hardware, looking to reduce the cost structure associated with Rock Band, being selective in the music titles that we choose for Rock Band based on their cost. The music industry will assist with this category to make sure that it can continue on a profitable basis in the future and then finally we think we have the best games in the category, we’ll continue to rollout exciting products.
A Frankfort woman is dead after being struck by a semi truck late Monday on the shoulder of the Tri-State Tollway near Midlothian.
About 11:55 p.m. Monday, a semi truck southbound on the Tri-State Tollway just before midnight struck a woman who had gotten out of a car stopped on the side of the road near Crawford Avenue, a Illinois State Police master sergeant said.
Stacey McHale, 36, was pronounced dead at 12:22 a.m. at the scene, the Cook County medical examiner’s office said. An autopsy is scheduled for later Tuesday.
Nobody else was injured. State police said it was unclear why McHale pulled over.
Two southbound lanes were closed for about two hours after the crash, the master sergeant said.
State police are questioning the truck driver, but indicated it does not appear drugs or alcohol are involved.
On a recent midweek afternoon, BMCC men’s basketball coach Dan Nigro was instructing sophomore Justin Daniels, a 6’7” forward, on the finer points of free throws, lay-ups and jump shots. The two were the only people in the gym.
Nigro was clear in his directions and generous with encouragement. “Keep your eye on the rim and your shoulders straight—and make sure to follow through,” he called from the sidelines. “That way you get the ball to rotate and spin into the basket.” Daniels shot. The ball skidded around the rim and fell to the floor.
“Don’t worry—we don’t count misses,” Nigro told Daniels. “It’s not like you’re in a game.”
Making the move
Nigro assumed the helm of the Panthers last fall after successful stints with a number of other college teams, including Division 1 squads. He has also coached at the high school level. “I got a call last year from Steve Kelly, BMCC’s athletic director, who asked if I was interested in coming over,” recalls Nigro, who was head coach at City College earlier in his career. “What drew me here, among other things, was BMCC’s commitment to team sports, as well as the great resources. The facilities are among the best in all of CUNY.”
As of this writing, the Panthers were 16-4 and won its regular season CUNY Conference Championship and Nigro couldn’t be more pleased.
Tomorrow BMCC will face Hostos Community College in the CUNYAC Tournament (By the way, the Women Pathers also won their regular season CUNY Conference Championship)
“Our main goal for the season was to stay competitive. I am overjoy that we more than successed in our goal. We made the CUNY finals, and we’d love to get into the regionals, which are statewide, and ultimately, the nationals.”
That won’t all happen overnight, he acknowledges. In contrast to 4-year colleges, the Panthers roster changes continually, “since our players stay for only two years at most.” Among this season’s standouts are Janel Cobb and Tony Vails, who have repeatedly garnered CUNY “Player of the Week” awards and are ranked among the nation’s top college scorers and rebounders.
It’s not just about basketball
For now, says Nigro, skill development—both on and off the basketball court—is a higher priority than trying to win championships.
“We use basketball as a vehicle for teaching life skills,” he says. “Playing on this team is about being on time, showing respect to others, paying attention to details. If the players can conduct themselves this way on a day-to-day basis, both academically and athletically, it will stand them in good stead in the future.”
Adds freshman guard Justin Daniels, “I love basketball—especially playing at the college level. But I’m learning a lot more than how to play the game. I’m learning about responsibility and how to function independently.”
Nigro holds practices six days a week, “and the players are expected to arrive punctually, just as their professors expect them to show up on time for class—or an employer would expect them to show up on time for a job,” he notes. “I often say, ‘How will you function in the work world if you can’t function as a basketball player?’ We stay in close touch with their instructors, keep track of their grades and attendance, and require them to take part in tutoring programs.”
What it all comes down to, he adds, is that team members must meet basic academic standards in order to keep playing. “In a sense, they’re under a microscope much more than other students.”
Another nail in OS X 10.4 Tiger’s coffin was recently hammered in a post by Mozilla Foundation’s Josh Aas.
Support for Tiger Already Terminated
Aas reveals that development support for OS X 10.4 Tiger was terminated as of September 2009, but much of the code required to support 10.4 was left in the tree in case the developers wanted to reverse that decision. The point has arrived that a final decision to either restore 10.4 support or remove the (large) amount of 10.4-specific code from the next iteration of Mozilla’s Gecko browser engine must be made.
He presents the not unreasonable case that the developers want to take advantage of advanced technologies in later OS X versions and retaining OS 10.4 support has been a hindrance, as workarounds consume valuable time and effort.
25% of Mac OS X Firefox Users Still Running OS 10.4
Aas concedes that approximately 25 percent of Firefox’s Mac OS X users (roughly 1.5 million) are still running OS 10.4, but would continue to be supported by Firefox 3.6 until it reaches end of service several months after the next major Firefox version release (built on Gecko 1.9.3) later this year. Cold comfort and a mighty short time window for those of us still running Tiger, the last OS X version that supports G3 Macs and G4s slower than 867 MHz. I’m hoping to get at least two or three more years of production service out of my two old Pismo PowerBooks running OS 10.4.
Aas counters that in the past Mozilla hasn’t lost appreciable market share after dropping support for a Mac OS X version, making the fair observation that they’re typically one of the last vendors supporting older Mac OS X releases. However I wonder if any of those previous abandonments represented a quarter of their user base.
OS 10.4 a Special Case?
I submit that Tiger represents a special case because of its straddling of the PPC/Intel transition, and that there are more PPC diehards likely holding on to older Macs that only support up to Tiger for longer this time than would customarily have been.
Some of us Tiger holdouts either don’t want to give up on computers performing superbly and reliably for us, as my Pismos are for me, or simply can’t afford to upgrade our systems during this economic period.
I accede to the eventual inevitability of Tiger’s demise farewell, and Apple itself could terminate security update support for Tiger any day now. I just don’t welcome it and hoped it wouldn’t arrive quite this soon.
How about you? If you’re still using Tiger, how big of a deal will Firefox support termination be for you?
If you’re a big fan of Mercury… okay, there probably aren’t many Mercury fans, but it looks like Ford is hoping to change that by 2011 – or at least stop certain franchisees from crumbling. On Sunday, we told you that Ford President Mark Fields told dealers at the company’s annual meeting that an all-new Focus-sized offering was heading over to the product-starved Mercury marque, and now we have fresh rumors of said vehicle’s name.
Now, Automotive News quotes two dealer sources as saying that the next Mercury will carry the Tracer name – a marque that’s been lost to the ether for some time. But that apparently isn’t stopping Ford. At any rate, we’re sure the nation’s Lincoln-Mercury dealers will be happy to have a new Jill Wagner-pitched offering on their showroom floors, no matter what the name may be. Let’s just hope that the powers that be don’t dig up the Trio trim level while they’re at it.
In other Ford news, the Blue Oval began accepting orders for its subcompact Fiesta yesterday. A reported 60 percent of dealers said that they would order high trim vehicles when they become available. Ford has started a training program to help dealer salespeople sell the newest and most eagerly awaited Ford model to grace dealer forecourts in some time.
Erected in 1919, the monument honors the boll weevil, a pest which destroys cotton crops and was once the scourge of Southern, Mexican and South American, agriculture.
However, as always, disaster can lead to unexpected opportunities. Farmers of Enterprise, Alabama, long dependent on cotton, took the weevil’s arrival as a motivation to diversify their crops. This led to the discovery that new crops (such as peanuts) could be grown on the same land, which brought new money to the area, and the evolution of more modern agricultural practices. The Boll Weevil Monument is thought to be the only monument in the world erected to honor an agricultural pest.
In 1998, the original statue was severely damaged by vandals. It was removed to the nearby Depot Museum, and a replica erected in its place.
If you live in the UK, then you’ll be enjoying some nice Countryman news today as the prices of the new Mini Crossover have been announced for your region.
Starting at £16,000 ($25,086 USD), buyers can opt for the 98-hp Mini One Countryman, which goes from 0-62 mph in a very long 12.7 seconds while averaging 40 mpg. Moving up to other gasoline engine choices, buyers can go for the 122-hp Mini Cooper Countryman for £17,510 ($27,453 USD) or 184-hp Mini Cooper S Countryman for £20,810 ($32,627 USD). Those looking for diesel models, can go for the Mini One D Countryman for £17,000 ($26,654 USD) or the Mini Cooper D Countryman for £18,810 ($29,492 USD) – both models return an estimated fuel-economy of 55 mpg or 53 mpg (in U.S. terms) respectively.
The North American debut of the Mini Countryman will be held at the 2010 New York Auto Show next month. We expect pricing details to be available for the stateside around then. In the mean time, you can check out the U.S.-spec details here.
* Largest MINI model ever offers both space and soft off-road ability
* First MINI four door, five seat model
* MINI brand now encompasses four model lines with two more to come
* MINI enters the crossover segment and takes on new market rivals
In September this year MINI will launch its latest and largest model, and the first to offer four-wheel drive, to the UK market. The MINI Countryman range will be the fourth member of the MINI family following Hatch, Convertible and Clubman. It means that MINI owners who love the brand no longer need move to another make when they need more space in their car. The MINI Countryman will be available in five models, three of which will offer ALL4, MINI’s new four-wheel drive option.
“Countryman takes the MINI story to a new level,” said Jochen Goller, Director of MINI UK. “The extra space and ALL4 MINI break new ground in the brand’s 51 year heritage. With Countryman prices starting at £16,000 and a very high standard specification, we are introducing more MINI piquancy into the crossover market this year.”
Power and go At launch the Countryman range will include three petrol and two diesel models, as well as two ALL4 all-wheel drive models – the Cooper D ALL4 and Cooper S ALL4. The petrol engines are the new 1.6 litre power plants already announced for the Hatch, Convertible and Clubman models due in March 2010. The diesel units are shared with the rest of the MINI range.
The petrol engines all feature Variable Valve Timing (VVT) similar to the BMW Valvetronic system that produces more torque low down and aids overall efficiency. The Cooper S model also features a twin-scroll turbocharger and direct fuel injection that gives blistering performance with modest fuel economy and low CO2 emissions. All engines meet EU5 emissions standards. The key performance data are listed below.
hp@ rpm
Nm@rpm
0-62 mph
Top speed mph
Mpg**
CO2 g/km
OTR Price
One
98 @4,750
153@3,000
12.7
109
47.9
137
£16,000
Cooper
122@6,000
160@4,250
10.5
118
46.3
142
£17,510
Cooper S
184@5,500
240@1,600*
7.4
133
44.8
146
£20,810
One D
90@4,000
215@1,750
13.2
105
65.7
116
£17,000
Cooper D
112@4,000
270@1,750
10.9
112
64.2
116
£18,810
*The MINI Cooper S Countryman delivers 260 Nm of torque for short periods courtesy of Overboost
**Combined
“The Countryman models still pack in the driving thrills that put a grin on your face the way all MINIs do,” said Lee Connolly, MINI UK Product Manager. “But the Countryman also brings new levels of space and versatility to the range that will attract not only existing MINI owners but also new customers. We expect that the extra space will mean that around 80 per cent of Countryman sales will come from customers completely new to the MINI brand.”
ALL4 two with one to follow Two models in the new Countryman range will offer four-wheel drive, for the very first time in MINI’s 51 year history. The MINI Cooper D and Cooper S ALL4 models will be available as models from day one. A MINI Cooper ALL4 version will follow in 2012.
Not everyone needs four-wheel drive all the time. MINI has a typically smart, and fuel efficient answer for this conundrum: the Countryman ALL4 is a front-wheel drive car in most normal circumstances, but when wheel slip on the front wheels is detected or if the car is being driven enthusiastically an electro-magnetic clutch, located on the rear axle, engages drive to the rear wheels to improve traction. To enable this imperceptible change to the driven wheels a propeller shaft from the front axle is driven constantly and is ready to direct drive forces from the front axle to the rear in lightening time. The amount of power fed to the rear wheels is infinitely variable between one per cent and 100, depending upon the driving conditions.
“Countryman ALL4 is a soft off-roader for use in everyday situations like parking in a field for a sporting event or driving on the beach,” explained Connolly.
The ALL4 models costs a modest £1,065 for the Cooper D and £1,220 for the Cooper S above the standard front-wheel drive Countryman models and the penalty in terms of fuel consumption and CO2 emissions is smaller than one might expect.
Body purposeful The Countryman has a familiar MINI appearance, albeit distinctly different to any that have gone before. It is 398 mm longer than a MINI Hatch (at 4097 mm), 316 mm wider (at 1,789 mm) and 170 mm higher (at 1577 mm). Countryman offers 190 litres more luggage capacity than a MINI Hatch with the seats up (a total of 350 litres) and 1,170 litres with the rear seats folded flat. For the first time ever a MINI has four wide-opening doors, passenger capacity for five adults and a flexible, activity-orientated interior packed with innovations. All UK models will be built as five seat cars, although customers can specify the four seat option at no extra cost.
Featuring that typical ‘wheel at each corner’ stance with short overhangs, the Countryman not only has larger dimensions than its cousins but also a higher ride height. This provides the commanding driving position preferred by many drivers with the higher ground clearance for soft off-road driving. Its ground clearance is 10 mm higher than any other MINI model.
Many design characteristics are familiar such as the high window line surrounding the glasshouse while others are new interpretations of iconic features. For example, the roofline with roof rails, the reinterpretation of the hexagonal radiator grille and the prominent headlight units integrated into the bonnet.
The front of the Countryman is more upright projecting a confident ‘face’ that also offers improved pedestrian safety. The wheel arches are more flared highlighting the robust nature of the Countryman as a true crossover, its soft off-road ability and the design of the wide-opening tailgate offers easy access to the large boot space.
Interior features The MINI Countryman is all about comfort, practicality and innovative style inside. From the four wide-opening doors to the high-opening rear hatch, it is easy and comfortable to get into and out of, and a dream to load. The additional boot space of 350 litres is more than double that of the Hatch and 90 litres more than Clubman offers. With the rear seats folded flat the interior provides no less than 1,170 litres of load space.
The multi-function rear seats are arranged in a 60:40 Base and 40:20:40 Backrest providing absolute flexibility with all three seats capable of folding flat in any combination. With one rear seat passenger, two seats can be folded flat or with two, one can be flattened. Flexibility is not compromised but celebrated in the new Countryman.
The interior is dominated by iconic MINI design characteristics such as grippy and comfortable sports seats, the trademark central speedometer and neat, funky switch packs. New elements of MINI design language are introduced with the oval interior door elliptical trims that continue from front to rear door and back and the MINI Central Rail system. The MINI Centre Rail runs from front to rear instead of a conventional centre console and opens up new, individual options for integrating all kinds of storage boxes, cupholders, power chargers, music players, mobile phones and other accessories.
High standard specification The MINI Countryman range offers a sparkling array of standard equipment including:
* Roof rails that facilitate various attachments like roof boxes or roof racks
* Thatcham Category 1 alarm system
* Air conditioning
* Heated door mirrors and washer jets
* Rear park distance control
* MINI Central Rail system
* Multi-function rear seats – the five seat fitment being standard in the UK, although the four seat option will be at no cost
* Dynamic Stability Control
* Electric power steering with Servotronic speed-related assistance
* Six airbags
* ISOFIX child safety seat mountings
* Tyre puncture warning system
* Standard Central Bass Hi Fi system with six speakers
* DAB digital radio with Radio Boost.
* Bluetooth telephone preparation
* USB connection
* Passenger Airbag deactivation
* Preparation for a bicycle rack
All MINI Countryman models come with standard preparation for a bike rack. The multi-function rack itself is a bespoke item that not only secures bikes or surfboards being carried but also allows the rear hatch to be opened without removing the rack and its contents.
The Countryman is equipped with 16 inch wheels on One and Cooper (alloy wheels on the Cooper), with 17 inch alloys on Cooper S. Options of 18 and 19 inch wheels in various styles are available.
The Countryman range is available in 11 exterior colours and 8 interior trims.
The market for Countryman The demand for crossover vehicles has grown substantially recently: drivers want the best of both worlds with normal saloon-like driving responses as well as the added versatility of soft off-road ability and the interior flexibility to cope with all the hobbies, shopping trips and activities that are a huge part of the typical busy modern family life.
As a result, MINI Countryman arrives in a growing segment that presents an opportunity to attract buyers from a wide range of competitive cars. Not only will they find the flexibility their lifestyle demands but they will also discover the world of MINI, a world where practicality and versatility does not bring limitations on the fun that can be derived from driving.
Countryman opens up a whole new range of opportunities for MINI “We always maintain that MINI is not a boutique brand like some of its competitors,” said Goller. “MINI is not a one trick pony and as the brand blossoms still further with Coupe and Roadster, MINI will soon be a six model family. All this has happened within a decade of MINI’s rebirth,” he concluded.
All Countryman models will be built by Magna Steyr in Austria. Although it is the first MINI model not to be built at MINI’s spiritual home in Oxford, the brand’s worldwide success means that there is insufficient capacity to make Countryman at present. It has been confirmed that the forthcoming Coupé and Roadster models will be built in Oxford.
MINI Countryman will make its World debut at the Geneva Show in March and it will go on sale in the UK on September 18 2010 with prices starting at a very affordable £16,000.
CHICAGO –Charges were filed Monday against a man shot by an off-duty Chicago Police officer when he allegedly pointed a handgun at the officer after shooting at three men inside a sport-utility vehicle early Monday in the North Side West Ridge neighborhood, police said.
Emmanuel Perez-Gomez, 20, of the 4700 block of N. Kenneth Ave., was charged at 4 p.m. Monday with three counts of attempted murder, three counts of aggravated discharge of a firearm and misdemeanor aggravated assault, according to police.
Perez-Gomez was arrested at 4:37 a.m. Monday at Belmont Area headquarters at 2452 W. Belmont Ave. after he checked himself into Swedish Covenant Hospital for treatment of a gunshot wound he suffered when a police officer shot him, police said.
The shooting happened about 1:10 a.m. Monday in the 2800 block of West Devon Avenue, police said.
A police report said the incident began as an argument, and Perez-Gomez allegedly pointed a loaded handgun at an Isuzu Rodeo SUV and fired three or four shots. Three men inside the Rodeo — all in their 20s with the same last name – were not hit, the report said.
An off-duty officer working security nearby chased Perez-Gomez, who pointed the same gun at the officer, the report said. In fear for his life and others, the officer fired and shot Perez-Gomez, who fled in a dark-colored SUV, the report said.
Initially, police said no one was struck but a man later arrived at Swedish Covenant Hospital and told emergency personnel he was shot near North Mozart Street and West Devon Avenue — about a block west of the police-involved shooting, police said. The injuries were described as non-life-threatening.
Belmont Area detectives and the Independent Police Review Authority, which investigates all police-involved shootings, are investigating.
No brand can exist today without dabbling a little with ‘social media’, or at least that the popular view. True or not, many brands are now using Twitter, Facebook and company to ‘connect’ with their customers, most of the times with less stellar results. Every once in a while one of them gets it right, the latest being toymaker giant Mattel, cre… (read more)
Hyundai announced today that it will now offer an optional in-dash LG Electronics navigation unit in the 2010 Elantra. The navigation system features Bluetooth, map software for the continental U.S., available Point of Interests and route guidance provided by audio and 2D may prompts.
The navigation system also features a 6.5-inch high resolution touchscreen, which is significantly larger than the ones found on rivals such as the Nissan Sentra and Mazda3.
Prices for the 2010 Hyundai Elantra GLS with Navigation Package start at $17,995, making it the cheapest full-screen-navi-equipped vehicle in its class.
Hit the jump for the high-res image gallery and the press release.
2010 Hyundai Elantra:
Press Release:
ELANTRA OFFERS THE MOST AFFORDABLE FULL-SCREEN NAVIGATION SYSTEM AMONG COMPARABLE MODELS
FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., 02/15/2010
For the mid-2010 mo del year, the Elantra has been up graded with an optional in- dash LG Electronics navigation unit. This system features Bluetooth and mapping software for the continental United States and has available POIs (Points of Interest) for entertainment, shopping and dining. Route guidance is provided by audio and 2D map prompts. The easy-to-use unit is controlled via 6.5-inch high resolution touchscreen that is significantly larger than the ones found in Nissan Sentra and Mazda3. The Elantra GLS with Navigation Package is only $17,995, making it the least expensive full-screen-navigation-equipped vehicle among comparable models.
2010 COMPETITIVE MODEL MSRP WITH FULL-SCREEN NAVIGATION
Navigation Trim Available
A/T MSRP w/o Freight
A/T MSRP w/ Freight
2010 Hyundai Elantra GLS A/T Navigation
$17,995
$18,715
2010 Toyota Corolla S A/T Navigation
$18,650
$19,400
2010 Nissan Sentra SL CVT Navigation
$19,100
$19,820
2010 Mitsubishi Lancer ES with Navigation System and Install Kit
$19,889
$20,634
2010 Honda Civic Sedan EX with Navigation
$22,255
$22,965
2010 Mazda3 Sport A/T Navigation
$22,430
$23,180
2010 Volkswagen Jetta SE A/T Navigation
$22,440
$24,190
2010 Chevrolet Cobalt
NA
NA
2010 Ford Focus
NA
NA
The system features 8GB of internal flash memory for the map data and comes matched with a 200-watt AM/FM/XM Satellite Radio/CD/MP3 audio system with internal amplifier. It can also access phone numbers employing a Bluetooth hands-free phone book and allows driver and passenger to access their personal listening devices through the iPod®/USB inputs[1]. The FM/XM Satellite Radio interface is also integrated into the navigation unit and features song/artist/title information. XM Satellite Radio is complimentary for the first 90 days. The touchscreen navigation-equipped Elantras arrive in dealerships this month.
2010 ELANTRA
The award-winning Elantra enters 2010 an improved weapon a gainst gas prices, with the all-new Blue mo del achieving a highway fuel economy rating of 35 miles per gallon. Smart engineering enhancements to the rest of the 2010 Elantra lineup improve fuel efficiency by up to four percent. These new fuel economy numbers give Elantra an advantage in price-per-MPG ratio, making it an even stronger value for 2010. In addition to all these enhancements, Hyundai Elantra earned the J.D. Power and Associates award for the highest initial quality in the compact car segment.
Base MSRP w/o Freight
Hwy.Fuel economy
$/MPG
2010 Elantra Blue
$14,145
35
$404[2]
2010 Corolla M/T
$15,450
35
$441
2010 Civic M/T
$15,655
34
$460
2010 Focus M/T
$16,290
35
$465
2010 Cobalt XFE M/T
$14,990
37
$405
To make the Elantra “Blue,” engineers added a “smart” alternator management system, lower friction engine components, revised transmission gear ratios, engine calibration changes and a shift indicator to last year’s Elantra GLS manual. This new high mileage Elantra is identified with unique “Blue” badging. From the Blue edition, the rest of the Elantra line receives its lower friction engine components, “smart” alternator management system and an improved lock-up torque converter to maximize fuel economy at highway speeds.
Model
Fuel Economy (mpg)
Percent Increase
City
‘09 → ‘10
Highway
‘09 → ‘10
Blue
24 → 26
33 → 35
8 percent in city, 6 percent on hwy. compared to ’09 GLS M/T
GLS
25 → 26
33 → 34
4 percent in city, 3 percent on hwy.
SE
25 → 26
33 → 34
4 percent in city, 3 percent on hwy.
Elantra also returns this year with the convenience of Hyundai’s iPod®/USB auxiliary inputs, a new “waterfall” grille, rear chrome trim, chrome interior accents and a monotone black interior color choice for SE mo dels.
Music lovers will welcome the 2010 Elantra’s inclusion of XM Satellite Radio and standard auxiliary input jacks (3.5 mm mini-jack and USB input) to accommodate and charge audio devices such as iPods. When an iPod or flash drive is connected through the USB port, not only does it play music through the vehicle’s six-speaker audio system, but it also charges the iPod. The audio display included with this system also allows both driver and passengers to easily view song/artist/title information and control the music from the audio head unit rather than from the iPod itself.
NEW EQUIPMENT HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2010
High mileage, low price “Blue” edition
Improved EPA fuel economy estimates for all other mo dels
Waterfall chrome grille
Rear chrome trim
Chrome interior accents
Black interior color choice
Still standard on the Elantra SE, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) is the industry’s most significant new safety technology since the seatbelt. ESC compares the driver’s intended course with the vehicle’s actual response, then brakes individual front or rear wheels and/or re duces engine power as needed in certain driving circumstances to help correct understeer or oversteer. According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) research, if all vehicles were equipped with ESC, as many as 10,000 of the 34,000 fatal passenger vehicle crashes that occur each year could be prevented.
In addition, the Elantra has also received a five-star frontal and four-star si de crash rating in the compact passenger car segment from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and earned a “Good” rating in the IIHS’s frontal offset test, the Institute’s highest rating. Finally, the addition of a standard Tire Pressure Monitoring System, which alerts drivers if tires are under inflated through an illuminated readout on the dash, rounds out Elantra’s safety features to make it one of the smartest purchases in the compact class.
With Final Fantasy XIII’s Western release less than a month away, early reviews for the game have already started to surface. Thing is, not everybody’s happy about the game. Square Enix, however, doesn’t care.
An 18-year-old Elgin man has been charged in connection with a Jan. 7 shooting on the city’s near-east side, police said Monday.
Dylan Petersen was arrested late Friday after police executed a search warrant at his home on the 400 block of South Street, recovering a handgun and ammunition, police said.
He was charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, unlawful use of a weapon, possession of a firearm by a street gang member and no valid Firearm Owner’s Identification.
Police said Petersen had opened fire Jan. 7 at a house on the near-east side. No one was hurt.
In addition to arresting Petersen, police cited four juveniles for underage drinking and located a juvenile runaway from Carpentersville while searching his home, Swoboda said.
Petersen, whose next court date is Feb. 23, was being held Monday in the Kane County jail on $200,000 bond.
He could be sentenced to up to 15 years in prison if convicted of the most serious offense.
Alfa Romeo 159 – Click above for high-res image gallery
It’s been 15 years since Alfa Romeo last sold vehicles in the U.S. market, but according to Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne, we won’t have to wait much longer for a chance to own a vehicle donning the Cross and Serpent. Automotive News is reporting that Marchionne insisted that Alfa will return Stateside in the next 24 months, adding: “I’m a lot more confident now that Alfa Romeo will reconstitute a product offering that is acceptable globally, and more in particular in the United States and Canada.”
To make the jump to the U.S. and Canada, Alfa will reportedly need to rely on its newest sibling Chrysler for the appropriate platforms. AN sources say that the most likely Alfas to make the trans-Atlantic journey are the successors to the 159 and 166, but those vehicles could be sitting on Chrysler platforms when they make their way to production. The 159 replacement would reportedly be built in the U.S. with a scheduled 2012 arrival and it could rest atop Chrysler’s “compact wide” midsize architecture. The range may eventually also spawn both a sedan and wagon. AN indicates that the 166 successor could be matched up with The Pentastar’s large rear drive platform that currently underpins the Dodge Charger and Chrysler 300, with the vehicle being built at Chrysler’s Brampton, Ontario plant. The 147 replacement that is scheduled to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show will apparently not be coming to North America.
We’re really hoping Alfas will in fact arrive on our shores within the next couple years, but we’ve certainly witnessed this song and dance before. There is no question that Fiat has to do something with Alfa, though, as global sales that have gone from 203,000 in 2000 to 102,000 in 2009 won’t cut it for long.
Facebook is at 400 million users worldwide right now and it’s not slowing down. At some point though, it’s going to run out of potential users, there are ‘only’ about 1.7 billion people online today. Still, there are more than six billion people in total and five billion of them will have a mobile phone by the end of this year according to some e… (
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EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Boeing [NYSE: BA] on Feb. 11 shipped the first Global Positioning System (GPS) IIF satellite from the company’s satellite manufacturing facility in El Segundo to Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida aboard a Boeing-built C-17 Globemaster III airlifter.
No brand can exist today without dabbling a little with ‘social media’, or at least that the popular view. True or not, many brands are now using Twitter, Facebook and company to ‘connect’ with their customers, most of the times with less stellar results. Every once in a while one of them gets it right, the latest being toymaker giant Mattel, cre… (
