Audi fans out there are surely satisfied with the S3 but the guys over at MR Car Design decided to give it a try and develop a more advanced version, somewhat like an unofficial RS3. The resulting model is indeed a much more powerful car, although it is still equipped with the 2.0-liter TFSI engine offered by Audi.
To get straight to the point, the tuners used the aforementioned engine but added a sports exhaust system with optimized dynamic pressure, a big intercooler plus additi… (read more)
Jenson Button has lost his first head-to-head confrontation with his new teammate and future rival Lewis Hamilton since he joined McLaren Mercedes team. Although the two were not put one alongside another on a track to compete for 1st place, they were given the chance to lap for the fastest time (in different days) during the famous BBC show Top Gear.
While Hamilton’s test happened a couple of years ago – during his very first season in Formula One and before he became world champ… (read more)
With the rise in population, shortage of free space isn’t unusual in cities across the globe. Likewise, car parks are now insufficient, due to which many civic multi-storey car parks are being built. The guys at Mitsubishi had a recent brainwave and have planned the construction of multi storey car parks that have chargers for your electric vehicles to juice them up when parked. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Parking Co Ltd, a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, has based these car parks on the ‘Lift Park’ and has renamed it the ‘Plug-in Lift Park’. These car parks are usually used in condominium buildings, offices etc. All you need to do is, drive your electric vehicle (EV) or plug-in hybrid (PHV) vehicle into one of these parking places, plug it in, and have it charge up while you go about doing your business.
The charging outlets are fitted onto the pallets on which cars are parked. Mitsubishi anticipates the rise in use of EV’s and PHV’s in the future and plans to build more of these car parks and also convert the existing ones into EV-friendly parking spaces. The company has also planned reducing the power consumption by using regenerative energy of elevators and solar-powered car parks.
[Techon]
In an official presentation, Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has revealed that the company’s long anticipated Small GasolineEngine (SGE) will make its way to the market next year in the form of a 0.9 liter turbocharged, twin-cylinder gasoline unit mounted on the Fiat 500.
The engine will feature the group’s innovative Multiair technology, which controls the intake valves in order to provide the exact amount of power needed. According to Fiat the new unit will offer the same performanc… (read more)
Taking the jump straight from karting to the big boys league, 19-year old Michael Self announced his decision to enter the 2010 NASCAR Camping World Series West, under the Mike Naake/Motorway Motorsports banner. Self thus put an end to the speculation that he will be driving open wheel vehicles.
About a year and a half ago I decided I wanted to go the opposite way of go kart racing, Self said. I wanted to race NASCAR, even though I already had connections and scholarships for raci… (read more)
American carmaker Ford compiled a list of gift items that can be the perfect option for the last-minute holiday shopper, and that can easily fit every budget. Ranging form a pool table to children’s T-shirts and remote-controlled Raptor pickups, the items are currently on sale, priced from $15 to $15,000.
"People are sharing their passion for Mustang, F-150 and other Ford vehicles with our great line of toys and other gifts," said John Nens, Ford global brand licensing m… (read more)
Spyker is now seen as Saab’s only hope to stay alive and it appears the Dutch manufacturer has already established a detailed viability plan for the Swedish unit. Spyker representatives have already met Sweden’s IF Metall union leaders, with some people involved in the matter revealing that its proposal is very similar to the one presented by Koenigsegg, the Swedish entity that also held talks to buy Saab.
"Spyker is anxious for this to become a reality," Stefan Lofven, … (read more)
Ferrari recently launched their brand new simulator at their headquarters in Maranello, making yet another step into creating a good development base for their 2010 challenger (and its successors). Following a year of development, the new simulator was unveiled by the Scuderia in the presence of F1 team principal Stefano Domenicali and the company’s CEO Amedeo Felisa.
It’s an important day for us as the completion of this project means we will now be able to tackle with confidence… (read more)
One of the most controversial deals made this year in the automotive sector, the one through which American manufacturer GM sold intellectual property for Saab’s 9-5 and 9-3 sedans and additional equipment to Chinese company BAIC, was worth $200 million, as the Chinese side claims.
For that money, BAIC bought rights to three vehicle platforms, two engine technologies and two transmission systems, BAIC said in a statement quoted by Autonews. The deal sent Saab into a spin, as it w… (read more)
Although Fiat is currently involved in the US expansion, together with its new ally Chrysler, the Italian manufacturer is also very focused on its domestic operations and recently presented its future plans for the local operations. In short terms, Fiat hopes to increase Italian production to 1 million units by 2012 but company CEO Sergio Marchionne admitted that he might need government support.
The government reacted in a positive manner and, even if local officials have not pro… (read more)
Following Bernie Ecclestone’s comments the other day about the prospect of seeing a couple of teams dropping out of the 2010 Formula One Championship because of financial difficulties – and hinting that those two teams are the newly-entrant US F1 and Campos Grand Prix – it was only natural that the outfits in question to come out and deny the news. And that’s a good sign, we’d evaluate.
The first one to do so was US F1 co-owner Peter Windsor, who told the media that everything is … (read more)
Trying to capitalize on the huge success of James Cameron’s blockbuster movie Avatar, American manufacturer Ford announced yesterday it too uses similar technologies as those used for the movie to better design its cars. In fact, Ford uses motion-capture software as those used by Avatar, Lord of the Rings, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and Polar Express to improve ergonomics and virtual manufacturing.
Just like in the movies, we hook people up with sensors to understand exactl… (read more)
I loves me some freeware! I guess that is the biggest reason I started this blog. Well I just found another freebie that is really cool, and I would say is a must have for anyone in the business that gets stuck on the phone with those users complaining that their computer is slow.
You know the type. The dreaded call saying simply in a whiny voice, “My computer is sooooooo slooooowwww. Can you help?”
Luckily I don’t do phone support anymore, but I did do it for quite a while so I feel your pain!
There are lots of spyware cleaners, registry cleaners, defrag utilities etc out there. Many of which have already been reviewed here on Bauer-Power. This particular utility though is an all-in-one suite that does almost everything in a one stop shop.
I am talking about Glary Utilities. Here is a brief rundown of what it does from their website:
Here is a screenshot of Glary Utilities running a 1-click maintenance scan on my PC:
Oh and looky here…. It found some problems:
I am seriously loving the tracks eraser which erases many things from your internet browsing history and last ran programs history. It will even clear out your Start > Run history.
Along with the one click maintenance, you also have different modules built in. One of my favorites is the Uninstall Manager which is like Add/Remove Programs on steroids! It allows you to select multiple program at once and perform one big batch uninstall!
Now Glary Utilities is free for private use. If you want to incorporate it into your company’s IT arsenal, then you will have to purchase the Pro version for a nominal fee of $39.95.
Have you used Glary Utilities? What are some of your favorite features?
The North American division of Volkswagen recently announced it has appointed two new vice presidents for the group and brand communications as well as for government relations. Anna-Maria Schneider has been named vice president of industry and government relations and Jill Bratina has accepted the position of vice president, Volkswagen Group corporate communications and Volkswagen brand communications.
Bratina will be responsible for strategically integrating Group and brand comm… (read more)
With the new year, you may need to make room for fresh items in your home. If someone gave you a great TV for Christmas, but your old one still works, what should you do? Garage sales can be time-consuming, and they aren’t exactly popular in the winter.
There’s a cool and free way to find local buyers online. Kijiji is eBay’s no-charge, family-friendly local classifieds website. It’s easy to post your free ad. According to a recent survey by Kijiji, 24% of respondents are getting rid of unused household items to make room for guests and new gifts this holiday season. The same percentage of people plan on selling those items to make extra cash.
Kijiji also makes it easy to shop. Perhaps you’re looking for a used guitar? To search for items to buy at Kijiji, enter your ZIP code and click on specific options under bigger headings like pets, housing, jobs, cars and vehicles, services and community. There’s also a general “for sale” option including musical instruments, antiques, appliances, tools and more.
While searching under my ZIP at Kijiji, I found lots of items in my community up for grabs. Some popular items to buy used include fish tanks, furniture, automobiles, musical instruments, bicycles and movies. However, nothing’s perfect! Remember to exercise caution when buying from individuals via Kijiji or by any means. Don’t give out too much personal information, and avoid deals that sound too good to be true.
Have you used Kijiji to buy or sell items? If so, how was your experience?
(Image via stock.xchng)
Post from: Blisstree
The United Kingdom seems to be Renault’s favorite market when it comes to special edition models as the French manufacturer recently debuted several limited series in the country. Recently, Renault announced that it will refresh its UK van range with some "Extra" special editions that will add around 1,000 pound equipment over the standard trim level but without increasing the price.
The "Extra" version will be available for Kangoo Van, Traffic and Master.
read more)
By Richard Levick 12/23/09 – 12:01 AM EST
It’s been over a year since the financial market crashed and, with it, the reputations of arguably every significant Wall Street business leader. Against the prior backdrop of Enron, WorldCom, et al., the malaise extends beyond the financial services as well, tainting C-suites across multiple industries.
Given the enormity of the crisis and the perceived breach of public trust, the pandemic negativism should not be all that surprising. Much more surprising is that certain reputations have remained uninfected, as if there were something in the DNA of these leaders that inoculates them against blame and allows an indissoluble bond with the mass public.
The name of Warren Buffett ranks highest on this enviable list. It can be argued that Buffett’s rather mystical hold on public admiration is belied to some extent by his actions during the crisis. In her updated biography, The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life, Alice Schroeder points out that, while Buffett acted as “the economy’s greatest cheerleader,” he was lending at rates that bordered on “usurious.” Meanwhile, because of Berkshire Hathaway’s (BRK.A Quote) concentration in financial stocks, book value dropped by almost 10%, the largest decrease in its history.
Our concern is not to thrash out such arguments one way or another. If anything, sophisticated criticism of Buffett’s business decisions only underscores the personal imponderables that have enabled him to play father figure during the global ordeal. It’s likewise significant that those traits are by no means unique to Buffett. The personal styles of business legends like Sam Walton, who founded Wal-Mart(WMT Quote) and Bill Gates, with Microsoft(MSFT Quote) are extremely different from Buffett’s, yet there’s enough in common to suggest powerful lessons in leadership itself.
The knee-jerk explanation — that businessmen like Buffett and Walton and Gates maintain public trust because they actually create jobs — is only superficially valid. There will always be people who cannot understand how and why Goldman Sachs (GS Quote) likewise creates jobs. Yet ask some of those same people what Berkshire actually does and they may not know that either. The link between Buffett and job-creation is no more discernible to the untutored eye than for Lloyd Blankfein or, certainly, the CEOs of consumer banks.
No, the Teflon is more deeply layered than that. Consider:
Spirit of Place. Buffett is Nebraska; Walton, Arkansas; and Gates, West Coast. In other words, not New York! It may be altogether specious to oppose Wall Street to Main Street, especially for a financial markets power broker like Buffett. But none of these men are ever thought of as part of a Wall Street inner circle and, at least these days, that’s a helpful starting point to maintain public trust.
The clear lesson for those who do work in the canyons of Lower Manhattan is to also be visibly involved in communities beyond New York.
Lifestyle. Buffett’s well-crafted personal mythology emphasizes disdain for the material trappings of success, as did Walton’s. Buffett drives a 1990s American car and still lives in the home he purchased for a pittance decades ago. He apologizes for his private plane. Walton drove a red pick-up truck at the height of his success, which Home Depot (HD Quote) co-founder Bernard Marcus recalls had no air conditioning but plenty of coffee stains. Walton’s Bentonville office was small and unadorned.
Consciously or not, both men understood the leadership impact of such Spartan accoutrements. The American people (like any people) may dream of opulence, but they also distrust it and those who revel in it. If nothing else, the lifestyles of Buffett and Walton differentiate them from all the successful people whom the public envies. Take away public envy and all that’s left is public admiration.
But their austerity bespeaks durable leadership at two deeper levels as well. First, the Protestant ethic views work as intrinsically valuable. Buffett and Walton personify that ethic because they eschew the trappings of success in favor of what’s really important to them — the work itself. The purpose of business is not to decorate the mansions of business owners, but to create something that will have permanent and collective impact. In this respect, Gates, while not known for a modest lifestyle, is relevant. When he was selected as the world’s most admired business leader in a 2005 poll, over half the names mentioned were company founders. Building something mattered.
Second, austerity inspires confidence, and not just because it shows these are serious men who won’t be distracted by frivolousness. Their austerity also shows that success has not changed them; that they have the same values with which they started out, and are no less trustworthy than when they opened their first five-and-dime. At a time of crisis, to whom should we turn if not such embodiments of uncompromised personal stability?
When executives stay away from those private elevators, they make wise peacetime investments, building personal brands that help preserve public loyalty when the battles begin.
Philanthropy. Charity does not guarantee permanent public approbation but it’s difficult to achieve it absent ongoing reminders of the leader’s resolve to give back as much as possible. In 2005, Time did not honor Gates as Man of the Year because of the latest Windows incarnation; the Persons of the Year went instead to Bill and Melinda Gates (along with Bono) for their charitable work. Buffett’s contribution of 10 million Berkshire shares the very next year was unmitigated synergism, thunderously underscoring both men’s leadership by coupling them in the same conspicuous public context.
Philanthropy also reinforces the “lifestyle” leadership component. After all, leaders who don’t care about buying the Hope Diamond further demonstrate their commendable indifference by using the money to support worthy causes.
Uncommon Common Wisdom. The public will always admire those from whom it can learn. Wall Street kingpins are perceived as trafficking in esoterica; they’ve figured out brilliant financial stratagems, which explain their success. Most people do not hope to learn from them because most people do not understand those stratagems.
But Buffett and Walton inspire because they sincerely explain their incalculable success with homey concepts that anyone can understand. Consider a few postings from the blog, youngentrpreneur.com:
“Buffet is such an inspiration to young serial entrepreneurs like myself. I especially liked “hang out with people better than you.” It’s so true. You always gravitate to, and become more like, those you are around.”
“I love Warren Buffet! Not because he’s extremely wealthy but he creates his choice of words in a simple fashion.”
“[His] line ‘Focus on your customers and lead your people as though their lives depended on your success” is such a strong driving force to succeed in business.”
If you understand his simple wisdom, you can succeed, too. Your hope is so strong; it inspires a loyalty to your mentor that transcends crises and failures.
At the organizational level, highly complex business realties can and should be similarly recast in fundamental human terms; that is certainly the lesson we learn from Nuts!, the book about Southwest Airlines (LUV Quote) by Kevin and Jackie Freiberg.
Prophetic Power. Buffett’s friend Bill Gates does not, to be sure, fit the mold exactly. He lives lavishly and does not inspire with simple practicable wisdom. Unlike Buffett, he is loathed in some quarters for his ruthlessness. Unlike Sam Walton — who continues to be personally admired despite the business controversies his company has undergone since his death — Gates’ reputation is often inseparable from Microsoft’s.
But Gates shares one quality, especially with Buffett, that provides him with a very special and admired niche in the hierarchy of public esteem. It is the apparent ability to know what’s coming next before anyone else does. In fact, the word “visionary” is often used to describe Gates’ eye for the technology that will dominate the future as well as its effect on that future. It’s a mystique Gates consciously reinforces (including a 1996 best-seller called The Road Ahead).
At times of crises such unique prescience is always at a premium, since crises by their very nature raise fretful question marks about the future. If he lacks Buffett’s comforting paternal aura, Gates is at least the man to see when survival itself demands knowing what lies ahead.
Gates made his bones as a prophet by spearheading the renewal of American technology at a time when it seemed the Japanese owned all the keys to the future. For those who lived through it, such leadership is remembered, and it covers a multitude of purported sins.
Anxiety about the future drives stockholders and taxpayers no less than CEOs. They can take just about anything except uncertainty. In a past column, we discussed the leadership of Sully Sullenberger, the US Airways(LCC Quote) Hudson River crash hero; his leadership was in simply alleviating unbearable anxiety. Gates’ was ultimately no different.
Fighting Spirit. Given any degree of sympathy for your cause, the public will be loyal to fighting spirits, especially in underdog roles. While Buffett’s and Walton’s relatively humble beginnings imply such courage, for Gates it’s an overt leadership definer. To some extent, the Microsoft antitrust case actually consolidated Gates’ place in the pantheon. If he began his ascent to power by taking on IBM, now he was going toe to toe with the U.S. government. People who had scant idea what the case was about were instinctively supportive.
No one ingredient can, of course, define a whole DNA. Yet imagine these molecules in combination: A munificent heartland business leader who still lives as he lived a billion dollars ago; who knows how to speak simple wisdom to a cross-section of people; who can foresee tomorrow’s problems with the assuring strength of a sympathetic father; and who can fight for what he believes in against superior odds.
The reputation of such a leader won’t be vitiated by something as insignificant as a global financial collapse. Richard S. Levick, Esq., is the president and chief executive officer of Levick Strategic Communications, a crisis communications firm.
Share Investor Blog – Stockmarket & Business commentary
Share Investor New Zealand Business News– Get more business news
Discuss this topic @ Share Investor Forum – Register free
Share Investor’s Daily Forex Updates
Recommended Amazon Reading
 |
The Intelligent Investor: The Definitive Book on Value Investing. A Book of Practical Counsel (Revised Edition) by Benjamin Graham Buy new: $14.95 / Used from: $8.92 Usually ships in 24 hours |
 |
The Intelligent Investor: The Classic Text on Value Investing by Benjamin Graham Buy new: $19.79 / Used from: $16.00 Usually ships in 24 hours |
From Amazon – Apple iPod touch 32 GB (3rd Generation) NEWEST MODEL
No, this is not official, but according to many authoritative sources, Christmas came earlier for Mercedes-Benz, as Michael Schumacher seems to have already signed a one-year deal with the German manufacturer for what will become the greatest comeback in history.
Although Germany’s Bild newspaper has constantly issued rumors regarding the return of the 7-time world champion in the Great Circle, their reports have now received backing from the very broadcaster of Formula One in the… (read more)
