Where could be my flying platform? The legal damn situations were perfected in 1956... what happened to them?

Hey! It has were given wheels, plus which I am now not compromising my standards! Who knew I may gain stretch an "Anything cool allowing for wheels" philosophy thus a lot and wide? You can realize the legal attention-grabbing tanker during the diminish left corner, need to be afflicted by been detached from a semi truck? from the LIFE archives.
For the second flying saucers that they constructed in the 1950's appear
at these three
http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/02/proof-that-man-can-design-flying.html

First Look: 2011 Nissan Micra

Nissan CEO Carlos Ghosn unveiled the company's all-new Micra these days at the 2010 Geneva motor display. Even though the Micra itself is sufficient to now not be coming back to America, it looks constructed on an all-new international small-car platform referred to currently inside Nissan because the V-platform. "This new platform adjustments everything," boasted Ghosn throughout the press conference. "Our next compact vehicles have a tendency to be during the pipeline.
During the past, Nissan had a minimal presence in the compact segment because we have a tendency to did not be afflicted by a particular platform suited to the ones customers' desires. Now we are thus going to be ready to compete, plus at the terribly best level. Our new lineup up of compact cars will facilitate to building up Nissan's global market presence up of 80% today to 94% in 2012." Versatility is the chief to Nissan's small-car strategy -- and, for which matter, the V-platform itself. The architecture will spawn a minimum of three different products for Nissan's ever-expanding global stage, and will be in-built four plants spread around the globe: India, Thailand, China, and Mexico. That lovely a lot tells you each one you have to learn concerning where Nissan hopes to sell little cars. Indeed, Nissan sources determine that both and every of these four plants will be fed by a locally-sourced supply chain that would keep production simple and inexpensive, crucial factors for profitability in the razor-thin profit margins that small cars command. Nissan will not continue building the Micra in England, less than Europe is still an significant marketplace for its subcompact providing. Nissan additionally released small print pertaining to the European-spec vehicle today, which will at last succeed in dealers later about that autumn. Cosmetically, the hot Micra is the smaller amount radical in comparison to the outgoing model, eschewing the "bubble-on-bubble" aestethic in favor of a rounded, added conservative appear. The interior is in a identical fashion rounded, and shares several portions (the door pulls, direction wheel, and climate controls, for instance) allowing for the Cube. Customary in each Euro-spec Micra is a 80-hp, 1.2-liter inline three-cylinder engine, mated either through a five-speed manual gearbox or Nissan's (seemingly omnipresent) continually-variable transmission. If that might not enough power, a supercharged shape of the identical engine also will be out there, manufacturing simply below 100 hp. More importantly, the supercharged engine is fitted along with a stop/start system, permitting it to generate solely Ninety-five grams of carbon dioxide for every kilometer driven. What engines can we get? Perhaps a better question is what car will we receive? Our sources within Nissan are not asserting, but they confirm that we will be ready to locate a bunch of version of the Micra for America, but with completely different styling. One assumes therefore the handsome small Micra would be deemed too rather like our existing Versa. But the Versa is so uninteresting, we would feel free if the
Micra just replaced it, kind of frankly.

First Look: 2011 BMW Alpina B7

The F01/F02 BMW 7 Series-based Alpina B7, plus could be the legal reason going to build its North American debut at the 2010 Chicago display, is the hottest providing up from the Bavarian factory-supported BMW tuner (Alpinas have a tendency to be sold at BMW dealers and covered by BMW warranties) and is merely the second one B7 to be obtainable during the U.S. Underhood, BMW's 4.4L, twin-turbo V-8 is still beneath the distinctive Alpina engine canopy, less than allowing for new pistons, enlarged intercoolers, and a Fourteen.5-psi max spice up pressure, the mill produces 500-hp and 516 lb.-ft. of torque -- the latter projects on faucet at 3000 rpm. For the ones keeping score, which is One hundred fifteen hp regarding liter, and a worthy improvement over the 750i's Four hundred hp and 450 lb-ft. About that newfound power, Alpina claims, is enough to propel the rear-drive B7 to Sixty mph in 4.5 seconds. However acceleration plays but a little touch phase. In the handling office, angling for a neutral experience at the back the wheel, Alpina has got fitted shorter is derived, dropping ride height by 0.6 inches front and zero.4 inches rear. The B7 also brands make use of of BMW's Dynamic Damping Management and Active Roll Stabilization, offering three setups: Comfort, Ordinary, and Sport. Both environment has effects on pieces simply prefer the suspension, power direction resistance, dampening, and throttle solution. Throw the Alpina six-speed automatic back to sport mode, and shifts take a "few hundred milliseconds" once commanded by buttons on the back of the steering wheel. Alpina wraps Michelin PS2 tires, measuring 245/35 front and 285/30 rear, around its unique 21-in wheels. New front and back splitters compliment the rolling stock, and Alpina claims lessen front raise 30% and rear by 15%. The revised fascia also integrates multiple engine and transmission coolers. With the performance components decided, Alpina turned to the interior, adding illuminated doorsills, hand-stitched leather to the steering wheel, and Myrtle Burl trim, which a wooden unique to the B7 and the overall Pacific Coast. Piano Lacquer interior trim is optional. You will notice Alpina emblems on the higher seatbacks, on the LCD cluster, and on a plaque fastened on the ---------------- roof panel just ahead of the sunroof. The same ancient allotment of seven Series exterior
colours are on the market, though is Alpina's signature blue metallic.

REPORT: Opel to cut prices 40% in order to save jobs?

Sometimes deals get made, and then the dealmakers have to employ some pretty creative tactics to get the terms to work. Magna's deal for Opel included taking €1.5 billion in short term loans from the German government, the string attached being that Magna had to guarantee German jobs.

Saving jobs means selling more cars to maintain production levels, and outside observers are suggesting that Opel would need to cut prices by 40% to move enough metal to keep people on the lines. Of course, a 40% drop in prices makes profit almost impossible, and some are saying Magna doesn't care about profits right now. One analyst said Magna and GM might want to increase costs, since Magna would sell more parts and GM would get more royalties. That, however, seem like the wilder side of speculation.

Magna has said the 40% discount hypothesis is absurd. Magna's mandate was to save German jobs -- that doesn't mean other Opel or Vauxhall factories in other countries can't be shuttered. Such a discount would also bring competing automakers into the debate; they would need to fight battles both on the dealer lot and with their government lobbyists, who would question Opel's right to sell cheap cars with government assistance.



[ Bloomberg ]
[ Tag: discount, europe, factories, magna, opel, plants, sberbank, unions, vauxhall ]

British Bailout: UK gives ?2.3B to domestic auto industry

When the U.S. domestic auto industry asked its government for billions of dollars in loans, it made world-wide news. Many other foreign nations have pitched in with funding for their own industries, as well. The UK has just gotten in on the act by promising ?2.3 billion for the cause, with ?1 billion in direct government loans and another ?1.3 billion from the European Investment Bank. The UK government is promising its citizens that the loans are "no blank check" for the ailing industry. Hmm.. where have we heard that before? The British government deemed its auto industry worth saving, mentioning that up to one million citizens count on auto jobs for income. Similar to the U.S. loan deal, the British government is looking to develop a national strategy for greener, cleaner motoring.
?2.3 billion sounds like a lot of cash (about $3.2 billion USD), but some industry insiders don't think the loans go far enough. Union leader Tony Woodley claims that nearly half of the money will need to go to Vauxhall, a subsidiary of General Motors, and Jaguar Land Rover, which is owned by India-based Tata, and that the cash infusion will do little to aid the hundreds of suppliers that are hurting just as badly.
[ Times Online ]
[ Tag: Auto industry, AutoIndustry, Bailout, great britain, GreatBritain, UK ]

Opinion: What should happen to Saturn, Vauxhall and Opel during GM's reorganization?

Amidst all the recent bailout talk, one question being asked is what role GM's Opel division will serve in a new-and-hopefully-improved General Motors. More succinctly, will Vauxhall and Saturn soldier on unchanged or will they simply fade into automotive landscape? Automotive News seems to think the question of Opel and how it relates to Vauxhall and Saturn is so important that it's worth devoting three separate editorials to the issue, with varying levels of clarity.
Richard Truett maintains that shuttering Saturn would be a "monumental mistake that would alienate many of the most loyal buyers GM has," but thinks that "Saturn fans would be cool with a transition to Opel." We think that the cars might be well-received by Saturn buyers, but that the prices need to be more budget-minded and that the overall focus of the brand needs a thorough work-over. Some Autobloggers believe that shutting down Saturn altogether would be a mistake, while some are in favor of doing away with the brand as soon as possible. Regardless of where on that fence our staffers sit, we all expressed doubt that changing the name to Opel in the U.S. would serve any constructive purpose. Clearly, if it is going to keep Saturn, GM needs to show more support for the brand, as evidenced by the Malibu/Aura situation.
So what about killing off Vauxhall, which is essentially a UK-only rebadge of Opel? Well, here we see some dissent as well. Wim Oude Weernink says that the nameplate is superfluous and thinks GM should be reduced to just Cadillac, Opel and Chevrolet worldwide. That would leave GM with premium, near-premium, and mainstream lineups, placing it in line with other successful automakers like Toyota and Ford.
Colleague Mark Appleton, on the other hand, thinks it would be stupid to kill off Vauxhall. He argues that the General should keep the storied British marque, pointing out that there is no competition between Vauxhall and Opel and that the existing line-up would be very costly to replace with a brand that has never been successful in the UK. It's much like the Saturn/Opel equation except Saturn isn't as old, by a long shot.
This author thinks that Saturn could survive and possibly thrive as a rebadged Opel line, but recent history proves otherwise. The success of Vauxhall shows that the formula can work in other markets and now that smaller, more fuel-efficient Euro cars are gaining a foothold in the States, Saturn would be an ideal brand to market Opel's wares to American buyers who want to feel like they are ahead of the curve. And the same philosophy could be applied to Ford, with Mercury getting an infusion of the Blue Oval's Euro models.
It's expensive to shut down dealerships and to change brands, and the added cost of marketing a new or unfamiliar marque is considerably more expensive than manufacturing extra badges. So keeping Vauxhall and Saturn but streamlining the offerings and manufacturing some of the cars here could help bring jobs to America and stabilize prices when the dollar and euro (or pound) are going in opposite directions. Of course there are still some who think Saturn should just die already, but Alex is always cranky after a Knight Rider liveblog, and we don't know what to make of Paukert just yet. What say you?
[ Automotive News ]
[ Tag: bailout, gm bailout, gm bankruptcy, GmBailout, GmBankruptcy, opel, reorganization, restructuring, vauxhall ]

Opel corsa super 1600