Many manufacturers have taken up the idea of creating high-economy, low-CO2 cars within the last couple of years, but few with quite the same level of enthusiasm as Volvo. If you include different trim levels and one or two other choices which we'll come to shortly, the Swedes have created no fewer than 28 models bearing the title DRIVe (which, in case you were wondering, is pronounced "drive-ee").
Of the 28, the car tested here is likely to be one of the most popular. The V50, which could be described as the estate version of the S40 except that Volvo has preferred to market the two ranges quite differently since they were introduced back in 2004, is Volvo's most popular model. We have already published general comments on the V50 in two road tests - both of the two-litre diesel version - here and here, so feel free to have a look at those while I get on with talking about this one. Like all DRIVe Volvos, it has a 1.6-litre turbo diesel engine which produces a maximum of 108bhp. That's not a spectacular output in a car of this size, so don't expect to be able to tear up the tarmac, and in particular make sure you plan your overtaking moves carefully. The V50 is not a car that was ever likely to be bought by boy racers, though (the major controls are ponderous in operation and the handling could not possibly be described as sharp), but for gentle everyday driving the available power is adequate. The economy and CO2 figures are more than adequate. A lot more. In some forms the V50 DRIVe manages 62.8mpg on the official combined fuel consumption cycle, and emits 119g/km of CO2. But other versions, including this one, are fitted with a start/stop system which cuts the engine when the car comes to rest (assuming certain conditions such as battery charge are met) and fires it up again as you're pressing the clutch pedal. V50s fitted with the R-Design bodykit are not available with stop/start because there is no room for the extra battery the system demands, and Volvo has made it optional on the others. This is in the interests of giving customers a choice in the matter, but personally I'd probably go for stop/start. It adds £250 to the price of the car, and in return the economy and CO2 figures improve substantially to 72.4mpg and 104g/km respectively. 
The CO2 benefit is more a matter for your conscience than for your bank account. It moves the DRIVe's VED rating down from Band C to Band B, but that makes no difference to the amount of tax you'll be asked to pay right now (it's £35 in each case) and even under the new system due to be introduced in April 2010 the advantage will be just £10 (£20 for Band B, £30 for Band C). Fine if you plan to hang on to the car for at least a quarter of a century, but otherwise significant only if you want to take every opportunity to limit your carbon footprint. But how about that 9.6mpg improvement in fuel consumption? As you know (or see our features on Fuel Economy Testing and Fuel Economy And Bad Science if you don't), the official test is not a particularly reliable way of predicting how much diesel you will really use, but even with that in mind a difference of 10mpg suggests a very significant trend. I can quite believe that start/stop will save you £250 in fuel costs in a reasonably short period, especially if you spend a lot of time driving in town or fuming in motorway traffic jams. It's difficult to compare the DRIVe V50 with any other model in the range because this is the only one with the 1.6 diesel engine. However, the next most economical V50 in SE trim is the 1.8 petrol, which is only slightly quicker and has economy and CO2 figures of 38.7mpg and 174g/km, and therefore comes in VED Band I with annual tax payments of £175 now and £200 from April 2010. On the other hand, it costs nearly £2000 less to buy, though the difference in value will probably be at least that when it comes to resale time. Apart from the engine, DRIVe models have such impressive fuel economy for various familiar reasons including a lowered ride height, better aerodynamics, low-friction transmission oil, low-rolling resistance tyres and electrohydraulic steering. By far the most visually obvious difference is the use of Diamond Cut Libra wheels which help with the aerodynamics. I don't find these at all attractive, but of course you can't see them when you're driving the car, and if they offend you beyond endurance you can always choose more conventional-looking alloys from the options list. Source: carkeys
               
The Rickshaw Drivers Association staged a protest here on Thursday against the ban imposed on two-stroke vehicles mover on three main roads of the city. The protesters urged the concerned authorities to lift the ban and stop issuing challans to them. Rickshaw drivers blocked traffic near Committee Chowk underpass for one hour. The policemen deployed there baton-charged the protesting rickshaw drivers. They even thrashed drivers of four-stroke rickshaws who were passing through the road at the time of the protest. Talking to 'The News,' Two-Stroke Rickshaw Drivers Association President Gul Muhammad Khan said that the City Traffic Police had banned two-stroke rickshaws on Benazir Bhutto Road, Peshawar Road and Airport Road. According to him, traffic wardens were issuing challans of Rs500 to Rs1,000 if any two-stroke rickshaw was seen on these roads. "It is a very big amount for us as we hardly earn around Rs500 to Rs550 per day," he said. "The City Traffic Police should allow us to ply our rickshaws on these roads or give us four-stroke rickshaws free of cost as we are not in a position to buy new rickshaws," he said. According to him, there are more than 1,500 two-stroke rickshaws in the city. Gul Muhammad said that the concerned authorities should lift the ban, adding that they would again go on strike if the ban was not lifted. Dilawar Khan, a two-stroke rickshaw driver, said: "If the government wants to make the environment clean by imposing a ban on two-stroke rickshaws then it should initiate a scheme for us to buy four-stroke rickshaws." He said that many two-stroke rickshaw drivers were not in a position to buy four-stroke rickshaws. "Traffic wardens do not give us any relief and issue challans of Rs500 to Rs1,000 if any of us plies a two-stroke rickshaw on the banned roads," he added. Muhammad Razzaq, a four-stroke rickshaw driver, told 'The News' that the City Traffic Police also issue challans for plying four-stroke rickshaws on these roads. He urged the concerned authorities to direct traffic wardens not to issue challans to four-stroke rickshaw drivers, as there is no ban on them. District Regional Transport Authority Secretary Chaudhry Muhammad Asif, when contacted by 'The News,' said that two-stroke rickshaws give too much noise and a major source of pollution. "That’s why we have stopped issuing permits for these rickshaws," he added. City Traffic Officer Dr. Akhtar Abbas told 'The News' that the decision to ban two-stroke rickshaws was taken to make the environment of the city clean, as two-stroke rickshaws are a major source of pollution. He said that four-stroke rickshaw drivers are issued challans for traffic violations and not for plying rickshaws on roads where entry of two-stroke vehicle mover is banned.
When BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica won the Canadian Grand Prix on Montreal's Circuit Gilles Villeneuve last June, a year after his car blew apart there in a spectacular crash, he delivered the German automaker's first Formula One victory in 63 starts. When he lines up on the grid for the season's final race in Abu Dhabi in November, it may be BMW’s last. The maker of the Mini and X3 SUV stunned fast-car fans Wednesday by declaring it would pull out of Formula One. It will become the second carmaker in less than a year to quit the premier racing series after Honda Motor Co. said in December it would withdraw. As automover earnings around the world get crushed by stalling sales in key markets such as the United States, manufacturers are under more pressure than ever to decide where to dedicate limited engineering and marketing resources. However, BMW's move is also about protecting another precious commodity in the auto mover industry, one that can take decades to build but be quickly destroyed -- image. "Of course, this was a difficult decision for us," said Norbert Reithofer, BMW's chairman. "But it’s a resolute step in view of our company's strategic realignment." He said luxury automobiles will increasingly be measured by their sustainability and environmental compatibility. So BMW’s F1 campaign is "less a key promoter" for the company. On the face of it, BMW seems to be trying to project a softer image, one that doesn't fit with the high-revving engines and squeeling tires of international motor sports. By downplaying the importance of Formula One for its future, the German automaker is saying it will no longer be defined by its ability to develop and build the world's fastest combustion-engine automobiles. But behind that apparent change in corporate philosophy is simply BMW's lack of success in the sport, said Stephen Slater, founder of Chesham, U.K.-based motorsports marketing firm Kingpin Media and author of a book on the corporate history of BMW. The automoveing has struggled in F1 this year, scoring only eight points in 10 races. It stands eighth in the team standings behind leaders Brawn-Mercedes, RBR Renault, Ferrari and Toyota. That has hurt its public reputation as a performance car manufacturer and undermined its advertising slogan as "The Ultimate Driving Machine," Mr. Slater said. "You can’t be "The Ultimate when you’re stuggling not only to outpace Renaults but you're actually struggling to outpace Force India, [a two year-old team created from ashes of financially-crippled Jordan Grand Prix]." While Honda disbanded its Formula One team to protect its core business just as sales fell off a cliff and the company was pounded by a rising yen, BMW's move is more about shielding its brand from further potential harm, Mr. Slater said. BMW global sales fell 13% in June, but the automover has been less affected by the recession than other competitors. The other issue is transfering the technology developed by F1 team engineers into every day cars. Some automakers appear to be struggling to figure out how to marry their motor racing efforts with the technological development of mainstream lineups. BMW has been blasted by critics who say its Kinetic Energy Recovery program -- the brake energy regeneration system it tested on its F1 cars and hoped to use on standard production vehicles -- was an expensive fiasco. Others argue it has worked, with the results seen in the variable valve timing of its road cars and engine management systems. BMW shares rose 3.6% to close at 31.57 euros in Frankfurt trading Wednesday. They've gained 46% this year.
Kia, together with partner Hyundai, may be considered as a conservative company, not quite at the forefront of technology like the Germans, but that is not to mean that the company is not fully involved with research into the latest fuel-saving technology.
As I have found with my 'buying used' article research, when the Koreans make something, it's made to last. So, while they may not be first on the floor, they do their homework fastidiously until they're happy with the product. So, what is Kia busy with? Hybrids seem like they will be the short to medium term motoring flavour, blending battery power with electric motors with a small economical engine, presently of petrol variety.
Kia has just launched its first LPI (liquid petroleum injection) in the Cerato line-up. This uses a 1,6-litre Gamma LPI engine with a CVT gearbox and an electric motor, inverter to change direct current to alternating current and, most important of all, the use of lithium ion polymer batteries instead of the usual nickel-metal hydrid variety.
Presently, this is only for sale in Korea, but depending on demand and availability of LPG (liquid petroleum gas) refueling stations, it may be exported. Using their research and development facility's wind tunnel, the aerodynamics have been improved to drop the drag coefficient from 0,29 to 0,26. Another feature is stop and go, wherby the engine is turned off instead of being left to idle. Claimed fuel consumption is 5,6 litres/100 km. The next vehicle to receive the HEV treatment is the larger Lotze (alias Optima/Magentis). The aim for production is 2011 and will be released in Korea, thereafter the USA.
Planned for mass production in 2013 is a range of vehicles called plug-in hybrids (PHEV) that are charged overnight and have a respectable range before needing the assistance of the engine. This transfers most of the energy requirements of your transport to the (more efficient) power stations, with a back-up small engine in case you forget, or there is a power failure overnight and so covers all the bases. Of course, calculating the real cost of your journeys becomes a bit trickier, as you must work out the fuel used plus the electrical power consumed in the re-charging process.
At the extreme end of the research is the FCEV (fuel cell electric vehicle). Using hydrogen stored at high pressure, this allows one of the simplest chemical equations to happen, namely two molecules of hydrogen plus one molecule of oxygen combining, with the only emissions being two molecules of water ( 2H2+ O2 = 2 H2O). This chemical reaction releases electrical energy that can be used to drive an electric motor and is more efficient than merely burning the hydrogen to produce heat to drive a turbine/alternator.
Of course, there is one small problem as they say in the classics, that of producing the hydrogen in the first place. It is possible to produce hydrogen from petrol or natural gas, but it requires high temperatures and also produces carbon monoxide and dioxide. Other methods are possible, but the most promising will be the electrolysis of water, but then again this requires electrical energy costing more than the value of the hydrogen produced. So, if the sun’s energy or some other form of renewable energy such as wind turbines can be used, then a viable source of production might be possible without pollution.
Kia began its FCEV research in 1998 and is continuing until the stage for mass production can be set. The present Mohave and Sportage vehicles utilize 115 kW worth of fuel cell stacks, a 100 kW capacitor, 110 kW electric motor, and with 700 bar pressure in the hydrogen tank, can so far achieve a 750 km range.
 What impresses this author the most about the 2010 Buick LaCrosse is the sedan's styling. There is just enough swoop and jewelry to keep you interested but not so much that it becomes gaudy (the hood vents are a bit iffy). Previously, I have reported on the 2010 Buick LaCrosse and its merits. General Motors has released another cache of images and I think it deserves a slideshow (located below)! I complimented GM officials the other day on the great photography of the 2010 LaCrosse, but honestly the credit lies much more with the sylists. This LaCrosse simply takes a great picture no matter what you park it in front of. All of this excitement about the styling doesn't make the LaCrosse a perfect car. Some publications carp about the fact that the top of the line 280HP engine cannot be coupled with all wheel drive. With 280 ponies galloping out the front wheels, you are going to get some torque steer and that is not good for anybody. The LaCrosse is also a bit portly, running around 4,000 pound give or take. Still that is not to detract from the great achievement that is the 2010 LaCrosse. It has been a long time coming and now GM finally has resources to promote the brand. Hopefully a foray into a lesser models, AKA Regal and a next generation Astra redirect to Buick can be carried off with similar style and class. Source: examiner
 Like Sting, Bono or Madonna, only a handful of events in the world can pull off the single name and get away with it. Mention Indy or LeMans to a car racing fan and they know what you're talking about. Mention Oshkosh to any pilot or aviation fan and they know your not talking about the overalls you wore as a kid. Technically it's called Airventure and it's the largest gathering of aircraft and aviation nuts in the world held every year at the end of July in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. Unlike Indy or LeMans where you'll get a only a certain segment of the auto racing clan, at Oshkosh they all show up. "If it has flown, is flying or will fly, it will show up at Oshkosh at some point" is how spokesman Dick Knapinski sums it up. Knapinski works for the Experimental Aircraft Association which has been putting on the annual event since the first gathering was held in Milwaukee in 1953. Since that time Oshkosh has grown into part air show, part trade show, part seminar, part pilgrimage and everything about aircraft. More than 10,000 airplanes will fly in for the week long event and over half a million people from 65 countries will past through the gates. The air traffic control tower at Oshkosh is the busiest in the world for landings and departures during the week, surpassing Atlanta Hartsfield for the number one slot every year. All of these people come to see a wide range of aircraft young and old. Of course one of the things that draws people year after year is the chance to see the latest innovations in aviation. This year, to steal a pun from the automotive headlines, much of the buzz is about electric airplanes. As Wired.com reported earlier this week, electric aircraft are undergoing extensive development around the world right now. Last year at Oshkosh, a lot of news was generated by the flight of a single electric airplane. This year there are several expected to show up and the hope is for daily flights showing off this emerging technology. With so many of the Oshkosh faithful being tinkerers themselves, the revolution happening with electric airplanes is sure to attract a lot of attention. Another of the big attractions will be the White Knight Two. The unusual looking four engine jet, christened 'Eve' from Scaled Composites is one of the latest designs from legendary aerospace designer, Burt Rutan. He has been coming to Oshkosh for more than 35 years and has debuted many of his aircraft at the show since his first airplane, the VariViggen back in 1972 . It will be the first chance for the general public to see Eve which will be the carrying craft for SpaceShipTwo's space tourism flights. Eve is expected to make several flights during the week, no doubt reigniting some excitement during these space tourism doldrums. The Airbus A380 super jumbo will be making its first appearance at a North American air show, and the unmanned Predator B will also be on the flight line courtesy of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Interestingly, both aircraft will be flown in by members of the Experimental Aircraft Association (experimental refers to the Federal Aviation Administration's designation for aircraft which are not factory built, though still must meet rigorous safety requirements). Just as both of these pilots flying these headlining aircraft have been to Oshkosh before, many of the visitors make the pilgrimage to Wisconsin every year. The EAA's Dick Knapinski told Wired.com many visitors use the show as the place to catch up with old friends, "I look at it as aviation’s family reunion." Jim Voss is a long time pilot who built his own airplane years ago. He says he's been to Oshkosh almost every year since his first visit in 1981. And one of the few times he couldn’t make it in person, he was still able to call in from his perch high above the midwest during a six month stay on the International Space Station. "It wasn't an easy thing at the time [2001]" Voss says, "it was a surprise for the audience gathered in Oshkosh, and I had some friends there that day and they couldn't believe they were able to talk with me." The only other times Voss missed the show was while he was in Russia training for one of his five Space Shuttle flights. The former astronaut will be there this year, checking out the latest general aviation aircraft and admiring the endless rows of airplanes, "anyone who loves flying, loves Oshkosh." Spaceship transports, electric airplanes and the A380 won't be the only attractions at Airventure this year. In addition to the headline grabbing attractions, Oshkosh features more than 1,000 seminars where visitors can learn about everything from how to build a composite airplane of their own, to hearing a great flying story from pilots such as Chuck Yeager or Sully Sullenburger and his crew talking about their landing in the Hudson. More than 2,500 show planes will be on display including hundreds of vintage warbirds from World War II as well as other historical events throughout aviation history. This year a replica of the 1909 Wright B flyer will be on display not far from the massive U.S. Air Force C-5 transport and the massive Sikorsky Sky Crane helicopter. While companies like Boeing and Airbus tend to use Paris or Farnborough to show off their aircraft, just about every smaller aircraft maker makes the trip to Oshkosh every year. Cessna is a name that is synonomous with small aircraft for most people. The company makes several models from small two seat training aircraft to the world's fastest private jet. Cessna's John Doman told Wired.com Oshkosh is the pinnacle show in the industry. "We can go there with the heart of our product line and talk to our customers" he says of the trade show aspect of Oshkosh, "and it’s not just a domestic show, it has a global draw." Working in the aviation industry, Oshkosh can be a lot of work for people like Doman, but as a pilot he says it's still a place he loves to go every year, "I never tire of just looking up in the sky and watching the airplanes fly by, from ultralights to B-17s." Wired.com will be posting updates all week from Airventure starting Monday. Source: wired.com
 More than a decade after losing its title as the U.S.'s best-selling car, the Ford Taurus has returned as Ford's "flagship" sedan. Revealed at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit Sunday, the 2010 model is being rushed into production as demand for trucks - Ford's core business - collapsed in the U.S. this fall. The new Taurus starts at $25,995 U.S. south of the border and will be built at a plant in Chicago for sale in mid-2009, Ford said in a statement released Sunday at the auto show. The front-wheel-drive car uses a 3.5-liter, 263 horsepower V-6 engine. The car's roofline is lower than previous models, and the headlights are more pronounced to frame the car's three-bar grille, Ford said. See the full press release, below:
Ford Taurus - the car that changed America's view of full-size sedans - is all-new for 2010 and ready to take on the world's best, with an upscale new design, impeccable driving dynamics, class-leading technologies and an unbeatable price tag. "The new Taurus sets the pace for Ford's growing new car launch momentum," said Mark Fields, president of The Americas. "This sedan completely redefines expectations of what Taurus stands for - and helps further define what Ford is capable of delivering - quality, fuel - efficient vehicles featuring the latest technologies and head-turning design." The new Taurus benefits from Ford's Global Product Development System, which made it possible to deliver an all-new sedan 12 months sooner - with more new features than customers and dealers dreamed possible. "Taurus is our premium Ford flagship, and it casts a halo across the entire brand portfolio," aid Derrick Kuzak, group vice president for global product development. "Building on its reputation for safety leadership, we leveraged extensive use of computer-aided design and engineering technologies as well as digital pre-assembly modeling to deliver a high-quality, new Taurus a year ahead of schedule." Even better news? The new 2010 Taurus will start at $25,995 - the same price as 2009 models but with more class-leading features, new technologies and perceived quality that rivals premium luxury sedans. "The new Taurus showcases the what the Ford brand promise is - expressive design, class-leading technologies and an engaging driving experience," said Jim Farley, Ford's group vice president of Marketing and Communications. "To truly appreciate the new Taurus, you have to drive it. All of the experiences come together once you’re behind the wheel."
 The future of Ford is here! This is the Iosis MAX, a stunning family car concept revealed to a rapturous reception at the Geneva Motor Show back in March.
Previewing a replacement for the C-MAX compact MPV, which is set to debut at this September’s Frankfurt expo, it seeks to repeat the success of the S-MAX with vibrant design and sporty dynamics.
To see what we can expect from the new C-MAX, we put the Iosis MAX through its paces
With sliding rear doors we’re told will star on the production model, practicality features highly. But the Iosis MAX shows Ford has learned from the S-MAX that versatility doesn’t have to come at the expense of design. It’s a fantastic car to look at!
The A-pillar’s line as it continues down through the bonnet to the trapezoidal grille is particularly striking, as is the way the waistline nips in ahead of the rear wheels.
But arguably the cleverest addition is the tailgate, which is split into three for easy loading. Push one button and the bottom section hinges out; press a second and the window opens on its own. If you push a third, they operate together to give access equivalent to a traditional tailgate.
In the cabin, the centre console-mounted skeleton seats help give a feeling of space with no bulky bases. However, Ford admits these are years from production – and the futuristic dash with touch-sensitive pads in place of buttons is also unlikely to be seen in showrooms any time soon.
The engine, though, will be in the Mondeo and S-MAX from early next year. And it’s a gem! The 1.6-litre turbo is the first of Ford’s new EcoBoost direct-injection units, and combines improved power with better economy and emissions.
On the move, the Iosis MAX is very punchy, with plenty of low-down torque. We’d estimate 0-60mph in around 7.5 seconds and a top speed of around 135mph. What’s more it’s super-smooth, while the twin-clutch PowerShift gearbox gives silky changes.
And the driving dynamics? Well, as this model is based on Focus mechanicals, the final version shouldn’t disappoint. The current C-MAX is by far the best-handling MPV in its class, and we’d expect its replacement to offer sharp steering, brilliant body control and real agility.
Families won’t be short-changed, either, with that spacious, airy and practical cabin likely to be available in both five and seven-seater variants, each of which will get removable, sliding chairs.
Good looks will come as standard on both versions, of course – and seeing the lemon yellow Ford on the move is proof that soon the S-MAX will have an equally attractive little sister.
Source: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/238882/ford-iosis-max.html
 Just over one year since automated red light enforcement cameras went live in Elk Grove Village, Mayor Craig Johnson delivered a report to the community and village board defending the safety record of the cameras amid criticism they are little more than moneymakers. Camera enforcement has reduced traffic accidents in the village substantially, Johnson said in his report Tuesday. According to numbers released by the village, traffic accidents are down in the village by 19% overall and by 26% at intersections where the camera enforcement systems are in place since their installation. Johnson said a drop of 5% could be attributable to weather or other coincidences, but a drop of 20% has to be attributable to the camera systems. The village earned $928,749 from red light enforcement last year and took in $600,000 the year before, according to Elk Grove Police Traffic Cmdr. Chuck Walsh. Tickets issued by officers in the village carry a base fine of $75 not including court costs. Tickets issued by the red light camera system carry a base fine of $100. Johnson said state law allowing red light cameras set the fine. Tickets are not treated as car moving violations, only affecting a driver's record once four or more tickets go unpaid. Johnson said he would like to see that changed, making red light tickets moving violations, similar to speed camera violations in highway construction zones. The village study showed a substantial drop in the number of violations at four camera locations the first month of camera operations vs. May 2009. Citations issued at southbound Busse Road at Oakton Street dropped 53% from 470 to 217. Westbound Oakton Street at Busse Road dropped 80% from 737 to 142. Southbound Busse at Devon Avenue dropped 34% from 409 to 268 and citations on northbound Busse Road at Devon Avenue dropped 27% from 216 to 156. Johnson showed video clips at Tuesday's meeting taken from several cameras showing accidents and near misses including one where a driver swerved narrowly missing an Elk Grove police officer and one where a large truck struck a car from behind causing it to roll over. Police in several communities that use the system Journal reporters have spoken with, including Elk Grove Village, say failing to stop at a red light before making a right turn is the most common violation issued. Johnson, who owns an insurance company, said crash data and his personal experience in the insurance industry shows that many accidents caused by drivers taking right turns on red do not include the vehicle taking the turn, rather they cause a "ripple effect" when other drivers swerve to avoid them. He said critics citing accident studies of right turns and the lack of accidents directly attributable to them fail to understand that "ripple effect." In the summer of 2008 four intersections in the village were outfitted with automated camera systems contracted by Red Speed Illinois at a cost to the village of almost $1,500 per camera. Since then three more intersections have had camera systems installed. The camera system activates when a car rolls over an in ground sensor more than 1.8 seconds after the light turns red. Red Speed employees then review video clips before sending credible incidents on to Elk Grove police who view the possible violations a second time before issuing tickets. At the first four intersections made operational in the village, an average of 76% of violations triggered by the system were issued as tickets after review by Red Speed and Elk Grove police.
 Audi is presenting a new vehicle concept – the Audi A5 Sportback. The five-door model with the long, flowing rear end unites the best of various vehicle mover genres: the emotion and elegance of a coupe, the comfort of a sedan and the practicality of a station wagon. The Sportback joins the Coupé and Cabriolet as the third member of the A5 model family.
The A5 Sportback will be rolling into Audi dealerships in September featuring an emotion-packed design, high everyday practicality, a sporty character and engines that are as efficient as they are powerful. Sales have already begun, with prices starting at 33,650 euros. A further, specially-priced model to follow in 2010 will make the A5 Sportback the entry-level model in the A5 model series.
Audi, the inventor of the Avant, is setting new trends in design with the A5 Sportback. The five-door coupe is defined by elegant lines. It is 36 millimeters (1.42 in) lower than the A4 Sedan; with its short front overhang, long wheelbase, wide track and the four frameless doors with their slender window lines, it is the very picture of sporty elegance.
The interior is spacious, offering uncompromising comfort in all four seats. The large luggage compartment hatch is harmoniously integrated into the long, tapered tail end with the flat C pillars; the spoiler lip underscores the tension-filled character. The luggage compartment volume of 480 liters (16.95 cu ft) nearly matches that of the A4 Avant and increases to 980 liters (34.61 cu ft) with the rear seats folded down.
 Does Washington, DC have one of the best public auto mover transportation systems in the world? In short, yes! I know what you are thinking; what about the under-funding, recent spate of accidents, constant glitches and the super crowded Metro red line? Believe it or not, even with its recent woes, Metro Rail and Metro Bus continue to provide remarkably stellar public movement. One need only marvel at the relatively clean carpet inside the trains or the new super modern and sleek silver buses circulating around DC. For the most part, DC residents can travel and arrive in relative comfort without ever needing to own a car. Just try the test: how long does it take you to leave your front door and board the nearest public transport that can take you to your desired destination? If you can get to wear you want to go within an hour, that is pretty darn good. Globally, DC public transport holds its own rather well. Here are some similar, top Mover transport options should you find yourself traveling this summer both domestically and abroad: 1. B.A.R.T. (Bay Area Rapid Transit) California- San Francisco has a rather nifty set of cable cars, trolleys and subways not to mention numerous bus routes. This is one city that is not only easy to get around but super-scenic as well. 2. S.M.R.T. Singapore - Fancy super on-time combined with super clean? You will not find even a tiny bit of graffiti on Singapore's above and below ground train system. Additionally, many of the more crowded stations have a nifty safety gate that only opens when the train is in the platform thereby eliminating any chance of someone falling on the tracks (or jumping on them). 3. Tokyo's Metro (and just about anything train related in Japan) - The Tokyo Metro is a work of art, literally. You will never find a cleaner and more comfy subway system. In addition, trains offer a women only car during rush hour so women and young children can "ride with a sense of security". That's neat. You also will not find people talking on their cell phones here and ringers MUST be on silent for the duration of the trip (hint hint DC Metro). 4. Paris Metro France - Le Metro as it is known locally. Parisians enjoy style and that extends to their public Auto mover transport. The Paris Metro system is sleek and many of the stations feature remarkable permanent or rotating art installations. It can be slightly confusing if moving from the Metro to regular city trains but the conductors are generally understanding of out-of-towners should you accidentally find yourself heading deep into the suburbs with the wrong fare on hand 5. Seattle Ferries Washington State - Where else can you simply drive aboard a boat, enjoy a sun bathing session on the way to work (in the summer) and be amazed by stunning views of Puget Sound? Seattle, Washington of course. With the Olympic Peninsula in the background and the possibility of seeing killer whales during a morning commute, the Seattle ferries truly take the cake. Some of the worst: 1. Rome subway - I took the Rome, Italy subway for two stops in the central part of the city and quickly surfaced for fear of my life. Every inch of every surface is covered with graffiti and there are dubious looking characters everywhere. The Termini station is hell on earth. Plus side? The above-ground trains are not so bad. 2. Jakarta, Indonesia train system - System is a term that should be used lightly as it implies some sense of order. People ride on the roof of the trains in Jakarta mere inches from death by electrocution (in order to escape the crowdedness). You cannot simply buy a ticket at a booth as hawkers have already bought the tickets for the day so you must bargain with them to receive the honor of maybe arriving at your destination. 3. London Subway - It's hot, crowded, smoky and by golly, why can't they simply bridge that darn "gap" between the train and platform. As charming as the underground trains can be, the system as a whole is just rather unpleasant and in desperate need of massive modernization. Plus side? The cross-country trains are mighty comfy if often late.
 The 2010 Honda Insight price is the most attractive appeal for most consumers who want a new hybrid car. Honda cars that have made the hybrid transition come with a sticker price lower than its competition. The Honda Insight price can vary depending on dealer and the hybrid trim level you purchase. The base MSRP is $19,800 and does include most of the options you'll need for a fuel-efficient vehicle. Honda cars are poised to meet the demand for the average worker with a compelling set of features. The Honda Hybrid vehicle was redesigned from its original counterpart and comes with new gas saving technologies. Eco Assist is a feature designed to help drivers optimize fuel efficiency for their given set of driving conditions. The driver can press the ECON button to further enhance the efficiency of multiple vehicle systems. Honda Insight Price Includes Multiple Vehicle Systems Some of these systems include throttle control, CVT operation, idle-stop duration, air conditioning and cruise-control operation. The 2010 Honda Insight is also is the first marketed hybrid automobile. The vehicle is lightweight and constructed mostly from aluminium. Honda expects to sell 90,000 units of the Insight Hybrid in the first year after following its March 2009 public release. The 2010 hybrid was crowned as Japan's best-selling car in April. The Japan Automobile Dealers Association is reporting that the automaker is selling approximately 10,300 Insight cars each month. Green Car Award In early June, the automobile was named Green Car of the Year 2009 by the Environmental Transport Association (ETA). It was just one of 1,300 vehicles examined by the ETA. The automobiles were rated for power, emissions, fuel efficiency and the amount of noise they produce. Government incentives and the cost of gasoline are some of the reasons that are driving new hybrid sales to record levels in Japan. There is also no sales tax when purchasing a new fuel-efficient Toyota or Honda car in Japan. Most Americans are choosing hybrid cars because of concerns over the cost of foreign oil, which remain unpredictable. Honda cars are making the transition from conventional gasoline vehicles to hybrids. For example, the Civic and Camry models are now available with an electric motor and a small gas engine. The automaker is also releasing the new Honda Fit Hybrid, that will debut next year, will sell for around $15,000. Trim Levels The Honda Insight is available in three trim levels. The LX, EX, and EX with Navigation have separate prices depending on the packages built with the car. The LX is the base model and the EX trim sells for $21,970. The vehicle is powered by an advanced 1.3-liter SOHC engine. It has a system that incorporates a 10-kilowatt (13 hp) electric motor and a compact Intelligent Power Unit (IPU). This technology recaptures kinetic energy from the braking system and sends it to the battery for recharging. The car includes several fuel-saving technologies including smoother acceleration and slower braking to increase fuel economy. Fuel economy is estimated at a respectable 40 mpg city, 43 mpg highway and 41 mpg, overall. The Honda Insight price is a bargain for a next-generation vehicle.
 Kolkata Advocate General Bolai Roy on Friday submitted before the Calcutta High Court that 15-year-old public vehicles should be allowed to run in the city after being converted to LPG mode. He added that the vehicles would have to obtain a “certificate of fitness” from the transport department before continuing with their operations. The state Environment department had issued a notification on July 17, 2008, banning public vehicles over 15 year-old like bus, minibus, lorry and taxi from running in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area from March 31, 2009. The HC had upheld the notification on July 18, 2008. But in an interim order on March 18, the court extended the deadline to July 31, 2009. The notification of the Environment department did not, however, say that such public vehicles would be allowed to operate after being converted to LPG mode or any other green fuel. Environmentalist Subhas Dutta moved the plea that the state government should clarify its stands on the issue. If the state government allowed these vehicles to run after conversion to the LPG mode, this should be communicated to the private transport operators. Dutta said many auto transport operators had started an agitation against the government’s decision to ban 15-year-old public vehicles. The transport operators have also demanded an extension of the deadline. In a related development, a counsel of Modern High School on Friday pleaded before the Division Bench of Chief Justice S S Nijjar and Justice Biswanath Somadder that the school wanted to convert its five 15-year-old school buses to LPG. The Bench then asked Roy about the stand of the government on the conversion of school buses to LPG. When he replied that the government supported the move, the Bench directed the state government to take necessary steps to cooperate with the school to initiate the conversion of the buses. Roy also wanted to know if it would be possible for the school to convert the five buses to LPG within July 31. The government is determined to take strict measures to implement the ban on public vehicles after July 31, Roy said. High Court refuses to extend auto conversion deadline
The Calcutta High Court has rejected an application by auto-rickshaw operators to extend the deadline for conversion to four-stroke LPG mode by another six months. In last July, the court had ordered the phase out of two-stroke autos from Kolkata Metropolitan Area before January 1 2009, but the court had later extended the deadline till July 31. - PTI
 The government is making a hush-hush move to give two-stroke autos an escape route. The writ so far, ruled by court pressure, was to scrap all polluting two-stroke autos and allow only four-stroke single-mode LPG ones to ply on city streets. Now, the administration is plotting the conversion of two-stroke autos into single-mode LPG. “Yes, we may soften our stand and allow 2-stroke autos to be converted to single-mode LPG,” said a senior official of the auto transport department. A recent high-powered, closed-door meeting chaired by chief secretary Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti has accelerated the dubious move of “taking a step to reduce air pollution” while “not antagonising 95 per cent of the unionised auto fleet in town”. Two-stroke three-wheelers are notorious for their low combustion efficiency, causing more pollution. The older fleet of two-stroke autos — and a majority of the 80,000-odd three-wheelers in Calcutta are more than 20 years old — will be far more polluting than its 4-stroke counterparts. The move to convert 2-stroke autos — months after the transport department had published newspaper advertisements announcing the end of the road for such vehicles — is based on a selective reading of the high court order. On July 18, 2008, the high court order directed “all registered auto-rickshaws to be converted to LPG or CNG mode” and also specified that “the dual fuel option should not be permitted” for autos plying in greater Calcutta. But the court had also ordered that “registration of 2-stroke autos should be stopped immediately” and “such autorickshaws should be phased out by December 2008”. Subsequently, the deadline was extended to July 31, 2009, with the government pleading its inability to meet the deadline. That the government is again creating a smokescreen to plot pollution escape routes was evident from the two voices heard from the officialdom. “Isn’t that the spirit of the high court order?” demanded K. Hari Rajan, the additional commissioner of police in charge of traffic, when asked why 2-stroke autos will be allowed to convert and run. “I do not know about any shift of stand. As per the court order, all 2-stroke autos are to be scrapped and replaced by 4-stroke single-mode LPG autos,” claimed D.K. Bakshi, a senior official in the transport department. Behind the official bluster, the government is surreptitiously finding a way to defuse a potential political bomb by avoiding a crackdown on over 70,000 2-stroke autos. The sustenance of two-stroke autos — a vital cog in the wheel for both the Left and the non-Left — is something auto unions of all political hues have been demanding. “We want to convert all autos to single-mode LPG, be it 2-stroke or 4-stroke. Why has the government been insisting on scrapping 2-stroke autos?” demands Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, the Trinamul Congress MLA and leader of the Auto Bachao Committee. “We have also demanded that 2-stroke autos be allowed to be converted to LPG,” added Kishore Ghosh, the secretary of the Citu-affiliated Calcutta Auto Operators Union. After doing precious little to slam the brakes on illegal autos and managing to replace hardly 2,000 2-stroke autos with 4-stroke LPG ones in seven months, the government has now decided to show its true two-stroke stripes.
 Like VW's Touareg, the Qashqai is named after a desert-dwelling nomadic tribe, but unlike the Saharan Touaregs, the Qashqais hail from South Western Iran. Both names of course are supposed to conjure mental images in prospective customers of adventure, heat, dust, endurance, treacherous roads, open fires and romantic nights under a zillion twinkling stars.  However, in the case of the Qashqai that's all just a little implausible for it is an entry-level crossover SUV, in this case a front-wheel-drive entry-level crossover SUV that, if you'll pardon the tired cliché, is ‘more at home on the school/supermarket run' than it is barrelling over the Zagros Mountains near where the Qashqais live. This, frankly, is a good thing. Most of us don't need an all-wheel-drive, mountain-climbing, semi-amphibious, over-engineered beast of an off-roader. Or even a soft-roader, often encumbered as they are by dual-range transmissions and auto diff locks. Instead we need simple, comfortable, safe, affordable, reliable and convenient transport. And, judging by the huge number of Qashqais I see on the road these days, a great many others are also seeing things my way.  That said, we need our little pleasures too, and to satisfy those demands Nissan recently launched the n-tec model. Featuring many 4x4 styling cues, the n-tec boasts fancy 18in alloys, satin-finish roof-rails, a panoramic glass roof, smoked rear glass, climate control, cruise control, a trip computer and, importantly, Nissan's Connect system as standard. Nissan Connect encompasses a CD player, FM/AM radio, a USB port and a mini-jack socket, as well as sat-nav with touch-screen, traffic info, a reversing camera plus Bluetooth phone connectivity and audio streaming. Despite all this equipment our seven-seater (think of it as a 5+2) test car was powered by a relatively humble, 4-cyl, 8-valve, 106PS 1.5-litre dCi motor hooked to a 6-speed manual ‘box. Performance is not its forté - 0-62mph in 12.2 secs, 108mph max - but it served me well enough on my 843 mile round trip across Europe (in truth, mainly Belgium). Despite being packed to the headlining with people and gear, the trip computer recorded 41.5mpg overall. That's almost 22 per cent short of the official 52.3 combined figure, but not bad considering the appreciable load and persistent, no-time-to-lose driving style.
The National Biodiesel Board has announced the vote of the ASTM International D02 Main Committee to approve a trio of long-awaited ASTM specifications for biodiesel blends. After more than five years of extensive research and subsequent balloting by the ASTM fuel experts in the blended fuel process, ASTM has approved three key sets of biodiesel specifications that are predicted to bolster automaker support and consumer demand for biodiesel. The three new specifications include: * Changes to the existing B100 biodiesel blend stock specification (ASTM D6751) * Finished specifications to include up to 5% biodiesel (B5) in the conventional petrodiesel specifications (ASTM D975) * Approved a new specification for blends of between 6% (B6) and 20% (B20) biodiesel for on- and off-road diesel. After ASTM internal reviews, these specifications are expected to be officially published and take effect in the fall of 2008. Steve Howell, chairman of the ASTM Biodiesel Task Force, said, "The new ASTM specifications for B6-B20 blends will aid engine manufacturers in their engine design and testing processes to optimize the performance of vehicles running on biodiesel. The new specifications will also help ensure that only the highest quality biodiesel blends are made available to consumers at the retail pump." ASTM International is one of the largest voluntary standards development organizations in the world-a trusted source for technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services. Known for their high technical quality and market relevancy, ASTM International standards have an important role.
|
|
