Archive for August, 2009

BMW reveals its Vision for the future

Monday, August 31st, 2009

The very bug-like BMW Vision concept.(Credit: BMW USA)

The Frankfurt Auto Show rapidly approaches, which means that it’s time for yet another dull BMW EfficientDynamics concept to mildly pique our interest with… wait, whoa! WHAT IS THAT?

The recently unveiled BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept maintains the hallmarks of what makes a BMW a BMW (the kidney grills, the Hofmeister kink, and hopefully, the high level of performance), but tosses everything else out of the window to create a bizarre amalgamation of M car performance, fuel efficiency, and insectoid aesthetics.

Let’s start with the powertrain.

The Vision concept is powered by a 1.5-liter, turbodiesel 3-cylinder mounted amidships and two electric motors–one at each axle. Direct injection and a variable intake geometry turbocharger help the diesel engine to output 163 horsepower and 214 pound-feet of peak torque to the rear wheels through BMW’s six-speed DCT transmission.

The rear electric motor outputs a consistent 33 horsepower and is able to reach a peak of up to 51 horsepower. Maximum torque for the rear electric motor is 214 pound-feet, the power, either supporting the diesel engine or in all-electric motoring. Meanwhile, a second electric motor at the front axle offers continuous output of 80 horsepower and peak torque of 162 lb-ft. Extra power of 112 horsepower is available for a period of up to 30 seconds, and, for a 10-second “burst,” the electric motor is able to develop 139 horsepower.

IMHO, this is one of the best looking BMW concepts in a long time.(Credit: BMW USA)

Overall system output is 356 horsepower, and peak torque is 590 pound-feet during that 30 second burst (for passing maneuvers, etc). Acceleration from 0 to 62 mph is achieved in 4.8 seconds, and top speed is an electronically limited 155 mph.

The system is able to run under diesel power, electric power, or a combination of the two. The engine configuration affords the Vision all-wheel drive when operating in all-electric mode. The electric engines are powered by a total of 98 lithium-polymer cells developing continuous output of 600 amps with a maximum 30-second burst output of 1,200 amps. The batteries are recharged through a combination of diesel generation, regenerative braking, or plug-in charging. As a result, the Vision has two refilling flaps, one for diesel fuel and one for electricity. Average fuel consumption is 62.6 mpg on the EU test cycle.

The BMW Vision concept’s über-sleek looks are the result of efficient aerodynamics and lightweight construction.

With the mid-mounted diesel engine, the Vision is able to have a low nose. Active louvers in front of the radiator close completely when there is little need for cooling, such as when running in all electric mode. The vehicle’s low, sleek design results in an overall vehicle drag coefficient of just 0.22. The concept rolls on oddly huge (21-inch) low rolling resistance tires. The big wheel and 195mm profile supposedly provides a big enough contact patch to keep the Vision agile, as well as efficient, while wheel covers reduce turbulence caused by the spinning wheels.

Most of the body is made of transparent composites (which darken when exposed to UV light) and the chassis and suspension are made completely of aluminum, resulting in a curb weight of 3,076 pounds.

The BMW Vision EfficientDynamics concept will be unveiled, along with the BMW ActiveHybrid X6 and BMW ActiveHybrid 7 production models, at the 2009 Frankfurt Auto Show, so stay tuned for more coverage. In the meantime, make the jump to see the BMW Vision concept in motion.

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How the Disney-Marvel deal affects Universal Studios theme parks

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Disney’s acquisition of Marvel is expected to have no effect on Universal Studios Florida, where visitors ride on attractions themed to Spider-Man and pose for photos with the Incredible Hulk at the Islands of Adventure theme park.
“Our agreement with Marvel stands for as long as we follow the terms of our existing contract and for [...]


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Trackside with the 2010 Audi S4

Monday, August 31st, 2009

The Audi S4 sports sedan

The visible differences between the A4 and S4 are subtle. However, the performance differences are quite obvious.

(Credit: Antuan Goodwin/CNET)

I was recently handed the keys to a fully loaded, brand-new Audi S4 sedan. So, I did what any motorhead would do in this situation and proceeded to put …

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Toronto: Vanity Fair To Shower Toronto With Celebrity Glitz

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Hilary Swank as photographed by Norman Jean Roy

From a nude and pregnant Demi Moore to Tom Ford cozying up next to Scarlett Johansson and Keira Knightley (also nude, naturally), Vanity Fair is well-known for reflecting what’s hot—and, apparently, clothes-free—in pop culture since the early 20th Century. In our celebrity-centric culture, Vanity Fair is bar none when it comes to showcasing the mythological glitz of Hollywood life, consistently attracting the curiosity of readers with photo spreads that are sometimes sexy, but always elegant.

With such a storied past, a retrospective seems like a natural way to commemorate 95 years of the magazine’s glamorous perspective. Labeled a “smash” after its European tour (because Annie Leibovitz is the Bono of photographers), Vanity Fair Portraits: Photographs 1913-2008 is a collection of iconic images from the magazine’s history. The exhibit will make a stop at Toronto’s Institute for Contemporary Culture at the Royal Ontario Museum from September 26th of this year through January 3, 2010, the first North American destination. Amelia Earheart, Charlie Chaplin, and Madonna are just some of the marquee names—and images—being used to draw crowds in Canada’s capital city.

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An LA Food Truck Serves Up A Heaping Helping Of Mobile Comfort Food

Monday, August 31st, 2009

It’s getting harder and harder to start a new and unique Los Angeles food truck. Everything from ice cream to gourmet Latin fare has already been taken. Now you can scratch Southern BBQ off the list, thanks to the Barbie’s Q truck that’s been rolling around the city.

John Bowler’s restaurant on wheels usually hangs out on the westside, though a glace at @BarbiesQ shows they’ve also been putting in decent time on the Miracle Mile and around USC. There’s an embedded Google Map on the main site that’s supposed to be up to date, but you should still check Twitter for up-to-the-minute updates.

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The best cruise deals around the world

Monday, August 31st, 2009

These 12 cruise itineraries make the most of your time and money.These 12 cruise itineraries make the most of your time and money.

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Get Psyched For Labor Day Travel, If You’re One Of The Lucky Ones Going Somewhere

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Got big travel plans for Labor Day? We don’t know about you, but this has been the summer of discovering places perfect for a quick daytrip or weekender, and according to the AAA, this trend of short-distance vacations will be hugely reflected with Labor Day.

By their estimates, 39.1 million people will travel “at least 50 miles from their homes between Thursday and Monday by car, plane or other means.” Sounds like a whole crapload, doesn’t it? It does until you realize that this number is a whole 6 million, or 13.3%, from last year’s Labor Day traveler count.

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A Motown headache for Cerberus

Monday, August 31st, 2009

If there’s any lesson from the downfall of Detroit’s carmakers over the past several years, it’s that it’s that the smart money can’t find an easy solution to Motown’s woes. When private equity giant Cerberus Capital Management said it would buy Chrysler and its lending arm, Chrysler Financial Services, from former parent Daimler AG of Germany in May 2007, the idea was that the financier could bring better management and turn it around. With better cash flow management and the cut-cutting eye of former General Electric executive Robert L. Nardelli, Cerberus could strip out the excess and flip a healthier company a few years later for a profit. As a backstop, Cerberus bosses figured that the loan portfolio at Chrysler Financial alone was worth nearly the $7.4 billion they invested in Chrysler. If the carmaker was a loser, they could make up some losses with the lender.

But it’s been a disaster. The government sponsored bankruptcy at Chrysler has wiped out the investment in the carmaker. Cerberus also bought 51% of GMAC Financial Services from General Motors. GMAC is becoming a lender for Chrysler dealers and customers, so Chrysler Financial is in a wind down phase. Sources close to Cerberus say that the Chrysler investment will cost Cerberus about $1.5 billion even after it brings in the income from the remaining car loans on Chrysler Financial’s books. And GMAC? The Treasury Department has given assistance to GMAC, so Cerberus no longer has controlling ownership. The lender had a massive mortgage business that was hammered with the housing bubble burst.

Couple those problems with a recent report in the Wall Street Journal that investors are fleeing, and it’s clear that Cerberus has fallen on tough times. The WSJ reported that investors are withdrawing $5.5 billion, or 71%, of assets in the firm’s hedge funds. And its main hedge fund, Cerberus Partners, was down 24.5%, the WSJ reported. For its part, Cerberus says that the race to withdraw funds from its hedge fund was due to liquidity issues on the part of some investors, not because of its poor auto investments. But clearly, Cerberus is in the dog house with some of its investors.

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