Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

German tuning company Novitec Rosso has no problem whatsoever about putting its own mark on Ferrari's supercars. Its most recent offering is a new customization package with performance and cosmetic upgrades for Maranello's 612 Scaglietti.

The cornerstone of Novitec Rosso's program for the 2+2 seat grand tourer are a power increase and an even sportier exhaust note. The Ferrari's 5.7-liter V12 engine gets revamped electronics and a custom stainless-steel high-performance exhaust system with four 90mm tail pipes resulting in a boost in output to 565HP at 7,290 rpm and 609Nm or 449.2 lb-ft of peak torque.

Novitec Rosso says 0-100km/h (62mph) acceleration takes less 3.9 seconds, with top speed nudged to more than 325 km/h (202mph+).

The package also includes new 20-inch alloy wheels with Pirelli P Zero 275/30 ZR20 tires at the front and 21-inch rims shod in 355/25 R 21 P-Zero rubber at the back.

The Italian supercar's looks can be further enhanced with a black lamp set that comprises the four round taillights, the reflectors and the side markers, while interior upgrades include a variety of flat-bottom steering wheels, tailor made seats and leather trims.

Aussie Cops get Alfa Romeo MiTo Police Car

We won't go as far as calling it an interceptor, but Sydney's Rose Bay Police is the latest law enforcement force in Australia to get an Alfa Romeo police car. The MiTo is the most recent in a series of cars provided by the Italian automaker to police forces around Australia.

Despite Alfa's [marketing] sporty claims though, the MiTo is obviously not the best option to patrol the highways of a country that still takes pride in big V8 cars. That said, it comes to no surprise that the Rose Bay police officers will use the car for the most part to help them connect with local communities.

"Despite being marked up as a police vehicle, we don't use the MiTo for normal police work, it is used for community policing, it's a great way of building rapport in the community and certainly helps us get out our safe driving messages," said Chief Superintendent Bradley Shepherd.

"The MiTo frees up normal police cars so they can be out on the roads, not only helping to save lives but also helping to fight crime and build relationships with local businesses and community groups," Shepherd added.

In the late 1980s SMH (makers of the Swatch brand of watches)

In the late 1980s SMH (makers of the Swatch brand of watches) CEO Nicolas Hayek began developing an idea for a new car using the same type of manufacturing strategies and personalization features used to popularize Swatch watches. He believed that the automotive industry had ignored a sector of potential customers who wanted a small and stylish city car. This idea soon became known as the "Swatchmobile". Hayek's private company Hayek Engineering AG began designing the new car for SMH, with seating for two and a hybrid drivetrain.[2]

While design of the car was proceeding Hayek feared existing manufacturers would feel threatened by the Swatchmobile, thus rather than directly competing he preferred to cooperate with another company in the automotive industry. This would also relieve SMH of the cost burden in setting up a distribution network. Hayek approached several automotive manufacturers and on July 3, 1991 he reached an agreement with Volkswagen to share development of the new project.[3]

By 1993 Ferdinand Piëch had become CEO of Volkswagen and he immediately sought to terminate the project with SMH. Volkswagen had already been working on their own "three-litre car": a car which would consume three litres of fuel per 100 km of driving (the eventual Volkswagen Lupo 3L). Volkswagen's own concept was believed to be a better business proposition, featuring four seats and more cargo room.[4]

Hayek had suspected that Piëch would seek to end the agreement with SMH upon his ascendancy to the CEO position, therefore he discreetly began approaching other car companies with the Swatchmobile project. Rebuffed by BMW, Fiat, General Motors and Renault, he finally reached an informal agreement with Daimler-Benz AG, maker of Mercedes-Benz cars.[5]

A deal was announced on March 4, 1994 at a press conference at Mercedes-Benz headquarters in Stuttgart that the companies would join forces in founding Micro Compact Car AG (MCC). 49% of the initial capital of 50 million Swiss francs were provided by SMH and the remaining 51% by Daimler-Benz. The company consisted of two subsidiaries: MCC GmbH based in Renningen (a suburb of Stuttgart) which would design the car, and the then-unnamed manufacturing plant. SMH Auto SA, owned by Hayek, would design a hybrid electric drive system for the car, while Hayek Engineering would audit the design and manufacturing.[6]

The press conference also featured the debut of two concept cars: the eco-sprinter and eco-speedster, styled by Mercedes-Benz's design studio in California.[7] The cars were reminiscent of the eventual Smart City-Coupé. No mention was made of the fact that SMH had no input in the design of these concepts[8], and they were badged as Mercedes-Benzes.

By the end of April 1994 MCC had set up a head office in Biel, Switzerland.[9]
[edit] Company history

Three co-directors were immediately named to head the new company: designer and engineer Johann Tomforde and financial administrator Christoph Baubin from Daimler-Benz, and marketing manager Hans Jürg Schär, who spearheaded the original Swatch marketing campaigns in the mid-1980s. Tomforde had been working on the Mercedes City Car (coincidentally abbreviated MCC) project at Daimler-Benz since 1990, which produced the aforementioned eco-sprinter and eco-speedster concepts as well as the Vision-A concept, which eventually became the Mercedes-Benz A-Class.[10]

One of the first controversies at MCC was the name of the car itself. Nicolas Hayek insisted it retain 'Swatch' in some way: "Swatchmobile", or "Swatch Car". Daimler-Benz refused, and pushed for a neutral name.[11] The final name settled upon was Smart, an acronym that had been previously used internally by MCC for Swatch Mercedes Art.[12]

BY May of 1994 the co-directors had identified 74 potential sites for the assembly plant. The final site was announced on December 20, 1994: Hambach, France.[13] The purpose-built factory quickly gained the nickname "Smartville".

Tomforde devised a modular system of assembly for the car, insisting suppliers design and assemble, and even install their own modules onto the final car, at the new plant using their own employees thus reducing the cost overhead for the parent companies and divesting MCC of the financial and legal liabilities for those parts. It also provided a fiscal framework whereby MCC could share the development costs with the suppliers, rather than having to fund the entire project themselves.[14] MCC secured contracts with suppliers to design and supply almost all parts of the car: seats by Faurecia, interiors by VDO, chassis and door modules by Magna, door panels by Dynamit Nobel, and suspension by Krupp.[15]

Despite offloading a substantial amount of the development on the suppliers MCC required more capital. Recapitalization by Daimler-Benz increased their share of ownership in the company to 81%, leaving SMH with only the remaining 19%.[16]

The assembly plant opened October 27, 1997 with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting by then-French President Jacques Chirac and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl.[17] Introduction of the new Smart city-Coupé was planned for March, 1998, however dynamic instability of the prototypes prompted Daimler-Benz to announce postponing the launch until October, 1998. Johann Tomforde was replaced as chief engineer by Gerhard Fritz. [18] Fritz lowered the centre of gravity, widened the track, stiffened the suspension, changed the steering, and added ballast weight to the front of the car in order to increase its stability in emergency avoidance manoeuvres (notably the Swedish "moose test").[19]

The car launched successfully in nine European countries in October 1998, however the final design did not fulfill Hayek's expectations. Hayek pushed for a hybrid drivetrain but the final product used a relatively conventional gasoline engine. Shortly afterward Daimler-Benz bought out SMH's remaining stake in the company.[20] MCC was now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Daimler-Benz (which soon merged with Chrysler Corporation to become DaimlerChrysler). The office in Biel was shut down and operations were consolidated at the MCC GmbH design centre in Germany. On January 1, 1999 MCC GmbH changed its name to MCC smart GmbH,[21], and by 2000 it dropped the last vestiges of the association with SMH, becoming smart GmbH.[22]

The model line was eventually expanded to include the Roadster and a front-engine, front-drive, four-door, four-seat supermini aptly named Forfour (the original City-Coupé was rechristened Fortwo to fit the new naming scheme).

The ambitious expansion did not increase profits at the company: indeed, smart GmbH lost nearly 4 billion euros from 2003 to 2006.[23] Plans were enacted to increase the company's profitability and integrate its operations with DaimlerChrysler.

In 2005 DaimlerChrysler decided against purchasing a 50% share in the Dutch NedCar plant used to manufacture the ForFour, ending its production. A planned SUV called Formore was terminated as the assembly plant in Brazil was being fitted with machines, and production of the Roadster was discontinued. In 2006, after dwindling sales and heavy financial losses, Smart GmbH was liquidated and its operations were absorbed by DaimlerChrysler directly.

Smart now operates under the Mercedes-Benz Cars division of Daimler AG, offering the Fortwo as its only product.
[edit] Models

Apart from the original short Smart Fortwo, a sporty Smart Roadster, a limited production of 2000 concept Smart Crosstown and a supermini Smart Forfour were also offered. These have now been discontinued. There were also plans to introduce the french made cross-over based on the body of the ForFour and the AWD hardware of the Mercedes C-class with the name of Formore but industrialization of this was cancelled at the 11th hour (even as tooling was being installed in the assembly plant) due to unfavourable exchange rate swings and spending cutbacks driven by losses elsewhere within Smart.
[edit] Production Models
Production Model Picture
1998–2000 Smart City-Coupé & City-Cabrio* (*from 2000) Smart-1st-Generation.jpg
2002 Smart Crossblade Smart crossblade1.jpg
2001–2007 Smart City-Coupé & City-Cabrio (renamed Fortwo in 2004) Smart-2nd-Generation.jpg
2001–2004 Smart K (Japan only) Smart K 002.JPG
2003–2005 Smart Roadster Smart Roadster front 20070511.jpg
2004–2006 Smart Forfour Smart ForFour bluesilver vr.jpg
2008–present Smart Fortwo Smart Fortwo II Cabrio.JPG
2008–present (in limited trials[24]) Smart Fortwo ED (formerly known as EV) Smart Electric Drive.jpg
[edit] Concept and unproduced models

* Crosstown
* Tridion 4
* Formore

[edit] Electric versions
[edit] Smart ED
Main article: Smart ED

An electric, rechargeable version is being released in the UK as a lease vehicle on a limited basis. At the Smart Car Brooklands event in July 2008, a Smart EV was on display within "MercedesWorld" and a representative stated that the car would be for sale in the UK in 2010. Daimler will start the production of the electric Smart equipped with lithium-ion batteries in 2009 and production will ramp up to mass production by 2012.[25] A Smart Forfour has been converted into a plug-in hybrid by Lithium Technology Corporation and Zytek Systems. The lithium-ion battery can propel the vehicle up to 84 miles per hour (135 km/h) and last on its own for up to 20 miles (32 km). The engine is a combination of a 68-horsepower (51 kW), 1.5-liter (92 cu in), 3-cylinder turbo charged diesel engine and two high-efficiency permanent-magnet electric motors. It was awarded by the Energy Saving Trust for the “Ultra Low Carbon Car Challenge” project.[26]

Daimler AG and RWE AG have launched the world's largest joint project for environmentally friendly electric cars. Daimler will provide more than 100 electric cars from Mercedes-Benz and Smart as well as the vehicle service.The new generation of Smart ED (electric drive) and electric-battery driven vehicles from Mercedes-Benz will come in use within the "e-mobility Berlin" project. RWE is handling the development, installation and operation of the charging infrastructure". The new project is also benefiting from the experience gained by Daimler during the current pilot project involving electro-mobility in London. Since last year, there has been a test fleet of first-generation Smart Fortwo ed cars . The start of serial production of battery-powered vehicles by Mercedes-Benz and Smart is in 2010.[27]

Smart ED is going to be sold in the European Union in 2010-07-01.[28]
[edit] Competitors

* Toyota iQ.
* Volkswagen Chico. VW is fast-tracking development of an affordable new two-seat city car. VW can use in the electric vehicle, battery technology from Toshiba.[29]

[edit] Electric vehicle conversions
Main article: Electric vehicle conversion

eSmart is a Smart Fortwo electric conversion. It has a 40 km range with AGM batteries (100 km with Li-ion batteries)
[edit] Smart in Asia
[edit] Japan

Older Smart cars equipped with engine sizes smaller than 660 cubic centimetres (40 cu in) fit into the Kei car category of cars in Japan, and are eligible for a range of lower taxes. However, recent models with a larger engine do not meet the Kei qualifications. Because of high taxation on older cars in Japan, many older used Smart cars are exported to other countries with right-hand drive, like Great Britain and South Africa. An official version of the Smart Fortwo called the 'Smart K' has been released to fit the Kei car category. English musician, Steve Appleton (musician) is featured in a Smart TV commercial, running in Japan during 2010.
[edit] China

Smart was shown in April 2008 at the Beijing Auto Show 2008. Smart Fortwo started the pre-sales in October 2008 and the Smart vending machine road show in 12 cities from October 2008 to February 2009.
[edit] Hong Kong

Smart is already available in Hong Kong with one authorized dealer.

Volvo truck during crash testing

Volvo truck during crash testing – Click above for high-res image

New research has revealed that up to 50 percent of European truck drivers don't buckle up when they hit the road. A study by CEASAR Research Institute discovered that seatbelt use among truck drivers varies widely from country to country – from as little as 10 percent to better than 70 percent – it all averages out to the fact that around half of the long-haul drivers don't use their belts.

The study also attempted to figure out why the usage rates were so low. Not surprisingly, there's something of a stigma attached to strapping yourself into a big rig, with some drivers believing they're safer in a large mass vehicle compared to a small passenger car. Even so, the CEASAR study claims that traffic fatalities among truck drivers could be decreased by as much as 40 percent if drivers simply took the time to click it.

Of the countries surveyed, France had the highest seatbelt usage – 70 percent – thanks largely to the fact that the country has legislation on the books to encourage drivers to be safe. Driving without a seatbelt in France will net you points on your license. Too many points, and you're walking to work. Hop the jump for the full press release.

Why Should I Check My Credit Report Regularly?

We all know we should check our credit card statements every month for charges that we haven't made. But that only catches the thief who uses an account you know you have. Scan for signs of possible fraud with your free credit report.


Free Credit Report

Get a free credit report with a free 30-day credit monitoring trial
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In the past few years identity fraud has risen dramatically. In this insidious form of credit fraud, a thief steals your good credit by taking over or opening accounts in your name, running up large balances, and leaving you to deal with the collectors when they come calling.

New accounts opened with your identity will appear on your credit report, revealing identity fraud to you. If you don't check your credit report, it could be months before the credit grantor, fed up with nonpayment, turns the account over to a collector who tracks you down and demands payment for a loan you've never even heard of.

As with much less problematic inaccuracies, identity fraud is something you can detect and remedy most effectively by checking your credit history thoroughly and on a routine basis.

To Become an Informed Consumer of Credit Services
Your credit report can have a dramatic impact on your financial stability. With good credit, you can obtain benefits of all kinds--a home mortgage or lease on an apartment, an auto loan, low-interest credit cards, and more--with ease. But if your credit history is poor, many of these financial options may be unavailable to you. Either way, you have a right to know what to expect when a lender runs a credit check on you.

Aside from paying your bills regularly and on time, the single most important thing you can do to ensure that when others check into your credit they'll find you to be a good risk is to be aware of the contents of your credit report. Check your report for free and approach lenders with confidence.


Studies have shown that many credit files contain inaccuracies that can harm your credit rating, leading to rejections when you apply for loans, insurance, even a job. Often the result of simple human error, they can be caused by anything from a clerical error to a computer glitch in which your file is mixed with that of someone with a similar name.

That's why it's essential that you check all of your credit files--and monitor your credit regularly--to protect your good credit standing, even if you always pay all your bills on time.

And if your credit is less than perfect now, checking your report will help you identify lingering problems so you can deal with them effectively and move on toward an improved credit standing. Whatever your situation, reviewing your report regularly is the only way to be sure that you will go into any credit conversations knowing everything lenders will know.

Reduce your heating bills by 24 percent

Reduce your heating bills by 24 percent - Act on CO2 --
When was the selection of the world's most economical car in its class, drivers reduce their CO2 emissions from driving under the 24 percent

Advertorial

Car buyers to know which cars are the most respect for the environment - and fourth save on fuel costs.

The Ministry of Transport is a service that identifies less CO2 emissions created.

Compiled in association with What Car? "The scheme is the last part of the law by the Ministry on CO2 campaign to help combat climate change.

People who like buying a new car can dft.gov.uk/actonCO2 visit, they find the kind of type, transmission and fuel type and automatically list with the lowest CO2 emissions models given according to their needs.

The choice of cars with economical engines in its class, a driver can reduce their CO2 emissions by driving less than 24 percent and almost one quarter can save fuel.

Best on CO2 rankings were developed using emissions data from the Office for the certification of vehicles, the DFT agency responsible for collecting test data on the official CO2 emissions from cars.

The 14 car categories were developed by What Car? Magazine, based on the categories used by the automotive industry to vehicles and their capabilities after extensive research on viewer behavior, perception of the market to classify.

The categories are:

• Hatchback
• Family
• Family Estate
• MPV
• Compact Executive
• Executive
• Coupe
• Open-Top
• Hot Hatch
• Compact 4x4
• Large 4x4
• Luxury
• Performance Car

External Links

2011 Buick Regal Competitor Comparison

2011 Buick Regal Competitor Comparison

Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Year 2011
Make Buick
Model Regal
Trim
General Pricing
View: Expand All
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
MSRP $26,245.00 $29,245.00 $25,935.00 $26,605.00
Destination $750.00 $750.00 $750.00 $720.00
Internet Price Get My Price Get My Price Get My Price Get My Price
Engines & Power
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Standard Engine 2.4L 182hp I4 3.5L 268hp V6 2.5L 170hp I4 2.4L 169hp I4
Horsepower 182 @ 6700 RPM 268 @ 6200 RPM 170 @ 6000 RPM 169 @ 6400 RPM
Torque 172 @ 4900 RPM 248 @ 4700 RPM 167 @ 4000 RPM 160 @ 4500 RPM
Valves 4 4 4 4
Displacement (cc) 2384 3456 2489 2384
Bore X Stroke (in.) 3.5 X 3.9 3.7 X 3.3 3.5 X 3.9 3.5 X 3.9
Compression Ratio 11.2:1 10.8:1 9.7:1 10.4:1
Fuel Economy
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
City (mpg) 20 19 21 22
Highway (mpg) 30 28 30 33
Exterior Dimensions & Weight
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Curb Weight - Automatic (lb.) 3600.1 3516.4 3309.1 N/A
Wheelbase (in.) 107.8 109.3 109.8 112.3
Length (in.) 190.2 189.2 193.7 191.8
Width (in.) 73.1 71.7 72.4 70.3
Height (in.) 58.4 57.9 57.9 57.1
Track Front (in.) 62.4 62 62.8 59.6
Track Rear (in.) 62.5 61.6 62.8 60
Ground Clearance (in.) N/A N/A N/A N/A
Interior Dimensions
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Standard Seating 5 5 5 5
Front Headroom (in.) 38.8 37.9 38.1 39.4
Rear Headroom (in.) 36.8 37.4 37.3 37.2
Front Legroom (in.) 42.1 41.7 42.5 42.2
Rear Legroom (in.) 37.3 38.3 38 37.6
Front Shoulder Room (in.) 56.7 57.8 57.3 55.9
Rear Shoulder Room (in.) 54.4 56.9 56.5 53.9
Front Hip Room (in.) 55.4 54.6 55.1 53
Rear Hip Room (in.) 52.3 53.9 55.9 52.1
Payload & Towing
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Passenger Volumn (cu. ft.) 96.8 101.4 101.9 97.7
Steering, Suspension & Brakes
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Front Suspension strut strut wishbone strut
Rear Suspension multi-link multi-link multi-link multi-link
Tires 235/50R18 215/60R16 215/55R17 225/50R18
Anti-Theft & Locks
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Power Door Locks Std. Std. Std. Std.
Braking & Traction
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
4 Wheel Drive / All Wheel Drive front wheel drive front wheel drive front wheel drive front wheel drive
ABS Brakes (2 or 4 Wheel) Std. Std. Std. Std.
Limited Slip Differential or Axle N/A N/A N/A N/A
Vehicle Stability Control System Std. Std. Std. Std.
Entertainment, Communication & Navigation
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Radio N/A N/A AM/FM N/A
Cassette Player N/A N/A N/A N/A
CD Player Yes N/A N/A Yes
CD Changer N/A Yes Yes N/A
DVD Player N/A N/A N/A N/A
Navigation Aid Std. N/A N/A Std.
Interior
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Cruise Control Std. Std. Std. Std.
Tilt Steering Yes Yes Yes Yes
Telescopic Steering Column Yes Yes Yes Yes
Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Air Conditioning Std. Std. Std. Std.
Safety
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Driver Airbag Std. Std. Std. Std.
Front Side Airbag Std. Std. Std. Std.
Passenger Side Airbag Std. Std. Std. Std.
Rear Side Airbag N/A N/A N/A N/A
Seats
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Driver Multi-Adjustable Power Seat Yes Yes Yes Yes
Roof
Buick Regal CXL Toyota Camry XLE Mazda MAZDA6 i Grand Touring Chevrolet Malibu LTZ
Sunroof / Moonroof N/A Std. Std. N/A
Windows, Mirrors & Wipers