No executive deadline has been set for Honda to succeed in formula one, according to the team’s British chief executive, Nick Fry. After embarrassingly becoming the sport’s least competitive works manufacturer in 2007, Fry said Honda chiefs in Tokyo have not imposed a timeframe by when the team must be back at the front of the field.
“Honda are determined to succeed,” he said earlier this week.
“There is and has never been a timeframe associated with Honda’s involvement. They assume they will carry on ad infinitum, as far as we can tell,” Fry added.
He admitted, however, that there is a growing sense of impatience about Honda’s determination to win again, after the last success was Jenson Button’s maiden triumph in Hungary two years ago.
But Fry insists that the impatience of Honda executives is no different to that of the Brackley based team itself.
“I think people make the mistake sometimes of trying to separate out the company … and the team,” he said. “They are the same.
“The attitude of Honda of being impatient is only a reflection of the views of the rest of us,” Fry added.
Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/motorsport/no-deadline-from-honda-for-f1-success/
The Bugatti Veyron is a phenomenal car but its greatness doesn’t solely lie in the fact that it can reach speeds of up to 250mph. The Veyron is truly great because of the ease at which it can reach such insane speeds and the fact that virtually anyone with a driver’s license could do it and then drive home in peak hour traffic without any major hassles.
Bugatti’s engineers have managed to make a car powered by a quad-turbo, W16 engine, and capable of accelerating to 60mpg in just 2.5 seconds as easy to drive as a humble VW Golf. Speaking with UAE’s Business24-7, Bugatti official Julius Kruta told reporters that the Veyron is only the beginning. In fact, Kruta confirmed that Bugatti will eventually build a second hyper-model. “Even though it is not economically viable for us, we will do it again. We have bigger plans for the future and the next one from our stables will be even more expensive than the Veyron,” Kruta revealed.
Late last year reports emerged claiming Bugatti might add a second model to its lineup but until now there was no official mention of such a car. Some have suggested that Bugatti’s next car will be a high-end saloon while others claim it will be a new ultra-performance supercar.
Building cars like the Veyron and its eventual successor is not about making money, Kruta explains. “The idea was to make a showcase car to tell the world what the Volkswagen group is capable of doing if the sky is the limit,” he said. “It is a statement car and we are not even meeting the cost of production.”
Last month we reported about Lamborghini celebrating the sale of its 3,000th Murcielago, a pale Telesto grey Murcielago LP640 that went to an individual in Florida. Just one month after taking delivery, the buyer is now selling the car on eBay and the current bid is already far ahead of the original sticker price, which incidentally was $419,892.
The sale was completed during Christmas last year and the car was personally delivered to the current owner by Lambo boss Stephan Winkelmann, who actually flew out to Florida to hand over the keys. The car has also been personalized with a number of unique features including the new Ad Personam color scheme.
The wedding chapel isn’t a building type with a great architectural pedigree; it’s usually a cue for syrupy swags and allusions aplenty to classical temples and Rococo palaces, all crammed into a structure that wouldn’t look out of place in a trailer park.
But given the right brief, the genre offers plenty of scope for small scale innovation, as in the small Chapel of La Estancia by Bunker Arquitectura. The owners of the colonial-era gardens in Cuernavaca, just south of Mexico City, had built up a business offering wedding packages to young couples, and originally wanted an ersatz colonial-style chapel structure in which to host the ceremonies.
Happily, Bunker persuaded them otherwise, and set to work devising a modern, functional yet undeniably romantic setting for the events. Initial plans for a glass-walled building were opposed by the client, who claimed - quite reasonably - that it would heat up throughout the day and make ceremonies sweaty and unbearable. But Bunker stuck to their guns, explaining that their solution involved a latticework of opaque glass beams, arranged vertically and set apart from one another to create a ‘veil’ running around the entire structure that allows air to move freely. Above this sits a solid roof, its shape devised by the shearing, pinching and shifting of the original box-shaped volume, forming a simple yet elegant shallow pitch.
The end wall contains a cross set into the glass fins, while the floor is a humble white concrete slab (toned down from the original marble due to budget considerations). The structure replaces the canvas tent that used to be used for the ceremonies, yet retains an alluring air of impermanence and lightness.
Source: http://www.yankodesign.com/index.php/2008/02/01/chapel-of-la-estancia/
First of all, there really aren't any visible signs of a story here. That isn't surprising, however, considering this type of game, so that can be overlooked. You'll begin with two characters to choose from and possibly get two more (more on that later). The characters play mostly the same, though, with only slight weapon tweaks and special abilities here and there.
Scattered throughout the levels are A, B, and C type weaponry. The weapons vary from character to character, but basically follow the trend of a rapid-fire weapon, a steady flamethrower weapon and a scatter-ammo weapon. The weapons can be powered up and become more deadly, but only if you can stay alive long enough to get the power-ups. The previously mentioned uber bomb is acquired by picking up pink triangles that the enemies drop when killed. Gather enough pink triangles, and they'll form one big death triangle that appears in the upper left of the screen when it's ready.
Upon starting the game, the first thing you'll notice is the amazing visuals. The characters are intricately detailed and the crisp, lush environments are stunning. You'll find yourself up against robots, mutants and other incredibly odd enemies, with the ugliest oddities saved for the boss battles. The enemies, bosses, trees, rocks, water, moss and even walls are beautifully designed. Seriously, this thing is pretty.
The game sort of gives you a little bit of help by increasing the amount of extra lives you have depending on your total play time. This doesn't count leaving the Xbox 360 turned on at the main menu while you eat a turkey sandwich. This is pure payment for playing, and the extra lives will help you at least get those new characters. The extra lives won't aid in the Achievement collecting, however, and the mere idea of beating this game without dying is unfathomable to mortal men.
Omega Five is the perfect example of what a side-scrolling shooter is. It's action packed, challenging, bloodthirsty and full of enough weapons and explosions it would make Rambo proud. However, if you're an Achievement Point junkie, 200/200 is a sight only seen by the gods of side-scrolling.
Source: http://www.dailygame.net/news/archives/007148.php
The Scouts winter camp-out in Owen Sound went high-tech this year.
Participants used global positioning system (GPS) equipment to locate hidden treasures in an outdoor scavenger hunt called geocaching.
“It takes the compass work and it turns it high-tech,” said Chris Poole, a leader with 1st Owen Sound Venturers, a senior scouting group for youth aged 14 to 17.
Poole co-ordinated the geocaching exercise for the weekend camp-out at Harrison Park. He brought three units, paid for by the Bruce Grey Trails Association and local health unit, to use at the event.
Geocachers seek hidden containers, called caches, using co-ordinates. GPS uses satellites to pinpoint the location down to about three metres.
Poole said compass reading is still required of all Scouts, but using GPS is a fun alternative.
“Kids are attracted to electronics,” he said. “This just makes it more fun.”
Poole hid three caches in “easy” locations Saturday and four in more difficult-to-find places. The game was open to both Scouts — boys and girls aged 11 to 14 — and Venturers.
Lyle MacDonald, a 15-year-old West Hill student in her first year as a Venturer, said geocaching is among her favourite outdoor activities.
“I think it’s interesting to see how the satellites can guide you,” said MacDonald, who spent three years as a Scout.
She remembers having to crawl through the mud to locate a cache in the fall which was hidden under a boardwalk at Weaver’s Creek in Harrison Park.
Scout leader Doug Bastien, a geocaching enthusiast, said the activity is a fun way to get youth outdoors.
“It gets the kids being active,” he said.
Poole organized a geocaching game as part of Owen Sound’s 150th Homecoming celebrations. He hid 10 caches between Harrison Park and Inglis Falls. He said geocaching is an international game, with multiple caches hidden across Ontario. Co-ordinates can be found at www.geocache.com.
More than 330 Scouts and their leaders camped out at Harrison Park during this year’s annual winter weekend event. The Scouts are from across Ontario and Ohio. This year included Venturers.
The Owen Sound camp-out started in 1964 when two city troops decided to camp for a weekend to earn their winter camping badge. The event has grown to attract hundreds of people each year, with a handful coming from foreign countries like Argentina and Thailand over the years.
Saturday is the busiest day for the campers with activities taking place everywhere, all related to survival in the cold. There was compass reading, fire lighting, knot tying, log sawing and a simulated rescue mission.
Source: http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=876581&auth=Denis+Langlois
Options for the ‘new’ CLC include 18-inch wheels, sport-package headlights with painted inner frames, sports suspension, special body work and trim accents. Four petrol engines are available, from 143hp four-bangers up to the range-topping 272hp 3.5L V6. The CLC350 that hosts the big motor uses it to make the sprint to 100km/h in 6.3s. The four-link independent front suspension and multilink independent rear suspension get new tuning to give better feel, but remember, it’s still the old C-class under the skin, so don’t expect any miracles.
Also on offer will be two diesels, the smaller 2.0L unit generating 122hp, and the slightly larger 2.2L oil-burner making 150hp. Standard on all cars, regardless of motor choice, is a six-speed manual transmission. Four-cylinder models get a five-speed automatic, while the sportier V6s get the additional option of a seven-speed paddle-shifted automatic.
No word on which variants (if any) will be making it to the U.S. market, but it’s a safe bet that the smaller petrol and diesel models won’t be among the first shipments if they come at all. In fact, it’s quite possible that Mercedes will only bring the V6 to America, as even the 204hp 2.4L variant is on the small side by U.S. standards.
The new Mercedes-Benz CLC: Sports Coupé with fun factor
Mercedes-Benz has unveiled a stand-alone model series in the guise of the new CLC, the compelling entry-level model in the Mercedes-Benz coupé family. The Sports Coupé’s design, technology and equipment meet the discerning requirements of young drivers looking for an athletic car that gives an involving drive, while at the same time delivering the hallmark Mercedes quality standards in terms of safety, comfort, environmental compatibility and functionality. Compared with the previous Sports Coupé, the Mercedes engineers have newly developed or enhanced over 1100 components. Engineering highlights of the CLC include a new direct-steer system for even more agile cornering, state-of-the-art infotainment systems featuring a colour display, Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation and media interface, as well as an uprated four-cylinder engine that now develops 135 kW/184 hp. Fuel consumption has been reduced by up to 10.8 percent compared with the outgoing model.
The compact body dimensions and the muscular lines emphasise the sporty appearance of the new CLC. The Mercedes designers have completely redesigned the front and rear so that the Sports Coupé embodies the contemporary Mercedes design idiom with its distinctive coupé radiator grille featuring a large Mercedes star in the centre, and the new projection-beam headlamps. The S-Class, the luxury CL-Class Coupé and the C-Class provided the stylistic models. The redesigned large tailgate conceals a variable boot with up to 1100 litres of luggage capacity. The new tail lights, the long row of LEDs which make up the third brake light unit and the rear bumper subdivide the rear and emphasise its width.
The interior of the new Mercedes-Benz CLC is akin to a contemporary tailor-made suit - custom-fit and comfortable. Sports seats with better lateral support than ever, a three-spoke multifunction steering wheel, automatic climate control and brushed aluminium trim elements form part of the standard specification.
A choice of seat covers in black, alpaca grey and a particularly stylish combination of black and red are available to give the interior its individual colour scheme.
Sports package with new direct-steer system and 18-inch wheels
Mercedes-Benz has put together the sports package for drivers looking for sporting flair. It includes exclusive engineering innovations and equipment extras such as 18-inch light-alloy wheels, wide-base tyres, headlamps with black inner surrounds, sports suspension with lowered body, leather sports steering wheel and dark brushed aluminium trim elements. Another special feature which the CLC inherits from its racing car counterparts is the instrument cluster with red needles for the speedometer and rev counter. Once the engine is switched on, these needles spin once around the dial before returning to their start positions.
The standard specification for the sports package includes a new direct-steer system, which further enhances the agile driving experience of the CLC while adding an important boost to safety. This new feature is based on the speed-sensitive power steering and also offers a variable rack ratio which changes as a function of the steering angle so that the driver only has to turn the wheel slightly when cornering; the Sports Coupé therefore responds far more spontaneously to steering commands and offers even sportier handling. As a result, the direct-steer system also improves handling safety in critical situations - for instance when taking sudden evasive action - as the field tests conducted by the Mercedes engineers demonstrate.Engines: fuel consumption reduced by up to 10.8 percent
Mercedes-Benz offers four four-cylinder and two six-cylinder engines with power outputs ranging from 90 kW/122 hp to 200 kW/272 hp for the new CLC. The 135 kW/184 hp powerplant in the CLC 200 KOMPRESSOR now develops an extra 15 kW/20 hp while consuming just 7.8 to 8.2 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle - the equivalent of up to 0.7 litres less than before. In consumption terms, with its advanced turbodiesel engines, the CLC falls into the five-litre category: the CLC 200 CDI returns a consumption of 5.8 to 6.1 litres per 100 kilometres in the NEDC cycle, up to 10.8 percent less than the outgoing model. The CDI models boast operating ranges of over 1000 kilometres with a full tank (62 litres).
The six-speed manual transmission comes as standard with all engine variants. Mercedes-Benz can also supply a five-speed automatic transmission for the four‑cylinder units, and the 7G-TRONIC seven-speed automatic transmission for the V6 models. In combination with the sports package, the driver can use gearshift paddles on the steering wheel to select the gears of the automatic transmission manually and make optimum use of the engines’ high power reserves when the driving situation calls for it.
Infotainment: state-of-the-art technology for navigation and musical enjoyment on wheels
The Mercedes engineers have developed a new generation of infotainment units for the CLC, bringing luxury-class cutting-edge technology to the Sports Coupé as of September 2008. Three units are available, offering a superb combination of colour display, twin tuner, speed-sensitive volume control and Bluetooth mobile phone interface. An iPod, USB stick or other external audio devices can now also be connected to the infotainment system. A new universal media interface (optional extra) links these devices to the on-board electronics and the Sports Coupé’s control system, allowing the iPod tracks to be displayed in the instrument cluster and on the colour screen in the centre console. Tracks can then be selected conveniently using the buttons on the multifunction steering wheel.
The new Audio 50 APS and COMAND APS units come with a Europe-wide DVD or hard-disc navigation system. The LINGUATRONIC voice-operated control system, which Mercedes-Benz has upgraded with a new whole-word recognition capability, is fitted as standard if the integrated six-disc DVD changer is specified. LINGUATRONIC enables the driver to conveniently operate the telephone, audio and navigation system.
Success story: Sports Coupé with extensive conquest potential
The new CLC is the successor to a successful Mercedes model that boasts some 320,000 drivers around the world to its name since 2001. The majority of these were new Mercedes customers. Its high conquest rate of some 70 percent made the Sports Coupé one of the most successful models in the Mercedes strategic product initiative. With the help of a compelling two-door model, the Stuttgart-based car maker has managed to fire customers’ imagination over the long term. Over 40 percent of buyers opted for a larger Mercedes model after the Sports Coupé and are currently driving an E-Class, CLK or an SLK.
Thanks to its sophisticated design, high-quality equipment and appointments, and enhanced technology, the new Mercedes-Benz CLC offers even more conquest potential than its predecessor. The public will get the chance to take a close look at the Sports Coupé for the first time at the European Mercedes sales and service outlets and authorised dealerships in May 2008.
Source: http://www.motorauthority.com/news/coupes/mercedes-benz-reveals-2009-clc/
