car uk new: May 2012

2013 Toyota Corolla Hatch Brochure Leaked

I guess this would be the next Toyota Matrix????

2013 TOYOTA COROLLA REVEALED
By Mike Stevens

Toyota's all-new 2013 Toyota Corolla hatch , sold overseas as the Auris, has reportedly surfaced online in a series of leaked brochure images.

The vehicle shown in the scanned pages is a clear match for the camouflaged prototypes spied by TMR's photographers earlier this year.

Uncovered by website Noticias Automotivas, the images reveal an Auris-badged hatch that draws heavily on the look of the new Yaris light car and the Camry medium sedan.

As we could see on the spied cars, the new Corolla has been given an image overhaul, featuring a sharper face with a deep-V grill design and slender lighting at both ends.

The new 'rolla also benefits from a longer windscreen, contributing to a longer and more streamlined profile than the current model.

Inside, there's a mostly black dash design, with an uninterrupted top level and circular air vents. The gear shifter has also returned to the more traditional position in the now-separated centre console.

According to the leaked pages, the new Corolla is 30mm longer, with a roof 50mm lower than the current model.

The new Corolla will launch with a 1.8 litre petrol engine - likely an updated version of the engine offered with the current model - and a BMW-sourced diesel will be offered in some markets.

Details for the diesel have not been revealed, although we could expect to see a version of the 1.6 litre engine that drives the Mini Cooper D, originally sourced from Peugeot-Citroen.

In the Cooper D, the 1.6 litre diesel engine features direct injection and turbocharging, producing 82kW and 270Nm of torque. Fuel consumption is listed at 3.8 l/100km - among the lowest figures of any car available in Australia.

In Australia, the new Corolla will tackle Hyundai's new i30 and the Ford Focus, and Toyota will be looking to the hatch's sportier style to battle the next Mazda3 - which will undoubtedly be sharper than the already segment-leading current model.

Source;
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/54243/2013-toyota-corolla-revealed-in-leaked-brochure

The 7 Most Dangerous Cars in America

May 29, 2012 by 247wallst

Some vehicles can survive car crashes and protect the occupants much better than others. To find out which motor vehicles perform best and which the worst, nonprofit group Insurance Institute for Highway Safety performed crash tests. IIHS, which is “dedicated to reducing the frequency and consequences of crashes on U.S. roads,” rated the cars in four separate categories. 24/7 Wall St. examined the ratings and identified the seven current-generation models that received a “marginal” or “poor” rating in two of the four categories.

The four rating categories of the IIHS tests are: (1) a frontal offset crash test in which the vehicle travels at 40 miles per hour and hits a barrier head-on; (2) a side-impact crash test in which a 3,300 lb. “SUV-like” object strikes the driver side at 31 mph; (3) rollover ratings in which a metal plate hits the corner of a vehicle to determine how much force it can take before rolling over; and (4) a rear-impact protection rating, which focuses on the ability of seats and seat belts to protect against whiplash.

The cars with the worst scores most commonly received poor grades in the rollover and rear impact tests. In both of these tests, six of the seven models received a score of “marginal,” the second-worst grade. The next most common issue was side impact, in which one model received a “marginal” score and two received a “poor” score, the worst grade given in these tests.

The poor ratings of these models does not appear to have affected their sales. In fact, sales of all models are up from last year. In all but one case, according to data provided by Edmunds.com, sales grew at least 19% last year. And while most of these models’ sales are still below 2007 levels, sales the Jeep Wrangler not only increased the most but also jumped 50% since then.

In addition to IIHS ratings, 24/7 Wall St. also looked at several other measures of overall safety and quality for these vehicles. Included in this analysis are Consumer Reports’ ratings, crash safety ratings performed by the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration, and JD Power’s overall Initial Quality report. Based on our analysis, it appears that these models persistently have quality issues as several received similarly poor reviews from government test ratings. In the JD Power’s study, five of the seven models scored a three or less out of five, and none scored higher than a four.

Several of the models listed in this study had a two-door and four-door version, which were tested separately and each received poor IIHS scores. 24/7 Wall St. referred to the model only once, but mentioned the scores of each version. In addition, one of the vehicles, the Chevrolet Colorado, is essentially identical to another vehicle, the GMC Canyon. General Motors, which makes both vehicles, uses the same frame for both. In this case, 24/7 Wall St. listed only the Canyon, which is the more popular vehicle.

These are the most dangerous cars in America.

1. Ram 1500
> Make: Dodge
> Bad ratings: side-marginal; rollover-marginal
> 2011 sales: 156,983
> Price: $22,120
> JD Power Initial Quality: 2/5
Though Dodge has been offering the half-ton Ram 1500 since 1981, its safety track record has long been unimpressive. From 1998 through 2001, the truck received failing marks from IIHS in frontal offset tests, and was rated “poor” in protecting heads and left legs, as well as in restraining the crash test dummy. Though frontal offset ratings have since received “good” ratings from the IIHS, the vehicle’s side-impact and rollover ratings remain substandard. Curiously, it was the opposite in the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration tests. The agency found fault with the Ram’s performance on frontal impact tests but not with side impact tests. Despite safety concerns, the model has been selling well, and from 2007 to 2011 Dodge sold more than 100,000 trucks each year.

2. Colorado Crew Cab
> Make: Chevrolet
> Bad ratings: side-poor; rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 31,026
> Price: $17,475
> JD Power Initial Quality: 3/5
The Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon crew cab are fundamentally the same light truck made by General Motors (NYSE: GM) with differing cosmetic features. The small pickup performed quite poorly in the IIHS tests, earning a “poor” side-impact grade and “marginal” grades for rollover and rear safety. Sales of the Colorado have been especially poor in recent years; GM sold 75,716 such cars in 2007 and only 31,026 in 2011. Making matters worse, a November, 2011, recall of 5,220 Colorados and Canyons due to seat belt safety concerns did not help either the brand’s sales or its safety record.

3. CX-7
> Make: Mazda
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 35,641
> Price: $22,190
> JD Power Initial Quality: 4/5
Although it will be replaced by the newer CX-5 model next year, the CX-7’s safety record certainly will not be remembered fondly. Despite “good” scores in front and side impact ratings, low grades in rollover and rear-impact measures go against perceptions that the CX-7 is a safe car to drive. Sales rose from about 20,000 in 2009 to 35,641 in 2011. Still, this is down from 2007 when 42,199 CX-7 cars were sold.

4. CX-9
> Make: Mazda
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 34,421
> Price: $29,725
> JD Power Initial Quality: 4/5
Assembled in Hiroshima, Japan, the Mazda CX-9 received “marginal” scores in both rollover and rear safety ratings. The CX-9 also had the lowest strength-to-weight ratio of all midsize SUVs tested by the IIHS. This ratio measures how much force a car’s roof can handle before it crushes five inches, and then it is divided by the weight of the car. Despite these poor ratings, the number of CX-9s sold increased from 25,484 in 2007 to 34,421 in 2011.

5. Pathfinder
> Make: Nissan
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal; rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 25,935
> Price: $29,290
> JD Power Initial Quality: 3/5
The Nissan Pathfinder earned “marginal” ratings in rollover and rear-impact testing from the IIHS. The Pathfinder’s performance in government rollover tests is likewise troubling, as it registered an estimated 20% to 30% risk of rolling over during testing. At a price of $29,290, the cost of a Pathfinder is similar to that of the Mazda CX-9 or the 4-door Jeep Wrangler. According to Edmunds sales figures, both these models have outsold the Pathfinder in the past three years.

6. Wrangler
> Make: Jeep
> Bad ratings: side-marginal (2-door), side-poor (4-door); rear-marginal (both)
> 2011 sales: 122,460 (all Wranglers), 46,803 (2-door), 75,657 (4-door)
> Price: $22,970 (2-door), $30,745 (4-door)
> JD Power Initial Quality: 3/5
With “marginal” ratings in side and rear-impact protection, the two-door Wrangler joins other SUVs, such as the CX-7, CX-9 and Pathfinder, as a poor performer in IIHS tests. One of the few car models that actually underperforms the two-door Jeep Wrangler is the larger four-door version. This version of the Wrangler also received a “marginal” rear-impact rating, yet was also given a “poor” side-impact rating. During a recent IIHS side-impact test, a dummy was struck by the steel bars supporting the four-door Wrangler’s convertible roof. Both of the models’ overall poor performance stems in part from the fact they were unable to protect the driver’s or back-seat passengers’ heads and other bodily parts in simulated accidents. Despite earning the lowest score of any mid-size SUV from Consumer Reports, the Wrangler still sells especially well with more than 120,000 sold in the U.S. in 2011.

7. SX4
> Make: Suzuki
> Bad ratings: rollover-marginal, rear-marginal
> 2011 sales: 12,520
> Price: $13,849
> JD Power Initial Quality: 2/5
The least-expensive car on this list, the Suzuki SX4 performed poorly in rollover and rear-test ratings. Among the more than 30 small cars tested by the IIHS, the SX4 was the only small car to receive two scores of “marginal” or “poor” out of four ratings. Similarly, the SX4 also received a “fair” rating, the second-lowest possible, in government side-crash testing. The model’s U.S. sales also have languished, falling from 30,166 in 2008 to 12,520 last year.
Michael B. Sauter

Source (via www.autoblog.com);
http://247wallst.com/2012/05/29/the-most-dangerous-cars-in-america/2/

Best. Movie. Ever.

Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the best show EVER. Seriously, just watch and be amazed. Oh SyFy...you clever television programmer you. And yes, I actually watched it this past weekend.

Have a great Thursday.

2013 Honda Accord Sedan Spyshots

While many think the Honda Accord has lost its way since the 1990s, the car continues to sell very well, finding a sweet spot of style, performance, and function for many drivers. The 2013 model looks to update the car with a fresher, more dramatic take on the Accord's proportions and theme.

Previewed by the Accord Coupe Concept at the 2012 Detroit Auto Show, the new car looks rather similar to the current Accord, but at the same time, blends its elements more harmoniously, presenting a more refined, modern look.

The spy shots show a car that's still heavily clad in camouflage, however, keeping the changes from the Accord Coupe Concept to the production sedan from our view. Given Honda's affinity for showing barely-disguised production models as concepts, however, we have every reason to think that what's under the covers will closely resemble the Detroit concept.

Information on what sort of interior design changes, technology upgrades, or powertrain improvements might be in order remains closely held, however.

The 2013 Honda Accord is expected to arrive in dealer lots later this year, with the sedan preceding the coupe by several months to a year.

Source;
http://www.motorauthority.com/news/1076538_2013-honda-accord-sedan-spy-shots

Toyota’s latest Corolla for Japanese market features new technologies

It's always interesting to see what other parts of the world are doing to see what we will eventually be getting here in North America....

2013 Toyota Corolla Axio

Toyota Motor Co. is fitting new technologies into its redesigned 11th-generation Corolla as an attempt to give the compact car a more glamorous feel. The Japanese version of the Corolla will sport features like climate-controlled seats, safety belts with pre-tensioners, automatic high-beam headlamp dimmers as well as automatic interior lights. Toyota has started selling the Japanese version of the Corolla. However, it is still unclear whether the Japanese carmaker will also install those features in the overseas versions of the Corolla. However, Hiroya Fujita, chief engineer of the Japanese Corolla, remarked that the company wants to fit as many common parts as possible in all Corolla versions worldwide.

The Japanese version of the Corolla differs both in size and performance from the United States version of the nameplate. Also the two Corolla’s have separate chief engineers. Toyota is planning to announce the rollout schedule of the overseas versions of the Corolla next spring. According to Fujita, the US version of the Corolla will be powered by a 1.8-liter engine, while the Japanese variant is ran by a 1.5-liter powerplant.
Fujita remarked that the US version of the Corolla will be wider, longer and taller than the Japanese variant. Although both cars will sport similar interiors, they will don different exteriors, most notably the front fascia and grille. According to Fujita, stiffer competition in the global small-car market has prompted Toyota to make the improvements.

Source;
http://www.4wheelsnews.com/toyotas-latest-corolla-for-japanese-market-features-new-technologies/

Fuel-efficient sedans: Chevrolet Cruze Eco, Ford Focus SFE, Honda Civic HF

Interesting....

Diablo 3

I like the way the Diablo angels look with wings made of white ribbons.

I've always played Blizzard games, and Diablo 3 is no exception. When I played World of Warcraft, I would spend an hour a day combing the forums for strategies and/or reading patch notes. Diablo 3 is no exception. I wanted to show you a list of interesting facts that I found. But to understand them, you might need some information first.

My favorite class to play thus far is the demon hunter. I like how lean
he looks, and the dual wielding crossbows that shoot out like machine guns
is kind of awesome-looking. It makes me feel powerful.

The game has several layers of difficulty of which "Inferno" is the hardest. Hardcore is a kind of character that you make that when it dies, there is no resurrection. The object here is to be so confident and skilled that you play a flawless game. So here's the list:

On average players have created 3 characters each. I thought this was interesting. I have exactly three characters. Hmmmm.
80% of characters are between levels 1 and 30. This is also me. I haven't had time to play because of writing and/or editing commitments I made with friends online that I wanted to get done, and because the drama with my dad is unending (since mom went into the nursing home in April he's lapsed into a terrible depression--a thing I did not expect).
1.9% of characters have unlocked Inferno difficulty. The only person I know personally that is doing this right now is my really smart friend Kevin, who goes by Modhne in-game, and runs the most successful guild on Ravencrest-US and has done so for the last four years. It's called Requiem--I always liked the name.
54% of Hardcore players chose a female character. I wonder why this is? Two of my characters are females--my barbarian (I love smashing things to bits) and my sorceress (I love smashing things to bits)...hmmm maybe I'm using Diablo 3 as therapy... I must say that smashing things to bits does help alleviate the stress that I feel whenever I get another phone call telling me that dad is headed to the emergency room or that mom has missed yet another dentist appointment because she threw a fit (mom has severe dementia). In case you don't know, I live in a different state and am unable to render much assistance right now because I dropped two weeks of vacation in the last two months to rush to their aid. I have a job where the only time off you take is done with vacation or sick leave. We do have a care provider hired to help dad every day though and that's been a big help.

Fan art. This is a witch doctor. Pretty cool huh?

Do the ladies of Diablo have all the style? Is that why
so many men are playing female characters? I guess I'm
assuming more men are playing than women...

The majority of Hardcore deaths (35%) occur in Act I Normal. I'm surprised by this. I thought that people would be more prone to die in Act II or further on. Maybe they just underestimate things.
The most common level 60 build in the game is only used by 0.7% of level 60 characters of that class.

Below, you will find a 7 minute animated sequence called "Wrath" in which the angels go up against the demons and specifically Diablo. It was made by Blizzard. And who doesn't like epic battles between angels and demons (here's looking at you, Ciara)? But I'm guilty of this too. My own book SLIPSTREAM is ultimately the first installment in a story/slugfest between angels and demons. If you have the time, click play, sit back, and watch the tale unfold. If anything, the storyline of Wrath is good writing (and we all like good writing tied with strong paranormal images of kickass-ness, right?).

I know Alex C. is playing Diablo 3. I have yet to make it out of Act II yet. I kind of like group play so if the people I play with are busy doing their level 60 characters, I kind of find something else to do.

So do any of the above statistics surprise you? Do you think it's okay for a person to use video games as therapy for real life? Have you ever tried a video game personally, or do you shun them and shun those who play them?

INDYCAR: Franchitti claims third 500 win in Honda 1-2 finish

Dario Franchitti came from the rear of the field to win a dramatic Indianapolis 500 Sunday at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, leading Target Chip Ganassi Racing teammate Scott Dixon to the checkered flag in a 1-2 finish for Honda in near-record heat and humidity. It is the third Indianapolis 500 victory for Franchitti, and the third for Honda with engine manufacturer competition.

After starting 16th, Franchitti was hit during his first pit stop by the car of E.J. Viso, spinning Franchitti around and dropping him to the rear of the field. But he fought back to the front, reaching the lead for the first time on Lap 151 and then entering into a multi-car battle for the victory over the final laps.

Once at the front of the field, Franchitti spent the late laps trading the lead with Dixon, part of a record 34 lead changes during the race; while the Honda Dallaras of Takuma Sato and Justin Wilson; as well as the cars of Tony Kanaan and Ed Carpenter all looked like potential race winners.

Carpenter was the first to fall by the wayside, spinning without contact on Lap 180. On the Lap 184 restart, Kanaan jumped from fourth to the front on the run to Turn One, but the yellow came out again just three laps later as Marco Andretti spun and crashed without injury.

On Lap 194, the green flag waved for the final time and both Franchitti and Dixon passed Kanaan. Sato also was quickly past Kanaan and then Dixon. On Lap 199, Sato moved alongside Franchitti and attempted a last-lap pass for the lead as they entered Turn One. But Sato lost control mid-corner, made contact with Franchitti and then spun hard into the wall, crashing without injury.

Franchitti was momentarily sideways, but corrected for the slide and claimed his third Indianapolis 500 victory, and the 96th IndyCar win for Target Chip Ganassi Racing at the 96th running of the Memorial Day weekend classic. Dixon finished second, with Honda drivers Justin Wilson seventh, Charlie Kimball in eighth and Townsend Bell, ninth.
The IZOD IndyCar Series now enters June with a run of four consecutive race weekends, starting with the June 3 Belle Isle Grand Prix temporary street circuit race in Detroit, Michigan, followed by oval races at Texas Motor Speedway, The Milwaukee Mile and Iowa Speedway.

Dario Franchitti (#50 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) started 16th, finished 1st, his third Indianapolis 500 victory, 31st IndyCar victory (all with Honda power) and first win of 2012: “I moved over for Takuma [Sato]. I knew he was coming and I moved up the track. I felt it was a good move, but he got loose underneath me. It was the last lap of the Indianapolis 500 and I didn’t expect him to lift. I think he did everything right up until the point he lost the rear of the car. It kind of reminded me of Emerson [Fittipaldi] and Little Al [Unser, at the 1994 Indianapolis 500] at the end there. This means the world. This is Indianapolis.

I also have to say ‘thank you’ to Honda. I have all of my [IndyCar] wins with them and today showed us all exactly why. They worked incredibly hard throughout the event, and never more so than in the week after qualifying. Honda showed us all today what they can accomplish.”

Scott Dixon (#9 Target Chip Ganassi Racing Honda) qualified 15th, finished 2nd, led 53 laps: “We had the car to win today. Between the efforts of the team and Honda we had the power, reliability and mileage we needed, but at the end it was Dario’s race. He did a hell of a job today, so I’m super happy for him, but super gutted for myself. Still, it couldn’t be a better day, a 1-2 finish for the Target Chip Ganassi team at the Indianapolis 500.”

Art St. Cyr (President, Honda Performance Development) on today’s Honda victory in the Indianapolis 500: “This is why we go racing. To be able to participate in such a competitive race is one of the most amazing things in my career with Honda. It was an exciting day, and a great race for the fans – but pretty stressful for the participants! Any of several Honda drivers would have been a deserving winner today, but somehow it seemed destined that this was Dario’s day. He drove a fantastic race, never giving up after getting hit during his first pit stop. It was an inspiring drive, and an incredible race, that had all of us riveted throughout. My congratulations to all our associates at Honda Performance Development, who worked so hard to make this victory a reality. What a great day.”

Source;
http://www.motorsport.com/indycar/news/franchitti-claims-third-500-win-in-honda-1-2-finish/

Honda Motor Co. Rating Increased to Outperform at Zacks (HMC)

Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) was upgraded by Zacks from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday. The firm currently has a $38.00 price target on the stock.

Zacks’ analyst wrote, “Honda expects to benefits from its global network and business expansion in Asia.
The automaker is well positioned to take advantage of stricter environment regulations given its long-term focus on hybrid vehicles. Given these factors and favorable model mix and effective cost reduction measures, the company anticipates a revival in sales and profits for fiscal 2013. Although it missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.14 per share, the company posted a steep 61% increase in profits to 71.6 billion ($871 million) in the fourth quarter of the fiscal 2012. As such, we have upgraded the recommendation on the shares of the company to Outperform from Neutral and set a target price of $38.00.”

Separately, analysts at Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) upgraded shares of Honda Motor Co. from a “neutral” rating to an “outperform” rating in a research note to investors on Monday, May 7th.

Honda Motor Co. traded down 0.87% on Monday, hitting $31.92. Honda Motor Co. has a 1-year low of $27.52 and a 1-year high of $41.23. The company has a market cap of $57.529 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.86.

Honda Motor Co, Ltd. (Honda) develops, produces and manufactures a variety of motor products, ranging from small general-purpose engines and scooters to specialty sports cars.

Source;
http://zolmax.com/honda-motor-co-rating-increased-to-outperform-at-zacks-hmc/2910189/

Honda Canada/US: Rail strike forces Honda to cancel shift

Space getting tight. Honda Canada has a fair bit of space on site to store new vehicles off the line, but if the CP Rail strike continues, the space could quickly fill up.

By Brad Pritchard

ALLISTON - Honda of Canada Manufacturing (HCM) in Alliston was forced to cancel one of its production shifts on Saturday (May 26) in an effort to limit the amount of completed vehicles currently being stockpiled on site due to the ongoing CP Rail strike, which is now in its sixth day.

The overtime shift will be rescheduled to a future date once the strike has been resolved and normal outbound freight shipments resume, according to HCM spokesperson Lisa Timpf.

“We can confirm that we have adjusted some scheduled overtime to control our inventory levels,” Timpf said in an email reply. “This is production we will plan to make up at a later date, when the strike situation has been resolved. The driver for rescheduling the production overtime was to balance our storage of completed vehicles with our rate of production.”

She added the company hasn’t been forced to cutback on its weekday shifts and at this time has no further production adjustments to announce.

HCM relies on CP Rail for the majority of its outbound vehicle shipments. Rail shipments usually take place twice daily at the plant. A portion are also shipped by truck. Since the strike started last Wednesday (May 23), Timpf said the company has increased its truck shipments to help compensate. However, she said truck shipments alone wouldn’t be able to meet HCM’s output demands.

With no other shipping options available, HCM was forced to start storing its completed vehicles on site. Timpf said there is still room at the plants for more vehicles, but its unclear how long it will take for the company to reach capacity.

“We have several onsite locations that are still available,” Timpf said. “As well, although shipping by truck does not move the same volume of vehicles as shipping by rail, there are still vehicles leaving the plant.”

Last week, Labour Minister Lisa Raitt said the federal government would bring in back-to-work legislation if the union representing 4,800 workers was unable to reach a deal. The union represents locomotive engineers, conductors and other workers. As of today (Monday, May 28) talks between CP Rail and the union have broken off.

Rait estimated the strike could end up costing the country’s economy $540 million per week in lost activity.

Source;
http://www.simcoe.com/news/article/1362907--rail-strike-forces-honda-to-cancel-shift

The Battle of the Blackwater

Sunday night's episode of HBO's A Game of Thrones was the most exciting one to date primarily because it was ALL BATTLE. I think that they probably blew most of their second season budget on this one. I was worried that a television series wouldn't do it justice, and all my fears were laid to rest. Man, George R.R. Martin has got to be proud of how HBO is treating his adaptation.

Things I liked:

It looked even more awesome live and on the screen. Watch the YouTube below.

1) The wildfire explosion was absolutely spectacular. I recorded it on my DVR and watched it a few times over. They got the coloring of the flames perfect...an eerie demonic green. And for those of you that don't follow the series or read the books, wildfire burns everything...stone, flesh, you name it. And water does not put it out. If you get wildfire on you, you scream and howl until you are ashes. It helped that the battle took place at night, so that they didn't have to throw too many other special effects into the mix.

2) They kept the focus of the battle small and on individual characters. You saw Clegaine (a.k.a. the Hound) really chopping and cutting and lopping all kinds of things off in bloody gore. And then you got a real feel for his character as he fled because the fire and all that burning is a terrifying thing.

3) They kept the whole "ghost of Renly" out of it for the most part. I thought I saw something of a man on a steed with Renly's stag helmet, but in the book he was all glowing and stuff and I thought that would be unnecessary.

4) They didn't quite deform Tyrion as badly in the book. In the show, it looks like he'll have a nice scar on his face but in the book, he lost his nose. At least with a scar, they won't have to resort to some gross makeup for Tyrion.

5) I liked hearing them cheer for Tyrion. They said "Halfman! Halfman!" It was kind of cool. He's an unconventional hero and the only Lannister I really like.

Things I would have liked to have seen (can't really complain here):

1) I miss the whole chain thing and Tyrion fighting on the ships that are stuck together blockading the harbor. I would have liked to have seen that.

So did any of you watch it? Did it quicken your pulse? Did you find it as exciting as I did? Let me know in the comments. Have a great Tuesday.

A possible roadmap for Honda’s diesel engined car foray in India emerges

Just yesterday, we brought you buzz about the Honda Brio diesel being tested in India. While official confirmation of the same might never arrive due to Honda being fearful of losing sales of petrol engined Brio models, more such spottings in the coming months could reaffirm the presence of a diesel engined model in the Japanese car brand’s scheme of things. Talking of which, Honda definitely has big plans for diesel engined car models in the future. Not for nothing has the automaker put a bunch of ex-F1 engineers on the job to come up with a range of new generation turbo diesel engines to power future car models.

Coming to the possible roadmap for Honda’s diesel engined cars to be launched in India, a news report carried by the EconomicTimes suggests that the Brio might indeed be the first Honda car model in India to be outfitted with a diesel engine. The City sedan is another car that could see a diesel engine under the hood. Once a best seller in the C-segment sedan space, the lack of a diesel engined variant has seen the model slowly losing market share to rivals like Hyundai, Volkswagen and Nissan. So, a diesel engine is very much needed to resurrect the Honda City’s stature as a top selling car in its class.

The story goes on to assert that the Brio diesel will debut by the middle of 2013, which is just a year away. A 1.2 Liter, three cylinder version and a 1.5 Liter, four potter turbo diesel could be in the works. The Jazz could be the other car that could get a diesel engine, with a likely launch at the 2014 Indian Auto Expo. The brand already has diesel engines ready to be deployed in its other cars such as the Civic, the Accord and the CR-V crossover. In fact, Honda sells diesel versions of all the three aforementioned cars in the European market, which is extremely diesel friendly.

Likewise, Honda indeed needs diesel cars in its portfolio if the brand wants to remain relevant in India, as the cost difference between petrol and diesel has further widened to an unprecedented high with the latest hike in petrol prices, days ago. Honda currently has no diesel engined cars in its India portfolio and the new range of turbo diesel engines are seen as a saviour for the brand, which has clearly lost its way,amidst plummeting sales over the past couple of years. Honda for its part continues to officially deny that it is planning to launch diesel engined cars in 2013.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/a-possible-roadmap-for-hondas-diesel-engined-car-foray-in-india-emerges-59467/#more-59467

BMW Zagato Coupé - Only Car - BMW Group

Wow, is this ever nice....

You wouldn’t look at the BMW Zagato Coupe and say that it’s a car that was created on the “from follows function” principle, but you’d be wrong. The Italian coachbuilder’s designers used the “Vmax concept” when bringing the vehicle to life.

This meant that they had to draw a vehicle that came with aerodynamic characteristics which allowed for it to be driven at high speeds in an efficient manner. They used the BMW Z4 as a base and fitted it with a hand-built aluminum body, which comes with special features such as beefy fenders and a double bubble roof, as wee as a transparent area for the rear end.

Of course, since efficiency was mentioned, and we do know that BMW really knows how to cut fuel consumption, we’re expecting impressive figure, but the automotive producer hasn’t offer any specs until now - we don’t even know what engine is powering the car. Until the company does, we're inviting you to watch the Zagato Coupe's first promotional video above.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/bmw-z4-zagato-coupe-makes-video-debut-video-45431.html

Production Rendering of 2013 Honda Accord/Concept C

The top is a production revision of the Honda Concept C (which many of us are hoping will be a direction that the 9th generation Accord is going to go for North America) by Jahim-Myess, and the one below is the actual Concept C from Honda. Looks great to me!

Source;
http://jahim-myess.deviantart.com/art/Honda-Concept-C-Revised-Front-End-Styling-298312027?

Temple of Vtec: 2013 Honda Accord Sedan Spyshots

Out of respect to www.vtec.net, I am supplying the link to the pic's for now....
Click on the link below for a ton of pix;

http://www.vtec.net/news/news-item?news_item_id=1066673

So, Honda actually begins testing a Brio Diesel in India?

The Japanese automakers are known for their secrecy. Oh, and they even go to great lengths to put us off their new product trails by some imaginative word play. Today, we have what could be a big move from Honda, of that of a diesel engined Brio. A Team-Bhpian has reportedly spotted a Honda Brio diesel on the testing rounds in Gurgaon. The giveaways, according to the spotter was black smoke under acceleration and distinct diesel clatter, both trademark signs of a diesel engine. The car was also debadged, giving no hint as to what was nestling under the hood.

2013 Honda Brio Diesel Hatchback Spyshot?

If indeed Honda has begun testing the diesel version of the Brio, it only augurs well for the embattled Japanese car brand, whose sales have been in the doldrums for quite a while in the Indian car market, given the petrol-only car models it has in its portfolio. Interestingly, the spotting comes at a time when petrol prices are at record highs in the country, with the prices having risen by the highest ever, in the history of India, when the Indian government, effected price hike of INR 7.5 on every liter of petrol. So, petrol car sales could further dip with car buyers opting for the more frugal and economical diesel engined options.

Honda has clearly emphasized that it will not be launching a diesel variant of any of its cars in 2012. So, it could be 2013 and beyond when the likes of the Brio, Jazz and the City receive diesel engines. Honda, ushering in diesel engines on its cars is a move that is vital for the brand to survive and thrive in India, which has seen a paradigm shift in car buying patterns, favoring diesel cars, in recent years. Honda, thus far has been left behind in the diesel engine race, but with the spotting of the Brio Diesel, all that could change, and change very soon.

Honda has been developing a range of diesel engines to power its models such as the Jazz, Brio and the City. However, it comes as somewhat as a surprise that the brand has already begun testing one of its new generation diesel engines on the Brio. The brand showcased its latest generation 1.6 Liter i-DTEC turbo diesel engines meant for the Honda Civic sedan, quite recently. This engine, based on Honda’s EarthDreams technology, promises the best in class torque and fuel economy with the least tail pipe emissions. The rest of Honda’s diesel engine range can also be expected to carry on the “EarthDreams” philosophy.

Source;

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/so-honda-actually-begins-testing-a-brio-diesel-in-india-59422/

Honda Selects Zmags to Create Rich and Immersive Online Interactive Experiences

Global automobile leader launches interactive digital brochure for Acura RDX; aims to increase brand engagement across the web, tablets, smartphones and social channels

BOSTON, May 23, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- News Facts:

Zmags, the leading provider of rich media mobile and social merchandising, today announced that The Honda Motor Company has selected Zmags Professional to develop highly engaging interactive online brochures, incorporating rich imagery and video content.

In partnership with Genex, Honda's interactive agency, Honda has launched its first Zmags-powered interactive brochure for the 2012 Acura RDX, with plans to launch more experiences for other models in the coming months.

Zmags helps marketers create rich, engaging and consistently branded digital catalogs and publications for all touchpoints including tablets, Facebook, smartphones and the Web.

Using Zmags, Honda aims to provide prospective Acura customers with a completely new kind of immersive experience as they research their next car, creating greater brand and content engagement.

Supporting Quotes:

"When they are considering a new car purchase, consumers are spending hours carefully researching options online prior to setting foot in a dealership," said Mark Ortiz, national interactive marketing manager, Honda Motor Company. "We want to give our customers a compelling interactive experience that showcases our brands in a dynamic way by curating an immersive experience that compels consumers to spend time with our brand online. We're thrilled with how well Zmags is already making this vision possible for us and looking forward to seeing how far we can take this versatile platform in the future."

"Honda is a perfect example of an innovative brand that recognizes the value in recreating the look and feel of the showroom experience across all of its digital channels," said Sean Ford, COO and CMO of Zmags. "Using Zmags, Honda will forge exciting new brand experiences that not only inform customers, but also help them discover, visualize and share information about their next car."

About The Honda Motor Company

For more information about Honda vehicles, please visit www.automobiles.honda.com . For media inquiries please visit www.hondanews.com . For more information about Acura vehicles, please visit www.acura.com . For media inquiries please visit www.acuranews.com .

About Zmags

Zmags is redefining the online content and shopping experience across web, tablet, mobile, and social channels with our cloud-based rich-media marketing platform. We provide marketers and e-commerce teams from many vertical industries with a deeply engaging and fluid online presentation capability that lets them tell highly captivating stories through curated digital experiences, such as digital catalogs. With Zmags, leading brands have measurably and dramatically increased customer engagement, conversion rates, order size and brand loyalty without the burden of IT constraints. Zmags is among the fastest growing technology companies in North America, ranking #70 on the Deloitte 2011 Technology Fast 500. Zmags is headquartered in Boston, MA with European offices in London and Copenhagen. For more information about Zmags, please visit www.zmags.com .

Source;
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/honda-selects-zmags-to-create-rich-and-immersive-online-interactive-experiences-2012-05-23

Electric Car Conversions

By Anthony Ingram

One of the first experiences many of today's electric car drivers had with EVs may well have been with a home-built conversion.

With comparatively few factory-built electric cars available until quite recently, conversions and low-volume production models were the only ways into electric vehicle ownership.

But with electric cars now filtering onto the market and several more to follow over the coming years, is there much call for conversions any more?

Professional conversions
There are of course two main conversion routes to take. One is to built a car yourself, in your garage, with parts you've bought off the shelf or salvaged from an old EV now past its prime.

The other is the professional conversion, where full kits are sold and fitted by companies in larger numbers, offering something along the lines of a proper production electric car, just without the carmaker's backing... or warranty.

There's certainly still appeal in the first method, for the same reasons modifying any car has appeal--to build a car exactly the way you want it. The market for an electric Miata or electric Volkswagen Bug may only be very small, but that's okay if the few people who absolutely love the idea can build it themselves.

Unfortunately, we're not so sure there's much call for the latter. Mother Nature Network reports on a new conversion by Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburg, which turns a regular 2001-2005 Honda Civic sedan into an electric vehicle.

Good, but not that good...
It's clearly a nice conversion, based on a car that's available in plentiful numbers on the used market.

The battery pack is only small, at 10.5 kilowatt-hours of lithium-ion cells. It sits in the spare tire well, and costs only $5,000. However, that's only enough for around 40 miles of range, which looks a little slim by the standards of modern production electric cars.

The conversion price doesn't make for pleasant reading either. Despite only $5,000 of battery pack going into the car, the full conversion cost is $24,000--and that doesn't count the cost of the car itself. Add that in (if you don't already own a 2001-2005 Civic that you'd like to convert) and you're getting on for $30,000, or more than you'd pay for a brand-new 2012 Nissan Leaf with tax credits taken into account.

At that sort of price, the 40-mile range looks inadequate and the appeal of a converted car really wanes.

It's not Cargenie Mellon's fault as such--it's simply an expensive process, and with low numbers of expected customers, the team can't improve the economies of scale.

Inherent problems
And that's the problem with conversions like the Civic--however good the work is, there aren't enough people interested to make the price tempting enough to make people interested--it's a vicious circle.
It looks like, for the time being at least, the majority of electric car sales will be mass-produced vehicles.
But we salute those who go down the conversion route--it may not make the most sense, but we certainly appreciate your pioneering spirit.

For more on Carnegie Mellon's ChargeCar Civic, check out the ChargeCar website.

Source;
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1076438_electric-car-conversions-do-they-really-stand-a-chance

Cover Reveal for Weighted by Ciara Knight

Here is the cover for Ciara Knight's new book. As part of a May 25th release, a bunch of bloggers are showing it today as a coordinated takeover of the blogosphere, and I'm one of them :))

Weighted is a young adult post-apocalyptic with paranormal elements. It is a prequel novelette to The Neumarian Chronicles, and will be released August 2012.

Book I, Escapement, will be released in 2013.

Blurb:

The Great War of 2185 is over, but my nightmare has just begun. I am being held captive in the Queen’s ship awaiting interrogation. My only possible ally is the princess, but I’m unsure if she is really my friend or a trap set by the Queen to fool me into sharing the secret of my gift. A gift I keep hidden even from myself. It swirls inside my body begging for release, but it is the one thing the Queen can never discover. Will I have the strength to keep the secret? I’ll know the answer soon. If the stories are true about the interrogators, I’ll either be dead or a traitor to my people by morning.

Please add the book to your "to read" shelf on Goodreads.

Science-fiction news that caught my eye this week

Here's the Prometheus International poster.

I really liked this Prometheus featurette that came out on May 21st. It has Charlize Theron talking about her character Meredith Vickers, and how she's the one in charge of the doomed mission in the movie. It has some clips that I hadn't seen previously, including a part where she roasts some guy in his own space suit with a flame thrower saying, "I'm not letting him back on my ship." It's really intense.

In addition to Prometheus (which continues to enjoy viral marketing), the Walking Dead started filming season three. Of the choice words being said to the camera were "There are samurai sword wielding characters that are turning up..." I love the summer, but I can't wait for the Walking Dead to return in the fall. But before that happens, I'll be able to enjoy the last season of Breaking Bad which promises to be absolutely amazing.

And last but not least, if you are someone (like me) that enjoyed watching Falling Skies last year, it has been renewed and is returning to TNT this June. So in the movies we get Prometheus and Brave, and on television we get aliens from outer space conquering Earth. Summer is shaping up to be pretty hot. Anyone else seeing MIB 3 this weekend? I'll probably try to catch one showing tonight.

Honda Earns Multiple Honors in AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards and Total Car Score's 2012 Top Scoring Car Awards

05/24/2012 - TORRANCE, Calif

Honda has captured three of AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards for the 2012 Honda CR-V, Odyssey and Pilot, and four of Total Car Score's inaugural Top Scoring Car Awards for the 2012 Honda Ridgeline, Fit, Odyssey and CR-V.
"It's fantastic to have so much of Honda's outstanding product line represented in these awards," said Michael Accavitti, vice president of marketing operations for American Honda. "AutoPacific's awards tell us we're creating truly satisfied owners, and the Total Car Score awards demonstrate how widely and well regarded Honda's products are among top authoritative sites."
AutoPacific's 2012 Vehicle Satisfaction Awards (VSA) are based on over 75,000 surveys completed by owners of new cars and light trucks in the United States in the first quarter of 2012.The VSAs are based solely on owner input, and are an accurate measurement of how satisfied new car and light truck buyers are with their recently purchased vehicle.
The Top Scoring Car Awards are based on Total Car Score's ranking formula, which utilizes the ratings from trusted automotive sites converted into a simple percentage. These ratings are translated into a single Total Car Score that allows car shoppers to quickly and easily compare cars.

Source;
http://www.hondanews.com/channels/corporate-headlines/releases/-20

Nissan Officially Puts e-NV200 Van into Production

I saw my first Nissan Leaf here in Winnipeg yesterday, white....

With their plans to electrify Europe underway, Nissan seem committed to showing us that the electric way is the best way. And so, they have announced the entry into production of the e-NV200 compact van, which we had previously seen in concept form, painted in a very nice-looking shade of Nissan Leaf light blue.

The production will start next year in Nissan’s Spanish plant, in Barcelona. The electric van will be built alongside the conventionally-powered variant. To accommodate the production of the EV, 700 new workers will be hired, while Nissan’s investment for the tooling and production facilities will be around the €100 ($126) million mark.

The e-NV200 is an excellent idea which currently makes more sense than regular passenger-oriented EVs, as companies have large parking lots at their disposal, which can be fitted with relatively cheap charging units so that there will always be a charged and ready-to-go e-NV200 at the employees’ disposal.

Source;
http://www.autoevolution.com/news/nissan-officially-puts-e-nv200-van-into-production-45328.html

Coolest hotel ever

Near Shanghai, the Songjiang district has become a popular weekend destination for many tourists with its natural beauty and sprawling landscapes. And now the Songjiang Hotel might just become the newest and greenest attraction. While it may look a bit sci-fi, this hotel was designed for the real (green) world, with many sustainable features in mind.

The 400-bed resort will be located in a 100-meter-deep quarry located in the province and will contain restaurants, cafes, sport facilities, and even underwater public areas and guestrooms. Water will play an important part in the design, featured in many areas around the hotel. Waterfalls, underwater aquariums, and green areas will be integrated into the design to match the existing facing of the quarry.

The reuse of an already existing site means that the environmental impact will hopefully be smaller. The entire hotel is to be covered in a green roof, while the building will use geothermal energy for it’s electrical supply and heating. The quarry will also provide a good source of heat control and shelter from the environment.

The design of the building is meant to reflect the natural landscape of the quarry. “We drew our inspiration from the quarry setting itself, adopting the image of a green hill cascading down the natural rock face as a series of terraced landscaped hanging gardens.” said Martin Jochman. Needless to say, with such a cool looking site, you’d expect to get a design which will take advantages of it’s very extreme location, and you’d be correct. The hotel, will feature amongst other things: bungee jumping.

Anyway, I saw this online and thought I'd share. It looks like it's straight out of a science-fiction movie or maybe even Star Wars. Would you like to visit a place like this?

2013 Porsche Sport Cars Prototype 918 Spyder

2013 Porsche Sport Cars Prototype 918 Spyder

Porsche will offer one of the world's first plug-in electric supercars in 2013. With two electric engines and a V8 based of their RS Spyder Le Mans prototype. Porsche has confirmed that the project is going according to plan and that the 918 Spyder will begin production in September of 2013, possibly after a showing at the Frankfurt motor show, with the first cars being delivered to owners before the year is out, although Australian buyers will miss out on the most extreme Porsche yet, as it will only be made in left-hand-drive.

2013 Porsche Sport cars Prototype 918 Spyder

The company has released pictures of prototype versions of the open-top petrol electric sports car that can sprint from 0-100km/h in less than three seconds, while sipping as little fuel as a Toyota Prius. Porsche says the 2013 Porsche Sportcars Prototype 918 Spyder will reach 200km/h in less than nine seconds before cracking 300km/h in less than 27 seconds. The complex hybrid drivetrain is primarily driven by a rear-mounted 4.6-litre V8 engine producing about 425kW of power. It’s teamed to a 90kW rear-mounted electric motor and a single 80kW front-mounted electric motor, giving it four-wheel drive. Porsche says the maximum total output is 575kW, while the torque output is rated at more than 750Nm. Porsche said that when it’s all said and done, the 918 Spyder should pump out 770-hp with a 0 to 62 mph time of 3.2 seconds with a top speed of more than 200 mph. Fuel-economy should come in around 3 liters/100km or 78.4 mpg US.

2013 Porsche Sport cars Prototype 918 Spyder

2013 Porsche Sport cars Prototype 918 Spyder “Race Hybrid” is the mode for the highest possible performance and especially sporty dri -ving style. The combustion engine is chiefly used under high load, and charges the battery when the driver is not utilising the maximum output. The electric motors provide additional support as necessary in the form of a boost when the driver requires even more power. The electric motors are used up to the maximum power output limit in order to provide the best possible performance for the race track. In this mode, the battery charge state is not kept constant, but instead fluctuates across the entire charge range. In contrast to Sport Hybrid mode, the electric motors run at their maximum power output limits for a short time, thus ensuring better boosting. This increased output is balanced out by the combustion engine charging the battery more powerfully.
The main source of propulsion is the 4.6-litre, eight cylinder engine delivering more than 570 hp of power, which was directly derived from the power unit in the successful RS Spyder and explains why it delivers engine speeds of up to 9,000 rpm. Like the RS Spyder’s racing engine, the 918 Spyder power unit features dry-sump lubrication with a separate oil tank and oil extraction. In order to save weight, the four extraction pumps are made of plastic. Further extensive lightweight design measures resulted in.

2013 Porsche Sport cars Prototype 918 Spyder

The 2013 Porsche Sportcars Prototype 918 Spyder’s multi-link chassis is inspired by racing car construction, comple -mented by additional systems such as the adaptive shock-absorber system PASM and rear-axle steering. Basically, this comprises an electro-mechanical adjustment system on each rear wheel. The adjustment is speed-sensitive and executes steering angles of a few degrees in each direction. The rear axle can therefore be steered in the same direction or the opposite direction to the front wheels. At low speeds, the system steers the rear wheels in the opposite direction to the front wheels. This makes cornering even more direct, faster and more precise, and reduces the turning circle. At higher speeds, the system steers the rear wheels in the same direction as the front wheels. This minimises the “pushing” of the vehicle’s rear end when changing lanes quickly. The result is very secure and stable handling. The exhaust system is racing car inspired, with short muffler pipes that come out of the top of the car’s rear end, next to the engine. The seven-speed PDK dual-clutch automatic transmission has been fitted upside-down to lower the 1700kg car’s centre of gravity. It also has rear-axle steering for better control through slow corners.
All that technology is expected to come at a price, though. Estimates suggest the 2013 Porsche Sportcars Prototype 918 Spyder could cost upwards of $750,000. As to be expected, the plug-in hybrid sports car will command a princely price tag, which Porsche has indicated will start at $845,000.