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Sunday, February 28, 2010
2010 BMW M3 US Models
US Models333 hp (248 kW; 338 PS)Torque: 262 lb·ft (355 N·m)0-100 km/h (62 mph) — 4.8 seconds for SMG, 4.7 seconds for Manual, 5.1 seconds for cabriolet1/4 Mile - Coupe: 13.3 sec @ 104 mph (167 km/h), Convertible: 13.7 sec @ 104 mph (167 km/h)Top Speed - Coupe: 165 mph (266 km/h) (electronically limited), 176 mph (283 km/h) (delimited)Skid Pad - Coupe: 0.89g,[10] Convertible: 0.81g2010 BMW M32010
2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid vehicle
The Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid uses a combination of its 6.0-liter V8 engine and two electric motors that charge a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride battery. The vehicle can run on either gasoline, electricity or a mixture of the two using an automatic system that monitors the vehicle's torque, and state of the battery to choose the most efficient source of power.2010 GMC Yukon Hybrid2010 GMC Yukon
2010 Kia Sedona Gallery
All Review videos and more of:• Infiniti• Mitsubishi• Aston Martin• Isuzu• Nissan• Audi• Jaguar • Pontiac• Bentley• Jeep• Porsche• BMW• Kia• Rolls Royce• Buick• Lamborghini• Saab• Cadillac• Land Rover• Saturn• Chevrolet• Lexus• Scion• Chrysler• Lincoln• Smart• Dodge• Lotus• Subaru• Ferrari• Maserati• Suzuki• Ford• Maybach• Tesla• GMC• Mazda• Toyota• Honda• Mercedes-Benz• Volkswagen• HUMMER•
2010 Honda Civic Si Coupe incredible Specs
The 2010 Civic Si saw no significant changes, save for a black engine cover (instead of silver).2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic Si2010 Honda Civic SiAll Review videos
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Marie Osmond's Son Dies In Suicide
The eighteen-year-old son of Marie Osmond, Michael Blosil, has died after jumping from his Los Angeles apartment building.Reports indicate that Michael Blosil left a suicide note saying he was going to kill himself after suffering from depression. The L.A. coroner's office has launched an investigation.
Donny and Marie have cancelled their Las Vegas show for tonight and issued the following statement:
"My family and I are devastated and in deep shock by the tragic loss of our dear Michael and ask that everyone respect our privacy during this difficult time"
Blosil had been suffering from depression for several years, as did his mother Marie in 2001 when she penned the book "Behind the Smile," about her experience with postpartum depression.
Marie Osmond has appeared on the television show "Dancing With the Stars," and she and Donny are currently headlining a show in Las Vegas.
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This isn't THAT post...
So I got a copy of the Zappa Classic Albums DVD that focuses on Apostrophe(') and Overnite Sensation, and I'm simply blown away! I wouldn't say it's the best disc in the series, and some of the releases are truly for die-hard fans only, but there is enough information in this one for people new to Zappa and even more for well-worn fans to obsess over. There is footage from SNL, the Roxy and Baby Snakes, Dweezil Zappa and Joe Travers deconstructing multi-track masters for select songs from both albums, and even a brief visit to the Zappa Family Trust's vault. Hell, Ruth Underwood even gets interviewed and plays some marimba during the session! Totally incredible stuff and thoroughly worthwhile for fans of Zappa to pick up, but the main reason I'm writing this is to share some commentary about the surviving Zappas.
It's not as though I've met the Zappas so I can't say that I know how they are in person, but I have a new-found respect for Gail Zappa and an even deeper one for Dweezil. Gail's brief appearances were honest and pleasant, showing her love and respect for Frank's legacy and want to maintain it. Dweezil's appearances show the same, although it seems he's the true force behind the continued Zappa legacy with his deep knowledge of the archives and his father's history. If you want to go deeper, one could ask why someone as talented as Dweezil would focus his time and energy on his father's legacy instead of his own, but it's clear that whatever the answer, his respect and love for his father and his works is honest. So, while I still feel the Zappa Family Trust moves rather slowly to issue new archival recordings, and who knows how long it's going to take to reissue the existing catalog now that the Ryko releases are apparently out of print, they're definitely doing their job right and you've gotta respect that. So kudos to the ZFT, keep up the good work, although I do hope you do it a little faster!
By the way, seeing the performance of Montana from the Roxy shows on the Classic Albums DVD brought one important detail to my attention, that being the reason the Roxy performances may still be delayed might primarily be related to the quality of the video, as it's aged and grainy. Of course, the audio still sounds brilliant, and many would take the video regardless of it's quality, but it's a reasonable potential explanation.
If you want more details on the DVD you can find them here and here.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Important Information/Liz Phair - Phairities
Hey folks, just wanted to drop you a line and let you know some things that are kinda important that I've hinted at here.
First off, the thing I mentioned a few days ago, the first (maybe?) annual Unheard Music get-together thing, I want to re-create the Flaming Lips' Parking Lot Experiments. I didn't get a lot of responses, which is probably because I didn't come right out and say what I was talking about, but what I got was very promising. I really want to try this and hope to pull it off in early June if I can get an appropriate number of people to participate. There will be no fee to participate and I am not asking for funds or donations of any sort, just to be 100% clear. I don't have all the details about where this will occur worked out yet, and I'm trying to contact the Flaming Lips to get their permission to use tracks from Zaireeka for the event. Hopefully, since there is no money involved, it won't be a problem, but until I hear back you never know. So, if anyone is interested in participating, let me know and we can discuss adding you to the list of participants. Apart from that, this project has quite a ways to go before it's ready for prime time. I'm going to post flyers at several of the colleges in my area, try to hype the event to college radio stations in the area, and there will be a website for further details when they start to solidify.
Second, Imaginary Records, the "sister" site to the Unheard Music, is going on hiatus after four posts. Yeah, I know, kinda lame, but it's not working out. It may eventually return, but for now it will no longer be updated.
Third, I haven't actually gotten around to posting any videos like I talked about at the beginning of the year (or was it the end of the year?), but I still hope to do that, I've simply been very busy, so don't give up hope, it will happen!
Fourth, lots of things I've been holding back will appear in March, including Beck, the last Zappa post for a while, a WaxTrax! Records retrospective, and the triumphant return of Miles Davis! The Miles post is going to be crazy as it contains the near-complete sessions for one of the greatest jazz recordings in history and some interesting details surrounding the pseudo, incomplete, and totally unneccesary reissue of them since it's missing TONS of content, but at least it didn't claim to be "COMPLETE" this time! There are a bunch of other things I'll be posting, but those three are pretty cool so be on the lookout!
Finally, this is the last Liz Phair post, at least for now. I have exhausted my findings so now we have to wait until some lucky soul (hopefully me!) gets to interview Liz and ask her about the third Girly-Sound tape. This collection though features lots of rarities and non-album tracks and has been named Phairities by some clever collector(s). Unfortunately, my copy, which I've had since who knows when, comes with little information about the track sources, so apart from what I know and can confirm, some of the stuff here is a bit of a mystery, but I'm sure you'll find it quite enjoyable regardless. You know, this might not be the definitive last Liz post for now as I have an upgrade of two tracks from this collection that I should post, and I may post that in March, but this will most likely be the last CD-length post for the known future. And hey, it's always a good excuse to post more sexy photos of Liz!
Liz Phair - Phairities
01 White Babies (Answering Machine Version)
02 Rocket Boy (from the Stealing Beauty soundtrack)
03 If I Ever Pay You Back (Live)
04 Hurricane Cindy (Live on KCRW)
05 Wasted (Live)
06 Carnivore (a-side of the Carnivore single)
07 Never Said (Live, 120 Minutes)
08 Beginning To See The Light (Live)
09 Don't Have Time
10 Oh My God
11 Shirley MacLaine (with Ashtray Boy)
12 Infidel (with Ashtray Boy)
13 Divorce Song / Emotional Rescue
14 Six Dick Pimp (from the Kids In The Hall: Brain Candy soundtrack)
15 Sometimes A Dream (Live)
16 Ride (Live)
17 Mesmerizing (Live)
18 6'1 (Live, 120 Minutes)
19 Away With The Pixies (Ben Lee cover)
20 I'll Get You High (Live)
21 Support System (Live)
22 Fuck and Run (Live)
23 Carnivore (Raw) (b-side of the Carnivore single)
24 You Have No Idea (Live)
25 Wasted (Live on KCRW)
26 Combo Platter (Girlysound) (b-side to Supernova)
And now for more sexy photos of Liz!
Okay, now I do feel a little perverted. Too many hot pics of Liz? Promise, this won't become a standard of the site! Enjoy the music!
Growing Pains Actor Andrew Koenig Found Dead In Vancouver After Suicide
Actor Andrew Koenig has been found and the news is not good.The "Growing Pains" actor was found dead in a Vancouver park after committing suicide. His body was found in a wooded area near Stanley Park.
His parents held an emotional news conference yesterday saying, "Andrew took his own life." Andrew's father, Walter Koenig, played Chekov on the original "Star Trek" television series.
Officials say foul play has been ruled out, and the family did not believe drugs were involved saying depression was most likely the motivator and said, "He obviously was in a lot of pain".
They said Andrew, 41, had been depressed, and had given away his belongings and had stopped taking his medication and taking phone calls. They pleaded with others who suffer from depression to reach out and seek help.
Walter said at a press conference:
"If you are one of those people who can't handle it any more, know people are out there who really care before you make that final decision, talk to somebody."
In addition to his run on Growing Pains, Andrew Koenig also appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, My Two Dads, G.I. Joe, and the movies NonSense, InAlienable and The Theory of Everything.
Watch Video Of Walter Koenig Press Conference
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Thursday, February 25, 2010
The end of Hummer
BCP6BN34436B
As reported in The Times, the attempt by General Motors to flog its ailing Hummer brand to the Chinese has failed.
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, with no experience of vehicle manufacture, had agreed to buy Hummer for $150 million. However, the deal needed approval from the Chinese government. They, in the end, weren’t too keen because it didn’t fit in with their nascent green policies.
The chance of finding another buyer appears slim. Of course this is awful news for those working for Hummer and its dealers, but the unfortunate reality is that it’s the free market at work.
Economic meltdown and rising fuel costs have severely affected many people’s wish to buy an SUV. The current need for SUV drivers to withstand the withering looks and snide comments, freely offered by those of an environmentalist bent, hasn’t helped either.
Hummer was hit especially badly, and sales in 2009 fell a massive 67% to around 9,000 units. Its products had become largely irrelevant. Hardly anyone needed the range’s off road ability, and one of the few unconvincing concessions to improved fuel consumption was the availability of a 3.7 litre five cylinder engine for the H3 (instead of the usual 5.3 litre V8). Petrol-powered, of course - no diesels here.
The vehicle that started it all, the military-spec Humvee, is unaffected by the demise of Hummer and will continue to be built by AM General.
As reported in The Times, the attempt by General Motors to flog its ailing Hummer brand to the Chinese has failed.
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, with no experience of vehicle manufacture, had agreed to buy Hummer for $150 million. However, the deal needed approval from the Chinese government. They, in the end, weren’t too keen because it didn’t fit in with their nascent green policies.
The chance of finding another buyer appears slim. Of course this is awful news for those working for Hummer and its dealers, but the unfortunate reality is that it’s the free market at work.
Economic meltdown and rising fuel costs have severely affected many people’s wish to buy an SUV. The current need for SUV drivers to withstand the withering looks and snide comments, freely offered by those of an environmentalist bent, hasn’t helped either.
Hummer was hit especially badly, and sales in 2009 fell a massive 67% to around 9,000 units. Its products had become largely irrelevant. Hardly anyone needed the range’s off road ability, and one of the few unconvincing concessions to improved fuel consumption was the availability of a 3.7 litre five cylinder engine for the H3 (instead of the usual 5.3 litre V8). Petrol-powered, of course - no diesels here.
The vehicle that started it all, the military-spec Humvee, is unaffected by the demise of Hummer and will continue to be built by AM General.
The end of Hummer
BCP6BN34436B
As reported in The Times, the attempt by General Motors to flog its ailing Hummer brand to the Chinese has failed.
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, with no experience of vehicle manufacture, had agreed to buy Hummer for $150 million. However, the deal needed approval from the Chinese government. They, in the end, weren’t too keen because it didn’t fit in with their nascent green policies.
The chance of finding another buyer appears slim. Of course this is awful news for those working for Hummer and its dealers, but the unfortunate reality is that it’s the free market at work.
Economic meltdown and rising fuel costs have severely affected many people’s wish to buy an SUV. The current need for SUV drivers to withstand the withering looks and snide comments, freely offered by those of an environmentalist bent, hasn’t helped either.
Hummer was hit especially badly, and sales in 2009 fell a massive 67% to around 9,000 units. Its products had become largely irrelevant. Hardly anyone needed the range’s off road ability, and one of the few unconvincing concessions to improved fuel consumption was the availability of a 3.7 litre five cylinder engine for the H3 (instead of the usual 5.3 litre V8). Petrol-powered, of course - no diesels here.
The vehicle that started it all, the military-spec Humvee, is unaffected by the demise of Hummer and will continue to be built by AM General.
As reported in The Times, the attempt by General Motors to flog its ailing Hummer brand to the Chinese has failed.
Sichuan Tengzhong Heavy Industrial Machinery, with no experience of vehicle manufacture, had agreed to buy Hummer for $150 million. However, the deal needed approval from the Chinese government. They, in the end, weren’t too keen because it didn’t fit in with their nascent green policies.
The chance of finding another buyer appears slim. Of course this is awful news for those working for Hummer and its dealers, but the unfortunate reality is that it’s the free market at work.
Economic meltdown and rising fuel costs have severely affected many people’s wish to buy an SUV. The current need for SUV drivers to withstand the withering looks and snide comments, freely offered by those of an environmentalist bent, hasn’t helped either.
Hummer was hit especially badly, and sales in 2009 fell a massive 67% to around 9,000 units. Its products had become largely irrelevant. Hardly anyone needed the range’s off road ability, and one of the few unconvincing concessions to improved fuel consumption was the availability of a 3.7 litre five cylinder engine for the H3 (instead of the usual 5.3 litre V8). Petrol-powered, of course - no diesels here.
The vehicle that started it all, the military-spec Humvee, is unaffected by the demise of Hummer and will continue to be built by AM General.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
TATTERSALL
Tattersall é o nome dado ao "xadrez" que usamos alegremente em ambiente "country".Com este "check", utilizado em camisas "viyella" ou coletes, conseguem-se combinações sublimes com "tweeds"... o que muitos não sabem é que este "xadrez" tem como origem, os padrões dos cobertores de cavalos. O nome por sua vez, tem a ver também com o ambiente equestre, mas doutra maneira ... Tattersalls é o nome do mercado-leilão de cavalos de alta qualidade de competição, mais antigo de Inglaterra. Foi fundado em 1766 por Richard Tattersall, e desde então este negócio manteve-se na família, ao longo de várias gerações.
FZ - "Roxy" Music Revisited
I promise there aren't going to be a million Zappa posts, but I've got one more after this and that will be it for a while. That said, this one is pretty great, as it's Zappa and the Mothers less than two months before the Roxy performances and in pretty great form. On top of that, the sound quality of this show is incredible! Frank probably wanted this show recorded because it features the premier performance of Dickie's Such An Asshole, Frank's anti-Nixon number. It's essentially a bluesy jam dressed up in Frank's usual percussion insanity, which is perfectly fine.
Most shows I've heard from this line-up prior to the Roxy performances seem a little stiff, most likely because they're still getting comfortable with Frank's impossible arrangements. The post-Roxy shows, on the other hand, feature a band so loose and nimble that some of the joy of hearing them perform is lost in their swift runs through the repertoire. I'll take the variations of this line-up any way I can find them, but they sound so full of energy in everything I've heard from the Roxy shows that it just makes their absence from release all the more difficult to bare. Of course, a somewhat acceptable replacement until then is the official release of The Dub Room Special! on DVD, which primarily features performances from the Token Of His Extreme TV special that was filmed in 1974. Supposedly that entire show may see the light of day sometime in the near future, but this begs huge questions like "why issue part of something only to reissue it in a complete form shortly after?" or "why does it take so long for you guys to put these things out? you're gonna miss (what's left) of the market!", both of which I'm dying to know.
I say all of the above about long-delayed releases without wanting to sound completely cynical, as I honestly believe the Zappa Family Trust wants to issue these projects, it just seems to take a long time. So, until then at least, we've got lots of unreleased recordings and bootlegs to survey, but please don't make us wait forever guys!
Frank Zappa - Live @ Armadillo World Headquarters, Austin, TX, 10/26/73
UPDATE: Sorry guys, this download is no longer available. You can read why here.
01 Tuning (just what it says it is)
02 Cosmik Debris
03 Inca Roads
04 Pygmy Twylyte
05 The Idiot Bastard Son
06 Cheepnis
07 Big Swifty
08 Dickie's Such An Asshole
09 Farther O'Blivion
10 The Mr. Green Genes Medley (features Son Of Mr. Green Genes, King Kong, Chunga's Revenge and a reprise of the end of Dickie's Such An Asshole)
2011 Honda Odyssey Concept gallery
All Review videos and more of:• Infiniti• Mitsubishi• Aston Martin• Isuzu• Nissan• Audi• Jaguar • Pontiac• Bentley• Jeep• Porsche• BMW• Kia• Rolls Royce• Buick• Lamborghini• Saab• Cadillac• Land Rover• Saturn• Chevrolet• Lexus• Scion• Chrysler• Lincoln• Smart• Dodge• Lotus• Subaru• Ferrari• Maserati• Suzuki• Ford• Maybach• Tesla• GMC• Mazda• Toyota• Honda• Mercedes-Benz• Volkswagen• HUMMER•
2011 Shelby Mustang GT500 Specifications
Front engine, RWD, 4-passenger, 2-door coupeSupercharged DOHC 32 valve V8 engine330 CID (5408 cc) displacementPower: 540 hp (410 kW) (547 PS)Torque: 510 ft·lbf (690 N·m).6-speed manual transmission3.73 differential ratio18 x 9.5" Alcoa wheels on Goodyear F1 tires (front: P255/45ZR18 rear: 285/40/ZR18)Tuned suspension by Shelby and Ford Racing3,800 lb (1,700 kg) curb weight107.1 in (2,720 mm)
Lincoln Town Car 2010 Designer
The Designer Series is an upper-middle trim level in between the mid-level Signature Limited and top-of-the-line Signature L. The Designer Series is roughly $1,000 more expensive than the mid-level Signature Limited with a starting MSRP of $45,915. This trim includes two-tone interior accents, a special higher quality leather called Provence leather. The rear seats also include four way
Diminished entries for WTCC
The FIA has published the entry list for the 2010 World Touring Car Championship. The grid is down to twenty cars, following the withdrawal of the Seat and Lada works teams and a reduction in the BMW factory effort from five to two cars. The Spanish manufacturer however remains committed to supporting privateers running the Leon.
By contrast organisers are surprised at the absence of Lada, as only last year it committed to a three-year programme. Perhaps it would have been more surprising if the Russian manufacturer had decided to participate, given its circumstances. Lada’s parent company Avtovaz was facing bankruptcy, its problems caused by dramatically reduced demand and mounting debts. Only a bail-out by Renault and the Russian state in November 2009 kept it going.
Gabriele Tarquini, who at 47 was the oldest World Champion ever when he won the WTCC title in 2009, will be returning to defend his title, driving a diesel Seat Leon run by SR-Sport. Three-time champion Andy Priaulx will again be at the wheel of his BMW 320si, doubtless hoping he’ll be better able to challenge the Seats in 2010.
The full entry list is:
1 SR-Sport / Gabriele Tarquinii (ITA) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
2 SR-Sport / Tom Coronel (NED) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
3 SR-Sport / Tiago Monteiro (POR) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
4 SR-Sport / Jordi Gene (ESP) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
5 Zengo-Dension Team / Norbert Michelisz (HUN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
6 Chevrolet / Yvan Muller (FRA) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
7 Chevrolet / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
8 Chevrolet / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
10 BMW Team RBM / Augusto Farfus (BRA) / BMW 320si
11 BMW Team RBM / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW 320si
15 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Franz Engstler (GER) / BMW 320si
16 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Andrei Romanov (RUS) / BMW 320si
17 SUNRED Engineering / Michel Nykjar (DEN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
19 bamboo-engineering / Harry Vaulkhard (GBR) / Chevrolet Lacetti
20 bamboo-engineering / Darryl O'Young (HKG) / Chevrolet Lacetti
21 Wiechers-Sport / Mehdi Bennani (MAR) / BMW 320si
23 Colak Racing / Marin Colak (CRO) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TFSI
24 Poulsen Motorsport / Kristian Poulsen (DEN) / BMW 320si
25 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Sergio Hernandez (ESP) / BMW 320si
26 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Stefano D'Aste (ITA) / BMW 320si
Curitiba, Brazil hosts the first race of the season on 7 March.
By contrast organisers are surprised at the absence of Lada, as only last year it committed to a three-year programme. Perhaps it would have been more surprising if the Russian manufacturer had decided to participate, given its circumstances. Lada’s parent company Avtovaz was facing bankruptcy, its problems caused by dramatically reduced demand and mounting debts. Only a bail-out by Renault and the Russian state in November 2009 kept it going.
Gabriele Tarquini, who at 47 was the oldest World Champion ever when he won the WTCC title in 2009, will be returning to defend his title, driving a diesel Seat Leon run by SR-Sport. Three-time champion Andy Priaulx will again be at the wheel of his BMW 320si, doubtless hoping he’ll be better able to challenge the Seats in 2010.
The full entry list is:
1 SR-Sport / Gabriele Tarquinii (ITA) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
2 SR-Sport / Tom Coronel (NED) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
3 SR-Sport / Tiago Monteiro (POR) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
4 SR-Sport / Jordi Gene (ESP) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
5 Zengo-Dension Team / Norbert Michelisz (HUN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
6 Chevrolet / Yvan Muller (FRA) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
7 Chevrolet / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
8 Chevrolet / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
10 BMW Team RBM / Augusto Farfus (BRA) / BMW 320si
11 BMW Team RBM / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW 320si
15 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Franz Engstler (GER) / BMW 320si
16 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Andrei Romanov (RUS) / BMW 320si
17 SUNRED Engineering / Michel Nykjar (DEN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
19 bamboo-engineering / Harry Vaulkhard (GBR) / Chevrolet Lacetti
20 bamboo-engineering / Darryl O'Young (HKG) / Chevrolet Lacetti
21 Wiechers-Sport / Mehdi Bennani (MAR) / BMW 320si
23 Colak Racing / Marin Colak (CRO) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TFSI
24 Poulsen Motorsport / Kristian Poulsen (DEN) / BMW 320si
25 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Sergio Hernandez (ESP) / BMW 320si
26 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Stefano D'Aste (ITA) / BMW 320si
Curitiba, Brazil hosts the first race of the season on 7 March.
Diminished entries for WTCC
The FIA has published the entry list for the 2010 World Touring Car Championship. The grid is down to twenty cars, following the withdrawal of the Seat and Lada works teams and a reduction in the BMW factory effort from five to two cars. The Spanish manufacturer however remains committed to supporting privateers running the Leon.
By contrast organisers are surprised at the absence of Lada, as only last year it committed to a three-year programme. Perhaps it would have been more surprising if the Russian manufacturer had decided to participate, given its circumstances. Lada’s parent company Avtovaz was facing bankruptcy, its problems caused by dramatically reduced demand and mounting debts. Only a bail-out by Renault and the Russian state in November 2009 kept it going.
Gabriele Tarquini, who at 47 was the oldest World Champion ever when he won the WTCC title in 2009, will be returning to defend his title, driving a diesel Seat Leon run by SR-Sport. Three-time champion Andy Priaulx will again be at the wheel of his BMW 320si, doubtless hoping he’ll be better able to challenge the Seats in 2010.
The full entry list is:
1 SR-Sport / Gabriele Tarquinii (ITA) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
2 SR-Sport / Tom Coronel (NED) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
3 SR-Sport / Tiago Monteiro (POR) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
4 SR-Sport / Jordi Gene (ESP) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
5 Zengo-Dension Team / Norbert Michelisz (HUN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
6 Chevrolet / Yvan Muller (FRA) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
7 Chevrolet / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
8 Chevrolet / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
10 BMW Team RBM / Augusto Farfus (BRA) / BMW 320si
11 BMW Team RBM / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW 320si
15 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Franz Engstler (GER) / BMW 320si
16 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Andrei Romanov (RUS) / BMW 320si
17 SUNRED Engineering / Michel Nykjar (DEN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
19 bamboo-engineering / Harry Vaulkhard (GBR) / Chevrolet Lacetti
20 bamboo-engineering / Darryl O'Young (HKG) / Chevrolet Lacetti
21 Wiechers-Sport / Mehdi Bennani (MAR) / BMW 320si
23 Colak Racing / Marin Colak (CRO) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TFSI
24 Poulsen Motorsport / Kristian Poulsen (DEN) / BMW 320si
25 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Sergio Hernandez (ESP) / BMW 320si
26 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Stefano D'Aste (ITA) / BMW 320si
Curitiba, Brazil hosts the first race of the season on 7 March.
By contrast organisers are surprised at the absence of Lada, as only last year it committed to a three-year programme. Perhaps it would have been more surprising if the Russian manufacturer had decided to participate, given its circumstances. Lada’s parent company Avtovaz was facing bankruptcy, its problems caused by dramatically reduced demand and mounting debts. Only a bail-out by Renault and the Russian state in November 2009 kept it going.
Gabriele Tarquini, who at 47 was the oldest World Champion ever when he won the WTCC title in 2009, will be returning to defend his title, driving a diesel Seat Leon run by SR-Sport. Three-time champion Andy Priaulx will again be at the wheel of his BMW 320si, doubtless hoping he’ll be better able to challenge the Seats in 2010.
The full entry list is:
1 SR-Sport / Gabriele Tarquinii (ITA) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
2 SR-Sport / Tom Coronel (NED) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
3 SR-Sport / Tiago Monteiro (POR) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
4 SR-Sport / Jordi Gene (ESP) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
5 Zengo-Dension Team / Norbert Michelisz (HUN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
6 Chevrolet / Yvan Muller (FRA) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
7 Chevrolet / Robert Huff (GBR) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
8 Chevrolet / Alain Menu (SUI) / Chevrolet Cruze LT
10 BMW Team RBM / Augusto Farfus (BRA) / BMW 320si
11 BMW Team RBM / Andy Priaulx (GBR) / BMW 320si
15 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Franz Engstler (GER) / BMW 320si
16 Liqui Moly Team Engstler / Andrei Romanov (RUS) / BMW 320si
17 SUNRED Engineering / Michel Nykjar (DEN) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI
19 bamboo-engineering / Harry Vaulkhard (GBR) / Chevrolet Lacetti
20 bamboo-engineering / Darryl O'Young (HKG) / Chevrolet Lacetti
21 Wiechers-Sport / Mehdi Bennani (MAR) / BMW 320si
23 Colak Racing / Marin Colak (CRO) / SEAT Leon 2.0 TFSI
24 Poulsen Motorsport / Kristian Poulsen (DEN) / BMW 320si
25 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Sergio Hernandez (ESP) / BMW 320si
26 Scuderia Proteam Motorsport / Stefano D'Aste (ITA) / BMW 320si
Curitiba, Brazil hosts the first race of the season on 7 March.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Charlie Sheen Enters Rehab
Just when you thought the Charlie Sheen and Brooke Mueller situation could not get any worse…. It just did.TMZ is reporting that Sheen did not show up on the set of "Two And A Half Men" yesterday, and that when he showed up for work on Tuesday the production staff was told Sheen was entering rehab.
This could just be a ploy to keep the courts on his side, as part of his probation is not to consume any alcohol or drugs. Uncle Charlies rep says the rehab is "for precautionary measures".
The issue is that if he drinks he may have his bail revoked sending him to jail. That would definitely put a crimp in his sitcoms taping.
We are not sure how the production schedule will need to be altered, but when contracts are signed they are usually for a certain number of shows by a certain date.
Sheen's wife, Brooke Mueller, was forced to leave a Malibu rehab center last week due to a leak of personal admissions information. Mueller's camp has said they are preparing a lawsuit against the facility and that Brooke has since checked into a more "secure" program.
Hollywood life sure seems complicated sometimes.
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Autechre - remixes and such
I'm sure I would have seen this if I frequented some of the IDM message boards more often, but I was mighty surprised to see Autechre's new album, Oversteps, is now available for digital purchase at Bleep as of last night! On top of that, you can purchase it as 24 Bit .wav files! Totally sick! The album is friggin' amazing too. It was rumored that the album would be almost beatless, but that's completely false. There are plenty of beats to be found throughout the album, although it's a much more ambient album than some of their other recent releases. If you love abstract electronics though, you'll love this and you've got to grab it now! Hell, 24 Bit version is only $12.99! So get over to Bleep and grab it now!
I know some may see it as kinda ridiculous for me to be doing a post about the new Autechre album but not have it for download, but that's not what this site is about and I don't want to steal from their pockets. That said, I don't see anything wrong with posting at least one track from the album and some rare goodies, so follow the link below for some remixes, one Japanese-only bonus track and see on see from the new album, Oversteps.
Autechre - remixes and such
01 see on see
02 Seefeel - Spangle (Autechre Remix)
03 Mike Ink - Paroles (Autechre Repoles)
04 Unique 3 - The Theme (Autechre Remix)
05 East Flatbush Project - Tried By 12 (Autechre Mix)
06 Gescom - Mag 3.1426 (Autechre Remix)
07 Zurich 2001
CrossPolo not cross country
At first glance the CrossPolo, which Volkswagen has just announced, could mislead you into thinking it has some useful off-road ability.
Despite the tough looking grey plastic body kit, it lacks some of the essentials needed for all-terrain driving. Well, all of them actually - there’s no four wheel drive, no decent ground clearance (although it is raised by all of 15 mm), no lockable differentials and the tyres are definitely suitable only for tarmac.
In reality then it’s not going to be much better than a ‘normal’ Polo when it comes to going cross country. So does that mean it’s a daft concept?
Maybe not. In some respects it’s an ideal town car, built to better shrug off the inevitable minor dings and scratches that come with exciting urban adventures, such as the school run or the expedition into the supermarket car park.
If that’s to be its role then, why go and fit lovely 17 inch alloys with fairly low profile 215/40 tyres? A regime of kerb-scraping parallel parking and crashing through pot holes is going to mean they won’t remain unscathed for long.
Only available as a five-door, the CrossPolo comes in a range of six colours, two of which - orange and beige - are exclusive to this model. They’re possibly not as bad as they sound. Beneath the exterior changes, the mechanicals are standard Polo, with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines.
The CrossPolo is already available for pre-order in Germany, with deliveries beginning in May. Thereafter the rest of Europe should get it, although there’s some doubt as to whether it’ll make it to the UK.
Despite the tough looking grey plastic body kit, it lacks some of the essentials needed for all-terrain driving. Well, all of them actually - there’s no four wheel drive, no decent ground clearance (although it is raised by all of 15 mm), no lockable differentials and the tyres are definitely suitable only for tarmac.
In reality then it’s not going to be much better than a ‘normal’ Polo when it comes to going cross country. So does that mean it’s a daft concept?
Maybe not. In some respects it’s an ideal town car, built to better shrug off the inevitable minor dings and scratches that come with exciting urban adventures, such as the school run or the expedition into the supermarket car park.
If that’s to be its role then, why go and fit lovely 17 inch alloys with fairly low profile 215/40 tyres? A regime of kerb-scraping parallel parking and crashing through pot holes is going to mean they won’t remain unscathed for long.
Only available as a five-door, the CrossPolo comes in a range of six colours, two of which - orange and beige - are exclusive to this model. They’re possibly not as bad as they sound. Beneath the exterior changes, the mechanicals are standard Polo, with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines.
The CrossPolo is already available for pre-order in Germany, with deliveries beginning in May. Thereafter the rest of Europe should get it, although there’s some doubt as to whether it’ll make it to the UK.
CrossPolo not cross country
At first glance the CrossPolo, which Volkswagen has just announced, could mislead you into thinking it has some useful off-road ability.
Despite the tough looking grey plastic body kit, it lacks some of the essentials needed for all-terrain driving. Well, all of them actually - there’s no four wheel drive, no decent ground clearance (although it is raised by all of 15 mm), no lockable differentials and the tyres are definitely suitable only for tarmac.
In reality then it’s not going to be much better than a ‘normal’ Polo when it comes to going cross country. So does that mean it’s a daft concept?
Maybe not. In some respects it’s an ideal town car, built to better shrug off the inevitable minor dings and scratches that come with exciting urban adventures, such as the school run or the expedition into the supermarket car park.
If that’s to be its role then, why go and fit lovely 17 inch alloys with fairly low profile 215/40 tyres? A regime of kerb-scraping parallel parking and crashing through pot holes is going to mean they won’t remain unscathed for long.
Only available as a five-door, the CrossPolo comes in a range of six colours, two of which - orange and beige - are exclusive to this model. They’re possibly not as bad as they sound. Beneath the exterior changes, the mechanicals are standard Polo, with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines.
The CrossPolo is already available for pre-order in Germany, with deliveries beginning in May. Thereafter the rest of Europe should get it, although there’s some doubt as to whether it’ll make it to the UK.
Despite the tough looking grey plastic body kit, it lacks some of the essentials needed for all-terrain driving. Well, all of them actually - there’s no four wheel drive, no decent ground clearance (although it is raised by all of 15 mm), no lockable differentials and the tyres are definitely suitable only for tarmac.
In reality then it’s not going to be much better than a ‘normal’ Polo when it comes to going cross country. So does that mean it’s a daft concept?
Maybe not. In some respects it’s an ideal town car, built to better shrug off the inevitable minor dings and scratches that come with exciting urban adventures, such as the school run or the expedition into the supermarket car park.
If that’s to be its role then, why go and fit lovely 17 inch alloys with fairly low profile 215/40 tyres? A regime of kerb-scraping parallel parking and crashing through pot holes is going to mean they won’t remain unscathed for long.
Only available as a five-door, the CrossPolo comes in a range of six colours, two of which - orange and beige - are exclusive to this model. They’re possibly not as bad as they sound. Beneath the exterior changes, the mechanicals are standard Polo, with a choice of three petrol and three diesel engines.
The CrossPolo is already available for pre-order in Germany, with deliveries beginning in May. Thereafter the rest of Europe should get it, although there’s some doubt as to whether it’ll make it to the UK.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Dick Cheney In Hospital With Chest Pains
Ex Vice President Dick Cheney was rushed to George Washington University Hospital Monday after complaining of chest pains.After being looked at by his doctors and having an angiogram, Cheney was said to be resting while a treatment plan is discussed.
Sixty-nine year old Cheney has had four heart attacks since he was thirty-seven years old, and had a large number of hospital stays, angiograms, stents, and pacemakers installed in the interim.
Cheney's public relations assistant Peter Long issued a statement saying that he was resting comfortably and his doctors were evaluating his situation.
His health was a concern while campaigning with George Bush, and that concern followed him all the way through the White House and into private life.
A press update is expected form the Cheney camp on Tuesday after they confer with his doctors and various specialists.
_
Cadillac back in Europe
Cadillac is planning a return to Europe, after previous Dutch-based importer Kroymans got into financial difficulties following a collapse in demand for new and used cars.
GM Europe is doing it in-house this time around, though. A new organisation, Cadillac Europe, has just been set up to take care of importation, distribution and marketing. It will operate only in key markets, but those markets have yet to be revealed.
The range is to be presented at March’s Geneva International Motor Show. The striking CTS Sport Sedan, familiar from the Kroymans era, will be the core model.
It will be joined by the distinctive CTS Coupe. This brand new model is due to begin sales in North America this summer, with a European on-sale date scheduled for the autumn. Both Sedan and Coupe will be available in high performance CTS-V specification, powered by a 556 bhp 6.2 litre V8.
The third member of the CTS family is the Sport Wagon, which is expected to cross the Atlantic in time for the 2011 model year.
Environmentalists will be delighted that the Escalade Hybrid is to also make it to Geneva. Powered by an electric motor as well as its 6.0 litre petrol V8, Cadillac is claiming its Two-Mode Hybrid System reduces fuel consumption by 40%.
Sounds great, although the standard vehicle’s thirst for fuel should mean that even after such a big improvement economy will still be relatively terrible. It’s doubtful that G-Wiz owners will rush to trade-in.
So what are Cadillac’s chances of success in Europe? Stating the obvious, its big challenge is to persuade buyers out of the established competition. For instance, how readily are drivers going to swap their Jaguar XF, BMW 5 Series or Lexus GS for a CTS?
Some will certainly value the exclusivity that comes with a low volume brand. The driving experience of the CTS shouldn’t be too bad, helped by it having either rear or all-wheel drive, and equipment levels will doubtless continue to be attractively generous.
But three key issues could mean Cadillac struggles.
The first concern is how to avoid catastrophic depreciation. Unchecked, residual-based leasing costs will be totally uncompetitive, putting most business users off pronto. During its earlier forays, Cadillac’s resale values didn’t have the best reputation in the UK market. This is ably demonstrated by a UK franchised dealer currently trying to offload a CTS 2.8 V6 Sport Luxury with only 25 miles on its odometer. The asking price? Just under £20,000.
The second problem is the lack of a diesel CTS, a critical omission in the European market.
The third matter is more subjective: image. Cadillac has always been a bit of a mystery for Europeans, with perceptions of a typical owner usually focussed on two extremes - the octogenarian retiree bumbling about in Florida, and the pimp using his car for business purposes. Neither is particularly appealing.
All hurdles that mean it’s somewhat ironic that GM is now trying to establish a luxury brand in Europe, given it is still in the throes of disposing of Saab. At least it’ll have plenty of mistakes to learn from.
GM Europe is doing it in-house this time around, though. A new organisation, Cadillac Europe, has just been set up to take care of importation, distribution and marketing. It will operate only in key markets, but those markets have yet to be revealed.
The range is to be presented at March’s Geneva International Motor Show. The striking CTS Sport Sedan, familiar from the Kroymans era, will be the core model.
It will be joined by the distinctive CTS Coupe. This brand new model is due to begin sales in North America this summer, with a European on-sale date scheduled for the autumn. Both Sedan and Coupe will be available in high performance CTS-V specification, powered by a 556 bhp 6.2 litre V8.
The third member of the CTS family is the Sport Wagon, which is expected to cross the Atlantic in time for the 2011 model year.
Environmentalists will be delighted that the Escalade Hybrid is to also make it to Geneva. Powered by an electric motor as well as its 6.0 litre petrol V8, Cadillac is claiming its Two-Mode Hybrid System reduces fuel consumption by 40%.
Sounds great, although the standard vehicle’s thirst for fuel should mean that even after such a big improvement economy will still be relatively terrible. It’s doubtful that G-Wiz owners will rush to trade-in.
So what are Cadillac’s chances of success in Europe? Stating the obvious, its big challenge is to persuade buyers out of the established competition. For instance, how readily are drivers going to swap their Jaguar XF, BMW 5 Series or Lexus GS for a CTS?
Some will certainly value the exclusivity that comes with a low volume brand. The driving experience of the CTS shouldn’t be too bad, helped by it having either rear or all-wheel drive, and equipment levels will doubtless continue to be attractively generous.
But three key issues could mean Cadillac struggles.
The first concern is how to avoid catastrophic depreciation. Unchecked, residual-based leasing costs will be totally uncompetitive, putting most business users off pronto. During its earlier forays, Cadillac’s resale values didn’t have the best reputation in the UK market. This is ably demonstrated by a UK franchised dealer currently trying to offload a CTS 2.8 V6 Sport Luxury with only 25 miles on its odometer. The asking price? Just under £20,000.
The second problem is the lack of a diesel CTS, a critical omission in the European market.
The third matter is more subjective: image. Cadillac has always been a bit of a mystery for Europeans, with perceptions of a typical owner usually focussed on two extremes - the octogenarian retiree bumbling about in Florida, and the pimp using his car for business purposes. Neither is particularly appealing.
All hurdles that mean it’s somewhat ironic that GM is now trying to establish a luxury brand in Europe, given it is still in the throes of disposing of Saab. At least it’ll have plenty of mistakes to learn from.
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