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March 8, 2008
Portable Smart Navigation System II for the "smart fortwo"
Smart guide through the concrete jungle.
Photo: At the 78th International Motor Show in Geneva a further special edition of the successful smart fortwo is celebrating its world premiere. The "edition limited two" will be produced as a limited series of 2000 vehicles and is characterized by exclusive coloring and a high quality mix of materials - on both the outside and the inside. An innovative start/stop function makes the smart fortwo micro hybrid drive (mhd) consume 8 percent less fuel on average, greatly reducing CO2 emissions. It has the lowest standard consumption worldwide, earning it the title "CO2 champion" amongst series production cars.
The smart fortwo's savvy concept is designed for the city. Mercedes-Benz Accessories GmbH is now offering a new guide for the nimble two-seater that enables smart fortwo drivers to find their way through the urban maze of an unfamiliar city. The "portable smart navigation system II" is as extraordinary as the smart principle itself: with its optimum integration into the car, clear voice output and high-resolution TFT color monitor, it makes mobile navigation a joy. It fits perfectly into the interior of the smart fortwo.
Smart solution for a smart car: the portable smart navigation system II is attached directly to the instrument panel by means of a special mount. The optimum ergonomic positioning on the dashboard enables a perfect view of the monitor. The touchscreen system is also easy to operate,
The system is integrated into the car's electronics system. The suggested routes are announced with voice instructions from the car speakers. The radio switches over automatically, meaning that the driver can always hear the information clearly. Further, as the device is fixed to the instrument panel, it is always connected to the power supply (when the ignition is on) and is therefore always ready for use.
The portable smart navigation system II was developed in cooperation with the US manufacturer Garmin, one of the most renowned producers of mobile navigation devices with many years of experience in the car, motorcycle, yacht, off-road and outdoor sectors.
Neat flatscreen: the large monitor is both the screen and the operating panel A range of well-conceived details facilitate orientation without demanding too much of the driver. This includes the zoomable or three- dimensional map display that provides different perspectives on the street. On particularly blind bends the system automatically switches to the optimum display mode. The device also has automatic day and night adjustment. An additional function enables the driver to vary the brightness individually.
The high-resolution, anti-reflection and high-contrast widescreen color monitor measures 4.3 inches (10.9 centimeters) diagonally and thus offers a considerably greater viewing and operating area than standard devices. With a depth of just 2.0 centimeters the smart system is one of the flattest units on the market. It can be integrated into the car in no time and is immediately ready for use. If it is not required it can be removed just as quickly and can be carried with you in the supplied bag.
To prevent smart fortwo drivers from unnecessarily wasting time in traffic jams, the system has a "traffic-jam avoidance function". The unit receives the necessary TMC (Traffic Message Channel) signals via the car's radio antenna, guaranteeing optimum reception. For the quickest possible drive home the portable smart navigation system II also incorporates the "home function": a push of a button is all you need and the most direct route to your pre- programmed destination is located. If you want to take in a particular shopping address or drop in on friends for an espresso, you can enter an intermediate location as an additional function.
The electronic guide always issues clear and unambiguous directions. The hi-tech device not only knows the street names, but also the turn-off points.
Sauntering through Europe: over two million meeting points for smart drivers. Mobility without borders: the unit stores detailed road data as well as comprehensive maps for 33 European countries -- over two million "points of interest" are stored. These include petrol stations, hotels and tourist attractions as well as restaurants and bars. As an additional, exclusive service the driver can find the addresses of the smart Service Centers in Europe under the "smart dealers" section. The system also incorporates an integrated MP3 player and a Bluetooth interface. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:12 AM | View the original post
March 7, 2008
KILLERLOOP -- Spring/Summer 2008 Collection
Detail is everything. This is the Killerloop brand's motto for summer 2008. There's obviously a meticulous, glamour-driven attention to detail, however tiny or even hidden. This is not just casualwear, but a style to identify with.
Parkour. Geometric printing is the theme of this obstacle-free course. It goes from outside to in, from lining to pocket, from color to embossing. She moves from all-white light jersey trousers, tops and sweaters to shades of grey for viscose overwear or bombers with bustier lacing on the back, and on to the silver of a satin jacket and the Lurex decorations on layerable tops. Ending with denim, "pure" or gloss-laminated. His palette, too, features white, grey, black and traces of red. Medium-large, yarn-dyed check trousers team with shaded stripes or Greek frets. Polo shirts, sweatshirts, pullovers and "new camo" Bermudas in the theme's colors.
Capo Verde. Colors of Africa and of volcanic rocks with tribal decorations and a recurrent star-shaped flower. Chocolate oilskin unisex bombers. She wears hers over a little floral-print dress, with a flowery cotton mini or over a striped Lurex top. He wears his with canvas Bermudas, over a spotless white sweater with a patterned hood or with tie-and-dye T-shirts. Knee-length tartan pants are matched with stripes of all widths. Light canvas, sheer jersey and ultra-fine knitted fabric ensure cool clothes for the high summer. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:41 AM | View the original post
March 6, 2008
2008 Geneva Motor Show: AutoWeek Editors Honor the Best
The magazine's Editors' Choice Awards recognize Best in Show, Best Concept, Most Significant and Most Fun
The AutoWeek editorial staff today announced its Editors' Choice Award winners for the 2008 Geneva Motor Show.
For more than a decade, the editors of the weekly automotive-enthusiast magazine have scoured show floors in Detroit, Geneva, Paris, Frankfurt and Tokyo, selecting winners in four categories: Best in Show, Best Concept, Most Significant and Most Fun.
The 2008 AutoWeek Editors' Choice Award winners for the Best of Geneva are:
BEST IN SHOW: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider
Photo: Alfa Romeo 8C Spider -- In contrast to the current folding-hardtop craze, Alfa Romeo 8C Spider uses a soft top. Designers were careful to make it look good when up, while engineers made sure it was aerodynamically and acoustically sound.
MOST SIGNIFICANT: Ford Fiesta
Photo: Ford Fiesta -- Ford's redesigned small car will be sold globally, including the United States market.
BEST CONCEPT: Saab 9-X BioHybrid
Photo: Saab 9-X BioHybrid -- The 9-X could be Saab's entry into the super-fuel-efficient small-car wars. The two-door coupe is powered by a small turbocharged gasoline engine that has a mild hybrid system. GM estimates fuel economy at 48 mpg on gasoline and 36 mpg on E-85.
MOST FUN: Fiat 500 Abarth
Photo: Fiat 500 Abarth
The magazine's March 17, 2008 issue will take an in-depth look at the winners, and some of the finalists, of this year's Geneva show.
Source: AutoWeek
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 12:35 AM | View the original post
March 5, 2008
Volvo Unveils the New XC60 at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show
Stunning appearance and standard City Safety.
GENEVA, March 4 -- Volvo Car Corporation today unveiled the new XC60 premium crossover at the 2008 Geneva auto show. With its stunning good looks and standard City Safety low-speed collision avoidance system, the new XC60 marks a new chapter in Volvo's design and legendary safety heritage.
The new Volvo XC60 is the first vehicle in a new generation of the contemporary cross-over concept. It is a combination of a traditional city vehicle and an XC vehicle aimed for young, professional urban people with an active life. Volvo XC60 is a sporty and dynamic car with tasteful exterior and interior design and versatile functionality.
Volvo XC60 has a characteristic XC design language, with a blend of passenger- and coupe-like car shapes - including a touch of well-known Volvo design elements. The formula-drive stance, with big wheels "in the corners", lifted visual platform and a very high waistline - all contribute to a sturdy and robust impression.
The rear design is characterised by the tail lamps with micro optics and LED technique. The lamps, distributing light in a special way, give a characteristic "Volvo" design impression.
City Safety is a new function, sensing if vehicles ahead are moving slower or standing still. By measuring the car's speed and distance to the vehicle ahead, City Safety is able to calculate the braking force needed when approaching the other vehicle. In a situation where the calculated braking force needed reaches a certain level, and the driver has not reacted, the City Safety function senses that a collision is imminent.
The function is a standard feature that is active if the car's speed is below 30 km/h (19 mph). In situations where the difference in speed between two vehicles is 15 km/h (9 mph) or less, a collision can be avoided completely. In a potential collision situation in which the difference in speed between the vehicles is between 15-30 km/h (9-19 mph), City Safety alone cannot prevent a collision. However, the consequences of the impending collision can be mitigated considerably because the system will intervene to reduce speed when the collision occurs. Further, Collision Warning with Autobrake alerts the driver if the distance to a vehicle ahead suddenly decreases. The function contributes in giving the driver a fair chance to avoid a collision.
The new Volvo XC60 is stepping boldly into what is currently the automotive world's fastest-growing segment - dressed in a thrilling blend of muscular XC capability and the sporty charisma of a coupe.
The sales target for the new XC60 is over 50,000 cars per year. Distribution between Europe and North America is unusually uniform: about 40 percent each. The remaining 20 percent is destined for the rest of the world.
The five largest markets during peak year 2010 will be the USA, Germany, Great Britain, Russia and China. |GlobalGiants.com|
Source: Volvo Car Corporation
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:23 AM | View the original post
March 4, 2008
Capitol/EMI: Frank Sinatra's Best Classic Recordings for Films Collected for 'Sinatra at the Movies'
New 20-Track CD and Digital Collection to be Released April 15 by Capitol/EMI
HOLLYWOOD, Calif., March 4 -- Frank Sinatra was a titan of 20th Century entertainment, with record-breaking successes in both music and film throughout his legendary career. Capitol/EMI celebrates his musical contributions to many of Hollywood's most memorable classic films, in several of which he also starred, with the April 15 release of a new 20-track CD and digital collection titled Sinatra At The Movies.
Sinatra At The Movies includes title themes from The Tender Trap, From Here To Eternity, Young At Heart, Three Coins In The Fountain and Not As A Stranger, as well as "Chicago" and "All The Way" from The Joker Is Wild, "I Could Write A Book" and "The Lady Is A Tramp" from Pal Joey, "How Deep Is The Ocean" and "All Of Me" from Meet Danny Wilson, "To Love And Be Loved" from Some Came Running, and more.
Other upcoming salutes to Sinatra include a commemorative U.S. postage stamp to enter circulation on May 13 and special TV programming, co-hosted by his children, through the month of May on Turner Classic Movies (TCM), including more than 30 of Sinatra's films and four of his television specials.
Also known as "Ol' Blue Eyes," "The Chairman of the Board" and "The Voice," Sinatra racked up 31 gold albums. He won 10 Grammy Awards(R). Sinatra appeared in 58 films and won three Academy Awards(R) (including an honorary Oscar(R) for The House I Live In). He also starred in his own television show and in numerous specials, earning Emmys(R) and a Peabody Award(R), and he performed thousands of tour dates around the world. Sinatra was saluted by The Kennedy Center Honors as a cultural icon, and was awarded the Presidential Medal Of Honor and the Congressional Gold Medal (Congress' highest civilian award). |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 6:11 AM | View the original post
March 3, 2008
2008 SUZUKI RENO OFFERS COMBINATION OF STYLE & UTILITY
Five-door hatchback compact with handsome European styling by Italdesign.
2008 Suzuki Reno is a clever alternative in the small car segment. In an era of look-alike sedans and hatches in the compact entry-level segment, Suzuki's Reno gives consumers beautifully sculpted sheetmetal, careful attention to detail and a host of convenience and comfort features. In combination with a responsive 2.0 liter DOHC four-cylinder drivetrain, economy of operation and an ultra-competitive price point, the Reno constitutes a viable alternative for those consumers wanting both "show" and "go."
For 2008, the Reno retains an extensive list of standard features and remains Suzuki's most affordable vehicle. Sharing its basic drivetrain and platform with the larger Forenza, the Reno delivers its own persona with a design by Italdesign that embraces the upbeat personality typical of all Suzuki products.
The Reno's interior is equipped with multiple power features and an impressive array of extras designed to make driving more enjoyable, including an AM/FM/CD/MP3 audio system.
Standard Reno features include a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, five-speed manual transmission (a smooth four-speed electronically controlled automatic with gated shifter and "hold" mode switch is offered as an option), tire pressure monitoring system, four-wheel independent suspension, four-wheel disc brakes, tilt steering wheel, power windows and door locks, dual sun visors with vanity mirrors, remote fuel door release, and premium features like air conditioning and heated power side mirrors. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 5:34 AM | View the original post
Closing of Paris Fashion Week -- Louis Vuitton Show -- Fall Winter 2008-2009
Photo: Sofia Coppola and Marc Jacobs (Louis Vuitton, Paris, France)
PARIS, March 2 -- The house of Louis Vuitton, with Marc Jacobs as Artistic Director, closed fashion week in Paris with its Fall Winter 2008-2009 collection in the historic "Cour Carree" of the Louvre. Yves Carcelle, President of Louis Vuitton received the international press and guests. |GlobalGiants.com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 4:08 AM | View the original post
