Information: April 2009

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Daimler Posts €1,4 million Loss in First Quarter of 2009, Sales Down 34%

Only hours after announcing that it had agreed to unload its remaining 19.9 percent stake in Chrysler LLC, Daimler published its quarterly results which saw the company that owns Mercedes-Benz posting a €1,426 million loss before interest and tax for the first quarter of 2009 versus a €1,976 million profit in the same period last year. The Group also recorded a net loss for the first quarter of the year of €1,286 million compared to a net profit of €1,332 million a year ago.

O.CT Tuning Spiffs Up the Audi A4. 2.0 TDI and A3 1.8TFSI Convertible

Yet another tuner is taking a swing at the new Audi A4 and A3 Convertible models. This time its O.CT Tuning that has released new performance kits for the A4 2.0 TDI with 120HP and 143HP as well as for the A3 Convertible 1.8 TFSI. For the diesel powered A4s, a reprogrammed ECU boosts output of both variants of the 2.0 TDI to 168HP and 375Nm or 277 lb-ft of peak torque. According to O.CT, the 168HP A42.0 TDI accelerates from 0 to 100km/h (62mph) in 8,0 seconds versus the 143HP stock model's 9,4 sec.

Furthermore, the Austrian tuning house claims that while the standard A4 2.0 TDI needs a distance of 1,600 meters (about a mile) to reach a speed of 180 km/h or 112mph, O.CTs version hits the mark after 1,100 meters or 0,7 miles.

Similary for the A3 Convertible, , O.CT Tuning's upgraded ECU adds an extra 45HP to the 1.8 TFSI 160HP engine for a total output of 205HP that helps the car accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in 7,3 seconds, or around 1 second faster than the standard model.

Even though O.CT Tuning concentrated on the A4 and A3 Convertible models, apparently the software upgrades apply on any models with the same engines.

Swiss Nightmare: Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold Dream

This is so wrong, in so many ways that we don't even know where to begin from. The monstrous eyesore you're looking at is called Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold Dream and it's the work of Swiss designer (???) Ueli Anliker who claims to have spent more than 30,000 man hours and about 5 million SF, which comes to around $4,35 million US or €3,3 million, to complete the 24k gold festooned SLR. Both numbers sound absurd, but hey, we didn't expect to hear something rational from someone who obliterates a McLaren SLR in such an 'uber' kitschy kind of way

The 'Fast and Furious' SLR comes with more gold than a wing at Fort Knox as even the exterior paint job is speckled with the precious metal. Talking about wings, take Ueli Anliker dressed Merc's supercar in a full bodykit that makes ASMA's tuning proposals look like a work of art. And let's not talk about the interior...

The SLR McLaren 999 Red Gold Dream made its debut at this week's the Swiss tuning show, Auto Emotionen (April 24 to 26) in the city of Berne.

2010 Ferrari F450 Rendered - Set to be Unveiled at Frankfurt Show this Fall

As Ferrari is in the final development phase of the F430's successor, French car magazine Auto Plus decided to prepare an artist's impression of the new Prancing Horse supercar compiled from various spy shots of the prototype model. The rendering suggests a more modern design language with heavily concaved surfaces on the side panels. Up front, the styling looks less exciting, but let's not forget that this is an unofficial design proposal, nothing more, nothing less.

Poor Economy Linked to Increased Insurance Frauds -Suspicious Car Fires up 27%!

The ongoing economic downturn has been linked to a raise in the number of possible cases of insurance fraud in the U.S, according to a new report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB). An analysis of "questionable claims" that were classified as possibly fraudulent and were submitted by the more than 1,000 NICB member insurance companies in the first quarter of 2009, show a significant increase in these type of claims over the first quarter of 2008.

MY FIRST MOTORBIKE

People use emotion to buy a bike and logic to rationalize it. So nothing I say will change anything...but here's my opinion. For your first bike, get one you can handle easily.he can also cheap and popular !!
Realize that you are probably going to scratch it. You're almost certainly not going to keep it. And your tastes will likely change with experience. Also, it's easier to get test rides on used bikes.so expensive my first bike!
Once you've got your bike, go out and practice every day. If you buy an expensive first bike you'll be reluctant to practice which will limit your riding skills for the rest of your life. After all that, you can buy whatever you want with a good chance of life-long success. It will depend on you, not the bike. The operator is the dominant safety device for a motorcycle.
As for size of bike, I think the main point is to get one you can handle well. Most people become fixated on one or two bikes and don't test ride enough different types. Bikes vary quite a bit. Some are top heavy, others not. Some are high while others are low to the ground. Some are touchy with the clutch and throttle and others aren't. Some are close to the handlebars and others feel further away. Some a great around town and awful on the highway. Some feel heavy, others feel light. Some kill your wrists, others kill your back. And still others kill your bum!!! Don't be timid, try them all out. It's *your* money. You'll only buy a first bike once so have some fun with the experience!

SUPER MOTOR BIKE

Super motor bikes .Fast, light, sleek motorcycles designed to give maximum performance for racing or spirited road riding while conforming to FIM rules. They are distinguishable by their racing style fairings and the rider's tipped-forward seating position. They are also called "race replicas" because of their connection to the racing category for production motorcycles known as SUPER BIKES and earlier similar race series (the term arose in the 1980s). The power to weight ratio of the 900 cc+ models typically matches or exceeds one bhp of power for every one kg of mass.
Racing bikes: Motorcycles designed for circuit or road racing, including mass-production motorcycles modified for MOTOR RACING
Street customs: Highly customised motorcycles with wild paint jobs also built for show, but constructed from a sport bike frame instead of a cruiser-style frame.

RACING

Infact, we had not been on a bike in years. I live in the mountain and riding is very difficult, always up or down steep hills. For those like me who have bad knees or hips or don't have the time/desire to get in shapeThis bike brings back the enjoyments of mobility and the joy of riding again without worrying about being unable to climb hills and having to walk/push my bike up them for long hauls this tough bik.I was impressed is action Like me, you will look to find excuses to use the Electric Folding mountain bikes Gord Anten,Owner of the Electric Folding Mountain Bikes. we appreciate that the
While riding you have your choice of riding manually, using the pedal assist system or putting the bike on straight electric. The real benefit is the fact you can pedal as much as you want. You choose how much exerciseJanuary; most bikes are safely tucked away in garages. Certainly the majority of club race bikes won't have seen tarmac for a number of months. What keeps the club racers interested in the depths of winter? Mopeds. Saturday 20th January saw BMCRC dropping the flag on moped madness, a 3 hour endurance race open to anyone with a full road licence for the type of machine ridden. The restrictions were simple; up to 80cc geared, or 125cc auto. Although one of the rules 'cheating positively encouraged' laid down the gauntlet. For some this was a pre-season bit of fun, for others this was as serious as sitting on the grid next to Rossi et al. All bikes and leathers were scrutinised and sadly for one team this meant the removal of the bubble wrap they had surrounded their fairings in. The start of the race was a 'Le Mans' style start with all riders running across the width of the track to their machine, starting it, and commencing the race. All set rolling by the drop of the Union Jack. Competition was fierce yet friendly with top MRO and BMCRC club racers knocking elbows with riders who'd freshly passed their CBT.
Surprisingly few of the mopeds retired during the gruelling 3 hour race at the slightly truncated Lydden Hill circuit in Kent. A team even drove to a local Honda dealer to get the rear inner tube on their Piaggio Sfera replaced. They still completed 75 laps and didn't come last. Others suffered from seizures and transmission belt failures. One team in particular struck fear into the hearts of the opposition. Three riders and one Gilera Runner 125; Steve Mercer (2006 Forza Extreme Champion), Chris Bishop (R6 cup rider) and Bob Farnham (respected tuner). Could there have been any other winners? Of course not and they completed an astonishing 207 laps in 3 hours. Four laps clear of second place team which consisted of tuner Phil Seton, motorcycle journalist Rob Hoyles and SS600 racer Andy Weymouth, again on the machine of choice, a Gilera Runner 125. Third place was awarded to a two man team on an AR80 with a final result of 202 laps completed and a best average speed of 58.636mph. This day goes to show that race bikes don't have to have tyre warmers and steering dampers. And, in fact, it can be a whole lot of fun when you swap the race fairings for storage you can fit a spare helmet in, and 125cc of engine. So what do you get when you mix Lydden Hill, a cold January Saturday, 46 knackered mopeds and a whole bunch of club racers? Fun of almost illegal levels. Roll on next year. you desire.Electric Folding Mountain Bike can be

used.

MOUNTAIN BIKE

The Electric Folding Mountain Bike will travel about 20 to 25 miles on one charge.
the mountain bike or mountain bicycle is a designed for either on dirt or other environments. In contrast, are not designed for such rugged terrain.
we used to think I knew what the perfect trail was. It was behind my house, easy access, had lot's of rollers and then ended with a big drop called "death hill", followed by a huge jump. Of course I was 10 at the time, living in Pleasant Hill, California, and my world had a 15 mile radius.
Over 20 years later, I still look for "rollers", "big drops" and "huge jumps", but I don't think that's all it takes to be the perfect trail.
Trail material: its material Soft but packed soil. The kind that has just enough moisture to allow someone to follow behind you without having to breath through a filter. Northwest forest soil.
Width: About 24" on the straights and increasing at varying amounts for corners depending on need. Singletrack only.
Length: If it weren't for fatigue, thirst and sore hands from braking, I'd say all trails were too short. Trails should end while you're still having fun, so you don't add it to your list of trails never to ride again.
Edges: Trail should curve up slightly at each edge about 3 to 5 inches. Just enough to keep you on the trail, but not so much as to be a trough that can toss you with one mistake.
Incline/Decline: I think if I had my druthers, I would be in perfect shape regardless of exercise and eating habits and all trails would be downhill. I will say, although I really hate climbing, I love how I feel after a long ascent and believe I've earned the downhill. That said, I think I'd still take a chairlift. Decline should be just enough to keep you from having to pedal, but not so steep as to force you to brake constantly.
Corners/Turns: 3 or 4 turns in groups followed by long straight or slightly twisting sections. Should have huge berms so you can ride your bike at a 90 degree angle if you want. You shouldn't have to slow down for them.
Obstacles: Rock beds, logs, boulders, rivers. Keep them together in sections with long fast stretches between them. Should all be rideable/jumpable without loss of velocity.

HEAVY BIKES

we feel that is a well-designed heavy motor bike that is seriously needed in a all over the world of excessive pollution with everyone dependent on steadily rising gas prices.this is most populer all over the worlds such as germene, franch,itlay,japan,etc.mostly people can related this profession. different categaries of heavy bikes.Ian came up with the concept of an electric Trials bike.
different parts can be used in heavy bikes.Wheelbase 28" Seat Height 15" Handlebar Height 25" Motor 500W, 24V Batteries 8.5ah Sealed Lead Acid x 2 Controller Pulse Width Modulated, 40 amp Front Brake 'V' Type Back Brake Band Type Front Suspension Telescopic Rear Suspension Spring Tires 12.5" x 2.4" Weight 47 lbs Top Speed Approx 14 mph Colors
The Electric Folding Mountain Bike will travel about 20 to 25 miles on one charg