BMW Unveils New 7-Series Sedan, Expects Profit Boost (Update1)

BMW's flagship model ``will contribute a great deal'' to achieving the automaker's 2012 profit targets, Chief Executive Officer Norbert Reithofer said at an event in Munich to introduce the car. The fifth generation of the 7-Series will go on sale this fall, with a range of new technology, including four-wheel steering, in-car Internet access, and a night-vision feature that warns drivers of people near the roadway.

The company has a program in place to cut spending by 6 billion euros ($9.4 billion), including the elimination of 8,100 jobs, to help increase its return on sales in automaking to 8 percent and 10 percent by 2012 from 6 percent in 2007. Since Munich-based BMW announced the target in September, oil futures have jumped 87 percent and steel prices have climbed 63 percent.



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'New Happiness' returns to the basics

The car seems to come with the beautiful model, the perfect clothing, the glamorous cityscape, the perfect countryside, the group of uproarious friends. The beer isn't merely fermented barley - it's "the high life," somehow the golden essence of everything you want. As consumers, we're no doubt too experienced to accept such notions at face value. Still, we yearn, and so we listen. And buy. Of course, most of us are taught and believe that mere stuff won't make us happy, even if it can yield genuine pleasures. We have deeper or more profound longings than our longing for beer. We long to be loved, and to love, to know and be known, to do meaningful work, to find beauty or to achieve eternal happiness in ecstatic union with God. Even these get sucked into the economy. The Web site eHarmony markets true love.



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Used car

MyRide.com Announces “Top Ten Fuel-Efficient Sports Cars” - Business Wire (press release)

MyRide.com Announces “Top Ten Fuel-Efficient Sports Cars” Business Wire (press release), CA - 4 hours ago MyRide.com, the new online resource for consumers to research anything automotive, has compiled a list of the “Top 10 Sports Cars by Annual Fuel Cost” with ...

Diesel Myths Dispelled - MarketWatch

Diesel Myths Dispelled MarketWatch - 2 hours ago Today's clean diesels are Good, Clean, Fun and will race at the 2008 Detroit Sports Car Challenge Saturday, Aug. 30, on Detroit's Belle Isle FARMINGTON ...

Concept cars come in many colours, but often with a hint of 'green' - Engineer Live

Concept cars come in many colours, but often with a hint of 'green' Engineer Live, UK - 5 hours ago ... the environment with a class of vehicle that is not generally thought of as being 'green', but the same could also be said of sports car manufacturers. ...

Women’s rides - Manila Times

Women’s rides Manila Times, Philippines - 58 minutes ago At the opposite end of the spectrum, some vehicles ooze with feminine charm and, interestingly, may also take the form of a sports car, a sedan or an SUV. ...

Opel Tigra voted greenest sports car - Malta Independent Online

Opel Tigra voted greenest sports car Malta Independent Online, Malta - 7 hours ago Opel Tigra’s low impact on the environment comes as positive news to the industry as it means that buyers looking for a stunning sports car have found one ...

HighLineMeter.com Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Customer

The success of the High-Line Meter within the car dealer market segment is greatly attributed to the quality, function, and reliability that until now, only seemed possible for gauges costing three times as much. The DOA failure rate on High-Line Meters currently being used in the field is practically non-existent.When the final numbers had been tallied from their internal QC study results, it was found that zero High-Line Meters were returned for manufacturer defects. This is great news for the budget conscience buyers who have yet to make a decision on a paint thickness gauge. On the other hand, according to HighLineMeter.com, this should not be a surprise to the droves of satisfied and loyal customers who kept coming back. The survey showed that only 3 units have been returned since the initial debut of the High-Line Meter.


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Rising fuel cost: Consumers prefer diesel cars, cos increase

MUMBAI: Consumers have begun opting for diesel versions of popular car models in the wake of rising fuel costs, forcing carmakers to step up production of the diesel variants in recent months. The Indian car market, which grew 8% last year, comprises largely petrol-driven cars, which also bring in higher business margins.

Maruti Suzuki's fast movers Swift and Dzire are selling 65% diesel variants and others like Tata Motors, M&M, GM, Hyundai and Ford are jacking up production of the diesel models. Tata's Indica and Indigo, Mahindra's Logan, GM's Optra and Hyundai Verna and Sonata are seeing an increase in diesel model sales in recent months.

The trend towards diesel models is forcing Maruti Suzuki to launch the diesel and the petrol variant of the Splash hatchback and is understood to be jacking up production of its diesel engine plant to three lakh units from one lakh units.


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Trade Ministry weighs production of Agassi's electric car in Israel

Manufacturers note that the decisive factor in the sales of hybrid and electric cars is the rising price of gas, rather than environmental protection issues.

A number of other attempts are being made to develop yet additional alternatively powered vehicles, including using biotechnology power. Powering with bio-fuel produced from such foods as corn has garnered much criticism over the past year, and is considered one of the central factors in rising food prices and food shortages around the world.
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Salvage yards have planning board support

They say they provide an important service of recycling vehicles and offering inexpensive car parts. They say there are few industrially zoned areas in the city large enough to store hundreds of junk cars.

Councilman Keith Bates has been pushing for the demise of salvage yards since he was first elected in 2005.

"It distracts from the beauty of the city, and it detracts from the neighborhoods," he said.

John Diffin, owner of Diffin Auto Salvage on Horseshoe Road, said his operation is not an eyesore. A fence shields the property out front, and he said his business can’t been seen from nearby Yadkin Road. He doesn’t know what he would do if he had to close.

"I’m so old that I’m not ready to move," the 86-year-old said.



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