OTHER VEHICLE

Did you ever wonder why a number of electric utilities hand out rebates for energy-efficient appliances? After all, youd think these firms want customers to burn more energy and rack up higher electric bills. Thats not the way they see it though.

A number of utilities aim to operate near capacity to best utilize their own infrastructures, and they dread summer heat waves or other periods of high power consumption that can push their systems to the limit. Building a buffer into their capacity means building costly new power plants, and utility companies would like to avoid yet another financial burden.

In response, many utilities, along with their biggest corporate customers, are working with Boston-based EnerNOC (NASDAQ: ENOC) to help modulate energy consumption during peak usage times.  (more)

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Volkswagen Cross Polo is the regular polo with some exterior body kits to make it look more muscular and SUV look. Volkswagen has been testing the cross polo very aggressively around different parts of India. Now Autocar India reports that Volkswagen could launch the Cross Polo on 21st August in India. There has been no official information yet.

Volkswagen has increased the ground clearance for the Cross Polo. Volkswagen has also added black cladding around the polo and also scuff plates in the front and rear with a dull silver finish to give an SUV look for the polo. Volkswagen would also give 16 inch alloy wheels. Volkswagen Cross Polo also gets roof rails, which can hold 75 Kg of luggage.

Volkswagen Cross Polo gets the same interiors from the Polo. Volkswagen will only offer the Cross Polo at the top end trim with all the features available in the top end Polo. There won’t be any increase in the interior space. But overall length will increase thanks to the added body kit. In 2014, Volkswagen will introduce a different version of Cross Polo with spare wheel mounted on the hatch door.

Volkswagen Cross Polo is powered by the same 1.2 L TDI engine which makes 75 PS of power. This engine is mated to 5 speed manual gearbox. Volkswagen Cross Polo has already received the ARAI certificate, which indicate the launch is not far away. Volkswagen will price the Cross Polo 70.000 – 80.000 RS more than the Polo TDI top end variant.

source : ACI

As we enter 2014 this is definitely one of the big things on my radar. From where I’m sitting, it just seems that everyone is convinced that rates are going higher. And maybe they are. But when everyone is this sure of something, I really enjoy taking a closer look at the other side.
Today we’re looking at 10-year yields. I don’t want to get into a whole philosophical conversation about QE or Bernanke or Yellen. I can’t worry about any of that stuff. In my opinion, we need to look at how the market feels about all of that. You see, a lot of people say a lot of things; there’s a ton of noise out there, but price is the only truth that I feel comfortable enough to trust.
Rates are at a very critical level right now. Take a look at the sentiment data, I’ve been talking about it here over the last month. The consensus view is that rates rise. That makes me wonder what would happen if they don’t….(more)

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• Mexican Secretary of Economy, Dr. Guajardo, and Volkswagen CEO, Prof. Dr. Winterkorn, inaugurate production of the new Volkswagen Golf at the Puebla plant
• The Volkswagen Group is investing US$7 billion in new products and modern production facilities in North America in period to 2018
• Volkswagen de México celebrates 50th anniversary

Production of the new Volkswagen Golf1 began today at the Volkswagen plant in Puebla, Mexico. The facility is to build further models from the Golf family for the North America region going forward. Dr. Ildefonso Guajardo, Mexican Secretary of Economy, Rafael Moreno-Valle, Governor of the State of Puebla, and Prof. Dr. Martin Winterkorn, Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft, inaugurated Golf production on the occasion of the ceremony marking the 50th anniversary of Volkswagen de México. 700 guests from politics and industry attended the celebrations.

“Volkswagen de México has a proud history and a promising future. One car in particular is a symbol of that: The new Golf,” Prof Dr. Martin Winterkorn said in Puebla. “The start of Golf 7 production will give Volkswagen a big boost in the North America region. And it underscores our commitment to Mexico as an automotive location. That is further confirmed by the US$7 billion our Group will be investing in North America in the period to 2018.”


The intelligent lightweight construction of the Golf, the “World Car of the Year 2013”, is based on the technological innovations of the Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB), and the vehicle will be exported from Mexico to the USA and Canada. The new Volkswagen Golf will hit North American roads from mid-year as it continues its global success story. Volkswagen has invested some US$700 million in new production plant and modern infrastructure for the Golf in Puebla. The first Golf sedan to be built in Mexico is a red Golf GTI2. Production of further derivatives such as the Golf station wagon for the North and South America regions will begin during the course of the year. Golf production at the Puebla plant has a capacity of 700 vehicles per working day.


CEO of Volkswagen de México, Andreas Hinrichs, underscored the major significance of the Puebla location for Volkswagen: “Our Puebla factory is today one of the Group’s highest exporters and one of its largest plants worldwide. Over 10 million vehicles have already been shipped from here to customers all over the world.”

In addition to the new Golf, the Puebla plant also builds the coupé and cabriolet versions of the Volkswagen Beetle plus the Volkswagen Jetta. In terms of technology, these models also belong to the Golf class and are to be adapted to the structure of the Modular Transverse Toolkit (MQB) in the medium term. Furthermore, Volkswagen began manufacturing modern TSI engines at the Silao engine plant in early 2013. The Audi facility in San José Chiapa will strengthen the Volkswagen Group’s production network in North America from 2016.


The vehicles manufactured in Pueba and the engines produced in Silao are built in accordance with the state-of-the art environmental standards of the Volkswagen brand’s “Think Blue. Factory.” programme. This programme aims to optimise resource efficiency at all Volkswagen plants and to continually improve the environmental compatibility of the production process. 50 years of success unite Volkswagen and Mexico. Volkswagen began exports to Mexico back in 1954. 50 years ago, on January 15, 1964, the Wolfsburg-based company founded an import, production and sales company called “Volkswagen de México S.A.” The Beetle began rolling off the assembly line at the new plant in Puebla in 1967, with production of this model only finally coming to an end in 2003. Alongside the Bulli, the Beetle motorized Mexico for decades.

In 1997, Puebla became the only plant in the Volkswagen Group to build the New Beetle, exporting the model all over the world. Production of the fourth Jetta generation commenced at the same time. Both models lent key growth momentum to export business at Volkswagen de México. From 1964 to the present day, the Volkswagen Group has already invested a total of US$8 billion in Mexico.

Mercedes Recently Unveiled SLS AMG Black Series.This is a special edition model from Mercedes.Mercedes SLS AMG Black series is powered by 6.2 L V8 which gives 631 PS of power and 634 NM of torque.0-100 takes 3.6 seconds.Mercedes have tweaked the suspension and steering for better control.Here the photo gallery of the Beautiful SLS AMG Black Series.

The progress of Toyota’s hybrid power technology has reached another landmark with cumulative global sales of Toyota hybrid vehicles reaching 6.072 million units at the end of December. Notably the latest million-milestone has been reached in the fastest time yet, just nine months since the figure moved past five million.

Toyota recognises that its cleaner, efficient technologies can only truly make a positive impact if they are widely used, hence its on-going efforts to encourage the mass-market take-up of its hybrid vehicles.


As of this month, Toyota Motor Corporation sells 24 hybrid passenger car models and one plug-in hybrid in approximately 80 countries and regions around the world. In the UK, home to production of the hybrid versions of Auris and Auris Touring Sports, the range extends to 10 Toyota and Lexus hybrids, plus Prius Plug-in.

Within the next two years, Toyota will launch 15 new hybrids. It will continue to develop its product range and the number of markets where its hybrid models are available.

Toyota calculates that, as of 31 December 2013, Toyota hybrid vehicles have reduced the amount of CO2 entering the atmosphere – believed to be a cause of global warming – by approximately 41 million tonnes, compared to the impact the same number of equivalent petrol-powered vehicles would have. On the same basis, it also estimates its hybrids have saved around 15,000 million litres of petrol.

Toyota entered hybrid vehicle production in August 1997 with the launch in Japan of the Coast Hybrid EV bus, followed in December by the first generation Prius, the world’s first mass-produced hybrid car. Since then Toyota’s hybrids have enjoyed increasing support from customers around the world.

Toyota’s hybrid system is designed as a core technology that can be used in different forms to create environmentally efficient vehicles for different customer requirements. The company will continue to work to raise performance, reduce costs and expand its product line-up – including the introduction of environmentally efficient non-hybrid vehicles.

Toyota hybrid vehicle sales – all brands


(1 = 1,000 units)

Cumulative sales of Toyota hybrid passenger vehicles



(1 = 1,000 units) * Including Prius Plug-in; ** including Auris Hybrid Touring Sports.

• Second production model to go on sale in China in 2014
• Retains elegant design and high specification of the Qoros 3 Sedan

The second production model from new international car brand, Qoros, will be revealed at the 84th Geneva Motor Show in March 2014.


The first view of the new model in the Qoros line-up reveals that it will retain the elegant design introduced on the brand’s debut model, the Qoros 3 Sedan, while also introducing distinctive features such as a subtly evolved treatment of the front grille and unique rear LED lamp clusters.

The debutant echoes the high specification and European quality standards of the Qoros 3 Sedan, and is designed to appeal to the young, modern, ‘always connected’ metropolitan customer, with state-of-the-art features including the innovative QorosQloud infotainment system accessed via an eight-inch touchscreen.


True to Qoros’ commitment to introduce a new model every six-to-twelve months, its second model will go on sale in China in 2014, hot on the heels of the market launch in China last month of the brand’s first production model, the Qoros 3 Sedan. The rapid sequence of model introductions is possible thanks to an innovative modular platform and flexible product development processes, led by experienced European senior engineers and supported by globally renowned engineering and systems partners.

The second member of the Qoros family is based on the same modular platform as the Qoros 3 Sedan, which made its world premiere at the 2013 Geneva and Shanghai Motor Shows to widespread acclaim.  It has been praised for its elegant design, refined driving experience, and European standards of quality. In September, it became the first car developed in China to be awarded five stars in Euro NCAP crash tests, and also earned the highest score so far in the organization’s 2013 assessment program. Qoros plans to expand its line-up steadily over the next few years with the ultimate aim of offering a comprehensive range across of models in all major vehicle segments.

Honda Motorcycles and scooters India is one of the most aggressive company in the two wheeler segment. Honda is focused and determined to take the 2nd position in the Market. Over the past 6 months Honda has launched a number of products in the entry level segment and also in the Scooter segment to beat Bajaj. Finally in June Honda snatched the 2nd position from Bajaj.

Honda sold 2,87,177 motorcycles and scooters in the Indian market. But when we look at overall numbers which include the domestic sales and the exports, Bajaj got the upper hand. June sales figures are so special for Honda. Because, for the first time in its history in the Indian market, Honda has sold more motorcycles than scooters. Honda sold 1,47,635 units of motorcycles while the scooter range managed to put up a respectable 1,39,542 units.

The big push for Honda has come from its new entry level range called the Dream series, which consist of Dream Yuga and Dream Neo. Also the premium entry level bike twister is also helping the Dream twins. Last month Bajaj production at the Chakan plant was affected by the worker strike. Which resulted in less number of bikes produced and hence the sales figures dropped.

The strike at Bajaj plant also helped Honda to secure the second position. Bajaj has solved the issues and the plant is now working in its full capacity. Bajaj entry level offering Discover is also a big success and the company is also planning to launch different iterations of the Discover in the coming months. The battle for the second position will be even hotter now. Lets wait for the August sales to see which company has emerged at the top.

 

It’s been one of the worst years for gold in a generation.

A flood of outflows from gold ETFs, endless tax increases on gold imports in India, and the supposedly improving economy in the U.S. have all contributed to the constant hammering gold took in 2013.

Perhaps worse has been the onslaught of negative press our favorite metal has suffered.
It’s felt overwhelming at times and has pushed even some die-hard goldbugs to question their beliefs… not a bad thing, by the way.

Last year’s winner of negative rhetoric was probably Goldman Sachs, calling gold a “slam-dunk sale” for 2014 (this, of course, after it’s already fallen by nearly a third over a period of more than two and a half years).  (more)

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