Wednesday, September 30, 2009

A Cultural Sci-con

Rather than build a community like Ford did for their yet-to-be-released Fiesta (See my post on Ford’s Fiesta Movement), Toyota decided to take advantage of an existing community. Toyota, producer of the new Scion market, took a different approach than Ford.  Toyota developed Scion to be marketed toward the “Generation-Y” or “Generation Next” consumers. Scion even developed their cars using Generation-Y testers. These cars, known for their funky and customizable nature, are a hot commodity among Generation-Y’s. To narrow in on Scions demographic, most young Scion customers are “car-people” (opposed to Ford’s everyday “Agents“) who not only use their car for transportation, but more-so as a hobby. These Scion “car-people” make up a community of Scion fans, which is exactly what Toyota and Scion aim to take advantage of.

On Scion’s website, Scion offers a list of  “Scion Enthusiast Sites.” This list includes both a list and map view. The map view allows you to find Scion enthusiasts in your area, while the list view allows you to view online communities that are solely dedicated to Scion users.  However, Scion still takes this a step further. Rather than organize large number of small groups around the nation, Scion developed a master of all Scion enthusiast sites with their “Scion Speak.“

Scion Speak is a social networking site that allows fellow Scion owners to communicate in the cyber world, and meet in the real world. The idea of Scion Speak, according to marketing developer Scott Good of StrawberryFrog, the idea of Scion Speak was to create pride in the Scion community and allow this passionate community to spread the word. Their goal was for the passion within the Scion community to drive itself.

As seen in the video below, Scionspeak allows users to be a part of a community, yet express their own individually, which is a strong part of the Scion culture. Users are able to express themselves with customizable design symbols, which are similar to a coat of arms. Only a few of the unlimited possibilities are seen in the video. These symbols elaborate on more than the users style. Certain symbols aspects can represent favorite music, geographical demographics, relationship status, alternative hobbies and more.  I know Yahoo! allows customizable icons as well, so what makes these symbols different from everyday avatars? Well, many users can link their icon to other social networking sites. Similar to Ford’s “Fiesta Movement,” this integrates Scion into cyber areas that their target consumers already are. To further the use of ScionSpeak, many users paint or stick their “coat of arms” directly on their Scion to embrace their community as well as express individuality.

Not only is it effective – it’s fun. Check out Scionspeak to either “make” your own crest, or “look” to view thousands of users crests. With multiple options and customizable combinations, the possibilities are virtually endless. I went ahead and made my own crest for your amusement:
(Unfortunately, I don’t think that this would look as cool on my Nissan SUV.)

Scions approach to its target market (which, according to the project creator is young, creative customizers) seems to fit perfectly. So does Scionspeak work? According to USA Today Article, “Outside-the-Box Scion Scores with Young Drivers,” ScionSpeak.com attracts 170,000 visitors a day. Not only does such a community environment spread the word on Scion, it builds brand-loyalty, which could go a long way when targeting such a specific audience.

Tommy Kaira and ASI Prius

Really Japan? Has this what it has come to? All tuning news and innovation coming out of Japan seems to be either R35 GT-R or Prius/Insight. The rest of the tuning scene has very little news coming out. Can we get a little variety please? I’m already holding back on some GT-R blog posts because we have so many as it is, thats the big news these days.

Although you’ll find me being a huge supporter and fan of the R35 GT-R tuning scene, the Prius tuning scene is a bit different for me.

Dont get me wrong, I really respect the Prius (and Insight) for what they are (nature saving, efficient and affordable daily drivers). In fact I wouldnt be opposed to getting a Prius for a daily driver and if I did I’d probably be looking at one of these two companies for modifications (and Top Secret as a great third option for more simple lip kits). There is absolutely nothing wrong with the Prius and absoultely nothing wrong with making it look cool and perhaps even improving aerodynamics for better performance and economy (although these two probably worsen rather than improve Cd).

Continue reading after the jump!

So what’s my beef? I like the Prius, I’d rock these kits…why the negativity? I’ll tell you why. Because this year for Tokyo Auto Salon I’m bringing my whole crew with me, as I usually do. This year we’re rolling 8 deep to Tokyo to see what is new at TAS. And you know what, when I ask my industry insider friends in Japan they all are telling me that TAS wont be the same and it’ll be dominated by “green” cars and eco cars with much less sports car tuning.

I understand the Japanese consumers demand eco tuning and styling, thats cool…but it is so overboard at this point that it feels like the Japanese government must have made a mandate that all tuners ARE REQUIRED to offer a tuning package for either the Prius or the Insight. I mean, who isnt doing parts for these cars right now? Enough already! (and it’s just begun) I’m telling you, if I see a JUN stroker kit come out for a damn Prius I’m throwing in the towel!

So now on top of having a Top Secret Prius demo car (picture that along side the monstrous Nardo Supra) we now have ASI’s demo Prius (picture that alongside their monsterous Tetsu widebody Bentley GTR or their slick Ferrari F430) AND we now have Tommy Kaira’s Prius demo car (picture that alongside their intense looking R35 GT-R car in development).

See what I’m getting at? Where’s the hardcore? Where’s the sports car tuning? Lets enjoy the Prius for what it is (a great eco car) but for my sanity’s sake, PLEASE DO NOT REPLACE OUR SPORTS CAR TUNING FUTURE WITH THIS. I understand Eco is the future for the masses, but can we keep our sports cars too? I thought the point was to have a sports car for the weekends and a Prius to daily drive. Lets keep it that way, keep the R&D coming on sports car tuning parts too please! I really dont want this blog to be required to feature hybrid news 3 days a week because there is nothing else fresh coming out.

Know what I’m saying?

Let me hear what you have to say on this please…

Ending rant, nobody can argue that this rear end of the Prius (below) by Tommy Kaira (under new management in Japan) is the most amazing thing we’ve ever seen on a hybrid. This is as good as it gets design wise for the Prius. If I was an aero parts manufacturer, I wouldnt even bother making a rear under spoiler for the Prius after seeing this by Tommy Kaira. Game over.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Toyota prevê aumento de 3% nas vendas

Terra Carros

A Toyota, maior fabricante do mundo, espera contabilizar um aumento de 3% em suas vendas globais até o fim do ano fiscal 2009-2010, que, no caso da fabricante, será encerrado em março. A produção também poderá retomar a expectativa de alta e atingir um crescimento de 8%.

A previsão de 6,7 milhões de automóveis comercializados poderá ser atingida, em grande parte, devido aos diversos programas de incentivo oferecidos por diversos governos ao redor do mundo. No caso dos EUA, por exemplo, os carros da marca japonesa foram muito procurados devido ao baixo índice de emissões. Naquele país, o interessado poderia obter um subsídio de até US$ 2.800, cerca de R$ 5.000.

Fonte : Terra Carros/César Tizo |www.carroonline.terra.com.br

More evidence of a Toyota departure

Toyota's previous second place was in 2005

Second at the Singapore Grand Prix was a great result for the Cologne based team, and equals their best result since they entered F1 in 2002.

It is known that the team do not have their budget signed off for 2010 and therefore the fact that they have effectively released both their drivers (Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock) for 2010 could be seen as a clear sign that they will pull out after the Abu Dhabi grand prix. Of course it is also a sign of a team who cannot yet commit to 2010 until the budget is agreed. It is probably for similar reasons that engine customer Williams are actively seeking a change in supply for 2010. TMC are forecasting revenues of 7.8 billion yen for April – September 2009, a 36% drop from 2008. If the figure is well below this then it is likely that drastic action will need to be taken and a high profile casualty will be the F1 Team. Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Mythbusters Blows Up a Camry, No One Mourns

Mythbuster’s compares Hollywood explosions to Mafia-style executions.  In the first blast, there are just a few gallons a gasoline and a small amount of explosives to ignite the flammables.  But in the second explosion, they used hundreds of pounds of explosives in the hood, trunk and cabin to turn the well-built import into a few hunks of twisted metal. Loose the Monday blues by enjoying carnage and destruction that only Mythbuster’s can deliver.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

GP Cingapura 2009, corrida completa e compacta

2009 FORMULA 1 SINGTEL SINGAPORE GRAND PRIX Pos No Driver Team Laps Time/Retired Grid Pts 1 1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 61 1:56:06.337 1 10 2 10 Timo Glock Toyota 61 +9.6 secs 6 8 3 7 Fernando Alonso Renault 61 +16.6 secs 5 6 4 15 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 61 +20.2 secs 2 5 5 22 Jenson Button Brawn-Mercedes 61 +30.0 secs 11 4 6 23 Rubens Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes 61 +31.8 secs 9 3 7 2 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 61 +36.1 secs 8 2 8 5 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 61 +55.0 secs 7 1 9 17 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 61 +56.0 secs 10   10 4 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 61 +58.8 secs 12   11 16 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 61 +59.7 secs 3   12 9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 61 +73.0 secs 14   13 3 Giancarlo Fisichella Ferrari 61 +79.8 secs 17   14 21 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 61 +93.5 secs 19   Ret 11 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 47 Brakes 16   Ret 12 Sebastien Buemi STR-Ferrari 47 Gearbox 13   Ret 14 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 45 Brakes 4   Ret 20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 23 Accident damage 15   Ret 6 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 19 Accident 20   Ret 8 Romain Grosjean Renault 3 Brakes 18 Compacto da corrida (dur. 19′38″):

Corrida completa na íntegra (dur. 02:14′09″):

Ofertas para o Dia das Crianças no Submarino:
     

State Fair of Texas Tundra Display

 This year’s state fair is especially important for the world’s largest automaker as it readies to double down on its truck-building investment in the Lone Star State. A dual-line in Toyota’s San Antonio plant will start building Tacomas alongside Tundras next year. Toyota hopes consolidating truck production in Texas — the largest market for pickups in the country — will help bolster its status with consumers in the biggest pickup market.And the state fair is a perfect place to try and snag attention from competitors. Organizers tout the auto show at the state fair as one of the largest in the country. It’s also viewed as one of the best venues for automakers to show of their latest trucks.

This year, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Chevrolet and Toyota are displaying their latest pickups in a roughly 130,000-square-foot pavilion at the fair, which is expected to draw about 3 million visitors during its three-week run.

The opportunity to tap into a Texas crowd wasn’t missed by one of Toyota’s top North American executives. Bob Carter, group vice president and general manager of the automakers selling arm in the United States, reminded a crowd Thursday that “Toyota is the only manufacturer that builds pickup trucks in Texas.”

And with the arrival of the Tacoma, Toyota now will be building about 80 percent of its entire pickup fleet in San Antonio.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Toyota raises world '09/10 sales forecast 3 percent: report

This news certainly caught my eye since Toyota and its suppliers employ tens of thousands of Americans.  It is certainly a positive sign from our auto industry, and let’s hope the other’s forecasts reflect the same.

TOKYO (Reuters) – Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T), has raised its global sales forecast for the year to March 2010 by 3 percent to 6.7 million cars, the Tokyo Shimbun daily reported on Saturday, in the latest sign of a nascent recovery in auto demand.

Read the full story here…

Historias de robots

Tenemos un robot que bota pelotas a velocidades supersónicas:

Una rata robótica que ve con sus bigotes:

Otros que se lo pasan bien jugando al béisbol:

Éste nos ganaría jugando al billar:

Robots que se pican por quién corre más:

Mejor ir en bici…

El de Toyota que toca el violín…

Pero mejor tocar con amigos:

Éste resuelve el cubo de Rubik:

Los de Sony bailan a lo Locomía:

Si queremos una cocina domótica…

Hasta tenemos un robot pez:

Y sus amigos, robots medusa:

Y hasta llegamos a que hagan cosas tan humanas como tener un tropezón:

Friday, September 25, 2009

What's in a name?

Credence Clearwater Revival (CCR) inspired me to write this blog. If you haven’t heard CCR, I suggest you do – its immortal rock music that will heal your soul.

So, what’s in name? Would you call your band ‘Credence Clearwater Revival’? Try saying the name fast. Or if were a food entrepreneur, would I call my restaurant Mc Kejriwal? What on earth does ‘Lays’ chips mean? I don’t care where Altoids came from. Oh my God, my ketchup is called Heinz and my cereal is called Kellogg’s. What do I make of The Oberoi, or The Hyatt? Hell I want a coffee really badly.. Starbucks here I come…hmmm…that’s hardly the appropriate name of a place that would sell coffee! I love Sony…. Please just explain the brand name to me one day.  Honda, Toyota, Samsung, Yahoo et al, we know today because of their amazing products and services. Not because their name got us to buy them.

Spending time and money on the perfect ‘brand name’ creation is all bunk. Those who pretend that it matters are the false advertising types whose livelihood depends on making people spend money that they don’t need to.

My hypothesis:

  • Consumers remember brands that perform for them – so be it a great ‘Jet Airways’ flight or a fantastic pizza from ‘Dominos’ – I remember these brands for what they did for me – NOT what they pretended to call themselves.
  • Consumers don’t care about brand base lines and logo’s. God knows how much money is spent by brand owners getting their logo’s and base lines ‘perfect’ – it just remains an ego trip for the top bosses.  Try asking Johnny on the street what the seven colors in your logo mean or quiz your business partner about the half sun that appears in your logo… They will stare blankly back at you.
  • You can call your brand and business anything. Family name, city from where you come from, girlfriend’s mothers name or the hospital in which you were born. If you are good at what you are selling, you will become the next Hertz (car rental service or even Meeru Cabs for that matter)

Put your money where it matters. In making your product or service the best. Your brand and what its stands for blah blah will be taken care of by your customers.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Japonesa Toyota eleva estimativa de produção em 2009

Agência Estado

A produção global da montadora japonesa Toyota Motor em 2009 deverá superar a estimativa inicial em mais de 500 mil unidades e atingir cerca de 6,5 milhões, de acordo com o jornal The Nikkei. O resultado está ligado à popularidade do híbrido Prius e à rápida redução dos estoques de veículos em todo o mundo.

Os números são baseados nos planos de produção da montadora apresentados a fabricantes de autopeças. Inicialmente, a Toyota havia projetado produção de 5,95 milhões de unidades neste ano.

Depois que a crise financeira provocou queda nas vendas de automóveis, a Toyota e outras montadoras cortaram fortemente a produção. No entanto, como a produção diária deverá voltar para cerca de 15 mil unidades em novembro, a mensal provavelmente vai superar o nível de 2008 e registrar o primeiro avanço em 16 meses. A produção global da Toyota em 2009, porém, deverá ficar bem abaixo da de 2008, quando foram fabricados 8,21 milhões de veículos.

GM e Ford

Nos Estados Unidos, a montadora General Motors (GM) anunciou que adotará um terceiro turno de trabalho em suas fábricas em Fairfax (Kansas), Fort Wayne (Indiana) e Lansing Delta Township (Michigan). Com a decisão, a empresa vai restaurar 2,4 mil empregos no país.

De acordo com a empresa, a fábrica de Fairfax será a única a produzir o Chevrolet Malibu quando a unidade de Orion, em Michigan, encerrar a produção em novembro. Em 2010, a unidade de Orion será reformada para fabricar carros pequenos, que serão vendidos no mercado norte-americano em 2011.

Em Fort Wayne, a GM disse que vai acrescentar a produção de picapes da fábrica da Pontiac, em Michigan, que será fechada neste mês. A unidade de Lansing Delta Township, por sua vez, acrescentará o modelo Chevy Traverse em sua linha. Os novos turnos em Fort Wayne e Lansing deverão começar em abril. Em Fairfax, o início do novo turno deverá ser em janeiro.

Já a Ford, concorrente da GM, entrou com um pedido para receber US$ 886 milhões de um pacote de empréstimo de US$ 5,94 bilhões aprovado pelo Departamento de Energia dos EUA (DOE). O dinheiro tem como objetivo estimular a fabricação de automóveis eficientes no uso de combustível.

O pedido dessa primeira parcela deverá ser totalmente atendido pelo DOE até o dia 29, de acordo com comunicado da montadora. A Ford foi a única montadora de Detroit a se qualificar para o financiamento do Programa de Incentivos para a Fabricação de Veículos de Tecnologia Avançada, anunciado pelo DOE em 18 de novembro do ano passado. A GM pediu empréstimos, mas ainda não recebeu aprovação, porque passou por um processo de concordata. A Chrysler uniu a maior parte de suas operações com as da italiana Fiat.

Fonte: Agência Estado | www.aeinvestimentos.limao.com.br

A Burning Ring of Fire [VI]

For those wondering if/when they’d ever see the next part of this series, well (a) your question has been answered, and (b) no, the shenanigans of the servants of Dis [part v] have failed to dissuade me from the task of building the ark.

I did manage to get caught up with Whore Box Orifice’s True Blood program, and am forced to wonder, in my Trumanesque world, if they know I am [watching]. What in the Sam[antha] Hell? Should I [want to burn]? No! At least, I don’t think so.

The scene above is when an old vampire commits suicide, by meeting the rising sun. His response is to the girl/woman who asked him if he’s “afraid of the pain?” Some song, now beats inside my juke box, chiming “what you read what you watch what you listen to.” Oh, I remember what song that is … Mojo Nixon’s appropriately entitled “Burn Down the Malls.” {*1}

Is there revelation or mind-fucking in progress? If you’ll recall, at one point, we were highly focused on Nick “the fireman” Cage and that movie, Burning, er, I mean Knowing. Looking back, I find it quite significant his son/sun, the “rebel” who rejected his licentious Father’s “love” offerings, and the one who chose to elevate himself though diet, lives in a room at the apex of the pyramid, with an eye for a window to look out of [from where he has his vision of the "forest burning" and "animals panicking," syncing us back to the Dark kNight and close of part ii].

A long time ago, while looking into I Am Legend, a movie that in retrospect, describes my present predicament, I surmised that I was the Eye at the top of the pyramid [a look into the Octopus's Eye/I album still on hold]. In other words, that the “planners and schemers” [as quoth the Raven/Joker] have no influence, just confluence over me.

I expressed disappointment/disgust that the movie was yet another concerted effort at programming self-sacrifice as a solution [you can be assured this theme is meant for "us," as "they" would never be stupid enough to sacrifice themselves]. I’ve since had many, including a mentor, and a Freemason of alleged significant degree [i.e., 32nd], tell me that I am wrong. Why? Ultimately, am I not the eYe at the top of the pyramid, because I, by exercising my free will determine my fate.

Now, I’m not denying the influence of other beings upon my life. I know I’ve been protected by benevolent spirits, I have communed with my spirit guide directly, and doubtlessly, I am being led and nudged by all sorts of forces beyond my understanding. For example, why am I building this damn ark?

Hence, my quandary. What are these movies doing? It’s obvious, to anyone with even a smidgen of common sense left in them, that the main purpose of the Wizards of Id is to program, stupify, and degenerate the masses. Understanding social engineering, I have to concede they [those in the know, and the clueless repeaters] have done their job too well. Yet, beyond synchronicity, it’s undeniable, that some things are put in so precisely and specifically [such as the above], they are undoubtedly meant convey something, be it malice or enlightenment…

While I may, or may not, have been “right,” the pyramid, like many other symbols of note, is subject to multiple layers of interpretation [I provided another in part v of this series]. Ultimately, does it matter? Should I not concede the point, not at all, yet should I doubt myself, considerably. So, is the fire inevitable? I don’t have that answer … yet.

“Death is the doorway to awe,” inFORMs us yet another movie of dualistic intent (The Fountain). Yea, but as I’ve been saying, if you’ve devoted your life to the pursuit of ignorance, once you shed this mortal coil, should you seek “freedom,” you will encounter the barrier that won’t let your soul pass [the grid], and be left with little choice but to either stay disembodied, or [re]incarnate. Does anyone reading this honestly believe, that the degenerated future will afford one anything other than more ignorance, guaranteeing endless repetition of “the loop?”

Yet, again I’m presented with a dilemma as to the intent of the wizards, for in this same vehicle of dubious “enlightenment,” starring an “X-man,” we are presented with that “X-box” at a moment that spells wisdom, for those with [or should I say without] eyes to see. Hugh Jackmanass rushes from the hospital, where his wife lay dying, so that he can go run his tests on his lab animals, and find a “cure” for her cancer. The ignorant fuck has obviously never read Pythagoras, Tolstoy or Wagner:

“Any person who had to endure certain experiments carried out on animals which perish slowly in the laboratories would regard death by burning at the stake as a happy deliverance. Like everyone else in my profession, I used to be of the opinion that we owe nearly all our knowledge of medical and surgical science to animal experiments. Today I know that precisely the opposite is the case, in surgery especially, they are of no help to the practitioner, indeed he is often led astray by them.” –Hans Ruesch

“Of all the black crimes that Man commits against God and Creation, vivisection is the blackest.” –Ghandi

Along the way, having eyes yet seeing not, he misses both the x-box [¿distracted by the sparkles?] and the bus offering the mystic key to escape [19]. So, yes, predictably, just as this Jackass deserves, he wife dies before he can “save” her.

Again the sacrifice + fire + capstoneless pyramid, and again I wonder why were the prior cues included? For who’s benefit? The [du]mb[a]sses? I don’t have the answer. Don’t know if and when I will. Regardless of their intentions, I’m still going with my instinct, which is telling me I don’t wanna burn up, hence I’m building the ark.

Dreaming at some point since this series commenced, I found myself on a bus traversing what appeared to be some unknown part of the Brasilian coutnryside. As is common with me, I verbalized whatever song was playing inside my head. “There’s a little black spot on the sun today.”

“That’s my soul up there,” tuned in a random voice from a few seats behind me.

I turned around, wondering who, and it was Sting himself. I continued, “It’s the same old thing as yesterday.”

“That’s my sould up there,” he added.

How fucking cool is that, I thought. I’m singing a duet with Sting. I tried to keep going, but garbled it up, getting progressively more nervous, something like “Why do things have to be this, way, um, er, something, stood there, pouring rain.”

“Everybody screws that part up,” he laughed, and I invited him to come up and sit with me for the duration of the trip. Ended up recommending he go to this amazing little island, where people who care not who he were and where one will forget the world at large. Oddly, it’s a place I’ve only visited in my dreams.

There may be something to that. And there’s probably a reason, why that song, to me, one who’s never been a Police fan or cared much for the Sting persona [though, I will admit he chose to/was cast into two excellent roles in his career: Dune & Quadrophenia, both extremely illuminating]. A regular cryptic visitor to this site, Eugene, once sent me to a lecture by one fascinating interpreter of [multi-layered] Mayan hieroglyphs, who believes our souls enter this realm through the sun, hence Sting’s lyrics may have been more than random whimsical musings.

Well, if you’ll recall in Sunshine, Cillian Murphy, played a character who went into the sun, conquered his adversary, sacrificed himself [yet another repetition of this heinous "program"] and did so gladly, smiling as the Kelvin increased about him and his flesh was consumed. As mused before, Cilian, made his debut[ant] into the public mind, in 28 Days Later, directed by the same Danny Boyle. and oddly enough, the “climax” scene involved him killing his adversary by pushing his fingers through his eyes, syncing us back to Oedipus Rex, the archetypal King of Pain

Getting even weirder and deeper into the slimy sync-hole, I recalled I had a very odd picture of Silly Anne, I’d been wanting to use as part of my venture into a different the same hole, for my exploration of Valentine/Vagina Day. Sitting in that folder was the below [center] image from a movie Silly Anne’s polar doppelgänger Diana/Juno resonating mind-controlled scarlet emasculator de jour, eLLe[n] Page, which matched the relevant red to blue migration pattern from the Police album.

Tracey Fragments, was obviously about mind-control, and so is the upcoming Peacock, where to two are paired up to play two dysfunctional androgynes [worth noting, peacocks are associated with Juno]. Can’t help but remark how woman-like he appears in the first photo [above]. Hell, it even looks like he has boobs.

As one would expect, as with any Time cover, revelation is taking place. I’m concluding the cover is a communication vehicle for those in the know. I’m sure there were conveniently 99/66 “other” athletes to cover and that er, “Dana’s” single horn is representative of her phallus. Man, that is one woman/dude, I couldn’t even begin to contemplate fucking.

Aside from all the hardware problems I mentioned at the start of my last article, which I’m choosing to blame on the mercury retrogade, I’ve been experiencing countless software problems, particularly with internet browsing. This has been somewhat alleviated by switching from Firefox to Opera. I guess I just didn’t want to see the obvious, or account for how Fire-FOX translates to Fire-666. Oh wait, are the symbols telling me whatever choice I make I’m fucked?

Said communication interruption led to my reading a long-sitting book that seemed a bit too daunting to pick up in the past, The Greatest Story Never Told by Lana Cantrell. She offers some amazing insight into the world, but it’s too much to get into here, and I’ll have to add a proper reView to the ever-expanding queue. However, I will, for now stress, that from Lana’s viewpoint (molecular biology), she offers on bit of undeniable truth: for ANY species, “androgyny equals death.”

Maybe, I will be the last “man” on Earth one day? Damn it, fire again! It is being programmed to such an extent, that it may be unavoidable [from a predictive programming of the holographic matrix perspective]. Silly Anne, also resonates with the last, ahem, “man” on earth, in 28 days. In concert, the above [mind-twists] leads us back to another Bob, the one played by Will Smith in the aforementioned Legend, I Am [which coincidentally, spoke of another BoB/808, the recently discussed murdered Rastafarian freedom-fighter Marley].

Yes, Arnold was originally targeted to play the last, ahem, “man,” alive. It’s worth noting, that, so far, every one of the last three actors discussed (Jackman, Smith, Murphy) is a known, ahem, “butt-pirate.” Yargh, maties! {*2}

The word “Bob,” for me, also brought forth the memory of another infamous Bob, the possessed incestuous rapist and murderer from Twin Peaks. Yea, more fire. A burning torn (i.e., hymenless) “heart.” A flaming vagina at the top of the pyramid. Oh, Lucy Fur, you [not so] subtle temptress. Your hot little love box, must drip gasoline.

While Cillian and the extremely effeminate self-sacrificing vampire from True Blood, may have been longing to burn, for now, I’ll pass. I’m also growing convinced the Biblical narrative of “Jesus [willingly] dying for our sins,” was yet another massive conjob and self-sacrifice narrative weaved for the ignorant by same priest class who murdered the Christ [and likely, the same who funded Zeitgeist].

Note, the symbolism of his posture, him burning, and where he stands with the lead female character; the outer edge of the circle, because they’re not lovers. Hence, skirting the rim of the hole, not nested in the sweet spot, i.e., the center.

I had mused before, that the “Target” store logo, is yet another symbol for the vagina (as this ad made extremely fucking obvious). Some, were soon to [try and] correct me that it was a “sun symbol” instead. Again, multiple interpretations for us to argue over, even though they are ALL correct. Are you starting to SEE that the sun and the vagina may be one and the same?

Charlie’s Angel let us know, via 12/12 L/L resonating Lucy Liu, dressed in black [hence yet another female attending a funeral), that Lucy's hole, is indeed a place of fire. It's a flame-thrower. Hm, I did say "gasoline" earlier didn't I? Note the face someone took the time to embed in the V-shaped cone of fire [¿conifer?] emanating from the hole. Hm, kind of like a woman’s legs do! So, we have a V above and V below. As above, so below!

Said True Blood episode’s closing shot shows: the man is gone, the woman in red [yet, not the scarlet dress, but checkered-red, hence, the Madonna/Whore and note she's blond, not a red-head] left standing. Only her and the sun remain. A mirror?

Now, to give away more personal information than I should, ever since I started this damned/infernal Burning Ring series, I have been bereft of female company. Heck, I kid my friends that I can’t fucking remember what a vagina smells like anymore [¿gasoline maybe?]. I’m not using this as a forum to complain, just to ponder whether I should have expected anything different, or maybe plead mercy, as I really didn’t know what the fuck I was getting into [literally]. It’s safe to say I’ve fallen out of the Vampire Queen’s graces.

I’ll probably have to do a post on the vampire trend sooner or later. The “Vampire Queen” presented near the season finale of True Blood, was of course, a red-head.

While Lynch’s Twin Peaks may have [misre]presented us with the Queen of Hearts [¿[i.e., Lucy Fur], as the victim [the "broken heart" symbol represents a ravaged/raped orifice], Martin Scorcese was bit more honest. Well, sort of. The redhead in Gangs of New York (a film that indubitably made the Vatican oh so proud), seemed to have a clue as to what was going on.

Speaking of what the average man once considered a design flaw by the creator (yet, now relishes as a choice passage), we all know what’s located right nex to the “love box.” Well, thanks to an exchange of ideas with Aferrismoon, I realized the Dead Rabbits [another vagina reference] could be found right next to the Five Points (i.e., the star, aka the anus). Worth a mention, “the redhead” is Lucy’s counterpart from Charlie’s Angels, anally fixated/abused Cameron Diaz [part iv].

On one hand, I think this [my need to press the flesh, so to speak] may be proper motivation for me to try and finish up this series before too long, and stop side-tracking into other projects. On the other, judging by the last infested hole Lucy sent in my direction [Britney Spears], I may be better off for the time being.

For some odd reason, almost every single potential lover/victim that’s crossed my path lately has had red hair. What means that Ferris? Speaking of Dead Rabbits, the one pictured above is [co]incidentally named Angie Everh[e]art, star of Running Red and Heart of Stone. A message for me, Lucy? A message for me, Lucy? [Sung to the tune of "A Message to You Rudy" by The Specials]

Insane EverFacts: Angela born in 1969 and graduated from FireStone High. She made history herstory as “the first redhead on the cover of Glamour magazine,” and “was once told by Eileen Ford that redheads don’t sell.” Has a younger sis named “Amber” and probably should not have “starred” in 1st To Die. {*4}

Note how even in death, the trademark V is unavoidable. I”ve covered the V enough, if not more than enough, and though I don’t expect to change the world, I am getting quite sick of seeing people morons constantly flashing the “piece” sign. Aferismoon was good enough to send me this [now] extremely relevant photo of Tom Cruise [hm, another vampire of note] making the V sign. Basically, what came out of our conversation, and what I am conVinced of now, is that making the symbol open face means “fuck me,” while making it outwards means “fuck you!”

The latter picture is from the Iranian elections. Yet, another “green” revolution. It was quite striking to me to see all these ["evil," according to AIPAC's media wing] Iranians running around flashing the “peace” [of ass] sign. How green connects to this is probably also relevant, but seeing that I’ve been staying out of pink holes, I’m not going to go diving into any green ones presently.

Continuing on with more oddness, I finally bothered wondering if anyone previously connected Lucy Fur, to the Luscious Ferrous one. Per Google, some burlesque stripper in Los Angeles got the idea before [well, 2009 per copyright]. Though, her being American in this day and age, along with her profession suggests that her hole and “fur” rarely ever meet. The only reason I bothered including it, other than to show how every damn picture includes a bare woman (hence, a vagina) inside a vagina, is that on the day I checked her myspace, she had exactly 1666 friends.

She now has more, but what are/were the fucking odds of that? Oh, and her “name” is Lucha Va Voom … in other words, Lucha VV aka Lucha 66.

I tried to stay away from the Vampire Queen, but she got to me. My cat/pussy-like curiosity will won’t be the death of me. That’s her below: Evan Rachel Wood. God Damn! She’s got the type of looks and body I could shag until the end of time. Don’t take that as a boast. The literal “end of time” may be coming fairly soon.

However, the cover shows us that metaphorically, she’s pretty much bagged and tagged. A tattoo of a vagina right next to her vagina [a "real" one]. Through the Looking Glass (i.e., mind-controlled). Plus, the armband tags her with the mark of a slave [very likely, a sex slave]. So much for that. I’ll find something else to do until time ends. {*5}

Much to the Queen’s dismay, this would be a good time to transition away from the Holy of Holies [the hole of holes, beyond the sheer veil], and back to myself. Hence, I consciously added 3 images, shifting the total away from her [69], back to me [72]. Yes, I am practicing my own from of wizardry [spelling, emoting, right-ing].

In other words, to turn within. For as long as i can remember, which isn’t very long, I’ve been telling you guys to look within that scary fucking mirror and find yourself … hence, I will now turn within and try to figure out just who the fuck [literally] I am. The next issue will focus on you guys. Yeah, there’s two issues left, so maybe I’ll get some hole before the end of the year. Could do more, but this is an impossible topic to cover via this medium. Not even sure i entirely grasp it myself.

Eight parts [again]. My second series of utmost introspection and importance [in my eyes; at least in mytrumanesque world all that matters]. As I commented in prior series, there’s a reason that number resonates with me in more ways than I could name. I’m obviously having some kind of impact in the construct, judging by how quick the Medes have been to respond to me as of late.

The above series, from the Simpsons “Burns and the Bees” episode [part i], really set me back. While I’m getting used seeing the Medes put out pieces related to my writings shortly after I publish them, the above resonates with something they’d have had to have gotten inside my head to learn of. Peter Tosh seems to have undergone a somewhat similar experience:

“in the middle of the night, before daylight, I was attacked by evil forces, seen? Spiritual evil forces that cause my mouth to cease from function, cause my hands and legs to cease from moving. Is only my mind that was in function, and my two eyes. As close as four of my friends was to me, which was about 12 inches away, I could not tell a man nothing, or ask a man to do anything to help me; and I was on the brink of what you call “death.” Seen? … it started with these three (?) man here. Seen? Coming from the hospital I saw ghosts, three ghosts”
–Roger Steffens, “Rebel With a Cause”

My first thought had been, “they got it wrong,” as what occurred on my mystic voyage was quite dissimilar in some key ways. However, my consternation was alleviated after I finally saw WALL·E [alas, just a movie "homage"]. It wasn’t quite what happened to Peter either, and though I’m not at liberty to discuss events, I’ll say I was saved/protected from my predicament by outside/inside forces. {*6}

Scribbling out some patterns on my notepad one night at my 19 bar, I contemplated the nonsensical Microsoft rags-to-riches story and the meaning behind the selection of their operating systems. NT wasn’t resolved until I recalled a summer in Ellada (Greece) watching the Flying Dolphins (a line of hovercrafts) skim across the water. Found the Greek lettering kind of amusing and convoluted: ΦΛΑΙΝΓΚ ΝΤΟΛΦΙΝ.

NT is the Delta? While in engineering school I got in the habit of shorthanding my notes by using the mathematical symbol for change, Δ in lieu of the word “change.” So, why was XP next? Then it hit me that I was thinking two dimensionally and that P is actually R, and the bastadization [and likely, intentional] switch of the Greek Pi (Π). Pi is the sphere. Hence, the XP is the cross/cube within the flower of life. The prison space within the totality. The windows to the life you’re missing.

Contrary to what many a mystic has been saying lately then, Obama’s not the Omega, he is the Omicron (the circle). What follows Omicron? Pi. Note to all the fools shouting “Revolution:” as Daz reminded me recently, a revolution is just one cycle around the wheel. Name one time in history a revolution led to improved conditions for anyone? I’m reminded of Jason Kidd, an NBA basketball player, telling the fans, “We’re going to turn this team around 360 degrees” [more disturbingly, many cheering]. So, yes, Obama is going to change things. Expect a 360 turn from where this country’s been headed. The Patriot Movement may accomplish same.

Note: While many are quick to point out the evil “swastika” embedded in the Microsoft logo, they’d do well to remind themselves that symbol predates the Nazis by at least 10,000 years. Cross-wearing fools be advised, per Lana Cantrell:

“Technically, or biologically, however you wish t look at it, the swastika in its particular shape draws in favorable radiations as its curved elongations created the ‘circle of the world’ at the center; total unity. The cross does not produce the circular unity of the cosmos, but draws the forces toward the center to collide atomically, entropy, death … the cross position attracts unfavorable electromagnetic fields which is why it was used in crucifixion to promote death. Swords are excellent in death wielding because of their cross-shape.” {*7}

Speaking of circles, and multiple interpretations, I know many occultists have pointed to the Toyota logo as a sign of either Taurus, Satan, or Baphomet, depending on ideological leanings [True Blood suggests Dionysus is the horned God].

It occurred to me, just as when you look at the star of david/seal of sol in three dimensions, it turns from a star into a cube [discussed]. Well, taking a step back and looking at the above from the same perspective … voilà! Three rings.

“One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, one ring to bring them all, and in the darkness bind them.” — J.R.R. Tolkien

Why is the image of the young lady above juxtaposed next to the Toyota logo? Basically, it’s the same picture. The three V’s she makes, represent three “rings” of sorts, three vaginas. It’s also worth noting that V, the equivalent of six in Qabalah, means her lovely pose also implies/embeds 666, a number that also contains three rings/holes. Coincidentally, that is also the number of orifices her suitors would have at their disposal for sexual congress [a safe bet].

In the extremely relevant, to this series, Generations, we see both the Hero and the Villian, depending on alternate time-lines, burn up. The first shot lets us know the “her-o” doth haveth the lady’s approval. Either way, whether you’re one temporarily pleasing to “her hole” or an evil spawn of it (i.e., V-lain), in the end, your fate is the same. The Burning Box is finicky and needs fuel to keep burning.

Note: Patrick of Steward, aka the Picard, falls into this piece a little too well too. Of course, he’s “Professor X” of the X-Men, but he also starred alongside Sting in Dune. Amusingly, he does the voice of gay CIA chief Testicle/Bullock in American Dad. Little known role: in a movie called Lifeforce, about space vampires that drain humans of all their energy, and the Leader/God of whom was, the female.

I think we’re seriously hampered in our attempts to overcome our ignorance, by the limits placed on us by the Romanticised languages. The “Roman” letters, aside from taking swapping the R/P, give us an uneven set of letters: 26 letters does not arrange in proper rows and columns as the Hellenic 24 [also, reverse of 42, the mystic answer to life]. As Eugene once commented, the QRST (christ) comes after [I now say "out of"] the P, which should be a Π (hence, a pie/vagina/womb).

I’m sure TNT (Turner Network Television), being channel 33 on my local cable system is also somewhat significant, and like Gates, Turner is another selectman, whose rags to riches story would quickly fall apart under close any scrutiny. Aside from the implied [explosive] fire resonance, TNT is formed by combing N, which is also a Z depending on perspective, with two Tees. Well, two T’s form a Π (”pie”). In other words, TT = Π; the sphere/hole again [depending on perspective].

So, yeah, it’s OZ. Oh, the wizards are crafty. Recalling the movie about zombies being domesticated, hence controlled (it was Fido, once mused). Question: What is Oz? Answer: “A Better Life Through Containment!” Argh, how fucking obvious!

I’ve been suggesting that the two key numbers, those most representative of a solution, to those of us interested in escaping via the ark, are 19, aka XIX, and 36, aka full circle, aka Pi. Since I wrote on the “Magnificent 19,” it occurred to me that there was a reason the 19th man, aka the keymaster of 9/11 was named ATTA, aka Alpha Pi Alpha [¡see how much easier it is to make sygils with the right tools!].

9-11, aka XI-IX, was definitely the end of one era, and the start of a new one, into the stargate and out the other side. Hence, the birth pangs of the New Order. Most disturbing: the above [right] propaganda poster, twisting the minds of women to get out of the house and become whores of death for the military. It really sickens me. Expect more of the same in the coming chaos. The poster should read:

“Hey! You stupid fucking whore! Why don’t you get out of the house and come create weapons of death and destruction we can rain down on man, woman, child, and animal alike. Plus, it’ll make your idiot of a husband who’s out there killing men who are not his enemy feel better, cause he knows, that you being such a whore, need to keep busy, else you’ll run around town fucking the few guys left who were smart enough not to join up for the service.”

No. I guess “Atta Girl” is much easier to remember. Ugh, we gotta get the fuck out of this place. I don’t have the answer yet, but it’s forming somewhere, and THAT is the process of building the ark. Somehow, 19 [XIX] is the key, and I suspect it has something to do with generating at the right frequency to pass through the barrier [the grid I've been talking about].

There a reasons why Generations was chosen/fell into this series [and more are coming]. The above scene is seen through the eyes (the visor) of the blind man ["La Forge"], and used by the Enterprise’s enemies to learn the frequency of their shields, and hence send in missiles, which by modulating at the same [secret] frequency, pass right through the shields. And, that, my friends, is how the ark will pass through the barrier!

As I say frequently [and will expand on further when I do undertake the George Romero series], I don’t worry about whether a bioweapon, war, pestilence or famine will wipe out 90% of mankind. To me, 90% of mankind was killed off a long time ago. I’m not even preaching the gospel of a “revolution” in consciousness. I’m hoping for a shift in consciousness [¿or, attempting to construct such?].

While young, I used to try to come up with a sygil for my initials, and for reasons now obvious, could never come up with anything satisfactory. My new eyes show me that I am the Alpha in the Circle. Of more relevance: not the star bound by the pit, but the incomplete man reaching/bounding outside the limits of the sphere.

That’s the sign of Anarchy. Chaos. I see why I identified so strongly with Ledger’s Joker in the Dark Knight. His job was to kick people in the ass and remind them that deep down inside, they are human and if they wouldn’t rise up and recognize that, they were doomed [discussed]. Though I identify strongly with the character, I am not an agent of chaos. I simply am. I serve balance. I serve eternal Tanerlorn.

Aside from the first symbol (which was not carved into my skin), thinking back to myself at about the same time [college, when the delta habit was picked up], oddly these two below symbols came up. The first, is the painting on my wall (prior mention), the latter, the pin of the fraternity I randomly selected to join: {*8}

Oh how long have these keys been with me? I am of the firm belief that rebels aren’t made, they are born [more weirdness: after I wrote this, discovered the "anarchy" image had the same dimension as my birthday]. Wait a minute, if I am the anarchist, am I also the antichrist? Or, is that just the programming in my head yet shed? Maybe I am the beast? Looking back, when Crowley referred to himself as “the beast,” I doubt he believed that he was actually “Satan.”

When the end of time comes, it will be because the beast has risen from the deep, and this is also a metaphoric internal process. Maybe, it is my time to rise up and challenge the gods. And, in some ways, that is exactly what I am doing. When the time comes, and I arise and destroy myself, by removing the con from my construction, I wonder will all of creation meet destruction?

From a Trumanesque perspective, I think when the end does come, at that endless moment, all that will be left, in my world, will be me and my maker, face to face.

Of course that won’t be “the end,” because after that endless moment comes and passes, he and I will go our separate ways again, until we meet at the end of the next cycle, and exchange words of appreciation and resentment once again. Alas, I think I understand why the following song escaped me for so many years, to be discovered sometime around the beginning of this beast starting to awaken:

I think many, myself included, had previously misunderstood this song. For me, now, it is the meeting between man and his maker. The unborn child, is the one the being he is communicating his anger to, is the one he didn’t have, because the matrix/creation got so fucked up, upside-down, as it is now. Living out life according to normalcy has become impossible, and he like me has chosen not to live out that engineered slave existence. That is my interpretation. That man is me.

Had I remained ignorant, I’d still be running around Brasil, with my 12 girlfriends (yes, twelve, so maybe I am like the christ), and not a care in the world for all the shit I’m confronting now. Maybe I’d be better off? I don’t know, I’ll take that up with my creator when I meet him … oops, I mean “schlee.”

Need I remind anyone, when I say my creator, I speak not of the real Satan, that mother-fucker who goes by the name of Jehovah/Yahweh. If I run into that dude should I break free or get out, I’m gonna fuck him up the ass. When I mused this to my friend, she said, “So that you can steal his life force?” Actually, I hadn’t considered that, but now that she mentions it, not a bad idea!

To imbue myself with life force stolen taken from a God. Dare I? To some, this will come off as blasphemy. But, that is not your mind or soul talking, just a program looping through your neural construct. One of the worst things you can do to a child, is indoctrinate him with religion. In my own astral wanderings, I ran into two beings who claimed to be “God” … looking back, I think they were taking advantage of my [programmed] ignorance. One was kind, loving and jovial. The other cruel, sadistic and mother-fucking scary.

At some point, should I either deem it appropriate,or be permitted to, I will speak of my mystic voyages, and what my eyes have not seen. I know a date with destiny awaits me. When that day arrives, I will seek out the former being, and embrace him. As for the latter, I know he is terrified of that day arriving. Will I seek vengeance, or will I forgive? Only my heart knows the answer to that, and while he may know my mind, the former is a place he cannot fathom.

And what about Lucy Fur? Well, I’ve learned a few things about women in my years, and I’ve decided on the proper course of action for dealing with her in the now. What is the worst thing you can do to a woman whose attention you have somehow garnished [regardless of if its positive or negative]? Ignore her!

Is there a greater perceived injustice than to let one over-ripe fruit wither on the vine? Her fire, bereft of fuel, will either have to burn itself out (unlikely for an eternal one), or rage out of control …the fire is coming. I know to some this may seem daunting, and dare I say scary, but I’m not fear-mongering. It’s not because I think I have a ticket on the ark. That phrase never entered my thoughts. A scenario where I, by holding the key, would be required to stay behind and hold the portal/break open has entered my/the mind.

Perhaps that was never my destiny? I know I seek eternal Tanerlorn, for I am weary. At some point, I should give this wizardry business up, and set up [re]building my own Tanerlorn in this world/plane of existence. If I don’t succeed, inevitably I will find it in the next.

  :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: :: ::
 

*1: Will get into that song more when I do my George Romero video/documentary. And, “they” do know what “we” watch. I remember calling Cable tech support and the girl saying, “Oh, I see you watch True Blood.” [LB]

*2: Oh, what an [anally exacting] toll “fame” must take. Keep an eye out should From Starfish to Stardom ever creep out of the queue. [LB]

*3: Lana Cantrell, would probably advise me, that it’s for the better, as by staying out of them, I am prolonging my life and preserving my strength. Styigan Port, was it not you that said “sex is death?” [LB]

*4: True Syncronicity/Wackiness: Right after I wrote down these “everfacts” I got a call from my sister. It turns out that not only has she met Angela, but was at one time, a close friend of Amber, who she had thought might be a good match for me, and was trying to hook us up. Yes, the little sis (Amber) is a redhead too. [LB]

*5: Actually, I’m gonna stay away from that hole completely. Not only did she fuck derelict androgyne Marilyn Manson, but “inspired” him to write “Heart-Shaped Glasses (When The Heart Guides The Hand)” [disturbing video]. She also lost out the role of the child vampire in Cruise’s Interview With the Vampire to Kirsten Dunce. “Starred” in degenerative mass whore-programming vehicle Thirteen. Worst of all, her “her-o” is U2’s cocksucking eugenicist front-man Bono. [LB]

*6: Don’t know if anyone mentioned this before, but applying the “spinner” … WALL-E, a “beast” of sorts, could be code for Aleister Crowley’s LAM. [LB]

*7: Anyone who spent time studying medeival weaponry, such as I, was probably a little befuddled as to how the long sword was generally favored over axes or flails, especially against heavy armor. Alas, it makes more sense now. [LB]

*8: Many seem surprised to learn I joined a fraternity. Well, I actually joined two. Hence, my popularity at the first seriously suffered, cause apparantly that was against “the rules.” But, that’s a whole nother story. Suffice to say: I don’t believe in rules. [LB]

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Esportivo da Lexus é flagrado perto do lançamento

Marca de Luxo da Toyota prepara esportivo (fotos: carangoblog.com)

Depois que a concorrente Nissan lançou o esportivo GT-R e ganhou as capas de revistas em volta do mundo, agora é a vez da Lexus (divisão de luxo da Toyota) preparar o seu superesportivo LF-A. O carro deve ser lançado no Salão de Toquio, que acontece no próximo mês.

 Os flagrantes do modelo já quase totalmente sem disfarces foi feito na pista de Nurburgring. A produção do LF-A será limitada a 500 unidades, para manter a exclusividade do modelo. Sabe-se que apenas 20 delas serão destinadas para a Inglaterra, por exemplo.

Pelas fotos dá para dizer que a Lexus abandonou a ar sóbrio  e comedido de seus carros para abusar da esportividade. A frente do modelo é agressiva e recortada com grandes entradas de ar.

O centro de gravidade é bastante baixo para melhorar a performance em curvas. Na traseira, as saídas do escapamento ficam posicionadas no centro e as lanternas ficam embaixo de pequenos aerofólios.

Dados de desempenho e de motorização ainda não são conhecidos. Mas pelo preço salgado, algo em torno dos 250 mil euros no exterior, não devemos esperar qualquer motorzinho.

Monday, September 21, 2009

Dai's Driving Academy 4,

Sunday September 20th was Dai’s Driving Academy 4 at Irvine, El Toro Air Field. weather was nice and clear. little wind and hot as hell lol out in the field with no shade is torture without sunscreen. this time, i almost got ran over… lol thanks Jin-san… hahaha o yea btw, you can now order prints. leave a comment with your email address and i will contact you back

9月20日の日曜日はDai’s Driving Academy 4でしたぁ。場所はアーバイン市内のエルトロ・エアーフィールド。元米軍基地です。天気は晴れで良好。風がほんの少しあって地獄のような暑さ(笑。影も無い中炎天下での撮影はまさに地獄。日焼け止め塗ってなければほぼ拷問w。今回は、ひかれそうになりました…笑。ジンさん、ありがとう…ww。今回から、写真のプリントサービスを始めました。コメントにメールアドレスを連載して頂ければこちらから連絡します

started my driving a little early on the 405 freeway lol

405で、走行会を一人でフライング(笑

and here at the venue now. peeps setting up for the track.

そして着きました会場。皆さん準備で大忙し。

and here the driver’s meeting start. alot more people then we expected.

そしてドラミ。思ったよりも人が来ててビックリだった。

and to the course!

そしていざコースへ!

look at those heat daze lol

見て見てあの陽炎の具合(笑

heres from the short course. since i was at the drift course first, i dont think i have everyone’s shots…

これはショートコースの模様です。最初ドリフトコースの方に居たから全員の写真は無いかもです…

i found JDM Steve far away lol looks like a little mang lol

スティーブが遠ぉぉぉぉおくの方にいた(笑。なんかちっちゃいおっちゃんみたい(笑

and walked to the drift course.

そしてドリフトコースへ。

feels sooooo lonely standing in the field  by yourself lol

このただっ広い敷地内で一人ポツンはメッッッチャ寂しいよ(笑

 

phew,close by.

いやいや危なかった。

and now at the long grip course.

そして最後はグリップコースの長いヤツ。

ended around 5:30 or more close to 6 i guess. and the fun part begins. picking up the cones!! hahha

五時半とか6時近くに終わったよ。そしてこっからが楽しいの。パイロン拾い行って来まぁーす!!ww

and dropping off the trash cans. Takeshi looking sey with the sunset.

あとはゴミ捨てに。アイザワさんが夕日で超セクシー。

30 empresas cedem aos metalúrgicos

O Estado de S. Paulo

No primeiro dia de greve por tempo indeterminado dos metalúrgicos da região do ABC paulista, 30 empresas, que empregam quase 21% dos grevistas, procuraram ontem o sindicato e se comprometeram, por escrito, a atender às reivindicações da categoria. Nessas fábricas, os metalúrgicos decidiram voltara ao trabalho. Nas demais empresas da região, a greve continua.

As empresas que aderiram à proposta do sindicato empregam 12,5 mil metalúrgicos. Os sindicalistas dizem que mais de 60 mil trabalhadores iniciaram o movimento. Entre as empresas que não aderiram ao acordo e seguem com a produção paralisada estão as fabricantes de autopeças Mahle Metal Leve e Sachs, ambas em São Bernardo do Campo, Detroit (Diadema) e Faparmas (Ribeirão Pires).

A categoria reivindica reajuste de 6,53%, dos quais 2% de aumento real, mais abono equivalente a um terço do salário médio, o que, segundo o sindicato, equivale a mais 2% de aumento real. Os índices são os mesmos obtidos pelo sindicato na negociação com o Sindicato Nacional dos Fabricantes de Veículos Automotivos (Sinfavea), na semana passada, e aprovados pelos trabalhadores da Ford, Scania, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen e Toyota.

A estratégia de comprometer as empresas foi definida em assembleia, quinta-feira, como forma de levar as fábricas a pressionar as bancadas patronais a fecharem um acordo coletivo com a categoria. O sindicato não divulgou quantas empresas foram paralisadas ontem.

Já os metalúrgicos da General Motors (GM) de São José dos Campos e de São Caetano do Sul decidiram ontem entrar em greve por tempo indeterminado. A fábrica da GM em São Caetano do Sul emprega 10,5 mil trabalhadores e a de São José dos Campos, outros 8,5 mil. Em São Caetano, segundo o sindicato, que é ligado à Força Sindical, são produzidos os modelos Astra, Vectra e a família Cosa, a uma média diária de 852 veículos. Os trabalhadores querem 10% de reajuste salarial mais R$ 2 mil de abono.

Já os metalúrgicos de São José dos Campos, cujo sindicato é ligado à Coordenação Nacional de Lutas (Conlutas), pedem 14,65% de reajuste. A GM produz na região os modelos Corsa, Zafira, Blazer, picapes S10 e Montana, além de veículos desmontados para exportação (CKDs). A cada dia de paralisação deixam de ser produzidos cerca de mil veículos.

Em audiência de conciliação entre a GM e o Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos de São José dos Campos, o Tribunal Regional do Trabalho (TRT) propôs ontem que a empresa conceda 8,3% de reajuste salarial mais abono de R$ 1.950. A GM se comprometeu a dar uma resposta ao sindicato até amanhã. Na segunda-feira, os trabalhadores realizarão nova assembleia para votar a proposta.

A Volkswagen-Audi pediu ontem que o TRT faça o julgamento da greve que paralisa a fábrica de São José dos Pinhais (PR) desde o dia 3. O Sindicato dos Metalúrgicos da Grande Curitiba terá cinco dias para expor os argumentos favoráveis às reivindicações da categoria. Depois, a Volkswagen tem o mesmo prazo para colocar seu ponto de vista. Posteriormente, o TRT marcará a data de julgamento e emite a sentença.

Fonte:  O Estado de S. Paulo/Marcelo Rehder e Evandro Fadel | www.estadao.com.br

1999 toyota caldina wagon ST210G sale

1999 toyota caldina wagon ST210G sale AT fully loaded, wagon, 50,000km

USE INQUIRY FORM BELOW AT FIRST, COMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER
IS SOMETIES MESSED UP.
Payment–bank wire transfer beforeshipment in Japan. Before TT.
we provide you 2 IDs. Passport and Japan drivers licese.

______________________________________________________________

Kuroyanagi Shouten Ltd Japan.
#510 Castle May, 3-1422 Ueda-Higashi
Tenpaku, Nagoya  Japan 468-0006
ks.nra30133@gmail.com
fax +81 52 803 1870
tel +81 90-1417-1403
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E-mail only please, ecause night and days get upside downs with each other

Saturday, September 19, 2009

Toyota Corolla Spacio


[Toyota Corolla Spacio]

Finally got our own car yesterday. Though it’s a used car, it smells and drives like new. Direct import from Japan, this 2002 Toyota Spacio (sold as Verso in Europe) has an economical and zippy 1500cc VVTi engine. As a compact MPV, it can also be easily converted into 7-seat people mover.


[Also known as Toyota Verso in Europe]


[The front]


[The rear]


[14" tyres]


[The all too familiar Toyota steering wheel]


[Pretty standard meters]


[The dashboard]


[Original CD, Tape, TV and GPS]

I’m getting audio when I switch to TV but very blurry or no image. I wonder if the antenna is busted. If only I can get it to work.


[Sound quality is pretty good]


[Err... wakarimasen desu!!?!]

Menus are all in Japanese.


[Ooo... PSP]


[Sunglass compartment]


[Armrest is a nice touch for the driver]


[Cup holders]

I counted at least 8 cup holders inside the car. That’s more than half a dozen can of beers. Japanese must really like to drink and drive.


[Second row is occupied by the kids]


[Very roomy back compartment]


[Pull out the 3rd row seat and you have an instant 7-seater]


[Warrant of Fitness, valid for another 6 months]


[The VVTi engine]


[Even the Japanese car manual looks new... if only I can understand anything in it]


[I think it means seat belts are bad for kids...]

The World's Most Valuable Brands

Top 10 Brands

Consumers lost trust in brands this year as the recession deepened, according to an industry report released Thursday, although longtime staples Coca-Cola and IBM retained their spots as the world’s two most valuable brands.

This is the first time the combined value of the world’s top 100 brands as ranked by Interbrand, a branding agency, has fallen in the 10 years Interbrand has assessed them.

Here’s a quick look at the top 10 brands and how they’ve changed in value from last year:

  1. Coca-Cola, up 3% to $68.73 billion

    People still want to buy the world a Coke.
  2. IBM, up 2% to $60.21 billion
  3. Microsoft, down 4% to $56.65 billion

    Be that as it may, I’m a Mac user.
  4. GE, down 10% to $47.78 billion
  5. Nokia, down 3% to $34.87 billion
  6. McDonald’s, up 4% to $32.28 billion

    I guess people are getting a Big Mac and Fries with that Coke.
  7. Google, up 25 percent to $31.98 billion
  8. Toyota, down 8% to $31.33 billion
  9. Intel, down 2% to $30.64 billion
  10. Disney, down 3% to $28.45 billion

    The recession even hurts Mickey!

To read the full story, go to:  http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-ap-us-brand-rankings,0,2273360.story

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Toyota Girl From Here On Out - Elk Grove Toyota Wins Another

John Tran, retail sales professional, receives a perfect report card from a very satisfied customer.

Customer comment: “I have already recommended this dealership to my friends, family, and co-workers. This is probably the best experience I have had purchasing a new vehcile. Now that I have actually driven my Toyota Corolla for a month, I have discovered that it has a lot of great features. My last two cars were Hondas but not any more. I am a Toyota girl from here on out”.

John Tran serves as one of Elk Grove Toyota’s retail sales professionals and has been with Elk Grove Toyota now for several years.

Montadoras concedem reajustes salariais bastante acima da média

Valor Econômico

Enquanto o conjunto da indústria brasileira ainda se recompõe após o choque promovido pela crise econômica mundial entre o fim de 2008 e os primeiros meses deste ano, as montadoras negociaram acordos salariais acima da média e superiores aos do ano passado quando o PIB brasileiro crescia a taxas de 5% ao ano. Beneficiada por medidas de reduções de impostos por parte do governo federal e diante de um mercado interno aquecido, a indústria automobilística concedeu reajustes reais entre 2% e 5%, percentuais que devem ser perseguidos, agora, por outros setores, segundo avaliação de economistas e sindicalistas.

Metalúrgicos das montadoras Renault e Volvo, do Paraná, conquistaram o maior acordo salarial na indústria brasileira em 2009 quando são somados reposição, aumento real e abono, segundo o Departamento Intersindical de Estatística e Estudos Sócioeconômicos (Dieese). Após paralisação de apenas um dia, na terça-feira, os 2,6 mil trabalhadores da Volvo, que produz ônibus e caminhões em Curitiba, conseguiram reposição da inflação de 4,44% (segundo o INPC) mais aumento real de 3%, totalizando 7,57% de reajuste, além do abono de R$ 2 mil. Além disso, a empresa comprometeu-se a manter o nível médio de emprego até o começo de dezembro.

Na Renault-Nissan, sediada em São José dos Pinhais, os 4,5 mil empregados conseguiram negociar os mesmos valores e mais 1% de aumento real que havia ficado pendente no ano passado. Ao todo, vão receber 8,65% de aumento salarial e mais o abono de R$ 2 mil. A produção na montadora estava parada desde o dia 4.

Segundo Cid Cordeiro, economista do Dieese, se for considerado o impacto do abono para o pessoal administrativo e operacional, que tem salário médio de R$ 4 mil, o ganho real equivale a mais 3,75%. Se for levado em conta apenas o operacional, cujo salário médio é de R$ 2 mil, ele sobe para 7,5%. Por esse cálculo, na Volvo o ganho total dos metalúrgicos foi de 10,5% e, na Renault, de 11,5%.

Para Carlos Morassutti, diretor de recursos humanos da Volvo, foi uma “proposta excelente, principalmente levando-se em consideração o atual contexto econômico, de queda nas vendas em relação ao ano passado.” A Renault não quis falar sobre o reajuste. Cordeiro, do Dieese, acha que o resultado deve influenciar as campanhas de outras categorias no país, servindo de referência para as negociações salariais no segundo semestre.

“A indústria automobilística recebeu redução de impostos por parte do governo federal e, ainda que perdendo margem nas exportações, conseguiu manter níveis altos de produção e venda para o mercado interno”, analisa David Kupfer, diretor do Grupo de Indústria e Competitividade da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ). “Tudo isso serviu para embasar a decisão das montadoras de dividir parte desse ganho com os metalúrgicos”.

Para ele, os reajustes dados este mês são compreensíveis, mas ainda sim surpreendentes. “Trata-se de uma questão setorial. De modo algum esses reajustes sinalizam uma trajetória para o conjunto das indústrias. Não alcançarão sequer o restante da indústria metal-mecânica”.

Ontem, 4 mil trabalhadores do setor de autopeças de São Bernardo, Diadema e Ribeirão Pires promoveram protestos e paralisações parciais almejando conquistar os mesmos reajustes concedidos pelas montadoras aos metalúrgicos do ABC.

No interior de São Paulo, os metalúrgicos da Toyota e da Honda, negociaram aumento de 10%, composto por reposição da inflação (INPC) e mais 5,3% reais – percentual superior aos 2% pagos nas montadoras do ABC. O acordo da Toyota e da Honda não prevê abono. Nas contas do sindicato do ABC, o abono de R$ 1,5 mil equivale a um aumento real de 2,07%, o que levaria o reajuste da categoria para 4,11%. De acordo com o Dieese, no primeiro semestre, 76% dos acordos superaram a inflação. Dos 188 acordos acima da inflação, 114 pagaram até 1% de aumento real e em apenas 10 o reajuste acima da inflação superou 3%.

Fonte: Valor Econômico | www.valoronline.com.br

Mijn Auto

Deze foto van mijn auto is gemaakt op de spottersplek van Eindhoven Airport. Normaal ben ik niet zo van het uploaden van mijn eigen auto, maar deze kwam toch wel heel mooi uit. Even daarvoor had ik de auto gewassen dus hij blinkt ook nog.

Toyota Corolla 1.6V



Op de achtergrond zie je het vliegveld

Deze foto is genomen met een sluitertijd van 30 seconden, waardoor je het speciale effect krijgt.

Persoonlijk vind ik deze foto behoorlijk goed gelukt

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

The Best 2010 vehicles

The Best 2010 Vehicles

By The Car Family

For vehicle websites go to http://www.reacheverychild.com/business/index.html

Alfa Romeo

This model year tends to reflect the down nature of the economy with a few bright spots for those with dough and risk takes. For example, Alfa Romeo is back with three Italian beauties. The Alfa Romeo 159 Sedan is a BMW 3 Series fighter with a 260 horsepower 3.2-liter V6 engine stunning looks and standard all-wheel drive all for about $35,000. Adding to that Italian Flair is the Alfa Romeo Brera 2 plus 2 Coupe that is really attractive and carries the same drive train as the 150 sedan. As usually, you have to pay more for something beautiful so the sleek two door should run a couple of grand more. Of course, going topless is the sole purpose of the Alfa Romeo Spider which should cost over $40,000 probably with the same V6 engine. We suggest wait and see.

Acura

Aston Martin has more expensive eye candy for anyone still with a couple hundred thousand dollars to spend. The Rapide has four doors, a first, and  470 horsepower. For a hundred thousand more you can own a smaller vehicle, the DBS Volante 2+2 and sit on 510-horsepower. That is the same horsepower you can feast upon in a Jaguar sedan that costs $80,000. There is also the One-77 for two million, a V12 with 700 horsepower and it is built to the owner’s specifications, more or less. Oh, the name? They are only going to build 77 of them. Hurry. You can get a lot more for a lot less.

Audi

Whether Audi’s winning streak lasts is in the hands of four new Audi vehicles. The A5 Cabriolet does away with the A4 in appearance only as most of the drivetrain is the same. Look for some more technology and a price a little over forty grand. You can also order supercharged version for a few thousand dollars more. Finally, the Audi S4, at around $50,000, is going to have a 3.0-liter  supercharged six-cylinder engine making about 335 horsepower and all wheel drive.  A BMW with a softer image.

BMW

BMW continues its quest to build some pretty strange looking vehicles, but they continue to succeed. The  Z4 well have a retractable hardtop and its excellent  twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline 6-cylinder engine as well as a base model sans the induction help starting in the mid-$40,000 range. For $80,000 you can harvest a large BMW 7-Series with a twin-turbocharged 4.4-liter V8 with 400 horsepower. Again, less horsepower than the Jaguar sedan, but it has more backseat room. Back to strange looking BMWs and the X6 M. For nearly ninety thousand dollars you can drive a very fast SUV that can rival the Porsche Cayenne in everything, including deprecation. Look for 550 plus horsepower from a twin-turbocharged V8. The base 3 Series is still the best BMW.

Buick Lacrosse

We don’t recommend General Motors products at this time. The Lacrosse is priced at about $28,000 and for that you can get a slightly used Lexus RX still under warranty. Remember that General Motors only allows select people to test drive their vehicles so watch for bias.

Cadillac

We don’t recommend General Motors products at this time. Cadillac has a new sports wagon and more powerful engines in most of its products. The SRX and sports wagon cost nearly the same, about $34,000 and they both do essentially the same, with the wagon being more sprightly. We don’t get the pricing strategy, but we also don’t understand why GM hired back a leader who helped create the bankruptcy in the first place.

Ferrari

Ferrari California is offered at about $195,000. For that you get a retractable hardtop convertible, a 4.3-liter V8 that produces 460 horsepower, a seven-speed dual clutch transmission, and a Ferrari that makes the overpriced and poor riding Bentley look like yesterday.

Fiat 500

When it comes buy it. Pricing is fairly high for such a small machine, just below $20,000, but it is cute, rides well, and you can order it with a fuel sipping 1.4-liter 4-cylinder engine with 100. We recommend you delay your gratification until the more powerful engine becomes available.

Ford Mustang

It isn’t getting old and it is getting better, The Mustang looks much sharper this year and the handling has been smoothed. A myriad of engine choices. For about $20,000 you can have a car that makes the weird looking Chevrolet Camaro and bulking Chrysler Challenger like bad styling exercises.

Ford F-150 SVT Raptor

Expensive, high riding, and expensive, the F-150 Raptor is meant to destroy off-road obstacles and pass most everything except a gas station. $39,000.

Ford Taurus

We highly recommend the Ford Fusion. If you need more leg and cargo space, the new Taurus is a darn good vehicle to consider, especially with a $26,000 asking price. Good fuel mileage, a six-speed automatic transmission and a 3.5 engine are standard. If you need more power and want to spend nearly $39,000 you can stuff your Taurus with the SHO turbocharged, 365 horsepower engine.

Ford Fusion

A bargain and fun to drive, the Fusion is now available as a hybrid that can easily get mid-30 mpg. Well priced at just over $20,000, the Fusion is just as good as the competition from Asia and the hybrid is one of the best family vehicles you can possess that offers exception fuel mileage.

Honda Insight

Priced below $20,000, the Insight is less expensive than the Toyota Insight, but you get a lot less. Fuel mileage in the low 40 mpg arena. Look for Toyota to offer a stripped Prius to offset the Honda’s price advantage. However, it won’t have the Honda handling.

Hyundai Genesis Coupe

Wow, for those who like a slick looking coupe that goes fairly well, the $23,000 Genesis coupe is a must drive. The turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine and the 3.8-liter V6 produce 210 and 306 horsepower respectively. Why pay more?

Jaguar XJ Series

This stunning sedan is available with an extended-wheelbase and potent powertrains from the base

5.0-liter V8 and its 385 horsepower to the .XJL Supercharged have 470 horsepower version to the Supersport’s

510 horsepower engine. Safety wise the Jaguar offers ABS, traction control, antiskid system, curtain side airbags, and front side airbags. Add to that Jaguar’s Adaptive Dynamics adjustable air suspension and you have a sweet riding sedan. You can also add a dual-screen DVD entertainment system. The Supersport is a bargain for those who like their sedan to truly leap. One of our favorites.

Priced just under $70,000.

Jeep Grand Cherokee

As the much anticipated Chevrolet Volt is said to be the most important vehicle to General Motors, the Grand Cherokee is even more vital to Chrysler. To this end they are offering extended warranties on the drivetrain and a less ancient styling. Pricing is expected to be just over $30,000, but more importantly, you are going to own a vehicle with a nicer interior and better handling than any previous model.  Well worth the late for those that need the Grand Cherokee’s legendary off-road ability.

Kia Soul

A real surprise, the Kia Soul can be bought for under $15,000 and you get a very useful and fun car to drive. It has a high seating position and both the 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine and 142 horsepower 2.0-liter 4-cylinder get good gas mileage. The large tires give a sturdy ride, but that is the sole concern with the Soul. Another one of our favorites.

Kia Forte

Yet another bargain from Kia, the Forte is a sedan that has an available 173 horsepower 2.4-liter 4-cylinder engine and room for five all for under $15,000. Kia is on a roll, pun intended.

Kia Forte Koup

A two door version of the Forte for under $20,000.

Kia Sorrento

The Sorrento is leaner, but still not nearly competitive with the other crossovers at this time. However, Kia dealers are willing to deal and the new engine choices might make this a thrifty hauler. Well under $25,000 and look for good deals.

Lexus IS C

This convertible relies on the Lexus name and stunning interior to gather new customers. The base engine is barely adequate, and the larger engined IS 350C and its 3.5-liter, 306 horsepower V6 drives up the price thousands. Look to pay over $40,000 and for that you get a retractable hardtop and Lexus service.  Watch for those bulging side panels in parking lots, though.

Lexus RX 450h

Another giant leap forward for the best crossover in the land, the Lexus RX. This time Lexus has improved the performance and offers a plethora of new technology treats for those who want the $42,000 smoothmobile. You can easily get over 30 mpg and there is plenty of pep, but the reality is that the base RX offers nearly the same mileage for much less. Drive them both.

Lexus HS 250h

Not the best Lexus when it comes to styling, the HS 250h is a larger Prius with the Camry hybrid’s 2.4-liter engine. Rides well and is pretty perky, but it is priced in the mid-$30,000 range and the fuel mileage isn’t that much better than the terrific Toyota Corolla.

Lincoln MKT

We like Lincoln, but we don’t always understand their attraction. They seldom are different than the base Ford they are based on, but that may all be in the past as the MKT comes online. A stunning interior, an attention getting exterior and ample power. Priced in the mid-$40,000 range. Our advise, buy the turbocharged engine with its 355 horsepower.

Mazda3

More versions of this poor man’s BMW, the Mazda3 in the form of a four and five door and a souped-up sizzler, this fun and frugal winner has seen its interior expanded, but not its powertrain.  Prices start around $17,000. The Speed version threatens the pavement with a 2.3-liter engine creating 263 horsepower. Can you say torque steer?

Mercedes-Benz S400 Hybrid

For nearly $90,000 you can own the luxurious S Class Mercedes that combines the power of the base engine with that of electric motors to give a big push to a big car without sacrificing too much fuel. Personally, we think the Bluetec diesel is the best offering, but it does not come in the S model.

Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe

A very large coupe at a good price, the $54,000 E-Class is available with an optional 382-horsepower V8 to provide a lot of go in this attractive two door.

Mercedes-Benz GLK

An optical illusion, this SUV is actually small on the outside, but large on the inside. Available with the diesel, which would make it perfect, it also comes with a 3.5-liter V6 engine and a potent 268 horses. Priced below $35,000. The best MB SUV.

Mercedes-Benz M-Class Hybrid

Priced around $50,000, this SUV combines a 3.5-liter V6 engine with a continuously variable transmission and two electric motors to make it seriously fast and still get fuel mileage above 20 mpg. In reality, this is better than the General Motors products in the form of the Cadillac Escalade hybrids, but lacks the polish of the Lexus RX 450h. Stick with the M-Class.

MINI Crossman

A MINI on steroids, the all wheel drive Crossman is a tall, stubby, attention getting version of the MINI that uses a turbocharged 1.6-liter 4-cylinder engine with 172 horsepower to push it through the considerable turbulence its design creates. For about $30,000 you can drive something different.

Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback

Sporty in appearance and handling, this Lancer can be ordered with all wheel drive and the station wagon styling makes it very family friendly. The hot rod Ralliart version is also planned. Priced under $30,000, the Sportback is the most utilitarian of the Lancers, but look for dealers to offer some good pricing.

Nissan

The 370 Z convertible is here and this two-seater is a hoot to drive, especially considering its base pricing of just over $40,000 well equipped. For a lot less you can have the hard top version with the same engine, transmission, and suspension. With prices starting around $30,000, the 370Z comes with a 332 horsepower V6,  six-speed manual transmission and the must have SynchroRev Match system that automatically matches engine speed to your selected gear on downshifts. A real bargain, but there is a lot of competition in the sporty car field now with the upgraded Mustang, Chevrolet Camaro, Chrysler Challenger, and Hyundai Genesis coupe.

Nissan’s Cube is a box with a little style and a lot of utility. The poster car for funky, the Cube has an asymmetrical rear glass and a side opening rear hatch. For about $14,000 this eye catcher can do your daily chores without much fuss thanks to the 1.8-liter 4-cylinder engine with 122 horsepower. There is a lot of competition in this niche once dominated by the Scion B and D. Now the pressure comes from the Kia Soul.

Porsche Panamera

This is a four door Porsche that comes in two forms, fast and faster. The 4400 pound sedan comes in either two or four wheel drive, but with engines pushing from 400 horsepower to 500 horsepower version. Certainly usable for a family, but at $125,000 plus it is best left to those who enjoy the status of owning this unusual vehicle.

Rolls-Royce Ghost

Why bother. Another Rolls gas hog that serves no purpose that a vehicle half its cost does not provide. A good way to spit in the face of environmentalists while getting the best parking spot at upscale restaurants.

Saab 9-5

Probably due much later in the model year, the new Saab 9-5 is a knockout. Nothing else much new from Saab due to its sale, but used Saabs are a bargain and the 2006 anniversary edition convertible remains one of the great automobile collector bargains with only 400 produced.

Smart fortwo ED

We love the Smart cars, except for the jerky transmissions. They are a hoot to drive and with this version you even get good gas mileage thanks to its electric motors. Another of our favorites.

Subaru Legacy

Bigger and sort of better, the $20,000 Legacy is larger and better looking, but the weak base engine still is challenged in mountain driving even with the new 6-speed manual transmission. We highly recommend the more expensive 3.6-liter flat-six engine option. Another one of our favorites.

Subaru Outback

Essentially the same as the Legacy, but with fancier exterior parts, the one to own is the

2.5 GT.  Priced under $25,000

Suzuki Kizashi

The Kizashi is a totally new direction for Suzuki to grow with a appealing exterior, a 2.4-liter, dual overhead cam four-cylinder engine mated to either a six-speed manual transmission or a CVT, all wheel drive option, and the promise of more power to come. Lots of promises from Suzuki such as upscale audio systems, lots of safety equipment, and a price not much over $20,000. If you are interested in smaller vehicle this is a must drive.

Toyota Prius

Another winner from Toyota. The new Prius is much superior to the previous generation in every way from better fuel mileage to improved cargo room. Prices start about $23,000.  Awesome, but the tires are noisy and the handling is for the slow goers. Easily one of the best cars of 2010. Another one of our favorites.

Volkswagen GTI

It looks the same, but the GTI I much improved, although the powertrain remains virtually the same with a turbocharged 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine with 200 horsepower and 6-speed manual or dual-clutch gearbox. Not inexpensive at $26,000, the handling and versatility of this VW might just spark new interest.

Volkswagen Golf

A well priced Volkswagen; the Golf is essentially the old Rabbit with a 2.5-liter gasoline four-cylinder engine or the highly desirable 2.0-liter diesel pushing the wind aside. Excellent fuel mileage and a $17,000 price tag make this a good vehicle for those who like to drive, but still enjoy passing a gas station.

Volvo XC60

The Volvo wagon remains one of the best you can buy for safety and room, especially the XC 70. However, the pricing on these big wagons is steep and so Volvo is offering the XC60. This smaller, Volvo wagon has an abundance of safety features and the  3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six with its 285 horsepower has just enough power to move this crossover. The all-wheel-drive unit and better handling make this a better choice than its longer brother. Look for prices around $38,000. This is the best Volvo.

For vehicle reviews go to http://www.motorists.org/carfamily/home/most-reliable-vehicles/

Hi-CT-um Toyota híbrido

Olhando para dentro do Hi-CT  Híbrido da Toyota, podemos ouvi-lo dizer “Uau” devido ao seu design futurista.E o exterior agora parece não importar  mais.

O Hi-CT é um plug-in híbrido com um motor 1.5L e usa baterias de lítio-íon, que estão localizados abaixo do piso do veículo, a fim de maximizar o espaço interior do carro. Embora pareçam  bastante quadrados e grandes, é de fato muito pequeno. Todo o veículo é de 3,3 metros de comprimento, 1,6 metros de largura e 1,7 metros de altura. É, efectivamente, um CUBO  sobre rodas. Devido ao tamanho minúsculo, ele só pode transportar duas pessoas. Na traseira  você põe as pranchas, bicicletas e equipamentos de camping.

 

 

Achei muito legal essa traseira!

com teto solar. . .no campo. . .huummm!!!

Monday, September 14, 2009

What to expect from the new Prius

I expect to save fuel especially:

  • while looking for a parking spot in the road where I live
  • because the ICE will always run at the max efficiency under the control of the computer and due to the lack of a manual gearshift (actually the Prius has no gearshift at all)
  • in case I need to do an unavoidable short trip (3-5 km)
  • when standing in a moving traffic jam/stop’n'go on the highway

I expect to have a:

  • silent ride as the ICE is mostly off or running at low rpms and because of the lack of gearshift
  • stress free ride, especially in town and traffic jams, because I don’t have to shift gears anymore and because the Prius computer will always choose the best combination of ICE and electric engine in relation to the position of the accelerator and speed, to achieve max fuel efficiency – now it’s up to me to choose exactly what to do
  • more secure ride, since with the heads-up display I will hardly need to take my eyes off the road

Other than that, all the changes and improvements one gets in a 7 year younger car, compared to my current Polo, will surely bring a much better ride experience

PS: delivery is expected starting from Wednesday this week…

1997 toyota starlet glanza V turbo sale.

1997 EP91 starlet glanza turbo MT 100,000km fob japan Yen250,000.- Sparco 15 inch, tein height changer, TV navigation

USE INQUIRY FORM BELOW AT FIRST, COMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER

IS SOMETIES MESSED UP.

Payment–bank wire transfer beforeshipment in Japan. Before TT.

we provide you 2 IDs. Passport and Japan drivers licese.

_______________________________________________________

Kuroyanagi Shouten Ltd Japan.

#510 Castle May, 3-1422 Ueda-Higashi

Tenpaku, Nagoya  Japan 468-0006

ks.nra30133@gmail.com

fax +81 52 803 1870

tel +81 90-1417-1403

http://111kuroyanagi1.wordpress.com/

http://nagoyajapan1.wordpress.com/

http://japancarexport.at.infoseek.co.jp/index.html

http://ukcanada.hp.infoseek.co.jp/GTR.html

http://kuroyanagikazuo.hp.infoseek.co.jp/index.html

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Google search tips for you

$$All the time google sarch+JP+sale is easier search in Japan limits only

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

E-mail only please, ecause night and days get upside downs with each other

Sunday, September 13, 2009

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1996 toyota hiace KZH106G sale AT 100,000km Model KZH106G 3.0D

USE INQUIRY FORM BELOW AT FIRST, COMUNICATION WITH EACH OTHER

IS SOMETIES MESSED UP.

Payment–bank wire transfer beforeshipment in Japan. Before TT.

we provide you 2 IDs. Passport and Japan drivers licese.

——————————————————————————

Kuroyanagi Shouten Ltd Japan.

#510 Castle May, 3-1422 Ueda-Higashi

Tenpaku, Nagoya  Japan 468-0006

ks.nra30133@gmail.com

fax +81 52 803 1870

tel +81 90-1417-1403

http://111kuroyanagi1.wordpress.com/

http://nagoyajapan1.wordpress.com/

http://japancarexport.at.infoseek.co.jp/index.html

http://ukcanada.hp.infoseek.co.jp/GTR.html

http://kuroyanagikazuo.hp.infoseek.co.jp/index.html

))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Google search tips for you

$$All the time google sarch+JP+sale is easier search in Japan limits only

)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

E-mail only please, ecause night and days get upside downs with each other

[Via http://111kuroyanagi1.wordpress.com]