https://twitter.com/SputnikInt/status/961599473859383296
* * *
PayPal: Donate in USD
PayPal: Donate in EUR
PayPal: Donate in GBP
Mercedes
Mercedes AA Class Car (Video)
https://youtu.be/iEjTwsfqHOY
H/t reader kevin a.
* * *
PayPal: Donate in USD
PayPal: Donate in EUR
PayPal: Donate in GBP
Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Is An Outrageous $2.53 Million 1000HP Hybrid Hypercar
– Mercedes-AMG Project ONE Is An Outrageous $2.53 Million 1000HP Hybrid Hypercar:
We got a tiny glimpse of the Mercedes-AMG Project ONE hypercar last week, but today we’re receiving “The Full Monty”. In a word, the car is simply stunning. As we previously reported, the Project ONE is heavily derived from Formula 1 technology, including its carbon fiber monocoque construction and its turbocharged V6 engine.
Starting with the engine, the 1.6-liter unit produces 612 horsepower by itself. But roughly 600hp isn’t enough for “hypercar” duty. You need more powah! So, the V6 is augmented by a total of four electric motors. Two front-mounted wheel motors add 160hp each (spinning at 50,000 RPM each), and are hooked up to their own single-speed transmission. A third 160hp eclectic motor is connected to the V6 engine’s crankshaft. If that wasn’t enough, a fourth electric motor is found within the turbocharger to help eliminate turbo lag.
Total system output is in excess of 1,000hp — and that’s not to mention that an extra 50hp is at your command using the overboost functionality. Drivers will harness all of this power with an AMG SPEEDSHIFT 8-speed automated manual transmission, with shifting duties being handled by paddles behind the steering wheel. When operating at full tilt, the Project ONE can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in just 2.3 seconds and will reach a top speed of 217mph. It’s also said that it can dash from 0 to 124 mph in under 6 seconds, which is less than most cars can get to 60.
Read moreMercedes-AMG Project ONE Is An Outrageous $2.53 Million 1000HP Hybrid Hypercar
Porsche Sales Surge To Record – 3 Years Ahead Of Plan
– Porsche Sales Surge To Record – 3 Years Ahead Of Plan (ZeroHedge, Feb 12, 2014):
It seems yet another (luxury) car maker did not get the “but it’s the weather” memo. Following Mercedes record sales in January, Porsche has announced today that expects to hit a target of selling more than 200,000 sports cars next year, three years earlier than originally scheduled. As Reuters reports, Volkswagen-owned Porsche is entering the lucrative segment of compact SUVs with its new Macan model, which has already sold out about eight months of production ahead of its arrival at German dealerships on April 4. Wealth effect, of course, is all that matters… and the promise of higher minimum wages and a Maserati in every garage.
Porsche expects to hit a target of selling more than 200,000 sports cars next year, three years earlier than originally scheduled, as the brand keeps pushing into sport-utility vehicles, Chief Executive Matthias Mueller said.
Read morePorsche Sales Surge To Record – 3 Years Ahead Of Plan
On The Assassination Of Journalist Michael Hastings: ‘We Got The Message …’
As a side note:
Do you remember the assassination of Alfred Herrhausen (Former Chairman of Deutsche Bank who came up with the ‘novel idea’ of debt forgiveness for insolvent countries like Mexico)?
Germany ‘lost’ Alfred Herrhausen’s blown up Mercedes 500 SE:
Terrible Google translation here:
– Why has the Herrhausen Car Wreck Disappeared (Die Welt, Jan 15, 2013)
Original article:
– Warum ist das Herrhausen-Wrack verschwunden? (Die Welt, Jan 15, 2013)
Remember Josef Ackemann when asked about possible debt forgiveness for Greece on German TV (ZDF)?
„Ich glaube, es wäre mir gegangen wie Herrn Herrhausen.“
“I believe I would have ended up like Mr. Herrhausen.”
Bilderberg Josef Ackermann says it at around 6:28 into the video:
Bad things happen … especially to good people.
Hastings “Boston Brakes” Killing a Warning?
– “We Got The Message…” (Veterans Today, June 19, 2013):
By Gordon Duff
Imagine a new “E Class” Mercedes exploding in flames, burning to a cinder. 220 km/hr crashes on the Autobahn are often survived, certainly without a fire.
There is a reason to own a Mercedes, in normal circumstances the chances of dying in one are quite remote unless you are Lady Di or heir to the presidency of Syria or, just perhaps, wrote a scathing expose that dismembered part of one of the greatest drug empires of all time.
“Yes, you got Michael Hastings. We are warned. Lots of journalists are killed each year. Veterans Today loses its share, perhaps a bit more. ”
For those who didn’t watch the entire video, go back. Catch the last few seconds. I was flabbergasted.
Those of us who have “been there and done that,” and come back with more than the T Shirt say goodbye to one of ours.
Read moreOn The Assassination Of Journalist Michael Hastings: ‘We Got The Message …’
European Car Sales Drop To 20-Year Low
– European Car Sales Drop To 20-Year Low, Germany Clobbered (ZeroHedge, June 18, 2013):
When the S&P, always so conveniently ahead of the curve, yesterday revised its forecast for Europe from growth in the second half of 2013 to 2014 one couldn’t help but golf clap, as well as wonder if they finally started looking at the fundamental depressionary reality on the ground instead of the rating agency’s infamous “models.” A depressionary reality confirmed by the latest car sales number for May which just hit a fresh 20 year low.
European car sales hit their lowest level for the month of May in 20 years as the region’s recession dragged on, the European automakers’ association said Tuesday.
They meant depression instead of recession, but it’s an honest mistake.
Study: Audi, BMW And VW ‘Among Worst For Engine Failures’
Hmmh.
Audi, BMW and VW ranked in the bottom 10 of a study into engine reliability
– German cars ‘among worst for engine failures’ (Auto Express, Jan 18, 2013):
German-made cars are not as reliable as many believe, according to new research. Warranty Direct has studied its claims data to compile a list of the manufacturers with the most reliable engines – and Audi, BMW and Volkswagen all finished in the bottom 10 out of a total 36 makers.
In fact, the only firm whose cars had a worse engine failure rate than Audi was MG Rover. MINI wasn’t much better, finishing third from bottom, while its parent company BMW came seventh from bottom. And, despite its reputation for rock-solid reliability, Volkswagen came ninth from bottom.
Read moreStudy: Audi, BMW And VW ‘Among Worst For Engine Failures’
WARNING: DO NOT USE ‘E15’ Gas If Your Car Is Older Than 2012! (FOX Business Video)
The Car Coach Lauren Fix on why ‘E15’ gas could damage drivers’ vehicles older than 2012 models.
France’s Private Sector Gets Kicked Off A Cliff
– Worse Than The Infamous Lehman September: France’s Private Sector Gets Kicked Off A Cliff (ZeroHedge, Oct 1, 2012):
This should have been an exciting moment: the Paris auto show, “Mondial de l’Automobil,” this weekend with over 100 new models from around the world, from econo-boxes with rounded corners to exotic prototypes that will never see production. Chicks next to some of them. Nausea-inducing colors, downsized motors. Something for everyone. But it had been preceded by two days of supplier events loaded with the dire verbiage of an industry that is on a death march. Particularly in France, whose private sector is veering into economic fiasco. And on Monday, it became official.
A barometer of the real economy in France, new car sales as measured by registrations, crashed in September—down 18.3% from September last year, and accelerating (year-to-date, sales were down “only” 13.9%). It was the worst September in years, worse even than the infamous Lehman September of 2008. And 2012 is shaping up to be the worst year since long before the financial crisis.
Of the French brands, market leader PSA Peugeot Citroen saw sales drop “only” 5%, helped by the introduction of its new sub-compact Peugeot 208. But year to date, sales were down 18.4%. Renault got killed. A stunning 33.4% plunge for the month and 19.8% YTD.
An equal-opportunity fiasco. Even the heroes from across the Rhine got their clocks cleaned in France. Volkswagen (VW, Audi, SEAT, Skoda) fell 17.4%. BMW and Mercedes where hit as well. GM (Opel, Chevrolet) tumbled 20.8%, Ford 31.5%. And Fiat, well, it might as well hang up its hat: down 38.4%!
Japan Epic Motorway Crash: 8 Ferraris, 3 Mercedes, 1 Lamborghini, 1 Nissan Skyline And 1 Toyota Prius (Video)
Japan will ‘crash’:
– Of Imminent Defaults And Self Deception: Hedge Fund Manager Kyle Bass Prepares For The Worst
YouTube
– The £2.5million motorway smash involving 8 Ferraris, 3 Mercedes, a Lamborghini, a Skyline and a humble Toyota Prius (which was in the wrong place at the wrong time) (Daily Mail, dec. 5, 2011):
Thirteen high-end sports car owners – and one driver of a Toyota Prius – were probably close to tears last night after a £2.5million motorway pile-up.
Daimler invests in electric car maker Tesla Motors
Daimler’s investment in Tesla Motors provides both companies with something they desperately need and could be the first step down the aisle toward marriage.
The world’s oldest automaker hitched its electric wagon to Tesla on Tuesday when it bought nearly 10 percent of the company and a seat on its board. Neither side is discussing specifics of the deal, reportedly worth $50 million, but both sides walk away winners.
Tesla gets a much-needed infusion of cash and help building the gorgeous Model S sedan. More importantly, Tesla gains legitimacy as it continues raising funds. Having the company that invented the automobile as a partner makes you much more attractive to investors.
Daimler’s investment buys it a whole lot of battery know-how, something German automakers are short of. And a seat on the board gives Daimler gets a close look at Tesla’s business plan and financials so it can decide if it wants a bigger piece of the action.
German car downturn worst ever
 The trade body warns that car production will have to be cut |
The downturn in the German car market is “at a pace and magnitude that has never happened before”, the country’s main auto trade body has warned.
As a result, the German Association of the Automotive Industry said new car sales in 2009 are expected to be the worst since reunification in 1990.
It added that Volkswagen, Daimler and Porsche will all have to cut output, which will “impact” on workers.
Last week Porsche delayed its takeover of Volkswagen, blaming falling sales.
Porsche said there were signs of a “serious slump” in global demand.
Challenging
Volkswagen itself has warned that the current sales environment is “difficult”, while Daimler, owner of Mercedes-Benz, said the situation is “very challenging indeed”.
German car sales are expected to slip to 2.9 million next year, down from the expected 3.1 million for 2008, says the trade body.
Car sales are also lower across Europe, with Italy’s Fiat warning that its 2009 profits could fall by 65%.
German carmakers: Sales collapse
Car sales in the US collapse:
November Auto Sales: Porsche sales drop by half (Source: Forbes)
November Auto Sales: Daimler AG’s sales decline (Source: Forbes):
Total sales at Daimler’s U.S. operations fell 29.9 percent to 15,991 from 22,819 in November 2007
Sales of Mercedes-Benz brand vehicles last month declined 38.2 percent to 14,102 while the company sold 1,889 of its two-seater Smart models. Smart was introduced to the North American market in mid-January of this year.
Mercedes-Benz USA said its best-selling model family, the C-Class, had a 36.1 percent drop-off in sales, and E-Class sales fell by 49.3 percent.
November Auto Sales: BMW sales fall 26.8 percent (Source: Forbes)
Volkswagen November U.S. Sales Fall 19% on Economy (Source: Bloomberg)
Audi U.S. November sales fall 25.4% (Source: Market Watch)
_________________________________________________________________________
Berlin under fire as German car sales collapse
German car sales have plunged to the lowest level since reunification almost twenty years ago, increasing pressure on Chancellor Angela Merkel to abandon budget restraint and back plans for an EU-wide rescue package.
Registrations fell 18pc in November, led by a drop of 36pc in Opel sales. “The crisis has again worsened dramatically,” said Volker Lange, of the VDIK motor vehicle association.
Volkswagen is to suspend production at its Wolfsburg headquarters this month. BMW has cut output in Leipsig to one day a week and Porsche is shuttering its Stuttgart plant for a week. It is just as bad in France where PSA Peugeot Citroen is halting production for a month at Sochaux, the country’s biggest industrial site.
The slump in Germany’s core industry has led to vocal criticism of the Left-Right coalition government. The Handelsbatt newspaper warned this week that the coalition faces a “rebellion” unless it faces up to the gravity of the crisis.
Daimler to halt output at 2 key plants 4 weeks
*Daimler halts output at two plants four weeks-works council *Daimler shares fall more than 10 percent
(Rewrites with works council and plant spokeswomen)
FRANKFURT, Oct 27 (Reuters) – German carmaker Daimler (DAIGn.DE: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) will stop year-end production at two big German plants for four weeks, doubling the normal holiday stoppages given a sharp drop in demand, its works council said on Monday.
The Sindelfingen plant near Stuttgart that makes Mercedes-Benz C-, E- and S-Class models will shut down from Dec. 12 and reopen on Jan. 12, a works council spokeswoman said.
The Untertuerkheim motor and transmission plant will also halt most output from Dec. 15 to Jan. 12, a plant spokeswoman said.
Mercedes-Benz was not immediately available for comment.
On Sunday, Germany’s Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung said the carmaker had imposed a five-week Christmas break for its 36,000 workers at Sindelfingen. Workers normally get only two to three weeks off during the holiday season.