In its version of the Obama economic stimulus package, the House of Representatives has included a disappearing tax credit for plug-in hybrid cars, similar to the confusing disappearing tax credit for non-plug in gasoline hybrid cars.
The credit consists of $2,500 per passenger car, plus $417 for each kWh of battery capacity over the first 4 kWh. The credit is limited to $7,500 for a vehicle with GVW less than 10,000lbs, but does increase to $10,000 for a vehicle with GVW up to 14,000lbs, and up to $15,000 for vehicles with GVW up to 26,000lbs.
The credit will start to phase out 3 months after 250,000 plug-in hybrids have been sold in the U.S., dropping to 50% for the next 6 months, then 25% for the next 6 months, and then going away completely.
So, for example, the Chevy Volt with its claimed 16 kWh battery would qualify for $2,500 + 12 * $417 = $7,500 (what a coincidence!)
SEC. 205. CREDIT FOR NEW QUALIFIED PLUG-IN ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES.
(a) Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle Credit- Subpart B of part IV of subchapter A of chapter 1 (relating to other credits) is amended by adding at the end the following new section:
`SEC. 30D. NEW QUALIFIED PLUG-IN ELECTRIC DRIVE MOTOR VEHICLES.
`(a) Allowance of Credit-
`(1) IN GENERAL- There shall be allowed as a credit against the tax imposed by this chapter for the taxable year an amount equal to the applicable amount with respect to each new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle placed in service by the taxpayer during the taxable year.
`(2) APPLICABLE AMOUNT- For purposes of paragraph (1), the applicable amount is sum of--
`(A) $2,500, plus
`(B) $417 for each kilowatt hour of traction battery capacity in excess of 4 kilowatt hours.
`(b) Limitations-
`(1) LIMITATION BASED ON WEIGHT- The amount of the credit allowed under subsection (a) by reason of subsection (a)(2) shall not exceed--
`(A) $7,500, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 10,000 pounds,
`(B) $10,000, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 10,000 pounds but not more than 14,000 pounds,
`(C) $12,500, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 14,000 pounds but not more than 26,000 pounds, and
`(D) $15,000, in the case of any new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 26,000 pounds.
`(2) LIMITATION ON NUMBER OF PASSENGER VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS ELIGIBLE FOR CREDIT-
`(A) IN GENERAL- In the case of a new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle sold during the phaseout period, only the applicable percentage of the credit otherwise allowable under subsection (a) shall be allowed.
`(B) PHASEOUT PERIOD- For purposes of this subsection, the phaseout period is the period beginning with the second calendar quarter following the calendar quarter which includes the first date on which the total number of such new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicles sold for use in the United States after December 31, 2008, is at least 250,000.
`(C) APPLICABLE PERCENTAGE- For purposes of subparagraph (A), the applicable percentage is--
`(i) 50 percent for the first 2 calendar quarters of the phaseout period,
`(ii) 25 percent for the 3d and 4th calendar quarters of the phaseout period, and
`(iii) 0 percent for each calendar quarter thereafter.
`(D) CONTROLLED GROUPS- Rules similar to the rules of section 30B(f)(4) shall apply for purposes of this subsection.
`(c) New Qualified Plug-in Electric Drive Motor Vehicle- For purposes of this section, the term `new qualified plug-in electric drive motor vehicle' means a motor vehicle--
`(1) which draws propulsion using a traction battery with at least 4 kilowatt hours of capacity,
`(2) which uses an offboard source of energy to recharge such battery,
`(3) which, in the case of a passenger vehicle or light truck which has a gross vehicle weight rating of not more than 8,500 pounds, has received a certificate of conformity under the Clean Air Act and meets or exceeds the equivalent qualifying California low emission vehicle standard under section 243(e)(2) of the Clean Air Act for that make and model year, and
`(A) in the case of a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of 6,000 pounds or less, the Bin 5 Tier II emission standard established in regulations prescribed by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under section 202(i) of the Clean Air Act for that make and model year vehicle, and
`(B) in the case of a vehicle having a gross vehicle weight rating of more than 6,000 pounds but not more than 8,500 pounds, the Bin 8 Tier II emission standard which is so established,
`(4) the original use of which commences with the taxpayer,
`(5) which is acquired for use or lease by the taxpayer and not for resale, and
For fun, I downloaded the Windows 7 Beta DVD ISO from Microsoft. I made a second partition on my second HDD, and installed it. It was painless, and didn't take long.
Windows 7 is, so far, running like a champ. It seems about as responsive as Vista, no worse in my unscientific opinion. It recognized all of my hardware, such as my TV tuner card, video card, and monitor, and is talking to my network. It is the "Ultimate" version, which means it comes with Windows Media Center, which is nice.
If you have about 16 gigabytes to spare, give it a whirl it isn't bad.
General Motors published the first photos of the Barack Obama's new ride a week before his inauguration as the new president of the United States. The latest Cadillac Presidential Limousine is a completely new design, succeeding the DTS Presidential Limousine that debuted in 2004 and was used by George Bush. Predictably, GM has not revealed any specific details on the President's new wheels besides the fact that it "includes many of the brand's signature design elements."Carscoop.blogspot.com
When the Mazda6 first hit the scene back in 2003, it was nimble and playful, and the power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering was exemplary. In fact, it was favorably compared to the BMW 3 Series—an impressive feat for any vehicle, let alone a mid-sizer in this price range.
But it was too small and, some say, underpowered to truly compete in the tough mid-size sedan segment against the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord. That’s a big reason why Mazda says sales in the U.S. have been somewhat underwhelming—well below the 100,000-vehicle per year sales mark they were hoping for.
The all-new 2009 model was designed to change that. It’s bigger, it comes in three trim levels, and it’s still got our favorite quality: The Mazda6 is a hoot to drive, unlike its less sporty foes in the marketplace. —Barry Winfield
The Specs
Unique to the North American market, the redesigned mid-size sedan now comes in at 72.4 in. wide by 193.7 in. long (6.9 in. longer than its predecessor), with a robust 109.8-in wheelbase (4.5 in. longer). These increases might seem small, but they translate into quite a bit more cabin space. According to Hiroshi Kajiyama, Mazda’s chief program engineer for the 6, these new dimensions give the car more leg, shoulder and hip room (plus more luggage space) than the Accord, Altima or Malibu. Better still, he says that the car has put on no more than 200 pounds in the process.
To handle the new size and weight, Mazda upped the power of both the base four-cylinder engine and the top-of-the-line V6. With 170 hp and 167 lb.-ft. of torque, the slightly larger 2.5-liter inline-4 no longer is plenty powerful. Along with its bump in displacement from 2.3 liters, the four-cylinder features a new two-stage intake, more efficient cylinder heads and a less restrictive exhaust manifold.
When connected to the standard six-speed manual, the four-cylinder delivers 21 mpg city and 29 mpg highway. The automatic option adds an extra mile per gallon in the city and on the highway.
The Ford-designed, Mazda-built V-6—featuring 3.7-liters, 272 horses and 269 ft.-lb. of torque—is the same engine found in the much larger CX-9 crossover. But it offers less attractive fuel numbers (17 mpg city/25 mpg highway), and the six-speed automatic is the only available transmission for the V-6.
Mazda zeroed in on noise and vibration reductions, and the cabin area is 30-percent more rigid than in the previous car, according to Mazda’s R&D director Kelvin Hiraishi, who pointed out bulges in the floor pan intended specifically to stiffen that panel—and prevent it from acting like a noise-generating diaphragm. Engineers also focused on cutting down the wind noise leaking through door seals and sunroof surrounds.
There are a bunch of chassis improvements, including a one-piece, forged-steel front lower-control arm to provide better lateral stiffness and to eliminate any compliance in steering over bumps. The front wheels now turn almost 5 degrees more than before, reducing the turning circle by over 3 ft.
Each trailing arm in the rear suspension has an attachment point raised 1 in. to increase the anti-dive effect, keeping the body flat during hard braking. Larger diameter bushings allow a little rearward movement on harder bumps to improve impact absorption, and the twin-tube KYB dampers are placed further outboard in a more vertical position for better wheel control.
Michelin Pilot four-season radial tires are standard issue on all Mazda6 models, and come sized to fit either 16- or 17-in. wheels on the “i” model, with 17 or 18-inchers on the “s.” In terms of safety, the ‘09 Mazda6 is replete with airbags, ABS, LATCH child-seat hookups and stability control as standard equipment. There’s also an optional blind-spot monitoring system that checks the lanes alongside the car and warns of the presence of vehicles if you try to change lanes.
Other interesting gadgets include keyless entry and a 10-speaker, 333-watt Bose stereo. An owner can utilize the vehicle diagnostics connector (via a special tool at the dealer) to tune various functions such as headlamp on-and-off cycles, turn-signal buzzer volume, blind-spot warning activation, power door lock operation and about 20 other functions.
The Drive
Whether or not the redesign has the desired effect on consumers remains to be seen, but we like the look of the new Mazda6 on the road. The interior is artful and tidily crafted—basically what we’ve come to expect from this inventive car company. And there’s certainly ample room inside, even for this 6-ft.-5, long-torso reviewer to sit in the back so long as he scrunches down a tiny bit to avoid contact with the headliner (the headroom is slightly compromised by the fast roofline). Luckily, there’s enough knee room to allow that. And the sound dampening measures really worked; this car is as quiet as a church mouse.
Of course, with its “zoom zoom” reputation at stake, the new Mazda6 has to handle nimbly, and the firm bushing durometer values used in its suspension transmit a little ride noise back into the cabin—well, at least in the Mazda6i model powered by that new 2.5-liter, 170-hp engine.
We certainly expected more power—and got it. Where the 2.5-liter four feels pretty peppy out on the road, the 272-hp V-6 is downright intoxicating. Coupled only to a six-speed automatic with manual shift mode, the 6i models demonstrated great flexibility with a serious high-end punch.
The Nano will be launched in India later in 2008. The car will be available in both standard and deluxe versions. Both versions will offer a wide range of body colours, and other accessories so that the car can be customised to an individual's preferences.
Stylish, comfortable
- Designed with a family in mind, the Nano has a roomy passenger compartment with generous leg space and head room.
- Can comfortably seat four persons. Four doors with high seating position make ingress and egress easy.
- With a length of 3.1 metres, width of 1.5 metres and height of 1.6 metres, with adequate ground clearance, it can effortlessly manoeuvre on busy roads in cities as well as in rural areas.
- Its mono-volume design, with wheels at the corners and the powertrain at the rear, enables it to uniquely combine both space and manoeuvrability, which will set a new benchmark among small cars. Why Nano? The name 'Nano' was chosen as it denotes high technology and small size. Most eagerly waited car People world over were keen to see what Tata Motors' People's Car looked like, and know more about it. The Tata Motors website saw nearly 7.9 million hits on January 10 (the day the Nano was unveiled), while the Tata Nano website saw 4 million hits in 30 hours, making these sites among the busiest in the world.
The Nano website (www.tatanano.com) was developed within a short timeframe of 1.5 months and with limited resources.
The entire portal has been built on open source technologies, involving minimum investment, following the essence of the Nano - low cost, but high technology.
Fuel-efficient engine
- The Nano has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623 cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft.
- The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency.
- Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system.
Meets all safety requirements
- The Nano's safety performance exceeds current regulatory requirements. With an all sheet-metal body, it has a strong passenger compartment, with safety features such as crumple zones, intrusion-resistant doors, seat belts, strong seats and anchorages, and the rear tailgate glass bonded to the body.
- Tubeless tyres further enhance safety.
Environment-friendly
- The Nano's tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today.
- The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint.Related modifikasi Skywave new
"The national team concept has proved itself both from a sporting and a commercial point of view," says BMW Motorsport Director Mario Theissen. "This team structure was responsible for us winning every title between 2004 and 2007. It also allows us to involve the national sales organisations at the highest level in the World Touring Car Championship. Our team includes five very ambitious drivers, who will do everything to win back the World Championship in 2009."
Priaulx has been the most successful driver in recent years. He followed up his victory in the 2004 FIA European Touring Car Championship with three Drivers’ World Championship titles in a row from 2005 onward. The racing driver from the Channel Island of Guernsey (GB) has ten race victories, 34 podium finishes and 347 points to his name. Last season he was once again the best-placed BMW driver, with 81 points. Müller is one of the most experienced drivers on the grid. Like Priaulx, the 39-year-old can boast ten victories in the World Touring Car Championship – joining his fellow BMW driver at the top of the all-time winners’ list.
Müller's most successful WTCC season to date came in 2006, when he finished just one point behind World Champion Priaulx. 2009 is Farfus’ third season for BMW Team Germany. With two victories, three pole positions and six fastest laps, the 25-year-old’s talent was there for all to see on many occasions last year.
Zanardi made a unique motorsport comeback with BMW Team Italy-Spain in 2004, having lost both legs in an accident in 2001. The 42-year-old celebrated the latest of his three victories in the World Touring Car Championship last season in Brno (CZ). His team-mate, Hernández, won the 2008 Independents’ Trophy and now joins the BMW national team squad. The highlight of the 2008 season for the 25-year-old came at the WTCC rounds held in Okayama (JP), where he finished third in the second race.
The BMW Rahal Letterman Racing Team, which will run two racing versions of the BMW M3 in the 2009 American Le Mans Series (ALMS), also announced its driver line-up: Bill Auberlen (US), Joey Hand (US), Tommy Milner (US) and Dirk Müller (DE) will fight for points and victories in the popular American category.
The all-new BMW M3 race car will make its debut at the 12-hours of Sebring in March.
Only five examples of the LP 710 Audigiers will be built and will be completely customized to suit the customer’s liking. The fastest Lamborghini to date comes for a cool €495,000 (US $692,500).
