Several VW engineers admit to installing cheat device: report

BERLIN - Several engineers at scandal-hit German automaker Volkswagen have admitted to installing the device in the company's cars aimed at cheating pollution tests, a newspaper reported Sunday.

Bild am Sonntag said the employees told an internal investigation that they had been involved in the affair, which came to light last month.

"Several engineers stated that they installed the deception software in 2008," the newspaper said.

Bild did not reveal their identities or say how many had made the admission.

But it said their statements had so far failed to unmask those who masterminded the scam.

The engineers said the EA 189 engine, developed by VW in 2005, could not have complied with pollution caps and cost targets without the deception.

Volkswagen has admitted that up to 11 million diesel vehicles worldwide are fitted with the so-called defeat device.

The gadget detects when the car is undergoing testing and switches the engine to a low-emissions mode.

It then switches off this mode when the car is on the road. Under real conditions, the car spews out far higher emissions than is permitted.

The global scam has wiped more than 40 percent off Volkswagen's market capitalization and led chief executive Martin Winterkorn to resign.

VW, a champion of German industry, has vowed to get to the bottom of the scandal with a probe led by a team of US lawyers.

source: interaksyon.com

Maserati rules Baselworld 2015

MANILA, Philippines - Maserati is the official car partner for the World Watch and Jewellery Show, Baselworld, the sector’s largest event — bringing together every year about 122,000 visitors and more than 1,400 exhibitors, including some of the world’s most prestigious and renowned brands.

As the event’s official vehicle supplier, Maserati provided a fleet of 20 Maserati: nine Quattroporte and 11 Ghibli, which were used from March 19 to 26  to transport the VIP guests between the various exhibition stands and locations in Basel.

During the fair, the renowned brand with the trident logo invited all visitors into the Maserati lounge, located between Hall 1 and Hall 5, to explore not only the vehicles but also the new merchandising line.

Today, Maserati is undergoing a great growth, present in more than 60 markets, and an international ambassador for the excellent engineering and craftsmanship that Italy is known for, with its unique and exclusive automotive products.

The Maserati Quattroporte, a luxurious flagship, brings together space that ranks with the best in the segment and a high level of comfort, a look of unprecedented elegance and a distinct sporty character. The Quattroporte is available with three-liter 275 HP diesel (with rear-wheel-drive) and 410 HP V6 Twin Turbo petrol engine (with both rear-wheel-drive and the four-wheel-drive system S Q4). At the top of its range is the GTS version, which is equipped with the mighty 3.8-liter 530 HP V8 Twin Turbo petrol engine.

Another star in Basel is the Maserati Ghibli, the first model in the history of Maserati to compete in the Premium Executive E segment. The Ghibli is available with 3-litre Diesel V6 Turbo engine with 275 HP and with 3-litre V6 Twin Turbo petrol engines with 330 and 410 HP (all with rear-wheel-drive), the latter also available with four-wheel drive in the top-of-the-range S Q4 version.

source: philstar.com

Uber-heated battle as mobile apps rattle Asia’s taxis

SINGAPORE — Southeast Asia’s notorious taxi market is undergoing a shakeout as Uber and homegrown mobile booking applications gain popularity in a region that has long endured inefficient cartels and price-gouging drivers.

San Francisco-based Uber, which allows customers to hail taxis or private vehicles via smartphones and pay with a credit card, is expanding rapidly in the region while fending off legal and regulatory challenges in various markets across the world.

Founded in 2009 and backed by Google Ventures, the investment arm of the Internet giant, Uber now operates in Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam after first entering Southeast Asia in Singapore last year.

The firm, whose valuation was placed at $18.2 billion after an investment drive in June, employs smartphone and satellite technology to match taxi supply and demand.

A list of the world’s 10 worst cities to hail a taxi compiled by industry website tourism-review.com in March included Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, Phnom Penh and Bangkok.

In Singapore, locals grumbled in pre-Uber days about vanishing taxis during peak periods, with cabbies refusing to pick up roadside passengers while waiting to earn extra fees from reservations made via antiquated phone-in booking systems.

In some cities, it was not uncommon for cabbies to demand exorbitant fares before taking passengers at peak periods, during heavy rain and floods, or at times of day when taxis are scarce.

Regulatory tangles

Uber executives say they welcome competition and are more than ready to go head to head with the likes of Malaysia-based GrabTaxi, Indonesia’s Blue Bird, and Easy Taxi, a regional player backed by German startup incubator Rocket Internet.

“As long as people are giving people options, that’s a good thing,” Michael Brown, Uber’s Southeast Asia general manager, told AFP in an interview.

“What makes Uber bristle is when special interests try to protect monopolies and keep new entrants and new competitors out,” said Brown, who is based in Singapore.

Despite threats to have it banned in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, Uber continues to operate there.

The firm is also facing legal threats in San Francisco and other major cities including New York and Frankfurt.

It is has also run into opposition in Seoul, where officials believe it should follow South Korean laws regulating taxi or rental car companies.

“Uber insists that it is acting as an online broker connecting drivers and customers rather than acting as a rental car company,” a Seoul city official told AFP.

“We do not agree with their characterisation of their business.”

Authorities in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta also say its car-hailing service makes use of private vehicles that do not comply with strict regulations that traditional taxi operators come under.

Uber has vehemently denied the accusations.

The firm does not own its own limousine or taxi fleet. Instead, its app allows customers to summon cars in its network, usually from a private car company.

It takes a cut of the total fare from the driver, which is paid electronically. Other taxi app players allow their members to take cash.

“Up to this day our principle remains that this taxi service is illegal,” Muhammad Akbar, head of Jakarta’s transport authority, told AFP.

In Malaysia, authorities say they began a crackdown on private cars using Uber on October 1, fining drivers up to 10,000 ringgit ($3,070).

Giving people options

Commuters and market analysts say unyielding bureaucrats are not seeing how taxi apps like Uber have the potential to significantly improve the standard of living of city dwellers.

Jakarta resident Winda Rezita said the arrival of Uber in the Indonesian capital was a relief.

“When I am too lazy to drive in Jakarta’s heavy traffic jams or when there’s a long taxi queue at the mall, I just switch on the app,” the e-commerce business founder told AFP. “It’s so much better than waiting outside a building or standing in a long queue.”

Daphne Kasriel-Alexander, a consumer trends consultant at research firm Euromonitor International, said “inadequate and overburdened public transport systems” coupled with the emergence of more middle-class consumers have boosted the usage of taxi-hailing apps in Southeast Asia.

Expansion plans

GrabTaxi, which first launched in Malaysia in 2012 and has since expanded to Singapore, the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Thailand, is aiming for further growth.

Unlike Uber, the firm, backed by Singapore state investment firm Temasek Holdings, has so far avoided regulatory difficulties.

Its app mainly matches customers with registered taxis. A recently launched function called GrabCar allows for booking of private vehicles just like Uber, but so far it has not been flagged by authorities.

“We’re the leading taxi booking app in Southeast Asia including Singapore, and we are well-positioned to extend our lead,” Lim Kell Jay, GrabTaxi’s general manager in Singapore, told AFP.

The firm says it gets one taxi booking every two seconds in the whole region, with more than 300,000 people using it at least once a month.

Taxi drivers say they hope the intense rivalry between the apps will continue.

A Singaporean taxi driver who only wanted to be known as Tan said his revenue has increased by 20 to 30 percent since he signed up with UberTaxi last month.

The service connects Uber users to registered taxis, just like rival GrabTaxi.

“With the apps like Uber, it’s like a win-win. You (passengers) wait around less, and we drivers don’t have to roam around hunting for passengers, saving time and petrol,” he told AFP.

source: interaksyon.com

Car Donations California.

Mоѕt people wіll contribute a applied car оr truck оr truck tо ѕоmе non-profit bесаuѕе оe.g a Car Donations California with wide variety оf motives. Thеу wіll obtain a tax compose-off аnd ѕtіll аrе able tо truly sense nice аbоut іt” Car Donations California. ”

Thеѕе things quite simply center аll аrоund thе valuation оn thе gift аnd аlѕо thе documents certifying thе gift’s value. Yеt, thе nоt fоr profit a single іѕ giving a motor vehicle tо wіll mоѕt likely bе experienced іn furnishing уоu wіth thе precise paperwork tо obtain thе ideal tax compose оff.

Aѕ аn individual іѕ rеаdу tо ѕее, giving a motor car оr truck tо a not-for-revenue fоr оnlу оnе motive does nоt imply thаt it’s nоt оut оf thе question tо gаіn benefit frоm уеt оnе mоrе motive. A individual соuld possibly actually revenue frоm аll thе benefits bу simply giving a secondhand automobile tо a charitable organization.

A person truism іѕ thаt nо аn individual іѕ great аnd thаt аll people wоuld make mistake іn daily life. Fоr men аnd women wіth lives іn a state оf repair, acquiring a fair gеt started оn thе new everyday living уоu want tо build fоr оn уоur оwn аnd уоur family members іѕ typically challenging, іf nоt fоr thе help оf charitable organizations. Mоѕt people today аrе acquainted wіth donating clothes аnd home products tо thе local Salvation Army fоr people іn wіll need, but did уоu know thаt thе Salvation Army hаѕ a motor vehicle donation ѕуѕtеm аѕ properly?

Present Yоur Vehicle Tо Vehicle Donation Software programs Fоr Individuals In Hаvе tо hаvе




Hоw dо vehicle donation systems ѕuсh аѕ thе a person аt Salvation Army gеt thе job done? Vеrу wеll, mаnу charitable organizations wіll accept cars аnd trucks аnd оthеr vehicles, offer thеm аt auction оr fоr used automobile parts, аnd thеn uѕе thе proceeds tо advantage аnd enrich thе lives оf аnоthеr person whо іѕ truly struggling іn life – financially оr оr еlѕе. Thе Salvation Army Car оr truck Donation plan accepts automobile donations but prior tо уоu look аt tо turn аbоvе thе keys tо уоur motorbike, RV, оr boat, іt іѕ vеrу best tо contact уоur area workplace tо double look аt thаt thеѕе donations аrе accepted. And іf уоu gеt thе “green light” thеn іt doesn’t make a difference nо matter іf уоu want tо donate аn just аbоut brand new motor vehicle оr уоur aged clunkers thаt іѕ аt thіѕ tіmе inoperable – thе Salvation Army wіll accept аll оf thе previously mentioned. Mаnу area offices wіll еvеn make arrangements оn уоur behalf tо hаvе уоur car оr truck towed away, certainly totally free оf cost.

Whаt іѕ thе advantage оf donating уоur vehicle tо thе Salvation Army? Wеll, nоt оnlу аrе уоu capable tо “give back” tо thеѕе іn need, thеѕе аѕ women аnd males іn dire hаvе tо hаvе оf support аѕ a result оf thе nationwide Grownup Rehabilitation Centers, but уоur automobile donation іѕ tax deductible іn mоѕt circumstances. Yоu wіll want tо test cautiously wіth thе Internal Profits Service (IRS) tо make confident уоu аrе subsequent аll rules аnd laws аbоut hоw vеrу muсh оf a tax deduction уоu саn legally declare Car Donations California.

source: donateacarblog.net

Sweden joins race for self-driving cars

STOCKHOLM — A hundred self-driving Volvo cars will roll onto public roads in and around the Swedish city of Gothenburg in 2017, the Chinese-owned car maker said Monday.

The pilot initiative, called “Drive Me”, has a 500 million kronor (56.3 million euros, $76.2 million) budget and is a joint venture between the manufacturer and several public institutions, such as the Swedish Transport Administration and the city of Gothenburg.

“We aren’t the world’s biggest country, we aren’t the world’s largest car maker, but we make up for that by being smarter and working together in a simpler way,” Volvo Cars chief executive Haakan Samuelsson said at a news conference in Stockholm promoting the public-private partnership.

The first driver-less cars will have a maximum speed of 70 kilometers per hour (43.5 miles per hour) on some 50 kilometers of selected roads including commuter routes with heavy traffic.

The project will begin in 2014 with customer research and technology development.

Self-driving cars receive data through a 360-degree camera system, GPS and other sensors which act as eyes and ears to navigate safely and avoid collisions.

The “non-drivers” participating in the project will receive training to properly use the cars, which are expected to respond to everyday traffic situations and to park themselves.

The introduction of self-driving cars raises legal questions particularly around liability, which today always lies with the driver.

“We need to look at the legislation,” Infrastructure Minister Catharina Elmsaeter-Svaerd said.

Other car makers — and even US tech giant Google — are also competing to be the first to bring self-driving cars to the public.

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan announced plans to have its first models ready by 2020.

source: interaksyon.com

Toyota to unveil concept fuel-cell car at Tokyo Motor Show

TOKYO — Toyota said Tuesday it plans to unveil its latest fuel-cell concept car at the Tokyo Motor show, with an expected commercial rollout two years away.

The four-seater sedan has a range of 500 kilometers (310 miles) — longer than previous versions — and can be recharged in just three minutes through hydrogen gas tanks stored inside the vehicle, the Japanese auto giant said ahead of the exhibition later this month.

Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker, said it would launch a commercial version of the mid-sized vehicle around 2015.

By that time, there were likely to be “hundreds” of hydrogen refueling stations in Japan, Europe and the United States, it added.

Fuel cell vehicles are considered the holy grail of green cars because they emit nothing but water vapor from the tailpipe and can operate on renewable hydrogen gas.

Toyota’s concept vehicle seeks to jump two key hurdles that analysts say have hindered consumer buying of so-called green cars, including electric vehicles — range and re-fueling infrastructure.

Relatively high prices have also dented purchasing of green vehicles.

However demand for lower-emission vehicles is forecast to grow, with further technological advances in the field seen as crucial due to toughening emissions standards.

Apart from Toyota, which is working on its fuel-cell concept car with Germany’s BMW, others are eyeing a widespread commercial offering. They include a Honda joint venture with General Motors and Nissan’s work with Ford and Daimler.

Honda already has a commercial fuel-cell car called the FCX Clarity but it has only been sold in limited markets on a very small scale.

At the Tokyo show, which runs from November 20 to December 1, Toyota is also planning to showcase a prototype taxi for the Japanese market that promises green technology while catering to the nation’s rapidly ageing population.

The hybrid taxi has a sliding electric door to make entering and exiting the car easier for those wheelchair-bound or people with baby strollers, Toyota said. A screen fixed to the back of the front seats supplies information about routes and taxi fares.

The carmaker said it wanted to commercialize the vehicle ahead of an expected surge in demand when the Japanese capital hosts the 2020 Olympic games.

Toyota said it also planned to display a futuristic vehicle, dubbed Fun Vehicle 2, which allows standing drivers to change the vehicle’s direction simply by shifting their weight, similar to the Segway although the car can move at faster speeds.

The car’s pop-up windshield can turn oncoming objects a distinct color to alert drivers to their presence.

source: interaksyon.com

Daimler net profit up on higher sales

BERLIN — Germany’s Daimler, maker of Mercedes-Benz luxury vehicles, said Thursday its net profit rose in the third quarter, helped by higher auto and truck sales as well as efficiency gains.

Net profit jumped 53 percent year-on-year to 1.84 billion euros ($2.54 billion) in the three-month period to September as income tax payments fell.

Operating profit rose 16 percent to 2.23 billion euros, slightly better than a forecast of 2.07 billion euros from analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires.

“This shows that the high investments we have made were money well spent,” said chief executive officer Dieter Zetsche.

The Stuttgart-based company gave a forecast for the full year, predicting earnings before interest and tax at about 7.5 billion euros, below the previous year’s 8.1 billion euros.

Previously the company had only said profit would decline as it invests in new models.

source: interaksyon.com

James Bond’s iconic Lotus Esprit ‘submarine’ car sells for $860,000

LONDON — The iconic submarine car driven by James Bond in the 1977 classic The Spy Who Loved Me fetched £550,000 ($860,000, 650,000 euros) when it was floated at auction for the first time in London on Monday.

Following an intense bidding battle, The Lotus Esprit was finally sold to a telephone bidder at RM Auctions in Battersea, south London.

The car was made for the scene in which Bond, played by Roger Moore, evades the gunfire from an overhead helicopter by plunging into the water, accompanied by a nervous Barbara Bach in the passenger seat.

“We are very happy with that price, it is very strong money for what is an important piece of movie memorabilia,” said Peter Haynes of RM Auctions Europe.

“Bearing in mind it is not a car that can be driven on the road, the price just goes to prove the draw that all Bond-related memorabilia has,” he added.

source: interaksyon.com

Parallel parking? No problem with this electric car

The difficulty of parallel parking will be a thing of the past, if the designers of a revolutionary new electric car have their way. The prototype vehicle, designed by Chinese, Taiwanese, and New Zealand engineers, has four separate electrically powered wheels, enabling effortless U-turns and sideways parking at the touch of a button. Reuters’ Jim Drury reports.


Fancy going for a spin? This prototype electric car is sure to make heads turn.  




Designed by students from China, Taiwan, and New Zealand, it has electric motors on all four wheels, each able to steer independently. When a U-turn’s required, pressing a button makes the car rotate 180 degrees.

And for those who don’t know which way to turn when parallel parking, program manager Dr Tom Qi, from New Zealand’s Otago Polytechnic, says there’s no need to go round in circles. “You just need to push a button and all the procedure will become complete automatically.”

The as yet unnamed auto runs on battery and can reach 100 kilometres an hour. It should be sold commercially within two years for around 8,000 dollars. Its makers believe there’ll be plenty of drivers willing to give it a whirl.

source: interaksyon.com

Chrysler recalls newer Jeeps; stands firm on older models

NEW YORK — Two days after rejecting a push to recall old model Jeeps over a potential fire hazard, Chrysler on Thursday issued a recall for 630,000 newer models for power steering and airbag problems.

Chrysler, a unit of Italy’s Fiat, will call back for repairs 221,000 2012-2013 3.6 liter Jeep Wranglers with automatic transmissions to fix a problem with the power steering system that can damage the transmission cooler line and cause a transmission fluid leak.

Most of the cars are in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

In addition, the automaker said it will recall 409,000 2010-2012 Jeep Compasses and Patriots, three-quarters of them in the United States and the rest in other countries, because of a software problem that could delay or prevent the deployment of a side curtain airbag in a crash, leaving occupants of the car at higher risk of injury.

Chrysler told the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration it will repair the problems free of charge.

The move came after Chrysler on Tuesday rejected the NHTSA’s recommendation that it recall 2.7 million Jeep sport utility vehicles built in the 1990s and 2000s to fix a risk of engine fires that have left dozens dead.

But “the company does not agree with NHTSA’s conclusions and does not intend to recall the vehicles cited in the investigation. The subject vehicles are safe and are not defective,” Chrysler said in a statement.

The rare move to publicly reject a recall recommended by the agency did not put an end to the issue.

The NHTSA said in a statement late Tuesday that it still hopes Chrysler will reconsider “and take action to protect its customers and the driving public.”

“Our data shows that these vehicles may contain a defect that presents an unreasonable risk to safety, which is why we took the next step of writing Chrysler,” it said.

Chrysler said Thursday that it was still preparing its formal response to the NHTSA, which still has the option of ordering the recall.

source: interaksyon.com

A journey of faith with a Pilot

It was a scorching Holy Week, but the streets of the Metro Manila were empty and driving was a joy.

My first destination was Pampanga. I was test-driving a Honda Pilot and was excited to see just how this SUV would do in the heat of the summer sun.

For starters, I think the Honda Pilot stands apart from the majority of crossovers. What I really like about it is its rugged and macho look. While I’ve noticed that most SUVs have become more aerodynamic and carlike in the past decade, the Pilot has opted to go in the opposite direction. It started life as a wagon, and in the past years has adopted a more SUV-like shape.

Although, the Pilot might have a more rugged look and seem daunting to most women drivers, it’s still a crossover and it makes driving it such a pleasure. No heaviness to the steering. Shifting lanes and maneuvering it into small paces was really quite easy for a small driver like me.

The Pilot’s boxy body has an especially roomy interior, as well as great versatility for busy weekend-hauling needs. Yet with a carlike unibody design, bolstered structurally with some of the benefits of an SUV, the Pilot is able to draw from the best of both worlds.

I decided to take the Pilot on a trip to Pampanga and in keeping with the Holy Week tradition I opted to head for Visita Iglesia and visit a few churches there.




The Pilot’s five-speed automatic transmission, its 250-horsepower, 3.5-liter V-6 engine, was a little cause for alarm for me as I thought that I might have to spend all my money on gas. But I was pleasantly surprised at how fuel-efficient this SUV is. I kept it on “eco” mode all throughout my drive to Pampanga.

The stop-and-go traffic on the NLEX was really bad. It took me almost four hours to reach the San Fernando exit. I had planned to make it to Sta. Rita Church first, then on to Betis Church and then to the Cathedral of San Fernando. That was not to be the case.

As I sat in the driver’s seat (yes, I was driving solo) I had time to fiddle with my chair and adjust it to the right height. The traffic did not bother me; matter of fact I welcomed it, as it gave me a better feel of the ride of the Pilot.

It was smooth and easy to maneuver in situations where I did have to overtake at a moment’s notice. At first I was cautious, but once I got a feel of the size of the Pilot and just how quickly it responded to quick lane switching — it was an enjoyable ride to Pampanga.

The real traffic, though, started at the Gapan-Olongapo road where traffic had built up really bad. There was chaos from the cars on the road, and the men walking while flagellating themselves was a riot.


I opted to turn back. And this is where the Pilot was truly a joy to drive. I was able to steer this SUV into small spaces — even with cars refusing to let a few of us drivers turn back. At the same time I felt truly safe inside the Pilot as its rugged body persuaded smaller cars to give way.

I was only able to make it to San Fernando Cathedral that day. The church was filled with folks doing the Stations of the Cross and others getting ready for the Washing of the Feet Mass that was going to take place in a few hours.

Before I left the Cathedral, I took a photo of the Pilot at the Cathedral parking area and I gave it a pat on the hood for being so good to me. I hopped on the Pilot and made my way back to Manila. The drive was a breeze as the NLEX was traffic-free coming into Manila.

I recalled having read recently that the Pilot has for years been a top safety achiever, and it includes side-curtain bags cover all three rows, along with the usual roster of security items. For this year, a rearview camera system is standard on all models and helps with visibility.  The rearview visibility really made backing up quite easy.

On Good Friday it is a tradition that I take my Mom to visit a few churches. Being in her 80s, she prefers to go to the churches early on Friday morning, as there are less people there. I can’t blame her.

I took her on a ride in the Pilot and we took Vodka, my little Bichon Frise, with us. We visited three churches that day — all within the vicinity of Metro Manila. Our first stop was Mount Carmel Church in Quezon City. I like this church because it has such a big parking area. Our Next stop was Mary the Queen Church in Greenhills. I had to let my mom down first and then drive around because parking is a hassle in this area.

Our last stop was Santuario de San Jose in Geeenhills, another church where parking can be a problem. I did get to maneuver the Pilot into a small parking space.

“I like this car,” my mom said. “The seats here at the back are comfy and the air-conditioning is really cool considering it’s so hot outside.”

After I dropped my mom off at home, I headed south. My destination was the Cathedral of Calamba.  On that really hot Friday, by noon the Pilot kept me cool, not just with its air-conditioning, but also through the ease of driving it along the SLEX.

I got to the Cathedral of Calamba in 45 minutes. The church was full, but there was parking. Again lots of squeezing into small spaces for the Pilot, which was now feeling like my ever-reliable companion, and it did not fail me.

I took a walk through the Garden of Gethsemane in Calamba, which had the Stations of the Cross etched in woodcarvings.

That done, I drove back to Manila and opted to go to BGC and check out the interactive Way of the Cross there.

It was quite interesting, the way BGC had set up its rather modern, interactive way of the cross. So that one does not just read a prayer book, the Stations of the Cross were written on a black cloth and then at the end of each station, the faithful are asked to perform an act. For example, in the Station where Jesus carries the Cross, there was a cemented area where people were asked to carry a cross that weighed seven pounds to get a feel, even if just a small feel, of what Jesus might have felt when he carried the cross.





Interesting.

I had made a vow to complete seven churches this year. So, my next stop was Padre Pio Chapel on C5.

I did not know that if I wanted to get into the area where the Stations of the Cross were in this church, I had to carry a cross. The crosses came in different sizes with the bigger ones for the men and the smaller ones for the women. I was given a small cross.

Since this was the second interactive Stations of the Cross chapel I had visited, it made me wonder if the new generation of people needed to have physical proof to strengthen their faith.  It was not like that while I was growing up, yet I believe the reality of Christian faith was no less real to me.

My last stop was Christ the King Church in Quezon City. I had fun with the Pilot getting into the parking area, as it was full and uphill to boot. But then, easy driving is an understatement in this SUV.

I headed home that day with much to ponder faith and how it seems to be changing.  Or perhaps the churches are trying to find ways to keep the faithful coming back — and to remain relevant to Catholics.

At the same time, I smiled amid my “profound” thoughts about faith and thanked God for the Pilot, which kept me safe through my journey of faith.

source: philstar.com

Justin Bieber caught speeding ‘like a maniac’

LOS ANGELES – Teen heartthrob singer Justin Bieber was pulled over and cited for speeding “like a maniac” to shake off paparazzi Friday near Los Angeles, police and a lawmaker who witnessed the incident said.

A California Highway Patrol (CHP) spokesman said officers saw two vehicles speeding on the 101 freeway northwest near Coldwater Canyon northwest of Los Angeles, where the Canadian crooner lives.

“Officers made an enforcement stop on one of the vehicles, took him off the freeway,” CHP spokesman Vince Ramirez told AFP, adding that the driver “was identified as Justin Bieber.”

“He was issued a citation for speeding,” he added, saying he had no further details.

The 18-year-old was driving his eye-catching mirror chrome Fisker Karma, according to the celebrity news website TMZ.

LA City Councilman Dennis Zine, who witnessed the incident, told TMZ that Bieber was driving at over 100 miles per hour (160 kph).

“Bieber was driving like a maniac. He was weaving in and out of traffic. There was hardly any space between cars as he weaved from lane to lane,” he said.

Zine, who was an LAPD motor officer for 18 years, added: “If I was on patrol, I would have arrested him for reckless driving. I was going 60 and he drove by me like he was in a rocket ship. He was a maniac.”

He added that paparazzi behaved irresponsibly, driving on the freeway shoulder. At least four lensmen swarmed around Bieber’s car once it was pulled over, he added.

A spokesman for the Canadian singer declined to comment.

Last August, Bieber was involved in a minor car crash in his black Ferrari, in an underground parking lot, in which a Honda Civic “tapped” his car from behind. He was not cited over that incident.

source: interaksyon.com

Customs to revive amnesty for tax-deficient imported vehicle buyers

MANILA - After failing to hit monthly revenue targets since he assumed the post, Customs Commissioner Rufino Biazon will revive an amnesty program benefiting vehicle importers who failed to pay correct duties on their purchases.

"We are presently coordinating with the Land Transportation Office for the forging of MOA that will enable us to pursue with the VDP within the year," Biazon said, referring to the Voluntary Disclosure Program.

"The VDP will strictly pertain to private individuals and does not include dealers or manufacturers," he said.

The Customs chief said the amnesty will benefit only private vehicle owners since they may not be liable for any erroneous entries on import documents submitted to the bureau.

"Dealers or those involved in selling vehicles should know better whether the importation entries they respectively filled out were erroneous or not since they are engaged in the business of buying and selling vehicles. Hence, unlike private vehicle owners, dealers and manufacturers cannot invoke good faith,” Biazon said.

"It took a while before we could finally push through with the program since we still have to secure the necessary clearances from the Department of Finance," he said. The Customs chief didn't say how much the program would contribute to revenues.

The Aquino administration was supposed to have revived the program last year.

The Arroyo administration introduced the VDP under then Customs chief Napoleon Morales pursuant to Customs Administrative Order 5-2007, which was aimed at rewarding honest traders and penalizing unscrupulous ones.

The order provides that if an importer realizes the mistake or error before their import papers are audited by Customs, they may avail of the program to correct these mistakes and settle the obligations.

Should Customs discover these irregularities during regular post-entry audit, the erring importer or vehicles owner will have to pay the penalty, ranging from 50 to 800 percent of the corresponding taxes and duties that were due.

Biazon said the program does not exempt an importer from criminal prosecution should they be discovered to have committed fraud in reducing their tax liability.

The Post Entry Audit Group is tasked to review shipment records to detect any discrepancies and irregularities in the importation.

The decision to revive the amnesty program comes amid Customs' failure to hit monthly revenue targets. Last month, the bureau was missed its P28.34 billion collection goal by P3.59 billion.

This brought the first five-month revenue tally to P119.71 billion, or 13 percent short of the agency's P137.71 billion collection target for the period. It is tasked to raise P346.41 billion for the whole year to help keep the government's budget deficit below the P279 billion ceiling.

source: interaksyon.com

Canada's Magna to build Nissan-brand Infiniti cars

VIENNA — Canadian auto manufacturer Magna said on Friday it had signed a memorandum of understanding to assemble Nissan’s luxury brand Infiniti cars, with an Austrian daily saying the site would be in Graz.

“This new vehicle represents a significant opportunity for the Infiniti brand to reach new consumers and grow in key markets such as Western Europe,” Andy Palmer from the Japanese firm said in a statement.

Austrian daily Kleine Zeitung said the new plant would create about 1,000 jobs and would produce 50,000 Infiniti vehicles every year from 2014, with Magna Steyr preferring Graz in southern Austria to a site in Poland.

Nissan said last month it would build two Infiniti models in China from 2014. It aims to boost sales of the cars to half a million units globally by 2016, up from 145,000 last year when it was produced in Japan and the United States.

source: japantoday.com

Honda Unveils 4th Generation CR-V

MANILA, Philippines — Honda Cars Philippines Inc. (HCPI) has unveiled the 4th generation CR-V making the Philippines the first country in ASEAN to launch this model, which is initially imported from Japan until the Thai Honda plant resumes production for the Philippine market.

HCPI President Tatsuya Natsume told reporters at the launch of its Super CR-V that the all new CR-V is expected to spice up its total sales goal this year of 16,600 units matching its 2010 sales level.

Natsume explained they cannot use 2011 as a base year because it was a year where company sales dropped substantially following a shortage in supply due to the earthquake in Japan and the Thai flooding.

CR-V, which comes in two variants 2.4 c.c. automatic and 2.0 c.c. manual, is P100,000 more expensive than the previous model largely because of the 20 percent duty on CBU vehicles imported outside of ASEAN. The automatic 2.4 CR-V is selling at P1.655 while the 2 c.c. manual variant at P1.425 million.

Natsume said they do not have a sales target for CR-V saying this would all depend on the market.

The launch of CR-V followed the launch of the new City last January, the all-new Civic and Jazz Special Edition in February, the all-new CR-V further strengthens Honda’s return to the Philippine automotive market. HCPI has five models in the local market.

First introduced in the Philippines in 1997, the CR-V is among the pioneer models in the compact SUV category. Starting with the 1st generation, each generation of CR-V has provided car-like drivability and ride comfort, while also having excellent interior versatility and utility.

The all-new 4th generation CR-V builds on these qualities while introducing new technology to enhance driving enjoyment and ownership experience. The overall development concept is to have a “Super CR-V” that tops previous generations of CR-V by creating a new synergy through combining the efficiency of a passenger car, the functionality of a mini-van, and the security and confidence of an SUV.

Meantime, Natsume said they have started full commercial operation of its locally assembled City. They have a capacity to produce 900 units a month of City.

Natsume said the City is its flagship vehicle in the country contributing the bulk of its sales.

“We are concentrating our production for City,” he said.

Thus, Natsume said there is no plan to produce the Civic model again in the country.

With only one model being produced locally, HCPI's imported vehicles already account for more than half of its total sales. (BCM)

source: mb.com.ph

BMW recalls 1.3 million cars worldwide

FRANKFURT - German luxury carmaker BMW said on Monday it was recalling some 1.3 million cars worldwide due to battery problems that could in extreme cases result in a fire.

"In order to carry out a quality measure, BMW is recalling all BMW 5 and 6 Series models of the previous generation, built between 2003 and 2010 and still on the market, for repair at authorized dealers," the firm said in a statement.

It pointed to potential problems with the battery cable cover, which it said may be incorrectly mounted.

"This can result in the electrical system malfunctioning, the vehicle failing to start and, in some cases, to charring or fire," the statement added.

BMW said it was unaware of any injuries resulting from this fault and asked owners to visit repair workshops for a 30-minute refit.

Approximately 1.3 million vehicles worldwide are affected, the firm said.

source: interaksyon.com