Lotus Ditches Lightweight Philosophy As It Pursues Volume Manufacturing
We can already hear the cries of “sellout” from enthusiasts across the world. Lotus announced that they were abandoning their “lightweight and simple” design philosophy in favor of increasing volume and building more technologically advanced, luxurious and upmarket sports cars. Proton, the Malaysian owner of Lotus, pledged in 1996 to make Lotus profitable within 5 years. Having failed to achieve that goal, the company has chosen a new direction. New models will feature advanced features like dual-clutch gearboxes, active suspension systems, hybrids and other alternative powertrains. Proton is hoping to increase sales from between 2000-2500 cars per year to 6000-8000 cars per year within five years.
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Your iPhone 4 Warranty and Insurance Options
The iPhone 4 is far from indestructible. Hell, it's starting to seem like it might actually be fragile. So here, for worrywarts and klutzes alike, is an overview of some warranty and insurance plans in case things go wrong. Lumping warranties and insurance plans together is sort of an apples and oranges type thing, but all these things fall under the umbrella of "stuff that helps keep your iPhone working." Every iPhone 4 comes with Apple's one year warranty, which covers stuff that's their fault—like manufacturing defects—but nothing that's your fault, like drops, spills and the rest. That AppleCare can be extended for a year for $69, but the stuff it covers remains the same. Best Buy offers a special plan for Best Buy-bought iPhones that, for example, covers water spillage but not water submersion, and it has no loss or theft protection. RadioShack and Walmart both rely on Apple's AppleCare protection in lieu of their own.
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Toyota Is All Set For A Comeback With Mr2 Successor And A Reborn Supra
To the great joy of the Supra fans, Toyota is all set for a comeback with a successor to MR2 and a reborn Supra, due within the next four years. The MR2 replacement, which is due for late 2013, will have a hybrid powertrain based on a 1.5-litre petrol engine, instead of V6 hybrid powertrain that was earlier meant for it. The rear-wheel drive Supra successor, on the other, is scheduled for 2011 and is expected to be available in two versions: a traditional gas-powered model which is likely to be fitted with a 3.5-liter V6 and a sports version with GS450h’s 2GR-VSE 3.5-liter V6 mated to JDM Crown Hybrid’s electric drive system. Whereas the 3.5-liter V6 only produces 268hp and 248lb-ft of torque, the Crown’s Hybrid system will enable Lexus’ V6 to churn out over 400hp. The Supra successor is expected to appear at this year’s Tokyo Motor Show, but the production model isn’t expected to be unveiled until next year.
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How To Move An 803,000 lb Generator 170 Miles
Hey, Appalachian motorists? If you spot a 1,000ft convoy with a spectacular 225 foot, 56-axle, two semi-tractor rig at the center, it's moving a gigantic 400 ton steam turbine from Tennessee to Virginia at 8 MPH. How do you get an 803,000 lb steam generator from Japan to a coal-fired power plant in St. Paul, Virginia? Very slowly. Dominion Virginia Power purchased the massive machine, which traveled from Japan on a cargo ship, then up the Mississippi on a barge, and now Barnhart Crane and Rigging Company is undertaking the final 170 mile transfer into Virginia. To move something big you need something big, and they're certainly using some big stuff.
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