The Fruit of Knowledge
Posts tagged new model
Apple to launch a 128GB retina iPad according to new SKUs
Jan 28th
According to model numbers leaked to 9to5Mac, Apple are set to release a larger, 128GB-capacity retina iPad in the coming months. The model numbers, reportedly from a high-profile US retailer, point to four new iPad models all with the same capacity, in black and white, with Wi-Fi and Cellular options.
As well as the new model numbers, 9to5Mac points to code in both the beta of iOS 6.1 and iTunes 11 that points to iOS devices with a 128GB capacity. Although this alone doesn’t point to an iPad specifically, the descriptions that came with the new model numbers do. Specifically, they involve the codes P101 and P103 which are Apple’s internal codes for Wi-Fi and cellular fourth-generation iPad models.
They also include the word ‘Ultime’ which follows on from Apple’s usual capacity coding of ‘Good’, ‘Better’ and ‘Best’, representing 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, respectively. Combined, these clues all point to a possible 128GB iPad release in the near future. With Apple’s iOS devices now outperforming its Macs in Q1 2013, we wouldn’t be surprised to see an announcement soon.
Coda announces "price drop," starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery
Nov 18th
Filed under: Car Buying, Sedan, Plants/Manufacturing, Electric
Coda may not have a new model to show off at the 2011 LA Auto Show, but the company can still make news with a price drop. Or with something that is a price drop in all but name.
In September 2010, Coda said its all-electric Sedan would cost $44,900. Today, that was refined downward to a more-reasonable $39,900, putting the car somewhat closer to parity with the Ford Focus Electric (which starts at $39,200). The Mitsubishi i ($29,125) and the Nissan Leaf ($35,200) are both cheaper options for smaller all-electric vehicles. Coda’s Thomas Hausch told AutoblogGreen that, since Coda hasn’t actually sold any of the Sedans for the previously announced price, the new base price isn’t a drop. More of a readjustment.
This is just one change that has happened since former GM exec Phil Murtaugh became Coda CEO. Hausch wouldn’t give us specific details, but said that Murtaugh instituted “significant cost reductions” all along the development chain to make the car more robust and simple. One minor change that Coda weirdly isn’t touting but could be due to the company talking about things a bit prematurely last year, as PluginCars’ Brad Berman noticed, is that the Sedan will come with a 36-kWh battery pack instead of the 34-kWh pack that had previously been announced. Estimated range is still 150 miles. The change doesn’t negatively affect the pack’s stated reliability. Coda today announced an “industry leading” battery warranty that lasts for ten years and 100,000 miles.
One other thing: Coda has started production, and Hausch said that the car is “sold out” until March or April of next year. All that means, though, is that enough people have paid the $99 reservation fee to claim a spot in line once the vehicles become available. The first deliveries should take place in January.
Coda announces “price drop,” starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Nov 2011 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Coda announces "price drop," starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery
Nov 17th
Filed under: EV/Plug-in, LA Auto Show, Coda Automotive
Coda may not have a new model to show off at the 2011 Los Angeles Auto Show, but the company can still make news with a price drop. Or with something that is a price drop in all but name.
In September 2010, Coda said its all-electric Sedan would cost $44,900. Today, that was refined downward to a more-reasonable $39,900, putting the car somewhat closer to parity with the Ford Focus Electric (which starts at $39,200). The Mitsubishi i ($29,125) and the Nissan Leaf ($35,200) are both cheaper options for smaller all-electric vehicles. Coda’s Thomas Hausch told AutoblogGreen that, since Coda hasn’t actually sold any of the Sedans for the previously announced price, the new base price isn’t a drop. More of a readjustment.
This is just one change that has happened since former GM exec Phil Murtaugh became Coda CEO. Hausch wouldn’t give us specific details, but said that Murtaugh instituted “significant cost reductions” all along the development chain to make the car more robust and simple. One minor change that Coda weirdly isn’t touting but could be due to Coda talking about things a bit prematurely last year, as PluginCars’ Brad Berman noticed, is that the Coda Sedan will come with a 36-kWh battery pack instead of the 34-kWh pack that had previously been announced. Estimated range is still 150 miles. The change doesn’t negatively affect the pack’s stated reliability. Coda today announced an “industry leading” battery warranty that lasts for ten years and 100,000 miles.
One other thing: Coda has started production, and Hausch said the car is “sold out” until March or April of next year. All that means, though, is that enough people have paid the $99 reservation fee to claim a spot in line once the vehicles become available. The first deliveries should take place in January.
Coda announces “price drop,” starts production of all-electric Sedan with larger battery originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Thu, 17 Nov 2011 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Toyota to unveil Prius C, hydrogen and electric hybrid concepts at 2012 Tokyo Motor Show
Nov 16th
If there’s one absolute truth to cars, it’s this: next year’s models will generally make you regret the one you just bought. Over at the Tokyo Motor Show, this standard will probably hold true, with Toyota set to launch a smaller-than-current-Prius in the form of the Prius C, or “Aqua”. The C, which takes some interesting technological steps forward, packs a hybrid drivetrain, coupling an as-yet undisclosed “high-output” electric motor with a 1.5-liter gasoline engine. According to Toyota, this combination will yield over 50 miles per gallon in the city, the highest city fuel economy for any non-plug-in vehicle. Getting into more experimental territory, Toyota is also expected to unveil the FCV-R concept, this model previewing a hydrogen fuel cell-powered vehicle with room for four passengers and luggage space currently being targeted for a 2015 market launch. This, along with the FT-EV III (which will preview an upcoming electric version of the company’s iQ model with a short-range battery-powered drivetrain) round out Toyota’s morsels for the new model year. Stay tuned for additional pricing and release dates as they become available, and head down past the break to see what to expect from the new Prius.
Toyota to unveil Prius C, hydrogen and electric hybrid concepts at 2012 Tokyo Motor Show originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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First Drive: 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S [w/video]
Nov 11th
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Porsche, First Drives
Think Your Job Is Stressful? Try Redesigning The 911
The world’s most iconic sports car, the Porsche 911, is redefined about every seven years. This is no easy feat, as each new model must not only conform to ever tightening emissions, fuel economy and safety regulations, but must be faster and more competitive in motorsports. The 911 remains one of the most successful racing cars ever built, and for many, it’s not just a sports car from Porsche – it is Porsche.
Now, an all-new seventh-generation Porsche 911 Carrera has been unveiled. While the rear-engine replacement lacks serious controversy (the move from an air-cooled flat-six to water-cooled powerplant more than a decade ago was dreadfully traumatic), the new Type 991 presents altered proportions to improve passenger comfort, handling and stability. But don’t think for a moment that the 2012 model has gone soft. It is much more dynamic and capable than its predecessor. To substantiate the fact, Porsche divulges that its all-new Carrera S is capable of lapping the Nürburgring’s Nordschleife circuit in just 7:40 minutes. Not only is that 14 seconds faster than last year’s 997, but it matches the time of the race-ready Type 997 GT3. And that’s just the start.
Continue reading 2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S [w/video]
2012 Porsche 911 Carrera S [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 11:55:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Review: 2012 Shelby GTS
Nov 10th
Filed under: Aftermarket, Coupe, Performance, Ford, New Car Reviews
Bringing The Shelby Name To The Masses
The Shelby name doesn’t come cheap. Vintage Shelby Mustangs and Cobras can command six or sometimes even seven figure sums. The current Shelby offerings are much cheaper – the GT350 is priced around $70,000 while the Ford-built GT500 is a little less expensive with a base price just short of $50,000 – although we still wouldn’t consider them attainable to the average guy with a mortgage and 2.5 kids.
Shelby sees that as a problem. The majority of its customers are the people who craved a GT500 or Cobra back when they were kids in the 1960s. Those customers are getting older, and like many other automakers, Shelby has decided to reach out to younger buyers. At the New York Auto Show earlier this year, Shelby announced the GTS, a new model designed to be attainable to the masses. The GTS would be available in both V6 and V8 form and, with a package price of $9,995, could be had for less than $33,000 in base form. “It’s a car that reaches a younger buyer while acknowledging the economic realities of our times,” said Shelby American president John Luft at the time.
We have to wonder, though. Are younger buyers interested in buying a Shelby Mustang? Will people actually buy a Shelby with a V6? We aimed to find out for ourselves and picked up a V6 model in Race Red with White Le Mans stripes at Shelby’s facility in Gardena, CA for a week-long test.
Continue reading 2012 Shelby GTS
2012 Shelby GTS originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 10 Nov 2011 11:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Official: Honda’s new ASIMO robot can now pour you a drink all on its own [w/video]
Nov 8th
Filed under: Etc., Technology, Videos, Honda
Honda does a whole lot more than just cars. They do motorbikes, ATVs, power equipment, outboard marine engines, personal watercraft, business jets… and yes, even robots. In fact its ASIMO humanoid robot (parodied in a rather disturbingly hilarious episode of South Park) is one of the most advanced in the field of robotics, and it’s only getting more so as the Japanese industrial giant has just unveiled its latest iteration.
While ASIMO may look more-or-less the same as he/she/it always has, the new model encompasses several advancements. For starters, ASIMO longer needs to be controlled by a human – it can walk about and do stuff all on its own, taking in its surroundings and making spatial decisions accordingly. Its new arm and hand mechanisms also allow it to perform delicate and intricate tasks like opening a bottle of water and pouring it into a paper cup without crushing it under the might of its own technological superiority.
The long and short of it is that ASIMO – now under the newly-formed Honda Robotics division – will soon be able to do everything a human can, only better. So start stocking the bomb shelter again. Or better yet, let ASIMO do that for you. You’ve had a long day.
Click past the jump to let ASIMO pour you a drink and show off some of its newfound skills.
Continue reading Honda’s new ASIMO robot can now pour you a drink all on its own [w/video]
Honda’s new ASIMO robot can now pour you a drink all on its own [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Rumormill: Will Porsche be forced to use next-gen Audi R8 platform for Ferrari 458 rival?
Nov 8th
Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Audi, Porsche, Rumormill, Luxury
In 2010, Porsche and Audi were both understood to be vying for the chance to provide future sports car platforms for the entire Volkswagen Group. Not to take anything away from Audi, but few would be surprised to learn that Porsche was chosen for the task.
It seems that Porsche had plans for the platform as early as March of 2011, considering it might underpin a Ferrari 458 competitor that would slot in between its own 911 and 918 Spyder. If such a car is made, what it is based on now seems to be a matter of timing: if Porsche produces its new model soon, a report in Autocar says VW wants it built on the next-generation R8 chassis that will also support the coming Lamborghini Gallardo. The overlords apparently feel that the aluminum and carbon fiber structure will be good enough for Porsche’s light heavyweight challenger.
That might not be good enough for Porsche – at least according to Autocar, which suggests that Porsche might wait all the way until 2020 to produce its rumored supercar. By then, all of the group’s sports cars will be on Porsche-designed platforms, so the Stuttgart firm won’t need to accept one from across the aisle.
Will Porsche be forced to use next-gen Audi R8 platform for Ferrari 458 rival? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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Report: Lamborghini to debut Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder for one last hurrah?
Nov 8th
Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Lamborghini
Italian automakers have a knack for stretching a two-model line into a full range. Just take a look at what Abarth has done with just the Punto and the 500. Or what Maserati has with the GranTurismo and Quattroporte. And Lamborghini certainly fits the same with the Gallardo and the Aventador (or the Murciélago before it).
The Gallardo itself has spawned a good dozen variants, distinguished by their roofs, drivetrain configurations, states of tune and other parameters. Soon enough they’ll all be replaced by an all-new model, but before they are, word on the street (or chat boards) has it that Lamborghini has one last variant in the works.
That variant is tipped to be the LP550-2 Spyder, a derivative previously mooted but now claimed as confirmed, apparently. So what will make it special? The combination of simplicity and open-air motoring. The powertrain is borrowed from the Balboni edition – meaning slightly less power than the standard model, but lighter in weight and driving just the rear wheels – but with the Spyder’s convertible roof.
More intriguing still would be if Lamborghini were to nix the roof altogether and carry the Gallardo out as a fair-weather purist’s dream, but at this point, we’re just grasping at straws.
Lamborghini to debut Gallardo LP550-2 Spyder for one last hurrah? originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 09:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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SEMA: Local Motors updates 2012 Rally Fighter, launches The Forge
Nov 3rd
Filed under: SEMA Show, Coupe, Performance, Technology, Specialty, Design/Style, Off-Road, MISC
Local Motors and its team of online community members are hard at work refining the Rally Fighter for 2012, and the list of changes for the new model year have officially been announced here at SEMA.
Probably the biggest piece of news is the replacement of the older three-link (with Watt’s link) rear suspension setup with a better four-link arrangement. The buyer can now choose from a stock Ford 8.8-inch rear end or opt instead for a welded-up 9-inch. Up front, a new set of billet A arms round out the suspension updates.
In addition to the new-model-year changes, the crew at Local Motors also announced The Forge, a “collaborative vehicular development platform [that] will allow OEMs, aftermarket companies, educational institutions and hobbyists to engage the Local Motors community for ideas, design, engineering development and more.”
The open web-based development platform will go live on 11.11.11, as will a new CAD software program from Siemens and Local Motors. Read all about the updates to the 2012 Rally Fighter as well as The Forge in the press releases after the break… and stay tuned for some exciting Rally Fighter content right here on Autoblog in the coming weeks.
Continue reading Local Motors updates 2012 Rally Fighter, launches The Forge
Local Motors updates 2012 Rally Fighter, launches The Forge originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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