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One of the best things about the internet is that practically any type of interest can find a passionate following. Whether it’s a car news site for motorists or an online sci-fi magazine, the chances are that there’s a site out there with a dedicated readership, which regularly covers the latest developments in their area of interest. After all, one of the biggest benefits of a potentially global audience is that you’re not limited by publishing costs, distribution issues or even subscription costs.

Some of the most popular genres of fan-sites and niche news (barring video games and tech – a little too obvious!) that can be found online include:

Motoring

America may like to celebrate its love affair with the automobile but in truth it’s a global phenomenon. People love their cars – and what’s more they love hearing about the cars that they would like to have. Car news websites don’t just report on stories that would affect the average driver, they report on the things that only a tiny, miniscule amount of even the most dedicated car hobbyists will ever have direct experience of. From the launch of a new prestige sports car (and a subsequent test drive) to interviews with car manufacturers or professional racers, motoring is one of the biggest passions out there and its online presence reflects that.

Music

Still, no matter how many people love cars you can’t argue that even more love music. Of course that’s slightly complicated by the fact that music is a little more of a diverse interest – your average jazz fan won’t be too interested in the world of death metal. Music news sites dedicated to each genre or even specific geographies can be found throughout the internet. Gigs, festivals, interviews, label signings, the release of new albums or just good old fashioned gossip about rock-star lifestyles, it can all be found online.

Science

Science news may only take up a small section of most print publications outside of New Scientist but online, it has a huge and dedicated following. A lot goes on in the world of science that is neither quirky or entertaining but can be significant – or at least interesting if you’re so inclined. Whether it’s new information on exoplanetary surveying, the cellular behaviour of bacterial life-forms in a vacuum or even political or social commentaries from eminent scientists, you can find dozens of sites dedicated to covering science news. Be warned though; if you’re the average layman – if you left behind science in secondary school – then some of these websites may be hard work. Many are written by the scientific community exclusively for the scientific community and if you’re not familiar with the principles, they could be a little impenetrable.

Today, a car is not just a set of wheels that gets you from one place to another. With innovative new gizmos and gadgets added to tweak its performance and enhance its snazzy good looks, today’s car is a statement of style and class. People from as recently as the previous generation would be absolutely flabbergasted if they saw some of the cars today. It’s something they would not even have dreamed about.

Consider just the safety features of the 2007 Lexus ES 350. As part of its standard equipment this model has Traction Control (TTRAC) and Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), which controls wheelspin with automatic brake and throttle adjsutment. Besides the eight standard airbags, it also offers knee bags for the front two seats as well as side-curtain airbags for the protection of all outwardly sitting positions. Other optional safety equipment includes the state-of-the-art Intelligent Adaptive Front lighting System (AFS) which even illuminates around curves with a clever swiveling headlight.

The redesigned 2006 Infiniti M features a new Lane Departure Warning system, which alerts the driver in case of unintended lane change. This is accomplished by a high sensitive device that recognizes lane markings and calculates the distance between the marking and the car. Sports models feature a Rear Active Steer system that adjusts the geometry of the rear end to suit the vehicle speed and the steering input.

The Acura RL from Honda offers its drivers real-time traffic information, a feature not seen in any other model of car. The RL’s 8-inch navigation screen displays XM NavTraffic traffic information data including accidents, traffic flow and freeway construction in select metro areas. The driver gets an accident update every minute and traffic-flow information is updated every five minutes.

With a massive rail-to-rail sunroof, the New Corsa is a must-have for owners who like the extra freedom of glass. A touch of a button enables its passengers to enjoy open air driving and a special wind deflector and dual-space seal system eliminate excess wind noise when the roof is open. In hot weather, an extra sliding blind protector protects passengers from the direct sunlight. Other innovative features of the New Corsa include halogen AFL curve lighting, translucent interior dials and follow-me-home lighting. Select New Corsa models feature a highly sophisticated electronics and infotainment system that allow up to five drivers to program the car to their preference. Driver preference settings can be stored in the key and include individual choices of climate control as well as favored radio station.

BMW, USOC make 6-year sponsorship deal official
German automaker BMW and the U.S. Olympic Committee announced a six-year sponsorship deal on Monday.

Read more on USA Today

The Audi TT may seem as out of the reach of normal road goers. Unlike its German brothers however it creates an affordable opportunity to those who want all the benefits of a German made sports car without the extortionate price. If considering an Audi TT I would advise to look at the used car market as often a bargain can be had.

The Audi TT first made an appearance as a concept car at the German Motor Show in 1995 where it won many awards. The styling is regarded by experts as the avant garde of a new design revolution. Its bold curved design was innovative in nature and turned heads wherever it went. For those looking at a used model there has been a new generation released recently; as this has updated the styling somewhat used car prices are sure to fall.

The car reinvented Audi as a company; before the TT many had seen Audi as a company who purely produced rather dull saloon cars. After this design classic was released the popularity of Audi grew and its other ‘S’ models became increasingly fashionable. A used Audi does not depreciate greatly and for those who want a slice of luxury and style they make an enticing option.

The low powered Audi TT used a front wheel drive system although later and more powerful models used Audi’s famous ‘Quattro’ four wheeled drive system. This gives unbelievable road holding qualities and great cornering ability. However the TT was subject to an investigation after it was found to be somewhat unstable when cornering at high speeds. As a result a recall occurred where spoilers were used and suspension settings were altered.

If in the market for a used Audi TT there are numerous engine options available dependent upon how much power you require and how fast you actually want to go. One major consideration however should be go for the convertible model, ideal for touring the countryside with the wind in your hair it makes a brilliant soft top sports car.

The high quality of the interior is testament to German manufacturing; the materials used in the cars construction ooze quality and refinement and make the cabin a sumptuous space to be in. Less impressive however are the rear seats that can be considered an afterthought at best.

While there is little chance of an adult fitting in the back comfortably, there is adequate room for smaller children. The Audi TT was never designed to be a family car though so the lack of rear space is not a great concern.

Although the handling and gearbox have been criticised by some commentators it should be realised that both are deliberate. Some have said the steering is somewhat pedestrian but Audi made the car to have light steering to make city driving easier; despite the protestations of die hard motor enthusiasts. The six speed gearbox has been criticised for losing power at the wrong times but again this is deliberate and an integral part of the six speed nature. Getting used to the gearbox is all part of the TT experience.

Whatever critics have said about the TT it remains one of the most popular sports cars on the road today. Audi can consider it an unbridled success that has brought the company out of a slump at put it at the forefront of revolutionary design. There is little doubt that if Audi had not produced the TT the new gorgeously styled R8 would never have come into existence.

No matter what your opinion on the TT it is hard to argue against the fact that it a design classic and one of the seminal cars of the last thirty years.How Audi used revolutionary styling to produce a design classic

A look at the good and bad points of the TT and why it can be considered a revolution in car design.

The Audi TT may seem as out of the reach of normal road goers. Unlike its German brothers however it creates an affordable opportunity to those who want all the benefits of a German made sports car without the extortionate price. If considering an Audi TT I would advise to look at the used car market as often a bargain can be had.

The Audi TT first made an appearance as a concept car at the German Motor Show in 1995 where it won many awards. The styling is regarded by experts as the avant garde of a new design revolution. Its bold curved design was innovative in nature and turned heads wherever it went. For those looking at a used model there has been a new generation released recently; as this has updated the styling somewhat used car prices are sure to fall.

The car reinvented Audi as a company; before the TT many had seen Audi as a company who purely produced rather dull saloon cars. After this design classic was released the popularity of Audi grew and its other ‘S’ models became increasingly fashionable. A used Audi does not depreciate greatly and for those who want a slice of luxury and style they make an enticing option.

The low powered Audi TT used a front wheel drive system although later and more powerful models used Audi’s famous ‘Quattro’ four wheeled drive system. This gives unbelievable road holding qualities and great cornering ability. However the TT was subject to an investigation after it was found to be somewhat unstable when cornering at high speeds. As a result a recall occurred where spoilers were used and suspension settings were altered.

If in the market for a used Audi TT there are numerous engine options available dependent upon how much power you require and how fast you actually want to go. One major consideration however should be go for the convertible model, ideal for touring the countryside with the wind in your hair it makes a brilliant soft top sports car.

The high quality of the interior is testament to German manufacturing; the materials used in the cars construction ooze quality and refinement and make the cabin a sumptuous space to be in. Less impressive however are the rear seats that can be considered an afterthought at best. While there is little chance of an adult fitting in the back comfortably, there is adequate room for smaller children. The Audi TT was never designed to be a family car though so the lack of rear space is not a great concern.

Although the handling and gearbox have been criticised by some commentators it should be realised that both are deliberate. Some have said the steering is somewhat pedestrian but Audi made the car to have light steering to make city driving easier; despite the protestations of die hard motor enthusiasts. The six speed gearbox has been criticised for losing power at the wrong times but again this is deliberate and an integral part of the six speed nature. Getting used to the gearbox is all part of the TT experience.

Whatever critics have said about the TT it remains one of the most popular sports cars on the road today. Audi can consider it an unbridled success that has brought the company out of a slump at put it at the forefront of revolutionary design. There is little doubt that if Audi had not produced the TT the new gorgeously styled R8 would never have come into existence. No matter what your opinion on the TT it is hard to argue against the fact that it a design classic and one of the seminal cars of the last thirty years.

Key Automobile Alliance Chooses MeeGo For Cars
The Linux Foundation today announced that GENIVI, an auto-alliance driving the adoption of In-Vehicle Infotainment (IVI), will adopt MeeGo as the standard software environment for IVI systems built by car companies including GENIVI members BMW and General Motors. MeeGo-based IVI devices will provide Internet-based features such as rear-seat entertainment, navigation, and entertainment, with the …

Read more on PhysOrg

If you are an avid car user it is natural for you to regularly keep tab on car news in Australia. What with rising traffic woes, traffic management getting more challenging, vehicle owning community is witnessing introduction of new stringent regulations by authorities everywhere. Also, emerging technological development to provide more than adequate car comfort and fight climate change have made cars manufacturers buzz about their new plans and development in the media.

Alert car users are ever on look out in the market for fresh buzz about a new car, introduction of new technology, latest novel designs, fresh accessories, financial soaps to buy a new preferred brand of cars, cheap insurance coverage packages, lemons, call backs and anything that could feed their appetite for knowing more and more about cars and car markets. At times new feat by an adventurist on brand owned becomes news and matter of pride for car owners reassuring them they own the best model in the market.

What with fuel efficiency and hybrid variety making their way in to the market, new models naturally catch attention of these car enthusiasts and those waiting for something desired to happen to own a car. Innovations continue to galore automobiles and their manufacturer since the invention of the combustible engines. Every new brand and model has given improvised versions to the advantage of car owners.

Similarly, accessory manufacturers from air bags, door locks, screen wipers, audio and video systems, air conditioning, lights, side steps, roof tracks have brought improvisations that could customize car and bring what the owner most prefer. Sedans, SUVs or limos have all have advantages of customization. Body designs since the introduction of Japanese vehicles have received continued and much focus.

While all this news have been in and out of market but they are no more breaking car news. In Australia, the latest buzz much desired and which could make car enthusiasts sit up and take note of is the healthy fuel efficiency drive by auto makers which is receiving more attention to combat climate and lower maintenance costs to the advantage of environment and health and consumers savings. For example, General Motor has developed a new high-tech direct-injection V8 is set to overtake Generation IV in Commodore in order to develop fuel efficiency. The model is likely to be introduce in the market by 2010-end.

Car news or reviews in Australia is most valuable tool for new car buyers who are looking for used cars or willing to buy new cars or a preferred brand, or upgrade their vehicle to the next generation by buying an year or two used car. This class of car buyers look for a wealth of car news and want information on every model and make and every generation with details and valuation if possible to beam from a single point. That makes easy for them to compare and take well-informed decisions to go for a buy. It is a starting point for new market of car buyers.

With environmental awareness increasing among people the demand of electric powered cars and hybrid cars are on the rise. In keeping with the trend Tesla Motors has brought its zero-emission high performance energy saving sports cars in the market. A superb combination of style, sophistication and futuristic technology Tesla sports cars are sure to sweep you off your feet.

Performance

Tesla Motors has recently introduced the high-performance Tesla Roadster, a next generation sports car which has already created a spark among the car enthusiasts around the world. The all new Tesla Roadster not only look attractive with a sleek carbon fiber body and retractable hard top it achieves an incredible 135 mpg.

Power

Tesla’s electric powertrain has been the main focus of several auto reviews on the roadster. The Tesla Roadster uses a 3-phase 4-pole Alternating Current induction motor which is controlled by the PEM (Power Electronics Module). Mated to a sophisticated two-speed electrically powered manual transmission Tesla’s unique electric powertrain is the source of highest torque and mileage while emitting one tenth of carbon dioxide compared to its gasoline combustion counterpart.

Style

Tesla Roadster comes in both metallic and non-metallic colors. From Brilliant Yellow to Thunder Gray you get wide range to choose colors for your car. Inside, state-of-the-art leather upholstery in black, gray or beige bears the mark of luxury.

Handling

As published in the auto news magazines, the Tesla Roadster is full of surprise. As you start the engine almost instant acceleration, that is, zero to 60-mph within 4 seconds gives you the required pace in the wink of an eye. What is best about the Tesla is that you don’t need to be a professional racing car driver to drive it. Its state-of-the-art technology ensures easy handling and smooth ride.

Battery

Much higher than usual electric cars that run about 60 miles per charge Tesla’s high-tech lithium-ion battery enables it travel up to 244 miles with 3.5 hours of charging. Tesla’s sophisticated Lithium ion battery pack is recyclable hence can be sold when dead. Instead of trashing it away you can sell them. You can charge it freely without waiting for the battery to get fully discharged.

Charging

Charging a Tesla Roadster is easy and safe whether you are at home or on the road. Once you buy the roadster you better generate a habit of charging it during the night so that every morning you find a fully charged car to drive off. You need to plug your Tesla into the High Power Connector unit at home. It takes around 4 hours to charge it. While on the road you can charge your car from any standard electric outlets using the Mobile Connector, an optional feature.

Safety

With most advanced safety features implemented in the Tesla Roadster Tesla Motors shows its commitment to passenger’s safety. The roadster gets high-quality Yokohama tires along with independent double-wishbone suspension to improve control while driving. It uses superior four-channel anti-lock brakes to reduce the vehicle stopping distance and increase vehicle control at the same time.

Finally, the Tesla Roadster boasting high energy efficiency and performance comes with an equally high price range starting from $101,500.

In Germany: For the past couple of months, the German public has witnessed the power struggle between two of the biggest shareholders of Europe’s largest automaker, Volkswagen— Porsche and the State of Lower Saxony.

The European Union court has repealed the very controversial Volkswagen law which was designed to protect Volkswagen from any possible form of takeover. The State of Lower Saxony has made use of the Volkswagen law to limit Porsche’s control over the supervisory board of the company despite the fact that it holds the largest amount of stakes at Volkswagen. The Volkswagen law limits the voting rights of shareholders to 20% regardless of the number of stakes they own in Volkswagen.

After all efforts to stop Porsche from gaining control over Volkswagen—maker of the popular Volkswagen radiator fan and owner of Audi, Bentley, SEAT and Skoda—the Premier of Lower Saxony Christian Wulff has finally put down the red flag and said that he will no longer interfere with Porsche’s desire to takeover both the chairmanship and the third seat on the company’s supervisory board for the next couple of weeks. Such political move by the Lower Saxony marks the signal for Porsche to take full control of Europe’s largest automaker.

It should be noted that Porsche has been slowly increasing its holdings in Volkswagen from the time it has become a shareholder of the automaker in September 2005. And at present Porsche already owns 27.4% stakes and will be increasing after gaining the votes of other shareholders for it to purchase additional shares bringing its total holdings to 29.9%. However, Porsche said that it will only pursue such if the Volkswagen law is repealed since according to Wendelin Wiedeking, they want to be given enough right to take part over the day-to-day operations of the automaker plus a seat at the chairmanship.

In order to repeal the Volkswagen law, the European Union has illustrated the law as unnecessary and obsolete further saying that it hinders the flow of free capital. If in case a ruling would finally come out soon it would finally give the right to Ferdinand Piech to hold multiple positions—as a controlling shareholder of Porsche and as upcoming Volkswagen’s chairman of the board and at the same time holding the third supervisory board seat at VW for Porsche.

There are rumors circulating in the European investment circles which say that Wulff is not yet through with Porsche. According to a report from Inside Line sources, the “Big Bad” Wulff is currently having private meetings with the other investors in an attempt to oust Piech once his term on Volkswagen’s supervisory board comes up for renewal in April.

The victory of Porsche over its stern rival the Lower Saxony came at the time when Volkswagen announced its 2006 profit earnings had doubled as compared to what it has gained for 2005. The automaker has also announced that its vehicle sales across the group has increased by a sturdy 9.4% or 5.7 million contributed mainly by Audi, Bentley and Skoda.

If you are a car enthusiast and you can’t let one day go by without checking out the latest car news, the wonder of the twentieth century, the internet, will quench that thirst for you. Nowadays, magazines or shows on television just don’t seem so reliable any more not to mention that they impose a certain schedule. On the other hand, the very numerous websites about automobiles and car blogs are right there for you, with all the information you may need about automotive news or automotive reviews.

If you are interested in buying a car, you should definitely check out some car reviews. What car dealers tell you is one thing, what you get might be quite another. We are referring, of course, to customers who have insignificant experience in the field of automobiles and who may be easy to trick only by using some words which may sound to the like belonging to another language. After all, it is well known that, for most people, the purchase of an automobile is the second largest in an expenses top. Because of the vast market and the lack of experience or knowledge on some of the consumers’ part, purchasing a car is also considered a very challenging sales experience. And when buying a car is such an important expense to many people, most of whom do it for a long period of time and some of them even for a lifetime, whom can you trust? Automotive reviews offer a great deal of information such as comparative tests or consumer investigations.

When it comes to informing the consumer, bigger isn’t always better, especially when the readers are deprived of getting honest advice because of some interests that a particular business or company holds. When you read automotive reviews, what you should look for are the skeptical journalism and critical comments which will guarantee that your best interest as a consumer comes first. Car reviews should offer a whole lot more than just the photos and specifics of a car. Automotive reviews can be found in newspapers or auto magazines, but they will rarely jump at the chance of pointing out a particular flaw of a car. The internet – this is the place where you can find the most recent automotive news, but also the honest critics who are more than willing to inform you, in their automotive reviews, of possible flaws of a particular car, flaws that the manufacturers probably already know about but have chosen to conceal it because it’s in their best interest, and certainly not the consumer’s.

When discussing a car flaw, some consumers choose to see for themselves rather than take the reviewer’s word for it. This is where the internet car reviews may come in handy. With the aid of new technology in multimedia, the user can actually see for himself what the car reviewer is talking about. With so many options when purchasing a car, and especially with the financial effort that this step is for many people, the negatives aspects in car review are those that can make the difference, because such flaws will bring upon the consumer a even greater expense over the years. The internet is reliable as far as automotive reviews are concerned, since there’s no pressure from any manager or editor to cut down on the criticism because it’s bad publicity for that car brand.

The internet is also a reliable source for automotive news, from car insurance and maintenance, used vehicles, safer driving, buying and selling cars to new releases and celebrity cars.

For more resources about automotive news and especially about automotive reviews please review this website http://www.car-spin.com

Mercedes servicing is now much cheaper, for those in the know. Thanks to European legislation, you no longer have to be tied to high Mercedes service costs, dictated by your local dealer.

In October 2003 new European legislation affecting the motor industry came into force called “Block Exemption Regulation” 14002002 (BER), and this now means that you can book your next Mercedes van service online and save up to 50% on what you might pay at your local Mercedes dealer.

Before the law changed it was difficult to have new vans within their warranty period serviced outside a franchised dealer. If you wanted to shop around for the best prices on Mercedes van servicing, your hands were tied.

The change in the law now gives every van owner the freedom to service their van away from the main dealers, and still have their warranty protected. Thousands of Mercedes van owners have now taken advantage of their new right and reduced their Mercedes serving costs, whilst benefiting from the convenience of booking with national van service providers such as Service A Van.

Service A Van is a leading online van servicing network that prides itself on the quality of its Mercedes servicing, their customer service and transparent pricing. Because the company is not tied to any particular van manufacturer, they are able to service any make of vehicle and compete freely in the market, on a like-for-like.

Every vehicle is rigorously serviced according to the manufacturer’s servicing schedule, using genuine recommended parts fitted by qualified technicians. This means that every Mercedes van service fulfils the warranty criteria and there is no compromise on the servicing standards of a main dealer.

Companies like Service A Van, who fulfil the warranty criteria when servicing your Mercedes, are able to maintain your service book, just as main dealer can – thereby protecting your warranty and helping you to maximise the resale value of your Mercedes van.

Of course, booking direct with a national van servicing network has its own advantages:
• You no longer have to do all the running around. Service A Van collects your Mercedes in the morning and delivers it back that afternoon, free of charge
• You pay a fixed Mercedes service price, which can be up to 50% below the price at the Mercedes servicing desk of your local dealer
• No additional work is vanried out without your agreement, which means no nasty surprises when it comes to paying the bill
• Trained Customer Advisers are on hand throughout the day to keep you informed of progress, and report back on problems you asked to be investigated as part of your Mercedes service e.g. knocks and rattles
• Your Mercedes service includes a free wash and vacuum clean
• You simply pay with your credit or debit vand and your van is delivered back to your home or work address.

Our advice for saving money on Mercedes van servicing is to contact a national van servicing network, who is not tied to any one particular van manufacturer, like Service A Van.

So, before you book your next Mercedes van service, why not ask your local dealer to tell you the cost of the service (plus parts, oil and any extras) and then compare it with a fixed price quote from a national servicing network, like Service A Van?

Happy motoring,

Howard.
Chairman Service A Van