| Fast and high: First 'Vette ZR1 sells for $1 million
The right to purchase the first "retailable" 2009 Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 built was auctioned off for an even million at the 2008 Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. Saturday. Production of the 2009 ZR1 is expected to begin this summer. Sticker prices will be about $100,000. The Corvette ZR1 will be equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 engine producing at least 620 horsepower. The car shown here is a preproduction vehicle, not the car that will ultimately be sold. All proceeds of the sale will be donated to the United Way. .
Power Outages, Wildfires Left in Gusts' Wake
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Junior Charting New Career Path
It's one of the biggest sports marketing changes we've ever seen, if not the biggest, because it's happening in a sport where endorsements and sponsorships are more critical than any other sport," says David Carter, executive director of the University of Southern California's Sports Business Institute. "He certainly has a real chance to build the most iconic brand ever in terms of motor sports."
Lowe's Motor Speedway President H.A. "Humpy" Wheeler watched Earnhardt's father become a fan favorite with an intimidating driving style that led to 76 victories and a record-tying seven championships. Wheeler says the son's new look will need to be accompanied by results on the track.
"You can only go so long without winning," Wheeler says. "He has to win to keep his status up."
'I want to prove I'm a great one'
Earnhardt's bid for greatness comes as NASCAR, whose popularity soared for a decade beginning in the mid-1990s, is trying to reverse a two-year slump in TV ratings.
AIAM Statement on Support for EPA's Waiver Decision
ARLINGTON, Va., Feb. 1 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, AIAM reiterated its support for a single federal approach to improving motor vehicle fuel economy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions by intervening on the side of EPA in a lawsuit brought by the State of California against EPA concerning California's greenhouse gas emissions regulations. "This is not a lawsuit to resist greenhouse gas emissions regulation. Rather, our intervention is focused on only one issue -- who should set those standards," said Michael J. Stanton, President and CEO of AIAM. "We believe that for important policy and legal reasons, it is the federal government that should set those standards." "AIAM has long supported efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve fuel economy," said Michael J.
Mercedes-Benz introduces SLR McLaren Roadster
Imagine this: You're a guest at the Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows. As you approach your car, heads turn to see which of the rich and famous is in their midst. Yes, it's true. Even in Beverly Hills heads will turn when your car is a 2008 Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren roadster. Star-struck situations like this really do occur, especially if you own one of the most desired, most expensive, most status-oriented, and hard-to-get cars on the planet.
Mercedes-Benz has begun building a roadster version of its extraordinary SLR McLaren super coupe for the 2008 model year. Powered by a supercharged 5.5-liter, 617-horepower AMG V-8 engine, the SLR McLaren Roadster boasts a 0-60 mph time of only 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 206 mph. Showing off Formula 1 technology for the street, the roadster's carbon fiber monocoque provides an extremely rigid platform for outstanding handling, as well as exceptional protection in collisions.
Toyota unveils hybrid sports car
TOYOTA has launched a new vehicle that combines the slickness of a sports car with a petrol-electric hybrid engine. The car manufacturer launched its Future Toyota Hybrid Sports (FT-HS) concept yesterday and said the vehicle would provide both ultra-high performance and ultra-low fuel use and emissions. Toyota manager of product development Doug Soden said the new vehicle showed hybrids could be made not only for the masses but from a sports perspective as well. "There is a stronger need for hybrid vehicles to be on the market, or much more fuel- efficient vehicles," Mr Soden said. "Whichever way you look at it, whether it is a petrol-electric or hydrogen-electric, there needs to be that hybrid interface." Produced by Toyota's research and design team in California, the FT-HS mates an electric motor to a 3.5-litre petrol engine.
Microsoft Slipping Off the Online Video Market
Microsoft only served 180 million videos in December, for a total of 1.8% share. Back in 2006, the Redmond company was building its own YouTube, under the Soapbox brand, a service that was subsequently melted away into MSN Video. But despite owning the MSN portal, which attracts in excess of 500 million visitors each month, MSN Video is failing miserably at getting off the ground. Overall, MSN Video attracted just 20 million unique visitors in December 2007, for a share of 10.9%, four times less than Google 80 million audience, and a share of 43% of all Internet users in the U.S. "Google Sites once again ranked as the top U.S. video property in December with 3.3 billion videos viewed (32.6 % share of videos), gaining 1.3 share points versus the previous month. YouTube.com accounted for more than 97 % of all videos viewed at the property.
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