Amazingly, Peugeot's Smiley Grille Saves Another Dog's Life

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Say what you want about the aesthetics of the smiley-shaped grille of older Peugeot cars, but we know that it has proved its worth when it comes to saving the lives of dogs.

How else can you explain the fact that for the second time (see the first incident here), we have discovered a video showing a pooch that made it out alive after being hit by what looks to be a Peugeot 308 307 compact hatchback?

According to the poster of the clip, the dog was allegedly hit at a speed of 90km/h (56mph), which sounds a lot to us, but without additional information, there's no way of being sure.

In any case, the dog was found trapped behind the Peugeot's gaping front grille, with the driver and a passenger being able to remove the lucky pup.

However, we should point out here that it might have been better for the four-legged animal if the "rescuers" had taken the time to remove the grille or even the bumper instead of dragging it through the hole….

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To Charge or Not to Charge? Nissan Faces Class Action Lawsuit on Leaf's Battery Range

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Nissan claims to be at the forefront of all-electric vehicles with the Leaf. Yet the Japanese company and its U.S. division are currently been accused in the U.S. that it has misled buyers about its EV's battery life and true driving range.

Humberto Klee and David Wallak say that Nissan advertises a range of 100 miles (160 km) or less, depending on a number of variables like the road conditions and the weather.

The plaintiffs claim is that the carmaker does not say that the Leaf can attain this range only if its battery is fully charged.

One can’t help but wonder what this is all about; until, that is, you read the rest of the federal class action lawsuit:

“Before purchase or lease, Nissan failed to disclose its own recommendations that owners avoid charging the battery beyond 80 percent in order to mitigate battery damage and failed to disclose that Nissan’s estimated 100-mile range was based on a full battery charge, which is contrary to Nissan’s own recommendation for battery charging.”

It does sound odd for Nissan to recommend not charging the battery beyond 80 percent and at the same time, releasing a maximum range figure that is attainable only with a 100 percent charge.

On its behalf, Nissan replied even though it “regrets that a very small number of Leaf owners are dissatisfied”, in its opinion “the lawsuit lacks merit”.

Among other things, Nissan's statement reads:

“Nissan has provided information on how the vehicle works, its estimated range and factors that can affect both range and battery life through many sources, including the Nissan Leaf website, owner's manual and detailed written disclosure.”

The lawsuit has been filed against both Nissan Motor Company and Nissan North America with the Central District Court of California, which will be the one to decide whether the plaintiffs’ class action has merit or not.

By Andrew Tsaousis

Story References: Top Class Actions via Autoblog Green

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BMW Already Testing 1-Series Compact Models with its New Three-cylinder 1.5-liter Engines

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As we were looking for pictures the other day for our story on the availability of the BMW Group's new 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo engines in the United States and Canada, we discovered images of a prototype of the 1-Series five-door hatchback fitted with this powerplant on the company's website.

To date, while BMW has set the market introduction of the 1.5-liter TwinPower Turbo engine in diesel and petrol forms for 2013, it has only confirmed the i8 sports coupe and the i3 supermini gasoline-electric hybrids as the recipients of the three-cylinder units.

Nevertheless, we have heard that the new three-cylinder engines will also make their way under the hoods of several vehicles, including the next generation of MINI models, the 1-Series range –which would explain the prototype in the pictures- including the production version of the Paris Motor Show Hybrid Acitve Tourer, and possibly even the 3-Series, X1 and X3 in certain markets.

BMW has said that the gasoline version of the turbocharged 1.5-liter engine will be offered in various states of tune with outputs ranging from 120Hp to 220Hp and peak torque from 180Nm to 240 Nm.

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Hennessey Plans to Inject Some Powerful Venom to 2013 SRT Viper

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Leave it to Hennessey Performance to take an already viciously powerful sports car like the brand-new 2013 SRT Viper and tune it to the extreme.

As with any other proposal from Hennessey, it all starts with a heavy tuning of the SRT Viper's 8.4-liter V10 engine, which in stock form, delivers 640 horsepower and 600 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels via a 6speed manual gearbox.

Hennessey will offer two performance packages for Chrysler's finest sports car.

The first is called the Venom 700R and it lifts output to 725hp and 695 lb-ft (941Nm) for a 0-60mph (96km/h) time of 3.1 seconds, a 1/4 mile run in 10.7 seconds and a top speed of 218mph (351km/h).

If you remain thirsty for power, Hennessey will try to cover your special needs with the Venom 1000 Twin Turbo Engine Upgrade that sees output boosted to 1,120hp and peak torque to 1,092 lb-ft (1,479Nm).

The turbocharged V10 allows the Viper to reach 60mph (96km/h) in 2.7 seconds and complete the 1/4 mile in just 9.7 seconds, with the car's top speed not listed by Hennessey.

Prices have not yet been announced, but the tuner has already prepared a list of optional upgrades such as carbon fiber splitters and wings, wheels and Sabelt racing seats.

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Chris Harris Drives Legendary Porsche 962 Group C Racer at the Weissach Track

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In 1992, Porsche decided to build a sports prototype racer to compete in the FIA World Sportscar Championship (WSC). Norbert Sieger, who led Porsche’s Motorsport division at the time, was the project leader.

The result was the 956, which featured a –first for the company- aluminum monocoque chassis with power provided by a 2.65-liter turbocharged flat-six engine delivering 635HP.

The first prototype was completed on March 27, 1982, and Jurgen Barth gave it its first outing at Porsche’s Weissach private test track.

One year later, Stefan Bellof (who unfortunately died at the 1983 Spa endurance race after colliding with Jacky Ickx) set a blistering 6:11.13 lap time at the Nordschleife during the 1,000 km of Nürburgring qualifying session. The record, which equates to an average speed of 202 km/h (126 mph) at the daunting track, still holds until this day.

More than 30 years later, motoring journalist Chris Harris was invited to drive a 1987 Porsche 962, the (much safer) evolution of the 956 that was introduced for the 1985 season, at the exact same place.

Harris didn’t only drive the Rothmans-liveried car that won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1987 and is usually on display at Porsche’s museum, but he also had an extensive interview with Singer, who explained in detail the thinking behind the creation of the all-conquering 956/962.

You can watch the video of Harris having a blast in the legendary racer right after the break.

By Andrew Tsaousis

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On the roads.

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Over the last two days, I've done a lot of  driving to work with a client in regional Victoria.  I quite like driving on the highway.  It gives me time to think and I enjoy listening to the radio.

I was driving a lipstick pink hire car this time.  Today I was dressed in a pink shirt (I packed before I picked up the hire car).  I felt ridiculously matched.  People were looking at me in my lipstick pink car.  It was very girly and initially I didn't like it.  Then I got used to it and I quite like the colour now.

It goes back tomorrow.

When I picked it up, I waited in a line for twenty minutes.  A large group of tourists were hiring several cars.  Their English speaking skills were limited.  It took a long time.  I signed my paperwork, paid and was gone within five minutes.

While driving I was treated to a double rainbow.



Some of the things I thought about:

• I started to map out when I will take a holiday.  Working freelance means that it can be easy to forget to plan a break - especially in the first year.  I've discovered that I needed to understand the rhythms of demand and accept that.  I know that January is dead, so I've decided to schedule time and I have already started telling clients that I am unavailable during this time.
• I marvelled at the impatience and recklessness of many drivers.  I worried for one driver who looked like they may have been falling asleep.
• Why couldn't I open my ereader this morning?  I'm deeply into "Freedom" by Jonathan Franzen and enjoying it immensely.  I read it over dinner as I dined on my own at the hotel restaurant last night.  I read it before I went to sleep last night.  I took it to breakfast, but could not get the book to open.  Very frustrating and one of the drawbacks of digital - this would never happen with a real book!
• I worry for the missing Melbourne woman Jill Meagher.  Listening to ABC radio (where she works) meant I heard a lot.  I hope she's all right.  I can't imagine how her loved ones must be feeling.
• I appreciated the landscape, bathed in gorgeous pink light as the sun set.  
• I cursed the sun as I drove right into its light.
• I pondered the validity of dead gangland boss Carl Williams' family launching a civil damages suit against the state for negligence (he turned police informant and was murdered while in maximum security).  I didn't reach a conclusion, but it's an interesting question.
• I spent time thinking about the changes I had seen in the group I've been working with.  One woman was so much more engaged, she was like a different person.  Another man who had been hard to convince, thawed and acknowledged to me (in front of the group) when I handed him an intellectual "diamond".  Another woman was so angry at everyone and everything, I wondered what her life is like.

And so it goes.
Even though the beds at the hotel I stayed in last night are the most comfortable beds in the world, I will be very glad to sleep in my own again tonight.
What have you been thinking about today?

Struck down and alone with my body

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I have been exactly like Prime Minister Julia Gillard this week.  I flew into another city (Brisbane) for important work the following day and spent the night vomiting.  As Jonathan Franzen described it in "Freedom", I was alone with my body.

There is nothing lonelier than being ill in a hotel room.  The bed isn't right.  The pillows aren't right.  The temperature control is off.  The noises are unfamiliar.  There are no ice cream containers to put by the bed in case of emergency.

Then there's the whole emergency planning scenario for the following day which plays on the mind.  "I have to be okay for tomorrow."  "What happens if I'm not okay tomorrow?" "I just have to be okay tomorrow."  This played out for the whole night.

I woke up at 6am with a blinding headache and a parched mouth, but could roll over without feeling queasy.  Slowly I eased myself into a sitting position.  I made a cup of weak black tea and spent the next 40 minutes sipping it.  (There is a post coming about the comedy of filling the kettle in hotel rooms).

I hauled myself into the shower and slowly, tentatively prepared myself mentally and physically for the day.  I was facilitating a leadership session and the prospect of being anywhere other than in bed was not pleasing.

I made it through the day on a completely empty stomach.  When the discussion about staff engagement came up we talked about absenteeism and how you pick what's genuine and what isn't.  I reflected on my own experience.  If I wasn't engaged in my work, I'd probably still be lying in the hotel room feeling sorry for myself, even though the worst of whatever it was was over.  I recalled one job I'd had that I wasn't very engaged in and while I was working there I found myself feeling ill more often.  When I'm doing stuff I enjoy and am engaged in, I get sick less often.  Is this true for you?

Before I was gripped with illness I had some time to enjoy the view from the 29th floor of my hotel.  The balcony was tiny and it took all my effort to step out there.

(c) divacultura 2012

(c) divacultura 2012

(c) divacultura 2012

(c) divacultura 2012