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Maybach, verging on irrelevant anyway, produce the useless Landaulet. Remarkably, it manages to be even uglier than a normal Maybach.
Who asked for it? Car try to work that out.
Maybach's £678k Landaulet - Car UK
Maybach has announced it will put the Landaulet, a semi-convertible based on the Maybach 62 S limousine, into production thanks to an ‘overwhelming response from the public’…
In January it appeared Bertone might survive. Cardesignnews have an update and the news isn’t good:
Trouble at Bertone - cardesignnews.com
It has now emerged that Bertone will not be making an appearance at this year's Geneva Auto Show, the first time in more than 50 years that the company will not have a stand at the grand European show…
Fiat’s new baby, gets teeth!
I suspect this re-invention of a classic is going to cost more than nz$37,000 but will be a hoot it will be to drive. For a proper look click through to CarScoop
UPDATE 20-02-2008: It is the real thing!
Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!
Was the reaction when I saw this headline in my feedreader, then I saw the date. Phew, but why did it just show up today?
Fiat set to axe 8000 as sale to GM looms - Edinburgh Evening News
Published Date: 07 October 2002
FIAT Auto, the Italian car maker, is preparing to axe up to 8000 jobs amid growing fears the firm will be sold to US giant General Motors.
It was compared to the VHS/Beta format war but in the case of HD DVD vs Blu-Ray Sony appear to have won! This time it also means consumers get the best format. It’s often said this will be a short lived victory as download will kill physical media but sitting at the end of a not very broadband connection with a 10GB cap it’s going to be a while before I download much video.
Toshiba to exit HD DVD, end format war-NHK | Reuters
Toshiba Corp is planning to stop production of equipment compatible with the HD DVD format for high-definition video, allowing the competing Blu-Ray camp a free run…
This awesome video shows Wanderer has found the next Bad Astronomer!
If you want to see the most natural child acting on TV have a look at Outnumbered (TVNZ One Friday). It’s a family sit-com which is distinguished by letting the children improvise a little. The result is well worth watching and that’s more than can be said of most “family sit-coms”.
Outnumbered | TV ONE SHOWS A-Z | TV ONE | tvnz.co.nz
Outnumbered follows the daily chaos of family life with two parents and three young children locked in an unequal contest. Containing strong elements of improvisation, this comedy is an honest portrayal of the well meaning parental incompetence that happens in most homes
Having spec’ed a 500 I got to $36,990.Quite a lot of money for a little Fiat!
Create your own Fiat 500! - Fiat NZ
As you build your Fiat 500 your choices will be displayed along with the cost of the car….1.4 16v 75kW Lounge Manual Pasodoble Red Red leather, black interior 16" Hot Alloy Wheel Sky Dome opening sunroof Luxury pack is standard with Lounge Chrome kit is standard with Lounge Price so far: $36,990
I got this phishing spam today, February 12 2008, warning me of unusual activity in my PayPal account which will happen in 3 days! Seems the spammers fake “Account Review Team” have psychic abilities, have mastered time travel or can’t read a calendar!
Dear PayPal Valued Costumer,
PayPal is committed to maintaining a safe environment for its community of buyers and sellers. To protect the security of your account, PayPal employs some of the most advanced security systems in the world and our anti-fraud teams regularly screen the PayPal system for unusual activity.
We are contacting you to remind you that on February 15, 2008 our Account Review Team identified some unusual activity in your account. In accordance with PayPal's User Agreement and to ensure that your account has not been compromised, access to your account was limited. Your account access will remain limited until this issue has been resolved.
I suppose had I followed their instructions and sent the details the fraud might have happened on the 15th as they predicted. Are you still Psychic if you create the future you predict?
Happily MailWasher dealt with the message, and revealed the true destination of the supposed PayPal links, before it even left my mail server;
I was browsing the TUMEKE! Kiwi Blog rankings and was rather surprised to see #36. I was amused to see ? : ? for Ideological Position : Political Affiliation as it’s accurate!
The current mob have not impressed, especially in recent years, yet I don’t see John Key as the new messiah. I’m even more troubled by the legacy National’ites he’ll drag into power with him. What to do…?
TUMEKE! NZ Blogosphere Rankings
A comprehensive list ranking of New Zealand political and news blogs with directory information for the nz blogosphere community.January 2008
#36 [new] RobiNZ personal blog : www.rcd.typepad.com/personal/
03/2004+ "no CAD here! Just the other stuff"
Robinz : ? - ? : NZ
nzn/a * 527,307 : c.200 (0.5 x home page traffic) + 11 + n/a (11) + 8 = 230 [new]
Why do I have the feeling Barack Obama will be;
The Abarth Grande Punto arrives in Britain, soon to be seen in New Zealand, and seems to be making a good impression.
Fiat Grande Punto Abarth: Return of the Scorpion - Telegraph
Tony Dron drives the sporty new Abarth versions of Fiat's Grande Punto
Fiat Grande Punto Abarth - Car Magazine UK
Abarth?
Am I right in thinking the last time I saw that name it was on a Fiat Stilo?
Wash your mouth out! We don’t talk about that. Abarth has now been launched as a new brand in the Fiat stable, alongside the likes of Alfa Romeo, Lancia, Maserati and Fiat…
I’ve just watched FutureCar which features many designers, and car companies, but is largely focused on General Motors. They showed some of the awesome technology used at GM to design, validate and visualise new cars. Their design team is obviously packed with talent and has the resources to produce some great concepts, and they do (think Saab Aero).
I watched it wondering, thinking of GM’s mediocre production vehicles, where the hell does it go wrong?
Betsy Welch, a former Spanish teacher at Vail Mountain School, Colorado, is travelling in New Zealand. This edition of her travels captures some of the things she likes about the place.
What I like about New Zealand - Vail Daily Colorado
Betsy Welch's New Zealand travelogue continues…
It’s a pity more Kiwis don’t appreciate the place. As Fred Dagg (Mr John Clarke) said so many years ago “We don’t know how lucky we are”.
There was talk of Fiat doing deals with Jaguar, Tata Jaguar or buying Jaguar to get a RWD platform for Alfa Romeo. If you can believe Autobild they may be turning to GM’s Sigma platform. An independent Fiat buying GM hardware with money made from a GM financed revival, who’d have thought a few years ago!
FIAT Buys Cadillac’s Sigma Platform | The Truth About Cars
According to Autobild (print edition, Jan 25), Alfa Romeo will re-engineer almost all of its models from front wheel to rear wheel-drive (RWD). Since the FIAT conglomerate has practically no usable RWD platforms…
Joe Bennett: Where Underpants Come from
I'll disclose I'm reading this because it's, in a strange way, about where I work and because I love Joe's writing.
The Best of Car Magazine
A blast from the past but still great reading today. From supercars to not super cars (Ford Capri), tales of CANAM and Formula One from the 60's, and when will the oil run out from the 70's (hint, it should have already) this is a great mix of nostalgia. One of the best articles is a "behind the scenes" look at filming the racing movie "Le Mans". Another highlight is the faithfully reproduced totally sexist advertising!
George Dyson: Darwin Among the Machines: The Evolution of Global Intelligence
I was shocked this book, about the evolution of artificial intelligence, began in New Zealand!
Karl Pilkington: Happyslapped by a Jellyfish: The words of Karl Pilkington
The sticker on the front says "If you think he's a genius, you're an idiot -Rricky Gervais". Karl writes about what he knows, which isn't much but he's been on a few holidays...
It's genius!
Karl Kruszelnicki: Great Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths
Dr. Karl Kruszelnicki is an Aussie "celebrity scientist". This book is a collection of his columns which expose the truth behind many commonly quoted "facts".
Do we really use only 10 percent of our brain? Read this book and you'll find out...
Spike Milligan: Silly Verse for Kids
A classic for children of any age...
Jean-Michel Jarre : The Symphonic Jean-Michel Jarre (2CD Set)
I've always liked Jarre's work, his live concert DVDs especially, but the thought of it done by a symphony orchestra had me wondering: "elevator music"?
This disc proves I was wrong. The symphonic nature of his compositions is expressed brilliantly by superb arrangements. Recommended for more than elevators! You can hear samples, or buy as mp3's, from the Amazon page.
Greg Johnson: Here Comes the Caviar
Brilliant Kiwi artist, now resident in L.A. If you have the chance to see Greg live, don't miss it.
Rudy Sunde: Chants de Marins/Sea Shanties
Rudy is a local artist, writer and bugman (entomologist)
Pat Metheny: One Quiet Night
I liked Norah Jones hit track "Don’t Know Why", but not a fan of hers. Pat's solo guitar version on this album is lovely.
Anna Maria Jopek: Secret
Anna Maria Jopek's first English album is a mix of original and covers. The voice is pure rather than powerful but refreshing.
Rudy Sunde: Songs of New Zealand
Traditional Kiwi music. Rudy is a westie, folk composer/performer and expert on aphids!
Shane Jacobson: Kenny
To say it's Aussie Toilet humour is, well it's accurate, but doesn't do this film justice. Wonderful script, brilliant acting and finely balanced, like a teetering porterloo, mix of humour and pathos. It's nearly as good as "The Castle", my favourite Aussie film.
Christopher Nolan: The Prestige
I didn't know anything about this movie before seeing it but it's one of the best for years. About illusionists, it is packed with constant twists and surprises. Add a great cast, direction and production and you have a must see.
Nick Park: Creature Comforts - The Complete First and Second Seasons
Brilliance of "person-on-the-street" interviews coupled with aardman's outstanding claymation and subtle visual gags
Pat Metheny Group: The Way Up - Live
It's their best performance, their best composition - recorded live in Korea.
Kevin Macdonald: The Last King of Scotland
Great performance by Forest Whitaker. Not pleasant viewing but much more interesting than I expected.
Todd Field: Little Children
Don't expect a happy childhood story. It's confrontational and disturbing but also rewarding. Worth seeing for Kate Winslets performance alone.
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