Automotive Reporter Biz News for Wk of 8-10-15

 Infinity is defined as “having no end,”and Nissan’s luxury nameplate, Infiniti, is stretching the envelope on that definition with new entries to its line-up for 2016. I’ve always been a big fan of Infiniti’s crossover SUV, and its QX50 gets a longer wheelbase, affording more rear passenger and cargo space. They’re going to dress up this land yacht with new LED lights front and rear, and a standard power moon-roof on all models.
And it comes in AWD.

Infiniti is minding its P’s and Q’s…mostly Q’s…with a new 2-liter turbo-4 engine for its QX50, while planning for a 2017 release of the Q30 Premium compact and QX30 Premium crossover. The ‘30’s will be the replacements for the Q40 and QX40, which ends production with the 2015 model.

Then there’s the ‘50’s…including a sports sedan to be revealed in the winter of 2016.
The Q60 coupe and convertibles are also ending their run in 2015.
Infiniti is working on concept models for their replacements, which will be introduced for the 2017 model year.

The Q70 will be offered in five models in 2016. The QX80 will include a Signature Edition among the three models offered in that line. There could be more surprises in store as Infiniti’s skunkworks continues to work on new designs in the queue.

The little SUV made popular by a pair of hamsters continues to drive success for Kia Motors.  The 2016 Soul acquires features first debuted on Kia’s K900 sedan, and will include standard alloy wheels on all three models.

No alphabet soup at Kia. The trim levels are “Base,” “Plus,” and “Exclaim.” Kia is also offering two-tone paint schemes, and even leather upholstery in the top of the line trim. Kia is adding Forward Collision Warning and Lane Departure Warning systems in its premium package for when those wacky hamsters start to get out of control.

I’m still a bit leery of driverless automobiles, and really can’t see myself ever owning one. That may change when I’m 90 and wheelchair bound, but we’ll see. However, if you’re going be driven around in a robot car, might as well make it fast and snazzy…like an Audi A8. Audi has been actively participating in its Ko-HAF research initiative into standards for something they call highly-automated driving. (That’s not what happens when you’re on the tollway at 5pm.)

Audi says it will introduce what it calls “piloted driving” in its next-gen iteration of the Audi A8. This might result in a resurgence of those “God is My Co-pilot” bumper stickers. 

Audi has already remotely navigated an Audi RS-7 around the Grand Prix track in Hockenheim--at race speeds. 

The first piloted Audi should be able to automatically drive you along in rush hour traffic at speeds up to 37mph—that’s like light-speed in drive times on the tollway!

Remember that cool hoverboard in the “Back to the Future” series? Lexus has brought that dream to life in a project known as “SLIDE,” unveiling its Lexus Hoverboard in Barcelona, Spain.

Yes, it’s for real.

The Lexus Hoverboard project is the spawn of scientists from IFW Dresden and evico GmbH, who collaborated to create a working application of magnetic levitation technology. This virtually eliminates all friction between the board and any surface over which it travels.

Okay—here’s the trick: You have to have a magnetic hoverboard track over which the craft will glide. Lexus built a 200-meter hoverboard park—it resembles a skateboard track, with hills and curves and loops, and even a water pond.  

How does it work? According to Lexus, the Hoverboard technology “features two “cryostats”—reservoirs in which superconducting material is kept at -197 degrees through immersion in liquid nitrogen. The board is then placed above a track that contains permanent magnets.”

evico CEO, Dr. Oliver de Haas, says “The magnetic field from the track is effectively ‘frozen’ into the superconductors in the board, maintaining the distance between the board and the track—essentially keeping the board hovering. This force is strong enough to allow the rider to stand and even jump on the board.”

You can watch for yourself here.
I know what I want for Christmas.

Disclosure:   Lexus says its Hoverboard remains a prototype and will not be on sale.
Bummer.

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Address to College-bound Christians

[The following is the text of comments from the Elders made to the Kleinwood church of Christ on Sunday, August 9, 2015, to that congregation's departing college students.]

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and even when he is old he will not depart from it.” The Hebrew phrase here is “at the opening of his path,” meaning that time when a child goes out on his own for the first time.

We have 7 college-bound seniors who are leaving home for the first time to be on their own. In addition to these are 25 college students returning to school this month.

These souls are the future of our nation.
They are the generators of our heritage.
They are the future of the Lord’s church.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 says, “Remember also thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the evil days come, and the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them;” Some translations interpret this phrase, “Remember thy Maker in the days of thy strength…”

You are young; you are strong; you are standing at the open path to your future.
You don’t know what you don’t know, and you don’t know what you can’t do.
You also may not realize your own, vast potential to do good.

Your parents have raised you and taught you what it means to be a Christian.
It is now on your shoulders to go forward and use those tools to be productive citizens in society—and workers for the Lord, where ever life may take you.

The Apostle Paul wrote to Timothy in helping that young preacher prepare and persevere for his life’s work as an evangelist (the bolded emphasis is mine) in 2 Timothy 3:

1 But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,  3 without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God;  5 holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power therefore. From these also turn away.

 6 For of these are they that creep into houses, and take captive silly women laden with sins, led away by divers lusts, 7 ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. 8 And even as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also withstand the truth. Men corrupted in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. 9 But they shall proceed no further. For their folly shall be evident unto all men, as theirs also came to be.

 10 But thou didst follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, patience, 11 persecutions, sufferings. What things befell me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12 Yea, and all that would live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. 13 But evil men and impostors shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

 14 But abide thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them. 15 And that from a babe thou hast known the sacred writings which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16 Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. 17 That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work."

You have the best textbook in the world right there on your lap (or on your electronic device).
Pack Your Bible—put it right on top—before you leave your house for college.

When you get to school, seek out a congregation of The Lord’s people, and identify yourself with them. The reason is two-fold: You need to be under the oversight of good shepherds during this next phase of your life. And, your presence at every service will be an immense encouragement to that local group.

Watch out with whom you hang out.
Evil companions corrupt good morals.

2 Corinthians 6:14 "Be not unequally yoked with unbelievers: for what fellowship have righteousness and iniquity? or what communion hath light with darkness? 15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what portion hath a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement hath a temple of God with idols? for we are a temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

 17 Wherefore Come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, And touch no unclean thing; And I will receive you, 18 And will be to you a Father, And ye shall be to me sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty."

Remember who you are—and where you came from: Your conduct is a reflection of not just your own character, but also of your parents. It’s taken 18- to 20-years to build your good reputation; you can lose it in 18- to 20-seconds thru misjudgment. Whether you’re an Aggie, a Razorback, or a Longhorn; a butcher, a baker, or a candlestick maker—you are Christians first.
We are Christians first.

Parents—it’s not over. Keep tabs on these college “youts.” Text them, call them, send care packages—stay in touch. Know what they’re doing—and how they’re doing. Watch their Facebook, Twitter-feeds and Instagrams. Be proactive. Let them know that you care. This is one of the most exciting times in a young person’s life—it is also one of the most lonely. Stay involved.

A suggestion from the Elders: Sunday afternoon is a good time for a regular chat—you can get a weekly update on their activities. Ask them about that morning’s sermon: In this way you can stay engaged with their spiritual growth, while being reassured of their weekly faithfulness.

College is not for everyone. Some people are not college material, but can progress in life as productive and successful members of society thru other avenues of personal growth. It’s okay to fail—so long as you learn from the experience, and get back up again.

Thomas Edison, while perfecting the light bulb, tried countless combinations in coming up with the right filament. He said, “I have not failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”

“Choice” is going to be a very important word. Up to this point, most of the choices in your life have been made for you. Now, you’re going to be making them for yourself, and the consequences will be on you, for better or for worse. Choose well.

Proverbs 16:7 "When a man's ways please Jehovah, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him. 8 Better is a little, with righteousness, than great revenues with injustice. 9 A man's heart devises his way; But Jehovah directs his steps."

PRAYER

Holy Father in Heaven: We ask your watchful care on these children—
Not yet adults, no longer kids;
Guide their steps as they cross the threshold of their fathers’ homes,
and begin a new chapter of exploration, education, and growth in their lives.

Grant that they will keep You close to their heart;
Give them remembrance of Your ways.
Help them thwart the evils of the world,
and protect their hearts from temptation.

We pray for the families that they will leave behind.
As the quietness of an empty bedroom settles on their homes, may those sweet memories of childhood remain, and the promise of reunion strengthen their parents’ hearts against the loneliness of separation.

Father, we thank you for Your Son, and for the sacrifice that He made for us all.
May we keep Him ever in the forefront of our lives, and may His teachings guide our decisions always.

We ask you for your protection.
We thank you for your grace.
We beg for your forgiveness,
And we hope for your return.

In Jesus’ name…Amen.

Automotive Reporter/Biz News for Wk of 8-3-2015

I mentioned last week that my first, brand-new car was a 1976 Honda Civic CVCC Hatchback. Even back then they were called rice-burners, and I was viewed with some disdain by my peers. But, hey—there had been this thing called an Oil Embargo, and gasoline prices were on the rise. The Civic may have been made in Japan, but it was made for the U.S.

Fast-forward 40-years, and in an ironic turnabout, Korean drivers may now begin ordering US-built 2015 Chevrolet Impala’s—the first time the brand is introducing a full-size sedan domestically. Cars destined for Korea will be assembled at GM’s Hamtramck Assembly plant in Detroit. 

The Korean-Impala (“The Krimpala?”) will be strikingly similar to its US brothers, but the Korean-only vehicles will have folding side mirrors, electronic toll collection capability, and heated rear seats.

Don’t try this at home.
BMW’s new 7-Series sedan is prominently featured in the 5^th edition of the Mission: Impossible film series, “Rogue Nation,” reprising the partnership  with Paramount in “Ghost Protocol” in 2011.

“The 2016 BMW 7 Series sets a new benchmark in lightweight design, driving dynamics, comfort, intelligent connectivity and intuitive operation,” the company’s press release exhorts. The car apparently can also traverse several levels of stair steps, and is capable of launching itself, in reverse, into space, and landing end-over-end, keeping driver and passengers intact. (Remember, it’s a movie.)

The association with MI-5 is not without promotional benefit. BMW is also initiating a “Mission to Drive” marketing campaign around this weekend’s motive release, should you choose to accept it. Additionally, the all-new BMW 7 Series features the world’s first Gesture Control. Pre-selected hand movements in the vicinity of the center console enable you to adjust the audio volume control, and accept or reject incoming phone calls, among other functions. Yes, I suppose you can program it to respond to that hand gesture, too.

I give the film a “7” on my 1-10 scale of entertainment and excitement. “Rogue” has a tall hill to climb this summer, competing against “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.” and the next James Bond serial, “Spectre.” 

Speaking of spies, more and more drivers believe vehicle hacking will be a growing problem in coming years, and may temper their buying tastes for new cars. Most respondents to a new Kelly Blue Book survey on vehicle hacking do not believe there will ever be a permanent solution to the problem.

In the survey, 72% of drivers were aware of the recent Jeep Cherokee hacking incident. 70% perceived Fiat vehicles the most vulnerable to hacking, including FIAT, Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, and RAM. Interestingly, slightly more than half of the drivers questioned would consider paying a monthly fee to guarantee their car was hack-proof, up to about $8/month for the peace of mind.

Elio CEO Paul Elio

Just one month after launching its crowdfunding campaign under new investing rules, Elio Motors says it has received non-binding indicators of interest worth over $25-million. The company used the StartEngine crowdfunding platform to get the word out, and the potential orders rolling in.

The money raised will help fund next year’s roll-out of Elio’s three-wheel enclosed vehicle. The unorthodox car is expected to sell for $6,800 and deliver 84mpg. The company says it has taken over 45,000 reservations for the cars.

In a very self-serving comparison piece by MazdaPartsUSA.com, the 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata will offer 90% of the Porsche experience at about 50% of the price. 

Whaaat?

Yes, they did a side-by-side comparison of the new ND with a 2015 Porsche Boxster, looking at all the usual areas, like horsepower, zero-to-60 times, and curb weight. You scoff? There are some amazing similarities.

While the new Miata has a smaller, 2-Liter 4-cylinder engine than the Boxster's 2.7-Liter flat six, the Miata trails the Boxster by only 0.3 seconds in a race from 0-60. And remember, it’s a lot less expensive than the high-priced spread. 

The 2016 Miata's $24,915 base price is less than half the cost of the 2015 Boxster's base MSRP of $52,395.

The chart is displayed below, or you can download it here.
I don’t think the Mazda folks are really going to have to work this hard to sell the new MX-5.

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