Tesla Model S

The Tesla Model S is one of the most innovative, American-made, vehicle's slated for release in the next few years. For starters, it's 100% electric.

Charging the Model S will cost around $4, a steal when compared to the +$3/per gallon we are currently paying.

Tesla Motors has become a popular company here in America with the release of the Tesla Roadster in 2009, a 100% electric sports car capable of supercar speeds and a high travel distance between charges.

The Model S offers a center-mounted 17" touch-screen which gives users the ability to listen to Pandora and even use Google Maps via 3G connectivity.

A large panoramic roof offers passengers uninterrupted outdoor views.

Deliveries are scheduled to begin in early 2012. You can place a deposit for the Model S through the company's website at http://www.teslamotors.com

Numbers:
Range: 300 miles
0-60mph: 5.6s
Top Speed: 120mph
Price: $49,900 (w/$7,500 federal tax credit)

-Nicho

images from Tesla Motor's website

2011 Mercedes Benz S63 AMG

Say goodbye to the naturally aspirated 6.2liter V-8 from the previous gen S63 AMG and hello to the new twin turbo-charged 5.5liter V-8 in the 2011 S63 AMG. Mercedes Benz has decided to stick with the current trend of downsizing engine capacity while adding forced airflow enabling their vehicles to achieve massive power with lower fuel consumption.

Two versions of the new S63 AMG will be available offering different levels of engine boost: 15psi for 536hp/590ft-lbs. with the base model and 19psi for 563hp/664ft-lbs. with the performance package. Fuel efficiency rises 6mpg with the new engine and acceleration times fall. 0-62mph comes in just 4.5 seconds compared to the previous gen's 4.6 second 0-62 time.

Top speed ranges from a governed 155mph in the base model to 186mph in the performance package-equipped model. Styling for the S63 retains Mercedes' historical elegance but also suggests that a fierce beast lies beneath the hood due to the monstrous dual-quad exhausts.

images from www.caranddriver.com

Numbers:
Weight: 4,900lbs.
Power: 536hp/590ft-lbs. or 563hp/664ft-lbs. (perform. package)
0-62mph: 4.5s
Top Speed: 155mph (gov. limited) or 186mph (perform. package)
Fuel Economy: 22mpg (combined
Est. Price: $135,000

2013 Mercedes Benz SLS AMG E-Cell

The prototype SLS AMG E-Cell is not your everyday supercar. It's ELECTRIC!! Literally!!

Powered by 4 independent AC motors (one at each wheel), the E-Cell has a combined power output of 526hp and 649 ft-lbs. of torque. Capable of achieving 62mph in just 4.0 seconds flat, this green machine is also a mean machine.

The current battery sytem gives the E-Cell a limited range of 90 miles per charge. Future battery config's are scheduled to achieve 130 miles per charge however.

Video of the SLS E-Cell cruising. Notice the near silence.

Numbers:
Weight: 4,400lbs.
HP/TQ: 526hp/649 ft-lbs.
0-62mph: 4.0s
Top speed: 155 (gov. limited)
Est. Price: $250,000

2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is

BMW might as well do away with their upgraded sporty "M" line if they continue on their current path of massive horsepower in their non-"M"-badged vehicles. The addition of turbo chargers to their fleet in 2007 has given BMW speed enthusiasts something to dream about. The story is the same for the latest Z4 coupe. The 2011 Z4 sDrive35is is fitted with the newest installment of the twin-turbo charged inline 6 engine made popular by the 335i. This new version, however, is rated at 335hp and 365ft-lbs of torque, up 35 and 65 units respectively.
The new Z4 features a convertible hard-top

Power converts to wheel spin through BMW's 7-speed DCT "dual-clutch-transmission".

Wide Shot interior

Understated dual rear exhaust

Critiques? Testers say the suspension lacks the proper gusto needed to match up with the high demands of the engine. Styling and smooth ride, however, were ranked high for the coupe.
The ever-popular numbers:
Weight: 3,550lbs.
Horsepower/Torque: 335hp/365 ft-lbs.
0-60mph: 4.4s
top speed: 155mph (gov. limited)
Fuel economy: 17/24mpg

-Nicho

2011 Infiniti M56

Awesome! The all new Infiniti M56 is truly awesome.

The 5.6 liter V8 engine has been remapped and fine-tuned to produce more horsepower while achieving better fuel economy, 10% better mpg to be exact. And how many more horses? 95 ponies, a total output of 420bhp.

The new model will be fitted with a "blind spot intervention system" designed to alert drivers if a vehicle is in the intended lane during lane changes. Engineers have also reconfigured the sedan's suspension giving the car a dynamic ride capable of comfortably absorbing massive potholes while carving through hairpin turns.

0-60mph comes in a scant 4.7seconds placing this luxury car among the ranks of the sporty more expensive BMW M's and Mercedes AMG classes.

Digit's:
Weight: 4,028lbs.
0-60mph: 4.7s
Horsepower/Torque: 420bhp/417 ft-lbs.
MPG: 16(est)City/25(est)HWY
Price: $58,415

2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6

480 HORSEPOWER & 575 FT.LBS OF TORQUE!
Not exactly what you envision when you hear the word "hybrid" right? Apparently engineers at BMW beg to differ and they've certainly done so with their creation of the 2010 BMW ActiveHybrid X6.

The new hybrid is powered by BMW's twin turbo V8 engine coupled with 2 electric motors. The added electric power hardly results in improved fuel economy with the combined city/highway mileage hitting 15.5mpg. Meanwhile, the non-hybrid X6 achieves an average of 18mpg by comparison and costs over $20,000 less. Hmmm... Do you think owners will drive the car the 60 years necessary to offset the price difference? Doubt it.

Worth the mention, the ActiveHybrid can run on electric power alone at speeds of up to 37mph.

Numbers?
Weight: 5,741 lbs.
Horsepower/Torque: 480hp/575ft-lbs. (combined system)
0-60: 5.3s
Top speed: 130mph (gov. limited)
EPA city/highway: 17/19mpg
Price: $89,775

-Nicho

2011 Cadillac CTS-V coupe

All new for 2011, GM will be releasing a 2-door version of the ever popular Cadillac CTS-V. Like the sedan, the CTS-V coupe will harbor the massive 6.2liter supercharged V8 GM powerplant rated at 556hp and 551ft-lbs. of torque. GM will offer both a 6-speed paddle-shifting automatic and a traditional 6-speed manual transmission.

19" staggered Aluminum wheels come stock

Electronic door mechanisms eliminate the need for protruding door handles

The sporty cockpit features a Suede-wrapped steering wheel and shift knob

Electronics include a large retractable navigation screen, 40-gig hard drive and Bose surround-sound audio

Center-mounted exhaust

Numbers?
Curb weight: Heavy (close to 4,000lbs.)
Horsepower/Torque: 556hp/551 ft-lbs.
Top speed: 191mph
0-60mph: 3.9s
Price: ~$62,990

The new CTS-V coupe aims to compete in the luxury sports car segment commonly populated by German automakers. Is the "V" worth it's hefty price considering a new Audi S5 sells for $10,000 less? Only time will tell...

-Nicho

2011 Porsche GT2 RS

Porsche has set another supercar benchmark by eliciting 620bhp from the GT2 RS's twin-turbo 3.6 liter flat-6 engine. All of those ponies will be pushed to the pavement through one available power train, a rear-wheel drive system matted to a 6-speed manual transmission. This car will be for driving enthusiasts who prefer being able to manipulate all aspects of the driving experience as opposed to having a more lackadaisical ride offered by an automanual transmission.

You want numbers?
Curb weight: 3,020lbs
Horsepower: 620
Top speed: 205mph
0-60mph: 3.4s
Production run: 500 units
Price: $245,000 (less options)
Price of dropping your peers jaws when you rip off in the GT2 RS: priceless

Gulf oil spill photos

Deepwater Horizon rig before sinking

Offshore

Offshore cont'd

Mississippi River

Worker collecting oil for research in Louisiana

Workers deploying oil absorbent boom in a Louisiana marsh

The endangered Brown Pelican

Fish found on Mississippi shoreline

-Nicho

World Cup Update

Argentina smoked the Korean Republic this morning with a 4 - 1 victory while Greece nosed out Nigeria 2 to 1. France is favored to beat Mexico in the final match of the day.

Gonzalo Higuain of Argentina scored 3 of 4 goals today against Korea Republic

Looking ahead to tomorrow's matches, insiders say that despite Germany's amazing opening against Australia the team is a little skeptical of their match up against Serbia. Odds for the US vs Slovenia game are even while England is expected to beat Algeria. For more information check out Groups and Current Standings

-Nicho

Sunday Blood Sunday

On Jan 30th, 1972, better known as "Bloody Sunday", members of the British Army Parachute regimen opened fire on civil rights protesters at a peaceful march in Northern Ireland, killing 14 and wounding 15 others. The immediate report written by the British General Mike Jackson cited that the attack was in response to the protesters wielding guns and bombs. Despite a strong presence of eye-witnesses dis-confirming this, it took 38 years for the British Government to re-release findings of what actually occurred that day.

Yesterday at the UK House of Commons, Prime Minister David Cameron read the findings of Lord Saville's 5,000 page report, exonerating all of the victims who were slain. The report vested full blame on British soldiers, citing that there was zero proof of any of the protesters being armed.


-Nicho

Afghanistan wealthier than we thought

A small team of US geologists and Pentagon officials recently identified $1 Trillion worth of unharvested mineral deposits in Afghanistan. In a country which lacks economic sovereignty this type of finding is like hitting the Domestic Product JACKPOT for Afghanistan. Currently the country's GDP is roughly $12B/year and is mainly comprised of drug trafficking and Poppy harvesting (opium production). The question becomes what sort of change will this new found wealth bring the country occupied by both the Taliban and the corrupt Karzai government?


-Nicho

Very cool photo from Atlantis' final launch last month

Beautiful photo from the final launch of space shuttle Atlantis in Cape Canaveral, FL (May 14th,2010). The fighter jet in the foreground is an F-15E Strike Eagle.



NASA is phasing out the current orbital shuttle program with the final launch of Discovery on Sept. 16th and Endeavor in mid Nov. The future manned space program is known as "Project Constellation". Goals of the new program include establishing an outpost on the moon and enabling humans to reach the surface of Mars.

Project Constellation's "Ares" rockets I and V


For more info on Project Constellation check out
NASA: Project Constellation

-Nicho

2010 World Cup begins tomorrow 6/11!

The 2010 World Cup kicks off tomorrow with South Africa taking on Mexico and Uruguay vs. France. The games will take place at the Johannesburg and Capetown stadium's respectively.
Johannesburg World Cup stadium

Capetown World Cup stadium

Revenue for the 2010 World Cup is expected to reach $3.5B, up from $300M in 1998 Cup. The US should take bidding for a future cup seriously. The creation of jobs, influx of tourism, advertising revenue, etc. would be a welcomed bump to our economy.


-Nicho

Kevin Costner takes on the real "Waterworld" villains!

Isn't it ironic? Kevin Costner, the star of a 90's film where the character single-handedly took on a villainous group who was polluting and abusing the planet's oceans, is currently in the middle of a real life battle against a similar opponent, the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

Today Costner addressed members of Congress advocating his solution for the massive oil spill. He and his team at Ocean Therapy Solutions have created a large centrifugal machine which is capable of removing 99% of crude oil from water (they claim). Congress is currently evaluating viable cleanup options and it seems Costner's machine is at the top on the list.

"We are all at fault here," Costner said. "It's just too easy to blame BP. What we need to do now is come together."



-Nicho

iPhone 4G to be released June 24th!

It's official! The 4th generation iPhone is scheduled for release on June 24th. This along with the 4G's tech breakthroughs were mentioned during Steve Jobs' keynote speech at the annual Apple Worldwide Developers conference in San Francisco. New features for the iPhone 4G include what Apple calls "face time", a new video conferencing application which utilizes the phone's front facing camera.
Front facing camera for video conferencing, etc.

Also new for the 4G, multi-tasking. A long abashed shortfall of the iPhone has finally been addressed. Users will be able to quickly switch between apps without losing performance/productivity. iPhone 4G Multi-tasking demonstration
The new "Retina" display. With 4 X's the pixels than previous iPhones, the 4G's display is so vivid that the human eye is unable to detect individual pixels.

Finally, a new 5 megapixel camera with built-in LED flash enables the phone to take HD photos and even HD video.iPhone 4G HD recording
Front, rear and profile views of the 4G


-Nicho