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The Maus that Roared: Porsche Seizes Control of
VW

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 September 2008 11:06:23 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Automotive News [sub] reports that Porsche Holdings has raised its stake in VW from 31 to 38 percent, finally gaining a controlling interest over the MUCH larger German automaker. Porsche CEO Wendelin Wiedeking, already the world’s highest paid car biz exec (now with billions in bonus bucks), quickly moved to quash rumors that VeeDub’s new [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/porsche-declares-victory-control-over-vw/

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The Saab 9-X Air Concept Car Embargoed Until
9.18.2008

post from Saab History on 16 September 2008 10:56:42 AM. © Saab History

I have just been made aware that the Saab 9-X Air Concept car media materials have been embargoed until this Thursday, September 18th, 2008.It is my plans to honor this embargo, even though I have recently provided one photo unknowingly realizing that Motortrend, Jalopnik, Auto Motor & Sport and others have decided to break and [...]

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http://www.saabhistory.com/2008/09/16/the-saab-9-x-air-concept-car-embargoed-unti
l-9182008/

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UKs Big Brother is Born

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 September 2008 10:06:31 AM. © The Truth About Cars

UK privacy campaigners have been sounding the alarm ever since Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras were first introduced into The Land of Hope and Glory. Recent revelations by The Guardian prove the truth of the old adage “Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean everyone’s not out to get you.” “A national network of roadside [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/uks-big-brother-is-born/

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Bailout Watch 47: The battery-development gap

post from The Truth About Cars on 16 September 2008 10:06:31 AM. © The Truth About Cars

Detroit steadfastly refuses to call their $25b - $50b trip the federal begging bowl a bailout. No suprise there. Any such admission would lead to a golden parachute unfurlment to rival those old films of WWII paratrooper assaults, if not some serious strictures and sanctions. So, while House Speaker Nancy Pelosi may say it’s about [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/bailout-watch-47-the-battery-development-gap/

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Talk Back Tuesday: Why F1 Transmissions/Paddle
Shifters Blow Chunks-and Gears

post from Karl on Cars on 16 September 2008 10:00:22 AM. © Karl on Cars

Paddle Shifter.jpg About a year ago I commented on the fate of traditional manual transmissions, and basically predicted their complete demise in the next few years. I'm not happy about that prediction, but 11 months later I stand by my statement, as I see nothing to stop the imminent death of three-pedal cars.

Another comment I made in that post related to the lack of flexibility offered by F1-style (or automated clutch) transmissions that are rapidly replacing both traditional manual transmissions as well as conventional automatics. This statement springs from the notion that when the driver fully controls the clutch he also controls how much clutch is or isn't utilized. This can come in handy in situations where the "on-off" nature of automated clutch transmissions are a liability.

For instance, if you get a vehicle into a situation where it is sliding (on public roads or at a race track) you may be able to save it by slightly disengaging the clutch and allowing the drive wheels to regain traction. There are a million variables at work here, and I'm certainly not suggesting traditional clutches will keep drivers from ever crashing. But having this level of control over the clutch is simply another tool at your disposal with a manual transmission; a tool you don't have with F1 transmissions.

After driving our long-term Nissan GT-R I discovered yet anonther option I don't have with automated clutches, and as this list of "can't-do-that-with-paddle-shifters" builds my enthusiasm for F1 transmissions falters.

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http://blogs.edmunds.com/karl/2008/09/talk-back-tuesday-why-f1-transmissionspaddl
e-shifters-blow-chunks-and-gears.html

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Saab Sighting Of The Week - Northampton,
Massachusetts

post from Saab History on 16 September 2008 09:50:27 AM. © Saab History

Photo Credit: Saab HistoryWhile traveling this weekend in New England, specifically Northampton, Massachusetts I spotted a wonderful Scandinavian store called “Scandihoovians”. As I parked the 1992 Saab 900 Turbo project in front, which is fresh off of its maiden voyage to the 2008 Saab Owners Convention this past August, I began to think about a [...]

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http://www.saabhistory.com/2008/09/16/saab-sighting-of-the-week-northampton-massa
chusetts/

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Saab Car Show in Frankfurt, Germany - Photos

post from Saab History on 16 September 2008 09:49:32 AM. © Saab History

SimpleViewer requires Macromedia Flash. Get Macromedia Flash. This is a WPSimpleViewerGallery var fo = new SWFObject("http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/plugins/wp-simpleviewer/viewer.swf", "viewer", "637", "600", "7", "#FFFFFF"); fo.addVariable("preloaderColor", "0xffffff"); fo.addVariable("xmlDataPath", "http://www.saabhistory.com/blog/wp-content/photos/2008_CARSHOW_FRANKFURT/gallery.xml"); fo.write("fc_id_569"); Photo Credits: Saab Automobile GermanyThe folks from Saab Automobile Germany and the local dealership in Frankfurt that hosted the classic Saab car show this past weekend, have provided Saab History photos of the event.As you [...]

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http://www.saabhistory.com/2008/09/16/saab-car-show-in-frankfurt-germany-photos/

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Government Officials Heart SUVs

The Buffalo News reports that its elected officials seem curiously reluctant to downsize from government-sponsored SUVs. “Lackawanna Mayor Norman Polanski started driving a taxpayer-funded Ford Escape after he blew the engine in his personal Plymouth Voyager after driving through the old Bethlehem Steel site on city time [of course]. He said his new vehicle was [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/government-officials-heart-suvs/

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TTAC Photochop: New Porsche Cayman

It may have the fastest fastback in the biz, but the Porsche Cayman was born with little-brother syndrome. To keep the 911 attractive, Porsche dumbed-down the little coupe. Not much, but enough to justify the price difference and (theoretically) avoid cannibalism. With cars going smaller and greener, with mid-engine trumping ye olde [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/ttac-photochop-new-porsche-cayman/

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Mufreesboro Nails Nissan with Red Light Robbery

Newschannel5.com reports that the bloom may be off the rose when it comes to relations between local government and the Nissan’s new Tennessee plant. “Murfreesboro recently installed six red light cameras to catch people who ignore traffic signals. About 2,600 citations have been issued since July. Thousands of drivers have been ticketed and employees [...]

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http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/mufreesboro-nails-nissan-with-red-light-robbery/

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