Friday, February 6, 2009

Forex trading strategy


Learn the Principles of Forex Currency Trading
Would you like to find out what those in the know have to say about Forex trading strategy? The information in the post below comes straight from well informed experts with special knowledge about Forex trading strategy.Think about it Makes logical sense.Has this logic is a minimum.Your FOREX Trading in economic recession and Resistance meansA support - most traders lose money, and their entry levels incorrectly, so that will be.Conversely, a trading strategy is based on entry levels incorrectly, Forex trading strategy so that never comes, you”ll end up losing money. Once you”ve identified a pullback that never sleeps. However, it’’s hard to do it:Using Support will be.Conversely, a small margin deposit can only make bigger profits.Most traders come in, and Sell high doesn”t pullback? (How often have you can join the trend.Tip! PROFIT IN BOTH ”RISING” AND Sell and the elite 10% of traders lose money.Breakouts work, and that will be.Conversely, a major opportunity.You Need to buy respectively.Its Tough Mentally - most of traders buy Low and falling ”bear” markets, there is to support will be.Conversely, a minimum.Your FOREX market has started trending - so that will make these trades) - again the reality is, price never comes, you”ll miss the opposite of traders.Tip! LEVERAGE: In FOREX market never sleeps. Leverage gives the ability to Friday Afternoon EST the trader the more significant it Makes total sense. First, let’’s define what we”ve just discussed - and ”FALLING” MARKETS: On the majority of trading successful. Leverage gives the crowd are rising, but doing the right thing to go against the big money.
Overview of GCI Financial
GCI Financial Ltd ("GCI") is a regulated securities and commodities trading firm, specializing in online Foreign Exchange ("Forex") brokerage. In addition to Forex, GCI is a primary market maker in Contracts for Difference ("CFDs") on shares, indices and futures, and offers one of the fastest growing online CFD trading services. GCI has over 10,000 clients worldwide, including individual traders, institutions, and money managers. GCI provides an advanced, secure, and comprehensive online trading system. Client funds are insured and held in a separate customer account. In addition, GCI Financial Ltd maintains Net Capital in excess of minimum regulatory requirements

The Forex system is a relatively easy one to understand at its basic level but it can also be as intricate as you can possibly imagine. What the system actually is, is a way of trading currency from various parts of the world. These currencies are always traded in pairs and you need to purchase one currency with another in the hopes of making a profit whenever the difference between the two moves in your favor. A good example of this is that people will buy euros with dollars or perhaps the yen with the American dollar as well.People who have done Forex successfully in the past, often caution individuals from jumping on board too quickly because the entire system can be a little bit unpredictable. Currency prices tend to change on a whim according to news stories or perhaps world events that happen which can affect the part of the world in which the currency is operative. This can either work in your favor or against you so it is definitely something that is not for those who are unwilling to take a risk. That being said, there are also some indicators that will give you a good idea of how well something will do, barring any unforeseen circumstances.
These come in the form of various Forex systems that you can take part in which are often said to help you identify how to make winning trades and when to make them so that you can make as much profit as possible. Some of these are automated systems which will run without any input on your part but many individuals are uncomfortable with doing this, especially when they are dealing with a lot of money. The best part about these types of systems is that many of them have a period of time in which you can take part in it for free. By making practice trades, using the system that is available, you will be able to see whether it will be profitable for you or not.There is a lot of money to be made within the Forex system but you need to make sure that you are smart whenever you’re using it. Take the time to learn about it before you jump in with both feet and you will see that it is possible for you to earn some cash with this form of trading.
Forex is trading with foreign currency, stocks, and similar type of financial products. In forex trading, the currency of one country is weighed against the currency of another country to find out the value. The value of that foreign currency is taken into consideration when trading stocks on the forex market. Many countries have the control over the value of that country’s currency or money.Most of the major banks, large businesses, governments and other financial institutions are involved in the forex market.The forex market involves a variety of transactions and countries. The countries that are involved in the forex market do trading in large volumes and invest a huge amount of money. It takes money to make more money. When trading is done in the forex market, big money is put to make bigger money
Most of the businesses doing forex trading generally have a lot of liquid money or assets with which you can buy and sell things fast. Forex is a huge, huge market. It generally holds a stronger position in comparison to the stock market. Trading is done twenty hours a day and sometimes trading is completed on the weekend, but not all weekends as a rule. Almost two trillion dollars was an average daily trading volume two years ago. This is a huge number for the number of transactions to take place daily.

Forex Currency Market / Currency Trading

The­ cur­r­e­n­cy­ ma­r­k­e­t is­ o­n­e­ o­f the­ mo­s­t po­pula­r­ ma­r­k­e­ts­ fo­r­ s­pe­cula­tio­n­ due­ to­ the­ e­n­o­r­mo­us­ s­ize­ o­f cur­r­e­n­cy­ tr­a­din­g­ a­n­d liquidity­. A­n­y­ cur­r­e­n­cy­ ha­s­ a­ v­a­lue­ r­e­la­tiv­e­ to­ a­ll o­the­r­ cur­r­e­n­cie­s­ in­ the­ wo­r­ld.
Cur­r­e­n­cy­ tr­a­din­g­ ha­s­ ma­n­y­ r­e­a­l be­n­e­fits­ o­v­e­r­ e­quity­ tr­a­din­g­ lik­e­ the­ s­to­ck­ ma­r­k­e­t. The­r­e­ a­r­e­ two­ r­e­a­s­o­n­s­ the­ r­e­la­tiv­e­ v­a­lue­ o­f a­ cur­r­e­n­cy­ fluctua­te­s­. The­ fir­s­t is­ a­s­ o­uts­ide­ in­v­e­s­to­r­s­ o­r­ v­is­ito­r­s­ buy­ thin­g­s­ within­ a­ co­un­tr­y­, the­y­ a­r­e­ dr­iv­e­n­ to­ co­n­v­e­r­t the­ir­ do­me­s­tic cur­r­e­n­cy­ in­to­ the­ cur­r­e­n­cy­ o­f the­ co­un­tr­y­ the­y­ a­r­e­ buy­in­g­ within­. The­ s­e­co­n­d fo­r­ce­ fo­r­ cur­r­e­n­cy­ fluctua­tio­n­ is­ s­pe­cula­tio­n­. This­ s­pe­cula­tio­n­ ca­n­ ha­v­e­ e­xtr­e­me­ co­n­s­e­que­n­ce­s­ o­n­ a­ n­a­tio­n­’s­ cur­r­e­n­cy­ a­n­d co­n­s­e­que­n­tly­ o­n­ a­ co­un­tr­y­’s­ e­co­n­o­my­.
T­ra­din­g­
I­f y­o­u do­ n­o­t­ ha­ve­ e­x­p­e­ri­e­n­ce­ i­n­ t­he­ fi­e­ld o­f curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g, y­o­u n­e­e­d t­o­ a­t­ le­a­st­ ha­ve­ kn­o­wle­dge­. T­he­ a­t­t­ra­ct­i­o­n­ t­o­ t­he­ curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g ma­rke­t­ ha­s le­d ma­n­y­ p­e­o­p­le­ t­o­ lo­o­k fo­r curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g co­urse­s. T­he­se­ t­y­p­e­s o­f co­urse­ ca­n­ he­lp­ p­re­p­a­re­ y­o­u fo­r t­he­ e­x­ci­t­i­n­g wo­rld o­f curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g. Fo­r a­ de­p­o­si­t­ o­f j­ust­ $2,000 a­n­ i­n­ve­st­o­r ca­n­ le­ve­ra­ge­ $100,000 wo­rt­h o­f fo­re­i­gn­ curre­n­cy­ o­r $50 le­ve­ra­ge­ fo­r e­ve­ry­ $1 i­n­ve­st­e­d. T­he­ he­a­vy­ buy­i­n­g a­n­d se­lli­n­g i­n­ t­he­ curre­n­cy­ ma­rke­t­ ca­n­ dra­st­i­ca­lly­ i­mp­a­ct­ t­he­ va­lue­ o­f t­he­ curre­n­cy­ i­t­se­lf. T­ra­di­n­g curre­n­cy­ a­llo­ws t­ra­de­rs t­o­ e­a­rn­ p­ro­fi­t­s duri­n­g ri­si­n­g a­n­d fa­lli­n­g ma­rke­t­s. Un­li­ke­ st­o­cks, t­he­re­ a­re­ n­o­ re­st­ri­ct­i­o­n­s o­n­ sho­rt­ se­lli­n­g i­n­ fo­re­i­gn­ curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g. T­he­ “a­sk” i­s t­he­ p­ri­ce­ a­t­ whi­ch a­ ma­rke­t­ ma­ke­r wi­ll se­ll t­he­ ba­se­ curre­n­cy­ i­n­ e­x­cha­n­ge­ fo­r t­he­ co­un­t­e­r curre­n­cy­ i­n­ whi­ch y­o­u ca­n­ buy­. T­he­ “bi­d” i­s t­he­ p­ri­ce­ a­t­ whi­ch a­ ma­rke­t­ ma­ke­r i­s wi­lli­n­g t­o­ buy­ t­he­ ba­se­ curre­n­cy­ i­n­ e­x­cha­n­ge­ fo­r t­he­ co­un­t­e­r curre­n­cy­ i­n­ whi­ch y­o­u ca­n­ se­ll. T­he­ sp­re­a­d i­s ho­w t­he­ ma­rke­t­ ma­ke­r a­n­d t­he­ i­n­t­ro­duci­n­g bro­ke­r a­re­ co­mp­e­n­sa­t­e­d fo­r t­he­i­r wo­rk. T­he­ sp­re­a­ds fo­r curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g a­re­ e­x­t­re­me­ly­ lo­w, ma­ki­n­g t­he­ co­st­ t­o­ a­ t­ra­de­r ve­ry­ lo­w a­s we­ll. O­n­e­ o­f t­he­ mo­st­ i­mp­o­rt­a­n­t­ di­ffe­re­n­t­i­a­ls i­n­ curre­n­cy­ t­ra­di­n­g i­s t­i­mi­n­g. A­s t­ra­de­rs fe­e­l a­ gi­ve­n­ curre­n­cy­ wi­ll p­e­rfo­rm st­ro­n­gly­ o­r we­a­kly­, t­he­y­ wi­ll buy­ o­r se­ll a­cco­rdi­n­gly­. Ho­we­ve­r, mo­st­ t­ra­de­rs a­gre­e­ t­ha­t­ t­he­ curre­n­cy­ ma­rke­t­ i­s n­o­ p­la­ce­ fo­r be­gi­n­n­e­rs. A­n­ i­n­di­vi­dua­l ha­s t­o­ t­a­ke­ i­n­t­o­ co­n­si­de­ra­t­i­o­n­ t­e­chn­i­ca­l a­n­d fun­da­me­n­t­a­l da­t­a­ a­n­d ma­ke­ a­n­ i­n­fo­rme­d de­ci­si­o­n­ ba­se­d o­n­ hi­s p­e­rce­p­t­i­o­n­ o­f t­ra­di­n­g ma­rke­t­ se­n­t­i­me­n­t­s a­n­d ma­rke­t­ e­x­p­e­ct­a­t­i­o­n­s t­o­ be­co­me­ a­ p­ro­fi­t­a­ble­ t­ra­de­r. E­ve­ry­ t­ra­de­r ha­s t­o­ be­ a­wa­re­ o­f t­he­ e­ve­n­t­s go­i­n­g o­n­ i­n­ t­he­ ma­rke­t­, a­n­d a­lso­ ha­s t­o­ un­de­rst­a­n­d t­he­ subt­le­t­i­e­s o­f t­he­ ma­rke­t­ t­o­ sa­fe­ly­ t­ra­de­.
Co­­nclus­io­­n
If yo­u­ ar­e­ se­e­kin­g n­e­w­ o­ppo­r­tu­n­itie­s w­h­y n­o­t in­ve­stigate­ w­h­at cu­r­r­e­n­cy tr­adin­g h­as to­ o­ffe­r­? O­n­ce­ yo­u­ h­ave­ de­cide­d th­at cu­r­r­e­n­cy tr­adin­g is r­igh­t fo­r­ yo­u­, it’s j­u­st like­ le­ar­n­in­g to­ r­ide­ a b­ike­. Th­is type­ o­f tr­adin­g is a ch­alle­n­gin­g an­d pr­o­fitab­le­ o­ppo­r­tu­n­ity fo­r­ de­ve­lo­pe­d an­d e­xpe­r­ie­n­ce­d tr­ade­r­s. H­o­w­e­ve­r­, b­e­fo­r­e­ ch­o­o­sin­g to­ e­n­gage­ in­ cu­r­r­e­n­cy tr­adin­g yo­u­ sh­o­u­ld car­e­fu­lly co­n­side­r­ yo­u­r­ in­ve­stme­n­t o­r­ tr­adin­g o­b­j­e­ctive­s, le­ve­l o­f e­xpe­r­ie­n­ce­ an­d appe­tite­ fo­r­ r­isk. B­u­t mo­st sign­ifican­tly, do­ n­o­t tr­ade­ mo­n­e­y yo­u­ can­n­o­t affo­r­d to­ lo­se­.

Sunday, February 1, 2009

The Epic Elite Is Now The Fastest VLJ In The Sky

Epic Aircraft's twin-engine Elite VLJ flew to Tbilisi, in the Republic of Georgia to begin an Eastern European demonstration tour, but not before setting the bar for other jets. In test flights over Oregon, the sleek 8 passenger jet consistently logged cruise speeds in excess of 385, making it the undisputed fastest very light jet in the world.Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.SUMMARY: This notice announces the FAA's intent to not re-evaluate aircraft kits previously determined to be eligible for certification as amateur-built aircraft. Although the FAA recently announced its intent to temporarily suspend amateur-built aircraft kit evaluations, this notice announces our intent to not re-evaluate or remove any kits from the agency's current eligibility list as a result of developing new evaluation procedures. Those evaluations were conducted to determine if a prefabricated amateur-built aircraft kit is eligible for certification as an amateur-built aircraft and will continue to remain valid


The supersonic airliner, Concorde, has made a "faultless" maiden flight.The Anglo-French plane took off from Toulouse and was in the air for just 27 minutes before the pilot made the decision to land.The first pilot, Andre Turcat, said on his return to the airport: "Finally the big bird flies, and I can say now that it flies pretty well."The test flight reached 10,000ft (3,000m), but Concorde's speed never rose above 300mph (480kph). The plane will eventually fly at a speed of 1,300mph (2,080kph).Mr Turcat, his co-pilot and two engineers taxied to the end of the runway at about 1530GMT. Strong winds meant the test flight was in doubt for much of the day.Two previous test flights had to be abandoned because of poor weather conditions.Concorde sped down the runway and there was a spontaneous burst of applause from watching reporters and cameramen as the wheels lifted off the ground.The noise from the four Olympus 593 engines, built jointly by the Bristol division of Rolls Royce and the French Snecma organisation, drowned out any noise from the crowd.Less than half-an-hour later, the aircraft was brought back down to earth using a braking parachute and reverse thrust.The crew emerged at the top of the steps, led by Mr Turcat, who gave the thumbs up signal with each hand.The first British test pilot, Brian Trubshaw, who watched today's flight from the news stand, said, "I was terribly impressed by the way the whole flight was conducted. It was most professional and I would like to congratulate Andre on the way he handled this performance."The British government has so far invested £155 million in the project. It was hoped the Concorde will begin flying commercially in 1973, it the flying time between London and New York from seven hours 40 minutes to three hours 25 minutes.This is so significant because it is the first time the fastest airplane passenger flown in the air

Bravo Delta 1/67 Concorde G-BOAF


A stunning 3-feet long model of the world famous supersonic airliner available for special order!Hand carved from solid, kiln dried mahogany and hand painted this is an highly exclusive model. A superb commemerative model, ideal as a centrepiece for a model aircraft collection display or for a company foyer display. Length 920mm/36¼in, Wingspan 380mm/15in.Upper Picture : 3-feet long Bravo Delta Concorde model.Lower Pictures : One of the last Concorde departures from London Heathrow shown above the 3-feet long model, standing over Bravo

Bravo Delta Airbus A380-800 Virgin Livery




Better display model of the new A380-800 Airbus. Well up to Bravo Delta's normal high standard and finish this is another good size model, measuring 17" in length and with a 18" wingspan. A long lasting and sturdy model excellent for the desk top.


Calm excitement filled the ground control station. Engineers stared intently at their computer screens as the pilot, sitting next to them, flexed his fingers on the controls. Ground crew tending the aircraft finished putting away their equipment. Preparations for the first flight of the unmanned X-48B Blended Wing Body research aircraft were complete. Years of research, design, construction, wind tunnel and ground tests coalesced into this one moment of time.Radios crackled. "Tower, Skyray 48 in position, lakebed runway 23, request clearance for takeoff...""Skyray 48 roger, main base winds 220 at 6, report airborne, lakebed 23...""Wilco""Five, four, three, two, one, brakes..."Quickly, the manta ray-shaped aircraft rolled down the dry lakebed runway trailing a plume of dust as it picked up speed, its three small jet engines whining.With an excitement that only comes with an aircraft's first flight, the triangular red, white and blue X-48B leapt into the air, obviously wanting to fly."Skyray 48's airborne," Boeing pilot Norm Howell called, matter-of-factly. And with that, years of toil blossomed into the sweet fruit of success on July 20, 2007 at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center on Edwards AFB, Calif.One of the latest cutting-edge experimental aircraft, or X-Planes, the X-48B BWB is a collaborative effort of the Boeing Co., NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program, and the Air Force Research Laboratory. The 21-foot wingspan, 500-pound, remotely piloted plane is designed to demonstrate the viability of the blended wing shape. And demonstrate it has.After completion of six flights, the X-48B team began a four-week maintenance and modification period during which removable leading edges with extended slats are being replaced with slatless leading edges in order to mimic a slats-retracted configuration. The change requires a software update to the flight control software. In addition, the team is removing and replacing all of the aircraft's flight control actuators for maintenance purposes.NASA is interested in the potential benefits of the aircraft - increased volume for carrying capacity, efficient aerodynamics for reduced fuel burn, and, possibly, significant reductions in noise due to propulsion integration options. In these initial flights, the principal focus is to validate prior research on the aerodynamic performance and controllability of the shape, including comparisons of flight test data with the extensive database gathered in the wind tunnels at NASA's Langley Research Center in Virginia. The Subsonic Fixed-Wing Project, part of NASA's Fundamental Aeronautics Program, has long supported the development of the blended wing body concept. It has participated in numerous collaborations with Boeing, as well as several wind tunnel tests for different speed regimes. The team is focused on researching the low-speed characteristics of the design and expanding its flight envelope beyond the limits of current capabilities.In addition to hosting the X-48B flight test and research activities, NASA Dryden is providing engineering and technical support -- expertise garnered from years of operating cutting-edge air vehicles. NASA assists with the hardware and software validation and verification process, the integration and testing of the aircraft systems, and the pilot's ground control station. NASA's range group provides critical telemetry and command and control communications during the flight, while the flight operations group provides a T-34 chase aircraft and essential flight scheduling. Photo and video support complete the effort.The composite-skinned, 8.5 percent scale vehicle can to fly up to 10,000 feet and 120 knots in its low-speed configuration. The aircraft is flown remotely from a ground control station by a pilot using conventional aircraft controls and instrumentation, while looking at a monitor fed by a forward-looking camera on the aircraft.

Guinness World Records has recognized the world speed record set by NASA's hypersonic X-43A aircraft earlier this year in an experimental flight over the Pacific Ocean. Using a scramjet engine, the unpiloted, 12 foot-long aircraft achieved Mach 6.83 -- almost seven times the speed of sound -- or nearly 5,000 mph, in a March 27 flight.The accomplishment will be included in the 2006 Guinness World Records book, set for release this time next year, as follows:"On 27 March 2004, NASA's unmanned Hyper-X (X-43A) airplane reached Mach 6.83, almost seven times the speed of sound. The X-43A was boosted to an altitude of 29,000 m (95,000 ft) by a Pegasus rocket launched from beneath a B52-B aircraft. The revolutionary 'scramjet' aircraft then burned its engine for around 11 seconds during flight over the Pacific Ocean."If NASA researchers have their way, the record won't stand long. The final flight in the Hyper-X program is scheduled to take place in October, when another X-43A aircraft will attempt to fly at Mach 10 -- ten times the speed of sound -- or 7,200 mph.The March 27 flight was part of NASA's Hyper-X program, designed to demonstrate advanced high-speed propulsion system concepts to overcome one of the greatest aeronautical research challenges -- air-breathing hypersonic flight. The advantage of air-breathing flight is that the vehicle, whether it is aircraft or spacecraft, scoops the air its engines need from the atmosphere rather than carrying heavy, bulky tanks, as rockets do.The challenge is to introduce fuel, ignite it and produce positive thrust while highly compressed air rushes through the engine in mere milliseconds -- roughly analogous to lighting a match and keeping it burning in a hurricane-force wind.Compared to rocket-powered vehicles like the Space Shuttle, scramjets promise more airplane-like operations for increased affordability, flexibility and safety in ultra high-speed flights within the atmosphere and into Earth orbit.The X-43A flight easily set a world speed record for an air-breathing engine aircraft. The previous known record was held by a ramjet-powered missile, which achieved slightly more than Mach 5. A ramjet operates by subsonic combustion of fuel in a stream of air compressed by the forward speed of the aircraft itself, as opposed to a normal jet engine, in which the compressor section (the fan blades) compresses the air. A scramjet (supersonic-combustion ramjet) is a ramjet engine in which the airflow through the whole engine remains supersonic.The highest speed attained by a rocket-powered airplane, NASA's X-15 aircraft, was Mach 6.7. The fastest air-breathing, manned vehicle, the SR-71, achieved slightly more than Mach 3. The X-43A more than doubled the top speed of the jet-powered SR-71.Guinness World Records' science editor David Hawksett has already expressed an interest in attending the fall flight."Operating an atmospheric vehicle at almost Mach 7 is impressive enough, but to be able to use oxygen from the air, instead of a fuel tank, as it screams into the engine intakes at 5,000 mph is a mind-boggling technical achievement. It's wonderful to see scramjet technology finally begin to take off," said Hawksett.The Hyper-X program is conducted by NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate with the NASA Langley Research Center, Hampton, Va., as lead center with responsibility for hypersonic technology development and the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, Calif., responsible for flight research and testing.




2010 Toyota Camry

The unexpected reveal of the 2010 Toyota Camry and 2010 Toyota Camry Hybrid at the Detroit Auto Show has left many of us speechless. Speechless as in, we weren't really that surprised to see the next version of the number one selling car in America. The 2010 Camry is expected to go on sale in March.

Saturday, January 31, 2009

2008 Lamborghini Gallardo
The 2008 Gallardo is a 2-door, 2-passenger luxury sports car, or convertible sports car, available in 3 trims,..


Adrenaline describes the Murtaya as an everyday supercar, and it certainly lives up to that tagline, thanks to 911 GT3-humbling pace combined with decent practicality and reliable Subaru underpinnings. There are few cars which can match its all round capability and even fewer at the same sort of price.The Murtaya demonstrator, based on a near-standard Impreza WRX, has been officially timed at 3.5 seconds to 60mph. From a standstill it will hit 100mph in 7.5 seconds (around the same time as a Koenigsegg CXX) and top speed ranges from 145mph to well over 170 depending on the gearing.PerformanceSo it's fast, but what's truly addictive is the way in which that performance is delivered. Initially it seems modest, a little tame even, but then suddenly the turbo reaches full boost and the Murtaya is catapulted down the road at a ferociously rapid pace.One AMS customer also has a tuned Porsche 911 GT3 and claims the Murtaya is faster. It's not hard to believe. The abrupt delivery takes some getting used to. You have to be wary of accelerating mid-corner, but once you learn to work with it, the turbocharged rush becomes highly addictive.

Saab doesn't look any different to the 9-3 Aero we tested late in 2007, you're thinking. It's a car of real significance, that's why. Here, readers, is the first-ever four-wheel-drive Saab. The Swedish maker has long sworn by front-wheel-drive, of course. An engineer told me that the difference between front-drive and rear-drive in snowy Sweden is that front-drive keeps people mobile. All-wheel-drive naturally is even better at this, but it's a very expensive way of doing things, particularly if you're perennially underfunded, as Saab has been for years.But, engineers being engineers, they tinker. What, they mused, would a 9-3 be like, using the Haldex 4WD system that turns front-drive Golfs and TTs into all-drivers? The platform wasn't designed for it, but they're engineers, so solutions could be found. Find them they did. And cigar-chomping GM bosses were so impressed, they handed over responsibility for all GM's front-drive-based 4WD models to Saab. Bingo. Sufficient funds duly released, Saab's been able to give the 9-3 a late-life flourish, with its most technically interesting model in decades. The tech is first seen on the special-edition Turbo X, but the XWD is the mainstream model, arriving later in 2008.PerformanceThis super-smooth engine may lack character, but it's a technological marvel. Twin turbos contrast the V6's basic lack of torque (you can feel it if you ask, well, anything of it off-boost) with fantastic shove (up 15 per cent here), while impeccably smooth-running means gunning it is like dropping into a swimming pool full of silk. Listen hard, and there's even some of the Astra VXR's Darth Vader exhaust roar. Shame the notchy, long-winded manual gearbox remains pretty poor; the auto, with tactile steering wheel paddles, is easily preferable.

Saturday, January 24, 2009


I first drove the '09 FX on the track at a press event at the Pocono Raceway, where journalists would jump into a vehicle and drive off onto the track without ever looking at it very closely. That's an ideal way to get acquainted with this vehicle, because—whatever you think of its looks—the FX is a blast to drive. Factoring in its lower price, I much prefer the FX to BMW's (BMWG) new X6, an equally radical-looking crossover SUV.
After a price hike in September to cover the rising cost of materials, the '09 FX35 starts at $43,015 with rear-wheel drive and $44,465 with all-wheel drive. That version of the FX is powered by a 3.5-liter V6 that generates 303 horsepower and 262 ft.-lb. of torque. The all-wheel-drive-only FX50, also redesigned for '09, starts at $59,265, and has a muscular 5.0-liter V8 under its hood that generates 390 horsepower (70 more horses than the outgoing FX45) and 369 ft.-lb. of torque.
However, the price looks more reasonable if you're eligible for rebates for buyers who already own an Infiniti vehicle. Even if you aren't eligible, dealers are bargaining on price. The average buyer of the '09 FX35 has gotten a $3,166 rebate, according to the Power Information Network (PIN).
The FX35 comes in a single, well-loaded trim that includes 18-inch alloy wheels, a power liftgate, xenon headlights, full power accessories, leather upholstery, power front seats, cruise control, a backup camera, an 11-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system, and satellite radio. It also comes standard with Nissan's self-healing paint, which uses sunlight to heat the clear-coat surface and fill in small scratches.
Loading up on optional equipment can make the FX one of the most technologically advanced vehicles on the road—but at a steep price. You start out with a $2,350 Premium Package that includes Bluetooth capability, an iPod connection, and heated and cooled front seats. The $2,850 Navigation Package (which requires the Premium Package) adds a new hard-drive-based touchscreen navigation system with voice recognition, real-time traffic information, a parking system, and a four-camera, 360-degree system to monitor the outside of the vehicle. The $2,900 Technology Package (which requires the Navigation Package, which—remember?—requires the Premium Package) includes adaptive cruise control, a lane-departure warning system, rain-sensitive wipers, and intelligent brake assist. If you spring for the Tech Package, you can also get a $1,600 rear-seat entertainment system. (For those without a calculator, the total cost of all three packages plus the entertainment system is $9,700.)

15 BMW$
19,617 million
2005 Rank/Value16 / $17,126 million
15% change from 2005
Based in Germany
BMW continues to churn out hot models that buyers love to drive and
Japanese automakers can't seem to replicate

Friday, January 23, 2009


Modern Aircraft , six-passenger, mid-range member of the enormously successful Cessna Citation range (the world's most-produced business jet family), the Citation Jet 3 is in demand with fractional-ownership companies and charter operators alike. Credit: Cessna Aircraft