Tag: strikes

Supreme Court strikes down Bloomberg’s hybrid taxi plan for NYC

Filed under: Etc., Government/Legal

New York City hybrid taxi

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has fought long and hard to uphold a local law requiring all city cab companies to replace their gas-guzzling Ford Crown Victoria sedans with more efficient livery vehicles. A noble goal, no doubt, but the Supreme Court is having none of it.

The New York Post reports that the highest court in the land refused to hear the case after four years of battles in the lower courts, giving the victory to the Metropolitan Taxicab Board of Trade. The court ruled that federal agencies have the sole right to regulate emissions and efficiency, not the mayor of one town – even if it is the City That Never Sleeps.

When the Supreme Court swings its gavel, there usually isn’t another shot, but that likely won’t stop Mayor Bloomberg from lobbying Congress to change the rules. The mayor said that local governments are the ones dealing with climate change and energy policy, adding “the federal government seems unable to address those issues.”

While the city of New York appears to have lost the efficiency war, the Big Apple can still feel good about the fact that some 4,400 of the 13,237 cabs on its streets are hybrids. And if gas prices continue to jump, we’re thinking many of the other 8,000 cabs will follow suit.

[Source: New York Post | Image: Chris Hondros/Getty]

Supreme Court strikes down Bloomberg’s hybrid taxi plan for NYC originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Erik Buell Racing 1190RS: America strikes back

Filed under: Motorcycle

Erik Buell Racing 1190RS

Erik Buell Racing 1190RS – Click above for high-res image gallery

You can’t keep a good man down. That certainly applies to Erik Buell, who, by all accounts, was delivered a giant shiny bowl of lemons from his previous employer, Harley-Davidson, and is somehow elbow-deep in a gushing flow of sweet-tasting lemonade. To wit, have a look at the new Erik Buell Racing 1190RS, a roadgoing version of Erik’s 1190RR superbike racer.

As is typical with recent bikes bearing the Buell name, fuel is held in the frame, which is manufactured by the same company that welded up the units from the previous Buell motorcycle company, and the engine is a V-Twin design displacing 1190cc. That powerplant is a heavily massaged version of the Rotax-built unit used in the old 1125 models. Horsepower figures are not yet available, but the race bike makes about 185 horses at the rear wheel. Expect a slight drop from that figure.

Lots of premium components are hung from the 380-pound (wet) 1190RS. Expect to see Öhlins suspension front and rear, an Aim Sports digital dashboard, magnesium wheels and a full carbon fiber fairing. Surely, components for a hand-built bike like this cost a pretty penny, and though Erik isn’t talking pricing just yet, don’t expect the 1190RS to come cheap. Think Ducati 1198R (about $40,000 or so) territory. A slightly less expensive version using fiberglass and plastic in place of carbon fiber may also be in the offing.

Suffice it to say, we’re excited that Erik is once again living his dream of producing high-end American sportbikes. Have a look at the images in our high-res image gallery below, and stay tuned for more information as it becomes available.

Gallery: Erik Buell Racing 1190RS

Erik Buell Racing 1190RSErik Buell Racing 1190RSErik Buell Racing 1190RSErik Buell Racing 1190RSErik Buell Racing 1190RS

[Source: Road Racing World, Cycle World | Images: Steve Anderson/Erik Buell Racing]

Erik Buell Racing 1190RS: America strikes back originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 18 Feb 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Carlsson strikes first with custom 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS350

Filed under: Aftermarket, Sedan, Mercedes-Benz, Diesel, Luxury

Carlsson Mercedes-Benz CLS

2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 by Carlsson – Click above for high-res image gallery

The svelte Mercedes-Benz CLS has long been a favorite of tuners, and with the new model on the way, you can expect a veritable onslaught to ensue. The first bit of blood has been drawn by Carlsson, which has just unveiled its tuning program for the CLS350 before it even reaches showrooms.

Engine modifications are available for both the CLS350 gasoline and diesel V6 mills. With the petrol engine, power is increased to 333 horsepower and 302 pound-feet of torque (gains of 27 and 29, respectively), and the oil-burning powerplant now cranks out 320 hp and 575 lb-ft (increases of 55 hp and 96 lb-ft). Both the gasoline and diesel CLS350s will sprint to 62 miles per hour in just 5.9 seconds – 0.2 seconds faster than the stock petrol car and 0.3 seconds faster than the standard diesel model.

Carlsson’s C-Tronic adjustable suspension (mounted to a choice of wheel options) is also on offer, as is a full body kit – complete with a new front bumper, grille, power-dome hood, LED fog lamps, side skirts, side vents and rear apron with diffuser – and an Alcantara and brushed aluminum-trimmed interior. Have a closer look in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS 350 by Carlsson

[Source: CarScoop]

Carlsson strikes first with custom 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS350 originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 25 Dec 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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