Fiat 500 Car: A new Italian stylish design by Gucci

Where there is Gucci, style automatically pops up। The 150th anniversary of independence for Italy is being clubbed with the 90th anniversary of Gucci, and the amalgamation is surely gonna do something stylish and chick.

On this occasion Gucci and Fiat are in alliance to create a stylish Fiat 500 car by Gucci which will soon be a must-have for people. It is a special edition customized by Gucci Creative Director Frida Giannini in partnership with Fiat’s Centro Stile. This blend of diligence and style is a unique collaboration planned to be launched on the opening day of Milan fashion week and also be showcased at the Geneva International Auto Show starting from March 3rd to 13th, 2011, at a dedicated Gucci pop-up store within the Fiat stand.

The idea of collaboration of two leading brands was initiated by Lapo Elkann, and what could better a time of launching, as it is Gucci’s 90th anniversary year. The car is manufactured in two basic colors, black and white, with satin chrome detailing and ivory & black interiors for a softer, sophisticated look which are never off fashion.

The design is more based on vintage cars with the specification of rims for 195/45 R16 wheels. The hubcaps feature interlocking GG in the same color of body of the car and a cursive Gucci signature appears on the hatchback as well on the doorpost.

Equipped with 1.4 of 100 horsepower, the car comes with rear break calipers in Gucci green. The doorline of the car is striped with green and red color which runs along the entire perimeter and links the exterior to the interior.

The stripes also emerge within on the seats, on the gear shift, the key-cover, the carpets and in an innovative finish on the seatbelts. The interior is very intricately done and every detail like embroidery, materials, glossy and satin chromes, velvet varnish on the dashboard is perfectly designed.

The exquisite 500 by Gucci will be available from April 1st to June 30th exclusively by pre-order online at 500byGucci, with a starting list price from 17,000 Euro [approx. $23,419] in Italy. It is going to be launched by European commercial in July and be displayed in different metropolitan areas like Paris, London and Tokyo.

With the exclusive 500 by Gucci collection, Gucci is launching accessories that matches the car, like travel accessories, small leather goods, drivers, tracksuits, bombers, driver gloves, sunglasses and a watch, which will be available in select Gucci stores and online at Gucci from April 2011.

Gucci 500 Picture Gallery

Article courtesy of BORNRICH596432

EV Technology in Nissan Leaf

The Nissan Leaf has received some pretty good reviews recently and has been lauded as the first truly mass produced Electric Vehicle (EV). It will be built in Britain (Nissan’s Tyne and Wear plant to be exact safeguarding 2,250 jobs) one year after it hits UK showrooms in 2012. The five-door, five-passenger, Leaf is a city car powered by a 24kW lithium-ion battery pack split into 48 separate modules. Even this refinement shows that Nissan are seriously thinking ahead in terms of economic and practical servicing by allowing for the replacement of individual battery modules rather than the entire battery pack. Top speed comes in at just under 90 mph with a claimed 0-60 time of less than 10 seconds.

Nissa Leaf Electric Vehicle

Those numbers don’t have the same significance in the EV world as they would for genuine petrol heads, but they do at least suggest that the Leaf isn’t a four-wheeled electric toy and approaches genuine car-like performance. The number that arguably matters most is range and with the Leaf, Nissan contends that this slippery hatchback (.29 cD) is good for 100 miles per charge. That, they claim, is perfectly acceptable for the target demographic of urban dwellers and inner-city commuters. When the juice does run out, you can plug one of three different 110, 220 or 440 volt cables into one of two front-mounted ports.

Nissan will not give a price for the Leaf in the UK and it is still considering whether or not to lease the first cars along with their battery packs. What’s clear from many of the reviews is that driving an EV is a subtly different experience from driving a conventional internal combustion engined car. Before they part with their hard earned cash or arrange some sort of contract hire or leasing deal on the machine, customers are most probably going to insist on a test drive to get the feel of the thing (and frankly the wife and kids are going to want to go along just to experience the novelty). The battery-powered BMW MiniE for example virtually stands on its nose when you ease off the throttle. Other electric cars will freewheel, their speed virtually undiminished, until you brake when the motor frantically goes into reverse to generate current that can top up the battery. One of the main features of an all electric drive is the fact that maximum torque is produced at almost zero revolutions, so even the slightest press of the throttle will make an EV take off like a scalded cat!

Different driving and road conditions may also drain the battery at a different rate. Nissan says normal charging on a 240 volt 13A domestic supply will take 11 hours (fast charging on a 400 volt, 50kW unit can reduce that to around 8 hours but this will reduce battery life). Road Range (rather than Road Rage) or the worry about whether there’s enough juice left to reach your destination may well become the new middle-class car driver’s anxiety. What EVs may well also herald is an upsurge in temporary car insurance. Always test drive before you buy anything is a mantra in the second hand car market and sound advice for any vehicle purchase. Given that piloting any EV is so different from what you’ve been used to, prospective owners are likely to get short term car insurance in advance to cover their drive away test drive. This approach will also buy them time before they arrange obtain full annual motor insurance cover.

Of course, it is early days for the Leaf or other EVs and there’s currently little in the way of recharging infrastructure. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, had pledged to install 22,500 electric car charging points across London, with 7,500 in place by 2013 of which 6,000 were to be installed at work places, 500 on the streets, 330 in public car parks, 50 at Tube stations, 140 in supermarket car parks and 120 at car clubs. This £60 million scheme was intended to make London the “Electric Car Capital of Europe” , but, following the Spending Review, the mayor’s earlier pledge of £20 million funding has now been cut back to just £7 million.

Boris also promised that no Londoner would be more than a mile from a charging point. At present there are only around 250 charging points in London with just over half of them funded by Transport for London (TfL), to service the capital’s 1,700 electric vehicles currently registered. What could tweak interest in the Leaf though is the availability of a government grant of up to £5,000 towards the price of an electric car. This subsidy was the brainchild of the former Labour government and the Department for Transport (DfT) anticipates around 8,600 of the cars will be sold in the first year of the scheme. So far, £43 million has been committed to the scheme that will run until March 2012, with a review taking place in January 2012. There are suggestions that the subsidy will continue after March 2012, albeit at a lower rate.

Source: thedrive.co.uk

Free Auto Insurance Quotes

Looking to buy auto insurance for your automobile? One of the best ways to find the most appropriate auto insurance policy for your vehicle is by obtaining free auto insurance quotes. Again, the most suitable way of obtaining insurance quotes from all the leading companies is through the internet. There are number of websites on the web that offer insurance policies that various companies are offering at one website for the convenience of the users. Or else you can always visit the homepages of the company's websites in order to learn about the insurance quotes that any particular company is offering.

Online auto insurance quotes can be considered bliss for various reasons, one it is free, second you can have access to them at any day and at any time of the day and that too by simply sitting in the comfort of your home and third it gives you the option of comparing quotes one by one or number of quotes simultaneously. The fact that auto insurance quotes are available for free on the internet; it has attracted number of people and has helped them find the most suitable insurance policy as per their needs and requirements. The most important thing that has to be kept in mind while taking online auto insurance rates is taking them from a reliable website as some websites may quote misleading rates and may not mention some of the important and relevant details in order to attract readers.

The biggest advantage of free online quotes is that helps you analyze quotes one by one that the various companies are offering. Here you act and make an intelligent choice with your own research and not under the influence of the selling skills of your insurance agent. It gives you the option of comparing specific elements of various policies and thus finding the cheapest and best policy that offers maximum coverage.

The ability to get and compare auto insurance quotes online has not only made people more aware of what various companies are offering but has also made them aware on how to get the quality insurance policy at the best of price.

The importance of car shipping insurance

Car shipping has always been considered as a stressful task. But by proper research and planning the whole process can be executed smoothly. Most of the auto transport companies provide insurance during shipping process and this would give an assurance on the safety of your vehicle. The insurance coverage would cover the cost of repair needed as a result of some damages caused during the shipping process. The coverage amount differs from company to company. It is essentially important that before hiring an auto transport company, you must do proper research on the company for getting the appropriate coverage.

The car shipping companies with a valid license would have insurance for transporting the vehicle as well as insurance liability coverage. You must clearly understand the insurance coverage aspect while shifting the car. It is not a necessity that your car would get damaged during shipping. But insurance is a must just in case something goes wrong. Without insurance you may find yourself mending the car for damages caused during the shifting. It would be always better to take prevention better than worrying about the damages later.

Firstly, you must seek the insurance policy documents of the car shipping company. For confirming the authenticity of the documents, you can check with the auto transportations insurance provider. Sometimes, the insurance coverage offered by the company would not be enough to cover the expense of the vehicle replacement. During such times, you must contact the company's insurance agency and clarify the terms and conditions in the policy. You must ask the agency if it is possible to purchase additional coverage if coverage given by the auto transport company is inadequate. Also ask if the policy is having a limited coverage value. You must also know which parts of the vehicles would come under the coverage in case of an accident. Check if there are some exceptions to specific components which would not be covered. It is important to know what damages would be covered if the car is ruined during the shipping process.

Most importantly, the insurance coverage offered by the auto transport company should insure the car against theft and other damages. Make sure that the moving company provides you with a copy of the insurance policy so that you would have a word to say if something goes haywire. You must also make sure that before handing over the keys to the car shipping company, the car should be emptied of all personal belongings and extra fittings. Usually, the auto transporting insurance would not cover cost of loss of personal possessions which are left in the car while shipping.

It is completely your responsibility to make sure that the car would be covered if any damage happens to it while transporting. Unless you ensure the reliability of the company and its insurance before hiring them, the safety of the car would be at risk. So it is important to understand the reputation of the company and its previous service records for ensuring the credibility. Always remember the statement, prevention is better than cure.

How to Choose an Automobile Accident Attorney?

Accidents can be traumatic. It causes immense despair and grief to the family and friends along with the accident victim. We all know many such families where accidents have gravely injured or taken lives of loved ones. Often such losses are irreparable. However, one can take steps to fight for justice. It is prudent to know how you to choose an automobile accident attorney, one that will fight for your legal rights. Whether you are a resident of Pearland, Houston, Texas City, Baytown or anywhere in the greater Houston area, this article has been written to assist you find a good lawyer for automobile accidents. As you read further, you will comprehend that there are some fine details you have to keep in mind when looking for a reputable automobile accident lawyer:

Check references:

You will always find friends or family members who have experienced a similar situation like yours. Such people offer immediate help by giving you names of lawyers that they have spoken and possibly worked with. Consult the list of automobile accident lawyers given by your friends or family and try to meet with each one individually. Make a decision after your meetings by deciding with the attorney you are most comfortable with.

Online search:

When you do not get personal references for automobile accident lawyer, simply make an online search. You will find a list of lawyers who work on accident cases in your city. Make a list of lawyers with the maximum work experience, success rate and credibility of the firm they work for. Take down their numbers, leave online messages and get in touch with the lawyer as soon as possible. Make an appointment and meet each attorney in person.

Look into details:

There are certain things you should know about a lawyer. Take a look at his qualifications and ask the number of years he has been in practice. Provide the lawyer with all of your case details. Listening to him will give you a brief idea about his working process. The lawyer should be like a guiding force. A good lawyer is a person who is willing to fight for your case with all his might and heart. Even if you are planning to settle the automobile accident case outside of court, you should select a lawyer with a strong success record. Check for the prospective lawyer’s membership in their state’s trail lawyers association or the American association of justice.

Fees:

Automobile accident lawyers generally charge contingency fees. This means the lawyer is only compensated when he/she recover a settlement from the insurance company or win at trial. It is typically one-third of the settlement amount received. Avoid lawyers who want up-front payment since this usually means you would have to pay the lawyer even if you lose the case. Lawyers who take contingency fees make sure that you win your case or settle it amicably outside of court. It is always recommended to ask the lawyer about his compensation for the work. Never assume rates and fees.

The above mentioned points are a practical approach to find a promising automobile accident lawyer. If you feel it necessary, you can check with the State Bar on the lawyer’s background. Most often the compensation received is directly proportional to the excellence of the lawyer that you opt for.