| Mercedes-Benz to introduce sportier premium roadster
The roadster features a new design with the emphasis firmly on sportiness and effortless driving. 'These traits are also reflected in the handling qualities of the two-seater model, which now delivers even more athletic performance thanks to the new direct-steer system as well as offering enhanced comfort and safety,' said Frank Bernthaler, Director, Sales and Marketing, Mercedes-Benz Cars, Middle East and Levant. The new SL range will also feature two six-cylinder models starting with the new entry-level SL 280 (231 hp) and the SL 350 as well as the familiar SL 500 with a V8 engine and the top-of-the-range SL 600 with a V12 powerplant. The popular SL 350 is powered by a newly developed, extremely high-revving sports engine boasting an impressive output of 316 hp yet returns a fuel consumption figure that is 0.4 litres per 100 kilometres lower than that of its predecessor (NEDC).
NTSB report rules pilot at fault
The Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Roanoke said Hickin died from blunt head, face, chest and abdominal injuries. Thermal injuries also were listed. A toxicological report from the Federal Aviation Administration Toxicology Accident Research Laboratory in Oklahoma City said Hickin tested negative for drugs and alcohol. The flight originated from Waynesboro's Eagle's Nest Airport. The NTSB said the weather was clear at the time of the crash and that Hickin was flying under Visual Flight Rules flying by sight rather than aided by instruments. Hickin, who was married with five children at the time of his death, was employed as a pilot with Gemini Air Cargo. .
A history of the Daytona 500
Relive the history of the Daytona 500 with a look at the first 49 Daytona 500s. The 50th race is Sunday, Feb. 17. Race 1
Feb. 22, 1959
Top 3: Lee Petty, Johnny Beauchamp, Charley Griffith.
Margin of victory: 2 feet.
Synopsis: The iconic photo of Lee Petty, Johnny Beauchamp and the lapped car of Joe Weatherly all approaching the finish line side-by-side is as much a part of NASCAR as the picture of Ty Cobb sliding into third is to baseball. Beauchamp is declared the winner but three days later NASCAR gives the win to Petty after studying photos of the finish.
Fast facts: No cautions. ... Only two of the 59 cars that start the race finish on the lead lap. ... 28 cars fail to finish the race. ... The only 500 to feature hard tops and convertibles.
Related Tickers
Equity exchanges are excitable. There's a new adventure every week, whether it's NYSE (NYSE: NYX) bidding for Euronext or Nasdaq (Nasdaq: NDAQ) chewing on a chunk of the London Stock Exchange. Bond life is a lot less exciting. But as equity markets stutter, a big opportunity appears for boutique bond exchange MarketAxess (Nasdaq: MKTX). Can it grow beyond a boutique, and become The Archipelago of Bonds? Bonds as an asset class are back. Interest rates are rising, and there's more value in taking corporate credit risk, as credit spreads -- the difference between corporate bonds and risk-free U.S. Treasuries -- rise. The U.S. bond markets are huge -- a total of $25 trillion outstanding, compared to a total value of $14 trillion for all the stocks in the Russell 3000. The corporate bond market alone is worth around $5 trillion.
2007 BMW X5 3.0 si Review
When it debuted seven years ago, the X5 was a very BMW take on the then-new crossover SUV concept. SUVs in those days were generally ponderous utility-oriented trucks, the antithesis of all that BMW had built its reputation on. The X5 was different. Made in America (Spartanburg, South Carolina, to be exact) primarily for the American market, the X5 had nearly all of the handling and performance virtues of its sedan or wagon relatives, with extra ground clearance and an appropriate rugged look. It looked like an SUV, but BMW called it a "Sports Activity Vehicle", or SAV, and registered the term and abbreviation. To say it was successful would be massive understatement. But seven years in today's ultracompetitive automotive industry is an eternity. All of the X5's competitors have been renewed in that time, and that left it lacking in some areas.
Microsoft Slipping Off the Online Video Market
Microsoft only served 180 million videos in December, for a total of 1.8% share. Back in 2006, the Redmond company was building its own YouTube, under the Soapbox brand, a service that was subsequently melted away into MSN Video. But despite owning the MSN portal, which attracts in excess of 500 million visitors each month, MSN Video is failing miserably at getting off the ground. Overall, MSN Video attracted just 20 million unique visitors in December 2007, for a share of 10.9%, four times less than Google 80 million audience, and a share of 43% of all Internet users in the U.S. "Google Sites once again ranked as the top U.S. video property in December with 3.3 billion videos viewed (32.6 % share of videos), gaining 1.3 share points versus the previous month. YouTube.com accounted for more than 97 % of all videos viewed at the property.
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