When there is blood in the water, it’s a feeding frenzy. Just as we Volkswagen diesel advocates were thinking “maybe” the company would come up with a fix … then the second shoe dropped. This news includes more diesel vehicles, this time the 6-cylinder TDIs adding Audi and Porsche diesel SUVs. According to earlier comments, “a Volkswagen spokesman said the auto maker doesn’t plan to halt sales of the affected models as it did with the 482,000 diesel-powered vehicles.” As Yogi Berra would say, “it ain’t over till it’s over.”
Volkswagen installed defeat devices aimed at manipulating U.S. emissions tests on thousands of additional diesel-powered vehicles, the EPA said, widening the scandal at the German auto maker.
The EPA said its recent tests found Volkswagen installed devices aimed at manipulating U.S. pollution tests in some Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche diesel-powered vehicles. The regulator said the vehicles had increased nitrogen-oxide emissions up to nine times the allowable standard.
“VW has once again failed its obligation to comply with the law that protects clean air for all Americans,” said Cynthia Giles, the EPA’s associate administrator of enforcement and compliance assurance, in a conference call.
A Volkswagen spokesman disputed the EPA’s findings, saying the auto maker didn’t install emissions-test evading software on any of the newly identified vehicles. “It is a permissible software,” he said, adding: “What’s at issue here is clear: Does the U.S. want competition in the American market or not?”
This should have been a weekend working on autumn chores like raking leaves or closing the pool, but instead I tinkered around in the garage (and “on” the garage) onSaturday while the weather was “so-so” and then watched football on Sunday when the weather was nice. The excuse I'm using is that the Cincinnati Bengals were playing the Pittsburgh Steelers. It is always an intense game and this weekend it was exactly that … although both teams made way too many mistakes. In the end the low score was a 16 -10 win for the Bengals keeping them 7-0 and undefeated. How games against the Steelers make fans uptight in Cincinnati (or for that matter, Cleveland — I'm still a Browns fan). Hm … Thursday night should be interesting with the battle for Ohio on Thursday Night Football.
Even though we've had plenty of frost and cool weather, the grass still looks green and humble looking rose bushes are still blooming around the house. Seems strange to see new flowering roses in November?
I don't recall why I used the phrase “pay through the nose” this past week, but this sounds about right …
Instead of fighting the invaders, some English kings preferred to pay the Vikings to leave them in peace. These payments were called 'Danegeld' (meaning 'Dane debt' or Dane payment). The Vikings collected tribute in other countries too. In Ireland in the 9th century they imposed a tax and slit the noses of anyone unwilling or unable to pay, and that is the origin of the English phrase 'to pay through the nose' meaning to pay an excessive price. LINK
While there is interest in the stock offering by Elio, most following this new American car company prefer to focus on the P5 prototype. I’m still amazed that they still are planning to their new “from the ground up” engine in the P5 and not something off the shelf. It will be interesting to see if they can continue to make progress without a delay in orderto have a production car by 2016 – that’s pretty ambitious.
Body Modifications Boost Aerodynamics, MPG
The front end of the P5 will be slightly longer and slightly more aerodynamic than the P4. This generates two important benefits:
Continued aerodynamic improvement; and,
The longer front-end makes the Elio look more futuristic and stylish.
The P5 also will feature side-exhaust that will replicate how the exhaust is likely to look in the final version.
Interior Upgrades
Body styling has always been important for catching the consumer’s eye. But, the reality is, people spend their time in the vehicle. Over the last decade, automakers have put more emphasis on interior styling, amenities and functionality. Elio Motors knows the interior will be important to our fans and customers. We’ve made some nice upgrades on the P5 that are likely to help differentiate the vehicle when we reach production.
Most of these changes are very subtle, but they’ll make a difference in comfort and convenience:
The arm rest on the door was raised;
The rear seat was lowered to create more passenger headroom;
Additional foam was added to the rear seat for a cushier feel.
We also upgraded the instrument panel for better aesthetics:
A redesigned iPad holder;
The A-pillar shape will be less intrusive; and
Brushed metal was added to the dashboard to provide a more modern look.
None of these changes are revolutionary, but each one helps add up to an improved driving experience for both the driver and the passenger. It also shows just how many small engineering details need to be considered on the road to production.
The P5 represents a significant step forward in vehicle dynamics with the new IAV engine and transmission. It also gave us the opportunity to refine many of the details that we know are important to our consumers.
Well know anchor manufacturer Mantus created a nifty light that they debuted at the fall boat shows this year; the Mantus Snap-On Light look well made and like something Encore needs ($55.00). I also like their RAM mountMantus Rail Clamps!
Now that the popular social networking company Twitter has a “rudder,” Jack Dorsey, CEO, one would think confidence would be higher? That is difficult to tell when reading and monitoring those who are paid to research, have deeper insight and advise investors (graphic on right). The consensus is wildly split, both on the direction of the stock and success of this social networking company.
Most investors and stock market traders realize that new and innovative companies need growth more than profits in order to sustain their stock price, unfortunately the 3rd quarter financials for Twitter didn’t impress (LINK). Neither growth or profits currently favor $TWTR as an investment … but the service is still a very popular outlet, especially for the news media and as a way to report real time information and give feedback. Some of are waiting for a sugar daddy buyer – Google, Apple, Microsoft or a media company?
Many of us (yes I own $TWTR) are hoping that Dorsey can infuse some direction into this fledging company. His instincts have been good and the current active user base for Twitter is a good mix – most importantly expendable income type users for advertisers to market to. I’d like to see some consistency in advertiser growth and a steady predictable stream of innovative tweaks. With the right leadership, this shouldn’t be that difficult to manage. As for the volatile stock price and chart direction … that’s probably not going to change until analyses can come to some consensus.
An old friend Charlie Matthews (Kamikaze) and I are closing in on a memorable December 1977 road trip we took together in his Volkswagen bug. We had a great time (minus the medical incident) and started a yearly trip for me with buddies that repeated for years. I ran across a couple more when my brother and I were cleaning out my mom and dad’s house in Sidney (two new ones below taken by dad while were packing) … the photo “finds” make sorting through things and getting the house ready for market a slow process.
It has been a while since attending a TDIFest, but each year I do help with the finances and bookkeeping for a popular Volkswagen diesel car club. One of the quirks of the TDIClub is that it is based out British Columbia, Canada and yet our annual “fest” is held in the U.S. The 2015 TDIFest was held over Labor Day in Newry, Maine this year so I didn't trek to Sunday River Resort … still Fred and the gang sent me a swag bag. Thanks guys!Over the years, we have found it is helpful to have both a stateside presence and as well as the founders location in Canada.
With a few connections in the drug store world, it is always interesting to see who’s next in the acquisitions and mergers. On Tuesday, the financial news filled up mid-day with the latest deal: Walgreens Boots Alliance seeking to buy Rite Aid Corp. This would merge the second and third largest chains together and reduce competition in many cities. Of course there is still CVS and many smaller stand alone stores and chains … and most of the big box stores and grocery chains are also competing in this business. The potential merger could grow scrutiny from antitrust regulators.
A deal is expected to be announced Wednesday, according to people familiar with the matter. Rite Aid had a market value of more than $6 billion Monday afternoon, meaning that with a typical premium, a takeover deal could value the company at close to $10 billion. That doesn’t include its hefty debt load, which totaled $7.4 billion in August.
Rite Aid shares surged 38% to $8.38 after The Wall Street Journal reported the talks, while Walgreens rose 5% to $93.95.
A combination of the pharmacy chains would come amid waves of mergers in various corners of the health-care industry—from drug makers to hospital chains and insurers—as the federal health overhaul known as the Affordable Care Act and other developments pressure companies to lower costs, bulk up and increase leverage with suppliers.
Putting their drugstore networks together could yield cost savings at a time when the companies have been beset by drug-cost inflation. Other benefits could be derived from marrying Walgreens’ wholesale operation with Rite Aid.
Great memories of busy days logging the register cash deposits from the walk-in trade back in my Cuyahoga Falls office. It seems like a lifetime ago … and yes, I do kind of miss it. Keeping the business growing was challenging as the digital age matured, but those early days gave me a sense of accomplishing something.
The evening sky here in Ohio seem to be letting us know that the season is changing … gorgeous sunset though!
