Waze tests carpool app, squeezes into Uber’s lane

SAN FRANCISCO, United States — Google-owned navigation application Waze on Monday began testing a carpool feature that rolls near the home turf of Uber and Lyft.

Waze Carpool stressed that it intended only to help commuters get to or from their jobs, chipping in to cover trip costs, and was not getting involved with the types of on-demand rides that Uber and Lyft offer.

Still, Waze Carpool would serve as an alternative to ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft — at least for people dealing with daily commutes.

“Waze Carpool makes it easy to help a neighbor or colleague in your area,” the company said at a website page explaining the service being tested in the San Francisco Bay area.

“Detours are minimal so your drive to work is almost the same, you get to ride in the carpool lane, and the rider you pick up helps cover your commute costs — so why not?”

Waze Carpool is in a pilot mode and available to Bay Area employers and their workers by invitation only, according to the website.

If a person’s employer is in the pilot program, the worker can use a carpool feature in free Waze smartphone applications.

“Schedule a ride and Waze Rider will look for the closest driver already planning a drive on your route,” the company explained.

Drivers opting in using Waze Carpool will have the option of accepting or declining requests from riders, who help pay for fuel in pre-arranged transactions handled automatically in applications.

“Waze Carpool connects riders and drivers with nearly identical commutes based on their home and work addresses,” the company said.

“Riders and drivers share the cost of gas for the trip.”

Ride payment is set in advance and money is transferred from riders to drivers automatically.

Waze stressed that the carpool feature is focused on letting people share the costs of commuting, and not as a way for drivers to make extra income.

Waze last year began testing a similar carpool feature in Israel, where it got its start.

Waze navigation goes beyond using satellite positioning data to incorporating real-time traffic information from its community of drivers.

Google bought Waze three years ago in a deal valued at slightly more than a billion dollars.

source: technology.inquirer.net

How much could you save on auto insurance?

Of all the monthly expenses we endure that have any chance of being reduced, auto insurance is right near the top of the list.

When it comes to auto insurance, a little comparison shopping could result in a savings of hundreds–and sometimes thousands–of dollars. 

Following these guidelines can help reduce your auto insurance bill.


First, it pays to shop around. Instead of settling for the first quote you receive, do some comparison shopping, inquiring with at least three different insurers to get the best price–keeping in mind that the company’s customer satisfaction ratings and its overall reputation also count for a lot.
If you increase your deductible, you could also save on your premiums. The more you increase your deductible, the greater the savings you could achieve on your premium.


If you have an older car, you may not need collision or comprehensive coverage. As a general rule, it doesn’t make sense to buy comprehensive and collision coverage for a car worth less than $1,000, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). If you don’t have an old car and, in fact, are buying a new vehicle, keep in mind that certain types of cars cost far more to insure than others. There’s big difference between the lofty insurance premiums you’re likely to face with a slick sports car as compared to the significantly lower rate that a small sport-utility vehicle (SUV) would command.


It also pays to shop around for different discounts, such as low-mileage discounts if you work at home or have a very short daily commute; car safety discounts if your vehicle has air bags, anti-lock brakes or a car alarm; good student discounts; marriage discounts; and more.

A clean driving record free of accidents, moving violations and claims; and a good credit history are other factors bound to work in your favor in your quest for a low auto insurance premium.

source: smarterlifestyles.com

Jay Leno to drive $1 million classic Jaguar for the Mille Miglia race

This year’s Mille Miglia is packed full of famous cars and equally famous drivers – but when it comes to prodigious competition histories paired with A-list names, the combination of Jaguar Heritage Racing’s 1951 Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 roadster with Jay Leno and Ian Callum is hard to beat.

US TV talk show host, Jaguar collector and classic car enthusiast, Jay Leno, and Jaguar Design Director, Ian Callum, are legends of the automotive industry – and at the Mille Miglia this year their presence is complemented by that of the 1951 XK 120 Ecurie Ecosse roadster.

One of the most valuable and important XK 120s in the world, ‘LXO 126′ is the only surviving example of three original cars built to launch the Scottish racing team in 1952. A race winner in its period, it is most famously associated with raffish Anglo-Scottish aristocrat Sir James Scott-Douglas.

Scott-Douglas competed in a number of endurance races across Europe with Ecurie Ecosse and even went on to keep ‘LXO 126′ as a road car in 1953. In the same year, the car returned to the race track at the infamous Nurburgring; Ecurie Ecosse mechanics hastily converting it back into a competition car when one of the team’s C-type’s met with an accident.

Since then the car has been the subject of a meticulous restoration. Resplendent in the classic Flag Metallic Blue of the Ecurie Ecosse racing team, it was recently sold by Bonhams Auctions for $965,827 at the end of 2013 and has been loaned to Jaguar Heritage Racing for the Mille Miglia.

It won’t be the only Ecurie Ecosse car in Italy for this event – the Ecurie Ecosse C-type and D-type the original Ecurie Ecosse racing transporter will also be present at the start of the Mille Miglia in Brescia.

Ian Callum, Jaguar Design Director, said, “As a Scotsman, Ecurie Ecosse is incredibly close to my heart – so the chance to drive this incredible XK 120 through Italy is a once in a lifetime opportunity. Factor in a co-driver who’s almost as much of a Jaguar man as me – and there’s no doubt I’m going to love every minute!”

Jay Leno commented, “I’m fortunate to have an XK 120 in my garage – not to mention a few other incredible cars from Coventry – but this Ecurie Ecosse XK 120 is one of the most beautiful Jaguars ever built. I absolutely adore it. It’s a real honor to be asked to drive it on the Mille Miglia and to be able to revel in its history with someone like Ian is a true privilege.”

Jaguar Heritage Racing will be tackling the legendary Mille Miglia classic car endurance event from May 15-18 with a line-up of top-name drivers, which will be traversed over 1,000 grueling miles from Brescia-Rome-Brescia in ten of the most revered and sought-after historic Jaguar cars ever produced.

Meanwhile, ex-Jaguar Le Mans and World Sports Prototype Championship winner, Formula 1 driver and SKY F1 TV pundit Brundle along with ex-Formula 1 racer Bruno Senna are sharing the famous ‘Long Nose’ Jaguar D-type.

The penultimate example built, the D-type carries the registration 393 RW and is a true racing thoroughbred. Produced in March 1956 for the works team, it won the Reims 12-hour race, driven by Duncan Hamilton and Ivor Bueb then went on to finish sixth in the Le Mans 24 Hours.

Such is its originality, 393 RW carries the same wraparound aero windscreen, passenger seat, door and famous integrated tailfin as it did when it competed in 1956. After retiring from European competition, the car even had an extended career on American shores too, finishing third in the 1957 Sebring 12-hour race.

With D-type production beginning in 1954, the sight of this legendary Jaguar model in this year’s Mille Miglia is a fitting way to celebrate its 60th anniversary in 2014.

source: motioncars.inquirer.net

Manila Auto Salon kicks off next week

The biggest automotive aftermarket fair in the country—2013 Manila Auto Salon—will open its doors to thousands of custom car and sport truck enthusiasts this Nov. 14-17 at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia, in Pasay City.

“Interestingly, the show is really a one-stop shop  and is the best time to buy Christmas gifts for your automotive-enthusiast loved ones or even for yourself since new product launches will be made here and promotional sales are given,” informed Sophie de los Santos, president of Tradeshow International, the event’s organizer.

Jeffrey Tan, VP of Excellar Enterprise Inc. said: “We are exhibiting in the 2013 Manila Auto Salon to create more consumer awareness on how important seats are to the driver and why it is important to buy  genuine Recaro and BBS brands.”

Totally car-crazy

Martin Shearsmith agreed. Speaking for Zephyre Group Inc. that sells Drift Cam, he said, “The Philippines is totally car-crazy and Filipinos love nothing better than showing off their pride and joy, which is why the Manila Auto Salon is the car show of the year. If showing off your pride and joy is your thing then whether you are a drift king, track star or just a car lover, the Drift HD Ghost allows you to capture the moment

and share it almost instantaneously.”

According to De los Santos, apart from interesting motoring stuff to buy, visitors will enjoy viewing over 100 custom cars, sport trucks, SUVs and Tuner cars vying for the Best of Show awards in all four categories. There will also be several exhibitor-initiated promo activities to complete their show experience such as the Petrol Fashion Show, Bardahl No-Oil Run Demonstration and  the Nintendo Wii MotoGP Challenge by Rainchem International Inc. to promote their Motorcycle Oil products.

Sponsors

Participating companies for this four-day automotive aftermarket fair are 199 Off Road House, 3M Philippines, Alana Motors, All Inclusive Sales Inc., ALX Customworks, Asian Coating Philippines Inc., Atoy Customs, Autocar Magazine, Auto Circuit Enterprise Co. Inc., Auto Junction, Autobots Paints and Bodyworks, Autovox Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), AutoIndustriya, Autoline Motorsports, Blade Auto Center, C! Magazine, Car Porn Racing/ Barrientos & Co. Inc., Carsthetics Marketing Philippines, Co Ban Kiat Hardware Inc., D’Outdoor (Gears), Dr. G’s Car Clinic, Dubshop Inc., Top Tool (Elektrowerk Inc.), Eurodecals, Eurovision Decals Trading, Excellar Enterprise Inc., Hahn, Halden Galway International, Hart International (Mothers), HLT/Axalta, Honda City Club Philippines, Iron 4×4 Philippines, Jeffs Off Road Shop, Karpartzzz69, Liong Mei Generation Corp., Liquimoly, Los Cabos International Corp., Makna Marketing Corp.;

Marpo Tech International Trading, Menold Marketing Corp., Metrobank Card Corp., MNM Trading Corp., Mobile Electronics Ventures & Solutions, Motor 1 Auto Parts Corp., Mr. Quickie Corp., NGK Spark Plug (Phils.) Inc., Philchamp Transport Resources Inc., Plastiwrap, Power Wheels Magazine, PPC Asia Corp., Rain Enterprises, Rainchem International Inc., Red Octagon Dist. Phils. Inc., Remixx Clothing, Ride Inc., Robert Bosch Inc., Ronray, Sante Barley/Zworks, Simex Trading/Meguiar’s Philippines, Solar Gard Phils. Corp., Speed Magazine, Speedlab Inc., Starbright Bodykits, Stoplight TV, Toyota Auto Club Philippines, Top Gear Philippines, Torque Dynamic Appare Inc. (Petrol), Unique Autowerkes, Veritek Inc., Wheel Gallery Inc., Wilstark Marketing Corp., Wuerth Philippines Inc., Zamony Venture Corp. (Pioneer) and Zephyre Group Inc.

Support organizations are the Philippine Automotive Aftermarket Association of the Philippines, Automobile Association of the Philippines and the  National Association of Filipino Off-Roaders.

source: motioncars.inquirer.net

Lamborghini shows Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse

The Lamborghini Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse is presented for the first time at the 2013 Frankfurt auto show. The Squadra Corse delivers high levels of performance while bringing the thrills associated with motorsport to the street-legal world. This new and most extreme model in the Gallardo line-up is based on the Gallardo Super Trofeo, the race car that features in the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo – the world’s fastest one-make series. The Squadra Corse will be a limited production model, priced at € 191.100, plus tax.

The name Squadra Corse refers to the recently-founded department within Automobili Lamborghini, which manages all motorsport activities from GT3 to the Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo championships in Europe, Asia and America, where gentlemen drivers participate in fiercly contested battles on the most challenging racetracks in the world.

The new Gallardo Squadra Corse is derived directly from the race car. Both share the same V10 engine, which is used in the racing version with no modifications. Likewise, the Squadra Corse has the same rear wing for greater aerodynamic load – achieving, under the best aerodynamic conditions, three times the load of the Gallardo LP 560-4 – for increased dynamic stability during tight high-speed cornering. Another element taken directly from the racing version is the removable engine hood equipped with a quick-release system. Both the rear wing and the hood are made from carbon composite material, as are a host of other components on the Squadra Corse.



Lightweight construction through consistent use of carbon fiber
Together with aluminum, carbon fiber forms the basis for construction of the new, extremely lightweight, top-of-the-range Gallardo.

The Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse boasts a dry weight of 1340 kilograms, 70 less than the already lean Gallardo LP 560-4, which gives the Squadra Corse a stunning power-to-weight ratio of 2.35 kilograms per hp. Different delivering breathtaking performance, it sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in a mere 3.4 seconds and reaches 200 km/h in just 10.4 seconds. Its forward thrust finally tops out at 320 km/h. The production-standard carbon-ceramic brake system guarantees unmatched stopping power.

The technology and the powertrain
Like the Super Trofeo competition version, the new Squadra Corse is based on the technical underpinnings of the Gallardo Superleggera. The V10 engine generates 570 hp, the equivalent of 419 kW, which is fully available at 8,000 rpm. The V10’s unique firing order delivers the striking sound heard from its motor racing equivalent. Like the race car, the Gallardo Squadra Corse comes as standard with the robotized e-gear six-speed transmission operated by steering wheel paddles. This electronically controlled system shifts through its six gears smoothly and much faster than any professional racing driver could. Every kilometer driven in the Gallardo LP 570-4 Squadra Corse is packed with sheer excitement, in part due to its unrelenting grip in virtually all situations thanks to its all-wheel drive concept.

The Lamborghini Blancpain Super Trofeo is the only single-brand racing series in the world that features all-wheel drive race cars. The Gallardo Squadra Corse is a highly concentrated driving machine that offers an unrivaled driving experience with breathtaking cornering speeds and fast, immediate response.

source: motioncars.inquirer.net