Rockville Starbucks/214
#8961
1st Gear
iTrader: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Upper Marlboro, MD
Age: 38
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The funny thing was 10 min. before the movie ended one of my friends stood up and was like this movie sucks lets all leave then all of a sudden about 30 people got up and left! Hilarious
#8964
RIP MxOJuic
Thread Starter
David Letterman's Top 10 reasons why there are no black NASCAR drivers
David Letterman's Top 10 reasons why there are no black NASCAR drivers:
#10 Have to sit upright while driving.
#9 Pistol won't stay under front seat.
#8 Engine noise drowns out the rap music.
#7 Pit crew can't work on car while holding up pants at the same time.
#6 They keep trying to carjack Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#5 Police cars on track interfere with Race.
#4 No passenger seat for the Ho.
#3 No Cadillac's, or Lincoln's approved for competition.
#2 When they crash their cars, they bail out & run.
*AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY BLACKS CAN'T BE IN NASCAR...
#1 They can’t wear their helmets sideways!
#10 Have to sit upright while driving.
#9 Pistol won't stay under front seat.
#8 Engine noise drowns out the rap music.
#7 Pit crew can't work on car while holding up pants at the same time.
#6 They keep trying to carjack Dale Earnhardt, Jr.
#5 Police cars on track interfere with Race.
#4 No passenger seat for the Ho.
#3 No Cadillac's, or Lincoln's approved for competition.
#2 When they crash their cars, they bail out & run.
*AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON WHY BLACKS CAN'T BE IN NASCAR...
#1 They can’t wear their helmets sideways!
#8966
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Frederick, Maryland
Age: 41
Posts: 1,019
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#8967
RIP MxOJuic
Thread Starter
Cat Rescued From Inside Pot Bong
A man who tried to mellow out his cat by stuffing her into a homemade bong is facing criminal charges in Lancaster County.
Twenty-year-old Acea Schomaker was cited on Sunday for suspicion of animal cruelty and drug and drug paraphernalia charges.
Sheriff's deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call found Schomaker smoking marijuana with a cat stuffed inside the bong's 12-inch by 6-inch base. He told deputies the 6-month-old female named Shadow had been hyper and that he was trying to calm her down.
Deputies said "the cat was just dazed." Shadow was taken to the Capital Humane Society where she appeared to be in good condition Monday.
Story: http://www.wowt.com/news/headlines/40547717.html
#8968
Queen of Maximas
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Landover, MD
Age: 41
Posts: 63
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#8970
Banned
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Frederick, Maryland
Age: 41
Posts: 1,019
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#8972
RIP MxOJuic
Thread Starter
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 6 (5 members and 1 guests)
babyacura22, 1sexyleo , cbr169 , CLS6SpeedNupe , Ghostmax301
1sexyleo , cbr169 , CLS6SpeedNupe , Ghostmax301
who is the guest???
babyacura22, 1sexyleo , cbr169 , CLS6SpeedNupe , Ghostmax301
1sexyleo , cbr169 , CLS6SpeedNupe , Ghostmax301
who is the guest???
#8977
Im a Maverick!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bowie Place
Age: 40
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#8978
RIP MxOJuic
Thread Starter
Dyno Meet & Cookout Saturday, April 4, 2009
10:00-5:00 @ PF Supercars 4995 Winchester Blvd Frederick, Maryland 21703
Seems like some of you went last year too lol: http://www.pfsupercars.com/gallery/
http://www.pfsupercars.com/
10:00-5:00 @ PF Supercars 4995 Winchester Blvd Frederick, Maryland 21703
Seems like some of you went last year too lol: http://www.pfsupercars.com/gallery/
http://www.pfsupercars.com/
#8979
Im a Maverick!
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Bowie Place
Age: 40
Posts: 0
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Dyno Meet & Cookout Saturday, April 4, 2009
10:00-5:00 @ PF Supercars 4995 Winchester Blvd Frederick, Maryland 21703
Seems like some of you went last year too lol: http://www.pfsupercars.com/gallery/
http://www.pfsupercars.com/
10:00-5:00 @ PF Supercars 4995 Winchester Blvd Frederick, Maryland 21703
Seems like some of you went last year too lol: http://www.pfsupercars.com/gallery/
http://www.pfsupercars.com/
Also when i put down 190 hp stock on you bishes. Sigh(i miss my SHO)!no homo
#8981
RIP MxOJuic
Thread Starter
Damn it Jason!!!!!
Motorist Pulled Over For Allegedly Driving At 250 km/h
Tuesday March 3, 2009
CityNews.ca Staff
A driver has been charged with stunt driving after he was allegedly clocked going an astounding 250 km/h.
OPP officers pulled the man over on Highway 400 south of Finch Ave. One constable had apparently set up a stationary laser enforcement device when the Infiniti blew by him. A second officer then managed to pull the vehicle over despite the high velocity.
"I haven't been around here too long, but I've never heard of a speed this high," OPP Const. Scott Mulville observed.
"We have a few 'over 50s' obviously but nothing in the range of 250 (km/h) so no. It's a pretty fast driver."
SEE VIDEO:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/...tid14624297001
Motorist Pulled Over For Allegedly Driving At 250 km/h
Tuesday March 3, 2009
CityNews.ca Staff
A driver has been charged with stunt driving after he was allegedly clocked going an astounding 250 km/h.
OPP officers pulled the man over on Highway 400 south of Finch Ave. One constable had apparently set up a stationary laser enforcement device when the Infiniti blew by him. A second officer then managed to pull the vehicle over despite the high velocity.
"I haven't been around here too long, but I've never heard of a speed this high," OPP Const. Scott Mulville observed.
"We have a few 'over 50s' obviously but nothing in the range of 250 (km/h) so no. It's a pretty fast driver."
SEE VIDEO:
http://link.brightcove.com/services/...tid14624297001
#8986
Advanced
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Lanham MD
Age: 46
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#8990
Suzuka Master
iTrader: (4)
Press Release:
INFINITI ESSENCE:
THE MAGNIFICATION OF “INSPIRED PERFORMANCE”
ROLLE, Switzerland (March 3, 2009) - The essence of the Infiniti brand distilled into one car and then taken to the extremes to satisfy the world’s most demanding car enthusiasts … this is the Infiniti Essence.
Presented as a concept at the 79th International Motor Show of Geneva, Essence is a celebration of Infiniti and its 20 years history as a creator of performance cars. But equally it is an inspiring exploration into the brand’s future.
The dramatic design, technology and performance statement is a 600PS, petrol/electric hybrid coupe with rear-wheel drive. What Essence is not is merely an indulgent birthday present from Infiniti to itself.
This concept embodies Infiniti’s core values as an inspiration for the future as much a celebration of the past. Essence showcases many of the technologies, including hybrid, and design cues that will distinguish Infiniti production cars of the coming years. And by steering Infiniti’s guiding principle of “Inspired Performance” into the super-performance, super-luxury coupe market for the first time, it reaffirms Infiniti’s place among the world’s most exclusive and vibrant car brands.
ESSENCE: AN OVERVIEW
- A front-engined, two-seat, 600PS luxury coupe concept, 4.7m long
- First motor show preview of Infiniti’s petrol/electric hybrid drivetrain
- Capable of vast speeds where conditions allow, zero emissions where they don’t
- Rear-wheel drive for maximum driver involvement
- Fresh design language to influence future production models
- Previews new safety technology including Back-up Collision Prevention
- Minimalist and intensely driver-focused interior
- “New luxury” meets traditional Japanese craftsmanship
- Bespoke Louis Vuitton fitted luggage to maximise trans-continental capability
ESSENCE: THE CONCEPT
“An Essence owner is characterized by his or her fearless self confidence; he or she is an intellectual hero rather than just a successful money maker.”
Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning
Essence began life not in the design studio but in Infiniti’s product planning department. Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning, and his team might not, at the start of the project, have known how Essence would look, but they did know what it had to be, why it had to exist – and who it would appeal to.
“Essence is a brand icon,” Francois Bancon said. “It is driven more by a conceptual approach than by any design execution. It is not just an object. It isn’t a teaser for a new model. It is solely dedicated to Infiniti brand promotion, to demonstrate and advocate the Infiniti unique values.”
The concept called for a very clear understanding of who the super-luxury coupe’s potential customers would be. Painstakingly, Bancon and his team of advanced product planners built up a picture of a typical Essence owner. It was a profile that showed an uncompromising, risk-taking 42-year-old passionate about the best things in life, but equally passionate about not flaunting them. “These consumers don’t need to demonstrate to others,” said Bancon. “They are already at the next step of achievement that leads to rewarding themselves first.”
Francois Bancon went on: “We wanted a new way of mixing various ingredients to get a car that was reserved but with a big presence, something trendy but also indicating the next trend. We wanted a car that aspired to become a cult. It had to be exclusive, smart and mysterious. For the driver, it had to sum up the six-word essence of Essence:
Everything I want, nothing I don’t
ESSENCE IN DETAIL
DESIGN: DYNAMIC ADEYAKA
“The design embeds a sense of mystery, a sense of being in the know. Essence is not about showing signs of wealth and success.”
Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design
With breathtaking good looks and perfect proportions, Essence exerts a powerful pull on all those who love cars. It looks like a driver’s car, one that would be right at home spearing down the world’s grandest motoring routes.
But Essence is no aggressive sports car. Infiniti’s “Dynamic Adeyaka” attitude ensures Essence is single-minded, but also inviting, sophisticated and born of inspiration from both the human and natural worlds. To further boost its emotional appeal, it features details that bring a very modern take to some very old Japanese traditions.
The designers’ aim was to merge all existing Infiniti design cues with fresh design language in a shape that the 20-year-old marque has never before attempted. The result is highly sculptural yet also very delicate. Essence speaks of power but not intimidation.
The bonnet is, as you would expect of an Infiniti, long, and the rear deck short. Together with a flowing “wave” profile between muscular front and rear wheelarches, Essence at first appears to be in the classic sports car mould. But there is nothing retro about Essence.
The side window graphics bring a particularly innovative and distinctive edge to the styling. The window appears to be resting on a ledge, its razor sharp line in contrast to the concave sweep of the upper body just below it. Imagine juxtaposing flowing water with the stark outline of a canyon landscape.
The rear section also features complex surfacing with concave “scoops” that flow down the rear pillars from one of Essence’s most distinctive design cues: a C-shaped kink to the side windows’ trailing edge. Outlined by a wide flourish of stainless steel, it adds instant movement to the car even when it is standing still.
One of the most distinctive details is the trim around the side air vents. The simple yet delicate shape, finely finished in aluminium, is based on the “kanzashi”, a hairpin used by women when wearing the kimono. Other lines and details are inspired by the wide brush strokes of Japanese calligraphy. Essence represents a successful merging of iconic cultural cues with automotive aesthetics.
Essence’s front is characterised by Infiniti’s signature double-arch grille, set at an angle that suggests the car is about to leap forward. There is an illuminated Infiniti badge at its heart. Rounded corners effectively hide the front overhang and make this 4.7m-long car appear anything but big in the flesh.
The grille is framed by subtle strips of stainless steel but there’s little other trim and no other grilles or intakes, not even foglights. At the front as over the rest of the car, Essence eschews superfluous body embellishments that could interrupt the graceful strength of the whole. The door handles are slithers of push buttons flush with the body while even rear-view mirrors must make way for minuscule cameras teased out of the A-pillars.
More familiar Infiniti cues include the lights. At the front the signature L-shaped modules taper back on to the bulging guards, picked out at their top edge by a row of LEDs. Slender fillets of red light curve around the car at the back, overlapping with the boot opening and framing the vestigial spoiler. Edged by more stainless steel, the spoiler appears to have been pushed out from within the car.
The windscreen flows back into a full glass roof that then tapers down towards the boot opening – making just one more memorable view of a car that doesn’t have a wrong angle to it.
On design, Essence is simple and amazingly complex, classical and totally dynamic all at the same time. Most of all as the epitome of “dynamic adeyaka” it boasts massive presence. Once seen, never forgotten.
INTERIOR: DRIVER-FOCUSED
“Detailed artistic expression and the rich warmth of the human hand go far beyond mechanical precision.”
Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design
For a driver’s car, the perfect driver’s cabin. Essence’s interior is minimalist, ergonomic and totally focused on the job in hand: to give the person behind the wheel a feeling of absolute control. And yet all this driver focus goes hand in hand with a passenger area dominated by comfort, calm and elegance to offer the kind of hospitality that is so important to the Japanese people, and also to Essence.
The asymmetrical cabin is divided into two areas separated by a large curving console between the seats that sweeps around to merge with the centre of the dashboard. The result is two very distinct cocoons. The driver’s side is themed black, the passenger’s “cocoon” an earthy red.
A flat-bottomed steering wheel and chronometer-style dials announce to the driver this is a serious performance machine. There are no gimmicks or sci-fi solutions here, just single-minded dedication to driving. Witness the technical nature of the displays, the short, alloy-topped gear selector and, just in front of it another finger-flick away, the bright red engine start button.
The car wraps itself around the driver who can quickly relax with the Infiniti trademarks of supportive seat and perfect driving position. There are more Infiniti cues such as the big gearchange paddle shifters behind the wheel and the analogue clock in the centre of the dash.
Infiniti designers believe the best functionality works behind the scenes, appearing only when needed. They call this “hidden tech”, and it’s the key to the functional minimalism that dominates the control layout. By not baffling drivers with buttons or overburdening them with information, Essence offers a sense of well-being to everyone, allowing them to focus entirely on enjoying the energizing driving experience.
With the materials used – leather, Alcantara, hand-painted wood inspired by traditional Japanese lacquerware – the cabin exudes a rich and inviting warmth. Attention to detail is such that even the leather seams on the seat backs differ from left side to right side. Why? So they can accurately reflect the way Japanese men and women tie their kimonos.
Essence’s interior promotes a sense of well-being which is key to the Infiniti driving experience.
DRIVETRAIN: POWER WITH RESPONSIBILITY
“Infiniti’s performance feel has been captured as natural dynamism, like energy rising from within.”
Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning
Essence’s drivetrain is designed to meet the highest expectations of owners by delivering the one thing everyone expects of an Infiniti – sheer driving pleasure. In Essence that pleasure is taken to new heights, at the same time as previewing an innovative green hybrid engine.
Essence is unusual even in the rarefied atmosphere of the world’s fastest road cars by being able to call on a mighty 600PS (592bhp). The power guarantees high performance responses on any road, in any situation. Essence is not, however, an intimidating sports racer. Like the design, the performance is designed to be sophisticated and unobtrusive – performance with a human touch.
The hybrid system is a logical extension of Infiniti parent group’s groundbreaking green commitments. It offers power with efficiency, and high performance with zero-emissions running, by combining a petrol engine with an electric motor. These can work independently or together as a “parallel” hybrid system.
In congested urban areas, the electric motor alone is all that is needed for Essence to glide silently between stoplights, with no tailpipe emissions.
When the traffic clears, Essence responds with a highway performance that few cars could match. In “power assist” mode the full 600PS is unleashed with both petrol and electric power working together.
A key difference over some other hybrid systems is that both the V6 and the electric motor feed their power only to the rear wheels. Performance is more linear, response is crisper – and driving pleasure further enhanced – as a result.
Infiniti’s familiar 3.7-litre V6 gasoline engine is fitted with twin turbochargers, boosting power to 440PS (434bhp). A new direct-injection fuel system ensures the engine works more efficiently than ever in Essence.
Essence previews a new type of electric motor, called 3D Motor, that was designed to meet tough requirements on size and power output. The result is a particularly slim, disk-shaped motor that has twice the torque of a conventional unit. Its design was achieved by 3D magnetic field analysis to optimize the layout of the electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets.
In Essence, the motor is positioned between the engine and transmission and provides 160PS (158bhp), drawing power from a compact lithium-ion battery pack in the boot area. Because the 3D Motor operates in both propulsion and power regeneration modes, the battery pack is kept charged up.
Optimized energy useage across the widest possible range of driving conditions is guaranteed by two separate clutches which “switch in” the motors as required. It is a system that needs no torque converter, further enhancing responsiveness and driving pleasure.
SAFETY: A COLLISION-FREE FUTURE
On a global level, Infiniti is committed to building safer vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies.
Essence previews some of the next-generation safety features that will ensure Infiniti cars remain among the safest on the road. Chief among them is a “Safety Shield” that goes a long way towards the Infiniti engineers’ dream of a collision-free car.
The Safety Shield adds two new technologies to the Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems that are available in today’s production Infinitis. Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP) extend the anti-collision shield all the way around the car.
With SCP, when the driver decides to change lanes, side-mounted sensors activate a warning if an approaching vehicle is detected in the driver’s intended lane. A yaw mechanism is then activated through brake control of individual wheels to help prevent a potential collision. Back-up Collision Prevention works in a similar way, sensing a vehicle behind, giving the driver a warning but then, if the warning is not heeded, activating the brakes automatically.
The warning system and pre-emptive safety features are designed to help support the driver in an intuitive manner with minimal intervention.
PRACTICALITY: A VERY BESPOKE SOLUTION
The team behind Essence harked back to an early motoring era to find the right solution for carrying luggage. The result is as classy as luggage ever gets, surprisingly practical and dreamily romantic. It also re-establishes the historic ties between a carmaker and one of the best-known names in luxury goods – Louis Vuitton.
Vuitton first worked with a coachbuilder – the famous Kellner company – in 1908, equipping one of their early luxury limousines with a set of bespoke luggage. Other coachbuilders quickly beat a path to Vuitton’s door in Paris. Made-to-measure Vuitton trunks were an integral feature of some of the greatest cars of the first part of the 20th century.
The collaboration between Infiniti and Vuitton revives the idea of a set of the highest quality luggage made to fit exactly a car’s boot area. In Essence there are three rigid pieces: a matched pair of slender briefcases atop a large trunk. All are made in the new Damier Graphite canvas and feature sleekly integrated handles and an overall design in harmony with the car itself.
There is hi-tech, too. A button on the key fob electrically opens the boot lid, allowing the boot floor to slide silently rearwards. This is one boot an owner will never have to struggle to access.
In a nod at tradition, the cases even bear the initials of their owner – SN, standing for Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design.
INFINITI ESSENCE:
THE MAGNIFICATION OF “INSPIRED PERFORMANCE”
ROLLE, Switzerland (March 3, 2009) - The essence of the Infiniti brand distilled into one car and then taken to the extremes to satisfy the world’s most demanding car enthusiasts … this is the Infiniti Essence.
Presented as a concept at the 79th International Motor Show of Geneva, Essence is a celebration of Infiniti and its 20 years history as a creator of performance cars. But equally it is an inspiring exploration into the brand’s future.
The dramatic design, technology and performance statement is a 600PS, petrol/electric hybrid coupe with rear-wheel drive. What Essence is not is merely an indulgent birthday present from Infiniti to itself.
This concept embodies Infiniti’s core values as an inspiration for the future as much a celebration of the past. Essence showcases many of the technologies, including hybrid, and design cues that will distinguish Infiniti production cars of the coming years. And by steering Infiniti’s guiding principle of “Inspired Performance” into the super-performance, super-luxury coupe market for the first time, it reaffirms Infiniti’s place among the world’s most exclusive and vibrant car brands.
ESSENCE: AN OVERVIEW
- A front-engined, two-seat, 600PS luxury coupe concept, 4.7m long
- First motor show preview of Infiniti’s petrol/electric hybrid drivetrain
- Capable of vast speeds where conditions allow, zero emissions where they don’t
- Rear-wheel drive for maximum driver involvement
- Fresh design language to influence future production models
- Previews new safety technology including Back-up Collision Prevention
- Minimalist and intensely driver-focused interior
- “New luxury” meets traditional Japanese craftsmanship
- Bespoke Louis Vuitton fitted luggage to maximise trans-continental capability
ESSENCE: THE CONCEPT
“An Essence owner is characterized by his or her fearless self confidence; he or she is an intellectual hero rather than just a successful money maker.”
Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning
Essence began life not in the design studio but in Infiniti’s product planning department. Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning, and his team might not, at the start of the project, have known how Essence would look, but they did know what it had to be, why it had to exist – and who it would appeal to.
“Essence is a brand icon,” Francois Bancon said. “It is driven more by a conceptual approach than by any design execution. It is not just an object. It isn’t a teaser for a new model. It is solely dedicated to Infiniti brand promotion, to demonstrate and advocate the Infiniti unique values.”
The concept called for a very clear understanding of who the super-luxury coupe’s potential customers would be. Painstakingly, Bancon and his team of advanced product planners built up a picture of a typical Essence owner. It was a profile that showed an uncompromising, risk-taking 42-year-old passionate about the best things in life, but equally passionate about not flaunting them. “These consumers don’t need to demonstrate to others,” said Bancon. “They are already at the next step of achievement that leads to rewarding themselves first.”
Francois Bancon went on: “We wanted a new way of mixing various ingredients to get a car that was reserved but with a big presence, something trendy but also indicating the next trend. We wanted a car that aspired to become a cult. It had to be exclusive, smart and mysterious. For the driver, it had to sum up the six-word essence of Essence:
Everything I want, nothing I don’t
ESSENCE IN DETAIL
DESIGN: DYNAMIC ADEYAKA
“The design embeds a sense of mystery, a sense of being in the know. Essence is not about showing signs of wealth and success.”
Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design
With breathtaking good looks and perfect proportions, Essence exerts a powerful pull on all those who love cars. It looks like a driver’s car, one that would be right at home spearing down the world’s grandest motoring routes.
But Essence is no aggressive sports car. Infiniti’s “Dynamic Adeyaka” attitude ensures Essence is single-minded, but also inviting, sophisticated and born of inspiration from both the human and natural worlds. To further boost its emotional appeal, it features details that bring a very modern take to some very old Japanese traditions.
The designers’ aim was to merge all existing Infiniti design cues with fresh design language in a shape that the 20-year-old marque has never before attempted. The result is highly sculptural yet also very delicate. Essence speaks of power but not intimidation.
The bonnet is, as you would expect of an Infiniti, long, and the rear deck short. Together with a flowing “wave” profile between muscular front and rear wheelarches, Essence at first appears to be in the classic sports car mould. But there is nothing retro about Essence.
The side window graphics bring a particularly innovative and distinctive edge to the styling. The window appears to be resting on a ledge, its razor sharp line in contrast to the concave sweep of the upper body just below it. Imagine juxtaposing flowing water with the stark outline of a canyon landscape.
The rear section also features complex surfacing with concave “scoops” that flow down the rear pillars from one of Essence’s most distinctive design cues: a C-shaped kink to the side windows’ trailing edge. Outlined by a wide flourish of stainless steel, it adds instant movement to the car even when it is standing still.
One of the most distinctive details is the trim around the side air vents. The simple yet delicate shape, finely finished in aluminium, is based on the “kanzashi”, a hairpin used by women when wearing the kimono. Other lines and details are inspired by the wide brush strokes of Japanese calligraphy. Essence represents a successful merging of iconic cultural cues with automotive aesthetics.
Essence’s front is characterised by Infiniti’s signature double-arch grille, set at an angle that suggests the car is about to leap forward. There is an illuminated Infiniti badge at its heart. Rounded corners effectively hide the front overhang and make this 4.7m-long car appear anything but big in the flesh.
The grille is framed by subtle strips of stainless steel but there’s little other trim and no other grilles or intakes, not even foglights. At the front as over the rest of the car, Essence eschews superfluous body embellishments that could interrupt the graceful strength of the whole. The door handles are slithers of push buttons flush with the body while even rear-view mirrors must make way for minuscule cameras teased out of the A-pillars.
More familiar Infiniti cues include the lights. At the front the signature L-shaped modules taper back on to the bulging guards, picked out at their top edge by a row of LEDs. Slender fillets of red light curve around the car at the back, overlapping with the boot opening and framing the vestigial spoiler. Edged by more stainless steel, the spoiler appears to have been pushed out from within the car.
The windscreen flows back into a full glass roof that then tapers down towards the boot opening – making just one more memorable view of a car that doesn’t have a wrong angle to it.
On design, Essence is simple and amazingly complex, classical and totally dynamic all at the same time. Most of all as the epitome of “dynamic adeyaka” it boasts massive presence. Once seen, never forgotten.
INTERIOR: DRIVER-FOCUSED
“Detailed artistic expression and the rich warmth of the human hand go far beyond mechanical precision.”
Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design
For a driver’s car, the perfect driver’s cabin. Essence’s interior is minimalist, ergonomic and totally focused on the job in hand: to give the person behind the wheel a feeling of absolute control. And yet all this driver focus goes hand in hand with a passenger area dominated by comfort, calm and elegance to offer the kind of hospitality that is so important to the Japanese people, and also to Essence.
The asymmetrical cabin is divided into two areas separated by a large curving console between the seats that sweeps around to merge with the centre of the dashboard. The result is two very distinct cocoons. The driver’s side is themed black, the passenger’s “cocoon” an earthy red.
A flat-bottomed steering wheel and chronometer-style dials announce to the driver this is a serious performance machine. There are no gimmicks or sci-fi solutions here, just single-minded dedication to driving. Witness the technical nature of the displays, the short, alloy-topped gear selector and, just in front of it another finger-flick away, the bright red engine start button.
The car wraps itself around the driver who can quickly relax with the Infiniti trademarks of supportive seat and perfect driving position. There are more Infiniti cues such as the big gearchange paddle shifters behind the wheel and the analogue clock in the centre of the dash.
Infiniti designers believe the best functionality works behind the scenes, appearing only when needed. They call this “hidden tech”, and it’s the key to the functional minimalism that dominates the control layout. By not baffling drivers with buttons or overburdening them with information, Essence offers a sense of well-being to everyone, allowing them to focus entirely on enjoying the energizing driving experience.
With the materials used – leather, Alcantara, hand-painted wood inspired by traditional Japanese lacquerware – the cabin exudes a rich and inviting warmth. Attention to detail is such that even the leather seams on the seat backs differ from left side to right side. Why? So they can accurately reflect the way Japanese men and women tie their kimonos.
Essence’s interior promotes a sense of well-being which is key to the Infiniti driving experience.
DRIVETRAIN: POWER WITH RESPONSIBILITY
“Infiniti’s performance feel has been captured as natural dynamism, like energy rising from within.”
Francois Bancon, General Manager Advanced Product Planning
Essence’s drivetrain is designed to meet the highest expectations of owners by delivering the one thing everyone expects of an Infiniti – sheer driving pleasure. In Essence that pleasure is taken to new heights, at the same time as previewing an innovative green hybrid engine.
Essence is unusual even in the rarefied atmosphere of the world’s fastest road cars by being able to call on a mighty 600PS (592bhp). The power guarantees high performance responses on any road, in any situation. Essence is not, however, an intimidating sports racer. Like the design, the performance is designed to be sophisticated and unobtrusive – performance with a human touch.
The hybrid system is a logical extension of Infiniti parent group’s groundbreaking green commitments. It offers power with efficiency, and high performance with zero-emissions running, by combining a petrol engine with an electric motor. These can work independently or together as a “parallel” hybrid system.
In congested urban areas, the electric motor alone is all that is needed for Essence to glide silently between stoplights, with no tailpipe emissions.
When the traffic clears, Essence responds with a highway performance that few cars could match. In “power assist” mode the full 600PS is unleashed with both petrol and electric power working together.
A key difference over some other hybrid systems is that both the V6 and the electric motor feed their power only to the rear wheels. Performance is more linear, response is crisper – and driving pleasure further enhanced – as a result.
Infiniti’s familiar 3.7-litre V6 gasoline engine is fitted with twin turbochargers, boosting power to 440PS (434bhp). A new direct-injection fuel system ensures the engine works more efficiently than ever in Essence.
Essence previews a new type of electric motor, called 3D Motor, that was designed to meet tough requirements on size and power output. The result is a particularly slim, disk-shaped motor that has twice the torque of a conventional unit. Its design was achieved by 3D magnetic field analysis to optimize the layout of the electromagnetic coils and permanent magnets.
In Essence, the motor is positioned between the engine and transmission and provides 160PS (158bhp), drawing power from a compact lithium-ion battery pack in the boot area. Because the 3D Motor operates in both propulsion and power regeneration modes, the battery pack is kept charged up.
Optimized energy useage across the widest possible range of driving conditions is guaranteed by two separate clutches which “switch in” the motors as required. It is a system that needs no torque converter, further enhancing responsiveness and driving pleasure.
SAFETY: A COLLISION-FREE FUTURE
On a global level, Infiniti is committed to building safer vehicles equipped with advanced safety technologies.
Essence previews some of the next-generation safety features that will ensure Infiniti cars remain among the safest on the road. Chief among them is a “Safety Shield” that goes a long way towards the Infiniti engineers’ dream of a collision-free car.
The Safety Shield adds two new technologies to the Distance Control Assist (DCA) and Lane Departure Prevention (LDP) systems that are available in today’s production Infinitis. Side Collision Prevention (SCP) and Back-up Collision Prevention (BCP) extend the anti-collision shield all the way around the car.
With SCP, when the driver decides to change lanes, side-mounted sensors activate a warning if an approaching vehicle is detected in the driver’s intended lane. A yaw mechanism is then activated through brake control of individual wheels to help prevent a potential collision. Back-up Collision Prevention works in a similar way, sensing a vehicle behind, giving the driver a warning but then, if the warning is not heeded, activating the brakes automatically.
The warning system and pre-emptive safety features are designed to help support the driver in an intuitive manner with minimal intervention.
PRACTICALITY: A VERY BESPOKE SOLUTION
The team behind Essence harked back to an early motoring era to find the right solution for carrying luggage. The result is as classy as luggage ever gets, surprisingly practical and dreamily romantic. It also re-establishes the historic ties between a carmaker and one of the best-known names in luxury goods – Louis Vuitton.
Vuitton first worked with a coachbuilder – the famous Kellner company – in 1908, equipping one of their early luxury limousines with a set of bespoke luggage. Other coachbuilders quickly beat a path to Vuitton’s door in Paris. Made-to-measure Vuitton trunks were an integral feature of some of the greatest cars of the first part of the 20th century.
The collaboration between Infiniti and Vuitton revives the idea of a set of the highest quality luggage made to fit exactly a car’s boot area. In Essence there are three rigid pieces: a matched pair of slender briefcases atop a large trunk. All are made in the new Damier Graphite canvas and feature sleekly integrated handles and an overall design in harmony with the car itself.
There is hi-tech, too. A button on the key fob electrically opens the boot lid, allowing the boot floor to slide silently rearwards. This is one boot an owner will never have to struggle to access.
In a nod at tradition, the cases even bear the initials of their owner – SN, standing for Shiro Nakamura, Senior Vice President of Design.
#8995
Im a Maverick!
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LMAO
Now for some great news: Report: Cowboys cutting T.O.
IRVING, Texas (AP)—Terrell Owens’ days in Dallas are done, according to ESPN.
ESPN cited anonymous sources Wednesday night in saying that the Cowboys have decided to cut the receiver, ridding them of a big locker-room distraction but also absorbing a big hit on their salary cap.
The team did not immediately have a comment. A spokesman for Owens said he hadn’t heard the news, and that Owens was traveling and could not immediately be reached. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also did not immediately return a call.
Just a few weeks ago, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that T.O. was staying when he said, “You and I both know that the one that you’re asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would’ve already had it. So the fact you don’t have it ought to tell you something. It really should.”
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Jones seemed to enjoy the publicity Owens stirred up as much as the touchdowns he scored. However, there were several in-house issues involving Owens that may have ultimately prompted Jones to decide the receiver wasn’t worth the trouble he caused.
Owens will count about $9 million against the cap. His absence means one less high-profile player to open the Cowboys’ new, $1.1 billion stadium, and fewer No. 81 jerseys to sell.
While Tony Romo also will be without the recipient of most his touchdown passes, he also will no longer have to make sure T.O. has enough passes his way to make him happy. Whether that was perception or reality will no longer matter either.
The Cowboys went 31-17 in Owens’ three seasons, but 0-2 in the playoffs.
Jones essentially forced Owens on then-coach Bill Parcells, a relationship underscored by Parcells referring to Owens as “the player.” Owens drew attention to himself during training camp by dressing up as a pro cyclist while riding a stationary bike, then had an accidental overdose early that season.
Yet when Parcells turned to unproven Romo midway through that season, Owens sparkled. They kept it up the next season, leading the Cowboys to all sorts of club records on their way to a 13-3 season and a division title. The Cowboys lost their first playoff game, days after Romo and others went on a trip to Mexico, and Owens tearfully defended Romo, saying, “That’s my quarterback.”
Owens got a new contract last summer, a four-year, $34 million deal that included a $12 million bonus.
The best news for Owens would be if the cameras were rolling for the new reality TV show he has in the works when he got the news from the Cowboys.
Where might he end up next? That’s sure to be the next drama, and perhaps more great fodder for his TV show.
He’s not likely to return to San Francisco or Philadelphia, the other places he wore out his welcome. Then again, it seemed unlikely he would come to Dallas after having offended Cowboys fans by celebrating on the team’s star logo while playing for the 49ers.
Don’t expect him in Miami, not as long as Parcells is in charge. And perhaps also count out Kansas City because new coach Todd Haley and Owens hardly got along when Haley was Dallas’ offensive coordinator.
The Cowboys should still have a potent passing game, at least if receiver Roy Williams can live up to his big contract and the two draft picks Dallas gave up to get him from Detroit. Romo also still has his favorite target, tight end Jason Witten.
Over three years with the Cowboys, Owens caught 235 passes for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games. He led the NFL with 13 TDs receiving in 2006, his first season in Dallas.
Over his 13-year career, he’s a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career yards receiving and sixth in career receptions. He turned 35 in December, but remains a physical specimen.
Story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns
Poor little T.O.
LMAO
Now for some great news: Report: Cowboys cutting T.O.
IRVING, Texas (AP)—Terrell Owens’ days in Dallas are done, according to ESPN.
ESPN cited anonymous sources Wednesday night in saying that the Cowboys have decided to cut the receiver, ridding them of a big locker-room distraction but also absorbing a big hit on their salary cap.
The team did not immediately have a comment. A spokesman for Owens said he hadn’t heard the news, and that Owens was traveling and could not immediately be reached. His agent, Drew Rosenhaus, also did not immediately return a call.
Just a few weeks ago, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated that T.O. was staying when he said, “You and I both know that the one that you’re asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would’ve already had it. So the fact you don’t have it ought to tell you something. It really should.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Jones seemed to enjoy the publicity Owens stirred up as much as the touchdowns he scored. However, there were several in-house issues involving Owens that may have ultimately prompted Jones to decide the receiver wasn’t worth the trouble he caused.
Owens will count about $9 million against the cap. His absence means one less high-profile player to open the Cowboys’ new, $1.1 billion stadium, and fewer No. 81 jerseys to sell.
While Tony Romo also will be without the recipient of most his touchdown passes, he also will no longer have to make sure T.O. has enough passes his way to make him happy. Whether that was perception or reality will no longer matter either.
The Cowboys went 31-17 in Owens’ three seasons, but 0-2 in the playoffs.
Jones essentially forced Owens on then-coach Bill Parcells, a relationship underscored by Parcells referring to Owens as “the player.” Owens drew attention to himself during training camp by dressing up as a pro cyclist while riding a stationary bike, then had an accidental overdose early that season.
Yet when Parcells turned to unproven Romo midway through that season, Owens sparkled. They kept it up the next season, leading the Cowboys to all sorts of club records on their way to a 13-3 season and a division title. The Cowboys lost their first playoff game, days after Romo and others went on a trip to Mexico, and Owens tearfully defended Romo, saying, “That’s my quarterback.”
Owens got a new contract last summer, a four-year, $34 million deal that included a $12 million bonus.
The best news for Owens would be if the cameras were rolling for the new reality TV show he has in the works when he got the news from the Cowboys.
Where might he end up next? That’s sure to be the next drama, and perhaps more great fodder for his TV show.
He’s not likely to return to San Francisco or Philadelphia, the other places he wore out his welcome. Then again, it seemed unlikely he would come to Dallas after having offended Cowboys fans by celebrating on the team’s star logo while playing for the 49ers.
Don’t expect him in Miami, not as long as Parcells is in charge. And perhaps also count out Kansas City because new coach Todd Haley and Owens hardly got along when Haley was Dallas’ offensive coordinator.
The Cowboys should still have a potent passing game, at least if receiver Roy Williams can live up to his big contract and the two draft picks Dallas gave up to get him from Detroit. Romo also still has his favorite target, tight end Jason Witten.
Over three years with the Cowboys, Owens caught 235 passes for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games. He led the NFL with 13 TDs receiving in 2006, his first season in Dallas.
Over his 13-year career, he’s a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career yards receiving and sixth in career receptions. He turned 35 in December, but remains a physical specimen.
Story: http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns
Poor little T.O.
#8999
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