The Car Weighs Just 2

Project Eagle has {finally|lastly} been unveiled {today|as we speak|at present|at the moment|at this time|immediately|in the present day|right now|right this moment} {at the|on the} 2008 British Motor Show {as the|because the} Evora, and Lotus is beaming over its little eaglet. The Evora {will be|can be|might be|shall be|will likely be|will probably be} {the most|essentially the most|probably the most} grown up and accessible Lotus {in the|within the} British {manufacturer|producer}'s lineup. {To illustrate|As an example|As an instance|For example|For instance}, the automaker claims {it will|it can|it is going to|it should|it would|it'll|it's going to} {fit|match} two American males {in the|within the} {front|entrance} seats (did {they just|they only|they simply} {call|name} us {fat|fats}?). 2 coupe (a convertible is {planned|deliberate}) with 3.5L V6 sourced from Toyota {but|however} elevated by Lotus above its humble origins {to produce|to provide|to supply} 276 horsepower. The {car|automobile|automotive} weighs {just|simply} 2,976 lbs., which {might be|could be|is likely to be|is perhaps|may be} {a lot|loads|lots|quite a bit|rather a lot|so much|too much} for a Lotus {but|however} is {well|effectively|nicely|properly} {below|beneath|under} {the average|the common|the typical} weight of most {cars|automobiles|vehicles}. The {interior|inside} is {unlike|in contrast to|not like} any {you've|you have|you've got} seen from this automaker, which is to say that occupying one {won't|will not} be like staying in a hostel {compared to|in comparison with} a {four|4}-star {hotel|lodge|resort}. You've {got|acquired|bought|obtained|received} {leather|leather-based} {all around|throughout}, a nav system, and Lotus {promises|guarantees} ingress and egress have been vastly improved over its {other|different} {models|fashions}. The Evora {will be|can be|might be|shall be|will likely be|will probably be} {built|constructed} on {a new|a brand new} {assembly|meeting} line at {the company|the corporate}'s {assembly|meeting} plant in Hethel, England at {the rate|the speed} of 2,000 {annually|yearly}, {but|however} has been designed {to meet|to fulfill|to satisfy} {safety|security} and emissions {requirements|necessities} {around the world|all over the world|around the globe|world wide}. That many {cars|automobiles|vehicles} {for so|for therefore|for thus} many markets means the Evora {will be|can be|might be|shall be|will likely be|will probably be} {exclusive|unique}, {although|though} {we don't|we do not} {expect|anticipate|count on} Lotus {to leave|to depart|to go away} {money|cash} on the {table|desk} if there's {big|huge|large|massive} demand for its new, softer, {more|extra} accessible {sports|sports activities} {car|automobile|automotive}. Other {vehicles|automobiles|autos} {will also|can even|may also|may even|will even} {eventually|finally|ultimately} be {built|constructed} on the Evora's new aluminum chassis, which {is called|is known as|is named|known as} the Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) and was first seen on the Lotus APX Concept. {It can be|It may be} stretched, widened and carry a {vehicle|automobile|car} weighing over 4,000 lbs. One new Lotus is {enough|sufficient} for now, {though|although}, as we {try to|attempt to} wrap our heads {around|round} a Hethel-{based|based mostly|primarily based} {car|automobile|automotive} with creature comforts.

We {also have|even have} {to note|to notice} that it {does not|doesn't} have {a proper|a correct} low {range|vary} {transfer|switch} case, {but|however} {the usual|the same old|the standard} Quattro All Wheel Drive system that {you may also|you may additionally|you might also} {find|discover} {in the|within the} A4 Quattro. It does have a {ride|experience|journey|trip} {height|peak|top} adjustable suspension, {but|however} that {function|operate|perform} will {only|solely} be used to {lower|decrease} the rear {so that|in order that} the {owner|proprietor} can load his or her groceries with ease. However, {while|whereas} {it is|it's} {huge|big|enormous|large}, {it is|it's} {like any|like all|like every|like several} {well|effectively|nicely|properly} designed German uber-{mobile|cell|cellular}. {It is|It's} {so easy|really easy} to drive ({fast|quick}) and it {is easy|is simple|is straightforward} to handle. {This is|That is} partly {due to|as a consequence of|as a result of|attributable to|because of|on account of|resulting from} having 350bhp at your {feet|ft|toes}. Anything with 350bhp at your {feet|ft|toes} is {usually|normally|often} nimble,from a {certain|sure} {point of view|perspective|standpoint|viewpoint} {that is|that's}. Actually {this is why|because of this|for this reason|that is why|this is the reason} the Q7 is poignant. {An extremely|A particularly|An especially} {large|giant|massive} and {powerful|highly effective} {as well as|in addition to} politically incorrect {car|automobile|automotive} {is very|could be very|may be very} satisfying to drive {as it|because it} has the 'in your face' {attitude|angle|perspective} that we {sometimes|generally|typically} yearn for in a {car|automobile|automotive}.

Four grown {men|males} in a Q7 {at the|on the} {traffic|site visitors|visitors} lights powering off at {the first|the primary} sight of {green|inexperienced} is a monumental {thing|factor}. The Q7 has {enough|sufficient} torque {to carry|to hold} {four|4} passengers from {0|zero} to 100km/h in about 7.5 seconds. It was {like the|just like the} starship Enterprise doing warp {factor|issue} 6. It ain't no Millennium Falcon {if you|for those who|if you happen to|in case you|in the event you|should you|when you} get my drift. And the Perodua Kelisa driver beside us {at the|on the} lights was left {thinking about|desirous about|eager about|enthusiastic about|excited about|fascinated about|fascinated by|fascinated with|interested by|occupied with|serious about} how a barn {could|may|might} {accelerate|speed up} {faster|quicker|sooner} than he ever thought {possible|attainable|doable|potential}. Now these {four|4} grown {men|males} {did not|didn't} {think of|consider} heading to {the first|the primary} hip and cool nightspot to {show off|exhibit|showcase} the Audi to {the girls|the ladies|the women}, {but|however} headed for some "the tarik" at a "mamak" {shop|store}. It was after this session of tea, gossip {and lots of|and many|and plenty of} {car|automobile|automotive} {talk|discuss|speak} that my {friend|buddy|good friend|pal} took over the driving chores {for another|for an additional|for one more} {round|spherical} of trashing, er, driving. It was {during|throughout} this session we {found out|came upon|discovered} that the {hard|arduous|exhausting|laborious|onerous} corners that I did wasn't {hard|arduous|exhausting|laborious|onerous} {enough|sufficient} as we {were|had been|have been} {able|in a position|ready} {to put|to place} the barn {into a|right into a} {slightly|barely} {four|4} wheel drift {while|whereas} blasting {through|by|by means of|by way of|via} a sweeping {corner|nook}.

Surprisingly the ESP, if it was in operation, was not intrusive {at all|in any respect} and the adjustable (at a push of a button) suspension was {hard|arduous|exhausting|laborious|onerous} in its {sports|sports activities}/dynamic setting {but|however} {never|by no means} uncomfortable. Body roll was {kept|saved|stored} in {check|examine|test|verify} and a barn danced like a hippo in a tutu. Bulky {yet|but} {able to|capable of|in a position to} do some ballet. This {shows|exhibits|reveals} you that Audi {can make|could make} a barn {corner|nook} {extremely|extraordinarily} {well|effectively|nicely|properly}. And {one more|another|yet another|yet one more} {reason|cause|motive|purpose} why its a poignant drive. The noise from that V8 FSI is {superb|excellent|very good} {even though|although|despite the fact that|regardless that|though} {people|folks|individuals} {outside|exterior|outdoors} the {car|automobile|automotive} {may|could|might} hear {more|extra} of it than the {people|folks|individuals} driving it. {Remember that|Do not forget that|Keep in mind that} this {is the same|is identical|is similar} engine {in the|within the} B7 Audi RS4 and {it is a|it's a} marvelous engine. Any engine {that can|that may} pull a barn with {four|4} grown {men|males} deserves a worthy {mention|point out}. I {liked|appreciated|favored|preferred} driving it even {better|higher} than a 1.8TFSI A4 which felt very competent {but|however} {slightly|barely} clinical.

Johnson Controls International weighs future of its battery business

The company's Power Solutions business is one of the industry's biggest battery sources.

Johnson Controls International has imposed a fall deadline on deciding what to do with its Power Solutions business. But at least publicly, it is keeping all options open for one of the industry's biggest battery sources.

JCI is discussing whether to keep the battery business, sell it or spin it off.

"As we previously discussed, we are analyzing multiple options," JCI CEO George Oliver told analysts during the company's July 31 quarterly earnings conference call.

The company has been tight-lipped about its plans since putting Power Solutions under "strategic review" in March.

Management has provided no details about its deliberations.

Oliver told investors that the results of the strategic review would be disclosed no later than the company's fiscal fourth quarter report, due in November for the period ending Sept. 30.

Oliver: "Analyzing multiple options"

Bloomberg reported last month that, according to people familiar with the discussions, as many as four investor groups are interested in bidding on the battery business. Bloomberg said the top two contenders are Apollo Global Management, a New York fund that manages $69 billion in assets representing more than 150 companies, and Brookfield Asset Management, a Toronto investment firm with $285 billion in assets under management, including $43 billion in assets in the renewable power and energy storage sector.

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As a business, JCI's Power Solutions continues to show promise, and Oliver made it clear that retaining the global operation is a viable option, particularly as JCI delves deeper into batteries for vehicle electrification.

He said recent contract awards on vehicle platforms "position us well to gain share. The increasing electrification in vehicles, combined with a regulatory environment still pushing for stronger efficiency standards, are supportive of our core battery technologies."

Power Solutions posted $1.84 billion in sales during the most recently concluded fiscal quarter, up 14 percent from a year ago. Its pretax earnings were up just 2 percent, to $310 million. For JCI overall, net income from continuing operations rose 30 percent to $723 million for the quarter.

Johnson Controls' Power Solutions business, under "strategic review" since March, may be retained, sold or spun off.

Wall Street observers have remained neutral on JCI's considerations.

"All options appear to be on the table including sale, spin or retain," wrote Jeffrey Sprague, managing partner for Vertical Research Partners in Stamford, Conn., in a note to investors. Sprague estimated that if the battery business were sold, the deal would yield net proceeds to JCI of about $10.2 billion.

Joe Ritchie, an analyst for Goldman Sachs Research in New York, said in a report, "We take no view on the potential outcome of any transaction."

Power Solutions is JCI's last major automotive holding.

In October 2016, the company spun off its segment-leading automotive seating business as Adient, headquartered in Dublin, Ireland.

Except for batteries, JCI, headquartered in Cork, Ireland, is primarily focused on building controls for systems such as heating, ventilation and air conditioning, fire suppression and security.

But the battery business represents a major chunk of JCI's sales, accounting for 24 percent of fiscal 2017 sales. Power Solutions produced 154 million lead-acid batteries in fiscal 2017. Of those, 76 percent were for aftermarket sales, and the rest — about 37 million units — supplied automakers, according to company financial data.

Three years ago, the Automotive News list of the top 100 global suppliers ranked JCI as the world's ninth largest supplier of automotive original equipment. This year, JCI ranks No. 89 on the list, with estimated worldwide automotive parts sales of $1.84 billion in fiscal 2017.

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