Killer tuning package for the Mercedes CLS

eMercedesBenz.com sent this little tidbit on an out-of-control tuning package from ART that offers up both performance and styling tweaks for the Mercedes Benz CLS. The GTR comes in two engine upgrades, the GTR560 and the GTR620, the latter capable of jumping to 60 from a standstill in four seconds with new rims, a track-widening suspension package, throaty exhaust and looks to match. New sills to accomodate the wider track, unique front and rear fascia, a restyled trunk lid and a substiantial spoiler are just a few styling modifications that come with the package.

According to Ashley at eMercedesBenz, "Note: Pole and strippers not included" with the neon blue door sills. Thanks for the heads-up.

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New record set for fastest data transmission ---- 2.56 terabits a second

Fraunhofer Institute for Telecommunications has teamed with Fujitsu to see how much data they could squeeze through one of those fiber optic pipes. The results sure look good; by pumping light at various wavelengths they've managed to squeeze 60 DVDs worth of data every second over a 100 mile link. The new 2.56tbps records smashes the old 1.28tbps record, and reminds us once again how much our internet connection really sucks.

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Ageia PhysX card makes explosions look pretty

Ageia has posted two videos comparing an explosion in the PC version of Ghost Recon: Advanced Warfighter on a machines with and without the company's $300 hardware PhysX physics card. It's clear to see that the explosion is much more impressive on the PC with a PhysX card--the shrapnel and massive smoke cloud is entirely absent on the normal machine. However, there's some inconsistency in terms of the explosion's effect on the gameplay.

In the video without the PhysX card the screen doesn't shake and a nearby soldier is unaffected by the blast. In the video with the PhysX card the screen shakes relatively violently and the soldier dies (although he's slightly closer to the blast). Of course its possible that the second video could have been tweaked to further differentiate the two machine's explosion, but if simple effects like a screen shake requires $250-300 worth of hardware it's not hard to envision a lot of shakey gamers.

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Five Europe Diesels that out-eco a Prius

Audi  A2
1.2 TDI
city: 65.33
highway: 87.11
average: 78.4









Smart
fortwo CDI
city: 60.31
highway: 75.87
average: 69.18









Peugeot
107 Urban 1.4 HDi 54 / Citroën  C1 HDi 55 SX
city: 44.38
highway: 69.18
average: 57.37)







Citroën  C2 HDi 70 SensoDrive VTR
city: 48
highway: 61.9
average: 56







KIA  Picanto 1.1 CRDi EX
city: 48
highway: 31.9
average: 56









The Prius is rated at 60 mpg in the city and 51 mpg country, but those numbers the EPA obtained were by way of strapping Toyota’s Hybrid Synergy Drive to a dynamometer. In Europe, fuel economy is calculated by actually operating an engine on the road while it’s under the hood of a vehicle, causing the Prius to return a more realistic 47 mpg in the city and 56 mpg on the highway, or 5.0L/100km city and 4.2L/100km highway in the continent’s native metric.

This more realistic fuel economy rating lowers the bar enough for a handful of European small cars to beat the Prius in a game at which many Americans believe it’s indomitable. And guess what, these cars from the old world all use highly fuel-efficient diesel engines.

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Brazil ponders HDTV standards

Some of Brazil's top officials are doing the same thing as DVB and Japan-only devices. While Europe, Japan and the U.S. all use different standards for broadcasting high definition television, Brazil has not chosen yet. They will be visiting Korean companies like LG who are pushing the US standard, while Toshiba and Sony work together to promote the Japanese standard, and European companies pushing DVB before they make a decision.

According to the article, they are likely to choose the Japanese standard in return for significant investments to build manufacturing plants in Brazil.

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Sony's VGP-XL1B2 200 DVD changer for HTPCs

You can now pick up the Sony VGP-XL1B2 200 DVD changer that had previously limited to an optional add-on for the company's XL1 and XL2 Media Center PCs (or Digital Living Systems, as Sony would prefer). The changer will work with any machine running Windows Media Center Edition 2005 Update Rollout 2, and is controllable through your system's FireWire port. Perhaps the best part of the $800 device is its ability to daisy-chain with up to four more of its mates, giving you 1000 excuses to stay home every Friday night.

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Prada Tie-Dye Hobo

Prada's Tie-Dye Hobo is a visual mystery and apparently has a whole lot going on with it. It come with a woven shoulder strap and leather wrap with tie-dye and passementerie detailing. Bag dimensions: 11"H x 12"W. Price: $680.

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Brooklyn Industries Colette Bag

Brooklyn Industries introduces the Camofleur Collection, which takes the camouflage pattern and adds a twist making it more feminine. The Colette Bag is the largest of the collection and fits a 12" laptop. Made of heavy canvas with a waterproof coating, it's cotton lined with multiple interior pockets for organization. The exterior pocket features a round golden buckle and would be ideal for storing your cell phone or iPod. Shown here in green, it is also available in pink, brown and blue. An affordable carry-all without the bulkiness. Bag Dimensions: 11"H x 15"L x 9"W. Price:$74.

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Limited Edition Runco Projector

Check out this limited edition projector from Runco, it's a commemorative version of the VX-1000d- signed, numbered and colored platinum. There are 300 units which are signed and numbered by Runco founder Sam Runco.The projectors also include membership in Runco's Signature Cinema Club. Club member receive newsletters, information about Runco’s industry activities and special events and personal movie selections from Sam Runco’s private collection. The platinum VX-1000D comes with a Runco CR-26HD LCD TV and sells for $14,995.

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SMART ForFour to be around no more?

DaimlerChrysler has felled the axe on the SMART ForFour. The Netherlands-assembled four door built in conjunction with Mitsubishi Motors will go by the wayside as part of the brand's 1 billion Euro restructuring effort. This means that a second model is exiting SMART showrooms (the SMART Roadster has just been sold to Project Kimber), leaving the original micro-sized ForTwo to soldier on alone.

DCX announced earlier this month that it expects to level Smart's serially-red balance sheets in 2007.

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