Steve Jobs Is Building A Giant Spaceship In California

Steve Jobs gave a speech to the Cupertino City Council to get approval for a new Apple campus. It looks like "a spaceship just landed there," Jobs said.
And indeed it's a very ambitious thing. It's one giant building that would hold 12,000 people. The building is circular with "not a straight piece of glass"--all curved.
It's also interesting to see Jobs in "pitch mode" outside of the regular keynote speech setting. He's much more low-key, because he knows the city council can screw his project if they want to. He's still salesy, but doesn't use words like "magical" or "insanely great."
And yet you can see his tough streak. When a council member asks if Apple plans to give the city free wi-fi, he says: "We're the largest taxpayers in Cupertino, so we'd like to continue to stay here and pay taxes," which is like the perfect veiled threat. We wonder if that's how meetings go at Foxconn.
Other highlights:

• The campus would use its own natural gas generator as its primary source of power and the city's power grid only as a backup. Weird.
• The building includes an auditorium for conferences, and Jobs suggests that's where Apple could hold its big events instead of renting out space in San Francisco.
• Apple wants to break ground next year, and move in in 2015.

We put together a slideshow of pictures and charts about the amazing new campus. Click through for the pictures and the video of Steve Jobs' pitch.

Click here for amazing pictures of the campus and video of Jobs' pitch →

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/apple-new-campus-2011-6#ixzz1RvNFyDtk

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Drop-Top Flier: Brabus Builds 800-hp Mercedes E-Class Cabriolet

The Brabus E V-12 family is now complete with its transformation of the E-cabriolet into an 800-hp, open-top monster. Brabus had already turned the Mercedes E-Class sedan and coupe into V-12-powered speed demons, so it was only a matter of time before the tuner took on the cabriolet.
The E V12 Cabriolet’s powerhouse is a familiar unit Brabus has deployed in several of its top spec creations, an S600-based V-12 bumped from 5.5 to 6.3 liters by increasing the cylinder bore and stroke, adding new camshafts, and revising the crankshaft. New turbochargers and intercoolers were also added and four tailpipes were created specifically for the E-cab along with a new intake manifold. The engine computer is also remapped, and as a result, produces a whopping 800 hp (788 hp here in the U.S.) and an astonishing peak torque of 1047 lb-ft, although the tuner electronically limits torque to 811 lb-ft.
As with the other top-spec Brabus machines, the five-speed transmission is also reinforced along with a limited-slip differential. Brabus claimed the S600-based SV12R blasted from 0-62 mph in 3.9 seconds, but the new E V12 Cabriolet beats it by 0.2 seconds. It’s also faster, reaching a top speed of 234 mph compared to the sedan’s top speed of 217 mph.
In order to keep the drop-top stable at such high speeds, Brabus looked to inspiration from Formula 1 racing, using the same ultra-light yet high-strength carbon fiber for the front fascia, shaped to reduce lift to increase airflow to the intercoolers and brakes. New sport fenders and carbon-fiber rear fenders increase the cabriolet’s width by 2.4-inches, and suspension was custom-designed for the front and rear axles of the E V12 Cabriolet, allowing the driver to chose among 10 different settings and adjusting ride height by up to 35 millimeters. The dramatically updated interior will sport vibrant red and black leather.
This high-performance car will surely leave a crater in your wallet, with prices starting at 478,000 Euros, or about $682,000 at present exchange rates.
Source: Brabus

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Mercedes-Benz C63 Black Series Leaks Early on French Website

The Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG is certainly powerful, with its 6.2-liter V-8 engine dispensing 451 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. But that hasn’t stopped Mercedes from working on a more potent version, dubbed the C63 AMG Black Series. Though the car won’t make its official debut for some time, these leaked photos from Blog Automobile give us an early preview.
The French website says the Black Series employs a modified version of the 6.2-liter V-8 engine good for 517 hp and 472 lb-ft of torque. As noted, the standard C63 AMG makes 451 hp, and can be upgraded to 481 hp with the optional AMG Development Package. The car is also said to weight 44 lbs less than a regular C63, allowing it to blast from 0 to 62 mph in just 4.0 seconds before hitting a top speed approaching 186 mph. In contrast, Mercedes says the current car with the AMG pack can run 0-to-60 mph in 4.3 seconds and is limited to 174 mph.
As befits a higher-performance AMG model, Blog Automobile says the Black Series rides on lowered, firmer suspension, and wears massive brakes (six-piston calipers in front; four-piston units out back) to scrub all that speed. The car also reportedly uses tougher rear-end components and a limited-slip differential from the E-Class — if so, we expect the parts were pinched from the go-fast E63 AMG.
The Black Series treatment, of course, entails a vented hood, flared fenders to fit the wider tires, a subtle trunk lid spoiler, larger front air intakes, and new, larger wheels. Keeping driver and passenger squarely in place are fantastic looking bucket seats — but if past cars are any example, crash-test regulations will prevent these buckets from appearing on American-spec cars. Still, the interior boasts an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, black leather upholstery with red stitching, red seat belts, and unique aluminum pedals.
Mercedes-Benz has yet to release the official scoop on the C63 AMG Black Series, but it will reportedly bow in Germany this November. It should appear in other European markets by early 2012 and will hopefully make its way to the U.S. market soon after.

Source: Blog Automobile

(Spy Shot) 2013 BMW 6 Series Gran Coupe

It’s funny; of the three German luxury brands, BMW was the first to offer a sport-utility vehicle – the X5 – and yet it’s the last to create some sort of four-door coupe, the next hot segment that every luxury marque seems to be diving into. Mercedes-Benz is now on its second generation of the CLS, the sexy Audi A7 is now on sale around the globe, and even Porsche took notice and created the Panamera. Nevertheless, BMW is quickly prepping its own take on the four-door coupe with this, the 6 Series Gran Coupe, which – based on this latest set of spy photos – looks to be nearing completion.
@funkmasterflex

Not surprisingly, the 6 Series Gran Coupe will share its turbocharged six- and eight-cylinder engines with the 5 and 7 Series lineup, likely launching in 650i guise first with BMW’s 4.4-liter twin-turbocharged V8. Don’t be surprised if the production car debuts at the Frankfurt Motor Show this fall.
autoblog

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