Blackberry Version: 1.0

#273: blackberry.identity.PIN always returns undefined - Issues ...
I've tried this on OS 6.0 and OS 7.0 with the latest version of WebWorks
I've tried $.ajax({ ... <feature id="blackberry.identity" required="true"
version="1.0.0.0"/> ...
<http://www.google.com/url?sa=X&q=https://github.com/blackberry/WebWorks-API-Docs/issues/273&ct=ga&cad=CAcQAhgAIAEoATAAOABA5OXe9gRIAVgAYgVibi1VUw&cd=_MhUfXCRRMo&usg=AFQjCNHHi8tZTxFew1I_jPzWoVqMzqLUJg>

2013 Scion FR-S Revealed: The Other U.S.-Bound Toyobaru

2013 Scion FR-S Revealed: The Other U.S.-Bound Toyobaru:

As Reba McEntire tells it, success in life requires just three things: a wishbone, a backbone, and a funny bone. Assuming those bones are all indiscernible from a distance, this is a fitting analogy for the trio of rear-wheel-drive coupes from Subaru, Toyota, and Scion. If not, we’ve got a three-legged-stool metaphor that might interest you. Either way, here’s the last part of the three-similar-piece puzzle: Scion’s version of the jointly developed sports car, which will retain the FR-S name of its concept forebear.

As we noted when they debuted in Tokyo earlier this week, the Toyota (GT) 86 and the Subaru BRZ are identical save for some minor cosmetic differences. The FR-S, as expected, looks most similar to its Toyota sibling—meaning it has the same front and rear fascias, and it gets the cool “86″ boxer logo for its front fenders. The only real difference is the Scion badge in place of Toyota’s encircled T logo. And, like the rest of the brand’s offerings, the FR-S will get its own Pioneer head units. Only the Scion and the Subaru will be sold in the U.S., while Toyota’s offering is headed for non-Scion markets (i.e. everywhere else).

About the only other new information we learned from the announcement is that the engine will require premium fuel to make the claimed 197 hp and 151 lb-ft of torque. We presume that will be true of all versions, regardless of brand, as they share the same 2.0-liter boxer four. Likewise, the Scion will offer the same choice of six-speed manual or automatic transmissions.

The FR-S goes on sale in the spring of 2012. Now all that’s left for us to do is drive the thing. Oh, we already did? We’ll have to make sure it handles as well with these badges and exposed paint.

Source : Google Reader

Hennessey Introduces 1200-HP, Topless 2013 Venom GT Spyder

Hennessey Introduces 1200-HP, Topless 2013 Venom GT Spyder:

There may be no way for Hennessey Performance Engineering (HPE) to make its 1200-hp, twin-turbo V-8–powered HPE Venom GT supercar any crazier, but it can make it windier. And so the Sealy, Texas–based company has introduced a new, targa-roofed version of the mid-engine monster called the Venom GT Spyder.

This should hardly come as a shock, since the closed-roof GT utilizes the passenger cell and several key components of the Lotus Exige, which is itself based on the open-top Lotus Elise. But, you’re thinking, the little Lotuses have been discontinued! Well, considering the extremely limited production run, scrounging up a few new-old-stock Lotuses shouldn’t be much of a problem. (Only five 2013 Venom GTs will be built in either regular or Spyder configuration; HPE says two are currently spoken for.)

As for cost, Hennessey plans to collect $1.1 million for each Spyder—a $150K premium over the fixed-roof GT. As exciting as the topless car is likely to be, that’s a hefty hike for wind-tickled follicles. Deliveries are promised to commence next summer.

Source : Google Reader

May the Downforce Be With You: Ferrari Debuts Evolved Version of 599XX Track Special

May the Downforce Be With You: Ferrari Debuts Evolved Version of 599XX Track Special:

Ferrari is using this year’s Bologna auto show to unveil an evolved version of its track-only 599XX gentleman’s racer, a car we thought had little room for improvement when we drove it last year. So what’s new for the star of Ferrari’s client-driven (i.e. customer-sponsored) research-and-development program?

For starters, the car is fitted with an active aero package that includes a dual-level rear wing that works in concert with the vehicle’s stability systems, measuring steering-wheel angle, vehicle speed, and lateral and forward acceleration forces. It uses the data to automatically rotate the wing blades to the optimal position for what Ferrari says is improved downforce in corners. We’ll believe them. (For more on the 599XX’s aerodynamics, check out our rundown here.)

Meanwhile, the installation of a side-exit exhaust system frees up another 20 ponies from the 599XX’s 6.0-liter V-12, giving it a total of 740 hp. Torque also rises by 10 lb-ft to 516. A slightly shorter final-drive ratio helps optimize performance on medium- to high-speed tracks, according to Ferrari. New Pirelli tires also come along for every exciting ride, and the car’s mass has been reduced from previous 599XXs by a not-insignificant 77 pounds.

Originally, only 20 to 30 examples of the 599XX were scheduled to be built; there’s no word if the updated cars are included in that sum or if they’ll add to it. Regardless, there are two givens: None will be cheap—the original 599XXs cost around $1.4 million—and unless you already have a few Ferraris in your stable—participation in the XX program is by invitation only—you’ll probably never have one of these.

Source : Google Reader

2012 10Best Cars, Test Day 2: Family Sedans Come Into Focus

2012 10Best Cars, Test Day 2: Family Sedans Come Into Focus:

This is the second of four behind-the-scenes looks at our 2012 10Best Cars competition; you can read the rest of the posts here. Don’t forget to come back next Tuesday, December 6, to see the full list of this year’s winners.

The coffee is early today, even though some of us aren’t. No one, however, wastes any time getting behind a steering wheel upon their arrival. The first day was an orientation, to get a feel for what’s here and to hatch a personal plan for working through the fleet. There’s no prescribed procedure. Some of us drive each car within a given class, others choose their next car according to make, and some simply proceed at random. By today, each of us has settled into a routine.

With the new Toyota Camry in the mix, we wonder about the possibility of Honda’s Accord being edged out of its perennial spot on the 10Best list. Despite selling in staggering numbers, we’ve found the past few Camry generations dynamically disappointing and uninspired; the model has been too much of an appliance, sort of a flat-screen TV on wheels, to merit serious consideration. By comparison, the Honda Accord—particularly the four-cylinder version—has been more focused, more cohesive, and more enjoyable to drive.

This year, Toyota provided three versions of the Camry—a four-cylinder, a V-6, and a hybrid. Nearly all editors are in agreement that the trio represents a substantial improvement. The redesign addressed some of our largest complaints, interior and ride quality in particular. The 2012 Camry seems to better stoke the enthusiast fire, and the cabins have improved materials, a previously abandoned attention to detail, and upscale ambiance. But is that enough to get the car on the list?

The Honda Accord once again acquits itself well, with fine steering, a balanced chassis (as mentioned, particularly with the four-banger), and the availability of a manual transmission. It will be tough to beat, and there are other new entries—notably the comparo-winning Volkswagen Passat—that might not only be better than the Camry, but the Honda as well.

Later in the day, talk turns to the traditional Big Three. GM’s entries this year demonstrate that it spent much of its money wisely before, during, and after bankruptcy. Witness the impressive Chevrolet Sonic, the competence of the Buick Regal GS, and the new cylinder-head tech of the 3.6-liter V-6 (installed here in the Camaro convertible and refreshed CTS sedan). The major redesign of Chrysler’s 300 is lauded—we like the switch to an eight-speed auto for the V-6 this year—especially given that company’s own run into Chapter 11. And Ford continues to perfect the Mustang; the fine-driving GT still delivers an incredible amount of performance per dollar, and the throaty Boss 302 is simply the best Mustang ever built (and no slouch in the value department itself).

Day 2 Standouts: BMW 1-series M coupe, Honda Accord I-4/manual, Ford Mustang Boss 302, Volkswagen Passat

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Honda AC-X Concept: Is This the Future of Acura Design?

Honda AC-X Concept: Is This the Future of Acura Design?:

This concept seems like sci-fi, but some of it is closer to reality than you might think.

The Tokyo Motor Show is always good for a few (dozen) far-out concept cars, and the Honda AC-X is one of them. The theme of the car is “Dual Solid Motion”; to further quote the press materials, “The upper portion of the body has a look of boundless energy and the lower portion has a look of dependable stability.” The two sections intersect along the character line that runs down the side of the car.

Keep Reading: Honda AC-X concept – Auto Shows

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Honda Micro Commuter Concept: Japan’s Urban Mobile Power Suit

Honda Micro Commuter Concept: Japan’s Urban Mobile Power Suit:

Dear Japan,

Thank you for making the Tokyo Motor Show happen. This biennial event is truly a grand showcase of some of the best design and engineering your country has to offer. Which makes us wonder why you continue to show silly personal-mobility vehicles like the Honda Micro Commuter concept that we know will never become a reality.

It’s not that we don’t appreciate the creativity. We do. No other car show in the world has as much in the way of pure futuristic intellectual fancy. “Twin Pivot Steering,” where the driver tilts left and right joysticks forward and back instead of turning a steering wheel, is pretty cool. As is the center driving position, and the panoramic windshield on which the instrument cluster is projected.

But really, Japan, who wants to sit in the back seat of that car? Or even the front seat when faced with a traffic battle? Dimensions of 98.4 inches long, 49.2 wide, and 56.3 tall do not inspire confidence of crashworthiness. And who wants to be limited to a range of 37 miles and a top speed near 40 mph? Okay, actually that makes sense given the small dimensions and your notorious traffic snarls, but you still get our point.

There are real people out in the world, Japan, and they need more out of their cars than something that “navigates toward new discoveries and adventures with a light and smooth acceleration feel.”

It’s true, we love the idea of running all the accessories and the air conditioner on a separate battery that can also be removed and plugged into that Motor Compo EV mini-scooter. And we’re definitely impressed with the way you made the Motor Compo fit in the cabin right next to the driver.

It’s not like we don’t care about you, Japan. We say all of this because we care about you. Think of all the things you could be doing with this amazing talent besides building glorified Amigo scooters with customizable body-panel patterns. This is a car, not a giant rolling mobile phone. Yes, it would be totally great if all the world’s citizens would just realize that they don’t need huge cars and we could all live as some connected village in harmony with both our environment and our smartphones. But reality is harsh, and maybe it’s time that you stopped dreaming and made us a few more lightweight sports cars with impressive fuel economy and a sticker price that the average guy can afford.

Love,

Car and Driver

Source : Google Reader

Honda EV-STER Small Sports Car Concept: A Futuristic Take on the Old Beat Microcar

Honda EV-STER Small Sports Car Concept: A Futuristic Take on the Old Beat Microcar:

A futuristic take on the old Honda Beat microcar.

Please forgive Honda for the silly EV-STER moniker; we like everything else about this concept that debuted at the Tokyo Motor Show. Yoshinori Asahi, Honda’s Creative Director for the Styling Design Development Division (yes, that’s his full title), told us that all the designers at Honda want to sketch a lightweight small sports car. One of them did exactly that, and it became reality in the form of this concept. We think it looks like a futuristic interpretation of the Beat, Honda’s mid-engine convertible microcar from the early 1990s.

Keep Reading: Honda EV-STER Small Sports Car Concept – Auto Shows

Source : Google Reader

The Rest of Honda’s Tokyo Show Stand: A Tiny Box, an Electric Bike, and a Few Scooters

The Rest of Honda’s Tokyo Show Stand: A Tiny Box, an Electric Bike, and a Few Scooters:

Honda, as you may know, makes more than just cars and SUVs. For one, it’s the world’s largest motorcycle manufacturer. The Big H also dabbles in solar cells, airplanes, personal watercraft, and humanoid robots. So it’s no surprise that the company’s Tokyo auto-show stand featured more than just cars this year.

Honda’s latest foray into the Kei-car segment (a special category of Japanese microcars) is an all-new platform that uses the company’s latest inline-three engine mated to a new CVT. Available in naturally aspirated and turbo models, the N Box recalls (in name, at least) Honda’s original N360 minicar. The N also stands for New Next Nippon Norimono—that last word meaning “vehicle.” The N Box goes on sale in Japan in mid-December and will be followed by two more N models in spring and fall of 2012, the latter of which closely resembles the EV-N concept from the 2009 Tokyo show.

With styling and a moniker that borrow from 1960s racing motorcycles—Honda’s RC series of bikes dates back to the beginning of its factory racing program—the fully electric RC-E is a retro look at the future of motorcycles. The bike is sized like a 250-cc-class entry and carries batteries where the fuel tank would go as well as down in the belly pan. Unfortunately, the future projected here won’t include the ear-splitting engine noise of other Honda motorcycles showcased at the show, but we still like it.

Paired with the Micro Commuter concept and powered by Honda’s conceptual Loop battery power source, the Motor Compo is exactly the sort of strangeness we expect from the Tokyo show. Who wouldn’t want to run around town on a tiny electric scooter? Don’t answer that. When not powering the Motor Compo, the Loop battery can be used as a portable power source or provide accessory power for the Micro Commuter.

Honda says this three-wheeled scooter is ready for personal use in the city, as well as delivery work and other business applications. We say it’s the most stylish way an octogenarian could ever dream of rolling up to a Palm Springs bingo hall. The rear box is optional, and the clear canopy is supposed to protect the rider without impairing visibility.

Contemplate the central irony in a device called the Townwalker that actually assists you in not walking. But we’ll be the first to admit that some style is sorely needed in the four-wheel-personal-mobility market, and the Townwalker has plenty of it. Like the Motor Compo concept, the Townwalker is powered by Honda’s Loop battery. Plastic and aluminum are used to keep weight down, and the seat and steering apparatus fold down for easy transport in a car.

Source : Google Reader

Download Ringtones of the Toyota GT 86′s Boxer Four

Download Ringtones of the Toyota GT 86′s Boxer Four:

Do you want to hear what the four-cylinder boxer in the Toyota GT 86 (or the Japanese-market Toyota 86, or its Scion-badged counterpart, or probably even the Subaru BRZ) sounds like wailing at full throttle? Of course you do. Do you want that sound in convenient, downloadable MP3 format so you can make it your ringtone? Well, duh.

Click the links below to hear the exhaust note, and right-click to Save as… for later use on your phone, computer, or wherever kids put sound files these days.

Ringtone #1 – startup and light revving

Ringtone #2 – startup and revving to full-throttle

Don’t thank us; thank Toyota, who put the files up on its global website. Actually, do thank us, but also thank Toyota. You’re welcome.

Source : Google Reader

BMW Alpina B6 Biturbo and B3 GT3 Debut at Tokyo Auto Show

BMW Alpina B6 Biturbo and B3 GT3 Debut at Tokyo Auto Show:

Japan is not exactly a big market for Alpina. In the past 32 years, the BMW tuning house has sold just over 3300 cars there. On the other hand, Alpina is on track to sell just 1200 or so cars worldwide in 2011, so it doesn’t really have any big markets. And it wouldn’t be reasonable to expect Alpina to debut the two cars it unveiled in Tokyo in the U.S., since, well, neither one will be sold here. (No Alpina except for the B7 is.)

Still, cars that produce 532 hp deserve your attention, as do cars that are lime green. The former is why we’re telling you about the B6 Biturbo, the latter covers the B3 GT3. Fans of matte paint (so, everybody except people who own matte cars and know how hard it is to maintain a satisfactory finish) also will be pleased to note that the B6 coupe at the show is painted in Alpina’s signature blue, except without any shine. [Pause for high-fives.]

Blue Six

Like the exceptional B7, the B6 is powered by a tweaked version of BMW’s twin-turbo 4.4-liter V-8, which crams the turbos into the V rather than hanging them outside the heads like normal kids do. In this application, though, Alpina’s engine makes 532 hp, 32 more than in the B7. Torque doesn’t change, although, at 516 lb-ft, most would probably call it sufficient. This extra-beef burrito is backed up by an eight-speed automatic, chalking up another win over the B7, which only gets six ratios. Given the 4.3 seconds a B7 needed to hit 60 mph in our testing, the company’s claim of 4.4 for the B6 to get to 62 is almost certainly a few tenths conservative. Its top speed of 199 mph is just a heavy right foot away.

Alpina also futzes with the suspension, re-skins the interior, and fits its gorgeous 20-spoke wheels. At current exchange rates, the base price of about ¥20 million translates to around $255,000. The B6 will be sold as both a coupe and a convertible.

Little Green Man

The B3 GT3 is a celebration of Alpina’s overall victory in the German ADAC GT championship, where it competes against the likes of the Audi R8, the Mercedes-Benz SLS, and the Ferrari 458. The company campaigns a garish green B6 in the series, but that car is based on the last-gen 6-series. So its paint job was applied to a B3, which looks like a regular 3-series coupe but packs a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six making M3 power: 405 horses and 398 lb-ft of torque. Zero to 62 mph is said to take 4.6 seconds, and top speed is a claimed 186 mph. Alpina will cap production at 99 tribute cars, each with a price tag starting around $167,000.

Alpina and BMW have their reasons for not selling Alpina products other than the B7 in the U.S., but we’ll blame at least part of it on the Lincoln Navigator and the Cadillac Escalade. On paper, Alpinas are a lot like M cars, only more understated; and the country that made the Gator and Slade icons doesn’t, as a whole, really grasp subtlety.

Source : Google Reader

Nissan Townpod – 2011 Tokyo Auto Show

Nissan Townpod – 2011 Tokyo Auto Show:

Among the electric concept vehciles Nissan rolled out at the Tokyo Auto Show was the Townpod. According to Nissan, the Townpod is inspired by “new-generation entrepreneurs unconstrained by conventional concepts. It offers the comfort and convenience of a family coupe with the practicality and functionality of a commercial vehicle.”

More:

Full Coverage: 2011 Tokyo Auto Show >>

Photos: Best of Tokyo 2011 >>

Related posts:

1. Nissan Pivo 3 – 2011 Tokyo Auto Show
2. Smart House, Nissan – 2011 Tokyo Auto Show
3. VW Passat Alltrack to be Unveiled in Tokyo – 2011 Tokyo Auto Show

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