Audi Winner Will Join the 62-Mile-High Club

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE, U.K. — In one of the more outrageous automotive contests of the year, Audi says it will blast the winner of a new competition 62 miles up into suborbital space at speeds of more than 1,500 mph.

Contestants must give the "most original and imaginative answer" to the question, "What is the best patented invention of all time — and why?" Audi suggests that some logical responses might be "the bra, the television, suntan lotion and even the Internet." The contest has been developed in conjunction with New Scientist magazine for the latest ad campaign for the Audi S6.
"Audi is already no stranger to pushing the boundaries of what is possible technologically and aesthetically, so it is fitting that when the Vorsprung durch Technik brand runs a competition it doesn't simply see the sky as the limit," said Jeremy Hicks, director of Audi U.K.

The winner will get a ride in the rocket-powered Xerus Suborbital Vehicle through Space Adventures, a space-tourism company.

The competition runs February 1-April 30, with the winner announced in the June issue of New Scientist. Contestants must log onto the contest Web site starting February 1.

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60 Years of Saab: From Sonett to SUV

TROLLHÄTTAN, Sweden — Saab introduced its first automobile in 1947. To celebrate this anniversary the Swedish carmaker has announced it will be hosting a number of events this year.

Though the company now resides in Trollhättan, it was set up in nearby Linköping in 1937 as Svenska Aeroplan Aktiebolaget (Swedish Airplane Ltd). It made military aircraft during World War II, including the 91 Safir. The first Saab automobile, logically called the 92, was born in 1946 and made its debut a year later.

Production of Saab cars got underway in 1949, and more than 4 million cars have been produced since then. The first Saab models featured wind-tunnel-honed, smooth, airplane-like styling. Underneath, the 92 and its successors were more basic, with a transverse-mounted, water-cooled, two-cylinder, two-stroke 764cc engine. The first Saab 92 series was available in just one color — green — recalling the black-only Ford Model T.

Saab has never had an extensive lineup. A two-model range was introduced in the late 1960s, when the smaller 95/96 was complemented by the slightly bigger 99. By the 1990s even the 99 was replaced by a more luxury midsize car, the 900. And there was an executive Saab, developed in cooperation with Fiat. Called the 9000, it is now the 9-5.

Saab was bought in part by General Motors in 1989, and in 2000 GM took full ownership of the quirky Swedish company, which sold more than 130,000 cars in 2006 — higher sales than Jaguar.

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Nissan Undercuts Toyota and Honda with '07 Altima Hybrid Pricing

NASHVILLE — In what may be the start of a price war among Japanese hybrid sedans, Nissan on Tuesday announced pricing on its new 2007 Altima Hybrid. The base price of the Nissan hybrid is significantly below the cost of the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry hybrids.

Nissan threw down the pricing gauntlet when it announced its first entry into the hybrid-electric vehicle market will start at $25,015, including a $615 destination charge. In comparison, the 2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid starts at $26,820, including a $620 destination charge, which makes it $1,805 more than the Altima Hybrid. The 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid has a base price of $31,685, including $595 for destination. That's $6,670 more than the Altima Hybrid's base price, but the Accord Hybrid offers nearly all features as standard with the exception of a DVD navigation system.

The Altima Hybrid comes in one model with three available option packages. A convenience package adds $1,300 to the price, a connection package with Sirius or XM Satellite Radio adds $5,250 and a technology package adds $7,250.

The Altima Hybrid uses a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and an electric motor mated to a continuously variable transmission. The Altima Hybrid's fuel economy is estimated at 42 mpg in the city and 36 mpg on the highway, Nissan said. Standard equipment includes 16-inch alloy wheels, power windows and locks, a six-speaker AM/FM/CD player, antilock brakes, vehicle dynamic control, traction control and dual-zone automatic temperature control.

The Altima is on sale now. Nissan plans to sell the Altima Hybrid in only eight states: California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.

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