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| January
2000 News Archives |
MANLYWEB news articles contain links to
news and information on other sites. Over time these links may no longer
be available.
80 MPG sedans
Ford Escape
GM to buy out Saab
Hummer H2
North American International Auto Show
Milwaukee 14.4-volt drill
270 Fiesta Vee
Playboy.com files for IPO
Donzi 38 Daytona
Freightliner recall 3000 trucks
2001 Arctic Cat 600
Deere unveils quick mower
DaimlerChrysler recalls 652,000
SUVs
WWF and Playboy settle
Ford makes CD-ROM supplemental
owner manual
Porsche driving school
Canned beer day
Mercedes pickup truck
Topless hair salon
Andy's sports column
NCAA allows use of
replay on last-second shots
Electric trucks
Super Bowl demographics
Cherokee production to continue
Interstate hours rule modified
Atlanta strip clubs booming
Super Bowl gambling
Disgruntled fan sues hockey team
Dodge Dakota Quad Cab
Car and Driver's 10 Best
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| 80
MPG sedans |
Thursday, January 6
The Detriot Free Press is reporting on the new high-mileage family
sedans being unveiled at the North American Auto Show this week. The Ford
Prodigy and the GM Precept both get 80 miles-per-gallon using a hybrid
diesel-electric engine. Unlike the new Japanese hybrids, however, these
cars are full-size family sedans. The cars are the product of an partnership
between the US Government and American automakers.
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| Ford
Escape |
Tuesday, January 11
Ford has unveiled the Escape, a lightweight SUV designed for city driving.
The vehicles features a choice of an 2.0-liter I-4 or 3.0-liter V-6 engine,
and full-time automatic 4x4 or front wheel drive. The Escape will be built
in Ford's Kansas City assembly plant and should hit showrooms this summer.
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| GM
to buy out Saab |
Tuesday, January 11
General Motors has opted to buy out the remaining 50% of Sewdish auto
manufacturer Saab. GM initially aquired 50% of Saab in 1990. GM announced
on Monday that it will take full control of Saab and bring new models into
the lineup. Analysts estimate the buy out will cost GM $750 million.
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| Hummer
H2 |
Thursday, January 13
GM unveiled plans to build a smaller version of the Hummer off-road
truck on Sunday. The new vehicle will be called the Hummer H2 and will
be smaller and more passenger friendly. The vehicle will use GM's 6-liter
V-8 engine. The Hummer H2 is scheduled to go on sale in 2002.
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| North
American International Auto Show |
Thursday, January 13
The North American International Auto Show opens to the public this
Saturday in Detroit, Michigan. The show is one of the largest and longest-running
auto shows in the world. This year's show features 67 exhibitors and 62
vehicle introductions. The show runs through Sunday, January 23.
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| Milwaukee
14.4-volt drill |
Friday, January 14
Milwaukee Electic Tool Corporation has released a new 14-4-volt cordless
drill. The model 0516-22 T-Handle Driver/Drill generates 390 inch-pounds
of torque, and features "no memory effect" nickel cadmium batteries and
a reversible battery pack for better balance.
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| 270
Fiesta Vee |
Friday, January 14
Powerboat Magazine has published
their review of the 270 Fiesta Vee from Rinker Boats. The 27-foot cruiser
features a 5.7-liter Mercruiser engine generating 252 HP. The cabin sleeps
fours, and the galley is equipped with refrigerator, stove, and microwave.
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| Playboy.com
files for IPO |
Friday, January 14
Playboy.com, Inc. has filed for an initial public offering of common
stock with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Playboy.com is the internet
group of Playboy Enterprises and operates several web sites including Playboy.com,
the Playboy Cyber Club, and the
Playboy
Store.
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| Donzi
38 Daytona |
Thursday, January 20
Powerboat Magazine has published
their review of the 38 Daytona from Donzi
Marine. The boat is equipped with a pair of Mercury Racing HP600SC
engines and topped out over 80 mph. The reviewers noted the excellent construction
quality and a 5-layer clearcoat which produced a deep shine. The boat handled
well in all performance tests. Price as tested is $336,023.
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| Freightliner
recall 3000 trucks |
Thursday, January 20
Transport Topics is reporting that Freightliner is recalling 3000 1998
and 1999 trucks to correct a flaw that could cause wheel separation. The
problem is with an outboard bearing on the steering axle of Century, Argosy,
FLD, and FLN models.
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| 2001
Acrtic Cat 600 |
Thursday, January 20
Arctic Cat is making a limited
number of its new ZR 600 VEV and Mountain Cat 600 VEV available for delivery
this month. The 110 HP snowmobiles are the first to feature Arctic Cat's
Power Exhaust Valves which promise better acceleration, economy, and power
range.
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| Deere
unveils quick mower |
Friday, January 21
John Deere has unveiled the 1600 Wide-Area Mower. Deere claims the
mower can cover up to 8.5 acres per hour. The mower is powered by a 4-cyliner
diesel engine producing 51 HP and carrys three mowing decks.
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| DaimlerChrysler
recalls 652,000 SUVs |
Friday, January 21
DaimlerChrysler has announced
they are recalling 652,000 sport utility vehicles. The affected vehciles
are the 1998 and 1999 Dodge Durango, as well as Jeep Cherokees and Grand
Cherokees built before 1995. The Durangos are being recalled due to wear
on the fuel tank support strap and rear rake tube. The Jeeps are being
recalled because of corrosion problems with the brake rotors.
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| WWF
and Playboy settle |
Friday, January 21
The World Wrestling Federation and
Playboy
Enterprises have settled a lawsuit over the use of the character Sable.
The suit was brought after
Rena Mero
appeared in Playboy as Sable. The settlement will provide the WWF with
free advertising and royalties on future sales. Mero quit wrestling in
June and has sued the WWF for sexual harassment.
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| Ford
makes CD-ROM supplemental owner manual |
Monday, January 24
Ford has made a supplemental CD-ROM owners manual for the 2001 Explorer
Sport. The electronic manual provides extensive information and video clips
explaining parts of the vehicle. The manual contains three levels of detail
to help those who just want a quick overview as well as those looking for
detailed information.
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| Porsche
driving school |
Monday, January 24
Porsche will open its Porsche Driving Experience program in February.
The course provides students with expert high-performance driving instruction
using the 300 HP Porsche 911 Carrera. The one-day performance road course
is $1595, while the two-day advanced driving course is $2195. The course
is located in Brasleton, Georgia.
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| Canned
beer day |
Monday, January 24
Today marks the 65th anniversary of beer in a can. The world's first
canned beer was sold on this day in 1935 in Richmond, Virginia. The beer
was Kruger's Cream Ale and Krueger's Finest Beer brewed by the Gottfried
Krueger Brewing Company.
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| Mercedes
pickup truck |
Tuesday, January 25
Pickuptruck.com is reporting
that Mercedes-Benz may be preparing
to produce a full-size pickup truck. The truck might be based on the Dodge
Power Wagon concept truck and would compete in the upscale truck market
with the Lincoln Blackwood.
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| Topless
hair salon |
Tuesday, January 25
Residents of New Bradwell in England are protesting the opening of
Britian's first "topless hair salon". Gary Mernagh, owner of the "Mipples"
salon said it was just meant to be "a bit of fun," but locals are calling
for it to close.
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| Andy's
sports column |
Tuesday, January 25
Andy, our resident disgruntled sports fan, is back with another column.
This time he discusses Barry Sanders' comments that he may return to the
game.
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| NCAA
allows use of replay on last-second shots |
Wednesday, January 26
The NCAA has decided to allow basketball officials to use instant replay
to judge whether last-second shots count. An emergency meeting was held
Monday after Miami beat Villanova due to officals incorrectly allowing
a shot after the buzzer.
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| Electric
trucks |
Wednesday, January 26
Roadking.com is reporting on
hybrid-electric trucks being developed by ISE
Research. The truck is based on a Kenworth T-800 but is powered by
an electric motor. The motor draws its power from batteries and a General
Motors 5.7-liter Vortech V-8 engine. The truck has a maximum speed of 75
MPH while getting twice the mileage of a conventional truck.
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| Super
Bowl demographics |
Thursday, January 27
Surveys describing the behavior of Super
Bowl viewers have been released by Procter & Gamble and Simmons
Market Research. Among the results: eating is the top Super Bowl viewing
activity, while beer drinking is fifth. Microbrews are the top choice for
fans who are drinking beer, and nachos are one of the favorite foods. (Did
they really need a survey to figure this out?) APBnews.com
notes that 11% of the players in the Super Bowl have a criminal record.
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| Cherokee
production to continue |
Thursday, January 27
DaimlerChrysler has announced that it will continue to produce the
Jeep Cherokee beyond November. Originally production was scheduled to stop
as preparations were made to begin manufacture of a new, unnamed sport-utility.
DaimlerChrysler says that the continued production will not affect the
launch of the new vehicle.
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| Interstate
hours rule modified |
Thursday, January 27
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety
Administration has ruled that truckers must follow interstate hours-of-service
rules for seven days before and after crossing state lines. Because many
states allow drivers more time behind the wheel, most carriers followed
federal hours laws on interstate loads and state laws on intrastate loads.
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| Atlanta
strip clubs booming |
Thursday, January 27
Business for Atlanta strip clubs is great, with a high volume of convention
traffic in town as well as events like the Super Bowl and All-Star Game.
Industry estimates indicate 60% of business comes from out-of-town visitors.
The nation's most profitable strip club, the Gold Club, is located in Atlanta
and brings in over $10 million a year.
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| Super
Bowl gambling |
Friday, January 28
Super Bowl Sunday is the biggest gambling day of the year, and casinos
and online gambling sites are getting ready. Betmaker.com
says it expects 25,000 bets to be placed, compared to about 6500 for a
normal football Sunday. In addition to straight bets, the Super Bowl has
more proposition bets than any other event. Playboy.com
reviewed the options and made a few picks, including that the game will
go into overtime and the Rams final score will be 21.
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| Disgruntled
fan sues hockey team |
Friday, January 28
A season ticket holder, unhappy with the team's performance, has sued
the Anchorage Aces. Tim McCrory
is seeking $2500 reimbursement for his season tickets, plus punitive damages.
McCrory claims that the team's 11-25-5 record, the worst in the West
Coast Hockey League, is because the owner has failed to properly equip
and support the players.
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| Dodge
Dakota Quad Cab |
Monday, January 31
PickupTruck.com has published their review of the 2000 Dodge Dakota
Quad Cab. The midsize truck seats five and handles quite well in the city,
while still having much of the power and utility of a larger truck.
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| Car
and Driver's 10 Best |
Monday, January 31
Car and Driver has published
the detailed review of their annual 10 Best cars. The cars were announced
in December, but Car and Driver now has created a special web site with
photos, reviews, and specs on the cars.
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