2012

On your marks, get set, go! Stress testing has begun on the computer systems that will keep the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games running. And jumping and diving and throwing and rowing and pedaling and wrestling and shooting and trampolining and swimming and winning.

Olympic chairman Seb Coe fired the starting pistol yesterday for IT boffins from Atos Origin to race through 200,000 hours of testing. A mini mock-up of the 34 Olympic venues has been created in a 2,000sq/m technology lab in London's Canary Wharf, where all manner of scenarios will be tested in advance.… Read more

I confess to have joked, once or twice, about the world ending in 2012.

The question though is, does George Lucas take it seriously?

I only ask this question fundamental to everyone's 401K plan because Seth Rogen, he who occasionally tries to make pornographic movies for money, claims he was stunned into reconsidering the meaning of life after (and during) a recent encounter with Lucas.

The Toronto Sun quoted Rogen as having a particularly illuminating conversation with Lucas during a meeting about an unnamed movie.

Rogen told the Sun:"George Lucas sits down and seriously proceeds to talk … Read more

A new plan will offer a PC and peripherals for 98 pounds ( $157) to help get low-income Britons online, according to the recycling project that will provide the hardware.

The plan, which launches this week, will provide a computer, flat-screen monitor, keyboard, mouse, and telephone support in the sub-100-pound package, E-cycle marketing manager John Busby said Tuesday. The initiative is a part of the Race Online 2012 project, which aims to have the whole U.K. adult population online by the time of the London Olympics in 2012.

"We have an opportunity here in the U.K. to make … Read more

Volkswagen dropped the cloth on its new midsize sedan, and although its new in body it retains the same old Passat nameplate.

The 2012 Volkswagen Passat was developed specifically for the North American market, which means it's proportions are bigger and fatter. Riding on a longer wheelbase, its overall length has grown from from 187.6 to 191.7 inches. The longer wheelbase opens up more legroom in the second row and puts the family sedan it more in line with its competitors.

Buyers will have three engines to choose from, starting with the standard 170-hp 2.5-liter five … Read more

The 2011 North American International Auto Show is still a few days away, but Mercedes became the latest manufacturer to release early photos of its 2012 S350 BlueTEC 4MATIC diesel sedan before its official debut.

The 2012 S350 BlueTEC is already on sale in Europe and this year becomes the latest clean diesel to make it to the U.S. market. It will be outfitted with the same 3.0-liter turbodiesel V6 engine that's in the E350, ML350, GL350, and R350 BlueTEC diesels already on the market. Although specs for the AWD diesel sedan, in the ML350, the same … Read more

Days before the 2011 North American International Auto Show, GM released photos and specifications of the 2012 Buick Verano, its compact luxury sedan. Despite its new model status, the Verano can be fairly described as a smaller, sportier Regal.

The smallest in the Buick lineup, the Verano will offer the same Ecotec 2.4-liter and 2.0-liter turbocharged engines paired with a six-speed automatic transmission as its beefier sibling. However, output will be slightly reduced. The Verano's standard 2.4-liter engine delivers 177 horsepower and 170 lb-ft. of torque (compared to 182 in the Regal), and specs on the … Read more

Chinese automaker BYD (Build Your Dreams) will debut two new SUVs and an electric bus at the 2011 North American International Auto Show next month. The world premiere of these vehicles is part of the manufacturer's "Three Green Dreams" lineup--which includes not only vehicles but other green technologies as well--and adds to the F3DM plug-in hybrid sedan that's currently being tested by the Los Angeles Housing Authority.

The 2012 E6 Premier is an all-electric crossover with a top speed of 87 mph and a range of 186 miles. The five-seater can be fully recharged in 6 … Read more

Mercedes released photos of its updated 2012 C-Class, which adds to the entry vehicle lineup a generous handful of technology upgrades and improved fuel economy.

The C-Class vehicles are set to receive Attention Assist, Adaptive Highbeam Assist, Parking Assist, Lane Keeping Assist, and Blind Spot Assist for added safety. The next-generation infotainment and navigation system will get new features, including the ability to display text messages. And it may also add Nokia Terminal mode, according to an article in Telematics News.

Citing Automobilwoche.de, Telematics News reports that the 2012 C-Class will feature COMAND Online, which brings in Internet access … Read more

In General Motors' latest effort to make the driving experience more comfortable, the company announced that the 2011 Buick Regal CXL Turbo offers three unique driving styles (standard, touring and sport) that can be changed by the flip of a switch from the driver, or automatically as the car senses changes in the road or the driver's style.

The new feature, called Interactive Drive Control System, alters the car's suspension, shift pattern, and steering sensitivity. The touring setting on the CXL offers a relaxed driving experience for long journeys. The sport setting enhances road-holding capability. And the standard, … Read more