Audi targets Russian and UAE customers with special edition models

With an aim to increase the brand’s exclusivity and give a stiff competition to BMW, German automaker Audi is rolling out special editions in markets around the world. The Volkswagen unit will start selling the special edition two-tone exterior turbo-diesel V-12-powered Audi Q7 in Russia next month, with prices starting at €200,000 ($285,000). The Q7 Special Edition SUV is going to cost the Audi lovers almost twice the base price for a Q7 in Russia. In June, Audi will roll out the special edition R8 V-10 Pure Sport in the United Arab Emirates, which will carry a price tag of $136,000. In an interview, sales chief Peter Schwarzenbauer said…

There’s nothing better than tailoring cars to specific markets. We see huge potential for business with limited special editions.

While there will be only 555 special edition Q7s for Russia, the UAE edition is limited to 40 units. Last year, Audi brought a market-specific model for China, the €54,000 Black-and-White edition TT, and registered a great success. With respect to the last year’s Chinese edition, Peter Schwarzenbauer said…

[All 450 of] the cars were still travelling on a vessel to China when we sold the last one. It was a test case convincing us that limited editions can be extremely successful.

Audi plans to make its custom vehicles account for 20 percent of its sales by 2015.

Sea monster sparks tsunami panic

Monster ... the 12ft yellow ribbonfish

THIS deep sea monster sent people running for their lives when it was reeled in on a Taiwanese beach.

The 12ft yellow ribbonfish reportedly sparked tsunami panic because of its size.

The species is normally found only in deep waters, but was hooked on a line off the coast of Miaoli, in north west Taiwan.

Fisherman Xie Lu said: "People started packing up to leave. They thought some kind of terrible earthquake was coming and they began to flee."

Experts believe the fish may have been forced out of its natural habitat by the aftershocks following Japan's devastating earthquake.

One marine official said: "The original undersea earthquake did enormous damage and drove many species out of their natural habitat."

Ibu suka makan kusyen sofa

ADELE memberitahu masalahnya bermula kerana tertekan dengan penceraian ibu bapanya.

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BRADENTON, Amerika Syarikat (AS) - Seorang ibu kepada lima orang anak, Adele Edwards didapati mengalami sejenis gangguan pelik yang dikenali sebagai Pica kerana dia gemar memakan kusyen sofa.

Pica merupakan gangguan yang sering dialami oleh kanak-kanak dan ibu mengandung yang kekurangan nutrien tertentu. Ia boleh menyebabkan mereka suka memakan benda-benda seperti kapur tulis, duit syiling, bateri dan tanah.

Dia yang berasal dari Bradenton, Florida Amerika Syarikat (AS) dikatakan telah memakan kusyen selama 21 tahun. Adele dilihat cuba mendapatkan bantuan selepas masalahnya itu sudah tidak dapat dikawal.

"Sejak beberapa tahun lalu, saya sudah makan tujuh sofa. Saya membuka zip alas kusyen dan memakannya. Apabila sudah makan, saya sukar untuk berhenti. Kini, doktor memberitahu jika saya meneruskannya, ketagihan ini akan membunuh saya," katanya.

Adele mengakui tabiat peliknya itu berlaku kerana tertekan sewaktu ibu bapanya mahu bercerai ketika dia baru berusia 10 tahun. Kini, dia memakan kusyen sebanyak 15 kali sehari. Adele terpaksa mendapatkan rawatan terapi dan hipnosis demi menghilangkan ketagihan luar biasa itu. - Agensi

Belanja besar tukar Ferrari jadi limousin

SEBUAH Ferrari F360 baru berharga bermula dari AS$81,678 (RM246,790).

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LONDON - Seorang pemilik Ferrari 360 di sini membelanjakan wang sebanyak AS$326,687 (RM987,084) untuk mengubahsuai kereta sport miliknya menjadi sebuah limousin, lapor sebuah akhbar semalam.

Proses mengubah suai kereta sport yang dibeli pada harga AS$81,678 (RM246,790) itu mengambil masa enam bulan dengan menggunakan alat ganti tulen Ferrari.

Ferrari 360 asal memiliki 400 kuasa kuda (bhp) dan mampu memecut 0-100 kilometer sejam dalam masa cuma empat saat. Namun, limousin tersebut tidak dapat mencapai kelajuan asalnya kerana beratnya sudah bertambah. - Agensi