Car talk December 11, 2012 Honda recognises the need for speed with its latest CR-Z Hybrid Honda’s latest CR-Z Hybrid will cost from £20,550 OTR when it goes on sale in January. Improvements to the car’s hybrid powertrain sees power go up to 135bhp. The 0-62mph sprint time is reduced from 10 seconds to 9.1 seconds and the top speed [...]
The new VW 4×4 is practical but dull December 4, 2012 Audi’s A6 Allroad may be the default choice for Europe’s wealthiest equestrians but the new VW Passat Alltrack is more of a four-wheel-drive estate for the rest of us. This then is the people’s version of a car that, theoretically, nobody needs. With so many choices of SUV out there that are just as roomy [...]
BHP assures it is looking inside and out for chief exec successor November 29, 2012 BHP BILLITON said yesterday it is looking inside and outside the company as well as using external advisers to help with succession plans for its chief executive, following reports the world’s biggest miner was preparing for changes at the top. Chairman Jac Nasser told BHP’s Australian annual general meeting that planning for a successor to [...]
Cobham extends BHP contract November 22, 2012 Defence technology group Cobham has won a A$65m (£42m) contract extension with BHP Billiton to transport miners in and out of remote mines in Australia. Cobham has provided services to companies operating in the Pilbara region since 2003. Earlier this month, Cobham issued a profit warning due to declining revenues from the US defence market. [...]
Miner Gemfields snaps up luxury jeweller Faberge November 21, 2012 EMERALD miner Gemfields is to buy luxury jeweller Fabergé in a deal that values the iconic egg maker at $142m (£89m), it said yesterday. Fabergé, famous for its jewelled eggs, is being sold by Pallinghurst, which is headed by former BHP Billiton executive Brian Gilbertson, who will retain a 49.3 per cent stake in the [...]
Xstrata investors back Glencore megamerger November 20, 2012 THE £56bn soap opera between commodity giants Xstrata and Glencore finally came to a head yesterday as Xstrata investors approved the mining mega-merger. In a meeting lasting just over two hours, investors green-lit the merger – whose twists and turns have entertained the market since Glencore first approached Xstrata in February – and paved the [...]
BHP Billiton to up iron ore output November 14, 2012 BHP Billiton expects to expand its iron ore capacity by nearly a fifth just by working its mines, rail lines and port harder as it looks to control costs in a softer iron ore market, the global miner’s iron ore chief said yesterday. Caught out by escalating costs, a slide in iron ore prices and [...]
Harry Winston snaps up BHP diamond mine November 13, 2012 BHP Billiton has agreed to sell its Canadian EKATI diamond operation to Harry Winston for $500m (£315m), as the luxury jeweller bets on rising prices that could extend the life of Canada’s oldest diamond mine. Miner BHP – which has been narrowing its portfolio to focus on larger, long-life assets – announced the sale almost [...]
Car talk November 13, 2012 The Caterham Seven Supersport The Caterham Seven Supersport is getting an even-more race-focused brother. The two-litre Supersport R boasts a bigger Ford Duratec engine, a five-speed gearbox and packs 180bhp. Developed over three years of Caterham’s R300 race championship, the car has hardcore track-bred dynamics, a bespoke steering wheel, composite race seats and four-point race [...]
What the other papers say this morning November 6, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES BHP begins hunt for new chief BHP Billiton has quietly started looking for a successor to Marius Kloppers, chief executive, in what could herald a further shake-up in the leadership of the global mining industry following a five-year period of stability. JPMorgan in talks over SEC claims JPMorgan Chase is in advanced settlement [...]