Tag: sports (Page 2 of 2)

Ferrari Will Expand its Lineup of Road Cars

August 18, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (Reuters) – Italian premium sports car maker Ferrari NV will expand sales of easier-driving grand touring cars, but will not try to chase rival Porsche’s annual sales volume, Ferrari Chairman John Elkann told an audience of classic car enthusiasts gathered at this storied golf resort on the Pacific coast.

Elkann also reiterated that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV, of which he is chairman, remains open to opportunities to combine with other automakers, but is positioned to remain independent. Fiat Chrysler in May proposed a merger with French automaker Renault SA, but the deal fell apart after the French government intervened and Elkann withdrew the proposed merger.

Fiat Chrysler Chief Executive Mike Manley sent the same message to Renault and other would-be partners earlier this month.

Elkann visited Pebble Beach during the annual Concours d’Elegance, during which wealthy collectors bring some of the world’s rarest vintage automobiles to be admired — and sold — and premium manufacturers showcase exotic new models.

Ferrari is best known for flashy, high performance sports cars. Among fans of vintage Ferraris, more understated GT, or grand touring, cars from the 1960s, some with seating for four people, are among the most popular models on auction blocks and at enthusiast events. GT cars were designed to be comfortable on longer road trips.

Elkann hinted Ferrari will unveil a new GT type car in November. Ferrari has said previously that about 40% of its total sales could come from GT cars by 2022, up from 32% now.

Ferrari has outlined plans to expand revenue to 5 billion euros ($5.54 billion) by 2022 from 3.4 billion euros in 2017. The company has said it plans to add a model called the Purosangue to compete with a growing stable of sport utility vehicles wearing premium sports car brands, such as the Lamborghini Urus.

Rival Porsche AG, a unit of Volkswagen AG, has expanded its sales to more than 250,000 sports cars and sport utility vehicles annually. Elkann said Ferrari is not aiming for Porsche’s level of sales.

($1 = 0.9018 euros)

(Reporting By Joe White; editing by Diane Craft)

American Airlines Eliminates Some Oversized Bag Fees

May 21, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FORT WORTH, Texas — As the busy summer travel period quickly approaches, American Airlines has announced changes to its policies regarding oversize sports and music equipment. American is eliminating oversize bag fees for common sports and music equipment, effective for travel on or after May 21. The updated policies, which will be music to the ears of musicians who fly on American, will also ensure that customers can more easily pursue active and healthy lifestyles wherever their travels may take them, without having to pay additional oversize bag fees.

Customers can check common oversize sports and music equipment as standard baggage, up to the maximum allowed dimensions and within the weight requirements. Refer to the full policy for additional information.

What you should know

• Based on feedback from our customers and American team members, American is eliminating the charge for common oversize sports and music equipment — up to the maximum size we accept for these items. The change is effective for travel on or after May 21.
• American will accept these oversize items as a standard checked bag without an additional oversize charge.
• The checked oversize bag counts toward a customer’s normal baggage allowance. For example, customers traveling within the United States, who used to pay $150 to check one oversize item such as a surfboard, will now pay $30 — the cost of a standard first bag — if the weight is less than 50 lbs. Customers traveling with skis or a snowboard will now be able to check in an equipment bag with the skis or snowboard as one bag (up to 50 lbs./62 in.).
• Due to special handling requirements, oversize items such as antlers, hang gliders, scuba tanks and kite/windsurfing items will continue to incur a flat $150 fee.
• Additional allowances/restrictions may apply based on destination, class of service, elite status, active U.S. military members or AAdvantage® cardmembers (on domestic American-operated itineraries). For more information, visit aa.com/checkedbags.

About American Airlines Group

American Airlines and American Eagle offer an average of nearly 6,700 flights per day to nearly 350 destinations in more than 50 countries. American has hubs in Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, Phoenix and Washington, D.C. American is a founding member of the oneworld® alliance, whose members serve more than 1,000 destinations with about 14,250 daily flights to over 150 countries. Shares of American Airlines Group Inc. trade on Nasdaq under the ticker symbol AAL. In 2015, its stock joined the S&P 500 index.

JetBlue Adds New Livery Dedicated to the Boston Bruins

May 13, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)– JetBlue (NASDAQ: JBLU), Boston’s largest airline and the Official Airline of the Boston Bruins, today revealed a brand new livery dedicated to Boston’s professional hockey team and six-time Stanley Cup winner. The Airbus A320 aircraft, aptly named “Bear Force One,” was unveiled at an event this morning at Boston Logan International Airport, where JetBlue and Bruins executives were joined by Bruins’ mascot, Blades the Bruin, to surprise and delight customers. “Bear Force One” officially took flight this afternoon, transporting excited Bruins fans to Raleigh, N.C. for Game 3 of the NHL’s Eastern Conference Finals.

“Bear Force One” is JetBlue’s first livery dedicated to a team in the NHL and its third livery dedicated to a Boston professional sports team. The new paint scheme features a large-scale version of the Bruins’ iconic spoked-B logo on the tailfin, a nod to the often used reference to Boston as “the hub of the universe.” The logo’s central ‘B’ encircled by spokes mirrors the central role that Boston has played in JetBlue’s network from the very beginning. Next to the boarding door, customers will be greeted with a “Boston’s Team Since 1924” wordmark, denoting the Bruins’ long legacy and tradition in its home city. The new livery serves as a symbol of JetBlue’s commitment to the Boston Bruins and the team’s avid fans throughout Boston and the New England region.

“We couldn’t think of a better time to celebrate our six-year partnership with the Boston Bruins,” said Marty St. George, Chief Commercial Officer, JetBlue. “As the team continues on in the Eastern Conference Finals, this new livery will make it easier for Bruins fans to show off their black and gold fanfare, and cheer on their team not only during the playoffs but year-round as it flies across JetBlue’s network of 100+ destinations.”

“For the past six years, the Bruins and JetBlue have had a very strong relationship,” said Cam Neely, President, Boston Bruins. “JetBlue has been a great partner and it’s fantastic to see one of their aircraft representing the Black and Gold as it travels around the country.”

JetBlue in Boston

JetBlue is the leading carrier in Boston in number of flights, customers carried and nonstop destinations served. The airline is proud to support the teams its customers and 3,800+ Boston-based crewmembers are most passionate about. JetBlue is the official airline sponsor for the city’s four major sports teams including the Boston Celtics, Boston Red Sox, Boston Bruins and New England Patriots. JetBlue has also been the Official Airline of TD Garden and Presenting Sponsor of the entrance experience since 2010.

ABOUT JETBLUE

JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million customers a year to 100+ cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For more information please visit http://jetblue.com.

Tesla Boom Lifts Norway’s Electric Car Sales to 58%!

April 1, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

FILE PHOTO: Electric cars are seen at Tesla charging station in Gulsvik, Norway March 17, 2019. REUTERS/Terje Solsvik/File Photo

OSLO (Reuters) – Almost 60 percent of all new cars sold in Norway in March were fully electric, the Norwegian Road Federation (NRF) said on Monday, a global record set by a country seeking to end fossil-fueled vehicles sales by 2025.

Exempting battery engines from taxes imposed on diesel and petrol cars has upended Norway’s auto market, elevating brands like Tesla and Nissan, with its Leaf model, while hurting sales of Toyota, Daimler and others.

In 2018, Norway’s fully electric car sales rose to a record 31.2 percent market share from 20.8 percent in 2017, far ahead of any other nation, and buyers had to wait as producers struggled to keep up with demand.

The surge of electrics to a 58.4 percent market share in March came as Tesla ramped up delivery of its mid-sized Model 3, which retails from 442,000 crowns ($51,400), while Audi began deliveries of its 652,000-crowns e-tron sports utility vehicle.

(Editing by Lefteris Karagiannopoulos and Terje Solsvik, editing by Gwladys Fouche)

Austin FC Begin MLS Play in 2021 as league’s 27th club

January 16, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

Austin FC is set to begin play in MLS in 2021 as the league’s 27th club, commissioner Don Garber announced Tuesday. The club will become the city’s first team in a major professional sports league.

The announcement was made at Rustic Tap in Austin’s West Sixth district, with Garber alongside Austin FC chairman/CEO Anthony Precourt and Austin mayor Steve Adler. The club will soon build a privately funded, $225 million soccer stadium at McKalla Place. Groundbreaking will begin this year on the 20,000-seat stadium, which planned to be completed in time for the club’s first match.

“Austin is a thriving metropolitan city – the personification of what we mean when we say MLS is a ‘League for a new America,’” Garber said in a league release. “We are extremely proud to be the first major professional sports league to become part of the culture of this historic American city. In their support of a world-class soccer stadium that benefits everyone, the leadership of the City of Austin has shown tremendous faith in our league and game, and Anthony Precourt has paved the way for Austin FC to have great success on and off the field. To the people of Austin and the surrounding community, welcome to Major League Soccer.”

Austin FC will become the third MLS club in Texas, joining FC Dallas and the Houston Dynamo. Austin is the country’s 11th largest city and was selected by U.S. News and World Report in each of the last two years as the No. 1 place in the nation to live.

“This is a very proud moment for Precourt Sports Ventures, and we share it with the people of Austin, City leadership, the dedicated soccer fans of the region, and everyone who believed in our mission to bring Major League Soccer to this incredible community,” Precourt said. “The greatest way we can show our gratitude is in our actions as leaders of Austin FC. Our pledge is to build three essential pillars: a team that will be a perennial contender for MLS Cup, a stadium at McKalla Place that rivals the best sporting venues in North America, and a club that will bring people together and always give back.”

Said Mayor Adler: “This is a historic day for Austin, as MLS becomes the first major league to plant roots in our beautiful city. We believe professional soccer will bring a great and especially needed benefit to our city. In two years, this team and an elite soccer stadium will bring together all kinds of people from all over Austin in a way that we do not gather today. This is one important way we become a more socially integrated community. Thank you to Precourt Sports Ventures and MLS for bringing this opportunity to all the residents of Austin!”

Story and image from http://www.mlssoccer.com

Icon A5, Where Art Meets Aviation

August 14, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

Vacaville, California-based Icon wants to turn aviation into the next motor sport — think the logical progression from an all-terrain vehicle or powerboat to a plane. The startup’s debut aircraft, the A5, is the first mass-produced light plane designed for recreational use. A “light sport aircraft,” the A5 is accessible to regular people because it doesn’t require a full pilot’s license or extensive training. – Roger cheng-C/NET

Visit Icon’s website for a full description and tour of this fascinating plane!