| China's richest love swimming, BMWs and France tours
SWIMMING, driving BMW cars and holidaying in France are among the preferred lifestyle choices for China's wealthiest people, according to an annual survey. Swimming edged out travelling as the favourite form of recreation for the 660 Chinese US dollar millionaires interviewed, said the fourth report of the Preferred Lifestyle and Brands of China's Richest. Golfing ranked third in the list of most favoured recreation as China's rich view it as a good chance to socialise with their peers, according to the report compiled by Shanghai-based accountant Rupert Hoogewerf. France is considered the best foreign travel destination by the millionaires surveyed, of which 104 have net wealth of over $US10 million, while Yunnan province in southern China was seen as the best domestic luxury destination.
Inchcape soars to record profits
Car dealership Inchcape has posted record profits as the group outperformed a "very challenging" UK market. Despite fears of a slowdown, the company boosted underlying pre-tax profits 10% to £235.1 million in 2007, beating forecasts. Like-for-like sales across the group, which sells marques including Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz, rose 3.4%. UK revenues jumped 58% after acquisitions, although comparative sales were also 5.2% higher than last year. Inchcape's chief executive Andre Lacroix added that the group was "well placed to deliver continued organic growth" this year, lifting shares almost 5%. Inchcape has fared better than rival dealerships as it is less exposed to the UK market, where margins on used cars have been tighter. While the overall domestic market is expected to decline by 2.5% this year, it expects premium marques to perform more strongly although bigger discounts may be needed to tempt hard-pressed shoppers.
Brazilian GP - Friday - Practice Session 1 Report
The first practice session of the Brazilian Grand Prix resulted in a 1-2 for Ferrari with World Championship challenger Kimi Raikkonen four-tenths of a second clear of local hero and last year's winner Felipe Massa. There was then a massive eight-tenths gap back to the third fastest runner Heikki Kovalainen. Does it mean that this will be a dominant weekend for Ferrari? Who can say? The McLarens played their cards very close to their chests with Fernando Alonso one of several drivers who did not do more than an installation lap as the damp conditions presented more risks than benefits. Lewis Hamilton did just 10 laps because he needed to learn the race track and he ended up fifth fastest, which was a good indication that the cars will be competitive when the team decides to show its hands. With BMW Sauber not bothering to set times this cleared the way for some odd names in the top 10 and so we had Nico Rosberg's Williams in fourth and Ralf Schumacher's Toyota sixth ahead of Sebastian Vettel's Toro Rosso, Mark Webber's Red Bull, Jarno Trulli's Toyota and Tonio Liuzzi's Toro Rosso.
Metro-based bigwigs’ involvement in Cebu car smuggling exposed
Bayan Muna party-list Rep. Teddy Casio yesterday said the big-time car smuggling mafia in Cebu involves top-level officials in Metro Manila. In yesterdays hearing of the House committee on good government, Casio presented documents obtained by Bayan Munas Central Visayas chapter from sources in the Land Transportation Office central office showing 40 plate numbers of late model luxury cars and sports utility vehicles, including 2 Lexus 2007 models, 5 BMWs, 3 Range Rovers, 6 Mercedes Benzes, 2 GMC Explorers, 5 Toyota Land Cruisers 2007 models, 2 Toyota 2007 Prados, a Porsche Cayenne and a Ford Mustang, that were registered from August 2006 to July 2007 had plate numbers issued by the LTO office in Diliman. Under existing LTO rules, license plates should be issued and released by the same district office where the vehicles are originally registered.
Little Fiat sexiest car ever
Top Gear magazine has voted the humble Fiat 500, which looks like a cross between a Mini and a VW Beetle, No 1 for setting pulses racing. It tops a list of 100 sexiest cars because the mag claims anyone behind the wheel looks sexually charged ? even a nun. Contributing editor James May defended the bizarre choice yesterday, saying: The Fiat 500 advertises nothing about its owner, except that its someone who doesnt need to try. Top Gears top ten sexiest cars: 1. Fiat 500; 2. Aston Martin DBS; 3. Maserati Quattroporte; 4. Chevrolet Camaro; 5. Citroen C6; 6. Lincoln Continental; 7. Bentley Continental S1 Fastback; 8. BMW M1; 9. Rolls-Royce Phantom; 10. Sally the Porsche 911 Carrera (from the animated film Cars). .
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