Nokia and Hewlett Packard Enterprise expand collaboration on IoT solutions.

Nokia and Hewlett Packard Enterprise expand collaboration on Enterprise of Things.

• Companies will focus on IoT solutions for smart city and industrial/manufacturing customers, with initial offerings planned for early 2017
• Partnership strengthens portfolios of both companies and go-to-market capabilities in market forecast to reach 161 billion USD by 2020¹
• Current partnership includes deals with more than 25 service provider and enterprise customers

Espoo, Finland and Palo Alto, Calif. - Nokia and Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) today announced a strategic collaboration on Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for enterprise customers.

The companies will jointly market and sell solutions for two IoT vertical enterprise segments, including industrial/manufacturing and smart city applications. They will provide industrial/manufacturing customers with solutions for asset management, smart manufacturing, remote site automation and predictive maintenance, and enhanced networking choices for improved connectivity for smart city solutions, such as smart lighting and smart buildings.

According to research firm Markets and Markets, the IoT market for smart cities and manufacturing will reach USD 161 billion by 2020. The markets will grow as manufacturing companies use IoT to improve productivity in the production process and the supply chain, and as cities with growing populations use IoT to improve operational efficiency, maintain and protect their infrastructure, and operate in a sustainable manner.

The joint offerings combine connectivity, core networking, data aggregation and compute technologies from Nokia and HPE. The companies are currently working on a proof-of-concept for smart cities, combining Nokia's routing capabilities with HPE's Hybrid IT capabilities for joint project delivery models.

The IoT partnership extends the existing collaboration between the two organizations, which to date includes end-to-end deals with 25 enterprise and service provider customers, and more than 30 proof-of-concepts.

Kathrin Buvac, chief strategy officer at Nokia, said: "We are pleased to extend our partnership with HPE into the IoT space. HPE's market presence offers Nokia expedited and increased access to the enterprise market and target verticals along with a complimentary portfolio of products and services."

Antonio Neri, executive vice president, Head of Enterprise Group at HPE, said: "The addition of Nokia to the HPE IoT partner ecosystem will bring broader choice and market-leading technologies to our joint customers. HPE and Nokia have a long history of innovation that will help our customers through their journey of digitization."

HPE has joined Nokia's IoT Community (www.iotcommunity.com), an ecosystem of innovative companies collaborating on solution concepts, end-to-end prototypes, business models and market trials that will unleash the full potential of IoT. Nokia is joining part of HPE's IoT initiative within HPE's industry leading Partner Ready program.

The joint solutions will be ready to market from early 2017 onwards.

About Hewlett Packard Enterprise

Hewlett Packard Enterprise is an industry leading technology company that enables customers to go further, faster. With the industry's most comprehensive portfolio, spanning the cloud to the datacenter to workplace applications, our technology and services help customers around the world make IT more efficient, more productive and more secure. 

About Nokia

Nokia is a global leader in creating the technologies at the heart of our connected world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing.

From the enabling infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things, to emerging applications in virtual reality and digital health, we are shaping the future of technology to transform the human experience. www.nokia.com

1. Markets and Markets -- Internet of Things (IoT) in Smart Cities Market worth 147.51 Billion USD by 2020 and Internet of Things (IoT) in Manufacturing Market worth 13.49 Billion USD by 2020 

Media Enquiries:
HPE
Jyotsna Grover

+1 650-857-1501 

Jyotsna.grover@hpe.com

Nokia

Communications
+358 (0) 10 448 4900
press.services@nokia.com

USA: The Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime 2016 DUAL SIM - Factory Unlocked Phone - (Black) is now available.

Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime (M-G610M/DS) DUAL SIM - Factory Unlocked Phone - (Black)

Some specifications:

Runs  Exynos 7870 SoC and sports a 5.5-inch HD display. RAM is 3GB, while internal memory options include 16GB and 32GB. In terms of camera, the handset offers a 13MP rear unit and an 8MP front shooter. It runs Android 6.0.1, packs in a 3,300mAh battery, and features a fingerprint sensor 

 This model has a  16GB internal memory:

Full specifications: (Thanks to gsmarena)

LG G6 coming with iris recognition, mobile payment and removable battery.

LG G6 concept.

After LG lose big with the LG G5 ($67 million) , the company needs to blow the competition and will adopt several new technologies, including iris recognition and mobile payment for its upcoming flagship smartphone, G6.

LG recently unveiled a new type of all-in-one module that could serve as both a camera and an iris scanner at the Korea Electronics Show in October. Industry sources predict the technology is likely to be applied to the G6 considering its bigger competitor Samsung’s latest moves to adopt iris recognition in its new devices. 

G6 is also reported to adopt a mobile payment system, dubbed LG Pay, using Magnetic Secure Transmission, or MST solution, similar to Samsung Pay. 

The MST solution allows for easy payment by touching a smartphone to magnetic card readers used in most retail stores. 

LG is also expected to ditch the non-removable battery, which was adopted in the G5 model. It will instead use a removable battery. 

“Unlike strong sales in home appliances and television, LG posted historical losses from its mobile communication unit this year. For a rally in shares, the rebound from G6 is important next year,” said Kim Ji-san, an analyst at Kiwoom Securities.

Noh Keun-chang, a senior analyst at HMC Investment Securities, said, “The speed of loss reduction in the MC unit is critical next year as the TV profitability may go down due to the price stabilization of LCD panels.”  

KH

Provata Health Launches Innovative Virtual Reality Guided Meditation Application.

The leading digital healthcare company, Provata Health, has announced the launch of Provata VR, a virtual reality guided meditation application (VR) available on the App Store. The application represents the goal of the new Portland company to be a pioneer in a new category of digital health: Preventive Care for Virtual Reality.

With ProvaR VR, users escape to a variety of breathtaking locations around the world, such as tropical waterfalls, secluded beaches, dazzling Aurora Borealis and even undersea coral reefs. By selecting from a collection of guided meditation exercises, users train their minds to positively influence their productivity and mood in immersive and idyllic environments.

The application also introduces the biofeedback of meditation, a patent pending system that leverages advances in physiological monitoring to enhance the meditation experience. Users can synchronize popular handheld devices, such as Apple Watch, to visualize the effects of their meditation sessions on their heart rate. Through intelligent feedback, Provata VR helps users better understand which meditation exercises, places and times of the day have the greatest impact on your heart rate.

"Virtual reality presents an opportunity to expand digital health to new frontiers," said Alex Goldberg, CEO of Provata Health. "The typical guided meditation approach, which consists of an audio recording instructing you on how to meditate, has not advanced much technologically in decades. The combination of VR with mindfulness meditation and biofeedback monitoring allows users to move into relaxation environments while tracking their progress smoothly, bringing new dimensions to the meditation experience ".

While mindfulness meditation grows in popularity, scientific research reveals that its benefits are pervasive, as it includes increased productivity, less stress, as well as improved concentration, cognitive abilities and memory. The effects extend to physiological measures as studies indicate that meditation can help reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks. Studies suggest that mindfulness meditation can even relieve chronic pain by activating regions of the brain associated with pain control.

Provata Health provides the first commercial digital health program that has been shown to improve the physical and mental health of participants in a peer-reviewed medical journal. "Given the growing evidence of the positive effects of meditation on our mental and physical health, Provata VR truly represents our emphasis on providing holistic digital health solutions that address our overall health," explained Goldberg.

In addition to being currently Oregon's fastest growing private healthcare technology and healthcare company, Provata Health partners with employers, health plans, and hospital systems to provide evidence-based programs that have been shown to improve employee health and Reduce medical costs. Provata VR is the first product of the company available to both employers and consumers.

Anyone can download the application for free and upgrade it to the premium version, which will be available at no cost to employees participating in Provata's digital health programs through their employer or health plan.

Prova VR is now available on the App Store! For more information, visit Provatahealth.com/vr-health

Samsung and Lenovo in talks to sell/buy PC Samsung business.

Samsung seems to be very decided on exiting the PC market, especially because the company has been struggling on it for many years and is in  talks with Chinese world`s PC sales leader Lenovo.

South Korean media outlet Bell reports that if talks are successful between the two companies the deal price could be close to 1tn won ($850m, £680m) even though Samsung has rarely revealed the breakdown revenue of its PC business. While Samsung has Paul Hastings as its legal advisor for the deal Lenovo is being represented by Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer.

Samsung has already stopped selling its PCs in the UK and made an abrupt exit from the European market as well in 2014 owing to competition from other PC giants like HP and Lenovo. It however, still operates in markets like US and other parts of the world and a deal will help Lenovo increase its market share even further in the PC industry.

The latest attempt is in line with the Korean tech giant's efforts to get rid off business that are not bringing enough profits to the table. It recently sold its printer business to HP Inc, the world's largest printer maker for $1.05bn.

softpedia

3Q 2016: Apple`s iPhone captures RECORD 91% Share of Global Smartphone Profits,says SA.

According to the latest research from Strategy Analytics, global smartphone profits reached US$9 billion in total during the third quarter of 2016. Apple dominated and captured a record 91 percent share of all smartphone profits worldwide.

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, said, “We estimate the global smartphone industry realized total operating profits of US$9.4 billion during Q3 2016. Apple dominated and captured a record 91 percent share of all smartphone profits worldwide. 

Apple’s ability to maximize pricing and minimize production cost is hugely impressive and the iPhone continues to generate monster profits. Huawei, Vivo and OPPO are the next three most profitable smartphone vendors globally this quarter, but they are still a long way behind Apple.”

Neil Mawston, Executive Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “We estimate Huawei generated US$0.2 billion of smartphone operating profit worldwide in Q3 2016. Huawei captured 2 percent share of all smartphone profits, taking second spot overall, and becoming the world’s most profitable Android vendor for the first time ever. An efficient supply chain, sleek products and effective marketing have been among the main drivers of Huawei’s robust profitability. Vivo and OPPO followed in third and fourth place and each took 2 percent global profit share. Vivo and OPPO delivered relatively healthy profitability due to disciplined pricing and soaring shipments across Asia.”

Linda Sui, Director at Strategy Analytics, added, “Three of the world’s top four most profitable smartphone vendors are currently Chinese. Huawei, Vivo and OPPO have not only improved their smartphone product lineups this year, they have also enhanced their operational abilities and kept a tight lid on expanding distribution costs.”

The full report, Apple Captures 91 Percent Share of Global Smartphone Profits in Q3 2016, is published by the Strategy Analytics Wireless Smartphone Strategies (WSS) service, details of which can be found here: http://tinyurl.com/z46xf88.

About Strategy Analytics:

Strategy Analytics is a global, independent research and consulting firm. The company is headquartered in Boston, USA, with offices in the UK, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, India and China. Visit www.strategyanalytics.com for more information.

Americas Contact:

Linda Sui / +1 617 614 0735 / LSui@strategyanalytics.com

EMEA Contact:

Neil Mawston / +44 1908 423 628 / NMawston@strategyanalytics.com

Asia Contact:

Woody Oh / +44 1908 423 665 / WOh@strategyanalytics.com

iPad NEW 10.5 inch coming in early 2017.

Apple, in addition to existing 7.9-inch iPad mini, 9.7-inch iPad and 12.9-inch iPad Pro, will launch 10.5-inch iPad in 2017, with production to begin in December, according to Taiwan-based supply chain makers.

Apple is launching the 10.5-inch iPad mainly because 10-inch and larger tablets have been popular among enterprises and the education sector in the US, the sources said.

Its existing 9.7-inch iPad may be too small and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro too expensive for such procurement.

The 10.5-inch iPad will be equipped with Apple-developed CPU A10X which is also used in 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Shipments of 10.5-inch iPad will reach two million units in first-quarter 2017 and may reach 5-6 million units in the year.

Apple will also launch lower-price versions of the 9.7-inch iPad to compete with Android models.

digitimes

Samsung Electronics plans to buy US company QD Vision a Quatum Dot Materials maker for TVs.

Samsung Electronics plans to buy QD Vision, a U.S.-based technology firm specializing in quantum dot materials, in its bid to stay ahead of the next-generation display competition against LG's OLED TVs.

"We decided to acquire (QD Vision)," Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology (SAIT) President Chung Chil-hee told reporters, ahead of a weekly Wednesday meeting with presidents of Samsung affiliates.

Samsung did not confirm the exact value of the deal. But it is estimated to be some $70 million (82.14 billion won).

Samsung has been the global TV market leader for 11 consecutive years. The transaction came as Samsung hopes to tighten its grip on the high-end TV market by promoting the technological edge of its quantum dot TVs.

The Seoul-based firm is expected to generate synergy in applying core technologies for the nano-sized materials, called quantum dots, into its premium TV lineup, using QD Vision's expertise and patents.

The U.S.-based firm was established by a group of MIT researchers in 2004, focusing on developing core technologies for quantum dot materials. The company has so far partnered with a group of global TV manufacturers _ including China's TCL, Hisense and Sony of Japan.

Samsung Electronics is seeking to expand its presence in the next-generation television market by collaborating with QD Vision in such areas as heavy metal-free quantum dot technologies.

In particular, the latest announcement is expected to heat up the already-intense rivalry between Samsung and LG over the next standard for the TV industry.

LG has aggressively promoted the technological advantages of its self-lighting OLED pixels, as they do not require any backlight panels and can deliver a deeper black color.

But Samsung is expressing confidence in its quantum dot TVs, with Kim Hyun-seok, president of Samsung Electronics' visual display division, touting quantum dot LED (QLED) TVs to be the mainstream of the future TV industry, as it embraces the core selling points of the LCD and the OLED.

At this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Kim highlighted that its quantum dot SUHD televisions come with 1,000 nits of brightness, the industry's highest level among high-dynamic-range (HDR) TVs. In recent years, HDR has been the talk of the town in the television and content industry, as the technology can display a wider range of dark and light levels, creating more vivid images.

"The role of quantum dot displays will become more and more important, with the HDR gaining more traction," he told reporters at CES 2016.

Globally-renowned content creators _ including Netflix and Amazon _ have recently started to offer the HDR services, even though it is expected to take more time for its standardization in the industry.

"The latest deal is expected to generate massive synergies, as Samsung will be able to take preemptive actions over potential patents suits by taking advantage of QD Vision's patents over quantum dot core technologies," said Hyundai Securities analyst Kim Dong-won.

"Expectations are that Samsung can expand its reach into the next-generation TV leadership by releasing its QLED TVs earlier than expected."

Get ready for Bluetooth mesh! (Bluetooth 5)

From Bluetooth Blog:

Get ready for Bluetooth mesh!

I couldn’t be more excited in my 4 years here at the Bluetooth SIG than I am right now! We are on the cusp of releasing Bluetooth 5, which is great, but Bluetooth mesh is right on its heels. In fact, Bluetooth SIG members can start prototyping with mesh today, as the working group just released the 0.9 version of the specification. This is HUGE! While there are a LOT of great things to LOVE about Bluetooth 5 (especially the bigger payload size for advertisements), I am REALLY excited about mesh…let me tell you why.

Mesh changes Bluetooth from your typical point-to-point, star-based network topology to a true mesh networking topology. This will fundamentally open up a TON of great use cases for developers, and that means great innovation happening in the industry.

First off, mesh will allow you to reach beyond the typical personal area network solutions that most people associate with Bluetooth. If you have a device within range of another device on a Bluetooth mesh network, you have just extended the range of both devices. Now, keep adding mesh nodes to the network, and you can keep expanding the range of the solution.

Smart home might be a great solution to think about initially for the consumer market. You no longer have to worry about range with Bluetooth; you can simply add another mesh node, and voila! Range extended. So, think about this solution. In your typical home, you have about 35-40 lights. If these lights were Bluetooth mesh-enabled, they could all talk to each other via the mesh network. You now have an entire blanket of Bluetooth networking coverage in your home without having a go to a central controller, or router. If your friendly internet provider goes down (as seems to be the case at least once every few weeks at my house), if won’t affect your Bluetooth mesh network. You can still communicate with your network using Bluetooth on your phone, your tablet, or your PC.

Now, add some other Bluetooth mesh devices to this mesh network. A door lock perhaps, and maybe some sensors around the house for things like motion or temperature control (in your thermostat). Heck, even add your Bluetooth music player to the mix. You come home and unlock the door. The door can then send a message to the lights in your entry way to turn on, turn your thermostat to a nice 70 degree Fahrenheit, and start playing the music you really like. These things are called ‘scenes’ in Bluetooth mesh parlance, and they will start to make a home truly smart.

But one of the coolest things about all of this is that you don’t need any special controller or hub equipment. There is no single point of failure that will bring your whole house down. And you can run it all from your phone (or any other Bluetooth device, like a tablet or PC). If you did want to connect this to the web, you could do that as well. In fact, you’ll see plenty of gateways that will connect your Bluetooth mesh network to the larger web outside of your house if that is something you want to do.

And, since it will be an adopted Bluetooth standard, devices built using the Bluetooth mesh technologies will work together; you’ll have choices about what vendors you want to use. Also, since it’s the familiar Bluetooth technology that consumers are used to, you can do it yourself…you won’t need a professional installer to set up your smart home!

Now these are all very interesting scenarios, but in my opinion, where Bluetooth mesh technology will really shine is in the commercial and industrial scenarios where you have sensors all OVER the place. Let’s take that whole area/building/plant floor Bluetooth network coverage to the next level. We can now facilitate machine health and machine to machine communication via the mesh. We can track assets in buildings and materials through a manufacturing process via the mesh. We can create truly smart facilities. You have an umbrella of mesh networking coverage in your facility. This is where I really think that Bluetooth mesh will shine.

The mesh working group has just released the 0.9 version of the Bluetooth mesh specification that is available to all members. This is the spec that you can start prototyping with for your products. If you aren’t a member of the Bluetooth SIG, click here to create a membership…the Adopter level is free, so what do you have to lose?

So, get ready…all of these scenarios and more are just around the corner. This will give all developers a whole new canvas upon which to paint awesome solutions, and I can’t wait!

About Steve Hegenderfer

Steve has worked in and out of the mobile space since about 2000 (remember the old Palm V? Yup, he used to develop on THAT thing) and he has seen a lot of great things over his time in the industry. But nothing excites him more than seeing what crazy things developers will do next with a technology, and that is what drove him to Bluetooth. Steve Hegenderfer is Director of Developer Programs for the Bluetooth SIG.

Bluetooth 5 Press Release

USA: TV market share by sales online: Samsung 39.9%, Vizio 17.5%, LG 11.1%, SONY 6.1%

Samsung retained its top spot as the number one TV brand based on online sales this year, after growing 6-points in market share year over year. Vizio remained in second place, despite a 5-point loss in market share, while LG, Sony and TCL experienced similar gains. TCL holds some of the top spots when it comes to most popular items, which is contributing to their relative market share growth and Vizio’s decline.

Summary

The online TV market is growing with sales peaking during the holiday season (November/December). Samsung holds the top spot and, along with LG, is likely benefitting from integrating their smart TVs with their other smart/connected home products. However, brands with more affordable models, like Sceptre, TCL and RCA are increasing in demand. It will be interesting to see how TV sales break down online this November and what kind of deals brands and retailers will promote to drive sales. I know I’m personally interested in what offers retailers will have on 4K models.

Methodology

1010data utilizes a number of sources of consumer spending data representing millions of consumers to provide an accurate assessment of online and offline retail sales, market share, and more. Our data enables clients to track consumer behavior using high-quality, granular datasets that are often difficult to source, cleanse, and consolidate.

2016 L.A. Auto Show: 2017 MX-5 Miata RF Arrives at Dealers Two Months Early.

First Customer Recognized by MNAO CEO Masahiro Moro at Los Angeles Auto Show.

 There's plenty to be thankful for this week, but Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) has added to that list by announcing that the 2017 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF has officially gone on sale in the U.S. The MX-5 RF arrives two months ahead of its originally announced timing due to shifts in the production schedule.

Dave Putter, the first customer to take delivery in the U.S., met with MNAO President and CEO Masahiro Moro onstage at the Los Angeles Auto Show last week to receive his keys ahead of taking home his MX-5 RF Launch Edition the following day. Putter was among the first customers to order one of the 1,000 MX-5 RF Launch Edition vehicles in October and is now the proud owner of his 16thMazda and his eighth MX-5 Miata.

"Mazda is a unique and special car company that aims to do more than simply sell cars," said Moro. "We want to build lifelong relationships with our customers and fans, providing them a fulfilling ownership experience they couldn't get anywhere else."

Putter's MX-5 RF was air-freighted to Huntington Beach Mazda, where he took delivery. Approximately 500 additional MX-5 RFs will arrive nationwide beginning in early December, followed by wider-scale availability throughout the winter and spring.

The first-ever MX-5 RF gets its name from its exotic KODO design—"Retractable Fastback"—in which its power-operated top can deploy from closed to open or vice versa in a mere 13 seconds. Complementing the World Car of the Year-winning MX-5 roadster, MX-5 RF satisfies the open-air experience of the soft top model but with a vastly different, coupe-like design and premium accoutrements. It comes powered by a free-revving, 2.0-liter SKYACTIV-G engine, paired with either a SKYACTIV-MT six-speed manual or six-speed automatic transmission, sending power to the rear wheels.

Available exclusively in MX-5 RF Club and Grand Touring trim levels and starting from an MSRP of $31,5551, the hardtop MX-5 adds a 4.6-inch TFT color gauge display in addition to its folding roof. It is also the only MX-5 variant available with the liquid-metal-like Machine Gray Metallic paint.

MX-5 RF Launch Edition is based on the Grand Touring model and comes finished exclusively in Machine Gray. It is the only U.S.-bound MX-5 model to have Auburn Nappa leather and a hand-painted black top for the 2017 model year.

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif., and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through nearly 700 dealers.  Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.  For more information on Mazda vehicles, including photography and B-roll, please visit the online Mazda media center at www.mazdausamedia.com.

1MSRP does not include $835 for destination and handling ($880 in Alaska) or any additional taxes or fees. Dealers set actual sale prices.

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

For further information: Jacob Brown, Mazda North American Operations, (949) 727-6751 OR Eric Booth, Mazda North American Operations, (949) 727-6144

2016 L.A. Auto Show: All-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV Wins Cars.com's First-ever "Best in Show" Award .

• Industry accolade comes courtesy of Cars.com with the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio SUV's world debut at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show
• Born from the world's greatest driving road – Stelvio Pass – the all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio sets a new benchmark in performance, style and technology in an SUV that could only be Italian
• Iconic Alfa Romeo design and genuine Italian craftsmanship combine to create a premium mid-size SUV that truly stands apart as the SUV for the S-Curves
• The innovative Q4 all-wheel-drive (AWD) system – standard on all Stelvio models, including the Quadrifoglio – provides additional driving confidence and superior control
• Stelvio and Stelvio Ti models feature an all-new, all-aluminum, 2.0-liter, direct-injection turbo engine delivering a class-leading, standard 280 horsepower and 306 lb.-ft. of torque, allowing it to achieve 0-60 mph in an estimated 5.4 seconds
• Stelvio Quadrifoglio – the "halo" model in the lineup – continues to highlight Alfa Romeo's performance and motorsport expertise with a best-in-class 505 horsepower, powering it from 0-60 mph in an estimated 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 177 mph
• Infused with Italian passion, craftsmanship and innovation, the all-new Alfa Romeo Stelvio will conquer the winding road for which it is named

The all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio was awarded Cars.com's first-ever "Best in Show" award in its global debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show late last week.

"With its sexy curves and promising performance chops, the Stelvio easily took home Cars.com's Best in Show award," said Aaron Bragman, Cars.com Detroit Bureau Chief. "Alfa Romeo's new 2018 Stelvio SUV stunned at the 2016 L.A. Auto Show."

Since its foundation in Milan, Italy, in 1910, Alfa Romeo continues to design and craft some of the most stunning and exclusive cars in automotive history. This pedigree and attention to detail carries on in the 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio. Joining an elite club of classic and contemporary Alfa Romeo models awarded "Best in Show" around the world, the 2018 Stelvio is unmistakably Alfa Romeo.

As the second of a new generation of vehicles built on an all-new platform, the 2018 Stelvio epitomizes Alfa Romeo's La meccanica delle emozioni (the mechanics of emotion) spirit, delivering race-inspired performance, real-world driving confidence, state-of-the-art technologies, seductive Italian style and an exhilarating driving experience to the premium mid-size SUV segment.

Featured in the all-new 2018 Stelvio and Stelvio Ti models, an all-aluminum 2.0-liter direct-injection, 16-valve, turbocharged and intercooled engine, designed specifically for Alfa Romeo, delivers a best-in-class 280 horsepower, along with world-class levels of performance, efficiency and refinement.

Arriving to the premium mid-size SUV segment is the most powerful Alfa Romeo production engine ever, with an all-aluminum 2.9-liter direct-injection bi-turbo V-6 featuring a compact 90-degree layout serving as the Stelvio Quadrifoglio's "heart and soul." The Stelvio Quadrifoglio delivers a best-in-class 505 horsepower and a flat torque curve with 443 lb.-ft. of peak torque.

The intelligent Q4 all-wheel-drive system – standard on all Stelvio models, including Quadrifoglio – delivers even more all-season traction and performance capability.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio's architecture extensively integrates lightweight, state-of-the-art materials that enable and deliver near perfect 50/50 weight distribution, segment-leading torsional rigidity and the most direct steering available.

In true Italian fashion, the all-new Stelvio allows owners to customize their performance SUV with up to 13 exterior colors; seven wheel choices, ranging from 18 inches to 21 inches; and an almost endless selection of interior color and trim choices.

Crafted by Alfa Romeo artisans at the Cassino plant in Italy, the all-new 2018 Stelvio lineup is a testament to Alfa Romeo's perfect balance of engineering and emotion, creating a premium mid-size SUV for driving enthusiasts that stands out in one of the largest and fastest growing segments in the U.S.

With the all-new 2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio, where other SUVs stop at utility, Alfa Romeo took on the challenge to create the perfect mix of high performance, capability and design.

About Cars.com

Cars.com is a leading online destination that helps car shoppers and owners navigate every turn of car ownership. A pioneer in automotive classifieds, the company has evolved into one of the largest digital automotive platforms, connecting consumers with local dealers across the country anytime, anywhere. Through trusted expert content, on-the-lot mobile app features, millions of new and used vehicle listings, a comprehensive set of research tools and the largest database of consumer reviews in the industry, Cars.com helps shoppers buy, sell and service their vehicles.

Cars.com properties include DealerRater, Auto.com, PickupTrucks.com™ and NewCars.com©. The company was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Chicago. It is owned by TEGNA, Inc.

About Alfa Romeo

Since its foundation in Milan, Italy, in 1910, Alfa Romeo continues to design and craft some of the most stunning and exclusive cars in automotive history, all while building on a racing heritage that includes some of the most talented and storied drivers and victories.

As the first of a new generation of vehicles on an all-new platform, the 2017 Alfa Romeo Giulia and Giulia Ti models embody Alfa Romeo's La meccanica delle emozioni (the mechanics of emotion) spirit, delivering race-inspired performance with a class-leading 276 horsepower, advanced technologies that include the available Alfa Q4 all-wheel-drive system, seductive Italian style and an exhilarating driving experience to the premium mid-size sedan segment. As the "halo" model in the lineup, Giulia Quadrifoglio highlights Alfa Romeo's motorsport knowhow with a best-in-class, 505-horsepower, 2.9-liter bi-turbo V-6 engine that earns the title of the most powerful Alfa Romeo production car engine ever and the quickest with a class-leading 0-60 mph time of 3.8 seconds, plus it enabled a record-setting Nürburgring lap time.

The handcrafted 2017 Alfa Romeo 4C and 4C Spider represent the purest form of La meccanica delle emozioni, with their race-inspired, mid-engine design and state-of-the-art, Formula 1-inspired carbon fiber monocoque chassis that enables an incredible power-to-weight ratio and with advanced technologies, including the all-aluminum 1750 turbocharged and intercooled engine with direct-injection and dual variable-valve timing, which enables supercar-level performance, including 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds.

Follow Alfa Romeo brand and FCA US news and video on:

Website: www.alfaromeo.com

Newsroom: FCA US Media Website

Facebook: Alfa Romeo USA 

Instagram: @alfaromeousa

Twitter: @alfaromeousa

SOURCE FCA US LLC

For further information: Berj Alexanian, (248) 512-0364 (office), (248) 766-9116 (cell), berj.alexanian@fcagroup.com; Rick Deneau, (248) 512-2694 (office), (248) 730-1685 (cell), rick.deneau@fcagroup.com

CES 2017: XIAOMI to debut with new product.

LAS VEGAS, NV

JANUARY 5-8, 2017

XIAOMI the Chinese smartphone maker will hold a press conference at CES 2017 in January 5th at the Venetian, Venetian Ballroom C from 11:00 to 11:45 hours.

XIAOMI will present a new product at the event.