By Ser Jing Chong - September 27, 2012 | Tickers: AMZN, AAPL, NFLX, SBUX | 0 Comments

Ser Jing is a member of The Motley Fool Blog Network -- entries represent the personal opinions of our bloggers and are not formally edited.

Quality of managements a very important factor in determining the success of an investment, along with the quality of the business and its valuation. Usually, when discussing good management, words like integrity, capital allocation and visionary are thrown into the mix. While it is true that managements who are honest and upright, able to invest capital appropriately and who can prepare their business for changes in consumer and economic conditions are important, there seems to be another factor that is not discussed as much the ability to Adapt.

In Tim Harfords excellent book, Adapt: Why Success Always Starts with Failure, he highlights the importance of adopting a trial-and-error process for organizations in dealing with the complexities of the modern world. Organizations should go through a stage of learning, variation and selection. In learning, organizations should have leaders who are willing to listen to feedback coming from people leading the efforts from the ground and make adjustments to their strategies. In variation, the organization must be allowed to experiment and try out various ideas on a scale that would be not be disastrous should the ideas fail. In selection, the leaders of the organization must be able to come up with better feedback loops to know how existing and new operations are faring in essence, they cannot be shielded in their ivory towers, which ties back to the idea discussed in learning. These three principles form the idea behind the ability to adapt.

When these three principles are translated into a business setting, it would mean that companies do not solely depend on their leaders to come up with a path to success but rather, a companyshould beable to adapt as a whole for a greater shot at prosperity. That is where a companys management can be crucial to a companys success this might seem paradoxical, but please bear with me for a while. For a company to be able to adapt, its management must first set the right tone, being willing to make quick changes and learn from what is actually happening on the ground. So, even though management should not always be counted upon to come up with breath-taking visionary plans for a companys future, they should be counted upon to set the right framework for the company to adapt by being able and willing to make changes in a trial-and-error process. In finding out what actually works, resources are then much better allocated.

Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX)actually provided a great example of how top management can allow the company to adapt. Back in 2005 to 2007, Starbuckss ex-CEO Jim Donald was caught up with expanding Starbuckss store count even though the expansion efforts were becoming unprofitable. Starbucks opened a total of 2505 stores from FY2005 to FY2007 and even though earnings had grown by a cumulative 19.3%, comparable store sales (comps) growth in the US fell to 4% from a high of 11% in FY 2004. Comparable store sales are a very important metric for Food & Beverage retail companies and the slowdown in comps growth started to show cracks in Starbucks policy of indiscriminate expansion. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz had to send a letter to Donald to highlight his concerns about the commoditization of our brand. If Donald could learn, he might have caught on to the deteriorating Starbucks experience from his ground staff. Schultz has since been shown to be very perceptive towards how customers perceive the Starbucks brand when they walk into a store with moves such as changing the way breakfast sandwiches were prepared so as to avoid the smell of food overpowering the aroma of coffee and decreasing the amount of automation during the coffee making process to infuse that human touch into the Starbucks experience.

In variation and selection, Starbucks recently spent $100 million to acquire LaBoulange Bakery in an effort to improve the core food offerings for Starbucks. This seems to be a classic trial-and-error process where a small amount of resources (for a company generating revenues north of $11 billion in FY2011, $100 million is a relatively small amount for an acquisition) is devoted to a project to test for feedback. Starbucks also spent $30 million to acquire Evolution Fresh, a company that sells premium, high-quality fresh fruit juices in a bid to enter the juice market. After the acquisition, they rolled out the juices into existing Starbucks stores to gauge demand before deciding to open their first stand-alone Evolution Fresh store in Bellevue, Washington. Again, management gauged demand in the Bellevue store before deciding to open a2nd one in Downtown Seattle. These calculated moves in addition to other projects like the Verismo machine, shows how Starbucks is trying to adapt. It has resulted in business success judging by how revenue and earnings grew by a cumulative 24% and 86% respectively from FY2007 to FY2011 while the first 9 months of FY2012 has already shown a 14.6% and 15.5% increase in revenue and earnings respectively compared to the corresponding period in FY2011. More importantly, comps growth in the US has increased to 8% in FY2011.

Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX)also displays a tremendous ability to learn based on their data-collection of subscribers viewing habits. This allows them to find out what makes a program popular and they can use that data to decide on content spending and then judge the wisdom of their decision through any changes in subscribers viewing habits as well as subscriber count. Yes, Netflixs stock price collapsed from a high of $300 in July 2011 to $56 in September 2012, however, the business performance of Netflix has been outstanding -number of subscribers grew from 857 thousand in FY2002 to 28 million in Q2 2012.

Management of Netflix has also adopted a great variation and selection strategy by spending not more than 5% of its content budget on original programming. Netflix wants to use its huge algorithmic data set to try and predict what kind of as-yet-unmade original programs would be popular and then finance the production of such programs it is Netflixs attempt to produce highly sought after original content that can drive subscriber growth and retention. By limiting the budget to only 5% of its planned spending on content, it allows Netflix the freedom for trial-and-error without catastrophic consequences should the foray into original content fail. Furthermore, the potential for rewards are good based on Netflixs predictive algorithms and the success of their first original production, Lilyhammer. It would be interesting to see how Netflix continues to adapt and strive for business success.

There are other great success stories out there such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL)adapting to allow3rd party App developers into Apples ecosystem through the App Store. Steve Jobs initially refused 3rd party App developers in the original iPhone and the App Store was only functional a day prior to the release of the iPhone 3G. Jobs was widely acclaimed to be a visionary but even he was capable of adapting to what was happening on the ground and cater to customers wants without posing any potential for long-lasting damage to Apple as the App Store was merely a conduit for developers and users and Apple did not have to sink in large costs to set the whole thing up. The App storenow hasmore than 700 thousand apps for download and has definitely helped to strengthen Apple's iOS ecosystem.

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These Companies Adapted Their Way to Success

Palm Harbor, FL (PRWEB) September 27, 2012

The (ISC)2 (ISC-squared) Foundation, a charitable trust that aims to make the cyber world safer for everyone, today announced several enhancements to its Safe and Secure Online Program that will enhance its ability to help protect children in cyberspace.

On the eve of National Cyber Security Awareness Month and National Bullying Prevention Month this October, the (ISC)2 Foundation is introducing Safe and Secure Online for Parents and Teachers, along with a new, interactive Website, with the goal of enlisting and empowering those who have the greatest influence on childrens time and outlook their parents and teachers.

Through Safe and Secure Online, (ISC) member volunteers have helped more than 75,000 children since 2006 in Canada, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom and the U.S. learn how to protect themselves online and to become responsible digital citizens. Using cutting-edge, interactive presentation materials, (ISC)2-certified cyber security experts work directly with the children in a classroom setting to tackle timely, critical topics, including online identities and reputations, malware, cyber bullying, online predators, gaming and social media pitfalls.

Safe and Secure Online for Parents and Teachers features an interactive presentation and educational workshops that will give parents and teachers the specialized skills and knowledge they need to know whats going on in their childrens cyber world, to teach children to be good digital citizens and to help them recognize and protect against not always clear but ever-present cyber dangers.

The new Foundation Website http://www.isc2cares.org - will act as a go-to resource for parents and teachers looking to inform themselves and their children about cyber threats and online safety. Theyll be able to access awareness and educational materials, stay up to date on new risks to children and easily request and schedule a Safe and Secure Online presentation for their childrens school or parent/teacher group, as well as get access to the tools they need to take a more active role in their childrens cyber security education.

Just as teachers and parents teach children physical safety skillssuch as looking both ways before crossing a streetthey must model this behavior in the cyber world, says Julie Peeler, director of the (ISC)2 Foundation. Unfortunately, they dont always have the skills and knowledge they need to guide children as they navigate the online threats they face every day at school and at home. Safe and Secure Online for Parents and Teachers will give them a chance to understand what is going on in cyberspace from experts who are on the frontlines of cyber attacks.

To commemorate National Cyber Security Awareness Month and National Bullying Prevention Month and to foster the year-round pursuit of cyber security knowledge in local communities, (ISC) has mobilized its Safe and Secure Online member volunteers to reach as many students, parents and teachers during October as possible. Numerous presentations are confirmed throughout the U.S. and Canada, including:

Safe and Secure Online simplifies the complex topic of cyber security into age-appropriate conversations between cyber security experts, students and their caregivers, leaving children with a powerful understanding of exactly what they need to do to protect themselves against both known and unknown hazards. Here is what students and educators have said about the program:

You should show an adult who is reliable when bad or mean things are put online, said one 12-year-old student.

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(ISC)2® Foundation Launches New Online Safety Education Program for Parents and Teachers

BUFFALO, NY--(Marketwire - Sep 27, 2012) - Bryant & Stratton College Online, a premier online school, is once again on the list of Military Friendly Schools published annually by Victory Media and G.I. Jobs Magazine. Only 15 percent of U.S. higher education institutions were named to the 2013 list, which honors the colleges, universities and trade schools that are doing the most to advance the education of America's military service members, veterans and families and their academic success. The list highlights schools with world-class programs and policies for student support on campus, academic accreditation, credit policies, flexibility and other services for students that are active duty, veterans or family members of military.

"We are honored to once again be on the list of Military Friendly Schools and to be recognized for our efforts to serve military students, military spouses and their families," said Scott Traylor, Associate Campus Director for Online Education at Bryant & Stratton College. "We are dedicated to maintaining a high level of academics and services for all our students, but recognize that often military families have unique circumstances that require additional support. Through support groups, online resources and staff dedicated to the needs of military families we strive to address their specific needs."

Bryant & Stratton College has a strong reputation with military service members, veterans and their families, including:

Salute to Spouses Salute to Spouses is a scholarship program that allows military spouses to receive up to $6,000 toward online degree programs at Bryant & Stratton College. Since its launch, Salute to Spouses has expanded, launching a career and education resource website for military spouses, written and edited by military spouses. For military spouses pursuing an associate's degree, the scholarship can be combined with MyCAA benefits, or the scholarship can be applied toward an online bachelor's degree program at Bryant & Stratton College as well as at selected campuses. Additionally, eligibility is not limited by pay grade. More information, including the application form, is available at http://www.SalutetoSpouses.com.

Military Relations Manager MAJ (Ret.) Ed Dennis serves as military relations manager at Bryant & Stratton College Online. Ed's primary role is to provide assistance to service members seeking information about higher education and to work with branches of the military to help students understand the opportunities that are available to them through Bryant & Stratton College Online. Ed started at Bryant & Stratton in July 2010 after recently retiring from the Army with 21 years of service. His extensive knowledge and first-hand experience with the armed forces brings invaluable expertise to Bryant & Stratton about what active-duty and veteran military students need.

Bryant & Stratton College has 18 campuses across New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin and offers programs nationwide through its Online Education division. For information about the specific resources and programs available to active duty service members, veterans and family members of the military at each of its campus locations, visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/ for contact information.

The list of Military Friendly Schools was compiled from research and a data-driven survey of more than 12,000 VA-approved schools nationwide. The rankings also incorporate a survey from more than 3,000 student veterans. This is the fourth year for the list, and each year, schools taking the survey are held to a higher standard over the previous year. The survey results were independently tested by Ernst & Young LLP based upon the weights and methodology established by G.I. Jobs.

To learn more about the Military Friendly School designation visit http://militaryfriendlyschools.com/.

About Bryant & Stratton College Online Bryant & Stratton College is a private career college delivering outcomes based education and training through a flexible, contemporary curriculum in a personalized environment.The College is regionally accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, which is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation, and has locations in New York, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin, as well as an Online Education division, and a Professional Skill Center. For over 155 years, Bryant & Stratton College has been providing real world education leading to bachelor's and associate's degrees and professional certificates. Bryant & Stratton College Online offers five online bachelor's degree programs, eleven online associate's degree programs and eleven online certificate programs in a variety of fields including business, criminal justice, financial services, healthcare, human resources and information technology. Some online programs are not yet available in all states. For more information about our graduation rates, the median debt of graduates and other important information, please visit http://www.bryantstratton.edu/disclosures.General information about Bryant & Stratton College and its online degrees can also be found at online.bryantstratton.edu.

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Bryant & Stratton College Online Makes List of Military Friendly Schools; Recognized for Programs and Services That ...

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26-09-2012 12:09 Heather Weber, performance coach at Zone Athletic Performance shows us how to get in shape for Fall with the best exercises for women

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National Women's Health and Fitness Day - Video

LEWISBURG, PA--(Marketwire - Sep 27, 2012) - Playworld Systems, a leading manufacturer of imaginative playground and fitness equipment, today announced its products have been Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Silver. Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM is a rigorous and comprehensive environmental certification system licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute that evaluates products and materials for their impact on human health and environmental health.It is a certification that helps companies create a positive footprint on the environment by designing products for future life cycles.

One year ago, Playworld Systems became the first and only playground manufacturer to have its product lines Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Basic.Now its playground and fitness products are Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM Silver, an even greater achievement.

"Playworld Systems is proud to once again lead the playground industry with our ongoing commitment to sustainability. Five years ago, we dedicated ourselves to be on the leading edge of environmental action when we pledged to remove PVC from our products. Ever since, we have been uncompromising in ensuring our playground and fitness equipment enhances communities across the globe," said Matthew Miller, chief executive officer of Playworld Systems."Our comprehensive initiatives go far beyond empty green positioning or a 'do no harm' philosophy. This independent, third-party certification proves that the positive environmental impact of Playworld Systems goes beyond industry standards and federal law."

The prestigious Silver level of certification requires additional criteria beyond those required at the Basic level, including:

"We know the choices we make today in our manufacturing processes and the materials we use will affect generations to come," added Miller. "We believe it is our responsibility to care for the people who use our products, and to be worthy of their trust in us. To fulfill that promise, Playworld Systems remains unwavering in our constant focus on the keys to our collective future: human and environmental health, water stewardship and social responsibility."

The Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM program provides guidelines to help businesses like Playworld Systems evaluate all materials in its supply chain and focus on using safe materials that can be disassembled, recycled and repurposed.

"It is so exciting to see an organization that is embracing the certified products program core commitment to continuously improving its products," said Bridgett Luther, president of the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute. "We applaud Playworld Systems' efforts. Thanks for taking care of our children."

The silver level of certification covers Playworld Systems products sold in the following groups: Explorers, Origins Nature, SkyTowers, Playmakers, Challengers, CityScapes, Activo, Adventure Series, KPE (Kid Powered Energy), RockBlocks, PlayWeb, Themed products, Freestanding products, ENERGI, LifeTrail, NEOS, PlaySimple, and Site Amenities. The certification is recognized by environmental experts worldwide for its innovation in sustainability.In the US for example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) includes Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM products in its Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (EPP) database for federal agency procurement. In addition, these certified products are eligible for points in the USGBC's LEED certification for green buildings.

Cradle to Cradle CertifiedCM is a certification mark licensed by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute.For more information, visit http://www.c2ccertified.org.

About Playworld Systems, Inc. For over 40 years, Playworld Systems has been a leader in creating imaginative, customized commercial playground and fitness equipment that positively impacts the health and well-being of communities around the globe. Based on the belief that The World Needs Play, Playworld Systems brings the joy and benefits of healthful outdoor play and exercise to people of every age and ability through such innovative product lines as PlayDesigns, PlaySimple, Playworld, Origins, NEOS, ENERGI, and LifeTrail.

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Playworld Systems First in Industry to Have Products Cradle to Cradle Certified(CM) Silver for Advancing ...

Its a good time to be a healthy geek and to start becoming one. Of late, weve seen an exponential increase in digital health data thanks to growing popularity of a new generation of smart, wearable devices that help us track and stay on top of our health. These Quantified Self devices scratch our geeky itch for data and allow us to take doctors and fitness instructors home with us or out on our jogs. However, while dashboards and analytics are great, for data to really be useful, people have to be able to interact with it. It has to be fun and engaging, cutting through the noise of our everyday routines.

Eli Holder founded Notch.me earlier this year in an attempt to make health-tracking beautiful, creating consumer software that helps people visualize and engage with their health. Holder sold his first startup, Unblab, to AOL back in 2010 and, since then, has been plugging away on Notch. Having struggled to stay healthy himself (like so many others), the core idea behind Notch is that our busy lives make it tough to keep our health at the top of mind, which is obviously a key part of staying motivated and healthy.

So, to help put health back on the priority list, Notch is trying to create a positive health experience by presenting data in a more visually stimulating way: Through personalized infographics. Sure, infographics can be annoying and mind-numbing, but the idea is to create visualizations that lower the bar on ease-of-consumption, making health activity something you actually look forward to. When Notch first debuted in May, its primary source of data came through Fitbit, turning users Fitbit steps into an infographic like this one.

Since May, Holder says that the most-requested feature has been RunKeeper integration, so today Notch is launching a new set of infographics that offer just that.

The images show off examples of advanced runners achievements (celebrating their endurance), while encouraging non-runners and beginning runners by rewarding them for reaching shorter distances. Every time the user hits a new milestone, the infographic adjusts itself to show another set of graphics and presents a new milestone to aim for.

Holder says that, for now, Notch is focused on running and on adding the trackers that are most popular among the community. The road forward begins with visualizations, the low-hanging fruit, which he hopes leads to Notch being able to let users access real motivation profiles and build long-term engagement. As of now, Notch is actively pursuing partnerships with all the leading fitness and health software publishers and sensor device makers, offering them a way to add a layer of creativity to static health data.

As for RunKeeper, founder and CEO Jason Jacobs tells us that the company is looking to round out its platform by adding a set of serious motivational tools, like goal-setting and training plans. So, he sees Notch as a cool way to lighten up that experience and present data in a more creative way. While its all about adding serious, useful training tools, fitness needs to be fun, he says, and personalized infographics that display your actual health data is a great entry point.

Focusing exclusively on Fitbit at the start made sense for Notch, but it also limited the potential reach of the service, so adding RunKeeper is a step towards a bigger market. To be clear, Notch is simple, and its more of a project than a company, or an experimentation in data visualization. So far, it has a lot of appeal (and potential), but theres also a long way left to go.

Notch makes health-tracking beautiful. Were creating consumer software to help people visualize and engage with their health. We think that keeping healthy top of mind - in a fun, positive way - is an overlooked, but very important aspect of staying motivated and staying healthy. The mission is to create 1 positive health experience, once a day, for as many people as we can possibly reach. The first example of this is up at http://notch.me. Users signup, connect their Fitbit, and...

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With Fitbit And RunKeeper Data, Notch Offers A Creative Way To Visualize Your Health

When my organization first introduced its Secure Choice Pension (SCP) proposal in September 2011, we did not see it as an effort to reduce public anger over generous government pensions as some opponents so boldly assert.

To the contrary, we see it as a viable mechanism for giving private-sector workers what they want and what Americas economy needs reliable, lifetime retirement income immune to sudden economic downturns and market fluctuations that will allow those no longer working to contribute to the economy and not become reliant on government programs and entitlements.

When the Great Recession hit four years ago, it quickly deflated the value of 401(k)-style retirement accounts. Since then, workers have, in overwhelming numbers, expressed a desire for a more secure option for their retirement savings.

Not so long ago, private-sector workers enjoyed all three legs of the traditional retirement stool a pension, Social Security and personal savings like 401(k)s. But most private-sector employers have abandoned pensions, Social Security does not provide enough to live on, and even those who have saved diligently for retirement through 401(k)s are exposed to market fluctuations which put substantial portions of their account balances at risk through no fault of their own.

Small-business owners around the nation, and particularly in California, say they feel an obligation to provide retirement benefits and that providing those benefits would help them recruit good employees and boost their bottom lines. But they complain that they cant afford the plans currently available.

Our SCP proposal on which Sens. De Leon and Steinberg modeled Senate Bill 1234 and its California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program proposes a public-private partnership to create an affordable, easily administered, professionally-managed retirement savings plan that private-sector employers could adopt for their employees.

A late-April survey of 505 California small-business owners with between two and 49 employees reveals widespread support (71 percent) for the De Leon-Steinberg proposal, with backing strong in every part of the state. That support crosses political lines as well with 78 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of Republicans in favor.

Senate Bill 1234 proposes a modest plan to provide modest benefits through conservative investments, leveraging lower-cost professional investment outcomes through economies of scale.

It is intended to address Californias retirement security crisis by providing millions of workers who have no employer-sponsored retirement benefits with access to a plan that their employers can afford. And all of this at no cost to taxpayers.

California taxpayers will most certainly be on the hook if these millions of workers are forced to retire without sufficient assets. Rather than engaging in purchasing, saving and other activities that contribute to the economy and generate tax revenues, they will be relying on public programs and entitlements, depleting public coffers and compromising economic stability and growth.

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Pension bill provides needed retirement option

By Sarah Olesen, Australian National University and Peter Butterworth, Australian National University

Welcome to Shades of Grey, a series from The Conversation that examines the challenges posed by Australia's ageing workforce. Today, Australian National University's Sarah Olesen and Peter Butterworth look at the issue of mental health and well-being in retirement.

Community views on retirement are polarised. Some see it as an opportunity to escape work obligations and pursue their own passions. Others view the transition as a loss of status, social connectedness, and financial security.

We've studied this topic using large samples of Australians to explore how retirement is associated with mental health and well-being.

The view that retirement has a negative effect on mental health is consistent with decades of evidence about the impacts of job loss among young and middle-aged people. And the transition to retirement is certainly a major milestone and lifestyle change, given the central roles work and career play in most people's lives.

Studies comparing the mental health of retirees with that of working older adults has shown that retirees (particularly men) tend to have greater levels of depression and anxiety than their working peers.

But longitudinal studies that track the mental health of people moving from work to retirement offers little proof that this transition has a significant detrimental impact on the mental health of most people. Indeed, it seems more likely that the poor mental health observed among many retirees precedes and perhaps has driven their workforce exit.

The reasons for retirement, whether people left work gradually or continue to work in some capacity during retirement, and the age at which people leave work have all been shown to affect mental health among retirees.

Not surprisingly, involuntary or unexpected job loss in later life is the form of retirement that has been most consistently linked to increased depression. On the other hand, part or gradual retirement (rather than full departure from the workforce) may ease the stress associated with leaving the workforce.

We are all familiar with the popular image of early retirement being a luxury enjoyed by financially secure individuals who lead full and satisfied lives. However, contrary to this widely held idea research shows that early retirees tend to have much poorer mental health than their working peers and older retirees.

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Retirement: a trigger for distress or welcome relief from the rat race?

Today's conventional wisdom may say Americans are worried about retirement, but an increasingly sizable percentage of consumers may not be doing much about it.

According to the New Retirement Mindscape 2012 City Pulse index, a survey released last week by Ameriprise Financial, only 70 percent of U.S. consumers report preparing for retirement. That's the lowest level recorded by the index in the past three years.

However, there were some bright spots in the survey, which surveyed consumers between the ages of 45 and 70. Residents of some metro areas reported higher than average levels of retirement preparedness and confidence. Hartford-New Haven topped the ranking of 30 metro areas, while Washington D.C. fell to the bottom spot.

The index polled consumers from the 30 largest metro areas in the United States to determine which residents were most prepared and most confident in their ability to retire. These five metro areas formed the top of the 2012 rankings.

Hartford-New Haven jumped in ranking from number six in 2011. Three in four respondents in the area say they have set money aside for retirement, and more than half invest money in an employer-sponsored plan such as a 401(k). Seventy percent of the region's residents said they have positive feelings about retirement.

With the exception of Minneapolis-St. Paul, all the other metropolitan areas in the top five spots were in the top 10 from last year. The Minnesota metro area climbed 15 spots from number 18 in 2011. Meanwhile, the greater San Francisco area, which held the number one position last year, saw its ranking drop slightly to number four.

On the other end of the spectrum was Washington D.C. where only 12 percent of residents reported feeling very financially prepared for retirement.

In addition to retirement preparedness and confidence, the index surveyed consumers on issues surrounding the upcoming presidential election.

Consumers appear to be keyed into several issues that could impact their retirement readiness. According to the index survey, a significant percentage of respondents note that candidate positions on the following issues are likely to influence their vote.

Concerns regarding these issues likely parallel the uneasiness many consumers feel about their own ability to retire.

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Sweating retirement? Your peers may not be

Audi is presenting the new top model of its recently revised Q5 model series the Audi SQ5 TDI.

The powerful TDI, which displaces 2,967 cc, uses a twin-turbo design in which the two turbochargers are connected in series via a flap. Cylinder head cooling, the timing and lift of the intake cam shafts, the pistons, their oil-jet cooling and the piston pins have been specially designed for the high-performance concept. The common rail system develops as much as 2,000 bar of pressure and injects as many as eight shots of fuel into the cylinders per cycle. The 3.0 TDI biturbo has a great sound. This sound is further modulated by a sound actuator in the exhaust system a loudspeaker in short side channel.

The Audi SQ5 TDI sprints from zero to 100 km/h (62.14 mph) in 5.1 seconds; top speed is 250 km/h (155.34 mph). Fuel consumption is on average just 7.2 liters per 100 km (32.67 US mpg). Innovative thermal management, the start-stop system and the regulated oil pump all contribute to this top figure. A fast and smooth-shifting eight-speed tiptronic and quattro permanent all-wheel drive with torque vectoring transfer the power of the brawny V6 diesel to the road.

The electromechanical power steering in the Audi SQ5 TDI is sensitive and highly efficient. The sport suspension lowers the vehicle body by 30 millimeters (1.18 in). The standard 20-inch wheels feature a five parallel-spoke design and are fitted with 255/45 tires. Audi offers optional wheels measuring 21 inches in diameter. The black brake calipers on the front axle sport S badges. The optional Audi drive select system can be expanded upon request to include the dynamic steering system with its steplessly variable steering ratio.

The most eye-catching design cues are the platinum gray single-frame grille with its galvanized double bars in an aluminum-look finish, the roof spoiler and the modified bumpers. The high-gloss package and the aluminum-look exterior mirrors accentuate the area around the windows. Audi offers the new top model in the crystal effect paint finishes Estoril Blue or Panther Black. The body includes a high proportion of ultra-high-strength steels, making it very light, safe and rigid.

As is typical for an S model, the interior has black trim and exudes a sporty elegance. The headlining is optionally available in lunar silver. The power-adjustable sport seats come standard in Pearl Nappa leather/Alcantara. Leather upholstery in a choice of four colors is available as an option. Brushed aluminum inlays are standard. Options include Carbon Atlas, Piano finish and the new Aluminum/Beaufort wood black trim panels.

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PARIS MOTOR SHOW: Up Close And Personal With The Audi SQ5 Performance Diesel Crossover