Honda unveiled improvements to its flagship Civic's gasoline and hybrid engine systems boosting mileage and performance on the car's remodeled versions.
Honda (HMC) said the improved i-VTEC, or intelligent variable valve timing and lift electronic control system, would raise the engine's fuel economy by 6 percent in the new gasoline-only Civic. The mechanism helps engines burn fuel more efficiently while enhancing driving performance
Honda also developed a more fuel-efficient hybrid system that would enable its gasoline-electric vehicles to run solely on the electric motor at low cruising speeds for the first time.
Honda is projecting a rise in its U.S. fleet's average fuel economy to 29.5 mpg in 2005, up from last year's 29.0 mpg and the industry average of 24.6 mpg.
- - -
Pay up: Mobile phone maker Nokia may contest an arbitration court's decision in a patent dispute with InterDigital, the company said.
InterDigital (IDCC) said last week the decision by the International Court of Arbitration meant Nokia would have to pay up to $252 million in royalty payments for technology it used during 2002-2006.
Nokia (NOK) did not specify the size of royalty payments it would have to pay to InterDigital, but said one of the three arbitrators had disagreed with the panel's final decision, opening the door to change the outcome.
InterDigital, which develops wireless technology for mobile phones and networks, receives most of its revenues from royalties on patents.
- - -
Submitting evidence: Chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices said a U.S. court has granted its motion to have third parties preserve relevant evidence related to its antitrust lawsuit against rival Intel.
Last week AMD (AMD) filed an antitrust suit against Intel (INTC), claiming it used various methods from threats to kickbacks to coerce companies into buying its chips instead of those from Advanced Micro.
A motion made in the U.S District Court of Delaware sought a judicial order permitting AMD to preserve relevant evidence possessed by specified third parties. Its lawyers will now engage in discussions with about 30 third parties.
According to a story in Barron's newspaper, its shares could rise by as much as $8 if it wins its legal battle with Intel.
- - -
Rock on: More than 26.4 million people from around the world sent text messages on Saturday in support of the Live 8 campaign to cancel the debts of the poorest countries, setting a world record, organizers said.
Organizers said the previous record for the most text messages sent on a single day for a single event was around 5.8 million for an episode of the television talent show American Idol where viewers vote for the winner.
Irish rocker Bob Geldof and Bono of U2 arranged the concerts to push the Group of Eight leaders of the world's richest nations who meet in Gleneagles, Scotland, next week to take action to eliminate poverty.
AOL.com, which streamed video of the concerts, also claimed a world record, saying that more than 5 million logged on globally to watch, making it the biggest streaming event ever.
- - -
Compiled by David Cohn. AP and Reuters contributed to this report.
