April 30, 2010
Driver has lucky escape after poor parking
A 67-year-old Oklahoma man had quite a fright after backing his car at high speed through a seventh-floor exterior wall of a parking garage.
Ralph Hudson says his foot got stuck between his Mercedes’ brake and gas pedal as he was backing up in a towering parking garage in downtown Tulsa on Wednesday.
The car burst through the building’s exterior wall and sprayed debris on a parking lot below before stopping just in time. The car’s trunk and part of its back wheels were left hanging precariously out of the building but officials were able to safely drive it back inside.
No injuries were reported. Police officer Jason Willingham says Hudson was not ticketed over the incident.
April 29, 2010
West midlands police take delivery of Jaguar XF police cars
The ultimate police cars are now on the roads of the West Midlands, it’s based on Jaguar’s ever-impressive XF S, the police have made a number of modifications to bring the cars up to full crime fighting spec.
As well as the reflective livery the new patrol cars get a roof-mounted light var which contains an amazing 3,600 flashing lights. There are additional LEDs in the front grille, in the sides of the bumpers and in the rear clusters.
A Home Office-specification electronics ‘Police Pack’ powers the lights and other crime-fighting gismos. The XF was chosen because of its fuel economy, power and excellent residual values.]
April 28, 2010
Video: Ferrari’s 599XX blitzes Nurburgring lap time
Ferrari with their new track-honed and pumped up 599XX has completed what they say is a record lap time of our favourite track the Nurburgring.
Their latest monster completed the legendary ring in a time of just 6m 58.16s, which Fezza reckons is a ‘record’ for production-derived sports car.
We have yet to comfirm the record time, nevertheless Ferrari has done the something very good indeed by filming the lap via on board camera.
This is the sort of video that makes ears worth having. Turn up the volume and experience a 6-litlre V12 being abused.
April 27, 2010
Porsche recalls all Panamera cars
2010 has certainly been a year of the recalls and it isn’t stopping anytime soon; with Porsche being the latest major manufacturer to have to recall an entire fleet of their new uber expensive 4-foor Panamera.
It’s not the biggest recall in history as their have only been 4,000 sold so far world wide and only 400 in the UK so far.
A spokesman said the “precautionary” recall was because seatbelt mounts on the Panamera, launched in September 2009, could fail when the front seats are adjusted in an extreme forward position.
“There have not been any accidents,” the spokesman told AFP.
Porsche is targeting 20,000 Panamera sales a year and is counting on the car to boost growth and profits after the global recession sent the global luxury auto industry into reverse.
Volkswagen in December acquired a 49.9 per cent stake in Porsche’s sports car operations for 3.9 billion euros ($A5.63 billion) as part of a complex merger expected to be finalised in 2011.
The recall is the latest blow to automakers after recent accelerator and brake problems tarnished the reputation of Japan’s Toyota.
April 26, 2010
Youtube 5 years old today – 20 of the best
Youtube is five years old today. So we decided to choose our top 20 for you to waste a afternoon on.
Two lads from Manchester became Youtube heroes way back in 2007, when they filmed their first run on the mammoth Nurbugring – only to spin off in under seven seconds. Classic.
Next up is the Youtube legend Kenny Block who is joined by captain slow for a rally session at a quiet airfield in California – we can assure it won’t be quiet for much longer.
This video shows what happens when a wheel fly’s of an Indy car, bounces over the crash barriers and hit some poor sods parked car, smashing the rear windscreen in the process – true Youtube gold.
The next amazing footage comes from the Australian V8′s – just watch were the tyre lands. Genius.
If you have been struggling with the credit cruch, why not try a face mangling Aerial Atom.
China’s answer the Dougie Lampkin in training – turn in, power-on, dab of opposite lock and of course smile for the camera.
How did Gambon get a corned named after him? This is how.
The marketing peeps at vauxhall seemed to have shot themselves in the foot with this one.
The flying finns take centre stage for the next clip – just check the fine collection of tree felling using rally cars.
Afro Clarkson was a look Jermey Clarkson sported during the 90′s and he shares his with Tina Turner from the looks of this video.
The American version of Top Gear starts soon and their version of Jezza is Tanner Foust, who apparently can drive pretty well. In fact really well.
Contained within this snippet of YouTube brilliance are the dulcet tones of co-driver Barry Meade, directing rally driver Jimmy Deane and his MkII Escort around Cork Forestry Rally back in August.
We won’t spoil the clip for you, but suffice to say the pace notes are both enthusiastic and DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY NOT SAFE FOR WORK.
Or kids. No, really. Wait until your boss/children are safely out of earshot, and then pass a muddy three minutes to the soundtrack of Mr Meade and his microphone.
Everyone remembers a skateboarding Marty McFly grabbing a lift to school through judicious boot-grabbing. These guys in Saudi have clearly been watching Back To The Future on repeat for inspiration, but have added an awesome twist: rollerskates.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CU2633tfk
Ken Block treating life like a Playstation game, and winning. Every time. Seeing if he can transfer the skills to the WRC is going to be one of the treats of this year.
F1 TV coverage is still lacking something these days. Namely, a drunk James Hunt accompanied by a furiously back-tracking Murray Walker. Legend.
All you have to do is remember your racing lines – slow into a corner, then accelerate hard as early as you can. And if you go for death-or-glory heroics in an attempt to do a Porsche, well, we did warn you…
This is an awesome eulogy to The Art of Cocking About in Cars… or drifting.
two automotive giants back to back: the Bugatti Veyron vs the McLaren F1.
this intrepid Italian lady – and we’re not making any gender-based assumptions here – fails spectacularly to park in a side street. We particularly appreciate the ‘animated’ Italian, which we can only assume translates as “I beg your pardon kind sir, but I appear to be in a spot of bother…”
Ahh the 70s – that heady decade where men could be men. Handlebar ‘tashes and award-winning mullets, big juicy flares and riotous body odour. And what happens when proper men drive the legendary Nurburgring? Crashes happen. Lots of them. Watch and learn as the ‘Ring takes no prisoners.
April 23, 2010
Ford’s fresh Start
Ford announced their “Start” concept, which is an affordable new car from Ford that was unveiled in Beijing today. A Ka for emerging markets, if you will.
Designed at their Californian studio, the Start was apparently inspired bt the Porsche 356 Speedster and the Alfa Zagato SZ. It’s built will aluminium and steel, and weighs 140kg, less than conventional city car and features far fewer parts.
It has smooth surfaces galore, which mean low drag coefficient, and the roof panel can be unclipped to create a targa-style opening.
All very nice, but the Start’s engine is the most relevant bit for now: a 1.0-litre, three-cylinder petrol with Ford’s ‘EcoBoost’ technology. This means it gets a turbocharger and direct injection, meaning CO2 emissions under 100g/km and, says Ford, comparable power to a naturally aspirated 1.6-litre engine – around 110bhp, we’d guess.
The three-cylinder engine is expected to debut in the third-generation Focus before finding its way into the Fiesta next year.
We like the Start. It looks fresh and it’s packed with realistic, affordable technology. And hey, it might even drive as well as the original Ka…
April 22, 2010
WhipCar – make your car make you money
A new car rental company WhipCar started business today, car owners can turn their motors from being a drain on their finances to money-making prospect following the launch of a website which allows them to rent out their vehicle when are not using it.
WhipCar, which opened for business this week, allows motorists to register their car to rent for anything from a few hours to weeks at a time to people in their neighbourhood.
“Our research has shown that there are many people who would be happy to pay for car rental services if they could be delivered locally,” he said.
“WhipCar enables owners to put their cars to work, and for those in need they can literally rent the car next door.”
WhipCar is initially only operating in London, but Gupta said he hoped to roll the service out to the rest of the country in a few weeks.
He said that unlike traditional car rental operations his scheme did not need a high concentration of potential users to make it work. “You could be the only car owner in the village and put your car up for rent to provide a service for you neighbourhood,” he said.
So how does it work?
To take part, a car owner registers his or her details and decides how much to charge for an hour or a day.
Cars must be no more than eight years old, have a valid MOT and road tax, existing insurance, and be clean and in good condition. WhipCar carries out checks to make sure the car is roadworthy and has not been stolen. It is then advertised on the site.
Rental charges are paid into the owner’s bank account each month after WhipCar has deducted a 15% commission.
Cars may not be rented by anyone under the age of 21 or over 70, or anyone with more than six penalty points on their licence, a drink-driving conviction within the last five years, or any convictions relating to driving without insurance. They must also have had no more than two accidents in the past three years.
Renters also have to register with the site, and WhipCar checks their age, licence details and whether they have any convictions. They pay the agreed hourly or daily cost, plus a charge for fully comprehensive insurance on the vehicle and a £2.50 charge which goes to WhipCar.
Gupta said: “Claiming against this insurance does not affect the owner’s normal car insurance; the no claims bonus will not be affected. Also, if a courtesy car is needed this will be extended to the renter for the remaining rental period, then to the owner until the car is repaired or replaced.”
Once someone applies to rent a car, the vehicle owner is sent an email and text alert containing his or her details, a photo, their hire history and a feedback form other car owners.
The owner can reject a rental application and can make stipulations, such as maximum mileage or no smokers only.
Once the booking is accepted the renter is sent details of where to meet the owner, who is given the last four digits of the renter’s driving licence to verify identity.
April 21, 2010
Toyota’s Graham Smith says Plug-in hybrids ‘better solution than Electric Vehicles’
The managing director of Toyota Motor Erurope told delegates today at the international Automotive Conference in Scundeland “it will take time” for consumers to adapt to the idea of driving a car that you can plugin to a socket.
But he still thinks “Hydrogen powered cell vehicles” are the answer and new hybrids will “bridge the gap”.
He thinks that it will be the better solution for the consumer as electric cars won’t work for long journeys. But reckons “they will have a role to play but not a major one.”
Toyota will launch a 36-month trial of plug-in hybrids this summer in London using 20 vehicles. The trial has already started in France, he said.
The advantage of plug-in hybrids is that for journeys under 10km they run of electric power only and are zero emission. For journeys under 25km – which represent 80 per cent of trips -the vehicle will run in hybrid mode using the petrol engine, with CO2 emissions 60 per cent less than the Prius Mild hybrid, he said.
Toyota will launch a 36-month trial of plug-in hybrids this summer in London using 20 vehicles. The trial has already started in France, he said.
Video: Focus RS500 is alive and kicking – or should that be skidding?
How to make a great RS video: Take one fire breathing RS500 Focus. Find some corners. Film it. Add thumping drum n’ bass. Post on Youtube.
And Ford have done just this; they have released actual real footage of the RS500 being thrashed around some desolate-looking country raods in all its Batman-spec glory.
The RS500 if you don’t remember, is the uber-hatch which can unbelievably handle 345 bhp and 340lb ft of torque through its front wheels – without you ending up in a tree upside down. Amazing stuff.
The new Icelandic volcanic hot-hatch despatches 0-62 in just 5.6 seconds – and that’s not all – it can achieve a ridiculous top speed of 163mph. If you can keep it in a straight line.
So turn up the volume and enjoy a minute’s worth of RS500 insanity, complete with some rather fetching drum n’ bass. Innit
April 20, 2010
Researchers unveil new hydrogen storage system
Although biofuels and battery-powered vehicles have moved to the forefront of alternative transportation solutions in recent years, researchers continue to plug away on technologies for hydrogen-powered vehicles.
An Israeli company based in Geneva, Switzerland, recently unveiled a hydrogen storage system it says could overcome one of the major obstacles facing hydrogen cars. Currently, vehicles that burn hydrogen or use it to produce electricity in a fuel cell must have very large and heavy fuel tanks in order to safely store enough hydrogen even for limited-range driving.
But researchers at C.En Ltd. have created a glass capillary storage device that is much smaller and lighter. They say with less than half the weight and space of current tanks, the new storage system could provide a range of up to 240 miles.
Of course, this is not the only obstacle facing the adoption of hydrogen-powered vehicles. Infrastructure and policy challenges, but the new storage system is a welcomed development.
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