CARSCOOP |  |
- Boston Dynamic's Wildcat Robot will Either Scare You or Blow Your Mind
- Elon Musk Responds to Tesla Model S Incident, Blames Firefighters for Worsening the Fire
- High Tech Corvette's Offensive FB Posting on NYC Biker Incident Angers Users
- Camaro Meet Girl, Girl Meet Beefed Up 1,200HP Camaro…
- Collector of Classic Porsche 911s Tells the Story of a Special 1966 Irish-Green Model
- Mercedes S-Class Rolls 400 Feet Down a Mountain, Driver Lives to Tell the Tale
- Ford Uses Sumo Wrestlers to Demonstrate its Clever Door Edge Protector
- Hyundai Goes Zombie Hunting Again for The Walking Dead with Fan-Designed Santa Fe
- BMW Reportedly Reconsidering AWD Throughout the M range
- Man Fails to Surprise Girlfriend with New 2014 Corvette Stingray Gift
- Mystery Man Breaks All Records Paying $52 Million for 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Racer
- Scoop: Funny Looking Fiat 500L is a Test Mule for Jeep's Baby SUV
- Watch the Scary Onboard Footage of the 402 KM/H Lamborghini that Caught Fire
- UK Sheriff's Office Seizes Rare MG X Power SV and Lists it for Sale
- Thought Your Car Had Enough Airbags? Well, Now They’re Working on Exterior Ones
- Bulgaria Wants to Lure More Automakers and Suppliers After China's Great Wall Motors
- What Happened? Watch Police Car Slam Into Barriers During Washington DC Car Chase
- Honda Calling in Owners of 2014 Odyssey for…Misplaced Emblems
- Volvo Tells Us that Cyclists May Not Always Be Visible [w/Videos]
- Blind Man Sets New Land Speed Record at 186 MPH or 299 KM/H
- Hyundai Replaces Cigarette Lighters with USB Ports In South Korea, E-Cigarette Users Rejoice
- Spy Shots: Looks Like Audi is Working on New RS3 Sportback
- How You’ll Interact With Google’s Self-Driving Car: Gesture-Based Controls
- This is What it Looks Like Driving a Truck With Broken Brakes
- 2014 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Prototype Changes Hands for $200,000
| Boston Dynamic's Wildcat Robot will Either Scare You or Blow Your Mind Posted: 04 Oct 2013 05:02 PM PDT  After watching this video of Boston Dynamic's Wildcat Robot, don't be surprised if you find yourself looking on the right hand corner of your computer screen to check the date. No, it's still 2013, but the scientists and engineers at the Massachusetts-based robotics design company have definitely made a leap into the future with their latest prototype named "Wildcat". So, what's all the fuss about? Well, have ever been afraid of robots chasing or hunting you down – and no, we're not talking about robots of the likes of Futurama's Bender, but the stuff that sci-fi nightmares are made of. The Wildcat is a quadruped robot based on the company's Cheetah robot (see the second video below) developed with funding from DARPA's Maximum Mobility and Manipulation (M3) program. It has been engineered to run fast on all types of terrain using a blend of galloping and bounding to reach speeds of up to 16 mph [30km/h] on flat surfaces. Talking about it is one thing, but seeing it in action is a completely different story, so go ahead and watch the videos below.        |
| Elon Musk Responds to Tesla Model S Incident, Blames Firefighters for Worsening the Fire Posted: 04 Oct 2013 04:27 PM PDT  There have been many happy moments for Tesla this year, but on Tuesday, the story of a Model S catching fire after a crash - fortunately without any casualties or injuries, cast some rainy clouds over the California-based maker of electric cars. A video of the incident quickly spread around the web hurting Tesla's stock as shares fell from $190 to a low near $168, before jumping up to around $181 on Friday. Today, the company responded through its founder and CEO, Elon Musk. In a long statement, Musk explained that the cause of the accident was a large metal object that had fallen off a truck and which impaled the Model S' quarter-inch thick underbody panel. He said the impact resulted in a fire of the front battery module and surprisingly, placed some of the blame on the firefighters for making the fire worse after wrongly punching the metal firewall. Musk said that owners of the Model S should not be concerned about a fire risk noting that it is "safer to power a car with a battery than a large tank of highly flammable liquid." He also added the email correspondence with the owner of the car, who thanked Tesla for the support and stated that he is "still a big fan" of the Model S. You can read the full statement and email below.
Earlier this week, a Model S traveling at highway speed struck a large metal object, causing significant damage to the vehicle. A curved section that fell off a semi-trailer was recovered from the roadway near where the accident occurred and, according to the road crew that was on the scene, appears to be the culprit. The geometry of the object caused a powerful lever action as it went under the car, punching upward and impaling the Model S with a peak force on the order of 25 tons. Only a force of this magnitude would be strong enough to punch a 3 inch diameter hole through the quarter inch armor plate protecting the base of the vehicle. The Model S owner was nonetheless able to exit the highway as instructed by the onboard alert system, bring the car to a stop and depart the vehicle without injury. A fire caused by the impact began in the front battery module – the battery pack has a total of 16 modules – but was contained to the front section of the car by internal firewalls within the pack. Vents built into the battery pack directed the flames down towards the road and away from the vehicle. When the fire department arrived, they observed standard procedure, which was to gain access to the source of the fire by puncturing holes in the top of the battery's protective metal plate and applying water. For the Model S lithium-ion battery, it was correct to apply water (vs. dry chemical extinguisher), but not to puncture the metal firewall, as the newly created holes allowed the flames to then vent upwards into the front trunk section of the Model S. Nonetheless, a combination of water followed by dry chemical extinguisher quickly brought the fire to an end. It is important to note that the fire in the battery was contained to a small section near the front by the internal firewalls built into the pack structure. At no point did fire enter the passenger compartment. Had a conventional gasoline car encountered the same object on the highway, the result could have been far worse. A typical gasoline car only has a thin metal sheet protecting the underbody, leaving it vulnerable to destruction of the fuel supply lines or fuel tank, which causes a pool of gasoline to form and often burn the entire car to the ground. In contrast, the combustion energy of our battery pack is only about 10% of the energy contained in a gasoline tank and is divided into 16 modules with firewalls in between. As a consequence, the effective combustion potential is only about 1% that of the fuel in a comparable gasoline sedan. The nationwide driving statistics make this very clear: there are 150,000 car fires per year according to the National Fire Protection Association, and Americans drive about 3 trillion miles per year according to the Department of Transportation. That equates to 1 vehicle fire for every 20 million miles driven, compared to 1 fire in over 100 million miles for Tesla. This means you are 5 times more likely to experience a fire in a conventional gasoline car than a Tesla! For consumers concerned about fire risk, there should be absolutely zero doubt that it is safer to power a car with a battery than a large tank of highly flammable liquid. Below is our email correspondence with the Model S owner that experienced the fire, reprinted with his permission: From: robert Carlson Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2013 12:53 PM To: Jerome Guillen Subject: carlson 0389 Mr. Guillen, Thanks for the support. I completely agree with the assessment to date. I guess you can test for everything, but some other celestial bullet comes along and challenges your design. I agree that the car performed very well under such an extreme test. The batteries went through a controlled burn which the internet images really exaggerates. Anyway, I am still a big fan of your car and look forward to getting back into one. Justin offered a white loaner--thanks. I am also an investor and have to say that the response I am observing is really supportive of the future for electric vehicles. I was thinking this was bound to happen, just not to me. But now it is out there and probably gets a sigh of relief as a test and risk issue-this "doomsday" event has now been tested, and the design and engineering works. rob carlson On Oct 3, 2013, at 12:29 PM, Jerome Guillen wrote: Dear Mr. Carlson: I am the VP of sales and service for Tesla, reporting directly to Elon Musk, Tesla's CEO. I am sorry to hear that you experienced a collision in your Model S 2 days ago. We are happy that the Model S performed in such a way that you were not injured in the accident and that nobody else was hurt. I believe you have been in contact with Justin Samson, our service manager, since the accident. We are following this case extremely closely and we have sent a team of experts to review your vehicle. All indications are that your Model S drove over large, oddly-shaped metal object which impacted the leading edge of the vehicle's undercarriage and rotated into the underside of the vehicle ("pole vault" effect). This is a highly uncommon occurrence. Based on our review thus far, we believe that the Model S performed as designed by limiting the resulting fire to the affected zones only. Given the significant intensity of the impact, which managed to pierce the 1/4 inch bottom plate (something that is extremely hard to do), the Model S energy containment functions operated correctly. In particular, the top cover of the battery provided a strong barrier and there was no apparent propagation of the fire into the cabin. This ensured cabin integrity and occupant safety, which remains our most important goal. We very much appreciate your support, patience and understanding while we proceed with the investigation. Justin keeps me closely informed. Please feel free to contact me directly, if you have any question or concern. Best regards, Jerome Guillen I VP, WW sales and service     |
| High Tech Corvette's Offensive FB Posting on NYC Biker Incident Angers Users Posted: 04 Oct 2013 06:06 PM PDT  While looking around on High Tech Corvette's (HTC) pages for videos, we happened to read one of their FaceBook postings that initially left us stunned and bewildered before we said to ourselves, "what the heck was the author thinking?". Read what it says and you'll understand: "Note: If you run over a bunch of motorcycles in your SUV don't be surprised if you get chased down and have the f…k [explicit] beat out of you or killed!" Naturally, the offensive posting supporting the beating of Alexian Lien in front of his family from the bikers angered many of the Corvette fan site's viewers who quickly responded, and as a result, Texas-based HTC quietly removed it (that or FB intervened and took it off) from its FaceBook page, but not from our browser and our print screen button… The comments ranged from mild disapproval, like this one from Jim Karnes who wrote, "pretty one sided and partial comment from High Tech Corvette, you might want to know all of the facts before posting something like this", to name calling as was the case of Jason La Salle, who posted, "HTC you just lost a lot of business. Word spreads in the Vette community. Dumbass". The same posting was also shared on HTC's Twitter page pointing to their FaceBook site. We'd like to hear your thoughts on the matter in the comments below.
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| Camaro Meet Girl, Girl Meet Beefed Up 1,200HP Camaro… Posted: 04 Oct 2013 03:10 PM PDT  Even if these professional models depicted in High Tech Corvette's videos are usually coming along, not for the ride, but purely for work, there's no way you can hide your true feelings and…fears when placed in the passenger seat of a stomach twisting, 1,200-horsepower strong Chevrolet Camaro. Now, in the event that watching girls bouncing and screaming on the right-hand side of a car isn't exactly your cup of tea, we believe that you can still find joy in the following video from the sheer power, sound and sense of acceleration offered by the heavily tuned GM pony car. If you haven't so already, drive your mouse across the break and hit play to watch the two and half minute long clip.    |
| Collector of Classic Porsche 911s Tells the Story of a Special 1966 Irish-Green Model Posted: 04 Oct 2013 02:43 PM PDT  Of all car models around the world that have been constantly successful throughout their career, the Porsche 911 definitely holds the top spot. The (literally) timeless design and unchanged but constantly improved technical layout have made it a favorite among car collectors around the world. And if we're talking of 911 collectors, there are few that can rival Magnus Walker. You probably remember him, it's the guy whose ambition is to own every type of Porsche 911 ever built from 1964 to 1973. So far, he owns all 911 versions built from 1964 to 1972. In the following video by Xcar he talks about a particular car from his collection, a 1966 Irish-green Porsche 911. He describes driving it as being the closest one can get to going back in time 47 years, as the car is pretty much in its original condition. It's probably the right video to watch for those who dismiss the 911 as a boring car, while for 911 enthusiasts it's probably the coolest video they'll see today. We've also added the "Urban Outlaw" documentary which tells the story of Magnus Walker and his passion for classic Porsche 911s. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Mercedes S-Class Rolls 400 Feet Down a Mountain, Driver Lives to Tell the Tale Posted: 04 Oct 2013 02:05 PM PDT  While you'll never hear an automaker publicly talking about incidents that resulted in severe injuries or death (obviously…), companies do like to share true stories about how their vehicles helped protect occupants in the case of real-life accidents. Mercedes-Benz is one of them and it has released photos from a recent accident and the story behind it. It involves an unnamed driver of a 2010 Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID Sedan who was travelling on a winding mountain road on the outskirts of Yosemite National Park in August. He told Mercedes that an oncoming SUV forced him to swerve his car around a sharp curve and go over a cliff plummeting some 400 feet (122 meters) to the bottom after the road's shoulder gave way. Judging from the damages seen on the S-Class, the car doesn't look like it tumble down, and instead, it likely rolled down on its wheels – if the first scenario played out, the scars would have been obvious on the car's body. The man said that the car came to a stop some 50 feet above a creek. "I don't know what my thinking process was, but I decided to get out and start walking downhill," he said. "So I opened the door and hopped out, dropping seven feet down to a dry creek bed and then tumbling another 40 feet or so." "Somewhere down the hill, after I was done clipping off treetops, I came to with the car lodged between two trees. The first thing I recall was an mbrace operator asking me if I was ok. I didn't answer, but then I heard her on the line to CHP and telling them there'd been an accident and she could hear someone breathing." "You know, it was such a horseshoe turn that I don't think the other driver knew what happened. Though they were definitely over the double line, I'm not mad at them. I was a big city cop for 15 years—stabbed twice, shot four times—and people say I have nine lives. I still have plenty left," he added. Photos via Mercedes-Benz USA         |
| Ford Uses Sumo Wrestlers to Demonstrate its Clever Door Edge Protector Posted: 04 Oct 2013 01:30 PM PDT  For some car owners, especially those with an obsession to keep their four-wheeled possessions in mint condition (I include myself here), going to a crowded car park is not something they enjoy doing at all. That's because most of these trips result in dents on the bodywork left by other cars' doors. Fitting rubber protection bars to your car's doors works, but it doesn't look too good, does it now? Fortunately, Ford has come up with a very clever solution to avoid these dents. Called Door Edge Protector, it consists of a protective flap concealed in the door that moves into position in a fraction of a second as the door opens, providing a buffer that prevents damage to paint and bodywork. And the good thing is it works both ways, protecting both cars involved. I think it's safe to say a system like this should become standard on all cars all over the world. Now watch Ford demonstrate it with in a funny video featuring two sumo wrestlers and a Focus in a crowded car park in Germany. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Hyundai Goes Zombie Hunting Again for The Walking Dead with Fan-Designed Santa Fe Posted: 04 Oct 2013 01:04 PM PDT  Hyundai is no stranger to zombie-hunting vehicles as the automaker has been in cohorts with the creators of The Walking Dead comic book series for some time now, having shown the Elantra Coupe Zombie Survival Machine and a customized Veloster Zombie Survival Machine at the 2012 and 2013 editions of the famed San Diego Comic-Con festival respectively. The Koreans are now giving another one of their models the same post-apocalyptic treatment, this time, the new Santa Fe that will be revealed in the flesh at next week's New York Comic-Con. While the two previous models were designed by the creator of the comic series, Robert Kirkman, the Santa Fe SUV concept was penned by a fan of The Walking Dead, Anson Kuo, after he won a competition with more than 82,500 fan submissions. "We love Anson Kuo's take on this Santa Fe Zombie Survival Machine – it's creative… and deadly," commented Steve Shannon, vice president, Marketing, Hyundai Motor America. "With help from the popularity of The Walking Dead franchise, Hyundai continues to expand the conversation around Hyundai vehicles with young and passionate audiences."       |
| BMW Reportedly Reconsidering AWD Throughout the M range Posted: 04 Oct 2013 12:39 PM PDT  Would you buy the BMW M3, M4, M5 or M6 with all-wheel drive, if they had it optionally available? Turns out, you may just be able to do that close to the turn of the decade, as Motoring reports the Bavarian brand is thinking about expanding the use of all-wheel drive throughout the range of sporty M cars, not just the SUVs. It seems that cold climate countries' desires (and Audi) have ruined the image of the sports sedan (and estate) for good in the collective mind, making everybody think that all-wheel drive is some kind of requirement for good sales and wide appeal. BMW was the last of the manufacturers to give in, after Mercedes-Benz started offering all-wheel drive in more of its AMGs. Apparently, the intention at BMW is to finally bring the brand completely into the mainstream, and compete directly with both its home brands, and other rivals like Lexus, Jaguar, Cadillac, Porsche and even Maserati. This, however, will only happen once the current-gen M5 and M6 are phased out, in 2016-2017, and M5 and M6 variants of the next-gen car are brought to market, so at least another year after that. "I've looked at the numbers and 70 to 80 percent of E63 AMGs are all-wheel drive in the US now," BMW M's president Friedrich Nitschke told the news site. "On our cars we are thinking of all-wheel drive, but it won't come before we get the successor of the M5 and M6," he said. Nitschke admits that it's not an easy decision, however. "It's not all as simple as it seems. If you look at Audi, they had no choice but to make a rear-wheel drive car so they might as well do all-wheel drive. AMG made a decision to go that way and it seems to work for them, but we are not all the same," he said. Regarding the M3 and M4, it seems that there is currently a consensus not to make them AWD too - but it takes one positive market study to make them completely forget about it and just do it for extra market share. "The M5 and M6, maybe in the next generation they could get AWD, but not with the M3 or M4. Never," he said. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Man Fails to Surprise Girlfriend with New 2014 Corvette Stingray Gift Posted: 04 Oct 2013 12:12 PM PDT  Let's get something straight from the get-go; a good-looking young woman who can stick shift and play around with the third pedal is a rare gem in the States, so from that point of view, Miss "fastrC6dnUrs" (that's her YouTube handle) is certainly a keeper-candidate in our gasoline-fumed minds. Now, as far as this video is concerned and more specifically, her reaction upon seeing and learning that her (alleged) boyfriend (allegedly) surprised her (we say alleged because one can never be absolutely sure if what we see on YouTube is real or made up) with a new 2014 Corvette Z51, we're going to say that we were surprised by her borderline apathetic response… In all fairness, one cannot know whether she was tired or if she had a zillion other things crossing her mind at the moment. Either way, casual internet users and trolls alike hit their keyboards on YouTube, with comments ranging from, "She probably went back in her office, closed the door of her boss' office gave him a big kiss, and said, "You are not going to believe what my future ex boyfriend just bought us!" from a one "James Westmoreland", to " Poor guy, welcome to my life, and probably over 2,000,000 others..." from "hpjim". Miss "fastrC6dnUrs" responded to viewer reactions with the following comment, which to be frank, kind of cast some shadows our first positive impression: "Hahah! I'm so sorry my man JUST set the bar SO high for all you losers. YES! I AM SO DAMN grateful for this amazing man and our new VETTE. I'm beyond blessed to have him in my life because there are A LOT of losers out there! YES! I KNOW what F it is. YES! I CAN drive dat BISH. Apparently all that JELLO is utting a bad taste in some folks mouths. Keep hating I'll be out enjoyin our new Stingray AND my bad ass boyfriend." Watch the video and share your comments below.    |
| Mystery Man Breaks All Records Paying $52 Million for 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO Racer Posted: 04 Oct 2013 11:35 AM PDT  There's something about rare classic racecars that make the hearts of car collectors beat a heck of a lot faster. In fact, their hearts pump so fast at the sight of one of these mechanical masterpieces that it doesn't matter how much money they cost, they simply do everything in their power to get them. How else can one explain the $52 million (€38.16 million) a mystery buyer paid for a 1963 Ferrari 250 GTO racecar? The red 250 GTO was sold by collector Paul Pappalardo from Greenwich, Connecticut, in a private transaction that was confirmed independently to Bloomberg News by three specialist traders. The price makes the 250 GTO the most expensive car ever sold – at least among those that have been reported, so far. The car was bought by Pappalardo in 1974, restored and driven by the collector in many historic races, including the 2002 Le Mans Classic. "We don't confirm these things. I have no comment," Pappalardo said when asked about the price. The price is a 49 percent increase on the previous record for any car ($35 million), set in June 2012 year for another Ferrari 250 GTO, an apple-green example made for British racing driver Stirling Moss. So what is so special about the 250 GTO? For starters, only 39 units were ever produced. Created by a team led by Giotto Bizzarrini, the 250 GTO owed its lines to research carried out in a wind tunnel. Based on the 250 GT SWB road car, the 250 GTO featured tubular steel frame and was powered by a 3.0-liter V12 engine from the 250 Testa Rossa developing 300 hp. Mated to a five-speed manual gearbox, the engine pushed the car to a top speed of 280 km/h (174 mph). It featured a Spartan interior, with many switches sourced from the…Fiat 500 of the same era. It's described by analysts as the Mona Lisa of cars, a cult vehicle that all billionaires feel they have to own. And it's not only a whim, it is very lucrative too, as prices of the rarest Ferraris have risen at an average annual rate of 15 percent for more than 30 years. By Dan Mihalascu         |
| Scoop: Funny Looking Fiat 500L is a Test Mule for Jeep's Baby SUV Posted: 04 Oct 2013 11:10 AM PDT  We'll leave it to you to say whether the Fiat-Chrysler engineers seen the above photo are smiling at the car's reflection or simply posing for our spy photographer, but we will tell you that the vehicle they're in is a test mule wearing a cobbled up body from the Fiat 500L. The model buried under the awkward body is believed to be Jeep's upcoming "baby" SUV, which will share its platform and other components with the Fiat 500X, itself based on the 500L. Both the 500X and it's as-of-yet, unnamed Jeep sibling, will be manufactured together at Fiat's Turin factory in Italy, with the American model to come with a rougher-looking exterior (which will have nothing to do with this test mule) and possibly, better off-road handling, at least for the top AWD versions. In North America, powertrains options for the Jeep sub-compact SUV are believed to be similar to those offered on the Dodge Dart. Jeep has said that it could show the SUV as early as next year. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS         |
| Watch the Scary Onboard Footage of the 402 KM/H Lamborghini that Caught Fire Posted: 04 Oct 2013 10:45 AM PDT  You probably remember last month's story about the 2,000hp Lamborghini Gallardo that caught fire on the Moscow drag strip after hitting 402 km/h (250 mph). Whereas then we only saw the incident from the outside, now an onboard video of the event has surfaced and it's even scarier. Imagine doing 402 km/h in a Gallardo when suddenly a big explosion in the engine compartment releases a ball of fire that you can see in your rearview mirrors….and then smoke starts entering the cabin. As a matter of fact, you don't need any imagination for this, because the following video shows exactly what the driver experienced during the incident. If you watch the footage in slow motion, you will see that the first explosion occurs just meters before the finish line, with the big one happening just as the driver crosses it. Fortunately, the driver escaped with no injuries from the fire, which was caused by the engine blowing up. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| UK Sheriff's Office Seizes Rare MG X Power SV and Lists it for Sale Posted: 04 Oct 2013 10:23 AM PDT  Who knows what the future holds for MG now that its fate rests in the hands of the Chinese being a wholly owned subsidiary of SAIC Motor, but one of its last attempts at building a true sports car was the XPower SV from the early 2000s. Only 82 cars were manufactured, which means that the XPower SV is a rare beast indeed and when you find one listed for sale, it's worth a mention. The yellow example featured here is a repossessed model from the UK's The Sheriffs Office, High Court Bailiffs and stars of the BBC1 television show 'The Sheriffs are Coming'. What's that about sheriffs, you ask? Well, actually they're High Court enforcement officers, and if you must know more, here's the Wikipedia explanation: "High Court Enforcement Officers are authorised by the Lord Chancellor to execute High Court writs. They can seize and sell goods to cover the amount of a debt owed. They can also enforce and supervise the possession of property and the return of goods. They replaced Sheriff's Officers in April 2004." Back to the car itself, the XPower SV features a Ford Mustang-sourced 4.6-liter V8 with 320hp (324PS). The rear-wheel drive model was built in Modena, Italy, and finished at MG's Longbridge, UK, facility as it was based on the platform of the Qvale Mangusta, formerly known as the De Tomaso Bigua – quite a complicated arrangement, if we may say so. David Carter from The Sheriffs Office, told Carscoops that, "The car now has 13,873 miles, comes with the keys and V5 and is expected to fetch £20k [€24,000 or US$32,000] plus which could be a bargain for somebody". If you're interested, the MG will be listed for sale on Manheim Auctions in Northampton on October 10 "without reserve to the highest bidder".     |
| Thought Your Car Had Enough Airbags? Well, Now They’re Working on Exterior Ones Posted: 04 Oct 2013 09:53 AM PDT  The way current safety tech is progressing, there's a chance that in the distant future, cars will have the capability to land on the surface of another planet, with the simple addition of a parachute and perhaps some thrusters – the development of exterior airbags is underway. If you thought Volvo was joking with this year's April Fools photo, it wasn't, or it may have been at the time, but could have sparked a good idea out of it. The Daily Mail reports on "external airbags that pop up on the side of cars are the latest safety innovations being developed for the motoring industry." TRW Automotive is the company behind the project and it gets its funding from the European Union, but they are surely not the only ones. Volvo launched its under-bonnet airbag last year, one that makes pedestrians' impact with the front of the car more pleasant, while SEAT is rumored to be in on the act too. You can imagine that once they are made to work on the sides, it's only going to be a matter of time before the entire exterior of the car will have inflatable bags all around – it may even end up being mandated by law at some point further down the line. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Bulgaria Wants to Lure More Automakers and Suppliers After China's Great Wall Motors Posted: 04 Oct 2013 09:20 AM PDT  Did you know that Bulgaria recently joined the club of European countries that are automobile manufacturers? China's Great Wall Motors was the one to set shop in the country, with the first car rolling off the Litex Motors's assembly line near the city of Lovech in February last year. The factory has an annual capacity of 50,000 vehicles, which could be extended to 70 000 units if the need arises. The move has inspired Bulgarian officials to seek more and possibly bigger investments from other names in both the car manufacturing and supplier industries. Ernst & Young consultant Diana Nikolaeva told Autonews Europe that despite Bulgaria's problems, chiefly, a notoriously sluggish law enforcement and intricate administrative procedures, the country has won new factories from auto suppliers, as they take advantage of low corporate and personal taxation, as well as the skilled work force and the stable financial environment. "Proximity to western European markets and being part of the EU's harmonized regulatory framework are also key considerations," Nikolaeva told the publication. "We see concentration of component manufacturers in locations where there has been a long tradition in producing hydraulic parts, cable equipment, sensors," she added. Next week, Bulgaria's Automotive Cluster will hold the country's first ever international automotive conference in Sofia (October 8-10), with speakers from BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai.      |
| What Happened? Watch Police Car Slam Into Barriers During Washington DC Car Chase Posted: 04 Oct 2013 08:53 AM PDT  A graphic video from yesterday's Washington D.C. car chase was brought to our attention by one of our reader in the comments section. The raw footage taken by an eyewitness shows a speeding police car slamming into barriers at Capitol Hill. We don't get to see from the video if the chased car had passed earlier, we only see it crashing at high-speed into the barriers. While we don't know for sure whether the driver simply didn't see the obstacle or the barriers emerged from the ground at that exact moment, it's definitely something that needs to be explained. According to a preliminary statement from the Senate sergeant at arms, this was an isolated incident that happened when a Capitol Police officer tried to join the chase. The police cruiser "seriously clipped" a barricade, but his injuries are not life threatening. Meanwhile, new information has emerged regarding the female driver that was shot dead by the police officers after reportedly trying to breach a barrier at the White House. Police said she was Miriam Carey from Stamford, Connecticut, a 34-year-old dental hygienist. The woman's mother told ABC News that her daughter was suffering from postnatal depression after giving birth to her daughter last August and that she was hospitalized in the past for this problem. The one-year-old girl that was travelling in the black Infiniti with her mother was not injured and was taken into protective custody. However, the mother added that her daughter had no history of violence and she didn't know why she was in Washington on Thursday, as she was supposed to take her daughter to a doctor's appointment in Connecticut. Miriam Carey was described by her boss as a person who was "always happy." "It's the furthest thing from anything I would think she would do, especially with her child in the car. I am floored that it would be her," Dr. Steven Oked told ABC News. Injured policeman aside, there was also a hurt Secret Service agent, who was reportedly struck by the woman's car near the White House, where she tried to break a barrier. Officials said it appears the incident had "no nexus to terrorism." By Dan Mihalascu Special thanks to user Yobobjm for the tip!    |
| Honda Calling in Owners of 2014 Odyssey for…Misplaced Emblems Posted: 04 Oct 2013 08:23 AM PDT  Have you ever paid attention where carmakers place secondary model emblems on their cars? Probably not, but that doesn't mean automakers and their employees have the freedom of positioning badges wherever they want, otherwise some people may think that big soccer-mom Honda is the new Elite with the Odyssey trim grade… As insignificant as it may seem to most drivers and owners, Honda's factory mixed up the positioning of the emblems on certain 2014 Odyssey minivans placing the trim grade on the left side of the tailgate and the model name on the right, when it should be the other way around. It's not a recall per se, but Honda did send a letter to owners of the car, one of which landed in the office of Consumer Reports (the merits of owning the test cars and not using press models). "On some 2013 Odyssey vehicles, the Odyssey emblem was incorrectly installed on the passenger's side of the rear tailgate. The emblem should be installed on the drivers' side of the rear tailgate. American Honda Motor Company highly recommends that you participate in this Product Update. The placement of the emblem may indicate that the vehicle has had repairs performed that are consistent with it being in a crash. This could affect the resale value of the vehicle." So, if you're worried that someone may think you've crashed your Odyssey because the emblems are on the wrong side of the car, then you should go to Honda and get it fixed. If you couldn't care less, then, there's no need to do anything and you can save yourself a trip to your dealer…              |
| Volvo Tells Us that Cyclists May Not Always Be Visible [w/Videos] Posted: 04 Oct 2013 08:02 AM PDT  For Volvo, just having an autonomous braking system that could spot pedestrians, vehicles and other stationary obstacles wasn't capable enough, so they have now increased its capability by making it also detect bicyclists. It makes a big deal out of this, and has even released three slightly amusing videos to illustrate the point. They're called "Not all cyclists are this visible" and are basically just examples of extremely visible cyclists that you couldn't possibly miss while driving, even if you didn't have their clever systems backing you up. However, I don't really think there's no underlying theme here - no real thought-provoking message. I think the extra capability is definitely welcome, but Volvo needs not make it too paranoid, because after all, in some cities, those who travel by bike can often be a bit reckless and may pull off timed maneuvers that you and the rider can perceive as not being dangerous, but sensors may think otherwise and slam the brakes. Try explaining what happened to the guy that rams into the back of you… By Andrei Nedelea    |
| Blind Man Sets New Land Speed Record at 186 MPH or 299 KM/H Posted: 04 Oct 2013 07:40 AM PDT  I have always admired people who never give up on their dreams, no matter how hard it is for them to accomplish them. Mike Newman from Manchester, UK, is part of that special breed of people. An ex-bank manager, the 52-year-old has broken the land speed record for blind drivers by setting an average speed of 186 mph (299 km/h). Newman, who reclaimed the record from Turkish pop singer Metin Senturk, said he hoped his achievement would encourage people with disabilities to take up motor sport. He set the record in a Porsche 911 with the help of a navigator who gave him indications via radio from a chase car. His help was vital as Newman needed indications in order to go in a straight line. You can watch Newman's record run at the Bruntingthorpe Proving Ground in Leicestershire, UK, in the BBC News video below. By Dan Mihalascu    |
| Hyundai Replaces Cigarette Lighters with USB Ports In South Korea, E-Cigarette Users Rejoice Posted: 04 Oct 2013 07:20 AM PDT  With the advance of technology, many in-car accessories have become obsolete; like the cassette player that has completely disappeared from the automotive industry. The CD player will most likely share the same fate soon, but while these accessories are eliminated from cars due to the progress of technology, others are just eliminated because carmakers want to. Take the cigarette lighter, for instance. I have yet to see a car without a cigarette lighter available, partially because smokers make up a sizeable portion of buyers in many markets and partially due to the fact that people also use them to charge a variety of gadgets – from phones, to small vacuum cleaners and portable air pumps for tires. However, Hyundai has decided that the cigarette lighter has to go in order to free up space for USB ports, according to a report from the Financial Times. For the moment, the decision has only been implemented in South Korea, where all new Hyundai cars built from October 1 no longer have cigarette lighters. Instead of this smoker's accessory, the carmaker has mounted an USB port. This is the first explicit ban of the cigarette lighter by any global carmaker and it may expand to Hyundai's cars built for overseas markets as well. The first in-car cigarette lighter is said to have arrived in 1925, but during the last two decades, there has been a constant crackdown on smoking, especially in the western world. Add to that the fact that many countries are considering a ban on smoking in private cars as they consider in-car smoking both a health and safety hazard and Hyundai's decision may seem reasonable. Chrysler made a similar choice in the mid-1990s when it eliminated the ashtray from its cars. I'm just curious to see the smokers' points of view on this issue. Will it hurt Hyundai's popularity among smokers or it is a minor problem? By Dan Mihalascu      |
| Spy Shots: Looks Like Audi is Working on New RS3 Sportback Posted: 04 Oct 2013 06:59 AM PDT  With BMW and even Mercedes having raised the bar in the hot hatch segment with their 315hp (320PS) M135i and 355HP (360PS) A45 AMG respectively, Audi seems to have been left somewhat behind, as the most potent version of the A3 series is the S3 three- and five-door models powered by a 296Hp (300PS) 2.0-liter turbo engine. However, that may soon change as our spies spotted an undisguised Audi, which they believe to be a test mule for a mighty RS3 model. They base their claim on a few reasonable findings, starting with the engine that sounded just like the older model's 2.5-liter five-cylinder turbocharged mill and not an inline-four. And that's not all as this S3-badged model was fitted with larger cross-drilled discs and massive brake calipers. In addition, whereas the regular S3 has fake corner vents on the front bumper, the inlets on this car were actually opened and fully functional. If our spies' hearing sense is right, then Audi is likely testing the 2.5 liter five-cylinder turbo engine for the RS3, possibly even the tweaked version found on the TT RS Plus, which produces an extra 20hp (20PS) and 15Nm (11.06 lb-ft) of torque for a total of 355hp (360PS) and 465Nm (342.97 lb-ft), which should do the trick against the A45 AMG. Just like any other RS model, the production car will feature a more aggressive body and styling details than the S3. Photo Credits: CarPix for CarScoopS             |
| How You’ll Interact With Google’s Self-Driving Car: Gesture-Based Controls Posted: 04 Oct 2013 06:10 AM PDT  Word has been out for some time that Google is looking to (somehow) engineer its own car, and has the ambition to have that car drive itself. The sensor-laden Toyota Prius test prototypes you may have seen are the precursors to that, and we now learn that being such a novel idea, the company won't let you control it the way you do a regular car. Engadget tells us that the internet giant has just filed a patent for a system that can read hand motion via a ceiling-mounted depth camera, as well as a laser scanner. The idea is you use gestures to control various features inside the car, without having to push buttons or even use your voice – the latter never really worked properly, so I'm glad for this proposed third way… In fact, they have not stood still, and have already acquired hand gesture recognition app startup Flutter that will apparently be used to control Mac and PC functions - the connection to cars and this patent is not hard to make, though. High-precision sensors nowadays have become really accurate, don't cost that much to make, and even commercially available ones like the Kinect that comes with Microsoft's new Xbox One gaming system are freakishly-accurate, as the video posted below eloquently shows. We say this is one of the most promising directions for car interiors to go into in the future, as it allows the user to merely wave his or her hand in different ways and adjust the heating, close the window or turn up the radio. This is not far-fetched in any way, really, and we hope to see some interpretation of this in practice soon. By Andrei Nedelea    |
| This is What it Looks Like Driving a Truck With Broken Brakes Posted: 04 Oct 2013 10:27 AM PDT  One of the most dreaded situations for a truck driver must be the loss of braking power and the havoc it can wreak on the road. Sadly, it's not an uncommon scenario, especially when many truck owners don't take care of their vehicles. The following incident of a truck driver having to deal with such a life-threatening problem occurred (according to the YouTube author) near the Russian seaside resort town of Dzhubga during a downhill ride. We think the man handled it pretty well as he first tried to slow the truck down by steering towards the side of the road and then he smashed into traffic. He could have caused much more damage if he continued veering to the side as the truck would have likely tipped over crashing one or more vehicles. No info if and how many people were hurt, but it looks like the worst was averted.    |
| 2014 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet Prototype Changes Hands for $200,000 Posted: 04 Oct 2013 05:23 AM PDT  A prototype version for the 2014 Ford Mustang Cobra Jet drag racer was sold last weekend at the Barrett-Jackson Auction Las Vegas's sale for $200,000 (€147,200), with the Blue Oval handing over the proceeds to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. "Watching the car cross the block in support of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society was very rewarding," said Dave Pericak, Mustang chief engineer. "It is an amazing competition-ready car that will make any team an instant force in its class. This Mustang Cobra Jet will be an inspiring reminder for anyone who sees it on the drag strip to continue working to combat the effects of MS." The Mustang racer with the unique serial number of #2014 BJMS CJXX1 sports a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 mated to a T4 racing transmission. Other parts include an optional traction "wheelie" bar, a chrome-moly safety cage, exclusive Cobra Jet-branded Weld wheels, three-link rear suspension, lightweight racing brakes, 9-inch rear axle, and custom Cobra-branded Recaro seats.       |
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