It Came from eBay Hell: V6 Powered Ferrari Fiero-rossa auf Deustchland zukommt*

Suppose you are a used car buyer in Germany, with €9,990 (US$13,199) to spend on some new wheels. Would you - even in your darkest, most masochistic hour - consider buying this...this thing? Let’s run down the list of why you shouldn’t buy this car:

1. It’s a Pontiac Fiero. Yes, it’s mid-engined and built in the good ol’ U.S.A., but it was built in the good ol’ U.S.A. in the 1980s and has a body made of plastic. That’s like saying, “She’s Latino and has a great body, but she has rotten teeth and herpes.”

2. The owner has made some modifications, including the addition of Ferrari Testarossa-style side strakes and a pair of Lotus Type 47-inspired snorkels that look like they’re made of old drainpipes. Classy.

3. The price is ludicrous. You can pick up an immaculate, first generation Toyota MR2 for half that. And a dozen better cars, to boot.

More worrying than the above though is the V6 modification the owner has carried out and the fact the registration papers have expired. Why? Well, it’s a Fiero. Fiero owners, by their very nature, rarely make their cars “better”. And the expired registration papers imply, to me at least, that the car is no longer roadworthy.

So, dear readers, I leave it up to you. Is this V6-engined Ferrari-wannabe a God or a dog? Your verdict, gentlemen and ladies...

* That’s, “from Germany” for those not as savvy with Google Translate as moi.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: eBay Germany

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Unbelievable, but True: Man Booked for Same Offence in Two Different Continents by the Same Policeman!

What are the odds of receiving a ticket for the same offense, by the same officer, in two different continents? Well, as policeman Andy Flitton recently discovered, it's not as impossible as it sounds. Back in 2009, shortly before migrating to New Zealand, Constable Flitton ticketed an unnamed man for speeding in England. At the time, Mr Flitton was an officer for the Metropolitan Police in London for about 26 years.

Fast forward to 2010, and Mr. Flitton is working for the Rangiora police department in New Zealand. In late September, the 47-year-old officer stopped a speeding driver near Leithfield. Upon asking for details, the driver showed his South African and British licences and told the police officer that he had recently emigrated from England where he had lived for 12 years.

Mr. Flitton went back to his car to write up the ticket. When he returned he saw the man smiling.

"He asked if I had worked in London. I said, yes," Flitton said. "He asked if I used to operate the laser gun on the A5 in North London. I said, yes. And he said, 'I thought it was you. You gave me my last speeding ticket there two years ago'."

Mr. Flitton told reporters that at first he didn't recognize the man. " The minute he said it though, I remembered the whole thing. We both just had a laugh."

"We must have some sort of connection," Mr Flitton added. "He only ever broke the law twice and both times I was the one to give him a ticket. It cost him £60 over there and $120 over here so it wasn't cheap. It just shows what a small world it really is."

Via: NZ Herald , Photo: Wikipedia

Hat tip goes to Nick. M!

Retour vers le futur: Renault's Amazing 800HP Espace F1 MPV Prototype

I don’t have children, but I bet school runs can become pretty boring. However, if parents could get their hands on a Renault Espace F1, I’m sure they'd sing to a different tune when they'd return back from school... Unveiled in 1995, this über-Espace was not your typical soccer-mom transporter. Created to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the French MPV and Renault’s decade-long involvement in Formula 1, the concept was literally an F1 racer in disguise.

Power was sourced from the 1993 Williams-Renault FW15C single seater racecar. The 3.5-liter 40-valve V10 powerplant initially developed 700 hp, but engineers managed to squeeze another 100 ponies pushing output to 800 hp. As with the F1 car, the V10 was mounted in the center sending power to the rear wheels, through a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission.

Performance was simply mind-boggling: the Espace F1 could reach 100 km/h (62 mph) in just 2.8 seconds and 200 km/h (124 mph) in 6.9 seconds. Top speed was pegged at 312 km/h or 194 mph.

Stopping power was equally impressive. Fitted with carbon-ceramic brakes, the special Espace could accelerate from 0 to 270 km/h (168 mph) and then brake to standstill in less than 600 meters (1,969 ft).

Is this the ultimate MPV or what? Check out the videos below to see it in action.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Renault / Youtube

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Transformers 3 "Dark of the Moon" Trailer goes Live

Get ready for the third installment of Michael Bay's Transformers franchise as the first trailer of the upcoming new movie called Transformers 3: Dark of the Moon, has hit the air. Being that Megan Fox abandoned the series, we're somewhat less excited about this one, and the new trailer, which gives a fictional twist to Neil Armstrong's 1969 moon landing, ain't helping much either. In any case, you can watch the clip right after the break.

Via: Jalopnik

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Idries Noah’s T2 Concept: E55 AMG Performance without the Guilt

Graphic artist and automotive aficionado Idries Noah wows us yet again with the T2 Concept: an eco-friendly hybrid electric supercar. The South African designer, whose previous creations include the Audi R8-rivalling BMW M Sports Coupe and Dodge Viper-esque Project Fireblade, envisions the T2 Concept as, the “world’s fastest environmentally-friendly car”.

Kudos must be given to Noah for creating something that doesn’t look like a mere hodgepodge of other supercars like so many other artists’ work. I especially like the mix of sharp corners and harsh curves that make up the design.

Powered by a 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to two electric motors for a theoretical total output of 469 hp (350 kw), Noah estimates that the T2 Concept is good for a (imagined?) 0 to 60 mph (0 to 96 km/h) time of 4 seconds. This is roughly the same as a W211 Mercedes-Benz E55 AMG.

And yes, I realize how silly it is to be talking power and performance figures for a car that is, in actual fact, non-existent. But just look at it and tell me you wouldn’t like one of these things in your garage in five to ten years.

You can check out more of Idries Noah’s work at his website and check out the T2 Concept in our gallery below.

By Tristan Hankins

Source: IDI3D

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Slow Down App Uses Music to Warn Heavy Footed Drivers

If for some reason you find yourself constantly violating the speed limits, then you may want to take a look at this new app for Apple's iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad products. The "Slow Down App" does what it implies; it slows down the music or even shuts off the volume completely to warn drivers that they have exceeded the speed limit. The music resumes when the driver gets back in order. The application makes use of the GPS to work out the car's driving speed. It was created by OVK, an organization in Belgium supporting the Parents of Child Road Victims. Watch the video after the jump.

Thanks for the tip Glen!

Source: Slowdown , Link: Apple App

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Takayanagi Miluira: A Retro-Styled, Pocket EV from Japan

In a world where “grown-up” EVs like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt are all about numbers and specs, the little open-top Takayanagi Miluira from Japan doesn’t take itself very seriously. Featuring a design that resembles cars from the early 1900s, it measures just 2.18 meters (85.8 inches) in length and can only accommodate the driver.

The interior follows the vintage styling theme of the exterior, though we’re not sure if the material covering the steering column is real wood or plastic, but, in any case, it’s too “loud” as far as color and texture goes.

According to the manufacturer's website, the Miluira has a range of 35 km (22 miles) and can reach a top speed of 60 km/h or 37 mph. Both figures attest that the little EV could be used for short commutes, as long as the weather has no objections.

When the Miluira hits the market in 2011, it will be priced from 6.3 million yen or about $74.768. See, we told you that this car really isn't very serious... Even so, the Japanese EV is quite eye-catching and we wouldn’t mind taking one for a spin.

By Csaba Daradics

Source Takayanagi , Via: Treehugger

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Moon Regan Transantartic Expedition’s Concept Vehicle is Cooler than Ice [with Video]

Most people can get through the winter driving ordinary vehicles just fine as long as they follow some simple rules. But when the going gets tough and the snow hits the fan, you need a special ride, like this Bio-Inspired Ice Vehicle (BIV). Built in 2008 with Lotus know-how, the BIV is currently used by the Moon Regan Transantartic Expedition for an epic Antarctic crossing.

The team reached the South Pole on December 3, after a week. Their resilience was put to the test by the bad weather, highly irregular terrain (known as sastrugi) and mechanical problems. Taking on the lead vehicle role, the BIV is “an agile route-finder”, according to the expedition’s official website. Two, six-wheeled Ford Econolines with 7.3-liter diesel V8s, handle the role of the support vehicles

With moving parts kept to a minimum, the BIV is fitted with three skis and independent suspension, which allow for optimum weight distribution and increased stability. Weighing in at just 700 kg (1.543 lbs), the BIV’s biggest advantage over conventional vehicles is that it can be hauled by people in situations when moving on its own is impossible. Spiked brakes provide stopping power.

Inside, there's enough space only for the driver, who is greeted by a bucket seat and a sport steering wheel.

The initial concept featured a 1.2-liter BMW engine, modified to run on E85 bioethanol but it was replaced with a more powerful Rotax 914 turbocharged unit, better suited for low temperatures and higher altitudes. The engine drives a three-blade variable-pitch propeller that can push the BIV to a top speed of 84 mph (135 km/h) in ideal conditions.

The Antarctic crossing is expected to last at least 40 days and will cover a distance of 5,800 kilometers or 3,604 miles. You can check out the team’s progress using the live tracker found here. Also, don’t forget about the video below, in which engineer Kieron Bradley presents the highlights of the BIV.

By Csaba Daradics

Source: Moon Regan Transantartic Expedition

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It Came From Japan: Ferrari F40 Stretch Limousine

Pop quiz, hot shot; what’s better than a replica Ferrari F40? If you said an actual Ferrari F40, then you are dead wrong. The correct answer is a replica Ferrari F40 limousine. Fortunately (for us), such things actually exist.

So where would one find such an automotive monstrosity? In Japan, of course! You know, the country that brought us the Mitsuoka Orochi, melon flavored chocolate and a pillow shaped like a kneeling woman’s lap.

With an asking price of just ¥580 (US$6.90) - which is either a misprint or how much confidence the seller has in this vehicle’s worth - this remarkable collision of Japanese underpinnings and European style comes with a CD changer, air conditioning, power steering and windows, keyless entry, sunroof, ABS, an anti-theft system, 19-inch wheels and leather bucket seats. Not to mention the “hearty” 1.6 L powerplant under the hood.

Admittedly, it’s probably nothing more than a Honda Accord or Toyota Corolla under all that new bodywork (the seller says it's a 1989 model), but come on - for US$6.90, what did you expect? As always, take a look at our gallery and let us know your opinion in the comments section below.

By Tristan Hankins

Link: Goo-Net

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VIDEO: BMW Teaches us a Lesson about Winter and Summer Tires

When we shared with you a list with winter driving tips in our previous post -see here- we stressed the importance of using winter tires. The reason? Summer tires will lose most of their elasticity at 7 degrees Celsius (44.6 F) and it only gets worse as temperatures drop further. Grip will be almost non-existent and having four-wheel drive doesn’t help either. If you still have doubts, follow the break to check out a video from BMW showing the new X3 with summer tires rendered useless in the snowy Austrian Alps.

By Csaba Daradics

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U.S. Government Looking Into Cell Phone Blocking Tech in Cars to Save Lives

[Updated] In response to the ever growing number of deaths and injuries attributable to distracted driving, the U.S. Department of Transportation is investigating technology that would effectively disable driver’s cell phones in their cars.

On MSNBC’s Morning Joe breakfast show, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood stated: "There's a lot of technology out there now that can disable phones and we're looking at that. That's one way. But you have to have good laws, you have to have good enforcement, and you have to have people take personal responsibility. That's the bottom line."

The semi-official announcement comes as the DoT launches a new online video campaign called, “Faces of Distracted Driving”, where victims speak about how it has changed their lives. Mr. LaHood went on to state that the deadly phenomenon has claimed 5,500 lives in the last year, with 500,000 more injured.

Paul Atchley, a scientist as the University of Kansas, thinks the true numbers could be much higher, and that things will only get worse:

"When we ask young drivers about drunk driving, they say that judges should throw the book at drunk drivers, but not the person texting while driving. The bottom line is that people want to use these devices. And things are going to get worse before they get better."

There are no federal laws in the U.S. that limit the use of a cell phone while driving, though many states do prohibit texting. Others have made it illegal to use a cell phone without a headset / voice dialing.

It is unlikely that cell phone jammers will be built into cars, as the Federal Communications Commission has made these illegal (for obvious reasons). The DoT is therefore seeking a software solution that could use cell phone towers to estimate a car’s speed.

Mr. Atchley, however, is convinced this won’t work, as these methods are voluntary and the software is not difficult for tech savvy users to work around. Instead, Atchley believes we must change people’s attitudes.

Though given the failings of similar campaigns against speeding and drunk driving, this may not be as easy as it first seems.

*Update: The U.S. Department of Transport is not considering mandating cell phone blocking technology in cars. The U.S. DoT is simply evaluating these technologies so that individuals and companies may voluntarily use them in the near future. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has clarified this in a blog post.

By Tristan Hankins

Via: MSNBC

Car Spotting: Ferrari Fortwo makes Aston's iQ look like a Work of Art

If anything else, you can't blame Smart Fortwo owners for not having a sense of humor. Snagged on the streets of London by Carscoop reader Rob J., the Smart-tuned-into-Ferrari Fortwo comes with all the latest advancements in aerodynamic technology such as the individual, F1 style front and rear spoilers that keep the car firmly on the ground, even when people pass by and sneeze. Intrigued? Run through the jump for more tantalizing pics.

Hat tip to Rob!

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