Hagerty predicts this year's future classics

HAGERTY ANNOUNCES ITS ANNUAL 'HOT LIST' OF FUTURE COLLECTOR CARS
The World Leader in Classic Car Insurance Predicts the Ten Most Collectible 2013 Model Year Cars of Tomorrow

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (January 29, 2013) – The launch of a new vehicle always causes excitement and debate among car enthusiasts, and the models debuting at the recent North American International Auto Show were no exception. While automakers raved about the latest technology and performance statistics, the vehicles' long-term desirability among future collectors was rarely mentioned.

Always in search of future collectibles, Hagerty has unveiled its annual "Hagerty Hot List" of cars that speak to driving enthusiasts. Chosen by its team of experts, the selections are made up of mass-produced vehicles available for sale as a 2013 model with an MSRP of less than $100,000. Special consideration was given to newly launched versions not appearing on previous Hagerty Hot Lists that will likely become collectible in the next 20 years.

"This year's Hot List is comprised of vehicles from a wide variety of market segments and manufacturers, but they all share one thing in common – a certain 'cool' factor that will be remembered by car enthusiasts for many years to come," says McKeel Hagerty, President and CEO of Hagerty. "Well-preserved examples will be sought-after well beyond their contemporary peers have been used up and recycled."

The 2013 Hagerty Hot List (along with base price):

SRT Viper ($97,395) – The redesigned coupe has more power than ever with its 8.4 liter V10 engine, 640 horsepower and absurd 600 lb-ft of torque – "the most torque of any naturally aspirated engine currently produced," according to Chrysler. We applaud the Viper as one of the last living examples of the once-celebrated mantra of "there is no replacement for displacement."

Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427 ($75,925) – 2013 marks the 60th anniversary of the Corvette and Chevrolet is celebrating with its "fastest and most capable Corvette convertible yet." Nothing screams "American Muscle" like a 505 horsepower beast that will do zero-to-60 in 3.8 seconds, coming from a good old fashioned pushrod V8 engine. Corvette values tend to favor the last model year of each generation making the 60th anniversary year a worthy example to keep in your garage.

Audi RS5 ($68,900) – It's purely subjective, but we think the basic Audi A5 is one of the handsomest coupes on the market. It just oozes good taste in the way that big BMW coupes like the 3.0CS and 635 CSi used to. Add to that a potent 414 horsepower, 4.2 liter V8 and you've got the makings of a truly great coupe.

Porsche Cayman S ($63,800) – For Porsche purists, the introduction of the Cayenne Diesel (2013 SUV) was a departure from everything Porsche felt the brand stood for. The Cayman S is Porsche's atonement for the sin of the diesel Cayenne. This version is more powerful, more efficient and lighter than previous versions of the Cayman. Say hello to the 911's little brother.

Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Convertible ($59,545) – Make no mistake, we are living in a modern day horsepower race led by American pony cars. Priced near the top of its segment and equipped with a 580 horsepower supercharged V-8, Chevrolet's "most powerful production convertible ever" will likely be limited to hardcore enthusiasts and command a premium when they surface years down the road.

Tesla Model S ($58,570) – Electric cars themselves are nearly as old as the light bulb. The Model S defies the stereotype that electric cars are just for people trying to kick the petroleum habit. A nearly-silent zero-to-60 time of five seconds gives new definition to a "sleeper" car.

Mini John Cooper Works GP ($39,950) – With a top speed of 150 mph, the John Cooper Works GP is being hailed as "the fastest Mini ever built," according to the company. The turbocharged engine boasts 211 horsepower and will reportedly hit 60 mph in only 5.9 seconds. Mini enthusiasts will need to secure theirs quickly as merely 500 units will be sold in the United States.

Subaru BRZ ($25,495) – One of the lightest sport coupes in the current market, the Subaru BRZ's precision handling sets it apart from the crowd. Often thought of as a 'quirky' carmaker specializing exclusively in all-wheel drive models, the rear-wheel drive BRZ injects some tire-smoking adrenaline into the Subaru brand. Its twin is the equally impressive Scion FR-S.

Volkswagen GTi ($23,995) – If sales hadn't flourished so much over the years, we would describe the GTi as having a cult-like following. The most successful compact sports car in the world has come a long way since the debut of the first Golf GTi in 1976...and the 2013 version may be the best yet. Fun, cool and practical for less than $25K. Ja, Bitte!

Ford Focus ST ($23,700) – Ford used to save its best small cars for the European market. Thankfully, those days are over. We believe this four-door hatch with over 250 horsepower and performance handling is an undeniable bargain under $25K that will attract collectors many years down the road.

"Space Babies" 2014 Kia Sorento Big Game Ad

Kia is out to answer life's big questions in its ad for the upcoming Super Bowl. Questions like: Where do babies come from? The spot follows one father as he spins a tale to shield his young son from the world of adult truths. The story starts on planet Babylandia, where infants of every species live in peaceful coexistence until they're called to Earth. When that happens, the adorable little beings suit up and take a nine-month journey through space to their new home before parachuting from the heavens. Sure beats that tired old stork yarn.

Oh, and we forgot to mention there's a 2014 Kia Sorento in the spot as well. You can check out the whole shindig below for a quick chuckle. Expect to see the spot air during the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl, and keep your eyes peeled for the new Forte spot. We hear tell that ad features Alyssa Campanella in a robot get up. No, we don't get it either.

$3.4 million W Motors Lykan is the first Arab supercar

The oil-rich Middle East has long been one of the top markets for high-performance, high-priced supercars, and now it has one to call its own: The W Motors Lykan Hypersport.

Penned by a designer from Beirut, the Lykan was engineered with help from renowned European speciality automotive outfits Magna Steyr and Ruf, among others. Production of the carbon fiber two-seat coupe is expected to take place in the UAE and Dubai starting later this year. Among other luxuries, buyers can have the headlights encrusted in a choice of gemstones that includes diamonds and rubies.

The Lykan is powered by a twin-turbocharged flat-6-cylinder engine that puts out 750 hp and should be able to propel it to a top speed of 242 mph, according to W Motors, making it one of the fastest production cars in history.

Although the full interior hasn't been revealed, the company says it will feature a holographic instrument cluster and real gold stitching for its leather upholstery.

Just 7 Lykans will be built, and the company says it already has hundreds of requests for them from around the world. Each very wealthy buyer will also get a special edition Cyrus Klepcys watch worth $200,000.

2013 Portland International Auto Show

We visited the 2013 Portland International Auto Show on the 25th. The main show was like a shopping mall for nearly every make, model and style of car, SUV and light truck. The luxury loft was located in the Portland Ballroom offering a more intimate setting for upscale sports and luxury cars.

The show offered a chance to drive vehicles from eight different manufacturers and were located at various points around the convention center. This gave drivers a no-pressure opportunity to get behind the wheel of some of the industry's newest models incluing the new 2013 Honda Accord and Toyota Avalon.

Every square inch of the Oregon Convention Center was filled with vehicles and special feature for the entire family. Oregon's largest annual consumer show, the Auto Show was produced by the Metro Portland new Car Dealers Association and presented by Allstate, The Oregonian and OregonLive.com

Lamborghini hits 210 mph on Maimi airport runway

There’s no meal on this flight, but you can probably deal.

The Lamborghini Aventador Roadster has become the first car to travel faster than an airplane down a runway at Miami International Airport. And it did it with the top down.

The 692 hp supercar hit 210 mph on the airport’s south runway, confirmed by a Mami Dade Police radar trap.

Jumbo jets using the airstrip have a takeoff speed between 150-180 mph and typically don’t break 200 mph until they’ve left the ground.

Nothing illegal going on here, however, the stunt was part of a media event marking the launch of the $441,600 drop top.

Unfortunately, you’ll have to put it on your airline credit card to get frequent flier miles.

1966 Chevy Impala Super Coupe

VEHICLE OF THE MONTH SPONSORED BY AUTO EMPORIUM

This month we introduce you to Pablo Rodrigues.  Originally from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, Pablo's parents moved the family to Grants Pass, Oregon in search of a better future for their family when he was just three months old.  Headed in the direction he and his parents aspired after, Pablo graduated from Grants Pass High school in 2002.
Currently, Pablo is a member of the Industrial Finishes team where he is a sales representative and serves many auto body & paint shop throughout the Rogue Valley.  In addition, Pablo also helps with his Parent's Mexican restaurant, Las Palmas, located in Jacksonville.  It was at the restaurant where the Impala opportunity came.  One day while working at the restaurant he was approached by an older gentleman who told him, "I know what kind of car you like…I have a '66 Impala in my backyard that I need to get rid of."  Later that week Pablo went to see the Impala and although it was in bad shape he saw the potential in the vehicle. The Impala had rust all over the floor panels, the paint was completely faded, the interior was cracked from the years of sun exposure, but the body was straight and had no major damage. He became the owner of the work-in-progress Impala and enlisted the help of many friends to turn the vehicle into the one he had always dreamed of owning. Pablo remembers falling in love with the Lowrider style of vehicles since the first time he first laid eyes on one.  He recalls going to parks around town with his parents to sell Churros and drinks to football and volleyball players, there he would admired a Lowrider that would occasionally drive by.  It was a Bahama blue '65 Impala owned by Jesus Angulo.  A few years later Jesus and Pablo met, inspiring him to cultivate his love of Lowriders and allowing him to turn it into a hobby by becoming a member of the car club "The Associates."

 

Without further anticipation we present Pablo's Omaha Chevy Orange '66 Impala Super Coupe with a V8 motor and 13" crown wire wheels.  Countless hours of labor went to making this the Impala that you see today.  The interior, engine and body were rebuilt and with the help of Dustin Knight who supplied the paint booth the masterpiece was completed.  Industrial Finishes supplied all the materials that went into making this the dream Impala.  Pablo is not done yet, he still plans to redo the interior with white and orange. Pablo tells us, "I have named my Impala 'dreamsicle' like the orange and cream ice-cream bars."  People are in constant disbelief when they see him riding in his Impala, Pablo describes his most common reaction as "dammmmmmnnn…that's a nice ride!"  Pablo adds, "a lot of work when into the Impala's transformation, I would like to thank my brother Luis Rodrigues, Yovanni Murillo, Nick Antiveros, Ramon Angulo and Manuel Angulo for helping me make my Impala perfect." 
Pablo would like to offer his service and knowledge with paint and supplies at Industrial Finishes of Medford, Oregon, "come down and visit me, I can help you in English or Spanish."  Thank you Pablo for sharing your story and impressing us with your Impala "Dreamsicle!"

As published in January Revista Caminos

 

A Car That Runs Off of Air

With the ever changing car market it seems like there are more and more possiblilities for non-gas options.  If only we could get these in the U.S.

http://youtu.be/0RBl1LFUQ4c

The AirPod has only three wheels, two doors and a joystick instead of a steering wheel.  In an effort to build a non-polluting car the makers build this low emissions vehicle powered by compressed air.

 Using technology developed by MDI, the car’s tank can be refilled through a charging station, or take in air while driving with the help of its electric engine—for a full tank, it takes two minutes to refill.

The AirPod is able to travel at a top speed of 28 to 49 mph (45 to 80 kmh)—and travels150-200km on a full tank.

The AirPod has caught the eye of Indian manufacture Tata but will only be commercially available in the near future.

Secrets of the Volkswagen Beetle

The original air-cooled VW Beetle lasted an incredible 58 years in production, during which time it was fundamentally unchanged. It’s a record that will likely never be approached, let alone broken. Although nearly everyone of a certain age has at least one Beetle story or fond memory, there are a few things still not generally known about the beloved car. Here are five of our favorites:

The original classic Beetle didn’t leave production until 2003: Although it was last sold in the U.S. in 1979 (by which time the water-cooled Rabbit had replaced it), the original air-cooled Beetle was produced in Puebla, Mexico, until 2003. It’s essentially identical to the cars produced in Germany for export to the U.S. in the 1970s, but it is illegal to try to import a Mexican Beetle into the U.S. because they don’t comply with recent emissions and safety laws.                                 

1.        It was conceived by an infamous dictator: The original Beetle was the brainchild of Adolf Hitler. Keen to put ordinary Germans on the newly constructed autobahn superhighways in their own cars, a subsidized savings plan involving a coupon booklet was devised. When a family filled their booklet, they were supposed to get their car. WWII intervened and all pre-war Beetle deliveries were limited to Nazi party officials. Private owners didn’t get their hands on a Beetle until after the war.

2.        Germans don’t remember it as fondly as we do: The connection with the dictator who brought ruin to their country as well as the fact that it serves as a reminder of the lean times before the West German economic miracle took hold means that post-war Germans don’t have the same warm and fuzzy feelings about the Beetle that American ex-hippies do. 

3.        The Beetle will float: The Beetle may have been inexpensive, but it was never cheap. Gaps were tight and doors sealed well. Additionally, it was a unibody car with a very flat floor with few openings. All of this meant that the car would actually float for at least several minutes after hitting the water before turning into a small U-boat.

4.        Subject of groundbreaking ad campaign: The Beetle was the subject of one of the most influential ad campaigns of the 20th century. Most recently lampooned on the TV show “Mad Men,” it was among the first national campaigns to utilize irony and self-deprecating wit. A tiny black-and-white photo of a Beetle in a sea of white space with only the headline “Think Small” was the first of the ads introduced in 1959 by the agency Doyle Dane Bernbach.

5 Rules You Should Follow When Driving In Snow

As the we face another cold snap and several inches of ‘travel chaos’ bury our roads, it’s a good time to remind ourselves of the simple rules around driving in these conditions. Whether you’re in the right car or the wrong car, here are the cold facts every Car Throttle reader should be aware of to keep them safe this winter.

Rule 0: Just don’t

No, seriously, it’s an important one to remember. One of the biggest dangers with ice and snow on the roads is a normal volume of traffic. Unless going out will actually get you fired or killed, try to avoid it.

Rule 1: Fail to prepare and you…

 

Although weather forecasters are rarely right, they can spot low temperatures and a sky full of wet, so you can usually prepare for it. A car that’s full of screenwash is not likely to run out of it halfway into your journey. One that’s full of fuel won’t need an extra bit half way into your journey. Better still is having a spare set of alloys in your garage with a set of winter tyres on them – they take 30 minutes to change over and the value of winter tyres cannot be overstated. It’s a good idea to keep some warm clothes and bits of carpet in the car too, in case of breakdown.

 

Rule 2: Get them snows off yo’ ride

 

Clearing off the glass so you can see where you’re going is only a small part of the job. If you don’t clear off the bonnet, your windscreen will be pelted with your own snow as you’re driving along and if you don’t clear off the roof you’ll cover the screen and blind yourself the very first time you brake. You’ll need to clear the lights and the registration plate too – both are required to be unobstructed by law. If your car looks like the above when you set off, you’re doing it wrong.

 

Rule 3: Switch up your routes

 

Be aware of how different types of road change in the cold. Major roads are well travelled and well gritted – they’ll be slushy, but passable with little difficulty above a normal wet road. Minor roads will be hellish. High and exposed roads will be colder than low, sheltered ones in the first snowfall, but they’ll also warm up quickly afterwards while the sheltered ones keep their ice much longer. Bridges are particular worries for ice – without the ground to insulate beneath them, temperatures can drop much more quickly. Take the likely safest path, even if it is a bit longer than usual.

 

Rule 4: Strictly no tailgating

 

Few people realise the effect snow and ice has on stopping distances, but it’s pretty dramatic. Generally speaking a safe stopping distance in ideal conditions is two seconds – regardless of your speed (so long as it’s legal), you should be able to bring your car to a halt in two seconds so you should always be looking to be two seconds behind a car ahead of you and not run out of road you can see in less than two seconds. In the wet this doubles and in the snow it quadruples at least. This means being aware of what’s eight seconds ahead of you.

 

Rule 5: Make small and smooth inputs

This should not be you!

 

Although good practice anyway, this needs special attention when grip is reduced. Only put in as much throttle as you need to get moving, as much steering as you need to go that way and as much braking as you need to slow down. The clutch is often ignored, but slipping it to allow more gradual application of engine power is a good idea too. Use as high a gear as you can get away with when moving – set off in 2nd, rather than 1st – to reduce wheel torque and wheelspin and use the gears and engine-braking to slow down going downhill too. If you lose control at any point, gather it back without violent inputs – steer gently into a skid while gradually removing power rather than leaping off the pedals and winding on the opposite lock. Not like this guy.

 

We hope to see you all safely after the thaw.

 

DeLorean Hovercraft goes for a spin

When Marty McFly and "Doc" Brown took us for a second cinematic trip back and forth into time with their late 1980s flick "Back to the Future Part II", many of us who were youngsters then, dreamed that by 2015, cars would indeed fly.

 

"I started building two years ago and finished what I am calling a "rough draft" version just 4 months later. As you can see from my video, it looked like a Delorean and it did hover, but it was actually quite rickety and unsafe. So for the past 20 months I've been re-building it from the ground up.

 

 

 

It is coming along nicely and should be sturdy, safe, and professional looking when finished. But now I'm totally out of money with about 3 months of work left to do, and I'm hoping you would be generous enough to help me finish it! My goal is to raise $5,500 for construction materials and labor costs."

 

We may have grown up, but the kid that lives deep down inside us would still like to believe. Evidently, we're not alone, which brings us to Matthew Riese from San Francisco, who wanted to build the next best thing, a DeLorean-themed hovercraft. The 26-year-old began working on the idea in 2008, but after two years, he ran out of money and decided to fund the project on Kickstarter, a popular site that invites the masses to invest in creative ideas, with the goal to raise $5,500, which he succeeding in doing. Here's what Riese wrote on Kickstarter back in 2010: A flux capacitor and 88mph later, Riese came back from the future with a new video of his airborne DeLorean having some wicked fun on the beach.

 

http://carscoop.blogspot.com/2013/01/at-last-awesome-flying-delorean-is-here.html

Chrysler 300 Glacier edition ready to chill with AWD

It seems that word is finally out on the redone Chrysler 300, as evidenced by the fact that the model's sales almost doubled last year compared to 2011 (when the distinctive sedan was a little slow out of the gates). One thing that's likely helping the car is a growing number of unique models like the 300S, 300 SRT8 and the new 300C John Varvatos Luxury Edition, and now one more trim has joined the lineup. Initially announced back in September, the 300 Glacier is on sale now with a starting price of $36,845 (*not including a $995 destination charge).

Designed with cold-weather climates in mind, the 300 Glacier is only available with all-wheel drive. Chrysler says the Glacier will run an additional $1,500 over the 300S AWD off which this car is based, but that extra money gets unique 19-inch aluminum wheels, an exclusive Glacier Blue Pearl Coat paint job and special interior treatments including piano black accents and fancier leather seats and stitching. Like the 300S, power from the Pentastar V6 has been bumped up to an even 300 horsepower (up from 292 hp) with the aid of a cold-air induction and freer-breathing exhaust. Naturally, the 363-hp Hemi V8 is still available, too.

 http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2013-chrysler-300-glacier/full/#photo-5583807

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First 2014 Chevrolet Corvette sells for $1.1 million

The 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray with VIN ending in #0001 has sold at auction for an incredible $1.1 million, more than 20 times the expected cost of the latest ‘Vette.

Of course, getting to own the very first example to be sold to the public has its premium, and all proceeds from the sale will be going to benefit the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

Nevertheless, the amount paid is still staggering.

The final bidder at the Barrett-Jackson auction held yesterday in Scottsdale, Arizona, was NASCAR team owner and avid Corvette collector Rick Hendrick.

The weekend’s auction has been a busy one for Hendrick; he also dropped $270,000 on a rare 1958 Chevrolet Corvette owned by GM CEO Dan Akerson, and another million dollars on the 1968 Owens/Corning L88 Corvette race car.

Corvettes have done very well at auction in the past, so the latest figures shouldn't be all that surprising. The very first C6 Corvette ZR1 went for a million dollars back in 2008 and more recently the first C6 Corvette 427 Convertible went for $600,000. By comparison, the first 2013 SRT Viper only garnered $300,000 at auction, making it a relative bargain compared to these 'Vettes.

Hendrick will now have to wait until Corvette production officially kicks off at the car’s plant in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in the third quarter of the year. The red example seen here was the same showcased at the opening of the 2013 Detroit Auto Show last week and is destined to be used solely for testing and promotional duties.

The launch of the 2014 Corvette, or C7 as it’s called by fans, marks 60 years since the first Corvette made its debut at GM's Motorama exhibit in New York City back in 1953. It also marks the revival of the legendary Stingray nameplate and the setting of a new benchmark for entry-level performance.

The new Corvette Stingray is destined to be the most capable ‘base’ Corvette yet. Its new LT1 6.2-liter V-8 engine is promised to deliver at least 450 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque, enough for a 0-60 mph time of just 3.9 seconds, yet it will still return better than the current model’s 26-mpg gas mileage thanks to a host of technology.

Jeep Wrangler pickup and baby Wrangler in the works?

A Jeep pickup truck?

You asked for it, and you just might get it.

Speaking at the Detroit Auto Show, Jeep President and CEO Mike Manley hinted that the off-road automaker is seriously considering putting a Wrangler-based pickup truck into production.

“That, maybe next generation, is a big opportunity for us to expand Wrangler as a brand,” Manley told FoxNews.com, adding that customers in the United States have shown a strong interest in just such a vehicle.

Jeep currently offers a JK-8 pickup truck conversion kit for the four-door Wrangler Unlimited through Chrysler’s Mopar parts and accessories division that Manley said has exceeded expectations.

“It’s sold incredibly well,” Manley said, “but there’s still that demand for a factory-produced Wrangler pickup.”

Jeep last offered one in 1986 called the Scrambler, but Manley is a fan of the idea and has green-lighted several Wrangler pickup concepts in recent years, including the retro-styled JK-12 and Mighty FC, which features a unique cab-over-engine design.

Jeep sold over 141,000 Wranglers in 2012, up from 122,000 in 2011, making it the brand’s second most popular vehicle behind the Grand Cherokee. But when it comes to increasing sales, bigger may not be the only way to make things better. A smaller Wrangler could also be in the brand’s future.

“Where we are with Wrangler today is much bigger than where we stared off,” Manley says, citing safety regulations that have added size and weight to the vehicle over the years.

He doesn’t suggest replacing the Wrangler outright with a smaller vehicle, but believes there’s an opportunity to make a more compact model that picks up some of its design cues.

Arnold Schwarzenegger Crushes A Car With His Tank

Yes, we're talking about that Arnold Schwarzenegger, and if you're not entirely convinced by the first video that it is really him driving the tank that steamrolled an old Mercedes-Benz W123 station wagon model, then a quick visit to the Slashfilm cinema site will lay your doubts to rest.
Arnie, as many like to call him, invited a group of journalists to the Melody Ranch Studios in Newhall, California, where dozens of famous western TV shows have been filmed in the past, including Gunsmoke and The Lone Ranger. Among those invited was film critic and blogger Germain Lussier, who had the unique chance to both film the former California governor driving his personal M47 tank that was used by the Austrian army in the 1950s over the Benz (not to be confused with the person popping his head out of the turret) and to be taken for a ride by the star of the Terminator movies.

http://youtu.be/MQ40s0NO0HE

Vsauce-Will rubber bands lift a car?

By Jeffrey N. RossRSS feed
Posted Jan 19th 2013 11:59AM

 

It's quite amazing what it takes to lift a car. We already know the feat can be accomplished using just a pair of phone books, but what about rubber bands? To the Internet! A video series appropriately titled "Will It Lift" attempted to find out by using a massive crane and a Nissan Micra weighing less than 1,800 pounds.

Doing a little math, the trio determined that it would take 180 rubber bands to support the car. A metal bar was placed through the window openings and another was place atop the car, and then attached together using the rubber bands and hooked to the crane. Now these aren't any special rubber bands or anything. They're just eight-millimeters thick, but the stunt is testing the rubber bands' power in numbers.

Free Car Giveaway - Portland International Auto Show!

Give your garage a surprise! This 2013 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible could be yours, but only if you enter for a chance to win at the Portland International Auto Show.

You already know you’ll see the hottest concept cars and newest models at the Portland International Auto Show. What better way to top that than possibly going home in a new set of wheels?
Check back soon for information on how to enter and for contest rules.

http://www.portlandautoshow.com/newcargiveaway

Deals While You're Driving

The Coupon Car: Roximity App Locates Deals While You Drive

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/coupon-car-roximity-app-locates-deals-while-drive-153327063--abc-news-tech.html

ABC News' Abbie Boudreau, Derick Yanehiro and Natasha Singh report:

Those days of hunting through piles of coupons to find that perfect deal are over.

A new app called " Roximity" can help your car find deals as you drive.

"We're kind of moving into this age of the connected car," said Danny Newman, CEO of Roximity. "It's all voice command so while you're driving around you don't have to take your eyes off the road."

It's a virtual wallet so coupons are everywhere," said Valpak's spokesperson Gigi Swanson.

It works by launching the Roximity app that is on your smart phone to your car. However, the app is so new, only Ford and Lincoln drivers that have the Sync AppLink, which reportedly covers about one million vehicles, can access it.

"Roximity delivers relevant offers and alerts based on your location and your preferences," the company's website explains.

ABC News' Abbie Boudreau encountered several Valpak offers while putting Roximity to the test in a Ford Mustang. The first was the opportunity to buy one "Fat Deal Meal" and get a second burger free, which is a savings of about $5.

And now that she was working on a full stomach, the deals didn't stop there. Boudreau searched for a deal at the dry cleaners. When Roximity finds a deal, it's automatically synched to your phone.

"My dry cleaning would normally cost $30. Today, it's half that," Boudreau said at the counter after finding the deal.

She also found deals on spray tanning and free doggie daycare.

After a long day of wheeling and dealing, Boudreau ended her experience at the spa, thanks to the coupon she was offered.

At BUA Spa, in Marina Del Ray, Calif., the Valpak offer was to buy a facial and receive a free manicure and pedicure, for a savings of $35 .

 

When Boudreau's day of using Roximity to shop for bargains was over, she had saved a grand total of $95. Not to mention, the app is free.

If you want to sign-up just click the link. http://beta.roximity.com/

And if you like deals the old fashioned way here is a list of great blogs:
The Frugal Find: http://thefrugalfind.com/
Couponing to Disney:  http://www.couponingtodisney.com/
Totally Target:  http://www.totallytarget.com/

Ford Atlas is a sneak peek at the next F-150

There aren’t a lot of surprises at auto shows these days, but Ford dropped a titanic one on the Motor City and stole the spotlight from the introduction of GM’s new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra at the Detroit Auto Show.

The Atlas concept is a look at what the future of Ford’s full-size pickups may hold, and if it’s anything to go by, expect bold styling and a lot of technology.

The crew cab incorporates traditional Ford truck design cues, including round wheel arches, a beltline that drops at the front and vertical nostrils on the grill, but presents them on a chunky, super-sized scale. The black leather and chrome-trimmed interior features low-profile seating that clears up additional space for passengers and gear.

Ford says the vehicle is envisioned to use the next generation of its fuel efficient turbocharged EcoBoost engines, and it employs several active aerodynamic devices to help cut down on wind resistance, including shutters in the grille, a front air dam that drops down at high speeds, and additional shutters in the wheels that close off the spokes to make them more streamlined for highway cruising.

Work focused innovations include built in ramps to roll gear and vehicles into the LED-illuminated bed, a tailgate step that can be extended vertically to line up with a cargo cradle on the double bubble roof to carry long items like ladders, and a trailer backup assist feature that uses automated steering that lets the driver guide the truck in reverse by using a dial on the dashboard and a 360 degree camera system mounted around the vehicle.

Ford is quick to point out that the Atlas is not itself a production-intent vehicle, but with new F-150s and heavy duty trucks on the way in the next couple of years, it’s a safe bet that elements from the Atlas will find their way into showrooms soon.

Drive Thru Invisible Driver Prank

Rahat is a magician and compulsive prankster who appears to specialize in tweaking the incredulity of drive-thru workers. For this trick, members of the audience, Rahat builds a seat cover that looks just like the seat in his Nissan, only he puts this particular cover over himself while he's driving. The result is that the car appears to have jumped the gun on instigating the autonomous revolution.

The thoroughly chucklesome results are in the video below, and make sure to hang out for the kid who does a quadruple-take. In case that wasn't enough, we've added his Best 2012 Prank Montage as well.

Chicago startup pitches revolutionary new hovercraft design

It could turn out to be one of the coolest vehicles on Earth, even if it floats nine inches above it.

A startup company in Chicago has come up with a revolutionary new hovercraft design that features as much style as substance.

Rather than the industrial look of most hovercrafts, the Mercier-Jones was inspired by high performance supercars and speedboats, with sleek bodywork that falls somewhere in between, reflecting its amphibious nature, says company CEO and Michael Mercier.

A lifelong hovercraft enthusiast who built his first in 9th grade using plans ordered from an ad in Boy’s Life magazine, industrial engineer Mercier teamed up with his cousin Chris Jones to try to reinvent the wheel-less vehicle.

The key to this was replacing the large vertical propeller typically fitted at the rear of a hovercraft for propulsion and steering with two small electric fans located on the sides of the vehicle where the front wheels of a car would be found. Moveable vanes direct thrust toe the front, rear and side for directional control and braking. A third horizontal fan in the engine bay provides lift by filling up the skirt at the bottom of the vehicle with a cushion of air. Mercier says the layout should make it as easy to control as a car.

Power comes from a 40 hp two-cylinder gasoline generator that provides a constant flow of electricity to the fans, similar to the way a diesel locomotive or many plug-in hybrid cars work. A battery pack adds an extra buffer of power for quick bursts of during acceleration.

With a weight of about 800 pounds, Mercier says the largely composite tandem two-seater should be able to reach 80 mph on smooth surfaces and accelerate from 0 to 50 mph in less than 10 seconds. The target price for a production version is $30,000, which would make it competitive with traditional hovercraft on the market as well as the $40,000 Gibbs Quadski amphibious ATV.

Right now, however, the Mercier-Jones only exists in the virtual world, as the company is still raising money to build a full-size prototype. Mercier says they are close to reaching their funding goal and hope to have a vehicle ready for testing as early as June of this year.

That’s just in time for boating season. Or is it off-roading season? With a vehicle like this, it doesn’t really matter.