Thursday, August 30, 2012

Futuristic motorcycle won't fall down




Ever see a Weeble ride a motorcycle?
Probably not, but if you did it might look a lot like the C-1.
The all-electric bike/car hybrid being developed by California startup Lit Motors features a pair of counter-rotating gyroscopes mounted flat at the bottom of the frame that not only allow it to stand upright on two wheels when stationary, but make it nearly impossible to knock down.
The company has demonstrated the vehicle’s unique abilities with a full-scale prototype, and claims the C-1 will be able to take a hit in the side from another vehicle without falling over.
The two-wheel pod requires a motorcycle license, but is entered via a swing-out door with windows, driven like a car with a steering wheel and pedals and offers tandem seating for two people. A monitor mounted in the middle of the steering wheel will handle infotainment functions, and many of the C-1’s systems, like charging, will be controlled via a smartphone app.
The production version will have electric motors in each wheel with blue illumination that give it a very Tron Lightcycle appearance. The company says the C-1 has a range of over 200 miles per charge a steady speed of 65 mph.
Production isn’t likely to being before 2014, but Lit Motors is accepting reservations with a $250 deposit toward an expected $19,900 price after federal tax credits are taken into account.



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/08/30/futuristic-motorcycle-wont-fall-down/?intcmp=features#ixzz255DSu2G7

2013 Scion FR-S

 2013 Scion FR-S


Toyota knows a few things about building hybrids, so it’s about time it got around to making a fun one.
No, the FR-S from the automaker’s Scion division doesn’t have a big battery pack and electric motor, but it is the product of a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota that had the goal of building the world’s best affordable sports car. Talk about setting a low bar.
Subaru produces the car and handled most of the engineering behind it, while Toyota supplied the styling and the bulk of the cash to make it happen. It’s very much a surprise on both counts, as rear-wheel-drive coupes aren’t exactly what Subaru is known for and the looks of the FR-S are far sexier than your typical Toyota, which is what they sell it as outside of the United States. (Subaru offers a nearly identical version of it called the BRZ.)
Here, its mission is to inject some life into the recently moribund Scion brand while adding a little shine to Toyota’s overall image. Credit for this effort goes to Toyota CEO Akio Toyoda, himself a scion of the company’s founder and an avid race car driver who wants to bring excitement back to what has become largely a lineup of four-wheel appliances in recent years.
The formula for the FR-S is a simple, though rarely executed one: keep the car small and the weight low so you don’t need an enormous, expensive engine to make it perform well. Think Mazda Miata with a fixed roof.
The $24,995 FR-S weighs about 2,800 pounds, which is hundreds less than similarly priced competitors like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe and V6 Ford Mustang. The engine is a 200 hp 2.0-liter flat-4-cylinder of Subaru origin that’s been fitted with a unique fuel injection system from Toyota that uses both port and direct injectors to provide a combination of power and efficiency. With a six-speed automatic transmission, the FR-S is good for 34 mpg on the highway, but the shorter gearing of the more appropriate six-speed manual knocks that down to a still reasonable 30 mpg.
Despite its trim dimensions – shorter in length and narrower than a Nissan 370Z – the FR-S offers 2+2 seating with useable accommodations for petite passengers or child seats in the rear. My sons’ Graco Nautilus and Turbobooster seats each fit perfectly, though I can’t say that I did simultaneously.
But with no one behind me there was more than enough legroom to stretch out my 6’ 1” frame comfortably, even if I came close to the width limit for the aggressively-bolstered bucket seats. Nevertheless, the seating position is surprisingly upright for such a low-slung car, and visibility excellent all around. This is especially true toward the front where the view is panoramic, framed by the bulging fenders marking the position of the wheels - - something autocrossers will appreciate as they negotiate cones in stadium parking lots.
The interior appointments feel slightly low-rent, but have a modern, driver focused design. A large tachometer with integrated digital speedometer is at the center of the instrument cluster and both the gearshift and emergency brake levers are close at hand – the latter surely a nod to the drifting enthusiasts who have pined for this type of car since the Toyota Corolla GT-S went out of production in the 1980’s.
Thanks in part to the low-profile design of the engine – pop the paper-thin aluminum hood and you’ll find it sitting at knee-level – the FR-S has a center of gravity that’s reportedly closer to the ground than any other production car, a boon for handling. However, its limits have been restrained by a set of slippery, low-rolling resistance tires. This is ostensibly to make the car more fun to drive at low speeds, but I’ll be conspiratorial and suggest that it is also an effort to get those official fuel economy numbers up. Toyota rightly assuming that anyone serious about taking it to the track will be swapping them out for stickier rubber ASAP.
I did the first, but not the second, and had a blast anyway. The FR-S is light on the torque and not a particularly fast car in a straight line, but is the equivalent of stunt driving training wheels. With a weight distribution biased slightly toward the front, it’s quick to turn and all you need to do to execute a picture-perfect powerslide is increase speed or tighten your line until the rear end starts to come around, which it does very predictably. Then just use the throttle and near-telepathic steering to hold it through the rest of the curve. The FR-S lets you disable its traction and stability controls independently to customize the experience to your abilities, but left in sport mode it allows enough leeway to have a thrill without letting things getting out of hand.
The close-ratio gearbox offers short, precise throws and the clutch perfect engagement with a light feel that won’t wear out your left leg. This is important because you’ll be using both of them quite a bit, especially in the mountains. Most of the engine’s power is up high in the rev range and it’s happiest when it’s on the way to its 7,400 rpm redline, the sweet sound of those opposed pistons pumped into the cabin via a resonator attached to the firewall.
Still, if you’re in a really lazy mood you can through town at 20 mph without shifting out of fourth gear and the ride quality is far better than anything close to its sporting ilk, likely a product of those tires and the car’s relatively long wheelbase. Aside from the automatic transmission, the only major option is a premium audio system with a smartphone-based navigation feature, but the standard unit, equipped with HD radio and a Bluetooth phone connection, is just fine.
You can buy a lot of car for twenty-five grand, including a nice Camry or Rav4, instead of a toy like this, but the FR-S is everything those vehicles are not. It may also be something else: the ultimate mid-life crisis car. Cheaper than Corvette, more of a head-turner as a Porsche and just the ticket for a Sunday drive. Plus, room for the kids when reality sets in.
Scion has always had an image problem with older people buying its supposedly youth-oriented products because they represent a good value at any age. The FR-S may very well continue that trend.
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2013 Scion FR-S
Base Price: $24,995
Type: 2-door, 2+2, rear-wheel-drive coupe
Engine: 2.0L flat-4-cylinder
Power: 200 hp, 151 lb-ft torque
Transmission: 6-speed manual
MPG: 22 city, 30 hwy


Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2012/08/30/test-drive-2013-scion-fr-s/?intcmp=features#ixzz252kIBc7R

Tuesday, August 21, 2012

Smart Facelift


German advertising agency BBDO Proximity Berlin is walking on a pretty thin line with its commercial for the cosmetically updated 2012 Smart ForTwo that was originally revealed at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year.

The TV spot shows half a dozen people who underwent extensive plastic surgery to change their appearance before a tagline saying, "There is an exciting new facelift in town" pops up on the screen and the revamped ForTwo is revealed.

Here's another link:

http://youtu.be/P9Dy7kUbn8c



Sunday, August 19, 2012

2012 Thunderstruck Xtreme Bike Show - Downtown Medford



It's mini-Sturgis time again in downtown Medford...14th annual Thunder Struck Custom Bikes Xtreme Bike Show and Street Party.

The two-block length of Front Street was taken over on the 18th by hundreds of custom motorcycles, live music, beer garden, food and product vendors and people out for an afternoon of motorcycles and getting to know their bikers. Proceeds from the bike show benefit Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County.

The "street party" featured live music by Lavender Blue, booths by D&S Harley-Davidson, an art booth where airbrushed "tattoos" were available. Exotic and classic cars were also displayed for viewing.
Despite the 100+ degree afternoon heat, hundreds of viewers showed up for a great time in downtown Medford!

Monday, August 13, 2012

VOLKSWAGEN SPONSORS SHARK WEEK ON THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL



In celebration of Discovery Channel's 25th Anniversary of Shark Week that kicks off this Sunday, August 12, and runs through August 16, Volkswagen engineers helped in the construction of one-of-a-kind mobile shark observation cage modeled in the shape of the iconic Beetle.

Now, only a few days before the show airs on television, VW and Discovery Channel released a new video that contains scenes from the presentation of the submersible and drivable Beetle cage at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel as well as from the show itself.
To build the underwater Beetle-shaped cruiser, the German automaker teamed up with marine biologist and shark expert Luke Tipple.
It took around three weeks to manufacture the mobile cage that is made of tubular aluminum and comes complete with lights and wheels.
Volkswagen, which is also an official sponsor of the show, said it will chronicle the design, construction, and submersion of the Beetle Shark Observation Cage in a three-part short-form series during Shark Week.





Sunday, August 12, 2012

Eight Cheap Cars the Richest Americans Drive


The wealthiest Americans are cheapskates, at least as far as their tastes in automobiles goes. Perhaps that is why some rich Americans stay rich.
24/7 Wall St. asked auto trends research firm Truecar to find the best-selling cars and light trucks that America’s rich drive. Truecar analyzed industry sales data from the 10 wealthiest U.S. ZIP codes by median income, according to the Internal Revenue Service, including neighborhoods in New York City, Greenwich, Conn., and the gated community of Fishers Island, Fla. Based on the 20 top-selling cars from Truecar’s report, 24/7 Wall St. identified the eight cheap cars the richest Americans drive.

Most rich Americans drive affordable cars. The average price of eight of the cars among the top 10 was less than $40,000. 24/7 Wall St. excluded the two most expensive cars because they are considered luxury models, but by the standard of high-end cars, they cost very little.
One model that made the top 10 is the Mercedes E-Class, which had an average price paid of $48,362. Since Mercedes has a number of models that sell for more than $100,000, the E-Class barely makes the middle of the car company’s model line based on price. The second luxury car among the top 10 is the BMW X5 SUV, which has an average price paid of $56,050. The X5 M, the high performance model, costs more than $102,000 fully loaded.

The tastes of the wealthy do not vary much from the average car owner. Five of the cars rich Americans buy are made by either Honda Motor Co. (NYSE: HMC) or Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM). These two brands have consistently done well among American buyers and have taken market share from U.S. manufacturers for years. They continue to offer high quality, relatively low prices and efficient engines that get good gas mileage. Toyota and Honda cars are at the top of quality surveys. Two of the cars on our list are the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. The remaining three on the list are from German automakers.
Not a single American car made the list. Even a look beyond the top eight sellers to the top 20 shows that German and Japanese models dominate. The only two American models on the wider list are the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Jeep Wrangler. As further evidence of the frugality of the wealthy car owner, the Grand Cherokee has an average price of $26,158. The Wrangler’s is just $22,510.

For those who assume that Americans with median incomes well into the double digits mostly drive $80,000 cars, the fact is otherwise. If anything, the rich drive the same cars most people do.
These are the eight cheap cars the richest Americans drive.

8. Toyota Camry
  • > Average price: $24,237
  • > Type: Midsized car
  • > Total sold 2012: 243,816 (2)

The Camry was the second best-selling car or light truck in the United States through the first seven months of this year. The inexpensive, high-mileage car has been a staple of the Toyota line-up since 1982. The Camry is sold in both four-door and hatchback models. The Camry relies on a series of four-cylinder engines to keep gas mileage low. Toyota claims 6.8 million people currently drive Camrys in the U.S. The Camry is the fourth most popular car among the wealthy of Chicago.

7. Honda Accord
> Average price: $23,168
> Type: Midsized car
> Total sold 2012: 183,817 (3)
The Honda Accord is the third best-selling car in America so far this year. The Accord’s base model is a four-door sedan, and the vehicle is also offered as a two-door coupe. The Accord relies on a four-cylinder engine to achieve good gas mileage, but the high-end EX-L comes with a V6. The Accord was the first Japanese car built in the U.S. when production began in Marysville, Ohio, in 1982. This car is the third best-selling car among the wealthy of Manhattan.

6. Honda CR-V
  • > Average price: $30,197
  • > Type: Midsized SUV
  • > Total sold 2012: 167,236 (12)

The CR-V is Honda’s base SUV model. So far this year, it is the 12th best-selling car in America. The light truck is available in two-wheel and all-wheel drive. All CR-V models run on four-cylinder engines, which allow it to get an EPA estimated 31 MPG on the highway — an extraordinary number for an SUV. The Honda CR-V ranks as the second most popular car among wealthy residents of the Windy City and comes in fifth among the rich of Manhattan.

5. Volkswagen Jetta
  • > Average price: $25,290
  • > Type: Small car
  • > Total sold 2012: 96,832 (19)

The Jetta is at the heart of Volkswagen’s efforts to revive its sales in the U.S. Those sales faltered in the 1970s and early 1980s, and VW has only begun to regain market share recently. Despite a 34.1% improvement in sales in the first seven months of 2012, VW’s share of the American market is only 3.2%. The Jetta is the least expensive car or light truck that VW sells in the U.S. The base model sells for less than $17,000. The Jetta comes in 13 models, most of which get 34 MPG for highway driving because of the use of four-cylinder engines. Jettas with clean diesel engines are more expensive but have improved mileage numbers. This is the most popular car among Chicago’s wealthy, and the fifth most popular among the rich in Century City, a suburb of Los Angeles.

4. Toyota Prius
  • > Average price: $29,762
  • > Type: Small car
  • > Total sold 2012: 143,297 (15)

The Toyota Prius was the 15th best-selling car in America through the first seven months of the year. The car is the best-selling hybrid of all time. It was introduced in 1997. Since then, more than 4 million units have been sold. The Prius was also the third best-selling car in the world in the first quarter of 2012. The hybrid-electric vehicle comes in four versions. One is a plug-in, which gets about 95 MPG in highway driving when only the electric motor is being used. The base Prius is a four-door sedan. The Prius is the number one selling car among the wealthy of Century City and Ross, Calif., a suburb north of San Francisco. The only other California city to crack the list of wealthiest ZIP codes in America, Atherton, purchases Priuses only second to the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

3. Lexus RX
  • > Average price: $38,561
  • > Type: SUV
  • > Total sold 2012: 45,1374 (No. 1 Lexus model)

The Lexus RX is the best-selling vehicle in the Lexus line, despite the fact that it is an SUV. It is also one of the least expensive models Lexus offers. The car company, a division of Toyota, sells two other SUVs — the $53,000 GX and $81,000 LX. The RX comes with rear-wheel or all-wheel drive and is powered by a six-cylinder engine. Lexus does have a high-end version of the RX called the F, which has an eight-speed transmission and sells for $47,000. The RX is the second most popular car in Greenwich, Conn., and the third most popular in Medina, Wash.

2. Mercedes C-Class
  • > Average price: $34,064
  • > Type: Midsized car
  • > Total sold 2012: 43,349 (No. 1 Mercedes model)

Once again, the wealthy go for the least expensive car a luxury brand has to offer. The C-Class is the best-selling Mercedes car. Of the 164,918 cars and light trucks Mercedes sold in the first seven months of 2012, 43,349 were C-Class. The C-Class has six versions. The least expensive is the 250 Sports Sedan. It has a small four-cylinder engine and four doors. The car also can be bought with all-wheel drive and a larger engine. The version built by Mercedes AMG racing division has a 451 HP engine and retails for $59,800. In Palm Beach, Fla., and Century City, Calif., this car ranks as the third most popular.

1. BMW 328
  • > Average price: $35,146
  • > Type: Small car
  • > Total sold 2012: 54,415 (No. 1 BMW model)

The BMW 3 Series is the German car manufacturer’s best-selling car in the United States. Of the 147,801 vehicles BMW sold in the U.S. in the first seven months, 54,415 were 3 Series. With the exception of the 1 Series, which sells very few units, the 3 Series is BMW’s cheapest model. The base 328 comes with a four-cylinder 240 HP engine that gets 33 MPG for highway driving — unusually good for a car with such high horsepower. This base model comes with rear-wheel drive. Further up the 3 Series line are versions with all-wheel drive and larger engines.The top of the line is built by BMW’s “M” racing division. The M3 coupe has a 414 HP V8 engine and a base price of $60,100. That does not include the $1,300 gas guzzler tax. In New Vernon, N.J., this car is the second most popular, and it ranks fourth in Ross and Century City, Calif., and in Manhattan.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Bullitt Mustang at Skinner Autoplex



Bullitt Mustang

In 2001, Ford offered a special version of its GT with the Bullitt nameplate. It was reminiscent of the 1968 390 fastback model driven by Steve McQueen in the 1968 movie Bullitt which became famous for its high speed chase. The car was designed as a good handler so it was lowered 3/4 of an inch, received Tokico shocks, and short length sub-frame connectors. In addition, a new intake design, high-flow mufflers, and special underdrive pulleys helped increase the power to a conservative 265 hp (198 kW), though many owners report numbers closer to the 270-275 range. More telling is the torque curve, which was vastly improved over the base GT models, 90% of its 305 lb·ft (414 N·m) available from 2000 rpm. This broader torque curve makes itself known at the drag strip, as these special edition Mustangs could cover the 1/4 mile in 2-3 tenths of a second quicker and about 2 mph (3 km/h) faster than regular GT. 17-inch American Racing Torq-Thrust style rims, wrapped in 245/45ZR performance rubber by Goodyear, were reminiscent of those on the car driven by McQueen in the movie. The Bullitt featured a large hood scoop reminiscent of the earlier Boss 429 scoop, as well as new side scoops, lower body moldings and C-pillars with unique rear side window shape. Other special features on the Bullitt included aluminum pedals and shifter, gauge facings and seat upholstery patterned after the 1968 model, red brake calipers with the Mustang logo on them, and the removal of the spoiler and fog lamps regularly found on Mustang GTs, all for a cleaner look. Braking was also improved with the addition of dual-piston Brembo brakes with 13-inch (330 mm) rotors, the same brakes utilized by the Mustang Cobra.
The Bullitt Mustang was offered in only three colors: Dark Highland Green (the same shade of green used in the famous movie "Bullitt" staring Steve McQueen), Black, and True Blue. Total production was 5,582 units (3,041 Dark Highland Green, 1,819 Black, and 722 True Blue).
A 2008–2009 Bullitt edition has been released as well. Exterior features include uniquely finished 18" Torq-Thrust style wheels and removal of the decklid spoiler and all badges except for the faux gas cap, which is replaced with a Bullitt-specific unit. Inside, there are Bullitt door sills, gauges, and steering wheel cap, an engine-turned aluminum dash panel, aluminum shift knob and pedals, and GT500-inspired front seats and GT500-inspired steering wheel with black stitching. The first factory Mustang open-element air filter, unique exhaust that mimics the sound of Steve McQueen's GT 390 Fastback and ends in 3.5-inch tips, and new engine programing raise horsepower to 315 (up from 300). A Tremec 5-speed manual and 3.73:1 ratio live rear axle drops 0-60 mph times to 4.9-5.0 seconds compared to the standard GT's 5.2-5.3, and quarter miles come in 13.8 seconds at 102 mph (164 km/h). Suspension is upgraded by a Bullitt-badged front tower brace and retuned suspension components that drop the ride height by 6 millimetres (0.24 in). The Bullitt package is a $3,310 upgrade from the standard GT Premium.